Australasian Timber Magazine - August 2017

AUGUST 2017

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Choose the Original PROCESSING • PRODUCTS • DESIGN • SUPPLIERS

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Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.

BRISBANE TOWER BREAKING NEW GROUND lQ UANTUM LEAP FORWARD IN BUILDING SYSTEMS lO FFSITE MANUFACTURING HELPS CUT COSTS lR E-SHAPING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

FRAME IN FOCUS PAGES 16 - 24

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Framing Station WEM • Complex frameworks produced with ease • Efficient production as studs and plates are automatically aligned and tensioned • Production in batch size 1 is possible

Assembly Table WTZ • Production of open and closed wall panels • Work on two short elements in parallel thanks to the two clamping areas • Achieve high levels of productivity thanks to reduced change over times for different wall heights • Suitable for heavy elements

Multifunction Bridge WMS • Increased processing speed and short set-up times • High and constant quality of all processings • Versatile processing options due to 12-slot tool changer

Solid Wood Portal WMP • Maximum dynamics and flexibilty for processing solid wood elements, e.g. CLT and Glulam • Considerable time savings thanks to the high processing speed • Wide processing range offered by the 18-slot tool changer HOMAG Australia Pty Ltd. 6-8 Tasha Place ·Kings Parks NSW 2148 Tel.: 1800 355 635 sales-australia@homag.com www.homag.com

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PosiStrut CASSETTES are

FLOORING customers.

Many builders and developers – especially those working on large, multi-storey projects are specifying PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes. The floor includes allowances for deflections, reactions, plumbing locations, voids stacks, wastes and duct chases and recessed wet areas. Plus, PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes can utilise top chord support for ease of installation. This means they can be craned into position on-site and fixed in minutes! The implications this has on-site are substantial‌with more square metres of flooring laid by less labour in a lot less time!

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For more information about MiTek PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes, call your local state office or visit: mitek.com.au

HOME OF GANG-NAIL BUILDING SYSTEMS VIC (03) 8795 8888

NSW (02) 8525 8000

QLD (07) 3861 2100

SA (08) 8234 1326

WA (08) 9412 3534

New Zealand (09) 274 7109

NEWS

Start of construction for the world’s tallest engineered timber office building

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ORKS AT 25 King, set to be the tallest engineered timber office building in the world, are progressing well with the sod turned, site cleared and piling works started. Earlier this year, 25 King was acquired by leading Australian Impact Fund Manager, Impact Investment Group (IIG), their second commercial building in the $2.9 billion Brisbane Showgrounds redevelopment.

At a height of almost 45 metres, the ground plus nine-storey tower designed by architect Bates Smart will become the future home of global engineering firm Aurecon.

The tower includes three bespoke ground level retail tenancies built using a revolutionary building timber technology called cross laminated timber (CLT) and glulum (glue laminated timber) which has a structural strength akin to traditional concrete and steel.

Mark Menhinnitt, Lendlease’s Managing Director, Urban Regeneration said Lendlease was extremely proud to be delivering the next generation of sustainable workplaces with state-of-the-art technology in Queensland.

“25 King is set to become the tallest and largest engineered timber office building in the world which is a wonderful achievement for the Brisbane Showgrounds precinct.

“Lendlease has a proven track record of creating socially, environmentally and economically sustainable precincts around the world,” he said.

Acting Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Jackie Trad said 25 King was breaking new ground in its use of structural timber in a building of its type and size.

“These materials are sustainable, strong and light, with a structural

strength akin to the traditional concrete and steel,” Ms Trad said.

“This is a great example of the type of development we’ll be seeing more of in the future, and it puts Queensland at forefront of cutting edge sustainable construction practices.”

Constructed with wood, CLT has a far lower carbon footprint than other building materials, the production process produces zero waste, and timbers are sourced from certified sustainably managed forests.

25 King will feature controlled lighting, heating and cooling from a single interface, and large glass areas will maximise natural daylight, while sunshades on the western and eastern facades will reduce energy consumption; further reducing the buildings carbon footprint.

Lendlease is committed to achieving sustainable solutions with 25 King targeting a 6 Star Green Star Design and As Built v1.1 and a NABERS Energy 5 Star rating. The tower is serviced by 56 car parks over one basement level, electric vehicle charging points and has 152 bike racks, 16 showers and 158 lockers.

Chris Lock, CEO, Impact Investment Group said 25 King is a

australasian

magazine Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.

August Vol.25, No. 5 Established 1977

4

Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editorial: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9512 Out of office: (08) 7127 6370

Advertising: K ent Humphrys k.humphrys@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9516 Timber classified: k.humphrys@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9516 Production: Luke Westle

Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide: (08) 8369 9555 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview, South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501

great demonstration of how IIG invests in property.

“We’re committed to helping move Australia to a low-carbon future; we look for property investments with excellent potential for environmental sustainability; where we can fund best-in-class construction, or actively manage existing properties to drive energy efficiency and very positive social outcomes.

“We believe our approach helps drive demand for real estate that benefits the environment and the wider community, and ultimately delivers attractive returns for IIG’s investors.”

25 King is due for completion in late 2018, with Lendlease’s Building business developing and building the asset. Lendlease will continue to work with its partners to lease the approximately 7,900 square metres of remaining office space.

25 King is Lendlease’s fifth engineered timber building in Australia and joins International House Sydney, Forte Apartments and Library at The Dock in Melbourne, and Jordan Springs Community Hub in Western Sydney.

MEDIA

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

FRONT PAGE: Brisbane tower breaking new ground ... at a height of almost 45 metres, the ground plus nine-storey tower designed by architect Bates Smart will become the future Brisbane home of global engineering firm Aurecon.

Conditions: The opinions expressed in Australasian Timber Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of or endorsed by the editor or publisher unless otherwise stated.

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

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

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEWS

Innovation and excellence with timber

T

HE AUSTRALIAN Timber Design Awards are distinguished by a proud heritage of innovation and achievement; they promote and encourage outstanding timber design.

The Australian Timber Design Awards are open to builders, designers, architects, engineers and landscapers: to anyone involved in the design or building of structures that feature timber. A Rising Star Award is available to students and entrants aged 35 or under.

The Australian Timber Design Awards competition is open to built environment professionals and students who want to showcase their built design and/or building projects in residential and/or public or commercial buildings that feature timber structures or finishes.

The aim of the Awards is to develop a timber design ethos through the encouragement and showcasing of superlative timber design in a variety of applications, and while the abundance of talent throughout Australia becomes ever-more obvious just think how hard the task is for the judging panel.

Entries for the 2017 competition opened on February 28 and closed on 9 June. Voting for the People’s Choice Award starts on 1 August and closes 31

August. The gala night when winners will be announced will be held on 25 October in Melbourne.

Visit the Timber Design Awards website’s Awards Sponsors page to find out more about them. (click on the logos for a pop-up profile window!)

Flashback to 2015, the year the coveted award went to John Wardle Architects and NADAAA for the Melbourne School of Design, an inspiring example of complex green design.

The three-storey Melbourne School of Design is a showcase of the very best

The Australian Timber Design Awards Category Sponsorship is possible in three ways.

that can be achieved with structural timber. LVL engineered box beams and coffers span its 20 metre wide atrium, acting both as sun shades and structural restraints. Judges were effusive in their praise for the manner in which the timber framed and lined building envelope is suspended from two of the overhead LVL beams.

Timber features heavily also in the decorative elements of the design. The selection and working of the timbers shows exceptional understanding of the material and lends warmth to the complex structural design.

The first, is being a Platinum (Gold) Sponsor to partner in the promotion of outstanding Timber Design.

The second is being a Silver Sponsor which provides industry support and benefits towards outstanding Timber Design. The third is being a Bronze Sponsor and patron of excellence in timber design. Our latest and long standing Sponsors are listed below.

Platinum Sponsor

Media Partner

SteelWood joists SteelWood joists offer architects, engineers, builders and contractors a new concept of rigid construction for single or multi-storey residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

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* 90x45-MGP15, SWJ660, spacing 450mm, 30kg flooring, lining and ceiling material used.

Actual spans will vary depending on floor loading, specific job requirements, timber grades and sizes

For more information contact Multinail Australia enquiry@multinail.com

www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

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NEWS

WADIC 2017 Expo in Melbourne it’s a first for WADIC

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HAT IS the recipe for a successful event for both manufacturers and suppliers?

WADIC (Window and Door Industry Council) believes the upcoming Expo in Melbourne has the right ingredients this time!

WADIC supplier members are really getting behind and supporting this new initiative WADIC 2017 Expo to exclusively exhibit their products to an audience made up of timber window and door manufacturers who are engaged in the high end timber market. Manufacturing members are already booking their tickets to travel and spend a weekend in Melbourne from as far away as Cairns and across the water from Tasmania.

On this occasion WADIC has, as a first, extended this invitation to those timber window and door manufacturers who are presently not members allowing two representatives per company to attend the Expo and exhibitors stands, to hear the

industry speakers and share a beer with colleagues and suppliers for a small charge of $50 for two. WADIC members are invited to attend free.

RSVP is crucial as numbers are filling fast.

The latest in machinery will be showcased by BIESSE, Felder and Weinig by video and company representatives. Hardware suppliers Brio, Centor, FSA and others will bring their technical experts and products along. Representatives from Tecknos will have their specialists in attendance to talk about the latest coatings.

The WADIC group of timber suppliers John Cook & Sons, Britton Timbers, Mathews Timber and Bayswood will have their timber listings ready to write some orders.

Breezway, Schlegel and Aneeta will also be there to discuss the latest in seals, louvres and sashless windows.

Cabinet Makers Insurance (Sears) are great supporters of WADIC

members when it comes to insurance and our alliance with TABMA and their Group Training arm assists in recruiting apprentices for the WADIC fraternity. These stands will be well worth a visit. Hopefully you may be able to save some money on your insurance or at least be better informed as to how best to insure your company and through TABMA find an apprentice. That alone would be worth a visit.

Who is WADIC, for those of you who do not know us? WADIC is a national organisation that was established in the year 2000 and is a not-for-profit organisation designed to work with colleagues to support small to medium timber window and door manufacturers to be cost effectively compliant with industry standards and works to support its members with product and industry information. Besides the relevant Standards WADIC also has a program which licenses members to be Bushfire

Home renovation market gets a makeover HIA PRINCIPAL Economist Tim Reardon believes the home renovations market will return to growth this year.

The July 2017 edition of the Housing Industry Association’s Renovations Roundup report (which provides a regular in-depth review of Australia’s $32 billion home

renovations market) reveals the results of the latest home renovations survey and outlines forecasts for home renovations activity on a state-by-state basis.

“Even though new home building activity has soared to record levels over the past 12 months, conditions for the renovations market have been

much more subdued,” Mr Reardon said.

“We expect this to change this year and that the market will again experience growth as the number of detached houses that are reaching the key renovations age is increasing.

