At the cutting edge of sawmill technology

The Shropshire-based sawmill Charles Ransford and Son continue their ongoing investment in processing of UK logs to produce quality timber fencing, completing the final stage of their evolution.

The last stage of the company’s progression includes state-of-the-art sawing equipment from a German provider, incorporating 3D laser scanning and optimizing technology, combined with sophisticated re-sawing, board recovery, measurement and product handling systems making it one of the most accurate and efficient operations in the UK. 

The complete line represents an extremely flexible solution for the processing of saw-logs with lengths of 3.0 to 5.4m and a diameter of 18 to 55cm. The feedstock is primarily intended for the specialist and general fencing market. EWD Sawline Company of Altötting in Bavaria provided all sawing equipment including a Reducer Quadro-bandsaw system, an Optimes straight line circular saw edger/trimmer and a Twin band Flexi resaw. The state-of-the-art computer control and optimizing equipment was provided by MiCROTEC of Brixen, Italy, with Maxicut and Logeye 3D measurement. The sorting and trimming equipment comes from German company Kallfass, situated in the Black Forest.

Ransford is an ISO 9001:2008 compliant company supplying quality timber based fencing and acoustic systems and is one of very few companies accredited to supply timber processed in accordance with NHSS4.

Ransford processes around 70,000 tons of logs each year at the facility in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire. The main species used are Douglas Fir, Larch and Spruce, sourced from sustainably managed UK forests.