Northern Ireland-based concrete products manufacturer AG has boosted its production line to handle the increasing demand for facing brick.

The company has hired more staff at two of its factories in Northern Ireland to increase production in order to combat the demand caused by the nationwide housing boom.

AG has also invested over £50,000 and turned on a second curing chamber for the first time in a decade to capitalise on the renewed demand for facing bricks and address the shortfall of products currently being experienced across the UK and Ireland.

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The investment comes after the company celebrated its most successful year for facing brick sales since the recession.

While levels of facing brick production have not reached pre-crash heights just yet within the business, AG has reported its volumes have doubled year-on-year, signalling a positive trajectory.

Rodney Davidson, Head of Specifications at AG, said: "We're seeing a huge resurgence of orders from developers – especially for First-Time-Buyer and Social Housing projects. There has been a scarcity of facing bricks in the last decade as manufacturers wound down production lines. We're lucky to be in the position we are – dialling up our brick-making facilities to capitalise on the demand for it. Our brick orders can be turned around in two-three weeks, which creates standout for us among competitors.

"We're encouraged by the speed at which housing projects are popping up, mirrored by the rising order volumes year-on-year."

(CM/MH)