by Web Editor | Nov 30, 2015 | News
We get so excited about Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), the fancy plywood on steroids that we talk so much about on TreeHugger. But in fact, there is a much older technology for building with wood, that warehouses and factories were built out of 150 years ago with a fancy new name: Nail-Laminated Timber, or NLT. It used to be known as heavy timber or mill decking and is drop-dead simple: you just nail a pile of lumber together and voila.
Lucas Epp of Structurecraft stunned the audience in a presentation at the Wood Solutions Fair in Toronto, showing extraordinary projects built out of the stuff. Because while CLT is great stuff, it’s pretty new in North America, it’s expensive, and it’s not fully understood by the building inspectors. Whereas if you are doing a simple span, NLT does the job just fine, it’s a lot cheaper, can be made by anyone with a hammer and has been in the building codes forever.
It’s now being used in a 210,000 square foot, seven story office building in Minneapolis, where the developer, Hines, wanted “the warmth of wood and the embrace of green construction techniques and materials” to attract the tech and creative sector of the market. It also goes together much faster than a conventional steel or concrete building.
Heavy timber office and warehouse construction fell out of favor early in the 20th century after major fires in a number of cities caused the switch to concrete and steel noncombustible construction. The development of effective sprinklers has reduced that risk, and concerns about the carbon footprint of concrete have made renewable wood look a lot more attractive.
From TreeHugger.com: https://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/old-new-again-nail-laminated-timber.html?utm_source=WIT112715&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WeekInTrees
by Web Editor | Oct 30, 2015 | News
There will be no Hardwood Checkoff promotions program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stopped the rulemaking process on the controversial “Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood Promotion, Research and Information Order.” Published in the Oct. 28 Federal Register, the notice from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service states: “Based on comments received, outstanding substantive questions and significant proposed modifications from stakeholders, USDA is terminating the proceeding.” The termination is effective Oct. 29.
Originally published in the Federal Register in November 2013, the proposed Hardwood Checkoff sought to set a tax on lumber producers to help promote wood sales, similar to the “Got Milk?” and “Pork: The Other White Meat” ad programs. The USDA said it received more than 900 comments to the original proposal, the majority of which opposed the program.
A supplemental notice was issued in June 2015, with comments collected through Sept. 7. The sponsoring Blue Ribbon Committee also submitted revisions in September in an attempt to gain the necessary support for the program. Those revisions, which included the removal of plywood, flooring and green mills, and the scaling back of fees, would have reduced the generated revenues significantly below the $10 million sought in the original proposal.
However, the USDA said, “In response to the supplemental notice, USDA received over 300 comments; a majority of the comments continued to oppose the program. Based on all the comments received, outstanding substantive questions and significant proposed modifications to the proposed program from stakeholders, USDA is terminating the proceeding. This action also terminates the proposed rules on the referendum procedures.”
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/usda-kills-hardwood-checkoff-program?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
by Web Editor | Oct 9, 2015 | News
Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and paneling products manufacturer Smith & Fong Co. has launched a full line of high-end architectural bamboo and palm panel products for the India market, according to company founder Dan Smith.
“India has a rich history in design and architecture and the level of sophistication and appreciation is there,” Smith said. “We believe that our panel offerings will appeal to both contemporary and traditional tastes and also strike a chord with India’s growing awareness of sustainable and renewable design materials.”
Smith & Fong’s India launch includes its Plyboo, bamboo and Durapalm palm branded lines of decorative panels. The company chose Bangalore as its home base, with offices there through an exclusive representation agreement with ASA Global Enterprises to market and distribute the lines in India.
Included in the offerings are the Reveal, PlybooSound and Linear Line Collections in bamboo. The Reveal Collection represents panels that are richly carved and textured and the PlybooSound Collection offers aesthetics along with noise reduction components. The Linear Line Collection offers patterns from contemporary architectural lines to looks that resemble a multi-colored, hand-woven textile.
The palm collection under the Durapalm brand includes PalmWoven, a traditional woven motif and DecoPalm, a contemporary blocked, linear pattern with flat panel looks that express the rich warmth and beauty of the natural material.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/plywood-plyboo-maker-enters-india-market?ss=wood,wood,wood_of_the_month,wood,pricing_supply,wood,components_sourcing,wood,panel_supply,wood,wood_veneer,wood,lumber_quotes_charts
by Web Editor | Sep 11, 2015 | News
Plywood, flooring and green mills would be removed and fees would be scaled back under a simplified proposal for the Hardwood Checkoff program – an ad promotion program for hardwood lumber manufacturers similar to the ‘Got Milk’ program run by milk producers. The proposed changes to the “Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood Promotion, Research, and Information Order” would result in program funding being cut from an estimated $10 million down to around $3 million to $4 million.
Hardwood Checkoff sponsor The Blue Ribbon Committee submitted a letter to the USDA dated Sept. 7 calling for the changes. The public comment period closed Sept. 9, with more than 1,300 woodworkers weighing in on the USDA’s June 9 re-proposal of the Hardwood Checkoff.
The latest changes involve a notable reduction in the scope of the program — from the original 1,426 mills targeted to approximately 375 mills selling kiln-dried lumber only. The eligible mills would be assessed at a flat rate of $.50 per $1,000 in sales, while mills under $2 million would continue to be exempted.
According to the BRC, “The changes we are recommending would significantly reduce [the checkoff], resulting in a roughly $3 to $4 million annual program…we would point out that even this lowered amount is over 10 times what has ever been collected through voluntary programs in the past.” The committee also noted the greater ability to leverage checkoff funds through building on the programs already begun by the softwood and paper checkoffs.
The BRC said opposition to the original proposal convinced it “that the target would need to be reduced.” Specifically, the BRC agreed to remove green mills, plywood, and unfinished flooring from the program, and to simplify the assessment rate to one calculation, lowered from $1 to $.50 per $1,000 in sales.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/plywood-flooring-dropped-hardwood-checkoff-proposal?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
by Web Editor | Aug 31, 2015 | News
In a move which will double its capacity, RedBuilt LLC is adding a laminated veneer lumber line at its Stayton, OR, facility, one of four manufacturing plants by the Boise, ID-based company. RedBuilt manufactures engineered structural wood products for commercial and multi-family applications.
“This press will nearly double our existing RedLam LVL capacity,” RedBuilt President and CEO Kurt Liebich said. “Our new line will help us meet demand for our engineered wood products. We’re committed to investing in the future of the business and providing the innovative solutions our customers have depended on for decades.”
The new four-foot LVL press is being supplied by Tahei Machinery, a manufacturer of plywood and woodworking machinery in Komaki City, Japan.
“LVL is at the heart of virtually all our products, from RedLam headers and beams and flanges in Red-I I-joists and open-web trusses, to RedPlank scaffold plank and our concrete forming and shoring solutions,” Liebich said. “With this new line, RedBuilt is better positioned to control the supply and quality of products we manufacture and serve our customers’ growing needs.”
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/redbuilt-engineered-lumber-facility-doubles-capacity?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
