International building supplies firm to open new plant in Preston

Kerakoll Group has acquired 40,000 sq m of land in Preston on which it will construct a new production facility.

The company is a B Corp supplier of green building materials and the new site will complement its existing facility in Leyland.

Carl Gardner has been appointed as general manager UK and director UK, Nordics and the Netherlands, to oversee the company's strategic focus on international expansion.

He brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles in renowned companies, including Saint-Gobain Artex, Travel Perkins and Jeld-Wen.

The new home will sit within APTUS, an employment scheme delivered by a joint venture between developers Barnfield and HBD (part of Henry Boot) which was granted planning approval in December. It follows the pair's £30m sale of Preston East.

With construction set to commence by late 2024 and completion expected by spring 2026, the facility in Preston will serve as a hub for manufacturing and distributing the group’s products across the UK and Northern Europe.

It will be Kerakoll Group’s 20th production site globally. The investment will lead to an expansion by 30 per cent of the group's workforce in the UK as well as doubling production capacity in the country by 2028.

In 2023, Kerakoll Group achieved a turnover of £40m in the UK and employed a team of more than 130.

The new plant will leverage green technologies and sustainable practices, such as photovoltaic panels, which are expected to produce 245 kWh per day, and advanced rainwater recycling systems. In line with its B Corp status, Kerakoll Group is committed to achieving Very Good, or above, in the BREEAM rating, an internationally recognised assessment of environmental performance.

The group is also in the process of integrating the brands Kerakoll and Tilemaster Adhesives, a company specialising in ceramic and flooring installation systems it acquired in 2017. 

Additionally, Carl's appointment is a step toward the implementation of the new International Business Unit of the group, which also sees Filippo Iacconi, previously the UK general manager, assume the role of international marketing manager. 

Marco Zini, CEO of Kerakoll Group, commented: “I couldn’t be prouder of Kerakoll Group’s latest accomplishments. Both the launch of our second production site project in Lancashire and the appointment of a seasoned professional like Carl Gardner reflect Kerakoll Group's unwavering dedication to accelerating expansion in strategically vital regions. 

"I’m sure Carl will make a big impact in his new role, helping us sustain the momentum in our trajectory of international growth."

Vivienne Clements, executive director for industrial and logistics at HBD, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to provide a solution for Kerakoll as it looks to expand its UK and northern European network. The deal will act as a catalyst for the delivery of the scheme and demonstrates the continued demand in the market for high-quality, sustainable industrial and logistics space in key strategic locations.

“We look forward to seeing the first unit take shape this year, as infrastructure works start in spring followed by construction in summer.”