The launch of a brand new chipboard flooring product has signalled the fact that EGGER UK has completed a major programme of expansion and investment at one of its UK manufacturing facilities. Over £110 million has been spent on the company’s plant at Hexham in Northumberland, making it one of the most efficient facilities of its kind in the world.

EGGER UK recently launched Decorative Protect - a value-added tongue and groove flooring panel which is the first new product to be manufactured at the expanded plant. The investment programme has seen the Hexham facility expanded by 50% to now cover some 75 acres and it has allowed EGGER to achieve both significant economies of scale and more efficient use of raw materials. Energy usage per m3 of board produced has been reduced and the creation of a new Energy Plant at the site has significantly lessened its use of fossil fuels. The investment has also enabled the company to standardise the quality of the chipboard produced at Hexham with that manufactured at its nearby Barony plant in Scotland.

“There were a number of reasons behind the investment programme”, comments EGGER UK Marketing Manager Nick McClughin “These included the need to replace equipment that was approaching the end of its lifecycle, a requirement to reduce waste and increase efficiency and the desire to create the conditions that will allow our output to grow in line with the expectations of our customers.

“The investment has helped us restore the equilibrium between the supply and demand for our products across Europe and secure the long-term future of EGGER in the UK. It is also a sign of our firm commitment to the UK market and it will allow us to continue introducing value-added product like Decorative Protect that provide our customers with opportunities to reduce their costs – something that is especially attractive in the current market conditions.”

A number of further environmental improvements have also resulted from the investment programme. An Environment Agency accredited Sustainable Urban Drainage System has been installed to manage rainwater run-off from the site, sawdust is now stored indoors to reduce dust emissions around the plant, and 13,200 trees have been planted to provide more visual screening of the buildings in the future.

For more information on EGGER please use the email provided.

Email: info.uk@egger.com