BSW Timber has started a major investment programme in its material handling equipment by commissioning eight new side-loader ‘Bulmor’ vehicles for its sawmill in Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys.

In a £900,000 contract with UK-based Briggs Equipment, the vehicles will be used to transport sawn timber on-site. It forms part of BSW’s ongoing strategy to upgrade the company’s on-site transportation fleet across all its UK mills, with plans for further investment to be announced later in the year.

Following an in-depth selection process, BSW chose Briggs Equipment due to a proven track record of working together in other UK mills – a partnership which has delivered efficiencies and improved safety and fleet management capability as part of a company-wide drive to improve reliability in site operations.

Dave Burd, southern regional manager for BSW Timber Group, said: “We undertook a thorough evaluation of all the different manufacturers currently supplying the UK market and concluded that Briggs was the best partner for us. As well as ensuring driver safety, the robustness of the vehicles’ design, together with features tailored to meet BSW’s requirements such as built in damage prevention, proved to be a winning formula.”

BSW has invested more than £6 million into its Newbridge-on-Wye sawmill over the past decade, making it the largest single-site sawmill in Wales, employing 148 staff.

Joe Moir, regional sales director for Scotland at Briggs Equipment, said: “We’ve been working with BSW for many years and are delighted to support the company with asset finance and full maintenance as part of this latest customised materials handling solution.

“The side-loaders have been fitted with a telemetry system to improve fleet management and have safety options to promote best practice and ensure a safe working environment at the Newbridge-on-Wye sawmill.”