Walk through the Stairway Joinery workshop on any given day and you'll hear the hum of machines, smell freshly cut timber, and see shavings curling off the bench. For as long as joinery has existed, that dust and those off cuts have been an unavoidable by-product of the craft.
We've always been careful about how we work and always considering sustainability, but a recent investment in new extraction and briquetting equipment has taken that care a step further. Today, the sawdust, wood chippings, and shavings produced during staircase manufacture don't go to waste. They become something useful.
How It Works
At the heart of the system is our Eco Gate extraction unit. Rather than running continuously and drawing energy around the clock, it uses sensors fitted to each of our machines. When a machine is in operation, the extraction kicks in. When the workshop is quiet, it stands down. It sounds simple, and in principle it is, but the effect is significant. We get stronger, more consistent suction where it matters, a cleaner working environment for our team, and meaningfully lower running costs compared to a conventional always-on system.
The material collected by the extraction goes into a briquetting press, which compacts the shavings and dust into small, dense blocks. These wood heat briquettes serve as a clean-burning alternative to logs, made entirely from the offcuts of our staircase work.
Certified and Tested
Before we could offer these briquettes for sale, they had to pass independent testing. Samples were sent to Alfred H Knight Laboratories in Scotland, where they were tested in controlled burn conditions to confirm they produce no toxic elements when used.
After passing that stage, we applied to the Woodsure Ready to Burn scheme. An auditor visited our factory to assess how we store the briquettes, how they are produced, and where the raw timber comes from, checking that our materials are sourced from sustainable origins. We passed that audit and are now an authorised retailer of wood heat briquettes.
Available to Buy
Our briquettes are available to purchase per bag, on a collection-only basis from our workshop. If you're looking for a responsibly produced, certified heat fuel made from sustainably sourced timber, this is a straightforward option.
It's also, we think, a good example of how a workshop can take something it already produces and make better use of it. Less waste, a cleaner environment for our team to work in, lower energy costs, and a product that's genuinely useful to people. That feels like the right direction.
To find out more or to arrange collection, give us a call on 01202 622826 or get in touch using the contact form on our website.
