BSW Timber acquires Howie Forest Products

Nov 18, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. BSW Timber has acquired Howie Forest Products and Howie Group Ltd increasing its strategically located sawn timber capacity to more than 1 million cubic metres per annum, the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. Howie Forest Products, based in Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire is the largest single-site sawmill company in Great Britain, employing 150 staff. The company has an annual capacity of more than 300,000 cubic metres of sawn timber. The 56 hectare Howie Forest Products sawmill in Dalbeattie which turns over around GBP 30 million ($50.4 million) was opened by Robin Howie in 1976 and has benefited from significant investment. Robin’s daughter Laura Smith, the Group’s Sales Director is the latest family member to occupy a senior role. Robin Howie is the only member of the existing management team who will step down. The remaining executives join the enlarged BSW Group and continue in their current positions, with the Howie Forest Products brand being retained and the business remaining a distinct entity within the BSW Group. The merger of these premier Scottish based sawmilling companies form part of the long-term expansion drive aimed at enhancing the future profitability of the group and security to its customers in both the sawn timber and co-product markets and suppliers. BSW Timber’s acquisition of Howie Forest Products builds on recent long-term investment aimed at developing a network of state-of-the-art sawmills across the UK.