ETX-10829_Etex-AR2017_WEB_2018_DEF2 (2)

2.2
Activity report
Etex Building Performance
Etex Annual Report 2017
Activity report
Etex Building Performance
Etex Building
Performance
A worldwide reference for plasterboards, fibre cement boards
and fire protection products and systems, Etex Building
Performance is the largest of Etex’s divisions. Combining its
knowhow and technical expertise in these fields, the division
also offers an extensive dry construction portfolio. Etex Building
Performance posted sales of 1.526 billion euro in 2017 compared
to 1.449 billion euro the year before.
A unique blend
of expertise
Etex Building Performance develops a broad
portfolio in three key areas:
of applications such as partitions, ceilings
and floating floors.
Strengthening our
success factors
qqThe Moreira Salles Institute building
in São Paulo is a cultural space used for
photography exhibitions. Around 10,000 m² of
gypsum drywall products and systems were used
for the interior walls and ceilings.
In 2017, we expanded capacity, increased
internal synergies and evolved in innovation
and digital. These measures are crucial to
ensuring our competitiveness.
Geographic footprint and capacity
Adding to our market coverage in Europe,
we acquired full control of Pladur, a
major Spanish manufacturer of gypsum
products. The transaction enables us to
utilise Pladur’s strong brand name, local
production, quarries and export activities.
Furthermore, in 2018, we will expand our
capacity in Tisselt (Belgium) by building a
new filter press line.
Planned investment to increase capacity
will resolve the sporadic supply delivery
issues we faced in 2017.
Internal synergies
We integrated our Promat and Siniat
offerings in most European markets.
Working with aligned sales organisations
and customer relationship management
systems, these companies deliver optimised
single-sourced solutions to market.
Innovative and digital
Regrouped under our three Innovation
and Technology Centres set up in 2017,
innovation remained a main growth engine
for the division.
We rolled out individual innovation plans
at local companies. This resulted in
110 new products and systems in 2017.
Our innovation ratio—the percentage of
sales generated by products under five
years old—was up by 20%.
To highlight just two innovations:
• SolidTex—successfully launched
in Italy, this board with enhanced
structural stability will be introduced
to other European markets.
• SecureTex—this new board was the
result of one of our open innovation days
with customers in Avignon coupled with
insights from a technology benchmark.
Furthermore, we outlined a digital
roadmap. Integrating BIM technology is
one success story that illustrates how we
digitise our offering. Short for Building
Information Management, BIM puts every
element of the building process into a
virtual 3D model.
• plasterboards and fibre cement boards
for internal and external applications;
• passive fire protection systems;
• dry construction systems.
The division holds the number three market
position in Europe in plasterboards and
the number one position in fibre cement
boards. It is one of the leading players in
Latin America.
Plaster- and fibre cement boards
Sold under the brand name Siniat and now
Pladur (since December 2017) in Europe,
and Durlock, Gyplac, Gypsum and Romeral
in Latin America, our plaster- and fibre
cement boards are known for their acoustic
performance, structural strength and
humidity resistance. They are used in a range
Fire protection
Branded under Promat, our fire protection
products and systems enjoy a strong market
presence, with varying positions in niche
segments where they are active. These
materials are used to safeguard the critical
structures of a building to add time for
evacuation in the event of a fire. They are
mainly applied in non-residential buildings,
from hospitals and schools to airports and
tunnels.
Dry construction
A leader in dry construction methods, our
expertise combines interior building boards
and exterior cladding boards on steel or
timber frames to develop prefabricated and
modular buildings. This leads to faster, lighter
and more cost-effective methods over those
that use concrete or other wet trades.
+20%
In 2017, our innovation ratio went up by
20%. This ratio is the percentage of sales
generated by products under five years old.
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