Above: The Western Red Cedar supplied to SDS Australia by Timbeck is always of the highest quality and enables us to create amazing spaces for our clients.
Queensland-based family owned Timbeck continue to dominate as one of Australia’s largest importers and manufacturers of high quality timber products. By Nicky Ainley
Manufacturing timber is in the blood of the team at Timbeck who have been in the industry for over 50 years. The Brisbane-based, family-owned-and-operated business was first established in 1967, and as they fast approach 6 decades the team represents the third generation continuing the family’s proud tradition of providing high-quality timber products to the Australian Market.
General Manager Jacob Ferrow, and his brother Kyle who handles the Companies finances, have been involved within the business since their early teenage years, said it’s the family focus, passion and pride in their products that continues to drive the company forward.
After originally starting out as an Oregan formworks supplier through the to 80’s and 90′, Timbeck then moved into western red cedar with a primary focus on making components for other businesses including window, door and shutter components. Then further expansion after 2010 saw the business broaden into other species, closer to home. Since taking on his current role in the business in 2015, Ferrow, has played a critical role in the business’s transition from supplying primarily cedar products to now also offering a range of locally grown and sourced Australian hardwoods.
Above: Western Red Cedar, purchased green and put into sticker to dry naturally in the Australian climate.
SPECIALTY CEDAR
Since the early 2000’s cedar has been a key product for Timbeck. Their long history of imported Canadian and American species have made them a specialist in the manufacturing and coating of Western Red Cedar and Hemlock.
“The cedar side of things was always a niche market and one that proved to be successful,” Ferrow said.
“The cedar market became more of a focus specialist market for us, and we did a lot of panelling and screening. It’s also the time when the sauna market opened up and this continues to be one of our core areas.” In the Late 90’s and early 2000’s, cedar was Timbeck’s only market focus, it was originally for the window and door market, the shutter market and the joinery markets.
“As the price has increased people have naturally looked for more cost-effective timber, so the product range has shifted,” Ferrow continued.
The core areas for the still popular cedar are now internal screening, external screening, panelling and cladding.
Despite the shift in focus, Ferrow says cedar will always have a market in Australia, particularly in the major cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
“It remains a key focus for us however, it now forms around 40 percent of the total business whereas a few years ago it was 100 percent. The shift in the business operation has been due to the introduction of the native hardwoods which have now taken up the bulk of what Timbeck run.
“It’s purely a reflection of the change in the market.”
A MOVE TO AUSTRALIAN HARDWOOD
The transition to the offering a range of locally grown and sourced Australian hardwoods came from market demand and has proven to be a successful one for Timbeck with customers sourcing more Australian native products.
“There’s high demand here, particularly in the fit-out market,” Ferrow said. “There’s always a nice story to tell about sustainably sourced, local species.”
It’s the usability, reliability and look of the Australian timbers which has resulted in its increased popularity with Timbeck focussing heavily on certification to assist the usability.
Sourcing a lot of their Spotted Gum locally in Queensland and their Blackbutt from further south, demand has increased over the past years in part due to the products great look and features.
Another benefit of the Australian species is that the products meet BAL requirements for those areas which is also important. The natural BAL ratings of the timber make it a suitable choice for many projects in bushfire prone areas, taking out the pressures of BAL certification.
“We have a customer in Melbourne who has developed street furniture with our hardwoods,” Ferrow said.
“One reason the customer loves the product is because of the BAL rating. It’s BAL 29, looks so good, is durable and is BAL rated.”
The expansion with Australian hardwood has also seen Timbeck further broaden their range with the product proving to be popular not only in cladding, panelling and architectural screening but also in the use of decking, exposed stairs, street furniture and more.
“The product looks great! The spotted gum with its range of colour textures and the blackbutt has that beachy look which is a popular trend in southern coastal states,” Ferrow said.
Above: From left to right: Graeme Ferrow Managing Director, Jacob Ferrow General Manager and Kyle Ferrow Financial Controller, Timbeck.
SERVING THE MARKET AND THE CUSTOMER
With its continued adaption to the market and sustained position as a manufacturer for over 5 decades, Timbeck has a focus on the customer, meeting demand, staying consistent with and adapting to the market.
“The best way to get feedback is to know the market,” Ferrow said.
“What are people looking for? Both in the way products perform and the looks of products, and keeping up to speed with trend is also key. These are key elements for us.
“I think the durability of the product is also important, susing the right species and the right product in the right area is essential.” Ferrow says Timbeck remains strong in its customer position.
“We have always sat at the back as a wholesale manufacturer. We do take a step back from dealing with architects etc, even though we are adapting colour and trend in response to change, our primary focus is to support a merchant trade base and a wholesale sale distribution base.
“We know our position. We are good at manufacturing; we are good at making sure the right product is going out to the right jobs and that is and will continue to be our core focus.”
Above: Timbeck manufacture a range of products in house which allows then to control the quality and lead time. This includes a full coating line which is used for both Cedar and Hemlock timbers.
