If you want confirmation of a manufacturer’s commitment to the UK market then the largest single investment in a production facility in any of its global regions would be a powerful statement of intent. The expanded ETEX plasterboard factory in Bristol has been in operation since August of 2024 and represents a whopping £170million outlay.
It joins the 160 ETEX factories already operating in 45 different countries and is the most efficient and state of the art plasterboard facility in Europe. In touring the site it’s the sheer scale that immediately impresses. So long is the production line, in fact – that in order to maintain a high degree of accuracy – the curvature of the earth had to be taken into account.
Given that it is constructed of just paper, gypsum and additives there’s significant potential for plasterboard recycling and ETEX currently uses from 23 – 45% recycled material depending on the type of board. Indeed, the whole Bristol operation has been designed around the reuse of as much waste material as possible, with a parallel emphasis on collecting and using rainwater, and a zero waste to landfill policy. At the same time local production that services the UK market significantly reduces the CO2 that is generated through logistics.
Master plaster
Gypsum has been used as a building material for thousands of years and can even be found in the pyramids of Egypt. Today, the factory’s main raw material is mined in Spain, with enough gypsum supply to service the Bristol site for the next forty years. Recycled material is kept in a separate store. The gypsum is then dehydrated through heating and milled to produce a fine powder known as Stucco.
Perfect plasterboard demands a precise recipe, with additives are introduced to make it stronger or less dense. A lighter board makes it easier to carry and install, for example. Once water is added the resulting slurry is then sandwiched between two layers of paper. Every board is quality checked along the line and, once formed into boards, it then enters a series of huge self-contained driers. There are, in fact, three separate drying zones set at different temperatures with the level of heat and speed at which the board passes through determined by the class of product.
Under its Siniat brand, ETEX produces a comprehensive range for every conceivable building project. These include Universal Board, which provides superior levels of fire, impact and acoustic performance. Fire Board achieves 60
minutes fire resistance from a 15mm single layer. Siniat dB Board is an acoustic solution and Aquaboard is a water-resistant product for kitchens and bathrooms. The Bristol factory includes a training school so that installers can learn more about any of these products.
For further information on the ETEX plasterboard plant visit https://www.etexgroup.com/en-gb/about-us/new-plasterboard-plant/.
If you would like to find out more about the Siniat range visit A UK leading drywall product and system manufacturer – Siniat.
