SCA Timber UK aims to challenge the top players in the UK softwood market with the acquisition of BCL Group’s Stoke-on-Trent central distribution site for an undisclosed sum.
The addition takes the SCA timber agency and stock product volume of redwood and whitewood sold into the UK to 300,000m3 per year.
The 225,000ft2 distribution facility at Stoke-on-Trent currently serves timber product outlets including major DIY retail chains and builders’ merchants. The new name for the operation is SCA Timber Supply Ltd and 114 former BCL staff will join the company while the reminder will stay with the BCL Group.
The Stoke site comprises warehousing plus small planing and sheet material cutting operations, in addition to the operational needs of the distribution organisation and administration.
SCA Timber Supply Ltd will continue serving the larger end of its customer base in the UK and will provide SCA with improved service capabilities and market reach in terms of product supply and distribution.
The product portfolio will include machined timber products and sheet materials.
SCA Timber (UK) managing director Rob Simpson said: “The acquisition gives SCA the opportunity to grow faster than ever before but on a solid foundation of dense northern Swedish fibre, an excellent customer base and now a first-class distribution facility. It provides SCA’s seven sawmills and six planing mills with an excellent channel to Britain’s highly demanding market place.”
