A resilient and dependable supply chain remains vital to the growth of offsite construction in the UK, and the partnership between West Fraser and Kirkwood Timber Frame Ltd demonstrates how close collaboration can support the delivery of high-quality timber buildings on a large scale.
Established in August 2021, Kirkwood Timber Frame has rapidly grown into a leading manufacturer of open and closed-panel timber frame systems. The company supplies projects throughout Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, Northern England and across the wider UK. Today, it delivers around 1,000 plots annually, working with a broad range of clients including self-builders, SME developers, housing associations and national housebuilders.
Since forming a partnership with West Fraser in 2023, Kirkwood has adopted the manufacturer’s panel products across its production processes. Managing Director Malcolm Thomson said this has played a crucial role in maintaining quality and consistency as the business expands.
“West Fraser supplies all our OSB and chipboard flooring. Their products run right through everything we produce – it’s fundamental to our system,” he said.
SterlingOSB Zero forms a key structural component within Kirkwood’s timber frame systems, being used in wall panels, roof applications, and floor and roof cassettes. Its reliability and consistent performance help support the precision manufacturing standards required in timber frame construction.
CaberDek is also widely used within the company’s floor cassette systems, providing a durable, moisture-resistant decking solution with an integrated protective layer. This helps reduce on-site labour requirements while protecting floors during installation.
Materials are delivered directly to Kirkwood’s manufacturing facility, where they are incorporated into factory-built kits before being transported to developments across Scotland and Northern England. The systems are used in a variety of sectors, including residential housing, care homes, sports pavilions and community buildings.
Among the company’s recent projects was its contribution to the DIY SOS development in Manchester, which helped expand the Joshua Tree Family Centre in Cheshire. The project doubled the size of the facility, enabling it to provide greater support to families affected by childhood cancer.
Kirkwood’s relationship with West Fraser is supported through direct engagement with Nigel Morris, as well as through merchant partners including Jewson and Huws Gray, providing a flexible and reliable procurement network.
The partnership was also highlighted during the Timber Learning Journey, an industry initiative backed by the Structural Timber Association (STA). The programme is designed to give industry professionals a comprehensive understanding of the timber supply chain, covering every stage from responsibly sourced raw materials through to manufacturing and installation.
As part of the initiative, participants visited both West Fraser and Kirkwood Timber Frame, gaining first-hand insight into how engineered wood panels are manufactured and subsequently transformed into complete timber frame systems.
“It really shows how everything connects,” Thomson added. “You see the materials being made, and then how they become finished structures ready for site. With the number of kits we’re producing, everything has to work together,” said Thomson. “West Fraser products allow us to deliver consistently, project after project.”
