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Tioxide restarts titanium dioxide production at Greatham site in the UK
Following LB Group’s acquisition of the Greatham facility, Tioxide has successfully recommissioned its titanium dioxide pigment plant. With a nameplate capacity of 150,000 tonnes per annum, the site is now in phased ramp-up towards full operational capacity by early 2027.
Tioxide Materials has announced the successful recommissioning of its titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment production facility at Greatham in Hartlepool, UK. The restart follows LB Group’s acquisition of the site and its associated TiO₂ pigment assets earlier in 2026. Single-stream operation is now underway, with “Tioxide” and “Deltio” branded products beginning to return to the market.
The recommissioning follows four months of commissioning, testing, and maintenance work carried out by Tioxide’s engineering, operations, and technical teams. A phased ramp-up is now in progress, with a roadmap in place to achieve full operational capacity by early 2027. The Greatham facility has a total nameplate capacity of 150,000 tonnes of TiO₂ pigment per annum.
From idle to operational: the road back to production
Karen Askwith, Managing Director at Tioxide, described the restart as a landmark moment: “Today is a landmark moment for Tioxide and a proud achievement for everyone involved in bringing the Greatham facility back into operation after it was idled in Q4 2025.”
Askwith also highlighted the broader significance of the restart: “This is an important step forward for our new business – but also for the local economy on Teesside, for the UK chemical sector and the wider TiO₂ industry.” She credited the company’s employees for their role in safely commissioning the site and acknowledged suppliers and customers for their support throughout the process.
Capacity, research, and long-term supply security
Production at Greatham is supported by a team of scientists at Tioxide’s new research and development centre in Wynyard, alongside commercial and business support teams based at the company’s headquarters in Stockton-on-Tees.
With production now underway, the company states its focus is on delivering the ramp-up programme and ensuring customers have access to a reliable and sustainable source of TiO₂ pigments. According to Askwith, the goal is to step the site up to full manufacturing operations “safely and successfully” and to secure long-term supply for customers worldwide.
