Initial site preparations started in the spring, but the manufacturer has now been given full planning to start the major upgrade works to its utility plant on the 11-acre site.

This involves investment in a replacement building that will house a new packing system, including the firm’s first robotic packer. Russell Roof Tiles is also carrying out a full electrical upgrade and introducing mechanical improvements across key machinery. The benefit this will bring is to increase the capacity of this production line to allow RRT to meet the growing demands for its roofing products, and also help secure the efficiency of this line for future years.

Andrew Hayward, managing director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: “Due to Covid-19 our planning application was delayed but we have pushed ahead with all of the early works to the site we could to prepare.  It’s an exciting time for the team, now that the major construction and investment can start which will help us to both increase manufacturing efficiencies in Lochmaben.”

The new production line will be fully operational early in 2022 to allow the company to increase efficiencies and is part of Russell Roof Tiles’ long term capital improvement plan to further enhance quality across the business, by utilising the latest innovations in manufacturing.