In February 2025, Xinguangzheng delivered a steel workshop kit to Montevideo, Uruguay. The standard kit measures 30x40x6 meters and covers 1,200 square meters. It serves light industrial assembly and storage needs. The kit includes a full mezzanine for elevated racking and features insulation for thermal control. This design fits Uruguay’s temperate Pampas climate. The area experiences humid summers up to 30°C, winter chills down to 5°C, and frequent coastal winds from the Rio de la Plata. The workshop keeps tools and machinery dry and maintains energy efficiency year-round.
Customer Demand
The client owns a small business in Montevideo’s La Teja industrial neighborhood and specializes in custom metal fabrication and repair services. As demand grew, he needed a turnkey steel workshop building to replace his outdated rented facility and streamline operations. His main requirements included:
- A clear-span ground floor for welding benches and machinery to support 20 workers.
- A 300 sqm mezzanine for parts inventory and overhead storage.
- Full insulation throughout to combat seasonal humidity swings, as past moisture caused condensation and led to 10–15% material spoilage.
- Project budget capped at $250,000 and rapid installation before autumn, with delivery by February 8, 2025, to avoid the rainy season.
Their previous rented space had high humidity, poor insulation, and crowding. These problems lowered productivity and raised costs. The site also brought challenges—clay soils often settled, and gales sometimes reached 60 km/h.
Solutions
Xinguangzheng’s 30×40 kit features a galvanized portal frame system with Z-purlins. Our team prefabricated the kit at our factory in Qingdao, China, then shipped it to Uruguay for on-site assembly. All components meet ISO 9001 and local DIN standards. They withstand seismic events up to 0.2g and resist strong winds. We shipped the kit by container to Montevideo port and used on-site bolting to minimize labor. This approach works well for small operations that need protection from 70–90% humidity.
Core Specifications Detailed
- Dimensions and layout: The workshop is 30m wide by 40m long. It has a 6m eave height with a 3% roof pitch. The ground floor has a clear span. The total area is 1,200 sqm. This includes a 900 sqm main floor and a 300 sqm mezzanine at a 3.5m height. This design allows for an open workflow and elevated storage.
Structural Components:
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- Frame: The frame is a Q235B galvanized portal with bolted connections. The ground floor can handle 25 kN/m², and the mezzanine can handle 15 kN/m².
- Insulation and cladding: The roof and walls have 50mm polyurethane sandwich panels. These have an R-value of 4.0 and prevent thermal bridging. The exteriors are color-coated in neutral gray.
- Foundation: The design uses simple isolated footings with embedded bolts. These sit on a 120mm concrete slab, which is suitable for local loam soils.
- Mezzanine kit: The kit includes galvanized steel decking. It has 1.0m safety railings with 100mm gaps between tubes. An integrated staircase provides access. The stairs are 2.5m wide and have anti-slip steps.
Custom Functions:
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- Ventilation: Eave louvers and ridge vents provide natural airflow. The space is prepped for exhaust hoods over welding zones.
- Access: The workshop has two 4m x 4m roll-up doors on the short ends. There is also a personnel door with a lockset.
- Electrical: The main floor has LED high-bay lights providing 300 lux. The mezzanine has 250 lux lighting. Basic conduits for power tools are included.
Implementation Process
The project team built the workshop kit in three phases over 3.5 months. Skilled crews from Montevideo completed the work, delivering 25% local content.
- Prefabrication (3 weeks): The kit was assembled in our yard. This included insulation sealing and mezzanine mock-up tests.
- Shipping and site prep (10 days): Containers were sent to the port. Footings were poured with gravel backfill to guard against settling.
- Erection and commissioning (2 months): The frame was erected in 8 days. Panels and the mezzanine were bolted in 12 days. The full insulation and electrical hookup followed. The handover was on February 8, 2025. Wind tunnel simulations and load trials were completed. A 5% budget was set for humidity seals.
Results
Since February 2025, the workshop has improved the client’s efficiency.
- Space utilization: The mezzanine freed up 25% of the ground floor for machines. This boosted daily output by 35%. The insulated space provides comfort year-round.
- Cost benefits: The total cost was 230,000 USD, which was 8% under the quote. The insulation cut winter heating bills by 20%.
- Durability: The workshop withstood March gales with zero issues. The kit’s galvanizing offers a projected 35-year life. Panel swaps are easy.
- Sustainability: The energy-efficient panels align with Uruguay’s green building rebates. This reduces the building’s carbon footprint.
Xinguangzheng’s standard kits are an excellent solution for a wide range of steel workshop buildings. Contact us to learn more about our 30×40 kits with mezzanines and insulation.
Carlos Rodriguez, Owner: Xinguangzheng’s kit was spot-on. We had 1,200 sqm ready by February 8, 2025. The cozy insulation and sturdy mezzanine keep my fab shop dry through Montevideo’s mugginess. It was a quick build at a smart price. It’s firing on all cylinders for my crew!
