| Type | Sociedade Anónima |
|---|---|
| Traded as | Euronext: SONI |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Maia, Portugal |
| Key people | João Paulo Pinto (co-CEO), Rui Correia (co-CEO), Belmiro de Azevedo (Chairman) |
| Products | Engineered wood |
| Revenue | €1.359 billion (2010)[1] |
| Operating income | (€25.9 million) (2010)[1] |
| Profit | (€74.4 million) (2010)[1] |
| Total assets | €1.486 billion (end 2010)[1] |
| Total equity | €298.8 million (end 2010)[1] |
| Employees | 4,790 (end 2010)[1] |
| Parent | Sonae |
| Website | www.sonaeindustria.com |
Sonae Indústria is a manufacturer of engineered wood products, founded and headquartered in Maia, Portugal. Present in twelve countries within three continents, Sonae Indústria has a wide range of products, from simple board to complete construction systems, a large range of wood-based products and materials for furniture, construction and decoration.
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The current Sonae Indústria core business was the original and sole business of Sociedade Nacional de Estratificados (Sonae). Sonae was founded in 1959 in Maia. Its first activity was the production of high pressure decorative laminates. Sonae Indústria is a spin-off from Sonae SGPS, today a conglomerate with activity in several businesses (retail, supermarkets, real estate, etc.), excluding engineered wood. The separation of Sonae Indústria was in 2005. Today it is one of the world leaders in the wood-based products sector. This position was achieved after the takeover of the German company Glunz AG, in 1998, followed by an organic growth. This helped to consolidate the company globalization process. The demerger-merger and merger operation of Sonae – SGPS, S.A. began on September 2005. This operation consisted of a split of part of the shareholding held by Sonae – SGPS, S.A. in Sonae Indústria – SGPS, S.A. and its integration in Sonae 3P – Panels, Pulp and Paper, SGPS, S.A.. This last company integrated the full share capital of SI through a simultaneous merger operation. With this operation and as from December, 20th 2005 SI is extinguished and the company Sonae 3P – Panels, Pulp and Paper, SGPS, SA is renamed Sonae Indústria, SGPS, SA.
Founded and headquartered in Maia, Portugal, Sonae Indústria is in twelve countries within three continents, offering a wide range of products, from simple board to complete construction systems, a large range of wood-based products and materials for furniture, construction and decoration.
Spanboard Products Ltd at Coleraine in Northern Ireland began production in 1959 and was acquired by Sonae Industria, Portugal’s largest privately owned industrial group in 1989. The company was extensively refurbished in the early 1990s when a new state of the art panel line for edged panels was installed. Investment was also made in a computerized panel saw to provide a cut to size service for melamine faced panels and gives greater flexibility for customer service. The factory produces wood particle board to meet the criteria of both, BS EN 312, (physical requirements for Particleboard) and also the site Quality Management System, which operates to ISO 9001.
The Knowsley, Merseyside site was designed with environmental management in mind, with the latest technologies incorporated to satisfy the environmental requirements of BAT (best available technique). The main emission point on the site is a WESP (wet electrostatic precipitator) which is served by an 85m stack and all other emission points are served by the latest cyclone and bag filter equipment. The site operates under local Authority, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and is regularly monitored to ensure the site achieves all its emission limits. The Knowsley plant which opened in July 2000 was specifically designed to use recycled wood fiber. Currently around 98% of material used at Knowsley is recycled. The Knowsley site operates an Environmental Management System (EMS) to the ISO 14001 standard (Certification/Quality). The EMS covers all aspects of raw material supply and production. The Knowsley site also adheres to a Sonae Industria Group Environmental Policy.
According to figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Sonae Indústria's UK plant located at Knowsley, Merseyside, has been the subject of 22 reports of major accidents between 2000-2010. Between 2003-2006 it was successfully prosecuted by the HSE on four occasions and fined a total of £132,000. On 1 June 2002 an explosion occurred at the plant and 20,000 liters of pollutant escaped into local waterways. The Environment Agency said: "On 3 June an Agency officer visited the site and saw that the outfall from Sonae's premises was gushing a milky white liquid. Kirkby Brook was discolored white for about two kilometers downstream, and still affected for at least a further two kilometers. Samples taken by the Agency revealed that the water in the brook was polluted to almost three times the strength of raw sewage. An ecology survey taken two days later showed that for at least 200 meters downstream, all life in the brook had been completely wiped out, and even as far as two and a half kilometers away the brook was classified as 'grossly polluted.'"[2] In 2003 the Environment Agency prosecuted the firm over five pollution incidents affecting local waterways resulting in fines totaling £37,500. The HSE closed the plant on eight occasions between 2001-2003. Residents living near the plant have "repeatedly called for its closure following a series of chemical leaks and fires."[3][4] Between 2000-2007 Knowsley Council served "many statutory notices on Sonae, including two prohibition notices, 10 enforcement notices, five variation notices and one notice requiring information, with which Sonae did not comply."[5]
In December 2005 Sonae pleaded guilty to three charges brought by Knowsley Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was fined £13,000.[5] In 2007, lawyers engaged by Sonae wrote to the internet company hosting the website of local magazine Nerve and threatened legal action for "a damaging effect on reputation" following the magazine's publication of an article critical of the company's safety record, authored by two health and safety academics, Professor Steve Tombs from John Moores University and Dr David Whyte from Liverpool University. The magazine responded that "Sonae's reputation is damaged not by what is written about it, but by its actions - it is a serial offender."[6] In February 2007 the plant was forced to close for a month following a fire which started in an oil pump room. Local MP George Howarth raised the issue in Parliament and said: "Unless and until the HSE can be satisfied that the plant can safely reopen, and guarantee the health and safety of the workforce and residents, I believe that the plant needs to remain closed."[7]
In December 2010 Merseyside Police and the HSE began a joint investigation into the deaths of two workers who were killed after being dragged into machinery on 7 December.[8][9] Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry said "Should the owners of the factory again be found to have fallen short of safety standards, following a thorough and detailed investigation by the Health And Safety Executive, then I hope steps will be taken to prosecute them for corporate manslaughter."[3] Merseyside Police passed the results of their investigation on to the Crown Prosecution Service who said they were awaiting the results of the HSE investigation and the coroner's inquests into the deaths, due to be held in 2011.[10]
During the early evening of 9 June 2011 Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service sent twelve fire appliances to the plant after fire broke out in concrete bunkers containing 12,000 tonnes of woodchip. It took eight days to extinguish the fire.[11][12][13] Mr. Howarth said: "This latest incident at Sonae serves as yet another example of the fact that this plant is unstable and hazardous to local residents, businesses and those who work there. Sonae takes up far too much of the time and resources of the fire service, Knowsley Council and the Health and Safety Executive. I will shortly be calling a joint meeting of the various bodies responsible for monitoring Sonae to pool their experience and seriously consider whether it can be allowed to continue given the risks to the community."[14] During a Parliamentary debate about health and safety legislation on 13 June 2011, Mr. Howarth raised the issue with Chris Grayling MP, the Minister of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, and again asked for the plant to be closed down. An Early Day Motion calling for the permanent closure of the plant was tabled by Mr. Howarth on 14 June 2011.[15][16]
At around 10:45 on Saturday 6th August 2011 a 62 year old employee was killed at the site. The worker who was a contractor from nearby Manchester was working on the demolition team who were called in to remove the damage caused by the previous fire on 9th June 2011 [17]