Issue297

7889

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issue 297 | 25.11.13 | PAGe 1

CLT gains ground

tHis issue • Timber workers unite to grow industry • IFA honours respected forester

Big new projects under way, local manufacture now a real possibility

announced last week during a gathering of building designers and engineers at the company’s $14 million distribution complex at Crestmead, 27 km south of Brisbane.

Unfazed by a savage hail storm that ripped into the sides of the assembly tent occupied by more than 170 guests, VIPs and Tilling staff, Tilling’s

By JiM BOwden

MELBOURNE-based engineered wood designer and supplier the Tilling Group has signed an agreement with CLT pioneer and market leader KLH Massivholz to distribute the Austrian-based company’s ‘jumbo ply’ products in Australia and New Zealand.

Tilling’s appointment was

•

national commercial manager Robert De Brincat pressed on with announcements of a range of new products to feed a new demand for large-scale engineered timber systems.

Mr De Brincat, who heads up Tilling’s SmartStruct division, said the company was now

• • •

industry’s leaders recognised at VAFI dinner TABMA Australia president re-elected Third term for ewPAA president Government backs nZ forest levy trust Frame Australia can do it in a day

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www.osmose.com.au Call: 1800 088 809 issue 297 | 25.11.13 | PAGe 1

industry news

Rebuilding forest industry to ignite future confidence Improving our industry’s capacity to develop and maintain a skilled workforce ............................

PARLIAMENTARY secretary for forestry Senator Richard Colbeck says the Coalition government will restore confidence to the forest industry by delivering on election commitments to cut red and green tape, establish a 20-year rolling life for regional forest agreements, reintroduce wood biomass and renewable energy initiatives and establish an industry advisory council.

His comments follow an ABARES report that Senator Colbeck says exposes the ousted LaborGreen government for mismanagement of the industry.

The report – the Australian forest and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2013 – looks at trade and employment data relating to the forest industry.

Senator Richard Colbeck .. Labor and the Greens must share the blame.

Senator Colbeck said the report showed the previous government’s disastrous policies had hit the forest industry extremely hard.

“The forest industry suffered under the Labor-Green watch and the job now rests with us to re-build the industry and

ignite confidence in the future,” Senator Colbeck said.

The ABARES report shows the Labor-Green government left a devastating legacy to the forest industry, with the value of wood product exports falling by 8.3% to $2 billion in 2012-13.

“Over the last five years, the value of hardwood woodchip exports decreased by 42%.

Labor’s unnecessary regulation of the industry made it difficult for businesses to compete in a competitive market.”

Also, the forestry, logging and wood product manufacturing industries lost almost 3000 jobs in 2012-13.

“Labor indulged the Greens’ campaign to shut-down the native forest industry and this hit industry confidence hard,” the senator said. “Labor and the Greens share the blame over the state of the industry.”

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PAgE 2 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

THE NSW government has rejected calls from an inquiry led by the Shooters and Fishers Party to allow logging in reserved areas and slap a moratorium on the creation of new national parks.

Tabling its response to the upper house inquiry into the management of public land last week, the government ruled out a recommendation that it immediately identify “appropriate reserved areas for release” to the timber industry, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

“The NSW government does not support logging in national parks and has no plans to allow it through the implementation of tenure swaps or by other means,” the government said.

It also dismissed a recommendation to ban the

creation of national parks or extending existing ones as “inconsistent” with goals to conserve biodiversity.

The NSW Forests Products Association, which had sought access for timber companies to as much as 1 million ha of extra land, said the overall landscape should be assessed to balance environmental protection and the needs of industry and job creation.

FPA says the government’s response is “disappointing in some respects but it does not foreclose a review of regulations”.

The door remains open, though, for logging in the Brigalow and Nandewar state conservation areas, as sought by the inquiry’s backers.

“This now leaves the native

forest industry in a difficult situation,” FPA general manager Maree McCaskill said.

“The report on the North Coast resource which was delivered to Premier and Cabinet at the beginning of this year has not surfaced and is being held ‘cabinet in confidence’.

“Now this latest report which gave the NSW government the opportunity under controlled environmental conditions to meet the Forest Agreement commitments for wood supply has been rejected.

“The only way to end speculation is for the NSW government to give the native forest industry concrete policy on where they see the industry in New South Wales over the next 10-20 years.”

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industry news

Large-scale engineered timber systems cut construction time From Page 1

positioned to “fill the gap” in the timber construction market between heavy industrial and commercial buildings and highrise residential structures.

“Cross-laminated timber will play a huge part in this program; there are already 10 CLT projects in the pipeline, three of which will be under way in the New Year,” Mr De Brincat said.

“I see in the foreseeable future an opportunity for us to start CLT manufacture in Australia.”

Mr De Brincat recently visited European CLT suppliers and assisted in the completion of Tilling’s distribution contract with KLH in Austria.

KLH’s employs about 130 staff at its KatschatMur factory in Austria and produces more than 650,000 sq m of spruce pine solid wood panels a year.

One project in Cambridgeshire, England, used nearly 1000 cub m of CLT solid wood structural panel that was instrumental in getting the project engineers to switch from ‘conventional materials’.

Well structured .. engineered wood products are examined by Darling Downs designers from Toowoomba Allan Robinson, Northpoint Design, Brian Douglas, Design ConXion, and Owen Kleidon, Struxi Design, during the Tilling Group presentation for building designers and engineers.

According to the engineer, the 90 cub m, or 475 tonnes, of CLT added up to just 310 tonnes of embodied CO2, even taking in to account trucking it half way across Europe. That compares with around 750 tonnes for the equivalent structure in steel or concrete. Throw in the sequestered CO2 – the amount absorbed by the timber as it grows – and you go into carbon negativity to the tune of minus

480 tonnes.

Compared to the other materials, there’s a total carbon saving of 1200 tonnes.

Me De Brincat said Tilling had identified a wider interest in CLT in Australia and New Zealand on the back of growing popularity for the ‘jumbo ply’ and extensive media attention on the viability and market acceptance of timber

as an alternative commercial construction material.

“As far as Tilling is concerned, we see a number of complementary products that can accompany CLT,” he said.

“These include TecBeam, cassette flooring systems, commercial I-joists (500 mm and 600 mm), cassette modular flooring systems, glue laminated beams and posttension LVL or box beams.”

CLT, a building material that permits fast and efficient construction of single or multiresidential type buildings, was first developed in Austria, and within the last 20 years, production has spread to other parts of Europe and into North America.

Used mainly for wall, ceiling and roof construction, CLT is fabricated by bonding together timber boards with structural adhesives to produce a solid timber panel with each layer of the panel alternating between longitudinal and transverse lamellae.

