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Manufacturing Expansion | Strabane, Northern Ireland
KES GROUP
THE INITIAL SIGNAL
Our monitoring identified that KES Group was recruiting 50 new employees, a strong indication of growth, but with limited information about what was driving it.
WHAT WE UNCOVERED
We contacted KES Group directly to understand what was happening behind the recruitment.
Through that engagement, we learned that the business was planning four new facilities as part of its continued growth, significantly more activity than the original signal suggested.
We established that two facilities were expected by the end of 2027, with a further two planned by the end of 2029, giving our members visibility of a longer-term programme of expansion.
DIRECT PROJECT INTELLIGENCE
We also engaged directly with the key person overseeing the wider programme, allowing us to establish further project detail, expected timelines and a clearer understanding of how the expansion was developing. Importantly, building a relationship for future conversations.
WHY IT MATTERS TO SUPPLIERS
What started as a recruitment story became visibility of a multi-year, four-facility expansion programme.
For relevant suppliers, this creates the opportunity to engage well ahead of future requirements, build relationships early and remain informed as individual facilities and requirements progress.
INITIAL SIGNAL: 50 new employees
MFG UNCOVERED: 4 new facilities
TIMELINE: 2 by end of 2027 | 2 by end of 2029
VERIFICATION: Direct engagement with project lead
Manufacturing Investment | UK
FORTERRA
THE INITIAL SIGNAL
We identified investment activity contained within Forterra's corporate reporting, information that could easily be missed through conventional project or news monitoring alone.
WHAT WE UNCOVERED
Our research revealed a wider programme of investment in brick-slip manufacturing capability across Accrington and Measham.
Forterra had already invested £12 million in an automated production facility at Accrington, which had entered production but remained in commissioning.
More importantly for emerging supplier opportunity, we identified a further c.£2 million investment in a dedicated brick-slip cutting facility at Measham, expected to become operational in early 2027.
DIRECT PROJECT INTELLIGENCE
The Measham investment created the clearest near-term opportunity, with a defined investment, location and operational target giving relevant suppliers a window to investigate potential requirements during 2026. The existing Accrington facility will be monitored by us as commissioning continues.
WHY IT MATTERS TO SUPPLIERS
Knowing the location, investment value, purpose and expected timeline allows suppliers to approach with context rather than prospect speculatively. It also gives suppliers visibility of what could come next, with Accrington still in commissioning and further capex being considered elsewhere in the business.
INITIAL SIGNAL: Corporate reporting
MFG UNCOVERED: Multiple manufacturing investments
TIMELINE: Measham operational target – early 2027
ONGOING: Further potential investment being monitored
MFG Insight Group
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