Australian & New Zealand Timberman

AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND

T I M B E R

P R O C E S S I N G ,

Vol.22 No.1

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February 2014

That's some shed!

• Prospects look good • EWPAA joins Frame • Buy Aussie goods

Manufactures Strapping & Strapping Equipment r ad See ou Page 7

Guaranteed Load Security Maximum strap tension & pulling power

Contact AWS today for a free cost saving assessment

www.austwarehouse.com.au

Free call 1800 023 890

NEWS

3 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

Australian Timber Design Awards

T

n The 2013 Australian Timber Design Award went to Lend Lease for Melbourne’sForté at Victoria Harbour, the tallest modern timber apartment building in the world.

HE AUSTRALIAN Timber Design Awards continue to break records not only in entry numbers but also in the works presented.

Last year’s highly prestigious award went to Lend Lease for Melbourne’s Forte at Victoria Harbour, the tallest modern timber apartment building in the world.

Forte is a superlative example of what can be achieved using the latest generation of engineered timber products. The judging panel was particularly impressed by the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the building frame. They expect that Forte will serve as an example to the Australian market of how this revolutionary technology permits rapid construction of strong, lightweight buildings that may be both tall and wide.

“Each year we find ourselves saying that the Australian Timber Design Awards have broken all previous entry records—

and each year it’s true. The awards have gone from a niche competition to a major event within the Australian design community,” say the organisers.

“It’s safe to say, therefore, that 2014, the 15th year of the awards, will be the biggest to date. In fact, we’ve already started to receive expressions of interest from potential entrants.”

Dates for the 2014 Awards are: Entries open – 10 February 2014 Close of entries – 27 June 2014 Judging Day – 16 July (TBC) Awards Presentation Evening – 18 September (TBC) “We expect the Sustainability Award to receive particular interest in 2014. Planet Ark, the sponsor of this category, is already working on tougher criteria for the award. Entrants will really need to work hard to demonstrate their environmental credentials this coming year!”

n The 2011 Australian Timber Design Award went to Circa Morris-Nunn Walker forSaffire a lavish 20 suite resort overlooking Great Oyster Bay, Tasmania.

Gottstein Trust offers training opportunities THE GOTTSTEIN Trust is the national education trust for the forest and wood product industries and has been assisting people in the industry with development opportunities for more than 40 years.

The Gottstein Trust offers Fellowships, Industry Awards and Scholarships to people working or studying in the wood and forestry industries to pursue projects that are relevant to the individual and to the industry as a whole. Most projects involve overseas travel

and more than 110 Fellowships have been awarded since the Trust was established in 1971.

The Gottstein Trust also runs Forest or Wood Science Course in alternate years.

These week-long courses are a good introduction to the forest and wood products industry in Australia and cover all aspects of growing or processing wood. The 2014 course is the Wood Science Course and is due to commence on 17 February. At the time of writing

some places are still available on this course - please see www. gottsteintrust.org for further information.

The Gottstein Trust was established in 1971 to promote the development of the forest products industry through the pursuit of excellence in people, processes and products. The Trust was initiated by industry leaders after the untimely death of Bill Gottstein due to a tree falling incident in Papua New Guinea. Bill’s memory

and legacy lives on in promoting the importance of linking growing wood with the wood products for which it has been grown.

The Trust is overseen by a board of 8 Trustees who are industry leaders and the Trust is funded by industry contributions that support the development of outstanding individuals in the industry. Each year the Gottstein Trust runs an appeal so that it can invest in the future of our industry and its people.

Further information may be obtained from: S. Pongracic, Secretary, J. W. Gottstein Memorial Trust Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC 3169 Phone: 0418 764 954 E-mail: secretary@ gottsteintrust.org Website: www.gottsteintrust. org

You should buy Aussie goods

THE AUSTRALIAN Forest Products Association (AFPA) is reminding people that when they buy an Australian made product, be it as mundane as a toilet roll or ream of copy paper, they are funding Australian jobs and supporting Australian families and communities.

AFPA members represent the full value but also in a myriad range of other ways; chain of the forest and forest products corporate sponsorships for sporting teams, industries in Australia; from growing trees children boosting numbers at small schools, to processing to producing paper, tissue and cars being serviced by local mechanics and newsprint. In all, some 80 000 Australians so on. gain a livelihood from these businesses, “Manufacturing also provides work in largely in regional communities. regions for apprentices and high-skilled “It is vital that consumers, both mums occupations. These are real, year round, and dad shoppers, as well as Governments jobs. Tourism is often a useful additional and large companies, really understand string to a community’s bow, but is highly ‘true value’ when they make their seasonal and depends entirely on accessing purchasing decisions,” said Chief Executive discretionary spending.

Officer Ross Hampton when announcing “Paper and tissue manufacturers have that the organization had produced a short a massive regional presence in places like YouTube video highlighting the need to buy Millicent in SA, Maryvale in Victoria and Australian-made products.

Albury in NSW and, as consumers we “We need to consider the flow-on benefits have the power to keep these communities from buying Australian manufactured as prospering by buying Australian well as the price on the box. When we buy manufactured products,’ said Hampton.

Australian we are also supporting rural The video can be viewed at: http://www. communities through wages to workers youtube.com/watch?v=rZN5lwqAW2E

Price fixing probe

NEW ZEALAND’S Commerce Commission filed proceedings in the High Court against Carter Holt Harvey Limited for price fixing in the Auckland timber market. Carter Holt Harvey Limited is an Australasian forest products company focusing on wood importing and exporting as well as forestry investments.

Carter Holt Harvey underwent an understanding with Fletcher Distribution Limited to fix prices in respect of the supply of structural timber to commercial customers in Auckland, in breach of Part 2 of the Commerce Act. The understanding operated during the period which involved the latter part of 2012 and early 2013.

The Commission also filed proceedings against Dean Dodds, Carter Holt Harvey manager, for his involvement in the understanding. Fletcher Distribution was given immunity for raising the alarm.Fletcher Distribution Limited which discovered its involvement in the understanding earlier in 2013, made the Commission aware of the situation, and cooperated with the Commission’s investigation. Both Carter Holt Harvey and Dodds have also cooperated with the Commission’s investigation, and both have now under gone settlements with the Commission in which they confess that their conduct breached the Commerce Act.

Knowledge for a sustainable Australia

Call for expressions of interest for FWPA R&D project funding opportunities November 2013 Forest and Wood Products Australia invites the submission of research proposals for projects commencing from 1 July 2014 addressing published FWPA industry research priorities. Details of forest and wood products industry priorities can be found in the series of active industry investment plans available from http://www.fwpa.com.au/Investment-Plans-andPriorities Each investment plan provides details of industry outcomes expected from successfully completed projects in addition to guidance regarding the level of available FWPA funding within each priority area. Preference will be directed towards project proposals containing significant levels of co-investment by project partners and collaborators.

Total FWPA funding of $1.5 Million is available for the 2014/15 financial year with an expectation that increasing levels of funding will be accessible for subsequent financial years.

Funding proposals, due by Friday 12 February 2014, should be submitted using the form available from http://www.fwpa.com.au/information-forresearchers. Completed proposals should be submitted to chris.lafferty@ fwpa.com.au Note this funding call is specifically for projects described within currently active FWPA R&D investment plans.

Further information is available from Chris Lafferty Manager, Research Development and Extension (03) 9927 3220 Chris.Lafferty@fwpa.com.au

NEWS

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 4

Research demonstrates need for more holistic approach R

ESEARCH FUNDED by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) demonstrates that a more holistic approach is required to achieve energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction from building materials, building construction and deconstruction phases.

In a submission to the National Energy Efficient Building Project (NEEBP), FWPA highlighted the findings from a number of research projects it has supported in relation to energy efficiency and life cycle assessment. The submission, which was authored by Dr Alastair Woodard, noted that a fundamental concern of current energy efficiency approaches is that they are too restricted in terms of their focus on only one small section of the ‘operational energy’ phase of a building’s life cycle – the energy due to heating and cooling.

The aim is to improve the thermal performance of the envelope, or shell, of the building so that heating & cooling requirements are minimised. With the software rating method the Star measure is based around the climate zone and the performance of the building envelope. A holistic life cycle ‘whole of building’ approach can address all the other

GHG emission generating factors in a building, overcoming any ‘cherry picking’ perception where some factors are included and other key factors are not.

FWPA has invested in a number of research projects over the years that have investigated specific aspects of greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency practices and processes, and alternative construction methods and building products. The aim has been to better understand, inform and educate the timber and building industry on these matters; particularly, in regards to a more holistic and accurate whole-of-building and whole-of-life approach.

Timber and wood products are a major building material in Australia. FWPA is a strong supporter and advocate of greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives, especially through the increased use of sustainably sourced wood products.

The submission to NEEBP will assist in understanding both some of the concerns on current energy efficiency implementation practices and also some of the opportunities towards future best practice.

New housing continues its upward march THE MID-JANUARY ABS release of housing data includes crucial information regarding dwelling commencements. The commencements update points to an ongoing new home building recovery, said the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

“There was a 2.0% decline in the September 2013 quarter, but over the 12 months to September there were 163,250 homes commenced,” said HIA Chief Economist, Dr Harley Dale.

“Looking past the spike in activity due to the GFC-related stimulus, that is the strongest level recorded since 2004.

AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND

T I M B E R

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December Vol.22, No.1 MEDIA

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview, South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501

“The overall recovery in new dwelling commencements since the trough in March 2012 is still being driven by New South Wales and Western Australia, although Queensland is showing clear signs of improvement,” said Dr Dale.

“The recovery is also being driven primarily by other dwellings (multi-units) rather than detached housing. Both segments are growing, but annual commencements for detached houses are 9% below their 20 year average while commencements of multi-units are running 35% above their 20 year average.”

“This compositional change has an influence on the extent of the boost that domestic manufacturers and retailers will experience from the new home building recovery,” said Dr Dale. “Overall, the upward trajectory in new dwelling commencements is still clearly a positive factor for the broader domestic economy.”

In the September 2013 quarter detached house commencements lifted by 1.3% while multi-unit commencements fell by 6.6%. Accounting for the June quarter base, healthy gains in total commencements were evident in New South Wales (up 8.6%) and Western Australia (up 4.0%). The September quarter also saw growth for South Australia (up 2.4%), the Northern Territory (up 1.9%), and Queensland (up 0.2%). Quarterly declines were recorded in Victoria (down by 8.5%), Tasmania (down by 5.4%), and the Australian Capital Territory (down by 32.7%).

In terms of the value of work done, the release revealed an increase of 1.3% in new residential work done in the September 2013 quarter. The value of larger alterations and additions posted a disappointing result, declining by 3.3% in the September 2013 quarter.

Advertising: Norm Nelsen n.nelsen@ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne: (03) 9888 4820 Timber classified: n.nelsen@ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne: (03) 9888 4820 Editorial: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9512 Out of office VOIP (08) 7127 6370 Subscriptions:

s ubs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide: (08) 8369 9555 General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Production: Luke Westle Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria, 3127, phone (03) 9888 4822 Conditions: Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor/publishers; information is published in good faith and we do not accept responsibility for damage which may arise from any possible inaccuracies. All rights reserved, none of the contents may be used in any other media without prior consent from the publishers.

