Australasian Timber Magazine - September 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

3 – September 2014

Frame Australia Conference to expand A

RECORD attendance of 400 at Frame Australia 2014 held in May highlights the growing interest in pre-fabricated timber framing and engineered wood in building construction, with the largest increase from the building sector which more than doubled.

Delegate survey feedback revealed very high interest in the topics with 98% indicating they would attend again, and 81% of the design and construction delegates preferring the conference be held every year to keep up to date with developments.

Conference Director Kevin Ezard said: “With this strong display of support from the building sector, we are pleased to announce a “between year” Frame Australia with conference topics primarily for delegates from building design and construction, to be held on June 1, 2015.

“The theme will be ‘Building with engineered wood construction systems’ with topics covering future planning and housing

trends, building design and codes including fire safety, construction system projects, building costs, labour skills and training, plus supply chain requirements.

“This new initiative will not alter the

Use engineered wood products to do more with less

Hear industry experts discussing the design, specification and realities of developing buildings incorporating gluedlaminated timber (glulam), wood I-joists, cross laminated timber, wood structural panels and some world firsts: post-tensioned round timber wall panels, round timber floor panels and hollow timber piles.

Discover new ways to use timber and be inspired!

Understand the structural properties and reliability of engineered wood products • Learn about CLT design practices • Evaluate the best connections for laminated beams • See practical demonstrations of modern connection technology Mark Batchelar, MLB

Consulting Engineers (Auckland), discussing the engineering and design for Te Wharehou O Tuhoe, a NZ tribal headquarters constructed utilising virtually all available engineered wood product technology and built to meet the Living Building Challenge - the most strict sustainability criterion that can be applied to buildings.

Kerry and Lindsay Clare of Clare Designs discussing design and construction aspects of the new ‘Library at the Dock’ building. This CLT and glulam structure has been was constructed

by Lend Lease around the corner from the Forté Apartments in Victoria Harbour, Melbourne.

Live “Connection Calculation” demonstration – learn how to calculate a timber connection and then apply it.

Date: Thursday 25 September 2014 Time: 2.15 – 5.30pm (Including afternoon tea & cocktail function) Location: Moda Events – Portside. Level 2, Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton.

REGISTER ONLINE – www.timberqueensland.com. au/events

and true-to-label timber products grown and processed in Queensland from legally sourced logs grown in well managed forests.

“This timber meets our high Australian standards so you can be confident that it will deliver the best performance,” said Rod. “Using Queensland grown timber also removes any risk of not complying with the Federal Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation that commences on 30 November 2014,” he said “Consumers can rest assured that they’ve bought the right product for the job when the Accredited Queensland Timber Product logo is featured on the packaging.”

Responding to a market need for practical advice all Accredited Queensland Timber Merchant Network

prefabrication responded with high ratings for “Timber & engineered wood products” and “Truss & frame manufacturing” which indicated the calibre of local and international speakers representing the world’s largest suppliers of timber and wood processing equipment.

Conference speaker Johann Betz, international consultant on prefabrication commented: “Frame was a very well organised conference which has its origins in traditional truss and frame manufacture but very rapidly is morphing into arguably the premier event on panelised prefabrication in Australasia. I have a feeling the event will keep growing from here.”

Interest shown by delegates from all sectors in the supply chain was very encouraging and confirmed that timber prefabrication and wood products in building is continuing its newfound impetus for both residential and commercial construction.

ForestWorks’ activities are assisted by funding provided by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Industry.

Queensland timber merchants promote fit-for-purpose timber CONCERNED ABOUT reports and predictions pertaining to deck collapses and other timber product failures a new network of Queensland timber merchants is encouraging consumers to use locally grown and manufactured building materials instead of imported products of dubious quality and origin.

Launched in Brisbane the Accredited Queensland Timber Merchant Network says the timber industry has valid concerns builders and DIYers are receiving bad advice, being told a timber species is suitable for certain applications when it’s not and sometimes sold a dodgy product.

Spokesperson for the Network Rod McInnes said Accredited Queensland Timber Merchant Network members sell fit-for-purpose

existing Frame Australia conference format which is held every two years with a focus on engineered timber and the manufacturing of prefabricated timber building systems, with the next event in 2016.

“The conference has been held for the past 16 years and is very popular as a biennial event, which will not be changing,” he stated.

The 2014 survey revealed “Supply of timber and wood systems for construction”, and “Residential building with timber panels to lower costs” were of particular relevance to designers and builders, with almost 80% rating the sessions as outstanding.

A highlight was the presentation by Australand Property Group in demonstrating how costs were reduced by 25% in the construction of a 57 apartment 5 storey building in Parkville, completed in 11 months using prefabricated timber framing and floor cassettes.

Delegates from timber supply and frame

staff receive training on the latest building regulations and technical aspects of timber application and use from Australia’s leading timber experts.

“So you get the right product, the right advice plus Accredited Queensland Timber Merchant Network members can provide customers with copies of highly sought after Timber Queensland technical data sheets relating to their specific jobs,” he said.

Consumers can locate their closest Accredited Queensland Timber Merchant Network member by using the postcode search tool at www.buyqldtimber. com.au “People can also look out for businesses who display the Accredited Queensland Timber Merchant Network member logo,” he said.

Improving productivity in your workplace A learning program is now available for leaders, managers and workers to improve the operation of your business. · Build innovation capability at all levels · Improve innovative thinking, practice and development · Make innovation a workplace reality for future business growth

FIND OUT MORE: 1800 177 001 forestworks@forestworks.com.au www.forestworks.com.au

NEWS

September 2014 – 4

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Timberlink takes the initiative

Infomercial promotes the “science of sawmilling” Positivity

A

N E W L Y released video by Australian sawmilling company Timberlink Australia aims to promote the ‘science of sawmilling’ today, as well as the enduring benefits the products have, including ecological and environmental.

“Links 2014,” the company’s objective in creating the new 25 minute infomercial about the business and softwood sawmilling industry is three-fold: Provide current and high quality footage of a fairly technologically complex and sustainable manufacturing process in an important Australian industry Give an overview of the process “start-to-end” (tree seedling to house frame) and the various elements of manufacturing technology and control throughout, with the challenges of dealing with a natural product to start with Promote a greater understanding of the sustainability and value of the industry in Australian manufacturing landscape and to the Australian building industry.

The company’s own employees introduce and

describe various processes of manufacture taking the audience on a journey from tree seedling to house frame in about 25 minutes – a process that takes approximately 30 years!

Once the log is harvested and available for processing, the main product, pine framing, which is used to hold up the vast majority of Australian homes, is produced in about a 10-day cycle.

While Timberlink people are telling the audience about the processes of manufacture, they have avoided using too much jargon and successfully relate certain aspects of what they do to aspects of our everyday lives – log harvesting equipment that is something like a Transformers machine from the movies; kiln drying facilities that are like big ovens that bake the unseasoned timber into dry stable structurally strong product; replanting of the plantations like would occur with any commercial crop being replanted in Australia.

Brittany Mason, the company’s Marketing Communications manager, told us that “one of our main target audiences for the video is the staff and

sales personnel of our customers’ businesses – timber merchants, resellers, big box hardware chains and fabricators. While within this group, there are many of our customers’ staff, management and owners who have first-hand visited many sawmills over the years, there are still a lot of people who sell the product every day and have not had the opportunity yet to tour one of the industry’s sawmilling facilities. The products to Tradies, DoIt Yourselfers and major building companies – all of whom want to know today that the product they are buying or using is sustainably sourced and quality assured.”

Working with Spotlight Productions, a professional video production company, who have worked on similar projects with a diverse range of industries including telecommunications and fashion, provided a creative partner who captured the reality of the manufacturing process but with a new creative and contemporary viewpoint.

“It’s a fairly typical scale manufacturing environment with big equipment and lots of focus on safety but the application of

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technology is amazing and the sustainability of the industry is impressive,” said Producer John Leonard, at Spotlight Productions.

“In line with digital marketing developments, the medium of a company video which can be made available on-line seems so much more appropriate and engaging than just a brochure explaining the A to B manufacturing process,” Brittany explained.

“The project for Spotlight included five days of filming based at our two sawmilling sites – Bell Bay, Tasmania, and Tarpeena in South Australia. Six hours of footage was edited into just over 25 minutes which was a real challenge!”

Funding continued A JOINT initiative between the Australian and New Zealand industries and governments, Solid Wood Innovation (SWI) has secured funding for another two years.

The revised R&D plan merges Australian and New Zealand priorities and incorporates the results of consultative sessions between representatives of SWI and Australian companies and a presentation to and feedback from FWPA’s Wood Products Advisory Group.

LARGE QUANTITY NATURAL EDGE R/G SLABS WELDLINE CLAMPING SYSTEM (MULTI STATION 4500mm X 16 BAYS)

magazine Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.

September Vol.22, No.6 Postal Address:

630 Regency Road, Broadview, South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501 Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria, 3127, phone (03) 9888 4822 General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editorial: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9512 Out of office VOIP (08) 7127 6370 Advertising: Norm Nelsen n.nelsen@ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne: (03) 9888 4820 Timber classified: n.nelsen@ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne: (03) 9888 4820 Production: Maria Baker subs@forestsandtimber.com.au

Adelaide: (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide: (08) 8369 9555

LARGE & SMALL WOODWORKING EQUIPMENT AND TIMBER FAR TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION

A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST WILL BE IN THE NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE

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Subscriptions:

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Call Adrian Peel 0427 776 942 or Glen Gray 0428 851 768

As a part of this project, Timberlink is collaborating with Forest and Wood Products Australia to provide them with access to the footage to update their library of manufacturing images and use this footage in promoting the sustainability of the industry.

To view go to – timberlinkaustralia.com.au/ about-us/our-company-dvdlinks-2014

THE TWELFTH wave of tracking Australian consumer attitudes continues to report positive perceptions of wood, while postcampaign research shows an increased awareness of the message of Wood.

Naturally Better.™/Planet Ark television advertising.

The trend of regarding wood positively has continued, with the latest wave of research reporting no negative emotional associations. This is accompanied by a strong preference for the visual appeal of wood and wood products, when compared to other materials.

Follow-up research after the recent airing of the Wood. Naturally Better.™/ Planet Ark television commercial showed an increase in the awareness of the advertisement and a rise in the number of people who said they would prefer to purchase wood products.

n Since Combilift was established in 1998 it has shown phenomenal growth.

Read more about this forklift on pages 8 and 9.

Conditions: Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor/publishers; information is published in good faith and we do not accept responsibility for damage which may arise from any possible inaccuracies. All rights reserved, none of the contents may be used in any other media without prior consent from the publishers.

Published by Ryan Media Pty Ltd.

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NEWS

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Revised Chain of Custody Standard published T

HE REVISED Australian Standard® for Chain of custody for forest products has been published, ensuring it is up to date and consistent with international best practice.

The revised Standard (AS 4707:2014) underpins the tracking of wood or forest products originating from sustainably managed, certified forests through all phases of ownership, transportation and manufacturing to the end consumer.

