3 min read - 21 Jul, 2025
Guala Closures opens new £52m whisky bottle production plant
Guala Closures, a global leader in premium and innovative bottle closure solutions, has officially opened its new production facility in Gartcosh, Scotland, following an investment exceeding £52m (€60m). Serving the Scottish whisky market, the sustainable facility represents one of the largest contributions ever made by an Italian company in the UK, and includes a grant of over €3.5m from Scottish Enterprise.
Strategically located in the heart of Scotland’s renowned whisky region, the Gartcosh facility is uniquely positioned to serve both major global brands and smaller producers. With over 100 distilleries already being supplied from this site, Guala Closures is now even more integrated into one of the UK’s most iconic and economically important industries – an industry which generated nearly €7.9bn in total value in 2024, including €6.2bn in exports.
The new facility spans approximately 20,000 square meters and will employ over 300 skilled professionals, reinforcing the company’s industrial presence in the UK, while contributing positively to the local economy.
Guala Closures has opened its new £52m production facility in Gartcosh, Scotland / Picture: Guala Closures / Tim Edgeler
Sustainability has been a core focus of the project from the outset. The plant features 2.4 MW of solar panels installed on its rooftop, along with advanced insulation and airtightness to optimise energy performance. The site also features a symphonic drainage system with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and attenuation tanks beneath the car park, ensuring responsible water management. Internally, the plant layout has been designed to minimise material movement and forklift traffic, while all lighting – both indoor and outdoor – is energy-efficient LED, with motion sensors and timers in low-traffic areas.
The new facility incorporates cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, including electromagnetic forming (EMF), robotic systems and flexible automation. These solutions enable the creation of unique and distinctive details, including tamper-evident seals, offering customers strong brand differentiation, enhanced product safety, and improved bottling efficiency.
Strategically located in the heart of Scotland’s renowned whisky region, over 100 distilleries are already being supplied from the site / Picture: Guala Closures / Tim Edgeler
Andrea Lodetti, CEO of Guala Closures, said: “The opening of our Gartcosh facility is more than just an inauguration – it’s a bold statement of our vision for the future. With this investment, we are strengthening our roots in a region that is globally iconic, reinforcing our commitment to the Scotch whisky industry, and setting a new benchmark in sustainable, high-performance packaging. The facility is designed for maximum efficiency and scalability, allowing us to optimise operations and create tangible value, both for our customers and for our business.”
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Guala’s unique closure solutions offer customers enhanced product safety and improved bottling efficiency / Picture: Guala Closures / Tim Edgeler
In addition to manufacturing, the Gartcosh site hosts a specialised R&D hub focused on high-end closures. The UK team brings deep expertise in recycled and specialty polymers and works closely with premium spirits brands on bespoke product development. This local innovation capability plays a crucial role in helping clients remain competitive in a market increasingly driven by quality, design, and sustainability.
With 37 production sites and 7 R&D centres worldwide, the Gartcosh facility further strengthens Guala Closures’ global industrial footprint, reinforcing its mission to transform market needs into innovative, high-performing, sustainable, and design-driven solutions.
