Global sustainable building group to develop new NW production site
Up to 100 jobs will be created by the development of a production plant in Preston by international sustainable building specialist, Kerakoll Group.
It has acquired 40,000 sq m of land for a new facility, its second in the UK, which will complement its existing site in Leyland, Lancashire.
Kerakoll says the new development will ramp up its growth plans in the UK and Northern Europe.
Around 60 jobs will be created initially, with approximately a further 40 on completion of the project.
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.
Construction is set to begin in late 2024 and completion is expected by spring 2026.
The Preston site 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. Other sites include Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, India, France, the USA, Dubai and Brazil.
The investment in Preston will lead to a 30% expansion of the group’s workforce in the UK as well as a 100% increase in production capacity in the country by 2028.
In 2023, Kerakoll Group achieved a turnover of £40m in the UK, supported by a team of more than 130 staff.
Carl Gardner
Carl Gardner has been appointed as General Manager UK and Director UK, Nordics, and the Netherlands.
He will lead the expansion of Kerakoll Group in the UK, with the group in the process of integrating the brands Kerakoll and Tilemaster Adhesives, a company specialising in ceramic and flooring installation systems it acquired in 2017.
His appointment is a step toward the implementation of the new International Business Unit of the group, which sees Filippo Iacconi, hitherto UK General Manager, assume the role of International Marketing Manager.
Carl brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles in renowned companies, including Saint-Gobain Artex, Travel Perkins and Jeld-Wen.
Marco Zini, Kerakoll Group, CEO, said: “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.”
Carl Gardner said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Kerakoll Group at a time of such great transformation and drive for growth. Leading a talented team in developing key markets for the group, such as the UK and the Nordics, is an exciting challenge and one that I am thankful to have been entrusted with.”
