A new market for poor quality timber could be opened as the result of a feasibilty study to be carried out by BRE.
It is investigating the potential of green-gluing – a technology it pioneered in the UK – as the basis of a new woodworking enterprise for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
The study has been commissioned by the Greenwood Community Forest which believes the technology could provide practical use and add value to low grade timber normally destined for firewood or chipboard manufacture.
If the study proves the technology is viable, it could be beneficial to woodland owners throughout the UK and lead to better management of the country’s woodlands.
Green-gluing is the jointing and laminating of timber in its green state prior to drying and the process allows large cross-sections to be built up using lamination or extended lengths to be produced using finger-jointing.
Products that could be made from oak, ash, sweet chestnut, birch and sycamore green-glued timber include window frames and doors, flooring, internal mouldings and gates. Cladding and large cross-section structural beams could also be made.
A full report on the study, which will investigate timber types, accessibility, quality, extraction costs, woodland utilisation, plant and labour requirements and costings and business plans, is expected in June.
