With a strong order book for 2021, Russell Roof Tiles (RRT) has announced a capital investment programme for its Scottish plant.
Work is about to start on the 11-acre site, which employs 56 staff, and will be completed at Easter this year.
It will include a major upgrade to its utility plant. In addition, there will be investment in a replacement building that will house a new packing system, including the firm’s first robotic packer.
A full electrical upgrade is also being carried out, and mechanical improvements will be introduced across key machinery.
The capital works will increase the capacity of the production line to allow RRT to meet growing demand for its products, and also help secure the efficiency of this line for future years.
The investment follows on from new moulds purchased for the Lochmaben production line back in 2019 and 2020, as well as £70,000 investment in new staff welfare facilities, an upgrade and modernisation of its aluminium third round ridge manufacturing equipment.
Managing director Andrew Hayward explained that, due to RRT’s dynamic response to Covid-19, the company has started this year with a strong order book, allowing it to make this massive investment.
The firm was one of the first it its sector to resume manufacturing last year, enabling it to meet pend up demand.
Production was ceased when the first national lockdown was announced in March 2020, but restarted at all of its three sites in May.
Meanwhile, Russell Roof Tiles is continuing with a recruitment drive in Lochmaben and is currently looking for ten additional operatives.
