£3m funding package leaves woodshavings firm chipper
A SOLIHULL animal bedding supplier has successfully expanded after securing a near £3m funding package.
Established in 1980, Arden Wood Shavings is a leading provider of woodshavings and sawdust bedding for the poultry, equestrian and dairy industries, and uses its own transport fleet to deliver products to its nationwide client base.
To keep up with growing customer demand, the business approached long-term banking provider Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking for lending support.
The bank backed the firm with a £2.85m funding package which the firm has used to build a new garage workshop to carry out maintenance on plant and machinery including its refining equipment and baling machines.
The business has also developed a nine-acre storage facility near its production site on Kenilworth Road, Hampton-in-Arden, which will house its bales of woodshavings ahead of delivery.
The firm, whose products are also purchased by industrial customers for uses such as spillage absorbents, filtration systems and food smoking, employs 45 people and is planning to introduce new machinery to its production line in the next six months.
Chris Stanford, managing director at Arden Wood Shavings, said: “We are one of the largest suppliers of animal bedding in the country, and it is essential that our machinery is maintained and in efficient working order at all times to enable us to meet customer demand.
“The garage workshop provides a dedicated environment for our team to complete essential maintenance on the machinery, whilst the separate storage area allows us to meet seasonal fluctuations in order volumes and supply product on a just in time basis as required by our customers.
“We have established a strong working relationship with Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking over the past 22 years, and the team’s on-going support and funding is instrumental as we look to continue our steady growth strategy.”
Adrian Burden, relationship director at Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking, said: “Arden Wood Shavings has become the go-to supplier for farmers and firms across the country looking for quality woodshavings that are produced in clean, bio-secure purpose built premises.
“The business relies on fully functioning equipment, and this in-house garage workshop will ensure equipment such as their baling and loading systems is ready and able to load the delivery fleet to meet customer deadlines.”
