The new plans are part of a £50m programme over a five year period to 2015 which began in the creation of around 45 new jobs at the sawmill three years ago. Since 2008, the site has had 10 new Mahild Kilns, a battery of pressure treatment vessels and current project nearing completing includes two 5MW KIV biomass kiln heating plant, and a high speed planing an degrading line, provided by Ledinek & Springer.

To complete the current investment, an order has been placed for the latest Hewsaw SL250 3.4 Trio line extended to include an automated horizontal saw for flexibility, equipment sourced from the technically enhanced Finnforest, Kyroskoski sawmill, mothballed in 2009. 

The equipment will be used to create a world class mill at Fort William and double the capacity at the BSW Latvia operation. Work on the new sawmills will commence in November this year, and completed by early 2013.

Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW Timber (right) said: "For some time  development at BSW's colossal Fort William site, at foot of Ben Nevis, have been postponed in favour of growth through  acquisition of Howie Forest Products in Dalbeattie Kirkcudbrightshire - the largest sawmill in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. "

Howie's has been a part of the BSW Group for more than two years now and, with an excellent Group financial performance in the last two financial years,  the BSW shareholders have shown continued commitment to investment of the cash generated and have approved the next phase  of the  multi-million pound investment programme. "

"These strategic investments are a sign of confidence in the medium-term that we, at BSW, have in the  UK market." 

 

 

"We are committed to being a highly competitive manufacturer of sawn timber and associated products and are expanding our portfolio of products and capacity to better serve demands of our customers, as well as strengthening our partnerships with our chosen key suppliers."