DECEMBER 2016
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NEWS
The future’s looking bright By Ric Sinclair Managing Director Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited
“Our partnership with Planet Ark and consumer advertising featuring Peter Maddison from Grand Designs Australia have irrefutably changed the market perception and acceptance of wood.”
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REDICTING THE future is definitely a fool’s errand. More so, given the recent track record of learned pundits who have failed to predict everything from oil prices to exchange rates to US election results. So, it is with some trepidation that I consign myself to this discredited ship of fools. That said, it is my prediction that 2016 will be viewed in hindsight as one of the pivotal years in the development of Australia’s future forest and wood products sector. Now many of you may see this as a ludicrous claim. As a general rule, it is nearly impossible to generalise about the sector given its geographical and product diversity. For some, the year may have been better than prior years; and for others, it may have been worse or just the same. In terms of economic or commercial measures, the aggregate statistics show that there has been a significant lift in output and turnover for the sector helped by favourable exchange rates and strong domestic and export demand – this doesn’t mean that the gains have been shared equally and some segments and individual companies continue to do it hard. However, the pivotal legacy is not because of the improved trading conditions but due to the ‘seeds’ that have been sown that will hopefully bear fruit in the future.
Seeds were sown It would be poetic, but technically incorrect, to suggest that all the ‘seeds’ were sown in the last 12 months. In reality, many have been years in the making. The following is a personal list of things that happened in 2016 that I think (or hope) will make 2016 of historic importance and they are presented in no particular order: The report by the Forest Industry Advisory Council (FIAC) titled “Transforming Australia’s Forest Products Industry” The first federal election in over 20 years where forestry was not a major political issue
The change to National Construction Code to make it easier to use lightweight and massive timber construction in multi-residential, hotels/motels and offices up to 25 metres in height The commitment by governments and industry to provide additional funds to research and extension through a number of separate initiatives The report by E&Y titled: “Megatrends and the Australian Forest and Wood Products Sector” The announcement by the Western Australian government to provide funds to allow for softwood plantation establishment The construction by Lend Lease and Strong Build of pioneering midrise timber buildings in Sydney and by Morgan and Hansen in Adelaide The willingness of local and State governments to consider wood encouragement policies, often at the urging of Planet Ark The announcement and/ or commissioning of domestic manufacturing capacity in crosslaminated timber. Each of the above activities share a common theme: they are all about investing in the future and point towards a much brighter future for the sector. In my own sphere of activity, I have heard a lot of lamenting over the last six to eight years about the good old days when the sector was ruled by
News Briefs Green building champion joins FWPA TONY ARNEL, previously Chair of the World Green Building Council, has been elected to the Board of Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) Limited at the company’s annual general meeting in Launceston, Tasmania. Mr Arnel is the Global Director of Sustainability at Norman Disney & Young (NDY) and works across the worldwide network of NDY offices in six countries. He is the company’s key strategist for sustainability. He is a Life Fellow of the Green Building Council of Australia, a founding director and was chair between 2007 and 2012. During this time, he was also chair of the World Green Building Council (2008 – 2011). His current board involvement includes the Energy Efficiency Council (President), Deakin University School of Engineering (Deputy Chair) and the Sustainable Melbourne Fund. www.timberbiz.com.au
government agencies (and their cohort of professional foresters) and the domestic industry was protected by tariff barriers. While protectionism may be in resurgence, I doubt that we can fully return to the past. The industry that will lead us into the future is largely private owned (with a high proportion of foreign ownership) and sees both opportunities and threats with an international perspective. One of the biggest challenges facing the sector is that our resource base and manufacturing capacity is dispersed and in most cases lacks international economies of scale. Companies can compete internationally through better service and market knowledge, but a critical mass of resource in key regions can only improve the sector’s international competitiveness. As the FIAC paper succinctly puts it: we need to have the right trees in the right place at the right scale.
Investment across a broad front This will require investment across a broad front of activities from more intensive silvicultural management of private and publicly-owned native forests to plantation expansion. The private landholder will play a key role in this investment and the industry needs to consider a range of mechanisms to provide confidence to
landholders that commercial forestry is a worthwhile venture. The wood processing industry will also need to consider some fundamental changes particularly when it comes to log size and variability, which may see a shift to more reconstituted and engineered products. Since joining FWPA in 2008, I have been part of the sector’s roller coaster ride with the last of the halcyon days of managed investment schemes, their subsequent collapse and dismemberment, the privatisation of State-owned assets and the massive reduction in research capacity that was focussed on commercial forestry and wood products. Certainly a grim picture, but restructuring is never pretty. During this period, FWPA has remained steadfastly focused on its role in growing the market for sustainably sourced wood products (both domestic and imported) and delivering valued services to the industry and government. Our scope has broadened to include marketing, standards and codes and industry statistics. FWPA’s investments have underpinned some of the activities that define 2016 as a pivotal year. Our partnership with Planet Ark and consumer advertising featuring Peter Maddison from Grand Designs Australia have irrefutably changed the market perception and acceptance of wood. Our WoodSolutions program is now the world’s most visited wood promotion website and our change to the National Construction Code will drive a fundamental change in midrise construction. Less prominent, but equally important, our investment in research and statistics will give industry tools to improve their competitiveness. As stated earlier, the future is very difficult to predict and human development never moves in clear straight lines. There will always be volatility and we will continually be surprised by unforeseen events, but I am extremely confident that there is a strong and expanding future for the Australian forest sector. To reinterpret Sir Winston Churchill’s famous quote: Now this is not yet the future. It is not even the end of the past. But it is, perhaps, the beginning of the future.
Judges thrilled with calibre of entries
CLT-built sales centre
ENTRIES HAVE closed for the 2017 Timber Design Awards, and judges are delighted with the innovation displayed and quality exhibited in the entries says Debbie Fergie, NZ Wood’s Promotion Manager. These prestigious awards have been held for 40 years. New Zealand architects, engineers, builders, students and others using locally sourced timber and wood-based products, manufactured in NZ, submitted a pleasing number of projects for consideration. The event will culminate in a gala awards dinner at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland on 9 March 2017, when all winners will be announced.
LENDLEASE HAS opened a new sales and information centre for its community development in South East Queensland, made from Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT).
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
The Yarrabilba project continues a recent spate of development within Australia using the low carbon material, including the recently topped-out six-storey International House Sydney at Barangaroo and a three tower residential CLT project at Macarthur Gardens in Sydney which also well underway and is already the largest CLT project ever to be undertaken in Australia. 3
NEWS
New mid-rise timber advisors aim to get the market moving Information and advice on making the most of the cost, time and other advantages of timber building systems
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O ACCELERATE the uptake of timber framing and massive timber building systems in mid-rise projects in accordance with the recent changes to the National Construction Code, the new WoodSolutions team of design, engineering, construction and development specialists has started a pilot program in Melbourne, complemented by a smaller-scale activity in Brisbane. Earlier this year, a series of workshops, facilitated by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and attended by senior industry representatives, saw Jennifer Cover, Executive Director of the United States’ WoodWorks program (www.woodworks.org) outline the structure and achievements of the US wood field force advisors. Based on their considerable success, a similar model was developed for trial in the Australian market. Extensive consultation with industry and potential sponsors outlined the scope and operations of the new Technical Field Force Pilot Project, with funds in excess of $1.5 million over three years being committed from a large number of industry sponsors including key gold sponsors who are AKD, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods,
Bowens, Hyne Timber, Meyer Timber, Parkside Timber, Tillings, Timberlink, Timber Queensland, XLAM and Wesbeam with matching contributions from the Australian Government via FWPA. “This is an exciting development for our industry,” said Ric Sinclair, FWPA’s managing director. “First, we undertook the research, secured the code change to allow market access and now we have a dedicated program to encourage uptake of the research by the building community. Our high calibre professional team is focussed on market extension, and we know from research that it is important to get involved in the early stages of projects to ensure adoption.” With extensive experience in property development, construction, timber engineering and architecture, the WoodSolutions team of Program Development Managers are ideally placed to liaise with development, design and construction professionals, providing generic information and advice on making the most of the cost, time and other advantages of timber building systems. Melbourne-based Gerry Neylan, a construction, planning and property specialist and WoodSolutions team member, said this was a great opportunity to engage with the marketplace about
constructing new projects more quickly, quietly and safely – while also addressing issues such as social responsibility and sustainability. Sentiments that were echoed by Brisbane-based Stefan Gerber, a timber engineer, who added that after only a few weeks he is already finding many designers and engineers are highly interested in discovering more about new opportunities with timber. “Typically, the outputs of research, even following a building code change of this order, we would expect changes in design and building practices and material specifications to take many years to flow through the market,” explained Mr Sinclair. “This new program will substantially reduce the uptake time and generate greater sales volumes for timber products. The challenge for our industry is to ensure that the whole supply chain is knowledgeable, prepared and able to meet the increased demand.” If you would like to know more about the pilot program and the benefits of becoming a financial supporter, email Ric Sinclair at ric.sinclair@fwpa. com.au.
Use of old material a class act!
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN practice k20 Architecture will be relocating to their new South Melbourne office in early 2017 and will be incorporating recycled timber from the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) within their office fit out. The corner site on Ferrars & Douglas Street in South Melbourne was home to the MTC for over three decades. During this time performers such as Rachel Griffiths, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Vince Colosimo and Guy Pearce worked there. When the MTC announced a garage sale of all of its props and furniture prior to moving to their new Sturt Street offices, a queue lined up to claim a piece of theatrical history stretched around the block for hours. k20 Architecture were among the many who wished to claim the recycled timber and purchased a number of beams from Timber Revival in 2015. Melbourne Theatre Company’s Executive Director Virginia Lovett says, “MTC had a proud and rich history of rehearsing and building hundreds of productions at the Ferrars Street Headquarters from 1978 through to 2009. We are delighted that aspects of the Company’s history will live on in innovative fit-outs such as this. I’d like to think the timber from MTC’s workshop will be a talking point in its new location, not only for its aesthetic appeal but for the local history story it reflects”. k20 Architecture Co-Director Theodore Kerlidis said it is wonderful to be reusing something local, that
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has not contributed to deforestation. “It is an opportunity to merge available resources back into the same location and we are proud to be have a part of the historic MTC building incorporated within our new office.” “For us at k20 it is also our social responsibility to ensure that our new fit out is as sustainable as possible.”
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¢ k 20 Architecture Director Theodore Kerlidis holding the recycled timber from the old MTC building that we will be incorporating within the new office fit out.
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INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED FRONT PAGE: Front page photo: Superb decking. Boral Timber - Hilltop House - Simon Wood. See more on Boral’s range of decking on page 10.
