British Gypsum is reporting an overwhelmingly positive response and burgeoning sales of ThistlePro® FastSet Finish – its new rapid-setting plaster – in the first three months since its launch to the UK market. Introduced in April, ThistlePro FastSet Finish is a high-performance skim finish plaster, ideal for a wide range
CPI holds a market leading position in the construction materials sector, and we recognise our responsibility to play a similar leading role on sustainability in construction materials. We believe we have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to redefining the norms of the sector and to be an advocate
Ibstock plc’s innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions in a high carbon world has been recognised at this year’s BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. The UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of clay and concrete building products and solutions was crowned winner of the Manufacturer of the Year Award, a category which recognises
Aquaspira has successfully designed and delivered a sustainable solution to attenuate 910 cubic metres of storm water at a new 241-home development in Beccles, Suffolk. Aquaspira was handpicked by Hopkins Homes, the largest housing developer in East Anglia, to design and install a multi-leg tank, small and large diameter pipes
Ten years since the start of UK production of REHAU’s RAUVITHERM pipe, the business is celebrating the market’s only UK-manufactured pre-insulated PE-Xa pipe to feed a growth in demand across renewable heat projects. Ever since its launch, RAUVITHERM has proven popular due to its combination of flexibility and low heat
BUILDING on the success of the past 18 months, PermaRoof Commercial, part of PermaGroup, has grown tenfold after making several key hires in response to demand. Since its inception in December 2020, PermaRoof Commercial has gone from strength to strength, completing a total of 62 projects, equalling approximately 21,000m2 of
Travis Perkins plc is investing in a new fleet of 26-tonne trucks, designed to support the Group’s ambitious carbon reduction target and maximise the safety and efficiency of its transport operations. They will operate in a mix of Travis Perkins and Keyline Civils Specialist liveries, providing building materials to construction
Sustainable biomass supplier and timber products specialist GMG Energy has made a strategic purchase of a substantial swathe of forest in the far north-east of Scotland to protect future supply and increase its resilience to market shocks. The resource-rich company, which originated on a farm in the Strath of Halladale
DESPITE the industry’s ongoing stock shortages, leading supplier of specialist building products, PermaGroup, has continued to pride itself on providing permanent solutions to age old problems – stepping outside the box to successfully navigate the sector’s challenges. Although there is little that can be done to improve the supply chain
Global material supplier and supply chain solutions provider, thyssenkrupp Materials UK, has announced a new, long-term strategic partnership with Brickability Group PLC, a leading specialist in products and services for the UK construction sector. The two businesses are set to unveil a new balcony system, sold via Architectural Facades (part
British Gypsum is reporting an overwhelmingly positive response and burgeoning sales of ThistlePro® FastSet Finish – its new rapid-setting plaster – in the first three months since its launch to the UK market. Introduced in April, ThistlePro FastSet Finish is a high-performance skim finish plaster, ideal for a wide range of repairs and use on smaller internal walls and ceilings due to its fast-setting attributes. It has proved a major hit with tradespeople across the UK, with dozens of plasterers taking to social media to sing its praises. Comments include: “A brilliant solution to a real problem”; “I’ve definitely found my Friday plaster. A walk-in wardrobe smashed out in no time thanks to FastSet Finish”; and “It sets in half the time of normal plaster. It’s absolutely brilliant, it’s fantastic for the little jobs on the way home so you’re not sat around waiting.” The sentiments were echoed by merchants themselves, with feedback such as: “Branches that have taken stock are (saying) their customers love the product… it’s an easy sell to customers” and reports that stocks of ThistlePro FastSet Finish have sold out within just two hours of arriving in store. While in many instances the product is being used for patching and repairs, merchants have also reported numerous examples of ThistlePro FastSet Finish being employed on other jobs where there is a tight schedule. ThistlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in half the time of standard skim finish plaster, with no compromise on performance. This enables more rapid completion of projects, maximising customer satisfaction and allowing plasterers to move on to their next project sooner too. A complete all-in-one bagged product, it also negates the need for plasterers to use additives or other methods to speed up setting times, a practice which can impact on overall plaster performance and potentially void the product guarantee. Paul Cassidy, Product Portfolio Development Director at British Gypsum, explained: “We’re absolutely delighted with the response from the sector to ThistlePro FastSet Finish since its launch. “So often, speed is of the essence in building projects – other tasks must be completed after plastering, so a product which dries quickly while still delivering optimal performance is vital. “ThistlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in just one hour, while still offering the performance attributes associated with the wider ThistlePro range which has become the ‘go-to’ choice for thousands of plasterers across the UK.” British Gypsum’s ThistlePro range also features ThistlePro PureFinish, ThistlePro DuraFinish and ThistlePro Magnetic, which are designed to provide better indoor air quality, a more durable finish and the option of creating interactive spaces. For more information on British Gypsum’s ThistlePro range, visit british-gypsum.com/specification/our-products/thistle-plasters.
