Need a full firewood processing setup

[Graham w]

have you an extra 200k you dont need to see for a very long time?

[broonie]

was thinking more like 250k

[rovers90]

Not helpful... Scared of competition?

 

No, people are just being realistic with you. If you are starting from scratch, buying a site, processor, tractors, fork lifts, delivery vehicles, etc etc you are looking at a massive capital investment. After nearly five years in the game I'm thinking of getting out of it as every year hardwood round wood is becoming more difficult to source and more expensive. Also, I feel you don't actually make your money in firewood until the day you decide to pack it in - ie, you will then be able to stop buying stock and just concentrate on selling what you have got.

 

When talking to people about output of processors I would take what you hear with a pinch of salt as well.

[santacruz]

I feel you don't actually make your money in firewood until the day you decide to pack it in - ie, you will then be able to stop buying stock and just concentrate on selling what you have got.

 

That's exactly my thoughts I have been at it 6 years and did 650 cube last year. Last year was the first year I made a profit. This year I have already bought and am processing the stock to make about 600 ish cube and I wont be buying any more I am sending the business in a new direction as a trial and if it doesn't pay off I am out of the game. Buying in hardwood now is difficult and expensive. Contractors are throwing in any old crap into the hardwood you get so much waste from every load, its a sellers market with so many people keen to get hold of hardwood, and if you don't know the seller well its easy to get ripped off.

[HertsWood]

HWF is the Woodfuel subsidiary of HorticMan Ltd, the parent company. In ideal world I'd do firewood all year round - it's not going to happen. That why we concentrate on grounds and estate management 80% of the time! with the Woodfuel being an additional revenue stream. Having said that we have got a 175 acre woodland to thin over the next 5 years, so won't be short of timber. Matt

 

 

 

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[renewablejohn]

It's a new business with cash funds from other businesses. There will be no borrowing...and the site we are buying has a considerable source of wood... But buying in cordwood kiln drying with RHI subsidies stacks up for me! Any helpful suggestions willingly taken on board

 

Be interested in how the RHI stacks up. Do you intend using solar or biomass for your kiln drying.

[Triassic]

Not helpful... Scared of competition?

Sounds more like you've not done your homework. The competition is out there and prices are keen, it's very easy for an established firm to undercut your prices and before you k ow it your margins will be gone.

[Stu Baillie]

Be interested in how the RHI stacks up. Do you intend using solar or biomass for your kiln drying.

Kiln drying with biomass boiler... And the cost setup is more or less what I have planned...

[Stu Baillie]

Sounds more like you've not done your homework. The competition is out there and prices are keen, it's very easy for an established firm to undercut your prices and before you k ow it your margins will be gone.

Oh I've done the homework... Maths etc... With wood, pellets and associated products... You can make the figures stack up .... The only problem is selling the product... And that is where 20 years of sales and marketing comes in!

[Alycidon]

Oh I've done the homework... Maths etc... With wood, pellets and associated products... You can make the figures stack up .... The only problem is selling the product... And that is where 20 years of sales and marketing comes in!

 

When I looked at making pellets maybe 8 years ago the UK and European production capacity was 30% higher than demand. To make pellets work you really need a CHP plant to burn your excess along the lines of the Balcas set up in Ireland.

 

A