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PIONEERING PROJECT LAUNCHED TO DEVELOP WELSH WOOD TILING SYSTEM
A pioneering project to develop a new flooring system that uses end grain tiles from sustainable hardwood or softwood in Powys has been launched.
Coed Cymru has secured funding for the 30-month project from the Welsh Assembly Government and European Union under the Supply Chain Efficiency Scheme, which is part of the Rural Development Plan for Wales.
The end grain floor tiling system is the latest innovation by Coed Cymru, based in Tregynon, near Newtown
The system has been developed following initial talks with Powys County Council around two years ago, when the idea was first mooted to develop this hand-crafted product to industrial levels of manufacture to add value to sustainable woodlands.
The tiles are created by slicing a tree across the grain, revealing the growth rings and attractive grain patterns. They are ideally suited to the small dimension timber that is abundant in Wales and several different types of wood, including birch, alder, sycamore, cherry, oak and most softwood species, can be used.
The project was launched at a presentation to potential partners at Coed Cymru’s headquarters on March 10, by Roger Cooper of Bangor University and a member of the Coed Cymru Board.
Dylan Jones has been appointed to head up the project with a mission to develop the supply chain for end grain tiles. His work will involve identifying the amount of suitable timber available in Powys for the project over the next five to 10 years.
He is also working closely with Assystems of Preston to design and develop specialist machinery to shape the squares quickly, accurately and safely. In addition, he is perfecting a heat treatment process and drying racks.
Coed Cymru’s director David Jenkins told invited guests that he first began the pioneering work with end grain tiles 20 years ago. "The streets of London were once paved with end grain cobbles and end grain flooring has been used widely in engineering and other industries because of its durability," he said.
A critical part of the tile manufacturing process is drying the wood without cracking it and Coed Cymru has now perfected the technique. As far as I know, nobody else has been able to figure that out and I have never seen this product produced anywhere in the world, added Mr Jenkins.
We can use very short lengths of timber and the processing system has a rapid turnaround. Literally within a couple of days of a tree being harvested, it can be specially heat-treated and made into flooring tiles.
Kenton Jones, of Woods for Wales, said end grain tiles were currently being produced at a cost of around £100 per square metre, which was too expensive for the majority of customers. Coed Cymru’s project aimed to develop a more cost-effective, automated manufacturing system that would make the tiles for around £40 per square metre.
Neil Howard, who manages the Welsh Assembly Government’s Supply Chain Efficiency Scheme, said the innovative project was intended to increase the long term profitability of Welsh woodland, develop new markets for products and create opportunities for small and medium sized businesses in Wales.
Mike Richards, a Coed Cymru woodland officer for Powys, said he would be surveying woodland in the county and working with owners to ensure that there was a reliable and cost effective supply of trees to support the project.
He said there was 75,000 hectares of woodland in Powys, of which 22,300 hectares was broadleaved. The average size of the woodland was less than six acres and some was in isolated and inaccessible locations.
He estimated that 64 hectares of managed woodland a year would be needed to supply trees for the manufacture of end grain tiles. "This figure is achievable but it is going to take a lot of organisation because most of the woodland in Powys is owned by individual farmers rather than timber groups, said Mike.
I would encourage farmers to play an active role in the supply chain because managed woodland helps to support farming and is crucial to our economy.
Pictured at the launch of the end grain tile project are back (from left) David Jenkins, Coed Cymru’s director, Neil Howard, manager of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Supply Chain Efficiency Scheme, Jim Ratcliffe of Assystem and Kenton Jones, of Woods of Wales. Front (from left) Mike Richards, Coed Cymru woodland officer and Dylan Jones, project manager.
Notes for Editors:
Established back in 1985 as a public sector partnership, Coed Cymru has instigated more than 6,000 woodland projects in Wales, half of which are farm woodlands. The company, which works with around 100 Welsh manufacturers, began product development work on utilising Welsh hardwoods in 1990 and has successfully developed outdoor furniture, laminated flooring, windows, doors, cladding and wood chips for fuel.
For more information please contact David Jenkins at Coed Cymru, 01686 650777 or Duncan Foulkes, public relations consultant, on 01686 650818.
Coed Cymru, The Old Sawmill,
Tregynon, Newtown,
Powys SY16 3PL
Tel 01686 650 777
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