November 2020
MANUFACTURE • TECHNOLOGY • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION
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Going high on timber
Innovation in timber engineering
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Making frames the old way
Feeling better
Timber’s role in our wellbeing
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NEWS ■■ The new Phoenix Gallery in
Chippendale, Sydney. Photo: Timber Design Association
The endless possibilities of timber T
annual Timber Design Awards, which show off the latest structures and furniture using milled or engineered wood as the lead material, have always been a reliably interesting forum for checking out what’s going down – or up – in the latest application of one of nature’s loveliest materials. But as revealed in this year’s 101 entries across 25 categories – from standalone installations to big commercial buildings largely made of, or lined with, wood in some sort of iteration – a material once restricted to being milled into planks, veneers, particle boards or poles can now be applied to be so apparently fluid that it can make spaces with all manner of curvy volumes. “I’ve given up trying to define what the end possibilities of timber are because as soon as we say ‘that can’t be done’, someone will come up with a machine that can do it,” the Timber Development Association’s chief executive Andrew Dunn said. While five judges, including last year’s overall winner James Fitzpatrick of fitzpatrick + partners, got to select the best in each category – and as always Australia’s best designers and makers eagerly lined up against talented small-scale creatives – the public also gets to adjudge the spectacular 2020 line-up of entries to select their “People’s Choice” winner. Mr Dunn says the overall winner is a highly prized accolade in the industry, but second for the entrants is to be named as the people’s choice best in show. “And like the packing room prize of www.timberbiz.com.au
HE
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
the Archibald [portrait] prize, normally the people’s choice is not what the judges choose. The people look at it differently,” he said. In the varietal menu of the awards, industry insiders will be able to identify the authors of many of the entries. And you’d have to have been living under a trestle this year not to know that the cathedral-like, ribbons of thin oak bending with such extraordinary and unexpected beauty around the performance space inside Judith Neilson’s new Phoenix Gallery are the work of Sydney’s Durbach Bloch Jaggers Architects. DBJ did the interiors of this august forever building in Chippendale, while Melbourne’s John Wardle Architecture made the folded and crimped brickwork of the exteriors appear as if they were made from fabric. The building has already won Australian state architecture awards and is currently being celebrated across the globe in the international architecture media. The amazing dexterity with which the entrants have used this mostly sustainable material is a marvel to behold. It makes the website well worth the visit, if just to see that what can be done now, and to get a glimpse that what might be done in future when timber will only be restricted by human imagination. Having been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 presentation of the awards has been pushed back to late November and will be made available on the night via YouTube. 3
NEWS
Budget delivers for home ownership industry
australasian
November 2020 Issue 7 – Volume 28
Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman. Established 1977.
3—4
News Big builds
6
Frame & Truss
7 14
Tech Talk Associations
15 — 18
Front Cover: The 10-storey hotel built from CLT on top of 55 City Boulevard in Melbourne’s Southbank during construction
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg deserves a fair slab of sympathy as well as admiration, regardless of your political persuasions, for even accepting the job of preparing possibly the most difficult and complicated Federal Budget in history. The cupboard was bare, or almost so, the demands were huge and the complexity beyond most taxpayers’ comprehension. It had to be framed and delivered in an economic climate recovering from drought and bushfires, and in the midst of a pandemic. There was no getting away from the fact that, really through no fault of anyone, Australia is in a recession and will probably be so for some time. Mr Frydenberg really only had one choice: spend, spend, spend.
australasian
magazine
And he picked on the great Australian “dream” of home ownership as one of his principal cornerstones for recovery and spending. It’s logical. As anyone who has had a home built knows, the money spent goes in a myriad of directions from the producers of the timber frame to the contractors and the sub-contractors to purchase of the letterbox and everything in between. It is, as it is often repeated, generally the biggest purchase of a person’s life. There is an old saying that money is made round to go round. In general there was huge industry support for the Budget’s strategy.
Master Builders Australia said making building and construction the keystone of Covid recovery was the right call by the Government. The Housing Industry Association praised the Budget, saying it had given more than one million workers in the residential building industry the incentive and confidence needed to continue to navigate through these challenging times. And the Australian Forest Products Association praised the Federal Government for its significant measures to support jobs, businesses, and manufacturing investment as Australia looks to kick-start the economy. There is now some hope that hundreds of thousands of small building and construction businesses will now have hope that they can stay afloat.
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 Publication Design: Peter Frezzini 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 9555 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 Website www.timberbiz.com.au Printed by Lane Print, Adelaide, SA
Conditions
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 2020 © 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.
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4
■■ The Woodspan PLT floor system in the laboratory testing rig – fully loaded and ready to go.
PLT passes Kiwi fire test W
Testing response to demand for a fire-rated mass timber floor systems OOD S PAN is pleased to announce that the New Zealand mass timber manufacturer has completed fire testing of its Woodspan PLT floor system to test method AS 1530.4:2014. Woodspan is a New Zealand owned manufacturer and fabricator of PLT (Parallel Laminated Timber) mass timber panels and glulam engineered wood products for use in building and construction. PLT panels are glue laminated, structural panels. Manufactured, by Taranakipine from NZ grown Radiata Pine, lamina may be finger-jointed or solid. Lamina are glued so that the grain runs parallel to
the panel span direction. Adhesive is Purbond, a Type 1, one component polyurethane adhesive in accordance with AS/NZS 4364 and suitable for all service classes. The maximum panel size is 7200 mm x 890 mm and available in 90 mm, 120 mm, and 140 mm thicknesses. Panels are available in visual grade and nonvisual grade. Panels are available untreated or treated to hazard class H3.1 or H3.2. All panels are supplied with a factory applied temporary waterproof coating. In conjunction with consultancy by structural fire expert Dr Andy Buchanan (PLT Structural Consultants) testing was carried out in July and August
at Passive Fire Inspection & Test Services Ltd (PITS), an IANZ accredited laboratory in Auckland. The inherent fire performance of timber is well known - on exposure to fire and heat it forms a char layer that insulates and protects the inner core of the timber, making it resist heat penetration and thus burn more slowly. In addition to the structural adequacy of the panel, testing also measured the integrity and insulation of the Woodspan PLT system. Testing was in response to increasing demand for Woodspan in the multi-residential and commercial markets and customer’s preference for a
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
fire rated mass timber floor system that ticks compliance boxes while also maintaining buildability onsite. Woodspan CEO Tom Boon said ‘independent fire testing ensures that we can offer our customers a system that not only provides a structural and sustainable solutions but also verified fire performance that fully complies with Australasia’s fire code, making specification straight forward and easy’. Woodspan has a number of fire rated PLT floor options available, including 60 minute fire rated (FRR 60/60/60). To learn more contact Tim McDonald on 027 211 6490 or email tim@woodspan.co.nz. www.timberbiz.com.au
CLT Podcasts delivering ‘fly on wall’ experience THE pandemic has inadvertently delivered Adam Jones something of a bonus. Adam has hosted Wood Solutions’ incredibly popular Timber Talks podcast series since 2018. This time last year the episodes usually attracted around 700 downloads each month; this year it is close to 1400. Adam is a structural engineer who began his working life with big concrete buildings but he was always interested in sustainability. He was lead researcher on the Beyond Zero Emissions Rethinking Cement report in 2017. “Timber was one of the solutions in that sustainability report and I met a lot of people from Wood Solutions through that,” Adam said. Adam has since been nominated for the Property Council’s Future Leader Award and last year was named the Future Green Leader of the Year by the Green Building Council. He started the Timber Talks podcasts with the idea being they can be listened to at any time. The concept has hit its straps, filling a vacuum created by the pandemic and the cancellation of so many live forums and conferences. “The ideal podcast is giving the listener the opportunity to be a ‘fly on the wall’ during a conversation,” Adam said. “So you can listen in on a conversation between an architect, an engineer and a developer and listen to how they bounce off each other. “Then there are also interview with leaders in different areas. “The best podcasts are where we have case studies on real projects with a real project team,” Adam said. “There is a global audience but around 80 per cent of the 22,000 downloads over the past three years have been in Australia. And who is listening? “Architects, engineers, developers, building certifiers and building industry people in general,” Adam said. “It has provided those who are just a little bit interested in timber design and construction with an easy avenue for them to learn more.” 6
■■ The 10 storey Southbank hotel in Melbourne and, below, construction of the CLT core extension underway.
