Latest news with #ceramics
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
How Staffordshire pottery sector reacted to industrial strategy
"Pathetic", "a missed opportunity", "a four out of 10 at best" – these were some of the phrases used by the pottery industry to describe the government's industrial 10-year plan announced on Monday confirmed 7,000 businesses would see electricity bills slashed by up to 25% from 2027, while 500 firms would get a 90% cut in network charges from 2026 under the British Industry Supercharger some in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire – the heart of the UK ceramics industry – cautiously welcomed it as a "start", many have been left Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the sector was "foundational" to the UK and would benefit from the measures. Three firms in Stoke-on-Trent have collapsed since the start of 2025 – Royal Stafford, Heraldic Pottery and Moorcroft, though the latter was recently bought by the founder's companies, workers and unions have been calling on the government to support the industry, which has become beset by rising energy prices and falling sales. After the spending review came and went, ministers including Ed Miliband said support would be revealed in the Industrial following its announcement, many questioned why ceramics was barely mentioned in the document and wondered where the actions were regarding the cost of gas – the dominant energy source in the association Ceramics UK accused the government of misleading and misunderstanding the UK chief executive Rob Flello said: "This represents a missed opportunity to back one of the UK's most enduring and strategically important manufacturing industries."Fifth-generation ceramicist Emily Johnson, owner of Barlaston-based 1882 Ltd, had previously described the industry as being "on its knees".On the industrial strategy, she said: "Pathetic, is a word. I think that we've been let down again."But you know what, Stoke is resilient and we are not going to get the support that we need from them so we're just going to have to do it ourselves." Beverley Berry was one of the 57 workers at Moorcroft who lost her job, and she has been campaigning for government help ever said she was left "disappointed" by the strategy and questioned whether it was all worth it."I feel quite pessimistic about it. When I first heard the news and thought it was imminent that we were going to help, I thought it wasn't all in vain," she Laver, CEO of Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, gave the strategy a "four out of 10 at best" and said businesses needed support "now"."Stoke-on-Trent is only mentioned once on page 41 – that's it," she said. "If we were the steel industry, I think we would have had much more support thrown at us and we don't want to see more businesses go to the wall." There were those who were cautiously optimistic, including Portmeirion boss Mike Raybould, who said the measures were "a start" but called for faster action."It's good that they're recognising and finally talking about the UK ceramics industry," he told BBC Radio Stoke."But we need to see the detail, we need to see faster action and I suspect we probably need to see more support as well."While the support with electricity bills was welcome, Mr Raybould said firms wanted to see support with gas prices too, describing it as the more "dominant" form of energy in the new owner Will Moorcroft, grandson of founder William Moorcroft, also said the measures were "a start" but were unlikely to make a huge difference."There's still a lot of work to be done and, without getting political, there could be quicker decisions that could be made to help business, whether it's national insurance or business rates," he said. 'Foundational sector' In his statement in the House of Commons, Reynolds said ceramics was "recognised as a foundational sector" in the strategy,"Its principal request is about energy prices. There are some ceramics businesses - I accept not that many - that get the supercharger [discount] and will get the more generous rate."He said, however, the costs of a lot of those businesses did not match the intensity test the supercharger discount was based on."That is exactly why the British industrial competitiveness scheme has been designed in such a way that they will benefit from it, and that will be a game-changer for them," he gas prices, he said they were projected to fall "from the very significant level that they have been at" in future financial years. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent
Pottery firms 'need faster action' from government The boss of a ceramics firm says the support announced by ministers does not go far enough.
The Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
ADN finishes ceramic glaze pilot trials
Andromeda Metals completes commercial scale pilot plant trials for Great White CRMTM Results have validated Great White CRMTM as a high-quality kaolin product for use in industrial glaze formulations Andromeda says new sales opportunities have now opened up, supporting future expansion Special Report: The completion of commercial-scale pilot trials has validated the use of Andromeda Metals' Great White CRMTM in ceramic glaze formulations, proving it to be a reliable, high-performance material for the ceramics industry. The trials were carried out at a respected ceramic frit and glaze manufacturer in Alcora, Spain, using a pilot plant that closely mirrors real-world tile production. They were carefully supervised by the Institute of Ceramic Technology with support from Galesk Consultancy, and they assessed the use of Great White CRMTM in two key glaze formulation segments: A standard glaze composition to manufacture single-fired wall tiles with a glossy white opaque finish, with kaolin content of 8.3% by weight; and A matt 'smaltobbio' glaze composition for the manufacture of porcelain tiles, with a kaolin content of 22%. Ceramic frits and glazes are the glass coating on ceramics, applied for protection and aesthetics. For each glaze formulation, the trials also compared the results to glazes using the industry benchmark kaolin used by most ceramic glaze companies in Southern Europe. Some of the stand-out results from the trial include: Improvement in key glaze properties, such as adhesion, cohesion, and whiteness; Enhanced properties of glazed tiles, notably the adhesion and cohesion of the glaze layer before firing, ensuring greater stability and reduced risk of defects; and Demonstrating Great White CRM can be used in industrial-scale ceramic glaze production. New sales opportunities The findings confirm Great White CRM as a high-quality kaolin product, enhancing Andromeda Metals' (ASX:ADN) position as a key supplier. ADN's kaolin products have previously been certified by ceramics industry experts and customers for use in high-end ceramics, tableware and countertops. The company believes the validation of Great White CRMTM for frits and glazes at industrial scale opens new potential sales opportunities for Andromeda's kaolin. ADN acting CEO Sarah Clarke said the positive results can now be used to market the high-quality products from the Great White project for use in ceramic glaze formulations, expanding the range of uses and potential customers for Great White CRMTM. 'These positive results open up additional sales opportunities and support future potential expansion while the Company progresses finalising the binding financing documentation for a debt facility with Merricks Capital,' she said. Watch: Sarah Clarke joins Stockhead TV A step closer to FID Merricks Capital recently confirmed credit approval for a $75m debt facility to support development of the Great White kaolin project in South Australia, after examining the technical, financial, legal, market, environment and social aspects. Securing the debt facility marks a major step forward, bringing the company closer to locking in full funding for a final investment decision on Stage 1A+ of the Great White project. The $75 million debt facility includes principal, capitalised interest and fees, cash reserving requirements and a cost overrun tranche. ADN will have 78 months to repay the debt, starting after a 12-month grace period that kicks in once the project development is finished. This article was developed in collaboration with Andromeda Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Robbie Williams art displayed at Stoke-on-Trent ceramics showcase
Ceramic artworks inspired by drawings from Robbie Williams have taken centre stage at a pottery exhibition in Burslem-born singer teamed up with ceramics firm 1882 Ltd to create technicolour pieces of Jesus and The Pope, which went on display at The Potteries Gallery and Art Gallery in Hanley on a recorded video message shared by 1882 Ltd, Williams said he "never imagined" they would one day be shown at the museum during the city's centenary year."I'm from the Potteries, Burslem born and bred. Clay built our city. We are of the earth - we are earthy people," he added. Emily Johnson, owner of Barlaston-based 1882 Ltd, said working with Williams was an "absolute joy" and said she had to "contain the 13-year-old girl" inside her when she spoke to him."He's amazing, he's fantastic. He is a prolific artist so it was really cool to be able to go through all his ideas," she told BBC Radio Stoke. The popstar was also one of 60 artists to have donated artworks that have been transformed into 61 plates by 1882 Ltd, all of which are also on display at the designers include Marcel Wanders, Maxim, Sandy Powell, Shona Heath, Barber Osgerby, Bruce McLean, Max Lamb, Zandra Rhodes and Faye 61 plates will be auctioned off and Ms Johnson said she was hoping to raise about £29,000 to set up a one-year apprenticeship in 1882 Ltd's factory in a bid to encourage younger people into the industry. "We don't get any government support and there aren't any workable apprenticeship schemes for our industry," she said."We have the best workforce in Stoke-on-Trent, but the average age in our factories is 55 and what will we do when these incredible skills retire?"The 100 Years, 60 Designers, One Future exhibition will be held at the museum until 7 December. The auction for the plates has begun online and will last until mid-September. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kmart sends shoppers running over new $5 must-have item: 'I'm dying over these'
Kmart has launched a charming $5 mug that's capturing hearts and turning heads in homeware aisles across Australia. The new ceramic strawberry mug, part of the retailer's growing line-up of whimsical kitchen pieces, features a soft pink glaze, rounded silhouette, and delicate 3D strawberry details. Each mug is uniquely finished, with subtle variations in texture and glaze, giving it the feel of a handcrafted boutique find, without the boutique price tag. As temperatures drop and shoppers seek comfort in their morning routines, this latest release has quickly become a winter favourite. The mug has already made waves on social media after being shared by content creator Rachel Ward for its nostalgic, almost cottagecore appeal, and is being styled alongside Kmart's popular pastel tableware and seasonal kitchen decor. With its playful design and under-$10 price point, the strawberry mug taps into Kmart's tried-and-true formula: accessible trend pieces that feel both affordable and elevated. It follows in the footsteps of other viral homewares from the retailer, like the now-sold-out mushroom lamp and the boucle vanity stool, which both became cult favourites almost overnight. An anonymous shopper told FEMAIL: 'I walked past it and literally gasped. It looks like something you'd buy from a cute ceramic store, not Kmart. I want two - one for me and one for my sister, who collects mugs. She's going to scream.' While the mug is yet to be formally included in Kmart's upcoming August Living range, its early arrival appears to be a soft launch of the new season's focus on charm, texture, and individuality in everyday items. The piece is already drawing comparisons to vintage European crockery and handmade pottery, with its soft pastel tone and curved handle designed to nestle perfectly in the hand. It's lightweight but sturdy - ideal for morning tea, cosy hot chocolates, or simply sitting pretty on a kitchen shelf. In a homewares landscape increasingly driven by minimalist neutrals or high-end statement pieces, Kmart's mug offers something different: warmth, playfulness, and a gentle nod to nostalgia. And while it may seem like a small thing - just a $5 mug - shoppers say these little touches make a big difference. Kmart has not confirmed how long the mug will remain in stores, but given the speed at which similar items have sold out in the past, fans are being encouraged to act quickly. The mug is already flying off the shelves. It's proof yet again that when it comes to trendy, affordable homeware, Kmart knows exactly what Australians want - and it delivers.
