Guardtech Group adopts cloud workflow; Haverhill facility later targeted during protest as government moves to proscribe group
The Suffolk-based contamination control specialist Guardtech Group has rolled out a centralised project platform to manage cleanroom design and delivery and says the tool has tightened document control, improved coordination and sped up client review. The company’s Haverhill facility was later occupied during a protest that also prompted police action, while ministers have moved to place the protesting organisation on a list of proscribed groups under anti-terror laws.
What changed first: technology adoption
Guardtech has implemented Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) as its central data environment for design and construction work. Company leadership report that the platform connects teams, files and workflows across every phase of a project and allows live access to drawings and models from any location. The tool supports importing external subcontractor 3D models and point-cloud surveys into a single federated model so services can be accurately coordinated before installation.
Design management at Guardtech says the new system has improved document control across the business, allows clients to review and mark up drawings online, and retains comments as drawings change so feedback can be tracked. Built-in clash detection has been highlighted as a major benefit for identifying conflicts during design, reducing fit-out clashes on site and helping keep projects on time and on budget. The company is building a growing digital library of components to add more detail to designs and speed up future projects.
About Guardtech and how it works
Guardtech operates several brands to serve different needs in contamination control: a large-scale turnkey service, modular cleanroom units, pre-fabricated container solutions and rapid-assembly smaller units. The business emphasises continuous improvement, regular internal review meetings and a culture of adapting new software and on-site practices. The design team meets regularly to review recent projects, document lessons learned and feed those improvements into the next job.
People and projects
The company’s design lead has nearly a decade of experience in cleanroom construction and has led the Guardtech design function for close to two years. He describes working with global manufacturers and research organisations as rewarding, and points to projects supporting stem cell research, chemotherapy drug manufacture and neonatal medicines as examples of socially important work enabled by technical facilities.
Protest at Haverhill and wider legal context
Following the software rollout, protesters entered the Guardtech Haverhill site during a coordinated action that also targeted an aerospace-related facility in the Bristol area. Police were reported to have made arrests in connection with the events; alleged offences included criminal damage and unauthorised entry to protected sites. Officers responded to activity at the Bristol location in the early hours and described their approach as balancing the right to peaceful protest with a refusal to tolerate criminal behaviour.
At the same time, government ministers prepared a draft order to add the protesting group to the list of proscribed organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. If enacted, membership of or support for a proscribed group would become a criminal offence with heavy penalties. Legal challenges to the proscription process were under way in court, with urgent hearings and applications for judicial review seeking permission to pursue challenges to the order.
Why this matters for construction and cleanrooms
For companies working on sensitive technical facilities, the ability to access verified, up-to-date drawings and models from anywhere reduces installation risk and cost. Centralised systems that keep feedback and revisions visible help maintain momentum on projects that demand tight coordination between design, services and site teams. At the same time, physical sites remain vulnerable to direct action, and firms building specialist facilities must plan for security, continuity and rapid re-establishment of safe access when incidents occur.
Contact and further information
For more information about the Guardtech Group:
- Email: sales@guardtech.com
- Phone: 0330 113 0303
- Website: www.guardtechgroup.com
The sector publication that shared the original industry report keeps decision-makers informed on contamination control topics spanning design, monitoring and maintenance and covers product launches and technical trends for the cleanroom lifecycle.