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Members News

Press releases from UKTFA member companies are listed here for your information. The copy is written by member companies and reflects their views. The UKTFA is not responsible for the content of these press releases or external websites.

To publish your news here, email press releases to: uktfa@lizmale.co.uk

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24 January 2008

Kingspan Off-Site, the Logical Choice

Kingspan Off-Site has relaunched its open panel timber frame systems and components as the Kingspan Logic Building System range. This move is timed to coincide with the relaunch of Kingspan Off-Site’s steel frame system, the Kingframe Building System, which will now be known as the Kingspan Metro Building System.

The new timber frame building system range comprises both the Kingspan Logic Open Panel and the Kingspan Logic Insulated Panel and will continue to offer the same excellent sustainable credentials and speed and flexibility of build as before.

The changes have been made to clarify Kingspan Off-Site’s product offering, which comprises a complete portfolio of off-site building solutions. The division provides a full range of timber frame options, including the SIP-based TEK Building System, the Optima Integrated Building System and the Kingspan Logic Building System, as well as truss and posi-joist components. The steel frame solutions include the Metro Building System as well as a range of façade and framing systems, profiles and sections.

In addition to the steel and timber frame products, Kingspan Off-Site also supplies a choice of architectural façade systems, a collection of low carbon technologies and a range of balcony offerings. The self-build specialist Potton is also part of the division, tailoring the Kingspan Off-Site solutions to the needs of the independent builder.

1 October 2007

Norbord is awarded UKTFA Q-Mark

Leading engineered wood-based panel products manufacturer, Norbord, has been awarded the UKTFA’s Q-Mark approval demonstrating the company’s high quality standards in the manufacture of products for the timber frame market.

The UKTFA scheme ensures the correct and safe building of timber frame, helping the industry to insure against potential damaging situations on site a result of poor quality and workmanship. As the industry continues to grow, the key message from the association is “only trust a Q-mark accredited supply source.”

Norbord’s range of panel products encompasses Sterling OSB, Caberboard particleboard, Caberdek flooring solution and Caberwood MDF.

Jim Caldwell, Norbord’s Technical Sales Manager, commented, “As a supplier member of UKTFA Norbord is both delighted and proud to offer its support to this growing industry. The Q mark initiative shows technical, product and environmental standards to be of the highest order throughout the supply chain."

For further information on Norbord products, please call 01786 812 921 or visit www.norbord.com.

12.February 2007

PRESTOPLAN MEETS GROWING DEMAND FOR TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION

Leading timber frame designer and manufacturer, Prestoplan, says more housing organisations are investing in modern methods of construction (MMC) as demand for affordable homes grows.

Five housing organisations recently joined forces to procure MMC solutions to speed up construction times across their developments in eastern England and have selected Prestoplan as one of two preferred timber frame suppliers.

East Thames Housing Group, Circle Anglia Housing Group, The Hyde Group/Minster Housing Association, Flagship Housing Group and Nene Housing Society came together to form the Procure East Partnership.

The goal of Procure East is to double its annual build programme, which currently stands at 600-750 homes a year, by taking full advantage of the improved process when building with MMC methods. It says MMC could also cut waste by up to 70 per cent and reduce time on site from 40 weeks to 25 weeks for a 26-unit development.

The launch of the partnership coincides with the opening of Prestoplan’s second manufacturing plant in Gloucestershire which will more than double the company’s output within the next three years and create 100 new jobs.

The new, 100,000 sq ft factory in Quedgeley will produce an extra 4,000 timber frame units a year and help satisfy the growing demand for timber frame construction. The additional space has also enabled Prestoplan to introduce the latest technologies and innovate bespoke solutions for its clients, which include major contractors and house builders.

Dave Hart, business development director at Prestoplan said: “The creation of Procure East is further evidence that the affordable housing market is turning to MMC solutions and confirms our belief that timber frame is the way to build for the future.

“And the “Sustainable Housing Code” launched by the Government late last year, is creating a construction criteria which will further increase the demand for sustainable timber frames as the need for the quality improvements in the housing stock increase.

“We decided to open the new plant in Gloucestershire to ensure that we have the capacity to meet this growing demand for affordable homes and off-site timber frame units,” he said. “It represents a significant investment by Prestoplan and confirms our long-term commitment to quality and innovation.”

