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Materials Engineering and Test - first cut
Keeping you informed.
Ground Breaking Ceremony for new 'materials' building at Samlesbury
- posted 14.01.09Thursday 27th November 2008 marked the start of work on the new Materials Engineering Support and Test Materials Engineering Support and Test (MEST) single storey building at Samlesbury with a Ground Breaking Ceremony to mark the 'official' first cut of the ground.
The facility which will cover an area of approximately 1000m² will be located next to 2 Shed and the CFC clean room and is planned to be operational by the end of next year, 2009.
The facility is purpose built to provide office accommodation, laboratory space provides materials analysis and evaluation associated with metallurgy, composite materials, non-metallic materials, chemistry, mechanical test, NDT and instrumentation in support of the MAS Manufacturing, Engineering and Main operating Bases.
The planned building handover to MEST is scheduled for August 2009.
The first cut of the ground was performed by Dave Holmes, Director of Investment & Infrastructure Services and John Robinson, Head of Materials Engineering Support and Test (pictured). Dave Holmes said; "This is a critically important part of our transformation, establishing a co-located Materials Engineering capability, aligned to the businesses future production and on-base activities."
New reception building reaches golden milestone
- posted 14.01.09BAE Systems and building contractors BAM reached an important milestone on 3rd November 2008 with the completion of the structural frame for the new Reception building at the Samlesbury site.
The occasion was marked by a ceremony to celebrate the last 'golden bolt' being inserted to the framework by Investment and Infrastructure Services Construction Project Manager, Carl Forshaw.
The new Reception is considered to be the jewel in the crown of new building development at Samlesbury with a striking design alluding to the dynamic form of a fighter jet
It will be a signature building in which we can welcome our visitors and provide much improved facilities. It will feature a floor to ceiling glazed curtain wall on one side of the building to capture natural daylight; increased seating capacity to accommodate higher visitor numbers due to the growth of the site and associated amenity facilities for the comfort of our visitors.
There will also be access to state-of-the art interactive audio visual facilities with touch screen plasma terminals to view information about the company and its products.The building handover is due March 2009.
Dave Holmes, Director of Investment and Infrastructure Services said, "This marks another significant milestone in the transformation project, the new reception facility and improved entrance are designed to create the right image for Samlesbury site and the business, whilst at the same time being highly functional".
Work on the new Reception and a new entrance to the site began on 15th September. The new site entrance on the main route to the site, the A59, will include a traffic light controlled T junction to improve road safety on access to the site, visitor car parking and a new-era 'quiet' wind turbine.
Highly visible from the roadway, the wind turbine will be a prominent symbol of the company's commitment to renewable energy and consideration for the local community.
The existing main entrance will be closed once the new site entrance is opened for use.
A new entrance to the Canberra Club is also being planned and will give the public direct access to the Club from the A59.
This will serve to open up the facility for wider use by the local community.
BAE Systems Marks Development Milestone At Samlesbury
- posted 02.09.08.A major milestone in the multi-million pound development of the BAE Systems site at Samlesbury has seen the traditional 'topping out' ceremony of the first of two new state-of–the-art-office buildings.
The energy-efficient four-storey office buildings will house staff working on a number of internationally important aircraft programmes including the F-35 Lightning II, the largest contract of its kind in the world.
Dave Holmes, Investment and Strategic Planning Director for BAE Systems Military Air Solutions business, said: "BAE Systems is a substantial contributor to the UK economy with around half of its UK employees based in the North West.
"The Samlesbury development demonstrates our commitment to the region. This investment will help ensure that Samlesbury remains an important centre of excellence for aerospace in the North West.
"Our aim is to build a strong and vibrant supply chain in the region. We have been working closely with the North West Aerospace Alliance and Regional Development Agency to maintain the supply network and help strengthen its ability to compete in the global market place."
He added, "The development programme here at Samlesbury will help harness and retain skills, technology and knowledge in the region, and underpin the future of aerospace in Lancashire."
The new offices will utilise hi-tech energy management systems and include passive infra-red lighting, chilled beam heating/cooling and rainwater harvesting. BAE Systems has worked closely with the local authorities and the local community to ensure both environmental and transport issues around the development are fully addressed
The topping out ceremony is traditionally carried out in the construction industry when the last beam or highest piece of concrete is placed at the top of a building. The tradition is common in Europe and the United States.
Alterations to the public road network
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posted 02.09.08.As part of the plans to develop Samlesbury site, it is a condition of planning that several issues regarding the local highway are addressed.
Lancashire County Council is responsible for the alterations to the public road network associated with the site development and they will be carrying out this work in a 24 week period from the 15th September 2008.
1. Swallow Hotel Junction - New Traffic Lights and Lane Layout
2. Canberra Club - New Entrance
3. Samlesbury A59 - New Main Entrance
4. Mellor Village - Mini Roundabout
5. Branch Rd Junction - Lane Changes
6. Samlesbury On-Site – New Reception, Visitor Car Park & Road Works
Duration of Works
1, 2, 3, 6 – September to March
4, 5 – September to November
Further details on the plans can be found on the Lancashire County Council website, under the 'Road Works' link.
