Pallet manufacturer Scott Timber Group (STG) has HS Timber Products Ltd of Stoke-on-Trent, a “long-time target” of the company. The new recruit produces new and re-conditioned pallets, has an annual turnover of around £2.2m, and recently expanded into a purpose-built 16,000ft2 factory.
STG managing director John Scott said: “We looked at HS Timber about five years ago and although we decided it was not quite the right time we kept the relationship with them. Now with the size of Scott Timber, and our belief that the north of England has untapped business potential, we felt conditions were right.”
HS Timber’s customers may see further benefits and efficiencies now that the operation is part of STG, he added.
HS Timber constitutes the latest in a series of recent STG purchases in the north-west of England, the others being Hammond Pallets of Widnes and James Industrial Ltd of Wigan. These acquisitions have helped to push STG’s annual turnover to around £46m.
In a further development, HS Timber’s owner David Healings has been appointed STG’s first regional director. Reporting directly to Mr Scott, he takes on responsibility for group operations in northern England and Wales. “Getting David on board is as significant as actually acquiring HS,” said Mr Scott. The group was growing so fast and covering such a large area that this could be the first of a number of similar high-level appointments, he added.
Mr Healings bought HS Timber in 1985 when it had a staff of five and a turnover of £150,000.
