James Latham Supplement – Professional Builders Merchant June 2021

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PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT ADVERTORIAL SUPPLEMENT

JUNE 2021

JAMES LATHAM The natural choice for timber, panels & decorative surfaces

www.lathamtimber.co.uk

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ADVERTORIAL SUPPLEMENT

James Latham – the Natural Choice How well do you know us? It’s a question we recently asked our customers and were rather surprised by the response.

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t’s fair to say James Latham, with our striking purple and green livery, sits among some of the most recognised names in the construction sector. Founded in 1757, it would be easy to assume that people know all there is to know about our business. But our research showed whilst many people know the company name or branding, there’s much less awareness of the full breadth of the product range and what Lathams can do for builders’ merchants.

For example, many buy timber from us, but don’t know that we sell panels or decorative surfaces. Conversely many panel customers don’t know about our timber offer. That lack of awareness gets even deeper when we move into door blanks, laminates and veneers, cladding, mouldings, solid surfaces, technical panels or even acrylics and thermoplastics!

James Latham operates from twelve distribution depots throughout the UK & Ireland, plus a number of other locations housing functions that provide specialist services such as cladding and mouldings and bulk direct timber supplies.

The company prides itself on being innovators and are often ‘first movers’ in the market. This is borne out by a number of industry firsts: • the first UK timber importer to set up a panels business in the early 1900s.

• the first stockist to take delivery of Medite MDF in the UK. • the first importer to stock TRP plywood from Weyerhauser.

• the first timber distributor to set up

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dedicated Architecture & Design showrooms.

The Latham way is to always be ahead of the pack.

For merchants, this pioneering approach holds many benefits. Throughout our depot network, we hold stocks of such a broad spectrum of product that you should never need to turn your back on a sales opportunity. These include the latest timber technologies such as WoodEx engineered wood and Accoya — a naturally modified, sustainable softwood with a 50-year external warranty — through to Garnica Ultralight, an 18mm plywood sandwich panel featuring an XPS core; and UPM Grada, a thermoformable plywood which can be heated and bent in a matter of minutes.

Our products are a key part of our success, but what truly sets us apart is our service. Many of our depots operate a 24hour schedule, meaning our lorries have more time on the road and you (and your customer) have less time waiting for materials. Whilst the depots break bulk loads delivered from manufacturers to send you just the quantities you need, our LDT (Latham Direct Timber) division do exactly the opposite and can bring you bulk loads, directly from the port should you wish.

For even more convenience, our team at Dresser Mouldings (part of the Latham Group) offer both off-the-shelf and bespoke mouldings in a variety of materials, as well as timber machining and in-house coating services.

But the driving force behind this service is

our people. Whilst we are developing a strong roster of young, fresh blood in our mix, we also have many employees that have been within the timber sector (and indeed our company) for 20, 30 and even 50 years in some cases. This experience means we can provide expertise and support unparalleled within the industry.

No matter how awkward the demands of your customer, you can rely on us to help.

An innovative mindset, nationwide coverage, rapid deliveries, huge stocks, vast experience, the latest materials and a desire to make life easier for builders’ merchants...

Welcome to James Latham!

■ For more information, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mc012

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Looking beyond Brexit...

Andrew Wright, Managing Director at James Latham, shares his observations of the impact Brexit has been having on the industry.

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here has been a great deal of commentary around issues related to Brexit, with uncertainty on customs entry procedures, additional administration, duty, shipping and transportation costs and the inevitable delays all being well publicised.

Research from The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply found that 45% of companies had experienced longer lead times for products. This is against a backdrop of falling imports more generally — ONS figures at the beginning of the year showed a drop of nearly 30%, although this did start to improve in February.

The signs are that importers and manufacturers are still trying to adapt to new customs requirements.

There is the added difficulty of the global pandemic, during which time the sector has seen a dramatic swing in demand for materials. Subsequently construction — and therefore demand — has been steadily recovering as lockdown restrictions have loosened; combine this with a backlog from the earlier slowdown in production volumes, and global supply lines for some commodity products are being thoroughly tested.

As you would expect, James Latham planned ahead, taking measures to prepare for the UK leaving the EU as soon as the result of the vote was announced. While this involved significant investment and planning before we knew the shape of any deal, we did

not want to get to the end of the Brexit process and find ourselves unable to continue to source stock from our key suppliers in Europe.

A major part of this was setting up a specific team focused on our supply chain management. This included a new position on the Lathams Limited board for Steve Frommont as Supply Chain Director.

The team audited our existing relationships, import processes and our customer’s expected future requirements.

From there, we developed a response based on risk assessment and focused on maintaining the uninterrupted flow of goods to our depots and customers leading up to and throughout the Brexit transition.

Our supply chain team is now eleven people strong and has worked extremely hard to secure a set of accreditations demonstrating our compliance across a range of factors.

One of the most important aspects was obtaining Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status. A mark of quality, it is awarded

by HM Revenue & Customs to recognise businesses with a strong track record of high standards when it comes to imports and exports. The benefit is a faster customs authorisation process with simplified paperwork, meaning our stock is not held up at borders. As well as being recognised by the EU, this status is also part of agreements with China, Japan and the USA.