28 November 2006

PRESTOPLAN HELPS CREATE ADVANCED ECO-HOME PROTOTYPE TO SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

Leading UK timber frame designer and manufacturer, Prestoplan, worked closely with housebuilder, Persimmon, in 2005 to create an advanced eco-home as a showcase for some of the most innovative and environmentally-friendly construction techniques.

Prestoplan’s team of designers worked alongside Persimmon architects on the project at Irlam in Manchester to help build a two-storey detached ‘concept house’ to try and attain the highest possible BRE eco-points rating.

A Prestoplan timber frame, made from sustainable Scandinavian pine was used. The standard frame was enhanced to include advanced insulation which offers excellent fire-resistance as well as high thermal properties that can reduce domestic energy use by up to 40 per cent.

Prestoplan’s innovative PresWeb floor was also incorporated into the timber frame design, which creates space for wiring, plumbing and additional insulation within the floor zone.

The PresWeb floor has the added advantage of having a lower timber fraction within the external walls when compared with traditional detailing. This is achieved through the omission of solid timber lintels directly above the openings supporting floors. It is this factor that enables the use of insulation to be extended into areas previously occupied by structural elements above openings.

The timber frame approach also facilitated a more rapid construction time. Prestoplan has found that typically, the use of one of its frames can reduce the build time by up to a third in comparison to the traditional block and brick method. This is because the building is watertight within days of erection, thereby allowing the trades in at an earlier stage of build to commence their plastering, electrical and plumbing tasks.

In addition, Prestoplan supplied a tailor-made Kingspan Structural Insulated Panels System (SIPS) roof, which instantly converted the two-storey structure into three storeys including a fully insulated habitable loft space.

Prestoplan Technical Director, Ian Loughnane said: “The Kingspan SIPS roof consists of bonded rigid insulation foam panels. This means the whole roof is totally insulated to the standard required of a loft room before it gets to the site.

“The advantage to the house builder is that with minimal cost to the environment they can create a three-storey house out of a two-storey design.

“The Persimmon concept eco-home has been a very important project for us to be involved with. The construction of this prototype is at the cutting edge of research into the type of building techniques that we in the construction industry can introduce to minimise and reduce harm to the environment.

“This eco-home will be assessed over the long-term to judge the efficiency of many of its innovations. The most successful will influence Persimmon housing developments of the future."

The ultimate aim is to try and balance environmental performance with the need for a high quality of life and a safe and healthy internal environment. The issues assessed under the BRE Eco-home criteria are grouped into the seven categories of energy, water, pollution, materials, transport, ecology and land use, health and well-being. We’ll have to wait and see how high a rating the home gets.”

Mr Loughnane added: “We need to continue to use innovative environmentally-friendly design and building techniques to comply with the increasingly stringent construction legislation - and to protect our world and meet consumer-demand for greener, more cost-effective housing that is cheaper to run and maintain.”

The other innovations that Persimmon has introduced at the Irlam eco-home are:

· Photo-voltaic roof tiles to convert sunshine into electricity

· Ground heat extraction technology to provide hot water and heating

· Sustainable timber windows coated with pvc wrap for low maintenance

· Energy efficient lighting

· Smart systems, enabling the use of mobile phones to remote control heating, security, lighting etc

· Rainwater recycling – Provision of an underground tank to collect down pipe rainwater

· Surface water management – Additional underground storage system to reduce risk of mains drain flooding during heavy rainfall

· Use of recycled or sustainable materials e.g. sheep’s wool insulation, recycled plastic kitchen units, recycled glass work surfaces

The eco-home is one of four ‘concept houses’ under construction at Persimmon’s Irlam site. The company is also creating a ‘techno-home’, a ‘modular lifetime home’ and a ‘modular home’ to test out the wide range of modern methods of construction.

26 October 06

PRESTOPLAN DEVELOPMENT WINS TOP BUILDING AWARD

A flagship housing development involving leading timber frame designer and manufacturer, Prestoplan, has scooped a major construction award.

The Kier Partnership Homes development in Essex beat off strong competition from other high profile entries to win the prestigious Housing Project of the Year category in the 2006 Builder and Engineer Awards.

The judges said they were impressed with The Fanshawe, a 58-home development on a brownfield site in Dagenham which was built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on behalf of Presentation Housing Association.

Kier Partnership Homes worked closely with supply chain partner Prestoplan at the earliest stage to ensure the most cost effective design solutions would meet the rigorous planning requirements and high specifications of the £6.2 million scheme.