Alternating the grain directions of each layer of timber reduces Cont Page 13

New owner sought for this business. Contact David Ginnane on (07) 5529 3700

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issue 297 | 25.11.13 | Page 3

industry news

Queensland timber workers unite to fund industry growth

Open invitation for foundation membership timber industry needed the support of its 20,000 workers to truly grow and prosper.

“Our industry has significant potential to prosper but it doesn’t have the reputation and resources to do so, it needs assistance to grow,” Ms Oelkers said.

“Anything the QTWSF supports will have the mission of securing a robust future for our industry.

“We aim to undertake the type of activities that businesses operating in our industry would do if they had the funds – from marketing Queensland’s timber industry and establishing training scholarships that upskill our workforce, to funding workers on educational

FOREST and timber workers have a vehicle to join forces, drive the industry forward and secure their future following the launch of the Queensland Timber Workers Support Foundation (QTWSF).

The non-for-profit foundation, with an aim to energise and grow Queensland’s forest and timber industry, was formed by members of Queensland forest and timber industry who realise the potential of the industry but recognise the funding limitations prohibiting its growth.

Inaugural QTWSF chairperson Alicia Oelkers, who is Queensland state manager of TABMA Australia, said the

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Alicia Oelkers .. a mission to secure a robust future for the Queensland timber industry.

tours and supporting local community events in timber region.”

Ms Oelkers said that anyone who derived their income from Queensland’s forest and timber industry was welcome to join the foundation and donate funds to support, grow and secure the future of the Industry.

“Workers are invited to invest in their own future and support their Industry by making an annual $20 donation – $10 in January and $10 in July – to the QTWSF,” she said.

“In return, QTWSF activities will help secure jobs, provide better opportunities and establish a sustainable future for our Industry.”

QTWSF will be administered

by Timber Queensland until the organisation is fully operational, operating as a separate entity with its own board of directors and financial operations.

QTWSF’s board of directors comprises the originator of the QTWSF concept Ross Lakin, operations manager, Parkside Timber Division, Sean Gribble, national operations manager, Agora Timbers, James Hyne, resource manager, Hyne, and Alicia Oelkers, Queensland state manager, TABMA Australia (chair).

TABMA Australia president re-elected PETER Hutchison of MiTek Australia was re-relected president of TABMA Australia at the merchant organisation’s AGM and board meeting in Sydney.

Brenton Christopher of John Cook & Sons and John Harrison of Harrisons Timber were both re-elected as vice-presidents.

Also elected to the board were Danny Gattone (Swadlings Timber & Hardware), Gary Walker (Belmont Timber), Michael Gaske (Ozline TimbersBoonah), Glenn Johnston (Stockwells Joinery), Andrew Bone (Bone Timber Industries SA), Michael Swan (Swan Le Messurier), Mark Willey

Peter Hutchison

(Gunnersen), and David Little (Hardware & General).

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events

wHAt’s On?

nOveMBer

25-26: Bioenergy Australia 2013, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.

Technical tour November 27.

Abstracts for presentations and posters are currently being sought.

The conference covers all aspects of bioenergy including biomass feedstocks, energy conversion technologies and overarching issues such as greenhouse gas balances and financing. Contact Daniel Evans at bioenergyconf@ theassociationspecialists.com. au or Stephen Schuck, Bioenergy Australia sschuck@bigpond.net.au Web: www.bioenergyaustralia.org 26-27: ForestTech 2013 (including the forest industry safety summit and steep slope wood harvesting conference – Rotorua, NZ. www.foresttech2013. com

FEBRUARY 2014 17-21: Gottstein wood science Course, Melbourne. Inquiries to Dr Silvia Pongracic (Gottstein Trust), 0418 764 954 or secretary@

gottsteintrust.org or www. gottsteintrust.org

MArCH 2014 19: ForestWood 2014. Politics, Policies and Business impacts.

Pan-industry conference jointly hosted by Forest Owners Association, Wood Processors Association, Pine Manufacturers Association, Forest Industry Contractors Association, and supported by Woodco, NZ Farm Forestry Association and the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington. Registration opens October 2013. Contact conference organisers Paardekooper and Associates on +64 4 562 8259 or email info@forestwood.org.nz Visit www.forestwood.org.nz

MAy 2014 9: Frame Australia, Park Hyatt Melbourne. National one-day event for engineered timber and

building pre-fabrication and the only event for the complete supply chain with a unique forum on markets, products and systems for timber and wood used in the detached housing and multiresidential dwelling markets.

Conference – Prefab Timber and Engineered Wood in Building Construction – covers timber and engineered wood developments, manufacture and supply of prefab truss and frame, and panelised buildings. Reduced registration and sponsorship costs. Updated proposals on www.frameaustralia. com Contact: Kevin Ezard on (03) 9537 3800 or 0419 538 638 email kevin@frameaustralia.com

AuGust 2014 6-9: AWISA 2014 Exhibition.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The AustralianWoodworking Industry Suppliers Association Ltd has decided that the exhibition will move from Sydney to Brisbane next year. Inquiries about booking space: email info@awisa.com or call Geoff Holland. Tel: (02) 9918 3661. Fax: (02) 9918 7764. Mob: 0412 361 580 Email: info@awisa.com

Innovative wood structure takes shape in British Columbia THE Wood Innovation and Design Centre is rapidly taking shape in Prince George, British Columbia – and it takes only a few moments on site to realise this is no ordinary construction project.

Individually prefabricated solid wood slabs, up to 3 m x 40 m, weighing more close to 3630 kg arrive precisely crafted, and usually just in time and installed by the

small structural crew.

The structure for the main floor and mezzanine is almost completed, including the vaulted entry and demonstration area, the 75seat lecture theatre and a stunning laboratory space running the length of the northeast side.

Seven-metre glulam columns support massive parallel strand lumber (PSL) and

glulam beams, which inturn support the unique ‘corrugated’ CLT ceiling / floor assembly.

The five-ply CLT floor panels rest on seven-ply CLT beams to create longitudinal trenches below, for lighting and sprinkler lines, and cavities above for all other services. Towering above everything is the solid wood core assembly.

Australia’s forest, wood, pulp and paper products industry now has a stronger voice in dealings with government, the community and in key negotiations on the industry’s future, as two peak associations have merged to form a single national association.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has been formed through the merger of the Australian Plantations Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) and the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI).

AFPA was established to cover all aspects of Australia’s forest industry: - Forest growing; - Harvest and haulage; - Sawmilling and other wood processing; - Pulp and paper processing; and - Forest product exporting.

