The first dedicated UK exhibition for the timber industry, The Timber Show, looks likely to become a regular fixture.

The fact that the event organisers have booked London’s ExCeL again next year would indicate some measure of success.

Hardwood, softwood and panels suppliers supported the September 12-14 event, joining timber treatment companies, timber frame manufacturers and others to promote themselves to an audience including architects and construction companies.

Seminars covered a variety of subjects, including timber cladding and Wood for Gold – the industry’s campaign to promote timber in developments related to the 2012 London Olympics.

Overall, the general opinion among exhibitors’ was that although visitor numbers were on the low side, just under 1,000 officially, the quality of people was high, with many decision-makers in attendance.

Geoff Rhodes, marketing and sales director of exhibitor Medite, said the event built on the success of the Timber Zone at Interbuild.

“We haven’t seen hundreds of people, but everyone is a valuable statistic for us, a potential new contact or customer,” he said. “It’s a new initiative – let’s build on it.”

Andrew Allen of Vincent Timber said the industry needed to give the Timber Show “time to grow” and suggested it could become like the Carrefour International du Bois in France.

The show organisers conceded there were fewer visitors than hoped but said business benefits had been delivered to exhibitors and there was enough justification for pressing on with plans for 2007.

“We are determined to build on this first event, from which many lessons have been learnt,” said exhibition director John Southam.

“We’re now preparing plans to ensure that the Timber Show 2007 will be a significant development with more exhibitors and more visitors, although without diluting the quality of visitors.”

He said many of the 61 exhibitors had commented on “high level contacts” received and “solid enquiries”, with some taking orders on their stands.

Several companies have already re-booked for 2007, while interest has also come from new companies.

“We are grateful for the support of our exhibitors and believe that the inaugural event has demonstrated that a dedicated timber exhibition is a workable proposition,” added Mr Southam.

Making its first full appearance as an event exhibitor was The Timber Trade Federation (TTF), having only previously been involved in displays at smaller events as Forest Forever. Visitors to the stand included trade delegations from Russia, Latvia and Belarus. Architects and joiners also wanted to source “more information” for their specifying.

East London-based AA Timber was also attending its first exhibition, having travelled from nearby Stratford. AA’s Marc Humphrey listed architects and construction industry professionals among visitors to the stand.

Timbmet Silverman’s team at ExCeL was mainly promoting innovative solutions, launching its Diffusion range of textured 3D Decorative Panels aimed at providing a creative edge in interior applications.

The company also showed the Sirocco range, similar to Diffusion but consisting of fully finished cut-to-size panels, and the established TEC range of engineered hardwood components.

An open web I-joist made completely from timber was an eye-catcher among products displayed by Canada Wood.

The black spruce product uses finger-jointing techniques on the web and flange. Manufacturer Distribution Open Joist 2000 Inc is actively looking for a UK distributor and hopes to receive CE marking soon.

Enquiries at Canada Wood’s stand included an Italian biofuel pellet buyer.

Steico was another I-joist maker new on the UK market to attend the Timber Show.

“The show was a lot quieter and smaller than we anticipated,” said Steico representative Mark Wilson.

“But the quality of the people we have seen has been good. We’ve seen decision makers and haven’t had any self-builders, who can take an awful lot of your time at a show!”

Yet another newcomer was Russia’s Indau Timber, which only set up a UK base in Cannon Street, London three months ago. It offers machined and sawn timber products, log houses and flooring. It is importing trial loads to test demand but sees good potential in Britain.

Timber cladding

Flying the flag for timber cladding were Vincent Timber and Arnold Laver.

A Canadian-made factory finished cladding product made from OSB was making its debut on Arnold Laver’s stand. “Smartside” is manufactured with a timber-like grain and available in 16ft lengths, while a 25-year guarantee on the paint finish looks likely to make the cladding market very competitive.

Arnold Laver reported several good hardwood orders from the Timber Show.

Vincent Timber used its stand to continue its efforts to educate the end user on the looks and performance of timber cladding. “We also want to help collectively promote the industry which would be beneficial for all of us,” said Vincent Timber’s Andrew Allen.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems’ house erection demonstration provided “theatre” for the show, according to the company’s marketing manager Christine Jones.

Each day the upper floor of its full-scale, two-bedroom timber frame house display was dismantled and reassembled to demonstrate the mechanics and speed of construction.

The presentation also highlighted Milne’s new ‘Scaffold-Less Erect System’ which enables a three-bedroom timber frame house to be built in two days using a mobile crane and no scaffolding.

“We’ve seen architects, designers, procurement managers and a number of MDs of developers and construction teams,” said Ms Jones.

Treatments

Arch Timber Protection had a large birthday cake on its stand to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Dricon fire retardant protection treatment, while BASF Wolman exhibited to improve its visibility in the UK market.

James Latham shared a stand with the Forest Stewardship Council and used the opportunity to promote its offering of certified products, from oak to Argentinian plywood and SmartPly OSB.

London-based Ecochoice Ltd showcased its Plato Wood range of thermally modified timber and wide selection of certified hardwoods. Palgrave Brown has agreed to distribute Plato, while a small London development represents the product’s first UK use as external louvres.

International Decorative Surfaces came to the Timber Show hot on the heels of a successful exhibition at the National Floor Show, where it had launched its Tuscan range of hardwood flooring. The Tuscan range is manufactured in China and aimed at the higher end flooring market without an expensive price tag.

“It’s a new show and will take time to get going,” said Taylor Maxwell Timber, which highlighted its hardwood, cladding and flooring activities. Its new product on display was an easy-to-install “easi-klip” solid timber flooring, which uses metal clips to hold the flooring in place.

The familiar green and black livery of the Combilift multi-directional forklift truck again provided testimony to the company’s remarkable exhibition attendance record. It exhibits at a staggering 63 shows a year and gave its first exhibition airing to the C5000L, specifically developed for the timber sector.

“The quality of the leads has been high,” said Combilift UK product manager Roy Redman. “It would seem to be an exhibition that people are coming to because they want to be here.”

On the software front, Progressive Solutions promoted its bisTrack merchants management product, but focused particularly on two recent developments, Web Track and Scan Track.

The former provides bisTrack users with a secure internet portal, allowing them to share information and do business with suppliers and customers online. Scan Track enables users to scan documents and store them in the bisTrack database.

Hoppings Softwood Products intends to analyse results from the show but hopes to be back next year.

“The industry does need a focus like this and there are enough businesses out there to potentially make it a good show,” said Hoppings marketing manager Adam Pulfer.

  • The Timber Show is scheduled to be held next year from September 25-27.