High standards at student wood awards

By Donal Magner

When selecting tree species, foresters usually aim to plant the right trees in the right places. While there are many objectives in establishing forests, including landscape enhancement and biodiversity, growing quality for the marketplace is, or should be, the main objective.

However, it is surprising how few growers ask the question 'Will there will be a market for my timber when it reaches the harvesting stage?' For many years, there has been a disconnect between growers and the marketplace when deciding on species to plant.

Growers who planted spruce and, to a lesser extent, pine are finding out that there are well-established and lucrative markets for their logs. Growers of quality ash are also discovering that there is a good market for fuel wood as early as year 15 and hurley ash after year 20. Mature ash is also suitable for furniture and other high added-value end uses, but this market has not been developed in Ireland.

There has been very little market development in relation to many of the species now planted in Ireland, apart from spruce and pine. In other countries, there are existing markets in furniture, veneering, flooring, panelling, craft and other specialist markets.

These industries do not exist in Ireland to any degree, as virtually all hardwood products are imported or, if they are manufactured here, the timber is mainly sourced overseas.

The challenge facing growers of most hardwoods and some minor softwood will be to develop sustainable markets for their logs. The upside of the hardwood industry is that it doesn't require the huge volumes of timber needed for commodity softwoods, such as spruce and pine, which supply panelboard, construction and packaging markets.

Wood awards

However, marketing hardwoods will require an innovative approach to design and research and development, beginning at third level education. Wood is incorporated in design and structural courses in many European universities and third-level colleges, but, until now, there has been a dearth of knowledge of timber usage and design in Irish colleges.

The recent Wood Marketing Federation (WMF) Student Wood Awards in Johnstown House Hotel in Enfield demonstrated that our third-level colleges are now incorporating wood in engineering, architecture and design courses.

The students show that they can adapt timber for a wide number of uses, ranging from large-scale construction works to projects that require small quantities of wood, aimed at high added-value markets in furniture and related uses.

Launched in 2006 by the WMF, in association with Wood NI, the awards are now much sought after by third-level students of architecture, engineering and design, who incorporate wood as an inherent element in their projects.

Award winners have gone on to pursue successful careers in wood and related businesses, and have exhibited at Irish and international shows.

This year, 10 universities and institutes of technology throughout Ireland - north and south - selected their winning 16 entries in three categories (architecture, engineering and design) from an original entry of 25 projects. The judging panel, chaired by Duncan Stewart, chose the three national category winners.

Architecture

Until recently, Irish architects have opted for steel and concrete in preference to wood, which is not surprising in a country without a wood culture, but with a strong masonry tradition. This year's projects included timber usage in a range of structures, including large-scale construction.

The winner of the architecture award was Brendan Joziasse (DIT) who produced a comparative study on the application of engineered wood products (EWPs).

The project examined the application of EWPs in a community centre in Clongriffin, North Dublin.

Design

Students at GMIT Letterfrack have been consistent winners of the awards since 2006, and this year was no different. Russell Jacob won the design award using CAD and CAM software to design complex curvature in timber furniture.

Typical of Letterfrack, the craftsmanship in the finished piece of furniture was carried out to the highest standards. Furniture is an area where Irish-grown ash and oak could be used.

Engineering

The engineering award was won by Damien Kearns and Joseph Lucid, NUI Galway in a project that involved testing and designing glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) rods in laminated timber. From the use of modest amounts of GFRP rod reinforcement, strategically placed in beams, significant enhancements in the stiffness and ultimate capacity were obtained.

Objective

The objective of the awards is to encourage students to explore functional, aesthetic and design aspects of wood and wood products. In the past, students demonstrated how even small wood sizes and quantities can be used in a variety of applications.

WMF provides a generous prize fund of €20,000, which is awarded to category winners and their colleges.

While the prize fund is welcome, very often the students need support that doesn't cost the earth, such as the supply of small quantities of timber to experiment with in developing their ideas.

Christy Conway, chairman of the WMF, said that it is important for growers, sawmills and timber traders to supply students with the raw material and to provide encouragement and support.

''Above all, it is important that these students are encouraged to continue to work in wood and wood products,'' he said.

''It is also important to encourage their tutors to incorporate greater use of wood in courses.''

The WMF chairman announced a major new initiative at the awards to promote wood at third level this year. ''It is envisaged that this joint venture will ensure that wood will be an inherent part of engineering, architectural and design courses, with the backing of course lecturers and tutors in third level colleges throughout Ireland,'' he said.

Picture Above:Brendan Joziasse, DIT (third from left) winner of the engineering section listens to advice from Duncan Stewart, one of the judges at the awards, with Andrew Judge, judge, Sima Rouholamin, lecturer and course co-ordinator, DIT, Christy Conway, chairman, WMF and Valez Picardo, judge.