SINGLE source industrial flooring specialist Kemtile has met its heaviest challenge yet by laying what it describes as a high performance, power-trowelled epoxy floor mortar to withstand traffic from 70 tonne tanks manufactured by a Shropshire-based defence engineering company.

Kemtile – a division of international flooring manufacturing business, Stonhard – says it provided a robust flooring solution for Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL).

RBSL is a joint venture between BAE Systems and Rheinmetall providing military vehicle design, manufacture and support. The Warrington-based flooring firm installed 19,000sq m of its Stonclad GS epoxy mortar on the main production floors at the site in Telford.

Says the company: ‘The flooring installation is part of RBSL’s £20m internal investment programme to improve infrastructure and create a world-class manufacturing facility to deliver key armoured vehicle programmes. Prior to Kemtile’s involvement, RBSL had manoeuvred the heavyweight vehicles over a painted concrete floor.’

To demonstrate the benefits of a more resilient approach, the technical services team from Kemtile took RBSL engineers into other companies to view floors that had been laid eight to 10 years earlier in similar heavy-duty environments.

After a series of site visits and some extensive research RBSL upgraded to the long-lasting Stonclad GS epoxy mortar alternative, also taking advantage of another specialist product from Kemtile – Stonproof CT5 to mitigate future cracking risks.

Steve Lyon, technical services manager from Kemtile, said the project had been a hugely satisfying one. He added: ‘RBSL now has a durable flooring solution which can properly withstand years of what is probably the ultimate in heavy duty traffic. Tanks and other military vehicles can roll over this floor with confidence.’

Andy Lovatt, senior facilities engineer at RBSL said: ‘Installing a new floor in a 60-year-old factory, while maintaining production activity, has been a unique and logistically challenging project for RBSL and Kemtile.

‘Kemtile was selected because of its proven experience in delivering market-leading flooring products. The new floor will provide a long-term, durable surface which greatly improves the environment and reduces maintenance costs. It’s transforming the factory and we’re delighted with the quality of the finished product.’

Kemtile describes itself as a UK market leader of hygienic flooring and drainage solutions. Since becoming a Stonhard company three years ago, both brands have aligned to share experience, contacts, insight and expertise to provide customers with ‘single source’ service, as well as what the company says is a wider choice of effective, long-lasting flooring and drainage solutions than ever before.