Timber Trader UK Magazine Issue 2 Summer/Autumn 2018

02 SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018 www.timbermedia.co.uk ISSN 2517-26X (PRINT)

FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE WITH VANDECASTEELE The family firm bringing together a rich history with a modern approach to supplying timber / 22 TRANSPORTING TIMBER

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Overcoming the challenges of moving timber on the rural road network around UK forests / 21

A user-friendly digital approach to accurate log measurement / 27

01582 592707

CONTENTS SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

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02 NEWS/FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

08

Innovation is said to be the only sustainable advantage in business today and Timber Trader UK keeps you apace with important new developments

05 POLLYWOOD Poles apart from its predecessors, Pollywood offers an alternative sustainable product to the utilities market

06 BANOVA 08 ROBOTICS How robots could become your new best friend in business Intelligent Wood Systems’ new flooring system offers a holistic solution to the fire, acoustic, structural and thermal challenges encountered in domestic housebuilding

12 MARKETING MATTERS Nick Pauley, founder and managing director of Pauley Creative speaks to Timber Trader’s Judith Kelly, about how to launch a new product into an already crowded marketplace

14 TIMBER TOPICS Moelven UK’s MD, Pehr Eriksson, speaks to Timber Trader’s Peter Wilson about the Scandinavian Group’s UK arm, the importance of customer relationships and the company’s place in the UK timber market pre- and post-Brexit

17 INTELLIGENCE Launched in July 2018, International Timber’s new, customer-centric product offer, ‘Intelligence’ aims to “solve every problem a woodworker has ever had”

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19 NEWS FROM ABROAD Innovation in timber exporting reaps sustainable rewards for Ireland’s rural economy

20 SUSTAINABLE SOURCING Christiane Lellig, campaign director for Wood for Good discusses tropical hardwood and outlines how to ensure the timber you supply is responsibly sourced

EDITOR Michelle Gordon  michelle.gordon@timbermedia.co.uk

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Peter Wilson & Judith Kelly  timbereditorial@gmail.com

22 COVER STORY: VANDECASTEELE The family firm bringing together a rich history with a modern approach to supplying timber Everything you need to know about the UK’s only woodworking machinery and materials show

27 FEATURE: TIMBETER

10 THE FAST SHOW

27

The rural road network around UK forests can pose a challenge to the transportation of timber but steps can be taken to prevent road damage and protect communities

25 PREVIEW: W EXHIBITION

Making light work of plywood

12

21 TRANSPORTING TIMBER

Solving the age-old industry problem of log measurement with artificial intelligence and digital technology

31 PEFC UPDATE PEFC is revising its Sustainable Forest Management benchmark to to enhance its contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SSGs) and to embrace human rights issues

33 THE NEW SPIRIT OF ENGINEERED WOOD Distilling the essence of prefabricated engineered wood components when used on the grand scale and the H&S lessons for the wider timber industry

36 HARDWOOD CLT London has become the epicentre of global CLT construction despite there being no UK manufacturer for the ‘wonder’ product

39 PREVIEW: TIMBER EXPO How Timber Expo is helping professionals to take advantage of a new direction for one of the world’s oldest construction materials

46 FENCING Tom Chapman, a publishing specialist working with family-run timber provider George Hill, compares timber and concrete fence posts to see which come out on top

SALES DIRECTOR Terry Hanlon  terry.hanlon@timbermedia.co.uk  01925 270093

DESIGN Pete Awad  welcome@designedbyfaust.com

Registered address: 73 Cross Lane, Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside WA12 9QA Registered in England and Wales. Company Number 10839173. VAT registration number 271 5498 81

MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR INDUSTRY Combilift is the leading supplier of customised handling solutions with guaranteed improved storage capacity, safer product handling and increased productivity.

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

INNOVATION: THE ONLY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ADVANTAGE

I

nnovation is the thread that runs through Timber Trader UK’s summer issue.

and have now manufactured a small quantity for further testing by universities

Many will perhaps demur from agreement with the prediction by the Nomura

and industry collaborators. The US team led by scientist, Dr Zhiyong Cai, is

Research Institute, Japan’s leading think tank, that “we are now in the creative

now working to further characterise lignin-graphene properties, including

age: the information age is over and speed of innovation is the only sustainable

electronic and thermal conductivity, as well as finding ways to streamline

advantage” but there can be no doubt that in a rapidly-changing and

the lignin-to-graphene conversion process and to analyse the safety of the

unpredictable world, the commercial basis of many businesses needs to markedly

production process. Ultimately, the availability of large quantities of graphene

evolve to face emerging challenges. The timber sector is unlikely to be able to

will have an enormous impact on the development of lighter and stronger

operate in isolation from the shifting tectonic plates that are already affecting

materials for the aerospace, automobile and construction industries, and the

so many other industries but, thankfully, some clever people in different parts of

possibility of producing it from a renewable resource – our forests – rather

the world - whether through their expertise in timber design and engineering,

than a petrochemical one, has the potential to lead to much lower financial and

wood science, or nanotechnology - are busily exploring hitherto unknown or

environmental costs.

unconsidered potentials of timber from which a wide range of new products, technologies, construction systems and completely original, high added value

WOOD FOAM – AN ENVIRONMENTALLY-RESPONSIBLE

materials from this readily available and renewable resource are already being

REPLACEMENT FOR POLYSTYRENE?

developed in response to new or anticipated demands.

FOR GRAPHENE, READ LIGNIN

It would be difficult to have missed the recent negative publicity surrounding the effect of plastics and other petroleum-based products on the world’s oceans and, ultimately, on the global food supply chain, so the emergence of a new, The wonder material that most recently took the world by storm is graphene:

wood-based material with multiple potential applications such as packaging and

measuring one million times less than the width of a human hair, harder than

acoustic/thermal insulation and which contains no adhesives, binders or resins

diamonds and 200 times stronger than steel, it is not only small, strong and

in its production is likely to generate widespread interest. Developed by the

flexible, but is the most conductive material known to man. Scientists and

renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research in Braunschweig, Germany,

industry specialists around the globe are now busy seeking ways to harness the

Wood Foam consists entirely of wood fibres, without any additives, yet is both

material’s potential for applications in composites and coatings, bio-medicines,

lightweight and strong; the latter property being derived solely from the wood

electronics and energy. Derived from graphite (most commonly seen in the ‘lead’

fibre’s own bonding forces. To make it, wood chips are reduced to fibres by

used in our pencils), graphene is one of the most expensive materials in existence,

thermo-mechanical pulping, i.e. they are ground in a refiner at 150ºC before

due to the cost-prohibitive process required to chemically peel-off, or exfoliate, a

being mixed with water to give a very finely milled wood fibre suspension which

single layer of graphene from graphite ore. Until now, that is.

is then foamed with the addition of a protein or by having air blown through it.

A research team headed up by the US Forest Service has, since 2011, been

The grinding in the refiner roughens the fibres, a necessary part of the process as

exploring how to produce graphene in a more cost-effective way: they have

it roughens the fibres and disintegrates their surfaces to a state where they can

developed a process that derives the material from lignin rather than graphite

no longer slide past each other. To further activate the binding forces, hydrogen

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If you care about something, you have to protect it Preservation, fire retardant treatment and decorative & protective coatings for timber

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SPRING 2018

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS peroxide is added to the foamed suspension, which is then dried at 130ºC for 30

rigid engineered wood product. The new process, which is undergoing a full

minutes before being held overnight at 70ºC.

research, development and testing programme and will be followed in 2019

The combination of these two processes causes the wood suspension

with the building of a demonstration in Cheshire, seeks to use softwood

to foam into a rigid structure with relatively high mechanical strength, with

dowels heated to c.130ºC and then compressed in a hydraulic press to nearly

densities ranging from 40-200kg per cubic metre, depending upon the amount

triple its original density without significant damage to its microstructure. This

of air pumped in, as this influences the size and ratio of the air cavities in the

results in a densified wood product with greatly improved properties, e.g.

foamed material. The higher the density, the closer the fibres are to one another

a 120-130% increase in strength and stiffness. By replacing the desiccated

and the stronger the wood’s own bindings and the entanglement anchorages.

hardwood in Brettstapel with densified softwood dowels, the overall strength

Fibre length also increases the product’s mechanical strength: at high densities,

and stiffness of the panels is increased. Thus, a long-perceived drawback

pine foam, with its longer fibres, outperforms beech foam in both tension

of densified wood here becomes an advantage since, once in contact with

and compression. But it is perhaps the thermal properties that offer the most

moisture, an irreversible spring-back effect occurs as the densified wood seeks

potential applications for Wood Foam, for example in timber frame systems.

to relax from its compressed form. This provides a permanent tight fit in the

Its thermal conductivity can be as low as 0.036W/mK for foam with a density

panel regardless of future humidity changes in the operational environment.

of 45kg per cubic metre, whilst the values for polystyrene and for conventional

Ultimately, this process is likely to deliver a lower cost (the softwood

wood fibre insulation boards range from 0.029W/mK to 0.0380.029W/mK,

dowels being less expensive than the – generally imported - hardwood

making this new material a strong contender to replace both these products.

option) and more precise manufacturing process. If you think this research

With demand constantly rising for lightweight materials derived from

could be of interest to your business, progress on the project can be

renewable sources (see article on Banova®, page 6), Wood Foam could well

followed on social media @AFTBbuildings, or via Tabitha Binding, University

offer considerable environmental and economic advantages, since it can be made

Engagement Manager, TRADA at tbinding@trada.co.uk

from small-sized twigs and brash that are otherwise of low value, as well as from fibrous agricultural waste and bushy plants. With such game-changing potential,

*Mass Timber – an introduction to Solid Laminate Timber Systems by Robert

the challenge now for the Fraunhofer Institute is to identify partners interested in

Hairstans is available from the publisher at www.arcamedia.co.uk

bringing this exciting new material into commercial production.

NEW FIRE TESTING FACILITIES IN UK ADHESIVE-FREE TIMBER BUILDINGS

So much for news from the nanotechnology and wood science end of the The availability of solid laminate timber systems and engineered

timber spectrum: the most prominent issue affecting timber usage in the UK at

wood products which require no adhesives or steel connections in their

present is that of fire and the urgent need for up-to-date empirical information

manufacturing and assembly processes has long been a largely unfulfilled

on prevention and safety methods. The recent announcement, therefore, that

requirement from architects and other construction professionals whose

UL, a US-based safety science organisation and the Fire Protection Association,

environmental principles demand building components with no potential to

the UK’s principal fire safety organisation are set to open a new, large-scale

produce hazardous emissions at any stage in the life cycle. One option has

testing facility at the latter’s operations at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire

been ‘Brettstapel’ (dowel lamination to you and me): panels made from multiple

can only be good news. In addition, a cooperation agreement between the

layers of softwood held together by the insertion of hardwood dowels.

two will see UL invest in the FPA’s existing fire test and research facilities.

To date, dowel laminated timber panels have been imported from

Post-Grenfell, building product manufacturers have had even greater need than

manufacturers in Austria and Germany for a handful of buildings in Scotland

ever to undertake testing and accreditation of their brand range, but currently

and whilst considerable research on the subject* has been carried out at

the only UK-based facilities capable of testing cedilla facades are booked up

Edinburgh Napier University and some excellent primary schools designed by

for at least six months in advance, forcing companies to look abroad to carry

Architype architects have been completed in Wales using locally grown timber,

out large-scale tests. The relevant UK test is detailed in BS8414, but this was

there is as yet no commercial manufacture of Brettstapel in the UK. A new

heavily criticised following the Grenfell fire and its requirements are likely to be

development by an international collaboration, funded by Interreg North West

strengthened to produce more robust results. At a time when the external timber

Europe and led by engineers at the University of Liverpool, is currently seeking

cladding sector is having to vigorously fight its corner in the face of MP-led

to redress this manufacturing deficiency with a novel development in the way

demands for a complete ban on combustible cladding products, the new testing

the product is held together.

facilities can’t come soon enough, but their construction is likely to be delayed

Traditionally, the production of Brettstapel has employed fully desiccated

until the Government’s consultation has reached a conclusion. A pity, since now

hardwood dowels to fix arrays of softwood laminates together to form

is very definitely the time when some serious innovation through research,

structural elements. When the moisture content of the dowels reaches

development and testing is urgently required to validate the fire performance

equilibrium with that of the surrounding softwood, expansion occurs and

credentials of external timber cladding. For more information, www.thefpa.co.uk/

creates a constant pressure at the join, maintaining a tight fit and thus a

about/news/news_detail.new-alliance-between-fpa-and-ul.html

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POLLYWOOD

POLLYWOOD – POLES APART FROM ITS PREDECESSORS Ian Miller Head of Innovation at Northern Powergrid and Andrew Webster, Northern Powergrid’s Innovation Manager examine the Pollywood product

I

F innovation is something of a buzzword these

to develop a new timber-based material for which the

champions for its application in the development of a

days, the experience for initiators of new products,

manufacturing capacity did not then exist anywhere

lightweight, super-strong hollow product alternative

systems and technologies is that its actual delivery

in the world. The process to create the necessary

to creosoted, solid wood electricity poles. Currently,

from first idea to mainstream commercial reality

production equipment and machinery thus began

60,000 new electricity poles are needed every year,

can be very much a journey of 1000 steps, with

with kick-start funding from international innovation

with a further 50,000 required by the telecoms

many obstacles and pitfalls to overcome along

broker, the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and a

industry. Timber poles of the required specification

the way. Allied to this is the possible need to set

number of refinements to existing technologies are

can take up to 18 months to source and deliver.

up a new company, meet mandatory regulatory

currently being explored to suit them for this new use.

A move away from the stockpiling of this type of

Steve Crighton, the company’s Managing

pole on numerous sites across the country to ones

involved in patent applications and – crucially – to

Director and inventor of the technology, says of the

that are manufactured to order (ready-to-use poles

identify and secure investors willing to support the

new, super-strong construction material that has

can be produced in just seven days) will see huge

research, development and testing stages through

a better strength-to-weight ratio than steel whilst

improvements in the business efficiency and capital

what may be a lengthy gestation process. Anyone

using a fraction of the raw materials required: “We’ve

requirements of the sector’s major players, with the

who has watched ‘Dragons’ Den’ knows this can also

started to develop this new, sustainable and high

added benefit of releasing large areas of land currently

mean giving over a substantial element of control

added value material for the electricity industry.

used for storage.

to others, not to mention a large percentage of the

However, a materials innovation exercise identified

action should the idea prove lucrative. Put simply, the

180+ possible uses across more than ten industrial

can create six to seven hollow poles from one tree

whole process can be tortuous and definitely not for

sectors, making it a British-grown innovation that

and requires no coating substances. Traditionally

the faint-hearted.

could change the face of construction and open up a

one tree is required to produce one pole, so the

new lease of life for the British wood industry.”

Pollywood product has the potential to save more

requirements, undertake the voluminous work

The starting point for most successful innovations is often the identification of a gap in the

What is this extraordinary new material?

Pollywood’s innovative manufacturing method

than 90,000 trees annually. The tubular poles

market for a product or technology alternative that

Essentially, it is a new and highly engineered timber

are made by combining wood fibre and natural

is not only better than the one it seeks to replace,

technology that can reduce material use by 85%,

bio-based resins derived from sustainably-sourced

but which may also have an economic benefit to

a factor that has attracted major players in the

renewable materials to produce a highly durable,

potential purchasers, whilst still achieving the margins

electricity sector such as Northern Powergrid,

lightweight and cost-effective solution that tests

required to ensure the projected return on investment

Scottish Power and UK Power Network as

demonstrate exceeds the current industry standard for electricity poles.

is delivered within the timescales set by

The next stage is to move to

investors. So, when a new product comes along about which everyone says, “I wish I’d

full-scale production in the North East,

thought of that”, remember that what may

with the potential to create a significant

seem to be a quite simple idea has had to

number of high quality jobs in the area.

address a multitude of legal, technical and

In time, the Pollywood Pole could well

market development challenges to actually

be viewed as the product that delivered

get close to a ‘near-to-market’ position,

a truly transformational response to

never mind full production capability.

the economic, environmental and employment challenges that currently

A good example of innovative thinking in the timber sector is the recent public

affect Teesside, and which took the UK

emergence of Pollywood Ltd, a business

timber sector into a new and highly

start-up established a mere seven years ago

advanced technological area.

