New Face for Key Industry Supplier

As has been widely reported, Norbord UK is now part of West Fraser. With Norbord a very familiar name in the industry – who are West Fraser and what does the acquisition bring to the UK market and product range?

W

est Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States and Europe and was founded in 1955 when three brothers – Sam, Bill and Pete Ketcham – pooled their resources to buy a small planing mill in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. From responsibly-sourced and sustainably-managed forest resources, West Fraser produces timber, engineered wood (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, particleboard), and many other products including wood chips.

Norbord UK had many well-known brands and products in its range – but will these be changing or being developed into new brands under West Fraser? And will the move to West Fraser change the focus of the business in the UK and Europe?

“Absolutely nothing has changed for our customers,” says David Connacher, marketing manager, West Fraser. “The two companies are much aligned and share many common values, including a commitment to safety, efficient manufacturing facilities, a focus on continuous improvement and teamwork, as well as manufacturing sustainable products that are essential for a low-carbon economy. Product development and efficient supply chains will also be at the crux of the new organisation due to the merging of experienced teams. The people are the same, the products are the same, the plants are the same – Norbord Europe now becomes the European arm of West Fraser following the acquisition.”

The SterlingOSB Zero, CaberFloor, CaberFix and CaberWood MDF ranges are incredibly successful brands and are known and respected throughout the construction industry, so while the logo will change, the familiar brand names will remain.

“West Fraser’s high quality boards are available in a wide range of grades and, with minimal finishing required, speed up construction,” says David. “The products are incredibly versatile, offer value for money and have good environmental credentials with a low carbon footprint as all are made in the UK. In fact, all West Fraser panel products are net carbon negative and so can help the builder achieve sustainability targets. Support on a product and technical basis is provided as and when required through dedicated product support and technical advice teams.

David Connacher, marketing manager, West Fraser

“We supply all areas of the housebuilding and construction industry with West Fraser products and the merchant network is a vital part of our supply chain. The relationships we have built up with the merchants are important to us. We’ve adapted the way we work during the pandemic. Our base of merchants has reacted and we are working in tandem very well. We keep in touch with Zoom or Teams meetings – we are communicating much more, with more people in one place, and in much less time which is good for everyone.

“Merchants and suppliers alike now seem easier to access and results are quicker to realise. As the customers now order on a click-and-collect basis in the main, their online presence is crucial. In turn, we are supporting our customers with online sales and product training and, if a conversation is needed, our team is ready. The relationships we nurtured as Norbord have been taken over to West Fraser and the merchants have the reassurance of working with the same people.”

West Fraser Product Application: Roofing (OSB)

Getting buildings wind and watertight is a priority on any construction site so choosing a quick, easy to install, reliable and versatile roofing system is vital. High quality roof decking or pitched roof sarking is an essential component and oriented strand board (OSB) is now the preferred option for many. Unsurprisingly, given the product’s outstanding attributes, West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero OSB3 or SterlingOSB Zero T&G is frequently the first choice.

Ideal for structural use in load bearing dry or humid conditions, SterlingOSB Zero OSB3 offers great value and durability. Stronger than most softwood ply, thanks to its makeup of multiple layers of real wood strands pressed together, it is designed to withstand the toughest of conditions. Working with the boards is trouble free as they are uniform in quality with no knots, voids or delamination issues. Helping to cut waste, a range of panel sizes and thicknesses is available to suit all needs. The boards are square-edged so butt together easily and cleanly. Panels are cut and installed on a roof using conventional roofing equipment and are easy to saw, drill, nail or plane. Nails can be driven as close as 8mm from the panel edge without causing splitting. SterlingOSB Zero’s smooth surface gives improved adhesion qualities for all flat roofing applications and no sanding is required, even for GRP finishes. With all the advantages of the Sterling OSB Zero range, SterlingOSB Zero T&G is specifically designed for flat roofing and is BBA approved and fully compliant to BS 6229:2003. The panels are consistent and machined to exact tolerances. Reliable fixings are easily achieved across the board using 3mm diameter ring-shank nails or 50mm long screws at 100mm centres across the supporting joists. The tongue and groove profile helps increase the lifespan of the roof by reducing movement of the boards which could damage surface coverings.

Timber is a highly sustainable building material, and with the Sterling OSB Zero range, there is the added reassurance that the product’s environmental credentials are further enhanced. The panels are net carbon negative, responsibly sourced and FSC-certified. They are manufactured in the UK from locally grown timber, cutting embodied carbon from transportation. In addition, all West Fraser mills have obtained the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation. The Sterling OSB Zero range is also the first OSB product to be made in the UK with zero added formaldehyde, so it is an even ‘greener’ board that meets all standards with ease.