ITW Industry

Alpine

Alpine

Alpine

ITW Offsite News

May 2013

Duo-Fast & FAST Board drive safety

ITW Industry and Intelligent Wood Systems (IWS) have collaborated to deliver an advanced wall system that meets new fire and structural requirements. The task was to develop a load bearing 60 minute fire resistant timber frame party wall for in-service requirements and a robust and extensively tested wall sheathing system. The partnership’s extensive research project has tested the use of ITW Industry’s Duo-Fast pneumatic nailing system with IWS’ FAST Board, a non-combustible magnesium based sheathing panel. The results from the in service fire test and UKTFA small room fire test demonstrate that IWS FAST Board delivers t...

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May 2013

Home grown home from home

Hill Croft Holiday Park situated in the Lake District has taken delivery of four characterful camping modules (pods) built by ITW Industry customer, Solway Timber Engineering of Dumfries. At 5.2m long, the pods manufactured with TR26 timber off-cuts from roof truss production and locally sourced home grown timber epitomise environmentally responsible construction at a micro scale.

Offsite construction of each pod began with a skeletal run of 16 segmented curved cruck arch style frames. The re-cycled timber segments comprising each arched frame were butted together in a keystone fashion and fastened with ITW Industry punched nail pl...

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March 2013

Build smart with SpaceJoist

ITW Industry’s new improved SpaceJoist open web floor joist range is now available through a national network of suppliers. SpaceJoist’s lightweight construction, consisting of parallel stress graded timber flanges spaced with engineered galvanised steel webs, is becoming ever more popular due to considerable time and money savings for the builder.

SpaceJoist’s ‘open web’ design allows tradesmen to run services through its large voids without drilling or notching as required with traditional joists – which can incur costly remedial work and site delays when done incorrectly. Even finding room for...

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March 2013

New kid on the block shows its metal!

You may not have heard of Cullen yet, but the brand of predominantly UK made quality builder’s metalwork has been around for over 35 years! Previously sold exclusively to timber frame and truss manufacturers, a range is now available direct from builders’ merchant outlets and online retailers. The complete range includes hangers, wall starters, straps and more for all your builders’ metalwork needs.

ITW Industry, owners of the Cullen brand, have worked tirelessly to research and develop new ways to make builder’s jobs easier, introducing several new time saving products every year. The Cullen RB-JHI (or &ldq...

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March 2013

Passivhaus master class

A team of eight Architecture Masters students within the University of Dundee’s ‘Macro Micro Studio’ endeavour to design and self-build, in the words of student Michael Findlater – “an off-grid, energy autonomous, Passivhaus”. The studio in Scotland will perform to a high standard both technologically and architecturally. Michael commented – “Passivhaus buildings are often very plain and simple in design. We hope to prove that Passivhaus projects can be architecturally inspiring as well as innovative”.

Situated on a gentle south facing slope within the Universi...

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March 2013

Open chords no fret for Harmony

Harmony Timber Solutions of Canterbury supplied a run of top hat attic trusses with integrated SpaceJoist open web bottom chords for a new detached home in Alresford, Hampshire.

Project developer Peak Quality Homes Ltd, who specialise in prestige dwellings, required an area of Ecojoist floor to match in with the attic area for running services through the open web voids. Harmony designer, Russell Stannard called upon ITW Industry’s Steve Paget for special detailing of the Alpine/Gang-Nail SpaceJoist bottom chords due to the change in timber orientation.

Keith Riley, Technical Sales at Harmony describes how their first...

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February 2013

Jason Ruddle's Instinct

Following the integration of Gang-Nail Systems into ITW Industry, Jason Ruddle takes on the new role of Business Development Manager for the ITW Instinct Residential Design System and hsbCAD timber frame software. The former Gang-Nail Sales Director is tasked with promoting the time saving and collaborative benefits of ITW Instinct to national house builders. Additionally, Jason will focus on growing hsbCAD’s market share in the UK and Ireland while coordinating its launch in France alongside an Alpine offer.

“Jason’s proven record in establishing a market leading timber frame application wit...

