Polypipe Building Services has completed a £3m upgrade of its manufacturing capabilities with the installation of twelve new Engel injection moulding machines at its Aylesford facility. The investment has delivered a 10% improvement in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and a 26% increase in energy efficiency. The investment, spread across the last twelve months, has delivered a significant step change in production efficiency in what is a sector that typically evolves at a steady pace. Polypipe Building Services now operates at 85% OEE, a level that strengthens its ability to meet tighter project schedules and ensure reliable product availability for contractors working on complex commercial developments. Of the twelve new machines, ten are dedicated PVC injection moulding machines, while two are versatile general-purpose models capable of manufacturing both PVC and HDPE components. With Engel’s tie-bar-less technology, the new machines offer a larger and more flexible moulding area, which allows smaller units to handle bigger tools with ease. This versatility means fewer tool changes, less wear on the moulds, and greater production efficiency that delivers energy savings in every production run. The investment has already translated into lower scrap rates and reduced downtime, helping customers benefit from shorter lead times, more consistent quality and a reduced carbon footprint on their projects. Steve Tulett, Operations Manager at Polypipe Building Services, said: “For an industry that has performed steadily for decades, achieving a 10% uplift in overall equipment effectiveness in just twelve months is a rare and significant milestone. These improvements directly support our customers by enabling faster delivery, improved consistency and lower embodied carbon in the systems we supply. “The new machines at our Aylesford site also strengthen our wider sustainability efforts. Improved energy efficiency and reduced material waste complement our existing initiatives such as prefabrication, our EPD programme, and our ongoing work to support customers in meeting their net zero goals.” This upgrade underlines Polypipe Building Services’ commitment to investing in advanced technologies that enhance efficiency, reliability and sustainability across its operations. By reducing both operational and embedded carbon, the business is supporting contractors and developers in delivering high-performance building projects with lower environmental impact. To learn more about Polypipe Building Services’ sustainability initiatives, visit: https://www.polypipe.com/sustain Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

AG, a third-generation, UK manufacturer of low-carbon paving and building products, has launched Diamond Pro® Air, a lightweight retaining wall solution engineered to streamline construction and maximise site efficiency. Designed with the practical pressures of housebuilders and contractors in mind, Diamond Pro® Air helps optimise labour, build schedules, and land use, while offering versatile solutions for plot divisions, split-level sites, landscaped areas, and boundary walls. Each block weighs just 24.5kg, making it AG’s lightest 200mm high segmental retaining wall block. Despite its reduced weight, it supports gravity walls up to 1 metre and engineered walls up to 3.6 metres. The range’s mortarless construction allows walls to be built in all weathers, avoiding delays common with traditional mortar-based systems. Diamond Pro® Air features a split-face design and natural texture in three warm earth-tone shades – Basalt, Cashel, and Canelletto, perfectly complementing AG’s wider walling portfolio for cohesive styling across sites. For walls over 3.6 metres or requiring BBA/HAPAS approval, AG’s Vertica range is available. The blocks feature a near-vertical batter of less than 4 degrees, enabling developers to make the most of every plot. Unlike steeper competitor products, this profile preserves garden and building space, maximising flexibility across even the tightest or most complex sites.  Installation is straightforward and efficient. Diamond Pro® Air’s built-in handholds and locator lugs enable precise positioning, while its lightweight design allows for one-person lifting. Delivered right side up on pallets, the blocks can be moved directly to the wall, reducing double handling and simplifying on-site assembly. Large internal voids in the blocks reduce material use, provide drainage, and align during construction to strengthen the wall. Lightweight design allows up to 20 bales per curtain-sided lorry, cutting transport needs and easing site congestion. From concept to completion, AG provides an end-to-end support system. Clients can use AG’s licensed software for self-service planning and estimation, or take advantage of the family-run company’s complimentary in-house Retaining Wall Design Service to produce preliminary layouts tailored to each development. Diamond Pro® Air is produced at AG’s Fivemiletown facility using 100% renewable energy and harvested rainwater. The product mix incorporates aggregates from AG’s own quarry and secondary sources and, combined with reduced