Breedon Group plc (Breedon) has reached a major milestone at its Kemnay Quarry in Aberdeenshire, with Fyfestone now having been manufactured at the site for 70 years.
First developed in the 1950s as an alternative to traditional granite, Fyfestone is designed to replicate the look and finish of natural stone, and has since been used on projects across the UK, including Balmoral Castle, Devonport Docks and Manchester's Malmaison Hotel.
The process involves mixing granite aggregates with cement to produce a concrete mix. The concrete is then placed into moulds before being compressed under around 400 tonnes of pressure, creating a dense and durable product designed to closely resemble natural stone.
Jeremy Edinborough, General Manager at Breedon, said: "Producing Fyfestone at Kemnay for 70 years is something we're incredibly proud of. The product has stood the test of time, and its longevity is testament to the quality of the material and the expertise of the people who have produced it over the years.
"While the fundamentals of Fyfestone have remained consistent, the way we manufacture it has continued to evolve. The introduction of automation, computerised systems, and robotics has helped us modernise production while retaining the characteristics that have made the product so enduring."
Few people have seen that transformation as closely as Operations Manager Andy Henderson, who joined Kemnay Quarry in 1986 and has now spent 40 years working at the site.
Henderson followed in the footsteps of his father, Joe, who was previously General Manager at Kemnay. His own connection to the quarry began much earlier, having grown up in a family home on site while his father worked there.
After joining the business as a general labourer, Henderson progressed through the ranks and is now responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations, managing staff, and meeting production targets.
Henderson said: "It's quite something when you think about it. We've been caretakers for two generations and I feel quite proud to be involved in something that's going to outlast me."
