Refurbishment has been delayed, due to a global shortage of semi-conductors and chips, to a Staffordshire brick works.
Forterra building materials producer had planned to shut down its Wilnecote brick factory temporarily at the end of June to enable refurbishment work to be carried out. It is now however, delaying the shut down with plans to now start the project at the end of September.
Due to global supply chain issues which limit availability of semi-conductors and chips which are used in the factory’s robotic equipment the company feel that to delay the start of the project by three months will make the refurbishment project less of a risk.
Plans for the project will remain the same with the factory remaining closed for 12 months. The construction of Forterra’s new £95m brick factory in Desford, near Leicester remains on track for the end of the year.
Strong trading over the last 4 months is reported for Forterra with group revenue 20% ahead of 2021 and 18% ahead of 2019. Brick volumes are also reported to be 6% ahead of last year and 2019.