CLT hits new heights World’s tallest timber extension pays off Philip Hopkins
T
10-storey hotel built from CLT on top of 55 City Boulevard in Melbourne’s Southbank is the world’s tallest timber build extension - and it stacked up on financial grounds alone. No special considerations were necessary to justify building with timber. That’s the opinion of Rob de Brincat, currently business development manager for Ikon, who was previously with Atelier Projects, the head contractor for the job “The timber component … made the project feasible,” he said. “It was unique around the world. A lot of timber projects are developed from an architectural and sustainability perspective, but this is a really good example of how mass timber can be cost effective and economical from a development perspective.” Mr de Brincat’s comment came while discussing the 220room project with other key players – Emma Russell, senior engineer with WSP, and lead structural engineer Nathan Benbow from Vistek – during a timber talk webinar presented by WoodSolutions. They all praised the architect Bates Smart. The CLT was manufactured by KLH in Austria. The 10-storey CLT extension, which included a new façade, was built on top of an existing six-storey concrete frame building. “We (WSP) were involved in the concept design to the end of construction, “ Ms Russell said, he
which included checking the strength of the existing building, and creating concrete and composite slabs for level 7, (the hotel pool and gym) and Level 8, which took the floor load from the 10 CLT storeys. WSP found most of the existing piles had spare capacity, so no extra strengthening was needed. Tests showed that CLT was the best option; concrete would have allowed only six floors to be built. Two new steel cores were added and the three existing concrete cores were strengthened to the current earthquake standard. All these elements together resulted in greater lateral stability. In the typical CLT floor plan, the transfer loads aligned with existing concrete columns. Mr Benbow said the many hotel walls with relatively short spans going in many directions created a honeycomb structure. This was repeated on each floor. Using CLT not only gained an extra four storeys compared to concrete but was more sustainable, with 2800 tonnes of equivalent CO2 sequestered within the timber, he said. Vistek worked closely in the
design, management and assembly phases. Coordination was crucial between all the stakeholders and suppliers, Mr Benbow said. All the CLT was fully encapsulated with fire-rated plasterboard. “The end user did not want the building to visibly appear different to other serviced apartment buildings,” he said. Axial shortening due to shrinkage was crucial for a timber structure, “even more so for one of this magnitude”. Joint closure was difficult; perfectly flat surfaces were rare, such as site misalignment. “Small gaps will appear, but as
the building goes up and there is more load, this means these are easily closed. They are not a big factor in the overall axial shortening,” he said. The joins were sealed for weather proofing and fire protection. Towards end of construction, as was evident on site, the timber started to shrink and settle.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
Mr de Brincat said the existing structure was occupied during the entire construction process, which was a big challenge for tenants and the managing company. Also, the CLT internal walls and corridor walls and pre-cut doorways pre-cut created logistical and material handling challenges. “It was not like a concrete frame structure; once you strip it, it’s open and you can load materials and move around the footprint easily,” he said. Props such as prefabricated bathrooms were dropped in by crane during the construction process, not after the structure was complete. With each floor completed, “we started wrapping the building as the structure was going up”. On fire protection, Mr de Brincat said the client’s original desire was to ‘express’ the timber. However, certification was challenging; under the ‘deemed to satisfy’ regulations, the timber must be encapsulated by 16 milli-metre fibre plasterboard. “It was fire-engineered as a total solution,” he said. Certification involved approval from the fire brigade, local council, the Building Approval Board and the Victorian Building Authority. “It was the first job to go through that process in Victoria and the only job to date approved by the BAB,” he said. The entire fire approval process, from lodgement to documentation, took almost 12 months. www.timberbiz.com.au
Frames and truss
Taking frame making back to the start
Adelaide company keeping traditional skills alive
L
O N G , long before timber
frames and trusses were made using high-speed computer controlled equipment and fasteners, they were of course made by hand. And it’s nice to know they still are being made that way by skilled tradesmen and women dotted across Australia and across the world. Traditional timber framing is a craft of creating a structural skeleton for a building using large cross-section timbers applying wooden pegged mortise and tenon joints. This craft of timber framing is an ancient building form which originated out of the necessity to build a structure which would outlast generations. It was simply the evolution of the frame. Tying timbers together evolved to pegged joinery to form a structure of greater longevity and strength. The craft is centuries old, with the earliest example of this form of joinery dating back to around 950 AD. This style of joinery has evolved throughout the centuries, usually in line with advances made in the tools that became available. Many joints have stayed the same over the many years. Traditional timber framing techniques can be seen in a wide variety of buildings worldwide – from simple barns and dwellings to cathedrals and
■■ Isabelle and Peter
Harwood.
castles that are awe-inspiring in their complexity. Peter and Isabelle Harwood are one such couple keeping the tradition alive with their company Timber Frames of Australia working from a large framing yard in Carey Gully, just thirty minutes from the Adelaide CBD. The pair grew up in Europe – Peter in England and Isabelle in Switzerland - surrounded by many beautiful historic buildings and the company was established in 2001. The appreciation for the ancient craft of timber framing was certainly established then. The company’s timber frames are trained in traditional scribe carpentry, an ancient skill enabling the crafting of accurate joints between uniquely shaped timbers.
■■ A tradional house frame under contruction at Timber Frames of Australia's Adelaide Hills
factory.
