One of the UK’s leading independent sawmillers has appointed a new Sales Manager as it plans for further growth in the coming years. A&J Scott Ltd has announced the appointment of Dave Taylor, who will cover the south of England for the Northumberland based company.

Dave brings with him 35 years of experience in the UK timber trade, with a wealth of knowledge in A&J Scott’s key fencing market. Based in the Midlands, he will be well placed to build on the company’s service offering as demand from customers across the country continues to increase.

This follows a decade in which the family-owned company has increased the size of its main site by 20 acres and invested over £25 million in new capital equipment, including a major upgrade to the main sawmill, construction of a new fully automated bandmill, installation of a new log sorting and grading line and a state of the art processing and handling line for re-saw operations. The sustainability of the site has recently been assured with installation of a solar array to power the sawmills.

The company is now well positioned for sustained growth in its main markets for fencing products, railway sleepers and other outdoor timbers in the years ahead, building on its record of delivering quality sawn timber products and high standards of customer service to its loyal base of customers across the UK. The company has also extended its product offer, adding NHSS4 highways standard fencing to its existing range.  

Dave said, “I’m thrilled to be joining A&J Scott. I’ve known the company for a number of years and have been impressed with the growth and development of the business. With the plans already in place and further opportunities ahead, this is an exciting time for me to develop further alongside the company”.

Managing Director, Robert Scott, said, “We’re delighted to have someone of Dave’s calibre and experience join the business and we’re looking forward to him contributing to the team as we continue to enhance our sawmilling output, product quality and service standards in the years ahead.”

Timber processing is now underway on the newly installed log grading & sorting line at A&J Scott. The £6m project marks the latest investment in future production capacity at the Northumberland based sawmill, one of the UK’s leading independent mills.

Having completed the purchase of a 20-acre site adjoining its main sawmill site 2 years ago, the family owned company has now installed and commissioned the new high speed log grading line supplied by Broadbaek & Co of Denmark.

Before installation could begin, the company faced the mammoth groundwork task of integrating the site into its existing operations, removing 12,000 tonnes of topsoil, 140,000 tonnes of sand and gravel and pouring 6,000m3 of concrete to work on, all made more complicated by the supply difficulties surrounding labour, transport, concrete and steel during the Covid lockdowns.

The new grading line has been delivered via a newly laid road into the site served by a new weighbridge and extended log storage areas. The increased processing capacity of the line will support the company’s plans to increase production this year and with new developments in the years ahead.

This follows a decade in which the family-owned business has invested over £25 million in new capital equipment, including a major upgrade to the main sawmill, construction of a new fully automated bandmill, installation of a new state of the art processing and handling line for re-saw operations at the site and also the purchase in 2019 of the Chirnside Sawmill near Duns in the Scottish borders.

The company is now well positioned for sustained growth in its main markets for fencing products, railway sleepers, garden product components and other outdoor timbers in the years ahead, building on its record of delivering quality sawn timber products and high standards of customer service to its loyal base of customers across the UK. The company has also extended its product range, adding NHSS4 highways standard fencing to its existing fencing ranges and developing the offer of high quality potato and vegetable storage boxes it has long produced.

Managing Director, Robert Scott, said, “Our excellent relationships with our customers give us the confidence to plan and invest for the future. This new line is the first investment made possible by the addition of this land to our site, and, with further planned investments to come, will enhance our sawmilling output, product quality and service standards in the years ahead.”