Australian Timberman by Provincial Press Group

A U

The solid wood, timber and panel processing trade show

11-14 July 2012

Sydney

www.awisa.com

T I M B E R

P R O C E S S I N G ,

P R O D U C T S

A N D

S U P P L I E R S

www.awisa.com

April 2012, Issue 2 Vol. 20 Ph: (03) 9888 4820 Fax: (03) 9888 4840 Email: norm@timberman.net.au Web: www.timberbiz.com.au

• It was a framing success! • Changing the game for industry • Wood treatment opportunity • Push for perfection

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New Ideas and a lot of fun Sharper. Smarter. Greener.

See it all at AUSTimber 2012

• Mount Gambier • South Australia • March 29-31

It’s on! The biggest timber industry expo in the Southern Hemisphere will host equipment suppliers and industry professionals from around the world. The site compares with the best anywhere in the world. All in-forest equipment demonstrators are ready to go. The conference speakers are tweaking their words. Processing technology suppliers are ready to show their wares. See you there! – www.austimber2012.com.au

Forestry and space science?

AUSTimber Welcome Function

A top line up of international speakers to inform and challenge your thinking on how to improve your productivity.

This premier industry networking event will welcome all international, national and local visitors to the AUSTimber 2012 Conference and Expo. The AUSTimber Welcome Function is proudly sponsored by Caterpillar.

At the conference, learn (amongst other things) how forestry resources can be managed from space. Learn why a forestry company is working with the European Space Agency and what 3D Forest measurement is all about. Major Sponsors

Olympic and Paralympic gold medallist and Australia’s fastest skier, Michael Milton, will be the celebrity guest speaker for our charity auction with opportunities including: • A half day skiing with Michael for four people. • A villa on the Mediterranean. • A boat cruise. • And more – but you have to be there to find out.

Sponsors

Supporters

 M ultifunction bridge – Typical equipment for panel construction manufacturing.

Event Supporters

Visit the website www.frameaustralia.com for details and special ‘early bird’ rates

NEWS

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 4

Competition was a ‘framing’ success! P

HOTOGRAPHS Of a former asylum in Queensland, a picturesque jetty in Albany and a magical Tasmanian gorge have been named winners of Planet Ark’s national photography competition ‘Snap Some Wood’. The competition is an initiative of Planet Ark’s ‘Make It Wood – Do Your World Some Good’ campaign, which promotes the environmental benefits of using responsibly sourced wood as a building material. Entrants were asked to submit a photo showing the versatility or beauty of wood. One of the top spots was awarded to a photograph of former asylum Wolston Park, near Brisbane, captured by Chez Watts. Parts of Wolston Park were built in 1865; a testament to wood’s resilience and strength. As a result of wood’s unique capacity to store carbon, this site has been keeping carbon out of the atmosphere ever since. It Winners: The Make it Wood Award Wolston Park – Wacol QLD, taken by Chez Watts Little Grove Jetty - Albany WA, taken by Kelly Gerdes The People’s Choice Award Amongst the Fairy Garden Notley Gorge TAS, taken by Gemmie Claire Alliston

will continue to store carbon for its lifetime, helping to address climate change. The asylum at Wolston Park, named Woogaroo, was in use from the 1860s until the 1950s to house mentally ill and disabled patients. At the time it was the largest facility of its kind. “The reason I found the place so interesting is that my uncle used to work at the Wolston Hospital Complex which is part of the new grounds and had been inside this building before it had been condemned, some time back in the 1970s,” said Watts. “Woogaroo has had a less than savoury past I am led to believe.” A beautiful shot of Little Grove Jetty in Albany, Western Australia, took out equal first place. Other competition entries ranged from photos of wooden building frames, iconic piers, valuable chests, furniture and fencing, highlighting both the environmental benefits of wood as well as its versatility, adaptability and beauty. “Planet Ark is running this campaign to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of using responsibly sourced wood to make furniture or construct buildings and landmarks,” said Make it Wood Campaign Manager Chris Philpot. “Although most people are aware that trees release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, many

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O ne of the top spots was awarded to a photograph of former asylum Wolston Park, near Brisbane, captured by Chez Watts. Parts of Wolston Park were built in 1865; a testament to wood’s resilience and strength. As a result of wood’s unique capacity to store carbon, this site has been keeping carbon out of the atmosphere ever since. It will continue to store carbon for its lifetime, helping to address climate change.

don’t realise that the carbon remains locked up in the wood even after it is harvested. Up to 50% of wood’s dry weight is made up of carbon, making wood unique amongst materials for storing rather than emitting carbon.”

Planet Ark is urging everybody to choose responsibly sourced wood when building, renovating or choosing furniture. As the carbon benefits of wood products are based upon the trees being responsibly

harvested, consumers need to look for wood that is independently certified by schemes such as Forest Stewardship Council to ensure high conservation value forests are protected.

FWPA director brings supply WoodSolutions wow factor gets New chain focus world-wide media coverage

FWPA’s new online resource is inspiring design and building professionals to use more of one of the world’s most familiar materials in design and construction and its success has been covered in media around the world. According to one report, by Environmental. com, there’s no need to don a hard hat and high-visibility vest when visiting this new building site, WoodSolutions is only stacked high with information about timber and timber products. Responding to research that indicated a lack of easily accessible knowledge was one of the main impediments to using more timber in building designs, the Australian forest and wood products industry created the WoodSolutions website. “Our challenge was to pull together information from a whole range of sources and present it in a way that was attractive and accessible to building material specifiers,” said Ric Sinclair, Managing Director of Forest and Wood Products Australia. “We believe the result, http://www.WoodSolutions.com. au, is the best site of its kind in the world. WoodSolutions has been designed to be a growing resource that provides a one-stopshop for people looking for information

Start of a new chapter NZ WOOD is embracing the marketplace with a new advertising campaign and new partnerships starting with University of Auckland School of Architecture and Canterbury University School of Forestry. “We are driving our wood at work messages on foot and on ground with stands at trade shows such as the upcoming

JOHN SIMON, CEO of Simmonds Lumber Group, has filled a casual vacancy on the Board of Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) following the resignation of Jim Snelson. “We thank Jim for his valuable contributions to FWPA," said Ron Adams, FWPA's Chairman. "He has been with the Board for three and half years and his strategic and business acumen have added immensely to the development of the company’s R&D investment and generic promotion activities.” FWPA is the industry’s service company that delivers R&D investments, generic marketing and standards coordination for the benefit of its stakeholders, including the Commonwealth Government. The company’s vision is to ensure that forest and wood products are the preferred, sustainable material that meets the Australian market needs. Jim was Chair of the FWPA Board’s committee for promotions, services and communications and was previously Chair of the Board’s audit and finance committee. He resigned his directorship early in his second three-year term so he could concentrate on his new role as CEO of Borg Industries. John started his official role as a FWPA director on 1 March. He has previously had a strong involvement with FWPA as a member of the Market Access and Development Advisory Group and he has more than 25 Canterbury rebuild where years’ experience in the Australian wood we have amassed evidence products sector. that it truly is the Canterbury After completing his Masters in timber rebuild material of choice. engineering, John worked in timber research “Coming up in May is at the Council for Scientific and Industrial the NZ Wood-sponsored Research (CSIR) in South Africa. Since Winter Communique Lecture arriving in Australia 25 years ago, he has Series including a special been the Managing Director of Sterlands, the tour by feature speaker largest timber frame and truss producer in Taira Nishizawa, director of Australia; CEO of national timber distributor, Tokyo-based Taira Nishizawa Pine Solutions; Managing Director of Architects. merchant and retailer, Hudson Building

about any aspect of designing and building with wood and wood products. The site delivers data, like span table and durability ratings, provides information about issues such as designing buildings that meet the new bushfire requirements and inspires innovative and exciting designs through case studies” Behind a deceptively simple home page, the WoodSolutions website comprises more than 3,000 pages of information, links and downloadable files. “One of the toughest tasks was structuring the information so that visitors could find what they were looking for quickly and intuitively,” Mr Sinclair said, “for example, someone looking for hardwood timber may be looking for information about a species like Jarrah, applications such as flooring or decking or sustainable building materials. The search facility and the structure of the site allows them to easily find all the options and select the ones they are interested in.” Attracting more than 1,000 visitors a day, the WoodSolutions website shows that the research identified a real need for information about wood – one of the world’s oldest building products.

Better Home and Living and we are increasing our attendances at conferences and events,” said chief executive officer Jane Arnott. “We know our wood first message is reaching home but we need to increase the appeal of wood in commercial construction as well as reinforce its benefits to a post-earthquake

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J ohn Simon ... excited to be involved in the future direction of the company.

Supplies; and, Chairman of the Timber Development Association for 10 years. Currently he is a Director of the Australian Timber Importers Association and is a member of the Housing Industry Association’s Manufacturers and Suppliers Council. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. “I had the opportunity to participate in the FWPA industry summit and it was great to see the contribution FWPA has already made to the industry. I am excited to be involved in the future direction of the company,” said John. One third of FWPA’s directors are elected each year at the annual general meeting and a call for nominations for directors will be advertised in May. FWPA’s AGM will be held on 17 October in Gympie in conjunction with the biannual conference of the Australian Forest Growers.

NEWS

5 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

Wood. Naturally Better.™ message back on TV T

A mill, a will and a way Down but not out, McKay Timber - the largest family-owned sawmilling business in Tasmania’s south - is back online. Early in February unclear and conflicting reports carried by some mainstream media stated that McKay Timber had stood down 40 staff. But Brett McKay, Operations Manager of McKay Timber (pictured), was determined to get the mill firing again. He told Daily Timber News that the 12 workers temporarily stood down would be back at work on 20 February… and they were! A temporary stand down for receiving sawmill residues at the Artec export woodchip facility in Bell Bay caused the company to temporarily shut its two sawmills. “There are no facilities at these mills to store sawmill residues,” McKay said. “This temporary stand down affected both of the company’s mills, one at St Helens and the other at Bridgewater, and directly affects 12 employees who have been temporarily stood down, with others taking leave or being relocated to other sites within the company.” McKay sawmilling operations previously sent its sawmill residues to the now closed Triabunna export chip facility. With the closure of the Triabunna facility McKay Timber and all other southern sawmills have had to send their sawmill residues to the export wood chip facility at Bell Bay, run by Artec. The temporary stand down of that facility meant the local sawmilling industry had no export facility to cart their sawmill residues to. “Unfortunately a solution has not yet been identified that would permit the reopening of the St Helens mill. “But we are seeking approval for a proposed storage location with the Environment Protection Authority and we are hopeful that, given approval, that mill too may reopen soon,” McKay said. “It should be understood that the stockpiling solution for the Bridgewater Mill residues does not constitute a sale of the residues, rather it is simply removing the woodchips from the site to permit sawmilling operations to be able to be continued.

