Issue 236 Timber & Forestry E news

6827

AFS/01-10-01 www.forestrystandard.org.au

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issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 1

This Issue

•H efty penalties for non-compliance • Logging Bill: new focus on DNA technology

Bush Bash: miles of smiles

pictured from left, are Don Towerton, Thora Wholesale Timbers (bronze sponsor), David West, general manager, stewardship and risk, HQ Plantations (bronze sponsor), Bill Philip, Hoo-Hoo J1V life member (sponsor), Tim Evans, Coast to Coast Pacific (sponsor and codriver), Jim Bowden, Timber&Forestry enews (bronze sponsor), Michael Kennedy, Kennedy’s Classic Age Timbers (silver sponsor), and Alan Jones, president, Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 (bronze sponsor and co-driver).

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THE Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Timber Industry Club’s 1977 Holden Kingswood entry in the Queensland Variety Charity Bush Bash – a 4000 km run from Dalby to Mackay – brought smiles to hundreds of underprivileged children and raised more than $18,000, promoting the timber and forest industries along the way.

The Kingswood made a special ‘pit stop’ outside Brisbane’s Vagelis Restaurant in Racecourse Road, Hamilton, last Thursday, after returning for a promotional tour to celebrate the finish of the 10-day event in Mackay on August 11.

Sponsors and Bush Bash team members,

P eter Gunnersen: industry loses respected champion

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Visit: www.osmose.com.au or phone: 1800 088 809 Osmose® and MicroPro® are registered trademarks of Osmose, Inc. or its subsidiaries. A Better Earth Idea from Osmose sm and Treated Wood Just Got Greener sm are slogan marks of Osmose Inc and its subsidiaries. MicroPro timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. GREENGUARD® is a registered trademark of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. * See MicroPro fastener and hardware information sheet. © 2011 Osmose, Inc.

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issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 1

INDUSTRY NEWS

New Zealand forest, wood industry transforms itself

Woodco go-ahead on $400,000 research initiative

FOREST and wood processing industries in New Zealand are moving quickly on a strategy to transform the sector.

The Wood Council (Woodco) has given the go-ahead to a $400,000 research-based initiative which aims to get the highest value out of every cubic metre of timber harvested.

Known as Woodscape, it is modelled on a major study carried out for the Canadian forest products industry in 2009.

“In the next decade we will see an increase in the harvest. We are determined to extract the best value we can from this resource and reinvigorate our sector,” says Woodco chair Doug Ducker.

Meanwhile, Woodco members are already moving on several market development initiatives designed to maximise returns for traditional forest products.

These include a campaign to actively promote New Zealand timber in Australia, the development of a national timber quality assurance scheme and active promotion of timber to Christchurch homeowners as the material to be used in the post-quake rebuild.

“All these initiatives are important, but Woodscape has the potential in the mediumterm to transform the sector, so that all players enjoy higher and more consistent returns,” Mr Ducker said.

The Canadian ‘Bio-Pathways’ study concluded that much

Woodco members are moving on several market development initiatives, including a campaign to actively promote NZ timber in Australia Page 2 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

Doug Ducker .. extracting best value from the resource.

higher returns will come from integrating new technologies into traditional wood processing, including the conversion of forest biomass into bio-energy, bio-chemicals and other bio-materials. As

a result, Canadian sawmills are now expanding into bioenergy and pulp mills are converting into bio-refineries for production of pulp, bioenergy and bio-chemicals.

Because of the many differences between Canada and New Zealand, Mr Ducker cautions that the strategies that emerge from Woodscape won’t be a carbon copy of what has been adopted by Canada. But they do have the potential to be equally transformational.

Woodscape is being led by a 12-strong team at Scion crown research institute with technical support from the industry and the universities. The study will draw heavily on the proven

Cont Page 8

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Passing of logging Bill throws fresh focus on DNA technology

Australian importer at front line of new research

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand have strengthened their longstanding cooperation on forestry issues by signing an ‘arrangement on combating illegal logging’.

The arrangement illustrates a shared commitment to working together to promote sustainable forest management.

The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 has passed the Australian House of Representatives and will soon be introduced to the Senate.

New Zealand has a representative on the stakeholder working group for the development of the legislation.

Australia’s Minister for Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig said the arrangement would build the capacity of government and industry to manage forests sustainably and promote systems to verify the legality of timber and wood products in Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia Pacific region.

Australia and New Zealand share significant trade in timber products. In 2010-11, New Zealand was the largest export supplier of forest products to Australia with trade valued at $715 million.

The Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne says the legislation is a step in the right direction, but the Greens will try to pass amendments to the legislation in the senate, including tightening the definition of illegal logging.

Wood, like people, has a unique DNA.

But Senator Milne says the Greens will vote with the government to pass the legislation in the senate even if those amendments don’t succeed.

However, Liberal MP Dan Tehan said consultation around the Bill had been “nothing short of a disgrace”; it had failed to take into account the interests of Australia’s neighbours.

“Instead, the government is telling other countries what to do and causing grave damage to international relations,” he said.

Senator Ludwig says the Bill complements the efforts of the US and Europe to stem the illegally logged timber trade which the World Bank says is managed by “sophisticated criminal networks”.

The Bill throws a fresh focus on using the criminal justice system and law enforcement

The Bill throws a fresh focus on using the criminal justice system and law enforcement techniques in the battle against trade in illegal timber where regulations and preventive measures have not met with much success Advertising: Tel +61 7 3266 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

techniques in the battle against trade in illegal timber where regulations and preventive measures have not met with much success.

Australian company Simmonds Lumber Pty Ltd has taken the lead on this issue utilising innovative DNA technology developed at the University of Adelaide and supported by Singapore company Double Helix Tracking Technologies.

“Using this process, Simmonds Lumber verifies the origin of timber imported by the company,” chief executive

John Simon said.

“New laws threatening jail time and fines are inducing companies around the world to take a harder look at where they get their timber – or pay the price of neglect.”

[Gibson Guitar Corp, which makes some of the world’s most prized guitars, agreed on August 6 to pay a $300,000 penalty after it admitted to possible illegal purchases of ebony from Madagascar].

Mislabelling, lying about origin or substituting one type of wood for another have become common practices in the timber trade.

Industry officials say rapid advances and plunging costs for DNA testing of timber now make it commercially viable for companies trying to meet new regulations in the US and Europe against such practices.

With the miniaturisation of genetic testing equipment, desktop-sized prototypes are already on trial, says a special Reuters report on the new technology. Laboratories around the globe could be

Cont Page 13

Andrew Lowe .. fine tuning a method of extracting DNA taken from a log, a table or even flooring.

issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 3

PASSAGES

Peter Gunnersen slips quietly from his moorings

Timber industry loses one of its most loyal and respected leaders

WHEN Captain Gunner Gunnersen sailed from Norway to Australia in the 1870s aboard the Helga, he probably had no idea that his cargo of Baltic pine would form the springboard for one of this country’s major timber product wholesaling enterprises, Gunnersen Timbermark.

In the morning of August 21, in Melbourne, Gunner’s great-grandson Peter Ronald Gunnersen, 69, slipped quietly from his moorings having served – with his brother, Thorold (Thorry) Gunnersen – more than 40 years at the helm of a different kind of ship – a multi-faceted business that became the largest independent Australian owned distributor of wood-based panel products, timber and decorative surface materials.