Published by Ryan Media Pty Ltd.

n Front Page Photo: MAJOR MALAYSIAN glulam manufacturer Woodsfield certainly knows how to make a B-I-G impression. The multi-faceted company is part way through construction of its new manufacturing complex at Johor baru, Malaysia, and the dimensions of this new facility are staggering. Multinail and Woodsfield are working together in Malaysia to promote timber, Woodsfield’s glulam capabilities and Multinail engineered products. See more on page 11.

Possible longterm supply issues for pallet timber, warns TIMCON THE YEAR starts with extreme and unseasonable pressure on the availability of timber for pallets and packaging, according to delegates at the general meeting of the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON).

At the meeting, approximately 40 delegates from the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, from pallet and packaging manufacturers and major sawmillers, took part in an open forum on developments and trends in the market.

Reports suggest that stock is at an all-time low at some sawmills, which were also running at capacity and supplying timber first to the construction and fencing sectors, where historically the mills benefit from higher added value and improved log yields.

The recovering UK construction sector, coupled with booming demand for premium priced timber from markets in regions including the Middle East, Africa and China, has created “the perfect storm” for the pallets and packaging and other forest-based sectors, according to one member. Supplies coming from overseas continue to tighten, members said, with imports from Baltic (for pallets) and Scandinavian (for packaging) providers declining significantly. Approximately 85% of timber for pallets is now coming from domestic sources.

Stuart Hex, general secretary of TIMCON, said: “There is an extremely serious situation developing with regard to the availability of timber for pallets and packaging at a time of the year when we traditionally have a good amount of wood on the market and price stability. We have increasing reports of shortages from members and for this reason expect strong upwards pressure on costs.”

The recent Markit/CIPs report on UK manufacturing highlights an increase in the price of pallet timber for the fifth consecutive month. The latest Poyry index for the price of pallet and packaging timber showed a compound increase for quarters 2 and 3 of almost 10%. Hex said TIMCON members were reporting further rises during quarter 4 - a fact he expected to be reflected in official figures when released early this year.

“In the short term, this unfamiliar seasonal shortage of timber is likely to have an unwelcome effect on prices.

However, this is also indicative of a long-term trend that we are concerned will impact significantly on our industry,” added Hex. The TIMCON meeting was held in Manchester. Other presentations at the event included an overview of the annual Timbertrends report by Nick Moore, which highlighted 1% growth in the use of new pallets and a 4.7% increase in repaired/reused pallets.

No problems Down Under

While TIMCON members may be feeling the pinch, according to Australian sources there’s no such problem Down Under. Brian Curnow, who operates major pallet and crate manufacturer, Townsville Pallet and Crate, said that as far as he was aware there were no such problems in Australia. “As far as I know there is no shortage,” he said.

NEWS

5 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

Parquetry adds a premium finish to commercial premises U

SED IN some of the world’s grandest buildings, parquetry provides a practical and aesthetically adaptable solution for heavy traffic areas in commercial premises.

Durable and distinctive, this flooring style is ideal for retail and hospitality refurbishments, enabling modern or classic patterning using contrasting timber

colours and grains.

According to Boral Timber’s Clinton Skeoch while timber flooring has long been viewed as a practical flooring solution, business owners can create unique focal points using the beautiful geometric patterns of parquet flooring.

“The customisable nature of block parquetry makes it perfect for adding a distinctive touch to a

property, whether it’s a fashion retailer, designer hotel or busy restaurant”, said Skeoch.

“Building owners can use a mix of timber species, or just one species, to design custom patterns or recreate popular patterns such as herringbone or basketweave.

“For a complete and complementary flooring solution, designers can opt for a mix of timber flooring

products throughout a commercial space; the hardwearing nature of parquetry for high traffic areas and the simplicity of hardwood timber solid strip in other areas.”

Parquetry flooring can be easily maintained and any damage can be simply fixed by replacing just the affected blocks. Furthermore, after years of wear and tear the entire floor can be restored by sanding and resealing.

The Boral parquetry range is available in a wide selection of Australian hardwood timber species including Blackbutt, Sydney Blue Gum, Brushbox, Flooded (Rose) Gum, Ironbark, Spotted Gum and Red Mahogany.

Boral Timber has achieved Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Chain of Custody certification for its timber products. This means that timber used to produce Boral Timber’s hardwood flooring and decking has been sourced from certified, legal and sustainably managed resources. n Stunning, practical parquetry.

Ye olde timber provider

BACK IN the early seventies Gerry Driesen was one of the early “tree changers” (opting for country life as a retreat from the city rush). But it wasn’t all sit back and relax. He saw the intrinsic value of the property and so started the Hallston Pine Plantation dream.

Nestled south of Yarragon in Victoria’s beautiful Gippsland forests, the 60 hectare property became basically a self-contained business. Some years back Gerry listed what had been added to Hallston – the olde homestead, a timber treatment plant, cyclone and blower system, paling mill, breaking down

saw, Robinson 6-head moulder saw, Danckaert band saw, three-phase docking saw, three-phase diesel generator, plus vehicles and a swag of tools.

But, like most things, time has taken its toll and Gerry has been unable to continue working the property and now has it on the market. “The property has been idle for a few years and a fair bit of the equipment may be a bit obsolete, but it could still be usable,” he says.

Hallston has over 50 hectares of plantations (pine and eucalypt).

Following is the planting procedure that Gerry followed: 1976 – 16.19ha radiata pine 1978 – 18.21ha radiata pine 1983 – 6.07ha radiata pine 1990 – 8.09ha radiata pine 1990 – 100 twisted willow trees and 2ha Chestnut and Hazel nut trees 1991 – 6.54ha Mountain Ash and Tasmanian Blue Gum

Australian Paper here for the long term AUSTRALIAN PAPER has released its 2012 Sustainability Report documenting its environmental, economic and social performance across its six domestic business units.

In 2012, Australian Paper saw reduced domestic sales volumes as a result of a weak economy, a strong Australian dollar and an influx of competition from imports which negatively impacted sales revenues and profits.

“Foreseeing these market conditions, Australian Paper continued to improve its sustainability to ensure that we are here for the long term. We have turned challenges into opportunities and are proudly taking bold business initiatives so that we can adapt and find better ways to operate in the face of difficult market conditions,” said Chief Executive Jim Henneberry.

“Feedback from stakeholders showed they want high quality, environmentally responsible, local recycled paper products. As a result Australian Paper is investing $90 million into a white paper recycling plant at its Maryvale Mill in Victoria.

“This facility is the only one of its kind in Australia and will convert 80,000 tonnes of domestic waste paper into 50,000 tonnes of premium recycled fibre each year for high quality communication papers.

“We intend to more than triple our use of de-inked recycled fibre and transform recycled paper products from niche to normal,” said Henneberry.

In 2012 Australian Paper operations supported almost 6,000 full-time equivalent jobs – including 1,300 employees directly - and contributed $754 million to the economy.

This is Australian Paper’s third annual report and is aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative framework.

FOR SALE. 146 ACRES IN South Gippsland (125km from Melbourne)

This now unused property for some several years is probably one of few completely self contained to produce treated pine and other milled timber. It contains approx. 120 acres of fully grown trees (approx. 105 acres pine trees and eucalypts approx. 15 acres).

• Old but workable saw milling equipment and support accessories.

• Fully installed and licensed treatment plant.

• Large sheds, fully powered including a 3 phase generator.

• Comfortable three bedroom cottage.

• Property would be ideally suited to a mechanically minded person.

$1.5million

To find out more about this property have a chat with Sally Jones, Sally J Real Estate, (03) 5623 5622, mobile 0417 037 079. Email sallyjrealestate@dcsi.net.au. www.sallyjrealestate.com

Contact: Sally Jones Phone: 03 5623 5622 Mobile: 0417 037 079 Email: sallyjrealestate@dcsi.net.au 39 Smith Street, Warragul, Victoria 3820

NEWS

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 6

Nano-crystalline cellulose can help Victoria and SA auto parts makers go global T

HE NATIONAL body representing the forest and forest product industries has congratulated the Abbott Government on its speedy response to the crisis facing the workers and economies of South Australia and Victoria in the wake of Holden’s decision to cease Australian operations in 2017.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has also applauded the Prime Minister for a strong focus on innovation and research and development in the $100 million dollar Commonwealth assistance package.

“Investing in research and development is the best chance we have to move the productivity curve to ensure

Design contain-ed winning ways!

CZECH ARCHITECT Ales Javurek has been named the winner of an AC-CA competition to design a holiday home overlooking the Bondi Beach waterfront in Sydney using discarded shipping containers.

Beating 306 other participants, his house features horizontal wooden slabs which are supported by slight columns. These timber planes juxtapose with the shipping containers – metal boxes fabricated from slow rusting steel, and used to define living spaces.

The competition brief required a design that integrated function, structure and the ‘spirit of the waterfront home’, while generating discussion about the potential uses of freight containers.

Sustainable design was also to be employed in all facets of the proposal, and clarity and originality of design were highly regarded elements.

“The interesting inter-play between the different materials of steel container and wood together with transparencies give this project a positive edge. There is an element of surprise within this project even as it attempts to retain and stay true to the container DNA.” he told Architecture & Design.

FOR SALE Spare parts for Grey Benches.

Good stocks of genuine parts.

Catalogue available.

Contact Ron Grey Mob: 0414 657 393 Fax: 02 4988 6748

Australians can continue to play a major role in global manufacturing in years to come. Thanks to the Federal Government we have the dollars on the table – now we need the ‘outside the square’ thinking to go with it,” said AFPA Chief Executive Officer Ross Hampton. “AFPA has been calling for a national focus on the innovative possibilities available through strategic investment in forest and forest product industries. Globally our competitors have been investing in this area and are creating new growth markets – including in automotive parts manufacture.

“In Canada and the USA, for example, they have discovered that dealing with wood at a cellular level enables the creation of a whole new suite of materials which are able to be moulded into everything from dashboards to car centre consoles. In short, anything which is currently made from plastic can be created from a renewable, sustainable timber resource.

“In a carbon constrained global economy, when sustainability is a must for major manufacturers, and considering that one third of a car’s components are found inside the vehicle, it is not surprising that global car-makers are moving rapidly to trial replacement parts for their vehicles manufactured from the raw material of wood.

“A recent US Government report found that more than 200 vehicle parts could be made from wood-based cellulose, including the dashboard, centre console, brake components, heaters, seatbelts, bumper-bars, steering wheel, grill and the list goes on,” Hampton said.

Multinail acquires MangoTech and Spida Machinery MULTINAIL HAS acquired MangoTech Australia and the New Zealand company Spida Machinery.

MangoTech and Spida are dynamic manufacturers of automation machinery primarily for the timber roof truss and wall panel/frame industry.

Multinail is a supplier of machinery, metal connectors, software and engineering services for the prefabricated timber building industry. Multinail intends to maintain the Mango production facility in Melbourne until the operations, and staff, can be merged into Multinail’s purpose built 4,500 m2 (48,438 ft2)manufacturing facility. This collaboration aims to increase the solid, global reputation for product development, innovation, service and support by drawing on the enormous experience the three companies have in the pre-fabricated timber truss industry.

