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While many sectors are reeling from
the effects of the credit crunch, chartered accountants Clement Keys
report that a specialist manufacturer in the Midlands is continuing to
prosper with one of its clients emerging as the
UK
’s market leader for recycled lightweight composite kerbstone
products.Clement Keys provide auditing services and tax advice plus
general business advice to Coleshill-based Durakerb, whose revolutionary,
eco-friendly products are manufactured from a blend of recycled polymers
and are themselves recyclable.
“Although the construction
industry is experiencing a major downturn, Durakerb has developed some
‘groundbreaking’ products which offer designers, consumers and
contractors significant cost savings and are helping to reduce the
UK
’s carbon footprint. The
company is on track to maintain its rapid growth thanks to a sound
business development plan,” says Clement Keys partner Roger
Parsons.“Each kerbstone contains 182 recycled plastic bottles from Local
Authority kerbside plastic collections and this year alone Durakerb will
be responsible for diverting from landfill or export to
China
or
India
over three million plastic bottles.” Weighing just under 6kg, Durakerb
kerbstones are considerably lighter than traditional alternatives, they
can be laid in the same way, but up to four times faster.
Durakerb has been tested and accredited by the British Board of Agrement
and now has a Hapas approval for use by the Highways agency. This is proof
to any user that the product can withstand the mechanical and chemical
attack experienced by any kerb once installed .It is the first and only
polymer kerb to achieve this industry acceptance and sets a standard that
tells the market that there is an environmentally and economic alterative
to concrete.
Durakerb manufactures its products
in
Norfolk
, and has a regional office in Merseyside plus a licensee company with a
moulding operation in
County Meath
,
Ireland
. They have received a great deal of overseas interest but are focussed on
establishing the
UK
business before venturing into overseas markets. Clement Keys association
with Polaris International will enable them to assist greatly with the
company’s overseas ambitions.Durakerb’s aim is to use waste materials
to develop accredited products which will help the
UK
construction industry achieve the Government’s increasingly stringent
environmental procurement targets.
Chairman
Paul Goodwin
comments: “We are ‘
breaking new ground’ not just with new materials that provide
substitutes for materials with a high cost to our environment but with
innovative ways of utilising materials destined for landfill Because of
this our business environment is changing from month to month. Our
relationship with Clement Keys gives us access to working with a partner
at all times and a team of people who understand our business,” says Mr
Goodwin.
“I know that I can pick up the
phone and get sensible answers to my questions because Roger and his
Clement Keys colleagues know exactly how we operate and appreciate what we
are trying to achieve.”
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