Situated in Mechelen, near Antwerp in Belgium, Martal boasts one of Europe’s biggest stocks of American and European “luxury hardwoods”.
“We believe we’ve selected the best suppliers in Europe and North America,” said UK sales representative Luk Van Cauwenberghe. “And once we’ve established a connection with a shipper, we try to maintain strong and lasting relations.”
With more than 40,000m² of modern warehousing, Martal has capacity to keep a diverse stock of lumber in a wide variety of thicknesses and lengths. “The hardwood species we always have available include American white oak, black cherry, walnut, ash, hard maple and European oak,” said Mr Van Cauwenberghe.
Martal, he added, prides itself on being particularly well known and “appreciated by customers” for its kilning processes. Once lumber arrives at Mechelen, it is air-dried and placed undercover before going to the kilns. The latter have capacity to dry huge volumes uniformly and enable the company to replenish stocks constantly.
“Our expertise in drying heavy thickness European and American oak without kilning defects is particularly appreciated in the UK market,” said Mr Van Cauwenberghe.
Grading and branding
Martal, he said, also has a reputation for its grading and branding. “After carefully selecting and sorting out every single board, our products are clearly marked and labelled for easy identification,” he said. “Our customers have the reassurance that they know precisely what they will get when they ask for ‘Martal grading’.”
With its brand applied to bundles, Martal stocks all its range by fixed lengths and thickness.
In the UK, the company supplies hardwood importers and offers a just in time delivery service. “Once they have an order booked, or, alternatively, want to fill up gaps in their own stock, they just contact us and we can supply by full or part loads within 48 or 72 hours,” said Mr Van Cauwenberghe. “And the special grading, drying and handling we give our hardwoods allows them to service a wide range of customers and end-user markets, with applications ranging from solid doors, mouldings and flooring to staircases and tables, and also exclusive joinery projects, even the interiors of luxury yachts.”
While European and American white oak remain key species in the UK, the company is also supplying customers here with walnut, ash and cherry for special projects. “Having every length in every thickness in these hardwoods gives us increasing opportunity to provide a just in time service, which means customers don’t have to stock anymore,” said Mr Cauwenberghe.
For more details visit www.martal.be
