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issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 1
AFS breakthrough
Timber gains ground on green building sites after GBCA’s revision on credits flow to green building projects. “This might simply mean all is going well and that there is a general acceptance of AFS certified products,” says Jim Bindon, managing director of Big River Timbers, Grafton, NSW, one of the biggest producers of formply. “There has been little noise from building sites about green star, so it’s good news that our sales reps are reporting no resistance to our AFS certified products. “Admittedly, a lot of the green sites accepting AFS wood are government projects and we’re unsure at this stage how private project operators are responding to equal opportunity timber credits.” Gary Holmes, sales manger of
By JIM BOWDEN
A NUMBER of ‘green’ construction sites have started accepting timber certified under the Australian Forestry Standard, reversing an FSConly policy stringently adhered to for many years. This follows the decision in December [implemented January 1] by the Green Building Council of Australia to revise its timber credit to allow equal consideration of the AFS and Forest Stewardship Council schemes. This is good news for an industry that has more than 90% of its wood products under AFS certification. But generally, such news is very scant and since the GBCA u-turn there has been little feed-back on the extent of Australia’s AFS-wood
Acceptance .. AFS timber chosen for green star building programs.
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This Issue • Big milestone for Wood. Naturally program • Orphan trees at cutting edge of architecture
support for forests vital • Plugging leaks in the supply pipeline • Cameras focus on early bushfire detection • Chileans work to rebuild the wreckage
Public
Cont Page 4
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 1
industry news
Cameras focus in Making as early bushfire an detection system impact .. Representing the interests of the forest industries nationally at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
Victorian Association of Forest Industries Level 2, 2 Market Street Melbourne 3000 Tel: +61 3 9611 9000 Fax: +61 3 9611 9011 Email: info@vafi.org.au Web: www.vafi.org.au Page 2 | issue 117 | 22.03.10
THE world’s leading bushfire early detection system, ForestWatch, is being trialled in the Otway Ranges in Victoria and near Tumut, NSW, as part of the federal government’s estimated $3 million initiative to test the bushfire early detection technology. The trial, which started on February 15 and is hosted by DSE in Victoria and Forests NSW, is investigating the significant benefits of employing bushfire early detection technology that can detect a fire within just six minutes of it starting. ForestWatch is a computerised, semi-automatic system that alerts fire personnel of the exact location of a fire and sends real-time imagery of the fire to the local fire chief giving him an opportunity to respond to a fire before it spreads and threatens communities. The system was developed eight years ago by a South African company EVS Systems Pty Ltd. Since then it has been commercially deployed in forests in the US, Canada, South Africa, Swaziland, Chile and Slovakia. Fire Fighting Technologies distribute the ForestWatch system in Australia. According to Nicolas Souchaud of Fire Fighting Technologies, Australia is ranked with the West Coast of North America and Southern Europe as one of the three most bushfire-prone regions in the world. ForestWatch in an open system that uses COTS (commercially off-the-shelf) cameras backed by ‘smarts’ to detect smoke signature at day and fire glow at night. When atmospheric conditions are optimal, it can detect a 0.1Ha fire at 50km. Six minutes is the time it takes
across Australia’s forest and forest products industry .. since 1940
Clever .. system detects bushfire starts within six minutes.
the unit to complete a 360 deg. rotation for a 16 km detection range. The system can work day and night and can be powered by a solar panel to be completely autonomous from an external power supply. “It’s truly clever and will offer bushfire-prone communities peace of mind,” Mr Souchaud said. “As this system actually finds fires it gives fire personnel the opportunity to respond before a fire gets out of control. It allows fire personnel to make well-informed decisions about deployment of fire fighting resources and increases their efficiency when dealing with bushfire threats. “Fire Fighting Technologies recognises that the successful integration of an early detection bushfire system with other emergency services systems is the key to providing a total solution.”
The Timber & Building Materials Association is Australia’s most progressive timber association and the only true national timber association. TABMA keeps abreast of all commercial, legislative or bureaucratic issues that impact on our industry and keeps members informed. The services and benefits offered to members are extensive and assist in keeping overheads and on-costs to a minimum. Call Melanie at TABMA on (02) 9277 3100 to inquire about our very attractive membership rate.
www.tabma.com.au
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industry news
Orphan trees at cutting edge of architecture Utilising thinnings improves plantation economics
QUEENSLAND forestry scientists are looking at using reject trees in plantations, which would otherwise go to waste, as specialty building materials. Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation senior technician Gary Hopewell said reject trees that were usually left to rot on the plantation floor could become noise and wind barriers, viewing platforms and walking trail footbridges. “Some trees are cut down to reduce competition between other trees for light and water in early hardwood plantations,” Mr Hopewell said. “We are investigating the options for using these ‘thinnings’ (young, felled trees) in their natural round form. “Currently, there is no economically feasible use for these thinnings so they are usually just felled and left to
decay in the forest, where they can be a potential fire-fuel hazard. “Finding a use for these otherwise-discarded thinnings would significantly improve the economics of hardwood plantations, by providing a revenue stream early in the plantation life-cycle. “This would help to quickly offset some of the heavy establishment costs that would not otherwise be recoverable until the final crop is harvested perhaps 20 years later.”
