NEW contracts worth £1/2 million have followed a joinery firm's investment in the latest hi-tech machining equipment.

Piper Products, which employs around 50 at its Mabledon Avenue site in Ashford, bought the new Biesse computer numerically controlled machining centre towards the end of last year. The investment allows the company to fulfil larger orders at more competitive prices and its skilled craftsmen to carry out the highly specialised bespoke joinery for which it has built its considerable reputation.

The high quality workmanship was recognised last November when Piper Products was highly commended at the Timber Industry Awards for its use of American white oak, European cherry and Douglas fir in a prestige modern extension to a 17th century Kent farmhouse.

Managing director Beryl Piper said: "We were thrilled to do so well in such a high profile event as it reflects the high standards of workmanship that our craftsmen achieve. Now the company has picked up two important contracts, which will both use the new automated machine. The first £150,000 contract is for a re-fit for a communications headquarters in Maidenhead.

"The second contract worth around £350,000, is for another shopfitting company which needs Piper's craftsmanship for a major re-fit in the City of London.”

Royston Cobb, works director, said: "The CNC machine allows us to tackle much bigger orders by making the repetitive work more cost effective and allowing our workforce to concentrate on the skilled aspects of our work.

"It also makes us quicker and more competitive and will help us to continue with our exciting expansion plans. We have recognised that to retain our reputation in the industry we need to be constantly moving forward and investing in technology."