10 | Tech News
JJ Smith celebrates 100 years of innovation
time for us at the business, and there is so much going on for us this year to celebrate our centenary,” said Rachel Baker, managing director. Ms Baker, who has been at the company since 2013 and whose great-grandfather was a founder, revealed that the company will hold a large celebration at Liverpool Cathedral in June, hosting over 200 stakeholders.
Above: The current 40,000ft2 JJ Smith
factory and showroom where customers can view state-of-the-art woodworking machinery
Liverpool-based woodworking and machinery expert, JJ Smith is celebrating its centenary this year and is marking the occasion with several major events. Founded in 1923 by brothers John James, Percy, William and Thomas Smith, JJ Smith specialised in mechanical and electrical engineering and was based at Marlborough Works, Liverpool. Since then, JJ Smith has welcomed four generations of family members, who have managed and owned the business, and now call Knowsley Industrial Park, Kirkby their home, with over 40 staff (some of whom have been employed by the company for over 45 years). This year, JJ Smith is marking its 100th year in true style. “It’s a really exciting
“This year’s celebration isn’t just about marking our 100-year milestone, but it is also an opportunity to show thanks and recognise the incredible employees, suppliers and customers, who have been on the JJ Smith journey too,” said Ms Baker. “We can’t wait to get everyone together and hear people’s own memories and stories of the company.” As well as the party, JJ Smith has arranged a ‘100 days of volunteering’, where it is encouraging its staff to undertake voluntary work on company time. JJ Smith recognises that a lot of its success has stemmed from the community and believes it is only right to give back. Since the start of the year, JJ Smith staff have committed to voluntary work for the foodbank, educating local children about STEM, and have gone on trips to nature sites with schools in the area. “The company upholds the tradition of being innovative and wants to be continually evolving,” said Ms Baker. “We are proud to have helped so many customers to become more productive and profitable through the use of specialist machinery.”
GMG Energy invests £100,000 in treatment plant
Sustainable biomass supplier and timber products specialist GMG Energy has installed a new hi-tech preservation chamber, which supplies locally manufactured wood to enterprises that require treated and stress-tested products. The Sutherland, Scotland-based company has invested more than £100,000 in the 5,500 gallon vessel, which handles more than 440ft3
of timber in each three-and-
a-half hour treatment session. This boosts the company’s current output of 70,630ft3 of timber product and widens its product range.
The new treatment vessel is fully TTJ | May/June 2023 |
www.ttjonline.com
automated, having a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based system, which controls the pumps and pneumatically actuated valves. A Wi-Fi enabled desk top computer interface enables operators to start, stop and monitor the process. It also enables remote access for system upgrades. GMG Energy owns the intellectual property for the whole system. “Until now, local concerns that needed this type of timber product have had to order from suppliers who, in some cases, were hundreds of miles away,” said Malcolm Morrison, director of GMG Energy.
New look and interior range for Sikkens Wood Coatings
Sikkens Wood Coatings, part of AkzoNobel, is celebrating 2023 in style with a refreshed image and an expanded portfolio of interior wood coatings products. The brand, which was founded in 1792, is being given a more modern, dynamic look, in tune with today’s wood coatings market, while its portfolio of wood coatings solutions is expanding to include interior products, in addition to its well-established exterior assortment. As a result, Sikkens Wood Coatings will be able to offer a one- stop-shop solution to distributor partners and end-customers alike.
These changes will be rolled out across Europe, Africa and the Middle East throughout 2023. “This exciting new strategy represents a significant step forward for Sikkens Wood Coatings,” said Chris Bradford, marketing director, industrial coatings, AkzoNobel. “By bringing interior coatings into the Sikkens Wood Coatings portfolio, we are building on the existing strengths of the trusted brand, while at the same time giving it a fresher, dynamic appeal and positioning it for continued growth in the years ahead.”
“This investment marks a significant and momentous occasion in our brand’s history. We look forward to launching the products and refreshed brand to our customers and continue to provide strong support moving forward,” said Alan Hall, regional commercial director, wood coatings, EMEA, AkzoNobel.
The interior assortment includes products from the AkzoNobel Wood Coatings range of interior products, re-branded as Sikkens Wood Coatings for customers sourcing their products from distributors, so customers may already be familiar with some of the product names in the range, making the transition easy.
“Our customers can now find the wood coatings solutions they need – both exterior and interior – all in one place,” said Sarah Skinner, regional product marketing manager, wood coatings EMEA, AkzoNobel. “We’ve also launched a refreshed website, distributor portal, brand videos, a comprehensive catalogue featuring the full interior category and many other tools, all carrying our sharp, revived brand look and feel. These items have been carefully created to help our customers in their day- to-day business and add value.”
Tech News
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