A £95million expansion of one of the north’s biggest employers is “taking shape” after key equipment was purchased and shipped.
Norbord announced a year ago that it was to double production at its mill at Morayhill, just outside Inverness.
The move safeguarded the futures of 130 workers and helped support another 300 Highland jobs – many in forestry.
Norbord produces orientated strand board (OSB) – better known as sterling board – which is used in construction and furniture manufacture as an alternative to plywood.
The factory was the first in Europe to produce the material when it was built in the early 1980s – and Norbord has said the investment would help the Highlands meet growing demand across Europe.
The company has now revealed that vital equipment for the revamp has been purchased and will be shipped to Scotland over the next few months as work gathers pace on the construction of the new plant.
It includes the forming line, the screening, blending and resin system, the heat-energy system and dryer, which have been purchased from Germany and Italy, and the finishing end, which has been ordered from the USA.
Construction of the “lay down” area for the equipment to be stored before installation has been completed, along with the new logging yard.
The 650ft long foundations are underway for the press, together with the main building and dryer.
A new continuous press has also arrived in Scotland and is awaiting delivery once the site is prepared.
It was decommissioned from Norbord’s Grande Prairie mill in Alberta, Canada, where it was deconstructed and packed into 80 shipping containers.
These were trucked across Canada and shipped from Thunder Bay, Ontario, across the Atlantic to Nigg in Easter Ross.
Alan McMeekin, vice-president, finance and operations director of Norbord Europe, said it had been quite a logistical undertaking.
“The press foundations are taking shape and everything is on schedule so far,” he said.
“We’ll really see change as building construction and equipment installation progresses.”
When the new continuous press is operational, it will significantly increase the capacity of OSB production at Inverness and will create the potential for further expansion in the future.
The project has been supported with an £11.4million development grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
