Australasia's home for timber news and information

Build the Empire State building in wood

Tall wood buildings proponent and famed architect Michael Green teamed with Finnish timber and panel maker Metsä Wood to redesign the iconic Empire State Building in timber frame construction. Source: The Woodworking Network This formed part of Metsä Wood’s Plan B campaign to ed
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Low grade timber off to China

Victoria’s low grade native timber could soon be packed into shipping containers bound for China and other cut-price countries for processing under a plan to help ailing state timber company VicForests. Source: The Age VicForests has been left without a market for hundreds of th
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Most states feel positive housing rebound

Latest figures confirm the number of new home commencements rebounded in the March quarter of 2015, said the Australian Housing Industry Association (HIA). Source: Timberbiz “The strong result for the March 2015 quarter was the second highest level for any quarter on record,” said HIA
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Join Milano Expo Tour

Italy’s Milano Expo features some of the world’s finest contemporary timber architecture. Source: Timberbiz In response to numerous requests for a follow-up to the successful WoodSolutions English tour, it is calling for expressions of interest from design and construction professiona
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Wooden skis back in vogue

Franklin Tasmania man Ian Haley started making handmade alpine skis four years ago after realising there was an untapped niche market. Source: ABC News A keen skier himself, Mr Haley one day found himself with extra time on his hands to devote to the research and the feasibility of pu
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Tas specialty timber workers seek UNESCO support

Tasmanian specialty timber workers may have Federal Government backing in their bid to have their craft recognised by UNESCO. Source: ABC News The specialty timber sector wants access to about 9000 hectares of World Heritage-listed forest. It believes Tasmania’s cultural history
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AFTA NZ takes shape

Australian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA) in New Zealand is a reality and the organisation will be known as ATFA NZ with a committee now in place setting the agenda for the remainder of the year. Sources: Timberbiz, Architecture & Design The ATFA NZ board is also adapting ATFA
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Hyne Design 7 users to install latest version

Robert Mansell, Design Solutions Manager for Hyne Timber, is urging all users of Hyne Design 7 software to install version 7.4 in order to continue using this free program after the end of June 2015. Source: Timberbiz “Our Hyne Design software has been developed and is owned by Hyne T
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Certification bodies workshop

AFS LTD is planning a workshop for certification bodies operating in the AFCS/PEFC Forest management and Chain of custody fields. It will be held in Sydney in late July. Source: Timberbiz The session will cover a number of important topics including: Update on and transition to recent
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Australian Timber Design Award entries to close

With entries closing on Friday 26 June, it is time to get your project registered for the Australian Timber Design Awards for 2015. Source: Timberbiz Entry is open to architects, landscape architects, building and interior designers and engineers with an array of categories available
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