Spec Finish

NEWS 28 www.thefis.org COMPANY OWA by Amron FIS member, Amron Architectural, supplier and manufacturer of metal mesh for architecture and interior design has announced their partnership with suspended ceilings manufacturer, OWA. Jonathan Reed, Director at Amron Architectural, said: “Our partnership with OWA will allow us to deliver on high demands of product development.” OWA by Amron will consist of products from the OWAtecta range of metal ceiling systems typically specified for commercial, leisure, education and the retail sectors. www.amronarchitectural.co.uk/ products/owa-ceilings Armstrong Ceiling Solutions goes fromA toZ Following the completion of its acquisition by Aurelius Equity Opportunities, Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, manufacturer of mineral fibre ceiling systems, has unveiled its new brand name and identity – Zentia. The new brand marks a pivotal evolution for the business. Together with its new AXIS – four key elements which underpin the business direction (value, solutions provider, responsibility and continuous improvement), Zentia aims to set a higher standard for its business, customers and the broader industry. Supporting a range of specifiers, main contractors and interiors contractors in sectors including health, education and offices, Zentia’s proven approach helps to transform everything from acoustics and aesthetics through to comfort and thermal performance. Christophe Lloret Linares, CEO of Zentia, said: “We find ourselves in a unique position, with a strong and established past – and a future that’s ours to reimagine. As our world has changed, what people now require from the built environment has also evolved, and we’re building on our heritage to evolve with it. “We bring the same products, people and support you’ve always relied on – but now with added agility and a digital-first mindset. Simply put, we were Armstrong; now we are Zentia. We’ve gone from A to Z, reinventing our brand along the way.” Whilst the business will lead with the Zentia brand across all markets, in many instances the Armstrong brand will also be visible as part of a dual-branded strategy to support the transition and ensure clarity and understanding across the supply chain. www.zentia.com Etex soars past industry recycling targets Building materials specialist, Etex Building Performance has set a new record for plasterboard recycling in the UK achieving an average recycled content of 14% for its Siniat products. The figure is for Etex’s operations in 2019, meaning that the business not only surpassed the industry’s performance of 7.6% for that year, it has already outperformed the 2020 target of 10%. Etex has invested substantially in its operations to reuse waste gypsum, which can be infinitely recycled. This has included an upgrade of its manufacturing plant and the opening of a new recycling facility at Ferrybridge. Etex also plans to build a second plant at Bristol which will be able to use high ratios of recycled gypsum and will have a rainwater harvesting system. As well as investing in its production capabilities, Etex has worked to secure its own supply of post-consumer gypsum. It established Crucible Gypsum Recycling which recovers materials from construction sites across England and Wales. The move was informed by Etex’s involvement in Gypsum to Gypsum, an EU Commission supported research project, which showed the importance of controlling the quality of post-consumer material and re-orientating the industry for the recovery of waste at the end of a building’s lifecycle. The company also recycles all its production waste, with none being sent to landfill since 2009. Steve Hemmings, Head of Environment and Sustainability at Etex Building Performance, said: “Recovering waste gypsum makes business as well as environmental sense. The plasterboard industry traditionally relied on quarried gypsum or desulphurised gypsum – a by- product of coal-fired power stations but this is becoming less available as the UK switches to alternative energy sources. “Recycling offers a greener future for construction, but it requires investment and coordination across the supply chain. We’re investing early to make sure we have the capability and capacity to continue leading the UK’s plasterboard manufacturing sector and provide more sustainable solutions for our clients.” www.etexgroup.com BeadMaster has transformed an old delivery van into a remarkable company vehicle, which features its Circle and Square cover plates in different stages of the installation process, helping drivers to quickly recognise the products. Stocked with free samples, the van will also encourage new customers to test out BeadMaster and create the perfect finish around sockets and switches. www.beadmaster.co.uk BeadMaster hits the road in style The new BeadMaster van