GCP Applied Technologies invests in new UK R&D facility

We’re delighted to announce the opening of our bespoke technical service and research facility in Greater Manchester, designed to support research and development of specialist concrete admixtures.

The new ‘Technical Centre’ in Dukinfield was officially opened on schedule at the beginning of August - without any delays or disruption caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic. 

As the concrete industry faces increasing challenges - from the scarcity of raw materials, through to the introduction of new environmental regulations and evolving technical requirements - GCP is investing heavily in R&D to find new solutions that address these issues.

With over 85 years of experience in delivering speciality concrete and cement additives for the built environment sector, and a history of involvement in some of the largest construction projects in the UK and Ireland including Crossrail, the QE2 Hospital Birmingham, Liverpool Arena and the Dublin Airport runway extension, we’re continuing to put innovation first. 

We've now made this substantial investment in customer support and innovation, as part of our wider strategy to create a UK hub for its Speciality Construction Chemicals and Speciality Building Materials business areas. 

Putting Innovation First

Boasting five separate laboratories - each specially designed to develop new high-performance concrete admixtures for the EMEA region the hub will enable GCP to support both ready-mix and pre-cast concrete producers with the optimisation of their mix designs to meet specific application requirements. 

Working in the new facility, GCP’s technical service and innovation teams will focus on developing new high-performance admixtures that are specially designed to enable the production of good quality concrete, while using lower quality aggregates, low CO₂ cements and other new raw materials. The team will also look at developing new admixtures that create entirely new categories of concrete.

Located at GCP’s long-standing Dukinfield manufacturing site just outside Manchester, the new Technical Centre of Excellence is strategically-positioned within the UK. Despite the national lockdown in March, GCP’s operations team ensured the building works were delivered on time, without any disruption caused by Covid-19. The laboratory facility took a total of four months to complete and is now fully operational.

Jason Armstrong, Product Marketing Manager at GCP Applied Technologies, comments: “As we continue to focus on developing innovative solutions that reduce complexity and add value to our customers’ business, we are delighted to announce the opening of our new Technical Centre in the UK. He adds, “This move marks a new beginning for our technical service and innovation teams, while strengthening the position of our existing Dukinfield site as a leading manufacturing plant in the UK.”

For more about GCP Applied Technologies in the UK, visit: https://gcpat.uk/en-gb