Australasian Timber - May 2017

MAY 2017

Choose the Original www.hewsaw.com

Choose the Original PROCESSING • PRODUCTS • DESIGN • SUPPLIERS

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Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.

WOOD GOOD FOR THE HEART AND HEAD lT IMBER MOST VIABLE OPTION FOR MID-RISE BUILDINGS lP USHING THE BOUNDARIES WITH CLT lA USSIE WOOD BENEFITS FROM AFS CAMPAIGN lL IFELINE FOR AILING TIMBER BRIDGES

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WEINMANN - EFFICIENT WOOD PROCESSING

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

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

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

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

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PosiStrut CASSETTES are

FLOORING customers.

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

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

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

NSW (02) 8525 8000

QLD (07) 3861 2100

SA (08) 8234 1326

WA (08) 9412 3534

New Zealand (09) 274 7109

NEWS

Big win for domestic producers THE DECISION by Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Craig Laundy to accept the Anti-Dumping Commission’s findings that companies in China, Indonesia, Brazil and Thailand exported dumped A4 copy paper into Australia was big win for fair trade and an important step towards a level playing field for domestic producers.

Mr Laundy accepted the Commission’s findings that all Chinese, Thai, Brazilian and the majority of Indonesian exporters of A4 copy paper had been selling paper into Australia at prices well below their market value – with dumping margins ranging from 3 to 45% – and in doing so caused “material injury” to Australian paper manufacturers by “price undercutting” the local industry.

Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) CEO Mr Ross Hampton said the decision sent a strong message to overseas manufacturers that Australia is not a soft target for under-priced products which threaten the operation of domestic manufacturers and the tens of thousands of local jobs they support.

“Manufacturing in Australia has been under increasing pressure from imported products and it is crucial that we have an effective anti-dumping system to ensure fair trade,” Mr Hampton said.

“Domestic manufacturers must have confidence in the anti-dumping system to bring cases forward when they are concerned about dumping practices, as well as in the measures put in place to provide an effective and timely trade remedy.”

He described the latest decision as a major step forward.

The decision also puts pressure on all government departments to support Australian Paper, after the Federal Department of Finance confirmed many of them are buying paper from these dumped sources.

“Australian made 100% Recycled paper supports vital regional jobs and provides an environmentally superior, cost effective alternative to dumped paper,” said Mr Hampton.

“It’s time the all governments ensure their departments stop buying dumped copy paper and start buying Australian-made.”

Mr Hampton said a robust anti-dumping system was vital for Australia’s forest products industry, with Australia importing around $4.5 billion in wood, paper and tissue products each year and exporting around $2.5 billion, producing a trade deficit in forest products of around $2 billion each year.

“We will continue to monitor the performance of the anti-dumping system, given its importance for promoting a level playing field for our domestic manufacturers,” he said.

Australia’s home grown luxury featured on the global stage

¢ S ettlers Chair (Photo Grant Hancock).

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USTRALIA’S HIGHLY acclaimed fourth generation furniture maker and master craftsman Jon Goulder created a series of bespoke pieces in Tasmanian Blackwood that were showcased as part of Milan Design Week 2017.

Goulder’s iconic Settlers Chair, one of 33 chairs recently selected by the National Gallery of Victoria to be exhibited as part of the “Creating the Contemporary Chair” exhibition, made an appearance in the other hemisphere at the “Local Milan” exhibit, curated by Emma Elizabeth’s Local Design.

The chair is designed and made with reference to the earliest Australian Colonial furniture. The piece is inspired by the natural materials that were accessible during colonization.

The frame is made from Old Growth Blackwood from Tasmania’s forests. The water formed leather, sourced from Australia and crafted to feel and wear like an old saddle, was created using a unique process developed by Goulder specifically for this piece.

Also featuring in the “Local Milan” exhibit was a series of congruent side tables, a collaboration from Adelaide’s Jam Factory between Goulder and glass artist Liam Fleming. The tables are hand blown glass with turned Tasmanian Blackwood tops.

“I am developing a real affinity with Blackwood, it is beautiful to Y work with and it is great to take and CM Aussie timber to the world,” says Goulder. [Tasmanian Blackwood isMY a sustainably sourced species from Tasmania’s native forests and is CY PEFC certified.

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¢ S ide tables. (Photo Grant Hancock).

australasian

magazine

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

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Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.

May Vol.25, No. 3 Established 1977 4

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INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED FRONT PAGE: Weinmann assembly line (closed panel manufacturing off-site line). Read more about this on page 15.

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

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

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FRAME

Construction markets embrace off-site

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USTRALIA’S STEADILY growing urban population is exerting greater influence on residential planning and property developments, with increasing density of living in inner and middle suburbs within our cities.

“This is reflected in the current high levels of construction for mid-rise multi-residential developments, and with rising site costs has opened new opportunities for increased use of timber offsite systems in both residential and commercial building,” said Kevin Ezard, Director, Frame Austtralia Conference and Exhibition.

Global trends are quickly moving to prefabricated panel and modular systems, to achieve faster construction times and lower costs, with countries in Europe ranging from 25% to over 50% of all housing now built using offsite systems.

Changes last year to the National Construction Code have increased limits for timber building height, previously only 3 storeys but now allowing timber and wood construction up to 8 storeys under deemed to satisfy provisions.

Kevin said this had encouraged designers and builders around Australia to embark on building projects utilising offsite prefabricated construction systems in timber framing and mass timber (CLT) to heights not previously contemplated.

The most prominent sector being influenced is mid-rise multi-residential buildings of 3 to 5 storeys, utilising timber framing or mass timber panel systems to reduce construction time by weeks, providing huge savings to builders.

This rising demand has also led to a

¢ Kevin Ezard, Director, Frame Australia Conference and Exhibition.

¢ O ff-site construction a welcome addition.

significant increase in automation and robotics in manufacturing plants supplying prefabricated timber building systems, with production capacity in Australia currently growing at its fastest rate ever, to meet the projected supply levels required.

The Frame Australia 2017 national conference

and exhibition ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ in June will focus on offsite building systems with presentations by prominent architects, engineers and developers outlining the design and construction benefits available from utilising timber offsite building concepts.

Building inspections for engineered timber construction DESPITE PANELISED timber frame systems being manufactured offsite in factories, building inspections are still an essential part of the brave new world of engineered timber.

That’s the word from Ari Akritidis, who will speak on “Building regulations and code compliance for timber construction” at the Frame Australia ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ conference in Melbourne in June.

Mr Akritidis, a building surveyor since 1996 and a business owner since 2003, has been a serving member of the Building Appeals Board for eight years, and is now on the Building Regulations Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister for Planning.

“We are entering new ground. The regulatory system in Victoria is quite clear that, for all framework, a builder must call for an inspection of the frame on its completion,” he said.

“Where structures will be built offsite and delivered to the site, that’s fine as long as the whole structure engineered, designed and certified - is inspected while it is onsite and clearly visible. It will only be a problem when any part of the structure is not visible on site. It’s a breach, and something to think about.”

Understanding the building code provisions – ‘Deemed To Satisfy’ and ‘Performance’ pathways for timber residential buildings will be a focus of Mr Akritidis’ presentation, and include specific issues relating to timber such as fire, acoustics, doors and lift wells. Building costeffectively will also be a key theme.

Under the code, Mr Akritidis said some sprinkler-protected buildings up to 25 metres in effective height 6

could now be built from timber “as of right”. It had previously been available through a ‘performance’ solution, but was now a ‘deemed to comply’ solution. “That introduces a whole range of secondary compliance issues,” he said.

“What avenues are available if a designer, owner or developer wants to go outside those limitations – above 25 metres or build a building of a different class?”

Not being able to meet the two major parameters means developers will have to go down the

‘performance solution’ path.

Permitted concessions relate to building classes 2, 3 and 5 – essentially residential apartments and office buildings. “But to build for example a six-storey retail premise, you don’t achieve those concessions, even though in theory the structure is the same,” Mr Akritidis said.

Frame Australia 2017 titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne, and for event details visit the website www. frameaustralia.com

¢ A ri Akritidis.

¢ Building inspections.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

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FRAME

FRAME 2017 PARTNERS Homag/Weinmann - The HOMAG Group is a leading manufacturer of modern, high-performance machines, production lines and systems for the construction of prefabricated timber buildings, with a coordinated portfolio for woodworking including solutions for utilising computer-controlled, automated machinery with a range of CAD/CAMinterfacing controls. As part of the German HOMAG Group, WEINMANN portfolio includes beam processing, production of wall elements, roof and floor elements and the processing of large-scale board materials and handling, storage systems and providing solutions for crosslaminated timber (CLT). www.homag-australia.com

floor cassettes, and roof trusses. Uniteam are the world’s leading supplier of precision 5 axis CNC technology for structural timber elements. This includes machinery for processing of beams or panels made from CLT, LVL, Glulam, or solid timber. www.blissandreels.com.au Hyne Timber - For six generations, the Hyne name has been famous for timber. Today, we are one of Australia’s largest producers of sawn timber products, a leader in preservative treatments and an iconic supplier to the Australian construction industry. We also implement standards throughout our business that underpin our commitment to product quality, service, safety and sustainable timber production. www.hyne.com.au

Australasia

Hundegger Australasia offers innovation matched with high performance in production of engineered timber frame and mass wood systems, with unique functionality and reliability in their ‘state of the art’ solutions for processing including cutting saws, panel processing and CNC machines, along with the most recent software technologies and robotic developments to meet customer’s future requirements. As an Australasian company, we offer high levels of technical support and backup service with a comprehensive range of spare parts and a decade of experience in servicing local markets. www.hundegger.de

Active Fasteners/BeA supply customized fastening systems and automated fastening equipment for frame & truss fabrication, and provide new fastening innovations in timber frame and panel construction. BeA provide modular-tool systems that offer solutions from automated packaging to single-unit fabrication to mass production, with customized solutions for prefabricated houses, furniture, automotive, appliances and packaging. activefasteners.com WEINIG offers pioneering solutions and products as a global standard.

Whether it’s cutting, profiling, jointing technology, milling, drilling or gluing - Weinig stands for pioneering solutions in all aspects of solid wood processing. Weinig provides high-performing machines and systems as well as customised concepts that cover the entire production cycle from raw material to finished product. www.weinig.com.au Bliss & Reels are the exclusive local sales and service representatives for Randek and Uniteam. Randek are the world’s most experienced provider of equipment and production lines for prefabricated housing/building manufacture. This includes both standard and purpose-engineered equipment for manufacture of open timber frames, closed wall panels, modular buildings, www.timberbiz.com.au

Lonza Wood Protection is part of the Lonza Group, a leading Swiss based biotechnology and specialty chemical company. We work in partnership with wood processors and manufacturers throughout the Asia Pacific region to preserve, protect and enhance the durability and resilience of wood products against decay, mould, termites, fire and other hazards. Our portfolio of wood protection products includes leading brands such as Tanalised®, Tanalith®, Vacsol® and Antiblu® which have a history of use of up to 70 years in the region. www.lonzawoodprotection.com/apac/

AFA represents Modular Building Automation (MBA) from the UK for timber framing machinery in Australia and New Zealand, with the range including machinery for timber framing, floor cassettes manufacturing, butterfly tables and panel handling equipment for flexible automation solutions for the off-site building and construction industry. A highlight is the MBA MobiOne, a complete all-in-one assembly machine for timber frame panel walls that performs framing, cladding, routing, membrane application, batten fixing and outfeed operations, simple to operate and represents excellent value for money. AFA also supplies German high quality timber shredding machines and briquetting presses for timber offcut handling and waste reduction. www.ausframe.net.au Multinail has been a respected Australian business since 1979, leading the industry in the production of light weight, pre-fabricated timber truss and frame systems, products and solutions.

