The UK’s first nuclear power station for a generation is being built – and our #madeinsandwell Monday star this week is celebrating winning a high-profile contract to supply fire protection materials to the site.

Cradley Heath-based FPC UK designs, tests and manufactures a wide range of fire protection materials and components including air grilles, fire collars, sleeves and luminaries.

Its clients span many sectors, including built environment, health, energy, renewables and rail transport. FPC UK’s components have been installed on iconic UK projects such as the Royal Windsor Estates and Foreign & Commonwealth Office, as well as flagship health buildings including the Royal Liverpool and Royal Stoke University hospitals.

FPC UK’s fire retention products can be found on major high-rise projects located in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

The first new nuclear power station in the UK is being built at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The plant is predicted to cost £18bn to build, most of which will be financed by the French utility company EDF. FPC UK is supplying intumescent fire protection materials to the site.

Hinkley Point C will be built next to the two existing facilities, A and B, and is set to be the largest construction site in Europe. Once complete, Hinkley C will deliver seven per cent of the UK’s electricity. The construction is expected to sustain and provide 25,000 jobs within the supply chain, whilst the finished power plant will employ 900 people. The first electricity from Hinkley Point C is due to be produced in 2025.

Recognising that the most effective ways to market product specifications and component innovations are now digital, representatives from FPC UK have asked Sandwell Council for support in developing their business potential through adopting BIM (Building Information Modelling) applications. They wish to convert their original 2D designs of their fire protection materials and components into functional and animated 3D BIM objects.

Sandwell Council introduced FPC to the BIMwm team who are working with FPC’s engineers to produce their 3D-formated assemblies embedded with hyperlinks. This will allow prospective clients to view FPC’s offerings as digital product data including material and method of manufacture, dimensional tolerances, component fire-ratings, testings, warranties, maintenance and life-cycle data.

Laurence Kovacs, managing director of FPC UK said: “The use of digital media is set to become the future of marketing in our industry. Converting core components into BIM objects is vital, as it allows prospective clients to click on each object to view specifications and product detail with a mind to pasting it into their own project designs.

“We are working with Sandwell Council and the BIMwm team and we’re delighted with the results. They fully understand the technical aspects and re-engineered our components in a digital BIM format. Sandwell Council’s vision and efforts in raising SMEs supply chain credentials will prove to be invaluable to firms like ours. Initiatives like the BIMwm framework have given us great impetus when bidding for future contracts”.

“The bottom line is that the digital age is here, and businesses that fail to adapt to the new marketing climate are at great risk of falling behind their competitors”.

For further information about FPC UK visit the company’s website at www.fpc-uk.com. If you’re interested in engaging the skills of the BIMwm team and applying BIM methods to your business, have a look at www.bimwm.co.uk.

#madeinsandwell Monday is a celebration of the talent and diversity of businesses in our borough. If you’re interested in being considered for a #madeinsandwell Monday profile, read this.