Spida will maintain all existing staff, management and manufacturing facilities and will continue to supply and service machinery from their base in Tauranga, New Zealand.

All contacts for Mango and Spida staff will remain unchanged and all supply, servicing and support of equipment shall continue without interruption.

Basic Edition up to 100 m/min

www.microtec.eu 2013.indd 1

By Jenny Hall

A UNIVERSITY of Toronto research team is working with Ford Motor Company to develop a new material for car parts using renewable resources extracted from wood pulp in a $4.9 million project.

The Automotive Partnership Canada (APC), a collaboration of public and private sector members, is supplying $2,513,500.

Financial and in-kind contributions from Ford and U of T bring the total value of the project to $4,981,500, researchers said.

The team, led by Professor Mohini Sain of Forestry and Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, is using two key ingredients from wood pulp: micro-cellulose fibre and lignin carbon fibre. These two fibres are combined to create a high-strength composite that will be used to manufacture automotive components. The manufacturing process will be greener, and the components lighter, leading to reduced vehicle emissions.

“We are very fortunate to have three leading public-private partners helping us to address a key research issue to design and manufacture automobile for better living,” said Sain, who is dean of the Faculty of Forestry and cross-appointed to Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. “We are a committed multidisciplinary team with relevant expertise poised to bring transformative changes in lightweight materials innovation and positively contribute to global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Sain is joined by U of T researchers Ramin Farnood of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chandra Veer Singh of Materials Science and Engineering and Ning Yan of Forestry, who is also cross-appointed in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. Roman Maev of the University of Windsor rounds out the team.

To develop the unique design tools and processing technologies needed to produce their new composite material, researchers are working closely with industry partner Ford Motor Company.

“Congratulations to all the researchers,” said Professor Paul Young, U of T’s vice-president (research and innovation).

“Collaborative research like this, in which academia and industry join forces, allows us to apply our combined strengths to solving real-world problems.”

The project builds on Sain’s success innovating the use of natural materials in place of plastic in manufactured goods.

An active entrepreneur, Sain’s technology formed the basis for the spinoff company Greencore Composites, and he holds several patents.

Announced in April 2009, Automotive Partnership Canada is a five-year, $145-million initiative that supports collaborative research and development and pushes the Canadian automotive industry to greater levels of innovation. Automotive companies play a key role in this industry-driven initiative, by providing both financial support and essential in-kind contributions to the collaborative research projects.

“The automotive industry has told us how important R&D partnerships are to innovation in this sector,” said Janet Walden, Chief Operating Officer of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, which is the lead agency within Automotive Partnership Canada. “Across Canada, Automotive Partnership Canada is supporting industry-university research partnerships that are translating our strong discovery research into new knowledge and technologies that companies tell us help to improve their products, processes and technologies.”

Jenny Hall is a writer with the office of the vice-president (Research & Innovation, University of Toronto)

New VP for HewSaw

One scanner.

One saw.

Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner for Wood components

Top team probes wood pulp use in cars

Reliable Powerful Optimised New sensor design & New Engineering Boosts your value!

i) Fits in all companies: small, medium & large ii) Boosts profitability of the production: reliably iii) Optimises chopping by value: accurately Plus: mobile access with your smart device.

HEWSAW appointed Tuomas Halttunen, M.Sc. (Tech.) Vice President, effective December 20, 2013.

Tuomas’ areas of responsibility now include sales and marketing and after sales operations.

Tuomas represents the fourth generation of the family that founded HewSaw 50 years ago and still controls the company today. He has worked in a number of positions at HewSaw, including international assignments at HewSaw subsidiaries and most recently leading the company’s after sales operations.

HewSaw is a leader in the design, manufacturing and sale of primary breakdown equipment for sawmills.

The company is based in Finland and has subsidiaries worldwide, including HewSaw Pty. Ltd, responsible for sales and product support in Australia and New Zealand. n Thomas Halttunen.

8/1/13 11:53

WAREHOUSE SOLUTIONS

7 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

FROMM strapping equipment - taking the world by storm F

ROMM, EUROPE’S leading manufacturer of PET strapping, strapping tools and strapping systems delivers strapping efficiencies and pulling power that are second

to none.

And there’s a wide range of applications to choose from. Just have a look at what is on offer...

Fromm In-line strapping systems: Installed in more than 30 countries worldwide. Australian timber installations are delivering over 99.5% strapping efficiency. Australian Warehouse Solutions also offer retrofits to existing systems, steel or PET. Fromm PET battery tools: Extremely robust and powered by an 18 volt li-lithium battery deliver over 350 straps per charge. The portability of Fromm battery tools has revolutionised conventional strapping stations.

Fromm PET pneumatic tools: Workhorse of the range in heavyduty installations.

Fromm Polyester (PET) strapping: A range of PET is manufactured in four locations around the world to strict quality assurance standards, delivering the following benefits: Impact Resistance: Withstands shock force. A combination of strength and elasticity ensures your packs arrive in the same condition as they were shipped.

Elastic Memory: Maintains strap tension in the event of pack settlement. Loads can be moved safely even after extended period of storage.

Safety: Smooth edges for safe handling. Unlike steel strap, PET does not rust and stain packs when exposed to moisture.

Easy Disposal: High volume users would benefit from our strap chopping systems to convert waste strap into saleable waste.

Australian Warehouse Solutions (AWS) was established in 1977 and since 2010 is 100% owned by Fromm (www.frommpack.com). The acquisition delivers access to stock and technical support from the Fromm group of companies worldwide. AWS facilities are located in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Factory-trained sales and service technicians provide support Australia-wide. AWS highly values long-term relationships and supplies major Australian companies such as Alcoa, Bluescope, Hyne Timber and Wesfarmers

n Pnuematic Tool (Top Left), Strap Tool (Top Left) & Strap Chopper (Above).

Manufactures Strapping & Strapping Equipment Guaranteed Load Security Maximum strap tension & pulling power

Contact AWS today for a free consultation or cost saving assessment !

www.austwarehouse.com.au

Free call 1800 023 890

ASSOCIATION NEWS

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 8

Bus-iness with a difference for FTMA

By Kersten Gentle Executive Officer FTMA Australia

F

ABRICATORS AND suppliers to the Australian frame and truss industry are being urged to lock in the 15-16 October 2014 for the Inaugural FTMA Australia Truss Bus Tour and Networking Dinner in Victoria.

“The FTMA Truss Bus Tour will visit frame and truss plants to see new equipment, machinery, timber and innovative thinking within our industry first-hand,” said Kersten Gentle, Executive Officer, FTMA Australia.

“Following the tour on 19 November the Inaugural Australian Frame & Truss Networking Dinner will be held which will be an event full of laughter, good food, drink and great networking opportunities for all associated with our great industry.

“A breakfast will be held on 20 November with

guest speakers and after morning tea fabricators will be invited to join their respective nail plate suppliers for the remainder of the day,” she said.

“This is a great way to come together and the FTMA Australia Truss Bus Tour will replace the National Awards which we will no longer hold, however, we will continue the Recognition of Service Awards for employees working within the industry for 10+ years.

“Please lock this date in your diary and we will provide further information in 2014 as we finalise destinations for the FTMA Truss Bus Tour. If you have any recommendations on something you would like to see, please let me know or if you wish to jump on board to become a sponsor of FTMA Australia ensuring recognition at this exciting event, please call me on 041 226 242.

“The concept of the FTMA Truss Bus Tour will be that the event is held every two years between our National

Conference. Our next National Conference is due to be held in South Australia in 2015 and the 2016 FTMA Truss Bus Tour will be held in NSW.”

New Year sees new National Secretary Stains on timber veneers DAVID MARLAY’S tenure as TPAA National Secretary started on 1 January following the self-confessed wish to ‘decelerate’ by former secretary Doug Howick after 20 years in the role.

David is well known through the industry. In 1975, he joined the timber industry with Allen Taylor and Company at its Grafton, New South Wales hardwood sawmill. With experience in hardwood production, roof truss and wall frame manufacture, and timber sales David returned to Queensland in 1980.

During amalgamations of North Coast Sawmills, from 1980 to 1992 he held a number of positions - with Wilco Timber, then Campbells and finally McEwans, Those appointments included Queensland Regional Manager of eight timber fabrication operations, Area Manager of 12 large timber and hardware trade outlets and as a National Timber Products Manager.

For the convenience of TPAA members (and indeed those in the wider industry) we publish the following contact details:

TPAA National Office P O BOX 5193, Sunshine Coast Mail Centre, QLD 4560 Telephone: (07) 5441 1917 TPAA Email: tpaa@tpaa.com.au Web: www.tpaa.com.au National Secretary: David Marlay Mobile: 0419 493 298 Email: david@tpaa.com.au National President: Wayne Lewis Mob: 0437 861 264 E:wayne_lewis@koppers.com.au “CONTACT” Newsletter Editor: Doug Howick Mobile: 0428 380 838 Email: doug@tpaa.com.au Treated Timber Plant Registration Authority (TTPRA) Registrar: Doug Howick 3, Wright Street, Brighton Vic 3186 Australia Tel.+613 9596 8166 Email: doug@tpaa.com.au n David Marlay.

Russ calls is quits after almost two decades in top job AFTER 19 years with the NSW Forest Products Association, the last 13 as Executive Director, Russell Ainley has retired. The industry gave him a huge send off at its annual dinner attended by past and current members and seven serving State members of parliament.

Spiro Notaras, a former President and current member of the Board, gave an amusing speech that provided the audience with some humorous insights into Russ’ working career culminating in the awarding of the Order of Australia Medal for services to forestry.

He was followed by Andrew Fraser MP for Coffs Harbour who spoke eloquently of Russ’ expertise and enormous service to the forest industry which ended in a standing ovation.

To fill the large shoes left by Russ, the

directors appointed Maree McCaskill as the General Manager of the NSW FPA. She has considerable experience in managing peak industry bodies/membership organisations that represent their members at State and Federal level and has often been in the hot seat with the media.

Her previous roles have been as CEO of the national bodies for the cotton industry, leather, hides and skins industry, beverage industry and her last seven years with the publishing industry. She has previously chaired the R&D corporation for wool, a director of the Zoological Parks Board of NSW and in her early career was the Deputy Director of the RSPCA NSW. Maree has been a writer, commentator and presenter for newspapers, magazines, radio and television.

THE TIMBER Veneer Association of Australia recently issued a data sheet titled Discolouration of Veneers in Damp or Humid Service Conditions.

The data sheet can be downloaded from the TVAA website at www.timberveneer.asn.au.

The purpose of the data sheet is to ensure that veneered joinery performs satisfactorily in all conditions.

It is believed that the discolouration described in the data sheet is caused by a reaction between tannin, which is present in some veneers, and iron particles. Many species (particularly eucalypts) have a high tannin content which reacts with iron to form black/grey and iron tannates if the veneer is in a damp environment.

Such stain is limited to the surface. It has been proved that high humidity or water contamination of the veneer is essential for staining to occur.

Consequently it is unlikely in a dry, non-tropical environment.

An important recommendation is that when handling veneers it is critical to minimise contamination with iron fragments or solutions from such sources as saw blades, veneer slicing blades, surface sanding (e.g. steel wool), nails and screws.

