International Timber
International Timber is a UK-based importer and distributor of sustainable softwood, hardwood and engineered panel products, serving construction, joinery and manufacturing customers with national coverage, in-house machining, treatment and coatings services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What International Timber does
International Timber is a UK-based importer and distributor of sustainable softwood, hardwood and engineered panel products serving the construction, joinery and manufacturing sectors. Founded in 1970 and operating as a trading brand of STARK Building Materials UK Limited, the company runs a single unified distribution business organized into six product ranges: Hardwood & Clears, Softwood, Laminated & Modified Timbers (including the Intelligence sub-brand and Accoya, Thermowood, Tricoya and Glulam), Panel Range (including exclusive UK distribution of OH Doors & Panels), Cladding, and Decking & Landscaping. It complements distribution with in-house value-added manufacturing: bespoke machining using state-of-the-art Weinig equipment operating 7 days a week on a two-shift pattern, 8 kiln drying facilities at Parkend, preservation treatments (Osmose Protim), fire retardant treatments (in partnership with Lonza Wood Protection) and approved factory coatings at the Chorley facility (Sikkens, Omnia, Teknos).
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sale of timber and panel products, supplemented by professional-services revenue from treatment and processing jobs. Pricing is quote-based with no public list, a £1,000 minimum order value for account customers and free UK delivery above the minimum spend threshold. Go-to-market is sales-led through an external UK sales team and a central Grangemouth sales centre with technical desks, augmented by channel partnerships with national merchants such as Jewson. Customer segments are split across Manufacturers (shopfitters, joinery manufacturers, exhibition contractors), Merchants (general, national and specialist) and Specifiers (architects, designers), with secondary use-case segments in Home Builders and Joinery. Headquartered in Grangemouth, Scotland with manufacturing facilities in Chorley and Parkend and 251-500 employees, the company markets via a content-led digital strategy built around a 158-resource library, case studies, sample service and active social channels.
International Timber firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Timber
- Legal name
- STARK Building Materials UK Limited
- Website
- https://internationaltimber.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- International Timber is a UK-based importer and distributor of sustainable softwood, hardwood and engineered panel products, serving construction, joinery and manufacturing customers with national coverage, in-house machining, treatment and coatings services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Timber industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Timber and Panel Products Distribution
- NAICS
- Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers (42331), Wood Product Manufacturing (321), Wood Preservation (321114)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Lumber, Plywood, Millwork & Wood Panels (5031), Wholesale-Lumber & Other Construction Materials (5030), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Engineered Wood Products Distribution (LVL, I-joists, Glulam, CLT) (IMAMAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plywood & Panel Products Distribution (Plywood, OSB, MDF, Particleboard) (IMAMAIAC), Mass Timber Panels & Components (DLT, NLT, Hybrid Panels) (IMAMACAG), Wood Remanufacturing (Mouldings, Millwork Blanks, Cut Stock) (IMAMABAI)
Keywords
Where International Timber is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
International Timber business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Timber and Panel Product Sales: Core revenue from importing and distributing sustainable timber and panel products including hardwoods, softwoods, cladding, decking, and engineered timber
- Treatment and Processing Services: Additional services including fire retardant treatments, preservation treatments, bespoke machining, and coating/finishing services that increase timber durability and add value
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Account pricing with minimum order requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
International Timber product offering
Product offeringCore offering
International Timber imports and distributes sustainable softwood, hardwood, panel, cladding, decking and engineered/laminated timber products to UK manufacturers, merchants and specifiers. It complements product supply with in-house specialist services including bespoke machining using Weinig equipment, fire retardant impregnation treatments (Lonza DRICON/NON-COM), organic preservation treatments (Osmose Protim) and factory-applied coatings from approved paint manufacturer lines.
Product overview
International Timber is the UK's leading importer and distributor of sustainable timber and panel products, established in 1970. The company operates as a single unified distribution business with a comprehensive portfolio organized into six main product categories: Hardwood & Clears (tropical, temperate, and European hardwoods plus clear softwood and joinery products), Softwood (European, structural, stair components, and joinery mouldings), Laminated & Modified Timbers (Intelligence engineered products, Accoya, Thermowood, Tricoya, and Glulam), Panel Range (hardwood plywood, softwood plywood, MDF, particle board, OSB, decorative panels, door blanks, OH panels), Cladding (internal and external timber cladding), and Decking & Landscaping (sleepers, softwood/hardwood/modified timber decking). The company complements its product distribution with a comprehensive portfolio of specialist services including bespoke machining using Weinig equipment, fire retardant treatments (in partnership with Lonza Wood Protection), preservation treatments (using Osmose Protim), and factory-applied coatings. Additional offerings include the Intelligence sub-brand for engineered laminated products and OH Doors & Panels (UK exclusive distributor). Headquartered in Grangemouth, Scotland with facilities including 8 kilns at Parkend, the company serves the entirety of the UK from strategically located sites.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Intelligence: Range of laminated timber products including laminated stair components, door components, and window components. Combines hardwood timber with engineered products for bespoke solutions.