RANGE AND GROWTH
With the continual growth of Timbeck has also come a growth in product range however Ferrow says this is a natural expansion with the company still focussed on efficiencies and product supply.
“Efficiency is important. Having competitive lead times and things like that are essential so we ensure we run on a fortnightly basis on the core things we offer.”
“A big focus for us has always been not letting people down. The construction and building industry is a lead based industry. People need product when they are expecting it and its imperative that we continue to meet that expectation. It’s a big focus for us ensuring we are not letting people down.”
Queensland-based, Timbeck have their Brisbane machining facility and Rosewood Coating facility and the good-sized primary facility ensures they can be constantly manufacturing in order to meet the needs and demands of Australia’s thriving construction, building, and renovation industries.
“We have the luxury to sit on a fair number of products here so we can turn things around quickly” Ferrow continued, “It’s part of our model and ensures we continue to meet those demand.”
One area that Timbeck has been invested in for an extensive time, which has seen a boost in years post COVID is the sauna market.
With their stunning cedar product, Timbeck has been providing product to sauna manufacturers like SDS Australia, providing everything from the stunning exterior and interior panelling to seat slats and more.
Above: Custom built bespoke Sauna for SOMA Health and Wellness in Sydney by SDS Australia. The brief was to fit as many people in a tight space and we achieved this with 2 x entry points. The myriad of colours in this high quality Western Red Cedar fitout match the ambience of the space.
SDS AUSTRALIA & THE SAUNA MARKET
After only 18 months at the helm, Ben Ridgway and his team at SDS Australia have experienced exponential growth in the demand for their saunas which, in part, Ridgway puts down to the relationship, product quality and supply from Timbeck.
After 22 years of different ownership, SDS Australia has undergone a boom after Ridgway and the new owners took it over. Specialising in custom indoor and outdoor saunas and prefabricated saunas, SDS Australia has become one of the market leaders in designing, supplying and installing saunas to a range of customers from luxury gyms to private homes.
After taking on the business, Ridgway saw ample opportunity for rapid growth, particularly following a surge of interest into health and wellness during and following COVID. And rapid growth it has certainly been with Ridgway and his team more than doubling their size in the first six months and expanding out from one to three sites in NSW and in recent weeks, taking on Victoria with their first site opening in Melbourne.
The team from Timbeck already had a working partnership with SDS Australia when Ridgway took over and his own preexisting relationship with the Queensland based manufacturer has only led to an even stronger business relationship. It was this strong foundation that assisted SDS Australia in the direction it’s taken, now owning a strong position in this niche but demanding market.
“We can’t keep up [with demand],” Ridgway said.
“COVID accelerated the health trend particularly at home and people continue to want to be prepared for the future, its accelerated peoples mind set.
“From renovations to new homes we are seeing so many custom saunas being installed and there’s no signs of it slowing.” For Ridgway and the SDS team, ensuring they have the right people, product and service holds the key to their success.
“It’s key we have it right. I don’t want people to call and say there’s a problem. We want confidence in our product. That what we create, and install is going to be great in 3, 6 and 10 years or more, and with Timbeck we have that,” he said.
Ridgway believes that it’s the strong working partnership that SDS Australia has with Timbeck which has contributed greatly to the company’s ability to grow exponentially.
“Often a client will come to us with a brief and simply provide a space and say, ‘we want this to be our sauna’, with our craftsman, our tradesman and our Timbeck product we are able to create a luxurious sauna for the client,” he said.
“If you don’t have the right product, you can’t get the job to look good.” Reliable, good-quality products that are manufactured to their specifications has ensured SDS Australia consistently delivers the top-end product their brand has become known for and the excellent customer from Timbeck and service experience has ensured SDS Australia is not only looked after on a regular basis, but the needs as a growing business are met.
“I would talk to the sales guys twice a week to place orders,” Ridgway said.
“It’s been vital in our growth to have Timbeck as a partner. The service, product knowledge and response to enquiries is simply outstanding. We never go wanting for more than a few hours.
“If I ring them up and say l’ve got a tricky one for a client, what can you do? I have a solution within a couple of hours.
“Jacob often brings in suggestions, offering new advice and thoughts we wouldn’t necessarily have thought of. They are actively thinking about what we do, ways to improve and how to innovate. With them coming to us with ideas and trends,” Ridgway continued.
With further expansion for SDS Australia in the pipeline including into other states, Ridgway says the ongoing partnership with Timbeck is playing a vital role in their business success and its ability to grow.
Above: In a home of this calibre the sauna layout and fitout had to match. The high quality finish and aromatics of this Western Red Cedar sauna truely match the brief from the client and the surroundings of their wellness space.
FUTURE
It’s this strong customer-relationship-based ethos that has built the foundations of a strong past for Timbeck and paves the way forward. With their eyes set firmly on continuing in manufacturing to their strengths, Timbeck continues to be a leader in providing top-quality timber products to the Australian construction, building, and renovation markets.
“We are looking to expand our site in the future, when the time is right,” Ferrow said.
“However right now it’s about continuing our working relationships to ensure they are successful and grow.”
For more information visit www.timbeck.com.au
