Lightweight construction manufacturer Etex is set to double the plasterboard production capacity of its Ferrybridge plant upon the opening of its new factory in 2023.
Work is well underway for the new 57,000m2 Siniat facility, which comes at a time when plasterboard and timber shortages continue to put pressure on the supply chain.
Neil Shaw, Country Manager (UK & Ireland) at Etex said: “The extension of our Bristol facility will significantly increase our production capacity in the UK, at a time when our plasterboard solutions are in high demand which is currently outstripping industry supply availability. We’re extremely confident that the underlying upward trend in demand for our product will continue, so being able to produce and supply it in significantly larger quantities will be crucial, not only to the growth of our business, but also in supporting the wider construction industry’s growth challenges.”
The Bristol expansion will double site capacity and will have a core focus on sustainability, utilising a rainwater harvesting system, installation points for solar PV and electric car charging stations, with the end-ambition of a fully electric forklift fleet.
Neil continued: “An investment of this size is a strong statement of support for Bristol, but also the UK construction market, its growth projections and growth ambitions of Etex’s UK Building Performance Division. Investing in this new facility will strengthen our ability to develop and supply superior building material systems for our customers, helping to create high-performing, sustainable buildings that meet the needs of the people who use them, whilst also boosting the local economy.”
