Flowcrete Expands Into South African Market

South Cheshire based flooring manufacturer Flowcrete Group has reinforced its position as a major international player with the opening of a new base in South Africa.



For the third time in four years the company has expanded in the country, opening a new manufacturing plant in Durban.



With an investment value totalling around US$1.3 million, the new 3,500 square metre facility represents a major platform for growth for Flowcrete within Africa and will increase manufacturing capacity by 50 per cent.



Flowcrete South Africa now employs over 70 people at three centres of operation in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, focusing on specialist seamless epoxy and polyurethane resin flooring.



These operations support a customer base of over 200 companies and deliver a turnover of US$10 million per annum. A substantial proportion of the business is construction chemicals and corrosion protection products, in particular abrasion resistant linings for use in the mining industry, coatings for galvanised structures and a wide range of acid resistant linings and coatings for use in the petrochemicals and piping industries.



The official opening was marked with a ceremony conducted by guests of honour Mr Harry Gazendam, Vice Chairman of Toyota South Africa, along with the Deputy Mayor of Durban Mr Logie Naidoo.



Mark Greaves, managing director of Flowcrete Group, said: “South Africa is a key market for us. It is enjoying high growth in the construction sector and we are now in a good position to tap into these projects.



“The new factory also fits in well geographically with our manufacturing plant in Malaysia, with the location of both plants enabling us to cover the Middle East, down into Africa.”



Flowcrete has grown into a global specialist flooring market leader, spanning 26 countries, with 12 manufacturing centres of excellence located in the UK, Scandinavia, Europe, South Africa, Asia, South and North America, all operating a ‘think global, act local’ philosophy.



The company achieved a record performance for 2007, with sales of over $85 million and profits of $7 million.



Innovation is cited as being at the core of its success. Recently Flowcrete has pioneered floors that fight superbugs including MRSA and C. diff at ground level using the natural power of silver – making them the ideal platform for hospitals, nursing homes and other sensitive hygiene areas including food and pharmaceutical environments.



An ultra fast-track two-hour floor concept is revolutionising installation projects, while sound-absorbing systems make noisy neighbours less challenging. Efficient underfloor heating – and even light reflective floors that cut down on energy bills – have also been introduced.



www.flowcrete.com



ENDS



For further information about Flowcrete please contact Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR, on 01538 308685 or email: jane@shepherd-pr.com



Flowcrete UK Ltd



The Flooring Technology Centre



Booth Lane,



Moston,



Sandbach,



Cheshire



CW11 3QF



Visit us on the web at www.flowcrete.com



Flowcrete UK Ltd is a subsidiary of Flowcrete Group plc



Flowcrete Group plc is a world leader in the supply of specialist flooring for commercial and industrial buildings. With 26 offices worldwide and 12 manufacturing plants globally, Flowcrete's aim is to transform environments with its innovative specialist flooring products, these include decorative seamless resins, waterproof car park decking, resin terrazzo, seamless anti microbial flooring, corrosion protection, self-levelling cements, underfloor heating and acoustic systems. Flowcrete is using its global expertise to introduce environmentally friendly, hygienic and aesthetically attractive floors to create a better and more sustainable world at our feet.