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FEATURE: BANOVA

BANOVA REINVENTS THE MODEL: BALSA MAKES LIGHT WORK OF PLYWOOD

P

lywood has been with us for such a long time and its use within the

is, a 15mm thick Banova panel weighs 3.4 kg per sq.m. whilst the same size

construction industry so widespread that it is perhaps difficult to

and thickness of chipboard and birch plywood panels weigh in at 9 kg per

imagine where there might be room for the further development

sq.m. and 10.5 kg per sq.m. respectively, i.e. they are some 62-68% heavier.

of such a ubiquitous product. Indeed, in recent times, it has been problematic issues affecting the plywood sector, such as substandard

Manufactured by German company, 3A Composites, and sold exclusively in the UK by Arnold Laver, Banova is made from spliced veneers

quality and possibly illegal imports, that have mainly caught the headlines.

that have natural colour variations and characteristics but, when sanded

The detrimental impact of these questions on the market – and on

on both sides, the panels have distinctive front and reverse faces, both of

importers and traders – has, however, now been addressed in an update

which can be given enhanced material properties such as stiffness, strength,

to the Timber Trade Federation’s (TTF) Code of Conduct and responsible

impact and scratch resistance with the addition of different face laminates

Purchasing Policy that requires the organisation’s members themselves

including hardwood veneer or birch plywood.

to exert a much higher level of product scrutiny. Yet, innovation in the manufacture of plywood is ongoing, as the sector continues to research the

The Banova product range extends to Banova Plus, Banova Digital and Banova Superflex. The first of these (Banova Plus) offers high-level thermal

potential of a wider range of FSC-certified

insulation values alongside excellent

timber species to provide new sources

bonding properties and, because of

of veneer material with the necessary

the material’s uniform structure, there

technical characteristics to form

is no need to change existing tools or

products that meet the requirements of

joining techniques. The Digital version

new, niche markets.

comprises a Balsa core and selected light

One such product to recently appear

hardwood face veneers, making its outer

in the UK is Banova, a high-quality, ultra-

surfaces ideal substrates for direct digital

light plywood panel that utilises Balsa

or screen printing with the natural wood

wood veneers in its construction. This

texture still visible through the ink. Even

may come as something of a surprise to

at thicknesses of up to 50mm, Banova

those who whiled away many a happy

Digital is impressively lightweight, stable

childhood hour in assembling model

and flat and processing is easy with

planes or, as adult design professionals,

standard printing equipment and milling

have made scale buildings from this

machines. It is Banova Superflex that may

material, since memory will bring back

turn out to be the most popular, though,

images of a wood that is simple to cut but

since this highly flexible plywood, with its

relatively brittle and with easily damaged

tight bending radius (40mm), maximum

surfaces. Such surprise will no doubt be

strength and extremely light weight,

magnified by the knowledge that Balsa, despite its inherent porosity, is in

combined with a textile core layer that makes the production of curved

fact a hardwood and that the wood from the balsa tree is of low density

objects possible with only three layers, opening up new options for organic

and low-weight, with high weight-specific stability together with excellent

shapes and natural undulations.

flatness. It is also a quick-growth species, taking only five years from seed in

The final bonus points for Banova emanate from its sustainability

FSC-certified plantations in Ecuador and Papua New Guinea to produce the

credentials: aside from its FSC accredited plantation sources, it is

high-quality veneer material used in the manufacture of Banova.

manufactured without formaldehydes anywhere in the production

There are a number of benefits to be had from the use of Banova when

process (a cold curing, polyurethane-based adhesive is used) resulting in

compared to conventional panel materials – large, but lightweight, panel

the material’s emission levels equating to those of natural grown wood.

elements can be produced with it; it is easy to process and to combine with

Unsurprisingly, Banova has been shortlisted for this year’s TRADA-

other materials; and it is suited to the fabrication of shop, furniture and

sponsored TTJ Timber Innovation Award but, ultimately, the product will

interior fittings (especially of vehicles, yachts and ships) as well as stage, set

stand or fall by its success in use: for interior designers, furniture makers,

and exhibition construction. To get a measure of just how much lighter it

fit-out specialists, though, what really is not to like?

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FEATURE: ROBOTICS

YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND IN BUSINESS MAY BE A ROBOT

T

he very word ‘robotics’ can strike fear into many people’s hearts, the

Included in this list are two symbiotic issues, the first being low margins,

concept raising the spectre of machines replacing people in employment,

adversarial pricing models and financial fragility, counterpoised by the industry’s

whilst others recognise the challenges inherent in the rapid technological

historic chronic lack of R&D and investment in innovation. All is not doom and

changes already taking place and the need to explore how good quality

gloom, however, since Farmer offers a host of recommendations intended to

jobs might be protected. In pursuit of the latter, a commission has been

introduce the transformational change that is urgently needed if construction is

set up by the Community Union and the Fabian Society to examine the impact of

to remain a vital contributor to the UK economy. Innovation is the thread that

automation upon employment. That it is unlikely to report before 2020, suggests

runs through all ten of his proposals, which he suggests are measured against a

its findings might well be overtaken by then by the aforesaid developments in

number of success factors, important amongst which is the need for “tangible

technology, but the issue remains one of the huge uncertainties facing businesses

improvement in links between academia and industry (all levels) in relation to R&D that fundamentally redefine products being offered to end users.” Instrumental

and their employees in these challenging times.

in this is the use of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)

One might argue that there is quite a difference between

and automation techniques – robotics, drones, etc.

automation and robotic design and manufacture, the former

There are of course initiatives already up and running

usually - and perhaps simplistically - associated with achieving greater production efficiencies through the

in the UK to deliver stronger links between academia

mechanisation of repetitive tasks, whilst the latter has

and the construction industry, such as the Scottish

the potential to open new and exciting doors to the

Government-supported Construction Scotland

ways in which we conceive and construct buildings

Innovation Centre, the activities of which are

and the materials we use in these processes.

highlighted elsewhere in this issue in the feature on

Automation is of course a long-established and

hardwood cross laminated timber, but to see the kind of investment level – and long-term vision – needed

accepted reality in industry and present in every

to deliver the scale of transformational change required

form of manufacturing, from the assembly of cars to food production; meanwhile the advent of 3D printing

we have, as yet, still to look abroad for outstanding

using a variety of materials from concrete to titanium is

examples of academic collaboration with industry in the physical delivery of blue sky thinking.

introducing astonishing levels of innovation into the fabrication of components hitherto impossible to make with any degree of precision, a good example being medical implants.

ROBOTIC COLLABORATION IN TIMBER CONSTRUCTION

But it is the ways in which research into robotic manufacture can already be

Digitisation has, of course, already found its way into timber construction,

seen to be transforming thinking in the construction industry that are likely to

with entire elements being fabricated by computer-aided systems. The raw

have most impact for sawmillers, importers and merchants. The Farmer Report,

material is cut to size by the machines but, in most cases, it still has to be manually

‘Modernise or Die’, published almost two years ago and the most recent prognosis

assembled to create a plane frame. In the past, this fabrication process came with

on the future of the sector is both categoric and seriously concerning in its

many geometric restrictions but now, under the auspices of the National Centre

identification of ten critical symptoms of failure and poor performance, which, he

of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication, researchers from ETH

predicts, will reach a tipping point in the next five to 10 years when the industry’s

Zurich’s Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) and the institution’s

symptoms will worsen and decline will become irreversible.

Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication have developed a new, digital

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FEATURE: ROBOTICS

timber construction method that expands the range of possibilities for traditional timber frame construction. This enables the efficient construction and assembly

A SUCCESSFUL CONCEPT FOR SHARING KNOWLEDGE ETH Zurich has already completed a successful collaboration with

of geometrically complex timber modules and they have been using it in a real

Erne AG Holzbau on the robot-built timber roof of the Arch_Tech_Lab at its

project for the first time. The load bearing timber modules are prefabricated

Hönggerberg campus. Its involvement in the development of Spatial Timber

by robots and have been assembled on the top two floors of the DFAB House

Assemblies means that the company’s expertise in timber construction will

project at the Empa and Eawag NEST research and innovation construction site

make yet another significant contribution to ETH research. Prof. Kohler believes

in Dübendorf. Entitled ‘Spatial Timber Assemblies’ the process has evolved from

in the synergistic effect brought about by the partnership: “Digital fabrication

close collaboration with Erne AG Holzbau and is the first large-scale architectural

depends on the tremendous expertise required for craftsmanship. Conversely,

project to use the construction robots developed by ETH Zurich’s new Robotic

digitalisation can improve craftsmanship and open up new opportunities.” He is

Fabrication Laboratory.

also clear that on how essential it is for scientific disciplines to work hand-inhand with industry if technologies are to be widely used – and scaled up - in real architecture and construction projects in the foreseeable future.

ROBOTIC PRECISION Unlike most robotic cutting machines seen to date in the UK, the robots used here are no small beasts. The first robot takes a timber beam and guides it while

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SAWMILLING, IMPORTING AND

it is sawn to size. After an automatic tool change, a second robot drills the holes

MERCHANT SECTORS IN THE UK

required to connect the beams. In the next step, both robots work together to

There is no doubt that robotic technologies are with us now, are here

position the beams in the precise spatial arrangement required by the computer

to stay and will continue to evolve. As architects and other construction

layout. To prevent collisions when positioning the individual timber beams, the

professionals become more familiar with the creative potential and economic

researchers have developed an algorithm that constantly recalculates the path

efficiencies they offer, the demand is likely to be greater for new thinking on

of motion for the robots according to the current state of construction. Finally,

sawn timber dimensions and timber-based products. This, coupled with Design

workers manually bolt the beams together.

for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and the ‘lean’ principles of material and component procurement that is a key aspect of this approach, may well require some shifts in thinking about how business can best respond to these,

LONGER LASTING, MORE INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION Unlike traditional timber frame construction, ‘Spatial Timber Assemblies’

ever more rapid, technological developments. Mark Farmer makes some

can manage without reinforcement plates because the required rigidity and load-

prescient observations in his report that give some indication of how industry

bearing result from the geometric structure. Not only does this save material; it

and government should address the challenge:

also opens up new creative possibilities. A total of six spatial, geometrically unique

“It is necessary to build a co-ordinated programme of R&D and innovation

timber modules have been prefabricated in this way for the first time. Lorries then

that delivers productivity improvements throughout the construction

transported them to the DFAB HOUSE construction site, where they have been

sector, especially in housing. This should encompass utilisation of existing

connected together to form a two-storey residential unit with more than 100

approaches such as Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and

m2 of floor space. The complex geometry of the timber construction will remain

product standardisation and pre-manufacture from component level through

visible behind a transparent membrane façade that has also been developed using

to full volumetric level. It should also look to the future to understand how

robotic technologies.

scalability and potential of newer technologies such as 3D printing, drones and on-site robotics and the more holistic future impact of materials science advancements.”

INTEGRATED DIGITAL ARCHITECTURE The robots use information from a computer-aided design model to cut

Crucially, he also suggests that “any such initiatives should also be tied into

and arrange the timber beams. This method was specially developed during the

an industrial scaling up of benefit secured from the existing R&D Tax Credits

project and uses various input parameters to create a geometry consisting of 487

Scheme. Construction should be sharing its fair share of this tax benefit which it

timber beams in total.

seems is currently passing it by.”

The fact that Spatial Timber Assemblies are being used for digital fabrication

This latter point is just as true for the sawmilling, importing and merchant

and also in design and planning offers a major advantage, according to Matthias

sectors, with many companies either of the view that some of what they already

Kohler, Professor of Architecture and Digital Fabrication at ETH Zurich and the

do is unlikely to be classified as R&D or that their business has no especial

man spearheading the DFAB HOUSE project: “If any change is made to the

need for innovation in its processes or products. As stated elsewhere in this

project overall, the computer model can be constantly adjusted to meet the

issue, however, in these fast-changing times, innovation is the only sustainable

new requirements. This kind of integrated digital architecture is closing the gap

business advantage. Time surely, to look afresh at robotics and their potential

between design, planning and execution.”

value to your business?

09

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

FEATURE: INTELLIGENT WOOD SYSTEMS

THE FAST SHOW

I

t’s an old cliché that states that ‘for every complex

and cracks in ceiling finishes virtually eliminated.

problem there is a simple solution – and it’s

It does this by using only a fraction of the water

wrong’, but every so often a genuinely innovative

(20 litres per cubic metre as against 80-100 litres

solution does come along that absolutely meets

per cubic litre) required by other market-leading

the purpose it is intended to serve. Just such a

preservatives, thus ensuring that no swelling or

response to a series of inter-related construction

resultant shrinkage is caused by the treatment

challenges is Intelligent Wood Systems’ IWS-FAST

process. The joists are also pre-treated to provide

Timber Floor that the company has developed

robust fire protection and prevent against wood

to address Fire, Acoustic, Structural and Thermal

decay and insect attack.

requirements (hence the acronym, FAST’) for

Important to the application of ULTRAjoist

domestic housebuilding projects. This new

technology in the IWS-FAST floor system are

development in flooring systems is designed to

the company’s patented ‘holed’ plates that allow

be installed as either a prefabricated cassette or, if

services to be run within the depth of the joist,

required, as a kit of fully detailed, pre-cut elements

thereby minimising the overall floor depth, a factor

for onsite assembly by masonry or timber frame

further enhanced by the use of a unique top-hung

housebuilders.

detail, another of its patented products.

Adapting and assembling a number of

Acoustically, the low moisture content of the

The Ultrajoist is a well-established product in the medium-rise timber frame housing market. IWSFAST Floor uses the technology in a new way.

mean a commensurate reduction in the size and/

standardised building products into a single system

finger-jointed ULTRAjoists, produces a stiffer floor

or density of the building’s foundations. Being much

that can be manufactured offsite is not as easy as

and, consequently, less vibration sound, whilst

lighter than equivalent pre-cast concrete floor slabs,

it seems, however, especially when the aim is to

the IWS-FAST system decouples the floor and

more units can be carried on a lorry, whilst smaller

deliver a comprehensive answer to a number of

ceiling joists to ensure there is no path for sound

capacity cranes are required once the cassettes

possibly conflicting problems. The first task is to

to transfer along. These factors, together with

are on site, both important factors in reducing

identify just exactly what the issues are that a new

the incorporation of Icopal technology means

timescales and the embodied energy costs involved

system needs to offer an integrated response to;

that even a minimum specification IWS-FAST

in transportation and plant use. And, once installed,

the second is to research, develop, prototype, test,

system meets the challenging sound insulation

the floor can be used as a working platform.

refine and test again in order to deliver a new offsite

performance targets in the Scottish Building

manufactured construction package that ticks all

Standards (Section 5.2 - 43 db Rw) and the

research and development company focused

of the regulatory boxes and technical criteria listed

marginally less demanding requirements set out

on the creation of innovative building solutions

from the outset as obstacles to be overcome.

in the Building Regulations England and Wales

that can be mainstreamed into the timber frame

Approved Document E (40 db Rw).

housebuilding sector. As part of the Glenalmond

The core structure of the IWS-FAST separating floor system uses the Glenalmond Timber

The 30- and 60-minute fire resistance

At heart, Intelligent Wood Systems is a

Timber Group, the company benefits from access

Company’s well-established ULTRA-joist technology

durations options delivered by the IWS-FAST

to the latter’s product range and its existing

that is a market leader for solid structural joists

floor cassette are achieved with a combination of

collaborations with academia and industry. In

in medium rise buildings due to each joist being

chipboard (30 minutes) OSB (60 minutes) decking,

this instance, the system has been developed in

super-dried to a moisture content of 12% and fully

joists, one or two-layer plasterboard ceilings plus

conjunction with Edinburgh Napier University and

preservative-treated to provide a 60-year service

(in the case of the higher fire rating) resilient bars

Icopal and will shortly be marketed and distributed

life. The finger-jointed product (joists up to 12m

and rockwool insulation.

by the latter organisation as part of its Monarfloor

long) incorporates a highly effective water repellent,

High on the list of benefits offered by the

range of Acoustic Systems and branded as the

meaning that any subsequent moisture content

IWS-FAST separating floor system, however, is its

Monarfloor IWS Fastfloor. A fully detailed technical

problems are dramatically reduced and troublesome

weight: considered as ‘lightweight’ construction, the

handbook will accompany the forthcoming launch

issues such as squeaky floorboards, popping nails

reduction in compressive loads can, in some cases,

of the system.

