Upcoming presentations:
We offer expertise from design to production of timber structures:
Specialist timber design expertise
We provide a comprehensive service from structural design through to manufacturing detailing of components.
Our team consists of qualified members of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) and timber fabrication experts focusing on aesthetic and sound timber design, buildability, and cost effectiveness.
File-to-Factory
All our designs can be provided as standard CAD drawings on paper or as machine-readable files to drive automated CNC cutting equipment. Put simply we provide a 1-stop-shop solution eliminating much of the redundancies that are inherent to the traditional design and build process, by enabling smart 'digital prefabrication' and aiming to establish a continuous digital chain from design to production.
We actually don't prefabricate any wood products or timber structures ourselves, however we are experienced with the latest in wood manufacturing and offsite construction to advise you on how to efficiently prefabricate your products! We can help you with:
Project engineering/ plant layout planning and design
How do you engineer the best possible manufacturing/prefab operation at minimum project cost and minimum headache?
Based on your requirements, we can provide advice from the development of your product portfolio, site and machine selection, to development of plant layout plans and also help you with project implementation.
We are following a proven three stage industrial engineering approach to conceive a plant layout that works.
=> The goal is NOT what is technically possible, but what makes most sense for YOUR business!
Process and plant improvement
We can help you identify and prioritise the best ways to improve your manufacturing operation.
Special interests:
There are no silver bullets or shortcuts to a successful prefab operation, no single machine or piece of software make a successful prefabricator. Instead, a prefab operation is a complex manufacturing system that has to be carefully engineered. We have specialist expertise (supplier independent!) in the industrial engineering of timber prefab operations.
The timber structures of tomorrow will require more integration between design and prefabrication disciplines than ever before. In fact what is required is a seamless digital chain from Design to Production.
CAD/CAM integration, CNC cutting, and their implications are still not widely understood in the timber building industry in this part of the world. Essentially it is the evolutionary next step in the prefabrication of timber structures, bringing designers and fabricators much closer together.
We can help you explore the opportunities and options for your business:
What does it mean for your business to integrate CAD/CAM and utilise CNC cutting?
We can help you take advantage of 'digital prefabrication'. Simply get in touch.
Panelisation
The prefabrication of closed timber frame wall, floor, and roof panels (also called panelisation) is one of the most efficient forms of offsite construction for residential and non-residendial (light) timber framed buildings. It is by far the most common form of prefabrication of timber buildings in German-speaking Europe.
Some benefits of panelised prefabrication:
Panelised prefabrication can be a feasible option for small and large prefabricators alike. However not all designs and types of buildings are equally suited for this type of construction.
All our designs can be supplied as standard shop drawings on paper for manual construction aimed at smaller prefabricators or as machine readable files to drive truss and frame saws and multi-function or nailing bridges for larger volumes and increased efficiencies.
The concept of panelisation can of course also be combined with other timber systems.
If you are new to panelised prefabrication and would like to explore the opportunities, please do get in touch. We can help you get into this smart form of offsite construction.
Design of panelised buildings
We are working with the latest in CAD/CAM design software enabling us to design your light timber frame building as a set of closed panels suitable for rapid assembly on site.
All our designs can be supplied as standard shop drawings on paper for manual construction aimed at smaller prefabricators or as machine-readable files to drive truss and frame saws and multi-function or nailing bridges for larger volumes and increased efficiencies.
Designs are based on NZS 3604 wherever possible, however not all traditional details may lend themselves to prefabrication.
If you are new to panelised prefabrication and would like to explore the opportunities, please do get in touch. We can help you get into this smart form of offsite construction. More info here.
The components for panelised buildings are precut in a factory and assembled on dedicated tables. Panels may be closed on one or both sides, pre-clad, windows installed, and in some cases panels are even pre-wired.
Panelised prefabrication can be a feasible option for small and large prefabricators alike from 10 - 1000 houses per year and more. However not all designs and types of buildings are equally suited for this type of construction. Also large and small prefab factories differ significantly in the technology they employ and the degree of automation.
We have expertise in engineering these types of prefab operations. To find out more about this form of construction, simply get in touch.
Cross-laminated timber is a relatively new and innovative wood product which can provide many benefits for the Australasian wood construction industry, developers, architects, prefabricators, and also the future occupants of CLT buildings.
We regard CLT as one of the most sustainable ways of building in the 21st century.
Design of CLT structures
CLT structures feature different structural, thermal, accoustic, fire, and environmental performance than tradtional timber framed buildings. We can provide chartered professional design solutions for your CLT project.
CAD/CAM integration
Our CLT timber designs can be delivered in a variety of file formats to drive the main types of CNC equipment, enabling efficient prefabrication.
Manufacture and prefabrication
CLT panels can be manufactured in a low energy process from local plantation timber.
We can provide advice on how to manufacture CLT, info on the cost and type of equipment required (supplier-independent!), and are able to engineer a CLT plant layout matching the strategic goals of your business.
General consulting and project management
js betz consulting has been providing independent project management and consulting services to clients in the New Zealand and Australian wood industries since 2008. Some of the projects worked on:
We are passionate about living and building with wood. If you have a project and need assistance then we can help, even if your project doesn't fit any regular mould!
The timber structures of tomorrow will require more integration between design and prefabrication disciplines than ever before. This is where we offer our services - expertise from design to production of wood products and timber structures.
Director Johann Betz has a degree in timber structure design and prefabrication from Rosenheim University in Germany. He also holds a Masters of Engineering in wood technology focusing on the industrial engineering of wood manufacturing operations.
