Challenges Facing the Development and Market Introduction of Hardwood Cross-Laminated Timbers

The interest in softwood-based cross-laminated timber (CLT) production has in turn generated a great deal of interest in producing CLT from hardwood species. This prospect of a new market for hardwood lumber is a significant driver behind efforts to gain certification of hardwoods within American Panel Association (APA) PRG 320, Standard for Performance-Rated Cross-Laminated Timber. However, a number of challenges present significant hurdles for gaining acceptance of hardwoods in CLT manufacturing. These include differences in how softwoods and hardwoods are produced and marketed (e.g., structural lumber markets [softwoods] vs. appearance-grade markets [hardwoods]), lumber grading differences, available sizes of hardwood lumber, drying differences between hardwoods and softwoods, and gluing particularities with hardwoods. This paper identifies the various issues involved with introducing hardwoods into a softwood-dominated market and what it will take to be competitive within the overall CLT market.