Corus to invest in new lines for UK composite panels market

21 Nov 2006

Corus Panels and Profiles, part of the Corus Group, and a leading player in the composite panel market, is to invest in new Composite Panel lines at Shotton works, Deeside. The £6million investment is being made to further strengthen Corus Panels and Profiles position and respond to the increasing market demand for factory insulated panels.

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, welcomed the news saying: "This considerable investment of £6 million is a real vote of confidence by Corus in their skilled and dedicated workers here in Shotton. Corus is going from strength to strength here in Shotton, and I am delighted by today's announcement."

The location of the new lines take full advantage of the existing coil coating facilities at Shotton operated by Corus Colors, and will increase supply chain flexibility delivering shorter lead times to customers. 

‘This is a significant investment by Corus in the Shotton site and demonstrates our continued commitment to the area. The new lines will be supplied with pre-finished steel products manufactured by Corus Colors at Shotton, including Europe’s most specified product Colorcoat HPS200®’, said Peter Wilks, General Manager at Corus Colors.

The investment will be operational in 2008 and create up to 50 new jobs at the Shotton site.
Notes to editors

Corus Group Plc (LSE/AEX: CS; NYSE: CGA) is one of the world’s largest metal producers with annual turnover of over £9 billion and major operating facilities in the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway and Belgium. Corus has 42,100 employees in over 40 countries and sales offices and service centres worldwide.

Corus Panels and Profiles has two sites based in Ammanford and Tewkesbury and employs 241 people. The Ammanford site is currently being streamlined to manufacture composite panels whilst Tewkesbury concentrates on built up cladding systems.

Composite panels and built up cladding systems are used for the external building envelope in applications such as warehousing, offices, factories and retail complexes.

The Shotton site currently has 885 employees and is home to two Corus businesses, Corus Colors and Corus Living Solutions.

Corus Colors manufactures pre-finished steel products which are supplied to cladding manufactures including Corus Panels and Profiles to be converted into composite panel and built up cladding systems.

Corus Living Solutions manufactures pre-fabricated modules for the residential sector.

For further editorial information, please contact:

Stephen Fisher,
Corus Colors,
Shotton Works,
Deeside,
Flintshire,
CH5 2NH.

Tel:   01244 892405   Fax: 01244 810336 
E-mail: stephen.fisher@corusgroup.com