MANAGEMENT / PLANNING
CG : Belated congratulations on your new role ! Tell us about your background in the industry . NA : I ’ ve been in the sector for more than 18 years now . I ’ m actually a plasterer by trade and had my own drylining business for many years before joining Lafarge Plasterboard – now Siniat – in 2005 so I know the industry inside out . During my time here I ’ ve worked in a number of national and international roles , before becoming MD in January this year . It ’ s a really exciting time to take the helm . The acquisition by Etex in 2011 and the subsequent rebrand to Siniat in 2012 has given a renewed drive and focus to the business : there ’ s a real commitment to investment and growth . CG : The company has plans for major new investments : £ 9m at your Bristol plant , as well as extensions to your product lines in new markets . How are those shaping up ? NA : In terms of our product lines , one of the key investments has been the development of our GTEC Weather Defence board that we are selling directly to the commercial end of the market . This was launched in Spring last year , following two years
of development , and provides a sheathing board that makes it faster , safer and more sustainable to protect a building during the construction phase – taking gypsum board from the inside to the outside of the building for the first time .
This is a real innovation for the sector that we ’ re particularly excited about . The boards not only provide superior water-resistance and weather-proofing compared to traditional materials , such as cement particle board , but they ’ re also quick and easy to install . They ’ re also dimensionally stable which means they provide excellent air tightness .
28 October 2014