A 30-day consultation process is under way as continued weak performance of the UK and export building material sectors will mean both companies, which employ more than 400 staff between them, have to streamline operations.
It has not been decided which company will bear the brunt of any possible job losses, with production, sales and administration staff at the Newton Abbot company all under threat, a spokesman told Insider.
"If redundancies do have to be made then the total number across both sites will be less than 100 employees," the company said.
BCT, which opened a new 40m factory in 2009, cut 83 jobs in July, from a workforce of 380, as a result of falling demand and a new 2m kiln, which helped to streamline processes.
Chief executive Matthew Gazzard said: "Any loss of British jobs, particularly in these tough times, is extremely regrettable and we aim to ensure the process is as smooth and fair as possible."
It was claimed the deal with Ceramic Prints will create one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Turnover at BCT increased by 3.5m to 25.9m for the year to 30 November 2010, according to the last set of accounts filed.
However, the company's pre-tax losses widened to 12.2m, compared with 11.8m in 2009, as the fall in new housing construction since 2008 led to reduced demand for tiles.
Ceramic Prints, which was founded in 1983 in West Yorkshire by Tony Taylor, imports and distributes tile, stone and glass decorative products from its 150,000 sq ft distribution centre in Brighouse.
The enlarged business will be dual-sited in Devon and Brighouse.
Gazzard added: "We bring manufacturing scale and Ceramic Prints brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience, as well as much-valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
Tony Taylor will stay with the group as commercial director and will assume full responsibility for all aspects of sales and marketing, product management and design.
2011年11月27日星期日
2011年11月16日星期三
Endesa and ASCER renew electricity supply agreement
With a market share year-to-date of 40%, Endesa is further cementing its status as Spain's leading electricity supplier.
Endesa and ASCER (the Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers) have renewed their framework agreement, establishing new economic and service conditions for the supply of electricity to ASCER member companies.
The agreement, which also covers the members of ANFFECC (National Association of Ceramic Frits, Glazes and Ceramic Pigments) and ASEBEC (Spanish Manufacturers of Machinery for the Ceramics Industry), was signed by the president of ASCER, Joaqun Pin, and the account manager for Price and Demand at Endesa, Juan Jos Muoz. Nearly 234 companies throughout Spain with annual consumption of over 1,000 GWh will benefit from the agreement.
The agreement is valid until 31 December 2012, extending the pact originally signed in November 2006. Over the last five years, this arrangement has enabled the ceramics industry power to receive electricity at highly competitive and stable prices..
In addition, the agreement entails various innovative price schemes that will enable ceramics makers to become even more cost competitive.
This deal is in addition to the one signed by ASCER and Endesa last April for the supply of natural gas to ASCER members which remains in force until December 2012 and means Endesa will remain the key energy supplier for the Spanish ceramics industry in 2012.
Elsewhere, Endesa and ASCER have developed lines of action that are providing ASCER affiliates with tools for boosting efficiency and achieving energy savings. Since 2007, Endesa has carried out over forty energy audits for ASCER members and will again offer this service in conjunction with the assistance programmes offered by the Valencia Energy Agency.
This energy audit work has yielded promising RDI initiatives and Endesa is currently working on heat recovery projects for sector companies that are expected to cut overall energy consumption by around 20%. Endesa and ASCER are also working together to optimise co-generation by association members. This agreement highlights once again the bargaining power wielded by ASCER on behalf of the Spanish ceramics industry in energy matters which are vital to the sector's future.
Under the scope of these energy agreements, Endesa will also sponsor the Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design organised by Ascer and the association's Network of Ceramic Tile Studies Departments, in particular the collaboration with the University of Alicante with a focus on sustainable construction and restoration.
Meanwhile, the deal guarantees Endesa reasonable medium-term remuneration on the generation assets it plans to earmark to supply the ceramics industry, while bolstering its position as leading power supplier in Spain, where it boasts a year-to-date market share of 40%.
ASCER represents over 98% of Spanish ceramic production. In 2010 a total of 178 countries accounted for 68.5% of the Spanish ceramic tile and paving manufacturing industry's sales. The sector's aggregate turnover stood at 2.59 billion. The ceramics industry is the second biggest contributor to the Spanish trade balance (1.65 billion) with exports exceeding imports by almost 2,000%, and in 2010 its exports represented almost 1% of the Spanish total. It is one of the finest examples of industry clustering in Spain and indeed Europe. The nature of the industry, its economic and social importance within the region, its ability to innovate and grow and its global leadership make the Castellón ceramic cluster a benchmark for a unique, competitive and sustainable industry at the heart of Europe.
Endesa and ASCER (the Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers) have renewed their framework agreement, establishing new economic and service conditions for the supply of electricity to ASCER member companies.
The agreement, which also covers the members of ANFFECC (National Association of Ceramic Frits, Glazes and Ceramic Pigments) and ASEBEC (Spanish Manufacturers of Machinery for the Ceramics Industry), was signed by the president of ASCER, Joaqun Pin, and the account manager for Price and Demand at Endesa, Juan Jos Muoz. Nearly 234 companies throughout Spain with annual consumption of over 1,000 GWh will benefit from the agreement.
The agreement is valid until 31 December 2012, extending the pact originally signed in November 2006. Over the last five years, this arrangement has enabled the ceramics industry power to receive electricity at highly competitive and stable prices..
In addition, the agreement entails various innovative price schemes that will enable ceramics makers to become even more cost competitive.