“This will be at considerable cost to the company and could not be continued indefinitely,” McKay said. “Clearly it is imperative that longer term solutions to the disposal of harvest and processing residues within the Tasmanian forest industry must remain a very high priority for the industry, the union and governments if further stand downs are to be avoided into the future. “In particular it is important that either the Triabunna mill reopened at the earliest possible time or failing that, governments must turn their minds to the alternative specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement to renegotiate the terms of that agreement.” McKay said the company was ‘incredibly’ grateful for the “cooperation and tolerance displayed by their workforce at both mills throughout what has been a very difficult and highly stressful period”.

HE SUCCESSFUL TV commercial, under Planet Ark’s Environmental Edge brand, is on free-to-air and pay TV across the nation. Featuring Peter Maddison, award-winning architect and host of Grand Designs Australia, the commercial explains that wood stores carbon and that carbon is better locked away in wood than free in the environment. He ends by suggesting that by choosing wood, people are doing good. The Wood. Naturally Better.™ commercial is co-branded with Planet Ark’s Environmental Edge, a series of advertisements designed to provide people with facts to help them make more informed environmental decisions. Running on metropolitan and regional free to air and pay television from March – April, the commercial is targeted at environmentally conscious people and renovators aged 18 to 54. On free to air TV, the spot will feature in program such as Revenge, Australia’s Got Talent, My Kitchen Rules, Seven News, Better Homes & Gardens, Jamie’s Kitchen, Myth Busters and The Chaser’s War on Everything. It is expected that it will be seen by more than half of all people aged 18 to 54. The pay TV schedule includes sponsorships of brand new Grand Designs Revisited and Great Australian Homes. Research following the last TV campaign showed that the advertisement had a prompted recall of 23%. This is nearly twice the recall of the previous Wood. Naturally Better.™ print advertisements. Even more encouraging, 76% of respondents believe the campaign communicated the message that ‘Wood stores carbon for life’ and 77% believe that it communicates ‘Wood is a better environmental choice’. Overall, the advertising was viewed to be believable, relevant and informative. The commercial can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lmAAkjIzKs

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NEWS

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 6



Stephen Jenkins.

Environmental and planning approvals secure regional community’s future BY STEPHEN JENKINS

OR MORE than 35 years, the small town of Myrtleford in regional Victoria has been relying on its timber industry and the local pulp and saw mills as the economic pillar of the community. In 2009, a review of the 25-yearold sawmill confirmed that the operations were inefficient by today’s standards. The operating sawmill, with a workforce of about 200, was not sustainable. Owner of the mill, Carter Holt Harvey (CHH), Australasia’s leading forest products company, was faced with two options. The company could either shut the mill down or upgrade it into a world class plywood mill for which market opportunities existed. With the pulp mill decommissioned in 1999, the subsequent closure of the town’s sawmill was sure to have a detrimental effect on the local economy and within the community. In order to move forward with the development of Myrtleford’s plywood mill, Works Approval was required from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) of Victoria, due to the alterations and additions to the existing industrial plant. So, in October 2009, CHH called upon environmental consulting firm EnviroRisk Management to manage all the pre-development environmental and planning approval requirements. EnviroRisk Management proceeded with a risk assessment to ensure there was compliance with state policy and local and regional planning requirements. This involved the use of computer model

predictions of air and noise impact, extensive community consultation, development of best practice controls and liaison with several regulatory agencies. The risk assessment highlighted key challenges that needed to be addressed including air quality due to PM10 and organic hazardous chemicals; environmental noise from the lathe, chippers, blowers and dust control units; stormwater management constraints; water use efficiencies, and; biomass energy optimisation. A range of processes was developed to address these risks and potential liabilities as well as meet the community’s and authorities’ needs. These included: • Creation of state-of-the-art pollution controls (baghouse units) and engineered stack emissions to maximise dispersion • RCO (regenerative catalytic oxidiser) unit to destroy hazardous air pollutants • Acoustic enclosures, insulation and other processes to control noisy sources • Important safeguard processes for the storage and handling of chemicals • Minimisation of water use, stormwater capture, recycling and re-use (used water is put back into the system) • All wood waste not on-sold as a product to be used as fuel to supply the energy requirements for the mill • Reduction of waste as a result of technological improvements • Implementation of technology allows approximately 10% more finished product from the same log input

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The Myrtleford site.

• Energy savings equating to over 6,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas reduction per year. As EnviroRisk’s statutory EPA auditor, able to verify the reliability and completeness of information, I signed off the application. This sign off assured the EPA of the soundness of the application, thus streamlining their ratification process. Overall, the EPA Works Approval and the council planning permit were delivered within a tight deadline of less than four months. The efficient turn around attested to the high

quality of the approval applications and expertise of the project team, as well as the value of the EPA auditor sign off process. The plywood mill started commissioning in July 2011 and will launch into full production over the next few months, employing over 150 staff. This month marks the final compliance evaluation against approval conditions by EnviroRisk Management as well as an important milestone for the Myrtleford economy and community.

Stephen Jenkins is the founder of EnviroRisk Management, an environmental consulting firm which assists organisations to improve business sustainability and comply with environmental legislation. Jenkins is a Victorian Environmental (Industrial Facilities) Auditor appointed under the EP Act 1970, a Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) and is a Lead Environmental Auditor with the RABQSA International.

NEWS

7 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

Investment coup as Melbourne wins world leading training centre M

ELBOURNE IS to become home to a world-leading simulation training centre. “This is a coup for Australia, with Melbourne to be one of only three cities in the world to offer state-ofthe-art simulation training in the building and construction industry,” said Brian Welch, executive director of the Master Builders Association of Victoria. More than $10 million is being invested into the Master Builders Building Leadership Simulation Centre (BLSC), which will use 3D technology, replica site sheds and a team of trained actors to create an immersive, interactive learning environment. It will have the capacity to train thousands of building professionals a year, from project managers right through to apprentices. “Master Builders will use the centre to up skill experienced workers and provide international best practice to the training of the next generation of building and construction apprentices,” Welch said at the launch which was attended by 200 members. “In Victoria we have highly skilled building and construction workforces. The BLSC will help us to maintain our competitive edge. “As well as impacting workers,

delays and accidents cost time and money. Experience in Europe shows that this style of training lifts employee performance, delivering safer, faster and more cost-effective building. “That is good for our workforce, good for employers and ultimately good for Victoria’s economy.” He said the South Melbourne centre, due to open in July, would be a paradigm shift for industry training. Participants will practice communication and problem solving as they navigate two threedimensional building sites projected onto a 15 metre wide panoramic screen. “The BLSC is a totally safe environment where trainees can make mistakes without the risk of project delays, budget overruns or injuries that exist on real building sites,” Welch said. Professor Michiel Schrijver, developer of the world's first simulation training centre for the building industry in the Netherlands, said the European experience showed that this style of training developed communication and decision-making skills effectively. “In a complex, competitive and rapidly changing environment, building professionals need strong

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A t the launch of the Master Builders Building Leadership Simulation Centre were (from left) Master Builders executive director Brian Welch, general manger of the BLSC Marc Lyons and developer of the first Simulation Centre in the Netherlands Michiel Schrijver field questions for Harm de Vries CEO of Vriesbow, a building company in the Netherlands that utilises the centre frequently.

communication and problemsolving skills as well as technical ability,” Professor Schrijver said. “Simulation training develops the five per cent component of performance that can’t be addressed

Bushfire-salvaged timber takes pride of place Bushfire-salvaged timber played a key role in helping the Government Services Office development in Dandenong, Victoria, achieve the highest sustainability rating available. Hassell designed the building, which is part of the VicUrban-led Revitalising Central Dandenong urban renewal initiative, co-locates four different State Government departments into a single, purpose-built workplace. Grocon, the developer and builder on the project, suggested an initiative to use bushfire affected timber – sourced from trees destroyed

during the 2009 Victorian bushfires – which the architects say has perhaps cemented the project as a benchmark for sustainable design. The timber species is Victoria Ash and it was sourced from trees destroyed during the bushfires around the Kinglake area. While the outside of the trees were burnt, the timber inside was useable. The building has been designed to integrate with the civic centre and city square to be built next door. South East Water and the Australian Tax Office are also talking with bidders about building new offices in central Dandenong on the other side of the new building.

by policy, procedure and process. It targets behaviour, culture and communication.” A number of major Australian building firms have already committed to using the facility.

Bookings are open now and early-bird specials will apply until 30 June. Go to http://www.blsc. com.au for more information.

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NEWS

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 8

Online education and training can change the game for wood products industry A

SSOCIATE PROFESSOR Greg Nolan, Director of the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW), predicts that online education and training can change the game for the Australian and New Zealand timber and wood products industry. “The wood products industry has always faced natural disadvantages in education and training. It is a regional industry, so it’s generally a long way from major educational institutions. Then, it is a dispersed industry, scattered around the country. This makes bringing a viable group of students together for traditional educational and training courses very difficult,” Professor Nolan said. “As a result, education and training providers are constrained in the services they can provide economically and industry has a generally low level of accredited education and training. “However, developments in online education and training are set to change all that,” said the Professor. He said that major education providers

such as the University of Tasmania had been investing heavily in ways to improve flexibility learning for their students and ‘online educational systems were a large part of this. “These systems are really changing how and when we teach and how and when students learn. It is now quite easy to receive a question from a group of students by email, record a video presentation to answer it, and then make that available online to students anywhere in the world within a couple of hours. They can then download the presentation as a video or audio podcast, and listen to it as they drive home that night. “So, with the roll-out of broadband, accredited education and training can now come to students in industry, wherever they are.” The University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) has been moving to take up the opportunities these changes present. In 2011, it introduced an online Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing and Building), the first course of its type in

Australasia. “It can be completed part-time and largely online, from work or home, using the University’s online MyLO system,” said Professor Nolan. “It is quite amazing using the new systems. Students of ours in Western Australia and Queensland can hear the lectures at home or in the car an hour after I finish recording them in Tasmania.” Enrolments for the 2012 GradCert Timber are currently open. CSAW is also investigating the potential to partner with a registered training organisation to jointly deliver accredited training. While change is likely to come slowly to an industry that has gotten used to having few educational and training opportunities, Professor Nolan believes that it will come and, as it does, large changes are likely. “There is a lot of scope to improve production efficiency and recoveries in the Australian wood production industry,” Professor Nolan said, ‘and these will only come about with an educated and trained workforce.”

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Professor Gregory Nolan

The Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing and Building) is part of the School of Architecture & Design’s continuing timber education and skills program. For more information contact Associate Professor Gregory Nolan (03) 6324 4478.

Government treats timber industry as expendable, says Queensland Can Do candidate THERE’S NO point sitting on your backside complaining. If you’re not happy, be proactive and get out and make a change.

That’s Simon Dorries’ philosophy and that’s the reason he’s a Can Do candidate contesting the State election on 24 March.

