Tyrone Manufacturer Debuts Low Carbon Brick at 27 Patterns
AG, a Tyrone headquartered manufacturer of low carbon paving and building products, launched Heathfield, a new clay-like concrete brick range, on April 15, 2026, to challenge long-held assumptions about what brick should be. Developed in response to growing pressure on traditional clay supply, rising energy costs and increasing demand for consistent, reliable materials, the range delivers the authentic appearance of clay with the performance, availability and sustainability of precision-engineered concrete. The launch marks the latest step in AGโs continued investment in innovation that gives developers and specifiers greater confidence in an increasingly unpredictable market. Backed by a 60-year guarantee and produced locally in the United Kingdom with typical lead times of three to five working days, Heathfield aims to offer builders and specifiers confidence even as global supply chains remain under pressure.
Design Approach
Each Heathfield brick is moulded directly from clay samples, with varied embossing applied across each slice offering 27 unique patterns to replicate the natural, irregular surface of clay. This creates a non-repetitive, organic finish across elevations, delivering a timeless aesthetic while avoiding the common challenges of traditional clay. Produced in the third generation companyโs state-of-the-art facilities using Enduur 1 advanced concrete technology, Heathfield offers enhanced strength, durability, ultraviolet resistance, and hydrophobic performance. Two teardrop-shaped perforations enhance density and structural strength compared with traditional three-holed bricks. With water absorption around 6% much lower than clayโs 15 to 20%, and no soluble salts in the mix, Heathfield significantly reduces the risk of efflorescence on site.
Performance Detailing
Cured with renewable energy, the range is more consistent in size than traditional clay, creating uniform bedding joints, sharper finishes, and quicker, more reliable installation while avoiding the uneven joints caused by warped, energy-intensive kiln-fired bricks. Sustainably produced using aggregates from AGโs own quarry, including limestone to enrich colour, the range delivers consistent tones throughout each brick. Currently offered in six traditional colourways, with more planned, the collection provides architects and developers with flexible design options across housing, education and commercial projects. The concrete bricks are part of AGโs broader portfolio of building products, including paving and walling solutions, providing specifiers and developers with a complete, one-stop solution for external materials.
Market Positioning
Building on the success of AGโs Woodward bricks, named Responsible Product of the Year 2025 by Business in the Community, Heathfield delivers the same innovative, high-performance qualities as an alternative to traditional clay bricks. With energy prices and global supply chains under pressure, many construction materials face significant risk. AGโs low-energy, United Kingdom based manufacturing avoids that exposure, ensuring reliable supply, consistent quality, and a partner customers can trust for the long term. The company positions Heathfield as a confident alternative as the market continues to rethink material choices in light of cost, availability and sustainability pressures.
Leadership View
Commenting on the launch, Stephen Acheson, Chief Executive Officer, AG, said: โThe success of our Woodward range proved that concrete bricks can genuinely compete with, and in many cases outperform, traditional clay. Heathfield builds on that momentum and represents a further step forward in how the industry thinks about brick. We set out to create a product that delivers the character and warmth of clay while removing many of the challenges that developers, specifiers and bricklayers experience on site. Every detail has been carefully engineered, informed by close collaboration with the people who use our products day in, day out. As the market continues to rethink material choices in light of cost, availability and sustainability pressures, Heathfield offers a confident alternative. We believe products like this will play an increasingly important role in the future of construction, and we are proud to be leading that shift.โ
Image Courtesy: Irish Building
