FEBRUARY 2017
Choose the Original
Choose the Original PROCESSING • PRODUCTS • DESIGN • SUPPLIERS
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Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.
WOOD --
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PosiStrut CASSETTES are
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Many builders and developers – especially those working on large, multi-storey projects are specifying PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes. The floor includes allowances for deflections, reactions, plumbing locations, voids stacks, wastes and duct chases and recessed wet areas. Plus, PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes can utilise top chord support for ease of installation. This means they can be craned into position on-site and fixed in minutes! The implications this has on-site are substantial‌with more square metres of flooring laid by less labour in a lot less time!
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For more information about MiTek PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes, call your local state office or visit: mitek.com.au
HOME OF GANG-NAIL BUILDING SYSTEMS VIC (03) 8795 8888
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NEWS
MiTek & Timbertruss floor customers with cassettes!
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O SAY customers are ‘impressed’ with MiTek’s latest prefabrication innovation (PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes) would be an understatement – they’re floored! Many months have been spent perfecting the design and construction of flooring cassettes… incorporating the, already very successful, and well-established MiTek PosiStruts. ‘We just thought they were the ideal product to make our flooring cassettes even more marketable,’ said Adrian Robertson, Sales Manager at licensed MiTek fabricator, Timbertruss (A division of Bowens and Pomeroy)…a leading manufacturer of this innovative product. So, what exactly is a PosiStrut Flooring Cassette and how does it come together. Without going into too much detail – Its taking what you do currently on site and building it in a factory. The floor is built to all the current specifications for deflections/reactions and acoustics. All the issues of plumbing locations, voids stacks, wastes and duct chases and recessed wet areas have been resolved at design stage to ensure you do not get any interferences when installing on site. ‘We can ‘top’ the cassettes with just about any flooring surface,’ said Adrian. ‘Most opt for a particle board type flooring, but we can use a large range of products for wet and dry areas that are currently on the market. Adrian was very keen to promote the versatility of the end product and how nearly any flooring scenario could be accommodated. ‘You can vary the spacing of the PosiStruts to accommodate service entry and/or exit points. Even the size of the PosiStruts can vary; large or small webbed PosiStruts work equally as well.’ What are the advantages MiTek PosiStrut Cassettes deliver on-site? ‘Prefabrication of walls, roofs…and flooring speeds up construction – that’s probably the biggest, most immediately recognised advantage,’ said Adrian.
Timbertruss’ PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes are lowered into position and fixed in minutes. You have all the easyaccess for services advantages PosiStruts deliver plus the fact; whole levels of flooring can be installed in a fraction of the time it takes with traditional methods of construction. ‘Two men can do in a day what it takes three to four to do in 7 days – the results are that dramatic,’ stressed Adrian. Multiply the time saving per cassette on a large project and the developer could be saving weeks in flooring installation. On a recent Australand project two carpenters installed 47 cassettes in one day! ‘Plus – there’s the safety (OH&S) benefits.’ With traditional flooring installed at heights trades are often left balancing precariously, trying to fix individual beams one at a time. Another advantage noted by Timbertruss customers is: ‘there is no storage issue on-site. The truck rolls up and within minutes the first cassette can be craned into position. Once installed and fitted (and relevant safety scaffolding erected) the cassettes can be walked on so the next part of the construction process can get underway. Adrian also stresses: ‘it is very important to work with the builder to ensure they are getting the most efficient, most practical solution for their needs. I think we’re only starting to see the tip of the iceberg…with what these cassettes can do and how they can improve installation on-site. There’s no one solution – there are a whole range of solutions MiTek PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes can deliver. It’s not hard to sell a product that sells itself,’ said Adrian. For more information about MiTek PosiStrut Flooring Cassettes visit: mitek.com.au or call your local state office.
australasian
magazine Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.
February Vol.25, No. 1 Established 1977 4
¢ There is no storage issue on-site. The truck rolls up and within minutes the first cassette can be craned into position.
Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editorial: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9512 Out of office: (08) 7127 6370
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FRONT PAGE: Under construction...An organic staircase created from American tulipwood weaves through The Amot Atrium Tower. More on page 12.
Conditions: The opinions expressed in Australasian Timber Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of or endorsed by the editor or publisher unless otherwise stated. All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. All material in Australasian Timber Magazine copyright © Ryan Media. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, the published will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.
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FRAME
International expert speakers at Frame
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HE FRAME 2017 event titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will focus on design, manufacture and construction of prefabricated timber buildings from initial concept stage to the completed project, providing a broad pathway to understand the process benefits and the achievement of faster build times with lower construction costs. International and local expert speakers will explain architectural design concepts, engineering design, codes and cost comparisons, with examples of housing and multiresidential mid and high rise projects currently being built around Australia and globally. Supply chain involvement will be a fundamental component of the program including digital data technologies, prefabricated manufacturing systems, and integrated project delivery to ensure successful construction outcomes. Conference director Kevin Ezard said: “We are fortunate to have Colin Chornohus. Mass Timber Specialist with Structurlam Products presenting on the collaborative effort required between manufacturer/supplier and project design team to deliver a timber structure ahead of schedule and under budget. “Colin is currently engaged in construction of the world’s tallest mass wood building UBC Brock Commons in Vancouver Canada, and
he will demonstrate the benefits of Integrated Project Delivery in this massive project by engaging a timber manufacturer in the design process from start to finish. “Another highly prominent speaker, Stefan Schneider, the Founder / Owner of CutMyTimber Inc. in North America will discuss trends in digital fabrication and integrated technology enabling machines and software to became much more evolved to provide a broader scope,” Kevin added. “Examples include CAM systems with a lot more CAD functionalities that include material management databases, material optimizers and ordering systems, along with machining process developments that will be explained.” ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne.
¢ Dylan Brady
For details visit the website www.frameaustralia.com or contact Kevin Ezard on 0419 538 638 or email kevin@frameaustralia.com
¢ Delegates listen intently to the latest details.
WoodSolutions supports Frame 2017 TO ENCOURAGE awareness of the latest developments in timber and wood construction systems for residential and commercial buildings, WoodSolutions have agreed to continue their role as exclusive “Principal Supporter” for the Frame Australia 2017 Conference titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’. FWPA National Marketing and Communications Manager Eileen Newbury said WoodSolutions was
pleased to be associated with the Frame event in joining industry trail-blazers to understand the benefits and uses of pre-fabricated timber and engineered wood construction systems. “Through the WoodSolutions programs we are expanding awareness of new timber building systems emerging in Australia for the benefit of all designers and specifiers, which includes new educational and advisory services that will accelerate the
uptake of massive timber and timber prefabrication in general. “We are producing a comprehensive range of Technical Guides for timber and wood product design, specification and use, with all publications readily available on-line at the WoodSolutions website,” Eileen said. Conference director Kevin Ezard added: “We are very pleased with WoodSolutions role in support for Frame 2017 which will focus on
design, manufacture and construction of prefabricated timber buildings from initial concept stage to the completed project. “International and local expert speakers will explain architectural design concepts, engineering design, codes and cost comparisons, with examples of housing and multiresidential mid and high rise projects currently being built around Australia and globally. “Designers and builders are increasingly undertaking projects with fully panelised timber floors and walls for erection in only a few days, and mid-rise multi-residential buildings in timber framing or mass timber in just weeks, providing huge project savings of 25% or more. “The speakers program and workshops will provide delegates with a broad pathway to understand the process benefits and the achievement of faster build times with lower construction costs.” ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne. For more information and to register your interest in Frame 2017 visit the website www.frameaustralia. com and for WoodSolutions visit www.woodsolutions.com.au
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
FEBRUARY 2017
5
FRAME
Exhibition displays at Frame 2017
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OR THE past 18 years, Frame events have performed a pivotal role attracting architects and engineers, building professionals, property developers and builders; along with suppliers of timber and engineered wood, software and equipment, pre-fabricated building systems, and building materials.
News Briefs Mutual recognition Australia and US architect registration authorities have finally reached a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) for cross-border licencing of architects. The MRA came into effect 1 January and will allow Australian and New Zealand architects to register with one of 29 participating US architectural licensing boards without further assessment. Under the agreement, signed by US, Australian and New Zealand registration authorities, Australian architects with a permanent residency/citizenship and at least 6,000 hours of post-licensure/ registration experience will be able to seek registration from a participating licensor to work as a sole practitioner on US soil.
