Owner Malcolm Turner began manufacturing timber frame panels in his home garage before moving to a business park in Brandesburton. Daughter, Helen Turner, joined the family business in 2006 taking the role of Commercial Director.
In 2010, the company moved to Hedon Road and saw rapid expansion, growing from three employees to 18 in the subsequent six years.
Green Port Hull and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) – who assist Siemens by identifying suitable manufacturing companies capable of supplying a range of wind turbine blade production equipment – nominated Turner Timber Frames for the task of building elevated platforms around the wind turbine blade moulds. Initially both timber and steel options were considered.
Malcolm said: “Green Port and MAS put our name forward as they were aware of our design, engineering and manufacturing skills.
“We have a broad customer base working with individual self-builders and developers to commercial projects. The experience of our team allows us to diversify to meet the needs of our clients.”
Turner Timber Frames was successful in the tender process and won the £650k contract to work with Siemens – their Hedon Road factory being just one mile away from Siemens’ Alexandra Dock site.
Malcolm, Helen and designer Mark Burton visited the Siemens blade factory in Aalborg to see the wooden platforms in action in order to recreate the design back in the UK. Working closely with Siemens and the supplier in Aalborg – who had previously installed 70 of this type of platform - the team at Turner Timber Frames was able to clone the product.
Training platforms at the Hull College Composites Training Centre, on Preston Road Estate, and the Shed 3 facility (the training area on the Siemens’ Alexandra Dock site) will replicate Siemens’ blade factory where the platforms will be used to access the wind turbine blade moulds.
The platforms for the full-sized moulds are currently being designed and the team are flying out to Aalborg for a seminar with Siemens and the other trades involved in the blade factory next week for the smooth integration of all parties during the install phase.
The first wooden platforms were delivered to the Hull College Composite Training Centre last week for the 10m tip end mould and 6m root end mould.
Work has started on the next set of training platforms ready for use in Shed 3. These consist of two platforms of nearly 50m and a tip end of 15m. The scale of the full-size blades is very impressive, with the platforms stretching the length and ends to both sides of the mould approximately 80 x 10m.
Malcolm said: “With the growth of our timber frame business we are looking to take on additional staff. Going forward we would hope to be working with Siemens to maintain and adapt the platforms to match the needs of Siemens in this innovative field. It may be we look to have dedicated members of staff for this role as it develops.”
Anthony Granville, Siemens Hull Senior Project Manager, said:
“We have said consistently that we are committed to using local suppliers, wherever possible, and this is another example of delivering on this pledge. “We’re delighted that a small, family business, based so close to the blade factory site on Alexandra Dock, has won a valuable contract to be part of both our training programmes and production operations.”