The death of Peter Gunnersen, who had been suffering ill health, still came as a shock to the timber industry he loved and tributes have flowed from all corners of the globe, including such annotations as beautiful brother, loyal career partner, staunch family man, steadfast, courageous, witty and good fun.

Peter, executive director, and Thorry Gunnersen, executive chairman, retired from executive duties at Gunnersen Pty Ltd in March 2008. They were replaced by Nils Koren who accepted the position of managing director, and Nils Gunnersen (Thorry’s son) who re-joined the company from Midway Pty Ltd as executive director.

Thorry and Peter Gunnersen joined the board 40 years ago, what was then MarbutGunnersen Pty Ltd, since re-named Gunnersen Companies Pty Ltd. At the time the company conducted

Page 4 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

Peter Gunnersen during a timber trade mission to The Philippines in 2000. Photo – Jim Bowden.

diversified manufacturing and distribution businesses, including sawmilling and processing Victorian ash in northeast Victoria and plywood manufacturing and sawmilling in Cairns.

In Melbourne, operations initially included mouldings manufacture, plywood and panel boards distribution, plus forging, engineering and even cabinet fabrication.

Established in 1879, the Gunnersen story has been one of growth through product and technological innovation.

The family takes pride in the company history, yet balances this with a vision for future growth and prosperity.

Peter Gunnersen’s long

service to industry included chairmanship for 16 years of the J. W. Gottstein Memorial Trust Fund. The trustees, in a tribute, acknowledged his significant contribution and dedication to both the trust and the timber industry – “his services and input to the industry as well as his love for the industry and its people will not be forgotten”.

Until recently, Mr Gunnersen was also a director of Wood Products Victoria and was a past director of the National Association of Forest Industries (now AFPA) and a past president of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries.

But if sawdust was in Peter Gunnersen’s veins, the blood flow was made smoother with

‘Peter has left a legacy for all of us to experience, enjoy and learn from. Peter, we all thank you and your family. See you on the water’ – Schooner Enterprize trustee

salt water. Along with his bother his involvement with boats and ships earned the respect of the sailing fraternity.

He was closely involved with the topsail schooner Enterprize, a replica of the original built in Hobart in 1829 by William Pender and used for coastal transport of cargo such as coal, livestock, and supplies.

The fully operational replica was launched in Melbourne in 1997 and is managed by the Enterprize Ship Trust on behalf of the people of Victoria. The Enterprize’s home port from 1997 to 2011 was Williamstown (southwest of Melbourne), where it moored and operated for 14 years.

In September 2011, the ship moved its home port to the Melbourne Docklands precinct.

It conducts regular voyages from Docklands and other places around Port Phillip Bay. The Enterprize provides a range of education programs for primary and secondary school groups, offering a tall ship sailing cruise experience coupled with an interactive session on Melbourne’s beginning and the original Enterprize story.

The trustees paid a special tribute: “We of the Schooner Enterprize mourn the passing of Peter Ronald Gunnersen, benefactor and active trustee of the ship. By his untiring support, we and the people of Melbourne have over the past 14 years experienced a snippet of life as it was at the beginning of our city.

“Peter has left a legacy for all of us to experience, enjoy and learn from.

“We as the trustees, committee and volunteers of Enterprize

Cont Page 7

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WHAT’S ON?

AUGUST

29: Chopper-roller field day.

Miva on the Bauple-Woolooga road. Turn west off Bruce Highway, about 17 km to Munna Miva Road. (Look for the ‘field day’ signs. Time: 9 am-3 pm. Tel: (07) 5483 6535 or email pfsq @ bigpond.com

SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER

FWPA R&DWorks seminar series: Coffs Harbour, NSW, September 4; Maryborough, Qld, September 6; Brisbane September 7; Albury, NSW, October 4; Oberon, NSW, October 31; Sydney November 1; Hobart November 29.

OCTOBER

2-4: Future Build 2012.

Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Contact Australian Exhibitions and Conferences (03) 8672 1200 or email: mail@aec.net.au

3-4: Joint ISCs and Skills Australia conference: The Future of Work In 2011, Australia’s 11 industry skills councils and Skills Australia held their inaugural joint conference.

Join MC Kerry O’Brien, Q&A panel moderator Tony Jones and a range of industry identities to explore the future of work, and its implications for building Australia’s human capital. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, NSW. 4-6: Malaysian Timber Council’s (MTC) Global WoodMart 2012, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.

For further information go to www.globalwoodmart.my. For information about complimentary hotel accommodation and other

assistance, including sponsorship invitation and application forms contact John Halkett at john. halkett@bigpond.com or +61 (0)2 9356 3826.

14-17: Australian Forest Growers conference. Gympie Civic Centre, Gympie, Qld. More than 50 speakers will present at 20 sessions. Three concurrent streams will feature growing, products and markets and integration. The middle day will feature six field trips heading in all directions from Gympie to examine local growing and processing in action. This will be followed by the presentation of the national Tree Farmer of the Year Award at the conference dinner. Visit www.afg.asn.au for further information or contact Terry Greaves on (02) 6162 9000 or email terry.greaves@afg.asn.au

30-31: ForestWorks and First Super 5th annual Industry Development Conference In 2011, Hyatt Hotel and Parliament House. Canberra. This is an important opportunity for all current and aspiring leaders of the forest, wood, paper and timber industry to engage in strategic and political debate on critical issues affecting the whole industry in Australia. This year’s conference will consider the future opportunities and challenges for manufacturing timber, wood and paper products in an advanced and multi-speed economy. The conference has been specifically scheduled to coincide with parliamentary sitting week, providing a great chance for industry players, union representatives, policy makers and MPs to gather, network

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EVENTS

and share ideas on positive future directions for the industry.

Registration inquiries contact: The Events Manager at cday@ forestworks.com.au or phone (03) 9321 3500.For further information, including announcements of speakers and topics, visit www.forestworks.com.au/ conference2012

10-11 (Rotorua) and 16-17 (Melbourne). Improving international cost competitiveness through smart science, research and technology. New Zealand and Australian forest products companies face increasing competition from low cost producers, and from lower cost, better performing nonwood products. Low costs and high fibre recovery,achieved through process innovation, are prerequisites to competing in today’s global forest product markets. This Australasian technology event will provide local forest products, wood processing and manufacturing companies with a unique opportunity. Visit www.woodinnovationsevents.com

NOVEMBER

3: Queensland Timber Industry Awards Night – Victoria Park Function Centre, Brisbane.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has been formed through the merger of the Australian Plantations Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) and the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI).

AFPA was established to cover all aspects of Australia’s forest industry: - Forest growing; - Harvest and haulage; - Sawmilling and other wood processing; - Pulp and paper processing; and - Forest product exporting.

28-29: ForestTech 2012 – Improving Wood Transport and Logistics.

Melbourne and Rotorua

December

Australia’s forest, wood, pulp and paper products industry now has a stronger voice in dealings with government, the community and in key negotiations on the industry’s future, as two peak associations have merged to form a single national association.

4-5. Focus on improving transport and logistics in the forestry sector.

It will build on the excellent program designed by the Forest Industry Engineering Association.

Visit www.foresttechevents.com

For more information on the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) or to enquire about membership , please call (02) 6285 3833.

issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 5

TIMBER TREATMENT

Hefty penalties for non-compliance in new workplace safety legislation

Update for timber treaters at Osmose seminars TIMBER treaters and other manufacturing industries are now exposed to penalties of up to $3 million if they breach compliance in new workplace health and safety legislation introduced in June.

