Advanced Structures & Composites Center

Wood Composites

The UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center has significant expertise in the manufacturing and testing of wood and wood composites. We have conducted dozens of federal and industrial trials annually since our laboratory opened in 2000.

The centerpiece of our capability is a full wood composites pilot line. Oriented strand board (OSB), laminated strand lumber (LSL), Particleboard (PB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), glulam, and plywood are a few of the products which are produced and tested at the Center. The line is near industrial in scale, and panels 3’x3′ or 4’x8′ are often manufactured.

Lumber testing is also conducted frequently, including all testing and analysis for NELMA that led to Norway spruce’s inclusion in the SPF-S category, as well as the required periodic testing of SPF-S lumber from the region.

Mass Timber is another area of heavy research, where new products are designed, manufactured, and tested. 

Much of our testing is part of our ISO 17025 scope of accreditation, including ASTM D143, D198, D905, D1037, D1761, D1990, D2559, D3737, D4761, D5456, D6815, and PRG-320. 

Please feel free to contact us to discuss our capabilities and request a quote for services.