Timber connects
timber in Ness
Gardens
The adhesive-free project was initiated
to evaluate a more environmentally
friendly construction method.
The key idea behind the new ‘green’ office structure is to
use timber to connect timber and to use timber to
reinforce timber. Timber is one of the very few industrial
materials that can be 100% sustainable.
Engineers designed and constructed a large section of the office
space using adhesive-free laminated timber (AFLT) beams and
adhesive-free cross laminated timber (AFCLT) panels, and densified
wooden dowels and plates are used to connect beams with columns
rather than metallic fasteners.
The dowels and plates are made using softwood from sustainably
harvested timber and compressed using a heated hydraulic press
to reduce thickness whilst making it denser and stronger than
common hardwood.
The ‘green’ office, which is part of an EU-funded INTERREG research
project, will allow researchers to evaluate the performance of
adhesive-free engineered wood products and compressed wood
fasteners in a real life environment over the next five to ten years, and
compare it to conventional methods that use adhesives and metal.
Located at Ness Gardens, the 35m² office structure will provide a
functional workspace for researchers from the University’s Institute of
Integrative Biology who are working on the Brian Moss Aquatic
Facility, one of Europe’s largest, most technologically advanced
facilities for investigating environmental impacts on freshwaters.
Liverpool engineer, Dr Zhongwei Guan, an international timber
engineering and composite expert, who is leading project, said, “This
is an exciting real-world project. The structure we have designed and
built is arguably the first building in the world to be constructed using
this compressed wood technology!
“It showcases a more environmentally-friendly method of connecting
wood and joining structures using compressed wood dowels and
fasteners without the use of adhesives or metal products.
“The prototype has been developed as part of our INTERREG EU
research project to design, demonstrate and take forward new
adhesive-free engineered wood products for use in the
construction industry.”
Dr Stewart Plaistow, senior lecturer in Evolutionary Biology at
the Institute of Integrative Biology, said, “I am delighted that this new
facility which will support our research projects that focus on
conserving plant and animal biodiversity. The new space will provide
a new home for our researchers to process samples on site and
brings together two ‘green’ research projects.”
The office was designed and built by researchers from the University’s
School of Engineering,
together with FRCS of
the University, a design
engineer and
contractor, and local
businesses, SticX Ltd
and Cunliffe’s
Architects.
The GBP4-million EU
Interreg project
includes the National
University of Ireland,
Galway, Université de
NEWS
This structure is joined using a heated
hydraulic press method to increase the
timber’s density and strength.
Lorraine, Technische Universität Dresden, Luxembourg Institute of
Science and Technology and the Office économique wallon du
bois.
Asian buyers
return to Africa
According to The Tropical Timber
Market Report (TTM) buyers from
China and other Asian countries are
slowly returning to the Central and West
African timber markets.
The current emphasis is on species such as ovangkol,
okan and belli. There is a steady but low demand for
okoume, iroko, sapelli movingui, dabeme and padauk.
Buyers for the Chinese market are looking for okoume,
ovangkol, belli and sapelli, reportedly for the furniture sector.
Producers say, despite the buyer interest, prices are stable
which is seen as a good sign in these tough trading conditions.
According to the TTM report buyers in the Philippines
concentrate on okoume and for this market there has been
some welcome interest. Tali is the favourite of Vietnam but
recently there has been interest in padauk, belli and dabema.
The South African market has not yet shown signs of recovery as
the pandemic is taking its toll on manufacturing output in the
country. The South African market for finger jointed okoume has
weakened. However, the interest of South African importers in
door fabrication in Gabon appears to be still alive and
negotiations are ongoing.
According to the report purchases for the Middle East are slow
and demand is well below pre-pandemic levels. This market is
very price-conscious and there are reports that low priced
timbers from Russia are gaining market share.
The TTM reports further states that there is a good market for
okoume and sapelli sawnwood in Egypt but the payment process
for imports into the country is said to be complicated with all
transactions having to secure Central Bank approval which
causes delays.
UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
www.timberiq.co.za // OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 5