WoodTECH Update – Issue 31

Welcome to the latest issue of WoodTECH.News.

In this month’s issue, we start with a new world record for CLT panels. Using TS3 technology, the Austrian timber building includes a huge 650m2 cross-laminated timber panel. The future for large timber constructions is growing rapidly, with an 18 storey timber building opening in Norway and the world’s first all timber football stadium planned for England. The local market looks interesting too. The annual mass timber technology conference, WoodWorks 2020, hosted over 160 engineered wood design and construction experts in Rotorua, New Zealand, last month.

In Australian news, Timberlink Australia is looking to finalise the location of their new AU$60 million timber processing facility, with sites in South Australia and Victoria being considered. AKD is expanding its apprenticeship and graduate programs to create more opportunities for the local community post-Covid. There has also been new research, funded by FWPA, on wood dust exposure in the workplace.

For New Zealand, a number of Bay of Plenty timber companies have received welcome investment from the New Zealand Provincial Growth Fund. Up to NZ$22 million will be injected into the local community. In another story, Australian-based Stirling Machinery is now providing a fully integrated service for new machinery and servicing throughout New Zealand.

Read all the above stories and more in this month’s issue. Remember, you can also send through any contributions, stories or links that we can pass onto the wider community.