Burton on Trent manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles has finished replacing the diesel forklifts at its tile factory with electric trucks, after spending just under £300,000 on four new machines.

The delivery replaces the last four diesel forklifts at the company's Nicolson Way site. All forklifts at the Burton tile factory are now electric, the company said.

The trucks were supplied by Lansing Linde, which has worked with Russell Roof Tiles for more than 30 years. Two smaller Linde "E" range trucks will work inside the new factory, where the company makes its Bute3 tile. Two "X" range yard trucks will handle the extra work that followed what the company describes as a £20m+ investment in manufacturing at the site.

Part of a programme that began in 2023

Bruce Laidlaw, operations director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: "This latest investment demonstrates our continued dedication to utilising more sustainable technology. This builds on our electric forklift programme, which began in 2023 with almost £1 million invested in Linde 'X' range trucks across our two Burton and Lochmaben operations in Scotland."

One diesel machine is still in use at the Burton site. The company is working to replace it with an electric alternative. If it can secure suitable equipment, all mobile plant at the site could be fully electric by the end of 2026.

The new yard trucks carry Linde's BlueSpot pedestrian warning system, reversing alarms, extra lighting, panoramic mirrors, three CCTV cameras and speed limiters.

Chris Tonge of Linde said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Russell Roof Tiles to specify the four new trucks, and work alongside Bruce and the team on their journey of decarbonisation."

Net zero target

The move is part of the company's environmental improvement plan. That plan aims for net zero by 2040, ten years earlier than the government target. Russell Roof Tiles has signed up to the SME Climate Hub and makes concrete roof tiles and roofing products at three UK sites.

The release does not say when the four trucks were delivered or how much diesel or carbon the switch is expected to save.

Key facts

• Who: Russell Roof Tiles, concrete roof tile manufacturer
• Where: Nicolson Way, Burton on Trent (three UK sites in total)
• What: four Linde electric forklifts, completing an all-electric forklift fleet at the Burton tile factory
• How much: just under £300,000 (almost £1 million on the earlier phase from 2023)
• Next: the last diesel machine at the site to be replaced, subject to equipment, by the end of 2026

This story is based on a press release from Russell Roof Tiles, submitted to Free Press Releases on 19 October 2026. More at russellrooftiles.com. See also: Green Business and Openings & Expansion.