£3million Upgrade for Fort William & Boat of Garten Sites
August 1, 2005
BSW Timber, the UK's largest sawmilling business, is investing more than £3million in a major upgrade of its Scottish sawmills in Fort William and Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire.
The investment programme will cover a wide range of site infrastructure and technological improvements in a move to increase productivity north of the border - as well as providing a higher quality and more value-added end product.
The Fort William mill, which employs 88 people, is benefiting from a £2 million investment programme, including state-of-the art technology to boost the site's
grading, planning and pressure treatment facilities.
And the Boat of Garten mill, which employs 53, is investing more than £1 million in a range of manufacturing and health & safety improvements
Paul Barham, Chief Executive of BSW Timber, which has its group headquarters in Earlston, Berwickshire, says the investment is needed to meet the needs of a
changing market.
"Customer demand is fuelling the need for higher quality end product," he says. This investment represents our on-going commitment to meet such changing customer needs - not just in Scotland but at all our six sawmills throughout the UK.
"New machinery and IT systems will allow us to increase productivity, offer a better service and range of products to customers whilst providing our staff with
the benefits of the latest in modern technology. He adds: "As a UK-wide company, BSW Timber has a critical role to play in the development of local economies - especially in rural areas like Boat of Garten and Fort William where we are amongst the largest private sector employers.
"Our investment will provide even better quality jobs and training opportunities for local people, which, with an improved site infrastructure and sustainable working environment, will produce a better quality end-product. This is good news all round - for our industry, our customers and our local workforce."
The investment programme in Fort William includes:
£1.5 million earmarked in new technology for 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
£200,000 for an improved boiler facility to increase efficiency and improve the environmental performance of the mill
£200,000 for general improvements on the mill?s infrastructure - including a major reorganisation of the log yard.
The Boat of Garten mill is benefiting from:
£500,000 in a new debarking machine and state-of-the-art log scanning technology allowing for greater efficiencies and environmental sustainability
£300,000 investment in health & safety improvements - including machine and distance guarding and a new system of pedestrian walkways
£400,000 in improved on-site mobility including new side-loading fleet and loading shovels.
Bob Stubbs, Senior Key Industries Manager at Highlands & Islands Enterprise welcomes the investment at BSW?s Highland mills. He says: "BSW's investment plans deal with the urgent need for more value-added timber processing in Scotland - a sector which is critical for the future well-being of our national timber industry.
"As well as safeguarding jobs, the introduction of new technology means that existing employment opportunities will be more highly skilled, more varied and more specialised. With the right training and support, this will create a diverse and well-qualified skills base for the area."