Keep our forests healthy and take a

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The outspoken boss of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia will contest the Brisbane electorate of Woodridge. “I had never been politically active and only got involved following the election of the Rudd Labor Government. Very quickly, middle income families became second class citizens. This prompted me to get politically active. No point sitting on your backside complaining. If you are not happy, be proactive and get out and make a change,” he says. “I’m frustrated at the incompetence of the State and Federal Labour Governments and I’m desperate for change,” says the Liberal hopeful. And he has fired a salvo at the lack of support from Labor for the timber industry … “we seem to be entirely expendable politically. It’s time to make a bit of noise,” he says. Simon, 44, has spent his entire life living within

10km of Woodridge. Born in Brisbane, he grew up in Sunnybank Hills and spent his primary school years at Runcorn State School and secondary education at Saint Thomas More College at Sunnybank. Simon and his wife, Sonya, purchased their first home in Marsden in 1990 and lived within the electorate boundaries of Woodridge for 10 years. Following high school, he started his 26-year career in the wood products industry. Simon is chief executive of the EWPAA which represents wood product manufacturers in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. He also sits on a number of Government and private boards and advisory groups and is a director of several companies. By far his greatest achievement, Simon says, is his family. He married Sonya in 1989 and they have eight children – Sarah, 18, Jack, 13, Harry, 12,

Samantha, 11, Christopher, 9, Thomas, 7, George, 5, and Charlie, 2. All the Dorries children attend State schools. "For more than 150 years, family values have been the backbone of this State; it was in keeping our families strong that we kept our State strong," he said. "If we want to progress this State – and our electorate – we must start by looking after our families – the children, their parents and their grandparents. In this regard, the current Government has lost the plot – completely,” he said. He been on the election hustings since the date for the election was announced and he knows it’s not going to be easy to snare the seat. “This is Labor heartland and I require a swing greater than 20%. This said, there are many very unhappy voters out there so I have quite a reasonable chance.” If successful in the political field he will resign his EWPAA position.

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FOR THE first time Combilift Australia coupled with Adaptalift Hyster will be exhibiting at AUSTimber 2012 in Mount Gambier, 29-31 March. Visit Combilift Australia on stand S19 in the outdoor area where there will be various products on show designed and built specifically for the timber industries needs and applications in mind. Coupled with the Hyster product, which has been synonymous with the timber

industry for many decades, the Agria and Combilift products complete an impressive portfolio, providing alternatives when standard products fail to meet customer requirements.

HOUSING

Report highlights need for reform A

survey of the Housing Industry Association’s builder and sub-contractor members has confirmed on-going weakness in the housing industry throughout 2011. “Last year there was a deterioration in new home building while the renovations market flattened out,” said HIA chief economist, Dr Harley Dale. “In this environment, which was partly driven by weak demand conditions, it is not surprising that some of the pressure on the availability of skilled labour was temporarily reduced. “Even with new home building activity falling markedly, the easing in trade availability was modest in 2011,” said Dr Dale. “Indeed three skilled trades, bricklaying, ceramic tiling, and electrical, continued to experience relatively tight availability throughout last year. “There are a multitude of supply-side constraints which if left unaddressed will hinder the prospects for a sizeable and sustainable

recovery in residential building activity. A structural shortage of skilled residential tradespeople is clearly one of those constraints,” said Dr Dale when commenting on the HIA Trades Report. “Now, during softer housing conditions, is precisely the time to be accelerating policy solutions to address this structural labour shortage.” The HIA Trade Availability Index registered +0.04 in the December 2011 quarter, meaning that trades remained in moderate oversupply for a third consecutive quarter (a reading below 0 signals undersupply). Meanwhile, the HIA Trade Prices Index displayed another benign result at the end of last year, easing by 0.7% to be down by 0.4% when compared to the December 2010 quarter. HIA executive director, Industry Workforce Development, Liz Greenwood, said that, while it was encouraging to look back on some short term improvement in the overall

9 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

Australian Timber Design Awards ENTRIES HAVE opened for the 13th annual Australian Timber Design Awards. This year's competition features five Application Awards: • Residential Class 1 - New Buildings, • Residential Class 1 - Best Renovation, • Public or Commercial Buildings, • Interior Fitout (separate awards for residential and commercial), • Outdoor Timber - Stand-alone structures. Entries may be considered also for 12 Recognition Awards (previously the "Best Use Of" Awards). Additional awards include the Sustainability Award, the Small Budget Projects Award... and the hugely popular People's Choice Award.

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Entries close 29 June. Winners will be announced in September at the Awards Presentation Night in Sydney. Entry is open to architects, builders, designers, engineers, interior designers and landscape architects. Categories cover all major applications, small budget projects, sustainability, a People's Choice Award and a Rising Star Award. This year's entries will automatically be considered for the 2013 International Timber Design Awards. More information at www.timberawards. com.au | info@timberawards.com.au

A past winner in the prestigious awards.

Dr Harley Dale.

supply of trades last year, it was still a concern to see that the availability of some of these trades remained consistently in the negative only improving, at best, to a break-even point. “Residential building activity in Australia has been subdued for quite some time now. What the Trades Report figures tell us is that when activity improves, existing trade shortages will again reach critical levels. This is a concern for everyone, not just for industry,” she said.

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Fair Work Act handbrake on jobs THE GOVERNMENT’S Fair Work Act is impairing the job creation ability of the residential building sector, says the Housing Industry Association (HIA), in a submission to the review of the Act. “Small businesses make up 85% of the residential building industry, and are the engine room of job creation,” said HIA industrial relations spokesman David Humphrey. “Yet they have been done no favours by this Act. Our economy and employment prospects are suffering as a result. “It’s time the debate shifted away from an ideological perception of ‘boss v worker’

or ‘Workchoices v Fair Work’, to building a system that encourages employers to hire more staff and gives flexibility for individuals to negotiate arrangements that best suits their needs,” he said. HIA has identified six keys changes to the Act to help return confidence to the industry, improve productivity and promote employment: • Modification of award safety net to reflect simple, flexible and fair minimum standards; • Provision of reasonable exemptions to small business from unfair dismissal claims; • Removal of loopholes in

bargaining laws that enable unions to restrict the use of contractors by business; • Strengthening protections for small businesses against pattern bargaining; • Limit payments made under industry specific redundancy schemes to cases of genuine redundancy only; and • Restore individual agreements between employers and employees, subject to a nodisadvantage test. “The overwhelming message we are getting from builders is that the risks to a business of hiring new staff ‘is just not worth’ the potential costs and additional red tape,” Humphrey said.

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NEWS

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 10

Briefs Danks to add three stores to retail group in Victorian acquisition The Danks business is set to acquire a Victorian hardware network of three stores: two Home Timber and Hardware outlets, and a third business trading as Ballarat Building Supplies. The Woolworths-owned group will take on the businesses and assets of G Gay & Co Pty Ltd, with the offer of retaining all employees and management, once contract conditions are met. Forty new floors Following its expansion in Quebec, Uniboard is set to introduce a collection of 40 innovative SKU products. According to Uniboard’s vice president for marketing, Don Raymond, the firm is now ready for a dynamic operation and service, following the administrative restructuring. The firm focuses on the management and services of laminate flooring plant, being the first Canadian manufacturer of laminate flooring. The Product Manager of Uniboard, Susan Doherty, says that the launch of this new standardized, improved collection is a representation of the unique Canadian eleganceSource: Uniboard Reversing the trend Most stories in recent times have focused on businesses moving to China or Asian countries, however, Toronto-based GRS Wood Products Inc. has gone against the trend and will move the production of its imported hardwood flooring to Canada following the company’s purchase of the former Durham Furniture plant in Ontario. According to Mayor Paul Eagleson, plans call for GRS Wood Products to open the plant with 50 employees from the local Arran-Elderslie municipality. At full capacity, the plant is expected to employ more than 300 workers. North American structural panel production stagnated last year Total North American structural panel production across all regions has stabilised at year-ago levels in 2011 as a whole, in spite of a slight weakening in the fourth quarter. According to APA-The Engineered Wood Association a total of 23.203 million m³ of structural panels was produced in North America last year. OSB output at 13.622 million m³ was practically on par with the year before, whereas softwood plywood output sustained a minor fall by 1.3% to 9.581 million m³. As a result, OSB increased its share in the total production a little to 58.7%. Brazil: growing demand for construction timber Due to the growing demand for housing from Brazil's large population, construction activity in Brazil grew rapidly in the last year. Brazil is currently facing a shortage of seven million housing units, which is expected to reach more than 12 million by 2022 due to the country's rising population and rapid urbanization. This will drive demand for construction wood in the country. Residential construction was the most-popular and fastest-growing end-user market in Brazil accounting for 63.6% of the country’s total construction wood market in 2011. Funding deal for new green mill Berwickshire-based BSW Timber (BSW) will begin developing its sawmill at Fort William in Scotland after agreeing a significant financial package with Royal Bank of Scotland Corporate & Institutional Banking (RBS CIB). BSW is the largest sawmilling business in Great Britain, with operations across the country as well as one sawmill in Latvia. The company produces 1,000,000m3 of sawn timber per year and employs over 900 people. CE standard for wood products recognised in Japan A CE standard for wood products has been recognised in Japan for the first time. This will simplify exports of construction timber to Japan, for European sawmills. CEI-Bois has worked through EuropeanWood to facilitate exports of wood products to Japan. Until now European producers of 2”x4” products for structural usage needed a JAS certificate (Japan Agriculture Standard). From February 6, the European standard 14081-1 for design strength values for structural lumber is recognised in Japan. Move to China base for Accoya modified wood Accoya modified wood will be made in China, if investment can be raised; and manufacturer Accsys Technologies has further, longterm international expansion plans, according to an article in the UK’s The Sunday Telegraph. The report;, based on an interview with chief executive Paul Clegg, said that Asian Accoya distributor Diamond Wood aims to raise money in Malaysia to build the plant in China.

People, Productivity and Profits is theme for Appita conference THE 66th Appita Conference & Exhibition will be held 15-18 April, at Melbourne Park. The 2012 conference themed “People, Productivity, Profits” will explore opportunities and techniques to drive performance, productivity and profits in a new energy economy.

