Providing full turnkey supply and installation of state-of-the-art dust extraction systems for healthy working environments
EUDR PREPARATIONS 42
Attention all timber traders. Don’t ignore your obligations and responsibilities with new rules soon to enter force
CUTTING EDGE THINKING 50
How can digital platforms empower timber businesses of all sizes with access to real-time market data and streamlined processes?
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22 High Point for Timber Imports
May 2024 was the best month of 2024 to-date for timber import volumes, according to the latest TDUK statistics.
24 Cover Story: Aagaard A/S
Aagaard A/S (UK) played a large part in the development plans of a large fire door manufacturer to help deliver a healthy, energyefficient working environment.
28 UK Furniture Manufacturing & Joinery Industries Reunite
Organisers of Materials & Finishes Show are celebrating after the hugely successful return of one of the UK’s leading timber trade shows.
36 Decade of Growth
As BSW Timber CEO Tony Hackney retires and his 30-year career in the sector closes. What is his legacy and what can we expect next from one of the UK timber’s biggest names?
40 Don’t Be a Dust Devil
Keeping working environments clean and safe is essential in the woodworking world - make sure you follow the latest Health & Safety Executive guidance.
42 Don’t Ignore Your Responsibilities
With the EUDR soon entering force, Maggie FitzHerbert, Senior Responsible Sourcing Manager at the Soil Association, offers some keys way to prepare.
46 Time for More Trees
EGGER (UK) is at the forefront of board manufacture and recently called for a step change in thinking surrounding our raw material supply.
50 Cutting Edge Thinking
David De Jong, CEO and Co-Founder of VonWood points out why timber businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from technology and digital transformation
Combilift’s
To find out how Combilift can help you unlock every inch of your storage space.
British Gypsum moves plasterboard on reusable LOOP pallets
The next step in the roll out of more than 1.6 million green-coloured, circular economy pallets across UK construction has started with the introduction of a second reusable pallet specification by The Pallet LOOP – a member of BSW Group. British Gypsum is now using The Pallet LOOP’s 2400 x 1200mm two-way entry pallet for the distribution of its plasterboard products.
More than 40,000 of LOOP’s distinctive green reusable plasterboard pallets were shipped to British Gypsum throughout July. The pallets are now being processed through British Gypsum’s Sherburn, East Leake, Kirkby Thore and Robertsbridge plants. Once loaded with plasterboard, the distinctive green pallets will be transported to distribution centres, builders’ merchants, principal contractors and housebuilders nationwide, with tens of thousands more set to follow in the months ahead.
The launch of The Pallet LOOP plasterboard pallet follows the successful roll out of the company’s returnable bagged plaster pallets in early May. In just three months, The Pallet LOOP – in conjunction with its manufacturing partner Scott Pallets – has issued around 100,000 of its standard construction pallets to British Gypsum – and is now starting to receive green pallets back from recipient businesses keen to claim the up to £4 PayBack available for each one put back in the LOOP.
Steve Ottaway, Head of Operations at The Pallet LOOP said: “Twelve weeks in and The Pallet LOOP is now starting to really motor along. With the number of green pallets in the market now increasing by around 20,000,
week on week, we’re reminding companies to sign up for LOOP. We’re already starting to see pallets coming back from distribution centres, merchants and principal contractors nationwide. This is incredibly exciting and has meant at this early stage that we’ve already been able to put around 3,000 LOOP pallets back through the supply chain, for the second time – a first step towards pallet circularity that will have a positive impact on the sector’s carbon, timber usage and waste numbers.
“We look forward to the number of returned pallets growing significantly over the coming months – to ultimately go back into the LOOP. In the meantime, our message to businesses that receive pallets, en-masse, is simple. When you get green LOOP pallets,
don’t put them in a skip. Stack them up and get in touch with The Pallet LOOP. We’ll get you signed up for collections, come and take away any pallets you have and give you money back. We can also pick up white pallets too.”
The Pallet LOOP has estimated that over the next five years, widespread adoption of its circular economy pallet reuse scheme, could help the construction industry: reduce pallet waste disposal costs by £198million, reduce wood waste by 421,000 tonnes, enable a 568,000m3 reduction in single use timber requirement, repurpose 2.03 million trees for long-term carbon storage construction timber and cut carbon emissions by 36,000 tonnes.
NorDan unveil route to carbon calculations
NorDan UK, one of Europe’s leading high-performance windows and doors manufacturers, has launched Dynamic Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), a new tool that will transform the way whole life carbon is measured within design projects, giving developers greater control on sustainable product choices. With timber at the core its product range offers solutions that combine leading energy performance with longevity to minimise environmental impact throughout their lifespan.
Unique to the NorDan Group worldwide, Dynamic EPDs go beyond the basic calculations of standard ‘static’ EPDs, generating precise carbon data for individual products and entire developments. The innovation provides contractors and developers with a new level of carbon transparency, offering more flexibility and adaptability when designing and specifying a new build or refurbishment development.
Craig Greenwood, CEO of NorDan UK, said: “The industry is increasingly demanding precise carbon cost insights for design projects as we strive to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets, so developers are under pressure to provide this information quickly and accurately. Through ‘Dynamic EPDs’ we’re providing them with a solution. Specifiers can
get a more accurate understanding of the associated carbon than ever before. We then collaborate with them to ensure they have the right NorDan UK product to meet their design specification. It will revolutionise how the industry approaches carbon measurement.”
The technology, which uses a custombuilt back-end system, can understand each carbon variable within a design specification, including embodied carbon, operational carbon (Scope One and Two) and Indirect Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (Scope Three).
Dynamic EPDs are generated based on the correct size of each window being used and also responsive to changes in materials, including specific glazing, production methods and regulatory requirements, ensuring continuous compliance and relevance.
Importantly, the new tech will help developers, architects and specifiers to make more informed, data-driven choices around sustainability and the whole life carbon attached to a single window or entire development. Working with NorDan UK’s products specialists, they can calculate the exact carbon footprint of each product based on its size and configuration.
The launch of Dynamic EPDs is well-timed, aligning perfectly with the increasing focus on sustainable construction and the rising
demand for developers to provide pinpoint accuracy around carbon measurement, a capability increasingly requested by clients. The tool also drives progress within digital specification and data modelling, which are now essential for accurately measuring and reducing whole-life carbon as per the RIBA Plan of Work.
NorDan UK has already generated over 60,000 unique Dynamic EPDs for design projects during its testing phase, including for housing associations. Being able to calculate carbon data at such a granular level will be vital for housing associations as they strive to meet Net Zero targets and provide warm, cost-efficient homes for their tenants.
The introduction of Dynamic EPDs reinforces NorDan UK’s proactive vision and push for digital adoption, moving the needle for the wider industry and helping customers to understand the true carbon cost of their designs to provide added value to clients. It also reflects the industry drive towards hyper-specific project data, such as assigning unique identification numbers to building components. Dynamic EPDs complement this trend, offering a corresponding unique EPD for every identified product.
Pasquill to boost capacity with Randek automation
Work is underway at Pasquill’s Redhill site in Surrey, in readiness for the installation of the Randek AutoEye automated truss manufacturing system. Pasquill is one of the first UK truss rafter brands to invest in Swedish company Randek’s AutoEye and the installation of the new system will help to increase capacity at Pasquill and improve safety on-site.
The £4million investment will see the installation of the AutoEye system, which will boost the capacity of trusses manufactured from the site while allowing more complex trusses to be produced in significantly less time. While the system itself won’t be installed until November, work is underway now to prepare the groundwork ready for the machinery.
The AutoEye system helps to streamline the production process by visually identifying the joints in the truss, then picking, placing, positioning and pressing the nail plates with the required force, which is determined by the machine. The AutoEye system will offer up to a 50% time saving during manufacturing, which will support demand during peak periods.
Its semi-automated setting process will ensure the quality of Pasquill’s trusses remains high, as human interaction is still required during the early stages of manufacture. However, with a long-standing construction skills shortage in the UK, it is hoped that automating the truss production process will free up workers at the Redhill site, allowing them to continue with other projects in the business.
Until now, Pasquill’s Redhill site has been operating at full capacity, but the introduction of the AutoEye technology will see the site significantly expand their capabilities, allowing for approximately double the output for the same amount of labour. The introduction of the AutoEye will also increase safety within the factory, as it will reduce the amount of manual labour required by the Pasquill team, with the bulk of the truss production process controlled by the AutoEye Truss System. With zero manual set-up required, trusses produced from the Redhill site will be more accurate and will be manufactured well within the recommended tolerances.
Its automated plate placement and pressing, combined with a nailing bridge system removes the need for working at height, further
increasing safety for the Pasquill site teams. With the system being located at Pasquill’s Redhill site in Surrey, it is ideally situated to minimise transport costs to the South East of England, saving time and money for both Pasquill and their customers.
Chris Powell, Sales and Design Director at Pasquill, said of the investment: “By investing in this level of automation, Pasquill are proving their commitment to delivering higher quality products which are cost-effective to both the business and our customers. We are proud to be the first business in the UK to receive the Randek AutoEye Truss system. We look forward to the installation of the automation system, and seeing the benefits it brings to us as a business, our customers and the wider house building industry.”
Gordon Young, Randek UK Director added: “Return on Investment is of paramount importance, both in the short and long term. The true savings become evident when you consider that the AutoEye has the highest accuracy and consistent output on the market, minimised production downtime, and zero setup time due to the reliability of a Randek line. In their investment decision, they prioritised output and safety, and selected Randek. With years of industry experience, we understand that inexpensive quick solutions rarely yield worthwhile returns.”
New board member for Premier Forest Products
Premier Forest Products has appointed Anthony Hopps as Group Processing Director, supporting the company’s commitment to their processing division. Anthony, who has over 30 years industry experience, joined the business early last year, following the acquisition of Decorpanel, a specialist panel processing company based in Tyne & Wear.
Under his leadership, the panel processing arm has grown to incorporate North-East Sheets & Panels Ltd. (NESP) which has rebranded under the Decorpanel name as Decorpanel KBB (Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms). His new role will see him taking responsibility for Premier Forest’s processing division, which includes Premier Processing and Fabrication in Newport, South Wales.
Speaking of his new role, Anthony (pictured) said: “I’m so pleased to join the Premier Forest Board of Directors following
a hugely successful year since Decorpanel’s acquisition. Since my move to Managing Director of Decorpanel and the rebrand of NESP to Decorpanel KBB, we’ve already seen great improvements in our offering and an expanded customer base. I’m looking forward to further developing the processing division and continuing its renewed focus within the business.”
Co-founder and CEO of Premier Forest Products Terry Edgell added: “We are delighted to appoint Anthony as Group Processing Director. With a strategic vision and deep understanding of the industry, Anthony brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team. His strong relationships with customers and suppliers will play a pivotal role in driving our strategic expansion of the processing division. Appointing this new position to the Board demonstrates the importance of further developing the
processing division, following the successful integration of NESP into Decorpanel. We welcome Anthony to the Board and wish him success in his new role.”
James Jones & Sons Timber Systems Division Celebrates 25 Year Milestone
James Jones & Sons Ltd has announced the 25-year anniversary of its Timber Systems Division based in Forres. The Timber Systems Division was launched 25 years ago as the UK’s first I-Joist production line and has since grown to become the UK’s largest manufacturer of certified I-Joists, branded as JJI-Joists. Today JJI-Joists have a 40% share of the UK’s I-Joist market and are used by every major UK housebuilder in addition to supplying customers across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Tom Bruce-Jones, Chairman of James Jones & Sons Ltd, said: “This is a major milestone for the Timber Systems Division and the extensive programmes of capital expenditure and innovation. Since its inception we have produced well in excess of 100 million lineal metres of JJI-Joists and stored over 455 thousand tonnes of embedded carbon in approximately one million new homes. In recent years developments have included £8.5million investment into the commissioning of a new world leading I-Joist production line, a stock yard extension and the addition of JJI-Wall stud to our EWP portfolio to help
housebuilders meet new Part L building regulation requirements.”
Angus Macfarlane, General Manager of Timber Systems Division added: “We are delighted to celebrate our anniversary, and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team over the past 25 years. Many employees that started with us
in the beginning are still with us today and will have witnessed a great deal of change and progression in that time. To mark the occasion, all employees signed a JJI-Joist that was produced on the day of the anniversary, and it will be displayed inside the building.”
More at www.jamesjones.co.uk
CPD: The Performance Gap
Ensure your buildings achieve specified thermal performance by sharpening your knowledge on regulations, standards and closing the performance gap.
Learning outcomes:
• Understand the journey to today’s thermal regulations
• Understand common installation issues that can impact thermal performance
• Reflect on Passivhaus principles and their importance
• Discover the benefits and application of stone wool insulation
Forest Garden Group relaunch new brand at RHS Hampton Court
The Forest Garden Group have announced the successful acquisition of The Original Posh Shed Company, including all brand, designs and intellectual property. The group are the UK’s largest manufacturer of sheds, fencing, and garden timber structures, and relaunched the brand at RHS Hampton Court.
