London purpose-made joinery specialist K&D Joinery has completed a major investment in expanding and equipping its factory.

The Dagenham-based business, established by managing director Larry Kearns in 1984, has added more than 10,000ft2 of space to its factory, along with new machinery, a new delivery fleet and improved offices. The operation now extends to 50,000ft2.

The results, it says, have been a growth in larger sized projects and more intricate work, thanks to its expanded capabilities, including a new Biesse Rover A five-axis CNC machining centre.

It is the latest chapter in K&D’s growth, which has seen it move from its original base under the railways arches in Leytonstone to Stratford in 1996, followed by a relocation to the present 1.5 acre site in 2007.

That last relocation was key in the company’s development, signalled by the Olympic Delivery Authority’s plans to use the land as part of its London 2012 Olympics site, as well as the need for larger production facilities.

The latest investment sees K&D’s factory equipped with three new panel saws, a sander, spindle moulder and the Biesse Rover A, which now gives the company four CNC machining centres.

Other improvements are dedicated staircase and cabinetry production areas, greater CAD and other drawing/design facilities, enlarged glass fitting workshop, further paint/ finishing areas, improved storage and handling areas and a biomass boiler for creating energy from its timber waste.

“This latest, much-needed expansion is proof of the confidence that the business has in its management, their staff and support from their loyal customers,” a K&D spokesperson said.

“The factory now flows better and we have more machinery than we had before, with joiners having their own workspace.”

K&D is a traditional joinery manufacturer capable of making just about anything and everything rather than stock ranges. Cabinetry, doors, windows, staircases, handrails, kitchens and specialist joinery are all produced in the Chequers Lane factory.

Its expertise is such that it has taken on some unusual projects, including a full size 47ft replica of a German Second World War V2 rocket (using plywood and maple veneer) for an art exhibition.

The celebrated Chelsea Flower Show has featured K&D’s work, with a glazed pergola using Accoya and MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME modified wood products being a highlight.

The majority of its work is in the south-east, although contracts are being fulfilled internationally, including in France (Paris) and Ireland.

K&D uses engineered wood, hardwoods, premium softwoods and Accoya modified wood in its production, with increasing enquiries for external doors and windows in Accoya due to its dimensional stability.

Workforce numbers have also grown, with 85 machinists, joiners and technical staff now based at Dagenham.

Recent visitors to the Chequers Lane factory were 21 French joinery students from the Julien Crozt Vocational School in Port-Louis, South Brittany. They were completing their three-year Joinery and Carpentry course aiming to become joiners and specialist carpenters.

The party were given a full tour of the factory with the K&D workforce providing them with a good understanding of how K&D Joinery functions and operates efficiently. They were shown first-hand how the CNC machines operated and were able to discuss the technical matters with the CNC programmers.

They also toured the newly extended section where staircases and cabinetry production is based, along with the new K&D offices and showroom, as well as meeting the CAD team.