Jessop Way, Newark,
Nottinghamshire NG24 2ER, UK
About
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pallets shipped per annum
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sqm of surfacing supplied every year
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tyres recycled yearly
Everything From a Single Source
At CONICA, we take this motto literally. From individual product components, to complete surfacing solutions. This includes PU and epoxy resins, EPDM and recycled tyre granules that are fully compatible with one another, allowing our clients to choose from an outstanding range.
UK Supply Chain Process
Whether we make it, or source it from world class suppliers, everything required for our surfacing solutions is supplied in consolidated deliveries directly from our UK stock.
01
End of life tyres are delivered to site.
02
Tyres are unloaded and placed in the tyre bays.
03
Tyres are fed into the first stage of our process where they are reduced to approx. 150mm in size.
04
The second stage of our operation reduces the size again to 20mm and removes most of the steel.
05
The final stage of our process creates clean rubber granules that are sized to customer requirements.
06
Finished granules are bagged and stacked onto pallets by an automated robot, ready for delivery.
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CONIPAVE, Mulch, Playmaker & Nike Grind products are manufactured as value added solutions.
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Customer orders are picked and despatched (typically for next day delivery).
CONICA AG
CONICA Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of CONICA AG. The CONICA business is proud to be part of Serafin Group, whose philosophy is based on more than 150 years of entrepreneurial tradition of its shareholding family. Serafin invests into companies with the aim to foster their long term development in accordance with all stakeholders.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CONICA AG
Chemical Manufacturing
Research & Development
Product Management
Warehousing & Operations
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Three small words, but with significant meaning. Everyday they underpin our decisions, to enable CONICA to limit its impact on the environment.
The consistent implementation of our quality, environmental and health & safety policy through each CONICA employee, is the guarantee for sustainable growth and the success of our company.
Improve the quality and durability of products and services
Reduce the consumption of natural resources
Avoid accidents
Exceed expectations of and improve customer satisfaction
Our History
Our name may be new, but our history is long. Until recently, CONICA Ltd was Charles Lawrence, the business that pioneered playground safety surfaces.
1962
Our business was founded by Lincolnshire based entrepreneur Charles Lawrence and started life as a landscaping business.
Back in 1962, Lincolnshire had a huge number of ex WWII airfields which needed maintaining, so Charles cut the grass and carried out general gardening and landscaping work across many locations.
Mid 1970’s
Charles, wanting to expand and diversify the business, started to build tennis courts.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Charles then launched the UK’s first Playground Safety Surfacing system (1977).
Tracks, MUGA and synthetic turf surfaces soon followed.
By the end of the 1970’s, the company was both supplying and installing sports and playground surfacing solutions.
1980’s
Charles Lawrence Group PLC formed.
The company achieved significant growth in its sports and playground businesses.
The PLC also formed a new maintenance business to focus on providing post installation support to existing customers.
The Playtop brand was created to provide a recognisable face for the playground installation business.
1991
To meet the growing needs of the operating businesses within the group, a new, state of the art, tyre recycling plant was built at Jessop Way, Newark – Charles Lawrence Recycling Ltd was born.
1995
Following the success of the Playtop brand in the UK, Playtop Licensing Ltd was established to enable the role out of the brand internationally.
First Licensee appointed in France
1996
The group’s head office was relocated to a purpose built facility – Brunel House, Jessop Way, Newark.
1999
The group acquires Charles Lawrence Scotland Ltd (previously, Charles had personally held a minority shareholding).
UK Coverage – c£20m turnover – 120 employees.
Early 2000’s
Charles Lawrence Group PLC split into 3 operating divisions:-
Sport (Charles Lawrence Surfaces PLC )
Playground (Playtop Ltd and Playtop Licensing Ltd)
Recycling (Charles Lawrence Recycling Ltd)
Extensive growth of the Playtop licensee network.
Charles Lawrence Recycling Ltd rebranded as Charles Lawrence International Limited.
2005
The maintenance division of Charles Lawrence Surfaces PLC was rebranded as Replay Maintenance and established as a separate limited company.
Play surfacing continued, but in Scotland all work was subcontracted to Abacus Playgrounds Limited – Playtop Licensing Ltd acquires a shareholding in Abacus.
Replay Maintenance Ltd appoints a licensee in Scotland – Ecosse Sports Limited.
2006
The group defines a new strategic direction and decides to move away from contracting to focus on surfacing solution development and supply.
Charles Lawrence Surfaces PLC sold to W H Malcolm Ltd.
2007
The UK playground installation business, Playtop Ltd is sold to Abacus Playgrounds Limited.
Playtop Licensing Ltd acquires a shareholding in the new Abacus Playgrounds holding company (Abacus Lawrence Group Ltd).
2009
Replay Maintenance Ltd divested from Charles Lawrence Group via a management buy-out.
Continued investment in the production process at Charles Lawrence International Ltd extends recycling capacity to 18,500 tonnes per annum.
2013
Sale of Charles Lawrence International Ltd (CLI) and Playtop Licensing Ltd to Serafin GmbH – who earlier that year had acquired CONICA AG from BASF.
2014
To align with Serafin’s long term strategy, Charles Lawrence International Ltd is renamed to Conica Ltd.
2016
To achieve synergies within Serafin’s sports and playground businesses, Conica Limited and Playtop Licensing Ltd become wholly owned subsidiaries of Conica AG.
2018
Conica Ltd acquires new 1,000 pallet space warehouse adjacent to the existing plant at Jessop Way.
Truck tyre recycling capacity now exceeds 20,000 tonnes per annum.
2019
Conica Ltd opens new customer experience and training facility.
2023
Following almost 10 years of R&D, a new processing line is built to produce recycled steel fibres for the concrete reinforcement industry. The processing line was designed and build by CONICA Ltd’s inhouse engineering team.
2025
A significant investment in the mulch production facility increases capacity to over 4,000 tonnes per annum.
Want to Learn More?
To find out more about our extensive product range, to request samples or to arrange a meeting, please get in touch.