About Tricel Water UK
Tricel Water UK manufactures GRP cold water storage tanks from two UK production sites — Weston-super-Mare and Lanark. Our roots go back to 1956. Every tank panel is made in-house, not imported and not sub-contracted, ensuring consistent quality and full traceability from manufacture to installation.
Founded (Weston)
Founded (Lanark)
UK manufacturing sites
Certifications held
Who is Tricel Water UK?
Tricel Water UK is a UK manufacturer of GRP (glass reinforced plastic) cold water storage tanks, operating from two UK production facilities: Tricel (Weston) Ltd. in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset (established 1956, formerly Dewey Waters, founded by Norman Dewey and Mike Waters) and Tricel (Lanark) Limited in Lanark, Scotland (established 1968, formerly Nicholson Plastics, founded by Alan Nicholson from a family tanning business). Both companies were acquired by the Tricel Global Engineering Group in 1999. Tricel Water UK manufactures the full range of GRP cold water storage products — sectional tanks (EFB, IFB and TIF), one-piece tanks (45 to 16,000 litres), two-part tanks, LPCB-approved fire sprinkler tanks and water misting tanks — from 45 litres to over 4 million litres. The company holds WRAS approval, LPCB LPS 1276 Issue 2.0 certification, BS EN 13280:2001 compliance, ISO 9001:2015 accreditation and is a member of BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association). Every tank panel is manufactured in-house at a UK site — not imported and not sub-contracted.
Years in GRP tanks (Weston)
Years in GRP tanks (Lanark)
Typical tank service life
All panels manufactured here
LPS 1276 Issue 2.0 certified
01
What We Do
What Tricel Water UK Manufactures
Tricel Water UK manufactures the full range of GRP cold water storage products for domestic, commercial, industrial, healthcare and fire protection applications across the UK and internationally. All products are made in-house at UK facilities.
TRICEL WATER UK
GRP Sectional Tanks
EFB, IFB and TIF configurations assembled from hot-press moulded panels on site. Capacities from 1,000 to over 4 million litres. Suitable for restricted access, large capacity, high-rise, healthcare and industrial installations.
TRICEL WATER UK
GRP One Piece Water Tanks
Single moulded GRP units from 45 to 16,000 litres. WRAS approved for potable cold water storage. Insulated and uninsulated options. AG and Cat 5 AB air gap available. Next day delivery on selected in-stock sizes.
TRICEL WATER UK
GRP Two-Part Tanks
Delivered in two sections and joined on site. A practical mid-range option where access is restricted but sectional assembly is not required. Available insulated and uninsulated.
TRICEL WATER UK
LPCB Fire Sprinkler Tanks
LPCB certified to LPS 1276 Issue 2.0. Listed in the LPCB RedBook. LPS 2070 approved vortex inhibitor. Compatible with systems designed to BS EN 12845, BS 9251 and NFPA. One-piece and sectional configurations available.
TRICEL WATER UK
Bespoke GRP Products
Tricel Weston also manufactures bespoke GRP housings, enclosures and biofilters alongside the core tank range. Where standard sizes do not meet project requirements, bespoke manufacture is available across the tank range.
02
Our History
Over 65 Years of GRP Tank Manufacturing
Tricel Water UK’s manufacturing history spans two distinct founding stories — one in Somerset, one in Scotland — that came together under a single brand in 1999 and have operated as one team since 2024.
Dewey Waters founded in North Somerset
Weston — Dewey WatersNorman Dewey and Mike Waters establish a GRP manufacturing business in North Somerset in 1956. The company begins by producing GRP motorbike fairings before diversifying into engineered GRP products. Cold water storage tanks become a core product as the market for GRP in construction grows.
Nicholson Plastics established in Lanark, Scotland
Lanark — Nicholson PlasticsAlan Nicholson founds Nicholson Plastics in Lanark from a family-owned tanning business. The transition to GRP manufacturing is sparked by using fibreglass to line timber tanning vats — a practical discovery that becomes the foundation of the company’s materials expertise. Nicholson Plastics goes on to pioneer the use of GRP in the production of sectional tank panels.
