Stockholm, Sweden, 14 March 2012 -- SCA has acquired PLF, France’s largest independent supplier of wood-based construction products to the builders merchants sector. PLF distributes timber products to the builders merchants sector throughout France and conducts extensive timber-processing activities, including coating and surface treatment of timber products for interior and exterior use.

PLF’s operations are located in Bonneuil-Matours, outside Poitiers, and  Rochefort, next to SCA Timber’s own terminal for solid-wood products. PLF further processes about 70,000 cubic meters of solid-wood products annually, including planing and surface treatment.

“For some time now, our aim has been to move up the value chain in France,” said Jonas Mårtensson, president of SCA Timber. “Through the acquisition of PLF, we will become one of the largest direct suppliers to the builders merchants sector in France, which is similar to the position we already hold in the UK and Scandinavia. France is one of our largest and most important markets and we will now become a comprehensive supplier," he said.

“Through the acquisition of PLF, we also gain valuable further-processing capacity in France. PLF has a solid reputation as a creative designer and innovative producer of surface-treated timber products, such as exterior panelling, interior panelling, and other wood-based products for the builders merchants sector," Mårtensson said.

“PLF has been one of our principal customers in France and we believe there is excellent potential to increase integration with primarily Tunadal sawmill in Sundsvall, Sweden. In Tunadal, we will now raise production of whitewood products, which are currently in demand France,” Mårtensson said.

PLF has annual sales of SEK 250 million with 70 employees.