Wanting to promote a mass transformation in timber construction across the property sector in Australia, the Australian government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is providing $300 million (AUD) in debt finance for eligible projects nationwide. The new CEFC program seeks to transform large-scale building construction in Australia, with the potential to cut construction-related emissions.
News in engineered wood products mass timber
New White Paper Released on Mass Timber Construction in the UK
The RICAAuthority, an annually funded research scheme supported by 24 major United Kingdom insurers, has just released a new white paper on mass timber construction in the UK. The report, “Insurance Challenges of Massive and Mass Timber Construction,” is recommending that hybrid structures combining traditional and modern method of construction may represent the best route forward to satisfying multiple considerations including insurance risks and carbon reduction.
B.C. Becomes Mass Timber Hub of North America — How it All Began
According to Nate Bergen, project development manager at Kinsol Timber Systems, “British Columbia is currently seen as the hub of North America when it comes to mass timber architecture, engineering, and installation.” Bergen goes onto say in his interview with the Daily Hive, that “Aside from all the performance advantages of mass timber, some of the biggest benefits come from the ability to pre-plan and prefabricate mass timber buildings…”
Segezha Group’s Sokol Plant Earns Conformité Européenne (CE) Certification for CLT Panels
The Segezha is reporting that their Sokol CLT plant has successfully passed its Conformité Européenne (CE) certification for its cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. The CE certificate was obtained after a field audit performed by employees of HolzForschung Austria, the largest Austrian wood research and testing institute. The certificate confirms that the enterprise has deployed modern practices to verify that the quality of its products meets European requirements.
Colorado Firm Bringing CLT Usage to Smaller, Rural Settings
As the climate in Colorado continues to dry and warm, wildfire mitigation efforts such as forest thinning are becoming ever more important. However, much of the thinned wood often ends up in a landfill or is wasted. Timber Age Systems, Colorado-based company is working to change that. TAS is working with smaller trees, beetle-killed material, and other wood products that don’t always meet commercial needs and turning them into CLT on a smaller size scale.
Schilliger Holz AG Announces Investment in an Automated CLT Production Line in Vogelsheim, France
According to Schilliger, the new CLT production line will be installed in an existing part of the plant. Schilliger estimates the annual capacity in a two-shift operation will be approximately 50,000 m3 CLT. The plant is scheduled to begin operation in January 2024.
One Equity Partners to Acquire Majority Interest in Rosboro
One Equity Partners, a New York City-based middle market private equity firm, announced today (1-6-22) that it has acquired a majority interest in Rosboro from Wynnchurch Capital. Wynnchurch Capital will remain a significant minority shareholder. Terms of the private purchase were not disclosed. Rosboro is based in Springfield, Oregon and operates captive sawmills and glued laminated timber (glulam) production facilities.
Five-Story Post-and-Beam Terminus at District 56 in Langford, B.C. Completed
The new Terminus at District 56 commercial building located in Langford, B.C. has been completed. The five-story mass timber post-and-beam building includes mass-timber components from Structurlam Mass Timber Corp., in partnership with Design Build Services and Aspect Structural Engineers. Located on Vancouver Island, the new building contains the first buckling-restrained braces housed within a timber frame.
Ontario’s First Mass Timber, Net-Zero Carbon Institutional Building Taking Shape at Centennial College
Construction is underway on Ontario’s first mass timber and net-zero carbon institutional building. The A-Block expansion program at Centennial College’s Progress Campus in Scarborough began in November and progress is already visible at the site. The expansion includes a 136,000 square-foot extension of the existing A-Block Building, using FSC certified black spruce from Northern Quebec, which has been cross-laminated and glue-laminated.
Oregon Mass Timber Coalition Project Selected as Finalist for New Federal Funding
A proposed project by the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition to create a mass timber modular facility in Portland has been selected as one of 60 finalists for new federal funding through the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. If chosen to move forward, they could receive up to $100 million to expand mass timber production, boost jobs, help with wildfire prevention, and lead to more affordable housing.