Ibstock Brick has
invested £7.6 million at the home of its Stafford Slate Blue brick - a move
which will boost production by up to 8 million bricks a year.
Lodge Lane in
Cannock opened in 1991. The investment project, which included a new kiln,
started in January 2017 with the factory being fully commissioned by the end of
March this year.
The factory
manufactures four types of blue brick - with its most popular being the
Staffordshire Slate Blue Smooth - in 65mm, 73mm and solids.
The factory also has
a specials department which makes a variety of different shaped bricks
including sills, plinths, bullnose, and chamfered.
Whilst blue bricks
will be the main manufacturing focus, Lodge Lane also has the capability to
manufacture red bricks
Factory Manager
Richard Hall says the investment at the Cannock site is a real commitment to
the future of blue brick manufacturing. He commented: “The new kiln gives us
increased capacity and the ability to produce up to 28 million bricks every
year.
"It is the
boost that the site needed and gives us a really good foundation to build on
for the future.
"There is a lot
of tradition in blue brick manufacturing and we are carrying this on and since
we have increased production we have seen growing demand for these products.”
Ibstock
Brick, part of Ibstock plc, is the biggest manufacturer of clay bricks sold in
the UK.
With 20
manufacturing plants producing more than 850,000 new bricks per annum, it
offers an unrivalled choice of more than 450 different bricks, which includes
prefabricated brickwork components, rainscreens and a diverse selection of
special shaped bricks and pavers.
