Australasian Timber Magazine - May 2022

MAY 2022

MANUFACTURE • TECHNOLOGY • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION

TALL TIMBER PROJECTS HITTING NEW HEIGHTS

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT TIMBER SHORTAGE

ADELAIDE OVAL'S SECRET CLT SUCCESS

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NEWS

Australia faces a ‘critical housing timber shortage’

KEY POINTS

• The demand for new housing is tipped to rise to 259,000 new dwellings per annum by 2050.

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housing construction sector faces a critical timber shortage and our reliance on imported timber will double by 2050 if our nation falls short of the plan to plant an additional One Billion Production Trees, a new interim report by Forest & Wood Products Australia has found.

The Australian Forest Products Association says the report reveals the demand for new housing will rise from 183,000 new dwellings per annum now to 259,000 per annum by 2050, driving an increase of almost 50 per cent in demand for timber.

International demand for timber continues to surge and, coupled with the COVID-led worldwide construction boom, Australia has not been able to source around 20 % of our housing requirements, needed from imports.

The report, prepared

by Tim Woods and Jim Houghton, says that taking immediate action to establish new softwood plantations, Australia can mitigate USTRALI A’S

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the risk and increase its sovereign supply capability for its most critical and sustainable building resource.

To bridge the Implied Gap, Australia could establish as much as 468,000 hectares of additional softwood plantations, commencing immediately.

The FWPA report expects reliance on imports to double by 2050 if we do not grow our plantation estate and meet the One Billion new Production Trees goal.

“The critical timber shortages of the past two years have exposed Australia’s over-reliance on timber imports, which have become more expensive and difficult to source, which has driven up building costs and significantly delayed construction,” AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said.

“The finding that our reliance on timber imports could blow out to double over the next 30 years should be ringing alarm bells among policy makers.

“Furthermore, the global push for more fibre to trans-

form building systems, the pivot away from plastics and move to sustainable biofuels, along with the need to halt deforestation internationally, will only make gaining imports even more difficult.

“The good news is that there is time to avert this crisis if all levels of government work with industry to ensure Australia reaches its one billion new production trees goal and fill more of the supply gap with Aussie grown, renewable timber, and in the process support the hundreds of thousands of jobs forest industries underpin.”

The Coalition’s recently announced $305 million forest industries package to support new plantations and drive forestry and timber innovation was an excellent start delivered in the campaign.

Mr Hampton said the AFPA looked forward to seeing Labor’s response to Our Plan for Growth, including measures to achieve the One Billion Trees Goal.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

The report found that by 2050, Australia will have: • A population between 33.62 and 39.97 million people • New housing demand around 259,000 dwellings per annum • 5.175 million additional households whose demography will demand a marginally different housing mix to the current distribution of housing formats • Sawn softwood demand of 6.507 million m3 per annum – almost 2.0 million m3 per annum higher than 2021 • Local sawn softwood production static at between 3.600 and 3.800 million m3 per annum due to constraints on sawlog supply • An Implied Gap between demand and local production of 2.638 million m3 per annum, equivalent to 40.5% of total demand• Local sawn softwood production static at between 3.600 and 3.800 million m3 per annum due to constraints on sawlog supply • An Implied Gap between demand and local production of 2.638 million m3 per annum, equivalent to 40.5% of total demand

$1.3m grant to turn splinters into structures

A first of its kind Green Triangle wood trial will explore how to use low value fibre in a new structural timber product thanks to a $1.3 million contribution from the Federal Government.

Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) in partnership with the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH) have received an Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) Program grant to explore opportunities to create new wood products utilising softwood and hardwood pulp log.

GTFIH executive general manager Liz McKinnon said the Splinters to Structures: Value Adding to Exported Wood Fibre project was derived from an industry-wide wood flow study last year by IndustryEdge, which identified new market opportunities and areas to optimise fibre use across the Green Triangle.

The whole supply chain has come together to invest in the project with Australia’s major plantation growers offering wood for testing and major manufacturing plants supporting sawmilling trials to understand the fibre potential.

The GTFIH membership has committed $110,000 cash, in addition to extensive in-kind support valued at more than $468,000.

Ms McKinnon said the project would start immediately.

“This project is so important to industry as it will diversify our market base, optimise the use of low grade timber, creating a new higher value product that will generate new local jobs,” she said.

Australian Forest Products Association CEO Ross Hampton said the grant would be a further driver of innovation and would deliver diversification options for domestic and export use for forest industries.

“This ATMAC grant awarded to FWPA will help processors, particularly of engineered wood products (EWP) to build a manufacturing platform,” he said.

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NEWS

australasian

MAY 2022

Issue 3 – Volume 30 Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman.

Established 1977.

3-8 9 12 14 15-18

News Materials handling Veneers Tooling Associations

FRONT Cover: The award winning Adelaide Oval Hotel during construction. Story Page 7.

PUBLISHER and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Robyn Haworth Editor: Bruce Mitchell b.mitchelll@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office: (08) 8369 9512 Advertising: Gavin de Almeida g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office: (08) 8369 9517 Creative Services: Jarren Gallway Luke Fernandez Publication Design: Jarren Gallway Timber classifieds: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office: (08) 8369 9517 Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office: (08) 8369 9522 Subcription rates One-year (8 editions) $55 Two-years (16 editions) $95 Accounts: Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9514 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501 Melbourne Office: Suite 2262, 442 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122 Phone: (03) 9810 3262 Find us on Facebook @AustralasianTimber Website www.timberbiz.com.au Printed by Lane Print, Adelaide, SA The opinions expressed in Australasian Timber Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of or endorsed by the editor or publisher unless otherwise stated.

All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. All material in Australasian Timber Magazine copyright 2022 © Ryan Media. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.

MEDIA

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

stages, primarily for commercial use.

‘The Bond’ building design is a 7-storey timber structure

fice space with the use of neatly detailed and exposed mass timber interiors in an adaptable workplace.

“We are always trying to propose to our partners that they should consider timber or a hybrid system of timber and steel because of the environmental and sustainability benefits

focus and report better levels of concentration.”

The project will be discussed at the Timber Offsite Construction 2022 conference and exhibition by a panel comprised of James Fitzpatrick, Partner, fitzpatrick+partners architects, Barry Young, Director, Taylor Thomson Whitting (TTW) and

comprised of 13,000 square metres of mass timber, with a timber tower atop a brick podium and basement. The building will contain retail, office, childcare and healthcare spaces, and offers unique of-

and the carbon that can be absorbed back from the environment,” Project architect James Fitzpatrick said,.

“The biophilic qualities mean people also have higher productivity and find it easier to

Jason Briffa, Bid & Design Manager, Buildcorp Group.

The Timber Offsite Construction conference and exhibition will be held on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 June 2022 at Crown Promenade Melbourne.

for timber products.

This stress on Australia’s timber supply has highlighted the fact that there hasn’t been an increase in Australian softwood plantations for more than 20 years, while demand for this valuable commodity has continued to increase.

Master Builders Australia recently calculated we will be 250,000 new house frames short by 2035.

