2010 Press Releases from Wolf Systems


  01/12/2010 - easi at any angle! Wolf Systems, stand TW05, Ecobuild, Excel, London, 1 - 3 March 2011.
Wolf Systems will be exhibiting at this year’s Ecobuild featuring the company’s easi-joist metal-web product. Originally developed to facilitate the installation of services through the floor zone, Wolf Systems’ easi-joist is now to be found employed in place of solid timber studs in the walls to timber frame systems; as well as for both flat and pitched roofing construction.

Both specifiers and building contractors are making increasing use of the engineered timber joists offered by Wolf Systems’ manufacturers for a wide variety of applications throughout the building structure.

Wolf Systems at Ecobuild 2011Such are the spanning and load-bearing benefits of the highly engineered easi-joists – underpinned by the flexible Wolf design software – that they can be incorporated into a selection of situations at any angle between the horizontal and vertical. In turn, imposed live or dead loads are supported and optimum performance from minimum material usage is ensured. The easi-joist beam, stud or rafter member also allows the building designer to accommodate increased levels of insulation into the project with ease.

Karl Foster of Wolf Systems comments: “As a metal web beam, easi-joist not only provides ample open area within its overall depth for the routing of pipes, cables and even ductwork, but the installer is also provided with a wide flange area. This simplifies the fixing of sheet flooring panels or roof decking and sarking; with the finished assembly offering an extremely solid feel.”

Individual beams are now regularly assembled into panel or cassette modules, furthering the offsite potential of easi-joists, while offering a close fit with industry priorities for sustainable, defect-free approaches to construction.


  23/11/2010 - smartroof signs up its latest manufacturer
Kingdom Timber Engineering of Kirkcaldy, Fife, is the latest manufacturer to offer the revolutionary smartroof insulated panel roof system.

Launched in 2004 after four years of extensive research and development, smartroof is a factory-insulated interlocking system which is fast becoming the preferred choice for “Room in the Roof” house designs.

Kingdom Timber sign up with smartroofKingdom Timber Engineering is the latest manufacturer to join the growing number of smartroof licensees. The company, which has been trading for two years, has already earned itself a reputation for quality components such as trussed rafters, metal-web and I joists for both roof and floor applications.

“Being able to manufacture and supply smartroof not only gives us another product to offer the market, but also strengthens our reputation as a supplier of innovative building systems” comments Brian Welsh, director of Kingdom Timber Engineering.

The timber-based smartroof panels span gable-to-gable rather than from ridge to eaves and thus create a totally unobstructed loft living space. The eco-friendly wood-based panels (which can be insulated according to the client’s specification) are ideal for high-density affordable housing developments.

“As a manufacturer, Kingdom Timber Engineering can offer roof designs for virtually any house style”, says Mr Welsh. “The addition of smartroof to our range of products enables us to offer a versatile and cost-effective solution for room in the roof construction in the mainstream private and social housing sectors.”
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Smartroof is fully supported by Wolf Systems’ fully integrated design and layout software making it easy to design, quote and manufacture.

For further information on smartroof, please call 01675 442345 or visit www.smartroof.co.uk.

  20/10/2010 - Wolf easi-joist accommodate service needs for animal care facility
The construction of a large and very well equipped veterinary practice building in the Stoke-on-Trent area is featuring the use of metal web joists from one of Wolf Systems’ fabricator partners, Nationwide Engineered Timber. The joists were chosen not only for their strength and speed of erection, but also their ability to accommodate large volumes of services.

easi-joists accommodate service needs for animal care facilityThe Lime Trees Veterinary Clinic is being built at Lysander Road, Meir Park, by Mark Taylor of Groundworks Limited, Withington Farm, Leigh, a general contractor as well as drainage and foundation specialist. The easi-joists, mainly in 5.4 metre lengths, are being supplied from the Derbyshire branch of Nationwide Engineered Timber, for the contractor to install.

The 304 mm deep easi-joists are being supported on the building’s exterior brick and block walls, as well as the internal block walls, to form the first floor, with the design loadings being slightly above those normally associated with office applications.

It is though, the quantity of power, data, plumbing and mechanical extract ventilation services, required to be routed around the 800 square metre structure, which led to the specification of Wolf’s metal web joists.

Mark Taylor comments: “This is a large building for its type and houses a series of offices above the clinic’s consulting rooms, operating theatre and other specialist facilities. The client, John Arnott, veterinary partner, had seen Wolf’s metal web joists used on another project and just thought what a good idea they would be for the new practice building. They have proved to be quick and easy to install as well as very accurate in size, while there is a lot of space for anything to be run through the web area.”

