The pick-up in demand experienced by SCA Timber Supply UK is partly due to growing optimism in construction, but also improved supply chain efficiency.
To support a market recently beset by downturn and facing heavy competition, SCA has worked hard to analyse customer sales and to be more responsive to the consumer’s annual repair and maintenance cycle.
The company also invested heavily in improving efficiency. It operates its own harbours at the Swedish mills where loading capacities are being increased.
Between 8,000-9,000m³ of pine and spruce from SCA’s own FSC-certified forests in Sweden now arrive per month at its importing hub on the King George Dock in Hull, coming direct from the sawmills on two vessels chartered through SCA logistics.
SCA Timber Supply UK first offered FSC-certified timber in 1999, and it’s been an important part of its business growth. In its latest substantial investment, in March SCA officially opened a new timber supply plant at Melton, just down the road from the dock in Hull, creating an efficient flow from the company’s importing base through to manufacturing wood products to meet growing demand.
The Melton plant runs two shifts on two wood-processing lines.
"All has gone to plan at the new site and we should have all systems fully up and running by July," said Melton site manager Paul Westgarth. "We’ve seen demand picking up and productivity is growing every month. We’ve created 40 new jobs and expect more to come this summer."
"We’re pleased with Melton’s busy start," agreed SCA commercial director Stephen King. "The investment in new plant and machinery has ensured that our wood-based product range is supplemented with service and distribution solutions for customers in the wood industry and builders merchant sectors. Their builder customers are always in a hurry, so by ensuring merchants have the right products to hand, well-presented and easy to find, we can help keep them coming back to their outlets."