The WH&S legislation, adopted in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory, was explained at a series of Osmose Australia seminars by Ken Hocking, OHS / workers’ compensation manager with the Timber Trade Industrial Association.

Mr Hocking said Victoria and Western Australia were “sticking points” on a totally national adoption of the legislation while they continued to review the conditions of the Act, although they were expected to comply.

He said the new legislation allowed industry players to “build a case” for defence against any alleged noncompliance.

“The legislation is crafted in a better way so that corporations and individuals are judged innocent before they may have to challenge a

Page 6 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

Andrew Hurford, managing director of Hurford Hardwood, Lismore, NSW (centre) is welcomed to the Osmose Australia seminar in Brisbane by national business development manager Nick Livanes (left) and field officer Warren Jeffrey.

conviction,” he said.

The Osmose product update seminars were held this month in Mount Gambier, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney,.

Speaking at Osmose seminars in Brisbane and Sydney, Mr Hocking said the new WHS

legislation had been developed by the national WHS authority Safe Work Australia. This would become a single Act governing each state and territory.

The penalty structure of the legislation outlined by Mr Hocking involves three

New legislation allows industry players to “build a case” for defence against any alleged non-compliance

categories: • Reckless conduct – corporations $3 million; individuals as a PCBU (person conducting a business) or officers of a PCBU $600,000 / five years jail; other individuals $300,000 / five years jail.

• High risk – corporations $1.5 million; individuals as a PCBU or officers of a PCBU $300,000; other individuals $150,000.

• Duty breach – corporations $500,000; individuals as a PCBU or officers of a PCBU $100,000; other Individuals $50,000.

A ‘shame file’ clause in the legislation allows a court to publicise the offence and the penalty imposed.

Mr Hocking is recognised as a key industry specialist in occupational health and safety for workers compensation, training and risk assessment for the timber industry.

He represents TTIA members on several important peak government committees, developing specialised training programs for the industry, Cont Page 7

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TIMBER TREATMENT

Treated wood guarantee at point of sale

From Page 6

fulfilling OH&S research grant requirements and organising best OH&S, workers compensation and training and environmental practices.

During the seminars, Osmose Australia general manager Elias Akle gave a review of treated timber markets around the world as well as forecasts of future activity by the company.

He outlined the Osmose treated wood guarantee and explained that there were specific requirements in the new Australian Consumer Law for wording of the guarantee and, of more concern, requirements for availability of the guarantee at the point of sale in some circumstances Osmose Australia offers a limited guarantee on preservative treated timber products when Osmose preservatives are applied in approved treatment facilities and to Australian standards.

Consumers are urged to read the guarantee before making a decision to purchase any Osmose preservative treated timber products.

Ken Hocking gets the message across about workplace, health and safety at the Osmose Australia seminar in Sydney.

Getting together at the Sydney seminar are David McAndrew of Tasman KB and Warwick Drysdale of Programmed Timber Supplies.

‘Peter has left a wonderful legacy’

From Page 4

express our deepest sympathy to Julie and his family.

“We will continue to operate Enterprize for all, perpetuating our city’s history and Peter’s love for both.

“Peter, we all thank you and your family. See you on the water.”

Peter Gunnersen is survived by his wife Julie, his children Katrina, Andrew, Christian and Thomas, and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held today (August 27) at St Johns Anglican Church, Toorak.

Industry tributes will appear in next week’s edition of Timber&Forest enews. – JIM BOWDEN.

www.tanalised.com

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issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 7

INDUSTRY NEWS

Development scenarios for five regions to be explored and ready by December

From Page 2

Bio-Pathways methodology adapted for differences in the NZ wood supply, industry structure, operating costs and markets.

Funding comes from all major industry players, Scion, NZ

Trade and Enterprise, EECA, the Bio-energy Association and the Ministry of Primary Industry.

Promising technologies will be identified, costed, ranked and presented to sector workshops by the end of October.

Development

scenarios for five regions will be explored and workshopped during December.

Final recommendations will be made to the Wood Council board in autumn next year.

Woodco is body that

a pan-industry represents the

common interests of the forestry and wood processing sectors. Members include associations such as Forest Owners, Wood Processors, Pine Manufacturers, Farm Forestry and Forest Industry Contractors.

Government attacked over forestry peace delay

THE Tasmanian Opposition has used the first day of Parliament to continue its attack on the government over the forest peace deal.

Page 8 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

Parliament has resumed after an eight-week winter break and Tasmania is still without a final agreement from industry and environmentalists.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman asked: “When will you get the message to rip up this disastrous deal?”

Shadow treasurer Peter

Gutwein joined the attack, accusing the Resources Minister Bryan Green of demanding last week’s interim agreement to save face.

Mr Green rejected the suggestion.

Will Hodgman called for Labor to abandon the forest peace process and adopt his policy for the industry.

But despite calling for negotiations, Mr Hodgman said he was not willing to budge from his position of not a “single stick more” of forest in reserves.

Mr Hodgman released an open letter to the government, forestry industry, and community before a Liberal forestry meeting in Huonville.

“This deal has failed on so many fronts – no pulp mill, no Triabunna chip mill, no peace in our forests, no jobs,” he said.

At the Huonville meeting of about 200 people, Mr Hodgman said his party would repeal any legislation creating new reserves in native forests.

He appealed to the Labor Party to adopt a bipartisan approach, saying it was now clear the forest peace process had failed to deliver on a single aspect.

Mr Hodgman said that by cutting the Greens out of the deal, talks between Labor and the Liberals could achieve resource security, timber production reserves and stronger protection against illegal protests.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Consortium buys South Australia’s forward rotations

THE South Australian government is to sell forward timber rotations in the southeast of the state to a consortium led by one of the world’s largest timber investment managers.

State Treasurer Jack Snelling said the sale process had generated strong interest from forestry investors globally.

He said The Campbell Group had put forward the best proposal, which included a very strong price.

The group, founded in 1981, manages more than 1214 million ha representing about $US52 billion in timberland assets.

Mr Snelling said Campbell met all of the conditions of sale which were developed by the southeast forestry industry roundtable and endorsed by the government in March.

“I’m very confident with this deal that jobs and the welfare of the communities in the southeast will be protected,” Mr Snelling said. “It is a vote of support for the long-term future of the local forestry.

Mr Snelling said the sale process would be completed before the end of the year at which time the sale price would be revealed.

The SA Opposition says the deal sold out the state and the southeast.

Jack Snelling .. vote of support for forest industry.

“This sale will devastate communities and the economy in the southeast and place thousands of jobs at risk,” Opposition forests spokesman Adrian Pederick said.

dennis@industrye-news.com

Mount Gambier sawmiller Ian McDonnel was quoted as saying that now the sale had been negotiated, local businesses and residents had no choice but to move on with their lives.

He said many in the community had opposed any forward sale, but he was hopeful businesses such as his would still prosper in the near future.

“We’ve got our businesses to run like everybody here in the southeast and we’ll get on and make the most of it,” he said.

Trouble at Norske Skog mill DOZENS of families of workers at the Norske Skog Tasman mill in Kawerau, NZ, face an uncertain future as the company looks to cut costs.

The mill’s 300 employees have been told the company proposes to close down one of the pulp and paper mill’s two paper machines. There are

fears at least 35 jobs will be cut as a result, with many more possible.

