A timber systems factory is being set up in South Wales to manufacture floor, wall and roof panels using Steico I-joists.

Welsh Assembly financial support is helping Nick Whittle realise his vision of “upping the ante” in the timber frame industry with Target Timber Systems.

Mr Whittle, whose background in the timber frame sector stretches back 30 years and includes spells at Guildway, Prestoplan and ownership of Alpha Timber Frame, believes the timing of his new venture could not be better.

“We are trying to up the ante. In the last 30 years nothing much has changed in this industry – we still use CLS studs at 600m centres. It’s still pretty much the same system.”

For its wall panels, Target will use 160mm Steico studs, featuring wood fibre insulation on either side of the joist web, OSB or similar sheathing and a breather membrane.

“It [building with I-joists] has been done on stick build before but, to my knowledge, nobody has taken it to the stage of doing it as a prefabricated panel system on a regular basis.”

Mr Whittle said the system had thermal efficiency and ecological advantages, with housing associations expected to be a strong potential customer base.

Target, which has an office in Cranleigh, is also a new Steico distributor in the region, with design, cutting and distribution capabilities for the STEICOjoist product. Staff are being recruited for the factory, which is expected to open in September.

As befits its name, Target will use the RAF’s roundel symbol in its branding. Dartford-based Steico Ltd will be working closely with Target on marketing operations.

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