For the last five years, Wolf Systems has imported metal web products from Australia. During this time, this UK operation has developed engineering software and technical materials, trained customers’ staff, jointly developed a machine to produce the floor beams, and undertaken exhaustive testing procedures. As a result of these achievements, the easi-joist® product gained full European Technical Approval, Irish Agrement Board approval and Robust Detail E-FT-3 in 2007.
Today, demand has increased to the point where it is now economic for the easi-joist webs to be manufactured at the company’s premises in Coventry, West Midlands; increased shipping costs and currency fluctuations have made imports from Australia less attractive.
Wolf has invested over €1 million in new tooling and a new 200-tonne Rhodes press to produce these components alongside the established nailplates.
David Leaney Wolf UK’s Managing Director explains, “Buying components from Australia allowed us to develop the product, gain technical knowledge and write our own software to support the product. At the same time, we developed a new market which sits very well with our nailplate business and perfectly complements roof truss and timber frame manufacture. The Wolf team at Coventry has been active in selling the floor system mainly through our existing manufacturers; 30 are now producing easi-joist, with sales increasing continuously. This move offers better quality control and allows us to manage stocks more efficiently. We see this floor system as a very fast-growing market; both timber frame and masonry housebuilders are changing over to easi-joist in the UK and Ireland.”