Builders are waiting about nine months for trusses and up to 16 weeks for laminated veneer lumber according to Master Builders Victoria.

And due to the worker and

supply shortages facing the industry, one Ballarat builder claimed houses were taking 30 per cent longer to build.

Of course COVID workplace restrictions also exacerbated the problem. But supply chain issues remain.

Ross Hampton says the FWPA findings that our reliance on timber imports could blow out to double over the next 30 years should “be ringing alarm bells among policy makers”.

It seems those alarm bells should have been heard by State and Federal governments of both persuasions at least 20 years ago.

E C H giant Atlassian’s

plan for a 40-storey timber skyscraper next to Sydney’s Central Railway has been approved by NSW government, and the 180-metre tower will be the tallest commercial hybrid timber building in the world, with construction to start next year.

The ground-breaking visionary project will be a program highlight at the Timber Offsite Construction conference in June.

The tower design concept was created by New Yorkbased architects SHoP, with Australian practice BVN as the design team, and engineering

by TTW. The benchmark design timber core will be wrapped in a glass and steel facade and include a mix of outdoor and indoor spaces using an energyefficient approach that features natural ventilation and large planted terraces giving access to nature.

And the Norwest Business Park development by Mulpha in Sydney’s northwest - a 377-hectare masterplan precinct that includes ‘The Bond’, which is the first of three mass wood buildings featuring biophilic design exposed mass timber and glulam frames supporting CLT floor and roof panels - will be featured in the Project Panels program at the Timber Offsite Construction 2022 conference.

Designed by Architects fitzpatrick + partners , the site masterplan proposes a full development of three Mass Wood buildings over three separate

Shortage of timber the big issue

S

Australia faces a ‘critical housing timber shortage’ by 2050.

An interim report by Forest & Wood Products Australia has found that our reliance on imported timber will double by 2050 if our nation falls short of the plan to plant an additional one billion production trees.

This, really, shouldn’t come as any great surprise.

AFPA CEO Ross Hampton warned last year that ABRES’ five yearly review of Australia’s national plantation estate was, in his words, sobering reading.

ABARES’s forecast was that O,

Conditions

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Green light for Atlassian’s 40-storey timber skyscraper T

australasian

‘softwood log availability’ – and by extension housing timber – would decline by 12 per cent over the next four years, and the pine plantation estate would remain stagnant for the next 40 years.

Then things really got worse. Timber supplies were all but stripped bare after the announcement of Federal Government’s HomeBuilder scheme.

The shortfall in supply to meet the surge in demand resulted in runaway inflation AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

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www.leitz.com.au AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

HeliCut - System Universally applicable Perfect results

Australian Certified Timber Category – Winner Entrant: Royd Clan House Architect: Level Architekture Engineer: Vistek Structural Engineers Photographers: Nadine Samaha

Interior Fitout – Residential Category – Winner Entrant: Divided House When processing wood and plastic, machining direction and chip removal often play an important role in production Architect: Jackson Clemens Burrows quality. The universally applicable HeliCut-System is the perfect tool solution for different materials.

This opens Architects significantly more advantages in terms of quality, efficiency and sustainability.

Photographers: John Gollings Photography

The all-rounder system for flexible processing of wood and plastics

The HeliCut-System tools feature 4-fold turnable knives available in three cutting edge grades with diameter from 30-450mm, and can also be made to custom sizes on request. The system can be used on table milling machines, through-feed machines, CNC machines and joinery machines.

QUALITY & FLEXIBILITY

EFFICIENCY

SUSTAINABILITY

Perfect edges and surfaces in different material

Less rework, maximum userfriendliness

Long-lasting and low noise

Tear-free cutting results when cutting with and against feed due to optimised cutting angles Excellent results in all materials thanks to adaptation of cutting tool qualities

No rework required due to extra sharp cutting edges Quick and easy knife change thanks to uniform, wedge free knife clamping

Fourfold tool life thanks to turnblade tungsten carbide knives Significant noise reduction due to round tool body design Gentle on the machine due to aluminium tool body and high balancing quality

Contact our Sales Team sales@leitz.com.au

1300 135 127 www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

Leitz Tooling Systems Pty Ltd AU NZ @leitz_aunz Leitz Tooling Systems Pty Ltd AU NZ

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NEWS

Astonishing speed and meticulous fabrication

Why Becon say it wants to work with mass timber more often CLAIRE BENNETT

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Developer Parklea engaged i2C Architects to design their new corporate headquarters in Melbourne’s southeast, they specified that they wanted it to be as sustainable and close to carbon-neutral as possible. i2C Architects looked to crosslaminated (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (GLT), supplied by Cusp Building Solutions, to achieve the objectives. In addition to the environmental benefits, choosing CLT and GLT also saved time and money.

H EN

Timbertop Estate is home to 700 residences. The Timbertop hub is an innovative commercial and retail space that will service the estate. On the top floor, it will house Parklea’s own corporate headquarters. It is here that Parklea requested the use of CLT and GLT due to its sense of warmth and environmentally friendly qualities.

Designing with CLT and GLT was new to i2C so they reached out to Dayne Davis from Timber Design Studio, and his team of timber engineering experts, to work in collaboration. “i2C reached out to us [Timber Design Studio] at the commencement of the project on day one, hour one, which is the perfect way

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to approach designing with mass timber because it allows us to optimise the structure,” says Davis.

Davis explained that the rules of timber physics are a bit different to working with steel and concrete.

The costs savings from using timber are significant. The structure is fully exposed internally, which saves budget on paint, gyprock and other internal fit-out costs and importantly cost is saved due to the speed of construction on site.

Cusp Building Solutions were successful in winning the tender, up against the three biggest CLT manufacturers in Europe. Davis said the client was thrilled to be able to support local.

Becon constructed the lower level of the project in traditional methods, that they were more familiar with, using concrete and steel. The upper level was created with mass timber providing a direct comparison. According to Jason McCoy, Project Manager for Becon Constructions, the time difference was significant.

A sentiment echoed by Davis who said “from an engineering and aesthetic perspective, the product produced by Cusp, both CLT and GLT, was world-class. The attention to detail was immaculate.”

“Not only were we surprised by the construction tolerances that Cusp was able to manufacture to, but we were also impressed by the speed in which the structure came together,” says McCoy. “Compared to traditional structural methods such as concrete and steel which require onsite prep

www.weinig.com.au sales@weinig.com.au 1800 736 460

work, the CLT/Glulam arrived onsite in final form meaning once it was installed it required minimal temporary support to be structurally sound.

“The time implications for our team were significant. Using the ability to sequence the materials for delivery offsite, the team at CLOS ensured that once materials landed on site they were handled and installed as efficiently as possible.

“This also sped up our ability to commence the fit-out related portion of the project without the need for curing processes or removal of significant temporary structures such as formwork or backpropping.

This saved our client a significant preliminary cost.”

Becon were unfamiliar with the mass timber at the commencement of the project, but McCoy says they

would certainly be interested in building with mass timber in the future.

“Despite being unfamiliar with the product, we were supported by an industry-leading consultant, timber supplier and installation contractor who were able to assist us.”

