Sonae Indústria
Encyclopedia
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.
). 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.
, 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.
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.
(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.'" 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." 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."
In December 2005 Sonae pleaded guilty to three charges brought by Knowsley Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was fined £
13,000. 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." 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."
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. 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
." 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.
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. 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." 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.
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
Engineered wood
Engineered wood, also called composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board; includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials...
products, founded and headquartered in Maia, Portugal
Maia, Portugal
Maia Municipality is located in the Porto Metropolitan Area, Grande Porto subregion, in Norte Region, Portugal. The city of Maia includes the parishes of Gueifães, Maia and Vermoim, and has 39,949 inhabitants. The Maia Municipality comprises 135,049 inhabitants in 17 parishes for a total land...
. 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.
History
The current Sonae Indústria core business was the original and sole business of Sociedade Nacional de Estratificados (SonaeSonae
Sonae is a conglomerate, and is the largest private employer in Portugal. The company is primarily engaged in the operation of retail stores through its subsidiary Modelo Continente....
). 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.
Sonae Indústria worldwide
Founded and headquartered in Maia, PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, 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.
United Kingdom
Spanboard Products Ltd at ColeraineColeraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
began production in 1959 and was acquired by Sonae Industria, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
’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
Quality management system
A quality management system can be expressed as the organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources needed to implement quality management.-Elements of a Quality Management System:# Organizational structure# Responsibilities# Methods...
, 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
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
(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
Environmental Management System
Environmental management system refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner....
(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.
Health, safety and environmental concerns
According to figures released by the Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
(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 £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
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
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
. 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.'" In 2003 the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
prosecuted the firm over five pollution incidents affecting local waterways resulting in fines totaling £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
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." 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."
In December 2005 Sonae pleaded guilty to three charges brought by Knowsley Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was fined £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
13,000. 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." In February 2007 the plant was forced to close for a month following a fire which started in an oil pump room. Local MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
George Howarth
George Howarth
George Edward Howarth is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Knowsley North from 1986 until 1997, and since then for its replacement Knowsley North and Sefton East....
raised the issue in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
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."
In December 2010 Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
and the HSE began a joint investigation into the deaths of two workers who were killed after being dragged into machinery on 7 December. Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry
Jake Berry
James Jacob Gilchrist Berry is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen, having won the seat at the 2010 UK General Election when he beat Labour Party MP Janet Anderson by a majority of 4,000 votes.-Personal life:Berry was born in...
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
Corporate manslaughter
Corporate manslaughter is a criminal offence in English law, being an act of homicide committed by a company or organisation. In general, in English criminal law, a juristic person is in the same position as a natural person, and may be convicted for committing many offences...
." Merseyside Police passed the results of their investigation on to the Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
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.
During the early evening of 9 June 2011 Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service covering the county of Merseyside in north-west England and is the statutory firefighting and rescue service responsible for all 999 fire brigade calls in Sefton, Knowsley, St. Helens, Liverpool and Wirral.-History:The fire...
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. 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." During a Parliamentary debate about health and safety legislation on 13 June 2011, Mr. Howarth raised the issue with Chris Grayling
Chris Grayling
Christopher Stephen "Chris" Grayling, PC, MP , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Shadow Cabinet from 2005 to 2010 and was the party's Shadow Home Secretary from 2009 to 2010. Following the 2010 general election, he was appointed a Minister of State in the...
MP, the Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for the Department for Work and Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
, and again asked for the plant to be closed down. An Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
calling for the permanent closure of the plant was tabled by Mr. Howarth on 14 June 2011.
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