Centre for Advanced Wood Processing

FII_CML_KKL_052_11767 copyThe UBC Faculty of Forestry, Department of Wood Science – is recognized as a Canadian and global leader in teaching and research on forestry, wood products manufacturing, and wood technology. In 1994, UBC was chosen by the National Education Initiative (NEI) Board to develop a national program in advanced wood processing. The Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) was then formed through a partnership of the Canadian wood products industry, the federal government, and the province of British Columbia. Through this partnership, funding was secured to construct a 3,730m2 state-of-the-art facility and establish an endowment to offset a portion of the annual operating expenses. A national industry advisory Board oversees CAWP’s programs and ensures that the training needs of the industry are met. CAWP assists industry by designing and offering training opportunities in various forms, assisting companies to develop new products, undertaking applied research projects, assisting with needs analyses and surveys, and providing consulting support on technical, managerial, and market-related matters.

CAWP has a mandate to:

  • Provide industry with access to highly educated and trained students, with the capacity to lead and drive change in the industry
  • Offer continuing education programs tailored to the needs of the industry and aimed at enhancing the skills of existing industry employees
  • Offer a portfolio of industry extension services designed to improve the manufacturing efficiency of wood products enterprises and promote innovation in product design.
  • Conduct an interdisciplinary industry-focused research program

CAWP and the UBC Department of Wood Science house an extremely wide range of expertise on value-added wood properties manufacturing. Personnel include 15 professors, each with a research group that includes graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and technical specialists. Several of the faculty members are cross appointed with or have research collaborations with UBC Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or the Sauder School of Business. Research groups focus on the following aspects of the wood products industry:

  • Business planning, marketing and supply chain management
  • Composite materials, adhesives, and development of advanced engineered wood products
  • CNC manufacturing technology
  • Cutting and tooling optimization
  • Environmental aspects of wood products and manufacturing processesArt 053
  • Finishing, surface protection, preservation and bio deterioration
  • Forest products biotechnology
  • Furniture and millwork design and construction methods
  • Industrial engineering
  • Machine design, operation and maintenance, and CAD/CAM
  • Manufacturing technology and systems optimization
  • New product development
  • Plant layout and design and equipment evaluation
  • Sustainable business management practices
  • Timber engineering and applied timber mechanics
  • Wood anatomy and fibre quality
  • Wood building design and sustainable architecture
  • Wood physics and drying

For more information on CAWP, visit their website: www.cawp.ubc.ca.