Donaldson Timber Systems

Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) has been awarded ‘Skillmaker’ status by West Herts College.

This accolade is in recognition of the ongoing commitment by DTS to the development of sustainable construction skills, specifically by supporting West Herts College’s Level 2 Site Carpentry & Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) apprenticeship programme.

The Skillmakers network comprises over 80 businesses, which are leading the way by shaping education, developing workforce skills and generating employment opportunities.

DTS has been working with West Herts College since 2018, when it was appointed to the Hertfordshire Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) framework. This included supporting a regional consortium of housing providers and Local Authorities to improve the delivery of affordable housing at a local level and to develop local enterprise partnerships.

Since the start of the partnership, DTS has provided regular timber frame workshops to the apprentices and constructed a timber frame demonstration training facility within the college to showcase MMC. In 2022, DTS placed and sponsored a West Herts College apprentice to work with one of their sub-contractors, coinciding with DTS partnering with the college to offer a bespoke apprenticeship programme in support of the next generation of talent for timber frame construction.

Amanda Washbrook, Deputy Principal; Partnerships and Business Development at West Herts College Group, said:

“We are delighted to recognise DTS as a Skillmaker. This status is in recognition of the fantastic work and support provided to us by Simon and the team at DTS. We’re incredibly grateful for the commitment they have shown to the development of skills across the sustainable construction sector. Their contributions are extremely important to us and highly commendable.”

“Enhancing the qualifications we offer through employer-led masterclasses and developing job-specific skills enables us to fully prepare our students for the workplace. This is a great example of social responsibility and business working with further education to develop the next generation  and tackle skills shortages.”

Simon Horn, Technical Development Manager and Joe Romo, Construction Development Manager at DTS, manage the relationship with West Herts College. Simon said:

“The relationship with West Herts College has gone from strength to strength since 2018 and has delivered more than we ever imagined. Supporting skills development in the next generation is crucial to the ongoing evolution of the UK construction industry, and is something we’re committed to at DTS, so working with the College to grow and support talent has been an excellent fit. We see great benefit in the partnership and hope it continues long into the future.”

Leading UK offsite frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has become the first timber frame manufacturer to offer a published, third party accredited environmental product declaration (EPD) for its product, proving its sustainability credentials.

As part of a process to cover the full DTS product range, the DTS Alpha system is the first off-site assembled timber frame wall panel in the UK to offer an approved EPD.

The EPD, which transparently communicates the environmental performance of a product over its lifetime, demonstrates the benefits building with timber can bring. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Alpha is a carbon positive, –1.53kg CO2e, meaning that 1.53kg of carbon is stored in every m² of Alpha external wall. For a typical four bed detached home built using Alpha, 250kg of carbon is stored in the timber frame elements of the external walls alone, not including the timber floors and roof trusses.

This product life-cycle assessment supports carbon emission reduction by making it possible to compare the impacts of different materials and products accurately, allowing customers to select the most sustainable option. In comparison to the Alpha wall panel, according to the EPD produced by the Concrete Block Association (CBA), the cradle-to-grave GWP impact of 1m ² of aggregate concrete blocks is 10.6 kg CO2e. So, for the same standard four bed detached home, 4000kg of carbon is released into the atmosphere.

Based on these figures, if the UK were to build the new Government target of 300,000 homes per year in timber frame as opposed to concrete, it would reduce annual carbon emissions by over one million metric tonnes – the equivalent of the fossil fuel generated electricity needed to run 500,000 homes for a year.

Valid for five years, the EPD is based on current available and published data for end-of-life assumptions. With advances in the industry over the next five years, along with improved building recycling processes and ongoing DTS investments – such as the recent PV panel installation in the factory at Witney – it is expected that performance will be even higher at the next review.

Alpha is the first of 16 base EPDs being worked on by DTS, covering the full product range of floor, wall and roof systems.

Open Panel timber frame is currently the most common timber frame build system in the UK, providing the structural inner leaf walls for buildings using a timber studwork factory formed into panels with structural sheathing and exterior breather membrane.

The DTS Alpha system is a cost-effective solution, offering an efficient and effective build method. Fully tested and technically supported and having been used for 50 years in the UK, this build system is often chosen by clients for their first project utilising an offsite build method.

John Smith, Technical Director at Donaldson Timber Systems, explains:

“The only way to achieve the UK target to be zero-carbon by 2050 is to firstly measure, and then reduce the whole-life carbon of buildings, from cradle to grave. The availability of EPDs is an important step in recognising this. Without measuring and reducing embodied carbon, there is a very real risk that the new buildings constructed to new standards in 2026 and beyond won’t achieve true zero carbon, as the embodied carbon in the fabric will never be offset by using even the greenest energy to run the home. This is something we feel strongly about, and one of the reasons we’re investing in this process for all DTS products.”

