Specialist timber supplier Russwood Ltd is to make significant investments with the help of up to £33,471 of funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The business has grown substantially in the last year, now employing 23 staff after creating three new positions in 2008.

Russwood supplies high quality sawn timber, decking, flooring and cladding nationwide from its base in Newtonmore.

The main focus of the project is to build a new drying shed enabling a ready supply of timber at the correct moisture content. Also included is a paint line, insulation of an existing shed and additional office space due to the business outgrowing its existing premises.

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Russwood was one of the first businesses in Badenoch and Strathspey to install a biomass heating system and the new developments will also support environmental sustainability, including the use of Russwood's locally sourced Scotlarch® for the new drying shed and it being constructed on an existing brown field site allowing the re-use of land.

John Russell, managing director of Russwood said: "The investment we are making in our business is a direct result of the increasing demand for our products. We have strong aspirations to keep growing and this project is a significant step towards achieving this."

HIE's Deborah Tait said, "Russwood Ltd is one of our account managed businesses and as such we are working very closely with them to help them achieve their growth potential. This project will be a welcome boost to both the business and the area, allowing an already successful business the opportunity to expand."

Russwood Ltd is currently working jointly with the Centre for Timber Engineering at Edinburgh Napier University. This is to develop a new timber façade system which will simplify installation and maintenance issues for their customers.

(GK/JM)