Ibstock emerged as one of only two British companies to win a category at this year’s Siemens Mobility Awards staged in Munich thanks to the development of an innovative sustainable solution for Signal Bases.
The company, which produces a diverse range of building products, solutions and expert technical and design services, received the prestigious ‘Sustainability’ supplier award. Anderton Concrete, the Rail & Infrastructure category specialists, who are part of the Ibstock Group, has developed a Signal Base range that has achieved an embodied carbon reduction of up to 80%. This means the product will help Siemens meet its own carbon reduction targets.
Neil Cross, National Sales Manager (Rail & Infrastructure) at Ibstock, accepted the award on behalf of Ibstock on September 26, whilst Chris McLeish, Ibstock Chief Finance Officer, delivered the acceptance speech via video call.
Commenting on the win, Neil said: “Siemens is a valued and key strategic customer, and it is of huge significance to be recognised for the innovation and development of the range of Signal bases. We manufacture the new Signal Base range at our precast concrete facility based in Thornley, County Durham – delivering significant carbon reduction.
“This innovation in lower embodied carbon forms a key part of Ibstock’s wider sustainability commitment. Organised under three themes – Addressing Climate Change, Improving Lives and Manufacturing Materials for Life, Ibstock has set out a series of ambitious targets to improve its sustainability. These include achieving a 40% reduction in absolute carbon (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030 and for 20% of sales turnover to come from new products and solutions that deliver enhanced customer value and improved sustainability.”
Dimitrios Ntemplas, CPO at Siemens Mobility Limited, added: “Congratulations to Anderton Concrete, part of the Ibstock group, for helping Siemens Mobility towards our own ambitious CO2 reduction targets.
“You certainly deserved the award for sustainability through your own unique innovation techniques, developing a more sustainable carbon signal base that achieves up to a 75% reduction in embodied carbon. We are looking forward to an even more sustainable future together.”
The signal bases are constructed ‘off-site’ enabling consistency of product, savings on resource and materials and enabling less time needing to be spent by trackside installation teams. Due to the demand for Signal Bases, Ibstock saw the opportunity to develop a standard range utilising the low carbon mix. (This technology was used in the development of the G Tech platform carbon copers, which are being used in the marketplace).
The key benefits of the Ibstock Signal Base Range include:
- Reduced lead times
- Significant reduction in embodied carbon levels by up to 80%
- A greener solution to help the rail industry achieve its own sustainability targets
- Reduction in material waste and a reduction in resource costs
Ibstock’s Rail and Infrastructure category continues to develop products that encompass sustainability benefits and is the leading provider of platform solutions for the rail industry. Anderton is the market leader in the supply of cable protection products to the UK rail industry and its other products include: rail troughs, signal bases, platform copers and low embodied carbon tactile paving.
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