News

Builders and plumbers merchant group Wolseley have got rid of their loss-making US arm, Stock Building Supply Holdings, via a joint venture deal with investment firm The Gores Group.

Plumbing people Geberit have celebrated the move to new purpose built UK head office and training academy in Warwick with an official opening ceremony.

Northern Irish builders merchants JP Corry, have been awarded Chain of Custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for a wide range of timber products.

Saint Gobain, parent company of builders merchants Jewson and plumbers merchants Graham has stopped buying vehicles from LDV after the Birmingham van-makers went into financial difficulties.

Builders merchant group Wolseley is to close the distribution centres in Didcot and Chorley, as part of its programme to cut costs and increase efficiencies.

The latest research from accountants PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that nine construction firms a day are going out of business.

Sales at cement manufacturers Cemex fell 43% to $190m in the first quarter of 2009, according to the global cement company's report, published this morning.

Irish builders merchants chain Grafton Group plc has seen turnover fall 22% to £420m for the first three months of this year.

Landscaping and quarrying company Marshalls have been fined for pouring too much effluent into a West Yorkshire watercourse.

As many as half a million jobs could be lost to the industry by the end of this year, according to the chairman of the Construction Products Association.