INTERVIEW
Sir Edmond de Lotbiniere (2nd from the left) and Giles’s father, Michael de Lotbiniere (on the right)
INTERVIEW: GILES DE LOTBINIERE Construction UK Magazine sits down with Giles de Lotbiniere, Chairman of Lignacite, to discuss the company’s history and the many benefits of their products. Firstly, congratulations on the 75th Anniversary. What is the secret to the company’s success? Throughout the years, we’ve always tried to make an unusual and high-quality product, rather than being a stack it high, sell it cheap manufacturer. We’ve striven to make our blocks as sustainable as possible, working with designers to give them the products they desire while also offering them something slightly different to the rest of the market.
Something quite fun is the sales technique used by my grandfather. He would take a Lignacite block to a trade show with a wooden handsaw and a hammer and nail. He would then cut the block in two with the handsaw and then knock a nail into one half. This was to show the versatility of the block and how easy it was to build with. Crome Court UEA, Norwich
Talk us through the different types of concrete blocks you produce and what type of block suits different buildings and their structures. Lignacite offers a range of high-quality concrete blocks for above and below ground, including dense, medium dense, and ultra-lightweight. The Lignacite medium dense concrete block is a good all-round performer that is suitable for use in commercial, industrial, and leisure projects. It is robust and durable, providing excellent sound reduction and high levels of fire resistance. Lignacite also has low air permeability, resulting in thermally efficient buildings, as well as a strong background for heavyduty fixing.
In terms of longevity, the most important and impactful innovation related to our success has been the use of wood. Right from Day 1, we’ve been putting this recycled and renewable material into our blocks, using soft cured offcuts from doors, windows, and even scaffolding boards, which would otherwise go to landfill or be burned.
The Lignacrete dense concrete block is suitable for a wide range of applications.
How and why was Lignacite formed in 1947? The company was founded by my grandfather, Sir Edmond de Lotbiniere, who was an engineer in the army. After retiring, he was approached by an inventor who had produced a new mix design for concrete blocks that included wood, sand, cement, and an expensive admixture. My grandfather started making blocks in Brandon using the inventor’s formula, but one day, the admixture ran out. Despite this setback, my grandfather continued making the blocks and they turned out equally well. It transpired that the magic ingredient was the wood, which makes the blocks light, warm, smooth, and good in a fire.
There are very few blocks that provide this flexibility. If you are putting electric cables into a wall, for example, being able to cut or chase into a block is a very valuable feature.
Oak Chapel, Crownhill Crematorium
36 Construction UK Magazine - June 2022
