A cheese company had been grappling with flooring challenges in its production facilities which were now posing a serious health and safety risk.
Cause for concern was the area leading into their cheese production hallway which featured ageing and outdated red brick tiles. Over 10 years on, the concrete was compromised, and the surface had become slippery, making it a hazard for staff as well as reducing traction for forklift wheels.
The company needed a reliable flooring solution to improve safety and functionality in this high-traffic area. Kemtile recommended a seamless urethane flooring system from Stonhard, especially designed to be durable and safe under foot.
Jamie Cook, from Kemtile, with over 40 years’ experience in the dairy sector, said there were some unique considerations to be aware of.
He said: “All dairy process floors must be hygienic, easy to clean and impervious, as some ingredients and cleaning chemicals can attack concrete.
“Dairy floors are also subject to all types of spillages, be it water, milk, brine, whey or other by-products and caustic cleaning solutions, so providing adequate drainage – ideally stainless steel - and making them anti-slip is very important.”
On this job, using chipping hammers, the install team removed the old brick tiles and prepared the substrate.
Stonset TG6, a fast setting, trowelled polyurethane grout was applied to restructure the slope of the facility’s ramp, creating a smooth and effective transition into the production hallway.
Finally, Stonclad UR, a heavy-duty urethane mortar system was installed with a textured epoxy topcoat, Stonkote HT4, for crucial slip resistance. The result is a seamless, high-performance floor built to withstand constant foot and forklift traffic with the added benefits of improved safety and efficiency.
