by Web Editor | Apr 29, 2015 | News
A new panel technology integrating wood, textile and geometric cutting patterns, is adding another dimension to furniture and architectural design.
Developed by Wood-Skin Srl, which was founded in 2013, the highly-flexible Wood-Skin panels incorporate a core of nylon mesh and polyester resin sandwiched between layers of Finnish birch plywood, MDF, OSB, Okume or other specialty materials, and finished with wood or stone veneer, laminates, metal or varnish.
After the panel core is made, 3D modelling software is used to create the design pattern. The sheets are then routed into the prescribed polygon shapes/angles. These become the bending points, or “digital hinges,” for shaping the one-piece Wood-Skin panel into architectural millwork, such as ceilings, curtain walls and facades, or as self-supporting 3D furniture, such as tables.
Already with projects under its belt Wood-Skin Srl also debuted its “Programmable Table” at this year’s Fuori Salone Del Mobile in Milan. The table was a collaboration with MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab, with Biesse as the technical sponsor.
Standard sheets of the Wood-Skin panel are 1200mm x 1250/2450/3050mm, 1500mm x 1550/2550/3050mm and 2500mm x 1250mm, with three thicknesses — 4mm, 6.5mm and 12mm — available. The company says Wood-Skin can be used for indoor or outdoor projects, and is available with water-resistant and fire-resistant characteristics.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/One-Piece-Wood-Skin-Panels-Can-Be-Bent-Into-3D-Shapes-301211771.html#sthash.DPEom1yl.dpbs
by Web Editor | Apr 24, 2015 | News
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, it would be better if we built buildings from wood than from concrete, brick, aluminum and steel.
We use millions of tons of these modern materials every year. They have many valuable properties, but are energy-intensive to create, accounting for around 16% of the entire planets’ fossil fuel production. Instead we could be using wood, which is also strong, renewable, and plentiful – we use only a fraction of the world’s available forestry resources.
Our research, published in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry, estimated that the world’s forests contain about 385 billion cubic meters of wood, with an additional 17 billion cubic meters growing each year. A mere 3.4 billion cubic meters is harvested each year, mostly for subsistence fuel burning; the rest rots, burns in fires, or adds to forests’ density.
Swapping steel, concrete, or brick for wood and specially engineered wood equivalents would drastically reduce global carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuel consumption and would represent a renewable resource. What’s more, managed properly this can be done without loss of biodiversity or carbon storage capacity.
In our study undertaken by scientists from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the University of Washington’s College of the Environment we evaluated various scenarios including leaving forests untouched, burning wood for energy and use of wood as a construction material.
From Architecture & Design: https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/comment/swap-steel-concrete-and-brick-for-wood-wooden-buil?utm_source=WIT042415&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WeekInTrees
by Web Editor | Apr 22, 2015 | News
Total exports of U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached a record USD 108.93 million for the year 2014, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. The statistics, which have been compiled from the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), reveal an overall 20 percent increase over 2013 figures. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Dubai WoodShow 2015 where AHEC is hosting the largest ever American Hardwood Pavilion, featuring twenty-one U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer exporters.
According to the data released, exports of American hardwood lumber reached a value of USD 79.07 million and a volume of 98,425 cubic meters during 2014. This equates to an increase in value of 23 percent over 2013 and an increase in volume of 8 percent. Direct exports of U.S. hardwood veneers to the MENA region reached a total value of USD 29.86 million last year, rising by 12 percent from 2013. However, it is important to note that American hardwood veneers are also shipped to the region from European countries and China, while veneers are also produced in the region – notably in Turkey – from imported American hardwood logs. U.S. hardwood log exports to the MENA region reached a total volume of 34,957 cubic meters and a value of USD 20.47 million in 2014.
Commenting on the record exports to the region, Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Oceania, said: “The most significant increases in shipments of U.S. hardwood lumber were seen in the United Arab Emirates (up by 48 percent to 15,723 cubic meters), Egypt (up by 22 percent to 11,614 cubic meters), Jordan (up by 18 percent to 5,949 cubic meters), Lebanon (up by 23 percent to 4,735 cubic meters), Qatar (up by 55 percent to 3,015 cubic meters) and Morocco (up by 31 per cent to 2,329 cubic meters). However, a marginal downturn in volume of only 2 percent was seen in shipments to Turkey, which reached 12,700 cubic meters and a slight downturn was seen in shipments to Saudi Arabia, which reached 10,513 cubic meters.”
