SEPTEMBER 2017
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NEWS
$2 billion investment to expand Visy’s operations in Australia Opening of stage 3 of investment in high-tech Tumut mill
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nthony Pratt will invest billions of dollars into his cardboard and recycling empire, which is expected to create 5,000 new jobs over the next decade. The money will go towards a major expansion of Visy’s Australian operations. “The $2 billion investment pledge I’m announcing will be spent expanding Visy’s manufacturing capabilities throughout Australia including new investments in clean energy,” he said. “We are one of the most environmentally committed companies and so much of the $2 billion will be spent on technologies that not only create those high-paying manufacturing jobs, but also enhance sustainability and energy security. “At the end of the 10-year investment program, Visy’s total investment in Australia will be $8 billion in today’s terms, and we will have created a total
of almost 30,000 direct and indirect jobs,” he said. Mr Pratt made the announcement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the opening of Visy’s $1.1 billion pulp and paper mill at Tumut. The Tumut mill has recently received a $100 million upgrade. “This shows what investment does. You know everything my government does is designed to encourage Australian businesses to invest. Why is that? Because it delivers jobs,” the Prime Minister told those attending the official function. “What you’ve got here is a demonstration of what you can do with the right technology, the right leadership, the right vision, the right investment. And we’re providing the incentives. “In an industry which many people are pessimistic about - manufacturing
¢ Anthony Pratt and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Visy Tumut mill.
- you’ve demonstrated that Australians can do anything and be world leaders and you are,” the Prime Minister said. The high-tech mill manufactures paper from plantation pine logs and sawmill residues and its annual production values exceed $500 million, with more than 60% of the paper exported around the world. The Tumut project contributes around $1.5 billion of economic value to the Australian economy every year, plus major other regional benefits. The project has created and sustains more than 3,000 permanent Australian jobs. These include 300 people employed within the mill itself, from engineers, computer operators, papermakers, environmental technicians to finance and marketing specialists. A further estimated 750 direct
jobs are within forestry, transport, contracting and servicing sectors, mostly in the South West Slopes region. These include 800 highly-skilled special maintenance workers who are brought into the region every year for essential annual maintenance of this technically-advanced mill. Flow-on employment generated within the region, the state of NSW and nationally, add another 2,100 permanent jobs. Add to this the bog construction impacts with the most recent $100 million upgrade works employing around 1,400 construction workers throughout the two-year period. This is stage three of a program of continuous investment in the Visy Tumut site, starting in 1998 with $450m, then a further $550m in 2007 and this $100m completed in 2017.
Frame 2018 focus on the digital future Next year’s Frame Australia conference ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will focus on currently expanding local and global markets for timber buildings, and the digital future ahead in design, manufacture and construction of timber frame multi-residential and mass timber commercial buildings. Current initiatives with cloud based digital platforms by both the construction and manufacturing industries, combined with new data technologies have the power to change the future of the built environment by creating smarter and more efficient processes for construction of sustainable and cost-efficient timber buildings. Conference director Kevin Ezard said speaker sessions would incorporate key themes of Design, Technology, Manufacturing and Construction, to provide delegates with insight into the latest developments in timber prefabrication and building systems, and collaboration emerging in
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digital data distribution throughout the complete supply chain. “With this focus on Technology the program will include demonstrations of digital concepts in practice, including Virtual Reality on-site data communication in construction, and ‘reallife’ management of manufacturing equipment operation,” Kevin said. “The delegate tours will visit a range of timber frame and mass timber construction sites, panelised prefabrication plants, and recentlycompleted buildings that are outstanding examples of timber construction. “This unique event is at the leading edge of knowledge and performs a pivotal role in information sharing, with attendees including architects, engineers, property developers and builders; along with suppliers of timber and engineered wood, digital software, manufacturing equipment, pre-fabricated building systems, building materials, and timber products,” he said. ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 18-19 June 2018 at Park Hyatt Melbourne, and for details on the conference and exhibition visit the website www. frameaustralia.com
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
¢ Conference director Kevin Ezard.
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NEWS
Davids Timber set to clock up 28 years and still proud of being a pacesetter Strong relationship with preservative supplier Koppers Performance Chemicals
N
EXT YEAR (2018) Davids Timber will be commencing their 28th year in business, distributing products from their Dandenong site. David and Maurice Efron are still very active in the business backed up by a strong management team who have been with the company for many years, including General Manager, Jarod Renowden, Operations Manager, Terry Chinnock, together with Chief Financial Officer, Rosie Garbett as well as Greg Hassan who recently commenced as Sales Manager. The company started trading in Frankston Dandenong Road,
Dandenong in 1990 supplying trade and retail customers with fencing timbers. In the early 90’s the Efron’s made a decision that treated pine was to become the future of the industry, and built their first treatment plant in 1994. At that time, fencing materials were all OB Hardwood, pergola material was Oregon and landscape sleepers were mainly redgum. Since then, they have forged a strong relationship with their preservative supplier Koppers Performance Chemicals who have assisted Davids Timber to become an industry leader in the timber preservation industry.
“We have a fantastic team with a mixture of experienced and younger team members who are all focused on delivering a high level of customer service and supplying quality treated wood products.”
The company supplied the trade until 2006. Since then, Davids Timber have been solely a wholesaler supplying merchants, fencing suppliers, landscape and garden yards, and rural suppliers. The company’s core range of products include Treated Pine preservative treated with CCA, MicroPro and LOSP include Fencing, Landscaping, Structural, Decking and Rounds. Over the last three years, Davids have been supplying the regional post market and are able to supply a full range of tapered posts throughout Victoria. These products can also be supplied in MicroPro H4 for projects with this requirement. The company has been operating and distributing from the Princes Highway, Dandenong South site since 2004. All processing including kiln drying and preservative treatment is done at this site. The company delivers in part or full loads to all areas of Victoria on a weekly basis. The company also owns Broadford Sawmills which produces landscape sleepers and fence rails, which have a name for being the best in the industry.
One of Davids Timber strengths has been to never rest on their laurels, and continuously striving to be better. This year, there has been a focus to streamline the production keeping up with growing demand. Managing Director, Maurice Efron believes the secret of a great business is the team, and is proud to say “ We have a fantastic team with a mixture of experienced and younger team members who are all focused on delivering a high level of customer service and supplying quality treated wood products.” The future is looking bright for Davids Timber. With strong demand in the building industry, the company is looking forward to continue to supply quality outdoor timber products to the industry. With an on-going commitment by the Davids Timber Team on quality and service, the company will continue to work closely with their suppliers and customers to forge long term relationships with the aim of being the leading supplier of outdoor timber in the industry.
Changing face of timber manufacture, technology and design IN RECENT years delegates to the annual the manufacturing options is the recognition of the power to change the future of the built FRAME conference and similar events in timber and wood products as a design and living environment Australia and New Zealand have witnessed and material that is gaining greater acceptance by As the leading industry shared a significant timber industry change that builders, architects and engineers. publication, Australasian Timber is fully could be described as a disrupter within the In this issue, Kevin Ezard announces that next cognisant of those changes, and it too is industry itself. There has been a compelling year’s Frame Australia conference ‘Timber Offsite working to provide relevant and solutions based trend for offsite prefabricated content for its readers and the construction systems in timber market. One small but significant framing, mass timber (CLT), change is evident with this prefabricated panels and modular issue; the masthead industry systems. It has been spurred categories have changed to on by the need to achieve faster highlight our industry focus going construction times and lower costs. forward - MANUFACTURE, This has come about largely TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN and as a result of growing urban CONSTRUCTION. populations and resulting property These are all facets of the development responding to industry that are in almost increased density of living trends. MANUFACTURE • TECHNOLOGY • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION constant change. Australasian With National Construction Code Timber and its digital news site changes increasing timber building DailyTimberNews, will continue to height limits and new timber manufacturing Construction’ will focus on the expanding local keep our readers and the market up to date with options increasing, timber has come into greater and global markets for timber buildings, and the recognisable, readable and relevant publication contention as an alternative in a range of building digital future ahead in design, manufacture and content that promotes and informs your work segments. construction of timber frame multi-residential and and products to ensure success in a changing Current construction methods continue to mass timber commercial buildings. It will also marketplace. undergo massive changes in a bid to ensure focus on cloud based digital platforms by both market acceptance environmentally, aesthetically, the construction and manufacturing industries, John Hudswell cost-wise, safety-wise and time-wise. Added to combined with new data technologies that have Editor
australasian
magazine Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.
September Vol.25, No. 6 Established 1977
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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: Architect Eberhard Wimmer and Martina Ehrnsperger, Exhibition Director INTERFORST during an interview on construction of a spectacular new church made of wood. Read more about this brilliant project on page 10 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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SEPTEMBER 2017
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NEWS
First of five-stage expansion plan for XLam
A
N EXTRA Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) fabrication machine will be added to XLam’s Nelson manufacturing facility to meet its commitments for CLT products across New Zealand. The move is stage one of a five part strategic expansion plan. “We are delighted to announce that as part of the first stage of the expansion program we have ordered a Hundegger PBA 3 CNC machine for the Nelson site,” said XLam Chief Executive Officer Gary Caulfield. “This will significantly improve the processing time and increase volume of timber process, more than doubling the current production outputs.” Mr Caulfield said the company was committed to investing in projects that generate value to its customers in New Zealand. “XLam is focused on making strategic investments to improve and optimise our integrated business and support the continued supply of high-quality, locally produced timber panels,” said Mr Caulfield. The expansion project is expected to increase the Nelson based operation’s capacity to beyond that of the existing CNC by more than 50%. This project is in addition to the recently announced development for the Australian ‘stateof-the-art’ sister plant which will be in operation in 2018. “We continuously evaluate new opportunities to meet market demands and to enhance the competitiveness. This investment signals our commitment to the New Zealand market and the fulfilment of new orders. “Our success as a sustainable construction material and process over the past five years is due to a number of factors, including a highly-skilled workforce, support from the local and international markets, and the foresight from our board in recognising the local market potential. “This latest investment in the very best technology will further add to the list of success factors,” said Mr Caulfield. The expansion project has already begun with vendors supplying equipment to the Nelson site in the coming months. The first stage is scheduled for completion in February 2018. Hundegger Australasia Director
¢ Recesses.
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¢ Thanks to the PBA’s large traverse paths, parts of any length, with maximum widths of 8 m and maximum thickness of 48 cm, can be machined on 5 sides. This is made possible by the 5-axis portal.
Charlie Hutchings said the new stateof-the-art machine has been developed according to a modular system which allows for it to be expanded according to requirements. The PBA covers complete processing of Glulam structures, solid wood panels and SIPS and CLT Parts up to 8 metres wide, of any length and up to 48cm thick. “With the PBA it is possible to process large parts such as walls, ceilings or ceiling components accurate to the millimetre,” said Charlie. The specification of the machine is according to customer requirements. The PBA processes a large range of materials, e.g. solid wood, laminated Glulam, laminated timber, multilayer panels, SIPS, CLT and off site constructed walls. “The PBA can be equipped with 6 vertical units, as well as a 5-axis chain saw, a 5-axis universal milling unit with tool charger plus a 5-axis circular saw,” he said. “With these units, any longitudinal, hidden cuts and mitre cuts can be made,
apertures of any shape and size milled and pockets for services or through holes drilled. With its large travel range, the PBA allows parts of any length, up to 8 m wide and 48 cm thick to be processed on 5 sides. Clamping the parts is not usually necessary,” said Charlie. The work area of the machine can be zoned so that the machine operator can load a part of the machine, while the gantry automatically processes a work piece in another part. The software includes an interface for accepting processing data from most commercially available CAD programs. The machine operator can also enter or modify all operations directly on the machine. For that purpose, an easy to understand graphic user interface is available. The units of the PBA can be equipped with a large selection of tools e.g. dovetail mills, routers, side milling and profile milling cutters. Thanks to the freely programmable paths of all tools, there are extremely flexible processing options.
¢ Cuts at any angle.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
... the new state-of-the-art machine has been developed according to a modular system which allows for it to be expanded according to requirements.