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February 2013

Cullen metalwork hits the mark

ITW Industry have fully prepared their range of Cullen builders’ metalwork to comply with the “Construction Products Regulation” (CPR) which legally comes into force in July 2013. At a cost of over £300,000 the project has achieved compliance for all hangers, straps, wall ties and brackets.

The new regulation will supersede the “Construction Products Directive” currently enforce in a move towards consistent European standards. The CPR stipulates that products with a harmonised European standard must be CE marked for use in construction by law. Additionally, manufacturers must have Factory Product...

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January 2013

Thermal performace a primary factor

Ochil Timber Products of Denny have begun production of a large 1,500m² timber frame kit for the new Invergowrie Primary School in Scotland. The kit features the new thermally efficient Alpine SpaceStud wall system with over 200 open panels at 4.8 metres high.

Andrew McAree, Ochil Timber Products’ Director recalls – “The original building design specified 220 x 45mm timber wall studs, however once Perth and Kinross Council (architects) were presented with the thermal, cost and environmental credentials of Alpine SpaceStud they were more than happy to proceed with the system”.

The SpaceS...

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January 2013

ITW Industry: The social system

ITW Industry, suppliers of Cullen connectors, Paslode fastening systems, Alpine & Gang-Nail truss & floor systems and hsbCAD timber frame software have broadened their social networking activities with a new “flickr” profile. The photo hosting profile can be viewed online at www.flickr.com/itw-industry or with the flickr mobile app.

“We hope that our flickr profile becomes a useful tool for customers, colleagues and partners to browse and download our high resolution images for use in their own marketing activities to help ...

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December 2012

Alpine summit reached for VIEW 9.22

ITW Industry announces their new VIEW (Visually Integrated Engineering Window) software release – a key component of the Alpine roof truss and open web joist systems. VIEW 9.22 is packed with new features to simplify design, reduce costs and improve drawing output.

With rooms in the roof becoming ever more popular to optimise space, many improvements have focused on the design of attic trusses in VIEW. Threaded purlins, binders and their corresponding support posts for cut truss openings accurately represent real life scenarios in direct response to customer feedback. Options have been introduced for easy adding of a second b...

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November 2012

New SpaceJoist: Sound BITE!

ITW Industry launches the new SJ10 metal web for SpaceJoist open web joists following 12 months of extensive research and development. Its additional perimeter teeth are unique and provide more bite, thus improving joist stiffness and reducing deflection.

Testing has proved SpaceJoist SJ10’s outstanding acoustic performance comfortably pass resistance to sound regulations for England and Wales. The joists even comply with the more stringent 43dB Scottish regulations without additional insulation or resilient bars – a benefit not common to all its main competitors.

Don’t spend unnecessary time and money ins...

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November 2012

ITW Industry customers team up!

Oakworth Homes of Sheffield and Nuneaton Roof Truss Limited (NRTL) joined forces to give a new lease of life to an existing building.

Oakworth provide expertise across a portfolio ranging from design and planning to timber frame manufacture, foundations and groundwork. As part of their continued growth they secured a contract to add three penthouse apartments to an existing residential block in Weybridge. Each penthouse required a run of mansard trusses spanning 11 meters and designed for a heavy screed load. Established in 1999, the family run Alpine roof truss and open web joist manufacturer; Nuneaton Roof Trusses Ltd supplied th...

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November 2012

New SpaceJoist: Now with more BITE!

ITW Industry announces the launch of the new improved SpaceJoist SJ10 web following extensive research and development over 12 months. The SJ10 open web joists achieve longer spans with less timber and fewer webs than both its predecessors and contemporaries. With unrivalled strength characteristics and outstanding acoustic performance, SpaceJoist SJ10 will give manufacturers’ the competitive edge in this steadily growing market.

Testing has proved that the new patent pending SpaceJoist webs are superior to its competitors in almost every way. The additional perimeter teeth are unique and provide more bite, thus improving joi...

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November 2012

John Isdale: Safe as houses

ITW Industry’s commitment to employee training and development is exemplified in the flourishing career of their Health & Safety Officer – John Isdale. In recent years, since the acquisition of Cullen by ITW, John has managed to gain several qualifications under his belt.

