A key supplier to the world’s ceramic and clay brick industries has secured its biggest ever order for an environmentally-friendly specialist insulation material it produces.
Mantec Technnical Ceramics, based in Stoke-on-Trent, has landed a £250,000 deal from one of Europe’s leading kiln construction companies for Ultralite.
Developed and manufactured in the city, Ultralite is a microporous product that provides lightweight, super-insulative mass in tunnel kilns.
The contract, which was won through highly competitive international tender, comprises a total volume of 520m3 .This amount would effectively insulate around 100 kiln cars.
Full production is now underway and delivery of the Ultralite order to the client is expected to be completed next month.
The customer cannot be named for commercially sensitive reasons, but has pledged to return early next year with another substantial order for Ultralite, pictured above.
Sales Director Mark Berrisford said: “This is business that was hard fought for and it’s a prestigious contract. Ultralite is an internationally certified carbon neutral material; we believe the first such product manufactured in the UK to achieve this status.
“The contract was won through international tender. Many of our direct competitors were at the table but Ultralite won the day, as it’s the most thermally efficient product in the marketplace. It’s also energy saving, easy to install, non-carcinogenic and at end of life (circa 10 to 15 years in most cases) disposal is through a domestic waste route as its inert.”
Earlier this year, Daily Focus reported that Mantec, which employs around 40 people at its site on Normacot Road, Longton, was investing £500,000 into a new extension and equipment after enjoying a record year. It is also pushing to achieve Net Zero at a pace.
“Our work towards net zero never stops,” added Mark. “We have switched to 100 per cent renewable energy throughout the factory in Stoke-on-Trent where Ultralite is manufactured, and by 2025 all our packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
“Customers across the ceramics industry are embracing similar objectives, and they can see the important contribution that Mantec is making. I’m confident that further orders such as this one will be the result.”