“Our survey results also indicate that businesses regard conditions in

Australia Renovations Forecasts Source: HIA Economics

Forecast

Thousand dwellings commenced

8%

4%

3.0%

4.0%

3.0%

2.6%

2%

1.0%

0.5%

1.0%

0%

2.3%

-4% -6%

-4.9%

-5.4%

-8% -10% -9.9% 2007 (a)

2008 (a)

2009 (a)

2010 (a)

2011 (a)

2012 (a)

2013 (a)

2014 (a)

2015 (a)

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

2016 (a)

2017

AUGUST 2017

the renovations industry over the past year positively and suggest a modest increase in the amount of work in the pipeline.

“The environment of record low interest rates and strong dwelling price growth in key markets has certainly been a plus for renovations demand but falling transaction volumes in the established house market have held renovations activity back.

“Over the longer term, renovations activity is set to grow modestly as a result of the backlog of overdue jobs as well as more homes reach the key renovating age. With new home building set to decline over the next couple of years, the gradual strengthening of renovations activity is coming at the right time,” said Mr Reardon.

Forecasts contained in the latest HIA

-0.2%

-2%

-12%

6

6.3%

6%

Fabricators to Bushfire Attack Level 29 out of Western Red Cedar having tested a complete houselot of windows and doors with Exova WarringtonFire to AS1530 8.1 for WADIC. At present WADIC is involved in an R & D program to test bifold doors for cyclonic areas to C3. This initiative when successful will position WADIC members to supply tested timber bifold door systems for cyclonic application through the WADIC Compliance Manual License program for AS2047.

The WADIC Compliance Manual comes with a comprehensive list of custom rated thermal ratings.

If you would like to understand more about WADIC visit the website www.wadic.org.au If you would like to attend the WADIC 2017 Expo and you are either a WADIC member or a non member who manufactures timber windows and doors in Australia contact carolynne.mason@gmail.com.

2018

2019

Renovations Roundup report predict that activity in 2017 will be consistent with levels in 2016, before returning to a growth phase in 2018 (+2.6 per cent) followed by another expansion of 2.3 per cent in 2019. During 2020, a 2.4 per cent increase is projected to take the value of the market to $34.71 billion.

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEWS

Engineered Building Products the only solution!

A

N AREA of major concern for builders is ensuring the building products they use in the construction of a dwelling meets the desired design criteria for which they are intended. Using the wrong or an underrated product often results in re-work being ordered by building authorities and can be a major threat to a builder’s financial stability and long term reputation.

One way builders can be certain that they are not compromising the structural integrity of their job is by insisting on using only Engineered Building Products. Reputable suppliers support their products with technical data sheets and can provide engineering assistance should they be required to substantiate their work at a later date.

MiTek Australia has a huge range of EBPs, made to answer specific onsite needs. There’s everything from Bracing products to Girder Brackets, Hangers, Roof TieDowns, Small Fasteners, Wall Frame Ties…even Stainless Steel and Special Structural Products.

All are designed, engineered and manufactured to ISO9001 Standard and are rigorously tested and retested to ensure they pass and in most cases, exceed Australian Standards. In fact, all MiTek EBPs comply with the National Construction Code Series and Australian Standards.

Plus, to make selecting the right product for the right application easy,

MiTek have produced the handy MiTek GUIDE Edition 2. This includes: Loading Code AS/ NZS 1170, plus it complies with the BCA 2010. Pages in the MiTek GUIDE Edition 2 are colour-coded and include detailed productby-product illustrations for easy, accurate reference to a huge range of EBPs. The MiTek GUIDE Edition 2 takes all the guesswork out of choosing building products for specific uses. It will assist in the interpretation of Australian Standards AS 1684.2 ‘Residential Timber-Framed Construction’ and AS 4440.

‘Installation of nail plated roof trusses.’ The MiTek GUIDE will also help users choose the right fasteners and bracing products to comply with these standards. Plus, should a query be raised at a later date, there’s comfort in knowing you’ve used the MiTek GUIDE Edition 2 to ensure you’ve complied with the correct engineering requirements.

There’s also MiTek’s EasyCat App. This is probably the most important tool a builder or certifier can take onsite. MiTek’s FREE EasyCat App is an electronic catalogue of Engineered

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>> Durability and reliability from passed down from field proven earthmoving technology

>> Controllability & safety with features

such as ramp control, factory speed limiting, no low speed creep & smooth directional changes without releasing accelerator pedal

>> Fitted with Komtrax machine management system

¢ BB25-TB.

¢ BWB35-TB.

Building Products (EBPs) produced by MiTek Australia. It contains the latest data sheets and, where applicable, links to short, instructional videos demonstrating correct installation of EBPs. The EasyCat App is easy to navigate, allowing the user to find facts fast with a ‘search’ feature – plus the ability to go straight to a ‘favourites’ section.

EBPs are broken down into groups ie: Bracing, Girder Brackets, Roof Ties… and more. Having a ready-reference, handy, on-site tool like the MiTek EasyCat App makes so much sense. It gives you peace-of-mind you are using the right EBP for the right application.

The best thing though: the MiTek EasyCat App is FREE; with regular updates (as products and/or Australian Standards change)…will also be FREE. MiTek’s EasyCat App can be downloaded from the Mac App Store or the Google Play store so it works on both Mac and Android devices.

MiTek GUIDE Edition 2 (also FREE) comes in printed form...or can even be downloaded from the MiTek web site. Everyone involved in the design or construction of buildings should have a copy of the MiTek GUIDE…and EasyCat App. So, with both of these handy, easy to access reference guides there’s no excuse for using the wrong… or incorrectly installed Engineering Building Product.

¢ CT900-TB.

For more information visit:

ALL ENQUIRIES: 1300 814 769 8

mitek.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

¢ GBBXL-TB.

AUGUST 2017

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEWS

EWPAA calls for action on non-conforming building product legislation in light of Grenfell fire tragedy

T

HE ENGINEERED Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) has joined the Building Products Innovation Council (BPIC) in urging governments across Australia to implement and enforce stronger regulations to combat non-conforming building products (NCBP).

The call follows the Grenfell Tower fire in London.

“We were deeply saddened to hear of the Grenfell Tower fire and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” said Dave Gover, CEO of the EWPAA. The cause of the Grenfell tragedy has not yet been formally reported, but commentary strongly suggests that the type of cladding material used in recent renovations and its installation method may have contributed to the spread of the fire.

BPIC is urging Australian governments to prioritise nonconforming building product legislation and follow the lead of the Queensland Government in its recent introduction of a bill intended to control the spread of such products.

Mr Gover, a member of the BPIC board, said that the issue of nonconforming building products was real and significant to the built environment.

“Non-conforming building products represent a safety risk to occupants, to neighbours, a financial risk for owners, to insurers and financiers,” he said.

“Since the Grenfell fire tragedy, it has been reported that Australian politicians will push for investigations into cladding materials, but the NCBP issue is a much broader problem than just a particular brand of cladding or type of material.

“Building products manufacturers have been campaigning for government awareness of NCBP issues in Australia for several years and it is time for more effective regulation, and for meaningful enforcement,” Dave said.

The EWPAA is encouraged that the Queensland Government is taking steps to combat the issue through the introduction of a new bill.

“Debate on this Bill needs to be a bi-partisan effort to pass a robust and

meaningful Act which will inspire other State Governments to follow Queensland’s lead,” Dave said.

“In the absence of stronger legislation on the issue, we will continue to see non-conforming building products entering the country, with the potential to cause tragedies similar to the Grenfell fire here in Australia,” he said.

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of engineered and solid timber products across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The EWPAA coordinates a market development program which includes product testing, product certification, standards and codes development, technical promotion, research and development, market maintenance; as well as education and training.

Building Ministers move on building product safety A late June meeting of the Building Ministers’ Forum presented a critical opportunity to take action on building product safety.

“In the wake of the London fire and calls by many to undertake audits of residential apartment buildings and other high risk buildings, it was expected that the Building Ministers would discuss potential actions to ensure the safety of buildings in Australia,” said HIA Chief Executive Industry Policy, Kristin Brookfield.

“The Minister’s decision to engage an expert to carry out a review of compliance and enforcement of building regulations may provide valuable insights into how the building approval process can be improved.

“Equally important is the decision to expedite the actions already under way by the Australian Building Codes Board on building products being used in accordance with the National Construction Code which are aimed at ensuring everyone in the building process interprets the code in the same way and that people checking information about building product conformance understand what to ask for.”

¢ Deadly blaze in the Grenfell Tower.

600 buildings to be tested The London borough of Camden has started removing cladding from five tower blocks deemed to be unsafe according to independent testing by the Camden council. The cladding was found to possess similarities to the cladding used on Grenfell Tower. As this cladding is removed, 24-hour safety wardens are stationed in each of the blocks.

The British Government has ordered cladding tests on 600 high-rise buildings.

In 2015, HIA attended the Building Ministers’ Forum and called on all governments to take action. The Building Ministers investigated industry’s concerns and agreed to a number of recommended actions when they met in early 2016.

HIA has supported the proposed actions on high risk buildings being undertaken by both the Building Ministers and the Australian Building Codes Board since 2016.

“We have provided direct input to many of the changes now expected to be included in the National Construction Code in 2019. However, the actions to be taken by the states and territories do appear to be taking more time to finalise than we had hoped.

“The actions agreed to by Ministers in 2016 remain the key steps to improving building safety in Australia and they should be progressed as quickly as possible.

“The ABCB has launched a national webpage to assist people understand

more about building product safety. This webpage also allows people to report any concerns they may have to the relevant state authority. www.abcb.gov.au “A national webpage like this is important for everyone in the building product supply chain - builders, consumers, building certifiers and companies that make building products,” said Ms Brookfield.

In 2012, HIA’s national summit, Building Products: a compliance free zone? highlighted the housing industry’s concerns that builders were effectively the first and the last line of defence in ensuring the materials used in new homes are fit for purpose.

“HIA has focused on supporting our members to improve their awareness of the problems associated with nonconforming building products. However it is important, now more than ever, to have political support to take action and ensure that builders are not the only people responsible for checking product quality.”

Enrolments open for Graduate Certificate in Timber THE UNIVERSITY of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) located at the School of Architecture and Design offers educational opportunities to learn about timber and wood products.

Available units

Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing and Building)

Eligibility

The Graduate Certificate is a four-unit Universitylevel postgraduate course providing specialist knowledge and skills in the design and construction of timber-rich buildings and structures or the production and distribution of timber and wood products. It can be completed part-time, from work or home.

The course is flexibly delivered (online) for those active in industry and the professions from around Australia.

www.timberbiz.com.au

KDA503 / 335 Timber, Its Origin & Characteristics KDA504 Timber in Building Construction KDA505 Timber & Durability in Exposed Applications KDA506 Board Processing: Hardwood & Softwood KDA507 Engineered Wood Products

To enter the course, applicants need to have a relevant degree or an acceptable combination of tertiary qualifications and relevant industry experience.