McCoy says other builders shouldn’t be put off by the challenge of building with a new structural member such as mass timber rather than more traditional methods like concrete, pre-cast and structural steel.

“There is something aesthetically satisfying about timber, supported by the number of people stopping to take photos! We thoroughly enjoyed working with mass timber and feel a sense of pride seeing the completed product,” he says.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

BRIEFS NEW KILN ONLINE OneFortyOne Jubilee Sawmill’s second Continuous Drying Kiln is now online, completing a $16million capital investment project at the site in Mount Gambier. The upgrade project is part of a greater Jubilee-wide modernisation program, which has included with state-of-the-art sawing equipment upgrades, through to the addition of robotic pack wrap and strapping machine.

CUSP APPOINTMENT Well known and respected timber researcher Michael Lee has been appointed to the new position of general manager at Tasmanian timber processor Cusp Building Solutions. Mr Lee has been involved in timber research for nearly 40 years and has spent decades communicating with people at most levels within research, architecture, processing and industry leadership.

UNUSED TIMBER A new service which aims to connect buyers and sellers of unused building stock sitting in yards all over Australia has been launched.

Founder Ritchie Djamhur, who works in the civil construction sector, says that the service - Superyard - offers a genuine way to reduce project costs and minimise unnecessary manufacturing by uncovering materials that could have remained hidden in construction and building yards for years.

FLOOD SALVAGE The record-breaking floods in Queensland and NSW have devastated communities and severely damaged or wiped-out infrastructure and homes – but all may not be lost when talking timber. Waterlogged timber that could be salvaged is often thrown away, and in today’s market wood is increasingly expensive to replace. WoodSolutions timber information is available for free and includes resources that can help determine if a home’s timber frame is salvageable and what people affected by flood can do to help save or protect items during clean-up.

PREFAB HELP The NSW Government has announced a $350 million investment in temporary modular housing to give people displaced by floods a place to call home while they rebuild their lives. Discussions are underway with local councils across Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Lismore Local Government Areas to identify suitable sites for the homes. Site readiness and installation works are expected to take approximately four weeks, with community housing providers providing long term site management. www.timberbiz.com.au

TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

CLT gives hotel build the edge A DEL AIDE Oval is best

known as a first-class cricket venue, an Australian Rules football ground and the venue for the occasional concert.

What it’s probably not well known for is the awardwinning hotel which wraps itself around the eastern side of the stadium.

The Adelaide Oval Hotel is the first hotel in Australia completely integrated into the footprint of a stadium, and it was largely built from CLT, and was winner of the Excellence in Timber Design - Multi-Residential category of the 2021 Timber Design Awards, Product innovation and technology adoption lies at the heart of this Project’s success.

Due to the allowable load constraints of the hotel, Built Environs adopted the use of CLT for the main

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structure. Relatively new to the southern hemisphere, this is one of the first CLT buildings of its kind in South Australia, and its selection was fundamental to the financial and technical feasibility of the project.

The project team was able to deliver the build in just over 12 months by using the prefabricated CLT structure.

The accelerated time-frame of CLT helped the team successfully navigate the challenging circumstances of covid-19 restrictions. The project was delivered with no significant time lost.

The team also embraced the latest in digital engineering to drive efficiency, clash detection and logistics management.

Site verified point cloud scanning and 3D BIM modelling was used to map requirements for each specific CLT panel.

As the hotel curves around the existing stadium structure, the set out and geometry of each CLT panel differed.

Services penetrations were developed in coordinated services model and incorporated into the CLT model. The penetrations were cut in the factory during manufacture, prior to site delivery.

The successful early use of the clash detection software resulted in only minor adjustments to panels interfacing with the steel support structure.

CLT allowed the structure to be completed in a tight time frame and gave Built Environs the ability to access constructed areas immediately to begin fit out works and meet the fastpaced programme.

The first hotel in Australia completely integrated into

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

the footprint of a stadium, this project was a unique opportunity for our team to build on the success of the much-loved Adelaide Oval Redevelopment that COX Adelaide and partners opened to the public in 2014.

The hotel is an expression of our ethos to maximise utilisation of every venue we design. Intended to service over 1500 events held at the Oval annually, the hotel is a major contributor to making this an all-yearround venue.

The two wings of the boutique 138-room hotel have been integrated into the eastern pavilion of the Oval, with a reception pod located at level 3.

Its materiality blends seamlessly into the existing building, looking out to and celebrating its parkland setting and context.

EXCELLENCE IN TIMBER DESIGN Multi-Residential Structural engineer: Mott MacDonald Builder: Built Environs Fabricator: XLam Australia Photographer: David Sievers, Katrina Jovanovic, XLam Australia

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NEWS

Tall timber reaching for records in Perth V

ICTORIAN developer Grange Development has submitted plans to City of South Perth for what is set to be the world’s tallest, $350million hybrid timber tower, and Western Australia’s first carbon negative building.

If approved, the 183m high residential building, located at 6 Charles Street, South Perth – aptly titled C6, after the periodic table’s symbol for Carbon - will become one of Australia’s most ambitious carbon negative buildings, with only the Atlassian hybrid timber Tower in Sydney currently on target for a similar carbon negative status, signalling the arrival of a new guard of sustainable building and construction technology.

Designed by Fraser & Partners - a research-based design studio that has emerged from Elenberg Fraser and created in response to the demands of our times and viewed through the lens of the climate crisis - C6 will be constructed using approximately 7,400m3 of timber leveraging Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), Glue Laminated Timber (Glulam) and Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL).

Demonstrating the innate renewability of mass timber

at a commercial scale, structural engineers working on the project have determined that it will take just 59 minutes to regrow the entire building’s 7,400m3 of timber in one sustainable forest region alone. All the necessary timber required to build the apartment floors, columns and beams can be regrown from just 580 seeds, the total of which can be held in two cupped hands.

The core building structure alone is forecasted to sequester over 10,497,600 kgCO2eq compared to a traditional concrete structure of similar scale. This energy saving equates to roughly 4,885 economy class seats on a Perth to London longhaul flight.

At ground level, C6 will include a 2000sqm+ fourstorey, split level, open-air piazza with a playground, cinema, horticultural zone, F&B and entertainment precinct, equivalent in size to over 85% of the site, gifted back to Council and the community.

Through its extensive research and best practice benchmarking, Grange Development believes that hybrid timber buildings are the future of a carbon conscious construction industry, and if executed correctly, can transform the

foundations of our built environments.

“The latest IPCC reports that keeping warming to less than 1.5% is increasingly unlikely and that a range of between 2 -3% is most probable. Thousands of scientists and government reviewers have agreed that limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C is required to avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a livable climate.

The built environment is one of the three major drivers of catastrophic climate

change, alongside transport and agriculture. With promising technological advances in both the transport and agriculture industries now working towards drastically reducing global carbon footprints, the property industry is lagging dangerously behind,” said James Dibble, founder and director of Grange Development. “ Timber as a building material has been around for centuries, but only recently has mass timber construction and fabrication methods made it a viable option

en masse.