¢ Stopped/hidden holes.
SEPTEMBER 2017
5
NEWS
Collaborative approach can help crack lucrative mid-rise construction market Frame and truss manufacturers eager to “take next step”
A
USTRALIA’S FRAME and truss manufacturers are getting organised to take on the new mid-rise building market. For years they have been the backbone of the Class 1 trade (basically low level residential construction) but their expertise is now being channelled into 4-5-6-storey buildings. Added impetus to help them take the next step up -- a transition, if you like -- comes in the form of a market implementation group (MIG) which was formed following strong advocacy from the Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association of Australia (FTMA Australia). “The aim is to assist the frame and truss sector to be able to provide and offer timber framed solutions into the mid-rise market,” says the group facilitator Dr Alastair Woodard (Wood Products Victoria,). “It was recognised that there was a need to have a collective group of companies nationally from the frame and truss manufacturer side who are keen to start moving and offering services in this 4-5-6-storey multiresidential market, and start working with them and helping them to come up to speed and capacity-to-supply the market,” he said. “The market implementation group
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is a network, of people who have a common aim in this area so obviously when you look at frame and truss then the FTMA is the over-arching body and the nail plate manufacturers assist in providing innovation and solutions. “It was really a case of let’s come together and look at this new midrise market opportunity for timber framed construction; let’s understand it in terms of what its needs are ... it’s quite different to a class one residential market, as there are much higher loadings, fire requirements and acoustic requirements that have to be met. There is a need to be clear about how the frame and truss sector might service this market. “Do frame and truss manufacturers want to undertake design, or do they want someone else to do the design; ultimately skilling up estimators and in-house staff about what these systems look like and then ultimately working with the nail plate manufacturers for them to upgrade their software to be able to build these taller buildings,” said Dr Woodard, “and to consider some of the technical questions and the types of off-site prefabricated systems that should be supplied .... floor cassettes, open wall panels closed wall panels, roof cassettes and other value-add opportunities that can assist the
builder on-site with more efficient and quick construction times. “It’s all about collective and collaborative work that can be achieved through the market implementation group, “ he said. The market implementation group approach is not new to the frame and truss sector ... “We did a similar thing about two or three years ago with prefabricated cassette floor systems. Then, our focus was more on reclaiming the ground floor market that we had lost to concrete. “That worked well. This is the same concept and approach for this mid-rise area.” From an FTMA point of view the previous program was very advantageous because traditionally the nail plate manufacturers have been very competitive; they don’t often do things collaboratively because they are in real competition in the residential market in which timber has a very high market share. “However, in the ground floor construction market, the competition wasn’t another timber member ... it was, and still is, concrete! “Similarly, in this new mid-rise market it’s the same sort of concept. The competition is concrete and steel, it’s not another timber product or manufacturer.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
¢ Dr Alastair Woodard.
“What is really good is that through the MIG all the participants genuinely buy-in to the approach ... sharing ideas and working out generic solutions,” said Dr Woodard. The program was kicked off in May with the first meeting of the full group in June. Now, it’s all down to collaboration, application and participation to allow the timber framed construction sector to fully utilise the changed building codes and get more mid-rise apartments, hotels and offices constructed with timber.
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Profile
After 42 years “plying” his trade Gary calls it quits
G
ARY HOLMES has spent almost all of his life “plying” his trade but now the future takes on a whole new meaning as he steps into retirement. You see Gary has spent 42 years involved in the plywood industry and he’s seen changes galore during that time ... some not so good, but the majority that have benefitted the industry. “I started my career in the good old days of “so-called collusion” when plywood mills and industry associations set pricing. With prices set, the mill maintained business by quality and service. “The sales reps for each mill were employed to find out about their customers business and the best way to advise them on products best suited for their business. They were not just “order takers”, he said.
Mill machinery made from left-over World War Two gear In 1973, Gary actually started his plywood career with Cemac at Regents Park in Sydney. “ In those days Cemac was one of many mills throughout Australia. Cemac’s mill was in the village of Yarras near Wauchope in New South Wales,” Gary recalled and heaped praise on those early factory pioneers ... “The mill machinery was made from a lot of tank and jeep parts left over from World War 2. Producing plywood and timber products from mainly a beautiful NSW coachwood resource. To this day, in my opinion, there has not been a better marine plywood than Cemac marine plywood. “Their permanised marine plywood (CCA treated) was the only plywood with a 25 year warranty against dry rot. This was in the days when wooden boats were the norm,” he said. “Cemac plywood and timber products were also used extensively in the Sydney Opera House,” he added with a great deal of pride. “There used to be many plywood mills throughout the country. A number in suburbs of all capital cities and right down the east coast of Australia. My favourite mill visit was through National Plywood at Glebe. Their log yard was in a subsidiary of the Parramatta River,” he said.
Positive change The mid-70s saw a major and positive change for Gary. “In 1975, Wayne Turl, the then branch supervisor of Cemac, offered me the position of branch manger of the Chatswood branch at the ripe old age of 22! “Cemac was a very good company to learn all about plywood types, grades and uses. This background played a major part of my development and knowledge of plywood. I also spent a number of years at the Hurstville branch.” In around 1981, the Cemac branches sold and renamed to Bismac. In 1982, Gary and his wife June and two children had a lifestyle change and moved to Brisbane. Gary bought a lease in a squash 8
and tennis complex, but after three years I found out the hard way that he was a much better employee than a businessman! “In 1985, I was very lucky to get a sales rep position with Austral Plywoods. At that time Austral was a part of the Foxwood group, owned by Email (white goods).
Strong work ethic and a passion for ply lauded There is no doubt Gary Holmes was influential in steering Austral Plywoods on a course for success. When Gary joined Austral in 1985 it was a ‘break even’ business that would soon be sold back into private ownership, under the management of Mal Matthews and Freddie Clark. The year was 1986, and at the time fellow industry competitors were already predicting Austral’s demise within 2-3 years. How wrong they were. Gary suggested a change of direction, dropping traditional product lines such as formply and bracing ply, instead steering production towards higher quality product lines such as Marine ply and ‘A’ faced panels. This direction was no doubt pivotal to Austral’s success as the Australian plywood market became increasingly dominated by imports. Austral couldn’t compete in a high volume, low margin market.
Trying to be everything to everyone “In those days, we were a small mill trying to be everything to everyone. Our resources included North Queensland hardwoods, such as Queensland Maple and Satin Sycamore. From South East Queensland, our main resource was from natural hoop pine forest. Austral was producing sliced fancy plywood, rotary peeled decorative plywood, marine plywood, structural plywood and bracing plywood -- every size from 1800x900 to 2700x1200. “I had a number of discussions with the management at that time regarding our high grade resource with the low grade output, trying to match much larger structural mills, but it all fell on deaf ears,” he said In 1986, the Matthews and Clark family purchased Austral Plywoods, and that signalled the start of almost a new era in Gary’s work life and he’s extremely appreciative of everyone involved in that change.
Under Gary’s guidance, Austral remains the last plywood producer in Queensland. Gary has earned the respect of those in the plywood industry. A survey conducted by the PAA (now the EWPAA) in the late 1990’s that measured the quality of business relations between plywood manufacturers and their distributors found that generally relations were poor across the industry. There was, however, one shining light, Gary Holmes. The PAA CEO of the time Kevin Lyngcoln said that Gary Holmes was the only one who came out ‘smelling like roses’. A true company man, Gary would fly the red eye on Perth trips to save money yet still turn up to work early in the morning with only a few hours’ sleep. Such is Gary’s commitment and work ethic, he almost never has a day off work and proudly drives around Brisbane with his personalised plates – PLY000. This August we celebrated Gary’s plywood industry career spanning 42 years and wish Gary and his wife June all the very best in their retirement. -- Scott Matthews I would say that innovation is Gary’s greatest strength. He has developed more innovative plywood and plywood-based construction systems than anyone in the Australasian industry. Not only has Gary been innovative, but he has developed products that are highly commercially successful. Many others have tried to copy, but most have failed.
Showed faith
The products and innovation will be Gary’s legacy to the Australasian plywood industry.
“I would like to thank Mal Matthews and Freddie Clark (deceased) for the faith they put in me helping them with the direction of Austral Plywoods. They gave me a free rein to try new products no other company would dare try. Peeling .6mm veneer to produce 1.5mm plywood. Making a hoop pine faced bendy plywood. Some ideas worked, some did not, but Mal and Freddie always encouraged and supported our ideas. “They could see the benefit of halving the face thickness and having a sanded both sides appearance structural plywood. Our B-B structural quickly became our largest produced plywood. Austral was out of the commodity plywood market for good. By then, our resource was 100% plantation hoop pine. We established ourselves as Australia’s premium plywood manufacturer, concentrating on appearance grade plywood for walls, ceilings and furniture.” During his 32 years with Austral Plywoods, 25 years as sales manager, Austral has been involved in many high profile projects. He says unashamedly that the quality of plywood produced has made Austral Plywoods the most successful and profitable mill in the plywood industry for many years. Austral is in its 92nd year of manufacture. “In recent years, I was asked to help RH plywood mill in the western districts of PNG to get their plywood to comply to EWPAA requirements and establish an Australian market for their mixed hardwood structural and exterior plywoods.
-- Former boss of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) Simon Dorries who had a fair deal to do with Gary during his work life.
Continued on page 10
¢ Gary with the distinctive number plate.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
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After 42 years “plying” his trade Gary calls it quits
Continued from page 8
“I was also able to get their plywood impact tested and approved to be used in cyclone-prone areas.”
A few dodgy airplane trips The PNG trips weren’t without incident he recalls ... “during this process I had a few dodgy airplane trips from Port Moresby to a postage stamp size airstrip at the RH mill”. “As you can see plywood has played a major part of my life. I was very fortunate to work for the two best plywood manufacturers in Australia,” he said with genuine respect. “I will never forget the last 32 years at Austral, the people I have worked with, the friendship made from long term customer relationships. Austral will continue to grow under second generation CEO’s Stuart and Scott Matthews and I wish them continued success.”
And, on a final note, he gave a word of advice to those wishing to get into the trade ...”There is no such thing as a dumb question. Projects go pear shape because people do not ask enough of these so-called dumb questions!” So, from 18 August it’s a whole new world for Gary and wife June (incidentally, June retired on the same day). It’s going to be a case of more travelling, doing some voluntary work and, as Gary puts it .... “losing a lot more golf balls”. “I’ve got some shares in a few horses, too, so I’ll be able to see them race more.” One could be forgiven for conjuring up a picture of one of Gary’s horses during the final stages of a race and the race caller says --- “he’s plying down the outside with all thanks to a top hoop”.
¢ From Left (the Austral crew): John Clark (director), Gary Holmes (sales manager), Mal Matthews (director), Scott Matthews (Joint CEO), Stuart Matthews (Joint CEO).
Spectacular new church made of wood A SPECTACULAR wooden church is under construction in Holzkirchen near Munich and its architect Eberhard Wimmer says wood from sustainable forestry is absolutely climate-friendly— and timber construction is in vogue. The conical design of the St Joseph Church (which will be completed next winter) opens up spectacular perspectives. Wimmer explained that concrete and steel were unsuitable for several reasons. “The pillar-free, conical room shell covering a floor space of around 850 square metres could be realized at lower costs by means of a timber construction. The expressive
materiality, the immediate acceptance and the feeling of security conveyed by wooden structures were also decisive factors. “In addition, wooden structures with triangular spaces between the timber frames are widely used in Bavaria. Fish traps and baskets have been braided like this for centuries and captivate by their diverse forms and fine wickerwork with stabilizing rings and diagonals,” he said. Wimmer used regional wood, primarily spruce wood planks from Central European forests, as well as beech for the timber-frame nodes and larch shingles for the conical roofs. The church is a low-energy
¢ The church made of wood: conical shape gives spectacular perspectives.
