en.Wedoany.com Reported - Wienerberger UK & Ireland has commenced construction of the world's first all-electric tunnel kiln at its Broomfleet roof tile production site in East Yorkshire. The kiln will be used to manufacture clay roof tiles.
According to the company, the electric kiln built under the "Factory e" project will be entirely powered by electricity and utilise a renewable energy system, replacing the traditional natural gas firing process. Once operational, the new kiln is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4,700 tonnes annually.
The project represents a total investment of £37 million, including £4.3 million from the UK Government's Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF). The factory will replace a decommissioned production line at Broomfleet, with all old manufacturing equipment being replaced, enabling the transition to electric firing without disrupting existing product supply. On-site construction has already begun; the old factory buildings have been cleared, extensive civil engineering works are underway, and key equipment has been arriving on site for installation.
Keith Barker, Chief Operating Officer of Wienerberger UK & Ireland, stated that the commencement of the Broomfleet project marks a crucial step in the company's decarbonisation journey within the heavy clay manufacturing sector. "Factory e" demonstrates the capability of electrification to significantly reduce carbon emissions while maintaining product quality, operational resilience, and long-term competitiveness. Together with the company's hydrogen brick kiln project in Denton, it exemplifies the multi-technology pathway to achieving net-zero emissions and the commitment to being "built for the future."
Mark Brook, Operations Director at the company, added that "Factory e" will fundamentally change the way roof tiles are produced at Broomfleet, installing the first electric kiln for clay roof tiles and equipping it with modern automation and control technologies to enhance safety, efficiency, and consistency. The new kiln uses the same raw materials, and extensive trials and testing have given the company confidence that product quality will remain unchanged. Significant investment is also being made in the on-site workforce, creating development opportunities as teams are upskilled in the latest technologies.
The "Factory e" project is scheduled for completion in 2027. As part of the transformation, production and engineering teams are undergoing training and upskilling to adapt to the operation and maintenance of more automated equipment.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