“C6 represents the future of what is possible, except we will deliver it now. Onsite energy production, a complete electric vehicle solution that can totally remove the need for fossil fuel-powered cars, a huge focus on biophilic design to deliver tangible health benefits, and a building that actively sequesters carbon.

“If we get this right, we should never have to rely on building another solely concrete or steel tower in our lifetime,” Dibble said.

Pulp, paper jobs must stay

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Forest Products Association is insisting that any incoming Albanese Government not sacrifice vital regional manufacturing jobs through blunt changes to the Emissions Reduction Fund Safeguard Mechanism.

The AFPA, as the major national industry group representing the pulp, paper, tissue and packaging sector, says successive Labor and Coalition governments have recognised that those companies are energy-intensive and highly trade-exposed industries.

Each one is also on the current list of 215 energy intensive businesses.

“AFPA supports an economy wide net zero by 2050 target but also is highly conscious that energy intensive

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

trade exposed paper and packaging manufacturers, already pursuing ambitious decarbonisation and circular economy strategies, are facing perilous economic headwinds,” AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said.

“Adding more lead to their saddlebags by poorly designed climate policy could be disastrous for our cleaner, greener economy and for regional jobs.”

Mr Hampton said that COVID had brought home to Australians just how vital domestic paper and packaging capability was.

“Labor needs to be clear to these workers before the election, or risk sending more manufacturing jobs offshore,” he said. www.timberbiz.com.au

MATERIALS HANDLING

New Combi-MR4 with Dynamic 360° steering S Combilift launched its first C4000 model in 1998, multidirectional capability has been one of the major hallmarks of the company’s wide range of handling solutions. Twenty Four years and thousands of R&D hours later, its latest product takes multidirectional capability to the next level.

The Combi-MR4 is a 4-wheel electric powered multidirectional reach-truck, which incorporates Combilift’s new Dynamic 360° steering, which provides rotation on each wheel, enabling seamless directional change of the truck while on the move.

The system allows this extremely agile forklift to work in forward, sideward and crab steer mode, guaranteeing swift operation and excellent manoeuvrability. Hence the full name of the new model: the Combi-MR4 Dynamic 360.

The impetus for the development of this latest addition to Combilift’s portfolio INCE

load and offload from delivery trucks.

Driver comfort and safety was to develop a multi-direc- are also major considerational truck, with a very low tions, and this new truck defiplatform to maximise stor- nitely delivers the goods from age density within racking. an ergonomic point of view: a The Combi-MR4 is available high visibility operator cabin, in two unique models, with multi-function control joycapacity ranges of 2,500Kg stick, AC-electric power steer- 3,000kg and 3,500Kg - ing and joystick operated 4,500kg respectively, and can hydraulic mast functions all Enhanceinthe Safety, Capacityasandmake for a smooth ride and operate aisles as narrow Efficiencywhen of your Storage Facility straightforward operation.

2265mm guided (based on 1200mm deep material).

Combilift’s range of electric forklifts The articulated rear axle with combine powerful multidirectional To maximise all storage two rear rubber drive wheels performance, emission free the provides optimum traction space in racking systems operation and a host of up to the wheel configuration of two for outdoor use, while still minute technologies to offer the ensuring nimble and accudrive wheels way at the rear and most efficient to handle long loadssets of timber up to 12 tonne. two of smaller dual front rate truck placement.

To achieve this level of wheels provides a platform ContactasUslow Today height as 380mm, al- manoeuvrability, Combilift To find out how Combilift can help utilised its newly developedlowing otherwise redundant combilift.com you safely and efficiently handle areas towards the floor to be in-house Dynamic 360°™ your timber steering. This novel steering used.

In keeping with Combil- concept enables operators combilift.com ift’s common overall design to manipulate the truck’s ethos, the highly versatile positioning and orientation Australasian Timber Chris 210x145 Aprilhandle 2022 electric rev long 1.3.indd 1 without the need to stop and Combi-MR4 can loads as well as palletised change driving mode.

Intuitive and easy-to-opgoods with ease, and can

Safety Safety Storage Storage Efficiency Efficiency

erate, this is achieved by simply twisting the control joystick right or left to adjust the wheel positions simultaneously – providing crab steering and allowing direction change on-the-go.

Combilift always likes to ensure that any new product has been thoroughly tried and tested in the field to make certain that it is 100% fit for purpose. Following the initial operation of 3,000kg Combi-MR4 units, a 4,500kg model was developed after receiving a request from Combilift’s dealer in the BeNeLux region - Mabo BeNeLux, for a larger capacity unit for their customer TABS (Timber and Building Supplies Holland).

One of the Netherlands’ leading suppliers of timber products and building materials, with 104 outlets across the country, TABS has partnered with Combilift and operated its multidirectional trucks for more than

15 years.

It now has MR4 trucks at several locations in the Netherlands and is about to take delivery of its 15th and 16th trucks, which will work at its distribution centres in Zaandam and Bleiswijk.

“TABS are delighted with the ongoing successfulimplementation of their CombiMR4s and the improved levels of efficiency thanks to the overall design and features such as low platform height as well as the advanced Dynamic 360° steering system,” Combilift CEO Martin McVicar said.

“I have no doubt that this new additional electric model will grow Combilift’s customer base. We are looking forward to showcasing the Combi-MR4 to our existing dealers, and potential new customers during the 04/04/2022 11:10:28Intralogistics exhiLogiMAT bition in Stuttgart at the end of May”.

Safety Safety Storage Storage Efficiency Efficiency Enhance the Safety, Capacity and Efficiency of your Storage Facility Combilift’s range of electric forklifts combine powerful multidirectional performance, emission free operation and a host of up to the minute technologies to offer the most efficient way to handle long loads of timber up to 12 tonne.

Contact Us Today

combilift.com

To find out how Combilift can help you safely and efficiently handle your timber

combilift.com Australasian Timber Chris 210x145 April 2022 electric rev 1.3.indd 1

www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

04/04/2022 11:10:28

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PLANING

DELIVERING INNOVATION TO THE TRUSS AND FRAME INDUSTRY With the right partnership anything is possible The team at Vekta was instrumental in the design of this system and were able to open our eyes to possibilities we didn’t know even existed.

The finished product has not only met, but exceeded our expectations.

With the minimal footprint of the PackFeeder, the accuracy, speed and reliability of the Razer V5, the speed and efficiency of the Material Conveyor system, and the overall support by this team we are extremely pleased with the outcome.

Josh Wright V.P. of Manufacturing The Truss Company, USA With 15+ years experience, Vekta specialises in creating automated factory solutions based on your objectives, space requirements and budget. The Truss Company’s customised solution focused on flexibility with two Razer V5’s and two PackFeeders sharing a common nine KickOff Conveyor System. If the key to business success is selecting the right partner- the key to automation is choosing Vekta.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

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NEWS

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info@vekta.com.au I vekta.com.au www.timberbiz.com.au

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VENEERS

Veneer offering greater range and the 'how to' do it W so good about veneers?

Well, lots of things

H AT’S

actually.

From a designer’s point of view veneers provide a much wider range of choices than solid timber. At any one time, members of the Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA) can provide up to 150 different types of veneer from stock.

