We produce aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), ready-mixed and Precast concrete, asphalt, cement and cement-related materials, bricks and a range of building products. We are part of the HeidelbergCement Group, which has leading global positions in aggregates, cement, concrete and building products.
Turnover for the UK business in 2010 was £1.1 billion. Capital investment for the year totalled more than £36 million. Our principal markets are the major conurbations in England and Wales and the central belt of Scotland. We disposed of our aggregates and asphalt businesses in Scotland early in 2010, but continue to operate ready-mixed concrete plants and a cement depot. We have no production operations in Northern Ireland.
The location of our mineral deposits is determined by a number of factors, not least geology and planning constraints. Where practical, our production sites are located close to core markets to reduce the costs and impact of transport. We operate a series of depots and wharves, supplied by road, rail and sea, to ensure the efficient transfer of aggregates and cement to areas of greatest demand and where local materials are not readily available.
Hanson UK is split into three business lines – quarry products, cement and building products – which together operate over 300 manufacturing sites and employ some 5,000 people. Jobs range from specialist and professional managers through to production operatives.
Hanson Quarry Products produces sand and gravel from the land and sea, crushed rock and asphalt for road surfacing and is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of ready-mixed concrete from a network of 191 plants. The division includes Hanson Contracting, a national road surfacing and infrastructure business, and Hanson Aggregates Marine, Europe's largest producer of marine-dredged sand and gravel.
The contracting business has a civil engineering division which specialises in construction of wind farms and waste-toenergy plants.
The marine business operates eight trailing suction hopper dredgers which deliver to a network of wharves in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The dredgers vary in size from 1,300 to 5,500 gross tonnes and extract sand and gravel from the seabed at depths of up to 50 metres.
Cargoes are dredged from government licensed areas and the vessels are fitted with self-discharging systems which can deliver dry material onto wharves at rates of 600 to 2,600 tonnes an hour.
Hanson Cement is a leading manufacturer of Portland cement, both in bulk and in bags, and produces ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS) – a cement replacement in ready-mixed and precast concrete. The division includes the packed products business, which produces a range of bagged cement, cementitious and aggregate products
Hanson Building Products is one of the UK’s largest producers of clay bricks and also makes Thermalite (aircrete) and aggregate blocks. In 2010 the division was reorganised into three business units. Material products comprises the brick and block manufacturing operations. Design solutions brings together three businesses
which all provide a design and specification service to customers – Hanson Formpave, which specialises in sustainable drainage systems, Hanson Bath & Portland Stone, a leading supplier of natural stone masonry, and Hanson Floors and Precast which manufactures bespoke precast concrete products.
Build Solutions draws on the skills within Hanson Structherm, manufacturers and installers of structural cladding systems and experts in new build and refurbishment products, and Irvine-Whitlock, a specialist brick and block laying contractor.
Hanson UK headquarters
Hanson House
14 Castle Hill
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 4JJ
Tel: 01628 774100
Shared Service Centre
Ridgewood House
The Ridge
Chipping Sodbury
Bristol BS37 6AY
Tel: 01454 316000