Progressive UK worktop manufacturer Bushboard has invested £1.8m on a brand new worktop line at its Wellingborough-based head office and manufacturing plant in Northamptonshire.

The latest £1.8m investment continues an impressive track record in recent years as the company expands its position as the UK’s foremost worktop manufacturer. In 2007, Bushboard set up a new manufacturing facility for its Encore solid surface range; in 2008 spent £0.5m on a waste burning and boiler system along with a new saw operation and last year turned its sights on the bathroom sector with the £1.4m expansion of its Nuance range of waterproof wallpanelling and worktops.

Says Stuart White, managing director of Bushboard: “Our investment- led approach in recent years reflects the progression of the worktop market and our drive to maintain our leading position. The new worktop line secures our strengths in product quality, innovation and customer service and gives us a strong platform for future growth.???

Despite its size, complexity and operational bedding in, the new postforming line, edgebander and handling equipment has been installed in just two weeks and is up and running smoothly. Working with Homag, the new line was specified to Bushboard’s exact requirements to ensure maximum productivity and efficiencies, while allowing the flexibility for innovative product development in the future. Plans are already underway for an Autumn launch of a unique worktop product.

Says White: “Bushboard has built a reputation for being best in class for design and product quality in our target market and the new line gives us an even stronger platform for innovation and product differentiation in the future.???

The worktop investment enhances Bushboard’s overall manufacturing capacity, giving them a sustainable growth platform for the future, while already achieving 25% productivity gains. Currently Bushboard manufactures over ½ a million worktops per year. The new worktop line will produce the company’s Omega, Prima and Odyssey range of kitchen worktops, as well as the Nuance range of bathroom worktops.