Alex Goodfellow, CEO of Donaldson Offsite added:

“We always champion the use of offsite timber frame construction as the best way to achieve sustainable building practices and meet net zero targets, so it’s fantastic to have a verified EPD to prove these claims. We’re seeing increasing numbers of customers asking for EPDs, as they look to meet carbon goals, and need to be able to prove that the products they specify are making a difference.

“We’re proud to be leading the industry with proof that timber frame is a carbon sink, and we’re already working on improvements to show further benefits when we review the EPD in five years’ time.”

As part of the Donaldson Group’s Offsite division, DTS prides itself on being highly sustainable, innovative and efficient. With unrivalled experience and knowledge in offsite construction, DTS has an established history of bringing new commercial and operational innovations to the market.

 Leading UK offsite timber frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has increased capacity and boosted technical capabilities at its Oxfordshire factory, following an investment of more than £10m.

The investment in machinery and performance upgrades at the Witney site includes four state of the art timber processing centres and a new floor panel production line offering customers a fully completed pre-glued floor cassette solution. The site has also installed the most advanced automated pre-insulated closed panel wall production line in Europe.

The purpose of the machinery investments is to increase automation to improve efficiency and create additional capacity, which in turn reduces the manual labour required and makes operative positions more inclusive. The acquisition of new technology also increases the factory’s technical capabilities so more advanced products for MMC, like DTS’ Sigma II timber frame system, can be manufactured with the quality assurance the industry demands.

Some of the pieces of technology were created specifically for DTS and have never been used before in the industry. Partnering with Randek on much of the machinery development, new techniques, and innovations, DTS ensured current and advanced elements of technology were used, including robotics and laser integration. The increased automation also reduces the requirements for paper drawings as plans are input digitally, further reducing carbon footprint.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells, or solar panels, have been installed on the factory roof and will produce just under one megawatt of electricity, covering the factory’s own energy needs and an excess of green energy that is exported back into the national grid for other local businesses and homes to use. This significantly reduces the site’s environmental footprint and combined with new electric vehicle charging points for staff and visitors, supports DTS’ sustainability goals.

Frank O’Reilly, Manufacturing Director at DTS, said: “The installation of this new machinery in a working factory is unusual for the industry and the process required a phenomenal amount of logistical planning over a period of a couple of years. We’re all really proud of the results. We’re creating the capacity and technical capabilities customers require to continue building more advanced and energy-efficient homes and buildings – and futureproofing our own business in the process.

“We’re also excited about what this means for our colleagues, as it is revolutionising the operations process. Now a less physically demanding role, we can hire a wider variety of people to work on site, helping to plug the current skills gap in construction. We’ve also hired people with an automation background from the automotive and engineering sectors to ensure we upskill our teams and are making the best use of our new capabilities. These efficiencies also provide an opportunity to increase production, creating more positions in time, and allowing us to redeploy people to more value-added roles.”

Rod Allan, Managing Director of DTS, said: “Timber is the only truly sustainable building material and we are well-respected in the industry for the quality of our products. But rather than rest on our laurels, we continue to look forward and innovate. We have created the scope to add more capacity and capabilities to the factory over time without the need for a large-scale overhaul like this one, and we have created a platform for more R&D. It has also made positive changes to our colleagues, as we have seen more people switch to electric vehicles thanks to the free charging points on site. This is a significant investment but one that will set us and our customers up for continued success in reducing carbon for years to come.”

Ola Lindh, Randek CEO, said: “Partnerships and collaborations lie at the heart of our mission at Randek. Prefabrication isn’t just about constructing buildings; it’s about co-creating solutions with our customers, refining their processes, and integrating our technology to drive efficiency and automation. This synergy not only makes housing more affordable but also paves the way for a sustainable future.”

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 17 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 45 locations and employing over 1,500 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.

Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) was proud to support a recent visit from members of the House of Lords’ Built Environment Committee as part of its inquiry into the future of modern methods of construction (MMC).

Chair of the Lords Select Committee, Lord Moylan, along with Lord Best, Baroness Eaton, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Earl Russell, and Baroness Thornhill, first visited West Herts College’s, Hemel Hempstead campus to learn more about the apprenticeship programme offered in partnership with DTS.

