Released on = March 22, 2006, 3:39 am

Press Release Author = EGGER (UK) Limited

Industry = Industrial

Press Release Summary = With the Olympic Games due to take place in 2012 and the
latest NHBC figures showing a marked increase in construction figures, builders'
merchants will be looking forward to continued growth this year and beyond.


Press Release Body = With the Olympic Games due to take place in 2012 and the latest
NHBC figures showing a marked increase in construction figures, builders' merchants
will be looking forward to continued growth this year and beyond.

Egger (UK) Ltd, with its market leading range of timber-based products for the
building sector, is able to meet the needs of today's house builder and provide
merchants with opportunities to increase their profit levels.

The NHBC has reported that there were 41,669 new build completions during the third
quarter of 2005 - a one per cent increase on the same period of the previous year.

Housing association building has also seen a huge boom in recent months with NHBC
figures at the end of last year revealing the number of starts totalling 7,901 - an
increase of 44% on the same period as 2004.

Predictions for this year show growth expected to continue.

It's clear that London winning the 2012 Olympics Games will also provide a huge
boost for the UK economy and will deliver far reaching benefits for the building and
construction product markets served by merchants.

Sophie Read, construction product co-ordinator at Egger, said: "There will be a
significant amount of development of major buildings such as retail and sports
venues.

"Undoubtedly, a considerable amount of these schemes will require large quantities
of wood-based building products like Egger's supplied by locally-based merchants.

The Government and the London Development Agency's Olympic vision also includes
plans to vastly increase the number of houses to be built in the Lea Valley and the
Thames gateway in order to meet the chronic housing shortage and regenerate the
area.

"However, it is anticipated that the shortages of skilled labour in the region will
see the construction industry increasingly utilise fast, easy-to-install and cost
effective modular build systems and methods.

"Egger is moving further ahead to meet this requirement through the introduction of
innovations such as the BBA approved Rapid Deck floor laying system.

"Initiatives such as these will contribute to builders and merchants meeting the
ambitious new build targets."

Egger offers a range of high quality, added value building products ideal for the
new build sector.

A multi-million pound continuous investment programme, along with an understanding
of the changing needs of the building industry, has enabled the company to cement
its position as a leading supplier of innovative new products to the building
sector.

The Rapid Deck system uses Weyroc D4 Adhesive to bond Weyroc Protect chipboard
panels to the joists (and also to fix the board's tongue and groove profile).

Apart from the first row, no nails are required in this system, speeding up the
whole floor laying process.



On average an 80 sq m plot can take up to five hours using the conventional method.

However, using the Rapid Deck approach, builders can cover the same space in only
one hour and forty minutes - a potential time saving of over three hours and
providing significant benefits in terms of reduced labour and material costs.

The system not only meets but exceeds the latest requirements for environmental
performance in the new build sector - specifically, helping builders to meet
requirements laid down by EcoHomes, and Parts E & L of the Building Regulations.

Merchants will also recognise the commercial advantages on offer from a product that
carries the strength of the Egger name and its extensive marketing and technical
support.

It's clear that as the year unfolds, all sectors of the building trade can look
forward with confidence to sustained growth.

And merchants, with an eye to the bottom line and improving customer service levels,
will be well placed to meet the growing demand and maximise the opportunities on
offer by stocking and specifying Egger products.

Visit www.egger.co.uk or contact building.uk@egger.com for more information.


Web Site = http://www.egger.co.uk

Contact Details = EGGER (UK) Limited
Annick Grange Road
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 4JS