Multinail’s technology centre on the Gold Coast is home to the design, testing and manufacturing of structural metal building products, the development of specific machinery for the timber truss industry, structural engineering department, software development and technical support. Engineering - Multinail has an experienced team of registered structural engineers that provide detailed design services and advice to clients for light weight pre-fabricated timber systems. Software - Multinail has been

developing detailed software programs inhouse since 1980, providing clients with efficient and comprehensive solutions for the pre-fabricated timber industry.

Machinery - Multinail Machinery has been designing, manufacturing, maintaining and exporting machinery that powers leading fabricators across the globe since 1990. www.multinail.com.au

Randek are the world’s most experienced provider of equipment and production lines for prefabricated housing/building manufacture. This includes both standard and purposeengineered equipment for manufacture of open timber frames, closed wall panels, modular buildings, floor cassettes, and roof trusses.

Simpson StrongTie - Premium fastening products that ensure a successful result for almost any application including structural connections for taller timber buildings requiring large capacity lateral bracing, building overturning resistance including tightening devices, bearing resistance, moment frames, tie down and uplift connections, and a range of other connecting solutions. www.strongtie.com.au

TECBEAM joists are a premium Australian engineered composite floor frame system, with superior structural and dynamic performance offering exceptional span and load capabilities. TECBEAM can often obviate the need for structural steel beams in point load, or long span applications in multi-residential, commercial, low and medium density applications, and has the advantage of ceiling and floor materials being directly fixed to the timber flanges. www.tecbuild.com.au

The Tilling Group SmartStruct division focuses on the commercial markets, dealing with large engineered solutions to meet the growing demands of a modern construction era. Our engineering and design centre can provide full engineering services, specifically focusing on timber (re)engineering in lieu of alternative material construction, estimation and customised design. www.tilling.com.au

Uniteam are the world’s leading supplier of precision 5 axis CNC technology for structural timber elements.

This includes machinery for processing of beams or panels made from CLT, LVL, Glulam, or solid timber.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS Ltd) oversees the operation of the Australian Forest Certification MAY 2017

Scheme (AFCS) which applies to forest management and chain of custody certification in Australia. The AFCS is endorsed by PEFC, the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification. www.forestrystandard.org.au

XLam Australia - Australia’s first Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturing plant will be built by XLam in the Albury Wodonga region, representing a $25 million investment and creating 54 local jobs. The high tech sustainable timber facility will produce 60,000m3 of CLT each year.

XLam has been manufacturing the innovative and versatile building material in New Zealand for five years and shipping it to Australia, in competition with European importers.

Operational late in 2017, the new facility will be the sole manufacturer of CLT in Australia, and one of the most technologically advanced CLT plants worldwide. www.xlam.co.nz WoodSolutions provides architects, engineers and other building professionals with information about how to use wood products, with a comprehensive website that offers a one-stop, independent source for information and technical details about designing and specifying with timber and engineered wood products. www.woodsolutions.com.au Exhibition Partner

At LP, creating new solutions for building is who we are. Since we pioneered our first engineered wood product, we’ve been creating better products to fit the changing needs of the building industry.

From engineered wood panels and siding to outdoor building solutions and design software, our innovative products have combined strength, technology and durability.

Today, LP is continuously working toward the future of building.

We’re creating stronger, longer lasting and more innovative products while focusing on protecting the environment.

We are committed to developing products engineered to perform and built to stand the test of time.

Bronze Partner

hsbcad offers market leading solutions for Autodesk’s AutoCAD® and Revit® platforms with total design accuracy, efficiency and flexibility to define your unique engineering methods for wood and steel construction. The hsbcad solution is a complete package for quick framing of walls, floors, roofs, CLT homes, Log homes, SIP homes and much more.

It provides the ability to create scalable flexible 3D manufacturing models with full quantity take offs, interfacing with the industry’s leading CNC machines.

The overall Management System, with a drawing repository and the control of the flow of jobs between all the manufacturing processes.

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FRAME

Exposure to wood good for the heart, the head and healing Research from the international scientific community has identified that to exposure to wood: • Lowers heart rate and stress response in students and workers • Improves self-esteem and cognitive function • Speeds recovery time after surgery • Encourages greater interaction between residents in aged care facilities.

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NCORPORATING WOOD in the interior design and construction of buildings where we live, work, learn, play and heal is key to improved health and wellbeing, a new report produced

by Planet Ark has found.

The use of wood, especially in conjunction with the principles of ‘nature connected design’ (also known as biophilic design) has significant health and wellbeing benefits including lowering heart rate and stress response for students and workers, speeding recovery after surgery and encouraging

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¢ NACC is the National Arboretum Canberra Architect Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects Photographer Brett Boardman Photography

greater interaction between residents in aged care facilities.

These and other results are contained in a new report by Planet Ark titled Wood – Nature Inspired Design which was launched to coincide with World Wood Day on 21 March.

The results are important news for Australians who, on average, spend

over 90% of their time indoors1.

The report also states that in a single generation, children’s play has moved from outdoors to indoors, backyards are shrinking or unavailable, working hours and stress levels have risen, and technology (especially screens) has encroached on almost all areas of life.

Research from the international

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

scientific community has repeatedly identified that the increased use of wood in furniture, fittings and structures has measurable physiological and psychological health benefits.

“We know that workers are less stressed and more productive, students Continued on page 10

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Complete Construction Fastening Solutions.

For over 60 years Simpson Strong-Tie has focused on developing complete engineered timber construction fastening solutions that help make structures safer and stronger. With a focus on innovation, testing and research, Simpson Strong-Tie has grown to be recognised as one of the world leaders in structural product solutions. Simpson Strong-Tie has an extensive range of Connectors, Fastening Systems, Fasteners and Anchors to help bring together your next project.

To find out more about our innovative range of timber construction fastening solutions or to find out how to become a distributor visit www.strongtie.com.au or call 1300 STRONGTIE (1300 787 664).

FRAME

Exposure to wood good for the heart, the head and healing Continued from page 8 learn better, patients heal faster, and people are generally happier and calmer in indoor areas which contain wooden elements,” says David Rowlinson, Planet Ark’s Make It Wood Campaign Manager.

“Researchers have also reported people experiencing higher levels of selfesteem, improved cognitive function and decreased blood pressure, when exposed to wood in their built environment.”

It is particularly important to establish these benefits in environments where it is difficult to incorporate nature indoors, such as hospitals, where strict health and safety guidelines may prevent the presence of plants, and office environments where views from the window are of roads and neighbouring concrete buildings.

Mr Rowlinson says increasing the amount of wood used in building design and furnishing is also good for the environment.

“Responsibly sourced, certified timber is the only major building material that helps tackle climate change. Timber is renewable, it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, and there are fewer carbon emissions associated with its production when compared to carbon-intensive materials such as concrete or steel. It is also one of the oldest and most versatile building materials used by humanity, but now more than ever it has a large part to play in the design and construction of healthy buildings for us to live, work, learn and recover in.”

¢ NACC is the National Arboretum Canberra Architect Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects Photographer Brett Boardman Photography

Wood is one of the most ancient building materials used by almost every culture since pre-history. This new research along with changes in technology have positioned wood as the building material of the future with homes, schools, hospitals, office and apartment blocks and even the Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium all contributing to a beautiful, healthy and natureinspired environment.

An increasing number of architects who design buildings for living, working, healing, learning and caring are incorporating significant amounts of wood into their structures to capitalise on its health and wellbeing benefits.

A number of Australian buildings are featured in the report, including the

¢ Tempe House in Sydney Architect Pederson Architecture Photographer Thilo Pulch

Dandenong Mental Health Centre, the Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre, Tempe House, NSW, the Library at the Dock, Victoria Harbour, Melbourne, and the Melbourne School of Design.

Some of the high profile case studies around Australia that showcase the use of wood and nature connected design include: • National Arboretum Village Centre, Canberra: The building’s design creates a strong sense of indooroutdoor connection. Additionally, the biomorphic forms within the centre, the use of stone and the interconnectedness of natural elements have created an excellent example of nature connected design.

• Tempe House, NSW: The house was intentionally designed to be small to minimise its environmental impact and construction budget. The majority of the project was hand crafted on site, which ensured a high level of control of on-site waste and an opportunity for maximum reuse and recycling.

• Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre, VIC: The designers of the College won the 2016 Australian Timber Design Sustainability Category. It is a wonderful example of timber used in a nature connected design creating the connection between the school and the environment.

Will your next construction project use certified wood products?

VISIT THE at ‘Timber Offsite Construction’

by Frame Australia 19-20 JUNE 2017 / PARK HYATT MELBOURNE

Find out more about EWPAA certification.

The mark of safety, reliability and trust.

www.ewp.asn.au 10

+61 7 3250 3700

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Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia on Facebook & LinkedIn

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NEWS

Timber most viable option for mid-rise building

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HILE CLT is the dynamic new kid on the block, conventional timber frame with engineered timber floor systems are still the most viable and commercial option for medium density construction.

Andrew Pettenon, new business and design manager at Figurehead Constructions, will explain ‘why’ in his presentation on “Mid-rise residential construction with prefab timber frames and cassette floors” at the Timber Offsite Construction conference in June.

The pioneer of this approach was a 5-level apartment complex in Parkville 3 years ago by Australand, now Frasers Property Australia, the tallest timber frame apartment building in Australia at that time.

“We are using similar technologies - we are just refining them for better compliance and design outcomes,” said Mr Pettenon, whose firm will undertake its fifth project of such construction in Melbourne over the next few months.

Mr Pettenon will explain the benefits of timber frame construction up to three or four levels, and the parameters that make such buildings both design and cost efficient.

“The success of timber frames relies on efficient continual loads,” he said.

It’s about eliminating structural offsets, such as changing floor plates from one floor to the next, otherwise the system is compromised, adding other structural elements like steel, and hence cost”.

www.timberbiz.com.au

¢ Andrew Pettenon.

His presentation will cover smart design and working cohesively as a team. “Getting the design right from the start really saves on building costs in the long run – engineered timber systems won’t work on all projects, yet it definitely has a place in the medium density market.”

Mr Pettenon added “timber has a big advantage in the delivery program by allowing services and finishing

trades to immediately start works on the level below the floor framing installation, which is a huge advantage in comparison to a framed concrete solution” Mr Pettenon will also elaborate on National Code of Construction compliance of timber class 2 medium density apartments, particularly in regard to fire and acoustics.

Frame Australia 2017 titled ‘Timber

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Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne, and for event details visit the website www. frameaustralia.com Delegate registration for the conference is now available on-line at the website, and Early bird registration fees receive a $155 discount.

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Exposed CLT faces new challenges

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ICK HEWSON is overseeing an innovation in CLT construction where the CLT in a new apartment block will be visible – raising a range of fire and acoustics challenges.

The technical manager for XLam Australia, Nick will explain these design issues with a presentation on “Engineering design for mass wood residential buildings” at the Frame Australia ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ conference in June.

XLam is currently building Australia’s first CLT plant in Wodonga which will be one of the most technologically advanced CLT plants worldwide. [It is anticipated the new plant will be operational early next year. The first container loads of specialised equipment arrived from overseas late in April and installation has started.]

With a background in structural timber in the UK, Mr Hewson said working with CLT involved more than structural engineering. “It needs a multi-pronged approach to come up with the best solution. A co-operative effort is where the solution lies,” he said.

That’s why the case study he will use to illustrate the challenges – the six-storey Nightingale apartment project in Sydney Rd, in the inner Melbourne suburb of Brunswick - is an apt example.

