Custom Timber Products & Commercial Manufacturing

Have an unusual timber product you can't find off the shelf?

Stringybark Supplies works with Australian businesses to manufacture unusual timber products, natural wood components and custom commercial orders.

Some of our best projects have started with a customer simply explaining the problem they are trying to solve rather than arriving with a finished manufacturing plan.

If your project involves natural timber - for example with bark attached, logs, branches, wood slices or another timber component that conventional suppliers can't readily provide, bring us the requirement and we'll see if we can find a practical way to make it.

We source much of our timber ourselves and have a broad range of timber processing and manufacturing capabilities in-house. This lets us take on projects that don't fit neatly into what a conventional sawmill, timber merchant, printer or product manufacturer normally offers.

We are particularly well suited to projects requiring hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of small-to-medium natural timber pieces, where a repetitive manufacturing process can be developed and scaled efficiently.

Have a project in mind?
Email us at marcus@stringybarksupplies.com with your requirements, photos, drawings or specifications, or call (03) 5900 6023 to discuss whether we can help.

What Can We Make?

Every project is different.

We can manufacture anything from very small natural timber components through to logs and larger wood slices, with a particular focus on products that need to be made repeatedly and consistently in useful commercial quantities.

Our capabilities include:

  • Logs and branches cut to custom lengths and sizes
  • Natural bark-on timber products
  • Custom wood slices and timber rounds
  • Custom thicknesses and dimensions
  • Small timber components manufactured in quantity
  • Direct printing onto timber, including logos, text, artwork and variable designs
  • Drilling and assembly work
  • Fitting magnets and other components
  • Sanding and timber preparation
  • Timber drying
  • Bulk or individual packaging
  • Prototype and sample production
  • Large repetitive production runs
  • Custom wood slice wall installations
  • Natural materials such as sticks, gum nuts and banksia pods

This isn't an exhaustive list.

We are happy to consider products we've never made before. In many cases we can determine quite quickly whether an idea is technically feasible and commercially worthwhile.

Examples of Custom Projects

Custom Logs

We have produced natural logs cut to specified sizes for commercial and decorative applications.

This includes multiple orders of approximately 300 mm long logs used as decorative infill around fireplaces, giving the appearance of stacked firewood without requiring customers to source and prepare individual logs themselves.

We have also developed production methods and specifications for much larger commercial requirements involving substantial quantities of natural logs made to defined dimensions.

Custom Wood Slices

While we manufacture standard wood slices every day, we can also produce custom diameters and thicknesses for commercial projects.

One project involved producing a large quantity of approximately 115 mm diameter, 20 mm thick timber rounds for another business, which then engraved and finished them into QR-code table markers.

Other projects have involved custom-sized slices for displays, products and decorative installations.

Hospitality Products

We have manufactured solid timber café table markers incorporating table numbers, restaurant branding and QR codes.

Because we can both prepare the timber and print directly onto it, projects like these can often be handled in one place rather than requiring separate timber manufacturers and printing businesses.

Wholesale Natural Materials

We also manufacture natural materials in bulk for wholesale customers, including:

  • Gum nuts
  • Banksia pods
  • Small branches and sticks cut to specified sizes
  • Wood slices and other natural timber products

Large Promotional Production Runs

Our production experience also includes high-volume manufacturing and printing.

Projects have included:

  • 20,000 custom printed timber keyrings
  • Promotional wood slice coasters
  • Event medals
  • Printed timber magnets
  • Other branded natural timber products

Wood Slice Walls & Installations

We have supplied wood slices for decorative wall installations and custom feature walls, including projects outside the sizes and layouts offered in our standard product range.

We can also assess larger commercial walls and installations requiring substantial quantities of custom-sized slices.

Manufacturing Capabilities

One of our main advantages is having several stages of the manufacturing process under one roof.

Rather than only supplying pre-cut timber, we can often start with raw logs or branches and carry a product through cutting, drying, sanding, drilling, printing, assembly and packaging.

Logs, Branches & Round Timber

We specialise in working with natural logs, branches and round timber, particularly material under approximately 300 mm in diameter.

This is the range where we can most efficiently manufacture products in quantity and where our timber sourcing, equipment and handling processes are best suited.

Larger diameter material may also be possible depending on the product, required quantity, length and handling requirements. These projects are assessed individually.

At the smaller end, there is no fixed minimum diameter. We regularly work with small branches and timber components.

Our focus is custom roundwood products and manufactured timber components rather than standard building timber such as conventional boards and structural lumber.

Cutting & Dimensional Requirements

We can cut logs, branches, wood slices and other timber components to specified dimensions.

Length tolerances can often be quite tight where the product is suitable for repetitive saw cutting.

Natural diameter varies more, particularly with bark-on branches and logs. The practical tolerance depends on the size of the material, available timber and required quantity.

If tighter sizing is required, additional selection and processing can often be incorporated into the job.

