Industry News

Associations support Timber Expo as official show partners

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), the UK SIP Association (UKSIPS)  and the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) have signed up as official show partners for Timber Expo 2012 and discussions are taking place with several other key associations and organisations. 

The partner associations’ logos will feature on the Timber Expo website, in the promotional ezine Expozine and in the official show guide, underlining their significant role in the construction sector. Members are offered several key benefits, including 5% discount on stand space and VIP status as visitors.

A feature unique to Timber Expo is the Timber Buyers’ Forum, which links exhibitors with major contractors, developers and clients. Christine Harding, BMF Marketing Manager said, ‘We are pleased to be working with Timber Expo this year as an official show partner. A large number of our members are involved with timber and we look forward to promoting the show and the Timber Buyers’ Forum in particular.’

Timber Expo will provide the opportunity for ‘dialogue, networking and forging new business links’, said TRADA Membership & Marketing Manager Rupert Scott . ‘Even in this electronic age, there is no substitute for face to face discussion. We are delighted to be working closely with the BMF, CIAT, UKSIPS and UKTFA to enable the associations and their members to benefit from Timber Expo 2012 as a platform for promoting their activities and meeting with customers and specifiers.’

Timber Expo exhibitor receives OBE

Peter Latham, the chairman of leading timber merchants James Latham plc and PEFC UK, has been awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours List.

Recognised for services to the UK wood industry, Latham has spent over 20 years dedicated to sustainable timber sourcing and forest management.

As well as heading one of Britain's oldest timber companies - James Latham began importing hardwoods into Liverpool in 1757 - Latham is a former Chairman of Forests Forever (the environmental committee of the Timber Trade Federation), a member of the Council of the Commonwealth Forestry Association (the world's longest established international forestry organisation) and Chairman of PEFC UK. 

Timber Expo hailed as outstanding success

Exhibitors and visitors have hailed Timber Expo 2011 as an outstanding success, showcasing a sector which has embraced new technologies, new products and new ways of bringing solutions to market efficiently and cost-effectively.

More than 4,000 visitors, including architects, engineers, contractors and local authorities, attended Timber Expo 2011. The two-day programmes of seminars and tutorials in the Frame Wise Timber Talk theatre, the SIP Talk theatre sponsored by the UK SIP Association  and the BM TRADA Group forum attracted hundreds of delegates, and around 200 guests attended the Wood Awards 2011 winners’ ceremony on the opening day of the show.

To read more, please go to the 2011 Review where you can find the Photo Gallery and the official stats for the show.

Timber Expo ‘exactly what the industry needs’, says Frame Wise

The launch of Timber Expo as the innovation showcase for timber construction is exactly what the industry needs, says Frame Wise MD Simon Orrells.  Timber Expo, he explains, ‘is the start of a new dawn’ in timber exhibiting.

‘There is no shortage of  events for the UK construction industry aimed at driving innovation and sustainability, but quite frankly none serves the timber industry well.  We see Timber Expo as the flagship event for our business and for that reason we have seized the opportunity to fully embrace this launch year.  From my experience, other construction exhibitions tend to be dominated by the big players in the construction industry with a vested interest in traditional methods of construction, making it difficult for the timber sector to have its voice heard.  Anybody with an interest in designing and building structures that will perform in cost, flexibility and sustainability terms should visit Timber Expo.’

Frame Wise is building the Timber Talk seminar theatre at Timber Expo and is using this as an opportunity to demonstrate its capability as one of the UK’s leading timber frame manufacturers.  Mr Orrells stresses,  ‘We’ve got some very clear messages to communicate at Timber Expo and we really want to use this as an opportunity to engage with forward thinking contractors and clients who can see the huge advantages of timber frame.  We will be showcasing some new systems and latest innovation that will set Frame Wise apart from the competition.’

Timber Expo aims to attract more than 5,000 visitors from the UK and overseas. ‘There is no doubt that we will be able to showcase the advantages of timber frame at Timber Expo. As a showcase for the very best the timber industry has to offer, we want to see it become an annual event in the construction calendar.’

Advanced timber technology in Frame Wise seminar theatre

Market leading timber frame designer and manufacturer Frame Wise will build a seminar theatre at Timber Expo and industry experts will deliver a two-day programme of free technical seminars on advances in timber frame construction and engineered wood products.  The 48 sq m theatre will seat 50 delegates.

