Large mass-engineered timber construction projects require placing hundreds of thousands of screw fixtures. A new collaboration sees a robot do the hard work.At the Murdoch University campus in Perth, a new mass-engineered timber (MET) building is being erected. The project will be Western Australia’s largest MET building, but that is not what was attracting attention to the building site one …

This recent article is written for the US market but the same issues on attracting skills and talent into manufacturing operations in this part of the world apply. Our nation is facing a dire shortage of manufacturing workers. The National Association of Manufacturers forecasts that by 2030, the United States could have 2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs. A March 2022 …

Surging interest in sustainable construction has seen one of New Zealand’s oldest mass timber businesses combine with one of the youngest. After 64 years in McIntosh family ownership TimberLab Solutions has joined the Red Stag group following a share sale completed last week. TimberLab has been the company behind many of the iconic large-scale glulam and laminated veneer lumber projects …

Henkel, a global leader in the adhesives market, is planning to produce Loctite polyurethane (PUR) adhesives in Australia from the first half of 2023. The adhesives will be manufactured in Kilsyth, Victoria, to serve the engineered wood industry across Australia and New Zealand. “Purbond adhesives are used globally and have long been the benchmark for innovation and reliability in the …

Henkel Adhesive Technologies strengthens its capabilities for timber construction solutions by investing in 3RT, Melbourne, Australia. Together with partners the company has developed a robotic process to convert forest and plantation residue into high-quality and unique hardwood products. With the investment Henkel aims to further expand its Engineered Wood business and to drive the implementation of sustainable future-oriented technologies. The …

Marty Verry is the chief executive of Red Stag group, which operates New Zealand’s largest sawmill and holds investments in forestry, cross laminated timber, glulam and property development. OPINION: The Commerce Commission wants to encourage more competition in the market for structural timber through large-scale investment in new processing. That, though, requires the Government to start treating wood processors fairly …

The Timber Framing Collective is introducing a suite of easy-to use creative resources to help share the remarkable green story of Timber Framing. Through these new resources, the Timber Framing Collective aims to empower the entire supply chain, from growers to consumers, to proudly stand up for timber and their craft. Timber Framing Collective spokesperson, Richard Hyett, said, “By equipping …

Advanced manufacturing leader and timber supplier Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) has received AU$1.2 million in funding through the Victorian Forestry Plan innovation program. The latest funding will enable the company to expand its plantation timber manufacturing operation and help in the construction of a new AU$2.4 million specialised MASSLAM manufacturing facility. The expansion is expected to help ASH’s Heyfield mill …

OneFortyOne’s New Zealand’s Kaituna Sawmill and Marusumi Whangarei Co. Ltd, have signed an agreement to export wood chip to Japan with the first vessel expected to depart from Port Marlborough (Picton) before the end of the year. Port Marlborough has been a critical partner in providing logistical support for the trial, including 4,000m2 (0.4 ha) in the port’s Shakespeare Bay …

For over 50 years, Wellons has been a leader in providing biomass-fired energy systems, timber drying systems, and related products and services to the forest products industry. Firmly established and financially sound, we provide our customers with complete services in design, engineering, and manufacturing, as well as installation services and technical assistance. Wellons offers biomass energy systems including fuel storage …

Two large IWT-Moldrup thermal treatment plants with an annual capacity of 6,000 m3+ eachare being installed in New Zealand and Chile to be used on radiata pine. The IWT-Moldrupplants work with the closed system under pressure, Moldrup-SSP, where the thermaltreatment takes place at lower temperatures at around 180 C than the traditional open kilntype system at 230 C. The process …

Australia’s Mid-rise Advisory Program (MAP) is entering its next phase, which will see the management baton passed from the existing, dedicated MAP team into the capable hands of WoodSolutions. Since 2016, the MAP team developed a strong reputation for providing expert, impartial advice to building and design professionals and key industry decision makers. In partnership with the federal government and …

As a salute to Hyne Timber’s 140 years, long standing timber industry stakeholders recently came together for a grand luncheon at the Brisbane Tattersalls Club. Representing Hyne Timber and the Hyne family, Optimisation Lead Kelly Hyne was invited to give a short speech including thanking the organisers, Jim Bowden and Dr Gary Bacon. She proudly recognised the 140-year milestone, while …

In today’s competitive and demanding environment, excellent plant maintenance practices are at the forefront of requirements to achieve the necessary Production Plant Uptime to produce Quality Products at the required Quantity and Budget Cost. There are a vast number of components needed to achieve the desired end result. Desirable and Necessary Components of Good Plant Maintenance The Maintenance Team, Working …

USNR, a division of Wood Technologies International, has announced that it has acquired Timber Automation, an industry leader in wood processing equipment and technology. The combination solidifies USNR’s position in providing equipment and technology to the global wood processing industry, adding more than 250 employees and over 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The transaction will help Timber Automation gain …

Polytechnik Biomass Energy, a global technology leader in biomass combustion, wood gasification and carbonisation systems has announced that they have a new majority shareholder and has restructured in order that they can continue to offer their full range of biomass boiler systems. The restructuring was finalised on 20 June 2022. In late January, Polytechnik which was in insolvency, announced that …

Australian Softwood products Prices for untreated MGP structural timber products continued to increase in the first three months of 2022, with price movements ranging between 4.0% and 4.5% higher over the March quarter’s was the case in the previous quarter (December 2021), upward price movements for treated outdoor products were higher again, ranging between 4.6% and 5.3%. Strong upward price …

If you’re building or renovating a home, and frustrated with huge delays, you’re not alone. Australia’s builders are struggling to find timber. For items such as laminated veneer lumber, they’ve reported waiting up to four months. For trusses – used to build walls and roofs – up to nine months. Fears these shortages could send builders bust have been exaggerated, …

The Te Rapa factory of New Zealand company saveBOARD, which converts packaging waste into environmentally sustainable construction boards, has been officially opened by Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate and Hamilton West MP Dr Gaurav Sharma. Mayor Southgate said she was delighted Hamilton had been chosen as the base for an innovative technology that addressed both an environmental issue by reducing waste …

Life is difficult at the moment for builders and their customers in New Zealand. Building products are scarce as hen’s teeth, and if you do find what you want, the price has gone through the roof. It’s almost enough to make you want to up sticks and cross the Tasman. Here are some numbers to illustrate the damage. 21. The …

AE Gibson and Sons sadly announced that their driving force and former owner John Gibson passed away on the 6th June 2022. AE Gibson and Sons is located at Kendall, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, which was once the heart of Australia’s native forest industry. Having begun operations in the late 19th century, John and his team …

Construction of New Zealand’s first high-capacity green hydrogen refuelling station has started in Palmerston North. The site, adjacent to Palmerston North Airport, is the first of four hydrogen refuelling stations to be developed by innovative Kiwi energy companies Hiringa Energy and Waitomo Group. The partners are building New Zealand’s first nationwide hydrogen refuelling network. Andrew Clennett, CEO of Hiringa Energy, …