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DECEMBER 2016
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NEWS
National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
Who’s who of industry The list of attendees at the centre opening was a who’s who of the industry. Included in the list were:
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NDUSTRY, ACADEMIA and government have partnered to create the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life – a new group designed to put Australia at the forefront of international best practice. A strategic initiative of industry group Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), the Centre will ensure Australian design guides and standards remain world class in light of climate change, new engineered timbers and changes in building design. Launched by Federal Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, the Centre will be based at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), and partners include the University of Queensland (UQ) and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). The State and Federal Government will contribute funding along with the FWPA and universities. Managing Director of Forest and Wood Products Australia Ric Sinclair said the Centre would create a world-leading predictive model to enable architects and building specifiers to more easily choose the right timber for the right task. “It will be an automated evidence-based tool to accurately predict the structural performance and design life of timber depending where and how it is being used. It’s an exciting prospect and it’s one that will be a world first,” he said, putting a fiveyear timeframe on the project. USC Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Roland De Marco said the establishment of this tripartite research partnership was an exciting development. Professor De Marco said by connecting national and international leaders in forestry research through USC, UQ and Queensland DAF, the centre would represent the pressing research needs of industry, as managed by FWPA, in the field of timber durability and design life. “Through the appointment of a world-class, industry-engaged professor – together with the appointment of a significant number of supporting research associates and students – this centre will establish a critical mass of world-class expertise,” he said. “This, in turn, will enable the Australian industry to position itself at the leading edge of international research and development in this critical field of endeavour.” Senator Ruston said: “Innovation and research are essential to the future of the Australian timber industry. “It is even more essential now with timber’s resurgence as a renewable, carbon-positive and increasingly versatile construction material. www.timberbiz.com.au
¢ S pecial occasion --- (from left) Steve Dickson (MP), Andrew Wallace (MP), Senator Anne Ruston, Professor Greg Hill (Vice Chancellor University of Sunshine Coast), Professor Roland De Marco (Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, University of Sunshine Coast), Dr Michael Kennedy (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), Professor Jose Torero (University of Queensland), Ric Sinclair (MD, Forest and Wood Products Australia).
Gerard Gardiner (TPAA), Dr Kerrie Catchpoole, Adam Redman, Henri Bailleres, Bill Leggate, Rob McGavin, Michael Kennedy, Gary Hopewell, Tim Smith (DAF), Christophe Gerber, Selvan Pather, John Bartlett, Damon Kent, Mohammadreza Ghaffariyan, Kelly Murphy, Mark Brown, Kelisha Lyndon,Michelle Tapp, Anne Steward, Professor John Bartlett, David Lee (USC), Chris Gildersleeve (ARUP), Colin McKenzie, Michelle Kelly (Porta), Dave AGover (EWPAA), Steven Koch (Lonza), Matthew Linegar (Lend Lease), Andrew Wallace (Member for Fisher), Scott Burgess, Andy Longmire, Steve Dickson Queensland MP), Ian Turner, Raymond Johnson (QUT), David Beveridge (Tilling), Scott Bradley (CHH Wood Products), Juan Hidalgo, Cristian Maluk, Dilum Fernando, Kim Baber, Joe Gattas, Jose Torero (UQ), Christopher Hyne, Shane Robertson, Geoff Stringer, Jeremy Mead (Hyne), Russell Fryer (Hutchinson Builders), Philip Evans (University of British Columbia), Jack Norton, Harry Greaves (Timber Protection), Keith Crews (UTS), Nick Livanes (Koppers), Michael Powell (Research at ForestrySA), Saeed Mahini (University of New England), David West (HQ Pkanations), Mick Stephens (Timber Queensland), Stefan Gerber (WoodSolutions), Michael Kennedy (Kennedy Timbers), Ric Sinclair, John McNamara, Jim Henneberry (FWPA), Ross Hampton (AusFPA), Senator Anne Ruston, Bernadette Abram (Australian Government).
Can’t find prospects for your products or services? They will find you in the ¢ Professor Roland De Marco
“The Australian Government is very pleased to support the launch of the Centre through Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA). “FWPA received $3.8 million in Commonwealth matched funding in 2015-16, and the Government has further committed up to $4.6 million to match voluntary contributions made by industry to FWPA for eligible research and development.” Ric said Queensland was the ideal location for the Centre, boasting people – both government and academic – with relevant high-level expertise and a willingness to innovate and collaborate, as well as diverse and often challenging climactic conditions perfect for putting timber to the test.
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DECEMBER 2016
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NEWS
Name change for national conference reflects new building approach Conference caters for: architects, engineers, design and construction professionals, builders and developers, specialists in timber -- engineered wood processing, timber prefabrication, and building materials
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HE GROWING popularity of constructing residential and commercial buildings using timber and engineered wood systems has prompted Frame Australia, which has pioneered the sector for 18 years, to change its name for next year’s national conference. The event will be titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ to be held at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne on 19-20 June. Conference Director Kevin Ezard said the term “Offsite” was chosen due to its global use to describe the process of building elements being manufactured in a controlled factory environment, to significantly improve construction process efficiency. “Using timber offsite systems has been proven to reduce building costs by up to 25% compared with traditional methods,” he said. “Engineered timber offsite systems are increasingly being used internationally and now in Australia
to build low-rise housing, mid-rise multi-residential, and high-rise commercial buildings”. Current projects in Australia include a massive three towers apartment project by Strongbuild in Sydney using CLT; the Lend Lease Barangaroo development 6 storey office building; several ‘closed’ timber frame projects up to 300 dwellings; with timber offsite projects under way in most capital cities around the nation. One reason for growth is the boost this year from changes to the National Construction Code, which allows timber buildings up to eight storeys from the previous three storeys, under “deemed to satisfy” provisions. The ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ conference aims to bring together all participants in the sector – architects, engineers, design and construction professionals, builders and developers; and specialists in timber, engineered wood processing, timber
prefabrication and building materials. In addition to speaker sessions, the exhibition displays are a highlight for delegates in providing information on new products and emerging technologies in timber building systems. The conference will be held over two days, with day one presentations and the second day morning workshop sessions with afternoon tours to timber buildings both under construction and recently completed, or alternately to timber prefabrication plants operating with highly automated processing equipment.
Pulp mill deal Boreal Bioref Oy, a new Finnish company, has signed a letter of intent with China’s CAMC Engineering over an investment in a new €780 million pulp mill project. CAMC Engineering would become the majority owner of the new plant in Kemijarvi, northern Finland, which is scheduled to start in 2020 with an annual pulp capacity of around 400,000 tonnes. Most of the pulp is likely to go to China, Boreal said. The paper market continues to decline in Europe, but pulp made from northern spruce and pine has a brighter outlook as it is needed for tissue and packaging board - products seen growing on the back of Chinese demand. 6
visit the website www.frameaustralia.com ¢ Conference Director Kevin Ezard.
Timberlink contributes to New Zealand earthquake fund TIMBERLINK EMPLOYEES in both Australia and New Zealand were very concerned by the news of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand’s South Island on November 14. Timberlink employs over 80 people at its New Zealand mill in Blenheim, and while its New Zealand employees and mill escaped serious damage, Timberlink is aware that the quake and resultant aftershocks caused significant damage to parts of Blenheim and impacted the wider Marlborough community. “Timberlink expresses its sympathy to all those affected by the earthquake, in particular to the family and friends of those who suffered loss or injury,” said Timberlink’s CEO Ian Tyson.
¢ Strongbuild in Sydney.
News Briefs
For more event information
This is the era of the artisan’s digitalisation More than 3,000 registered visitors from all over the world attended the Pesaro Biesse Group Campus to take part in the traditional three-day event dedicated to the technological innovations at the service of those who work with wood and advanced materials. Biesse reported an order intake of above 9 million, most originating from the internal market.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
With Christmas approaching, Timberlink decided that funds allocated for Christmas would be well spent helping those affected by the earthquake. The Australasian business has therefore donated NZ$5,000 to the Marlborough Council Earthquake fund, established by John Leggett, Marlborough Mayor, to directly help victims in the district. The Council’s fund will be used to provide for the welfare needs of the affected families and to help get their homes operational again. Timberlink congratulates John Leggett on establishing this fund and wishes the Marlborough community all the best as they repair the damage and support those impacted by this earthquake.
Fedrigoni’s mill in Pioraco hit by earthquake The earthquake that hit the Macerata province in Italy on 26 October also destroyed parts of Fedrigoni’s paper mill in Pioraco. According to several media reports, the mill’s roof collapsed, damaging the machinery. A company spokesperson estimated that the damage amounts to at least 10m.
New head for Consumer Board division Stora Enso has appointed Annica Bresky as Executive Vice President, Consumer Board division and member of the Group Leadership Team. Annica is currently the President and CEO of Iggesund Paperboard AB, part of the Swedish Holmen Group. She holds an M.Sc degree in engineering from Uppsala University and an Executive MBA from M-gruppen. She will join Stora Enso at the latest by 1 May 2017 and be based in Stockholm.
DECEMBER 2016
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EPDs
Timber that performs -- sustainably Updating the numbers behind the Australian Timber Environmental Product Declarations
By Stephen Mitchell
Stephen Mitchell is Principal of Stephen Mitchell Associates – a consultancy offering services in compliance with Australian Illegal Logging Regulation, environmental product certification and business timber waste management and recycling.
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UILDING IS a risky business and building professionals expect the products they specify and use to perform. They can’t afford to take risks. To help demonstrate that a given timber product is indeed fit for purpose the timber industry provides a whole host of technical information. Stress grade, span tables, durability class, hazard level, bushfire BAL ratings, Janka rating, multiple fire indices and so on. All this information is the result of testing processes and rigorous verification developed over many years. They all provide information needed to reassure building professionals that the timber is strong enough, is durable enough, is hard enough or is not going to burst into flames. So, when it comes to information about environmental performance why should it be any different? Why should we expect people to choose wood because “wood is good” or “naturally better”? A banana is natural, and good for you, but I wouldn’t want to build with one. Environmental Product Declarations provide the tested and independently verified numbers behind the timber industry claims that indeed, using sustainably harvested wood in your building or fitout can indeed be good for our environment. And we provide the real numbers to prove it. Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs are like a food label. Instead of fat, sugar and salt content they provide data on inputs/outputs of carbon or greenhouse gases as well as contributions to air and water pollution and so on for a given
“serving size” of a product. This serving size is referred to as the “functional unit”.
