Five reasons why Neaco are years ahead of the rest
Neaco customers appreciate our ability to ease that pressure, untangle the complexities and enable better decision-making. It’s one of the reasons why we attract so much repeat business. With that in mind, we’ve outlined five compelling differences which set Neaco apart.
Design and manufacturing know-how
In 2022, Neaco celebrated its 50th birthday. We’ve invested in technical design and product development across five decades in construction. We cover every stage of development under one roof, from technical support to manufacturing and installation.
Neaco brings that knowledge, commercial awareness and expertise to every project. We offer advice, suggestions and trouble-shooting solutions which transform specifications and often influence the direction of the wider project.
We’ve been ahead of the curve on regulatory standards and best practices, advocating non-combustible balcony solutions long before post-Grenfell laws made them mandatory.
Many manufacturers and suppliers simply don’t have that experience to draw on. There are no shortcuts to gaining 50 years’ worth of know-how.
Value across the supply chain
The raw figures of a quotation never tell the whole story. When managing the overall cost of a project, there’s a big difference between the price of an individual product and the value it brings to the rest of the supply chain.
For example, Neaco’s modular systems are designed for fast, fuss-free installation. Reducing time on site reduces reliance on expensive ancillary services (e.g. scaffolding) which can add up to huge savings.
Our decking is manufactured from lightweight aluminium and designed for outstanding load-bearing capacity, requiring much less supporting steelwork for balcony applications. That’s another significant cost saving which you won’t see at the bottom of a quotation document.
Neaco is competitive on price, but our solutions also deliver outstanding added value across the construction timeline.
Data-driven for instant compliance
Neaco’s product development is driven by performance data, compliance and best practice. Our standardised modular systems have already been fully tested to meet project requirements, with all third-party data and supporting documents instantly available to confirm compliance with Building Regulations and industry guidance.
Contrast that with a bespoke fabricated solution which has never been tested for project requirements and has no historical data. The answer has to be tested from scratch, causing a major delay in lead times and impacting the progress of a project.
Our ready-made compliance provides total peace of mind and streamlines design and specification.
Sustainability credentials
Everything about Neaco, from design principles to manufacturing processes, serves sustainable development and carbon reduction. Our pre-engineered modular systems tick every box: 100% recyclable materials, virtually zero waste, minimal time and environmental impact on site, reduced energy consumption and reduced carbon footprint from transportation. Our products have played a key role in countless projects which have won sustainability awards or received BREEAM Outstanding ratings.
Made and sourced in the UK
We manufacture all our products in our 52,500-square-foot facility in North Yorkshire. We also source 100% of our raw materials in the UK, supporting other British businesses and protecting ourselves from global supply chain issues and spiralling energy prices which have driven up the cost of international logistics. We can keep our transportation costs down and our lead times fast.
At Neaco, we’re proud to call ourselves a company which combines over 50 years of heritage with a forward-thinking, innovative approach which meets the demands of today’s construction industry and supports a better future for our planet.
With five decades of experience behind us, we are years ahead of our competitors on every metric that matters.
Neaco introduces Adjustable Pedestals to its product range
Many existing residential buildings feature balcony elements which do not meet the Euroclass A1 (non-combustible) or A2-s1, d0 (limited-combustible) rating necessary to meet compliance due to the Building Safety Act 2022. Manufactured from recycled aluminium and zinc-coated steel, this pedestal is Euroclass A1 fire rated to comply with Building Regulations on buildings over 18m in height. These pedestals also have a large spreader base that won’t compromise insulation or waterproof membrane being the ideal pedestal system Neaco’s Neatdek aluminium decking that can be laid directly on top of the pedestal and affixed securely in place.
With an in-built slope corrector which allows up to 5% of millimetre-precise correction, the Adjustable Pedestal aids the installation of raised flooring, avoiding the cost and delay of constructing a sub-frame on uneven or unstable groundworks. It easily compensates for slight irregularities and any gradients on the laying surface, creating a perfectly stable and flat application which allows the laying surface and any installed services to be accessed and maintained without causing damage.
“The whole pedestal range is non-combustible and is classified Euroclass A1 to BS EN 13501-1:2018. This feature is vital to complement other products in our range, including our decking and balustrade, which are A1 or A2 rated to ensure compliance with regulations for balconies and rooftop terraces on high-rise buildings. The pedestals also match the outstanding corrosion resistance and durability of our established products. They will work seamlessly with our aluminium modular decking, which is renowned for its fast installation, ensuring that we can further reduce the time spent on site for the benefit of project managers and contractors.”
– Alan Green, Managing Director at Neaco
Compression Test Load testing has been performed on the pedestals to 6 tons and we certify to over 3 tons per pedestal. They have a breaking load of over 2000kg and have a height adjustment of 24mm up to 395mm. The pedestals require a Bubble Level to determine the amount of slope correction required as the main feature is their slope correction. We can provide a locking key to secure the position for use in high-traffic environments.