Guy Grainger, Chairman of The Forest Garden Group, said: “We have long admired The Posh Shed Company brand for its exceptional designs and marketing. It was, and still is, considered the premier garden building brand. Our mission in reviving The Posh Shed Company has been to preserve the essence of their original designs while developing ranges that represent the pinnacle of garden buildings in the UK.
“Utilising our group’s extensive design, manufacturing, and installation capabilities, I am confident that these are not only the finest sheds our group has ever produced but the best available in the market today.”
The Original Posh Shed Company will operate as a distinct division within the Forest Garden Group, marketing its offerings through its dedicated website and at key RHS shows.
The buildings will be manufactured and assembled at a new facility on the Hunt House Sawmills site in Clows Top, Worcestershire, which includes a state-of-the-art paint shop. A selection of the newly redeveloped shed and storage ranges were showcased at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, staying true to the original design concepts.
Standard features included a choice of seven colours, double glazing, multiple roof options, a 20-year guarantee, and full installation.
The sheds are available in six size options with fully insulated upgrades. Forest Sawmills, based in Lockerbie, is the UK’s largest purpose-built shed and fencing mill. Located near major forestry plantations, it efficiently processes harvested timber into components such as fencing slats, timber boards, battens, featheredge timber and fence posts.
MKM CEO Kate Tinsley awarded OBE
MKM CEO Kate Tinsley has been awarded an OBE for her outstanding services to the construction sector and her commitment to promoting diversity within the industry. Over 1,000 change-makers and innovators were recognised in HM The King’s Birthday 2024 Honours list, which was published by the Cabinet Office on 14 June.
Starting her career as an Accountant with PwC and Deloitte, Kate progressed through various high-profile roles, including Finance and Operations Director of the Specialist Division at BSS Group, Finance Director and Managing Director and ultimately CEO of Buildbase in 2015. After seven years at the Grafton Group, Kate made the leap back across the trade counter into manufacturing, when she joined Ibstock Plc. As Divisional Managing Director at Ibstock, Kate oversaw several milestones for the business, including a significant rebrand and raft of new product launches, culminating in her appointment to the Plc Board, before taking the decision to re-join the merchant sector when she accepted the position of CEO with MKM.
been instrumental in cementing MKM’s position as a leader in the industry.
On the announcement of her OBE, she said: “It is a huge honour to be recognised alongside so many brilliant individuals. For me, this award doesn’t just reflect my personal efforts, but the efforts of countless others. The power of teamwork has been a constant theme in my career, and I’ve seen first-hand how the collective efforts of a team can achieve far more than the individual. I’m deeply passionate about what I do, and this recognition fuels my commitment to continue striving for excellence in the construction industry and promoting diversity more widely.”
David Kilburn, co-founder of MKM, expressed his admiration for his CEO, stating: “Kate is a strong advocate of developing and continuing MKM’s unique business model. She is a proven operator with a high-class reputation, and her leadership has been a major asset to our business, I’m delighted she has been recognised on a national level.”
Joining MKM in 2020, Kate brought her extensive experience to the UK’s proper independent builders’ merchant. Under her four-year stewardship, MKM has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme, growing to 129 branches nationwide. Her innovative approach and strategic vision have
As MKM Building Supplies continues to grow and innovate, Kate Tinsley remains at the helm, driving the company towards new heights and ensuring that both employees and customers receive the very best experience.
More at www.mkm.com
Stairways announce training partnership with Walsall College
Stairways Midlands, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of stairways and doors, has launched a new partnership with Walsall College. The company, which has three midlands-based factory units, including one in Walsall, offering over 85,000sq ft of bespoke and mass production capacity, has already welcomed two Walsall College students in their final year of their NVQ Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery course for work experience this month.
Stairways manufactures and supplies staircases, doors, door sets, ironmongery, moulded MDF skirting and architrave to exacting standards for national and regional housebuilders, building contractors, architects, designers and installers.
Anthony Walker, 24, and Kyle Chapman, 21, were working within the manufacturing environment, learning about modern woodworking and production methods, volume manufacturing and general workplace skills. This was the first of many planned collaborations.
From September, Stairways plans to offer apprenticeships to college students. The partnership with Walsall College will see the company sharing its knowledge and resources in a host of other ways, to the benefit of the college and its students. The projects are being led by Andy Clarke, Production Manager, Walsall, and Stairways Managing Director Karen Wood.
Karen Wood said: “We are very excited about the new partnership – both Andy and I share a passion for supporting the next generation and passing on skills essential to the future of our sector. We have so much experience and expertise to offer, and a long track record of developing apprentices –including Andy Clarke himself, who joined us as an apprentice at 16.
“This is the start of what I am sure will be a long and successful partnership, not only bringing fantastic new talent into Stairways, but inspiring and supporting many more young people into a fulfilling career, as well as helping to safeguard the future of our sector.”
James Latham to supply quarter sawn tulipwood
James Latham has collaborated with long-term sawmill partner, Pennsylvania-based HORIZON, to introduce a new timber product: quarter sawn Tulipwood. Exclusive to James Latham, it has been developed in response to specifier and contractor calls for a superior, stable, and sustainable material for a range of specific interior joinery purposes, which includes kitchen doors and cabinetry.
Manufactured to full 34mm thickness, quarter sawn Tulipwood is precision cut, resulting in an extremely clean and flat surface. This all results in a plank of generous width, delivering significant cost savings in the form of less wastage, lower processing costs, and fewer snagging issues.
Creamy white in appearance, with very little colour variation and mineral streak, it can help achieve a clean, consistent look in application.
Future planned projects include students collaborating with Stairways to make a new table for the Stairways Walsall factory boardroom, Stairways providing off-cuts and timber to college for students to use in the development of their woodworking skills, as well as Stairways providing the in-work training environment for students studying relevant apprenticeships and T-levels. Stairways is also set to design and manufacture a staircase for the College building.
The new partnership is also being supported by the Construction Industry Training Board, with skills grants and funding.
Paul Underwood, a Lecturer in Carpentry and Joinery at Walsall College, said: “Developing real-world skills and understanding is essential to our students’ future success, so partnerships such as this one with Stairways are vital in providing that supportive in-work training environment where they can learn from experienced professionals. I am delighted to be working with their team, ensuring that together we pass on to the next generation the carpentry and joinery knowledge and skills which are essential for the future of the construction industry.”
More at www.stairways.co.uk
Available in the UK and Ireland, the quarter-sawn tulipwood is stocked in various lengths and widths, ranging from 2.1m to 4m planks. The standard thickness is 34mm, which can be machined down to 27mm if required.
More at www.lathamtimber.co.uk
Beesley & Fildes launch new technical sales service
Independent builders merchant Beesley & Fildes has launched a new technical sales service to streamline customers’ construction projects. The new offering provides a single point of contact for all Beesley & Fildes’ departments, including construction, civil engineering, landscaping, joinery, plumbing, kitchens, bathrooms and roofing. Customers can access a variety of support to assist with their projects ranging from in-branch design services and material quotations through to site surveys and measurements.
The new service will be led by Craig Halpin (pictured) who has been promoted to Group Technical Sales Manager. With more than 10 years’ experience of the merchant industry, Craig was formerly Beesley & Fildes’ Huyton branch sales manager and was recently named a Top 100 Achiever by the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF).
“Whether a customer wants to carry out a refurbishment or build a new house, our technical sales service provides tailored support from the ground up,” explained Craig. “As so many different elements are needed to plan and deliver these projects, our aim is to tie them together to make the whole process simpler and quicker for customers. That could anything from help with roof truss or floor design using industry-leading software through to sourcing prices for all the required building materials. We also have the skills inhouse to guide on issues
such as the latest building regulations and how these could affect product choices.”
James Beesley, Commercial Director at Beesley & Fildes, added: “Throughout his career, Craig has developed a strong skillset which makes him ideal for this new role. With extensive design and technical expertise as well as product knowledge, he will be the first port of call for customers seeking to take advantage of our new technical sales service. Not only will this enable customers to benefit from instant advice but ensure all our departments work collectively as one team to provide holistic support throughout a construction project.” Available across all of Beesley & Fildes 11 branches, the technical sales service can be accessed by contacting Craig directly at the Huyton office.
Kronospan starts production of 100% recycled wood particleboard
Kronospan Luxembourg S.A. is proud to announce the successful production of its first panel of particleboard (PB) made entirely from 100% recycled wood. This milestone marks a significant expansion in its manufacturing capabilities.
The Luxembourg site produces a diverse range of high-quality products, including MDF, OSB, and laminate flooring. With the addition of 100% recycled wood PB and with the first of three new melamine facing lines already operational they are enhancing its product mix and offering the most comprehensive range from one production site to the market.
Kronospan Luxembourg also features advanced energy solutions, including three combined heat and power (CHP) plants. These generate more electricity than the factory consumes, with the surplus being exported and sold to the national grid. This not only contributes to positively impacting the local energy landscape, but also reduces Kronospan’s carbon footprint.
The Institute of Carpenters (IOC) has proudly announced the appointment of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester as its esteemed Patron. With a rich history dating back to 1890, the Institute of Carpenters has been a steadfast advocate for the carpentry profession, nurturing skill and tradition in woodworking crafts across the UK and beyond.
As a highly respected institution within the industry, the IOC is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of craftsmanship, training, and professional development for carpenters at every level. The Institute of Carpenters is deeply honoured Her Royal
Kronospan said: “Our devotion to innovation and efficiency extends beyond our production processes to better serve our customers and meet the growing demand for carbon-negative, high-quality wood-based panels. We are currently constructing an additional two new melamine-facing lines and a state-of-the-art, fully automatic high bay warehouse. These advancements will further develop our product offerings and streamline our logistics, ensuring we provide a faster and more efficient service for our clients.
“The Luxembourg facility exemplifies Kronospan’s relentless pursuit of excellence and green practices. As we embark on this new chapter, Luxembourg’s first 100% recycled wood PB, we remain at the forefront of the industry, pushing the boundaries of technology and guaranteeing that our operations benefit both end-consumers and the environment.”
Royal patronage for Institute of Carpenters
Highness The Duchess of Gloucester has accepted the role of Patron. Her support underscores the importance of carpentry and woodworking skills in our society and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of carpenters to the built environment, heritage preservation, and craftsmanship traditions.
Her Royal Highness brings much dedication to her role, and her involvement will undoubtedly enhance and promote the status of the ancient profession of carpentry across the nation. As Patron, The Duchess of Gloucester will champion the IOC’s mission to promote excellence and creativity in carpentry, support the development of aspiring and established carpenters, and celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship inherent in the profession.
The Institute of Carpenters (IOC) was established in 1890 to oversee training for carpenters and joiners. The IOC aimed to uphold professional standards and preserve traditional skills amid concerns of their decline. Throughout its century-long history,
the IOC has remained dedicated to its founding principles. Today, it continues its mission to uphold the highest standards in carpentry and related wood trades. The IOC’s current focus lies in enhancing the status of the profession and ensuring that its members and their clients benefit from the superior knowledge and craftsmanship associated with the Institute.
Speaking on behalf of the Institute of Carpenters, Geoff Rhodes, IOC President, expressed profound gratitude for Her Royal Highness’s patronage, stating: “We are deeply honoured to have Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester as our Patron. Her support will undoubtedly elevate our efforts to promote the highest standards of craftsmanship and professionalism in the carpentry profession. We look forward to working with Her Royal Highness to advance our shared goals and inspire future generations of carpenters.”
More at www.instituteofcarpenters.com
International Timber provides laminated oak for Runciman & Redpath
International Timber, one of the UK’s leading importer and distributor of bespoke, sustainable timber and panel products, has collaborated with specialist joinery manufacturers Runciman & Redpath on internal modifications to homes across Scotland, providing high-quality timber to be used for staircases and bespoke benches.
Runciman & Redpath is a specialist joinery manufacturer who undertake interior renovation projects across Scotland, creating bespoke features from timber. Having recently completed five stunning projects, the team have worked alongside International Timber to provide staircases, benches, shelving and panelling for large estates and newbuild properties.
Working together for over a decade, Runciman & Redpath utilised Laminated Oak supplied by International Timber for the construction of its joinery projects. The strong relationship between both companies has resulted in high-quality home interior improvements to be achieved as well as the mutual sharing of expert advice within the timber and joinery industry.
Laminated Oak is a type of engineered timber that consists of layers of wood veneers glued together to create a strong and durable material. It provides huge benefits, such as strength, durability and design flexibility.
With the high traffic volume that stairs and benches experience, Laminated Oak’s strong and flexible qualities make it the perfect material for any such projects. One of the key advantages of Laminated Oak is its flexibility; the layers of wood veneers can be bonded together in different directions, making it the ideal material for use in curved structures or traditionally difficult, uneven surfaces.