Appita 2012 will explore this theme and look into the innovative way people

have worked together to improve business performance and also how such performance has led to improved productivity, profit and other bottom line results. The conference will feature: • Two Technical Streams on Resources, Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Printing • Clean Energy Summit • People, Productivity, Profits Summit • Safety Forum • Mill Managers Forum • Procurement Forum • Print/Packaging Seminar • Machine Guarding Forum • Results Orientated • Maintenance Workshop • Industry Innovations • Exhibition

WPCs offer wood treatment industry opportunity I

N A recent report on wood preservation, global industry analysts projected that the global market for wood preservatives is likely to reach US$1.5 billion by 2017. Although major end use applications for wood preservatives are decking and fencing products, the landscape end-use segment is expected to contribute to maximum revenue growth over the next five years. As well as a pretty positive picture being painted on the expected growth of traditional treated wood products, alternative products are increasingly making themselves known in the marketplace. Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) have been making significant inroads into traditional treated wood products. “They’re now a commercial reality but offer wood treatment operations the ability to diversify their manufacturing operations” says FIEA director Brent Apthorp. “WPC’ are low capital, flexible and highly automated manufacturing operations that can complement other traditional wood treatment and processing operations.” The WPC industry was valued at US$2.1 billion industry in 2010. Furthermore, growth has been around 15% compounded each year over the past five years. North America dominates WPC production at the moment – but this is quickly changing. It currently accounts for around two-thirds of worldwide production. Decking and fencing markets typify the recent growth of WPCs. The US decking market, valued at US$6.2 billion, is expected to rise 2.7% per year through to 2014. Wood decking over this time is expected to rise less than 1% annually while alternative decking materials, such as WPC and plastic or vinyl lumber, are expected to show double-digit demand gains. The US$6 billion fencing market is a similar story. 2010 figures show vinyl and WPCs already hold a 25% share of the US

fencing and railing market. Traditional wood markets such as concrete formwork, container floors and facing panels are also reportedly losing to these alternative products. China, as expected, is the other major producer of wood composite products. From just 80,000 tonnes produced in 2006, over 300,000 tonnes of WPCs were produced in 2010 and growth of over 30% per year from this point is projected. Over 100 WPC production lines are operating, more than 500 patents have been awarded and more than 20 universities in China are currently doing WPC research. Australian and New Zealand WPC sales are still small by comparison but expected to double in the next two years. In a recent article on wood substitutes, it was estimated that 8% of all local authorities across Australia are using WPCs. One source estimated that demand could increase at 50% annually. One of Australasia’s largest recyclers of plastic into plastic wood (22 tonnes every week), Adelaide-based Advanced Plastic Recycling, will be presenting at Wood Preservation 2012. They will outline opportunities that exist for production of plastic wood for outdoor products such as park tables, benches, decking and fences. “In addition to learning about these new alternate products, WPCs offer traditional wood treatment companies the opportunity to diversify their current operations and open new markets” says Apthorp. Wood Preservation 2012 will be the sixth in this series of technology updates and runs in Melbourne on 23-24 May and for New Zealand wood treatment operations, the week before on 16-17 May. Full details including the programs for this latest technology series can be downloaded from the event website, www.woodpreservationevents.com

Leading industry print magazines now online I N DUST RY-L E A DI NG publication Australian Timberman, published for more than 30 years, is now available in both print and digital formats. Readers will now have the convenience of being able to read Australian Timberman - and its sister publication Australian Forests & Timber News in a PDF format online as well as in print. The online version will allow readers to view digital edition pages, individual stories and advertisements with zoom options. Publisher Hartley Higgins said that following research into a variety of online publishing programs, it had been decided to use the ISSUU program that offers

ease of navigation and the ability to link through to websites that are stated within the text. “This is an exciting development where links to supplier websites and key industry organisations means our readers will have even greater access to information to assist them with their daily business needs”, he said. Initially the online version will be offered free as an introductory offer and then revert to being available exclusively to subscribers and industry recipients using a supplied security code. Hartley said the digital editions would be made available as the publication was going to print, up to

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a week before the print version was received in mailboxes. “As a new offering we will be seeking feedback from readers after viewing their issue”, he added. To view the digital copies of Australian Forests and Timber News and Australian Timberman, visit www.timberbiz.com.au.

CUTTING EDGE

11 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

CAT scan for timber was the highlight for the company last year, receiving praise from scientists and industry players. Orders started rolling in when news spread last year and this year MiCROTEC's rolling out the CT.LOG. MiCROTEC is partnered by Acora Reneco in Australia and New Zealand. Acora provides the mechanical handling equipment, project management and installation. In recent years MiCROTEC has enjoyed its status as an industry leader in innovation - The Austrian trade journal Holzkurier awarded MiCROTEC status as Sawmill Provider of the Year 2012. "Other highlights include the installation of the fastest Multi-Sensor Quality Scanners that MiCROTEC has ever built.” MiCROTEC's Multi-Sensor Quality Scanners are compatible with the company's highly-regarded GOLDENEYE range. MiCROTEC says that the GOLDENEYE range has proven itself 'a breakthrough in the industry'.

Girl’s house vision turns to reality AN ECO home based on a design by a 10-year-old girl is to be built in Redditch as part of the largest Norwegian timber frame housing development in the UK. Redditch Co-operative Homes, part of the Accord Group of housing associations, will build 58 houses and 21 apartments in Church Hill, in partnership with Mansell, after it secured a £1.8 million grant from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Building work has just started on the site of the former Marfield Primary School off Redstone Close and the whole development, which will be built using timber panels imported from Norway, is expected to be completed by December 2013. As well as featuring two

and three bedroom homes for affordable rent and shared ownership, the £8 million site will also include two houses based on a design by Rugby schoolgirl Jennifer Brook. Jennifer was just 10 years old in 2008 when she beat more than 70 other pupils from across the region to win a competition to come up with an ‘eco home for the future’. Now, she will see her design become a reality when it is built alongside another two homes which will be constructed from 80 per cent recycled materials. Each of the 79 homes, which will be built by Mansell, will meet tough environmental standards and codes, including two homes that will be built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 – the highest environmental standard possible in the UK.

It saves time and money, according to reports from the manufacturer and customers. "The boards literally fly through the GOLDENEYE-700 that, despite the mind-blowing speed, reliably determines the required dimension - and quality characteristics on the surface and the inner of the boards. "However, outstanding performance is not only determined by speed. "Accuracy and attendance of the measuring and optimisation results are equally important.”

Jack ply-ed his craft so others could sail THIS YEAR marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of postwar dinghy designer Jack Holt, the man credited with bringing plywood boats to the populace. Holt was born in Hammersmith, west London, the son of a panelbeater, in 1912. He first learnt about fine wood as an apprentice cabinet-maker; and in his boatbuilding career he put his knowledge of the difference between good wood and very good wood to excellent use when it came to choosing spruce for a mast or timber for planking. But a badly broken leg, sustained in an accident while riding pillion on a motorcycle, which left him in plaster to the thigh for a long period, put an end to his cabinet-making career when he was still in his teens.

He had sailed with the Sea Scouts as a boy, helping them with their boats, and bought his first boat, a 14ft dinghy, with his brother. In 1929, when he was 17, he set up business in a hut under Hammersmith Bridge where his late great-uncle John Holt had repaired boats. Jack Holt was a prolific designer of sailing dinghies, including the mirror, heron and cadet. His pioneering designs, which made use of plywood developed as a wartime building material, did much to popularise the sport of sailing immediately following 2nd World War. This year is also the 50th anniversary of the mirror dinghy, Jack Holt's most popular design.

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WOOD TRIM interiors and steering wheels were plentiful at the North American International Auto Show, as car makers took aim at luxury auto buyers. Simulated wood in U.S. cars is in retreat, with true veneers and solid and engineered wood gaining ground. Automakers use increasing amounts of real-wood veneers as consumers seek natural touches in cars. Chrysler's 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee won an award for its interior, which features hand-sewn leather wrapped around a steering wheel in black olive-stained ash burl. Also at the Detroit auto show, Cadillac offered a sneak peak at its 2013 ATS, aimed at luxury performance competitors from Germany. Due August 2012, the interior sports a walnut burl. Walnut burl is also forecast for the 2013 Mercedes SL550 Roadster, making its world premier in Detroit. Maserati, which previewed its Kubang SUV - said to be a Maserati wrapped around a Jeep Cherokee - is likely to extend the high-end wood interior touches its other models provide. This includes instrument panels and wrap-around interior door trims in wenge, rosewood, walnut briarwood, moonwood and padouk. FormWood Industries is among the wood supply companies marketing veneers to auto manufacturers. While walnut burl is by far the most predominant veneer used for automobile dashboard kits, it has more than 100 cuts and species available including exotics and other rare formations.

The GOLDENEYE-700 has also been well received as an industry breakthrough. "MiCROTEC welcomes the scientific publication of VTT, a Finnish accreditation institute, that based on the measuring results of the pan-European research project, GRADEWOOD, documented MiCROTEC's GOLDENEYE-706 as most accurate and reliable strength grading solution and significantly ahead of its competitors." MiCROTEC occupies a unique place among sawmill providers. It's the only sawmill provider that designs and manufactures vertically integrated solutions for production- and value optimisation.

ICROTEC HAS developed the first industrial computer tomography for logs. CT.LOG is basically a CAT scan for timber instead of people. And the awardwinning European company has received widespread praise for this achievement. "The woodworking industry has labelled the CT.LOG not a quantum leap, but as a profound revolution that will change the way timber is processed and optimised by value," according to a MiCROTEC spokesperson. With conveying speeds up to 140m/min the system analyses the wood characteristics in all three dimensions of the log. “This is done before a single saw is placed in the log so that an evaluation of the best value solution is determined, then the machinery is controlled to process the solution in the actual cutting process. Current technology assumes a value but only makes decisions based on volume, not grade,” according to MiCROTEC. MiCROTEC says that the CT.LOG, the first industrial computer tomography for logs,

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www.acora.com.au 20112510 10:16

FLOORING

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 12

Now that’s what I call a vintage floor!

USED WINE barrels are being broken down into thin veneers that are attached to tongue-and-groove Baltic Birch to create engineered flooring. Blue Grouse Wine Cellars of North Vancouver is at the forefront of this novel use of some special timbers and it all resulted over a glass of wine (obviously)! Rick Merwin, the owner of Fontenay, the firm that manufactures the product for Blue Grouse Wine Cellars, was previously involved in the flooring business. He and a friend were chatting over a glass of wine (a hobby for both of them) and were discussing how there must be a better use for used wine barrels, other than the planters you often see in people’s yards and gardens. It then turned into a bet with Merwin, claiming he would be able to turn a barrel into flooring in less than 30 days. He was successful, although the first iteration of the product was solid wood. The flooring has since been engineered to be more dimensionally stable as a veneer on top of tongueand-groove Baltic Birch. The barrels are broken apart, metal hoops removed, separating the heads and pulling apart the staves. A 1/8” veneer is taken and then later applied to Baltic Birch. The flooring is available in three different formats: cooperage, which comes from the outside of the barrel heads showing the cooperage stamps; wine infusion, which comes from the inside of the barrel heads showing the red wine stain; and staves, which come from the body of the barrel showing the markings of the hoops. Not only are the barrels saved from landfill, it also relieves the demand for other materials to be manufactured into flooring and countertops.

Naturally curved wood flooring A

mster da m-based Bolefloor, manufacturer of the eponymous naturally curved wood flooring that first debuted during Domotex Hannover in 2011, has found a North American manufacturing partner in Sawbridge Engineered Surfaces (Sacramento). Sawbridge's president Jerry McCall is CEO of the new venture and said that Bolefloor America would produce its first products in May and begin shipping products from Sacramento in June. Until the operations in Sacramento are fully operational, Bolefloor America will source new orders from Bolefloor in Europe. Like the rest of the world, McCall first saw Bolefloor's product during Domotex 2011. "I thought to myself, 'Wow, that is really an amazing product,'" McCall said. "It's kind of the only interesting thing I've seen in flooring in a long time. I told them, let's get together and talk about what is going to happen in North America."

