Ibstock plc, a leading manufacturer of clay and concrete building products and solutions, has today launched its new ESG Strategy to 2030. The company, which is widely credited as leading the way in sustainability within the construction products sector, says its new ESG Strategy to 2030 will simplify the way
UK leader in construction chemicals Sika, has moved production of its most popular colours in the Parex Monorex GM render range from France to the UK to match the expectation and growth in demand from its customers and drive down lead times. Sika Ltd has confronted supply chain challenges for
Fivemiletown headquartered Paving and Building Products firm, AG, has reinforced its position as a market leader in sustainable construction through its latest carbon emissions data which shows a reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions – despite a surge in production levels. The firm, which has manufacturing locations in Fivemiletown,
National training provider Boss Training Ltd has announced a partnership with PLT training to provide new facilities for trainees. The partnership will see the relocation of Boss Training’s current Wednesbury training centre into more modern facilities at Showell Road in Wolverhampton, currently operated by PLT Training. The move means that Wolverhampton
An acoustic ceiling system provided by Sto has created a quiet and calm environment for a museum in Hampshire. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed in Petersfield Museum, which has been created by the conversion and refurbishment of Victorian premises that previously housed a police station and court house.
VISION One of the most significant challenges architects can face is regenerating an area full of personality, but in desperate need of renovation. The challenge can be even more demanding if the project involves changing the purpose of the site. But that’s precisely what the architects in charge of the
SterlingOSB Zero is one of the most popular panel products used by the UK construction industry; developers, builders, and self-builders alike. It’s the go-to panel for a multitude of roles today – from the basic functional to the trendy aesthetic feature wall – but how is it made and what
CPI EuroMix is delighted to announce the appointment of Wendy McFarlane as its Financial Director. Wendy, who began her role on March 1st, said the dry mortar specialists’ reputation was a deciding factor in her taking up an ‘exciting’ opportunity within the company. She said: “The company’s values and their
City Plumbing has opened a new branch to support local tradespeople and homeowners of Winsford, Cheshire. The new Winsford branch, located at the UK’s first ‘green’ business park, the Road One Industrial Estate, will cater to plumbers, heating engineers, bathroom installers and electricians, as well as homeowners looking to create
Keystone Lintels, the UK’s leading manufacturer of steel lintels, is delighted to once again be awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ by Buildbase for 2021 in recognition of its outstanding customer service. Keystone Lintels has won this coveted award for the second year in a row having won in 2020. With
Ibstock plc, a leading manufacturer of clay and concrete building products and solutions, has today launched its new ESG Strategy to 2030. The company, which is widely credited as leading the way in sustainability within the construction products sector, says its new ESG Strategy to 2030 will simplify the way it articulates its goals and ambitions – thus enhancing understanding of the journey ahead with both its colleagues and external stakeholders. The Ibstock ESG Strategy to 2030 is an evolution of the company’s five-year Sustainability Roadmap set back in 2019 – with a number of its original targets achieved ahead of time. Ibstock’s evolved strategy defines a new era of responsible business and manufacturing and serves as an important accelerator in speeding up the pace of positive change. Ibstock’s ESG Strategy to 2030 has been structured in a way that its milestones and ambitions are communicated clearly and simply. Organised under three themes; Address Climate Change; Improve lives; and Manufacture Materials for life, headline ambitions include: 40% reduction in absolute carbon (Scope 1 & 2*) by 2030 Increase female senior leadership representation to 40% as part of a proactive approach to diversity and inclusion 20% of sales turnover revenue to come from new products and solutions that deliver customer value and improved sustainability Fostering engagement & ownership Key to the launch of Ibstock’s ESG Strategy is a desire to drive ownership and engagement of the company’s ESG goals. Using a strong, clear ‘call to action’ of ‘WE WILL’ which sits in front of its ambitions. The company hopes its new strategy will connect with colleagues at all levels of the business. Building on its award-winning People First approach to ESG and sustainability engagement, Ibstock will continue to drive employee engagement and understanding of its goals and ambitions – focusing on how individuals and their actions can contribute to the bigger picture. Ibstock says it new strategy is informed by a materiality assessment which has taken into consideration the views and perspectives of its key stakeholders. In addition, the company is also launching a major customer survey of attitudes to sustainability amongst housebuilders, builders merchants and architects and specifiers. The results of this process will shape a long-term programme of communications aimed at informing and connecting with Ibstock’s external stakeholders. Accelerating the pace of progress “We are very pleased to launch our ESG Strategy to 2030. It takes our business on the next exciting – and energetic – stage in its evolution,” says Joe Hudson, Ibstock plc’s Chief Executive Officer. “Whilst our new strategy sets our