This flexibility also means Laminated Oak can be cut and shaped to fit any design, giving architects, designers and joiners greater creative freedom to create innovative and bespoke designs. Initially, one of the main challenges for Runciman & Redpath was choosing a timber product that would create a consistent colour to ensure its clients’ desired aesthetic was achieved when manufactured into staircases, benches, shelves and panelling.
International Timber chose to supply American White Laminated Oak to create a consistent wood effect across the internal modifications of each home. Laminated timber is just as aesthetically pleasing as solid wood, and is a great alternative for exposed beams, shelving and panelling interiors compared to steel or concrete.
Kevin Anderton, Senior External Sales Representative at International Timber, said: “It was great to work with our longstanding customer Runciman & Redpath on these projects, continuing our strong working partnership. The team continues to buy from International Timber based on the added value services that we offer.”
Ewan Redpath, Managing Director at Runciman & Redpath, added: “International Timber provide an excellent and reliable service for each and every job. I have been working alongside Kevin for over 10 years and he always provides expert advice regarding the recommended timber solution for any joinery project.”
More at www.internationaltimber.com
Fresh appointment at National Timber Group
Joanne Thompson will be the new Chief People Officer for National Timber Group (NTG) and will lead on employee engagement, talent attraction and development, and ensuring consistency across the group in all aspects of HR. She has 25 years’ experience in all areas of human resources with a focus on talent management and driving commercial performance through the organisation’s people.
Her career began at Marks & Spencer, where she worked for 22 years, followed by a move to cancer charity Macmillan, and latterly mobility solutions provider Zigup. She is a member of the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development).
“I’m excited to join National Timber Group and its 1,300 people in England and Scotland,” said Joanne. “The focus of my team will be colleague engagement so that all our people feel part of the future growth of the business. We want to create an inclusive place to work where all colleagues become problem solvers and see themselves developing their skills in a company where there is active progression.
“We aim to attract the very best people, not just from the timber industry, but from all sectors, and to engage, retain and reward the talent we have. My absolute focus is on our people, to support them and in turn, grow the business performance and culture. This business is changing positively, and this is an exciting time to be part of the future success of NTG.”
Scott Cairns, NTG Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Joanne to NTG. The Group’s companies are all long-established specialists in timber. We’re proud of our heritage whilst also being a forward-thinking business where people can build their careers. This new position is all about the people in the business and how we can do the best for all our colleagues.
Joanne brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the role and a level of enthusiasm and professionalism that will deliver a hugely interactive and fulfilling employee experience.”
More at www.nationaltimbergroup.com
Recognition for largest timber play structure in the world
Since its opening 12 months ago, Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden has attracted nearly 200,000 visitors from across the UK and overseas with the attraction shortlisted for a trio of construction awards since opening.
Having already won the Judges Choice Award at the regional North East RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Awards 2024, Lilidorei will progress to the prestigious national RICS UK Grand Final Awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London in the autumn. The project also received a second nomination, for Building Project of the Year at the Constructing Excellence Awards for the North East. Additionally, the project received a third nomination for Best Project of the Year at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards. At 26m high, the timber play structure is the largest in the world, designed and constructed by playground specialists, Monstrum (Denmark).
Charlie Aviston, Senior Quantity Surveyor at AtkinsRealis, who supported The Alnwick Garden team throughout the project, said: “We joined the Lilidorei project from the outset, committed to delivering this unique
initiative while overcoming many challenges along the way. Our dedication to the project ensured that we navigated various obstacles, ultimately achieving our goal of bringing this ambitious project to life.
“The success of Lilidorei hinged on a unique team dynamic. The specialists involved not only exhibited technical excellence but also respected and supported each other’s roles, creating a culture of mutual assistance. The final outcome is a fantastic family facility that will be enjoyed by many communities for years to come. We are incredibly proud of what the whole team achieved in realising the Duchess’ vision to create a sustainable and magical village that inspires children from all walks of life to play.”
The £15.5million mythical play village was created with primary school children in mind by the Duchess of Northumberland to encourage them to play outside and use their imaginations to uncover the secrets of Lilidorei and the nine clans who reside there.
Mark Brassell, Chief Executive of The Alnwick Garden said: “After many years of planning, Lilidorei started its transformative journey in 2019, amidst the challenges posed
by the pandemic, and opened its doors to the public in 2023. The design of the play structure, Elfwin Drin, was ambitious and there was no blueprint for creating a unique experience like Lilidorei.
“Enlisting the expertise of our partners, including AtkinsRealis, helped us navigate the design and build phases, enabling the creation of this special and truly individual attraction. We feel very proud to be nominated for these awards and it is a testament to the skill of our designers, management and construction teams. We are delighted to see they have all been recognised regionally and nationally for their talents through these awards.”
The Alnwick Garden is the creation of The Duchess of Northumberland. It was created as a garden for everyone hosting various outdoor events throughout the year. The Garden opened in 2001 and is situated in the market town of Alnwick, Northumberland. Since opening its doors last May, Lilidorei has welcomed over 200,000 visitors and 3,500 primary school children with its Free School Friday initiative.
Updated EPD database from TDUK
Architects, engineers, contractors and other built environment professionals can now easily access Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for the most common timber products with Timber Development UK’s new EPD database.
The database provides easy referral to EPDs developed by TDUK members, including UPM, Moelven, Jordeson Timber, Setra, Sodra Wood, Steico, Metsa, Swedish Wood, Vida, James Jones & Sons Limited, Stora Enso, Riga Wood Limited, BSW Timber, Forest Industries Ireland, Donaldson Timber Systems, and Wiehag Timber Construction.
“EPDs are essential to achieving net zero in our built environment, helping architects, engineers and other specifiers to make sustainable decisions on material selection as early in the design process as possible,” says Charlie Law, Sustainability Director at TDUK.
“The timber industry has made significant investments into producing EPDs which support designers to make accurate estimates of the whole life carbon of their projects. This data is increasingly expected by clients and is a requirement for many major developers – particularly on large-scale projects.
“One of the core missions of TDUK since it was formed is to accelerate a low-carbon future. Together with our members, we are working hard to ensure that our built environment is on track to achieve net zero by 2050. The EPD database follows on from our work at the beginning of this year to make available weighted average embodied carbon figures for 95% of timber supplied in the UK. We are providing all of these data and tools completely free for the use of anyone
interested in building sustainably.”
An EPD is a standardised document that provides detailed information about the environmental impacts of a product throughout its lifecycle. It is based on the principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and follows international standards.
Designers and contractors utilise EPDs to evaluate the environmental impacts of various products to be used within a building to develop a building’s Whole Life Carbon (WLC) Assessment. They can support environmental rules and policies, help inform green building certifications, and facilitate the formulation of more sustainable decisions. These documents can help manufacturers achieve their sustainability objectives, strengthen their position in the market, and cultivate a favourable reputation among stakeholders and customers through meeting market demands by generating credible data.
The three main values shown on the database are total stored CO2, total CO2e impact excluding biogenic carbon and total CO2e impact including biogenic carbon. Each EPD has a detailed description of the product, including its name, model, and intended use, as well as the name, address, and contact information of the manufacturer. So far, the following products of TDUK members can be found on the EPD database – sawn softwoods, cross laminated timber (CLT), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), glulam, I-joists, softwood plywood, hardwood plywood.
TDUK encourages everyone within the timber supply chain to provide EPDs for their products to allow this database to grow and become the place to find carbon data for timber products. You can visit the database at www.timberdevelopment.uk/sustainability/epd-database
If you want to add your EPD to our database, please do get in touch at info@timberdevelopment.uk
TfL choose BurnBlock®
Transport for London (TfL) has awarded fire-retardant treatment firm, Halt NFR with a contract to become its only approved supplier of fire-retardant timber.
Having been selected for its ‘life saving’ wood treatment – which uses pressure impregnation to reduce the flammability of timber and prevent the spread of flames – the contract will see Halt supplying all of the fire-retardant timber used in construction work across the London Underground. The treatment itself includes impregnating timber using BurnBlock®, which prevents oxygen from reaching the treated timber. This means that, even when exposed to high temperatures in the event of a fire, the wood will simply char, rather than ignite.
“The construction industry is currently adapting to the largest set of building regulation changes in over a decade, said Ronan Higham, Managing Director at Halt. “A critical part of this has been adapting
to new rules, regulations and ways of working to enhance the performance of building materials in the event of a fire.”
“Here at HALT, we have spent the last few years developing an innovative solution that gives architects, main contractors and clients, peace of mind that should the worst happen, the timber used in their projects will withstand extreme heat to allow users, occupants, and residents to escape in the event of a fire. So, we are delighted to be working with TfL on some of its largest infrastructure projects in the coming years.”
The fire-retardant solution not only enhances the fire performance of timber, but also provides a sustainable alternative to toxic coatings. The treatment is made up of 100% natural substances, is non-toxic, and has also been awarded prestigious Cradle to Cradle Gold® certification.
More at https://haltnfr.com
Structural timber central to Labour’s planning reform proposals
The Structural Timber Association (STA) has welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s assertion that local authorities must consider: “how to deliver new homes, not whether to,” and is again calling on Government to recognise that the solution to this question lies in adopting greater use of sustainable building technologies, including timber frame.
Speaking in Parliament, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government unveiled the Labour Government’s proposal for planning reform, which includes increasing the overall housing targets to more than 370,000 per year and releasing greenbelt land for development, while also ensuring at least 50% of new properties are designated affordable homes, with the necessary social infrastructure to support new neighbourhoods.
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA, commented: “To meet such ambitious figures, more than 1,000 new homes will have to be delivered across the country – every single day. The STA believes that the only way to meet this demand for homes and achieve our net zero obligations, is by embracing change. Change in how we build, the materials we use, and the way we attract new people into the construction industry. There is existing capacity in the established structural timber manufacturing sector of 120 members to double timber frame manufacturing output to achieve 100,000 homes per annum – quickly reaching almost a third of the annual target.
“What’s more, boosting production represents a significant economic opportunity – with £10billion gross value already added to the UK’s economy
by the timber industry. The sector currently employs more than 300,000 people in 51,000 businesses, and expanding capacity has the potential to unlock many new jobs while also overcoming the skills crisis that has plagued previous attempts to increase housebuilding. Our industry requires clear actionable policies, policies that put MMC and carbon reduction, and therefore structural timber, at the forefront of supporting Government in the delivery of their housing goals. The policies put in place now will have a significant impact on the UK’s ability to deliver housing targets, great places to live and reducing carbon to achieve net zero. This will be the legacy for decades to come.”
Get ready for Wood & Panel Machinery Show 2024
Daltons Wadkin, a leading supplier of woodworking and industrial machinery, is excited to announce the return of its annual Wood & Panel Machinery Show. The event will take place from 8-10th October 2024 at the company’s expansive showroom located in Nottingham. This year’s exhibition promises to be an extraordinary showcase of the latest advancements in industrial machinery for processing a variety of materials, including solid wood, wood-based panels, composites, plastics, and metals. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to see live demonstrations and explore a range of innovative equipment. Key highlights of the show include:
• Salvador Automatic Crosscut Saws: renowned for their precision and efficiency in crosscutting application
• Kimla CNC Routers and Fibre Lasers: offering unparalleled accuracy and speed for complex cutting and engraving tasks
• Elcon Vertical Panel Saws: ideal for high-accuracy cutting of large wood and composite panels
• Stenner Band Resaws: known for their robust performance in resawing applications
• Volter CNC Routers: highly versatile routers that deliver exceptional results in a variety of materials
• SCM Classical Machinery: trusted for their reliability and advanced technology in woodworking
• Wadkin Range of Crosscuts, Bandsaws, and Sanders: need no introduction
Alex Dalton, Managing Director of Daltons Wadkin, commented: “We are thrilled to host our annual Wood & Panel Machinery Show once again. This event is a cornerstone for us to demonstrate our commitment to leading the industry with innovative solutions. It’s an excellent opportunity for professionals in the sector to discover the potential of the latest technologies and advancements.”
For more information, registration details and to schedule a personal demonstration, visit www.daltonswadkin.com call 0115 986 5201 or email info@daltonswadkin.com
Call for entries as BWF celebrates 16th annual awards
Entries are open for the British Woodworking Federation’s (BWF) Awards, with the event set to recognise and celebrate the outstanding skills and talent, projects and manufacturing achievements within the woodworking and joinery sector of the last year.
The BWF Awards recognise those leading the charge on sustainable practices with launch of new BWF Sustainability Award category. This is the 16th year that the prestigious annual awards have taken place, with this year marking the launch of a new category– the BWF Sustainability Award.
Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF, said: “We’re excited to introduce the BWF Sustainability Award to honour those leading the charge with sustainable practices. Our profession is in a unique position with timber being the only truly renewable building material, and through the Timber in Construction Roadmap we can play a key role in the Government’s net zero ambitions by safely increasing the use of timber and reducing embodied carbon in the built environment.
