BMI UK & Ireland has completed a £6.3 million refurbishment of its Redland clay tile plant in Coventry, with production restarting after five months of planned maintenance. The investment modernised the site's Rosemary kiln and production processes, aimed at improving efficiency, product quality and long-term manufacturing resilience.

BMI UK & Ireland is part of BMI Group, Europe's largest manufacturer of flat and pitched roofing and waterproofing systems, operating more than 120 production facilities and employing over 9,600 people worldwide. BMI Group itself sits within Standard Industries, the New York-headquartered industrial conglomerate that also owns GAF in North America.

The refurbishment required more than 33,000 contact hours to complete and included improvements to the plant's automation and product handling capabilities, alongside upgraded gas and control equipment on the kiln.

The kiln entrance was also repainted and fitted with upgraded kit and hydraulics as part of the works, supporting reliable production and consistent supply of the Rosemary clay roof tile range.

The structural driver is sustained capital reinvestment in a single legacy manufacturing site, keeping Coventry-based Rosemary tile production running since 1989 rather than relocating or outsourcing UK clay tile output.

"Clay will always have a future in roofing. We're committed to UK manufacturing and our iconic Rosemary tile range, and this major investment allows us to strengthen our future manufacturing capabilities," said Damien Pooley, portfolio manager for pitched roofing at BMI UK & Ireland.

"With production now back underway, we're already seeing the benefits of the refurbishment. This was a genuine team effort, with colleagues across the plant collaborating to improve efficiency based on their day-to-day, intimate understanding of our kiln operations," Pooley added.

For the sector, the Coventry investment illustrates how established building materials manufacturers are extending the working life of legacy plants through targeted capital upgrades rather than new-build capacity.

Source: Construction Mag UK / BMI Group / Wikipedia