26 January 2012 09:09

CONSTRUCTION

CR Taylor Timber performing well and ‘positive’ for future

Roof truss sales doubled, investment in new machinery, market sector growth, new jobs creation and an expanding nationwide footprint are all contributing to a positive outlook in 2012 for West Yorkshire timber firm CR Taylor.

Executive chairman Charles Taylor reports that the company, based in Denholme, Bradford, is in good heart and bucking the general trend, as some other timber firms struggle in what remains a volatile market. He puts improved performance and enhanced business confidence down to the impact of a major restructuring and rebranding programme, instigated soon after Charles took control of the long established family company in 2010 and completed last year.

Sales of engineered timber products continue to set new records, with roof truss turnover up 100% in 2011 compared to the previous year, resulting in a planned circa £60,000 investment in an additional roof truss press this year to further double sales. Charles says, “As well as meeting the needs of our nationwide customer base, we are increasingly supplying roof trusses to other timber firms and builders merchants who do not have their own manufacturing or design capabilities."

Sales of I joists are also running at an all-time high, up 15% on 2010, with a further 80% growth expected in the current year.

A new I-joist designer has been taken on in the engineered timber division, where there are now five designers, with further recruitment planned to meet spiralling demand, coupled with a move into spandrel panels manufacture and the introduction of a supply-and-fit facility for roof trusses.

CR Taylor Timber is building on its commercial and private business, both general and new-build, including an enhanced presence in the social housing, care homes and education sectors. The addition of a new vehicle to the five-strong delivery fleet is due to be supplemented by a new 40ft artic to meet growing nationwide demand, primarily for engineered timber products. The company has also strengthened the management and sales teams at its long established Thornton Road branch in Bradford, which continues to perform well.

Charles says, “We are increasingly focussing on lean manufacturing procedures to remove any production inefficiencies. We have improved our stock profiling and our spread of higher margin products. We have also committed to go for the Investors in People recognition, as our staff remain key to our future evolution.

“However, such growth does not come easy and needs to be carefully controlled. It is a process of consolidation, as we seek to further increase our market share in both our core and engineered timber operations.

“We have seen a lot of changes in the business and have achieved a great deal over the past 12 months. We now have a much more efficient business structure and much more visibility in the trade. We feel very positive about the opportunities and challenges 2012 will bring.”

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