Successful closing: binderholz Group completes the acquisition of the largest British sawmill group, making it Europe’s largest company in the sawmill and solid wood processing industry On 05.01.2022, the acquisition of the British BSW Timber Ltd, based in Earlston, Scotland, by Binderholz UK Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of the Austrian
More than 3.32 million m3 of timber and panel imports were imported in Q3 2021, as the market achieves greater balance between supply and demand after nearly a year of record imports. Analysis of these statistics by the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) statistics show these import levels are more than
Sips Supply BV in Holland works very closely with Hemsec, whose panels are all manufactured in Britain. Sips Supply has run 200 SIPs projects since 2015 and currently has a new, major programme in the pipeline. Company Director Arthur Tromp explains why he uses SIPs, and Hemsec products in particular
Simon Woods, European Sales, Marketing and Logistics Director explains how West Fraser is helping the construction industry to help the environment As the world becomes more and more aware of the effect we have on the planet, it is important for the construction industry to realise how it affects the
Stewart Milne Group is selling its market leading timber systems business to focus on investing in the growth of Stewart Milne Homes across Scotland and North-west England. The independent housebuilder and manufacturer of timberframe for offsite construction is capitalising on Stewart Milne Timber Systems’ (SMTS) position as the recognised UK
Recognising that the UK must build more homes, quicker, while reducing carbon emissions, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries has launched with a new report that aims to provide solutions to the UK’s housing and climate crises. The report, titled ‘How the timber industries can help solve
SO Modular, the Timber Frame construction specialist, has increased its production capacity by 700% thanks to a significant six-figure investment in new machinery at its new 350,000 sqft timber and modular manufacturing facility in Neath, South Wales. The development of the facility began in April 2020 and is set for
As the ongoing raw materials shortage continues, and with timber still in short supply due to unprecedented lockdown demand, Checkatrade has observed that only a small percentage of homeowners are currently aware of the raw materials shortage and how it will affect them. Please find a comment below from Mike
The demand for decking materials has increased significantly during 2021, but the supply appears to be waning, according to a recent report from the Decking Network*. The report details how despite materials still being grown and felled in places such as Scandinavia, the USA, Canada, Russia, China, Asia and Indonesia,
James Jones & Sons Timber Systems Division has recently announced its latest release of its JJI Design Software. The new software is the most advanced release to date with a number of significant improvements and enhanced design features. General Manager, Angus Macfarlane, said “Our software department has developed this new
Successful closing: binderholz Group completes the acquisition of the largest British sawmill group, making it Europe’s largest company in the sawmill and solid wood processing industry On 05.01.2022, the acquisition of the British BSW Timber Ltd, based in Earlston, Scotland, by Binderholz UK Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of the Austrian binderholz Group, was successfully concluded with the closing of the transaction. BSW Timber Ltd. is the largest sawmill group in the UK in 2021, with a turnover of around £700 million and a production capacity of over 1.2 million m3 of sawn timber per year. In 2022, binderholz will become Europe’s largest group in the sawmill and solid wood processing industry segment, with a cumulative annual turnover of €2.6 billion and around 5,000 employees. The brand name BSW will be retained after integration into the binderholz Group, and the current management will continue to lead the company. Strong partnership with a focus on sustainability “With a strong focus on sustainability, binderholz and BSW pursue a forward-looking and at the same time, tradition-conscious corporate philosophy. The purchase of BSW is an essential component of our long-term expansion and sustainability strategy. BSW is active along the entire value chain of the sawmill industry, from sustainable forest management and maintenance – with capacity to plant up to 50 million high quality seedlings per year – to timber harvesting, sawmill operations, timber processing and distribution as well as biomass energy,” says Reinhard Binder, owner and CEO of binderholz. “This step strengthens binderholz’s positioning in the growing British market, which is characterised by high demand for sawn timber, solid wood, timber construction and DIY products. The Green Economy ideal is being actively lived in Great Britain, which has been reflected in the constant growth rates in CO2-neutral timber construction over the years. With our products, we optimally cover these market needs and plan investments that go further into depth of the value-added chain.”