Building Safety Act signals stricter oversight with widespread implications
The current challenges in the economy will not be considered an admissible excuse for any further delay in remediation. Having been reappointed as communities secretary, Michael Gove signalled his determination to resolve safety issues, saying that it “cannot be the case that economic conditions, which affect us all, are being used by developers, or anyone else, to shuffle off their obligations. There are some freeholders – organisations of significant means – that are, again, trying to delay or dilute their responsibilities. That is simply not acceptable.”
The government has made its long-term intentions clear with the introduction of the Building Safety ushering in a new era of stricter oversight, with widespread implications. According to the government, it “will place legal responsibilities on those who commission building work, participate in the design and construction process and those who are responsible for managing structural and fire safety in higher-risk buildings when they are occupied. These people will be called duty holders during design and construction, and Accountable Persons when the building is occupied.”
Residents will have greater power to hold developers to account and tougher sanctions will be imposed on those who compromise safety. A new Building Safety Regulator will drive the reform and oversee the “safety and performance of all buildings” including a new regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings. The regulator will also support and promote competence among the built environment industry, and registered building inspectors.
Organisations and individuals in the construction and property sectors will be keen to make sure they are meeting their legal responsibilities when the legislation comes into effect. As the central cause of the Grenfell tragedy, cladding has received the most scrutiny in the past five years. Building Regulations introduced in 2018 banned the use of combustible materials in external wall systems over 18m in height, but it is often overlooked that the same legal requirements apply to balconies. Like cladding, balcony components require a minimum A2 rating under the Euroclass fire safety classification which is referenced in current regulations.
Many existing residential buildings feature balcony elements such as flooring which do not meet the Euroclass A1 (non-combustible) or A2-s1, d0 (limited-combustible) rating necessary to meet compliance. Common materials such as composite decking and wood are no longer considered safe, but in many cases, they have not yet been replaced. Given the lack of attention and discussion afforded to balconies in comparison to cladding, the upgrading of non-compliant balcony materials is likely to have progressed even slower than the much-criticised cladding replacement programme.
Sporadic incidents continue to remind us that the problem has not been fully addressed. At the time of writing (November 2022), this month alone there have been reported outbreaks of fire on balconies at high-rise buildings in Edinburgh and Roehampton.
A solution has emerged which makes the process of meeting compliance straightforward: aluminium has now become the material of choice for decking and other balcony components such as railing or stanchions. Uncoated aluminium is A1 rated and coated aluminium is A2 rated, subject to correct application by the manufacturer.
This versatile metal offers a wide range of additional benefits, including an ability to accommodate bespoke-engineered features such as anti-slip surfaces. One-third of the weight of steel yet high in load-bearing capacity, aluminium requires less supporting steelwork, which significantly reduces costs and installation time. It also offers outstanding sustainability credentials including 100% recyclability, zero corrosion and a recognised design life of at least 60-100 years.
Neaco’s bespoke solution offers high performance at York Theatre Royal
The historic building, which dates back to 1744, commissioned the design and construction of a new wheelchair ramp to support inclusivity. Neaco developed a high-performance, DDA-compliant solution in conjunction with Lizzy Tulip Landscape & Garden Design and WGC Landscapes. The new installation has been designed to support a 1.5kN loading to accommodate a high volume of pedestrian traffic calculated with reference to the theatre’s maximum capacity.
Neaco’s ramp solution included toughened glass panels and an offset handrail with a modification to its standard dimensions to accommodate the design of the parapet wall. The original design brief required stainless steel handrails and stanchions but due to restrictions Neaco supplied a value-engineered alternative in the form of powder-coated white aluminium providing a durable, non-chip finish which is warm and comfortable to the touch.
York Theatre Royal has green-lighted extensive re-development in recent years, including a ‘pocket park’ providing a public open space in the centre of York for the whole community. The project was overseen by Lizzie Tulip Landscape and Garden Design.
“Neaco’s specialist expertise in ramp design enabled us to secure this specification at one of the city’s most famous venues. We often supply a standard ramp solution in the form of our Rail2Ramp system which adjusts to varying ramp dimensions and angles, facilitating quick and easy specification. The project at York Theatre Royal required a different solution with a bespoke approach to meet the specific needs of the built environment and traffic calculations. We are very pleased to see the finished installation providing a stylish contemporary aesthetic in keeping with the theatre’s glass façade.”
– Alan Green, Neaco Ltd
Neaco welcomes Bridlington School to encourage Engineering Careers
Dan Verity, the factory manager, took the students on an extensive tour of the factory. The tour included demonstrations of the swage press and bending machinery, in which the students were nothing short of impressed.
“All the students got so much from it and the bus journey back was fantastic – they were so enthused by everything they saw and they fired dozens of questions at me about engineering and career opportunities.”