A statement from management said the mill needed to “reduce capacity by 150,000 tonnes in the face of declining global and regional demand for newsprint”.

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issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 9

MARKET TRENDS

Slowing economy causes China to reduce imports of NZ sawlogs

Prices for imported softwood logs drop by 14 pc

THE slowing economy in China has reduced the importation of logs from New Zealand, Russia and the US by about 15% during the first six months of 2012, says US-based consultancy Wood Resources International.

Prices for imported and domestic softwood logs in China have fallen this year by 14% and 10% respectively.

The report says China’s phenomenal GDP growth of between 9 and 14 percent annually over the past decade slowed down last year and is forecasted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be “only” 8.25% in 2012. Reduced

InSurAnce..

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Page 10 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

investments in public projects and a cooling residential property market have resulted in the decline in imports of sawlogs.

China’s softwood log imports in the first and second quarter this year were 6.2 million cub m and 6.6 million cub m respectively, down from all-time high of 8.6 million cub m in the third quarter of 2011.

Total imports for the first half of 2012 were 15% lower than during the same period last year, with the biggest declines occurring in shipments from Russia, the US and Australia.

Western Canada is the only

Much uncertainty surrounds investment activities in the Chinese construction sector, private consumption in the country and the demand for Chinese forest products in North America and Europe

major supplier that has increased shipments so far this year; annual shipments may reach a more than 2.5 million cub m, a record high.

The reduced demand for logs in China has not only impacted import volumes, but also prices for domestic and imported logs.

The average price for imported softwood logs was down 14% from the second quarter 2011 to the second quarter this year.

Prices for New Zealand radiata pine logs dropped the most, while red pine logs from Russia showed the smallest price drops as compared to other species of imported softwood logs.

Domestic log prices in China have also fallen over the past year, with Chinese-fir prices down 6% year-over-year in the second quarter 2012, according to WRI. Mongolian pine and larch prices were also lower by 8-16% respectively.

Contrary to the recent downward price trend for softwood log, prices for domestic hardwood logs, including eucalyptus, birch and poplar, have gone up this year and were close to, or at recordhigh levels in the second quarter this year.

Much uncertainty surrounds investment activities in the Chinese construction sector, private consumption in the country and the demand for Chinese forest products in North America and Europe, says the report.

If the assumption that the Chinese domestic consumption and private investments will improve somewhat in the second half of 2012, as IMF forecasts both softwood and hardwood log prices are likely to stop falling.

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ENGINEERED WOOD

Japan officials at Plywood House for JAS audit

GENERAL manger of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Simon Dorries confers with officials from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests during a JAS standards surveillance audit at Plywood House in Brisbane last week.

The JAS (Japan Agricultural Standard) program refers to the certification system that attaches the JAS marks to products inspected in accordance with requirements of the Japanese government.

The EWPAA’s ‘man in Tokyo’ senior technical consultant Masatoshi Tomoi (right) was assisted in the audit review

by Masaki Imamura (left) and Toshiyuki Ohmura, representing the JAS conformity assessment division, Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Centre (FAMIC), Kobe.

FAMIC was created by the

staff also met with members of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry at the Gold Coast test centre laboratory, a NATA-accredited facility, to carry out the four-yearly audit of the JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme for particleboard and MDF.

Japanese ministry in 2007 with the task of improving the quality and labelling of forest and agricultural products and to ensure the quality and safety of fertiliser, agricultural chemicals, feed and feed additives and soil improvement materials in the interests of consumers.

Simon Dorries said the respected JAS standard allowed EWPAA members

to verify plywood and LVL products going into the Japanese market.

He said JAS certification system strived to improve quality; streamline production; achieve simple and fair transactions; and rationalise use and consumption. Proper labelling for quality was an important factor.

Earlier this month, EWPAA

The centre works in close collaboration with the Japanese government, other national agencies, prefecture governments and international organisations.

Simon Dorries visited Japan earlier this year where he discussed extension of the EWPAA JIS certification standard with government and building authorities. He met with officers of the Japanese Ministry of Forestry and visited the Japanese Centre for Destruction Material Testing in the village of Asa.

Safer than a smoked cod

*

ALL products manufactured by members of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia are GUARANTEED to comply with Australian standards on low formaldehyde levels.

Certified E0 and E1 under strict JAS-ANZ accredited system, EWPAA products are the permanent solution to any concerns over emissions.

Don’t .

Risk It

Visit .au sn ewp.a . w w w

Be sure. Be safe.

Specify EWPAA products stamped with the approved certification.

Some imported plywood panels and flat-pack furniture components have tested seven times above the emission limits recommended by the federal Department of Health.

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Plywood House, 3 Dunlop Sreet, Newstead, 4006 Queensland Australia Tel: +61 7 3250 3700 Fax: +61 7 3252 4769 Email: inbox@ewp.asn.au

* Australia’s formaldehyde emission classifications are close to naturally occurring levels in wood. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in many foods. Smoked fish, for example has a formaldehyde concentration (ppm) of 1.0

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issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

Brisbane Timber Industry Hoo-Hoo Gettin g into Club 218 entered the 2012 Variety HTiolmber Industthrye Hacootion ..Brisbane -Hoo Clu den King b 218’s swood is ’77 Club of Queensland Bush Bash in Queensland Va ready fo r the 2012 riety Dalby on e the Dar Club Bush Bash August raising more than $18,000 North Queen ling Downs to from sland.

Mackay in in funds for disadvantaged children in its veteran Bush Bash performer – a 1977 Holden Kingswood.

The Variety Bush Bash in the club’s major children’s charity event this year and in 2013 – the 50th anniversary year of the club.

Please support us and show how the forest and forest products industry can enrich the lives of underprivileged children.

Your sponsorship will attract wide media coverage and is tax deductible.

We sincerely thank the following sponsors for this year’s event: We sincerely thanks the following sponsors: The Governor of Queensland Pen Gold sponsors elope Wensley ‘flag the start of Brisban s’ e Timber Industry Hoo-Hoo Club’s Variety Bush Bas h project for children Peter and Carolyn Mort, ’s charities during World Forestry Day celebrations in Bris bane. Looking on are committee The Palms. members Alan Jon es (club presiden Don Towerton and t), Tim Evans.

Silver sponsors Kennedys Timbers, Queensland Sawmills (John Crooke).

Bronze sponsors Alan Jones, Trade Builders, Thora Wholesale Timbers, HQPlantations Pty Ltd, Timber&Forestry enews Contributing sponsors John and Lorraine Muller; Bill Philip; CGU Insurance, Brisbane; Colin Wilson; Bank of Queensland, Ashgrove and Sunnybank; Austbrokers Premier Insurance, Brisbane; Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Timber Industry Club 218 Inc; Tim Evans (Coast to Coast Pacific); TimTech Chemicals; Wilson Timbers; Asian-Pacific Marketing; A Class Business Finance; RACQ Caloundra; Contract Electrics Pty Ltd; Eden & Son Body Works; Advanced Timber Systems (Ian Watkins); Pacific Premium Funding Pty Ltd; Chancellors Chartered Accountants; Mark Kapper; Tableland Timbers; Skyline Building Supplies; Zenith Timber; Colin Galley; Steel Pacific; ITreat Timber; Frank Withey; Anderssen Lawyers; IVS Australia; Ringwood & Ply; Slacks Hardwood; Bobbie Thomson; Independent Verification Services Pty Ltd. For more information and to discuss sponsorship options contact one of the committee members: Alan Jones 0419 754 681 Don Towerton 0428 745 455 Tim Evans 0417 726 741 Jim Bowden 0401 312 087

Page 12 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

AFS commences second phase of revision process

AUSTRALIAN Forestry Standard Ltd has commenced the second public comment phase of the revision process of the Australian standard for sustainable forest management (AS 4708).

