The purpose of the trip was to demonstrate to the staff of Liebe Company how to erect a timber frame cabin using frame trusses, a system the Japanese builders are not familiar with as they don't use this system of building.

The director of Liebe Co, Takamora, has been buying cypress timber over the past two years from various sawmills over the eastern states of Australia, one of which is Hay's Sawmill at Eugowra.

Takamora came to Australia 12 months ago to visit his suppliers and to investigate what other timber products he could market in Japan. Ron Hay said he fell in love with the timber office of Hay's and asked and if Ron could visit Japan with the intention of demonstrating the building method to the Japanese.

Consequently Ron, Greg and David made the successful trip recently, with the cabin they constructed now being used as a display cabin. The cabin was packaged and shipped to Japan prior to their arrival.

With the construction method recently learned, Takamora's workmen are planning on building another cabin in the Japanese snow fields. Japanese love the look of cypress and Takamora anticipates there is a potential market for these cabins in Japan.

Takamora gave the Hay team projected sales of 25 cabins in 2007 to 30 or more in 2008.

Mr. Hay said the trip was very enlightening and in view of Takamora's projected figures could prove very profitable for the local company.