“To support this low carbon vision, it’s also important to champion the woodworking and joinery businesses taking a proactive approach to sustainability. The new BWF award will recognise the significant achievements
of woodworking and joinery businesses that have reduced their carbon emissions or implemented new and better processes to improve their energy efficiency. We’re looking forward to coming together in November to celebrate the very best of the UK’s woodworking and joinery sector.”
Entries for this year’s BWF Awards close on Friday 30 August 2024. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend the prestigious BWF Awards Dinner on Friday 22 November at The Langham, London – Europe’s first ‘Grand Hotel’.
Businesses can nominate themselves or be nominated by a client or supplier, and there are no limits on the number of categories that can be entered. The Awards are free to enter. Further information including entry forms can be found at www.bwf.org.uk
Travis Perkins fit ‘Best in Test’ forklift alarms
Travis Perkins, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials has announced that it is fitting its latest batch of electric forklift trucks with a unique, industry-first ‘best in test’ sound alert, SIVAS, to improve safety for colleagues and customers in branch.
A total of 1,200 forklifts across the Group are now electric, and so far around 600 of these have now been fitted with a unique sound alert named SIVAS to address concerns about the electric forklifts’ operational quietness compared to their diesel engine counter parts, and the potential safety risk this could pose. This mirrors how warning sounds have been fitted into electric vehicles to warn off pedestrians and other road users.
The SIVAS sound alert was developed as part of a sound study commissioned by Travis Perkins plc’s Technical Fleet Director, Karl Wilshaw, on behalf of the Group that was conducted by the University
of Salford Manchester’s specialist acoustics testing team. The SIVAS sound alert came out top when tested by the Group’s forklift drivers based on its detectable and unique sound.
“We developed three sounds based on our existing psychoacoustic expertise and tested them in highly realistic virtual environments with the Group’s forklift truck drivers. The SIVAS sound was selected from the shortlist of three based on its high level of detectability and positive reception by forklift operators,” explained Reader in Acoustical Engineering at the University of Salford in Manchester, Dr Antonio Torija Martinez.
“This sound study has solved a problem that applies to so many in our industry, and so we plan to share this with the industry to promote best practice,” added HSE & Fleet Director at Travis Perkins plc, Richard Byrne. Besides saving direct emissions, switching from diesel to electric forklifts also makes for a quieter work environment for colleagues and customers who visit our branches. Operationally, they are more reliable and incur less downtime, which means they also enable us to serve our customers more efficiently,” he continued.
Electric forklift trucks can now be found in the Group’s Travis Perkins, CCF, BSS, Keyline and Staircraft businesses. The switching out of the Group’s diesel forklift trucks with electrics is one of the largest change programmes of its kind in the UK and forms part of the Group’s decarbonisation roadmap to meet its 1.5°-aligned, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) accredited carbon reduction targets. This project is expected to further reduce scope 1 carbon emissions by up to 6,600 tonnes per annum to the benefit of the communities the Group operates in.
More at www.travisperkins.co.uk
Central Joinery Group Process and Resource winner 2023
A High Point for Timber Imports
May 2024 was the best month of 2024 to-date for timber import volumes, according to the latest Timber Development UK (TDUK) statistics.
lthough volumes in May 2024 haven’t quite matched the high point of 969,000m3 seen in May 2023, at 897,000m3 it remains the best month of 2024 so far. Covering the period January to May, volumes are approximately 4% down on those seen in 2023. For May 2024 specifically, volumes were down 7% on those seen in May 2023, following a 5% increase on 2023 levels enjoyed during April.
Overall, timber import volumes have weakened over the last two years. A sluggish UK economy and a reduction in construction output have contributed to these weaker volumes, but the long-term trend for timber and panel imports remains positive.
The overall performance of UK imports is weighted heavily towards softwood imports, which account for 62% of all volumes. Softwood imports were 4% lower, but some products have seen import levels grow. Planed spruce imports (45% of all softwood imports) were 3% higher, driven by good growth from Sweden (+4%), Latvia (+17%), Ireland (+18%) and Norway (+104%). Price reductions of between 5% and 15% have contributed to growth from Latvia, Ireland and Norway, while Sweden has achieved good growth while maintaining prices.
imports, have grown by 13% in 2024 so far. This growth, equal to around 11,000m3, was mostly achieved through higher volumes from Belgium, Portugal and especially, Spain. The increases from Portugal and Spain, from relatively low bases, were accompanied by average price drops of 27% and 33% respectively.
Hardwood imports in the first five months of 2024, meanwhile, were around 20,000m3 lower than during the same period in 2023. Three-quarters of this reduction is due to lower volumes from Latvia and the USA. France, Estonia, Romania, Cameroon and the Congo Republic have all increased their volumes exported to the UK in 2024 to date, albeit by relatively small amounts.
In the first five months of 2024, tropical hardwood imports were a little less than 3% below the volume over the same period in 2023 – amounting to around 1,000m3. The largest contributors to this reduction were the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Malaysia.
Although timber and panel imports remained subdued, some specific types of timber and panels have seen outstanding performance.
Twenty years ago, China held a 25% share of supply of hardwood plywood imports. In 2024 to date the country has reached a 70% share, with a 6% increase to May 2024. The 3% total increase in hardwood plywood in 2024 has mostly come from China. According to HMRC statistics, the composition of this growth in 2024 has varied widely. Compared to 2023, the fall in birch-faced plywood has been virtually matched by the rise in eucalyptus-faced plywood.
Consequently, the 6% growth in hardwood plywood has been driven by the increases in eucalyptus-faced (+228%) and other nonconiferous-faced varieties (+24%).
Particleboard imports to May 2024 were just over 2% down on the same period in 2023. However, imports of the standard unworked variety of particleboard, accounting for 39% of all particleboard
MDF volumes for 2024 are currently 4% below the same period in 2023. Within the many types of MDF, the unworked, medium-thickness variety, which accounted for 12% of all MDF imports in 2024 to date (7% in 2023), grew by a substantial 60%. This represented around 15,000m3 and was driven mostly by increases from China (>1,000%) and Germany, plus increases from Ireland and Portugal. Compared to 2023, average prices have reduced by 30% (to £385/m3) but remain at a premium of 25% to those from China.
“The latest construction output data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that outputs fell by 0.2% in May, continuing the challenging start to 2024,” said TDUK Head of Technical and Trade, Nick Boulton. “The sluggish construction sector as a whole has clearly had an impact on timber imports and sales to date this year, but it’s reassuring to see that certain product types, such as planed spruce, standard particleboard, hardwood plywood and some grades of MDF have seen growth this year.
“It’s still too early days in the current Government to get any real sense of how their plans for the housebuilding sector will have a tangible impact on the timber market, but clearly any growth in UK construction is encouraging, and they have made their plans to boost housebuilding and construction clear already. We look forward to working with Ministers to continue the Timber in Construction Roadmap and the nation’s move towards a more sustainable built environment.”
More at www.timberdevelopment.uk
Make it a Clean Machine
Aagaard A/S (UK) has played a large part in the latest development plans of a large fire door manufacturer in the Midlands and has helped deliver a healthy, energyefficient working environment.
With a full turnkey supply and installation of a state-ofthe-art dust extraction system with an energy saving system, Aagaard A/S (UK) has taken this brand new, purpose built manufacturing facility to another level.
Aagaard A/S was established in 1965 and since then has developed, produced, and installed turnkey systems for woodworking and furniture industries all over the world. In a time of very rapid development, Aagaard A/S has constantly focused on being a workplace attracting the best, most qualified and forward-looking employees.
The aim is always to be a world leading and respected supplier of dust extraction systems across many different industries. Therefore, the company adjusts to the market and the various demands that arise, providing the resources to be at the cutting edge of technological development. Aagaard A/S always tries to keep a sharp focus on being
a serious and reliable partner living up to the legal and environmental demands, and also to the specifications and delivery requirements existing on the global market.
Innovative and high standards
Aagaard A/S UK’s Head of Sales, Elliot Webb, was invited to put forward a proposal and technical specification of a new extraction system at a new purpose-built, cutting-edge fire door manufacturing facility in the Midlands. “We were very happy to be approached regarding this project,” says Elliot. “After initial discussions with the CEO of the manufacturer we knew this was going to be a great project. They are a very innovative company, with a reputation for producing the highest quality products, and we are proud to be recognised as a supplier of equipment that meets their high standards.
“Working from the initial set up allowed us to fully design and set out the system to achieve the customer expectations, with the rapid growth of the company the system had to be designed to be powerful enough for the big investment of new machines.”
Elliot Webb, Head of Sales, Aagaard A/S UK
“Working from the initial set up allowed us to fully design and set out the system to achieve the customer expectations, with the rapid growth of the company the system had to be designed to be powerful enough for the big investment of new machines. With our filter units being modular and easily expandable, it allows us to be flexible and prepared to grow with the company’s manufacturing goals. With all vacuum points throughout to allow housekeeping to be done correctly as per Health & Safety Executive (HSE) advice. An energy saving system was a great addition for the dust extraction to allow for it to be economically ran, with automatic dampers shutting off extraction legs when machines weren’t in use, to reduce the amount of power required to run the system.”
Superior systems
The manufacturer specialises in the production of fire doors and fire door sets registered to BM TRADA’s Q Mark. They manufacture fire doors for nationwide distribution and have an extensive range of timber and composite doors. Effective fire protection is vital for the safety of staff and customers. Expert design gives protection to allow people to escape a building if fire breaks out. Fire doors are an essential safety barrier to the passage of smoke and fire through buildings. In the UK,
protective capabilities are rated with a code for the number of minutes they offer protection, such as FD30 and FD60.
The new facility is now in full production, running over 20 top-of-therange manufacturing machines, ranging from CNC machines, beam saws, sanders and many more. Aagaard A/S installed an AKF 6+2 WDAK modular constructed filter (which allows it to be extended on a later date if required) with top inlets. The filter was supplied with the latest ATEX explosion doors on the dirty side of the filter and contained 484.2sq m of tubular filter bags, with a top inlet section that preseparates the waste before it enters the filter bags.
The filter has 6 x 2.2kW regen cleaning fans to clean the filter tubes during production and breaks which keep the filters clean and reduces the pressure over the filter media to a minimum, which will keep the volume to the machines at a maximum level. The extracted waste is conveyed to one end of the filter through an ABS1500 rotary valve and into a transfer system which uses a 11kW transfer fan in a loop system to transport the waste to a trailer. The system comprised of two new extraction lines, each powered by 55kW fans to create the air flow requirements for each line, each with inverters linked with the automatic dampers to control the volume.
“The new system was a great success,” adds Elliot. “We worked with a great partner on the installation to provide a top of the range dust extraction system that could compliment the fantastic new state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility.”
More at www.aagaard-systems.com
Extractly & Ecogate Do the Double
Dust and fume extraction specialists Extractly Ltd, along with the award-winning ‘extraction-on-demand’ Ecogate® system, were highly visible to potential customers attending the Materials and Finishes Show and gave visitors a double opportunity to meet the team and see the products in action.
As well as displaying equipment and meeting visitors on their own stand, Extractly also supplied, installed and maintained the dust extraction system for the show’s Demo Zone. The centrepiece of the demonstration area was a modular filter unit, powered by an 18.5kW fan, to provide a total extraction capacity of 10,500m3/hour.
With Nordfab QF ductwork neatly connecting everything together, including a non-return valve, all dust and woodwaste was safely removed from the working machinery. Perhaps not quite as noticeable to most visitors watching the machine demonstrations, but making a big impact all the same, was the energy-saving Ecogate® technology that Extractly had included in the system.
Although Ecogate® was first introduced to the UK market 14 years ago, at the W10 exhibition, and despite the countless successful installations featured in the woodworking press since then, this is the first time an audience has had the opportunity to see it operating in public, under realistic working conditions. Ian Rayner, UK Sales Manager for Extractly & Ecogate, commented: “With MAFS providing what was, as near as practicably possible, a real working environment for the live demonstrations, it was the perfect opportunity for us to showcase Ecogate’s capabilities and versatility to a much wider audience.”
Technical Director, William Keyon, was in complete agreement: “The setup at MAFS allowed us to demonstrate to everyone involved in the woodworking industry that Ecogate® technology can cut your electricity bills by at least 50%, whether you’ve got just a handful of machines, or a large factory with dozens of machines, the same formula for achieving significant savings can be applied across the board.”
The Demo Zone at MAFS had just four operational machines but, as in the majority of manufacturing facilities, they were rarely all in operation at the same time. However, the total extraction capacity had to match the requirement of all the working machines combined, so
the system was designed to extract up to 10,500m3/hour if required. In reality, since an Ecogate® greenBOX Nxt Controller was managing the system’s operation, although extraction was fully operational throughout the demonstrations, fan speed was continually varied, in real-time, to exactly match the extraction demand.
