Commercial and industrial buildings are incorporating more wood into their construction.

Along with the strength needed to last in heavy duty applications, wood has its own unique advantages.

Wood's warmth makes it perfect for adding a cozy feeling to retail and office spaces, and the speed and efficiency that prefabrication offers is perfect for manufacturing buildings with a repeatable floorplan. Modern mass timber buildings arrive at the construction site in components prefabricated off-site in a climate-controlled environment to be easily installed when they get to their destination.

Wood was a natural choice for the construction of StructureCraft's facility in Abbotsford, B.C., which was built from a simple kit of parts composed of glue-laminated timber columns and beams, tall wood walls, and wood roof panels.

Continue Reading >

Equilibrium Consulting principal Robert Malczyk may be the Engineer of Record on Shigeru Ban's tall downtown Vancouver timber project, but he's more interested in the humble mid-rise. The mid-rise, not the attention seeking wood skyscraper, he argues, will ultimately transform the way we see wood-frame and mass-timber construction.

"Combining energy efficiency and mass timber is my personal passion," says Malczyk. "Of course, it's nice to be involved in these [tall] buildings, but I think the biggest change we can influence is in mid-rises."

Shigeru Ban's Terrace House in Coal Harbour is one of a number of wood skyscrapers underway in the global race to the top. The first twelve stories will be constructed with traditional concrete and steel, while the remaining seven will feature exterior wood elements and floor plates cut from timber. The plan is for all of the wood to be sourced locally.

Continue Reading >

As of August 22, 2019, the CanExport for SMEs project funding limit will increase up to $75,000 to cover up to 75% of eligible expenses. 

In order to make the changes to our systems, the CanExport for SMEs application system will be closed from August 9 to 21 and will re-open on August 22. Any current projects and those submitted before August 22 will continue to have access to a maximum of $50,000 in funding to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses.

"For too long the focus has been on maximizing volume but not value, and so we want to flip that on its ear,"  Doug Donaldson , minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development, told  Business in Vancouver .

During 2019's first half, the B.C. government announced a number of measures aimed at supporting the increased production of engineered wood products for the construction industry, with a particular focus on building taller mass timber structures.

Upcoming Vancouver Workshop, starts	October 23, 24, November 1, 28
Application Deadline:	October 9, 2019
Upcoming Prince George Workshop, starts	November 6, 7, 14, December 12
Application Deadline:	October 23, 2019
Schedule:	Registration: 8:30-9:00am Workshop program: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Participation Fee:	Full bursaries available for qualified BC wood products manufacturers. Inquire at BC Wood for details.

New trade agreements and a competitive Canadian dollar make it an ideal time to extend your company's reach through the export of goods and services.

World Trade Centre Vancouver has successfully delivered Canada's Trade Accelerator Program (TAP), in B.C. since 2017. 

The Trade Accelerator Program is designed to help SMEs TAP into their full export potential.  It has a proven track record helping participants get results. 

Have questions? Call Rhonda McDowell at the World Trade Centre office on 604-640-5491 or email  info@wtcvancouver.ca or Randi Walker at BC Wood 604-882-7100 or email  rwalker@bcwood.com.

More information >

October 5-7, 2019 (plus 2 optional days)

7/21 AIBC LUs Approved (1-day lecture or 3-day workshop)

	2018 - Robot Made Workshop prototype: Stressed Skin Structure

David Correa, Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, Oliver David Krieg, Director of Technology at LWPAC, and AnnaLisa Meyboom, Associate Professor at UBC will hold a workshop on robotic fabrication at the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Using a state of the art seven axis industrial robot configuration, the workshop will guide participants through the unique technical and conceptual foundations that underpin robotic milling in wood through the development of a full-scale fabrication project.

The Workshop: The workshop is structured as a one full-day intensive in class session on Saturday with robot orientation, followed by a parametric design and fabrication session on Sunday and then hands-on fabrication session the following three days. Participants can opt for the full program or the shortened program.

Continue Reading >

CAWP is pleased to announce that it will lead a technical tour for wood products manufacturers, architects, engineers and policy makers, interested in advanced mass-timber construction and prefabricated/modular energy efficient home design to Italy and Austria. The tour will start on Sunday, December 1st and end on Saturday, December 7th, including two days at the 25th International Holzbau Forum to be held for the first time in Innsbruck, Austria.

A group of 15-20 industry participants accompanied by group leaders from UBC-CAWP and UNBC will visit production facilities of state-of-the-art producers of prefabricated homes and building components (glulam, CLT, prefabricated/modular construction, and other products). Visits to building projects both completed and under construction will be conducted, including some notable contemporary building projects realized in timber.