As announced earlier this year, the 2.5-year programme, open to students on the College’s Level 2 City and Guilds carpentry course, comprises four days per week working on-site, and one day per week attending the College. The in-class modules include an additional module that will focus on MMC for offsite manufactured timber frame, which was developed in partnership with DTS. This covers an understanding of construction technology; health and safety; an introduction to MMC and offsite timber frame build systems; together with understanding construction information, materials, and the installation process, including site project communications.

The Committee then travelled to Spencer’s Park in Hemel Hempstead, a Countryside Partnerships development, to see first-hand MMC actually taking place on site. The 600-plot development has built its houses using DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system.

The award-winning, BOPAS+ accredited and BBA Certified build system, is designed to achieve superior levels of external wall performance, suitable for projects seeking to attain the very highest fabric efficiency standards. With excellent thermal properties and air-tightness, the Sigma® II Build System offers reduced on-site material and labour costs, by using conventional materials in a more effective manner.

Simon Horn, Technical Development Manager at DTS, said: “The visit from members of the Lords Select Committee was an extremely valuable opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the future of MMC and the wider timber frame industry, through our partnership with West Herts College, as well as showcase the benefits of MMC on a live site at Countryside Partnerships, Spencer’s Park, Hemel Hempstead.”

“Although the Committee’s inquiry is investigating some of the recent challenges the industry has faced with MMC and Cat 1 Volumetric build systems, we were proud to show them our success and the importance of investing in established, sustainable technologies, for Cat 2 Panelised build systems and in training the next generation. We thank the members of the Committee for their time.”

Gill Worgan, Principal and CEO at West Herts College said: “We were delighted to welcome members of the House of Lords Built Environment Committee and colleagues from Donaldson Timber Systems to our Construction and Engineering Centre at our Hemel Hempstead campus.

“The visit provided a valuable platform for discussions surrounding the evolution of construction skills and the pivotal role modern methods of construction play in shaping the industry’s future.
At West Herts College we’re working closely with employers such as Donaldson Timber Systems to ensure that our students are equipped with the modern skills required to step into careers in the construction sector.”

Three local schoolchildren have won a competition to name robots at Donaldson Timber System’s (DTS) factory in Witney, the leading UK offsite timber frame manufacturer.  

 Pupils from Years 3 and 4 at West Witney Primary School took part in the competition after being taught about the installation work at the factory and receiving a lesson about timber frame and its sustainability benefits. They were then encouraged to come up with creative or ‘punny’ names for nine new robots, which are part of a live factory upgrade that will be completed this year.  

 The children submitted over 80 entries, which were all reviewed by a panel of judges at DTS including Managing Director, Rod Allan; Manufacturing Director, Frank O’Reilly; and the company’s Business Development Director, Mike Perry.  

 With two sets of three robots that work together, the first set will be named ‘Woody’, ‘Buzz’ and ‘Splinter’, chosen by Charlie aged 8. The second set of three robots will be called ‘Woody Woodpicker’, ‘Winnie Woodpicker’ and ‘Sarge’, suggested by Millie aged 9.  

 The final successful entry is ‘The Lumberghini’ proposed by Clara aged 9, which will be the name of DTS’s new beam saw.  

 The robots are being installed as part of a large investment programme in DTS’s state-of-the-art factory to help increase capacity to produce its Sigma® II closed panel product. This is an award-winning closed panel timber frame system that achieves high levels of fabric performance for new homes. 

 Each winner was presented with a trophy and a £25 Amazon gift card at the school’s assembly. DTS has also donated £250 towards West Witney Primary School’s library upgrades for the next academic year. 

 Mike Perry from Donaldson Timber Systems said: “The robots are a welcome addition for our DTS team as they will help our manufacturing team in their daily roles, especially with manual lifting. It’s been great fun working with children at West Witney Primary School to help name these brilliant machines, and we’re glad we could include the local community in this exciting new investment for our factory. DTS is proud to be an early adopter of robotics technology in our sector. They will help us make our current manufacturing process easier and more efficient, allowing us to work smarter.” 

 Jules Burgum, Year 4 Teacher at West Witney Primary School, added: “The children were fascinated about the whole process of building timber frames and the role of the new robots. They had fun thinking up creative names and are looking forward to seeing evidence of the robots in action. Thank you very much to the team at DTS for the opportunity.” 

 As part of the Donaldson Group’s Offsite division, DTS prides itself on being highly sustainable, innovative and efficient. With unrivalled experience and knowledge in offsite construction, DTS has an established history of bringing new commercial and operational innovations to the market. One example is the Sigma II closed panel system, offering near-Passivhaus standards of performance and sustainability. The system is being widely used with housing developers, particularly with those driven by whole life costs and fabric performance, contributing positively to fuel poverty challenges. 