Without Ecogate® technology optimising extraction the fan would have been running at full power during each demonstration period, consuming around 17kW for every hour of operation, and Ian Rayner was keen to emphasise the fact that: “With Ecogate® installed, the reduction in energy usage for the working demonstrations effectively reduced the show’s carbon footprint and, an additional bonus appreciated by neighbouring exhibitors as well as the audience, the lower fan speeds meant less noise.”
More at www.extractly.co.uk
Opening day visitor interest was clear to see around Extractly’s informative stand
Central to the Demo Zone was Extractly’s ‘Ecogate-optimised’ extraction system
UK Furniture Manufacturing & Joinery Industries Reunite
Organisers of Materials & Finishes Show are celebrating after the hugely successful return of the UK’s leading trade show for the furniture manufacturing and joinery industries.
Over 6,000 visitors attended Materials & Finishes Show at the Birmingham NEC, 19-22 May, marking a conversion rate of over 55% from pre registrants.
The audience was made up of joiners, furniture manufacturers and professionals, carpenters and cabinet makers, and business owners and executives who had come to source the latest products and technology on the market.
The event marked the first time that every corner of the UK woodworking sector has had the opportunity to come together, see the latest products and innovations on offer all under one roof, network and do business, since 2018 as W Exhibition.
Visitors had over 160 brands to choose from on the show floor, with running machinery displayed alongside the latest materials, components, software, tools, fixtures, finishing products and innovations for the woodworking sector. Over 45% of the exhibitors were overseas brands who had recognised the opportunities that having a presence at the UK’s trade show for the furniture manufacturing and joinery industries presented.
Visitor Josh Hudson, furniture lead for Rycotewood Furniture Learning Centre, said: “It’s great to be able to meet so many people in one place. You’ve got everybody here which means you’re not trekking around the country to meet everybody and it’s the perfect place to make connections with the industry.”
New features, such as the Live Demo Zone and CPD certified learning programme proved a big draw for visitors who were able to participate
in over 40 hours of live demonstrations from brands including AMS, Leitz Tooling, The Joinery Network, Lamello, GreCon, Trend Tool Technology and Rubio Monocoat, as well as panel debates and seminar sessions.
Al Parra, BLOQS co-founder and Materials & Finishes Show speaker, said: “We’re really impressed that Materials & Finishes Show is thinking ahead about the future of furniture manufacturing, what that looks like, and were delighted to be invited to participate in the show and discuss this topic in particular.”
The presence of Materials & Finishes Show brand ambassadors, which included self-confessed carpentry, joinery and building fanatic, Robin Clevett, media personality and carpenter, Tibby Singh and fellow online content creators, Peter Millard, Alastair Johnson (Freebird Interiors), Derek Barrett Design and the Welsh Woodworker, increased the event’s campaign reach by over one million and added a new dimension to the show.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the success of Materials & Finishes Show 2024. We set out to deliver an engaging event, with a broad lineup of brands showcasing thousands of the latest products and innovations for the UK’s furniture manufacturing and joinery industries - and Materials & Finishes Show did just that.”
David Todd, Event Director, Materials & Finishes Show
Peter Millard, Materials & Finishes Show ambassador, and owner of 10 Minute Workshop, said: “What a great show this has been. We had a fabulous demo area set aside for us where I worked alongside my fellow content creators. We had some fantastic questions from the audience, and I was able to demo my latest 10 Minute Workshop multijig as well as talk about all of the great technology, such as CNCs, which help smaller makers / installers like myself to work more efficiently.”
Event director, David Todd comments: “We’re absolutely delighted with the success of Materials & Finishes Show 2024. We set out to deliver an engaging event, with a broad lineup of brands showcasing thousands of the latest products and innovations for the UK’s furniture manufacturing and joinery industries - and Materials & Finishes Show did just that.
“The feedback we have received from the industry has been hugely positive. The new features that we developed, including the Live Demo Zone, CPD certified learning programme and networking bar, were all really well received by exhibitors and visitors alike. Over 115 people turned up for the first seminar session with Robin Clevett – his involvement as a brand ambassador in the run up to and during the show was invaluable in helping us to curate a programme that would resonate with joiners and carpenters specifically.”
Running machinery proved to be a big pull for visitors, with brands such as Advanced Machinery Services, AES Group, Felder, FEN, Vertongen, Kundig, Robland, MARTIN and VWM putting on a fantastic showcase of the latest CNC, drilling, nesting, routing, sanding and cutting solutions. These brands received high levels of interest throughout the show, with four machines sold by the end of the first day of the event.
Owen Dare, joinery consultant for The Joinery Network, delivered a live demonstration of the end-to-end production of a timber window frame utilising an AMS distributed Wadkin Bursgreen woodworking machine and Lignum tooling supplied by Leitz Tooling. Owen said: “Our demo was designed to help joiners become more efficient so that they can make more profit with a very low investment model to grow their business portfolio. Materials & Finishes Show provided an ideal platform
for joiners to see the latest products and innovations, as well as stay abreast of the latest legislation and regulations for the industry.”
Event director, David Todd concluded: “I’d like to extend my gratitude to our stakeholders, including our exhibitors, visitors, media partners, content creators, speakers and the trade associations who threw their support behind Materials & Finishes Show 2024. We’ve set extremely solid foundations in place to build on and deliver an even more successful event when Materials & Finishes Show returns for its next instalment in 2026. We’re increasing the footprint of the show by 60% for 2026 and have already secured a high percentage of rebookings which we’ll be announcing over the coming weeks.”
Materials & Finishes Show is the UK’s leading trade show for machinery, manufacturers, processors and installers of wood and associated materials. The event (formerly W Exhibition) has over 50 years of heritage and will return to the NEC from May 17-19 2026. More at www.materialsandfinishesshow.com
Packaging Revolutionising Wrapping Efficiency
Kingfisher Packaging were delighted to showcase their innovative technology at the Materials and Finishes Show. Representing the packaging and protection stage of the material journey, they are dedicated to delivering efficiency to their customers through expert packaging solutions.
Industry-leading businesses often utilise the latest materials and software for their manufacturing or supplying stages, yet the likelihood is their overall efficiency is held back by overlooking labour-intensive, time-consuming and inconsistent packaging processes. In this competitive market, efficient packaging is a crucial factor in cost management, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Kingfisher Packaging’s goal is to help businesses solve their packaging challenges and increase the performance of product protection, saving them time and money, and reducing damages in transit.
The show was a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate how they could increase the efficiency of the entire packaging procedure, with live displays of their cutting-edge wrapping machines and systems. These seamlessly integrate into operations, offering a plug-and-play solution that enhances efficiency and productivity from day one, often providing a return on investment after less than a year.
George Martin, Director at Kingfisher Packaging, said: “It was an exciting and engaging time at the show discussing business’ unique packaging needs. We spoke to a large array of manufacturers and suppliers who were interested in saving up to 75% on their
Unosand Sanding and Structuring Solutions
Unosand supply brush sanding and structuring solutions to the woodworking industry, making sanding brushes in the UK for any make of machine with fast lead times. We have a range of structuring machines giving timber an aged, weathered effect. Ideal for cladding, flooring and even beams up to 300mm high.
The machines have motorised height adjustment as standard, together with automatic feed belt tracking and variable feed speed and are available with between one and six heads for fast line speeds. Working widths of 300, 400 and 600mm are available. Machine can be configured to a range of production needs. Options include a horizontal belt to replicate band saw marks, side heads and oscillation for a more natural effect. Forward and reverse brush direction achieves different effects, with and against feed. A vacuum bed is available for small parts.
packaging costs by decreasing the time, labour and excess materials currently being allocated to their packaging processes.”
Amongst the machines on show was their revolutionary alternative to plastic strapping, Autoknot® string-tying machines. Eco-friendly solutions, they offer the same performance but with less waste and impact on the environment, a growing priority amongst businesses and their customers. No matter the scale or sector of business, Kingfisher Packaging can identify the most efficient way of meeting packaging needs – supplying machines from stock or designing bespoke systems.
More at www.kingfisherpackaging.com
Inverters can be added to increase the versatility of the machine, allowing Unosand’s sanding brushes to cut raised fibres ready for coating and de-nibbing between coats. Unosand’s sanding brushes are ideal for cleaning reclaimed timer, whilst retaining the patina and character of the wood. Skirting, architrave and mouldings can be sanded and de-nibbed. Unosand stock a range of wire and abrasive nylon brushes to achieve a range of effects for Thermowood, cedar, larch, Accoya, oak and pine and MDF.
IEnhance Your Timber Offering with Postsaver: The Ultimate Rot Protection
t is increasingly challenging to deliver wood that can withstand the test of time, especially when used in fencing or utility pole applications where ground line decay is usually the key factor in early failure. This has been greatly exaggerated as more environmentally sensitive preservatives have become the standard since as far back as 2005.
Postsaver’s innovative dual-layer barrier sleeves provide unmatched protection against ground-line rot, the most common cause of timber failure. The sleeves consist of a thermoplastic outer layer and a bituminous inner layer, which create an impenetrable shield that prevents moisture and fungi from compromising the integrity of the wood. Postsaver guarantees
40 years of protection, significantly extending the lifespan of timber products.
Incorporating Postsaver to your production process is seamless and highly efficient. The sleeves are easily applied with Postsaver’s customisable Pro-Mill machine, and with no licensing or compliance requirements, it can be integrated into existing operations with minimal disruption and is typically 85% cheaper than upgrading treatment options.
Richard George, CEO of Postsaver, said: “We appreciate the increasing competition that producers are facing from alternative materials and we’re working alongside businesses at every level in the timber industry to support their operations and guarantee a bright future for wood. We have
produced a proven, reliable and cost-effective solution for preventing wood rot at ground level which is already used and trusted by contractors and homeowners, we’re now starting to see more product application at source, which is great.” By offering Postsaver protected timber, producers can meet the growing demand for durable, long-lasting wood products but also position their business as a leader in innovation and quality through this premium product offering.
A Return to Form
With a renewed impetus and conviction for timber, Carrefour International du Bois 2024 saw the return of one of Europe’s central meeting places for international timber talk.
For Jean Piveteau, President of the Carrefour International du Bois, the 2024 show was hugely satisfying, saying:
“The stands were of an even higher scale again this year, reflecting the sector’s increase in skills and the diversification of products. We are delighted that the sectorisation of the show was received so well by the exhibitors and met with the expectations of the visitors. The 25% increase in the surface area of the show, with a first ever occupation of the XXL hall, also making the movement between stands more pleasant and organised. We owe this success in large part to the involvement and professionalism of the Fibois Pays-de-la-Loire team, who organises this show in a friendly atmosphere, characteristic of the Carrefour International du Bois.”
Carrefour International du Bois is also a place of information on major themes shared by professionals with show stands and conference sessions.
Growing public sector involvement
The visit of Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, at the opening of the show testifies to the support now provided by the French State for the sector, already shown through the appointment of an interministerial delegate for forestry, timber and its uses in April (Jean-Michel Servant, former President of France Bois Forêt).
Identified as a lever for the development of the industry and employment, beyond its environmental utility, the sector is the subject of a second phase of projects as part of the France 2030 government’s investment plan operated by ADEME (The French Agency for Ecological
Transition). In an unprecedented social context, marked by the acceleration of climate change, renewing dialogue with society is a major challenge for the forestry and timber industry.
Carrefour was an opportunity to review the latter’s social utility report, which lays the foundations of its approach to joint actions for the years to come. It explains the role of the forest and the industry around three pillars, which should make it possible to develop a common framework of commitment for timber professionals: meeting the human needs, while protecting all living things and fighting against global warming. Aware of its strengths, the industry has once again demonstrated its ability to innovate in order to reduce its environmental impact, exploring in particular the theme of reuse in construction. The dynamics of structuring the timber industry are giving rise to new players and new outlets to preserve resources and continuously improve its environmental impact by working on extending the life of timber products.
Women in forestry and timber construction
Sarah Laroussi, Director General of the CNDB, said: “It is essential that the forest-timber industry be made known to women in order to promote the assets of the sector and the professions that make it up. According to figures from the Observatory of Trades, 20% of employees in the wood industry are women. This is more than in the construction sector, where women represent only 13% of the workforce, although this is encouraging, the forestry and timber sector is ambitious and seeks to attract more women to its ranks. Today, women in the forestry and
• + 28% gross area Four Exhibition Halls featuring: Parquet, Panels, Construction & Services, Sawing, Forestry and Wood Trade
timber sector are not limited to support functions; they also work in the field, in the forests, on construction sites and in carpentry companies. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement, and it is for this reason that the industry is initiating many actions to enhance careers.”
Nicolas Visier, Director of the Carrefour International du Bois, added: “Professionals were delighted to meet again for three days of rich exchanges. The industry can trust in the future of this beautiful material of ours and continue to develop over the medium term. This was important, and even necessary, considering the economic situation, environmental issues and the pressure of the current authorities on the industry.”