Contaminated water and contamination of glues and lacquers due to storage in metal containers which have an iron content should also be avoided.

Timber knowledge courses THE TIMBER Merchants Association (TMA) is reinstituting the timber knowledge courses for members, the first of which will be held in late February.

This popular course provides participants with a great introduction to timber and timber products, and helps people new to the sector to understand the basics from forest to merchant.

The course is unique because it not only focuses on timber in theory but

takes the participants to the mills to gain a first hand understanding of the processes used to manufacture the world’s most envirionmental products.

If you have a new team member who is at the start of their career in the timber sector this is a great introduction to understanding and building the networks vital to employee performance and growth.

For more details contact: Ingrida Matulis at TMA (03) 9875 5000.

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TRAINING

9 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

Finding the right apprentice or trainee

By Steve Cunningham National Training & Development Manager TABMA Workforce & Career Development Pty Ltd

A

PPRENTICESHIPS AND traineeships play a significant role in the career development of hardworking Australians, helping people of all ages learn new skills and improve their employability.

Businesses that take on apprentices and trainees are therefore providing an invaluable service to the community. Best of all, businesses can also benefit significantly themselves by having an extra pair of valuable hands on deck.

Sales usually increase and efficiency always increases as a result of training an apprentice or trainee. Graduates of these programs are highly sought after by many employers. For example, many graduates of the TABMA group training schemes are either now running businesses or are highly regarded in the management of many Australian timber businesses.

TABMA and the timber industry has a long and proud tradition of training thousands of trainees and apprentices in industry specific vocations such as: Saw doctors; Wood machinists; Timber manufacturers; Timber merchandisers; Frame & truss manufacturers; Frame & truss estimators & designers; Timber processing supervisors In addition the timber industry has employed and trained thousands of trainees with qualifications in: Administration; Transport & logistics; Warehousing; Sales & marketing; Retail However, before you take on an apprentice or trainee, it’s important to ensure that the individual you have selected is the ideal candidate for your business. Getting the right fit between the host business and the apprentice

or trainee is an essential part of ensuring that the relationship is beneficial to both parties and that job stability and performance are both maximised.

TABMA can manage the process of recruiting an apprentice or trainee, working closely with your business to determine which apprentice or trainee will get the most out of their experience in your workplace.

TABMA understands better than anyone how important it is not to rush into an apprenticeship agreement. Their experience will prove invaluable in identifying the right candidate for any apprentice or trainee positions you may have available.TABMA will also continue to work with your organisation once the apprentice or trainee has been placed, monitoring their progress and ensuring that they continue to learn and work to a high standard. If, after a period of time, you decide that your apprentice or trainee is not the right fit for your organisation, or that you aren’t able to keep an apprentice or trainee at this time, TABMA can even help the individual transition to a new organisation.

This is just one of many reasons why Australian businesses should consider working with a group training organisation (GTO) when taking on a new apprentice or trainee.TABMA have run successful GTOs in NSW, QLD and SA and we are now able to offer these options in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

To find out more about how you could benefit from using TABMA call 1800 TABMA1 for a confidential and obligation free discussion regarding your best training and recruitment options.

Thinking of hiring an Apprentice or Trainee?

n Saw blade in an autool grinder.

Do you need a sawdoctor?

TRAINED SAWDOCTORS are becoming harder and harder to attract and retain in Australia’s forest industries.

One alternative could be to put on an apprentice to train under your experienced personnel and so develop local skills to meet your current and future needs.

Timber Training Creswick officially opened the National Sawdoctor training facility in April 2013, and is now actively seeking first year apprentice enrolments to start in late March.

The apprentices attend 8x 1 week blocks of theory and skills training at Creswick, Victoria.

The blocks are tailored with four in the first year, three in the second year, and one in the final year of training meaning that as an apprentice becomes more useful to your enterprise they are away for training a lower percentage of the year.

During the first year of training the apprentices become well experienced in day-to-day saw shop tasks like grinding, tipping and sharpening. As their time and experience in the sawshop grows they learn rolling, hammering and tensioning of both band and circular saws.

During their final year the apprentices spend time grinding bandmill wheels and conducting saw alignment.

Manager of Timber Training Creswick, Rob Rule, says: “For the first time a sawdoctor training facility in Australia has been built adjacent to a training sawmill. This means the apprentice sawdoctors can get direct feedback from sawyers using their blades as to the cutting performance of that blade.”

Timber Training Creswick holds training delivery contracts for sawdoctor training with State Governments in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. With the support of ForestWorks Industry Skills Council application has been made to add the sawdoctor training program to the funded training list for South Australia, and notification of that process should be available shortly.

If you would like to discuss sawdoctor or other forest industry training needs please contact Rob or Jim at Timber Training Creswick on 03 53452018 or by emailing an enquiry to info@ timbertrainingcreswick.com.au

Timber Training

Creswick LTD.

P RACTICAL T RAINING FOR THE W OOD P ROCESSOR Think TABMA!

traineeship and worker training Sawmilling & Grading Courses Timber Drying Woodmachinists and Sawdoctors Workplace Assessments Portable Sawmilling Forest Growing & Management Truss Fabrication, Estimating and Detailing Forest Products Diploma

TRAINING

– An investment in the future Call today for a free information kit. 1800 TABMA1 NSW 02 9277 3172 • QLD 07 3254 3166 • SA 08 8350 1900 for VIC, WA, TAS & NT call 1800 TABMA1 www.tabma.com.au

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For 2014 Course Programs Phone 03 5345 2018 fax 03 5345 1198 www.timbertrainingcreswick.com.au

IMPORTS - EXPORTS

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 10

An environmental strategy

By David Venables Technical Information, Environment, American Hardwood Export Council

W

HEN I look back at my early days with AHEC in the 1990s, our environmental strategy was all too often reactive rather than proactive.

This began to change with our “are you wasting the wood” campaign, that some of you may recall, which challenged for the first time the environmental implications of how the material was used and specified.

Since then the U.S. hardwood industry has been actively engaged in taking its environmental argument directly to the market place with a series of unique and ground-breaking initiatives.

We have focused on a broad strategy to deliver accurate, verifiable data that not only assists our customers

in the wood industry, but can also be used to encourage a decisive shift away from the “greenwash” which has done so much to devalue the concept of sustainability in recent years. If we are to challenge misleading environmental claims from other industries, (“steel - the ultimate sustainable material” is still my favourite), then we must support wood’s case across a wide range of issues. A tick for good forestry practice on its own is not enough.

As I am writing this column, the final adjustments are being made to AHEC’s latest and arguably most important environmental initiative, the American Hardwood Environmental Profile, or in short, AHEP. An exciting development

n American timber ready for export. (Photo AHEC)

for the U.S. hardwood industry, the AHEP is designed to bring together in one shipping document individual species data on legality, sustainability and environmental impact (LCA).

It binds together three crucial sources of independent information.

Firstly, data collected and published regularly by the USDA through the Resource Planning Act (RPA) that documents growth and removals for individual species in U.S. forests. It is this information that tells us that the growing stock of usable hardwood timber has more than doubled in the last 50 years. Secondly, the AHEP draws on the Seneca Creek legality study commissioned by AHEC in 2008. This peer-reviewed research examines the legal framework and forestry practices at a national and regional level throughout the American hardwood forest resource. The report concludes that there is a less than 1% risk of illegal hardwoods entering the wood chain. And thirdly, it provides a scientific based environmental impact of harvesting, producing and shipping U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer sourced from AHEC’s recent ISO-conformant Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) project.

By making all this information easily available at the push of a button, our

industry will be the first in the wood sector to deliver a consignment based environmental profile incorporating LCA data as well as information on legality and sustainability. In the short term the AHEP will be most useful as a tool for importers to demonstrate due diligence under the EUTR, however the industry’s long-term benefit is the ability to trade accurate LCA data for every shipment. Why is this important? A simple answer – EPDs. A global framework is emerging for issue of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to communicate data on individual products to specifiers and consumers.

At European level, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), which became law in July 2013, requires use of EPDs to meet standards for environmental performance for construction products in all Member States. EPDs are based on LCA. By making “cradle-to-gate” LCA information available now, we will make it easier for European industries to develop EPD’s for hardwood products. I believe EPDs could become the most important driver for future growth and a real opportunity for us to challenge the dominant use of non-wood materials in the built environment. The future’s bright, the future’s green.

Prospects look good but price volatility expected to increase THE OUTLOOK for global lumber markets hinge on demand forces in the key consuming regions of the world.

More specifically, it will be the lumber demand trends in the U.S., China and Western Europe that will shape global markets in 2014 and beyond.

While the supply dynamics are becoming more constrained in some areas, the ability for sawmill capacity to ramp up production is an all too familiar dynamic that continues to over-shadow the global lumber market. However, if global demand can achieve a 4% (or higher) gain in 2014, the outlook should be very good for lumber and sawnwood prices. In the November issue of the WOOD MARKETS Monthly International Report, a 3.4% gain is forecast for 2014 by WOOD MARKETS which will result in favourable - but not spectacular – lumber prices.

The U.S. market outlook for 2014 (and beyond) was assessed in great detail in WOOD MARKETS 2014 – The Solid Wood Products Outlook: 2014 to 2018. While there will be a definite tightening in supply side dynamics in Canada, U.S. output is expected to drive lumber production over the coming five-year period.

However, it is the pace of U.S. housing starts that will set the tone for the lumber (and panel) markets in 2014. After a strong gain in new U.S. housing starts of 28.5% in 2012 (an increase of 175,000 over 2011), 2013 will end up with a more lacklustre gain of only 18.5% (+145,000 units) or about 925,000 new housing starts.

In 2013, the North American lumber supply chain became more balanced starting in the second quarter 2013 - as production started to swamp overall demand. By fourth quarter 2013, a much better balance between supply and demand had developed, setting the stage for a good start to 2014. However,

the Russian forest industry and its lack

This analysis by International WOOD MARKETS Group is derived of cost control of log exports remains

a critical issue that is discussed in

from its consultants’ extensive travels and market investigations considerable detail in Russia: Forest that, in turn, are the basis of six of its strategic outlook reports Industry Competitiveness & Export and analyses that were produced in the second half of 2013. without strong gains in new residential housing starts increases of 20% of more (or 175,000 or more units), it is more likely to just be a “good” year overall, but still could feature some supply chain shocks during the year that could create price spikes both up and down. WOOD MARKETS is predicting a steady growth in housing starts in 2014, but less than the 20% that is needed to support a very strong market.

North American lumber production is expected to increase by almost 3 billion bf (+5.4%) in 2014 – an increase over 2013’s estimated gain of 2.6 billion bf (+5.0%). The stud lumber segment is expected to see the most volatility when U.S. housing starts increase rapidly (i.e., more than 175,000 units per year) and/or as the supply chain tightens. From the detailed analysis covered in WOOD MARKETS’ North American Stud Industry & Market - Outlook to 2017, North American stud lumber capacity has been essentially unchanged since 2009 as some mills have closed while others have restarted. Canadian SPF represents over 50% of all stud lumber production but with Canada facing overall declines in its lumber output within about two years (declines in B.C. will not made up by the rest of Canada) future supply growth in SPF is unlikely. And there is almost no stud lumber production in southern yellow pine. As a result, studs could become a scarce commodity given the significant fibre supply constraints that will allow for only moderate production increases

in Eastern Canada and essentially no net increases in Western Canada. Parts of the U.S. West are facing a tightening log supply and this could further constrain stud lumber production, especially if China bids up the price of log exports from the coast region.

