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FPDC Summary:
The Forest Products Development Center (FPDC) is an interdisciplinary research program that includes research partnerships between forestry, architecture, engineering, construction, agriculture, and business. The hub for scholarly research and economic development in timber and the built environment, the FPDC serves the 2nd largest industry in the state: forest products. We also assist our state economic development teams in recruiting new companies to the state, such as International Beams (SmartLam), which was the first cross laminated timber (CLT) business built in the southeastern U.S. in Dothan, AL. We also have faculty that are very active in innovation, intellectual property, and patent applications. Finally, we assist industry directly through mill trials, lab research, and product development with participating manufacturers to help keep their companies competitive.
Key Functions of Center:
- Work with economic development partners to recruit and retain companies, and we work to provide students to the workforce
- Marketing of new technologies developed in Center or with partners
- Work with forestry to create characterization and management tools for forests, work with civil engineering to test/develop forest products/mass timber, work with chemical engineering to develop adhesives/resins and polymers, work with architecture to develop CLT, and work with biosystems engineering to develop chemicals for adhesives.
- Provide experiential learning for undergraduate and graduate students in forestry and forest products. New undergraduate degree includes classes from architecture, engineering, forestry, business, and agriculture.
- Provide educational training to industry partners
- Work with University and industry partners to write grants for R&D in forestry and forest products
Featured Industry Partners
Timber Products Inspection, Inc.
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