Building a greener future

Vincent Timber, a family-owned business based in Birmingham, is a leading timber supplier specialising in external cladding, decking, and commercial vehicle bodies. The company imports timber globally, processing it at their facility to meet customer specifications precisely. When soaring energy prices doubled their bills, Vincent Timber urgently needed a strategic approach to manage rising costs, especially due to their high-energy manufacturing processes.

Vincent Timber completed a comprehensive energy assessment, pinpointing their extraction system as the primary area for energy savings. With expert guidance and a grant facilitated through Birmingham City Council, Vincent Timber upgraded the extraction system’s outdated fans, achieving an immediate reduction in energy use. Savings from this successful project were reinvested into further sustainable improvements, including electric forklifts replacing diesel side-loaders, energy-efficient lighting with motion sensors, and automated machinery shutdown processes.

This radical shift delivered substantial benefits, reducing energy consumption significantly and enabling ongoing investments in sustainability. The extraction system upgrade alone achieved a 40% reduction in energy use, directly translating into lower energy bills and environmental impact.

Encouraged by these initial successes, Vincent Timber has continued investing in renewable solutions, including electric vehicles and a biomass heating system powered by wood waste, further lowering their carbon emissions.