But Isabelle is keen to stress they are not simply doing what machines do now. “We don’t use hi-tech machinery,” she said. “These are hand crafted.” Power tools are used and a computer is used but only for conceptual drawings. The rest is done by hand. “The timbers come in, they get hand planed, then they get selected for their use,” Isabelle said. Narrow leaf red ironbark
Pictures: Timber Frames of Australia
from Queensland is used, as is spotted gum from either New South Wales or Queensland, Blackbutt from NSW and even Cyprus from Queensland. There is no formal training available in Australia with apprentices being taught by skilled craftsmen while also undertaking a carpentry course at TAFE. The large majority of the frames built are loadbearing as well as decorative. But being handcrafted and
bespoke, it does takes time to craft a wall frame in the traditional way. “We try to get most of our frames out, even for larger houses, within four to five months,” Isabelle said. “A lot of time goes into design and engineering, and then the crafting.’’ The frames arrive as a prefabricated module and depending on the size of the house can take anything from a day to erect, to 10 days.
Safety, Storage, Efficiency www.combilift.com Contact us today to schedule a virtual or onsite survey 1300 552 422 www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
7
Commercial spaces
BRIEFS Timber First campaign
THE people and faces supporting the Buy Aussie Timber First framing campaign come from across Australia and all along the supply chain from foresters to carpenters. Campaign spokesperson Gavin Matthew from the Australian Forest Products Association said that showing support for Aussie timber products and local manufacturing really mattered right now. The BATF campaign has now been running for three months and will run another three months. Both digital and print advertising have been very successful to date in building support and getting the message out there. To date, the campaign has achieved more than 500,000 online advertising impressions across a broad range of internet sites.
CEO appointment
SCM Group Australia has appointed Ezio Forcella as its new CEO for the Australian and New Zealand marketplace. Ezio has extensive experience in managing multinational commercial operations and will take over from Lee Gabbett, who has led the firm for the past 4 years.
Workplace safety
THE CFMEU Victoria and Master Builders Victoria have joined other union and employer groups for a collaborative new campaign focused on workplace safety in the building, construction and development industry. The campaign aims to influence all workers and will also see the messages translated into 15 different languages and cultural context, so workers of all backgrounds can easily access the important information on COVID-19 safety. This campaign will involve downloadable on-site information.
Challenge Cup win
A TEAM of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) students from the University of Melbourne has won the inaugural Fleetwood Challenge Cup in partnership with prefabAUS. The students’ ‘ecoShip’ project was chosen for its thoughtful consideration of the entire project lifecycle. The inaugural Fleetwood Challenge Cup was established to support the next generation of built design professionals for the rapidly changing construction industry. Connecting industry and academics, the competition was developed in partnership with industry association prefabAUS.
8
■■ Decorative timbers were used widely in the Learning and Teaching Building at Monash University.
Timber’s role in our wellbeing Sense of comfort from decorative timber
W
ITH research prov-
ing our built environment has a significant effect on our overall wellbeing, there has been a steady increase in the use of decorative timber in commercial spaces, such as offices, libraries, hospitality venues and retail stores. The materials surrounding us on a daily basis that offer a deeper connection to earth and nature, such as the natural beauty and uniqueness of wood are being embraced by designers for this reason. While some building materials can look hard and cold, the warmth of timber brings a sense of nature and wellbeing into public buildings, and offers a certain luxury. Materials and patterns mimicking nature can help achieve a sense of comfort and happiness, which is at the core of biophilic design. Rather than a trend, architects are incorporating biophilic design as the next standard in commercial buildings. By leveraging natural materials such as wood and stone, designers can achieve a sense of wellbeing and visual connections with nature without necessarily having outdoor spaces. This can also be done by utilising organic and biomorphic shapes and forms, live plants, earthy textures and colours, natural lighting and ventilation. “Commercial developers are not only looking for sustainable design, but an all-encompassing holistic approach
to style and functionality, as well as health and wellness,’’ according to Big River Group general manager John Lorente. “According to a recent study, those in environments featuring natural wooden surfaces, reported higher personal mood, clarity, confidence and optimism on average,” he said. “In response to this, we are seeing a rise in the use of decorative timbers on walls and ceilings being specified as part of the design element to enhance the commercial and retail space. “There’s a myriad of timbers with different textures and colours available, that can be utilised to improve the ambience of a venue.’’ The natural visual appeal of timber in commercial and retail spaces aids in lowering stress levels, creating a healthier environment. What’s more, due to its natural insulation timber reduces internal heat gain in summer and loss of warmth in winter, and can store and release moisture which help to regulate humidity and air quality in an indoor environment. From the natural blonde of Hoop Pine, to the deep rustic tones of Spotted Gum and walnut colourings of Blackbutt, Big River Group offers a variety of naturally beautiful timber options. All of which
are known for their interesting texture and hardwearing finish, adding warmth, style and individuality to a space. The extensive use of Big River Group’s own native hoop pine plywood for interior walls, ceilings and cabinetry, provides a clean, natural look, and can merge interiors throughout a public space. The premium decorative plywood is predominantly used in the commercial sectors and is popular with architects due to its warm, blonde varied tones with a clean grain and smooth texture. Plywood ceiling and exposed timber trusses are a celebration of light, material and craftmanship, and are ideal for appearance and structural grade applications. A stunning and smart choice for cabinetry and joinery applications that achieves a natural aesthetic is Big River’s ArmourCab, a new generation of engineered Australian decorative wood panelling. Available in Blackbutt, Spotted Gum and Hoop Pine timber finishes, each with its own natural colour and markings, ArmourCab adds harmonious design and plays an important role in marrying the indoor and outdoor spaces. Combining the stunning intimacy of native timbers with the rugged durability of a precision-engineered structural product, Big River’s Armourpanel is a decorative plywood and another popular choice due to its distinctly natural appeal. “In maintaining the natu-
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
ral characteristics of the selected wood species, every Armourpanel sheet offers an individual and natural look, with the species’ unique grain structures being preserved so no two sheets look alike,” Lorente says. Also available in a range of native species including Blackbutt, Flooded Gum, Spotted Gum and Sydney Blue Gum, its durability makes it ideal for use in hardwearing areas, including flooring, wall panelling, screening, cabinetry, ceiling linings and joinery. The award-winning Brisbane Airport by ARKHFIELD architects chose a variation of Big River’s Spotted Gum engineered timber and is the centrepiece of the design, lending a warm aesthetic and almost domestic feeling to what is often a very commercial and transient space. Installed by Formosa Constructions, the product was also chosen due to its local origins and sustainability, as well as being stable and durable, making it perfect for the air-conditioned building. The timber’s unique, warm finish helps enliven the interior space and showcases the sunny, vibrant and welcoming nature of Queensland. Armourpanel, ArmourCab and Hoop Pine is manufactured in Australia under the Plywood Association of Australia’s third party audited quality control program and Milled from managed regrowth and plantation forest hardwoods. It is Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) certified. www.timberbiz.com.au
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Engineered Wood
BRIEFS Timber construction boost
FOREST owners say the New Zealand government’s policy to give preference to low greenhouse gas emission materials in government construction will be good for both the environment and for the timber construction industry. The Forest Owners Association says the Labour Party promised a timber-first policy for government building contracts before the last election, so it has been a long time coming. “It’s great to have the policy announced at last, which cites wood as the preferred material,” Forest Owners Association president Phil Taylor said
Forestry, timber scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS of $1000 to $5000 are currently available to women working in the forestry and timber sector to help support their participation in a range of career building leadership development programs. The initiative is providing junior through to executive women managers with scholarships to support their growth and development via participation in one of three flagship courses. Participants will benefit from course content such as Emotional Intelligence and Conflict, Career and Professional Growth, Team Dynamics, Leading Innovation and Change, and Empowering Teams. Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here before November 13: https:// www.wla.edu.au/scholarships. html
Frame conference
NOW in its 23rd year ‘Timber Offsite Construction 2021’ organised by Frame Australia will be a global ‘hybrid’ format combining ‘in person’ and ‘live streaming’ for both speakers and delegates to provide a new and unrivalled experience for all event attendees. Sessions will combine ‘live streaming’ international presenters with ‘in person’ local speakers to provide interactive global coverage of topics by world-renowned experts. Topic themes embrace Building design influences, Construction productivity, Manufacturing & technology, and Global wood building projects. The event will be held Tuesday & Wednesday 22-23 June 2021 at Crown Melbourne, and for information visit the website www.timberoffsiteconstruction. com
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■■ CLTP Tasmania's rotary press, one of five machines from Stirling, and below, the plant's Finger Jointer.
