Hanson Plywood

What Hanson Plywood does

Hanson Plywood Limited is a privately held UK-based distributor of certified timber panel products, headquartered at Drakes Industrial Estate in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The company organizes its offering into nine core product categories — plywood (hardwood, birch, poplar, softwood, special coated technical), OSB, MDF/HDF/hardboard, chipboard, blockboard/timber panels/door blanks, flexible panels, decorative panels, fire retardant panels/building boards, and panel processing services — sourced through long-standing partnerships with international manufacturers including Panguaneta (Italy), Metsä Wood (Finland), Paged (Poland), Koskisen (Finland), and Resistant Building Products. Its portfolio includes proprietary registered brands such as Performance Plywood®, SP101® Flooring Plywood, the Multi-Pro magnesium oxide building board family, Fire-Design, and Flamebreak door blanks, with strong emphasis on FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification, FLEGT licensing, and compliance with UK Timber Regulation.

The business operates a sales-led B2B distribution model, with quote-based pricing routed through a direct sales team accessible by phone, email, and website enquiry. It serves five horizontally distributed customer segments — construction, architects/designers/specifiers, furniture and joinery manufacturers, vehicle body builders, and model/toy/craft industries — with the first two treated as primary. Specification-led marketing is a core go-to-market pillar: the company is an RIBA Approved CPD Provider, lists products on the NBS Source platform integrated with the RIBA Product Selector, and operates a dedicated virtual showroom (hanson-plywood-showroom.co.uk) and theplywoodspecifiersguide.co.uk microsite for technical guidance. Panel processing — bespoke CNC cutting, laminating, and veneering — is offered as an add-on service through a network of suppliers, with 3–5 day turnaround on cutting/profiling and 7–10 days on laminated/veneered boards.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time wholesale sales of timber panel products, supplemented by processing service fees. The company has invested in sustainability infrastructure including a 220,000 kWh/year solar array, one of West Yorkshire's first fully electric Heavy Goods Vehicles, and up to ten on-site EV charging stations; it is enrolled in the Planet Mark Business Certification scheme with a 5% annual Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target. No revenue, headcount, or funding history is publicly disclosed.

Name

Hanson Plywood

Legal name

Hanson Plywood Limited

Website

https://hanson-plywood.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hanson Plywood Limited is a privately held UK-based B2B distributor of certified timber panel products — plywood, OSB, MDF, chipboard, fire retardant building boards, and bespoke panel processing — serving construction, architects/specifiers, furniture, vehicle body builders, and craft industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Timber Panel Distribution

NAICS

Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers (42331), Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing (32121)

SIC

Wholesale-Lumber, Plywood, Millwork & Wood Panels (5031), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)

akta.pro primary industry

Plywood & Panel Products Distribution (Plywood, OSB, MDF, Particleboard) (IMAMAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineered Wood Product Distribution & Fabrication Services (IMAMACAO), Hardwood Plywood & Decorative Panels Manufacturing (IMAMACAB), Treated Wood & Preserved Timber Products (IMADADAE)

Keywords

• Timber panel distribution
• Plywood supply
• OSB boards
• Fire retardant panels
• Certified sustainable timber

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Timber Panel Product Sales: B2B wholesale distribution of timber panel products including plywood, OSB, MDF, chipboard, and specialty building boards. Products sold directly to construction companies, furniture manufacturers, vehicle builders, and through specification channels to architects and specifiers.
2. Panel Processing Services: Bespoke cutting, laminating, veneering and CNC machining services through network of suppliers. 3-5 day turnaround on cutting/profiling, 7-10 day turnaround on laminated/veneered boards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hanson Plywood distributes a comprehensive range of certified sustainable timber panel products including plywood, OSB, MDF, chipboard, blockboard, flexible panels, decorative panels, and fire retardant building boards to construction, furniture, joinery, vehicle body building, and architectural specification markets in the UK. The company supplements its product distribution with bespoke panel processing services (cutting, laminating, veneering, CNC machining) delivered through a UK-wide supplier network with turnaround times of 3-10 days.

Product overview

Hanson Plywood is a UK-based timber panel products distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of wood-based panel products organized into nine core categories: Plywood (including Hardwood, Birch, Poplar, Softwood, and Special Coated Technical variants), OSB, MDF-HDF-Hardboard, Chipboard, Blockboard/Timber Panels/Door Blanks, Flexible Panels, Decorative Panels, Fire Retardant Panels/Building Boards, and Panel Processing services. Key branded products include Performance Plywood® and SP101® Flooring Plywood from Indonesia (FLEGT Licensed), alongside proprietary Multi-Pro magnesium oxide building boards (Multi-Pro, Multi-Pro XS, Multi-Pro Tile Backer, Multi-Rend). The company specializes in sustainably sourced, certified timber products (FSC®, PEFC) with comprehensive technical specifications for construction, furniture, automotive, and decorative applications. Processing services include bespoke CNC cutting, laminating, and machining. Products serve diverse industries including construction, joinery, furniture, vehicle body building, marine, and signage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Performance Plywood®: High-quality Indonesian hardwood plywood manufactured with full environmental and technical assurance, FSC certified, with timber from FLEGT licensed forests. Suitable for construction, furniture, flooring, portable buildings, vehicle body building, and boat/yacht building applications.
• SP101® Flooring Plywood
• Multi-Rend
• Multi-Pro
• Multi-Pro XS
• MoistSure

