How we have created JB RED

John Brash is renound for pushing the boundaries of innovation.

We’ve invested over £2 million in state-of-the-art equipment including optical and laser scanning, moulder and mechanical handling.  The high precision scanning has never been used before within the UK.  It ensures that every batten, rather than just a sample, is scanned as it passes through our sawmill. 

The system measures and assesses each piece of timber at over 300m per minute.  Results are analysed using a complex computer program which measures the defects against prescribed criteria.  With small section timber, such as roofing battens, tolerances are measured in millimetres.  It is virtually impossible to manually assess defects to these tolerances either reliably or at a commercial speed.

Over and above this testing, checks are made to examine for slope of grain and the rate of growth.  These are both vital in assessing strength.  Again, we use the latest technology rather than rely on visual assessment which is notoriously difficult to do at commercial production speeds.

We have introduced a unique preservative process which significantly reduces the overall weight of each batten, allowing easier on-site installation, as well as ensuring compliance with British Standard BS8417:2003.  In addition, all the battens are precision machined to ensure a clean, smooth surface thus allowing ease of handling. 

The net result of all these processes, in addition to achieving total compliance with BS5534, is that we can guarantee each batten for 60 years.