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Increased panel manufacture despite industry shortages
Lizz Clarke • Jul 14, 2021

Hemsec SIPs supporting MMC construction in the face of materials shortages

MMC SIPs project

Hemsec has been able to increase its panel manufacture, despite well-reported global materials supply challenges. Thanks to strong partnerships with our supply chain, we expect to continue to support our customers so they can keep delivering projects.


The materials shortage in the UK construction industry is down a combination of factors, including as strong global demand, the impact of Covid and Brexit. 


Hemsec SIPs can support builders and contractors in ways that overcome these shortages, and so our Product Manager Juliette Mullineux has kept up with industry comment, and picked out some of the most interesting for our management team which she found in The Guardian and PBC Today; we thought you, our readers, would find them interesting, too:


  • According to Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association, timber has gone up more than 80% in the past six months, while copper and steel prices have jumped by 40%.


  • "With the price of timber battens, steel beams and plastic insulation all going up too, material costs were up by about 50%," said James Talman, Chief Executive of The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).


  • "The problems come at a time when the number of new homes being built is at its highest level in a decade and locked-down Britons have been funnelling cash saved on holidays and commuting into their homes.
  • "There has been no let-up this year, as in the first three months of 2021, enquiries made to local building firms increased at their fastest rate in a decade", according to the Federation of Master Builders
  • Demand is strongest in the 'repair, maintenance and improvement' market.


  • With some builders' merchants reporting sales growth of up to 40% over the past year, John Newcomb, the Chief Executive of the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) said the industry was seeing 'quite incredible demand'.
  • “You can’t point the finger at anybody because so many different materials have availability issues right now. People who have been in this industry for over 30 years say they’ve never seen anything like it.”

 

There is also a labour shortage… Builders are struggling to recruit bricklayers, joiners and even general labourers.


Using SIPs, far fewer workers are needed, so we can help here too.


If you are a contractor or builder interested in Hemsec SIPs, please contact us, because we may be able to support you with product, whether or not you already use SIPs. 


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By Stuart Cottle 08 Apr, 2024
(3 min read) Hemsec are committed to reshaping the build environment for a better tomorrow. We are proud to sponsor 23 mental wellbeing boxes created by UK Unplugged and support families in our local community in the North West. The 23 boxes will help 23 families promote and prioritise mental wellbeing, in a time where this has never been more crucial. UK Unplugged started as a local community group in 2019, dedicated to supporting parents and carers to balance their family time on and off screens. The group is made up of professional and student volunteers from Liverpool John Moores University, who create learning activities and experiences for families in Liverpool in the form of an activity box. Families can subscribe to the boxes on a monthly basis. UK Unplugged work to bring local, regional and international communities together to share experiences, all whilst ensuring that the activities reduce screentime and improve mental wellbeing for the families they support. In April, UK Unplugged will be working to donate their boxes to low-income families & those on the CAMHS waiting list. They have pulled together a team of Architecture students and volunteers who are creating specialised boxes and Hemsec has agreed to sponsor the creation of 23 these boxes. The boxes provide: · 10 hours of screen-free fun · Education on new ideas and cultures · They are accessible & eco-friendly This year UK Unplugged – Architecture box are focusing on Sustainability and diversity; the boxes will educate families on different living spaces and sustainable choices around the world. Investing in the education of sustainable buildings for families across the northwest is a brilliant cause that we are proud to be part of.
By Stuart Cottle 15 Mar, 2024
(2 min read) Hemsec hosts Riverside College & Cronton Sixth Form students at SIPs Manufacturing Hub for Aspire Week. Last Friday, (15 th March 2024) we welcomed students of digital built environment, architecture, and built environment skills from Riverside College Widnes & Runcorn and Cronton Sixth Form College to our Huyton SIPs panel factory. Students enjoyed an informative morning learning about SIPs And getting hands-on with our panels to help inform their studies. The students received a talk from Dan Haworth , Head of Manufacturing, and a factory tour, followed by round table speed meetings with staff from all areas of the business. They also had the unique opportunity to get hands-on with building miniature SIP Panel structures. And to add a little extra fun, we set up a bit of friendly competition with a structural design challenge with custard creams! Because why not? SIPs panels and custard creams are distant cousins, after all! We're looking forward to hosting more students and future construction talent in the future.
21 Dec, 2023
(4 m in read) On Tuesday Hemsec employees came together in good Christmas cheer at our annual Christmas party. Through a spirited raffle, the company successfully raised an impressive £1000 for The Big Help Project . What is The Big Help Project? The Big Help Project was set up with the mission to feed the hungry, overcome poverty, free people from the burden of unmanageable personal debt, help people into affordable housing, and to assist people onto a better future. For over ten years Big Help Project has formed a social impact eco-system, providing on-the-ground wrap-around services to make sure nobody is left in crisis. Every day of the week Big Help Project is making a difference and helping people break the cycle of poverty. So far, the project has helped thousands of people across the UK — but they still have a lot of ground to cover. That’s where local businesses like Hemsec, our customers, suppliers and partners come into the picture.
09 Nov, 2023
To avoid disappointment, place your orders ready for Christmas and the first few weeks of the New Year. (2 min read) It’s that time of year again! In an effort to allow our hardworking team some well-deserved time with their families, Hemsec has scheduled our usual temporary shutdown over the Christmas period. We want to ensure our customers are well-informed about the key dates to avoid any inconvenience in the run up, during and following this period. We encourage all our valued customers to place their orders in the coming weeks to avoid any disappointment over the Christmas period and the first two weeks of January. Our team is committed to ensuring your needs are met, and early orders will help us achieve this goal. ​**Place Your Orders Before Monday 20th November to secure delivery before Christmas​**​ Production slots are booking up fast, so please plan your orders accordingly to ensure timely delivery and secure lead times running into the new year. **Final Dispatch Day - Monday 18th December, 2023** To ensure your orders reach you before the holiday break, our last day of dispatch will be on Monday, December 18th, 2023. Please place your orders early to guarantee timely delivery. **Last Day in the Office - Friday 22nd December, 2023** Our team's last day in the office before the holiday closure will be on Friday, December 22nd, 2023. We will be available to assist with any inquiries until this date. **Reopening - Tuesday 2nd January, 2024** Hemsec will resume operations and be fully open for business on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024. We look forward to continuing to work with you in the new year. All the team at Hemsec wishes you a joyful festive season and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this temporary shutdown. We look forward to working with you in 2024!
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(2 min read) Earlier this month, our Macmillan Coffee Morning at Hemsec was a huge success! There was fierce competition in the ‘teacup toss’, along with an impressive 'Is it Cake?' panel replica competition, and a mouthwatering bake-off, all while raising an amazing £489 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The fundraising didn't stop there! We held a second coffee morning for our staff who couldn't make it, and the deliciousness and generosity did not disappoint. 🙌💚☕ Together the Hemsec team smashed last year's total! So we are already looking forward to the next event, keeping the momentum going, and making a difference for those who need it most. 💪☕🍰 Our Competition Winners Teacup Toss – Lyndon Gaskall Hemsec Bake-off – Liz Moran Is it Panel? Is it Cake? Competition – Stuart Cottle All our winners helped to raise an impressive sum of money for Macmillan and received a half-day holiday for their efforts in the process.
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