Mapei UK has become the latest supplier member of the Builders Merchants Federation.
The company immediately demonstrated its commitment to the BMF by offering to host a visit by members of the BMF Young Merchants Group at its parent company’s main R&D facility in Milan.
Mapei, which was founded in Milan in 1937, established Mapei UK Ltd in 1989. In 2004, the company cemented its commitment to the UK market with the opening of a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Halesowen, near Birmingham. Over 100 products are manufactured there and the facility is capable of producing up to 103,000 tonnes of product a year.
Product innovation is a key factor in Mapei’s success. The company invests over 5% of its turnover in R&D, with 12% of its workforce employed in this critical area. Much of the work is geared to the development of environmentally sustainable, LEED-compliant products.
The BMF’s annual Young Merchants’ tour is designed to give them an opportunity to learn more about suppliers and their operations. BMF Young Merchants will also have an opportunity to visit an Italian merchant and compare with their own branches back in the UK.
John Newcomb, BMF MD, said: “I am delighted to welcome Mapei UK into the BMF. They have immediately demonstrated the importance they place on membership and I would like to thank the company for generously giving our young merchants access to its most advanced R&D facility. Tours like this not only enable our young merchants to develop their knowledge of different product areas, but also the opportunity to get together with other young senior managers to build relationships.”
Dave Jordan, Mapei UK’s National Business Development Manager, said: “We are delighted to support the BMF in the forthcoming trip. I’m sure the young merchants will learn a great deal at our Milan R&D facility. We are continually developing new products to meet the requirements of design and construction markets around the world.”
