Glued-laminated timber constitutes an ever-increasing percentage of the framing materials used in the building industry.

For this reason Glu-lam, Inc., a Lebanon, PA, based company, is currently setting up an assembly line to manufacture glue-laminated timber.

Glu-lam, Inc. plans to manufacture an engineered stress-rated product created by bonding together individual pieces of lumber having a nominal thickness of 2 inches or less per individual piece or layer.

Individual pieces of lumber will then be end-joined together to create long lengths referred to as laminations. These laminations will then face-bonded together to create the finished product.

On a pound-for-pound basis, conventional glulam can achieve allowable strengths equivalent to steel. Glulam is also among the most versatile of the engineered wood products. It can be shaped into forms ranging from straight beams to complex curved members. Typical residential applications include garage door headers, floor girders, ridge beams and purlins, cantilever beam systems and columns.

Glued laminated timber can be manufactured to almost any size required by a design.

Standard sizes:

For example: Southern Pine

Width:
2-1/2, 3, 3-1/8, 3-1/2, 5, 5-1/8, 5-1/2, 6-3/4, 8-1/2, 10-1/2, inches.
Glu-lam, Inc. proposes production capabilities of up to 12.5 inches.

Laminations:
1-3/8 in. thick laminations, all depths based on multiples of 1-3/8 inches are common.
Glu-lam, Inc. proposes 1-1/2 in. thick laminations, all depths based on multiples of 1-1/2 inches. Providing full dimensions instead of the commonly reduced dimensions of 1-3/8 inches.

Depth:
Practical depths are up to 72 inches.
Glu-lam, Inc. proposes to mass-produce any depth up to 62 inches.

Length:
Common lengths are up to 60 feet. Custom members to 175 feet have been manufactured.
Glu-lam, Inc. proposes to mass-produce any length up to 80 feet.

Completion date of assembly line is unknown at this time.