Distribution centre for Henco Industries

Henco Industries, a producer of pipes and fittings for the sanitary and heating trade, was growing fast and needed its own distribution centre. The company wanted to make its daily operations as sustainable, efficient and innovative as it possibly could. A hybrid design made up of concrete columns and steel trusses was selected and the efficient new warehouse was built in record time close to the production plant. To reduce the number of columns and maximise the available storage space, the support columns were spaced 24 m apart, resulting in a building with a storage area of 12,510 m² capable of holding no less than 21,500 pallets. The building comprises a steel deck, sandwich panels with a concrete plinth and a super-flat concrete floor that incorporates an induction loop for forklift trucks. A total of 360 tonnes of S235 and S355 steel were used in the project, part of which was treated with fire-resistant paint to give a fire resistance of 120 min.