Huws Gray Group, one of the UK’s leading supplier of construction materials, has today published its inaugural annual sustainability report. The report looks forward to future ambitions, including targets and areas of focus for the Group and gives a transparent overview of the Group’s 2023 performance in the areas of
Façade specialist Spanwall has won a major national manufacturing award. At this year’s Engineering & Manufacturing Awards, Spanwall was presented with the Digital Innovation Award for its Smart Manufacturing initiative. These awards celebrate the trailblazers of UK engineering and manufacturing, and the companies and individuals that are shaping the future
STARK Building Materials UK Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Edwin de Silva as STARK UK Business Development Director, effective Monday 23 September. de Silva joins STARK UK from EDS Building Connections, having previously worked in a range of senior leadership roles across the building and construction sector.
LEADING provider of innovative product solutions PermaGroup has boosted its restructured commercial team with the appointment of five key team members. John O’Connor, Adam Walker, Thom Brown and Craig Batton have all joined as technical specification managers, while Jamie Eliades has been appointed as area sales manager covering East Anglia.
Reynaers Aluminium UK, a leading supplier of sustainable architectural aluminium systems, has unveiled a new RIBA-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar focused on curtain walling systems. This comprehensive program, titled “The Best of All Possible Worlds – How Curtain Walling can help meet the needs and demands of architecture and
Civils & Lintels, part of the Huws Gray group of companies, has secured a ‘preferred supplier’ contract with Gleeson Homes, the high-quality affordable housebuilder, to supply either IG or Catnic Lintels to its new home developments across the Midlands and North of England. The deal is part of Gleeson’s efforts
Duraproducts, a leading provider of innovative, sustainable construction solutions, has been chosen by ABM Contractors to supply its pioneering Durakerb HB2 range of recycled kerbing units, for the refurbishment of the company’s headquarters car park in Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1994, ABM Contractors is a well-respected contractor with
MEDITE SMARTPLY, the market-leading manufacturer of sustainable wood-based panels, has successfully completed extensive testing with a UKAS-accredited laboratory on flooring solutions featuring SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB. The OSB panels used in timber flooring systems for internal residential floors have achieved the airborne sound insulation performance of
External wall insulation specialist Alsecco has introduced technical packs to support early, accurate specification and ensure that information required for the golden thread is in place from the start of a project. Providing brick slip systems, render and external wall insulation, the manufacturer has taken steps to give stakeholders, especially
Geberit, a leading manufacturer of sanitary products and piping systems, has appointed Danielle Lillis as its new Product and Marketing Director for the UK. Lillis brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role, having previously held senior positions at major bathroom distributors and manufacturers. Most recently, she served
Huws Gray Group, one of the UK’s leading supplier of construction materials, has today published its inaugural annual sustainability report. The report looks forward to future ambitions, including targets and areas of focus for the Group and gives a transparent overview of the Group’s 2023 performance in the areas of environment, social and governance. Sustainability Report 2023 (huwsgray.co.uk) Introducing the report, Daksh Gupta, Group CEO Huws Gray Group, says; “A renewed focus on sustainability was one of my immediate priorities for Huws Gray Group when I became CEO of the business earlier this year. Like many businesses, we have much to do but I am extremely heartened by the steps we have already taken. Our ESG strategy focusses on four strategic pillars and this first report lays out the company goals to which we commit.” The report covers two key aspects, firstly the company’s achievements, covering economic, environmental, social and governance areas. Secondly, the report sets out a new set of targets for the Huws Gray Group including Scope 1&2 emissions, Scope 3 emissions, transitioning to a 100% electric fleet and developing a sustainable procurement process. The strategy has four central pillars, which are described in detail in the report: Some highlights from the 2023 report include: Huws Gray Group are committed to publishing a sustainability report annually with progress on the company’s journey towards a more sustainability future. Dafydd Hughes from Huws Gray Group Sustainability Team commented; “In 2023 we made significant progress in the ESG areas so are delighted to publish our first Sustainability Report and we look forward to being part of driving positive change within our industry. We believe the key to success in sustainability is working together with our colleagues, customers, suppliers and stakeholders to make a positive impact on our people and planet.