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Emerging Technologies in Timber Technologies
This unit addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:
A student:
H7.2 analyses the impact of existing, new and emerging technologies of the focus industry on society and the environment
Extract from Industrial Technology Stage 6 Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 1999
The study of any of the focus areas in Industrial Technology should involve students in experiences with a range of new materials, equipment and production methods as new and emerging technologies.
New technologies and numerous new applications are continually being introduced and at the same time new processes that will become commonplace in our lifetime are still in the development stage.
But what are the new materials, production equipment and techniques that are emerging in the timber products and furniture industry in the 21st century?
The information available on the internet alone on emerging technologies is vast and impossible to cover here. However, by learning about some of the most recent developments we can start to appreciate the influences of new materials, equipment and production methods on the products of the industry.
New Materials
The Australian timber products and furniture industry prides itself on the use of Australian made sustainable resources.
There are many benefits of using locally produced materials but in particular it is the quality and environmental benefits of Australian materials that rival overseas products.
Activity 1a
Visit the following web site and answer the questions below.
http://www.australianfurniture.com.au/ausmadeindustry.aspx?pageID=sb1 
Identify some of the primary reasons why timber compares favourably to other materials.
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- ____________________________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________________________
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Wood-based Composite Building Materials
The shortage of high-quality old growth timbers world-wide has led to a rapid increase in the cost of larger formats of these timbers.
- Globally, large and old trees are becoming increasingly scarce to the point of being endangered - particularly some of the favoured rainforest species,
- In order to avoid logging these rare tree types to extinction, there are various new glued-wood products which are being used for furniture production,
- Over the years various composite and reconstituted timber boards such as plywoods and hardboards have become available,
- The conversion-rate from tree to useful material can be 80 to 90 percent for these composite products, compared with only about 40 percent for solid timber,
- The look of solid timber can be attained through the use of plantation-timber veneers over the top of a composite board.
Activity 1b
Visit the website and answer the questions below.
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/good_wood/wb_compos.htm
Composite Products
Identify and list some advantages, and one disadvantage, of composite products over ordinary timbers.
Glulam
Describe how Glulam is made, identify where this product is best used, and compare its strength properties to solid timber.
Valwood
Describe where Valwood was developed, then identify its base material and an advantage of its method of manufacture.
New Production Equipment
Australian wooden furniture is world renowned for the quality, not only of the materials, but also the manufacturing processes. For this reason, the industry is able to supply top-quality wooden furniture to both local and international markets.
- It supplies over $2 billion worth of exports yearly for Australia,
- Wood furniture makes provides about 4.5% of all manufacturing employment in Australia,
- There are more than 3,000 manufacturers of wood and upholstered furniture,
- This industry is responsible for the production and assembly of all types of wooden furniture including office and outdoor furniture as well as upholstered seats,
- In addition, the industry also manufactures and packages disassembled furniture and parts for domestic assembly.
A wide range of manufacturing processes are used in the production of wooden furniture and upholstered seating and these require highly developed woodworking skills in order to cut, shape and finish wooden furniture.
Case Study: The National Educational Trust of the Australian Forest Products Industries
Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) woodworking machinery is used in the timber, lounge-suite, project and flat-panel sectors. Stairs, doors, windows and other joinery products are also manufactured with CNC machinery.
The use of CNC machinery in the flat-panel sector is reasonably well advanced. In addition, the production of components using flat-panel construction is generally a much simpler process than solid wood based manufacturing.
Flat panels, which use manufactured board, require minimal additional machining such as:
- edge treatments,
- borings for proprietary mechanical fasteners,
- small amounts of routing using mainly straight tools.
CNC woodworking machinery is available in many forms. Solid timber machines include edge-profiling machines such as;
- Tenoners,
- Moulding machines,
- CNC window production lines,
- CNC profiling machines such as “point to point” and “routing” machines.
Profiling machinery is generally used in the solid timber furniture, stair making, window, and joinery and door sector. In Australia the most used CNC profiling machine is the CNC “point to point” machine, or processing-centre and this is the principal machine considered in this case study.
Activity 2
Visit the website and answer the questions.
http://www.gottsteintrust.org/media/PAshley.pdf
- Describe the situation surrounding the use of high-technology machinery in the Australian furniture industry. [Refer p11.]
- Discuss the statement – “CNC machinery has changed little over the last ten years. The most significant change is in the software [Refer p45]
- Identify the high-technology production issues that affect the Australian Furniture Industry. [Refer p12]
- Identify some key Recommendations for CNC manufacture in Australia. [Refer p8]
New Techniques
An area which has caused some concern within the timber product and furniture industry is the use of hydrocarbon based solvents and thinners for timber finishing.
In recent years, however, the installation of new technology has eliminated the use of hydrocarbon solvents and thinners for applying stains and lacquers onto timber panels used in furniture production.
The new technology has reduced the evaporation of solvents and thinners into the atmosphere with additional benefits being a saving in high cost materials.
Also evident is the improved quality of timber products as well as an increase in production efficiency. The new technology has enabled the industry to 'catch up' with emerging overseas competitors and it has provided opportunities for the development of export markets.
Case Study: Coating Australia Pty. Ltd.
Coating Australia Pty. Ltd. was established in the late 1990s to increase competitiveness and improve business practices in the furniture industry in South Australia. The business is focussing on assembling and polishing furniture made from solid timber, timber veneer and particle board.
Activity 3a
Visit the website below then answer the questions.
http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/cp_coating.html
Given that the South Australia furniture industry uses approx 1.2 ML of paint and solvent per annum, identify the problems associated with using the “traditional approach” in furniture finishing in each of the areas listed below:
- Traditional polishing errors
- Final products vary in appearance
- OH&S factors
- Rateof production of a spraying machine
- Problems associated with polished pieces of furniture
Activity 3b
Identify the equipment which was installed to achieve the benefits which resulted and describe the improvements made in each of the areas listed below:
- Environmental
- Air quality,
- Storage, usage and handling chemicals.
- Economic
- Investment,
- Operational and maintenance costs.
- Productivity
- Savings, outcomes,
- Payback period.
- Occupational Health and Safety
Activity 3c
Draw flowcharts which compare and contrast the traditional approach with the new process.
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