August 2009 Issue 165
THE TECHNICAL MAGAZINE FOR MANUFACTURERS, INSTALLERS, SPECIFIERS AND CONTRACTORS
PulseSecure™ The Ultimate Perimeter Security System
Plus: • Fencing Competition a Great Success at Driffield • We Visit Judge Jon Vicary • East Anglia’s Finest : Clarkes of Walsham
www.fencing-news.co.uk
CONTENTS Welcome to the AUGUST edition of Fencing & Landscaping News I am not going to mention the weather too much, because when I do it starts to rain!
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MANAGING Director/ EDITOR. Simone Gallon. Tel: 01274 610 101.
[email protected] AssiStant Editor. Chris Berry. Tel: 01274 610 101 Feature WRITErs. Peter Walters, Chris Berry,. Peter Mepsted, Rob Wilkinson, Phil Read, Victoria Poolman Sales/Subscriptions Manager. Ben Walton. Tel: 01274 610 101.
[email protected] Advertising Account ManagerS. Nicola Robson.
[email protected]. Tel: 01274 610 101 Grahame Kraft. Tel: 01757 229 630.
[email protected] Admin/sales. Christian Gallon. Tel: 01274 610 101.
[email protected] Design. James Ockelford . fencing & Landscaping News. 40 Stockhill Road, Greengates. Bradford, BD10 9AX. Tel: 01274 610 101. Fax: 01274 621 730. Web: www.fencing-news.co.uk We mail to over 8,000 industry contacts with an approx readership of 20,000. Fencing News is published bi-monthly by Little Red Marketing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by means electronic, photographic, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publishers. Views expressed in Fencing News are not necessarily those of Little Red Marketing Ltd. Front cover courtesy of Harper Calice Ltd.
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contents RINGFENCED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6 FENCING COMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 NEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 28, 51 COMPANY NEWS. . . 12-15, 18-20, 23-24, 38-39, 47-49, 56, 60-62, 65 HEALTH & SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 LANDSCAPING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 NEW PRODUCTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 37, 73 CONTRACTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27, 54-55, 64 COMPANY PROFILE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-33, 44-45, 50-51, 72-73 SECURITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 TIMBER UPDATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 66-67 SAWMILLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 69-71 TIMBER YARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 68 FENCING INDUSTRY UPDATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 FORESTRY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 MACHINERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-77 FENCING PEOPLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79 BUYERS GUIDE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-82
However, we have been blessed with sunshine at the two terrific shows we have attended since June. The Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate was very successful for both our publications. We handed out over 800 copies of Fencing and Landscaping News, so hopefully all of our advertisers will get something from it. Driffield Show saw the launch of our Yorkshire and North of England Fencing Championships and was a fantastic new addition to the show, earning many plaudits. We had nine teams of two building 45 metres of stock fencing and the standards were extremely high as the judges commented. We are making this an annual event and plans are already in hand to make next year’s competition bigger and better. Congratulations to Mike Ford and his teams who travelled the furthest of anyone at the show and were suitably rewarded for their magnificent efforts with first and second places –see pages 8,9 and 64 for more details. We are also featuring even more companies throughout the UK – some of whom are proving that recession or not, they can make their businesses pay. Yorkshire Fencing Contractors have come up with a great solar fence product; we have also been to Hampshire to see Equestrian Fencing and the unique service they offer; and to Wales where TG Howell and Sons operate several depots - see pages 26, 32, 33 and 69 for more details. Hope you all enjoy the rest of the summer and we will see you in October, when it will probably be a heatwave! Kind Regards Simone
[email protected]
GET YOUR COPY Each edition of Fencing News contains essential information about the fencing industry. As a subscriber you’ll get regular updates, a chance to voice your view – and much needed encouragement. Just fill in this form and send with a cheque for £20 (payable to Fencing News) to: Fencing News, Office 1, 40 Stockhill Road, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 9AX or call Ben Walton on 01274 610 101, e-mail
[email protected] Name ......................................................................................... Tel No. ............................................. Address .................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. Postcode .......................................... fencing news August 2009
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BRETT LANDSCAPING’S ‘CHOCS AWAY’ PROMOTION IS REALLY SWEET Brett Landscaping is rewarding the continued loyalty of its Approved Installers by giving them a huge 5kg bar of chocolate as part of its exciting ‘Chocs Away!’ promotion. Along with the chocolate, members will receive increased rewards for each complete concrete block paving project registered during July, August and September. The specially branded bar, which is nearly twice as large as Hershey’s legendary ‘Times Square’, and which comes in a presentation box, is being distributed personally to Brett Approved Installers along with reward details. Mark Brown of MB Landscapes comments; “This is the biggest bar of chocolate I have ever seen. The chocolate bar resembles a paving slab, but it tastes far too good for it to be used in any of my paving projects! Landscaping’s incentive “Brett scheme for its Approved Installers really does make a difference in
fencing news August 2009
today’s working environment. With price being such an important factor for any job, it really helps that Brett works with builders merchants to support us. It’s great to have our loyalty and hard work recognised by Brett Landscaping.” To find out about joining Brett Landscaping’s Approved Installer Scheme and benefit from all the promotions please call 0845 6080 578
Grand Designs For Garages When is a garage not a garage? When Rural Log Cabins designs it to make the most of roof space for large, spacious workshops or studios. When Claire and Keith Goodwin undertook their multi-million pound property development project to provide a number of private homes, near the picturesque village of Gilmorton in Leicestershire, they also knew that the garages could be used to provide additional space for other activities. The Goodwins had acquired an old farmhouse which they rebuilt using reclaimed materials in a luxury cottage style. They then undertook two large barn conversions on the site, providing a number of
residential units in a courtyard formation. Claire and Keith wanted the garages to provide additional space for workshops and studios so Rural designed and constructed twostorey buildings with access to the upper floor via an outside stairway. “This style of building is becoming increasingly popular for our commercial builds,” says Steve Missen, Managing Director of Rural Log Cabins. “Although they are used here as garages, they make excellent workshops and studios and the extra space on the first floor is ideal for offices or storage, or any other purpose you can think of.” Visit www.rural-log-cabins.co.uk
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Imants BV announce takeover of Koro Systems One year before its 125th anniversary, Dutch manufacturer Imants BV has taken over the manufacture, marketing and development of KoroSystems. “The decision to expand the Imants range of turfcare products with the take over of Koro-Systems followed intense discussions between all the parties involved” explained Felix. Peters, Managing Director of Imants BV “The consensus was that working together as one company would create a stronger consolidated product base that would ensure the continuation
and further market expansion of these highly respected machines.” Felix added “I am delighted that Ko Rodenburg will continue providing invaluable insight and participation in product development on a consultancy basis. The combined knowledge, skills and experience of both marketing and development teams will lead to the introduction of many innovative new products in the future.” Both Koro-Systems and Imants are world renowned for products such as; Koro Fieldtopmaker, Topdrain, Recycling Dresser, Cultirol and the
£1.25 million LandSkills winter programme A staggering £1.25m funding will be available from this winter’s LandSkills Yorkshire and Humber winter activity programme. Announced at the Great Yorkshire Show in July, a 70% funding contribution to farmers, foresters and growers across the region is being offered. Lantra’s Regional Partnership Manager, Jacqui Bruce, said: “ It’s not every day that you can announce there is such a large sum of money available for industry to access. We have allocated £1.25million for the winter programme, which ranges from helping young people via the Fresh Start Academy an all industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, funding high level technical training such as agronomy, using discussion groups and demonstration sites to get the latest technology and research out
Imants Shockwave, RotoKnife, SandCat, RootPruner, RotoSweep and Sleepraam. The amalgamation of these two companies will create a formidable position for Imants in the turf care and sports pitch renovation market. The Koro name will form part of the new product branding as ‘KORO by Imants’ and will continue to be marketed through Campey Turfcare systems Ltd. For more information visit www.imants.nl
Ko and Clary Rodenburg, Felix Peters, Hans de Kort
ROLAWN SUPPORT FOX HOLLIES SCHOOL & PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE
to farmers, as well as funding all sorts of activities for the livestock industry. So there’s a huge amount of activity over the winter”. As some sheep farmers in the region discovered recently, the Landskills programme is demand-led. When they wanted to find out more about Electronic Identification (EID), LandSkills were able to fund an EID demonstration day for them. For more information contact the LandSkills team on 01226 766 500, email LandSkills@lantra. co.uk or register your interest at www.lantra.co.uk/LandSkills.
Rolawn, Britain’s largest turf grower and leading supplier of safe, quality topsoil has donated their Vegetable & Fruit Topsoil to Fox Hollies School and Performing Arts College for their garden. The official opening of Kings Heath Floral Trail by Alys Fowler, BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, took place recently in the garden at Fox Hollies School which has been designed by Winterbourne Botanic Garden and has a fruit and veg focus. Paul Roberts, Headteacher at Fox
Hollies commented “Thanks to the generosity of Rolawn we have been able to fill our raised vegetable beds. This has created a wonderful opportunity for all pupils to take part in growing their own fruit and vegetables whilst learning about how food is produced. Older students are also able to take an accredited Horticulture qualification which is a very popular subject.” For more information visit www.rolawn.co.uk
HARDWOOD SAWmiLL eSTABLiSHeD in 1984 THe FuRTHeST nORTHeRn HARDWOOD SAWmiLL in engLAnD • Production of quality sawn OAK timber - 1st and 2nd grade. • Any size accomodated. • OAK beams, posts, sleepers. • Hardwood and Softwood, treated and untreated, machined posts, rails, pegs, wedges, sleepers. • Reclaimed Railway Sleepers. • Delivery nationwide.
Shed 25, Francismoor Wood, Brampton Road, Longtown, Carlisle, Cumbria. CA6 5TR
[email protected] www.tgnorman.co.uk
Tel : (01228) 791777 Fax : (01228) 791373 fencing news August 2009
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No Digging In Brazil A £40,000 excavator that was just days from being shipped to Brazil has been seized by TER (The National Plant and Equipment Register) after being identified as stolen. The used 21 tonne Caterpillar 320C was sold by a major auctioneer in Leeds in May to a buyer from Derbyshire. Although TER did not receive the theft data until after the event, a match was quickly made with one stolen in Coventry in January 2009. The insurer, Allianz, was immediately notified. “As soon as we received the data from the auctioneers, we sent an investigator to the buyer’s address in the centre of a Derbyshire town,” says Tim Purbrick, Manager of TER, which operates Europe’s largest database of owned and stolen plant and equipment. Further investigations by TER revealed that the machine was being refurbished before being shipped to Brazil later that week. TER is now awaiting completion of police enquiries, after which the machine will be sold on behalf of the insurer. It is worth just over £40,000.
fencing news August 2009
“This is a fantastic result for both the insurer Allianz and for the various police forces,” said Tim Purbrick. “It is a demonstration to all concerned of the application of TER’s knowledge, skills and experience to recover a very valuable machine. “We would have preferred to have prevented the sale going through the auction, rather than disappoint a buyer and cause the auctioneer the administrative problems it will now have to deal with,” he added. “But, although we have a huge range of data sources at our disposal, we are reliant on the victims of equipment theft or their insurers reporting thefts to TER in a timely manner. In any event we were pleased to be able to recover the machine before The Boys from Brazil acquired it as, once it had left the shores of the UK for South America, the chances of being able to recover it would be below zero,” he said. Visit www.ter-europe.org
TOOLSTATION BUCKS TREND WITH FURTHER EXPANSION Recently Toolstation celebrated the opening of its 50th Sales Counter and a brand new central distribution centre. Located in York on Audax Road, Clifton Moor, the new Sales Counter is a key milestone in the expansion of the low-cost trade supplier and is on target with its plan to have 80 Sales Counters nationwide. In Redditch, a new 140,000 sq. ft. distribution centre at Arrow Valley will support the growing number of Sales Counters. Toolstation’s Operations Director, Adam Keates said, “ It takes over from the Bridgwater site as the company’s main retail replenishment centre, ensuring that all of our 10,000 plus products lines continue to be available as stock items at all branches.” These investments come in parallel with the launch of Toolstation’s latest catalogue 30, which sees
an impressive 500 new products added. It is its most significant product increase yet across a broad product range from screws, fixings and sealants through to lighting, electrical, plumbing, janitorial and ground maintenance equipment. Toolstation continues to be one of Britain’s fastest growing multichannel businesses. The multichannel approach means that its regional Sales Counters are integrated with its mail order catalogue and online catalogue (www.toolstation.com). Customer orders placed online or by telephone before 5.00pm are despatched for delivery next business day with free delivery as standard on orders over £10. Further information is available by calling 0808 100 7211 or visiting www.toolstation.com
fencing competition
A Very Successful Fencing Competition at the Driffield Show Simone reports on the first Yorkshire and North fencing competition We had a brilliant fencing competition held on the 22nd July at the Driffield show. We had nine teams of two turn up and the standard was very high and the two young farmers did an excellent job! Adam Lynch and Jon Vicary were the judges and they said it was one of the highest standards of fencing they have ever judged. I would like to thank every one involved making this a great success. The sponsors were ArcelorMittal and Calders and Grandidge, tools were supplied by Gripple More importantly thanks for all the contractors for entering and we will make it a bigger and better competition next year! Congratulations goes to: 1st Prize Mike Ford and nephew David number 1 team
2nd Prize Mike Ford number 2 Darren Price and Robert Little 3rd Prize Dan Critchlow Anthony Ollerenshaw
and
Have to say well done to Charlie Wright and George Bridge at Front Row Fencing who came 4th and it was their first competition ever! Two young farmers Tom Skelton and Philip Warters took part and did not let the side down. Other entries were Basil and Peter Wilson, Robert Murtland and Paul Cockerill from Yorkshire Fencing Contractors, George Mook and Ben Turnbull, Richard Foxley and Jonty Hutchinson from R.Foxley Fencing Contractors. If you would like to sign up for next year email
[email protected] or call 01274 610101 Well done to Mike’s team
All ready tro go
fencing news August 2009
Mike’s fence perfection
fencing competition Adam, Angie and Little Red Lewis
What an audience
Keep going lads
fencing news August 2009
news
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company news
Charlton’s supply Glastonbury Festival Somerset based A.J.Charlton & Sons recently supplied the world famous Glastonbury Festival with a range of fencing, slabwood and woodchips. Charlton’s have been a supplier to the festival for over 25 years. Post and Rail and Featherboard fencing material are supplied in quantity to keep the festival goers within designated areas, while the woodchips are an emergency measure
Greg the clown
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to keep the famous Glastonbury mud at bay. The slabwood is used in a variety of ingenious ways, from fences to benches as can be seen in the photographs.
It’s a tough job but someone must represent Charltons at the festival. That honour this year fell to a ‘shy’ Michael Charlton and IT Manager Greg Charlton aka Coco the Clown.
Shy Michael!
company news
Harper Chalice and PulseSecure – simply the best in security Fencing News editor Simone Gallon talks with Graham Harper Graham Harper had an eventful start 2009. Not only did Harper Chalice move into their new offices over the Christmas break, they also suffered from flooding, due to a leak coming from the ceiling. That’s all behind them now, and Graham was in a buoyant mood when I visited recently. He’s also on the lookout for a number of new dealers for a range which he believes will become even more popular in the months to follow. ‘The new premises enable us to have frequent demonstration days for our customers, and we offer training on design and installation and technical support package on all our systems. We are currently looking for more dealers throughout the UK, especially on the PulseSecure System’. Along with Zaun, Harper Chalice has won a contract for the 2012 Olympics with the Pulse Secure system. PulseSecureTM perimeter security systems are a second generation of electrified perimeter security systems and meet the demands of all levels of high security and exposed site and application requirements. This includes the protection of military and government risks, economic key points and potential extremist or terrorist targets. PulseSecureTM are continually evaluated by leading government authorities and test houses, and it is the first (and to date the only) electrified perimeter security system to achieve SEAP Class 4, Highest Security Specification. As a result PulseSecureTM was the first perimeter system to achieve: Secured by Design Police Preferred Specification. For appropriate authorities the Home Office will make copies of evaluation reports available. Often PulseSecureTM perimeter security systems are installed in coastal and other exposed locations. Knowing the problems experienced by other systems, from the outset all PulseSecureTM components have been designed for the optimum life expectancy and performance. In addition, by design and the vast number of installation accessories and standard installation components, 14
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Harper CHaliCe Group limited PulseSecureTM perimeter security systems are simple to install and maintain. As with all other PulseSecureTM components, Harper Chalice Group have developed their own PulsewireTM for the construction of PulseSecureTM systems. PulsewireTM is specially manufactured from zinc and aluminium coated high tensile steel wire. The result is a strong durable wire with superior corrosion and electrical characteristics. PulsewireTM is guaranteed to last 4 times longer than industry standard galvanised wire. Each PulsewireTM is tensioned by a special tension spring assembly to provide uniform tensioning of each wire and to prevent over tensioning. Because of the uniform system tensioning, if wire displacement is a concern, PulseSecure’s unique tension alarms can be included in the system design. For maximum life expectancy, all PulseSecureTM post are hot dipped galvanised to BS729 and metal fixing brackets and accessories are cadmium zinc plated and Delta coated for superior corrosion resistance. 24 month Warranty From date of certification all PulseSecureTM components carry a full 24 month manufacturers warranty against material defects and workmanship. For more information contact Harper Chalice on 024 7642 1300 or go to: www.harperchalice.co.uk
PulseSecure™
Electrified Perimeter Security Systems • Fully compliant with BS1722 part 17 and BSEN 60335 • Secured by Design – Police Preferred Specification • A complete range of installation components tools and fixings • Full manufacturers product support at every stage • Assistance with the production of specifications and quotations • In house installation training and technical support For further information please contact: Harper CHaliCe Group limited 8 Binns Close Coventry CV4 9TB United Kingdom Tel: 02476421 300 Fax: 02476 421 309 Email:
[email protected] Web: www.harperchalice.co.uk
company news
Woodfab expand their range In recent years the thrust of the Woodfab Timber Ltd development has been to modernise the processing capability and efficiency of the plant and to develop its range of value added products. In doing so we have achieved the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification (SWCOC-340). All our products conform to FSC-Mixed Status, meaning that they are derived from timber which comes from well managed forests and controlled sources. The plant now produces a wide range of fencing and decking products for
both the Irish and UK markets. Our main products include rail, weaves, arris rail, feather edge boards etc., traditional decking with handrails and balustrades. We are also a major supplier of roadside post and rail fencing, manufactured to the IS 435 standard. A subsidiary company, Woodfab Structures Ltd. (www. woodfabstructures.ie ) was formed in 2001 to manufacture a new range of fencing and acoustic barriers, all I.S. EN standards as specified by the National Roads Authority (NRA). www.woodfabtimber.ie
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health and safety
updated First Aid requirements Peter Mepsted of PHP Health and Safety Ltd considers the updated requirements From 1st October 2009 new guidance will come into effect relating to the provision of First Aid within the workplace. This has come about as a result of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) evaluating first aid in the workplace and finding that ‘although first aid awareness and penetration in the workplaces was good, compliance was found to be more “in spirit” rather than the letter of the regulations and this exposed some important deficiencies in the format and content of the guidance and in the proportionality of the current regulatory requirements for lower risk employees’. Initially, it must be stressed that existing certificates remain valid until expiry. Hence someone taking the current First Aider course now will remain qualified until expiry in
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2012. However someone whose certificate expires in November 2009 will be required to take the two day refresher (as is current now)
and they will then fall into the new designation. So what are the new designations and how are they different?
Currently there are two designations for persons in relation to first aid. These are Appointed Person and First Aider.
health and safety An Appointed Person has the role of taking charge in the event of an accident or ill health, calling for an ambulance or other medical service and maintaining the first aid box. An Appointed Person should not administer first aid, unless suitably trained to do so. A First Aider not only has the same requirement as an Appointed Person but in addition has a level of training suitable to administer first aid where they feel it appropriate. Under the new guidance there are some subtle changes to the roles and responsibilities as well as the training. The Appointed Person role remains the same as it does now with the training being able to be delivered by non-HSE approved training providers. Introduced is the new designation of Emergency First Aider in the Workplace (EFAW) who will need to undertake a one day training course. This will differ from the existing ‘appointed person’ one day training in as much as this now has to be delivered by an HSE approved training provider. Additionally the course content has also to be approved by the HSE. Certification remains in place for three years and the EFAW will need to retake the one day course again at the end of this time. The course will include items such as; • The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 • Managing incidents • Priorities of first aid • T reatment of an unconscious person • Resuscitation
the current role with changes to the course content reducing the current four day training requirement to three days. The three day refresher requirement of a two day course after three years remains the same. One significant new development is the introduction of an annual three hour refresher course for both EFAW and FAW. This would need to be taken at the end of the first and second years of the qualification. There will be no need to undertake refresher training in the same year as requalification. Whilst there is no mandatory requirement to undertake this refresher, the HSE have identified ‘skills fade’ as a factor and, in their words, strongly recommend that this is implemented. In my opinion this almost certainly means that failure to attend a refresher would not meet with approval! What may lead to confusion is how the new EFAW role is perceived. The requirement for having Appointed Person(s) remains the same as now and, as I have stated, they do not have any regulatory requirement to undertake first aid training. The HSE have indicated that having the EFAW qualification will enable the person to act as the first aider in the workplace and this could lead to organisations taking the easy route and not having persons complete the longer (and more costly) FAW qualification. As always, the numbers of persons and levels of training can only be decided by each organisation complying with their legal requirements by completion of a risk assessment to identify and make adequate provision for their individual requirements. . For more information go to www.hse.gov.uk
• Shock • Bleeding • Common workplace injuries The designation of First Aid at Work (FAW) remains much the same as
HSE Launch FarmWise brochure for the Agricultural industry In the last 10 years almost one person per week has been killed as a direct result of agricultural work. Many more have been seriously injured or made ill by their work. This booklet has been prepared by the Health and Safety Executive to help you: • E fectively manage health, safety and welfare • Comply with the law • Carry out the risk assessments that you must do under the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999 • Work safely and healthily The brochure is relevant to every one working on a farm, whether employer, employee or selfemployed. It identifies the causes of the injuries and ill healths and eliminate hazards and control risks.