Tassie CLT plant’s collaboration with machinery supplier exceeds expectations
C
ross-laminated timber
(CLT) has been highly regarded and well utilised in European manufacturing for more than 40 years. Here in Australia, the product’s use is still in its infancy, however a brand new Tasmanian facility that came online at the end of 2019 is working hard to change that. CLTP Tasmania’s state-ofthe-art plant is Australia’s newest hardwood facility and the country’s first ever dedicated hardwood CLT plant. Additionally, they are the world’s first CLT hardwood manufacturer in plantation Eucalyptus Nitens. With such a ground-breaking foray into the market, the company knew they needed a machinery supplier who would work collaboratively and who could deliver a flexible solution. Enter Stirling Machinery. From even the earliest discussions, CLTP’s CEO Chris SkeelsPiggins says it was clear that Stirling Machinery understood their business and knew what they were trying to achieve, not just in the immediate term but well into the future. “Every step of the way, Stirling showed that they could partner with us in a meaningful way. We weren’t looking for a quick set-and-forget arrangement. We wanted a genuine collaboration that would see us through from consultancy and installation to operation and beyond.” Stirling Machinery’s Managing Director, Craig Honeyman says his company wouldn’t have it any other way. “Our role is to understand our customers’ business. We need to know what the goal is, not just for
right now but also where you want the business to go.” The plant was ready and open for business months before the COVID-19 pandemic set in. Chris says Stirling’s planning foresight and consultancy had already paid dividends in the earliest phase of operations. “Like most businesses, ours was impacted by COVID-19 and we still haven’t had the opportunity to run at full capacity. We acquired a suite of five machines from Stirling and thanks to the flexibility of the machinery, we’ve been able to focus on supplying materials to the retail sector and this has been underpinning the business.” Planned CLT production has been replaced by a vast range of value-added, high-quality and high-value products including finger jointer and laminated furniture panels, benchtops and posts. “Eucalyptus Nitens is the perfect plantation material to deliver a strong, reliable and beautiful finished result,” Chris says. “The colour, grain structure and hardwood properties of Nitens leaves it without a comparable equivalent, and the market is requesting more volume every month.” He also says that CLT will remain a major focus for the business in terms of both domestic and export however the takeup of the finished products has been a very welcome surprise. With major European CLT manufacturers establishing a presence in Australia, CLTP was determined to be positioned as a preferred local supplier for Australian customers.
“Since the pandemic began,” Chris explains, “a great deal of attention has been placed on the need for Australia to be more self-reliant in terms of manufacturing. Consumers are demanding more locally produced goods and we are keen
work with a company that is pushing the boundaries and is very solutions-focused.” With the pandemic exerting unusual and unique pressures on businesses throughout 2020, Chris says collaborating with suppliers and consultants
to play our role in fulfilling that demand.” Ashley Wilson, one of Stirling Machinery’s highly skilled Technical Consultants played a significant role in the collaboration and believes that CLTP’s business has the potential to be both a domestic and international game changer. “I’ve got no doubt that CLTP Tasmania will be a significant exporter of Australian hardwood CLT panels in the future,” he says. “From the outset, we collaboratively planned towards that goal. They have the machines, the know-how, not to mention the raw materials at their doorstep, and they are reinventing plantation hardwood production practices. It’s been really rewarding to
who bring deep expertise is an important key to success. “You can’t really understand how much you don’t know about an aspect of your business until an expert comes along and shows you. Honestly, Stirling Machinery has been like an extension to our business. If it weren’t for them, we may not have ended up with the flexible, adaptable solution we have now. Even had we been dealing with normal circumstances, our collaboration was always intended to work towards scaling capacity, identifying and implementing additional revenue streams and entering the export market. It’s made the good old ‘COVID pivot’ a seamless reality for us.”
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
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Daily timber news
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Newsprint mill future in doubt
NZ forest sold
A SUBSTANTIAL Gisborne forest has been bought by an offshore investor in a collaborative For the past six years, Nathan transaction concluded by has run his own consultancy, Property & Consulting Australia, Colliers International’s specialist where he has worked with a wide forestry teams in New Zealand range of clients to translate and and Germany. Norwegian forest products navigate the world of politics. Te Rata Forest is a 2,008ha company Norske Skog is From broad economic needs to freehold property, reviewing the future of its specific requirements, Nathan predominantly planted with Tasman newsprint mill at has delivered on subject matter mature radiata pine, located Kawerau. including Property Planning 80km north of Gisborne. and Development, Energy, Norske Skog said Covid-19 has Water, Nuclear Waste, Defence, It was marketed for sale by had a rapid, negative and likely Transport and Infrastructure, Colliers’ Forestry team in New irreversible impact on the Medical Devices and Unsolicited Zealand, and purchased by industry in the region. Bids. an institutional investor who It said it was now looking at engaged the German Land and Transition plan slammed various long term options Forestry team in an advisory including making bleached role. AN expression of interest chemical pulp and once it had released this week by the a preference it would be put to Federal Budget applauded Victorian State Government has staff. shown the plan to transition THE Federal Budget has been native timber to plantation by The Kawerau mill employed welcomed by the Australian 2030 is a false promise for those about 160 staff and it had been Forest Products Association in the industry, according to battling for survival for more for its significant measures to Assistant Shadow Minister for than a decade support jobs, businesses, and Forestry Gary Blackwood. manufacturing investment as SAFPA CEO appointed Australia looks to kick-start the Mr Blackwood said the A FORMER Property Council announcement of the Gippsland economy. executive has been appointed the Plantations Investment Program The Budget details a $65 million South Australian Forest Products was meant to give the native bushfire support package that Association foundation CEO. timber industry certainty, but will provide relief to forest instead it had reinforced that industries devastated by the Nathan Paine was with the jobs will be lost and the industry Black Summer bushfires, Property Council of Australia closed by starving it of supply. including the $40 million for eight years as Chief Forestry Recovery Development Commercial Officer, responsible He Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Fund, $10 million Salvage Log for the national operations Symes’ announcement showed Storage Fund, and the $15 of the Property Council, and a clear lack of understanding as Executive Director (South about how long it takes to grow a million Forestry Transport Australia). tree for fibre or sawlog. Assistance Fund. The Federal THE future of another major industrial operation in New Zealand is under reportedly review because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
First with Industry News
Government’s $250 million waste and recycling infrastructure investment is essential to support innovation in this important sector. “The Budget has detailed measures, including components of the $1.9 billion for low emissions and renewable technologies, that should support our renewable forest industries, regional jobs, and help develop new bioenergy and the bioeconomy initiatives,” acting AFPA CEO Gavin Matthew said.
