A timber company is going against the grain to market a new concept in wood jointing.

Brighton-based AA Taylor has been using an innovative mitre-jointing processing machine to speed up manufacturing alongside traditional carpentry at the company's timber mill and joinery near London Road station.

The machine secures pieces of wood together using metal chevrons and glue - a much faster and cheaper process than hand-worked joinery methods.

Director Sue Taylor said: "The system joins timber without any external evidence of the nature of the bond. The wood is held firm by internal metal chevrons which are driven into the centre of the wood, by a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch, to act as a brace.

"Extra bonding comes from hot melt glue which is also forced into the joint before the bond is sealed. The system eliminates unnecessary end grain exposure, resulting to a longer-lasting product."

It comes with a computer package to help control operations.

Mrs Taylor said: "We can look at how to allocate each job by inputting the details into the computer. The application gives information on the specification of the task in hand, moulds needed and costs for the job.

"It can even work how many hours are needed to manufacture a given piece."

AA Taylor is one of 40 joinery manufacturers around the country to have adopted the mitre system.

Mrs Taylor said: "The investment has been well worth the effort. I am sure many architects, builders and people in the domestic market will move towards using this technology when they realise its benefits.

"We can turn around an order from initial request to finished painted product within three days, which is considerably quicker than can be achieved by doing all the work in our joinery.

"We can also train semi-skilled workers to operate the machinery with precision, which offers us more opportunity for employment."

The company has found the system effective for creating doors, windows and conservatories.

Mrs Taylor said: "It's a versatile system, the results of which can be used in conservation areas.

"We have used it for several jobs approved by the city council although isn't suitable for some listed buildings where the work has to be reproduced to match existing specifications.

"This system has opened up a whole new range of business but we will also continue to offer highly-skilled hand- crafted joinery from our workshops. We have no intention of turning our backs on the traditional skills we have used since we opened 80 years ago.

"We are just making sure we keep an eye on the future."

AA Taylor, founded by Arthur Albert Taylor in 1921, celebrates its 80th anniversary this month.

Mrs Taylor runs the family business with her husband, Andy, grandson of the company founder.

www.aataylor.co.uk