More than 3.32 million m3 of timber and panel imports were imported in Q3 2021, as the market achieves greater balance between supply and demand after nearly a year of record imports. Analysis of these statistics by the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) statistics show these import levels are more than 23% over Q3 2020 and, significantly, more than 10% higher than the last time Q3 volumes exceeded three million m3 – in 2007. Softwood is being imported in larger amounts from a more diverse range of countries over the past quarter, with Latvia, Finland, and Germany growing to account for 61% (1.1 million m3)of the 1.8 million m3 of softwood imported in Q3 2021. Other timber products, including hardwood, plywood, particleboard, OSB and MDF, have also seen clear increases in Q3 2021 as compared with the previous year. While some goods continue to be under pressure amidst buoyant demand, and logistics issues, the timber supply chain overall has proven resilient, with the timber industry in a strong position to meet demand in 2022. Nick Boulton, TTF head of technical and trade policy, said: “These latest statistics continue to reflect the incredible demand for timber products seen over the past year which have kept the UK on track to surpass previous import records. “After this record period the stock levels have returned back towards their pre-pandemic levels and the logistics supply chain is struggling to find sufficient space for further volume – so much so that in Sweden we are seeing some sawmills reduce their overall production volumes. “However, while we can see stock levels returning, the UK market is clearly in a different place compared to where it was two years ago, with the likes of HGV driver shortages, port delays and Brexit changes likely to continue to impact the market in the coming months. “Despite these challenges, these past 21 months have proven that the timber supply chain is resilient. We are in a strong position to meet growing demand for sustainable, low-carbon construction materials – both now and in the future. “As a low-carbon, low-energy construction material, timber is likely to grow as the material of choice among climate conscious architects, engineers, developers and planners in the UK. “With the tightest period of tension between supply and demand likely behind us, we can expect a return to more ‘regular’ activity in 2022.” Members can read the full report on the TTF website:
Sips Supply BV in Holland works very closely with Hemsec, whose panels are all manufactured in Britain. Sips Supply has run 200 SIPs projects since 2015 and currently has a new, major programme in the pipeline. Company Director Arthur Tromp explains why he uses SIPs, and Hemsec products in particular Arthur Tromp is an engineer with 30 years’ experience working in the Dutch construction industry; his specialist knowledge and expertise is in using timber frames for housing. In 2011, he first came across SIPs, which was a real epiphany. Arthur was impressed by how much thinner, stronger and easier to use SIPs are, when compared to conventional timber frame. By using SIPs manufactured offsite, the construction of new homes on site is much quicker and more cost effective – as well as being more thermally efficient than houses constructed in a traditional way. This gave Arthur the idea to set up his own company: Sips Supply BV to serve the Dutch and European markets, which currently have an urgent need for new, energy-efficient homes. Like many countries across Europe, including the UK, the Netherlands has a pressing need for new housing, and consequently it is an important social and political issue. House price rises are outpacing other countries within the EU and last year rose by 15%[1]. Experts estimate that Holland has around 330,000 fewer houses than it requires and needs to build one million more over the next 10 years[2]. The Dutch housing market is conservative and traditional, with up to 70% using concrete or other materials. The market for timber frame is large, though, with around a 30% share. Within that, come SIPs and although their market is not currently large, demand is growing. During the height of the COVID19 crisis, many people used their extra time to research different and more sustainable solutions; higher quality buildings which are better insulated and highly thermally efficient. The recent surge in global energy prices will undoubtedly accelerate this trend. SIPs fit these needs perfectly. Collaboration is an essential ingredient to grow the demand for SIPs Seeking the right partners was a key stage as Arthur established SIPs Supply BV. Growing the market is important; but it is equally important in Arthur’s view to build the SIPs market slowly, focusing attention on maintaining exacting standards to minimise the risk of poor delivery. Whilst researching the SIPs market, Arthur came across Hemsec, based in the north of England. Impressed by the information provided by the Hemsec team during his initial conversations, Arthur travelled across to the UK from his home in Friesland to visit the Hemsec factory and learn more about the production facilities. It was important for him to assess for himself the quality of Hemsec’s SIPs. Arthur was impressed. Importantly, Hemsec’s SIPs were of a better quality than panels fabricated closer to home in Europe. There were other critical factors too. Hemsec panels are CE and BBA Certified products, extensively evaluated for structural, acoustic and thermal properties, including fire resistance. In addition, the OSB/3 used in Hemsec SIPs is PEFC certified, meaning that the timber is from sustainable forests; this is a requirement in the Dutch market. The Dutch SIPs supply chain Since 2016, Sips Supply has worked closely with Hemsec, importing the panels from