United Hardware announces appointment of David Shakeshaft as Commercial Director

UNITED HARDWARE ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF DAVID SHAKESHAFT AS COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

United Hardware Limited (UHL), has announced the appointment of David Shakeshaft as Commercial Director. In his new role, David will be responsible for leading a highly experienced cross functional team across purchasing, supply chain and marketing, in addition to implementing key plans as part of United Hardware’s ambitious new growth strategy. United Hardware Limited has over 160 Builders Merchants, DIY and Home & Garden stores employing over 2,000 people and an annual turnover in excess of ¤500 million. David Shakeshaft most recently served as Regional Director for Chadwicks in Ireland where he was responsible for operations across the Western region. Prior to this, David served as an Area Manager and Branch Manager for Chadwicks. Commenting on the announcement, Paul Candon, CEO, United Hardware, said, “We’ve known of David and his strong calibre for some time, and are now delighted that he has joined our team where we will work closely together to grow and develop our business. David brings excellent industry experience and will play a key role in enabling our members to fully leverage their growth opportunities. Speaking about his appointment, David said: “I’m delighted to join United Hardware as Commercial Director and I am very excited about the opportunity to realise the full potential of the Group and indeed its excellent membership who have been serving the people of Ireland for generations. My personal ambition is to position United Hardware and its members as industry leaders for many more generations to come by ensuring that we are at the forefront of changes that define the future of our sector.”

David Shakeshaft, Commercial Director at United Hardware Limited.

KILSARAN ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH CarbonCure TO DELIVER A LOWER CARBON CONCRETE SOLUTION

As part of their overall strategy to bring more sustainable solutions to its customers, Kilsaran has announced the signing of a landmark partnership agreement with CarbonCure Technologies, the first of its kind in Ireland and the UK. The project represents a ¤1m investment by Kilsaran and will create an additional eight jobs in the areas of project support and R&D. It will allow Kilsaran to deliver a lower carbon solution to its clients in the construction sector, a sector that is working hard to decarbonise. CarbonCure Ready Mix is a technology that introduces captured carbon dioxide (CO2), into fresh concrete while it’s being mixed. Once injected, the CO2 chemically converts into a mineral, which permanently embeds within the mix and improves the concrete’s compressive strength. This allows reductions of carbon-intensive cement, resulting in the same reliable concrete product but with a smaller carbon footprint. Kilsaran has partnered with CarbonCure to offer its customers concrete with a reduced carbon footprint, and also increased longterm durability and reduced life-cycle impacts. Kilsaran will begin a phased rollout of CarbonCure with a trial period of production at two Kilsaran ready-mixed concrete plants in Dublin. A limited number of Kilsaran customers will participate in this trial in 2022. Commenting on the announcement, Keith Goodwin, Group Technical Manager with Kilsaran, said: “The introduction of CarbonCure will enable Kilsaran to offer our customers concrete that is better for the environment with a reduced carbon footprint and with increased long-term durability. Kilsaran has long been a leader in environmental best practice, having been the first concrete producer in Ireland to introduce GGBS, a by-product from steel production as a partial cement replacement over 20 years ago.” Based on evidence from existing projects in the US, the CarbonCure solution typically reduces the GHG emissions impact of concrete by 4-6%, and in certain cases, as high as 10%. Keith Goodwin advises that the use of CarbonCure can effectively reduce the CO2 associated with a typical delivery of concrete by 120kg, adding up to a sizeable environmental benefit on the emissions of the overall construction project. “In an industry that accounts for a significant percentage of global emissions, such innovation is essential if we are to achieve our global carbon reduction targets.” Recognising the critical importance of climate change for its customers and all its stakeholders, Kilsaran is committed to playing an important role in driving sustainable innovation in its products and processes as part of the solution. This initiative is one of several measures Kilsaran is introducing as part of its wider corporate sustainability roadmap development. For more information about CarbonCure from Kilsaran please visit www.kilsaran.ie/products/ concrete-products-aggregates/carboncure/.