A New Era in Ceramic Façade Manufacturing Begins at Ibstock

Ibstock has reached a major milestone in the redevelopment of its Nostell site in West Yorkshire. Now moving into the second phase of the factory project, its new £50m Horizon Ceramic Façade Manufacturing Facility has progressed from a construction site into formal commissioning.

This marks the beginning of operations at the UK’s most advanced ceramic façade manufacturing facility, with Ibstock aiming to deliver the next generation of sustainable building solutions. The commissioning process will continue to ramp up over the coming months, with full product launch plans underway.

Joe Hudson, CEO 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 new facility complements Ibstock’s existing product range and network of factories by expanding its reach into emerging markets and enabling Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). It also strengthens UK-based manufacturing capacity at a time when resilience and circularity in construction are more important than ever.

Image Caption: Close-up of machinery within the Nostell Horizon Facility, designed to produce a new range of Ibricks.

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.

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.

“The name Horizon was chosen by colleagues across the business, reflecting the pride and creativity of Ibstock’s people,” said Hudson. “It symbolises a new horizon in product and design possibilities for architects and developers across the UK.”

Andrew Shepherd, Ibstock Futures Managing Director, 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.”

This article was featured in the Spring '26 edition of BIMCRUNCH. Find the full magazine here. To learn more about Ibstock or download their BIM objects, join Bimstore for free. For additional information, visit the Ibstock manufacturer profile or their company website and social media pages.