Simpsons Malt invests millions to increase output
After commissioning a new germination and kilning vessel, Simpsons Malt has increased its production capacity by up to 15,000 tonnes annually.
Towards the end of 2024, Simpsons Malt – the UK’s biggest malting site – commissioned a new germination and kilning vessel (GKV) at its Tweed Valley Maltings site in Northumberland, England.
The GKV is part of a £10 million (US$13.3m) investment, which started in May 2023.
Tim McCreath, managing director at Simpsons Malt, said: “Investing regularly in our infrastructure is a key strategic and operational priority of our fifth-generation, family business, helping us to drive the quality, consistency and sustainability of our products and processes.
“In recent months, it has been fantastic to welcome many distillers to our Tweed Valley Maltings, where they have been able to witness not only the investments that have been made with the new GKV, but other projects including our Energy Centre development and the construction of 10 new malt storage silos.”
The new GKV is able to produce 400 tonnes per batch. It also boasts a ‘significantly lower’ carbon footprint than the industry average, according to the company.
Developed in partnership with AMP Clean Energy, the Energy Centre – which consists of three 6MW biomass boilers and one 12MW electric boiler powered by curtailed wind energy – cuts carbon emissions from kilning by 90%.
This means a reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at the Tweed Valley Maltings site of up to 80%, resulting in a 55% company-wide reduction.
Furthermore, Simpsons Malt has made a multi-million-pound investment in a new peated malt production plant with storage facilities.
The £6m (US$7.9m) peated plant is able to generate 25,000 tonnes of peated malt per year. It includes air centrifuges, which reduce particulate emissions by up to 90%.
McCreath added: “We are delighted to have increased malting capacity at our Tweed Valley Maltings with the construction of a new GKV and peated malt production plant.”
In 2023, Simpsons Malt was granted planning permission in principle to build a ‘state-of-the-art’ maltings with storage facilities on the outskirts of Rothes, Scotland.
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