It is the brainchild of a group of collaborating architects who are not working with developers, but forging ahead on their own. “The particular focus is on the end-user – the people who will live in the apartments, with sustainability high on the agenda,” he said.

¢ Nick Hewson.

“It’s the first project where an aim is to expose CLT internally so you can see it. Usually timber is clad with plasterboard, so when exposing the timber, it’s obviously working that much harder in a fire” Mr Hewson said.

This visibility in turn has implications for acoustics. “Because we want to expose ceilings in the apartments, we must compensate with the top of the floor to achieve acoustic ratings,” he said.

Then there is the external façade.

The Nightingale will sit between existing buildings along Sydney Rd. “It’s difficult to get access and scaffold.

We are trying to develop external wall systems so we can pre-clad,” he said.

“That’s probably what we will see more of in CLT buildings going forward – more pre-clad, to eliminate the need for scaffolding.”

No decisions have been made on the material for cladding, but he said the fire issues around cladding had become awkward to deal with in commercial buildings, particularly after the tower fire in Docklands when external cladding ignited.

Mr Hewson said Nightingale was outside the new ‘Deemed to Satisfy’ regulations that the changes to the building code concerning timber allowed.

“We have to go through a ‘Performance-based’ solution, and satisfy the fire brigade and building authorities: expose the timber but still achieve the principles of the building code through engineering assessment,” he said.

“Turning CLT from a structural

material into a building system, is the way we look at it” he stated.

Frame Australia 2017 titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne, and for event details visit the website www. frameaustralia.com Delegate registration for the conference is now available on-line at the website, and Early bird registration fees receive a $155 discount.

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CLT construction ‘pushing the boundaries’

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RCHITECT JAMES Fitzpatrick and builder David Campbell will give a joint presentation at the ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ conference on how they predominantly used CLT and Glulam columns to design and build a bespoke house – a project that pushed the boundaries of technology, engineering and construction.

James and David will discuss the process from concept design through to the construction phase, looking at their expectations, the problems they met, and the solutions they found.

With such a stunning design and complex project, was CLT a simple tool to use? Did six years of research and development – acoustic studies, fire studies, desktop analysis and costings – help, or was it in vain?

“The project is my family’s home, but the complexity of the engineering and the solutions were far more difficult than any commercial building. It was always going to be a very good test bed.”

“It is through exploring the improbable or impossible and achieving an outcome that the default solution of engineered timber construction becomes plausible” he added.

Specialty timber skills were also developed. The Glulam columns internally and the lining timber were sourced from the bottom of lakes in Tasmania where the rare timber,

¢ James Fitzpatrick.

¢ Pushing the boundaries

both grey and celery top pine, had been under water for the past 30 years. They found a whole industry in Tasmania that could rescue, dry and prepare the timber for use.

While James pushed the new building technology to the edge, it allowed David to explore new efficiencies and systems in building.

James will show how this new knowledge and real site experience is influencing the design of

several large-scale commercial office building projects within his architectural studio.

David, with his newly acquired set of skills, looks forward to doing a critique of these projects.

The age-old debate of builder versus architect – bring it on!

The Frame Australia 2017 conference and exhibition ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held in Melbourne on June 19 and 20, with

Monday speaker sessions and Tuesday workshops followed by delegate tours.

Delegate registration for the conference is now available on-line at the Frame Australia website, with Early bird registration fees offering a $150 discount.

For event details visit the website www.frameaustralia.com

¢ David Campbell.

Take advantage of the rapidly growing market for timber framing and mass timber in mid-rise residential construction.

‘Timber Offsite Construction’ is a 2-day event that brings together building design and construction with timber and prefabrication on June 19-20 at Park Hyatt Melbourne • Developers and builders agree the future is timber and wood construction systems – built faster, cheaper, and higher than ever before.

Frame Australia 2017 Conference and Exhibition

• Global and local experts will explain how timber panel systems are saving weeks in construction of housing and multi-residential buildings.

Registration Enquiries wendy@frameaustralia.com

• Manufacturing plants are now producing prefabricated timber and mass wood buildings using automated and robotic equipment.

Exhibitor Enquiries adam@buildingbrands.com.au Principal Supporter

• Visit displays of the latest timber and wood systems, engineered wood, digital technologies, manufacturing equipment, and more.

Visit the website for full event program details of speaker sessions & workshops plus delegate tours.

Principal Partner

Register NOW and SAVE $150 with the Early Bird rate at www.frameaustralia.com ¢ Pushing the boundaries .... during construction.

www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

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FRAME

Timber revolutionises high-rise construction

T

IMBER CONSTRUCTION could revolutionise skyscraper typology, says Dr Philip Oldfield, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales.

Dr Oldfield will be appearing at the inaugural Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit in Melbourne to discuss opportunities for rethinking Australian tall building design inspired by climate, culture and context.

His presentation will explore opportunities for reinvention in tall towers, looking at how they can play a more generous role in future cities as well as accommodate innovative new functions and provide places of community and recreation in the sky. Dr Oldfield will also feature on a panel discussion regarding Regulations Impacting Height Limits for High Rise Buildings.

While there are many new developments and innovations in the high-rise construction arena, Dr Oldfield is most intrigued by timber as a building material.

“For me the most exciting development is the growth of timber as a potential structural material in tall buildings.”

Australia is already home to some impressive timber structures, including the Forte Apartments in Melbourne which held the title of the world’s tallest timber building before the recent construction of an 18-storey timber tower in Vancouver

by Acton Ostry Architects.

The 18-story Brock Commons Student Residence at the University of British Columbia is, at 53 metres tall, the tallest mass wood hybrid building in the world. The $51.5 million project boasts costs that are comparable to concrete and steel structures.

The wood hybrid structure rose at a rate of two floors per week.

The design also incorporates prefabricated materials with a prefabricated steel beam, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) slab panels, steel connectors and façade elements. From an environmental perspective, the project demonstrates the benefits of timber construction

imperative to ensure that forestry can handle increased demand.

“In terms of sustainability, using timber is only useful if for every tree you fell, you replace that with a similar tree. A future of timber towers requires us to be planting these trees now.”

in the construction of smart, green buildings. The development is estimated to have a carbon benefit of 2,563 tonnes through the use of carbon-trapping wood construction.

“The big advantage is that timber has a far lower embodied carbon than steel or concrete,” says Dr Oldfield.

Increased use of timber results in a reduced reliance on steel and concrete, which require large amounts of energy to be transformed into useable materials.

However, cautions Dr Oldfield, as timber construction soars in popularity, becoming more widespread in Australia, it is

Dr Oldfield’s research suggests that 33% of a modern office tower’s carbon footprint is embodied in its materials. While skyscraper design has long focused on optimising operating energy performance, they have neglected the energy costs associated with construction materials.

“We need to focus more attention on reducing embodied carbon through dematerialising the structure and using low-carbon materials,” says Dr Oldfield.

Beyond the obvious environmental advantages of timber, the material also presents additional benefits in

terms of design and liveability.

“Timber can bring a warmth and natural quality to interiors so often lacking in high-rise,” says Dr Oldfield.

Other notable timber constructions in Australia include Melbourne’s Library at the Dock in the Docklands, constructed primarily from Cross Laminated Timber. The project won the Sustainability Award at the 2014 Australian Timber Design Awards.

Melbourne will also see the construction of an 8-storey CLT building with the proposed development at 105 Punt Road promising to deliver a smart, sustainable structure with a carbon sequestration system. As well as using innovative CLT technology, the building places priority on shared communal spaces and environmental features such as solar panels and recycled rain water.

With plans for timber towers of up to 35-storeys in the pipeline around the world, timber construction is certainly on the rise, rivalling traditional building materials with its undeniable array of substantial benefits.

Timber design and production specialist Associate Prof. Gregory Nolan is Director at the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood School of Architecture and Design, University of Tasmania. Prof Nolan will appear at the Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit to discuss opportunities for timber construction systems in high-rise buildings, profiling the increased use of prefabricated timber structures in major building projects.

The Australian Smart Skyscraper Summit will be held 28-29 March at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Carbon neutral in the built environment creating industry opportunities for SA

S

OUTH ASTRALIAN Premier Jay Weatherill gave testimony to the environmental and manufacturing opportunities for South Australia that can flow from innovative tall wood construction solutions when he addressed the Building Greener Cities with Timber, an event highlighting the environmental benefits of building with sustainable timber.

“The South Australian Government has been a leader in recognising the need to reduce carbon emissions,” Mr Weatherill said. “Following our Carbon Neutral Adelaide partnership with the Adelaide City Council, the logical next step is to see how we can reduce emissions in the built environment. From what is being presented here today, there are clear opportunities to do this with timberbased technologies and potential to 14

create manufacturing jobs at the same time.

“I will be speaking to our Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Kyam Maher, about working with the forest products industry to see how South Australia can best capitalise on the twin goals of reducing emissions and creating manufacturing jobs.”

“It is fantastic to see the need for greener cities being prioritised in Adelaide,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Ross Hampton.

“There is increasing recognition of the environmental advantages of building with sustainable timber, as well as the benefits of versatility and speed of construction.

“Australia is likely to see a surge in timber construction, including the use of Cross-Laminated Timber

(CLT)1 , which creates real economic opportunities for this State, which is home to one of the premier softwood plantation regions in the country. The industry is looks forward to working further with the State Government to explore those opportunities to achieve wins for both the environment and for jobs,” Mr Hampton said.

+ 1 CLT is analogous to massive plywood. CLT is a structural building product that is both flexible and wellmatched to prefabrication processes. + Building Greener Cities with Timber featured Mr Russell Acton, the architect of the tallest timber building in the world, Brock Commons Tallwood House in Canada. + Building Greener Cities with Timber also featured Planet Ark, XLam (first manufacturer of Cross Laminated Timber in Australia), DSquared Consulting; and Forest and Wood Products Australia.

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“Australia is likely to see a surge in timber construction, including the use of CrossLaminated Timber (CLT)1 , which creates real economic opportunities ...” www.timberbiz.com.au

FRAME

Innovations for carpentry enterprises and the prefab industry The latest CNC control combined with state-of-the-art technology ensure high machining accuracy.

A

T THIS month’s LIGNA, Weinmann and Homag will present the latest developments in machine technology for timber construction in hall 13. With the WMS 060 multifunction bridge, visitors will experience a world premiere in action.

But also the carpentry machine WBZ 160 powerSIX will inspire both small and large carpentries.

At booth number C18 + D18 IN HALL 13, continuous solutions will await you – solutions for beam processing, element manufacturing and handling & logistics.

Optimized for crafts enterprises - the new multifunction bridge WMS 060 The Weinmann WMS 060 is the ideal entry-level machine for CNCcontrolled house manufacturing. The Weinmann experts have developed this multifunction bridge especially for small and medium-sized carpentry businesses producing small quantities. Whether walls, roofs, floors or gables are to be produced - with the WMS 060, the carpenter makes all elements efficiently and with high precision. Various wall structures and materials are machined fast and accurately.

The latest CNC control combined with state-of-the-art technology ensure high machining accuracy. In this way, elements of high dimensional accuracy are produced, which significantly simplifies assembly on site. With WMS, you can rely on a solution that offers an excellent price-performance ratio.

Since usually there is little space available for smaller companies, the machine is compact, requiring little space. For the production of elements with a length of up to 12 m, the multifunction bridge, including a work table, requires just less than 90 m².

The CAD data generated in the work preparation are automatically transferred to the machine. The operator opens the data record on the machine and starts the processing. By means of the intuitive control system powerTouch, the machine is easy to operate without any special expertise.