For more information on the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) or to enquire about membership , please call (02) 6285 3833.

Innovative wood structure takes lumbia

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issue 297 | 25.11.13 | PAGe 5

events

Frame can do it in a day

Shorter conference, exhibition appeals to industry LIMITED time availability for potential conference delegates has meant Frame Australia 2014 has been condensed to a one-day event from the normal two days in the past.

As a result, organisers have reviewed the speaker sessions and plan to fit topics to the one-day format without lessening the ‘real’ content of the program.

With the shortened time allocation comes a resultant reduction in delegate registration fee costs of 40% – with sponsorship levels reduced by 30% to a low of $3500 for an exhibitor display.

Organisers believe not only will a one-day conference hold greater appeal, it will increase the number of delegates from all sectors of the industry, including prefabrication, timber supply and building construction.

Frame Australia conferences have been held for the past 15 years and the 2014 event will be held on Monday, May 19 next year at the Park Hyatt Melbourne.

The conference will be held at a time when construction of new dwellings within the housing industry is on the rise following several years of either negligible or limited growth

PAgE 6 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

Frame Australia .. reduced to one-day event.

after the deleterious effects of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The latest information from the Housing Industry Association has revealed that residential building approvals have hit their highest levels since early 2010.

“In September 2013, total residential building approvals increased by 14.4% compared

with August on a seasonally adjusted basis,” HIA senior economist Shane Garrett said.

“This brought total approvals to 16,318 during the month. We have not seen a figure higher than that since March 2010.”

Over the past three months, building approvals have been running at an annual rate of around 180,000 with growth

driven mainly by the multi-unit segment of the market where approvals increased by 31.8% from June figures.

At the same time, detached house approvals rose by only 1.9% demonstrating that the recovery is not yet as broadbased as the industry would like.

“The main message from these figures is that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rate cuts over the past two years are helping to support activity on the ground,” Shane Garrett said.

In September 2013, total seasonally adjusted building approvals growth was strongest in New South Wales (+25.2%), followed by Victoria (+18%) and Western Australia (+12.3%).

Approvals also increased in Queensland (+3.8%) and South Australia (+0.8%). In trend terms, total building approvals were flat in the Northern Territory and declined by 4.3% in the ACT during September.

Tasmania also saw approvals fall during September (-10.3%).

For more information on Frame Australia 2014 visit www. frameaustralia.com or contact Kevin Ezard on (03) 9537 3800 or email kevin@frameaustralia. com

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CitAtiOn

Tributes flow as respected forester receives honorary IFA membership RESPECTED forester, former CSIRO scientist and prolific writer Alan Brown AM, 82, has been granted honorary membership of the Institute of Foresters of Australia.

Between 1975 and 1996 he held a variety of positions in CSIRO forestry divisions, including assistant chief, deputy chief and chief, and from 1996 to 2005 he retained contact with the organisation as an honorary research fellow.

He holds a Master of Science from the University of Sydney’s department of botany, 1966 (isolating barriers between the Californian closed-cone pines), a Bachelor of Science (Forestry), University of Sydney, 1951, and a Diploma of Forestry (with distinction) Australian Forestry School, 1951.

During 1988–1990 as deputy chief, CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products, Mr Brown supervised management of more than 180 staff dispersed in four laboratories. The research programs embraced softwood and hardwood plantations as well as native forests.

His role included identification of strategic directions and development of formal strategic plans, and implementation of these plans. The research placed emphasis on effectivelymanaged cooperation both with end-users and with other research agencies – forest services, universities, forest products laboratories and development assistance agencies in Australia and overseas.

Prior to 1975, Mr Brown undertook silvicultural research, especially on forest genetics, in the Forest Research Institute and lectured in silviculture and wood science at the Australian Forestry School.

He has held positions on the boards of the International

Extraordinary human qualities .. Alan Brown with his wife Erica Leslie.

Union of Forest Research Organisations and the Centre for International Forestry Research, and worked with Hermon Slade Foundation and the ATSE Crawford Fund and (continuing) with the Institute of Foresters of Australia.

Publications in which he had a leading role include Growing Trees on Australian Farms (1968), the first comprehensive handbook on agroforestry in Australia, and Eucalypts for From Page 8

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issue 297 | 25.11.13 | Page 7

CitAtiOn

Leader of ACIAR projects in Africa and Asia From Page 7

Wood Production (1978), a publication that presaged the development of now-extensive eucalypt plantations in this country.

Despite Mr Brown’s work as research scientist he is well known and continues to be sought after as a scientific editor. He has been associated with more than 130 publications as an author or editor and his topics have covered a wide range including wood properties, vegetative production, seed orchards, nutrition, pruning, thinning, inventory and even mistletoe.

In a tribute, friend and colleague Dr John Turnbull said: “Alan’s personal qualities and expertise enabled him to mentor and support his staff to great effect and many younger scientists,ATIF likeAdvertFINAL.pdf me, owe him 1a huge debt of gratitude for his

support of their careers and achievements.

“Alan Brown was my immediate boss in the Forest Research Institute and later in CSIRO Division of Forest Research from 1966-1984. I had a close association with him when I was the coordinator of ACIAR’s forestry program from 1984 to 1994. Subsequently, he was on the board of management at the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia where I was chief scientist from 1994-1998.”

Dr Turnbull said Mr Brown was project leader of several of ACIAR’s projects in Africa and Asia. One of these was a project in China on the introduction

and genetic improvement of eucalypts for plantation forestry which the former director of ACIAR Dr Bob Clements concluded was “in dollar terms the single biggest impact of any area of research supported

by ACIAR”.

“Alan’s scientific management skills and sensitivity to intercountry cultural issues were critical in achieving this result.

It is just one example of his significant international impact,” Dr Turnbull said.

“The other outstanding area of Alan’s work is his editorial skill which has resulted in some very significant books, such as ‘Eucalypts for Wood Production’ and the continuing

‘Alan’s scientific management skills and sensitivity to inter-country cultural issues were critical in achieving these results’ 3/12/12 11:59 AM – Dr John Turnbull

high quality of the Institute of Foresters of Australia’s journal, Australian Forestry.”

Director

at

Salwood

Asia

Pacific Steve Midgley added: “A terrific bloke and a wonderful forester.

“The

citation

makes

little

mention of Alan’s extraordinary human

qualities

-

qualities

which allowed him to maintain a

strong

credibility

across

countries and cultures.

“His willingness to engage with people of other countries and cultures was an example for those who worked with him and this encouragement was fundamental to many of the successes which IFA members have enjoyed in Asia and elsewhere.”

