THE MONTH News in brief


Buildbase opens new showroom in Bolton


Buildbase has opened a new bathroom, kitchen and tile showroom at its branch at Bentick Street, Bolton. The showroom features more than 30 room sets, a lighting studio, design and planning and in-home survey service and is set in a former mill, which was built in 1887.


Keystone Group invests Irish lintels to roof windows manufacturer Keystone Group is investing millions of pounds as it chases sales growth. Over the next 12 months, Keylite Roof Windows plans to strengthen and develop its presence in Germany, launch into the French marketplace and also build a new manufacturing facility.


Brick deliveries rise 9% Brick deliveries were 8.9% higher in August 2016 than they were a year earlier, according to figures released by the ONS. The seasonally adjusted figures also show a month-on-month increase of 5.5% and a year-to-date increase of 1.3% on the same period last year.


Keyline opens third rail office Keyline, the Travis Perkins group’s specialist supplier of rail materials, civils, drainage and heavy building materials, has opened a new Rail & Geotechnics division in Leeds.


Tarmac opens new cement packing plant Tarmac has opened a new, state-of-the-art cement packing facility at its Tunstead cement site, near Buxton, Derbyshire. The bespoke Haver and Boecker 10-spout Adams 2000 plant – the first of its kind in the UK - will make Tarmac’s plastic packed and tubbed cement products and will also be used to house the company’s new 12.5kg mixer bags.


BMF adds 3 more regional centres


The BMF has opened three more Regional Centres of Excellence, aiming to increase engagement with members. They are at Encon Insulation in Chorley, Ridgeons’ Green Light Centre in Cambridge and at the Keystone Group’s design, production and distribution centre in Cookstown, Northern Ireland.


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Travis Perkins culls 600 jobs across 30 branches


Builders merchants giant, Travis Perkins, is closing 30 branches and cutting 600 jobs. This follows the release of their third quarter trading update, which says their plumbing and heating division experienced weak sales, meaning their profits will be lower than expected this year. The company which employs 28,000 people and have 2,060 stores, said it was taking the steps due to an “uncertain UK outlook” for next year. The 600 workers affected by the changes have been informed of the news, while the merchants are also closing 10 smaller distribution centres and writing off equipment. Chief executive, John Carter


said: “Our plumbing & heating performances were


disappointing and whilst market


conditions have


worsened we are not satisfied with our


performance and will start reviewing these operations. “It is still too early to predict customer demand in 2017 with certainty and we will continue to monitor our lead indicators closely. Given this uncertainty


we will be closing more than 30 branches and making further efficiency driven changes in the supply chain, resulting in an exceptional charge of £40-50m this year.”


Huws Gray buys Simmons of Stafford specialist


plumbing and heating business W.Dop & Son in Pwllheli (Gwynedd). The


acquisitions increase the total number of Huws Gray branches to 57, 12 of


Anglesey-based builders’ merchants Huws Gray has bought builders’ merchant Simmons of Stafford and


which have been added in 2016.


Huws Gray managing director Terry Owen


Selco opens 25th London branch


Selco Builders Warehouse has opened in Mitcham, taking its overall tally of branches around the UK to 45.


The new branch – based on the Mitcham Industrial Estate on Streatham Road –is the company’s 25th inside the M25 corridor, with further openings in Wembley and South Croydon planned before the end of this year. Chris Cunliffe, Selco chief executive, said: “When we first


took Selco into London in 2002 it was a bold move with a huge investment for us to establish the business in the capital. “After breaking into new areas such as Southampton, Portsmouth and Wolverhampton recently, we are delighted to be bringing our ambitious branch expansion plans back to London.


“That won’t be all for London as we have further


said: “We’re delighted with our latest acquisitions as of Simmons of Stafford widens our activities in Staffordshire. It’s a fantastic fit for us in terms of location and links up our recent acquisition of Shropshire Building Supplies and our existing Stoke and Derby branches. “W.Dop & Son in Pwllheli will allow us to expand our product offering in the Gwynedd area and beyond by offering quality plumbing and heating materials as well as high-quality showroom products.”


plans to strengthen our position in the capital with further branch openings in 2017.”


November 2016 BMJ


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