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As part of the safety expansion of the expressway between St Veit South and North in Germany, new bridges had to be built. One of these is a combination of wood and concrete composites. Source: Timberbiz The Hasslacher group, together with Asfinag, is developing an innovative solution for the Klagenfurt expressway. One of these bridges will be a wood-concrete composite bridge. The wooden component is 21 m long, 1 m thick and has a width of almost 4 m. The width is made of 15 individual glued laminated timber elements, a so-called composite component according to EN 14080. It contains a total volume of 82m³ of glued laminated timber and stores about 70 tons of CO2. In order to be able to monitor the wood moisture, a network of sensors was woven across the entire timber structure, the data of which can be read out online at any time via a monitoring system. The Hasslacher group specializes in special glued laminated timber components. Elements up to 52 m long and weighing up to 60 tons have already been produced. The Hasslacher group is an innovation leader in the field of intelligent and integrated system solutions for modern timber construction.

The Norwegian Forestry Agency is putting forward a series of proposals for biomass from the forest to meet the EU’s new renewable requirements. Source: Timberbiz “Our proposals can contribute to Sweden continuing to be classified as an A country in a cost-effective manner. It will require an increased effort from all actors, but we judge the change to be marginal, especially if we compare it to the gains from meeting the requirements,” said Elisabet Andersson, ecologist at the Swedish Forest Agency. The renewables directive of the European Parliament and the Council from 2018 has been tightened. Among other things, criteria have been introduced that limit the extraction of forest biomass from virgin forest and old forest. The directive aims to promote the use of energy from renewable energy sources, including biomass from, for example, branches and tops (grot) and damaged wood in connection with felling in the forest. The directive does not prohibit felling or the extraction of roots but specifies conditions for the raw material that is extracted to be classified as sustainable. The Norwegian Forestry Agency has been tasked by the government to develop a basis for how Sweden can meet the renewables directive’s sustainability criteria and continue to be classified as an A country. In a report submitted to the government, the Norwegian Forestry Agency makes several proposals for adjustments to ensure that biomass taken from the forest is deemed sustainable for the purposes of the directive, and that it can be tracked and controlled throughout the chain: The forest owner must, through an extended declaration obligation in the permit application or felling notification to the Forestry Agency, indicate whether the measure is to be carried out in virgin forest or old forest. The information provided to the Swedish Forestry Agency enables the authority to supervise and check that the declared information is correct and that the rules are followed. This is to ensure Sweden’s compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive. Information from the declaration must be made available so that those concerned have access to reliable information of importance to their business. In this way, the buyers at all levels (ultimately the energy producer) can gain access to the information required to be able to check the sustainability criteria. “If the proposals are implemented, it underlines the importance of forest owners having a good knowledge of their forest and what natural values may be present. Here, both skill enhancement and guidance will generally be needed,” Ms Andersson said. In addition to the country’s forest owners, there are estimated to be around 300 actors in Sweden who may be affected by the changes. According to the government mandate, the Norwegian Forestry Agency has also, in collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, proposed a national definition for old forest in the Forest Protection Act. Proposals for criteria for old forest and primeval forest have also been drawn up. The directive’s sustainability criteria also cover areas that have been found to have high biological diversity. However, it has not been part of the government’s mission to develop criteria for these. Here it is proposed that the Norwegian Forestry Agency and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency receive a new government assignment to define what is considered a forest with high biological diversity.

JCB’s engine business has marked its 20th birthday with a celebration to thank employees for their vital role in its continuing success. Source: Timberbiz Since 2004, JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, UK has gone from producing three engines a day to making almost 300. It has become a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of diesel engines and is now leading the way with the pioneering development of hydrogen engines. The business initially employed 20 people but has expanded its workforce to more than 400. To mark the anniversary, employees were presented with gifts and letters thanking them for their service. In addition, 10 employees with a combined 200 years’ service, planted an oak tree in the grounds of the plant to mark the occasion. “I’m proud to have worked at JCB Power Systems since day one. Today marks 20 years of innovation, growth and dedication involving a talented team, delivering manufacturing excellence at JCB,” Robert Taylor JCB Power Systems General Manager said. JCB Power Systems’ engines have been instrumental in helping set world records – firstly when the JCB Dieselmax streamliner, powered by two JCB engines, became the fastest diesel-powered car in the world in 2006 when it reached a speed of 350.092mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, USA – a record that still stands. In 2019, JCB’s Fastrac tractor stormed into the record books as the world’s fastest tractor with a speed of 135.191 mph thanks to JCB’s 7.2 litre, 6-cylinder Dieselmax engine. In 2010, JCB expanded production of engines to JCB India, with a dedicated facility in Ballabgarh, Delhi, where 200 engines are produced every single day. In the UK, a team of more than 150 engineers is currently engaged in developing hi-tech hydrogen combustion engines for use in JCB machinery as part of a £100 million investment. More than 120 engines have come off the production line so far and many machines powered by these super-efficient engines are currently undergoing evaluation.