Element5 Feature - Mass Timber Institute (MTI)

NewsFromMTI

HelloMassTimberColleagues!Thismonthweareverypleasedtofeatureanexcitingpieceofnews:Astatus updateonElement5'splantinSt.Thomas.

Feature:Element5Plant

ExteriorrenderingofElement5’sSt.Thomasfactoryandoffice.RenderingcourtesyofElement5.

ThemasstimberconstructionrevolutionispoisedtosurgeaheadincentralCanadaasconstructionof Element5’snew12,320m2 factoryinSt.Thomas,Ontario,achievedsomeexcitingmilestonesthismonth.The principalmanufacturingbuildinghasbeenassembledandproductionequipmentisarrivingdaily.

Element5isinstallingastate-of-the-artCLTandglulamlinemanufacturedbyLedinek.Thepresscanproduce variouslayups/thicknessesofCLT;panelscanbemadeupto16minlengthand3.5minwidth.At3.5m, Element5willsoonbeproducingthewidestpanelsinCanada.Masstimberprojectswillbenefitfromthedesign andmaterialefficienciesthiswiderformatpanelprovidesincludingfewerpanels,lessliftingtime,andareduced numberofconnections.

Thefullyintegratedproductionlinedoeseverything-fromlumberconditioningandfinger-jointingoflam-stockto sandingandCNCmachiningofthefinishedcomponents.ThelinealsofeaturesLedinek’snew‘Z-Press’which

edgegluesthepanelsandresultsinasuperiorappearance-gradefinishfreefromcracksandgaps.

Progressatthefactoryhasbeenonschedule,withonlyaminimaldisruptionresultingfromtheCovid-19 pandemic.Element5isontracktoproducetestpanelslaterthisfallandanticipatesachievingPRG320 certificationbytheendoftheyear.OncetheSt.Thomasfactoryiscompletedandfull-scaleproductionis underway,thecombinedoutputcapacityofElement5’stwomasstimberfactories(theotherisinRipon,QC)will beover50,000m3 peryear.

Element5manufacturesseveralmasstimberproductsincludingglulam,CLT,hollow-coreCLTpanels,andother CLT-basedstructuralcomponents.Theirongoingcommitmenttoinnovationhasalsoledthemtodevelopcross laminatedinsulatedpanels(calledCLIPs)whichofferahigh-performance,prefabricatedbuildingenvelope solutionthatiscompatiblewithwood,steelorconcretestructuralframes.

Throughstrategicsupplierpartnerships,Element5hasready-accesstoOntario-sourced,FSC-certifiedraw materials,amovethatnotonlyhelpsElement5meetthesustainabilitygoalsoftheirclients,butalsoalignswith theirpositionasaconstructionindustrydisruptorhelpingdrivechangefromtraditional,carbon-intensive materialstowardsmoresustainablemasstimberconstruction.

NewsfromtheInstitute

1.CallforParticipants:WorkshoponIndigenousPerspectiveontheMass TimberSector

Weareplanningathree-partworkshopincollaborationwithBrookMcIlroyaboutIndigenousparticipationinthe masstimbersector:fromforesttobuilding.Whilewearestillfinalizingdetails,weareplanningtheworkshop seriesforsometimeearlyinthenewyear.Ifyouareinterestedinparticipatingorattending,pleaseletEmmett knowbysendinghimanemail

2.MTIJoinstheAutodeskResidencyProgram

WerecentlyjoinedtheResidencyProgramattheAutodeskTechnologyCenters,Toronto.Plannedprojectsfor theresidencyincludeanumberofcollaborationsincludingthedevelopmentofaneducationalresourcearound themasstimbersupplychainandmajorprojectsinNorthAmerica.Ifyouwouldliketobeinvolvedinthis databaseproject,pleaseletusknow!CongratulationstoAutodeskforasuccessfulpaneldiscussiononmass