Finnish timber giant UPM is expanding its UK operations with plans to open up a facility at Tilbury in the summer.
Forth Ports plc will build a 6,000m2 covered shed and service centre at Tilbury for UPM’s WISA sawn timber and specialist joinery products which will be shipped in on ro ro vessels.
Esa Mikkonen, marketing manager of Maidenhead-based UPM-Kymmene Wood Ltd, said the move was intended to copy the company’s operation at Hull, but servicing customers in southern England and the Midlands. He said until now haulage costs from Hull have restricted UPM’s sales operations further south.
He said the facility, to be operational from July, will have state-of-the-art racking systems to facilitate a pick-a-pack service, offering the ability to supply mixed loads of timber.
UPM will work in partnership with customers using a Vendor Managed Inventory system to ensure they have optimum stock levels. Delivery will be between 24-48 hours in the catchment areas.
Timber will be shipped to Tilbury, along with panel products and paper, on four sailings a week.