¢ Just before completion: Wooden church St. Joseph in Holzkirchen nearby München.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
building with passive energy use. We undercut the values of the German Energy Saving Ordinance by up to 28%. “In the cones, we use natural upwind dynamics for ventilation; the underfloor heating is supplied with geothermal energy, the floor plate serving as a thermal storage mass. Further attributes are economical LED luminaires, greened flat-roof areas and trench systems for rainwater leaching. Moreover, we have looked for simple technical solutions in principle in order to ensure durability,” he explained. The wood of conifers, which are fast-growing trees, is primarily used for structural timberwork. “We have used larch roof coverings. In places, we have used oak wood for reasons of design or fire protection.” When asked what importance did he attribute to wood as a raw material in general, his reply was: “That’s an easy question to answer. Do you know a raw material that is renewable and has a similar overall ecological balance and can be used as a material in such a wide range of applications as wood.
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The tradition of timber excellence continues
C
AST YOUR mind back about a half a decade ago ... can you remember the winner of the Australian Timber Design Awards? Of course you can. The 2012 Australian Timber Design Award went to Paul Haar Architect for Candlebark School Library, an earth-covered library built into the side of a hill in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. The judging panel was greatly impressed by the expert use of engineered timber within the Candlebark building structure. “The broad-span timber roof of the library supports a 500-600mm layer of earth--a significant engineering challenge--and is made of LVL billets and massive exposed portal frames. The design is remarkable also for its careful detailing and timber selection. And like many of this year’s finalists, Candlebark makes excellent use of recycled and salvaged timbers,” the panel noted. However, going even further back into the annals of timber design history and it’s interesting to note the growth of the prestigious award system since the early years ... • 2003 was a breakout year for the awards. Entry numbers were much improved on those of 2002, and the young Awards brand appeared to have already gained a good level of awareness in the design community. • 2004 saw the awards really start to
gain traction in the design community. The size and diversity of the entry field made judging a difficult but rewarding task. • 2005 was yet another record breaking year for the awards, with more entries than ever before, and the broadest range of entry categories to date. Judges remarked on the difficulty of selecting winners from such a diverse field of entrants, and noted, in particular, the richness and sophistication of this year’s timber palettes. • 2006 saw a remarkably diverse field of entries and a pleasing emphasis on sustainable design. • 2007 featured the largest field of entrants to the Timber Design Awards since the inception of the awards in 2000. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the range of competition categories for 2007 was also larger than ever before. And the trend of excellence has continued. Now in its 18th year the Australian Timber Design Awards have, over the years, showcased some of the wealth of talent that Australia has in designing and working with a natural resource -timber! The Australian Timber Design Awards competition is open to built environment professionals and students who want to showcase their built design and/ or building projects in residential and/ or public or commercial buildings that feature timber structures or finishes.
¢ 2 016 Overall winner - Three Capes Track Cabins – Jaws Architects. Image by Brett Boardman
Awards dinner and presentations 25 October THE HIGHLY prestigious 2017 Australian Timber Design Awards presentation night will be held 25 October in the Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton, 6:30pm for 7pm with pre-dinner drinks. The dinner and presentation starts at 7pm. Here is what you will experience: • For the first time, Dangerous Designs is joining the function (see sidebar article) • Presentation of all the winners by our celebrity MC Tracey Spicer (one of the most credible news presenters on Australian television). • Enjoy a fantastic fully catered three-course meal! • The opportunity to mingle and network if you want with your industry peers! Tickets for the event are now available at $170 / person for competition Entrants (includes the 3-course dinner along with all drinks); $190 / person for guests and members of the public (includes the 3-course dinner along with all drinks). Dress code is semi-formal. Should you require further information contact Australian Timber Design Awards office and ask for Ros on 02 8920 0446
Continued on page 12
SteelWood joists SteelWood joists offer architects, engineers, builders and contractors a new concept of rigid construction for single or multi-storey residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
Live Load 3.0kPa 4.0kPa 5.0kPa 7.5kPa
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* 90x45-MGP15, SWJ660, spacing 450mm, 30kg flooring, lining and ceiling material used. Actual spans will vary depending on floor loading, specific job requirements, timber grades and sizes
For more information contact Multinail Australia enquiry@multinail.com
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SEPTEMBER 2017
11
TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS
Previous Timber Design Award winners 2001 Overall Winner: COX Grieve Gillett -- National Wine Centre 2002 Overall Winner: Robert Morris-Nunn -- The Forest EcoCentre 2003 Overall Winner: B+C Design Group -- Bala Residence, Upper MacDonald 2004 Overall Winner: Casey Brown Architecture -- Bungan Beach House
¢ 2 016 Timber flooring - Abbotsleigh MultiPurpose Assembly and Sports Hall – Allen Jack and Cottier. Image by Tyrone Branigan
¢ 2 016 Timber Windows & Doors - The Farm – Fergus Scott Architects. Image by Michael Nicholson Photography
2005 Overall Winner: John Wardle Architects -- Flinders House 2006 Overall Winner: Jackson Clements Burrows -- Edward River House 2007 Overall Winner: Hayball Leonard Stent -- Moonah Links Lodges 2008 Overall Winner: Peter Stutchbury Architecture -- Outcrop House 2009 Overall Winner: Brian Hooper Architect & m3architecture (architects in association) -- Tree of Knowledge Memorial
¢ 2 016 Sustainability - Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre – Y2 Architecture and Three Acres Landscape Architecture. Image by Bill Conroy Press 1 Photography
2010 Overall Winner: David Boyle Architect -- Burridge Read Residence 2011 Overall Winner: Circa Morris-Nunn Walker -- Saffire
Dangerous Designs Dangerous Designs is an online design competition, sponsored by WoodSolutions and supported by professional associations, industry bodies, universities and tertiary institutions. Anyone in Australia can enter. The Student category is for full-time or part-time students at university, TAFE, college or school. The Open category is for everyone else. Every second month there will be a $500 prize awarded to the best submission for the preceding two months in each of the Student and Open sections. If a minimum of 20 entries across both entry sections (Student and Open) has not been received during the two monthly period, no prizes will be awarded and the entries will be included in the next two monthly period. The Annual Prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the judges’
selection from the winning bi-monthly entries submitted in year to 30 September 2017.
2012 Overall Winner: Paul Haar Architect -- Candlebark School Library
Dangerous Designs entrants retain ownership of any intellectual property associated with their design. Notwithstanding, WoodSolutions reserves the right to use any material submitted as part of any entry for promotional purposes.
2013 Overall Winner: Lend Lease -- Forté at Victoria Harbour
Dangerous Designs will be promoted to the design, manufacturing and commercial sectors as part of the overall WoodSolutions program. Any subsequent discussions and commercial agreements will be solely between the design owner/s and the commercialising entity. Apart from acting as a contact, WoodSolutions will play no role in this process, but retains the right to use successful stories to promote Dangerous Designs.
2014 Overall Winner: Bates Smart (in collaboration with Irwin Alsop Group) -- Dandenong Mental Health Facility 2015 Overall Winner: John Wardle Architects & NADAAA in collaboration -- Melbourne School of Design The University of Melbourne 2016 Grand-Prix Winner: JawsArchitects -- Three Capes Track Cabins
2017 supporting sponsors Platinum Sponsor
Media Partner
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
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Residual / Balloon
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$30
$23
$19
Contact our local Finlease rep in your state:
NSW QLD VIC SA TAS WA NT
Michael Abberton 0488 480 463 FINANCE Michael Giorgas 0488 480 025 Alex Charilaou 0407 460 144 Neil Styles 0404 050 697 Dale Archer 0419 350 933 Gary Hunter 0477 779 970 Cameron Pitkethly 0448 481 335
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By Mark O’Donoghue
other related fields should take heed of this depreciation bonanza which has just become available to them 1800 358 658 finlease.com.au commencing this current financial LTHOUGH MUCH publicity year (2017). after the 2016 and 2017 budgets The best way to explain this is via Australian Credit Licence Number: 390584 surrounded the ability for the following example:larger businesses to claim 100% Artarmon Cranes runs a fleet of 20 depreciation on assets purchased cranes, has a turnover of $8 million of less than $20,000 through the p/a, a profit of $1 million p/a and reclassification of small business resultant tax bill of $300,000 p/a. to incorporate companies with a The current written down value of turnover of up to $10million, this is their crane fleet is $4 million and they “small change” compared to what have been historically depreciating has now become available to those their cranes at 7.5% DV ($300,000) companies under the Simplified p/a which was expensed prior to the Depreciation Rules. $1million profit. https://www.ato.gov.au/business/ In 2017, Artarmon Cranes (who are depreciation-and-capital-expensesnow reclassified as a Small Business) and-allowances/simpler-depreciationplaced all of their cranes into the new for-small-business Simplified Depreciation System prior Under the Simplified Depreciation to June 30 2017 and are now claiming Rules, company owners can actively 15% DV depreciation in for the 2017 elect to place all of their assets in a financial year and 30% for 2018 and pool for depreciation purposes and beyond on their $4million fleet. claim depreciation rates of 15% in the The depreciation in 2017 will 1st year and 30% in each subsequent climb from $300,000 (7.5% DV) to year (on a Diminishing Value basis). $600,000 (15% DV) with the extra This was previously a benefit only $300,000 reducing their taxable profit afforded to companies with a turnover from $1 million to $700,000 resulting of less than $2 million but has now in the tax bill reducing from $300,000 been opened up to much larger to $210,000. organisations. The depreciation in 2018 will Owners of businesses in such climb from $300,000 (7.5% DV) to capital intensive industries as $1,020,000 (30% DV) with the extra manufacturing, transport, civil and $720,000 reducing their taxable profit CEO & Founder of Finlease
A
from $1 million to $280,000 resulting in the tax bill reducing from $300,000 to $84,000. It is important to remember the diminishing value methodology of this accelerated depreciation, which on the above figures would show the following profile for future years: Although the example has been used for a crane company, this could easily be applied to companies who require large amounts of expensive equipment such as manufacturing, earthmoving, transport or concrete pumping companies (just to name a few). If you are a company involved in such capital intensive industries, who historically incur significant tax liabilities or expect to do so, it is advisable speak with a specialist in this area or your accountants as a matter of absolute priority to investigate this significant opportunity.* As the late Kerry Packer most famously said the 1991 Senate Enquiry “if anyone in this country doesn’t (legitimately) minimise their tax, they want their heads read”. * Finlease does not provide formal tax advice and would advise business owners to speak with their accountants on these matters.
Finance that’s this hard...
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¢ By Mark O’Donoghue CEO & Founder of Finlease
Looking for a long term finance option that is easy, offers a true sustainable business partnership which works for you and allows you to focus on what you do best? Finlease, in so many ways... better than a bank. + Specialists in equipment finance + Competitive rates + Offices Australia-wide + Easy ‘end to end’ process + 25 year track record + Pre approved funding limits arranged
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Residual / Balloon
3 Years
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20%
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$16
40%
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$15
$13
EXAMPLE: $100,000 financed over a 5 year term with a 20% balloon/residual is $16 x 100 = $1,600 per month.