Generally, successful applicants will have: • An undergraduate degree in Building, Architecture, Engineering, Forestry or related disciplines.

• A degree in any discipline combined with relevant industry experience.

• An acceptable combination of training qualifications and relevant industry experience. Applicants without a degree are encouraged to apply • ForestWorks Fee Support*

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

ForestWorks currently has Fee Support Opportunities available to cover 80% of the cost of fees for the Graduate Certificate in Timber. Applications for fee support will be administered through ForestWorks. *Conditions apply.

For more information please contact ForestWorks.

Email tsds@forestworks.com.au.

Phone 03 6331 6077.

Website ForestWorks - TSDS For more information about courses on offer, admission procedures and services for students please refer to the Admission Guide: www.utas. edu.au/admissions or contact the University of Tasmania’s School of Architecture & Design on 03 6324 4488 or enquiries@arch.utas.edu.au

9

NEWS

TMA integration with MGA will bring added benefits

I

T’S OFFICIAL .... TMA is integrating with the MGA! The integration vote was the culmination of two years’ work by the TMA Committee and the MGA Board, designed to bring the two associations together for their mutual benefit.

The proposal was announced to members on 11 April 2017 and at a lunch hosted by TMA at Leonda By The Yarra. On 22 June TMA members voted unanimously to approve integration of the Association with the MGA. The TMA will change its name to Timber Merchants Australia and will be a distinct division within the MGA. Members will have access to all the services provided by the MGA, as well as timber industry-focussed advocacy provided by Eric Siegers and Jos De Bruin, the CEO of MGA. “TMA members are not just retailers – our members are wholesalers, timber processors, manufacturers, saw millers, truss and frame manufacturers, and harvesting contractors, as well as timber and hardware merchants.

“This is why it’s important to stress that in the new structure we will have timber-focussed people working on issues that matter to our industry,” said Eric.

“On top of this, we will have access to a greater range of resources than we can currently source. Instead of just one industrial relations adviser, members will have access nationally to four advisers, including Emma Watt. This will increase the probability that you will get your queries answered immediately. And for

members operating across the country, it increases the scope of our services,” he said.

TMA will still offer OHS / WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and system audit services, utilising the skills and experience of a timber industry auditor.

“Our relationships with training organisations will be strengthened, and MGA delivers training programs that are relevant to all businesses, as well as retail specific training courses.

“By expanding their hardware and timber membership, MGA will underpin their growth as a national employer association servicing our industry. There are many synergies between the work the two associations do for members, and by combining our efforts, we can achieve a better outcome for your businesses,” he said.

TMA will apply to the Fair Work Commission to deregister the organisation in accordance with the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth). The Australian Electoral Commission will ballot members to determine support for cancellation of the TMA’s registration, so members will be asked to vote formally by post on this aspect of the change.

Once registration has been cancelled, the Timber Merchants’ Association (Vic) (TMA) will be wound up. We will still be known as the TMA (Timber Merchants Australia), a part of MGA, with a national reach and focus.

TMA members will then transfer to

MGA as Associate Members, and all functions of the TMA will integrate with MGA. Both Eric Siegers and Emma Watt will work with MGA to continue to service TMA members.

The management and committees of both MGA and TMA started working together from 1 July. The formal launch of the TMA division of the MGA will be announced in a few months.

The TMA Committee of Management will remain in place for continuity, and will concentrate more on industry issues affecting the members they represent nationally.

MGA Independent Retailers is a fast moving, agile and forward-thinking employer organisation supporting 2500 Independent Supermarkets, Liquor Retailers and 60 timber and hardware Stores in Australia.

As a national employer organisation, their role is to support employers with areas of their business that they may not have the time, money or resources to focus on.

They provide the following ‘back of house’ support services to members: Legal and HR/IR Services; Training Courses; Advocacy and Representation; Networking Opportunities; Energy Efficiency Information; Up-to-date Industry News.

MGA initially started out as Master Grocers Association of Victoria (MGAV) in 1898 as the ‘Grocer’s and Traveller’s’ club with an annual subscription of 5 shillings.

¢ Eric Siegers

In 2006 Master Grocers Association of Victoria expanded nationally and became Master Grocers Australia.

In 2009 MGA absorbed the Liquor Stores Association of Victoria (LSAV), which resulted in the forming of Liquor Retailers Australia.

In 2011 MGA absorbed the National Association of Retail Grocers Australia (NARGA).

In 2013 MGA expanded again and took on Mitre 10 stores as members.

In 2015 Master Grocers Australia rebranded as MGA Independent Retailers.

Melbourne timber merchant takes delivery of new Stirling machines WHEN MELBOURNE timber merchant and manufacturer, WR Timbers identified an opportunity to expand their business and offer contract wood machining, Managing Director Wayne Reed sought out the required equipment with a visit to the AWISA tradeshow in Melbourne in July 2016. There, he met with Stirling Machinery MD, Craig Honeyman. By Christmas, the workshop was ready for the installation of a shiny new 202A Semi Optimising Docker and a 250mm Endmatcher.

“Craig’s expertise and salesmanship really sold me on dealing with Stirling,” Wayne says. “He followed up every step of the way and really knows what he’s talking about. Any time I had questions, he came through with answers.”

Craig is a highly experienced veteran of more than 30 years in the woodworking industry and through his other enterprise, Accurate Australia, has supplied customers with tooling and consumables since 2001.

“I’ve always been really happy with the way Accurate meets our tooling needs,” Wayne says. “And now, with Stirling, they’ve proven their deep expertise on the machining side as well.”

Along with overseeing the installation of the equipment himself, Craig personally trained the staff in its operation. As he explains: “It’s not only important to me that I oversee 10

the installations but I enjoy seeing the machines come to life for the first time, knowing how efficient and precise they are.”

Stirling Machinery’s diverse lineup includes panel planers, wide belt sanders, spindles and surfacers and extends to more complex automated systems that require linking and material handling. Durability and precision are two of the more important benchmarks. “We are focused on rugged construction and extreme precision,” Craig explains.

“All our machines are backed by CE specifications and our customers are assured of the very highest manufacturing accreditations.”

For WR Timbers, being able to turn to Stirling for their machines and Accurate for their tooling needs makes for seamless dealings. “I know that if I have any issues or questions,” Wayne says, “Craig and his people will know exactly how to help. The quality of their products and the level of service they provide makes doing business easy.”

“There’s no excuse for poor service,” Craig insists. “We are determined to keep our customers for the long-term, not just sell them a machine and walk away. Because we also supply the consumables, we are able to partner with customers for the life of their machine. This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”

¢ 2 02A Semi Optimising Docker.

¢ 2 50mm Endmatcher.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

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Some say it ain’t easy being green...

Certified Treatment

But simply put - we nailed it.

T3 Green Plus has upped the ante for H3 treated timber. Indoors plus outdoors.

Safe plus strong. A revolutionary new water-based treatment that goes above and beyond the Australian Standards.

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For more information, call us now on 1300 304 963.

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FLOORING

Quality assurance - does your timber floor pass?

ATFA offers a robust compliance program that assesses products

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NE OF the most important and probably not highly enough valued timber flooring issues is quality assurance. Normally this only comes into play after a timber floor is laid and there is a problem with it.

At this stage it’s too late to easily fix and it becomes a costly experience to rectify which, in turn, often leads to major issues for all the parties involved.

For many years we have witnessed products land in Australia that are sold without any regulatory control, only to fail in the home or commercial space.

Product failure causes much angst and often results in drawn out court cases or even more likely the company going broke with no recompense for the consumer. This effect snowballs into family issues with budget blowouts and stress as recognised factors.

Another issue to keep in mind is often these non-conforming products have additional unsafe qualities, for example, they are high in dangerous toxins, formaldehydes or poor manufacturing procedures that create dangerous circumstances.

However, there is a way to avoid this. The ATFA offers a robust compliance program that assesses products, materials and equipment to ensure they comply with standards, industry requirements and consumer expectations. The program ultimately protects everyone involved!

The intent in the future is for the industry and government to climb on board and recognise this system hence giving consumers peace of mind while protecting the industry with less product failures to deal with.

Notably this system is designed to complement the Federal Government Building Ministers Forum for noncomplying building products. Under the ATFA program, producers will be required to provide independent certification and/or reports that substantiate and support the validity of the producers claimed compliance and where relevant meet the minimum requirements set by the ATFA and the industry.

So, before buying or installing any timber flooring product please ensure it has passed the ATFA quality assurance assessment to ensure the safety or your company, family and future.

All products with the ATFA compliant logo will have passed the compliance program and should be safe to use and install.

FLOORING HORRORS

FLOORING APPROVAL

For more information: To become a member or if you require any advice please call the ATFA on 1300 361693 or visit www.atfa.com.au

For more media information: Danielle Malin or Allana Sjo PR for AFTA Email: dmalin@ seepr.com.au pr@seepr.com.au Ph: 03 9528 4322 / 0413 824 826

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NEWS

Australian hardwood flooring designs heavily featured

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ANDENONG-BASED Airstep Flooring has added three new colours to its vast range of laminate flooring designed to showcase a distinctive collection of Australian hardwoods. The Eucalyptus Steps range comprises of 10 Australian hardwood designs in laminate for owners to enjoy the look of hardwood flooring and the tough finish of laminate flooring.

The collection from Airstep Flooring includes the classic colours of Black Butt and the all-time favourite Tasmanian Oak, along with the rich, warming colours of Red Gum and Mallee Gum. Owners can also enjoy a contemporary style with the ontrend colour grey found throughout the Snow Gum and Ghost Gum designs. Showcasing Australia’s native treasures, the Eucalyptus Steps collection offers a colour to suit any design style.

“We pride ourselves on being the trusted name for quality and design for commercial and domestic floating floor solutions across Australia,” says Paul O’Dwyer (Airstep Flooring National Business Manager).

“We believe your flooring choice sets the tone for your space and is the reason why all our floors have been carefully handpicked and created by our team of experienced flooring specialists with design and practicality in mind. Our collection of flooring options includes Laminate flooring, Vinyl flooring, and Engineered Wood

flooring, with true-to-life detail and on-trend designs to suit every owners unique style,” he said.

When it comes to installation there’s no dramas either. “Our Group Financial Controller recently became a customer to Airstep Flooring with the purchase of Eucalyptus Steps Blackbutt laminate flooring. He laid the flooring in his family home with no previous installation experience, and the team here at AF were very interested in seeing the result. What was achieved was absolute perfection (with no blood, sweat and tears),” said Marketing Coordinator Kerrie Lazarou.

A DIY flooring installation can be a rewarding project if you have the right tools, materials, instructions, and skills for the floor type you want to install. The level of difficulty, time and effort required to complete a professional looking flooring installation will vary depending on the floor type you choose and the base you plan to install over. Some types, like laminate, are easier to install than others, such as a glue-down vinyl floor.

