Timber Trades Journal Bulletin
A roundup of the latest news articles from TTJ
HS Timber Group acquires Latvian wood processing company Kurekss SIA
The Austrian HS Timber Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in the Latvian wood processing company Kurekss SIA.
The transaction, which sees the acquisition from the previous shareholders, Jānis and Arnis Apsītis, is subject to approval by the competition authorities.
HS Timber’s acquisition also includes 100% of Kurzemes Granulas SIA.
The move follows hot on the HS Timber’s acquisition of another Latvian wood processing company Vika Wood SIA in January 2025.
HS Timber is making significant expansions steps in the Baltic region with the moves.
READ MORE - https://www.ttjonline.com/news/hs-timber-group-acquires-latvian-wood-processing-company-kurekss-sia/
Investment group acquires UK door distributor JB Kind?
JB Kind, a leading UK distributor of doors based in South Derbyshire, has been acquired by the investors behind Distinction Doors, the UK’s largest composite door manufacturer.
The acquisition is billed as strengthening JB Kind’s position in the market, enabling new growth opportunities.
This acquisition marks a significant injection of investment for JB Kind, which has a 150-yeat history, as well as strategic support from the investor’s experienced management team.
The business will be led by Simon Johnson, commercial director, and Martin Hile, operations director, who bring more than 70 years of combined industry experience and will work together to drive the next phase of growth.
UK timber industry predictions: 2025 looking ahead
TTJ canvassed industry organisations and companies about their plans and predictions for the sector for the year ahead. Respondents identified challenges due to the wider economic situation and geopolitical tensions, but they also see market opportunities and continuing strong prospects for timber generally given its capacity for reinvention and its increasingly relevant environmental credentials.?TTJ consultant editor Mike Jeffree interviewed leading organisations and companies
Court fines Travis Perkins ￡2m for health and safety breaches after man’s death
A court has fined builders' merchant Travis Perkins ￡2m after part of a timber load fell off one of its lorries and into the windscreen of an oncoming car, tragically killing the driver.
Lewes District Council published the details of the judgement in a press release on its website.
The press statement said Travis Perkins admitted three offences contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act and sentence was passed at Hove Crown Court today on January 23.
On May 13, 2020, father-of-three Jack Stevens, 28, who was driving a BMW, died when a strip of timber came loose from a Travis Perkins vehicle on the A26 after it left the company's Newhaven depot.
Mixed feelings in softwood sector: TTJ Softwood Market Update
There are concerns about the prospects for trade in 2025, but the softwood sector remains cautiously optimistic. Jerry Wilson reports.
As the New Year begins, mixed feelings are running through the UK softwood trade ranging from optimism to extreme caution.
While some merchants are optimistic that the government’s pledge to mass build will ensure an uplift in demand, others are dubious, citing skilled labour shortages and mortgage costs which are still on the high side. Either way, all agree it is unlikely that demand will improve much during the first quarter, or even in the first half of the year.
Until the path ahead becomes clearer, many buyers are keeping a very tight rein on their inventory levels to retain as much liquidity in the business as possible. Merchants with re-processing facilities, such as planing and sawing equipment, are facing the additional burden of increasing energy tariffs. All timber distributors are battling against rising insurance costs, employers’ NI increased contributions ?and wage inflation. These factors are adding extra pressure to distributors already battling reduced trading margins due to vicious competition linked to weak demand. ?
THE FULL MARKET REPORT IS AVAILABLE IN THE JAN/FEB PRINT ISSUE OF TTJ
Egger reports stable development in latest financial results
Egger Group has reported stable development in a difficult context at the end of its first half-year ended October 31, 2024, with consolidated sales of €2.1bn (0.2% compared to a year ago).
EBITDA was €320.3m (+7.0% as compared to the previous year). The EBITDA margin was 15.3%.
The Group said the current economic situation is characterised by the challenging situation in the construction industry, a generally weak consumption, major global conflicts and turbulence in economic policy.?
READ MORE - https://www.ttjonline.com/news/egger-reports-stable-development-in-latest-financial-results/
More than 200 hardwood traders meet in London for LHC New Year lunch
领英推荐
UK, European and North American hardwood traders totalling 212 people attended a vigorous London Hardwood Club (LHC) New Year lunch on January 17.
