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FM Approved Cleanroom Upgrade

Electronic Components Manufacturer

The Brief

A global manufacturer of electronic components for the automotive sector needed to upgrade the cleanroom at its Bedford facility to satisfy revised insurance conditions.

The requirement was specific: an FM Approved cleanroom system, supplied and installed by an architectural envelope contractor with the technical credentials to evidence compliance, and delivered without taking production offline.

Our Approach

Following a site visit to establish the full scope, Stancold proposed the removal of the existing cleanroom walls and their replacement with the FM Approved Puracore system, including all doors and vision panels.

The client’s operational commitments shaped every decision. Key challenges included:

Maintaining production throughout, with only a 10-day shutdown of the main cleanroom agreed
Meeting FM Approval requirements in full to satisfy the updated insurance conditions
Working safely and cleanly within a live, classified environment
Areas of the existing envelope that could not be assessed until removal began

Delivery in Action

Working within a live cleanroom demanded a stringent construction programme and daily health and safety briefings to manage personnel moving in and around the works area.

Where the original surveys could not reach concealed sections of the existing envelope, our site and in-house design teams worked in real time to identify issues and reissue drawings, resolving them as they arose rather than pausing the programme.

The flexibility of the Puracore system, combined with Stancold’s experienced installation teams, allowed on-site adaptations to be made without compromising the specification. Drawing on 2,188m² of 50mm aluminium honeycomb panelling supplied for the works, the upgraded cleanroom handed over within 12 weeks on site, bringing the facility into line with its insurers’ requirements.

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Location	Bedford
Building Use	Electronic Components Production
Panel System	Puracore
Panel Core	Aluminium Honeycomb
Panel Thickness	50mm
Panel Requirements	2,188m²
Specialist Expertise	FM Approved Cleanroom Systems
	Live Environment Construction
	Real-Time Design Resolution

OUR HISTORY

1946

Creation of Rowland Adams Metals Ltd, Bristol

A partnership between Mr Adams and Mr Rowland, two metalworker friends back from the war. Over the years, they became one of the first companies in England making cork filled coldroom panels that were sandwiched between timber frames and vapor repellent faces infilled with rope fibres, bitumen and caulk to create a seal.

1979

Name change to Stancold Coldstore Construction

Where the name originated from is a combination of urban legend and myth. Some say it was the idea of an installer called Stan, some say it was a “clever use” of the concept of 'Standing in the Cold'. However we got here, we are proud of our roots!

1988-1997

The Gillham family steps in

Mervyn Gillham came from a different field and saw the potential within Stancold to become a leading company in this specialist marketplace. In 1997, his son Kevin Gillham joins the team.

Stancold 1988-1997

1999

Stancold acquires Mercury Coldrooms

Stancold becomes one with the well reputed local coldstore business, Mercury Coldrooms, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a great team of people to the company. Today, the majority of the senior management team of Stancold and our top project managers are originally from Mercury.

2000

New HQ

As a result of rapid expansion, Stancold moves into a new 2600 m² building conveniently located just off the M4 motorway in Avonmouth. This exciting change has allowed us to consolidate all teams, knowledge and resource into one central hub, whilst being able to effectively cover the whole of the UK and beyond.

2001

From father to son

Mervyn Gillham retires at a young age to a warm country with a cold beer. His son, Kevin Gillham, takes over as Managing Director and remains to this day.

2002

Gilcrest Group

Gilcrest Group is established with a separate manufacturing division to provide specialist composite panels to the broader market whilst supporting Stancold's continued development.

2002-2015

Stronger team and offering

Stancold strengthens its team and offering to the market by introducing innovative uses of insulated panels for other applications such as firewalls. Throughout the recession, Stancold remained profitable and retains all the key personnel who make the business what it is. A core of staff at this time have been in the same business for 20 years.

Stancold 2002-2018

2015-2020

Cleanroom Development

Demonstrating resilience amidst Brexit uncertainty and a worldwide pandemic, Stancold preserves its strong financial status and diversifies our offering further. Where we saw an increase in demand from clients for more technically challenging projects, including cleanroom envelopes and humidity-controlled facilities, a specialist team was formed within the business.

Stancold 2005-2020

2021 – 2025

Complex Project Delivery

Stancold increasingly demonstrates design-and-build envelope solutions for demanding applications across the UK, such as battery manufacturing facilities, nuclear establishments and major pharmaceutical expansion projects.

Stancold Present

Present

Strength to Strength

Ahead of the next stage of strategic growth and investment, the company restructures, introducing Chris Honer as CEO, supported by a Senior Management Team that aligns expertise across every stage of the customer journey. This reflects a clear intent to build on strong foundations, sector diversification and continued investment in people, innovation and operational strength.

ACCREDITATIONS

BRE - UKAS; ISO 9001:2015

BRE Global provides independent, third-party certification of fire, security and environmental products and services. ISO 9001:2015 ensures that our customers get consistent, good quality products and services.

SafeContractor

The SafeContractor scheme is designed to review and audit the health and safety policies, procedures and documentation of contractors giving our clients continued piece of mind.

LPS 1500

This standard defines the requirements for companies installing fire resisting compartment systems approved by LPCB to the requirements of LPS 1208 – LPCB fire resistance requirements for elements of construction used to provide compartmentation.

Constructionline

Constructionline is the UK’s leading procurement and supply chain management service that provides efficiency savings by reducing risk, creating cost efficiencies and helping buyers engage with new suppliers.

CHAS Accredited Contractor

CHAS is a pre-approval scheme run by the Government assessing suppliers' conformity with Health and Safety laws. It saves both time and resources for buyers when looking for the right supplier.

Cold Chain Federation

The voice of the temperature-controlled supply chain in the UK, the federation is the leading source of information, advice and guidance for businesses within the industry.

FPA

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) is the UK's national fire safety organisation who work to and identify the dangers of fire and the means by which their potential for loss is kept to a minimum.

Builder’s Profile

Gives main contractors the opportunity to receive our up-to-date pre-qualification profiles and gives confidence that your supply chain is up-to-date and meets your insurance and health and safety responsibilities.

BSG Membership

BSG help us minimise the risk of accidents in the workplace and keep us up to date and compliant with all health, safety and environmental regulations.

Taste of the West

We are proud to support Taste of the West, a unique membership organisation for food and drink businesses across the South West. Stancold are Taste of the West's Preferred Partner for Food Factory Fit-Out.

Taste of the West Awards Sponsor

In line with our goal to support food and drink producers in the South West, we are very pleased to be sponsors of the 2025 Taste of the West Awards.