A YEAR IN TIMBER

move more than 400 colleagues as part of an acquisition, but we’ve engaged with them every step of the way and this positivity led to a successful year for both Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) and for the Donaldson Group.

The blend of companies within the Donaldson Group, and the vision and ambition of the business, have supported a lot of growth in 2022. We created the Donaldson Offsite division, encompassing DTS, Donaldson Timber Engineering (DTE), Donaldson Door Systems (DDS), and Donaldson Direct (DD), which is a strong and timely offering for the industry as we all look at incorporating modern methods of construction (MMC) into new developments.

And in just this first year, we have grown and continued to invest in greater capacity and capabilities to meet customer demand. We opened a new DTE branch in Exeter to increase our geographical reach to fill a previous gap in the South West, we’ve invested in increased capabilities for doorsets and staircases at DDS and we’ve invested heavily in automation and robotics capabilities at DTS. This ambition has also assured our existing customers that they remain in capable and reliable hands, and it demonstrates our market leadership to new customers.

All of this growth and continued investment strengthen our position as we deal with current market challenges. While there is no question that many of our customers operate in the slowed-down housing market, there is reason to be hopeful that the current downturn will be shorter than those we’ve experienced in the past. We’re already seeing trends that suggest the market will be recovering by the end of 2023, and certainly into 2024. Mortgage products, for example, are much more readily available and affordable now than they were even one month ago.

These objectives are especially pertinent in the affordable housing sector, which we are working closely with to drive continued quality and performance standards. We’ve continued to increase our engagement with this market, most recently with appointments to the Off-Site Homes Alliance (OSHA) national construction framework and the Building Better dynamic purchasing system.

As part of the OSHA framework, we will work closely with 23 local authorities and housing associations nationally to design, manufacture and install timber frame wall panel building systems. With a fabric first approach that achieves net zero operational carbon, housing providers can use DTS’ timber systems to create sustainable, resilient, and affordable homes that meet the Future Homes Standard, as well as build speed, fabric performance, building design and cost requirements.

Building Better is an alliance of 30 housing associations and councils supported by the National Housing Federation with the objective to ensure its members have access to a variety of MMC solutions as it aims to produce approximately 5,000 MMC properties by 2026. DTS’ appointment will support this objective by increasing the number of timber frame homes constructed.

The sector is already engaged in timber frame, and wants to incorporate MMC into its plans, so it’s vital that we facilitate these demands. Affordable housing is crucial in the UK, and it’s important that these homes are built with long term performance in mind. Timber frame is one of the most effective construction methods for guaranteeing that performance.

www.donaldsontimberengineering.co.uk

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As one family business joined with another, the transition has been straightforward, largely because the culture and approach of the two companies were similar. It’s not easy to

And we’re encouraged by our customers’ five-year strategies and longer-term plans, which have remained unchanged. While they are adapting to short term challenges, we know that timber is key to meeting their longerterm objectives, particularly around sustainability and energy performance.

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