CPI holds a market leading position in the construction materials sector, and we recognise our responsibility to play a similar leading role on sustainability in construction materials. We believe we have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to redefining the norms of the sector and to be an advocate for a low-carbon sustainable future. The CPI sustainability strategy identifies commitments in four key focus areas: planet, customer and products, people and communities. Underpinning these four areas is our commitment to an ethical and responsible approach to how we conduct our business every day. Our strategy challenges us to address issues that are closest to our business, and which make the biggest contribution to the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals that we have identified as being most relevant to us. Protecting our planet for us means limiting our impact on natural resources, reducing our carbon footprint by managing our use of energy and minimising waste, and recycling wherever possible. Our commitment to these principles and protecting the environment is underpinned by our ISO 14001 Environmental Management accreditation. Recognising that our manufacturing process has a high energy demand we completed a switch to 100% renewable electricity procurement during 2021. We have also identified scope to achieve partial self-sufficiency for electricity, reducing our demand on what is a limited renewable energy capacity, by installing solar arrays at a number of our factories during 2022. Despite a programme of annual re-investment in our delivery vehicles, we operate a diesel fleet that generates high emissions. At present we have not identified a suitable, more sustainable alternatives to our current fleet but continue to explore new technology developments and are highly engaged with our vehicle manufacturers. In the absence of imminent changes to our distribution carbon emissions we have initiated a carbon capture forestry scheme in partnership with Potanow Forestry. The CPI 30-hectare forest of some 80,000 trees will ensure that all EuroMix deliveries in 2022, both by CPI vehicles and also those contracted by us, will be carbon neutral. Our ISO 9001 Quality Management System accreditation, the international standard for quality management, is at the heart of our ambitions to drive continuous improvement to meet our customer needs. This is a key principle of the customer and product focus element of our sustainability strategy. Our BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing accreditation gives our customers the confidence that the materials used in our products have been secured through a responsible and sustainable supply chain. As the pioneers of dry silo mortar in the UK, at CPI we have some of the best technical product knowledge in the industry. We are using this extensive product knowledge to collaborate with our supply chain partners to develop more sustainable product choices within the parameters of the British Standard specification for masonry mortars as well as the other products we produce. Additionally, CPI takes a sustainable approach to limiting its waste streams, and reducing its use of plastics, and is also in the early stages of developing a sustainability code with its raw materials suppliers. We value our people and strive to provide a fair, safe and inclusive workplace where every colleague feels welcome and empowered to achieve their full potential. We know our colleagues also care about the environment and through our sustainable living campaigns, we help and support them to live more sustainably by providing useful information and resources. Making a positive contribution in the communities in which we operate is important to us and we are engaging with our colleagues to identify local community projects to support and to nominate charity partners. We are continuing our work with schools and colleges to raise awareness in areas such as health and safety, and the environment. At CPI, we are continually looking for new opportunities to support greater sustainability in the industry and our communities. We are committed to creating a more sustainable future and making progress within the construction industry. To discover more about CPI Euromix’s sustainability initiatives, visit: https://www.cpieuromix.com/sustainability/
