EGGER (UK)’s chipboard manufacturing plant at Auchinleck has received a visit from South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle.
The plant, which will celebrate 20 years of operation next year, manufactures approximately 400,000m3 chipboard annually which goes on to be used in the furniture, interior design and specification sectors. Chipboard consists of harvested wood (industrial roundwood, chips and sawdust) and also recycled wood which is sourced predominantly from EGGER’s subsidiary Timberpak from East Ayrshire and beyond. Only when the wood can no longer be used in chipboard, is it used as fuel to power the plant.
During his tour, the MSP was shown around the dedicated apprentice workshop. The company, which has a strong reputation of recruiting and retaining apprentices from the local area, recently won the Apprentice/Graduate Award in this year’s s1jobs Recruitment Awards.
The family owned business doesn’t just process wood, it manages and harvests it as well, through its EGGER Forestry business. As part of his visit to the Barony plant, Brian met with representatives of EGGER Forestry to hear about the work they undertake in managing, harvesting and planting forests on behalf of their clients.
Speaking after the visit Brian Whittle MSP said:
“It was fascinating to visit EGGER’s Barony plant and see the technology that transforms wood into their products. The plant’s chimney has become a local feature as recognisable in the local skyline as the Barony A-Frame; it’s great to see this kind of sophisticated manufacturing and production taking place in East Ayrshire.
I congratulate EGGER on their commitment to providing apprenticeships and hope their work in this area will continue to develop and grow in the future. I hope to be able to return in the future and learn more about the forestry side of their business.”
Heiko Lichtblau, Plant Director, said:
“It was a pleasure to show Brian around our state-of-the-art production facility and explain in detail our sustainable approach and our resource friendly production facilities and processes, which have been significantly upgraded and modernised over the past couple of years.
We have an ongoing commitment to the local community through our award winning and dedicated apprenticeship programme which we are currently looking to extend even further.”