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Developing a New Generation of Tasmanian Appearance Hardwood Products for In-State Design and Manufacturing: Opportunity Analysis

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posted on 2023-05-25, 19:18 authored by Nathan KotlarewskiNathan Kotlarewski, Jacqueline PowerJacqueline Power, Michael LeeMichael Lee, Gregory NolanGregory Nolan, Ozarska, B, Belleville, B

The Tasmanian wood products industry has an opportunity to develop a new generation of appearance products by investing into innovative timber processing technologies and techniques. New investments may extend and repurpose primary wood products into valueadded engineered and architectural products that can be designed and manufactured in-state.

This project investigates how developing new generation Tasmanian engineered appearance wood products, can promote the use of Tasmanian timbers in architectural applications and products beyond the current capacity and utilisation of primary wood products. It aims to extend the use of sustainably managed (native), limited (hydro, sawn-managed and repurposed) and en masse (fibre-managed) hardwood timber resources by manipulating the properties of primary timber resources to target high-value, performance regulated, commercial applications in the built environment. This could take the form of mechanical, anatomic or surface manipulation. In addition, this project may incorporate chemical modifications such as timber treatments currently investigated in other National Institute for Forest Products Innovation projects, to extend the use and appearance of primary wood products beyond their current use in conservative markets. The term ‘extension’ used in this project is a twofold definition, the first refers to extending the use of primary manufactured appearance wood products into new applications and products, and the second refers to the physical extension and increased efficiency to prolong diminishing and limited timber resources further in current and future markets. This project may help develop a collaborative product manufacturing culture in Tasmania that could share in-state manufacturing processes between industry project partners to achieve a final product outcome. The potential benefits of this project will promote the utilisation of Tasmanian timber resources in new commercial engineered appearance wood products and applications. This outcome will see an extension of primary wood products into new value-added markets which could potentially return financial gain with less resources. There is also an opportunity to differentiate Tasmania designed and manufactured engineered appearance wood products from international competitors.

To benefit from this project industry needs to review the opportunities presented in this document and consider future opportunities that may rise from the design methods and processes employed in the product design and development stage. New material and product knowledge developed in this project may prompt industry to capitalise on existing in-state and emerging processes and techniques that could value-add to their current commodity product line and lead collaborative and innovative outcomes in the Tasmanian timber industry

History

Commissioning body

Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited

Issue

July

Department/School

School of Architecture and Design

Publisher

Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited

Place of publication

Melbourne

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Wood, wood products and paper not elsewhere classified; Hardwood plantations; Native forests

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