Gypsum industry news
Fermacell invests Euro30m in new Spanish fibreboard plant for UK market
26 September 2013UK/Spain: Fermacell has officially opened a new 12MM2/yr gypsum fibreboard plant near Santander in Spain. The Euro30m plant is intended to target growing market demand and increase the company's supply to its European distribution network.
"Increasing market demand and additional sales potential are the main reasons for expanding the production of gypsum fibreboards and the opening of the new factory. Our international sales offices are faced with extensive utilisation of existing factories and the new Spanish plant will improve supply to the UK and other large construction markets across Europe," said Fermacell UK general manager, Gary Carter.
Carey Group buys BDL Group
05 September 2013UK: Construction company the Carey Group has acquired drylining specialist the BDL Group for an undisclosed sum. BDL has a turnover of Euro50m/yr and it employs nearly 120 people with an additional 650 craft operatives working on commercial and residential projects at any one time. The company is known in the UK for working on big London projects such as the Shard, the Olympics, Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport and Canary Wharf in the City of London.
Carey Group intends to preserve BDL's trading name, retaining the existing management team and staff to ensure continuity of service on existing contracts. BDL will continue executing operations from it offices in Uxbridge, London
Fairport Engineering appoints Jeff Buxton
19 July 2013UK: Fairport Engineering has appointed Jeff Buxton as the Sales Manager for Heavy Industries. Buxton holds over 35 years of experience working in the bulk materials processing and handling industries and is a fully-qualified mechanical and electrical engineer. His industry knowledge includes the technologies and systems used in the cement, gypsum, aggregates and alternative fuels sectors, amongst others. Previously Buxton has worked for a number of the leading suppliers of proprietary equipment to these markets.
Switzerland/UK: Swiss-based Sika, which produces additives for the gypsum and cement industries, has acquired Everbuild Building Products Ltd, the UK's largest independent manufacturer of sealants, adhesives and chemicals for the construction industry. Everbuild is located in Leeds with annual sales revenue of Euro73m and a workforce of 270 employees.
Everbuild, founded in 1994, will now operate as a subsidiary of Sika UK and will be led by the existing management team. Its founder David Seymour will stay with the company to drive the continued success of the business and ensure a smooth transition. "With Sika we have the possibility to further grow our business and to benefit from the broad research and development capabilities for further product innovation," said Seymour.
Jan Jenisch, CEO of Sika, said, "We are very proud to welcome the successful team of Everbuild to the Sika family. The acquisition will give us a strong position in the UK distribution market and offers considerable potential to further leverage Everbuild's sales channels with Sika's product range."
UK: British Gypsum, part of France's Saint-Gobain group, has been crowned Manufacturer of the Year at the 2013 Building Awards. The company picked up the accolade at the construction industry event in recognition of its focus on innovation, sustainable practices and corporate social responsibility activities in the past 12 months.
The award win follows a number of key developments for British Gypsum in 2012. The manufacturer launched ground-breaking solutions and technologies such as ACTIVair, and became the first UK plaster and drylining producer to achieve a BES 6001 'very good' for a core range of products. In late 2012, British Gypsum also helped to raise over Euro120,000 in just 100 days for construction charity CRASH and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Mike Chaldecott, managing director at British Gypsum, said, "In the past year, we've focused on making key developments that have a real positive impact for our customers, so we're really proud that this has been recognised by the built environment industry at the highest level."
Saint-Gobain opens innovation centre in UK
19 March 2013UK: Saint-Gobain, the French building materials giant, has opened its new innovation centre on Great Portland Street in London, UK to showcase the company's products. Showcasing innovative and sustainable products, the centre contains product libraries and resources for specifiers alongside meeting spaces and conference facilities. The centre will display products from Saint-Gobain's many UK businesses, including Artex, British Gypsum, Ecophon, Saint-Gobain Glass, Isover, Pasquill and Weber.
Models of construction products and solutions provide a better understanding of how systems work in practice, whilst screens showcase products, solutions and other Saint-Gobain initiatives.
Speaking at the launch, Saint-Gobain's CEO Pierre-André de Chalendar said, "With this new Innovation Centre, Saint-Gobain opens up to professionals with a global vision of our market to help develop and stimulate research. This Innovation Centre reflects our ambition to become the reference for sustainable habitat, bringing innovative solutions to meet the main challenges of our time."
British Gypsum shortlisted for Eco Innovation award
23 October 2012UK: British Gypsum, part of the Saint-Gobain group, has been shortlisted for a Best Practice award in the Eco Innovation category from the Association of Interior Specialists (AIS). Judges recognised the lengths to which the company went to help customers prove traceability of products and, in turn, meet and exceed environmental targets. British Gypsum was the first UK gypsum-based wallboard and drylining manufacturer to achieve a BES 6001 'very good' rating for its core range of products.
Four other companies have been shortlisted in the category and the winner will be announced at a ceremony during the AIS conference at the Forest of Arden Hotel, Birmingham, on 13 November 2012.
UK contractor wins south-east gypsum deal
25 November 2011UK: Eastern Waste Disposal Ltd has won a Euro0.85m multiple awardees contract award from Essex County Council to provide services for the collection and recycling of gypsum.
According to the description, "In accordance with its duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Essex County Council sought services in relation to the collection and recycling of waste gypsum and tyres sourced from recycling centres for household waste in Essex and waste collection authority/waste disposal authority premises, including transfer stations, in Essex."
The contract period will be 21 months from October 2011 until June 2013 with options for the council to extend.