Lokarr has been recognised in the latest issue of Roofing Today, one of the UK’s leading trade publications for roofing, cladding and insulation professionals. Issue 111 (March–April 2024) highlights how new thinking and technology are beginning to reshape the roofing batten market.
The feature explores how Lokarr is introducing a more transparent, technology-driven approach to roofing battens – an area of the industry that has traditionally relied on price competition and colour coding rather than traceability and verified quality.
Raising Standards in the Batten Supply Chain
The article explains how Lokarr founders set out to challenge long-standing issues in the UK batten supply chain, including inconsistent quality, unclear provenance, and limited traceability between manufacturers, merchants and contractors.
By working directly with a specialist Baltic timber processor, Lokarr has created a more controlled supply chain that ensures battens are responsibly sourced, precision cut, kiln-dried and manufactured under tightly monitored conditions. Roofing-Today-111-March-2024
Every piece of timber is processed using advanced manufacturing techniques, delivering consistent dimensional accuracy and stability before being distributed to the UK market.
Technology Bringing Transparency to Roofing
One of the most notable innovations highlighted in the Roofing Today article is Lokarr’s use of QR-enabled smart packaging.
Each pack of Lokarr battens contains QR codes that allow contractors, merchants and specifiers to instantly access critical product information via smartphone. This includes:
• BS 5534 compliance and BM TRADA Q-Mark certification
• FSC and PEFC sustainability credentials
• Timber treatment details and handling guidance
• Full chain-of-custody documentation
The technology also allows installation locations to be recorded using geolocation data, helping create the “golden thread” of information increasingly required for building documentation and regulatory compliance. Roofing-Today-111-March-2024
Protecting Product Quality to Site
Another key innovation highlighted in the feature is Lokarr’s protective top-wrapped packaging system.
Unlike traditional batten bundles that can absorb moisture during storage, Lokarr battens are wrapped to protect the timber while still allowing it to breathe. This helps ensure battens arrive on site in the same condition they leave the processor, avoiding warping, moisture absorption and unnecessary weight gain from exposure to rain. Roofing-Today-111-March-2024
Shifting the Market Towards Quality
The Roofing Today feature notes that Lokarr’s approach aims to move the roofing batten market away from a long-standing focus on colour-coded battens and price-driven purchasing decisions.
Instead, the company believes the future of roofing battens should centre on quality, traceability and verifiable standards throughout the supply chain.
As the founders explain in the article, the goal is simple: raise standards across the industry by making product information transparent and easily accessible to everyone involved in a project.
Positive Industry Reception
Since launching in 2023, Lokarr has already secured strong interest from roofing merchants across the UK, including partnerships with key distributors and a supply agreement with a major national buying group.
Early feedback from merchants and contractors has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly around the emphasis on traceability, consistent quality and improved product protection.
A New Chapter for Roofing Battens
The Roofing Today feature highlights a broader shift happening within the roofing industry — one where technology, traceability and quality assurance are becoming increasingly important.
With its innovative approach to supply chain transparency and smart packaging, Lokarr is positioning itself at the forefront of this change.
As the roofing sector continues to evolve, initiatives like these are helping to drive higher standards and greater confidence in roofing materials across the UK.