Some are different cuts of the same species, featuring special grain effects. For example, European birch veneer is available rotary or crown cut, curly grained or quilted. Terms such as these, commonly used in the veneer trade, are explained and illustrated in TVAA’s booklet titled Veneer.

Copies of Veneer can be downloaded from the Association’s website at www. timberveneer.asn.au. Hard copies can be ordered through TVAA’s Infoline 1300 303 982, or by email to

info@timberveneer.asn.au.

It’s because of the large number of veneers produced from a single log that such a huge range of species and grain patterns are available. A log that might only yield a few lengths of solid timber can produce hundreds of square metres of veneer, making it possible to specify timber species unobtainable in solid form.

A German study¹ of sliced veneer yield from beech trees found that an average 841 square metres of veneer were produced from every cubic metre of wood, based on a veneer thickness of 0.55mm. Other yields may be higher, up to 1,000 square metres, depending on the quality of the log and the percentage of waste.

From an environmental point of view, veneer production maximises the efficient use of nature’s re-

sources as well as providing an abundance of choice.

When sustainably produced timber veneers are bonded to a particleboard or MDF substrate, produced from plantation timbers, the result is a truly ecofriendly product.

For specifiers wanting to maximise a project’s Green Star points, timber veneered panels fit well with the Green Building Council’s focus on the environmental impact of building materials.

Environmental Product Declarations are available for the substrate materials, particleboard, plywood and MDF, that comply with the requirements for industry-wide EPD’s under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating system."

1 Investigation on the yield and quality of sliced veneer produced from beech trees, Holz als Rohund Werkstoff, December 2002

Up to date.

Down to earth.

From technology to teaching, innovation to investment, Woodchat is your must-hear forestry podcast.

12

Newsprint hikes follow market changes and local restructuring

A

USTRALIAN newspaper publishers

have not been spared from local and international newsprint price rises as Australian producer Norske Skog continues to increase prices.

This follows a stable period for newsprint pricing during the last decade as newspaper circulation and paginations declined during digital ascendancy and Covid pandemic changes.

Following Norske Skog’s acquisition

by UK investment advisory services provider Oceanwood Capital Services Management LLP, its Tasman Mill closed in New Zealand.

Australia‘s mainland mill at Albury was also closed when purchased by Visy as it strategically planned for additional softwood allocations and possibly future recycled production capacity.

Untimely losses of timber plantations after bushfires in south east NSW in 2020, added to pressures on timber and wood fibre supply for all players.

This now leaves the Norske’s Boyer facility in Southern Tasmania as the only Australasian newsprint manufacturing facility.

Norske began increasing prices in 2020 and is scheduling further increases from 1 July, culminating in regional publishers reporting price hikes of up to 80% and orders not being fully met.

Internationally, a range of factors including reduced newsprint sales, ever

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

capital intensive plants and increased power prices have lead to mills moving to convert to packaging to meet e-commerce and other products.

In Finland a major wood products company, UPM, had a four month strike which has been resolved, and Russia as a major supplier of woodchips is affected by sanctions imposed due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Adding to these challenges, freight, and logistics during and post Covid have added costs to paper and pulp products across the Global supply chain.

Tim Wood of IndustryEdge said some recent recovery in demand around the world was also contributing to short supply.

“The other factor with pricing for all paper products right now is that pulp and fibre costs have increased in price very dramatically. We expect pulp prices will be at record levels over coming months and all paper prices will follow”, he said.

With Australian post-covid circulations increases and page numbers recovering, plus additional regional newspapers launched particularly in Queensland, regional publishers Australian Community Media, and members of the 200 plus Country Press Association of Australia, have lobbied the Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, seeking assistance with the newsprint price hike. www.timberbiz.com.au

MATERIALS HANDLING

Large space needed as projects get bigger and bigger D ANDENONG-BASED

engineering company MPB Engineering has doubled its factory size to cope with bigger projects and bigger machinery.

The company began with custom machines for the timber industry, also focussing on a small amount of material handling equipment.

However over the past 2025 years, MPB has moved more into material handling.

“We generally say to customers, if you can buy it off

the shelf, buy it off the shelf,” MPB Engineering director Aaron Bottomley said.

“But, having said that, there’s still opportunities for custom machines that you just can’t buy and or no one else does that product.”

The new premises are still in Dandenong, about five minutes from the original premises.

Mr Bottomley said the new premises are about double the size of the original factory.

And he said it provides a better configuration.

“We are doing bigger and bigger projects. And naturally, as the projects get bigger, the frames get bigger, the equipment gets bigger. So we’ll need bigger cranes to do the lifting.”

MPB’s standard timber stacker is about three tonne.

“So we could just lift it, but if we had to do a stacker which was a bit longer – doing 7.2 meter-long timbers and it was over that three-tonne

limit to four tonne - then we couldn’t lift it with our crane.

“We’d have to hire in something to lift it. So that was not ideal and made us sort of inefficient. So whereas now it’s not even an issue.”

Mr Bottomley said the extra floor space would enable the company to do larger projects and even multiple projects at the same time.

“We needed that as projects get bigger, we’re getting busier,” he said. “We needed to expand.”

• Inside MPB Engineering’s new factory at Dandenong.

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13

TOOLING australasian

Looking back 2019 FRAME Australia has come of age: the event is now 21-years-old and has moved to a new venue twice the size of the previous location to hold a larger number of delegates and displays due to rapidly rising popularity of engineered wood construction.

Conference Director Kevin Ezard said “Based on massive attendance growth at other international conferences in North America and Europe, we expect record numbers to make the Frame 2019 event the biggest yet with some 400 attendees” 2016 IT’S time for Australia and New Zealand to jointly develop a longer term solution for timber design life and durability with a call for $12.5 million over five years from industry and Governments.

Ric Sinclair, Managing Director of Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA), outlined the Australian situation based on industry consultation and market research undertaken over the last two years when he addressed the ForestWood conference in Auckland.

From an industry perspective, many believe that there is poor market understanding of timber durability, unclear standards, inadequate monitoring and compliance, and a disconnect between the standards and the service life expectations.

2011 A New Zealand axe sawmaking company is going back to the past to give one Fijian community a future.

Masterton-based Tuatahi Racing Axes and Saws has crafted an old-style ripping saw that will help the locals of a small Fijian island to mill their own timber for houses - by hand.

The helpers and the Fijians had together decided not to seek out chainsaws or sawmills, because of the expertise needed to operate and maintain them, and “all the consumables” such as petrol and oil. They also wanted something the whole village could get into.

14

Solutions in new dimensions for the woodworking industry L EITZ Tooling, with its headquarters in Oberkochen, Germany, is a technological leading manufacturer of precision machine tools and tooling systems for industrial processing of solid wood, wood derived materials and plastic materials.

In addition to a comprehensive product program, Leitz offers consultancy services using the company’s 140 plus years of experience supplying tools to customers.

The Leitz success story started in 1876 with tools for solid wood processing.

For 140 plus years, Leitz has produced tooling for the processing of solid timer. This extensive experience with solid wood applications, as well as the comprehensive knowledge about the challenges of technical conditions of production, today makes Leitz the preferred partner of all timber construction companies.