Tricel Global Engineering Group acquires both companies
Tricel Group AcquisitionBy the end of 1999, KMG (now the Tricel Global Engineering Group) acquires both Dewey Waters and Nicholson Plastics, effectively doubling the size of the group. The acquisition provides Tricel with two established UK GRP tank manufacturing facilities, a combined product range and national coverage. Both companies continue to operate under their original names as Tricel subsidiaries, supplying GRP tanks domestically and internationally.
Croydon branch office established
Croydon ExpansionNicholson Plastics purchases 240m² of office space in Croydon, Surrey, strengthening the company’s operational base and coverage of London and South East England. The Croydon office provides local sales and technical support for the South East region, complementing the manufacturing and installation teams operating from Lanark and Weston.
Rebrand — Tricel Weston and Tricel Lanark
One Team, One BrandOn 1 July 2024, Dewey Waters and Nicholson Plastics formally rebrand as Tricel Weston and Tricel Lanark, uniting the two water storage teams under a single brand identity for the first time. Both sites continue to manufacture independently, with shared product range, technical standards and customer-facing operations as Tricel Water UK.
03
Manufacturing
How We Manufacture GRP Tanks
Every GRP tank panel is manufactured in-house at one of Tricel’s two UK production sites. No panels are imported; no manufacturing is sub-contracted. This means direct quality control, full material traceability and technical accountability from the manufacturing team to the project site.
Step 01
Hot-press moulding
GRP panels are moulded under heat and pressure using isophthalic polyester resin and glass fibre reinforcement. Hot-press moulding produces consistent dimensional accuracy, smooth surfaces on both faces and full cure throughout the panel thickness.
Step 02
Quality control
Strict QC procedures are applied at each moulding stage. Materials used in potable water tank production are tested and confirmed for WRAS and Regulation 4(1)a compliance. LPCB fire sprinkler tank production follows the requirements of LPS 1276 Issue 2.0.
Step 03
Palletised delivery
Panels are palletised and delivered to site. Individual panel dimensions allow transportation via standard access routes, including stairwells, narrow corridors, goods lifts and roof hatches — a key advantage for retrofit and restricted-access projects.
Step 04
Site assembly
Tanks are assembled by CSCS-certified, confined-space trained Tricel engineers — factory trained on Tricel products. Handover documentation includes WRAS certificate, BS EN 13280 declaration, as-built drawings, commissioning record and BSA 2022 Golden Thread pack.
In-house manufacture
All panels produced at Tricel’s own UK facilities — not sourced from third-party manufacturers. Direct control over materials, moulding parameters and dimensional tolerances throughout production.
Full traceability
Every panel carries full material traceability from raw materials through moulding and QC to installation. WRAS and LPCB certification references are available for inclusion in project O&M documentation.
Manufacturer-direct support
When a technical question arises during specification or installation, the answer comes from the people who made the tank — not a reseller interpreting a manufacturer’s datasheet. Specification support is provided at no charge to registered engineers and specifiers.
04
Manufacturing Sites
Two UK Manufacturing Sites
Tricel Water UK’s two UK manufacturing sites provide national coverage, manufacturing resilience and combined production capacity across the full product range.
Manufacturing Site — Head Office
Tricel (Weston) Ltd.
One of the longest-established GRP cold water tank manufacturing facilities in the UK. The Weston team produces the full range of sectional and one-piece tanks, LPCB fire sprinkler tanks, GRP housings and biofilters for UK and export markets.
Site history
Manufacturing Site — Scotland
Tricel (Lanark) Ltd.
The Lanark facility provides additional UK manufacturing capacity with strong coverage of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England. Formerly Nicholson Plastics, the site pioneered the use of GRP in the production of sectional tank panels.
