Can the New Apprenticeship Levy Rebuild the Construction Industry? From 6 April, employers will need to pay 0.5% of any annual wage bill over £3 million into a government scheme to help rebuild the UK’s apprenticeship system and address the looming skills shortage. The plan is certainly ambitious, and it needs to be. Over the […]

Women in Construction: How Can Construction Companies Encourage More Women into the Industry? For many, a job in the construction industry brings to mind images of men wearing hi-vis jackets and jeans lower than they should, but the reality is very different. In 2013 the Department of Business Innovations and Skills produced an infographic that highlighted not […]

The benefits of self-drilling screws In the world of construction, any product that can increase the speed of a job without sacrificing quality represents a step forward in innovation. Self-drilling screws, as the name suggests, tap their own precise thread when drilled into a range of materials including metal, wood and plastic. The design can greatly […]

From August 2013, builders, loft conversion specialists and professional carpenters can save valuable time, guarantee accurate calculations and help achieve local authority building control compliance all at once. OSC, the manufacturer and supplier behind the Carpenters Mate range of self-drilling fasteners, has developed a clever and intuitive online tool – CalcuMate – with two invaluable uses.  CalcuMate […]

OSC Carpenters Mate are Fully Compliant with New EU Construction Products Regulation As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fasteners and wood connectors, OSC are pleased to announce that their Carpenters Mate range of self-drilling screws they are fully compliant with the new EU Construction Products Regulation. July 1st, 2013 marked a change in the EU […]

OSC and C4Ci Partnership A new strategic partnership between OSC and C4Ci will focus on innovative product development and a range of valuable technical support services, from product testing and research to checking load-bearing capacities for buyers. Commenting, Dr Luke Whale of C4Ci said: “OSC had the vision to see that FastenMaster had a future […]

Stainless Steel Fasteners for Coastal Structures Coastal properties can provide some of the most stunning views and surroundings a homeowner could wish for, therefore it’s no mystery why these kinds of properties are always in high demand. When it comes to the construction or maintenance of coastal properties, any reputable contractor will have to consider […]

During July OSC will be hosting a number of Demo Days in London and one in Bristol. If you want to learn more about Carpenters Mate or CAMO hidden deck systems products, then come along to one of our demo days and see first hand how you could be saving time and money on your builds. 02.07.2014 – Builder […]

Carpenters Mate understands the demands and requirements that different projects present. That is why our range of self-drilling screws and accessories has been specifically designed to improve speed and efficiency in all areas of the trade. Inefficient methods and practices can soon add up to hours of wasted time, but the Carpenters Mate products aim […]

As we touched on in ‘OSC Carpenters Mate screws are fully compliant with new eu Construction Products Regulation’, on 1st July 2013, changes in European Law meant that the European Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) was repealed and replaced with the Construction Products Regulation EU 305/2011 (CPR). Following this change it has become a legal requirement […]

Carpenters Mate equips carpenters and tradesmen with a complete range of self-drilling screws, fasteners and accessories for both indoor and exterior timber projects. Within the Carpenters Mate timber fasteners range are the Pro Hex self-drilling wood screws. As you would expect from Carpenters Mate, the Pro Hex timber screws are of a superior quality and […]

When taking on a loft conversion even experienced builders may view the calculations and regulations required a little daunting. However help is at hand; Carpenters Mate has created an ingenious solution to this task, in the form of CalcuMate. CalcuMate is a simple and easy to use programme which requires only some basic figures, which […]