longer-term ambition, we are also very proud of the progress we have made on our journey so far to becoming a more sustainable, purpose-led business. Where the past decade has been about incremental improvement and embedding change, the next decade needs to go much further, much faster. “To get where we need to be, we must continue to bring our people with us on this journey to enable us to make progress more swiftly and with greater impact. This is work that requires our passionate people with a desire to make positive change at pace. We are confident we will achieve our goals – but we will need to do this together. We are calling on our colleagues, suppliers, partners and customers to work with us – as we will work with them – to deliver on the challenges and opportunities that we share.” Ibstock plc’s ESG Strategy to 2030 can be accessed at https://www.ibstockplc.co.uk/sustainability
UK leader in construction chemicals Sika, has moved production of its most popular colours in the Parex Monorex GM render range from France to the UK to match the expectation and growth in demand from its customers and drive down lead times. Sika Ltd has confronted supply chain challenges for some key Sika Parex product ranges and has made the step to produce the three most popular colours of Monorex GM – G00, G10 and G20 – in the UK. This will see the production of Monorex GM with the same excellent performance and results as users expect. Monorex GM is a one-coat, through coloured weather resistant decorative render for masonry and concrete substrates. Darren Bunting, Business Unit Manager for Sika Everbuild said: “The construction sector has faced many challenges in the last two years as a result of Covid-19 and Brexit. Sika continually look to identify opportunities to improve customer service and satisfaction and our decision to produce our key product, Monorex, in the UK is a great example of that – enabling us to reduce lead times and supply chain risks for our customers.” For distributors and applicators, Sika Parex’s product offering consists of a range of quality render system and solutions. With its expertise in mortar solutions for renovation and new builds, Sika participates in all phases of the construction life cycle. Available from local Business Development Managers, the Sika Parex Housebuilder Pack outlines the “complete” package to customers and specifiers with industry sector experts available to provide unsurpassed levels of free technical advice, specifications and CAD details. With sites in Welwyn Garden City, Wishaw and Preston, Parex is a brand within Sika, a leading manufacturer of construction chemicals, mortars, specialist adhesives and sealants and render systems for use in construction, refurbishment and civil engineering. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Fivemiletown headquartered Paving and Building Products firm, AG, has reinforced its position as a market leader in sustainable construction through its latest carbon emissions data which shows a reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions – despite a surge in production levels. The firm, which has manufacturing locations in Fivemiletown, Dungannon, Toome, Ballygawley and Carryduff, already has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its operations to an absolute minimum. Last year, the business reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 10%, despite a 30% increase in production volumes as the company faced unprecedented demand for its products reinforcing its commitment to a greener future in construction. The specialist building products business previously switched to 100% renewable energy as well as utilising bio-LPG instead of the industry-standard LPG resulting in a carbon saving of 70% – equal to a person driving around the world three times. The business has also introduced electric and hybrid cars into their fleet with a goal of having a full hybrid/electric fleet by 2025. This was led by CEO Stephen Acheson with support from the firm’s net zero carbon team which was set up with the aim of reducing the company’s carbon footprint, as part of an energy strategy developed with a commitment to producing low carbon products. This is the latest in a series of sustainability initiatives created by AG which includes a longstanding dedication to producing a significant amount of their product range using recycled aggregates alongside locally quarried materials. As well as this, regular reviews of its systems and procedures ensure AG are constantly improving energy efficiency, which is monitored monthly in each facility, ranging from workshops with employees to the purchasing of equipment or goods with the lowest carbon footprint. Rodney Davidson, Commercial Director at AG said: “For many years, we have worked tirelessly to reduce our energy usage and we are delighted to see this reduction in our scope 1 and 2 emissions, especially during a time when production levels increased” CEO, Stephen Acheson added: “AG has a corporate social responsibility to be sustainable. We have adopted a long-term corporate philosophy that focuses on the wider message of lasting sustainable reductions in energy and water requirements.” “Every facility has a designated ‘Energy Champion’ whose job it is to check for any wastage of energy or water. We are constantly striving to improve energy efficiency and are delighted that this new switch enables us to make a massive carbon saving, lowering our carbon footprint even more.” “Each of our sites bring our corporate environmental philosophy to life and our commitment to reducing the impact our sites have on our neighbours and surrounding environment is evidenced by the rich biodiversity found around our sites – such as the peregrine falcons currently nesting in our Fivemiletown quarry. We are delighted to be making very positive steps in our journey of carbon reduction”.