Ibstock plc’s innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions in a high carbon world has been recognised at this year’s BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. The UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of clay and concrete building products and solutions was crowned winner of the Manufacturer of the Year Award, a category which recognises organisations that are pioneering green manufacturing best practices and principles and are producing new clean technologies and products to cut their environmental impact to support the transition to a greener economy. Now in their 12th year, the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards – co-ordinated by the leading green economy publication BusinessGreen – are the UK’s largest and most prestigious green business awards. In a competitive category, Ibstock won over the judges with “their highly innovative approach to slashing emissions in the high carbon world of brick manufacturing, where the company has pioneered a raft of new approaches and provided a crucial template for others to follow.” Well-known brands from a wide variety of sectors were shortlisted for the award including BAT, Meryl Medical and Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation. In the last decade Ibstock has invested £115 million in manufacturing performance, implementing decarbonisation measures, production efficiencies and transformational technologies that reduce the carbon intensity and environmental impact of its operations and products whilst accelerating the businesses journey to net zero. Its achievements include: 17% reduction in CO2 per tonne of production 8% reduction in mains water 13.6% of sales turnover from new and sustainable products 200 tonnes of plastic packing removed Ibstock’s recently launched its Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy to 2030, defining a new era of responsible business and manufacturing, serving as an important accelerator in speeding up the pace of change. Organised under three themes; Address Climate Change; Improve lives; and Manufacture Materials for life, headline ambitions include: 40% reduction in absolute carbon by 2030 20% of sales turnover revenue to come from new products and solutions that deliver customer value and improved sustainability Increase female senior leadership representation to 40% as part of a proactive approach to diversity and inclusion Commenting on the win, Joe Hudson, Ibstock plc’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “As an organisation that is committed to sustainable methods of manufacturing, we are delighted to be recognised as 2022 Manufacturer of the Year at these prestigious awards. Our employees have played a fundamental role in our sustainable success. Engaging and involving our people helps create a better understanding of our goals and ambitions as we work to create a more sustainable future. We are very proud of our progress to date, yet we know that we still have much more to do. Our new ESG strategy to 2030 will take our business on the next stage in its evolution to deliver on the future challenges and opportunities of decarbonisation.” (ends) COMPANY INFORMATION Ibstock is a leading manufacturer and supplier of clay and concrete building solutions to the UK construction industry, specialising in products and systems for the building envelope and infrastructure. Ibstock comprises two divisions – Ibstock Clay and Ibstock Concrete – both with leading market positions in the UK. Ibstock Clay: Our Clay division offers the largest range of bricks manufactured in the UK as well as prefabricated elements, precast solutions and brick-faced façade systems for both low rise and high-rise developments. Ibstock Concrete: Our Concrete division manufactures high quality, precast concrete products for the residential housing and hard landscaping markets and also has a growing position in infrastructure. Ibstock plc is headquartered in Ibstock, Leicestershire, with 36 manufacturing sites across the UK. Ibstock plc’s shares have been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2015 (symbol: IBST) and it is a constituent of the FTSE 250. Further information can be found at www.ibstockplc.co.uk.
