Case study: Veetee Rice Ltd

Background:-
Veetee Rice Ltd, one of the largest companies of its type in the UK, wanted to double warehousing capacity at its Rochester headquarters in Kent. HBPW was to provide all engineering design for both the sub and superstructures.

Challenge
The new extension, measuring 32m x 72m, was already 4.5m higher than the similar in size original structure and, at 12m, also needed to accommodate tall racking and associated high-mast forklift trucks (HMF). This meant it had to be laid to stringent DM2 flatness tolerance.

Solution
In order to meet client needs HBPW recommended that large piles be driven into the ground in order to achieve the DM2 requirement. HMF trucks have to operate on exact surfaces otherwise they run the risk of toppling over. There was little room for error.

Outcome
Piling at site enabled this to happen as part of the extension to Veetee’s ‘Building One’ and, by doubling the warehouse footprint, HBPW not only achieved a good client outcome, but also helped future proof warehouse operations at one the most important rice operations in the UK.