National training provider Boss Training Ltd has announced a partnership with PLT training to provide new facilities for trainees. The partnership will see the relocation of Boss Training’s current Wednesbury training centre into more modern facilities at Showell Road in Wolverhampton, currently operated by PLT Training. The move means that Wolverhampton will have a one-stop-shop for a huge variety of health and safety training courses, with Boss Training bringing its first rate IPAF, PASMA, UKATA and CITB Training Courses to the centre. PLT Training currently offers NEBOSH, Confined Spaces, Forklift and First Aid training courses. “We are very much looking forward to moving into such a thriving area as Wolverhampton and excited at the opportunities this will bring,” said Boss Training Managing Director Andrew. “PLT are a fantastic company with a similar outlook to ourselves. With a combined 60+ years in the construction industry, we will be able to offer customers old and new an even greater level of service and a wider range of courses.” By forming the partnership, Boss Training Ltd are bringing better facilities to their trainees, where they will deliver vital manufacturing and construction industry training. The opportunities for upskilling staff at local firms will be improved in an area where development is on the rise. Wolverhampton has seen a wealth of new developments in recent months, including the Brewers Yard regeneration project in Culwell Street, which will see 300 new homes for the area, the rejuvenation of Heath Town Estate where 200 new homes will be created, and eight tower blocks will be improved. In addition, the refurbishment of Bond House will create 34 supported living apartments and services for individuals with a history of rough sleeping and homelessness. The Showell Road training centre will provide purpose built classrooms and fantastic transport links for people from the wider West Midlands area to access the training offered by Boss Training and PLT Training. Boss Training will move into their new space at Showell Road on April 1st 2022. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
An acoustic ceiling system provided by Sto has created a quiet and calm environment for a museum in Hampshire. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed in Petersfield Museum, which has been created by the conversion and refurbishment of Victorian premises that previously housed a police station and court house. “The StoSilent Distance system is well-suited to this type of refurbishment project,” comments Sto’s acoustics project manager, James Gosling. “It delivers outstanding acoustic performance, but also offers tremendous flexibility as it can be used to create large seamless ceilings, sharp joints and creases, or curved ceilings and vaults. This gives architects and designers great freedom while still allowing them to accommodate the existing structures found on a refurbishment project such as this.” The Sto system was specified for the building by Hampshire County Council Property Services, as part of a project to create a series of new, welcoming spaces at the museum. “This is just the latest in a long line of projects where our StoSilent acoustic solutions have been installed in museums,” adds James. “A room’s acoustic performance can influence our sense of well-being, and if that performance is poor, noise from speech, movement and everyday activity can create an unpleasant environment where sounds are unclear, communication is difficult, and concentration is impossible. The need for acoustically absorptive measures is therefore clear and the StoSilent Distance system can provide both outstanding acoustic performance and the sort of unobtrusive visual presence which is essential for this type of building.” Installed on this project by specialist applicators The Broadsword Group, the StoSilent Distance system can function as a suspended ceiling, or as a wall-covering over a cavity. It features a metal profile sub-construction fitted with acoustic panels, which are manufactured from expanded glass granulate, making them lightweight and easy to handle, and allowing them to be adjusted to suit any room shape and create a smooth, seamless surface. Different system variants are offered to suit different types of application. The boards were finished with StoSilent Décor M, a spray-applied acoustic plaster which can be tinted to match an extensive range of shades from the StoColor system. This solvent and plasticiser-free plaster creates a classic fine-stipple finish which is ideally suited to a museum environment. It is also Natureplus approved and easy to refurbish. The construction work formed part of the museum’s £3.75m ‘Pathways into the Past’ expansion and refurbishment project. This has seen the museum’s buildings and exhibition spaces undergo a complete transformation, along with the creation of an exciting new outdoor courtyard space.
