News

The Smart Way Forward

30 April 2010

Smart Architectural Aluminium demonstrates how a UK manufacturer can compete successfully with sound environmental principles.

On the 13th May 2010, something momentous is happening in the North Somerset village of Yatton. Local company Smart Architectural Aluminium is opening the first stage of their new 15,000sq/m production facilities; bringing manufacturing back to the UK with what is planned to be the greenest manufacturing operation of its kind in the country.   
From the commencement of the planning process in 2007, Smarts were encouraged by North Somerset Council to consider the environmental impact of the new site. The company undertook an extensive review process that evaluated all aspects of the new development; the impact on local wildlife and habitat, the safe capture of waste materials, the impact of the additional activities on the local community.

This review process led the company to make a serious commitment to the environment and to apply for, and successfully attain ISO 14001:2009 Environmental Management Systems certification.  As an ISO 14001 company, Smarts continually re-evaluate their procedures and working practices to ensure that they are continually working to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment.

This same process has caused Smarts to consider the potential carbon impact of the new facilities on the environment. Faced with the reality that the outdated local power grid is not sufficient for their requirements, Smarts has two options. To generate their own green source of energy, or undertake a major upgrade of the local grid.

The Company’s preferred option is to generate power using a wind turbine, an entirely green source of energy that has no negative impact on the environment.  The wind turbine has the potential to generate of 330 kW of green power, with any excess power being fed directly into the local power grid. 

The alternative to wind power would involve a major upgrade to the local power grid, causing un-necessary disruption to the local community and further reliance on carbon polluting power generation. This option seriously conflicts with the Company’s ISO 14001 status and the aim of operating a carbon neutral service.

Smart Systems has strong connections to the local area, supporting local charities such as the Children’s Hospice South West and is one of the largest employers in the region.  The company was founded in Yatton over 30 years ago, and has successfully grown to be the UK’s leading supplier of aluminium window and doors.

In 2005 the Company relocated to bespoke premises on Arnolds Way that incorporate modern, open plan offices and a 15,000sq/m warehouse and transport facilities. The company currently employs 100 staff, 90% of whom live within 10 miles of Smarts. When the new production facilities are on line and up to speed this figure will rise to 200, making Smarts the largest employer in the local area. 

These new facilities will add an additional 15,000sq/m to the existing premises and feature a polyester powder coating paint line and aluminium extrusion press. The machinery is state of the art and the most advanced of its kind in the UK today, designed specifically for maximum efficiency and minimal wastage. The paint line in particular is 98% efficient, recycling and reusing almost all of its waste material, with the remaining 2% captured for appropriate disposal in line with environmental requirements.

All Smart’s products are manufactured using aluminium, a metal that can arguably be called the ultimate sustainable building material. Aluminium is 100% recyclable, the recycling process creating high quality material that loses none of the properties of primary aluminium. A popular fact is that 95% of the aluminium used in the construction of the old Wembley Stadium was reclaimed during the demolition process and recycled.  In fact, Bauxite ore, from which aluminium is extracted is the 3rd most abundant element on Earth, coupled with aluminium’s high recyclable qualities explains why it is sometimes referred to as a ‘cradle to cradle’ material. It is also worth noting that a large proportion of the world’s aluminium billet is produced using hydro-electricity.