Sustainably managed forests are certified under the Australian Standard® for Sustainable forest management (AS 4708:2013).

These two Australian Standards® form the core of the Australian Forest Certification Scheme (AFCS) managed by Australian

nR ichard Stanton

Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS Ltd), which has been endorsed by the PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification).

The revised Standard is based on the recently revised PEFC Chain of Custody Standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013) with some modifications to suit Australian circumstances and processes.

“Increasing interest from consumers in where their wood products come from, as well as the requirements of the new illegal logging laws, make this Standard a valuable way for businesses in the wood and paper products sectors to demonstrate their products are sustainable,” said Richard Stanton, AFS Ltd’s National Secretary.

“It is a voluntary standard for use by any organisation seeking to assure its customers that the certified wood and forest products they buy are sourced from a certified forest,” he said.

Along with the traceability advantages of the Standard the Australian Government’s illegal logging due diligence test, which comes into effect in November 2014, requires businesses to assess and manage the risk of importing or processing illegally logged timber, or face prosecution and heavy fines.

“By importing or purchasing timber from forests certified under the Australian Standard® or other PEFC endorsed Standards, businesses can be confident that they will be able to

meet the due diligence requirements to issue certificates against AS of the Australian Government’s illegal 4707:2006 until 31 December logging laws,” said Richard Stanton. 2014. From 1 January 2015 all new Businesses that manufacture, convert chain of custody certificates must or repackage wood from certified be issued against AS 4707:2014. forests can become certified under Existing certified clients may choose the chain of custody standard to for their next scheduled audit, following demonstrate the sustainable use of the publication of AS 4707:2014, to be timber along the entire supply chain. audited against either AS 4707:2014 This requires independent assessment or AS 4707:2006. Transition from and verification along the supply AS 4707:2006 to AS 4707:2014 may chain to ensure the product can be occur during a surveillance audit. If tracked back to a certified forest. the client chooses to be audited to Australian Standards® are reviewed AS 4707:2006 a transition plan must approximately every five years to be discussed with the audit team ensure they remain consistent with any and described in the audit report. changes in technical and operational All clients should comply with AS knowledge and reflect community 4707:2014 by 31 December 2015. expectations at both the national and To learn more about the Australian international level. This is the second Forest Certification Scheme and time that the Australian Standard® how your business could benefit has been reviewed and republished. from certification, visit www.

The review of the Australian forestrystandard.org.au.

Standard® for Chain of custody of forest products was undertaken by an independent Standards Reference Committee made up of experts and representatives from a broad range of stakeholders, including forest managers, wood processors, traders and wood/paper products customers. The review followed the standards development procedures and requirements set down by the Accreditation Board for Standards Development Organisations (ABSDO).

Certification bodies can continue

Do you know where your wood products came from?

AFS Ltd has recently published the revised Australian Standard® for Chain of custody for forest products (AS 4707:2014). For more information see the AFS Ltd website. www.forestrystandard.org.au  info@forestrystandard.org.au  02 6122 5000

5 – September 2014

NEW PRODUCTS

September 2014 – 6

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

New anti-slip building product set to overhaul workplace safety Sure-footed solution T

HE SAFETY of workers across Australia’s construction, hospitality and healthcare sectors is set to improve significantly with the arrival of timber specialist Big River’s Anti-Slip Plywood, a new plywood product featuring a highly slip resistant coating designed to protect against injury on both indoor and outdoor workplace platforms, ramps, walkways and floors.

This innovative Australian-made solution was created to significantly improve the safety of both temporary and permanent flooring and ramps. It features a textured paint finish with crushed glass for maximum wear and slip resistance. The reverse side of the panel has a phenolic film for moisture protection in damp, wet and external areas.

Big River’s Anti-Slip Plywood has been tested for slip resistance in both wet and dry scenarios. The wet test results should always be used to assess the real risk of slip.

Both wet and dry testing delivered results at the highest slip resistance classification.

It has been specifically designed for use in construction sites or building areas, permanent ramps and flooring in hospitality (kitchen) or age care facilities, hospitals and medical environments.

According to a report released by Safe Work Australia the economic cost of work related injury and illness in Australia is estimated to be costing $60 billion a year in lost productivity or just under 5% of Gross Domestic Production (GDP). Both small and big businesses across these sectors are proactively looking at new and groundbreaking ways to reduce injuries and make the workplace a safer environment.

In the construction industry, Lend Lease, one of the world’s leading project management and construction companies is using Big River’s Anti-Slip Plywood on the $6 Billion Barangaroo urban transformation project on the western edge of the Sydney CBD. In the hospitality sector, namely kitchens and food preparation facilities, slips are the most common cause of injury and also the easiest to prevent according to WorkSafe Victoria. In the café and restaurant industry, floors with oil or water spills are the greatest cause of slip, trip and fall injuries. Anti-Slip Plywood is ideal for high-risk areas including cool rooms/freezers, dishwashing areas, cooking areas and doors leading to and from the kitchen where changes in floor surfaces occur.

The product is also making a significant difference in the

healthcare sector where Perth-based manufacturer of safety products, Grafton General Products, has seen an enthusiastic uptake by their clients for both commercial and domestic applications. Grafton General Products supplies wheelchair ramps and various home modification products to hospitals, the Department of Housing and the Department of Veteran Affairs, all where safety is paramount.

Joe Galipo, Director, Grafton General Products says: “We are delighted to be one of the first to embrace this brand new product from Big River; it is far superior to anything else on the market, and we are not seeing any slippage even in wet conditions.”

Until now many sites that required anti-slip surfaces in the work place have been relying on plywood materials that are only stress graded to F11 and F14, or paint coating finishes that offer non-slip properties when applied to walkways and floors. The lifespan of many paint applications can be limited before a reapplication process needs to occur that can potentially increase maintenance costs.

Manufactured in Grafton, New South Wales, AntiSlip Plywood has a high strength F17 structural plywood certification to Australian Standard AS2269 together with the maximum rating of P5 (V) classification in the slip resistance testing of pedestrian surfaces in wet conditions and D1 in dry conditions.

Anti-Slip Plywood is available in a range of sizes and thicknesses, as well as in custom-made size panels. It is available in three standard colours: safety yellow, black

FIAA sticks to its word on shoddy furniture imports FIAA sticks to its word on shoddy furniture imports AN AUSTRALIAN-made procurement policy by Federal and State Governments would “turn the tables” on shoddy furniture imports, mostly from Asia, that continue to fail Australian standards for consumer safety and trusted forest certification, FIAA general manager Dean Brakell said at AWISA 2014 in Brisbane.

“Such a policy – and other countries like Canada are doing it – would almost turn the fortunes of furniture manufacturers overnight,” he said.

“We are continuing to take the fight to Canberra and we’re working closely with the influential Furniture Cabinets and Joinery Alliance which met with federal Department of Industry officials at an industry forum held during AWISA 2014.

“It’s simple,” Brakell said, “we want products to conform to certified sustainable forests rules, third-party accreditation and compliance with Australian building standards.

“A level playing field is a no-brainer.”

Brakell said Furnishing Industry Association of Australia members had enthusiastically joined a consumer awareness campaign by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, which included point-ofsale stickers that guaranteed Australian and NZ engineered wood products were tested to conform to safe emission levels demanded by health authorities.

The labels have been issued to more than 500 FIAA members Australiawide; many of them have individually repeated orders for up to 1000 ‘green label’ stickers which they attach to product packs at distribution points carrying a message that products manufactured by EWPAA members are certified Super E0, EO and E1 under a strict JAS-ANZ accredited system.

EWPAA laboratory tests have shown some imported wood panels with emissions greater than 3 mg/L, well above safe levels recommended by the Federal Government’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and

Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).

Random testing has revealed unsafe materials are still entering the Australian market – a potentially serious problem.

n Dean Brakell, general manager, FIAA (right) with FIAA director Brad Willis of Clarence Valley Kitchens, South Grafton, NSW.

and grey. Based on volume, customised colours can also be specially created to compliment any décor and ensure that safety enhancements are seamlessly integrated into any unique interior environment. The product can also be scarf jointed if larger sheets are required.

Anti-Slip Plywood key points: • • • • • • • •

Textured paint finish with crushed glass for maximum wear and slip resistance Phenolic film on reverse side for moisture protection in wet or damp areas.

High strength F17 structural plywood certified to AS2269 Achieves maximum rating of P5 (V) classification in slip resistance testing of pedestrian surfaces in wet conditions and D1 in dry conditions Pressure cleanable.

Locally manufactured in regional New South Wales Colours and sizes can be customised depending on volume Chain of Custody AFS/PEFC certified

With more than 100 years in the timber industry, the Big River Group is one of the largest private timber manufacturing and marketing businesses in Australia,

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Moving ahead with skills to support innovation business” gave attendees the opportunity to participate in a practical group discussion on innovation within the industry and their organisation.

Michael Hartman, CEO, ForestWorks ISC, gave a presentation looking at maximizing opportunity and minimizing risk in order to improve competitiveness and profitability. Mark Kelly, Department of Industry followed and looked at practical case studies of how businesses were doing things differently today.

ForestWorks ISC is also working with the Timber and Building Materials Association (TABMA) on a series of Innovation Forums in New South Wales and South Australia.

More information will be released in the near future.

Information gathered from Innovation Forums along with industry feedback has led to the creation of seven Innovation Working Groups.

These working groups focus on specific topics affecting different sectors across the supply chain. Four groups

are already under way and opportunities. engaging in activities: Simon Dorries, General David Quill, an industry Manager, Engineered Wood leader in the Green Triangle Products Association of region, is leading the Australasia (EWPAA), leads Innovation solutions to a group looking at Standards specific skill shortages group. for timber building systems.

This group is focused on The group met for the first developing and implementing time on 19 August and looked solutions to skills shortages at increasing understanding of in regional forestry districts. standards for existing products They have recently held and the consistency of their second meeting in Mt standards for the development Gambier, SA. of new products.

A working group delving For further information on into the topic of Pulp and these working groups go to paper sector HR development www.forestworks.com.au/ solutions is being facilitated innovation

by Jim Henneberry and led by Adele Elice-Invaso of Appita.

The group is focusing on workforce development within the sector.

The Innovation in Frame and Truss Technologies Working Group is led by Kersten Gentle, FTMA Executive Director. The group held its initial meeting on 8 August. The group is focused on providing opportunities for sectors in building products manufacturing, to share and understand new building systems and associated n Michael Hartman

AFTER ATTRACTING a great deal of attention at LIGNA, the innovative trimmer exceeds all expectations in practical operation.

“Our customers expect us to conceive technically sophisticated solutions that allow them to improve production techniques and to optimize value creation at the production site. This is where we focus our efforts and pursue a new path with new ideas. During 1,000 hours of test operations, the E-CUT 200 has proven to be a groundbreaking machine concept for lumber producers in terms of the type of drive, actuation and maintenance – and now it will successfully go into series production,” says Timo Springer, the CEO of Springer.

changed rapidly at any time as the linear opening mechanism guarantees ease of access to the maintenance walkway.