VISION One of the most significant challenges architects can face is regenerating an area full of personality, but in desperate need of renovation. The challenge can be even more demanding if the project involves changing the purpose of the site. But that’s precisely what the architects in charge of the Primrose Hill project in London, had to face. With a project value of approximately £16m this project required a highly sensitive design solution to address a complicated urban context involving 28 neighbouring residential and commercial properties. The transformation visioned by PKS Architects, and developed by main contractor Knight Harwood, involved converting some of the buildings into high-quality apartments and high-specification offices using Kawneer’s solutions. The task was immense and involved six neighbouring commercial properties. The goal was achieved using multiple high-performance Kawneer products. TRANSFORMATION Through site-specific technical visits and studies, Kawneer specified and costed various façade packages and options. The lack of natural light was one of the many problems that needed to be rectified. It was solved using Kawneer’s AA®100 sloped rooflights. Additionally, GT70S windows were specified to replicate the building’s original steel windows to compliment the building aesthetics. For the entrance and balcony doors, the chosen product solution was Kawneer’s AA®720 doors with Glass Balustrading, thanks to the products superior aesthetics and thermal performance. For the curtain wall specification, the natural choice was AA®100 SSG, since it has smooth and seamless glass-to-glass joints without external capping. REALISATION The resulting specification helps to enhance the aesthetics of the building façade and increase the energy performance of the building whilst meeting the cost requirements of the build with Kawneer’s market-leading product range. Shortlisted in the 2017 BREEAM Awards, this development sustainably refurbishes and reimagines a group of six buildings to create 3,500m2 of high specification office space and four new luxury flats. The impressive results haven’t gone unnoticed. The Primrose Hill project won the 2020 GGP’s Best Commercial Installation, by Kawneer’s customer and specialist facade subcontractor, JPJ Installations Ltd. Find out more about Kawneer’s products at www.kawneer.co.uk
SterlingOSB Zero is one of the most popular panel products used by the UK construction industry; developers, builders, and self-builders alike. It’s the go-to panel for a multitude of roles today – from the basic functional to the trendy aesthetic feature wall – but how is it made and what goes into it? With the growing need to fully understand the impact of building materials on the environment, specifiers, architects and builders can now follow the creation of SterlingOSB Zero panels from the delivery of timber at West Fraser’s state-of-the-art plant in Inverness right through the continuous line production process. West Fraser’s commitment to producing a sustainable product for the construction industry can be seen from sourcing locally grown timber, thereby cutting embodied carbon from transportation while supporting the local forestry industry, through to the self-sufficiency of the plant where otherwise wasted product is burned on site producing the energy to manufacture the boards. Logs delivered to Inverness are stripped of bark before being fed into a high-speed ring of blades which produces the flakes for the OSB. The flakes are dried, separated and resins added. Sterling OSB Zero is the first OSB product to be made in the UK with zero added formaldehyde, ensuring an even ‘greener’ board that meets all standards with ease. The flakes are then layered in specific orientation to give the boards their strong structural properties. The formed flakes go through a high-pressure and high-temperature press to produce the board. Once cut, the boards are loaded on to the “star cooler” to release the heat from the panel Panels are then cut to size and quality checks carried out before the packs are taken to the warehouse for shipping. The whole process can be followed on an informative video on West Fraser’s You Tube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hefbc6-5LpU and on a downloadable information sheet from the Documents and downloads section of the West Fraser website. West Fraser’s OSB portfolio comprises of SterlingOSB Zero OSB3 and SterlingOSB Zero Tongue and Groove. They are variants of the precision-engineered OSB3 board; BBA-approved and designed for humid conditions, the board contains zero added formaldehyde (ZAF) and is unique in the market by being the only ZAF OSB manufactured in the UK. Produced in Scotland from forest thinnings taken from sustainably managed forests, the board is certified according to the guidelines of the FSC or PEFC. All West Fraser panel products produced in the UK are net carbon negative and manufactured in mills that have obtained the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation. To find out more about West Fraser’s products for housebuilders, get in touch with Dan Clarke – email Daniel.Clarke@westfraser.com or download product brochures from the housebuilder page of the West Fraser website https://uk.westfraser.com/housebuilders/ For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/
CPI EuroMix is delighted to announce the appointment of Wendy McFarlane as its Financial Director. Wendy, who began her role on March 1st, said the dry mortar specialists’ reputation was a deciding factor in her taking up an ‘exciting’ opportunity within the company. She said: “The company’s values and their ambition made a real impact on me. I was already aware of CPI’s brand success, so I’m delighted to have joined such a forward-thinking team.” Wendy has the skills and experience to make a success of her new position. She completed an Accounting & Finance degree before training as a Chartered Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Prior to joining CPI, Wendy spent 10 years at food manufacturer Devro PLC where she progressed to Global Supply Chain Finance Business Partner. CPI EuroMix is a market leader in the production of dry mix mortars, which are available in a range of colours and finishes to meet the complex demands of specifiers and users. Wendy, who will be based at CPI’s site in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, said she was looking forward to playing a part in the company’s future success. “CPI is led by a fantastic management group and has a strong finance team in place,” she said. “I’m excited to work with and support the team whilst considering how we can bring further added- value services to the business.”
