A new treatment plant has been introduced by Ridgeons Forest Products’ at its 12-acre timber mill site in Herringswell, Suffolk.

Measuring 15.3m x 3m, the plant has been developed to meet increasing customer demand for quality treated timber, and to ensure compliance with the latest Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

Jem Slee, Ridgeons Forest Products general manager, said: “The new tilting plant is an important investment for Ridgeons. Boasting a dual track, it offers significant efficiency benefits in both operating and drying, and its increased size means we can now treat 30m³ timber at a time.

“In addition to the new plant, we have also recently invested in a new storage building, a new twin line saw, and automated handling and bundling on our second machining line. These critical investments will ensure that Ridgeons continues to offer great service and quality products for customers.”

Ridgeons Forest Products provides timber to Ridgeons’ 26 merchant sites across the east of England, as well as to independent merchants, garden structure manufacturers and other users of quality machined timber, on top of machined and treated timber.

Working alongside existing low- and high-pressure plants, installation of the new plant enables Ridgeons to chemically treat all timber on site, ensuring consistency in product quality.

The purpose-built site in Herringswell provides stockholding, timber processing and treatments, supplying timber to over 20 merchant branches in the Ridgeons group, as well as to external customers.