en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK building materials group Breedon has completed a £1 million upgrade of its mineral processing plant at the Welsh Slate operation in North Wales, aimed at enhancing capacity, operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

The upgrade took place at Breedon's Ffestiniog site in Gwynedd, which primarily produces slate granules and powders used in roofing materials, construction products, and industrial applications. Breedon stated that the introduction of new processing equipment and system upgrades is expected to improve material recovery rates, reduce waste generated during production, and enhance employee health and safety through more modern plant systems.

Breedon said the upgrade will enable the plant to increase output while improving product consistency and safety through enhanced monitoring and control, as well as boosting raw material efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring a high-quality, reliable supply for customers.

Specific elements of the project include the installation of new control systems, burners, mixers, and liquid metering systems to process quarried slate into graded granules and fine powders of various specifications. The upgraded equipment is expected to increase the proportion of usable material recovered from slate resources, support more efficient use of raw materials, and reduce waste during processing.

Breedon noted that this project is part of a broader investment plan focused on facility modernisation, productivity improvement, and achieving sustainability goals. The Ffestiniog site is part of Breedon's Welsh Slate business, which operates several historic slate quarries and processing facilities in North Wales.

Barry O'Connor, Managing Director of Breedon's Welsh Slate, Specialist Aggregates, and Circular Economy division, said the upgrade will help the company meet growing customer demand and achieve operational improvements through efficiency gains. He stated that the investment strengthens the company's ability to supply slate granules and powders to specialist markets that rely on consistent, high-quality materials. As the UK's only manufacturer of slate granules for roofing felt, the company continues to invest in its operations to meet demand and provide customers with a reliable, UK-produced supply.