by Web Editor | Aug 4, 2017 | News
If Yugon Kim realizes his dream, the new office building or housing complex going up in your city may be made out of large hardwood panels called cross laminated timber (CLT). The technology behind CLT has been used for decades in Europe, and it is just beginning to take root in the United States with softwood CLT leading the way. Kim’s Boston-based, architectural design firm IKD just won a $250,000 grant from the Forest Service for designing, developing and constructing the first hardwood CLT demonstration project in the United States.
The aim is to take low-value hardwoods and turn them into a high-value CLT construction project as a proof of concept. Kim explained, “Over 50% of every hardwood log in the region goes to low-value materials like pallets and cants. Our idea is to utilize this material and to upcycle it.”
Kim along with his design partner Tomomi Itakura have created an outdoor CLT construction project that is titled the Conversation Plinth and will be integrated as circular discs that provide a platform for viewing a sculpture at the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library.
Kim suggested, “The ultimate goal is to construct buildings in the United States using hardwood CLT. Our research hopes to lead toward hardwood mass timbers being used for U.S construction projects.”
The Conversation Plinth was designed for Exhibit Columbus, the annual celebration of architecture, art, design and community in Columbus, Indiana. IKD’s design was selected to win an inaugural J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize as part of a national competition.
From Pallet Enterprise: https://palletenterprise.com/view_article/4927/Hardwood-CLT
by Web Editor | Aug 2, 2017 | News
Raute Corporation has received an order worth over EUR 11 million for an LVL layup line for Roseburg Forest Products, Inc. (RFP) of Roseburg, Oregon, USA.
The present order received by Raute consists of a very high capacity LVL layup line. The line will be delivered to RFP’s new LVL mill in Chester, South Carolina, USA late 2018. The capacity of RFP’s new LVL mill will be 285,000 m3 per year and will be one of the largest capacity single LVL lines in the world. The equipment will be engineered and produced in Raute’s North American unit in Delta, Vancouver area, Canada.
The cooperation between RFP and Raute has continued for many years. Raute has delivered projects of various sizes to RFP’s plywood and LVL mills. The largest project was RFP’s first LVL line in Roseburg, Oregon, USA delivered in the year 2000.
The demand for LVL in the USA has been growing steadily in recent years. By building this new LVL mill Roseburg will be responding to that demand and intends to maintain their strong market position. Raute was selected as the supplier for the LVL layup line because of its extensive experience from earlier deliveries as well as Raute’s leading LVL process technology.
The present new order has no impact on Raute’s outlook for 2017, but it will strengthen the order book for 2018. Raute’s net sales will grow clearly and operating profit will improve clearly over the levels of 2016.
From GlobeNewswire: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/07/31/1064708/0/en/Raute-receives-an-order-worth-over-EUR-11-million-to-USA.html
by Web Editor | Jul 31, 2017 | News
A building materials supplier is investing $10 million dollars to build a new manufacturing facility in Bowling Green.
Governor Matt Bevin said Thursday that Carter Lumber Company will create 50 jobs for the region and operate under its Kight Home Center division. The operation will produce roof and floor trusses, wall panels and other wood products.
Construction of the 70,000 square-foot facility is anticipated to begin later this year and would open in late 2018 or early 2019.
Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson said Carter Lumber is welcome to the city’s business community that he says is expected to grow over the next several years.
From WKMS 91.3FM: https://wkms.org/post/building-material-company-invest-10-million-bowling-green-facility
by Web Editor | Jul 28, 2017 | News
Following the general election held on June 8th, The Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) announced the reconstitution of the Timber Industries All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG); their first annual general meeting (AGM) was July 12th at the House of Commons.
The Timber Industries APPG will help promote timber as the most sustainable and renewable building material and develop initiatives and economic measures to grow the whole UK Timber Industry supply chain. The Confederation of Timber Industries will assist Parliamentarians in their work by acting as the group’s secretariat and providing relevant information and logistic support.
The timber sector is in the top 50% of manufacturing industries in the UK, attracting investment and supporting jobs across the manufacturing and construction sectors, and adding over £10 billion per year to the UK economy. Every constituency in the UK benefits from jobs provided by our sector, whether in construction, manufacturing or distribution.
“We are pleased to see such widespread, cross-party support for our Industry,” said Roy Wakeman OBE, Chairman of the CTI. “The timber sector represents a major engine for the growth and development of the UK economy and, with the help of the Timber Industries APPG, we can deliver this message straight to key decision makers in Westminster. The CTI will be on hand to provide assistance and information to any MPs interested in the Industry, along with arranging regular visits to timber operations all over the country.”
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/pricing-supply/renewed-all-party-parliamentary-group-timber-industries-meets-westminster?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news
by Web Editor | Jul 26, 2017 | News
Egger Group has announced plans to build its first U.S. particleboard plant in Lexington, North Carolina. The Austrian-based panel producer will invest approximately $304 million for the first phase of the project, with the entire project expected to run about $700 million.
Construction is set to begin by the end of 2018, with production scheduled for 2020. The panel plant will create 400 direct jobs over the next six years, with an additional 370 jobs planned for later phases of the 15-year project.
The news was announced July 24, during a meeting with the North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, representatives of local authorities, company co-owner Michael Egger and Walter Schiegl, Egger Group Management Technology/Production.
Sources report the 4.5 million-square-foot production facility will be spread across more than 200 acres in an industrial park. The first stage of the project will involve the construction of a composite panel plant with coating capacities. The company said the North Carolina plant will feature state-of-the-art facilities and will enable it to better serve customers in North America.
“The planned production location in Lexington, North Carolina will play a decisive role for Egger’s increasing presence on the North American market for wood-based materials, as well as ensure product availability and delivery speed for our customers,” Schiegl said. Egger’s panel products are used in the manufacture of a variety of items, including laminate flooring, cabinetry, residential and commercial furniture, and casework.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/egger-plans-700-million-particleboard-plant-north-carolina?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news
by Web Editor | Jul 24, 2017 | News
It’s been 20 years since the first containers of AraucoPly plywood made their way from Chile to the United States in 1997. Arauco celebrated the anniversary in a special event held at its booth during AWFS Fair 2017.
The company said despite temporary setbacks caused by the economic downturn in 2008 and a wildfire that devastated one of its manufacturing plants in 2012, AraucoPly has made giant strides in growing its customer base throughout the United States and Canada. Michael Vincent, director of Import Panels – Arauco North America, noted that the United States and Canada now account for 40 percent of AraucoPly’s worldwide sales.
The plywood panels are made from 100 percent radiata pine, grown in the company’s own FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests and composed of cores using exterior PF resins for flatness and stability, Arauco said.
As part of the anniversary, Arauco is introducing factory-primed AraucoPly panels at the 2017 AWFS Fair in booth 4609. Primed AraucoPly Siding, Beaded and Sanded products are offered with a consistent, full-coverage prime on five sides (edges included) and a smooth, sanded back. The company says the primed option was introduced in response to growing market demand for the time-saving advantage of a factory-primed wood surface.
Also featured at AWFS, Arauco’s Prism TFL collection has expanded its North American distribution of the exclusive Taction Oak collection. The company says the oak’s natural characteristics are captured and replicated using Embossed in Register (EIR) technology, resulting in a finished panel that rivals the look and feel of wood. Offered in five contemporary colors, Taction Oak coordinates with Prism Accentz neutrals. The Prism collection features more than 80 styles, including 59 exclusive designs.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/awfs/awfs-news/araucoply-commemorates-20-years-north-america