A roundwood thinning after bending. The thinnings are considered considerably stronger than sawn timber boards of equivalent crosssection dimensions.
The advantages of round wood include its strength compared to sawn boards, reduced processing costs, maximised recovery compared to sawmilling, and the fact it offers designers a new suite of renewable, versatile construction materials.
Core services: • Skill Standards
Mr Hopewell said University of Queensland architecture masters’ students were aiding the research by producing designs and models for round wood structures.
• Material Development
“Included in our research trials are steam-bending processes and designs by UQ architecture students,” he said.
• Data Collection • Research
Illustrations of a selection of the students’ concepts representing shelters, remote housing and industrial buildings were included in an electronic survey, which was emailed to more than 1200 stakeholders, including forest growers, designers, engineers, timber industry representatives and users. The results from the survey provided an optimistic view for the potential of small, round wood structures, with 87% of respondents indicating that they liked the overall impression of the designs and concepts.
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ForestWorks performs a range of industry wide functions acting as the channel between industry, Government and the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.
• Networks • Strategic Skills Planning • Project Management
• Industry Advice • Career Advice • Adult Learning Expertise
VICTORIA PO Box 612, North Melbourne 3051 Tel: (03)9321 3500 Email: forestworks@forestworks.com.au NEW SOUTH WALES PO Box 486, Parramatta 2124 Tel: (02)8898 6990 Email: smukherjee@forestworks.com.au TASMANIA PO Box 2146, Launceston 7250 Tel: (03)6331 6077 Email: wfoss@forestworks.com.au BRISBANE PO Box 2014 Fortitude Valley 4006 Tel: (07)3358 5169 Email: bharle@forestworks.com.au
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 3
industry news
EWPs that tick Govt projects are ‘opening’ to AFS ALL the boxes accredited wood Engineered wood products manufactured by EWPAA member companies top the list
Consistent QUALITY LOWEST emissions Structurally SOUND and SAFE Wood from 100% LEGAL, CERTIFIED forests GUARANTEED to Australasian Standards JOBS security
EWPAA
g u a r a n t ee d *
Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Plywood House, 3 Dunlop Street, Newstead 4006, Queensland, Australia Tel: 61 7 3250 3700 Fax: 61 7 3252 4769 Email: inbox@ewp.asn.au Web: www.ewp.asn.au
* Independently tested to the highest standard; guaranteed to comply with Australian standards; certified under JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme; guaranteed to be safe and to carry the designated design load; complies with the Building Code of Australia; meets safety and quality requirements accepted by unions; meets all Workplace Health & Safety requirements.
Page 4 | issue 117 | 22.03.10
From Page 1
Austral Plywoods in Brisbane, has noticed an increased acceptance of the company’s AFS certified products by green star buildings. “We have posted the GBCA media release about its acceptance of both schemes on our web site and we are receiving about three to four positive inquiries every day on AFS. They say they now have a wider choice.” The GBCA’s FSC-only proviso in its green building rating system came under enormous pressure last year, intensified by a meeting of the Primary Industries Ministerial Council that advocated the council “reexamine a green building rating system that discriminates against the Australian forestry certification scheme”. The GBCA is an independent not-for-profit organisation backed by a range of organisations that pay membership fees. Its main connection to government is through the voluntary greenstar program. The Australian chapter of the FSC also boasts the backing of two conservation groups – the Australian Conservation Foundation and the more hardline Wilderness Society, who sit of the FSC board. But governments have no formal role in the council’s program, which is voluntary and state and federal governments last year applied heavy political pressure for GBCA to change its environmental standards. A meeting of Primary Industry Ministers in November (which included federal forestry minister Tony Burke) called on the council to accept the AFS scheme. The Victorian
Kayt Watts .. rigorous and credible process.
