Saint-Gobain SA is a multinational corporation that manufactures and distributes construction materials.  Established in France in 1665 as the first company to produce glass on an industrial scale, Saint-Gobain has a long history in the sector and is now a leading company in the distribution of building materials. Specifically, it is among the top five industry leaders in Europe’s increasingly consolidated building products distribution sector. Saint-Gobain claims to be the largest of these industry players; with over 4,000 sales outlets and over 17,000 employees in the manufacturing and distribution sectors in the UK and Ireland alone.

Saint-Gobain houses several enterprises in the construction and building materials distribution industries. The company’s construction products activities include the production of cast iron pipe systems, plasterboard and plaster products, insulation, industrial mortars and exterior products. Saint-Gobain’s building distribution activities operate under several trading brands in 27 countries, including 16 brands in France, 12 in Germany and 18 in the UK.

International Timber is one of Saint-Gobain’s brands in the UK, supplying timber and timber products to a range of industry sectors.  International Timber produces a variety of wood products, including hardwoods, softwoods, decking, flooring and engineered timber components. The company imports tropical sawnwood from South America, including from Brazil; from West Africa, including Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo; and from Asia, including Indonesia. Another of Saint-Gobain’s subsidiaries in the UK is Jewson. Jewson is the UK’s leading supplier of building materials and timber products, which it sources from International Timber.