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A £12 million investment in timber processing facilities has been unveiled by Arbor Forest Products, creating 20 new jobs.

The leading supplier to the construction sector is bringing one of the most advanced sawmill operations to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, while doubling that £6 million spend on further storage at the New Holland headquarters.

The new planing line will crown the biggest single year expansion of the site. It is currently undergoing internal fit-out, with a view to production beginning in January.

It is seen as crucial to the long-term vision for the company, allowing the family-run business to further set itself apart from its competitors by offering a level of guaranteed quality.

Scanning technology, unique within the º£½ÇÊÓƵ market, will allow the Arbor Forest team to identify and eliminate defects in lengths of timber before they reach customers – significantly reducing waste and saving building manufacturers valuable time.

Managing director Jason Ostler said: “We’re proud to be investing in the future of the company at what is, for many, a challenging time to be doing business. However, as a family-run business that has been setting the standard for º£½ÇÊÓƵ timber for generations, we are able to take a longer-term view that makes an investment like this a sound business decision for us.”

Arbor is poised to take sales into nine figures, having generated a turnover of £96.7 million in the year to March 2019, with 16 per cent growth.

Owned by the Howarth family, the company has a strong track record of funding further development.