Gary Holmes .. AFS gives clients wider choice.
and Queensland governments were the main drivers of the pressure. Now government projects have ‘opened’ to AFS certified timber products. Leading project management and construction company Bovis Lend Lease – considered the greenest of the green on its choice of green star building materials – has used a considerable amount of AFS certified wood products, including formply, in three major projects it is managing for the Queensland Government. These include the new Gold Cont Page 6
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events
WHAT’S ON? 22: World Water Day 24-26: International Wood Products Association annual convention Miami Beach, Florida, USA www.iwpawood.org 25: Annual Timber Merchants Association charity dinner supporting the Burns Unit of the Royal Childrens Hospital. Keynote speaker: Joe Helper, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. Venue: River Room at the Crown Casino, Southbank, Melbourne. Cost (GST inc) including predinner drink, 3-course meal and beverages: $165 pp (members); $175 (non-members). Payment no later than February 25. Non-members who book a table of 10 will be eligible for member pricing of $1650. Bookings to Ingrida Matulis on (03) 9875 5000 or email ingridam@timber.asn.au 31: International wood composites symposium and technical workshop 2010 Seattle, Washington, USA. www. woodsymposium.wsu.edu
APRIL 2010 7-10: Australian Trucking Convention. Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tel: (02) 6253 6900. Email: ata@ atatruck.net.au Download full program from www.ataevents.net.au 8: TABMA NSW Chain of Custody Breakfast. 7.15 am for 7.30 am. Rydges Hotel, Parramatta, Sydney. Guest speakers from AFS. FSC, EWPAA, Green Building Council of Australia. Cost: $50 pp (includes full breakfast). Contact Melanie on (02) 9277 3177.
15-18: 40th annual J1V HooHoo Convention – The Next Decade: A Vision for Hoo-Hoo. Rydges Melbourne Hotel. HooHoo business day, industry tour, sponsors’ dinner, convention dinner and entertainment, farewell breakfast. Convention program and registration details: www.hoo-hoojiv.org.au 15: Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show Dubai. www.dubaiwoodshow.com 16: National Carpenters Day. Celebration of carpenters and their work throughout Australia. Highlights include presentations, barbecues, entertainment, Carpenter of the Year Award and Apprentice Carpenter of the Year competition. Entries close March 24. Visit www.carpentersday.com.au 18-21: APPITA Annual Conference and Exhibition/Pan Pacific Conference Melbourne. www.appita.com.au 22-24:designEX. Australia’s premier trade-only design and architecture event, showcasing more than 300 local and international brands and boutique suppliers. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Contact: designEX (02) 9267 0834. Email: designex@divexhibitions.com. au or Selena O’Hare, Whispr Communications (03) 9534 8600. Email: sohare@whispr.com.au
MAY 2010 18: Victorian Timber Industry Supply Chain Seminar: Connecting the Pieces for Business Success. Radisson Hotel, 380 William Street, Melbourne.
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Contact: Peter Roberts, Timber Merchants Association on (03) 9875 5000 or John Halkett, Australian Timber Importers Federation on (02) 9356 3826.
SUSTAINABLE. sustainable. responsible. . RESPONSIBLE
19-20: Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010. Bayview Eden Melbourne. Technical seminar details successful strategies that have been adopted to improve planning, logistics and operations through the wood supply chain. Contact FIEA +64 3 470 1902. www.woodsupplychain.com
The National The National Association of of Forest Association Industries (NAFI) Forest Industries (NAFI) represents is striving for an Australian companies, ecologically sustainable individualssociety and Australian organisations involved achieved through in thedynamic, forestry and forest products internationally industries. competitive forest industries. NAFI works with state and
21-23: Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Brisbane Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley. 24-25: Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010, Rotorua, NZ. www.vafi.org.au
JUNE 2010 3-4: AFCA Conference and Trade Expo, Novotel Resort, Coffs Harbor, NSW. www.afca.asn.au 18-20: Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney. June 28-July 2: 18th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland. www.cfc2010.org
JULY 2010
2010
MARCH 2010
14-18: Interforest 2010 Trade Fair for Forestry Technology Munich, Germany. www.interfrost.de 21-22: Wood Energy 2010 reducing energy costs and improving energy efficiencies. Rotorua, NZ.
