Bamboo stalks I engineered wood markets

[tHnNxs ro rHE EFFoRTS of Lamboo |. lnc.. Springfield. Il.. laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) can now be specified as a fiber material in engineered wood products covered by ASTM International standards.

"Now, architects and engineers will be able to specify possibly the most ecologically friendly material to ever be integrated into the most respected international standard," says president Luke Schuette, who has more than 32 years experience in the research and development of engineered wood products.

"It has taken over three years of effort and multiple ballots to develop the necessary revisions to permit the evaluation of a bamboo species used in structural composite lumber (SCL) manufacture," says Bruce Craig, product development director at Lamboo. "These revisions will permit an LVB product to be used as an alternative to other structural wood products."

LVB is a composite of bamboo strand elements, edge-bonded to form veneer sheets that are then face-bonded to form finished products. Schuette says that the product's inclusion in ASTM International standards represents the first bio-based structural material addition in about 30 years. As he notes, "sustainability is becoming more and more of a focus in construction."

Lamboo's partnership with The Forest Trust ensures that its raw material is sourced from sustainably managed plantations in Vietnam, China, Africa, Central and South America. The fiber is then processed in nearby manufacturing facilities and shipped to custom fabricators around the world.

Naturally resistant to fungus and bacteria, bamboo also contains silica fibers that deter insects and wood-eating pests such as termites. Only lowVOC adhesives are used during the manufacturing process, so there is no off-gas during sanding, profiling, and handling. On the job, no special tools are required and LVB mills, sands, and finishes like most hardwoods.

Depending on the application, LVB can cost up to l}Vo to 2OVo more than engineered wood products made of southern yellow pine or Douglas fir. Even so, Matt Paul, director of architectural product development, believes this is a small price to pay for "the substantially higher structural performance of bamboo, due to proprietary adhesives and additional engineering."

The Lamboo Structure line is made up of high-performance engineered bamboo components for an array of applications: beams and glulams, exposed trusses and members, and hybrid cold-formed steel joists. All are custom-fabricated in by Lamboo's manufacturing partners in the U.S.: Western Structures, Eugene, Or., and Walsh Industries, Portland, Or. ooN'r BELTEVE there is a definitive answer for what type lof racking works best for what product. The truth is there are too many variables. In the end, what type of racking works best depends on the customer's budget, equipment, and footprint.

Lamboo Elements consists of exterior-grade, laminated bamboo components that can be used in panels, awnings, and stair treads. "lt's 307o more stable in moisture and temperature changes than traditional hardwoods," notes Paul. "And, these materials remain stable in harsh environments, through years of use."

The company also offers WeaveCore, an alternative to traditional plywood and OSB, for use in roof, wall, and floor deck panels. Panels measure 4'x8', with other sizes available for volume orders, in thicknesses of 7mm, 13mm, 16mm, and l9mm.

"Lamboo recognizes the growing demand for superior products that deliver outstanding performance," says Schuette. "Our products are not only a superior option in terms of quality and performance, but are a sustainable option as well."

I have multi-location customers who have to handle the same products differently because of the way their operations are laid out. Hopefully, if we as solution providers ask the right questions ahead of time, we can provide the best options for maximizing our customer's efficiency and protecting their products.

That being said, here are a few examples of things we are doing that seem to be working well for our customers.

Gantilever Racks

If laid out carefully and correctly, and designed for the proper loads, customers can't go wrong with cantilever racking because of its versatility. EWP, dimensional lumber, metal studs, and sheet goods can all be stored effectively in cantilever racks.

With the use of specialty steel pallets designed specifically for loading vinyl siding and composite decking, those items can also be stored in cantilever rack without fear of the product sagging.

Stacking Millwork Racks

Millwork racks provide for the safe shipping and storage of fragile and often expensive millwork items. With the use of optional carts, they can be utilized throughout the manufacturing process, shipped, stored and ultimately delivered to the jobsite. Millwork racks can be stacked up to three racks high, maximizing the use of available floor space.

A large distributor in the Chicago area now works in concert with their window manufacturer by utilizing our millwork racks. They send empty racks to the manufacturer when placing their orders for windows and glass doors. Those products never leave the millwork rack until the builder is installins them. The fewer times these products have to be handled, the less likely these products are to be damaged.

Pallet Racks

Pallet rack can be used in various configurations and is easily changeablc, making it an excellent stora_qe option for numcrous products. Shingles can bc stored safcly and dense ly in pallct rack. It is not uncommon to see pallct upon pallet of roof-ing matcrials taking up valuable space in a customer's yard or parking lot. By utilizin-e pallet racking adaptcd fbr rnetal siding and rool'ing, the matcrials can bc stored vertically at the cdge of the customer's propcrty. This limits the spacc they occupy and reduces damage to product from stacking.

Pallet racking can also be equippccl with material divider bars and uscd to skrre items vertically. Long lengths ol' mouldin_u. pipes and tubing can bc stored neatly in pallet rack, and it makcs for easy lclading ancl unloading by both customcrs and employees.

In iireas where space is lirnited, or the uscr needs to store a large number of SKUs in smaller quantities. rnuch denscr stora-qc can be accornplished by incorporating pallet racking into a pigcon-hole systcm. In this configuration. itcms are strlred horizontally. one ()n top ol'(he other. ln manl cases, the top of thc racking can thcn be covered and uscd as additional storage space.

The possibilities arc cndless whcn it comes to storing building materials. There are all types of racking systcms that can be used efTiciently. But the b()tlom line is this: Ef'fi'ctive storusr' solutions have to be dcsigned around a customer's available useable spacc. their products. and theil existing cquipment.

Sean Dettisott is presidcttt uttd ortrtcr ol Tirrtberline Ruck & Storugt, Grunger, Irt. Reuclt hirn at (,988) 29-l-1116 or sdenisort @ t i rtt b e rl i rt a ru c k ttt m.

LBM Rack Specialists

In addition to the dozens of general racking providers, the following specialize in equipping lumberyards:

Krauter Auto-Stak www.krauterautostak.com

Sunbelt www.sunbeltracks.com

Timberline Rack & Storage www.timberlinerack.com