Focus on innovation
Since 2022, Carrefour International du Bois has been giving a place to innovation and the research of new products. At a time when innovation and cross-sector collaboration are essential, WoodTech is positioned as a dynamic network that gathers and supports innovative start-ups to serve the sustainable development of the forestry-timber sector. These companies, through their technical or operational innovations, contribute to the transformation of the entire value chain of this industry. WoodTech took advantage of the event to announce a major initiative: the launch of a national startup competition for the Forest Timber Chemistry sector, which aims to identify and support the most promising innovations within the sector, providing a platform for groundbreaking ideas and to receive the support necessary for their development and success.
Jean Piveteau concluded by saying: “The public authorities are becoming aware of the importance of the sector and the responses it provides to society. We would like to warmly thank all our exhibitors and partners for their presence and their confidence. The forestry sector is taking the place it deserves.”
Treat Your Timber Right
The construction sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, with around 37% of global emissions, according to the UN Environment Programme – Building Materials And The Climate: Constructing A New Future, published in September 2023. As the only truly renewable construction material, timber is being increasingly specified to help meet net zero commitments. However, some timber species provide very little natural durability and to be used commercially they require additional protection in the form of an industrially applied wood preservative.
Wood preservatives are often overlooked as contributing to decarbonisation of construction projects, but Arxada’s Wood Protection division in Europe is working to change this perspective through driving modern chemistry to help the many sectors that utilise timber, advance their sustainability goals.
Tanalith® MF, a metal-free high-pressure wood preservative is one such wood protection technology from Arxada that has been developed to work towards a more sustainable built environment. With the waste stream from construction being of particular concern, Tanalith® MF champions circular economy principles. Timber treated with Tanalith® MF can be reused or recycled at end of life. To further help reduce waste
and fuel emissions in transportation, the wood preservative is supplied to timber treaters as a concentrate in recycled Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), which can be reused. The timber treater dilutes the Tanalith® MF concentrate with water on-site, which eradicates the need of bulk tanker transportation.
In parallel to advancing sustainable procurement in wood preservation, Tanalith® MF accommodates for evolving design trends. For cladding and decorative landscaping timbers, vibrant built-in colour can be achieved through the addition of a colour additive in the highpressure process. This built-in colour negates the need for a brush-on colour at point of installation.
Tanalith® MF was showcased at Carrefour International du Bois in May, alongside Tanasote®, Arxada’s copper-oil-based alternative to creosote for industrial applications. Andrew Hodge, Marketing Director for Arxada’s EMEA Wood Protection division viewed the show as providing a unique opportunity to showcase innovation in the wood protection sector, saying: “There are a number of reasons why architects and specifiers are embracing a timber-first approach. The
importance of EPDs help promote sustainability through design, and correctly specified timber helps reduce embodied carbon over the lifetime of a build. Often this will mean that the correct type of wood preservation needs to be procured, which we are working hard to educate the wider market on. From the manufacture of the wood preservative, through to how it is delivered to customers and how it contributes to the waste at end of life, all needs to be considered before specification.
“For Arxada, Carrefour International du Bois was a unique opportunity to tell customers, regulators and timber commentators about our innovation in wood protection technologies, as well as our evolution as a business and our overall wood preservation strategy in a dramatically changing environment. To help bring this to life, we ran activities on the stand including a packed ‘Talk to a Tanasote® Treater’ session featuring Francois Amorison, director of the Belgian company, Durwood. We have supported Carrefour International du Bois for over two decades and look forward to future events.”
Treated Wood
- Invest In e Best
The alternative to creosote, Tanasote® provides long-lasting protection to industrial, high-performance timbers.
The globally trusted wood preservative brand, Tanalith® E is especially suited for external building applications and outdoor timbers, both in ground contact and above the ground.
Metal-free and VOC-free, Tanalith® MF has been designed to protect out-of-ground contact timber commodities. It is perfect for sensitive applications and comes with a range of vibrant built-in colour options.
A Decade of Growth
As prolific BSW Timber CEO Tony Hackney retires and his 30-year career in the sector comes to an end. What is his legacy and what can we expect next from one of the UK’s biggest names is timber?
Tony Hackney has been the figurehead of BSW for more than 15 years, having joined as Chief Executive Officer in late 2008 before stepping into the role of UK Chairman last year. But the last 10 years in particular saw Tony preside over a period of unprecedented growth in size, scale and output from the company.
Not only did turnover increase from approximately £100million annually to over £900million, but this period also saw BSW’s reach and influence stretch across the supply chain and wider timber industry. BSW was already a major stakeholder in the timber supply chain, but the variety of key businesses acquired in the last decade means that the group now has a hand in every part of process. From a standalone timber manufacturer, Tony spearheaded BSW’s transformation into a fully integrated forestry and timber business, seamlessly spanning
every stage of the process, encompassing tree nurseries, forest management, timber harvesting and production.
2015 saw the acquisition of Tilhill Forestry, which provided BSW with a forest management offering, while the 2019 purchase of Maelor Forest Nurseries, the UK’s foremost growers of coniferous and broadleaf trees, enabled BSW to supercharge the valuable scientific work that the nursery achieves.
Then in 2020 the significant challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic made an unprecedented impact across industries, but steady yet agile management enabled BSW to weather the storm. BSW was able to continue its buying streak throughout the year with the acquisitions of Dick Brothers (the UK’s largest forestry harvesting company) and SCA Wood UK (now BSW Timber Solutions) – a manufacturer and distributor of timber products for home improvement and DIY retailers.
Despite global supply chain issues beginning to take effect the following year, in 2021, BSW strengthened its value-added processing capabilities and broadened its product offering by acquiring Bayram Timber – a key supplier into the caravan, leisure home and garden sectors. And, in 2022, BSW embarked on a joint venture with the industry-disrupting Power Sheds. Throughout these years, the strength of Tony’s associations with internal and external stakeholders was unparalleled. This was evident as he navigated the sale of BSW to private equity firm Endless in 2020, having previously held a strong relationship with the previous owners, the Brownlie family, particularly the late Sandy Brownlie.
A decade of fostering growth and increasing value also paid off 2022, when Tony steered BSW Group out of the Endless era and into being purchased by timber giant Binderholz. Tony’s leadership was vital, ensuring the smooth operation of the company during the transition.
What’s Next for BSW Group?
We hear from James Brennan, BSW Group’s Head of Marketing about a bright future for the timber industry. “After the turbulence of the last few years – with Brexit, the pandemic, the war on Ukraine and a number of other global factors –we’re now seeing a degree of stability across the timber and construction industries. There is a plateau in demand as the postpandemic boom in construction continues to calm, but consumer confidence, which had plummeted, has started to stabilise.
“Timber has been hit as hard as any construction material recently but should find itself in a much stronger position in the medium and long term. The commitment to supercharge UK housebuilding, recently announced by the new government, should be a source of encouragement for the whole industry, while the Timber in Construction Roadmap should be equally positive news for British timber in particular.
“One area we’re investing in is R&D, with Maelor Forest Nurseries, a member of BSW Group, working on several initiatives to improve future crops, which will help us become more self-
BSW then went on to acquire the award-winning Scott Pallets, the country’s leading, sustainable manufacturer of new, bespoke, and reconditioned timber pallets. The acquisition of Scott Pallets provided BSW with a link to its latest purchase, Pallet LOOP – the exciting circular economy pallet reuse business. Alongside enhancing its product and service offering for customers, this acquisition enables BSW Group to make the most of resources, as part of a key focus to improve sustainability practices and ESG goals.
The purchase of Scott Pallets, at the back end of 2022, also entered BSW into a joint venture with Allwood Recycling Solutions – another arm which further underlines the direction of travel for the business and its commitment to reducing waste across the supply chain.
Together with the team of expert businesses and brands, Tony forged a fully integrated supply chain, helping to unlock the
sufficient. A fantastic example of Maelor’s great work is the huge success they’ve seen in their research of ‘somatic embryogenesis’, which we’re looking forward to sharing more information on in the near future.
“We’re also continuing to focus on The Pallet LOOP, after the fantastic results we’ve seen since launching with British Gypsum earlier in the year. One of the biggest names in British construction, they were the first brand to commit to the service, ensuring that pallets are returned and reused after delivering products. This circular economy scheme incentivises businesses to sign up to our collection service, utilising RFID technology to make sure the iconic green pallets are put back into the loop, rather than ending up in landfill.
“All the above underpins our ongoing priority at BSW Group, which is continuing to promote the use of British timber, from the seed at Maelor to the sawn, recycled product at LOOP, as well as everything in between. This is something that the whole industry can get behind as it enhances sustainability by reducing our carbon footprint, while also improving the sector and UK economy as a whole.
full potential of timber and sustain long-term growth for the business. Formerly just BSW Timber, BSW Group now consists of that original sawmilling business, as well as Maelor Forest Nurseries, Tilhill Forestry, Dick Brothers, BSW Timber Solutions, Bayram Timber, Power Sheds, Scott Pallets, Pallet LOOP, Pallet 2 Packaging and Allwood Recycling Solutions, while also encompassing brands such as IRO Timber, BSW Composites, CarbonStore and Wood Fuel Direct.
On his retirement, Tony said: “Leading BSW through challenging times has been a fantastic experience. I would like to thank all my colleagues and friends across the UK, Latvia and Slovenia for their extraordinary efforts in developing BSW during my period of stewardship. I have valued very highly the relationships with our loyal customers and suppliers and again thank them for their support. I wish you all every success in the future. I am very proud of the progress we have made, which has assisted in bringing
the company to the strong position it is in now. It presents a good moment for me to choose to retire from BSW to pursue my own business interests and spend more time with my family.”
More at www.bsw.co.uk
Tony Hackney, CEO, BSW
Transform Your Operations
Combilift continues to innovate across the material handling market and has a number of new units available improving the way timber and logs are moved and transported.
Combilift has revolutionised the materialhandling sector by providing custom-made and space-saving material-handling solutions for over 26 years. Since the first unit was built in 1998, they have exported more than 85,000 units to over 85 countries.
The Irish-based manufacturer offers a wide range of multidirectional forklifts, pedestrian stackers, sideloaders, narrow aisle articulated trucks, container loaders, and straddle carriers. While catering to all industries, Combilift has a strong presence in the timber sector. The Combi-CB70E was revealed at last year’s Ligna event, showcasing the company’s dedication to this sector.
The fully electric Combi-CB70E is the shortest 7t capacity counterbalance truck on the market, while also featuring exceptional manoeuvrability. Its compact size and its sideways movement capability make it easier to navigate through tight spaces, narrow aisles, and transport packs of timber, and structural timber elements. This new model is equipped with award-winning independent traction, eliminating long-load momentum twisting when travelling sideways.
damage but is incredibly fast compared to other methods – a 40’ container can be fully loaded by one operator in under six minutes.
To reduce driver strain, it also features a gas strut suspension cab, and a patent-pending auto swivel seat, which automatically swivels the seat and armrest 15° to the right or left following the direction of travel.
Recently launched at EXPO Richmond 2024, the Combi-CLL Log Loader is designed specifically to tackle the tricky demands of the forestry industry. The concept and operation of the Combi-CLL is based on that of the Combi-CSS (Container Slip Sheet), which has been successfully deployed across numerous industries for the mechanised loading of long products such as packs of timber into containers. This not only reduces the risk of accidents to the workforce and product
The 30t capacity electro-hydraulically powered Combi-CLL offers the same benefits when it comes to speed, safety and product integrity It was designed to address the requirements of exporters of softwood and hardwood logs, the nature and shape of which make them much trickier to handle than palletised or packed products. Logs can be individually lifted and pre-loaded into a robust, high-sided metal ‘tub’ before the patented push-pull mechanism powers the tub into the container. Once inside, the hydraulic dropdown hatch is closed and locked into position to hold the logs securely in place, and the tub is retracted to allow the logs to settle within the container.
Combi-CB70E’s compact size and its sideways movement capability make it easier to navigate through tight spaces and narrow aisles, while transporting long and bulky loads such as packs of timber
The Combi-CSS Container Slip-sheet is designed to load and offload containers quickly and safely. It has a maximum capacity of 30t and can complete a full 40ft container load cycle in under six minutes with just one operator
01482
Don’t Be a Dust Devil
Keeping your working environment clean and safe is essential in the woodworking world and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has once again reiterated its importance with its ongoing ‘Dust Kills’ campaign.
Dust particles from sanding, sawing, and drilling pose untold health hazards for those working daily in these tasks, therefore protecting woodworkers’ long-term health is hugely important. For those business owners and managers that fail to see this – or ignore their responsibilities and duty of care – penalties are severe.
Wood dust can cause serious and often irreversible health problems, including sinonasal cancer, asthma, as well as dermatitis. As wood dust is hazardous to health, employers have a legal responsibility to prevent or adequately control exposure in the workplace.