  30/09/2010 - 50% strength gain from new Wolf Splice Plate
A cleverly designed and patented edge detail to Wolf’s new Field Splice Plate not only generates a 50% increase in strength over conventional nailplates meaning that the company’s manufacturers will save on material costs, but it will also enable customers to design and manufacture truss configurations not previously achievable, helping to increase their share of the room in the roof market.

Wolf's New FSPX Field Splice PlateDesignated FSPX, the new splice plate, has a rolled and folded edge that doubles the effective thickness of the steel pressing from 1.25 to 2.5mm: dramatically increasing the plate’s rigidity and resistance to bending forces, positioning the bulk of the metal where the loads are concentrated most.

Wolf is supplying the FSPX in three sizes – 140mm, 170mm and 185mm depth – to suit 172mm, 197mm and 222mm deep rafters. As rival systems suppliers have nothing like the new FSPX, Wolf manufacturers will be able to utilise smaller plate sizes, generating cost savings while manufacturing larger, more efficient truss designs.

Karl Foster of Wolf Systems says: “The revolutionary design of the new FSPX with its rolled and folded edge, ensures that maximum performance is obtained in the area of the plate where it is required most; without increasing material cost over the whole area. The FSPX will help Wolf manufacturers grow their market share, particularly for attic trusses which are becoming increasingly popular as housebuilders look to offer purchasers more habitable space.”

Wolf has made substantial investment in both tooling for its production machinery as well as in testing of the new product.

  17/09/2010 - Dover Trussed Roof Company sees savings with Wolf Systems’ WMS
Despite having to postpone its changeover to using Wolf Systems’ WMS software package, because its Kent premises were cut off by the big freeze back in January, Wolf’s longest established customer has reported major improvements in efficiency after working with the system for the last six months.

Dover Trussed Roof CompanyThe Dover Trussed Roof Company was Wolf Systems’ first customer in the late ‘80’s; the company supplied trussed timber roofs to clients across the south-east of England. The manufacturer is one of the “early adopters” of the Wolf Management System (WMS) and has received full support from Wolf in implementing the changes.

Chris Shelton, General Manager of Dover Trussed Roof, comments: “Being right out in the depths of Kent near the coast, we were effectively cut off by the snow and ice in January so we put off the changeover to Wolf’s WMS management system until March. The company’s technical people came down and spent a week with us and the changeover went smoothly.

“We had been working with an old DOS-based bespoke management system for a long time and although it still functioned, we wanted to update things. While all the design issues have remained unchanged, we no longer have to double-input the information for estimating and quotations; plus all of the print-outs, reports and documentation appear far smarter. Basically, WMS has helped us speed all our estimating processes at a time when we are seeing the housing market really start to pick up while schools, and especially care homes, are providing a lot of work for us.”

Dover Trussed Roof’s experiences are echoed by the other Wolf Systems’ manufacturers who have switched to WMS.

  03/09/2010 - Wolf ticks all the boxes for East Yorkshire manufacturer
Turner Timber FramesTurner Timber Frames (TTF) has turned to a new supplier of engineered timber systems, in order to improve efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness in its work for clients across the building industry.

Wolf Systems is now supplying TTF with a range of products, including its roof trusses and easi-joist engineered timber systems, which are being manufactured in TTF’s new factory in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire.

Malcolm Turner, Director at TTF, said: “We chose to work with Wolf Systems as our appointed truss & joist component provider as they shone out as a helpful, approachable company. We believe Wolf is our type of company sharing similar beliefs in their approach to service, value and customer focus. We are delighted to be working together at this exciting time.”

  02/09/2010 - Smartroof working safely at height

Reduced risk for construction workers is proving to be an important subsidiary benefit of specifying the smartroof system of prefabricated, pre-insulated roofing panels, produced in collaboration between timber engineering specialist, Wolf Systems and Wyckham Blackwell, a manufacturer of trussed rafters and other timber elements.

While volume housebuilders and the social housing sector have bought into the practical cost savings and enhanced living space offered by the room-in-the-roof system, it has also made working at height even safer.

smartroof working safely at height.Critically, smartroof presents designers and installers with a plot-specific kit of parts which include pre-manufactured spandrel panels in place of masonry built gable ends which are always vulnerable to wind load and lateral impacts until the roof is complete. The main roof sections then span from gable to gable rather than from eaves to ridge, without the use of heavy purlins, and can incorporate infill panels to fit round rooflights.

Not only do all the units incorporate built-in lifting points, they arrive from Wyckham Blackwell’s plant already pre-slung, so that operatives have no need to climb onto the lorry.