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PAgE 8 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

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industry news

Funds will benefit all forest growers Govt supports NZ levy trust THE trust set up to collect funds for activities that will benefit all forest owners in New Zealand has received government approval for a levy on forest products from January 1.

“We may be the engine of the country’s third biggest export industry, but forestry has a huge untapped potential to extract greater value and to build on the eco-system benefits we already provide,” Forest Growers Levy Trust chair Geoff Thompson said.

“The levy per tonne is only small, but when multiplied across the millions of logs our growers produce each year, we will be able to fund work that directly benefits all growers and indirectly, all New Zealanders.”

Associate minister for primary industries Jo Goodhew announced government approval of a 27c / tonne levy on all harvested wood material from New Zealand plantation forests during 2014. This is expected to raise more than $6.5 million during the year.

Forest Owners Association president Paul Nicholls says getting the levy to this point has involved a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work.

“The time and energy that has gone into this reflects the wish of most growers to have a more cohesive industry where everyone can have their say and everyone pays their fair share for activities that benefit us all.”

Farm Forestry Association

Timber & Forestry e-news is the most authoritative and quickest deliverer of news and special features to the forest and forest products industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.

Weekly distribution is over 7,000 copies, delivered every Monday. Advertising rates are the most competitive of any industry magazine in the region.

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Paul Nicholls .. everyone pays their fair share.

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president Ian Jackson says the development of the levy Address all correspondence to concept has resulted in PO Box 330, Hamilton Central, Qld 4007 an unprecedented level of cooperation between large and small growers.

“We’ve always been at the table, dennis@industrye-news.com but having an elected levy trust board, where all small growers PUBLISHER will be represented as of right, dennis Macready cements the relationship. dennis@industrye-news.com Importantly it means all tree growers will make a financial contribution at harvest and have the opportunity to be involved in the governance of the industry.” mAnAgIng EDITOR This comes as the trust is Jim Bowden conducting elections for its tel: +61 7 3266 1429 permanent trust board.

Mob: 0401 312 087 The on-line vote count stood at cancon@bigpond.net.au 242 last week, with 234 of these from owners of smaller forests ADVERTISIng and eight in the over-1000 ha tel: +61 7 3266 1429 category. cancon@bigpond.net.au The poll closed last Friday, November 22.

Milestone for road transport sector AUSTRALIA’S transport ministers have set February 10, 2014 as the start date for the new National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to administer one heavy vehicle rule book, representing a historic milestone for the road transport sector.

The new heavy vehicle national will commence in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

In total, this will effectively replace up to five different sets of legislation with one national rule book.

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Opinions expressed on Timber & Forestry e news are not necessarily the opinions of the editor, publisher or staff. We do not accept responsibility for any damage resulting from inaccuracies in editorial or advertising.

The Publisher is therefore indemnified against all actions, suits, claims or damages resulting from content on this e news. Content cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the Publisher- Custom Publishing Group.

issue 297 | 25.11.13 | Page 9

VAFI ANNUAL DINNER AND AWARDS NIGHT

industry’s leaders recognised at VAFI annual dinner in Melbourne

Greg McCormack receives lifetime service award MORE than 240 representatives from the forest and wood products, manufacturing and construction industries, government, stakeholders and forestry communities attended the Victorian Association of Forest Industries annual dinner and awards night the Park Hyatt in Melbourne on November 15.

Several businesses were recognised for their innovation, environmental credentials, community engagement, workplace safety, and staff training.

VAFI CEO Lisa Marty said it was uplifting to see businesses recognised for outstanding achievement.

With a strong field in every category, more than one winner was declared for two of the categories. Award recipients were: • Australian Paper – Innovation.

• Australian Sustainable Hardwoods – Local Community Engagement and Occupational Health and Safety.

• Fenning Bairnsdale – Environmental Sustainability.

• HVP Plantations – Occupational Health and Safety.

Recognition .. the Minister for Agriculture and Forests Peter Walsh (left) congratulates Greg McCormack, recipient of the 2013 VAFI Lifetime Service Award. Pictured at the presentation are Lisa Marty, CEO, Victorian Association of Forest Industries, and Gary Blackwood MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport.

• Ryan & McNulty – Skills and Training Community Engagement.

Industry leader Greg McCormack was recognised for his decades’ long contribution to forestry and timber, including his role as a past president of VAFI and the current president of the Australian Forest Products Association.

Mr McCormack was awarded VAFI’s Lifetime Service Award.

Victorian Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh, who presented the awards, said the Victorian government recognised the significant contribution the forest and wood products industry made to the state’s economy, while also responsibly and sustainably managing Victoria’s

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries congratulates the winners of the 2013 VAFI Sustainability Awards The peak body for the Victorian forest and wood products industry

Innovation Award Winner: Australian Paper

timber resources.

“Victoria’s timber industry directly employs more than 21,000 people and generated around $1.78 billion for the state’s economy in 2011-12,” Mr Walsh said.

“There is also global demand for Victorian timber and paper, with finished timber products exported to countries in Europe and Asia, and paper sent to more than 75 countries in Asia, North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”

The keynote speaker at the dinner was Peter Maddison, architect and host of television program Grand Designs Australia, who discussed sustainable buildings and the importance of sourcing local materials.

Lisa Marty said the quality of the businesses that had nominated for the Sustainability Awards, and the talks by the Minister and Peter Maddison, showed there was much to be positive about for the forest and wood products industry, and timber manufacturing in Victoria.

Cont Page 11

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Community Engagement Award Winners: Australian Sustainable Hardwoods and Ryan & McNulty Sawmillers

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Environmental Sustainability Award Winner: Fenning Bairnsdale Occupational Health and Safety Award Winners: Australian Sustainable Hardwoods and HVP Plantations

PAgE 10 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

Skills and Training Award Winner: Ryan & McNulty Sawmillers

Twitter: @VAFIOnline

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VAFI ANNUAL DINNER AND AWARDS NIGHT

Getting together at the VAFI dinner and awards night in Melbourne are Tim Lee, reporter for ABC Landline, Darren Chester MP, Gippsland and Jim Henneberry, CEO, Australian Paper.

Enjoying the VAFI dinner .. Senator Bridget McKenzie, Senator for Victoria, Neil Angus MP Forest Hill, and Wendy Stoney and Graeme Stoney, director of VicForests.

Michelle Freeman, Victorian Rural Woman’s Award Winner 2013 (centre) catches up with Darren Chester MP Gippsland, and Senator Bridget McKenzie, Senator for Victoria.

Sustainability report launched at dinner From Page 10

“Forest and wood products are the environmental choice; they are renewable, store carbon and use less energy to produce than other materials,” she said.