Products and services
- Hardwood & Clears
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% recycling rate across all waste materials
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use International Timber
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
International Timber technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
International Timber partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Lonza Wood ProtectioncorePartnership for fire retardant impregnation treatments including DRICON and ATP Generic for internal applications and NON-COM Exterior for exterior timbers. Lonza supplies the treatment chemicals while International Timber provides industrial application services.
- JewsoncoreMajor merchant partnership where Jewson distributes International Timber products to trade customers. Jewson specifies and supplies International Timber products including Accoya and Western Red Cedar for construction projects.
- Runciman & RedpathmajorLong-standing partnership exceeding 10 years with specialist joinery manufacturer. International Timber supplies laminated oak and other timber products for staircases, benches, and bespoke joinery for interior renovation projects across Scotland.
- Adam Knibb ArchitectsminorCollaboration on contemporary farmhouse project where International Timber supplied sustainable Accoya cladding. Jewson facilitated the partnership between the architect and International Timber.
- Ascia ConstructionminorConstruction partner for Costa Coffee drive-thru project. International Timber supplied Western Red Cedar cladding through Jewson for the sustainable build.
- ArmadillaminorExperiential accommodation constructor partnership for 'Wave' product. International Timber provided bespoke Accoya cladding solution assembled near Fort William, Scotland.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
International Timber competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Jewson: Major UK builders' merchant and current distribution partner of International Timber. Overlaps in timber and panel product supply but offers a much broader range of building materials, with timber as one category among many.
- Travis Perkins: UK's largest builders' merchant group with a timber division supplying softwoods, structural timber, panels, and engineered products alongside a much broader building materials portfolio. Comparable as an overlapping timber distributor but operates at significantly larger scale and breadth.
Direct peers
- Arnold Laver: UK timber merchant and importer operating national distribution with hardwood, softwood, panel, and engineered timber ranges plus machining and treatment services. Direct competitor in the same B2B trade channel with overlapping manufacturing/value-add capabilities.
- Brooks Bros (UK): UK timber importer and merchant with a national network supplying hardwood, softwood, panel, and engineered timber products to manufacturers, contractors, and trade customers. Direct peer with overlapping product portfolio and UK distribution footprint.
- Howarth Timber & Building Supplies: UK-based timber and building materials distributor with branches nationwide serving trade customers. Direct competitor in softwood, hardwood, panel, and engineered timber distribution with overlapping value-added services.
- BSW Timber: UK's largest integrated sawmiller and timber manufacturer supplying fencing, landscaping, construction, and pallet timber. Comparable on softwood supply, treatment, and merchant channels; differs by being vertically integrated upstream.
- James Latham: One of the UK's largest independent timber importers and distributors, offering hardwoods, softwoods, panels, and engineered timber products. Directly comparable to International Timber across product range, customer base (manufacturers, merchants, specifiers), and value-added machining/services.
- Meyer Timber: UK-based timber importer and distributor serving merchants, joiners, and contractors with hardwood, softwood, and panel products. Operates a comparable distribution model targeting similar trade customers.
Others
- Accsys Technologies (Accoya): Manufacturer of Accoya modified timber, a flagship product in International Timber's range. Strategic supplier relationship and adjacent in the value chain — comparable because Accoya is a key part of IT's cladding/decking/joinery offering.
Emerging players
- Metsä Wood: European manufacturer of engineered wood products (Kerto LVL, plywood, glulam) supplying construction and joinery customers in the UK. Direct overlap in the engineered/modified timber categories that International Timber distributes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
International Timber social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Timber compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
International Timber financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Timber leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
International Timber funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Timber M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Timber
What does International Timber do?
International Timber imports and distributes sustainable softwood, hardwood, panel, cladding, decking and engineered/laminated timber products to UK manufacturers, merchants and specifiers. It complements product supply with in-house specialist services including bespoke machining using Weinig equipment, fire retardant impregnation treatments (Lonza DRICON/NON-COM), organic preservation treatments (Osmose Protim) and factory-applied coatings from approved paint manufacturer lines.
Is International Timber a public or private company?
International Timber is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was International Timber founded?
International Timber was founded in 1970. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is International Timber based?
International Timber is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does International Timber make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Timber and Panel Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are treatment and Processing Services.
Who are International Timber's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Jewson and Travis Perkins. Direct peers are Arnold Laver, Brooks Bros (UK), Howarth Timber & Building Supplies, BSW Timber, James Latham and Meyer Timber. Accsys Technologies (Accoya) is listed as an others. Metsä Wood is listed as an emerging player.
Does International Timber have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Timber.
What industry is International Timber in?
International Timber's product category is Timber and Panel Products Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAIAD, Engineered Wood Products Distribution (LVL, I-joists, Glulam, CLT), with a secondary code of IMAMAIAC, Plywood & Panel Products Distribution (Plywood, OSB, MDF, Particleboard). Its NAICS code is 42331 and its SIC code is 5031.