SEGRO’s East Midlands site to feature in smart building pilot scheme
SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway and SEGRO Logistics Park Rugby have been selected to feature in an innovative programme of smart building pilots to explore the practicalities and benefits of a range of technologies which the company believes can improve the operational and environmental performance of its buildings.
The firm’s East Midlands site is a 700-acre development with planning consent for up to 6,000,000 sq ft of warehousing and logistics accommodation. The scheme, which is anticipated to create over 7,000 jobs, is already or will be a base for companies including Amazon, Nestle/XPO Logistics, Shop Direct, Kuehne+Nagel and Games Workshop.
The new programme will see smart technology installed in a representative range of buildings – small and large; light industrial and big box; vacant and occupied – in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland. The project involves close collaboration with SEGRO’s customers, with around 12 expected to be involved in the full programme.
The first insights are expected mid-year, once sufficient data has been analysed and customer reviews completed, with detailed findings available at the end of 2020.
James Power, director of digital and technology at SEGRO said: “Smart building technology has the potential to deliver significant benefits for our customers. If sensors can tell them what is going on within and around the building, they can take quick and effective decisions to respond – leading to lower costs, lower energy use, increased efficiency, and a better working environment for employees in the building.
“Industrial buildings present several unique challenges for smart technology, which is why it’s still in its infancy in the industrial sector. However, we are convinced that these challenges are worth overcoming, and this pilot programme is designed to help us fully understand both the challenges and the benefits. Our customers have responded very positively so far, and we look forward to working closely with them on this programme.
“We are also building up our data and analytics capabilities to support decision making and operations across the group. Interpreting the data produced by smart buildings is one of our focus areas.”
The smart building pilot programme is one of the first initiatives delivered through SEGRO’s new Strategy, Investment and Innovation function, which was announced in early February 2020.
