PLASTICS giant Brett Martin has been given the go-ahead for a £5.8 million expansion of its headquarters operation in Mallusk.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has approved plans for the company to extend its existing facility to provide additional storage and distribution warehousing.
It has linked up with landowner Ballinamallard Developments Ltd for the project next to its existing base on Roughfort Road.
It comes as Brett Martin - which employs close to 1,000 people and has sales of around £200 million - is enjoying a period of rapid growth.
Already one of Europe’s largest plastic sheet producers for the construction industry, it has launched a new plastic roofing product made from bio-circular materials recovered from the food industry.
Called Marlon BioPlus, the new sheet offers a major carbon footprint reduction by cutting the use of fossil-based material by 70 per cent. The raw material in the sheet is also produced with renewable energy, leading to an overall 84 per cent decrease in carbon emissions.
Already exporting to more than 70 countries, the family-owned firm needs to expand to keep up with global demand for its products.
Managing director Laurence Martin said: “Our business has been continually expanding at our Mallusk site and this type of investment is made with a medium to long term view.
“While the economy and construction market are expected to face challenges in the coming months across our key markets, we are confident that these investments will facilitate our continued growth in coming years.”
Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Stephen Ross said: “As a long-standing local company, it is great to see Brett Martin commit to further investment in the Borough.”