Rather than applying one standard tolerance to every project, we agree on realistic specifications based on what the finished product actually needs to achieve.

Sanding & Preparation

We have commercial wide-belt sanding equipment capable of processing suitable products up to approximately 900 mm wide, along with equipment for drilling and other timber preparation.

Drying

We have dedicated timber drying facilities and substantial rack capacity for drying wood slices and suitable timber components in quantity.

Drying requirements vary considerably depending on species, thickness, diameter and starting moisture content, so these are assessed for each project.

Printing Directly Onto Timber

We can print directly onto timber in-house.

This can include:

  • Company logos
  • Branding
  • Text and numbering
  • Artwork
  • QR codes
  • Different information or designs on individual pieces

Our printing equipment can handle individual products up to approximately 600 × 900 mm, depending on the product.

This can remove the need to have timber manufactured by one supplier and then sent elsewhere for printing or branding.

Assembly & Packaging

We can incorporate additional production steps such as drilling, fitting magnets, attaching components and assembling finished products.

Products can be supplied in bulk or individually packaged depending on the application.

Timber & Material Sourcing

Pine is our primary timber, and we have reliable access to substantial quantities of locally sourced pine logs and branches.

This is particularly useful for projects requiring:

  • Natural round timber
  • Bark-on products
  • Branches and sticks
  • Wood slices
  • Large repetitive production runs

Other timber species may also be possible.

Depending on the project, we can source material through sawmills, arborists and other timber suppliers. Commercially sawn timber can also be purchased where a project doesn't require natural bark or roundwood.

If you have a particular species, colour, bark appearance or other visual requirement in mind, let us know and we can assess what is practical.

From Prototype to Large Production Runs

For many projects, we can produce a prototype or small sample batch before proceeding with full production.

This can be useful for confirming:

  • Dimensions
  • Appearance
  • Timber selection
  • Printing
  • Assembly
  • Packaging

Prototype and sample work is generally charged separately.

For larger projects, production can often be scaled to suit the requirement.

Depending on the product and available lead time, this may include:

  • Additional production equipment
  • Increased staffing
  • Dedicated production processes
  • Staged manufacturing
  • Partial deliveries over time

There is no fixed maximum quantity.

Very large requirements are assessed according to the product, timber supply, production process, lead time and commercial viability.

If the economics make sense, we are willing to adapt the production setup around a worthwhile project.

What Sort of Projects Suit Us?

Custom manufacturing is generally most practical for commercial orders worth approximately $1,000 or more, although the economics depend heavily on the product.

There is no fixed minimum quantity.

A small number of large or highly processed products can represent a substantial project, while other jobs may require thousands of pieces before they become practical.

We are particularly interested in projects where:

  • A product isn't readily available off the shelf
  • Large quantities of small or medium timber pieces are required
  • Natural timber or bark is an important part of the appearance
  • Unusual dimensions are required
  • A substantial number of similar pieces are needed
  • Several manufacturing steps are involved
  • Timber needs to be printed, drilled, assembled or packaged
  • An ongoing or repeat supply may be required
  • The customer has a requirement but hasn't yet worked out how the product should be manufactured

Both one-off commercial projects and ongoing supply arrangements are welcome.

Who We Can Work With

Potential customers include:

  • Manufacturers
  • Product designers
  • Retailers and wholesalers
  • Architects and interior designers
  • Builders and fit-out companies
  • Fireplace and heating businesses
  • Hospitality businesses
  • Promotional product companies
  • Education suppliers
  • Exhibitions and events
  • Visual merchandising companies
  • Film, television and theatre productions
  • Artists and installation designers

But you don't need to fit one of these categories.

If you have a commercial requirement involving natural timber, we're happy to assess it.

Australian Timber Manufacturing

Stringybark Supplies is based in Wesburn in Victoria's Yarra Valley.

We source much of our timber locally and manufacture our products in our own workshop.

We can supply commercial projects throughout Australia.

Freight can be arranged by us or organised by the customer, and local delivery may also be possible.

Bring Us Your Timber Problem

If you've been searching for a particular timber product and can't find anybody selling it, that is exactly the kind of enquiry we're interested in.

You don't need to have the manufacturing process worked out.

Tell us what the finished product needs to do, what it should look like, approximately how many you need and any important dimensions or requirements.

We'll consider the timber sourcing, manufacturing process, production scale and likely cost and let you know whether we think there is a practical way to make it.

Some ideas will be straightforward. Others won't be practical. We can usually work that out quite quickly.

To get started, send us as much of the following as you have:

  • A description, photograph, sketch or drawing
  • Approximate dimensions
  • Required quantity
  • Intended use
  • Preferred timber or appearance
  • Whether bark or natural edges are important
  • Any logos, printing or additional processing required
  • Delivery location
  • Required timeframe

If it's an unusual timber product and you're not sure who can make it, ask us.

Send your requirements to marcus@stringybarksupplies.com or call (03) 5900 6023.
Photos, drawings and specifications are welcome.