Simon Greig, Brooks Bros’ general manager (Danbury branch), said the agreement with Heatwood and Norrskog Wood Products AB (NWP), will strengthen Brooks Bros’ position in the ThermoWood market, both in the UK and abroad.
Brooks Bros has supplied thermally-modified timber in the past, but the new partnership gives it exclusive supply rights in the UK of Heatwood ThermoWood, which is manufactured in Forsa near Hudiksvall.
"This partnership is very exciting, especially as we have seen a huge growth in demand for cladding products in 2013," said Andrew Goto, Brooks Bros UK cladding and clears manager.
"Prices of other competitor products are firming, especially cedar, which leaves ThermoWood in a very strong position in the UK cladding and decking market."
Mr Goto said Brooks Bros had secured large volumes of the product including bigger and wider sections of ThermoWood D and ThermoWood S. It is also now stepping up its modified wood presentations to architects and specifiers.
Brooks Bros said it selected Heatwood as its ThermoWood supplier due to it having International ThermoWood Association and FSC certification, plus using slow-grown timber from northern Sweden.
Heatwood’s ability to thermally modify various timber species also works well with Brooks Bros’ current and developing product mix. This includes modifying North American hardwoods.
Heatwood produces its ThermoWood on a site leased from NWP. Its co-operation agreement with NWP allows its to use the latter’s planing mill and other equipment.
NWP’s sawmills have a capacity of about 450,000m3 of wood products annually, of which 70% is spruce and 30% is pine.
