With its acquisition of Colinwell Masonry Products, RTU launches a new era in construction
From its humble beginnings as a small company established on the home farm in 1990, producing ready-mix concrete, RTU has evolved into a highly successful enterprise working from a purpose-built manufacturing plant in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. As an innovator, the company introduced several groundbreaking products: factory produced mortar in 1992, Ultraflo® hemihydrate floor screed in 2008, Exposa® decorative concrete in 2013, Ultracem cement liquid screed along with Zircon, a decorative concrete for polished floors, in 2020 and Ultrabead liquid bead insulating screed in 2020. RTU is also passionate about the environment and actively reduces, recycles and reuses materials at its recycling plant whenever possible. Alan Sproule, Managing Director, reflects on the company’s history.
“Established 35 years ago on a rural family farm outside Belfast, Northern Ireland, RTU began as a small supplier of ready-mix concrete. Over the years, the business steadily expanded and relocated its manufacturing facility to a larger site on the outskirts of Belfast. In 2008, siblings Daniel, David and Louisa purchased the company from their father. In the following years, RTU survived the recession of the late 2000s by investing in innovative products and maintaining high-quality service. In 2023, a new board structure was formed, with me, an external non-family member, appointed as Managing Director. Alongside this, a four-year strategic plan was launched, which focused on three core pillars of growth. By 2024, this strategy culminated in RTU’s first acquisition, Colinwell Masonry Products (Colinwell), a company that supplies block and retaining wall systems across the UK and Ireland,” he opens.
Extensive product portfolio
Alan goes on to highlight the core services currently provided by RTU. “We specialise in the manufacture and supply of high-quality, ready-mixed building materials for the construction and self-build sectors in Northern Ireland. Some of our core products include ready-mix concrete, which is professionally batched and quality controlled for reliable, consistent performance. Additionally, we offer a variety of traditional and high-performance floor screeds available in different strengths and formats. Our pre-mixed, factory produced mortar and plaster are designed for bricklaying and internal/external finishes. Among our signature solutions are Ultrabead, a specially engineered thermal lightweight screed; Ultracem, a Portland cement-based, pump-applied liquid floor screed with integrated IntegraCure that eliminates the need for a sprayed curing agent; and Ultraflo®, a hemihydrate liquid floor screed ideal for use with underfloor heating systems. Moreover, we offer Zircon, a stylish, seamless concrete floor solution that delivers a low-maintenance, hardwearing finish as a durable alternative to natural stone, and Exposa®, an award-winning range of decorative concrete perfect for patios, pathways, driveways, steps, promenades, and pedestrian zones, serving as a modern alternative to traditional paving, asphalt, tarmac, or gravel.”
The acquisition of Colinwell has empowered RTU to further enhance its product portfolio. “Colinwell offers three core products. Its Allan Block dry-build retaining wall systems are BBA-certified and manufactured under licence from the global leader in segmental retaining wall technology. Engineered for strength, speed and sustainability, these systems are suitable for a wide range of applications, from garden walls to critical infrastructure. In addition, Colinwell’s architectural masonry comes in split, smooth, and shot-blasted finishes, with 16 colour options and a paint-grade block, providing both design flexibility and lasting performance. Meanwhile, the Acousta Tex Acoustic block is expertly crafted using selected sound-porous aggregates combined with a specially developed sound-absorbing texture. These features give the blocks exceptional sound control qualities, making them ideal for environments where noise reduction is essential,” Alan adds.
Sustainability strategy
On that note, Alan moves on to discuss the strategy behind the ongoing integration of Colinwell into RTU. “At present, we are just over a year into the integration process. From the outset, we agreed and adopted a clear strategy prior to the acquisition. This focuses on allowing Colinwell to operate as a standalone entity, making minimal changes to existing structures until we fully understand its operations. Throughout this process, we have maintained open and consistent communication with the existing Colinwell team. Alongside this, we set out an ambitious growth plan.
Alan elaborates on RTU’s growth plan, a four-year strategy for expansion, and how the acquisition fits into this vision. “As part of our strategic plan, we identified three pillars of growth to drive business expansion across the UK and Ireland. The first pillar focuses on increasing market share within RTU while building the internal infrastructure necessary to support the projected growth. Central to this effort is the development and strengthening of our management team to ensure long-term operational effectiveness throughout the transition period. Pillar number two centres on replicating our success with existing RTU core products, which would ultimately be achieved through acquisition. RTU is actively looking for acquisition opportunities within this market across the UK and Ireland. The final pillar is dedicated to identifying adjacent businesses where we can leverage our existing skill sets to explore opportunities beyond ready-mix concrete. This pillar directly supported our acquisition strategy to purchase Colinwell in March 2024,” he says.
A key aspect where both RTU and Colinwell align is their shared deep commitment to sustainability. “It is embedded in both our DNAs,” Alan states. “We have long embraced environmentally responsible practices, such as recycling water and waste materials and installing solar panels across several of our buildings. Earlier this year, we reinforced that commitment with a one-of-a-kind £500,000 investment in a state-of-the-art waste recycler, further reducing our environmental footprint. While these efforts have formed part of our operations for years, we are now adopting a more structured approach. Recently, we established an internal ESG team tasked with developing a comprehensive group-wide ESG strategy. Set to launch by the end of 2025, this strategy will outline ambitious targets and showcase our ESG achievements for 2024.”
Prioritising people
Moving on to company culture, Alan shares insights into RTU’s approach to maintaining a happy and motivated team, along with its training and recruitment strategy. “As Managing Director, I outlined three key responsibilities when launching our four-year strategic plan: the numbers, the people, and the culture. Building a high-performing culture grounded in our core values of quality, passion, and innovation is essential for achieving our objectives. To foster this culture, we emphasise transparency and communication by sharing our main objectives with the entire workforce. This initiative began with the launch of our initial strategic plan and continues through our annual strategy day, where all employees receive updates on progress and future plans. Additionally, we hold a quarterly employee forum, where I personally engage with small groups of workforce representatives to keep them informed about new initiatives and gather their feedback.
“We have also made significant investments in training at every level. In 2025, I personally led our first internal Management Development Programme (MDP) for five members of our management team. This comprehensive programme includes seven modules and is scheduled for completion by September 2025. Following this, we plan to expand the MDP across the management team and introduce an Advanced Management Development Programme starting in March 2026. As part of our commitment to fostering a strong, supportive culture and ensuring continued growth, we will also be recruiting a head of HR to oversee our people strategy across the group. This role will be vital in driving our talent development, recruitment, and employee engagement initiatives forward,” he ends.
As it expands its footprint across the UK and Ireland, RTU solidifies its reputation as a leader in construction solutions through strategic acquisitions and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.