across the North Sea. The company works with four processors in Holland – building companies who deliver to the end user – and is gradually expanding. The SIPs supply chain is a network of partners comprising architects, engineers, drafting technicians, processors and contractors. This comprehensive approach enables Sips Supply to undertake the whole project, from the foundations to completion and everything in between. Ensuring that the build quality is the best it can be is fundamental to Arthur; with years of experience working on site, he aims to keep a careful eye on all the projects he is managing. By using this 360° approach he can help project managers to tackle issues as they arise and keep developments on track. The benefits of using SIPs Increasingly, professionals in the construction sector are discovering the benefits of SIPs. Driven by market factors including construction materials shortages, demands for high insulation values and Covid-19 encouraging working from home and therefore requiring home extensions, more and more are considering SIPs. Professionals like the cost-effectiveness of SIPs, the speed of build, its safety record, durability, flexibility, energy-efficiency and the ability to improve the overall build quality. Arthur finds that many professionals such as carpenters – especially those working for smaller companies – love working with SIPs because it’s easier; everything is numbered precisely so that they only have to ‘build it like a large Lego box’, and they are often impressed with what is achievable in one day. Fitting a dormer window is another example. Dormers give extra roof space and the opportunity for extra rooms; they are particularly popular in today’s world, where people are increasingly working from home. In a timber frame house, it is quite complicated to fit a dormer window; however, with SIPs, the installation into the panel is easy. Technical Innovation: Posi-Joists Innovating to continuously improve build quality is central to the work of the company. Arthur is a great exponent of the benefits of Posi-Joists; engineered joists that combine the lightness of timber with the strength of Posi-Strut steel web. This combination between Posi-Joists and SIPs is principally beneficial for providing extra space for utilities, such as thermal heat pump systems, electrics and water, which lay on top of the SIPs. This facilitates easy access for the installation and maintenance of the services in a floor zone, providing great space utilisation and structural qualities, as well as adding strength and stability. Project Rotterdam These are exciting times for Arthur and Sips Supply, as awareness of the benefits of using SIPs grows in both the new build and renovation markets. Last year Arthur was approached by a Dutch development company within his network. The young leadership team discussed the potential for using
Simon Woods, European Sales, Marketing and Logistics Director explains how West Fraser is helping the construction industry to help the environment As the world becomes more and more aware of the effect we have on the planet, it is important for the construction industry to realise how it affects the world in ways it doesn’t intend to. At West Fraser, our products are net carbon negative. This means that we lock up more carbon in the products than we emit in the end-to-end production and distribution of them (delivery to our customers’ gates). Attaining net carbon negativity, as we have done, is a significant step and demonstrates the company’s determination to be a market leader in sustainable, climate-friendly products. As wood is the main component of West Fraser’s products, carbon is sequestered and locked up for the board’s lifetime. Particleboard products have the added advantage of containing 70-80% post-consumer recycled wood; this is also used in OSB. As a result, the company’s four European sites and three product ranges lock up a total of 1.18 million tonnes of CO2e per year, equivalent to the CO2 from 200,265 homes’ electricity. West Fraser’s net carbon negative products’ status benefits specifiers and users of the company’s engineered wood panel products. When used in construction, these products can move a project’s carbon count in the right direction assisting companies to meet net zero targets, which is good for reputation, compliance and the planet. In every SterlingOSB Zero board more carbon from the atmosphere is locked up than is emitted during manufacture, locking it up into long term storage. Per cubic metre, SterlingOSB Zero has sequestered 828kg of CO2e. The vast majority of the wood used is homegrown, minimising carbon emissions from transport while ensuring it is always available and offers a cost-effective building solution. West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. From responsibly sourced and sustainably managed forest resources, West Fraser produces lumber, engineered wood (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, particleboard), and other products including pulp, newsprint, wood chips and renewable energy. West Fraser’s products are used in construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications, papers, tissue and box materials. For further information call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com