The event, at the HAC in London, saw club president Rupert Walker address members and introduce James White of James Latham as the next LHC president. The lunch is one of the best attended industry functions in the UK timber products trade, with this year’s attendance a near record.
International hardwood exporters/distributors present included Vandecasteele Houtimport, Robinson Lumber, The Salamanca Lumber Co Inc, Ontario Hardwood Products, Timbrian Europe, Hupkes Wijma BV, Baillie Lumber Co, Florian Legno Spa, and Rougier International. UK importers, distributor and merchants were joined by a number of UK furniture manufacturers and shipping & logistics companies.
READ MORE - https://www.ttjonline.com/news/more-than-200-hardwood-traders-meet-in-london-for-lhc-new-year-lunch/
Confor welcomes consultation on a Welsh Timber Industry Strategy
Huw Irranca-Davies MS, the Deputy First Minister for Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Climate Change has launched a consultation on a strategy to promote the Welsh Timber Industry.
Speaking at the Senned this week, Mr Irranca-Davies said: “Managing forests sustainably for timber production is a prime example of green and sustainable and economic growth.
“When trees are harvested, carbon sequestered when they were growing remains stored in the timber, and when that timber is then put to long term use like in furniture or building houses, then that carbon stays locked away and not going into the atmosphere.
“Meanwhile trees are replanted sequestering more carbon and the cycle continues.”
READ MORE - https://www.ttjonline.com/news/confor-welcomes-consultation-on-a-welsh-timber-industry-strategy/
Timbermark wins EPAL supplier accreditation
Timbermark’s inkjet system for 4-way pallet production lines has been approved by EPAL for printing Europallets.
The announcement, made at the recent Fachpack trade show in Nuremberg, marks the culmination of a nine-month development for Timbermark, in partnership with the inkjet manufacturer, Yeacode.
The result is a system that is easily installed on a branding conveyor and delivers a consistently dark print that is light-fast, indelible, and waterproof. The quality is fine enough to print machine-readable QR codes, enabling serialisation, using data supplied from EPAL.
Report sparks WPA response on flame retardant treatment
The Wood Protection Association (WPA) is calling on timber cladding designers to improve their knowledge about the specification of flame-retardant treatments, in response to the publication of a report on fires involving thermally modified wood.
The organisation released a statement after a report on the Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) online platform, expressed concerns about the behaviour of thermally modified timber in fire and flame retardant testing certification.
“Flame retardant treated wood for external use should meet the requirements of both a suitable reaction-to-fire classification report and a durability of reaction-to-fire classification report,” said the WPA.
“Specifically, the WPA recommends that FR products are applied under quality-controlled factory conditions. This is to avoid the quality issues that can arise from FR liquids being applied on site, which the WPA does not recommend.”
Son succeeds father at Vandecasteele Houtimport
A changing of the guard has taken place at the family business Vandecasteele Houtimport in Aalbeke in Belgium.
Son Louis Vandecasteele, who has been involved in the company’s management for several years, has taken over the role of chief executive officer, succeeding his father, Stefaan Vandecasteele. Stefaan Vandecasteele will continue to be active behind the scenes as an adviser.
Simon Henry joins WPA team
Simon Henry has become a director of the Wood Protection Association (WPA), as of January 1. He will operate as part of the Association’s management team with responsibility for WPA strategy and membership development.
Mr Henry served previously as a director of the WPA (from 2021 to 2023), representing the timber treatment sector, and brings a wealth of wood industry experience to the organisation.
He was a director of TTF / TDUK from 2017 to 2023, working as part of the team that combined the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) and the Timber Trades Federation (TTF) to create Timber Development UK (TDUK) in 2022.
Morland joins Made in Britain
Morland, manufacturer of interior fit-out products serving industries across the UK and Europe, has become a member of the Made in Britain organisation.
The company says this highlights its dedication to producing exceptional products with British craftsmanship and quality at its core.
Founded in 1972 as the woodworking division of Interior Products Group, Morland is a third generation, privately owned company with over 50 years of experience.