Composite door manufacturer and PVC-U window and door fabricator, Future Products, has installed more than one thousand panels on the roof of its Nottinghamshire-based operations, as part of efforts to improve operational efficiencies and support its long-term growth strategy.

The Liniar fabricator invested £500,000 into the installation of 1,200 solar panels on its 77,000ft2 Mansfield facility. The impressive array of panels is set to generate 100,000 kWh of renewable energy each month – enough to power 95% of Future Products’ operational energy requirements – and reduce the company’s energy costs by a whopping 85%.

With recent statistics from Make UK revealing that 90% of manufacturers have seen their energy bills increase since 2022, and over half citing energy costs as their biggest business challenge, becoming energy self-sufficient is a significant step for the fabricator in futureproofing its operations.

This investment forms part of Future Products’ ongoing programme of operational improvement, helping to increase efficiency, reduce overheads and ensure the business remains as competitive as possible in an evolving market.

Andrew Francis, finance director, Future Products, explains the reason behind the move:

“Energy prices have been high for some time, and with the landscape still volatile, being able to access all of our electricity requirements from our own solar generation is a key investment and one that underlines our commitment to the future of our business, and, in turn, supports our customers.

“The solar investment will help us to reduce our energy costs and reliance on external suppliers, and creates greater capacity to invest in our people, products and facilities. With Clean Power 2030 and Net Zero on the horizon, it is also a practical investment that supports our sustainability objectives as well as our ambitions for future growth.”