Site history
05
Certifications & Standards
Certifications and Standards Held by Tricel Water UK
Tricel Water UK’s products carry the certifications and approvals that specifiers, engineers, insurers and building owners need for potable cold water storage and fire protection applications across the UK.
WRAS / Reg. 4(1)a
WRAS Approved for Potable Water
Tricel GRP tanks are approved under Regulation 4(1)a of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 for potable cold water storage. This is the required compliance route for GRP tanks storing wholesome water in systems connected to the public mains supply in the UK.
LPCB LPS 1276 Issue 2.0
LPCB Certified Fire Sprinkler Tanks
Tricel Weston Ltd. fire sprinkler tanks are independently certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) to LPS 1276 Issue 2.0 and listed in the LPCB RedBook. Certification is maintained through ongoing LPCB audit and verification. The certificate is available to download from the Tricel website.
LPS 2070
LPCB-Approved Vortex Inhibitor
The vortex inhibitor fitted to Tricel fire sprinkler tanks carries LPS 2070 LPCB approval. LPS 1276 requires an LPS 2070-approved device to be fitted to the inlet of the outlet pipe to prevent air ingress during tank discharge.
BS EN 13280:2001
GRP Cold Water Storage Standard
Tricel manufactures GRP tanks with reference to BS EN 13280:2001 — the British and European standard for glass-reinforced plastic cisterns for cold water storage. This standard specifies requirements for materials, dimensions, structural performance, insulation and testing.
ISO 9001:2015
Quality Management System
Tricel holds ISO 9001:2015 quality management accreditation, covering the design, manufacture and supply of GRP water storage tanks. This provides a documented quality framework across manufacturing, inspection and delivery processes.
BAFSA Member
British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association
Tricel Water UK is a member of BAFSA — the UK trade body for the fire sprinkler industry, representing the industry since 1974. Membership reflects Tricel’s engagement with UK fire sprinkler industry standards, compliance guidance and best practice relevant to its LPCB-certified fire protection products.
06
Who We Serve
Who We Work With
Tricel Water UK works directly with engineers, contractors, specifiers and building owners across a wide range of sectors. There is no distributor intermediary between the manufacturer and the project.
Healthcare & NHS
High-Rise & Multi-Storey
Infrastructure & Utilities
Fire Protection
Data Centres
Industrial & Manufacturing
Education
Agriculture
Food & Beverage
Local Authority & Public
07
International
International Projects and Export Markets
Tricel Water UK supplies GRP water storage tanks beyond the UK market. International projects demonstrate manufacturing capacity, product performance in demanding environments and the ability to meet diverse compliance requirements.
QA
Qatar — FIFA World Cup 2022
All panels produced at Tricel’s own UK facilities — not sourced from third-party manufacturers. Direct control over materials, moulding parameters and dimensional tolerances throughout production.
SA
Saudi Arabia — Large-Scale Infrastructure
Every panel carries full material traceability from raw materials through moulding and QC to installation. WRAS and LPCB certification references are available for inclusion in project O&M documentation.
GB
UK Infrastructure — HS2
When a technical question arises during specification or installation, the answer comes from the people who made the tank — not a reseller interpreting a manufacturer’s datasheet. Specification support is provided at no charge to registered engineers and specifiers.
08
The Tricel Group
Part of the Tricel Global Engineering Group
Tricel Water UK is the water storage division of the Tricel Global Engineering Group — a privately owned global engineering company founded in Killarney, Ireland in 1973 by Anne Stack and Con Stack. The group operates across Ireland, the UK, France, Denmark and Sweden.
Group membership provides Tricel Water UK with access to shared engineering resources, R&D investment, international supply networks and the manufacturing resilience of a multi-site, multi-division organisation.
Water Division
GRP cold water storage tanks, fire protection tanks, pumping solutions, sewage treatment systems, wastewater treatment, meter boxes, road safety products, trench covers and civil infrastructure products for across UK, Ireland, France, and the Nordics.
Distribution Division
Distribution of GRP raw materials, composite products, and across the group’s 5 primary markets, supporting manufacturing operations and external composite customers aco.
