Italy’s Guala Closures Group has been given planning approval to build a new 20,500m2 plant in Gartcosh, Scotland. The facility, set to debut operations from January 2024, will exclusively serve the whisky closures market.
Italian closures specialist Guala Closures Group has confirmed its plans to invest €41m in a new manufacturing plant in Gartcosh, Scotland, for its affiliate Guala Closures UK (GCUK). The project is a key component of the supplier’s strategy to strengthen its luxury closures business and follows the acquisition of Italian competitor Labrenta last July.
The plant will be dedicated solely to the production of closures for the Scottish whisky sector, thus allowing for increased capacity and productivity.
Guala Closures Group has also announced plans to develop a new plant in Chengdu, China, with a focus on closures for the premium and luxury market segments.
The supplier purchased 14 acres of land for the new Scottish facility that will replace its existing sites in the UK. Some 400 employees employed across the company’s three factories – in Kirkintilloch and Bridge of Allan - will join the new plant.
Once completed, the facility will be one of Guala Closures Group’s largest among its 33 existing production sites on five continents. “The new plant will benefit from investment in innovative technology, enhancing productivity, process capability, closure functionality, and importantly, contribute to the delivery of the Group’s sustainability strategy and core objectives,” explained Ken Moran, GCUK’s General Manager in a statement.
Construction of the Gartcosh site is set to commence in November this year, while the expected start of operations is scheduled for January 2024.
