The Prince of Wales visits Balcas Timber Limited

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales on his second engagement of the day visited Balcas Timber Limited near Enniskillen. Arriving at the plant HRH was greeted by The Earl of Erne, The Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh, and went on to meet Mrs Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for the Environment, Mr Jerry Liston, Chairman Balcas Group, Mr Ernest Kidney, Managing Director and Mr Patrick Madigan, Operations Director.

Balcas Limited is one of the EU’s most advanced wood processing companies, generating annual sales of £70 million from its three manufacturing sites in Ireland, Great Britain and Europe. The company employs 700 people in harvesting and processing the output from renewable forests of Northern Europe.

HRH was accompanied during the visit by Mr Ernest Kidney, and visited the Primary Sawmill and viewed the sawmill process, later HRH met a number of operators at their work stations.

Moving to the Combined Heat and Power Plant His Royal Highness was given an overview of the operation by staff and went on to view the manufacture of wood pellets and had the opportunity to meet a number of operators working with the finished product in the Pellet Bagging Area.

Later in the visit HRH had the opportunity to meet staff and invited guests. Prior to departing for the next engagement the Royal visitor was presented with a gift and accepted an invitation to sign the visitors’ book.