Wood fuel specialist makes its business smarter

By Catapult PR

24 Jul 2023

Website
stephenbeech2 copy.jpg.jpg

Wood fuel specialist Logs Direct has scooped Gold and Silver accolades in the Made Smarter Awards 2023, on the basis of the digital transformation it has pursued to drive manufacturing improvements and business growth.

The Lancaster-based business - a supplier of a comprehensive range of wood-fuel products, all certified as ‘Ready to Burn’, plus complementary and ancillary products -  was one of the first 19 SME manufacturing businesses to receive a Gold award from Made Smarter.

This recognised Logs Direct’s investment in a real-time kiln monitoring system that also encompasses heat recovery.  The installation of this new technology has helped to significantly reduce the energy required for the wood-drying process, by around 15 per cent and helped to make the whole process much greener. 

A further investment of over £80,000 of new technology has been devoted to the kiln-drying process.  The technology moves hot air around within the kiln, so that all the logs are dried evenly.  It then records the  humidity in the air and the length of time taken by the drying cycles, it extracts all of the wet, hot air from the kiln, removes the moisture and returns the air back to the kiln as dry, warm air to be used again and again.

This process continues to help ensure that all of the wood that is dried meets new Defra conditions relating to moisture content in wood.  It enables all Logs Direct customers to buy with confidence and understand that the wood is not just dried correctly but also as efficiently and ecologically as possible. 

The investment in this technology has paved the way for even more eco-friendly products to be introduced in the future and has provided all the business benefits that accrue from improved efficiencies.  It opens up new market opportunities for Logs Direct and business growth of 15 per cent is now predicted in the coming year, which will in turn lead to more job creation.

This latest development at the UK’s leading wood specialist is another sign of Logs Direct never standing still.  Since its establishment, it has always incorporated leading-edge technology into its production regime, so as to create and offer better products and optimise its capacity.  This has come at significant cost but the investment has always driven the business to another level and helped earn the trust of trading partners.

The business has similarly been relentless in solving the many issues relating to raw materials that have emerged over the past 10 years and particularly since Covid-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  Logs Direct has somehow managed to successfully steer its ship through the choppiest of global supply waters.

By optimising its manufacturing approach and continually striving to decarbonise its operation as much as possible, the company has been able to launch innovative and relevant products and secure contracts with some of the country’s leading retailers and brands.

Sales director, Stephen Talbot, says: “The Made Smarter Awards are testament to our desire to incorporate digital solutions within our business, so as to continually drive improvement and deliver product excellence.  We are grateful for the support that Made Smarter provided, to help us achieve our latest decarbonisation and growth goals but can assure customers that the road to greater efficiency through technology does not stop here.”

The business will continue to offer customers as many best-in-class fuel options as possible, via www.logsdirect.co.uk and its trade brand of Warma Home Fuels, delivering bespoke solutions whenever required and offering informed, specialist advice on any wood-related products. To access this expertise, just call Logs Direct on 01524 812476.         

Enjoyed this? Read more from Catapult PR

Latest news

1

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey Happy students at ULAN

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey

10 Jul 2025

2

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15 Forbes Solicitors promotions

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15

10 Jul 2025

3

Communications company raises investment will fuel global expansion Laurence Tan (Investment Associate, Praetura Ventures); Charlie Morris (Director, Corporate Finance (Mergers & Acquisitions); Ian Rose (Chairman, Audiebant); Josh Dean (CEO, Audiebant); Peter Carway (Investment Director, Praetura Ventures)

Communications company raises investment will fuel global expansion

10 Jul 2025

4

Lancaster Spirits Company announces partnership with leading whisky maker Joan Casals, Max McFarlane and Chris Pateman

Lancaster Spirits Company announces partnership with leading whisky maker

09 Jul 2025

5

Viridium appointed to support Indurent with major warehouse decarbonisation project Rebecca Latham, Gemma Cornwall and Ross Cornwall

Viridium appointed to support Indurent with major warehouse decarbonisation project

09 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin