Donaldson invests in new joist machinery

Donaldson Timber Engineering Ltd (DTE) has made a six-figure investment in new machinery at its manufacturing site in the Southwest of England.

The new High Speed Posi-Joist Press (HSPP) will fully automate the manufacturing process of Posi-Joists, improving accuracy, quality control and consistency, while also increasing capacity.

One of only three of these machines in the UK, the Posi-Joist Press is three times faster than others on the market, boosting productivity and allowing for the delivery of a much higher volume of joists when needed.

The Posi-Joist Press has been supplied by long-term partner MiTek, a global company focused on providing integrated software, services, engineered products and automated solutions for the building industry.

Luke Roberts, Managing Director at DTE, said: “Since opening the branch in Exeter earlier this year, we’ve seen a high uptake of Posi-Joists in this region, so this investment has been driven by specific demand for the product.

“We’re not only future-proofing our business to meet bigger volumes, but we’re pleased to also be investing in the local area, which has been so welcoming to us.

“We already own one of these machines, so we know the impact that this investment can have on our business. We’re confident that it will have a positive effect, as we will be able to double our output and offer a quicker service to our customers, both locally and across the UK.”

Tim Garner from MiTek added: “We are delighted that DTE chose to invest in a new High Speed Posi-Joist Press for their impressive Exeter site. The machine is the most highly automated joist press on the market and will significantly boost DTE’s production capacity.

“DTE are the only UK manufacturer to now have two of these machines, and their investment reflects the confidence in the growing demand by builders for Posi-Joists in the context of the 2025 Future Homes Standard. The decades-long relationship between DTE and MiTek is a great partnership, and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact this machine has for them.”