Aquaspira has successfully designed and delivered a sustainable solution to attenuate 910 cubic metres of storm water at a new 241-home development in Beccles, Suffolk. Aquaspira was handpicked by Hopkins Homes, the largest housing developer in East Anglia, to design and install a multi-leg tank, small and large diameter pipes under the roads with associated access units. The 500 metres of composite steel reinforced pipes will attenuate storm water and mitigate flood risk. Mark Wilkinson, Head of Technical from Hopkins Homes, said: “Aquaspira has worked with us on four or five developments and we asked our consulting engineers to specify Aquaspira at Barsham Vale because it would provide a lower carbon solution, minimise land take and reduce programme time. “An accredited and adoptable solution is vital and Aquaspira provides this, the added benefit is that the three metre sections of pipe help with the ease of installation.” The Barsham Vale development is in the picturesque market town of Beccles on the sought-after Suffolk and Norfolk border, just 10 miles from the Suffolk Heritage Coast. The development comprises of two, three and four-bedroomed homes, bungalows and apartments. The team was keen to minimise the impact of the construction on the existing local community. Due to the lightweight nature of the product, transport movements were halved compared to a traditional concrete solution. This, along with the reduced excavation, decreases vehicle emissions, helping to enhance construction site sustainability. Jonny Johnson from Aquaspira said: “This is an adoptable private housing project within Anglian Water. We were able to deliver the ideal solution, including a space saving multi-leg water attenuation tank, access points and a range of diameter pipes for under the road network. “We used composite steel reinforced pipes, including large diameter pipes, which along with the multi-leg tank can hold a vast amount of storm water under the new estate roads. This minimised the land take required for the SUDs and the safety issues associated with surface level storage. “As our products are far lighter weight than traditional concrete this more than halved the number of transport movements and depth required for installation. “We reviewed the soil conditions, depth and flotation to ensure the ground conditions were suitable. As part of the service we provide we produced loading calculations to BS 9295:2020 which confirmed that the products were suitable and adoptable for this application.” Dan West, director from Ingent Consulting Engineers, said: “Hopkins Homes requested Aquaspira was specified and I’ve been very impressed with the product and installation time. Lightweight and strong, the pipes can be handled more swiftly and safely, with much smaller machines and need about a quarter less excavation as well. “As a result, the Aquaspira solution has helped us to optimise the design, safety and installation efficiency of the development, as well as achieving minimal disruption for the local community. The installation ran smoothly and the environmental benefits offered by the products helped to ensure this was the perfect solution for this exclusive development.” The products used included: Under Road Drainage – 675mmØ, 750mmØ, 1200mmØ & 1800mmØ Pipes with 1200mm & 1800mm Access Units POS Attenuation Tank – 3-leg 1800mmØ Tank
Ten years since the start of UK production of REHAU’s RAUVITHERM pipe, the business is celebrating the market’s only UK-manufactured pre-insulated PE-Xa pipe to feed a growth in demand across renewable heat projects. Ever since its launch, RAUVITHERM has proven popular due to its combination of flexibility and low heat losses – both particularly well-suited to district heating, biomass, biogas and heat pump applications. The pipe is manufactured in REHAU’s Plant in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, predominantly for the UK market since 2012. Employees from the UK head office and local politicians recently visited the factory to celebrate the 10 years of producing it in the UK, as well as discussing its vast potential in the future of renewable heat. Over the years, RAUVITHERM has been installed on a huge range of high-profile projects such as football club training grounds, National Trust and Grade 1 listed country manors, farm-based anaerobic digestion systems, schools, zoos and district heating networks for luxury lodge developments. More recently REHAU has seen growth in the number of individual houses which have used RAUVITHERM to connect air source heat pumps that are located away from the property. According to REHAU, this could be for a variety of reasons – heat pumps need good air flow to work effectively, and noise can also be an issue in some cases, so situating them on the side of the property is not always feasible. Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU Building Solutions says: “We always knew RAUVITHERM was a great product with great potential, and it has gone from strength to strength over the years. “It was great to get together with colleagues to recently celebrate this while saying thank you for the factory’s support over this period. For example, we know the availability of pre-insulated pipe will be key to covering all bases in the Government’s heat pump rollout and enabling the wider success of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.” RAUVITHERM was initially launched in Germany in 2010, with REHAU then making the decision to invest in UK manufacturing in 2011, ahead of opening its first UK-based production line in 2012. The company held an event with customers, local politicians, government officials and key industry stakeholders in 2012 to celebrate the launch. Steve adds: “Having a locally manufactured pre-insulated pipe gives both us and our customers an estimated 29% reduction in CO2 versus importing from Germany. This is still the only UK-made pre-insulated PE-Xa pipe and helped us become the market leader for polymer district heating pipe in the UK. “Maintaining a resilient supply chain is critical to any business, so having local production where we prioritise certain pipe sizes during busy periods has really helped us grow as a company.” For more information on RAUVITHERM, click here.