The brochure forms the basis of health and safety advice for the agricultural industry. For more information go to HSE website www.hse.gov.uki/agriculture
Are you compliant with health and safety legislation? Do you need practical, common sense guidance?
If so, contact us.
Telephone: 0845
873 2990 Fax: 0845 873 2991
Email:
[email protected]
SHED PANEL PRODUCTION WITH ONE MACHINE giving PERFECT REPEATABILITY WITH ONE OPERATOR. Fence, Shed and Garden Product Automation Systems Our shed assembly system has one jig to manufacture 4-8ft Apex panels, 4-8ft Pent end panels, 6,7,8ft Apex and Pent fronts and backs. The same jig can also hold roof and floor sections. Fully programmable nailing positions and can produce panels at a rate 30 seconds each.
Whitworth, Rochdale, Lancs.
Tel: 01706 852 108
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company news
10,000 Combilifts can’t be wrong Combilift Ltd, the world’s leading supplier of 4-way forklifts, celebrated another milestone in early June when the 10,000th machine to roll off its production lines in Monaghan was delivered to Weyerhaeuser, the world’s leading manufacturer of engineered lumber products. Truck number 10,000 will be working at Weyerhaeuser’s Parallam Mill in Annacis Island near Vancouver, and it was officially handed over to Chuck Antonides, Weyerhaeuser’s Director of Lean Processes, by Combilift USA’s President Tommy Cadden. It is also the first 10 tonne capacity Combilift to be operational at a Weyerhaeuser site. Combilift MD Martin McVicar commented: “Weyerhaeuser’s case exemplifies how customer feedback from the wide variety of industry sectors we supply has been instrumental in helping us to continually improve the Combilift concept.” “Product development was based on close collaboration between the
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two companies, with Combilift acting constantly and quickly on feedback from Weyerhaeuser personnel,” says Tommy Cadden. “Within a six month time frame from August 2007 to January 2008, Combilift designed, built and delivered the first of the Weyerhaeuser 6 tonne units and throughout 2008 Weyerhaeuser ordered and took delivery of a total of 108 of these models. A raft of features designed to ease the handling of extreme loads and to make life easier for drivers are integrated into the C12,000WSL and the C20,000WSL models, such as a larger operator cab, sticker boxes and containers for chainsaws and tools fixed to the body of the truck, and an integrated side shifting mast which caters for the varying dimensions of product.. Combilift Ltd., Co. Monaghan, Ireland Tel: 00353 47 80500 www.combilift.com
[email protected]
company news
Self-locking security and privacy gate latch provides unique features The unprecedented success of D&D Technologies’ LokkLatch®, a simple yet highly effective and lockable house and garden gate latch, has fostered both the LokkLatch® DELUXE and LokkLatch® PRO-SL models. The latter two models were developed at the insistence of the fencing industry, which declared a need for heavier duty versions of the latch and a higher degree of security and locking. The new LokkLatch PRO-SL is a sturdy and reliable privacy and security gate latch. The “SL” in the name stands for “Self Locking”. Not only can this latch be operated and locked from either side of a gate, but when the latch closes it will lock automatically for added security. This self-locking feature means a
key is required for both entry and exit, providing an extra dimension of security and making Lokk•Latch® PRO-SL the ideal choice for installation in apartments, housing estates and other gated communities, plus commercial and other securityconscious properties. Strong and proven moulded polymer construction and stainless steel components mean the latches will never rust, bind, sag, stain, chip or bend! There are two different latch models to accommodate metal, wood or PVC gate materials. Side-fixing legs on one model provide extra strength and easy fitting alignment for metal and wood gates. While the entry-level LokkLatch carries a simple wafer lock and key, the PRO-SL and DELUXE models
feature two sturdy 6-pin security locks that can be re-keyed - by a locksmith - to match most household doors. Designed to fit posts up to 150mm (6”) in depth, installation is quick and easy. The new polymer tail linking the two latch housings (i.e. the main latch body and the External Access Button on the opposite side of the gate) means a single hole drilled through the fence post is all that’s needed to install and connect both sides of this security latch system. Other simple fasteners are supplied.
“The self-locking LokkLatch PRO-SL gate latch from D&D Technologies is the third model to be introduced to this highly successful range”
adjustment slots to help contractors and householders overcome ground movement and gate sag over time. A fitting jig is supplied to help reduce installation time. As with all of D&D’s products, the Lokk•Latch® PRO-SL is backed by a Lifetime Warranty. For product availability or further information contact Cathy Elliott at D&D Technologies’ on +31 (0)30 291 9847 or celliott@ ddgroup.com.au, or visit D&D’s website at www.ddtechglobal.com
The PRO-SL also features convenient vertical and horizontal
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company news
STRONG FOUNDATION AT SUFFOLK GATES Suffolk Gates from Bury St. Edmunds, are currently challenging hard at both ends of the timber gate market.
Over the last couple of years the company has focused on providing Iroko hardwood and Seasoned Oak gates within the gate automation market with considerable success. Managing Director Hugo Corrie comments: ‘Over the last couple of years we have made a strong financial commitment towards our Iroko Hardwood buying. We are holding much higher timber stocks levels to produce standard and bespoke products within a very attractive
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fencing news August 2009
timescale while also maintaining competitive prices. This has allowed us to take a foothold in the market place and set a good strong foundation for us to build upon.’
This year the company has placed investment into machinery to challenge the higher volume softwood market, with particular focus on pedestrian and hand gates. As a result of this, Suffolk Gates are now running volume softwood products that compete with many imported goods, while maintaining the use of more stable
Scandinavian timbers. Flexibility is also provided with both Brown and Green ACQ pressure treatment options.
If you wish to discuss any of your timber gate requirements please call Hugo or Chris on 01284 388399.
landscaping
Extended range for the Perfect Edge Baxter’s Perfect Edge have extended the range of their revolutionary lawn and garden border design and cutting system. Gardeners and landscapers now have several options to choose from depending on how many designs they want to create, and whether they want to use their own edging tools with the system. Baxters have made available new packs of the plastic templates that create the garden border designs. The Perfect
Edge Design System 1 enables you to create 41 different designs and costs just £29.99 RRP. In the pack is a series of straight, curved and angled edges that are fitted together and, secured with the pins provided, used to create and cut the designs with a traditional half moon cutting tool, a spade or the Perfect Edge Lawn Edger. If you don’t have an edging tool the Perfect Edge Lawn Edger is available separately or you can buy it with the pack and make a saving of up to £4.99.
More ambitious projects are catered for with the different options available. Design System 2 for example offers up to 63 designs. Perfect Edge offers a versatile solution to the old problem of making a shaped border symmetrical and can be used in conjunction with block paving and brick to quickly create paths and garden features. www.baxtersperfectedge.com
[email protected] Telephone 01926 497914
www.wildlifefencing.co.uk
THE UK’S LEADING SUPPLIER OF WILDLIFE FENCING Newt • Badger • Rabbit • Water Vole
• Huge Stock of Wholesale Materials • • Next Day Delivery • Newt Fencing Systems Badger Netting & Gates Gripples Pitfall Traps & Refugia High Tensile Mesh & Wire Plus Loads More Stock Items
• Order Now • 0114 273 1751 •
[email protected] Secure online or phone payments, all major cards accepted.
fencing news August 2009
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new products
Frontier Pitts Three Distinct Product Ranges Frontier Pitts introduces three distinct product ranges; the PC Range (Parking Control), the HD Range (Heavy Duty) and the PAS 68 Impact Tested AT Anti Terra range. The PC Range includes parking control equipment such as Automatic Rising Arm Barriers, Parking Height Rising Kerb with a lift height of 353mm, the SMT Rising Kerb with a lift height of 300mm, sliding and hinged gates suitable for commercial use and our full range of manual equipment comprising of manual barriers, road closers and telescopic bollards, ideal for unmanned sites without electrical services.The HD Range showcases high quality, heavy engineered products renowned by the Frontier Pitts name. The range includes equipment manufactured to a heavy industrial specification such as our respected LoTracker and LiteTracker Security Sliding Gates, Hinged and Bi-folding Speed Gates, Security Height Road Blockers with a lift height of 533mm or 800mm, Rising Bollards with a lift height of 600mm and Pedestrian Control Turnstiles & Gates. The AT Range products have been successfully impact tested in
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fencing news August 2009
accordance to BSi PAS 68:2007. The Anti Terra range has been impact tested, stopping and immobilizing a vehicle weighing 7500kg travelling at 50mph (80km/hour). Frontier Pitts has developed the Anti Terra range to meet the requirements of our customers at Airports, Embassies, Palaces, Government Buildings and Military Bases around the World. The complete range includes the Terra Gate which is the only gate in the World to be crash tested in the fully closed and half open positions, and continue to operate after both impact tests. For sites with restrictions on available foundation depths, the new Terra Shallow Blocker and the Terra Mount Blocker are ideal as the Terra Shallow Blocker only requires 300mm deep foundations, while the Terra Mount Blocker is bolted direct to the road surface, therefore does not require foundations. The Terra Mount Blocker is the only successfully crash tested surface mounted Road Blocker on the market that did not move in impact. www.frontierpitts.com
company news
defending Petersfield Cricket Club pavilion Petersfield Cricket Club will not be caught out by vandals thanks to a new anti-intruder fence which should prevent yobs clambering on its pavilion roof. The club has a long-standing problem with vandals damaging the pavilion on The Heath, soaking up resources in repairs and undermining the use of the club’s valuable facility. However, it is hoped the new fencing,
The club has over 120 young players spread between six youth teams from under nines upwards.
bought with the aid of a £2,000 grant from East Hampshire District Council, will improve the club’s defence. Dee Salmon, club secretary, said: “We have had to do this because we have had a series of break-ins and a lot of vandalism. “They have taken roof-tiles off to try and get into the building. We ended up having flooding problems and part of the building became completely
unusable. We had to do a lot of work to fix that and our insurance premiums increased. So we have spent this money now to save on repairs in the future.”
Councillor Hilary Ayer, said: “I’m pleased to see so many young people playing cricket and it is obvious Petersfield Cricket Club has a thriving youth section but we must protect this pavilion from vandals to secure its future. Hopefully this new fencing will help do that.” For more information visit www.vanguard.co.uk
fencing news August 2009
23
company news
Lantra secures funding With an increasing need for the environmental and land-based sector to have a competent and trained workforce, it is vital to have an understanding of the needs of industry. Lantra, Sector Skills Council has today (3 August) announced that it has secured funding to address the level of skills and skills gaps in the fencing industry in Northern Ireland.
Aimed at ascertaining the size and structure of the fencing industry, this research will identify the current skills levels, the development and training needs, and the specific training provision currently available for the fencing industry in Northern Ireland. The project will also recommend ways to deliver industry specific training effectively and sustainably, as well as supporting training events. David Seffen, NI Partnership Manager said: “This project, in conjunction with the Fencing Contractors’ Association (FCA) will provide a detailed analysis of the fencing industry, and its skills levels. The fencing industry, which consists entirely of small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s), requires
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fencing news August 2009
training provision which responds to their needs, with practical, workedbased skills. By having detailed research, it will enable Lantra to work to steer policy and call for action to meet these needs identified.” Tim Drew, National Training Manager, Fencing Contractors’ Association said: “The FCA is very pleased to be working in partnership with Lantra to undertake this research project with the fencing industry. It will provide a great opportunity to speak to businesses about their requirements and establish a robust foundation to help support their future development and training needs.” Lantra works with fencing businesses to recognise the importance of, and encourage investment in skills and business development to achieve improved performance. For more about this project or any current work currently being undertaken contact the office on 028 7963 1304 or email
[email protected].
contractor
Launching into the solar system
Chris Berry talks with Robert Murtland & Karen Hurrion of Yorkshire Fencing Contractors Ltd Although Rob Murtland started in the fencing game in what he terms an old fashioned way, with a well-used tractor and post-hole borer, he is certainly keeping more than up with the times now from their base in East Ardsley, near Wakefield. ‘My father had a rhubarb farm at the time and myself and my brother worked together, but neither of us are doing that now. There was no real money in the job for us and I didn’t really know what I was going to do.’ Rob’s partner, Karen (Hurrion), pointed him in the right direction. They’ve been together for many years, however despite the engagement ring on her finger they’ve never married. ‘We’ve never had the time,’ says Rob, while Karen puts it slightly differently and with a smile on her face. ‘He’s too tight,’ she says. ‘I just said why don’t you go and buy that (meaning the post borer). I’d always had an interest in horses and had a lot of horsey friends. I
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fencing news August 2009
just thought there would always be a business in putting up fencing purely from the number of people who have horses. The first job Rob took on was in my home village of Monk Fryston and it paid for the machine.’ Rob also came out of rhubarb and market garden farming for a much more serious reason. ‘I used to do a lot of spraying of vegetables, and I lost the top three layers of skin from my hands and feet through the pesticides I was using.’ Karen tells it even more acutely. ‘They told him that if he carried on doing that he’d be dead. It really was killing him.’ And that’s why Yorkshire Fencing Contractors came to life 23 years ago with that first combination of older tractor and post hole borer. Times have changed since then and Rob and Karen’s business reflects that. ‘When we started it was mainly agricultural and equestrian work, but as time has gone on and the way agriculture has been, we have moved
Yorkshire Fencing Contractors Ltd (L to R) Paul Cockerill, Karen Hurrion, Rob Murtland more into the security fencing market. That kicked off for us about 15 years ago and now I’d say our business is around 30% post and rail, and 70% security. We’ve done a lot of work for Leeds Council and a bit for Wakefield. Two of our biggest jobs in recent times have been for First Direct and when the new bypass was erected at Ferrybridge power station. Our work
is quite diversified and whatever it is we’ll have a go at it. We normally have two other teams we can call upon at busy times.’ But where Rob is now ahead of many other fencing contractors is in the field of solar-powered electric fencing, and it certainly seems to be catching on quickly.
contractor / news now also put it in for a number of other horse owners.’ Rob is keeping the cost of the solar panels at pretty much the cost price of about £100 and he is confident that many more will go with solar-powered electric fencing in the future.
‘We started fitting solar powered permanent electric fencing about four months ago. The trouble with post and rail is that horses rub on it and chew it. They also lean on it, causing the fence to become lop-sided. With electric fencing the horses might touch it once, but they certainly won’t touch it again, so safety-wise it is perfect for the owners.’ Of course electric fencing is nothing new, but it is the solar side of things that is set to become very useful and much more economical. ‘We run galvanised wires through the posts and a nylon tube is inserted into the centre of each post. There are gripples used on each post so that you always have the right amount of tension in the wires. The solar power runs through a normal electric fence unit and has battery back-up that is charging all of the time. We use an
11 watt solar panel, which means you don’t need mains electric running in the fence and you never have to worry about the battery going dead. The beauty of this system is that one sunny day can probably charge up the battery for a month, so there are huge electricity cost savings to be made.’ That doesn’t mean that if the sun doesn’t shine your fence is not charging though. What many people don’t realise is that solar power is about daylight, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a brilliantly sunny day to charge it. ‘We buy-in the solar panels, but everything else is what we have come up with. We drill and tube hole the posts and we stain everything white so that horses can pick it out. We’ve had the system running in our own field, dividing the mares and foals, and they haven’t touched it once. We have
‘The fencing looks really good and I’m reckoning that if we show people how it looks in a few years’ time, as opposed to how some post and rail looks after the same amount of time, then it will be my biggest advertisement. It’s a very simple idea, but very effective. It costs a third of the price of post and rail and yet lasts 10 times longer. I don’t think it can be beaten.’
Whilst Rob hasn’t much time for getting married he does play golf and has an 18 handicap. He also plays Texas Hold ‘Em too. Karen is a renowned horse breeder, breeding eventers mainly. She also breeds Norfolk terriers. YORKSHIRE FENCING CONTRACTORS LTD 48 Main Street, East Ardsley Wakefield WF3 2AT Tel: 01924 823307 Fax: 01924 828355 Mob: 07860 174833
[email protected]
Yorkshire Fencing Contractors Ltd
• MAINTENANCE FREE • NO RUNNING COSTS • IDEAL FOR HORSES, CATTLE & SHEEP
At A price thAt won’t ShocK you! For more information or free quote call
01924 823307 or 07860 174833
M&M TIMBER NO. 1 IN THE GARDEN CENTRE MARKET Midlands timber specialist M&M Timber, a market leader in the manufacture and supply of allBritish agricultural, landscaping and garden products, will this year be taking a more focused approach to the fast-growing garden and leisure side of its business.
Following a concerted effort to establish leadership in the garden centre market, which now accounts for more than a third of the company’s turnover, M&M Timber has succeeded in signing up well over 300 independent retail garden centres over the last 2 years alone. And the number continues to grow. Talks are currently under way with more independent retail outlets, which could herald another significant leap in the company’s successes in the garden centre market sector. Building on its reputation for qualitybuilt products and a service second to none, M&M Timber is backing its
sales drive with an unprecedented range of innovative products to satisfy the demands of the garden industry.
Designed and manufactured at the company’s 22 acre woodland site at Clows Top, near Kidderminster, the product range extends through fencing and trellis panels, arbours and pergolas, garden furniture and planters, to the latest in thatched gazebos, pavilions and garden bars. All will be on show at the forthcoming Garden & Leisure Exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC (GLEE), where M&M Timber will be filling a 150sq. m showstand, its biggest ever. On display will be enhancements to the current range of ‘veggiebeds’, sheds and pet ranges. “We have some big surprises in store too,” says Sales Director Ian Rickhuss. “Our in-house designers have come up with some real show-stoppers this time and we are anticipating tremendous interest
from both the trade and consumers alike.”
the life of timber structures by up to 15 years.
All M&M Timber’s garden and leisure products are designed and made in Britain and feature a revolutionary new treatment process that extends
For more information visit www.mmtimber.co.uk
fencing news August 2009
27
news
NEW NATIONAL FENCING INSTALLERS INDEX LAUNCHED TiMBeR AgenTS SpeCiALiSing in FenCing AnD gARDen pRoDuCTS
Fencing Material Quality Red or Whitewood Decking Machine Round Timber Log Cabins, Bespoke & Standard Range We are currently seeking cabin distributors in selected areas, please call for further details
Scan UK Timber Ltd Email:
[email protected]
www.scanuk.co.uk
Tel: 01245
478 624
www.localtradesmen.ltd.uk Local Tradesmen have launched an index designed to include all British fence installers and make this available to all specifying authorities including national and local government, statutory organisations e.g. water, gas and electricity and other companies including, civil engineering, public limited as well as private individuals.
Arranged alphabetically according to post code, identifying a local fence installer is much quicker that any other form of database and DOES NOT CARRY any form of advertisement other than that on any member’s entry. Look on www.localtradesmen.ltd.uk for more information.
It is now calling on any bona-fide fence installer to register their name, address, web site, email address as well as a short summary about themselves and their activities. There is NO CHARGE for registering unless there is a need to add a logo or graphic to the entry when a small annual charge is made.
