Building a green milestone

Apr 22 2008 by jez Davison, Evening Gazette

A NORTH-EAST manufacturer, which is helping construction companies build on their green credentials, has reached its latest milestone.

About 80% of steel used by Newton Aycliffe-based EOS, a producer of modular buildings, comes from a recycled source.

And the company has now completed its 300th “green” scheme.

EOS designs and manufactures light gauge steel framing systems for the European construction industry and its areas of expertise include social and private housing, commercial buildings, student accommodation, schools and healthcare schemes.

Employing 32 and based at Heighington Lane, Aycliffe Industrial Park, its other green strength is the insulation characteristics of the roof and wall panels used in its building process.

Quality control associated with EOS’s modular frames is superior to wood and the steel frames used for the buildings can last for 1,000 years provided they are adequately protected.

Michael O’Connell, EOS director, said: “Companies’ green credentials are high on the agendas of many organisations and leading decision-makers these days.

“Our modular steel frames are more environmentally friendly than traditional construction methods as well as providing better quality control and helping speed up the building process.

“We design, engineer and manufacture lightweight steel frames, which, combined with our highly insulated roofing and wall panels, create properties which exceed building regulation requirements in all aspects of thermal requirements and build quality.”

EOS is currently involved with projects including Middlesbrough College at the town’s Middlehaven site, an extension to Hexham Hospital in Northumberland, and luxury apartments at Copenhagen Place, Bow, London.

Its steel frames have also been used at Barratt Homes’ New England Quarter project in Brighton and Durham Sixth Form College.