Production of advanced wound care products requires a high commitment to quality and product safety. Panel Projects’ partitioning provided the integrity and finish for UK company Advanced Medical Solutions
When it comes to specifying the panelling to use in constructing a cleanroom facility, factors such as panel integrity and joint detail are key considerations. That is why, in designing a £3.7m cleanroom suite for UK-based wound care specialist Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS), panelling was chosen from one of the experienced suppliers of panel system solutions for this type of application.
Panel Projects, part of the Gilcrest Group, based at Avonmouth, near Bristol, UK, supplied 5,000m2 of high performance panelling for AMS’s cleanroom suite at its site in Winsford, Cheshire. AMS uses in-house natural and synthetic polymer technology to provide advanced wound dressings based on the ‘moist healing’ principle. The new facility houses the complete manufacturing process from beginning to end, including the final packaging of dressings.
The contract to design and construct the facility was won by Clean Room Construction (CRC). Based at Rochester, Kent, CRC has had a long association with Panel Projects, collaborating in the design and construction of numerous installations. These have involved cleanrooms and other controlled environments across a range of industry sectors, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare and medical research.
For the Winsford installation, CRC specified two panel types. For partitioning, a panel with mineral fibre core was used for its high levels of insulation, fire resistance, thermal efficiency and sound proofing. The core is also water repellent, rot proof and virtually eliminates the growth of fungi, mould and bacteria. For cladding existing walls and column casings, a panel with an aluminium honeycomb core was chosen.
Both panel systems are strong, lightweight and durable with galvanised steel facings that allow each panel to interlock tightly with its neighbour. This provides a secure and consistent air tight joint which can then be sealed with silicone for a continuous anti-bacterial barrier. A white food-safe 120µm PVC laminated coating provides a final protective layer with the ability to withstand frequent cleaning.
Panel Projects supplied the panel systems to the exact dimensions specified by CRC. Every panel in its range can be customised to any size and shape and can be adapted to include door and window sets, together with specialist trims, such as cappings and angles. Where panels are used in suspended ceilings, coving is commonly added to seal and protect the angle between wall and ceiling from dust accumulation.
Panel Projects’ systems are simple to assemble and fit and, depending on require-ments, are generally supplied complete with floor channelling, fixings and installation drawings. Large stock holdings of most system types are carried, helping to keep supply lead times to around two weeks.