Stewart Milne Group is selling its market leading timber systems business to focus on investing in the growth of Stewart Milne Homes across Scotland and North-west England. The independent housebuilder and manufacturer of timberframe for offsite construction is capitalising on Stewart Milne Timber Systems’ (SMTS) position as the recognised UK market leader by putting the business up for sale at a time when the market is set to grow exponentially. Demand for timberframe has been rising rapidly and its use is anticipated to double in the next five years to meet government housing targets. As housebuilders tackle the dual challenge of achieving net-zero carbon targets and dealing with acute skills shortages, they are increasingly turning to modern methods of construction using renewable sources. Stewart Milne Timber Systems has experienced “stellar” growth in the last five years with a current order book of close to £300million. This growth is attributed to a combination of technical and manufacturing excellence with strong customer relationships with the UK’s leading housebuilders, including Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and CALA. The £100m turnover business, which employs 400 people, has become the undisputed market leader with around 20% of market share. Alex Goodfellow, Stewart Milne Group Managing Director – Strategic Development, who is leading the sale process, said: “With the scale of the opportunity in the growing timber frame market, SMTS presents a highly compelling investment proposition. We anticipate attracting a high level of interest from potential buyers who will invest in order to capitalise on that opportunity.” Stewart Milne Group has been investing in SMTS’ product and manufacturing innovation and capacity at its factories in Aberdeen and Witney to keep up with the extremely strong demand. Increased volumes have led to the creation of a third production facility in central Scotland. Stewart Milne Group’s CEO, Stuart MacGregor, added: “To keep pace with demand, it’s clear that further investment in production capacity in both Scotland and England will be required. As a privately run, independent company, we need to prioritise where we invest in the future. “Since reopening last summer, after the initial COVID lockdown, we’ve seen record levels of activity in the UK housing sector. The strength of our business with its award-winning developments, new homes range and record sales has enabled us to capitalise on these favourable market conditions and positioned us superbly for future growth.” The buoyancy of the current homes market, however, does mean that land prices in Scotland and North West England are increasing rapidly says Mr MacGregor. “We have therefore chosen to divest our successful timber systems business to increase investment in additional sites for Stewart Milne Homes. Using our considerable land buying experience to take advantage of the development opportunities, we will invest in land in the short term and concentrate on growing our homes business in the longer term.” Once a sale has completed, Stewart Milne Group will be primarily focused on investing in the growth of its homes business in Scotland and North West England, reinforcing its reputation as one of the country’s leading independent housebuilders.
Recognising that the UK must build more homes, quicker, while reducing carbon emissions, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries has launched with a new report that aims to provide solutions to the UK’s housing and climate crises. The report, titled ‘How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis’, calls on the Government to support the use of wood in construction through policy and procurement, as well as introducing legislation to regulate embodied carbon – starting with mandatory, standardised carbon measurement on all government projects. Launched today (16 September) at the inaugural general meeting for the APPG, the report makes a series of key recommendations devised to help the Government reach its target of building 300,000 more homes per year, while also significantly boosting the trajectory towards net zero carbon. Crucially, the recommendations call for a new focus on whole life carbon emissions within the Building Regulations and the introduction of thresholds for embodied carbon within construction. The report urges the Government to give preference to low carbon materials and building solutions for all government projects, pointing to the economic benefits that scaling up the timber and forestry industries would bring. Calls are also made in the report for a more joined-up approach to working with the timber industry to develop an industrial strategy that can align with government policy. Finally, the report highlights that while the Government has – quite rightly – made building safety a top priority in the wake of the Grenfell fire, the regulations around combustible materials have not always reflected the realities of safe construction using timber. A fundamental differentiation must be made between cladding and structural elements, and the report points towards an evidence-based approach to safety regulations. David Warburton, MP for Somerton and Frome, and chair of the APPG, commented: “We are at a vital junction, where the imperative to build more homes is converging with the urgent need to reduce carbon across all of our markets. Now is the time to put forward policies that will enable us to build a more productive and low-carbon housing sector. “By levelling-up the existing timber and forestry supply chain, and making greater use of modern methods of construction, we can deliver more quality homes – and we can do this sustainably and at pace.” Over the next Parliamentary session, the APPG for the Timber Industries will undertake a programme of activity to enable the timber industries to work with Parliamentarians to raise awareness of the vital contribution that the industries make to the UK economy and UK trade. It will also focus on the importance of the timber industries achieving net zero 2050 and the opportunities which exist to support sustainable timber construction in the UK. For more information and to download the report ‘How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis’, please visit the CTI website.
