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Sales of building materials at Forterra for the first quarter of 2025 were 22% ahead of last year at £124.1m, according to a trading update issued by the building materials giant.
On the back of the demand increase, the company is preparing to increase production of bricks at its state-of-the-art Desford factory by bringing both kilns online for the first time, probably from the fourth quarter of this year. The Wilnecote brick factory, which has seen investment of £30m, is expected to be restarted shortly.
The group said it has also taken steps to boost production of its concrete floor beams.
The a statement, the company said: “With demand recovering and inventories reducing we are actively managing production capacity to ensure we continue to address customer demand. We expect to begin regaining our position in the attractive commercial and specification market as the year progresses.
“Similarly, the commissioning of our innovative brick slip production facility at our Accrington factory continues to progress in line with our expectations as we develop the product range ahead of a market launch later this year.”
