In late March, COFI hosted experts from a number of Chinese government organizations responsible for certification and accreditation, including the Ministry of Construction and China National Certification and Accreditation Administration. These officials met with Canadian counterparts and organizations such as the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board responsible for product certification schemes used in Canada. The Chinese are planning creation of a wood product certification system for China. Our goal is to assist them to develop a system that will recognize and accept Canadian wood products for construction uses for minimal cost and requirements.

Within the last three years, the growth of wood demand for landscaping projects in China has surpassed expectations. In 2002, there were less than 10 domestic treated lumber suppliers in wood landscaping business. Today, there are more than 60 landscaping companies offering treated lumber and other wood species. It is estimated that the total treated lumber consumption is between 55,000m3 to 60,000m3 for 2005. The 2006 forecast is 80,000m3 or greater.

Treated wood is being used to replace plastic in outdoor furniture, hardwood in board walks and concrete in fencing. In February, Canada Wood delivered 3 landscape design seminars; Guangzhou, Changsha, and Chongqing. Our objective at these seminars was to teach designers and architects the advantages of using treated SPF in landscape design. The seminars were very well attended (over 300 designers, real estate developers and builders attended the seminars). The keynote speaker for the 3 seminars was Canadian landscape architect Lindsay Gowler from Victoria, BC.

In March 2006, Canada Wood delivered 3 full day wood-frame design workshops to more than 200 architects, engineers and government officials interested in wood-frame construction in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.

In general, the presentations were very technical in nature focusing on state of the art issues in timber engineering and wood building design. The range of topics covered included: wood as a renewable green building material; structural properties of wood, different types of wood products; different types of timber construction; practical examples of Do and Don't in wood frame construction; case studies of buildings in Vancouver illustrating how hybrid 4 storey wood frame over concrete sub-structure and high-end low-rise buildings are designed in Canada; design keys for wood frame construction from the perspective of a leading Canadian consulting office; and Chinese timber code issues.

Canada Wood/COFI has opened an office in South Korea in April 2006, and has hired two outstanding individuals to manage the large slate of projects this year. Appointed as technical director, Tai Jeong has an extensive background in design, construction and technical work connected to the wood products industry. He served the American Forest and Paper Association in Seoul for eight years as technical director and prior to that was university educated in the United States and has degrees in architecture from prestigious schools in New York and Boston. Tai will be responsible for coordinating Canada Wood's activities in Korea. Evelyn Oh, who comes to Canada Wood with strong language and marketing skills, will be responsible for managing Canada Wood's market development activities this year.

Canada Wood Group staff has been receiving persistent and increasing complaints in Korea (and China) about Canadian dimension lumber quality.  This is occurring at the same time as European producers are taking a hard look at both markets. We understand that many Asian users of lumber are impressed with the general level of European quality and some Korean customers have reportedly switched from Canadian lumber to European. Sources in South Korea now reveal that Canadian share of the dimension lumber has eroded to less than the 50% level as European lumber gains in popularity. This is a disturbing trend that we will have to monitor carefully. Canadian producers are advised to listen closely to their agents and market representatives.

In Q4, the SPF Group conducted thirteen technical seminars across Japan in partnership with the Japan 2x4 Home Builders Association and the Japan Wood Truss Council (JWTC).  Total attendance for these thirteen seminars was 562 participants, an average of 43 participants per seminar.  Seminar locations ranged from Miyazaki city (Kyushu) in the south to Kushiro city (Hokkaido) in the North.  Seminar topics included 2x4 planning & design, Truss & Engineered Wood use and the fireproof specification for 2x4 structures.

May 25-June 3. COFI hosted a delegation of 12 Japanese wood construction industry experts from Japan. The group toured Parklane and Adera WFC sites in the Vancouver area (Port Moody and Surrey). They also visited COFI's northern location in Prince George where the group enjoyed forestry and mill tours. The highlight of their trip was attending and competing in COFI's annual lumber grading Championship which took place on Sat May 27, 2006 in Kelowna.

Case Study I
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