West Fraser Europe welcomed Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, to the company’s Inverness manufacturing facility to discuss the company’s significant investment in rail freight infrastructure and its potential to strengthen Scotland’s construction and manufacturing supply chains.
During the visit, Mr Flynn met with George Webb, European Purchasing Director at West Fraser, and toured the site, which manufactures SterlingOSB Zero, the only oriented strand board (OSB) manufactured in the UK with no added formaldehyde. The visit included a tour of the site’s new rail freight terminal, a major infrastructure project that will connect the Inverness plant directly to the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line. The development forms part of West Fraser’s long-term strategy to improve logistics efficiency, increase supply chain resilience and reduce transport-related carbon emissions.
The new facility incorporates two 560m rail sidings together with infrastructure for loading and unloading freight containers. Once operational, the terminal will enable more raw materials and finished products to be transported by rail, reducing reliance on road haulage. In its initial phase, the project is expected to remove around 10,000 HGV movements each year while cutting annual CO2 emissions by an estimated 9,000 tonnes. There is also potential for other business in and around Inverness to use the terminal, extending its economic and environmental benefits across the region.
Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, said: “Moving goods by rail takes lorries off our roads, boosts businesses and helps secure the sustainable economic growth we want to deliver. To make that possible we need to invest in our rail infrastructure, and West Fraser is a strong example of turning opportunity into delivery. By enabling more timber to move by rail, this facility is supporting a more efficient, resilient and low-carbon supply chain. This investment demonstrates the value of partnership working in growing rail freight across the Highlands and Scotland as a whole.”
George Webb, European Purchasing Director at West Fraser, said: “We were proud to welcome Stephen Flynn to our Inverness site and provide an insight into our operations and the important role we play within Scotland’s forestry and manufacturing sectors. Our rail freight development represents a major investment in the long-term future of the Inverness site. It is a brilliant example of a positive collaboration between our business, our stakeholders, the local community, and Transport Scotland, and showcases the vital contribution the forestry sector makes to the Highland economy and to communities all across Scotland. We welcomed the opportunity to discuss these exciting developments with Mr Flynn and the Rail Freight Group”.
For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com