Eurovia UK invests £7m in PolyBitumens plant to enhance the UK highway network
The Member of Parliament for Thurrock, Jackie Doyle-Price, has today officially opened PolyBitumens, the new state-of-the-art production plant in Thurrock, which represents a £7.0m investment by Eurovia UK to improve the long-term sustainability and resilience of the UK highway network.
This multi-million-pound capital investment into the UK’s highway network will produce Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB) and polymer modified emulsions for high performance surface treatments. It has been developed using internationally recognised, innovative processes and the technical expertise of laboratory, Jean Lefebvre (UK), to produce materials that will prolong the lifespan of highway assets.
The production of material in Thurrock, to be used on various road improvement schemes in southern England, the Home Counties and in Greater London, will reduce the dependency on the long-distance transportation of PMB and emulsion products from plants in the North West of England. This will save an estimated 470,000 vehicles miles each year, helping to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, supporting the Government in achieving its objectives as set out in the 2019 Clean Air Strategy, which was launched in January.
Jackie Doyle-Price MP officially opened the innovative plant this morning (6.3.19), in Thurrock, Essex, when she was given a tour around the facility, which is the most automated polymer modified bitumen and emulsion plant in Europe and is the biggest ever single capital expenditure project by Eurovia UK. The MP was shown how PolyBitumens uses Lean, ‘white factory’ processes to improve efficiency and product quality, while maximising digital ordering and logistics to support ‘just-in-time’ delivery, which minimises waste.
In a video message to guests, Minister of State for the Department for Transport, Jesse Norman MP, hailed PolyBitumens as “exactly the kind of investment we need in this really strategic industry for our country.”
He added: “The idea that it’s going to be producing a road surface that is more resilient, quieter, harder wearing and more durable for our drivers and for road users, and for our infrastructure creators around the country is better still.”
Safety has been the most important consideration in the design of the facility – this type of plant traditionally uses dirty and dangerous processes. Using automation, this plant provides a pleasant working environment that segregates people and machines, limiting the exposure of our employees to potential hazards.
Paul Goosey, Managing Director – Eurovia Production, said: “Myself and the PolyBitumens team are delighted that the Member of Parliament for Thurrock has officially opened the plant today. We are looking forward to delivering our innovative products across the region, strengthening the highway network and delivering value for money for our clients.”
Scott Wardrop, Eurovia UK Chief Executive, said: “This facility will enable us to utilise innovative processes from the US and Europe, along with our own UK R&D, to deliver more effective, sustainable and whole life pavement solutions for our highway improvement and reconstruction projects in the UK. This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to delivering excellent highway services, by local people, for local people. It is further evidence of the way that we differentiate ourselves by innovation through our services.”