The exhibition display has consistently been an influential component of the event, and is highly rated by delegates in providing information on international trends and emerging technologies associated with timber construction systems, manufacturing equipment, and building products or services.
Australian practices in Building Design’s Top 100 list Six Australian architectural practices have been ranked in Building Design’s World Architecture 100. Every year UK architectural news publication Building Design (BD) presents its compendium of the world’s biggest practices, compiled through a survey of architecture studios from all over the globe. The biggest 100 practices in the world are ranked by the number of fee-earning architects employed by each firm. This year’s list features six Australian studios including Woods Bagot, Bates Smart, Buchan Group, GHDWoodhead, Architectus and Hames Sharley.
Major changes to NSW Planning Act The NSW Government has released a raft of new planning reforms that propose to dramatically alter the way developments applications are assessed in the state. The draft amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPAA) have been proposed under the guidance of four major objectives developed by government and stakeholders over the past few years and will undergo a public consultation period until 10 March. The amendments seek to improve community participation in planning decisions, facilitate strategic planning, increase probity and accountability in decisions, and create a simpler, faster planning system. The draft changes have been welcomed by the Australian Institute of Architects.
Another packaging company goes Universal One of Universal Forest Products, Inc. subsidiaries has acquired all outstanding shares of the UBEECO Group Pty. Ltd., a manufacturer of wood packaging based in Erskine Park, a suburb of Sydney. Founded in 1970, UBEECO manufactures and distributes a variety of wood packaging and alternative material products, including boxes, crates, pallets, skids, protection packaging, packaging accessories and loose lumber. It also offers on-site packing services for many customers. The company’s sales turnover for 2016 was approximately $21.2 million (USD). UBEECO becomes the second packaging-related Australian acquisition by a Universal affiliate. In 2015, a Universal subsidiary purchased a majority interest in Integra Packaging Proprietary, Ltd., a manufacturer and distributor of integrated packaging products based in Brisbane.
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Conference director Kevin Ezard stated: “We are delighted with the enthusiastic response from previous exhibitors to participate in the 2017 exhibition, and very pleased to announce the Principal Partner will be long-standing supporter Homag/ Weinmann. “The massive global Homag Group is a leading manufacturer of modern, high-performance machines, production lines and systems for the construction of prefabricated timber buildings, with a coordinated portfolio for woodworking including solutions for utilising computer-controlled, automated machinery with a range of CAD/CAM-interfacing controls. “And as part of the Homag Group, the Weinmann equipment portfolio includes beam processing, production of wall elements, roof and floor elements and the processing of largescale board materials and handling, storage systems, and solutions for cross-laminated timber,” Kevin explained. “A major change for 2017 is a two-day program, with one day of speaker presentations by international and local speakers followed by delegate hospitality and networking, and a second day comprised of workshop sessions and delegate tours to timber building sites and offsite manufacturing plants.
FLEGT-compliant timber arrives in the UK Indonesia’s first legally certified timber shipment arrived in England on January 16. Indonesian Ambassador to London Rizal Sukma, paid a visit to Tilbury harbor located in London to unbox the cargo that contained the Indonesian FLEGT ( Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade)compliant timber. “By implementing the FLEGT license, I believe that importers would place more trust regarding the legality of Indonesia’s timber exports,” Rizal stated.
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“The two-day format will provide much greater time for interaction between delegates and suppliers for generation of business opportunities, with display booths located within the conference Ballroom Foyer where all delegate catering is provided for lunch and session breaks, plus Delegate Hospitality and networking on Monday night,” said Kevin. Frame 2017 titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne, and for event details visit the website www. frameaustralia.com For information on participation in the exhibition display or sponsorship opportunities contact: Adam Contessa, Sponsorship Manager, Building Brands Mobile 0416 081 259 / Email adam@buildingbrands.com.au
Phony pallets were poor quality too Thousands of counterfeit Euro pallets from Ukraine were discovered in Belgium, near the border with the Netherlands. Altogether, four Ukrainian trucks loaded with counterfeit Euro pallets were stopped, and counterfeits that had already been delivered were seized. Of the seized counterfeits, 90% bore the EUR/EUR or UIC trademarks and 10% bore EPAL markings. The counterfeits discovered were all inferior quality pallets.
New skill levels change fortunes The revolving door is no more at Appalachian Engineered Flooring. The North Troy, Vermont, company has experienced a dramatic decrease in employee turnover since implementing the Woodwork Career Alliance’s skill standards and related Passport program in 2014. Company officials said that along with workforce stability also have come enhanced quality and increased productivity. Appalachian’s skill standards book now covers more than 15 skill sets spanning 90 pages and counting. While it has been customized to better meet the company’s needs as an employee development tool, it follows the WCA’s skill standards in terms of goal setting based on achieving higher levels of proficiency for any given task.
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NEWS
Multinail SteelWood floor cassettes drastically reduce construction times and costs
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ULTINAIL’S NEW two-story timber head office at Stapylton in south-east Queensland is being built using the latest methods and features timber cassettes that have been engineered and manufactured for commercial loads. These cassettes have been manufactured using Multinail’s SteelWood joist system, which is ideally suited for heavier loads of 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 7.5kPa, and each weigh up to 2 tonnes and measure a massive 9m x 6m. “With the recent changes to the National Construction Code allowing timber to be used in more applications, we’re keen to showcase the potential,” said Multinail Marketing and Communications Coordinator Travis Taylor. He said SteelWood joists offered architects, engineers, builders and contractors a new concept of rigid construction for single or multi-storey residential, commercial and industrial buildings. “Fabricators can use this simple and wellestablished technique to deliver a prefabricated timber floor system to builders, thereby adding further value to their products. “Many builders view traditional timber building methods as slow and tedious, whereas using a floor cassette system dramatically decreases construction time,” Travis said. He pointed out tat using floor cassettes offered some major benefits, including: • Increased quality because they are manufactured in a controlled factory environment • Reduced material waste on site • Increased speed of construction • Fabricators get the opportunity to value add by potentially marking out wall frame positions on the flooring, cutting holes for plumbers, and installing plumbing and A/C services. “Floor cassettes are a simple construction approach that provides every frame and truss plant with the potential to provide a new product to builders. Multinail is the only supplier in Australia providing a metal webbed joist system ideally suited for commercial and industrial applications,” he said. At the time of going to print Multinail was hosting a site visit for clients to watch the installation of floor cassettes and to showcase their potential. The next edition of Australasian Timber will feature this installation process and work site progress.
¢ Attention to detail is paramount during construction of new joists.
www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
FEBRUARY 2017
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NEWS
Wood -- the chosen commodity
Fraser Coast Council first in Queensland to adopt Wood Encouragement Policy
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RASER COAST Council is the first local council in Queensland to adopt a Wood Encouragement Policy, the focus of which is to ensure wood is considered for the initial stages of public building projects. The policy requires responsibly sourced wood to be considered, where feasible, as the first-choice construction material in all new-build and refurbishment council funded projects. This follows recent changes to the National Construction Code which allow for timber construction up to 8 storeys without additional approvals. David Rowlinson, Planet Ark’s Make It Wood Campaign Manager, welcomed the announcement as did leading organisation Timber Queensland and nationally acclaimed business Hyne Timber.. “We are delighted to see the Fraser Coast Council show real environmental leadership in Queensland by adopting this policy,” said David. More than 20% of Australia’s carbon emissions come from constructing and maintaining the built environment, so making the switch to wood as a major building material is a key strategy for addressing climate change. “Responsibly sourced, certified timber is the only major building material that helps tackle climate change. Timber is renewable, it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the wood, and there are fewer carbon emissions associated with its production when compared to building materials such as concrete or steel. Wood is also cost-effective, quick to construct, and has proven health and wellbeing benefits,” Mr Rowlinson said. Planet Ark has worked closely with Timber Queensland to promote the significant environmental benefits that building with timber provides. “Fraser Coast Council is to be congratulated for leading the way in Queensland with the introduction of this policy which not only supports the forest and timber industry but will generate significant carbon benefits,” said Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens. Mr Stephens said the policy also supports jobs, growth and investment. “Timber is a renewable material that uses little energy to produce compared to emission intensive building materials, such as steel and concrete. Trees use the sun and photosynthesis to produce timber, rather than rely on fossil fuel inputs, and remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere in the same process,” said Mr Stephens. “This is part of an international trend to reduce emissions from the building sector and promote sustainable solutions through the increased use of timber. “The forest and timber industry makes a significant contribution to the Fraser Coast local economy, delivering over 500 direct jobs in the Fraser Coast region and a further 750 indirect jobs,” said Mr Stephens. “A WEP will promote greater awareness of the beauty, versatility, strength and low environmental footprint
¢ David Rowlinson, Planet Ark’s Make It Wood Campaign Manager.
