140 job factory proposal in North Wales submitted to planners
It plans to take in 120,000 tonnes of raw materials per year – basalt, slag and recycled rock wool insulation and, using an electric melting furnace, turn that into 100,000 tonnes of rock mineral wool (RMW) insulation.
This will then be used in housing and industrial insulation.
Knauf has submitted a scoping opinion request to Flintshire council ahead of an Environmental Impact Assessment. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The report said: 'The raw materials and recycled materials will be delivered to the site via heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and stored in designated areas before being milled and reduced in size and combined in specific proportions within the batch plant before being processed and melted. An electric melting furnace will be used to melt the batch and produce molten rock minerals known as 'melt'. The melt is then spun into fibres which are then formed, cured and cooled to produce various RMW insulation forms.
'The RMW is then cut and packaged to meet customer and product requirements.'
The new site would include two 70 metre chimney stacks and a third smaller emergency stack.
As well as direct jobs on site Knauf has estimated the site will generate around 400 jobs in the wider UK supply chain and generate hundreds of jobs during the construction phase. The company said it will work proactively to provide local employment opportunities and to enable access to training where possible.
Neil Hargreaves, managing director of Knauf Insulation Northern Europe, said: 'Knauf Group has a proud history of manufacturing in Wales and this project aligns with the Welsh and UK Government's commitment to sustainability and the industrial vision for North Wales and Deeside. Using UK-first SAF technology, the new factory will produce non-combustible, low embodied carbon, recyclable rock mineral wool insulation to support the need for safer, more energy efficient and sustainable buildings.'
Knauf Insulation is the UK's largest insulation manufacturer. Founded in 1979 as a US subsidiary of German building materials giant Knauf Group, the firm employs more than 6,000 people worldwide, including 600 at its three UK manufacturing plants in Cwmbran, St Helens and Queensferry.
Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales, said: 'The plans will be a major investment in the area and are a testament to the skills and facilities we have here.'
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