Working with AXIS Automatic Entrance Systems Ltd at Alder Hay Children's Hospital

In 2014 Kestrel Aluminium Systems worked closely with Axis Automatic Entrance Systems Ltd to ensure the successful delivery of their part of the refurbishment project of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. The contract secured by Axis saw the installation of over 200 doorsets into the brand new hospital building, the design of which had been inspired by children associated with the hospital.

The Challenge

Alder Hey hospital is the first hospital in Europe to have sliding glass doors on every room and Axis needed a new section to help achieve this ambitious plan. Axis approached Kestrel Aluminium to assist with designing a new header section for the project.

The Solution

Working together, the two companies developed the new header section which fulfilled the brief for use with manual sliding doors. Kestrel Aluminium has since put this profile into stock as a standard section. As well as developing the new required section Kestrel Aluminium also added additional lengths of standard sections to allow Axis to deliver the project on budget and with minimum material wastage, always adding value where possible.

The Benefits

In November 2014 Axis was presented with an Innovation Award by Laing O’Rourke North in recognition of their development of this type of manual sliding doorset. The doorsets were originally specified to meet a force of 22.5N or less, Axis delivered a doorset with an average opening force of less than 10N, a great achievement and huge accolade for the Northampton based company.

Working together to ensure all material was delivered on time Kestrel Aluminium and Axis co-ordinated efforts to manage the quantity of material required to manufacture over 200 doorsets. Steven Shute says “It is exciting for us to see customers deliver projects like Alder Hey and we thoroughly enjoy opportunities to work with our customers to achieve the best outcome for all involved”.