The £7m-turnover Birmingham-based business is already £175,000 in to a £300,000 spend on bespoke business management software which, it says, will provide real-time analysis and "identify cost efficiencies".
"While we already use professional design system software, we are also looking at new product testing systems and equipment, with the long-term strategy to design out excess material," said business development manager Danny Harrison.
Nicklin has also recently installed a two-way pallet line and biomass heating plant and has "£200,000 investment pending in automation to develop a different area of the business".
Next on the agenda is the launch of a new website, including an e-commerce facility.
Nicklins is also recruiting. It has just appointed a business analyst and commercial manager and two sales managers and is set to take on more personnel for testing and product design work.
The company currently spends around £2.5m annually on British timber, which accounts for 90% of its wood use, with the remaining 10% from Scandinavia, plus £250,000 on plywood and sheet materials. Its planned move to entirely home-grown wood – for which it is currently undertaking quality and moisture content trials – is at least in part driven by the environmental benefits of local sourcing.
"Our class-leading approach to environmental management is going to be of increasing importance to customers," said managing director David Nicklin.
