A 40-year-old ambition has become a reality for Northumberland-based sawmiller and merchant A&J Scott Ltd.
The company has opened a softwood timber pallet and timber packing case manufacturing factory at North Shields from where it will also sell timber to the trade and the public.
The present factory is 8,000ft² and the plan is to increase the manufacturing area by a further 14,000ft².
Fifty per cent of the site will be allocated to timber sales, mainly fencing and decking, with most of the timber coming pre-cut from the company’s Wooperton sawmill near Alnwick.
Company spokesperson Rosemary Bertram said: ‘This is the first time we have done anything like this – especially selling timber to the public.’
Just six months ago the company bought a pallet factory in Manchester and has now purchased the freehold of the factory on Wallsend Road for an undisclosed sum. Extra land is being leased and the site comprises 2.5 acres in total. At present only one acre is being used but plans are in place to develop the remaining land over the next two years.
Softwood pallets and packing cases will be made from timber from locally managed forests. Mrs Bertram said: ‘This gives us an advantage as most of our competitors use imported timber. The company is accredited with ISO 9002 and was one of the first of its kind to gain certification for the supply of FSC timber products.’
The company will also offer a specialist service for export packing from the Wallsend site which it is hoped will eventually employ up to 100 people from the Tyneside area.