26-27: Wood Energy 2010 (World Reducing Energy Costs & Improving Energy Efficiencies) Melbourne.
federal governments to support interestsis of to its NAFI’sthemission members while the same represent theatinterests time improving industry of members by standards and practices, promoting the promoting sustainable environmental forestry management and educating the broader sustainability and community on theof the prosperity economic, environment Australian forest and social benefits of industries. a strong sustainable forest industry. National Association of The National Association Forest Industries Ltd of Forest Industries (Est. 1987) Ltd (EST.1987) PO Box 239, PO Box 239, Deakin ACT 2600 Deakin, ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6285 3833. Tel: (02) 6285 3833 Fax: (02) 6285 3855 Fax: (02) 6285 3855 Web: www.nafi.com.au www.nafi.com.au Web:
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 5
industry news
‘The big issue is that the council cannot re-invent the process’ From Page 4
Coast University Hospital, which gives Bovis a contract valued at about $1.4 billion out of a total project cost of $1.55 billion; the new $600 million Supreme and District Courts building on George Street, Brisbane; and the $287 million Robina Hospital on the Gold Coast. It is believe the law courts building will use more than 20,000 sq m of AFS hoop pine plywood for bench tops in 32 court rooms. The GBCA acceptance of AFS accreditation has seen timber awarded one point and now industry interest centres on the second stage review. “The second stage is a proposal by GBCA to evaluate
Page 6 | issue 117 | 22.03.10
certification schemes to achieve two points – still not a huge reward for a material that runs rings around steel and concrete,” the chief executive of AFS Ltd Kayt Watts told T&F enews. “The move to the second stage has not commenced. For GBCA to do so, there needs to be some internal adjustments as to how they go about conducting this evaluation. “The big issue is that GBCA cannot re-invent the process or criteria which identify what is sustainable forest management. This has already been done by the forest certification schemes.” Ms Watts said AFSL followed a rigorous and credible process determined by Cont Page 7
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industry news
Caution needed on amount of pressure put on the GBCA From Page 6
Standards Australia and ISO procedures, which included public consultation and a strict governance model. “GBCA has advised AFSL that it will consult with us prior to commencing a second stage,” she said. [AFCS has the only sustainable forest management (AS 4708) and the only chain of custody (AS 4707) certification process that meets Australian standards]. GBCA’s technical manger for materials and certification Shloni Bonet told T&F enews the council was working on the second stage, which involved “significant criteria” and was committed to complete this review during 2010. “The first point in the new credit is awarded where legality of timber products is assured, and all certification schemes provide that assurance,” Mr Bonet said. “The second part will involve determining if timber is sourced from well-managed forests that do not degrade the conservation value of those forests. It’s all about governance and forest management.” One of the key architects of the AFS scheme and a board member Dr Hans Drielsma said industry should be cautious about how much pressure it puts on GBCA in regard to the second stage criteria, in view of the ground won by AFS. Dr Drielsma, who is executive general manger of Forestry Tasmania, said moving to the second stage could be “quite problematic” – for the GBCA and the industry. “When the time comes there will be those who will endeavour to differentiate between the two schemes when considering
Hans Drielsma .. recognising timber from a carbon-positive point of view.
extra points,” he said. “Arguments for another point might bring on another fight. “At the end of the day, one point isn’t so bad, if you consider AFS didn’t get a look-in on GBCA before December last year.” Dr Drielsma added: “But don’t get me wrong. Industry should still push for a higher recognition of timber from a carbonefficiency point of view.” General manger of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Simon Dorries said this interim arrangement gave AFS and FSC and equal opportunity going forward to review their schemes to maximise the credit points they could achieve. He said engineered wood products had the ability to gain up to three Green Star rating points – one point for forest certification, one point for low formaldehyde emissions (E0 or E1) and an extra point in Office Fit Out for super E0 (average 0.3 milligrams to a maximum of 0.4 milligrams emissions). “All Australasian manufacturers of EWPs can meet the specification of EO or E1 certified under a JAS-ANZ accredited system,” he said.
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‘Ghost’ companies exposed in Brazil’s illegal timber trade THE regional office of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) in Pará has identified more than 150 ‘ghost’ companies trading timber and other forest products. This number is quoted in the interim report of the so-called ‘ghost busters’ operation, which tracks the forest product flow in the state. The ‘ghost’ companies identified by IBAMA are reported to have provided false management plans and forest control documents to support
the purchase of and trade in illegal timber. The receipts presented to inspectors were from nonexistent companies. In some cases, the plate numbers of vehicles reportedly used for the transport of forest products were those of regular passenger cars and motorcycles, not timber trucks. Through the ‘ghost’ companies, illegal timber could be disguised as that coming from approved logging areas with approved management plans. IBAMA is prosecuting the offenders.
What a strong web we weave SPIDER silk could help turn ordinary wood into a supermaterial, research suggests. The claim was made by scientists unravelling the secrets of spider silk, which is stronger and less brittle than steel.
