Planning permission has been granted for the development of a state-of-the-art, £36 million 'superfactory', to secure the Scottish future of Guala Closures.

The huge investment includes a £3.3million grant from Scottish Enterprise and will see Guala Closures Ltd continue their operations in Scotland after planning was approved for a new ultra-modern facility in Gartcosh, Lanarkshire.

The announcement safeguards the jobs of over 400 employees currently at the company's existing sites in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, and two sites at Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire, who will now be merged at the new centrally-located factory.

Guala Closures, headquarters in Italy, is the only manufacturer of closures to the whisky industry in Scotland and produces bottle pouring mechanisms for customers including Diageo, Chivas, Edrington and Wm Grants.

The company's General Manager for Scotland Ken Moran said: "This investment confirms the Guala Closures Group's commitment to developing one of its largest markets and underlines our determination to support customers, employees, suppliers and the Scottish economy.

"The new plant will benefit from investment in innovative technology, enhancing productivity, process capability, closure functionality, and importantly, to contribute to the delivery of the Group's sustainability strategy and core objectives."

The Guala Closures Group operates in five continents through 30 production plants generating a sales revenue of €600million.

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Scottish Enterprise has approved the sale of land at Gartcosh Business Interchange to Guala for the development. The 220,000 sq. ft factory will be built on a 15-acre site.

It will be one of the largest in the Guala Closures Group and will allow the company to increase capacity, boost productivity, provide room for future growth and investment and create their own research and development lab space.

Construction is due to start next month and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2023, with operations due to begin from January 2024.

Business Minister Ivan McKee said: "This long-term commitment to Scotland by a valued inward investor is excellent news. I had the opportunity to meet Guala in Italy in February 2019 when discussions on their future strategy for Scotland began.

"Guala are critical to the whisky industry here in Scotland, this investment in particular will safeguard 400 jobs in the industry as well as have a positive impact on the Scotch Whisky supply chain in Scotland.

"Latest exports of whisky, which now exceed pre-pandemic levels, underline the importance of the whisky sector's contribution to the economy, providing over £5.5 billion in gross value added to the economy and employing 11,000 people in Scotland."

Jane Martin, Managing Director of Innovation & Investment at Scottish Enterprise, said: "The whisky industry continues to be of real importance to Scotland's economy and worldwide heritage. Guala's confidence in investing here shows that it is a crucial sector and one that we in Scottish Enterprise are proud to continue to support.

"This inward investment has been possible as a result of the work and investment by Scottish Enterprise and partners to develop Gartcosh Interchange into an international class business and industry destination."

Councillor Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council said: "Despite the current financial climate and volatile market, inward investment has continued to strengthen in North Lanarkshire. This positive news following a meeting of the council's planning committee reinforces the demand for quality land with excellent transport connections that we can offer right here in Gartcosh.

"Guala Closures Group is a multi-million pound international business that understands the enormous benefits of relocating its Scottish arm to Gartcosh Business Interchange. The 220,000 sq ft manufacturing plant on the 14 acre site will be a huge boost to the area, bringing a skilled workforce and state-of-the-art technology and innovation that underlines its commitment to the industry and the region.

"This is a welcome addition to the area and cements North Lanarkshire as the place for business."