Leitz has in-house research and development centres in Germany and Austria. Our engineers work closely with renowned research institutes and universities to offer the best tooling solutions to customers. Optimised performance, reduced processing costs and the environmental impact of the machining solutions are three of the priorities underpinning all Leitz products.

The recent boom in timber construction has catapulted

CNC-controlled joinery machines as the centerpiece of production. The high-precision machine technology provides companies with myriad of flexible production options and the ability to process with millimeter precision. This modern technology has increased the level of expectations for quality within the industry, intensifying competition and pushing producers for top performance while remaining flexible and efficient.

Leitz supports its woodworking customers with is comprehensive, high quality product range and longterm experience. When cutting wood, the precision and quality is reflected in the tools used and Leitz’s hightech solutions offer the best tools globally with innovations in cutting edges, geometry, knife arrangement, clamping systems and coatings. With end-to-end service from purchasing and fitting a machine with the correct tools, to servicing and longterm processing advice, Leitz is always with you to help you achieve your success.

• Leitz has over 140 years experience in the solid timber processing industry

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

• Let the Leitz range of quality Joinery Machine tooling help you to achieve your success SAWING When using circular sawblades on CNC machines, the primary goal is to achieve perfect cutting results, particularly when the saw cut becomes the visible edge on a piece of furniture. Noise reduction is paramount and Leitz offers the best tool solutions with our crosssection sawblades for joinery machines, trimming and cross cutting.

REBATING AND GROOVING When it comes to rebating and grooving, the most important factors are precise processing and the quality of the resulting surfaces. The better the surface and the more accurate the dimensional cutting; the higher the precision with which the components fit together. The aesthetics of visible surfaces are paramount. Leitz tool solutions for professional rebating and grooving, including the HeliCut 15 Rebate and HeliCut 15 Grooving cutterheads, enable higher productivity, quality and efficiency.

ROUTING, SIZING AND PROFILING The profiling process defines the quality of the endproduct, creating the first impression that the consumer receives. The Leitz range of shank tools provide efficient, reliable and adaptable systems with our spiral roughing and finishing router Marathon, Dovetail routing cutterhead, shank router cutter and ProfilCut dovetail cutterhead range.

DRILLING When boring corner joints in window and door construction it is the exact accuracy of the holes and the high cycle performance that are essential. Leitz has set the industry benchmark with our high-performance Marathon drills, providing depths up to 80mm. Leitz’s range of spiral boring bits are especially designed for joinery systems, ensuring that exacting holes can be produced cleanly and quickly.

PLANING The selection of the right tool and the best machining strategy for pre-planing and finish planing are decisive for the results in quality products. Leitz HeliPlan planerhead, with hydroclamping option, opens a large number of advantages for productivity and efficiency in planing.

JOINTING Jointing is a particularly sensitive challenge in furniture production, with suitable tool design and machine configuration paramount to creating quality as well as efficiency in production.

Leitz offers a range of perfect package products and services for jointing including the HeliPlan planerhead with Hydro-clamping option.

Leitz simply offers more in quality, efficiency and productivity. Let us support your complete woodworking and CNC Machining needs, so you can focus on what you do best. www.timberbiz.com.au

ASSOCIATIONS

Crazy or not, 2022 national conference will go ahead W E may be crazy, but

the members have spoken, and we are moving full steam ahead for the 2022 FTMA National Conference, which for the first time ever, will be held as a weekend retreat on the 11 & 12 June 2022.

With a shorter than usual period to organise our event, we have gone back to the fabulous RACV Royal Pines, where we know the lay of the land and know that our delegates will be comfortable and looked after.

We understand there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, but we must get back to some sort of normal life and there has been an overwhelming response that members want to get together for some face-to-face networking.

FTMA has booked out the entire conference area to ensure we can deliver a COVIDSafe event whilst maximising the networking opportunities for fabricators and suppliers.

It is also important to note, that if you register Joe Blog and he comes down with COVID and cannot attend, you can send someone in his place as long as we are informed as early as possible.

Red Activities Day – Saturday 11 June One of the keys to our successful conferences is the Red Activities Day which provides a range of fun and exciting activities for delegates to participate in whilst networking.

This year is our biggest activities day yet with four awesome activities on offer for delegates including • Golf at RACV Royal Pines

KERSTEN GENTLE

“We support you!”

• Jet Ski Safari with options of 1.5hr or 2.5hr tour • Kayaking & Snorkelling Tour • Indoor Skydiving and VR Experience The Official Icebreaker Dinner, proudly sponsored by Principal Sponsor Pryda and Major Sponsors Meyer Timber and Vekta Automation, will be a night full of fun, food and networking as the tennis courts are transformed in to a Casino featuring a full size Craps Table, Money Wheel, Roulette Wheel, Blackjack Table & Poker Table.

With Meyer Timber Sports returning with some great activities, delegates will have plenty to keep them occupied whilst enjoying the food stations and beverages.

National Conference – Sunday 12 June The FTMA National Conference is the only conference in Australia where the entire program is designed for fabricators.

The program includes subjects such as timber and housing market updates, launch of Carbon Warrior Partner Program, Current State of Builders Debt, Handling the Mounting Mental Health Pressures of Business Owners and Managers, Retaining Good Staff and Understanding Your Costs NOT

Your Prices.

We will also have a presentation on the results from the 2022 National Fabricator Census (which is being undertaken in April), where we will not only look at employment numbers and other key demographic stats for our industry, but explore what fabricators see as the future of our industry.

For further information on the National Conference please click here.

Conference Dinner – Sunday 12 June What better way to debrief after the conference than at the National Conference Dinner where the networking continues.

This year’s dinner will be a Jungle Safari Retreat!

After the wild times of the past two years, it is time to let your hair down and your inner animal out at the National Conference Dinner!

The evening starts with PreDinner Drinks before we enter the jungle retreat which is kindly sponsored by CombiLift and for our Irish mates we will be serving Guinness.

We have intentionally kept the theme of extreme networking going whilst keeping in line with the weekend retreat. This way we can ensure there is plenty of fun and opportunities to continue conference discussions with old and new friends. The 2022 Conference Dinner, which is being sponsored by Multinail Australia will be held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort.

The Clive Martella Service to Industry Award, is a highlight of the dinner with the presentation of this prestigious Award.

FRAME & TRUSS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

FTMA Australia is an independent, national organisation representing fabricators of and suppliers to the timber prefabricated truss and wall frame industry in all Australian states & territories providing a unified voice, to protect and advance our multi-billion dollar industry.

FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those who support your industry GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

For a full list of the conditions of membership and a downloadable application form visit: www.ftmanews.com.au

• 2019 FTMA National Conference – plenty of room www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

15

ASSOCIATIONS

Employee or contractor – why the difference is important T WO recent High Court rulings confirm the importance for employers to review their current employment contracts and independent contract agreements. It is increasingly apparent that the penalties for incorrectly classifying an employee as an independent contractor can be extremely severe.