Once the floor cassettes for the loft living space are in place, they offer a safe working platform for the rest of the operation as the longitudinal roof panels are located over a key on the upper side of the gable ends. The roof units themselves also feature a mechanical interlock to enhance rigidity. The solid pitches created by smartroof then offer an ideal base structure for the following tradesmen installing the battens and final covering of slates or tiles.

Quickly and safely erected on site, Wolf Systems’ smartroof is the off-site answer to simplifying the build process whilst satisfying the aims of the CDM regulations, as well as the Health and Safety Executive’s guidelines.

  17/08/2010 - Wolf Systems responds to expanding business
Wolf Systems has responded to increased business levels by taking on five new employees. The new staff are based in the company’s sales, customer service, software and development departments. These appointments come as a direct response to increased business, where Wolf Systems has taken on new customers and developed new products.

New Wolf EmployeesThe new employees will be working with both new and existing customers to ensure standards of service and support are maintained.

After the struggles of the recession, the expansion in Wolf Systems’ team demonstrates it’s commitment in researching and delivering new products, enabling customers to benefit from an improving market. Karl Foster, Sales and Marketing Director of Wolf Systems, comments, “This investment in people underlines Wolf Systems confidence in the recovery of the construction industry.”

This confident outlook for the company and expansion of many departments highlights Wolf Systems’ plans to grow the business in the coming year.


  21/05/2010 - Wolf is the first in the UK with fully-integrated automated robot packing cell
Wolf Systems is always keen to maintain market advantage by investing and keeping pace with today’s modern manufacturing technology. To this end, Wolf Systems has spent in excess of £130K on a specialised, fully-integrated automated robot packing cell; the first in the UK for packing metal-web products. “Wall-E” (as it’s been nicknamed by Wolf employees) has been developed in conjunction with a local automation company. It runs continuously even when the operator exchanges a fully-packed pallet for an empty one.

'Wall-E' Wolf Systems automated robot packing cellIncreased demand for the company’s easi-joist metalweb products prompted the company to make the investment, which has realised increased production capacity and improved manufacturing efficiencies. David Leaney, Managing Director of Wolf Systems was also keen to take the opportunity to improve working conditions for the employees on the production line. Collating of the webs and packing them onto pallets had previously been done by hand and, whilst this had proved satisfactory, it was clear the process could be improved and health and safety risks for the operators further minimised.

“We’re very pleased with the results” said David. “Our employees no longer have to handle the webs; either individually or when they’re now banded together. Feedback from customers has also been very positive. They’ve noted the improvements to the packed quality of webs and also appreciate the easier handling of the webs.”

The fully-automated packing cell is loaded via a conveyor fed directly from a press that manufactures the metal-webs. A pick-and-place system collates the parts by loading them on to a vertical indexing station. This station collects the webs in batches of 20 and presents them to a multi-jointed robot which is fitted with a bespoke designed gripper unit. The robot then picks the 20 collated webs and presents them to an automatic strapping machine which bands the pack together with two polypropylene straps.

The robot then places the banded webs onto a pallet in pre-programmed positions; this continues until the pallet is full. Once full, the pallet access doors automatically unlock allowing the full pallet to be removed by the operator and an empty replacement to be loaded. The cell does not stop at any time and the operator’s safety is never compromised.

  16/04/2010 - Wolf customer streamlines its management systems using WMS
One of Wolf’s largest customers has made significant improvements to its design and production management practices following a decision to switch to employing the new Wolf Management System (WMS).

Midlands-based Harlow Timber Systems has been a Wolf Systems manufacturer since the 1980s. Serving a variety of sectors, it was seeking to make its operations more efficient and therefore embraced the technological advancement that WMS represents.

Harlow Timber SystemsHarlow Timber Systems’ Chris Bowns comments: “Changing over to using Wolf’s WMS computer software was a natural progression for us – taking the existing software to the next level. Essentially, instead of having the design, client database and order tracking programmes running separately, they are all brought together in a single server based programme.

This means they are more accessible to everyone involved and any project files are automatically updated as soon as anyone saves the drawings they are working on. One of Wolf’s technical representatives spent a whole week with us, clarifying how we wanted the system to be set up, before we went live, and there have been very few teething problems or downtime.”

Harlow Timber Systems serves customers across the whole of the country, supplying project specific packages of easi-joists for floors and flat roofs, as well as various types of roof trusses. The company also manufactures the advanced, factory insulated panels which comprise the smartroof system. The company is also about to establish a new branch in Kettering which will also run WMS software.



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