Imagine …

… a product that is truly environmentally friendly, totally inert and infinitely recyclable.

We use proven technology, coupled with innovative modern design and production techniques, to address the challenges of producing

products that have minimum impact on the world’s natural resources.

1

Introduction 3

Protectingtheenvironment 4

BuildingSector 6

Shopfitting 7

Outdoor 8

Doors,shutteringandcladding 9

GovernmentandLocalAuthorities 10

Modular&MobileAccommodation 11

Spasandfitnessstudios 12

InternationalPartners 13

Thefuture 14

Contents

Imagine a product that is truly environmentally friendly, totally inert and

infinitely recyclable.

A product that responds to the needs of forward looking architects and planners who are

committed to environmentally friendly design and developments.

There’s a real commercial benefit too. Research has repeatedly proven that the lifetime

cost of our products is often lower than that when using real timber.

So, commercial specifiers get both an environmental saving AND a cost saving.

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3

Introduction

Addressing the environmental crisis

Environmentalpressuregroupsrecognisedlongagothattheworldhashitaresourcecrisis;nowallgovernmentsattheinternational,nationalandlocallevelaretakinglegislativeandpracticalactiontopreserveandprotecttheenvironmentforgenerationstocome.Andit’scriticalthattheydo:

Here’s why ...

Theworld’sforestsareincrisis.ApproximatelyhalfoftheEarth’soriginalforestcoverhasbeenlostforeverand,ofthehalfthatremains,onlyaroundonetenthisprotected,andmostofthisisbadlymanaged.LateststatisticsshowthatanareathesizeofNorthCarolinaislosttothehardwoodforestseachyear–andtheeffectisbeingseenindramaticclimateandotherchangesintheworld’speopleandanimalpopulations.

And,whilstmuchworkisbeingdoneintheareaofrecycling,alltheauthoritiesrecognisethatweneedtodomore–particularlywherenonbio-degradablematerialslikeplasticsandpolystyreneareconcerned.

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How we are helping to protect the environment

Our raw materials

Weuserecycledpolystyrenesuchaswaste

packagingforelectronicgoods,wastedrinkingcups

andothersimilaritemsthatarenotbiodegradable,

andoftencausemajordisposalheadachesforlocal

authorities.

Wearereducingthedepletionoftheworld’sprecious

hardwoodandsoftwoodforestsquitesimplybecause

ourproductscanbemadetolooklikeanynatural

timberproductsuchasoak,beech,teakandpine

–andarestronger,moreconsistentandlastlonger.

What can we do about it?

Imagine ...

Aproductthatlooksexactlylikeanytypeofwood,

metalorplastic...andistotallymadeofrecycled

material.Onethatrequiresnopaintingorpriming

andiscompletelymaintenancefree–throughoutits

50+yearlife.

• AproductthatiswaterproofandUVstabletothe

strictestofstandards.

• Aproductthatcanbemanufacturedtobe

strongerthananyoftheSouthAmerican

hardwoods,butlooksexactlylikethem;orlighter

thanthelightestofthesoftwoods,andwitha

consistencyof‘look’thatbeatsboth.

• Aproductthatcanbeformedintoalmostany

shape,andmanufacturedinanycolourand

finish–andonethatcanbenailed,screwed,

glued,drilled,weldedandsawnusingstandard

woodworkingtools.

Synthetic timber is the answer

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Our products

Allofourproductsgeneratenowasteduring

manufactureandarecompletelyrecyclable.

Theycanbemanufacturedtoanyshape–theprofile

limitedonlybyyourimagination.Andallofour

productscomewiththefinalfinishandarelifetime

maintenance-free.However,ifchosen,theycanbe

treatedwithsolventfreeproductssuchaspaintand

varnish.

Throughaprocessofcontinualdevelopmentwehave

successfullyformulatedarangeofproductsthat

meetmanyoftoday’schallenges.

Thisrangeincludesaproducttestedandcertifiedto

achieveClass1SpreadofFlameforusewithinthe

buildingsector,andproductsthatcontainbiocides

foruseinareasdemandinghighprotectionagainst

bacterialgrowthinplaceslikehospitals,canteens

andwashrooms.Wealsoproduceafungicidal

productforuseinareasofhighhumidity.

Our processes

Weoperateacontinualassessmentprogramme

coveringthewayweutiliseallourextrusion

machineryand,importantly,themethodsand

materialschosentomanufactureallourproduct

tooling.Wehaveovermanyyearsalsodeveloped

ourinternalsystemstoensurethatwereprocess

materialswhereverpossible-evendowntoadapting

oursystemstorecirculateallcoolingwaterina

closedloop.

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Some applications ...

• Cladding

• Flooring

• Skirtingboards

• Faciasandbarge

boards

• Flatroofs

• Doorsandsills

• Fencing

• Tongue&groove

boards

• MockTudorbeams

Building Sector

Weworkwithsomeofthemajorplayersinthebuildingsectorandprovide

materialsthatarefullyfunctional,aestheticallypleasing,practicalandoffer

lifetimemaintenance-freeoptions.

