News

Merchant sales slip in Q3

merchant stock warehouse 1

There was a small decline in builders merchants’ sales in Q3 of 2025, according to the latest BMF Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI).  The downturn underscores growing pessimism within the sector about future market activity for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.  Year-on-year total value sales in Q3 2025 were …

Read More »

Pillo talk from W Howard

pillowoodfibre HR

Manufacturer W.Howard has completed a major investment and restructuring of its facilities to prepare for the launch of its new subsidiary, W.Howard Pillo.  The business has invested in a state-of-the-art shrink-wrap machine to improve the packaging of its MDF profile products. The new equipment delivers faster processing, reduced energy consumption …

Read More »

Actis becomes UNESCO World Heritage site patron

Actis becomes UNESCO World Heritage site patron

Insulation specialist Actis, whose HQ is in South West France, has become a corporate patron of UNESCO World Heritage site the Canal du Midit. The 17th century canal, which runs from Toulouse to the Mediterranean, is one of the oldest in Europe. The engineering feat is regarded as an immense historical, …

Read More »

PWIDF maintains Police Security Standards accreditation

PWIDF Maintains Its Police Security Standards Accreditation

PWIDF, the architectural ironmongery and fire door solutions branch of Premier Forest Products, has maintained its Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation for the second year running. With the Police Preferred Specification, SBD provides a recognised standard for security products that can deter and reduce crime. As part of the scheme, …

Read More »

STARK UK goes bats with new campaign

STARK UK campaign supports bats in hibernation

Builders’ merchants and materials distributor STARK UK is inviting local schools, community groups, tradespeople and businesses to join the second phase of its Homes for Nature campaign, helping to build bat boxes to support hibernation this winter. This call to action builds on the successful start of STARK UK’s Homes …

Read More »

Huws Gray invests in Grangemouth site

Huws Gray invests in Grangemouth site

Builders’ merchant Huws Gray has completed an  upgrade to its Grangemouth Timber depo. The branch, which employs 16 people, is the only location in Scotland that still operates a working timber mill, offering a wide range of services, including full sawing capabilities, moulding and profiling, wood preservation, and specialist cutter …

Read More »

BMF sustainability report highlights need for greater engagement

BMF Report highlights need for greater customer engagement

The third annual BMF State of Sustainability research report, conducted by strategic agency CMDi, has highlighted that the top three barriers to adopting sustainable building materials are all customer-related. The report states that many trade customers have a low awareness of the need for sustainable materials, expressing scepticism about sustainability …

Read More »

Heidelberg Materials trials CarbonCure at Greenwich concrete plant

Heidelberg Materials trials CarbonCure at Greenwich concrete plant

Heidelberg Materials UK is carrying out trials using CarbonCure technology in ready-mixed concrete, for the first time in England, at its Greenwich concrete plant. The process involves injecting pure manufactured CO₂ into fresh concrete to improve hydration. This allows producers to use an average of five per cent less cement …

Read More »

LDD UK celebrates 25th anniversary

LDD UK celebrates 25th anniversary

Kitchen and appliance distributor LDD UK is celebrating 25 years in business.    LDD UK is based at Newhouse Industrial Estate in Newhouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland and delivers across the UK. Founder and managing director, Arthur Leaker, comments: “We’re enormously proud to reach this milestone and it really is a testament …

Read More »

Daikin UK returns as sponsor of Grand Designs Live

Daikin UK will return as headline sponsor of Grand Designs

Daikin UK will return as headline sponsor of Grand Designs Live for the second year running. Visitors to the Excel London show in May 2026 and the Birmingham NEC show in October 2026 will be able to explore Daikin’s latest heating and cooling solutions up close, speak directly with experts …

Read More »