Donaldson Timber Systems’ (DTS) fixings supplier for its Witney factory, YB Fixings, has donated two nail guns to support DTS’ apprenticeship programme with West Herts College.

Beneficiary of one of the nail guns, James Hammond, has been undertaking an apprenticeship with DTS and its service level agreement partner, S.E. Carpentry, for five months as part of the College’s Level 2 City and Guilds carpentry course. The second will be used by the second apprentice who will join the team shortly. Worth over £1,200, the nail guns will support James’ skills development in timber frame construction and bolster his future career in the construction industry.

Under the 2.5 year programme, each apprentice will spend four days per week on-site, delivered by S.E. Carpentry, with one day focusing on in-class modules, including an additional module on modern methods of construction (MMC) for timber frame that was developed in partnership with DTS.

Commenting on the donation, James said: “I’m grateful to YB Fixings for the nail guns, which will be vital in gaining hands-on training and developing my skills in timber frame construction. It has been fantastic to learn from the DTS and S.E. Carpentry teams and I’m excited to develop my experience over the next two years.”

Joe Romo, Senior Contracts Manager at DTS, said: “At DTS, we’re committed to enabling skills development in the next generation so it is brilliant that our suppliers and partners also support our partnership with West Herts College. We’re already seeing incredible progress in our first apprentice and we look forward to continuing to support their learning and development.”

Spencer Earl, Director of S.E. Carpentry, said: “We are very pleased to be part of this pioneering scheme, delivered by West Herts College and supported by DTS, to further educate apprentices in our sector of the construction industry. James is the first in hopefully a very long line that will become part of the S.E. Carpentry family.”

Rachel Hudson, Managing Director at YB Fixings, said: “Investing in the tools of an apprentice is sowing the seeds of a skilled craftsman. By donating the tools needed for their trade, we empower them to shape their future with their own hands, unlocking a world of possibilities. We hope to help build a stronger and more skilled workforce for generations to come and YB Fixings are excited to be a part of this with DTS.”

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 16 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 49 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.

Leading UK offsite timber frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has launched the Donaldson Timber Systems House Range. 

The range of 18 core house types includes cottage flats with a mix of 1 and 2 bedrooms; semi-detached and detached 2-bed bungalows; and a selection of detached, semi-detached, and terraced homes of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms. 

DTS worked closely with experienced architects and planning consultants and designed the range in conjunction with a leading UK housebuilder to ensure the house types met regulatory housing needs across the UK. 

The homes are designed to maximise the benefits of Design for Manufacture of DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system, as well as the site installation for both the superstructure and all follow-on trades. The specified components are also consistent, using a limited range of window sizes and uniform bathroom and WC setting-out to ensure the efficient procurement of materials from a variety of manufacturers. 

Each home also incorporates individual design flexibility to allow for changes like the addition of showers in ground floors; built-in wardrobes; additional kitchen storage; and space for air source heat pump hot water cylinders, so they are future-proofed for simple adaptions to suit lifestyle changes or improved energy efficiency. 

Utilising DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system, the house range provides long-term energy efficiency; meets and exceeds Homes England’s minimum requirement for a Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV) of 55% using only the timber frame build system; and allows the frames to be windproof and watertight on site in one day. The homes are also land-efficient, with the width of each floorplan reduced to ensure roads, footpaths and services are minimised, and a consistent depth of floorplan allows different house types to be simply built as terraced blocks. 

John Smith, Technical Director at DTS, said: “We are working closely with the wider housing sector to drive continued quality and performance standards, and our new house range provides both to the market. We conducted extensive research in the sector across the UK to understand the needs of residents, developers, planners, and all relevant regulations, and these house types provide homes that are designed to offer maximum flexibility while meeting all space standards in the most efficient way possible.  

“Sustainability and efficiency are also key to the sector, both for speed of build and longer-term performance for residents. Our timber frame system’s fabric-first approach comes with embodied carbon calculations and PMV assessment for each house type, to ensure sustainable, resilient, and affordable homes that efficiently meet the current build regulations and can be easily and simply updated to achieve the requirements of the Future Homes Standard.”  

The house range is supported by a suite of architectural design information with Level 1 BIM models. DTS is also developing further supporting information, including SAP calcs, specifications, schedules and build costs for the full house range. Having this information in place will not only allow customers to reap the benefits of the efficiency of the house types, but vastly reduce the lead-times and up-front costs associated with developing a range of house types from scratch. 

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 16 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 46 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis. 