“We manage our forests responsibly and we support an important local manufacturing sector.”

The 2013 VAFI Sustainability

Report – and overview of the forest and wood products industry in Victoria – was also launched at the dinner.

The event was made possible by its sponsors, which included the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries and industry consultants Poyry Management Consulting.

Rodney Natty, resource manager, Fenning Bairnsdale, accepts the Environmental Sustainability Award from Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh presents the Local Community Engagement and Occupational Health and Safety.Award to Vince Hurley, CEO, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods.

Don’t cut corners.

Stick to the facts FACT: All certified EWPAA structural plywood and Type A bond exterior plywood have an emission class of Super EO, EO and E1 certified under a JAS-ANZ accredited system.

FACT: All certified EWPAA products have a durability guarantee and all EWPAA members carry liability insurance.

FACT: All certified EWPAA products can gain extra Green Star rating points – one for low formaldehyde emissions (EO or E1) and one for Super EO in office fit out.

FACT: Not all imported non-certified LVL and plywood meet these requirements. In fact, laboratory tests show many imported non-compliant products are continuously failing Australian and New Zealand standards for emissions and bonding strength and are life threatening.

FACT: Manufacturers, agents and suppliers trading in inferior, unlabelled and non-compliant plywood and LVL risk damage to their businesses and their reputation, media exposure and high penalties under law.

Don’t risk it.

Specify EWPAA products stamped with the approved certification.

Be sure. Be safe.

Main picture: Karri Loop House, Margaret River, WA. Winner EWPAA Sanderson Trophy for MORQ Architects in the 2013 Australian Timber Design Awards

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Plywood House, 3 Dunlop Street, 4006 Queensland Australia Tel: 61 7 3250 3700 Fax: 61 7 3252 4769 Email: inbox@ewp.asn.,au Web: www.ewp.asn.au

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issue 297 | 25.11.13 | PAGe 11

nAtiOnAL ArCHiteCture AwArds

No Ra w w tin ith g( aJ on

the

D3

fac e)

Extensive testing of SmartLVL 15 to AS 1649-2001 (Timber – Methods of test for mechanical fasteners and connectors) and AS/NZS 4357 (structural laminated veneer lumber) has demonstrated the following Joint Strength Group characteristics when fastening to SmartLVL 15 with nails, screws and bolts: 1.Face -JD3 (applies to truss boots, jack truss hangers etc. mounted on LVL chord faces) 2.Edges and ends -JD4

)

No JD w w (o 3 it n R th at h a e f in ac g e

Note: the above joint strength capacities are for nails, screws and bolt connections only and do not relate to nailplate tooth capacity. Nailplate tooth capacity is proprietary information of the individual nailplate manufacturer.

1963 - 2012

AS 4357.0 LicSMKB25220 SAI Global

SCS-PEFC/COC-004061

Sales 1800 33 77 03 PAgE 12 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

Technical 1300 Advertising: 668 690Tel +61 7 3266www.tilling.com.au 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

TILLING ALLIANCE OF BUILDING DESIGNERS PRESENTATION

Hot property: new engineered timber ideas speed apartment construction PROPERTY developer Australand, with development partner Citta Property Group, beat two other developers to win a government tender to transform a 20 ha site at Parkville, and inner Melbourne suburb, into a village for 7000 athletes and officials gathered for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The site has since been transformed into a commercial housing precinct with a ‘distinctly eco-friendly image’.

“Sophisticated, high-tech engineered wood products have been at the heart of this development,” Australand estimating manager Kase Jong told a gathering of 170 building designers and engineers at an ‘open day’ at the Tilling Group’s Crestmead facility south of Brisbane last week.

“One of these projects – the Jardine Parkville apartments – is near to lock-up stage and has been completed seven weeks ahead of schedule after working closely with Tilling’s SmartStruct division,” Mr Jong said.

“Tilling provided large-scale engineered timber construction systems including more than 3000 sq m of cassette flooring.”

After the Games the AustralandCitta consortium transferred

Ready for the big show .. Kane Jong, estimating manager for property group Australand in Melbourne (second from left), with key Tilling executives Robert De Brincat, national commercial manager, Judy Tilling, Fiona Luckey, national specification manager, and Norm Tilling.

200 units to the government for public housing. Half those are ‘hostel-type’’ buildings where occupants share facilities.

Australand and Citta are transforming the balance of the Parkville site into a mix of apartments and townhouses.

Jardin Parkville, on a portion of prime land for years owned by the state government, will include a residents-only ‘park club’’, an indoor-outdoor recreation retreat with a 25-metre heated lap pool, gym and free Wi-Fi internet. It will also include two and threebedroom apartments.

Heading up Tilling’s SmartStruct division is national commercial manager Robert De Brincat. He

outlined the company’s range of engineered wood products that fit squarely between the high end of industrial and commercial construction and residential high-rise.

He said Tecbeam, an I-beam-joist was a unique, patent-protected, innovative lightweight steel and timber composite structural beam.

“The composite is a continuous light gauge galvanised steel web, with press-formed stiffening ribs and uniformly spaced service holes.

Structural timber flanges of plantation-grown softwood are fixed by nails and/or spikes to each side of the continuous steel web,” he explained.

“The joists demonstrate many superior performance characteristics compared with other commonly used joists.

They have been extensively tested and proven as a structural beam for use in all types of floor and roof construction in over a decade of supplying the competitive Victorian residential and commercial construction markets.”

Mr De Brincat said a Tecbeam designed floor could often replace structural steel beams, which can amount to significant savings in time and cost.

Ceiling plaster board and Cont Page 15

Engineered timber reduces construction time From Page 3

many of the weaknesses of previous timber products; the effects of shrinkage and swelling are vastly reduced and the load can be transferred in more than one direction.

Alternating the grain directions of each layer of timber reduces many of the weaknesses of previous timber products; the effects of shrinkage and swelling are vastly reduced and the load can be transferred in

more than one direction.

During the Crestmead presentation, Kase Jong, estimating manager for Australand, referred to the big property developer’s joint project in Melbourne – Stage 5 of Parkville Gardens, a new inner-Melbourne precinct on 20 ha site to include more than 1000 dwellings made up of detached houses, townhouses, and apartments.

“Engineered wood has played a massive role in the project’s

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construction,” Mr Jong said.

“We have been working with Tilling on this and they supplied more than 3000 sq m of cassette flooring.”

Mr Jong said the project was at the lock-up stage and the flooring systems had allowed Australand to come in seven to eight weeks ahead of schedule.