A. Hingley & Son Ltd TIMBER MERCHANTS & SAWMILLS • ESTABLISHED 1876 • • • • • • • • • •
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Restoration Timbers Construction Timbers Industrial & Civil Engineering Timbers Bespoke Flooring & Decking Air-dried & Kiln-dried Seasoned Oak Fencing Gates Landscaping Timbers Wood chip Treatment
fencing news August 2009
ENGLISH TIMBER IN ROUND OR CUT TO SIZE FENCING AND CONSTRUCTIONAL TIMBER
Nether Lane, Hazelwood Belper, Derbyshire DE56 4AP
Tel 01773 550 055 Fax 01773 550 543 www.hingleytimber.co.uk
company profile
Plastic Fantastic
Victoria Poolman meets Chris Whiteley and Peter Creighton of Oxford Plastics, to take a look at their innovative new fencing products When Chris Whiteley started his own business manufacturing traffic cone bases back in 1987, no amount of foresight would have allowed him to predict the popularity of his products. Made entirely from recycled plastics, Chris began buying, compounding and selling his eco-friendly bases and barriers, way before the environment became such an important factor in business. “It was for economical reasons that we used recycled materials, but we’ve expanded and developed hugely as the motivation for using recycled products has become more of an environmental obligation,” says Peter Creighton, Oxford Plastic’s Commercial Manager. Indeed, soon after starting up, Oxford Plastics bought out one of the companies they were supplying and from there the business has diversified into barriers and safety fencing. Back then, safety fencing was used for purely practical reasons, though now the implementation of strict health and safety legislation has meant that Chris made yet another good decision by venturing into this field so early on. The products Chris’s company provides tick several boxes: environmentallyfriendly, easy on the old carbon footprint, economic and due to his choice of materials, Oxford Plastics can also supply safety equipment to places where 100% plastic is the only option. With all the criteria met, Chris has had the power to expand far beyond anyone’s expectations. Though selling through distributors all over the country, Oxford Plastics delivers directly to the end user themselves. Chris tells me, “We’re always on the lookout for more
Australia, America and Western Europe, but it tends to be rather sensitive, and exporting does have its pitfalls.” However, Oxford Plastics needn’t worry about the volatile nature of overseas trading, given the success they’ve seen here in the UK, having supplied fencing and barriers to the National Trust, the Tower of London, the Greek Olympics and the Formula One drive through London. In addition, the company is currently liaising Chris Whiteley and Peter Creighton with a team to provide products for the London distributors, and at the moment we’re Olympics in 2012. particularly keen to find people in the So what makes Oxford Plastic’s fences agricultural sector to get involved.” so popular? Though often described Chris tells me: “Our new product is as temporary, this fencing will last called Endurafence and really puts us for a considerable length of time in the position to explore new markets. (sometimes even longer than a timber We launched it in June and so far it fence post!) The essence of the system has been used for both corporate lies in its portability, its strength and events and for livestock purposes – it its versatility. It can be erected, makes a perfect sheep pen.” dismantled and manoeuvred quickly With recent times being particularly and easily by one man. It’s also light, tough on the building industry, the only bright and requires no treatments to
The future looks bright (literally!), with Chris hoping for more investment from the government into the country’s infrastructure, which will impact his business considerably. And as the threat of global warming looms and the world steps up its efforts to combat the damage done, it’s companies like Oxford Plastics who can look forward to benefiting, alongside the environment. For more information visit www.oxfordplastics.cvom
“House building is down 20% which has affected us quite dramatically, but our barrier systems are applicable to other markets and they have become our best-selling product, with us now supplying 15 different kinds of fencing. “We’re hoping to develop our export side in the future. Previously we’ve exported fencing to Spain, Dubai,
Modern factory is located near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire Oxford Plastic Systems are the UK’s leading manufacturer of road cones and barriers for the Traffic and Construction Industries. The company also designs and manufactures custom-designed mouldings using a wide range of materials including polyethylene, PVC and glass fibre. Oxford Plastic Systems Limited Traffic management, site safety and security products Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd, Unit T2, Enstone Business Park, Enstone, Oxfordshire, OX7 4NP, United Kingdom Tel 01608 678888 /
[email protected] / www. oxfordplastics.com fencing news August 2009
Chris explains another benefit: “We also offer a bespoke service, moulding our products to fit in with the customer’s requirements. Corporate branding has been a huge bonus, as people like their barriers in their company colours with their logo – it’s great advertising.”
way to survive is to diversify, which is exactly the reasoning behind Chris’s new addition to the product range:
Enquiries are welcome
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make it both waterproof and strong. In addition, with its unique unclipand-fold-down design, the fence is compact and easily stored. Good news for anyone who needs a portable barrier system which still looks the business.
Endurafence, the new barrier system from Oxford Plastics
Weltonhurst Limited Centurion Way, Roman Road Industrial Estate Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 2LD Tel: 01254 671177 Fax: 01254 671717 Email:
[email protected] Modern blow moulding facility offering a full range of Support Services including Design Specification, Product Assembly, Packaging, Screen Printing and Painting. 2 to 700 litres moulding capability Weltonhurst Limited specialist Blow Moulding Manufacturers are delighted to support Oxford Plastics and manufacture their Fence Panels and other bespoke products
company profile
When horsing around is good for business... Victoria Poolman visits Dan Dennis of Equestrian Fencing in Southampton Dan Dennis has two passions in his life: horses and fences. So it’s lucky for him that by combining the two, he has built a business which in just five years has a turnover exceeding £1million. However, it hasn’t come easy; working an eighty hour week as well as fitting in a tough exercise programme in preparation for this year’s point-to-point season, Dan’s now awaiting the arrival of his fiancé from Sussex, who will be moving to the area to help Dan with the business. And it’s not a moment too soon... Having been a contractor for twenty years, at the age of thirty Dan had to undergo a second shoulder operation (which also came about as a result of his two passions). He realised that another six months off work to recover meant he could no longer rely upon contracting to earn a living. So, using the money he had earned, he chose to go down the supply route instead, developing his yard into a one-acre timber haven, which opened for trade in 2003. With his eight employees, several of which have been with Dan for years, the company’s initial timber range soon expanded and he now holds 350k worth of stock, catering for any fencing request and offering a same-day bespoke service. He tells me, “Most of our work has been repeat custom or through word of mouth, which I put down to our flexibility and ability to provide what people need quickly. We live in an age now where everything has to
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fencing news August 2009
be fast and generally speaking, if someone wants something and you have it all ready, they’ll end up buying it instead of waiting.”
Dan Dennis
That’s where having such a vast range and an abundance of stock comes in handy: Dan is ready for anything. And due to some good advice at a crucial point in his business’ growth, he’s managed to uphold this practice during the most difficult of times: “Thanks to having friends in the right places, the timber shortage of 2007 was the best thing that ever happened to us. We were prewarned by Will of Trojan Timber Supplies about what was happening so we bought in 25 loads just as the tide was turning. I owe both Will and Sue Crane of Trojan a lot - we wouldn’t have got to where we have without their help and expertise.” Although everywhere was short of timber and the lifeblood of contractors nationwide was at such a low, Dan didn’t take advantage of the situation to make a quick buck – instead seizing the opportunity to get his name in the marketplace and keep it there. “Though so many companies with timber inflated their prices beyond reason, we kept ours fair - we didn’t rip anyone off. Throughout the whole year we only had one week where we were a bit short of stock, and by passing on the good turn done to us, new customers came and stayed with us. “That’s why we stick with suppliers like Trojan and Westbank. I consider
flexibility, good service and quality products important, and I only work with people I both know and like.” It’s for precisely this reason that Dan has been a customer of Trojan for eight years, with the two having a great relationship. Indeed, when I met Dan he was preparing to fly over to Ireland with Will to see U2 play: The pair have been on various jollies together over the last few years and have also owned shares on the same racehorse. Which brings us to Dan’s other passion... His site consists of 12
acres and with the timber yard taking up just one of those, the rest is occupied by a livery and paddocks, which is currently home to 28 thoroughbred horses. Having ridden more than thirty point-topoint winners in his time, Dan even graced the front cover of Horse and Hound back in 1999. “So much of our work has come through the horses, but equestrian fencing is just a small part of what we do now”, he tells me. Indeed, despite the company name, Dan also supplies and sub-contracts out
company profile are busier than ever, and booked up to the end of the year. Productwise, it’s also been an absolute bumper year for decking, handrail and spindle – as well as their new softwood sleepers, of which they’ve sold 500 in the last week. “All the money we make goes straight back into the business,” Dan says, “we’re trying to build the company up and we’ve got great plans for the future.” With Dan’s nearest and dearest rallying round, Equestrian Fencing is slowly becoming a family business: in addition to his fiancé Caroline coming on board next month, Dan’s sister and Mum also help out in the yard. Indeed, he’s made it rather appealing for them to be around by building a house for his mum on site – and it’s quite the show home, exhibiting stunning design and plenty of Dan’s own products. Having taken care of the roofing themselves, as well as the decking and garden furniture, even the beds have been made with company oak. The finishing touches have been set off by friends of Dan’s, such as the natural stone paving which has come from Landscaping Supplies, just down the road.
for agricultural, domestic, security and commercial work: “We have had some work through various trainers, such as Nicky Henderson, Brendan Powell and for Jonjo O’Neil – and we also had a big job at Cheltenham racecourse recently. Through associations, we’ve even had jobs erecting thousands of metres of fencing in both France and Belgium, which made a change from the norm.” Dan is used to dealing with big numbers, having had some rather sizeable jobs in the past, the largest of which was 5000m of creosoted post and rail which was erected for
a paddock in Henley upon Thames. “I hate the stuff,” he tells me, “I’m glad I don’t work with creosote anymore.” Business has changed completely this last year, with the months before the economic plunge being fantastic for contracting, and the months following proving to be quite the opposite: “I think the contracting has dived this year because everybody is going with the ‘don’t move, improve’ philosophy.” However, where a door closes a window opens, and Dan’s team of five polish men who build stables and shelters for him
“My uncle has been a carpenter for fifty years and has become more involved to get us into the oak frame market. My other uncle is in the plant hire business, and my cousin works for GEC Marconi and Astrium, which is how we got into the security fencing.” Now with the business firmly rooted into the ground, Dan is in a fantastic position to start planning his next move. “We’re going to re-tarmac the entire yard, build lots of racking to organise the different lines and make the most of our yard space, and I’d like to put up a steel-framed building in order to protect the machinery. I’m also hoping that in the New Year we can open two retail outlets in the Southampton area.”
is currently being sought to knock down several buildings at the front of his site which date back to the Second World War. Dan tells me, “There used to be a search light on the top of the field, and down in the park there were big guns which used to keep watch over the channel and shoot down any approaching enemies, so there’s plenty of wartime memorabilia around. I want to take the huts at the front down and get my uncle involved to build some really attractive buildings and make a good display, as well as expanding my office to 350square metres.” There are exciting times ahead, indeed. And it’s quite incredible how much time, investment and dedication it’s taken for Dan to be in the position he is today. Whether it’s down to good advice and being shrewd or whether luck had a part to play, Dan’s certainly achieved a lot. He credits his best ideas as buying a Protech banger (of which he is very proud) and making his own panels: “That was by far the best £1500 I ever spent,” he tells me, “buying two panel tables, two guns and some compressor saws to enable us to make our own panels and trellis was a very good move as it happened in January 2007, just when the shortage came about. And it really did pay off.” It took three years for Dan to break even after opening his yard, and he’s taken some gambles along the way. But now, with every type of wood and fence in stock, he has plenty of scope to expand. “I think the reason we’ve done so well is by being versatile.” He says, “People like having one company that they trust take care of the whole job. We give good service and quality products at a fair price, and hopefully will continue to do so for many years to come.” For more information visit www.equestrianfencing.co.uk
In addition, planning permission
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WOOLRIDGE FARM, GLOUCESTER ROAD HARTPURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL19 3BG e-mail:
[email protected] fax: 01386 750772 www.protechmachinery.co.uk
Importers and Distributors of Top Quality Timber Products Soft and Hardwood Tree Stakes / Machined and Cundy Stakes Fencing Materials / Oak and Softwood Sleepers Stamped Roof Tile Battens / Timber Bogmats We are pleased to be associated with Equestrian Fencing & wish them continued success
Tel 01842 878596
Email:
[email protected] Web: www.trojan-timber.co.uk fencing news August 2009
33
security
Identity theft can cause big problems for businesses too...
Have you assessed your company’s risk? By now everyone should know the risk presented by the threat of socalled ‘Identity Theft’, and if you manufacture or sell shredders you should have done well over the last 4 or 5 years as many households at least now shred confidential material.
But have you considered the threat ‘Identity Theft’ poses in the business world where hundreds of thousands of pounds are at stake? As households and individuals are becoming more aware of how to prevent this type of crime, the government and security experts are now warning that ‘Corporate Identity Theft’ is potentially the next big issue to come from criminal world. Identity theft involves fraudsters obtaining sufficient information
about a person to then assume their identity and obtain goods, credit or services under the falsely assumed identity. Identity theft causes enormous problems for individuals. Identity theft can easily occur in the business world as well. If a fraudster can obtain sufficient information about a business, which is often more public and easier to come by than a private individual’s information, they may be able to start defrauding a business; apply for a corporate credit or debit card, going on a spending spree. Such cards can be readily used in electronic transactions. Corporate Identity Theft can have appalling consequences for businesses. For example, it is possible to submit forms to
Companies House that will: • c hange the registered address of a business - form 287 • c hange the company secretary or director - form 288c ppoint new directors • a - form 288a Unfortunately, Companies House will not notify the true company secretary or directors that these forms have been lodged. Neither will they check any of the details for validity. The ‘new’ directors can open new bank accounts, have goods delivered to the ‘new’ address, and effectively ruin the credit rating of the business and leave it with massive charges to clear. Companies House are aware of this problem and recommend businesses use their Protected Online Filing Scheme, or PROOF to eliminate these risks. So you could become a victim through someone purporting to be your company, running up lots of bills, or you could be dealing with a rogue company supplying goods and services they have no intention of paying for, bad news all round. Business Link, the government agency set up to help and support businesses has recognised the risks for some time and has identified that it is often weak business systems and practices that allow the criminals the opportunities to steal your corporate identity, and often through poor IT practices.
The Business Link website offers a useful online diagnostic tool; to both assess your current risk and help you create an action plan to remove those risks altogether. It only takes a few minutes for you to use the tool and to complete and there you have it, a ready made action plan to secure your systems. There is lots of support available. Insurance Companies offer insurance protection against the risks, and private security companies have recognised the issues and now offer a whole range of services. One very useful website is the Home Office sponsored Identity Theft UK at www. identitytheft.org.uk/about-us.asp. This site offers lots of help and advice as well as a business section specially designed for corporate issues. You can register online to see how you can further protect your business, and get regular updates on the problem. Identity Theft is only part of the wider fraud crimes currently accounting for £1.2 billion according to the body advising the government the National Identity Fraud Steering Committee. Trading conditions are tight and the recession has hit the criminal world too. As personal identity theft is made more difficult criminals will look at other weaker targets moving onto Corporate Identity Theft. Act now, strengthen your defences and don’t become the next victim. . Article by Phil Read OBE – Security Editor.
USEFUL Links Business Link: www.businesslink.gov.uk. then search for ‘Identity Theft’ Home Office: www.identitytheft.org.uk/ about-us.asp Companies House: www.companieshouse. gov.uk/infoAndGuide/proof.shtml 34
fencing news August 2009
An independent supplier with over 120 years experience…
For all your fencing needs • • • •
All types of fencing and gate timbers Construction and specialist timbers All with the best protection A one-stop fencing shop
Linnell Bros Limited, Silverstone Fields Farm, Silverstone, Northants NN12 8TB Tel: 01327 354 422 Fax: 01327 355 840
[email protected] www.linnellbros.co.uk
new products
Revolutionary new bracket set to make its mark Chris Berry talks with Garry Weaver about the new Weaver Bracket Staffordshire-based Weaver Fencing has come up with a simple, yet revolutionary idea that is set to make life much easier for those working with gravel boards. It is a concept that Garry Weaver and his team have found extremely successful in their own jobs and are now offering to all other fencing contractors. It is the Weaver Bracket, and Garry tells of how it has worked so well for his team: ‘In the past, if you wanted to fix the gravel board into position on the concrete post, the old bolt system was clumsy, the gravel board was heavy to hold the bolt kept working its way out of the slot, ending up either breaking the gravel board off or the gravel board height would differ. Our Weaver Bracket allows you more flexibility and easy accessibility with gravel boards, giving you control over the length, gradients and horizontal line
to the whole installation; this means that you have no bolts. The bracket steps the gravel board out 10mm off the rails. Set the close board lathes on top of the gravel boards giving you a perfect line top and bottom, something that is very important to every fencing contractor.’ ‘We believe it will give your workforce horizontal flexibility and controlled movement within the fencing line to a standard not seen or achieved within the fencing industry before. We have designed it ourselves and that means that, as we are fencing installers too, we understand thoroughly what is needed to make the work even more professional and economical. This also means that close board fencing is far easier to install and eases the strain. All you will need is a drill, masonry bit, ratchet and socket, tek screws or thunderbolts and you’re up and running.’ Garry tells of having received many
compliments from those who have installed fences using the Weaver Bracket and believes everyone will be using it before long. This is the first official launch of a Weaver Fencing product – but even more are in the pipeline. Weaver Fencing is a family run business that started five years ago. Garry’s team believe that traditional values matter and their customer’s positive feedback on completed projects counts towards their thriving reputation within the fencing industry. They also believe
in sharing their experience – and now their own products. . For more information contact Garry Weaver WEAVER FENCING LTD 3 Moorcroft Close, Cheadle Staffordshire ST10 1HT Tel: 01538 756888 Mobile: 07791 891837 Mobile2: 07989 157097 E-mail:
[email protected]
The weaver Gravel Board Bracket • Designed and used by fencing contractors The “weaver” Gravel • Saves time and labour board Bracket • Easy to use, giving more control to the fencing line and gradient
“All you’ll need is a drill, masonry bits, ratchet & socket, tek screws or thunderbolts and you’re up and running... it’s that simple!”
For more information contact Garry Weaver on
07791 891837 Pre-drilled access holes, lazer cut, back and front, zinc finished
weaverfencing @btconnect.com fencing news August 2009
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company news
DESIGNED FOR THE FLIRTY TEENAGE QUEEN reports louise tomlin
As soon as garden designer, Phillippa O’Brien mentioned to me what the theme of her show garden at Hampton Court Flower show was to be this year, I couldn’t imagine it having any other panels than Jackson’s new Paliframe panels. We were chatting about Jacksons sponsoring her garden earlier this year and then she said she was really excited at being chosen to do one of the Six Wives of Henry VIII gardens, Katherine Howard, his fifth wife. I thought the theme was great and “very Hampton Court” and Paliframe immediately came to mind. The new panels had evolved from traditional Palisade (or what is also known as picket fencing) we’ve been selling traditional “rail and pale” Palisade for years and also Palisade panels. We explored putting the Palisade into a frame and making them a full height 1.8m panel, which was fine but not very exciting - the breakthrough came when Danny Daniels, Jacksons Timber Products Foreman, who was working on the project, tried cutting every other pale at an angle, in one direction then another a short distance from the top of the frame – the effect was terrific, a delicate decorative panel that had a vaguely medieval look, hence my keenness to show them to Philippa, to see if she’d like them for her Katherine Howard garden. They were a hit, not only with her, but with visitors to Hampton Court flower show in July. Her garden was awarded a silver guilt medal and according to Philippa, “The Paliframe was much 38
fencing news August 2009
admired, they are very attractive and unusual panels, I haven’t seen anything else like it. I particularly liked how easy it was to get plants to climb up it, because of the upright pales and the spaces at the top of the panels, all you had to do was twine a jasmine, or other type of climber round the uprights and the job was done. It bridges the gap between a solid fence and a trellis. Another benefit is that was when we came to install it, the boys who were helping me construct the garden loved it, it was so well designed and well made it, all just fitted together like a dream – it was so easy!” Close up of Paliframe panel top Sloping Paliframe panels custom made for Philippa’s garden Designed for the flirty teenage queen! Of course there was a lot more to the garden than the fencing, it was a triumph, full of pink and white flowers and a four-poster bed with flowering thyme mattress, designed for the flirty teenage queen, who was wife number five and who was eventually beheaded. Her sudden and untimely death is represented by a black wall at the back of the garden, which contrasts starkly with the frothy girlish colours of the planting. . For more on Paliframe visit www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk For more information on Philippa O’Brien MSGD go to: www.pipobriengardendesign.com
company news
Another reading according to St Calder…
Thou shall not specify treated timber without additionally specifying what level of treatment you require! If you were buying a new TV for example, chances are that you would want one which was digital and as future proof as possible. There are several very cheap deals out there for LCD TV’s which, on closer inspection, are analogue only and will not work after 2012 – or whenever the digital switchover occurs – unless you attach a digi box or similar. Now, the untrained consumer, or indeed the wily old retailer might just overlook the fact that the TV in question only has a limited life, but is comforted by the fact that the price is right!
The same thing is happening all across the UK fencing industry – price is king and the lower the better! Usually most time consuming and
certainly the most critical aspect of any fence is the installation of the posts. The most time consuming remedial work on any fence is usually the replacement of the posts! Certainly having posts which are prepared and treated correctly – even if they do carry a modest premium - is a far more cost effective option than the unbudgeted and unexpected need to replace them after precious few years of service. Consumers and specifiers MUST specify the hazard class to which they want their material treated, or all they will be given will be the cheapest and least effective option – which in most cases will not be fit for purpose. In short – if it’s to go in the ground – MAKE SURE IT’S 4!! This is the
only real way to ensure a fence life of at least 15 years. The Wood Protection Association – to which we would recommend any bona fide treatment company to join – will shortly be re-launching its MSI4 (make sure it’s 4) campaign, having been deluged with queries and requests for advice relating to inadequately treated fence posts. In summary the 4 hazard classes reflect the use classes as set out in BSEN331:1, viz: Class 1 . Internal timbers – low risk of wetting - e.g. first floor joists, glulam beams Class 2 . Internal timbers – risk of intermittent wetting eg roof timbers
Class 3a . Outdoor wood (coated) above ground – e.g. window frames, doors, cladding Class 3b . Outdoor wood (uncoated) above ground – e.g. deckboards, balustrades and fence rails Class 4 . Outdoor Wood in permanent ground or freshwater contact – e.g. fence posts, deck posts & joists, pergola posts etc May your new television give you years of uninterrupted enjoyment! Here endeth the lesson… For more information visit www.caldersandgrandidge.com
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timber update
Postsaver 25 Stopping the rot at Saltex! Postsaver 25 will be exhibiting their patented sleeve system - with 25 year guarantee - to prevent ground rot in timber fence posts and poles at Saltex for the first time this year.
Postsaver 25 sleeves consist of a tough heavy-gauge outer polythene sleeve lined with a meltable bituminous sealant. The sleeves are applied using a simple low-cost heat application machine to the vulnerable ground-line section of the post where decay rates are high. “It’s a second barrier,” says Jeff Lewis from Western Log Group (www. westernloggroup.com) “We use it for the higher quality end of the market, like play areas. And the markings on the sleeves make it easy to fit.” Richard George, Postsaver 25 Director adds, “We’re experiencing high levels of interest and strong growth with over twenty new customers so far this year. This is a direct result of the increasing failure levels people are experiencing
following the switch to arsenic-free preservatives.” Remarkably, Postsaver 25 has a typical on-cost of as little as 2% on installed fencing with up to 200% lifetime cost savings.