Next, Bolefloor took its product to the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo in April 2011. "They said they were going to the NWFA show in April to look for a manufacturing partner, and I threw my hat in the ring," McCall said. Similar-looking wood floors can be made by hand, but “we've automated that with all the latest technology: scanning systems, computer databases, and algorithmic software that produces the highest yield from the material," McCall said. He noted that the required CNC-cutting of Bolefloor complements all other Sawbridge's offerings, which are also CNC-cut. Due to the custom nature of the product, McCall said the company planned to open additional manufacturing sites further east, though a specific timetable for manufacturing expansion had yet to be determined. “Let's say someone is installing this product, and they break a board or they make a cutting mistake; that board has to be replaced very fast

Time now to nominate for prestigious awards The ATFA Australian Timber Floor of the Year and the Annual Industry Awards for Excellence are the highest recognition for achievement in the timber flooring industry in Australia. The awards celebrate the individuals and businesses that strive for excellence and raise the bar in our industry. This is your opportunity to show off your best work and that of your colleagues to your peers and leaders in the timber flooring industry. It is also a way to recognise people within your organisation who have done a great job. Previous winners have benefited by being promoted through the official ATFA publication Timber Floors magazine and other publications widely read within the industry. Previous winners agree, this is a fantastic opportunity to

obtain significant promotion for your business. All it takes is the time to submit your entry. Nominations close 2 April. The ATFA Australian Timber Floor of the Year Awards and Annual Industry Awards for Excellence Awards will be presented at the ATFA Convention Dinner to be held in Melbourne in July, sponsored by Embleton Flooring. The ATFA is the peak body for timber floors and timber flooring representing contractors, manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. ATFA are a member based timber flooring association which provides information and services to its members and the community. As an association, ATFA is predominantly made up of timber flooring contractors as well as timber flooring manufacturers, coating manufacturers,

because it stops the job. You can't just grab another board and keep running," McCall said. "We believe that we need to have manufacturing close to the location that people are installing the product since, with this product, the manufacturing is very closely linked to the installation." McCall also explained Bolefloor's green story. "Typically, about 50% of a log put through a sawmill is wasted," McCall said. "In the process we are using, only about 20% ends up as waste. We are literally following the edge of the log rather than trimming it off straight, and that increases the yield. We try to trim off as little as possible." Bolefloor products are available in solid or engineered in oak, ash, maple, cherry and walnut. One floor may comprise beveled or unbeveled pieces, or both. Bolefloor offers three grades: select, natural and rustic. Boards run to about 10 feet, with widths ranging from about a half foot to 1 foot.

adhesive manufacturers and suppliers of these products. • ATFA offers services in: • Member and consumer information • Timber floor inspections • Technical training • Publications • Research and development • Member insurance Accreditation and numerous events. Timber Floors represent 25% of the flooring market currently and this figure is increasing steadily. Natural timber flooring arguably is more energy efficient than other surfaces, uses less energy and green house gases in its production (source: CRC for Greenhouse Accounting) and is a sustainable resource. Wood floors are natural warm and enticing, providing a relaxing and calming environment, when cared for will last a lifetime.

Walk up start! Engineered wood floors have been credited as having the “sale factor” for a new housing development in Toronto. Treasure Hill Developments oversaw the building of a row of properties in the downtown area of the city that initially failed to capture the imagination of the buyers' market. Indeed, broker Paul Johnston said that after a few months the company

realised the abodes were a little way from what the "sophisticated" downtown market wanted. One of the key changes was the introduction of engineered wood floors, which are to be found throughout the hallways, bedrooms and closets on the second and third floors. More than half the properties sold on the first weekend of them going back on sale to the public.

FLOORING



13 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

Flooring ready to transport.

Boral Timber to manage West Australian timber portfolio M

ANAGEMENT OF Boral timber products in Western Australia has moved from Boral Bricks to Boral Timber, resulting in a more streamlined ordering process and a broader range of species and profiles available to customers. Under the new management, Boral Bricks centres are no longer selling timber to market and will only act as display and referral locations. The move also focuses the product portfolio on Boral Timber’s Australian grown and manufactured timber products instead of imported and exotic species. Boral Timber will provide the WA market with greater access to species commonly found on the East Coast of Australia, such as Blackbutt and Tallowwood. There will also no longer be any laminate products on offer. Instead, the focus is on solid and engineered timber flooring products, which is supported by Boral's manufacturing expertise including its state-of-the-art engineered flooring production facility in Murwillumbah, NSW.

Michael Johnson was recently appointed Boral Timber WA state manager and will implement the changes and oversee the operational transition. “With direct access to the mill, we can better source timber products for our customers and facilitate bulk buying,” said Johnson. Boral has achieved Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) chain of custody certification (AS 4707-2006) for its timber products. This means that timber used to produce Boral Timber's hardwood flooring, decking and structural timber has been sourced from certified, legal and sustainably managed resources. The Australian Forestry Standard Scheme also has mutual recognition by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme (PEFC) - the world's largest forest management certifier. The Boral Timber range includes Boral solid strip flooring, Boral overlay solid strip flooring, Boral Silkwood engineered hardwood flooring, Boral parquetry and Boral decking. Boral also provides a range of structural hardwood timber products.

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Certification can secure customer loyalty PEFC's A recent PEFC publication, A Guide for Retailers, recognized that the retail sector was in a unique position to make a difference in the forest by ensuring that the products it offered, and indeed the materials it uses in its own facilities and infrastructure (buildings, shelving, etc.), were sourced and manufactured from sustainably managed forests. The sector also has a

tremendous opportunity to capture a share of the growing market for sustainably produced goods. A Guide for Retailers is a brief and uncomplicated guide. It describes for the sector how PEFC certification and the simple act of being able to label their goods with the PEFC logo can benefit them. Notably, the simple act of providing goods certified to PEFC standards can help

secure customer loyalty, enhance brand image and increase market share. The Guide also describes in simple terms how the retail sector can support responsible forest management by, among others, promoting the importance of certification and goods sourced from sustainably-managed sources throughout its own supply chain, through its own suppliers and customers.

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5/42 Clinker Street, Darra, Qld 4076 Ph: 07 3715 7722 Fax: 07 3715 7733 Email: info@timbersystems.com.au

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 14

BUSINESS PROFILE

Relentless push for perfection in specialist field I

N A highly competitive industry, fabricators need advanced machinery that performs day after day after day. Multinail has been a constant in this specialist field and, according to its group marketing and communications manager Travis Taylor, the development of more and even better machines is a constant, too! “Our manufacturing of timber truss cutting assemblies and materials handling equipment has - and continues to be – to world best standards,” he said. Since 1990 Multinail has designed, manufactured and maintained the machinery that powers many leading fabricators large and small. “We are the only manufacturer of a complete range of table presses for all truss types in Australia,” said Travis. For more than 20 years Multinail has continued to develop a complete range of equipment (roof, wall and floor production) incorporating computerisation and automation into many of the machines’ designs.

“Multinail offers machinery customisations with in-house mechanical engineering services for any machinery modifications to suit specific requirements, and our software developers for computerised machinery applications such as automated jigging and optimisation processes are also considered to be among the best in the field. “We have a dedicated support team for installation, training, machinery preventative maintenance programs, spare parts, breakdown service and end user support,” he said. All Multinail machinery is designed and manufactured in Australia and for Australian conditions. The Queensland-based business has also developed a new website (www. multinailmachinery.com) that provides specific information on the whole range of Multinail machinery, a FAQ section on common service items when maintaining your Multinail machinery, general truss production information, the latest techniques and technologies, OH&S issues as they

pertain to truss production. A new catalogue will now be released annually on the complete Multinail Machinery range. “Through continual research and development, in-house servicing and listening to our customers, Multinail's Machinery team is relentlessly improving each machine and the technological engineering behind it,” says Travis. “Automation is built into our designs with many machines linked directly to the design software so the entire design and fabrication process can be coordinated from a single computer. “The result is faster output, lower costs and improved profits for your business,” he said. Multinail also exports its Australianmade machines around the world to markets including the USA, UK, South Africa, Asia and New Zealand

BUSINESS PROFILE

Multinail offers machinery customisations with in-house mechanical engineering services for any machinery modifications to suit specific requirements, and our software developers for computerised machinery applications such as automated jigging and optimisation processes are also considered to be among the best in the field.

15 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

NEWS

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 16

Rapid resin assessment aids quality MDF manufacture M

ANUFACTURERS OF medium density fibreboard (MDF) demand resin glues that are consistent and predictable, creating products that are uniform and strong. The resins – usually Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde (MUF) – are tested initially for a variety of properties but by the time they reach the MDF plants some time will have passed. “Part of the problem is that from the time the resin leaves the manufacturer it begins to age, as it ages its reactivity changes. The panel manufacturer using the resin wants to know what it is like now, not what it was like three or four days ago,” says Dr Roger Meder from CSIRO. But analysing resins using traditional methods is costly and laborious. Roger

and his team, with funding from FWPA (Forest and Wood Products Australia), have developed a quick and efficient method using near infrared (NIR) spectrography for the non-destructive quality control of MUF resin. “We had a twofold attack to determine how we can measure useful properties that relate to the activity of the resin and how that’s going to perform in use, and also what is the formaldehyde content. In European and American markets formaldehyde emissions from wood products are becoming more and more stringently enforced; we are looking to have wood products that have very low emission rates,” says Roger. By calibrating NIR data of resin with data obtained from traditional, time-consuming

methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Roger is able to give MDF panel manufactures a measure of a number of properties that are very useful and meaningful in terms of MDF manufacture. “What we discovered was that NIR spectroscopy, which is a very rapid technology, is able to provide a measure of a range of properties of the resin, all in about a 30 second analysis,” he says. “It now means panel manufacturers are able to understand their resin on an hourly basis. They’re able to determine whether or not the resin is going out of specification at an early stage. We estimate that regular ongoing quality control of the resin is potentially worth hundred of thousands of dollars to a panel manufacturer every year.”

When you’re on a good thing, stick to it! WHILE SOY-based adhesives have been used in the manufacturing of wood products such as plywood for more than 70 years, environmental concerns and rising costs for petrochemical-based resins have renewed interest in these less toxic and more sustainable options. Consequently, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies' development of a completely formulated soy adhesive for use in wood composites, including particleboard and medium density fiberboard, presents furniture manufacturers and consumers with a safer alternative for adhesives used in producing interior furniture. Ashland's line of Soyad adhesives contains

no formaldehyde and low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Typical interior wood products include urea formaldehyde (UF) in their adhesives. Over time, UF releases free formaldehyde into the air as a carcinogenic gaseous form, which can be inhaled by humans. Following recent legislation enacted to reduce formaldehyde emissions, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the United States' strictest emissions standards. Soyad adhesives meet both CARB Phase 2 standards and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, at a lower cost than other low-emitting alternatives. In recognition

of utilizing renewable, natural soy flour with the principles of green chemistry, Ashland was jointly awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award along with Columbia Forest Products and Kaichang Li, Ph.D., of Oregon State University. "By the end of 2007, we had converted all seven of our hardwood plywood plants from urea formaldehyde based adhesive systems to a soy-based formulation, and since then, we have produced over 60 million ‘PureBond' hardwood plywood panels on a cost-neutral basis," says Steve Pung, vice president of technology at Columbia Forest Products.

