A £4 million investment in timber processing has been made by Arbor Forest Products.
A new state-of-the-art sawmill planing line has been added to the New Holland site, bringing further automation to the huge plant. It can custom cut and process 200m of timber a minute, or 40,000 km - the equivalent of circumnavigating the planet - annually.
It is described as being an integral part of the 70-year-old company’s long term strategy with the “cutting edge” equipment a first of its kind in the UK.
Read more: Hull's The Edge Hub opens with 'whole eco-system' of skills
The investment, developed in conjunction with Swedish material handling systems specialist System Hall, will allow Arbor - a £171 million turnover business - to stay ahead of market demand while passing efficiencies on to customers.
Arbor’s operations director, Phil Yell, said: “Our strategy is to stay at the forefront of the industry and guarantee the best quality for our customers – that’s why we’ve invested over £15m in automation over the last couple of years. We’ve always been driven to push the limits when it comes to technology, and in a tough labour market, it’s even more important to question how we do things and to critique what we’re using. This is the only way to improve efficiency and productivity.
“That’s why System Hall was so exciting to collaborate with. This is the second major investment with them in three years, and they continually push us to think differently and aim high with new equipment. The result is one of the most advanced sawmills in the UK, helping us to exceed customer expectations. We love showing the system to customers – it’s a ‘wow’ moment for them and we’re delighted to have such a sophisticated set up here in New Holland.”
Tasked with replacing a 12-year-old system, Arbor and System Hall worked closely to define the best-possible solution, delivering a sawmill line that comprises a WEINIG H4200 moulding machine and a unique range of in-line cutting options, as well as a 5.4m long chop saw, also both the first of their kind in the UK.
With a new configuration, Arbor has been able to remove an entire step from its production processes. And, in an industry where an excellent surface finish is described as crucial, the sawmill’s unique timber scanning technology will help reduce defects and waste while saving time.
Online monitoring, data collection and the ability to check moisture levels have also been incorporated, allowing Arbor to further optimise its processes, target maintenance more efficiently and ensure continuous improvement at the 90-acre North Lincolnshire site.
Mr Yell said that in tandem with its recently launched Warehouse on Wheels concept, which brings customers a mixed product delivery on just one vehicle, Arbor is “ensuring maximum product availability and consistency, as well as working towards greener solutions”.