Stud lumber mills Aside from the U.S. West, stud lumber mills are expected to be operating near full capacity in the next few years with limited incremental production available. This scenario will require increasing volumes of imported studs from Europe to meet some of the increased demand. However, to attract the necessary volumes of imported studs or further production in North America, higher and sustained lumber prices will be needed. Over the next five years, total North American stud demand is forecast to experience an annual compounded growth rate of almost 10% - much higher than dimension lumber. And the prospects of lumber “super-cycle” coupled with record high lumber prices are very possible by 2016 (perhaps as early as 2015 for studs). China continues to be a key wildcard in global export markets as log and lumber imports continue to increase. This situation has been exasperated by the fall in total Russian log exports since 2007 (from 52 million m3 to 18 million m3) as the Russian industry has suffered from rising domestic logging and transportation costs despite a reduced log export tax that came into effect in September 2012. Erosion of the competitiveness of

Outlook to 2018. To offset declining log exports, Russian sawn lumber production has increased by about 30% during the last ten years, while lumber exports have increased by over 50% (led by the growing presence of Chinese-owned sawmills in Eastern Russia).

Winners and losers Russian lumber exports to China alone have grown from about 500,000 m3 in 2002 to about 7 million m3 (4.4 billion bf – nominal count) in 2013.

This has resulted in huge changes in China’s imported log and lumber supply and has also created a number of winners and losers as global trade flows have been radically altered.

WOOD MARKETS’ latest monthly China Bulletin outlines how China’s new government has plans to open up China’s economy that will include improved market access for foreign investors. The new plans also include steadily increasing urbanization as part of China’s development strategy and that means further direct or related investments in the housing market.

Although China’s housing market sizzled for most of 2013, despite the government’s attempts to rein it in, it looks like the market is stabilizing and avoiding a boom/bust scenario - that is good news for exporters of softwood logs and lumber. China continues to influence global log prices as well as prices in many domestic log markets, especially where logs can be easily exported. China’s ability to outbid sawmills for sawlogs along the U.S. west coast (as well as the B.C. Coast and in New Zealand) has been strongly evidenced since 2010.

n John Halkett.

The new year for timber importers

By John Halkett General Manager Australian Timber Importers Federation SO WHAT is 2014 likely to have in store for timber product importers? Clearly there are some major factors – some positive and others less so – that are very likely to impact on the market place and business performance of the timber importing and wholesaling sector.

Obviously the sharp deterioration of the Australian dollar is an issue that will affect margins by perhaps around 12-15%. Domestic timber producers should be assisted by this currency fluctuation, but with wholesalers stocking d o m e s t i c a l ly- p r o d u c e d products this is not all bad news for the sector and the timber industry overall.

On the up-side overall housing starts, plus additions and alterations are looking stronger as we go into 2014.

Notably after years of being in the doldrums, NSW is starting to see a mini housing boom.

Land sales are up 30% on the past year and a substantial number of new homes are queued to be built in the State’s western and south western suburbs. Also with the domestic supply of a number of product lines, notably structural engineered, panel and plywood products well below anticipated demand, imports will need to continue to do the heavy-lifting and fill the demand gap. They will also need to continue to lead the promising incursion into commercial and high rise construction that we have seen over the past year or so.

So, although the Australian dollar is notably softer at the start of the year and may well drift further downwards, a stronger housing market, continuing production innovation, competent marketing and sound technical support are all likely to combine to see timber importers continuing to be a vital part of Australia’s timber product supply equation this year.

ENGINEERED WOOD

Now that’s what I call a shed!

M

AJOR MALAYSIAN glulam manufacturer Woodsfield certainly knows how to make a B-I-G impression. The multi-faceted company is part way through construction of its new manufacturing complex at Johor baru, Malaysia, and the dimensions of this new facility are staggering, let alone the space for increased production possibilities. Let’s take a look at the specs ...

• • • • • • • • •

Overall building width 33.2m Height at the sides 12.5m Height at the apex 14.6m Roof 7 degree pitch Length of building 75m Purlin trusses MultiStrut Joists at 1200mm spacing Wall girt trusses MultiStrut Joists at 1200mm spacing Total length of MultiStrut Joists 3.3km Timber used medium heavy hardwood (mixed species)

The new complex – possibly the largest timber structure in Malaysia - is scheduled for completion early this year.

Structural engineers for the project are HR Design Group with joist design by Multinail Australia.

“Woodsfield were extremely interested in Multinail open webbed products, for example, the MultiStrut as it lightened the “feel” of the building,” said Multinail communications manager Travis Taylor.

Multinail and Woodsfield are working together in Malaysia to promote timber, Woodsfield’s glulam capabilities and Multinail engineered products.

Woodsfield Glulam Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. was the first local company to introduce glulam technology into Malaysia in 2009. “With the encouragement of local government sectors like JKR, MTIB (Malaysia Timber Industry Board), MIDA (Malaysian Industrial Development Authority), MTC (Malaysian Timber Council) and together with the support from our glulam consultants and specialists, we aim to promote Malaysia timber to the next level within Malaysia in the timber industry and also with the ambition to extend our reach internationally in the near future,” said a company statement.

“Our parent company, Woodsfield Timber Industries Sdn. Bhd., has been supplying timber materials for ship building, oil and gas, heavy engineering and construction as well as transportation industries with more than 10 years experience.”

Woodsfield has a wide range of transportation vehicles, to ensure ease of handling glulam products properly from the factory to the site.

Glulam is one of the most environmentally friendly construction products currently available.

p The people in the photo are dwarfed by the gigantic new timber structure. u T he strip photos show the very first glulam products manufactured in Woodsfield’s original factory.

11 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

ENGINEERED WOOD

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 12

MDF production, consumption set to boom G

LOBAL PRODUCTION of medium density fibreboard (MDF) is set to boom in the five years to 2017 thanks to a recovery in housing construction in the United States, and an expanding furniture industry and strong housing growth in Asia, South America, Australasia, Eastern Europe and Russia.

But according to Australian industry analyst BIS Shrapnel’s latest Medium Density Fibreboard in the Pacific Rim and Europe 2013 – 2017 report, the boom in production could lead to a surplus of stock which could limit price growth, unless non-producing regions pick up the slack.

Medium Density Fibreboard is used mainly for furniture manufacturing and for a wide range of applications in the building construction sector such as built-in cabinets, wall panelling and laminate flooring.

The report also found that the North Asia region will account for 54% of the world’s MDF production – marking a shift away from traditional MDF powerhouses North America and Europe.

“China alone will account for 51% of all MDF production,” said report author and senior manager, Bernie Neufeld. “The United States will account for just five per cent of global production, when 20 years ago it was the largest producing region.

Economic prospects – recovering from the global financial crisis “Ironically, an increased demand in the recovering building sector and furniture demand in North America will be one of the key drivers for this growth, yet due to the global financial crisis the region will run into capacity constraints following the closure of mills over the past five years.”

The downturn in housing construction in the United States reached the bottom of the cycle in 2009. Housing construction began to recover in 2010, and is well on the way to much stronger growth over the next five years. This recovery will drive economic growth not only locally but in many of its key trading partners around the world. It will also drive renewed demand for furniture, and ultimately the demand for MDF and particleboard. Housing construction in other key regions such as South America and Asia will also drive demand.

However, over the forecast period (2013-2017), this resurgence could result in capacity constraints emerging in North America, partly due to the reduction in production capacity in the region over the past five years.

“The closure of mills over the past five years following the onset of the global financial crisis will force North America to look elsewhere for much of its MDF without investing significantly in new capacity, and China looks the most likely beneficiary,” said Neufeld. “The pine beetle infestation in Canada will also place significant constraints on the supply of resources in the region over the next decade.

“The financial crisis effectively turned the industry on its head. North America was once without question the dominant manufacturer of MDF, but the closure of factories

n Alpine MDF Mill. Photo courtesy of Alpine MDF.

and mills over the past decade has relegated it to a backseat role in the global industry. “China certainly capitalised on the near collapse of the industry in North America.”

The development of the furniture industry as a major export industry has driven China to the status of the largest MDF manufacturing and consuming country in the world from a non-producer in the early 1990s.

Production, consumption forecast to rise – but surplus could hinder price increases In the early 1990s the furniture industry in China was driven by domestic demand, in line with improved living standards. This resulted in the establishment of many new production facilities and the introduction of modern technology in these plants. As domestic demand increased, and China began to export furniture, the furniture manufacturing industry expanded exponentially, as many foreign firms shifted their operations to China to take advantage of low labour costs, export subsidies, and improving quality standards.

However, over the forecast period, the focus will shift from an export led economy to domestic demand, which in conjunction with the increased demand in the US could place some constraints on the production and demand for MDF in China. Ironically, there is also a shortage of forest resources in North Asia.

“Regions such as Russia, South America, South Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey will expand production

rapidly to cater to the increased demand and expected capacity constraints,” said Neufeld. “Regardless, North Asia will still be the dominant force in MDF production over the forecast period.”

Global production of MDF is projected to increase by more than 16% to 99.1 million cubic metres in 2017, based on current expansion plans, and estimated capacity utilisation rates. By 2017, North Asia will produce 54% of the world’s MDF, and China alone will produce 51%. South America will be the third largest producing region, behind North Asia and Europe, and North America, which 20 years ago was the largest producing region, will produce less than five per cent of the world’s MDF. “The MDF industry is on the edge of a boom,” said Neufeld.

“Building industries across the globe – apart from Europe – are bouncing back from recession and MDF demand is increasing with it.”

However, consumption of MDF in the major producing countries is forecast to increase by 15% to 92.8 million cubic metres in 2017 – which is well short of the production forecast.

“With the increase in production, consumption in nonproducing regions such as the Middle East and Africa will need to exceed six million cubic metres to avoid a global surplus,” said Neufeld. “A possible surplus will serve to constrain price rises to some extent.”

Regardless, over the next five years – as the global economy moves into an upward phase of the cycle – prices are projected to increase by an average of three to four per cent annually.

EWPAA plywood tested and ready for cyclone shelters TROPICAL CYCLONES, super cells and windstorms can be regular events in Australia’s unpredictable weather patterns over the summer months.

Yasi, which crossed the Queensland coast on February 3, 2011, brought a category 5 storm more than 600 km wide; 195 km / hour winds battered towns along a 350 km strip from Cairns to Townsville.

Crews from the cyclone testing station at James Cook University reported very few structural failures in timber buildings built to ‘modern’ building codes and plywood bracings stood their ground against Yasi’s massive wind surge.

Although it’s a regular activity in the Brisbane laboratories of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, wind load testing on plywood sheeting is in full swing.

We found laboratory technician Andrew McLaughlin lifting a 20kg weight into the top end of a tall cylinder positioned by consulting engineer James MacGregor on a plywood panel.

