LONGITUDINAL FLEXIBILITYA permanent solution to changing lab needsby steffen.springer@waldner.co.ukThe ubiquitous call for flexibility when building a new or refurbishing an existing laboratoryhas often stymied facility owners, architects, consultants and OEM’s. Flexibility meanssomething different to each party and there has been no universal solution – up until now.Architects and consultants are primarily concernedabout the design flexibility – the ability of a particularsystem to accommodate a variety of different environments.Naturally, aesthetics, sustainability, ergonomics, and functionalityare key considerations.Laboratory users are more concerned with their immediateworking environment – operational flexibility. Whenever adifferent activity demands differing services, the user wantsthe lab shifted – right now! Here we will also find mobileflexibility, which is the degree of mobility of furniture items,such as mobile underbench units, benches, fume cupboardsand sinks.Owners, Developers and facility managers are primarilyconcerned with longer term changes in lab layouts astenants and research teams move in and out. Indeed, theinitial users and their specific requirements may not even beknown when the building goes up. Cost of changes and modificationsover 5, 10, even 20 years is a huge unknown andthe logistics of changes and risks of subsequent construction(different trades, building work, etc) as well as the resultingdown time und interruptions of other users are equallytroublesome. What everyone needs is something we calllongitudinal flexibility – the ability of the overall facility toaccommodate modifications that were impossible to plan orpredict over a long period.The all-important question is whether it is possible to havethe whole cake – complete functionality, frequent layout orservices changes, and low cost of operations.There is good news: if real flexibility is required you canhave it from Waldner. Our patented ceiling-based installation,together with our integrated finance/outsource approachallows us to deliver true longitudinal flexibility to Universities,Pharma and private developers alike.The uniquely engineered Waldner service ceiling providesthe entire lab services infrastructure within a grid suspendedfrom the structural ceiling. Modifications, upgrades andnew services are easily installed. A complete range of mobilefurniture, sinks and fume cupboards enable the user to makeuse of advantageous overhead service provision. Partitioningwalls and clean rooms, for instance, belong to the system– a building manager can simply order the entire facilityand Waldner delivers it – complete and flexible for the futureto take every worry away from the building manager.It is now possible to start with the empty floor and leave therest to Waldner. And this is not limited to lab design. For thefirst time in this industry it is possible to pay for your facilityas you use it, including the inevitable changes in applications,functionality, and user groups. No capital allocation isnecessary; you can order your lab, configured for today’sneeds, and when you need a different configuration, Waldneris there to reconfigure in days (not weeks or months).Best of all, your monthly or annual lab use costs can remainfixed over 5, 10, even 20 years.This is attractive for the following segments:• Companies that need flexibility and have a strong cashflow but limited up front cash• Companies who need to reserve their cash for acquisitions,people costs and other high risk/high return areaswhere borrowing is inefficient/unavailable.• Companies for whom the project will go ahead only if it isoff balance sheet (i.e. paid from revenue, not capital).Payment over time also opens another interesting opportunityin terms of longitudinal flexibility: the entire facilitymanagement can be sourced out to the supplier, in this caseWaldner. This offers several advantages: the supply chainfor running the lab becomes a one-stop shop with a dedicatedaccount manager, unrivalled lead times and minimiseddown times.Terms are flexible and will be discussed and negotiated forevery single application. Again, there is good news: we canoffer a financing option that is cheaper than cash.With that degree of flexibility we are able to manage andmitigate the last remaining uncertainty in the future life of24 E V E N T S & N E W S
Ultimative Flexibilitäteine dauerhafte Lösung für sichverändernde Laboranforderungenvon steffen.springer@waldner.co.ukDer allgegenwärtige Ruf nach Flexibilität bei Laborneubautenoder Renovierungen ist oft ein Problem für Nutzer, Gebäudebetreiber,Architekten, Planer und Laboreinrichter.Planer und Architekten sind maßgeblich and der Planungsflexibilitäteines bestimmten Einrichtungssystemsinteressiert. Die Nutzer beurteilen das System danach, wieschnell und kostengünstig es sich auf verändernde Bedingungenim Labor einstellen kann. Gebäudemanager undEigentümer wiederum interessiert, wie hoch sind Ausfallzeitenund -kosten bei Nutzungsänderungen, etc.. Sind dieseAnforderungen alle gleichzeitig zu erfüllen?Tragekonstruktion der MediendeckeSupporting construction of the service ceilingyour lab at a very competitive price – in fact,we believe, that we are able to provide this serviceat a rate that is currently unmatched. Tryus and we will prove it to you.Die Lösung könnte die einzigartige Waldner Mediendeckesein. Mit ihr wird es möglich, die Bauleistung auf dasGebäude zu beschränken und den gesamten Geschossausbauals „Gewerk Labor“ zu realisieren. Doch nicht nur das:durch diese Flexibilität und einfache Umbaumöglichkeit istes auch zum ersten Mal für den Labornutzer möglich, fürdie Einrichtung nur über die vereinbarte Nutzungsdauer desLabors zu bezahlen.Diese Lösung eröffnet auch noch eine andere Dimension: dasgesamte Facility Management kann an den Laboreinrichterausgelagert werden. Waldner wird damit zum one-stop-shopfür Laborbetreiber solange das Labor betrieben wird. DasResultat: ultimative Flexibilität bei minimierten Risiken fürdie Betreiber und maximaler Kosteneffizienz.The features of such a scheme can besummarised:• Investment will be paid over time• Financing becomes a function of cashflow (and not upfront cost) with allbalance sheet benefits and tax incentivesof a lease• Service provider becomes the facilitymanager• Owner or building manager operatesthrough a single point of contact• Service provision is on stand by andwill only be provided when called for• Downtime, disruption, turnaround,logistics and therefore costare minimisedExakte Fixierung der Mediendecke an der RohbetondeckeExact fixing of the service ceiling on the rough concrete ceilingEvents & News25
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