JCB chooses continuous radiant heating for its new excavator factory
JCB’s new £40 million factory at Uttoxeter comprises 42 000 m2 of single-storey floor space, heated by Nor-Ray-Vac’s continuous radiant-tube heating system. The move to the new factory ends nearly 40 years of operation on the previous site and will produce tracked and wheeled excavators from 7 to 46 t and which are sold in over 150 countries.
Consultants Couch Perry & Wilkes originally considered air-handling units, but then specified radiant heating for its superior ability to heat large spaces efficiently and cost effectively. The system was installed by Derry Building Services.
To achieve the blanket coverage required, there are 59 burners from the 46LR range and six discharge fans. A comfortable working temperature can be achieved within five to 10 minutes of the system starting up.
The installation for this factory is controlled in six zones by the building-management system.
The move to the new factory has enabled JCB to increase its production capacity by over 60% and vastly improve working conditions for the 300+ staff.
