The Challenge
To support its continued growth and expansion plans, Surface Transforms, a leading manufacturer of carbon ceramic brake discs, began expanding its manufacturing facilities in Knowsley.
The first project involved providing industrial heating for a poorly insulated, pre-1990s manufacturing facility. Temperature control was particularly important due to the temperature-sensitive materials used within the carbon ceramic brake disc manufacturing process.
The Solution
OKEL designed and installed a Winterwarm warm air heating and destratification system, comprising:
2 x Winterwarm XR+60 gas-fired warm air heater
2 x Winterwarm WCU ceiling-mounted destratification fans
The high-level WCU circulation fans help distribute warm air throughout the manufacturing facility, reducing heat stratification and helping to maintain a more consistent temperature at working level.
The industrial heating system was installed and commissioned successfully, with all works completed to schedule in January 2026.
A Second Manufacturing Heating Installation
Just one month after completing the first project, Surface Transforms approached OKEL again to provide heating for another manufacturing facility on the same Knowsley site.
This time, the building was newly constructed, but the requirement remained the same: to provide reliable heating and consistent temperatures for a manufacturing process involving temperature-sensitive materials.
OKEL once again recommended a Winterwarm gas-fired warm air heating and destratification system, comprising:
2 x Winterwarm XR+50 gas-fired warm air heaters
Winterwarm WCU ceiling-mounted destratification fans
The system was designed to efficiently distribute warm air throughout the new manufacturing facility, helping to minimise heat loss at high levels and maintain the required working environment.
Heating for Temperature-Sensitive Manufacturing
For both buildings, maintaining suitable temperatures was an important part of supporting product quality and manufacturing consistency.
The combination of Winterwarm warm air heaters and destratification fans provide effective industrial heating whilst helping to circulate and redistribute warm air throughout each manufacturing space.
The two installations also demonstrate the flexibility of the system, with OKEL able to provide a suitable industrial heating solution for both an older, poorly insulated building and a modern new-build manufacturing facility.
Industrial Heating Designed Around Manufacturing Requirements
Surface Transforms now benefits from reliable industrial heating systems across two manufacturing facilities in Knowsley, with both projects completed to schedule.
Following the successful first installation, the customer’s decision to appoint OKEL for a second facility demonstrates the confidence placed in our commercial heating expertise and Winterwarm heating solutions.
From older manufacturing buildings to modern production facilities, OKEL provides industrial heating systems designed around the specific requirements of the building, process and workforce.
For Surface Transforms, the combination of Winterwarm warm air heating and destratification provides an effective solution for maintaining suitable temperatures across two different manufacturing environments, supporting the company’s continued growth and high-quality carbon ceramic brake disc production.