¢ Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens.
of timber in Council construction projects as diverse as libraries and hospitals, playgrounds, wharves and bridges, mid-rise apartments and office buildings.” Mr Stephens said he is confident other Queensland Councils will introduce similar WEPs in the near future, given the strong level of interest in this innovative new policy. Hyne Timber’s Chief Executive Officer Jon Kleinschmidt said a number of progressive regions throughout the world had such a policy and it was fitting for the Fraser Coast to take the lead for Queensland. “A Wood Encouragement Policy ensures consideration for responsibly grown and manufactured timber for all local government procurement, whether buildings, bridges or interior design at the initial concept stage. “The primary purpose is to realise environmental carbon gains through the use of a sustainable resource, support timber/construction innovation, realise lower construction costs and gain construction safety benefits.” Mr Kleinschmidt said. “Such a policy further supports the Australian growers, manufacturers and prefabricators of timber construction solutions, jobs, industry growth and economic growth for regions such as the Fraser Coast. “The Fraser Coast has a significant timber history and is therefore well placed to lead such an economic, environmental and cultural shift for Queensland,” said Mr Kleinschmidt. Gympie Regional Council has also decided to adopt a Wood Encouragement Policy (WEP). “The Gympie Council and the Mayor, Councillor Mick Curran, are to be congratulated on their leadership with the introduction of this policy. Not only will it support the forest and timber industry, it will generate significant environmental and carbon benefits for the region,” said Mr Stephens. “The Gympie region has a long and proud history with the timber industry. Today, more than 570 people are directly employed in the local timber industry, representing nearly 4% of total employment in the region. Timber businesses include timber plantation and
¢ Hyne Timber’s Chief Executive Officer Jon Kleinschmidt.
native forest managers, harvest and haulage contractors, sawmills, engineered panel plants, fabricators, wholesalers and traders,” he said. “Importantly, this policy can promote a greater awareness amongst building tenderers of the versatility and innovation of using timber in Council projects as diverse as schools and libraries, playgrounds, wharves and bridges, housing, apartments and offices. “We are delighted that within the space of two weeks, the Fraser Coast and now Gympie are the first two pioneering Councils in Queensland to pursue a wood encouragement policy. “We hope the State Government will similarly follow suit into the future, given the significant potential of this innovative new policy to realise State-wide regional development, jobs and environmental benefits from the greater use of timber.” The Fraser Coast and Gympie announcements follow the adoption of similar Wood Encouragement Policies by two regional and nine local councils in Australia including Latrobe City Council and Wellington Shire in Victoria, and joins others around the world, including Rotorua in New Zealand, Hackney in London, British Columbia in Canada, Finland, France and The Netherlands. As an example of the environmental benefits of the WEP policies, the Library at the Dock in Melbourne is Australia’s first six-star Green Star council-owned building constructed from modern engineered mass timber. It stores 500 tonnes of carbon in its crosslaminated timber structure, locking it out of the atmosphere for the life of the building. Planet Ark’s Wood – Housing, Health, Humanity1 report, commissioned for the Make It Wood campaign, found exposure to wood products and interiors has positive physiological and psychological health benefits, similar those created by spending time in nature. An increasing number of architects who design buildings for healing and learning are incorporating significant amounts of wood into their structures to capitalise on its health and wellbeing benefits.
Ambitious plan for all-timber build for new city DARDANUP SHIRE Council wants the new city of Wanju to be constructed completely from timber in an ambitious bid to minimise the development’s carbon footprint. The council has formulated a policy that encourages the use of locallysourced plantation timber in all developments. With an estimated future population of 50,000 people, the council hopes Wanju will become an energy efficient city with an emphasis on “off-thegrid” living. Outlined in a council report, the Wood Encouragement Policy recommends timber products be used as a first option in building projects, providing they are derived from a renewable and sustainable source. Shire president Mick Bennett said the initiative would include both 8
interior and exterior designs and would even extend to furniture and feature walls. Although the city is still about five years from starting, Cr Bennett said the council was confident it would pave the way for developing environmentally sustainable communities. He said building with wood provided both a time and cost efficient alternative to bricks and also offered “lots of opportunities” in terms of street appeal. “We’re trying to get away from what is standard and look for something that’s a bit different,” he said. A focus on lightweight construction could also mean a build-time of less than three months, according to Cr Bennett. Cr Bennett said it was important the council prioritised environmentally sustainable options in the planning
stages of Wanju, including encouraging the use of solar power. “We’re hoping that with people spending far less on their power bills, they will spend more on timber products,” he said. “It’s important that we alert people to the fact that utilising wood in their buildings is a positive thing.” Cr Bennett said the council was looking at ways to inform the public about building with wood and would consider the use of educational pamphlets. The policy, which was outlined in a council report, said information would be shared with developers about the benefits of utilising wood in construction which involved “promoting timber products as a renewable resource”. He said looking at alternative
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types of construction was part of the council’s carbon friendly approach to new developments. “Dardanup Council is to be congratulated for the introduction of its Wood Encouragement Policy and the far-reaching and ambitious goal to construct the city of Wanju entirely from timber, which will generate significant carbon benefits,” said Planet Ark’s Make It Wood Campaign Manger David Rowlinson. Planet Ark has worked closely with Forest Industry Federation WA and Forest Community Network WA to promote the significant environmental benefits that building with timber provides. “We know that responsibly sourced, certified timber is the only major building material that helps tackle climate change,” said David. www.timberbiz.com.au
Complete Construction Fastening Solutions.
For over 60 years Simpson Strong-Tie has focused on developing complete engineered timber construction fastening solutions that help make structures safer and stronger. With a focus on innovation, testing and research, Simpson Strong-Tie has grown to be recognised as one of the world leaders in structural product solutions. Simpson Strong-Tie has an extensive range of Connectors, Fastening Systems, Fasteners and Anchors to help bring together your next project. To find out more about our innovative range of timber construction fastening solutions or to find out how to become a distributor visit www.strongtie.com.au or call 1300 STRONGTIE (1300 787 664).
NEWS
Alpine Truss gift ensures continuation of essential community service
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AREVAN WANGARATTA received a funding boost in December with a substantial donation of $12,000 from local business Alpine Truss. Alpine Truss managing director George Prothero said the donation was made in lieu of sending Christmas presents to their clients and added that he encouraged other businesses to make a similar move. “Our business believes it is a great cause, especially at this time of year,” Mr Prothero said. Carevan Wangaratta’s Michelle Kennedy said the donation helped cement the continuing operation of the service for the next 12 months, and thanked Alpine Truss for the donation. “Without the community support, we wouldn’t be able to run this service,” she said, adding that Carevan Wangaratta runs entirely on donations from the community. “We’d really like to thank Alpine Truss and their customers.” Carevan Wangaratta is a registered not-for-profit organisation that since February 2011, has delivered wholesome meals three times a week in Wangaratta to those less fortunate. Carevan operates from 6pm: on Monday at Bindall Avenue Park; Tuesday at the rotunda/barbecue area between Ross and Lowe Courts; and Wednesday at the pavilion/undercover area in Apex Park. Source: Wangaratta Chronicle
¢ MANY THANKS: Alpine Truss managing director George Prothero (second from left) presented Wangaratta Carevan with a $12,000 donation on behalf of the business. Carevan representatives on hand to accept the donation were (from left) Michelle Kennedy, Peter Vaughan and John Houghton. PHOTO: Kylie Wilson
VicForests donates timber to community group VICFORESTS has donated Ash and Acacia timber to the Eildon and District Woodworkers Guild/Alexandra Community Shed to support their local wood craft activities. The Eildon and District Woodworkers Guild is a community group in Alexandra that is part of the Australian Men’s Shed Association which looks after men’s health in regional communities. The Guild supports its members by providing materials and tools to produce wood working pieces, as well as the opportunity for them to socialise and feel part of their community. Max May, Secretary of the Eildon and District Woodworkers Guild, said they were very grateful to VicForests and their contractors for the generous donation. “VicForests have donated both Ash and Acacia logs. “The Ash timber will predominantly be used to make woodworking benches for a new Guild workshop and the Acacia logs will be used for appearance pieces such as bowls and platters to utilise the good colour. “Our new workshop will hopefully be ready soon, so it will be great to have some
Melanie and MBAV break new ground
fine looking wood working benches for our members to create serving platters, furniture and other household products,” he said. VicForests contractors, Eddy Haulage and Johnson Logging, assisted in the harvesting and delivery of the timber to the Guild. Jim Anderson, VicForests Planning Officer, said that it was great to see the timber being put to use in the local community. “A number of the Guild members have worked in the timber industry and it is great for them to be able to keep a connection to the industry. “They have a wealth of experience and knowledge and I’m sure they will put this timber to good use. “I hope this relationship can continue but none of this would have been possible without the help of our contractors,” Mr Anderson said. The Guild has outgrown its present site behind the Alexandra Timber Tramway and Museum and will soon be moving to a new location. “We currently have 65 members and are now looking for a new and larger place. We would be grateful for any assistance towards this move,” Mr May said.
