The Etex
Group has indicated its ongoing commitment to the UK construction industry,
investing £140 million in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in
Bristol.
Etex
Building Performance, the dry construction arm of the Etex Group, will develop
an advanced plasterboard manufacturing facility for its Siniat brand at the
Royal Portbury Dock in Bristol Port, adding significantly to its production
capacity in the UK.
A
brownfield industrial site has been secured close to its existing plant,
maximising its ability to import raw materials efficiently and sustainably via
the Bristol Channel.
The
investment marks Etex’s largest single capital investment to date and is
testament to the group’s belief in the long-term strength of the UK
construction industry – Europe’s largest plasterboard market. The new
facility will serve Siniat’s customers across the UK, including projects in the
residential, commercial and renovation sectors, and will manufacture the
company’s full plasterboard product range. Once operating at capacity,
the new plant will double its Bristol-based production of certain plasterboard
products. The company’s two existing plants at Bristol and Ferrybridge
will continue to operate.
Etex
will work with North Somerset Council to develop plans for the new facility and
will aim to start operations in 2022 subject to planning approval. The
plant will be designed to the highest environmental and health and safety
standards, including having the ability to use industry-leading ratios of
recycled gypsum in its manufacturing operations. Etex also intends to
invest in a rainwater harvesting system and a fully electric forklift
fleet. The new plant is anticipated to deliver a net gain of around 50
local jobs. This will be in addition to the 330 people Etex currently
employs in the Bristol region.
Neil
Ash, head of Etex Building Performance (North West Europe), said: “Over the
past 30 years Etex has been at the forefront of dry construction innovation in
the UK, pushing for a closer relationship across the construction supply chain
to improve standards and investing to develop more modern, efficient ways of
building.
“This
commitment to the UK construction market will not only provide our customers
with better service and reliability of supply, it will also enable us to
capitalise on a growing plasterboard market as clients recognise the
productivity benefits that lightweight construction offers. Investing in
this added capacity also strengthens our ability to develop superior building
material systems for our UK customers, helping to create high-performing
buildings that meet the needs of the people who use them.”
Etex
Building Performance has been active in UK construction for over 30 years,
supporting landmark projects like the Proton Beam Therapy Unit at Christies
Hospital in Manchester and Canary Wharf Group’s Newfoundland scheme – the UK’s
tallest build-to-rent development. It is part of the Etex Group, a global
materials specialist.
