Business owner Bruce Wallace, owner of ‘The Truss Joint P/L’ and the ‘Wallace ETP P/L (Engineered Timber Products)’ in Bendigo, Victoria.

The promotion of timber and engineered timber as a primary construction material in Australia is made possible thanks to partnerships like the one between Hyne Timber and business owner Bruce Wallace, owner of ‘The Truss Joint P/L’ and the ‘Wallace ETP P/L (Engineered Timber Products)’ in Bendigo, Victoria.

Bruce and his team are passionate advocates for the use of timber beams in construction, supporting the builders and providing a personalised service to enable them to use timber as opposed to steel. They do this by using Hyne Design 7 software.

“We use Hyne Design 7 to calculate the appropriate glue laminated beams from our truss customer’s building plans and offer to replace any specified steel beams with timber at considerably lower cost than the steel would be.

“So basically, we sell builders the beams also, they pay less than they would if they were using steel and they get to work with timber, a hugely preferred construction material of choice.

“This obviously makes the Wallace ETP more profitable. It’s a ‘win win’ for everyone, except perhaps the steel producers!

“Some jobs are only beams, no trusses.

“This complimentary personal service for our customers is very well received as demonstrated by the rate of acceptance of our quotes.

Robert Mansell, Design Solutions Manager for Hyne Timber said the way Bruce is using the software is an excellent example of customer service and value adding, “The level of customer service while at the same time, increasing their own sales is a fantastic use of Hyne Design 7. Bruce and his team are also promoting the use of timber for structural beams in construction as opposed to steel, a switch welcomed by the builders.”

“Our Hyne Design software has been developed and is owned by Hyne Timber having evolved over a number of years to ensure we provide our customers with a simple tool, adding value to their businesses and building customer loyalty. It delivers innovative design procedures with a comprehensive range of timber products, powerful graphical interface, commanding complex loads functions and superior reporting and certification for the user.

“It allows the design of all building elements such as bearers and joists, roof beams and rafters, frames and lintels, battens and ceiling joists, hanging beams, strutting beams, hip beams, bracing and tie down.” Robert Mansell said.

Hyne Timber’s design software, ‘Hyne Design 7’ is the most widely used design software in Australia – and it’s FREE! Anyone can register to download and use it at varying levels including the ability to design timber structures and produce the appropriate certificates where accredited to do so.

It is the most comprehensive structural timber design software available and incorporates the latest changes to the Australian Building Code and Standards. The software is supported by Hyne Timber’s technical team who can also provide free training to registered users upon request.

In late 2010, a survey of 30 structural engineering firms across Australia was conducted for the Forest Wood Products Association. It found that most structural engineering consulting firms used structural design software such as Hyne Design for domestic residential applications.

The use of both timber and engineered timber are, without doubt, entering into an innovative construction phase. There are architects challenging building codes by using engineered timber as their product of choice for multi-story buildings.

Projects such as the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in the Canadian Province of British Columbia provide six stories of engineered timber inspiration. Its strong, aesthetically pleasing, high-quality design is flexible while originating from a renewable, environmentally friendly natural material.

With an increasing focus on climate change and continued debate among the scientists, the production of steel and concrete before construction has even commenced has resulted in significant carbon dioxide emissions. A tree is a natural resource that takes in the carbon and locks it up.

The promotion of timber and engineered timber as a primary construction material in Australia relies on innovative designs and partnerships such as the one highlighted here between Hyne Timber and Bruce Wallace at ‘Wallace ETP P/L’.

For more information on Hyne Design, click here

For more information on The Truss Joint, visit www.thetrussjoint.com.au

Picture: Business owner Bruce Wallace, owner of ‘The Truss Joint P/L’ and the ‘Wallace ETP P/L (Engineered Timber Products)’ in Bendigo, Victoria.