Thumbs Up for Fast Track Floor Replacement!

Faced with production downtime and financial losses, the project at Thumbs Up demonstrates how innovations in resin flooring technology coupled with the skill and expertise of the flooring applicator can provide a perfect solution fast.

At first glance, Flowcrete UK and UltraSyntec’s partnership on floor renovation works for Thumbs Up’s manufacturing facility in Bury may not seem the most interesting of projects, but it is one where time, client satisfaction and minimising loss of revenue were of the essence. Based on Dumer’s Lane since the company was founded in 1978, Thumbs Up (Bury) Ltd manufactures and supplies plastic housewares and storage products to major supermarkets and high street retailers throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. The manufacturer employs over 250 staff, carries over 20,000 product lines and operates at an annual production capacity of 73 million pieces per annum running the plant around the clock 365 days of the year, meaning any downtime required to carry out routine maintenance and refurbishment works could result in significant financial losses. Thumbs Up represents an age-old story when it comes to maintenance and refurbishment in heavy industry. With manufacturers under pressure to ensure plant assets operate at maximum capacity and efficiency levels at all time, setting priorities for maintenance and preventative measures can be a challenge. Faced with production downtime and financial losses, the project at Thumbs Up demonstrates how innovations in resin flooring technology coupled with the skill and expertise of the flooring applicator can work in tandem to address this problem and help to alleviate the headache associated with looming production outage. Armed with the knowledge that a scheduled maintenance day in May 2014 offered a 12 hour window in which to carry out all substrate preparation, priming and system application works as well as deliver a trafficable surface across 1,300 square metres of production space, UltraSyntec recommended Flowfast Rapide Topcoat. Based on methyl methacrylate (MMA) chemistry, Flowfast Rapide Topcoat offers the same performance characteristics as Flowcoat SF41 with the addition of an accelerated rate of cure (typically between one to two hours). Satisfied with the install and on-going performance of the material, Thumbs Up are working with UltraSyntec and Flowcrete UK to install a second phase representing 4,000 square metres in its production hall before the end of the calendar year.

Credits

• Ultrasyntec Ltd