Mark Vigrass, Fencing Contractor (www.markvigrass.co.uk) is getting 100% uptake of Postsaver 25 from every one he offers it to. “The product is faultless - it’s as good as it can get. If it performs as expected it could be potentially the saviour of the fencing industry.” At Saltex you’ll have the chance to see the low-cost Pro-contractor application machine in action, applying sleeves to poles and posts. Demonstrations will continue throughout the show at Stand H 11. . For more information visit www.postsaver.co.uk
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company profile
Golden sheds, bikinis and a guard-cat Victoria Poolman meets Matt of Premier Sheds and Fencing As South London’s leading fencing outlet, Premier Sheds and Fencing have quite a reputation to uphold. Since starting out twenty years ago when Julian McManus decided to put his experience to use with his own business, the company has earned its position as being one of the key suppliers in the area. Providing everything from sheds and gates to garden lighting and play products, Julian and his team now supply and install a wide range of products to both trade and domestic clients within a sixteen mile radius. And what a great site they’ve got at Streatham Common: Having
grown used to visiting huge yards and giant warehouses, it’s a real novelty to visit the lads at Premier and feel like I’m entering some sort of Alpine retreat (until a siren goes past, that is). Situated right next to the train station, despite having only a small area, the plot is jam-packed with fencing, timber and sheds of all shapes and colours. Alas, if it’s a golden shed you’re after, you’ll have to look somewhere else, with the company having supplied the Big Breakfast with what must have been the only one in existence back in the late 90s. Premier’s Matt explains, “We’ve had a few shots at
Matt Craig fame, with the Big Breakfast shed, which was rather surreally collected by a couple of bikini-clad women. We’ve also made appearances on Cash in the Attic and on Home Improvements on the Discovery Channel.” A taste of fame hasn’t distracted them from the main job, however. With six members of staff and IT man Matt working hard to develop the company, Premier Sheds has recently opened another site in Leigham Vale.
Bringing your garden to life TAFS are pleased to be associated with Premier Sheds & Fencing and wish them continued success.
TAFS
Gower Street, St Georges, Telford TF2 9BQ Phone 01952 617072
www.tafs-salop.ltd.uk 44
fencing news August 2009
“We’re currently in the process of completing the new branch, which will change things quite dramatically. The site in Streatham is becoming more of a stock yard, whereas Leigham Vale will primarily be a display site, with more of an focus on our garden furniture”, Matt says.
Indeed, with the display of sheds and racks of timber at the original site, considering the company’s urban location, there are plenty of materials here for customers to load up and take away - and despite the inevitable slowing of trade this summer, there seems to be a lot of comings and goings in the yard when I visit. Supplying fencing, gates, and a variety of garden buildings to both contractors and the public alike isn’t where Premier Sheds rest their laurels however, also having contracts with local authorities, schools, sports facilities and property developers throughout the capital. But it’s the bespoke service which really sets the company apart from the rest. As Matt says, “You can buy a fence or a shed from anywhere,
company profile
Charlie the guardcat but when it comes to our bespoke manufacturing facility on site, you’d have to go a long way to find such quality at a good price. We specialise in creating any kind of fence, gate, garden building or trellis to suit the customer’s needs and the site they’re designed for.” With quality top on the list of importance for Premier Sheds and Fencing, they’ve not held back when
The new site at Leigham Vale
Charlie the guardcat it comes to getting certificates on the wall to prove their worth. The business has TrustMark approval, and is a member of the Health and Safety executive, Environment Agency and Construction Line. In addition, Premier Sheds make it their policy to only source their timber from companies that are FSC and PEFC accredited. One man who knows the importance
of getting the company out there and seeking the recognition it deserves is Matt. Having spent the last two months on a comprehensive new website, he now has plans for a flyer and catalogue to raise awareness of the company’s products and services. He’s also acquired a company mascot in the form of a Charlie: a stray black cat with a penchant for trellis. Indeed, not only is Charlie a fantastic rat-catcher, he also makes up for the lack of a guard dog, being rather protective of his territory. If I didn’t know any better, I’d even say he’s rather defenceive (sorry...)
The future looks bright for Premier Sheds and Fencing, with their new branch and website marking the company’s development into its twentieth year. It’s always nice to visit a site where there’s plenty of good humour, as well as genuine ambition for the continued success of the business – especially when that comes from the workforce as well as the owner! For anyone who pays this company a visit, it’s easy to see why Premier is top of the pile. . For more information, call 0208 677 0459 or visit www.premiersheds.co.uk
Andover Branch Snows Timber Penton Sawmills, Penton Mewsey Andover, Hampshire, SP11 0SP Telephone 01264 735371 Fax 01264 735524 www.snowstimber.com We are pleased to be associated with Premier Sheds & Fencing and wish them continued success for the future
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company news
DRIVALL FENCING PRODUCTS Drivall offer an extensive range of rugged professional fencing tools which are complemented by innovative and high quality products procured through our contacts worldwide. An example of this is the range of Ezepull crimping tools and sleeves we distribute which are New Zealand manufactured and of the highest quality. Over the years the crimps have been improved and now boast a water resistant adhesive grit, allowing installation in all weather conditions. Ideal for the recent UK weather! The unique quality of the finished crimped joints means they are strong enough to exceed the breaking strain of high tensile wire. So when you are considering the time spent on the job, the cost of the materials being used and most importantly the health and safety of the team – seriously consider Ezepull Products – www. drivall.com
- demand the very best – contact us for your nearest stockist.
Beware of imitations – look for Ezepull New Zealand branded crimps
For a full catalogue please contact us on 0121 423 1122 or e-mail
[email protected]
fencing news August 2009
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company news
NEW RAILWAY SLEEPERS FOR GARDENS GIVE LONG LIFE WITH SPECIAL TREATMENT A RANGE of new railway sleepers has been launched by AVS Fencing Supplies Ltd with the same long-life treatment as their acclaimed timber fence posts that have a 15-year guarantee Sleepers have traditionally been used for raised borders and large outdoor projects – and for soil retention in major landscaping work. Used railway sleepers (which are still available and very popular) are treated with creosote – excellent in outdoor situations on large landscapes . . . but not in situations where frequent skin contact is likely. In smaller gardens, where children play, AVS Fencing recognised the need to provide new sleepers, deeppressure treated with a process leaving no smell or residue. As a result a special deep penetration ACQ treatment process has been developed which gives sleepers (and AVS fence posts) virtually total protection from fungal decay and insect damage.
AVS Fencing ( www.avsfencing. co.uk) has sourced and carefully selected pine (redwood) which has been properly kiln-dried (to around 28 per cent moisture content) before treatment.
AVS Fencing, says: “The secret is that we choose the right species of timber and ensure it is properly kilndried before treating the sleepers.”
This gives the railway sleepers (and fence posts) a guaranteed lifespan of at least 15 years – one of the few guarantees of its type in the fencing industry.
“All timber is cut from British pine, which is redwood, rather than spruce which is whitewood – this allows the treatment to penetrate more deeply into the timber, which is why we insist upon it for ground contact products.”
Mark Whiting, marketing director of
The AVS Fencing range of railway
• • • • • The Chalkpit, Lade Wood Hill, Doddington, Kent, ME9 0ED
Tel: 01795 886020 Fax: 01795 886196 Email:
[email protected] We hold good stocks of everything on our price list as 95% of our chestnut is from our own 1,000 acre woodland www.torryhill.co.uk
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fencing news August 2009
sleepers and garden fence panels (which they also supply) are selected to blend harmoniously for a superb professional finish for gardens and estates. WIDE RANGE OF FENCING AND GATES With branches across the South of England, AVS is a major supplier to the fencing industry - including professional fencers, landscapers and builders.
Chestnut Fencing Post & Rail *NEW* Torry Post & Rail Contractors Fencing Hurdles
company news Retail customers can also conveniently buy online at www.avsfencing.co.uk.
extensively in the housing industry for new build and maintenance.
“We pride ourselves on a very personal service and supply every type of fencing need,” says Mark, from the head office at West Grinstead near Horsham in West Sussex.
Timber for decking and decking boards together with railway sleepers also form a significant part of AVS business.
Managing director Ian Faires and purchasing director Richard Norton have years of experience in the fencing industry and AVS is a major supplier to corporate clients and the construction industry. Here the company is renowned for its traditional timber fence posts as well as concrete fence posts used
AVS Fencing offers easy solutions for procurement officers, quantity surveyors and buyers looking to purchase security fencing and all types of fencing and gates for: • • • • •
Industrial Security Leisure Fencing Business premises Public Sector Transport Security
• Infrastructure Security Six fully-stocked branch outlets are located at Henfield near Brighton (West Sussex), Guildford (Surrey), Lewes (East Sussex), Rudgwick (West Sussex), Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) and Wokingham (Surrey). Orders go out daily across London, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.
dedicated hauliers with articulated vehicles. The company’s large delivery fleet includes 7.5-tonne trucks, 16-tonne crane self-off-loading lorries and transit pick-ups. With a highly-qualified team throughout the organisation, all fencing inquiries and requirements can be met by AVS Fencing Supplies Ltd. . For more informastion visit www.avsfencing.co.uk or call 01403 740200
Large shipments are also made as far afield as Ireland and Scotland using
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company profile
Feeling chipper at Market Weighton Chris Berry talks with Jon Vicary about his burgeoning biomass business
University lecturers are often thought of as being people who are used to talking the talk, but who perhaps haven’t put their thoughts and ideas into practice enough to walk the walk. Not so with Jon Vicary of Market Weighton, who switched from agricultural lecturer at Bishop Burton College to agricultural contracting some years ago and is certainly doing far more than most to put words into action.
You see Jon’s business encompasses far more than the norm that you would come to expect from an agricultural contractor. He has been at the forefront of the emerging biomass sector, utilising woodchip, since the early nineties and he has seen his wood-chipping service become a natural extension of what his company was already supplying on behalf of farmers and woodland owners, as well as assisting with their income.
Jon the judge ‘I am told that we are now one of the biggest wood-chip contractors in the country. Our wood chipping
machines are said to be doing more hours service than any other company in the UK,’ he says with the degree of pride you might expect from someone who feels they have backed a winner. At the outset Jon’s aim was to ‘harvest’ farm woodland and small scale woodland areas to provide the appropriate fuel stock, but such has been his success that he now supplies grid-connected power and also undertakes large-scale ground clearance work. But he hasn’t forgotten his roots and his agricultural contracting business is still very important to him.
Adam and Jon judging
‘Fence contracting still forms a strong proportion of our business, and we also offer plenty of other services such as mowing, reseeding and highways work, tree thinning,
strimming and harvest operations. I have six very competent full time staff who work with me and our fence contracting work is nearly all timber-based, with stock netting, post and rail, and rabbit netting. We work extensively throughout the UK however the majority of the work is within a 50 mile radius of Market Weighton, but we also have contracts with some of the UK’s leading landscapers who we work on behalf of, which take us on some pretty big jobs all over the countryside. We’ve just landed two at once over in Liverpool.’ What Jon has added to his enterprise is an opportunity for farmers and woodland owners to make more of their woodland. The beauty of what he has achieved for his own business has been in creating another strand
We are pleased to be associated with J & S Vicary and wish them continued success for tht future
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fencing news August 2009
news that can operate in addition to his normal agricultural contracting business, without impinging on what he is already doing. ‘We work closely with several wellknown estates such as Aske, Bolton, Swinton, Drewton and Dalton in Yorkshire, and our chippers – of which we now have two – travel over to Ireland, as south as Hampshire, and to Scotland.’ Jon has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the equipment necessary to run a successful chipping enterprise and he is well respected by locallybased Sembcorp, who he provides with a very reliable chipping service and woodchip at exactly their requirements. The original chipping machine a Jenz 560Z which Jon purchased in 2003 was replaced with a self-contained 500hp Jenz 561D unit which was purchased last year. In addition Jon has just added a further large chipper to his fleet, in addition to these Jon has also purchased a Jenz ‘Woodcracker’ which means that oversized and unmillable stems can be split in-situ and then fed into the chipper. Fencing is still one of Jon’s passions and he was delighted to judge the inaugural Yorkshire and North of England Fence Contractors
Competition at this year’s Driffield Show. ‘This was a fantastic event organised very professionally by the Fencing News team, and the standard of fencing made it the best fencing competition I have ever judged. This is a very worthy addition to the show and I am sure it will grow year on year.’ Whilst Jon has lived in the East Riding of Yorkshire for many years he is a Welshman by birth. ‘I was born in Pontypool and my brother still farms there on the family farm that runs to some 3,000 ewes.’ Jon’s wife Sue is also very well known in the agricultural sector having run her own accountancy business for a number of years – and is continuing having looked after many farm accounts. J O & S K VICARY Bridgeholm Farm, Riverhead Market Weighton East Yorkshire YO43 4LY Tel: 01430 872292 Mobile: 07802 907448 Email:
[email protected]
The Contractors Choice in Yorkshire We are pleased to be associated with J & S Vicary • Post and Rail • Mesh Systems • Fittings • Round Timber • Chain Link • Steel Palisade • Stock/Rabbit • Welded Mesh • Gates
Geith 50th Anniversary in World Attachments Market
Stocking the materials you use
Easy access off A1/M62/M18 and M1 Tel: 01302 708706 Fax: 01302 707377 Email:
[email protected] www.burnfencing.co.uk
Geith International Ltd, a world leader in the manufacture of buckets and attachments for excavators in the construction, excavation, demolition, waste and recycling industries, is celebrating the company’s 50th Anniversary this year. Originally called P. F. Doggett Eng. Ltd, the company was established in 1959 in Slane, Ireland by local man, Peter F Doggett, to produce buckets for the expanding land drainage market in Ireland. The company’s product for many years and, even to this day in some quarters, became widely known as a Doggett Bucket. The land reclamation industry in Ireland and the UK continued to be an area of growth for the company from the 1960s to the 1980s. At the same time, Geith expanded into the front loader attachment market and agricultural machinery, including custom made attachments such as grapples and jib arms for telehandlers. In 1972, Geith set up the company’s first base in the UK in Birmingham in the West Midlands, followed by operations in Manchester, Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire in Scotland and Tredegar in South Wales. With increasing success in the US market, Geith opened a new presence in the country in 1985. In 1997, Geith was purchased by
Powerscreen International before being bought by management the following year. Further expansion brought a new outlet near Paris aimed at the French market in 2002. Manufactured at the company’s plant in Slane, the Geith range includes general and heavy duty mini-excavator buckets from 1–5 tonne; midi-excavator buckets from 5-10 tonne and heavy excavator buckets from 10-80 tonne. The range also comprises ditching/grading buckets; angletilt buckets; quick hitches and speciality products such as rippers, grapples, clamps and riddle and trapezoidal buckets. Overall, Geith produces 15 product families of buckets in 10 weight categories, with five styles and bucket widths from 229-2133 mm (9-84 in) in 16 segments and a wide variety of wearpart or GET options. This provides over four million possible combinations with which the company covers over 30 makes of excavator. The company’s engineering and design expertise developed over the last 50 years will ensure that Geith continues to be a leading worldwide provider of attachment products for excavators from 1 to 80 tonne. For more information visit www.geith.com fencing news August 2009
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sawmill
East Anglia’s finest deliver the goods … fast! Chris Berry talks with Martin Clarke, Clarkes of Walsham Limited When Horace Clarke took over his father’s business in the early 1900s, which is known today as Clarkes of Walsham Limited, little could he have thought that it would grow into the size it has in 2009. Currently the family company, which still retains its roots with third and fourth generations of Clarkes at the helm, operates a fleet of 16 lorries, makes up to 200 deliveries throughout East Anglia every day and employs 100 people. It also publishes a 130+ page catalogue which includes over 15,000 product lines. Brothers Harvey and Martin Clarke are directors, with Harvey the managing director, and their father Barry as chairman. Martin tells of how they strive to maintain the family friendly approach at all times. ‘We like to think we’re offering that kind of service. We have always prided ourselves on our professional attitude and I hope that comes across. We have grown steadily over the years and operate out of a 10 acre site here at Walsham-leWillows, near Bury St Edmunds. We supply our customers’ requirements
through a rapid delivery service and most of our lorries are fitted with HIAB cranes. We have worked hard to earn our reputation and we fully intend to maintain that for many years to come.’
“we have worked hard to earn our reputation and we fully intend to maintain that for many years to come.”
Clarkes are now one of the largest independent suppliers of building, farming, fencing and garden materials in their immediate area which covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex Lincolnshire, and the other adjoining counties. They have also begun making even more of a name for themselves by delivering throughout the UK and their red and yellow liveried lorries are now a familiar sight on the motorways, highways and byways of the whole of the UK mainland. They also operate their own sawyers and joinery departments, with a highly professional and extremely experienced team manufacturing a massive range of timber into everything from oak posts, gates, pig shelters, stairs, windows, garden furniture and fencing to sheds, stables, field shelters, log cabins and summer houses. ‘We have many different facets to our business with very large stocks and that means we provide great availability. We have found that providing one pack and single pack deliveries on mixed loads has become a niche market for us, so we are just right for providing materials to both contractors and the general public. But we don’t limit ourselves to that by any means and we are happy to supply anyone with any
size of order.’ Clarkes stock a huge range of machined turned fencing, peeled and pointed stakes posts and featheredge boards, lap panels, weathered tops, wire netting and deer, horse and stock fencing. Cleft chestnut fencing and brand names such as Tornado and Sentinel are all available on a daily basis. Their regular delivery area allows for most products to be distributed within 24 hours. ‘Whilst we have such a wide variety of lines and product we still do not forget that certain customers requirements are such that they need bespoke materials and products themselves. We have always adapted our business to suit the needs of our customers and we will continue to do so.’ . INFORMATION CLARKES OF WALSHAM Walsham le Willows Bury St Edmunds SUFFOLKIP31 3BA Tel: 01359 259259 Fax: 01359 258178 Email: sales@ clarkesofwalsham.co.uk www.clarkesofwalsham.co.uk
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contractor
The Success of Stocks’ Fencing Victoria Poolman travels to Kimblewick to meet David Stocks and his sons
It’s always a pleasure to see a successful business kept within a family; working together to build a reputation whilst ensuring the name is passed down the line and the values upheld. One such man who knows all about the importance of keeping it in the family is David Stocks of High Wycombe. Having started out back in 1985 as an agricultural contractor, David built up his business ready for the time when the little Stocks would be big enough to give their Dad a helping hand. Working alongside his two sons, with one of his three daughters keeping the books and his wife being the resident tractor driver, the family are well-known throughout the area, and never short of a workload or two. David tells me, “We started off doing agricultural contracting with a little bit of fencing on the side, but as the years have gone by, the contracting has died away and the fencing side of the business has really taken over.” Indeed, by way of natural evolution, David Stocks became David Stocks Fencing, though he’s most proud of the wide variety of services his team can provide: “There is a fair bit of competition around our area but what sets us apart is the range of fencing we can supply and erect, including equine, domestic, security, agricultural and industrial. We also install all types of metal and wooden gates, barriers and bollards – and do some fabrication ourselves.” The versatility of the Stocks clan has been demonstrated by their work for industrial estates, private cottage gardens, schools and even providing fish-fencing (and I don’t
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fencing news August 2009
David Stocks with his two sons mean a goldfish with a penchant for palisade). David explains: “We’ve had a few jobs recently installing equestrian fencing around lakes. This is so that when the lakes flood, the fish stay in the confines of the fenced area and aren’t washed away.” David still finds that 70% of the work comes from word of mouth, and particularly from agricultural customers who have been loyal for over two decades. A modest chap, David puts that down to having the right kit to suit their kind of work, but it’s clear that the quality of workmanship here is what wins the
repeat custom. And they certainly have a rather interesting clientele, working for the likes of Lord Carrington, Sir Edward Dashwood (descendant of the founder of the infamous Hellfire Club) and ‘Prince of Darkness’ Ozzy Osbourne (whose house is now owned by the slightly less rocky Robert Kilroy-Silk). Not to mention the Stocks’ fencing of the Royal Farm Shop at Windsor, the National Trust local headquarters at Hughendon Manor, as well as one particularly tough job fencing 3500 metres around Coombe Hill, the highest point in Buckinghamshire.
