Knauf UK has reached an agreement with Gypfor for the purchase of a new plasterboard manufacturing plant in Newport, South Wales.
In a move described as “an emphatic demonstration of the Group’s commitment to dry construction in the UK and Ireland markets”, the firms says the multi-million pound investment will increase the UK production volume of Knauf’s range of gypsum-based building materials by 20% when fully onstream in Q1 2023.
The factory, developed by Gypfor, is located at Associated British Ports port of Newport which allows gypsum to be offloaded directly and thereby avoiding road haulage. The state-of-the-art facility will benefit from green power generated by renewable sources, including wind and solar technologies, reflecting Knauf’s “determination to reduce the carbon emissions associated with large-scale manufacturing”. The plant will also have on-site recycling as part of its commitment to the circular economy.
Ian Stokes, Managing Director of Knauf UK, said: “This new plant will significantly increase our ability to service customers throughout the UK, and particularly those in South Wales, the Midlands and the South-West of England. It is a very exciting move for Knauf and, following recent investment in increasing the capacity of Knauf Insulation, reflects the confidence of the Knauf Group in the UK construction sector.”
Construction of the facility is said to be progressing well, with commissioning due to begin later this year. Planned to be fully operational in early 2023, the plant will create 54 local jobs and Knauf will manufacture a broad range of gypsum boards in Newport, adding to the capacity of its existing plants in Immingham and Sittingbourne.
The company has also confirmed its headline sponsorship of the BMF All Industry Conference 2023, taking place in Istanbul from 15 to 17 June next year with the theme “Creating Connections”.
BMF CEO John Newcomb commented: “We are delighted to announce Knauf UK as our new headline sponsor for what promises to be an extremely topical industry Conference. Our focus on creating and nurturing connections in a post-pandemic, post-Brexit environment will set an agenda to help to negotiate new trading relationships, and successfully navigate increasingly complex global supply chains. What better place to hold this conference than Istanbul, a city that for centuries has provided a strategic link between Europe and Asia.”
Richard Bowes, Knauf UK Sales Director, added: “We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of the 2023 BMF All Industry Conference. The builders’ merchants community remains extremely important to the Knauf business, and is a cornerstone for the construction industry. We welcome you to speak to our team or me directly during the conference to discover more about how we can grow a successful and sustainable market together.
“Personally, I am I looking forward to meeting existing and new colleagues at what I am certain will be another engaging event.”
Registrations for the BMF All Industry Conference 2023 are now open. Merchants can register online via www.bmfconference.co.uk while Suppliers should email june.upton@bmf.org.uk
