Project > Coca-Cola

Offering a Refreshing Solution for Coca-Cola’s Storage Challenges

Located in the heart of Sidcup, Kent, DB3 collaborated with Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd to craft their cutting-edge manufacturing facility. This innovative project encompasses a 40-meter-tall Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) structure, a fresh distribution building, and a connecting warehouse linked to the primary production areas.

Throughout RIBA Stages 1-4, our responsibilities encompassed:

  • Comprehensive management of the concept design to ensure overall design harmony
  • Handling the entire planning application process, including conducting public consultations
  • Preparing a tender package tailored for Design and Build procurement
  • Orchestrating the design process using Revit and BIM technologies for effective coordination

The Coca-Cola Challenge

The Coca-Cola Challenge

Coca-Cola’s remarkable growth led to an intriguing challenge. Their Sidcup site, once sufficient, was now bursting at the seams, compelling them to rent third-party warehouses, primarily in Dagenham. After a thorough evaluation of on-site warehousing and third-party storage arrangements, Coca-Cola concluded that conventional low-rise storage on-site wouldn’t suffice due to the immense volumes required on the flagship site.
Initial feasibility studies conducted by specialised logistics consultants determined that high-bay warehousing was the only viable solution. This approach would enable Coca-Cola to streamline and enhance its current operations, making the site more sustainable for the future.

The key objectives established through these initial consultations were:

  • Increase on-site storage capacity to support further investments in manufacturing capacity at the Sidcup site and create future employment opportunities
  • Maximise on-site storage to enhance operational efficiencies and eliminate the need for double-handling products. This reduction in unnecessary transportation costs and vehicle trips on the highway network was a crucial goal
  • Optimise the logistical supply chain by providing dispatch capacity to meet client demand while effectively managing the impact on the highway network

Coca-Cola's Vision

Coca-Cola's Vision

Coca-Cola’s vision for high-bay warehousing goes beyond mere expansion; it’s a commitment to a sustainable transformation. This state-of-the-art facility, meticulously designed to accommodate and automatically manage 25,000 pallets, represents a pivotal shift in their operational paradigm. By tripling the site’s storage capacity, it not only opens the door to direct deliveries of all manufactured products to customers but also signifies a strategic leap towards efficiency and eco-consciousness. This visionary approach doesn’t just stop at enhancing operational efficiency; it also yields substantial environmental benefits. The facility’s ability to eliminate approximately 10,817 road miles travelled by HGV trucks annually translates into a tangible reduction of 3,867 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The Solution

The Solution

The project was meticulously crafted to seamlessly integrate the demands of logistics and operational functionality. This involved the precise dismantling of existing warehousing and dispatch structures on-site, making way for the construction of the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) facility. This ASRS building is a testament to high-density storage solutions, unlocking valuable storage space that can now be allocated to support additional production lines.

Furthermore, the site expansion encompassed the creation of modern dispatch and loading structures, the introduction of a connecting building, and strategic adjustments to vehicular access, all aimed at facilitating on-site storage in a contemporary manner. As part of this comprehensive endeavour, a new gatehouse was established, and the goods yard underwent a complete redesign to align with the project’s overarching objectives.

Client: Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd.
Project Manager/Quantity Surveyor: PM: Faithful & Gould I Structural / Civil Eng: Waterman Structures I M&E Eng: Silcock Leedham
Location: Sidcup, Kent
Value: £35 million
RIBA Stages: 1-4
Date Completed: Feb 2014 – Oct 2016
Expertise Area:
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DB3 Industrial & Manufacturing

DB3 Industrial & Manufacturing

We design and manage projects ranging from single units, logistics, manufacturing, food processing and clean design, to large-scale, complex process-driven industrial developments. We co-ordinate inputs from around the globe and integrate specialist manufacturing and process machinery.

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