KI begins salvage operations KANGAROO Island’s firedamaged pine trees which are at most risk of decay will be the initial focus of salvage operations on the island to recover the higher value logs. Around 90 per cent of Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers’ trees valued in excess of $100 million and all of the island’s independent plantations were affected in some way by the by fires in January. Advice to the company is that the target logs must be harvested within two years and stored under water or sprinklers in order to preserve value. This strategy is expected to allow the company to maximise recoverable volume, as it awaits approval for the KI Seaport facility at Smith Bay.
Brought to you by Australian Forests & Timber News and Australasian Timber Magazine
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Are you leaving big profits in the forest? With most sawmills configured for logs over 350mm in diameter, logs from 75 to 250mm are often overlooked when sourcing timber for sawmills. But in many cases, these smaller logs can provide a secure and viable supply of fibre and a valuable source of profits when processed through a small log line from HewSaw. — Designed for high speed processing with minimum manpower — Supplements your larger log lines — Small footprint requiring minimal space — Cost effective to own and operate — Easily integrated with existing board handling equipment — In-line edging tools, eliminating downstream edgers — Several size options for log diameters ranging from 75mm to 500mm Adding today’s HewSaw technology at your mill to process smaller logs can provide increased production volumes, added flexibility, and higher profits. Find out more by contacting your HewSaw representative.
HewSaw Pty Ltd. South Geelong, Victoria, Australia Phone: +61 419 345 037 | email: peter.haintz@hewsaw.com www.hewsaw.com
Adding smaller logs to your mill’s log diet can offer added flexibility, increased production and an opportunity to bring home some extra profits. In business, you never want to leave money on the table when negotiating a deal, so why would any sawmill operator leave money on the forest floor? It seems like a straight forward question with an easy answer, but in reality it can be a little more complicated and there are often significant profits left behind in the forest in the form of rejected logs. The main reason sawmill operators leave logs behind is size. Many mills, especially in Australia and New Zealand, are designed to operate efficiently with logs in excess of 350mm in diameter. They are just not equipped to deal with smaller logs that are often considered to be too much work for the return. But with a little ingenuity, planning and some minor changes to mill flow, processing these small logs through a small log line can prove quite profitable. The logs in question range in diameter from approximately 75mm to 250mm. In many cases, especially with the logs on the smaller end of this range, it doesn’t make sense to process them in a large line that has been specifically engineered for larger logs. That’s where the beauty of a small log line such as HewSaw’s R200 and R250 single pass machines comes into play. These primary breakdown lines from Finland, offer a small footprint, requiring very little
real estate in the mill; with some mill flow changes, they can be incorporated into existing log and board handling systems; they require very little manpower with typically just one operator looking after the line; and they feature in-line edging, eliminating the need for downstream edging.
single pass machines the log is scanned with either 3-D or True Shape scanning.
The HewSaw small log lines are not designed to replace the large log lines already in the mill. They are designed to supplement these larger lines and provide a cost-effective way to process smaller logs, adding flexibility to the mill in terms of log supply and products produced.
HewSaw offers a turn key solution to your primary breakdown requirements with scanning, optimization, automation, hydraulics, electrical and installation and commissioning all included in the price.
HewSaw is no stranger to small log processing. They started out in Finland almost 60 years ago when they developed a small log processing machine could be moved from site to site. Today, the family-owned company which employs over 200 people worldwide has HewSaws in well over 30 countries on six continents, including five machines in Australia and one in New Zealand. HewSaw’s smaller single pass machines are available in two sizes. The R200 A.1 and 1.1 machines can process logs from 75 to 350mm while the larger R250 A.1 and 1.1 machines can stretch the large end up to a 500mm. Log lengths can range from 2.4 to 6.2 metres. With HewSaw’s
HewSaw also offers multi-unit sawlines that can offer sideboards from all four sides of the cant for added flexibility, increased recovery, and additional production options.
For more information on HewSaw and their small to medium sized log processing solutions go to the company’s website at: www.hewsaw.com
Tech talk australasian
Looking Back 2019
TIMBER cladding has been banned due to its inclusion in a “blanket ban” of combustible products and not due to specific evidence it is a safety risk on low rise buildings, according to a NSW company which specialises in safety and compliance, particularly in relation to building maintenance. Sarah Dimitrievski, who with her husband Peco has been in the building industry with Chandolin Constructions for more than 15 years, said there was a major difference in fire safety risk between a 30 and a three-story building. “While It is certainly understandable that regulators see a need to move towards more consistent fire safety standards, - perhaps this is necessary for other elements of construction code as well - it could be argued that timber cladding has been banned due to its inclusion in a “blanket ban” of combustible products not due to specific evidence it deems a safety risk on low rise buildings,’’ she said.
2015
NEW ANALYSIS strengthens the argument that selective logging of specialty timber in Tasmania’s World Heritage Area is necessary to meet the demand from craft industries, including boat builders, according to the State Government said. Forestry Tasmania has advised the Government that areas previously set aside for specialty species logging would deliver only 40% of the volumes of blackwood, celery top pine, myrtle and sassafras expected. Resources Minister Paul Harriss said he would present the new analysis to the World Heritage committee delegation during its visit in November in a bid to reverse opposition to logging inside forests added to Tasmania’s World Heritage Wilderness Area in 2013.
2010
A SPECIALLY designed experimental preservation treatment plant would enhance research capacity in timber sustainability, according to Jack Norton, senior Agri-Science Queensland scientist at the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. The scientist said the outcome of the research would be important to the timber industry for adding value and increased profitability.