Since August 2011, John’s training schedule has been relentless. In this short time, he has achieved NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Health) general certificate and EDI (Education Development International) level 3 in manual handling accreditations. John also completed a reach truck and counter balance forklift refreshers c...

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November 2012

Truro Timber Frames press ahead with SpaceJoist

New and thriving Cornwall based manufacturing company, Truro Timber Frames, are now licensed fabricators of Alpine SpaceJoist open metal web floors. Since it was established in October 2010 by brothers Nick and Rob Winfield, the visionary pair have grown the business to a twelve-strong team, fabricating and erecting feature oak frames, timber frame panels and now SpaceJoist. Their plant near Truro is currently running at capacity seven days a week with plans to expand.

Typical clients range from self builders through to medium sized developers. In their first two years of trading, Truro Timber Frames completed projects across the s...

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November 2012

New faces in timber engineering

ITW Industry introduces three faces to timber engineering. The new recruits, all at different milestones in their careers, have recently joined the team at the Glenrothes office and manufacturing site.

Graduate Structural Engineer, Ryan Lockhart joins the Cullen Technical Support team where his Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering acquired at the University of Dundee and hands-on experienced gained from helping with his parents’ self build project will be put to good use.

When asked why he joined the company, Ryan replied – “ITW Industry places a great deal of investment within its e...

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October 2012

Thomas Armstrong steps up to curve ball

Maryport based Thomas Armstrong (Construction) revisited one of their own 1970’s builds in their home town as the principal contractor for a 1.2 million pound complete remodel for Derwent and Solway Housing Association. One of the project’s most instantly noticeable improvements is the retro fit of unique curved trussed rafter roofs with stepped bottom chords to fit over the existing structure.The three apartment blocks were given the curved roof treatment to complement the sweeping roofline of nearby ‘The Wave Centre’ and its waterfront location. Each of the three blocks comprises 36 trusses designed an...

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October 2012

A step closer to EC5

With BS5268 withdrawn in 2010 in favour of the introduction of a new structural timber design standard in the form of Eurocode 5 (EC5), it was assumed by many that this would spell the end of timber design uncertainties. The reality however is that EC5 is still yet to be fully integrated into the market, meaning continued confusion surrounds how and when EC5 will fully take effect. Here, Jason Ruddle, Sales & Business Development Manager from Gang-Nail looks at the recent developments and what to expect from EC5.

As EC5 gathers pace in the move towards becoming the only accepted timber design code, many are sti...

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October 2012

ITW Industry implements “Paslode Safetrak”

In a move to fortify ITW’s position as market leader in powered fastening, ITW Industry will roll out their new ‘Paslode Safetrak’ identity scheme to record repairs throughout a tool’s lifespan. Tools will be tagged with a unique number, comprising a customer code, tool code and installation date and tracked by Service Engineers on a central database.

“Our commitment to safety is unique to ITW in the powered fastening market. No other supplier offers operator training, tool repair and now Paslode Safetrak tracking – all incorporated into the service as we do.” – commented Tim...

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October 2012

CHAS Grand Prix

It was Go-Go-Go for a group of children at the CHAS GP in June. The event held at the famous Knockhill race track set out to give terminally ill children and their families an experience of a lifetime while raising over £2000 for the “Children’s Hospice Association Scotland” (CHAS) charity.The children, parents and siblings enjoyed riding shotgun alongside experienced amateur racing drivers. ITW Industry’s Operations Manager and weekend “Celtic Mini Cooper Cup” racer, Scott McKenzie gave his time as a driver. “I was keen to get involved when as soon as I heard about the event ...

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September 2012

SMS Timber Frame assist DIY SOS: The Big Build

SMS Timber Frame supplied a utility room extension featuring Alpine SpaceStud walls for a family featured on “DIY SOS: The Big Build” – the BBC’s flagship DIY show. In this episode, the DIY SOS team came to the rescue of a young Manchester couple with triplets approaching two years old. Needless to say, their cramped two bedroom house had become unfit for purpose. In addition to the SpaceStud extension, the renovation extended to every room of the house, including a loft bedroom conversion and new kitchen. SMS delivered the 3 x 2.6m utility room timber frame kit in late July and had it fully erected in j...

