wedi Systems (UK) Ltd
Unit 4, Mercury Park,
Mercury Way,
Trafford Park,
Manchester
LANCASHIRE M41 7LY
Tel: 0161 864 2336
Fax: 0161 864 1323
Suppliers of: Building boards, Tile backer boards, floor level shower boards, construction boards, waterproof boards, Building Board Solutions
wedi has been operating with success for nearly 20 years in the United Kingdom. However, in the past few years many competitors have appeared on the UK market – prompting customers to rightfully ask the question:
Why choose wedi when there are numerous other waterproof and tileable solutions to choose from?
Unlike the other brands, wedi has been tried and tested by industry professionals for the past 34 years. The company was founded in Germany in 1983, when Helmut Wedi – a master tiler – set himself a goal to develop high-quality but above all practical solutions for tradesmen which provide real added value in their day-to-day work. His goal became the philosophy of his company and made his family name into a worldwide-known brand. Today, wedi operates in 36 countries worldwide, including the United States, which despite having one of the most diverse markets in the world, has just given a home to wedi’s newest manufacturing plant to be able to cope with the demand.
The system safety that wedi guarantees as well as the straightforward and time-saving installation takes centre stage, while the feedback received from their customers provide the basis for further developments of wedi’s products, systems and services.
The core of wedi’s building board – which forms the basis of all of their tileable elements - is a high-density extruded polystyrene foam that is 100% waterproof to the core and extremely robust while at the same time it is also lightweight. Its cement coated surface forms an incredibly strong and stable base for adhesive thanks to the integrated fibre mesh fabric, making it an ideal basis for any type of plaster and tile.
What sets wedi aside from other tileable solutions on the market is that its products also provide fantastic insulation, therefore save on energy costs and provide long-term protection against mould and fungus. What’s more, due to their A+ labelling – according to German and European regulations and laws – they are also non-hazardous and low-emission products.
Whatever the project - renovation or new build, wooden or concrete construction, wetroom, bathroom or wellness you will find a variety of suitable elements in wedi’s extensive product range. The key to the success of the wedi brand is that their products are well thought out and well made: 100 % secure - signed, sealed and guaranteed by wedi.
wedi BUILDING BOARDS can be applied to practically any substrate and are also suitable for use as an added insulation underneath underfloor heating. They are available in a wide range of formats:
- standard building boards - 600mm wide panels are available in many thicknesses ranging from 4mm to 100mm.
- XL building boards - 900mm wide panels - simplifies installation by reducing joint transitions.
- XXL building boards - 1200mm wide panels - free standing and stable, ideal for use as a partition wall.
- Construct boards are shapeable and flexible boards to create curved forms.
- Vapor boards are vapour proof boards for constantly humid areas such as steam rooms.
wedi FLOOR LEVEL SHOWERS (Fundo range) are not only tileable and 100% waterproof but also unique in their thermal properties which provide added insulation, hence resulting in warmer tiles under foot. What’s more, all elements have a factory-integrated pre-defined even slopes, are load-bearing and wheelchair accessible.
- Point drainage: available with 3 different drain locations (central, corner or end) the Fundo Ligno especially designed for wooden floors and the standard Fundo Primo available in a wide range of sizes.
- Linear drainage: the Fundo Riofino featuring 300mm central channel and the Fundo Riolito neo with close to wall channels in various lengths (300-1100mm) also available in a vast number of standard sizes, both with wedi’s brand new channel drain technology, featuring 360º pipe direction!
- Integrated drainage: available in a wide range of sizes, the Fundo Plano & Fundo Integro with a classic ’point’ design and the Fundo Plano Linea with a sophisticated linear design.
The wedi Fundo design concept also combines creative lines with natural forms offering ’designer showers’ with point drainage such as the Fundo Trollo (round shape) or the Fundo Nautilo (shell shape) with optional wall elements with or without the supply channels, enabling free-standing showers even in the middle of the room!
wedi DESIGN ELEMENTS offer design and functionality at the same time to help give the bathroom that special touch. These products range from new shower seatings - Sanoasa Benches 1-4 and Sanoasa Corner seats - and wedi Niches (4 different sizes), to the well-known Mensolo range offering L and U shapes perfect for pipe cladding or as tileable shelving.