Prestoplan, which provides early design input as part of its comprehensive service, sent its design team in several weeks ahead of the build to enable Kier Partnership Homes to redesign the original block and brick layout to incorporate MMC. The design featured several curved and faceted elevations and innovative solutions were found to meet every stage of this challenging design.

The existing foundations from the original building, the Pipers public house, were reused and incorporated into the development of one and two bedroom shared ownership and affordable units for rent. Not only did this save valuable time, it also reduced the original budget for the scheme by £280,000.

Andrew Acford, Prestoplan Sales Director said: “We are delighted to have been involved with this prestigious and award-winning project. The flexibility afforded by timber frame construction coupled with the involvement of our technical and engineering team at the start of the project enabled us to devise an efficient and cost-saving design.”

26 October 06

PRESTOPLAN EXPANDS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Leading timber frame designer and manufacturer, Prestoplan, has expanded its in-house engineering department following the appointment of Neil Cartmell as Chief Structural Engineer.

A Chartered Engineer, Neil has worked for over 16 years in the industry and has a broad range of experience within both the system manufacturing sector and general building consultancy.

Commenting on his appointment Neil said: "The sustainable timber frame sector is enjoying a phenomenal period of growth at the moment and my appointment will ensure that the service we offer clients is both cost effective and efficient."

Neil will report to Ian Loughnane, Prestoplans Technical Director who said:

"Until now we have out-sourced this area of expertise but with the company expanding so rapidly it was appropriate to build up our in-house engineering capability along with our existing design capacity."

He added: "Our reputation for technical excellence and quality is a critical element of the Prestoplan brand, as well as our ability to work alongside clients design teams to deliver bespoke quality schemes on time and on budget.

"Having expertise immediately to hand in the Technical Department means we can give clients prompt answers to technical queries while providing detailed structural solutions backed up by calculation."

19th October 2006

PACE HELPS CREATE COUNTRYSIDE RETREAT FROM CITY LIVING

Being the preferred timber frame supplier to Countryside Properties, Pace Timber Systems (Northern) Limited has once again been called upon to supply and install the structural timber frame package for one of the award-winning developer’s latest residential developments - Ringley Lock located on the banks of the River Irwell in North West Manchester.

With its beautiful riverside setting, this unique location takes in a timber frame development of stunning three and four bedroom houses in four house styles – The Hamble, The Loxley, The Westbourne and The Wharf. Also constructed using Pace timber frame are six, three storey one and two bedroom apartment buildings. Furthermore, Pace Group company, Pace Timber Engineering has also been actively involved in the project, having supplied and installed the roof structures across a number of additional apartment buildings that make up the Ringley Lock development.

Set in a semi-rural riverside location within a greenbelt corridor and enjoying easy access to the nearby hubs of Manchester, Bolton, Bury and Salford, Ringley Lock is an affordable development that offers stylish living spaces with high quality interior fittings. Perfect for couples and small family units, the timber frame townhouses have been carefully designed for maximum flexibility, practicality and spaciousness. Externally, the timber frame structures have been designed to achieve a perfect balance between the architecture of the area and contemporary elegance.

Commenting on behalf of Pace Timber Systems (Northern) Limited, Director Phil Jasper said: “We continue to enjoy an excellent partnering agreement with Countryside Properties and we are understandably delighted to have once again supplied the engineered timber frame package for the townhouses and apartment buildings that make up the Ringley Lock development.”

28 September 2006

MIDLANDS HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS JOIN MODERN CONSTRUCTION SCHEME

Four major Housing Associations in the Midlands have shown their commitment
to using modern methods of construction (MMC) by creating a £75m Joint
Procurement Initiative, which will build 1000 new homes over the next two
years. The signing of the Framework on the 21st September at Birminghams
Rep was witnessed by Housing Corporation Field Director for the Central
Field, Margaret Allen.

The consortium is part of the government-backed Procurement for Housing
Initiative which pools the Associations resources in order to increase the
amount of new homes being built using MMC.

Bromford, Midland Heart, Waterloo and West Mercia Housing Groups have come
together to take part in the scheme and signed the Framework Agreement along
with their selected suppliers, off-site timber frame manufacturers
Prestoplan and Stewart Milne.

A spokesman for the partnership commented: "Not only are we supporting
off-site construction which will ultimately drive down costs and drive up
quality, but we will be able to work with suppliers to invest in research
and development to provide better solutions for residents."