What is a GRP cold water storage tank?
The Tricel Group is headquartered in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, and operates across five countries. Tricel Water UK operates as the group’s UK water storage manufacturing and supply division. For group-level information, visit tricel.eu.
09
FAQs
About Tricel Water UK — FAQs
Common questions about who Tricel Water UK is, what the company makes and how it operates.
Who is Tricel Water UK?
Tricel Water UK is a UK manufacturer of GRP cold water storage tanks. The company operates from two UK manufacturing sites: Tricel (Weston) Ltd. at Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare (established 1956, formerly Dewey Waters) and Tricel (Lanark) Limited at Riverside Road, Kirkfieldbank, Lanark (established 1968, formerly Nicholson Plastics). Both companies were acquired by the Tricel Global Engineering Group in 1999 and rebranded as Tricel in 2024. The company manufactures one-piece tanks, sectional tanks (EFB, IFB and TIF), two-part tanks, LPCB-approved fire sprinkler tanks and water misting tanks.
Where does Tricel water UK make its GRP tanks?
Tricel Water UK manufactures GRP tanks at two UK sites: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset (Tricel Weston, BS24 9AN) and Lanark, Scotland (Tricel Lanark, ML11 9JS). Every tank panel is manufactured in-house at one of these sites — panels are not imported and manufacturing is not sub-contracted. A branch office for sales and technical support operates in Croydon, Surrey (CR0 2DP).
Is Tricel water UK a manufacturer or distributor?
Tricel Water UK is a manufacturer. Every GRP tank panel is produced in-house at one of the two UK manufacturing facilities. This means direct control over quality, full material traceability and technical expertise from the people who make the product — not a reseller sourcing from a third-party manufacturer. Technical specification support is provided directly by the manufacturing team.
What certifications does Tricel water UK hold?
Tricel Water UK holds: WRAS approval (Regulation 4(1)a) for potable cold water storage; LPCB LPS 1276 Issue 2.0 certification for fire sprinkler tanks (listed in the LPCB RedBook); LPS 2070 LPCB approval for vortex inhibitors; BS EN 13280:2001 compliance for GRP cold water storage manufacture; ISO 9001:2015 quality management accreditation; and BAFSA membership (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association).
How long has Tricel Water UK been manufacturing GRP tanks?
The Weston site has been manufacturing GRP cold water storage tanks since 1956 — making it one of the longest-established GRP cold water tank manufacturing facilities in the UK. The Lanark site has been manufacturing GRP tanks since 1968. Combined, the two sites represent over 120 years of accumulated GRP manufacturing experience. Both sites were acquired by the Tricel Global Engineering Group in 1999.
What is the relationship between Dewey Waters, Nicholson Plastics, and Tricel?
Dewey Waters (established 1956) and Nicholson Plastics (established 1968) were two independent UK GRP tank manufacturers that were both acquired by the Tricel Global Engineering Group at the end of 1999. They continued to operate under their original names as Tricel subsidiaries until July 2024, when they formally rebranded as Tricel (Weston) Ltd. and Tricel (Lanark) Limited respectively, uniting as a single Tricel Water UK brand. The manufacturing sites, product ranges and technical teams remain the same.
What is the Tricel Global Engineering Group?
The Tricel Global Engineering Group is a privately owned global engineering company founded in 1973 by Anne Stack and Con Stack, headquartered in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. Tricel’s four divisions are Water Storage, Environmental, Construction and Distribution. The group operates across Ireland, the UK, France, Denmark and Sweden and employs approximately 650 people. Tricel Water UK is the group’s UK water storage manufacturing division. Further information is available at tricel.eu.
UK GRP Tank Manufacturer Since 1956
Speak with the manufacturer directly
Tricel Water UK’s technical sales team handles all enquiries — from early sizing questions and specification support through to formal quotation, site survey and project documentation. No intermediary, no reseller: direct from the manufacturer.
