Timber-related companies probably had their smallest presence at Interbuild for many years, though organisers said the show was successful in attracting quality visitors.
A trio of Irish sawmillers – Glennon Brothers, Murray Timber Group and Graingers – together with Coillte Panel Products, had the single biggest timber representation at the Built Environment Solutions and Technologies exhibition part of Interbuild on a shared stand backed by Enterprise Ireland and Coillte.
Grainger said its Interbuild debut was part of a new marketing effort which included attending other shows. The sawmiller has seen its sales of C16 carcassing timber to the UK soar in recent years and was keen to promote its brand.
Glennon Brothers presented itself as a one-stop shop for all timber needs. Joint managing director Mike Glennon said Interbuild was a useful platform to promote homegrown wood and the long length timber capacity of the company. He said the group now employed more people in the UK than in Ireland.
Murray Timber Group had a rolling video of its production technology, which included a recent €1m investment in Microtec X-ray grading equipment at both its mills.
Its carcassing exports to England are expected to be about 90,000m³ in 2010, up on last year, while total group sawn capacity is now approaching 500,000m³.
Meanwhile, TRADA retained a presence to promote its range of publications and services and displayed a timber frame model to demonstrate Part L in timber frame and the Proctor Group gave the lion’s share of its stand over to its timber cladding range.
Probably the only genuine timber frame structure on show was on the UK SIPS Association stand, where open-web joists, I-beams and SIP panels were combined.
Jeld-Wen displayed an energy-efficient window, typical of one being supplied to Barratt’s Code Level 6 Hanham Hall development with a focus on the method of installation to improve performance. Norbord and Finnforest were represented on Barratt Development’s residential hub.
A full report on Interbuild will follow in a later edition of TTJ.