Timber Trades Journal Online

Ligna wows again after four year absence

The Ligna woodworking technology fair has ended in Hannover after 700 world premieres of machinery/technology and 80,000 visitors from across the world.

UK wood treatment sector debates industry progress

The UK Timber Treatment Action Plan has made ”huge progress” in aiding the correct specification of treated wood products, delegates at the Wood Protection Association’s (WPA) annual conference heard.

L&G offsite factory accumulated huge losses since opening in 2016

L&G Modular Homes, the landmark off-site homes factory in Leeds which announced earlier this month that it was stopping production, has reported total combined losses after tax of around £140m since it was first incorporated in 2015.

CollectiveCrunch partners with Oregon State University
01 June, 2023 CollectiveCrunch, creator of an AI-powered platform that enables sustainable forestry at scale, has launched a pilot project with the Oregon State University (OSU) College of Forestry. The collaboration marks CollectiveCrunch’s first forest carbon partnership in the US market, and sets the stage for further growth opportunities for the company.

BMF supports global green initiative
The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) is supporting a global initiative, calling for a new approach to sustainability in the built environment.

Setra EU visit focuses on plant protection and sustainability
Wood industry company Setra has hosted an EU delegation comprising the chief officers of plant health from the EU Member States.

Donaldson Group recruits digital commerce expert
Donaldson Group, has appointed Fergus Bell as d-commerce (digital commerce) director of the Retail & Distribution division in a newly created role.

Cowie particleboard plant celebrates 50 years
A Scottish Timber Products (STP) 50-year reunion dinner was held at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel on May 5, attended by former STP personnel and invited guests including local supporting companies, some in their third generation.

LATEST FEATURES

Builders’ merchants’ timber and joinery January sales drop -14.6% year-on-year
04 April, 2023 The latest figures from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI), published in March, reveal that total value sales by builders’ merchants across Great Britain were up +0.2% in January 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. This nominal growth came from inflation as volume sales were down -16.5% while prices rose +19.9%. With an extra trading day this January, like-for-like sales were -4.6% lower.

2023 - Plotting a course through choppy waters
A relative degree of calm may have returned to UK politics. The economic picture is less than pretty, however, with forecasts for 1.3% shrinkage in GDP over the year. Consequently representatives of timber and related businesses and industry associations asked for their outlook by TTJ see challenges for the sector and its markets through 2023. But, at the same time, they identify opportunities and highlight their plans and projects for making the most of them. Mike Jeffree reports

Softwood trade adopts ultra-cautious approach
The economic backdrop is troubling traders but they are finding their way through and some agents and shippers are reporting more interest for February and March shipments. Jerry Wilson reports

Essential forestry skills for the future
Louise Simpson, executive director of the Institute for Chartered Foresters (ICF), on the first ever degree level forestry apprenticeship scheme

Imports continue to tumble
Latest TDUK stats reveal the impact of good stock levels and weaker market demand on import volumes

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BLOGS

Solving school overcrowding sustainably
14 February, 2023 Prefabricated timber building can meet the UK’s desperate need for more and better school classroom space says Dr Mila Duncheva, business development manager UK & Ireland, Stora Enso Building Solutions

Making the training connections
Having a skilled and knowledgeable workforce across the timber sector has never been more critical and latest developments at the Institute of Carpenters can help deliver it, says its president Geoff Rhodes

Confor urges government stability and planting
Economic headwinds are building for the UK sawmill sector, but Defra now has the resources to make a difference for the industry by stimulating productive tree planting, writes Confederation of Forest Industries chief executive Stuart Goodall

World Cup distraction from difficult markets
The World Cup has kicked off and while we’ll all be hoping for English or Welsh success, the tournament is not necessarily universally being welcomed by all in the business community.

Stoical softwood sector in sobering times
There was no ignoring the grim global economic picture at the 2022 International Softwood Conference, but it also highlighted the sector’s longer term positives. Conference moderator, Fort Builders Merchants director Keith Fryer reports