The multifunction bridge is equipped with two stapling and nailing units for

¢ Holes for socket outlets are routed into the element with high precision by means of the routing unit. Source: WEINMANN Holzbausystemtechnik GmbH.

automated fastening of the sheathing.

The machine receives the stapling pattern specified in the CAD, converting them exactly, so the statics of the elements is ensured. With the integrated routing unit, door and window openings as well as socket outlets are cut out of the element. Also circular or curved shapes and bevel cuts are possible due to the fully interpolating machining.

Variations in element thickness are tracked and compensated with the aid of the scanning routing unit. Depending on the requirements, a nesting module can also be integrated, which ensures fully automated panel pre-cutting.

The fact that the multifunction bridge is a worthwhile investment especially for smaller enterprises shows both the equipment of the machine and its type of construction. Servo-controlled drives offer an energy-efficient manufacturing process. In addition, the WMS 060 can be combined with each kind of Weinmann work tables such as a selfassembly table, carpentry table or a rooffloor table. In most cases, even existing workstations are compatible.

Automation of the work processes also improves the logistics in the hall.

Walking distances are reduced, material

storage is optimized and an ergonomic workflow is achieved. The compact machine design ensures short assembly times and thus a fast production start.

Fully automated beam processing: Machining of all 6 sides of the work piece in one processing cycle Also exhibited at the LIGNA will be the carpentry machine WBZ 160 powerSIX which machines all six sides of the work piece in one run. By integrating a so-called underfloor unit, the performance of the WBZ 160 was once again significantly increased. No matter if block house joints, blocking grooves or dovetail connections are to be made – with the WBZ 160 the carpenter handles a wide range of machining operations. Thanks to its compact design and flexible application possibilities, this machine is perfectly adapted to your individual needs. Not to forget the advantages of simplified handling. The beam is machined in the same position in which the machining operations of the other work piece sides are performed.

Like all WEINMANN carpentry machines, the WBZ 160 powerSIX allows for maximum machining accuracy due to its NC-controlled gripper system in combination with

vertical clamping units. The high precision in all machining processes ensures a fast and easy assembly on the construction site.

Blow-in technology 4.0: Fully automated blowing-in of loose insulation materials The combination of multifunction bridge and blow-in plate represents a quantum leap in timber construction.

Loose insulating material is automatically blown into timber frame elements, insulating exterior walls, roof and floor elements, gable triangles as well as special elements. The CNCcontrolled multifunction bridge moves the blow-in plate exactly over the frame work compartments.

All frame work related data, such as position, shape and size of the compartments, are stored in the CAD and transferred to the blow-in plate via an interface. Different kinds of insulation material are blown-in such as wood fiber, cellulose and mineral wool.

But also other insulation materials like hemp fiber can be used without any problems.

Depending on the required capacity, there are various options for fully automated blowing-in, starting with the multifunction bridge WMS 150 blowTEC, which does not only blowin automatically, but also takes care of various fastening and machining processes, to a separate blow-in bridge which only performs the insertion of the insulation material.

The advantages of that new technology lie in the simplified material logistics as well as material savings.

Furthermore, they offer human and ergonomic work processes, since the dust exposure for the employees is significantly reduced. In addition, some considerable added value for the companies is the guarantee of consistently high quality, since all filling quantities are verifiable, so a complete documentation is provided.

Robotics in timber construction For the first time, a Weinmann production line was delivered at the beginning of 2017, into which an industrial robot is integrated.

Integrated into the frame work station, the robot fully automatically inserts the studs into the frame work structure.

Thus, all types of studs are inserted at any angle. This combination of man and machine achieves a degree of flexibility, precision and speed, which so far has not existed in timber construction. This technology is also applied in the most modern production facility in Europe, which is currently being developed in Sweden.

The CAD data generated in the work preparation are automatically transferred to the machine. ¢ Compact machines for timber construction. Source: WEINMANN Holzbausystemtechnik GmbH

www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

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TAS Mark Sealy WA Gary Hunter NT Cameron Pitkethly NEWS

0418 120 838 0477 779 970 0448 481 335

& easier >

better than a bank

Equipment Finance:- Are you getting tax deduction for every $ you spend?

By Mark O’Donoghue

T

HERE ARE three common ways to finance machinery but only one will deliver a tax deduction for the full amount of the monthly payment.

Commercial Hire Purchase (CHP) and Chattel Mortgage will typically only deliver a tax deduction of 55 cents to 65 cents for every $1 you spend in the monthly finance payments you make.

To put this in more clear terms, when you finance $100,000 over a five year term you will spend around $115,000 including interest.

Of that $115,000, you will typically only be able to claim around $65,000 to $75,000 in deductions through the claiming of interest and depreciation.

The remaining $40,000-$50,000 will usually be claimed over another five years.

Although you do ultimately obtain the deduction over the longer term,

your cash outflow has not provided $ for $ deduction in those initial five years.

You can achieve an equal deduction to the amount spent by simply using a finance lease as the debt structure to pay off the machine.

Under a finance lease (provided the structure is appropriate), you will receive equal to the monthly payment you have made.

To be clear here, this is a finance lease and not an operating lease and as such will provide you with ultimate ownership of the machine once the debt is cleared (similar to CHP or Chattel Mortgage).

As most companies finance their machines as a matter of course, a little time spent in obtaining the right structure can save those companies significant $ through the right tax effective structure.

¢ Mark O’Donoghue is the Founder and CEO of Finlease.

Finance that’s this hard...

Looking for a long term finance option that is easy, offers a true sustainable business partnership which works for you and allows you to focus on what you do best?

Finlease, in so many ways... better than a bank. + Specialists in equipment finance + Competitive rates + Offices Australia-wide + Easy ‘end to end’ process + 25 year track record + Pre approved funding limits arranged

...or this easy Ballpark cost per month (per $1,000 financed)

Residual / Balloon

3 Years

4 Years

5 Years

0%

$30

$23

$19

20%

$25

$19

$16

40%

$20

$15

$13

EXAMPLE: $100,000 financed over a 5 year term with a 20% balloon/residual is $16 x 100 = $1,600 per month.

Contact our local Finlease rep in your state:

NSW QLD VIC SA TAS WA NT

Michael Abberton Michael Giorgas Alex Charilaou Neil Styles Mark Sealy Gary Hunter Cameron Pitkethly

0488 480 463 0488 480 025 0407 460 144 0404 050 697 0418 120 838 0477 779 970 0448 481 335

Payments are shown as a ‘ballpark’ estimation, please call our local Finlease office in your state for a specific quote and immediate indication of approval.

better than a bank

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>

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Australian Credit Licence Number: 390584

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

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www.timberbiz.com.au

Customers SEE a difference in MicroPro Sienna.

Long Lasting Colour and Latest Generation MicroPro Preservative.

®

MicroPro Sienna combines the benefits of the latest generation non-arsenic based timber preservative and an advanced long lasting red-brown colouring system to produce preservative treated timber products that blend beautifully with todays landscaping environments.

The Micropro treated wood process has received environmental certifications* based on life cycle analysis and low VOC emissions and may be used in all environments including sensitive applications such as playgrounds and vegetable gardens.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.KOPPERSPC.COM.AU or call 1800 088809 MicroPro® and MicroPro Sienna® are registered trademarks of Koppers Inc. or its subsidiaries. MicroPro, and MicroPro Sienna timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. © 2017 Koppers Performance Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd. * SCS is registered mark of Scientific Certification Systems and “GREENGUARD” is a registered mark of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute.

NEWS

Pushing the boundaries: EWPAA program for student architects

A

RCHITECTURAL And design technology students at universities in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will digest knowledge and gain ‘hands on’ experience about new engineered wood building systems at a round of EWPAAcrafted lectures under way during semesters this year.

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia CEO Dave Gover started the program in April and May with presentations to masters and second-year students at the University of Queensland’s School of Architecture.

“Young architects will deal with many of the critical future issues in today’s society,” Mr Gover said.

“They will be the ones to push the boundaries when it comes to the living environment, investigating new technologies and materials, and helping ensure that what we build is environmentally sustainable.

“Importantly, they design not just for today, but for future generations.”

The EWPAA lecture program has been welcomed

by Dr Paola Leardini and Kim Baber, two of the school’s senior lecturers.

Dr Leardini has studied architecture with a focus on green technologies in Milan, Berlin, Leicester and Copenhagen, and holds a PhD on energy efficiency and IEQ of office buildings from the Politecnico di Milano (Italy).

She has worked as an ESD designer and consultant, and taught in tertiary institutions in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand.

Her main research focus is on energy performance and thermal comfort of new and existing building stock, including investigation and assessment of multiple intervention strategies for low to positive energy buildings.

Dr Leardini’s studies on comfort and energy efficiency of new and historic residential buildings have been published internationally.

Kim Baber, a registered architect and principal of Baber Studio at West End, said the EWPAA lectures would benefit his architectural design students studying for their masters.

“They will be keen to keep abreast of new engineered wood technology, particularly the versatility of new products revolutionising the domestic and industrial building sector,” Mr Baber said.

“The lectures dovetail well with one of our current projects – a ‘touring pavilion’ using models to depict the use of EWPs in a student-designed concept involving a house, workshop and public space area.”

¢ Talking engineered wood systems and products at the University of Queensland are School of Architecture lecturers Kim Baber and Dr Paola Leardini, and EWPAA CEO Dave Gover.

Mr Baber said this project revolved around remote residential living where buildings could be assembled and disassembled and shipped off to different locations every six months – in kit form not unlike the Ikea systems.

“Student teams are effectively learning from each other in the design of affordable prefabricated housing,” he said.

Dr Leardini said the EWPAA lectures to her second-year architectural students would focus on the technical aspects of engineered wood, materials performance and a basic ground-level introduction to products such as LVL, veneer, plywood and wood panels, touching on the new mass timber science.

What is clear from university projects is that many schools of architecture, technical teaching and learning needs a strong advocate – particularly for Australia’s undergraduate architecture students who face unprecedented competition and rivalling concerns both within and outside the profession.

Students thirsty for knowledge about new, green building products that meet Australian standards for safety and freedom from emissions have such an advocate in the EWPAA’s Dave Gover, a development engineer who studied at the University of Canterbury and has established process quality control systems for wood products companies in both New Zealand and Australia.

Awards highlight a wealth of talent

THE 18th Australian Timber Design Awards competition is open to built environment professionals and students who want to showcase their built design and/or building projects in residential and/or public or commercial buildings that feature timber structures or finishes.

The aim of this prestigious competition is to develop a timber design ethos through the encouragement and showcasing of superlative timber design in a variety of applications, and to highlight the wealth of talent this nation has.

Entries for the 2017 competition opened on February 28 and will close on 9 June. Voting for the People’s Choice Award starts on 1 August and closes 31 August. The gala night when winners will be announced will be held on 25 October in Melbourne.

A new ATDA website is now up and running after months of hard work.

The website’s new features are designed to facilitate: • perusing award winners via interactive portfolio galleries; • navigating around our Awards competition information; • registering your project for one of our coveted awards; • reading news items via our new news blog; to name a few. ¢ 2016 Grand-Prix Winner: Three Capes Track Cabins by JAWSARCHITECTS

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

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NEWS

COMPLIANCE isn’t rocket science ... it’s ENGINEERING!

Innovative partnerships help ensure a solid future

I

T DOESN’T take a genius to use compliant, Engineered Building Products (EBPs) – at the end of the day it’s simply common sense. The quality, reliability and compliance of connectors is crucial to the safety and structural integrity of each and every building project. Builders and certifiers alike can trust each and every one of MiTek’s EBPs; whether used in timber framed construction…or in applications where there is a combination of both steel and timber in the structure.

