Guala Closures to open £36m ‘superfactory’

Italy-based Guala Closures is planning to build a ‘state-of-the-art’ £36 million (US$40.6m) factory in Scotland, which will benefit the Scotch whisky supply chain.

The new ‘superfactory’ in Garcosh, Lanarkshire, has received planning approval, as well as a £3.3m (US$3.7m) grant from the government’s Scottish Enterprise.

Guala Closures is said to be the only closures manufacturer to the whisky industry in Scotland. The company produces closures for Scotch whisky distillers including Diageo, Chivas Brothers, Edrington and William Grant & Sons.

The new project will also protect the jobs of more than 400 employees at three other Scotland-based Guala Closures locations, who will join the Lanarkshire factory following a merger of the sites.

The company operates a facility in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, and two sites in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire.

‘Critical’ to Scotch sector

Scotland’s minister for business, trade, tourism and enterprise, Ivan McKee, said: “I had the opportunity to meet Guala in Italy in February 2019 when discussions on their future strategy for Scotland began.

“Guala are critical to the whisky industry here in Scotland, this investment in particular will safeguard 400 jobs in the industry as well as have a positive impact on the Scotch whisky supply chain in Scotland.

“Latest exports of whisky, which now exceed pre-pandemic levels, underline the importance of the whisky sector’s contribution to the economy, providing over £5.5 billion [US$6.2bn] in gross value added to the economy and employing 11,000 people in Scotland.”

As one of the largest sites in the Guala Closures Group, the new plant will allow the company to increase capacity and productivity, provide room for future growth and investment, and create a research and development lab space.

The company’s general manager for Scotland, Ken Moran, said: “This investment confirms the Guala Closures Group’s commitment to developing one of its largest markets and underlines our determination to support customers, employees, suppliers and the Scottish economy.

“The new plant will benefit from investment in innovative technology, enhancing productivity, process capability, closure functionality, and importantly, to contribute to the delivery of the group’s sustainability strategy and core objectives.”

Construction will start in November 2022 and is estimated to be completed by the end of next year, with operations due to begin from January 2024.

Guala Closures has 30 production plants across the world, which generate sales of €600m (US$585m), the firm said.

In August, the company revealed plans to build a new plant and research and development centre in China.

It came a month after Guala Closures agreed to acquire stoppers producer Labrenta to strengthen its position in the luxury segment.