The privately-owned independent importer, sawmiller and timber products distributor is negotiating to take over an additional 16,000ft2 warehouse adjacent to its Hindley Green headquarters – and further investment in machinery is planned.
“The company began trading just outside Manchester in April 1998,” said director Peter Burns. “We specialise in the supply of clear grade softwoods and we also supply Parana pine from Brazil and a limited range of American and European temperate hardwoods.”
By 2001, turnover had reached £5m but growth remained static over the next three years as the business was constrained by lack of machining capacity and space.
“In 2004 we relocated to premises just outside Wigan,” said Mr Burns. “These represented an almost 100% increase in undercover storage and a similar increase in the floor area of the mill.”
New machinery was installed including a ‘smart’ dust extraction system custom-designed by Oregon-Canadian with Air Pollution Equipment Ltd.
“The new system can separate ‘white’ shavings from the ‘red’ shavings, leading to a 400% increase in income from our sawmill residues,” said Mr Burns.
The company recently achieved Forest Products chain of custody certification after assessment by BM TRADA Certification and Mr Burns expects sales to increase as a result.
“The short to medium term plan is to consolidate our position as a reliable provider of softwoods, while looking to diversify into other timber-related fields.”