material use, helps reduce embodied carbon while upholding the company’s rigorous sustainability benchmarks. Complementing AG’s wider walling, paving, and brick portfolio, Diamond Pro® Air allows multiple high-quality materials to be sourced from a single supplier. With AG’s ‘good, better, best’ range, consistent aesthetics and quality can be maintained across projects, while simplifying procurement and logistics. Commenting on the company’s latest innovation, Stephen Acheson, CEO of AG, said: “Diamond Pro® Air was developed to address the day-to-day pressures faced on construction sites, from limited land and tight schedules to labour constraints. Its near-vertical profile maximises usable space, while the lightweight, mortarless design makes walls quicker and easier to build, even on split-level sites. Large internal voids, pallet-ready right-side-up delivery, and low-carbon production save time, reduce handling, and support both our ambitious sustainability goals and those of the wider industry. Combined with our design service, distinctive finishes, and broader product portfolio, Diamond Pro® Air provides a complete, practical solution that keeps projects on track and maximises value per plot.” To learn more about Diamond Pro® Air and AG’s wider offering visit ag.uk.com.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Wetherby Wall Systems, part of the ROCKWOOL Group, is delighted to announce the launch of InteriA, a next-generation Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) system, launched earlier this week. Developed in direct response to increasing industry demand for enhanced fire safety and compliant retrofit solutions, InteriA sets a new standard for solid wall property upgrades in the UK. Internal Wall Insulation is a vital measure for improving the thermal performance of solid wall properties, particularly where external wall insulation is restricted by planning rules, heritage constraints, or site access. However, the market has lacked a fully developed system that combines strong fire resistance with the modern moisture management now identified as best practice by government guidance. InteriA is engineered to address both challenges. Built from A-rated, non-combustible stone wool components, the system is designed to meet today’s more stringent safety expectations. Crucially, its moisture-open construction reflects advice from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which highlights that the lowest-risk IWI solutions are those that allow walls to dry to both sides, effectively reducing condensation risks and protecting long-term building health. The InteriA system will provide a range of benefits for specifiers, housing providers, and programme managers: The InteriA build-up has been engineered with retrofit practicality in mind. Its slim profiles maximise internal space, and installation is designed to be quick and minimally disruptive. This makes the system particularly suited to occupied dwellings, phased upgrade programmes, and large-scale retrofit schemes. Joe Ragdale, Technical Director at Wetherby Wall Systems, commented: “InteriA has been developed in direct response to what the industry has been calling for: an A-rated, moisture-open internal wall solution. It has been carefully designed to give specifiers, housing providers, and programme managers confidence that compliance, resident safety, and building durability are all addressed within one system. By combining safety, sustainability, and compliance, InteriA represents a significant step forward for IWI solutions and will play a valuable role in helping the UK meet its carbon reduction and energy efficiency targets.” To register your interest for training or to request further details ahead of the launch, contact Wetherby Wall Systems on 01942 717 100 or info@wall-systems.co.uk, or visit www.wall-systems.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

British Gypsum and Isover have launched episode six of their Building Better video series – taking viewers on a tour of the cutting-edge Energy House 2.0 facility, where academics are closing the gap between the design and performance of new build properties. The largest test and research facility of its kind, led by the University of Salford, Energy House 2.0 is the world’s first fully climate-controllable new build home. British Gypsum and Isover supported the exciting project to construct the three-bed detached new build home, designed to meet future performance and regulation requirements. In the previous episode, the Building Better series also unveiled Energy House 1, which features a Victorian end-terrace home. Both projects are helping to revolutionise the way in which the industry designs, builds and retrofits homes for a future of more sustainable and zero-carbon living.   