The signing, which coincides with the National Housing Federations Annual
Conference, follows a lengthy process in which potential suppliers were
shortlisted and then chosen as preferred timber frame system manufacturers.

7 March 2006

Expansion Plans for Potton - Britain’s leading timber frame specialists open new manufacturing base in Bedfordshire

As part of its continued growth strategy, this month, leading timber frame specialists, Potton Limited, has announced the opening of a second factory in Gamlingay, Bedfordshire, which is set to increase the company’s production capacity in excess of 40% from March onwards.

Production Director, Doug Bircham explains: “The additional capacity at Gamlingay continues our development programme that began in 2003 with the new sawmill at our Great Gransden factory, and will service the increasing demand for our timber frame products from developers, housing associations and self builders alike.

”The 8 acre Gamlingay site has been part of the Potton group for some time. Phase 1 at Gamlingay provides us with 9,000 ft2 of factory space which will help us grow our current panel capacity by 40%.

“The new site provides us with significant scope for further expansion as we have planning permission already granted for 35,000 ft2 of additional factory buildings for future increases in capacity.”

During the last six months there have been major changes at Potton. In October 2005, the company joined the ranks of Siemens, Lloyds TSB and the Royal Banks of Scotland with an Investors in Excellence Award from the British Quality Foundation. By December 2005, the company moved their headquarters to Great Gransden in Bedfordshire.

Says Mr Bircham: “The Investors in Excellence Award provides still further assurances for our clients. We already have the ISO9000:2000 accreditation and have also achieved the UKTFA’s Q Mark Plus, which provides quality assurances for both our design and manufacturing capabilities.”

Potton was set up over 40 years ago. The company are known as leading suppliers of timber frame packages to the self build market. Their work with developers involves long term strategic partnerships with key players in speculative and social housing, whilst their projects list include major developments for the Ministry of Defence, Trusthouse Forte and Center Parcs as well as housing and commercial developments for private investors in Japan, Israel and Spain.

Today, Potton’s timber frame solutions are up to date and ahead of all new and increasingly challenging Building Regulations; they help speed up the construction process and reduce the industry’s dependence on traditional trades that are in such short supply. In addition, because Potton purchase their timber from sustainable and renewable sources that hold ‘Chain of Custody’, they also meet the Government’s requirements for sustainable sources and drive for Eco Homes.

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23 February 2006

UKs largest timber frame order goes to Stewart Milne

UKs largest timber frame order goes to Stewart Milne providing 500 new MMC homes in 18 months.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems operation in Witney, near Oxford, has secured from Bellway Homes the UKs largest single timber frame order.

The Witney operation, started just four years ago as a Greenfield site, has made remarkable progress and by securing an order of almost 500 units worth just over £6m, this underpins the progressive and growing acceptance that timber frame construction is the way forward.

Director of Sales and Marketing at Stewart Milne Timber Systems, Christine Jones, said: "Apart from being the largest order for timber frame in the UK it was also the largest for key worker accommodation. The site was secured by our client Bellway in 1997 and the project was designed for timber frame all the way, from day one the key word was collaboration and the end result is a development that will be complete in 12-18 months on time and on budget."

All the homes have been purchased by two housing Associations who will offer homes for rent and for shared ownership purchase. There is a wide selection of homes ranging from two and three bedroom apartments through to three storey houses.

Christine Jones explained "Stepney is a busy highly populated area of London and we need to ensure the minimum disruption to the residents and local businesses whist delivering up to 12 Lorries of homes every day to the project. We also need to ensure construction is kept on programme. Careful logistical planning was a key element of the project all the way through"

Julian Kenyon, of Bellway said: "Timber frame construction has advanced to new levels in terms of technology, environmental consideration and the amount of off-site production reduces exposure to construction delays the progress at Stepney could be our business template for the future."

Stewart Mine Timber Systems opened in Witney just four years ago and now employs some 170 staff with a turnover of £30m in 2005; the operation is setting itself a turnover target of £75m by 2010.

Bellway Homes - Harford Street, Stepney

Harford Street in Stepney, London, is one of the largest sites ever constructed by Bellway Homes, and certainly the largest to be built in a single phase. The site is an old oil refinery, with clearing and remediation of the land requiring a vast amount of strategic planning and over six months to physically complete.