Whoosh, thud ... and another plywood product from an EWPAA member passed the

impact test for cyclone shelter construction.

The tests simulate the effects of flying debris at different impact speeds in a wind storm.

“Building and construction in cycloneprone areas requires materials designed to protect against high-wind impact conditions,” MacGregor said.

“EWPAA structural plywood is designed for such conditions and constantly passes flying debris testing with flying colours.

“The plywood for cyclone shelters must resist wind load requirements specified in AS/NZS standard 1170.2, a joint standard for structural design and wind actions.”

MacGregor said plywood offered all the inherent advantages of the parent wood plus enhanced properties in its laminated structure.

“Being a wood-based material, plywood has the ability to accommodate the occasional short-term overload at up to twice the design load,” he said.

“This is essential in cyclonic winds or seismic activity. This property is also effective when used as construction flooring or as concrete formwork. Plywood’s laminated structure distributes loads from impact over

a larger area on the opposite face, which effectively reduces the tensile stress.”

Simon Dorries said wood strength designs and connections were constantly changing and engineered wood products were continuously tested in EWPAA laboratories.

He said wind and earthquakes continued to impact on low-rise buildings in Australia and New Zealand. Structural plywood provided a reliable means to brace these building frames in accordance with AS1684 (residential timber frame construction), a four-part standard covering design criteria, building practices, tie-downs, bracing and span tables for timber framing members.

EWPAA structural products are thirdparty audited under a JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme, an industrywide certification based on International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) requirements.

This system requires that a production facility maintains a documented process control system, conducts in-mill end product testing and has rigorous internal audit procedures.

n C onsulting engineer James MacGregor performs wind load tests on EWPAA plywood products assisted by laboratory technician Andrew McLaughln.

32 SOLD

Millwide. Worldwide.

SAWMILLING

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 14

Dry mill upgrade boosts production, quality H

ARDWOOD SAWMILLING is often seen as an old school milling approach that has been tried and proven for decades but rarely changes. However, back in late 2011 the Parkside Group made a decision to investigate options for machinery upgrades in its grading, docking and end matching process in its dry mill at Wondai.

The Wondai green and dry mills were not originally built by the Parkside Group, however, after the acquisition of these mills in 2005, Parkside has increase its GOS and dried product significantly while the quality of products remained consistent.

Due to the continuing increasing quality expectations for dried product in Australian hardwood products, and the decline in hardwood sawmilllers in Australia, the Parkside Group investigated their sawmill and found a major upgrade to the quality processes and machinery was necessary.

“We had previously installed a Weinig Dimter 350 high speed docker in an existing line and this showed an increase

in docking quality and production. So, once we saw how well this went, we knew that this was the direction we needed to follow,” said Brad Saunders, National Sales Manager, Parkside Group, Timber Division.

“We looked at the two major producers of scanners and dockers and the final decision was to install a Weinig Luxscan scanner in front of a Weinig Dimter 450 Quantum II high speed docker, and since they were both Weinig products there were very few compatibility concerns. They were both installed in front of on an OSI End Matcher supplied through Southern Cross Engineering.

“Quality product was our key focus with this upgrade.

Now all the timber now goes through a Brookhuis FMI inline moisture meter which ejects rogue boards associated with variable moisture contents before the scanner,” said Ross Lakin, Dry Sawmill Manager, Parkside Group, Timber Division.

The technical aspects of this upgrade include: the Luxscan

n Wondai Dry Mill (Top). p W rapped and ready to go.

p

t Quality finished product.

W einig Luxscan scanner. u Getting sorted and barcoded. q Good looking reject boards.

scanner has the ability to process timber at over 120 metres per minute; the Dimter docker has a potential output speed of up to 450 MpM; and the end matcher will trim and feed at over 160 lugs per minute.

So, the upgrade not only improved quality with the innovative technology but also increased the potential output of the mill.

The line was commissioned in mid-September 2012 and within three weeks was fully operational.

“We run the line currently at an average speed of 80 MpM with an end target of 100 MpM. “The only people we now have on the line are the stackers at the end of the line eliminating variations in grading and docking,” Saunders said.

“Overall this upgrade has allowed Parkside to take a new step into improving hardwood sawmilling processes and achieve the quality levels required for value added Australian dried hardwood products.”

IN THE FRAME

15 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

Future growth for timber construction B

UILDING PROJECTS under way and future plans for timber and engineered wood in multi-residential construction will be presented by speakers from building project developers at Frame Australia 2014 in Melbourne on May 19.

Many developers and builders are improving their financial outcomes on medium to large scale building projects by adopting construction systems based on prefabricated timber and panelised systems to reduce on-site labour and achieve faster build times.

This is an emerging new growth market for wood products in multiple dwelling developments which until now has been dominated by steel and concrete, mainly due to traditional design and site building practices, and represents a major opportunity for both the timber and building industries.

Recent projects completed using prefab panels and floor cassettes have proven the economic value of timber and wood systems, and the Frame conference will cover these in detail for the anticipated 350 delegates from timber supply, prefabrication, and building construction.

The new format 2014 program titled ‘Prefab Timber and Engineered Wood in Building Construction’ session topics include: Current and future developments in timber and engineered wood products Manufacture of roof truss, wall frame, cassette and panelised buildings Supply chain for pre-fabricated engineered wood building systems Completed project outcomes and the future for pre-fabricated construction A strong line-up of acclaimed international and local speakers in four sessions will provide

presentations followed by a discussion forum with additional panel members.

A major component of the conference is the sponsor’s exhibition and display area for new products and emerging technologies in timber and engineered products, nailplates and connectors, design and manufacturing software, manufacturing equipment, building systems, and wood industry organisations.

Sponsors for 2014 include: Airco Fasteners / Senco (new!)

APA – The Engineered Wood Association (new!)

Australian Framing Automation (new!)

Bliss & Reels / Randek / LAP Lasers / Moehringer (new!)

Boral Timber (new!)

Boral Plasterboard (new!)

Homag Australia Hundegger Australasia Hyne Timber Loggo (new!)

LP Building Products Pryda / Databuild Rotho Blaas (new!)

Tecbuild Systems Tilling Timber / SmartStruct (new!)

Wood Solutions

the growing demand by developers and builders.

“The high level of response has the sponsor display area more than 80% booked, and there are a few spaces still available for companies to participate – but please be quick,” Kevin urged.

For more information on the Frame Australia 2014 Conference and Exhibition visit the website www.frameaustralia.com. n House frame. n Floor cassette. n Pre-fab form.

“We have been pleasantly surprised at the number of new sponsors exhibiting at Frame for the first time, which represents some 60% of the total number accepted so far,” said conference director Kevin Ezard.

“In addition, we have many more international companies represented which indicates the global development of timber and wood products in building, along with manufacturing and prefabricated building systems to support

EWPAA joins Frame Australia THE ENGINEERED Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) has announced that its next annual conference will be held in conjunction with the Frame Australia 2014 Conference and Exhibition in Melbourne at the Park Hyatt on Monday, 19 May. Simon Dorries, EWPAA general manager said the Frame Australia 2014 speakers program was primarily on pre-fabrication and engineered wood products in building construction, so topics coverage would be of relevance to all EWPAA members.

“In addition, the exhibition display offers the opportunity for members to participate and present their technology and products to key industry sectors of manufacturing, importing, distribution, fabrication; building design, specification and construction.”

“We are delighted that EWPAA is joining the

2014 event which is titled ‘Prefab Timber and Engineered Wood in Building Construction’ with more than 350 delegates expected to attend,” said conference director Kevin Ezard.

“For the past 16 years Frame Australia has been the only national conference and exhibition for the complete supply chain of structural timber, engineered wood products and pre-fabricated frames for the detached housing and multi-residential dwelling markets.”

The new format 2014 speakers program will have all sessions on one day with presentations covering topics including: Timber and engineered wood product developments and future markets Manufacture of roof truss, wall frame, and panelised building systems Design and supply of pre-fabricated timber

n Conference director Kevin Ezard. Simon Dorries, EWPAA general manager.

and engineered wood buildings Building projects using pre-fabricated components in Australia and internationally The new one-day arrangement will reduce the amount of time required and lower the registration cost to

43˝ Brunette Debarker

encourage more delegates to attend For more information on the Frame Australia 2014 Conference and Exhibition visit the website www.frameaustralia.com.

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TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 16

IN THE FRAME

Visual appeal is key to pre-fabrication success

P

REFABRICATION HAS become a very important part of the construction industry in recent years due to the ability of engineers and architects to better manage building programs through in-factory quality control.

The advent of self-supporting Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panelisation such as that used in Melbourne’s Forte building, the manufacture of selfcontained pods that were craned into position in Auckland University’s University Hall and the panelised construction method based on preclad frames and trusses used for the Sino-Canada Wood Eco Home that was constructed on-site in 60 hours for the Beijing Green Building Show, all demonstrate the advantages of using technology to reduce time on site and maintain high quality results.

Bali Prefab Wooden Houses is a company that is incorporating technology in the form of Computer Aided Design to streamline what is very much a handcrafted product to supply international demand.

T h e company was established in Bali by May Janssen in early 2001.

Drawing on advice from her husband, Robert who is a qualified civil, structural, geotechnical and coastal engineer with a long history in engineering gas-handling shipping terminals for an international engineering firm based in the Netherlands, the company was set up to manufacture and

market Bali styled houses. A typical Bali style house is recognized by its Dickey roof and an open roof structure with or without cupola. There are generally no ceilings except in bedrooms and sometimes in bathrooms. Kitchens are separated from living areas and definitely not part of an open living area.

These design elem ent s work well in tropical areas as the high pitched open roof guarantees natural air flow and thus cooling. The addition of a cupola helps increase the air flow.

The approach the company takes to pre-fabrication is to completely build the

Prefabrication has become a very important part of the construction industry

structure in Bali before then dismantling it and packing it in a container for shipping.

The build system uses no nails and all components are numbered and colourcoded to simplify re-erection using the supplied drawings and photographs taken of the structure during its original construction.

After a slow start where the first structures sold were a couple of gazebos to a customer in the Cayman Islands, the company now exports to a number of tropical destinations including the Caribbean, Pacific and Hawaii apart from supplying the Indonesian market.

Working with local agents in countries outside Indonesia, the housing designs have been adapted to meet local standards and by-laws so they conform to requirements such as insulation and the ability to withstand hurricane force winds.

IN THE FRAME

Having received many enquiries from Australians through their website (www.baliwoodworld.com) the company is now looking to partner with agent contractors in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia to ensure local engineering verification of their designs meeting local building regulations and that local constructors can be trained in building these houses.

The company has already done considerable work to ensure their product meets AQIS standards and only use wood sourced under Indonesia’s V-Legal certification scheme. As such, they are aware of Australia’s requirements regarding importing wood/plant-based products and are actively looking to keep ahead of the game when it comes to clearing hurdles.

Using traditional carved details, the company’s houses present a look that many Australians are familiar with given the vast numbers of tourists who have travelled to the island over the years.

With craftsmanship that ensures the houses don’t look mass-produced and a list of styles and materials that runs to some 35,000+ options, it is likely that each house that is sold in a location will be unique.

