Archive for category: Profiles

Changing fortunes for power generating team
Britain’s latest clean energy power station boasts changing rooms to match, after operator Carrington Power specified Crown Sports Lockers to fit out the staff facilities.
The 40-strong team running £710m Carrington Power Station, Greater Manchester, enjoys a little more luxury after temporary steel units, used by more than 800 personnel during the four-year build programme, had been stripped out.
“Steel lockers did the job during construction but when you are talking about a project worth the best part of £1bn, you need to reflect that in working conditions,” says Leigh Greenwood, Mechanical Technician for Carrington Power, “and that includes staff changing rooms.”
After going out to tender for replacement lockers, Leigh specified bespoke furniture manufacturer Crown for the fitout. Now everyone from office assistants, operations staff, team leaders and managers have their own storage solution.
Crown fitted 60 full-length timber lockers in light oak – with “clean and dirty” compartments to hang day clothes and workwear – bench seating and grey laminate shower doors in the existing wet area ensure staff have a comfortable, welcoming environment in which to change.
Just four lockers were fitted in the female changing area as “only two women work here”, Leigh explains, 16 in the mens, 22 in the operations rooms and another 16 for managers and team leaders.
“Price wasn’t the deciding factor,” Leigh states. “We wanted quality too and felt Crown offered the fit-for-purpose facility we were seeking.
“I was impressed with their professional approach throughout the project, coming on site several times, communicating promptly and fitting the whole job within a week with minimal disruption.”
www.crownsportslockers.co.uk

Welcome to Steelco, established in 1998, they manufacture and supply quality office seating, steel storage products and a complete range of wooden office desks and storage through their extensive dealer network.

They also provide a complete furniture re-upholstery service.

Based in Rothwell—just off the A14—they are ideally situated to offer direct delivery to end users.

They carry large stocks available for fast delivery with no minimum order value or quantity.

Take a look at their website www.steelco.co.uk

When the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Centre for Sport decided to upgrade its changing areas it wanted the same style of provision – only different.

The existing lockers fitted when the Centre opened a decade ago were showing their age. Doors were missing and sharp edges were starting to cause health and safety issues.

“We wanted a new feel and floor but with the same kind of provision,” explains Laurence Gully, the Centre’s Operations Manager for Estates and Facilities.

UWE attracts 10,000 students to its Frenchay Campus, north of Bristol, alone and more than 4,000 of those live on site.

The Centre hosts hockey, squash and other indoor sports in a leading edge double sports hall. Fifty student sports teams use the facilities for training and competition, and there’s a state-of-the-art members gym and strength and conditioning hub.

“Besides outdoor users, 3,000 students, staff and corporate and community members use the gym so our changing rooms are rammed,” adds Lawrence.

The locker specification is part of a wider branding plan for the Centre, including refreshed colour palette.
After canvassing customers for comments, Lawrence approached suppliers for quotes – bespoke furniture manufacturer Crown Sports Lockers proving the standout choice.

“Only Crown offered a different take, thinking outside the box to create more floor space so easing circulation round the rooms,” Lawrence reports, “while picking up the red and black theme of the University logo.”

The Centre preferred traditional pound coin locking rather than digital – Crown ensuring all lockers take the new pound coin so there are no worries about converting locks when the old coins cease to be legal tender in October 2017.

Crown fitted a total of 45 two-tier lockers in both male and female changing rooms. Solid oak timber slat seating mounted on stainless steel legs complete a finely appointed and finished fitout, along with hardwearing non-slip vinyl flooring. They are sizeable enough to hang clothes as many members use the gym before work so they have to store suits, shirts and so on. Installation took up just 10 days of the overall six-week project.
www.crownsportslockers.co.uk