Better than carbon neutral For example, the current Australian Hardwood EPDs show that a cubic metre of kiln dried dressed hardwood (all grades) stores the equivalent of 670 kg carbon dioxide when it exits the sawmill gate. This proves that Australian hardwood products such as flooring and decking are “better than carbon neutral” - a claim that major competing materials such as carpet, ceramic tile, aluminium or wood plastic composites, or even imported hardwoods such as merbau, just can’t make. The EPDs for Australian softwood, particleboard, MDF and plywood come to a similar conclusion. Now buildings are more complex than a banana or a box of cereal. And just as a stress grade doesn’t mean anything much for a designer or builder without a span table so the numbers in an EPD have limited meaning without being used in a whole-of-building Life Cycle Assessment. EPDs true strength comes about when specifiers take the numbers in a timber EPD, and the data in other EPDs for other
New role for Kent KENT HUMPHRYS has been appointed Advertising Sales Manager for Australasian Timber. He comes with extensive management experience in media, advertising, publishing, and direct marketing sales. He has been a director at the renowned HWR Media, State Manager Progress Printers and Distributors, and Sales Director Boylen Media. Products he has sold into include all forms of print including newspapers, consumer magazines, business to business and Association Magazines. Commenting on the state of the timber industry, Kent said he was looking forward to marketing timber companies and their products during a period of new industry developments. “ With changes in building regulations involving increased height restrictions, new and existing composite wood products, and increasing consumer interest in timber design, I am excited about the industry’s prospects,” he said. 8
Kent strongly believes you don’t just sell advertising space ... “you offer a tailored approach that highlights the true worth of a product or service,” he says, “and Australasian Timber and also the electronic Daily Timber News are the perfect medium.”
products - such as steel connections, insulation and so on and plug them into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software. The output of an LCA is a model of the total environmental impact of a building or fitout design over its projected lifespan. Timber products are coming out very well in these assessments compared to other building materials such as reinforced concrete – mainly due to it “better than carbon neutral” footprint. Lend Lease have undertaken Life Cycle Assessments on their large timber buildings in Melbourne. They are currently undertaking an LCA for International House in Sydney – a six storey timber office building. Now those assessments use the data in the EPDs for glulam and cross-laminated timber imported from Europe as this is the main timber they are using – and these producers all have an EPD for their product.
Boosting confidence Timber suppliers of Australian softwood, hardwood, particleboard MDF and plywood can now provide an EPD for their product and this data can be used to assist these builders understand, and have real confidence in, the environmental impacts of Australian timber. These timber EPDs have been designed to be Green Star compliant so are in effect low cost green certification for Australian timber producers. Individual producers listed in the EPD can provide them to customers to help them get higher rating for using their timber products under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating system. This rating system is increasingly being used in commercial structures and fit-outs. Producers listed in the EPDs are those producers who are FWPA members. Lend Lease are also doing life cycle assessments on ninety of their interior fitout projects. Companies such as Australand, Watpac, Brookfield, Arup, ProBuild, the University of Technology Sydney, have also undertaken assessments on their projects. This is just the start of this revolution in sustainability assessment of buildings, fitouts and infrastructure projects using the data in EPDs in Australia. The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) also recently recognise EPDs as part of their rating system and companies like eTool are producing LCA software that is readily accessible to small and medium-sized building and design firms.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
This is just the start of this revolution in sustainability assessment of buildings, fitouts and infrastructure projects using the data in EPDs in Australia. High quality There are several companies in Australia offering to prepare EPDs. The choice can be confusing. The Australian timber EPDs are registered with the Australasian EPD Programme. This is a high-quality program which is linked with International EPD – the largest such program in the world. The Australasian EPD Programme requires verification with relevant ISO standards as well as European Standard EN 15804. Compliance with this EN standard is crucial to ensure compatibility with the standard for life cycle assessment. This is the main reason companies such as BlueScope, OneSteel and Kingspan and Vinidex have gone with Australasian EPD. They want to maximise the value oat EPDs can provide their customers The EPDs for Australian timber products were released in June/July 2015 and they have been downloaded over 1,100 times. All the Australian Timber EPDs are available for free download from WoodSolutions (after login) at www.woodsolutions.com.au and the Australasian EPD Program at www.epdaustralasia.com The data they are based on was collected form Australian timber industry for 2005/06 production year. According to the rigorous standards against which the EPDs were verified we must check that the recipe for making Australian timber the hasn’t changed significantly. Stephen Mitchell – (ex NSW Timber Development Association and now Principal of Stephen Mitchell Associates) is currently working with sustainability experts thinkstep Pty Ltd and Australian timber producers to update the EPDs. The project is funded by FWPA and the updates will be available in 2017. www.timberbiz.com.au
INSURANCE
Management liability insurance No business should be without a policy usually costs thousands of dollars. What is also important to understand is that even if an employer wins the case, legal expenses cannot generally be recovered from the WorkSafe Authority and so the employer is left with a legal expense bill in the hundreds of thousands of dollars even if found to be innocent. Sadly, some cases take years to settle.
By Joe Diamente Director McNair Hurle Latrobe Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd
Q
UITE OFTEN in business, when it comes to insurance, we only insure those things that we are either forced to insure because of bank loan requirements or items that have an obvious value to our business – for example, buildings, machines, trucks and the like. Too often we forget (or don’t know) about other Important insurances available that can protect our business/assets and income from total disaster. In recent years litigation has been on the increase and whilst most businesses will have a Public & Products Liability policy to give them some legal protection, many businesses do not have an all important “Management Liability” policy that can provide peace of mind against risk of prosecutions by relevant OH&S Authorities. Some businesses may not be aware of the “heavy fines” that can be imposed by such authorities on companies & directors and these fines can ultimately put you out of business and then put your hard earned commercial and personal assets at risk. In Victoria for example, a company can be fined in excess of (approx) $1,100,000 “per offence” and a Director or supervisor/employee
can be fined in excess of (approx) $210,000 “per offence”. (Note: One incident can be made up of multiple offences) We have seen cases where employees (or contractors) have been killed or seriously injured at worksites and WorkSafe has successfully been able to fine the employer for certain breaches. As employers we all know that it is difficult to always be watching staff and even though there are good employment practices and procedures in place, workplace accidents still happen and the WorkCover Authority can impose heavy fines. To make matters worse, the “legal costs” to defend such cases
A Management Liability Policy is designed to protect you against these kind of events that can basically put your assets at risk and put you out of business. Such a policy would generally include: • Directors & Officers Liability -(which would also cover your legal defence costs) • Statutory Liability cover -To cover the actual OH&S fine • Employment Liability -(legal costs to defend claims of unfair dismissal, harassment etc.) • Crime Investigation Liability -Embezzlement by staff • Tax Investigation Costs -Covers your accountants costs to spend hours with the ATO • discussing your tax returns Very important “Cyber Liability” can now also be added to the policy
policy does “NOT” replace the need for you to protect your employee’s against work place accidents. McNair Hurle Latrobe Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd has operated since 1977 and we are the largest locally owned Insurance Brokerage in Gippsland. We are also part of an Australia-wide network of Insurance Brokers [IBNA Ltd] & [AIMS] that control in excess of $3billion in premium & who have access to Lloyds Of London for those more difficult to place insurances. In today’s age of increased litigation, heavy fines and penalties, together with high legal defense costs, can you really afford not to have a Management Liability Policy to give you protection and peace of mind? We would welcome the opportunity to discuss a Management Liability Policy with you in more detail and provide you with a no obligation quote together with quotes on Logging Machinery, Trucks & Trailers, Public Liability and all your General Insurance requirements.
McNair Hurle Latrobe can be contacted on 1300 645 645 or insure@mhl.com.au.
Obviously, the policy does have certain conditions that need to be met such as, you must have an OH&S procedure in place. An employee’s safety is still paramount and this
Member of National Insurance Brokers Association
We insure the timber industry • Business Insurance • Public Liability • Trucks / Transport / Machines • Management Liability including OH&S & Employment Practices • Personal Insurances • Income Protection
With over 20 staff and 35 years of experience dealing with loggers, truckies and timber millers, we not only understand the industry, we also know the difficulties you are facing. For a no-obligation review of your insurances to ensure you are covered against all the threats working in this industry throws at you, contact Peter Hurle, Joe Diamente or Rocco Gaudiano.
Phone: 1300 645 645 (1300 MHL MHL) Email: insure@mhl.com.au Web: www.mhl.com.au
AFS Licence No.: 237844 www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
9
DECKING
Timber decking in bushfire-prone areas Decking with a difference
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HE APPEAL of natural elements in home design is enduring and, according to Boral Timber, Australian timber remains one of the most desirable materials for domestic deck and verandah construction. To minimise the risk to property during a bushfire, Boral Timber is reminding decking professionals to consider a number of design and landscaping rules and year-round maintenance measures. “New structures must comply with the requirements of the Australian Standard (AS3959 -2009) Building in Bushfire Prone Areas,” says Leon Travis from Boral Timber. “In addition, check that decking is spaced at around zero to five millimetres, as larger gaps of five to 10 millimetres have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to ember attack*. Fill in small gaps around the deck structure where an ember might be able to lodge - larger openings can be fitted with ember guards, such as perforated mesh with two millimetre openings. “Use mesh or bushfire resisting timbers to enclose the subfloor of the verandah. Blackbutt and Spotted Gum decking from Boral are suitable for use in bushfire prone areas up to BAL 29, as set out under Australian
Standard AS3959,” says Travis. As part of wider property protection measures, Travis also encourages contractors to discuss deck maintenance with their clients. “A few simple steps can help to protect an existing verandah before and during the fire season, such as trimming back or removing shrubs near an opening to the house, removing leaves and twigs from roofs and gutters, sealing verandah’s with a non-combustible seal, and substituting flammable woodchips and shrubs with decorative stones and more fire resistant plant species. If they are in any doubt, homeowners can contact the local fire authority for more information.” Boral Timber recommends Australian hardwood species for the building of decks and a variety of other exterior home improvements, because of their high density, toughness and durability.
¢ Hilltop House-Simon Wood.
* Derived from AS3959-2009 (Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas) - Clause 5.7.1
¢ Extending the living area.
¢ Blackbutt decking.
¢ SG Schanke deck.
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¢ RR Seat.
¢ Spotted Gum Henley Deck.
¢ Indoor outdoor flow.
¢ Outdoor Deck.