The standard review committee appointed by AFS Ltd to review the Australian standard AS4708 has released the second draft for public comment.

The draft revised standard has been sent to the broad range of stakeholders in forest management seeking their comments.

The comment period will close on October 1.

The committee released the first draft of the revised standard for public comment in March and the comment period closed in May. About 30 detailed submissions were received from stakeholders. The majority of the submissions were broadly supportive of the content of the revised draft standard but they included more than 500 specific, individual comments or suggestions about how particular clauses in the draft could be further improved.

The committee has considered the submissions and has undertaking further redrafting before releasing a refined draft for a second comment period.

“The Australian Forestry Standard is recognised as a world class standard and regular review and improvement is required to maintain this recognition,” the chairman of the standard review committee Dr Paul Biggs said.

“The committee is made up of a broad range of interested and affected stakeholders and they are keen to get further public feedback on the second draft standard prior to the final ballot and approval process.”

The review process is being undertaken in accordance with Standards Australia procedures.

AFS Ltd is accredited as a standards development organisation and can therefore develop and review Australian standards provided the necessary procedures are followed.

The Australian Forest Certification Scheme, of which AS4708 is a key component, is also accredited by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the world’s largest certification system for sustainable forest management.

PEFC requirements have also continued to evolve in recent years and the standard review committee has sought to ensure that the revised Australian standard (AS4708) continues to be consistent with PEFC requirements.

The second draft revision of the standard and a submission form can be downloaded from the AFS Ltd website at www. forestrystandard.org.au For more information about the revision of the standard contact the national secretary Richard Stanton on (02) 6122 9000, or email Standards-revision@ forestrystandard.org.au The Australian Forest Certification Scheme, of which AS4708 is a key component, is also accredited by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the world’s largest certification system for sustainable forest management.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SA timber workers flag strike plan

A UNION has given more details of a planned strike this week by timber workers at Mount Gambier.

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union says about 700 employees of the timber company Carter Holt Harvey will go on strike for 24 hours on Tuesday.

They want log prices charged by the South Australian government-owned Forestry SA to be reduced.

The SA government has offered a multi-million-dollar assistance package to the company. But union official Brad Coates said

his members were interested in a hand-up, not a hand-out.

“We’ve long held the view that log prices have been far too high right across the industry, not just with Carter Holt Harvey, not just here in the southeast, but right across Australia,” he said.

“So we believe that there is room to move on the log prices, to secure jobs and make this industry more competitive with the overseas imports.”

The union says it will write to potential bidders involved in the planned forward sale of southeast forestry assets,

From Page 3

the oak timbers of King Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545 and was salvaged in 1982.

“When DoubleHelix opened in 2008, the DNA story was a hard sell. But as new US laws started to bite over the past two years, and with tougher laws set for Europe in 2013, the number of clients is growing,” DoubleHelix’s founder Kevin Hill said.

Within two years, the aim is to license Prof. Lowe’s DNA extraction technique to accredited laboratories globally, as the $150 billion timber industry comes under increasing pressure to stamp out illegal wood.

While DNA testing per se is extremely accurate due to the unique DNA signature each species has, it has a major limitation to overcome – and incomplete global map of tree genetics.

Constructing such a map is crucial because DNA for each species changes subtly from one area to another, acting like a postcode that can be used to determine a sample’s origin.

Going into a forest to take DNA

Brad Coates .. room to move on log prices.

alerting them to the state of the industry they may be buying into.

Mr Coates said if log prices did not fall it would affect the timber industry as a whole.

“We don’t believe that the government has been honest with those bidders and we believe that they should be made aware that what they bid for is probably not what they’re gonna get if the Government doesn’t fix the problem,” Mr Coates said.

Industry observers say if prices are increased and the size of logs decreases, then sawmills in South Australia will not be able to compete with other regions in Australia or against imports.

DNA for each species acts like a postcode that is used to determine a sample’s origin

carrying out cheap DNA timber tests for companies, customs agents and the police within two years.

A laboratory run by Andrew Lowe, professor of plant conservation biology at the University of Adelaide and chief scientific officer at DoubleHelix, has fine tuned the method of extracting DNA taken from a log, a table or even flooring – the breakthrough needed to commercialise testing for timber importers, home improvement stores and law enforcement agencies.

“Trees, like people, have unique DNA,” Prof. Lowe said.

“The DNA is in every cell in a wood product and you can’t falsify that DNA.” He told Reuters that by early 2011 he was able to extract degraded DNA from decadesold wood and get accurate results. That led to an increase in business and DoubleHelix has 14 clients directly using its services, with most testing done in Adelaide.

In 2004, Prof. Lowe and colleagues extracted DNA from

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John Simon .. verifying the origins of timber in the battle against illegal logging trade.

samples across a species’ entire range is costly and time consuming. Building a database for teak, for instance, would cost about $1 million.

At present, databases exist for 20 tree species, mostly valuable tropical timbers, and they are growing annually.

On the other hand, Kingfisher’s B&Q home improvement stores carry 16,000 timber related products. For consumers, it is a bewildering choice of goods.

For the illegal timber gangs, it is an opportunity for wood laundering.

The weakest link in timber supplies is between the

forest and the sawmill, where stolen timber can be added to legitimate wood. In sawmill yards, too, logs from illegally cleared forests can be mixed with legal timber.

DNA testing can overcome this, say DoubleHelix and their oldest customer Simmonds Lumber, which imports the prized hardwood merbau from Indonesia where, according to a World Bank study, illegal logging accounts for nearly half the timber cut in that country.

Using DoubleHelix’s system, each shipment of merbau logs is tracked from forest to sawmill by taking DNA samples to ensure no other timber has been added. These DNA samples are then matched up with pallets of finished timber decking from the sawmill to Simmonds’ warehouse in Australia.

Simmonds, however, has been unable to charge a premium for its DNA-tested products because of intense competition in the timber trade.

“DNA is about marketing and gaining share rather than gaining extra margin,” John Simon said.

issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 13

NEXT NEXT NEXT BIG BIG BIG STEP STEP STEP

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Komatsu Forest offers the PC300LC-8 and PC400LC-8 as purpose built forest machines (FX) with specifications to match the toughest jobs.

Forest Xtreme features: • ROPS/FOPS/OPS Cabin • Full heavy duty Gull Wing canopy • Heavy duty under body guarding

• Harvest or Feller Buncher boom sets • Single or double bar track grousers • Integrated 1200 litre fuel tank • Engine option; 260hp or 362hp

The Forest Xtreme machines illustrates Komatsu forest’s dedication to provide the best solution for the logging contractor.

Page 14 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

www.komatsuforest.com.au www.komatsuforest.com.au www.komatsuforest.com.au

Introducing

Komatsu

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cres Rotorua, New Zealand Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd. Dean O’Connor M: +64 of 277 718 254 11/4 Avenue Americas E: dean.oconnor@komatsuforest.com Newington NSW 2127 Australia John Kosar M: +64 2274 8653600 844 T: +61 9647 E: john.kosar@komatsuforest.com E: info.au@komatsuforest.com

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FORESTS AND FOREST MACHINERY

Consultancy provides services across the entire forestry and timber products value chain.

