Forest Timber

Let’s talk timber

When it comes to the
Thorpe family, we do timber.

We’ve been doing timber since 1942 when John ‘Eddy’ Thorpe started Thorpe Timber Company. While it was initially rooted in the Denver area, the company transferred operations to Roodekop (an area close to Germiston in what was once known as the “Transvaal”). John’s son, Brian Thorpe, took over the reigns of the company from the late 1960s and, by 1987, the Thorpe Timber Company had become South Africa’s largest independent timber merchant and employed some 800 people.

We expanded, quickly, to Kangwane near White River, where Thorpe Timbers opened a major facility close to its raw material source. At this facility, we focused on the manufacture of components for the furniture and building industries. And in Welkom, another Thorpe Timbers outlet opened its doors to manufacture roof trusses.

But that’s not all we created and achieved: We supplied and distributed meranti, pine and salinga woods, as well as imported exotic hardwoods, plywood and shutter board. We started making pallets, boxes, doors and mouldings too. In essence, we became South Africa’s timber experts: from source to sanded product.

In 2007, Brian sold Thorpe Timbers to building materials supplier, Illiad Africa. While they had requested Brian to stay on and share his expertise, by 2010, Brian felt that a new chapter awaited him and the family legacy.

Brian purchased property in the picturesque Montagu in the Western Cape and set up Forest Timber with the help of long-time collaborator, Hanscel Vosloo. With ambition, foresight and a deep love of timber, Brian ensured that what started as a small business manufacturing timber pallets and fruit bins for the farming industry in the Cape grew to become a major contender in the industry.

And so, the legacy of the Thorpe family and our love for timber continues to live on, for yet another chapter and another generation. And, like the products we proudly manufacture, Forest timber is here to stay

With a love, passion and expertise passed down from John “Eddy” Thorpe to Brian Thorpe, timber is in our hands, our bones, our blood – we are honoured to be able to share our family legacy with you.

When it comes to the
Thorpe family, we do timber.

We’ve been doing timber since 1942 when John ‘Eddy’ Thorpe started Thorpe Timber Company. While it was initially rooted in the Denver area, the company transferred operations to Roodekop (an area close to Germiston in what was once known as the “Transvaal”). John’s son, Brian Thorpe, took over the reigns of the company from the late 1960s and, by 1987, the Thorpe Timber Company had become South Africa’s largest independent timber merchant and employed some 800 people.

We expanded, quickly, to Kangwane near White River, where Thorpe Timbers opened a major facility close to its raw material source. At this facility, we focused on the manufacture of components for the furniture and building industries. And in Welkom, another Thorpe Timbers outlet opened its doors to manufacture roof trusses.

But that’s not all we created and achieved: We supplied and distributed meranti, pine and salinga woods, as well as imported exotic hardwoods, plywood and shutter board. We started making pallets, boxes, doors and mouldings too. In essence, we became South Africa’s timber experts: from source to sanded product.

In 2007, Brian sold Thorpe Timbers to building materials supplier, Illiad Africa. While they had requested Brian to stay on and share his expertise, by 2010, Brian felt that a new chapter awaited him and the family legacy.

Brian purchased property in the picturesque Montagu in the Western Cape and set up Forest Timber with the help of long-time collaborator, Hanscel Vosloo. With ambition, foresight and a deep love of timber, Brian ensured that what started as a small business manufacturing timber pallets and fruit bins for the farming industry in the Cape grew to become a major contender in the industry.

And so, the legacy of the Thorpe family and our love for timber continues to live on, for yet another chapter and another generation. And, like the products we proudly manufacture, Forest timber is here to stay

With a love, passion and expertise passed down from John “Eddy” Thorpe to Brian Thorpe, timber is in our hands, our bones, our blood – we are honoured to be able to share our family legacy with you.

When it comes to the
Thorpe family, we do timber.

We’ve been doing timber since 1942 when John ‘Eddy’ Thorpe started Thorpe Timber Company. While it was initially rooted in the Denver area, the company transferred operations to Roodekop (an area close to Germiston in what was once known as the “Transvaal”). John’s son, Brian Thorpe, took over the reigns of the company from the late 1960s and, by 1987, the Thorpe Timber Company had become South Africa’s largest independent timber merchant and employed some 800 people.

We expanded, quickly, to Kangwane near White River, where Thorpe Timbers opened a major facility close to its raw material source. At this facility, we focused on the manufacture of components for the furniture and building industries. And in Welkom, another Thorpe Timbers outlet opened its doors to manufacture roof trusses.

But that’s not all we created and achieved: We supplied and distributed meranti, pine and salinga woods, as well as imported exotic hardwoods, plywood and shutter board. We started making pallets, boxes, doors and mouldings too. In essence, we became South Africa’s timber experts: from source to sanded product.

In 2007, Brian sold Thorpe Timbers to building materials supplier, Illiad Africa. While they had requested Brian to stay on and share his expertise, by 2010, Brian felt that a new chapter awaited him and the family legacy.

Brian purchased property in the picturesque Montagu in the Western Cape and set up Forest Timber with the help of long-time collaborator, Hanscel Vosloo. With ambition, foresight and a deep love of timber, Brian ensured that what started as a small business manufacturing timber pallets and fruit bins for the farming industry in the Cape grew to become a major contender in the industry.

And so, the legacy of the Thorpe family and our love for timber continues to live on, for yet another chapter and another generation. And, like the products we proudly manufacture, Forest timber is here to stay

With a love, passion and expertise passed down from John “Eddy” Thorpe to Brian Thorpe, timber is in our hands, our bones, our blood – we are honoured to be able to share our family legacy with you.