14
Dry v Green - watch your step Controlling moisture vital to keep timber in peak condition
F
r om day to day, most
people have some contact with dried or green timber in specifying and designing timber structures. When designing with dried timber, we must use dry timber during manufacturing timber structural components. The consequence of using green timber instead of dried timber will lead to some expected structural issues. Seasoned To fully understand the difference between dried and green timber, we need to know the term “seasoned” first. What is “season” timber? Obviously, it’s not adding salt and pepper like Master chefs. In our industry, the process of drying out the water from “wet” or “green” timber is termed “seasoning”, or more simply “drying”. Drying the moisture out of wood enhances its properties to such an extent that the resulting timber is given the special name “seasoned” rather than “dried” although the terms are identical. Moisture Content Next importance term is “Moisture Content”. This is simply the weight of water contained in a piece of timber compared with the weight of actual wood substance in the same piece. The moisture content of a freshly sawn log varies with the density and species of timber. For example, radiate pine can have a green moisture content of 180% but ironbark has a green moisture content of only about 40%. Seasoning timber causes many changes in its properties, and in practically every case the change is an improvement. There is only once principal disadvantage in drying timber, namely, the loss in volume due to shrinkage. However, by a correct understandTimber species Slash Pine (Back sawn)
David Zhang structural engineer at Multinail.
ing of shrinkage of timber this effect can be minimised, and timber can then be confidently used without fear of adverse behaviour subsequently in service. For a seasoned timber, the average moisture content in the piece shall be no more than 15%. Australian Standards set different moisture content ranges for different products reflecting they type of timber and application, but usually is 9% to 14% with the average of 11%. Shrinkage in Timber All timber shrinks to some extent as it dries, resulting in a direct loss in volume. It should be noted that shrinkage is a direct cause of cracks that occur on the surface or ends of sawn timber and is also primary cause of the warping which sometimes occurs. Basically, shrinkage of timber varies in the three directions of the tree, as shown in Figure 1. It shrinks very little along its length, of the order of only 0.1%, that is, 1mm per meter. The shrinkage in width will depend on how the board is sawn from the log. If it is quarter sawn, that is, in a radial direction, at right angles to the growth rings, its shrinkage would be roughly half of that if it is back sawn or sawn in a direction tangential to the rings. Unit tangential movement (U.T.M) is a useful measure of movement. It is the percentage dimensional change for each 1% change in moisture content between
Moisture content (%)
3% and the fibre saturation point for the particular species. For example, slash pine has a U.T.M of 0.30. Therefore, a piece of 90x35 back sawn slash pine with moisture content of 15% is 0.81mm wider than a piece of 90x35 back sawn slash pine with moisture content of 12%. If we use the same rule and compare moisture content of 18% and 12%, we will find the difference in width will be 1.62mm which is quite significant. Effect on Deformation Another critical difference between dried and green timber is the creep factor when designing a timber structural element. Long term, greater than 1 year, deformation of dried timber is less than green timber. For bending, compression and shear members, creep factor j2 for dried or seasoned timber shall be 2.0. However, green or unseasoned timber has a j2 factor of 3.0. It simply indicated that a green timber beam will deflect 1.5 times more than a dried timber beam long term point of view. Precautions As mentioned above, moisture content is the control value of the performance of a structural timber element. We need to maintain the moisture content at an acceptable range. From the manufacturing stage to construction stage on site, all timber elements shall be kept dry and covered if there will be some severe weather conditions.
Width (mm)
9 12
Fabricating - Machinery So, what about cutting wet timber in a linear saw, e.g. Multinail PieceMaker Linear Saw? Does this pose any risks? Of course it does. As an example, cutting through dry radiata pine is going to demand much less effort on all components on your saw than cutting through soaking wet radiata pine. The additional water and excess moisture can make a difference to the entire cutting process. It places additional resistance on all components within the saw including operators, relating to additional effort for the entire process. As the timber is wet, sawdust will tend to stick to slides, guides and sensors instead of running freely through the machine. As an example, trying to put soaking wet timber through a linear saw can cause damage to all components and possibly endanger your staff. Wet sawdust can get caught on the saw blade and all other moving parts and can effectively gum up the works inside or promote rust on metal parts and electronics and shorten the lifespan. When you think about it, majority of bearings and slides are already wet, wet with sealed oil lubrication. Everyone knows water and oil do not mix. Repairs are costly, and on top of that, they take your time and attention away from more important responsibilities within your business. Keeping your timber dry and controlling moisture not only gives the high performance of final timber structure but also ensures your investment remains in peak condition. This edition of FTMA Tech Talk was written by David Zhang, Structural Engineer, Multinail.
Change in width (mm) 89.9
90
-
15
90.81
18
91.62
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
Benchmark
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Associations
Maintaining IR support
Webpage source for updated industry, workplace information
M
GA TMA has been relentless in not just maintaining imperative “back of house”” for the TMA network during the last six months but strategically structured and improved various programs and the strength of the TMA Industrial Relations support. Improved and expanded support examples include • Workplace policies and templates • Mental Health webinars and policy • Training - expansion of online and face to face • Safety Management webinar and on site auditing service • In house lawyer/s support tackling and resolving many, many member issues and questions The TMA COVID dedicated webpage is consistently updated with necessary industry and workplace information. Workplaces that have changed day by day and the TMA IR team have ensured members are compliant in an everchanging business landscape.
Whilst we are all dealing with the ongoing restrictions and implications to trading and future building projects, as an industry body we are also focused on the paramount need for continuous timber supply and have recently submitted our concerns to the forthcoming Senate Inquiry in regard to Timber Supply Chain Constraints. Jos de Bruin, MGA TMA - CEO, is a strong, active and prominent industry advocator, increasingly so, during COVID and has been very heavily involved on behalf of members around Australia, in various local, state and federal Government Business Recovery groups and stimulus package initiatives that have since come to fruition. In summary, in highlighting the benefits available to TMA members and MGA TMA industry activity – these last six months have seen a significant
increase in membership and membership engagement further endorsing the value of an all-inclusive industry association in supporting independent
small businesses … is never more critical than in today’s difficult and demanding environment. Want to know more about
MGA TMA Timber Merchants Australia – contact Ann Sanfey – ann.sanfey@ mga.asn.au M0411 886 716 | www.mgatma.com.au
Franz Building Supplies harnessed the power of our numbers and found true Independence. Why did you join HBT? We joined to ensure we remain competitive. We knew there was more that we could do with our suppliers and joining HBT was a way to fast-track that plan and gain access to suppliers that we may not have been aware of.
What has a HBT membership done for your business? By utilising the combined knowledge of the HBT buying team, and the other HBT members around the country, we’re able to source practically any product our clients need. The network of other stores around the country who have always been willing to lend a hand has helped us grow our business through some very challenging times.
For more information and membership applications call 1300 428 477 I hbt.net.au
What would you say to someone thinking about joining HBT? FRANZ BUILDING SUPPLIES Bibra Lake, WA
Powering True Independents
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Be courageous. Jump in! You get the benefit of being part of a buying group, while maintaining your complete independence.
Any regrets? Definitely not.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
15
Associations
Keeping up with penalties E MPLOYE RS in Queens-
land who intentionally fail to pay their employees will now be exposed to a criminal penalty of up to ten years’ imprisonment under recent amendments to the Queensland Criminal Code. Similar legislation has recently been enacted in Victoria, and Western Australia has recently proposed similar legislation.
