One of the few pure timber companies to exhibit was German sawmilling giant Klausner.
The company, which has annual production of more than 4 million m³ and which is the biggest supplier of German softwood to the UK, had never exhibited outside the US or Germany prior to Interbuild.
But it is increasingly looking to other markets outside its core US business, which has suffered due to the construction downturn.
Klausner’s Anne Leibold described the UK as a “very important market” with volumes likely to be around 200,000m³ in 2008.
“I think the market is going to be more volatile so the UK will benefit from a closer market,” added Thomas Mende.
“Logistics will be the key. It will be lorry loads, not boat loads of large volumes.”
