The Client
KAPCO is a manufacturer and distributor of a wide range of commercial aircraft parts and supplies, including machined products and assemblies, electrical connectors, clamp seals and couplings.
In addition to their fabricated aircraft components, KAPCO is a distributor for more than 70 other manufacturers, with distribution centres strategically located throughout the world.
The Challenge
KAPCO decided to move its European distribution centre from the Netherlands to the UK and identified a large, disused warehouse with offices in Bordon, Hampshire. Although the building was partitioned into several smaller areas, it had the necessary space that could meet KAPCO’s requirements.
Hi-Level had worked with KAPCO on a previous project and was invited by KAPCO to present its ideas for the development of the warehouse facility.
The Criteria
Part of the refurbishment was to install a small mezzanine structure that would provide additional office space above the packaging and dispatch area (see details below).
- 76.8m² floor size
- 3.5kN?m²live load
One of KAPCO’s main requirements was to remodel the warehouse floor to provide a large, more open area that would create more office space and achieve an optimum level of energy efficiency. The overall site required complete refurbishing and redecorating, and KAPCO specified that the building’s new design should reflect their corporate identity.
Armed with these that information, Hi-Level carried out an extensive survey of the building and produced layout drawings, which were fine-tuned in subsequent meetings.
The Result
The contract was carried out under the Construction Design and Management Regulations, and the drawing design was approved and a programme of works was agreed to be completed within 12 weeks.
Throughout the project, an in-house Project Manager at Hi-level regularly visited the site to monitor its progress and manage all of the health and safety issues attached to a fit-out project.
Hi-Level recognised the importance of communication and arranged regular weekly meetings to discuss the projects’ progress and to issue reports.
It was this successful mix of regular, effective communication and accurate installation that enabled Hi-Level to provide a fit-out that maximised the KAPCO facility’s space and energy efficiency.
Testimonial
“KAPCO UK selected Hi-Level as our contractor following work they had done for us on an earlier project. From launch, their staff’s design flare, their knowledge of what could be realistically possible at a sensible cost and their innovation helped us achieve a really robust functional design for the 30-year-old facility”.
“A design was created which matched our working requirements and actually achieved more useable office, warehouse and workshop space. Hi-Level then helped us build our environmental requirements for modern office and warehouse working conditions with the latest, heating, air conditioning, and lighting systems, plus an advanced security and access control system that would allow us to continually tailor the building to our ever-changing working practices and contractual requirements”.
“Hi-Level were given a very tight 12-week timescale to work within which caused inevitable challenges, but they responded very well even when we decided on design changes as the project came to life. We moved into the new facility on schedule and have been extremely happy with the quality of their work and the environment created. Hi-Level’s regular after-sales support, checking for a satisfied customer, has been something I haven’t experienced much before from the building industry”.
Dave McRobert, Managing Director of KAPCO
