Dorset-based Albion Stone has opened a new state-of-the-art production facility to launch its innovative natural brick range – Heritage Portland. The mining and manufacturing business – which has supplied stone to prestigious buildings including Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral – will use surplus Portland stone to produce naturally sourced bricks as a low-carbon solution for construction. The process involves cutting blocks of stone into slabs and then into bricks and produces 75% less embodied carbon than manufacturing traditional clay fire bricks. One million bricks per year will be made thanks to the new production line.
The company was supported by a £450,000 asset finance package from Lloyds Bank and, as a result of the new facility, the business has employed an extra five team members and is on track to grow turnover by 20% to £10m in 2025.
Albion Stone’s new facility and Heritage Brick range will mean it can process an additional 8,800 tonnes of Portland stone, which is the equivalent weight of 20 747 jumbo jets. The business also has plans in place to open a second Heritage brick range manufacturing plant to increase production capacity.
Founded in 1952, the fourth-generation family-owned business also lead the sector’s switch from quarrying to mining Portland stone.
Michael Poultney, managing director of Albion Stone, said: “We’ve been extracting and producing Portland stone for just gone 40 years. Twenty years ago, we switched from quarrying to much more environmentally sensitive mining of Portland stone, but in just 12 months we’ve made some of the biggest and most innovative progress the natural stone market has seen for some time.
“Our surplus blocks of Portland stone have always been an issue - these stones have a range of geological features that are deemed too variable for most traditional architects. We’re really excited to be able to take advantage of this stone in a fresh and innovative way, and create a whole new product that will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of some of the world's biggest and most historic projects.
“The support provided by Lloyds Bank has allowed us to lay down foundations that will fuel the business’ growth for the next five to ten years. It will inject a new lease of life into our manufacturing process through state-of-the-art technology that will also help us provide a quality low-carbon product to a new set of customers.”
Daren Rose, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, commented: “It’s so encouraging to see a business like Albion Stone making moves to enhance its growth trajectory by investing in both product and manufacturing. The business has taken creative steps to challenge an issue that’s persisted for years with the results being a huge disruption to the natural stone sector and a problem solver for the built environment.
“We’re proud to support a local business that continues to showcase the gold standard within their trade, and we look forward to seeing them embrace new growth opportunities for years to come.”