Not long ago, Montana-based Smartlam was the only U.S. manufacturer of cross-laminated timber (CLT), a sustainable, sturdy material.
TreeHugger reports that now, D.R. Johnson, a family-owned firm in Riddle, Ore., started making CLT out of local douglas fir, adding more local CLT options for builders in the U.S.
The Portland Business Journal reports that D.R. Johnson received the first U.S. certification to manufacture cross-laminated timbers.
The announcement was made along with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown during Oregon BEST FEST. The certification under a new standard was approved last year by the American National Standards Institute.
“The certification clears the way for the company to market its 3-lam, 5-lam and 7-lam CLT panels to an emerging U.S. wood building market,” The Portland Business Journal Reports.
“Many industry leaders and Oregon policymakers view the development of CLT as serving two important objectives: advancing sustainable building design and promoting rural economic development,” the company announced in a press release. “The product creates a new market for struggling Oregon sawmills and a new technology for developers who are eager to further reduce carbon emissions tied to buildings.”
PB Topical Ref
