Construction work begins on new £140m plasterboard plant in Bristol
Due to open in 2023, construction work has now begun on Etex’s new plasterboard facility, which will double production capacity for its Siniat brand and help to tackle sector-wide materials shortages.
The 57,000m2 expansion is a significant investment by Etex and demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting the future of British manufacturing.
The extra space will help to meet the nationwide demand for high quality building materials, whilst also creating 50 new jobs and encouraging more young people to enter the manufacturing sector through the company’s Operator Apprenticeship Scheme.
With a core focus on sustainability, the expansion will utilise a rainwater harvesting system, installation points for solar PV and electric car charging stations, with the end-ambition of a fully electric forklift fleet.
The state-of-the-art facility will also support post-consumer gypsum recycling, helping Etex’s Siniat brand in achieving 30% post-consumer gypsum in its plasterboard by 2025.
Neil Shaw, UK Country Manager at Etex said: “An investment of this size is a strong statement of support for the UK construction market and its growth projections as well as the growth ambitions of Etex’s UK Building Performance Division. Investing in this new facility will strengthen our ability to develop superior building material systems for our UK customers, helping to create high-performing, sustainable buildings that meet the needs of the people who use them, whilst also boosting the local economy.”
The contract for the facility was awarded to contractor, McLaughlin & Harvey, following a multi-stage procurement process involving 21 suppliers, with the final selection being based on the company’s approach to health & safety, environmental strategies, innovation, adoption of new, cleaner technologies and social values.
Commenting on the contract, Neil Shaw, UK Country Manager at Etex said: “McLaughlin & Harvey excelled at all stages of our procurement process and fought off strong competition from other suppliers whilst facing the considerable uncertainty caused by Covid19. Since the contract was appointed, the contractor has continued to demonstrate its commitment and value as a supply chain partner for this project.”
ABOUT ETEX
Etex is a leading manufacturer of innovative construction materials, specialising in drywall, passive fire protection and steel framing systems. Part of the global Etex Group and with four leading brands under its Building Performance division (Siniat, Promat, EOS and FSi), Etex provides extensive technical knowledge and support to its customers, alongside a comprehensive product offering.
Its ability to deliver high performance fully-tested systems combined with the peace of mind that comes from a dedicated technical support team has made Etex a trusted, go-to supplier in a number of markets, including the residential, build to rent, education, healthcare, hotel and leisure and warehousing sectors. Taking a collaborative approach to construction, Etex is committed to building strong relationships with clients, main contractors, sub-contractors, distributors, merchants and architects, to ensure that their projects run smoothly and successfully.
Across the UK and Eire, Etex operates out of seven facilities, employs over 600 people and has an annual turnover of £250m. Etex is constantly investing in its people and infrastructure, which includes developing a £140m, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bristol which is due to open in 2023.