¢ Raised deck Blackbutt.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
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FINANCE
Finance ... an important fuel of industry, so, is there a way to easily fill up while getting a good price at the bowser? For the majority of businesses, a 1% saving in costs has the same bottom line effect as a 10% increase in sales so it’s not the turnover but the leftover that is often the most important area to focus on. By Mark O’Donoghue CEO and Founder of Finlease
I
N TODAY’S business environment, the vast majority of companies live in a world where the prices they charge for their goods and services is very much influenced by pricing pressure of the competitors in their market. Fuel prices is just one example and believe it or not so is finance. Equipment and Vehicle finance is a heavily contested space with a dozen or so banks and financiers all competing to provide their funds to the market, so it’s just a matter of intelligently accessing this competition. If finance was fuel, it would be easy for business owners to gauge and access the best pricing by simply driving past the myriad of service stations and quickly understanding who has the best price on any particular day. Having worked that out, all they would need to do is pull up to the bowser and fill up. For many business owners, they would believe that finance is not that simple. The ability to see prevailing interest rates available across the dozen or so banks and financiers is time-consuming and difficult and the ability to simply pull up and secure the loan uncertain. To be frank, it is a lot easier than most business owners think. Setting up a platform to benefit from this competition is as easy as
engaging an accountant or equipment finance broker. A capable broker will already possess the knowledge and the constant updates to be across all current financier offerings and be your advocate to obtain the right outcomes without you lifting a finger. Unlike “fuel” whatever you pay for finance is an expense that you will typically incur for the next 4 to 5 years so pricing is even more important. For the majority of businesses, a 1% saving in costs has the same bottom line effect as a 10% increase in sales so it’s not the turnover but the leftover that is often the most important area to focus on. With extremely well priced finance now being approved by many banks and financiers under “fast track no financials offerings” the ability to quickly and easily flow between different lenders and access the right rates at the right times is there to ensure a lower cost for the next 4 to 5 years. That’s probably why over 50% of small businesses (with a turnover of up to $20 million) use equipment finance brokers for a significant amount of their equipment and vehicle finance requirements. Added to this, in a world where bank managers and account managers seem to change every two years, most equipment finance brokers (who are small businesses themselves) have 10 to 20 year relationships with their clients, so there is no need for business owners to continually tell their story
to a revolving door of bank managers. To put it into the “fuel” vernacular, not only will they secure the fuel at the right price, your broker will not only fill up the vehicle for you, they also clean the windscreen and check the tyres at the same time (that’s the service bit). Just like any profession or supply arrangement, there are good ones and bad ones so you need to ensure you have the right one, so see what their other clients say on such things as public review sites. Done well, business owners can find comfort in knowing this significant cost to their business is well contained and well managed. Perhaps this article will assist some of those remaining 50% of business owners to think about this significant cost and time expense by contemplating finance in the same light as they see “fuel”. They are already doing this every year with their Insurance Brokers as they rely on them to obtain the best outcome on this very important expense and coverage.
Wood frame model houses for China M1and M2 are both medium grade specifications. J1 type is two stories with floor space of 200-300 square metres and J2 type is two stories with floor space of more than 300 square metres. 1 and J2 are both high grade specification. They are different from Japanese houses with much higher height of ceiling like 3-4 metres on first floor and 2.4-2.5 metres on the second floor. The Chinese wood construction standard allows to build up to three stories and the committee is now discussing for higher wood multilayer building and they are interested in wood multilayer buildings in North America and Europe including use of CLT. China has CLT manufacturing plants.
...or this easy BALLPARK COST PER MONTH (PER $1,000 FINANCED) Residual / Balloon
3 Years
4 Years
5 Years
0%
$30
$23
$19
20%
$25
$19
$16
40%
$20
$15
$13
EXAMPLE: $100,000 financed over a 5 year term with a 20% balloon/residual is $16 x 100 = $1,600 per month. Payments are shown as a ‘ballpark’ estimation, please call Finlease for a specific quote and immediate indication of approval.
& easier 1300 346 532 finlease.com.au better than a bank
>
THE JAPAN Wood Products Export Promotion Council has made up four models of wood houses based on the Chinese wood building standard. They are corresponding to the Chinese needs with exposed use of wood of Japanese species like cedar, cypress and larch to differentiate from 2x4construction. The Association hopes to promote sales of domestic wood products and wood house to China. The Association has been asking to add Japanese species of cedar, cypress and larch to the Chinese wood structure standard. There are four model plans. M1 type is two stories with floor space of 170300 square metres and M2 type is two to three stories with floor space of 170– 300 square metres.
Finance that’s this hard...
Australian Credit Licence Number: 390584
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
11
PREFAB
Three new WoodSolutions Technical Design Guides
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ITH THE release of the EXPAN Guides #34 Timber Rivet Connection, #35 - Floor Diaphragms in Timber Buildings and #36 - Engineered Woods and Fabrication Specification, WoodSolutions gives Australian engineers and designers complete access to the innovative timber solutions of the EXPAN prefabricated engineered timber system. The result of years of research and a unique collaboration between commercial and academic partners, the EXPAN system has created innovative structural timber solutions. Combining all the strength and endurance of steel into the lightweight elegance and flexibility of timber, the EXPAN prefabricated construction system brings timber into the commercial and industrial design age. The result is a cost effective, time efficient system that opens the way
to new opportunities for the design and construction of commercial and industrial buildings. With EXPAN, engineered timber framing can be used to create wide open spaces and build layouts with unparalleled flexibility – without the need for closely spaced columns or walls. The three new WoodSolutions Technical Design Guides complement the existing six titles to create an invaluable reference for structural engineers and designers. The aim of the Design Guide #34 is to provide an aid for engineers for designing timber rivet connections in structural seasoned wood products including seasoned sawn timber, glulam and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The first part of the Design Guide #35 presents the terminology, concept and design of timber diaphragms with their connections to the lateral
load-resisting system (LLRS). The second part reviews a design example of a timber–concrete diaphragm and its connections to the LLRS. The diaphragm is subjected to the wind load applied perpendicular to its long side. The last Design Guide from this series, #36, provides a summary of fabrication and installation specifications of engineered wood products, i.e. laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and glulam. It provides recommendations for different steps of the timber structure supply chain, including storage, handling and transportation, erection and assembly. It includes insect and mould preventions and moisture design considerations. “These new Guides complete the EXPAN range, and make up a comprehensive reference resource, for the design and construction industry
to take full advantage of the many benefits of the innovative EXPAN prefabricated system.” said Eileen Newbury, National Marketing and Communications Manager at Forest and Wood Products Australia, one of the EXPAN development partners. The EXPAN guides are based on the results of years of research by the Structural Timber Innovation Company (STIC), a unique collaboration between Australian and New Zealand commercial and academic partners to create innovative structural timber solutions. The EXPAN Technical Design Guides are available for free download from WoodSolutions.com.au.
Download the guides at http://bit.ly/EXPANGuides.
This tops prefabrication and the use of CLT! Beauty is in the ‘high’ of the beholder IN THESE days of CLT use and prefabrication in construction it’s no wonder the system is not only gaining wide popularity but it’s also being seen in some strange places. Take the case of this tiny cabin sitting somewhat precariously atop a mountain. The tiny cabin by Slovenian studio OFIS Arhitekti cantilevers over the edge of a mountain on the Slovenian-Italian border. It is made from a combination of cross-laminated timber, glass and aluminium panels. OFIS Arhitekti worked with local structural engineers CBD to develop the Kanin Winter Cabin, which is designed to resist extreme weather conditions on its exposed site on Mount Kanin. The Slovenian studio – which is featured on the Dezeen Hot List as one of the top 400 forces in global architecture and design – previously created a similar cabin on Slovenia’s Skuta Mountain. This tiny 9.7-square-metre cabin has a narrow floor plan containing three shelf-like floors, and has dimensions of just 2.4 by 4.9 metres. It can accommodate up to nine mountaineers. “The challenge is to install real objects, shelters in 1:1 on remote sites and study their response to extreme weather, radical temperature shifts, snow and rugged terrain,” said the studio. “The harsh conditions of wind, snow, landslides, terrain, and weather require a response of specific architectural forms, structures and concept.” The mountain is known for its inclement weather conditions, with record snowfalls and rains, as well as strong winds. The site can be accessed only by climbers or by helicopter, so the studio called on the services of the Slovenian army to airlift the cabin into its precarious position. With turbulent weather conditions, it took three attempts for the Slovene Armed Forces helicopter crew to deliver the cabin onto its rocky foundations. Here, the cabin cantlievers 12
over the edge of the mountain and is tethered in place by cables. Inside, the timber-lined cabin features three resting platforms that face towards the valley through a large panoramic window. Its only decoration is a hunting trophy of a pair of deer antlers. “This particular site was chosen because of its 360-degree views over Slovenia and Italy, and spectacular views to Triglav, Soca Valley and Adriatic sea,” said the studio. “It will become a destination for hikers, climbers, cavers, mountaineers, nature lovers and romantics.” The project, which was commissioned by the nearby town of Bovec and the Slovenian Mountaineer Association, is also intended as a weather test for the materials used. Source: Dezeen. Photography: Janez Martincic.
¢ Lofty positioning.
¢ Inside: Welcome relief despite size limitations.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
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PREFAB
Safer plywood choice for wall and ceiling linings
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USTRALIAN TIMBER veneer manufacturer Matilda Veneer has launched a new plywood building material suitable for the most stringent fire hazard requirements. Matilda Fireply is ideal for use as wall and ceiling lining in Class 2-9 buildings. It can be used in accommodation and other buildings for the aged, people with disabilities and children, for example, school and hospitals. Fireply is also a suitable choice for public transport applications, boats, elevators, planes and recreation vehicles. Matilda Veneer’s General Manager of panel products Craig Graham said the product was a game changer. “Most fire retardant plywood is treated post-production, limiting its fire resistance,” he said, “whereas our Fireply is treated with the impregnation method prior to production, which makes it a better product in terms of fire resistance.” He said that architects, building designers and specifiers could confidently choose Matilda Fireply for wall or ceiling linings of fire-isolated exits, public corridors and other areas where a Group 1 material is required. Testing is currently under way for the product’s use with specific veneer types, with results expected soon.
¢ Boat interior with Fireply ceiling.
He said Matilda Fireply was a superior alternative to fire-retardant (FR) MDF and other materials that have traditionally been used when the highest fire resistance is required. Compared to FR MDF, Fireply is lighter, more impact resistant and stronger pound-for-pound.
¢ Fireply.
Mr Graham said Fireply was also easy to machine and ready to build with upon delivery; no other fire treating required. “This product also has a high quality plywood edge detail should this be desirable for project aesthetics. “It can also be an alternative for
use under veneer in place of non-FR plywood due to its additional safety benefits,” he said. This product has been tested by Exova Warringtonfire in accordance with AS/NZS3837-1998 and certified as a Fire Hazard Group Number 1 wall and ceiling lining.