BUILDING on the success of the past 18 months, PermaRoof Commercial, part of PermaGroup, has grown tenfold after making several key hires in response to demand. Since its inception in December 2020, PermaRoof Commercial has gone from strength to strength, completing a total of 62 projects, equalling approximately 21,000m2 of roofs laid across the country – the equivalent of more than 80 tennis courts. Among its extensive list of completed projects are contributions to several significant developments, including Hull ICU, Leeds University and The Leys in Surrey. Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager, said: “I’m incredibly proud of how far PermaRoof Commercial has come since its inception, and the fact that we’ve been able to attract so many talented individuals is a testament to the division’s success. We’ve welcomed new recruits within sales, logistics and commercial areas of the business, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the needs of our customers, while also growing our capabilities and cementing our expertise throughout the industry.” Some of the department’s recent key hires include: Paul Stapleton – commercial logistics manager; Rob Hunt – senior technical manager; Neiah Slater – commercial sales support; Scott Roberts – commercial logistics manager; and, Blake Clay – rooflights specifier. The external sales team has also grown, with the appointment of further experienced sales managers, Ian McKenzie, Tony Pitts, Paul Mullen and Simon Nicholls, who are responsible for delivering PermaRoof Commercial’s services across the country. So far, they have secured several unique projects, including Scottish Business Park, St. Andrews in Northampton, Churchill Medical Centre, and many more. Adrian Buttress, managing director, said: “I’m thrilled to see PermaRoof Commercial continue to forge ahead and deliver consistently strong projects. The calibre of tenders we are securing is thanks to Sunny’s hard work and commitment to establishing the foundations of the division, and we’re delighted to bring our new hires into the company as PermaRoof Commercial continues to grow and develop.” Sunny added: “This is an incredibly exciting time for us, as we’re currently working on 25 active projects and have tenders for a further 89 in the pipeline. We have great ambitions for the next 12 months as we continue to strengthen the commercial team with more new additions, both internally and externally, while simultaneously nurturing the existing team. “We have no intention of resting on our laurels either, as we also want to maintain this momentum and continue our winning streak by securing more supply chain tenders and doubling the number of installers within our PermaRoof Registered Installer (PRI) network. “Our ever-growing team is going to be fundamental to realising our goals and I’m incredibly excited to see where the next 18 months take us as we enter an exciting new chapter.” For more information on PermaRoof Commercial, please visit permaroofcommercial.co.uk or call 01773 608839.
Travis Perkins plc is investing in a new fleet of 26-tonne trucks, designed to support the Group’s ambitious carbon reduction target and maximise the safety and efficiency of its transport operations. They will operate in a mix of Travis Perkins and Keyline Civils Specialist liveries, providing building materials to construction customers nationwide. The multi-million-pound investment will see approximately 170 Volvo FM 330 6×2 rear-steer rigids delivered into service over two years – with 85 new FMs confirmed for this year; to be followed by around 85 more in 2023. It follows a strategic fleet review by the business led by Technical Fleet Director Karl Wilshaw, which saw the evaluation of multiple options from several major truck manufacturers. The new vehicles form an integrated part of the Group’s fleet decarbonisation roadmap, with each one benefitting from the latest Euro VI Step E diesel engine technology – engineered to reduce emissions and help save fuel without compromising performance – and with the capability to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This will provide the opportunity for Travis Perkins plc to deploy the trucks into a number of locations that have had HVO enabled through a trial using certified HVO, which began in 2021 and includes 30 branches and 200 trucks nationwide. Key to winning the order was the latest generation FM’s ability to support a ‘technology detox’ within the cab, with the latest Volvos able to integrate multiple vehicle safety systems to optimise safety by decluttering the driver’s environment. This sees the FM’s nine-inch side display integrate feeds from Travis Perkins’ five-camera set-up and on-board weighing system, helping to reduce the need for additional monitors. The FM’s modern architecture also offers the perfect interface with the body and crane. The Group’s detailed review saw feedback collated from the company’s national driver engagement days, safety events and a series of driver focus groups, which were held to explore the future fleet