Leading building products manufacturer Steadmans continues to fly high after supplying materials for the largest privately financed project ever undertaken at Belfast International Airport.
The company’s products have helped build a new £2m, 33,000 square-foot hangar for Woodgate Aviation, Northern Ireland’s largest private aircraft charter, maintenance and aviation fuel supply business, which also has sites in Newtownards and on the Isle of Man.
Steadmans, a principal UK supplier for steel construction in the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors, provided 3,250 linear metres of its 80mm thick AS35 composite panels, in merlin grey, for the hangar’s roof and walls. The company also supplied 250 linear metres of 80mm AS35 roof lights, 2,300 linear metres of Zed purlins, 100 linear metres of eaves beams and over 50 linear metres of insulated guttering, plus fixings and butyl tape.
David Shaw, general manager, Woodgate Aviation, said: “We’re delighted with the robustness, practicality and appearance of our new hangar, and the Steadmans products have to take much of the credit for that. The roof and wall panels in particular give our building a substantial, yet aesthetically pleasing, feel.
“We have not only been around for 47 years, but have experienced impressive growth since the recession and are confident that upward trend will continue. We, therefore, wanted the building to be, among other things, a statement to the market about our strength, commitment and belief in our growth prospects. We have no doubt the Steadmans products allow the hangar to communicate those messages loud and clear.”
The materials were installed by Lisburn-based Green City Contracts and the project’s structural engineer was Mark Smyth at Belfast’s MLS Design.
Woodgate’s new hangar is one of the most modern and best-equipped in the UK and Ireland, with dedicated workshops, meeting rooms and luxurious passenger facilities for its public and private sector clients. It also has 6,000 square feet of offices and is capable of accommodating aircraft up to and including a Bombardier Global Express.
The building’s fully-equipped maintenance department will enable functions currently carried out at Newtownards Airfield to be brought under one roof with aircraft charter and management. 
Woodgate Aviation operates private charters to British and European destinations, as well as offering medical service, cargo and aircraft handling. It uses a wide range of aircraft, including the Beechcraft B200 King Air, capable of carrying up to eight passengers.
In addition to composite wall and roof sheets, Steadmans’ output includes steel cladding, galvanised roofing sections, metal cladding, roofing products and fibre cement sheeting. All its relevant products conform to CE marking regulations and meet their requirements.
The company’s AS35 composite panels consist of two coated steel profiles bonded to a core of PIR insulation, which are used to form roofs, down to a four-degree pitch, and walls. Including a comprehensive range of guttering, flashlights, sealants and roof lights, the AS35 system offers swift completion of a wide variety of weatherproof and high-quality building envelopes, from commercial and warehouse premises to office blocks.
Manufactured in a quality process certified to ISO 9001:2008, using non-ozone depleting technology, AS35 panels are environmentally-responsible, provide excellent thermal performance and have a predicted service life of 40 years. Available in thicknesses ranging from 40mm to 137mm, the panels can be specified to achieve insulation U-values, aiding compliance with the latest L2 regulations, and are Loss Prevention Certification Board approved.
In addition to its headquarters site in Carlisle, Cumbria, Steadmans has facilities in: Uddingston, near Glasgow; Fyvie, Aberdeenshire; and Belfast, Northern Ireland. The company employs 150 people overall and benefits from being part of the SIG UK group.
For further information on Steadmans’ full range of products call 016974 78277, email [email protected]or visit www.steadmans.co.uk
ENDS