Is your Cast Stone supplier still in business?

The latest eNewsletter from the UK Cast Stone Association features the stability of UKCSA manufacturing members in what has been a difficult time for UK business recently.  This is particularly relevent when apparently established cast stone manufacturing companies, who were not UKCSA members, have gone under recently.
     Was your cast stone supplier one of them?

Not if you purchase cast stone from an UKCSA member as UKCSA is not only the "Guardian of Quality" for cast stone, acting as the reference point for the industry, but its membership also consists of long established cast stone businesses that can survive financially whilst delivering exceptional customer service and product quality. The UKCSA members are quite simply the right sort of companies to do business with to protect your business' reputation and credibility.  Read the full article ...
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CE Marking of Cast Stone

The UK is currently in a transition period from the Construction Products Directive (CPD) into the full introduction of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which becomes fully effective from 1st July 2013. At that time CE marking becomes mandatory for certain construction products which are covered by harmonised European standards.

The nature of cast stone products means there is absolutely no requirement for cast stone items to be CE marked. Indeed, it is impossible for cast stone products manufactured to BS 1217 to be CE marked under the CPR, and it would be illegal to do so under the current regulations.  Read more.....

House Building Changes

A recent EU consultation document proposal to introduce the 20% VAT rate on new build homes would be a disaster for the fragile UK housing market.

Thankfully, in response to the document a spokesman for the UK Treasury said: “The UK Government will not change the VAT zero-rating of new-build homes”.

Only about 130,000 homes were built across Britain last year – a historic low.  Any reduction in numbers would exacerbate the country’s housing crisis and damage the house building industry, and must be strongly resisted by the Government and the UK housing industry.

UK Cast Stone Association General Meeting

The 2012 Bi Annual General Meeting of the UK Cast Stone Association will be held on Thursday 8th November 2012 at the Forticrete offices, Anstone, Kiveton Park S26 6NP. All Cast Stone Association Members are welcome to attend the meeting, which commences at 10.00 am.

Cast Stone for Commercial and Retail Projects

The latest e-Newsletter from UK Cast Stone Association featured the use of Cast Stone on commercial and retail projects. Cast Stone is an incredibly versatile building material. Because it can be moulded into virtually any shape or size, it offers the designer outstanding flexibility for features and structural elements on all types of projects.

 Read more http://www.ukcsa.co.uk/commercial-retail-cast-stone.php

Cast Stone Meeting

A committee meeting of UK Cast Stone was held this week.  Thanks must go to Procter Bros in South Wales for hosting the meeting and their hospitality to fellow members of the cast stone industry.

Cast stone beats the double dip

Despite the double dip recession being driven by the largest fall in construction output for 3 years, there is no sign of contraction in the cast stone sector.  Indeed, cast stone produced steady growth throughout 2011, with output set to rise marginally in the first quarter of this year.  Read more