TROX KEEPS UNILEVER’S WORLD HQ COOL
20/04/2006
Air distribution equipment manufacturer TROX (UK) has supplied more than 600 fan coil units and a range of grilles and diffusers for the refurbishment of Unilever House in a contract worth £600,000.
The performance of the system was critical, in particular the acoustics, and part of the proposal the TROX Design Bureau made was to conduct a series of tests on the units at one of its laboratories in Thetford, Norfolk. The test also enabled the company to determine which slot diffusers would provide the best conditions in terms of air distribution and thermal uniformity, and to investigate what effects different fan coil units and air distribution systems would have on the noise levels in the occupied space. From this detailed testing, the TROX Design Bureau was able to offer a triple guarantee in terms of noise levels, air distribution and thermal output, which has been a cornerstone of the company’s success within the fan coil systems market.
Much of the TROX equipment is being prefabricated. “For example,” says the company’s Neil Addison, “We are fitting modular wiring tee pieces with the power and controls wiring; we have supplied and fitted fan enable relays, controllers, and so on. That is all done in the factory, which saves valuable time on site and guarantees the quality of the system. We have already tested the thermal, aerodynamics, air distribution outputs and noise levels.”
The air conditioning and ductwork contractor on the Unilever project was Kent-based Gardner and Co. Project manager, Brian Giles, said: “I have worked with TROX for many years and I am impressed by the fact that it always performs very well. The team is adaptable, responsive to our requests and have excellent quality control, especially on grilles. Delivery is also good – when TROX says it is going to deliver something, it does, on time and to the right specification. If there is a problem, it is quick to work on a solution.”
TROX has a long-standing and strong relationship with developer Stanhope, which operates as a partnership. Nick Howard, key account manager at TROX, explained: “We, as a supplier, are taken on as part of the team early in the design process. This partnering approach gives people the time to talk, get to know each other, schedule the project, and produce mock-ups. It means we can look at all aspects of the project and there are no surprises, and, more importantly, no mistakes. It is an ideal way of working.”
Unilever House, an imposing Grade II listed building on the banks of the River Thames, is the world headquarters of Unilever, manufacturer of leading brands in foods, home care and personal care. Eight floors of the 38,000 sq m (409,029 sq ft) building, which contains open plan office space for around 500 people, are currently being redeveloped behind the retained façade.