Tilling’s SmartFloor cassette system utilises a detailed design and drafting service which ensures that every component of the system is

incorporated into the overall design of the project.

“A primary reason for building in timber is the speed of assembly,” Mr Jong said.

“Timber has been found to be quicker to construct and easier to work with, not to mention considerable advantages in weight reduction with comparable strength alternative materials – and the obvious cost advantages.”

issue 297 | 25.11.13 | Page 13

TILLING ALLIANCE OF BUILDING DESIGNERS PRESENTATION

Building designers from the Sunshine Coast at the Tilling Group presentation .. Cameron Lincoln, Chilli Freaks Builders, Ray Trinder, Trinder Drafting and Design, and Stephen Hunt, HR Design Group.

Tom Kalaja of Tom Kalaja & Associates, Slacks Creek, Mark Wichlinski of Mark Wichlinski Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd, Surfers Paradise, and Murray Maramba, , MFM Consulting, Brisbane.

Tilling sales rep Matt Colley (right) gives Tim Ryan, residential division manager at Structerre Consulting, Brisbane, a run down on Tilling engineered products.

Meeting up at Tilling’s Crestmead facility are Peter Knight, Knight Consulting Engineers, South Brisbane, and John Crossley, Auscad Drafting, Moorooka.

Sponsorship Opportunity Frame Australia 2014 Conference and Exhibition Frame is the only national event for the complete supply chain of structural timber, engineered wood products and pre-fabricated frames for the detached housing and multi-residential dwelling markets, and embraces the key industry sectors from manufacturing through to building construction.

Frame offers an exceptional opportunity to suppliers for access to target markets, and a Sponsorship Proposal is available at www.frameaustralia.com.

For further information contact conference director Kevin Ezard: kevin@frameaustralia.com or phone (03) 9537 3800.

Prefab Timber and Engineered Wood in Building Construction PAGe 14 | issue 297 | 25.11.13

2014 Advertising: tel +61 7 3266 1429 email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

TILLING ALLIANCE OF BUILDING DESIGNERS PRESENTATION

Getting ready for the show .. Robert De Brincat, who heads up Tilling’s large-scale engineered timber construction systems, Craig Kay, Tilling’s national product manager, and Murray Pearce, senior building designer, Martin Building Design, based at Dalby on the Darling Downs.

Gold Coast trio enjoying the hospitality at the Tilling function .. John Hooker, Hooker Design Consultants, Miami, Gabor Barany, ATT-Home Drafting Service, Currumbin, and Cam Raymond, Raymond Design, Broadbeach Waters.

Selecting samples .. structural engineers in Brisbane Liam Blake, Newport Consulting Engineers, and Jeff Smyth, Ebis Engineering.

Dominic Broke and Alan Kirk of ADG Consulting Engineers, Brisbane and Matthias Wiltscke, Peregian Springs.

Pamela Carsburg, All About House Design, Toowoomba, and Ian Drewitt, ID Drafting and Design, Warwick.

Structural engineers Daniele Bioise and Silvio Callovini of Keho Myers, Toowoomba.

innovative flooring systems mean savings in labour costs From Page 13

flooring materials can be fixed directly to the joist flanges, and most services can be installed through the web holes, including air conditioning ducts and large waste pipes, eliminating the need for tradesmen to cut holes in the beam web.

Another innovation, Tecslab, is designed for low, medium and high-density construction. The system combines the properties of two exceptional construction products – Tecbeam and Hebel PowerFloor – to provide

a superior floor solution achieving quicker build times and significant cost savings.

Hebel is a lightweight steelreinforced autoclaved aerated concrete that has been used in Europe for over 70 years.

Mr De Brincat said Tecslab was easily installed by on-site carpenters and was unaffected by wet or changing weather during installation.

“Unlike wet-pour concrete, Tecslab is installed without the need for curing or propping.”

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Matt Partridge takes some of the guests at the Tilling Group function on a tour of the company’s extensive Crestmead facilities.

issue 297 | 25.11.13 | Page 15

enGineered wOOd

Brendan Smith re-elected EWPAA president

Members setting ‘gold standard’ for certified products THE big focus for engineered wood products continues to be ensuring products going to market are fit for purpose, says Brendan Smith who was reelected third-term president of the EWPAA last week.

He said the EWPAA quality control program was an industry leader and the benchmark for other wood manufacturing industries.

“Our members have continuously, over a long history, provided the building and construction sectors with a ‘gold standard’ for certified products, a standard unmatched by overseas competitors,” Mr Smith said.

“The timber industry on both sides of the Tasman must be ready to fully match the demand for high-tech products as the industry moves towards a brighter horizon, encouraged by improved building figures, a better economy and political stability.”

Brendan Smith is site manger for Juken New Zealand Ltd’s plywood and sawmill operations at Gisborne. He has worked in the plywood industry in Australia and New Zealand for more than 25 years.

Stuart Toakley, sales and marketing manager at Borg Panels Pty Ltd, Sydney, was re-elected vice-president, and

Meeting at Plywood House for the EWPAA annual general meeting are, standing, Dennis Morrell (EWPAA), Cameron Rodger (CHH NZ), Ian Potter (CHH NZ), and Joe Giansiracusa (Momentive NZ), and sitting, Jim Bindon (Big River Group), Graham Andrew (Laminex) and Peter Robinson (PNG Forest Products).

EWPAA general manager Simon Dorries (standing left) with Stuart Toakley (Borg Panels), and seated, Ahsan Qureshi (Wesbeam), Michael Murphy (CHH), and Stuart Matthews (Austral Plywoods).

Jim Bindon, managing director,

Other board members elected

Big River Group, Grafton, NSW,

were: Mukhtar Ali, Valebasoga

was elected treasurer.

Tropikboards Ltd, Fiji, Graham

Brendan Smith .. ready to match the demand.

Andrew, Laminex, Richard Barry, Nelson Pine Industries, NZ, Gary Byrom, Momentive Specialty Chemicals Ltd, Graham Church, Alpine MDF Industries Ltd, Paul Dimarelos, DIM Furniture Vic Pty Ltd, David Henderson, D&R Henderson Pty Ltd, Tony Honey, PNG Forest Products Ltd, Stuart Matthews, Austral Plywoods Pty Ltd, Muk Nai Boh, RH Plywoods, PNG, Ian Potter, Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts New Zealand, Blair Price, Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, Michael Murphy, Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, Ahsan Qureshi, Wesbeam Pty Ltd, Cameron Rodger, Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts New Zealand, and Paul Michael, Weathertex Pty Ltd.