EGGER headquarters’ architect wins award in the USA THE BREITENBACH-based architect Bruno Moser has received Bronze in the American Architecture Prize for our headquarters in St. Johann, Tirol. The jury was convinced by the modular construction based on the EGGER OSB 4 Top board. The award ceremony took place on the 25th October 2016 in New York. The American Architecture Prize is given annually in New York by an independent jury. International projects in the disciplines “Architecture”, “Interior Design”, and “Landscape Architecture” enter the competition with the aim of increasing global appreciation of quality architectural designs. All submitted designs were assessed by the jury on the basis of “form”, “function”, and “innovation”. Bruno Moser’s work on the architecture of EGGER’s headquarters is being recognised this year with the Bronze award.
Modular woodframe construction The company architecture, designed by Bruno Moser especially for EGGER, has already been used
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for other company buildings prior to constructing the headquarters in St. Johann: the administrative building in Radauti (RO, 2010), the TechCenter in Unterradlberg (AT, 2011), as well as the Forum in Brilon (DE, 2012) were built using the same modular construction. The headquarters opened in 2015 and consists of two four-level buildings made of prefabricated wood modules, connected to each other via a glasscovered atrium. “The main elements of the module are EGGER OSB 4 TOP boards. However, we were able to use almost the company’s entire range of products for the construction,” says Moser.
Winner of multiple awards The American Architecture Prize is not the first international award won by Moser for EGGER’s headquarters in St. Johann. Most recently, he won the “best architects 17” award in June 2016. The award recognises the best architectural projects in Europe in the categories Residential, Office and Administrative Buildings, Commercial and Industrial Buildings, Public Buildings, and Interior Design. It is a seal of approval for outstanding architectonic performance and places the awardwinner at the top of the international architectural scene. EGGER, a family company founded
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
in 1961, employs approximately 7,800 people. At 17 plants across Europe, they produce an extensive product range of wood-based materials (chipboard, OSB and MDF board) as well as timber. The company generated a turnover of EUR 2.34 billion in the 2015/2016 financial year. EGGER has global customers in the furniture industry, wood and flooring retailers, as well as DIY markets. EGGER products are found in countless areas of private and public life, including kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, offices, hotels, and shops. EGGER is a full-range supplier for the furniture industry, interior design, wood construction and wood-based flooring (laminate, cork and design flooring) industries.
For queries:
FRITZ EGGER GmbH & Co OG Wood-based materials Karin Mumelter Weiberndorf 20 6380 St. Johann in Tirol, Austria Tel.: +43 5 0600-10691 karin.mumelter@egger.com
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PREFAB
Panelised technology heralds new approach to building High-tech machinery allows greater precision and quality than ever before
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USTRALIANS ARE demanding higher quality builds with eco-friendly features included as standard – features like improved insulation, sustainable materials, greater fire-protection and better acoustic properties. All this at a reduced cost and faster turn over. When it comes to prefabricated building design modern panelised technologies have transformed the construction sector in Europe, Asia and the US for decades now. Australian owned and operated building company Impresa House Pty Ltd are building on that technology to bring the most innovative construction solution that combines the very best of modern and traditional building techniques. Impresa House combines advanced European CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technologies and innovative Australian building design skills. “Our panelised building system is more efficient, more sustainable and flexible enough to accommodate almost any residential or commercial construction. We can deliver a wide range of processing options from predetermined shapes to precision cutting, drilling, grooving, routing and bevelling – all to the most demanding tolerances,” Impresa CEO Sean Morley says. Impresa House buildings are manufactured offsite to increase construction speeds and deliver vastly improved structural, thermal and acoustic properties, engineered specifically for the harsh and demanding Australian climate. They craft every detail to your exact specifications. Thanks to their investment in high-tech machinery it allows greater precision and quality than ever before with new thermal insulation techniques so that they can also deliver energy efficient homes that are warm and comfortable while being
greener, cleaner and cheaper to run. Melbourne-based Impresa House source their CNC plant and machinery from German manufacturer Weinmann – a world leader in powerful construction equipment, systems and customerfocused design. Their innovative new software can accurately calculate the exact materials needed for each project, reducing waste, maximising build efficiency and minimising costs. Impresa House has commenced its first construction build taking its panelised wall system to a new height. The very first assembly is taking place at 28 Barrani Street, Bentleigh East, Melbourne. Two side-by-side townhouses that were manufactured offsite in a matter of days, were delivered and assembled on-site in less than 2 weeks. The entire construction time from start to occupancy is projected to finish at a total of 10 weeks, slashing a minimum of 6 months off the typical build time. “We are thrilled to be fully operational as we finalise our first panelised construction build and are now open for business and looking forward to incorporating our sustainable and energy efficient technology to help Australians build their dream homes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Homag Group for our Weinmann equipment from Germany and Andiamo Engineering for their support to efficiently and effectively construct our plant,” said Sean. The Homag Group, represented by Ryan Slater who has more than 10 years’ experience with Weinmann precision timber manufacturing machinery, was recently in Melbourne to assess the first assembly. “We are honored that our equipment was chosen by Impresa House to pioneer a new way of construction in Australia,” said Ryan. “Our team at Homag were thrilled
¢ Impresa House factory showing the Weinmann plant with a framing station WEM 150.
¢ Lifting a prefabricated panel.
to work with the diligent people from Andiamo Engineering, Melbourne, during construction of the Impresa House plant. We trust that this was the first of many production plants constructed by Andiamo Engineering using Weinnman technology, and we are looking forward to a long working relationship with any Australian businesses interested in our equipment.” For more information please visit: http://impresa.house/timber/
¢ View of the prefabricated house construction.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
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WEINMANN - EFFICIENT WOOD PROCESSING
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 • 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 thanks to its stable design
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 • 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.: 02 8865 2700 sales@homag.com.au www.homag-australia.com
NEWS
New, modern facility is a big step forward Operations optimized
I
T’S BEEN several months since USNR opened its newest facility at Jacksonville, Florida, and production is in full swing. It is a monumental feat when a whole manufacturing site is relocated to a new facility. This is an important milestone for USNR, and it is also a testament to the Jacksonville area, the business climate in the region and the talent pool of people who are employed at this USNR facility. In addition to the time and disruption to move people and equipment, there was a whole lot of planning, engineering, construction, hiring contractors and sub-contractors, meetings, approvals, and more that went into the successful completion of a project of this scope. Now that the “paint has dried” on this project, USNR is more than impressed with its new
Jacksonville digs. The Jacksonville facility grew from one of the oldest in the USNR family of companies, the Moore Dry Kiln Company, which was founded by civil war veteran Lafayette Moore in 1897. From 1914 until 2015 the Moore Dry Kiln Company and subsequently USNR, manufactured lumber dry kilns, plywood veneer dryers, sawmill machinery, and other industrial products at a site close to downtown Jacksonville. The old site had manufacturing, engineering, administration and warehousing spread out over a number of buildings. In the spring of 2016 a new stateof-the-art manufacturing complex was opened at a new location, fulfilling the increasing demand for capacity. “Our old site served the company for more than 100 years, but it was holding us
¢ Goff structural bead blaster: This is a surface preparation machine to remove all rust, scale and other surface defects off linear steel.
back. The new facility is a game-changer – we have been given the opportunity to rethink every one of our processes and set everything up to optimize our operations. We are seeing steady improvements in our productivity and quality control,” said Troy Johnson, General Manager over the Jacksonville operation. “With all of this new capability, we are now in a great position to support much more of USNR’s very broad product line, both new equipment and replacement parts, right here in Florida.” The site comprises 10 acres of land, more than 150,000 sq.ft. of flexible manufacturing and warehousing space, and a large office complex for the company’s Jacksonvillebased sales, engineering, project management, service, and operations personnel. The offices also include a new training centre with facilities to host customers and provide technical training. Along with the building and site improvements, USNR also invested in a number of new machine tools and other equipment to significantly expand the plant’s manufacturing capabilities. The new plant uses state of the art equipment and technology for raw material preparation, machining, fabrication, painting, and assembly. The new plant also features double the crane-served area, and more than double the useful manufacturing space as compared with the old plant.
Appreciative employees
¢ Mazak Optiplex Fiber Laser: This view is from the pallet feeding side of the machine.
¢ Jacksonville general manager Troy Johnson. His office, the engineering offices, and conference rooms overlook the manufacturing floor.
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All of the USNR Jacksonville personnel are proud of their new facility. Following are comments from a few individuals who really enjoy coming to work at this new modern plant. “I’ve been with USNR for over 32 years, and I’ve worked in estimating, engineering, project management and sales. I have always enjoyed my work, felt good about what we do and the products we deliver to our customers. Our new facility is commensurate with that feeling and with USNR’s status in the industry.The office and shop floor are now visually connected via a wall of glass. It connects engineering and product management, and really facilitates interaction between and among our various teams. It’s a huge positive for communication and collaboration.” -- Alan
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
¢ USNR Jacksonville reception, with cafeteria in the background.
¢ Manufacturing floor.
Robbins, Senior Account Manager “The work flow at this new facility is much smoother as we are all under one roof. It allows us to collaborate in person much more frequently; before much communication was done by phone or email. This allows all departments to work much more closely with one another. It increases our knowledge and appreciation for the type of work each department performs, and really facilitates a sense of team. For our customers, it provides a much larger space to manufacture and stock the parts our southeastern customers need, so we can get critical spares out to them in a timely manner.” -Keith Fulmer, 18-year USNR veteran and Parts Sales Manager for the Jacksonville facility “I can’t begin to say how great it is to come to work at this new facility; it feels like winning the lottery! It is just a wonderful place to be. It is really a great asset to the Jacksonville region.” -- Cindy
DECEMBER 2016
Schafer, who has been with USNR for over 40 years, currently Parts Coordinator at the Jacksonville plant
Strategic location According to George Van Hoomissen, President and CEO of USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson “We’ve long recognized that Jacksonville is a strategic location as a logistics hub close to many of our important customers in the Southeastern United States. We’ve also developed a highly skilled workforce for this region that is secondto-none. This investment reinforces our commitment to providing world-class products to the wood processing industry.” For more information please visit: www.usnr.com
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SAWMILLING
Technology paves way for broader markets Tenon improves recovery, efficiency with Edger BioVision
T
HE COST of doing business seems to always be on the rise, making it incumbent on successful businesses to mitigate those increases with measures that can improve their bottom line. Often this means implementing new technology. This was the reality for Tenon at Taupo, New Zealand, when they sourced a new edger line from USNR. Today their needs for improved recovery and throughput have been more than satisfied with their technology choice. The Taupo operation employs 290 people and comprises a complete sawmill, dry kilns, planer mill, and secondary processing plants. The site processes Prune Butt logs into appearance grade products including lumber, solid lineal mouldings and clear pine boards. The majority of the output from the Taupo plant is exported to the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. All products produced are FSC®-certified and graded to exacting standards to ensure high recoveries and superior appearance. Darryl Robinson, Sawmill Operations Manager for Tenon, explained their situation: “We buy high value prune logs on the open market, and we recognized that we needed to extract more value and recovery out of those logs. “We selected USNR because we believed the BioVision system could fulfill our requirements. We have a great maintenance team here with a lot of knowledge, and we’ve had experience with the USNR team from Eugene, Oregon (formerly Inovec). We knew they could deliver on what we wanted.” Tenon has its roots in the Fletcher Group (Fletcher Challenge) in the 1960s. It was also known as Crown Zellerbach in some regions. The company owned multiple sawmills within the central north island of New Zealand. Gradually all were sold off except the Taupo operation. Today the parent company, Tenon Limited, is a wood products processing, marketing and distribution business, focusing on the high value moulding and millwork markets in the United States. The company primarily markets its high value products in North America via National Home Centres and the Pro Dealer network.
