Generous member timber companies have provided the EWP building blocks for the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australia’s office renovation in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.
The new wood-rich administrative facilities will officially open on September 11, when EWPAA members, stakeholders, and friends will gather at the Virginia QLD office in a low-key celebration.
The high-quality new office renovation was built as a labour of love by multi-skilled former EWPAA technical consultant Andy McNaught.
Andy formally retired from EWPAA in 2023 after providing long and dedicated service to the timber processing industry over many years, starting with initial study at the Forestry School at the Australian National University in Canberra, followed by post-graduate timber engineering studies at the University of Central Queensland, and then around 47 productive and impactful years spent in the timber processing sector.
EWPAA and its former entity, the Plywood Association, have long been dedicated to ground-breaking engineered wood technology. The Association began in 1934 as the Queensland Veneer and Plywood Board focused on administrative issues facing the veneer and plywood industry at the time.
The Association developed a national focus in 1939, when it became known as the Australian Plywood Board. As it became more involved in market development activities its name was changed in 1966 to the Plywood Association of Australia, a name many people still recognise today.
As its membership base grew to include manufacturers outside Australia, the Association’s focus also grew to include products other than plywood, and the name was changed to the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA).
The EWPAA is a member association for manufacturers of engineered wood products, including plywood, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), particleboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF), sawn timber, glue laminated timber (GLT), and cross-laminated timber (CLT). EWPAA, on behalf of its members, coordinates a market development program that involves product certification, standards development, technical advocacy and education, research and development and market maintenance.
The new office renovation reinforces the strong link and service to EWP manufacturing members located throughout Australasia, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Suppliers and products:
STRUCTAflor: a structural particleboard product manufactured from wood flakes and bonded with moisture resistant resin. The product is used on the outside of the new mezzanine office structure, but still is internal within the industrial unit’s footprint.
Easycraft: EasyVJ100 an MDF product, manufactured by Australian Panels and used as the interior lining of the new mezzanine office – primed and ready to go.
Wesbeam e-joists are manufactured in Australia using LVL flanges, bonded with a type-A structural adhesive. EWP flanges are a consistent and straight product, while still being lightweight and versatile. The Wesbeam design team aided in the design of the mezzanine roof.
Australian Sustainable Hardwoods – supplied the benchtops, board table, and stair treads – made from milled hardwood laminates. The CEO office, boardroom, and upstairs meeting room contain feature tables.
Timber QLD – provided some amazing QLD recycled hardwood flooring boards, repurposed to demonstrate the warmth of timber through the rich colours of Queensland hardwood, used as a feature item internally to transform storage units, and concealing existing ductwork.
Austral Plywood – structural and non-structural plywoods made from Australian plantation hoop pine. A-grade face veneers lead to a truly standout product. Ceiling linings are a feature. Grain patterns on solid doors create unique, but consistent visuals.
AKD Softwoods – structural timber framing covers the entirety of the mezzanine office. Sawn, dried, milled and graded at Caboolture with timber sourced from SEQ plantations.