Frame Wise Managing Director and Chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association Simon Orrells said: “There are immense opportunities for timber frame in today’s market, which is driven by the need for built environment solutions that balance cost efficiencies with the sustainable agenda. We are involved in projects from modern eco-homes and housing developments, from commercial buildings and care homes, to sports facilities and eco schools.  Our programme of seminars will demonstrate that timber frame is easily able to deliver high performance buildings that far exceed environmental and performance standards by embracing new technologies and engineered wood products.’   

Mr Orrells added, ‘We work with a wide range of clients throughout the supply chain and through this process have converted vast numbers of architects, developers,  local authorities and housing associations to the benefits of timber frame.  We are proud of that achievement and therefore are delighted to be taking part in Timber Expo which encompasses everything that is new and exciting about the most versatile build material available, timber. This passion for all things wood will be reflected in the seminar theatre, both in the structure and in the Timber Talk seminar programme.’  For programme information click here

Commercial sector ‘ready for the taking’ for timber

TRADA has just signed up Clive Pople, Director of Willmott Dixon, to speak at its flagship conference In Touch with Timber. In ‘Growing the commercial sector’, he joins Martin Young, Chief Architect of Tesco Stores Ltd, Martin Wood, Partner in Bryden Wood Architects, and Nick Milestone, Construction Director of B & K Structures.

As TRADA Membership & Marketing Manager Rupert Scott explained, ‘Timber as a structural material has, until relatively recently, been restricted mainly to the domestic market.  But many companies are now providing a new breed of high tech structural timber sub-contracting.  As a result, the commercial sector is very much ready for the taking.’

The four speakers from across the supply chain, representing contractor, client, designer and timber sub-contractor, discuss their experiences, current projects and forward plans. Mike Cook, Director of Buro Happold will chair the session, which is sponsored by CarbonEng.

Timber Expo is aiming for 5,000 visitors from the UK and overseas and the new conference format of four half-day sessions will accommodate 1,000 delegates over the two days. With a flexible pricing structure, tickets start from £80.00. Visit www.timber-expo.co.uk/Conference.

UKSIPS to build theatre and run free Technical Talk seminar programme

The UK Structural Insulated Panel Association (UKSIPS) will use SIPS technology to construct one of the show seminar theatres at Timber Expo in September.

UKSIPS experts will use this theatre to communicate technical issues and project case studies to up to 500 seminar delegates, as part of a two-day free of charge Timber Talk seminar programme.

The 48sqm theatre will form the heart of a ‘SIP Zone’ with up to 12 UKSIPS Members exhibiting. The theatre will have a seating capacity of ca 50 delegates per session and it is envisaged that some 30 presentations will be delivered over the two days of the show.

UKSIPS Chairman Andrew Orriss said, ‘SIPS technology is making serious advances into the construction arena as developers and contractors realise the huge savings in time and cost this modern method of construction offers as a readily available low carbon building solution. There is a real thirst for knowledge, which we aim to address at Timber Expo.’

The seminar sessions will be technically focused, with case study examples, reflecting the five key subjects highlighted in UKSIPS Technical Bulletins to be published in the run up to the event; from Structural to Acoustic performance. Passivhaus/Low Carbon design with SIPS will also be included. The case study themes will be sector specific, covering for example housing, education, hotels & leisure, healthcare and multi-storey construction.

Mr Orriss added, ‘The seminar sessions will be free of charge and there is no need to pre-register. We expect huge interest in the seminar programme and some sessions are likely to be over-subscribed, but we will make provision for “standing room” in the gangways to accommodate extra numbers.’

BMF and UKSIPS endorse Timber Expo

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has underlined its support for the TRADA Technology-backed exhibition and conference event, Timber Expo. Chris Pateman, BMF Managing Director, has been in discussion with TRADA Technology Marketing Manager Rupert Scott to explore ways to work together and BMF will actively promote Timber Expo to its members via its website and regular newsletters. 

The news follows the announcement by the UK SIP Association (UKSIPS) that it will construct one of the seminar theatres at the show, to stage technical seminars for up to 500 delegates. The 48 sq m theatre will form the heart of a ‘SIP Zone’ with up to 12 UKSIPS members exhibiting. The seminar sessions, part of a two-day free of charge Timber Talk programme, will be sector specific, covering for example housing, education, hotels & leisure, healthcare and multi-storey construction.

