Ceramics manufacturer acquires sustainable HQ in Newmarket

The business has grown significantly in the last 20 years under the leadership of Alan’s son Michael and now supplies 500 different ceramic products such as crucibles, fasteners and fibre blankets.

These ceramic products can withstand much higher temperatures and are more resistant to abrasion than most metals. This makes them ideal for equipment within a variety of research environments, from battery development and renewable energy research to the development of biomedical materials used for dental implants and joint replacements.

They are used by leading research institutions including the University of Cambridge, CERN and MIT, with the business also supplying custom-made ceramics to support the building of specialist research equipment. Its groundbreaking work in this area of materials science was recognised last year, when the business became one of only 59 in the UK to be awarded the King’s Award for Innovation.

Almath Crucibles has now used a £787,500 finance package from Lloyds to purchase a site in Newmarket which it was previously renting. This includes the 10,000 sq ft unit where the business’ 15-strong team of engineers and scientists is headquartered, giving it constant access to the site and allowing greater control over its operations.

It also includes an additional 10,000 sq ft unit, which Almath Crucible currently leases out, providing an additional revenue stream for the business. Following this acquisition, the business is looking to double its annual turnover of £2.5m within the next four years.

The funding from Lloyds was provided by a Buildings Transition Loan, which offers discounted lending to firms investing in more energy efficient buildings. The site is supporting the business’ sustainability ambitions with 60KW of solar panels along the roof, which provides 20 per cent of Almath Crucible’s energy usage. It’s now looking at further investment into solar, wind and battery storage energy solutions as it aims to run completely on renewable energy by 2028.

Michael Misson, director at Almath Crucibles, said: “This business has been a part of my family for a long time now and it’s exciting to take this next step on our journey. When our previous landlord decided to sell the site, it was crucial we were able to acquire it to protect our operations and the jobs of our staff and I’m grateful for the support from Simon and the team at Lloyds in helping us with this.

“Owning our own home now gives us a strong platform to continue to innovate and build on the great progress we’ve made in recent years. We’ve got exciting plans for the future to further the growth of the business and ensure we continue to deliver a quality service to our customers.”

Simon Minister, relationship manager at Lloyds, said: “As businesses across the UK work towards Net Zero, it’s increasingly important for them to consider how they can make their operations more sustainable. Almath Crucibles is a great example of a company taking proactive steps in this area.

“Its headquarters already uses green energy, and it’s encouraging to see the team pushing further, exploring additional renewable energy solutions to reduce their environmental impact. Combined with their ambitious growth plans, this marks an exciting chapter for the business.”