Researchers found that spiders are masters of nanotechnology, employing a unique crystal structure to make their silk unique. They believe in future it may be possible to copy and create new materials that are flexible and strong out of cheap elements.
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 7
industry news
Chileans work to rebuild the wreckage Japan faces long shortfall in wood supplies: ITTO Reports on the damage suffered by sawmills are still being received and from first indications it would seem that some mills close to the ocean have been destroyed. Other mills are reported to have suffered some damage but have been able to continue production at a reduced rate. As access to the ports is affected, stocks are piling up at most mills, says the JLR report. The shortage of Chilean products could last anywhere from six months to one year as repairs are made to factories damaged by the quake as well as the road and port infrastructure needed to export the products, say industry observers in Chile. Chile’s power grid should be
THE devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile at the end of February has seriously affected the timber supply situation in Japan, reports the International Tropical Timber Organisation, based in Yokohama. The city of Concepcion, which was close to the earthquake epicentre, is the hub of the log and lumber industry in Chile and has suffered major damage. The Japan Lumber Report (JLR) says that while the main port suffered little damage, power supplies have been cut and road access to the port is almost impossible. The indications are that all shipments scheduled for March have been cancelled and this will affect importers in Japan and Korea, among others.
The International Order of Hoo-Hoo
Melbourne Club 217 Through Hoo-Hoo a United Forest Products Industry
The Next Decade A vision for Hoo-Hoo
40th Annual JIV Hoo-Hoo Convention Thursday April 15 to Sunday April 18, 2010 Rydges Melbourne Hotel Thursday Hoo-Hoo Convention Golf Day Convention welcome reception
Saturday Hoo-Hoo Convention business day Convention dinner & entertainment
Friday Industry facilities day tour Timber industry & Sponsors dinner
Sunday Farewell breakfast and closing
Details of the convention program will be regularly updated on the JIV website www.hoo-hoo-jiv.org.au
Page 8 | issue 117 | 22.03.10
fragile for six months after a massive blackout plunged most Chileans into the dark. The area without power covered a 2000 km stretch, starting in the region of Atacama, north of Santiago to Chiloe Island, south of the capital. “Right now, the principal concern is the security and integrity of our workers, colleagues and their families that live in the impacted areas,” president and chief executive of Arauco Matías Domeyko said. Arauco lost five contract workers and one family in the quake. During the first 10 days following the catastrophe, Arauco sent trucks with relief aid to workers, contract workers and their families. In total, the company has distributed 5500 food rations, more than 319,000 units of non perishable food, 17,700 litres of drinking water, 97,600 units of essential personal care products, 13,900 units of clothing, bed linen, mattresses, mats, tents, plastics and bags, and 94,300 litres of fuel. Chile’s newly sworn-in president has vowed to help rebuild the earthquake-devastated country. “We are going, all together, to rebuild Chile, stone by stone, brick by brick, and we aren’t just going to build it – we are going to build it back better than before,” Sebastian Pinera said last Thursday, hours after strong aftershocks rocked his inauguration ceremony. Meanwhile, the earthquakes in Chile have provided an unexpected boost for the woodprocessing industry countries like Canada. As Chileans work to clean up the wreckage, Canadian producers are rushing to fill the demand. Even with stepped-up input, North American producers will be hard pressed to fill the supply gap left by Chile, says
Alexis Boulanger, manager of Roland Boulanger Ltd., a manufacturer and distributor of wood moldings based in Quebec province. “Almost half of what is consumed as wood products, wood mouldings and millwork in North America is made of South American supply,” Mr Boulanger said. The situation will also mean an increase in prices for consumers. The cost of mouldings and other items often made of Chilean wood are likely to increase by at least 25%. Also, Chile accounts for about 8% of the world’s supply of softwood and hardwood pulp, used in making various paper products. Reports suggest that six of the South American country’s pulp mills have been shut since the earthquake last month and they may remain idle at least another month. The mills produce an estimated 3.8 million tonnes of pulp annually. In Finland, a strike by 10,000 truckers and port workers has cut off most exports and forced newsprint and pulp mills to close. The Nordic country exports up to 1.8 million tonnes of pulp annually. The consequence has been an increase in pulp prices in the US, Europe, and China. As of March 9, North American prices were $US900 a tonne, up $70 this year and 42% from the low of $635 last April. European prices have risen 53% from the 2009 lows. Additional increases are expected over the next three to six months because suppliers have limited ability to build inventories ahead of normal spring maintenance downtime. Wet weather in the US South, cold weather in Northern Europe and flooding in parts of Brazil have added to the difficulties.
