Five reasons our Technical and Manufacturing Directors think you should attend our Witney Open Day
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
We know that taking half a day out of the office – plus travel – is a commitment. But for anyone considering timber frame for the first time, seeing how it is designed and manufactured can provide a level of understanding that is difficult to achieve through drawings, presentations or conversations alone. We sat down with Frank O’Reilly, Manufacturing Director, and John Smith, Technical Director, to find out why they think a visit to Witney is time well spent.
1. Why should someone take the time to visit the Witney facility?
Frank O’Reilly: There’s a big difference between talking about offsite manufacturing and actually seeing it happen. At Witney, visitors can see the technology, automation and manufacturing processes behind the timber frame systems that ultimately arrive on their sites.
It makes the whole process much more tangible. You can see how we manufacture in a controlled environment, how quality is built into the process and why that can provide greater consistency and certainty when you get to site.
2. Is the visit particularly useful for someone considering timber frame for the first time?
John Smith: Absolutely. Moving from traditional construction to timber frame changes more than the structural material. There are differences in design, sequencing, interfaces and programme planning that need to be understood early.
Visiting Witney gives teams an opportunity to follow that journey from design through manufacture to site delivery. More importantly, they can see why those differences matter and what needs to be considered to make their first timber frame project successful.
3. What is it like to actually see the factory in action?
Frank O’Reilly: It’s impressive. You’re standing inside a modern manufacturing environment watching robotics, automation and our people working together to turn timber into precision-manufactured building systems.
There’s a scale and pace to the operation that you simply don’t appreciate until you see it for yourself. You can watch the manufacturing process happening in front of you and understand how moving more construction into a controlled factory environment can improve consistency, quality and programme certainty. It brings the whole concept of offsite construction to life.
4. What can visitors learn that they might not get from a presentation or brochure?
John Smith: You start to understand how all the decisions connect. A decision made during design can affect manufacture, installation and follow-on trades, so successful timber frame delivery is about considering the whole process rather than individual stages in isolation.
Seeing that process first-hand helps people understand why early collaboration matters. For someone used to traditional construction, it can completely change their understanding of how a timber frame project should be planned and delivered.
5. Will visitors have the opportunity to discuss their own projects and questions?
John Smith: Yes, and that’s a really important part of the day. This isn’t simply a factory tour. Visitors will have direct access to our technical, commercial and manufacturing teams and plenty of opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting.
If you have a project you’re considering for timber frame, bring your questions with you. Whether they relate to design, programme, manufacture, commercial considerations or what changes when you move away from traditional construction, you’ll be able to speak directly with people who deal with these issues every day.
Frank O’Reilly: We want people to leave having had useful conversations, not just having looked around a factory. The opportunity to talk through your own challenges with the people who design, manufacture and deliver timber frame systems is one of the most valuable parts of the visit.
See it for yourself
Join Frank, John and the Donaldson Timber Systems team at our next Witney Open Day and experience modern timber frame manufacturing first-hand.
📅 Thursday 17 September
⏰ 10:30–13:30
Places are deliberately limited so that every visitor has time to engage directly with our team.
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