Bristol Robotics Laboratory

Client: Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Contractor: Curtis Partitioning
Value: $1.5 million
Type of works: supply and installation of the Elan (formerly Excalibur) double-skin steel partitioning system.

Troax’s Excalibur double skin steel partitioning system has been used to construct a research facility at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) as part of a $1.5 million upgrade and expansion programme. BRL is a research partnership funded by the University of Bristol, The University of the West of England and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The BRL complex is the largest research facility in the UK for advanced robotics and brings together university and industrial researchers in a wide range of leading edge projects such as the development of robotic care assistants to help the aged, domestic and industrial cleaning robots and new forms of artificial limbs.

Contractor Curtis Partitioning used a combination of full steel and glazed panels from Troax’s Excalibur range of modular partitioning to build the 25 x 25m sq research unit where students work on the development of hundreds of different types of robots, from wheeled and walking robots to flying and underwater models. The open plan area accommodates computer workstations as well as facilities for carrying out practical work on robot parts such as heads and torsos.

Excalibur was ideal for creating this laboratory type environment as it offers a high level of cleanliness due to the design of its panels which are flush both sides and have minimal ledges and corners. Its double-skin design (which is a monobloc construction comprised of two steel skins separated by an inert insulating infill) also offers excellent sound and heat insulation properties and complies with all relevant Health & Safety legislation.

The partitioning also provided an extremely cost-effective solution for the project as Steve Curtis of Curtis Partitioning explains: “Excalibur was the obvious choice for the BRL project as it not only looks extremely good and has a very high quality finish, but it is also very competitively priced. The quality is exceptional and the powder coated paint finish is very durable and hardwearing.

We started using Troax partitioning systems just over a year ago and we haven’t looked back since. Troax’s service is faultless and we now use them regularly for this type of project.”