¢ Jim Anderson of VicForests with Guild members Paul Smith, Steve Beavis, Len Sund and Nigel Adams with the Ash logs
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
FOLLOWING SEVERAL years of productive service on the Board of Directors, Melanie Fasham (Managing Director of Fasham Pty Ltd) breaks new ground as the first woman to hold the office of President of the Master Builders Association of Victoria. “Master Builders is very fortunate to have Ms Fasham advancing to the President’s seat. Not only will our association benefit from her deep and diverse experience in the building industry, but her leadership on the Board demonstrates that our industry welcomes and represents men and women alike in every role,” said Radley de Silva, Master Builders Association of Victoria CEO. Ms Fasham is a registered builder with a background in chemical engineering and process quality management for global manufacturers. At Fasham Pty Ltd, she sources and manages suppliers of materials and services, estimates building projects and oversees construction methods and schedules. “I believe that as leaders of the building and construction industry, which is Victoria’s secondlargest full-time employer, Master Builders has a responsibility to lobby for critical infrastructure works and to promote
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¢
Melanie Fasham ... the first woman to hold the office of President of the Master Builders Association of Victoria.
legislation that protects Victorians from the increasingly uncompetitive cost of construction in this State,” Ms Fasham said. “We also have a responsibility to lobby strongly for housing affordability for all Victorians, as our State grows at a record pace,” she said. “We thank our outgoing President, Peter Picking, for his devoted service over the past two years. Mr Picking has been instrumental in helping to spearhead our campaign to arrive at a sustainable Industry Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, including an in-depth study of the state of the industry in Victoria prepared by Deloitte Access Economics,” Mr de Silva said. Ms Fasham will serve as President on the Board of Directors for a two-year term. www.timberbiz.com.au
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Outdoor Wood Protection WOOD PRESERVATIVE
WOOD PRESERVATIVE
With operations in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and South Africa - Lonza Wood Protection operates just about anywhere there is a wood processing and manufacturing industry. We have operations or agencies to support customers with well proven products, state of the art application systems and technical support services to preserve, protect and enhance the durability and resilience of wood products against decay, mould, termites, fire and other hazards. To learn more about the products and services available in the Asia Pacific region contact us, or visit our website, www.lonzawoodprotection.com/apac/
AUSTRALIA +61 3 9339 8915 tanalised.au@lonza.com
NEW ZEALAND +64 9 276 3646 tanalised.nz@lonza.com
Sentry® is a registered trademark of Chemcolour Industries. Sentry® products are sold under licence by Lonza Wood Protection. Antiblu, Taratek, Tanamix, Azotek, Permatek, Glusect, Vacsol, FRAMEbor, Parachem and Tanalith are registered trademarks of Lonza or its subsidiaries. © Lonza 2017
ASIA +60 3 7981 4002 contact.asia@lonza.com
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An organic staircase created from American tulipwood weaves through The Amot Atrium Tower
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HE NEWEST addition to Israel’s growing Diamond Exchange District is the uniquely geometrical Amot Atrium Tower, designed by prominent architect Moshe Zur. Located at the entrance of the Ramat Gan central business district in Tel Aviv, it presents a richly detailed façade to visitors entering the city. Standing at 158 metres, each floor of the 43-storey tower comprises two wings embracing a common elevator core that is visible from outside. Located in the entrance hall of the tower is an extraordinary sculptural staircase made from American tulipwood. In fact, the building’s name is drawn from its impressive atrium entrance hall, designed by architect Oded Halaf, who came up with a radical idea: to construct a tornado-shaped staircase, a sculptural piece that would provide both movement and interest into the orthogonal, glassencased, four-storey high lobby. Halaf also wanted the staircase to be free of all visible support - a complex and seemingly impossible assignment, which had to be contracted out to an expert, who held the right mix of knowledge, experience and immense creativity. Given the complexity of the project, Halaf commissioned Tomer Gelfand, a master craftsman who specializes in providing architectural solutions to engineering problems. Gelfand has had extensive experience with intricate design implementations in wood, stainless steel, and glass. Over the course of an 18-month period, from the time that Halaf presented his rough sketch of the staircase to Gelfand, he managed to execute, supervise and finalize all stages of construction, turning Halaf’s dream into a reality. The stair structure is composed of two interlocking parts: a skeletal metal staircase and a sculptural wooden envelope. Together, they rise as an expressive tornado from the reception desk to the first-floor mezzanine, fourteen metres above. To make this happen, Gelfand devised a system of continuous wooden profiles, which look fluid and flexible, but which are extremely stiff and stable. “The entire structure includes the spiraling stairs and a tornado-like element, which seems to emerge from the reflecting walls of the entrance lobby. The stairs and the tornado elements merge at the top of the first floor, and the round top acts as a viewing balcony to the impressive hall below. Above, it is topped with a similar round element, crowning the project and perfecting the intricate composition,” said Gelfand. Gelfand began by implementing an MRI-type scan to the skeleton, cutting vertically through the structure and generating sections in the width of the given wooden profile. The resulting number of cross-sections, each exported with a different radius requirement, produced a seemingly-endless
amount of arches. In order to deal with this, Gelfand narrowed it down to ‘master-arches’ - devised by calculating the wooden profile’s average bending tolerance, which dictated the radius and angle of the ‘master-arches’. Next the creation of the radial profiles: a total of 9,000 linear meters of tulipwood was cut by CNC machine to create the stock for the master-arches, each coded and marked to fit precisely. As no single piece was interchangeable, every measurement had to be taken in advance to ensure the success of the final installation. American tulipwood was selected for the project by both Halaf and Gelfand, as it fulfilled the requirements in terms of colour. It also ably met criteria of cost, performance and workability. Sourced from local suppliers, a total of 120 cubic metres of tulipwood was used. According to Gelfand, the freshly cut tulipwood showed a wide variety of natural colors. In order to unify the design, a palette of 12 average shades was selected from the tulipwood pieces and then applied to the modules. Lastly, the coded profiles were delivered to the site in order for the final puzzle to be completed: a precise, four-month long, delicate process of assembly, managed and supervised by Gelfand himself. The result encapsulates the paradox of contemporary creation: what appears as an artistic,
hand-drawn gesture, is, in fact, a result of algorithmic data processing and the product of countless interchangeable pieces. Seemingly arbitrary yet utterly computerized; nature’s matter harnessed by today’s true artists of technology. “Functionally and aesthetically beautiful, the staircase is in fact a viewing balcony to the office lobby below it. Though the structure may seem flexible, it is in fact completely unmovable; a combination of algorithmic data processing and masterful craftsmanship, creating an organicallyinspired, artistic result,” concludes Gelfand. “Navigating it isn’t meant to be as simple as taking a functional set of stairs to get from one level of a building to the next; it’s an experience in itself, taking in the whole structure from a new angle with every step.” The Amot Atrium Tower that houses the staircase has achieved LEED Platinum certification, which means it reaches the highest possible levels of sustainability and resource efficiency. It’s fitting then that its lobby feature an organic installation. Working with tulipwood, which is relatively light in weight and has a high strength to weight ratio, Halaf and Gelfand have created a striking structure, which is not just a work of art in its unusual shape but also an example of how high-tech design and traditional woodworking can come together for modern usage.
