There are several compelling reasons why a visit to Timber Expo on October 18-20 is worthwhile.
Organisers are throwing everything at this year’s event – the only UK show dedicated to timber products and services to the timber industry – with a strong list of exhibitors, a big and varied seminar lineup and the added attraction of other linked exhibitions at the Birmingham NEC as part of UK Construction Week (UKCW).
And if that isn’t enough, there’s also the buzz of a beer festival, a casino night and several industry awards evenings including the Structural Timber Awards.
Exhibitors will cover the breadth of timber applications from timber frame, sawmills, merchants, glulam, SIPs, cross-laminated timber (CLT), _ xings and fastenings, timber cladding, doors/windows, mouldings, skirtings and flooring.
In 2015, Timber Expo attracted more than 6,000 visitors, with 60% of the UK’s top 100 architectural firms represented. This year’s organisers are con_ dent of an increased attendance.
The show is also fully supported by the industry’s leading trade groups and associations, including TRADA, the Structural Timber Association (STA), the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Construction Products Association (CPA).
SEMINAR PROGRAMME
An informative educational seminar programme, led by the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA), will be held in the Timber Focus Theatre, along with a discussion of the key issues currently facing the industry.
Day one of the seminar schedule will focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible with timber and will be chaired by David Hopkins, managing director of the Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
Topics will include building timber skyscrapers, innovation and growing the timber market with speakers such as Michael Ramage, senior university lecturer in architectural engineering at Cambridge University and Jon Shanks, associate structural engineer, Buro Happold and visiting research fellow at the University of Bath.
In the afternoon the focus turns to skills. Led by David Campbell, membership and training director at the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), the session will look at how the industry can attract and keep new recruits.
Day two will tackle the challenges of making it easier to specify timber. Panellists will discuss the introduction of TRADA’s new Timber Pre-Scheme Manual, how the UK’s National Structural Timber Speci_ cation
(NSTS) has helped get timber specifications right for major sub-contractors and what the industry can do to make it easier to specify timber. The second day will also look at timber’s role in the custom and self build market with Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk and instigator of the ‘Right to Build’ Act, which has radically changed the commercial landscape in this sector, joining the speaker line up.
The _ nal day of seminars will explore the possibilities of hybrid construction from both an engineer’s, architect’s and CLT supplier’s perspective. Speakers from Buro Happold engineers, Bennett’s architects and KLH will draw on case studies to bring out their key points.
The other topic covered on the third day is a look at the continuing innovation for structural timber frame and UK manufacturing, with speakers including Alex Cook, technical project coordinator at Barratt Developments PLC, Alastair Parvin, cofounder of WikiHouse Foundation, Calum Murray, director at CCG (Scotland) Ltd and Alex Goodfellow, managing director of Stewart Milne Timber Systems.
In addition to the Timber Focus Theatre there will also be a Timber Flooring Workshop. In conjunction with the Flooring Industry Training Association, master fitters will create informative presentations covering products from all areas of contact flooring, including wood, tools and accessories. There will also be a dedicated Offsite Zone that will straddle both the Build Show and Timber Expo. This section is promised to be an ‘exciting hub’ for one of the most talked about topics in the construction industry. inTernaTional exhibiTor diversiTy This year’s Timber Expo will bring together key players from an increasingly exciting and diverse international market.
One of the key merchants exhibiting this year will be the W Howard Group, leading UK manufacturer of MDF products, which will display a range of skirting boards, architraves, window boards, door casings and door linings.
In addition to UK brands, Timber Expo has attracted some of the biggest international players too, including Belgium-based international timber trader Vandecasteele Houtimport, which has Europe-wide operations, including decking, laminate, cladding and Thermowood.
Continuing the international theme, French Timber has chosen Timber Expo 2016 as the ideal event to provide commercial and technical information on the French wood industry and its products. The organisation, supported by its joint trade body France Bois Forêt, takes the lead in promoting French lumber and wood products across the international marketplace.
On the fixings side, Rothoblaas will showcase a variety of cutting-edge woodworking products for professionals, including a range of fastenings, waterproofing and airtightness systems, soundproofing solutions and fall protection systems.
Other companies exhibiting include wood fibre insulation specialists Steico, timber garden product manufacturer Jagram and complete panel products supplier Hanson Plywood.
Among those launching new products is timber protection coating specialist Owatrol, which will launch Textrol UV+ – a clear coating for cladding applications which the company says guarantees UV protection for three years.
Garden products specialist Jagram will showcase a new double-curved glulam product called Spiral as well as three new hanging chairs, while Steico’s new Durelisdek deck option offers an improved peel clean system for better onsite protection.
Rothoblass will show X-RAD, a connection system for CLT buildings, and Vastern Timber will be showcasing its Brimstone wood range of thermally-modified British ash, a product shortlisted for the TTJ Awards’ Innovation Award.
Several exhibitors have spoken of their optimism and excitement about participating at Timber Expo.
“From the perspective of our association, which is dedicated to promoting French wood abroad, Timber Expo 2016 is just the sort of networking and business linking opportunity we’re looking for,” said export development manager Thibaud Le Moign.
“It will be our third time exhibiting at the event and we’re very excited to meet so many key players in the UK timber market. We’ll be presenting various samples of French hardwood and softwood products at the stand.”
Daniele Leone, corporate communication manager at Rothoblaas, said it wanted to raise its brand awareness in the UK market. So it will be good news to them and other companies that this year show organisers are actively helping exhibitors and visitors in the awareness-raising and networking process. They are introducing a free service to bring buyers together with suppliers most relevant to their business to create a “structured, highly effective show experience”.
An in-depth consultation with the UKCW team will establish buyers’ requirements, and a bespoke programme will be created, comprising supplier meetings, seminars and networking events, to meet their immediate and longer term project needs.
Rupert Scott, TRADA marketing manager, said UKCW had also organised an “incredibly generous” seminar theatre programme which provides show attendees with the inspiration and information they want.
“As the UK’s only dedicated timber event, Timber Expo 2016 provides a fantastic opportunity for the collective industry to converge on one location, network together and build new avenues for business,” said Nathan Garnett, event director for Timber Expo.
“What’s more, with the continued support from TRADA this year, we’ve developed an educational seminar programme guaranteed to benefit professionals at every level within the industry.”
Timber Expo is also proud to be sponsoring the Innovation Award at the TTJ Awards 2016. Celebrating some of the most exciting new developments in the industry the Innovation Award this year will be split into two categories: Innovative Product Development and Innovative University Timber Research.
Timber expo and more
Of course Timber Expo being part of UKCW means a host of other construction sector related shows are taking place at the NEC at the same time, pulling in a large and varied range of industry visitors to the venue. Nine shows are combined under the UKCW banner – the Build Show, Civils Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2016, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2016, Smart Buildings 2016, Grand Designs Live and, of course, Timber Expo.
Over 24,000 trade visitors were recorded at UKCW last year – a figure expected to double at this year’s event – with over 650 exhibitors booked overall.
An extra incentive to visit is free access to a beer and ale festival and gourmet food options from various stalls surrounding the venue, while the Genting International Casino at Resorts World Birmingham will host a casino night on the second evening of the show (October 19).
And the main stage at UK Construction Week will be a buzz of high-level debate and discussion, covering the major challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry such as skills, investment and Brexit. Hosts will include architect and television presenter George Clarke, business journalist Steph McGovern and news presenter and business journalist Victoria Fritz.
The Structural Timber Awards, in partnership with the Structural Timber Association (STA), will also be taking place, as well as the BIM Awards in partnership with the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