David’s eldest son, Luke, tells me: “Coombe Hill is so steep we couldn’t use the machinery, so we did much of the job by hand, getting deliveries sent to the bottom and the top and carrying the posts the rest of the way to drive them in ourselves.” Their affiliations with prestigious names pays testimony to the company’s general philosophy of trying to respond quickly to customer’s requests and providing a next-day service wherever possible - even when it means putting themselves out and getting stuck in first thing on a Sunday morning, just to get the job done.
contractor David attributes their ability to fence quickly and to a high-standard down to his beloved collection of machinery. He tells me: “My best business move was in buying a Bryce. It took some soul searching as it’s a big investment, but it has revolutionised our business - seeing one working made my mind up! Indeed, David and his sons have been so pleased, they are considering adding another Bryce to their assortment of machines, which includes a Massey Ferguson 5465 tractor, a Landini Vision 95 tractor, a Quickfencer for unrolling, a Bostitch nail gun, flail mower for cutting back the fence line, a Ramfast staple gun, tractor-driven auger and a manual petrol auger for domestic fencing – so, they’re certainly fully-equipped to cope with almost anything. Though Luke adds, “The machines are only as good as the people who operate them; quality machines don’t guarantee a quality fence, it’s down to the operator.” Despite having such good faith in their machinery, their materials haven’t always been so reliable. David says, “I don’t know where in the chain it goes wrong because our suppliers give us the best they have. The only thing I can think is that the turnaround for timber is so quick these days, it can’t always be properly treated. “Quite often we’ll take down an old fence that’s lasted decades and I wonder if the fences that go in will last as long, though a lot of that is down to the restrictions recently put in place regarding chemicals used in the treatment process. “Some customers are now sourcing Class 4 timber and asking us to erect it so they have the peace of mind of a 15 year guarantee”. On a positive note, by keeping their standards high, David Stocks Fencing is never short of work. When I visit David and his sons, they are busy erecting 500 metres of post and rail, using 6” by 3” posts and 4” by
David attributes a good proportion of their success down to his beloved machinery 1½” rails with 4ft stocknet for the paddock of a large new-build in the heart of the Chilterns countryside. “Despite recent economic problems people are experiencing, not much has changed around here”, David tells me. Luke adds “We’ve just looked at a job which was 750meters of deer fencing around a mansion to keep a few deer in. The people buying the property live abroad and only use the house a few months each year. We’re lucky to live in such an affluent part of the country where there’s plenty of work around. London is only half an hour away and it’s such a nice area that plenty of commuters choose to live here.” Indeed, on my way to Kimblewick, I couldn’t fail to notice some of the stunning properties dotted around.
enquiries and have started taking on bigger jobs, more staff will be required (let’s see if David can find any long-lost relatives to fill any vacancies). Though David’s youngest son may be suggesting retirement in jest, David certainly doesn’t seem ready to hand over the baton to the next generation just yet. Who knows, they may even
be able to set a record by having three generations on the job at the same time, because there’s certainly a solid future ahead for this team. . For more information, call David on 07958 711903, visit www.davidstocks.co.uk or email
[email protected]
And though they enjoy the kind of work that puts them in the midst of the rolling hills surrounding High Wycombe, the Stocks family are hoping the future will bring more industrial and security fencing, though as they receive more
Faster – Tighter – Easier – Safer • Four strand barb wire unroller, will take 4x2000 mtr rolls of barb wire. Can be retro fitted to existing machine • Available with postdriver backshift. Choice of Masts. • Bryce, Malone, Wrag and others • All machines will take 2 x500 mtr or 2 x300, or 3 x100, rolls of net • Horse and Deer version available • Re-rolling attachment (roll wire back the same diameter) as the original • 7 day money back guarantee (subject to terms and excludes return carriage) Pleased to supply David Stocks Fencing and wish him continued success for the future
Please contact: John Mob: 07966 285240 or Steve Mob: 07931 511090 www.quickfencer.com • email:
[email protected] fencing news August 2009
55
company news
Gripple wins Best SME at MX Awards Each year, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers hold the Manufacturing Excellence Awards – the UK’s premier awards for business and industry. Dubbed ‘the Oscars of the Manufacturing World’, they exist to recognise and reward company attributes that enhance the manufacturing environment. Gripple, the Sheffield-based pioneer of the original wire joiner and tensioner and overall winner of the MX Awards in 2004, was positively delighted to scoop two awards on The Gripple T-Clip
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fencing news August 2009
the evening – the BP Award for Best Partnership between Business and Education, and The National Skills Academy Award for Best Small to Medium Enterprise. Starting out by designing and manufacturing products for the agricultural fencing market twenty years ago and then expanding into the world of construction, the multiaward winning Gripple was shortlisted in every MX category. The company’s close ties to local schools, its highlyautomated manufacturing processes
and its empowered, enthusiastic staff all contributed to the achievement.
improvement, people effectiveness and innovative market expansion.”
The ceremony was held at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane, with over twenty companies from around the country in attendance. Gordon Macrae, Gripple’s Special Projects Manager, said: “As the awards are widely recognised as one of the hardest for which to qualify and highly coveted by many manufacturers, reaching the finals is itself a testament to any company’s excellence. To go on to win Best SME was therefore nothing short of a triumph – and it’s all thanks to our commitment to continuous
Five years ago, when Gripple was last a contender at the MX Awards, many of the final judges said that they wished they worked for the company – a sentiment that was repeated at the end of MX 2009. “This really is a wonderful accolade for Gripple.” said Managing Director Mark Edmonds. “It’s just reward for all the hard work that has been put in by so many people right across the business.” For more information visit www.gripple.com.
Looking for value, flexibility and quality? Then try us….. • Consistent quality with every delivery at very competitive rates. • The flexibility to respond to your needs Extensive workshops and manufacturing facilities, standard and non-standard products including timber cut and machined to order, gates, fence panels, garden buildings all manufactured on site, pressure treatment plant offering green and brown treatment. • High service levels, no false promises, flexible delivery options – ask us about our part-load service! • Free colour brochure available – just call 01989 563614 or e-mail
[email protected] All this combined with over 60 years of experience in the fencing and timber trade help us to deliver the products that you need, when you require them. Our trained and experienced staff are on hand to provide friendly advise and competitive quotes....Call now on 01989 563614 - Full range of closeboard components held in stock - High quality pressure treated Closeboard and Waney Lap fence panels – green or brown! - Entrance, driveway and pedestrian gates made on site by trained carpenters. - Full range of timber carcassing and landscaping
Walford Timber Ltd Main site - trade counter - nationwide delivery Tel: 01989 563614 Fax: 01989 563639 E-mail:
[email protected]
Cheltenham Fencing & Landscaping Supplies Trade counter - local deliveries only Tel: 01242 526946 Fax: 01242 526480 E-mail:
[email protected]
www.walfordtimber.co.uk
timber yard
Where the phone just keeps ringing… Chris Berry talks with John Plater about his 35 years in business ‘When we first started it was all about panels, back in the days when we used to make interwoven, wavy-edge garden panels. Before that I had started as a shipwright here in Grimsby, after leaving the docks and going into partnership with a building company which we called Dixon Plater.’ John Plater went on to form JW Plater Ltd in 1974, but tells of fencing not having been the way he thought his business would go when he decided to start on his own. ‘The idea was to open up as a joiners’ shop but the premises we bought used to be owned by a previous fencing company. Our phone kept on ringing for fencing panels and it has just grown from there, and whatever has come on to the market we have followed on with. Fortunately for our business everything has just grown naturally for us. We have never rushed or pushed anything, because we like to keep things nice and steady.’ Today’s family-run business includes both of John’s two sons, Richard and Mark, whilst John’s daughterin-law Linda looks after the books. They have two sites which include their shop premises in Grimsby and a 2-acre manufacturing site at Marshchapel, between Grimsby and Louth, and currently employ a staff of around 22. ‘The boys came straight into the business after leaving school and they both did everything on the shop floor. As we gradually built up the staffing they moved on to the management side. We do a lot of local authority work, railways, gas boards, electric boards.’ General public business and work for the likes of authorities account
for a fairly even spread, which John believes to be around 50/50, and their main trading area covers a radius of around 40 miles, although they go as far afield as County Durham to the north and London to the south. ‘We have some really good trade customers and supply all of the builders’ merchants and councils in our area. At one time or another we will have looked after some form of fencing for every school in the Grimsby area.’ The yard in Grimsby showcases many of JW Plater’s timber products such as garden sheds, garden furniture, gates and fences. They also manufacture summerhouses, arbours, planters and all manner of decking. This year’s new line is log cabins, but John is quick to point out that their ironmongery is also a very strong suit to their business. ‘We stock a massive range of ironmongery, probably the biggest in Lincolnshire, with everything relating to fencing.’
John has totally committed himself to the business since he started it over three and a half decades ago. His one other passion is boats, and he once built his own which he sailed all the way to Spain. He is married to Betty, and they also have a daughter, Melanie, who runs her own kitchen shop and clothes shop. He’s also a proud grandparent, several times over! Grimsby has suffered more than other towns as its council was one of those to lose millions through the Icelandic banking disaster. Job losses have been heavy with one or two massive employers having shut down their operations, and there has been a knock-on effect for a lot of businesses. But John tells of their business bucking the trend. ‘Yes, the councils are not spending at the moment, but the general public is buying. It seems that people are now buying and putting up their own fences. Maybe with a lot of lads being put out of work they are deciding to do it themselves.’ The JW Plater tanalising plant is working hard, their range of fencing includes everything from timber to palisade, and they have expansion plans for the future. John has been happy with what they have achieved so far, and although times have not always been easy, he is clearly happy with his lot.
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John and Richard ‘It’s been up and it’s been down, but I can’t complain about things when I look where we are today.’ That’s not a bad result after 35 years of trading! . INFORMATION JW PLATER LTD Charlton St, Grimsby DN31 1SQ + Church Lane, Marshchapel DN36 5TW Tel: 01472 343459 Fax: 01472 230630
[email protected] www.jwplater.co.uk
fencing industry update
Plenty of cash rich to rescue the needy 1 in 6 companies in the UK Fencing industry could change ownership as a result of the current economic climate, claims a new study by leading financial analysts Plimsoll. With a surprising number of “cash rich” competitors waiting in the wings, the market could be set for a prolonged period of consolidation. David Pattison, author of the new Plimsoll Industry Analysis – Fencing, explains, “I am sure any director worth his salt would agree that, in the current climate, there are simply too many companies chasing too little market. With many directors eyeing the exit doors and highly leveraged buyouts consigned to history for the time being, it really is a buyers market out there for cash rich companies” Pattison continues, “In the Plimsoll Industry Analysis we have identified 115 companies that have a sizeable cash reserve sat on their balance
sheets that, due to record low interest rates, is generating nothing. One company has a £44 million cash pot; a whopping 80% of turnover. These companies are now in the position to buy up large chunks of market share at rock bottom prices and make that money work for them. They must be like kids in a sweet shop at the moment – all those distressed competitors available at a fraction of their true value”.
per annum and have picked out 130 that are primed to be taken over. Buying one of these businesses represents a massive opportunity for someone to enhance their share of the market. Either way, the market is set for a wave of takeovers in the next months”. The new Plimsoll Industry Analysis – Fencing will tell you which companies are set to be buying and who will be selling.
“The UK Fencing market is still widely regarded as one of the UK’s most fragmented sectors. In our report we analysed 327 companies with a turnover of over £1 million
Readers of Fencing News are entitled to a £50 discount of this new special edition of the Plimsoll Industry Analysis – Fencing. Call 01642 626400 for further details and quote reference PR/AA42.
fencing news August 2009
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company news
Top marks for Timeless Timber roof top terrace The roof of a central cafe bar in East Grinstead has been transformed to provide customers with a head for heights some fantastic views of the historical town centre thanks to BSW Timber’s Axxys Hi-Level range.
CJ’s Coffee Bar, located in the historic high street which aptly
contains the longest continuous run of 14th Century timber framed buildings in the country, opened the newly timber decked balcony in early May this year.
Owner, Chris said: “We are really chuffed with how our new balcony looks and we are getting some very good responses from our customers
who are able to enjoy a great view of St. Swithuns parish church that sits adjacent to our roof top terrace. The Timeless Timber Decking has helped us create a friendly and very relaxed environment which is exactly what we were going for.” Crestala Fencing, who supplied the decking used BSW Timber’s Timeless Timber’s newly launched high performance elevated balustrading system to achieve the impressive look. Trevor Roberts of Crestala said: “We
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supplied Timeless Timber products throughout this project because of its high quality performance and its obvious aesthetic qualities. Chris wanted to continue the relaxed dining environment out into the outdoor space that was previously unused while in-keeping with its historic surroundings and I am pleased to say that we achieved just that and everyone is very happy with the result.” Bryan Crennell, marketing manager for BSW Timber says: “This project demonstrates brilliantly how you
company news can dramatically improve the look of any unused space and transform it into an additional space to enjoy and even, in this case, create an extra space to encourage revenue stream.
combines a specially designed range of timber posts, rails and spindles combined with satin aluminium fittings for elevated decks of over 600mm.
“BSW’s Timeless Timber decking offers a cost effective stylish transformation, combining the traditional appeal of natural materials with modern design which is ideally suited to this project in East Grinstead.”
Naturally hard wearing, Timeless Timber Decking uses top quality European Redwood and deckboards come in a range of lengths from 2.4m to 4.8m.
The Axxys Hi-Level range is ideal for cafes, hotels and bars looking to add a stylish outdoor setting to their establishment. Strength tested by Trada to BS 6180:1999, Axxys
For more information on Timeless Timber or to find city decking ideas for your own home, visit www.timeless-timber.co.uk
1st for quality Fencing & Gates
PRESSURE CREOSOTED TIMBER • Treated to last longer • Low maintenance • Life expectancy up to 30 years On site pressure creosote treatment at HFS Timber provides quality timber products proven to stand the test of time.
Fencing materials Round timber Stock fencing Gates Landscaping Products
Call our sales team on
01604 581444
Harlestone Firs, Harlestone Road, Northampton, NN5 6UJ Or visit our website at www.hfstimber.co.uk
fencing news August 2009
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company news
Jacksons Fencing appoints Steel Security Fencing Systems distributor for Ireland Jacksons Fencing, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of timber and steel fencing and gates and integrated perimeter security systems has appointed Breezemount, of Belfast to distribute its range of steel security fencing and gates in both the North and South of Ireland.
The agreement follows the completion of numerous successful projects in Ireland over the past 12 months employing Jacksons fencing systems and an increasing requirement for local representation. Jacksons Fencing
design
hArdwOOd SAwmill ESTAbliShEd in 1984 ThE FurThEST nOrThErn hArdwOOd SAwmill in EnglAnd
• Oak & Softwood Timber for sale • 2 years air dried squared edged oak in stick • 25,000 2ft by 2 inch by 2 inch • Softwood untreated pointed pegs All offers considered
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fencing news August 2009
Tel: 01228 791 777 Fax: 01228 791 373
Email:
[email protected] www.tgnorman.co.uk
and
manufacture a wide range of fencing and gate designs including vertical pale, ornamental and mesh systems. All Jacksons vertical pale fencing and gates feature welded pale through rail construction for increased strength and resistance to forced entry, in addition, all fencing and gates are hot dip galvanized for longevity. Mesh fencing systems from Jacksons include the EuroGuard Combi which combines the beauty of natural wood with the strength of steel mesh. Jacksons Fencing is ISO 9001certified and a Secured by Design licensed company with a number of fencing systems conforming to police preferred specification. Speaking of the appointment, Richard Jackson, CEO, Jacksons Fencing said “As a family business, we share the same attitude to excellence in quality and service as the team at Breezemount. We’re obviously delighted to be working in partnership with a well established
and experienced company and look forward to providing clients for our steel security fencing and gates, including our Government tested and approved systems, a much improved depth of service across all of Ireland”. In concurrence with Richard Jackson’s comments, Clive Gallagher, Manager at Breezemount, added “Our sales team identified specific needs of the security market and now we have a dedicated team to deliver the products, services and support for bespoke customer requirements. As the new Irish distributor of Jacksons Fencing, we have a great opportunity to provide an innovative and cuttingedge approach to perimeter security.” The distribution agreement between the companies was signed on 7th July 2009. For more information visit www.jacksonfencing.co.uk or www.breezemount.net
forestry
Top of the forestry tree
Chris Berry talks with John Hepworth, Royal Forestry Society award winner 2009 When John Hepworth came to Braemar Farm at Rolston, near Hornsea on the east coast of Yorkshire he never expected that one day he would be receiving an award from the Royal Forestry Society (RFS). That’s exactly what happened at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show when John received the National RFS Exellence in Forestry Award. ‘The judges pointed out that on my farm in Holderness there wasn’t a tree there when I first started. I knew nothing at all about woodland in those days, and I even put on 2000 tree guards upside down! The Forestry Commission made me take them all off and that was it, I was involved with them.’ Ironically John began planting trees under some duress. ‘When we bought a neighbouring farm, Broomhill Farm, in 1972 I was told to plant an acre and a half of woodland because one of the buildings that was on a hilltop. I usually protest about anything I am forced to do, but I did it, very reluctantly.’
It was to be the start of John’s love of trees and although he didn’t know it at the time his gradual moving away from traditional agriculture. He had run Braemar as a dairy farm and had retailed his own milk, but his cows went four years ago. He does keep a few pigs, but it is woodland that now interests him more. ‘Half of my farm is now covered in woodland, that’s over 60 acres of trees of one kind or another, including willow. I do still miss my cows terribly, as I had a dairy herd for many years, but things like my community woodland and the growing of willow have really got to me. It’s one of those things that can be very interesting for everybody. You can give the public access, which is wonderful because you meet so many interesting characters in return. In 2006 I won the Best Young Woodland in Yorkshire title out of 400 entries, but this really tops that. I’ve had some great help along the way, from some of the best woodland people in Europe and I truly love being able to grow trees properly.’ John is finding that he is getting greater
personal fulfilment than ever from his involvement with woodland and the 15 acres of wild flowers he has also helped along. ‘It’s where I get my enjoyment. I’m not going to find oil and gas here, but there will soon be a tremendous amount of woodland to chop as our first real harvest of willow approaches, and with wood chip currently riding high on price that’s quite a fair thing. We’re now also buying the best trees in the UK, from Castle Howard. Nick Cook’s trees grow miles better than anyone else’s – and I’ve ordered a log chopping machine because now that the main woodland is 20 years old we’ve trees to thin and we can sell logs’ John is one of very few farmers in the plentiful crop-growing lands of Holderness to realise the beauty, the better environment he is creating and the long term benefits woodlands can bring. Even his son once said ‘planting trees on the best land in Holderness! What a waste!’ ‘You can’t convince many farmers in Holderness –their ambition is to grow
John Hepworth with his willow plantation at Rolston wheat, and a lot of it. It’s certainly woodlands for me! I’m delighted to have received this award and I will cherish it for the rest of my life!’ Fencing News congratulates John on his enlightened approach and richly deserved award. JOHN HEPWORTH Braemar Farm, Rolston, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire HU18 1XH. Tel: 01964 532754 Fax: 01964 532754
• QUICK & EASY TO INSTALL • STRONGER AND LIGHTER THAN CONCRETE POSTS • UNIQUE NATURAL WOOD-GRAIN FINISH • DUAL FACED FENCING POSTS AND GRAVEL BOARDS • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY • LOW MAINTENANCE
For Sales & General Enquiries
Tel: 01977 689111 / Fax: 01977 689128 www.supalitefencing.co.uk fencing news August 2009
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contractor
Fencing, horses, golf, football… it’s all about winning! Chris Berry talks with Devon-based Mike Ford of Chulmleigh ‘When you want a job doing always give it to a busy man.’ That’s the maxim that many of us have heard over the years, and Devon-based Mike Ford is just the sort of person that saying seems tailor-made for.
competition. I competed with my nephew, David Ford. He’s 17 and only been with me for the past twelve months. This was the first event he has ever entered so we were all thrilled to do so well.’
You see Mike isn’t just a fencing contractor. Oh no! He’s also a farmer, and a thoroughbred breeder, and a point-to-point trainer, and not content with all of that, he is also one of the UK’s leading fencing competitors, as witnessed once again very recently.
Darren Rice and Robert Little made up the other team. The success of the Mike Ford Fencing Contractors teams will come as little surprise to many in the fencing world as Mike and Darren also won last year’s top prize at the Tornado Wire National Fencing Competition held as part of the National Sheep Association’s annual event at Malvern in Worcestershire.
Just prior to going to press Mike, with his two teams, picked up first and second place in the inaugural Yorkshire & North of England Fence Contracting Competition at this year’s Driffield Show. Mike was in ebullient mood over their success – and with good reason, particularly with the family emphasis. ‘The four of us travelled up from Devon to take part and we were delighted to finish both first and second in the
Mike is a born and bred farmer’s son, one of a family of eight children from a large mixed farming concern in Chulmleigh which led him to branching out on his own some years ago. ‘Myself and my wife Shirley now farm 60 acres, which I bought out of the family partnership. We have 120 breeding ewes, all Mules, and I breed
Mike at Driffield
Mike with nephew David
thoroughbreds. I started the fence contracting business in 1988.’ Stock fencing and post and rail make up around 80% of Mike’s fencing business, primarily based in the agricultural and equestrian market, whilst security and private work makes up the rest. ‘I started in fencing on my own after I had spent three years with John Burge, a specialist deer fencing contractor. I learned the trade through John.’ With there being so many different sides to Mike’s life it is difficult to see where he gets the time to do everything – but he has a simple answer. ‘I work a very long day,’ he laughs. ‘I’m out by 6 in the morning and work right through to 9 in the evenings. ‘The sheep and contracting are the business end with the thoroughbred breeding being my hobby.’
Exeter, and 1 in Wales. There is a very real competitive edge about the Ford family with Mike’s son and daughter both participating in sport at a high level. ‘Our daughter Stacey (15) plays a very high standard of golf and our son Jordan (13) is on the books of Exeter City’s Academy football team.’ One way or another it looks as though the competitively-minded Fords of Devon will be around on the fencing competitions scene, horse racing world, plus the football and golf sectors for some time yet! Fencing News congratulates Mike and his teams on their outstanding success at Driffield Show in July. Maybe we should all have a flutter on Complete Outsider in the future too!
Nonetheless, it seems success is what Mike is all about no matter what field he is in. His best horse to date is Complete Outsider, who it seems is anything but true to its name! Complete Outsider has won 5 races so far – 3 at Newton Abbott, 1 at
INFORMATION MIKE FORD FENCING CONTRACTORS Strelna, Chulmleigh North Devon EX18 7EB Tel: 01769 580472 Mob: 07808 871554
Woodbills Ltd
The Portsmouth Arms Sawmills, Burrington, Umberleigh, Devon
Tel: 01769 560223
The Portsmouth Arms Sawmill - supplier of quality roundwood and fencing materials - would like to congratulate Mike Ford on winning Fencer of the year and wish him all the best for the future
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company news
Rural Log Cabins supplies second building for Northamptonshire llama farm Northamptonshire’s Catanger llama centre’s new visitor facility opens later this year. The building, designed and constructed by Rural Log Cabins Limited, is a purpose-built, eco-friendly facility that provides accommodation for school parties as part of their national curriculum studies and also for other visitors to the llama trekking centre.