requirements of the business, customers, and drivers. This directly led to the selection of the FM day cab which combines excellent vision with plenty of storage space, plus easy access and egress with a two-step entry and wide opening doors. At the drivers’ request, the new fleet also features extra lighting and additional load securing points. The internal team at Travis Perkins worked closely with Abdi Ali, National Key Account Manager at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, to tailor the specification to ensure sufficient ground clearance for safely navigating construction sites, whilst still ensuring the cab was three-star Direct Vision Standard compliant. Key to this was the selection of 385/55 R22.5 steer and 315/70 R22.5 drive and tag axle tyres. The trucks also benefit from a nine-tonne front axle, a 12-speed automated I-Shift transmission and an improved turning circle versus the 18-tonners they replace, thanks to Volvo’s hydraulically steered tag axle. Wilshaw says: “It’s so rewarding for all those involved to see this project coming to fruition; a huge amount of work went into consulting with our drivers, researching the latest available technologies and developing the build with Volvo Trucks, bodybuilder Massey Truck Engineering and crane supplier HIAB. We are really pleased with the result. We have FORS Gold accreditation, and these trucks play right into our continuous improvement efforts. They look fantastic, and they’re enabling our teams to operate more efficiently and safely.” The new fleet will be predominantly serviced and maintained within the Volvo Trucks dealer network, with the order including a mix of 5,200mm and 5,600mm wheelbases, to suit the varying needs of the business’ different branches. They will join a 1,600-strong commercial vehicle fleet and be in operation up to six days per week, covering around 30,000 miles per year. All new trucks feature a smart cab interior benefitting from Volvo’s Drive package, which adds remote central locking, twin armrests, electrically controlled air-conditioning and a tinted glass roof hatch. Travis Perkins has also chosen robust textile seats with a smart vinyl interior. Plus, for maximum safety, the cab has roof beacons, a passenger-side lower door window to improve direct vision, near-side proximity sensors, turn left audible warning, five camera view system and a white noise reversing alarm. Bodywork has been manufactured by Massey Truck Engineering.
Sustainable biomass supplier and timber products specialist GMG Energy has made a strategic purchase of a substantial swathe of forest in the far north-east of Scotland to protect future supply and increase its resilience to market shocks. The resource-rich company, which originated on a farm in the Strath of Halladale in Sutherland, has acquired 400 acres of softwood-planted land at Quintfall Forest, towards the east coast south of John O’Groats. The forest contains 21,000 tonnes of productive timber, very roughly equivalent to 90,000 tree-sized logs. The sawmill at GMG Energy’s production facility currently processes in the region of 2,000 tonnes a year, meaning that the purchase has created security of supply for the foreseeable future. As a major plank of its business model, the company is committed to replacing every log of timber that it uses, and plants 10,000 new trees a year, which grow to maturity in 35 years. It far exceeded this target last year, planting in the region of 20,000 trees. Malcolm Morrison, Director of GMG Energy, said: “It has been our policy up until now to buy our raw materials on the open market, from established local suppliers, but this deal will ensure continuity of supply in an increasingly volatile environment. “Quintfall is just over 20 miles from our base of operation at Bighouse Farm, so it will not add to the road miles burden and the acquisition will chime with our wish to invest locally and provide a reliable resource for other local companies. “The purchase will not affect our ongoing planting programme, as replenishment is the key to sustainability, and we will continue to try to reduce our impact on the environment by not wasting any of the product with which we work.” At the same time as the Quintfall purchase, GMG Energy has invested £150,000 in state-of-the-art sawmill equipment which takes its larger timber and processes it into posts, rail, cladding and purlins, or structural roof members. It also plans a spend of in the region of £100,000 on timber treatment equipment which will open up new markets among construction companies and farm businesses which require treated and stress-tested products. Carbon-aware GMG Energy is also investigating the possibility creating heat and steam from wood waste to turn a turbine in order to self-generate the electricity it uses and to further minimise its environmental impact. GMG Energy is sited at Bighouse, where Mr Morrison’s Sutherland-born mother still lives in the farmhouse. The company increased turnover in the year to August 2021 to just over £2 million, up from £1.7 million the previous year.
