TARMAC EARNS THE BSI KITEMARK FOR READY-MIXED CONCRETE

Award consolidates Tarmac's product and system certification with BSI

The Tarmac Group has earned the Kitemark for its products at each of its 220 ready-mixed concrete plants, which completes its switch from QSRMC to BSI Product Services.

The move consolidates Tarmac's product and system certification with the BSI Group and is part of the company's ongoing pursuit of the highest overall quality of its products and services by utilising a single globally recognised certification body to meet the needs of the company and its customers.

Tarmac already certifies most of its products, including asphalt, cement, lime and blocks under the BSI certification as well as using BSI for quality, environmental, and health and safety management systems certification.

The award to Tarmac on 1st December 2003 coincides with the introduction of BS EN 206, the new European standard for concrete and BS 8500, the Complementary UK standard. This Kitemark certification provides Tarmac with assurance of conformity with these new European standards.

Robbie Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Industrial Minerals, owners of the Tarmac Group, accepted the Kitemark award from Flemming Norklit, Managing Director of BSI Management Systems. Coincidentally, both Tarmac and the Kitemark are celebrating their centenaries this year.

Mr Robertson said: “Tarmac is an international company with a growing business in overseas markets. We are therefore focusing on ensuring consistent systems where ever we sell our products, so it is natural for us to choose the Kitemark certification scheme which ensures compliance to these standards, and to use BSI, a globally recognised certification body which already handles so much of our other product and systems certification work. "

Mr Norklit added: “We believe that the approach Tarmac is taking will be followed by other companies in the construction industry. The standards regime is an essential part of the modern industry but can be complex; it makes sense for companies to look to work with one company that can guide them through the range of different standards and essential management systems. We will use our expertise to help them grow their business."

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Wilma Tulloch on +44 (0)20 8996 6330 OR
Marc Edney on +44 (0)20 8996 6330Notes to Editors:

Tarmac

Part of Anglo American plc, one of the world's largest mining and natural resource companies, Tarmac Group comprises Tarmac Northern Limited, Tarmac Southern Ltd, Tarmac Central Ltd, which incorporates the Industrial Products Division and Buxton Lime Industries, Tarmac Western Ltd, and Tarmac Concrete Products.

The Group is the market leader in the UK in aggregates, mortar, concrete blocks and asphalt and number two in ready-mixed concrete. Through its enhanced network of regional production units and plants it provides a vast range of products for the construction industry nationwide

For more information take a look at the Tarmac website - www.tarmac.co.uk

BSI Product Services

with its HQ in Hemel Hempstead, England, provides testing, notified body and certification services for a wide range of products manufactured in Europe, Asia and North America. BSI's widely recognised product mark the Kitemark was first registered as the British Standards mark in 1903.

The Kitemark

To achieve the Kitemark, companies have their products or services independently evaluated by BSI Product Services to ensure they conform to stated standards, and their quality systems assessed to ensure they can consistently produce products or services which comply with the relevant standard. The product or service is then subject to an on-going evaluation programme.

Testing and assessments are carried out to meet recognised British, European or international safety and quality standards. A company can only display the Kitemark on its product when it has shown that it can meet these stringent standards.

For further information about BSI Product Services, please visit our website: www.bsi-global.com/productservices.