GUALA Closures has officially opened its new production facility in Gartcosh in an investment it said exceeds €60 million (£52 million).
The Italian-headquartered specialist in premium and innovative closure solutions already supplies over 100 distilleries, with the new Gartcosh facility spanning 20,000 sqm and expected to employ over 300 skilled professionals.
The new facility incorporates cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, including Electro Magnetic Forming (EMF) – an innovative process whose application was entirely developed and patented by Guala Closures – along with robotic systems and flexible automation. These solutions enable the creation of unique and distinctive details, including tamper-evident seals, offering customers strong brand differentiation, enhanced product safety, and improved bottling efficiency.
Sustainability has been a core focus of the project from the outset. The plant features 2.4 MW of solar panels installed on its rooftop and advanced insulation and airtightness to optimise energy performance. The site also includes a symphonic drainage system with sustainable urban drainage (SUDS) and attenuation tanks beneath the car park, ensuring responsible water management. Internally, the plant layout has been designed to minimise material movement and forklift traffic, while all lighting – both indoor and outdoor – is energy-efficient LED, with motion sensors and timers in low-traffic areas.
In addition to manufacturing, the Gartcosh site hosts a specialised R&D hub focused on high-end closures. The UK team brings deep expertise in recycled and specialty polymers and works closely with premium spirits brands on bespoke product development. This local innovation capability plays a crucial role in helping clients remain competitive in a market increasingly driven by quality, design, and sustainability.
Guala Closures was acquired in 2021 by an independently managed investment subsidiary of Investindustrial VII L.P., a leading independent European investment and advisory group. Current and past investments by Investindustrial in the United Kingdom include Morgan Motor Company, Oka, Avincis, and Mountain Warehouse. Outside of the UK, other notable current and historic investments include Ducati, PortAventura, and Zegna.
The opening of the Gartcosh facility represents one of the largest investments made by an Italian business in the UK, with it supported by a grant of over €3.5 million from Scottish Enterprise.
An opening ceremony, held yesterday, brought together an esteemed group of attendees including Ivan McKee, Scottish minister for public finance; Veronica Ferrucci, consul general of Italy in Edinburgh; Umberto Bernardo, head of the economic office of the Embassy of Italy to the UK; and Adrian Gillespie, chief executive officer of Scottish Enterprise, as well as customers and representatives from local institutions, hosted by Gabriele Del Torchio and Andrea Lodetti, Chairman and CEO of Guala Closures respectively.
Andrea Lodetti, CEO of Guala Closures, commented, “The opening of our Gartcosh facility is more than just an inauguration – it’s a bold statement of our vision for the future.
“With this investment, we are strengthening our roots in a region that is globally iconic, reinforcing our commitment to the Scotch whisky industry, and setting a new benchmark in sustainable, high-performance packaging. The facility is designed for maximum efficiency and scalability, allowing us to optimise operations and create tangible value, both for our customers and for our business.”
Ivan McKee, Scottish minister for public finance, added, “Guala Closures’ new €60 million plus investment shows real confidence in Scotland as a place for business and innovation, further highlighting Scotland’s position as a key inward investment destination among global investors.
“The company is critical to the whisky industry here in Scotland. This site alone supports more than 300 high quality jobs and is at the centre of the wider regeneration of the Gartcosh area.”
Adrian Gillespie, chief executive officer of Scottish Enterprise, said, “The investment is one of the largest made by an Italian business in the UK. It includes over €3.5 million grant from Scottish Enterprise, which approved the sale of land at Gartcosh Business Interchange to Guala for the development, underlining the significance of the project at both a national and international level.”
With 37 production sites and 7 R&D centres worldwide, Guala Closures said that the Gartcosh facility further strengthens its global industrial footprint, reinforcing its mission to transform market needs into innovative, high-performing, sustainable, and design-driven solutions.
