UK's Tioxide Restarts 150,000 t/y TiO₂ Plant at Greatham

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Tioxide Materials has announced that its titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment production facility at Greatham, Hartlepool, UK, has successfully resumed operations. The restart follows the acquisition of the site and associated TiO₂ pigment assets by LB Group earlier in 2026. Single-line production is now underway, with pigment products under both the "Tioxide" and "Deltio" brands returning to the market.

Prior to the restart, Tioxide's engineering, operations, and technical teams carried out four months of commissioning, testing, and maintenance work. Output is currently being ramped up in phases as planned, with a roadmap in place targeting full capacity by early 2027. The Greatham plant has a nameplate TiO₂ pigment capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year. Following its shutdown in Q4 2025, this recommissioning marks the site's formal return to production status.

Karen Askwith, Managing Director of Tioxide, described the restart as a significant milestone. She stated that this is a landmark moment for the company and a source of pride for all those involved in bringing the Greatham plant back into operation after its shutdown. She also noted the importance of the restart for the new business, the local Teesside economy, the UK chemical industry, and the broader TiO₂ sector. She commended employees for their work in safely commissioning the site and expressed gratitude to suppliers and customers for their support throughout the process.

Production at Greatham is supported by a team of scientists from Tioxide's newly established Wynyard R&D centre, as well as commercial and business support teams based at the company's headquarters in Stockton-on-Tees. With production now resumed, the company's immediate focus is on advancing its ramp-up plan to ensure customers have a reliable, sustainable source of TiO₂ pigment. According to Askwith, the goal is to bring the site "safely and successfully" to full production operations, securing long-term supply for customers worldwide.