The externally positioned center drive, trouble-free elimination of waste pieces and optimal dust suction with “Chip and Dust Control” – these are the ingredients for comprehensive, technically sophisticated solutions which enable the customer to achieve highly adaptable and cost-effective lumber production. The system can process all common board thicknesses and lengths and can be employed for all types of softwoods. With the new trimmer, the doors are wide open for a smooth lumber production process.

High precision cutting and low maintenance operation The invention has undergone a stress testing over several weeks where all components were thoroughly checked for function and productivity. Thanks to electrical actuation, the swinging crosscut saw arms attain higher efficiency levels than all existing alternatives. A controlled and accurate actuation curve allows optimum control of the crosscut saws and high precision positioning of the saw blades in the cross-cutting process.

Cutting deviations are within a tolerance of +/- 1.25 mm. Moreover, the E-CUT 200 is the first trimmer to be equipped with saw blades that are set in rotation without a belt. This has a tremendously positive effect on maintenance costs as no belt means no parts exposed to wear and tear. Furthermore, the saw blades can be

The first E-CUT 200 has been running for several months in production at the wood processing company Theurl in Eastern Tyrol. The trimmer forms the heart of the new lumber production area and was easily integrated into the existing system due to its minimal construction height.

“We are enthusiastic about the E-CUT 200 – it is well-conceived, requires very little maintenance and is highly productive and profitable,” says Hannes Theurl.

“We transform a major part of the lumber into planed lumber and glulam within our own plant. That is why a high degree of flexibility and reliability is essential for our production process. These points have always been taken for granted in the systems developed by our long-term business partner Springer, both now and in the past.”

JANE BARTIER will be finishing her long-standing role as Deputy CEO with ForestWorks on 19 September.

“Jane has been a valued part of our organisation.

She has worked closely on Government policy directions and with industry on a number of successful skills, training and job development projects,” said ForestWorks chief executive officer Michael Hartman.

“She has been a driving force behind the Women in Forests and Timber Network (WFTN), has managed successful workers assistance projects, co-ordinated ForestWorks policies and practices, and has provided valuable contribution to innovation and workforce development strategies.

“I take this opportunity to publicly thank Jane for the commitment, leadership and management expertise she has provided to ForestWorks.

She has been a source of encouragement and guidance

for staff and has been pleasure to work with,” Michael said.

Jane said she aimed to restructure her work practice from full-time and do some further study.

“I have learnt much in this time and trust that I have contributed to the industry in developing strategies for skilling people to meet changing workplace demands.”

A new Contracts and Projects Manager will start with ForestWorks in midSeptember.

n Jane Bartier

ENE

CO

Springer’s trimmer innovation goes into serial production

Farewell to Jane Bartier after more than six years with ForestWorks

R

O

UR INDUSTRY is changing. We are becoming more innovative and more collaborative and we have the potential to change even further, according to ForestWorks ISC, which is supporting industry during this period of transformation by ensuring leaders, managers and workers have the right skills to support the opportunities ahead of them.

The Innovation Skills Program is running at full steam, providing ample opportunity to industry to get involved in innovative learning and discussion via Innovation Working Groups and forums.

ForestWorks ISC, in conjunction with the Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI), the Timber Merchants Association (TMA) and the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association (FTMA, held an Innovation Skills Forum in Mt. Waverley on 22 August.

The four hour forum, aptly themed “Improving, growing and changing our

7 – September 2014

Q U A L I T Y & I N N O VAT I O N

Theurl Holz, Austria

www.springer.eu • Springer is Europe’s largest supplier of timber handling equipment with 100s of installations.

• Acora and Springer together offer single item solutions to complete turnkey solutions.

• CLT - Glulam - Log Handling - Board Handling - Planer Sorter, Stacking and Wrapping.

Acora’s local knowledge is always on hand and with Springer’s depth of engineering, we offer a great solution for your operation.

PO Box 122 11 Government Road Eden NSW 2551, Australia

Tel: +61 (0)2 6496 1222 Fax: +61 (0)2 6496 3097 Email: info@acora.com.au

September 2014 – 8

FORKLIFTS

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Combilift giving more than 15 S

INCE COMBILIFT was established in 1998 it has notched up an enviable record of growth and has supplied over 22,000 units of its range of 4-way forklifts to customers in more than 75 countries. The two initial founders – MD Martin McVicar and Technical Director Robert Moffett – are still at the helm of the company and remain as enthusiastic as they were in their pioneering days for developing innovative materials handling solutions.

The concept of a truck that can change the direction of its wheels at just the touch of a button changed the face of materials handling at an unmatched pace in the industry.

The Combilift – the world’s first engine powered, all wheel drive multi-directional forklift, enabled operations to ditch previous combinations of other types of trucks in favour of this universal machine, a very attractive proposition in terms of efficiency and flexibility in and around the warehouse and loading yards.

The timber sector was one of the first to recognise the benefits of Combilift’s customised approach and still accounts for a large percentage of overall sales. Starting with an output of just 18 trucks in its first year, the company is now celebrating over 15 years in business and has won numerous awards for its products that are acknowledged as market leaders for the safe and productive handling of long and awkward loads.

MD Martin McVicar attributes the continued growth of the company to a number of factors: “Substantial investment in R&D (9% of yearly turnover) has enabled us to continually bring new models to the market, which incidentally meant that we were much less affected during the turndown than most mainstream forklift manufacturers. Customer feedback has also been pivotal for new product development. As there is no one typical set of requirements for individual applications our production line was configured at the outset to offer a very high degree of customisation.

We use standard and readily available components so that our products can be easily maintained and serviced wherever in the world they are being used.”

The 15th year has seen the launch of more products and a step in a new direction with the introduction of Combilift’s smallest models and first pedestrian reach stackers the Combi-WR (Walkie Reach) range. Once again development of these was spurred on by practical requirements as Martin explains: “We were getting the message from customers in the DIY and timber sector that they wanted a smaller capacity unit to handle lighter loads, and the result is the CombiWR and the 4-way version, the Combi-WR4.

These handle palletised material as well as longer loads such as packs of timber or laminate in confined areas and offer very safe operations in areas where the general public and employees may be present”.

With lift heights of 4.2m and a load capacity of 1,450kg, electronic power steering, pantograph and side shift functions, the Combi-WR is the only pedestrian reach stacker which can work in an aisle-width of 2.1m pallet to pallet. The multi-position tiller incorporates push button rotation of the rear wheel parallel to the chassis for placing and picking in the aisle and the operator’s position at the side of the machine rather than between the racking and the truck offers enhanced safety.

A further development of great relevance to the timber sector is Combilift’s new 4-wheeled, two directional sideloader, which is ideal for operations that require reliable, robust and fast operation when moving timber across extensive sites. Overheating during prolonged operation is a common problem with many sideloaders but Combilift has counteracted any risk of this by incorporating a single Bosch Rexroth variable piston hydrostatic drive motor coupled with a

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

FORKLIFTS

years of lifting innovation rugged and proven JCB differential axle as used on the JCB 3CX backhoe model. The new design features a fully glazed front cab panel and the engine is situated in a low level compartment underneath the platform, both of which contribute to excellent visibility.

With the Australian arm of the business (Combilift Australia) experiencing the biggest growth phase in its history the future is very bright for the well-respected market leading brand.

Chris Walker, Combilift’s General Manager in Australia, said” We have come a long way since the humble beginnings of the trusty C4000 with a machine available in the range to suit almost every application. “With new models being released and the current product line being constantly updated the Combilift range covers more and more of our customer’s material handling needs.”

Long Loads?

Confined Space?

Operate safer and more efficiently with Combilift Australia.

Combilift Multi-Directional Forklifts are designed to safely handle long loads in confined areas.

With a capacity range up to 35,000kg and the ability to operate both inside and out, struggling with difficult and long loads is a thing of the past.

1300 552 422 www.combilift.com.au

9 – September 2014

WOOD INNOVATIONS

September 2014 – 10

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Wood treatment specialists converge on Australia and New Zealand L

IKE IT or not, thermally and chemically modified wood - along with wood plastic composites (WPC’s) - are now a commercial reality. They’re already being produced in commercial quantities in both Australia and New Zealand. They’re competing - but can complement - traditional preservative treated wood products in the local market.

Wood Innovations 2014, a technology and market update for local timber treatment and wood manufacturing operations, will provide a timely global insight into some of these new technologies. What are they? Just how much does it cost to set up one of these manufacturing or treatment operations? What are the market trends, and what are the opportunities for local wood producers?

These and other questions are going to be answered by an incredible line-up of local and international specialists presenting at the Wood Innovations 2014 event running in Melbourne on 23-24 September following the New Zealand leg of this latest technology series on 17-18 September.

Key presenters in wood modification technologies include: Edward Pratt, Director of Business Development for Accsys Technologies, UK, who founded Accsys Technologies (then named Titan Wood) in 2003. Eddie led the development of the business from the acquisition and development of its original intellectual property through to the company’s float on the London stock exchange and start-up of its full-scale production plant in 2007. Accoya acetylated wood volumes jumped around 90% in the nine months of last year compared to the same period the previous year. Interest in the technology and product is climbing with sales in New Zealand increasing over 50% in the same timeframe.

Duncan Mayes, VP R&D & Technology, StoraEnso Oyj, Finland, was one of the original developers of the ThermoWood product in Stora Enso and has had an active involvement in both its development and the research and introduction of other leading wood modification technologies.

Tam Tekle, President & CEO, Tekle Technical Services, Canada, heads a fibre products development company specialising in the commercialization of natural fibre-based composites, including North America’s only biocomposite fibre mat plant. The new operation produces engineered biocomposite fibre mats impregnated with a thin layer of polyester to bind the wood fibres when heated in moulds.

The mats are being used by auto plant makers. TTS is

also a fibre products development and testing operation as well as a biocomposites incubator operation facilitating the commercialization of new products and technologies including; fibre mat, fibre cement, composite panels, structural insulated panel and fibre plastic.

Juan Bravo, International Technical Manager, Plastics Struktol Company of America, USA, is responsible for marketing for the company outside North America. Juan is providing technical assistance to wood plastic composite (WPC) operations including some of the most sophisticated plants in the world (some of the largest Chinese operations have, for example, more than 100 extruders operating).

World-wide, analysts are forecasting that the global WPC market is expected to grow by around 9% over the period 2013-2018 with one of the main drivers being house building

Timber treatment expertise from around the world will be providing local timber treatment and wood manufacturing operations an update on these changes and their impact on the Australasian market as well as a raft of new developments in other wood treatment technologies.

International timber treatment specialists from outside Australia or New Zealand include: Gary Converse, Senior VP, Osmose Inc, USA, who’ll provide a special insight into the operations of the big box stores in the US with lessons for those supplying treated timber products.

Hans Ward, VP, KopCoat, USA, will be showcasing recent installations of new technology for NZ and Australian wood treatment operations.

