The juggernaut that is UK Construction Week rolled into town at Birmingham NEC once again in September as the UK’s largest construction focused event.
This year the timber side of the event, previously called Timber Expo, was fully integrated into the wider show with TRADA’s presentation theatre at its hub.
This change was hailed by many exhibitors as the right way forward and brought positive spin-offs, though it’s fair to say some still believed the show-within-a-show that was Timber Expo worked better for the sector.
Where there was consensus was that the UKCW overall was an impressive event. Billed as the biggest UK construction fair, there were 500 exhibitors from across the range of building products and services sectors, with 22 from timber and associated industries. The final tally of visitors was 34,327.
“Overlapping at the NEC with Grand Designs Live was no doubt an added attraction for architects, designers and other specifiers,” said one timber exhibitor.
Another said that being “fully plugged” into UKCW worked for them.
“It underlines that timber is a mainstream, increasingly important construction material, not one that should be seen as standing apart,” said a company representative.
Combilift reported a busy event and “good quality visitors”.
“We attend over 100 shows a year worldwide and this has been a good one,” said product manager David Vuagniaux. “We’ve had a lot of timber guys coming through, and people from other materials sectors. We’ve had good enquiries.”
The focus on the stand was how Combilift trucks can help maximise storage space and drive logistics efficiencies. Models on show included the electric variant of the Combi-CB, the CE 3000, the large-site targeted Combi- 4WSL sideloader and, at the other end of the spectrum, the Combi-WR4 four-way pedestrian stacker.
“The show has reflected how busy we are in the UK and more widely,” said Mr Vuagniaux. “We’re now looking at producing 30 more trucks a week.”
Attracting a lot of attention from designers was the Cornices Centre with their Woodolex flexible MDF mouldings. Made using the company’s own “special heat bending and moulding process”, these are claimed to match plaster, wood and plastic in product intricacy and definition, from egg and dart cornice, to ornate reliefs and ceiling roses.
“We can make products to specification, or customers can curve straight sections on site with a standard heat gun, achieving a seamless finish,” said the company’s Anna Zawalska.
Exhibiting under its new Borwood branding, the Belarussian Forest Company said it was keen to develop and diversify its UK customer base, targeting both construction companies and resellers. The operation comprises nine mills, producing MDF, chipboard, plywood, fibreboard, insulation and laminate flooring.
“The mills are now closely aligned under the Borwood banner and centralised management ensures quality control, from logging to packaging, and delivery optimisation,” said area sales manager Dmitry Oparenko. “We’ve also had a five-year mill modernisation programme.”
A focal point of the UKCW timber section was no doubt the Social Shell from Hanson Plywood, which acted as a presentation theatre. Made in FLEGT-licensed meranti Performance marine plywood, it was the outcome of an architecture and engineering workshop in Nottingham where teams were challenged to develop a demountable pavilion. The Social Shell won and the multiple plywood components were cut by CNC machine and the structure slotted and bolted together.
“It highlights the durability, construction and design potential of our plywood,” said Hanson’s Joanne Floyd.
The company, which reported a good level of construction professional visitors, was also particularly highlighting its lightweight poplar ply range from Panguaneta of Italy.
Metsä Wood decided to “dip its toe back” in the water of the UKCW after a break of a couple of years and said it paid off. “We’ve been busy and the link with Grand Designs has been a benefit. We’ve seen quite a few architects and had interesting enquiries,” said sales director Matt Collins.
The company was highlighting construction projects using its Kerto LVL, plywood and I-joists, including Cranleigh School, winner of Education Project of the Year at the Structural Timber Awards.
It was also underlining its confidence in Kerto by promoting latest manufacturing developments.
“Our new 60,000m3 capacity mill in Finland takes our total LVL capacity to 300,000m3 a year,” said Mr Collins. “It leaves us well placed to meet increasing market demand.”
