Hope Construction Materials is Britain’s leading independent construction materials supplier of concrete, cement, aggregates and asphalt. With an annual turnover of £300 million it employs over 800 people.

With more than 180 sites across England, Scotland and Wales, the company’s largest quarry and cement works is located in Hope, Derbyshire.

Simpson Refractories has been working with the company for a number of years previously under the guise of Lafarge Tarmac and counts Hope Construction Materials as one of its largest customers.

Activities carried out by Simpson Refractories have included the removal of a clinker ‘snowman’ within 24 hours using a Brokk 180 demolition machine plus the maintenance and repair of refractory inner linings through to complete replacement. The company offers on-going consultancy and support.

Following the completion of one project, John Kent of Deferco Refractories, supplier of refractory products including specialist furnace bricks, said: “In Simpson Refractories, Lafarge has got the best installation company in the UK.”