Contact our local Finlease rep in your state:
NSW QLD VIC SA TAS WA NT
Michael Abberton Michael Giorgas Alex Charilaou Neil Styles Dale Archer Gary Hunter Cameron Pitkethly
0488 480 463 0488 480 025 0407 460 144 0404 050 697 0419 350 933 0477 779 970 0448 481 335
Payments are shown as a ‘ballpark’ estimation, please call our local Finlease office in your state for a specific quote and immediate indication of approval.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
13
CLT
Pioneering piece of permanent architecture opens in UK
¢ Thermally modified American tulipwood clads the exterior of the building. Photography: Alex de Rijke
M
AGGIE’S OLDHAM, the world’s first building made from hardwood cross-laminated timber (CLT), has opened in the UK. Designed by dRMM Architects and supported by the American Hardwood Export Council, this is a pivotal moment for modern architecture and construction. Maggie’s is a charity that provides practical and emotional support to people living with cancer. Built on the grounds of specialist NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie’s Centres are warm and welcoming places with qualified professionals on hand to offer a program of support shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing. dRMM chose tulipwood for the design of Maggie’s Oldham for the positive influence wood has on people and for the beauty, strength and warmth inherent to American tulipwood. Wood is known to significantly reduce blood pressure, heart rates and recovery times; it has more health and wellbeing benefits than any other building material, according to Wood Housing Humanity Report 2015. This pioneering piece of permanent architecture is constructed from more than 20 panels of five layer crosslaminated American tulipwood, ranging in size from 0.5m – 12m long. American tulipwood CLT was pioneered in 2013 by dRMM, AHEC and Arup for its unparalleled strength and lightness, speed of construction and sustainability. American tulipwood is approximately 70% stronger in bending than a typical CLT grade softwood. The structural CLT panels for Maggie’s Oldham were developed by CLT specialists, Züblin Timber. The first public experiment with this building material was The Endless Stair, created during the London Design Festival 2013. Arup’s engineering calculations show the structure could have supported 100 people at any one time. Tulipwood CLT is one of the most sustainable timber species because of how fast it replenishes, through natural growth alone. Maggie’s Oldham contains 27.6m3 of American tulipwood and 1.1m3 of American ash, equivalent to around 55.22m3 and 2.1m3 respectively of sawn wood before processing, which in terms comes from around 115.7m3 of 14
logs – and all these logs will be replaced in just 120 seconds (108 seconds for the tulipwood and 12 seconds for the ash).
Design elements dRMM co-founder Prof. Alex de Rijke’s experiments with engineered timber have progressed during 30 years in practice and academe. The studios building and furniture projects have pushed the structural, environmental, and aesthetic properties of engineered timber, from plywood to engineered softwood, and now to the collaborative invention of hardwood CLT. “From the Oldham project inception we knew it was the right material for Maggie’s, not only structurally and visually, but conceptually. An elevated, open plan, all-timber and glass building with trees growing through it, and every detail considered from the perspective of use, health, and delight - was always going to be special,” says Alex de Rijke.
“Maggie’s Oldham has a built-in, very visible holistic design message that supports the central aims of the design – to uplift and offer hope to people living with cancer. The applications for sustainably grown hardwood, particularly fast growing tulipwood CLT is endless. The environmental, structural and visual qualities are demonstrated explicitly at dRMM’s Maggie’s; a manifesto for wood as the natural choice for contemporary architecture of physical and psychological well-being’.” The main kitchen table around which Centre visitors are encouraged to sit, is a design by Barnby Day that was commissioned by Alex de Rijke and AHEC for the Wish List project for London Design Festival 2014. It is built by Benchmark Furniture from recycled tulipwood CLT. The top was left over from the Wish List and the base is made from off-cuts of CLT that came from the windows and doors of Maggie’s Oldham.
¢ Detail of the CLT American tulipwood that forms the buildings wall panels. Photography: Jon Cardwell
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
For AHEC, Maggie’s Oldham is one of the most important developments in a decade of research and development into structural timber innovation and one that could broaden the use of CLT in the construction industry. The creation of this product and significant use of hardwood will transform the way architects and engineers approach timber construction. “This structure proves that hardwoods have a role to play in the timber construction revolution,” says David Venables, European Director of AHEC. “All our previous projects – Timber Wave, Out of the Woods, Endless Stair and The Wish List – have been significant projects but this centre proves that a building made of Tulipwood CLT is possible, and it can be done on a strict budget and in record time. dRMM also believes in the potential of tulipwood CLT as bringing a revolutionary new element to wood construction.”
¢ The curved glass feature in the centre aims to bring nature inside the building. Photography: Alex de Rijke
SEPTEMBER 2017
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MATERIAL HANDLING
Combilift drives productivity at Meyer New South Wales
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aking delivery of the first Combilift ever delivered to Australia close to 20 years ago Meyer Timber continues to benefit from the increased productivity and space savings delivered by Combilift multi directional forklifts. Operating in Dandenong Victoria since 1975 and coming under the Meyer banner in August 2007, Meyer Timber NSW took delivery of their first Combilift “Side loader” in 2001. David Pullen, the Production Manager at Meyer Timber, says the reason behind the shift to Combilfit was a simple one. “When we first looked at Combilift, we were moving 18 metre beams. The move to Combilift allowed us much more flexibility in the warehouse.” While no longer shifting such long loads the value of the Combilfit solution has not decreased. With six C4800 LPG, Multi directional units in operation across the two New South Wales sites, with lift capacities to 4800kg and lift heights to six and half metres, David says his Combilift’s still offer the same flexibility. “We have been able to increase our stockholding by operating Combilift on site. It has allowed us to increase the amount of racking, increase speed and accuracy of orders and decrease lead times to customers.” The synergies that exist between Combilift and Meyer do not stop there. With Combilift’s operation from its newly built 46,000 square
metre production facility in Monaghan Ireland in 2018 to coincide with their 20th anniversary, Meyer Timber NSW is looking to grow into their own new 40,000 square metre facility in Penrith New South Wales by end of year. David says of the new facility: “Our new facility will substantially increase our racking capability and this will increase our service offering to customers.” Meyer Timber don’t just see the space savings that will be delivered through the custom built Combilift’s operating across their business ... with increased incoming and outgoing movements, the OH&S benefits and operator comfort cannot be discounted. “The long-term operators like working on the Combilift machines, in particular the space in the cabin and the structure and layout of the cab make the Combilift a favourite of the operators,” said David. From an OH&S perspective David also recognises the benefits of another Combilift solution, the Combilift Straddle Carrier. With the ability to prestage loads, removing operators from the vicinity of trucks and speeding movements in and out of a yard the straddle is gaining a lot of traction in the timber industry and something David is keen to explore with Combilift to offer a complete materials handling solution across Meyer sites.
Material handlinglike solutions in on your indus “The long-term operators working Whether you handle extreme lengths of engineered timber, palletised g the Combilift machines, in particular the engineered floor, wall and roof structural panels, Combilift has the space savin space in the cabin and the structure and safe solution. layout of the cab make the Combilift a favourite of the operators,” said David.
¢ Combilift ... making work easier and safer.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
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Material handling solutions in your industry Whether you handle extreme lengths of engineered timber, palletised goods, engineered floor, wall and roof structural panels, Combilift has the space saving and safe solution.
WOOD IS GOOD
The good news is ... exposure to wood is good for the heart, the head and healing!
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LANET ARK has completed a report – Wood – Nature Inspired Design – which outlines the importance of connecting buildings with the natural world and how with ‘nature connected design’ (also called biophilic design) and using wood we can bring nature indoors and provide a healthier, happier environment for all. Over recent years there has been an increasing recognition of the benefits that humans gain from contact with trees and nature. Modern society has changed its relationship with nature. In the space of a single generation children’s play has moved from outdoors to indoors, the iconic backyard has shrunk, parents have become increasingly anxious about children’s safety, working hours and stress levels have risen and technology (especially screens) has encroached into almost all areas of life. Increasing urbanisation rates mean that people have less access to nature in their daily lives and Australians on average now spend over 90 per cent of their time indoors. This disconnect with nature and the outdoors corresponds with reports of increasing levels of obesity and nearly half of Australians experiencing a mental health condition within their lifetime. The health and happiness benefits associated with spending time outside in nature are well known and reported on by Planet Ark previously. This love of time in nature has been termed ‘biophilia’ and
explains our innate need to connect with the natural world. This relationship can be extended into the built environment where we live, work, rest and play. A wide body of research from the international scientific community has repeatedly identified that the increased use of wood in furniture, fittings and structures has measurable physiological and psychological health benefits. We now know that workers are less stressed and more productive, students learn better, patients heal faster, and people are generally happier and calmer in spaces that contain natural elements like wood. Researchers have also reported people experiencing higher levels of selfesteem, improved cognitive function and decreased blood pressure, when exposed to natural elements like wood in their built environment. As it is not always possible to increase our time spent outside, particularly in areas like workplaces, schools and hospitals, understanding how to incorporate the benefits of nature into our indoor environments is an increasingly important area of research. Responsibly sourced (and certified) timber has clear health and happiness benefits, as well as being a weapon in the struggle against climate change by both storing carbon and reducing carbon emissions.
¢ CLT House Maianbar - Design: Ardea Oosthuizen Photography: Josh Hill Photography
For more information please visit www.MakeItWood.org
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
Tempe House - Design: Pederson Architecture, Photography: Thilo Pulch
SEPTEMBER 2017
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WOOD IS GOOD
It only takes seconds to deliver the good news
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HE RECENT series of 15 second commercials showing different applications of wood and their benefits, boosted by online content marketing, have achieved results that exceed media industry averages and increased the number of consumers who say they are more likely to choose wood. Branded with Planet Ark’s Make It Wood and featuring award-winning architect and host of Grand Designs Australia, Peter Maddison, the campaign combined six television commercials that were shown on free to air and pay TV and online, with content and keyword marketing. Consumer research, conducted with a national sample, towards the end of the campaign indicated that around half of Australians questioned claimed they would be more likely to use wood after seeing the advertising
www.timberbiz.com.au
– a 20% increase on those who didn’t see it! The core TV campaign ran nationally for 3 weeks across the 7 and 9 networks. Recall of all the TV
spots increased considerably (over similar research during last year’s campaign), particularly the furniture, home and outdoor executions, more than 100% in several cases. Online, the 15 second videos served a total of nearly 2 million impressions, with more than 95% of the viewers on 7 and 9 digital watching the whole videos – this far exceeds the media industry’s average completion rate of 68%. “These are particularly pleasing results,” said Eileen Newbury, the National Marketing and Communications Manager of the industry services company, Forest and Wood Products Australia, “the recall of the messages, timber flooring in particular, was excellent
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
and validates our decision to move beyond traditional TV into online and content marketing channels.” The campaign was designed to drive traffic to the Make It Wood website (makeitwood.org), where consumers can find out more from Planet Ark – a trusted source of information about the environmental benefits of wood. Ms Newbury said that the 15 second videos and other campaign materials are still available for FWPA members and members of the Wood. Naturally Better.™ Partner Program to use in their own communications or websites. She added that FWPA could provide assistance and advice to companies wishing to take advantage of the offer.
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MIDRISE CONFERENCE
Changing perceptions of engineered wood in construction
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ORE ARCHITECTS, designers and project managers are finding that engineered wood is now rapidly becoming the leading choice for solutions to meet demands of both building codes and building owners. A bonus for this burgeoning new development is that engineered wood products are increasing the product of choice of discerning architects and designers. These changes bring advantages including better earthquake engineering design, faster and cheaper project management and material cost benefits. Beyond the construction benefits that wood brings, people occupying these new age office buildings are reporting high levels of satisfaction with the working environments that offices designed in wood bring their occupants. To recognise this and spread the message, a national conference is planned for builders, developers, building owners and their architects, engineers, designers and specifers for September 28 in Rotorua. The “Changing Perceptions of Engineered Timber in Construction” conference features an international line-up of speakers. The 2017 conference theme is “Advantages of Timber in Mid Rise Construction”. “We’ve brought together a wide group of people from building design and engineering specialists to the project managers who lead commercial construction work. The one thing they have in common is their new-found enthusiasm for the attributes of engineered wood as a revolutionary new building material,” says conference director John Stulen. “Every single speaker has gained their early work experience with traditional materials, so they are wellplaced to recognise that wood meets or exceeds both structural and aesthetic design requirements. “Many companies, like Lendlease, one of Australia’s largest developers, are discovering hugely positive reactions from employees of their new office tenants to these new wood-rich office environments. Their worldclass office building, International House at Barangoo,
has set new standards for commercial and environment benchmarks,” he said. “One of the leading community and home builders, Strongbuild has just won an award for their Macarthur Gardens residential apartments as well – so there is wide acceptance of these new engineered wood buildings and techniques.” The list of international speakers includes: • Karla Fraser, Senior Project Manager, URBAN ONE Builders, Vancouver, Canada • Andrew Dunn, CEO, Timber Development Assoc, Sydney, Australia • Adam Strong, Managing Director, Strongbuild, Australia • Jeremy Tompson, Project Manager, lendlease, Sydney, Australia
• Julian Addington, Director, Engco, Christchurch • Linda Lodetti, Managing Quantity Surveyor, Josephs & Associates, Christchurch • Bernie O’Fagan, Managing Director, RM Design, Christchurch • Daniel Scheibmair, Technical Manager, Building Officials Institute NZ Rotorua was the obvious choice as host city for an international commercial building conference with it’s ‘Wood-First’ policy making it a local leader in encouraging sustainable commercial buildings. The conference is set to be part of a wood technology week of events coming to the city in September, including the FIEA WoodTECH 2017 two-day conference and trade expo.
