XLam cross laminated timber coming to Australia

XLam have announced plans to expand Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) production capacity both in New Zealand and Australia.

The first Australian order for a project in Sydney has already been accepted.

The installation of a second press at the New Zealand based plant will see CLT production capacity double as early as next month, June 2015.

This is a significant announcement for the Australian commercial construction, design and architecture industry particularly in the multi residential market.

XLam will be exhibiting at the imminent FRAME Australia Conference being held on 1 June at Park Hyatt, Melbourne and available to answer questions face to face.

In Australia, there are currently only two CLT buildings located in Melbourne using panels shipped all the way from Europe. In New Zealand alone, XLam have already completed 80 building projects since 2012. XLam is the only CLT manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Weekly shipping services direct from Nelson in New Zealand’s South Island to Australian ports will enable XLam to supply early Australian projects from across the Tasman.

Plans are well underway to establish an Australian plant. Meanwhile, XLam will take a selective approach to the Australian market, focussing on bespoke projects which look well suited to the CLT system on one hand and the Australian Building Code on the other.

Their expansion will also see the creation of jobs both in New Zealand and Australia and XLam is already calling for expressions of interest from qualified structural engineers.

Spokesperson for XLam, Robin Jack said this expansion into Australia and increased production in New Zealand is in response to significant interest and recognised success of CLT for construction,

“Cross Laminated Timber is a strong, quality product for complete residential and commercial construction, including prefabricated flooring, walls and roofing.

“It is entirely prefabricated in the factory before being loaded onto trucks in the order in which it will be craned off straight into position at the construction site. This results in faster, safer construction with all associated cost benefits.

“It is aesthetically pleasing, versatile to suit contemporary designs, uses a natural resource and can even be reconfigured, relocated and ultimately recycled.

“This is the timber construction era, there is no doubt about that but there is currently a void in CLT availability throughout Australia which we will fill. We are looking forward to exhibiting at the FRAME Australia conference and being available to discuss projects and answer questions face to face with industry representatives.

“As the only producer of CLT in the Southern Hemisphere, we underwent a long journey prior to reaching the ‘sales’ stage.

“No one had used locally grown plantation radiata pine for commercial production of CLT, and it’s very different from European species. Months of product trials and development occurred, providing scientific rigor and professionalism throughout this development stage.”

“This process was essential for us to truly gain a deep understanding of the structural performance we can achieve with our species for custom designed panels engineered to deliver a specific performance in a specific building.

“Further, the experience gained from our first 80 projects has deepened and refined that knowledge, enabling us to tune our designs for optimum price:performance ratio.” Mr Jack said.

XLam’s rapid expansion has been financially supported by the Hyne Board of Directors in an agreement signed in recent weeks. Hyne Timber was established in 1882 and is the largest, privately owned timber company in Australia.

The Hyne Board of Directors recognised the void in CLT availability in Australia and consider it in the interests of the broader timber industry to make additional timber options available to builders and designers particularly multi residential projects and commercial construction.

Significant technical information, case studies, photos and the long list of benefits of using CLT for construction are detailed on the XLam website. Visit XLam’s CLT website to learn more or visit their exhibit at FRAME Australia, 01 June 2015.