Veka sells Bowater Doors to Birtley Group
15th December 2015

Birtley Group has announced the acquisition of the Bowater Doors brand and production from The Veka UK Group for an undisclosed sum.

All production of the doors will be immediately transferred to the buyer’s existing Co Durham facility, while the brand’s commercial functions including customer service and technical support will remain at its original Midlands base.
Bowater Doors was part of the Bowater Building Products package that was acquired by Veka in 2011. Also with the package were the Halo PVC-U systems which Veka continues to develop alongside its original system brand and products. Up to this latest acquisition, Veka was producing around 400 Bowater doors a week.

The buyer has confirmed it will continue with its own Birtley Doors brand, positioned alongside its purchase, with Birtley continuing to serve its established trade base and Bowater using its proven strengths in the retail and social housing sectors.

Birtley Group Managing Director Graeme Miller says the relocation of production will continue throughout the Christmas period to allow manufacturing and delivery of Bowater brand products to re-start during January 2016 with minimised disruption to supplies. Normal lead times are expected to be restored by February.

Miller added: “The acquisition of Bowater Doors by Birtley Group is a very significant event not just in itself, but also as a symbol of the vigour of our business and our vision for the future to become a nationally acclaimed leader across all the sectors we operate in.”

Veka UK Group managing director Dave Jones said: “We completed our review of Bowater Doors and, as such, we are happy with the outcome.

“We will, of course, work closely with Birtley Group to ensure the transition is as smooth and seamless as possible for our valued customers. We’re confident that, through the Birtley Group, Bowater Doors customers will continue to receive the high levels of service they are accustomed to with these market-leading products.”

The move brings The Veka UK Group out of composite door production but it will continue with its growing Imagine range of PVC-U, patio, French and bi-fold door systems.

Birtley Group, a subsidiary of the £400million Hill & Smith plc, is best known for its Birtley and Expamet ranges of building and construction products.

www.birtleygroup.co.uk