“We recently launched our new Eucalyptus Steps XL range, which is a distinctive Australian range showcasing the native treasures of our

land in huge format longboards and wideboards (2200x239mm), providing superior finish and ‘wow’ factor for your home,” Paul said.

“The range includes Australian hardwood designs for you to enjoy the look of hardwood flooring but with the tough finish of laminate.

Included in this range is the classic colour of Black Butt, along with rich, warming Spotted Gum. You can also enjoy a contemporary style with ontrend colour grey found throughout the Weathered Spotted Gum and Weathered Black Butt designs - perfect for a modern look.”

Free timber training builds sales Free self-paced online training at WoodSolutions Campus Now, with WoodSolutions Merchant Training, you can be sure that your staff are giving your customers expert advice and recommending fit for purpose products.

The eight video-based WoodSolutions Merchant Training modules are designed for use as part of an induction program, ongoing knowledge development or as a pathway to further tertiary education.

Participants’ progress is tracked and assessed and certificates of completion are issued.

design and build

LVL Structural : applications ded trusses • Heavily loa • Beams • Struts lins • Underpur

Visit campus.woodsolutions.com.au for free enrolment and more information. www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

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FLOORING

Big River Group flooring lays foundation for display home win

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RINGING THE warmth and beauty of nature into the home, timber flooring creates an inviting tone from the moment the front door opens. It is this welcoming feel which saw Big River Group’s New Generation Armourfloor engineered flooring selected for GJ Gardner Homes’ award-winning Mandalay display home in the new North Harbour Development, Burpengary East, Queensland.

As the winner of the HIA-CSR Queensland Housing Award for Best Display Home in Brisbane, the Mandalay display home design utilises the warm, unique character and stunning beauty of timber flooring to great effect by accentuating the home’s focus on blending indoor and outdoor living. The innovative design sees separate living zones wrap around a central outdoor area, which maximises natural light and cooling crossbreezes across the spaces, and is topped off by a stunning alfresco area – ideal for entertaining all-year-round.

Throughout the home is Big River Group’s prefinished Australian hardwood engineered flooring in Spotted Gum, setting the foundation for the entire interior. Together with its visual appeal, the flooring solution is selected by builders and homeowners for its durability and stability.

Not just a hardwearing flooring

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choice, Armourfloor is also stylish and complements the light and airy interior of the home design. With a focus on cool whites, soft neutrals, vibrant greens and wood accents – the lush natural Queensland environment is perfectly honoured through the interior decor.

Created using five layers of Australian eucalypt hardwood sheets bonded together to form a solid, stable floorboard.

The sheets have its grain aligned at right-angles to the next, creating an extremely stable structure. It’s this special process that guarantees stability between floorboards and reduces the risk of bending and cupping.

Durability was an important consideration for materials used in the Mandalay display home, with the North Harbour development an ideal destination for young families, and with the development being located in sunny Queensland durability is key.

Not only is Armourfloor the ideal flooring option for air-conditioned environments and overheated slabs, it will also remain stable near patio doors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Alongside the hardwearing water-based clear coating, Big River’s pre-finished flooring comes with a 20-year limited warranty against wear-through under normal residential usage, ensuring it is up to the test for surviving day-to-day family living.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

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Wood Protection

Protection Solutions for Structural Timber and Engineered Wood Products

Lonza offer an industry leading range of insect protection preservatives for solid wood, engineered wood and composite wood products.

For proven and reliable protection against decay, termites and other insects make sure your structural products are treated with Permatek®, Vacsol® or Tanalith® wood preservatives.

Permatek, Vacsol and Tanalith are registered trademarks of Lonza or its subsidiaries. © Lonza 2017

For more information, contact us; 1300 650 636 tanalised.au@lonza.com https://www.lonzawoodprotection.com/apac/insecticides-termiticides-family/

FRAME 2017

Quantum leap forward in building systems and materials and the boundaries are still being pushed

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ALK ABOUT pushing boundaries .... the latest trends in building materials and building systems have taken a quantum leap forward in recent times. But, according to industry experts, that’s just the beginning!

The future of the timber construction industry presents some unique challenges but overall everything points to plenty of opportunity for those willing to learn, adapt and take some risks.

That was the over-arching message from Frame Australia 2017 (Timber Offsite Construction) Conference in Melbourne which attracted 270 delegates from the timber and prefabrication sector (57%), design and construction (26%) and CEOs from industry associations and housing sector bodies.

The two-day event covered architecture, specification, construction and manufacturing with specialist presenters outlining advances made in recent times. Site tours were also conducted.

The process of offsite manufacturing (prefab) continues to gain ground.

Speakers stressed that through this process quality, quantity, safety were

readily achievable and there was a resultant lessening of onsite wastage.

Advancements in machining (offsite production) are paving the way for even quicker build times and, again, more control over the finished product.

With the change in building systems come different skills sets for workers, too.

On the flip side, during a workshop session one delegate suggested that while it was well and good to promote the use of timber and the innovative changes in building, he queried the continued availability of resources in Australia. Currently, several major organisations are leading the way in promoting and pursuing increased plantation investment in Australia (one example is the AFPA’s continued push for a hub system throughout Australia) and the recently-announced $110 million investment in plantation forests in Victoria is also a plus.

However, delegates are showing a measured confidence in the future and maintain “the potential is huge and we need to look at and take the opportunities”.

“Collaboration, learning from experience and taking some risks.

The numbers justify confidence in the future”.

Conference Director Kevin Ezard was understandably rapt with the success of the 19th event.

Topic bundling

¢ Conference Director Kevin Ezard.

“I felt the speaker sessions and workshop topics being ‘bundled’ into the basic components of construction worked well with Architecture, Specification, Construction and Manufacturing being a very good basis to create topic areas that can be readily addressed, especially where timber construction requires greater understanding, and needs to be approached differently to traditional building material methods.

“This topic bundling also enabled a wide diversity of views to be expressed in the panel discussions, with a group of participants each from different

Pre and Off Offsite construction refers to the planning, design, fabrication, and assembly of building elements at a location other than their final installed location to support the rapid and efficient construction of a permanent structure. Source Wikipedia Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located. Source: Wikipedia

business activities providing delegates with vital insight into the concepts and requirements for timber offsite construction,” he added.

“The event had more than 40 speakers and panel members, which was a lot of information being provided to delegates, but the flow of topics and discussion was sequential and by the event conclusion had embraced all the major aspects required.

“It was interesting to note the recognition by delegates that collaboration is a key element for success, and was frequently raised in discussion as some topics moved progressively through a number of sessions,” said Kevin.

Keeping pace with change He said the next conference in 2018 would be further developed in many topics to keep pace with the constantly evolving marketplace changes and new developments that will continue to attract a broad base of professions and disciplines within the building design and construction sector, along with the supply chain of timber, engineered wood and prefabrication equipment.

“This will also be accelerated by the rapid uptake in timber construction currently emerging, and the number of developers and builders voicing their intention to ‘get involved’ and be in front of the market to reap the rewards of faster build times and lower cost construction.

“Exhibitors were pleased with the extended timeframe of two days, and with the category mix of delegates

were able to engage with a wide range of potential customers,” said Kevin.

Innovation and passion Tim Johnston (Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries [VAFI]) chaired the manufacturing session and said he was “blown away by the innovation, passion and dedication to the industry that was on display”.

“As the conference delegates heard about new technologies, automation, database integration, prefabrication and panelised production, among many other topics, one thing was abundantly clear: the appetite for timber is only growing.

“I chaired the workshop on manufacturing which followed earlier workshops on architecture, specification and construction. Lively discussions were held about the role timber plays in each of these processes, with ideas shared and knowledge transferred. This is when we are at our best - when we come together and collaborate as an industry.

“We are all fighting our own battles, each and every day, and there are times that we feel like we are out there on the front line by ourselves. We get caught up in our own world and the blinkers go on, but is this the best way to fight a battle, let alone win the war?

“Together we are stronger. We are an industry where every step along the supply chain is influenced by both the previous step and the next, and we cannot operate in silos.

“During the panel discussion at the

FRAME EVENT SPONSORS

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FRAME 2017

¢ Tim Johnston (Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries.

¢ Phil Alviano (Sustainable Building Advisor, Master Builders Association).

¢ Dr Perry Forsythe, Professor of Construction Management at the University of Technology Sydney.

conference I was asked what is really a simple question: Are we going to have enough timber?

“My answer is just as simple: YES. I will continue to fight to ensure this is the case. My question to you is, are you going to fight alongside me?”

Phil Alviano (Sustainable Building Advisor, Master Builders Association) was another impressed at how the conference unfolded. “This year’s themed sessions focused on different stages of the construction process, which allowed the presentation of contextualised information from different speakers,” he said.

More focused discussions

possibilities of offsite construction,” Phil said.

For the first time, delegates had a selection of site tours:- Impresa House; On-site assembly of the Impresa House system; Building development site Mason Point; Medium density residential development Tullamore; The Library at the Dock; Melbourne University School of Design; The Garden Building ... and the general consensus of the site visits was “brilliant”.

Dr Perry Forsythe, Professor of Construction Management at the University of Technology Sydney

www.timberbiz.com.au

“The panel session that followed allowed us to ask questions of the presenters, which is always helpful.

This encouraged more focused discussions that delved deeper into the topics. Workshops on the second day meant that some of these topics could be explored further in order to ensure that the content delivered met the needs of the attendees.

“The quality and variety of speakers in offsite construction provided good practical advice while also exploring the benefits and

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

and Chair of the Specification workshop, told delegates that in terms of construction materials, there is growing interest in timbers generally.

Simpler process Because timber is easy to machine, it works well with the concurrent trend in architecture and design for the use of Building Information Modelling and other 3D design modelling technologies.

The design file can be sent straight off to the fabricator, who can then fine-tune the conceptual design into a panelised model. Those digital files then go straight to the factory floor where they direct the CNC machining and other production lines, Perry explains.

“It’s now become a lot more possible,” he said.

Design for Manufacture and Assembly is another trend he finds exciting, and he believes more designers and project teams will be heading down that path.

“Previously construction was a very fragmented process,” he said.

Project managers would have to assign multiple small work packages to multiple trades.

The new timber-plus-tech approach streamlines the entire project management task, and leads to a faster build process and building delivery.

“It becomes a simpler process for the project manager because more things are handled in one place,” the Professor said.

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1. David Campbell (David Campbell Building) and James Fitzpatrick (Fitzpatrick + Partners Architects).

2. Dave Gover (Chief Executive Officer EWPAA) and Bruce Hutchings (Timberbuilt Solutions).

3. S tewart Vaughan (Fletcher Building Ltd) and Karel Vinckier (Managing Director, hsbcad Belgium).

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4. Panel (l-r seated) Ari Akritidis (Akritidis Group Building Consultants), Kelvin Perrie (Quantity Surveyor MBM Consultancy) and Nick Hewson (Technical Manager XLAM) (l-r standing) Ralph Belperio (Aurecon Group), Andrew Dunn (CEO Timber Development Association), John Simon (FWPA).