In this latest episode, Prof Richard Fitton, Professor of Energy Performance of Buildings for the University of Salford, takes us behind the doors of this high-tech facility where real houses are tested under simulated extreme weather conditions to evaluate energy performance, running costs and resilience. “With too much uncertainty in field testing conditions, Energy House 2.0 allows us to recreate the conditions of anywhere in the world where people live. As part of our testing, we can fast forward through climate change prediction, going 30, 50, even 80 years into the future to test how the house copes with those changes,” said Professor Richard Fitton. “Once testing is complete, we will then have huge amounts of measured data that we can share with the industry to help inform how they create smart living for the future. Research from Leeds Beckett University found in some circumstances up to a 150% gap between design and actual performance in in-field testing, whereas Energy House 2.0 has a gap of less than 10%, meaning that this is an extremely well-performing building.” Built within a sealed environmental chamber, Energy House 2.0 can replicate a wide range of weather conditions – from rain, wind, snow and solar through to temperatures ranging from -20°C to 40°C – enabling accurate, repeatable testing that accelerates innovation and reduces real-world risk. The research spans everything from fabric performance, airtightness, and U-values across floors, windows, ceilings, and roofs, to a thermography study. Órla Whelan, Customer Solutions and Portfolio Development Director at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, said: “This innovative climate-controlled testing provides us with a catalyst for speeding up the pace of development and hopefully paving a way for us to reduce our carbon emissions to zero. We are honoured to be a part of such a forward-thinking initiative. “The accurate data that is obtained from this testing allows the academics at the University of Salford to create calibrated models of the buildings with an accuracy within better than 5%. With this huge amount of insight, manufacturers can see exactly how these buildings perform before they are even built.” By showcasing the transformational research taking place at the University of Salford, the episode reinforces British Gypsum and Isover’s commitment to helping people live low-carbon lives through high-performance building solutions. Hosted by renowned architectural designer and television personality Charlie Luxton, Building Better delivers inspirational and thought-provoking content through weekly episodes, available on YouTube and via the Building Better Hub. To watch the full episode and explore more on how we’re building a better tomorrow, visit: www.saint-gobain.co.uk/building-better-hub. Or watch the episode directly on the Building Better YouTube Channel and hit subscribe to stay updated. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The pressure on UK housing developers and contractors has never been greater. Demand for homes continues to rise, while labour shortages, compliance burdens, and tight delivery schedules make it increasingly difficult to meet targets. The traditional build process — fragmented across multiple suppliers and trades — is showing its limitations. Delays, waste, and inefficiencies have become the norm. Developers need a new way forward and Nudura is here to help. That’s why we’ve launched BuildEase – our new simplified ICF delivery enablement service that addresses the construction industry’s call for quicker, more predictable, and lower-waste building systems. Backed by Tremco CPG UK and powered by the Nudura brand, BuildEase leads the shift towards smarter housing delivery. Designed for housing developers, housing associations and contractors, rather than coordinating multiple parties and different timelines, our end-to-end service provides a single partner from the earliest design stages through to completion – From Design to Delivery – aligning your design for buildability, supplying Nudura ICF systems tailored to your site layout, ensuring compliance documentation is in place, and even supporting your team on-site. A full-service build solution – here’s what BuildEase offers: Nudura ICF System Tailored to Your Site One of the core features of this service is providing our waste-reducing, factory Nudura ICF components. ICF construction available from Nudura, provides end users with an eco-friendly, sustainable development. Everything is prepared off-site based on your approved site layout and delivered ready to install. This reduces on-site material waste dramatically as there is less rework; speeds up installation as blocks arrive in logical order and ready to build – leading to a cleaner, more controlled build environment. Built for Compliance – Including NHBC Compliance is another area where we offer full support. BuildEase solutions are fully compliant with UK building standards and backed by warranty pathways. Our ICF systems are designed to be NHBC ready from day one, with compliance documentation prepared to support your technical submissions and simplify approvals. Rather than rushing to meet requirements at the last minute, we work with your compliance teams early in the project — helping ensure smooth approvals, reducing design risk and minimising surprises down the line. On-site Support & Delivery Sequencing Our on-site technical support is a key part of the service. When it comes to execution, we don’t leave you to figure it out