Hoganas - Factory Refurbishment Case Study

This Swedish company was established at the end of the 18th Century and has its origins in coal mining, bricks and pottery, but today Höganäs AB is the world’s largest manufacturer of iron powders.

Although Höganäs is more than 200 years old, the path to becoming the world’s largest producer of metal powders effectively started with the introduction of the Höganäs Sponge Iron Process in 1910. Since then, iron powder has proved to be a material of endless possibilities. Through its enduring commitment to R&D, the company is continuing to expand into new application areas.

Cameron Barclay worked at Höganäs’ Tonbridge factory. Here they take high specification metal powders, press them into a mould and then set them in a furnace. The resulting products are then sold on, mainly to customers in the automotive industry. Although this procedure was developed in 1972, the Kent factory is one of only a handful in the world capable of this carrying out this process.

You can learn more about Höganäs here: www.hoganas.com

The Requirement – Factory Refurbishment

Initially Höganäs invited four companies to tender for a major refurbishment of the Tonbridge factory. The responses were not convincing and a further year went by as Höganäs deliberated and arranged an extension to the factory’s lease.

It was during this time that Höganäs was introduced to Cameron Barclay and they were impressed by them from the start.

They felt that the Cameron Barclay project management leadership "exuded confidence with their knowledge and ability to identify and implement solutions. Furthermore, they were amenable to change, which helps with major projects involving the renovation of the building fabric and groundwork".

The Factory Refurbishment Solution

Work began once the extension to the lease was granted and the budget was approved.

Cameron Barclay refurbished part of the factory and all of the office areas. They also constructed a new laboratory, which involved the supply and fitting of a new sewerage pumping station, re-roofing, re-cladding, curtain walling, underpinning, new windows, damp proofing and asbestos disposal.

The interior required custom made staircases, flooring, kitchen and toilet facilities, partitioning, electrical, data, air-conditioning, lighting and furniture, including a bespoke reception counter.

An area of the factory was decommissioned to facilitate the installation of a new two storey mezzanine construction to house a changing room, a locker room and washing facilities on the ground floor and a fully functional works canteen on the upper level.

The project was finished and signed off on time.

Höganäs on Cameron Barclay

"I was extremely impressed with the attention to detail and flexibility of the Cameron Barclay team. Project Management was excellent and informative, helped by weekly project review meetings and, although I was confident that Cameron Barclay would meet the expected specifications, I was delighted that they constantly exceeded them.

I was very impressed with the Health and Safety measures and the method statements. The planning administration was also faultless.

The completed project was very successful and re-motivated the entire workforce. I would not hesitate to appoint Cameron Barclay again for any future projects."
Adrian C Allen – Plant Manager – Höganäs (Great Britain) Ltd