10

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

the world leader in timber preservation technology

delivering high quality timber solutions for decades

NORclad

PTG

PTG

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Call: +44 (0)1628 486644 Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757

Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1LS

*Registered Trademarks of Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. Protim Solignum Limited is a Koppers company trades as Koppers Performance Chemicals. Koppers is a registered Trademark of Koppers Delware, Inc. All products are produced by independently owned and operated wood processing facilities. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.

Registered England - Reg. 3037845

11

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by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Manufacturers Of Wood Preservatives Protim Solignum Ltd Marlow, Buckinghamshire

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

MARKETING MATTERS

STANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD How do you launch a new timber product into an already crowded marketplace?

Nick Pauley of Pauley Creative offers six tips for success The structure and cladding of the Haven, at Horning on the Norfolk Broads, is entirely constructed from Accoya products.

A

rguably, product is the most important

weren’t really construction products at all

ingredient in the marketing mix. Without it,

but more fashion accessories. Rather than

you don’t have a place in the market: you

construction, he was in the fashion industry.

This is the ideal mindset to extract your

certainly can’t sell something that doesn’t

product’s unique character. Brick, or indeed timber

exist, or for which there is no demand.

When considering launching a new timber product,

panel, to fashion accessory may be a thought

you should ask yourself, will it stand out in the

process too far for some, but if translated in the

marketplace either because it does something that

right way, this thinking can work in your favour.

nothing else in the market does, or because it does—

The next question is: “how we leverage this

or at least strives to do—something better than everything else which is available to your customers?

When considering your new product’s place in

uniqueness to make the building product more Nick Pauley, founder and Managing Director of Pauley Creative

the marketing mix, consider:  What does my product do that nothing else in the market does?  How is my product better than those offered by the competition?  Why should a customer pay for my product

interesting to buyers; developers, architects, specifiers etc?”

Can your business produce a useful

Amongst the wide range of content we read day

specification tool that helps people interact with

in day out here at Pauley Creative, there’s one

your new building product once it’s launched – a

book titled ‘Contagious’ by Johan Berger that still

tool that makes them feel like they have insider

remains relevant to this very day, and simply asks

knowledge or maybe makes their life choices easier?

the question: ‘What makes things popular?’ Why

How can your online specification tools or

instead of those offered by the competition?

do some ideas or building products go ‘viral’ and

efficiency calculators build ‘social currency’ for

If you can’t come up with good answers to those

some don’t? Let’s explore the concept in more

your company?

questions, it’s probably time to go back to the drawing

detail – and within the context of launching a new

board. If, on the other hand, you have confidence

timber product to specifiers and architects within

in the potential of your new product, what are the

the construction industry:

next steps in bringing it to market? Nick Pauley, Founder and Managing Director of Pauley Creative, a digital marketing consultancy that specialises in the

2. TRIGGERS What triggers can you create in order to keep your building product front of mind, to ensure your

1. SOCIAL CURRENCY At Pauley Creative we talk a lot about creating

audience doesn’t lose interest after the initial few months of launch?

construction industry, offers 6 tips for launching a new

unique ‘sharable’ or ‘remarkable’ content. In order to

product to specifiers and architects.

give your new timber product ‘Social Currency’, you

This phrase resonates with me because it

not only need to prove it’s ‘inner remarkability’ but

articulates nicely the need for all building product

6 KEY PRINCIPLES TO CONSIDER BEFORE

you also need to appeal to the ego i.e. the ultimate

manufacturers to make their marketing efforts

LAUNCHING A NEW BUILDING PRODUCT

need for people to look good purely by sharing your

consistent.

What makes a new building product stand out? What makes one product more popular than another? Brand? Performance? Reputation?

12

content.

“Top of mind, tip of tongue”.

Big budgets spent on one off promotional

A sales and marketing director of a brick manufacturer once told me that his products

WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

activities is the marketing equivalent of binge drinking.

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

MARKETING MATTERS And sending an ad hoc email is not the same thing either.

Your entire launch campaign needs a carefully considered strategy and ‘follow up’ process, so that you know exactly how to tackle any leads.

examples where the companies have worked well to build a brand in the true sense of the word.

But what about those products which are

6. STORIES Do manufacturers necessarily have to create myth and fable around their products?

While a story around your product may not be

unseen once installed?

Insulation products, drainage and pipe work,

something you hear down the pub too often or from

A thorough and integrated system of marketing

internal roofing products, underfloor cabling or light

your next taxi driver, you may hear it discussed in the

channels that provide relevant information to

bulbs – the list goes on…

builders’ merchants or on the site between trades.

different audience types on a timely basis will keep

For those type of unseen products, how can

A lot is written about the validity of thought

your products ‘Top of mind and tip of tongue’ from

a timber product manufacturer come up with

leadership, especially within the built environment.

day one.

a really simple way of distinguishing itself from

The tender process has all but killed the real value of

competitors?

expertise in favour of cost.

Consider the context in which your product is used: How can you create the triggers that suggest

Can you stain your packaging a certain colour

However, a company that can consistently prove

your product is ahead of your competition in the

to become more visible on housing projects while

its technical expertise or its ability to solve problems

mind of your audience?

it remains uncovered? The Glenalmond Timber

is still incredibly valuable, and this in turn will create

Company’s distinctive ‘Ultrajoist’ product does

stories. Word of mouth.

3. EMOTION “We share because we care”.

When it comes to launching your new timber

just this. Can you create an ‘on and off’ presence throughout the life of a project build?

Ask yourself two simple questions; Can people

The need to focus and appeal to segment audiences and provide real value through relevancy is massively important. And, for that reason alone,

product, consider the added benefits beyond their

see your product when others are using it and if

it makes sense to position your building product

intended purpose that evoke a feeling or emotion.

not, how can you make it more public?

launch with both these key points of reference in mind: audience and application.

You only need to watch an episode of Grand Designs to understand that certain products (and processes) evoke a strong sense of aesthetic even if all they do is let you into the garden or patio.

Certain products are literally the gateway to a

If being more ‘Public’ is easier for some than for others, then providing ‘Practical Value’ is a dead cert for all product manufacturers.

Distinctive ‘Ultrajoist’ elements used in platform timber frame construction

desired lifestyle and these garner entirely subjective feelings.

Ask yourself; “does your content focus on the feelings of the end user? Or do you purely focus on the technical for the specifier?”

Does talking about the research, sales and after

If you can do that successfully you will start

5. PRACTICAL VALUE

The majority of building products, almost explained using any number of online techniques.

ask of your products even after launch day has been

Whether it’s installation videos, case studies,

a question for you. In some cases, it’s a definitive ‘yes’, in others not so much. Take modified timber

and gone.

efficiency calculators, data sheets, BIM models, technical drawings, 3d diagrams and animations, approaches you could take is quite long.

Does your product advertise itself? There’s

with them? How can you capitalise on those conversations? It’s a great question to continually

emotional response from the buyer? I guarantee

4. PUBLIC

What stories could your products carry

without exception, have benefits that can be

infographics, online specification tools – the list of

effective example.

‘Reputation’.

The Kebony® external cladding product is ideal for use in maritime environments

sales process of your building products generate an it does. Russwood’s regular newsletter is a very

to build your own stories. I believe they call it

Building the credibility of your business and

IN SUMMARY As a framework for creating great content in preparation for your timber product launch, I think these principles are really powerful. Whether you

proving the capability of your timber products

need to tick all six boxes is debatable but, having

through the creation of sharable ‘web objects’

them in mind when creating a content strategy

that are rich in ‘practical value’ is a strategy that

would be no bad thing.

building product manufacturers cannot afford not to engage in.

Does talking about your product help people

About Pauley Creative: a digital marketing consultancy that specialises in the construction industry, Pauley

product manufacturers, their products advertise to

help others? Of course, it does. Your technical

Creative builds lead generation websites, specification

a captive audience time and time again – Accoya®

teams do it day in day out - so do your sales teams.

tools, web applications and digital marketing strategies

or Kebony®, for example. There are also the niche

How can your company highlight its products

that drive online business opportunities for building

products that have cornered a market – Pollmeier’s

incredible value from the very start? How can you

product manufacturers, merchants, contractors and

‘Baubuche’ beech hardwood LVL springs to mind

package your knowledge and expertise into the

membership organisations within the construction

or Velux Roof Windows and there are many more

most useful formats?

industry. www.pauleycreative.co.uk

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

TIMBER TOPICS

PEHR ERIKSSON, MD OF MOELVEN UK

T

imber might be said to be in Pehr Eriksson’s

owned (and headquartered in the small town of

set up as a separate profit centre, four of which are

blood: he is the third generation of his

Moelv, around 160km north of Oslo) and the timber

solely focused on whitewood production, four on

family to work in the industry since his

this Scandinavian industrial group sends to the UK

redwood and nine that produce both. The biggest

grandfather set up his own sawmill in

arrives into Hull and Immingham from mid-Sweden

of the mills accounts for around 370,000 m3 of the

1946. The company was sold to the Setra

and south-east Norway.

annual volume.

Group in 1974 and Pehr worked in its sales and

Moelven’s shareholder structure gives an

Some of the above information might be

planning of production department for eight years

indication of the company’s unusual (from a UK

gleaned from Moelven’s website, but only a short

in Malå, a remote community with around 2000

perspective) make-up, it being owned by four forest

conversation with Pehr reveals how much of the

inhabitants in the Västerbotten County of Sweden’s

owners’ associations, a regional energy group and

detail about the organisation’s workings is literally at

Lapland province. On becoming the Group’s sales

an agricultural cooperative. Business groupings of

his fingertips and the extent to which he is steeped

manager in 1990, he moved 160km east to the

this sort are not uncommon in the Scandinavian

in the mechanics and economics of the industry.

small town of Piteå on the Bay of Bothnia which

forest sector (e.g. see Timber Trader UK, Issue One,

Whilst he is quick to emphasise the specific areas

has, importantly, a harbour serving the area’s

for details of Sødra’s ownership structure) and there

of business activity Moelven UK is involved in, his

traditionally strong forestry industry. Grounded,

are many merits to this type of arrangement for

knowledge of the many dimensions to Moelven’s

therefore, in the workings of one of Sweden’s

private owners of small areas of forest, not the least

international enterprises is both in-depth and bang

largest export industries, Pehr’s next career move

being able to sell their timber through a much larger

up-to-date. The part of the business that Pehr is

as sales manager within the Group brought him

organisation that has the operational structures to

directly responsible for – Moelven UK - supplies

to the UK in 1995 - Warlingham in Surrey to be

manage everything from sawmilling to exports. And

sawn and planed material as well as a wide range

precise - a role he filled for more than 12 years

Moelven is large: its sawmills in south-east Norway

of timber components to industry, retail and

before becoming managing director of Moelven

and Sweden currently consume around 3.9 million

construction companies, large and small, throughout

UK in 2008, a position he has occupied ever since.

m3 of logs, equivalent to approximately 2 million

the country and also to Ireland. Indeed, the catalogue

Thus, having spent over 30 years in Sweden’s forest

m3 of sawn timber each year. Each of its 17 mills is

of timber products Moelven UK offers is nothing if

industry taking a leading role in that country’s exports to the UK, it is fair to say that Pehr has considerable experience of the extent and nature of the timber trade between the two countries.

For the statistically minded, the UK currently imports around 40% of its softwood requirements from Sweden and, given that some 80% of our construction timber is imported, the Swedish contribution to this overall volume is not inconsiderable. It is not unimportant to Sweden’s economy either, since around 80% of its timber is shipped abroad. Not all of Moelven’s exports are from Sweden, of course: Moelven is Norwegian-

14

The smart digital sawmill at Moelven Valåsen AB

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

TIMBER TOPICS

Moelven Dalaträ AB, one of the mills in the Group’s Sawmill Timber Division

not comprehensive – joinery, mouldings, packaging,

also led the Group’s Building Systems division into

exterior cladding and decking, exterior and interior

new territory which, again, may offer opportunities

panel products, modular and laminated components

for expansion in the UK. Many will be aware of

for door and window frames, as well as glulam and

Moelven’s long experience in the production

plywood. The company also supplies graded and

of glulam, but few outside the architecture and

finger-jointed C24 and C30 material to, for example,

engineering professions may know of its innovative

James Jones’ Timber Systems Division for use in the

role in the use of engineered timber in the

production of its JJI-joists.

construction of high-rise residential accommodation.

Given the spectrum of construction elements

Mjøstårnet (the Mjøs Tower) will rise to over 80m

The 14 storey, glulam-framed ‘Treet’ (‘Tree’)

that Moelven UK is able to offer, it is no surprise

apartment block in Bergen – at the time of its

that the company has seen steady growth of late,

construction, the tallest timber building in the world

with timber volumes consumed recently being

- brought this to the attention of a global audience

the highest seen for 10 years, as indeed have the

of architects and engineers, but this is now being

margins on sales. Pehr makes the point, however,

surpassed by the development of what is likely to

that the extreme challenges the building industry

be recorded as the latest, tallest timber building in

experienced post-2008 have meant that this

the world: named “Mjøstårnet” (the Mjøs Tower),

current rate of growth has simply brought business

this timber structure is designed to rise to over

back to the optimum levels seen before the

80m high. Due for completion in March 2019, the

economic downturn.

building employs a new assembly technique that will

At Moelven group level, a number of new

see its lowest 10 storeys built using Moelven’s Trä8

This means we have to make ourselves attractive.

developments may in time deliver additional value

technology, a column/beam system that integrates

Aside from being able to offer good discounts at

to the UK operation – “the smart digital sawmill”

glulam, Kerto® and cross laminated timber elements.

large volumes, we can combine materials from

Environmental and other concerns regarding the

several different sawmills in the same delivery

is an innovative two-year project at its Valåsen AB sawmill in which new technology will enable

nature of modern building products is increasingly

package, allowing us to overcome transportation

increased yield and capacity by reducing the

generating interest in the potential for this type of

issues that would otherwise be difficult.”

number of production stops and reducing energy

hybrid timber construction to deliver tall timber

consumption. Technological development has also

structures (on lighter foundations) in dense urban

Brexit – Pehr seems completely unfazed by the

been implemented by introducing a high degree of

locations and, given the chronic housing shortage in

ongoing political and press hysteria: “there will

robotization in a new production line at Moelven

UK cities, the experience gained by Moelven from

always be a need for sawn timber and timber

Byggmodul AB at Säffle in Sweden. This new line

the Mjøstårnet project could well prove attractive to

building materials in the UK. What is clear is that

has contributed to an 80% increase in capacity and

developers here.

we are here and will still be here for a long time.” In

the creation of an additional 40 jobs in this small

Meanwhile, Moelven UK will undoubtedly

When pressed about the issue of the day –

an industry often noted for rebranding exercises,

town. Whilst Moelven as a group does not export

continue to experience steady growth in its core

takeovers and company closures, Pehr Eriksson’s

its modular systems to the UK, the sheer scale of

business. As Pehr Eriksson explains, the forward

focus on the business in hand and the need to

new housing demanded by the UK government

plan is to concentrate on entering into more

ensure customer satisfaction at all times is both

(some 300,000 new units per annum) may open

and bigger business agreements with existing

refreshing and commendable. Perhaps it has

an interesting door for the organisation, since the

customers, as opposed to seeking growth through

something to do with his considerable experience

construction industry here does not yet have the

finding new ones. For Pehr, the key to this is never

of working in an industry where the raw material

offsite prefabrication capacity to meet the urgent

to stop working on customer relationships for the

takes a long time to reach maturity and, in doing so,

challenge it has been set.

long term. “Several customers here have ambitions

largely bypasses the fluctuations and transitoriness

for a general reduction in the number of suppliers.

of external events.

This advanced level of modularisation has

15

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

SPRU CE

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16

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

INTERNATIONAL TIMBER

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE INTERNATIONAL TIMBER LAUNCHES INTELLIGENCE BRAND

T

he term innovation in the world of timber does not necessarily apply solely to the creation of entirely new products: it can equally involve creative thinking around how best to ‘package’ and utilise tried and tested products from an existing range in order to offer customers a service that genuinely meets a market need. This is the conceptual driver

behind International Timber’s latest, and most customer-centric product offer, ‘Intelligence’ which is being launched this summer. We spoke to them about the new brand and their claim that, with ‘Intelligence’, “everything is possible”.