MiTek’s ‘compliant’ EBPs are designed to meet specific load-bearing and engineering requirements. They all comply with the National Construction Code Series and Australian Standards.

Products are tested and certified both in-house and by Universities and other NATA certified laboratories. MiTek support all EBPs with up-to-date, accurate data sheets…complete with installation instructions, product specifications…and engineer certified, load data.

There’s the MiTek GUIDE!…a handy book which assists in the interpretation of Australian Standards AS1684.2 ‘Residential TimberFramed Construction’ and AS4440, ‘Installation of nail plated roof trusses.’

Plus, there’s the MiTek EasyCat App. This electronic catalogue of Engineered Building Products contains the latest data sheets and, where applicable, links to short, instructional videos demonstrating correct installation of Engineered Building Products.

Non-complying products compromise safety on-site…and after construction. They can also result in a

project being shut down till errors are fixed. There are potential cost blowouts and expensive downtime. Why take the risk…when you know you can trust MiTek products, services and training.

For more information, visit: mitek. com.au Remember: always specify and use ENGINEERED BUILDING PRODUCTS.

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¢ Hyne Timber Maryborough employees currently undertaking sponsored graduate study and the company’s Organisational Development Manager, Mark Lourigan. Top Left - Mark Lourigan, Marcus Fenske and Grant Muller. Front Left - Louisa Moran and Megan Behrendorff.

WITH THE support of the Queensland Government’s Advanced Queensland PhD Scholarships initiative and in collaboration with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Hyne Timber has appointed a Graduate Engineer to join their team near Maryborough.

Graduate Engineer, Rebecca Cherry, commenced employment on 20 March at Hyne Timber’s Tuan Mill where she will also be completing her PhD following a presentation of a scholarship by the Queensland Deputy Premier, Jackie Trad, at the Queensland Science Reception.

This presents an opportunity for Ms Cherry to investigate innovative sustainable building technologies within a commercial environment.

According to Hyne Timber’s Product Development Manager, Geoff Stringer, Hyne Timber recognises and values innovative partnerships.

“Establishing partnerships and engaging PhD students to further develop sustainable building materials using locally grown and manufactured plantation softwood has the real potential to further support regional economic development for the Fraser Coast,” Mr Stringer said.

“For example, Ms Cherry previously worked with Hyne Timber at our Glue Laminated Timber plant in North Maryborough to support our locally manufactured timber bridge solution, which was made from locally grown plantation pine.

“This bridge, an innovation itself, was successfully and quickly installed in the Tuan Forest and presents a sustainable, prefabricated option as part of the Federal Government’s bridge replacement program, especially for smaller, regionally located bridge

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

projects where access for heavy lifting equipment is restricted,” Mr Stringer concluded.

Hyne Timber already sponsors an educational assistance program with eight employees currently undertaking graduate studies, five of whom are in Maryborough.

Courses range from accounting, law, business analytics, asset maintenance and statistics.

The companies dedicated Organisational Development Manager, Mark Lourigan just recently spoke as part of an Employer Panel at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s campus in Hervey Bay, providing tips and answering under graduate’s questions with regards to making themselves more employable.

The existing educational assistance program is currently being rolled up into Hyne Timber’s new, comprehensive Capability Development Plan. This plan is designed to offer development opportunities for existing employees while also formalising school-based placements, internships and reintroducing cadetships.

The cadet program has provided the company with technical and leadership capability over many years, up until the mid-2000s.

Many of those cadets are still in the company in technical and/ or leadership positions including the recently appointed General Manager for Business Development and Strategy, Shane Robertson, based in Maryborough.

The program is open to new or existing employees to undertake an intensive program of learning for future technical and leadership capability aligned to a national qualification, combined with on-the-job program components throughout the company.

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEWS

Fastest lumber scanner in Queensland cypress sector considers group certification the world

T

HE FASTEST lumber scanner worldwide is running in Australia at AKD Softwoods. A few weeks ago, Microtec installed a Goldeneye 800 Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner, running at a possible feed speed of 1200 metres per minute.

It performs fully automatic grading of Radiata Pine lamellas according to local standards and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, such as the new Microtec X-ray source with low voltage.

“Upgrading the dry mill at our Colac site is an important component of growing our company and ensuring that we are internationally competitive,” says AKD CEO Shane Vicary.

Featuring the most advanced technology, such as innovative low power generation X-ray, the scanner identifies all external and internal wood defects. Next generation cameras and sensors developed inhouse at Microtec assure the highest performance and grading recovery.

The structural framing material is produced according to the AS/ NZS1748 Standards of Radiata Pine grown in sustainable plantations.

Goldeneye complies with those standards and makes machine grading profitable by providing added value to the wide range of products.

Goldeneye sensors scan lumber at high speed with unprecedented precision. In a fraction of a second knots, cracks, pitch pockets, holes,

stain, decay, wanes and other board defects are recognized and localized. New X-ray technology is thoroughly engineered for durable scanning and optimization ensures high performance and accuracy at feed speeds of up to 1200 metres per minute.

“Ruggedness, speed and measurement precision are key for high performance planer mills and manufacturers of construction lumber products. We have made sure that our customers have no need to compromise in terms of either throughput or reliability, and certainly not in terms of function,” said Microtec CEO Federico Giudiceandrea.

AKD also installed Microtec’s lumber tracking solution ID Scan that traces every single board through the production process.

A Microtec Viscan Strength Grader has been placed after the scanner to reliably determine the MOE of lumber. Together with the Microtec M3Scan moisture meter, all data is sent to the Goldeneye for final optimization.

“We chose Microtec as our supplier for this project due to the success of the previous Goldeneye and our confidence in Microtec due to their commitment on our success,” said Shane.

¢ Gathering at a cypress certification meeting in western Queensland are (l-r) Todd Lewis (Walker Cypress), Mitchell Goodchild (Yuleba Cypress), Roger Brent (Hurfords), Mick Stephens (CEO, Timber Queensland), Vic Gersekowski (Vic’s Timber), Simon Dorries (CEO Australian Forestry Standard Ltd), Ian Wilson (Injune Cypress) and Ian Hornick (Hornick Cypress).

PROCESSORS IN western Queensland cypress sector are considering a low-cost group chainof-custody certification scheme following a presentation at Dalby

by Australian Forestry Standard CEO Simon Dorries.

There are around 2.5 million ha of cypress-dominated forests in Australia, including cypress in forests mixed with eucalypts.

Management practices by both the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Forestry Commission NSW are certified under the AFS standard AS 4708.

“The group AFS scheme can reduce certification costs by 6070% for individual processors,” Mr Dorries said.

Timber Queensland is helping to facilitate the scheme for cypress division members, which tracks certified wood through their businesses.

“Reception to the scheme was very positive,” TQ CEO Mick Stephens said.

Mr Dorries said the scheme could get off the ground after group meetings with cypress producers and some random audits.

“There will be lot of cost savings here and it will allow cypress mills to use the AFS-Australian Made logo on products stamped with AFS certification compliance,” Mr Dorries said.

“It’s a simple, yet rigorous system that covers all steps in the supply chain. ““Increasingly, consumers are demanding that the wood products they buy are made from timber that can be traced back to a sustainable and legal source.”

The group certification proposal mirrors a successful scheme in Tasmania, managed by Fine Timbers Australia, which covers more than 40 sites ranging from the smallest user of high-end specialty timbers building custom guitars to the largest sawmilling enterprises and wood fibre exporters.

Information about chain-ofcustody certification can be directed to AFS Ltd on (07) 3359 1758 or email Simon.Dorries@ forestrystandard.org.au

POSITIONS VACANT MAINTENANCE MANAGER Daily running of maintenance department.

Proven mechanical experience at a supervisory level and ability to work to deadlines essential.

BANDSAW OPERATOR AND MILL HAND Bandsaw and timber mill experience preferable. Suit female operators.

LOADER DRIVERS AND FORK LIFT DRIVERS Suit female operators - must have current licences. Timber knowledge desirable.

CARPENTER / JOINER Mill maintenance and new laminating concepts.

MILL HAND Packing, strapping and general mill labouring - fork lift licence a bonus. Timber knowledge desirable. *All applicants must be willing to undergo drug and alcohol testing and medical.

Email: jobs@ironwood.com.au for more info.

SAWYERS Operate new Twin Edger and Bench Saw. Timber experience preferable.

www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

21

PLYWOOD

Ta Ann Tasmania introduces new H2 plywood product

‘Aussie-grown’ wood benefits from AFS awareness campaign

¢ Assembling the plywood pack … every second veneer is cross banded and coated both sides with the resin/bifenthrin mixture.

S

MITHTON-BASED Ta Ann Tasmania peels environmentally certified native and plantation eucalypts and radiata to manufacture plywood.

This mill originally started operation in 2008 peeling eucalypt regrowth logs and exporting veneers to Malaysia and other Asian countries for further processing into finish products.

In 2015, Ta Ann completed its plywood mill and began converting a proportion of veneers to finished products producing boards from 17mm to 35mm thick. Much of this product was destined for the short-term use markets, in applications such as formwork ply.

“As the demand for longer term products has increased, the need for protection of plywood particularly against termites has become vital in some markets,” Ta Ann Tasmania general manager Robert Yong said.

In 2015, Lonza Wood Protection acquired Zelam Pty Ltd a New Zealand company specialising in the protection of engineered wood products such as plywood, LVL MDF, particleboard and OSB. Zelam had been instrumental in developing the art of protecting these products through addition of a biocide to the glue/resin used to bond the veneers. This process depends on the heat applied during the pressing/forming process to drive some of this biocide from the resin into the wood veneer.

Termites have the ability to sense the presence

of these protectants at very low levels and will seek alternative foods.

“The ‘art’ of successfully treating by way of this mechanism is in ensuring the correct amount of chemical is retained and present in the wood,” Mr Yong said.

“Losses occur during the addition and panel forming process. The final determination of the correct levels is assessed by chemical analysis of a sample of the treated board.

To mitigate some of these product losses during treatment, Zelam developed the method of micro-encapsulation. In this process the protectant (in this instance, bifenthrin) is encapsulated in a polymer micro capsule where it resides until the capsule is burst by the heat/ pressure achieved during the pressing process.

Since the early 1990s Zelam has been protecting panels for the Japanese market. More recently they have expanded this opportunity to include manufacturers in Asia, USA, Europe and now Russia.

Ta Ann has chosen to use Lonza’s product, Permatek 100, a 100g/l formulation of encapsulated bifenthrin, for the protection of its combi-plywood products for structural construction purposes.

GENERAL MANAGER Robert Yong and quality and safety manager Donovan Britton (pictured) check the PEFC and Australian Forestry Standard and AustralianMade logos on packs of TPLY at the Ta Ann Tasmania plywood mill at Smithton.

TPLY is the Malaysian company’s premium grade, Super E zero-emission product which has strong bonding strength for the rigours of outdoor weather conditions and building construction sites.

“We have worked closely with the Engineered Wood Products Association of Austrtalasia to independently test and certify that our plywood products meet the highest Australian engineering standards,” Robert Yong said.

TPLY is certified under the EWPAA product certification scheme to meet AS/NZS 6669. All products carry the EWPAA stamp of accreditation to the relevant Australian and NZ standards under a JAS-ANZ accredited, third-party audited quality control program that is recognised internationally.

Ta Ann is one of a number of Australian companies granted use of the Australian-Made logo alongside the PEFC brand.

“This is part of a national awareness program about the legality, sustainable and social aspects of buying Australian made and grown wood products,” AFS CEO Simon Dorries said.

