Titan Wood Ltd, the company behind leading modified wood brand Accoya, hopes to be using additional timber species for its modification process during 2009.
David Popejoy, vice president of Titan’s sales and marketing, told TTJ that Scots pine and spruce will be used in the future as well as the existing radiata pine, which has to be shipped from New Zealand and Chile.
“We are happy to continue with radiata pine but other other species have some other interesting attributes,” said Mr Popejoy.
“Spruce and Scots pine are stronger species and give additional strength advantages to Accoya.
Mr Popejoy confirmed that UK customers, currently comprising 10 joineries and five merchants, will be able to buy the material direct from its Holland factory in the wake of BSW Timber’s decision to cease being the “sole supplier” of Accoya in the UK and Ireland.
BSW’s import and distribution agreement with Titan officially ends on May 1.
Mr Popejoy said Titan’s demonstration modification plant in Holland would continue to manufacture Accoya but Titan’s business plan is focused on establishing licensing arrangements in markets, with licensed third parties setting up production facilities in their country of origin.
“We have a number of prospects that have an expressed an interest in licensing with the UK and Europe, but I’m not at liberty to discuss them,” he said.
Mr Popejoy said sawmillers were one interest group.
Worldwide licences currently granted include a 750,000m3 annual production in China (for the domestic Chinese market) with the first factory opening in late 2010.
The second licence is for the Gulf Corporation Council of seven states for a 150,000m3 annual production.