Mr Scott said, ‘Timber Expo offers a unique commercial platform, bringing together buyers and sellers of timber products. We are delighted to have the support of like-minded associations such as BMF and UKSIPS, making Timber Expo a show for the industry, by the industry, where visitors can be informed, inspired and do business.’

The many exhibitors include, as Platinum sponsors, International Timber/Pasquill Timber Engineering, with B&K Structures, Global Forest Trade Network (WWF), Grainger Sawmills and Timbmet as Gold Sponsors and Balcas Timber, Coillte, Gang-Nail Systems, Latham’s  (also sponsoring the VIP Lounge), Lime Technology, Norbord and UK Flooring as Silver Sponsors.

The Timber Buyer Forum will give exhibitors the opportunity to have pre-arranged, structured meetings with procurement directors/buyers. B&Q, Vinci Construction, Lend Lease, Jewson, Tesco, Travis Perkins, Sir Robert McAlpine and BAM are just a few of the companies who have already confirmed their participation.

In its new two-day format, In Touch with Timber will give the stage to leading designers to draw from recent projects, many award-winning, and discuss the primary influences for their work.

Briefing day announced

A briefing day has been set up in April for timber companies exhibiting at Timber Expo, a dynamic new event designed to bring the timber industry together for the first time under one roof.

This event will be FREE to all companies signed up to the show and is designed to be interactive, informative and will give companies the opportunity to squeeze every drop out of their investment and maximise their involvement before, during and after the show.

There will be announcements regarding new additions to Timber Expo including Conference Speakers, Special Features and access to the Exhibitor Guide, which will provide all the information needed to have a great show.

This briefing day is taking place on the 7th April at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, so for more information contact a member of the team to register your place!

Timber Expo... less than 300 days to go and buzzing with activity!

With less than 300 days to go to Timber Expo 2011, we have further upgraded our innovative website, adding new functionality including: TimberExpozine, visitor information, searchable exhibitor listings, conference details, stand graphics pack options and much more.

TimberExpozine is now on line

Our plan is to publish four digital magazines before Timber Expo 2011, to keep you fully informed on developments behind the show but also to give our sponsors and exhibitors a chance to reveal their plans for the event and provide a sneak peek at any new products and systems they will be showing.

Timber Expo 2011 – further previews for prospective exhibitors

With more than 50% of stand space already booked, prospective exhibitors who missed the groundbreaking launch event for Timber Expo in September will not lose out. To meet demand, we will be hosting preview events throughout January and February 2011.

Exhibiting is all about communication

Exhibiting is all about communication, so we have developed an Exhibitor Guide full of tips and suggestions for making the most out of your Timber Expo experience and to help you maximise the return on your investment. The Exhibitor Guide is full of practical guidance on what to do before the show, setting out goals and key considerations, staff training, using the Timber Expo website and social media, collecting lead information, what to do after the show and measuring its success.

New Gold and Silver sponsors for Timber Expo 2011

Joining Timbmet as Gold sponsor of Timber Expo this week is Grainger Sawmills of County Cork, Ireland, while Lathams, with offices across the UK, has signed up as Silver sponsor.

TTF announces support for new timber event

The Timber Trade Federation has voiced its support for Timber Expo - John White, CEO of the TTF, said:

“The industry needs to get behind Timber Expo as it is a fantastic opportunity to increase the use of wood in construction by showcasing why it is the only genuine solution for sustainable construction.”

Your opportunity to join the Timber Expo Steering Group

A group of exhibiting companies and other influential timber industry bodies is being established, to meet every eight weeks to ensure that Timber Expo is dealing with the latest and most contemporary issues.

Timbmet signs up as Gold sponsor for Timber Expo 2011

A leading distributor of hardwoods, panel products and other timber-related products in the UK, has signed up as Gold sponsor of Timber Expo. In the same week, Ontario Wood has underlined its support for the show as Bronze sponsor and the Timber Trade Federation has urged the industry ‘to get behind Timber Expo, as it is a fantastic opportunity to increase the use of wood in construction by showcasing why it is the only genuine solution for sustainable construction’.

AHEC affirms industry support as Timber Expo Major Sponsor

The American Hardwood Export Council, has signed up as Major Sponsor of the new showcase for timber and wood products, Timber Expo. The news was announced ahead of the launch event on 29 September 2010, the start of a 12-month countdown to the show itself on 27 & 28 September 2011 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.