Russwood’s history: a timeline
A family business to this day, Russwood has a rich industrial history originating in coal distribution. Founded in its current form in 1990, the company has greatly evolved over the decades. As we look back over our company’s history, we are proud of who we are today. Our timeline below tells the full story; quality ingrained from the very beginning.
1960 – 1982
1960 – 1982
The Russell family operates a coal distribution business on the railway sidings at Newtonmore station, where Russwood’s expanded site remains to this day.
1990
1990
Russwood Ltd in its current form is founded by John Russell as a timber supplier, establishing an estate sawmill setup.
1991
1991
Russwood’s timber journey begins by supplying and kiln-drying timber for furniture, doors, sheds, and picnic tables.
1993
1993
Russwood begins producing beams for post and beam construction, receiving the company’s first large contract in creating fencing for The Millennium Forest for Scotland project.
2000
2000
Weather Clad Rocker
John Russell took his first steps into the cladding and decking market, travelling across Europe in search of timber specialists, later partnering with Dutch exporter Bert Huijsman and purchasing the company’s first ‘Artic load’ of timber.
2001
2001
Russwood begins producing and supplying Siberian Larch and Western Red Cedar cladding, Siberian Larch Decking, and high-quality Oak and Larch flooring.
2003
2003
The first ‘Weinig’ moulder is installed for profile moulding, a big step towards our current range of custom profile options.
2004
2004
Russwood introduces SILA Select® Siberian Larch, a timber with excellent durability properties, attractive figuring and versatility, selected from the highest grades.
2009
2009
Russwood introduces Scotlarch®, a locally sourced, sustainable, durable and cost-effective cladding solution with a characterful knotty appearance.
2010
2010
The first factory coating line is installed for paint coatings, leading the way for our current painted coatings range.
2010
Russwood introduces Accoya®, a Radiata Pine modified through a non-toxic acetylation process, which is uniformly attractive, consistently durable, dimensionally stable, and sustainable product which will last a lifetime.
2014
2014
Two Biomass boilers are installed at our production facility, producing energy from timber by-products.
2014
Russwood partners with Austrian timber engineers, SIHGA, to offer a wide range of advanced fixing systems that make timber cladding and decking last longer and look better.
2015
2015
Russwood moves to its new office premises designed by HRI Architects, with the surrounding site hosting a sawmill, planing mill, and in-house factory coating facility, as well as a flooring showroom and architect-designed cladding and decking display areas.
2016
2016
Russwood expands outside of the Highlands for the first time, establishing Glasgow-based offices at the Glasgow Collective, hosting its expanded Sales and Project Development and Marketing Teams.
2016
Russwood introduces Thermopine®, an exceptionally stable and durable timber produced by thermally modifying Scandinavian-grown Scots Pine.
2017
2017
Russwood is named premium UK specification partner to SiOO:X, an innovative Swedish timber treatment product eliminating differential weathering, repelling moisture, and forming a natural protective barrier to timber cladding.
2017
Russwood opens its bespoke Flooring showroom, displaying all of our flooring ranges with sample panels, allowing customers to experience our timber flooring products hands-on.
2018
2018
Russwood establishes its Specification Team, a dedicated team to focus on architectural specification and enquiries, and now an invaluable asset to our company.
2018
Russwood introduces its interior cladding range, now including Kurowood®, Lunawood Collection and Fired Spruce.
2018
Russwood launches Microtex®, a fibrous surface finish designed to provide optimal performance of SiOO:X coatings.
2019
2019
Russwood presents new core values and purpose statement to reflect the future path of the company, focusing upon environmental sustainability and minimising our carbon impact.
2020
2020
Russwood partners with Flamro® to offer Firebreather cavity barriers, an innovative fire retardant measure involving a heat activated intumescent strip within the cavity behind cladding, expanding quickly and limiting the spread of flame in the event of a fire.
2020
Russwood, like rest of the world, navigates the Covid-19 pandemic, downing tools, and closing its door for the first time in its history, with a skeleton team of 11 staff members.
2020
Russwood celebrates 30 years of business (1990-2020), set in bronze through a sculpture by Arthur Watson, sitting upon Russwood Accoya® timber.
2020
Russwood introduces Burnblock® fire retardant treatment, a market-leading solution for the fire retardant treatment of timber which consists of 100% natural ingredients, is 100% biodegradable, and is pH-neutral.
2021
2021
Russwood introduces our Floor Visualiser tool, allowing customers to view, compare and select our flooring in their own homes.
2021
Russwood makes a mark at the COP26 Climate Change conference in Glasgow, producing tidal markers as part of the Tidal Marker Initiative by the Highlands and Islands Chapter of RIAS.
2022
2022
John Russell’s children Naomi and Michael Russell step up to director level, following in the family’s footsteps and building their careers at Russwood.
2022
Russwood expands it’s dedicated R&D and Technical department, focusing on innovating exciting and sustainable timber products for the future.
2022
Russwood partners with Lunawood to introduce Lunawood Collection, based on Scandinavian design combined with the best technical properties of thermally modified wood.
2023
2023
Russwood introduces Kurowood®, a modern solution to the pitfalls of real charred timber.
2024
Russwood introduces Abodo® Vulcan, a premium exterior cladding option and sustainable alternative to old-growth Western Red Cedar.
2024
2024
Russwood marked a new chapter as John Russell officially passed the baton to his children, Naomi and Michael, who now serve as Joint Managing Directors. John remains with the business as Founder, continuing to support its growth while guiding the next generation of leadership.
2024
We moved our Glasgow office from the East End to the city centre, allowing for an improved work environment for our Glasgow team as it continues to expand.
2024
Russwood introduces Architect Select® Larch, a premium grade of vertical grain European Larch.
2024
We launched Russwood FinFix® – an innovative secret-fixing system developed in-house to meet the growing demand for a clean, high-end finish on architectural timber fins.
2025
2025
We introduced the Signature Collection, a distinctive new range of oak flooring crafted to highlight the natural beauty and character of the material.
2025
We expanded our partnership with SIHGA, making their full range of precision timber fixings available in the UK.
Today
What’s next for Russwood? We are constantly evolving to ensure our customers receive the highest quality and most innovative products on the market. While we can’t predict the future, we can promise this: whatever we develop next will be designed with you in mind and built to inspire.
