United Catalysts

Project Summary:
Location:	United Catalysts, Inc. Louisville, Kentucky
Lab Functions:	Catalyst Research & Development
Project Scope:	Laboratory and Offices
Architect:	Mason & Hanger Group Lexington, Kentucky
Laboratory Furnishings and Equipment:	SafeAire® Fume Hoods MAX/Lab® Adaptable Furniture System

United Catalysts, Inc. is a world leading manufacturer of catalysts, additives and adsorbents for use in industrial and consumer market applications. When the company decided to build a new office facility and research and development laboratory, the goal was to add state-of-the-art equipment to improve both safety and efficiency.

In designing the lab space, the biggest engineering challenge was the large fume hood size required, due to the size of the pilot scale test reactor that would reside within each hood. The fume hoods had to be able to maintain correct exhaust flow patterns at predetermined exhaust rates and provide proper containment within the hoods at three dramatically different exhaust rates.

To meet these stringent specifications, Hamilton's™ team of fume hood experts custom designed and built a prototype SafeAire fume hood. Once the prototype was ASHRAE tested to ensure all performance criteria were met, seven more fume hoods were built to the same specifications. Measuring 13 feet by 9 feet by 11 feet, the foor-mounted fume hoods could easily accommodate installation of United Catalysts' reactors, and their double-sided, horizontal sliding-sash design enables convenient access from either side.

For the lab furnishings, United Catalysts selected adaptable MAX/Lab Island Panel support structures and floor-mounted casework incorporating drawer, cabinet and shelf combinations to provide ample space for workstation computers, sample preparation and reference material storage. With United Catalysts' new research and development lab now up and running, the company is well positioned for future growth.