18th March 2025
The UK’s sole distributor of alwitra® marks 40 years of expert flat roofing systems
10th March 2025
ICB has come a long way in the past 40 years – and their achievements are worth celebrating.
Lots of things were happening back in 1985—the first mobile phone calls were made in the UK, Sir Clive Sinclair launched his Sinclair C5 battery-operated tricycle, Eastenders graced our screens for the first time, Everton won the European Cup, and Live Aid ruled the world for fundraising. More notably, a small single-ply roofing operation started up in Poole, Dorset.
41 years ago, in 1984, Michael Steinbach worked as an export manager for the German roofing company alwitra®, a renowned superior, long-lasting waterproofing membranes manufacturer. Visiting England for the first time, he arrived in Poole, Dorset, to review ‘project number 1’, for IBM near Winchester.
During his stay, he realised the potential for his company’s products in the UK.
Alwitra® agreed that Michael could be the sole provider of their membranes in the UK. The following year, on 28 March 1985, ‘International Construction Bureau’ was born.ICB began to beat the competition and win more work, one project at a time, allowing the company to move out of operating in Michael’s house and secure its own premises in Bournemouth. It then expanded into five more units before moving to its current HQ in Poole.
Today, the ‘International Construction Bureau’ is ICB Group, with CEO Rob Jackson at the helm, providing an enviable suite of solutions for the construction industry, backed by the assurance of full ISO accreditation for quality, environment and health & safety. The group consists of three businesses, allowing for their popular single-point warranty offer:
ICB (Waterproofing) Ltd offers waterproofing solutions for flat roofs, including accessories, technical support, professional specifications, and roof surveys. They remain the UK’s sole distributor of the alwitra® range.
ICB (Projects) Ltd (est. July 2008), provides design, supply and installation of ancillary products for flat roofs: Solar PV, Green Roofing, Battery Storage, Roof Edge Protection, and Rooflights.
ICB (Fabrications) Ltd. (formed January 2008) creates bespoke metal fabrications, from design to finished product in mill finish or in-house polyester paint coated to any RAL colour desired.
Overall, the group is now represented nationwide and occupies over 44,000 square feet of offices, training facilities and warehousing nationwide – with established facilities in Coatbridge, Scotland and Cardiff, Wales. There are also big plans for their new ‘ICB Central’ hub in the Midlands, which will open in spring this year. The headcount is 61 and growing, with staff being recruited to support ICB’s growth.
CEO Rob Jackson has been with ICB for 30 years and has guided the company through changing and challenging markets, regulations, and technical advancements.
He said ‘As we enter our 40th year, we are experiencing an exciting period of growth, with new customers, product development and investment in staff and systems. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, we aim to provide our customers with the best quality products. We add further value by offering highly professional technical support and customer service whilst being conscious of our environmental impact’.
Significant investment has been made in machinery and systems in the past year, with more planned for 2025—all to provide the best possible products and services for stunning projects all across the UK.
Managing Director, Aleksandra Jackson, is keen to highlight the benefits. She said ‘Our investments are paving the way for smarter working – it’s all about our customers and making it easy for them. Our nationwide technical support network is there to train, advise on specifications and installations, and provide general advice on flat roofing projects, green and solar roofing, and aluminium fabrications.”
To find out more about ICB Group’s products, case studies and services, visit www.icbgroup.co.uk
