COMPANY PROFILE - By SANDRA DICK
The yard has a mobile Australian-made Lucas mill which is designed to sit on a forest bed. A frame is placed around the tree – or section of timber – and a fi ve- toothed blade on a runner cuts through the wood to create planks. Even timber that’s lain in water for over a century, can emerge looking smooth, rich in colour and ready for use. “Because it’s tropical wood it’s not impregnated by water,” explained Deb. “It’s actually easier to cut if there’s some moisture on the surface – better than if it’s stood for weeks in the yard.” The yard sits on a one-acre site which includes the sawmill. Around 18 months ago they had so much timber it would have taken 75 articulated lorries to shift it. However, recent demand has been so high, Janine, Deb and their staff of three have already sold around 40 per cent of that stock.
saving something beautiful. Last year the yard eff ectively saved around 62 rain forest trees and demand for their products this year is set to soar, with the team estimating 130 this year. All of which is a subtle shift away from the business’s origins. “Janine’s family started the business,” added Deb, Operations and Marketing Manager. She joined Managing Director Janine, her partner of 25 years, four years ago after it became clear her range of skills perfected while working in public service could help grow the business. “Janine’s dad, George, was a waterman on the Thames and his business was scrap metal,” Deb said. “He took the rail and the sleepers which were attached to the railway tracks. “So the business was stripping and reusing sleepers before they became popular in design and architecture.” A call from a contact around 20 years ago led to an unexpected haul of timber and
an epiphany-style moment for Janine and the family business. “When cut, it was all the colours of the tropics, orange, red, purple,” said Deb. “Because it came from tropics, the wood was slow growing and the grain so dense, that it’s not only beautiful, it’s durable. “It was a no-brainer. The market for scrap metal was falling, so the family thought they could make a market for timber.” These days most of the timber comes from along the south coast, from locations such as Southampton, Portsmouth and Tilbury Docks. In the past, it would probably have gone to landfi ll, but now it can be found on the walls of trendy London offi ces, or as eye-catching street furniture.
“Gradually the penny is dropping,” said Deb. “We’ll get a call from a marine civil engineer saying they’re pulling out material and can we help. “They are realising that it’s benefi cial to call us before they get a big disposal bill.”
capacity to grow, but it’s how big do we want to grow?"
“Janine has a diffi cult relationship with the word ‘no’,” she laughed. “Thankfully, she’s very good at storing.” Meanwhile, the yard is piled with timber, some with metal bolts jutting from the side and some fresh from the water which leaves the yard smelling of the sea. None of it, says Deb, goes to waste. “We have to give credit to the people who come to us with ideas for the wood,” she said. “It’s quite satisfying. People think we’re just a scrapyard, then come inside the Portacabin and see pictures of the things we’ve done on the wall. “Janine is an expert now. She can see timber and know if it’s worth working with, then get the metal bits out and process it.
“It’s become a bit of a passion.”
www.ashwelltimber.com
“We’ve been approached by people saying we need to be bigger,” said Deb. “We have
End products can derive from humble keel blocks @SkipHireMag
A bench art feature SHWM October, 2018 13
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