The East Sussex-based company, along with related operation Churchill & Sim Ltd, continued independently as non-trading entities when the business of Churchill & Sim Group was acquired by UCM, but never themselves became part of the latter.
"Consequently, when UCM closed, we were in a position to start trading from day one," said managing director Peter Hammersley. "We’ve been able to take on five staff from UCM and [subsidiary] Hollanden Timber and, after a full year’s trading, can report a profitable start."
One reason for the success of the company, which this year marks its 200th anniversary, said Mr Hammersley, has been the continuing support of Russian Siberian shippers LDK1 and Solombala Sawmills from Archangel, and it is the former which is now expanding.
Based in Lesosibirsk, LDK1 is building a new plant alongside its original 1960s facility, featuring state-of-the-art European sawmill technology, with capacity to process 1.5 million m3 of FSC-certified redwood and larch a year.
According to general director Pavel Bilibin, the new mill will enable LDK 1 to raise yield and cut processing costs, while increasing its range of dimensions.
"It will broaden the quality and quantity of our products, increasing our competitiveness in existing markets, and helping us enter new ones," said Mr Bilibin.
"While we’ve continued to take monthly volumes from LDK 1, it has recently focused more on the North African markets" said Mr Hammersley. "But improved recovery at the new plant will increase availability and its interest in expanding in its other markets – and as it is only mothballing its old mill, it will have the potential to increase output to 2.5 million m3."
Churchill & Sim International, he added, is offering LDK redwood, while associate business CSI Specialities handles its larch.