Engineered wood eases constraints for commercial building LABOUR SHORTAGES are limiting growth in both commercial building, with the recent profit downgrades at Fletcher Challenge highlighting the depth of the problems. However, commercial wood solutions already being implemented by industry leaders in Australia, Canada and New Zealand hold the key to removing labour constraints... engineered wood building components using automated manufacture to reduce labour content and speed project completions. The engineering of wood components for commercial building is growing fast in Australia. Local builders and developers, led by smart operators like Lendlease and Strongbuild, in Australia’s major cities, have worked out how to automate many of the large building jobs using factory prefabrication. Case studies of their recent successes feature in an engineered timber conference coming to Rotorua in September. Conference director John Stulen says: “Right now there’s a surprising contrast - the leading builders and developers working with wood for commercial building are finishing projects on time, on budget, without the constraints or problems blamed by the very large construction companies like Fletcher Challenge for their profit shortfall. “In fact, the world’s tallest timber building, at 18 stories high, Brock Commons, in Vancouver, Canada, 20
¢ Floor cassettes definitely speed up construction. SteelWood Joists (SWJ) and floor cassettes, designed and developed by Multinail, is not only quick to install but has a brilliant accuracy factor, maximises quality and reduces on-site waste, plus offers greater on-site safety than prior systems.
¢ Strongbuild Macarthur Gardens.
¢ Lend Lease Barangaroo.
was delivered ahead of schedule,” says Stulen, “and we’ve got their lead project manager as our keynote speaker coming to our conference.” Local designers and architects are now rapidly realising that a range of
the products offered by engineered wood manufacturers get around many potential problems with challenging builds – and labour is just one of the issues that are solved by using automated manufacturing for wood
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
panel floors, walls and engineered beams to reduce labour content. “The next big thing set for speeding up construction jobs is timber floor cassettes. Commercial builders, developers and designers will be seeing many more solutions with these systems soon. The overall project savings from wood solutions are obvious and being captured by leaders in this industry – our conference will be full of case studies showing how wood solves many problems that traditional commercial construction practices and materials can’t,” says Stulen. The conference, “Changing Perceptions of Engineered Timber in Construction” is running on 28 September in Rotorua. It’s the second annual conference and attracts building owners, developers, architects, engineers, specifiers and many service and supply companies. The theme is “Advantages of Timber in Mid Rise Construction.” The Rotorua Lakes Council are active event partners promoting their successful “Wood-First” policy. Rotorua is home to many wood manufacturing businesses including New Zealand’s largest solid wood producer – Red Stag Timber. The conference is set to be part of a wood technology week of events coming to the city in September, including the FIEA WoodTECH 2017 two-day conference and trade expo.
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Wood Protection
Protection Solutions for Structural Timber and Engineered Wood Products
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For more information, contact us; 1300 650 636 tanalised.au@lonza.com https://www.lonzawoodprotection.com/apac/insecticides-termiticides-family/
NEWS
Lendlease to help build 2018 Commonwealth Games
L
EADING AUSTRALIAN Property and Infrastructure company Lendlease has been appointed an Overlay Delivery Partner and Official Supporter Property & Infrastructure of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018). Bringing global experience to the Gold Coast, the Australian company will project manage the delivery of 15 competition venues to Games standard across South East Queensland, Townsville and Cairns. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman, Peter Beattie AC said he was pleased to welcome another Aussie business to the Games Family. “We are very excited to welcome Lendlease as the latest supporter and valued member of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,” Mr Beattie said. “Lendlease brings to the table experience in delivering projects for major sporting events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, London 2012 Olympics, Sydney 2000 Olympics and a whole host of World Cup events. “Most importantly, we have the support of a business, who understands the end user, helping us to build an even bigger and better Games for all to enjoy. “Lendlease’s appointment is another step forward in our Games delivery program and I look forward to seeing the venue
overlay across Games venues commence later in the year,” Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Kate Jones, welcomed Lendlease to the GC2018 Games Sponsor Family.
¢ Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman, Peter Beattie.
“Lendlease brings its own Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan to the Games, which complements all that we are doing to promote the spirit of reconciliation through the Games. “It’s the first time that a major international sporting event of this scale has committed to a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). “Through the RAP, we have an opportunity for Games partners to deliver real and tangible legacy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, such as employment and training
opportunities, and a greater cultural awareness of our unique heritage,” Minister Jones said. Lendlease Building Chief Executive Officer Dale Connor said the partnership was an exciting opportunity to contribute to Australia’s sporting efforts on the world stage. “We are a proud Australian company and welcome the opportunity to support our nation as it hosts athletes from all backgrounds to compete and excel on the world stage,” Mr Connor said. “As a business, there’s an incredibly strong alignment between our two organisations such as our shared commitment to building respectful relationships and creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. “Together with GOLDOC we can elevate the conversation around reconciliation and create real opportunities around procurement, employment and cultural awareness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the lead-up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.” Lendlease will provide planning, programming, logistics and supervision to transform existing facilities into world-class competition venues ensuring that both athlete and support experiences the very best the Games have to offer. The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place from 4 to 15 April 2018.
POSITIONS VACANT
Membership of the Australian Forestry Standard is open to all individuals and organisations who support the objects of the organisation.
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• Social marketing and community engagement • Rural and regional community development and employment • Indigenous community development and education.
AFS Ltd is governed by a board of up to nine directors, six appointed by the members, and up to three Independent directors (ie not members of AFS Ltd or employees of members) appointed by the board. The chair is appointed from among the independent directors. The board meets around 3-5 times a year, with additional meetings of board committees (Audit & Risk, Governance and Marketing) as required. Independent directors are appointed according to their skills and experience to ensure the board collectively has the capacity to effectively advance AFS objectives. Independent directors will be selected with a focus on the following skills and experience:
General • A strong background in sustainability, especially in the areas of the built environment, specification and design. • An extensive network within the Australian and International building design, architectural, environmental or academic communities. • Be well regarded and respected by Australian environmental and/or scientific organisations. • Marketing and promotion of sustainable products or solutions (building or consumer products), including promotion and retail marketing
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
One year ago, a devastating earthquake hit central Italy. One year later, PEFC-certified wood is helping people to rebuild their homes, and their lives. Throughout the region, locally grown, PEFCcertified wood has helped to get children back into school and bring communities together. It provides assurances to the people in the region that they will be better prepared in case a similar event happens in the future, using wood as a raw material that can be sourced in harmony with nature. “Using wood has many excellent advantages,” said Gianluca Endrizzi from Rubner Group, the PEFC-certified company responsible for the construction of two stunning new nurseries in Guastalla (Emilia Romagna) and Norcia (Umbria). “Wood is extremely structurally safe and is a natural raw and zero-impact material. “Using PEFC-certified timber ensures the sustainability of the supply chain, and we know that trees will be planted to replace those that were cut down,” Mr Endrizzi said. In Amatrice, in the heavily damaged Abruzzo region, timber from PEFC-certified forests of the Italian Alps is at the heart of a new recreational centre. Designed by architect Stefano Boeri, the building hosts a citizen canteen, the first element of the new food village. “This building was made with PEFC-certified wood from the forests of Friuli Venezia-Giulia,” said Marino De Santa from Legnolandia, the company responsible for the construction. “Using wood meant the construction was rapid and precise. What was impossible just a few years ago is now achievable thanks to new technologies within the wood industry.”
Environment and Community
Independent Directors (2 x positions available) Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Ltd is a not-for-profit company established in 2002 to promote the sustainable management of Australia’s plantation and native forests. To accomplish this aim, AFS owns and manages the Australian Forest Standard Certification Scheme. The Scheme is underpinned by two endorsed Australian Standards®, AS4708- Sustainable Forest Management and the associated Standard® for chain of custody of certified wood and forest products AS4707. As of August 2017, over 24 million ha of Australia’s plantation and native forests are sustainably managed under AS4708 and over 300 sites across Australia operate a chain of custody management system certified to AS4707. AFS Ltd, is one of only five (5) standards development organisations accredited by Standards Australia to write and develop fully endorsed and recognised Australian Standards®. AFS is a member of the international Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), and the Australian Forest Certification Scheme has achieved international mutual recognition as an endorsed PEFC scheme. AFS Ltd promotes domestic and international markets for sustainably produced forest products through AFS and PEFC supply chain product labelling.
Italy embraces PEFC-certified timber for postearthquake reconstruction
SEPTEMBER 2017
Management and Public Policy • • • •
Corporate governance Standards development and management Public policy and administration Business and financial management, including legal issues and risk management • The Australian Forestry Standard supports and encourages diversity and gender balance. Indigenous and female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Applications close on September 30, 2017 Applications can be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 786, New Farm, QLD 4005 or email: simon.dorries@forestrystandard.org.au. Tel: +61 438 265 975.
WOOD IS GOOD, CERTIFIED IS BETTER
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IMPRESA IN FOCUS
NEWS
Dramatic changes to housing construction Perfect panelised system dramatically cuts build times
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MPRESA HOUSE’S panelised building system is re-shaping the construction industry from the ground up. From the first steps into to the massive offsite construction facility at Derrimut it is obvious this is no ordinary operation ... it is something exceptionally well thought out, laid out and every step of the way is executed with precision. Australasian Timber brings you this in-depth look at this fledgling company that is destined to be an industry leader in years to come. Since executing an agreement
with Weinmann Group in late 2015, Impresa House has managed to successfully install, commission and implement a 16,000m2 offsite manufacturing facility in Derrimut, Victoria. Impresa House has now been designing, manufacturing, supplying and constructing developments in the Victorian market, utilising an offsite panelised system. Impresa House engaged Andiamo Engineering as their consulting partners to assist them in the implementation and commissioning process. Andiamo Engineering provided strategic support in the planning, training, software
management and material selection. This ultimately allowed Impresa House to focus on the successful manufacturing and construction procedures and assert itself as a leader in the market. Founded by Michael and Irene Slepoy, Impresa House is privately run Australian company with its primary aim to revolutionise the prefabrication industry. The dayto-day operations are successfully spearheaded by Chief Executive Officer Sean Morley and General Production Manager Andrew Aliev who brings a wealth of European
experience with past facilitations of off-site timber manufacturing throughout Europe. Combining CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology and Australian building innovation, Impresa Houses panelised building system re-shapes the construction process from the ground up. Impresa House is striving for a quality, energy efficient building solution that aims at an 8-star energy rating scheme and looks further into the complete solution for each development and project. In achieving the control and logistical processing with offsite manufacturing, Impresa House’s solution provides a number of benefits to the overall construction and prefabrication market. Achieving these systematic benefits allows for significant reduction in waste and also improves overall safety while minimising the complete build time.
The first construction
The first project undertaken by Impresa House was a side-by-side dual occupancy development in the desired south-eastern suburb of Bentleigh East. The project was architecturally designed to highlight the Impresa House capabilities and was employed as a complete training project conducted by Andiamo Engineering. The combined size of both dwellings was 560m2 and was locked-up and water tight in just over two and a half weeks. Since then Impresa House has done a mix of projects, from single homes to terrace houses, single, double and currently working on three-storeys. With each build the construction time is getting increasingly faster.
Dedicated system The thought process behind the logistical and operational flow was Continued on page 24
¢ Impresa House's prefab facility at Derrimut, Victoria.
