North-west timber and builders merchant Beesley & Fildes Ltd has invested £500,000 to quadruple output and track rising demand from its six depots.

The business, which was set up in 1820 by the present managing director’s direct ancestor, has spent the money in refurbishing its Deeside Sawmills operation in Chester and creating a purpose made joinery and door division.

The investment has been used to create a new Tanalith plant and shop, and purchase three lorries, a forklift truck and woodworking machinery. A Weinig Hydromat moulder and the Holzher CNC machining centre have been installed to replace near obsolete equipment and these have boosted output from 50m3 per month to 200m3.

The machinery is producing doors and windows and planed timber for the north-west construction market.

Beesley & Fildes managing director John Beesley said that the capital outlay will help the company keep pace with demand.

&#8220Demand is buoyant at the moment and we are already working flat out with the new machines to keep pace with it. We have also had to take more people on.”

Beesley & Fildes managing director John Beesley

“Demand is buoyant at the moment and we are already working flat out with the new machines to keep pace with it. We have also had to take more people on,” he said.

The company, which is based in Liverpool, has seen its turnover rise from £2m to £4m over the past three years.

Mr Beesley told TTJ that the merchant was considering opening a seventh site in the near future and was considering locating it at Manchester, Chester or Blackpool.

The company is currently being assessed for ISO9000 in order to achieve Certifire accreditation, which it hopes to win in September.