Organically treated framing

Nelson Pine Industries notches up another first as we hit the market with LVL8 H1.2 – a product that is fully treated against insects and fungal decay, and can replace traditional timber framing in residential and light commercial construction.

The new product enables the company to fully utilise the veneer resource from Nelson forests, and LVL Sales Engineer Andy Van Houtte says it has several advantages for consumers.

“The beauty of it is that it’s treated organically – there are no heavy metals – and the treatment is included with the resin as the veneers are laid up so it’s carried right to the heart of each stick of LVL,” he explains. “It’s got all the usual advantages of LVL…it’s straighter, stronger, doesn’t warp or twist and it can be sold in lengths of 7.2m, which gives big advantages in utilisation compared with the shorter lengths of conventional timber.”

LVL8 H1.2 has been a two year focus for Product Development Manager Antti Termonem, who has worked closely with the chemical suppliers Zelam. In early November the sales team, Tony Climo, Paul Free and Ken Spicer (pictured here with Andy Van Houtte, second from left), spent a day on site for a full briefing on the new product. They are confident it will be well received in the market, particularly in Christchurch where the rebuild appears to be finally on the move.