Accsys Technologies was in bullish mood at Ecobuild, arriving at the show with a range of positive headlines for its Accoya modified timber; sales up sharply, major funding secured to expand production and a new sanction just given by the BRE for the products’ performance and longevity.
Speaking on the company’s prominent stand, chief executive Paul Clegg said that Accoya was now a proven force in the UK and International Timber market and gaining momentum and awareness.
“There are now an estimated 150,000 windows and 100,000m² of decking in Accoya in use and it’s achieving high levels of recognition in a market that was previously almost an entirely commodity dominated brand desert,” he said.
Accoya sales to distributors, he said, had jumped 67% in the last nine months and Accsys is now planning to boost output at its Arnhem, Netherlands factory by 50%, a move made possible by a new issue of ordinary shares which has raised “gross proceeds” of €30m.
“We’ve now got a stable financial platform as well as increasing market validation,” said Mr Clegg.
The BRE’s latest approval gave Accoya further credibility. The organisation put window L-joists made in the timber, which is acetylated softwood, through 13-year field tests alongside non-acetylated products. The verdict, delivered at Ecobuild by BRE timber division director Dr Ed Suttie was that Accoya “significantly improved” coating performance and a competently factory finished, well maintained window in the timber would deliver a 60-year window lifespan.
Dr Suttie said that products in Medite Tricoya, the acetyated MDF developed jointly by Accsys and Coillte Panel Product, could have the same life expectancy.
Tricoya has yet to go into commercial manufacture, but, following the initial development work with Coillte, Mr Clegg said trials into its use in cladding , furniture and joinery are ongoing.
