Modular steel partitioning supplied by Troax UK Limited has been used to construct a series of training rooms, offices and inspection bays at Nissan’s Sunderland plant. The facilities are part of a £3.5m training centre for manufacturing excellence where production supervisors from Nissan plants across Europe, India, the Middle East and South Africa come to learn how to become master trainers in all aspects of efficient car production.

Nissan specified Troax modular partitioning for the project, a combination of Elan (formerly Excalibur) double-skin and Sabre single-skin steel partitioning, as the company had already used Troax systems in other areas of the factory. The partitioning was installed by JEB Contractors Limited.

Excalibur has been used to construct the external walls of the new facility, which is situated in a noisy plastics shop, as its double skin construction (it comprises two steel skins separated by composite infill) provides a high level of sound and heat insulation. The area covers around 2,500sqm and includes eight offices and a suite of training rooms and inspection bays which reach a height of 7m.

Because Nissan has used Troax partitioning for other projects at the factory they were confident that the partitioning would offer the required high standard of construction for the training facility which is one of Nissan’s two new global training centres of manufacturing excellence; the other is in Oppama, Japan.

Troax’s Sabre single-skin steel partitioning was used to build the internal walls which reach a height of 7m in order to accommodate large items such as spot-welding equipment. Glazed panels allow in plenty of light to ensure a bright and airy working environment.

The modular design of both partitioning systems was an important advantage for the Nissan project, as Lee Finney of JEB Contractors explains: “The modular construction of Troax’s partitioning systems made them easy to install which was particularly important as the new facility had to be designed to fit within the layout of the existing plastics shop. The partitioning is very high quality; it has a durable, hard-wearing powder coated paint finish and looks very smart. Throughout the project, Troax’s service was excellent.”