Louisiana-Pacific (LP) has met four potential UK wholesale distribution partners as it advances it plans to bring its SolidStart engineered wood products to these shores.
LP’s international sales manager of engineered wood products Al Huber told TTJ that he had met four companies during a week-long visit.
The move comes as LP accelerates its plans to also enter the Australian and Japanese markets as part of a concerted campaign to grow market share and capitalise on Weyerhaeuser’s retreat from the international engineered timber market.
Appointing a wholesale distribution partner for the UK and Ireland is the second step for LP’s market entry.
The first step – code approvals – has been completed, while the third step, working with the retail sector, will follow. A new website www.lpcorp.com/UK will also go live in July.
“We have invested a lot during a down market, which shows the commitment of LP to expand internationally,” added Mr Huber.
LP is launching four products – OSB/LVL rim board, LVL, I-joists and SolidStart design and estimating software.
Fore more on this story see the next issue of TTJ