Werecognisethecommercialchallengesfacedbythesectortoprojectmanage

andachievevalueoverthelifetimeoftheinstallation.Weseeourresponsibilityas

deliveringexactlytherightspecification,ontime,everytime–andourproducts

dothejobofprovidingtopqualitymaterialsthatwilllookgreat,notdeteriorate

andwilllast.

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Some applications ...

• Shelving

• Shelftrims

• Panelling

• Ticketrails

• Displaystands

• Faciapanels

Shopfitting

Ourend-userclientslikeMarks&Spencer,Do-It-AllandSomerfieldtellusthat

theirmajorchallengeistobalancetheneedforthehighestqualityimagewith

theirbusiness’environmentalstance.Thatmeansconsideringrealalternativesto

woodandotherresources.Theycometousbecausewecanprovidethesolution

–aproductthatlooksexactlylikeanytypeofwood,steeloraluminium,butwith

nonegativeenvironmentalimpact.

What’smore,theproductistechnicallysuperior,canbemanufacturedtoany

givendensityandcanevenbeself-cleaning;retainingthe‘asnew’appearanceno

matterwhatthecustomer‘traffic’.

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Some applications ...

• Decking

• Gardenandleisure

furniture

• Gazebos

• Fencing

• Planters

• Trellis

• Commercialoutdoor

dining

Outdoor

Thephenomenalgrowthoftheoutdoorandgardenmarketinrecentyears

hasbeenstimulatedbythedemandcreatedbytherangeofTVgardeningand

homeimprovementprogrammes.Thereisalsosignificantrecognitionamongst

suppliersthathouseholderswantmaterialsthathaveagreat‘lookandfeel’to

theiroutdoorproductsbutdon’twanttospendtheirpreciousleisuretimeon

maintenanceandreplacementtasks.

It’sherethatourproductscomeintotheirown.Notonlydotheynotneed

potentiallyharmfulcreosote,varnishorotherpreservativestobeusedtoprotect

andenhancetheminanyway,theyarealsolongerlastingandmaintenancefree.

Theycanalsobemanufacturedwithantifungaladditivestohelpkeepthem

looking‘asnew’.

Inallcasesitisalmostimpossibletodifferentiateourproductsfromthosemade

ofnaturalproductsthatdepleteourenvironmentalresources.

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Some applications ...

• Doorprofiles

• Frames

• Sillsandthresholds

• Garagedoors

• Windowshutters

• Windowsills

• Cladding

Doors, shuttering and cladding

Strength,hardwearing,durability,varietyandgoodlooking...that’swhat

ourtradecustomerstellustheywantwhentheyarebuyingdoorprofilesand

accessoriesfromus–andwecanmeettheirneeds.

Weprovidearangeofoptionsthatwilllastalifetimeandwilllookgoodfromthe

momenttheyarefitted.Thefactthatourproductsrequireminimummaintenance

otherthantheoccasionalwashdowneverynowandthenisamajorpluspoint.

Ourcustomers,likeThermatru,LindmanandIG,knowthattheintegrityofthe

materialwillnotletthemortheirenduserdown.

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Some applications ...

• Doors

• Gates

• Fencing

• Sheds

• Acousticbarriers

• Motorwaynoise

barriers

• Cladding

Government and Local Authorities

OurGovernmentandLocalAuthorityclientstellusthattheirmainchallengesare

tomeetincreasingdemandsforthemtobringtheir‘green’policiestolifebyusing

‘environmentallyfriendly’solutionstonewandreplacementprojects.

Whetheritisprovidingexternaldoorsandgatesforahousingdevelopment

‘makeover’project,replacementfencingforschoolsorparks,ormorespecialised

applicationslikeaestheticallypleasingsoundbarrierstoprotectresidentsfrom

excessivemotorwaytrafficnoise,ourproductshaveproventhemselves.

We’vealsoworkedwithsoundexpertstoproducebaffledacousticwallcladding

forCivictheatresandconcerthallsspecificallyaimedtoenhancesoundquality.

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Some applications ...

• Furniture

• Cladding

– Internal

– external

• Worksurfaces

• Internalfittings

– Skirting

– Architrave

– Fascias

Modular and mobile accommodation

Gonearethedayswhenitwasacceptableformodularaccommodation–

caravans,mobilehomes,temporaryoffices,classroomsandstudent

housing–tobe‘secondclass’intermsoffinishedquality.

Nowpeopleexpectthequalitytheywouldfindinpermanentfixtures...

andwecanhelp.

Ourcladdingprovidesagoodlookingandmorepermanent‘feel’tothe

accommodation,buttherearemanymorebenefitstousingourmaterial

internallytoo.

Thechallengeforthoseprovidingmobileofficeandstudentaccommodation,

forexample,isthatwhentraditionalmaterialssuchasMDForchipboardwith

‘wood-look’veneersareused,oncetheyarechippedthematerialquicklylooks

wornand‘shabby’.Contrastthatwithourproducts,whichhavethesamecolour

andmaterialconsistencythroughout...soifitgetsscratchedorchipped,you

canhardlytell.Indeed,smallscratchescaneasilybe‘rubbedout’.

