The Alne-based firm, which supplied the Shard, Oxford’s Said Business School and Cambridge’s Magdalene College Library projects, had been on the brink of administration before 4D stepped in.
The acquisition sees York Handmade folded into 4D’s fast-growing building products group alongside Hepworth Clay, the large-scale producer of vitrified clay drainage pipes.
4D founder Alex Silk said: “We are delighted to have added York Handmade to our building products group. Like Hepworth, it is a heritage brand producing high quality products and we are very proud to become its custodians.”
Sixth-generation brickmaker Guy Armitage, MD of York Handmade, will stay on to help lead the next phase of growth.
Armitage said: “I am delighted to be working with 4D and Hepworth. Their expertise and track record in this sector are exactly what we need to take York Handmade to the next level.”
The deal ensures production continues at the North Yorkshire factory, safeguarding a specialist craft supply chain long relied on by heritage architects and high-end developers.