SO Modular, the Timber Frame construction specialist, has increased its production capacity by 700% thanks to a significant six-figure investment in new machinery at its new 350,000 sqft timber and modular manufacturing facility in Neath, South Wales. The development of the facility began in April 2020 and is set for an official launch at the end of summer 2021. Once completed, with all the new machinery installed and running, the site will immediately be able to expand from its current production capacity of 500 homes per year to 3,500 homes per year on a single shift. The timber and modular manufacturing facility will also be a zero-carbon, sustainable site, creating a number of skilled employment opportunities in the local area. SO Modular has been able to fund the purchase of its new machinery through an Innovative Housing Programme (IHP) loan with Tai Tarian – one of the largest social landlords in Wales. The new machinery is considerably more efficient – both in terms of speed and energy usage – than that currently being employed by the company. It will also produce less waste and will contribute towards the company sustainably manufacturing low carbon homes. The new machinery includes a treatment tank, Production Lines, a biomass boiler, a Hundegger TURBO-Drive II Saw, a vertical saw and a factory blow insulation machine. The Hundegger TURBO-Drive II Saw will speed up timber processes, increase accuracy and reduce waste with the use of computer software technology. The saw’s optimisation software means that any offcuts it produces are automatically cut into smaller standardised pieces, which can then be used as other functional aspects of modular joist and cassette manufacture. The biomass boiler will ensure waste timber is used to reheat the facilities, and avoid it being transported to landfill for disposal. As well as heating the factory and offices, the boiler is also used to dry treated timber in the facility’s new in-house treatment tank, helping the company reduce its own fuel costs and aiding in its goal to create a sustainable, renewable process for timber frame manufacturing. The new treatment tank will allow high- and low-pressure treatments, meaning SO Modular will be able to treat not only standard timber but also timbers that require a higher level of treatment such as sole plates. This makes it far more cost effective than imported pre-treated timber, helping the company to achieve its affordable homes target. Charlotte Hale, Operations Director at SO Modular, said: “We’re very excited to announce the purchasing and acquirement of new machinery, with the help of the IHP Tai Tarian loan. “These new, efficient machines will go a long will in aiding us to establish a state-of-the-art, sustainable manufacturing facility in Wales. Furthermore, this acquirement will allow us to create new jobs in the area and provide even more affordable, low carbon homes to help the UK meet zero-carbon targets, protect the environment and address the country’s need for affordable housing.”
