NEWS
TABMA takes national stance at timber awards
T
HE SUCCESSFUL TABMA Australia timber industry awards were another giant leap forward in establishing the association as a respected national body for timber merchants, the chairman Peter Hutchison said in Sydney. “Entries from all states set a new high standard and the mood of the gathering was positive suggesting a buoyant period ahead for trading,” said Mr Hutchison who officiated at the award presentation at Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf, on November 6. More than 300 representatives of all industry sectors celebrated a great year of achievement for TABMA Australia. “The housing industry is in a good place right now, signalling a busy year ahead for timber traders,” Mr Hutchison said. “I think it’s been five years since we’ve seen the industry running so steady and consistent in the eastern states. Although the process needs further streamlining, building approvals are certainly flowing better.” He said housing activity would continue fuel growth in the economy and employment for some time yet, with Queensland likely to take the lead. As national sales manager for engineered systems and connectors company MiTek Australia Ltd, Mr Hutchison is in a prime position to monitor the engineered wood products industry with regular visits to company locations in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. One of the highlights of the national awards was the night’s final presentation of TABMA Member of the Year to ITI Australia Pty Ltd. From humble beginnings at Five Dock in western Sydney 1987, ITI has grown to become one of Australia’s largest independent timber groups. Founded by Paul Shadbolt, ITI’s managing director, the company began by selling units of timber ex-wharf. In 1989 the group purchased a major
shareholding in Sydney Wholesale Timber. By 1993 the operation moved to a 1 ha site in St Marys and three years later a branch in Queensland was established while the NSW business continued to grow its operation, acquiring John Cook and Son in 1997. In 1999, ITI purchased the assets of Beecham Wright and with this made its first move south setting up branches in Victoria and South Australia. In 2002, the timber group acquired its first sawmill – a 200,000 tonne log processing plant at Holbrook, north of Albury. The sawmill was sold to Hyne in 2005 and a supply contract was secured with the deal for an 18year period. ITI now carries in excess of $20 million of stock and employs in excess of 60 staff.
Award winners Best Frame and Truss Operation: Footersville Structural Timber Solutions. Best Timber Merchant: Ramiens Timber. Best Building Materials Centre: Bretts Home Timber & Hardware. Wholesaler of the Year: Gunnersen. Most Innovative Member: Programmed Timber Supplies Apprentice of the Year: Ashley Piet (Fewings Joinery Pty Ltd.) Trainee of the Year: Mark Smith (NBS Frame and Truss). Host Employer of the Year: Hardware and General Supplies Ldd. Sales Representative of the Year: Jacinta Colley (Simmonds Lumber Pty Ltd). TABMA Member of the Year: ITI Australia Pty Ltd.
Check spaxpacific.com for more innovative timber fastening solutions.
¢ T ABMA CEO Colin Fitzpatrick (left) and chairman Peter Hutchison (right), present the TABMA Member of the Year Award to Paul Shadbolt, CEO, ITI Australia, based at St Mary’s in Sydney.
¢ S imon Dorries, CEO, Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (left), congratulates Ashley Piet and Bronwyn Foord of Fewings Joinery, Sydney, on Ashley’s win as TABMA’s Apprentice of the Year.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2015
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