Oregon Timber Frame Ltd
"KTP was a perfect fit with the company culture of continuous improvement."
- Rod Lawson, Industrial Supervisor, Oregon Timber Frame Ltd
Oregon Timber Frame Ltd collaborated with Napier University’s School of the Built Environment on this two-year KTP project, which aimed to implement improved design and manufacturing processes that reduce the cost of timber frames for house construction.
Oregon Timber Frame Ltd was established in Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders in 1998 and has developed to become a leading manufacturer and supplier to major house builders, including Wimpy and Persimmon. The company has maintained an annual growth rate of 30 percent and has seen a rapid expansion in its workforce.
Under the programme post-graduate KTP Associate, Robert Hairstans, faced and overcame the challenge of reducing the amount of wood and the number of metal fixings used in timber frame construction. He also sought ways of replacing steel beams with composite timber and drew up the first scientific guidelines for lifting complete roof structures by crane.
Much of the Associate’s work was done in “Eurocode”, the regulations which will eventually replace British building standards.
The Results
- Advanced capabilities and improved Health and Safety operations; best practice roof lifting procedures implemented and improvements made to the method of manufacturing flitch beams.
- Enhanced competitive position gained through the component optimisation facilitated through the KTP and improved client relationships.
- New knowledge bases & information, for example, Eurocodes, crane erection, level of waste
- Ability to utilise advances in materials and techniques.
- To date an increase of £20,000 in pre-tax profit is due to the Partnership and has arisen through the insurance benefits of lifting roofs (rather than constructing them at height).
- A further increase of £280,000 in pre-tax profit resulting from the Partnership is predicted over the next three years. This will result from reductions in steel utilisation and further improvement to roof lifting and erection procedures.
Website: www.oregon.co.uk/ →