2. AITKEN & HOWARD LTD IS A
LEADING HARDWOOD TIMBER
MERCHANT.
We hold a full range of premium constructional hardwoods
and are the UK’s largest importer and stockholder of Guyanese
Greenheart. We can cut to order at our own sawmill near Glasgow.
We are uniquely positioned to provide flexible
value-added solutions for civil and marine engineering
projects in UK and International markets.
Aitken & Howard is part of the Gilmour & Aitken family
business. It is now in its 5th generation and, since its
incorporation in 1852, the directors have committed
to providing the highest quality hardwood timbers,
precision machining capability and unrivalled delivery times.
Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com2
3. AITKEN & HOWARD IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE
INDUSTRY LEADERS FOR HIGH QUALITY HARDWOOD
TIMBER SUPPLIES
We are based at our own 17 acre site near Glasgow where we hold Europe’s largest stock of Greenheart and
considerable stocks of other constructional hardwoods. We work with some of the UK’s largest contractors on
major public procurement projects and also supply timber for smaller bespoke construction works.
We work closely with our clients to ensure we provide the highest quality timber and unrivalled added value timber
products. This expertise means the range of contracts we supply is extremely diverse and includes:
Sea defences Railway infrastructure Port and harbour construction Flood protection
Oil industry projects Canal infrastructure Constructional beams House framing
Boat building Decking Bespoke street furniture Gate posts
Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk 3
4. 1852
Gilmour & Aitken
Ltd Founded
Mr Thomas Aitken & Mr
Gilmour founded the
business at 10 Stanley
Street, Glasgow mainly
as Mahogany and
Hardwood timber
merchants to the newly
established shipbuilding
Industry on the River
Clyde.
1934
Timber Supplied to
Cunard White Star
Liners
As specialists in Teak,
Mahogany and other
Hardwoods Gilmour &
Aitken Supplied John
Brown & Co timber for
joinery work of the
Cunard White Star Liners
Queen Mary and Queen
Elizabeth.
1889
Company move to
Forth St,
Pollockshields
The move included an
investment in a new
electrically driven
sawmill. Trade was
mainly still with the
shipyards.
1939-45
Continued
supplying
hardwoods during
WW2
During WW2 timber was
rationed by the ministry
however Gilmour &
Aitken continued to
supply hardwoods to the
ship and boat yards who
were then building
wooden Motor Torpedo
Boats.
1950’s
Timber for
Wooden Coastal
Minesweepers
Following the war
Gilmour & Aitken Ltd
supplied hardwoods to
an accelerated
programme of ‘Ton
Class’ wooden coastal
minesweepers for the
British Fleet following
WW2.
1957
Timber for
Americas Cup
Challenger Sceptre
Gilmour & Aitken
supplied African
Mahogany hull planking
for the British Challenger
to the Americas Cup.
This is believed to be the
only UK challenger still
sailing in British waters.
4 Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com
5. 1976
Moved to a 17 acre
site in Alexandria
The new site gave the
company the space to
expand at pace and as
the business grew, new
kilns were installed to
further increase the
company’s capabilities.
1979
Investment in
further sawmilling
capability
The company set up a
home wood mill and
greatly increased
capacity with a more
recent addition of an
automatic band mill and
36″ planer.
1977
Aitken& Howard
founded
Aitken & Howard was
founded in 1977 to trade
in Guyanese timbers,
principally Greenheart. It
is part of the Gilmour and
Aitken family business
that has been in existence
for over 150 years.
1990’s
Growing Export
Market
Export market grows to
the Arabian Gulf, China,
Spain, Ireland and the
Caribbean where
speciality marine
products and expertise
are in high demand.
1992
East Sussex office
opening
This allowed the team to
handle the growing
demand for marine
constructional timbers in
the South of England.
TODAY
Gilmour & Aitken
continues to grow
with ongoing
strong commitment
to quality and
sustainability under
the control of the
Aitken family.
Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk 5
6. AITKEN & HOWARD HAS BEEN SUPPLYING
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS SINCE THE 1970S AND HAS
AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION BASED ON OUR SUPPLY
CHAIN AND IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE
We export hardwoods for a diverse range of projects, primarily in the oil and gas sector. Our highly
experienced and expert team machine added value products at our large site in the UK, and ship to a
growing number of international markets including Europe, Middle East & Asia.