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The supply chain team have worked particularly hard throughout the period, successfully navigating the business through new documentation procedures whilst maintaining the flow of product from our key suppliers into the business and avoiding significant disruption at the ports.

During this unprecedented period we have continued to work very closely with our key suppliers, building on the excellent relationships with our supply chain partners to help ensure that we can maintain a seamless supply of product to our regular customers.

Flexibility remains our priority in the months ahead as we emerge from the pandemic and things become clearer.

However, we believe that we have the right strategy and experienced teams in place to continue serving the market.

■ To watch a short video on James Latham’s post-Brexit supply strategy, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mc013

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ADVERTORIAL SUPPLEMENT

Clad tidings…

While there has rightly been bad press for some cladding types recently, at Lathams we have seen a 70% increase in enquiries in the last 12 months.

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ladding is hugely versatile. Available in a range of materials, styles and finishes it is a great way of putting the finishing touches to a project. And it seems that it has never been as popular as it is now.

The majority of these enquiries are split between two uses — adding or replacing decorative cladding on homes, or for the exterior of new garden rooms with the latter being driven by a response to the Covid pandemic as people create new spaces for work or leisure at their homes. In fact, the UK garden building market is predicted to be £325m by 2025.

It is an area that builders’ merchants are well placed to capitalise on. But, what to stock?

As a business with a long history of supplying cladding we have noticed a big shift in what people are looking for.

Traditional cladding styles such as western red cedar are being replaced by more contemporary options — and there is greater focus on performance, longevity, maintenance and ease of installation.

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Here are three products that we think are among the best on the market: Finish Line Collection The Finish Line Collection is the result of an exclusive partnership between Lathams and Accoya Timber, timber engineering

company Dresser Mouldings and Canadian coating specialist Sansin.

The Accoya provides a strong foundation for the product. With a warranty of up to 50 years when used above the ground, it is a natural fit for cladding. It is well known for its durability due to the natural modification

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It is a completely toxin-free process, using only heat and water vapour, and sees the cell wall structures of the wood changed. This creates a weather- and rot-resistant product that is durability class 2, meaning customers can expect it to last between 15-25 years.

The thermal treatment creates a uniform dark colour and enhances the wood grain. It results in cladding that is free of defects and has a smooth finish. Available in lengths of up to five metres, it provides an excellent cladding option.

process (acetylation) and its performance rivals hardwoods.

The manufacturing process sees the Accoya wood profiled, surface finished and coated by the team at Dresser Mouldings.

This creates a key on the timber’s face, with tiny variations in texture allowing Sansin’s ultra-low VOC coating to penetrate beneath the surface of the timber. The advantage is that this helps to bind it to the cells and prevents peeling and cracking.

The cladding arrives on-site factory finished, front, back and ends, effectively encapsulating the timber in a breathable envelope. It is exclusive to Lathams and

comes in 12 unique colours that can be finished either brushed or sanded, the latter creating a distinctive two-tone effect.

Noawood Noawood offers a more traditional appearance, but with no less technical attributes. The cladding uses Malaysian Meranti timber that has been thermally modified. The process sees the timber kilndried to temperatures above 170°C and pressure between 6-9 bar. The 30-hour process reduces the final moisture content to around 4-6%, resulting in enhanced dimensional stability and a lighter weight.

EasyMEG There is also a high-performance option for those who want an alternative to timber.

Brand new to the UK market, EasyMEG has been developed by Abet Laminati. An external Compact Grade Laminate (CGL), EasyMEG is simple to install and is available in 3000 x 208mm strips rather than large panels.

CGLs are very robust decorative laminates. They consist of layers of decorative papers impregnated with thermosetting resins and treated under high pressure. The process results in a solid, compact and long-lasting material that is easy to maintain and offers good weather and moisture resistance.

Installed using an invisible fixing method, think of them almost like high quality laminate flooring but for exterior walls. Maintenance free, colourfast, impact resistant and available in a wide range of flat colours and wood grain effects, they are perfectly suited to the domestic market.

All products above are either available for immediate delivery or on very short lead times from your local Lathams depot. It means that you do not need to stock them, but can benefit from this rapidly emerging market sector.

■ For more information about our cladding ranges, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mc014

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ADVERTORIAL SUPPLEMENT Phil Lomas has recently been appointed General Manager of Lathams’ specialist timber manufacturing division Dresser Mouldings.

Here, he shares his thoughts on the industry.

Q&A Q A

How did you get into the industry and to your current position?

I’ve built a track record of improving operations in a range of sectors, including wholesale and retail.

But, it was my manufacturing experience that led to me being headhunted by a global timber importer, who needed to overhaul their business.

I’ve now joined James Latham to oversee the development of the bespoke wood machining offer, with the objective of being the number one brand in the industry.

Q A

How do you feel the industry has changed in recent years?

