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Etex Group plans new £140m manufacturing site
Etex Group, a Belgium-headquartered building materials specialist, has announced plans to invest £140m in a new state-of-the-art plasterboard plant in Portbury, close to the port of Bristol. The investment marks the largest of its kind in Etex history.
The company’s plasterboard business has operated in the UK for over 30 years and currently supplies the UK and Irish markets from its two existing plasterboard plants in Bristol and Ferrybridge, which will continue to operate. The new facility will be situated close to the existing Bristol plant and is scheduled to begin operations in 2022.
Etex Group has announced plans to invest £140m in a new state-of-the-art plasterboard plant in Portbury, close to the port of Bristol / Picture: Etex Group
Etex is a leading plasterboard producer, selling its products and solutions under the Siniat brand. With increased production capacity, the new Bristol facility will enable Etex to support the ongoing growth of the UK construction market and increase Etex’s service level to its customers in the UK and all over Europe.
Paul Van Oyen, chief executive of Etex, confirms: “Our new Bristol factory will be a key driver to further strengthen our position in the UK, which is the largest plasterboard market in Europe.
“The UK is facing a chronic housing shortage and an increasing number of older homes require renovation, boosting the demand for both our plasterboard and off-site solutions. The new facility will enable Etex to meet the demand for high-quality building materials and allow the company to establish and strengthen long-term relationships with its customers based on trust and proximity.”
Besides being easily accessible through the port of Bristol, the new production facility will also adhere to the most stringent environmental, health and safety standards. To that aim, various innovations will be implemented, including a rainwater harvesting system, technologies with best-in-class energy performance and the use of recycled gypsum.
“As a result of this major investment, Etex confirms its ambition to be a focused player in lightweight construction with plasterboard, fibre cement and passive fire protection solutions”, Paul Van Oyen concludes.
Founded in 1905, Etex is a family-owned company with 14,500 employees globally. The company wants to inspire people around the world to build living spaces that are ever more safe, sustainable, smart and beautiful. It operates 113 production sites in 42 countries and generated a revenue of EUR 2.9 billion and a REBITDA of EUR 405 million in 2018.