by Web Editor | Sep 8, 2017 | News
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will issue a final rule that will extend compliance dates for the national Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products, according to Furniture Today.
“As announced on its website this week, the dates will be amended as follows:
* Emission standards, recordkeeping and labeling provisions from December 12, 2017, to December 12, 2018
* Import certification provisions from December 12, 2018, to March 22, 2019
* Laminated product producer provisions from December 12, 2023, to March 22, 2024
* The conclusion of the transition period for CARB Third-Party Certifiers from December 12, 2018, to March 22, 2019
“On July 11, the EPA also published a direct final rule that would remove a provision that prohibited the early labeling of compliant products before the original December 12 deadline. As it received no adverse comments on this matter, the rule has been changed to allow companies to label compliant products before the new December 2018 deadline. That change became effective August 25, meaning that companies can begin labeling product manufactured by this date.
“The EPA said it has received no negative comments on these changes, which are being finalized as proposed.”
From Floor Daily: https://www.floordaily.net/flooring-news/epa-extends-compliance-dates-for-composite-wood-products
by Web Editor | Sep 6, 2017 | News
Norbord is buying up wood burned by the Gustafsen wildfire. A local logging contractor, Rod Dillman, is the first to begin harvesting in the Gustafsen fire area, says Mike Kennedy, Woodlands Manager with Norbord in an email. He adds that there are some unique challenges logging burned wood.
“According to Rod, a primary challenge in logging the burned wood is the increased maintenance needed on his machines. There is a lot of ash dust which, even more than ‘normal’ dirt, tends to stick to surfaces and must be washed off rather than just wiped. It also makes it necessary to change air filters more frequently. Finally, carbon in the ash is hard on the knives used in the harvesting equipment. Rod also states that they are learning as they go, as this is the first time he has operated in such a large area of scorched timber.”
Kennedy says that luckily there are a few things that have moderated the effect of the fires on the trees, meaning most of the wood is still intact underneath the bark. “Certain species, for example, Douglas-fir with its thick bark, have evolved to withstand the effects of fire, which is a common natural event in the areas where it grows. Fire intensity was not uniform across the landscape, so in many places, trees were scorched on the bark only with minimal damage to the underlying wood. Entire trees are not necessarily affected, with more damage occurring in the bottom portion. It is often possible to buck this out with log processors at the roadside. Processing pressure can be increased to remove most of the severely burned bark or wood.”
They take pride in their adaptability to make the most of the fiber available and are very experienced using dry pine beetle killed wood, he says. “Norbord maintains the highest quality standards for our products and these standards are ensured through third-party certification by APA – The Engineered Wood Association. We have been able to use burned wood in the past.”
From 100 Mile Free Press: https://www.100milefreepress.net/news/norbord-starts-logging-burned-wood/
by Web Editor | Aug 30, 2017 | News
Engineered wood is also known as man-made wood or composite wood, and these are quite popular in recent times due to their cost effective and ecofriendly properties. These woods are formed of composite materials manufactured by binding the strands, fibers and particles all together with the help of suitable adhesives. These engineered woods can be made by utilizing wastes such as sawmill waste, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw and other wood wastes thus making them cost effective and environmentally friendly. Engineered wood is mainly used as a substitute to hardwood and concrete.
In many construction building projects, the products of engineered wood are used as an alternative of steel in beams. One of the advantages offered by engineered wood products is that it can be designed as per the demand and custom specifications of the end user. The main users of engineered wood products are construction developers, architects, designers etc. Promotion of green life and regulations concerning deforestation has led the global engineered wood market to expand with a decent pace.
Government norms and regulations such as Bharat stage emission standards or European emission standards regarding CO2 emissions are driving the market for engineered wood at whole different level. Owing to the factors like cost efficiency, enhanced quality, waste reduction and environmentally friendly nature, the engineered wood market is expected to witness significant growth in the market. There are certain innovations in the technologies and machining systems have been developed in order to improve the efficiency and quality of the products which are expected to further drive growth of the market.
Although the global engineered wood market has potential opportunities in the future still the manufacturers of engineered wood products face some challenges regarding durability and fire resistant properties of engineered wood products. There are certain adhesives like Urea-formaldehyde used in the manufacturing of engineered wood products which are quite toxic. Also some products such as particleboard may not be suitable for outdoor use as they are more prone to humidity. The ongoing developments regarding advanced grading and better material selection techniques is expected to result in improved definition of timber quality and efficient performance of the products.
From LANEWS.org: https://www.lanews.org/growing-industrialization-will-influence-the-engineered-wood-market-growth-2017-2027/
by Web Editor | Aug 23, 2017 | News
A Polymer Solutions Group (PSG) company, Sasco Chemical, announced that it has acquired the wood release agent product line of Michelman, Inc., a supplier of release agents to the engineered wood market.
PSG is a manufacturer of specialty polymers and additives for the rubber, wood, consumer, construction, and medical industries. Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials with surface additives and polymeric binders.
In 2015, Sasco opened a release agent production facility in Albany, Georgia and has expanded its business in the wood release agents market over the past several years by leveraging its core competencies around anti-tack products primarily sold into the rubber industry.
“The acquisition of Michelman’s Michem wood release agents will advance PSG’s strategic goal of growing its product portfolio of functional materials for the construction industry,” said Mike Ivany, president and CEO of PSG. “Specifically, this solidifies PSG and Sasco as a dedicated supplier to the engineered wood market and provides a platform to expand PSG’s presence into other technical and geographical areas.”
To ensure a smooth transition, Michelman will continue to manufacture the acquired products for PSG while the production capacity is increased at its production facilities. Over the next few months, Sasco’s wood products and the newly acquired products from Michelman will be integrated into PSG’s functional materials business segment and will be sold under PSG’s existing brand name, TechKote.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/polymer-solutions-group-acquires-michelmans-wood-release-agent
by Web Editor | Aug 21, 2017 | News
Ever since the 10-story Home Insurance Building in Chicago was called the first “skyscraper” in 1885, architects have been striving to create ever-taller buildings. Ten stories quickly became 20, 20 became 50, and on and on. In 2009 the Burj Khalifa in Dubai became the world’s tallest building, with its 154 floors towering above ground level.
So why is the mayor of Portland, Oregon, calling a modest 12-story tower set for completion there next year “a true technological and entrepreneurial achievement?” It’s not the affordable housing the building affords, nor its dozens of bike racks or even the roof farm that has Ted Wheeler gushing. It’s that the Framework apartment building will be made almost entirely of wood.
Once completed, Framework will be America’s tallest wooden building and its first “plyscraper” — a high-rise building built with panels made of cross-laminated timber (CLT). These modular sheets are made from cheap, sustainable softwood that are glued or pinned together in layers — a bit like super-strong, super-thick plywood.
While the raw material might vary in quality, CLT (also known as mass timber) is engineered to be stronger than concrete. CLT panels resist earthquakes and even fire, charring instead of catching alight like the lumber in typical homes.
Plyscrapers can be bolted together in days, and they require a fraction of the labor use to erect traditional steel-and-concrete high-rises. “You don’t need an experienced master carpenter to do this,” says Casey Malmquist, founder of Columbia Falls, Montana-based SmartLam, one of only two CLT manufacturers in the U.S. “It literally goes together like Legos.”
From NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/tech/eco-friendly-plyscrapers-are-rise-here-s-why-ncna793346