WHAT EXACTLY IS ‘INTELLIGENCE’ AND WHAT IS ITS MARKET? “Intelligence centres around a range of engineered and modified products currently offered by International Timber and aims to sell joinery solutions that were previously difficult to come by. In simple terms, this means that we will be helping woodworkers overcome traditional sourcing and availability issues and offering bespoke products to match individual requirements.

“It is a forward-thinking concept, underlining International Timber’s ability to drive forward solutions to match issues, engage with forward planning and

Re-imagining the products

sustainability and engineer solutions using woods that are readily available and fit for purpose for each application.”

“Although timber as a product is ever-changing and evolving, we’ve never turned our back on traditional joinery species like European Oak and Sapele.

WHAT MAKE THE INTELLIGENCE BRAND DIFFERENT WHAT IS PARTICULARLY INNOVATIVE ABOUT IT? “We believe that we are genuinely stepping out of the box with the Intelligence brand. The concept combines expert knowledge, traditional products

Oak is one of the most widely used timber products, popular in solid, hardwood furniture, whilst Sapele is a commercially important wood, reminiscent of mahogany with a distinctive figure. Sapele has grown in popularity since mahogany was listed as a CITES species.”

and engineering experience to give our customers a bespoke, and in many cases, unique solution to their problems.

“Although our approach has always been to provide our customers with the best products possible, we’re now looking at applications and engineering

WHAT DO YOU FIND PARTICULARLY EXCITING ABOUT THE NEW BRAND AND WHY IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO LAUNCH IT? “International Timber has always been a reliable and trusted name in the

products that will provide the best fit solution to customers, in terms of both

marketplace. However, this new chapter is bringing a certain level of finesse,

physical properties and visual appeal.”

modernity and sophistication to our brand that speaks to a modern-day consumer.

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS DO YOU ANTICIPATE CUSTOMERS WILL COME TO YOU WITH AND HOW WILL YOU APPROACH PROBLEM SOLVING WITH THEM? “We envisage that we will be dealing with a wide range of project types and challenges. To meet these challenges, we are going to have dedicated Product

“We’ve recently built up our team to include an Engineered Product Manager, William Frost, who has been the driving force behind this new brand. We weren’t going to launch until we were 100% certain that the brand was ready, and our product champions were fully up to speed.”

According to the company, the Intelligence solution will provide a range of

Champions in each of our depots who are fully trained on the Intelligence brand

benefits for customers including:

and its ideals. They will not only be able to answer any questions a customer may

 a totally new look and quality feel – think sleek, modern and sophisticated;

have but provide the best Intelligent solution: we are encouraging our staff to

 environmentally friendly;

truly discover our customers’ pain-points and offer a bespoke Intelligent solution,

 excellent thermal properties – saving money on heat and electrical bills;

focusing on traditional timber and coupling this with modern engineering

 overcomes traditional sourcing issues by matching available engineered products with applications;

techniques.

“Our team will have around the clock technical support, enhanced service

 long-term solutions for individual applications;

levels, ongoing sales and product training and guaranteed stock availability to

 extensive manufacturing capabilities;

ensure that customers get the perfect solution.”

 constant product innovation and evolution into the future;  partnering with customers.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC PRODUCTS WITHIN THE RANGE THAT ARE NEW OR IS IT MORE A MATTER OF A FRESH APPROACH - IF SO, HOW DOES THIS WORK IN PRACTICE? “It’s definitely a fresh approach – as a matter of fact, we’re using off-the-

So far, so enigmatic: the challenge now and in the future for International Timber’s Product Champions will be to demonstrate that most, if not all, of the benefits listed here can be delivered, project by project in ways that make each of

shelf sections which may have gone unused and giving them a new lease of life

the company’s woodworking customers feel are genuinely innovative solutions to

by engineering them to the customer’s specification. We’ll discover what our

their individual needs. Timber Trader UK looks forward to reporting on interesting

customers require, and then choose the most suitable timber to engineer.

case studies as they begin to emerge.

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

Sawn, Planed and Glulam Timber

Photo © Einar Breen

E-mail: timber.uk@moelven.com Phone: 020 8916 2401 Web: moelven.co.uk

18

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

NEWS FROM ABROAD

INNOVATION IN TIMBER EXPORTING REAPS SUSTAINABLE REWARDS FOR IRELAND’S RURAL ECONOMY

Forest cover in Ireland has grown from 1% to 11.5% since 1900

C

oillte is one of those strange Old Irish

the way forest harvesting operations are managed

words that non-speakers of the language

by providing real-time satellite communications

have some difficulty pronouncing but

and data analytics to improve strategic decision

which simply means woods or forests.

making. 2018 has seen the company deploy what

To describe the company that nowadays

it describes as its ‘innovative, world class Forest

bears this name as simply being in the forestry

Management System (FMS)’ designed to improve

industry would, however, be to do it a major

the effectiveness of its forestry operations and

disservice, since this ambitious organisation

allow Coillte to unlock maximum value from its

has several strings to its bow and has made

forestry and land estate. Critically, the introduction

significant advances in recent years aimed at

of these innovations is intended to increase the

delivering its corporate vision to become the

company’s production capabilities and guarantee security of supply to its customers, thereby giving

best Forestry and Land Solutions company in Europe by 2025. To outsiders, this may seem a touch hubristic, given that it is custodian to only

Des O’Toole, market development manager, Coillte Forest

them the confidence to invest further and expand their own processing capacity as they continue to grow their presence in export markets.

7% of Ireland’s landmass, but this represents an area of forest and landscape that now extends to around 445,000 hectares

An estimated 40,000 truck movements now take place each year between

and upon which it operates three strong, autonomous business divisions: its

Ireland and the UK but it is not all one-way traffic however: a reciprocal

core forestry activities, its MEDITE/SMARTPLY wood panels manufacturing

arrangement means that some Irish logs go for processing in Scottish sawmills,

business and its land solutions division that also includes a very successful

whilst a proportion of Scottish logs are sent to Ireland, where eight private

range of renewable energy projects.

sector mills of significant size are in operation, plus another three that produce

Some history is useful at this point: only 1% of Ireland was forested

panel boards. One particularly enterprising Irish customer of Coillte and well

in 1900, yet the country now has 11.5% forest cover, the result mainly

known throughout the industry – Glennon Bros. – operates in both markets,

of considerable planting in the 1970s and ‘80s, but also from an ongoing

with two sawmills in Ireland and two in Scotland.

reforesting programme by Coillte that saw 17 million trees planted in

Not all is sunshine and light penetrating the canopies of Irish forests,

2016 (covering some 7700 hectares) and an additional 19.5 million (over

though, since the elephant in the room – the continuing uncertainty generated

8000 hectares) in 2017 which, according to Des O’Toole, Coillte’s market

by the UK’s decision to Brexit the EU - registers high on Coillte’s list of potential

development manager, is the highest quantity for over 10 years. It is little

threats, posing as it does significant challenges for the future of an Irish

wonder, then, that Ireland’s forest industry is projected to almost double in

forestry sector that supports some 12,000 rural-based jobs and contributes

size over the next decade (from 3.4 million cubic metres to around 6 million

approximately €2.3 billion to the country’s economy each year. A SWOT analysis

annually), or that 50-60% of its output is destined for export. This latter

is only as good as the actions that result from it, however, and Coillte was hardly

statistic is also of note since the country exported little of its forest output,

sloth-like in setting up a Timber Industry Brexit Forum in which, working closely

or indeed any timber products prior to 2007-8, a cataclysmic period for the

with key industry stakeholders, a number of initiatives have been progressed

global economy. The decision was made then that the industry should view

to minimise the potential impact of Brexit, including the preparation of draft

Ireland and the UK as one market (since product certification is as one in both

guidelines for the trade of timber post 29 March 2019. Major challenges

jurisdictions) and give greater focus to trade with its nearest neighbour.

unquestionably lie ahead but, given Coillte’s very focused development to date

Key strategic investments in new, leading-edge technologies have been

and its strong economic performance, the company would seem to have the

central to Coillte’s ‘connected forest’ vision, a primary example being the

talent, experience and determination to overcome them and continue to follow

significant technology deal agreed with Treemetrics and aimed at revolutionising

its own, so far very successful, game plan.

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

SUSTAINABLE SOURCING

SOURCING TROPICALHARDWOOD THE SUSTAINABLE WAY

Christiane Lellig, campaign director for Wood for Good, discusses tropical hardwood and outlines how to ensure the timber you supply is responsibly sourced Marecollege in the Netherlands, by 24H Architecture, built using a range of tropical hardwoods, (image courtesy of Boris Zeisser)

F

avoured for its strength, durability and

the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) aim to protect

Firstly, it’s important to put in place a clear

appearance, tropical hardwood comes from

biodiversity, ecosystem services, local employment,

procurement policy enforcing a preference for

continents surrounding the Equator; mainly

and indigenous peoples’ rights within the forest.

certified timber and timber products. If the timber

Central and West Africa, Southeast Asia and

Meanwhile, the United Nations programme

and timber products cannot be certified, the

for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and

supplier you use should still be able to verify the

Forest Degradation (REDD+) offers incentives to

source. Always be vigilant about the risks of illegal

Popular tropical hardwood sourced from

developing countries to reduce deforestation and

timber in your supply chain.

these areas includes Iroko, African Mahogany, Sipo

forest degradation while improving conservation,

and Sapele (Africa); Dark Red Meranti, Bangkirai

sustainable management of forests and

Hardwoods Division for the Timber Trade

and Teak (Southeast Asia); Ipe and Massaranduba

enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Federation, offers the following advice:

WHAT SCHEMES ARE IN PLACE IN THE UK?

 Firstly, ensure the application requires a tropical

South America. Collectively, these forests

contain 47% of the total global growing stock.

Andy Duffin, chairman of the National

(Latin America).

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT Sustainable management protects tropical

In Europe, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) prohibits the placing of illegally harvested timber

hardwood; often the unique properties required are natural durability, strength, or aesthetics.  Look for organisations that promote

forests from the risks of illegal logging, or forest

on the European market. This means there must

certification schemes like FSC and PEFC or

clearing for other purposes such as soy, palm oil

be a record of the supplier, the product’s timber

third-party schemes like Bureau Veritas (OLB).

and beef production. It is estimated that using

species, where it comes from, the amount bought,

tropical forests for these purposes causes half of

and a risk assessment on the product.

all global deforestation.

The timber and forestry industries go to great

The Forest Law Enforcement, Government and Trade (FLEGT) action plan aims to reduce

lengths to put sustainable forest management in

illegal logging by strengthening sustainable and

place. In addition, local communities benefit from

legal forest management, improving governance

employment in the forestry industry with more

and promoting trade in legally produced timber.

than two million people employed in the industry

In addition, Voluntary Partnership Agreements

across Central and West Africa, Southeast Asia

(VPA), are legally binding trade agreements

and South America.

between the European Union and a timberproducing country outside the EU to ensure

HOW ARE THE FORESTS PROTECTED?

timber products come from a legal source.

place to help protect the forests and ensure they are managed in a responsible and sustainable way.

Below is a brief outline of the main programmes.

Worldwide, well-established forest certification

HOW TO ENSURE YOUR TIMBER IS FROM A LEGAL AND SUSTAINABLE SOURCE So, with such a range of schemes and programmes in place, what is the best way to

systems such as the Programme for the

make sure that the timber you supply comes from

Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and

a legal and sustainable source?

20

rather than sustainability, so buyers who want to be sure that there is also a credible sustainable provenance need to focus just on FSC and PEFC.  FSC and PEFC is available for species like Sapele and Iroko.  Consider engineered wood products like Grandis which is 100% plantation grown and FSC certified.

There are many benefits of using tropical hardwoods for building, from durability and strength through to the huge variety of tones, colours and

There are many European and international programmes, agreements and certifications in

 EUTR regulations are purely based on legality

WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

structures available. When purchased from a legal and sustainable source, tropical hardwood can remain a valuable building material, not only for architects and designers but also for the people who rely on the forests for an income source.

To find out more visit www.woodforgood.com

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

LOGISTICS

GETTING TIMBER ON THE ROAD The Timber Transport Forum aims to minimise the impact of transporting logs from Britain’s forests on local communities and the environment.

Project officer Roland Stiven talks to Michelle Gordon about the challenges

A

round 350,000 lorry loads of sustainably

the roads are quite fragile so if they make a

said Stiven. “Trundling timber lorries past little

grown logs are transported from British

significant number of trips in big lorries the road

rural villages and schools has to be done carefully

forests each year for processing in

starts to suffer and once that happens there is a

with consultation. You have to share the road

sawmills, pulp and paper mills and in

risk that the council may chase them for repairs.

space in a reasonable manner.”

wood energy plants, but the surrounding

If you trash a section of road it really does cost

The transport of timber isn’t covered by

rural road network can pose a challenge to

hundreds of thousands of pounds to fix, which

formal legislation or regulations but the sector

getting from A to B.

can be more than your timber is worth.

has bought in to forum’s voluntary agreement

Many of the roads leading to and from

“What we have done through the groups

and “for the most part the timber is getting out of most places without problems,” said Stiven.

forests in the UK are not well-suited to the

is to minimise that risk. We know where the

demands of modern haulage vehicles but in most

roads are and where the trees have got to come

cases, they are the only way to transport the 10.5

out from and we have talked to the council and

terms of health and safety practice and the

million tonnes of timber harvested each year.

agreed the process.”

environmental impact of vehicles over the past

The Timber Transport Forum was set up to

The forum has produced an Agreed Routes

Great strides have also been made in

couple of decades and the forum encourages

minimise the impact of timber transport on the

Map (available via its website) which identifies

a certain configuration of lorries, as well as

public road network, on local communities and on

which routes have been agreed with local

producing a code of practice about safely loading

the environment and promotes voluntary measures

authorities.

and strapping timber on lorries and safely

to improve the sustainability of timber transport.

“We are aiming to limit the impact of timber

“Anyone moving timber looks at the map and it tells them whether the route was agreed,”

stacking logs ready for loading.

With the volume of timber that is coming out

haulage on roads that weren’t really designed

explains Stiven. “If it is an agreed route they

of Britain’s forests likely to continue increasing

for the scale of haulage, the amount of tonnage

don’t have a problem and just start hauling

over the next decade, the forum’s job is far

being moved and the size of the lorries,”

timber. There are also a set of categories which

from done and, as well as working with the

explained project officer Roland Stiven.

say talk to your local authority, tell them what

industry to encourage best practice, it is lobbying

you are doing, discuss with them what the

Government to improve the rural road network.

The forum is a partnership of the forestry

“We are gradually improving the road network

and timber industries, local government, national

constraints are and whether there are any issues

government agencies, timber hauliers and road

they want you to take account of. It might be,

but it is happening very slowly,” said Stiven. “For

and freight associations and all members are

don’t do it in the winter when the roads are

many of the forests in Britain this is the first time

signed up to its partnering charter setting out its

frosty, it might be, don’t do it in the wet, it might

they are being harvested. Many were planted

core values and aspirations.

say you can only really get 4-5 lorries down that

after the Second World War and in the 1960s and

road a day.

1970s so this is the first time that we are dealing

There are currently 11 regional timber transport groups at local authority level, each

“There are also a few roads on our map

comprising a local partnership of public and

which just say do not take your timber lorry

private organisations. Each group contributes

down this road – come up with another plan.”

representatives to the forum.

“The infrastructure is a major challenge,” said Stiven. “They [the lorries] are still having to drive on very small roads with no passing places and these are often single-track. Sometimes

21

The maps also take into account the potential impact of transporting timber on the rural

with these roads. We need modern roads in the countryside for modern industries.”

And the challenges look set to continue as the Scottish Government focuses on expanding the forest resource in the future.

communities surrounding the forest network.