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Façade specialist Spanwall has won a major national manufacturing award. At this year’s Engineering & Manufacturing Awards, Spanwall was presented with the Digital Innovation Award for its Smart Manufacturing initiative. These awards celebrate the trailblazers of UK engineering and manufacturing, and the companies and individuals that are shaping the future of industry. The event at the Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, London was attended by around 300 manufacturing and engineering professionals from across British industry. The judges praised Spanwall’s entry as ‘a great example of the way in which digital technologies can be used to drive manufacturing efficiency’. David Clark, Managing Director of Spanwall, said, “These awards do a fantastic job of recognising and promoting innovation and excellence across the best of UK industry. To win the Digital Innovation Award is a huge accolade for Spanwall and is a real credit to our design and manufacturing teams at every level of our business.” “We are committed to digital transformation and believe it is fundamental to delivering our core values of innovation, safety and quality to our customers, specifiers, and most importantly, to building owners and occupiers.” Spanwall manufactures sheet metal façade solutions for some of the world’s most iconic architectural landmarks, as well as buildings across the public and private sectors, and large-scale refurbishment projects. The Digital Innovation Award was presented for Spanwall’s market-leading Smart Manufacturing initiative, which has applied digital technology to streamline processes and workflows. This has leveraged the power of digital twinning for rapid prototyping of its metal façade components before going into full production. The new technology also allows the live tracking of every component part through each stage of design and manufacturing, delivering real-time reporting for improved efficiency and a completely new level of customer communication, transparency and traceability. The digital system has integrated multi-disciplinary data to create a truly information-driven product workflow. This allows Spanwall to create and test new metal rainscreen cladding designs for its customers and specifiers more efficiently, whilst optimising manufacturing resources and significantly increasing overall capacity. The Smart Manufacturing project represents a significant investment for Spanwall, particularly in the level of testing and validation that was required to implement seamless workflows. The result is shorter lead times and cost reductions of around 80 per cent for digital prototyping of sheet metal components. Machine set-up times for production runs have also been reduced by up to 50 per cent. As Spanwall is often involved in producing highly complex metal façade solutions for large-scale construction projects, identifying potential issues at the earliest design stage is critical for a ‘right first time’ approach. The new digital technology provides increased certainty of project delivery on time and on budget, and to consistently high-quality standards. The next phase of Spanwall’s digital transformation will apply new technology to integrate quality control, preventative maintenance, health and safety, and estimating into digital workflows. For more information, see www.spanwall.com, email info@spanwall.com or call 028 9081 5303. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
STARK Building Materials UK Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Edwin de Silva as STARK UK Business Development Director, effective Monday 23 September. de Silva joins STARK UK from EDS Building Connections, having previously worked in a range of senior leadership roles across the building and construction sector. He is an active champion for small and medium builders and women in construction, supporting organisations including the Regional Builder Hub, a partnership between the King’s Foundation and University of Estate Management, The Developers Club and R&B Developers Forum. Under the previous Conservative Government, Edwin was Secretariat for All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for SME Housebuilders. Commenting on the news of his appointment, de Silva said “I’m delighted to be joining this incredible business at what is a very exciting period in my career. My new role will be focused on developing our approach to further accelerate the growth of the housebuilding sector, across STARK UK’s business brands. With the ‘Build Build Build’ mantra coming from Westminster, it could not be a better time to support housebuilders.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING provider of innovative product solutions PermaGroup has boosted its restructured commercial team with the appointment of five key team members. John O’Connor, Adam Walker, Thom Brown and Craig Batton have all joined as technical specification managers, while Jamie Eliades has been appointed as area sales manager covering East Anglia. The new appointments signal PermaGroup’s continued trajectory of growth and success following the appointment of group head of sales, Steve Greaves, earlier this year, and in under four years the commercial division of the business has grown extensively. With more than 30 years in the industry John brings with him a wealth of roofing knowledge, including expertise in both flat and pitched roofing, while Adam has worked in the industry for the last ten years, building valuable relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including architects, building surveyors, local authorities and roofing contractors. New area sales manager Jamie has hopes to manage a team of her own at PermaGroup and to pass on her 20 years’ worth of knowledge and experience, and is looking forward to immersing herself into learning more about EDPM products. Having spent a large portion of his career working in interiors for large national brands, Thom has ambitions to grow PermaGroup at scale and to continue to develop his existing industry relationships, while Craig is keen to learn from his new colleagues to build on his ten years of roofing knowledge in both supply and installation. Steve Greaves said: “Building our restructured commercial team has been a very rewarding process, and each of our new recruits brings something different to their role. It’s an exciting time of change for the business and it was the right time to expand on the foundations we had in the commercial division by solidifying our dedicated team in that area of the business. Commercial roofing is central to our overall growth and development, and our team is looking forward to working together to achieve strong results. “Our company culture at PermaGroup is very important, and we’ve had fantastic feedback from the newer members already, which is extremely encouraging. We always want our people to feel valued, so to hear that our new team members are settling in well and are enjoying their work is all we can ask for.” To find out more about PermaGroup, please visit: www.permagroup.