Dr Tony Kelly, Business Director Europe, Africa

and construction. This product increasingly is finding its way into the Australian and New Zealand markets with decking still continuing to be the major WPC product but fencing, railing and other applications are growing.

Hal Hopkins, Technology Manager, Australian Vinyls Corporation (the owner of ModWood Technologies), will be providing an insight for local wood treatment companies about some of the recent technical and market innovations being made with composite decking and fencing products in Australasia.

The last independent technology update for wood treatment operations in Australasia was over two years ago.

As most of you know, since the last event ran, changes to the timber treatment industry have been significant. The structure and ownership of the industry is quite different with changes still underway.

New wood treatment formulations, processes and systems, standards and new legislation have changed the Australian and New Zealand timber industry landscape.

and Middle East, Arch Timber Protection, UK, will be discussing wood protection developments in Europe and some of the key drivers for market and consumer change.

Dr Ed Suttie, Director of Sustainable Materials at BRE, UK, the UK’s largest independent construction research, testing and consultancy organisation will outline a new initiative in Europe, PerfomWOOD, that’s been set up to develop new wood and wood based material standards.

In Australia, to capitalise on those involved in timber treatment that will be coming into Melbourne for the Wood Innovations 2014 event, The Timber Preservers Association of Australia (TPAA) as a partner to the Australian leg of the series will be running their own Technical and Council meetings along with the TPAA Annual General Meeting at the event venue the day before the conference runs, on Monday, 22 September. Further details on this can be found by contacting TPAA directly.

Full details on the Wood Innovations 2014 event can be found on the event website, www.woodinnovations2014

Modified wood comes up trumps MODIFIED WOOD Accoya has outperformed leading Class 1 timbers in recent tests carried out by the Australian Forest Research Company (AFRC).

Initial laboratory tests by ARFC trialled Accoya against five different fungi found in Australia to determine the decay resistance of the product. The modified timber showed exceptionally high levels of resistance to decay against all five fungal species and excelled against Western Red Cedar (durability class 2) and Spotted Gum (durability class 1). Accoya also out performed Chromated Copper Aresenate (CCA) H4 level wood preservative, Western Red Cedar, Merbau and Teak in nine year, ground durability testing in New Zealand.

Accoya also showed excellent resistance against the termite species Coptomotermes acinaciformis and Mastotermes darwiniensis (giant northern termite) in above-ground field tests in Australia, and further below and above-ground tests are still being carried out to confirm Accoya’s official durability classification.

“In laboratory and field testing Accoya has shown exceptional resistance to both wood destroying fungi and Australia’s two most destructive species of termite.

Accoya’s performance against the giant northern termite, probably the world’s most voracious and destructive termite, has been particularly impressive,” said James Hague, Managing Director at ARFC.

Bryan Crennell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Accsys Technologies, added: “These initial findings reaffirm that Accoya is one of the most superior modified wood products on the market today. Given our confidence in Accoya, we already offer our customers a 50year warranty on the product and I am confident our product will perform well in the remaining tests. We’ve seen Accoya increasingly being used on a range of projects across New Zealand and Australia and, as proved in the tests, Accoya is proving highly resilient to a variety of termites.”

KFC, one of the world’s best known fast-food outlets, has successfully used the revolutionary modified wood on 15 high quality restaurant projects across New Zealand. In a drive for greater sustainability and a higher quality build and finish for its global restaurant brand, Accoya wood was specified and used for two new KFC outlets in Auckland.

The product has also been specified for an extensive urban revitalisation project in New Plymouth, New Zealand. More than 15m3 of Accoya wood was used to create a selection of street furniture.

Accoya’s non-toxic and sustainable credentials made it the ideal material for this project.

Since its launch, Accoya is growing in popularity across Australia and New Zealand and has already been used in over 100 projects in the region in a variety of applications including cladding, decking, joinery and planters.

AWISA

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

AWISA showcased cutting-edge equipment, systems and technology T

By Lara Caughey HOUSANDS OF people attended AWISA 2014 at the Brisbane Convention from 6-9 August to gain an even greater insight into the cabinet, joinery, furniture, timber and panel industries.

With more than 6,000 visitors on site, leading industry figure heads and more than 100 exhibitors the trade show was jam-packed with machinery, woodwork, hardware, software and services.

Set in the heart of South Bank, an industry breakfast, industry forum and various supplier/customer events was the perfect backdrop for experts from all around the world to grace the show’s stands.

Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association Limited General Manager Geoff Holland said the atmosphere surrounding the exhibition was dynamic and buzzing with innovation.

“This is the bi-annual extravaganza for the industry,” he said.

“The industry stands united behind this event with exhibitors launching new products and showcasing machinery.

“There has been a huge development on panel storage systems on the wood processing side and 5 axis machining.

“Half of the visitors come from interstate and a third remained for two days of the show.

“There is also a strong social involvement and that’s healthy.”

Holzher Product Development Manager Angelo Amico made the trip from Germany especially to exhibit at the show.

“This was an excellent opportunity to showcase our

new products to the market and touch base with existing tcustomers,” he said.

“We’ve had crazy success and sold a lot of products over the two days.”

Forestry Tasmania Senior Technical Analyst (Product Development) Dr Matt Wood said the trade show was a cut above the rest.

“All people in the industry can gain exposure to our product and this is a great networking opportunity,” he said.

“We’re here to promote veneer-based timber which provides an alternative for interior furnishing, flooring and to test the market reaction to the product.”

Camco Director Dion Bowler said the event was a “chance to catch up with customers.”

“It’s important for customers to see the range of equipment on show at one place in Australia. “We’ve got a machine for the resharpening of spiral tools and a CNC machine for the re-sharpening of TCT band saw blades.”

DKSH Sales Engineer Jonathan Tan could not stress enough the importance of this tradeshow to his business.

“This is the most important wood processing event in Australia and attracts visitors from all states,” he said.

“I need to meet the owners and directors of companies who are concerned about cost saving because we have machines which help reduce the volume of waste.”

Microvellum Business Manager Raymond Brimelow agreed the event was of paramount importance to his business.

“This meet and greet gives customers confidence in what we’ve developed and is a good chance to showcase our products,” he said.

“With our one solution

n Forestry Tasmania Senior Technical Analyst Dr Matt Wood.

n DKSH Business Manager Eric Paulsen and Jonathan Tan.

designer software we’ve got an incredible amount of powerful tools and functionality for end users.”

Ezi-Duct’s Wayne Dockrill said he was showcasing his latest MDS dust collector range.

“It works on negative pressure so no dirty air gets through the fan,” he said.

“This event brings everyone together in the one place to see what is the latest and machinery to improve their business productivity.”

The tradeshow was equally important to new industry players like Admonter natural Floors and Panels.

“AWISA 2014 was once again a great success. Not only was it heartening to see such a talented Australiawide wood industry with many representatives from New Zealand, New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu, but the commitment to detail in design, using 100% wood products and the fantastic support for our young apprentices was inspiring.

It was also wonderful to see so many in Brisbane who we met in Sydney 2012,” said Jane Lindsay, Admonter Australia sales and service.

“Admonter was excited to launch new products in the Elements Wood Panel range, including CUBE wall elements, which were by far the most popular design product we presented. The popularity of our Wood Panels continues to grow amongst cabinet and furniture makers and the design industry. The ability to tailor details such as the finish, size and core components in a range of wood species are key factors in the success of these 100% Austrian wood panels.

“It’s an important event for us to meet the cabinet makers or businesses using products to create kitchens and furniture.”

11 – September 2014

n Raymond Brimelow

n Camco Tools Dion Bowler.

n Wayne Dockrill and Paul De (Ezi-Duct).

n AWISA General manager Geoff Holland.

n Holzer Product Manager, Germany, Angelo Amico.

September 2014 – 12

Leading the way in innovation and technology K

IMBERLY-CLARK Australia (KCA) has been recognised as an ABA100 Winner in both Innovation and Technology categories in The Australian Business Awards 2014, acknowledging the company’s commitment to driving sustainable solutions within the manufacturing industry after the installation of a $33 million cogeneration facility at Millicent Mill in South Australia.

Accounting for around 90% of KCA’s energy footprint, Millicent Mill is the home of KCA’s Family Care brands (Kleenex® Tissues, Kleenex® Cottonelle® Toilet Tissue, VIVA® Paper Towel) and Kimberly-Clark Professional products. To combat this, in the second half of 2013 KCA completed installation of an innovative cogeneration facility at Millicent Mill. By capturing the waste heat in the exhaust of the gas turbine and using it as a replacement for natural gas in paper drying and steam production, the mill benefits from lower energy consumption, lower energy costs and the overall environmental benefits of reduced carbon dioxide emissions. One of four cogeneration facilities for KimberlyClark globally, the recovery and reuse of the waste heat sets a new benchmark for energy efficiency and is a technology first for the company globally.

“Working towards creating a more sustainable future, we wanted to find a feasible solution to reducing our carbon emissions and make our manufacturing site at Millicent Mill more energy efficient,” said Jacquie FegentMcGeachie, Associate Director Corporate

Affairs and Sustainability.

“Providing 100% of the mill’s steam and 92% of the mill’s total electricity, the cogeneration facility is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80,000 tonnes per annum – the equivalent of powering 36,000 average homes for a year,” she said.

Robbert Rietbroek, Vice President and Managing Director Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand said sustainability was vitally important in today’s challenging business landscape.

“Now more than ever there is a need for companies to be socially and environmentally responsible and accountable for the impact they make on the environment.

“I’m proud to say that our Australian operations are thriving as we invest in innovation to allow us to continue to make the best products for our consumers, increase efficiencies and reduce our environmental footprint.

“Being recognised as an ABA100 Winner in both Innovation and Technology categories is a great achievement for Kimberly-Clark that acknowledges the steps we are taking to driving sustainable solutions throughout our business.”

The Australian Business Awards are a national, all-encompassing awards program honouring Australia’s business, innovation and technology leaders through the recognition of their ground-breaking vision, innovative products and exemplary execution of projects, technologies, service, programs, systems and other initiatives. The program engages

with leading corporate, government and nongovernment organisations providing regional recognition with a global significance through an established set of business and product award categories.

“With a modernised economy we are experiencing notable change in business with new market and social needs expanding rapidly. The ABA100 Winners are reflective of a nation-wide commitment to innovation and improvement, with the award honouring their evident traction within their respective industries,” said Tara Johnston, Program Director.

Conducted annually, The Australian Business Awards are now in their ninth year with one hundred winners (“The ABA100”)

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

announced in a variety of established categories across all industries. Working continuously to develop a robust and dynamic framework of assessment, organisations are able to review their business and product performance, identify their strengths in a growing knowledge economy and ultimately provide a platform for reputation enhancement and brand exposure by publicly acknowledging organisations for their valuable contributions and innovative products.

The business award categories are open to the corporate, government and non-government sectors. The product awards open to tangible or intangible products ranging from manufactured goods, devices, equipment, services, programs, projects, activities, information, knowledge, software, platforms and systems.

