THE MONTH Brick numbers build as manufacturers invest


Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show domestic brick manufacturing continuing to rise steadily further, easing any concerns over product shortages. Production numbers for February show a 2.8% rise over the same month in 2018, with the quarterly production numbers up 6%. The Brick Development


Association’s Tom Farmer observed: “The last calendar year has seen the brick industry ploughing millions into manufacturing production and we see the results in a steadily increasing output.


“We know that our members are taking a long term view of UK


housing and are investing with confidence that the demand for new homes continues to outstrip supply by a considerable margin. There is only one way out of that situation and that’s to build more houses.


“We are confident that current and future governments will continue to view housing as a top priority in domestic politics and our manufacturers are working to ensure that brick availability will not be an issue.”


The BDA’s upbeat assessment of future housing demand is bullish given a flatlining in new housebuilding. Figures from the


Ministry of Housing for the last quarter of 2018 show housing starts down 2% on the same period a year before with NHBC figures for February showing an even more marked 7% decrease in registrations over February 2018. “There is no doubt that


Wienerberger pitches up for BPD


Wienerberger has bought UK based BPD Holdings Limited to further expand its roof accessory offering and complement its existing roof product portfolio in the UK and Europe. BPD, producer of roof


underlays, wall and construction membranes, building ventilation systems and specialist roof products, will become a centre of excellence for innovative roofing solutions within Wienerberger. BPD


will be tasked with developing innovative solutions designed to be implemented and sold across the broader Wienerberger network, leveraging the combined regional strengths and product expertise. With a portfolio including the Protect, Passivent, Glidevale and Kingfisher brands, as well as a tailor-made solutions service, BPD operates two UK production sites in Nottinghamshire and South Wales. BPD has over 200 employees and most recently generated annual


revenues of around £30m.


Wienerberger AG CEO Heimo Scheuch said: “The UK is one of the strongest and most innovative markets for roofing products,


and a key growth area for us as a business. The acquisition of BPD will strengthen our own position as a full-range roof systems supplier. BPD’s specialist roof accessories are


MPs discuss innovation with Crown Paints


Crown Paints recently welcomed MP for Rossendale and Darwen Jake Berry and chief secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss MP, to its UK headquarters in Darwen, Lancashire, to take a tour of the paint manufacturing facility and attend a Q&A session with Crown employees.


Berry and Truss met with Crown Paints managing director Philip Cefai, marketing director, decorative Europe Liz Hickson, and manufacturing director Ellis Mudd, who accompanied the two MPs on the factory tour.


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The MPs also met with Crown employees from across the business for a Q&A, answering questions about innovation in the north of England, the future of the UK economy and how the government’s upcoming spending review will affect people across the North. The company gave an insight into how it is meeting the demands of the modern coatings industry, driving product innovation, supporting young people entering the industry, and leading the way in sustainability with its earthbalance scheme.


a perfect fit with our existing roof portfolio.”


The deal is subject to


approval by the Austrian Federal Competition Authority.


W. Howard packs biodegradably


W. Howard has introduced 100% biodegradable wrapping for all its delivered products.


After months of research and development, W. Howard is committing to switching all plastic wrapping to 100% biodegradable material KR-OXO, which degrades in the open air in as little as 60 days dependent upon formulation. This will remove around 16 tonnes of non-biodegradable plastic from potentially ending up in landfill sites each year and cut the company’s carbon footprint.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2019


political uncertainty is affecting private sector activity” continues Farmer. “However, the market for affordable homes remains strong and we anticipate that once some degree of political clarity returns, we will see renewed energy in the housing sector.”


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