Wood veneer gives wine focus WOOD HAS long been associated with winemaking, normally with barrels, but now it takes pride of place with the finished product that consumers can see and touch. The latest design for wine bottles was inspired by German woodworking. The Napa Valley client's family name is Hobel - which translates roughly in German to a woodworker – and the focus was on tossing out traditional metallic capsules and wrapping the neck of the bottle in wood veneer applied with a pressure sensitive backing for ease of installation. Each vintage will get its own unique wood selection.

"Our employees enjoy a healthier work environment and our customers have a product that produces no negative impact on indoor air quality, at no additional cost. In fact, they market that fact to their healthconscious customer base - both residential and commercial. Our soy-driven PureBond has been a win-win for all involved," added Pung. The U.S. farmer-led United Soybean Board (USB), which conducts research and development of soy-based industrial and consumer products, partly funded the development of Soyad. With USB's help, manufacturers commercialize dozens of new soy-based products every year.

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The same industry-leading news, views and ad’s you’re reading in this issue are now available on-line as well. While we know print is the most convenient form for reading in the cab, lunchroom or highlighting an important point for the next reader, we also know that many of our readers want to go straight to websites or send emails from the articles and ad’s they’re reading.

Now available on-line Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/atm today to view your copy online

ENGINEERED WOOD

17 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

Longevity, authenticity … and it’s real wood! P

ERENNIAL WOOD™, the next generation of wood for outdoor applications, was introduced to the building and construction trade industry at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando in mid-February. Made possible through TruLast™ Technology, a proprietary process from Eastman, Perennial Wood is real wood that’s been modified to resist changes from moisture, such as shrinking, swelling and movement, for decades. As the first building product manufactured and marketed by Eastman, Perennial Wood leverages the company’s extensive 80-year

history in acetylation. TruLast Technology permanently modifies the wood, providing a physical barrier throughout that’s warranted to protect against rot, decay and movement for 25 years. It is three times more stable than unmodified wood, resulting in less shrinking and swelling that cause cracking, cupping and warping without sacrificing the beauty of real wood. Perennial Wood is well-suited for outdoor applications where the authenticity of real wood is desired without the damaging effects of the elements so homeowners don’t have to compromise the beauty of real wood for longevity.

Stairway to success for timber

The choice of timber for home fit-outs is gaining popularity. Nowhere is this trend more evident than in the stair parts market where metal and glass balustrading is no longer the ideal choice for customers demanding a more homely touch to their staircase. There are many well known reasons for the popularity of wood in interiors. It has various unique qualities and benefits over other materials commonly used in the home. The first and most obvious of these is its green credentials, which have become an increasingly important factor for developers in recent years. Wood is sustainable, renewable and in some cases, actually a carbon positive resource. Often the most important factor for potential homebuyers to consider is what it will be like to live with. Wood is a comfortable and tactile material which is particularly important in choosing stair parts such as handrails. Combine this with its natural beauty, durability and environmental appeal, and it is easy to understand why it has been the favoured material in the home for centuries. Despite this, the perception of many

developers in recent years has been that a modern and stylish interior means metal or glass finishes, when, in fact many homeowners find these materials too cold, clinical and commercial in appearance. However, a historical lack of innovation in the stair parts industry has limited the choice of modern timber designs available. The options have been either outdated, traditional turned spindles or plain stop chamfered designs which many developers specify despite their unimaginative style. The solution therefore is for wooden stair parts manufacturers to innovate and create something in timber with greater design appeal than the metal or glass offerings, plus all of the added benefits of wood as a material. Now, developers can cater for the needs of customers both in terms of design and choice of material. Modern stair parts feature three cutting edge spindle designs - ez, flo and vu, which create stunning visual effects thanks to their interesting modern shapes, combined with clever features like the innovative safe-grip handrail and multi newel system. Sourcea: Construction portal

TruLast Technology permanently transforms the wood’s cellular structure throughout by using heat, pressure and an organic compound to replace the waterloving (hydrophilic) groups in the wood’s cells with water-hating (hydrophobic) groups. The resulting Perennial Wood

remains straighter, smoother and harder, while maintaining the wood’s natural appearance. Perennial Wood is harvested, processed and finished in the United States, eliminating the need for shipping wood from offshore sources, lessening the environmental impact.

2012 AWISA is the international exhibition of machinery, materials, fittings and services for the Australian and New Zealand wood and panel processing industries. The exhibition returns in 2012 refreshed and improved. With new panel, solidwood and design areas, AWISA has created three shows within the event. Organised by the australian WOOdWOrking industry suppliers assOciatiOn limited

11-14 July 2012 sydney eXhibitiOn centre darling harbOur sydney

Call Norm Nelsen on (03) 9888 4820 to advertise in the Australian Timberman

P.O. BOX 925, AVALON NSW 2107 AUSTRALIA PHONE: 02 9918 3661 FAX: 02 9918 7764 EMAIL: info@awisa.com

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ENGINEERED WOOD

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 18

Print a Houseproject opens up more opportunities A

NEW housing construction concept could well prove to be a socially significant innovation. UPM Plywood, Finland, and Danish architects Eentileen.dk have created new alternatives for the construction of wooden houses. A wooden villa built in Denmark using UPM’s WISA-Spruce plywood sets an example of innovative new construction methods, which incorporate sustainable

thinking and efficient structural engineering. What makes the pilot project so special is the fact that Villa Asserbo is designed as a family home and is constructed primarily of WISA-Spruce plywood. The project used new ways of working with wood. The modelling was made by computer simulation and the plywood structures needed were made with a CNC machine. The construction itself required

only two people and no large storage areas or heavy machinery were needed. One of the design premises for Danish architects Frederik Agdrup and Nicholas Bjørndal was to reduce the environmental impact of construction. Villa Asserbo's natural environment has been preserved largely intact throughout the construction. Agdrup and Bjørndal are confident that Print a House projects could be

implemented in the future in very different environments, even in disaster areas. "The idea could well turn out to be a socially significant innovation with socialeconomic importance and considerable international markets," said Ole Bjerg, Eentileen.dk. consultant. During the project, the architects analysed and considered the whole life cycle of the product. The carbon footprint of the villa is very small. No

ENGINEERED WOOD

concrete has been used in the construction and the little waste left over from working the plywood was recycled. Energy efficiency and indoor air quality have been emphasised in the construction. “The project opens up opportunities to utilise WISA plywood, a sustainable raw material, in an innovative way. The whole project fits very well with UPM’s Biofore thinking with its innovativeness, sustainability and recyclable materials," said Robin Wilén, sales manager of UPM Plywood. Agdrup and Bjørndal conducted market research on available wood products prior to selecting WISASpruce plywood as the raw

material for the project. WISA-Spruce plywood originates from sustainably managed forests and the product is certified according to PEFC. Plywood traders and end-users can calculate the carbon emissions of their

UPM plywood products thanks to a new online tool developed by the Finnish firm. The full logistics chain comprising various transportation methods can be modelled from a UPM plywood mill all the way to a customer’s yard.

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Its products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper,

19 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 24,500 people and it has production plants in 16 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM Plywood offers highquality WISA® plywood and veneer products mainly

for construction and transport industries as well as the formable UPM Grada plywood for furniture and manufacturing industries. UPM has six plywood mills and a veneer mill in Finland, and plywood mills in Russia and Estonia.

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TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 20

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

Industry future lies in sticking together on a national basis By Doug Howick National Secretary Timber Preservers Association of Australia (TPAA)

HE TPAA has a long history of representing the timber treatment sector. The existence of TPAA as THE National Association representing

participants in the Australian wood preservation industry has long been the key to improvements in the industry’s perceived image. One cohesive, national Association has been able to speak with one voice in its representation of an industry selling knowledge, expertise and fit-for-purpose products to the community. The ability of governments and legislators to discuss industry matters with the representative association rather than with a disparate collection of players often perceived to be “pushing their own barrow”, has been an asset. None of this could have been achieved, nor could it have continued to flourish without more than our fair share of dedicated, professional contributors,

many of whom have freely given much of their time and talent to industry matters. This commitment by respected Presidents, TPAA Councillors and Technical Committee Members, has given TPAA sustained leadership and a voice at the highest level of timber treatment affairs. There have been considerable advances in the technical knowledge and technological expertise of the industry’s practitioners, underpinned by information fostered and promulgated by our Suppliers and by the TPAA Technical Committee. The result enables us to demonstrate and deliver the professionalism we seek and which Australian consumers increasingly demand. There is no doubt that in recent

years, there have been major improvements in timber treatment techniques and in the preservatives which form a part of these. Such technologies will continue to be developed and improved. However, it is our belief that the industry's future lies in sticking together on a national basis and thus being able to speak with one voice. It is essential to improve the industry from the inside, without trying to improve your own company image by destroying that of your opposition! We are now at a time when our whole industry, its principles, its policies and its purposes, as well as its products, its processes and its practices, are being increasingly subjected to scrutiny under the microscope of legislation

Exhibition promises plenty

and the magnifying glass of media attention. At such a time, and in a climate which is continually subject to change, the industry needs to become acutely aware of trends and the uses of both existing and new products. Technologies developed by the researchers can only be transferred to the industry through improved communications and professionalism. If every Treater Member of TPAA has the strength to lift the image of their own company by ensuring that all treated products are produced in conformity with the TPAA Treatment Process Guidelines, the perceived image and reputation of the whole timber treatment sector and its products will be greatly enhanced.

Wood Preservation 2012 programs confirmed THREE YEARS have passed since the last Australasian wood preservation event ran for local wood treatment operations. “In 2009, we

had more than 200 delegates participating in the Forest Industry Engineering (FIEA) technology series,” says Brent Apthorp, FIEA Director.

“A lot has changed since then. Ask anyone involved in wood treatment. The structure and ownership of the industry is quite different. Changes in new wood

treatment formulations, processes and systems, standards, legislation and the increasing competition that’s now being seen with alternate products in the marketplace have been substantial.” Wood Preservation 2012 will be the sixth in this series of technology updates. It runs in Rotorua on 16-17 May and again in Melbourne on 23-24 May. It’s been designed with a wide cross section of industry, both nationally and internationally and is being supported by key Australasian industry associations, AFPA, TPAA, WPA and the NZPMA.

“It’s going to provide a unique independent program for local wood producers to update themselves on new wood treatment technologies, advances in alternative products and the industry's response to increasing environmental issues and changes that are occurring now in production, distribution and retailing in Australasia, North America and Europe” says Brent Apthorp. Full details including the programs for this latest technology series can be downloaded from the event website, www. woodpreser vationevents. com

AWISA IS the international exhibition of machinery, materials, fittings and services for the Australian and New Zealand woodworking and furniture industries. The exhibition returns in 2012 refreshed and improved, with a new layout and new marketing to visitors. With panel, solid wood and design areas, AWISA has created three shows within the event. AWISA (Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association) will be held 11-14 July at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. The exhibition has been held regularly since 1988, and attracts furniture manufacturers, cabinet makers, kitchen manufacturers, joiners, shop and office fitters, mouldings manufacturers, window and door manufacturers, saw millers, and other wood, timber and panel processing industries. Architects and interior designers also attend. AWISA was formed in 1986 by the principal suppliers to the Australian woodworking industry. The main aims of the association are to present industry exhibitions, publish industry magazines, co-operate with other organisations in the woodworking industry, and to uphold the highest ethical standards and to encourage members to do the same. Membership applications are welcome from Australian-based companies, and from overseas companies with Australian agents and distributors that are also members of AWISA.