USC’s Learning and Teaching Hub earns award

U

SC’s Learning and Teaching Hub earns award THE UNIVERSITY of the Sunshine Coast’s newest building, its three-storey Learning and Teaching Hub that opened in February, is already an award winner.

This impressive structure, built by Evans Harch Badge (now trading as BADGE), has snared a prestigious Queensland Master Builders Association (QMBA) award.

It topped the category for ‘Health and Education Facilities between $5 million and $20 million’ at QMBA’s 2014 Sunshine Coast Housing and Construction Awards and was one of three finalists for the ‘Project of the Year’ award, a prize that went to Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital.

The USC Learning and Teaching Hub was designed by HASSELL architects and includes state-of-theart simulation learning facilities, interactive teaching spaces and innovative spaces for students to study and unwind.

The building was officially opened

by Senator James McGrath on 4

August.

BADGE Sunshine Coast manager Andrew Lanskey said his company was particularly proud of this building, describing it as “very highend design”.

“It’s quite an impressive building in its design and finish,” he said.

“Lots of different elements were used in the construction of the building.

“The workmanship in the timber balustrading and timber finishes around the the main central hub area are standouts in terms of look and finish. There are a lot of different finishes involved – a lot of glass, timber and steel – and that had to be co-ordinated quite carefully.”

Andrew said he was confident the new building would enhance USC’s strong reputation for having highlevel architectural finishes of its buildings.

“It ticks all the boxes in terms of what you’d like to be delivered for a client,” he said. “It has a high-quality finish, it was finished on time and the client is very happy with it.

“We have built many of the buildings on campus for USC and we are very proud to continue this

very strong relationship with the University stretching for over 15 years.”

USC’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Birgit Lohmann said the University was delighted with the Learning and Teaching Hub – a joint initiative of the Australian Government’s Structural Adjustment Fund, Sunshine Coast TAFE and USC. “I’d like to congratulate BADGE on the excellent outcome of this building project,” she said. “We’re very happy with how it has turned out.

“We are strong supporters of architectural and design excellence and we put a lot of effort into getting the right look for buildings that match our campus master plan.

“We want to have a campus where students will want to spend a lot of time here. That engagement is important and enhances student success.

“As we build additional buildings on campus, the focus will remain on providing student-focused, technology-rich and welcoming spaces.”

ENGINEERED WOOD

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

13 – September 2014

Being prepared for the future T

HE WORLD of engineered wood products (EWP) is rapidly changing. Product innovation and new market applications, as well as shifts in global supply dynamics, will have a dramatic impact on the Australasian market.

This will affect current EWP suppliers and distributors, as well as traditional sawn producers and forest growers.

All this and more will come under discussion at an Australian Timber Industry Seminar (Engineered Wood Products - from here to the future) to be held at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, on 13-14 November.

Some of the world leading experts scheduled to address the seminar include: Art Schmon (Forest Economic Advisors) on the

current supply and demand situation in North America and whether the industry could be facing a looming supply shortage.

Professor Chip Frazier (Virginia Tech) on Industry/ University Cooperative Research in North America Professor Fred Kamke (Oregon State University) on modified wood for new product opportunities.

Key local speakers include Andrew Nieland (Lend Lease), Peter Torreele (META), George Goroyias (Poyry) and Owen Griffiths (Timberlab Solutions).

Also hear from key political leaders like Senator Richard Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture (confirmed speaker) and the Deputy Prime Minister, WarrenTruss (invited speaker).

Hosted by the Engineered

Wood Products Association of Australia and Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited, this seminar has been structured to deliver key information and networking opportunities through presentations, discussion panels, and leading trade exhibitors.

Join industry leaders to learn about the trends that will impact the forest and wood products sector. This one and a half day seminar is guaranteed to be thought provoking and to deliver information that can help your business today.

Program details are: 13 November 12:30PM Light lunch and registration 1:30PM Welcome - Ric Sinclair, MD, Forest and Wood Products Australia Ltd 1:45PM Art Schmon, Partner, Engineered Lumber

CLT - the construction equivalent of burning more calories than you consume!

CROSS-LAMINATED timber (CLT) is more talked about in British construction than ever before as developers look for cheaper, quicker, and more sustainable ways to build houses. Most CLT buildings in Britain have been Government-driven so they’re mostly associated with primary schools or libraries.

But, writes Melissa York on the UK-based City A.M., a new crop of developers are starting to build wooden homes around London.

Richard Cook, head of residential development at Lend Lease, which is redeveloping parts of the Olympic Park in Stratford, Battersea and Elephant & Castle, thinks people will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

“I think people hear timber and they think of a Swedish sauna, but it looks just like any other apartment. Timber frames always get a bad press because they’re basically made out of sticks but people don’t realise how solid CLT actually is. It’s a premium product in Europe.”

Lend Lease is using CLT in three developments; Cobalt Place, 104 homes split across two buildings in Battersea; Trafalgar Place, 235 homes in Elephant & Castle, part of the £1.5bn regeneration of the Heygate Estate; and Banyan Wharf, 50 apartments in Shoreditch.

Developers have also become more interested in using CLT to meet sustainability quotas as,

unlike concrete, which is a carbon producer, timber is a carbon capturer. It’s the construction equivalent of burning more calories than you consume. “We started looking into it at Lend Lease because we have a holistic approach to building sustainable communities, so that includes thinking about the sort of construction materials we work with,” says Cook. “While we know it saves consumers money on their energy bills and it’s a carbon capturer, it’s hard to give exact figures on developments of a certain size because there hasn’t been enough research into it. Mainly because there aren’t enough developers in the UK using it yet.”

A number of high profile regeneration schemes are looking to change this.

Regal Homes is currently planning to build the tallest CLT building in Europe in Hackney.

Banyan Wharf, which lies within the Regents Canal Conservation Area, will be 10-storeys high when it’s finished in April 2015, matching the world record currently held by Lend Lease for a block of apartments called Forte in Melbourne.

Mark Bryan, production director at Regal Homes, says the company chose it for their development because it “fits the ecolifestyle many people live in Hackney now; cycling to work, drinking green tea...

It just seemed appropriate.”

Most CLT buildings are planned from start to finish at conception as the

material is imported to the UK, in pre-fabricated form, and is assembled on site.

This means that early errors in construction can be very costly to the developer as they’d have to transport large loads to the UK again.

But perfect the design, and you can reduce the number of deliveries which are, on average, 7.5 times fewer than if you were building with concrete. The erection process produces zero waste and takes far less time to construct.

While Bryan still thinks there’s a long way to go before wooden houses replace bricks and mortar in the hearts of British homebuyers, he thinks London in particular is ready for the change.

“In England, it’s all about heritage,” he explains. “The architecture outside of the cobbles and stone that was around when the Romans invaded has been all bricks and concrete; we’re the world hub of that kind of construction. But London is becoming a lot more continental in its lifestyle and homes no longer need to be just somewhere that’s warm to sleep in, but places that are attractive to work in and socialise in.”

Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) North American engineered wood products capacity: Are we headed for a shortage?

2:30PM Chip Frazier, T.M. Brooks Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials, Virginia Tech I ndu st r y/ Un ive r sit y Cooperative Research in North America 3.10PM Afternoon Tea 3:40PM Speaker to be invited Prefabrication – is the future here now?

4:20PM Andrew Nieland, Head of Timber Solutions, Lend Lease Opportunities for engineered wood products in commercial buildings 5:00PM Panel discussion 5:30PM Session close 6:30PM Network drinks session 7:00PM Dinner 8:30PM Dinner speaker – Warren Truss, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure has been invited to speak. Introduced

by Simon Dorries, GM, EWPAA 14 November 8:30AM FWPA AGM (all welcome) 9:30AM Welcome (Senator Richard Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary for Minister of Agriculture)

10:00AM Morning tea 10:30AM Fred Kamke, JELD-WEN Professor for Wood-Based Composite Science and co-Director of the Green Building Materials Laboratory, Oregon State University Modified wood for new product opportunities 11:15AM Peter Torreele, Senior Advisor to META, the Australian Manufacturing Precinct Adding some value to our existing wood business – the innovators dilemma 12:00PM Michael Pitcher, Environmental Scientist, Schiavello Group Evaluation of the environmental impacts of engineered wood products 12:40PM Panel discussion

1:00PM Lunch 1:40PM George Goroyias, Senior Principal - Head of Wood Products AsiaPacific, Poyry Management Consulting Delivering Manufacturing excellence 2:20PM Owen Griffiths, Director – Marketing, TimberLab Solutions Ltd Growing possibilities for engineered timber solutions 3:00PM Boris Iskra, Standards and Building Codes Manager, FWPA Pushing up the height of timber buildings 3:40PM Panel discussion 4:00PM Wrap up and close Information and registration - http://www. cvent.com/d/84qdb5

n Classic example of engineered wood.

TIMBER & MACHINERY AUCTION! FRIDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2014 - 10AM START 2456 BUCKETTS WAY - BOORAL - NSW A/c A.S. Nicholas & Sons PTY LTD

Machinery Listing Iveco Eurotech MP4500 Timber Listing Marlin 3 Axle Dog Trailer Dry Tallow Wood Komatsu Wheel Loader 60+ packs Matbro TS280 Telehandler 100 x 50 to 300 x50 Ursus 4514 4WD Tractor lengths 2.4 to 6.0m International 4030 Tractor Crane Case 580 Super E Backhoe F 11 HWD U/S XG Falcon Ute 100 x 50, 60+ packs, 2.4 to 6.0m Howard 5 Foot EHD Slasher 100 x 50, 20 packs, random lengths Sigma SK25 Compressor 75 x 50, 3 packs, random lengths Reed Prentice 16 Speed Lathe long lengths to 9.0m Bridgeport Milling Machine 200 x 50, 250 x50, 300 x 50, 300 x 75, Radial Arm Drill HCP made in 75 x 38, 4 packs, random lengths Poland 60T Hydraulic Press 2 Saw Dockers Anvil TERMS: Cash/approved Gibson 1 Man Bench cheque on sale day. No eftpos.

Gibson Multi Saw Wolfender Planer VIEW PICTURES ONLINE: Dackaert Saw Sharpener www.goochagencies.com.au Dachaert Planing Machine 3 Phase Excalibre Power Hacksaw JAMES GOOCH 0409 923 068 | BILL DWYER 0427 582 990

n Banyan Wharf

WRAPPING, STRAPPING & MARKING

September 2014 – 14

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Matthews’ coding solution has allowed a busy NSW Hunter Region timber mill to accurately supply goods for an export client.

H&D Mitre 10 gives Matthews stamp of approval

H

&D MITRE 10 at Heatherbrae in the NSW Hunter Region, operates a solidly busy timber mill alongside its hardware store.

Manager James Haynes says the 30-year-old business has grown steadily, servicing both industrial and retail customers from the on-site mill.

“We have customers who buy casually, and regular businesses we serve such as various builders and Tomago Aluminium, the smelter.”

Tomago, established in 1981, is a joint venture between three global big names — Rio Tinto Alcan, Gove Aluminium Finance and Hydro Aluminium.