DESPITE the industry’s ongoing stock shortages, leading supplier of specialist building products, PermaGroup, has continued to pride itself on providing permanent solutions to age old problems – stepping outside the box to successfully navigate the sector’s challenges. Although there is little that can be done to improve the supply chain issues, aside from waiting for the worst to pass, PermaGroup has continued to follow its unique approach to ensure customers are still catered for. Adrian Buttress, managing director of PermaGroup, said: “I’m proud of the way we have responded as a company to the stock shortages, which have been an issue since early 2020. We’ve taken decisive action to support our customers and stayed flexible to allow us to respond quickly to the changing circumstances.” Having implemented a three-pronged approach at the start of the crisis, involving purchasing in bulk, establishing CPD seminars to upskill individuals and rewarding customer loyalty, PermaGroup’s strategy has paid off, reaching all of its key KPIs, and exceeding many, in the first four months of the year. The first quarter of 2022 also saw PermaGroup expand its board, welcoming new investment and expertise to support and bolster the company’s ambitious plans for growth and strengthen its leadership team – safeguarding the business’ future. Adrian added: “Recently, I made the decision to sell some of my shareholding to a private equity company and bring on new board members – something that had always been part of my plans when I became MD. Now was the perfect time to implement this, as it has allowed us to reset targets, adapt our strategy and prepare confidently for the coming years.” James Wooster, director of Owner Venture Managers, the additional shareholder alongside Adrian, said:” PermaGroup is an innovative business and I’m eager to join the board to support its future success as it continues to grow from strength to strength to service more customers than ever before. Adrian’s remarkable leadership has seen it thrive, despite the challenges of the past couple of years, and it’s a journey I’m excited to be on.” Adrian added: “The coming year is full of possibilities for us and, as we look ahead, I want to continue delivering the best possible solutions to our customers, no matter the obstacles. As a business, this is our number one priority and, with several potential acquisitions on the horizon, alongside the introduction of a southern and northern base as well, there’s a lot to look forward to.” To find out more about PermaGroup, visit: www.permaroof.co.uk/permagroup. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Global material supplier and supply chain solutions provider, thyssenkrupp Materials UK, has announced a new, long-term strategic partnership with Brickability Group PLC, a leading specialist in products and services for the UK construction sector. The two businesses are set to unveil a new balcony system, sold via Architectural Facades (part of the Brickability Group), that will benefit our customers across the industry in the coming months. With the COVID-19 pandemic reshaping the housing market, there has been a significant increase in demand for apartment buildings with private outdoor spaces, especially in built-up locations such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, the North-West and Scotland. Over the last year, prospective buyers, particularly first-time buyers, have been looking for apartments with either a shared garden or balcony space as a must-have feature. Paul Hamilton, Group Chief Operating Officer at Brickability Group PLC said: “We are very much looking forward to adding this new product to our portfolio. As a progressive business with over 30 companies working within the construction sector, we have an in depth understanding of the needs of the industry. Therefore, we have designed the next generation of balconies that will improve lead times and time spent on-site, whilst providing exceptional curb appeal and functionality. Entering the market with an experienced partner in the manufacturing of lightweight MMC balconies and fabrication services such as thyssenkrupp Materials UK, is further ensuring the superior quality, traceability and sustainability of our product.” In 2020, thyssenkrupp Materials UK opened a new, paperless factory dedicated to its fabrication services. The facility has been producing specialist balconies since and has set a high standard for quality of products as well as full digital traceability. This was possible through the company’s vast expertise in materials, particularly aluminium extrusion, from which the balconies are being manufactured. Using a modern blend of exclusively non-combustible materials, that are also fully recyclable, allows the company to reduce weight and increase strength and carbon savings. Adrian Palmer, Head of Operations at thyssenkrupp Materials UK, said: “We are proud to partner with the leader in the construction industry, Brickability Group PLC, on this innovative product. We are looking forward to introducing the new balconies to our fabrication site, as this fits perfectly with our long-term vision of supporting the construction and architectural sector in the most efficient and sustainable ways. The market will also benefit from our strategically central location, allowing streamlined logistics and fast delivery.”
