Platform on window, door, frame technology, hardware, roof and facade technology, security
The largest and most sustainable chocolate warehouse in the world is in Lokeren. It was built by real estate group WDP on behalf of Barry Callebaut. 'The Chocolate Box,' designed by AAVO Architects, is the new global logistics hub for all the packaged chocolate products the chocolate company produces in its Wieze and Halle factories. The eye-catcher is a fully automated high bay 41 meters high for 125,000 pallets, which are stored at a constant temperature of 18° C. Willy Naessens Alu was commissioned to supply all windows, doors a curtain walls. The manufacturer of aluminum joinery and building glass from Wortegem-Petegem chose the Star 75 windows and doors and the curtain wall system MC Wall from Aliplast.
'The Chocolate Box' is the new hub of chocolate in the world. It stores 1,500 different products, all destined for professional customers worldwide. Not only is it the largest chocolate warehouse in the world, but this 100% energy-neutral building also carries the BREEAM Outstanding label. To keep the chocolate in optimal condition, it is constantly 18° C there, but a heat pump, ventilation systems and good thermal insulation makes air conditioning unnecessary. The windows, doors and curtain walls must also do their bit to control the indoor temperature. That's why Willy Naessens Alu went looking for solutions that combine high thermal insulation with a sleek, modern look. This is how they ended up with Star 75 and MC Wall from Aliplast.
"The Star 75 windows have a recessed depth of 75 mm for the outer frame and 84 mm for the sash. With a Uw-value of 0.94 W/m²K, an air tightness class 4 and an acoustic value of 47.1 dB (-1,-4), this solution fits perfectly in applications with the most stringent thermal and acoustic insulation requirements," says Jourik Duwez, sales manager at Aliplast Aluminium Systems.
"For curtain walls, Naessens Alu integrated the MC Wall, which guarantees every architect unprecedented design freedom. With a U-value that can even be used for passive projects, this all-in-one curtain wall also scores super in terms of insulation. With a glass thickness of 59 mm, almost all available glass types can be integrated. The deep oval covers chosen by the architect accentuate the façade, adding an extra architectural aspect to the glass panes. We advised the people at Willy Naessens Alu in securing the heavy cover caps, which allowed everything to be finished perfectly down to the smallest details."
Producers of aluminum joinery often consciously choose to cooperate with Aliplast. The aluminium system house always guarantees the same high product quality and short, reliable delivery times. Vertical integration is a strong advantage, which is also appreciated at Willy Naessens Alu.
"Everything happens under one roof at Aliplast: extrusion, powder coating, thermal insulation, sheet and folding, storage and distribution. This has its advantages, because we keep control over the entire production process and the quality of our products. Moreover, we can perfectly coordinate the various departments and keep a close eye on the costs of the production process. We also have a large R&D department, which works closely with our project advisors and the architects to quickly anticipate market demands," Jourik Duwez states.
"We also have our own powder coating lines for powder coating. We first give the aluminum profiles a special pretreatment (always Qualicoat Seaside) and then powder coat them with class 2 powders, which have a very high resistance to UV rays. While 10 years is requested, we offer a 25-year color guarantee, unique in the market. At Aliplast, we are extremely proud to have collaborated with our partner Naessens Alu on this prestigious Barry Callebaut project. And the fact that this chocolate warehouse is then also located in our home town of Lokeren only makes it even more beautiful as a reference."
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