Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete marks 40 years with significant growth

Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete is marking 40 years in business with ongoing expansion and a pledge to make further strategic growth through future acquisitions.

Oscrete, a subsidiary of Christeyns, is one of the UK’s leading specialist construction chemical suppliers which manufactures and supplies a range of concrete admixtures for precast and ready-mix concrete and the ready-to-use mortar industries. The Bradford-based business manufactures a range of high performance super-plasticising admixtures, waterproofing agents, and products to control moisture damage in construction.

Established in 1983, the 18-strong team has increased its client base by more than 12% in 2023 and announced a strategic growth plan which “involves both live and planned conversations around future acquisitions.”

Director Scott Wilson said: “All of our products are manufactured here in Bradford and in 40 years, we’ve gone from being a small part of a bigger business specialising in laundry detergent chemicals to a standalone business which, in 2022 declared a new chapter of independence giving us the flexibility to focus entirely on core market supply, customer service and new product development.

“We have continued growth in the UK markets, particularly since the start of 2022 and this trajectory is shown through our increase in customers and the expertise of our team, which has seen seven new appointments since the start of 2022.”

Oscrete was formed in 1983 when new markets were found for the oil and surfactant products made by its former parent company and laundry detergent manufacturer, Christeyns. Oscrete rapidly developed products for precast concrete, ready-mix concrete and mortar, leading to the growth of the brand as a specialised, high performance concrete admixtures producer.

In 2004 Oscrete launched Osperse performance additives (OPA) to facilitate its growth as a leading supplier of speciality additives for use in the manufacture of dry silo mortars and dry bagged products, while 2016 marked the formation of Adcrete Ltd, the sole Irish distribution partner for Oscrete admixtures and additives.

Adcrete was acquired by Christeyns in 2018 further strengthening the company’s ambitious plans for the Oscrete brand in the construction industry.

Scott added: “As Oscrete continues to evolve, we are placing considerable resource and focus on our role as a construction chemical manufacturer to help reduce the CO2 footprint of concrete through cost effective, green product solutions, while our strategic growth involves both live and planned conversations around future acquisitions.”

Oscrete Director Scott Wilson (front centre) is joined by the sales, laboratory and customer services teams at the company’s Bradford HQ to mark 40 years of growth. Pic: Oscrete