Pacmetal Services Can Production Factory
Client: | Pacmetal Services |
Location: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Scope overview: | Design and construct a new factory with a 67 metre column-free span |
Project Description
A cost effective solution to column-free span for Pacmetal Services
CLIENT
Pacmetal Services, part of the National Can Industries Group, is a leading supplier of tinplate and aluminium.
OBJECTIVES
Wiley was engaged to design and construct a new factory in Sydney with a 67 metre column-free span for maximum flexibility in equipment layout.
Buildings with large column-free spans are generally more expensive than buildings with small spans supported by columns and the task for Wiley was to design and construct the building in the most cost-effective way at a time when Sydney was experiencing labour and material shortages in the lead up to the 2000 Olympic Games.
CHALLENGES
- Achieving the column-free span to the client’s requirements within an economical and innovative factory design
- Designing an area with positive pressure for the process of printing onto tinplate
- Devising ways to source labour and materials outside Sydney to avoid delays and over-inflated prices.
SOLUTIONS
Advice
- Coordination of the interstate fabrication of a specially designed pre-engineered building frame—the most cost-effective way to achieve the column-free span
- Procurement of many materials, including plants for landscaping the factory grounds, from outside New South Wales.
Design
- Application of a high-impact architectural treatment to the facility façade to meet local council requirements
- Achievement of a balance between the need for a high level of visibility between the office and factory areas and the need for a high level of security to prevent the public from seeing the process
- Solutions to issues around dangerous goods storage
- Fire engineering design to maximise floor area and site use
- Special attention to floor areas to ensure they perform for the heavy traffic and material and machinery loads in the facility
- Inclusion of customised protection systems to eliminate building damage
- Use of energy efficiencies and lighting solutions to minimise lifecycle costs.
Engineering
- Coordination of services through the floors and structure to provide maximum flexibility and economy.
Construction
- Use of alternative construction techniques (for example, precasting) to minimise exposure to over-inflated labour costs in Sydney
- Selection of construction materials to meet environmental requirements relating to factors such as noise.
RESULTS
Wiley delivered a cost-effective solution that met the client’s need for a facility featuring a 67 metre column-free span.
The result was also delivered on time and thousands of dollars below budget during a building boom in Sydney.