5. H arry Jamieson and John Weninger (BEA Active Fasteners).

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6. E d Serrano (Vekta Automation) and Jon Hill (Pryda).

7. A ndrew Nunan and Peter West (Drouin West Timber & Truss).

8. T ony Arnel (Global Director Sustainability, Norman Disney & Young).

9. A ndrew McGregor (Simpson Strong-Tie), Craig Kay (Tilling) and Ryan Cornell (Simpson Strong-Tie).

10. David Campbell (David Campbell Building), James Fitzpatrick (Fitzpatrick + Partners Architects) and Dylan Brady (Decibel Architecture).

11. K elvin Perrie (MBM Consultancy) and Richard Veldon (Construction Tech Consultants).

12. I an Staniforth and Craig Stevens (Weinig).

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13. Nick Hewson (XLam).

18. Mike Mostert (Combilift Australia).

14. J on Hill (Pryda) and Kevin Pickworth (CSR Velocity).

19. R yan Slater (Homag) and Charlie Hutchings (Hundegger Australasia).

15. David Zhang and Travis Taylor (Multinail).

16. W illiam Leggate (Koppers Performance Chemicals) and Eric Littee (Queensland DAF).

17. S ean Morley (Impresa House) and Andre Pudebat (Impresa House).

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20. V anessa Bird (President, Victorian Chapter, Australian Institute of Architects).

21. A lison Gebbing (Outdoor Timber), Troy Justice (Lonza Wood Protection) and Nick Upton (Outdoor Timber).

22. M ilos Slavik (Rotho Blaas Australia), Denis Botvenev (Impresa House), Paolo Lavisci (WoodSolutions).

23. Philip Kemp (Crosslam Australia) and Greg Nolan (Associate Professor School of Architecture & Design, University of Tasmania).

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24. D inah Zhang (Lendlease) and David Rowlinson (Planet Ark).

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25. S ally Capp (Executive Director, Property Council of Australia).

26. P eter Law (Wesbeam) and Elias Akel (Koppers Performance Chemicals).

27. K ith De Silva (Wesbeam) and Ryan Slater (Homag).

28. Zoee Harrison (HIA).

29. K arel Vinckier (Managing Director hsbcad, Belgium).

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31. M ichelle Punch (Lendlease) and Chris Potter (Robert Bird Group).

32. Moment to relax ... Ola Svensson (Randek) and Martin Kesselring (Bliss & Reels).

33. J ohn Bowen (Bowen & Pomeroy) and Jason MacMartin (Bunnings Group).

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30. David Campbell and Perry Forsyth (University of Technology, Sydney)

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34. Clair Hammond and Andrew McLaughlin (EWPAA).

35. Katie Fowden (Hyne Timber).

36. Trent Lines and Jason Hammond (Keith Timber Group).

37. S imon Dorries (AFS) and David Rowlinson (Planet Ark).

38. C hristine Briggs (Timberlink) and Steve Koch (Lonza Wood Protection).

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39. S ylvia Weber (Enduroframe), James Walsh (APA Engineered Wood Association) and Paul Jones (Enduroframe).

40. R ob McGavin (Queensland DAF) and David Bylund (WoodSolutions).

41. L awrence Ritchie (WoodSolutions).

42. I an Brooks (Paragon Media) and Travis Taylor (Multinail).

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43. K arl Heinz Weiss (Lendlease), Ryan Slater and Ross Campbell (Homag Australia).

47. David Jamieson (BEA Active Fasteners) and Terry Jones (Colli Timber & Hardware)

44. M ark Footer (Footers) and Kersten Gentle (FTMA).

48. A ndrew Smith (Lendlease) and Sean O’Malley (Planet Ark).

45. S tefan Marquart (Australian Framing Automation) and Laurent Decosterd (Cadwork).

49. I an Ashby (Pryda) and Ola Svensson (Randek, Sweden).

46. Warren Trethewey (XLam New Zealand) and Robyn Wawn (Innovative Housing).

www.timberbiz.com.au

50. R yan Slater (Homag) and Philip Alviano (MBA).

51. S tefan Schneider (CutMy Timber Canada), Bruce Hutchings (Timberbuilt Solutions) and Colin Jacobs (CSR Velocity).

52. Joseph Lebbos, Kate Hopwood and George Noveski (New Earth Design).

53. M ilos Slavik (Rotho Blaas Australia) and Jane Armstrong (TTW).

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54. Panel (l-r seated) Nicholle Sparkes (Frasers Property Australia) and Sally Capp (Executive Director, Property Council of Australia), (l-r standing) Sean Morley (Chief Executive Officer, Impresa House), Andrew Pettenon (Figurehead Constructions), Jeremy Tompson (Lendlease)

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54. Douglas Calvert (APA Engineered Wood Association) and Craig Sichling (LP Building Products).

55. Ian Meachem, Glen Meachem (Constructive PD), Greg Meachem (Timber Insight) and Colin Bell (Constructive PD).

56. Ryo Kaburagi (Sumitomo Forestry, Australia) and Steven Taylor (Brickworks Building Products).

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57. David Wilson (Projects Manager, Arden Architectural Elements), Jim Browne (CEO Arden Architectural Elements) and David Clarke (David Clarke Carpentry).

61. Alan Holter (Timberlink) and Jason MacMartin (Bunnings Group).

62. Jason Hammond, Trent Lines (Keith Timber Group) and Jari Stenberg (Nordic Constructions).

66. Shaun Stone (HIA).

67. David Sayer (Forestry Corp NSW).

68. Ari Akritidis.

63. Tim Johnston (VAFI Chief Executive Officer).

69. David Campbell (David Campbell Building) and Gary McShane (Operations Manager XLam).

59. Nick Wootton (Croft Wootton Constructions).

64. Jeremy Tompson (Lendlease Buildings).

70. John Simon (FWPA) and Henri Bailleres (Queensland DAF).

60. James Fitzpatrick.

65. Andrew Monks and Aaron Travis (Manor Group).

71. Troy Justice and Noel Coxhead (Lonza Wood Protection).

58. Robert Pradolin (Property Developer) and Adam Strong (Strongbuild).

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72. Martin Smith (Modular Building Automation UK) catches up on some work.

(standing l-r) Karel Vinckier (hsbcad, Belgium), Martin Smith (Modular Building Automation UK), Jason Reints (Bliss & Reels) and Kersten Gentle (FTMA).

73. Tim Rossiter (MiTek Australia), Jason Reints (Bliss & Reels) and Arthur Potter (Universal Trusses).

76. Theresa Weymouth (Limberlink).

74. Steve Harvey (Bowens/ Timbertruss).

77. Luke Blackwell and Peter Alexander (Peuker & Alexander).

75. Panel (l-r seated) Ola Svensson (Randek Sweden), Stefan Schneider (CutMy Timber Canada), Ingo Kreig (Homag/Weinmann, Germany),

78. Alan Gibson (Planit) and Debbie Falck (TimberED Services)

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79. Panel (l-r) Steve Harvey (Bowens/

Timbertruss), Paolo Lavisci (WoodSolutions), Maurice Leone (DKO Architecture), Craig Muse (Frasers Property Australia), Andrew Pettenon (Figurehead Constructions), Adam Strong (Strongbuild), Warren McGregor (CEO prefabAUS).

80. Panel (l-r) Robert Pradolin (Property Developer), Jason O’Hara (Atelier Projects), David Campbell (David Campbell Building), David Rowlinson (Planet Ark), David

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Bylund (WoodSolutions), Greg Nolan (Associate Professor, School of Architecture & Design, University of Tasmania).

81. Panel (l-r) Travis Taylor (Multinail), Stefan Schneider (CutMy Timber, Canada), Ryan Slater (Homag), Ola Svensson (Randek, Sweden), Charlie Hutchings (Hundegger Australasia), Alastair Woodard (WoodSolutions), Tim Johnston (CEO VAFI).

82. Kevin Ezard (Conference Director).

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FRAME 2017

Offsite manufacturing helps cut costs

Increased costs and reduced availability of on-site labour pushes builders to explore ways of using offsite manufacturing to contain costs

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HE FRAME Australia conference has developed in the past few years with far less emphasis on standard ‘frame and truss’ and much more emphasis on offsite construction generally. That’s the view of Martin Smith (Managing Director - Modular Building Automation – UK / NL) who attended Frame, under its new branding of Timber Offsite Construction, both as a speaker and to support local dealer Australian Framing Automation who exhibited at the conference.

“This move to higher value products was evidenced in the participants. While frame and truss manufacturers were still in attendance there was more focus on mid-rise buildings and apartments with the larger commercial builders also in attendance.

“Inevitably my view is coloured by our experiences in Europe and UK, but the same trends are evident in both markets – increasing land values in the cities and suburbs leading to higher density buildings; increased cost and reduced availability of on-site labour, pushing builders to explore ways of using offsite manufacturing to contain these costs and finally more cross fertilisation in terms of different systems.

“This latter point can be illustrated by hybrid buildings incorporating perhaps a concrete slap, steel framing with timber cassette upper floors together with lightweight panel or even structurally insulated panels (SIP) walls,” he said.

European trend These trends are very evident in Europe where developers are looking for an offsite solution and simply want the best materials for the particular function.

Martin said timber had a unique position, both in terms of sustainability and final customer acceptance, and its place as a result of the new trends seems assured.

“This creates an opportunity for existing truss and frame manufacturers to develop new value-added products – perhaps starting with floor cassettes and then moving to closed or even modular solutions. Distances are bigger in the Australia than in Europe, but equally your cities face exactly the same pressures as European ones do.

“Timber construction has always had a high customer acceptance in Australia, much more so than in Europe, where block and brick remains a high percentage

of new residential builds even today in most of the major economies.

“There will remain a place for open frame and truss manufacturing – the weather means you can work outside for a greater proportion of the year than in Europe. The high percentage of single storey buildings that are still constructed allows very manual building methods to continue, whereas increasing safety considerations render these difficult as the heights increase.

Scale and repeatability “One factor that is common to both the Australian and UK market is the pressure for new housing due to increasing populations and the long term demographic trends towards smaller family units.

“The percentage of owner occupation is high in both countries, but has already started to decline as people are priced out of home ownership. The demand for housing is forecast in the UK to be increasingly taken up by the ‘build to rent’ sector. This is an entirely new sector, with long term investors seeing a stable income stream from the ownership of rental properties. These investors -- often

pension funds or other large funders -- are looking for scale and repeatability and are looking outside existing housing supply channels for their housing stock. In some cases they are even resorting to setting up their own manufacturing facilities... often for modular solutions.

“While the existing frame and truss manufacturers remain busy with existing orders there is a danger that they will miss this trend and when times slow down they will have been overtaken in terms of innovation by the new entrants,” Martin said.