Johann's unique background combines structural timber engineering and design experience with practical and theoretical skills on how to manufacture and prefabricate wooden products in a factory environment.
Lignum Structural Ltd is a small structural engineering consultancy specialising in timber engineering and our partner for timber design.
Director David Reid is a chartered engineer, and has passion and experience in providing aesthetically pleasing, environmentally aware, and efficient solutions in timber.
Qualifications and professional involvement
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) timber structure engineering and prefabrication
Masters of Engineering in Wood Technology
Publications & presentations
2012
2011
2010
2009 and prior
Fraemohs Industries engaged jsbetz consulting to carry out Stage I of a major upgrade to our manufacturing operation. Johann did an excellent job. He communicated well, consulted with all relevant parties and presented a clear, concise report to the board of directors on completion of the project. We were impressed with his knowledge and experience in the timber manufacturing industry.
Keith Love, General Manager, Fraemohs Industries
McIntosh Timber Laminates engaged js betz consulting to do an exercise looking at our plant/production requirements for existing and future growth. We found their approach at all times to be extremely professional and the information gathered very worthwhile.
Grant McIntosh, General Manager, McIntosh Timber Laminates
jsbetz consulting was employed by Innovatek Ltd, a leading technology and events management company for Australasian forestry and wood products companies in 2010. Johann provided an excellent service in projects as diverse as evaluating, running and managing webinars for both Australian and New Zealand wood products companies through to designing technology events for sawmilling and wood manufacturing operations in both countries. We'd certainly recommend Johann as an independent consultant to the wood products industry.
Brent Apthorp, Director, Innovatek Ltd
We needed a project done quickly when all of our people were committed elsewhere, Johanns experience and skills meant the project was completed on time and on budget.
Phil Lindsay, Marketing Manager, Red Stag Timber Ltd
Johann developed training resource materials and teaching case studies for the RADI Diploma in advanced wood manufacturing and delivered face to face training to industry on the programme. In creating the resources and the course delivery Johann has always kept the customer firmly in mind and used his own skills and broad knowledge to deliver innovative and smart solutions, on time and in full.
Allan McCracken, RADI project manager
Mr. Betz is a graduate of the Wood Building Design and Construction Program at the Technical University of Rosenheim/Germany. [...] Rosenheim graduates are very sought after with prefabricated housing manufacturers, timber fabricators and by structural engineering consultants who specialize in timber structures.
Because of their background and the intensely wood-focused education program, they are known for their passion for wood as a valuable building material, and for their practical approach to wood design and construction.[...]
Helmut G.L. Prion, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Associate Professor and Associate Chair in Design Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
* In keeping with our policy of maintaining client confidentiality, we only provide names and references of clients with their approval.
How prefabrication can help build more and better timber buildings, while upgrading New Zealand's economy.
NZIF conference, July1st-4th, 2012, Christchurch
At the NZIF conference in Christchurch timber engineer and prefab consultant Johann Betz will shed light on how innovative prefab processes can help deliver more competitive, higher quality, and new timber buildings (residential and commercial), while simultaneously raising the productivity of the construction industry and creating skilled jobs. The focus of the presentation will be on specific steps prefabricators, design professionals, and the government can take to change the way how timber structures are delivered to market.
Prefabrication of closed timber frame panels (panelisation) and how to get into it.
Frame Australia 2012, June 18-9th, Melbourne
Prefabricated housing concepts promise to cut waste and building cost while at the same time improving building quality. Overseas examples of fully closed wall, floor, and roof panels illustrate how a system of panels can be assembled to be weather-tight within a matter of few days.
While inspiring these examples raise the question whether this form of delivering architecture is also feasible down under. What exactly does panelised prefabrication mean and how can interested prefabricators get into it?
Director Johann Betz will cover this interesting topic at the Frame Australia conference , provide examples from Europe, and give specific advise on what is required from prefabricators down under to get into this innovative form of construction.
How to prefabricate the timber structures of tomorrow?
Presentation, Sept 7th 2011, Rotorua
Timber structures are experiencing a renaissance. The CHCH earthquake plus the recent development of timber systems suitable for multistorey construction like CLT and EXPAN provide additional opportunities for the building material of the 21st century. But is the New Zealand prefab industry ready to deliver the quantity and quality of timber buildings required? Compared internationally New Zealand is lacking a world-class prefab industry.
At the BNZ Forest Industries conference , Johann will shed light on innovative ways how to prefabricate timber structures (glulam, LVL/EXPAN, CLT, log homes, timber frame) and what we can learn from Europe. More about this conference here.
CLT and opportunities for New Zealand
Presentation, Sept 5th 2011, Rotorua
Cross-laminated Timber is a relatively new and innovative wood product which provides many benefits for the local wood construction industry, developers, architects, prefabricators, and also the future occupants of CLT buildings. We regard CLT as one of the most sustainable ways of building in the 21st century.
At the upcoming BNZ Forest Industries Tech Clinics this September in Rotorua, Johann will give a presentation on CLT - the product, performance as a building material, the CLT building system, outstanding architectural examples, and arising opportunities. (Note: this is a joint presentation and Robin Jack from WR Jacks Ltd will cover manufacture of CLT.) More about this event here.
It is our passion to help companies succeed in the smart and profitable manufacture of their wood products!
All enquiries are most welcome!
Johann Betz, Director
Ph: +64-3-331-6113 M: 021-104-1485 E: johann_jsbetzconsulting.com 86 Bowenvale Ave, Cashmere, Christchurch, New Zealand
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