Senior leaders from Crown Roof Tiles Group have visited Russell Roof Tiles’ newly completed £20m+ manufacturing facility in Burton on Trent, which features advanced technology to produce its innovative Bute3 triple roof tile at scale.
The company has transformed its operations, combining pioneering manufacturing technology with the development of an innovative roof tile solution.
The international Board from Crown (Russell Roof Tiles’ parent company) visited the Nicolson Way site to review the landmark investment and see the advanced production line created to manufacture its award-winning Bute3, Russell Roof Tiles’ innovative triple tile, as well as other products.
The company dedicated five years to research and product development before launching Bute3, the first concrete roof tile of its kind to be manufactured at scale in the UK. The purpose-built factory represents one of the most significant investments in the company’s history and strengthens its long-term manufacturing capabilities.
The firm employs around 160 staff at three sites in Burton on Trent and Lochmaben. During the visit, Board members toured the completed Staffordshire facility, met employees involved in the project and saw how the new production technology will support the manufacture of Bute3 at scale.
The completion of the new line and factory is the result of several years of planning, product development and hard work across the business. It demonstrates the confidence our international Board has in Russell Roof Tiles, our people and the long-term potential of UK manufacturing.
Andrew Hayward, Managing Director, Russell Roof Tiles
Bute3 combines the traditional appearance of a plain tile roof with the speed and technical benefits of a modern interlocking tile system. Its triple-tile format allows roofing contractors to cover a greater area with each tile, helping to reduce installation times by up to 33%.
The new facility incorporates the latest advanced manufacturing and curing technology to improve product quality, consistency, strength and production efficiency. It will also provide Russell Roof Tiles with additional capacity as demand for the new roofing system grows.
The firm recently celebrated the sales of its one millionth Bute3® tile, which has rapidly become the company’s fastest-growing tile since launch. It is already used or specified on 80+ developments across the UK and has successfully moved from trial projects to becoming a standard specification on several major developments for leading housebuilders.
Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: “Welcoming the Board (and shareholders) from Crown in the USA and Mexico was an important moment for everyone involved in this project.
“The completion of the new line and factory is the result of several years of planning, product development and hard work across the business. It demonstrates the confidence our international Board has in Russell Roof Tiles, our people and the long-term potential of UK manufacturing.
“This investment gives us the capability to manufacture Bute3 at scale and provide housebuilders, roofing contractors and developers with a product that can deliver genuine improvements in installation speed and efficiency.”
Juan Prestamo, CEO of Russell Roof Tiles and shareholder of Crown Roof Tiles Group, said: “It was fantastic to visit Burton on Trent and see the completed factory and production line firsthand.
“The new facility is an impressive investment in manufacturing technology, product innovation and the future of Russell Roof Tiles. Bute3 has been developed in response to clear challenges within the roofing and housebuilding sectors, and this factory provides a strong platform for its future growth. We are extremely proud of what the team in Burton has achieved.”
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