“Providers of offsite solution manufacturing equipment such as Modular Building Automation (MBA) are in a unique position to advise clients as to market trends and to provide cost-effective solutions for builders , developers and frame and truss plants alike to gear up to meet these new challenges.”

Modular Building Automation https:// www.modularbuildingautomation.eu/ Australian Framing Automation http:// www.ausframe.net.au/ Contact – Stefan Marquart 02 4735 1011

Re-shaping the construction industry ONE OF the site tours at the recent Frame Australia Conference (Timber Offsite Construction) was to Impresa House’s panelised building system which is re-shaping the construction industry from the ground up.

From the entry to the massive offsite construction facility at Derrimut it is obvious this is no ordinary operation ... it is something exceptionally well thought out, laid

out and every step of the way is executed with precision.

This fledgling company has come a long way in a short time but has its sights firmly set on being an industry leader as the new wave of materials and construction systems evolves.

Australasian Timber will feature an in-depth look at Impresa House in the next edition.

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NEWS

SA Pine installs new preservative treatment plant

S

A PINE has recently started LOSP production at its upgraded Monarto South preservative treatment facility. This is an exciting development for the South Australian business with Ian Robinson, SA Pine General Manager, explaining “SA Pine needed to provide the treated market with an environmentally friendly product as an alternative to CCA. In conjunction with our exclusive distributor, ITI, LOSP was chosen as the preservative treatment to take us forward.”

SA Pine embarked on an investigation of the plant options and with the help of Koppers Performance Chemicals, many options were investigated including converting the

current CCA plant to LOSP. It was decided to continue to offer CCA as a treatment process and install a new LOSP plant. “Bror Moldrup from Moldrup-IWT was commissioned to supply the new plant and after a few teething problems we are very happy with the end result,” Ian said SA Pine Pty Ltd was formed in September 2012 when Garry Tucker, the owner of Recut Industries, joined forces with Greg Boulton the part owner of SA Sawmilling Pty Ltd. SA Pine consists of a sawmill based at Kuitpo in the Adelaide Hills and a drymill based at Monarto in the Murray Lands 63km east-southeast of Adelaide. SA Pine has a license with Forestry SA to source 75,000 cubic

State-of-the-art facility in Monarto South, SA

metres of pine sawlog coming solely from the Mt Lofty Ranges. SA Pine targets a 70% recovery into treated product and supplies material for both the building and renovation and addition markets The new plant is a “state-of-the-art” facility for speed and efficiency and is controlled using the latest Koppers Performance Chemicals PCS control system. The plant has a unique automated pack loading system which minimises the changeovers to a few minutes, thereby maximising product throughput. The Koppers PCS has a simple computer controlled interface in which the operator can easily and reliably operate the plant. Currently the plant is capable of treating around

80m3 on a single shift which gives a capacity on a 2-shift operation to contract/custom treat of around 1,500m3 per month.

“The plant was installed and commissioned in collaboration with SA Pine, Moldrup-IWT and Koppers PC and I thank our own staff and our suppliers for their great work in completing the plant, in particular I would like to thank Koppers who managed the process from ordering to commissioning,” said Ian. SA Pine is now ready to offer custom treating for both CCA H3 and H4 and LOSP H3 and will also be able to offer H2F blue in the near future.

Timber industry stands ready to assist State budget for housing and infrastructure JOBS FOR Queensland -- a $1.8 billion Queensland Housing Strategy in the State budget -- has the potential to boost employment in the State’s timber industry.

Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said using Queensland grown and processed timber products in social housing makes economic sense.

“We are seeing rapid advances in timber construction using engineered wood products and timber building systems such as prefabrication, that can increase the speed of construction and significantly reduce costs.

“Using a combination of prefabrication and timber products such as cross-laminated timber, glulam and laminated veneer lumber can result in up to 30% less time on

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site,” Mr Stephens said.

“The State plans to build 5000 social and affordable homes over the next five years, so speed of construction and social liveability will be key.

“A recent report by Planet Ark Environmental Foundation has found that Australians appear to be innately drawn towards timber. Their results indicate that wood elicits feelings of warmth, comfort and relaxation and create a link to nature.”

Mr Stephens said choosing timber as a preferred building material for housing projects can generate other environmental and carbon benefits for the State.

“If half of all new residential dwellings built in Queensland in any one year were ‘timber maximised’, for example, this would equate to a

saving of 600,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year compared to other materials, or 6 million tonnes over a 10-year period.”

Other budget measures such as an extension of the $20,000 first home owners grant and construction of regional projects, including the expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre, have the potential to boost the local timber industry and regional economic benefits.

“The forest and timber industry delivers many benefits to Queensland, not least the jobs for 10,000 people and an annual turnover of more than $3 billion. The economic benefits are spread throughout the state and timber processing facilities across regional Queensland are the lifeblood of many rural communities,” said Mr Stephens.

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¢ Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens.

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NEWS

21 timber buildings with a height of over 50 metres set to be completed by 2019 Architects increasingly turn towards wood as a building material for its sustainability, quality and speed of construction ¢ Terrace House by Shigeru Ban will be built in Vancouver with a hybrid timber structure.

F

RANCE, AUSTRIA and Norway are to become home to the world’s tallest wooden buildings, according to a new report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which has found Europe to be leading the timber construction movement.

CTBUH conducted the study Tall Timber: A Global Audit on built, under construction and proposed towers. It assessed height, location and construction type, including both all-timber and hybrid designs.

The report found that 21 timber buildings with a height of over 50 metres are set to be completed by 2019.

At 35 storeys high, the world’s tallest proposed building is the Baobab building that Michael Green Architecture designed for Paris. The mixed-use tower, which is slated for completion in 2019, will be made from a hybrid timber and steel structure.

But the 24-storey HoHo tower in Vienna may just pip it to the post. At 84 metres high and with a completion date set for later this year it may momentarily become the tallest hybrid timber building in the world.

The current title holder for the tallest all-timber building is the 14-storey Treet block in Bergen, Norway.

Not far behind is the nine-storey Stadthaus building in London’s Hackney, which is the first high-density housing block to be made with cross-laminated timber panels. Also known as CLT, the panels are made from layers of wood glued together and are much stronger than regular wood.

With projects like these, CTBUH says Europe is “leading the way in tall timber projects”.

But the rest of the world is following suit, and in Vancouver, Canada, the 18-storey and 53-metre-high Brock Commons building at the University of British Columbia currently holds the title for the world’s tallest hybrid timber structure.

The seaport city will also host Shigeru Ban’s 19-storey Terrace House, which will have a hybrid structure of wood, concrete and steel.

Other notable projects included in the study from outside Europe include the 26-storey Abebe Court Tower that is proposed for Lagos in Nigeria, and the completed Fortè Tower in Melbourne, Australia.

CBTUH conducted the study to catch up with the “explosion” of developments in timber construction, as architects increasingly turn towards wood as a building material for its sustainability, quality and speed of construction.

The study included conceptual proposals testing

the possibilities of timber construction methods at “extreme heights” “The rise of ‘mass timber’ – engineered wood products that are just as robust as their concrete and steel counterparts – has resulted in a worldwide wave of research, built projects, and daring speculative proposals,” said the report.

“Yet the pace at which mass timber technology has advanced and timber towers have proliferated has left a gap in their reporting on a worldwide scale,” it continued.

To showcase these possibilities, the study included conceptual proposals testing the possibilities of timber construction methods at “extreme heights”.

Examples include the 300-metre-high Oakwood Tower in London, which if completed would be the second tallest building in the city, a tower in Chicago designed by SOM and Stockholm’s Traptoppen, which is imagined to have wood panels shaped into the number of the corresponding floors.

Difficulties encountered during the research found that the sudden surge in construction has resulted in little official criteria to validate the world’s tallest timber building. This has been exacerbated by the wide range of construction methods. Source: Dezeen

Hyne Timber’s T3Green Plus: a leader in preservative treatment FOR OVER a hundred years, fossil fuel based preservatives (LOSP) have been used to treat timber, so, like all other unsustainable products, is it time for change?

One of the longest standing timber companies in Australia, Hyne Timber, is known within the industry for leading innovation and their new T3 Green Plus treatment is following suit!

Immediately following its launch at the start of the year, T3 Green Plus is generating significant interest with new customers and creating some fun along the way with an entertaining marketing video.

¢ T3 GreenPlus roofing insitu.

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Following extended research and development, T3 Green Plus is proven and guaranteed like all other Hyne Timber treatments. In other words, it exceeds the Australian Standards, has a comprehensive manufacturer backed performance guarantee and is one of only a handful of Australian timber treatments to achieve independent CodeMark certification.

So what’s so special about T3 Green Plus? It’s revolutionary because it’s a new generation H3 treatment that’s suitable for both internal and external, above ground projects.

Most significantly, the T3 Green

Plus treatment emits no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), which sets it above and beyond other H3 treatments and renders it safe for both indoor wall framing where moisture or humidity is a concern (bathrooms, kitchens and laundries), as well as children’s playgrounds and other outdoor structural projects.

So, without giving away any secret formulas, Hyne Timber’s Marketing Manager, Jeremy Mead is feeling upbeat about this innovation, “We were given a solid challenge by our customer base and the tradies who use the product.

“Put simply, we needed the petrochemical smell and VOC emissions gone from our timber.

“Initially we looked at ways to mask or eliminate the smell as this seemed the easiest course of action.

“However, the more we worked on this, the more we realised that to fully address the health and environmental risks - we needed to get rid of the hydrocarbon ‘carrier’ completely. Essentially, we had to be more solution focused with our approach and move with the global treatment trend,” Mr Mead said.

Innovation relates to new and improved methods and Hyne Timber recognises this in their T3 Green Plus product brochure which starts with: They’ll tell you it can’t be done.

That a safe, water-based treatment

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AUGUST 2017

can’t protect timber to a level that will withstand the great Australian outdoors. That what we’re claiming is impossible. But then again, everything is technically “impossible” – until it’s done.

Their treatment processes include daily laboratory testing and analysis using highly advanced methods for verification of preservative levels and quality in both the solution and timber samples.

The T3 Green Plus H3 treatment penetrates both sapwood and difficult to treat heartwood fibres, providing superior protection in excess of Australian Standards and timber industry conventions.

Modifications were made to their Tumbarumba plant in order to successfully introduce this new treatment to the market including equipment, mixing, dosing and storage facilities plus the requirement to train employees with the new treatment process.

It is proven protection against the most aggressive termites as well as severe tropical decay and rot.

With a more natural colour and finish, it has superior aesthetic qualities once stained or painted.

“It’s about exceeding customer expectations, exceeding health and environmental obligations while finding solutions that are proven and guaranteed,” said Mr Mead.

For more information on T3 Green Plus, call 1300 784 963 or visit hyne.com.au including Material Safety Data Sheets and warranty information.

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VACUUM COATERS Smart solutions for smart timber people

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ASSOCIATIONS

Award review - significant decision: casual and part time employment all casual and part-time employees.

