Research, Education, and Economic Development  1russell.edgar@maine.edu

Mass TimberAn Opportunity for Maine’s Forest Products Industry

Forest Resources AssociationBrewer, ME

December 7, 2017

Russell Edgar Wood Composites Manager

Advanced Structures and Composites CenterUniversity of Maine

Visit us online at composites.umaine.edu.

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Presentation Summary• The Advanced Structures & Composites Center

• Mass Timber Overview/Opportunity

• Ongoing Mass Timber Research at UMaine

• Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center

• Conclusions

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ASCC ‐ Introduction• 100,000 ft2 R&D facility• Established in 1996 – Current lab opened 2000• ~$160 million in contracts since 2001• More than 500 industrial clients including 150 Maine companies• 50 full‐time staff/faculty• 25 graduate/75 undergraduate students

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Structural Testing

• 90’ long testing floor• 3 test frames (300, 110 and 55 kip)• Horizontal load reaction wall 

• 230’ long testing floor

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Strand Composites Pilot Line

Screening

Hand Forming

Log Soaking/

Heating

Stranding

Drying 

Resin Blending

4’ x 8’ Pressing

(Hot Oil/RF)

Log Delivery

◄

◄◄

◄

3’ x 3’ Pressing

(Hot Oil/

Steam Injection)

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Norway Spruce / SPF‐S MonitoringObjective:  To have Norway spruce included in the SPF‐S lumber category• ALSC approved on 10/21/2016• Now doing required 5‐year monitoring of SPF‐S in the Northeast with NELMA

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Mass Timber

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber Projects

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber Projects

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber Projects

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber Projects

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber – Precision MFG

Source: Woodworks

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Source: Woodworks

Mass Timber – Code Issues

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Mass Timber – Fire Resistance

Source: Woodworks

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Recent and ongoing CLT Research at UMaine

• Hybrid SPF-s / LSL SPF-s in Maine: 390 million BF in 2015 Laminated Strand Lumber

Most massive timber product made in the U.S.? Use two of Maine’s strengths: Solid sawn lumber &

wood composites

• Blast resistant buildings (Woodworks)

• New grades of CLT using Maine species

• CLT with gaps

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PRG‐320

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Mass Timber – Opportunity and Competitiveness

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Mass Timber – North American MFG

Source: Woodworks

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Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center

Carrying on work of the Maine Mass Timber Working Group, and adhoc group made up of researchers, contractors, sawmills, architects, engineers and others to promote the opportunity in Maine.

EDAT recommendation:Priority “E” of the EDAT report states: “Invest in the research, development and commercialization of emerging wood technologies….Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) research at the University of Maine is linked to several potential manufacturing facilities seeking east coast locations. Immediately form a collaboration of appropriate parties to promote the siting of a CLT facility in Maine and identify recommendations to incentivize wider use of CLT and possible demonstration projects.”

EDA RIS I6 Grant (Awarded 9/20/17): Allowed for the creation of the Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center to at UMaine, expanding efforts (as well as staffing & funding) to pursue this unique opportunity for the Forest Products Industry in Maine.

Mass Timber Design Competition

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Mass Timber – UMaine’s Objectives

• To become the leader in the Northeast U.S. for Mass Timber R&D and commercialization facilitation.

• Coordinate efforts answering the important questions that a developer/investor needs answered when considering siting a Mass Timber plant in Maine.

• Put our world-class, ISO 17025 accredited wood composites laboratory to work supporting the Mass Timber industry.

• Educate students (e.g. engineers and wood scientists) that can support Mass Timber manufacturers in Maine

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Job Opportunity

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Conclusion• Mass Timber is projected to see continued growth in the U.S.

Will the first facility in the Northeast be in Maine?

• UMaine and the MMTCC are committed to moving Mass Timber technologies forward

• Coordination, energy & seizing (unique and time-sensitive) opportunities

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Mass Timber – Ease of Construction 

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber – Carbon Sequestration

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber – Building Envelope/Durability

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber – Energy Efficiency

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber – Seismic

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber – MEP

Source: Woodworks

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Mass Timber ‐ Acoustics

Source: Woodworks