World‑First Glulam Made from Aussie Blue Gum to Star on TV

Industry leaders say the breakthrough proves Australia can scale up local engineered timber, with Tim Woods highlighting the nation’s capacity to grow, process and manufacture more at home.

Jason Ross
Jason Ross
Mon 23 Feb 26
Tim Woods says the new blue gum glulam—and its appearance on national television—shows that Australia already has the fibre, skills and technology to expand domestic engineered timber production, with The Precinct project set to bring that capability together in one place.
Tim Woods says the new blue gum glulam—and its appearance on national television—shows that Australia already has the fibre, skills and technology to expand domestic engineered timber production, with The Precinct project set to bring that capability together in one place.

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The world’s first example of glulam made from Aussie blue gums will star in a new TV show airing on Australian screens from early April. Wood Central understands that the new GL24 blue gum product (Eucalyptus globulus), produced by WTIBEAM and showcased in South Australia’s new Forestry Centre of Excellence, will feature in Epic Builds: The 90 Day Challenge hosted by Adam Spencer, with the first episode to premiere later this week on Channel 9 and 9Now.

According to Edwina Vulcz of WTIBeam, the GL24 product is the strongest engineered timber beam available in the Australian marketplace and is well-suited for commercial, residential, and prefab applications.

“We’re incredibly proud to see this new GL-24 product showcased on national television,” Vulcz said. “The glulam product represents years of hard work, research and belief in what locally grown plantation timber can achieve.”

WTIBEAM’s new GL24 product came as a result of a DAFF‑funded project that proved that lower‑grade blue gum and radiata pine can be used to create new markets for engineered wood products. Led by the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, in partnership with FWPA and AFPA, the findings are the basis for The Precinct, an AFWI project that is developing a large-scale centre to process wood fibre into a range of sustainable building products to manufacture frames, trusses, wall panels, flooring and other products needed to build houses.

Originally developed as part of a Victorian-funded project, Splinters to Structures, Vulcz said work is now underway on an even more ambitious project, but this time funded thrugh Australia’s new $200m AFWI research and innovation fund, which, if successful will see if glulam and laminated veneer lumber made from pulp logs can be scaled up and commercialised in “The Precinct” – a new project that has major backing from the timber supply chain, Deakin University, the University of South Australia, the Port of Portland and the Timber, Furnishings and Textiles Union (TFTU), Australia’s only dedicated timber union.

In November, Dr Joseph Lawrence, the Executive Director of AFWI, spoke of the importance of projects like The Precinct in better connecting Australia’s value chain for forest and wood products.

According to Tim Woods, development lead for The Precinct project, the research (and TV series) demonstrates first and foremost that Australia has the capacity to grow and produce more engineered timber right here at home. “Viewers will see that the wood fibre, skills and technology already exist here locally. The Precinct project in Portland provides a pathway to bring that capability together in one place and keep more value, jobs and expertise in regional Australia. It’s great to see a national broadcaster shine a light on this specialised capability,” he said.

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  • J Ross headshot

    Jason Ross, publisher, is a 15-year professional in building and construction, connecting with more than 400 specifiers. A Gottstein Fellowship recipient, he is passionate about growing the market for wood-based information. Jason is Wood Central's in-house emcee and is available for corporate host and MC services.

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