alone. We provide supervision and, training for new crews, to ensure our ICF systems are installed quickly and correctly – minimising errors. We believe in being present and proactive by providing regular site visits and a technical support hotline, because we know how much is riding on every stage of your delivery timeline. Sustainable and Site-Smart At the heart of our BuildEase service offering is our support for safer builds and smarter outcomes. With ICF components arriving Nudura, BuildEase promotes reduced material waste on site and lower transport emissions. This helps developers meet ESG targets and planning obligations contributing to the builds’ sustainability reporting. Service that Delivers at Every Stage In a market that demands more homes, built faster, and to higher standards BuildEase provides the partner that delivers at every stage. From manufacturing to delivery and beyond, BuildEase is backed by Tremco CPG UK’s reputation for reliability service quality and technical care. With timely, phased deliveries, integrated support teams what you get is a reliable partner for repeatable housing delivery. Ready to build smarter? BuildEase is about giving developers and contractors what they really need: clarity, speed, and confidence in delivery. It’s about reducing friction at every stage and making smarter use of materials, labour, and time. Whether you’re building 10 homes or 100, our system is built to scale with you. And with one partner accountable for every stage — from design and materials to compliance and on-site support — BuildEase isn’t just a name, it’s our promise. Let’s explore how we can help you reduce waste, build faster, and take the pressure off your next housing development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The UK’s smallest city, St Davids, is nearing completion of its final major housing development for at least the next 15 years, with every home finished with BMI Redland Cambrian Slate roof tiles. The 58-home Maes-Y-Felin scheme, delivered by GRD Homes, sits within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, one of Britain’s most tightly protected landscapes. With no further large-scale developments permitted in the city for the foreseeable future, this once-in-a-generation project faced intense planning scrutiny to ensure it preserved St Davids’ historic character in this designated conservation area while also delivering current building performance standards. “Building here required careful consideration of design and durability,” said Gareth Davies, Director at GRD Homes. “We needed a roofing product that not only blended seamlessly into its National Park surroundings, but could also stand up to harsh coastal weather and help us achieve our EPC A ratings. Cambrian Slate ticked every box.” Maes-Y-Felin is a tranquil development built to uncompromisingly high standards. The houses are traditionally built using the very best materials, giving them solidity and longevity. Time honoured touches such as native Pennant stone, Cambrian Slate roof tiles, and oak flooring combine with forward thinking additions such as charging points for electrical vehicles. Manufactured with over 60% recycled natural Welsh slate, Cambrian provides a natural slate appearance to satisfy demands for heritage requirements. While its mechanically fixed, clipped and nailed installation provides resistance to wind uplift, which was critical for St Davids’ exposed peninsula location. BMI Redland supplied a full roofing system, including Cambrian Ambi-Dry Verge and ridge kits, to deliver consistent detailing across the scheme’s mix of single-storey and complex dormer roof designs. The project was also supported through BMI SpecMaster, the company’s free-of-charge roof specification service which guarantees system performance for 15 years. For GRD Homes, this provided added reassurance that the roofing solution would deliver both performance and aesthetics over the long term. To keep the build on track and amid industry-wide supply pressures, GRD Homes worked with local merchant LBS to pre-stock Cambrian products, ensuring continuity from the first roofs in phase one to the final plots still in development.  The development delivers 18 affordable homes for local residents alongside 40 executive and private properties, all built with locally sourced materials and trades wherever possible. “This project is a milestone for St Davids,” said Damien Pooley, Portfolio Manager for pitched roofing at BMI UK & Ireland. “It’s proof that even in the most sensitive and exposed locations, the right roofing system can help create new housing that blends with its surroundings.