Timber imports are set to soar at Perth Harbour this year with the development of an import and treatment facility for the Glenalmond Timber Company.
The venture is based on an innovative high-performance timber joist product, Ultrajoist.
Under development for three years and targeted mainly at the construction market, Ultrajoist is currently being tested by the Building Research Establishment and several major housebuilders. Final testing is expected to take place in early March ready for a launch shortly afterwards.
Methven-based Glenalmond is investing £600,0000 in the project over the next five years and expects its Perth imports to increase from 10,000m³ to about 30,000m³ this year, rising to 50,000m³ next year.
The firm currently processes around 50,000m³ of timber per year at its two treatment plants at Methven. It anticipates an increase in processing to 80,000m³ in the first year and to more than 100,000m³ in the second year.
A 67ft double-ended treatment container vessel, the largest of its kind in Europe, using the Arch Vacsol Aqua treatment will be installed with further vessels planned for the future. Machining facilities are also envisaged.
Fraser Steele, managing director of the Glenalmond Timber Company said he expects Ultrajoist to ‘revolutionise’ solid timber in construction. The timber is sourced mainly from the Baltics but also from Scandinavia where Glenalmond signed supply agreements with three major mills last summer.