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Reynaers Aluminium UK, a leading supplier of sustainable architectural aluminium systems, has unveiled a new RIBA-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar focused on curtain walling systems. This comprehensive program, titled “The Best of All Possible Worlds – How Curtain Walling can help meet the needs and demands of architecture and construction in the 21st Century,” offers architects an in-depth understanding of using curtain walling to meet modern design objectives. The CPD was crafted by an architect for architects, the architect being Paul Iddon, Vice President of the Manchester Society of Architects. This new seminar provides an overview of the evolution of curtain walling in response to the changing needs of the architecture and construction sectors. It covers essential regulatory frameworks across approved documents, referencing the Building Safety Act (BSA) and Construction Design & Management (CDM) regulations. With a comprehensive exploration of curtain walling systems, participants will gain a thorough grounding in its co-development with construction technology. The seminar provides a broad understanding of relevant systems, delving into their usefulness in meeting various design criteria, and elucidating key considerations for architects and specifiers. Practical applications are illustrated by case studies that showcase diverse uses and exemplary contextual designs. While valuable insights are offered into the relevance of curtain walling in meeting sustainability and circular economy goals. Richard Jekiel, National Consult Manager at Reynaers Aluminium UK, commented: “At Reynaers, we are committed to supporting architects in realising their visions. This new CPD exemplifies our dedication to providing not just premium quality, versatile systems, but also the knowledge and technical expertise necessary for successful specification and sustainable design. “By offering in-depth insights into curtain walling systems, we aim to empower architects to make informed decisions that balance aesthetics, functionality, and environmental responsibility.” The seminar is designed to equip architects with a thorough understanding of curtain walling systems’ potential to expand their creative horizons and improve their technical capabilities. This latest seminar complements Reynaers’ existing portfolio of RIBA-approved seminars, which cover topics such as specifying aluminium sliding doors, acoustic glazing solutions, and sustainable aluminium systems. The launch of this CPD underscores Reynaers’ position as an industry leader in architectural aluminium systems and reinforces its dedication to supporting the professional growth of architects and specifiers. By providing high-quality, relevant educational content, Reynaers continues to bridge the gap between innovative product solutions and the evolving needs of the construction industry. Architects and other industry professionals interested in participating in this new CPD seminar or exploring Reynaers’ other educational offerings can contact the company directly to schedule a session. With options for face-to-face, virtual, or on-site delivery at Reynaers’ Knowledge Centre in Birmingham, the company ensures flexibility and accessibility for all participants. As the construction industry continues to evolve, Reynaers Aluminium UK remains at the forefront, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to create sustainable, innovative, and visually striking architectural solutions. Reynaers will present its ‘Best of All Possible Worlds’ CPD via webinar this October and November. For in person sessions, onsite or at Reynaers’ UK headquarters in Birmingham, enquire online or contact the Reynaers Consult Team. Find out more online. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Civils & Lintels, part of the Huws Gray group of companies, has secured a ‘preferred supplier’ contract with Gleeson Homes, the high-quality affordable housebuilder, to supply either IG or Catnic Lintels to its new home developments across the Midlands and North of England. The deal is part of Gleeson’s efforts to streamline its roster of preferred lintel suppliers from seven merchants to two as it seeks to consolidate its supply chain to drive greater efficiencies. Jon Walker, group procurement director at Gleeson Homes, commented: “When deciding to consolidate our lintels supply chain, it was imperative that we were assured of access to the products we need, when we need them, and in the right locations. “Civils & Lintels, with its strategically placed nationwide locations, proved to be an ideal preferred supplier in this respect and when coupled with our experience of working with their knowledgeable team, I’m delighted to have reached this agreement with them. “We see appointing Civils & Lintels to our supply chain as the start of a long and mutually beneficial partnership.” With a vision to deliver high-quality, affordable new homes in the areas where they are needed most, Gleeson has set an objective of delivering 3,000 new homes per annum in the medium-term. Commenting on this latest win with a major housebuilder, Tim Slesser, national lintels director at Civils & Lintels, said: “As the number one distributor of lintels in the UK, it is fitting that we’ve been named as a preferred supplier to Gleeson Homes – a highly respected UK housebuilder with whom we’ve built a strong working relationship over several years. “Our £5m investment last year into our four strategically located lintels hubs was driven by the vision to further enhance our service offering to the UK’s housebuilding sector, and this latest win, vindicates that investment.” This announcement comes shortly after Civils & Lintels announced a preferred supplier agreement focused on hard landscaping products for another leading housebuilder, Vistry Group. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Duraproducts, a leading provider of innovative, sustainable construction solutions, has been chosen by ABM Contractors to supply its pioneering Durakerb HB2 range of recycled kerbing units, for the refurbishment of the company’s headquarters car park in Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1994, ABM Contractors is a well-respected contractor with a reputation for delivering high-quality building solutions across Ireland. Following a period of growth, it became clear that an upgrade of its car park was necessary to meet the demands of its expanding business. The refurbishment project utilised over 150 linear meters of Durakerb HB2 units. This innovative kerbing alternative consists of 88% recycled polymer, offering both traditional functionality and significant environmental and safety benefits. By eliminating the need for pouring and cutting traditional kerbing stones, Durakerb reduces manual handling and exposure to hazardous silica dust. Its lightweight design and efficient installation process also removes the requirement for heavy machinery, promoting a more sustainable construction approach.” Furthermore, Durakerb’s declared Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) highlight a nearly 50% embodied carbon reduction compared to traditional precast concrete products for kerbing projects. This demonstrates Duraproducts’ commitment to providing environmentally friendly solutions for the construction industry. By choosing Durakerb for its car park refurbishment, ABM Contractors has not only improved the functionality and longevity of its employee facility, but also made a significant contribution to environmental sustainability throughout the installation process. In 2017, ABM Contractors installed a combination of Durakerb and Duradrain units at Midleton College in Country Cork, Ireland, delivering a complete recycled and recyclable surface water management system for the surrounding hard landscapes and infrastructure. Philip Weinmann, General Manager at ABM Contractors said, “At ABM we seek smart solutions at all points of the construction process. For our site refurbishment we wanted to exploit our knowledge of products that are efficient, technologically advanced and sustainable. We had previously used Durakerb on a school construction project and were impressed with the health and safety benefits coupled with the environmental credentials it offers. We were therefore delighted to showcase its performance and demonstrate that it reduces the impact on the environment at our company headquarters.” Andy Leah, General Manager at Duraproducts, added, “Construction companies need to lead by example when it comes to projects for their own businesses. We’re delighted to have supplied Durakerb for ABM Contractors’ recent car park refurbishment; it really is a true example of the company’s dedication to sustainability. This project is testament to our commitment to providing innovative, sustainable, and safe products for the construction industry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MEDITE SMARTPLY, the market-leading manufacturer of sustainable wood-based panels, has successfully completed extensive testing with a UKAS-accredited laboratory on flooring solutions featuring SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB. The OSB panels used in timber flooring systems for internal residential floors have achieved the airborne sound insulation performance of 40dB as required by the Building Regulations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Compared to the traditionally used chipboard solution, these flooring systems offer a host of benefits. Opting for SMARTPLY MAX DB enables a thinner, stronger and 30% lighter alternative. Opting for SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB provides an airtight, durable, and slip-resistant solution, ticking all the boxes for operational goals. Roly Ward, Head of Business Development at MEDITE SMARTPLY, commented: “Peace and quiet are essential for a comfortable and healthy home environment. We are excited to bring to the market new applications for our products that have been tested in flooring systems and offer sound reduction while providing the construction industry with a lighter, safer, airtight, and sustainable flooring solution as an excellent alternative to traditionally used materials.” MEDITE SMARTPLY has tested its new 18mm SMARTPLY MAX DB in flooring systems. The panel helps achieve 40dB, which is required for internal residential floors under the Building Regulations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The panel also offers weight savings, allowing for easier handling on the construction site, as well as simpler transportation and reduced costs. SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB is an airtight, tongue-and-groove panel with a high-performance coating. Using it as an airtight layer for flooring or decking can contribute to sustainable building practices and reduce energy consumption for heating. This solution complies with building regulations and is certified as airtight. What’s more, SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB’s unique coating enhances