Opportunity: new engineered product Project seeks access to on-going timber resource

ThIs engineered product is manufactured from small diameter treated true round plantation logs that would normally be chipped or destroyed. Resource cost is minimal.

The production system is low capital cost and can be set up in a minimum of time and at a minimum of cost. Compared with current systems such as LVL, sawn timber etc. this product has unrivalled versatility, fire resistance, projected longevity and sustainability.

This product has the ability to lower the costs of floor and wall framing in modern homes, as well as being ideal for low-cost housing The entire buildings can be erected on site using unskilled labour.

The product has undergone comprehensive testing at the engineering faculty of the University of Technology Sydney under the guidance of internationally renowned timber engineer Prof. Keith Crews.

Engineered Timber Products

Loggo products have undergone comprehensive testing at the engineering faculty of the University of Technology Sydney.

PAGe 16 | issue 297 | 25.11.13

The project is keen to establish a plant near a guaranteed resource.

Contact: (02) 4256 4767 or email pat@loggo.com.au www.loggo.com.au

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Forest change mapped by Google Earth Charting the story of the world’s tree canopies A NEW high-resolution global map of forest loss and gain has been created with the help of Google Earth.

The interactive online tool is publicly available and zooms in to a remarkably high level of local detail at a high resolution.

It charts the story of the world’s tree canopies from 2000 to 2012, based on 650,000 satellite images by Landsat 7. In that time, the Earth lost a combined ‘forest’ the size of Mongolia, enough trees to cover the UK six times.

Brazil’s progress in reducing deforestation was more than offset by losses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Paraguay and Angola, according to a study in the journal Science.

“This is the first map of forest change that is globally consistent and locally relevant,” said Prof. Matthew Hansen of the University of Maryland, who led the project team in the US which developed the map.

Global map .. first images of forest change that are globally consistent and locally relevant.

“What would have taken a single computer 15 years to perform was completed in a matter of days using Google Earth Engine computing,” he said.

Their study reports a number of key findings on forest change from 2000-2012 - based on the satellite imagery.

The Earth lost 2.3 million sq km of tree cover in that period, due to logging, fire, disease or storms. But the planet also

gained 800,000 sq km of new forest, a net loss of 1.5 million sq km in total.

Brazil showed the best improvement of any country, cutting annual forest loss in half between 2003-04 and 2010-11.

Indonesia had the largest increase in deforestation, more than doubling its annual loss to nearly 20,000 sq km in 201112.

In the US, the ‘disturbance

rate’ of south-eastern forests was four times that of South American rainforests – more than 31% of forest cover was either lost or regrown.

Paraguay, Malaysia and Cambodia had the highest national rates of forest loss.

Overall, tropical forest loss was increasing by about 2100 sq km a year, the researchers said.

The map will be updated annually and could be used to assess the effectiveness of forest management programs.

It could also help environmental groups monitor the impacts of deforestation – including biodiversity threats, carbon storage and climate change.

“This new monitoring approach can for the first time provide – on a global scale – transparent accountability for monitoring progress toward achieving real declines in deforestation,” said Daniel Zarin, of the Climate and Land Use Alliance.

Lumber prices surge as sawmills run short WORLD-wide demand for North American hardwoods climbed faster than supply in October. Many yards were low on both kiln-dried lumber to sell and green lumber to put in dry kilns.

Prices have surged on red oak, white oak and other key export items. International buyers are

making more trips to North America – particularly Chinese buyers – to try and secure additional supplies before prices escalate further, but they found many exporters unwilling to lock in prices on orders for delivery in future months.

US hardwood lumber exports totalled 122 million board feet

(MMBF) in August, up 8% from July 2013 and 6% from August 2012. August was the seventh month this year in which exports set a record for that particular month.

Year-to-date exports through August totalled 953 MMBF, up 7% from the same period in 2012. Exports to the

four largest markets were higher this August than last, including increases of 40% to Vietnam and 20% to Mexico.

There is every indication is that shipments to Asia and Mexico climbed even higher in September and October, with small gains in shipments to Europe.

$280m forests initiative launched at UN climate talks A NEW $280 million initiative to help save the world’s remaining forests was launched by the UK, the US and Norway at the United Nations climate change talks in Warsaw last week.

The money is aimed at encouraging the sustainable use of land, including ensuring that fewer forests are lost to agriculture – the biggest cause of deforestation – and that there is a market for sustainably

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produced forestry goods, including food, fibre and timber.

The plan is aimed at kickstarting the Redd+ scheme for the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest

degradation, which has been in the works for more than six years but is still not fully operational.

The World Bank will be involved in its implementation.

issue 297 | 25.11.13 | PAGe 17

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

Scientists track paths of wildfires

Computers monitor lifetime of long-lived blazes SCIENTISTS have developed a new computer modelling technique that for the first time offers the promise of continually-updated daylong predictions of wildfire growth through the lifetimes of longlived blazes.

The technique, devised by scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, USA, and the University of Maryland, combines cuttingedge simulations of the interaction of weather and fire with newly available satellite observations of active wildfires.

The breakthrough is described in an online edition of the American Geophysical Union journal Geophysical Research Letters.

“These scientists have developed a unique mechanism that will predict even a longlived fire’s lifecycle, which has the potential to save lives and property from large wildfires in the future,” says Gannet Hallar, program director in NSF’s division of atmospheric and geospace sciences, which supported the study.

Updated with new observations every 12 hours, the computer model forecasts critical details such as the extent of a blaze and changes in its behaviour.

“With this technique, we believe it’s possible to continually issue good forecasts throughout a fire’s lifetime, even if it burns for weeks or months,” said NCAR scientist Janice Coen, the lead paper author and model developer.

“This model, which combines interactive weather prediction and wildfire behaviour, could greatly improve forecasting – particularly for large, intense wildfire events where the current prediction tools are weakest.”

Fire fighters use tools that can estimate the speed of the

PAgE 18 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

Tracking fire paths .. the coupled atmosphere (wildfire) environment model.

leading edge of a fire, but are too simple to capture critical effects caused by the complex interactions of fire and weather.

The researchers successfully tested the new technique by using it retrospectively on the 2012 Little Bear Fire in New Mexico, which burned for almost three weeks and destroyed more buildings than any other wildfire in the state’s history.

To generate an accurate forecast of a wildfire, researchers need a computer model that can incorporate current data about the fire and simulate what it will do in the near future.

Over the last decade, Janice Coen has developed a tool, known as the Coupled Atmosphere-Wildland Fire Environment (CAWFE) computer model, that connects how weather drives fires and, in turn, how fires create their own weather.

Using CAWFE, she successfully simulated the details of how large fires grow.

