Quarry and minerals processor Kilwaughter Minerals seen it sales increase by 3.9% to £49.8 million in the year to April 30 (up from £47.9m previously).
The Larne-based company primarily operates in the construction and agriculture industries, developing and manufacturing products including through-colour renders, external wall insulation systems, soil health conditioning minerals and livestock bedding lime solutions.
Its accounts show that profits before tax were £8.8m, compared to £9.6m in the previous 12 months.
The company, which employs around 200 people, said it invested £2.4m into the business during the year to improve efficiency and increase capacity.
Kilwaughter Minerals’ chief executive Gary Wilmot said: “Despite the challenging trading environment, caused by supply chain and inflationary pressures, the performance for the period was strong.
“We continued to invest in research and development, and through extensive collaboration with our customers and stakeholders brought several new product innovations to market with more in the pipeline.
“R&D has enabled us to maintain our position as a leading supplier to the UK and Ireland building and agriculture sectors and positions us strongly for further growth.”
Kilwaughter group’s brands include Kilwaughter Lime, K Systems and K Rend. K Rend is the UK and Ireland’s largest independent silicone render manufacturer.
In September Kilwaughter confirmed it would spend £4.7m over the next two years in a major capital investment programme.
The investment will fund a range of projects with a focus on improving capacity and efficiency, reducing the company’s carbon footprint, and enhancing its market-leading position in the construction and agriculture sectors.
It also includes the construction of additional warehousing, updated plant and machinery, and a new blending plant that was completed earlier this year.
The company also plans to further improve its office facilities at its Kilwaughter headquarters as well as its distribution and office facility in Cork, which is ideally placed to serve its growing customer base in the Republic.
This year the company was named Supplier of the Year at the renowned UK Builders’ Merchants Awards.
Kilwaughter Minerals has donated £170,000 to community, educational and charitable projects in the last financial year.
