BSW Timber plc has completed a £3m investment programme at three of its sawmills across England, Wales and Scotland – and there is more to come.
Paul Barham, BSW’s chief operating officer, said: ‘This expenditure is part of an ongoing investment plan for the company. During the next 12 months we are planning further substantial investment.’
He said several proposals were being considered by the company’s board of directors but that it was too early to say what they might be.
The recent cash injection will increase production capacity by around 3% and improve turnaround times and product quality.
The project saw new drop sorters costing £1.7m installed at Kilmallie mill in the north of Scotland and Newbridge-on-Wye mill in mid-Wales, and a new £1.4m Kalfass line installed at the company’s flagship mill in Carlisle.
The Carlisle investment includes an additional strength grading line and a mechanised cross-cutting and stacking operation for both board and batten products. The facility has been designed to allow for further phased development.
Allan Wheat, BSW’s national sales manager, said the Kalfass line was installed in response to the changing nature of the pallet and packaging market and that it addressed some future market trends.
The line has enabled the company to take on increasing demand for cut to length pallet board material with realistic lead times.
BSW saved itself a considerable amount of money by buying the Kilmallie drop sorter second-hand at auction in Sweden and bringing it to the site on 20 40ft vehicles.
The Newbridge project, started in February last year, was recently completed.
