Thank you to everyone who registered for our recent event on mass timber construction. These sessions are designed to educate architects, engineers, developers, and builders on the efficient, state-of-the-art use of mass timber.

For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a summary of the key takeaways from our expert speakers:

Red Stag TimberLab – Background & Sustainability

Andrew French opened the session with an introduction to Red Stag TimberLab’s legacy, capabilities. Key points included:

  • Company Evolution: With roots in McIntosh Timber Laminates (1950s) and Timberbond Industries (1990s), Red Stag TimberLab (RSTL) was formed in 2022 through the acquisition of TimberLab by Red Stag Wood Solutions. The result is New Zealand’s largest and most capable mass timber supplier, offering a full range of engineered timber products including Glulam, CLT, LVL, and frame & truss.
  • One-Stop-Shop Offering: RSTL delivers a fully coordinated mass timber solution, integrating structural timber, brackets, fixings, and prefabricated components. Shop drawings are CNC-driven from a single 3D model, ensuring precision and consistency across all elements. 
  • Global Experience: RSTL’s engineered timber systems have been exported for decades, with hundreds of completed projects across Australia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East, India, and beyond. 
  • Sustainability Advantage: Red Stag’s Waipa sawmill in Rotorua operates using bio-fuel generated from timber offcuts, making the site self-sufficient and a net exporter of electricity to the national grid. This circular energy model significantly lowers embodied carbon and landfill waste. 

Digital Fabrication and DfMA

Sam Leslie presented a detailed walkthrough of Red Stag TimberLab’s integrated digital processes and how these underpin efficient, precision-based mass timber delivery. Key points included:

  • Digital to Physical: RSTL’s digital fabrication process allows bespoke buildings to be delivered to site as a prefabricated kitset, significantly speeding up installation and reducing on-site complexity.
  • The Power of BIM: Beyond 3D modelling, RSTL leverages the full potential of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to coordinate information across teams and supply chains. Embedded attributes like weights, specifications, and construction sequencing help ensure accuracy, cost certainty, and project alignment from early stages.
  • CAM & CNC Capability: RSTL operates five advanced CNC machines, including two of the world’s largest. This 5-axis precision allows for millimetre-accurate cutting of even complex geometries, which is essential for achieving DfMA goals.
  • Real-World Application – Fisher & Paykel HOME:
    • Early contractor involvement (15 months before delivery) allowed design optimisation, structural testing, and locked-in production capacity.
    • Python scripting was used to automate complex modelling tasks, such as populating screw patterns and connection details across thousands of components.
    • Digital QA tools like BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) and point cloud scanning enabled live coordination, RFI tracking, and digital twin creation.
  • Freeform Design – Pounamu Pathway Māwhera:
    • This culturally significant project involved freeform geometry, where curved glulam members were CNC-cut rather than laminated; achieving both precision and around 40% cost savings.
    • Careful modelling of node points and consistent geometry ensured coordination across trades and reduced stress in structural connections.
    • Shortlisted for the 2024 World Architecture Festival (Cultural category), the project exemplifies how digital workflows unlock bold architectural forms.

BuildingPoint – Digital Construction Technologies

Matt Wild from BuildingPoint shared insights into the practical use of Trimble digital construction tools across design, fabrication, and site installation workflows. Key points included:
  • Technology Overview: BuildingPoint is a specialist distributor of Trimble equipment in New Zealand, supplying high-accuracy tools like total stations, laser scanners, and augmented reality devices. These technologies support a wide range of industries, including structural engineering, architecture, construction, and manufacturing.
  • Field-to-Finish Workflow: Matt introduced the digital construction lifecycle—from initial site measurement through to QA and as-built documentation. This streamlined workflow supports digital fabrication, site setout, factory assembly, and real-time project tracking.
  • 3D Scanning & Point Clouds: High-precision 3D laser scanners capture millions of spatial data points to form a “point cloud”, an accurate digital representation of built environments. These are used for site checks, clash detection, as-built models, and digital twins.
  • Benefits of Digital Tools: Tools like Trimble’s total stations and scanners enable faster, more accurate layout and verification processes. Key advantages include reduced human error, enhanced documentation, and fewer delays through direct model-to-site workflows.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction: AR tools enable teams to overlay 3D models on real-world environments via phone, tablet, or headset. This facilitates clash detection, QA, remote collaboration, and helps visualise construction elements directly in context.
  • Live Demo: Matt concluded his session with a live demonstration of Trimble’s digital construction technology, showcasing how real-time AR and scanning tools can streamline workflows and enhance build accuracy. The audience saw firsthand how these tools bring digital models to life on-site scivolo gonfiabile gigante.
Whether you’re new to mass timber or an experienced practitioner, WoodStock offers a valuable platform to explore innovation, network with peers, and stay updated on best practices in engineered timber construction.

Contact the Red Stag TimberLab team to discuss how you can include mass timber in your upcoming project.

Or

Email: info@redstag.co.nz

Phone: 09 253 9349

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