Complete construction solutions Byggma

COMPLETE

CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS

Byggma ASA is the holding company for a number of companies involved in the production of boards, panels, flooring and other materials for the construction industry. Industry Europe looks at the structure of the group and its core activities.

The companies under the Byggma ASA umbrella produce a very comprehensive range of boards, panels, flooring and other materials used within the construction industry. The companies operating within the group structure today include Forestia, Huntonit, Fibo-Trespo, Masonite, Aneta, Respatex and Uldal. The idea behind the acquisition of a number of companies with complementary activities under one holding company was to offer its clients on the Norwegian market a complete range of products and services for all their construction needs.

Byggma’s history reaches back to the 1950s and the establishment of the company Norsk Wallboard AS, a manufacturer of wood fibre products. Byggma itself was established as its sales and marketing arm but quickly became the holding company for several different companies, all of which had their own production facilities. The number of these has gradually increased over the years. For example, Fibo-Trespo was acquired in 2000, the Uldal Group in 2000 and the Rolf Dolven Group in 2004. In 2007 it purchased Forestia from Norske Skog.

Core activities

The companies within the Byggma Group cover several different activities. Forestia is the Nordic region’s leading producer of particleboard intended for the building and furniture sectors, and also produces I-beams for construction purposes. It exports a large percentage of its product range, which includes furniture boards, building boards, heavy-duty load-bearing boards and I-beams.

Fibo-Trespo AS is a producer of bathroom panels and laminated products, whilst Huntonit AS offers various building materials. Uldal AS is a manufacturer of windows and doors, Sasmox OY produces tensile and fire-retardant panels, and Byggma Belysning AS is a producer and wholesale dealer of illumination products. Of the final two, Masonite AB is a producer of fibre boards and Aneta Belysning AB offers lighting solutions.

Byggma’s sales activities are operated through three international subsidiaries: Huntonit AB in Sweden, Respatex Int Ltd in the United Kingdom and Fibo-Trespo Inc in the USA. The company is in a strategic partnership with AquaTile, Hoytrykkslaminat, LVL-bjelken, Huntonit I-bjelke, Fausfloor laminatgulv and Trespa. Byggma is operational internationally, with export markets in Europe and North America.

Waterproof wall panels

Fibo-Trespo produces totally waterproof, ultra-hygienic wall panels, which are designed and manufactured in Norway. Its wall panels offer a unique system for cladding wet-room walls. They are also well suited for commercial hygienic applications such as medical offices and hospitals, restaurant kitchens, laundries, locker rooms, cloakrooms, etc. The waterproof hygienic panels combine elegant beauty with

unparalleled practicality. They are easy to install, require little maintenance, and have long lasting durability.

Each panel has a WBP (water and boil proof) plywood core, with a balancer laminate on the reverse side and a high pressure decorative laminate surface. A tongue-and-groove system down the length of the panel allows for quick and easy installation. In the UK, these panels are marked with the name Respatex.

Wall and ceiling panels

Huntonit AS produces wall and ceiling panels in Finland. The compressed, wood-fibre panels, which are painted five times, are pure natural products and highly durable. The Huntonit range includes both wall and ceiling panels and half-panels – all ready surface-finished, ready for installation, stylish, and to the Scandinavian taste.

The colour alternatives are refined and the surfaces easily cleaned. Huntonit panels are installed using tongue-and-groove joints, either directly onto a wall or directly onto studs. If desired, the panels can be repainted while the trim can also be painted in the same shades (NCS-colours).

Unique fibre board methods

Masonite AB is located in Rundvik in the north of Sweden. It is the only manufacturer in Europe that uses the unique Masonite method. Manufacture of the world-famous fibre board started as early as 1929 and applications of the method have been developed over the years. The product range consists of own developed fibre board for sub-floors, external and internal walls, roofing, blind floors, structural board for timber frame buildings and there is also a range of oil-tempered materials for especially demanding environments.

Masonite also manufactures the basic material for a number of applications, including different types of laminated flooring, packaging and sandwich elements. The unique manufacturing method used by the company means that wooden chips, with the help of steam, are blasted apart into long fibres which are formed into sheets of board. These are then pressed and hot-set to obtain finished fibre board. The long fibres resulting from this process give boards higher bending strength, tensile strength and stability than board with short fibres.

Masonite’s fibre board has proven characteristics. This world-famous material is durable and resistant to moisture and rot. The material maintains its shape and does not alter with time.

Distributors represent Masonite AB in several European countries. n