The supply The new edger line is fed by a headrig carriage and horizontal resaw. Logs are a mix of sizes ranging in diameter from 35cm to 950cm. The supply begins with a radius back unscrambler feeding a turn/pass station and lug loader that is monitored from above utilizing USNR’s
Grading for shop The Edger BioVision system is tasked with primarily detecting wane, knots, resin and bark pockets. The main challenge for USNR was developing the shop optimization (cuttings algorithms) for some of the products to comply with NZS 3631 grading standards.
¢ The startup team (l-r) Ryan Scott (USNR); Kurstin Te Mete, Tenon Project Engineer; Kaki Waenga, Tenon Project Manager; Adrian Livesey, Tenon Project Engineer; Jeff Tomlinson and Paul Kangas (USNR); Dave Jones, Tenon Production Optimization and Programming.
MillTrak system for flow and backlog control. The boards pass through the transverse scanner and on to the Maximizer positioning infeed table where they are rapidly fed into the 5-saw edger sawbox. The edged boards exit the process via USNR’s Flying-V Tailer, with tailings separated to a waste belt below. MillTrak is a vision-based lumber flow management system that optimizes the lumber flow during processing. It is proven to out-perform photo eyes and proximity detection systems, as it effectively smooths the flow, straightens skewed boards, and controls backlog. Besides lug loader backlog, applications include cant hook deck sequencing, adaptive hook timing based on product width and skew, stacker layer sequencing, and more. The MillTrak system camera is mounted above the lumber transfer to provide a clear view of the lumber to be monitored. In this location it is less susceptible to dust and moisture. MillTrak operates by creating a virtual array of presence detection points along the lumber conveyor. As boards travel through the detection area, the system recognizes the presence or absence of lumber as well as width, length, and skew. The Maximizer edger positioning infeed features pop-up style positioner heads to push boards onto hydraulically actuated staging ramps. The low mass design of the pop-up style positioner head allows fast positioning. This infeed table offers precise positioning, even with difficult types of material (curve sawn, small sizes), and gentle handling. The sawbox selected for this application utilizes 5 saws and a shifting straight edge with hold-over shoe. This allows the mill to process splits with one saw, and no edgings.
¢ This edger infeed table offers gentle handling and precise positioning, even with difficult types of material. Pop-up style positioner heads push boards onto hydraulically actuated staging ramps.
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Darryl commented: “We basically run slower than what the machine is capable of running. When we run wide boards we want to be absolutely sure the solution recovers the highest value. We can cut up to about 100 mm (4”) thick, and every shift has a different cut ranging from 5/4, 25mm, 50mm, 65mm, 77mm, etc. It varies all the time, and that was the idea for choosing the 5-saw machine.”
Data collection The sensor the Tenon team chose with the BioVision system is the BioLuma 2900LVG. This sensor is a powerhouse for collecting high density data from geometric measurements and visual characteristics, to grain angle measurements. It is the only sensor on the market to integrate this range of technology within a single sensor housing. It is, without a doubt, the best sensor on the market for the job of collecting the vast amounts of data required for accurate and precise defect recognition and analysis on green lumber. BioLuma 2900LVG specifications: • Scan rate: 2500 Hz • Measurement field: 8” / 200 mm • GrainMap density: 0.3” / 8 mm x 500 Hz • HD color resolution: 0.02” / 0.5 mm • HD laser profile spacing: 0.3” / 8 mm • Thickness accuracy: ± 0.015” / 0.38 mm • Laser class: IIIb – visible laser • Interface: Gig-E (Gigabit Ethernet) • Temperature: 32-120 degrees F / 0-50 degrees C, non-condensing • Input power: 48 VDC, 0.5A • The layout – Tenon and Skookum connection Designing the layout for the system
The cuttings analysis requires a lot of computing power to analyze all the possible combinations, thus 3 computers work simultaneously on each piece to ensure the optimum solution to maximize value. Bob Arnold, USNR Sawmill Grading System Manager, explains: “To ensure the best solution possible we opted for multiple optimizers. Each one does a subset of the total solution skew attempts, and contributes the value of the solution at each of those skews. The main optimizer then assesses all the solutions put forward and decides which provides the most value, then sends the machine set to the PLC to implement the solution at the edger.” A precursor to the Tenon system was the Edger BioVision system developed for Evergreen Forest, USNR’s first system grading for shop and moulding on Ponderosa Pine. Bob said: “For Evergreen we developed the multioptimization computer strategy to allow solution generation for optimization using cuttings analysis.” didn’t come easily. Kaki Waenga, Tenon Project Manager, noted: “The concept changed several times. Tenon’s project engineering team working with operations personnel, reviewed a number of layouts with Skookum Technology. We initially tried to insert the new Edger line within our existing building footprint.” The final design came from the Tenon project team, situating the Edger next to the existing production line, which proved to be a very strategic move and paid large dividends in time management and commissioning.
Skookum plays major role That’s where USNR’s agent on the ground in New Zealand, Skookum Technology, came in. Skookum’s General Manager, Geoff Strang, relates:
¢ The BioVision optimized decision shows a 2-board solution; 1. is a #3 Shop 5/4 x RW, 150mm wide x 3.6m long. 2. is a #2 Shop 5/4 x 145mm wide x 3.6m long. The interface also shows such details as saw positions, recovery volume and value, list of cuttings from each board, etc.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
NEWS
Automation is key to survival in sawmill industry
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HE SAWMILL industry has long since abandoned labour-intensive manual operations in favour of efficiency-enhancing automated processes. At the LIGNA 2017, the industry event for woodworking and timber processing in Hannover, Germany , all the leading global providers will be showcasing technology solutions that take automation to the next level. Achieving sustained profitability in sawmilling hinges on system-wide process optimisation. Consequently, sawmill companies around the world are looking to invest in advanced technologies across a range of areas, from log handling right through to timber drying, optimization and packaging. LIGNA, the world’s leading trade fair for machinery, plant and tools for the woodworking and timber processing industries, is the perfect place for them to do their research and ensure they make the right decisions. The show will feature a solid line-up of market leaders, including Linck, USNR and Veisto, who will be presenting integrated systems comprising state-ofthe-art round-wood handling and cutting systems. Visitors looking for round-wood yard optimisation solutions will also find fully automated debarking systems from a range of providers, including Baljer & Zembrod and Valon Kone. EWD will also be there with its camera-assisted log grading and sawing pattern optimization software for “Skookum assisted with the original project feasibility study, and worked with Tenon over a period of time specifying and determining the best layout for the new edger line.” Geoff noted that Skookum has enjoyed a long business relationship with Tenon, dating back to the original Fletcher sawmill. Working together, Tenon and Skookum provided the project engineering for the construction design of the building. Tenon is fortunate to have a skilled engineering team that completed the construction of the building and carried out the installation of the USNR Edger. The onsite Tenon engineering team along with local contractor JB Maintenance and Design, completed the equipment that was outside USNR’s scope of supply.” This included mechanical / electrical transfer systems along with fully automated PLC machine control. The end result is a new machine center that was constructed and pre-commissioned off line, and that resulted in a rapid start up.
Positive performance Darryl related the benefits that Tenon has achieved. “We’re getting an increase in log to lumber recovery, more than we initially expected, so we’re really pleased with that. Also, the system allows us to
maximizing sawn timber yield. The primary focus of innovation in this area is on electronic measurement systems. Technologies for determining round-wood and lumber dimensions and quality are another important means of adding value in sawmilling. X-ray scanners, such as those produced by Microtec, are a prime example of this. The same is true of automatic board edging systems, such as the latest edging lines by Primultini. Then, of course, there are specialists like PAUL Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, whose optimised docking saws maximise output and minimise trim waste. There is always some degree of waste, of course, and
do a lot more rationalizing of products to improve efficiencies in our secondary processing.” He also noted the project delivered all the benefits outlined in the original scope and was delivered on time. Beyond designing the layout, Darryl says: “Everything else went great. The board edger was a game-changer for us. It’s changed the bottleneck in the sawmill. We can put more wood out of our facility, we’ve increased our throughput, now we’ve got to look at the rest of the mill and speed that up to balance mill flow.”
so there is growing interest in recycling systems. For example, Vecoplan and Urbas will be showcasing their solutions for processing sawmill residues into valuable products and bio-fuels. Another exciting option in the sawmill efficiency game relates to high-tech timber kilns of the type showcased by Mühlböck and Eberl. These kilns enable sawmill operators to get highquality timber to market faster and more easily than ever before. Another key development is that more and more sawmill companies are diversifying their portfolios. Increasingly, they are supplementing their lumber offerings with processed, value-added timber products. LIGNA has this area covered as well, with an extensive array of products ranging from small “plug & play” planing solutions to the large-scale finger-jointing plants developed by the Weinig Group. Event organisers say that in 2017, the LIGNA show’s revamped thematic layout will make it much easier for visitors to find what they are looking for. Products and solutions for all stages of the sawmill value chain will be located under one roof, in Hall 25, while the displays of mobile sawmill technology will be located on the open-air site. Meanwhile, the latest technologies for processing lumber into construction materials such as structural laminated timber and plywood will be on show in the neighbouring Hall 27.
Engineering and Project Manager; Adrian Livesey, Kurstin Te Mete and Gerhard Jansen, Project Engineering for Automation, Optimization and Electronics; Colin MacRae, Electrical Installation Manager; Dave Jones, Production Optimization and Programing; and Jason Ngauma, SOP Training and Safety. He also commended the Tenon electrical team and the contractors who worked on the project.
