K Rend
K Rend is the UK’s largest independent pre-mixed silicone render manufacturer.[1] It has been a market leader in the UK and Ireland render market for over 25 years. K Rend has offered a high quality, extensive range of silicone renders and finishes, designed to give a durable weatherproof coating and a natural finish.
History
K Rend is one of 3 divisions of Kilwaughter Chemical Co Ltd[2] and was founded in 1939 by Charles S McDowell and Gerald McGladery.[3] Limestone had been quarried and burned with anthracite or coal in open shaft kilns at Kilwaughter for more than one hundred years previously[4]. Once burned, the stone was converted to hydrated lime[5] in the hydrating plant. It was used in many linen factories as well as in building and the whitewashing of farm houses. The burnt lime was used in agriculture[6], mortar[7] and in town gas plants.
After the war, Gerald McGladery took over the Belfast operation, known as Kilco Chemicals[8], while Charles McDowell became the sole proprietor of Kilwaughter Chemical Co Ltd. In the nineteen fifties a milling machine was installed to make coarse powdered agricultural limestone. Burnt lime became too expensive for farming so that ground limestone quickly displaced it. Substantial government subsidies assisted sales of ‘aglime’ Agricultural lime[9] In 1964 Charles’s son, John McDowell joined the business. Charles retired in 1966.
In 1989 the company manufactured its first render products, K Rend. After an initial three years of developing the products and getting a foothold in the market, the business steadily expanded to where it is today. Now in its 25th year, the K Rend brand has firmly established itself as a market leader. K Rend are the only UK manufacturer to incorporate in-house innovative silicone technology and are one of the first render manufacturers to have achieved the prestigious Kitemark[10] license, assuring vital quality, product safety and performance requirements are met.
John’s sons, Simon and Chris, joined the company in the nineties. They took over full operational responsibility in 2001 and have overseen massive reinvestment in new plant, increasing capacity, leading to efficiencies and ensuring sustainable growth in all sectors. One of the biggest changes over 75 years has been in mechanisation. In the 1930s horses and hand pushed bogies were used for transport within the quarry. All the stone was lifted manually until the mid-1950s when a rope face shovel was introduced. A lot has changed since then with the company heavily investing in machinery as it has expanded. Another big change has been the utilisation of computer technology both for the control of machinery and revolutionising office life.
Technological Developments
As with most manufacturing and construction industries, the render market has developed vastly in the last 2 decades. The product is sourced and produced on site. Research and development is a continuous process that provides new answers to the changing needs and experiences of customers. The K Rend manufacturing plant has some of the most advanced production facilities in Europe, using some of the most elaborate and state of the art technology. Driven by market requirements and the emerging opportunities presented through the development of new technology, K Rend production facilities were designed with the environment, our customers and future growth in mind. Our company carries three important accreditations:
- ISO 9001 a certified quality management system (QMS) proving our ability to consistently provide products and services that meet the needs of our customers and other relevant stakeholders. Kite Mark Accreditation.
- ISO 14001: an internationally accepted standard that outlines how to put an effective environmental management system in place. Our Environment Management System is certified to ISO 14001 standard. Kite Mark Accreditation.
- OHSAS 18001 an occupational Health & Safety Management System.
References
This article "K Rend" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "K Rend (Kilwaughter Chemical Company Ltd)". www.ribaproductselector.com. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "The Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI)". www.qpani.org. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "Kilwaughter Chemical Company". www.companiesintheuk.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "75 Years of Success - Changes & Innovations Event". www.k-rend.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "Lime Uses". www.britishlime.org. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "Agricultural Lime". www.mineralproducts.org. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ O'Hare, Graham (1995). The Building Conservation Directory. Cathedral Communications. Retrieved 1 April 2015. Search this book on
- ↑ "Innovative h-tech solutions for the food and dairy industry". www.kilco.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ Bell, Jeff (1999). Understanding and Correcting Soil Acidity. The Samuel Roberts NOBLE Foundation. Search this book on
- ↑ http://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/Kitemark/. Missing or empty
|title=(help); External link in|website=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help)
