South Derry precast concrete firm FP McCann is investing £90 million to drive forward its manufacturing capabilities with several factory extensions and the introduction of several new product lines.
And the move - which has been prompted by positive 2024 half-year sales to date - will create around 100 jobs and will allow the company to maintain and grow its range of high-quality sustainable products.
Recent investments by the Knockloughrim firm have introduced world-leading quality assessment processes at a number of its 12 UK manufacturing facilities.
FP McCann - which in 2023 posted a pre-tax profit of more than £40m on sales of £416m - continues to lead the way in its drive to be carbon neutral by introducing AI quality-checking technology and full product traceability across the product range.
The introduction of the Future Homes Standard in 2025, which sets a pathway for building the next generation of energy-efficient and climate-resilient homes, has seen the company investing in a new factory to produce Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks and Panels (AAC), an alternative to traditional dense and medium-dense blocks.
An additional bagging line will be operational later this year to bolster the company’s growth in bagged products, incorporating its specialist mortars and grouts.
A natural decorative paving range will also be introduced in September to complement FP McCann’s portfolio of precast concrete building products.
In addition to FP McCann’s below-ground precast concrete solutions for drainage, water management, and utility infrastructure, a new factory is also planned to manufacture HDPE twin wall and PVC-u storm and foul sewer drainage pipes and utility ducting.
A spokesman for the company said: “We constantly take on board customer feedback, and the investment in these new products and services is driven by their needs.
“FP McCann’s unique multi-product load offering has been a fantastic success. Builders’ merchants no longer have to coordinate multiple deliveries of single product loads, each often carrying a part-load surcharge.
“With the introduction of our new decorative paving range, we can now offer up to eight different products on a single load, and as more products come online, we will expand this service further.”