– Head of the Technology and Engineering Department at Bridlington School Ι Mr Andy Grayshan
During this tour, Verity explained the importance of apprenticeships in the engineering field and how hands-on experience could help them with their career paths. He guided the students through the production process at Neaco, beginning in the flooring department where Neaco manufactures its modular aluminium flooring.
The students witnessed:
The aluminium flooring being punched by the Denley multi-punch machine.
The flooring being fed through the 150-tonne swage press machine which achieved the swage-locking technique making our flooring have superior strength.
How all Neaco’s engineers study the CAD drawings of the projects before cutting the flooring to shape with the cross-cut saw to ensure precision.
Ultimately, witnessing first-hand the finished product including all the inspection checks before going to the packing department.
Verity then took the students to the fabrication department where the balustrade is manufactured. They experienced two demonstrations of the Mewag hydraulic man drill bending machines, including the health and safety of using the different machinery.
The students were also shown how the tubing is cut precisely to the correct curvature on the Kaltenbach automatic circular saw.
Once the aluminium tubing was ready, the students then got to witness the tubing being coated in Neaco’s polyester powder coating plant.
For the finale of their visit, the students visited the CAD department and then received insight from the Sales department. This insight revealed how Neaco proceeds from an enquiry, to technical and then to manufacture. This meant the students received inside information on the whole process and where their engineering careers would fit within a construction company’s product cycle.
“The demonstrations were really informative, and the ability for the students to see how raw materials are processed into a finished product range really helped to understand all the theory I teach them in the workshop. I just want to thank you for all the time you gave our students today. It really has made a huge impact on them.”
– Andy Grayshan
Neaco marks 50th year with Constructionline Gold Membership
Neaco had two causes for celebration this week when we reached the milestone of 50 years in business and completed our Constructionline Gold membership.
Neaco was formed in 1972, setting up a design team and a factory in Malton to engineer building products from aluminium alloy. We started with the production of industrial walkways before diversifying with the development of multi-purpose architectural grilles, decking, adaptive bathing aids and a range of balustrade and balcony systems. Five decades later, Neaco has navigated the peaks and troughs of the construction sector to establish a global reach supplying some of the world’s most significant architectural projects.
Neaco Managing Director, Alan Green, said:
“Fifty years is exceptional longevity in construction, which is regarded as a bellwether sector for the wider economy and has experienced some of the most challenging downturns over the past five decades. There have been two in the past two decades alone – the 2008 financial crash and covid – but we have always been able to adapt. Research and Development has been a big part of Neaco’s operation from the start – we have a policy of continuous product development and we established a diverse portfolio from a very early stage. It has broadened the range of markets we serve and means that whenever one product range has been impacted by a slowing market, our other product ranges have compensated with revenue in other markets.”
“With its low carbon footprint and 100% recyclability, aluminium has become increasingly preferred in construction as sustainability has risen up the industry’s agenda. Its non-combustibility has also become a valuable attribute in a post-Grenfell sector which has given long-overdue attention to the importance of fire safety.
“Developing business overseas has also been a huge factor in Neaco’s success. An extensive international network enables us to supply complete solutions for projects in every region, from Europe and the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Our products have been used on some massive international projects, from flagship airport and infrastructure developments in Jeddah to $200 million football stadiums in Mexico. We’ve also been specified at some of the UK’s most iconic locations, from Wimbledon Centre Court to Buckingham Palace. Our factory in Malton has recently been expanded over the years to 52,000 square feet and we are now preparing for the next 50 years on a very strong footing for a new phase of growth.”
That footing has been further strengthened with the enhanced procurement credentials provided by our Gold Level Membership of Constructionline, the UK construction industry’s leading register for pre-qualified contractors and consultants.
A long-established member of Constructionline, Neaco have completed a rigorous audit process to achieve an upgrade in accreditation which demonstrates to buyers that our organisation has been subjected to enhanced scrutiny around governance and risk management. Gold status will allow Neaco to bid for an even wider range of projects and secure specifications for a diverse product portfolio which includes multi-purpose architectural grilles, decking, adaptive bathing aids, balustrade and balcony systems.
Constructionline’s database is accessed by over 2,000 organisations including central government, local authorities and main contractors which require suppliers to be accredited as part of the tendering process, assuring quality and compliance throughout the supply chain. Gold accreditation assesses a range of additional areas including environmental management, quality management, equalities and diversity.
Neaco Managing Director, Alan Green, said:
“Constructionline helps both sides, buyers and suppliers, to bypass typical problems associated with the tender process, saving everyone time, money and hassle. Neaco achieved our first Constructionline accreditation in 2009 and we have been Silver Members since 2019. We have invested a lot of time in reviewing our operations and systems to ensure that we meet all the requirements for Gold Membership. Together with our SSIP accreditation and CSCS qualification, it puts Neaco in a very strong position to develop new business across the supply chain.”
