AW Champion Ltd has invested £105,000 in new machinery and a racking system at its Edenbridge depot.
The mouldings operation has been boosted with the introduction of the first sawmill specification flexible jobbing SCM Superset Class 6 head machine in the UK.
The moulder is designed for quick set-up and short runs and a grinder and some mechanical handling completed the £75,000 investment in that area.
Martin Saunders, Champion director, said the Superset complements the company’s mouldings operation and a hopper feed system will allow the operator time to feed in the raw material and handle the finished product.
The new metal A-frame racking system has improved the layout of wood products at the depot.
The system, which cost more than £30,000, took six weeks to develop and install. It uses moveable dividers, which Champion said offers greater flexibility than its wooden counterpart and will enable the company to offer a wider range of products to customers.
Mr Saunders said: “The introduction of the new system at Edenbridge forms part of Champion’s ongoing process to modernise its branches.”
The Edenbridge branch is Champion’s main stockholding depot and has nearly 10,000 different timber and wood-related products ready to be supplied to the construction industry and the company’s own branches.