This deal is in addition to the one signed by ASCER and Endesa last April for the supply of natural gas to ASCER members which remains in force until December 2012 and means Endesa will remain the key energy supplier for the Spanish ceramics industry in 2012.
Elsewhere, Endesa and ASCER have developed lines of action that are providing ASCER affiliates with tools for boosting efficiency and achieving energy savings. Since 2007, Endesa has carried out over forty energy audits for ASCER members and will again offer this service in conjunction with the assistance programmes offered by the Valencia Energy Agency.
This energy audit work has yielded promising RDI initiatives and Endesa is currently working on heat recovery projects for sector companies that are expected to cut overall energy consumption by around 20%. Endesa and ASCER are also working together to optimise co-generation by association members. This agreement highlights once again the bargaining power wielded by ASCER on behalf of the Spanish ceramics industry in energy matters which are vital to the sector's future.
Under the scope of these energy agreements, Endesa will also sponsor the Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design organised by Ascer and the association's Network of Ceramic Tile Studies Departments, in particular the collaboration with the University of Alicante with a focus on sustainable construction and restoration.
Meanwhile, the deal guarantees Endesa reasonable medium-term remuneration on the generation assets it plans to earmark to supply the ceramics industry, while bolstering its position as leading power supplier in Spain, where it boasts a year-to-date market share of 40%.
ASCER represents over 98% of Spanish ceramic production. In 2010 a total of 178 countries accounted for 68.5% of the Spanish ceramic tile and paving manufacturing industry's sales. The sector's aggregate turnover stood at 2.59 billion. The ceramics industry is the second biggest contributor to the Spanish trade balance (1.65 billion) with exports exceeding imports by almost 2,000%, and in 2010 its exports represented almost 1% of the Spanish total. It is one of the finest examples of industry clustering in Spain and indeed Europe. The nature of the industry, its economic and social importance within the region, its ability to innovate and grow and its global leadership make the Castellón ceramic cluster a benchmark for a unique, competitive and sustainable industry at the heart of Europe.
2011年4月28日星期四
Science specialist a winner
Debby West, Oak Park Unified School District’s science specialist, will be honored at the Friends of Oak Park Schools Education Foundation’s “Friends Play Together” game night.
West led a team of Medea Creek Middle School and Oak Park High School students to victory in two science competitions earlier this year—the Ventura County Idea to Impact Challenge and the USC/Quicksilver QuikSCience program.
Oak Park teams won first place in both school divisions. An Oak Park High School team entered a project called “A is for Algae,” which focused on learning about marine algae and growing a potential biofuel.
Team members for the QuikSCience competition were Michael Ebert, Steffan Kim, Nirupam Nigam, Avyay Panchapakesan, Vivian Rotenstein, Amos Too and Tiffany Wu.
First place in the high school division for the Idea to Impact Challenge was awarded to an Oak Park High School team project called “The Whale.”
The project looked at ships that strike and kill whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and threats to whales around the world. The team raised $1,500 for the American Cetacean Society by selling ceramics made at the OPHS lab, conducting bake sales at elementary schools and through other activities.
Rebecca Gordon, Kathleen McGeegan, Kayla Sadwick, Sam Hirsch, Justin Orens and Jacob Wyner competed in the high school Idea to Impact project.
Medea Creek Middle School students in the Idea to Impact competition also won first place for their project “Paper or Plastic? Neither!” The team examined the hazards on the marine environment associated with plastic bags and how people should use to reusable bags.
Middle school team members honored were Jessica Ji, Yael Karoly, Katherine Kim, Paula Martin, Irena Yang and Jianna Zeolla.
Other Oak Park middle and high school teams won honorable mentions in both competitions. Members of the 14 teams gave lessons to other students, which engaged more than 1,500 students in Oak Park schools. All teams also performed community service related to their projects.
Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Tony Knight expressed gratitude to West and to Friends of Oak Park Schools for funding the science specialist position and supporting science education in Oak Park.
West led a team of Medea Creek Middle School and Oak Park High School students to victory in two science competitions earlier this year—the Ventura County Idea to Impact Challenge and the USC/Quicksilver QuikSCience program.
Oak Park teams won first place in both school divisions. An Oak Park High School team entered a project called “A is for Algae,” which focused on learning about marine algae and growing a potential biofuel.
Team members for the QuikSCience competition were Michael Ebert, Steffan Kim, Nirupam Nigam, Avyay Panchapakesan, Vivian Rotenstein, Amos Too and Tiffany Wu.
First place in the high school division for the Idea to Impact Challenge was awarded to an Oak Park High School team project called “The Whale.”
The project looked at ships that strike and kill whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and threats to whales around the world. The team raised $1,500 for the American Cetacean Society by selling ceramics made at the OPHS lab, conducting bake sales at elementary schools and through other activities.
Rebecca Gordon, Kathleen McGeegan, Kayla Sadwick, Sam Hirsch, Justin Orens and Jacob Wyner competed in the high school Idea to Impact project.
Medea Creek Middle School students in the Idea to Impact competition also won first place for their project “Paper or Plastic? Neither!” The team examined the hazards on the marine environment associated with plastic bags and how people should use to reusable bags.
Middle school team members honored were Jessica Ji, Yael Karoly, Katherine Kim, Paula Martin, Irena Yang and Jianna Zeolla.
Other Oak Park middle and high school teams won honorable mentions in both competitions. Members of the 14 teams gave lessons to other students, which engaged more than 1,500 students in Oak Park schools. All teams also performed community service related to their projects.
Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Tony Knight expressed gratitude to West and to Friends of Oak Park Schools for funding the science specialist position and supporting science education in Oak Park.
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