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NEWS
IMPRESA IN FOCUS
Dramatic changes to housing construction Continued from page 23
¢ The Impresa system is quick, clean and quiet.
achieved through a collaborative and systematic approach between Impresa House, Andiamo Engineering and Weinmann/Homag Group. To achieve this optimal output, a model was developed based on current European manufacturing processes integrated with Australian standards and requirements. Weinmann Group, whose parent company Homag Group, offered a complete solution tailored specifically for the Impresa House vision. The machinery selected provides Impresa House with an optimal output – both in quality and volume. The representative from Weinmann worked closely and diligently with
the Impresa House team and provided accurate timelines for the arrival, installation and ongoing maintenance routine. With the growing frustration at timelines for “traditional” stick-build constructions, Impresa House acted quickly on executing its decision to implement an offsite manufacturing facility. Initial conversations with Weinmann and Homag Group begun late 2015 and an agreement was reached within a couple of months. Machinery was delivered to the Impresa House facility a further six months later and it was commissioned and ready for its first project in September, 2016.
Employee training In accepting that this is a new and innovative solution, Impresa House invested significant amount of time and effort during its initial integration phases to provide thorough and comprehensive training to all staff. In engaging Andiamo Engineering and their specialists, Impresa House received training in all aspects from initial design to optimising the manufacturing process and on-site assembly training. This has now been instilled throughout the organisation and ongoing support and consultancy is received to continuously adapt and enhance the overall solution.
Conservatively Impresa House has an annual output capacity of 75,000m2, which roughly translates to between 350-500 homes per year depending on size and design.
Adaptable options Impresa solutions can be adapted to most existing design or the team can custom design a different type of building. Impresa solutions can incorporate any type of cladding (i.e. brick, timber, metal, masonry, render…) and/or internal finishes, so, as you can see, Impresa has already built up an impressive operational sheet!
Industry News Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow. australasian
magazine
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SCANNING
3D scanning an emerging technology within the construction industry
¢ Maryborough Member Bruce Saunders, QFES Acting Superintendent James Gill, Hyne Timber Katie Fowden and the UQ Scanning Team.
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HEN CAN we scan the Maryborough Fire Station? This was the unusual request that came into Maryborough’s Hyne Timber from leading research institution, The University of Queensland (UQ). Permission was granted and UQ used a number of laser scanning technologies to map and photograph the existing building and surrounds of the 1950’s Maryborough Fire Station. The task was conducted as part of initial work to develop a detailed proposal for Hyne Timber’s MarketLed Proposal (MLP) to design and build a new fire station and emergency response centre using sustainably grown engineered timber. Scanning technology has been successfully used in complex activities such as the preservation of world heritage sites and exploring the interior of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Now, the Maryborough Fire Station can be added to the list ahead of a trip to India later in the year where the School will be undertaking scans of informal settlements in Ahmedabad. UQ’s Centre for Future Timber Structures spokesperson, Dr Dilum Fernando said the scanners are key tools of the Digital Cultural Heritage initiative run by Dr Kelly Greenop and her team at the UQ’s School of Architecture. “The rotating hand held scanner emits laser beams to continuously scan the Fire Station building. “As the operator walked through the building with the scanner, 2D measurements were converted into a 3D field of view, collecting over 40,000 range measurements in just one second. “We will now look to use the scan data to create a 3D model of the existing building to bring more 26
innovative solutions throughout the design and construction process by a range of experts, researchers and students. “The scanner is perfect for mapping complex, non-orthogonal environments which are very difficult to record using conventional survey equipment,” said Dr Fernando.
facilitating the scan. Without their cooperation and support, this unique opportunity wouldn’t have been possible,” Dr Fernando said. Project partner Hutchinson Builders’ Team Leader, Russell Fryer said 3D scanning is an emerging technology within the construction industry that will enable designers to more
¢ UQ School of Civil Engineering Lecturer SangHyung Ahn and the Scanner at the top of the Maryborough Fire Tower.
The use of this scanning technology in Maryborough also presented a unique learning opportunity for a number of PhD students to learn how to use the equipment and for all involved to understand how it may apply to benefit the design and construction industry into the future. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Fire and Rescue personnel who were on site to assist us with
accurately document interfaces between new and existing structures. “UQ have requested this use of scanning technology to create a 3D model especially where we may have the added complexity of working with an existing brick façade. “Opportunities to combine this with the use of lighter weight timber structures to extend existing building heights in our cities is just one area
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
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we see as having potential,” Mr Fryer said. The project’s Architect, Kim Baber also made the point that this technology goes hand-in-hand with developments in sophisticated prefabricated timber processing technologies. “Entire timber structures are designed and prefabricated off site to within a tolerance of 2mm. “Such high levels of precision in both the scanning of the existing site conditions combined with contemporary prefabrication of both the Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) new building components will significantly increase the reliability and the efficiency of construction,” Mr Baber said. Hyne Timber is currently working on a detailed proposal for government consideration following announcement of the project in June 2017. The company has partnered with other leading companies and organisations including UQ, Hutchinson Builders, XLam and Baber Studio to scope requirements for the project and aim to submit a Detailed Proposal during 2018. Hyne Timber has been a research partner with The University of Queensland, Centre for Future Timber Structures for many years. The Centre has officially endorsed involvement in the Market Led Proposal, labelling it an ‘exemplar project’. The proposed project also aligns with the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s progressive Wood Encouragement Policy, the first Council in Queensland to introduce such a policy at the start of the year.
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Some say it ain’t easy being green... Certified Treatment
But simply put - we nailed it. T3 Green Plus has upped the ante for H3 treated timber. Indoors plus outdoors. Safe plus strong. A revolutionary new water-based treatment that goes above and beyond the Australian Standards. Plus, its natural and consistent finish and tone looks great with a paint, stain or clear coating product. And with no hydrocarbon additives or VOC emissions - it’s greener than a vegan in a slaughterhouse… For more information, call us now on 1300 304 963.
hyne.com.au
THE MARK
Building material compliance - look for the ‘S’ mark
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S BUILDING materials quite rightly face scrutiny with regards to compliance, the specifying of certified, quality products for construction is increasingly necessary. Hyne Timber can confirm their Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) has been independently certified by Bureau Veritas, a JAS-ANZ accredited thirdparty Certification Body, under their ‘S’ Mark Product Certification Scheme. The ‘S’ Mark is an Australasian stamp of assurance, confirming to the design and construction industry that Hyne Timber’s GLT is audited and certified to the applicable Standard ‘AS/NZS 1328.1:1988, Glue Laminated Structural Timber’. Other products carrying the ‘S’ Mark certification include structural timber, steel reinforcement, safety glass, pipes and fittings, child restraints, buoyancy aids and safety footwear. In addition to over 135 years of sawmilling experience, Hyne Timber has been specialising in the manufacture of GLT (Glulam) since 1972, successfully designing and fabricating a diverse range of engineered timber solutions. Rob Mansell, Hyne Timber’s Business Development Manager – Commercial, said the need to demonstrate compliance with Standards for regulatory purposes is made easier through third-party certification, “Our GLT customers need to demonstrate they are specifying conforming products. The ‘S’ Mark
provides them with this proof. “Our ‘S’ Mark certification follows scrutiny by accredited timber experts and we believe this approach is the future of product certification. “Our timber is all sustainably sourced and selected to be engineered and designed to suit both structural and visual needs.
“Hyne Timber Engineered GLT, combined with our new CNC manufacturing capability, is an incredibly versatile, high quality building material to suit simple through to highly creative, curved designs and structural needs. “The ‘S’ Mark not only proves our products are compliant with Australian Standards but that we, as the certified manufacturer, continue to meet standards certified by Bureau Veritas, accredited by JAS-ANZ, the Government appointed accreditation body for Australia and New Zealand.” Mr Mansell concluded. The ‘S’ Mark Product Certification Scheme is a leading assurance of product and performance in Australasia, first established in 1944 and maintained by Bureau Veritas since 1997. The Government-owned and operated laboratory where Hyne Timber’s GLT underwent independent testing is accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and was required to be further audited by Bureau Veritas to determine the ‘S’ Mark certification was achieved. Laboratory testing the GLT product
is only one part of the accreditation process which extends to the full manufacturing process and glue bond integrity. Hyne Timber’s GLT is also Australian Forestry Standard (AFS)/Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified to Australian Standard AS 4707: 2014, ‘Chain of Custody for Forest Products’ to demonstrate the products are sustainably and responsibly sourced. GLT is a suitable, sustainable alternative to steel for residential, commercial and industrial applications, making light work of long spans and critical loads. It has superior thermal, acoustic and corrosion-resistance values making it ideal for portal frame structures including halls and aquatic sporting facilities. Hyne Timber also offers customer solutions and support such as coatings, treatments and connections. For more information, including Material Safety Data Sheets and warranty information, or to speak with our technical support team, visit hyne. com.au or call 1300 784 963.
Planning already well under way for AWISA 2018 THE AWISA 2018 exhibition will be held at ICC Sydney, the new exhibition and convention centre at Darling Harbour, from 4-7 July. The exhibition is the must-see event for everyone in woodworking and associated industries and professions. Furniture manufacturers, cabinet makers, kitchen manufacturers, joinery manufacturers, architects, designers, shop and office fitters, builders, and other wood, timber and panel processing industries are welcome to attend. Space sales for AWISA 2018 have just commenced and letters and emails have been sent to AWISA’s database. As explained in the letter, initial applications must be received by 20 April 2018. AWISA was formed in 1986 by the principal suppliers to the Australian woodworking industry. 28
The main aims of the association are to present industry exhibitions, publish industry magazines, co-operate with other organisations in the woodworking industry, and to uphold the highest ethical standards and to encourage members to do the same. Membership applications are welcome from Australian-based companies, and from overseas companies with Australian agents and distributors that are also members of AWISA. Members of AWISA include suppliers of woodworking machinery, cabinet and furniture hardware, panel products and surface materials, portable tools, computer software, materials handling equipment, dust extraction equipment, components, and general plant and safety equipment.
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¢ S uperb location and facility ... ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour.
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ASSOCIATIONS
TTIA trade credit scheme initiative Brian Beecroft Chief Executive Officer TTIA
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TIA IS fully aware of the enormous damage and pressure that unpaid invoices can place on the financial wellbeing of Employers. To this end, TTIA has formed a new partnership with CreditorWatch, Australia’s leading commercial credit reporting bureau with over 50,000 Members. CreditorWatch is Australian owned and operated, enabling businesses of all sizes to access credit risk information on any business or company in Australia at affordable rates. CreditorWatch collates data from a variety of sources: • ASIC • Australian Business Register (ABN Lookup) • Courts around Australia – Court Actions • Insolvency Notices Register (administered by ASIC)* • Mercantile Footprints (Debt Collectors)* • 50,000+ customers - Payment defaults and trade payment data* • Xero and MYOB – trade payment data – Updates every 5 minutes* *Unique to CreditorWatch Debt Collection Tools: 1. CreditorWatch membership logo for invoices and statements 2. Reminder notice and final demand templates 3. Ability to register defaults (black marks) against non-paying customers
TTIA – Member Special
1. Free Trial 2. Monthly Subscription – No Lock In contracts 3. Special pricing - includes all features 4. Multiple User Logins 5. Training and ongoing support 6. Access to ApplyEasy Online Credit Application System 7. Access to CW Connect - Connect members will receive email alerts
for any defaults lodged by another Connect member regardless of whether they are monitoring the debtor. CW will group all TTIA members into one group so problem debtors can be identified quickly and easily. We believe this service will prove a valuable financial tool for every Employer. Please contact TTIA if you are a TTIA Member and wish to receive the CreditorWatch Information pack – (02) 9264 0011 or email ttia@ ttia.asn.au
TTIA/Work space Industry Training Breakthrough Launched
In a significant boost to practical, affordable and accessible training of production employees in the timber and timber products industry, TTIA has signed off on a new and comprehensive partnership with Work Space Training. TTIA is unique in the industry in being representative of a significant number of employers in all States and Territories in Australia and in all sectors of the industry from the forest harvesting to milling, manufacturing and merchandising. Workspace Training is a registered training organisation (national RTO number: 91240) owned and operated by David McElvenny and Kathy Ware. The company specialises in the development of training resources and the delivery of workplace training, particularly at a production worker level. The training resources produced by Workspace Training range from award-winning national projects that are utilised by TAFEs and RTOs around the country, through to site-specific instruction manuals for companies that manage their own training internally. Workspace Training also works with a range of specialist trainers to deliver accredited and non-accredited courses to workers in the timber industry and related industry sectors.