To protect workers, throughout 2023 and 2024 HSE are inspecting a variety of woodworking businesses, as part of its strategy to reduce cases of work-related ill health,
and to combat the devastating impact occupational lung disease has on workers’ lives. Inspectors will check that woodwork is planned correctly to minimise risk and that adequate control measures are in place to protect workers’ health.
In 2022/23, HSE carried out more than 1,000 woodworking inspections and found 78% of businesses were not compliant in protecting workers from respiratory sensitisers (primarily hardwood, softwood and composite material’s dust). This resulted in 402 enforcement actions taken by HSE. The main areas of concern identified by HSE were:
1. Dry sweeping. Avoid dry sweeping and using compressed airlines when cleaning up as these will just create dust clouds and redistribute the dust. Use vacuum equipment that meets at least the dust class M (medium hazard) classification, or a suction hose attached to the LEV system
2. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). Control wood dust at source as it is produced, and prevent it spreading into the workplace, by the use of fixed LEV
3. Face fit testing. Workers have varying sizes and shapes of faces, so a face ‘fit test’ is needed to ensure any tight-fitting respirator is effective for the individual worker. Facial hair or glasses tend to lift the respirator off the face and permit inward leakage of contaminated air
4. Health Surveillance. Woodworking employers have a legal duty to provide health surveillance as there is a disease associated with wood dust.
The HSE provides many resources for understanding and implementing compliance, with staff training, risk management, monitoring employee health and keeping records all part of business owners responsibilities.
Wood dust is hazardous to health and is covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). These set out the legal requirements to protect workers from health risks arising from hazardous substances at work. Under COSHH, employers (including contractors) have a duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and take steps to ensure they prevent or adequately control exposure.
The best way for you to do this is to control the dust at source as it is produced, and prevent it spreading into the workplace, using fixed local exhaust ventilation (LEV). As fine wood dust is generated it becomes suspended in air and capturing the dust is all about controlling the movement of this dusty air. This can be difficult as the high-speed rotating blades and cutters of woodworking machines act like fans and generate strong air movements.
Extraction reminders
Provide dust extraction at woodworking machines to capture and remove dust before it can spread.
Design the extraction system to take into account:
• the number and type of machines to be connected to it, the ones that are used together and the layout of the workshop or factory. This information should be supplied by the user.
• the machine manufacturer’s information or an experienced body’s information on air flow and extraction cross-sectional areas or volume flow rates (VFR) required for each extraction connection for each machine.
Northampton-based Target Furniture pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and was fined £14,700 and ordered to pay £4,869.46 in costs at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 3 April 2024.
The HSE visited Target Furniture workshop on Studland Road in Kingsthorpe, Northampton on 26 May 2022 and found significant amounts of wood dust around the site and unsafe machinery, requiring Prohibition Notices to be issued. Deposits of the dust were found in the sawmill and around most of the woodworking machines, exposing the firm’s employees to potentially harmful consequences.
Educate workers about the risks from wood dust and the control measures required. They should know how to use the extraction properly. Fitting air flow indicators will help, as these will show them if it is working correctly, for example if dampers are open or shut and also if maintenance is required. Keep the extraction system properly maintained and working correctly (it is a legal requirement to have it examined by a competent person at least every 14 months). Follow the extraction manufacturer’s guidance for maintenance requirements. Never sweep up or use compressed air lines as this will disturb the dust and allow it to become inhaled. Always clean up using a suitable industrial vacuum cleaner that at least meets the Class M classification. For very dusty jobs such as sanding, additional protection may be needed and a suitable face mask should be worn as well as using the extraction. Remember these rules and regulations should fit alongside wider health and safety obligations and are designed to protect employees, reduce risk of serious health conditions plus reduce the possibility of fire and explosion. Compliance is non-negotiable and a responsibility that cannot be ignored. More at www.workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/wood-dust
HSE inspectors found that workers at Target Furniture Limited were also dry sweeping wood dust despite the company purchasing a vacuum cleaner which could take the dust particles out of the room. This further exposed them to wood dust.
A subsequent investigation found the company failed to adequately control and prevent its workers’ exposure to wood dust. They had been visited by HSE four times in six years, leading to advice and enforcement including an Improvement Notice in relation to controlling staff’s exposure to wood dust. Despite this, the firm had an inadequate extraction system on woodworking machinery that was not properly capturing
wood dust and they had not provided adequate respiratory protective equipment to protect their workers from wood dust.
HSE inspector Nicholas Moreby said: “The fine imposed on Target Furniture Limited should underline to everyone in the woodworking industry that the courts, and HSE, take a failure to control exposure to harmful substances such as wood dust, and to follow the regulations, extremely seriously. Wood dust can cause serious health problems and all businesses need to protect their workers’ respiratory health. We will not hesitate to take action against companies which do not do all that they should to keep people safe.”
Company fined after HSE inspection finds wood dust failures
Don’t Ignore Your Responsibilities
IThe EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will impact all businesses trading in timber. With it soon entering force, Maggie FitzHerbert, Senior Responsible Sourcing Manager at the Soil Association, offers some keys way to prepare.
f you are trading in timber and wood-based products, now is the time to become better prepared for its introduction. Published in June 2023 with an 18-month implementation period, the EUDR and its full requirements will come into force on 30 December this year, when businesses within the EU or supplying into the EU or Northern Ireland, must ensure the timber and wood-based products they trade in are legally and sustainably sourced and are verifiably deforestation and degradation-free.
For those in the timber industry, this means confirming that their products – sawn timber, wood-based materials, paper and furniture – do not originate from land deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020, and that they comply with the environmental and social laws of the specific country of production. This will include pursuing a thorough due
diligence process tracking the entire supply chain and providing data that demonstrates compliance with the EUDR.
The level of due diligence required in a country will depend on the risk category (‘low’, ‘standard’ or ‘high’) assigned to it by the EU. Currently, all countries, including the UK are categorised as ‘Standard’ risk so a full due diligence system (DDS) is required. Penalty fees for non-compliance will be severe and include fines of 4% based on annual turnover, with products potentially seized and prohibited from entering the EU market.
Why does this affect UK businesses?
UK businesses with operations in the EU, or customers within the EU, need to have a comprehensive understanding of their supply chains. As the 30 December 2024 implementation date approaches, businesses
Maggie FitzHerbert, The Soil Association
Leading the way in Structural Insulated Panel Technology
SIP BUILDING SYSTEMS
SIP Building Systems (SBS) have been at the forefront of Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) technology for over 10 years and were one of the first manufacturers to gain BBA Certification.
Drawing on over 60 years of experience in the composite panel industry, SBS can produce SIPS with a range of finishes up to 6,250mm in length, with thicknesses ranging from 75mm – 250mm. Our ability to produce bespoke panels to meet the exacting demands of construction clients across all sectors, gives SBS a leading advantage over our competitors. We continuously invest in production technology to advance the development of the Structural Insulated Panel industry.
Delivering Structural Strength and Enhanced Performance
• Fast Track Construction Method
• Environmentally Sustainable Solution
• Creates Energy Efficient Buildings
• Delivers Programme and Cost Certainty
• Offers Design Flexibility
• Delivers Exceptional Thermal and Acoustic Performance
• Reduces Thermal Bridging and Ongoing Operational Costs
• Creates Habitable Roof Space
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BBA APPROVED SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SOLUTIONS
must take proactive steps to ensure compliance by implementing robust due diligence systems, engaging with stakeholders, training staff and staying informed about updates or changes to the EUDR and related regulations.
Within the EUDR there are also new definitions of timber ‘operators’ and ‘traders’ so compliance may require significant adjustments to existing supply chain management practices with additional costs related to verification and documentation. New demands on UK companies will include them having to share geolocation data and harvest dates of their wood-based products to allow EU customers to comply with the EUDR, so UK companies will receive data requests on their product origins. Within Northern Ireland,
the EUDR may be applied under the NI Protocol, but Defra and the European Commission have not made a statement about its application yet.
What should UK companies be doing now?
Everyone trading and processing timber must understand their exposure to the EUDR. This means knowing whether products you trade are in scope of the EUDR and could end up on the EU market further down the supply chain. You should review and revise your company procedures and policies to make sure that your operational activities, risk assessments, due diligence and traceability systems are up to date. This may require educating, training and raising awareness throughout your organisation and employing additional resources if needed.
As things progress throughout 2024, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the EUDR and plan how your business will implement changes. It is essential to engage your suppliers to map your supply chain to gather information such as harvest date and geolocation as it is needed by companies trading in the EU. More at www.soilassociation.org/certification/forestry/ responsible-sourcing
The EUDR is an evolving process with complex implications. Both FSC and PEFC offer pathways to EUDR alignment.
In July, FSC published the FSC Regulatory Module, an updated FSC Risk Assessment Framework, and various Advice Notes to ‘operationalise’ these changes. These changes are immediately effective for users of the FSC Regulatory Module.
The FSC Regulatory Module and FSC Risk Assessment Framework comprise FSC Aligned Certification for EUDR, along with system-wide updates to align with the intention of the Policy to Address Conversion. The Risk Assessment Framework and other system-wide changes are also applicable for Certificate Holders not affected by EUDR.
Following its approval by the PEFC General Assembly, PEFC ST 2002-1:2024, Requirements for the Implementation of PEFC EUDR Due Diligence System (PEFC EUDR DDS), was also published in July. This module standard will support organisations in demonstrating compliance with the EUDR.
Certification schemes and their inherent Chain of Custody help meet due diligence requirements, but it must be remembered that these do not give companies exemption from following their own specific EUDR responsibilities. While EUDR compliance may present technical challenges, the long-term benefits are a better protected, healthy forest resource and confidence that the timber in the supply chain is legally and responsibly sourced.
Certification & EUDR Alignment
Geolocation data and harvest dates will need to be shared for EUDR compliance
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Time for More Trees
AWith two chipboard manufacturing sites located in Hexham and Auchinleck, EGGER (UK) are at the forefront of board manufacture and recently called for a step change in thinking surrounding raw material supply.
House of Commons Committee report, published in 2023, stated that woodland cover would need to be significantly expanded in the UK to address predicted shortfalls in the supply of domestically produced softwood timber, and that the UK Government had committed to planting 30,000 hectares of new woodland by 2024-25.
With current Government planting targets not being met, the wood panel industry, aligned with the forestry sector and other key stakeholders, continue to advocate the necessary investment in the UK to create a more self-sufficient productive timber supply. This critical investment will support jobs and help to ensure sustainable, lower carbon construction, and protect long term material supply to key commercial, construction and furniture industries across the UK.
Sustainable and productive forestry creates a vibrant rural economy, providing tens of thousands of skilled, well-paid jobs across the UK. The forestry industry’s contribution to the economy, particularly to the rural economy, is significant, supporting jobs, generating gross output, and contributing to GDP. Directly and indirectly, forestry activity in the UK was shown to support some 33,000 jobs, and to generate a Gross Value added (GVA) across both primary wood processing and forestry of £2.85billion in 2023.
EGGER supports forest regeneration through multi-species tree planting, improving the biodiversity of forests and enhancing wildlife and water quality. Mixed forests are more resilient to pests, diseases, and climatic disturbances, contributing to long-term carbon storage potential and supporting higher levels of biodiversity. As part of its sustainable operations, EGGER has a buying strategy that focuses on sourcing 90% of its wood supply from within 100 miles of its plants.
“As a society we need wood, to build and furnish our homes, to package our goods, to write and print on, and in the UK, coniferous forests fulfil some of that need,” says Max McLaughlan, Head of Wood Purchasing and Forestry at EGGER (UK), emphasising the importance of tree planting. “A modern forest is made up of many tree species as well as open space and provides multiple benefits for everyone. A place to walk, ride your bike and enjoy nature, but also to grow the timber that we all need. At EGGER we use some of that
timber to make useful and long-lived products that can be recycled at the end of their use to keep the carbon locked up for decades. We all need wood – we should grow much more of it.”
The World Bank estimates a quadrupling of global timber demand by 2050, with the UK also expecting to see a rise in demand, particularly due to the previous government’s commitment to promoting timber use in construction as part of the UK’s Net Zero Strategy. The UK’s softwood timber supply is projected to fall behind demand, raising concerns about future timber security. The UK grows less than one-fifth of the wood it uses. Many people are unaware that 80% of wood used in the UK for production purposes is imported. In fact, in 2021, Britain was the third largest net importer of wood in the world.
“The wood-based panel industry is commercially and environmentally significant to the wider UK economy,” says Andrew Laidler, Sales Director, Decorative Products, for EGGER UK & Ireland. “With touch points across critically important commercial and consumer
“As a society we need wood, to build and furnish our homes, to package our goods, to write and print on, and in the UK, coniferous forests fulfil some of that need.”
