Founded in 1993, Timberlife started with literally nothing but had a vision to become the market leader in the supply of a complete range of timber treatment products in South Africa. Today, after 12 years of hard work and dedication, Timberlife has emerged as one of the leading companies that manufactures and supplies a vast range of timber treatment chemicals, many of which not only are unique in the local market, but also internationally.

What is different about Timberlife?

All our products are “Proudly Timberlife”. This means that all our formulations have been developed in-house and, to date, cover a range of 30 different timber treatment chemical related products that have been commercialized.

At present, Timberlife is the only local company, and one of only a very few companies in the world that manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of wood preserving, wood protection and wood finishing products. In this particular market segment of the timber industry, Timberlife therefore services the entire pipeline. Broadly speaking, this includes the timber processors (sawmillers, pole treaters, etc.), timber product manufacturers, (window and door manufacturers, furniture manufacturers, etc.) as well as timber end-users (deck builders, log home builders, thatchers, DIY-ers, etc.)

Why has Timberlife been successful?

Sustained product innovation and development, motivated by constant customer needs identification and analysis, was and still is the key to Timberlife’s successful introduction of such a broad spectrum of timber treatment products into the South African market. For example, over the past two years, 8 new wood protection products have been developed and commercialized. Two of these products have specifically been formulated for industrial application and use by manufacturers of windows and doors as well as upmarket outdoor wooden furniture.

It is our belief that the very basic requirements for the successful development of wood protection products is a sound knowledge of wood itself as well as the behavior of wood when used under different conditions of exposure. A clear understanding of wood deterioration and the prevention thereof is essential when deciding on the most appropriate wood protection system to be formulated. During the initial stages of the research and development, important questions that we address and keep in mind throughout the process, are:

What is the desired functionality of the particular product;

• must it have wood preserving properties, e.g. provide protection against wood borer attack, termite attack, fungal decay, mould growth and/or fungal discoloration?
  
  
• must it have wood protection properties, e.g. provide protection against ultra-violet degradation caused by sunlight exposure and/or reduce wood movement by controlling moisture uptake and loss during exposure, provide protection against mechanical wear, provide protection against fire, etc?
  
  
• must it have decorative properties, e.g. provide a finish with an aesthetic appearance?
  
  
• must it have one, or a combination of the above desired properties?

Other important criteria also taken into consideration are the life expectancy of the product, the application process/method required, frequency and ease of maintenance, health and safety aspects and obviously the cost effectiveness of the desired product.

However, at the end of the day it is the customer that dictates what he wants and it is therefore necessary to satisfy his needs. Our philosophy has always been to listen to the customer and whenever, work with him rather than against him. We therefore believe that “feed-back is the food of kings”.

What achievements have Timberlife accomplished?

Some unique technologies that have been developed by Timberlife and, to date, still are the only locally formulated and manufactured products available for timber treatment and protection in South Africa can be summarized as follows:

• Borate-based wood preservative (TOPRO 94, launched 1994).
  
  To date still the most cost effective wood preservative available in South Africa.
  
  
• Wood preserving paste for external remedial and supplemental treatment of treated poles (REMPRO, launched 1995).
  This is the only registered product that has been approved for use on ESKOM power distribution poles.
  
  
• Wood preserving rod for internal remedial and supplemental treatment of treated poles and wooden structures. (ECO ROD, launched 2004).
  
  The only registered product for industrial as well as DIY use. Not only is Timberlife the first South African company to develop and manufacture these borate-based rods, but is also one of only five companies in the world that have developed this particular technology.
  
  
• A combined wood preservative and fire retardant treatment for timber (FLAMBOR, launched 1997).
  
  Has been patented and accepted internationally. For example, has been tested and approved by Disney World engineers for fire protection treatment of Eucalyptus poles used in the construction of the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge. Subsequently, Flambor-treated Eucalyptus poles have also been tested in accordance with ASTM E-84 - "Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials" and have successfully passed the minimum requirements for a Class A rating.
  
  
• A combined fire retardant and preservative treatment for thatching grass and reed (THATCHBOR, launched 1998 in collaboration with Micon Coatings).
  It is a first in the world for permanent protection of thatching grass and reed. Has been patented and accepted internationally. For example, has been tested and approved for fire protection treatment of thatching grass used in large public projects in Hawaii. The only product to pass the stringiest permanency and fire tests, the ASTM D 2898-94, "Accelerated Weathering of Fire-Retardant Treated Wood Products for Fire Testing", showing that Thatchbor does not leach out of vacuum/pressure treated thatching grass with extensive rain and heat exposure.

• First wax emulsion-based end sealer for freshly cut poles and pole products to reduce end splitting (SUPRO EM, launched 1993).
  
  
• First locally formulated and registered brush-on insecticidal/fungicidal treatment for timber as an alternative to replace PCP (pentachlorophenol) (CTX 108, launched 1995).
  
  
• First company to launch the complete range of timber cleaning agents, i.e. fungal stain remover (Timbrite RFU), wax/oil remover (INDEG), varnish remover that also effectively removes polyurethane-based coatings (COTE-STRIP).
  
  
• First 5-in-1 wood protection coating that not only serves as an aesthetic finish but also protects timber products against UV degradation, water ingress and, more importantly, provides additional protection against insect attack as well as fungal discolouration (SATINWOOD 28/28 BASE).
  
  
• First privately owned company to formulate, manufacture and supply a CCA oxide liquor wood preservative in South Africa (CHROMAC CCA, launched 1996).

What about the future?

Timberlife has certainly focused and lived up to its vision. Our focus and determination to reach certain set goals have been rewarded with many successes and make us proud of what we have achieved over the past 12 years.

As far as the future is concerned, we still believe that the sky is the limit.

January 2005