Staffordshire-based Valentine Clays has created the UK’s first low-fire stoneware clay body, which means stoneware ceramics can be produced at lower temperatures with lower energy consumption and lower costs.

This development represents a major technical advancement in ceramics materials science and has been heralded as a clear example of how innovation can deliver both technical and real-world impact.

Traditionally, producing stoneware ceramics requires firing clay at very high temperatures, typically between 1200°C and 1300°C. This process consumes significant amounts of energy, increases costs and requires specialist kilns that are not accessible to all users. These limitations have historically restricted who can produce durable, high-quality ceramics.

Valentine Clays’ LoStone changes that. By combining the strength and durability of traditional stoneware with the lower firing temperatures more commonly associated with earthenware, Valentine Clays has developed a material that delivers professional-quality results using less energy and more accessible equipment.

LoStone directly addresses some of the sector’s most pressing challenges: sustainability, affordability and accessibility.

The scientific achievement behind LoStone lies in its formulation. Creating a clay that performs like stoneware at lower temperatures requires carefully balancing strength, workability and firing behaviour. This process involved extensive research, material testing and refinement to ensure consistent and reliable performance. The result is a technically robust solution that performs effectively across a range of studio and educational settings.

Valentine Clays is a UK-based clay manufacturer with a long-standing reputation for quality, consistency and technical expertise, having produced specialist clay for the ceramics industry since 1979.

With more than four decades of experience and international supply, the company has developed a deep understanding of the needs of makers, educators and institutions, supplying materials that support both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary ceramic practice.

Transforming a centuries-old process through modern materials science, this heritage provides a strong foundation for innovation and enables the business to respond effectively to the evolving demands of the sector.

Despite operating within a challenging economic climate, Valentine Clays has achieved consistent growth in both turnover and overall business development. This resilience has been driven by a clear focus on innovation and a commitment to solving real-world challenges faced by the industry.

Valentine Clays has entered the Innovation Award category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.