About us

Our philosophy, our history, and our team.

Our Philosophy

At Garnalex we are striving to change the aluminium extrusion industry for trade and commercial customers. We’re doing this by running one of the most innovative, efficient, and sustainable facilities in the UK that allow us to offer agile service and deliver the reliable UK supply of extruded aluminium.

State-of-the-art Plant

Putting the right machinery and infrastructure in place is key to ensuring we deliver to the exacting ‘Garnalex Quality Standards’ that customers value. Letting us react to meet demand in an ever-changing landscape.

Fully integrated into every operation, our own GarnerSys software helps us optimise our incredibly efficient aluminium press – optimising our production flow and ensuring we can meet customer’s contract requirements.

History

Roger Hartshorn founded Garnalex, (Garner Aluminium Extrusions) in 2018. With a strong track record of business success and innovation in the fenestration industry (Having founded and sold Eurocell plc and Liniar), Roger was aware of the increasing demand for aluminium extrusion, and also of the generally poor service, long lead times and under-investment in the sector.

In the first year, Roger’s vision was transformed into a reality when an initial investment of over £9 million brought to life the purpose-built, modern extrusion site. This included the installation of an SMS HybrEx aluminium press, which is over 55% more efficient than conventional aluminium presses. Based in Derbyshire Garnalex is well positioned to service the whole of the UK.

Since 2018, the company has grown from a team of 34 to 157 today. Our commitment to investing in the best equipment and facilities has continued, with £15 million being invested to date. Most recently, we’ve enhanced our site with a £1.2 million modern in-house powder coating plant to reduce our carbon footprint and increase supply chain resilience.

The Team

We operate one of the most modern high-tech aluminium extrusion plants in the UK, and while we depend on advanced technology for our business, we also depend on a team of dedicated people behind the scenes who work hard to turn the Garnalex vision into a reality. Here are some key members of the team we’d like to introduce you to.

Roger Hartshorn

CEO

Roger Hartshorn - CEO

It was Roger who had the vision for Garnalex and has enabled the business to become what it is today. Having successfully developed and sold two leading PVC-U companies (Eurocell and Liniar), Roger knows what it takes to elevate a business to the next level. Through Garnalex, he is helping companies in multiple industries to realise the potential of aluminium - not just in terms of the design possibilities, but its recycling credentials.

Emma Arrell

Finance Director

Emma Arrell - Finance Director

Emma is well placed to oversee all the financial dealings of the company, having previously held the role of Finance Director for the HL Plastics Group (which includes Liniar). So far, £9 million has been invested into what is now the most modern aluminium plant in the UK, and with more investment on the way, directing and managing it efficiently is what makes the Garnalex promise possible.

Ross Hartshorn

Technical Production Director

Ross Hartshorn - Technical Production Director

Starting out as an apprentice in tooling design, manufacturing, and maintenance at HL Plastics, Ross knows what it takes to improve efficiency. Whether that’s cycle times, line speed, or productivity, he has implemented best practices that have achieved tangible results. He’s also worked to open the lines of communication between departments to ensure it really is a team effort at Garnalex.

Sanjay Bhatt

IT Director

Sanjay Bhatt - IT Director

Sanjay brings to Garnalex a wealth of multidisciplinary experience with a proven track record of delivering complex infrastructure and manufacturing system solutions. With over 20 years' experience in senior IT management roles across global manufacturing and logistics industries, he is well placed to ensure all current IT and systems are future-proofed and capable of supporting the company’s ambitious growth plans.