When the UK timber frame industry talks up its ‘product’ and its growing popularity with everyone from architects and local authorities, to housing associations and self-builders, you’re tempted to respond “they would say that wouldn’t they”.
But there’s growing evidence that timber frame suppliers are not just talking the talk – they’re also expressing confidence in the market by putting hard cash where their mouths are.
We’ve already seen major investment from the bigger boys, with Stewart Milne, Pace Timber Systems and Robertson Timber Kit between them investing over £20m in the past four years. Now the evidence points to a second wave of spending and a growing level of activity among SMEs. It reflects not just the growth of the market, but also its increasing ‘democratisation’. Timber frame’s appeal is broadening to a wider slice of the house and commercial building sectors.
Clear evidence of companies’ willingness to put their hands in their pockets came at a recent open house at Liverpool machinery supply specialist JJ Smith. The company is an established name in wood processing technology, but more recently it’s also built a reputation for machinery for the timber frame sector, including its own equipment.
“We got 110 people at the open day,” said managing director Martin Smith. “That reflects the fact we’re now a significant player in this business and the state of trade in timber frame overall. Previously we’ve shown timber frame equipment as part of our general open house. This year we dedicated a day to the market – and this is down to demand. Companies are buying an initial level of equipment then coming back for more.”
The kit on show reflected an industry increasingly open to new generation computerised and automated technology. The day kicked off with a presentation by construction software specialists Consultec of its Whole House Engineering timber frame design and engineering system, which allows manufacturers and designers to generate structural and engineering calculations as an integral part of the design process. A focus was the CAD/CAM facility, with component cutting instructions communicated direct to machinery.
Smith also presented its optimising software controls used with an H&M Anglemaster and Panhans beam saw for framing and sheet materials cutting. Other demos included framing material cutting with the Anglemaster in conjunction with an ink-jet printer to mark panel identifiers and stud positions and a panel assembly table using laser guidance to ensure precision and uniformity. It wasn’t quite load sheet materials and timber one end and timber frame panels automatically emerge at the other, but it was heading that way.
Another focus was technology for timber construction using Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs (see p60). This included JJ Smith’s own SIP profiling machine used to angle and carve precise channels in the panel’s insulating foam to accommodate services and connectors.
Among the companies eyeing all the hardware with interest was Acacia. It was a case in point of a timber frame producer investing to keep pace with the market. The company was launched by husband and wife team Julie and Jonathan McMullon. After just 12 months, with a number of Travel Lodges, a Choice Hotel and other significant projects under its belt and turnover topping £1m, it’s looking to move up a level. “First-year growth was almost double our business plan,” said Jonathan McMullon. “We’re looking to upgrade our facilities and move to a bigger site.”
Simon Orrells of Framewise also saw new technology as the way forward, not just for his business, but for the broader industry. “With the manufacturing and skills shortages in the UK, we need the equipment to grow capacity,” he said. “The good news is that cutting edge technology is not just the preserve of the big guys any more.”
The JJ Smith event was co-organised with the UK Timber Frame (UKTFA) and the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Associations who invited members to attend. “This industry is at 90% capacity; everywhere you look factories are going up and new machinery is going in,” said UKTFA chief executive Bryan Woodley. “And the market will grow faster in 2006 with developments with Part L, the cost implications of gas price rises for the block industry and a National Audit Office report on the cost-effectiveness of timber frame all playing in the sector’s favour. Companies are investing to keep pace – the chequebooks are out.”