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industry news
Big milestone for industry’s Wood Naturally program BEGINNING in November 2008 with a handful of licensees, the Wood. Naturally Better program gained its 500th partner in February when Laminated Timber Supplies joined up. “We’re proud to be part of the program and look forward to using the logo as part of our own promotions and industry support, supporting our industry,” the managing director of Laminated Timber Supplies Bruce Bell said. Program partners who support the industry initiative are licensed to use the Wood. Naturally Better logo in their sales and marketing communications and gain access to a range of benefits, including promotional materials and group discounts. “The Wood. Naturally Better program is an exciting opportunity for our partners to work together to promote the benefits of wood and grow their own businesses. I encourage everyone in the industry to get involved,” FWPA managing director Ric Sinclair said. Laminated Timber Supplies has more than 30 years of professional experience. The company specialises in timber engineered products pioneering timber wholesaling and distribution for a wide range of
Timber & Forestry e-news is the most authoritative and quickest deliverer of news and special features to the forest and forest products industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. Weekly distribution is over 6,000 copies, delivered every Monday. Advertising rates are the most competitive of any industry magazine in the region. Timber&Forestry e-news hits your target market – every week, every Monday! HEAD OFFICE Custom Publishing Group Unit 2- 3986 Pacific Highway Loganholme 4129 Qld, Australia Tel: +61 7 3392 9810 PUBLISHER Dennis Macready admin@industryenews.com.au
Bruce Bell .. 500th partner in the Wood. Naturally Better program.
structural and decorative uses. LTS formed has formed Timber Engineered Structures to offer advice on span and load formulation and to assist in building specified structures. Together with McIntosh Timber Laminates (NZ), LTS is harnessing 50 years of valuable experience in the application of laminated timbers.
CONSULTING EDITOR Jim Bowden Tel: +61 7 3256 1779 Mob: 0401 312 087 cancon@bigpond.net.au ADVERTISING Tel: +61 7 3256 1779 cancon@bigpond.net.au PRODUCTION MANAGER Leigh Macready Tel: +61 7 3392 9810 production@industryenews.com.au
Japan pushes wood use A BILL from Japan’s Ministry of Forestry is aimed at raising the country’s use of wood in low rise public buildings from the present level of 7.5% to 2030%. According to the Forestry Agency, this could increase wood consumption by 800,000 cub m a year.
The package of support for manufacturers contains legal, financial and technical elements which are still under discussion. The Japan Lumber Report says this initiative in the public sector will have a knock-on effect on the private sector leading to a greater use of wood in buildings.
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Opinions expressed on Timber & Forestry e news are not necessarily the opinions of the editor, publisher or staff. We do not accept responsibility for any damage resulting from inaccuracies in editorial or advertising. The Publisher is therefore indemnified against all actions, suits, claims or damages resulting from content on this e news. Content cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the Publisher- Custom Publishing Group.
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 9
events
Full crew on Northern NSW industry tour A FULL crew of 47 representing a wide diversity of operations in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Germany climbed aboard the bus at 6.30 am last Monday, destined for a threeday visit to the Northern NSW timber industry. The bus departed from Gunnersen’s Rocklea facility in Brisbane to visit hardwood and plantation pine sawmilling operations, kiln drying and floor production, plywood manufacture, hardwood pole treatment facilities and forest operations in the Murwillumbah, Grafton and Lismore regions. One of the tour highlights was an inspection of the McCarthy family’s hardwood operations at Glenreagh, west of Coffs Harbour, which has been supplying timber products around Australia and overseas for almost 50 years. Coffs Harbour Hardwoods was established in 1961 by timber
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Fully equipped and ready .. Queenslanders Graham Leddy, Versace Timbers, Alan Jones, Austbrokers Premier, and Rod Schiefelbein, Simmonds Lumber, with Andrew White, Disprax, Vic.
merchant and world champion axeman Ray McCarthy. His five sons – John, Bill, Gary, Dennis and Harry – and seven grandchildren work at the sawmill. Treated power poles are the core business and the mill is producing about 15,000 cub m a year, mostly blackbutt and spotted gum, to power producers in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. As the timber industry has restructured over recent decades, Coffs Harbour Hardwoods has won the respect of government and industry and remains one of the few companies to operate with formal timber supply agreements from Forests NSW. Port redevelopments at Coffs Harbour in the 1980s saw the
company relocate to the village of Glenreagh midway between Grafton and Coffs Harbour which along with the Glenreagh mountain railway has resulted in a more sustainable future for the region. Two TimTech Chemicals treatment plants are used, one
for CCA treatment of poles, girders and piles and another for overlay and strip flooring production. Gary McCarthy said the mill was producing about 700 cub m of flooring a month, mostly for the Sydney market with some overlay material sent to Western Australia. The industry tour inspected all operations at the 122 ha site, including a fully-equipped workshop and an efficient boiler waste disposal system that produces mulch for landscaping. The tour contributes to Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 children’s charity projects and has been supported by TABMA Queensland,Timber Queensland and Hyne. More pictures, Page 12; more reports, pictures next issue.