As the ongoing raw materials shortage continues, and with timber still in short supply due to unprecedented lockdown demand, Checkatrade has observed that only a small percentage of homeowners are currently aware of the raw materials shortage and how it will affect them. Please find a comment below from Mike Fairman, CEO Checkatrade, that provides some further detail as well as advice for homeowners or trades persons looking to complete work over the next few months. Mike Fairman, CEO, Checkatrade: “The current global raw materials shortage has had a profound impact on the UK trade and construction industry. Soaring demand, the impact of Brexit, continued pandemic recovery and shock factors like forest fire threats in North America are all reasons behind the shortages we have seen. Our recent consumer research* has revealed that awareness of the shortages is low, with only a small percentage of Brits (22%) claiming to have heard of the shortages and understanding how they could affect them. However, many have already experienced its impact, with 21% of respondents* experiencing delays in either their jobs being started or completed due to a shortage of raw materials. The property and home renovation market has been booming over the last year and demand shows no sign of slowing down – in fact we’ve had 49% more consumer searches so far this year than in the same period last year**. With this in mind, we’d recommend that homeowners factor potential future shortages into any upcoming projects they plan to undertake on their homes. In particular, they should make sure to speak to tradespeople when planning a project to discuss timelines and should be careful to use reliable sources such as Checkatrade to find vetted, reviewed tradespeople. We know our trade members are keen to work with their customers to find ways to overcome these issues, including trying to find alternative materials that could be used.” *Research conducted by Opinium on behalf of Checkatrade. Total sample size was 2,003 UK adults. Survey conducted online between 4th June and 8th June 2021. Includes just the respondents who have experienced delays in starting/completing home improvement projects over the last 12 months ***Data captured between 1 January – 31 July 2020 vs 1 January – 31 July 2021
The demand for decking materials has increased significantly during 2021, but the supply appears to be waning, according to a recent report from the Decking Network*. The report details how despite materials still being grown and felled in places such as Scandinavia, the USA, Canada, Russia, China, Asia and Indonesia, a lack of personnel in local mills and transport systems is causing a delay in these products being exported. This has led to intensified competition between suppliers and an inevitable price increase, which is being passed on to the end consumer. William Hogg, Managing Director of Ecodek, a specialist manufacturer of Wood Polymer Composite decking boards, explains how both the increased demand and supply chain complications have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic: “Over the past 18 months people have been spending more time at home, for both work and pleasure. This has resulted in homeowners looking to improve their gardens or create new outdoor workspaces and, as a consequence, demand for decking has soared. “At the same time, the pandemic has resulted in a reduced workforce, either due to employees falling ill or having to self-isolate after encountering someone who has COVID-19. This combination of increased demand and a decreased workforce has led to frustration amongst many customers waiting for their timber decking.” William believes the answer is to buy British. Ecodek designs and manufacturers its wood composite decking boards in Wrexham, with products carrying the Made in Britain marque. As such, it does not rely on any imports from other countries to sustain its supply chain, as William continues: “Because our products are manufactured in the UK, using recycled and sustainable materials, we can guarantee a lead time of one week for stock products and three weeks for bespoke and made-to-order decking. “However, it is not just our location that has enabled us to maintain this steady supply. The stringent COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures we implemented at the beginning of the pandemic have enabled us to control the impact of coronavirus on our company processes. Combined, our location and rigorous health and safety practices have allowed us to continue trading, without disruption, over the past 18 months.” Ecodek has seen a marked increase in the number of customers, both trade and consumer, turning from timber to wood composite decking, due to its availability and the stability of the supply chain. “We have received many enquiries from customers who have been let down by timber suppliers and require a viable alternative. With all the beauty of timber but the many benefits of wood polymer composite, many have been coming to Ecodek to fulfil their requirements,” adds William. Slip resistant, low maintenance, splinter free, and rot and split resistant, Ecodek’s range of composite decking boards is offering customers a practical, sustainable, and attractive alternative to real timber. “I am sure that consumers who consider locally manufactured composite as an alternative to wood will soon realise the considerable advantages it provides, in the short, medium and longer-term both with regards to its supply and environmental benefits.” Further information about Ecodek and its range of wood composite decking boards can be found at www.ecodek.co.uk or by calling 01978 667 840.
James Jones & Sons Timber Systems Division has recently announced its latest release of its JJI Design Software. The new software is the most advanced release to date with a number of significant improvements and enhanced design features. General Manager, Angus Macfarlane, said “Our software department has developed this new release over the past six months to reflect customer and industry feedback. The new features include a number of design efficiencies in addition to a 3D model export. The continual investment in the JJI Design software has been part of our Group innovation strategy and the latest release is one of several innovations to be developed recently”. James Jones & Sons Timber Systems Division has a dedicated technical support team and will be conducting training sessions with key users of the software over the summer.
