Northern Ireland-based McLaughlin & Harvey has successfully completed construction on a €200 million plasterboard production facility expansion project in Bristol for materials manufacturer Etex.

The expansion, which is Etex's largest production investment ever, has doubled the sites capacity near the Port of Bristol and has a core focus on sustainability, utilising a rainwater harvesting system, installation points for solar PV and electric car charging stations, and a fully electric forklift fleet. The extra space also supports post-consumer gypsum recycling.

The new autonomous plasterboard production line and warehouse facility comprises of a 53,000m2 GIA. The 0.5km long facility consists of a board line calcination plant and storage facility with first floor office accommodation spanning the board line.

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Robbie Clark, Operations Director, McLaughlin & Harvey, said: "We are proud to have completed the construction of Etex's new plasterboard production facility in Bristol. Our experienced delivery team maintained a strong focus on quality and sustainability in managing the building and civil engineering works, and coordinating the client’s direct equipment installers.

"The high degree of integration of the state-of-the-art process equipment within our construction works was achieved seamlessly through our 'one team' approach with Etex and their consultants. This approach ensured the plant was fully commissioned and ready for setting to work ahead of the planned completion date."

Robbie added: "This accomplishment is a testament to teamwork, commitment and collaboration, demonstrating what we can achieve when a project team works together towards a common goal."

The facility produces plasterboard for the Siniat brand and is Etex's most efficient plasterboard production line in Europe when considering its line size, speed and complexity.

The capacity installed allows Etex to produce over 98% of its portfolio of boards for the UK and Ireland in the new state-of-the-art facility.

The plant leverages new technologies to bring efficiency but also sustainability to the forefront of operations. Increasing local production gives Etex greater flexibility and allows for significant carbon savings by decreasing the need to transport boards from other countries.

The new site is a zero waste to landfill plant and part of Etex's Road to Sustainability 2030 ambitions.