Structural Woodland Trust, Grantham – achieved a BREEAM excellent rating
One such informal relationship changed to a formal alliance in 2011, when B & K Structures and the Austrian based Binderholz, created the X-LAM Alliance. The partnership brings together two of the construction industry’s most respected names with extensive knowledge in the field of engineered timber. The X-LAM Alliance formalises a long-standing working relationship and brings to the UK construction market a seamless and integrated way to supply cross laminated timber.
Secure partnership
With the development of lean approaches in construction, there is an increasing interest in optimising supply chain integration to improve the sourcing of products, materials and complementary services, explains X-LAM Alliance.
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nstead of competing against each other, companies are now taking a partnership approach, whereby, timber frame manufacturers, for example, are forming collaborations with downstream envelope solution providers. The development of a multi-faceted approach rationalises and safeguards supply chains and work schedules can be more effectively planned for associated and follow-on trades. Downstream supply chain markets, impact upon volume of work for upstream construction firms. This can affect procurement practices, tendering and pricing for individual project contracts or longer term agreements. For example, lack of integration can impact on the availability of materials and specified products; this inturn has implications on lead times, which in-turn impacts on costs and profit margins. As the construction industry grapples with the impact of the recession, new business models are emerging and relationships are changing from informal agreements to structured and integrated partnerships.
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Supply chain synergy I
B & K Structures, one of the UK’s leading solid timber structural engineering contractors, has pioneered the use of engineered timber, creating award-winning buildings in retail, commercial, residential, transport, healthcare, sports and leisure sectors. Nick Milestone of B & K Structures says: “There is a natural synergy between our companies, products and services. Our effective working relationship, together with a commitment to innovation, has resulted in our Alliance being at the forefront of European engineered timber research and development. Demand is rapidly increasing – in 2011, 45% of our projects used cross laminated timber which dramatically increased to 70% by the first half of 2012. In forming the Alliance our supply chain is secure and we can meet the increase in demand.” Binderholz is an Austrian specialist timber manufacturer with five production plants across the country employing in excess of 1150 staff and in 2012 Binderholz produced the most cross laminated timber in the world. Processing timber from the sustainable forests surrounding its plants, Binderholz manufacture cross laminated timber and glulam beams. Cross laminated timber is a structural two-way spanning timber panel that can be used to form walls, roof and floor panels as well as shear walls. It is produced by
Furness Academy, Barrow in Furness – X-LAM Alliance’s largest CLT project to date