The group size will be limited to 20 people. More information can be found at:

Timber Building Tour 2019 - First Notice or by contacting Jason at jason.chiu@ubc.ca.

A comprehensive, hands-on introduction to drying technology taught from a practical, real-life  perspective and backed with solid explanations into the scientific background of drying.

 

This highly-regarded workshop discusses the key processes and concepts involved in drying  wood. Beginning with wood properties and moisture movement, students become familiar with  kiln design considerations, drying schedules and kiln loading considerations. Other topics include  drying with air, drying degrade, lumber storage and handling, control systems and power plants.

 

Kiln Workshop Description

 

For more information, please contact Jason at jason.chiu@ubc.ca

UBC - Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) will be offering two "online" courses; Production Planning and Marketing Green Products.  Both these courses will run for 8 weeks starting September 9th to November 4th, 2019.  These wood products industry specific courses are designed for owners, managers, supervisors or management tracked employees.  These are not academic courses and the skills learned can be applied immediately to the work place.  Each part-time course is led by a tutor with extensive industry experience. 

 

For more information on the courses, please click on the following link:  Management Skill Training or call Jason Chiu at 604-822-0082.

Part-time online training program with a one-week hands-on practical session.

 

This is North America's most comprehensive wood finishing certificate program. 

 

The certificate program provides participants with a broad understanding of the field of wood finishing.  It's designed for individuals who have some general experience in wood finishing and would like to expand their knowledge.  

 

Once completed, learners will have knowledge and experience to do the following:

This course will provide you with the knowledge and tools to start a finishing business or to improve an existing one.

 

Starts January 6, 2020 - April 11, 2020

One week intensive practical - April 6-10, 2020

 

Space is Limited, Register Now!

Website:  www.cawp.ubc.ca/training

Email: jason.chiu@ubc.ca

Tel: 604 822-0082

Pan-Abode International, a division of the AP Group, is a long-standing British Columbia-based manufacturer of milled log homes. Since the company's inception in 1948, Pan-Abode has maintained the highest standards of quality with an emphasis on solid log construction using 100% Western Red Cedar. Pan-Abode designs, engineers, and manufactures both standard and custom homes for customers across Canada, the US, and around the world. Packages contain all materials to lock-up, including subfloor, exterior log walls, interior log walls and framing, siding (dependent on design), windows, doors, roof system, and the roof itself.

Founder Aage Jensen, a Danish master carpenter, established the company on the idea that anyone could build a "cabin in the woods". He quickly realized the amazing properties of Western Red Cedar and combined the wood with his joinery skills and tongue and groove, creating the original Pan-Abode system. This system has gone through several iterations over the years, but since the early 90's, the company has been using 4x6 logs with a double tongue and groove profile. They find this the perfect sweet spot to gain the benefits of thermal mass without compromising on the quality of their tight-knot, free of heart centre fibre that prevents checking, warping or twisting. The company has grown considerably over the years and has dealer networks world-wide.

Today, Pan-Abode still maintains the belief that anyone can build their cabin in the woods, by creating clear, well labelled kits. Pan-Abode also offers extensive customer service, from creating home designs from scratch to site visits, ensuring the product makes the best use of land. Using Western Red Cedar means the end-user has a high-quality product that needs little maintenance. It is not only individuals who love the product, but contractors and builders too, as it greatly reduces labour time. The packages have grown from a cabin in the woods to high-end homes and commercial buildings, such as yoga and meditation retreats,  visitor centres, fishing and hunting lodges, and golf clubhouses.

Pan-Abode will be exhibiting at this year's Global Buyers Mission in Whistler, BC from September 11-13. You can visit them online at panabode.com or follow them on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. For inquiries, contact Kelly Marciniw at kellymarciniw@panabode.com.

BC Wood will be organizing industry participation at the UBCM Trade Show at the Vancouver Convention Center (East Building), on Wednesday and Thursday, September 25-26, 2019.

The show provides a unique opportunity for suppliers to promote and connect with a myriad of municipal and local governments, as well as regional district representatives - all in one locale! The UBCM Trade Show presents the best occasion to meet, exchange ideas, accelerate or forge new relationships with those tasked with planning and constructing community service facilities.

The UBCM Trade Show's primary attendees are elected local government officials, including Mayors, Councillors, and Regional District Directors. Many non-elected decision makers such as Corporate Administrative Officers, City Managers, Finance, Purchasing and Community Services Managers, in addition to several Provincial Ministers and MLA's also attend.

Exhibition space is limited, so for more information regarding participation at the UBCM Trade Show in BC Wood's pavilion, please contact Brian Hawrysh at 604-882-7100 or email bhawrysh@bcwood.com.