Forest consultant provides a wide range of services

SYDNEY-based Forestlands Consulting has strengthening its capacity to undertake projects across the industry supply chain from forest and plantation related activities to timber processing, marketing and advocacy.

“Our mechanism of having a flexible alliance of highly experienced, competent associates gives us the capacity to undertaken a wide range of projects across a fair bit of the southern hemisphere geography,” says managing director John Halkett.

Forestlands Consulting’s alliance mechanism offers clients a depth and breadth of expertise in a wide range of disciplines in forestry, timber processing, timber industry supply chain dynamics and related specialist fields.

“A number of current projects are government-related, some with a southeast Asian and South American focus,” Mr Halkett said.

“However, projects can also be undertaken in Papua New Guinea and China.”

Forestlands Consulting is able to provide an integrated range of services across the forest and timber sector.

Previous and existing clients are from across the entire forestry and timber products

We’re right behind you in the field Combining remote locations, harsh operating environments and heavy vehicles and equipment, the forestry and timber industries face significant fire risks.

With Wormald, you have an organisation that is always right behind you when you need us most. We’ve helped prevent and protect against fires for over 120 years.

Wormald has the fire protection solutions for heavy vehicles that range from fire detection and suppression systems, to portable fire equipment, personal protection gear and staff training; our end-to-end tailored solutions help protect major forestry operations throughout Australia and the Pacific region.

John Halkett .. flexible alliance of highly experienced, competent associates.

So, you can get on with the job, confident that your people, resources and machinery are supported by one of the world’s fire safety leaders. That’s peace of mind.

value chain, including forest and plantation management, timber processing and the downstream manufacturing of furniture, and timber product consumer brands.

Forestlands Consulting also supports timber-related industry associations. “Also, with our editorial and graphic design capability we are able to produce technical and marketing collateral for client companies.”

Mr Halkett said Forestlands Consulting has some interesting projects in the pipeline related to natural forest and timber technologies in Australia and Asia.

Further information about Forestlands Consulting is available at: www.forestlands. com.au

Trust the forestry fire safety experts.

In Australia: Call 1300 556 015. email wormald.ads@tycoint.com or visit wormald.com.au/vehicles

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In New Zealand: Call 0800 496 762, email wormaldnz.ads@tycoint. com or visit wormald.co.nz/vehicles

Pictured: Cylinders and Extinguishers

issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 15

FORESTS AND FOREST MACHINERY

Farmers carry baton for forestry It’s time to put more trees in the ground

THIS week I want to return to the most fundamental issue in relation to keeping the industry up and running – and that is putting trees in the ground.

Sounds simple .. but it just isn’t happening!

Before I talk about how we might start to turn that around I feel the need for a short botany lesson. No, no – do read on, it won’t hurt and it will get better.

It’s important I think to understand the special privileged position that we in Australia find ourselves due to the vagaries of evolution and how we just haven’t taken advantage of this good fortune, but left it to others.

A bit like our swimming team at the London Olympics I suppose.

Eucalypts account for more than 70% of the trees in Australia’s forests and woodlands, growing in a wide range of climates from the hot tropics to near-desert inland plains to alpine snowfields.

From the northern tropics to the ghost gums and desert oaks of the outback; the native pine, dry eucalypt, towering mountain ash, the famed jarrah and karri of Western Australia; and not forgetting the spectacular red gum forests along most of our inland rivers and adjacent flood plains.

The iconic eucalypts number more than 700 species of trees and shrubs. Almost all occur naturally only in Australia. Many secrete a resinous gum, hence the name by which they are known at home and around the world – gum trees. They have distinctive foliage, attractive multi-stemmed flowers and frequently ornamental peeling bark.

Despite their great variety of forms Australian gum trees are easily recognised. All bear gum nuts – little woody capsules

Page 16 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

Bridging the gap .. getting trees in the ground on farms an important step.

with pointy lids which open and contain the tree’s microscopic seeds. It is the little gum nuts that gave rise to the name eucalyptus. Not that you would necessarily need to find the gum nuts to recognise a gum tree, as the eucalyptus oil produced by glands on every leaf is an easy give-away.

See – that wasn’t that hard.

Considering that Australia is the home of the gum tree, and compared to other countries, we have been slow in planting our own eucalypts in tree plantations with more than 14 million ha of gum trees planted elsewhere around the world.

It is most disappointing that interest in using native gum trees in plantation projects in Australia, especially for higher value timber production, has been modest at best. While some plantings have been carried out at various locations

Deep in the Woods with ..

Cheryle Forrester over the decades, compared to introduced pine species it has

Considering that Australia is the home of the gum tree, and compared to other countries, we have been slow in planting our own eucalypts in tree plantations with more than 14 million ha of gum trees planted elsewhere around the world

been a pathetic effort.

However, I should acknowledge that certainly it is true that technical issues, such as matching species with sites, land preparation, management techniques, pest control and browsing animals have presented substantial obstacles.

So our effort in the home of the gum tree has been slack – not the case elsewhere. For example, South America has taken to the gum tree with Aussie, Aussie, Aussie-oi, oi oi enthusiasm. So now Victorian ash plantations in Chile are exporting value-added mouldings and other products to world markets, including Australia – under the trade name Chilean ash!

And red gum engineered flooring sourced from red gum plantations in Uruguay is now available in Australian home improvement shops.

So how do we get our own native eucalypt species established here for long rotation timber production plantations? Given that the mainstream forest industry seems to have dropped the ball, the solution in part seems to rest with farmers.

I note with considerable interest that the Australian Forest Growers is holding its annual conference in Gympie from October 14 to 17. Sounds like a very worthwhile gathering, with the billing mentioning more than 50 speakers and 20 conference sessions, plus six field trip options looking at tree growing and wood processing activities.

[Go to www.afg.asn.au for further information about this important industry event that will also include details on the presentation of the Tree Farmer of the Year Award].

Cont Page 17

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FORESTS AND FOREST MACHINERY

Timber Bill could free up logging for private landholders in US state

A BILL making its way through the California state legislature that already has the support of the state’s governor Jerry Brown could improve the prospects for timber harvesting on private lands in the US. Kent Duysen of Sierra Forest Products in Terra Bella said the proposal would place a limit on fire liability, extent the time frame of timber plans and place a 1% surcharge on all lumber sold in California to pay for states management of timber harvesting.

Assembly Bill 1492 was passed by the senate committee on budget by an 11-0 vote, but it becoming law is not a certainty.

Mr Duysen said Republicans opposed the Bill because of the lumber tax, and some on the Democratic side oppossed it because it could lead to more logging. But he said the Bill did have the support of the California Farm Bureau and private property groups and Tulare County supervisors agreed to send a letter of support.

Mr Duysen said he was a little uncomfortable with the tax, saying, “This issue is a little controversial, but it will reduce our disadvantage.”

The bill has three main components:

Californian lumber .. Bill could extend life of state’s timber harvesting plan.

• Places a limit on fire liability.

Right now, the federal government can sue a private landowner for any cost incurred fighting a wild fire if the fire starts on private land, even if the fire is caused by nature. Mr Duysen said a company, Sierra Pacific in northern California, was slapped with a $680 million bill which was settled for $200 million.

• Extends the life of a timber harvest plan from three to five years, reducing costs.

