Etex roofing materials

Etex is the only market player in Europe able to offer such a wide range of small roo­fing materials across the countries where it operates. This is the result of the Group’s historic gradual expansion from fibre cement slates and corrugated sheets to other roo­fing materials, such as clay tiles and concrete tiles.

On the European continent, the Group is a leading producer of small roofi­ng elements used for residential construction. Large roo­fing materials are used mostly in industrial and agricultural applications. The Group also has a strong presence in this market segment with its ­fibre cement corrugated sheets, essentially for agricultural applications.

Very early in its history, the Group started to expand its geographical presence in residential roofing in selected European and Latin American markets. The Group chooses to operate in markets where it can achieve a significant market share in the medium term.

“Etex operates in markets where it can achieve a significant market share in the medium term.” This vision is shaped by the important logistics and production cost advantages that can only be achieved by significant market players. Cost leadership remains a determining factor. The Group’s development in Central and Eastern Europe confirms this strategy of market leadership.

Etex is a leading provider of fibre cement slates and clay and concrete roofing elements in

Europe. Whereas in Western Europe these markets are essentially mature, they show interesting perspectives of development in the central and eastern part of the continent.

Etex manufactures high quality roofing elements in ­fibre cement, clay and concrete for residential and non-residential buildings.

Over the years, the Group has developed and diversifi­ed its range of roofing materials in

response to evolving market needs.

In Asia, Latin America and Africa, the Group essentially produces ­fibre cement corrugated sheets, which unlike in Europe are used for residential purposes.

The Group is seeking to expand this business in areas neighbouring its current markets,

especially in Africa. In other continents, the Group expects opportunities to arise

from the ban of asbestos. A mix of stable and growing markets in 2011 Except for Spain and Ireland, the Group increased its sales volumes of roofing elements in all its European markets. While new-built housing decreased in West and Central Europe, this trend was offset by a growing market for the renovation of existing housing stock. Many houses in this region were built just before or after the Second World War and will be up for refurbishment in the coming years.

The Group’s roofing activities in the United Kingdom emerged well out of the deep

crisis caused by the 2008 ­nancial dip, following important restructuring efforts and a slight recovery of the market.

In Eastern Europe, housing activities (mainly new-built) remained stable.

Revenue by activity Revenue by geographical area

Roofing Materials

Clay tiles further gained market share in Europe to the detriment of metal roofs (in

East Europe) and concrete tiles. The increased demand for clay tile roofing materials resulted in some cases in capacity shortages, which led to complex logistics issues. In particular, the factories in Germany and Hungary, producing at full capacity for domestic and surrounding

markets, were unable to entirely satisfy customer demand. The start of production in 2012 of a new clay tile factory in Koscian, Poland, will certainly help solve

these issues. “In West and Central Europe, renovation is a growing market as a lot of houses built in the 20th century will be up for refurbishment in the coming years.”

Prices of raw materials and energy continued to increase. Last year, the Group ­finalized projects to counter rising energy costs. These include the installation of a cogeneration system, a solar panel park and the use of new energy resources.

Responding to evolving market needs The Group expects that the evolution of

the residential roofing market in Europe towards clay tile solutions will continue, in particular in the Eastern part of the continent, where the market share of clay is lowest. As markets in Eastern Europe become more af‑uent, the choice of metal roofing materials for residential

housing will change to small roofing elements. Clay tiles will play a major role

in this conversion process and the major investment in the new clay tile factory in Poland will certainly strengthen the Group’s market position in this area. In Latin America and Asia, ­fibre cement corrugated sheets are a high-end solution for residential roofing. Compared to

metal roofing, ­fibre cement represents a substantial step up in quality, in terms of

durability and insulation.

Fibre cement corrugated sheets cover the roof of a barn at the Dutch stud farm “Duyselshof”.

This building provides all the necessary facilities to train racehorses.

Source Etex