|
contents | news | |||||||||
| Lafarge Couverture is building a new production site in the Ardennes To better serve a fast-growing French market for clay roofing tiles (+7% in 2004), Lafarge Couverture will strengthen its industrial facilities in northern France in 2006 with the construction of a production unit in Signy l’Abbaye in the Champagne-Ardennes region. Designed to produce 50 million clay tiles annually, or nearly 4 million square meters of tiles and accessories, the new plant will create at least 70 direct jobs and another 70 jobs indirectly. The Signy l’Abbaye 14-hectare site was chosen because it is at the hub of a major road and expressway network, and offers real logistical advantages that will facilitate product distribution to France, the Benelux countries and Germany. Clay extraction from the neighboring 25-hectare quarry combined with 101 hectares of clay reserves will supply site operations for over 50 years. The first phase of construction, scheduled for 2006, consists of the installation of two clay tile production lines, a production line for accessories and a kiln. The goal is to begin producing by fall 2007 Large tiles, Low profile and Flat look adapted for both newbuild and renovation work, using styles typical of northern France and Europe. Investment in the first phase is estimated at about 55 million euros. The second phase will begin as soon as the first phase is fully operational (2008). It will consist of the construction of another kiln and production line for a new tile concept to be launched in 2009. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Construction News :: home page |