2 minute read - 18th October 2022
Wienerberger to make two UK factory investments
Construction products manufacturer Wienerberger has announced plans to significantly expand and transform its roofing products division in the UK to further increase its exposure to the growing UK renovation market.
These investments, designed to deliver organic growth from an increasingly efficient cost base, will bring a welcomed increase in UK production capacity, whilst also implementing technological solutions to deliver on the decarbonisation element of Wienerberger’s sustainability roadmap.
A new, state-of-the-art concrete roof tile production facility will be sited in Smeed Dean, Kent. The business will simultaneously complete the renovation of its Broomfleet clay plain tile factory, eliminating the use of natural gas and the associated CO2 emissions from the firing process, moving it to energy-efficient electric kilns using 100% renewable energy sources.
Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger, said: “These investments are showcasing our clear commitment towards our sustainable growth strategy. We are strengthening our position in the renovation market whilst further pursuing our goal of a CO2 reduction of 40% by 2030 by actively driving our energy transition. Our investment in a fossil fuel free clay roof tile factory is a first for Wienerberger and the British market as a whole. It demonstrates our commitment to the UK and our customers and their drive to deliver ‘zero carbon ready’ homes by 2025 but also Wienerberger’s ability to transform our industry towards a green future.“
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Wienerberger expect the new tile-making facilities to break ground in 2023 and be fully operational in 2024. This will increase the company’s production capacity, enabling it to better serve the needs of its customers, with new and existing tile formats, providing additional capacity with lower CO2 emissions from manufacture, transport and installation that combine to deliver more, lower embodied carbon roofs into the UK market.