Glass firm gets clear boost to its production
NORTH East manufacturer Clayton Glass has acquired factories in Scotland and England from French construction materials giant Saint-Gobain in a move it says will ramp up the company’s production capacity.
The undisclosed deal sees Stanleybased Clayton, which employs about 450 people making glass units for the residential market in the UK, take over Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland facilities in Motherwell and Canterbury. It means the firm will now be able to produce more than 65,000 units a week, including a mix of standard insulated glass units and specialist roof and door products.
A statement from Clayton Glass read: “With this latest investment, Clayton Glass consolidates its position as a unique, owner-managed six-site operation; the largest of its kind in the UK, and widely recognised for its innovative approach to all aspects of insulated glass unit supply.”
The firm, which also runs a North Shields site, said the move would improve its ability to deliver to the whole of the UK, from the south coast to the North of England.
Clayton was established in 1956 and has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent glass producers, processing 25,000 tonnes of glass each year. Latest accounts for the business show operating profit increased from £18,979 to £1.7m in the year to December 31, 2021, on increased turnover of £43.9m. Writing in the accounts filed at Companies House, managing director Ryan Green said Clayton expects to see 38% growth in 2022, both organically and via acquisition. He said the firm’s partnership with Northern Express Glass Ltd continued to bring benefits.
In 2020 Clayton secured a £2m funding package to fuel growth, after its acquisition of Global Glass.