David McElvenny began his working career in a timber yard 40 years ago, carrying out basic machining, grading and yard work. He progressed to sales and then management, before becoming a full time trainer and course writer in the 1990s. David hold a masters degree in education, plus a range of training and timber-related qualifications. Kathy Ware is the administration manager of Workspace Training. She handles the administrative and compliance aspects of the business, as well as instructional design and desktop publishing of training resources. This new partnership will allow the wider industry to access a quality Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with an experienced and practical trainer in courses including Timber product knowledge, Timber Grading, Chainsaw Operation and Workplace Communication and Team Building just to name a few. The courses will be offered at extremely affordable rates as we see this new service as very much part of our non-profit industry resource provider culture. It’s an exciting development for TTIA to have access to an exceptional trainer with an extensive track record in the timber products industry like David and his team. Training courses, their outcomes and qualification can often seem a labyrinth of regulation and confusion to employers. What most
impressed me about David and his team at Workspace is their ability to demystify this field and focus on real practical outcomes in areas like timber grading and chainsaw operation which often keenly sought by TTIA members. I’m confident that we are looking at more than just a piece of paper being issued, but the teaching of real skills that will value add many times over to the industry and our members in particular. Special emphasis will be on making these courses readily available and accessible to regional areas to reduce travel times. Employers wishing to discuss any training requirement or book for any of the course areas highlighted in this article are encouraged to contact the TTIA Training Unit on (02) 9264 0011 for more details.
A reminder - timber industry annual dinner A joint Timber NSW/TTIA conference and annual dinner will be held on 23 November at Alan Davidson Oval, Sydney Park Pavilion. The conference will run from 1 pm – 4.30 pm followed by pre-dinner drinks at 6.30 pm and dinner at 7 pm. Last year’s inaugural joint timber association event was a major success. Please put this date in your diary. If you would like to book tickets, please contact the TTIA office on (02) 9264 0011.
SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS
For information visit: www.ttia.asn.au www.timberbiz.com.au
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ASSOCIATIONS
The only industry-specific GTO in Victoria By Colin Fitzpatrick
Old Media + New Media U For 74% of Advertisers, It’s a Package Deal
Let’s face it advertising media decisions are a constant challenge for SME’s, especially “new media” or digital options. A USA local advertising survey shows 74% of Advertiser’s believe combined digital and legacy media (TV, Radio and Press) works best. Only 3% of respondents surveyed said they are buying only digital media.* So next time you are planning a new product or service marketing campaign, why not book the ideal Ryan Media marketing mix - PRINT + DIGITAL - with Australia’s leading forests and timber manufacturing magazines Australian Forests & Timber News and Australasian Timber, and the industry’s digital news digest Daily Timber News.
Chief Executive Officer Timber & Building Materials Association (Aust.) Ltd
NDER THE leadership of Natalie Reynolds, TABMA Victoria is making headway at a great rate. As a group training organisation (GTO) our primary focus is placing trainees and apprentices with host employers. We are the only industry-specific GTO in Victoria and by promoting the placement of trainees and apprentices we do not cut across any other timber associations in that State and do not prohibit, in any way, them going about their business. New national GTO standards are being introduced, with Victoria the first State to implement these new standards and it has been a valuable lesson for TABMA to trial the new standards in Victoria.
ITI Cadetship Program
Trainees & Apprentices The demand for trainees & apprentices in the timber industry by host employers across our nation, has seen a dearth of supply of young people available to fulfil the many roles available. To educate parents, teachers and young people of the endless opportunities that exist, TABMA has decided to embark on a national publicity program through suburban newspapers, magazines and various publications promoting the values of entering the timber industry as a trainee or apprentice. It is hoped this publicity program will be of value to our industry and make young people and their parents aware of the potential that exists for school leavers to become future managers.
Masterminded by Paul Shadbolt, TABMA and ITI have just completed a cadetship program within the ITI group. This program has seen 14 ITI cadets trained by TABMA Training in many aspects of the timber industry and has ensured that ITI has a solid base of young people available as future leaders.
NSW Field Officer We are pleased to advise of the appointment of Mark Challenger as an additional field officer in NSW. Reporting to our NSW GTO State Manager, Malynda Price, we are confident Mark will be a valuable addition to our team.
SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS
John Coo John Cook & Sons
It’s not just sales and marketing insurance, it’s about getting results. Call us today for a PRINT + DIGITAL proposal that targets your market and best suits your budget. Contact Gavin de Almeida on +61 8 836 9517 or via email at g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Kent Humphries on +61 8 836 9516 or via email at k.humphrys@ryanmediapl.com.au
Timber Industry Dinner & TABMA Awards australasian
magazine
Marketing solutions in PRINT & ONLINE! *Source: Borrell’s Annual Survey of local advertisers; April-June 2017
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Judging for the 2017 TABMA national awards commenced in August and the winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner being held at Luna Park, Sydney on Friday October 6. Our events planner, Amanda Jones, has been very busy putting the finishing touches to the Dinner and it promises to be a huge and exciting evening. Unfortunately we are strictly limited to 300 guests so we ask those intending to be there to contact Alissa Mizon at TABMA by email on alissa@tabma.com.au as a matter of urgency or go on the TABMA website www. tabma.com.au to reserve a seat.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
For information visit:
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ASSOCIATIONS
Desperate need for everyone to achieve the same goal By Kersten Gentle Executive Officer FTMA Australia
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ationally there are approximately 265 frame and truss plants spread through all Australian States and Territories. Most of these plants are small to medium employing up to 40 staff with the average probably being around 20 employees. Currently the industry is going gang busters in most areas with the exception of a few and it is at these times that people have to wait for their orders. For example, in NSW fabricators are so busy the wait time could be 10-12 weeks whereas in Victoria the wait time is up to 6 weeks with some firms. There are a few things that never cease to amaze me when our industry is going so well: Builders start to think that instead of waiting for frames & trusses they might as well set up their own plant. Fabricators still allow themselves to be bullied by builders. With the first issue comes the problem of unnecessary huge investment costs and secondly other builders do not necessarily want to buy from their competition leaving new fabricators with a smaller market than they anticipated. FTMA Australia would encourage ‘would be fabricators’ to instead look at the option of buying an established frame and truss business as there are a handful of fabricators, I’m sure in each state, that would be ready for retirement and would seriously look at the option of selling their plant. Add to this the need for some fabricators to expand in to different areas who may also like to purchase an established business rather than start from scratch again. I know in NSW there are a few fabricators wanting to get out and a few fabricators wanting to expand so why not help each other; why not look at buying in to the existing fabricators rather than start a new plant. I was recently informed that in NSW some nail plate companies are fielding up to 5 calls per week from people interested in setting up their own plant. This is something FTMA doesn’t want to see as the current fabricators in NSW have survived by dragging their backsides through the GFC and poor markets with some even dipping in
to their superannuation to survive. They survived the rationalisation and I would hate to think they won’t survive the next one as we have increased the number of plants in the state again. I know this is the role of the nail plate companies, to build their own businesses, but we must look at our industry and ensure those in business are sustainable and continue to survive. So, if you are a builder looking at entering the frame and truss industry, or if you are a fabricator looking to buy a plant, I encourage you to contact FTMA Australia on 0418 226 242 or via email at kersten@ftmaaustralia.com.au to discuss the options available as we are there to network within our sector and help fabricators currently in business. The other issue around bullying by builders is an issue that unfortunately, in my opinion, is getting worse. Bullying comes in all shapes and sizes and the one that annoys me the most is when fabricators can’t pass on timber increases in their prices. Why should anyone, no matter what business they are in, be expected to not pass on price increases. We see it all the time with the health insurance or general insurance. When the insurer’s prices increase then they must pass it on to their customers, just like councils do with their rates. Why then can a fabricator be hit with a timber price increase and a builder simply say no, they aren’t going to accept the price increase. The cost of timber ranges from 30%-60% of the total costs of jobs so how can you absorb the price increase? In the future when the timber becomes harder to get, which it will, and the markets drop off and you’re not as busy, which it will, how are you going to cope? I urge fabricators to talk to their accountants, to have a third party go through their costs and ensure they are covering their bases and are not working for nothing. You are in business to make a living not to be bullied by the supply chain in to losing money or working for nothing.
FTMA Australia is an independent, national organisation representing fabricators of and suppliers to the timber prefabricated truss and wall frame industry in all Australian states & territories providing a unified voice, to protect and advance our mult-billion dollar industry. FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those who support your industry GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
Designed for you to stay owl night long! IMAGINE HIKING through the greenery around Bordeaux, France, and coming upon a magical little house in the shape of three owls. Les Guetteurs (The Watchers) is one of six oddball, off-grid huts in the Refuges Périurbains (Peri-urban shelters), a program intended to draw curious guests to discover new areas on the edge of the city. Designed by Candice Pétrillo and constructed by the French workshop Zébra3/Buy-Sellf, the building was made to resemble a group of small, ground-nesting owls that live in the wetlands around the structure. From the exterior, the timber building looks like a huddle of three owls,
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their eyes made of large round windows and feathers made from long strips of bent plywood and shorter plywood shingles. “The idea of birds came to me very quickly,” said designer Candice Pétrillo. “After the last extension of the commercial zone, I saw migrants swirling around in the sky, looking for the old dried wetland. The nod of animal eye and the curve of the object are a tribute to the sculptors François Pompon and François-Xavier Lalanne.” Inside, a faceted plywood interior offers three levels of sleeping areas outfitted with nine round, nest-like mattresses. Source: Inhabitat
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
Australasia
For a full list of the conditions of membership and a downloadable application form visit:
wwwftmaaustralia.com.au SEPTEMBER 2017
31
ASSOCIATIONS
Widen your choice with timber veneers
V neer www.timberveneer.asn.au
By Peter Llewellyn Technical Representative Timber Veneer Association of Australia
A
RCHITECTS AND interior designers are somewhat limited when it comes to featuring timber in their designs. It really comes down to a handful of hardwoods and softwoods that are available as kiln-dried joinery timbers – some locally-grown species plus a few imports. Timber veneers provide a much wider choice, with a rich palette of colours and grain patterns stocked by local veneer suppliers. Species such as Japanese sen and pearwood with their prominent grain and distinctive colouring are virtually unobtainable in this country in the form of solid wood. That raises the question of how one can match an exotic veneer if the same species of solid timber is unavailable in the local market. It’s then a matter of specifying
timber with a similar colour if outstanding examples of veneer solid edge strips, benchtops or usage in Australian design can other components are required be viewed on the TVAA website in conjunction with an exotic in the Uniquely Veneer gallery of veneer. fit-outs and projects. Even species which are The TVAA Facebook page also available in Australia in solid has details of news and events in form are not likely to be supplied the veneer in the veneer industry. with features such as burls. The association has a range Veneers, on the other hand, are of guide documents which can carefully selected for special and be downloaded from the TVAA exotic characteristics such as website at timberveneer.asn.au. Timber Veneer burls, fiddleback and quilting. Alternatively some publications, www.timberveneer.asn.au Association of Australia Less common Australian including the popular manual species such as black heart titled “Veneer”, are available in sassafras and coachwood are hard copy on request to info@ also available in veneer form, timberveneer.asn.au. although scarce as solid timber. Specifiers wanting to know more about the range of veneers available in the Australian market will find images on the websites of members of the Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA), while
Search the app store for North East Media or visit atmdigitaledition.com.au
Essential reading for timber and building industry professionals. 630 Regency Road, Broadview, South Australia 5083
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¢ Popular manual Veneer readily available.
