Haverhill, Suffolk, August 16, 2025
News Summary
Guardtech Group, a Suffolk cleanroom and contamination-control specialist, has implemented Autodesk Construction Cloud as its central data environment to link teams, manage documents and federate 3D models. The business reports improved document control, real-time access to drawings, clash detection and faster coordination across its turnkey, modular and prefabricated cleanroom lines. Later, the company’s Haverhill facility was occupied during coordinated activist actions that also targeted other sites; arrests were reported. The government has introduced a draft order to proscribe the activist group and urgent legal challenges are underway, highlighting operational and reputational risks for contractors and clients.
Guardtech Group adopts Autodesk Construction Cloud to boost cleanroom design and delivery
The Suffolk-based cleanroom construction specialist Guardtech Group has integrated Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) into its workflows to streamline every phase of a cleanroom project. The move aims to improve design accuracy, collaboration across teams, and delivery timelines for complex builds. In a development tied to broader tensions around the group’s operations, the company’s Haverhill facility was involved in protests linked to Palestine Action, as discussions solidified around the government’s plan to proscribe the group. The overall aim is to keep projects on track while continuing to invest in new technology and practices across all sites.
About Guardtech Group and how it operates
Guardtech Group is described as a Suffolk-based team specialising in cleanroom construction and contamination control. The firm emphasizes continuous improvement, the adoption of new software, and the use of fresh technology and practices on and off site. Guardtech operates multiple brands and solutions including Cleanroom Solutions (large-scale turnkey builds), Guardtech Cleanrooms (smaller modular projects), Cleancube (pre-fabricated container systems), and Isopod (rapid assembly). Across these brands, the company says attention to detail and a drive for excellence remain consistent in delivery.
Adoption of Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)
ACC is presented as a centralized project management platform that connects teams, data, and workflows throughout a project’s life cycle. The system creates a central data environment designed to support design and construction phases, with features intended to simplify information sharing and coordination. The Design Manager, Jack Burrow, notes that the business has embraced ACC widely, not only within the Design Team but across the entire organisation. He describes the change as transformative, enabling Guardtech to take on more complex projects with greater detail, deeper collaboration, and improved safety nets. Burrow indicates that having all of the latest live information in one online place is a key benefit, and that site teams can access drawings from anywhere with confidence in their freshness and accuracy.
One of ACC’s notable capabilities is the tight control of documentation. Guardtech can integrate external subcontractor 3D models and point cloud surveys into what Burrow calls a Federated model, a setup that supports accurate coordination of all services. A simple invitation lets clients access 3D models and drawings, allowing for immediate feedback and faster decision-making. As drawings are revised to reflect changes, comments stay attached to the drawing for traceability, helping to keep momentum and reduce the chance of missed updates. Burrow highlights that ACC helps streamline processes and cut human error, especially through tools like clash detection, which identifies conflicts between design elements at the design stage rather than during installation. The result is a smoother delivery timeline and cost control as the wider business grows more familiar with the platform.
Guardtech’s Design Team holds regular get-togethers to discuss new ideas and ways to improve their workflow. Project evaluation is a core part of their ongoing development, with teams reviewing recent projects to celebrate solutions, address challenges, and document learnings for future use. The company continues to expand its digital library, enabling more detail to be added to designs for clients to review as the process progresses.
Leadership and cultural context
Jack Burrow has led Guardtech Design for almost two years and has spent close to a decade in the cleanroom construction sector. He speaks of a bright future influenced by a strong appetite for change, the adoption of new innovations, and a commitment to continuous development. Burrow notes that Guardtech is accustomed to adapting with the industry to meet client needs and takes pride in working with established, global firms at the forefront of innovation. He also points to projects that support important causes, such as stem cell research, chemotherapy drug manufacturing, and medicines that assist premature babies’ lung development, as particularly rewarding aspects of the work.