Catanger Llamas is run by owners Mary and David Pryse. Last year the couple asked Rural to build them a log cabin as their own home on the site. Rural Log Cabins is one of the country’s leading suppliers of bespoke log cabins for a variety of uses, from residential properties and holiday homes to leisure facilities such as visitor centres, sports facilities and schoolrooms. The Catanger Llamas visitor centre
reflects an important market for Rural in building sustainable solutions on sensitive rural sites and choosing materials, styles and technologies that fit in with the environment.
demonstrate traditional skills in spinning, weaving and felting the llama fibre, providing education for design/technology and art together with hands-on experience.
For Nature/Biology studies the llamas themselves are, of course, on hand to study, plus 20 acres of native woodland established since the Llama trekking began in the 1990’s. The trees, wild flowers, pond life, birds and wild mammals all provide opportunities to study natural history.
Mary Pryse of Catanger Llamas said: “We have been working towards our dream of building a centre for educational activities for a long time, and the combination of the llamas, the landscape and the log cabin with its zero carbon footprint just make it perfect. Schools will be able to make so much of the visit at all levels of the curriculum and we are delighted at how well all the environmental aspects of the building have come together.’
Both the visitor centre and the residential cabin will run on renewable energy and will not be connected to national grid electricity. Power will be generated by photovoltaic panels on the roof of the residence and stored in batteries with shortcomings topped up by a back-up generator on the rare occasions when this is needed
The llamas come originally from South America and can be studied for both geography and history. Owner Mary Pryse will be able to
FENCING SYSTEMS FROM STOCK! www.urbanfencing.co.uk
(although this is very infrequent). Solar thermal panels on the roof of the cabin supply ample hot water in the summer months, whilst winter heating, cooking and hot water will all be provided through a woodburning stove and all waste goes into a biogester. The combination of all these environmental features has provided a zero carbon rating on the SAP scale, the Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure for the Energy Rating of Dwellings. The calculation has been made, even assuming the worst air leakage results, giving an environmental impact estimated at the lowest level for CO2 emissions and energy consumption. . For further information please visit www.rural-log-cabins.co.uk
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fencing news August 2009
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Chris hambridge from mcveigh parker makes a few points on timber treatment Stewardship schemes and the government driven reward schemes specify varying standards for certain projects, but within their own literature are failing to address these problems, throwing government money at projects without a strict criteria or knowledge of what is actually happening in the marketplace. Especially given that presently, government schemes do not request proof of certification. With the new treatments, can we really expect softwood timber to last twenty-five, fifteen, or even ten years? Guarantees are being given but is it just a simple numbers game? It was possible to give guarantees in the early days of CCA using their strict guidelines and processes, but how do they fair today? In my own experience, I have been aware of several cases where companies have washed their hands of the guarantee or come up with a suitable excuse to avoid honouring
the promises which accompany their products. My thoughts are that those offering a longer term or any kind of guarantee are at least saying that the process is more strict and guidelines are being followed. CCA was a forgiving treatment whereas the new treatment needs stricter auditing, which comes at a price – and it isn’t clear who will have to pay. How are we going to make the end user aware without undermining past sales? Government bodies need to be informed and act on the findings to change the mindset and way we spend both public and private money. The ‘sales of goods act’ tends to get mentioned when any such claim comes forward, leaving the contractor to fight the supplier, who in turn has to fight the manufacturer. Obviously the manufacturer has bigger pockets and can afford to pay expensive solicitors
to fight their excuses, leaving the regular supplier to placate his loyal customer at his own expense, with the contractor in turn working for nothing to appease his client. The idea of insisting on treatment certificates as a better form of guarantee doesn’t not seem to work, given that the buck stops with the ‘sale of goods act’ and ‘fit for purpose’ from the supplier, whether they be the maker or the distributor. Why is it that the best form of guarantee only shows the process and timber used? I suppose it backs up the company’s advertising media, but surely if written on the quote and paperwork, the invoice is as good a proof of purchase than anything? There are many suppliers purchasing from abroad - some buying treated with certificates, and others purchasing untreated timber and then treating to their own strict guidelines at their
place of work. Without the imports is there enough sustainable timber to supply the UK market, especially in selected redwoods? This article seems to throw up more questions than answers – Where are we going with timber treatment? Is the treatment product suitable? Of course they insist it is if the correct procedure is followed, so why are we getting early failures when it was the job of the treatment companies to audit their customers? Are the chemical suppliers at fault or does the problem lie in the treatment process – or indeed, with the treating companies? Do we need a government body to step in and lay down strict guidelines, as BS8417 seems to be outdated or out of touch with what is actually available in the UK marketplace.
If you would like to reply to either of the above please email
[email protected] (Views expressed are not necessarily those of Fencing & Landscaping News)
timber treatment
Treatment Quality Paramount At Seminar Following an opening statement and welcome by Mr. Rolf Reinecke (MD of Dr. Wolman GmbH) the first paper was presented by Dr. Mihael Boras who explained the history of the company and its tremendous record of achievement over nearly 100 years, consistently producing novel and effective products for protecting wood against insect attack and fungal decay.
Dr Wolman GmbH has been at the forefront of this trend, taking radical decisions well ahead of legislative pressures and adopting their own internal ‘best environmental option’ criteria. Dr Coggins (Wood Protection Consulting) emphasised the importance of controls at the treatment plant to ensure the right type of wood is selected and the appropriate preservative penetration ect, is achived in line with the customers’ requirements. A quality scheme for use in context of ISO 9000 is available from the Wood protection Association (WPA) and is used as the
basis for the Highways Agency ‘Sector 4’ scheme for motorway fencing. This scheme could form the basis of an industry-wide stamdard for controls at treatment plants but is currently only used at 4-5 sites in the UK.
Dr. Ed Suttie (BRE Timber) went on to explain the achieving good durability in softwoods was a key factor in slowing the rate of climate change as more carbon is ‘locked-up’ in woodin-service. But he highlighted that there are many practical obstacles to achieving the correct penetration and retention (as recommended in BS8417) in Spruce. He highlightedvarious means of overcome these obstacles (e.g. incising) and how, if good results can be achieved, home-grown spruce could provide long service in high hazard environments. He also pointed out that, commercial experience with modern formulations has been starting to show problems (early failures to fence posts) so we need to ask, ‘why’? Dr. Suttie proposed that, in addition to site based Quality Controls as already described by Dr. Coggins, consumers
(From Left to right) Dr Ed Suttie, Dr Mihael Boras, Dr Ernst Wormuth could benefit from an independent assessment of product quality to ensure that treatment processes deliver durable timber reliably and reproducibly. In the UK at the moment no such quality mark is available although it is common practice in other major timber consuming nations in Europe (NTR in Nordic states, RAL in Germany ect. ect.). In those countries the availability of clearly recognised Quality Mark underpins consumer confidence in wood and enables any stakeholder to establish treatment quality independent of the supplier.
Dr Suttie showed how wolman’s Quality Guidance document would enable Treaters to develop internal controls which would be a good first step towards an independently assessed scheme (including independently set P&R criteria and sampling/analysis at treatment sites). The reward for all this effort would be a more sustainable market for UK-grown spruce and more transparency regarding product warranties. . For more information visit www.wolman.de/en
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timber yard
SOUTH WALES’ FAVOURITE TIMBER MERCHANTS... PROBABLY!
steve goodier visits
It’s amazing how often a business gets started because of a meeting between two people and the resulting friendship that develops from this. And what is even more fascinating is that a high percentage of companies ‘born’ in this way survive the turmoil’s thrown at them down the years and emerge as profitable businesses with an excellent trading reputation. One such company is Gower Timber located at Pen-clawdd near Swansea and the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. When Byron Jones met Carlos Dias in the mid nineteen seventies he had been in the timber trade all his life and Carlos had just begun to learn the ropes as a travelling timber salesman working for him at Morgans Timber at Gorseinon near Llanelli. The pair hit it off and the future was already beginning to take shape even if neither of them was aware it at the time. Byron was joint managing director at Morgan’s and in time his position took him to their Manchester depot far from his routes in the South of Wales. However, being made redundant at the end of 1981, he moved back to his home and got together with Carlos again to form Gower Timber which commenced trading on 1st March 1982 – an important day for all Welsh men as it is St. David’s day. And yes, Carlos is Welsh too (his father being Sardinian but his mother from Wales). “We started trading off at site on Crofty Industrial Estate in the town here,” Carlos told me when I visited the business recently, “originally there was just myself, Byron and his
wife Elizabeth who did the books and one employee. That original member of staff is still with us today!” Gower Timber commenced life as a general timber merchant buying stock off importers and operating a small service sawmill (which is still operational for them today) where they cut be-spoke work, put together joist sets and began to plan for the future. Fencing was always very much part of the companies plan for its development and both the partners realised there was a growing market for it amongst the numerous contractors and the local authorities of the area. They moved to better premises in 1985 and added a treatment tank to the set up in 1986 allowing them to become more independent and in charge of their own destiny. Twenty three years later they are now onto their third tank!
High Performance Fencing Timber... ready and waiting...
The mark of responsible foresty CU-COC-807791 © 1996 Forest Stewardship Coucil A.C.
We are pleased to be associates with Gower Timber and wish them continued success fior the future
For more information please contact us on: Tel: 01239 682477 Fax: 01239 682881 JAMES DAVIES LTD • NEWBRIDGE SAWMILLS CENARTH • NEWCASTLE EMLYN • CEREDIGION • SA38 9LA 68
fencing news August 2009
Carlos again. “Once we moved onto the new site the fencing seemed to snowball for us and today we stock just about everything a contractor or erector could require from panels to round and square posts, wire, gate accessories – the whole lot. We are very much a one stop shop in the South Wales area for fencing and general timber needs and as we are very versatile, we can offer standard and special cut stock as required. The company bought the original site it started on about five years ago and in March this year they added a further two acre storage yard with a seven thousand square foot building. Sadly Byron died in April of last year but his two sons now work with Carlos to ensure the business goes on as before. Currently Gower Timber employs eighteen staff and runs five lorries (a 27 tonne Hiab and four flat beds – two 16 tonners and two 7.5 tonners) and they deliver daily into an area of South Wales encompassing most places between Cardigan and Newport. The site at Pen-clawdd is about one and a half acres and packed full of not only everything you need for a fencing project but also most things you could require for a general timber or building contract as well. Their customer base rangers from builders to fencing erectors, local authorities to general d.i.y.ers and at least 10% of the business is made up of walk in cash customers. The staff are all local from the village and
tend to stay with company – Dave is the longest serving employee and he is sixty seven while rep, Mike is sixty nine! If you take a look at the companies website (see below) you will see what a vast array of fencing and related timber products are available for immediate delivery from the site. The company has recently FSC and PEFC chain of custody certification and, billing themselves as ‘South Wales’ Favourite Timber Merchant’, they certainly seem to have a reputation for providing decent quality fencing delivered as and when it is required. For the future Carlos would like to diversify into the roofing market and import tiles but for the present he is concentrating on keeping hold of the well established customer base he has. “We sponsor a lot of local school sports projects,” he tells me as we complete a tour of the yard, “we are well known and respected locally and that is the way we would like things to stay.” When you see what success twenty seven years trading has brought them, it’s hard to argue with sentiments such as that. . GOWER TIMBER LTD PEN-CLAWDD, SWANSEA SOUTH WALES SA4 3XN www.gowertimber.com TELEPHONE: 01792 851140 FAX: 01792 850128
sawmill
FAMILY FENCING EMPIRE SPANNING HALF A CENTURY Fifty three years of continual trading in the fencing and timber industry is an awesome record and that is just what South Wales sawmiller and fencing supplier T.G. Howell has accomplished this year.
From humble beginnings way back in 1956, the company has supplied the fencing and timber needs of the South Wales area (and often well beyond this) for over half a century. Originally set up by Geoffrey Howell, father of the current owner Terry, in an old quarry he had bought in 1947, T.G. Howell has grown to a sizeable four branch affair and currently offers just about anything you could require in the way of fencing or general timber requirements and has on site treatment facilities as well as still operating a sawmill which gives them the flexibility to be able to cut exact specifactions as per customers requirements. “Dad was a butcher by trade but he always messed around with a bit of sawmilling,” Terry told me on my recent visit to the sites, “and one day a local chap asked him to make some wooden ladders and from that he progressed into producing wooden extension ladders. Initially he was buying in the components and assembling then but it soon became obvious he needed to be cutting the wood himself. He already had the quarry so he bought a circular saw and went into business. I joined him in the late fifties straight from school as a young lad of fifteen and together we learnt the art of sawmilling as we went along. We soon had to buy a log saw and picked up plenty of work producing cover boards and chocks for the local coal mining industry. We still have that original quarry site at
Clifton Sawmills today.” Geoffrey stayed active in this business until his death four years ago and Terry, who is now sixty eight, intends to do the same and his two sons, Martin and Timothy, have followed in his footsteps and now help him to run the four sites. The business soon expanded as local builders and fencers found they had a reliable timber outlet on their doorsteps and the family added a site at Risca in 1960 and in 1984 they bought their Pontypool site which already had a sawmills on it - they needed more capacity to fulfil their coal board contracts. Terry again. “We bought Pontypool on a Friday and the miners all went on strike the following Tuesday and that heralded the end of the coal industry in South Wales. But that’s life and as we could no longer cut for
them we diversified into pallet timber, featheredge and fencing products often supplying stock nationwide.” A further site was added at Newport in 1988 and today T.G. Howell is one of the biggest suppliers of fencing material to the South and Mid Wales areas. Currently they employ sixty people and run a total of sixteen lorries, the majority of them with hiab off load. Deliveries can be undertaken just about everywhere if there is enough volume involved but the core of the business is still to the contractors and fence erectors in the local areas and also to the smaller builder merchants and timber merchants who find it very useful having someone who can cut and deliver odd packs of stock as they require it. As well as fencing they are large suppliers of carcassing timber and four depots gives them a great deal of buying power so Terry is able to source just about anything he requires and very quickly too! The treatment tanks are based at the Pontypool depot and the company treats Protim either brown or green as required.
Daunter Baker are proud to be associated with and suppliers to T G Howell and wish them continued success for the future.
Tel: 01495 740 100
Email:
[email protected]
Clifton sawmills remains the biggest site and Terry would like to undertake more be-spoke sawmilling in the future. “We have always been a family business,” Terry tells me, “my father, me, and now my sons and we aim to keep it that way for the future. We feel we are a very traditional Welsh company and our customers can
identify with that and although I am sure we are not finished growing yet, my main aim for the future is to keep us independent and maintain the reputation we have.” Half a century is a long time in any trade, but in the timber industry it is an exceptionally long time so you have to admit they must be doing something right! . TG HOWELL DEPOTS: NEWPORT MAESGLAS RETAIL PARK NEWPORT NP20 2NS SOUTH WALES TELE 01633 246000 FAX 01633 246824 PONTYPOOL ALBION SAWMILLS ALBION ROAD, PONTYPOOL SOUTH WALES NP4 6AR TELE 01495 762849 FAX 01495 750755 CLIFTON SAWMILLS CLIFTON STREET ROGERSTONE SOUTH WALES NP10 9YU TELE 01633 246000 RISCA PARK ROAD, RISCA SOUTH WALES NP11 6PW TELE 01633 612612 TELE 01633 612903 FAX 01633 619777
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sawmill
LOCKERBIE 3 GETS READY TO ROLL! Rob Wilkinson takes a trip to see James Jones & Sons’ new Lockerbie sawmill You suspect that James Jones would be very pleased with the progress made by the timber firm bearing his name in recent years and justifiably so as a brand new £22.5 million state of the art sawmill takes shape just yards from the M74 in Lockerbie. Founded in the mid 19th century, James Jones & Sons Ltd is now one of the UK’s biggest timber concerns with six other sites dotted across Scotland but it’s this new facility, due to open in September that will propel the firm to the next level in terms of production capacity and manufacturing flexibility. It’s the third major construction on the 35 acre site and replaces the company’s Dumfries sawmill. Lockerbie 3, as it’s been named, complements the existing Lockerbie 1 sawmill and Lockerbie 2 processing facility built since 2000 and forms an integral part of the future for an organisation that is defiantly committed to quality and service. If proof were needed as to the intentions of James Jones & Sons just ask Sales Manager Keith Ainslie and Project Manager Rob MacKenna, both closely involved in the evolution of this ‘super site’. “When production begins in the autumn Lockerbie 3 will have a single shift capacity of 140,000m³ of sawn wood,” exclaimed Rob “and that more than doubles our capacity from this site. “Output from the new 100 metre sawline will primarily focus upon
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fencing news August 2009
carcassing timbers and it will offer us added flexibility to offer a range of specifications for the construction, fencing, pallet and packaging markets complementing our existing product offering,” he added.
each log and calculate optimal cutting patterns to within a tenth of a millimetre.
It’s an impressive site! Work began last September on what was formerly wasteland and the scope and scale of the new build suggests it will be one of the biggest in Europe.
“This site really is one of the most technologically advanced in Europe and is the largest single development project that the company has undertaken. It reflects our commitment to the long term partnerships we have with our contractors and suppliers.
Rob continued: “Lockerbie 3 will also deliver improvements in quality, yield and production volumes (speeds) using 3D laser technology to scan
“Around 80 arctic loads of steel have gone into the new site and it represented the single biggest order in the history of Soderhamn Eriksson,
our Swedish-based sawline supplier. “The new facility secures employment both directly & indirectly for many people in the area. We hope to transfer the majority of our remaining staff from our Dumfries facility in addition to the 58 staff we already have on site at Lockerbie. “This development also secures a great many jobs in associated industries – road haulage, forestry & timber harvesting. This is a really positive development for the industry and the area!” Keith is similarly enthused: “This is a big step forward and cements our company ethos and focus on quality and service. It gives us a real edge when supplying over 500 customers across the length and breadth of. the UK.
sawmill additional sawmills in Mosstodloch, Kinnoir, Aboyne, and Kirriemuir and is the only UK owned manufacturer of engineered I-Joists branded as JJIJoists. The company also runs a subsidiary in Unit Pallets Ltd based near Warrington, one of the UK’s largest producers of wooden pallets and has additional concerns in Canada as well as involvement in a number of other timber-related businesses. Since being incorporated in 1905 James Jones & Sons Ltd has grown both organically and by acquisition.
“Around 90% of the timber we use is spruce sourced from forests across Scotland and Cumbria with the remainder made up of pine and Larch, our customer base ranges from small fencing contractors to the large retail multiples such as Jewson, B&Q and Wickes,” added Keith. The technology within Lockerbie 3 is tried and tested and will begin rolling out customised products from October 1st on a straight line operation that maximises efficiency. “The vision to expand on this site began before Lockerbie 1 began production in 2000,” commented Keith “and represents a 140%
increase in capacity on the Lockerbie 1 line which produces 100,000 m³ predominantly for the pallet and fencing market. “Lockerbie 3 features very similar technology with the added benefit of being able to handle long length cut production. It will be the biggest site in terms of sawn output in Scotland,” added Keith who has over two decades of experience within the timber industry. Health and Safety is a major factor in everything that takes place at Lockerbie as Rob explained: “The very latest design of saw enclosures provide the highest possible
standards of safety whilst offering environmental benefits through improved dust containment. Health and Safety is paramount and our very low staff turnover is testament to that. “Everything we source comes from FSC certified forests and that offers added peace of mind to our customers, backed up by our ISO14001 commitment. We even include the words ‘Committed to Service and Quality’ on our logo and it’s built into everything we do here.” James Jones & Sons Ltd headquartered in Larbert is privately owned and managed and operates
The JJS Group had a 2007 turnover of £89 million which has grown steadily since 2000 when total sales were around half of that. Production has also shot up in the last nine years with just over 200,000 m³ delivered in 2000 and expected output to reach 500,000 m³ in 2010. Round timber purchase topped 850,000 m³ in 2008. With Lockerbie 3 almost ready to begin production it’s clear that the aims of James Jones over 150 years ago are moving forward apace. He can look down in pride at what is being done in his name! For more information visit www.jamesjones.co.uk
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company profile
Jim’s recipe: The Spice of Life
Victoria Poolman meets Jim Smith of Broadmead Estates to find out why going stale just isn’t an option... If there’s one thing Jim Smith loves about his business, it’s the variety. Each job presents a new challenge, a chance for him and his team to flex their creative muscles and apply a vast range of experience to the project in question. Broadmead Estates’ slogan promises ‘the complete service’ and they certainly don’t take that oath lightly, offering landscape design and construction, grounds maintenance, woodland and arboricultural management, not to mention gates and fencing, to people within 25 miles of Hungerford. Since starting up in 2000, Jim has pulled his broad range of expertise together, integrating a workforce who are equally as versatile and skilled in order to take on any job and triumph every time. Jim explains: “I grew up on a beef farm and studied forestry and woodland management at college before working as a contracts’
Jim Smith
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manager for English Landscapes. As my work began to take me closer to London, I decided I wanted to stay
in the Hungerford area, so I brought together all my experience into one company to go it alone.”
development, Jim has a workforce of four full-time staff, who not only erect fencing and restore riverbanks, but also work on the farm when required, as well as building bridges, barns and stables.