Which just goes to show that, no matter what prefabrication method is used, it is the ability to provide high level design with high quality control that will be most attractive to the end user rather than just the mass production of a single design that can be efficiently and economically pre-fabricated.

17 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

WOODODDITIES

TIMBERMAN, February 2014 – 18

Pedalling plywood!

REMEMBER THE article we ran last year about the plywood bike? Well, production of beech plywood flat-packed DIY bike from Sandwichbike, a brand of PedalFactory, actually started in December.

Initially distributed in Europe, the bike is now available worldwide.

Designer Basten Leijh developed the model, which was inspired by the idea of flat packing and ready-to-assemble production.

The bike consists of two weather-coated, beech plywood frames and aluminum cylinders, all fitting in a small, flat package, which includes the tools.

n T he Sandwichbike flatpacked and ready to go.

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l: 4840 Emai B E R (03) 9888 T I M 4820 Fax: (03) 9888 20 Ph: 5 Vol. 2012, Issue August

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Ripple table: world’s lightest timber table n A long wait for the salt on this table.

Take a seat, seat, seat, seat...

A 320-foot (almost 98 metres) long pine wood picnic table set the Guinness World Record. Built to honour the Hellman’s Mayonnaise centennial, it weighs more than 8,000 lbs (3629kg) and seats 450 people. The World’s Longest Picnic Table, blocks from Richard Hellmann’s original deli where the mayonnaise originated, was the setting for a burger meal for 500 diners. A Guinness World Records official made the official measurement that sets the pine table into its record book. Technically it’s 320 feet and two inches.

Constructed from solid, pine wood, and longer than a football field, the table was disassembled and all useable wood donated to Build It Green, which will recycle the lumber along with other building products it sells for reuse for projects in New York City. While Guinness confirms at its site that the Hellman’s pine table set the world’s record, Safeway Inc. achieved a similar feet in 2011, building a Douglas fir table exceeding 305 feet to celebrate the launch of its Open Nature food line.

In keeping with that brand’s all-natural ingredients approach, the record-setting table was to be built with only Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified Douglas fir. For every FSC Certified tree used, 10 more were to be planted.

The 2011 Safeway table was 305 feet long, equivalent to 38 standard picnic tables. A total 7,176 feet of FSC Certified Douglas Fir wood and 1,032 bolts were used to construct that table, built by four people over 10 days and weighing more than 11,304 lbs. Seating 405, the table broke the previous Guinness World Record (248 feet, 2 inches) set in New Orleans in October 2009. -- Woodworking Network

TIMBERMAN, August 2012 – 6

, ker Street 5/42 Clin 4076 Darra, Qld 5 7722 Ph: 07 371 7733 5 371 07 Fax:

com.au rsystems. .com.au info@timbe ersystems www.timb

.au erbiz.com www.timb t.au Web: berman.ne norm@tim

ding tory buil • Forte s uilt plant eb • Purpos y ion is ke • Innovat ology chn te C N C •

UK DESIGNER Benjamin Hubert has designed the world’s lightest timber table as part of an internal studio research project into lightweight constructions. The table, titled Ripple, is 2.5 metres by one metre, and weighs just nine kilograms.

Because of the processes involved in producing the corrugated medium; three ply 0.8mm birch aircraft plywood, the laminated construction is made using 7080% less material than a standard timber table. Ripple can be assembled and manoeuvred by a single person.

The table’s impressive strength to weight ratio of the aircraft ply is enabled by an innovative production process of corrugating plywood for furniture, developed by the studio in collaboration with Canadian materials manufacturer, Corelam. It measures only 3.5 mm and is 200% stronger than traditional solid spruce wood. For its design, the top surface is made up of a flat sheet of plywood atop a corrugated one, and the A-frame legs are a sandwich construction of two corrugated plywood layers.

n Close up of the corrugated tabletop.

FRAME AUSTRALIA

FRAME AUSTRALIA

buildingSmart with BIM J

OHN MITCHELL, chairman of buildingSmart Australasia looked around the room at the FRAME conference in Melbourne and asked if anyone knew what BIM was. Did anyone use BIM? The silence was telling.

Certainly there were people in the audience who had some knowledge while some like Claudelle Taylor of the Leighton Group had experience with BIM but mostly the audience was struck dumb.

As Mitchell went on to say, the building industry is not renowned for its affinity with and use of high tech computer software programs but it is time. Other industries have already embraced similar systems, and other countries are embracing Building Industry Modelling (BIM).

So what is Building Industry Modelling?

“BIM is 3D object model that is like a building database, easily visualized,” said Mitchell. “We can extract significant intelligence out of it.”

Currently there is a lack of integration along the supply chain linking parties and between project phases but it’s not impossible to fix.

As Mitchell said other industries such as the Australian Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association has already started supply chain integration.

Other issues that plague the building industry are its reliance on the lowest bid strategy rather than a value for money proposition. There is poor understanding of optimized and properly documented designs. According to Mitchell the “Getting it Right” study in Queensland in 2005 identified this problem. That was seven years ago and it still lingers.

There is also inadequate and ineffective use of technology and a lack of appreciation of the benefits of open communication.

In 2010 Mitchell’s organization commissioned a survey with the Commonwealth’s help that looked at adopting BIM in the Australian construction sector.

Implementation Plan. The starting point was the outcomes of the MESH conferences in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in early 2011.

The roadblocks are these: • Lack of model building protocols • Little product data for BIM object libraries • Legal and insurance impediments

We do need it, we need to build better, we need to make better use of resources.

“The economic potential is extraordinary, extraordinary, a $4 billion potential per annum - $4 billion productivity potential per annum, this mirrors many other studies around the world,” said Mitchell.

“We do need it, we need to build better, we need to make better use of resources, we need to be more efficient and deliver higher value for money.”

The lessons from the 2D CAD current technology are clear, after 20 years there are still no common guidelines, no consensus in either government or industry and the documentation instead of improving is deteriorating.

“There is significant risk if we do not align with international BIM developments – it’s a worldwide turn to BIM,” said Mitchell. buildingSMART Australasia was commissioned at the end of 2111 to undertake the development of a BIM

• Poor standards for information exchange • Inconsistencies in information handover protocols • Skills gaps • Lack of strategic research focus • Industry resistance to process change The participants at the stakeholder consultation workshops conducted by buildingSmart proposed key recommendations. First and foremost was that a BIM adoption roadmap should be completed.

Commonwealth, State and Territory governments should be encouraged to require full collaborative BIM for their building procurements and they should develop procurement processes and assistance packages to encourage its adoption.

Legal and technical instruments needed to support the introduction of BIM should

7 - August 2012, TIMBERMAN

Lend Lease lends its might to CLT be developed and aligned with relevant international codes and standards. We must think globally.

Education is a must to enable the industry to meet the demands of technology for new workers and re-training for those already in the industry.

Easy access must be facilitated to building product manufacturer’s certified information for use in all types of modelbased applications through an Australian on-line BIM products library.

Open standard data exchange protocols should be established that support collaboration and facilitate integration of the briefing, design, construction, manufacturing and maintenance supply chain throughout the entire life of a built facility.

Governments around the world are seeing the advantage of BIM as it can be used to support automated code checking, ensure buildings meet environmental and energy performance requirements, make certain asset and management information is available at all tiers of government for operational, maintenance, fiscal and strategic planning.

The global construction software industry is well advanced in the change to BIM. All the major vendors Graphisoft ArchiCAD, Nemetscheck Allplan and Bentley Triforma have IFC certification, and now Autodesk Revit has committed to IFC compliance.

Only by adopting BIM, by accepting new processes and by sharing information will the building industry stay competitive.

A

FTER LISTENING to Andrew Neiland from Lend Lease it was difficult to understand why it has taken so long for Australia to embrace CLT, and even harder to understand why it has taken the major construction companies this long to make it all add up.

Initially it seemed odd that Neiland, who comes from the accounting side of the Lend Lease business, was presenting to a timberoriented audience at the Frame Australia conference.

That soon passed as he recounted the reductions that Lend Lease faced through the use of CLT in its new multi-storey Forte apartment building in Melbourne.

Admittedly it won’t be just reduced costs – but that’s the main take-away point, the other reductions relate to significantly lower construction noise, less occupational health and safety issues, and a smaller environmental footprint.

The big cost reduction will come courtesy of reduced construction time, reduced truck movements, less labour, reduced building weight leading to reduced foundation requirements and more.

“It’s lightweight, timber is roughly a fifth the weight of concrete,” said Neiland. “[with precast concrete] you only get a couple of pieces on a truck and that’s about it, you can truck a vast number of CLT panels in one go, so get a huge reduction in truck movements.

“In terms of how the site looks the general comments we have from our construction teams is clean, and how quiet and how orderly the site is,” said Neiland.

“One mobile crane, a couple days of CLT ready for installation and a crew of four guys putting it into place - very quiet and efficient process.”

Victoria Harbour was the instigator Melbourne’s Victoria Harbour has been a development hot spot for some time and Lend Lease was trying to make the most of the limited land available. On North Wharf the company was faced with a problem.

“The building conditions are not great, it’s on silt so we looked for a lightweight construction solution and came up with CLT,” said Neiland.

“That was most viable option and we found a lot more benefits than just light weight. So they assembled a team of designers and engineers to go and have a look at it.

“They saw the opportunity immediately – for an all expenses paid trip to Europe.”

It paid off, representatives from Lend Lease visited 14 projects in Europe, they visited the CLT producers and met with architects who had worked on similar projects and came away very impressed.

“They came away very impressed that it was a proven solution where the owners and occupiers really enjoyed the outcome, and really enjoyed living in these buildings,” he said.

Due diligence on the project took three years to complete.

What Lend Lease did discover and what the company has brought into play with the Forte construction in Bourke Street, Melbourne – only a few doors down from Lend Lease HQ – is that using CLT is a design process.

“It’s not taking a concrete building and replacing concrete with timber, it’s a new process. It’s about completing all your design up-front rather designing as your going,” said Neiland.

“It’s about a factory process where you sign off on the drawings, you work out all the crane movements, you work out the logistics, the truck movements then you manufacture. By doing

this we are minimizing waste and reducing errors and building faster.

“If you design it well it will last, if you design it poorly it won’t.”

Australia’s building code doesn’t take into account timber buildings taller than three storeys so for Forte Lend Lease had to undertake a fire engineered solution and that’s not something that everyone can do. It may be a barrier to highrise CLT construction in Australia unless it is addressed.

Forte is nine storeys tall (with a ground floor retail area) with 23 apartments and four townhouses.

Lend Lease was faced with a certain amount of dismay when it came to fire approvals.

“Melissa Chandler who is our building codes expert said it was the most interesting conversation she’s ever had with the fire brigade in her life.

“Saying we’re building 10 storeys of timber, the lift well, the fire stairs and we’re leaving the fire stairs exposed timber. The look on their faces was priceless. We convinced them it was a good idea,” said Neiland. “We did the fire testing of the CLT panels with the CSIRO to achieve our approvals.

“While it is not of a size that requires sprinklers we are installing sprinklers for this one,” he added.

As the ground floor is to be a retail space that floor is designed very differently to the apartments and so it is mounted on a concrete slab which was laid in February this year. The CLT installation started in June and it is anticipated that it will take eight weeks to put up and should be finished in August.