Bellway have been working on this project for almost ten years now, while Stewart Milne Timber Systems have been involved in partnership for the last eight, helping ensure that the design is suitable for a cost-effective timber frame solution.

The site consists of almost 500 units, split into two and three storey houses along with one and two bedroom flats, all with underground parking. There is a vast amount of repeat design throughout the site, but it has been done in such a way as to provide unique layouts within each block, with the exception of blocks A and B, which are exact repeats to give a cohesive look to the canal front elevation.

East Thames Housing Association has bought the majority of the accommodation, with the rest being purchased by NewLon Housing Trust, leaving no units for private sale. However both there will be units available for purchase, through shared owner-ship schemes.

The total value of the timber frame for this site is just over £6m, thought to be the largest for any one site. Furthermore, as all the blocks are pre-sold, an intensive build programme sees all of the units being fully erected in just over 12 months! This has required a huge amount of logistical planning; not least to ensure that the site is able to cope with up to 12 deliveries a week - each a fully-loaded artic lorrys worth - which is required during the most concentrated part of the programme. First completions are due in the summer of this year.

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13 February 2006

Robertson Timberkit Embraces New Era Of Market Growth

Robertson Timberkit, a company within the Robertson Group, has strengthened its position across the UK with the appointment of two new Business Development Managers.

Martin Braithwaite and Ian MacCartney will play an instrumental role in the expansion of Robertson Timberkit into new markets, enabling the company to meet customer demand and compete on a UK-wide basis in terms of service delivery and expertise to existing and new clients.

Based in Birmingham, Ian MacCartney, a chartered engineer, will be in charge of Robertson Timberkit’s North West England division. Ian comes to the firm from Space 4 Ltd where he was Technical Sales Manager. His career has also spanned 16 years with the MetSec Group where he was involved in all aspects of the business including, design, production and construction and where he went on to assume the role of Metframe Director.

As a member of the Institute of Wood Science, Martin Braithwaite will be in charge of the firm’s Scottish division operating from Elgin. His role will involve achieving increased sales volume from existing and new clients throughout central Scotland. Martin began his career as Regional Business Development Manager for John Fleming & Co where he spent 13 years before assuming the position of Regional Sales Manager at Spectrim Distribution.

Bill Robertson, Executive Chairman of the Robertson Group said “I am delighted to welcome Martin and Ian to the company. Each of them brings a wealth of experience which will enhance the service we can offer to our new and existing clients.

“We anticipate considerable growth over the next few years and our highly skilled workforce will be paramount in ensuring we meet client needs and new business levels.”

Part of the Robertson Group, Robertson Timberkit was founded in Elgin in 1986. The firm produces and erects bespoke pre-fabricated timber framed structural shells under strict quality controlled factory conditions from its facilities in Elgin and Seaham.

Recent projects include eight new Travelodges built in the UK in the last year, not to mention executive flats on the Quayside at Liverpool and a six storey development in Manchester, while the firm regularly works in partnership with developers such as Bellway, David McLean Homes and Barratt Homes.

Robertson Timberkit goes forward in 2006 with a number of prestigious projects to provide timber frame solutions across a range of building types.

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6 February 2006

Prestoplan opens second plant to meet growing industry-wide demand for timber frame construction

Leading UK timber frame designer and manufacturer, Prestoplan, has opened a second plant in Gloucestershire, assuring its long-term commitment to quality and deliverability throughout the anticipated boom in timber frame building.

The strategic expansion will double Prestoplan’s output within three years and will give it the flexibility to introduce the latest technologies and innovate bespoke solutions for its range of clients which include major contractors and housebuilders.

New legislation scheduled for April, which will impose strict rules on the environmental impact of the construction industry, is expected to further increase the demand for sustainable timber frames, as the sector moves away from traditional brick and block methods.

The new facility at Quedgeley will see Prestoplan build on its reputation, forged over the past 35 years at its Preston-based plant, for working alongside client teams to provide a tailored, seamless service that meets design and timing requirements cost effectively and efficiently.

Prestoplan’s Operations Director, Andrew Underwood, said: “Our flexibility and agility in being able to produce bespoke solutions satisfying our clients’ needs with rigorous quality control checks is key to our success.

“Our new Quedgeley plant, of some 94,000 sq ft, affords us the space for our skilled workforce to be able to focus on individual projects and ensure crucial accuracy and quality at all times. It also gives us comprehensive geographic coverage.

