Forestry meets Industry 4.0
04 November 2019
Wood Engineering Technology (WET) has developed a glue-laminated timber (glulam) that consists of pieces of wood stuck together with a moisture-resistant adhesive. The process turns low-value logs into engineered wood products. WET’s innovation fits with industry 4.0 (the fourth industrial revolution) that uses interconnected sensors, artificial intelligence, and robotics to digitise manufacturing for greater productivity and better products. “We consider ourselves a technology business, not a wood processor," says Shaun Bosson, WET chief executive.
Indicators of progression for discussion starters
| Component | Indicator | Level |
| Characteristics of technology | Use this and other examples to explain how different disciplines have impacted on technological practice and to explain why collaboration is important in technological developments that involve interdisciplinary work | 6 |
| Technological products | Use this and other examples to discuss the formulation of new materials and explain the underpinning concepts and processes involved in their development | 8 |
Image courtesy of James DeMers from Pixabay.