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August 2012

Neil Chadwick joins ITW Industry

ITW Industry welcomes Neil Chadwick to the team as Ireland’s new Key Account Manager. Neil takes the baton from Dave Cleverley who has decided to pursue a new career challenge after nine years with Cullen & ITW Industry.

Neil contributes over a decade of experience in the building supplies trade including a former role as Sales Manager at ITW Construction Products. “The opportunity to rejoin the business was attractive for many reasons. Although I had left ITW, the company’s core principles instilled in me always rang true in other roles. I had heard that Paul Walsh and his management team had developed th...

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July 2012

Success continues in difficult times

Whilst the timber construction industry has faced tough trading conditions, and continues to do so for the foreseeable future, many manufacturers and suppliers are now looking at different ways of doing business by incorporating new processes and resources to not only make the best of the situation going forward, but also to help the company thrive and indeed grow in its own right.

One company, Harmony Timber Solutions, has taken these measures on to good effect and has recently celebrated its first anniversary in doing so, owed in part to the expertise and assistance of specialist timber software and Ecojo...

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July 2012

Gang-Nail EcoJoists help get new Marie Curie Hospice build off the ground

Designed to better service patients currently treated at the nearby Warwick Road Hospice, the new Marsh Lane site will feature 24 single, en-suite patient bedrooms whilst providing more room for outpatients and day care services as a result.

To help ensure this is possible, Fencehouse Truss Company has manufactured and supplied Gang-Nail Ecojoists for use in the construction of the roof, helping to ensure enhanced stability whilst also speeding up the overall build. Steve Harris, Director at Fencehouse, said: “With the new hospice set to open early in 2013, it is important to ensure that the build programme stays on sched...

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July 2012

Design accuracy from Gang-Nail

Complete design accuracy is key when undertaking any construction project and can make the difference between a building that is both solid and secure and one that will require repair work further down the line. The roof specifically is an area that requires specialist attention, not least of which due to its inherent load bearing requirements. Here, Jason Ruddle from Gang-Nail looks at how the combination of specially configured timber design software, coupled with the use of leading modular building components can help ensure an accurate end result.

Integral to the construction of a building, an expertly designed...

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July 2012

First Irish SpaceStud Passive house

Fallis Construction, designers and manufacturers of high quality, low energy homes in Ireland, are building the first SpaceStud super insulated house in a contract worth £210,000. Currently under construction, the 2,600 square foot ‘Drumbane II House’ in Kesh, Co. Fermanagh, features the Alpine SpaceStud wall system as part of the high thermal performance exterior wall.

“We chose to use SpaceStud for its low percentage of timber, while providing a large void for the cellulose insulation. The SpaceStud system creates a thermally broken timber frame which is a very important aspect when designing a...

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July 2012

Murdock’s VIEW on year one success

Murdock Builder’s Merchants of Ireland began manufacturing their own Alpine roof trusses in June 2011. To kick them off, ITW Industry sent Field Technical Manager, Gerry Reilly, to deliver full on-site training on the VIEW engineering software over two days.

Shortly after training, Murdocks won a large contract to supply trusses for Forkhill Primary School in County Armagh. Paul Sheppard, Senior General Manager at Murdocks recalled – “We found the software very user friendly and the support very good. Following our training, we had the confidence to take on this large project straight away”....

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July 2012

Stewart Milne Golf Day

ITW Industry emerged victors of Stewart Milne’s golf day held at The Wychwood Golf Club on the 26th June. The real triumph however, was the £2,686 raised for the Maggies Cancer Care charity, which was generously doubled by Stewart Milne himself.

The winning team comprising Daryn Scally (Commercial Manager), Carl Hough of Pasquills, Mike Hand (Field Tool Service Engineer) & Neil Hoskins (Key Account Manager) racked up 46 points over 18 holes on the Better Ball Stableford scoring format in a close fought contest. Daryn Scally also won a £50 prize from one of the various sub competitions when he landed a ...

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