But without the most updated data about a fire’s current state, CAWFE could not reliably produce a longerterm prediction of an ongoing fire. That’s because the accuracy of all fine-scale

Janice Cohen .. how weather drives fires and how fires create their own weather.

weather simulations declines significantly after a day or two, affecting the simulation of the blaze.

An accurate forecast would also need to include updates on the effects of fire fighting and of such processes as spotting, in which embers from a fire are lofted in the fire plume and dropped ahead of a fire, igniting new flames.

Until now, it was not possible to update the model.

Satellite instruments offered only coarse observations of fires, providing images in which each pixel represented an area a little less than 1 km across.

These images might show several places burning, but

could not distinguish the boundaries between burning and non-burning areas, except for the largest wildfires.

To solve the problem, Ms Coen’s co-author, Wilfrid Schroeder of the University of Maryland, produced higherresolution fire detection data from a new satellite instrument, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), jointly operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The new tool provides coverage of the entire globe at intervals of 12 hours or less, with pixels about 365 m across. The higher resolution enabled the two researchers to outline the active fire perimeter in much greater detail.

Coen and Schroeder then fed the VIIRS fire observations into the CAWFE model. By restarting the model every 12 hours with the latest observations of the fire extent – a process known as cycling – they could accurately predict the course of the Little Bear Fire in 12- to 24-hour increments during five days of the historic blaze.

By continuing that way, it’s possible to simulate even a very long-lived fire’s entire lifetime, from ignition through extinction.

“The transformative event has been the arrival of this new satellite data,” said Schroeder.

“The enhanced capability of the VIIRS data favorus detection of newly ignited fires before they erupt into major conflagrations. The satellite data has tremendous potential to supplement fire management and decision support systems, sharpening the local, regional and continental monitoring of wildfires.”

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On tHe rOAd

Accord-ing to Rosie this Honda is a smart computer on four wheels ON our way to the Heritage Bank Ag Show on the Darling Downs aboard the new Honda Accord VTi-L ADAS, our nineyear-old passenger looked up from her I-pod shuffle and exclaimed: “That’s neat; do it again.”

We had turned on the indicator to shift lanes and Accord’s natty LaneWatch blind-spot monitoring system had flashed an image on the centre console using a camera mounted in the left wing-mirror to tell us if anything was creeping up on our left side.

Standard on every car from the VTi-S upward, LaneWatch activates automatically when indicating left, and can be manually called up by pushing a button on the tip of the indicator stalk.

However, the sudden glowing image inside a darkened cabin on the return journey at night was unnerving.

Little Rosie was impressed; in fact, the level of driver aids on the 2013 Accord impressed us all. The Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) bundles active cruise control, lane-keep assist, auto-tensioning front seatbelts and an auto-braking collision mitigation system.

Unlike most lane-keep systems which intervene when you’re on top of the painted line, the Honda invention actively steers the car to keep it roughly in the centre of the lane. Even gentle corners can be navigated with the hands completely off the wheel not recommended!). So ADAS is a blessing for drivers who spend a lot of time on the highway.

The white Accord was an added attraction among the Ag Show’s big-ticket items like the latest combines, large tractors and sprayers, which drew large crowds of curious farmers, intrigued by the future of agtechnology tools and how they

Honda’s new Accord .. quiet, comfortable and efficient.

can improve production and efficiency down on the farm.

But many broad hats were mirrored in Accord’s windows, imaginations captured by the car’s sleek shape and cabin ergonomics.

Cabin comfort has been enhanced through reshaped front seats, and although the on-road footprint has shrunk slightly, cabin space is equal to the outgoing model – and in some dimensions, better.

The interior boasts improved textures, more soft-touch surfaces and greatly improved leather upholstery. The centrestack layout has been recrafted; high-grade models gain a double-decker screen layout with the primary infotainment display at the top

and a touch-screen display in the middle All Accord variants get Active Noise Control (ANC) that pipes opposite-phase sound through the speakers to help cancel-out road and engine noise, and other ambient noise from outside the car. Honda says ANC is good for a 10db reduction in in-cabin sound levels, and the Accord was blissfully quiet on the road.

The 2013 Honda Accord is offered with two petrol engine choices and transmissions – a 2.4-litre four-cylinder producing 129 kW and 225 Nm mated to a five-speed automatic, and a 3.5-litre V6 developing 206 kW and 339 Nm paired with a sixspeed automatic.

Perhaps, the biggest surprise

Inside the cabin .. chock full of driver aids.

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in the new Accord is the way it drives; its suspension is a good balance between comfort and handling. For a mid-sized sedan, it has excellent body control and grip.

With buyer interest in large cars waning, Honda has purposefully distanced itself from this fastest-shrinking automotive segment. While the outgoing Accord was pitched as a competitor to the Falcon and Commodore, the all-new 2013 Accord slips comfortably into the medium.

Honda’s view is that the new Accord’s emphasis on luxury and comfort will offer something very different to the sportier Accord Euro.

Boot space is unchanged at 461 litres for the VTi and 457 litres for all other models, and alterations to the rear floor pan have resulted in a boot floor that is nearly flat.

Fuel consumption is listed at 5.8 l/100km (four-cylinder) and 6.4 l/100km (V6) Prices range from $31,490 for the Accord VTi to $51,990 for the Accord V6L, plus on-road costs and charges.

Honda’s view is that the new Accord’s emphasis on luxury and comfort offers something very different – placing near the top of any mid / large sedan buyer’s shopping list.

issue 297 | 25.11.13 | Page 19

EVENTS/CLASSIFIEDS Registration of Expressions of Interest ta Ann tasmania is planning a plywood manufacturing addition to its Smithton Veneer mill.

It is expected that positions will likely be progressively filled during the first half of 2014.

To assist in planning the staffing of the mill ta Ann tasmania is seeking to develop a register of experienced machine operators interested in being advised of opportunities as they arise. To be placed on the register you will have extensive experience in operating any or all of the following machinery in a plywood industry: • Face/back composer • Core builders • Glue spreader and cold press • Hot press • Double saw • Sander

• More than 6700 deliveries and 15,000 viewers each week

ta Ann tasmania seeks to identify highly talented machine operators with a range of mechanical and technical skills including: • Plywood processing • Technical aptitude • Problem solving ability • Initiative and passion for improvement Please send a letter or email registering your interest by 30 November 2013, including contact details, email contact for project updates and details of your experience in the plywood industry to: The Human Resources Coordinator, ta Ann tasmania Pty Ltd 150 davey street Hobart tAs 7000 Email hr@taanntas.com tA Ann tAsMAniA

PAgE 20 | issuE 297 | 25.11.13

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