“The impact on communities is just as important as the strength and size of the road,”

WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

For more information visit www.timbertransportforum.org.uk

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

COVER STORY: VANDECASTEELE HOUTIMPORT

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE Family-run timber company Vandecasteele Houtimport may have a rich history dating back to 1883 but its focus is firmly on the future

F

PEFC, TLTV, VLO, VLC, OLB) and an efficient,

ounded in Belgium in 1883, Vandecasteele

Based in Aalbeke, close to the city of

Houtimport is today run by the fourth and

Kortrijk, Vandecasteele Houtimport’s uniquely

fifth generations of the Vandecasteele

designed timber warehouse, which lies

family.

adjacent to a man-made lake, houses almost

and prepare outgoing deliveries, in a smooth,

every wood species from around the world.

orderly and dedicated manner, and all parcels

A modern and expanding business, it

has a long-term commitment to service a wide

From the most expensive and rare

accurate processing of customer orders.

Experienced staff unload incoming lorries

have a quality file in which the quality of

variety of customers in the construction, joinery

hardwoods, to a full assortment of softwoods

the parcel is registered, with quality control

and furniture sectors, as well as the high-end

in all qualities and sizes, everything is neatly

inspections of goods at the ports of Antwerp

marine industry.

bar coded and displayed. Customers can walk

or Ghent or in Aalbeke.

Located right in the heart of Europe, with

through the clean and tidy warehouse and take

The company has recently launched

easy road access to customers in most major

a good look at the quality of each single pack

a dedicated customer portal that allow

European markets, Vandecasteele Houtimport

before making a purchase.

customers to prepare their own orders. In a

has over the years consistently developed its

Vandecasteele Houtimport has the

world where consumers seek instant response

long-term strategy to become Europe’s number

resources and ability to adapt to the sensitivity

to any “search”, Vandecasteele Houtimport’s

one timber stockist.

of the market and bridges the gap between

sales representatives must be able to quickly

sources of supply in Africa, Far East, South

process every enquiry from surrounding

that can accommodate more than 150,000m3

America and North America to Europe in

countries. Whether sitting in the office in

of sawn timber products and with an additional

a matter of days. This makes the company

front of their computer, or visiting customers

shed currently being completed, the total

the first choice with many importers and

all around the world, and working from a

covered space of the company’s main warehouse

merchants.

tablet, they have real time information on all

The company boasts its own storage facility

inventory moves. Constant development of

will reach almost 200,000m3. Timbers coming

Its impressive and vast stockholding of

from all over the world, are now centralised in

hardwoods and softwoods is coupled with

the IT tools to support this demand for speed

one location, only a stone’s throw away.

strong environmental credentials (FSC©,

in sales, is as important for the company as

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

COVER STORY: VANDECASTEELE HOUTIMPORT

is having the goods in stock. Deliveries are followed in real time via live GPS lorry tracking, so an immediate response can also be given on the whereabouts of each load.

“The new web portal gives both our customers and sales team an important tool to access real-time information both quickly and efficiently, plus a new upgrade allows selected customers to upload and confirm orders via the

The tracking system integrated into our 16 Volvo trucks allows all sales and operational staff to access whereabouts, fuel usage and delivery ETAs of any vehicle wherever it may be across Europe”

Stefaan Vandecasteele managing director and owner

portal. The tracking system integrated into our 16 Volvo trucks allows all sales and operational staff to access whereabouts, fuel usage and

voluntarily further strengthen all aspects of

Charter and the new charter is based on the 17

delivery ETAs of any vehicle wherever it

their business to set exemplary standards for

Sustainable Development Goals of the United

may be across Europe,” explained Stefaan

others to follow. This proves it is possible to

Nations. Companies who participate over

Vandecasteele managing director and owner.

have a first-class considerate and efficient

the next three years and incorporate the 17

business which doesn’t exploit or take

Sustainability Goals of the United Nations, will

advantage of natural resources.

receive a UNITAR certificate (United Nations

“The IT advances, coupled with the warehouse extension, demonstrates our commitment in the short and long term to

The charter is a management tool and is

continue to strive to be the best timber

based on the 5 “P” s – profit, people, planet,

stockist in Europe”.

passion and prosperity. Vandecasteele

Since the year 2000 Vandecasteele Houtimport has committed itself through the

Institute for Training and Research) from CIFAL FLANDERS. With a strong foundation of more than

Houtimport is committed to continuously

135 years of trading in wood and family values

improving performances on all levels.

that govern its relationship with customers and suppliers, coupled with continuous investment

Corporate Sustainability Charter by signing

This year the charter has undergone a

up to environmental objectives exceeding

serious facelift, after being taken over by the

to ensure success in the years to come,

applicable environmental legislation.

Chamber of Commerce. Its name has been

Vandecasteele Houtimport looks to the future

changed to Voka Corporate Sustainability

with confidence.

The West Flanders Corporate Sustainability Charter brings together companies who

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

HOW MERCHANTS CAN ADD VALUE – PLANE AND SIMPLE Specialist hardwood importer C Blumsom’s managing director Mark Price said, “The versatility and speed of the Cube inspired us to offer our customers 1-hour milling. This has been taken up by small builders, DIYers and even contractors companies working in London who ‘need it now’ and can’t wait for their usual supply, and is a great addition to our range of services.”

Timber merchants are now able to add value by producing PAR material to special sizes on demand. With the most basic of training, foursided planing with Weinig’s Cube Plus has never been so easy.

Day-to-day, you need machinery that is both robust and simple to operate. The Cube Plus delivers precisely this for easy planing up either to customer order, or to replenish stock quickly.

Over 120 of Weinig’s easy-to-use four-sided planers have been sold in the UK. The latest Cube Plus makes this simple processing machine a must-have for every timber supplier and outlet, with national builders’ merchants Jewsons and Buildbase the latest to take advantage of the simplicity of the Cube Plus.

Weinig UK managing director Malcolm Cuthbertson says, “The Weinig Cube Plus is a

neat, inexpensive piece of kit that has become an indispensable workhorse of every modern timber facility. Anyone can use a Cube; simply enter the finish size onto the screen and the lasers assist positioning. Then you simply push timber into the planer. Ease of use, health and safety features and flexibility all come together in Weinig’s Cube”.

Exceptionally simple setting is supported by automatic adjustments, and the MoulderPreView (MPV) green and red lasers clearly show exactly how much will be planed off before the timber goes through. The Cube Plus creates straight, dimensionally accurate, 90-degree right-angled workpieces in a single pass.

New features for the Cube Plus include a 10-inch touchscreen, improved chip extraction, noise reduction, and the EasyLock knife change system which enables the operator to change knives without dismounting the cutterhead.

Alsford Timber installed the 100th Weinig Cube in the UK at its main branch in Erith, Kent; home to the company’s timber mill and production centre for its 19 branches across the South East.

Roy Stevens, timber support for Alsford Timber said, “We need to make sure our machines are being used in the most efficient way possible.

Having the Cube Plus means that we don’t tie up our moulders just for four-sided planing. It helps us work more efficiently and it is so easy to use, operators can start using it within a matter of minutes. We are really pleased to have Weinig’s 100th Cube in the UK at Alsford Timber.”

Weinig Expo UK - Innovation Centre for Manufacturing Excellence The UK has a brand new centre of technical excellence. Located in Abingdon, Weinig Expo UK is an innovation centre for manufacturing excellence, which houses more than 20 of the latest machines from the global leader of solid wood processing machinery and systems. Weinig, sister company Holz-Her, and modern classical machines from Hofmann offer practical solutions to timber merchants.

Contact sales@weinig.co.uk or call 01235 557600 to arrange your tour and discuss how you can add value to your timber.

For more information, visit www.weinig.co.uk

See Weinig at the W18 Exhibition Stands K710, M710, M810

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01235 557600 | sales@weinig.co.uk | www.weinig.co.uk WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

ADVERTORIAL: THE W EXHIBITION

REASONS TO ATTEND THE W EXHIBITION

H

ave you booked your FREE ticket to the UK’s only woodworking

have been shortlisted for the show’s very own Elements of Innovation Awards

machinery and materials show, the W Exhibition yet? If not, there’s

and presented to an independent judging panel to be in with the chance of

still time! Taking place from the 30th September – 3rd October at

winning a coveted title. Winners will be announced during the show.

the NEC, Birmingham, the W Exhibition will span over 11,000 square metres and play host to more than 200 of the biggest and best

THE ELEMENTS SHOW: Visitors will also have access to the W Exhibition’s

names in the furniture manufacturing industry. The lineup includes leading

sister show, Elements. The dedicated furniture components show will present

machinery companies like Homag, Biesse, SCM, Felder, RW Machinery,

the very latest furniture trends, design innovations and prototypes for the

Advanced Machinery Services, Masterwood and Hoffmann – and all will be

furniture production and interior design markets. The impressive line-up

demonstrating their latest machinery and technological advancements.

features returning companies alongside many first-time exhibitors. Leading

The biennial event will also feature new interactive zones specifically

components manufacturer Blum, décor specialists Alpi SpA, edging experts

designed to aid industry professionals, showcase innovation and reward talent.

Karebant, Tece and Kalp as well as finishing professionals Remmers UK will all make their debut at the bi-annual event, whilst further brands – including

BRAND NEW EDUCATION ZONE: Situated in Hall 6, the Education Zone

Crofts & Assinder, Mundy Veneer, Hranipex, Ostermann and Merenda -

has been designed to support and advise visitors on the latest legislation,

return to Elements after a successful 2016.

health & safety, productivity, careers, education and apprenticeships within

Lisa Campagnola, Event Director adds, “This year, we have been exploring

the furniture industry. Experts from the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills

new avenues in a bid to represent the whole industry and emulate the success

and Training Alliance (FIESTA), the British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), the

our exhibitors had in 2016. By working closely with our leading companies,

British Woodworking Federation (BWF), National Association of Shopfitters

show partners and industry associations, we have been able to create a

(NAS) and Didac Training College will be on hand to help visitors navigate their

show that offers real value and substance. We are excited to welcome new

way around key issues and important changes within the industry and take part

companies, introduce new exhibition features and, by creating informative

in one-to-one drop-in sessions and daily workshops that are open to all.

and supportive features within the show. We are confident The W Exhibition

BWF’s Iain Mcllwee says, “Exhibitions really are a physical manifestation of a trade association, a melting pot for ideas and networking and also, if

will continue to be an unmissable event for the furniture manufacturing industry.”

we use them well, an opportunity to project the sector. For the BWF, the

To register for your FREE ticket simply visit the shows website and join

Education Zone is the ideal platform for us to promote the importance of

over 8,000 industry professionals at the UK’s only woodworking machinery

health and safety and productivity in the workplace. The accident rate in

and materials show: www.wexhibition.co.uk/Register.

this sector is high and we want to use the interactive area to help tackle this issue. We’ll also be on hand to help companies improve efficiencies. Every

For more information please visit www.wexhibition.co.uk or follow @W_Exhibition

business is different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when running a

and @Elements_Expo on Twitter and like ‘The W Exhibition’ on Facebook.

successful business but our team will be there to advise, help and shape ideas to help the industry grow.”

THE ELEMENTS OF INNOVATION ZONE: Now in its second year, the Elements of Innovation Zone offers visitors an opportunity to see the most ground-breaking products and design concepts up close. Each product will

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

THE SUPPLY CHAIN SESSIONS

Hosted at the Confederation of Timber Industries Pavilion Timber Trader UK is delighted to be hosting a series of presentations and discussions at this year’s Timber Expo in Birmingham aimed at addressing a range of different supply chain topics and opportunities for sawmills, importers and merchants. Two sessions will take place each morning from Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th October: short and sharp presentations followed by incisive questions from chair, Peter Wilson, managing director of Timber Design Initiatives Ltd, that are designed to elicit further useful information and guidance from each of the experts we have invited to speak.

The topics for discussion range from product development and marketing to the challenges of the circular economy and the need for ongoing innovation in the creation of new and advanced timber systems. How Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools can deliver higher added value for the forestry sector deserves – and commands – a session all of its own, but each one of the talks focuses on the delivery of positives for the industry whilst eschewing any overt sales promotion.

Seminar Topics

9th October

10th October

11th October

12:00pm – 12:30pm Rethinking housing finance to deliver genuinely affordable timber housing

12:30pm – 1:00pm Making the forest industry more profitable, sustainable and efficient through the use of digital timber measurement and data management

10:30am – 11:00am Innovation with hardwoods

12:30pm – 1:00pm Top considerations to keep in mind when targeting architects and specifiers

1:00pm – 1:30pm Can we grow the circular economy?

11:00am – 11:30am Research and development as a USP: product innovation using standard components

Host and Speakers

Peter Wilson

Adrian Campbell

Dave Cleverley

Anna-Greta Tsahkna

Darren Lester

Neil Summers

Craig White

Host & MD of Timber Design Initiatives Ltd

Founder of changebuilding

MD of Intelligent Wood Systems Ltd

Founder and CCO of Timbeter

Founder and CEO of specifiedby.com

Consultant, American Hardwood Export Council

Founder of White Design

For full details of the seminar visit: www.timbermedia.co.uk/seminar 26

WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

Hosted by:

Sponsored by:

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

FEATURE: TIMBETER Anna-Greta Tsahkna, Chief Operating Officer of Timbeter

MEASURE FOR MEASURE – SOLVING AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM IN THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

T

measurements are easily controlled and re-measured, if required.

he volume measurement of wood can be an onerous process.

Traditionally, there were two methods available: reliance on the “best

“Timbeter has been tested by Metrosert, the Central Office of Metrology

guess” of someone with the requisite professional experience or, if greater

(equivalent to a National Metrology Institute) in Estonia. Metrosert certification

accuracy was required, the assessment of each individual log. Neither

demonstrated that Timbeter’s error margin was 0.5-1.5%. More recently, the

method has ever been wholly satisfactory as the former offers only an

Estonian State Forest Management Centre ran some tests to compare the narrow

approximate result and the latter can be extremely time-consuming, negatively

end diameter of logs, as measured by a harvester and by Timbeter. The outcome

impacting on efficiency and production costs.

highlighted some apparent variations: for 55 measurements of different species

Step forward Timbeter, an innovative Estonian software developer responsible for the Timbeter App - a mobile application capable of making these

on the total volume of 3485 cubic metres, the average difference, in the average diameters, was 0.1 cm.”

measurements quickly, accurately and simply. The process is straightforward: just take a picture with your smartphone of the pile of logs, loaded truck or container; the system recognises each individual trunk and calculates its diameter, thus calculating the total volume of wood. In addition, the App is able

WHAT MARKET NEED DID YOU IDENTIFY THAT LED YOU TO CREATE THE APP? HOW HAS THIS DEVELOPED AS THE COMPANY HAS GROWN AND THE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVED?

to geotag where the photograph was taken and to generate a report including

“One of the founders of Timbeter was a sawmill owner who faced the

measurements, number of logs, total volume and location which can then be

problem of timber measurement in his everyday work. Timbeter was established

sent on to the end customer.

as a company in 2013 because, simply, there was no tool available that could be

Timbeter claims that the maximum accuracy error, when using the App, is 1.5% and the estimated saving in terms of measurement time is approximately

used for objective, transparent, quick and accurate measurement.

“Our goal from the beginning was to create something that would be easy to

90%, when compared to traditional methods. We were intrigued: Judith Kelly

use and affordable for everyone – from the forest owner to the manufacturing

spoke to Anna-Greta Tsahkna, one of the three founders, of Timbeter, to find

company. Today, we have particular measurement regimes for pulp-and fuelwood

out more.

and saw logs. There’s also a separate solution (Timbeter Container) available for marshalling and stevedore companies that deal with timber export in containers.“

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND TIMBETER? HOW EXACTLY DOES IT WORK AND HOW ACCURATE IS IT? “Timbeter’s state of the art technology uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to detect log diameters. The Timbeter App detects the contour area of a log under the bark and converts it to a symmetrical circle, from which the average diameter is calculated. For an accurate diameter measurement, more than

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE MAIN BENEFITS OF TIMBETER’S APP FOR FORESTERS, IMPORTERS AND SAWMILLS? WHICH FEATURES WOULD BE OF PARTICULAR BENEFIT TO EACH OF THESE GROUPS? “Timbeter is a solution that combines efficiency, accuracy and

2000 points are identified on each individual log. All measurements are saved in

transparency. Companies spend less on manpower to get accurate

the Cloud: it is simple to share the information between interested parties and

measurements, less time on solving disagreements and less time on

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018



FEATURE: TIMBETER

paperwork. Plus, companies have a clear overview of the timber in the forest,

to pick up timber, but information on the volumes in stock may be incorrect and

managers require information for logistics planning and each log ends up in a

as a result the drivers wait long hours whilst their trucks are loaded. Alternatively,

production facility that maximises the value of it.

saw-logs typically end up in pulp stacks and are sold for the price of pulpwood.

