A specialist manufacturer of timber garden structures is commemorating more than half a century of production expertise.
Crane Garden Buildings operates a display centre at Burford Garden Company in Oxfordshire and is marking National Manufacturing Day by highlighting its longstanding tradition of crafting garden buildings in Norfolk.
The company has been handcrafting timber structures at its Norfolk workshop for over 50 years, with every item sold through its display locations produced to order at that facility.
Nick Crane, partner at the business, explained that National Manufacturing Day provides an opportunity to recognise the substantial level of expertise that continues to thrive within British manufacturing.
He noted that while equipment and technology have evolved dramatically during the company’s five-decade history, traditional craftsmanship remains central to operations.
The recent investment demonstrates how modern technology and skilled workmanship complement one another effectively.
National Manufacturing Day is coordinated annually by Make UK to promote British manufacturing and raise awareness of the skilled employment opportunities available within the industry.
Crane Garden Buildings has recently upgraded its production capabilities by installing advanced planing and moulding machinery at its Norfolk site.
This addition enables the company to perform timber preparation and moulding operations internally for the first time, a process previously handled by external suppliers.
The capital expenditure has received partial funding from Norfolk County Council’s Business Growth Fund and is projected to generate a minimum of two additional positions within the workforce.
According to Mr Crane, insourcing the previously contracted process allows the workforce to exercise more direct control over materials while simultaneously building technical competencies among existing staff.
The new machinery improves accuracy, though it is ultimately the workforce’s expertise and practical knowledge that transforms raw materials into completed structures.
Show sites display the final product, but each building represents the efforts of an entire team and substantial manufacturing expertise.
National Manufacturing Day offers a moment to acknowledge their contributions.
The company’s artisans collectively possess over 375 years of experience, and each structure is manufactured to individual customer specifications before transportation and assembly at properties throughout the United Kingdom.
Environmental responsibility forms a key priority for the business, which sources timber from sustainable forests, utilises water-based coating products, and diverts more than 95 percent of waste materials from landfill at its Norfolk workshop through reuse and recycling programmes.
Prospective customers can explore the product range at the company’s display location situated within Burford Garden Company in Burford.