Products and services

• Plywood Timber panel products comprising layers of thin wood bonded together with adhesive at right angles for strength. Includes Hardwood, Birch, Poplar, Softwood, and Special Coated Technical variants for construction, furniture, flooring, marine, and decorative applications.
• OSB (Oriented Strand Board)
• MDF, HDF and Hardboard
• Chipboard
• Blockboard, Timber Panels and Door Blanks
• Flexible Panels
• Decorative Panels
• Fire Retardant Panels and Building Boards
• Panel Processing Services
• Performance Plywood® High-quality Indonesian hardwood plywood with comprehensive technical and environmental classifications. FLEGT Licensed and FSC® certified. Suitable for construction, portable buildings, roofing, flooring, wall panelling, joinery, vehicle body building, and boat/yacht building.
• SP101® Flooring Plywood
• Multi-Pro Magnesium Oxide Building Board
• No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) Birch Plywood
• MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME Durable MDF

Quantifiable outcome

• Net Zero commitment with Planet Mark Business Certification, 5% annual reduction target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Soil AssociationcoreOthersThird-party auditor for annual verification of Hanson Plywood's Due Diligence System and Chain of Custody management systems under TDUK Responsible Purchasing Policy. Soil Association conducts annual external audits.
• Planet MarkcoreOthersBusiness Certification scheme partner for carbon reduction and Net Zero journey. Requires annual submission of Scope 1, 2 and core Scope 3 emissions data with minimum 5% annual reduction target.
• PanguanetacoreTechnology or IntegrationItalian manufacturer producing Fire-Design fire retardant poplar plywood, Ilomba Superior, and standard Poplar Plywood products. Partner since 2017.
• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreOthersFeatured within Approved RIBA CPD Providers Network offering informative CPD on plywood. Products also listed on NBS Source which integrates with RIBA Product Selector.
• NBS (National Building Specification)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital platform integrating with RIBA Product Selector. Hanson Plywood products listed providing specifiers with tools to find, select and specify correct products.
• Metsä WoodcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinnish manufacturer supplying WISA Spruce Plywood and Finnish Spruce Plywood products. PEFC certified supply chain.
• Resistant Building ProductscoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of Multi-Pro, Multi-Pro XS, Multi-Rend, and Multi-Pro Tile Backer boards. Hanson Plywood is UK distributor for these products.
• PagedcoreTechnology or IntegrationPolish manufacturer producing Birch Plywood products including GreenPly, FreePly, and FreePly Nature no-added-formaldehyde products.
• KoskisencoreTechnology or IntegrationFinnish manufacturer producing Koskifutura polypropylene faced birch plywood and Koskiply birch products. 100% PEFC certified.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Timber: UK-based distributor of timber, panel products, and engineered wood serving merchants, manufacturers and construction. Comparable import-led distribution model and customer overlap with Hanson Plywood.
• Timbmet Group: UK distributor of timber panels, hardwoods, softwoods and decorative surfaces serving joinery, furniture and construction trades. Comparable panel-led distribution model with bespoke cutting and laminating services.
• James Latham plc: UK's largest independent timber and panel products distributor, listed on AIM. Directly comparable business model: distributes hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, OSB, melamine-faced panels and engineered wood to trade customers, with panel processing services and similar sustainability/RIBA-style specification support.
• Brooks Bros (UK): UK timber importer and distributor with engineered wood, hardwood and panel products for construction and joinery. Overlapping product mix and similar B2B trade channel positioning as Hanson Plywood.
• Meyer Timber: UK-based specialist timber and panel distributor with broad range of plywood, MDF, OSB and decorative panels. Closest direct competitor to Hanson Plywood given overlapping product range and B2B trade customer base across construction and joinery.

Broad incumbents

• Jewson: Major UK builders' merchant with national branch network selling timber, sheet materials and building boards to trade customers. Overlaps with Hanson's core range at commodity panel level but lacks the same specialist specification focus.
• Travis Perkins plc: Largest UK builders' merchant group with timber and panel products as part of a broad building materials portfolio. Competes with Hanson Plywood indirectly on commodity plywood, OSB and MDF but does not specialise in certified/specialty panel specification.
• Howarth Timber & Building Supplies: UK national chain of timber and builders' merchants offering sheet materials alongside general building products. Competes in the same downstream trade channel as Hanson Plywood on plywood, OSB and MDF.

Others

• Panguaneta: Italian poplar plywood manufacturer supplying Hanson's Fire-Design and Ilomba Superior lines. Comparable product category and certification positioning but operates as Hanson's principal supplier rather than competitor.
• SMARTPLY (Medite Smartply): Irish OSB and MDF manufacturer (part of Coillte group) whose products Hanson Plywood actively distributes (SMARTPLY SITEPROTECT). Comparable technology and product category but operates upstream as a manufacturer rather than distributor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HansonPlywood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hanson Plywood