A new innovation from wedi is the new wedi Fundo Top - a ready-to-fit cover perfectly adapted to the slopes and dimensions of their most popular ranges: Fundo Primo, Fundo Plano and Fundo Riolito neo. A contemporary, seamless elegant alternative to traditional tiling, it is made from a 6mm thick mineral material and available in 4 different (full-body) colours: white, beige, grey and anthracite.
wedi’s standard product range also spans into WELLNESS PRODUCTS which can be used - of course - in shower or bathroom areas as well. The Moltoromo modular wall system gives the freedom to create versatile, free-standing wall configurations, such as curved and angled solutions or sinuous lines to add that design led effect to any area, while the Sanbath bathroom furniture range with its elegant shapes continue complementing the wedi Sanoasa Bellina & Comoda modular benches and the versatile wedi Loungers which are available with or without integrated heating.
All wedi elements are designed to interlock and work with all other wedi system components and a long list of accessories, that truly complete the installation and waterproofing system.
The wedi product systems have their own BBA certification showing that they satisfy the construction guidelines and regulations for the United Kingdom and are also tested and approved as sealing systems for wetrooms, thus awarded with a CE mark.
wedi is proud of its outstanding TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, offering customised building solutions for wellness projects as well as a bespoke service to create elements based on individual specifications such as special shower elements, footbaths, fountains, steam cabins or whirlpools to mention only a few.
Further technical information, image galleries and product specifications are available through the wedi website or via the BPi Download Library.
wedi becomes part of the ARDEX Group
Focusing on long-term strategic growth
Emsdetten, 21 September 2021.
The Witten-based construction chemicals specialist is taking up a majority shareholding in wedi GmbH, a leading manufacturer of system solutions for high-quality wet room solutions based in Emsdetten – it is the largest acquisition in the company’s history. The employees of both family-run companies have already been informed of the development. Stephan Wedi and Fabian Rechlin will remain managing directors of wedi which will be an independent company within the Ardex Group.
Stephan Wedi and Fabian Rechlin see the cooperation as enrichment for both businesses. Above all, the international Ardex network and the complementary strengths in product areas were important factors for wedi in reaching its decision. “Ardex is a perfect growth accelerator for us – just think of the many global markets and the joint innovation potential. It was of tremendous importance to us that we find a partner with whom we can safeguard our independence and contribute our strengths to ensure joint growth. For this, we will also implement the already planned capacity expansions together with Ardex. The matter is one very close to my heart, and from the very outset, my gut feeling about Ardex was extremely positive,” says Stephan Wedi.
wedi is already very successful in Europe, particularly in Germany and France, and it is the market leader in North America – with its own factory in Batavia, Illinois since 2017. The objective of the cooperation with the other companies in the Ardex Group is that of developing this position further. “wedi and Ardex complement one another excellently, not just in Germany, but also in other core markets such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand, France, England, Austria, Switzerland or the Benelux. The innovative strength of the Ardex Group is enormous, and as a result, we expect to make considerable advances,” adds Fabian Rechlin. “Our partners in the trade have long been encouraging us to take a major step forward. We are doing so now.”
For Mark Eslamlooy, CEO of the Ardex Group, this cooperation is a milestone in the development of the company – and his delight at the future collaboration with wedi is correspondingly great. “The Ardex Group is taking a major step forward with the acquisition of the market leader for watertight shower and construction systems. There could be no better way to enhance our systems competence – Ardex and wedi are two strong brands which complement one another in an ideal manner. As family-run companies, we also share a common understanding of the importance of customer proximity, innovation and quality. All in all, it is the perfect basis for a successful cooperation.”
Independent family-owned companies
Furthermore, it is important for both companies that they retain their independence in full. In the future, wedi will be a stand-alone company within the Ardex Group – headed by its current managing directors Stephan Wedi and Fabian Rechlin. The trading name, location, brand name and marketing strategy will not change, and neither will contact persons for clients and suppliers.
Inventor of watertight shower and construction systems
wedi is the market leader for watertight shower and construction systems in Europe and North America. The success story began in 1983 with the invention of a fully watertight building board – to this day the board with the blue core is still the company’s trademark. What began as a one-man operation in a private garage is now an international company with more than 500 employees and a further production site in the USA.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the economic terms of the cooperation. Metzler Corporate Finance exclusively supported wedi in the transaction as M&A advisor.
About wedi
wedi GmbH, based in Emsdetten, is a leading manufacturer of and systems provider for directly tileable, watertight construction elements in Europe and North America. The extensive portfolio is complemented by high-quality design surfaces which provide additional design options in the bathroom. With its innovative system solutions and guaranteed system reliability, wedi offers long-lasting, complete solutions for wet rooms. The family company, founded in 1983 by Helmut Wedi, currently employs around 500 members of staff and is active in more than 50 countries.