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete has acquired the customers of Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) specialists Cemcotec. The successful integration of Cemcotec’s customer base into Oscrete’s expanding operations, marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth strategy and is announced just weeks after Oscrete acquired structural waterproofing specialists, PUDLO, further expanding its portfolio of expertise and services. The move further strengthens Oscrete’s position as a leading provider of innovative concrete solutions and reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional service and technical expertise across the construction industry. Cemcotec founder and GRC specialist Graham T Gilbert continues to provide consultancy to GRC manufacturers while Cemcotec customers will now benefit from the wider Oscrete team’s expertise and services. Oscrete Director Scott Wilson said: “As part of the transition, we are incredibly proud to continue our collaboration with Graham, a globally respected consultant with over 50 years of experience in GRC. Graham will continue to offer technical consultancy services, supporting Oscrete and our customers with his unparalleled knowledge and insight gained from decades of work on GRC projects around the world. “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Cemcotec’s customers into the Oscrete family in a merger which not only strengthens our business but also enhances the level of service and technical support we can offer.” Commenting on the merger, Graham added: “Having spent more than 50 years in the sector covering all aspects of GRC from research and development to its global roll out and then establishing of Cemcotec in 2005, I wanted a company which could build on these milestones and achievements and provide my customers with additional benefits and expertise. “Oscrete meets these requirements with their range of concrete additives, full warehousing and logistics network plus excellent laboratory facilities for mix evaluations and comprehensive support services. Having worked with Oscrete for many years, I am delighted to be placing my customers in such safe hands and to announce the start of an exciting new chapter for our customers and for the GRC industry itself.” Oscrete is a UK-based manufacturer specialising in concrete admixtures for precast, ready-mix concrete and mortars. The company was established in 1983 and is known for its innovative construction products which enhance the performance and durability of concrete applications, offering a range of bespoke solutions for the built environment. This latest development is a key part of Oscrete’s broader strategy to expand its technical capabilities and customer reach, particularly in the specialist GRC sector. Scott added: “With a growing team of expert consultants and our strong focus on innovation, Oscrete is well-positioned to lead the way in concrete technology and customer service.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Euroform’s Versapanel® cement bonded particle board has played a role in meeting the acoustic performance criteria of the roof system for London’s largest new film and television campus, Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham. Commissioned to provide the roof system covering an area of over 23,000m², roof and façade specialist Kalzip’s objective was to design a project specific acoustic roof construction to achieve a significant sound reduction performance.  As part of the tested system, Kalzip specified Versapanel® along with other elements, including rockfibre slab, glass wool insulation, an anti-drumming membrane and green roof, to the more noise exposed areas, including beside a train line, along with Kalzip structural components. Kalzip’s Chris Goldie explains, “Versapanel® was selected as a component in order to provide significant mass to the construction, contributing to the test criteria being meet.” Euroform supplied 40,000m² of Versapanel®.  The product’s principal attributes are durability and excellent sound attenuation.  Its density increases substantially the mass of systems, providing superior acoustic performance when used in various elements of construction, such as roofs, ceilings and walls. Versapanel® is specified extensively in constructions where acoustic control is important, such as in high-risk noise areas including airports and motorways.  It can also be used in acoustic baffles in theatres, concert halls and recording studios where true sound reverberation is required. The Kalzip roof system was installed at Eastbrook Studios by sub-contractor FK Group. Eastbrook Studios is now open for action.  A technologically advanced, film and television production centre, it offers a variety of purpose-built spaces, with 12 state-of-the-art soundstages ranging from 16,000 to 31,000 sqft, office and support space and 17 workshops, plus a 1.7-acre backlot.  Located at Dagenham, it is on London’s underground network.  Eastbrook Studios is operated by The MBS Group and owned by Hackman Capital Partners. One of the leading suppliers of aluminium building envelopes, Kalzip has been producing roof and façade systems since 1968 and has installed more than 100 million square metres of Kalzip profiled sheets worldwide. Euroform has been developing, fabricating and supplying materials for the construction industry since 1995.  It is part of the Performance Technology Group, a group of companies supporting the construction industry to meet acoustic, fire, thermal and vibration challenges. www.euroform.co.uk www.kalzip.com www.eastbrookstudios.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals