Glenalmond Timber Company’s is planning to make “significant inroads” into the UK construction market with its Ultrajoist “superdried product”.
The company said it will make the move in the New Year and wants to ship the joists direct into an English port.
Glenalmond managing director Fraser Steele is turning his focus south following a year of “significant” growth in sales of the Ultrajoist and the establishment of widespread distribution in Scotland.
North of the border, the product is stocked by Travis Perkins and B&Q and the former is planning to feature it in its upcoming brochure.
Ultrajoist, a solid wood construction product based on Latvian FSC ‘superdry’ kiln-dried timber from Kurekss in Ventspils, is characterised by its blue colour, conferred by an Arch water-based treatment process at Glenalmond, Methven.
Mr Steele said the water-repellent product, dried to a moisture content of 12%, was helping to protect the solid wood market in the face of the rapid rise of engineered timber alternatives, which he described as “frightening”.
“We are enhancing the production of good old-fashioned timber joists. We have had a terrific response from the industry,” he said.
He emphasised the product was not going head-to-head with the engineered timber market but believes they can co-exist in the market place.
Import volume is currently 1,000m3 a month, expected to increase to 3,000m3 next year.
Mr Steele said it was easier to launch a product like Ultrajoist in Scotland where there was widespread use of timber frame. The product can be used for everything in construction, including timber frame, stairs and windows.
In England a number of construction companies are already evaluating Ultrajoist.
