Denmark-based multinational Rockwool Group has announced the acquisition of Wigan-headquartered external insulation manufacturer Wetherby Building Systems.
The supplier will be renamed Wetherby Wall Systems under what Rockwool Group chief executive Jes Munk Hansen said was part of the group’s expansion in the UK market.
“This acquisition underlines Rockwool’s commitment to further expanding our presence in the UK market and to continuing to transform the construction sector towards sustainable and non-combustible facade solutions.
“The share of stone wool insulation in the Wetherby business has been growing steadily, and we will be completing this transition to a fully stone wool-based portfolio, as we have done in other markets in the past,” he said.
The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Wetherby Building Systems was founded in 1998 and has depots in Glasgow, Watford and Bridgend, as well as its main base in Golborne, Wigan.
It turned over £47.6m in the year to 31 October 2023, made a £9.8m pre-tax profit and had a book value (net assets) of £20.3m. It currently employs 78 people.
Rockwool operates in 40 countries and sells products in more than 120. It has a global workforce of 12,000 and recorded sales of €1.93bn (£1.6bn) in the first half of 2024.
A statement announcing the acquisition said Wetherby would join similar companies within the Rockwool Group, such as external thermal insulation composite systems specialists Heck Wall Systems in Germany and Fast Wall Systems of Poland.
It added that Wetherby would continue its existing relationships with developers, customers and suppliers.
Wetherby managing director Bob Deane said: “There is a long-standing relationship between Wetherby and Rockwool, and the match is strong on all significant drivers, from business model and technology to company culture and values.
“I am convinced that inside the Rockwool organisation, Wetherby will meet its full potential for wall system solutions.”
