NEWSROUND Heavy material sales slide on housing slow-up


Heavy side building material pro- ducers have reported falling sales due to a slow-up in project starts for a second quarter. That’s according to the latest Construction Products Associa- tion’s State of Trade Survey for the last quarter of 2022, which found that, conversely, light side product sales have held up supported partly by energy-efficiency retrofit work, and more fully by their later use in the building cycle. Some 20% of heavy side manu- facturers saw sales decline, while


Alloway & Putney rebrand


Alloway Timber has merged with its sister company Putney Builders Merchants (PBM) under one brand, Alloway Timber & Builders Merchants. The family-owned merchant will now have a simplified offer to customers, ensuring all products are available under one roof.


Alloway Timber was founded in 1971 by Joe Alloway (senior) and continued under the stewardship of his two sons, Joe & Peter Alloway, supplying anything timber related from skirtings and architraves to roof truss rafters and beyond. The company opened PBM in 2003.


Managing director, Jez Avens says: “This change will further enhance our position as leaders in customer service. Our customers will have only one account to manage and our level of service and their experience in dealing with us will only improve as we share our knowledge across the two businesses. Also, by making this change we will be able to utilise our transport fleet better to enable a greener environment.”


4


27% of light side manufacturers reported that product sales rose, extending the run of growth to 10 straight quarters. One-third of heavy side manu-


facturers anticipated a decrease in sales over the next 12 months;


8% of light side firms anticipated a rise in sales. Fuel, energy and raw materials costs rose for all heavy side manufacturers. Overall costs are expected to increase over the next year according to bal- ances of 69% on the heavy side and 62% on the light side, the lowest balances since mid-2020 Mixed fortunes are also re- flected in the outlook for the year ahead where one-third of heavy side firms anticipated a decrease in sales over the next 12 months. On the light side, a balance of 8%


James Hargreaves opens


£500,000 low carbon centre James Hargreaves Plumbing Supplies has committed £500,000 to open the door to a dedicated Low Carbon Centre at its headquarters in Burnley. James Hargreaves has teamed up with a number of global manufacturers and the new Low Carbon Centre will incorporate a Daikin Sustainable Home Centre in conjunction with heat pump manufacturer, Daikin UK. “This is a major step forward for us, a great new facility specifically designed to train heating engineers, installers and plumbers to be best-placed on delivering an efficient and effective low carbon future,” said


In addition, the Daikin


Sustainable Home Centre provides a second-to-none experience showcasing Daikin’s wide range of low carbon products. A purpose built training room has been designed to provide the space for installers to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to become part of the UK’s low-carbon future, including domestic air source heat pumps, energy efficiency for domestic heating, water supply regulations, underfloor heating and system design.


“Our fully-qualified, in-house


James Hargreaves sales drector Bill Davies.


of firms anticipated a rise in sales during 2023.


Rebecca Larkin, CPA Head of Construction Research, said that the Q4 survey highlighted the varied demand within construc- tion sector but added to the signs pointing to a slowdown in activity across new build or sectors that were driven by consumer or busi- ness confidence, which would be partially offset by higher levels of activity on commercial refur- bishment and energy efficiency improvements.


team and the Low Carbon Centre facility are now available to all heating engineers, installers or plumbers from across the UK, not just our existing customers,” said Davies.


“Low carbon is the future, but it is still new territory for many working in the heating industry, bringing with it many questions and different demands. While these new technologies and associated products provide undoubted business opportunities, they can also lead to nervousness and concern Knowledge is king and our Low Carbon Centre is designed to provide the best information and highest-level training. Customers will get a real feel for all the product options and the chance to examine at close quarters a range of ‘live’ working models.”


RGB South Molton completes renovation project centre, featuring an increased


The South Molton branch of RGB Building Supplies has opened a brand-new plumbing and heating centre, completing a 12-month full renovation project. The new centre has allowed the branch to double the size of its plumbing and heating (P&H) product offering and install a dedicated trade counter, manned by a plumbing and heating specialist.


In addition to the new


plumbing and heating centre, the branch has added a tool


range of hand and power tools from leading names such as DeWalt and Makita. It has also improved and expanded its range of decorating products and the materials available in its yard. The bathroom showroom has been completely redesigned with new displays added, and a joinery centre has been created offering a comprehensive selection of floors, doors and ironmongery.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net February 2023


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