Brian Beecroft Executive Officer FTMA Australia
and there have been some recent moves to capture reckless behaviour in other Criminal Code offences, however no express guidance has been given What you need to know here. Further, an employer may • The Queensland Criminal have a defence under existing Code was amended on 14 Sepprovisions of the Criminal Code tember 2020 to enable wage where they have acted under theft to be prosecuted as stealan honest and reasonable but ing and to increase the maxi- How will allegations mistaken belief in the existence mum penalty for stealing by an of wage theft be of the state of things or acted employer to 10 years’ imprison- investigated? Allegations of wage theft will in the exercise of an honest ment. • Employers will be crimi- be investigated by the Queens- claim of right, without intennally liable if they wilfully or land Police. An individual em- tion to defraud. Inevitably, the deliberately fail to pay an em- ployer or a company may be parameters of the new crime ployee – a broad range of non- charged with wage theft. A of wage theft will only be fully payments may be captured, director or other senior officer understood following judicial including underpayment of of a company (or any other per- consideration. hours, unpaid penalty rates son, for example a company’s external accountant) may be liand unpaid superannuation. • An individual employer able for wage theft committed or a company may be charged by a company if it can be shown with wage theft, and a director that they were an accessory to or senior officer of a company the commission of the offence. (or any other person) may be liable if they intentionally as- Who could be an sist or encourage a company to accessory? A person will be an accessocommit wage theft. ry if that person, knowing the What you need to do • Employers need to ensure essential circumstances of the that their payroll systems are company’s wage theft, intenfully up to date and that they tionally assisted or encourare paying their employees in aged the company to commit accordance with their legal ob- the offence. Assistance or encouragement means doing or ligations. omitting to do any act for the Why is this relevant now? purpose of enabling or aiding, The Queensland Parliament aiding, counselling or procurhas passed the Criminal Code ing the company to commit and Other Legislation (Wage wage theft. The person does Theft) Amendment Act 2020 not need to know that the (Qld), which amends the Crimi- conduct of the company is nal Code to enable wage theft illegal to be liable as an acto be prosecuted as stealing, cessory. However, the person with employers who intention- must intentionally encourage ally fail to pay or underpay their or assist the company’s conemployees now exposed to a duct and must have actual criminal penalty of up to ten knowledge of the essential years’ imprisonment. These circumstances of the compaamendments come as a result ny’s conduct (mere suspicion of a Parliamentary Committee is not enough). Inquiry which determined that there was endemic wage theft What if the underpayment is an honest mistake? across Queensland. The Office of Industrial Relations has emphasised that What does this mean for wage theft is not meant to apemployers? An employer will be liable for ply to unintentional conduct or wage theft if they fail to pay an honest mistakes but is reserved amount payable to an employ- for wilful or deliberate conduct. ee in relation to the employee’s It is not entirely clear whether performance of work when conduct that is reckless but the amount is due (under an does not quite reach the threshAct, industrial instrument or old of being deliberate, will be agreement) and the employ- captured. The amendments are er’s conduct is fraudulent. A based on a Parliamentary Combroad range of non-payments mittee recommendation that may be captured, including deliberate or reckless wage unpaid hours, underpayment theft should be criminalised, 16
of hours, unpaid penalty rates, unreasonable deductions, unpaid superannuation and withholding entitlements, as well as intentional misclassification of workers and authorised deductions applied not as agreed.
Does the offence have retrospective effect? The new wage theft offence commenced on 14 September 2020 and will only capture conduct from that date. In addition to the offence of stealing, wage theft may also be captured by the pre-existing offence of fraud. The maximum penalties for both stealing and fraud by an employer have also been increased – an employer who steals from their employee is now liable for ten years imprisonment, and an employer who defrauds their employee is liable for fourteen years’ imprisonment. Employers will more than ever have to ensure that their payroll systems are fully up to date and that they are paying employees in accordance with their legal obligations. TTIA offers an audit service of payroll, including penalty rates and award conditions, etc. to Members on a fee for service ba-
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
sis. Should you be interested in further information or booking this service, please contact the TTIA Hotline on (02) 9264 0011. NATIONAL WAGE CASE – INCREASES FROM 1 NOVEMBER 2020 Employees covered by the following awards are due to receive a wage increase of 1.75% from 1 November 2020. The list is of awards pertinent to employers in the timber and timber products industry. • Timber Industry Award • Clerks Private Sector Award • Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award • Road Transport & Distribution Award • Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) • Joinery & Building Trades Members of the TTIA will receive award summary updates before the due date.
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Heat, moisture causing problems for veneers T HE Timber Veneer Association has a number of technical advisory publications that can be downloaded from its website at www. timberveneer.asn.au. Some are available as hard copies that can be provided free of charge on request. For more personal service the Association has an information line at 1300 303 982 where all kinds of queries are handled. Recent calls ranged from a specifier wanting a fire test report to comply with building regulations, to a homeowner wanting to know how to remove heat marks from a dining table. The heat mark query sent the TVAA adviser off to do some tests. Advice on the internet includes rubbing with toothpaste, cigarette ash or salt, and ironing white marks with a cloth. It was found that the ironing method was most effective, at least for a lacquered tabletop – not all finishes were tested. The technical explanation is that hot items placed on a
By Peter Llewellyn Technical Representative, Timber Veneer Association of Australia
Veneer Association’s website where there is a data sheet on stains arising from a reaction with naturally occurring tannins in some types of wood veneer. In the case of tannin staining it’s not as easy to remove as the heat marks described above. Tannin staining is best avoided altogether by the precautions outlined in the TVAA data sheet which is available in the Publications section of the Association’s website. Veneer users who encounter problems can be assured that the TVAA will do its best to help, with advice available by phone, from the website or by email to info@timberveneer. asn.au.