Thebenefit?Longerlastinginteriors,withbetter‘wearability’,leadingtofewer

repairsandreplacement,andbetterlong-termpropertyvalue.

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Some applications ...

• OutdoorGardenspas

• Indoorhomespas

• Leisureclubfacilities

Spas and fitness studios

Theincreasingprosperityofthepopulationcoupledwiththetrendtowards

makingthemostofleisuretimehasdriventhedemandforthehealthgivingand

relaxingpropertiesofspas.Onceclassedasa‘luxury’item,wearenowseeing

increaseddemandforspasinhomeandleisureclubsettings.

Thebenefitsofusingourproductsintheirconstructionareobvious–our

materialsarebothstrongandflexible,totallywaterproofandcomeinavarietyof

finishestosuitanyenvironment.Theyarealsomaintenanceandinfestation-free

andcanbemanufacturedtocontainanti-fungicidalandanti-bacterialadditives.

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Highwoodhas,overmanyyears,developedstrongworkingrelationshipswith

numerouscompaniesaroundtheworld.

Theserelationshipshave,inmanycases,involvedcreatinglicensed

manufacturingfacilitiesandsuccessfullytransferringthemanufacturingprocess

andtechnologyinvolvedinproducingtheuniquerangeofHighwoodproducts.

OperationsintheUSA,China,IndiaandKuwaithaveallbenefitedsignificantly

fromintroducingtheabilitytomanufacturestructuralstyrenefoamproductsfor

useassynthetictimberprofiles.

Highwoodisconstantlylookingtoidentifysuitableopportunitiestoexpandits

licensedoperationsandhasarangeofpackagestosuitmanydifferentcustomers

andproductrequirements.

Theuseofourproductsissettogrowexponentiallyoverthenextdecade,driven

byenvironmentalsustainabilitydemands.Ourtriedandtestedtechnologyis

beingconstantlyadaptedfornewandsophisticatedusesbythosewhorecognise

itswideapplicationsandthefutureworldwidedemand.Potentialpartnersin

Iran,France,AustraliaandPortugalareexploringopportunitiesforworkingwith

usrightnow,forexample.

International Partnerships

Visit us at … www.highwood.uk.com to find out how you could commercially benefit from being involved in creating an international environmentally friendly future with us

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Thereisnodoubtthattheworldwillbedriventobecomemoreenvironmentally

aware.Wecannotcontinueaswehavedoneinthepast.Substitutesfornatural

resourcesarenowneededmorethanever–buttheseproductsmustbeseento

bebeneficialaswellasenvironmentallyfriendly.

Societyneedsproductsthatwilllastlongerandserveusbetter.Webelievethat

oursynthetictimberprofilesandtheirvastrangeofusesprovideopportunitiesto

meetalltypesofneed.

Forus,theresearchgoeson.Forexample,wearenowinvestigatingarangeof

productsspecificallydesignedforhospitalsandotherareasthatrequirehigh

levelsofhygienethatnotonlyself-clean,butalsokillbacteria.Thebenefitswill

beenormous,bothforthehospitalsandthepeopletheyserve.

The future...

The applications of our products at present are already wide ranging, but their future uses are only limited by our imagination.

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Products installation guide

Buildingprofiles

Horticulturalprofiles

Fencing

Shopfittingprofiles

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Properties Test method Results Remarks

TensilestrengthMPa ISO527 30.0

Elongationatbreak% ISO527 2.5

ModulusofruptureMPa BS373 59.8 3pointbending

ModulusofelasticityMPa BS373 2430.0

StressatproportionallimitMPa BS373 50.5

CompressionstrengthparalleltogainMPa BS373 56.7

CompressionstrengthperpendiculartogainMPa

BS373 20.7

ScrewretentionkN BS6984 2.5 1.5inchNo6screw22mmdepth

NailretentionkN BS6948 0.88 2.5x38mmwirenail,22mmdepth

Impactstrengthkj/m2 BS373 0.85 3pointbending

ImpactheightM

ImpactheightM

BS373

BS373

0.66

0.38

For20x20,span280mm,tup3.3lb

For24x28,span280mm,tup4.4kg

Waterabsorption% ISO82 0.14 40x40x7.5

Coefficientofthermalexpansion1/0C DIN62-53491 5x10-5

ToxicGasFactorOnlytwodetectedfromeighttested

SNES714CO

2,CO,HCI,HCN,

H2SSO

2,NO

x,

Ammonia

0.72.6

CarbondioxideCarbonmonoxide0-3lowtoxicity

Classificationofflamespread BS476 Class1

UVstability ASTME383-B Good Nochangeinmechanicalstrength375MJ/m2

Vicatsofteningpoint ISO306 910C

Densityg/cc 0.56

TechnicalandMechanicalpropertiesofstyrenestructuralfoam

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It is our responsibility to manage the World’s resources and beauty and to secure a renewable future for our children

Offices: Warrington Carrington Wilmslow

Tel: +44 (0)1925 415425 Fax: +44 (0)1925 417215

www.highwood.uk.com