Production unit Nescafé

Nestlé has set up a global competence centre for coffee in Orbe. The new building for the production of Nescafé is an integral part of this competence centre.

The new building is in the form of a square stone block with side dimensions of 48 m. This large building structure is completed by the warehouse tower; its very sober form of an independent element in the brand’s traditional brown colour has made it the general symbol of the Nestlé site in Orbe. The basic geometry and the neutral facades give the overall complex a high quality, uniform character and contribute towards the optically good integration of the adjacent buildings.

The concept of a double-walled facade includes the numerous requirements resulting from the various treatment processes of the coffee. These necessitate heterogeneous structure systems as well as all forms of opening at completely chance points. As a result, the production unit is covered by a wrapping made up of isolating compartments cased with expanded metal, separated at intervals of 80 cm and fulfilling the double function of attractiveness and usefulness. This solution makes extension of the building possible without changing its outer appearance.

The main structure consists of reinforced concrete with pre-assembled columns supporting site-poured ground plates; the roof features specially reinforced areas to enable transport devices to be set up from above when replacing machines. Optimum use is made of the energy recovery. Also to be noted is the fact that the amount of waste water forwarded to the sewage plant is not greater than that prior to the doubling of production. This is achieved through the integrated pre-clarification and pre-treatment station for waste water and waste.