As part of it’s continued capital investment strategy, Sunderland-based Fencehouse Roof Truss Company has invested £40,000 in a butterfly table from Shropshire engineering specialist AV Birch Timber Engineering.
The new table will allow the company to move into the production of timber frame, as well as doubling its production capacity for spandrel panels.
The first of it’s kind to be manufactured by AV Birch in the UK, the butterfly table will allow the team at Fencehouse to quickly and safely turn large timber frame and spandrel panels, replacing the need for cranes.
“We are pleased to now offer customers a complete off-site manufacturing solution for timber frames, roof trusses, spandrel panels and joists,” said Fencehouse director Steve Harris.
“The new butterfly table will help us to keep up with the UK construction industry’s increasing demand for pre-fabricated and off-site manufactured products.”
The butterfly table features an innovative roller system which moves the panels off the butterfly table and onto a set of wheels for easy transportation into the holding area.
“It’s a clever mechanism which removes the need for forklift trucks and aims to speed up the overall production process for timber manufacturers,” said AV Birch Timber Engineering director Scott Heyes. Fencehouse manufactures roof trusses for major house and commercial builders across the UK including Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes.
Recent work has included major projects for Travel Lodge at Manchester and Birmingham Airports.
The company which began trading with three staff and two machines in 2008, now employs over 20 staff, has 10 machines and in 2016 it will turn over more than £2m.