“The program also works to maintain and provide employment in the industry in rural areas.”

AFS owns and manages the Australian Forest Certification Scheme and is the national governing body for the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) the world’s largest forest certification system.

Mr Dorries said the relationship with the Australianmade campaign would help local forest managers and manufacturers grow their businesses, create jobs and operate sustainably.

“The profile of the AFS brand is growing in Australia and internationally,” he said. “This partnership will help further raise that profile.”

Mr Dorries said promoting Australian certified wood was not only important to local forest managers, it was increasingly more important for Aussie consumers and retailers who were becoming more sensitive when selecting wood products and related services.

“They’re now more focused on the environment and social consequences of their purchasing decisions,” he said.

Companies that process, remanufacturer and trade in wood and paper products can encourage sustainable forest management by purchasing and promoting their use of wood from certified forests.

Ta Ann Tasmania recently spent $7 million upgrading their plants in Huonville and Smithton (including the addition of the new plywood plant).

¢ Ta Ann quality and safety manager Donovan Britton (left) and Lonza’s Noel Coxhead and Shane McFarling at the Smithton veneer peeling station.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

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RESENE AWARDS

21st century technology a feature of national NZ Wood awards

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GALA cocktail and dinner function at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland saw leaders of the timber and forestry industries join with architects, engineers, designers and clients to celebrate wood’s resilience especially when “engineered” into structural components, with the announcement of winners of the coveted Resene Timber Awards.

While engineered timber was developed more than 20 years ago, building standards and approvals worldwide have been slower to adopt this technology.

From extensive use of LVL and CLT in homes to multi-storey commercial buildings, this year’s entries for the NZ Wood Resene Timber Design Awards showed modern applications of wood are providing cost effective solutions for asset owners, says Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA) Promotions Manager Debbie Fergie.

“With timber’s structural advantages often providing equivalent strength to steel and concrete for significantly lighter weight, and the technology to safely build up to 18 storeys, timber is an ideal material for architects and engineers to confidently specify across commercial as well as residential builds,” she says.

Not surprisingly, Christchurch entries dominated this year. Timber’s lighter weight on fragile, liquefactionprone soils, its ability to flex in an earthquake and its superior fire resistance make it an ideal structural material beyond its natural aesthetic - which owners often want displayed.

The Resene Supreme Award went to Cathedral Grammar Junior School in Christchurch, submitted by Ruamoko Solutions with Andrew Barrie Lab, Tezuka Architects, Ohno Japan and Contract Construction.

“Cathedral Grammar stands out as an example of what can be achieved with effective collaboration and innovation in timber design, fabrication and construction,” said judges. “The expression of the structural timber frames at a human scale is inviting, and promotes a tactile response from young occupants.” This entry also won Timberlab Solutions Ltd’s Commercial Architectural Excellence section and was highly commended in the XLam NZ/Nelson Pine Industries’ Engineering Innovation one.

Innovative uses of engineered timber featured strongly throughout the competition, and the NZ Timber Design Society-sponsored Engineering Innovation category provided many examples. Bealey Avenue Lodge in Christchurch was the eventual winner.

Submitted by RM Designs, judges pointed out this was the first large scale commercial application of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in New Zealand. It was considered ground breaking in terms of its application of solid timber and structural engineering while complying with the NZ Building Code and local construction practices.

Wood’s inherent flexibility can also be maximised in infrastructure applications, as demonstrated in the Kopupaka Park solution in Northwest Auckland that won Smartclad’s Exterior Innovation and Infrastructure award. This was submitted by Isthmus Group Ltd, and judges gave kudos to the team for “thinking outside the box and using timber for infrastructure projects.” This project had earlier won the Landscape of the Year award at the 2016 World Architecture Festival in Berlin.

¢ Bealey Lodge stairs.

¢ Cathedral Grammer Juniour School.

Winner of the Carter Holt Harvey Residential Architectural Excellence Award was the Point Wells Gables opposite Omaha, designed by Aaron Paterson and Steven Lloyd of the Paterson Architecture Collective, Steven Lloyd Architecture and Glamuzina Architects. Judges needed to consider its innovative aspects in design, material selection, context, built form, sustainability and its solution vs. complexity and commented, “The use of traditional timber technologies, highly manipulated and carefully detailed, achieves high emotional impact.”

Highly commended in this category was the Torea Studio in Mapua, Nelson of which judges said, “CNC machined CLT wall and roof panels are used to generate an energetic and lively form.” The total-timber “Pak 2” holiday home in Pakiri, Auckland submitted by BoxTM, impressed judges with its simple pavilion form.

The Juken NZ Innovation of Student Design Award was won by two University of Auckland students – “Marking the Journey of Tatau” (tattooing) from Amanda Wijaya is described as a progression through a building likened to the three stages of tatau – the stretching, the tattooing, and the transition to adulthood, enhanced by the louvered and coffered rafters, ceiling and panels.

The second winner was a multifunctional pavilion by Louie Tong. “Rigorous mathematical and geometrical analysis has informed a student design and build project at Henderson High School, which can be seen as a deliberate provocation to engage students’ imagination and interest in mathematics, material and construction,” said the judges.

Residential Architectural Excellence Point Wells Gables - Point Wells Paterson Architecture Collective, Steven Lloyd Architecture & Glamuzina Architects Commercial Architectural Excellence Cathedral Grammar Junior School - Christchurch Ruamoko Solutions, Andrew Barrie Lab, Tezuka Architects, Ohno Japan & Contract Construction Engineering Innovation Bealey Lodge - Christchurch RM Designs & Engco Consulting Engineers Excellence in Engineered Wood Products Torea Studio - Tasman/Nelson Tennent Brown Architects, Dunning Thornton Engineers, Inch Buildings, Wraight+Assoc.

Landscape, XLam and Angus Muir Design Interior Innovation The Government of Samoa Fale - Auckland Walker Community Architects Ltd Exterior Innovation & Infrastructure Kopupaka Reserve - Auckland Isthmus Group Ltd NZ Specialty Timber Award Langs Doors - Northland ARK Novel Applicaton of Fibre Award Essential Oils from Pine Trees - Mosgiel ForestPlus Oils Ltd Innovation of Student Design Award (New) Multifunction: Pavilion Louie Tong, Auckland University Marking the Journey of Tatau Amanda Wijaya, Auckland University Resene Overall Supreme Award Cathedral Grammar Junior School - Christchurch Ruamoko Solutions, Andrew Barrie Lab, Tezuka Architects, Ohno Japan & Contract Construction

¢ External and internal view of the Point Wells cabins.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

23

NEWS

Myrtleford Mill standoff continues

Celebrating 15 years of building success

¢ CFMEU national secretary Michael O’Connor joined the mill workers at the lockout camp. PHOTO: Julie Luxford

T

HE MYRTLEFORD mill standoff continues with neither side showing any signs of backing down. The latest meeting between the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union and Carter Holt Harvey again ended in a stalemate.

The national secretary of the union Michael O’Connor joined the mill workers on site calling on the company to compromise.

CFMEU assistant secretary Andrew Vendramini said the spirit remained strong among workers camped outside Australia’s largest plywood mill but hit out at negative comments on social media.

“What everyone is forgetting is that our members, the majority of the more than 200 workers at the mill didn’t strike – they were shut out by the company,” he said.

“If others are angry they should be asking questions of Carter Holt Harvey.

“We continue to get enormous support from the majority of the town but there is always misinformation and rumour that leads to comments that are neither helpful nor are they informed.

“At the end of any given week most of these workers have little

or no discretionary income left over, they are not on big wages, they work long shifts, they’ve lost conditions over the years and compromised on pay rises in the past for the good of the company.

“They’ve gone backwards and they are sick of it.”

Mr Vendramini said the union members had benefitted from more than $50,000 in donations.

“We have had two large organisations, I’m not going to say who, who have put in $20,000 each,” he said.

“We have also had food and money dropped off to us here at the camp by people from the town.

“The message from our members at the moment is to keep fighting.”

The main sticking points are a 3 per cent pay rise annually over three years, one week’s annual leave allowable in the Christmas holiday period and better access to income protection insurance.

The workers had been escorted off the Carter Holt Harvey’s Myrtleford plywood mill at 2am as they prepared for the first of 4-hour rolling stoppages to protest the lack of action on their enterprise bargain agreement.

GROWING from humble beginnings in 2002 with a handful of staff, to a bustling large company with a staff of 86 people, Alpine Truss is one of the biggest success stories in Wangaratta business.

This year, the company celebrates its 15th year in business, and managing director George Prothero said the key to Alpine Truss’ enduring success lay in the high quality of the products, the loyalty of the customers and the hard work and dedication of its people.

Prior to establishing Alpine Truss, director Chris Vafiadis and managing director George Prothero were employees at one of the largest frame and truss manufacturers in Australia, with Chris based in Melbourne and George based in Benalla as the Victorian state manager.

The pair were with the company for around 25 years.

He said Alpine Truss was first established in March 2002 and over the years has grown into a large manufacturing facility at its home in Tone Road, Wangaratta.

“We were extremely lucky that when we decided to start Alpine Truss we were able to source the site we have now,” Mr Prothero said.

“Originally on five acres, we have since purchased the two acre adjoining property to enable the business to grow.

“At the time of deciding to take the gamble and start our own business which my wife Belinda was an integral part of its growth and success, we were also lucky enough that some of my key design and production staff from the Benalla operation took a major gamble

and joined Alpine Truss,” Mr Prothero added.

The company is a licensed Mitek manufacturer of pre-fabricated timber roof trusses, wall frames and Posi-Strut flooring systems.

Mr Prothero said there had been a festive mood around the company, and celebrations of the anniversary have included taking 15 staff on a trip to Ayers Rock in March, and holding a thank you function for customers and suppliers, also during March.

Mr Prothero said he was extremely grateful for all the support that their customers had placed in the company over the years, particularly in the beginning.

“We’re very grateful for the local businesses that backed us 15 years ago,” Mr Prothero said.

As well as steadily expanding the size of their premises in Wangaratta, Alpine Truss now also has a sales and technical office based in the Melbourne suburb of Epping to provide assistance to their metropolitan clients.

The Wangaratta office, located at the manufacturing facility, services regional clients while also supporting major project builders in Melbourne.

Mr Prothero said future plans for the business were simply to expand facilities and upgrade equipment as needed in order to keep providing the best possible service and products to their customers.

More information on Alpine Truss and its products is available on their website at www. alpinetruss.com.au.

¢ Alpine Truss managing director George Prothero (front, centre) with (front, from left) Martin Crossey and Barry Edgley and company staff.

New owners but “business as usual” for Alpine MDF

By LEAH TINDILL A THAILAND-based company has assumed 100 per cent stakeholder status of Wangarattabased fibreboard manufacturer Alpine MDF Pty Ltd. Metro Particle Co Ltd of the Metro Ply Group has bought the multi-million dollar operation at North Wangaratta from Japanese firm, Sumitomo Forestry Company.

Metro officially takes over operation of Alpine MDF today (Friday, March 31) but it will be “business as usual” for everyone at the Wangaratta manufacturer, according to chief executive officer Graham Church.

He told the Wangaratta Chronicle that all 112 employees have been retained as part of the deal.

“The understanding is that it is business as usual,” Mr Church said.

Alpine MDF was put on the market 18 months 24

ago and was set to be bought by New South Wales group Borg Manufacturing in April last year.

Borg withdrew its offer several months later, however, after an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report raised concerns that the deal would lessen competition in the market.

Mr Church said that Sumitomo had resolved to exit the Alpine MDF business about 18 months ago to refocus their energy and attention back on their core business which is forestry and housing.