“We supply dunnage timber for export to China to Tomago, and had reached the stage where we needed to improve our manual continuous-roller coding process on that timber, as well as make it lot tidier.

“We asked for recommendations, and Weathertex suggested Matthews. They’ve had a Matthews coder for quite a while and are very happy with it.” Weathertex manufactures reconstituted wood products from wood and wax.

“We have a good relationship with Weathertex — in fact we subcontract back to them with their rubix panel — so were happy to go with their recommendation. We got Matthews in here to have a look and they recommended two SX 32 coders.”

One drop-on-demand coder sits underneath the timber, with the other SX32 DOD over the top, to mark two sides simultaneously.

“We need to code a logo with the Australian Standard, our identification number and what we’re treating the timber with — which is a methyl bromide fumigant.”

For that one export client alone, H&D Mitre 10 does around 600 cubic metres annually — plus several hundred cubic metres for domestic clients.

“The staff find them great to use; nice and easy. They allow us to be far more productive and give a more professional look, with a clearer mark. Plus, we can program the coders for different things if we want to; for instance,

if we’re running weatherboard for a different company than Weathertex, then we can print their name and their phone number on the underside of the board. That’s a bit of free advertising for them, and is good to be able to offer.

“We’re really happy with the machine and Matthews: they’ve been really good with all of our enquiries and helping us out. They go out of their way to help us.”

Matthews has a wide range of timber-coding and labelling solutions, including hi-resolution options such as the brand-new Mperia, if the application demands it.

nH &D Mitre 10 asked for recommendations, with one of its customers, Weathertex, suggesting Matthews.

n H&D Mitre 10 uses two SX 32 DOD coders from Matthews to code two sides of timber with an Australian Standard logo, its identification number and what fumigant it has treated the timber with. Hi-res timber coding options can also be used if the application demands it.

High performance polyester strap - guaranteed load security

F

ROMM PACKAGING, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polyester (PET) strapping. Their range of high performance PET strap is manufactured in four global locations to strict quality assurance standards.

Fromm polyester strapping delivers the following benefits: Impact Resistance: Withstands shock forces. A combination of strength and elasticity ensures your packs arrive in the same condition as they were shipped. Technical reports available.

n Printed FROMM strap.

Elastic Memory: Maintains strap tension even if pallets or loads settle. Therefore loads can be moved safely even after extended period of storage.

Safety: Smooth edges for ensure safe disposal and handling.

Easy Disposal: High volume users will benefit from our strap choppers that convert waste strap into saleable waste. Units can be purchased or rented.

Printing of Strap: Fromm PET strap can be printed with company logos or messages Colours: Black and Green are standard. 6 other colours available.

Safety Data Information: Available for all sizes Range of Sizes: Fromm manufacture from 9mm right up to 32mm In Australia AWS have Fromm factory- trained service and technical staff Australia-wide. This is backed with technical and sales support from the Fromm Group of companies worldwide.

For best results ask AWS to recommend the right strap for your application!

n Log strapping

nS taff find the SX 32 DOD coders from Matthews easy to use. They have allowed the mill to improve its productivity and resulted in a more professional look. The ability to program the coders, means they can offer to print a customer’s company name and phone number on the board’s underside as brand protection and free advertising, which customers appreciate.

Wulftec pallet wrappers – tough for the timber industry WULFTEC MACHINES are made to withstand the heaviest of workloads. They offer 3-5 year, unlimited cycle warranties and a 10 year structural guarantee on steel frames and sprocket drives!

Australian Warehouse Solutions (AWS) stock a range of quality Wulftec pallet wrapping machines. The Wulftec series is available in high speed, semi-automatic or fully-automatic machines to cater for specific needs. Wulftec’s patented system of film prestretch reduces the cost of wrapping each pallet or load.

Wulftec pallet wrappers are “built to last” and AWS has numerous machines in the Australian workplace for over 15 years.

AWS have a team of factory trained technicians, supported by a strong parts inventory. In fact what make Wulftec the ideal choice for country areas is that most parts are “non-proprietary”. Also the use of the dependable and readily available Allen & Bradley 1200 PLC micrologix controllers

and Baldor AC motors reduces the cost of maintenance.

Whatever you are wrapping AWS and Wulftec have the solution for you – custom built equipment is a specialty of Wulftec.

Top sheet applicators, extended bases, higher wrapping, wider film delivery, electronic scales, touch screens control panels options can be added. Wulftec machines are easily upgraded to suit the changing needs of your business.

AWS factory-trained technical staff offers a free on-site cost assessment of your pallet wrapping operations. Wulftec pallet wrappers can be rented or purchased, and with volume usage AWS can also offer a film purchase agreement whereby the cost of the machine is built into the cost of each roll purchased.

Contact AWS – free call 1800 023 890 or Email sales@austwarehouse.com.au Visit our website – www.austwarehouse. com.au

IMPORTED TIMBER

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Leading outlet for imported timber B

R I S B A N E BASED Lazarides Timber Agencies continues to be one of the leading outlets for specialist imported timbers.

Gareth Lazarides started the business back in 1989 working from his home and storing small volumes of timber at a warehouse at Nudgee. After a couple of years he leased small shed in Bunya Street, Eagle Farm.

It was there that he was joined by his son Troy as his first employee on a part time basis. Troy is still involved in the business today and has played a large part in the development of the company.

Within a few years they had to move to larger premises just along Kingsford- smith Drive, also at Eagle Farm.

After a further 4-5 years Gareth decided it was time to take the plunge and purchased a slightly larger shed and yard at 15 Hurricane Street, where the business is still located today, now with a staff of three hard working and loyal employees.

A visit to the showroom will show a wide range of colours, species and shapes that a lot of people have never seen before. The range of species stocked is believed to be one of the largest in Australia.

Over the years Lazarides Timber Agencies has always been involved in the furniture /joinery/ cabinetmaking / shop fitting / boat building industries and over the past few years has become involved in the supply of timber for caravan fit outs and the hobby industry. “We can see this (hobby) part of our market increasing every

year,” he says.

To this end Gareth and Troy have installed several pieces of machinery that enable the company to offer a limited contract machining service “or we can outsource the machining for special profile to clients either trades people or hobbyists.

Gareth believes that Lazarides Timber Agencies is the only merchant in Queensland that is offering this type of service.

“We also offer sponsorships or prizes for many of the Woodcraft clubs around south-east Queensland and other parts of Australia”.

Gareth and Troy have a special interest in helping school students who show an excellent aptitude to anything involving timber.

To this end the company has helped sponsor competitions for schools and supplied many students with materials for their Year 11 and 12 projects. In fact, Lazarides Timber Agencies has been a preferred supplier to the Queensland Education Department for several years.

Today, Lazarides Timber continues to market fine timbers from all parts of the globe.

Here are some of those timbers: Ex-Africa (kiln dried select) Makore, Zebrano and Wenge; Ex-North America (kiln dried select) White Oak and also Rock Maple; Ex-South America (kiln dried select) Purple Heart.

“All of these are suitable for fine furniture making,” says Gareth.

Ex-SouthEast Asia (kiln dried select grade) Jelutong.

n A large selection of imported woods.

nG areth Lazarides

nT roy Lazarides

“This is suitable for wood carving and is also popular for fishing lures,” says Troy.

Some of the Australian timbers available include Queensland Maple, North Queensland Silky Oak, Black Bean, Black Wattle, Jarrah and Victorian Ash ... “and that’s just to name a few”, said Gareth.

15 – September 2014

IMPORTED TIMBER

September 2014 – 16

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

What is it with walnut?

Y

OU ONLY have to look at a history of Jaguar, Bentley or Rolls Royce interiors to know that black walnut has always been synonymous with luxury. However, now walnut is taking hold in the homes of Australia and giving the ubiquitous oaks a run for their money. Recent figures show that American walnut imports in to Australia nearly quadrupled in January to April 2014 versus the same period last year.

Rachel Feldhusen of wrightfeldhusen architects incorporated significant quantities of American black walnut in a recent residential project in East Fremantle, a nominee for the upcoming 2014 Australian Institute of Architects WA Architecture Awards. “I’ve been using a lot lately due to its smokiness,” she says. “It’s one of the few timbers that is rich in colour without being red. Its tone is great to work with and

encourages a complimentary palate – it works well with charcoals, whites and natural stone.”

Greg Natale, Belle Interior Designer of the Year agrees.

“I love American walnut. Its mid-brown colour goes with everything, it never dates and it’s great in the Australian light.”

It’s not just the colour that appeals. David Norrie, esteemed furniture designermaker from Sydney’s Splinter Workshop says while certainly “the dark silky tones of American walnut help accentuate and add grace to good design” it’s also a pleasure to work with.

“It machines, planes and sands with ease and permits a restrained, almost sublime oil finish,” he adds.

Melbourne-based architect and furniture designer Rosanna Ceravolo is similarly impressed, “It’s just a stunning timber. I love the velvety texture of it and the

variation in colour.”

“Walnut has always been the high end design choice for furniture,” says Roderick Wiles from the American Hardwood Export Council, Oceania. “What is interesting though is how it is now being used more extensively in interiors, flooring and joinery in Australia for an understated luxe effect.”

American walnut grows predominantly in the central United States and is one of the few American species that is planted as well as naturally regenerated.

Like most American hardwood species, walnut is not only renewable but an expanding resource, despite only accounting for a little under one per cent of the entire US hardwood forest. In choosing American hardwoods, independent and peer reviewed LCA studies confirm that designers are minimising the impact of their work on the natural environment.

nw rightfeldhusen East Fremantle.

nC eravolo Enzo side tables.

Where does your timber come from?

T

IMBER IS back in favour with a resurgence in designing beautiful living spaces using wood to provide warmth and character.

Like never before Australia’s timber market is flooded with local and imported timber products available for use in structural, internal and external applications. Not surprisingly, the extremely competitive interiors market also offers extensive choices of wood products in the form of flooring, panels and veneers.

In its raw state, this wood comes from a large variety of species which are harvested locally and globally from both sustainable forests and old growth areas. What’s becoming more interesting to the buying public however is the origin of this timber, how and where it is produced and how it can be incorporated into everyday living and work spaces.

This story is an important one for European manufacturer of timber products, Admonter who has seen its wood panel and engineered flooring business grow exponentially since its humble Austrian beginnings in 1972 from land owned both then and now by the Admont Benedictine Abbey.

Admonter has grown to be the largest manufacturer of engineered wood flooring in Europe, producing around 2.5 million square meters of flooring and exporting 75% of their products worldwide, including to Australia. With an annual turnover of €50 million and a focus on high-end product consumers, Admonter sees the origin of harvest and sustainability, production methods to produce a greener product, and dedication to detail to be the hallmarks of their continued success.

Stone pine, spruce, oak and ash. Looking through the list of 14 or so wood species available in the Admonter range, one thing strikes you it doesn’t include any tropical wood.

And quite deliberately that’s the way it will stay according to Admonter’s Executive Director Master Engineer Ewald Fuchs.