“Timber frame design and manufacture is a competitive industry, but we maintain our reputation for excellence by being able to pay attention to the detail of each and every project,” added Mr Underwood, who is also the Health and Safety Chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association, which is lauding the sector’s expansion.

“The phased development of Quedgeley is enabling us to introduce technology and systems gradually in response to the specific requirements of our clients. At present we are based in a former RAF storage warehouse neighbouring the site of our new premises, but we are able to map out our requirements from here and take the best possible advantage of having a blank canvas upon which to plan our ultimate factory.”

Among the technological innovations at the new plant are computer-controlled saws linked to the design blueprints, which guarantee accuracy and minimise wastage, helping to meet environmental and cost targets.

The timing of the new plant follows the publication of the late-2005 National Audit Office report: Using modern methods of construction to build homes more quickly and efficiently. This report concluded that: “When using modern methods of construction rather than more established techniques, it should be possible to build up to four times as many homes with the same on-site labour and that on-site construction time can be reduced by over a half.”

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18 November 2005

Oregon Timber Frame hosts visit from Weyerhaeuser and Trus Joist

Leading Borders-based timber frame designers, manufacturers and erectors, Oregon Timber Frame Ltd, recently played host to a high level visit from Weyerhaeuser and Trus Joist delegates from the United States and Europe.

The visitors were keen to look at off-site construction techniques in the UK and particularly at Oregon’s approach of supplying “whole house engineering”, including wall panels, cassette floors and pre-constructed roofs, to the new homes market- something which does not happen in the States. With new starts in the U.S. reaching 2.1 million over the last two years, the potential value of developing and marketing such a new-build housing system is clear.

James Sweet, European Sales Manager for Trus Joist’s Structural Business, who had organised the UK end of the visit, explained:

“In North America over 90% of timber frame construction is stick built – the site is a place of manufacture. And even where there is some off site manufacture, it is only partial. We at Weyerhaeuser and Trus Joist are focussed on developing an integrated construction system and being able to offer a ‘whole house package’ to builders and developers in the States and Canada. The group is here to share in best practice with John Merry and his team at Oregon.”

John Merry, Managing Director of Oregon Timber Frame, said:

“We are delighted that this high level delegation of strategic thinkers is visiting us. We’re happy to share information on our approach and to spread the word on the benefits of off site construction- specifically better build quality and much improved health and safety on site. We are also keen to learn about the latest research in the States and any recent developments in the manufacture of floor and wall cassettes. It’s a real opportunity for an intellectual exchange of technologies.”

While with Oregon the group visited two Oregon sites as well as the company’s new £1.5m manufacturing facility at Selkirk in the Scottish Borders.

The first site visited was the Miller Homes East site at Howgate just outside Edinburgh, where the group saw new homes under construction, using Oregon’s engineered timber components. The second site was the CALA Homes East site at Cardrona near Peebles, in the Borders. While at Cardrona the visitors were able to see Oregon’s “whole house” engineering in practice, with cassette floors being precision-craned into timber frame house shells, and large, pre-assembled roofs waiting to be added to complete the houses.

A reciprocal visit next year by Oregon to Weyerhaeuser and Trus Joist facilities in the States is now being discussed.

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8 July 2005

Borders manufacturer trebles capacity to meet house-builder demand

In response to demand for timber frame construction from UK house builders, leading Borders-based timber frame designers, manufacturers and erectors, Oregon Timber Frame Ltd, are on target to treble capacity and increase production from 1500 to 6000 units a year.

The company has just announced the acquisition from Scottish Enterprise of £1.5m premises in Selkirk, at the site of the former Via Systems factory at Dunsdale. Oregon’s move to the new site will take place in stages, to ensure continuity of manufacturing, and production at the new premises will begin in September.

Commenting on the company’s expansion and impending move, Managing Director Mr John Merry said:

“The market is exceptionally strong, particularly in England, where there is growing demand from house builders for offsite timber frame construction. Our business there is growing by 50% a year and now constitutes 25-30% of our output. The new premises at Selkirk, which we will develop over two phases, gives us an excellent north/south location and all the capacity we need to service this business into the foreseeable future.”

Since starting up in 1998, Oregon Timber Frame Ltd has grown on average by 34% per year and last year achieved a turnover of £15m. The company now has between 8-10% of the Scottish market, a list of blue chip UK house builder clients including Wimpey, Miller, Bellway, Countryside, Cala and Redrow and aims to double turnover in the next three years.