A group of professionals from across Northern Ireland recently attended a site visit at Northstone Materials' Toomebridge (Co. Antrim) facility for a plant tour that offered a unique insight into sustainable innovation in the construction materials sector.

The event was organised in collaboration with Armin Jamali, a KTP Associate currently working at Northstone as a Low Carbon Precast Concrete Product Developer in collaboration with academic partners from Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Natural and Built Environment.

Armin, a concrete specialist with a PhD in Civil Engineering, is developing innovative lightweight roof tiles that offer improved performance, enhanced material efficiency, and significantly reduced environmental impact. By experimenting with new formulations, optimising designs, and using advanced materials, the partnership is helping Northstone reduce the carbon footprint of its precast concrete products in line with its broader sustainability and commercial goals.

KTP Associates were given a warm welcome and company overview from the Plant Manager, followed by an introduction to the concrete roof tile fabrication process. Associates were then taken on a guided plant walkthrough and process demonstration, led by the Quarry Manager and Armin, which offered the chance to see live production operations and technical processes up close.

After a short break, the agenda continued with a detailed overview of Armin’s KTP project, followed by a presentation on Northstone’s current and future market contributions from the Sales Manager, a Q&A session, and refreshments.

Reflecting on his KTP experience, Armin shared:

“The KTP is providing an opportunity to improve my skills in project management, management, and leadership, alongside the technical challenges in concrete materials.”

Experiences like this are a key part of the KTP Associate journey, offering a valuable opportunity to step outside their own projects, explore how other KTP partnerships operate in practice, gain insight into industry challenges beyond their own focus, and reflect on how different approaches to problem-solving might inform their own work.

Thank you to Armin and the Northstone Materials team for such an insightful and engaging visit.