Notable contributions Several Tenon personnel traveled to USNR’s facility at Eugene, OR for focused training, then came back and trained other personnel. “We run 24/7 so we’ve got to cover our bases in-house. We trained the technical personnel and then they trained the other staff,” said Darryl. He commended the Tenon personnel involved with the project. “The whole team was really outstanding. The success of the project was due to the hard working team that unselfishly put in long hours to keep the project on time and within budget.” He noted the following individuals; Kaki Waenga, Site Maintenance/
Tenon describes the operation as the country’s largest single site producer of defect-free, appearance grade radiata pine products. It supplies growing markets in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. This new edger line, with its BioVision grading capability, dovetails nicely with the company’s goal to expand and grow its output and its market, and to maintain its standards for the utmost in quality products.
NEW KOMATSU FORKLIFT LINE OFFERS COST-SAVING INNOVATIONS & FEATURES >> Superior fuel economy due to common rail turbocharged diesel engine, electronically-controlled hydrostatic transmission & variable displacement pump with clss
>> 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
¢ As flitches are transported through the scan zone the image and applicable defect date is displayed on the user interface screen.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
ALL ENQUIRIES: 1300 814 769 DECEMBER 2016
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BUILDING FOCUS
National survey of builders points to signs of improvement
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MASTER Builders survey of building and construction shows industry sentiment holding up, despite a recent deterioration in some of the leading indicators. “Industry sentiment showed signs of improvement in the September quarter issue of Master Builders quarterly National Survey of Building and Construction. Builder confidence remained on firm ground, gaining 0.7 points on the Master Builders Building and Construction Market Index (BCMI), supported by a bounce in sales contracts and a loosening of skills shortage constraints,” said
Matthew Pollock, National Manager Housing. “By sector, house builders for detached housing were the most positive, particularly in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland where strong population growth continues to support a healthy pipeline of work-on-the-books. These results show that while activity in inner-city apartment markets may drop off over the next two years, broader industry sentiment remains positive,” he said. “Sentiment here is supported by ABS statistics which show residential
construction work holding up - up by 1.2% in the June quarter 2016 to be 6.6% up on over the year,” Mr Pollock said. “But areas of vulnerability remain,” he warned. “Non-residential builders have lowered profit expectations and nonresidential work-on-the-books is soft. Typically, these are good leading indicators for industry prospects, with the current results pointing to a slower period for the nation’s nonresidential builders,” he said. “The CBD office markets in Perth and Brisbane remain a
Ballarat firm wins MBA National Young Builder of the Year Award VICTORIAN REGIONAL builder David Moyle, from Ballarat Construction Management, has been recognised as the WoodSolutions National Young Builder of the Year. The award was announced at the Master Builder’s National Awards dinner in Canberra’s Great Hall. These prestigious National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards acknowledge excellence in the building and construction industry and are presented each year by Master Builders Australia (MBA). Sponsored by WoodSolutions, the Young Builder of the Year Award has been running since 2008 and complements other awards, including the MBA’s Apprentice of the Year Award. All entrants in the Best Young Builder category must be under 40 years of age. The 2016 recipient of the award, David Moyle, breaks a winning streak of young Western Australian builders, who have won the previous four annual awards. Based in regional Victoria, David’s building company, Ballarat Construction Management, specialises in individually designed, quality projects ranging from single residential to small and medium commercial projects, throughout the State. Born and educated in Ballarat and an active
member of Master Builders, David was Chairman of Master Builders Victoria’s Country Sector in 2014 and is currently on Victoria’s Board of Management. He has also been involved in judging and giving guidance to apprentices. “It’s great to see recognition of a young builder based in rural and regional Australia,” said Eileen Newbury, Program Manager for WoodSolutions and National Marketing and Communications Manager for Forest and Wood Products Australia, the industry services company that resources WoodSolutions, the sponsor of the Award. “David is adopting industry-leading practices and processes in regional Victoria,” Eileen said, “and their commitment to keeping work local is also potentially beneficial to wood and wood products, many of which are produced or manufactured in regional and rural areas.” The 2017 National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards will be presented as part of the National Conference on Saturday 25 November as the grand finale to a conference in Hobart.
lingering weight on broader sectoral business conditions as the resource boom hangover continues to cast a long shadow. Other pockets of vulnerability include inner-city apartment markets, and pretty much the entire engineering construction sector. “In terms of employment, the survey shows labour availability has loosened across the board, with all construction related occupations covered in the Survey showing index values of below 50. “The loosening of labour market conditions is good news as long as building activity holds steady, but less positive prospects going forward may pose a risk to employment. Jobs may be at risk if building activity was to deteriorate beyond current market expectations,” he said.
Election reflects continued regional presence
MASTER BUILDERS Queensland has welcomed a new Board, and president Ralf Dutton from Far North Queensland. The election is a reflection of Master Builders continued regional presence, with nine offices across Queensland. The Board will build on the successes of the previous Board, with a focus on ensuring a policy agenda that helps support the industry as the cornerstone of the Queensland economy. The Board, which meets monthly, is responsible for the governance and strategic direction of Master Builders. In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the management and control of the association is vested in the Board and elected by the Master Builders College every three years. President of the Board is Ralf Dutton, who is proprietor of Value Homes (NQ). Ralf began work as an architectural draftsman while studying for his building qualification and became a registered builder in 1978. He worked for Ballantyne Homes from 1979 to 1992, after which he began his first of many successful businesses. Mr Dutton is joined by construction chairman Rod McDonald; housing chairman Ross Hogno; and Board members Geoff Baguley, Drew Brockhurst, Adrian Gabrielli, Nick Herron and Peter Schriek.
Helping you stay a cut above the rest OVER SUMMER, professional carpenters and builders are flat-out with timber decking projects for Summer renovators. No one can afford costly delays caused by tools that fail or wear out too quickly. With top-performing tools, trade professionals can work faster, and with greater precision, to create a stunning outdoor timber living space. The latest technology from LENOX®, the leader in premium performance cutting tools, gives the trade professional maximum durability and strength with two new saw blades. The new Demolition CTTM Reciprocating Saw Blades and Bi-Metal Reciprocating Saw Blades with Power Blast TechnologyTM are designed for every stage of construction – from tough demolition applications to cutting new joists. Both new reciprocating saw blades, made with the Lenox-patented T2 Technology™, are strengthened for extended blade life and fast, high-performance cutting so the trade professional can perform more cuts without stopping to change blades. 20
The Lenox Demolition CT Reciprocating Saw Blades are carbide tipped for up to five times longer life than the equivalent 6 TPI bi-metal reciprocating saw blades in nail-embedded wood cutting applications. The carbide is welded to prevent tooth loss, ensuring a longer blade life. The taller and thicker blade profile delivers strong durability for heavyduty demolition jobs. Each tooth is precisionground on multiple surfaces to cut through nails and other materials with ease. The new Lenox Bi-Metal Reciprocating Saw Blades come in four types: LAZER, Demolition, Wood Cutting and Metal Cutting. Engineered using a high-speed blasting process, the Bi-Metal Reciprocating Saw Blades have added strength and durability. The Power Blast Technology process is commonly used in the aerospace and automotive industries to prevent cracks by adding a layer of compressive stress to the surface of the metal. LENOX has used this AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
DECEMBER 2016
process on its band saw blades for more than nine years for top-quality performance. This is truly cutting-edge technology for builders, carpenters and other trade professionals. www.timberbiz.com.au
ASSOCIATIONS
Common thread in getting the message across By Eric Siegers PrincipaL, The Timber Hub
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VER THE past three months we have been holding regular architectural breakfasts to stimulate the discussion on timber and timber products with the specifier sector. While we provided a lot of information to over 120 architects in that timeframe, it was the feedback that was of most interest. As we all know while architects are not the people who buy from us, they are the people who set trends and direct specifications. So, when they give us feedback I tend to listen. Consistently the architects have been questioning why Timber is pushing itself to such an elitist position. Consistently timber has been viewed by the architects as something that is elitist and out of reach of many home owners. “Only the wealthy can afford the houses that are advertised with the guy from Grand Designs”. The architects regularly commented that timber is such a great product and so strongly environmental making it reach the common man is perhaps a better goal for the industry. They referenced fairly regularly that the steel industry gets it right with the approach to the common man. “A man in his undies appreciating
his house is truly Australian and achievable. “ they added “making timber elitist makes our job harder for a material that is truly beloved by the consumer”. This is an interesting take on the way the industry presents itself. I find it interesting that the sector we seek to influence so they influence their clients to choosing timber, want timber to be presented to the common man. This reflects the projects we work on through the Timber Hub. We find ourselves working on the aesthetic elements such as cladding, flooring and decking an awful lot, which is where the common man engages with timber significantly. This is who buys the timber. So the old advertising adage of “make the product be something your consumer can connect with” is not misplaced. At a time when timber is gaining popularity, we can perhaps strengthen that relationship with the market by connecting the product with the people who actually purchase and use the product and help the architects in strengthening their story and proposition. We have concluded our breakfast series for this year, but the agenda for next year is in the works and the feedback from the architects has directed our topics and they cover everything from building to meet fire codes in AS 1684 to fixing systems for Timber claddings to meet the new guidelines from the NCC. Due to interest we get from the other States we will also be taking the presentations to some of the other capital cities. Stay tuned!
Many milestones achieved By Peter Llewellyn Technical Representative Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA)
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HE TIMBER Veneer Association has had a busy and fruitful 2016 with a number of milestones achieved. A major change was the stepping down of longserving Association Secretary Allen Broome. Allen was Secretary for 12 years, and Secretary/Treasurer for about 9 years. His commitment to the TVAA was significant and he will be missed. Allen’s role has been taken up by Marc Robinson of Managed Forest Products Pty Ltd. Marc is wellknown throughout the veneer industry, having spent some 27 years as a veneer buyer for LeMessurier Timber Co. In recent years the Association has achieved a higher profile, with annual involvement in the Australian Timber Design Awards, sponsoring the
Industry News
Award in the Timber Veneers category. During 2016 regular press releases featured in trade magazines. Coinciding with Allen Broome’s stepping down, TVAA’s President Rod Sharp, CEO of Sharp Plywood, decided to call it a day after many years at the helm. He has been succeeded as President by Gray Parsonson, CEO of Timberwood Panels Pty Ltd. During the year it was decided to amalgamate the Association’s two websites for ease of use, and the specifier material and photo gallery previously on the Uniquely Veneer site was brought over to the main website at www.timberveneer.asn.au. Another innovation was the setting up of a Facebook page to better engage with veneer users and provide up to date news on the industry. The Timber Veneer Association will continue to develop the market for wood veneers by a combination of promotional activity, such as the national timber awards, and the initiation of research to overcome technical problems. Examples of successful research outcomes include finding ways to counteract the effect of UV light on veneers, and an ongoing project to investigate potential causes of tannin staining.
