In a state-of-the-art industrial complex in Buchanan Road, Banyo (Qld) sits the warehousing complex of Simmonds Lumber, complete with landscaped gardens to complement the site.
This purpose-built facility was constructed with a total site area of 8700 square metres, which, apart from the nature strips, is totally concreted to a depth of 150mm and is specially reinforced to accommodate the largest B Double transporters with loads in excess of 30 tons. The single span warehouse covers an area of 5500 square metres.
Paul Elsmore, CEO of Simmonds Lumber states that the site is capable of carrying about 6000 cubic metres of timber, the majority of which is under cover, plus stocks of board product in excess of 1000 cubic metres.
The bulk of the product is procured from overseas from countries such as New Zealand and South East Asia with an investment in the site and stockholding of approximately $6million.
"Brisbane was the first interstate division of Simmonds Lumber opened in 1987," he stated. "Since that time it has focused primarily on the South East Asian trade and Radiata furniture grade timbers out of New Zealand. Outside of that we stock and trade in Western Red Cedar, treated and structural Radiata, and a range of board products."
Paul said that today Simmonds Lumber would be the largest importer of Merbau products out of Indonesia and Malaysia into the Queensland market, providing a range of products to the stair and furniture industry, as well as reeded decking to the domestic housing market, and components to outdoor furniture manufacturers.
He added; "People are our past and people will be our future. This not only applies to the personnel within the organisation but the many people who support the company from both a customer and supplier viewpoint."
Paul stated that the Simmonds group of companies is seen as a marketing organisation backed in terms of supply by some of the largest timber corporations in the world. He said this runs in tandem with the financial support and long term commitment of a dedicated Board of Directors, namely Humphry Rolleston (chairman), Graeme Black, Geoff Joyce and Stephen McCraw, with himself as CEO.
"We believe that our commitment to the industry in terms of investment is a criteria of the future and feel that people trained and experienced within our industry will always form the backbone of the group," Paul said.
"Personal commitment and service to an ever growing customer base is the heart of our business, and we believe that our ideals of placing the Simmonds name at the top of the wholesale and importing fraternity in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria to be an achievable objective."