Conservatory Outlet Group plans to establish its first in-house aluminium fabrication operation by converting a 15,000 sq ft building in Doncaster. The proposed facility would bring a new manufacturing capability to the group, which comprises CO Manufacturing and CO Home Improvements, and is expected to create 20 jobs. Building refurbishment and machinery installation are planned; production has not begun.
The investment includes dedicated CNC machines, cutting centres and crimpers for aluminium window and door products. In a typical fabrication sequence, cutting equipment prepares aluminium profiles to length, CNC machines produce the openings and machined features needed by the frame design, and crimpers form specified corner joints. Conservatory Outlet has identified those equipment categories but has not named machine suppliers or published a production capacity.
Chief executive Greg Kane announced the proposal at the group’s annual retailer gala in Málaga, presenting aluminium as an addition to its existing home improvement range. The business intends to supply new products through its network of 30 retailers across England, Wales and Scotland. Kane associated the decision with demand for durable aluminium products with slender frame profiles and with an ambition to improve customer lead times; those benefits remain the group’s objectives for the new operation.
The expansion sits alongside planned launches of the Extreme window range and Flush Sash suite. Conservatory Outlet reported that sales across its 30-strong retail network had risen by 12%, giving the investment a commercial backdrop without establishing how much of that demand will transfer to aluminium products. The latest announcement does not establish an opening date, the number of fabrication lines or the plant’s expected output.
The proposed Doncaster operation would extend CO Manufacturing’s existing production activities into aluminium fabrication. Its building conversion, new machinery and anticipated recruitment have been announced as plans, with their effect on the group’s supply arrangements dependent on the plant entering service.
