Managing Director Sarah Viney, reflects on the manufacturer’s future within the construction industry. As an innovator, Marmox is continuing to develop new products which meet the requirements of both industry regulators and our growing client base, though we have come to accept that it can take time for markets to understand the full benefits of what are novel solutions.
It was a decade ago that we introduced Thermoblock to tackle cold-bridging at places like the floor/wall junction, with their concrete mini-columns ensuring structural continuity. It took a long time for specifiers to realise the advantages under SAP etc., but now we are seeing sales into housebuilding booming. Not just in the social housing sector, but also private development and for extensions and now the range is ready to welcome a fire rated version; only awaiting final award of its BBA certification.
The uptake of our recently developed Fireboards has been most encouraging, there has been plenty of visitors on the stand at exhibitions keen to hear about what is a unique Class 1 non-combustible product. It’s about communicating the potential applications: there clearly being a need for a fireproof tile-backer and also a substrate which is perfect for taking render finishes in EWI build-ups. Crucially Fireboard offers ways of satisfying the new Building Safety Act as well as addressing the concerns of building insurers.
Staying on the subject of fire safety, we are in the process of introducing another product with the same core and coating as Fireboard. It is a special brick slip panel we’ve developed with a slip manufacturer, that is basically a Fireboard ‘receiver’ with a recess sculpted to take the slips and likely to be a game changer: easy to handle and fix in place and, of course, our original launch product – Multiboard – sustains excellent market share in tiling and wet room applications: along with a diverse range of shower trays, drains and related products.
Looking beyond our domestic progress, Marmox has not had any problems with the international supply chain, despite the headlines about global conflicts and disruption to shipping in the Red Sea. We ship direct from Alexandria and our lead times as well as our costs have remained stable. So, as well as maintaining our stock levels in Kent, lead times on new orders continue to be three to four days maximum while most are met next day. Beyond this the company also still prides itself on having excellent customer relations including support from our technical team and trade training section
While Marmox is a family business, most important is the fact that across the company, we have the right people in the right jobs and we’ve been so fortunate we have enjoyed very good retention: the majority of our staff having been with us from the very early days in one role or another: Our current finance director, for instance, worked with our accountants when the business was first set up.
Overall, I’m really excited about the future, we’re going from strength to strength, with a good team who really enjoy their work within a stable company. Parts of the construction industry are growing strongly again and, in time, we expect a greater shift towards off-site fabrication, which our boards are absolutely ideally suited to.
You will be able to discuss our range of products including a new and exciting range of Multiboard Showerlays, at the Installer Show at the NEC 24th-26th June on Stand 4D27.