The whole building should be finished in October this year.

Neiland said that for his company it wasn’t just about building a building in CLT it needed to be a step change in sustainability and that is

certainly what has happened. This will be the first 5-star green star building built in a residential environment.

Each apartment is dual aspect and will take 25% less energy to heat and cool compared with a typical apartment, which equates to roughly $300 a year saved. All apartments will have a smart meter to link to an in-home display, which shows real time and historic data on energy consumption.

Not only that, but simply by using timber 1451 tonnes of carbon is saved (cradle to site).

Like every new idea there were challenges, the biggest was the logistics of shipping a building from Europe to Australia. KLH in Europe is the manufacturer of CLT for the Forte construction and so the panels had to be shipped to Australia and then stored awaiting installation.

Out it came – 485 tonnes of timber, 759 CLT panels shipped in 25 containers in two ships.

Lend Lease then did some other due diligence on the project, at 32.17 metres tall was it the tallest timber building in the world?

“We came across Nikolai (Sutyagin) who was friendly old chap in Russia who was lonely and in 1992 he started to build a timber house for himself. He went a couple of storeys up and just kept going and he didn’t stop until he got to about 44 metres.

“So we couldn’t go out with the claim that it is the tallest timber building so we modified it with a clause that it’s the tallest apartment timber building,” said Neiland.

For the future Neiland said that Lend Lease is considering building up to 50% of its residential apartments using CLT. “For us Forte is not a one-off demonstration building,” he said.

You can see live webcam vision of the Forte building under construction at http://www. forteliving.com.au

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EVENTS LISTING

19 - February 2014, TIMBERMAN

Gazetted holidays 2014 LIKE TO keep track of public holidays throughout the year? Here’s a State-by-State account of the days that have been gazetted for 2014:

2014 ACT public holidays

2014 Tasmania public holidays

2014 SA public holidays

Date..................................................................... Holiday

Wednesday 1 January............................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*..................................................... Australia Day Monday 10 March..................................................... Eight Hours Day Friday 18 April..................................................................Good Friday Monday 21 April.......................................................... Easter Monday Tuesday 22 April**................................................. Easter Tuesday** Friday 25 April.................................................................... Anzac Day Monday 9 June........................................................Queen’s Birthday Thursday 25 December...............................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December......................................................... Boxing Day

Wednesday 1 January...................................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*............................................................ Australia Day Monday 10 March.................................................... March Public Holiday Friday 18 April..........................................................................Good Friday Saturday 19 April.............................................................. Easter Saturday Monday 21 April..................................................................Easter Monday Friday 25 April.............................................................................Anzac Day Monday 9 June............................................................... Queen’s Birthday Monday 6 October...................................................................Labour Day Wednesday 24 December**.......................................... Christmas Eve** Thursday 25 December......................................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December..................................................... Proclamation Day Tuesday 31 December***...........................................New Year’s Eve***

Wednesday 1 January...................................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*............................................................ Australia Day Monday 10 March................................................................. Canberra Day Friday 18 April..........................................................................Good Friday Saturday 19 April.............................................................. Easter Saturday Monday 21 April..................................................................Easter Monday Friday 25 April.............................................................................Anzac Day Monday 9 June............................................................... Queen’s Birthday Monday 29 September.................................... Family & Community Day Monday 6 October...................................................................Labour Day Thursday 25 December......................................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December................................................................ Boxing Day

*When Australia Day (26 January) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is declared the public holiday.

**Restricted public holiday in Tasmania. Observed by some awards/agreements and the State Public Service.

To check award ring Fair Work Infoline on 131394

**24 December in South Australia is a part-day public holiday from 7 pm to 12 midnight. ***31 December in South Australia is a part-day public holiday from 7 pm to 12 midnight.

2014 WA public holidays

2014 Victoria public holidays

2014 Queensland public holidays

Wednesday 1 January............................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*..................................................... Australia Day Monday 3 March............................................................... Labour Day Friday 18 April..................................................................Good Friday Monday 21 April.......................................................... Easter Monday Friday 25 April.................................................................... Anzac Day Monday 2 June................................................Western Australia Day Monday 29 September**....................................Queen’s Birthday** Thursday 25 December...............................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December......................................................... Boxing Day

Wednesday 1 January............................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*..................................................... Australia Day Monday 10 March............................................................. Labour Day Friday 18 April..................................................................Good Friday Saturday 19 April.......................................................Easter Saturday Monday 21 April.......................................................... Easter Monday Friday 25 April.................................................................... Anzac Day Monday 9 June........................................................Queen’s Birthday Tuesday 4 November**.................................. Melbourne Cup Day** Thursday 25 December...............................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December......................................................... Boxing Day

Wednesday 1 January...................................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*............................................................ Australia Day Friday 18 April..........................................................................Good Friday Saturday 19 April.............................................................. Easter Saturday Monday 21 April..................................................................Easter Monday Friday 25 April.............................................................................Anzac Day Monday 9 June............................................................... Queen’s Birthday Monday 6 October...................................................................Labour Day Friday 14 November................................................G20 Leaders’ Summit (Brisbane area only) Thursday 25 December......................................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December................................................................ Boxing Day

**Non-metropolitan local authorities in WA may celebrate the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday on an alternative date, see Regional dates for the Queen’s Birthday public holiday.

**All of Victoria unless alternate local holiday has been arranged by non-metro council.

2014 NT public holidays

2014 NSW public holidays

Wednesday 1 January...................................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*............................................................ Australia Day Friday 18 April..........................................................................Good Friday Saturday 19 April.............................................................. Easter Saturday Monday 21 April..................................................................Easter Monday Friday 25 April.............................................................................Anzac Day Monday 5 May............................................................................... May Day Monday 9 June............................................................... Queen’s Birthday Monday 4 August.......................................................................Picnic Day Thursday 25 December......................................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December................................................................ Boxing Day

Wednesday 1 January...................................................... New Year’s Day Monday 27 January*............................................................ Australia Day Friday 18 April..........................................................................Good Friday Saturday 19 April.............................................................. Easter Saturday Monday 21 April..................................................................Easter Monday Friday 25 April.............................................................................Anzac Day Monday 9 June............................................................... Queen’s Birthday Monday 6 October...................................................................Labour Day Thursday 25 December......................................................Christmas Day Friday 26 December................................................................ Boxing Day

Dates for your Diary 4-14 February 2014 International Builders’ Show - Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Email: NAHB@experient-inc.com www.buildersshow.com/ 17-21 February 2014.

Gottstein Wood Science Course, Melbourne, www.gottsteintrust.org or secretary@gottsteintrust.org or phone Silvia Pongracic 0418 764 954 3-5 March 2014 6th Industry Development Conference (hosted by ForestWorks ISC), Canberra.

Gala Dinner, hosted by ForestWorks ISC and AFPA (Parliament House’s Great Hall) 4 March. Address by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

4-6 March 2014 Ecobuild, ExCel, London Email: info@ecobuild.co.uk. www.ecobuild.co.uk

It doesn’t matter whether it’s classified advertising or a fully structured promotional campaign, Norm Nelsen can help you.

Give him a call +613 9888 4820.

It’s his business to help you highlight your business.

Promote your events in this publication (and also on our electronic Daily Timber News).

Lodge details at j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au or phone (08) 7127 6370.

14-15 April 2014 Forest Investment & Market Outlook 2014.

Melbourne, Australia. (www.fimo2014.com) 13-17 May 2014 Xylexpo 2014. The 24th Biennial world exhibition for woodworking technology and components for the furniture industry Fieramilano, Rho Fairgrounds, Milan, Italy. www.xylexpo.com 15 May 2014 Timber Trades’ Benevolent Society AGM. Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly.

Email: info@ttbs.org.uk. www.ttbs.org.uk 19 May 2014 Frame Australia. Park Hyatt Melbourne. www.frameaustralia.com

17-18 June 2014 Wood Flow Logistics 2014: Harvesting – Wood Transport: Logistics. Melbourne, Australia www.woodflowlogistics.com 18-20 July 2014 Master Builders SA Building & Home Improvement Show.

Adelaide Showground 25-27 July 2014 Timber & Working With Wood, Sydney.

Sydney Olympic Park 5-6 August 2014 MobileTECH 2014 - PRIMARY Industries Future. Brisbane, Australia. www.mobiletech2014.com

16-18 May 2014 Timber & Working With Wood, Brisbane.

RNA Showgrounds

12-13 August 2014 MobileTECH 2014 - PRIMARY Industries Future. Auckland, New Zealand. www.mobiletech2014.com

10-12 March 2014 RISI European Pulp & Paper Outlook Conference.Prague, Czech Republic.

28-30 May 2014 designEX, Glebe Island, Sydney.

6-9 August AWISA Exhibition. Brisbane

19 March 2014 ForestWood. Wellington, New Zealand. www.forestwood.org.nz

4-6 June 2014 Carrefour International du Bois. La Beaujoire Exhibition Park, Nantes, France.

Email: info@timbershow.com. www.timbershow.com

14-21 August 2014 Aseanwood Woodtech - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: info@tradelink.com.my www.tradelink.com.my/woodtech/index. php

9-11 June 2014 RISI Asian Pulp & Paper Outlook Conference. Shanghai, China

30 August – 1 September 2014 Timber & Working With Wood, Canberra.

Exhibition Park

11-12 June 2014 Wood Flow Logistics 2014: Harvesting – Wood Transport: Logistics. Rotorua, New Zealand. www.woodflowlogistics.com

14-15 September 2014 China Paper / China Forest - Shanghai, China. Email: phoebe@ejkbeijing.com www.chinapaperexpo.cn

1-3 April 2014 Russian Wood & Timber Conference.

InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya Hotel 9-10 April 2014 Forest Investment & Market Outlook 2014, Auckland, New Zealand. (www.fimo2014.com)

17-18 September 2014 Wood Innovations 2014: Timber Preservation – Wood Modification – Composite Products. Rotorua, New Zealand. www.woodinnovations2014.com 23-24 September 2014w Wood Innovations 2014. Melbourne, Australia. www.woodinnovations2014.com 7-8 October 2014 Timber Expo. Birmingham NEC. loretta.

Email: sales@timber-expo.co.uk. www.timber-expo.co.uk 14-15 October 2014 Timber Processing and Energy Expo Portland, Oregon, United States.

Email: dianne@hattonbrown.com. www.timberprocessingandenergyexpo. com/ 15-16 October 2014 Inaugural FTMA Australia Truss Bus Tour and Networking Dinner (after tour) in Victoria. Breakfast on 20 November with guest speakers and after morning tea fabricators will be invited to join their respective nail plate suppliers for the remainder of the day.

15-18 October 2014 World Forestry Congress - XIII - Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Email: info@cfm2009.org Brought to you by

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The cornerstone project

Why are you waiting for the next generation Truss design software?

Alpha version promised 14th February 2013 – Delivered on time – as promised!

Beta version promised 31st July 2013– Delivered on time – as promised!

April 2014 – full production version Multinail Australia has designed, developed and delivers the next generation Truss software

Contact us now for a demo, not a promise of things to come!

www.thecornerstoneproject.com