Project particulars Project: Staircase at Amot Atrium Tower Location:
Tel Aviv, Israel
Architect:
Oded Halaf
Responsible Architects: Aviva Ben Ari & Daria Tsoy Timber works:
Tomer Gelfand
Construction Engineer: Aeronautic Engineer Prof. Doron Shalev Completion date: 2016 Species:
American tulipwood
Photography:
Itay Sikolski - Numsix
¢ Image credit: Itay Sikolski
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Australian Design. American Hardwood. Adam Goodrum, internationally renowned Australian designer, uses American hardwood species in most of his work. Yet he only started using American tulipwood recently. “I had not used American tulipwood before designing the Don chair. I needed a timber with strength for the frame and a tight stable grain to machine the thin seat and back. Tulipwood has performed perfectly. The chair is light and rigid and I love the grain�. To find out more about American tulipwood and Australian stockists visit www.americanhardwood.org
americanhardwoodANZ Credit: Tom Ferguson Photography
AHEC_ANZ
Images: Adam Goodrum and the Don chairs in American tulipwood and American cherry
ENGINEERED WOOD
Footnote: Engineered flooring that is uniquely Australian
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T’S NOT often that you can be walked all over and it’s fine .... but this was the case during the recent launch of Australian Oak engineered flooring! Oslek (flooring specialist) and ASH (Australian Sustainable Hardwoods) combined forces for the Melbourne launch which attracted 50 clients all of whom had a positive response to the product. Fiddes Hardwax Oil had a display and provided several presentations on light, medium and hard brushed flooring. Oslek also gave a brush demonstration. ASH’s Australian Oak engineered hardwood flooring is the combination of a beautiful hardwood floor, a hard wearing coating and a super stable substrate – manufactured to the quality you’d expect from Australia’s largest hardwood mill. The resulting product is a floor of stunning architectural appearance that increases stability and offers speedy installation. This all comes at a financial saving in time and material cost. Australian Oak is the answer to the oak floorings of the world with a uniquely Australian twist. Australian Oak Flooring has an unmatched aesthetic charm that will add character and warmth with every board. Sizes available: 190mm x 15mm and 160mm x 15mm The wear layer on top is our trusted, regrowth hardwood species which is PEFC Chain of Custody (CoC) certified and grown in Australia. The hardwood ply substrate is a mix of plantation hardwood species that are glued to the wear layer using a method
known as ‘balanced construction’. Using a hardwood ply (instead of an MDF or pine make up) not only increases the floors density and reduces the risk of indentation but it also ensures that no one layer (veneer) is the dominant piece. By gluing these veneers together in a cross laminated orientation, the boards work together to minimise any risk of expansion and contraction. This is an advantage over traditional hardwood floors which can move when subject to variations in humidity or temperature. The benefits with engineered flooring are that a less experienced tradesperson is capable of laying a floor with minimal risk of movement after installation. It also opens the possibility of laying in front of large windows or over the top of in-slab heating (see warranty for details). This added stability also allows wider, more attractive boards to be used with less risk of gapping between each board. Back sawn (or crown cut) grain is another benefit offered by the construction method. Crown cut grain is often more desirable in flooring applications due to the unique patterns created in the swirly grain. These are often highlighted in the staining process or brush finishing. Eight coats of hard wearing UV oil are applied to the wear layer to increase longevity and reduce the risk of scratching. The hardwood wear layer on top is thick enough to sand and re-polish multiple times throughout life if required.
¢ Melissa and Bec from Fiddes giving a presentation on Australian Oak engineered flooring.
¢ Shaun and Ron from Oslek.
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¢ A close inspection of ASH’s Australian Oak hardwood flooring.
¢ Boyd from Oslek showing guests the Australian Oak engineered flooring after it had run through the brush machine.
¢ Daniel Wright and Boyd Kelso giving a talk on Australian Oak engineered flooring.
¢ Daniel Wright (ASH) and Alistair Woodard (Wood Solutions).
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¢ Andrew and Dennis from Eco Craft.
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FASTENERS
Fixed for success
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HEREVER YOU are in the world, the chances are you’re never far from a BeA product. Australasian Timber ‘catches up’ with this international manufacturer of pneumatic nailers, robotics, consumables and other fastening technology. Timber frame houses. Roof and truss. Pallets. Packaging. Even your windows and doors. You name it - the likelihood is BeA probably fastens it. For more than 100 years, this German business has been providing answers to the world’s fixing and fastening needs. Evidence of its in-depth knowledge, impressive technical capabilities and typically German focus on technological innovation can be found everywhere that production efficiencies are paramount.
Engineered to excellence BeA’s nailers may not be the most widely known among DiY enthusiasts as you will only find them in very select, specialist dealers but they’re definitely amongst the most impressive – and especially when it comes to their heritage and engineering pedigree. The company’s entire range of nail guns has been developed drawing on a century’s worth of fastening expertise and BeA’s hard won experience gained in markets where failure is not an option. “In industrial markets like factorybuilt housing and truss manufacture, BeA is the fastening technology supplier of choice,” explains David Jamieson, managing director of Active Fasteners, BeA’s sole agent for Australia and Australasia.
“BeA’s products for industry have been developed using the same expertise that has enabled the company to provide fastening solutions to high-efficiency production lines for decades. “In these environments, stoppages due to failures, such as those caused by tool breakdowns or fastener jams, can mean lost productivity, lost confidence and lost profits. “As a result, reliability is a cornerstone of BeA’s approach and manifests itself in both the company’s nailers and its wide range of consumables.”
Guaranteed peace of mind “In-house manufacture of its fastening solutions gives BeA complete control over manufacturing processes and by definition consistency in product quality. This is something we’re very proud of,” says David. “The industrial nailing market is changing,” said David. “Today’s factories are more focused on production efficiency and automation than ever and we are developing more new products to meet evolving methods of production all the time. “While cost control is still paramount, we are noticing a move away from ‘a cheapest is best’ mindset when it comes to sourcing fastening tools and consumables. “Our customers are our guide,” said David, “and what our customers tell us is that reliability and production efficiency trumps everything else. “Ultimately, it’s a twist on the old saying: ‘if it ain’t broke, you don’t have to stop production and fix it!’”
"We are developing more new products to meet evolving methods of production all the time"
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FEBRUARY 2017
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NEWS
Product trust factor highlighted in survey Weathertex gets top billing
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EATHERTEX AUSTRALIA was voted number 1 top trusted brand for 2016 and also won number 1 most trusted brand within the external cladding category in The Architecture & Design 2016 survey of the best brands in the architecture, building, construction and design industries. The survey revealed the common themes associated with a trusted brand, including great service, products and reliability – as well as other socially driven themes of ecofriendliness and Australian made. A total of 341 companies competed for a place in the overall Top 10 with Weathertex first, followed by Dulux Australia and Bluescope Lysaght. Weathertex, an Australian-owned company, received plaudits from many quarters during the voting process. Here are a few:• “21st Century product from a 75-year-old factory and third generation employees team to back it. Weathertex is surely Future Ready.” • “A quality Australian-owned and made timber alternative, replacement to FC sheets and weatherboards. This fact along with outstanding product credentials backed up by independent environmental assessment from Ecospecifier’s GreenTag should be the only option considered. Perfection!!!” • “An amazing product. Truly sustainable, strong, aesthetically pleasing and easy to work with. You can achieve both contemporary and modern finishes
with the profiles available and have in painted or raw. One of the greatest building claddings on the market.” Jason O’Hagan, Managing Director for Weathertex was understandably proud of the national result. “This is fantastic and a significant result for Weathertex to be recognised by our customers as the number 1 trusted brand against such large reputable corporations. It demonstrates the hard work and commitment of our team and confirms our customers are after high quality building products that are sustainable and eco-friendly to our environment at no extra cost.” He said 2016 had been a year of achievements and wins for Weathertex, firstly being the first manufactured product in the world to receive GreenTag Platinum certification for their natural range and ending the year being recognised as the most trusted brand. “Weathertex is committed to continuing providing the best service and high quality products to our customers as well as play a crucial role in improving the sustainability of Australian construction products and practices.” The Weathertex manufacturing facility was originally founded in 1939 in Raymond Terrace, NSW. Massive investments have been made in the factory over many years in order to support ongoing production, improve painting facilities and introduce modern computerisation systems. It is 100% Australian owned and operated, employing more than
¢ Weathertex Chairman Paul Michael and MD Jason O’Hagan.
