Waterproof wall panel brand Multipanel, from Grant Westfield, has been chosen by Yorkshire Wildlife Park as the preferred surface solution for its new Tailored Animal House.
First opened in 2009, Yorkshire Wildlife Park has grown into a leading conservation and welfare centre, home to some of the world’s most endangered animals. When planning a purpose-built animal house for its cheetahs, the park required materials that were not only waterproof and hygienic, but also exceptionally strong, durable and scratch-resistant – capable of withstanding the demands of the big cats’ claws.
David Milburn, head of construction at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said: “Since this was the first animal house of its kind built using second-hand containers with high thermal values, it was crucial to get everything right to prevent overheating in the summer and maintain a temperature of 22°C in the winter. The park needed a high-quality, durable wall panel that could be securely fixed to 12.5mm plywood. After evaluating various options, Multipanel was the ideal solution. Its tongue-and-groove connection provided the strength and resilience required to house a cheetah and Multipanel’s flush-fit prevented the cheetahs from causing harm.”
All the panels within Multipanel’s collection are engineered to join seamlessly together to form an almost invisible, waterproof seal thanks to its unique Hydrolock® tongue and groove system, which ensures quick installation and a smooth, flawless finish.
As well as being incredibly durable, the panels also benefit from being easy to clean and maintain, which was vital for Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
David continued: “Although our previous supplier was practical, we sought a new product that maintained the same durability while offering a less clinical appearance. We saved roughly around 25-30% on standard boards, and 12-16% on colours by opting for Multipanel. Additionally, Multipanel reduced installation time by half!”
The Arctic Stone panels, supplied and installed by G3, are from Multipanel’s Contemporary Collection. They feature a highly textured décor that replicates the look of slabs of grey stone and provides the perfect nature-inspired backdrop for the Cheetah House.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has been so impressed by the quality, durability, reduced installation times and savings that it made by specifying Multipanel for its Cheetah House that it has committed to using the brand for future refurbishments and new enclosures.
Harry Simmonds, specification manager at Grant Westfield, said: “We’re thrilled that Multipanel was able to provide the perfect solution for the Cheetah House at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
For more information, please visit: www.grantwestfield.co.uk or call 0131 337 6262.