Timber know-how
Vandecasteele Houtimport one of the leading European timber importers Your partner in certified timber
As a proud fifth-generation Belgian family company, founded in 1883, Vandecasteele Houtimport specialises in the import, trading and export of tropical hardwood from Africa, Southeast Asia and South America, Scandinavian and North-American softwood, together with North American and European hardwood.
Over the past 140 years, Vandecasteele have become Europe’s premier timber stockist with vast quantities, specifications and species available of both hardwoods and softwoods. The facility boasts 20 hectares of undercover storage stock with 130,000m3 of finely presented timbers, to satisfy every order, with Europe-wide distribution facilities providing efficient delivery within 1 to 3 days.
This approach to business in satisfying the changing needs of the Industry has been an on-going success, constantly assessing market demands and updating its systems accordingly. Vandecasteele has the resources and ability to adapt to the sensitivity of the market and bridges the gap between sources of supply in Africa, the Far East, South America and North America to Europe in a matter of days.
Utilising its vast stockholding of hardwoods and softwoods coupled with strong environmental credentials such as FSC, PEFC, OLB, Preferred By Nature and VLO aids the accurate processing of customer orders making Vandecasteele Houtimport one of the finest in Europe.
One of the products Vandecasteele currently stocks is Tectona Grandis (Teak), known as “The King of Woods”. Its natural high durability (Class I – the highest durability classification) and its amazing dimensional stability in extreme climate conditions makes it a truly unique species. Its natural high oil, silica and rubber content, allows it to weather without the need for preservatives. Couple this with its strength properties ratio and medium density, making it an ideal boatbuilding material. It is also naturally resistant to insects, fungus and acids.
Vandecasteele Houtimport only import naturally grown Teak, the logs should be straight, cylindrical and free from defects. The 1,000 m3 of sawn teak stock varies from FEQ timber for interior flooring, to 14” wide and 20’ long straight quarter cut boards for superyachts.
Vandecasteele Houtimport focuses on the legality of the timber (conforming to EUTR regulation), with thorough quality control in the country of origin. These high standards and consistency guarantees their customers have confidence in the long term.
The company stocks about 500 cubic metres of marine grade quarter cut Teak boards for decking strips, margins or king planks.
With 20 different decking strip sizes held in stock, for production boats and superyacht sizes in lengths up to 20’ long.
Come and see for yourself – Vandecasteele send an open invitation to their facility in Aalbeke, Belgium.
For more details Tel: +32 56 43 33 33 or visit www.vandecasteele.be
