The deals follow price increases by Masonite earlier this year, while the company’s owner, Norway-based Byggma Group, has also decided to close the UK operation in favour of shipping I-joists direct from the Masonite Beams factory in Sweden.

Dealers swapping to Steico include Kingdom Timber Engineering, Harlow Bros, Hathaway & Hoyle (owned by JT Atkinson), Wyder Timber Systems, Monmouthshire Timber Supplies, Cavers of Wolverhampton and Crawley Parker.

The first loads of Steicojoists are now being delivered to the dealers, with five more already ordered.

Steico will also be taking over Masonite’s Bellway Homes supply contract at the end of July.

Byggma Group told TTJ that its dealers had decided to go elsewhere for I-joists after its price increases, which were implemented because the current low prices were “unacceptable”.

Steico also believes dealers were unsettled by uncertainty in the market as to whether Masonite Beams would continue to supply the UK.

Another Byggma Group company Masonite AB went bankrupt in April because of losses and a continual need for capital injections. The company, based at the same Rundvik site as Masonite Beams, manufactured a range of woodfire boards and was established in 1929.

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