The Vision

To effect an envisioned transformation of the wood products industry, the College of Architecture of the Georgia Institute of Technology developed and operates the Advanced Wood Products Laboratory (AWPL). The AWPL utilizes computer-aided designing and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to drive automated machining and manufacturing equipment.

The laboratory extends an invitation to the wood products industry and manufacturers of wood processing and finishing equipment to participate in advancing the state-of-the-art in the secondary wood products manufacturing arena. The SCM Group of Rimini, Italy, the world's largest manufacturer of woodworking machinery, helped establish the laboratory with its initial consignment of 1.6 million dollars of wood processing equipment. This initial consignment of advanced machine centers includes 16 wood processing machines, seven of which will be computer numerically controlled (CNC).

Thus, the laboratory is the largest such unit in an academic setting in North America. SCM, the Georgia Institute of Technology and College of Architecture's closest strategic partner in this venture, has its North American headquarters located in Duluth, Georgia. The AWPL augments the academic, research, and service mission of the College of Architecture in those areas most essential to effecting the technological transformation of the wood products industry.

The lab's mission is to move the production of finished products in the United States using wood and wood composite materials into an internationally competitive position. The three components of this mission are education and training, research and development, and demonstration.