About Ardex
Ardex GmbH is one of the global market leaders for high-performance specialty building materials. As a family-owned business, the company has pursued a sustainable growth path for more than 70 years. The Ardex Group now employs more than 3,900 staff and is present in more than 100 countries on all continents, with a virtually comprehensive presence in one of its core markets, Europe. With more than ten major brands, Ardex generates total sales of more than 930 million euros worldwide.
Assurance in the wedi system - Transparency in the event of an insurance claim
wedi guarantees product quality above and beyond the statutory warranty
Without a secure sealing system in wet areas, moisture is able to penetrate into the substrate and subsequently damage the underlying structure. In the event of an insurance claim, it is frequently necessary for an expert to clarify whether the tiler, fitter or manufacturer is required to pay for the damage and possible subsequent repairs – and it is usually impossible to clarify the liability down to the last detail. Systems provider wedi guarantees that its system components are one hundred percent watertight for up to 20 years – giving installers and building owners a considerable assurance thus eliminating any uncertainty regarding the issue of responsibility.
Warranty and guarantee
The “warranty”, or “liability for defects” is taken to mean the statutory regulation to which a customer is able to refer if the product bought has defects or does not function properly. As a rule, a vendor is legally liable for all defects that already existed at the time of sale and therefore differ from the state of the product, as specified in the purchase contract.
In contrast to the warranty, a “guarantee” is a voluntary supplementation on the provider’s part and is therefore separate from any statutory regulation. The time of cover for any voluntary guarantee is always up to the manufacturer to determine. If a manufacturer provides a guarantee, however, they are legally obliged to comply with it and to rectify any functional defect that arises during the time of cover at no cost.
Unrivalled peace of mind for planners, installers and end-users alike
With its system guarantee, wedi is aligned to the requirements of sealing systems in wet rooms. Regulations concerning sealing systems are based on the requirements of construction law, the information sheet of the ZDB (Central Association of the German Construction Industry e.V.) and other country-specific requirements and legislation. Both the design engineer and the construction company are responsible for their construction project complying with such requirements.
For wedi, the system concept plays a vital role. The individual components of the system interlock with each other on an optimum basis, which provides assurance as well as clarity and transparency in the event of an insurance claim as everything is from a single source. Very often, the collaboration between different maintenance groups in bathroom and sanitary areas leads to uncertainty regarding liability in case of defect. To prevent this from occurring, wedi has formulated its guarantee promise clearly - on the basis of the system concept, the family business from Emsdetten guarantees assurance for its product range for design and sealing purposes in wet rooms. This means that wedi is able to guarantee the quality, and thus also the functionality of wedi products if the construction work has been carried out in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
10-year guarantee on all wedi products
Since 2016, wedi has been offering a 10-year guarantee on all products that are listed in the wedi price list. An entitlement to the guarantee is based on the respective product characteristics. If just one defect occurs to any item which is purchased after 1 January 2016 and was included in the price list, wedi’s guarantee service provides for a free product replacement and also includes the reimbursement of documented, necessary expenses such as repair costs. Further condition of the guarantee is that the products must be fitted according to installation instructions provided by wedi.
The wedi W.I.P. programme, with an extended guarantee service
In addition to this guarantee from wedi which is provided to all buyers, customers can also acquire an additional guarantee. As part of a W.I.P. partnership, the guarantee is extended to 15 or 20 years. This guarantee applies to specialist businesses which have completed the required training for recognition by wedi as an authorised, qualified and certified business. For its innovation partners, wedi provides a 15-year guarantee on a wedi shower or a 20-year guarantee on a complete wedi bathroom that continues to remain valid for the building owner after a possible withdrawal of the construction company due to its insolvency.
In addition to the extended guarantee service, the W.I.P. programme also includes a comprehensive and fully supportive concept to the qualified partner. Businesses which are certified and trained by wedi are awarded a corresponding quality seal, which offers advantages with the acquisition of orders. The description as a certified specialist business is ensured through a continuous, extended qualification within the scope of subsequent training, proven by certificates and the quality seal. Certified businesses are also supported with their marketing and advertising besides being listed as official W.I.P. partners on the wedi homepage. Technical support by wedi is also included, through the right to have a wedi technician on site or the advice of wedi specialists, for example.
