Marlows Timber Engineering Ltd is investing heavily in operations to meet growing demand for engineered floors and timber frame construction.
The Suffolk company, which was acquired by the Howarth Timber Group from administrative receivers in October last year, has spent £500,000 relocating staff into purpose built timber-frame offices at its Bury St Edmunds site.
It has also invested £350,000 in a 5.5x30m table press with mechanical unloading and handling facilities for manufacture of “room in the roof” trussed rafters.
The company’s next outlay will be £400,000 to extend floor deck production capacity – a move which will grow its timber frame output to 1,200 units per year.
Roger Smith, Marlows general manager, said: “The future of Marlows looked uncertain last year but the acquisition and investment by the Howarth Timber Group has created real opportunity for our experienced team. Our customers have also been very supportive.”
Mr Smith said the company saw particular growth opportunities in I-beam floors and timber frame, where its market share “continues to grow”.
Marlows’ new 7,000ft2 office building features insulated I-beam floor cassettes measuring 14.3×2.4m – the largest cassettes the company has used to date. It took just 16 weeks to construct, from sole plate to occupation.