“As for foresters, Timbeter benefits them in two primary ways: it offers quick and accurate measurement plus clear data that can be used for further processes (logistics, production, sales). Foresters can use the solution to get the picture of a

Our goal is that the value of every single log is maximised and that it ends up in the right production facility.

“Moreover, the instant value of Timbeter is the time: all the measurement is

pile, and all the requisite data for their buyers is available (number of logs, diameter

done in a couple of minutes, data is available in digital form. Even long piles can

distribution, volume and so on). Based on that, it is easy to request quotes from

be measured via the app’s panorama functionality which enables the detection of

different companies, getting the best price for their timber.

thousands and thousands of logs”.

“For exporters/importers, Timbeter reduces time spent on measurements and data compilation and also minimises the potential for human error. With Timbeter, all the digital measurements belong to the container, and each container belongs to a specific bill of lading. Therefore, the necessary paperwork can be done quickly. Information is easily shared via a link with the receiving

HAVE YOU MANAGED TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD IN THE UK MARKET YET? IF NOT, DO YOU HAVE AMBITIONS TO DO SO AND WHO/WHAT GROUPS ARE YOU TARGETING? We haven’t gained our foothold in the UK market yet, but we are making

party. Buyers can see in advance the quality of the wood and potential

our first steps. Last year we participated at the ‘Future Foresters’ exhibition at

disagreements can be avoided.

Moulton College, and we’ve also been to the finals of Pitch@Palace - pitching

“Timbeter offers sawmills a full overview of the diameter-profiles, enabling

in front of His Royal Highness, the Duke of York. Currently, our fastest growing

them to maximise production output and ensuring that there’s the right mix of

markets are in the US, Brazil and Australia. In the UK, we are mainly focusing our

diameter profiles available. Additionally, it helps to make inventories quickly and

efforts on sawmills and forest management companies.

saves time on paperwork.”

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE ETHOS BEHIND YOUR COMPANY? YOU SAY THAT YOUR MISSION IS: “TO SAVE ESSENTIAL AND LIMITED RESOURCES IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR: TREES, TIME AND DRIVEN MILES”.

HOW DOES TIMBETER ACHIEVE THIS IN REAL TERMS? “We have visited hundreds of companies globally and noticed that their

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? ARE THERE ANY EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PIPELINE? “We continuously work on the detection function, and on adding newer features so our users can use Timbeter in their daily processes more widely. We use all the measurements made in our machine learning process so the solution can do exact ‘detections’ in the most challenging circumstances.

“We are also focused on helping our customers minimise time spent on

use-cases are pretty similar: data from the forest is inaccurate, therefore the

paperwork and giving them a better overview of operations; to facilitate this we

supply chain suffers from several inefficiencies. For example, truck-drivers need

are developing different types of reports in Excel or pdf format, management dashboards and automatically generated documents.”

“We have added several new features to the application: automatic pile bordering, loading-feature, single high-value log and QR code detection. The QR detection enables companies to easily and quickly detect the diameters of logs and have the information from these QR codes. Meaning that where previously companies had to measure diameters manually and use the barcode reader to detect the information from the tags or codes, now they can do everything with one picture. All the data is in digital form and can be easily shared or used for further processing.”

The developers at Timbeter have come up with a range of creative solutions to very real issues that exist in the timber supply chain, with the potential to revolutionise working practices. Take-up in other countries has been substantial, so could this innovative technology be similarly transformational for UK forestry?

For more information visit www.timbeter.com

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

TM

TIMBER

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

PEFC/16-01-01

PEFC: YOUR ASSURANCE OF RESPONSIBLY-SOURCED

BUILDING MATERIALS PEFC-certified timber and wood-based products are at the heart of the UK construction industry.

• Legal & Sustainable Supply • Credible Chain of Custody • Responsible Procurement

• Thousands of Products Available • Structural, Joinery, Flooring, Cladding • Meet Client Demands.

PEFC UK Sheffield Technology Parks, Cooper Buildings, Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 2NS t +44 (0)114 307 2334 e info@pefc.co.uk w www.pefc.co.uk

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

NEWS REVIEW

PEFC’S REVISED SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT BENCHMARK LIKELY TO EMBRACE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

S

ome 1.2 to 1.7 billion people worldwide depend on forests for their livelihood, but the global drive that continues to transform attitudes towards and improvements in sustainable forest management practices has arguably placed

insufficient emphasis on the working conditions of some of the poorest people in the world.

Taking its place at the forefront of the fight to drive ethical practices in forestry, the PEFC has completed its most-recent global Sustainable Forest Management public consultation, a process it regards as an essential element in its on-going revision of

PEFC’s Working Group finalising revisions to PEFC ST 1003

the organisation’s standards. The proposed changes to PEFC ST 1003 not only address the expected ecological and legal issues

consultation. Consensus on a final draft was achieved after what were

in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but

described as some “tough discussions”.

deliver a loud call to arms on human rights issues.

The agreed revised standard was not available at the time of going to press,

The PEFC stated, “The Sustainable Forest Management benchmark is at the core of what we do. It provides the basis for the requirements that forest owners

so Timber Trader UK will review its application as well as the inherent implications for importers, traders and other industry players in a future issue.

or managers must meet to achieve PEFC certification at local level. We must therefore ensure that it continues to meet the demands and expectations – now and in the future. This is why we revise it regularly, ensuring that everybody affected is invited to take part in the process.”

A multi-stakeholder group (Working Group) developed the document

TIMBER TIMETABLE

which was then widely disseminated to gain additional feedback and insights.

TTF Fire Seminar: Your Exposure to Risk

Builders’ Merchants Excellence Awards

Stakeholders from around the world have now had their say on the revised

- Know your responsibilities in terms of

2018

Sustainable Forest Management benchmark with close to 600 comments

supply

When: Friday, 23 Nov 2018

received during the 60-day global public consultation.

When: 4 September, 9:30am – 4:00pm

Where: London Hilton on Park Lane, 22 Park

Where: The Building Centre, Suite B

Ln, Mayfair, London

More info at: https://bit.ly/2M6vhS4

More info at: www.bmf.org.uk

that provides the basis for the requirements that forest owners or managers must

The 66th International Softwood

Grand Designs Live 2018

meet to achieve PEFC certification at local level – are as follows:

Conference

When: 10 – 14 Oct 2018

 This new benchmark extends the impact of PEFC certification beyond

When: 10 – 12 October 2018

Where: NEC, National Exhibition Centre,

forests and enhances its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable

Where: Riga, Latvia

Halls, Marston Green, Birmingham

Development Goals (SDGs).

More info at: www.ettf.info/ISC2018

More info at: www.granddesignslive.com

forest workers, equal opportunities for employment and non-discrimination,

London Build

Timber Expo 2018

and to promote gender equality. There are also enhanced provisions designed

When: 23 – 24 October 2018

When: 9 – 11 Oct 2018

to safeguard the interests of indigenous peoples.

Where: The Olympia National Hall, London

Where: NEC, National Exhibition Centre,

More info at: www.londonbuildexpo.com

Halls, Marston Green, Birmingham

THE REVISED BENCHMARK AT A GLANCE The main proposed changes to PEFC ST 1003 – the international benchmark

 Social requirements have been extended to include minimum wages for

 With the inclusion of Trees outside Forests (ToF), PEFC certification will

More info at: https://bit.ly/1G2EifW

become accessible to the millions of farmers and smallholders that do not own or manage forests, but rather trees on agricultural or settlement land

Building Merchants Federation Marketing

which are currently outside the scope of certification. It will enable them

Forum – Autumn 2018

Structural Timber Awards 2018

to obtain PEFC certification whilst promoting good agricultural practices,

When: 19 September 2018

When: 10 October 2018

thus helping to increase income and the productivity of agricultural land and

Where: 1180 Elliott Court, Coventry

Where: National Conference Centre,

agroforestry, especially in developing countries.

Business Park, Herald Ave, Coventry

Birmingham

More info at: www.bmf.org.uk

More info at: https://bit.ly/2avLdcS

Building Merchants Federation Members’

TTF 2018 - UK Wood Panels Conference

Day – Annual Conference & Awards 2018

When: 7 November 2018.

forest areas, supports climate-positive practices and forbids the reforestation

When: 26 – 27 Sep 2018

Where: De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms,

or afforestation of ecologically important non-forest areas.

Where: St. George’s Park, Tatenhill, Burton

61-65 Great Queen St, London

At the end of July, the PEFC Working Group (which included civil society

upon Trent

More info at: https://bit.ly/2AQ7ilP

 The proposed PEFC benchmark is the first global sustainable forest management standard that specifically requires respect for human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.  The revised document includes a refined definition of ecologically important

representatives, forest owner associations and PEFC members, to name

More info at: www.bmf.org.uk

but a few) met to consider all of the feedback received during the global

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

CONSTRUCTION / LANDSCAPING / PELLETS

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+300 INNOVATIVE CLADDING AND

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TECHNOLOGIES EXCLUSIVES elisabeth.piveteau@piveteau.com • + 44 (0) 7821 807 788 PIVETEAUBOIS • www.piveteaubois.com/en/

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

MACALLAN VISITOR CENTRE

GRID-SHELL COMPLEXITY – COMBINING WOOD AND WHISKY

O

ne of the largest and certainly the most complex timber structure

Timber grid-shell roofs, of course, are not an especially new phenomenon,

ever built in the UK was recently completed in the north of Scotland

but one that is 207 metres long and covering an area of 13,620 m2, is

and, whilst readers may be unsurprised to discover this building is a

undoubtedly unusual and, with five undulating domed volumes and an

whisky distillery and visitor centre, albeit a very large one, they may

external canopy, is not based upon simple, repetitive construction: this is an

be intrigued to learn that the innovative construction processes used

extraordinarily sophisticated demonstration of advanced timber technology

to assemble its roof holds many lessons that are transferable to businesses

in which 1,798 separate beams and 2,447 roof decks within an overall roof

across the wider timber industry. It is also, amid ongoing vexed questions

package comprised of 350,000 pieces (including fixings), almost all of which

and relatively uninformed political debate about the use or otherwise of

are different. Given the logistical challenges inherent in these statistics, it is to

combustible materials in new buildings, a visual celebration of engineered

the credit (and experience) of the installation contractor, L&S Baucon GmbH,

timber construction.

that the whole assembly was completed within six months of the March 2016

The new Macallan distillery is located alongside its existing facility on the 390-acre (158- hectare) estate Easter Elchies House near Craigellachie

start date using only 20 installers and two cranes that carried out 4,245 lifts.

Diagrammatically, the internal planning of the distillery is quite

on Speyside. Macallan whisky is produced by Edrington, one of the few

straightforward: designed to be capable of increased production and allow

large-scale distillery companies still in private hands, many of the others

for easy expansion in years to come, the layout of the building is set out in

nowadays having been absorbed into the portfolios of international drinks

a linear sequence of production cells within an open-plan arrangement that

manufacturers such as Diageo, Pernod and Campari. Scotch whisky has,

reveals all stages of the process at once. These cells are reflected externally in

in recent years, been a global export success and several small distilleries

the building’s undulating roof silhouette. So far, so simple, but the installation

previously mothballed by the large operators have reopened, whilst a number

of the glulam and LVL facetted 3m x 3m waffle grid structure and timber roof

of new, small distilleries have emerged in different parts of Scotland. What

decks supporting the green roof above was by no means a walk in the park.

makes the Macallan development different is both its sheer scale and a design

This type of engineered timber construction is specialist work, and Wiehag

that eschews the conventional form and image of a traditional distillery. That

GmbH is world-renowned for its expertise in this field, the glulam to the

and the fact that the new facility has cost £140 million - part of a much larger

station at Canary Wharf in London being another notable UK example of the

overall investment of £500 million by the company in a massive display of

company’s design and manufacturing abilities. In this instance, working with

confidence in the future of the brand.

the locally-based main Contractor, Robertson Construction, Wiehag elected

This same confidence is immediately apparent in the choice (through competition) of Rogers, Stirk, Harbour and Partners as the building’s

to use its preferred installer L&S Baucon because of the roof’s complexity.

The roof was engineered by six Wiehag engineers and draughtsmen

architects and ARUP as its engineers. The Macallan single malt whisky was

using state-of-the-art Parametric Design software who, working closely with

first produced in 1824, since when it has established itself as one of the most

the distillery’s principal architects and engineers, ensured the building physics

famous whiskies in the world and this is the reason Edrington wanted to

associated with green roofs were all resolved satisfactorily to allow the roof to

develop a contemporary distillery that would reveal the production processes

perform with minimal maintenance for decades to come. This in itself would

and welcome visitors whilst remaining sensitive to the beauty of the

be complicated enough, but coupled with the extreme construction precision

surrounding countryside. The new development is in fact sited in a designated

required that meant no tolerances to work to as the 3m x 3m cassettes had

‘Area of Grand Landscape Value’ amid farmland used for growing barley, one

to fit in such a way as to allow an even shadow gap to appear consistently

of the key ingredients of this famous spirit. The gently undulating surrounding

throughout the waffle structure.

hills are thus mirrored in the form of the building, even to the point of having turf covering the linear sequence of its five, timber grid-shell roofs.

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SUMMER SUMMER / WAUTUMN / AUTUMN 2018



On Instructions from The Norbury Park Estate/Shelmore Timber

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

MACALLAN VISITOR CENTRE

If simply constructing the roof was a complex exercise, it was made considerably more so by the fact that it had to be assembled over the pre-installed whisky stills and other distilling equipment and machines All of the timber elements were fabricated in Wiehag’s factory in

A good example of the

Austria, using advanced CNC machines to meet the design team’s high

ongoing concern for safety and the

quality and finish requirements. This, together with the company’s ultra-

need to find satisfactory solutions

sophisticated barcode system, ensured that each individual timber item

at the Macallan project was the

came to site exactly when needed as part of a precision programme

fact that the installers had to walk

involving 130 separate deliveries.

on the roof itself in order to screw

If simply constructing the roof was a complex exercise, it was made

down the timber decks and seal

considerably more so by the fact that it had to be assembled over the

the roof from water ingress, a task

pre-installed whisky stills and other distilling equipment and machines. As a

that necessarily required work

result, innovative propping solutions had to be developed to work around

to be carried out close to the

the delicate copper structures, an ongoing process for Baucon, working

leading edge. In its search for a safe and easy system, L&S Baucon found Luxline,

alongside Wiehag as its team calculated the forces through the props and

a fall restraint system that still allowed the installers to move around freely. The

designing connections for them that, with the use of hydraulic rams, allowed

company then had this independently tested at the University of Munich before

the beams, once installed, to be lifted into their exact locations. This was

introducing it to the main contractor. With Robertson’s approval, the system was

a highly complex operation as the whole roof required to be temporarily

then used throughout the six-month installation period without experiencing a

supported until all the beams were in position. The beams therefore had to

single, slip, trip or fall. In an industry notorious for serious accidents, this degree of

be capable of adjustment within a 150mm range. That the hydraulic rams

care, whilst exemplary, should be the norm.

achieved this perfectly for all five domes indicates the high level of pre-

The same care and concern was applied to site storage and fire prevention throughout the distillery’s roof construction. First, a programme was devised

planning and engineering experience applied.

In innovative construction of this sort, the health and safety of the

to limit the amount of timber on site at any given time, thereby reducing the

operatives is paramount and the attention to detail in this aspect of the project

risk of fire and any other damage to the material itself. The delivery programme

was no less than that shown in the development of the timber engineering.

too, was coordinated to ensure the site staff were ready to receive each truck

Indeed, one might even say that the rigorous process applied in ensuring that

and had space available to offload and store the timber components. A large

the training and H&S routines demanded for this project were of the highest

storage tent segregated from other work areas on site was used to protect the

order and could be regarded as a model for the timber industry. Working as

timber from the elements and any damage and this, combined with a two-skip

it does with different main contractors in different countries, L&S Baucon

system in which plastic protection material is separated from timber packaging,

undertakes pre-meetings with the contractor’s safety adviser to understand

with both recycled, mitigates against fire risk and avoids unnecessary waste.

their requirements. The company will then research the best means to ensure

The new Macallan Distillery is both inspirational in design and in its

its installers have the appropriate training and all of the tickets necessary to

demonstration of advanced timber engineering and engineered timber

carry out the work. The full package of tickets is then sent to the contractor

products. As such, it is an outstanding advertisement for the use of timber in

for approval, on receipt of which the installation team is ready to start work as

construction in the UK today and can only aid the promotion of timber and

soon as it arrives on site. Baucon’s site manager is then responsible for ensuring

timber products to UK specifiers. That it also demonstrates the extent to

the installers are briefed on such things as RAMS and Lift Plans, with daily

which the properties and characteristics of these materials need to be fully

checks of equipment, harness inspections, etc. The company also employs an

understood in order to ensure that the best technologies available are used to

independent H&S Adviser to make frequent visits to site to undertake random

deliver beautifully constructed buildings that are as safe during their assembly

inspections of operations, paperwork and working safely within RAMS.

as they are intended to be throughout their life.

