Industry News

Powdertech Sandstorm finish featured at Perry Barr Station, Birmingham

Powdertech Corby used its Evolution Sandstorm finish to powder coat the sides of a large planter outside Perry Barr railway station, Birmingham. Re-development of the railway station was part of a £30.9 million project which also included the bus interchange The entire project was finished on time, and within budget, ready for the Commonwealth Games 2022 hosted by Birmingham.

Perry Bar railway station became a key visitor destination, situated close to Alexander Stadium, home of the opening and closing ceremony as well as athletics events. “We can now say that Powdertech Corby put in an appearance of sorts, at the highly successful Commonwealth Games 2022” said Richard Besant, Director, Powdertech. Update of the station buildings themselves followed the popular trend for the appearance of rusted metal, providing a contemporary industrial look. “Powdertech’s Sandstorm finish complemented the main building perfectly,” said Richard Besant. “The finish has high durability and colour stability. Providing a very natural appearance of rust with subtle variation in tone, the overall effect is a pleasing consistency of shade. Cleaning and maintenance will be very straightforward, requiring just a 6-monthly wash with water.” Powdertech coated over 100 mild steel panels and postbrackets some weighing over 100kg which were joined together internally to form the large planter.

Client: Galliford Try, RAAFT. Architect: Glancy Nicholls

DESIGNER CONTRACTS MOVE AND STAFF BOOST

Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has relocated its Slough office to larger premises in Reading and made a raft of key appointments across the company.

The new, 2,400 sq ft East Woodley office and warehouse in Reading now forms the regional headquarter base for Designer Contract’s Western Counties area – one of 15 regional offices around the UK. a significant investment in the future of the company, along with a number of senior appointments and promotions.”

Heading up the new Reading office team and area manager for the Western Counties region is Litin Makwana. Elsewhere Rachael Pemberton-Baghurst, based in Chesterfield, is promoted from training and development manager to performance and development director; the Yorkshire region’s new area manager - through an internal promotion – is Jason Turnbull; and Steven Lendrum joins the company as area manager for the Southwest office. Litin Makwana comes from a retail background of some 30 years, including working for Dreams, the Steinhoff group and Hilary’s Blinds. He came to England in 1970 from Nairobi Kenya and currently lives in Luton Bedfordshire.

Rachael has been with Designer Contracts since 2010 when she started in the show home and design department and has worked her way up through the company through a wide-ranging number of roles.

She is married, lives in Nottinghamshire and said: “In my new role I am excited to unite and oversee the compliance, audit and learning and development departments to drive improvements in the performance of our people, systems and process.”

Jason Turnbull joined Designer Contracts in 2018 after more than 20 years in sales and management. He is based in Leeds, is a keen Leeds United and Rhinos supporter – and following his promotion to area manager, hopes to build the new Yorkshire region into one of the company’s most successful business areas.

Steven Lendrum is based in North Devon and, after working his way up to store manager with ASDA, spent five years in store management with Carpetright www.DesignerContracts.com