£15million Investment in Newbridge Site
January 1, 2005
BSW Timber, the UK?s largest sawmilling business, has announced ambitious plans to upgrade its sawmill in Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys.
More than ?15 million is being earmarked for nvestment at the site over a three-year period in a move which will safeguard 100 existing jobs at the mid-Wales site, as well as creating two dozen new jobs. A planning application outlining details of the first stage of the re-development is today (Friday 28 January) submitted to Powys County Council. Around ?3.5 million is to be invested in increasing the sawn timber storage facilities on-site, as well as a new timber preservation plant, new state-of-the-art kiln drying chambers and an on-line planing facility.
Paul Barham, Chief Executive of BSW Timber, believes the investment is urgently needed to meet the needs of a changing market.
?Customer demand is fueling the need for a more diversified and higher quality end product,? he says. ?BSW is committed to continuous customer service mprovement and, as the UK market leader,
we are meeting this growing demand for more alue-added timber by increasing investment in all our six sawmills across the country.
?At Newbridge, we plan to create a new timber stock storage area and introduce improved technology - enabling us to produce a higher quality and higher value final product, consistent with our commitment to sustainability across the industry.
?This technology will allow us greater efficiencies and increased capacity for kiln drying, as well as offering a greater range of specialised timbers using ultra-modern treatment, impregnation and planing facilities.?
Subject to planning, the first phase of the Newbridge development should be complete by December 2005, creating new job opportunities to operate the extended kiln system.
Future development plans, on target to be completed by early 2008, include increased on-site capacity, more new technology and upgraded log-handling facilities ? which could create a further 20 new jobs.
Alex Brownlie, Head of Operations of BSW in Wales, views the company?s investment plan as a massive boost for both the local Newbridge economy and to the Welsh forestry industry in general.
?BSW is making a very important statement about the company?s long-term commitment to the Newbridge site,? he says. ?Across the UK and beyond, BSW plays a significant role in the development of local economies ? especially in rural areas like Newbridge where we are the largest private sector employer. By investing in new technology and upgrading the facilities, the company is doing all it can to ensure the future viability of the site.
?In short, our plans will provide even better quality jobs and training opportunities for local people, which, with an improved site infrastructure and working environment, will produce a better quality end-product. This is good news all round ? for our industry, our customers and our local workforce.?
BSW in Newbridge has worked closely with the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) and the Forestry Commission in the development of its investment strategy.
Dr Geraint Davies, WDA?s Mid-Wales Executive Director welcomes the proposals. He says: ?BSW?s investment plans deal with the urgent need for more value-added timber processing in Wales ? a sector which is critical for the future well-being of our local timber industry.
He adds: ?As well as safeguarding and creating jobs, the introduction of new technology means that these 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.?