Trade Fabrications was spotlighting the increasing breadth and diversity of its panel processing, cut-to-size and matchboard operations, targeting builders, merchants, fit out specialists and architects.
“We’ve invested heavily in new technology recently, £750,000 in the last 12 months, including in CNC machining,” said managing director Howard Morris. “We’ve increased our workforce 50% and are now looking for bigger premises. We’re here to highlight what we can now offer the customer as a one-stop shop for all timber processing requirements.
“Our focus at UKCW is particularly on acoustic panelling and door processing. We can coat, machine and protect doors and deliver them to site, adding value and cutting costs for merchants and builders.”
A&J Scott was also focused on advanced capabilities delivered by latest spending on technology. This year a new resaw processing and handling line came on stream at its Northumberland mill site, representing a £4.1m investment.
“It’s designed to develop our capacity for value-added products, including fencing and garden products, feather-edge boards, weathered fence and gate posts, and also incised posts, shaped fence palings and other planed and moulded products,” said sales and marketing manager Simon Ellis.
He added that A&J Scott had seen a range of visitors at the show, including distributors, merchants and subcontractors.
“We’ve seen existing customers and new contacts and we’ve taken orders,” he said.
On an impressive stand, clearly targeting the design community, Timber Focus was demonstrating the range of its wood cladding, decking, sawn timber, furniture and landscaping products. The choice of colours, profiles and surface effects covered the spectrum and the range included wood plastic composites, thermowood and ready firetreated products.
Part of the French Groupe Rose, the company launched in the UK last year and is headed by Andrew Goto.
“We’ve had a good start and the show has given us added exposure,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of house builders and architects, some a spillover from Grand Designs, and a few importers.”
Painted cladding was a major focus on the stand, partly in response to DIY chains developing their cladding offer. Shabby chic was a prominent trend in interior cladding and the company also showed a Shou Sugi Ban charred exterior product, and a painted lookalike.
Also in the UKCW timber sector was wood furniture and interiors specialist Texeira from Portugal, less perturbed by Brexit after the event than it was before due to the range and “seriousness” of visitors.
“The UK is one of our top three export markets, and we’ve seen no decline in interest,” said country manager UK Jaime Perone. “Here at UKCW we’ve seen private clients, developers and builders.”
Trending woods for Texeira, he added, were American white oak, maple and walnut.
Glennon Brothers was at the show not only shortly after winning Softwood Trader of the Year at the TTJ Awards, but also announcing a £15m investment at its Windymains, Scotland mill in a new log yard and sorter. That follows a similar spend on biomass heat and power technology at its plant in Troon in 2018, and a €20m investment at its Fermoy mill over the past five years.
That Glennon Brothers invests in the future was clearly part of its pitch to visitors.
‘’Our relationship with customers is very important to us, and our investment programme is closely aligned with improving product quality and enhancing customer service,’’ said group marketing manager Gary Neville. “The show was an opportunity to leverage existing customer relationships, and foster new ones.’’
Visitors showed interest across its diverse offer, ranging from kiln dried, strength graded carcassing timber, pallet timber, through CLS, decking, fencing and roof trusses, to timber frame homes.
The current market, acknowledged Mr Neville, is competitive, with European and global dynamics affecting the sector. “But we’re holding our own and remain positive about the future,” he said.
Seriously upbeat about the show was connector and hanger specialist Simpson Strong-Tie, which unveiled its new 2,000-product catalogue at the event. Attracting particular interest were its new range of connectors for CLT, a response to the “continuing rapid growth in engineered wood modular building”.
Another focus was the company’s Quik Drive tool for rapid screwing of everything from drywall, to keruing vehicle deck. Quik Drive has new screws and recyclable plastic for the screw belt.
“Due to the development of the market, not least in timber construction, we’re also giving Quik Drive a more distinct marketing presence,” said Quik Drive national sales manager Phillip Chambers. “Modular timber building is looking for fast, efficient, safe solutions. We provide them.”