Mentoring program for women in building and construction industry
NOW AVAILABLE AS AN APP
INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED
Timber Veneer Association of Australia
A BESPOKE mentoring program designed to support NSW women in the building and construction industry has been launched by Master Builders Australia. Part of Master Builders Advancing Women in Building and Construction initiative which is currently being rolled out throughout the state, the program will support women who are currently working in building and construction, and those on training pathways to careers in the industry. “We want to encourage more women to work in the industry and to access training pathways to careers in the industry. A big part of that is about supporting them in their choice. We also need to ensure that the industry is prepared and willing to accept them,” said Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia. “Recruiting men and women who are achievers in the industry and encouraging them to mentor women, looking to do the same, is an important step to retaining more women in the industry,” she said. Michael Kerschbaum, Executive Director of Master Builders Tasmania said the state’s builders are getting behind the program. “There is still a way to go, but some of our members, including the state’s leading builders, are making a concerted effort to
recruit more women and, what’s more they are starting to see the benefits.” The mentoring program is part of the positive approach that Master Builders is taking to boosting the numbers of women in the industry. Research shows that when women are attracted to careers in the industry but they often drop out during training or fail to go on and work in the industry even when they have completed training. “Advancing Women in Building and Construction, and the mentoring program in particular will work to counter this trend by spurring industry leaders to support women starting out in building and construction so they are more resilient and able to realise their full potential,” Denita said. “That’s why Advancing Women in Building and Construction is a win for the industry. Firms employing women testify to the benefits they deliver to the businesses bottom line and productivity will be boosted by bringing new skills and approaches to the workforce,” she said. Mentors will be drawn from experienced industry practitioners with a current supervisory role or own their own business. Mentees will be women with up to five years’ experience working in the industry part or full time, completing an apprenticeship or in a pre-employment program.
www.timberbiz.com.au AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
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SAWMILLING
Quality and safety reforms in wake of cladding probe
A
Four Corners investigation has revealed that some international manufacturers and their Australian suppliers were aware of the risks associated with using PE cladding on high-rise buildings, but they continued to import it because Australia’s lax and ambiguous building standards allowed it. Despite more fire-resistant cladding being widely available in Europe and the USA, the cheaper PE core cladding continued to be installed on medium and high-rise buildings in Australia until 2013. The number of affected properties is unknown but could be in the thousands, with a preliminary audit in NSW alone identifying 1,011 buildings that require investigation. In a response to the Four Corners claims, Master Builders Australia and its
33,000 members “want the community to have faith in the safety of our built environment,” said Denita Wawn, CEO of MBA. She said a National Taskforce established by Master Builders and comprised of experts from across Australia was progressing policy reforms that support quality and safety of our homes, workplaces, hospitals and other public buildings. “As Master Builders has consistently said, the challenge is to make more effective the extensive and robust regulatory regime that ensures the safe use of building products. “It’s completely understandable that fires at the Grenfell Tower in the UK and the Lacrosse building in Victoria have highlighted the importance of a regulatory system that has the confidence of both the community and
the building industry,” she said. “Master Builders has been calling for a range of reforms that applies to the whole building supply chain. This includes the need for a centrally administered building product certification system with clear, accessible information and improved rigor and enforcement of the current regulations,” she said. “Ensuring that everyone in the construction chain – manufacturers, designers, importers, wholesalers, regulators and builders - has access to clear, consistent and readily available (and reliable) information about building products will assist to reduce the incidence of them being used in a noncompliant way. “This is fundamentally the responsibility of government, but requires a concerted effort from all those
in the building and construction supply chain,” she said. “Master Builders welcomes the coordinated effort being made through the Building Ministers Forum to improve regulatory settings, including its expert review of current compliance and enforcement arrangements,” she said. “Some of the responses by government so far include draft amendments to the National Construction Code around fire safety and the online information hub established by the Australian Building Codes Board. “Master Builders will continue to advocate for solutions that ensure public confidence in the safety and quality of our built environment which are consistent, fair and practical,” Wawn said.
Record levels of home building to continue “NEW HOME building activity in Australia remains at elevated levels,” HIA’s Senior Economist Shane Garrett told the HIA’s Industry Outlook Forum in Canberra. “ Solid population growth, very low interest rates and consistent gains in employment do mask some concerning trends with respect to underemployment and decelerating GDP growth. Combined with another layer of obstacles to foreign investor participation in the housing market, new home building volumes are set to move downwards over the next couple of years.
“Having achieved record levels early in 2016 new home building starts are clearly in a downward cycle. “This down-cycle is unique because we expect that the bottom of this current cycle will be in 2019 when building activity will still be higher than at the peak of the previous boom in 2010. “The peak of activity in 2015/16 dwarfed all previous peaks and has resulted in a significant backlog of work which will ensure that the industry is busy through 2017 and into 2018,” Mr Garrett said.
Australia Housing Starts Forecasts Source: HIA Economics 250.00
218.78
Thousand dwellings commenced
200.00
150.00
152.65
172.55
159.72
231.88
Forecast 221.50 197.74
183.01 162.34
145.19
176.67
164.26
132.56
100.00
50.00
0.00
2006/07 (a) 2007/08 (a) 2008/09 (a) 2009/10 (a) 2010/11 (a) 2011/12 (a) 2012/13 (a) 2013/14 (a) 2014/15 (a) 2015/16 (a) 2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
Australia Renovations Forecasts Source: HIA Economics 36,000 35,000
34,658
33,763
33,904
33,482 32,830
Value of Investment (millions)
34,000
Forecast
35,528 34,873
33,000 32,060
32,000 30,830
31,000
31,017
32,194
31,270
30,000 29,000 28,000
2007/08 (a) 2008/09 (a) 2009/10 (a) 2010/11 (a) 2011/12 (a) 2012/13 (a) 2013/14 (a) 2014/15 (a) 2015/16 (a)
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
For a complete set of HIA’s forecasts please go to: http://hia.com.au/BusinessInfo/economicInfo/housingForecasts.aspx
¢ HIA’s National and State Outlooks are Australia’s most comprehensive housing report card, encompassing forecasts of new dwelling construction volumes and renovations activity. The report also includes policy updates, analysis of global and domestic economic issues, as well as dedicated state and territory housing databases. For further information or for copies of the publication (media only) please contact: Kirsten Lewis on k.lewis@hia.com.au
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“The housing boom was not consistent across Australia and now, with NSW and Victoria cooling, all indicators are that the market is well past its 2016 peak when over 231,000 new homes were commenced. “Even though new dwelling starts will decline over the next couple of years, the annual volume of new home starts is not likely to fall below 170,000 at any stage. By any standard, this is still a very elevated level of activity. “The investor side of the market has also been hit by tighter lending finance due to APRA’s
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
recent restrictions on interest-only mortgages,” he said. HIA’s Housing Outlook Report estimates that 221,500 new dwellings were started in 2016/17, a decline of 4.5 per cent compared with the previous year. A further reduction of 10.7 per cent is forecast for 2017/18 before new home starts reach a trough of 176,670 during 2018/19. “The multi-unit side of the market is expected to drive the downturn in residential building, with commencements on this side of the market projected to fall by 41 per cent from peak to trough,” said Mr Garrett. 33
NEWS
Accurate, consistent automated grading with USNR’s THG Vision scanning improves grade outturn, throughput
D
ELTIC TIMBER was looking to update its combination geometric and manual grading line with a state-of-the-art automated one. Automated grading systems offer consistent accuracy, and they operate at high speed board after board, shift after shift, day after day. THG was chosen for its suitability to the mill’s process, and the strong trust developed between customer and vendor. Deltic Timber, headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas, owns two stateof-the-art sawmills in the region at Ola and Waldo. Combined annual permitted capacity for these two operations is in the range of 450 mmbf with approximately 200 mmbf recently produced at the Waldo facility with 150 employees. The Deltic Timber mills produce 2x4 through 2x12 dimension lumber, timbers, and specialty products including MSR lumber, exclusively from Southern Yellow Pine. The Waldo operation processes both small and larger logs, and includes a sawmill, boilers, dry kilns and planer mill. It recently upgraded its planer mill line with USNR’s Transverse High Grader (THG) system, taking the lumber grading process from a largely manual one to an optimized line.
¢ A check grader on the line views the projected grade decision from the THG and can downgrade the piece if he warrants.
Investing for success
Tommy Downs, Waldo mill manager, commented on the reason Deltic decided to invest in this new process. “We were looking to improve the consistency in both throughput and grade determination, and better control our trimming. We also wanted to remove the manual element and reduce human error.” Tommy explained that the mill had previously had another vendor’s scanner on the line for geometric scanning only. This meant they still required a significant number of manual graders for the visual grading component, and were experiencing difficulty at the planer mill keeping up with all of the output from the sawmill. The management considered other vendors, but selected the THG because of its better fit for the layout of the mill, and the good relationship Deltic and USNR have built over the years.
The new line
The new grading line includes a Revolver Lug Loader, THG scanning and optimization system, Grade Projectors, Grade Mark Reader and Multi-Track Fence. The mill’s strength predicting machine is positioned at the outfeed of the USNR high speed planer (installed in 2007), and sprays a mark on each piece it determines is a candidate for MSR. As the piece is scanned by the THG, it visually evaluates the piece for all grade characteristics while considering the strength prediction. The THG then makes a grade decision having considered defects such as knots, wane, skip, splits and shakes. The THG’s grade classification is assisted by a sensor positioned at the lumber line end of the scan frame – the 34
¢ The Grade Mark Reader reads any marks the check grader has made to downgrade the THG’s decision. The revised grade and trim data will be passed to the PLC to adjust the fence paddle’s position for that board ahead of trimming.
pith sensor. This pith sensor visually measures the end grain of the board, calculating its position in the log to very accurately determine the pith location. Together with data collected via high definition 4-sided vision scanning, 4-face grain angle measurements (GrainMap™), and high density laser profile measurements, the pith is modeled down the entire length of the board to very accurately determine knot connectivity within the piece. The Grade Projector system is unique, and developed by USNR. The Grade Projectors are mounted above the flow and project each board’s grade onto the surface of the board as it passes by the check grader. Tommy said, “It works really well. It helps me because when I’m on the line I can see what the THG is grading each piece. I really like that feature.”
Rewarded with results
The results the mill is achieving are well received. Tommy commented: “We decreased our trim loss by around 2%, and we’ve cut our manpower by
¢ A generic screen shows a dry mill grade optimization system processing Southern Yellow Pine. USNR’s grade optimization for THG, LHG (transverse and lineal dry mill grading) and BioVision (green mill grading) offers a wide range of flexible features to organize the data for optimum product management.
3 graders. I can’t stress enough the improvement in consistency of the flow at the planer mill. The machine doesn’t get behind in processing. With the THG running we have increased our throughput capacity by about 4000 ft./ hour.” Reluctant to share grade uplift percentages, Tommy did express that the mill is achieving good results. He continued, “It’s made a significant difference to our operation; now we can run the planer mill one day less than it takes to produce the lumber in the sawmill. We would definitely do this again” Tommy noted that, while this was the beta site for proving the THG’s efficacy on SYP, he always felt USNR was fully committed to the project. The relationship remains solid, with Deltic looking at more new USNR equipment to outfit the mill.
Learning the ropes
Training for advanced optimization systems is crucial to achieve the greatest return from the investment.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
SEPTEMBER 2017
In Deltic’s case, four employees from Waldo attended training at USNR’s Salmon Arm, BC training facility, and this was followed up with extensive training at the mill once the system was operational. In house training can also be performed in cases where mill personnel simply can’t get away for off-site training. Tommy notes those individuals who were key to the success of this project; Mike Russell, Quality Control, was hands-on from the start and still oversees the THG’s operation, as well Kent Streeter, VP of Wood Products was instrumental to the project, as was Tommy himself. Now that the grading line project is behind them, Tommy explained that Waldo is continuing to evaluate ways to improve all of its processes. The bottleneck has been pushed further up the line now that the THG has significantly increased the throughput of the planer mill.
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