However, some aspects of the union claim were granted, in a modified form.

Brian Beecroft

Casual conversion

Chief Executive Officer Timber Trade Industrial Association

The Commission decided that modern awards should contain casual conversion provisions.

The Commission has formed the provisional view that a model casual conversion clause will be inserted into 85 awards that do not currently contain such a provision. It is proposed that the clause will include the following:

E

MPLOYERS WOULD be aware that the Fair Work Commission is currently undertaking its four-yearly review of modern awards.

Recently, as part of the review, a Full Bench of the Commission handed down its decision concerning a number of union claims relating to casual and part time employment.

What was the casual and part time employment case about?

The ACTU, on behalf of its union affiliates, had made a number of claims affecting casual and part time employment in over 100 modern awards and broadly seeking “one-size-fits all” award provisions on these important matters. The claims included: • Minimum Engagements: A standard four hour minimum engagement for casual employees and part-time employees.

• Casual conversion: An award provision required employers to offer weekly employment (full time or part time) to casual employees after 6 months of regular employment with the casual employee able to elect to become a weekly employee or remain as a casual. For some awards, the unions proposed that casual employees would be “deemed” to be weekly employees.

• Restrictions on new casual work: An award provision that would prevent an employer from offering new casual employment without first offering existing casual or part time employees an opportunity to increase their hours.

The unions’ claims were opposed by the major employer groups emphasising that the ACTU had not advanced sufficient evidence, its claims were inappropriate, and would disrupt current award minimum engagement provisions having regard for particular industry circumstances.

The Decision also dealt with union and employer claims to vary other casual and part-time employment provisions in some award groups or individual awards.

What does the Commission’s decision mean?

The Commission rejected the unions’ claim to prevent employers from engaging new employees without first offering available hours to existing staff, citing a lack of evidence and the impracticality and unsustainability of such arrangements.

The Commission also rejected the unions’ claim for 4 hour minimum engagements across the board for

• A qualifying period of 12 calendar months; • A qualifying criterion that over such period the casual employee has worked a pattern of hours on an ongoing basis that would not be inconsistent with the part-time and full-time employment provisions of the particular award; • The employer must provide all casual employees (regardless of whether they are eligible for conversion) with a copy of the casual conversation clause within 12 months of their initial engagement; and • The conversion may be refused by an employer only in particular circumstances:

○ It would require a significant adjustment to the casual employee’s hours of work to accommodate them in parttime or full-time employment in accordance with the terms of the applicable modern award; or ○ It is known or reasonably foreseeable that the casual employee’s position will cease to exist; or

○ T he employee’s hours of work will significantly change or be reduced within the next 12 months; or ○ O n other reasonable grounds based on facts which are known or reasonably foreseeable.

The Commission has invited further submissions on the content of the proposed model clause. Any awards that already contains a casual conversion clause will not be varied in this respect.

Casual minimum engagement The Commission has also formed the provisional view that a 2 hour minimum engagement for casual employees will be introduced into all 34 awards that currently do not currently contain a casual minimum engagement. Any award that already contains a casual minimum engagement will not be affected, e.g. the Timber Industry Award 2010 already contains the provision for minimum engagement of 4 hours.

When do the changes commence?

None of the above changes have come into effect as yet. For some of the above proposed changes there will be further Commission proceedings.

TTIA Members will be notified when the above changes are due to commence.

The TTIA operates the Timber Industry’s only in-house premier Industrial Relations advice line alongside legal and workplace health and safety services. If your company is interested in information with regard to membership, please contact TTIA on (02) 9264 0011.

Timber veneers have a long history

W

By Peter Llewellyn Technical Representative Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA)

¢ A n old art that has changed dramatically .... modern timber veneers are aesthetically superb.

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HILE TODAY’S timber veneers are produced with state-of-the-art slicing machines, in principle veneering is nothing new.

History shows us that the ancient Egyptians were the first to saw thin boards from logs to make best use of the material to hand. There were not many forests in Egyptian controlled territories, so they had to stretch what they had.

The history of veneering starts with the idea of conservation. Egypt consists mostly of desert, and timber was rare and highly valued.

The Egyptians didn’t have slicing machines but they developed tools for shaving veneers from logs imported from Lebanon, Syria and Phoenicia.

Thousands of years ago, incredible veneer work made of ebony and ivory was put into King Tut’s tomb in Egypt.

Re-sawing of wood into thin strips by hand is how veneer was made throughout most of history.

Veneer making dwindled during

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the European mediaeval period but veneered furniture began to reappear in the 16th century and came back into fashion during the 17th century in France.

Veneering techniques became very sophisticated during the Renaissance, when tiny pieces of exotic woods and burl grain were used to create intricate designs and lavish scenes, called marquetry or intarsia work In the early 1800’s machines were invented to slice veneer, making valuable woods like mahogany and walnut go further by gluing them to less prized species, like maple and birch.

Today, we have wood-based sheet products such as particleboard and medium density fibreboard (MDF) as substrates for our decorative veneers, which can be laid up in a number of different ways. The Timber Veneer Association’s manual “Veneer” shows how, and copies can be downloaded from the TVAA website at www. timberveneer.asn.au.

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SApine

Service and Quality.

At SApine we are proud to announce the operation of our new LOSP treatment facility.

We are specialists in timber preservation offering a range of treatment types.

Come to us for your treatment needs, we offer LOSP H3, CCA H3 and H4 and soon Determite H2F Blue.

At SApine we are all about service and quality preservative treated timber products.

FOR MORE INFORMATION call SApine (08) 8534 4004 3680 Old Princes Highway Monarto South SA 4254 Lifewood CCA® Protim® and Determite® are registered trademarks of Koppers Inc. or its subsidiaries. Lifewood CCA, Protim, and Determite timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. © 2017 Koppers Performance Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd.

Bifenthrin

NEWS

News In Brief

Actual size is trump card in US timber battle

Going down

Anybody who’s ever bought timber knows that a 2×4 isn’t a 2×4, a 1×6 isn’t a 1×6, and a 4×4 isn’t a 4×4. “Anybody who’s in the trades or construction knows that,” says Tim Stich, a carpentry instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Lawyers are not in the trade or construction business, however. They’re in the lawsuit business, which is why Menard’s and Home Depot are being sued for deceptive advertising. A Chicago law firm has filed suits seeking $5 million because 4x4s aren’t being advertised as 3 1/2 x 3 1/2.

The suit says customers are being charged full price while getting 23% less lumber.

The Chinese national formaldehyde emission standard (GB18580-2017) has been released by the General Administration of China National Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Bureau and China National Standards Administration. The standard will enter into force on 1 May 2018. In the new standard, the formaldehyde emission limit will be lowered to 0.124 mg/m3 and the test method for detection of formaldehyde emission has been unified. Analysts say that the revised standard will enhance product quality and market acceptance and will profoundly alter the structure of forest products industry.

CLT keeps building process on track!

End of the line for paper machine

In Tacoma, the nation’s first train station using CLT is nearing completion. The new Amtrak station, built by Garco and scheduled to open this fall, is part of the $149.9m Point Defiance Bypass high-speed rail project, which will reroute passenger train traffic through DuPont, Lakewood and Tacoma, creating a faster travel route. The CLT, provided by SmartLam, will be used as a structural roof deck. It will be exposed on the underside (a 20-foot ceiling) and supported by exposed Douglas fir glulam (glued laminated timber) beams. According to SmartLam, CLT was chosen for the project because of its increased speed of installation, visual aesthetic and competitive pricing compared to other methods of construction.

Last February 2017 Stora Enso announced that it planned to permanently shut down paper machine 8 (PM8) at Kvarnsveden Mill in Sweden due to structural weakening of magazine paper demand in Europe. Co-determination negotiations with employees at the mill are still ongoing, but PM8 was permanently shut down in early June. The number of people affected by the reorganization of the mill and shutdown will be determined during Q3 2017. PM8 had an annual capacity of 100 000 tonnes of supercalendared uncoated magazine paper (SC).

Illegal sandalwood distilling plant uncovered

Six-zoned kiln

Beam-ing with pride over new plant

Authorities have uncovered a sophisticated illegal sandalwood processing plant at a property in Western Australia. The Department of Parks and Wildlife worked with WA Police to pounce on the clandestine sandalwood oil distillery. Authorities remain tight lipped about where the illegal set-up was found, except to say it was east of Perth. The operation led to the seizure of distilling equipment and more than 6 tonnes of allegedly illegally harvested sandalwood, worth about $260,000.

Kurekss has invested in a new TC continuous kiln at its production site in Latvia. The company placed an order with Valutec for the stainless steel made kiln with six zones and a capacity of over 50,000 cubic metres for mixed dimensions. The equipment will be delivered over the course of the autumn and will be operational towards the end of 2017. The company plans to mainly use the kiln to dry planks of between 19 mm and 25 mm. The scope of the equipment supplier also includes a heat recovery system, pressure frames and the Valmatics control system.

Florida-based International Beams, a manufacturer of high quality, pre-fabricated i-joist beams, is converting a General Electric 227,000-square-foot building into a highly specialized manufacturing facility. The plant will be the biggest cross-laminated timber manufacturing facility in the U.S. when it opens in early 2018. The $19.6 million expansion will create 60 jobs at the plant right away, and create other jobs in local timber, sawmill, and trucking.

Two hundred jobs will be created altogether.

More than forest and timber publications MEDIA

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED As publisher of Australia’s leading forest and timber industry publications, it would be easy to think we are only ink on paper.

But these are more than magazines. They are brands.

Timber industry brands that readers and suppliers trust, quote and repond to. Brands that are growing across all platforms - in print and online.

It’s become a two way relationship - online industry offerings, including articles, news, advertising and photos.

And we are adding more in Events, Classifieds, including Jobs, Used Equipment, Services and Suppliers.

Take a new look at Ryan Media’s forests and timber products services today and ask about our special print and digital offer.

For business solutions across all platforms, call +61 8 8369 9500 or go to www.timberbiz.com.au australasian

I N C O R P O R AT I N G A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R

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magazine

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SOLID WOOD

PANEL PROCESSING

The WEINIG Group: Machines and systems for solid wood and panel processing Innovative state-of-the-art technology, comprehensive services and system solutions through to turnkey production lines: the WEINIG Group is your partner for profitable processing of solid wood and panels. WEINIG quality and profitability give small businesses and industrial operations a decisive edge in the global competition.

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Planing, profiling, tools, sharpening Cutting, scanning, optimization, gluing Windows, doors, CNC technology Finger jointing, jointing technology, end profiling

Edge banding CNC processing Vertical and horizontal cutting solutions Automatic panel handling

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IN PROFILE

German machine technology the key to success Blueprint Robotics (USA) System built solutions

By Eva-Maria Pulvermüller

W

HEN BLUEPRINT Robotics co-founder and Senior Vice President Karim Sahyoun visited a close friend in Munich, he was impressed of the excellent quality and precision of his host’s residential house.