durability during the construction phase and ensures slip resistance in all site conditions. SMARTPLY OSB panels are highly durable because of their manufacturing process. The cross-orientation of the wood strands is key; this alignment allows for greater surface coverage for the adhesive, resulting in the panel’s superior strength. SMARTPLY OSB is a sustainable material that can add value throughout the supply chain. Sourced from sustainably managed and accredited Irish forests, SMARTPLY wood-based panels not only store carbon during the growth of trees but also continue to lock it in throughout the manufacturing process and the entire lifespan of the product and the buildings in which they are used. SMARTPLY’s OSB panels are fully certified, UKCA and CE marked, legally sourced, and sustainable. Because OSB is made of wood strands, the whole tree is used, and nothing is wasted. The entire SMARTPLY OSB range has been manufactured using no added formaldehyde, contributing towards healthier environments for dwellers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. “SMARTPLY OSB has one of the lowest embodied carbon of any mainstream building material. This makes it ideal for building energy-efficient homes – offering a warmer home and a reduction in energy consumption – keeping us on track towards a net-zero future,” added Roly Ward. SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB are engineered OSB wood-based panels that meet regulatory requirements and exceed expectations, making them a smarter choice for specifiers, housebuilders, contractors, and homeowners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
External wall insulation specialist Alsecco has introduced technical packs to support early, accurate specification and ensure that information required for the golden thread is in place from the start of a project. Providing brick slip systems, render and external wall insulation, the manufacturer has taken steps to give stakeholders, especially on high rise projects, the information needed to successfully specify projects at the initial engagement stage. Pulling together essential information including a U-value calculation for the project, condensation risk analysis, certification, technical and safety data, the packs contain all the information required to demonstrate that Alsecco’s systems meet the design specification – and are compliant with the relevant regulations. In addition, the technical team at Alsecco create a suite of drawings for the packs to support the application and installation of the systems, with the option to update and change this on site at a later stage within the design process. While providing the level of detail needed to demonstrate how the products would perform within the project specification, including thermal efficiency and weather performance, the packs also ensure that the level of detail required to support the golden thread is in place from the start. Ben Robinson, Technical Manager at Alsecco, said: “The introduction of the Building Safety Act has understandably seen the demand for comprehensive information around all building systems increase rapidly. “In meeting this need from the outset we aim to take a forward-looking approach that puts in place all the detail that is needed to support the progress of a project through the gateway system, and to provide the detail that will support the golden thread for the lifetime of the building. “As a manufacturer we are committed to supporting the highest standards in construction and have the digital tools and technical knowledge to offer that to specifiers, architects and contractors as soon as interest has been lodged in a scheme. “While having the correct certification will be vital for the gateway scheme it is also essential that calculations for U-values are correct and that an accurate condensation risk analysis is in place to inform the correct use of systems to fulfil the criteria, ensure lasting quality in the build and to increase application processing speeds for our valued partners.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Geberit, a leading manufacturer of sanitary products and piping systems, has appointed Danielle Lillis as its new Product and Marketing Director for the UK. Lillis brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role, having previously held senior positions at major bathroom distributors and manufacturers. Most recently, she served as Sales and Commercial Director at Ideal Bathrooms, where she was responsible for its extensive supplier portfolio, and both the sales and marketing teams. In her new position, Lillis will lead Geberit’s product management and marketing departments, focusing on driving growth in key segments like wall-hung sanitaryware and shower toilets. She aims to leverage Geberit’s reputation for innovation and quality to further strengthen its market position. “I’ve always admired Geberit as a best-in-class manufacturer,” said Lillis. “I’m excited to join such an innovative company and look forward to enhancing our product offerings and marketing strategies to deliver even more value to our customers.” Lillis’s background as both a supplier and customer in the bathroom industry gives her unique insights that will benefit Geberit’s relationships with distributors, installers, and end users. Her commercial acumen and results-driven approach align well with Geberit’s focus on growth and market leadership. “We’re thrilled to welcome Danielle to the Geberit team,” said Mark Larden, Managing Director of Geberit UK. “Her extensive experience and customer-centric perspective will be invaluable as we continue to develop premium products and services for the UK market.” Lillis took up her new role in August 2024. She will be based at Geberit’s UK headquarters in Warwick. For more information visit: www.geberit.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