Previously, classifying was determined by the relationship between the individual and the employer, however due to the two recent cases, the Court has put additional emphasis on the written contract between the parties.

Failure to have a thorough contract or even worse no written terms, will leave employers in a very precarious position.

As an employer, it is crucial that you understand the distinction between whether a worker is an employee or a contractor and have the correct contracts and agreements in place. Making an error can expose your busi-

employee or a contractor.

However, if you still have concerns speak to the TTIA Legal Officer to ensure your organisation is acting correctly.

BRIAN BEECROFT CEO, TTIA

ness and responsible staff to significant risk and costs under both tax and employment law.

It is also relevant to acknowledge that there may be differences in interpretation by both Fair Work and the ATO, depending on the circumstances in a particular case.

Listed below are some indicators to help you determine whether a worker is an

EMPLOYEES • People working in a contract “of service”, serving the employer under a relevant agreement or employment contract.

• Considered part of the business and (generally) told how, where, and when they work.

• Dedicate their time and effort primarily to one organisation.

• Take no commercial risks and the business is legally responsible for the work done.

• Employer provides all or most equipment and systems for doing the work.

• Must apply for time off.

• Paid by payroll system, with PAYG and any fringe benefits deducted. Eligible for superannuation.

• Have all minimum rights under employment laws.

CONTRACTORS • People working in a contract “for service”, serving themselves by delivering outcomes to their client(s).

• Self-employed, running their own independent business.

• Can work freely for a number of organisations (or sub-contract the work out).

• Dictate their own time off and may or may not be available for work.

• Take commercial risks and are legally responsible for their work.

• Use all or most of their own equipment and processes.

• Invoice for their work.

• Have most workplace rights but different tax, insurance, and superannuation responsibilities.

Whether intentionally, or unintentionally, it’s against the law for a business to incorrectly treat their employees as contractors and it is crucial employers apply the correct approach. This will minimise any workers

lodging costly legal action against the business. Contact TTIA on 02 9264 0011 or ttia@ttia.asn.au for further assistance in this legal area.

TIME FOR A WHS CHECK UP The closing of the state borders and travel restrictions in general during the pandemic meant many employers were prevented from having access to their regular WHS risk assessment.

Now that borders have opened, and hopefully stay open, TTIA is now clearing through the backlog and is committed to providing the industry with our long established and industry specialised safety expertise.

If your business was forced to delay your regular audit or indeed you believe it’s time to get that peace of mind from getting a professional risk assessment of your business, contact TTIA to book a visit from our WHS Officer. Call Ken Hocking on 0418 280 335.

Beautiful. Natural.

Sustainable. Australian. responsiblewood.org.au You can be assured that wood carrying the Responsible Wood mark has come from certified Australian forests that are sustainably managed to the highest global standards.

Royd Clan House, Victoria Winner of the 2021 Australian Timber Design, Australian Certified Timber Category

16

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

ASSOCIATIONS

Employee resignation and notice - rights and wrongs M ANY industries are currently affected by employee movement and ours is one of them. Therefore, the employee resignation and notice period is an important area of consideration to ensure that your business can operate as efficiently as possible when resources are under pressure.

There are specific steps that employers should follow when an employee resigns. This article provides information on what those steps are.

Step 1: Confirm resignation in writing The first step is to obtain confirmation of the employee’s resignation in writing if this has not yet been provided. It is recommended that you ask the employee to provide you with a resignation letter confirming their resignation, the reason for resignation, and their termination date.

Step 2: Determining notice period When a permanent (parttime or full time) employee resigns, they may be required by an applicable award or their employment contract to give notice of termination to their employer. Generally, casual employees do not need to give notice, and their employment ends when they notify their resignation to their employer.

In the event that the employee has failed to provide the requisite notice of ter-

mination, members may, in some circumstances, be entitled to deduct pay from the outstanding wage component of any termination pay. We encourage MGA TMA members to seek advice from our Employment Law team prior to making any deductions from an employee’s pay. (a) Contract of Employment To determine the notice period, you should first look at the employee’s employment contract to see if there are any terms that set out how much notice they need to give when they resign. If there are, these terms in the contract will apply, as long as it is the same or more than the period of notice required under the General Retail Industry Award (the GRIA), Timber Industry Award (the TIA) or other applicable awards. (b) The GRIA and the TIA In the case of the contract not containing any terms about notice, or there is no written contract in place, the employer will need to look at the notice period requirements under the GRIA, the TIA or applicable enterprise/registered agreement.

Under the GRIA and TIA, the amount of notice an employee is required to give depends on their length of

service with the employer.

This is contained in the table below: Length of service with employer Period of notice Less than 1 year 1 week Between 1 - 3 years 2 weeks Between 3 – 5 years 3 weeks More than 5 years 4 weeks Please note that any periods in which the employee has been employed as a casual employee, or certain periods of unauthorised absence, unpaid leave (such as unpaid parental leave) and unpaid authorised absence, do not count as service for the purposes of determining an employee’s notice period.

You may not wish an employee to attend to their duties or to the work premises during their notice period.

Whilst it is generally inadvisable for to ‘pay out the notice period’, it may be appropriate to instead relieve the employee from their duties during the notice period with full pay.

Step 3: Final pay After the employee has completed their notice period, the Member should pay the employee their termination payment within 7 days of termination (if covered by the GRIA). Employees covered by the TIA who resign with the correct notice or are terminated with notice or by payment in lieu are required to be paid on the day of termi-

nation, if paid by electronic funds transfer. An employee should receive the following in their final pay: • outstanding wages for hours they have worked (including penalty rates, overtime and allowances); • any accumulated annual leave (including annual leave loading if the employee received this during their employment); and • if applicable, any ac-

Legal and IR

crued or pro-rata long service leave.

Sick and carer’s leave is generally not included in the employee’s final pay.

If MGA TMA members require assistance regarding employee resignation and notice periods, please do not hesitate to contact our Employment Lawyers on 1800 888 479 (option 1) or legal@mga.asn.au.

Timber Advisory Service

Serving independent timber and hardware businesses by providing valuable back of house services...

National Support Centre 1800 888 479 (Option 1) www.mgatma.com.au

www.timberbiz.com.au

Training

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

Member Benefits

Advocacy

17

ASSOCIATIONS

Keeping veneers looking fresh T maintenance of timber veneers is much the same as for solid timber – after all it’s the same material on the surface.

The only difference is it’s a layer of decorative timber bonded to a substrate, rather than the same type of timber all the way through.

The maintenance required over the life of the veneer will depend on the end-use of the product and the choice of the protective finish.

As with solid timber, veneers need a coating to proHE

PETER LLEWELLEN Technical representative, Timber Veneer Association

tect them from the rigours of day to day usage and retain a fresh appearance. The finish must be suited to the end-use of the finished piece. For example, a decorative jewellery box doesn’t need the same

durable coating as a kitchen cabinet.

Small, decorative items can be coated with a natural finish such as oil or wax, although such ‘natural’ finishes are best applied over a base coat of lacquer or polyurethane. The oil or wax can then be rubbed on to give an attractive sheen.

