BSW Timber is to spend more than £3m upgrading its sawmills at Fort William and Boat of Garten in Scotland.

The move is in response to demand for higher quality and more value-added end product. The investment will cover a wide range of site infrastructure and technological improvements.

A £2m spend at the Fort William mill, which employs 88 people, will see the installation of £1.5m worth of machinery including a state-of-the-art production line, using new technology to integrate the grader, planer and low pressure treatment for greater efficiency and increased production. A further £200,000 will be spent on a boiler facility to increase efficiency and environmental performance while another £200,000 will be spent on general improvements to the mill’s infrastructure, including major reorganisation of the log yard.

At the Boat of Garten mill, which employs 53 people, £500,000 will be invested in a new debarking machine and log scanning technology. A further £300,000 will be invested in health and safety improvements, including machine and distance guarding and a new system of pedestrian walkways, plus £400,000 on improved on-site mobility, including a new side-loading fleet and loading shovels.

&#8220Customer demand is fuelling the need for higher quality end product ”

Paul Barham, BSW chief executive

Chief executive Paul Barham said the investment was needed to meet changing market requirements.

He added: “Customer demand is fuelling the need for higher quality end product. This investment represents our ongoing commitment to meet such changing customer needs – not just in Scotland but at all our six sawmills throughout the UK.”

He said the new machinery and IT systems will increase productivity, offer a better service and range of products to customers while providing staff with the benefits of the latest technology.