Pace Timber Systems Ltd has bought Dewsbury-based timber frame manufacturer Greenframe Ltd for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition gives Pace a major presence in the north and forms part of its plan to develop a group of related businesses.
Greenframe, which has been renamed Pace Timber Systems (Northern) Ltd, will retain its existing management structure and 20 strong workforce.
Pace intends to run its new northern base as close as it can to its Milton Keynes operation and investment in new plant and machinery will take place very quickly. One of the first phases will be an upgrade of the sawing capacity to make it more computerised.
Pace Timber Systems (Northern) is expected to produce 500 units in 2003 while Milton Keynes production is expected to increase from its predicted 2002 figures of 850 to 1,200 in 2003.
Pace managing director Phil Key said: “While Greenframe itself has an established client base, the acquisition will mean that Pace is better placed to serve the northern timber frame market which, as in the south, is enjoying sustained growth. And as we anticipate demand for our timber frame systems to continue increasing over the coming years, our new northern operation will be instrumental in helping us meet this.”
Pace recently announced it had signed a major partnering charter agreement with social housing provider Willmott Dixon Housing. Under the terms of the agreement, Pace will operate as one of two subcontractor partner suppliers of timber frame solutions to support Willmott Dixon’s timber frame constructed social housing programme in the UK.
Pace has supplied Willmott Dixon housing with 290 units this year and a further 300 are being designed.
