Companies in the timber supply chain converged at Napier University‘s Centre for Timber Engineering to hear research reports on their businesses as part of the government’s TCS (formerly Teaching Company Scheme) initiative.
The March 14 seminar saw Stirling University marketing graduate Jonny Bell, currently a TCS associate with connector manufacturer Cullen Building Products, speak about his project to deliver a market information system; an updated website with e-commerce capability; and a formalised external communications system at Cullen.
Ross Brown, a TCS associate at James Jones & Sons Timber Systems in Forres, spoke about the process required to achieve European Technical Approval for I-joists, which will supersede current BBA certification by December 2004. His project with James Jones contributed to producing a flexible mathematical model which can be applied to a wide range of engineered joist specifications.
Robert Hairstans, who is undertaking his TCS research project at Napier and is sponsored by Oregon Timber Frame Ltd of Jedburgh, spoke about his project to enable and evaluate process refinement in timber frame construction.
His research so far has proved that factory production of roofs offers Oregon a 57% reduction in accident risk, a 52% improvement in speed; and a projected £49,500 saving on £7.5m turnover.