The solid wood, timber and panel processing trade show 11-14 JULY 2012 SYDNEY

www.awisa.com

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

21 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

It’s important for the industry to share information By Kersten Gentle Executive officer

T IS human nature to want to blame someone else for a mistake or when things go wrong, and the building industry is definitely no exception. Recently, an issue arose in Sydney where a builder highlighted every miniscule issue which he saw as faults of the fabricator and/or timber producer for frames he had installed. The builder wanted to know if the frames were built with the correct structural timber and why the timber bowed, shrunk and twisted out of shape. Now don’t get me wrong, FTMA Australia does not condone frames and trusses being delivered not fit for purpose and we definitely do not support the use of nonstructural products, however, we do get frustrated that

fabricators are always blamed when things go wrong. In this particular instance the frames were left standing, uncladed for approximately three weeks before the second-storey frames were ordered. Give another week or two for them to be delivered, installed and finally clad means the original frames were left to Mother Nature’s wrath for up to five weeks. This was during September 2011, so I looked up details of the weather conditions for that period and found the following article in the Sydney Morning Herald dated 6 September, 2011, which stated: The temperature in Sydney had reached 26.8 degrees, close to 7 degrees above average and the warmest day since April 9, when we hit 27. Wet weather is also likely through Sydney from Thursday afternoon into Friday, with the potential for some moderate falls.... There is going to be a significant change in the weather pattern during this week, with a gradual cooling over coming days before a bone-chilling blast of cold and wind towards the weekend...... The area of low pressure will continue to deepen

during Friday evening as it moves towards the NSW coast and will assist in dragging bitterly cold, Antarctic air across the entire state from south of Tasmania. There is the prospect the low could undergo a rapid intensification near the NSW coast during Friday night, causing an escalation of wind strengths for areas such as Sydney.... It will definitely be worth paying attention to weather warnings in NSW late in the week, with the potential for this system to form into an east coast low. East coast lows are a category of rapidly forming low pressure systems, which can bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and huge seas to the New South Wales coastline. The combination of cold and wind on Saturday will make Sydney feel far colder than the advertised 16 degrees, which is already more than 10 degrees down on what we had today. Wow, and people complain about Melbourne’s weather!! Anyway, in the opinion of the builder the fabricator must have provided a shonky job given the fact that when he finally clad the walls and added the second-storey he noticed problems with the downstairs frames.

What he forgot to consider was the fact that temperatures were well above average with high winds, heavy rain and snap cold conditions added in to the mix -- all in a matter of a week. It’s like buying a loaf of bread from your local baker, sitting it on the window sill for three weeks in the sun and then complaining that it is stale and mouldy and demanding your money back or at least a replacement loaf be provided free of charge. Let’s not mince words it is simply unacceptable to think that the fabricator is fully at fault and should be responsible for all associated costs. On further investigation into this particular issue I spoke to a number of fabricators who had had similar dealings with the same builder. He comes across as a reasonable person, all happy and simply wanting a great product, but once it is delivered he becomes the customer from hell, holding back payments, making back charges and costing the fabricator money. Again, this isn’t about supporting unprofessional work as FTMA Australia believes our industry standards must be upheld

and we honestly believe our industry, overall, produces a high quality product that meets all Australian Standards and of course is environmentally friendly. I simply believe that it is important that we share information regarding bad debtors, just as we should share information about bad builders to ensure more fabricators do not suffer under the same bullying tactics. Even though fabricators are in a competitive industry and especially at the moment are struggling in tight economic times and a downturn in building, I encourage you to share information about dodgy builders as there are some thing’s you should not even wish on your worst enemies or competitors. There is a fine line between defamation and sharing the truth so be careful how you relay the information, perhaps provide information to your nail plate company so they can dutifully warn others. Finally, if the time comes when you have to deal with builders like this, detail everything in a diary, including weather conditions at the time as it is important that a full picture is laid out when dealing with issues such as this.

New prefabricated wall and roof system that doesn’t use glue STANDARD MILLS and timber fabricators looking to diversify their product offering may be able to produce a new solid wall and roof system with existing infrastructure and equipment. The new system, Interlocking Cross Laminated Timber (ICLT) is a prefabricated crosslaminated solid wood wall and roof panel. Similar to CrossLaminated Timber (CLT) developed in Europe, ICLT is fabricated from 2-7 layers of alternating direction 3” x 6” to 3” x 8” pine stock milled from waste wood. Unlike other solid wood panel systems, however, ICLT utilizes no fasteners and no adhesives, removing the reliance on volatile organic compound (toxic) adhesives, allowing the panel to be disassembled at end of life to be repurposed in the building material supply chain. The exposed wood on the interior provides a thermal mass and humidity regulation factor. Utilizing

no fasteners or glues also reduces overall capital cost for either stainless fastener purchase and install or press purchase and set up associated with glue lamination. Conversely, standard mills and timber fabricators looking to diversify their product offering may produce ICLT with existing infrastructure and equipment. Layering gives the panel strength, allowing lowgrade wood to be used in a high value structural condition, estimated to last upwards of 100 years. Compared to the 30-50 year life of most light frame construction, ICLT provides a strong outer structure and enclosure that is durable, meeting the needs of a more sustainable building industry, economically and environmentally. ICLT structures can be built up to nine stories in some cases, efficient in speed of construction, and given the availability of material, potentially affordable for both production home building and large commercial structures.

ICLT is currently in the development, testing, and code acceptance research phase in preparation for market acceptance in the next three – five years. Utilizing the integrated collaborative efforts of university research and industry fabrication and construction, a team of

researchers has developed the Interlocking CrossLaminated Timber (ICLT) for wall and roof construction through dovetail and tongue and groove joinery precision cut and assembled using Hundeggar CNC tools. The team is currently conducting a feasibility research project including preliminary structural testing. The ICLT system is showing preliminary signs of success.

And while still on the subject of engineered wood, ppromising innovations, such as cross laminated timber and green chemicals have been showcased at the Future Forestry Finance conference. It has been estimated that the value of a tree can be tripled by manufacturing value-added products compared to just selling raw logs to overseas buyers. Following the Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquakes there is an urgent need for structurally-capable building solutions. Wood-based building designers can use cross laminated timber (CLT) to maximum effect for new structures in this region. Robin Jack, a successful pioneer of wood manufacturing excellence, spoke about his leading role in bringing CLT to into new commercial building market in Australasia. This product is paving the way for high-rise timber buildings to be made in high density downtown sites, with quick build times and short on-site construction times. “CLT is an exciting new

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product that allows radiata pine to be much more effective at achieving structural integrity in buildings that are very earthquake-proof. Testing in Europe has proven the use of wood for complete structural walls for both residential and commercial applications,” Jack told the conference.

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ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

TIMBERMAN, April 2012 – 22

Review of the Fair Work Act By Brian Beecroft Chief Executive Officer Timber Trade Industrial Association

REVIEW of the Fair Work Act is currently under way and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, has released the terms of reference for the review and announced the panel that will oversee the review. The Fair Work Act Review Panel subsequently released a background paper and announced the timing for the review's submission process. The background paper which sets out general information on the review and the Act, the submission process and relevant evidence sources is available on the FWA website. The Federal Government is required to review the Act but has no obligation to make any changes. TTIA is seeking feedback from members on the impact of the Fair Work Act on your business. If you have a submission you would like me to forward to the Review Panel please send it to me as a matter of urgency by contacting

Head Office on (02) 9264 0011 or by email to ttia@ttia.asn.au. Please note as this review is being described as "evidence based” all submissions must be supported by evidence to support your argument. Award review TTIA will be making submissions to Fair Work Australia (FWA) outlining concerns of our members’ experiences with the new awards and the actual impact that they have had on their businesses. An application to vary a modern award must be filed with FWA by Thursday, 8 March, 2012. After that date a timetable will be established to examine any proposed variations. Annual wage review It is TTIA’s view that most applications will not look to make significant changes to existing provisions. If you have any concerns with the operation of the Timber Industry Award 2010 which you have not previously raised with TTIA, could you please discuss the matter in more detail by contacting head office on (02) 9264 0011.

The Annual Wage Review will be commencing shortly. It is expected that the decision will be handed down late June with the commencement date being 1 July 2012. As is always the case, members of the TTIA will be advised of the increase by circular and will be provided with updated wage sheets for the digest by the date of commencement. New Workplace Health and Safety regulations New WH&S regulations for NSW came into effect on 1 January 2012. The maximum penalties which can be imposed for breach of the regulations are now $6,000 for an individual and $30,000 for a body corporate. Five out of nine jurisdictions (Commonwealth, NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory and ACT) have implemented the new legislation. Some States are still negotiating the matter. Members may have attended the series of national seminars run by TTIA in November 2011 which sought to prepare employers for the implementation of these changes. However, members seeking a further summary of the key provisions should contact the TTIA head office on (02) 9264 0011.

Alliance with Roofing Industry Association By Colin Fitzpatrick Chief Executive Officer TABMA Australia TABMA IS pleased to announce that we have formed an alliance with the Roofing Industry Association. As part of this alliance TABMA will provide trainees and apprentices to the association. Our National Training & Development Manager, Steve Cunningham, addressed their general membership on February 7 to explain how TABMA operates and how we can work with their industry to support the placement and training of apprentices and trainees.

Power-Choice are reductions of between 15 and 25% off your current monthly spend. To obtain further information just email TABMA’s Alicia Oelkers on alicia@tabma.com.au Ipswich & Toowoomba In early February the writer and Alicia Oelkers spent time calling on existing and prospective members in the Ipswich/ Toowoomba region of southern Queensland. It was a most productive and informative few days and led to greater awareness of TABMA and the services and benefits membership can provide. Timber industry members made us most welcome and TABMA looks forward to significant membership growth in the region.

Power-Choice

Superannuation

Initiated by TABMA Queensland, we are now in a position to offer TABMA members across Australia a better deal on electricity costs through an exclusive arrangement with Power-Choice Energy. If a member’s electricity account is more than $2000 per month it could be well worth your while to obtain further information. The average results achieved by

The Australian Government has advised of its intention to increase the Superannuation Guarantee Rate to 12% by 2019/20. The rate will be increased gradually with initial increments of 0.25 percentage points on 1 July 2013 and 1 July 2014. Further increments of 0.5 percentage points will apply annually up to 2019/20, when the rate will be set at 12%.

