The Taunton-based firm is also taking on another 13 staff and last month acquired Oakminster Ltd, an installer which purchases products from David Salisbury and sells under the Oakminster brand.
Managing director David Salisbury told TTJ that he had held back from further investments because of general economic bad news, but he couldn’t ignore the company’s rising sales trend any longer.
"At the beginning of the year people were talking doom and gloom but we have to believe our sales figures," he said.
Mr Salisbury believes "recession fatigue", people opting to improve rather than move and the fact that several prominent competitors had folded in recent years are all possible reasons for helping sales.
"In 2008-09 we lost money but broke even in 2010, followed by a small profit in 2011. Now we can make a decent profit," he said.
Sales are expected to be about £12m this year, with bigger growth in 2013.
Mr Salisbury said new investments will include a replacement thicknesser and sander, plus a new server, while an optimising saw is being considered for later this year. New staff include eight additional workers on the factory floor.
Following the takeover of Oakminster, its conservatory sales will be rebranded under the David Salisbury name.
Mr Salisbury said the sales increase also meant greater volumes of timber purchasing, mainly from Timbmet and Brooks Bros. This includes Timbmet’s Red Grandis eucalyptus product, which Mr Salisbury said was useful in contributing towards A-rated windows because it was less dense than traditional hardwoods such as idigbo and was FSC certified.
About 50% of the company’s windows and doors are made from engineered timber.
