Timber Expo: the industry hub

The timber sector is a vital part of the UK's construction industry. It is also a central component of how the UK will meet its low carbon and sustainable building targets. You can see and hear more about why timber matters, at Timber Expo at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on September 25-26, the material's only dedicated show, which includes over 100 free Timber Talks seminars, the Timber Buyers and Home Builders Forum networking events, TRADA technical tours, a new Careers in Timber zone and special Timber Hub all taking place within the main exhibition area.

With more than 5,000 visitors expected, including architects, specifiers, engineers and contractors plus central government departments and local authorities, all four corners of the timber sector will be represented for all attendees to engage, learn and experience why timber is the number one commercially available low carbon construction material.

Running across both days, the Timber Talks seminar programme (see p18) will run more than 100 free sessions and will be one of the most comprehensive, stimulating and thought-provoking timber programmes ever assembled. Issue-based seminars will cover a range of topics, including the government's flagship Green Deal, Part L amendments, the EU Timber Regulation, building information modelling (BIM), designing to Passivhaus and Fabric First principles, environmental product declarations (EPDs), CE marking and the EU Construction Products Regulation. Similarly wide-ranging will be the building product presentations including timber connections, SIPs, modified wood, decking and cladding, fixtures, and protective coatings.

The sessions will be delivered by a diverse range of individuals and organisations ranging from TRADA, UK Timber Frame Association, UKSIPS and British Woodworking Federation to Arup, Kingspan, Ramboll, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants and the Olympic Delivery Authority. Plus you will be able to hear more from the deserving winners of the Timber Expo and TRADA-sponsored TTJ Innovation Award, who will be revealing the secrets of their success. Those entries shortlisted for the 2012 Wood Awards will also be delivering key seminars on their flagship projects.

"The content of the Timber Talks programme and the exhibition are quite simply staggering," said Darren Richards, managing director of Timber Expo. "The components of this year's show have been heavily influenced by the feedback on the 2011 show and also by a robust survey of TRADA members. We have engaged with all of the leading timber industry trade bodies too and they have influenced our strategy in terms of delivering the right topics and the right calibre of speakers and exhibitors.

"Our marketing activity has reflected the audience that all of these key stakeholders want to see at the event and the buzz in the industry around Timber Expo is very noticeable," he continued. "The 2012 event will present a major step forward for the timber industry."

The Timber Talks programme will take place inside three separate bespoke timber theatres created especially for Timber Expo by UKSIPS, Frame Wise and Deeside Timberframe with James Jones & Sons.

Theatre construction
The UKSIPS Helix Theatre will be hard to miss. Its creative structure will be one of the highlights of the show and the name comes from the view from above. The sculpted roof panels form the shape of a helix and although it is purely an aesthetic aspect of the structure, it is designed to demonstrate that intricate shapes and overhangs can be achieved using SIPS technology. The 60m2 footprint has only one structural beam - the ridge beam that runs down the centre line of the roof structure.

In Frame Wise's seminar theatre you will see a full range of panel systems including the new 'Wise Wall' series that was developed last autumn. There will also be glulam framework on the ground floor, cross-laminated timber for partitions, raised tie roof trusses, plus various types of non-combustible wall panels. This will demonstrate how well the industry can work together and come up with 'Smart Timber Solutions'.

The structure of Deeside Timberframe and James Jones & Sons' seminar theatre is mainly single storey but incorporates the James Jones IntelliRoof system over one end. The roof system will include a Velux Cabrio balcony window and there will be a JJI-Joist cassette floor panel to complete the room-in-the-roof (RiR) design. The wall panels will be made up of JJI, metal web and space studs (220mm deep), ranging in height from 2.4 up to 3.6m, clad with 9mm OSB sheathing with the walls sloping up from the main entrance towards the RiR section.

Buyers' forums
Meanwhile the Home Builders Federation (HBF) is backing one of the highly anticipated elements of Timber Expo by becoming sponsor and show partner for the Timber Buyers' Forum. It will also be adding its own exciting dimension to the event with the addition of the HBF Buyers' Forum - aimed at bringing key players in the housebuilding sector together face-to-face.

Both forums will be located at the heart of Timber Expo in the main exhibition space and will be truly exclusive parts of the show, with major names such as ASDA, BAM, B&Q, Jewson, Lend Lease, Laing O'Rourke, Mace and Vinci Construction signed up to take part. After a hugely successful first year, the Timber Buyers' Forum returns in a larger, fresh format to provide a simple, structured and highly effective way for timber buyers to meet new and existing suppliers. Nearly 50 contractors and clients signed up to the Forum last year, amongst whom were some of the biggest, most innovative and forward-thinking businesses in the construction sector.

The unique HBF Buyers' Forum will take place on the first floor of the main Seminar Theatre (constructed by timber frame specialist Frame Wise) and will run along the same lines as the main Timber Buyers' Forum. This focused forum approach has proved to be highly successful in creating new business relationships and facilitating meetings that allow participants to get the most out of their time at Timber Expo. The primary aim of both forums is for show exhibitors to access relevant buyers, and match suppliers' wants with the buyers' preferences. Each appointment is scheduled to last 30 minutes.

New features for Timber Expo this year include the Careers in Timber area. Responding to the skills shortage across the timber sector and construction industry generally, recruitment specialist ARV Solutions will be delivering and facilitating Careers in Timber. The area is designed to be the central meeting place for all those wanting to explore new roles, responsibilities and career opportunities in the timber, offsite sector and wider construction industry.

Along with the expert knowledge - in excess of 60 years of combined experience and specialised advice on offer - there will be plenty of visual elements for visitors to see as well. A variety of boards will show graphical statistics, facts and figures and job information, revealing the many layers of the timber industry and what roles and positions could be available. Importantly, it will show where the connectivity is for those wishing to move across disciplines.

Product range
The product range on display will be enormous. Get to grips with and understand more about key timber products and systems from timber frame, SIPs and engineered wood, to decking, cladding and panel products, from joinery, mouldings, flooring, fixtures and fittings to protective coatings, doors and windows.

Meet major UK and international personalities and organisations from across the timber sector all gathered together in one place, displaying a vast array of timber technology and revealing the best this sustainable material has to offer. The exhibitor list includes platinum sponsors, International Timber/Pasquill, alongside major sponsors and industry experts including, Accsys Technologies, Balcas Timber, Crown Timber, Coillte, Glulam Solutions, Lonza, James Latham, Frame Wise, Norbord, Osmose, Oregon Timber Frame, PEFC, Scottish Enterprise, Senior Architectural Systems, Woodbridge Timber and Wiehag, plus more than 100 others.