Coach ‘captains’ boarding in Brisbane .. John McGregor-Skinner and Norm Forbes.
Be SURE about INSURANCE Trusted brokers to the timber industry since 1985
Tel: (07) 3010 1823 Mob: 0419 754 681
Page 10 | issue 117 | 22.03.10
Contact Alan Jones Email: alan.jones@premier.austbrokers.com (Licence No. 238123)
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events
Plugging leaks in the supply pipeline
.. improving returns from the forest to the market AT a recent forest industry strategic summit it was estimated that New Zealand’s wood supply chain is a $NZ1 billion cost centre. But it is leaking around $NZ150 million each year and these losses are not being captured by forest owners or service enterprises. “This level of declining industry financial performance isn’t sustainable,” says Forest Industry Engineering Association director Brent Apthorp. “As a consequence of not capturing these returns, New Zealand and Australian forest products sector’s international competitiveness is seriously at risk.” The programs will be profiling new tools along with successful strategies Forest products companies, logistics specialists and researchers have been working closely with FIEA to design Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010, a practical technology program to run in Melbourne on May 19 and 20 and in Rotorua on May 24 and 25. The programs will be profiling new tools along with successful strategies that have been adopted to improve planning, logistics and operations through the wood supply chain. “We’re very fortunate to have attracted companies who are at the forefront of designing world class optimisation models and business inventory software solutions for forestry companies,” Mr Apthorp said. “These systems are being used by global forest products companies – including many in Australia and New Zealand – to improve their returns from the forest through to the market.” International and local
Supply chain optimisation .. improving planning, logistics and operations through the all segments of the wood supply chain.
companies will be outlining through a series of Australian, New Zealand, North American and European case studies, just how forestry and wood products companies have adopted some of these new tools. The financial and operational impacts that enterprise and logistics planning has had on their bottom line will be the focus of the presentations. International industry leaders such as HALCO Software Systems, Remsoft Inc and Progressive Solutions Inc from Canada and two USA companies, Tieto Forest & Manufacturing and TRIMBLE will all be presenting in New Zealand and Australia. From enterprise planning systems that maximise financial performance through the entire supply chain to technologies that have been developed and are being used by some of the more innovative Australasian forestry companies, will be discussed for each stage within the supply chain. Optimising value recovery through improved harvesting systems will cover innovative log merchandising operations
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and some of the harvest optimisation systems that have been set up recently by companies and contractors working with Hancock Forest Management and HVP Plantations. One of the areas where significant savings and productivity improvements are being made is in forest products transportation. Depending, of course, on the region, but forest landing to mill transportation can be some of the most expensive costs relating to wood production. A number of systems have been developed which provide web platforms for log production and inventory management, wood supply tracking and electronic docket generation. Integrated forestry transportation systems are significantly reducing transportation costs, increasing production by maximising transportation capacity, reducing loading time in the forest and improving loaded efficiency, automated docketing and dispatch. Forestry companies working on optimising their loading, wood transport and distribution
such as Forests NSW, HFMNZ and HVP Plantations, along with the technology providers, will be discussing the very latest systems that have been developed in truck routing and scheduling. Materials handling, packaging, freight forwarding and distribution developments, key issues facing the freight, shipping and transport industries and remote sensing and real-time tracking of logs and wood products will also be covered as part of the program. Another real potential for improving efficiencies and traceability through the wood supply chain is the use of electronic product coding and radio frequency identification (RFID). Forestry companies and the logistics sector increasingly are paying much more attention to RFID technologies, particularly as tag costs have come down markedly over the last few years and as new technologies have been developed for tag design, fixing mechanisms and reading. The financial and operational impacts that enterprise and logistics planning has had on their bottom line will be the focus of presentations Increasingly, RFID is competing with established systems such as bar-coding. How the forest products industry – both sawmilling and forestry companies – are employing RFID technologies internationally will be outlined along with opportunities for adoption of the technology locally. For more information on Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010, visit www.woodsupplychain. com
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 11
industry bus tour
FOR SALE Magnificent timber block
$880,000
Located Jimna area – Queensland Area: 243.5 hectares. Elevation 600 metres Normal rainfall 45 in. Top pole production country with high quality iron bark, grey gum and hoop pine.
