Swadlincote Factory Is To Resume Production After Coronavirus Suspension

Production will resume this week at the Bison Precast factory in Swadlincote - following suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Last month the Northampton-based company, which has its technical centre in Measham, announced it would be temporarily halting production at most of its manufacturing sites until alternative working practices could be established to keep staff safe and able to socially distance.

But now Chief Executive Stephen Harrison has revealed the Swadlincote factory is to re-open this week.

Mr Harrison said: "Following guidance from the NHS, Public Health England and the Construction Leadership Council, we have started the process of carrying out risk assessments and are pleased to announce that we plan to fire up kilns ready to start production at one of our brick manufacturing facilities.

"Also we shall recommence production of our hollowcore product at Bison Precast in Swadlincote.

"We expect this to be followed by the reopening of two more plants in May.

"Due to the current high inventory levels we anticipate that the majority of our plants will reopen during June and July.

"This move means that we shall be able to support our housebuilder customers as they also begin the process of returning to work over the coming days and weeks, ramping up our production as and when inventory and demand from the market requires.

"This return to business is encouraging and we must all adjust to the new ways of working that ensure the safety of our staff and our customers and the continued success of our industry."

Bison Precast supplies precast products to housebuilding, commercial, infrastructure and stadia projects all over the UK.

High-profile projects have included the Cardiff Millennium Stadium, the new Wembley National Stadium and Alder Hey in the Park children's hospital.

The company celebrated its centenary last year, having been founded as Concrete Ltd in 1919 by two Royal Engineers who had developed their expertise in concrete while creating pillboxes used on the Western Front during WWI.

The company has contributed a host of significant innovations to UK construction, including the invention of the pneumatic core in the 1930s which revolutionised the manufacture of concrete floors.

In 1940, it developed concrete armour for WWII fighting vehicles, which would become known as Bisons for their strength and manoeuvrability, and from which the company would take its name.

In the post-war years, the company played an important role in the rebuilding of Britain's factories, hospitals and government facilities, its precast floors helping to speed up repair to damaged buildings.

In the 1960s, Bison received the Queen's Award to Industry for its Wall Frame system, the first fully industrialised all-British system for constructing high-rise flats, key in meeting the decade's demand for housing.

Acquired by Forterra in 2017, Bison Precast has three manufacturing facilities - at Swadlincote, Hoveringham and Somercotes.