One of America’s largest timber manufacturers, Timberlab, has set its sights on developing a new cross-laminated timber plant in Millersburg, Oregon – capitalising on a surge in growth for timber-led solutions across the Pacific Northwest.
Wood Central understands that the new site, which will eventually produce 100,000 cubic metres of cross-laminated timber every year, will see Timberlab collaborate with Oregan State University and the University of Oregan to grow the market for renewable forest products and comes after Timberlab finished work on the enormous Portland International Airport timber roof last month.
“I am thrilled to support Timberlab’s innovative CLT facility in Millersburg. This project represents a significant investment in our local economy and brings 100 well-paying manufacturing jobs to our community,” according to State Representative Shelly Boshart Davis. “More importantly, it bolsters Oregon’s forestry industry, particularly in our rural and smaller communities, creating a sustainable demand for locally sourced timber.”
By partnering with forward-thinking companies like Timberlab, we are fostering economic growth and championing our forests’ health and sustainability.
Oregan (Repiblican) State Representative Shelly Boshart Davis
The investment comes after Jared Revay, Timberlab’s Director for Manufacturing, revealed to Wood Central that cross-laminated timber construction is gaining traction in the North American market, especially when combined with steel in hybrid construction.
“Because it is modularised, you get a high degree of accurate tolerances with wood – whereas steel can grow and shrink thanks to differential and temperatures,” Mr Revay said. “And that was one of the aspects that helped create a lighter roof and a roof that could be stable in tolerance so that when you pull it apart, it can come back together in a very tight tolerance fashion without things growing or shrinking on themselves.”
In March, it announced plans to build a new 250,000-square-foot cross-laminated timber plant in Oregon and, in April, opened a 75,000-square-foot glulam facility in Greenville, South Carolina, solving a blockage in the supply of timber in the American South and East Coast.
“We’re starting to see more industrial applications (for mass timber), not only because of the tolerances and the look of wood (which is attractive to owners and architects) but also because of the idea that wood could be used as a carbon sink,” Mr Revay said.
“Then there is this idea that we could build prefabricated wood buildings that can be disassembled one day and the wood used for something else. I mean, wood can last for centuries if you take care of it, right? And so it all comes down to smart design and smart maintenance.”
- To learn more about the push by the US policymakers to build government buildings out of mass timber, click on Wood Central’s special feature.