Palestine Action protests and related events
During the period in question, protest activity targeted Guardtech’s Haverhill facility and another nearby site. Police were called to incidents at the Aztec West Business Park in Almondsbury, where two protesters were reported in connection with disruptive activity. Authorities emphasised their commitment to peaceful protest while warning against criminal behaviour. Parallel legal developments in Parliament focused on a draft order to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws. If the group were proscribed, membership or support could become a criminal offence with significant penalties. Courts scheduled urgent hearings to consider whether the government could be temporarily blocked from banning the group while legal challenges proceed. Authorities noted that the government argues proscribing is a legitimate response to the threat posed by the group, while opponents maintain concerns about civil liberties and differing interpretations of the actions described as disruption. Across the broader landscape, the policy framework already includes several organisations that have been proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000. The latest draft order also lists additional groups for potential proscription, reflecting ongoing debates about security and regulation in the sector.
Impact on delivery and industry context
Guardtech’s adoption of ACC is positioned as a major step in aligning design and construction teams in a single digital environment. The centralised data approach gives project members access to the most up-to-date information and supports rapid collaboration with clients and subcontractors. In the context of protests and regulatory changes, the emphasis on robust digital processes is viewed as a way to maintain project momentum and ensure compliance with evolving requirements. The combination of enhanced clash detection, real-time updates, and client-facing access is expected to shorten decision cycles and improve predictability in project delivery, even as external pressures shape the regulatory environment.
Contact and publication details
For more information on the Guardtech Group, inquiries can be directed to the following: sales@guardtech.com, 0330 113 0303, or via the company website at www.guardtechgroup.com.
Context on industry information platforms
Industry publications in the cleanroom sector provide ongoing coverage of contamination control, project lifecycle management, and equipment technologies, including design, construction, monitoring, and compliance. These platforms discuss trends, innovations, and the evolving regulatory landscape that shapes how groups like Guardtech operate in markets around the world.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Construction Cloud adoption | Centralised platform linking teams, data and workflows across project life cycle | Improved coordination, transparency and control from design to delivery |
| Federated model | Integration of external 3D models and point cloud surveys into a single coordinated design | Accurate service coordination and reduced clashes |
| Live information access | Single online source for latest drawings and documents | Faster decision making and reduced miscommunication |
| Client access and collaboration | Simple invitations enable clients to review models and provide comments | Enhanced client engagement and faster feedback loops |
| Clash detection | Design-stage detection of conflicts between systems | Prevents costly delays during installation and supports timelines |
| Document control | Version management and traceability across teams | Lower risk of errors and omissions in the build process |
Frequently asked questions
What is Autodesk Construction Cloud and why is it used?
Autodesk Construction Cloud is a centralized project management platform that connects teams and data through the design and build phases, helping to manage documents, models, and workflows in one environment.
How does ACC improve Guardtech’s design and delivery?
ACC provides a single source of truth for live information, enables a federated model that blends internal and external models, improves clash detection, streamlines client collaboration, and reduces human error in documentation and coordination.
What happened during the Palestine Action protests referenced in the report?
Protests targeted Guardtech’s facilities and related sites, with authorities responding to disturbances. The legal and regulatory landscape around these groups has included moves to proscribe organisations under terrorism laws, with ongoing hearings and government considerations.
Who is Jack Burrow and what is his role?
Jack Burrow is the Design Manager at Guardtech Group, leading design efforts for nearly two years and bringing a decade of industry experience to the company’s push for continuous improvement and innovation.
What are the potential benefits of ACC for clients?
Clients gain access to current design data, faster feedback, greater transparency, and the ability to review 3D models and drawings with fewer delays, helping ensure projects stay on time and within budget.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Cleanroom Technology: Guardtech elevating cleanroom design capabilities
- Wikipedia: Building information modeling (BIM)
- GB News: Palestine Action blockade at UK defence contractor sites
- Wikipedia: Direct action
- Guardtech Group — company website
- Google Search: Guardtech Group cleanroom
- Autodesk Construction Cloud — product page
- Google Scholar: Autodesk Construction Cloud clash detection
- UK Legislation: Terrorism Act 2000 (proscription powers)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Terrorism
