Building products manufacturer Saint-Gobain (Paris / France; www.saint-gobain.com) has strengthened its position in the UK insulation market with the acquisition of the Celotex Group (Hadleigh, Ipswich / UK; www.celotex.co.uk). The purchase price has not been disclosed. The deal is subject to approval from the UK’s Office of Fair Trading.

Celotex has operated in the energy efficiency sector of the building industry for more than 30 years and is a leading producer of high performance polyisocyanurate (PIR) thermal insulation board. It had a turnover of GBP 69.7m (EUR 86.7m) in the year to 31 August 2011. Celotex has two production lines at its headquarters, with 170 employees. It recently extended capacity with a new GBP 3m (EUR 3.7m) distribution and innovation centre to support growth in construction markets.

Saint-Gobain already is active in the UK insulation market with its “Isover” brand. The Celotex acquisition not only strengthens its position in the flat roof and flooring sectors, but also in the new construction and renovation markets.

Celotex underwent a management buyout in 2004 that valued the business at GBP 29m (EUR 35m) – see Plasteurope.com of 29.10.2004. It will now operate as a stand-alone business within Saint-Gobain, complementing the French group’s Construction Products sector. The existing Celotex brand and management team are being retained.

Saint Gobain has operations in 64 countries, employing 195,000 staff and generating sales of EUR 42 bn. In the UK and Ireland, where it employs some 16,500 people, it posted sales of GBP 2.9 bn in 2009.