BSW Timber has added homegrown C24 strength timber to its Easi range.
Previously, C24-graded material has only been available to UK customers from imported sources, but thanks to recent advances and investment in machine grading technology and settings, BSW has been successful in achieving C24 on its Easi-edge range.
Using British spruce, BSW has graded to C24 level at its Fort William mill by using technology which detects internal defects, as well as knots visible at the surface. This x-ray technology allows the timber to be graded according to algorithms, using measurements of timber density, knot size and knot location, which have been verified by a large testing programme at Edinburgh Napier University and approved by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee TC124 (Timber Structures).
The C24 timber has been successfully trialled by MH Southern. Robert Bruce, sales director at MH Southern commented: "We've been pleased with the positive feedback received so far from our customers and are delighted to widen our use of homegrown timbers."
As demand increases, BSW will utilise its Dalbeattie and Fort William mills to produce C24.
Tony Hackney, chief executive at BSW Timber, said: "Using homegrown species is essential for the continued prosperity of the UK timber industry, which currently employs over 170,000 people and is worth more than £2bn to the UK economy.
"We have worked for many months to meet stringent grading criteria with the end result producing a meaningful volume of high-quality C24 product, made entirely from British-grown species."
BSW's C24-graded timber is now available as part of the group's Easi range, which spans construction, fencing and decking, sleepers, pallets and packaging. For further information, visit www.bsw.co.uk.