Max McLaughlan, Head of Wood Purchasing and Forestry, EGGER (UK)
market sectors, it is an essential supply chain vital for economic success and environmental security for the country. It is imperative that the government recognises the importance of supporting and improving productive timber planting targets, in order to maintain timber availability to important markets that simply could not exist without supply from the wood panel industry, which in turn could not survive without a reliable timber supply.”
EGGER is committed to promoting sustainable forestry. The wood used in production comes from 100% verified legal and controlled sources according to ISO 38200. Certification (by independent certification bodies FSC and PEFC plus ISO38200) ensures EGGER’s conformity with environmental and social standards.
Sawmill by-products, namely hack chips, sawdust and industrial roundwood, are used in its chipboard production plants based in
Northumberland and Ayrshire, alongside recycled wood, which is collected and sorted by its subsidiary company Timberpak. These by-products would otherwise be burnt, used as animal bedding or go to landfill. EGGER Group has signed up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and also has its own
Hails ‘Remarkable’ New Timber Figures
The economic impact of the forestry and wood sector in Scotland has continued to increase, with new statistics revealing that it is worth £1.1billion and employs more than 34,000 people. On a visit to West Fraser Confor’s Chief Executive, Stuart Goodall said the figures – announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes – were a ‘remarkable’ achievement in the face of major challenges and reflected growing demand for wood as a low-carbon material. The independent study says more than 34,000 jobs are supported by the forestry and wood sector in Scotland – compared to 25,867 in the last study, published in September 2015. The economic impact of £1.1billion was up from £954million in 2015.
Confor CEO Stuart Goodall said: “It’s good news for Scotland that this increasingly important industry has experienced such strong growth. To have increased levels of employment by 30% and annual economic impact by more than 15% is remarkable in the face of unprecedented economic challenges. It is testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the people working in the sector, and the growing demand for wood as a low carbon material.”
Goodall praised Confor members – including West Fraser, based at Dalcross, near Inverness and hosts for the visit by Kate Forbes – for its part in securing the strong numbers. George Webb, European Purchasing Director for West Fraser, added: “It’s highly appropriate that the Deputy First Minister announced these positive new figures at Dalcross, which has seen the largest investment in any UK wood processing site over the last decade.
“Around £200million has been invested in world-leading technology at the plant, to increase production capacity and meet growing European demand for oriented strand board (OSB). This investment illustrates West Fraser’s commitment to our Scottish workforce and supply chain. Across our two sites in Scotland, at Dalcross and at Cowie in Stirlingshire, we now employ 500 people directly and substantially more in the supply chain.”
ambitious climate strategy to drastically reduce its climate-impacting emissions (both in its own production processes and those up and down the supply chain), with the ultimate target of Net Zero 2050.
The mill at Dalcross is the largest of its kind in Europe and produces around 750,000 cubic metres of OSB each year and uses more than a million tonnes of wood fibre. West Fraser is currently working with the Scottish Government to identify funding to improve the supply chain further by creating a rail link to transport materials in and out of the Dalcross site, using a freight line spur from Dalcross Inverness Airport railway station, which opened last year.
The independent study on the Economic Impact of Forestry in Scotland was completed by Frontline, Stantec and Evolving Forests on the behalf of Scottish Forestry, the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations. Scottish Forestry’s Head of Economics Pat Snowdon said: “Forestry is often called a ‘hidden industry’ because there are so many small businesses placed in remote areas working throughout the sector. This comprehensive economic study covers a multitude of forestry activities and their important contribution towards boosting the economy of Scotland. The findings provide a snapshot of the different ways forestry generates income and employment across Scotland.”
Sustainable Panels for Skylon
TA ‘living lab’ created for tomorrow’s sustainability engineers at NMITE’s Skylon campus is unique for many reasons – not least its timber-based design and insulated panels.
Created by a cohort of young designers, the campus building is biophilic, an exemplar of advanced timber construction techniques and a ‘living lab’, as well as being an educational space. Knauf Insulation products were used in the bespoke, timber frame wall panels constructed offsite by specialists Taylor Lane.
Experimental and high performing
NMITE is a higher-education provider that has been created from the ground up by its founders, teachers, donors, and a cohort of young designers. Its goal is to give young people a path to becoming integrated engineers that are ‘sustainability conscious’ and ready to find solutions for achieving net zero. NMITE needed a campus that facilitated its unconventional style of teaching and reflected the aspirations of the institution. Sustainability was an important goal, as was using biophilic design – used to increase the building occupants’ sense of connection to the natural environment.
As well as making the campus itself an object for students to learn more about timber construction, NMITE wanted the site to be a ‘living lab’. Sensors would be used to monitor the campus’ structural, acoustic, and thermal performance, with the intention of sharing this data with the industry to develop
insights. This meant creating a building that was as high performing as it was experimental.
Educational panel
Knauf Insulation’s products were used for the prefabricated panels supplied for the construction of the building. Taylor Lane built 20 panels using a selection of non-standard materials and techniques specified by NMITE to demonstrate different approaches to students. Although each panel was unique, they all had a 240mm cavity that was insulated with OmniFit® Slab 35. The insulated panels were then craned into position before being attached to the building. Some were attached to the cross laminated timber (CLT) frame, others to steel, so that students could readily observe even more varied approaches to construction.
Sustainable performance
OmniFit® Slab 35 is a glass mineral wool slab designed for use in both timber and steel frame constructions. Its thermal conductivity is 0.035 W/mK, and OmniFit® Slabs also provide sound insulation, a crucial feature for a busy workshop and educational space. “We chose OmniFit® Slab 35 for this project for several reasons. Its thermal and acoustic performance was important, but we also knew that, in the spirit of the project, we wanted to use materials that were sustainable. Glass mineral wool can be made from recycled glass
and has low embodied carbon,” explained Knauf Contracts Director, Paul Harris. Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool is manufactured in the UK at its plant in St Helens. Up to 80% of the glass content comes from recycled glass collected locally and processed in the Veolia plant opposite the factory. About 60,000 tonnes are processed every year, and through smart compression packaging and local production, about 375,000 road miles are saved on transport annually. These factors contribute to glass mineral wool having the lowest levels of embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation material.
Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT)
The campus building is now home to students of CATT and the Centre for Automated Manufacturing (CAM). NMITE’s vision of an experimental, educational, sustainable, biophilic and functional campus has blossomed, thanks to the work of contractors Speller Metcalfe and Taylor Lane. Knauf Insulation’s OmniFit® Slab 35 has played a small but significant role, providing thermal and acoustic performance using a sustainable material, for an institution dedicated to teaching environmentally conscious engineers. More at www.knaufinsulation.co.uk
www.taylor-lane.co.uk
New Routes Preparation
Timber transport is a critical component of the forestry industry in the UK, linking forest operations to markets and processing facilities. Nine new projects in Scotland will provide much needed upgrades.
A£2 million timber transport boost will improve timber transport in Scotland and will be funded by Scottish Forestry. £800,000 has been allocated to the projects which include upgrades to existing fragile rural roads, creating passing places or building short routes to take timber traffic away from people’s homes.
A further £1.2million has already been committed to funding ongoing initiatives including the TimberLINK coastal shipping project, a three-year electric timber lorry trial and a network of regional timber transport officers across Scotland.
“Scotland’s forests and woodlands are a powerhouse in providing economic growth for the country,” said Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon. “Around £1billion is currently generated every year and the forest industries support 25,000 jobs, many of which are in rural parts of Scotland. With around 7 million tonnes of timber being produced each year by our forests, I’m keen to support the sector get their timber to market safely and reduce any disruption to communities. I’m also keen to promote ways which can help decarbonise the way timber is moved and look for new solutions in transporting timber in a way that lessens the impacts on the environment.” Amongst the new projects are:
• Dumfries and Galloway Council: Seventeen passing places to be added on a single-track road (C102a) which is used by local people and timber lorries.
• Fountains Forestry: creating a new route at Moss of Cree which will provide safe access and transport of timber at Lamachan and Carty Bridge on the C15W public road.
• Aberdeenshire Council: improvements to a carriageway from Birsemore to Dinnet Bridge which is also a popular commuting route to several local forest businesses.
• Scottish Borders Council: Upgrading to the B6357 to improve the capacity of the road which is forecast to carry more than 800,000 tonnes of timber over the next decade.
• Highland Council: The U1019 Bohenie Road will see improvements to allow 45,000 tonnes of timber moved over the next 10 years.
The TimberLINK project operates around Argyll and Ayrshire using ships instead of timber lorries to move around 100,000 tonnes of timber to wood processors. The three-year electric timber lorry trial is nearing its first year and it is exploring how well two lorries can handle the logistics of moving timber around in the south of Scotland and Highlands.
The network of Regional Timber Transport Groups and the Timber Transport Forum will also
continue to be funded. These groups and staff provide a critical liaison between communities, local authorities, the forestry industry, and Scottish Forestry to assist with timber transport issues.
“The Strategic Timber Transport Scheme has transcended its original aims,” said Dr William Clark, Scottish Forestry’s Forest Transport & Innovation Advisor. “Whilst still delivering its core benefits of reducing the impacts of timber haulage on Scotland’s communities, it has also become a focal point for innovation and collaboration across a diverse range of stakeholders. Local authorities, forest industry businesses, communities, various agencies and government are all working together on this towards the common goal of a sustainable future.”
The Strategic Timber Transport Fund pays for a contribution to the full costs of the projects, with the remainder being paid for by the applicant.
To date £86million funding support for timber transport projects across Scotland has been invested over the past 25 years realising projects worth £130million through co-funding partnerships, helping 575 projects get timber to market whilst reducing the impacts of more than 1 billion tonnes of timber on communities and improving the environment.
Cutting Edge Thinking
As David De Jong, CEO and Co-Founder of VonWood points out, timber businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from technology and digital transformation.
igital platforms are empowering timber businesses of all sizes with access to real-time market data and streamlined processes and this transformation is essential for a more equitable and dynamic timber industry. Timber buyers and sellers have historically faced considerable barriers to accessing market information and efficient supply chains, often missing out on economic benefits. The emergence of digital platforms promises to revolutionise this industry, providing businesses with the tools they need to compete on a larger scale and thrive in an ever-growing market.
In many traditional industries, outdated methods create significant barriers. The timber industry exemplifies this, with businesses heavily reliant on manual processes that hinder access to quality timber, fair prices, and crucial information. A conversation with a close friend in the timber trade highlighted these inefficiencies, sparking the idea for a digital solution to transform the market. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these problems, with timber prices soaring and businesses locked into high-rate contracts, underscoring the urgent need for digital transformation.
Since the early 2000s, major innovations have stalled, leaving the industry lagging in digitisation. According to a McKinsey article – ‘Data: The next wave in forestry productivity’ – the industry has seen limited technological advancement, highlighting the critical need for modern solutions. Today, as
timber demand continues to grow – driven by construction booms and sustainability requirements – an efficient and transparent marketplace has become essential.
Digital platforms address core inefficiencies by enabling buyers to submit timber requests anonymously to multiple suppliers, ensuring market-based pricing. Suppliers from sawmills to local middlemen can place offers on these requests. Once an offer is accepted, the platform facilitates the transaction, provides financing options, and offers logistical support – services often invaluable to businesses that do not have the capital means or volume the bigger businesses have. This comprehensive approach creates more opportunities for all parties involved.
Leveraging technology, timber businesses can access the same market opportunities regardless of size. Real-time data on timber availability and pricing allow for informed purchasing decisions, levelling the playing field. Digitising the supply chain minimises errors and miscommunications, benefiting both buyers and suppliers. This democratisation of the timber market is crucial, especially as demand is expected to grow by 78% by 2025 according to Global Wood Markets UK.
The conservative nature of the timber industry initially met the introduction of digital marketplaces with scepticism. However, new technologies and innovations have demonstrated the value and efficiency of digital solutions, leading to increased engagement and adoption. Today, active users of these platforms are growing, with
significant interest from the Benelux, Nordics, Germany, France, and the UK.
The success of digital platforms in the timber industry highlights the universal need for a more efficient and transparent marketplace. The holistic approach combining a digital marketplace with comprehensive financial and logistical support is ideal as this method addresses multiple pain points, offering increased visibility and market access for buyers of all sizes.
Digitising the timber industry will have profound implications, similar to how services such as Uber and Booking.com have transformed their industries. Digital platforms allow buyers to source timber more efficiently and at fair prices, while suppliers enjoy streamlined operations and access to a larger market. A digital platform also reduces downtime and improves project timelines by ensuring quicker, hassle-free transactions. Value-added services, including data analysis and logistics solutions, provide critical insights and capabilities, particularly for smaller buyers who were previously disadvantaged.
As timber demand continues to rise, innovations in digitisation are crucial. Digital platforms aim to drive the timber industry toward a more efficient and transparent future. This digital transformation is not just a trend; it is a necessary evolution that empowers small timber businesses, fosters competition and promotes sustainable growth within the industry.
More at www.vonwood.com
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