The development and introduction of cross-laminated timber (CLT) is causing a lot of excitement in the Australasian construction sector, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association. “CLT is a structural product suitable for load-bearing construction including multi-storey buildings. It is effectively a wooden form of a concrete tilt slab, which has already been utilised for ...

Nelson Airport’s new $32 million terminal redevelopment will highlight the capability of engineered wood products, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association. “This stunning building will showcase wood in its construction and once complete will be a showpiece, both for the Nelson region and the wider timber industry.” LVL from Nelson Pine Industries is integral ...

The new Kaikoura District Council building is a great example of Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) being combined with other engineered wood products including CLT in a Pres-Lam (Prestressed Laminated) timber building. “Pres-Lam is the result of years of research and a unique collaboration between commercial and academic partners at the University of Canterbury’s School of Engineering to create innovative structural ...

New Zealand has always had the ability to build bigger timber structures. However it wasn’t until the emergence of the latest timber technologies that this has become a cost effective possibility, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association. “The economies of using products such as CLT and LVL, combined with new construction systems and connectors ...

A quality assurance programme for structural timber called the Timber Quality Scheme (TQS) is focusing on the material’s two main properties – durability, and physical characteristics of strength and stiffness. The new scheme is being established by the New Zealand Timber Industry Federation (NZTIF), with the Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association, in conjunction with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and ...

Deciding on your new timber joinery, whether for a new or existing home, is a complex decision. Timber joinery is timeless in appearance and will suit modern architectural or traditional building methods. But not all timber joinery is created equal. There is quality timber joinery and there is cheap timber joinery, but there is no cheap, quality timber joinery. So ...

Dedication and commitment to ensuring New Zealand builders and building owners get the very best quality finished product is the aim of the Frame and Truss Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand (FTMA), says chairman, Robert Grimmer. “We represent the majority of the prefabricated timber framing industry in New Zealand, and are leading the way to ensure that prefabricated timber wall ...

Regular communication with its members around legislative changes is one of the key roles of the Frame and Truss Manufacturers’ Association, says chairman Robert Grimmer. “The vast majority of our members are small operators, with anywhere from five to 20 staff. They are not always in a position, or have the time to investigate and understand the implications of legislative ...

The major review of NZ Standard 3604 during 2010/ 2011 has provided greater clarity for frame and truss manufacturers around responsibility and reliability, but has also added new layers of administrative work, says FTMA chairman, Robert Grimmer. “This is a key standard and is considered to be the bible on methods and details for the design and construction of timber-framed ...

Timber has been a material of choice for New Zealand homes since the arrival of the first European settlers, with many nineteenth century homes constructed in timber still in use today. Robert Grimmer, chairman of the Frame and Truss Manufacturers’ Association says the benefits of timber are widely known, and with today’s focus on sustainability and high performance eco-homes, the ...