From Heritage to Horizon
A new era in ceramic façade manufacturing begins at Ibstock’s redeveloped Nostell site
IBSTOCK have reached a major milestone in the redevelopment of their Nostell site in West Yorkshire. Now moving into the second phase of the factory project – the company’s new Horizon ceramic façade manufacturing facility has progressed from a construction site to formal commissioning.
This marks the beginning of operations at the UK’s most advanced ceramic façade manufacturing facility, and a significant step forward in delivering the next generation of sustainable building solutions.
Combining deep industry expertise with a forward-looking commitment to innovation and sustainability, this important moment not only marks the commissioning of Ibstock’s new, modern facility, but also quietly honours a meaningful milestone at their head office location in Ibstock, Leicestershire, where, in late 2025, the company enter 200 years of history.
Reinforcing Ibstock’s role as a trusted partner in shaping the future of the built environment, the commissioning of the new Nostell Horizon facility complements the company’s existing product range and network of factories – expanding its reach into emerging markets and enabling Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). It will also strengthen UK-based manufacturing capacity at a time when resilience and circularity in construction are more important than ever.
At the heart of Nostell Horizon is a step-change in building product technology and design. The factory will produce a new range of IBricks in depths ranging from 10mm to 30mm, offering architects unprecedented design freedom through digitally enabled decoration processes – capabilities not previously available in the UK at this scale. Ibstock say these innovations deliver both aesthetic flexibility and the performance required to meet today’s construction challenges.
All products will undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet the demands of the UK’s changing climate and construction standards – assessments for durability, resilience, and long-term performance – providing customers with confidence in the quality and reliability of every product.
Joe Hudson, chief executive officer of Ibstock plc, commented: ‘’Reaching the commissioning stage at Nostell Horizon is a proud moment for our business. It demonstrates our commitment to investing in UK manufacturing and our focus on delivering the products and innovations our customers and communities need.
‘The Nostell facility is a powerful expression of Ibstock’s heritage, expertise, and future-facing approach to construction. And in the same period that we enter 200 years at our historic Leicester site, it is fitting that we not only look back at what we have achieved but also look forward – from Heritage to Horizon.’
The commissioning process will continue to ramp up over the coming months, with full product launch plans under way. The new range will showcase Ibstock’s bold vision for sustainable, modern construction.
Andrew Shepherd, managing director of Ibstock Futures, said: ‘Completion of the construction phase at Nostell Horizon by the Ibstock team, on time and on budget, is a huge achievement. We now move on to the critical next phase of final testing and proving of our capabilities. The initial engagement with customers has been hugely positive and we look forward to further showcasing our capabilities over the coming months.’