All our products are machined to specification and can be produced with tolerances of -1/+2mm. They
include:
Launch Runners Fendering Pipe Racking Wharf Construction
Crane Boom Rests Specialist Dunnage
6 Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com
7. TIMBER CERTIFICATION
Continual investments in a robust chain of custody
Gilmour & Aitken are certified to buy and process timbers of:
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes)
A&H and G&A also hold BM Trada Forest Products Chain of Custody Certificates that allows the company
to handle timbers sourced under various national certification schemes such as:
MTCS (Malaysian Timber Council)
TFT (Tropical Forest Trust) and other emerging local schemes
All timbers are bought within the EUTR Legislation of March 2013.
Timber Grading
All our timbers can be graded to EN Codes and British Standards. We have registered graders on site.
7Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk
8. Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk
TIMBER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Aitken & Howard are proud to conduct trade in some of the world’s poorest developing
countries supporting local industry and reducing reliance on aid.
For generations Aitken & Howard have done their own auditing and due diligence on the legality
and sustainability of the supply chains and will incorporate any existing national standards
of emerging certification schemes
Aitken & Howard are signatories to the Timber Trade Federations Responsible Purchasing Policy
(RRP). The company has committed to performing due diligence on all purchases certified and
non-certified by professionally risk rating all materials
In order to maintain continuous improvement, Aitken & Howard maintains an approved supplier
database which is audited annually by the directors as per the RPP
8 Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com
9. Greenheart railway crossing
Greenheart groynes and planking, South England
9Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk
DEMERARA GREENHEART (Rodiaei/Chlorocardium Rodiaei)
Greenheart, also known as Demerara Greenheart, is one of the strongest commercially available
timbers in the market. Ideally suited for salt and fresh water applications where strength and long life
are required. It is classified as very durable with a minimum life of 25 years and graded to strength
PROPERTIES
Timber is a natural product and therefore physical and mechanical properties can vary depending on growing
conditions and the growing area however, Greenheart properties are fairly consistent as the tree is from a relatively
small geographical area.
Aitken & Howard Ltd have developed a robust CoC for Greenheart and Guyanese Timbers in line with UK
Governments Category B. requirements. In Guyana the chain is controlled and documented from stump to
quayside and annually audited. This is strictly self-audited and annually audited by Clarke Forest Services. In the UK
the chain is from Quayside to customers site and the audit process is managed by BMTrada certification (cert no.
BMT-Coc-0117)
Sector Marine Defence, Civil Engineering
Primary uses Harbours, dock work, piling, lock gates, beach groynes, piers, jetties, decking
river and canal banks, sleepers, railways, bridges, fishing rods and truncheons
Country of Origin Guyana
Strength Class D70
Dimensions Standard stock sizes from 50 x 100mm up to 500 x 500mm. Lengths up to 22 metres
10. 10
OPEPE
Nauclea diderrichii
Imported in both Log and sawn specifications Opepe is available in almost any size required, lengths
go up to about 9.00m. It is used where strength and durability are important. It finishes well and is
easy to work.
PROPERTIES
Opepe is an extremely versatile, strong and attractive timber. It has a coarse texture and has good resistance to
fungus and insect attack. It is primarily used externally in construction projects as diverse as river defences and
bridge way beams.
Strength Class D50
Dimensions Up to 500 x 500mm. Lengths up to 9 metres
Country of Origin Cameroon, Republic of Congo
Certification Available FSC
Primary uses Harbours, dock work, piling, lock gates, beach groynes, piers, jetties, decking,
river and canal banks, sleepers, railways, bridges
Sector Marine Defence, Civil Engineering
Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com
Opepe railway beams
11. 11Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk
EKKI
Lophira alata
Imported in both Log and sawn specifications Ekki is available in almost any size required, lengths go
up to about 9.00m. It is used where strength and durability are important. It finishes well and is easy
to work.
