Timber firm's £250k investment will help post-Brexit bounceback
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A Nairn timber business is set to increase its turnover and grow its workforce with an initial £250,000 investment.
Family firm Tulloch Timber (Nairn) Ltd is using the money to instal a new chipping canter machine, which will speed up the production process to make it more efficient, and is expected to lead to creation of two additional jobs.
The development is being supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which has awarded the Grigorhill Industrial Estate business £35,858.
Tulloch Timber has been supplying sustainable Scottish softwood products from its Nairn production for nearly 30 years.
All timber is home grown and sourced from forests within a 100-mile radius of the mill, but has customers in the fencing, pallet, agricultural, construction and other industries across the UK.
The firm has already invested significantly in the business and has the largest sawn timber sorting line under one roof in Europe. As part of the project, new wood chip conveyors will also be installed and a storage bay will be built.
This will collect the wood chips produced by the chipping canter. As these are a valuable co-product, it will provide the firm with an opportunity to capitalise on this area and expand its customer base.
Second phase plans in the second phase of this project include introducing a new line of horizonal resaws.
Managing director Caroline Gordon said: “Sales have been increasing over the years, although last year had been challenging amidst the uncertainty of Brexit. We are diversifying, which will help us bounce back. With HIE’s assistance, we can invest in new machinery that will increase our capacity as well as safeguard and create new jobs in our local community. It’s a great opportunity for us and it will help us secure new business in the future as well as take on two new employees."
The firm already employs 20 multi-skilled staff in the production process, many of whom have been with the company since its inception.
The new jobs will focus on more technical processes and allow the company to diversify into producing more value-added products.
Juan Paulo Rodriguez, account manager at HIE’s Inner Moray Firth team, said: “The new machinery will improve production and lower costs by reducing the number of saw cuts needed. This will also allow them to explore new markets and take on new employees.
“At a time when businesses continue to face challenging operating and trading conditions, this expansion project is welcome news from Tulloch Timber. The company has worked hard to adapt and continue to grow, and we are very much looking forward to working with the company as they progress this project.”