From Zawya: https://www.zawya.com/story/Exports_of_US_hardwood_lumber_to_MENA_reaches_record_USD10893m_in_2014-ZAWYA20150415105310/
by Web Editor | Apr 20, 2015 | News
Mushrooms Replace Formaldehydes In Particleboard Manufacturing
An American design and material science company has developed an unlikely replacement for the toxic urea formaldehyde used in particleboard manufacturing: mushrooms.
Ecovative Design has figured out how to replace urea formaldehyde, which is used to bind wood particles together in particleboards, with the root structure of mushrooms, called mycelium.
The firm claims that mycelium performs as good as any formaldehyde in binding the wood particles, but will break down into harmless organic matter when disposed.
Ecovative is currently using mycelium in particleboard, insulation, brick manufacturing and packaging materials, but has predicted that the product will be used in the manufacturing of other construction materials in the future.
From Architecture & Design.
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by Web Editor | Apr 17, 2015 | News
Swanson Acquires Olympic Panel
Swanson Group Manufacturing LLC has acquired Olympic Panel Products in Shelton, Wash., a longtime panel manufacturing facility and top plywood overlay producer in North America. Swanson purchased the plant from Atlas Holdings subsidiary New Wood Resources.
The plant in Shelton will operate into 2016 while Swanson rebuilds its Springfield, Ore. plant that was destroyed by fire in summer 2014. Plans are to eventually transfer Olympic Panel’s assets and production to the new Springfield facility.
“Swanson is building a world-class plywood and veneer manufacturing facility in a location with an excellent workforce and log supply,” says Steve Swanson, President and CEO of Swanson Group. “We have long been impressed with the quality and depth of Olympic’s overlay product line and believe this acquisition fits with our goal to become the leading producer of overlay panels in North America.”
According to Swanson, some of the equipment in Shelton will make its way to Springfield. “We won’t be using the lathe or dryers from Shelton, but we will be using some presses, sanders, spreaders, detail saws, etc.,” he says. “We plan to start some layup at Springfield before we take Shelton down.”
The plywood plant at Shelton dates to 1964 when it was built by Simpson Lumber—and it’s physically a part of Simpsons’ large manufacturing complex there, sharing power and steam. Atlas Holdings purchased the plant’s assets from Simpson in 2003 and renamed the plant Olympic Panel Products.
Swanson plans to have its new mill finished and ready to start up by mid 2016. The plant will employ 190.
Swanson says the mill will utilize a state-of-the-art triple-spindle peeling system with sheet and random stacking; two dryers, one handling wides and the other randoms, feeding to respective stacking systems; and a layup line and related systems that enable more overlay production.
When in full operation, the plant should produce 20MMSF of veneer per month while laying up about 10-12MMSF. Of the remaining output, lower grade material will go to Swanson’s Glendale, Ore. plywood plant for use in sheathing products, and higher grades will be sold to LVL producers in the region.
The Swanson Group acquired the Springfield plant in 2007 and also operates a plywood plant and sawmill in Glendale and a stud mill in Roseburg, Ore. Including a helicopter division and forest products sales and distribution company, Swanson Group employs more than 630 in western Oregon.
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Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!
by Web Editor | Apr 17, 2015 | News
The American Wood Council has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct research on the fire performance of mass timber buildings. AWC will partner with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Fire Protection Research Foundation and the Property Insurance Research Group.
The AWC proposal is intended to advance the construction of taller wood buildings in the United States by demonstrating the fire performance of newer mass timber products. Over the last several years, tall wood buildings have been completed around the world using this new technology – including a 9-story building in London, 10-story in Prince George, Canada, and 14-story building now under construction in Bergen, Norway. These buildings have consistently demonstrated the successful application of mass timber technologies.
“Findings from this project will inform the building community and the insurance industry, providing an increased level of confidence in both the adequacy of this new construction type and when setting fire insurance premiums. This is a new method of construction to insurers, and in order to provide reasonable insurance coverage, they need to understand the performance of the material,” said AWC Vice President of Codes & Regulations Kenneth Bland. Increased use of wood in building construction also holds great promise for improved environmental impacts.
“Innovative mass timber wood products encourage sustainable forestry and capture large amounts of carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse emissions through both sequestration and the substitution of wood for more carbon-intensive products. The construction of tall wood buildings would put America at the forefront of an emerging global opportunity,” said AWC President & CEO Robert Glowinski.
When announcing the USDA 2015 Wood Innovations grant recipients, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “Working with our partners, the Forest Service is promoting deployment of new technologies, designed to support new market opportunities for wood energy and innovative wood building materials.”
From the American Wood Council: https://www.awc.org/NewsReleases/2015/newsreleases2015.php#20150415