The 450m² building was produced by a Weinmann customer, the renowned German prefab house manufacturer WeberHaus. After the architectural plans and pictures of the house being installed were shown to Karim, the entrepreneur’s interest in this construction method was aroused even more. Karim describes this initial experience as if it occurred yesterday, “Given how different construction can sometimes be in the US, I was absolutely blown away. The house felt so sturdy, compared to our homes in the US that it was difficult for me to believe it was built out of wood. I immediately sensed a real opportunity.

I just knew this technology could revolutionize the home building industry in America. There started a two-year due diligence and business planning process that included trying to interest highly respected German prefab companies in becoming joint venture partners. I was surprised that not one was willing to make even a minority investment.”

WeberHaus recommends Weinmann Initially, Karim Sahyoun asked his Munich friend to introduce him to WeberHaus in order to inquire about their equipment. That request led to Weinmann, the specialist for the design and delivery of production lines for timber construction. Besides, during the following 12 months, Weinmann was ultimately recommended by virtually every prefab house company Karim approached in the course of his comprehensive market study. In contrast to the competitors in the industry, Weinmann understood the potential presented by the US. Concepts were worked out and discussed intensely with the American prospective buyers.

This led to Blueprint Robotics

¢ S igning of the contract at Weinmann.9 (l-r) Charles Martin, Hansbert Ott, Jerome D. Smalley, Jochen Windhösel, Robert Slater.

management forming a strong relationship with this German Homag subsidiary. Numerous visits of the Blueprint Robotics founders Jerry Smalley, Sascha Bopp and Karim Sahyoun took place at the Weinmann headquarters in St. Johann in the course of the planning and projecting phase.

A decisive factor for the decision in favor of Weinmann, Karim Sahyoun reports retrospectively, was Hansbert Ott, managing director and head of sales & service for almost 25 years. Karim Sahyoun is quick to say: “Hansbert’s genuine enthusiasm as well as his genius was evident immediately, and in general, it had become clear to us that no company in the world came even close to matching Weinmann’s capabilities and ingenuity.

Blueprint Robotics company concept What had been an idea and a plan became real in March 2015 when funding was provided by a major investor, Invus Group. And what began as a threeman company, today is a fast-growing

enterprise employing more than 80 people in a brand-new 20,000m² facility in the city of Baltimore. This location has been carefully chosen, because the port of Baltimore is only 2 km from the company headquarters, and the city has an excellent road and rail network.

Blueprint Robotics produces both singlefamily homes and multifamily apartment buildings. Unlike the majority of German prefab companies, Blueprint Robotics offers no home designs of its own, relying instead on their customers’ unique architectural plans. And the company never sells directly to homeowners, focusing its selling efforts on builders exclusively. In addition, Blueprint Robotics doesn’t construct the entire house. Karim explains the company’s mission as follows, “We manufacture and install what I would describe as a three-dimensional canvas on which the builder can put his finishing touches.

What we deliver is a structure that, on the outside, is completely protected from the elements, on which the builder can put the type of roofing material and external cladding that he desires. On the inside,

all the windows and doors are installed in the factory, as is all the plumbing, electrics, HVAC rough-in, allowing each panel to leave the factory closed. The last step of our installation process involves finishing the drywall, leaving it ready for the builder to paint or wall paper. The builder undertakes the finishing work, including tiling of bathrooms, installation of kitchen cabinets, and any ornamental work. We avoid doing any work in which we cannot leverage Weinmann equipment to deliver superior products at market competitive pricing. What we offer our customers is certainty - quality certainty, cost certainty, delivery certainty.”

Production lines with innovative highlights The Weinmann wall production line starts with a WBZ 160 carpentry machine where the beams and studs required for the timber frame work are cut. The second machine in the processing chain is a WEM frame work station equipped with an automated stud feeding portal. Then there are three

¢ A ll roof and floor elements are produced with a separate production line.

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IN PROFILE of skilled craftsman in the US since millions of construction workers left the industry (or retired) after the economic downturn in 2008. In December 2016, after Weinmann had completed the equipment installation, testing and calibration, Blueprint Robotics started producing for customers.

A business vacuum waiting to be filled

¢ The wall magazine manipulates up to five elements at the same time.

assembly and transport tables over which a multifunction bridge moves to carry out different processing steps such as nailing the sheathing on the frame work by means of a powerful nailing unit. As soon as the first panel side is finished, the element is turned using a so-called butterfly turning table. An assembly table then transfers the element to a line where any electrical and plumbing work is installed. A further transport table places the element under the multifunction bridge. There, loose cellulose is blown into the framework compartments. This is not only a most environmentallyfriendly, waste-free process, but also a real innovation in this industry. For the Blueprint Robotics project, the Austrian insulation specialist Icocell and Weinmann have combined their technologies. Via a specially developed interface, the so-called blow-in plate, installed at the multifunction bridge, is positioned fully-automatically over the respective frame work compartments, so the insulation material can be blown-in.

The use of loose cellulose as an insulation material offers Blueprint Robotics

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¢ Fully automated blowing-in of the insulation material with the multifunction bridge WMS 150 blowTEC.

numerous advantages: The filling of the compartments happens smoothly and is done very quickly. Furthermore, the fill-in volume is monitored and documented which again represents a great advantage with regard to quality control.

Overall, Blueprint Robotics makes an industry-leading commitment to sustainability by reducing material waste in excess of 70% during its entire construction process. The company employs a “Zero to Landfill” approach that ensures all recyclable materials are recycled. The new state-of-the-art facility is truly impressive and optimizes workplace safety.

But let’s go back to the workflow: Finally, the finished panel is moved to a further working table where the second side is formatted and sheathed.

From there, by means of a tilting table, the product is transferred to a huge wall magazine where the edges of the plasterboards are sealed and the windows, sliding doors and the like are installed.

With custom-made transport trolleys, the completed wall elements are moved to the huge wall magazine which is also

a customized Weinmann device. Four to five elements at a time are pushed onto a loading trolley, packaged and wrapped with foil for transport. By means of a wall removal track, the packages are transported to the respective transport means where they are loaded with forklift trucks. The roof-/floor production line is almost identical to the wall line. It also starts with a carpentry machine. Here, too, removal tracks enable the installation of electrical and sanitary installations during the production process. A Weinmann carpentry table WTZ serves as a framing table, and at the same time it is used as a turning table for a further butterfly turning solution. Another NCcontrolled clamping table completes the solution.

As with the wall system, a multifunction bridge equipped with screwing units moves over the assembly tables. A transport table forms the end of the plant.

The huge advantage of these automated production lines – apart from their processing speed and unbelievable accuracy – offsets the increasing shortage

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All the experience gained during the operation of this facility will soon be incorporated into a second facility on which Blueprint Robotics has already placed a deposit. By the third plant, Karim expects to have a system in place that will allow them to open plants at an ever increasing rate. “We are addressing a $460 billion industry so we have a lot of opportunity and a lot of work ahead of us. Considering that in a ‘normal year’, roughly 1.4 million new housing units are built in the U.S. and of these, 1-1.1 million units are single family homes, there is an enormous business potential. As the pre-fab market in the U.S. is comprised almost entirely of companies that use a modular construction approach, and these companies are almost all located in remote areas where labor is very cheap, they build practically everything by hand as they would on the home site. They just do it in some covered enclosure. As a result, the quality of their products is inconsistent. In addition, the geometry of the modular method imposes significant design limitations. That’s why the word ‘pre-fab’ has a rather bad connotation in the US. In the consumer’s mind, pre-fab seems to be equivalent to poor quality and bad design.” In order not to fall into this category, Blueprint designates its offering as ‘system built solutions’.

Immediately following the execution of every client contract, the company secures a state approved set of drawings that are professionally stamped for the builder to use in application for local building permits. In a matter of days, the company’s robotics system constructs each element of the project in the panelized form. Subsequently delivered and assembled on a builder’s foundation by the expertly trained Blueprint Robotics workforce, each structure will be up and weather tight within 3-4 days. Karim Sahyoun: “It is therefore not an overstatement for me to say that Blueprint Robotics and Weinmann are in the process of revolutionizing the way Americans build.”

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NEWS

Industry leaders capturing timber’s commercial advantages

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USTRALIAN COMPANIES are moving ahead of their New Zealand counterparts in commercial building. Wood is one of the key factors in the advantages they have gained. There is now a strong trend for new commercial buildings being built in timber. Engineered wood is clearly giving industry leaders the edge over traditional materials in many ways.

Companies like Lendlease and Strongbuild are among the leaders in Australia, and are at the leading edge of the building industry for both midrise residential construction and high-rise office buildings.

First mover advantages such as speed of construction, material savings and performance on certain sites are giving the leaders an edge over traditional materials.

Both companies are part of an upcoming conference called “Changing Perceptions of Engineered Timber in Construction”, running on 28 September in Rotorua. This second annual conference will draw building owners, developers, architects, engineers, specifiers and many service and supply companies.

The keynote speaker is a senior project manager – Karla Fraser – from Urban One Builders. This leading edge company delivered a new tall timber building – the now world-famous Brock Commons building on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus in Vancouver, Canada. The project was completed ahead of schedule.

At 18 stories high, Brock Commons is now the tallest timber building in the world. However, recent project announcements in both the UK and USA will see that record being claimed elsewhere soon.

Conference director John Stulen (of Innovatek) says: “Building on the great response from our audience of over 150 industry professionals last year, we’ve added more case studies and a focus on showing where commercial advantages are being found.

“We worked hard to find the right mix of speakers.

With our event partners , Timber Design Society and Building Officials Institute of New Zealand, we‘ve got a great one-day conference for building professionals to learn from,” he added.

“We’re thrilled to have Karla as our keynote speaker. Her expertise, enthusiasm and project experience will be very valuable, especially what she gained from the Brock Commons project.”

UBC’s building requirements reflect the university’s commitment to sustainability. Wood, as a renewable material, was chosen in part to reflect this commitment. Brock Commons was also designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification requirements.

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

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

¢ B rock Commons is now the tallest timber building in the world.

The fire safety design of Brock Commons underwent a peer-review process involving a panel of leading fire safety experts, scientists, authorities having jurisdiction, and firefighters. In a fire, heavy timber chars on the outside while retaining strength on the inside, slowing combustion and allowing time to evacuate the building. Brock Commons has been designed to meet the one and two-hour fire ratings required for this type of building, exceeding fire and seismic standards for a concrete or steel structure.

Rotorua was the obvious choice as host city for an international commercial building conference with it’s ‘Wood-First’ policy making it a local leader in encouraging sustainable commercial buildings. The conference is set to be part of a wood technology week of events coming to the city in September, including the FIEA WoodTECH 2017 two-day conference and trade expo.

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For a full list of the conditions of membership and a downloadable application form visit:

wwwftmaaustralia.com.au 34

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

AUGUST 2017

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