Imerys in the UK
Imerys in the UK employs around 1,000 people at 30 operations, including at five world-class open-pit mine sites, located in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Essex.
Our UK operations produce kaolin, ball clay, calcium carbonate and calcium aluminates for a broad spectrum of industries ranging from ceramics to paints to refractories and hydraulic binders. We also have a state-of-the-art Technology Center at Par Moor, Cornwall for both quality control and research and development.
Mining in Cornwall
Our Cornish kaolin business has a long history in the UK. Kaolinite or ‘China clay’ was first discovered at Tregonning Hill as early as the mid 18th century and by the early 20th century, Cornish kaolin was dominating world porcelain production. Today, Imerys continues to be a mainstay of the Cornish economy, employing around 900 people working at over 20 mining and processing facilities across the Duchy.
Our Cornish sites produce around half a million tonnes of kaolin each year, transformed into sophisticated engineered minerals which are prized not just for high-end ceramics, but for a wide variety of end applications including, paints, adhesives, plastics, rubber, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, paper and cardboard.
The origins of our ball clay operations can be traced back to the late 1700s at our Devon (Newton Abbot) and Dorset (Wareham) operations. Today, the two sites focus on the production of rare ball clays valued for their plasticity as a base material in the manufacture of sophisticated sanitaryware and white ceramic tableware. Our Devon and Dorset ball clay facilities employ around 50 people at eight extraction sites and two processing plants.
In addition to kaolin production, Imerys also operates two world class industrial sites in the UK producing ground and precipitated calcium carbonates, located in Staffordshire (Stoke on Trent) and Yorkshire (Beverley). Our chalk quarry and processing site at Beverley started life back in the 1800s producing 'whiting', a white chalk used in metal polish, putty, whitewash and paint. Our Stoke-on-Trent site has been producing ground calcium carbonates for decades. Today, our premium calcium carbonate grades find uses in a broad array of industries including construction, paper, paint, plastics, rubber, adhesives, food and pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
