Vestre is now building The Plus, the world's most ecologically friendly furniture factory, near Magnor, Norway. The project has received over 23 tonnes of Hydro CIRCAL low-carbon aluminium. When compared to equivalent traditional manufacturing buildings, the Plus intends to save at least 90% on energy.
With more than 2,000 square metres of glass facades up to 14 meters high, there are extraordinary demands for energy efficiency, insulation, thermal bridging, and building physics in general. Hydro CIRCAL is made up of at least 75 percent of recycled aluminium from soda cans, automotive parts and other materials that have already served their purpose.
“The glass facades are specially developed for The Plus to ensure maximum transparency and the lowest possible energy consumption. The WICONA profiles that frame the glass are delivered using Hydro CIRCAL alloys,” says Frank Føleide, sales engineer at Hydro Building Systems.
All aspects of the plant, from the design of working conditions to the facilitation of electric heavy-duty transport and the management of the adjacent forest regions, have been led by sustainability and inclusivity. The plant aspires to be a global showcase for environmentally friendly and high-efficiency manufacturing.
“We look forward to opening the doors to The Plus. This will be the people's factory. It will be a factory for the locals, Norwegians and the rest of the world. This is not only a big happening for Vestre, but also for mainland Norwegian industry and Scandinavian export cooperation,” said Stefan Tjust, CEO of Vestre.
Indoors, the Plus has also utilised aluminium. Material for the stair rails that architecturally link the levels at The Plus has been supplied from Hydro's extrusion facility in Magnor, just a stone's throw away from Vestre's new factory.
“We are happy to be able to contribute to a project that is as future-oriented as Vestre’s The Plus. We have collaborated with Vestre for many years already, including the furniture series "Folk", and we look forward to now having the world's most environmentally friendly furniture factory as a neighbor at Magnor,” said Morten Bråten, Managing Director at Hydro Magnor.
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