Welsh // Slate announce launch of new 8mm machine cut Penrhyn slate

Welsh // Slate has transformed the production of its world-renowned roofing slates through the introduction of a landmark new manufacturing process.

To satisfy a market where demand currently exceeds supply, the new £6 million purpose-built facility at the company's Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales will produce up to 300,000 roofing slates per week.

In an evolutionary development of the traditional hand split slate, the new process uses multiblade saws to produce sawn roofing slate, increasing yield and reducing wastage whilst adding to the performance characteristics and aesthetic qualities which have earned the product its unrivalled reputation.

Test marketing amongst distributors and contractors generated unanimous positive feedback with both groups recognising the advantages of a Welsh slate with even tighter dimensional tolerances than hand split slates. This, combined with the slate's sawn back, reduces the need for sorting and grading the slates, significantly decreasing fixing costs on site.

Reaction from the most prestigious and challenging end of the market further underlined the potential for the sawn slate with advisers to English Heritage and the European Union standards authority unreservedly confirming the acceptability of the product.