TJI joists are now the fastest-growing part of Palgrave Brown (UK) Ltd’s business, with sales increasing by about £1m in the last year.

The company, a Master Dealer of Trus Joist‘s (TJ) TJI joists, says it is reaping the benefits of giving I-beams divisional status within its £60m engineered timber operation last year and introducing TJ’s Yardmate stock optimising software, which has increased production by around 25%.

It is also hunting for a stand-alone I-beam processing facility, to add to the Brinscall, Marchington and Yeovil mixed product sites which process and supply I-beams.

Mike Fleming, Palgrave Brown sales director, said: “I see Trus Joist’s Silent Floor System as a key part of our business, which has board-level focus. I can imagine a time when engineered timber will replace traditional timber in flooring systems, and I certainly aim to rapidly grow the TJI beam division, just as we have successfully grown our roof truss division.”

Garry Dyke, the company’s I-beam national product manager, said two designers and six to eight production staff have been added in the past year, while improved packaging and installation instructions now being included with every pack has dramatically reduced after-sales complaints. He believes the division will grow by another £1m in the next year.

&#8220We are dedicated to having a stand-alone I-beam branch. We probably have the critical mass of work to do it today but we need the right site to come along.”

Garry Dyke, Palgrave Brown I-beam national product manager

He said: “We are dedicated to having a stand-alone I-beam branch because we really see the benefits of having that key focus on the product. We probably have the critical mass of work to do it today but we need the right site to come along.”