A £6.5 million ($10 million) steel store to support automotive manufacturing ambitions in the northeast of the UK has been officially opened. The AV Dawson store (pictured), which is capable of holding up to 58,000 tonnes of steel coil, has an innovative air handling dehumidification system to prevent condensation and ensure the steel is kept in pristine condition, with both heat and power being supplied by ground source heat pumps driven by solar panels.
Located in Middlesbrough, the 9500 square metre store has been developed so that steel producers can meet demand from the region’s automotive industry. More than 270,000 tonnes of steel per year will arrive by rail from Tata Steel in Port Talbot, South Wales before eventually heading by road to Sunderland-based car giant Nissan.
Gary Dawson, managing director of AV Dawson, said: ‘The facility is conditioned to hold steel in pristine condition indefinitely, enhancing quality, driving efficiencies, and building confidence in the supply chain. The green credentials of this route are impressive, with steel moving by train from South Wales to Middlesbrough, before being held in our renewable energy powered store’.
