A new study funded by the German federal agency for renewable raw materials (Fachagentur f�r Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, FNR) and conducted by architect and software developer Holger K�nig compares the construction costs and carbon footprint of five public and privately owned timber buildings with the costs and carbon footprint they would have created if realised in other building materials. Mr K�nig remodeled the existing timber buildings with the same square footage and cubage as well as with the same energy standards but replaced all wooden structural components with other materials such as bricks, limestone, porous and reinforced concrete, mineral wool, plastics and aluminium.  

When it comes to carbon footprint, all timber buildings produced much better results than their counterparts built with stone, concrete and steel. Two timber buildings even showed a negative carbon footprint due to the large amounts of carbon stored in the building materials. The other three buildings had a slightly positive carbon footprint in each case.  

Do you have difficulty understanding marketing and communicating your company's benefits? Discover how to effectively communicate your unique selling features and correctly position your company for your target audiences.

A Marketing Assessment reviews and evaluates all your marketing activities and provides recommendations for fine-tuning your strategy to achieve your business goals. Working with a dedicated marketing consultant, you will receive:

• Expert marketing advice at a fraction of the cost
• A comprehensive report of your branding, positioning, target audiences and marketing activities
• Recommended changes to improve your marketing efforts
• New ideas to stretch your marketing dollars
• Simple changes to strengthen your brand and better position you against competitors

Through the Wood First program, you may be eligible for additional support with your marketing projects. Aimed at developing your marketing skills, these projects may include branding, strategic planning, or project specific consultation.

While trade shows have been around for hundreds of years, what worked back then, or even back not-so-long-ago, doesn't necessarily work now.

Fortunately, your peers have been busy experimenting with every aspect of their trade shows, and have found many new ways to improve their exhibit marketing. Then, they shared their secrets with us, in the newly published, second version of our very popular white paper, What's Working in Exhibiting.

From the new report, here are 8 trending tactics exhibitors are doing more that you can use to drive improvements in your program:

1. Selecting Shows: More exhibitors are focusing on smaller, regional shows, exhibiting at their own events, and going international.

2. Booth Staffing: Exhibitors are going beyond salespeople for booth staffing, expanding their use of senior management, marketing, engineering, and customer service employees.

Click here to read the entire article

Located in the scenic Columbia Valley of the East Kootenays, Brisco Manufacturing Ltd. (BML) opened its doors in 2002 to become a specialty manufacturer for laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams. The BC-based company is the Canadian certified laminator for Louisiana Pacific's multi-billet beams which are sold across North-America.

As standard LVL is used structurally for numerous decades for exclusively non-visual, hidden applications, BML began developing a new product in 2012. They designed a versatile LVL mass timber product made from 100% Douglas Fir, Brisco Fine LineTM. This finely nuanced, elegant and uniformly grained product exhibits exceptional appearance while providing high-quality, superior structural strength and installation precision.  

This innovative LVL mass timber, produced up to 60 ft in length, is used for structural purposes, one or two-sided exposed, creating lots of interest among architects and designers for high-finish applications. It is an excellent alternative to other Structural Composite Lumbers and Mass timbers when seeking incomparable aesthetics and dimensional stability used in dry service conditions or exterior applications where adequate weather protection is provided.  

Click here to read the entire article 

BC Wood will coordinate the exhibition of member companies at the EXPO CIHAC MEXICO CITY 2015, together with a trade mission component to meet Mexican wood importers, distributors, manufacturers, and visit construction sites. Member companies that participate in this event will have an opportunity to gain first-hand market intelligence, further develop their Mexico market network, and meet prospective importers and buyers.

This 27th anniversary of EXPO CIHAC is the best exposure for the Building Construction Industry in Latin America. Over 53,000 construction industry professionals participate in 150 conferences, 115 workshops, and see 500 exhibitors showcasing their products in building materials, machinery, equipment, tools, building systems, prefabricated technologies, and industry trends.

BC Wood will have a 21 sqm booth where member participants will have kiosk displays to show their products and services, meet attending delegates, and have the support of bilingual staff.  Perhaps most importantly, Member participants will also have the opportunity to join the five day trade mission component, running simultaneous with the show days, to meet directly with qualified importers, distributors, manufacturers, industry associations, and see construction sites.

Contact Ken Hori at khori@bcwood.com for more information and to arrange your participation.

Once again, the first show in Asia that BC Wood will be organizing on behalf of members this fiscal year is the China International Exhibition on Housing Industry in Beijing from September 9th to 11th. This show targets the emerging market of wood framed construction and attracts all of the major players in China involved in importing construction lumber, developing resort properties, and building high-end wood-framed structures. Last year, we had a very successful show where both BC and Quebec companies exhibited together in a Canadian pavilion. We are looking at a similar structure this year and expect to build on last year's presence.

The CIEHI offers the best opportunity in China for Canadian companies looking to export: construction grade dimension lumber, engineered wood products, timber frame packages, packaged 2x4 and log structures, WRC outdoor products, as well as finishing materials. Its main exhibits include: 1) Wooden architecture: wooden houses, vacation cabins, wood gazebos & pergolas, and light wood frame & heavy timber structures, 2) Wooden structural materials, 3) Wooden structures and equipment, and 4) Other wood materials: flooring, decking, fencing, stairs, outdoor furniture, etc. landscape planning, construction, and maintenance: landscape design, golf course design and construction, green roofs, tourism development planning, etc.

Those interested in learning more about the show should contact Jim Ivanoff at  ivanoff@canadawood.jp  

The Japan Home Show is always one of the most important trade events for BC Wood's Japan Program. This year, the show will be held from November 18th to 20th at Tokyo Big Sight and we are once again expecting this to be a well-attended show.

As the Japan Home Show was sold-out very early last year, the organizers have increased the number of halls from three to five for 2015. The JHS has not covered five of Big Sight's large halls since before the Lehman Shock demonstrating the optimism that has come back to the market. The organizers are expecting an increase in both domestic and overseas exhibitors. The show will again be held in conjunction with Japantex, one of Japan's largest interior design shows. However, a new section featuring high-end finishing materials and furniture will also be added. The show organizers have high-hopes for this new section and are eager to make it one of the major events for Japan's interior design industry. This will undoubtedly mean that there will be an even wider spectrum of buyers visiting the show this year, including everything from lumber importers to architectural firms.

The Japan Home Show remains the main show in Japan for foreign companies involved in wood and building products with large pavilions from the USA, Germany, Italy, France, Korea, Taiwan, China, etc. This is a great show for BC Wood members producing millwork, cabinetry, engineered wood, timber frame homes, log homes, 2x4 packaged homes, WRC products, and of course reman and structural lumber. BC Wood's Japan Office will once again be organizing a large pavilion on behalf of the Canadian wood industry for this event.

Those interested in learning more about the show should contact Jim Ivanoff at ivanoff@canadawood.jp