How SSE improved Their Warehouse Flooring with Zero Downtime

Why SEE needed a durable flooring solution

Energy giant SSE faced a significant challenge. As tenants in their warehousing facilities, they were frustrated by the limitations of traditional flooring options that couldn’t withstand their operational demands. The company needed a solution that could handle heavy aisle stackers and articulated lorries with extreme point loading while maintaining their commitment to quality and compliance.

Most concerning was the potential for costly downtime during installation or replacement, which would disrupt their service to customers and impact employee productivity. Additionally, as a tenant, SSE needed a flooring system they could take with them at the end of their lease period – something most permanent flooring solutions couldn’t offer.

Selecting the best industrial flooring for SSE

SSE’s journey to finding the right flooring solution wasn’t straightforward. They needed to balance durability with practicality, compliance with cost-effectiveness, and installation speed with quality. Having previously worked with Ecotile in 2007, SSE had experienced firsthand how the interlocking tile system had exceeded their expectations.

When evaluating options for their latest project, SSE considered:

• The need for minimal disruption during installation
• The requirement for functional zoning with contrasting colours for walkways
• The ability to remove and reuse the flooring at lease end
• Finding a solution that aligned with their own company values of quality and compliance
• Addressing the practical challenges of heavy warehouse traffic and potential moisture issues

Instant warehouse transformation with interlocking floor tiles

• Zero project delays despite a major flooding incident on installation day
• Parallel installation alongside other commissioning activities, saving weeks on project timelines
• Significant acoustic improvements, enhancing workplace comfort and safety
• Clear functional zoning achieved with contrasting coloured walkways
• Sustainable solution with potential for removal, reuse, and recycling at lease end
• No disruption to customer service or employee workflows during installation

Why interlocking floor tiles were the ideal warehouse flooring option for SSE

Ecotile’s approach began with understanding SSE’s unique challenges as a large-scale energy provider with multiple operational considerations. We recommended our industrial interlocking floor tile system, manufactured in our UK production facility using the highest grade materials on state-of-the-art injection moulding machines.

The modular floor tile system’s unique grid pattern on the reverse creates mini vacuums that prevent slippage, even with oil, grease, or water present. This design also allows the tiles to “breathe” – a critical feature when installing over concrete that hasn’t fully cured or where dampness exists within the floor.

When unexpected storms flooded part of the warehouse on installation day, our technical team didn’t panic. We explained that unlike traditional flooring solutions that would have delayed the project by weeks while waiting for the substrate to dry, Ecotile interlocking floor tiles could be installed immediately over the damp floor, keeping SSE’s strict schedule and budget intact.

How SSE’s team benefited from their new modular floor

Graham Woodfield, UK Facilities Manager at SSE, has seen firsthand how the right flooring choice impacts daily operations. “The acoustic improvement has greatly enhanced the comfort of the warehouse as a working area”. This improvement directly benefits warehouse staff who spend their days in what was previously a noisy, echoing environment.

The maintenance team appreciates the ability to lift and replace individual tiles in minutes when needed, eliminating the headaches of traditional flooring repairs. The finance department valued the cost savings from both the quick installation and the potential to reuse the flooring at lease end.

For SSE’s logistics managers, the clear color-coded walkways have improved safety protocols and workflow efficiency. And for the company’s sustainability team, the recyclable nature of Ecotile flooring aligns perfectly with SSE’s environmental commitments as a renewable energy pioneer.