Glenalmond reaches 25-year milestone

The Perth-based company has also been active on the investment and development front with a recent expansion into finger-jointed home-grown cladding and the acquisition of 100% of the shares in sister company Intelligent Wood Systems (IWS).

Glenalmond managing director Fraser Steele told TTJ that since Glenalmond was established 25 years ago as an offshoot to third generation home-grown family samwiller Robert Steele and Son, the firm had embarked on a continuous programme of improvement and expansion.

The latest move is extending its finger-jointing operations to include home-grown species such as Scottish larch, FSC-certified chestnut and oak for cladding.

"UK timber tends to be available in shorter lengths so it's not much use for cladding," Mr Steele said.

"But finger-jointing allows us to produce lengths in home-grown timber that are perfect for cladding. We can also improve the aesthetics of the product because we can defect cut the material in line and trim within 1mm."

This, he added, would meet demand from architects who currently consider home-grown cladding as fashionable.

Glenalmond bought the remaining 50% shareholding in IWS earlier this year from venture partner Doug Cullen to give it 100% ownership of the operation, which has developed timber building systems to address fire, acoustic, structural and thermal requirements.

Glenalmond was the existing supply partner to IWS, through its timber importing, treatment and processing operations at Perth and Methven.

Since the share acquisition, Glenalmond's super-dried finger-jointed structural timber Ultrajoist - developed 10 years ago - has been offered alongside the IWS range.

Mr Steele said Ultrajoist rim boards removed the requirement for OSB waistbands in timber frame applications, saving project material and labour costs.

But he said getting buyers to understand the cost advantages of looking at projects holistically rather than pricing by component parts was still a "battle".

Glenalmond also reports good business through the expansion of wind farm projects in Scotland, with Scottish larch products being used in new bridges for accessing wind turbine areas.