Alpine MDF began in Wangaratta in 1996 as Dominance Industries Pty Ltd. The business was taken over by Sumitomo in 2002 and a new name, Alpine MDF Industries Pty Ltd, was adopted.

Alpine MDF is one of three manufacturers of medium density fibreboard in Australia, with its product having varied uses, primarily in the construction, joinery and furniture manufacturing industries.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

¢ NOTHING TO CHANGE: Alpine MDF is expected to retain all staff after a 100 per cent change in stakeholders. PHOTO: Emma Hillier

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEWS

Engineered system a lifeline for state’s deteriorating timber bridges

T

HIRTY PER cent of timber bridges in regional NSW are in a poor condition1, making the restoration of these critical transport arteries a priority for local governments and councils. Given the importance of these transport routes and the safety of the local community, councils have needed to lower payload and speed limits as a precaution to the continued deterioration and disrepair of the state’s 2,000 timber bridges2.

When a bridge is closed for maintenance or repairs, or is load limited, the impact on the local community can be significant, particularly if the bridge is one of only a handful of access points connecting a region, as is the case with the farming area around Cedar Creek Bridge in NSW’s Hunter region.

As one of 74 bridge assets in the Cessnock local government area, the ageing timber bridge was highlighted as a priority for urgent restoration given the significant deterioration of the corbels, girders and deck planks. Heavier vehicles cause much more vibration in the bridge as they pass over; this can cause bolts and fasteners to rattle loose over time requiring higher maintenance and causing increase wear to the joints in the timber.

The council had implemented a sixtonne load limit on the bridge as a shortterm solution while it searched for a low-cost alternative to a steel or concrete replacement, both of which come at significant costs to the community.

Bridges form a vital part of Australia’s transport network, with around 30,000 timber road bridges in service throughout the country. In NSW, timber bridges are recognised for their place in the state’s colonial history, with many of the old bridges classified as ‘State Significant’ under the Heritage Act. However, heavier and faster moving vehicles have put a considerable strain on these old timber bridges, accelerating the rate at which many of these ageing timber structures have been deteriorating.

As a way to extend the life of timber bridges, the Cessnock Council selected Bridgeply, a plywood bridge deck system developed by timber specialist and plywood manufacturer Big River Group. An alternative to

steel and concrete decks, the system is an engineered substitute for traditional hardwood decking, which is less expensive and faster to install, a critical measure of success for the Cedar Creek Bridge.

The larger size of the bridgeply product helps to absorb much of the extra vibration of heavy vehicles while also tying together the other timber components of the bridge better than solid hardwood planks. This, in turn, means the product is not only quite durable in itself but it also extends the life of the timber frame it’s installed on.

Due to the condition of the bridge and the local community, comprising of small farms, a bed and breakfast, and a wombat refuge, who needed access to this infrastructure, a fast installation to minimise the impact on the residents was critical.

The bridge restoration took just three days – four days ahead of schedule – with the council contracting two work crews around-the-clock to restore it quickly. In full consultation with the residents, the council managed issues of transport and water, with a shuttle bus made available to transport residents to and from their properties, and a pedestrian walk bridge was maintained throughout the project to enable continued access for those getting around on foot. Cessnock City Council estimates that to take the old bridge

down and replace it with a new steel and concrete bridge would take a minimum of two months, likely even longer.

A retrofit solution that can help extend the life of timber bridges by decades, Bridgeply offers a low-cost option for rehabilitating existing, older timber structures without needing to replace the entire bridge – meaning only components that are failing need to be replaced, saving time and material costs. Faster to install due to its light weight, Bridgeply can be moved in larger sections with the same machinery used for alternative materials, so less trucks are required for delivery and less

crane movement to install components is needed.

Additionally, as a timber-based product most of the machinery alterations such as drilling, can be done on site with hand tools. This, together with the lightweight material, means installation can occur in a timely manner, with minimal disruption to the local community.

Happy with the result, Cessnock Council is currently restoring five other bridges in the area and using the same product as it means minimal downtime for the community and lasts longer – allowing for much less maintenance.

Bridgeply offers a low-cost option for rehabilitating existing, older timber structures without needing to replace the entire bridge

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

25

NEWS

Use the natural resource in your own backyard, says Australian developer

N

EW ZEALAND is missing a prime opportunity to combine its sustainable timber resources with an innovative manufacturing system to build faster and more efficiently. Daryl Patterson, Head of Operational Excellence at Lend Lease Australia, says Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is that missing link.

CLT is an engineered wood system made from several layers of dimensional lumber boards, stacked crossways and bonded together.

Speaking at the Wood Processors & Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA) and Property Council New Zealand Tall Timber Buildings seminar, Mr Patterson questioned why, given New Zealand’s ample timber resources, there was not greater use of CLT in the NZ construction sector.

“New Zealand is fortunate as all manufactured timber is made here. In Australia, we import manufactured timber as we don’t have the large timber resources to supply the raw product.

“You also have the design talent, a market that accepts timber and local manufacturers who have invested heavily in the technology to deliver and supply CLT.” Mr Patterson said he investigated CLT after seeing how 3D printing and robotic technology could be used to manufacture multi-storey buildings.

“We had a design team look at this and the challenge was not the printer but the ink. We had to ask what will we make these buildings from. We needed a

lightweight, strong, easy to manufacture, raw material.

Kept coming back to timber “We looked at over 100 options and it kept coming back to timber: easy to construct, sustainable, durable and cost efficient.”

CLT provides the dimensional stability, strength and rigidity of alternative products at similar costs and can be digitally fabricated.

“This technology allows for mass customisation as the tools of design talk to the tools of production.

“We can now design and manufacture an entire apartment block in a warehouse, from a computer software program and robotics operated by one guy.”

Mr Patterson cites London’s Graphite Apartments as an example.

“We looked first at the 2008 construction of the Graphite Apartments, in London. This was social and affordable housing where CLT was being used in very economically tight circumstances.

They had to make it work and reducing cost was the rationale for using CLT. They could build faster, cheaper and break the height record for timber buildings by 50%.”

Mr Patterson believes the cost saving is partly due to the speed of construction and the ability to make the building water tight far earlier in the construction process than can be achieved with traditional materials.

Bringing that knowledge back to Australia, Lend Lease went on to build the Forté, Melbourne’s tallest timber building in 2013.

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Timber Processing & Products www.timberbiz.com.au

“What we found using CLT was, not only was it faster to build than a conventional building by 30%, we also reduced truck movements to and from the site by 90%.”

Quicker and quieter Mr Patterson says other benefits included a quieter construction site, a smaller construction crew and significant thermal properties. He added that feedback from buyers was overwhelmingly positive.

“Buyers were not concerned about what the building was built out of. They just wanted a nice, modern home and we were able to deliver that on time, at a reasonable price using CLT.” Mr Patterson also made reference to the recent, $150 million 5 King development in Brisbane, which is busting the scale for timber buildings at 52 metres high and features over 25,000 square meters of CLT. “Brisbane is a tough market to sell commercial buildings in. We wanted to bring construction costs down to reduce rent and attract tenants.

Strong investor interest “There is strong interest by investors in sustainable, well-designed, CLT constructed buildings as they are known to attract and retain tenants.

“These buildings offer a lower carbon footprint than other building materials and they are also great environments to work in.”

The implications for New Zealand, Mr Patterson argues, are huge.

“In Christchurch, you have 1000

News Briefs

Masters property sale given green light Woolworths can press ahead with the sale of Masters’ property assets without the consent of its former joint venture partner. Woolies says an award in the confidential arbitration between the supermarket chain and Lowe’s means the US hardware giant must sell its 33% stake in the failed Masters stores. Home Consortium, which includes companies behind retailers Spotlight and Chemist Warehouse, reached agreement with Woolworths in August to buy Masters’ 61 hardware stores and 21 development sites for $835 million. Source: AAP Chinese particle board plant announced for Kawerau A Chinese company has announced plans for a new particle board plant for Kawerau that is expected to bring 100 jobs to the district. The Chinese-based Guangxi Fenglin Wood Industry Group has announced plans to establish the plant that will produce 600,000cubic metres of panel boards a year for exports mainly to China.

Increase of Asian export prices Norske Skog, a global leader in production of newsprint and magazine paper, has flagged a price increase for all exports from Australia and New Zealand to Asian markets. The increase is necessary to address higher production and shipping costs, which has led to unsustainably low pricing in these markets. The price increase, in the range of 5-10%, depending on the underlying cost increase applying to the relevant market and customer, and took effect from 1 April 2017.

Quay development is a key development

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

¢ Daryl Patterson, Head of Operational Excellence at Lend Lease Australia speaking at the Wood Processors & Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA) and Property Council New Zealand Tall Timber Buildings seminar.

new buildings constructed with steel and concrete. These products are being imported from other countries when New Zealand is growing and manufacturing even better buildings in timber frame.

“CLT has the durability, strength, stability, seismic resilience, thermal performance, fire resistance, moisture management and vapour diffusion, healthy indoor environment, and design flexibility. New Zealand should champion this system and become the world leader in CLT constructed buildings.”

Development and construction giant Lendlease is poised to draft in top British architect Foster + Partners to design its $1.5 billion Circular Quay Tower, which is being pitched as Sydney’s tallest office building. The landmark building is one a series of new skyscrapers getting under way that will reshape the city’s skyline, with AMP Capital, Mirvac Group and Chinese players Dalian Wanda and Poly Group also developing towers. Lendlease last December won the backing of China’s Ping An Real Estate and Japan’s Mitsubishi Estate Asia for the project, which also includes a public plaza and a smaller building.

Holmen group considering building a CLT works Swedish Holmen group is currently performing a feasibility study for building a cross-laminated timber works at the Iggesund Timber sawmill.

Holmen Timber is currently producing neither cross-laminated timber (CLT) nor glulam timber but is geared solely to manufacturing rough-sawn softwood lumber.

Bigger and better Biesse following acquisition Biesse Group has acquired control of Avant, a company that specialises in the development of software for the integration and supervision of machining lines and working cells. Avant’s applications are able to automatically manage all the information of the manufacturing process, from cutting to edgebanding to boring operations and, in recent years, sorting as well, the backbone of any batch-one production system. Biesse Group boasts more than 1000 systems installed worldwide, with a 170% increase in systems installed in the

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There’s a lot more to it than just a sale!

“The need for product information remains, and taking ownership of the information is a requirement in this market”

By Eric Siegers PrincipaL, The Timber Hub

I

T HAS been interesting that the word disruption has become such a big word in business these days.

Not that any of us should be surprised given the way the digital space has redefined a lot of what and how business is transacted and developed.

It seems that the timber industry has become complacent in the belief that the disruption caused by the radical elements of the environmental movement and the supply chain changes wrought by the big box stores is now over.

This is not something that is said in meetings but is borne out in the behaviours of the sector. It comes out in the complaints and comments we receive from the wider audience that the industry supplies.

Architects comment how the industry doesn’t supply information that helps them gain the approval of the Building inspectors – in particular most manufacturers don’t have the information needed to confirm (for instance) fire groupings, BAL rating performance, Slip resistance etc. and

for the architect the challenge is to find the information. It seems that many in industry believe that they do not need to provide this information, however, that is not what the supply chain demands.

Smaller developers make similar comments; builders often comment that products such as flooring, decking, or windows, will result in returns and failures and prefer the use of products that are easy to install with guarantees. The issue of guarantee’s is common and plays against timber regularly – and is the topic for another article.

Consumers feel there is nowhere to turn when a problem results from timber performance or even poor installation.