We’re delighted to share that Donaldson Timber Systems is exhibiting at Footprint+ 23! From the 6^th to the 8^th of June, Donaldson Timber Systems will be exhibiting at stand C36. Visit us to find out about the sustainable benefits of timber.

Footprint+ brings different sectors of the UK property market together to discover and discuss how we can achieve Net-Zero targets in the real estate industry. Focused on sustainability and how the housing sector can work together to make strides towards a greener future, Footprint+ brings together developers, local authorities, housing associations, investors and asset managers of large portfolios, as well as many more stakeholders involved in the housing sector.

We are also excited that our very own Technical Development Manager, Simon Horn, will be speaking on the 7^th of June at 12:15. On the Timber Stage, Simon will be discussing ‘Timber in Social Housing’. The panel will provide a roundup of the new and exciting products and projects embracing the reduction of carbon in the affordable housing sector.

Over the 3 days, attend cutting-edge conferences, network with experts, and visit us at stand C36 to talk about all things timber frame and sustainability.

Book your tickets here: https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=FBR63Vistitor&TrackingCode=Website

Leading UK offsite timber frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has partnered with West Herts College to offer an apprenticeship programme in support of the next generation of talent in the construction industry for timber frame construction.

The partnership originated with DTS’ appointment to the Hertfordshire OSM framework, which included the commitment to engage with the local College. The 2.5-year programme was open to students on the College’s Level 2 City and Guilds carpentry course.

The apprenticeship will include four days per week on-site, delivered by one of DTS’ service level agreement partners, Bedfordshire-based S.E. Carpentry. One day per week the apprentices will attend the College to work on in-class modules, including an additional module that will focus on modern methods of construction (MMC) for timber frame, that was developed in partnership with DTS. This covers an understanding of construction technology; health and safety; an introduction to MMC; and understanding construction information, materials and the installation process, together with site / project communications.

Simon Horn, Technical Development Manager at DTS, said: “We were connected to West Herts College through our work supporting a regional consortium of housing providers and Local Authorities, to improve the delivery of housing at a local level and develop local enterprise partnerships. Supporting skills development in the next generation is crucial to the ongoing evolution of the UK construction industry, and is something we’re committed to at DTS, so working with the College to grow and support talent was a great fit.”

“This apprenticeship programme is a pilot project for DTS and is something we would like to roll out in more areas, with more partners, in time. We’re aiming to provide real opportunities and increase motivation, while simultaneously helping to fill the skills gap in our industry.”

Sian Williams, Curriculum Director at West Herts College, said: “We’re excited to partner with DTS on this programme to give our learners an opportunity to receive hands-on training and develop their understanding of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). It has been fantastic to work closely with DTS to develop MMC modules that incorporate new design and technologies that enable our learners to gain the most current and update knowledge and skills linking into a variety of curriculum courses.”

Gill Worgan, Principal and Chief Executive of West Herts College Group also commented: “Our partnership with the team at Donaldson Timber Systems is so important to us, and a fine example of what can be achieved when education and employers work together.  I hope we can build on these successes going forward.”

Spencer Earl, managing director of S.E. Carpentry, added: “We’re proud to partner with DTS and West Herts College to provide two apprentices with the opportunity to learn from our team and develop their skills. It’s also unquestionably a great benefit for our business, as we will have two qualified installers at the end of the programme who are trained to work on DTS’ timber frame build systems.”

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 17 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 46 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.

We are delighted to announce that Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) has been accredited with an Outstanding Award for customer satisfaction in 2023 by In-House Research. The awards, run by specialist market research company, In-house Research, are based purely on our client feedback received through an independent telephone survey.

The Outstanding Award is given to companies who achieve an NPS® of 70 or above, with more than 50 completed surveys within the year by In-House Research. In the survey year covering projects from 1^st January 2022 to 31^st December 2022, DTS achieved an NPS® of 78.9 from a sample of 128 clients who instructed timber frame products from the company. The award recognises those in the housebuilding industry that put customers at the heart of everything that they do, to ensure first class customer service is delivered at every stage.

Mike Perry, Business Development Director at DTS commented: “The gold award is a fantastic achievement for our business and is a testament to the hard work that our teams carry out daily, as we strive to put our customers first in everything we do.”

Tom Weston, Chief Executive at In-house Research also commented, “It has been an extremely challenging few years for the construction industry.  Despite this, DTS has continued to put the client experience at the forefront of their business processes.  Client satisfaction has been high throughout the journey from sales, design, delivery and construction”.

“We are delighted to recognise all the commitment of all teams across DTS that have contributed to the achievement of this award”.