However, since modern interior design tastes are so enamoured with dark woods, in spite of efforts to preserve the rainforests of the world, Admonter consciously produces an alternative in the form of thermally treated native woods.

Perfecting this thermal wood treatment process means chemical colours are not required to produce a consistent

colour palate ranging from medium to rich dark tones and all from sustainably harvested PEFC wood species.

Although engineered timber is a very versatile product due to its stability and strength, the raw product doesn’t have to be new.

Reclaimed timber that tells a lifetime of stories can be hard to find in a country with a relatively young building history like Australia. Luckily the value in century-old Austrian farm houses and barns, built in abundance in the Austrian mountains and countryside and mainly from hardy spruce, is now a prized commodity in today’s modern interiors. By applying the same production techniques of cross lamination to produce a strong and stable wood panel, reclaimed timbers can now be utilised for even the most exacting of interior elements such as doors, cabinetry and furniture. Thankfully these modern techniques of production will ensure the finished product lasts another 100 years.

Imported or local?

All wood and wood products are not equal. Production techniques mean engineered wood can be used for a variety of uses that solid timber can’t replicate without higher maintenance issues over time. Wood flooring guaranteed for use over under-floor heating which won’t buckle, panel lengths and widths large enough to ensure less wastage when cutting or panels which can be used for extreme heat environments like sauna construction for example. To achieve these outcomes, companies require sophisticated machinery, heat kilns and engineering expertise in production which often means local producers aren’t able to compete and remain price competitive.

For Admonter one thing is clear – producing a product which is beautiful in look, feel and design and ticks all the boxes for sustainability now and in the future, is what counts.

They know where their timber comes from. Constantly striving to ensure forest regeneration will mean all the wood that they process originates from sustainably managed forests with PEFC Certification.

From Jane Lindsay, Australian Importer of Admonter Natural Wood Flooring and Panels

n Ceravolo Enzo Sideboard.

n McAlester dining table, David Cummins.

Chilean wood expo to be informative and entertaining CHILEAN FLAIR will be on show at the planned Chile Wood Expo to be held in Sydney on Thursday, 16 October 2014. The expo will be a celebration of the range of sophisticated Chilean timber products now available in Australia.

According to Chile’s senior trade commissioner Silvana Gattini, the ProChile hosted event will also provide an opportunity to highlight the steady increase in twentyfirst century radiata pinebased building and decorative timber products produced and exported from Chile to world markets, including Australia.

“There is little doubt that Chile continues to be the stand-out performer and market-leader in the AsiaPacific region in relation to the production of innovative, exceptionally well regarded timber products,” she said.

Chilean structural and decorative timber product imports to Australia now surpass traditional competitors and have the comfort of firmly established fit-for-purpose credentials.

Their price competitiveness relative to other comparable imported and domestically-produced is also strong feature of the Chilean timber products available in the Australian market.

Ms Gattini says the Chile Wood Expo will showcase Chilean engineered wood, panel and plywood products from a number of Chilean producers. “Also this free-toattend event will be much more than that – it will also be about entertainment Chilean-style, with wine-tasting from leading Chilean wine suppliers and food with a Chilean twist.”

Industry attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in some fun quizzes with great prizes.

n Silvana Gattini, Senior Trade Commissioner, ProChile.

This not-to-be-missed ProChile and Australian Timber Importers Federation sponsored event is being supported by a number of leading Chilean timber exporters, wine producers and by industry associations including the Timber and Building Material Association and Forest and Wood Products Australia.

Chile Wood Expo is expected to attract wholesalers, timber merchants, resellers, retailers, manufacturers, builders, technical experts and trade association representatives.

It will be free to attend for timber industry supply chain company managers and their employees, together with technical and other supply chain professionals.

“This will be a highlight event on the timber industry’s 2014 calendar promising to be an informative, fun gathering of Sydney timber industry participants. You will be most welcome – so we look forward to seeing you there,” Ms Gattini said.

Chile Wood Expo will be held at the Lake Room, Waterview Conference Centre, Bicentennial Drive, Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday, 16 October, 2014, from 1pm to 6pm.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE GOLD SPONSORS

17 – September 2014

BRONZE SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

MEDIA

Benefits aplenty for all members

By Kersten Gentle Executive Officer FTMA Australia

F

TMA AUSTRALIA has continued to work on benefits for our members with the latest benefits being coordinated in conjunction with Silver Sponsor Austbrokers Phillips to support our members with the dreaded issue of WorkSafe/WorkCover.

FTMA Australia members now have access to a Workers Compensation Advice Line which has been created with the goal of reducing the costs of Workers Compensation for our members by achieving significant improvements in their claims performance and benchmarked against the WorkSafe average for the frame and truss sector. This is a great initiative which will save companies time, money and best of all stress when

handling serious Workers Compensation issues.

On top of the general Advice Line for members, Austbrokers also offer the Advice Line PLUS service with a wide range of additional benefits for members which will be distributed to all FTMA Australia members during the month.

The advice line is not the only benefit, as FTMA Australia and Austbrokers Phillips have worked on a number of initiatives which we believe will result in real benefits and in some cases may even result in money returned to the pockets of members where they have paid a higher levy than necessary.

Austbrokers will also provide FTMA Members with OHS Reviews for businesses employing less than 1000 people for the States of NSW, Queensland and Victoria, as these are the States where the Government funding is provided.

The OHS Review identifies places for improvement within your business at no cost to you, as Austbrokers can act as your agent and access the Government funding to not only organise the review with qualified staff but also organise the funding from the Government to save you the time and effort.

Another beneficial area for members is coordinating risk management solutions for your business and of course

Austbrokers have worked hard to provide one of the best debtor insurance policies going around for members to ensure your debts are covered if and when a builder goes broke.

It is great showing these benefits, along with all the other membership entitlements to non-members but what we offer more than anything is the service, the national advice and being knowledgeable about our sector across the whole country. So when a fabricator is interested in increasing their efficiency in cutting and plant design, we have the contacts to put them in touch with to either help or offer advice so the wheel isn’t created every time.

I’m always amazed at the willingness of fabricators to share good and bad practices with other fabricators for the benefit of the national industry and it is vital that we continue to work together nationally to ensure the standards of the industry are lifted.

Far North Queensland visit For years my husband Scott has told me his favourite destination is far North Queensland and after spending a quick four day visit there in late July I understand why. Not only was the weather outstanding but the people are so friendly, especially those in Townsville and Cairns.

Lesia Clark of the timber industries national skills

Revamped website for TVA

By Peter Llewellyn Technical Representative Timber Veneer Association of Australia

T

HE TIMBER V e n e e r Association of Australia (TVAA) recently commissioned a complete

overhaul of its main website which has now gone “live” at www.timberveneer.asn. au.

The website has been updated with new publications including a second edition of A Manual for Decorative Wood Veneering Technology, released in June, 2014.

Written by Dr Barbara Ozarska, Leader of the Forest Products Research Group at the University of Melbourne, the 147-page manual is an authoritative guide to all the factors involved in the successful use of timber veneers.

Other publications on the website include a Material Safety Data Sheet for timber veneers, and the TVAA Product Information Manual, simply titled Veneer. This 28-page manual has also been completely revised,

and provides up-to-date information for specifiers and other veneer users.

Hard copies are available on request, or it can be downloaded from the website.

TVAA’s President Rod Sharp said he was sure the fresh look of the website would appeal to the industry at large. “Our technical publications cover a wide range and will help specifiers to achieve the best possible outcomes when using timber veneers,” Rod said. TVAA also has a sister website at www.uniquelyveneer. com.au which showcases outstanding uses of timber veneers, drawn from the annual Australian Timber Design Awards. Interior designers, architects and other specifiers will find the Uniquely Veneer site well worth a visit.

council, ForestWorks, joined me on the tour and we both commented on the fact that we learnt as much from the tour as the fabricators did about the great training incentives and programs and of course the outstanding benefits FTMA provides to their members.

Nev Smith of Dynamic Timbers in Innisfail was our first Queensland member and has remained a member since our National inception and it was great to finally have the opportunity of meeting Nev and his son Robin.

It was great feedback to hear that Nev sees the benefits delivered by a National Association are important to the industry and he recognised the continued benefits provided to members as the Association has grown over the past few years.

We also visited another father and son team at Cleveland Trade Centre, Darell and Brad Gibson, A Truss & Timber, Parkside Timber & Hardware, Cairns Hardware and Rankine Timbers where I think we

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

left learning more about the industry from Dale and John than they did from us.

All in all it was a great trip and I look forward to working with our members in the area and hopefully helping out the new members.

Don’t forget if any fabricator needs assistance or has any questions on any of our articles or benefits of being a member of the only National Frame and Truss Association that exists purely for the rights of fabricators than please call me on 0418 226 242.

n L-R: Robin Smith, Lesia Clark (ForestWorks) and Nev Smith of Dynamic Timbers.

Membership growth follows overhaul THE BRITISH Woodworking Federation (BWF) has won the 2014 Trade Association Forum Best Practice award for Membership Success of the Year, bucking the trend of many trade bodies which have seen sharp declines in membership over recent years.

The award acknowledges the hard work and dedication the BWF puts into developing and supporting its membership.

BWF membership had declined in 2010 but stabilised in 2011 following a significant overhaul of the organisation’s communications, website and membership application processes and an investment in improved PR and marketing.

With the arrival of the new chief executive, Iain McIlwee, the BWF refocused on growth at the start of 2012 and set a plan to bring in 100 new members a year. Growth was centred on the principles of excellent service, clear communications and fanatical follow-up.

Momentum gathered throughout 2012 with the BWF adding 80 new full members (around 25% higher than any previous year), and this achievement more than doubled in 2013 when BWF welcomed 168 new members and also achieved a retention rate

of existing members of 91%.

This year has continued the upwards trend, with 57 new full members and 10 associates recruited in the first quarter of 2014.

“At the BWF we are passionate about the success of the woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry and recognise that providing a first class trade association is key to our members. The industry has faced several extremely challenging years, but the BWF has been there to support members with practical business advice, technical, legal and marketing services and a strong voice to lobby for the industry’s future.

We now have an industry trade body that continues to grow in size and influence, and this will bring rewards to all our members,” said Iain.

Linda Cavender, manager of the Trade Association Forum said: “BWF’s text book approach led by a relatively new chief executive ticked all the right boxes to win the Membership Success of the Year Award.

A successful campaign stemming an initial outflow of members was very well thought out and implemented, and it is always good to see a trade association grow in such a way – a great result for BWF.”

ASSOCIATION NEWS

September 2014 – 18

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Queensland Timber Industry Awards dinner

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

A

FITEC strategy meeting attended by TABMA and FITEC representatives from across Australia was held in Sydney in July. The merger with FITEC represents a huge opportunity not only for TABMA but for the placement and training of trainees and apprentices across the timber industry. At the meeting an immediate to 6 month plan was devised and is currently being actioned. We also drew up 12 month, 24 month and 36 month action plans.

