Duchy Timber increases capacity through investment in new machinery

Cornwall-based sawmill Duchy Timber has recently purchased a state-of-the-art horizontal resaw at its Lostwithiel site in order to help facilitate a significant increase in production. The new multi-bonded saw is a big timesaver for the team and will allow them to dramatically improve their sawing capacity.

Duchy Timber employs 25 staff and is part of the award-winning Premier Forest Group. It converts locally grown softwood logs into sawn timber for a variety of uses including fencing, garden furniture, pallets, and agriculture. Duchy Timber sawmill at Lostwithiel was established in 1958 as part of the Duchy of Cornwall Estate. Duchy Timber supplies directly to local tradesmen, large construction companies and domestic customers, as well as other independent timber suppliers across the South West and Southern United Kingdom.

The new Stenner MHS9 horizontal resaw line consists of three individual sawing units which are designed for cutting fencing, pallet material and thin boards with multiple components produced in a single pass. The machines can tilt to produce feather edge boards and have linear feed speeds that range between 10-45 m/min. The machine is modular so that Duchy can add further sawing units to the line at a later date.

Olly Bennett, branch manager of Duchy Timber, said: “We have seen a consistent increase in demand since last spring when travel restrictions were announced and people started to spend more time and energy focussing on their gardens. The hope is that this trend will continue and this new investment will allow us to meet increased demand over the summer months.”

Terry Edgell, CEO of Premier Forest Group, said: “Although Duchy Timber is a brand with a rich heritage, it is important that we maintain its traditional reputation for quality while simultaneously making it a sustainable, forward thinking company. This investment, as well as others that we have made, show our commitment to Duchy Timber and its future as an important Cornish business.”