The machinery, which has created four new jobs at the company’s Ruthin headquarters in North Wales, is producing more than 50 tons of kiln-dried logs every week in the form of about 7,000 nets.
Clifford Jones sales manager Paul Clarke said the company made the investment after many people asked whether it could produce logs. Research by the Clifford Jones team found there had been a 30% rise in sales of wood-burning stoves.
"We already have the kilns for drying the logs from investment we made earlier this year," he said.
"We do get wood that’s not straight and is unsuitable for posts so we are now logging it."
The logs are dried by three kilns powered by a 987kW biomass boiler fed with wood chippings from the timber processing operation.
Mr Clarke said the logs were dried in just a few hours in the kilns, compared to weeks for normal seasoning, while the 20% moisture content meant the wood burned better and cleaner.
"Our kiln-dried logs now go to major heating fuel suppliers and also to retailers such as 180 factory outlet stores across the UK and The Range with more than 70 stores. We even supply a pizza chain with logs for their special ovens."
Clifford Jones’s other established timber fuel products include wood briquettes and pellets.
