Aug'09 - Bawtry Fermentation Bunkers Official Opening

Having completed a £7million building project, Tunnel Tech North officially opened the new fermentation bunkers at Newington Farm, Bawtry in Yorkshire. These bunkers, built by Ashridge, provide a completely new compost production facility which fundamentally changes the composting process, incorporating full enclosure of the materials in process. The new process allows the raw materials to be blended and then delivered into aerated tunnels that can be enclosed whilst the materials are being processed. Full aeration of the materials from the start of processing alters the odours being produced in the process. The first bunker was filled on 23rd July and was expected to account for 30% of weekly production. As part of their policy of good environmental practise and in accordance with BATNEEC production guidelines (best available technology not entailing excessive cost), Tunnel Tech North Ltd wished to upgrade their mushroom compost production from an open environment process to a first stage maturation in-vessel system. Tunnel Tech North Ltd approached Ashridge and technology partners, Christiaens, to design and build tunnels for the indoor maturation of their mushroom compost production. The first phase of the project was for an initial four tunnels, 8 metres high and 50 metres long. Ashridge also undertook the Phase 2 works worth a further £1.5 million which consisted of 3 additional tunnels, external works, a mixing area and boundary walls. Peter Jones, Managing Director commented, “Ashridge is fully committed to our environmental responsibility and to good environmental procedures throughout our company. We are therefore delighted to have been involved in this pioneering project to improve the environmental impact for the mushroom compost industry. ”

Jun'09 - Ashridge announce another record year

Ashridge has just announced another record-breaking year with a 42% increase in turnover in the last 12 months. This follows a 34.5% increase in the previous financial year.

Managing Director, Peter Jones, “We're obviously delighted with these results but even moreso in light of the very difficult markets and times of serious economic pressure we have all felt in the last 12 months.  Our record figures are further proof of the intrinsic qualities of the business. Company-wide we work very closely with clients to fully understand their businesses and pride ourselves in providing the value added technical and management services that they need. Just as importantly we are committed to environmental management, sustainability issues and the highest standards of health & safety with one of the best safety records in the construction sector.”

He continued, "As local authority budgets have been cut and highways contracts postponed we have taken our extensive experience and expertise and applied it to new sectors. By remaining true to our core strengths and diversifying where there is still demand and still proper returns we are fully confident that Ashridge will continue to be the ‘good news’ story in this period of economic downturn.”

Ashridge recently completed the first phase construction of fermentation bunkers at Bawtry in Yorkshire and in early February the bunkers went into full operation. This project was for Tunnel Tech North Ltd who as part of their policy of good environmental practise are upgrading their current mushroom compost production from an open environment process to a first stage maturation in-vessel system.

They approached Ashridge and technology partners, Christiaens, to design and build tunnels for this indoor maturation. This first phase of the project was for an initial four tunnels, 8 metres high and 50 metres long. This is an exciting project for Ashridge as it is a perfect example of our business philosophy's successful implementation. As local authority highways budgets have been cut we have taken our experience and expertise and applied it to a new sector. Peter Jones, Managing Director points out,  “Ashridge has quickly reacted with foresight to changing government priorities by continuing to diversify into new markets, and making investment into these areas to ensure future growth is successfully achieved.  Early Contractor Involvement with clients has also demonstrated the benefits clients can achieve by working with us.”

Tunnel Tech North have since negotiated directly with Ashridge for Phase 2 works worth a further £1.5 million which are now underway. These consist of 3 additional tunnels, external works, a mixing area and boundary walls.