Queensland Timber Industry Awards Judging for the 2014 Queensland Timber Industry Awards was held in July with finalists from all over the state visited over a two week period. The winners will be announced at a dinner to be held on Friday October 17 at the function centre at Victoria Park Golf Club. This is a not to be missed event and seating is limited, so if you are interested in attending please contact Alicia Oelkers at Alicia@tabma.com.au Trade Credit Insurance IMC Trade Credit Solutions who handle TABMA’s exclusive-

to-members trade credit insurance scheme, were recently taken over by National Credit Insurance (Brokers) Pty Ltd. This takeover will lead to greater exposure of the trade credit insurance scheme and increased benefits to insurers.

TABMA Board It is with great pleasure we welcome the appointment of Roy Edwards of Heyden Frame & Truss to the board of TABMA Australia. Heyden Frame & Truss is a well established and successful business located on the NSW Central Coast. Roy is a great TABMA supporter and his

presence on our board will assist in giving frame & truss fabricators an even stronger voice within TABMA and the industry as a whole.

Recruitment As stated previously, TABMA offers all members and non-members industry recruitment services and advice at very competitive rates.

Our National Recruitment Manager, Alicia Oelkers, from her large timber industry data base can provide you with anybody from a yard person to a sales manager. If you need additional staff just give Alicia a call on 0418 449 031 or contact her on Alicia@tabma.com.au and let her solve your recruitment problems.

Vale John Walker (OAM) It is with great sadness we report the passing in July of John Walker of Belmont Timber NSW. John was an industry identity and stalwart as well as a staunch TABMA member and past president (1995-1997). Our condolences go to the family.

John Theoharris In July, TABMA recognized the 30th year of employment of company secretary and commercial manager John Theoharris. John has seen many changes in TABMA over 30 years and foresees greater opportunities for the association in the coming years.

Understanding the market landscape

By Eric Siegers Executive Officer - TMA IN THE current market the challenge the members of the merchant sector have is reinforcing their point of difference from the big box stores. The longer I work on supporting the Victorian merchants the more I realise the point of difference is not only appreciable but that it is extremely sustainable.

Through August we have been undertaking a number of events across the State to challenge

the builders to understand the difference between the big box and independent merchants. What is eye opening for builders is the fact that the independent merchants dedicate a lot of effort to ensure that builders businesses are strong and healthy. This becomes significant when the builders realised that the services and support infrastructure is available to them basically for free. The advisory service, the showrooms, the information network all combine to offer builders a service that the big box stores just can’t match. This lays the ground work to a strong and sustainable unique selling proposition for the majority of the independent merchant businesses.

However, there is a vulnerability. The strength of the infrastructure is in the ability of industry to continue to support the service and infrastructure that creates this significant point of difference to the big box stores. It can only work if the industry works in a collaborative manner and it means challenging the way we look at competition. All too often the independent merchants are more concerned about other independent merchants than the real threat. The big box stores. Consequently there is a real hesitancy to share information that can in actual fact help everyone confront the real

Yes – It’s true, Whittakers Timber Products is closing down!

competitor with facts and data. This means we have to change the way we look at competition within the sector.

Competition is no longer about war.

Competition is partnership.

Understanding the marketing landscape is a critical example where we can employ this vision.

No single business can make the investment in marketing research to understand the scope and directions of the customer base for the merchant sector. Add to that we often don’t know what we don’t know and decisions are often made based on belief rather than substance.

For instance: How is the DIY market affecting the builder sector? Is DIY just flat pack? Is the role of the builder being redefined by the shift in pre-build components? What are the response requirements for the merchants? What do the builders need? Alternatively; understanding product category growth and history e.g. how large is the flooring market and what are its elements?

If you think you know, I would hazard a guess you are wrong, IBIS and ABS can’t seem to agree as to market data with all of their resources, so individual business will have an even tougher time coming close to an accurate assessment.

The only way out of this information vacuum

Modern awards - transitional provisions they were to be phased in on an annual basis to reduce the immediate impact on employers. The phasing in process was completed on 1 July 2014. The transitional provisions of a modern award cover the following employee entitlements:

Our Sawmill at the Greenbushes site in Western Australia has already closed and the dry mills and kilns will close towards the end of this year.

• Minimum wage rates (including piecework rates and industry allowance); • Casual or part time loadings; • Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, evening or other penalties, and • Shift allowance/penalties.

All plant & equipment is being offered at super low prices on an as is where is basis!

The Company Directors say, “SELL IT ALL” Complete near new 2006 MEM sawmill 2 x other comprehensive hardwood mills 3 x moulding lines 15 x conventional kilns Kiln sawdust/thermal oil heating system 2 x optimising docker lines 2 x chipper lines Loaders & forklifts Edgers Cherry picker, scissor lifts Tool grinding shop Log debarkers Compressors Gang saws Maintenance work shop equipment & spares Weigh bridge Large clam shell storage bin Dust extraction systems Comprehensive sawshop Office equipment & furniture Huge inventory of materials handling gear Everything must go! We are even selling the buildings!

View our website www.whittakersequipmentsale.com.au or telephone Geoff on (08) 9302 2022 – mobile 0409 302 200 or Chris on (08) 9459 6877 – mobile 0409 083 977

is to anonymously share data and build a strong understanding of the sectors we serve. That’s a big ask when competition continues to be seen as war.

Added into the mix is the dramatic changes being wrought on our businesses by the digital revolution. Its not just about websites or social media. Its about content and responsiveness.

However, without accurate data it is impossible to determine a way forward.

Being able to understand the market means being able to respond to customers; it becomes much more about meeting their needs and less about us trying to predict their needs. In this era of meta-data, the ability to combine data and information makes for a very powerful mix and helps business be sustainable in these confusing times.

Competition is partnership is the only way to advance and build a strong counter attack to the big box stores and combined with the resources already available to the industry (such as the advisory line, the information books etc.) it provides a way to see the future for the independent merchant and gives the opportunity to build on a unique proposition that is already sustainable and create a future that you can bank on!

As a consequence, minimum wages, loading and penalties, are to be taken in total from the relevant modern award.

By Brian Beecroft Chief Executive Officer Timber Trade Industrial Association EMPLOYERS MAY recall that when the new award system/NES was introduced in 2010, transitional provisions were introduced in awards to ensure employees were not negatively impacted in the change to the federal system. In addition, where rates, e.g. casual loadings, were increased,

Modern award changes/31 December 2014 Employers are advised that some nonwage related transitional provisions in modern awards will apply until 31 December 2014. These include: Redundancy provisions – awards which contain transitional redundancy provisions include: Timber Industry Award 2010, Clerks Private Sector Award 2010, General Retail Industry Award 2010 and Commercial Sales Award 2010.

Accident make up pay – awards that contain transitional accident make up pay provisions include: Timber Industry Award 2010, Clerks Private Sector Award, Commercial Sales Award, Road Transport & Distribution Award and Building & Construction General On-Site Award; and Location allowances.

IR legislation - update In recent times the Government has announced a review of workplace laws with the terms of reference for a Productivity Commission review of the Fair Work Act all but finalised.

However, it appears that the political imperative at present is to get the Government’s budget passed through the Senate and that may result in some delay to the workplace relations reform.

It appears that any significant IR changes will be in 2016 primarily because the Productivity Commission is to report back on the review towards the latter part of 2015.

In all likelihood the review will examine employees’ pay and conditions, including penalty rates and union behaviour, and also consider further workplace flexibility.

TTIA will keep Members updated on any future workplace relations developments.

Log on Today!

Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER MAGAZINE

Floor fixing – what must be considered W

E HAVE floors being installed over many surfaces these days and with many floors it is often not the floor installer that has provided the surface over which the floor is to be installed. A builder will likely have laid the joists and particleboard subfloor and at times companies that specialise in concrete subfloor preparation are levelling slabs. It is easy for the floor installer to consider that either the particleboard or the levelled slab as being the starting point, however, to avoid possible problems consideration needs to go beyond this.

When it comes to timber floor installation there is no one recipe that fits all.

As well as the subfloor and climate being individual to a site, species density varies greater, and with this the strength of different timbers also varies when they expand.

So when laying solid timber flooring it is necessary to consider the strength of the complete floor system and aspects that may affect it.

As such, thought must be given to where the weakest link lies as this can be the location where floor failure could occur. Although this may relate directly to the floor fixing method used, it can also relate to the fixing of the subfloor and in the case of slabs either the integrity of the slab or levelling compound. In addition to this the cleanliness of the slab can also be overlooked.

There are many aspects that are routinely checked at the time of floor installation. These include floorboard moisture content, assessing slab moisture and assessing the flatness

Photo 1

ASSOCIATION NEWS

19 – September 2014

In many parts of Australia we are now transitioning from spring to summer and for many of us this will signal periods of wetter weather but hopefully not as intense as was experienced last year throughout much of eastern Australia. David Hayward, ATFA Technical Manager outlines the importance of considering the complete floor fixing system in order for floors to cater for expansion pressure at these times.

of the subfloor. However, there are also aspects that at times are overlooked when considering the strength complete floor system. These include the strength of the joist material, the strength of the fixing of particleboard or plywood subfloors to joists, the strength of the levelling compound and the integrity of the concrete in the slab.

Repairs can be costly and therefore best avoided.

The expansion pressure in a floor after installation is dependent on two main aspects, the transition from the initial moisture content of the flooring to its final in-service moisture content and the density of the timber, which also reflects its strength. Therefore a softwood floor or one from a medium density hardwood such as Tasmanian Oak does not present the same risk as higher density timbers such as Blackbutt or Pyinkado.

So species density is the first consideration. Secondly, the expected increase in moisture content after installation must also be considered. An increase of 4% moisture content can result in very high forces from higher density timbers and therefore practices such as acclimatisation and providing the appropriate expansion allowance are necessary considerations.

With variable climatic conditions and the need to install floors throughout the year there are going to be times after installation when we expect a floor to expand and pressure to be built up in the floor. Therefore we also need to ensure that the complete system, the fixing of boards to the subfloor and subfloor system itself is sufficiently strong to

accommodate these forces.

Three cases where the complete system was not sufficiently considered are provided. In the first photo, a prefinished high density floor was adhesive fixed to an internal levelling compound with minimal tensile strength. The floor failure was through the levelling compound which was incorrect for this application.

The second photo shows the particleboard subfloor buckling off the joists and in this case the fixing of the particleboard to the joists was insufficient. Finally in the third photo it shows a high density hardwood floor, not acclimatised for a high humidity environment, being secretly fixed to pine joists. The strength of the expanding floor far exceeding the fixing strength of the staples and adhesive to the joist.

In many instances there is not a significant increase in moisture content after installation and in some locations floors will develop shrinkage gaps after they are installed. Such floors are under minimal pressure and can remain that way for the life of the floor. This can provide a false sense of security. When higher density flooring does expand the forces involved can be very high, and it is at times difficult to assess future floor expansion. Due to this, thorough assessment of the complete floor fixing system, the fixing to the subfloor and integrity of that subfloor is an essential part of successful floor installation.

ATFA can be contacted via our website www.atfa. com.au by phone 1300 36 1693 or email admin@atfa. com.au

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