Premier Construction

Auto-trail

Auto-trail
Written by Roma Publications

Auto-trail Factory Extension

Auto-trail

Auto-trail, owned by the French based Trigano Group, has unveiled a new multi-million pound extension to its purpose built factory within Europarc in Grimsby. The expansion project will double production at the 11,000m2 site as well as provide an increased number of jobs.

Europarc is one of the Humber region’s main business parks, housing some of North East Lincolnshire’s leading businesses, with over 2000 employed on site. With over 725,000ft2 of business space, it has been designed to house manufacturing, distribution and office based businesses at all stages of their development.

The business park itself was one of the first to introduce a comprehensive travel initiative. This includes a car-share scheme, bespoke cycle links and a regular bus service.

The high quality, cost-effective and purpose-built accommodation sits within landscaped grounds offering the perfect place for any business to be part of. The park allows businesses to create a bespoke space that fits the needs of their company, which is what Auto-trail has done this year.

Auto-trail is a dedicated motorhome manufacturer with nearly 35 years’ experience in designer and building motorhomes. With one in three motorhomes sold in the UK being built at the Grimsby site, the extension will expand the factory as well as create land to cater for all logistic needs involved in the despatch of completed motorhomes.

The factory produces a selection of 29 vehicles that range from 5.40m to 8.73m in length with a range of 38 interior layouts that can have up to six berths and six travel seats, as well as three engine options.

The kitchen features a full oven/grill with a four ring hob, 800w microwave, storage and a large fridge freezer. The washroom has a 12v cassette toilet and fully enclosed shower cubicles.

The exterior of the motorhomes include integrated wind out awning with awning lights and daylight running lights. The vehicles are built for comfort with large fresh and waste water tanks, high density wall, floor and roof insulation along with ‘heavy domestic’ removable carpets. They also have dimmer switch controlled low energy LED lighting and 11 fixed bed models.
The main contractor Cube3 Construction started work on the development in November 2015 and completed the project early in September of this year. “The 5,500m2 extension provides extra production space as well as storage space and additional office and welfare facilities,” commented Graham Marshall, a Director at Cube3 Construction. With the demand for motorhomes growing each year, the completion of the project this was ideal as it will increase production capacity to exceed over 3,000 per year.

Auto-trail

The extension is a steel framed, composite clad, portal framed build which joins the two existing standalone production buildings. Along with this extension, building services, financed by Trigano Group, included the extension of the existing fire sprinkler system, new LED lighting to the extension and the replacement of the LED fittings to the existing buildings. “A new rainwater harvesting system has been added which will supply water to the existing and new toilet facilities,” added Graham.

As well as the development to the building, externally 22,000m2 of concrete paving and associated drainage systems for parking vehicles were completed. New security fencing and the forming of a new entrance to the extended site has also been provided.

One of the main challenges of the build was the fact it was still in production whilst the development was happening. “There was some work within the two already existing factories, the removal of internal walls, whilst production carried on. That was quite a quite the challenge trying to work around production,” commented Graham.

Once complete, this Europarc production plant will become the largest and most modern dedicated motorhome factory in the UK.

 

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Roma Publications