wooden surface draw moisture out of the wood that becomes trapped under the coating, causing a white bloom, or a white ring if it’s a hot cup. Wooden items always contain a small amount of moisture, even in a dry interior room. Placing a towel over the white mark and gently ironing it removes the moisture, either by driving it back into the wood or drawing it out. Our experiment didn’t conclusively determine where the moisture goes, just that the technique works! Sometimes veneered surfaces show a different kind of marking caused by moisture, or even by high humidity. This is addressed on the Timber
Tassie veneers’ difference rising in popularity
BY iNdUSTRY FOR iNdUSTRY
The association for furnishing, joinery cabinetmakeing, kitchen and bathroom industries
Join ACFA to: • reduce risks to your business • save time and money Members Benefits:
• 24/7 access to business resources via ACFA website - acfa.net.au • unlimited advice on industry awards* • access to industry specific policies, checklists and fact sheets* • Discounted rates for NSW, VIC, SA Building Contracts *subject to membership category
Join online today at www.acfa.net.au
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PROmOTE
PROvidE
TASMANIAN veneers have long been sought after for a variety of applications with some stunning examples of the capability of the product in beautiful furniture and custom doors and cabinetry. Veneer has traditionally been revered for its uniformity. The matchless repetition created by thinly slicing timber from one larger piece was sought after for cabinetry and linings, particularly in large commercial fitouts. Veneer is capable of covering vast expanses with a consistent look. It is assembled into a sheet or layon which is adhered to a sheet material such as MDF or a more malleable substrate. Veneer is then often matched with solid-sawn timber of the same species in furniture, joinery and lining – giving a seamless colour palette. Today, veneer is rising in popularity for its ability not to blend in, but instead to be different. Hotels are lining guest room ceilings with distinctive combinations of Black Heart Sassafras, while others are setting themselves apart with oversized bed heads created with almost floor to ceiling Blackwood. And it’s little wonder. When faced with stacks of veneer sheet in endless colour and grain variations, it’s impossible not to wonder how the Birdseye Huon Pine would look behind your bed,
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
or the Black Heart Sassafras Wild would look on the front of a kitchen bench. If ever there was an appropriate metaphor for a kid in a lolly shop – a specifier in a veneer shop would surely be it. This versatile product can be cut and assembled into almost unlimited pattern combinations. “There’s tremendous artistic availability in veneers,” says Michael Lee, Technical Officer at the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood. “All Tasmanian timbers are available as veneers with ample availability in both sheets and in layons including thick veneers, standard veneers or full-size sheets. “And, our suppliers are able to book match and match coatings with different veneers to deliver some really beautiful and unique products.” Tasmanian veneer is available in an extensive range of species, grades, grain, colour and pattern variations. Lee says, in addition to the design benefits of veneer, there is an environmental benefit as well. “One of the biggest advantages of veneers is that we’re able to stretch the resource, getting the available recovery into the more square footage of available material,” he says. “This is especially important when we’re dealing with minor species that need to be treated with care to ensure the most is being made out of the material.”
17
Associations 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 mult-billion dollar industry.
FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those ■■ Julie and Fred McDonald have sold their Beaudesert Frame and Truss business.
Beaudesert role models quietly bow out
W
H E N I came into the job back in 2009, I was fortunate enough to meet so many great down to earth people who make up our wonderful industry. Two of these wonderful souls were Julie and Fred McDonald from Beaudesert Frame and Truss who I clicked with immediately. It may be because of their laid-back nature, their friendly disposition, or the fact that, like me, they are mad Rugby League fans, even if it is the Broncos! Like many fabricator businesses within our industry, Beaudesert Frame & Truss has been a family operation. Fred was born and bred in Beaudesert. His father Arthur ran a small building business from their home. Arthur did his apprenticeship with his father George so Fred was the third generation of the family to enter the industry. Around 1979, Arthur could see the advantages of plated roof trusses and he began manufacturing the trusses using ply gussets, which was quite a forward-thinking initiative of the day. With sales kicking off Arthur decided to bite the bullet and purchased a block of land in the new industrial estate where he built their frame and truss plant. It was around this time that Fred joined his dad as an apprentice carpenter and at the young age of 21, he married Julie. Their first contact at Pryda 18
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was Chris Rogers who was instrumental in setting up the business as he oversaw and advised them on the right equipment to install, the factory layout and of course the allimportant training. At this time there were no computers and Fred was trained using a HP97 Programmable Calculator. The factory was completed in 1981 and they continued to run the frame and truss plant along side the construction business until it closed in 2000, when they decided to concentrate on the truss plant. Julie and Fred have two kids, Scott 39, and Jayde 37. Scott is a motor trimmer by trade and is now in to the earthworks industry, whilst Jayde, who began working in Brisbane, was encouraged to do an aptitude test for truss design and she was a natural and has been with the business since the early 2000’s. Jayde says she was always fairly good at maths and liked the work straightaway. The family business is part of the community and at work they have a running joke whenever anyone comes in…..’oh, you know, you went to school with so and so, or you married such and such’ as everyone knows everyone.
Fred and Julie’s greatest achievements are their children and their beloved Grandchildren. Scott married Lesley and they have two kids Jackson 8 and Oliva 6 and Jayde married Scott and they also have two kids Ivy 7 and Angus 2. In August 2020, during the worst Pandemic to hit our country in 100 years, Fred & Julie sold their business which was an amazing feat and goes to show how good their business was. Jayde says she has loved working in the business with her parents and that they have been amazing role models with strong work ethics and beautiful family values. The perfect role models in every aspect, not just business wise but in every way. Jayde is staying on with the new owners whilst Fred and Julie are looking forward to retirement where they will get to spend more time with their grandchildren. FTMA Australia thanks Fred & Julie for supporting the Association and wish all you all the best for your retirement and hope you enjoy the time with the Grandchildren and find time to begin your travels, COVID-19 permitted of course!
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
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Classifieds
Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee. For rates and deadlines call Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or email: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au
MACHINERY FOR SALE
Positions Vacant Experienced Mill Workers • Sawyer for Grey One Man Bench • Saw Sharpener for Tungston Tipped Saw and Bench saw
WEINIG Profimat 45 Moulder With In/Outfeeds and Lifting table $87,500.00 AUD
USED M.P.B. Automatic End Matching Machine $13,860. AUD
• Yardman The Mill is situated on the beautiful Nambucca Valley, Mid North Coast NSW All positions will be 38 hr week with some overtime Above award wages
Call Mark on 0403 376999 or 02 6569 3111
Robinson 54” Re-Saw Comes with two blades. $ 42,950. AUD
WEINIG HYDROMAT 23C 6-Spindle Moulder HYDROMAT 23C 2001 93184 Good Condition $62,500. AUD
WEINIG Profile Grinder Rondamat 960C 1 of 8 $9,350. AUD
Contact: Mark Scheimer at Kennedy’s Timber 03 9359 0300 vicsales@kennedystimbers.com.au Prices do not include GST. Pricing is ex our Factory Excluding delivery.
Classifieds advertising has long been regarded as one of the best value for money forms of advertising — because it’s been proven to work, time and time again Now you can sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee through the new classified pages of Australasian Timber Magazine. Booking a classified advertisement in Australasian Timber Magazine is as easy as phoning or emailing Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au
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Contact Gavin de Almeida at (08) 8369 9517 or g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER November 2020
19
DELIVERING PRECISION The Vekta Razer V5 is the ultimate linear saw, designed to have maximum safety, flexibility and capability. The Razer can be customised to suit• Your budget: Fully installed systems starting at $220,000 AUD, with upgrade options as your budget and needs change over time. • Your workflow: Left-to-right or right-to-left timber flow, as well as in from the front or back and out to the front or back. • Your Space: Fully customisable to fit into even the smallest plants. Everything is built to order, so Vekta can customise virtually any aspect of your machine. • Your Processes: Highly configurable software that easily lets you choose where and how optimising is done, what you want printed on each different member type, cut orders, options to go paperless and so much more.
Don’t just look at the outputs. You need to consider the entire package. The support, being a local supplier and not international, the servicing requirements and costs, optimisation, absolutely everything. Vekta and the Razer ticks all the boxes. Andrew Sternberg, Dahlsens
info@vekta.com.au I vekta.com.au