A partnership between Techlam and Scion, a forestry research institute, has unlocked innovation in timber products through a unique international collaboration.

Techlam, renowned for producing radiata pine glulam beams, sought Scion’s expertise to address quality control challenges.

Scion responded by inviting Jean Margerie, a student from France’s prestigious École nationale supérieure d'Arts et Métiers (ENSAM), for a six-month joint internship.

This partnership brought together industry and academia to drive advancements in sustainable timber manufacturing.

Henri Baillères, Scion’s general manager of forests and timber products, explained the partnership’s dual benefits.

“For Techlam, it provided access to advanced research and technology. For Scion, it offered practical feedback to drive product innovation,” he said.

Margerie, who arrived in February 2024 after travelling over 20,000 kilometres from France, was pivotal in improving Techlam’s production processes.

Splitting his time between Scion’s research facilities and Techlam’s Levin factory, Margerie implemented cutting-edge solutions to enhance glulam beam quality and explore innovative manufacturing methods.

The internship unfolded in three phases. First, a new non-destructive testing device was integrated into the production line, enabling precise stiffness measurements to improve quality control.

Margerie then spent two months at Techlam’s factory, focusing on product consistency and process optimization. In the final phase, he collaborated with Scion researchers to create hybrid beams combining exotic and carbon fibres, developing a promising proof of concept for future innovation.

Brett Hamilton, Techlam’s managing director, praised the partnership’s transformative impact.

“Jean tackled pressing challenges and contributed significantly to research and development, driving improvements in product quality and innovation,” he said.

Margerie credits his success to the strong support network provided by Scion, Techlam, and ENSAM.

“Working in both industry and research gave me invaluable insights into their challenges and opportunities,” he said.

“This experience has shaped my career and strengthened my path in engineering.”

Margerie followed in the footsteps of Romain Meot, a Scion wood process engineer and former ENSAM student, who established the collaboration in 2023.

Meot mentored Jean and served as a crucial link between Scion and Techlam. He emphasized the value of access to multidisciplinary expertise, which allowed Jean to tackle complex problems effectively.

Techlam quality control manager Dave Hollows also mentored Jean, highlighting the fresh perspective he brought to the team.

“Jean challenged us to rethink practices we’d grown accustomed to, often questioning assumptions and encouraging more analytical approaches,” Hollows said.

Margerie's internship concluded in August, but his contributions extended beyond the program as he continued working with Techlam for three additional months. He now looks forward to a new position, collaborating with both Techlam and Scion in 2024.

Scion plans to replicate this collaborative model with other companies, leveraging the expertise of talented students to drive industry innovation.

“Companies gain fresh solutions and dynamic perspectives from these skilled students,” Baillères said.

“We encourage more organizations to step forward and collaborate, helping elevate industry standards and foster global connections.”

This partnership exemplifies how cross-sector collaborations can advance sustainable forestry practices, drive innovation, and strengthen ties between research and industry.