Timber Treatment Plant Upgrade
Major Investment Underway as We Upgrade Our High-Efficiency Timber Treatment Plant
A major investment is underway at our Ross-on-Wye site as we upgrade our timber treatment plant, marking our largest manufacturing improvement in many years.
After 33 years of continuous use, we are modernising the facility to support the next generation of high-quality, long-lasting timber products.
As most of our products are pressure-treated on site for outdoor use, this facility plays a critical role in our commitment to durability, performance, and long-term value for customers. Work began in early October and is on track to be completed by January 2026. Throughout the upgrade, we will remain fully operational, with no interruption to customer service.
Modernising a Core Part of Our Manufacturing Process
The decision to replace the plant reflects both the age of the original system and our ongoing drive to maintain best-in-class production standards.
The old plant has been fully decommissioned and removed using cranes. All outdated systems will be replaced with new, advanced components.
We are keeping only the two recently installed pressure vessels, which already meet advanced standards.
Everything else is being rebuilt from the ground up.
A New Treatment Plant Designed or Efficiency and the Future
This investment is more than a replacement — it is a complete redesign aimed at improving efficiency, increasing product availability, and offering more environmentally responsible options across our treatment operations.
The new facility will feature:
- Additional storage tanks provide increased production flexibility and greater overall capacity.
- A redesigned layout, improving workflow, and reducing bottlenecks throughout the treatment process.
- Upgraded pumps to reduce energy use and improve throughput.
- Added automation that will enhance quality and reduce downtime.
Once operational, the upgraded plant is expected to be among the most efficient treatment systems in the UK in terms of utilisation. For our customers, this means faster order fulfilment, reduced environmental impact, and an even more dependable supply of our timber products, whether you are a retailer, trade professional, or commercial client.
This investment strengthens our ongoing commitment to sustainable, responsible manufacturing, an increasingly important priority for customers, specifiers, and the wider timber industry.
Decommissioning The Old Plant
Building on Over 80 Years of Heritage and Technical Excellence
For eight decades, we have built our reputation on consistent investment in innovation, quality processes, and products designed to last.
We were a founder of incising technology in the UK, a process that creates micro-incisions in the timber surface to enable deeper preservative penetration, offering enhanced durability in ground-contact applications. This expertise helped form the foundation of our PermaTimber® range, a collection of long-life fencing products backed by industry-recognised guarantees and approved by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
We are also proud to be a WPA Benchmark-certified treater, demonstrating our compliance with the highest standards in timber treatment through independent audits. Our work is further supported by the Arxada Treatright® Warranty, providing customers with reliable assurance and full traceability of treatment quality.
The construction of our new plant ensures our heritage and quality standards continue.
Installing The New Plant
Uninterrupted Service Throughout the Upgrade
Although this is a significant project, we have taken extensive steps to maintain seamless service during the transition.
We have:
- Increased stock levels across key product groups.
- Partnered with trusted external treatment providers to cover any unplanned requirements.
- Coordinated continuity planning across our Ross-on-Wye, Cheltenham, and Chesham branches to ensure stable supply and reliable delivery.
Customers across all sectors, from gardeners and landscapers to installers, merchants, and commercial contractors, will continue to receive the same dependable service, enhanced product quality, and reliable delivery performance that help you meet your own commitments with confidence.
A Long-Term Investment in Quality and Manufacturing Excellence
This project marks a significant milestone in our long-term strategy to provide customers with the very best in high-quality, reliably treated timber products — backed by robust guarantees you can count on, both now and for decades to come.
With more than 80 years of heritage, we remain committed to investing in people, processes, and ongoing innovation that ensure our products last.
For more information about our products, services, and commitment to quality, please visit walfordtimber.co.uk.