100 local people for over 50 years. Weathertex‘s external timber cladding is the ideal solution for any builder, architect or designer in search for environmentally conscious and high quality material. All Weathertex products are made in
Australia from, PEFC certified state forest or private hardwoods without any chemical additives. Weathertex Weatherboards are guaranteed not to rot, split or crack for 25 years. “Weathertex…Timber made perfect naturally!”
More than forest and timber publications MEDIA
INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED As publisher of Australia’s leading forest and timber industry publications, it would be easy to think we are only ink on paper.
But these are more than magazines. They are brands. Timber industry brands that readers and suppliers trust, quote and repond to. Brands that are growing across all platforms - in print and online. It’s become a two way relationship - online industry offerings, including articles, news, advertising and photos. And we are adding more in Events, Classifieds, including Jobs, Used Equipment, Services and Suppliers. Take a new look at Ryan Media’s forests and timber products services today and ask about our special subscription. For business solutions across all platforms, call +61 8 8369 9500 or go to www.timberbiz.com.au australasian
I N C O R P O R AT I N G A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R
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magazine
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NEWS
AKD Softwoods – Reliable, Sustainable, Naturally
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KD SOFTWOODS ARE considered your reliable timber processing company who can meet all your needs. For over 60 years AKD has been, and successfully continues to be, a 100% Australian owned and privately operated vertically integrated forestry and timber processing company based in the South Western Districts of Victoria. AKD is the largest sawmilling company in Victoria and the second largest Australian owned sawmilling company in the country. AKD is distinctive amongst its key competitors for its reputation as a high quality producer, its exceptional customer service and its vertically integrated operations. AKD can offer its customers a stable, reliable, quality supply and it is this concept of “stump to store” that they pride themselves on. AKD controls the whole process from their own plantations, through multiple operating locations and distributing products via its own truck fleet and dedicated freight providers. AKD has a devoted Sales team who are focused on relationship based sales, creating programs whereby individual customers’ needs are scheduled in the sawmills, ensuring supply security and that individual customers’ needs are met in full and on time. There are no switchboards or call centres when dealing with AKD as each member of the Sales team are directly available to customers by phone or email. The Sales team are empowered to make fast and reactive decisions to meet their customers’ needs, ensuring the quality service that AKD is known for. AKD is set apart from its competitors by having a dedicated
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¢ The AKD sales team.
Dispatch team who provides strong integration between the Sales team and AKDs own Truck fleet, helping ensure the highest quality of service and flexibility with the wide range of products on offer. The Dispatch team aim to provide the best service for delivery and will work with customers directly to ensure each and every delivery is made on time and to the customers’ needs. AKD’s end-to-end planning process enables products to be made to order and dispatched on
its own truck fleet to customers across Australia, often being a next day delivery. Like anything, a good foundation is key and for AKD this is no different. The company is built upon a stable ownership with long term customer relationships, long term log contracts, its own plantations and multiple state of the art processing facilities. With a strong foundation like this, AKD strives to be market leaders for quality and service and will
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continually enhance these foundations to help grow the company as well as make it stronger within itself. These foundations are constantly being improved by continual reinvestments in the business, plant expansions, plantation growth, employee development and the latest processing, automation, scanning and optimisation technology to ensure that AKD Softwoods is internationally competitive and continuously improving.
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HOUSING/BUILDING
New home starts continue to ease from peak was in the ACT (-39.6 per cent) followed by South Australia (-20.0 per cent). There were also large reductions in Western Australia (-13.6 per cent) and Victoria (-9.6 per cent). Falls in new dwelling starts also occurred in the Northern Territory (-7.6 per cent) and Tasmania (-0.6 per cent) during the September 2016 quarter.
House vs 'Other' Dwelling Commencements - Australia Source: ABS 8752, HIA 40,000 35,000
30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000
House - Seasonally Adjusted
Sep-2016
Sep-2015
Sep-2014
Sep-2013
Sep-2012
Sep-2011
Sep-2010
Sep-2009
Sep-2008
Sep-2007
Sep-2006
Sep-2005
Sep-2004
Sep-2003
Sep-2002
Sep-2001
Sep-2000
Sep-1999
Sep-1998
Sep-1997
Sep-1996
Sep-1995
Sep-1993
Sep-1994
Sep-1992
Sep-1991
0
Sep-1990
5,000
Sep-1989
No. of commencements
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BS DATA on building activity indicate that new dwelling starts have passed their record peak, said the Housing Industry Association (HIA), the voice of Australia’s residential building industry. “New dwelling starts hit all-time record levels during 2016, but today’s data provides further evidence that we’ve left the peak behind,” said HIA Senior Economist, Shane Garrett. During the September 2016 quarter, new dwelling commencements fell by 2.8 per cent in seasonally-adjusted terms to 55,070. Detached house starts were down by 1.8 per cent compared with the previous quarter, while multi-unit commencements dipped by 3.9 per cent. Over the year to September 2016, new dwelling commencements totalled some 229,336.“ The result for the September 2016 quarter represents the second consecutively quarterly decline in new dwelling starts, with a substantial portion of the reduction happening on the multi-unit side,” explained Mr Garrett. “In contrast, detached house starts have been holding up quite well. The upturn in new home building between 2012 and 2016 was heavily influenced by increased apartment building with output more than doubling. “With new home building set to move lower over the next few years, we expect that the higher density market will have to absorb the bulk of the reduction. From a peak of over 230,000 starts during 2015/16, we anticipate that new home starts will continue to ease over the next couple of years and bottom out at around 172,000 during the 2018/19 financial year,” Mr Garrett concluded. During the September 2016 quarter, only New South Wales (+5.4 per cent) and Queensland (+6.3 per cent) saw increases in new dwelling commencements. The largest decline
Other - Seasonally Adjusted
Ministry changes support focus on housing CHANGES TO the Turnbull ministry show a commitment by the Government to focus more on housing, according to the Housing Industry Association. “HIA welcomes the announcement of Senator Arthur Sinodinos as the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, along with the appointment of Michael Sukkar to the new position of Assistant Minister to the Treasurer,” said HIA Chief Executive Industry Policy, Ms Kristin Brookfield. “Senator Sinodinos has significant experience and understanding of the housing industry. The industry portfolio includes oversight of building standards and their administration by states and territories which is fundamental to the delivery of new housing. “Ensuring appropriate national building standards are maintained and state approval processes are effective is an important role for the Federal government and has a direct impact on housing construction and affordability,” said Ms Brookfield. “Supporting innovation in building construction and building materials is also an important part of this portfolio. With the fast changing pace 18
of technology and the global marketplace for building materials, recognising the importance of, and supporting, Australian building product manufacturers is fundamental to housing affordability. “The appointment of a new Assistant Minister to the Treasurer to focus on housing affordability is also welcomed. The inclusion of this role within the Treasury portfolio is a significant step by the Prime Minister to recognise the federal government has a key role in guiding the states and territories to better manage housing supply. “Creating this position within Treasury presents an opportunity to look at the complex issues affecting housing affordability including the disproportionate level of taxation on new housing and the need for planning reform,” said Ms Brookfield. “The Federal Government recognises the broad impacts that limits on housing supply can have on the national economy and HIA looks forward to working with the new Ministers to remove the current impediments and work to deliver a timely and affordable supply of new housing across Australia.” AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
FEBRUARY 2017
HIA Conference The Housing Industry Association (HIA) 2017 national conference will be held on Hamilton Island from 25-27 May. This special event will feature an exceptional line-up of speakers and will also give delegates a chance to discuss the challenges, trends and forecasts facing the industry.
Building Australia The Master Builders Australia 2017 National Conference ‘Building Australia’ will be held in Hobart at the historic Princes Wharf 1 (PW1) 23-25 November.