PROPERTIES
A very strong, durable and consistent timber, Ekki is a versatile constructional hardwood. It is used extensively in the
UK and Europe for a range of engineering projects from lock gates and fendering to shore piling and bridge decks
Strength Class D70
Dimensions Up to 500 x 500mm. Lengths up to 9 metres
Country of Origin Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon
Certification Available FSC
Primary uses Harbours, dock work, piling, lock gates, beach groynes, piers, jetties, decking
river and canal banks, sleepers, railways, bridges
Sector Marine Defence, Civil Engineering
Ekki bridge section
12. BALAU (Shorea spp) SECTOR: MARINE DEFENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING
BASRALOCUS (Dicorynia guianensis) SECTOR: MARINE DEFENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING
EUROPEAN OAK (Quercus Robur) SECTOR: MARINE DEFENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING
Strength Class
D70
Dimensions 50 x 100mm up to 200 x 200mm in lengths up to 6.90 metres
Country of OriginCertification
Primary uses Lock gates, fendering, bridge decks. Also see Greenheart.
FSC, PEFC, MTC South East Asia
Primary uses Exterior and exposed positions.
Certification Country of Origin Strength Class
FSC South East Asia Equivalent to D50
Dimensions 50 x 100mm up to 200 x 200mm in lengths up to 6.90 metres
Primary uses Exterior and exposed positions.
Certification Country of Origin Strength Class
FSC, PEFC UK and Europe D30 – D40
Dimensions 50 x 100mm up to 200 x 200mm in lengths up to 6.90 metres
12 Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com
Balau decking
13. 13Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk
PURPLEHEART (Peltogyne spp) SECTOR: MARINE DEFENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING
DOUGLAS FIR
(Pseudotsuga menziesii, taxifolia, douglasii) SECTOR: MARINE DEFENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING
LARCH (Larix decidua) SECTOR: MARINE DEFENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING
Strength Class
Equivalent to D60
Dimensions 50 x 100mm up to 200 x 200mm in lengths up to 6.90 metres
Country of Origin
Primary uses Freshwater marine applications, Furniture, Bespoke.
Guyana
Primary uses Exterior and exposed positions.
Country of Origin Strength Class
UK & Europe C18
Dimensions 50 x 100mm up to 200 x 200mm in lengths up to 6.90 metres
Primary uses Bridge construction, decking, boat building and general construction
Country of Origin Strength Class
UK and Europe C24
Dimensions 50 x 100mm up to 200 x 200mm in lengths up to 6.90 metres Larch planking, Mallaig Boatyard
14. 14
CRANE, EXCAVATOR OR MUD MATTS.
Fabricated from heavy hardwood species, these matts are the solution when moving large heavy
machinery over poor or difficult terrain conditions.
The matts have 5 steel reinforcing bars and at either end of the matts the bolts are exposed in the middle
by timber cut outs to provide easy lifting access for mechanical handling equipment.
AVAILABLE IN FOUR SIZES
70mm x 1.00m x 5.00m long
100mm x 1.00m x 5.00m long
150mm x 1.00m x 5.00m long
300mm x 1.00m x 5.00m long
Aitken & Howard carry large stock of these products ensuring a quick turnaround from order.
Timbers Oak, Douglas Fir and Mixed Hardwoods
Sector Civil Engineering & Marine
Uses Ground Protection
Contact us to discuss your requirements on +44 (0) 1389 752 333 or email us at: sales@gilmouraitken.com
Oak Mud Matts
15. AITKEN & HOWARD TIMBER SPECIES
Latin
nameTimber
Mean
Density
Strength
Class Colour
Country of
Origin
Ocotea rodiaei
Sarcocephalus spp.
Lophira procera
Shorea guiso
Shorea kunstleri
Shorea spp.
Dicorynia paraensis
Quercus robur
Peltogyne pubescens
Psudostuga menziesii
Larix europaea
Pinus caribaea
1080kg/m3
760kg/m3
1025kg/m3
930kg/m3
790kg/m3
740kg/m3
860kg/m3
540kg/m3
590kg/m3
680kg/m3
D70
D50
D70
D70
Equivalent D60
up to D40
Equivalent D60
up to C18
up to C24
up to C24
Yellow-Brown
Orange-Yellow
Dark Red
Red-Brown
Brown
Light Brown
Purple
Pinkish Brown
Yellow-Brown
Yellow-Brown
Guyana
Cameroon,
Repulic of Congo
Cameroon,
Repulic of Congo, Gabon
Malaysia
Suriname
UK and Europe
Guyana
UK and Europe
UK
Honduras
GREEnHEART
OPEPE
EKKI
BALAU
BASRALOCUS
OAK
PURPLEHEART
DOUGLAS FIR
LARCH
PITCH PInE
15Visit us online at: www.aitkenhoward.co.uk