The industry has changed more in the last five years than the previous 15. Improvements in sustainability, innovation and lead times have accelerated. I’ve witnessed many different skill sets become accepted into what has been a traditional sector. This includes marketing — an area that was lacking.

The timber industry has been slow to adapt to digital, but is beginning to embrace the opportunity. Lathams are at the forefront of that charge. Covid is accelerating this, and we’ve shifted to a digital first mindset, including adding a

virtual sales process. This is more convenient and flexible, increases our access to market and connects our experts more effectively with customers.

We’ve also focused heavily on our product portfolio, adding exclusive ranges, high-performers and innovative materials to provide greater choice. We’re recruiting heavily, so confidence is high.

Q A

In addition to Covid, what are the particular challenges currently facing the company?

The timber industry often has times when it’s difficult to source and import materials. This is among the worst periods the industry has seen, especially when it comes to price volatility. That said, Lathams has been largely unaffected thanks to a fantastic supply chain team with great relationships and robust business processes.

In advance of Brexit, Lathams secured Advanced Economic Operator status. A mark of quality for imports and exports, it means that our goods aren’t facing delays, significantly reducing any negative impacts.

Q

And looking to the challenges facing the merchant sector?

“The best businesses will embrace online platforms, trade ethically and champion environmental impacts, while maintaining their key strengths such as supplier relationships and breadth of product availability.”

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A

The merchant sector is well positioned for growth postpandemic. The best businesses will embrace online platforms, trade ethically and champion environmental impacts, while maintaining their key strengths such as supplier relationships and breadth of product availability.

Indeed, sustainability is critical to the merchant sector, as it is for all industries.

A change in the US administration has raised awareness, and increased focus is inevitable. My interactions with different business in the UK tell me that sustainability is being taken far more seriously in organisations of all sizes.

Q A

What would you say has been your biggest career achievement so far?

Being part of the turnaround at Richard Burbidge, a 150-year-old business, stands out. It is a similar challenge now, to take Dresser Mouldings, an already successful business, and grow it to the next level and make it an even stronger part of the Lathams group.

Q A

And finally, how do you see the next few years shaping up?

It was an easy decision to join Lathams because of the reputation and professionalism associated with the business. Andrew Wright and the team want to transform the way things are done and create a more modern and sustainable industry.

With significant investment and recruitment taking place, there is a fantastic opportunity to develop its service offer and product portfolio, alongside a serious commitment to be the industry leader in specialist timber manufacturing.

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Products and so much more…

Throughout this supplement, we’ve introduced you to a broader view of what Lathams do and can offer the merchant. We’ve covered our product sets pretty well, but as we’ve mentioned previously there’s more to us than just the products we sell. We like to be progressive and think ahead, meaning we often differ from the role of ‘regular timber distributor’.

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e have a number of divisions within our business that may not be well known but can contribute to your success as a merchant.

Below we shine a spotlight on some of them: The latest member of the Latham Group family is Dresser Mouldings, a long-standing manufacturer and supplier of architectural and specialist carved mouldings. Available via the Latham depot network, Dresser provides ‘off the peg’ items such as stair parts and handrails, skirting boards, architraves and other decorative mouldings.

As well as the core product range, Dresser also offer a bespoke timber mouldings service, with full CAD, template and tooling facilities on site, should your customer have a need to match something existing. And, once the manufacturing process is complete, it also offers a range of finishing options including bespoke profiling, spray finishing and vacuum coating, and final assembly.

This service covers all products from cornices to claddings, offering a one-stop shop that can provide additional revenue for merchants looking for something different.

Then there is Lathams Direct Timber (LDT) which offers a solution to one of the major issues merchants have — getting the products they need, when they need them.

LDT is one of the UK’s largest hardwood timber importers. It was set up by Lathams

to provide customers with easier access to bulk hardwoods and softwoods, offering landed stock direct from the port. This means that products are readily available and clearly priced, without the need to worry about shipping and customs requirements.

The impact of Brexit has meant a whole new administration process, leading to delays and additional costs. LDT is set up to remove that issue for merchants and provide a reliable, dependable bulk timber delivery service.

A range of popular varieties from all over the world are available via LDT including Iroko and Sapele (Africa), Cherry, Maple and Red Oak (North America) and Jelutong, Meranti and Keruing (the Far East).

The company has also just expanded this operation into Southern Ireland, with a depot based in Naul, just outside Dublin.

Finally, Advanced Technical Panels (ATP) offers a range of solutions for the more unusual and demanding panel applications. From non-slip, coated and laminated plywood for applications varying from staging, temporary walkways and vehicle bodies to children’s play areas, access tower platforms and trench covers, ATP offers a product range and additional CNC and machining services to suit every need.

In addition to timber-based panels, ATP also offers a range of thermoplastics, polypropylenes and acrylics ideally suited to

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today’s Post-Covid world. In fact, one of the best sellers this year has been Acrybright®, clear acrylic sheeting for hygiene screens and social distancing applications! Not something most people would associate with a ‘regular timber distributor’…

■ For more information on James Latham’s full service offering, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mc015

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