City Plumbing has opened a new branch to support local tradespeople and homeowners of Winsford, Cheshire. The new Winsford branch, located at the UK’s first ‘green’ business park, the Road One Industrial Estate, will cater to plumbers, heating engineers, bathroom installers and electricians, as well as homeowners looking to create bespoke bathrooms. Opening today (21st March), plumbing and heating engineers can use the branch to browse through the 20,000 spare parts available from all of the leading manufacturers, receive advice and business support from colleagues who have years of trade experience, and visit the Bathroom Showroom to view its wide range of bathrooms. Throughout its first month, the branch will host Trade Mornings where tradespeople can explore new products and speak with specialists from a wide range of industry suppliers. Electricians will also be able to source essential products from the electrical trade counter which is stocked with over 2,000 electrical products as well as receive advice from experts. Additionally, the branch will be host to The Bathroom Showroom, which offers complimentary 3D design planning, virtual appointments, and tile sampling to help bathroom installers and homeowners create bespoke bathrooms with the exact finish they desire. Paul Glover, Branch Manager of the Winsford branch said, “With experienced staff on hand to offer expert advice and support across heating, plumbing, bathrooms and electrical, we are delighted to be able to offer a one-stop-shop for local tradespeople in and around Winsford. The Bathroom Showroom on site will also help local homeowners create their ideal bathrooms.” The Winsford Branch is located at Unit 3 Artis Park, Road One, Winsford Industrial Park, CW7 3QE To learn more about City Plumbing please visit www.cityplumbing.co.uk
Keystone Lintels, the UK’s leading manufacturer of steel lintels, is delighted to once again be awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ by Buildbase for 2021 in recognition of its outstanding customer service. Keystone Lintels has won this coveted award for the second year in a row having won in 2020. With over 142 branches nationwide, Buildbase is now part of the Huws Gray Group and is one of the largest builders merchants in the UK. In what was a difficult year for trading, the award was especially poignant for Keystone whose core customer promise has held true. Chris Hemmington-Green, Sales Director for Keystone Lintels said: “This award is testament to the hard work and dedication shown by all at Keystone, from Production, Logistics, SOP, Technical, Sales and Finance. For this to be recognised by one of our key customers is a real indication of the relationship and partnership we strive to develop. During what can only be described as difficult and challenging times, the whole team at Keystone have pulled together and delivered exceptional service to all our customers, and shown we remain the leading supplier in the industry. It is this mind-set and commitment that has seen us through the difficult times and ensures we are best placed to maximise the opportunities that are now becoming apparent as we start to move to some sort of normality.” Raza Naim, Senior Category Manager for Buildbase added: “Keystone Lintels was chosen as the Supplier of the Year for 2021 for the second year running, which has never been achieved before. Keystone does a fantastic job at having touchpoints in all areas of our business, so much so in fact that the Group had far and away the most nominations from our teams. Feedback from sales, finance and procurement was that Keystone just ‘makes it easy’ for us and we have a great relationship with all Keystone Group brands.” Keystone is the largest supplier of steel lintels in the UK and Ireland and carries more stock than any of its rivals. The company also supports merchants with innovative ranges of products which solve problems for the builder and deliver more opportunity, added value and margin for merchants
