One of the most recognised names in precast concrete, Bison, is now part of Forterra, thanks to a £20m acquisition which will see us grow as a leading UK precast concrete manufacturer.
The Swadlincote-based Bison, founded by Royal Engineers in 1919 and responsible for an array of iconic products, from pillboxes in the Second World War to the terraces of Old Trafford and the new Wembley Stadium, is to continue as Bison Precast, part of Forterra.
The Bison Precast brand will expand to cover our existing precast concrete facilities at both the Hoveringham and Somercotes sites.
The announcement is the result of the £20m acquisition of Bison’s trade and assets from multinational construction company Laing O’Rourke. The overall production volume of Bison Precast under Forterra is to effectively double, making it one of the biggest precast concrete manufacturers in the country, and the largest in terms of precast flooring.
This expansion means the 195 existing staff at Bison in Swadlincote will join forces and share expertise with the 230 staff at our Somercotes and Hoveringham sites, who specialise in precast concrete solutions for all sectors of the construction industry.
Matthew Clay, Managing Director of our Bespoke Products Division [which now includes Bison Precast], said; “We are proud to be able to continue and build upon the long, distinguished history of Bison, a true British innovator in precast concrete for almost a century.”
Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive said, “The combined manufacturing knowledge, skills and resources of Bison Precast and Forterra makes us bigger, stronger and faster, and reinforces our status as a leading precast manufacturer in the UK.”