Around 8.4 million employees are expected to benefit from this measure. The current SG contribution rate is 9%. The Intergenerational Report 2010 underlines the challenges posed by our ageing population. The number of Australians aged over 65 is projected to grow from 3 million to 8.1 million by 2050. Over the next 40 years, the ratio of working age Australians to those over 65 will decrease from 5 to 1 to just 2.7 to 1. The superannuation measures that are being introduced are projected to generate an additional $10 billion by 2020 and $35 billion by 2035 in private savings each year. There will be a phased increase to 12% with a 3 year lead time from announcement. This will allow employers to take the increased SG contributions into account when negotiating future wage settlements. Many employers will also benefit from company tax reductions, and the significant lead time should help mitigate concerns, the Government states. The Government also says while employers will take increases in SG contributions into account when negotiating future wage agreements, future wage increases are expected to be sufficient to ensure that overall real wages continue to grow.

Compliance and all its intricacies explained THE HIA is convening its third Building Better Cities Summit in Melbourne on 28 March – Building Products: A Compliance Free Zone? The summit will focus on the compliance framework for building products used in Australia, whether manufactured locally or overseas. The event will generate debate on the compliance challenges faced by Australian manufacturers, suppliers, builders and designers. The summit program includes a diverse range of highly experienced speakers from Australia and overseas who will highlight the compliance challenges of competing in an international and online market,

examine alternative models, and raise awareness of where improvements can be made. International speakers will provide insights into how other systems operate in the European Union, Canada and Denmark and whether there are opportunities we can learn from. Local experts on product conformance will investigate the current system and highlight where improvements are needed, while Australian manufacturing representatives from Clipsal, GWA International, Bluescope and CSR will have the opportunity to explain the hurdles faced by Australian manufacturers and importers and how they are working to achieve a level playing field.

The economic benefits of a well performing system will be highlighted by the Productivity Commission, along with the Australian Building Codes Board outlining the role they see for building regulations and standards in this debate. Summit participants will include anyone involved in building construction, compliance and certification – manufacturers, suppliers, builders, building certifiers, architects, designers and Government representatives. The summit will be held in the Ballroom, Park Hyatt Melbourne on 28 March from 9am to 4pm. More information available from Kirsten Lewis by fax on 02 6257 5658 or email k.lewis@hia.com.au by 23 March.

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New technical bulletin from TVAA By Peter Llewellyn Technical Representative Timber Veneer Association of Australia The Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA) has released a technical bulletin titled White Flecks in Veneers, explaining the cause of the white flecks which sometimes appear on veneered surfaces. The problem only shows up after the veneer has been coated. There are two primary causes, according to TVAA chairman Rod Sharp. “It’s generally an issue with reconstructed veneers,” Rod said. “However, it can also occur in open-grained and dark coloured veneers. That is because small particles of sanding dust become trapped in the grain of the veneer, and then show up as white specks when the coating dries. “The other main cause is bubbles that sometimes form if the coating starts to dry while air is still escaping from the grain of the veneer,” he added. The TVAA technical bulletin explains how to prevent these two problems. Copies can be downloaded free of charge from the Association’s website at www.timberveneer. asn.au. Other technical bulletins are available on the TVAA website, to help industry and specifiers ensure that their use of veneers is trouble-free. Architects and designers will also find it worthwhile to visit the Association’s Uniquely Veneer website at www. uniquelyveneer.com.au which showcases some of the many innovative and exciting ways to use timber veneers. For issues requiring personal advice, the Association provides a free technical information service on 1300 303 982, or questions can be sent by email to info@ timberveneer.asn.au.

Call on Government to support local paper industry THE FEDERAL Government should support Australian industry through measures to curb the importation of paper produced from illegally logged forests. “Australia imports up to $4 billion worth of forest products annually and it has previously been intimated that some of these imports are from illegally sourced product,” said Dr David Pollard, Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) chief executive officer. “While environmental groups are happy to bring the spotlight on environmental degradation of overseas forests they systematically fail to mention that the Australian forest industry is already subject to the highest standards of legal compliance. ‘While cracking down on illegal imports is important, Australia must also encourage sustainable management practices in overseas forestry operations to emulate the high standards we have here where most forest growers are certified to an approved standard. “Importing paper products into the Australian markets from illegally logged sources not only hurts local jobs but leaves questions unanswered about the sustainability of manufacturer’s fibre sources. “What should be highlighted is that while it has long been understood that buying local products supports local jobs it also provides local environmental benefits. “The Australian Government should not only support Australian forest industries though its procurement policies but should also actively encourage consumers to do the same,” said Dr Pollard.

23 - April 2012, TIMBERMAN

FOR SALE

AVAILABLE NOW Softwood Bandsaw Processing Mill For high recovery sawmilling

Tastec 3 saw over arbor edger complete with • hydraulic power pack • sizing and controls • main spindle motor – 100HP • switchboard and motor starters • 3 lazer lines • Infeed rolls and line bar • Outfeed picker belt and riving blade • Sawblades $25,000 + GST Board unscramble

$2,000 + GST

Gibson linebar carriage with • Line bar unit • Hydraulic power pack • Control console • Pantagraph arms and posts • Offbear roller $15,000 + GST

Volvo L90 Loader

Comes complete with quick release, large chip bucket and log grapple forks.

Ingersol-Rand SSR screw compressor ML 18.5 KW $3,000 + GST

$88,000+GST

Valen Kone VK26 Debarker In and out feed conveyors.

Sawdust blowers 1 off 250mm $200 1 off 400mm – stainless steel impellar blades $400

$37,000+GST

Robinson 54” wheels heavy duty bandsaw

Ensign log forks with top clamps. Fit Cat 966F loader $5,000 + GST

50hp motor, Hydraulic feed. $12,500+GST $9,800+GST

Rondamat 925 profile grinder

Forano Twin 60” Bandsaw Log Breakdown line

$7,000 + GST

CML multi-rip saw model J250 18.5KW. Had little use. 12 saw blades $15,000 + GST

Top dogging. Log handling. Remote operator. Log diameter 60cm – 12cm, 6m - 2.4m. Hydraulic sizing 30cm – 7.5cm. $188,000+GST

Chip Screen 5X5 Jondod chip screen assembly with SS sound insulated cyclone on stand $7,000 + GST

McKay Timber - Southern Tasmania Phone Contact Tony 0417 362 872

Salem Twin 54” Band Resaw

Roundabout. Operator cabin. Hydraulic sizing, fence, line bar, cant turner and handling equipment. Sawn timber transfer deck. $279,000+GST

FIREWOOD MILLS

For Information, please, call 0419-536 804 or email your postal address to info@firewoodmills.com.au

Moreen Johnston 50” Horizontal Band Wing line

With roundabout and wing transfer deck.$44,000.00+GST

Windsor board twin edger

With laser guides, pneumatic sizing and conveyor waste transfer.

$37,000+GST

Austral Timber Group Contact Ken Baker 0438 643 992 kjb@agnew.com.au

New model BigX50 coming soon!

Different sizes of mills with optional feeding table. Tractor, Diesel Power Pack or Electric Power Pack driven models.

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Employment postings Forests & Timber INDUSTRY DIRECTORY NE ONLI

A U

.com.au

T I M B E R

P R O C E S S I N G ,

P R O D U C T S

Ph +618 8369 9555 Fax +618 8369w 9501 Email admin@forestsandtimber.com.au Website www.timberbiz.com.au ABN 57 109 570 336

A N D

S U P P L I E R S

Comprising 22 acres freehold land (approx.) Two houses.

EQUIPMENT: Gibson Line Bar Gray Roundabout Recovery Bench Precision 58” Chipper (near new) Precision 7 ft. Screen (near new) Goldsmith Saw Sharpener 5 ton Forklift Mobile Crane The sawmill is complete and ready for operation and holds a small logging licence.

For further information contact John Dodd 0428 360 618 Email - john@jondod.com

ITEMS FOR SALE

54 inch Robinson bandsaw. $12000 Default docker. GRECON $6000 Finger jointer. GRECON $65000. large production machine Finger jointer. FJ INDUSTRIAL $25000 Finger jointer. Needs work. $23000. large production machine Hiab. Crane. 10.8 mt reach @760 kg 3hydraulic 1 manual ext $12500 Component sander. $900 Mark 5 Gang nail press. $20000 Posis strut press. $12500 12metre table(approx) Laminated beam presses. ( 2 off). $4500/5500 Hydraulic power units. (2 off). $1200. Each Turntable to separate timber. 4.5 mt dia. $1800 Weinigmoulder. $15000 Idaco saw. ( needs some work). $1500 Mk 4gangnail press. $20000. ( 3.6. Wide) Appollo saw with mango automation. $22000 Mk 5. Gang nail press. $25000 (3.6 wide) Strouds auto glue system $14000

All items excess to needs Location Melbourne Phone. 03 97619266, 08 93998336, 0438466621

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Latest industry news

Sawmill for sale situated south coastal town NSW close to large major town.

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EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST:

Specifically produced to easily assemble and press the proliferation of low pitched roof trusses currently flooding the construction industry today for two and three storey buildings with height restrictions – the Mini 6 enables you to tap into this market without disrupting your current truss production lines.

Mini 6

ABN 52 060 402 860

155 Burnside Rd · Stapylton QLD 4207 · Australia · T: +61 (0)7 3297 3280 · F: +61 (0)7 3382 0741 · E: enquiry@multinailmachinery.com · W: www.multinailmachinery.com

Multinail Machinery Pty Ltd

The one place to ensure you are operating at your peak

Multinail Machinery – Your truss and frame machinery experts from design to manufacturing to installation, training and after sales service and support

er MiniSprinth

Mini 4

Mini 6

The Mini 4 is designed to handle Multinail’s SteelWood range of heavy duty metal web parallel trusses with overall depths ranging from 300mm to 650mm. The Mini 4 can also adequately double its function to handle any difficult trusses including small hips and jacks, saddles including variations such as cut-offs and cantilevers.

Mini 8

The Mini 8 is the well-respected industry workhorse with a table size that lets you construct most trusses including standards, truncated, hips and multiples of jacks, saddles, Y-jacks at the same time. This table press has set the standard on which all others have been judged – see for yourself why!

The Mini Sprinter (or Mini 2) is the only press in the range with a specific purpose - to manufacture MultiStrut parallel chord trusses from 200mm to 400mm depths. The Mini2 is an incredibly cost-justifiable piece of equipment based on its potential production volume. The Mini Sprinter has a quick jig change for MultiStrut metal web parallel trusses of 200, 250, 300 and 400mm overall depths which are then pneumatically clamped before being pressed.

Mini 4

Mini 8

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Researched by Australian Truss Plants – Built for Australian Truss Plants – Demanded by Australian Truss Plants

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The Mini Range

The Mini 10 easily deals with the evolution and growth of modern trusses where truss type – span, pitch and shape are infinitely variable. Home owners and architects now demand large trusses with ever changing variations. The Mini 10 easily caters for longer, steeper trusses with pitched bottom chords, cantilevers, cut-offs, etc. – all can be easily jigged and assembled before pressing.

Mini 10

Mini 12

The world’s largest table press, at over 17 metres long this mammoth table press is able to manufacture all trusses as required by Australia’s demanding housing market - from multiple trusses being assembled at the one time to infinite truss shape variations – the mini 12 is the ultimate in table pressing technology – yet small enough to fit into most progressive manufacturing operations

Mini 12