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Wienerberger UK & Ireland has started production of concrete tiles at its Smeed Dean brick works site in Sittingbourne, Kent.

The 7,800 sqm production facility is Wienerberger’s first concrete tile factory in the south of England and has the capacity to produce 94 million roof tiles a year.

Manufacturing both Danum TLE large format concrete tiles and plain concrete tiles on two production lines, the factory will complement existing tile factories in Yorkshire.

The Smeed Dean works in Sittingbourne has been in operation since the 1840s making traditional London Stock bricks. It was acquired by Wienerberger in 1994.

Chief operating officer Keith Barker said: “Launching Smeed Dean [tile factory] is about more than expanding our national manufacturing footprint – it’s about building for what’s next. Increasing our production capacity in the south and investing in decarbonised operations have been key priorities for us, so it is extremely rewarding to see these cutting-edge production lines up and running to deliver products that will support the UK’s evolving housing needs.”

The site is Wienerberger’s first fully electrified concrete tile facility, harnessing renewable energy with smart lighting, heat recovery systems for energy efficiency and a 10,000-litre rainwater harvesting system. It is also participating in The Pallet Loop scheme that promotes the reuse of pallets.

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