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Hyne Timber continues to lead by example Glulam plant ready for mass timber construction boom
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YNE TIMBER’S Glue Laminating Plant (Glulam) in Maryborough is scaling up ahead of the mass timber construction boom in Australia. The plant has recently commissioned its new, state-of-theart CNC machine -- a Hundegger K2i -- which will make the supply of engineered timber even quicker and more cost efficient. Robert Mansell, Hyne Timber’s Business Development Manager Commercial, explained that it was an automatic joinery machine that cuts, drills, slots and profiles timber with dimensions ranging from 50mm x 20mm to 1200mm x 300mm up to 19m long. “It can be programmed from CAD drawings to give a high level of accuracy, increasing the fabrication services capability, reducing the time it takes to quote and complete prefabricated timber projects. “It’s a revolutionary handling system and with two gripper and guide wagons guarantees maximum precision during processing,” Mr Mansell said. The K2i can perform all cutting and milling operations required in the shortest possible time including special operations such as dovetail milling to allow elements to be assembled more easily, saving time on-site. This high-performance joinery machine is advanced manufacturing at its best. “It has timber designers and engineers frothing at the mouth and opens up a whole range of cost-effective structural and aesthetic solutions for designers and architects alike,” Mr Mansell said. The universal, flexible machine is used around the world by leading timber companies for a range of timber solutions and is adaptable to specific requirements of the customer due to its modular construction. “These qualities combined are what attracted our investment. “We have a strong focus on delivering customer solutions and the capabilities of this machine can be discussed from the early design stages of construction projects, so together, we can deliver the best possible outcome for the client. “We are resourced to provide expert advice from hidden or expressed connections, treatments and coatings in order to maximise durability while complimenting the design,” Mr Mansell said.
The machine is understood to be one of only three in Australia, and the only machine of its type in Queensland. Representatives from Hyne first visited Europe in November 2015 for initial investigation of options with the first purchase order for the machine being lodged in May 2016. The machine was delivered in late November 2016 with tests undertaken throughout December before being officially commissioned in January 2017 with first order currently under way. Two employees attended Hundegger in Germany for training, and Hundegger also attended the plant in December 2016 to train additional employees. Hyne Timber’s Glulam has the strength and durability to compliment both lightweight timber and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels, including wide span applications. It has a further, unique competitive advantage where pine is specified because unlike other engineered timber manufacturing plants, it takes its plantation grown softwood feedstock from the company’s own sawmill just 15 minutes away. Experts claim responsibly sourced timber is the only truly sustainable construction material for the future. At Hyne Timber, for example, the bark by-product from its Queensland operation is sold to Bassett Barks on the Sunshine Coast who, in turn, create potting mix which is sold back to HQ plantation every year for the next round of nine million seedlings! No other construction material has that sustainability cycle, a fully closed loop to start the process again, while locking up carbon. In November 2016, the Turnbull Government passed the Australian Building Construction Commission legislation. The Bill features an amendment that requires government projects worth more than $4 million to show preference to local suppliers, sources and labour, and to ensure materials meet local standards. This type of legislation sends a clear message to the industry while securing local manufacturing jobs and growth. Environmental credentials and the push for higher green star ratings coupled with amendments to the Building Code to build up to eight storeys using timber, mass timber construction including glue
¢ Hyne pine beam connection drilling using new CNC machine.
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¢ Hyne Mark Sawtell and Adrian Karslake with Hyne Timber’s new CNC.
¢ Hyne cnc machine hundegger.
laminated timber structures are on the rise, literally. It goes without saying, that significant research was undertaken prior to the amendments to the Building Code including fire engineering analysis. Indeed, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council were members of the Australian Building Codes Board Technical Committee. Further, the Queensland Government recently released its Building Plan discussion paper including a goal specifically set to improve the sustainability performance of Queensland’s homes and buildings.
Engineered timber in mid-rise and tall construction goes far beyond the sustainability benefits, realising significant cost efficiencies including less on-site time, quicker, lighter construction benefits (especially in builtup areas), with improved safety. Australia is now playing catch up to European countries, America and Canada who have been realising these benefits for many years. Sustainability is key for our future; timber is key to sustainable construction. Hyne Timber was established in Maryborough in 1882 and is a known leader throughout the industry for innovative and quality products.
¢ Hyne capable of handling beams up to 19 metres in length.
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ASSOCIATIONS
TPAA reaching out Wood preservatives for decking to the broad base of to grow 12% annually through members AS THE recently-elected President of TPAA, I would like to share some thoughts and actions that we hope to implement over 2017. With the assistance of an Executive made up of myself, Kerry Bloor, Wayne Lewis and Jack Norton, we believe we have a sound mix of experience and industry knowledge. It is encouraging to have a group such as this, that uniquely has three members who are commercially treating timber and timber products. I am keen to see TPAA reach out to the broad base of members over 2017. To their benefit, companies now listing their treatment brands with TPAA are included in this membership. It is hoped that through 2017 we can hold some informal awareness sessions in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The early thinking on this would be to bring treaters up to date with Standards development, the TPAA website, our QA joint program with IVS, and a forum for general questions and comments from members The executive team is keen to be as inclusive as possible and representative of all members, regardless of size and nature of their business. The QA program that IVS has developed and now launched, makes third party assurance both affordable and desirable. We are conscious that consumers, retailers, and Government are now, more than ever, requiring Independent Quality Assurance or programs such as CodeMark. -- Gerry Gardiner
And from TPAA Secretary (Jack Norton)… Jack’s rant … … Well it is not really a rant . . . . more a question of what do we (the TPAA) have to do to get more treaters involved in what is happening to our industry? We see the continual erosion of our traditional product lines because of alternate products. We have, of course, also seen the research capacity in Australia gutted. A light on the horizon is the establishment of a new National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life on the Sunshine Coast (see page 8). Whilst this is a great initiative, the Centre has a big job in front of it to fill the gap left by earlier reductions in research capacity. There are challenges everywhere for our industry and I guess this is not surprising in a commercial world. The challenge for us is to make TPAA relevant for your needs and we can’t do this without your input. Rather than react to problems I believe we should try to drive the industry forward. When I ask various treaters what we have to do, I hear: “What’s in it for us?” My answer . . . Whatever you want! “TPAA is an organization driven by the chemical suppliers.” My response . . . The chemical suppliers are the ones who turn up! Five of the current 13 TPAA Councilors are timber treaters. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING stopping treater members from having their say. (I guess it has turned into a bit of a rant!). Source: TPAA
2020 in the US
¢ Wood Preservatives Demand by Application, 2015. Source: The Freedonia
D
EMAND FOR wood preservatives in decking is projected to increase 12% annually through 2020 to $300 million. Restraining growth somewhat will be the increasing popularity not only of non-wood decking materials but also of wood decking that does not require preservation because the species of wood is naturally resistant to insect and water damage. These and other trends are presented in Wood Preservative Market in the US, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm. Gains will be driven primarily by the widespread shift among preserved wood retailers toward stocking a greater concentration of ground-contact-rated decking materials and taking smaller orders for above-ground-rated decking. According to analyst Matt Breuer, “New American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) standards language suggests that some structural components may need to be treated for ground contact even if they do not touch the ground but are near to the ground, are critical to the structural integrity of the deck, are poorly ventilated, or would be difficult to repair or replace.” Although this language means that the decisions are to be made on a case-by-case basis by contractors, inspectors or consumers, many preserved wood retailers have already begun converting their decking stock to ground-contact-rated lumber. As non-wood decking cuts into demand for wood decking materials, demand for preservatives in this application in turn will suffer. Similarly, there are a number of wood species, including cedar and redwood, that require little or no
preservative to offer a long and reliable service life. Decking material made of these types of wood have consistently gained market share and will continue to do so, limiting slightly the gains that preservatives will make in this application overall. Australian Forests & Timber News sought comment from the TPAA and Dr Harry Greaves, Chairman of the TPAA Technical Committee said: “The TPAA doesn’t collect industry statistics, and in any event TPAA member producers are pretty sensitive about their production figures. “Further to the US article, we in Australia have always preferred durable decking timbers, and of those that are not naturally durable, treated hardwoods seem to be preferred over treated pine because of their better long-term stability. On the other hand, treated structural pine has been on the upturn for some years, with treated pine framing (what we refer to as the H2 and H2F market) dominating output. Figures available through the FWPA statistics show the definite upturn in treated pine framing (H2 and H2F) since 2002. Back then, the H2 and H2F share of the total plantation softwood sales volume was just 2.63%. The following year it rose to 3.37% (2003), 4.55 (2004), 7.12% (2005), 10.97% (2006), 12.98 (2007), then came a slight downturn with the figure dropping to 12.83% (2008). Since then, the market share has continued to increase; 13.47% (2009), 15.58% (2010), 16.89% (2011), 17.15% (2012), 19.12% (2013), 20.75% (2014), 22.65% (2015) and 25.71 (2016).
