Belgian building materials company Etex is relocating production capacities from its home market to the German location Neubeckum in Westphalia. The measure is part of a strategic consolidation within the group, which is among Europe's leading manufacturers of gypsum plasterboard and dry building elements. The Neubeckum plant will be expanded and will take over production lines that were previously operated in Belgium.
The decision by Etex follows a company-wide review of production sites in Europe. The goal is to consolidate capacities geographically and realize synergies in logistics, energy and raw material procurement. The Neubeckum location benefits from its proximity to central sales markets in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and the Netherlands, as well as from established infrastructure for gypsum transport and connections to the chemical industry, which supplies raw materials such as construction chemicals and additives.
The production relocation primarily affects standard formats for dry construction that were previously manufactured in parallel in Belgium. According to industry observers, the consolidation enables capacity utilization optimization and reduces fixed costs per unit produced. At the same time, questions arise regarding the impact on employees in Belgium. Etex has not yet published detailed information on possible job reductions or retraining measures. At the Neubeckum location, however, additional jobs in production and logistics are expected in the medium term.
Etex's strategy fits into a broader pattern of site consolidation in the building materials industry. Given rising energy costs, stricter emission regulations and increasing competition from Southeast Europe, many manufacturers are optimizing their production networks. Other groups such as Knauf and Saint-Gobain have taken similar steps in recent years. The relocation to Germany can also be interpreted in light of local demand for energy-efficient renovation and dry building solutions as part of energy-efficient renovation.
For building materials dealers and planners, the concentration on Neubeckum potentially means shorter delivery routes and more stable supply chains within Germany. It remains unclear whether Etex will focus on specialty products or other material groups such as fiber cement boards at the Belgian location in the future. The group has announced that it will publish details on its long-term site strategy later in the year.
