DURABILITY FOR YOUR GROUND CONNECTIONS

ALU START is the aluminium profile for ground connection of CLT and timber frame walls of any size. A unique system for tracking, levelling and raising the timber wall from the ground. It protects against capillary rising damp and transfers all shear, tensile compressive and lateral forces to the foundation without the need for additional plates.

The strength values are validated by comprehensive and reliable calculation models in accordance with the CE marking according to ETA-20/0835.

NEW TIMBER SKILLS ACTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE CONSTRUCTION NET-ZERO TARGETS

Timber Development UK (TDUK) has unveiled a comprehensive Timber Skills Action plan in partnership with the HCI Skills Gateway, aimed at equipping the UK construction industry with the necessary skills to increase the use of timber and achieve net-zero targets.

With the construction industry responsible for almost 40% of global emissions, and half of all materials extracted from the environment, experts have identified the use of timber as a key solution to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Engineered products like cross laminated timber can capture and store carbon in the built environment, resulting in a net benefit of 754kg CO2/m2 reduction compared to other forms of construction.

The Timber Skills Action plan provides an industry-agreed breakdown of the skills and knowledge required for building with timber. This will aid the development of training programmes and support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) progression, enabling built environment professionals to confidently incorporate timber into building designs.

David Hopkins, Chief Executive of TDUK, said: “Our ambition is to support every built environment professional to identify and address timber skills and knowledge gaps so the industry can make the best use of timber in construction. The construction industry faces a steep climb to achieve net zero targets as one of the worst-performing industries. Timber provides a ready-made solution that doesn’t rely on greenwashing, speculative innovations, or progress in other industries to deliver genuine carbon savings in the short and medium term. We now need the construction sector and government to hear this call to action.”

To address the skills gap, TDUK has built a coalition across industry, academia, and funders, creating the competency framework at the heart of the plan. The framework already underpins a set of short, practical courses developed by NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) in partnership with TDUK. The Timber TED (Technical Engineering & Design) courses provide comprehensive and flexible training for modern timber construction methods, enabling professionals to upskill and reskill in this critical area.

Kirsty Connell-Skinner, Programme

Manager at the HCI Skills Gateway, said: “This plan, led by HCI Skills Gateway using Scotland’s best practice, is an important step in the development of the UK-wide timber construction trade, as it allows us to set a national mission for the industry. The four UK nations have achieved different standards and progress within the sector, but this action plan has been built on the best practice, learning and thorough research by a strong group of partners, and serves as a collaborative way of moving forward.” www.timberdevelopment.uk www.HCIskills.org

Timber provides solutions for affordable, energy-efficient housing, national retrofit targets, and net-zero public sector buildings. With the launch of the Timber Skills Action plan, the UK construction industry can take a significant step towards achieving its net-zero targets and reducing its impact on the environment.

Accsys Appoints New Group Manufacturing And Projects Director

industries. Coming from a global company with presence in over 100 countries and manufacturing operations in over 40, Stephen is highly experienced in overseeing multi-national operations and sites.

Rob Harris, CEO, Accsys commented: “This newly created role is central to our ambitious growth plans to expand capacity and improve our operational offering to meet the significant market demand for our products. We have recently expanded our Arnhem, NL site, added a new Accoya Color® production facility in Wales and, this time next year, we plan to bring our first USA manufacturing site online.” wood to homeowners. The campaign features the first UK TV commercial to promote Accoya® wood.

Accsys, a global leader in wood technology announced that Stephen Cox has joined the company as Group Manufacturing and Projects Director. The new role supports and reinforces Accsys’ global expansion plans as well as the company’s commitment to, and drive for, achieving operational and project excellence.

Stephen joins Accsys from Coats PLC, a market leader in the manufacture and supply of high-quality sewing thread and zippers for use, amongst others, in the ready-made garment and footwear

Stephen Cox, Group Manufacturing and Projects Director said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Accsys at this exciting time as we embark on expanding our operations and developing our global reach. It’s a privilege to join a fast-growing and transformative business that is committed to a more sustainable world. I look forward to meeting the Accsys team and our partners and working together to create new opportunities.”

Accsys – the manufacturer of Accoya wood - also recently launched a new UK national advertising campaign, ‘Lasts a Lifetime’, highlighting the high performance of Accoya

The commercial aired from the 27 February on Sky, supported by digital advertising including YouTube and other social media channels. The campaign launched with a commercial on Sky TV targeting a subset of the homeowner market audience. This will be supported by digital ads running through the spring. The commercial was produced by RD Content. The commercial on Sky is expected to reach an audience of more than 3.1 million homeowners with an advert frequency of 5.5 million. It follows a young family’s life through the lens of an Accoya window, charting the ups and downs of a relationship between a father and his daughter over the years.

George Neel, Communications, Marketing and ESG director at Accsys: “Windows and doors are one of the biggest investments to add value to a home and choosing the right material is key. We want to ensure homeowners understand the durability and reliability benefits of Accoya and know that it lasts a lifetime.” www.accoya.com