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HARDWOOD CLT

THE INCREDIBLE LIGHTNESS OF TULIPWOOD ‘MultiPly’, one of London Design Festival’s Landmark Projects

C

ross laminated timber (CLT) is now a well-established construction

Victorian sewers and canal systems and thus demand the avoidance of heavy

product in the UK, it being almost two decades since it was first used in

foundation technologies: CLT, by contrast, being of a lighter weight than most

the auditorium roof of Shrewsbury Music School. It seems remarkable

conventional construction methods can in many instances be built upon

therefore, with more than 1000 CLT buildings of all types and sizes

simpler substructures – again, offering potential savings in cost and time to

completed throughout the length and breadth of the country and many

developers and contractors.

more on the way, that none of this engineered timber product is actually made

To date, almost all cross laminated timber is manufactured from softwoods

here. Moreover, the vast bulk of the product is supplied direct from (mostly)

– predominantly pine and spruce but also larch and Douglas fir - that are locally

Central European factories, where it is not only manufactured, but also CNC

available to the fabrication facilities – many CLT factories in Europe are sited

machine cut to precise specifications, ensuring that it fits together neatly

immediately adjacent to the sawmill which is itself located cheek by jowl with

and quickly on site. Cross laminated timber has a multitude of other positive

the forest. The efficiencies and embodied energy savings of this arrangement

attributes that have led to it being described as “the material of the 21st

are obvious and, with local markets for the product being fairly mature, exports

century” by architect Alex de Rijke, one of the UK’s leading exponents – indeed,

form a significant proportion of output from the principal manufacturers in

pioneers - of this form of mass timber construction.

Austria, Southern Germany and Switzerland.

For those unfamiliar with CLT and the way in which this ‘wonder’

More recently, attention has shifted a little to the possibility of forming

prefabricated product is transforming the manner in which architects and

high added value engineered timber products from the abundant hardwood

engineers think about sustainable forms of construction, the large format plates

resources in Central Europe, with beech now being used in the production of

are formed from odd numbers of lamellae – 3, 5, 7, 9 – each of which is glued

Pollmeier’s outstanding laminated veneer lumber (LVL) product, ‘Baubuche’.

perpendicular to the one below and with the outer layers lying parallel to the

The downside in any scenario involving hardwoods in the production of

longer edge of the panel. The lamellae themselves are made up of (usually)

solid laminate timber systems, however, is their density, since their heaviness

standard sawmill sections of softwood that have been finger-jointed to exclude

generally mitigates against them being formed into large panel products. The

defects and provide the longer strips of material necessary to produce panels

upside is that the strength and stiffness of many hardwoods can mean slimmer

that vary in size from manufacturer to manufacturer but, commonly, have maximum dimensions of around 16.00 x 3.5 x 0.36 metres. The relatively light weight of these panels when compared to equivalent-sized precast concrete or steel components, combined with their ease of assembly and simpler floor and wall build-ups and their outstanding carbon storage credentials makes this form of construction a highly attractive proposition, so much so that the majority of European factories are currently working to maximum capacity to produce the volumes of material being ordered not only from the UK, but from many other parts of the world. Put simply, the market for this high added value engineered timber product is rising exponentially.

Despite there being no UK manufacturer, London is at present very definitely the epicentre of global CLT construction, its buoyant property market and astronomic land values ensuring demand is beginning to outstrip supply of a product that can not only be assembled quickly, quietly and with little or no waste on-site but which is also able to provide the structural floors, roofs and walls of residential buildings of 10 or more storeys. The ground conditions in many London locations are affected by underground transport tunnels,

36

The Smile’, designed by Alison Brooks Architects

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

HARDWOOD CLT sections than are available in softwood products with similar strength and

curved ‘box ‘section was 3.5m high, 6m wide and 36m long and formed from

stiffness values.

a series of hardwood CLT panels 4.5m wide, 12m long and a mere 100mm

That, though, is to describe the status quo, but developments and innovations in engineered timber technologies can hardly be said to have stood still for the past 20 or 30 years and so, to today, when the first UK-produced

(five lamellae) thick, using only long self-tapping screws to connect the timber elements.

The CLT used in the ‘Endless Stair’ and ‘The Smile’ was manufactured and

hardwood cross laminated timber is about to be seen at this year’s London

tested in Italy and Germany respectively, and the challenge since has been to

Design Festival. The hardwood itself is not UK-grown – the initiative here

not only see production carried out in the UK, but to develop a demountable

comes from the European arm of the American Hardwoods Export Council

form of construction that would allow the next Tulipwood installation to

(AHEC) which, over the past decade, has been exploring the construction

be reassembled elsewhere. The opportunity for display is again the London

potential of Tulipwood, a relatively low-value hardwood that grows extensively

Design Festival, this time with Waugh Thistleton Architects and ARUP as the

along almost the full north-south length of the Appalachian mountain region in the east of the United States. Whilst generally used for making furniture, internal panelling and mouldings as well as in plywood production, this multicoloured (including greens and purples) species has one, somewhat anomalous, attribute that distinguishes it from most other hardwoods: it is low-density and thus, whilst exceptionally stiff and strong, is also unusually light in weight.

There is a developmental history to the three-storey hardwood CLT structure that will be on display in the V&A Museum’s stunning Sackler Courtyard in September. AHEC has initiated projects that explore different aspects of the use of Tulipwood in three previous London Design Festivals: in 2008, it commissioned (Sir) David Adjaye to design an elliptical pavilion, the emphasis of which then was on the display of the long, relatively knot-free timber sections possible from this species. It took another five years before the structural possibilities of Tulipwood were tested in ‘The Endless Stair’, AHEC’s contribution to the 2013 London Design Festival. Situated outside the Tate ‘The Endless Stair’, AHEC’s contribution to the 2013 London Design Festival

Modern at Bankside, this structurally challenging installation was designed by

engineers, but the manufacture of the CLT panels has, for the first time, been carried out in the UK, a possibility made real by the opening towards the end of 2017 of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC). Established to provide a prototyping facility that can act as the hub between industry and the construction-related departments in 13 of the 19 Scottish universities, CSIC’s factory facility is home to a vast array of machines intended to facilitate innovation in construction products and systems, with the UK’s only large scale (vacuum) press to make CLT. In June 2018, containers of Tulipwood arrived in Liverpool from the USA and were trucked to the Glenalmond Timber Company Ltd in Perthshire where the material was visually graded, sawn, planed and finger-jointed before delivery to CSIC. Once in the factory, the CSIC personnel worked virtually round the clock to produce the 102 panels required, the first of which went to Edinburgh Napier University’s Institute for Sustainable Construction where the

‘Sclera’, by Adjaye Associates

panels were full structurally tested within its Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures (COCIS). The close working relationship possible

the aforementioned Alex de Rijke of dRMM Architects and ARUP engineers

between CSIC, COCIS and Glenalmond has provided a worthy demonstration

and is now generally recognised as the first use of hardwood in CLT production.

for industry that the facilities and technical capacity now exist in the UK to

Based upon the mathematically-impossible images of the Dutch graphic artist,

develop innovative ideas for new construction products and systems and, with

M.C. Escher, this three-storey network of cantilevering stairs presented a

an emphasis on timber technologies, there can no longer be any reason for

number of structural engineering challenges in the fabrication and assembly

sawmillers, importers, merchants and builders to not come forward with ideas

of the 187 component steps and, in its completion and use, was something

that have commercial potential.

of a tour de force not only for its designers, but also for the demonstration of Tulipwood’s potential worth as part of a solid laminate timber system.

Innovation in timber product development can be a lengthy process, not

But back to ‘MultiPly’, the name given to this year’s structure. Three storeys in height, the installation is, effectively, a three-dimensional maze that the public can circulate in and around. From an industry perspective,

only for the time involved in research and development, but also to assemble

however, the project will stand as an exemplar for what can be achieved with

the necessary finance for these essential activities and for the construction of

low value (indeed, undervalued) species when reconsidered as vital elements

the full-size demonstration projects needed to test the product in use. Three

in the formation of new and advanced engineered timber products. The big

more years passed before the next AHEC Tulipwood structure appeared: this

opportunity is not just for CLT to be considered as the material of the 21st

time in the grounds of Chelsea Art College and entitled ‘The Smile’. Designed

century, but for wood in all its forms to be recognised as the material from

by Alison Brooks Architects and ARUP again as engineers, this spectacular

which a genuine circular economy can be built.

37

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

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38

NATURE & TECHNOLOGY WORKING TOGETHER

THE FUTURE OF COMPOSITE DECKING WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

PREVIEW: TIMBER EXPO 2018

TIMBER HAS ITS HEAD IN THE CLOUDS AT THIS YEAR’S TIMBER EXPO

How Timber Expo is helping professionals to take advantage of a new direction for one of the world’s oldest construction materials

S

ome things never fall out of fashion, and with its lightweight design,

products across timber cladding, stairs, doors and windows, mouldings, skirtings

environmental credentials and flexibility timber is one of them. This

and flooring. There’s not a more comprehensive representation of the timber

is why it’s being pivoted as the answer to high-rise buildings and the

industry in the UK.”

increasing demand for modular building systems.

Helping professionals take advantage of this new direction for one

of the world’s oldest construction materials, is the Timber Expo, forming part of UK Construction Week (UKCW) at Birmingham’s NEC between 9 – 11 October. Brimming with innovative products, exhibitors, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities, the UK’s only dedicated timber event is not one to be missed.

REPRESENTING THE TIMBER INDUSTRY Global exhibitors will be on hand to put plans into action to help create dream timber constructions.

Italian timber manufacturer Rothoblaas will be showcasing its Holz Technic range which includes quality products for small and medium-sized structures.

Siga will showcase its toxin-free airtight and windtight solutions for a building’s envelope, including Majrex, an air and vapour control membrane using Siga’s Hygobrid technology.

FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION Innovation features heavily throughout Timber Expo and the rest of

And see how plywood donated by Hanson Plywood has been used to

the shows at this year’s UKCW with the theme focusing on the ‘Future of

create a timber structure which will be on display next to the Timber Focus

Construction.’

Theatre. Designed and constructed by Manja van de Worp of AJG Architects

The Future of Construction Hub, a new collaboration with Birmingham

and students from the school of architecture at the Royal School of Art, the

City University, provides an immersive opportunity to discover how digital

structure explores the benefits of building the connection method into the

construction, 3D printing, robotics, AI and AR and modern methods of

element for both erection and disassembly.

construction can deliver the new Construction Sector Deal. Alongside this is the

Other exhibitors to speak to and do deals with include Ambrovit S.P.A., American Softwoods, Capital Holz100, Glennon Brothers Timber, and Steico.

state-of-the-art construction simulator from Coventry University.

An Innovation Trail uncovers innovative and pioneering ideas, projects

Building case studies will also be championed from professionals including

and products from exhibitors such as Gripsure which is launching two

RIBA North East winner Will Mawson of Mawson and Kerr and his design of a

new products at the show – Gripsure Ecodek and Gripsure made with

music centre to help students with special needs, and Sasha Bhavan from Knox

Accoya. Timber Structures is showcasing its TS3 timber bonding technology

Bhanvan Architects and the projects using high-quality contemporary timber

range and Trade Fabrication Systems is explaining all about its coated and

design, including Green Hatch Farm and Rigg Beck.

laminated wood-based panel products.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, said: “Timber Expo consists of three days brimming with the latest products, innovations and developments across the timber sector both within the UK and internationally.

Keeping up with the latest industry knowledge is no easy feat for timber professionals, but knowledge is power and Timber Expo’s content

“The show covers a wide range of timber applications, from structural uses of timber frame, glulam, SIPs and CLT through to the joinery industry’s best

39

SEE THE WOOD THROUGH THE TREES

partner TRADA has pulled together a seminar programme to set you up for



the year ahead.

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

Source products from leading brands

Learn from 20+ speakers

PART OF

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40

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

PREVIEW: TIMBER EXPO 2018

Based at the Timber Focus Theatre, topics include correct design for

buildings is on the rise, housebuilders and developers won’t want to miss out

fire safety performance, how tall we can build in wood, how specifiers

on discovering the latest offsite solutions including Containex’s temporary and

research and source timber products, and private residences made

permanent modular buildings, Fermacell’s energy efficient and eco-friendly

beautiful by using wood.

building board and Morland’s award-winning offsite fire doors.

Speakers include Kevin Flanagan, partner at PLP Architecture; Daniel

The latest in offsite design, research and development will be discussed

Kreissig, project manager, ZÜBLIN Timber; Robin Lancashire, senior timber

in the dedicated Offsite Theatre supported by MPBA. Visitors can hear about

frame consultant, TRADA; Anthony Thistleton, co-founder and partner,

prefabrication and BIM, modular high-rise buildings and certification from

Waugh Thistleton Architects.

industry experts.

Special musical performances from BBC Percussionist of the Year 2016, Andrew Woolcock, and his rosewood marimba, will take place between each of the sessions.

HIGHLIGHTS NOT TO BE MISSED Debates on major construction issues will take place on the UKCW stage.

Free CPD sessions will cover topics such as ‘Are you fire door sure? with

Key speakers include Barbara Res, the project manager behind Trump Tower,

the British Woodworking Federation’s Hannah Mansell; ‘Sound Insulation’

who will discuss her experiences as a female in construction and working

with Ian French from H&H Acoustic Technologies and Building Regulations –

with Donald Trump. Advanced booking is essential for this session. Lord David

update post-Grenfell with Dr Graham Smith, MCIAT at the Chartered Institute

Blunkett will discuss how technology and diversity can turn the skills gap into

of Architectural Technologists.

a thriving industry; Kunle Barker, property expert and TV presenter, will lead

CPD spaces are limited, making advanced booking essential.

the panel discussion ‘Political correctness has gone mad’ with industry experts

New to Timber Expo is the Confederation of Timber Industries’ (CTI) Time

debating diversity in construction; and Ben Derbyshire, HTA Design and RIBA

for Timber workshop delivered by the Structural Timber Association, Timber Trade Federation, Trussed Rafter Association and British Woodworking

president, will discuss building in quality.

Further CPD sessions are available from the Working at Height CPD hub,

Federation and supported by the timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good.

supported by the Access Industry Forum, and health and safety CPD sessions

Timber Expo will also be linking with the Offsite area within the Build

are available from OM Group’s stand. A separate CPD programme will also be

Show. With recent reports that the UK market for volumetric modular

run by the BRE Academy, covering topics such as BIM, ethical labour sourcing,

the UK timber industry under the umbrella of

general, with Brexit looming on the horizon and

the CTI.

the housing crisis yet unsolved.

The CTI stand will host a wide set of

“However, these changing times give

briefings, presentations and meetings along

us the opportunity to rethink the way our

The Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI)

with offering informative material such as

economy is shaped and finally move towards

will be exhibiting at Timber Expo 2018 for the

publications and technical guides. The target

a solid and feasible low-carbon model where

third year in a row.

is to showcase benefits and applications of

timber has a great role to play.

This year, the CTI will be coordinating the joint Stand T40 – in conjunction with

timber in construction and enlarge the market for timber products.

“Our industry can considerably help the UK achieve this ambitious target as long as

the British Woodworking Federation (BWF),

It will also deliver a programme filled

we show unity of purpose among all the major

Structural Timber Association (STA), Timber

with CPD workshops and networking events,

organisations within the sector. For this reason,

Trade Federation (TTF) and Wood Protection

supported by the timber industry’s campaign,

the CTI joint stand at Timber Expo – managed

Association (WPA).