Having done a lot of fencing on the farm as a youngster and spent a year developing those skills in New Zealand, Jim saw it as a golden opportunity to base his business around fencing. Now catering for a number of large private and commercial estates around the areas of Reading, Abingdon, Swindon, Winchester, Basingstoke and Salisbury, he’s certainly got some beautiful surroundings in which to implement Broadmead’s many services!
Jim tells me, “One of the best things about Broadmead Estates is that the work is never boring. I’ve always wanted to do lots of different things and it works amazingly well with the team I’ve got. One day we can be erecting deer fencing or making a bespoke gate and the next we’re building a bridge – there’s nothing I’d turn down and say we can’t do, we just get on and learn.”
Still having a 150 acre farm, where he keeps his beef herd of Murray Greys, and making use of his spare time by dabbling in the property
Though Jim and his team are constantly diversifying into new projects, there’s nothing amateur about the work of Broadmead Estates.
new products
Forest turns to Young Black to boost production capacity
By combining quality materials with good workmanship and a friendly manner, Jim’s customers are more than satisfied with Broadmead Estate’s services and clearly value his dedicated and down-to-earth attitude. Amongst his clients are names such as Knight Frank (the country house consultancy) and the owners of the Benham Park Estate in Berkshire. Having also done a good deal of work on new developments for Infinity Homes, it’s times like these where having fingers in lots of pies is a real safety net. Despite the lack of construction work contracts about at the moment, there’s no end to the demand for post and rail, Equifence and closeboard systems. Indeed, by providing rabbit-proof fencing, deer fencing and riverbank restoration amongst other services, the future of Broadmead Estates is secure. When you make a promise to ‘do the lot’, having machinery that’s as versatile as your staff is absolutely essential, which explains why Jim’s three-tonne mini excavator with Protech Post driver attached is very close to his heart: “We have to go through all kinds of different terrain - woodland, gardens, up and down hills and banks - but that combination of machinery is capable of going anywhere – which is invaluable to us.” Jim’s positive attitude applies to all under the Broadmead Estates’ name, from his machinery, to his staff, to his everyday working life – he’s clearly very happy with his lot. Spending half his time working with the Broadmead team, and the rest either in his office on Hungerford High Street or surveying, he enjoys the balance he’s achieved. And though he’s recently branched into estate management side of things, he’s also very excited about the future of Broadmead Estates, as the company continues to take on new and interesting new projects. Jim tells me:
“We’re currently building a barn and have just completed some stables. But in preparation for the winter, when the ground isn’t so good for fencing, we’ve just finished training everyone up for NPCT spraying work. It’s a real requirement around here, so we’ll be able to run a small-scale spraying operation to anyone that needs it, on top of our other services.” With no ambitions of expanding hugely or becoming a household name, Jim seems very content to be trying his hand at all kinds of things, keeping every job fresh and new. Indeed, it’s a pleasure to see a company who pride themselves not on tradition and years of providing the same service, but instead focussing on constantly embracing new challenges, developing themselves and learning new skills. . For more information, call 01488 686004 or email
[email protected]
Forest Garden, one the UK’s leading provider of timber products for the garden, has installed a new panel maker machine at its Hartlebury headquarters to meet increased demand for its fencing products.
and, with more people deciding to improve their property and gardens rather than moving house this year, we expect this trend to continue meaning this investment could not have come at a better time.”
The new machine, which was supplied by Swindon-based Young Black Ltd., will be used to manufacture both Forest’s close board and feather edge panels in various sizes. By automatically nailing the panels before capping and ejecting them for treatment, the new machine will enable Forest to offer clients consistent quality along with increased capacity to scale up production as required.
Paul Greenslade, national sales manager at Young Black, added: “Young Black has traded with Forest Garden for many years and we work very closely with their management to identify areas of the production process where we think there is an opportunity to improve output, quality and costs.
Peter Bytheway, operations director at Forest Garden, said: “We’re really impressed with the new machine and are confident it will allow us to provide an even better service to our customers moving forward. “We’ve already seen an upturn in demand for our products this year
“We have installed a number of automatic machines in Forest factories over the years and the fact more are being installed is a testament to the reliability and performance of the machines we are supplying.” For more information visit www.forestgarden.co.uk
Proud suppliers to Jim Smith & Broadmead Estate Services All types of Fencing and Gates SOUTHDOWN FARM, FARINGDON ROAD, LONGCOT, OXON
01793 783879 / 783887 webbswood.co.uk
L-R: “Brendan MacNamee (Young Black), Peter Bytheway (Forest Garden), Paul Greenslade (Young Black) and Gerald Gregory (Forest Garden) get to grips with the new machine.” fencing news August 2009
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machinery
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THINGS COULDN’T GET ANY BETTER AT KANGA LOADERS “Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better!” was how Stuart Coar, National Sales Manager of Kanga Loaders UK, welcomed the news of the recent acquisition of the Kanga brand and assets by fellow Australian company, Digga Manufacturing. Digga Manufacturing is the largest Australian manufacturer and exporter of gearboxes and machinery attachments such as auger drives, trenchers, augers, brooms and wear parts for the earthmoving machinery industry.
line, and that it stays fully Australian made. Furthermore, the Kanga product will clearly benefit from Digga’s unquestionable strength in manufacturing, engineering research and development, enabling the brand to maintain its market leadership now and well into the future”.
“Of course, the real benefactors of this bringing together of two such iconic Australian brands will be our customers, who by virtue, will profit from the optimal performance benefits that designing and producing both the drive unit and the associated attachments under the same roof brings. But for the
time being, it’s very much business as usual for us here in the UK”, concluded Coar. . For more details please contact www.kangaloaders.co.uk
“The acquisition of the Kanga brand by Digga will undoubtedly be good for business, the brand and our ever growing customer base” enthused Coar, “and will ensure the long term prosperity of our highly successful loader
13hp Honda Engine 20hp Honda Engine 19hp Kubota Diesel
Attachments: Buckets Augers Trenchers etc.
For more information please contact:
Tel:
Landscape and Highway Machinery
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fencing news August 2009
0161 941 4141 0161 980 8080
Email:
[email protected] [email protected]
machinery
Fencing opportunity from log processor Established by Stephen Sufferin in 2005, S& J Contracts operates from County Londonderry. Production of pallets and bespoke timber sizes for industry are now their primary products. Stephen tells how their business has benefited. ‘In 2007 we had difficulty sourcing locally sawn pallet wood so we decided to mill our own timber to guarantee supply and cut costs. In 2008 we invested in a large facility to accommodate aWood-Mizer SLP (Small Log Processing) line and semiautomatic pallet assembly equipment.’ Stephen praises Dave Biggs, then Wood-Mizer’s UK service manager. ‘Dave was a great when we had a few little niggly problems on set-up. Now Wood-Mizer’s UK Manager he is, in my opinion the best man for the job.’ The Northern Ireland businessman admits times are tough with demand for pallets – and the price customers are prepared to pay – down! Nevertheless, by milling his own timber he can retain his pallet buyers. His ability to supply, he points out, is a consequence of acquiring the WoodMizer SLP line. Stephen acknowledges that adaptability is the key to surviving
tough economic times. Sawn timber production on the Wood-Mizer SLP line and pallet manufacture are just two of the operations the workforce are ready to undertake. Conversion of slabwood into saleable products – dried firelogs and kindling – helps ride the rough period that the construction industry is enduring. When it comes to battling the recession, the installation of the mill has given Stephen Sufferin two new lines of defence. First, the business is no
longer hostage to the prices demanded by sawn timber suppliers. Second, it can move quickly into sectors where profits are for the taking. Even deadwood has been well tested on the decks of the new WoodMizer SLP line at S& J Contractors and the machinery has proved more than capable of turning it into usable produce. As far as Wood-mizer is concerned it does not matter what the final product is for. The sawing process of converting
small round logs into useable square timber – either for pallets or fencing is the same. If anything, the savings are greater because fencing often needs a higher percentage of smaller dimensions than palletwood. It requires more sawing and therefore the SLP’s narrow band, thin kerf technology could bring savings and profit to the fencing business in ‘interesting times’. Visit www.woodmizer.com
PROTECH MACHINERY
TRACKED POST DRIVERS – A ONE MAN FENCING MACHINE, SAVE LABOUR, FUEL AND TIME!!
TELESCOPIC MAST OPTION FOR 10FT POSTS
250KG HAMMER WEIGHT
800MM TELESCOPIC SIDESHIFT
COMPACT FOR TRANSPORT
FOR PROTECH SALES PLEASE CALL ANDREW HOOPER ON 07971079751
WOOLRIDGE FARM, GLOUCESTER ROAD HARTPURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL19 3BG e-mail:
[email protected] fax: 01386 750772 www.protechmachinery.co.uk fencing news August 2009
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machinery
Travis Perkins Takes 190 New Bobcat Excavators and Skid-Steer Loaders Travis Perkins, the leading UK Builders’ Merchant, has taken delivery of new Bobcat micro- and mini-excavators and skid-steer loaders worth more than £3 million from Doosan International UK Ltd. The new Bobcat machines, which include a mix of E08 microexcavators, 319 mini-excavators and S100 skid-steer loaders, are part of Travis Perkins’ ambitious expansion plans in the hire market. Product testing by Travis Perkins’ customers prompted the company to make the purchase of 150 excavators (comprising 30 E08 micro-excavators and 120 319 mini-excavators), with an additional 40 Bobcat S100 skidsteer loaders. Travis Perkins, one of the country’s largest timber and builders’
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fencing news August 2009
merchants, supplies building products and materials to the trade, and has invested heavily in its tool and plant hire division over the last few years to take a significant share of the hire market. The company now operates one of the UK’s largest tool and plant hire operations with more than 300 outlets nationwide based within its Travis Perkins and Keyline Builders’ Merchant businesses. A key factor in winning the order from Travis Perkins was the service capability offered by Doosan International UK Ltd via the Company Branches in the West Midlands and the North West. The new Bobcat branch at West Bromwich significantly enhances service for National and Key Account Bobcat customers such as Travis Perkins. From this central base in the heart of the UK, the Bobcat
branch also forms a new resource for Bobcat dealers right across the country. Andrew Hatton, General Manager UK Branch Operations, said: “We have a dedicated National and Key Accounts team totally focused on delivering industry leading service levels by utilising in-house service and administrative personnel coupled with our distributor network in the UK.” All the new Bobcat equipment is being fitted with the Datatag security system and registered with the Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) scheme. The official CESAR scheme acts as a powerful deterrent against plant theft and aids identification and recovery in the event of theft. Easy to transport, the E08 and 319
models meet Travis Perkins’ exacting standards for compact excavators, offering an enviable combination of high performance, operator safety, ergonomics, stability and durability. The E08 micro-excavator is the smallest model in the Bobcat range, with a machine weight of 1028 kg and a maximum digging depth of 1.82 m. Like the E08, the 319 1.3 tonne mini-excavator has an expandable undercarriage, allowing access through narrow passageways for work inside buildings or entry into back yards and gardens through narrow gates. The 319 offers a maximum digging depth of 2008 mm and a maximum dump height of 2281 mm. The S100 skid-steer loader from Bobcat meets a market need for a compact, limited weight skid-steer loader that can work in tight spaces and is easy to transport. A key feature for Travis Perkins was the great versatility offered by the S100 with 50 l/min of auxiliary hydraulic flow providing plenty of power for operating over 30 different attachments. With an operating weight with bucket of just 1800 kg, the S100 offers a rated operating capacity of 453 kg and a tipping load of 907 kg. . For more information visit www.travisperkins.co.uk
machinery
A-PLANT WINS TWO PRESTIGIOUS FOUR-YEAR CONTRACTS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY A-Plant, one of the largest nonoperated equipment rental companies in the UK, has been awarded two prestigious four-year framework agreements with the Environment Agency, covering both the hire of tools and equipment and the maintenance and servicing of the Agency’s existing fleet of equipment. A-Plant is one of the three suppliers on the hire framework and has been awarded a single supplier framework agreement for the management, maintenance and servicing of the entire fleet of powered hand tools and powered work equipment at the Environment Agency. Erik Broderstad, Key Accounts Sales Director for A-Plant, said: “The new contracts with the Environment Agency are high-status appointments, which will utilise our wide range of expertise in the tool and plant hire market in the UK. Under the new maintenance and servicing framework, we have sole responsibility for assessing and advising on the inventories of equipment held at over 160 locations in the eight regions of the Environment
Agency around the country.” To establish the procedures to be used in this important contract, A-Plant is carrying out three pilot projects in the Thames West, North West North and Midlands East areas, based in three of the eight regions. A-Plant will examine every piece of equipment and submit a report to the Environment Agency on the inventory held at each location in these areas, the age and condition of the equipment and proposals on whether the equipment should be repaired or replaced. This process will then be rolled out to all eight regions to produce a national report for the Environment Agency. This is the latest in a raft of key account wins by A-Plant which recognise the company’s commitment to enhancing service and efficiencies, reducing costs and administration and eliminating wastage and nonvalue added transaction processes as measured against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). A-Plant is part of FTSE 250 company, Ashtead Group plc, the leading UK
and US equipment outsourcer. APlant is committed to providing the best hire service in Europe and this is reinforced by the company’s website at www.aplant.com, which provides a definitive range of online services for the equipment hire industry. Many A-Plant customers utilise the reporting capabilities available through the company’s Extranet accessed through the website. They can obtain consolidated information for all transactions with A-Plant, regardless of what equipment was hired and which A-Plant location was involved, presenting the information by operating region and by postcode for particular sites. The ability to offer weekly hire reports and consolidated invoices meet the latest requirements for management reporting.
Environment Agency are to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. The Agency plays a central role in delivering the environmental priorities of Central Government and the Welsh Assembly Government through its functions and roles. For more information visit www.aplant.com
The Environment Agency is an Executive Non Departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Sponsored Public Body responsible to the National Assembly for Wales. The principal aims of the
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fencing people
ConFor elects new chairman success, but there are always new challenges and opportunities that need to be tackled.”
Colin succeeded Tony Willis at ConFor’s recent AGM. Tony will continue as an ordinary board member and, in stepping down, he paid tribute to all those who had gone before him, especially those who had the “foresight and courage to find the way forward”, creating ConFor in 2004. “I am leaving this post with ConFor in good shape”, he said “and I look forward to working with Colin who will make an excellent chairman.” Colin Mann and Tony Willis (left to right) Colin Mann, managing director of Scottish Woodlands, has been elected as the new chairman of ConFor.
“I am delighted to take over as chairman and will serve members as best I can. It is a challenging time and there is a lot to do” said Colin. “ConFor has built a track record of
Other changes to the board included Mike Box replacing Gordon Little as the representative of ConFor’s subsidiary company organising the APF International Forestry Exhibition. Additionally, as part of changes to strengthen representation of members on ConFor’s board,
Lord Hamilton, Athole McKillop, Raymond Henderson, Tim Kirk and Will Anderson all joined as new directors. ConFor’s vice-chairman, John Firn, retired from the board at the AGM after a long unbroken period of service, first as chairman of the Forestry and Timber Association and then, following FTA’s amalgamation with ConFor, as vice-chairman of the new body. John was thanked warmly for his commitment and valuable contribution over the years. It was agreed at the AGM that a successor to the post of vice-chairman would be identified once the new board had had the opportunity to. settle in. For more information visit www.confor.org.uk
ROLAWN APPOINT Rolawn appoint AWBS AS KEY Joseph Parr as Key Distributor DISTRIBUTOR Rolawn, the UK’s largest turf grower and leading topsoil supplier have appointed Joseph Parr (Middlesbrough) Ltd as a Platinum Partner distributor for Teesside, Cleveland and surrounding area.
Rolawn, the UK’s largest turf grower and leading topsoil supplier have appointed Adrian White Building Supplies (AWBS) as a Platinum Partner distributor for Oxford and surrounding area.
From its head office at South Hinksey, AWBS stocks an extensive range of landscaping products, supplying trade and retail as well as providing a design, installation and maintenance service. It also has branches at Yarton, Henley on Thames and Swindon. Under the agreement, AWBS will stock the complete Rolawn range that includes turf, lawn seed and fertiliser, topsoil and bark. In addition a collection and delivery service for both trade and retail customers will also be provided. Cedric McMillan, Rolawn’s Sales & Marketing Director commented 78
fencing news August 2009
with partners that share similar principles which is key to our philosophy in our drive to build on our market leading position.”
Established on Teesside in 1972, Joseph Parr (Middlesbrough) Ltd is part of the Joseph Parr Group of companies. Founded in 1883, the group has grown to be one of the top 20 independent builders’ merchants in the UK. Adrian White, Managing Director AWBS, Scott Denham, Regional Sales Manager, Rolawn “We are extremely pleased to appoint AWBS as we have enjoyed a long standing relationship and the agreement will result in opportunities for development. The agreement also highlights our desire to develop long term relationships which is key to our philosophy in our drive to build on our market leading position.” www.rolawn.co.uk
Under the new agreement, Joseph Parr will stock the complete Rolawn range that includes turf, lawn seed and fertiliser, topsoil and bark. In addition a delivery service for both trade and retail customers will also be provided. Cedric McMillan, Rolawn’s Sales & Marketing Director commented “We are extremely pleased to appoint Joseph Parr as their reputation for quality and service is well known. The agreement highlights our desire to develop long term relationships
Cedric McMillan and David Anderson (fronm left to right)
fencing pEople
In the Hot Seat ADAM lynch Name: Adam Lynch Married/Children: Engaged Position/Company: Owner A.L. Farm and Forestry Services Previous Employment:. I started on an open farm at nine years old and from there I progressed to a larger open farm. Then when I left agricultural college I did six months on a mixed farm that also had a landscaping business. From there I moved to a dairy and beef farm and was there through the foot and mouth outbreak when that was over I set up on my own. Having done various bits of landscaping and fencing work for others to fit in with my own work since then.
What do you consider the main issues effecting the fencing and landscaping industry? Cash flow, quality of timber and the price the customer is prepared to pay for Quality. A major shortage of skilled staff that want to work hard and stay in the industry and cowboys taking work off well established firms and then doing substandard jobs and bringing the name of the whole industry into disrepute. What’s been your best idea? Setting up on my own And your worst Setting up on my own it a double edge sword but it would be nice to some times be able to just switch off. It has been and still is hard work some times to keep it all going!
What do you like about Fencing and Landscaping News?. It gives me all the news gossip and updates from the fencing industry that I need to run my business. Favourite film: Snatch and the lord of the rings trilogy. Beer or Wine: Cider and red wine Favourite Food: Roast beef with all the trimmings
Favourite saying? I fear its ____________ If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you take with you? My fiance Katie, My grafting spade and my estwing hammer Newspaper you read: Garden News Favourite sport:Rugby Pound or Euro? 100% pound
New Chair appointed NEW DIRECTOR for Lantra’s WELSH ADDS GALLIC FLAIR TO GRIPPLE’S Council for Wales AGRICULTURAL DIVISION Lantra, the UK Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries, has today (6 July) announced the appointment of Lionel Walford as Chair of its Council for Wales.
His appointment is part of a wider initiative to ensure the Sector Skills Council remains fully employerled, by strengthening Lantra’s four National Councils across the United Kingdom. Lionel Walford, a recruitment and performance assessor for a variety of government departments and former Director of Agriculture in Wales, has many years of experience in agriculture and agriculture-related organisations. Lionel Walford said: “I am very pleased to be given this opportunity to assist in the further development of Lantra’s strategic role within Wales. The environmental and landbased sector makes a significant contribution to the economy of Wales and will play an increasing role in ensuring Wales meets future
targets related to climate change, countryside management, food and energy security.”
Kevin Thomas, Lantra’s National Director Wales said: “We are pleased to welcome Lionel on board as Chairman of Lantra’s Council for Wales. His experience will ensure we will continue to develop our engagement with employers and key partners within the sector and identify innovative ways to assist training and skills development during what are for many, difficult trading conditions.” Peter Martin, Lantra Chief Executive commented, “Lionel’s appointment in Wales is the next step towards strengthening the role of our National Council. With so many education, skills and rural policy decisions now made at country level, we need to be at the heart of the whole decision-making process and ensure the right policy outcomes are adapted which benefit the sector.”
With five years’ experience as sales manager of Gripple’s agricultural division in central and Eastern Europe, 39-year-old Frenchman, Eric Laroche has been promoted to sales director of the company’s entire agricultural division. Eric was born in Joigny in Burgundy and has lived in the UK since 1992, prior to which he had gained a Masters degree in industrial marketing in France. He is now responsible for promoting the newly launched Gripple T-Clip, which is designed to terminate fencing in seconds rather than minutes, and the Gripple Torq Tensioning Tool. He is also involved in identifying additional uses of the Gripple Plus wire joiner and tensioner, millions of which are already sold across the world to secure fencing, trellising and vines. Eric, who lives in Nottingham with his family, said: “There seems almost no end to the potential uses
of the Gripple Plus! We are working very closely with our innovations and ideas team to ensure that every product is suited to its purpose. At Gripple, our philosophy is ‘think the unthinkable, do the impossible and you will succeed’.” fencing news August 2009
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BUYERS GUIDE
To obtain an entry in the Buyers’ Guide (£94.00 +VAT per Year) Contact Simone Gallon or Ben Walton on 01274 610 101.
