NewsFromMTI
HelloMassTimberColleagues!Thismonthweareverypleasedtofeatureanexcitingpieceofnews:Astatus updateonElement5'splantinSt.Thomas.
Feature:Element5Plant
ExteriorrenderingofElement5’sSt.Thomasfactoryandoffice.RenderingcourtesyofElement5.
ThemasstimberconstructionrevolutionispoisedtosurgeaheadincentralCanadaasconstructionof Element5’snew12,320m2 factoryinSt.Thomas,Ontario,achievedsomeexcitingmilestonesthismonth.The principalmanufacturingbuildinghasbeenassembledandproductionequipmentisarrivingdaily.
Element5isinstallingastate-of-the-artCLTandglulamlinemanufacturedbyLedinek.Thepresscanproduce variouslayups/thicknessesofCLT;panelscanbemadeupto16minlengthand3.5minwidth.At3.5m, Element5willsoonbeproducingthewidestpanelsinCanada.Masstimberprojectswillbenefitfromthedesign andmaterialefficienciesthiswiderformatpanelprovidesincludingfewerpanels,lessliftingtime,andareduced numberofconnections.
Thefullyintegratedproductionlinedoeseverything-fromlumberconditioningandfinger-jointingoflam-stockto sandingandCNCmachiningofthefinishedcomponents.ThelinealsofeaturesLedinek’snew‘Z-Press’which
edgegluesthepanelsandresultsinasuperiorappearance-gradefinishfreefromcracksandgaps.
Progressatthefactoryhasbeenonschedule,withonlyaminimaldisruptionresultingfromtheCovid-19 pandemic.Element5isontracktoproducetestpanelslaterthisfallandanticipatesachievingPRG320 certificationbytheendoftheyear.OncetheSt.Thomasfactoryiscompletedandfull-scaleproductionis underway,thecombinedoutputcapacityofElement5’stwomasstimberfactories(theotherisinRipon,QC)will beover50,000m3 peryear.
Element5manufacturesseveralmasstimberproductsincludingglulam,CLT,hollow-coreCLTpanels,andother CLT-basedstructuralcomponents.Theirongoingcommitmenttoinnovationhasalsoledthemtodevelopcross laminatedinsulatedpanels(calledCLIPs)whichofferahigh-performance,prefabricatedbuildingenvelope solutionthatiscompatiblewithwood,steelorconcretestructuralframes.
Throughstrategicsupplierpartnerships,Element5hasready-accesstoOntario-sourced,FSC-certifiedraw materials,amovethatnotonlyhelpsElement5meetthesustainabilitygoalsoftheirclients,butalsoalignswith theirpositionasaconstructionindustrydisruptorhelpingdrivechangefromtraditional,carbon-intensive materialstowardsmoresustainablemasstimberconstruction.
Loadingthefingerjointingpressintofinallocation.ImagecourtesyofElement5.
NewsfromtheInstitute
1.CallforParticipants:WorkshoponIndigenousPerspectiveontheMass TimberSector
Weareplanningathree-partworkshopincollaborationwithBrookMcIlroyaboutIndigenousparticipationinthe masstimbersector:fromforesttobuilding.Whilewearestillfinalizingdetails,weareplanningtheworkshop seriesforsometimeearlyinthenewyear.Ifyouareinterestedinparticipatingorattending,pleaseletEmmett knowbysendinghimanemail
2.MTIJoinstheAutodeskResidencyProgram
WerecentlyjoinedtheResidencyProgramattheAutodeskTechnologyCenters,Toronto.Plannedprojectsfor theresidencyincludeanumberofcollaborationsincludingthedevelopmentofaneducationalresourcearound themasstimbersupplychainandmajorprojectsinNorthAmerica.Ifyouwouldliketobeinvolvedinthis databaseproject,pleaseletusknow!CongratulationstoAutodeskforasuccessfulpaneldiscussiononmass
Aligningthefingerjointingcuttingstation.ImagecourtesyofElement5.
Wanttoknowmore?FeelfreetoreachouttoPatrickChouinard,Founder+NewBusinessatElement5.