Arrival of 170 tonne machine signals fresh investment in Derbyshire | Garner Aluminium Extrusions

A state-of-the-art aluminium extrusion press ordered by Garner Aluminium Extrusions, trading as Garnalex, has been making its way down the M1 motorway this morning with a police escort.

The route for the specialised heavy haulage took the machinery via Ripley to its new temporary home at The Firs Works in Heage, travelling past the historic Heage Windmill. The photograph shows the striking contrast of old and new technology side by side, in an area already rich with innovation in manufacturing.

The total investment in Garnalex is £9m to date, including the delivery of the aluminium press, and is planned to increase further over the summer. The main body of the machine itself has a weight of 170 tons, and the machine is so large it has to be assembled on site by technicians from the manufacturer’s facility in Germany. Trading at Garnalex is due to commence when the equipment is commissioned during August.

Garnalex has been formed by Roger Hartshorn, who is well known in the industry, having been involved with HL Plastics for over 42 years. He was one of the founders of Eurocell PLC, more recently going on to develop the successful Liniar window system and associated product ranges with his team.

Mr Hartshorn retains excellent links with both companies and intends to further develop this relationship by supplying aluminium extrusions to them, amongst others. Remarkably, the companies he has started now employ over 2,000 people in Amber Valley area.

The new business, Garnalex, already employs 5 full time directors, all of whom are experienced within the industry, to lay the foundations and controls for this exciting new business venture. There is planned further recruitment over the summer as the equipment approaches completion, with employees expected to reach 35 by the end of the year.

Mr Hartshorn says, “Garnalex is a really exciting new business and this initial investment is just the start of the journey. The aluminium extrusion service will initially supply local companies and then eventually branch out into our own range of products. In 2018 the UK consumed 190,000 tons of aluminium extrusions, but only 110,000 tons of this was produced in the UK. The huge benefit we will have is speed of response to supply customers from a UK source from the highest quality with latest technology SMS low energy plant, into an industry and a customer base that we have supplied for over 30 years.

“In line with my continued philosophy, we have exciting plans for further investment in premises, equipment and plant to further develop the new business.

“I’m excited with the prospects of Garnalex. The Amber Valley region in particular is already a successful location for innovation and development in manufacturing and we’ve been lucky enough to attract some of the best people in the area to join the team.”

Garner Holdings has successfully developed the majority of the Denby Hall Business Park over the last 12 years, building 10 industrial premises totalling 56,000m² and employing 700 people.

There remains less than 1ha of land within the estate but there is still a huge demand from local companies who wish to expand within the site. Garner Holdings is in the process of applying to the local authority to develop a second phase of the estate in order to supply that need with an additional 19ha of purpose-built industrial units. The application proposes to build new bespoke facilities for HL Plastics, Manthorpe Engineering, Garnalex and LB Plastics.

Planning permission was recently granted to develop the Firs Works industrial land for 175 residential units. This brownfield site will become available once a new employment site has been sought for the business to relocate to, preferably at the Denby Hall Business Park.