Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Timber importer and timber products manufacturer Arbor Forest Products is investing £6 million in expanding its North Lincolnshire premises to one of the most advanced sawmill planing lines in the UK.
The new facility, which is an expansion of the company’s New Holland HQ, is currently undergoing internal fit-out; production is due to begin in January 2021. Plans for additional storage will take the total investment to around £12 million.
Arbor Forest Products sees the new facilities as crucial to the long-term vision for the company, allowing the family-run business to further set itself apart from its competitors by offering a level of guaranteed quality that others can’t match.
The new facility will feature scanning technology that is unique within the UK market, and which will allow Arbor Forest Products to identify and eliminate defects in lengths of timber before they reach customers – significantly reducing waste, and – crucially – saving building manufacturers valuable time.
Managing director, Jason Ostler, said: “We’re proud to be investing in the future of the company at what is, for many, a challenging time to be doing business. However, as a family-run business that has been setting the standard for UK timber for generations, we are able to take a longer-term view that makes an investment like this a sound business decision for us.”
Six years ago, the company launched its first MDF production unit, which has since expanded and has seen sales grow month on month ever since its launch. The company also secured UK distribution rights for Trex, the world’s leading composite decking brand, in 2011 – the brand has now achieved sales in excess of £40 million in the UK.
The company expects that its latest venture will similarly prove to be ahead of the curve within the UK timber industry, and will prove to be yet another success for the business.
