Norbord, the UK’s leading manufacturer of engineered wood-based panels, is helping timber frame manufacturers reduce stock inventories and streamline their operations with a new just-in-time delivery service, called Fastrack Offsite.

Developed from the company’s existing Fastrack service for builders’ merchants, the new timber frame service utilises Norbord’s own specialist logistics network to deliver full- or half-loads of SterlingOSB, Caberfloor and Caberdek products direct to timber frame customers within three working days.

The new service, launched this summer, is tailored to the needs of small-to-medium sized timber frame manufacturers for whom having to hold large stocks of materials hinders cashflow and restricts storage space.

“Timber frame manufacturers are coming under increasing financial pressure, with housebuilders’ build programmes slowing significantly” says Andrew Francis, General Sales Manager of Norbord, Cowie.

“For most timber frame housebuilders, cashflow will come under increasing scrutiny. They can ill afford to hold large inventories of raw panel products as well as finished products awaiting call-off from their customers” he adds.

The new Fastrack Offsite service means that timber frame manufacturers can now get their key products delivered, anywhere in the UK, in full or half-loads, from a single source within three days. They simply place the order via their usual builders’ merchant and Norbord does the rest.

Norbord’s dedicated logistics service is unique to the UK panel industry and one of the company’s strengths. Consequently, the new Fastrack Offsite service for this mix of product lines cannot be replicated by competitor suppliers.

As well as providing timber frame manufacturers with an assured just-in-time supply of products specific to their requirements, Fastrack helps customers reduce their working capital at a time of increasing financial pressure.