Sonae (UK)’s Challenger works at Knowsley are scheduled to return to production on August 19 after more than two months of disruption caused by a major explosion and by a fortnight-long holiday shutdown period.
The explosion in the plant’s dust extraction area occurred on June 1 and is still under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive. A worker was injured in the blast which blew a large hole in one of the factory’s side walls. Following repair work, the plant was run for two weeks starting in late July before closing once again for a planned summer shutdown.
According to Jim Hay, Sonae’s commercial manager in the UK, the plant was run “pretty well up to full speed” during its two-week return to operation in late July/early August. And he insisted that production would come back “with a vengeance” from August 19. “When we start up again, it will be in fifth gear rather than fourth gear because we have taken the opportunity [provided by the break in operation] to carry out improvements to the plant,” he added, although he declined to elaborate on the changes made.
The timing of the explosion was unfortunate “because we were going very well indeed in May,” said Mr Hay. With the plant out of action for several weeks, Sonae (UK) has been sourcing material through other parts of the Tafisa group in its bid to satisfy customer requirements and to protect market share. Acknowledging industry rumours that Sonae (UK)’s parent company may be considering closing or relocating the plant, Mr Hay countered: “The group is firmly behind the plant and investment is still being made at Knowsley.”