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DECEMBER 2016
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ASSOCIATIONS
2016: TTIA and industrial relations - The Year in Review Brian Beecroft Chief Executive Officer Timber Trade Industrial Association
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ELL, IF you’re like me, you will be uttering the same humble words you did this time last year, where did that year go and why is time going so fast! You know the answer deep down, time goes faster once you turn 40, and thereafter it just gathers momentum without empathy and totally against one’s own free will! That said, it is worth examining what were the main industrial relations issues to emerge from 2016 and for the industry was it a win, lose or draw. In terms of what could be termed significant decisions, there was a decision by Fair Work Australia allowing variations to annual leave provisions in modern awards in relation to cashing out annual leave, excessive leave, granting annual leave and method for payment for leave. The acknowledgement by FWA of the fact that employees often seek to cash out leave from their employer is welcome, albeit long overdue, and with limitations on the amount and some associated rules included in the process. Similarly, it is commonsense that employers be allowed to make annual leave payments by EFT in accordance with their pay cycle rather than having to make payment before the employee proceeds on annual leave. Too often it seems the bureaucracy and its institutions are playing catch up with the reality of what happens in the workplace. Another FWC decision during 2016 varied the overtime provisions in modern awards to allow an agreement with an employee to take time off in lieu of overtime instead of being paid overtime based on time
for time, i.e. 2 hours overtime worked equals 2 hours’ time off. This provision may prove useful, although again it does come armed with the usual onerous requirements to have a separate written agreement with each employee for each pay period when the provision is applied. Yes, I know, as if you don’t already have enough reoccurring tedious paperwork! It also has rules about when the time off can be taken and so on. You should consult TTIA on both the above issues when implementing those changes to leave and overtime. In the middle of the year, we had a National Wage decision applying a 2.4% wage increase to employees. This was basically expected and fairly predictable. Finally, we started the year with the Government seeking to introduce the Australian Building & Construction Commission to exert some pressure on those parties that operate on building sites to behave in a lawful and civil manner. At the time of writing, we are still awaiting the passing of that legislation in the Senate with the Labor opposition still opposing the concept. That brings me to TTIA. The last year has without doubt presented some challenges but we remain focussed on continuing to cement our reputation as the key go-to in-house industrial relations provider of industrial/ HR advice and legal services to the industry. It’s an industrial unit that is unique in terms of its timber specific experience as well as its non-profit cost effective nature. We are grateful for the continued industry support from all sectors, as well as the support we get from other timber related organisations who refer the wider industry to us for specific legal assistance. The TTIA Workplace Health & Safety Unit also is quite unique in the industry in providing in-house timber experts on WH&S issues across all sectors of our industry. The senior staff in this unit have been at TTIA for more than 20 years and the demand for safety management systems and audits continues to grow. It also demonstrates the willingness of industry to embrace world class safety systems and procedures. As an industry, we can be proud of this change from where we
were in terms of safety when I first commenced at TTIA 25 years ago. The year has seen TTIA form a series of strategic business partnerships to offer a vast range of business services and membership discounts that really are unique in the timber industry. We recently negotiated arrangements with two further organisations to provide 15% discounts to our Members on new fire extinguisher equipment as well as competitive work on fire safety systems. In addition, we have negotiated with an international organisation a 15% discount on members’ personal protective equipment and a range of workplace products. Members are advised to contact TTIA to access these offers. The range of membership services, partners and discounts provided to TTIA members now extends to: Fuel Electricity Telephone Labour Recruitment Services Freight Forwarding Training Services Marketing/Website Site design Fire Systems Protective Personal Equipment Legal Work Place Health & Safety Drug & Alcohol Testing Services & Equipment Finance Business Insurances Lighting On a closing note, a big thanks to John Hudswell (editor) and Australasian Timber for the opportunity to contribute to this magazine, to our loyal TTIA members and the industry as a whole. I always think this time of the year is not only a good time to recharge the batteries but reflect on what is really important. On that note, may you enjoy the festive season with family and friends. Have a great Christmas and I look forward to contributing next year!
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By Doug Howick, Editor, TPAA “CONTACT” Newsletter A NEW executive team to lead our association’s activities in the forthcoming year was approved and installed during the 2016 Annual General Meeting late in October. Incoming President Gerry Gardiner tells your Editor that he is pleased to have accepted the position of President of TPAA. In stressing that he will be ably supported on the 2015/2016 TPAA Council by Kerry Bloor, of Lumber One(NZ) and Jack Norton as TPAA National Secretary, he explained that he would not have felt confident in taking on this commitment without their support. They will operate as an executive team and look forward to growing the number of active members so that TPAA can be truly representative of all of the treatment industry. Gerry agrees that a lot has been achieved by our Past President, Garrie James, for which we must thank him and that Jack “has been tireless” in his efforts to modernise TPAA, particularly with the work he has undertaken on the new TPAA website. Mr Gardiner has a long involvement with the Australian timber industry, having operated DECEMBER 2016
his own business as a timber Importer for some thirty years and more recently as a business owner of itreat Timber, in Brisbane. Furthermore, he has held numerous roles within the industry on bodies such as the Queensland Timber Importers and the Australian Timber Importers Associations and he currently represents the ATIA on the AS 1604 Standards Committee (TM-012). 2015/2016 Councillors are: Gerry Gardiner, (President) - itreat Timber Andrew Forster – Southeast Pine Angelo Hrastov - Lonza Elias Akle - Koppers Garrie James – Outdoor Timber Harry Greaves – Harry Greaves Consulting Ian Clarke – TimTech Chemicals Kerry Bloor – Timbalink NZ Lew Fisher – Fishers LOSP Pat Shelton – Shelton Timber Peter Webb - IVS Warren Banks – Kop-Coat NZ Wayne Lewis - Koppers 2015/2016 Technical Committee: Harry Greaves (Chairman), Ronald Clawson, Laurie Cookson, Stephen Crimp, Richard Forrester, Mark Fortune, James Hague, Greg Jensen, Jack Norton, Rick White, Kerry Bloor, Noel Coxhead, Tim Evans. www.timberbiz.com.au
ASSOCIATIONS
TABMA continues to go from strength to strength By Colin Fitzpatrick Chief Executive Officer Timber & Building Materials Association (Aust.) Ltd
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HE 2016 Timber Industry Dinner, attended by 220 guests representing all States as well as special overseas guests, was held in Sydney on October 7. Entertainment was provided by illusionist Matt Hollywood and a DJ playing everybody’s favourite music. The annual TABMA Member of the Year Award was presented to ITI Australia and accepted by Craig Davies.
Queensland Awards Dinner The Queensland Timber Awards Dinner was held on October 15 at Rydges, Southbank. The winners were: Trainee of the Year Brennan Turner – Hudson Home Hardware, Nerang Best Timber Wholesale Representative Melonie Conduit, Parkside Timbers Host Employer of the Year Woodhouse Timber Company
Best Timber Manufacturing Company Timbeck Architectural Most Innovative Operation Parkside Wondai, Dry Mill Best Building Materials Centre Bretts Home Timber & Hardware Best Frame & Truss Fabricator Langs Building Supplies Best Sawmilling Operation Hyne Timber Best Timber Wholesale Operation ITI Queensland Best Timber Merchant Gowan Lea Timbers Recognition of an Individuals Contribution to the Timber Industry John Gill
TABMA Victoria We are pleased to advise of the appointment of Sam Sammour to the position of State Manager, TABMA Victoria. Sam took up his role on October 24.
TABMA Group Annual General Meeting The 2016 AGM of the TABMA Group was held in Sydney at the Hotel Urban on November 3. At the meeting Peter Hutchison (MiTek) was elected unopposed as President for the 2016/17 year.
renton Christopher (John Cook & Sons) and David B Little (Hardware & General) were elected Vice Presidents. The following comprise the Board of Directors for 2016/17: Andrew Bone (Bone Timber SA) Roy Edwards (Heyden Frame & Truss NSW) Michael Gaske (Ozline Timber Qld) Danny Gattone (Swadlings Timber & Hardware NSW) Glenn Johnston (Stockwells Joinery NSW) Brett McKay (McKay Timbers Tasmania) John Stewart (Simmonds Lumber NSW) Gary Walker (Belmont Timber NSW)
The 2016 Year 2016 was a very good year for the TABMA Group with revenue up over 40% on the previous year and our total employee numbers now nudging 300. All divisions are progressing well especially our GTO - TABMA Apprentices & Trainees and our RTO – TABMA Training.
Seasons Greetings We at TABMA wish all our members and all in the timber industry a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2017 brings prosperity to all.
Building a better future from a young age WHEN 15-year-old Patrick Keatings told his mother Lisa he did not want to continue his schooling she was disconsolate and decided to meet with his school counsellor. The counsellor suggested a meeting with TABMA’s Steve Magner. Steve interviewed Patrick and recognising talent in the young lad arranged for an interview for a traineeship with the company Slabs of Timber at Freemans Reach, an outer Sydney suburb. Reluctantly, Lisa decided to give permission for him to go for the interview. Like Steve the company was impressed with Patrick and offered him a traineeship commencing the following Monday. Upon commencement Patrick and his mother found the first month difficult as this was a totally new environment for him as he found himself working with adults and not being involved in the workforce conversations. Steve was very supportive of Patrick and pushed him to keep at it while becoming his confidant. Lisa with a degree of apprehension put a lot of
faith in Steve, TABMA and TABMA Training (formerly trading as FITEC) and she is extremely grateful she did, as the lad has been trying hard and has made good progress. He is studying for a Certificate 111 in Timber Manufactured Products and is very much enjoying what he is learning about the timber industry and has decided the industry is his future. Lisa is very impressed with Slabs of Timber’s attitude and kindness to her son and he has been saving his money to the extent that now after only four month’s employment he has paid $2500 for a boat and paid for a boat license for both he and his mother. His mother says he is now saving for a car for when he is old enough to drive and she says she has never seen him this enthusiastic about life and the opportunities available to him. Lisa says she is extremely grateful to TABMA, TABMA Training and Slabs of Timber as she believes the three have empowered a young man to achieve whatever he sets his mind to.
¢ Patrick Keatings ... a whole new outlook on life.
¢ Patrick, Kelly and Mum Lisa.
www.timberbiz.com.au
¢
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
Steve Magner ... recognised the talent.
¢ The boat he worked so hard to buy.
DECEMBER 2016
23
Multinail Engineering – the driving force in the pre-fabricated truss industry Cassette flooring in testing for the new Multinail head office Floor joists – using Multinail’s SteelWood Web Design Load Length Width Height Weight
3.0kPa 8.8m 6.0m 0.66m 2.1 tonnes
900mm x 550mm void for air conditioning