Wood for Good.

in collaboration with the BWF, STA, TTF and

By sharing the same stand, these four

CTI chairman Roy Wakeman OBE said:

WPA – represents not only a point of reference

major trade associations uphold the decision of

“Timber Expo comes at a challenging time for

for anyone interested in timber, but also an

championing a collaborative approach across

the timber industry and the UK economy in

encouraging signal for the entire sector”.

42

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

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PREVIEW: TIMBER EXPO 2018  Design your home of the future, with George Clarke’s MOBIE; and

offsite construction, urban planning and design, and more.

UKCW will host a number of conferences including the Midlands Construction Summit, IEMA Conference and the first BMF Young Merchants

 The Finishes and Interiors Sector’s #iBuiltThis2018 photography competition

Conference.

Celebrations will be in order on 10 October at the STA Structural Timber Awards, hosted by TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith.

TIME TO CELEBRATE Future leaders will be championed as the winner of the UKCW Role

The Beer Festival, sponsored by Velux, features street food, rockaoke and a gin and fizz bar, plus FIX Radio is broadcasting from the festival for all three

Models initiative is announced on 10 October.

The launch of the new Passivhaus Student Competition will arm the next generation of architects and designers with the design skills needed to deliver

days.

Visitors can benefit from the other UKCW shows: Surface and Materials, Build Show, Energy 2018, Building Tech Live, HVAC 2018, Civils Expo, Plant and

sustainable buildings.

Machinery Live and Grand Designs Live on 10-11 October.

Other highlights for aspiring construction professionals include:

Tickets and updates are available at www.timber-expo.co.uk and on Twitter at @TimberExpo or tweet using #TimberExpo2018

ROLE MODELS INSPIRE THE NEW FACE OF CONSTRUCTION UK Construction Week’s Role Models campaign, launched in March 2018, with help from the Construction Youth Trust, aims to inspire others and raise awareness of the breadth of roles available in the construction industry.

The winner will be announced on 10 October on the UKCW stage at the NEC, followed by a champagne reception and a meet and greet with keynote speaker, Barbara Res. After much consideration, the judges put together a shortlist of 36 people from more than 130 high-quality entries. The extensive

Dr. Sonia Zahiroddiny

Katie Kelleher

and diverse job roles of those shortlisted The judges were impressed with the role

gets negative press. It’s also an opportunity to

coordinator; a national water sector lead;

models’ passion for improving the image and

celebrate the work the role models are doing,

a BIM strategy manager; a chairman; an

culture of construction; breaking paradigms

not just on a day-to-day basis, but the work

equality, diversity and inclusion specialist; and a

and changing stereotypes; actively campaigning

they’ve personally taken on to make this industry

bricklaying tutor.

for equality within the sector; teaching others

better.”

include a crane operator; a beyond zero

A handful of architects, engineers and

and building bridges between the industry and

The role models will share their thoughts

surveyors have also been shortlisted. People

education; inspiring young people; supporting

on key industry issues as guest bloggers for the

with non-construction specific services such as

apprentices; and championing diversity

Construction Matters Blog, will have VIP access

marketing also made the list, demonstrating the

throughout the industry.

to UKCW and will be available to talk to others

broad range of skills and knowledge contained within the industry.

While London is often seen as the hub for the construction sector, the shortlisted entrants hail from locations across the UK including

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, said: “As part of being shortlisted, role models will take part in an outreach programme to help build connections with local schools and colleges.

“It’s about sharing their construction career

about their careers in construction and their visions for the future of the industry.

Ahead of the presentation for UKCW Role Model of the Year, a discussion will take place on the UKCW stage about creating the

Lancashire, Northern Ireland, Birmingham,

journeys and inspiring the next generation

new generation of construction professionals.

Bristol, Chelmsford, Weybridge, Oxford,

by dispelling the myths surrounding the

Shortlisted role models Emma Ferguson-Gould

Coventry, Truro, Hereford, Worcester, Sheffield,

construction industry.

and Ryan Williams will join architect Elsie

Glasgow, Dartford, Leeds, Southampton, Plymouth, Cardiff, Preston, Exeter, and Chester.

45

“It’s an amazing opportunity for people to be celebrated in an industry that often

WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK

Owusu in the session hosted by BBC presenter Steph McGovern.

SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

FENCING

ON THE FENCE Timber or concrete fence posts – Which one is better? Tom Chapman, a publishing specialist working with family-run timber provider George Hill, explores the options

I

t’s been estimated that Britons will spend an

For those set on being more environmentally-

average of £30,000 on their gardens over

friendly yet preferring concrete, there is a

the course of their lifetimes. Many invest in

compromise – this material can be recycled from

purchases such as plants and decking to improve

decommissioned structures.

the aesthetics of their lawns while others are

 Which is more sustainable? Either timber or

looking to improve the value of their home.

concrete

As a well-presented garden can add around

20% to the value of a property, this seems a worthwhile investment. While few disagree over

which concrete simply cannot replicate.  Which looks better? Timber

WHICH IS EASIER TO INSTALL? Concrete is much heavier than timber and, therefore, will take more effort to install – with the job often requiring teams of between two and

WHICH IS MORE DURABLE? Concrete is probably one of the sturdiest

three people to complete.

On the other hand, timber posts are lighter

what a good garden should ideally have, differences

materials you can use outdoors. In fact, with only a

and can usually be installed by just one person.

arise when it comes to choosing between concrete

minimal amount of maintenance, a concrete fence

 Which is easier to install? Timber

or timber posts for fencing.

post can last for around 25 years.

After all, do you choose between longevity or

However, this doesn’t mean that timber isn’t

WHICH IS MORE SECURE?

aesthetics? In this article, I aim to settle which one

worth a mention. Depending on the type of wood

is the best option:

used, a fence post generally won’t need to be

conjunction with timber panels, these can all be

replaced for between four and 15 years.

connected together to form a very secure barrier.

WHICH IS MORE SUSTAINABLE?

Both varieties are susceptible to the elements

When timber fence posts are used in

The added caps can also serve as an additional

and will be adversely affected by wind and rain. As a

benefit as, for a criminal to remove a fence panel,

becoming apparent and, as a result, many of

result, maintenance will be needed every so often to

these would need to be removed first.

us are striving to be ‘eco-friendlier’. Therefore,

ensure these are performing as well as they could be.

when choosing between concrete and timber,

 Which is more durable? Concrete

The effects of global warming are now

Panels can be bent out of position or removed

many would select the former in an effort to conserve trees.

However, selecting timber from areas

WHICH IS CHEAPER? Generally speaking, concrete is more expensive

protected by forest management schemes largely

than timber. However, the margins tend to narrow

negates this problem. With responsible harvesting,

when you start factoring in the costs for timber

timber from these locations can be considered a

treatment as well as any maintenance. As a result,

sustainable resource.

when deciding between concrete and timber, the

Concrete, on the other hand, can do more harm than good. The manufacturing of this material

latter is probably more expensive in the long term.  Which is cheaper? Concrete

produces large quantities of CO2. In fact, the

cement industry is the second-largest producer of global greenhouse gases.

A combination of concrete fence posts and timber panels unfortunately create a security flaw. with enough force. As a result, when it comes to security, there is a clear winner.  Which is more secure? Timber

WHICH IS BETTER – TIMBER OR CONCRETE? After reviewing these areas, timber comes out as the best material for fence posts – although only just. However, when choosing between

WHICH LOOKS BETTER? This is a very subjective area but, for many,

concrete and timber for your own projects, your decision will likely be affected by which factors matter most to you.

However, where concrete shines is on heat

timber is more aesthetically pleasing than

retention – generally proving more energy efficient

concrete. Favouring natural looks over the

than timber. As a result, this benefit might offset

often more brutalist feel, timber fencing adds a

Tom Chapman is a publishing specialist who works

the harmful emissions caused by its construction.

consistent, seamless boarder around gardens and

with George Hill, an independent timber merchant

Yet, this feature will unlikely prove useful in an

outdoor areas. Furthermore, they can be twinned

and building supplies provider in the north west -

outdoor setting.

with ornate fence caps to add a touch of class

georgehill-timber.co.uk

46

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

ADVERTORIAL

SOLID WOOD THAT CAN BE BOOK MATCHED James Latham is now offering the Horizon range of North American sawn lumber products which, due to the family-run Pennsylvanian producer’s unique LOGINTACT™ process, effectively book-matches solid wood.

The premium quality range of timber, which is available nationwide and directly from stock through all eight of James Latham’s timber depots, includes American White Oak, Waney Edge, American Oak LOGINTACT™, Walnut, Cherry, Ash and Maple.

James White, Timber Sales Development Manager for James Latham, explained, “The quality and consistency of Horizon’s product is exceptional and having visited their mills a number of times, it is

furniture makers in the UK is to source

hard to challenge their claim that it is the

timber that is of a consistent quality and

finest timber in the World.

appearance. Horizon meet this challenge,

“The meticulous attention to detail

even to the extent of offering a LOG-

that is applied throughout every aspect of

INTACT™ product, where the boards in the

the process, including grading, kilning and

pack are sequential, offering the opportunity

packaging is outstanding.”

to effectively book-match solid wood.”

Horizon’s process initially starts with

As well as its standard range of high-

making sure that the right quality logs are

quality, sawn square-edged lumber and

sourced from the optimum geographical

LOG-INTACT™ material, Horizon is also

location. Species of timber vary greatly

able to offer bespoke cutting to customer’s

throughout North America’s Appalachian

requirements. For example, quarter-sawn

Mountains, so Horizon’s attitude to sourcing

50mm Walnut.

and cutting offers unrivalled colour, fibre,

In addition, because Horizon is

texture and specification consistency.

assessing each log before processing, it also

Horizon process one log at a time in its

boasts an impressive inventory of unique,

entirety ensuring that the boards from the

prized sections of wood which will appeal

same log are kept together in the same pack

to the most discerning furniture maker.

of timber arriving with the customer.

These are available to view online and can

Mr White continued, “One of the modern-day challenges for joiners and

be priced individually and added to a regular shipment.

For more information on the Horizon range of timber or to discuss your specific project requirements, contact one of James Latham’s highly experienced and knowledgeable timber specialists at your local depot now. www.lathamtimber.co.uk marketing@lathams.co.uk 0116 257 3415

47

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

FEIN UK LAUNCHES VALUE PACK RANGE OFFERING PREMIUM QUALITY STARLOCK, AT AFFORDABLE PRICES FEIN UK openly discusses the success had, and feedback received on its Starlock range, giving advice on how tradesman could benefit in the future. New FEIN multi-tool user Chris McGee talks about how he found using the machine and cutters, following his purchase at FFX tradeshow earlier this year.

FEIN Starlock accessories are proven to last many times over that of comparable competitor blades, offering enormous value when comparing price to the life-time of the blade. That said, the team listened to requests for assortments of accessories, releasing last year a ‘Best of E-Cut’ set containing six of the best cutters in the range, for a promotional price. Chris McGee, Managing Director at Lasercut.London Ltd, attended the FFX show earlier this year to purchase a Multi-Talent kit to help with his bespoke carpentry work. He says “Regretfully FEIN wasn’t my first choice, however alternatives offered plug-in tools and the price was hard to justify for the potential usage it would see in my hands. After borrowing a FEIN product from a friend, I knew I had to add one to the ranks, so I decided to visit the FFX show in Kent with my 3-month-old boy.

I had a great chat to the FEIN team, and after testing I knew that the 12v Multi-Talent Kit was the right one for me. The Starlock system wowed me, as it was so easy to change cutters so quickly, and I could see how snuggly the tool held the piece, so I knew it would cut smoothly, and I purchased a ‘Best of E-Cut pack’ with it too! Upon getting back to the studio we trialled the various blades on materials we use commonly such as Valcromat, Banova, Plywood and the hardest material, bolts. In every circumstance, it exceeded the speed and cut quality that my preconceptions had. It has now dawned on me how this tool could have saved me many hours of problem-solving, especially when cutting square holes into the centre of sheets. Now I will no longer have to drill four holes in each corner and then jigsaw the remainder out.

I especially used this tool and the best of E-Cut blade pack during my studio move in April, where I delivered a bespoke fit out of two studio spaces. I used the tool during the creation of the kitchen, workshop and showroom.

I intend on creating a bespoke blade storage system as I continue to increase my Starlock collection, our work encompasses high-end awards, product design, furniture design and various bespoke projects.”

The Best of E-Cut pack is FEIN UK’s first ‘official’ value pack for its UK customers, offering an assortment of the best cutters that can be used commonly on typical applications faced by tradespeople ‘on the job’. This year, FEIN UK is proud also to have announced the launch of four more additional value packs, each of which support with a particular area of work such as flooring, window work or Bathroom installations.

Fein UK will talk more about this in the near future, and all value packs should be available from your local FEIN dealer. For more information check out https://fein.com/en_uk/news/promotions/the-greatbritish-value-pack-range-0792/

International Timber gets ready to launch their Intelligence brand Everything is possible. This is the driving force behind International Timber’s latest, and most customer-centric product brain-child, Intelligence.

Intelligence centres around a range of engineered and modified products by International Timber, and aims to sell joinery solutions to customers that were formerly difficult to come by. In simple terms, this means that International Timber will be helping woodworkers overcome traditional sourcing and availability issues and offering bespoke products to match individual requirements.

So, what does this mean? It means that International Timber is stepping out of the box.

Although the national timber-provider’s approach has always been to offer customers the best products possible, International Timber are now looking at applications and engineering products that will provide the best fit solution to customers, in terms of both physical properties and visual appeal.

The Intelligence solution aims to provide benefits to timber-seeking customers such as a totally new look and quality feel – sleek, modern and sophisticated - overcoming traditional sourcing issues by matching available engineered products with applications.

These solutions will be long term for two key reasons – first because it’s in the customer’s best interest to receive high-quality products with longevity, and second, it ensures the minimisation of timber usage which benefits sustainable harvesting and deforestation.

The Intelligence brand reflects International Timber’s established reputation as market leaders. It is a forward-thinking concept, underlining International Timber’s ability to drive forward solutions to match issues, engage with forward planning & sustainability and engineer solutions using woods that are readily available and fit for purpose for each application.

In essence, International Timber’s new Intelligence range seeks to be a complete solution to any problems a customer may have, using traditional timber and engineering it to suit the customers’ needs.

ECi-Spruce is America’s leading supplier of software to Timber Merchants (or as they like to be called in the U.S. Lumber Dealers.) The company has been established for many years in the UK with timber merchants across the country using the Spruce software to run their business and increase margins and management control. From offices at the ECi Software Solutions Centre in Lincoln a team of support personnel offer on-going help and training to their customers.

MPUTER S CO

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SPRU CE

For more information visit  www.internationaltimber.com

I N N O V AT I O N

The system handles stock and pricing in several units of measure allowing the merchant to buy and cost by the cubic metre and sell and price by the metre or the length. With several different types of tally available including random length tallies, fixed length tallies, lot/location tallies and hardwood tallies, buying, selling and stock control are super-fast and easy.

The Spruce software allows for cutting or machining, proportioning the accurate cost to the new finished products produced. For those merchants that get involved in producing joinery for stock or to customer order the software has a manufacturing module. This can be sophisticated or very simple dependent on the merchant’s need. While the installed sales option takes care of costing and invoicing work on customer sites including sub contract labour.

As most timber merchants are selling a host of other items from door furniture to paint, Spruce handles these equally well with bar code scanning, signature capture, shelf edge labelling, catalogue imports, credit card integration, document management and a host of advanced technology features to allow the merchant to “wheel and deal” like never before.

ECi-Spruce systems are hosted by Microsoft in a cloud environment which means the merchant is not committed to buying on-site servers and expensive database software and with the added advantage of increasing users one at a time as the business grows. No fear of hardware failure or corrupted backups. All the merchant needs to provide is a stable internet connection!

ECi-Spruce have merchant customers ranging in size from one to a hundred plus locations and plenty of their UK customers started with Spruce as four-user operations and within a very few years had grown their businesses become twenty-user plus systems.

To arrange an on-line demonstration of the ECi-Spruce system or to just have a chat about what ECi-Spruce can do for your business call 01522 252252 or use the contact form on the Spruce website www.sprucecomputer.co.uk

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SUMMER / AUTUMN 2018

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