Australian weatherboards, wall panels, and cladding – made from reconstituted hardwoods – are fueling a comeback in Australian manufacturing with the Hunter-based Weathertex now supplying Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia – including Iran and Israel – with “better than zero” engineered wood products.
“We’re now in 16 international markets,” according to Jason O’Hagan, Weathertex’s Managing Director, who said the 100% Australian-owned and operated business will exhibit at Saudi Arabia’s Big 5 Construction Expo (a second time) side-by-side with Investment NSW and Beautex Wood, the company’s distribution partner in the Middle East and Asia.
Without question, Weathertex’s most ambitious regional project, Saudi Arabai’s NEOM development, is opening doors in a region hungry to decarbonise and embrace sustainable building practices: “We’ve been in Dubai for a long time (having clad the Dubai Lifeguard Beach Huts), but NEOM is something else,” Mr O’Hagan said, adding that Weathertex kitting out 1500 residencies in the enormous project.
And that is just the start: “Saudi Arabia’s growth is incredible,” Mr O’Hagan said, “the country is on a massive wave of construction, with leaders turning to prefabrication to meet the uplift. They love Weathertex, the sustainability messaging and how it aligns with their vision for the future.”
Made up of 97% natural timber and 3% natural wax – Weathertex claims that all products are 100% natural, termite-resistant and highly durable. Using a one-of-a-kind manufacturing process, it does not add glues, resins, silica or formaldehyde to its products – meaning the Global GreenTag Platinum labelled product has a better than zero footprint.
Then there is the timber: Taking low-grade timber from New South Wales’ PEFC and Responsible Wood-certified hardwood forests – all located close to its factory – it turns pulp logs into premium engineered wood products, which are then sold to the world.
And what’s not to love about?