While WoodSolutions, and we, the TimberHub, do provide access to a lot of information the take up by manufacturers on that information to be included in their product catalogues and marketing is weak. Both organisations provide information to industry that can be easily

downloaded, why not at least pass on that information?

As I often comment, the timber industry doesn’t market its wares.

It sells them. To the point that the industry is sales obsessed. This means that expenses are tied to delivering a sale rather than providing information that will build a sales opportunity for the future. This mentality often results in a mindset of “sell at any price” to get the deal, and consequently makes the industry vulnerable to disruption because any hard fought for gain to win business is done so without the benefit of gaining commitment and loyalty.

In the face of changing market dynamics, understanding the retail cycle is becoming vitally important for all businesses, not just a retailer. The timber supply chain needs to think in terms of the retail experience and the subsequent marketing needs. In the retail experience, it’s all about easy access to information. Just think about your experience with buying whitegoods or a car and the contribution of the manufacturer to that information.

Even if the focus for a company is direct to the developer, the need for product information remains, and taking ownership of the information is a requirement in this market. It is what all market sectors expect. From Architects to builders to consumers, finding information easily as it relates to the product purchased is what

makes the sale happen and builds commitment to the product through a positive experience.

Study after study confirms if you continue to focus only on the sales price of products and only service the sale, you result in diminished sales prices, and consequently profits.

If there is a new opportunity for disruption in the timber sector, it will be a result of the various companies in the sector not making information easily accessible to its direct and indirect customers.

We receive enough requests for information on specific products to know that products such as timber flooring, doors, decking and structural to know that what the industry provides is out of step with what is needed.

With over 7000 requests for information in the past 12 months we see the change in information requests that result from changes to the codes and the change in market expectations.

Thinking like a retailer along the supply chain will have a major benefit to avoid disruption in the future.

At the end of the day disruption is just a word telling us that customers have options. While customers do love timber this is not a guarantee that they will buy it. We have to get used to the idea that we have to work even harder at building loyalty and commitment to the timber brand.

Labor of love in creating 2.5 tonne spoon DON’T MISS AN ISSUE - Subscribe today.

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LOCATED IN the Omotesando shopping street in Miyajima (Japan) is what is said to be the largest wooden rice scoop (shamoji) in the world. Some 7.7 metres long, 2.7 metres thick and weighing in at 2.5 tonnes it is said to be made from 270 year old Zelkova tree. The scoop took almost three years to construct and went on display in 1996 to commemorate the designation of Itsukushima Shrine as a World Heritage Site.

According to legend, between the 1790s and 1800s a Buddhist monk

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

named Seishin lived and worked in the Tokidera Temple. One night he dreamed of a deity known as Benzaiten, the Japanese name for the Indian goddess Saraswati, whose myth arrived in Japan via the Chinese and began being worshiped in the 6th century. She held a traditional Japanese lute which the monk saw as a kind of spoon. Upon awakening he showed the people of Miyajima how to make this magical rice scoop or “shamoji” he had dreamed of.

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ASSOCIATIONS

Sustainable timber veneers

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

T

IMBER VENEERS are appreciated for their beauty but it’s often overlooked that specifying veneers is one of the most sustainable ways to use wood products.

Decorative veneers for high quality appearance uses are sliced, while veneers for plywood production are generally rotary peeled. In both cases, one log goes a long way.

A German study of the yield of sliced veneer from beech trees found that an average 841 square metres of veneer was produced from every cubic metre of wood. This was based on a veneer thickness of 0.55mm1. Other yields may be higher, depending on the quality of the log and the percentage of waste.

Clearly, bonding thin slices of timber (veneers) to stable substrates produces a material with all the positive features of solid timber, at the same time making the best use of available resources.

While veneer production maximises the amount of decorative material obtainable from a log, the log itself must be sustainably sourced. Several certification schemes operate to monitor Chain of Custody whereby the source of a wood product can be traced, primarily the following: • The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), • The Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) • The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification program.

In addition, the Timber Veneer Association and its members are co-operating with Australian

Government moves to refine due diligence requirements, aimed at ensuring products derived from illegal logging do not enter the country.

When sustainably produced timber veneers are bonded to a particleboard or MDF substrate with E1 or better formaldehyde emission properties, the result is a truly eco-friendly product.

For specifiers seeking to maximise Green Star points, timber veneered panels fit well with the Green Building Council of Australia’s focus on indoor environmental quality and the environmental impact of building materials.

A guide to the specification of timber veneers, simply titled Veneer, is available free of charge through the TVAA’s inquiry service at info@ timberveneer.asn.au.

1 F. Hapla, L. Meggers, H. Militz, C. Mai, Investigation on the yield and quality of sliced veneer produced from beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) containing red heartwood, Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff, December 2002, Volume 60, Issue 6, pp 440–442

¢ Outstanding design examples of veneer being a major focus.

timber testing

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MAY 2017

To discuss your requirements in more detail and for further technical information please get in touch: Australia Tim Evans Business Development P 0417 726 741 tim.evans@ivsltd.com.au New Zealand Paul Norris Forestry Manager P 1800 812 498 paul.norris@ivsltd.co.nz Colin Malcolm IVS Laboratory Manager P 1800 812 498 colin.malcolm@ivsltd.co.nz

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ASSOCIATION

Timber industry labour hire/recruitment

TABMA continues to boost its stocks

Brian Beecroft

By Colin Fitzpatrick

Chief Executive Officer TTIA

Chief Executive Officer Timber & Building Materials Association (Aust.) Ltd

T

TIA IS proud to partner with Labourpower to provide the timber industry with access to a range of specialist recruitment and workforce management solutions.

We understand the importance of finding the right person for the job and through our partner’s comprehensive tailored selection process - you will only ever meet quality candidates who are the right fit for your business.

Member benefits at a glance

• A tailored recruitment solution to help build the capability you are looking for and improve the quality of candidates in your pool • Dedicated Account Managers to manage all your day-to-day operational needs • Fitness for Work testing • Ongoing FREE training to upskill and retain your staff (based on available state-based funding) • Special member rates for industryspecific training certifications • Online live reporting so that you have all the data required to achieve maximum productivity.

Specialist recruiting services for TTIA Members As your recruitment partner, Labourpower will always provide TTIA Members with the highest quality job seekers in the fastest turnaround time. Their specialist consultants can provide you with all the information and resources you need to effectively fill roles at every level of the timber trade industry.

experts right across Australia who can help you source the right person for the job.

Our business partner pride themselves on their ability to predict your future staffing needs and fill the gaps before they appear and their comprehensive strategies will help you improve reliability, optimise production and outputs, as well as minimise costs.

To discuss how TTIA can best support your recruitment needs, phone (02) 9264 0011.

TTIA industrial relations seminars

TTIA will be carrying out a series of national seminars in June on important industrial relations issues relevant to our industry awards and recent industrial cases. Some of the issues to be dealt with are: • Legal process for disciplinary action and termination of employment • Penalty rates • Abandonment of employment • Significant award issues • Contracts of employment including terms and conditions • Right of entry • Significant recent industrial relations decisions and cases Employers are advised to contact TTIA about upcoming venues and dates. Members will be informed by circular shortly.

Industry specialists in every state

With TTIA’s partner, you get 24 hour a day access to genuine industry

W

E ARE pleased to announce the appointment of Malynda Price to the position of NSW GTO State Manager. Malynda joined TABMA on April 03 and will report to Steve Cunningham. Malynda has a wealth of experience in the GTO and RTO fields and will prove to be a great asset to the TABMA Group.

TABMA Queensland

The TABMA Queensland Board meets every two months and the most recent meeting was on March 14.

Ably led by Michael Gaske, the TABMA Queensland Board is a direct contributor to the success being enjoyed by TABMA Queensland and their advice and direction assists Alicia Oelkers in the growth we are experiencing.

Mcleod Training Organisation Cairns

Following meetings with Ian Mcleod and recently with Linda Barbero, their newly-appointed general manager, MTO and TABMA have entered into a mutually beneficial arrangement whereby TABMA Queensland will now actively promote the training of apprentices and trainees in North Queensland by regular visits to the region and will be able to use MTO’s Cairns headquarters as a base. In return trainees employed by TABMA in the region will be trained by MTO.

National Hardware Industry Luncheon

TABMA Australia enjoys a very strong relationship with the Scott Wiseman led Hardware Australia and as such was invited to attend, as a special guest, the national luncheon in Melbourne on March 31 at the MCG.

The luncheon was very well attended with guests from the hardware industry from all over the nation. Paul Murray was the guest speaker and the highlight was the announcement of the hardware industry rising star for 2016/17.

TABMA Training

TABMA Training (previously FITEC) offers a full range of nationally recognised forest and timber industry qualifications ranging from forest operations, sawmilling, frame & truss design and manufacture to timber merchandising and business sales.

Plus their dynamic short courses are designed to achieve bottom line results for all timber related businesses. These short courses can be conducted at your premises or in a group at our premises.

The short courses include forklift training, chainsaw training, dealing with customers on the telephone and in person, performance management, timber knowledge, timber take offs and visual stress grading. Just contact TABMA Training on 1300 693 483.

Timber Industry Dinner & TABMA Awards

A reminder that this year’s timber industry dinner incorporating the TABMA national awards will be held on Friday, 6 October at Luna Park, Sydney. A special guest has been engaged as MC and entertainment will be provided along with unique sponsored dessert stalls and a sponsored photo booth.

For further information contact Amanda Jones at av2107styling@ gmail.com

Timber use in Far North Queensland stacks up TIMBER QUEENSLAND, in conjunction with Planet Ark Environmental Foundation, has been promoting the many benefits of building with timber when it comes to delivering better environmental outcomes in Far North Queensland.

Consistent with the Far North Queensland Regional Plan to promote sustainable buildings and housing affordability, the Cairns, Tablelands and Mareeba local governments have been briefed on why using timber stacks up both environmentally and economically.

“Timber is a renewable, recyclable material with low carbon emissions compared to other building materials, such as steel and concrete.

If half of all the new houses built in Far North Queensland over the past two years were timber maximised, for example, this would have avoided 74,000 tonnes of carbon emissions,” said Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens.

“For these reasons, many governments around the world are adopting a Wood Encouragement 30

Policy (WEP), which requires timber to be considered as a preferred construction material for projects when it is equally fit-for-purpose.

Within Australia, 12 councils across four states have already adopted a WEP, including the Fraser Coast and Gympie Councils, who became the first two councils in the state to do so in January 2017.”

Mr Stephens said a wood encouragement policy also supports jobs, growth and investment.

“The forest and timber industry makes a significant contribution to the local economy, delivering over 500 direct jobs and a further 750 indirect jobs, in the Mackay, Atherton Tablelands, Cairns and Cassowary Coast local government areas,” said Mr Stephens.

“Planet Ark has just released a new report, Wood - Nature Inspired Design, which highlights the many health and social benefits of using timber in public and private building spaces, including lower levels of stress and a closer connection with nature”, said David Rowlinson, AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

MAY 2017

the Make It Wood Campaign Manager with Planet Ark. “A WEP can promote greater awareness of the beauty, versatility and environmental benefits of timber in construction projects as diverse as libraries and hospitals, playgrounds, wharves and bridges, hotels, mid-rise apartments and office buildings,” Mr Rowlinson said.

A seminar with leading local builders, wood processors, architects and designers was also held at Cairns Hardware to promote the benefits of using timber.

Stefan Gerber, Program Development Manager with WoodSolutions Mid-Rise Advisory Program, who is presented at the seminar, said “There are further opportunities for timber to move into the mid-rise and taller building space, given changes to the National Construction Code and innovations using engineered wood products and other timber building solutions”.

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