• Reduces cost to property owners who right now have to pay to have their timber harvest

monitored, by having the lumber surcharge pay for that monitoring.

Kent Duysen said the key was liability insurance.

“Unless there is some relief, he said timber companies and private landowners will have a difficult time getting liability insurance. Without the insurance, it would be too risky for private landowners to sell timber,” he said.

Timber from private sales -- those not in the forest or national parks -- makes up about 25% of the timber the Terra Bella mill receives every

year.

“It’s not a particularity big deal, but it helps us get over the hump,” Mr Duysen said.

More importantly, California imports 70% of its lumber from other states or Canada. Kent Duysen would like to see that percentage change in favour of California.

California’s private forest lands are some of the most productive in the world. But state regulation of timber harvesting practices have become so overbearing and complex that the industry is losing lumber manufacturers by the droves, production has been drastically reduced and nearly 10,000 jobs have been lost.

California’s forest land permit fees are 10 times more expensive than the permits of land owners in neighbouring states.

It is not only producing a fraction of the wood products consumed domestically, but the timber industry was forced into a compromise by the state and is actually asking for a 1% assessment to pay for a review of the process and to provide funds to help reduce the cost of forest restoration and fire protection.

Forest growers: worthwhile gathering at Gympie From Page 16

Luckily for the farm forestry fraternity they need not be so driven by the some economic straight jacket that has caused industrial forestry companies to put their planting shades back in the shed. The range of other benefits and enhancements that trees – especially native species – bring to the agricultural landscape and farming life is long. Some

have hard economic edges, like improvements to livestock productivity and farm income diversity, yet others are aesthetic and environmental, including biodiversity and even carbon storage – and there is a dollar in that too for farmers under the carbon farming

initiative element of the carbon tax.

So to farmers, yes, the forest industry needs you to carry the baton and plant trees for the good of the nation. Discussions at the Gympie conference are sure to the lively and interesting.

Good luck and well done to the Australian Forest Growers for their now increasingly important contribution to tree planting activity in Australia – good work.

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.

This section is supported by the Australian Forest Contractors Association

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issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 17

WOOD SCIENCE

Wood pulp the new wonder material Nano-cellulose technology ‘turns waste into gold’

“The beauty of this material is that it is so abundant we don’t have to make it,” says Jeff Youngblood. “We don’t even have to use entire trees; nanocellulose is only 2 nanometres long. If we wanted we could use twigs and branches or even sawdust. We are turning waste into gold.”

THE hottest new material in town is light, strong and conducts electricity. What’s more, it’s been around a long, long time.

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is produced by processing wood pulp, is being hailed as the latest wonder material.

Japan-based Pioneer Electronics is applying it to the next generation of flexible electronic displays. IBM is using it to create components for computers. Even the US army is getting in on the act, using it to make lightweight body armour and ballistic glass.

To ramp up production, the US opened its first NCC factory in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 26, marking the rise of what the US National Science Foundation predicts will become a $600 billion industry by 2020.

Nano flakes .. nanocrystalline cellulose dries into a small flaky powder which looks like snow.

It is then milled into a pulp and hydrolysed in acid to remove impurities before being separated and concentrated as crystals into a thick paste that can be applied to surfaces as a laminate or processed into

strands, forming nanofibrils.

These are hard, dense and tough, and can be forced into different shapes and sizes.

When freeze-dried, the material is lightweight, absorbent and good at insulating.

Friends say adios and vaya con Dios, amigo

So, why all the fuss? Well, not only is NCC transparent but it also has eight times the tensile strength of stainless steel due to its tightly packed array of microscopic needlelike crystals. Even better, it’s incredibly cheap.

“It is the natural, renewable version of a carbon nanotube at a fraction of the price,” says Jeff Youngblood of Purdue University’s NanoForestry Institute in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The $1.7 million factory, which is owned by the US Forest Service, will produce two types of NCC: crystals and fibrils.

Production of NCC starts with ‘purified’ wood, which has had compounds such as lignin and hemicellulose removed.

Page 18 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

FRIENDS get together in Brisbane to lunch with Jack Norton, senior principal scientist, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (standing left) before he leaves for a holiday in South America with his wife, Marion. Timber preservation was the link that brought the foursome together. Pictured with Jack are Jim Bowden, editor, Timber and Forest enews, and, seated, Sharon Swan, dirctor of LSM Advanced Composites Pty Ltd, Toowoomba, and Robin Dowding. Jack started with the then Forestry Deparment’s wood chemistry and wood preservation division in 1970; Sharon started in the industry in 1979, working with Koppers Australia on transmission poles; Robin entered the timber treatment industry in 1979 alternatively with Creative Timbers, Koppers, Permalog and CSR; Jim has been reporting on the industry since 1977, the year he established Australian Timberman.

The US facility is the second pilot production plant for cellulose-based nanomaterials in the world. The much larger CelluForce facility opened in Montreal, Canada, in November 2011 and is now producing a tonne of NCC a day.

Theodore Wegner, assistant director of the US factory, says it will be producing NCC on a large scale. It will be sold at just several dollars a kilogram within a couple of years. He says it has taken this long to unlock the potential of NCC because the technology to explore its properties, such as electron scanning microscopes, only emerged in the last decade or so.

NCC will replace metal and plastic car parts and could make nonorganic plastics obsolete in the not-too-distant future, says Phil Jones, director of new ventures and disruptive technologies at the French mineral processing company IMERYS. “Anyone who makes a car or a plastic bag will want to get in on this,” he says.

In addition, the human body can deal with cellulose safely, says Jones, so NCC is less dangerous to process than inorganic composites. “The worst thing that could happen is a paper cut,” he says.

– New Scientist

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Energy-efficient project sets stage for new growth in US paper sector

Massive power saving from pre-treated woodchips

ONE of the most significant energy efficiency projects in recent years is under way in the State of Washington, and it could set the stage for new growth in the US paper industry.

Pretreatment Interstage Screen

America’s largest paper mill, North Pacific Paper Corporation (NorPac), in Longview, is getting a new system for pre-treating woodchips that is expected to save the company 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

completed, and it has enabled

The project is noteworthy not only for its sheer size, but also for demonstrating the potential that new conservation technologies have for generating new products and services. The full system is not entirely on line yet, but NorPac is already using it to produce a new grade of paper.

The paper mill is jointly owned

by Weyerhaeuser and Japan’s Nippon Paper Industries. It is the single largest industrial consumer of electricity in Washington State, and it is a thirsty customer. By itself, it accounts for about 40% of the demand on the local utility, the Cowlitz County Public Utility District.

NorPac has been the beneficiary of Washington’s rich hydropower resources, but with existing hydropower at or near its limits, under conventional practices the only way for the paper mill to grow would be for the utility to purchase additional

Project, it involves two main components.

One component of NorPac’s

makeover is a new bleaching phase. That system has been

the mill to lower energy costs and reduce its use of bleaching chemicals to boot.

Despite the reduced use of

chemicals, the new technology has

NorPac .. the largest paper mill in the US.

whiter,

Norbrite 92.

The

other

provide energy

the

component bulk

savings.

Still

of

will

the

under

construction, it consists of finemeshed

cylindrical

screens

made in Finland. When finished,

it will shave about 15% off the

amount of secondary grinding

Energy saving .. new screening equipment used to refine woodchips at the North Pacific Paper Corporation paper mill in Washington State, USA, is expected to save 100 million Kw hours of electricity a year.

needed to fully pulp the wood chips.

