The Twintec Group is the global market leader in ‘jointless’ steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) industrial floor slabs with offices in 22 countries. The company derives its name from the twin technologies of concrete and steel fibres and, as a specialist flooring contractor, designs and builds in excess of 6 million m2 worldwide each year.
Offering a unique Design-Build-Insure service, Twintec understands clients’ needs and provides optimised designs to meet specific requirements on a project by project basis. Twintec advocates value engineering as an integrated and detailed planning process that considers techniques and materials that could provide better performance and better value over the life of the project. Design concepts, materials and methods of construction should be carefully considered by all parties without compromising functionality and operational requirements of the client.
Simon Rabone, Commercial Director of Twintec Industrial Flooring spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
WLN – As the Warehouse Flooring category experts, how has the category been performing in the last 12 months? What are the major trends and developments?
An increase in major projects has been a significant development during 2014 with some confidence returning to the warehouse construction sector. In the current economic climate cost has often become the driving factor sometimes at the expense of functionality but purely cost driven tendering and procurement is commonly reflected in performance and durability; short term financial benefits can often become long term maintenance and operational losses.
It has long been acknowledged that the concrete floor slab is one of the most important components of a modern warehouse facility – day to day operations and efficiencies depend on it. End users need to invest in the best for their specific requirements.
WLN – What are your core products and services: what are you best known for providing?
Twintec specialise in ‘jointless’ SFRC floor slabs that contain no troublesome saw cut joints. It is well documented that reducing the number of joints in a floor slab will have a major impact on operational efficiencies as well as floor and MHE maintenance costs and Twintec provide in-house design and experienced construction teams, backed up by PI insurance and warranties.
With specific expertise in suspended ground floor slabs on piles, high tolerance and heavily loaded floor slabs, Twintec will provide value engineering design solutions.
WLN – What developments or upgrades have you made to your core products and services in the last 12 months?
Floor slab innovation: Joints
The correct installation of a quality armoured construction joint is essential and on-going innovations in this area will ensure that the end user reaps the benefits of a truly ‘jointless’ floor slab. One such example is the HC Sinus-slide® expansion joint that provides continuous support for passing wheels, enabling vibration free crossings and smooth and optimal load transfers.
To gain optimal performance of mechanical handling equipment it is crucial to minimise the contact pressure of the wheels on the floor slab/construction joint. Contact pressure is exacerbated by transporting heavy goods and MHE with small diameter hard tyres. The sinus profile of the joint ensures continuous support for passing wheels regardless of the direction of travel, size or form of the wheel. The permanent contact between wheel and concrete floor across the joint creates a smooth and noiseless load transfer.
WLN – What makes you the ‘go to’ supplier in your area of expertise?
With unparalleled experience in ‘jointless’ floor slab design, a robust track record and industry leading in-house engineers, Twintec offer a unique one stop design, construct and insure service.
WLN – Have you launched any new products and services in the past year? How are they performing?
Floor slab innovation : Recycled Fibres
Steel fibres used to reinforce concrete have traditionally been manufactured from new high carbon steel wire. However, steel wire of a much higher quality is used in the manufacture of truck tyres and a significant volume of this material is recovered each year when end-of-life tyres are recycled.
The innovative nature of the technology has been recognised by the award of a number of worldwide patents. Recycled fibres and hybrid blends have been extensively tested and verified by the University of Sheffield in a GBP £2 million programme of on-going laboratory testing and full-scale field trials.
The R-AFT 01/25 recycled fibre results in delayed crack initiation and provides a much improved carbon footprint due to a reduction of about 97% in the energy needed for its manufacture. When blended with a reduced quantity of the standard AFT 08/55 fibre the usual level of excellent structural performance is maintained along with significant improvements in its environmental credentials. This blend uses carefully recycled, locally sourced high quality steel tyre wire and provides reduced greenhouse emissions and a reduction in water consumption.
These fibres are now being used in floor slab designs worldwide.
WLN – Which industry sectors are your customers in?
Whilst Twintec’s business predominantly comes from the warehouse/logistics sector 2014 has seen us design & build floor slabs for manufacturing facilities, retail stores and waste transfer facilities. The largest of which was for Hitachi rail vehicle manufacturing at 41,000m2.
WLN – Can you name some of your major customers and tell us about the work you do for them?
Twintec has worked consistently for Tesco in the UK over the past 10 years and has now extended this to design & construct two 52,000m2 floor slabs for Tesco Lotus in Thailand, delivering a quality not previously seen in the country.
Supermarket clients include Sainsbury, Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons during the past year.
WLN – Can you tell us about your latest major projects, and what they involve?
Twintec will finish 2014 with a very healthy orderbook to take into 2015 – watch this space for further details.
WLN – Have you made any big moves recently in terms of investment in the business, recruitment and so on?
Twintec continues to invest large sums in research & development to continually improve the quality, design, operational efficiencies, working practices and environmental credentials of the floor slabs it constructs. This will continue through 2015 and beyond.
WLN – What was your company’s single biggest achievement in the last year?
Continually producing high quality floor slabs on a global scale, working for repeat clients and pushing innovative products.
WLN – What are your plans for 2015? Are you planning to bring out any more products or services, move into new markets or enter new countries?
Twintec will continue to educate and promote to the market the new innovations adopted during the past 12 months and will continue to work with existing clients in new markets worldwide.
Currently working in 22 countries worldwide, 2015 does not include plans for number 23 – but Twintec will continue to promote ‘jointless’ SFRC technology on a worldwide basis.
WLN – What are your predictions for the industry in 2015?
Twintec hopes to see the construction industry growing through 2015, providing more opportunities to showcase our core products. Investment by logistics companies and developers is key to a successful year for the industry. We have seen an increase in speculative developments, highlighting the increase in confidence in the UK market.
Phone: 01788 567722
Email: mail@twintec.co.uk
Web: www.twintec.co.uk
Twitter: www.twintec.co.uk
LinkedIn: twintec-ltd
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