6 | UK News
Timber Trades Journal to celebrate landmark 150th
anniversary in 2023
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Timber Trades Journal (TTJ)! We are planning some special ways to celebrate the milestone, including a 150th anniversary special edition in our May/ June issue and some celebrations at the annual TTJ Awards. The fi rst edition of TTJ was published on Saturday May 3, 1873, initially as a fortnightly paper “for use by timber importers, merchants, contractors, builders, cabinet makers, joiners, carpenters, pianoforte makers, packing case makers and all consumers of wood”. It was based in Bartholomew Close, London initially before moving to Fleet Street as part of the Benn Brothers publications stable.
Above: The front page of the very fi rst issue of the Timber Trades Journal
At the time, London was the biggest city in the world and Queen Victoria was
Acquisition trend continues with Stark’s takeover of SGBD
The acquisition trend in the UK timber market continued as 2022 drew to a close with Denmark’s Stark Group A/S signing a £740m agreement to acquire Saint- Gobain Building Distribution Ltd (SGBD) – including builders merchant giant Jewson – which operates more than 600 branches and distribution centres in the UK. The transaction comprises Jewson, Gibbs & Dandy and JP Corry in Northern Ireland, specialist brands Jewson Civils Frazer and Minster as well as International Timber. The takeover announcement follows on the heels of BSW Timber’s acquisition of Scott Group, a leading timber pallet and packaging producer.
Stark’s acquired SGBD business is expected to generate net sales of around £2.3bn, taking STARK Group’s total pro forma annual net sales to around €9bn. Stark Group acquired Saint-Gobain’s German distribution business in 2019. “Despite the current tough macro-
economic environment, the fundamental drivers for the renovation and maintenance market in the UK are attractive,” said Group CEO Soren P Olesen. “We are facing a challenging transition
year, but it is a solid company that we can make thrive and grow. The more than 600 branches and distribution centres are in good locations across the entire UK. We will invest in the business, the people, and the distribution. We have acquired a company with whom we can continue our growth journey.”
The acquisition is expected to complete in the spring of 2023.
Stark Group is a leading business-to- business distributor of heavy building materials for the construction industry in Northern Europe, with a strategic focus on serving professional craftsmen. It has net sales of approximately €6bn and serves around 10,000 suppliers and 275,000 customers from its 550 locations.
James Jones & Sons funds new bursary
James Jones & Sons has entered into a partnership with The Scottish Forestry Trust to deliver a new UK/Australia graduate research bursary.
This annual award will fund a recent UK-based graduate to undertake between
TTJ | January/February 2023 |
www.ttjonline.com
three to six months of forestry and timber- related research in Australia, based at James Jones’s recently acquired interests in Hyne Timber and XLam; businesses that have timber processing operations in Queensland and New South Wales.
reigning on the British throne. The country produced more steel than the rest of the world put together and cars had not yet been invented.
Timber prices were on the rise – as much as 25% up during the spring of 1873 – thanks to strong demand and the poor winter weather limiting log extraction operations in the forests and during onward travel.
“The trade has changed so much in the last 150 years,” said TTJ editor Stephen Powney.
“The structure of the industry, the products on offer and the way timber is bought and sold look very different now compared to the 1870s. “We are incredibly proud that TTJ has reached this milestone and look forward to celebrating it in 2023.”
New branch for Donaldson Timber Engineering
Donaldson Timber Engineering Ltd (DTE) has opened its 10th branch in the UK with a new location in Exeter.
The new branch in the south-west of England will service Devon and the surrounding area, including Cornwall. DTE has recruited a team of 12 for the branch, including Karol Radziejowski who takes up the role of general manager following three years as general manager of the Cambridge site. Mr Radziejowski has worked at DTE for 13 years, starting as a production operative in Ilkeston in September 2009.
The new site will manufacture and supply roof trusses for UK housebuilding. “As our business continues to grow, it’s important that we expand our service area to deliver our products across the length and breadth of the UK,” said Luke Roberts, managing director at DTE. “With our Exeter branch, we will now service the south-west of England, the one key part of the country we were missing. “This new branch marks a really exciting time for DTE as it not only expands our service and capacity to cover the whole of the UK, but also supports an area of England which has one of the highest volumes of new build homes,” said Andrew Donaldson, CEO of Donaldson Group.
UK News
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