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 will help to meet the nationwide demand for 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.
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 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.”
