MILLION-POUND EXPANSION BY ABP AND SCOTT TIMBER AT PORT OF BARRY
The Scott Timber Group, the UK’s leading pallet manufacturer, has teamed up with Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading and largest ports group, to announce plans to expand its operations in Wales significantly, with a major £1 million investment in new premises and state-of-the-art machinery as part of a 10-year agreement.
A prime 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) factory located at ABP’s Port of Barry in South Wales will more than treble Scott Timber’s timber-pallet production capacity in the area, giving customers an enhanced quality of service, as well as a valuable boost to the local economy.
As part of this major investment, Scott Timber will spend £300,000 buying and installing a state-of-the-art pallet-assembly line from Spain. Capable of producing seven pallets a minute, the high-tech machine has the potential to double the site’s output and drive further expansion in Wales.
ABP, for its part, will invest nearly £800,000 as part of a major refurbishment programme to upgrade the port’s Transit A Shed, and improve cranage to accommodate Scott Timber’s operation.
The new facility relocates and upgrades the Scott Timber’s current premises outside the port in Barry town, with all 90 staff moving to the new quayside location.
John Scott, Managing Director of the Scott Timber Group, said:
“Our new quayside premises at ABP Barry will allow us to duplicate our successful model at Rosyth in Fife. We expect to see the same benefits, including reduced transportation costs and a large stockholding facility.
“Our emphasis is always on customer service and so having a large stockholding facility means we can reduce lead times and offer a fast and efficient service which is essential for our volume customers.”
He added; “This is a very significant development for us and will give us an important base from which to expand our services to new customers throughout Wales and the South of England.”
Scott Timber’s operations will result in increased timber throughput across the quayside at the Port of Barry and establish regular sailings from the Baltic states to Barry.
Budha Majumdar, ABP Port Director, South Wales Ports, said:
“The commitment shown by Scott Timber to expand its facilities at the Port of Barry mirrors ABP’s commitment to continue to grow and develop the port, providing businesses with a cost-efficient port of entry to serve the growing, regional industrial markets.”
Scott Timber’s expansion in Wales follows its acquisition of Combine Pallets in London which increased turnover to over £35 million, and raised staff numbers to over 400.
As part of the Combine deal, the company has also acquired a UK licence to manufacture Euro-licensed pallets which are favoured by exporters and will help future expansion into Europe.
As part of the deal, Scott Timber acquired two factories in Wales – the Barry facility and a second facility at Flint in North Wales, which employs 30 staff.
Despite difficult times in the pallet-making industry, where new legislation has highlighted inefficiencies within the market, Scott Timber has utilised its own industry-leading efficiency standards to buck this trend.
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