ACCESS BARRIERS Alexandra Security Products Procter Concrete and Fencing Products
0870 8501112 0113 2862586
Sales Jason Torvill
Traffic barriers, parking posts,bollards and traffic flow plates Manual traffic barriers, bollards etc. www.fencingmaterials.co.uk
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Sales Office Chainlink to BS1722 and fittings Sales Office EXTENSIVE RANGEOF ALL THINGS CHAINLINK – the solution provider! Sales Dept Full range of chainlink fencing Sales Full range of chainlink fencing & gates Jason Torvill Chainlink, posts, fittings, barbed wire, razor wire www.fencingmaterials.co.uk
CHAINLINK FENCING Anderton Concrete Crowthorne Fencing & Timber Suppliers Gaurdian Wire Ltd John Chirnside & Sons Ltd Procter Concrete & Fencing Products
CHESTNUT PALE MANUFACTURERS AND STOCKISTS CWP Fencing Estate Fencing Ltd E. J Holmes & Sons Ltd Manchester Chestnut Torry Hill Farm Jon Walker Timber Products
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Chestnut materials and fencing, Sussex post and cleft rail Chestnut fencing and stakes Chestnut fencing and stakes plus panels and sheds MANUFACTURERS – ISO9002 – ACCREDITED Chestnut fencing manufacturers, cleft post and rails plus stakes Please take a look at www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk
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Sales Office An extensive range of garden & security fencing Sales Office Full range of posts, panels and bollards Sales Full range of fence posts and gravel boards Jason Torvilll Full range of Concrete Posts & Gravel Boards www.fencingmaterials.co.uk Sales Full range of concrete posts and panels available. www.stockportfencing.co.uk.
01638 508640 01594 544276
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Coloured steel fencing systems Hi-tensile Zincalume colorbond steel. www.climar.com.au
0115 9655150 01929 459245
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Cleft chestnut fencing www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk Cleft fencing materials
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Armco and Boxbeam Suppliers of all Crash Barrier Supplies including Armco www.gtevans.co.uk
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Sales
www.batsfordtimber.co.uk.
Sales Sales Jez Webb
www.caldersandgrandidge.com www.hfstimber.co.uk www.webbswood.co.uk
CONCRETE POST MANUFACTURERS Anderton Concrete Crowthorne Fencing & Timber Suppliers FP McCann Procter Concrete & Fencing Products Stockport Fencing Ltd . Welch Fencing
Sales Full Range of concrete posts and panels available www.garden-fence-panels.co.uk
COLOURED STEEL FENCE AND LATTICE Kookaburra Fencing Ltd Climar Colourfence Ltd
CLEFT FENCING Jon Walker Timber Products Winterbourne Zelston Fencing Ltd
CRASH BARRIER SUPPLIERS Alexandra Security Products D & C Fencing G & T Evans
CREOSOTED FENCING AND TIMBER Batsford Timber Ltd . Calders & Grandidge HFS Timber H J Webb & Son
DECKING AND ACCESSORIES KDM International Ltd 01473 276900 Sales Smee Timber Ltd 01606 55 55 00 Sales
Importers, Stockist and Distributors of Deck boards, Spindles, Newels, Handrails . and Joists Hardwood and Softwood Decking www.smeetimber.com
ENGLISH OAK SUPPLIERS A & J Scott Ltd D & C Fencing Contractors John Brooke Ltd Corwen Forestry Timber Products Ltd A.J Charlton & Sons A Hingley & Son Ltd Linnell Bros Ltd Morgan Timber Nelson Butler & Son Ltd Jon Walker Timber Products
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Ian Barfoot David Fisher Sales Sales Sales John Hingley Roger Linnell Sales Dept Carl Butler Jon Walker
Cut Oak beams, suppliers of all grades of Oak round timbers www.ajscott.co.uk Suppliers of all Crash Barrier Supplies including Armco All oak fencing and beam requirements All oak fencing and beam requirements All oak fencing and beam cut to required sizes All oak fencing requirements All oak fencing requirements All types, sawn or machined, from our sawmill Cutting Fencing, Joinery & Beam Oak, from our own sawmill www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk
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Importers and distributors of European timber products.
[email protected] Importers, Stockist and Distributors of Screen, Gates, Lattice and Border panels
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Sales Office All types of fittings, tools and accessories available Sales All types Available Sales Office The Solution Provider! Jason Torvill Fence and Gate Fittings www.fencingmaterials.co.uk
01473 276900
Sales
EUROPEAN FENCING SUPPLIES Ashley Timber KDM International Ltd
FITTINGS, TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES British Gates & Timber Ltd Corwen Forestry Timber Products Ltd Crowthorne Fencing & Timber Suppliers Procter Concrete & Fencing Products
Garden Furniture and Structures KDM International Ltd
Importers, Stockist and Distributors of Softwood Furniture, Arches and Pergolas
GENERAL FENCE MANUFACTURERS Alexandra Security Products 0870 8501112 Sales Full range of fittings, tools and accessories Akinsons Fencing 01977 550 441 Sales All types of timber fencing www.atkinsonsfencing.co.uk British Gates & Timber Ltd 01580 291555 Sales Office High quality pressure treated fencing available Charles Ransfords Sawmills 01588 638331 Sales Dept Domestic, agricultural and highways fencing. Specialist acoustic suppliers. . www.ransfords.co.uk Corwen Forestry Timber Products Ltd 01490 440316 Sales Full range of pressure-treated fencing Derek Fox & Sons 01772 784626 Sales One stop suppliers and gate manufacturers. www.derekfoxtimber.co.uk Gaurdian Wire Ltd 0161 6246020 Sales Dept All types of fencing available GWR Agricultural Fencing Suppliers 01939 234880 Sales Traditional and peeled treated fencing IAE Fencing 01538 755888 Sales Office Full range of standard & bespoke steel fencing John Brooke Ltd 01664 823103 Sales Full range of pressure-treated fencing A.E Evans 0197 8710455 Sales Office Machine rounded and traditionally peeled treated fencing Western Log Group 0163 9896715 Tony Evans Pressure treated fencing Carron Bridge Sawmill 01848 331661 Sales Office Full range of fencing slats and materials Jon Walker Timber Products 0115 9655150 Jon Walker www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk Stewart Timber Products 01236 727776 Sales Office www.stewartfencing.co.uk Calders & Grandidge 01205 358866 Sales Office Residential, Agricultural, Highways Fencing – pressure treated M & M Timber Co Ltd. 01299 832 611 Sales All Types of fencing available www.mmtimber.co.uk Taylormade Timber Products Ltd 0191 3720524 Sales Wide range of Fencing components, including posts, rails, boards, feather edge,. cappings & Panels www.taylormadetimber.co.uk Watson Engineering 0113 3935522 Johnny Scott www.watsonengineering.co.uk
Home Offices, Lodges, Cabins and Garages KDM International Ltd 01473 276900 Sales
Importers, Stockist and Distributors of Scandinavian and European Home offices, . Lodges, Cabins and Garages
HURDLES Chairworks IAE Fencing KDM International Ltd
0208 2473700 01538 755888 01473 276900
Sales Office Sales Office Sales
All types of garden products. Mainly hurdles, trellis & other types of borders Traditional steel hurdles & continuous bar Importers, Stockist and Distributors of Willow and Hazel Hurdles
LABELS AND TICKETS Links, Labels and Tapes 01778 426282 Janice Scott
Plain and printed labels and tickets for rough sawn or planed timber. . Plus on-demand overprinting systems for variable data.
LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES Crowthorne Fencing & Landscaping Suppliers Crowthorne Fencing Timber Suppliers Listers Timber M & M Timber Co Ltd
LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE
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Sales Office Sales Office Sales Sales
Paving rockery and aggregate supplies Paving, aggregates, sleepers and lots more www.listerstimber.co.uk All types of Landscape products www.mmtimber.co.uk
BUYERS GUIDE Leightweight Solutions Ltd .
0161 4770010 01630 672722
Sales
Litecrete® full range of posts and gravel boards available. www.litecrete.co.uk.
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Stocks of post, mesh, gates, railings, fittings
Sales All fencing and landscape requirements Sales Office All fencing and landscape requirements Sales Office Massive range – extensive stocks Michael Calvert Garden & agricultural fencing materials and decking. www.estatesawmills.co.uk David Godsmark All fencing and landscape requirements Jason Torvill Full range of materials for the Fencing Contractor www.fencingmaterials.co.uk Ian Caldwell Every type of fencing IMAGINABLE! Jon Walker www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk Sales Quality British Timber. A range of products second to none. www.mmtimber.co.uk Sales www.listerstimber.co.uk Johnny Scott www.watsonengineering.co.uk
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Sales Office Lap panels, thick boards and European screens and trellis R Giddings Quality British timber fencing panels, trellis & gates Alan Tyler Fencing Panels, timber gates, pressure trtd sftwd fncg Sales Fencing Panel manufacturers and Concrete Post suppliers David Sainsbury Quality fencing panels etc. home grown tmbr creosoted Peter Clarke Quality timber, gates and sheds of all descriptions Jon Walker www.jonwalkertimber.com
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Sales Full range available Sales Office We’re fully wired up!
0800 4488299
Sales
Picket Panels
01977 682313
Iain Skinner
The national rural property planning specialists www.acorus.co.uk
0113 2862586 01772 336476
Jason Torvill Full range of Concrete Posts and Gravel Boards www.fencingmaterials.co.uk Sales Full Range of Post and Gravel boards available. www.garden-fence-panels.co.uk
ONE STOP SUPPLIERS Batsford Timber . Corwen Forestry Timber Products Crowthorne Fencing and Landscape Suppliers Crowthorne Fencing and Timber Suppliers Estate Sawmills Marthall Tree Products Procter Concrete & Fencing Products Timberstore Ltd Jon Walker Timber Products M & M Timber Co Ltd Listers Timber Watson Engineering
.
PANEL AND SHED MANUFACTURER Crowthorne Fencing and Landscape Suppliers Golden Larch Lewis Tyler and Sons Listers Timber Meades Sawmills Clarke Fencing Timber Jon Walker Timber Products
STOCK FENCE – HIGH TENSILE AND MILD STEEL Corwen Forestry Timber Products Crowthorne Fencing and Timber Supplies
PANEL AND SHED MANUFACTURERS WSK Fencing
PLANNING CONSULTANTS Acorus World Property Services
POST AND GRAVEL BOARD MANUFACTURERS Procter Concrete & Fencing Products Welch Fencing
POST DRIVERS, POST HOLE AUGERS AND DIGGERS Auger Torque Europe Ltd Bryce Contractors Corwen Forestry Timber Products McArthur Group Microplant M.W. Plant Sales Wrag UK
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Sales Jock Bryce
www.augertorque.com SUMA & VECTOR machines – five quality high performance machines on offer.
Sales Full range available Cyclone Dept KingHitter post drivers & spares and accessories Sales Full range available www.awmachinery.co.uk www.microplant.net M. Wilson SKIDSTER tractor & mini digger auger drive units Sales www.wrag.co.uk
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Sales Steel security fencing, anti-climb devices, pipe clamp Office All types of security fencing available I Kettle All types of fencing, gates, railings, ironwork Sales Dept Full range of security fencing available Sales Office Full range of mesh & railing systems Maurice Hickman Steel security fencing Sales Steel security fencing Sales Office Grating fences, mesh, louvred, stainless steel, railings, ballparks and gates David McGowan All types of Security Fencing, gates, railings and ironwork Ian Darlington Palisade, bowtop vertical bar & mesh systems www.lmbateman.co.uk .
PVCu FENCING MANUFACTURERS Duralock Performance Fencing Liniar Supalite Fencing
All types of pvcu fencing available www.duralock.com Durable, low maintenance styles suitable for many applications. www.liniar.co.uk Quality Plastic Post and Gravel Board Manufacturers www.supalitefencing.co.uk
SECURITY FENCING MANUFACTURERS Alexandra Security Products Brennans TCS Ltd C and W Fencing Guardian Wire IAE Fencing J.B. Corrie & Co John Chirnside and Sons Orsogril UK Loaninghill Fabrication Ltd L M Bateman & Co Procter Concrete & Fencing Products Steel Stud William Bain Fencing NINS Trading (UK) Watson Engineering
Jason Torvill Nigel Atkin Sales Sales Johnny Scott
Wide range of Security Fencing and Gates. www.fencingmaterials.co.uk Palisade Security fencing. D&W Profile Fencing all to BS Manufacturers of Lochrin Palisades,plus gates,rails & safety barriers Manufacturers of Security Steel Palisade Fencing www.nins.co.uk www.watsonengineering.co.uk
SOFTWOOD SUPPLIERS A & J Scott Ltd 01668 217288 Ian Barfoot Sawmill producing quality fencing & landscaping timber. www.ajscott.co.uk Balcas Timber 02866 323003Ireland Sales Office All types of sawn fencing, square & round. Nationwide. . . 01606 737507 UK Batsford Timber 01985 219 555 Sales Full range of round & sawn timber, plus special orders. . 01608 651096 John Brooke 01664 823103 Sales All types of sawn and round timber pressure-treated BSW Timber 08005 878887 Sales www.bsw.co.uk Corwen Forestry Timber Products 01490 440316 Sales All types sawn and round FSC registered Chairworks 02082 473700 Office All types of garden products. Many hurdles, trellis & other types of borders Crowthorne Fencing and Timber Supplies 01234 273077 Sales Office Full range of timber components & carcassing ETC Sawmills 01691 622441 Sales Dept Fencing materials. All n/w delivery Ellis Timber 01603 755321 Mervyn Ellis All types of sawn timber/OSMOSE pressure treatment A.E. Evans (Rounda) 01978 710445 Sales Office Machine rnd/half rnd peeled, sawn timber R.F. Giddings 02380 813157 R Giddings www.rfgiddings.com GWR Agricultural Fencing Supplies 01939 234880 Sales Round and half round peeled timber. Sawn and machined timber James Davies Ltd 01239 682 477 Sales All types of sawn timber and both peeled and machined round timber. . 01269 850 689 Linnel Bros 01327 857217 Roger Linnell Sawn mach & round timbers. Panels gates and fittings Gwyddelwern Sawmills 01490 412241 Haydn Best Brit quality. Waney edged slats, battens, caps & feather edges Lewis Tyler and Sons 01707 268523 Alan Tyler Fencing panels, timber gates, pressure trtd sftwd fncng M&M Timber 01299 832611 Sales Dept Unipost machined rond & half round fencing Charles Ransfords Sawmills 01588 638331 Sales Dept Complete range of general fencing and specialist machined materials. Nationwide delivery. . FSC registered. www.ransfords.co.uk Scanland UK 01519 222254 Sales Suppliers of pallet and fencing timber South Bucks Estates 01494 671921 Ian Caldwell All types of sawn and round fences Swan Timber 01892 611673 Andy Swan All sawn timber, peeled & machine rounded, contract (pressure) treatment Western Log Group 01639 896715 Robert James Peeled and machined turned fencing & sawn timbers Walford Timber 01989 563614 Gerry Smith All sawn fencing, stakes, gates, pressure treatment Jon Walker Timber Products 01159 655150 Jon Walker www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk Victoria Sawmills 01395 568060 Sales www.victoria-sawmills.co.uk Calders and Grandidge 01205 358866 Sales Office All types of sawn timber James Davies (Abercych) 01239 682477 Sales All types of sawn timer – pressure treated A.J. Charlton & Sons 01373 812521 Sales Treated softwood fencing – buy direct from the sawmill for best prices Taylormade Timber Products Ltd 0191 372 0524 Sales Every size of Sawn Softwood machined pressure treated. www.taylormadetimber.co.uk
STEEL GATE MANUFACTURERS Alexandra Security Products C&W Fencing IAE Fencing
08708 501112 01255 871300 01538 755888
Sales I Kettle Sales Office
All types of steel gates, rising arm barriers All types of gates, railings, fencings, iron works All types of steel swing/sliding gates
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BUYERS GUIDE J.B. Corrie & Co John Chirnside & Sons Procter Concrete & Fencing Products Specialist Fencing UK Timb-a-Haul Calders & Gradidge Watson Engineering
01730 262552 01732 882367 0113 2862586 01519 334011 01603 754781 01205 358866 0113 3935522
Maurice Hickman Sales Jason Torvill P Farrell Graham Froud Sales Office Johnny Scott
All types of steel gates, fencing & general fabrications All types of steel gates, fencing and general fabrications Hinged, Tracked Sliding and Cantilever Sliding Doors www.fencingmaterials.co.uk www.specialistfencing.co.ukTELEGRAPH POLES English oak beams, any size Extensive range of softwood poles – pressure treated www.watsonengineering.co.uk
01332 883900 01616 246020
Sales Easy to assemble Pickett style. www.liniar.co.ukTEMPORARY FENCING (STEEL) Sales Dept Full range including MESH panel systems
01580 291555 01664 823103 01373 812521 01490 440316 01234 273077 01245 401078 01707 268523 01284 388399 01159 655150 01205 358866
Sales Office High quality timber gates – all types, manufacturing for over sixty years Sales Timber gates of all descriptions Sales Craftmanship and perfection in all types of gate Sales Timber gates to your requirements Sales Office Full bespoke service available A Wright Timber gates of all description Alan Tyler Fencing panels, Timber gates, Pressure trtd sftwd fencing Hugo Corrie Timber gates of all descriptions Jon Walker www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk Sales Office Timber gates soft/hardwood. Bespoke service
01773 550055 01668 217288 01664 823103 01490 440316 01234 273077 01324 562241 01299 832 611 01302 888676 01494 671921 01773 550055 01159 655150 01205 358866
John Hingley Ian Barfoot Sales Sales Sales Office Sales Office Sales Sales Ian Caldwell John Hingley Jon Walker Sales Office
New railway sleepers any quantity – nationwide Sawmill producing New Softwood Sleepers New railway sleepers of all size All sizes – new sleepers New/Used. Hard/Softwood sleepers. New, first quality, mixed softwood or redwood landscape sleepers All Types of Railway Sleepers www.mmtimber.co.uk New/Used. Hard/Softwood sleepers. www.Sleeper-supplies.co.uk 8’ 6 x 9’’ x 6’’ pine sleepers Hard/Softwood sleepers. www.jonwalkertimber.co.uk New and Landscaping sleepers in soft and hardwood
01473 276900
Sales
Importers, Stockist and Distributors of Timber Playground Centers
01985 219555 . 01608 651096 01664 823103 01205 358866 01490 440316 01978 710445 01945 881221 01327 857217 0845 6434089 01536 373806 01588 638331 01494 671921 01639 896715 0115 965 5150 01482 338 950
Sales
Tanalised E pressure treated timber, creosoted treatment also available.
Sales Sales Office Sales Sales Office Sales Roger Linnell Richard Sadler Sales Office Sales Dept Ian Caldwell Robert James Jon Walker Mark Eggleston
Osmose Green/Brown & wax Pressure treatment creosote and Green/Brown to SS4 Pressure Treatment Green/Brown ARCH oxide BS4072/5589 Permawood Pressure Treatment. Green/Brown. www.deckingeastanglia.co.uk Pressure treatment Green/Brown Tough dual layer sleeves that prevent ground rot in fence posts. www.postsaver.co.uk Pressure treatment Green/Brown solvent Pressure treatment Green/Brown to BSEN Standards, Sector Scheme 4, HA Specification Green/Brown to British Standards Pressure treatment to BS4072/5589 Pressure treatment to British Standards. Green, brown and Double Vac. Green/Brown and Double Vac.
01902 661151 08005 424037
Rick Ashton David Fisher
ARMCO Safety fences, new or secondhand All safety fences, new or secondhand including ARMCO
01132 862586 01270 585959
Jason Torvilll Welded mesh and Chainlink rolls, mesh panel fencing Debbie Fencing ring clips, tool, staples, BS443, Stainless Steel etc.
TEMPORARY FENCING (PLASTIC) Liniar Guardian Wire
TIMBER GATE MANUFACTURERS British Gates & Timber John Brooke A.J. Charlton Corwen Forestry Timber Products Crowthorne Fencing & Timber Supplies Gatecraft Lewis Tyler & Sons Suffolk Gate Co John Walker Timber Products Calders & Grandidge
TIMBER RAILWAY SLEEPERS A. Hingley & Son A & J Scott Ltd John Brooke Corwen Forestry Timber Products Crowthorne Fencing & Timber Suppliers James Jones & Sons Ltd M & M Timber Co Ltd Sleeper Supplies South Bucks Est. A. Hingley & Sons Jon Walker Timber Products Calders & Grandidge
Timber Playground CentrEs KDM International Ltd
TIMBER PRESERVERS Batsford Timber John Brooke Calders & Grandidge Corwen Forestry Timber Products A.E. Evans (Rounda) Fleet Timber Supplies Linnel Bros. Postsaver Europe Ltd Pressure Treatment Services Charles Ransfords Sawmills South Bucks Est. Western Log Group Jon Walker Pressure Treatment WJ Timber Treatments
VEHICLE SAFETY FENCE SUPPLIERS Ashton Plant Hire D & C Fencing Contractors
WIRE PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS Proctor Concrete & Fencing Products J & H Rosenheim
TRAINING Rodbaston College 01785 712209 . TQ Exel Ltd 01934 750066 Training Dept. .
Training for Fencing Industry, Fencing NVQ’s and Legislative Requirements NPTC, . City and Guilds and Lantra Courses Training many Lantra Sector Schemes including general, boundary and vehicle safety . . fencing NVQ’s, CITB plant, City & Guilds streetworks and alth & Safety Courses. . E-mail:
[email protected]
To obtain an entry in the Buyers’ Guide (£94.00 +VAT per Year) Contact Simone Gallon or Ben Walton on 01274 610 101.
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fencing news August 2009
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fo r w. more ed wa infor rd mat str ion
ail er visit s.c o.u k
Moor Lane, Full Sutton, York, YO41 1HX Tel: 01759 373062 / 01759 368563 (evening) Fax: 01759 372929 Web: www.edwardstrailers.co.uk