Give your company an edge by hosting a PhD student working on prefabrication THE ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing (ARC CAMPH), was facilitated by FWPA and is administered by the University of Melbourne. The Centre is the heart of collaborative, eco-friendly, prefabricated housing research in Australia. Limited opportunities exist for our member companies to participate in this research by hosting a PhD student to spend some time working at your company’s premises during their study. The Centre aims to unlock the potential growth of Australia’s prefabricated building industry by creating a co-operative training system between industry and universities leading to local employment growth and increased exports of prefabricated products and services. www.timberbiz.com.au
Administered by the University of Melbourne, and led by Professor Priyan Mendis and Associate Professor Tuan Ngo from Department of Infrastructure Engineering, the Centre brings together a highly collaborative venture involving four universities and twelve industry partners. This initiative, which has attracted funding of $6M over four years, including significant investment from the Australian Research Council, is testament to the critical importance of the prefab industry in Australia, and demonstrates the value that both industry and government place on collaborative, cross-disciplinary research. If you would like to know more about supporting the Centre by offering a work-placement to a PhD student, please contact camph-centre@unimelb.edu.au.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
FEBRUARY 2017
The Training Centre is the centrepiece for collaborative, eco-friendly, prefabricated housing research in Australia, striving to deliver breakthrough product and process innovations that will enable the Australian housing industry to compete on a global stage. It aims to unlock the potential growth of Australia’s prefabricated building industry by creating a cooperative training system between industry and universities leading to local employment growth and increased exports of prefabricated products and services. The Centre brings together a highly collaborative venture involving four universities and 12 industry partners. 21
ASSOCIATIONS
When summer temperatures affect the workplace
Basic cultural shift in thinking is required By Eric Siegers PrincipaL, The Timber Hub
Recommendations
Brian Beecroft Chief Executive Officer TTIA
I
’M SURE its not just me but it’s felt like a scorcher of a summer. This may be a good thing if you’re on holidays and close to an idyllic beach with a tropical drink and a decent book, but not so good if you are back at the workplace trying to earn a living in this oppressive heat. TTIA is often asked on our National Employment Enquiry Line if there is a specific set temperature in the Timber Industry when it becomes too hot where employees can down tools and leave the workplace for home or an alternative destination. The answer is no, there is no specific temperature! Does that mean the business can operate as per normal in these intense hot conditions and just advise employees to toughen up, suck it in and soldier on regardless……not quite! The various WorkCover Authorities in the respective States often issue guidelines as to what steps businesses must take to protect workers from ultra violet radiation in sunlight and how to reduce hazards in connection with working in hot and sunny conditions. WorkCover issues statistics which highlight the fact that a significant number of claims (approaching 500 per year) are lodged against employers for workplace fatigue and heat stroke related to extreme heat conditions. Further, long working hours in the sun can increase the likelihood of fatigue-related injuries. Fatigue and heat-stress can affect a worker’s health, reducing their performance and productivity, and increase the chance of workplace injury through reduced ability to concentrate, recognise risks and communicate effectively.
TTIA recommends employers take the following steps to help reduce workers’ exposure to UV radiation and prevent fatigue: • provide and maintain equipment and shelter to protect workers from the sun; • provide sun safety information, instruction, training and supervision; • rotate tasks to lessen exposure to the sun as well as mental and physical fatigue; • schedule work at cooler times of the day; • use rest periods in addition to scheduled meal breaks; • provide water and encourage workers to stay hydrated; • provide personal protective equipment such as: • clothing with UPF 50+ rating • loose shirts with long sleeves, collars, and long pants; • broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+); • sunglasses that meet Australian Standards for UV protection. • use plant, machinery and equipment to eliminate or reduce the excessive physical demands of the job.
Workplace health & safety implications It is clear that the various State Workplace Health & Safety Authorities consider managing hazards such as hot weather and heat as an essential part of an employer’s duty of care. The risks of extreme temperatures to staff often exists within the walls of manufacturing plants and especially in outdoor places. Employers should give serious consideration to contacting TTIA and we can assist you on drafting a policy and guidelines on this critical issue. We have the Timber product industry’s key in-house WHS unit that can guide you at a minimal cost. It is worth utilising our expertise as extreme summer temperatures are clearly an issue that will reoccur. TTIA’s WHS unit can be contacted on (02) 9264 0011.
It’s a date!
13-17 February 2017 Gottstein Forest Science Course. Creswick, Victoria. http://gottsteintrust.org/course/forest-sciencecourses-2/ 23-25 February 2017 79th Oregon Logging Conference and Equipment Show – Eugene, Oregon, USA www.oregonloggingconference.com 27 February – 2 March 2017 Precision Forestry 2017: Producing More from Less. Towards Optimising Value in the Bio-economy from Data Driven Decisions. Stellenbosch, South Africa. 22
AS TIMBER products increase their popularity across the broad spectrum of applications we are beginning to see some of the downsides of this popularity. At the TimberHub we experience the joys of sharing the beauty of timber and did so with a large number of Architects and Consumers. However, what is disappointing to us is the everincreasing number of problems we are being asked to review and discuss. While it will not come as a surprise to anyone, many of the problems relate to installation. While we offer training and support to a number of disciplines we continue to see an increasing percentage of decks where the trades person has not allowed for the correct amount of expansion gap, or timber floors installed on slab with-out suitable vapour barriers, or poor adhesive application. The list goes on. Unfortunately, we can’t always blame the tradesman, and we are seeing increasing problems with the timber itself. Interestingly the most common species that we have seen on the problematic scale is Spotted Gum. In the last 3 months of 2016 we had over 130 complaints about this product in decking applications. That’s over 35% higher than the previous year. The major complaint has been that timber is arriving to site out of spec with the Australian Standard. Cupping, spring, and moisture content are all significantly above what the standard calls for. Spotted gum is not alone, Blackbutt as well has been having its fair share of product being over dried, grain lift… and the list goes on. Popularity has its downside. This tells me that while we are trying to meet demand, we may be cutting corners in our attempt to meet demand.
Consumers are demanding, and one thing the timber industry is not good at is dealing with consumers. We seem to get it wrong most of the time. The industry still thinks and operates from a manufacturing perspective. Whilst it is important to have manufacturing excellence when the price of our flooring and decking products are some of the highest in the world, it is also important to remember that the person buying those products needs to be kept satisfied. Time and again we hear of manufacturers failing to work with the consumer to resolve the problem instead deferring to who they think is at fault. In my view, and based on the increasing number of complaints we are exposed to, I honestly feel that many flooring and decking manufacturers need to spend time listening to what the consumer is saying and improving products based on consumer feedback and not on production standards. Customer excellence is a focus that is easily spouted but hard to do and requires a basic cultural shift in thinking. In a high demand situation such as we in the timber products sector are experiencing, we need to be more consumer focused to warrant the high value proposition we have built (though not necessarily through our own choice – but that’s another story). Importantly, if the industry does begin to ensure customer service is a major driver what happens is that you build advocates for you industry. The more advocates the stronger the voice that counteracts the “ well meaning” hard greens that seem to sway the political landscape emotionally and evocatively. So let’s get better at fixing our customers problems and we will probably be amazed how much stronger the voice that supports the industry becomes.
28 February - 2 March 2017 Introduction to Wood Science & Forest Products Course. Mississippi State University, Department Of Sustainable Bioproducts. Starkville, Mississippi, USA
13 March Monday Labor Day Victoria March Public Holiday SA Eight Hours Day Tasmania
1-2 March 2017 FIEA Forest Industry Safety Summit – Rotorua, New Zealand http://www.fiea.org.nz/forest-safety/
19-25 March 2017 8th Meeting of IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09: Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems. Sapa, Vietnam.
6 March Monday Labor Day WA
21-23 March 2017 19th DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR. Shanghai New International Expo Centre
7-8 March 2017 FIEA Forest Industry Safety Summit – Melbourne, New Zealand. http://www.fiea.org.nz/forest-safety/ AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
FEBRUARY 2017
22-23 March 2017 MobileTECH 2017, Rotorua, New Zealand
www.timberbiz.com.au
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