The new project apparently represents the first time these

screens have been applied to

pulped is one energy-intensive first step in paper making, and this is the process addressed by new system. Called the Chip

The project is noteworthy not only for its sheer size, but also for demonstrating the potential that new conservation technologies have for generating new products and services

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a

a new product under the name

New energy efficiency technologies essentially provide a new source of power at a lower cost, which benefits both the utility and NorPac over the long run. NorPac also stands to achieve immediate benefits from a sharp reduction in its annual electricity costs.

Preparing raw wood chips to be

in

NorPacis already marketing as

power from other more costly sources.

Paper making is a centuriesold craft that has evolved over time, but energy efficiency has not been a particularly critical part of that evolution. Now global competition and razorthin margins give the edge to companies that can cut costs to the bone, and the spotlight is on energy consumption.

resulted

brighter grade of paper that

a commercial installation of this scale, so the endeavour

does involve some element of risk for Weyerhaeuser. The

local utility and the Bonneville

Power Administration provided significant

financial

support

but Weyerhaeuser still took on

$US35 million in financing, out of a total of $60 million.

– Triple Pundit Media.

issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 19

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

Sustainable timber playhouses bring wide smiles to thousands of children

INTERNATIONAL Forest Products Ltd (Interfor) along with its partners Michael Green Architecture and Blackfish Homes and Construction Ltd, has unveiled its contribution to Canfor’s Playhouse Challenge with an innovative structure designed and built by local experts and made with high quality and sustainable wood products from British Columbia.

Seven teams from around the province are competing in the Canadian integrated forest products company’s Playhouse Challenge to build original and fun playhouses from wood. Each playhouse is a collaborative project between a forest company, an architectural firm and a local builder.

The playhouses will be on display at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver which closes September 3 and were sold to corporate sponsors who will donate them to public venues across the province.

Proceeds from the sale will go to Habitat for Humanity Canada affiliates across the province.

From a distance, the playhouse resembles a large box but up close the teepee-shaped building becomes clearer; it was designed by award-winning architect Michael Green who has a passion for building with

the wood was processed at its Acorn and Hammond mills on the Lower Mainland.

Each playhouse, using Douglas fir and western red cedar, is a collaborative project between a forest company, an architectural firm and a local builder.

wood. He drew his inspiration from his son Makalu who came up with the idea.

“We wanted kids to experience the special feelings that a hidden hangout evokes: a place to go inside to dream, to play, to tell stories – to be a kid,” said Michael Green.

‘We wanted kids to experience the special feelings that a hidden hangout evokes: a place to go inside to dream, to play, to tell stories – to be a kid’ – Michael Green

“Interfor is proud to be a part of this rewarding initiative and we hope this playhouse brings years of enjoyment to children from around the province when the playhouse is relocated to Ronald McDonald House later this fall,” Interfor’s vicepresident, sales and marketing, Steven Hofer said.

Original design and highquality forest products were complemented by the professional construction expertise of Blackfish Homes and Construction Ltd. “We get to build some really innovative homes and buildings but nothing like this. Blackfish is honored to be associated with such a creative project that has such far reaching community benefits,” Blackfish director Dave Adair said.

areas around the province and

Interfor has operations in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, including two sawmills in the Coastal region of British Columbia, three in the BC interior, two in Washington and two in Oregon.

always been priced lower than the global average because of the province’s controversial stumpage system, a phenomenon that has spawned numerous battles with the US over softwood lumber prices.

BC log prices in the interior rose to $US51 / cub m in the second quarter of 2012; most

of those logs are destined for the US after they are cut into two-by-fours.

“If you look at Douglas fir on the coast, that’s usually better quality wood that is cut into bigger dimensions and has more valuable end uses,” Mr Ekstrom said.

– Business in Vancouver

Accepting the playhouse challenge .. a ‘whirl’ of western red cedar.

Interfor donated the western

red cedar and Douglas fir which

comes

from

various

British Columbia sawlog prices buck trend

SPRUCE, pine and fir log prices in British Columbia had bucked the global trend of falling prices by rising about 10% compared with a year ago, the president of Wood Resources International Hakan Ekstrom said.

The US racking up its highest home building statistics in June was a large part of the reason,

as was a rise in Chinese demand.

Wood Resources International released a report on August 20 that showed that the global sawlog price index declined for the fourth quarter in a row to $US$82.90 / cub m.

BC sawlogs – which tend to be spruce, pine and fir – have

COPYRIGHT NOTICE Items provided in this section of Timber & Forestry E news are drawn from a number of sources. The source of the item is quoted, either by publication or organizations in line with the practice of fair reporting.

Page 20 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

Advertising: Tel +61 7 3266 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

Chopper Roller Field Day Wednesday 29th August

A demonstration of cost‐effective thinning in over‐stocked spotted gum regrowth forest. The chopper roller is used to cut and flatten woody debris in strips through dense regrowth forest, creating access for management activities between the strips. The main advantage of the chopper roller is improving access for thinning out the retained forest between strips. In the right circumstances the chopper roller can also improve the economics of thinning, improve access for fire management and speed‐up the breakdown of large woody harvest debris. The chopper roller is highly manoeuvrable and, with appropriate forest management practices can help landholders improve the productivity and health of their regrowth

Location: Miva on the Bauple Woolooga Road, turn west off Bruce Hwy , approx 17km to Munna Miva Road. (Look for the ‘Field Day’ signs on Bauple Woolooga Road ) Time: 9.00am ‐ 3.00pm RSVP: pfsq @bigpond.com or Ph: 54836535 What to bring: Bring along a packed lunch, a water bottle and a chair. Morning tea will be provided. You will also need to wear closed shoes.

Advertising: Tel +61 7 3266 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

issue 236 | 27.08.12 | Page 21

Nominations Excellence :: Recognition :: Celebration The Queensland Timber Industry Awards are an important means of highlighting excellence in our industry and rewarding organisations who are leading the way in terms of service, innovation and commitment to improving both their business and the industry as a whole. The gala evening when these awards are presented is the only event of its kind; it provides a platform to celebrate our industry, our state and recognise our top performers.

This evening is set for Saturday 3 November 2012 at Victoria Park Function Centre, Brisbane.

To maintain the credibility of these awards and therefore the prestige and honour they represent for finalists and winners, the judging criteria for 2012 have been adjusted to reflect recent ideals and trends as well as give greater weight to operational areas of importance. The criteria for each category is available to view on the website, www.tabma.com.au - Queensland - Information Sheets - 2012 QTI Awards Criteria.

Award Categories 2012 

Best Specialist Timber Merchant



Best Frame & Truss Operation (Metro)



Best Building Materials Centre (Metro)



Best Frame & Truss Operation (Regional)



Best Building Materials Centre (Regional)



Best Timber Manufacturing Operation



Best Timber Wholesale Operation



Best Sawmilling Operation



Best Specialist Service Operation



Trainee of the Year



Best Training Culture



Apprentice of the Year



Best Wholesale Sales Representative



Recognising Women In Forest & Timber

If you wish to nominate please visit www.tabma.com.au - Queensland - News and Events - 2012 QLD Timber Industry Awards Nomination Form and complete an entry for each nomination. All nominations will be kept confidential and only be seen by TABMA Queensland management and judges. Nominations close 15 June 2012.

Introducing the Sponsor’s...

Sponsorship packages are still available.

Page 22 | issue 236 | 27.08.12

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