Mersey Timber to expand production at new base

CHIPBOARD supplier Mersey Timber is consolidating three sites at a new 70,000 sq ft base in Bootle.

The family-owned firm, which has an annual turnover of £3m and employs 33 people, acquired the site in Bridle Way for £370,000 with the cost covered by funding from Yorkshire Bank.

The business said the 48,000 sq ft warehouse and 20,000 sq ft storage yard, which has increased space by a quarter, would help boost efficiency and production capacity. It was previously the premises of Burley Windows.

Managing director Terry Stephens said: “This is a fantastic move for the business which provides us with larger, brighter and more sustainable premises.

“The first wave of staff has already moved in with the intention being that the site is fully operational by January 2014. Having all the staff in the same place will give everyone a lift and will help us take the business to the next level.”

Mersey Timber was established in 1919 and bought by Mr Stephens from the Glassman family in 1983. The firm currently operates from a 30,000 sq ft head office in Kirkby, where there is also a second processing plant, in addition to a storage warehouse in Bootle.

It manufactures PVC-edged doors for bedrooms and kitchens and also produces its own range of cut and edged melamine faced chipboard.