Kitchen cabinets, which are handled more frequently and exposed to occasional food spillage, are more demanding. One of the best performers is acrylic polyurethane,

sometimes identified as “acrylic PU”.

Acrylic polyurethanes have good clarity and non-yellowing characteristics. A UV inhibitor can be added for protection against colour change caused by sunlight, although placing timber products in direct sun is not recommended regardless of the type of coating.

Care should be exercised when considering veneers in wet areas. While a veneered surface can be considered to be similar to any other

timber surface, it must be understood that the veneer substrate (generally particleboard or MDF) may be affected if exposed to moisture.

Consequently, veneered panels in kitchen benchtops, laundries, bars and similarly moisture-exposed locations need careful handling.

Inquiries from veneer users needing advice are welcomed by the Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA) on the Info Line 1300 303 982, or by email to info@timberveneer.asn.au.

• Benches and table tops need a hardwearing finish. Photo: Andrew Wuttke

18

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

FRAME AND TRUSS

It pays to be agile but stay unique I N business today it is neces-

sary to be agile and responsive to change. But, to have that real edge- the ability to truly set yourself apart- you need to be unique. Your solutions need to define INNOVATION. As a company, Vekta defines innovation. If we review how the Vekta PackFeeder V2 has evolved into the V3 - we’re sure you’ll agree.

To be truly innovative, it all starts with lIsteNiNg. Suggestions, ideas, improvements can come from anywhere- the manufacturing team, engineering design team, service engineers interacting on site with the product. The most important suggestions, the crucial ideas come directly from our customers- the people using our machinery day in, day out.

The PackFeeder V2 - market proven and tested but still young in the design evolution cycle of the machine. Vekta was actively listening and understanding what our customers were reporting. That feedback centered upon picking reliability and system resilience to non-ideal operating conditions, allowed Vekta the opportunity to re-evaluate our vacuum system, with special emphasis on the use of compressed air and off-the-shelf gripper units.

COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY The PFV2 requires a high flow compressed air supply to drive the vacuum system that is used to grip the timber and pick up the boards. The issues included: • Customers were having to upgrade their factory air compressor to get the flow required for adequate performance, • If the flow was too low, the gripping performance was

compromised, • The venturi items that generated the vacuum were susceptible to clogging, making them less efficient with time.

• The cost of machine downtime to replace a vacuum module was high.

VACUUM GRIPPERS Feedback for the vacuum grippers was fielded from sites and engineering. The issues includedThe off-the-shelf vacuum modules had extremely long lead times (6 months) and limited serviceability, They required the high flow of compressed air to operate, To pick single boards or two boards at a time, the grippers needed to rotate across the two boards using a linear actuator and multiple linkages. These items were prone to misalignment after being knocked. They were also labor intensive to design, fabricate and assemble.

The gripper rotation across two boards also reduced the vacuum gripping surface area due to leakage through the gap between two adjacent boards To address all of the above issues, it was important to set the ObjectiVes for the design change. For the PFV2 to evolve into the V3 the objectives were to: • Maximise performance, • Maximise manufacturability, • Minimise lead times and • Minimise costs

FOR SALE

The lead design Engineer for the project, Alex George was looking for ‘simplicity without compromising functionality’.

So, when an off-the-shelf product is not fit for use, you turn to creativity.

Vekta took on the challenge to design and build our own vacuum grippers. By doing so we could address the compressed air flow issues and the vacuum gripper issues.

There is a reason it is called research and developmenT. And that is exactly what the Vekta team did. Our Engineering and Production Teams designed, manufactured, tested and then iterated, until the best solutions were identified. So how did we solve these issues?

An on-board vacuum pump which has completely eliminated the need for a compressed air supply at all, making the PackFeeder V3 easier than ever to integrate into existing plants.

The design of the Vacuum Grippers presented the biggest challenge in the entire project. A solution was found in optimising the design of the vacuum gripper plate orifices to best meet Vekta’s stringent performance and reliability requirements. By separating the single vacuum gripper into two isolated vacuum chambers and controlling a series of valves we can now actuate these vacuum chambers individually or in combination to either single or double pick timber boards on either the forward and/or aft vacuum pads.

In other words, Vekta was able to produce fit-for-purpose, high performance vacuum grippers, while retaining the flexibility to single or double pick boards on demand. What does this mean for Vekta customers and the

• The Vekta V3 PackFeeder gantry. market? A PackFeeder that has less moving parts and is better suited to picking the less-thanideal timber we unfortunately see in our industry far too often.

When you have a tight production schedule, outside influences (shipping, suppliers and COVID) it all comes down to plannIng. Research and development is at the core of Vekta and an entire company focus.

From building prototypes and running tests, the whole team from Engineering, Manufacturing, Support and Admin were involved in ensuring the PFV3 research and development was prioritised.

Once all of the hard work on the drawing board is complete, it is absolutely critical to run new designs through their paces in a prOduction environment. Once again, this is where Vekta’s partnership with industry and new and existing customers comes into play.

We first test our products in the field by aligning ourselves with other Innovative customers. Customers that recognise the advantages of innovation and are willing to work with us to bring new technologies to our industry. In the case of the PFV3, we were lucky enough

to find such a customer in the Perth area - allowing us to monitor and adjust the new version thoroughly and efficiently.

Finally, one of the most important characteristics of innovation- iNgenuity. The quality of being clever, original and creative. Our design processes and resulting products have been tailored to the very specific requirements of the Truss and Frame environment. Finally, as with all of Vekta’s design improvements and upgrades, the new vacuum grippers and air supply is backwards compatible with the PFV2 system and can be retrofitted to existing machines with minimal downtime.

There is definitely a sense of achievement when you realise that by listening and responding; your effort, time and investment has resulted in improvements for your customers and the industry. When you realise that your research and development has allowed a product to evolve and take a step in the design cycle- that is worth celebrating.

Vekta’s PackFeeder V3 - another example of Vekta defining INNOVATION for the timber Frame and Truss industry.

BROADFORD SAWMILLS EQUIPMENT

Sawmill suitable to cut both softwood and hardwood.

Equipment in very good condition and well maintained.

Mill equipment includes: • 6' Gibson Headrig bandsaw with Grey carriage and operators cabin • Kockums board edger with 4 saws (1 fixed & 3 moving) with operators cabin

• All conveyors, transfer decks, chain decks, blowers, ducting, electricals, etc.

• Spare parts and saws

Price - $165,000 + GST ONO for THE Lot. Will separate.

Contact Maurice Efron 0411 887 701 www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER May 2022

19

KH00279AA

DELIVERING PRECISION 30x5 Vekta VETK00

Vekta‘s Interior and Exterior StakPros are designed to increase your production and improve safety.Why have many hands lifting trusses when one operator can do the job by using only a remote control!

Vekta‘s Interior StakPro is designed to suit your truss jig system. With heavy duty caster wheels and a guided rail mount you can put the StakPro where you need it! The Exterior StakPro has adjustable feet allowing the machine to adapt to your site and manufacturing processes.

With the PRESS of a button the StakPro will LIFT the finished truss out of the jig and STACK it on a trolley. Clever!

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