A new business is bucking the gloomy trend by launching a roof truss factory and engineered flooring distribution operation in Hereford with the backing of a successful steel fabricator.

The creation of Glosford Timber Solutions, which starts production in April, provides a rare ray of light in the gloomy construction downturn which has ravaged the roof truss manufacturing industry.

Businessman Ken Jones, Glosford’s managing director, was a board member of former steel company Wescol Group plc and responsible for the £76m structural steel side of the business. He led constructional steel projects at the stadiums of Newcastle United and Reading FC and the Greyhead shopping centre, Glasgow.

Mr Jones, who unsuccessfully put forward a £26m funding package for an MBO at Palgrave Brown in 2002, is using an 85,000ft² factory he already owned to house the operation.

“I have been associated with the building industry since I was a young lad. Timber is a light material, easy to handle and clean.

“I would not want to go back into steel and I’ve been out of the industry for about 10 years. It’s a challenge to go into a new sector.

“We are looking to get the business operating over the next 12-18 months ago and be able to take advantage of the market upturn in the latter part of 2010/2011.”

Glosford sales director Mike Fleming, former sales and marketing director of Palgrave Brown, said the businsess was targeting a turnover in excess of £5m within three years.

“It’s a bit of a gamble, but we are not doing it for the market today, but for the market tomorrow,” he said.

“We have the cash, we are not taking any loans, and are hoping to ride out 2009 with a view to moving forward in 2010.”

Glosford has bought truss technology and an I-beam line from administrators of Palgrave Brown at a low cost and machinery is currently being transferred from the former Palgrave sites at Nuneaton and Yeovil.

Glosford is currently assessing different suppliers of engineered timber – it intends to supply both I-joists and an open-web joist. Future plans include starting Structural Insulated Panel production at the turn of 2009/2010.