BSW Timber recently opened its doors and offered a behind-the-scenes tour to a group of local college students.

Pupils from Dumfries & Galloway College were afforded the tour of BSW’s Dalbeattie site in December last year.

The Carpentry and Joinery students were shown the process from felled log through to sawn timber, witnessing the log’s journey from the log yard, through the mill’s state-of-the-art sawmilling technology, and finishing with the kiln drying processes, graders and incising machinery.

The tour was conducted by production manager Robert Lamont and provided an opportunity for the students to learn the processes used to transform timber into end use products. It also showcased BSW’s innovative product development department, who are currently working on its new IRO range of heat enhanced architectural timbers.

Robert said: “We were thrilled to welcome pupils from Dumfries & Galloway College to our site. We always try to do our bit in the community, and it was a fantastic chance to show the carpenters and joiners of the future exactly what it is we do at BSW.

“It’s one thing learning about timber at college and in books, but to be able to come and see the process from start to finish first-hand is invaluable, and we’re proud to have been able to play a part in that.”

Joanna Campbell, the college principal, said: “Working with important local employers such as BSW Timber, and giving our students experiences that tie in with their studies, is a key part of what we strive to do as a college.

“Combining college learning with industry experience helps us provide our students with a winning combination that ensures they’re prepared to enter industry when they graduate.

“Dumfries & Galloway College is extremely grateful to BSW Timber for making this visit possible and we look forward to working with them in the future.”

BSW’s Dalbeattie site, in Kirkcudbrightshire, employs around 150 members of staff, and the 56 hectare site has an annual capacity of more than 300,000 m3 of sawn timber.