REVIEW TIMBER EXPO 2021
Back on Track UK Construction Week (UKCW), the country’s largest built environment event, ended on a high after three days in October packed full of the latest innovations and products, networking opportunities and specialist seminars.
T
he first major live event of its kind since lockdown began,
Rebecca Walshe, marketing and media co-ordinator at Hanson
UKCW marked a turning point in the industry’s recovery
Plywood commented: “This year’s event was probably one of the best
post-COVID and provided insights into the future of the
years we have had in terms of engagement since we started attending the
built environment, including how progress is being made
show in 2015. Due to the pandemic, we had longer to plan, and with the
to tackle the big challenges around skills shortages, diversity, health
help of our new exhibition company we were able to create an innovative
and wellbeing, quality, safety and sustainability.
stand built from our own products that not only acted as an exhibition
The show was a great success and was attended by over 20,000 industry
stand, but also as a sculpture dedicated to our products.
professionals and 300 exhibitors showcasing more than 6,000 products,
“We had our specification advisor on the stand all week to promote
which included timber frames and panel systems, fixings and fastenings,
the Hanson RIBA Approved Plywood CPD and presented a sneak preview
timber cladding, doors and windows, mouldings, skirtings, flooring and
on how we target architects, designers and specifiers. We were also
more. There has already been strong interest from the timber sector to
advertising our new virtual showroom this year, and had the showroom
attend UKCW’s show in London in May 2022, and a record number of
loaded onto iPads on the stand.
exhibitor rebooks for UKCW at the NEC in Birmingham in October 2022. Timber Expo – the part of UKCW dedicated to timber construction, wood
“A lot of visitors either scanned the QR code on the side of our stand to view the showroom or used our iPads to view it. The response we received
products and related suppliers – saw particularly good footfall. This is the
was great: people were taking pictures, asking staff about the design,
UK’s largest showcase event for wood and timber in construction. It brought
engaging with us, and ultimately showing real interest in our products and
together opinion-shapers, decision-makers and product innovators across
work. Our stand then went on to win the award for the best open space
design, build and supply. Timber construction was also a high-profile topic in
stand! We are very proud and honoured to have won this award, it meant a
seminars discussing modern methods of construction and sustainability.
lot to us, and we will definitely be back showcasing at the show next year.”
Timber Expo exhibitors included Adkalis (a subsidiary of Groupe
Summarising this year’s show, Nathan Garnett, event director said: “This
Berkem in France), one of the major players in the protection, treatment
year’s show was an extra special one for me, and for many others that I had
and decoration of wood materials, which used the event to promote its
the pleasure of speaking to. We’ve had some really positive feedback and
100% organic microemulsion guaranteed to preserve wood’s natural state
I’m incredibly grateful to all our guests that attended and helped to make it
and longevity through bio-based materials.
the success that it was. Timber and the use of wood in construction is, and
DHS International from the Netherlands promoted its popular European
will increasingly be, a major player when it comes to the future of sustainable
Oak and Siberian Larch hardwood beams and boards, pine and spruce timber,
construction, a key theme of this year’s event. The use of wood materials in
and finished product wooden panels. Among the major UK brands at the show,
construction and the calibre and innovative nature of products in the sector has
PRO-TEK Flooring launched new products, with 28 new styles, including 12
made great strides over these last couple of years. It was fantastic to see some
herringbone patterns expanding its ever-growing range of designs.
of them in action at Timber Expo, as well as the high levels of engagement and
One of the most prominent exhibitors at the show, Hanson Plywood,
enthusiasm from visitors, all helping to really drive this change forwards.”
used the event to unveil its state-of-the-art virtual showroom, one of the first of its kind in the industry. Hanson won UK Construction Week’s ‘Best
To find out more about 2022’s events go to
Open Space Stand’ award with its innovative stand and use of space.
www.ukconstructionweek.com
Timber Construction Magazine
Winter 2021
30
www.timbermedia.co.uk
@Timber_Media
