Mount Gambier’s new Forestry Centre of Excellence is showcasing the Green Triangle’s new GL24 engineered wood product, marking a major milestone in locally led research and the future of Australia’s plantation-based timber manufacturing capability.
Manufactured in Warrnambool by WTIBeam, the GL24 product is a world-first engineered timber made exclusively from locally grown blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) used in high-performance structural applications across residential, commercial and prefabricated construction.
The product was developed through collaboration between the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and Forest & Wood Products Australia, manufactured by WTIBeam (formerly Warrnambool Timber Industries), as part of the federally funded Splinters to Structures initiative. Investigation is now being undertaken to commercialise the product and other product line options in the Victorian Government funded Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub feasibility study, focused on Portland.
The WTIBeam GL24 glulam product, manufactured from glued and finger-jointed laminates, is featured in the FCoE entrance alongside other locally produced engineered timber, including Timberlink’s Cross Laminated Timber and structural elements from OneFortyOne.
Welcoming the product’s inclusion at the FCoE, industry leaders said the GL24 milestone highlights the role applied research and regional manufacturing can play in strengthening sovereign capability, supporting long-term regional investment.
Tony Wright, Chief Executive Officer of the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, said the advancement to GL24 demonstrates how plantation hardwood can replace traditionally imported materials in modern construction and act as a supplement to steel and concrete.
“It’s really pleasing to see our research deliver a real-world application, proving that plantation grown blue gum can deliver high-performance structural products at scale,” Mr Wright said.
“The next step is translating this research into commercial manufacturing via the recently announced Precinct feasibility study in Portland, which will explore the creation of other new products using traditionally exported fibre, including softwood.”
Pic: Andrew Matheson (PF Olsen), Edwina Vulcz (WTIBeam), and Darren Shelden (Australian Bluegum Plantations).
WTIBeam owner Edwina Vulcz said the new product reflects a shift in how blue gum is processed and locally valued.
“We’re excited to see our new product come to life in the home of plantation forestry in Mt Gambier. Blue gum makes incredible glulam when manufactured the right way and the high strength grades like GL24 can support builders to achieve longer spans, reducing material use and construction costs,” Mrs Vulcz said.
Australian Bluegum Plantations CEO Darren Shelden said the product aligned strongly with the FCoE’s purpose, which had been designed by industry.
“The Forestry Centre of Excellence is about turning research into real-world outcomes. GL24 blue gum glulam shows how we can optimise every part of the fibre resource and create new domestic markets for plantation hardwood,” Mr Shelden said.
The Forestry Centre of Excellence brings together local, national and international expertise across forestry research, innovation and workforce development. Its role includes supporting industry-led trials, commercialisation pathways and skills development that anchor value-adding activity in the Limestone Coast and broader Green Triangle region.
To learn more about the centre visit www.auforestry.com .