TABMA Queensland chief executive Karen Johnston (left) welcomes industry bus tour members on board in Brisbane .. Peter Camm, Kosny Corporation, Strathpine, Qld, Rachel Fisher, Disprax, Melbourne, and Helen Dee, Porters Home and Building Centre, Mackay.
Sunday Creek Rd to Kenilworth on southern boundary. Eastern and western boundaries are Conondale National Park. Bitumen road frontage. Permanent flow in Six Mile Creek. Great views. Power on property. An assessment of the standing timber, product range and approximate value was undertaken on the western portion 107 LX 2421 in March last year. In preparation for the assessment, aerial photos were procured, the regional ecosystems overlayed, proposed strip lines considered and their GPS points down loaded to gain a representative sample of various forest types. Data collected includes species, diameter at breast height (cm), potential product and its length, and whether the tree would be harvested, retained or chemically treated. Management units were identified and mapped by assessing the consistency of the forest in relation to species mix and productivity. The strip data was then extrapolated to give a per hectare figure of available volume and extrapolated over the unit area.
Coach ‘captain’ Bill Kranenburg (second from right) with Paul and Sue Deakin, Howard Sawmill, Maryborough, and Peter Adams, Forrest Timber Products, Vic.
Professional report indicates value of timber at $307,000 as at February 09, rising to $788,000 in 8-9 years. All inquiries and requests for detailed assessment data and aerial photographs should be directed to: Richard Long – Rent-A-Stand Pty Ltd, PO Box 37 Greenslopes 4120 Brisbane, Qld, Australia Tel: Fax: Mob: Email:
+617 33241288 +617 33970914. 0408 884 979 sales@rent-a-stand.com.au
International participants .. Craig Banks, McValves, NZ, Hans Jannson, UJ Trading, Sweden, Ingo Wallocha, Brunner-Hildebrand, Germany, and Jonathan McLachlan, Skookum Technology, NZ.
Page 12 | issue 117 | 22.03.10
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forestry
Public support for forests vital as climate change bites: top forester THE Earth needs its forests more than ever as climate change bites, but foresters must heed the needs of society if we are to realise their benefits, Britain’s top forester has warned. Tim Rollinson, DirectorGeneral of the British Forestry Commission, and chairman of the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration, was delivering the prestigious annual forestry lecture in sustainability at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He said the pressure on the Earth’s resources, including land, were going to be immense as the world’s population grew to a forecast eight billion by 2025. At the same time, the continuing drift of people to towns and cities meant they were losing their contact with forests and their understanding of how crucial they are to life on Earth. “The world needs permanent, sustainable forests to lock up carbon, to conserve soil and water, to oxygenate the atmosphere, to provide timber, food, medicines and other products and services, to preserve and protect biodiversity and wildlife, and to provide places where people can go to refresh body, mind and soul,” Mr Rollinson said. He said that to provide all these services foresters needed to be able to conserve, harvest and manage forests sustainably, and restore the forests that have been lost. To do this they need a ‘licence’ to do so from the societies they serve, and this licence needs to be earned. “Forest cover in many parts of the world continues to fall as forests are destroyed to make way for other land uses, and we urgently need to halt this deforestation,” Mr Rollinson said.
Tim Rollinson ..”we are witnessing a greater ‘disconnect’ between people and forests.”
He said, however, “with the increasing shift of populations to living in cities, we are witnessing a greater ‘disconnect’ between people and forests.” ‘The world needs permanent, sustainable forests to lock up carbon, to conserve soil and water, to oxygenate the atmosphere and to provide timber, food and medicines’ – Tim Rollinson Mr Rollinson illustrated his point by tracing the history of forests in Britain, where forests covered most of the land several thousand years ago, but declined to only about 5% of it 100 years ago.
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British people lost their forest culture and had to relearn it as successive governments pushed through a vigorous program of reforestation after the First World War, initially to provide a strategic reserve of timber. Forests and woodland now cover about 12% of the UK land area. Mistakes were made along the way, and 50 years ago, when timber production reigned as the supreme purpose of forest management, “the forester was in charge of the forest,” Mr Rollinson said. However, as the new forests expanded and mistakes were made in the reforestation
process, society began to demand new services from forests, different ways of doing things, and a voice in where they are put and how they are managed. “Today, we have to listen to the needs of a very wide range of stakeholders, and be fully tuned into the perceptions and concerns of the society we serve,” Mr Rollinson said. “To maintain our ‘licence to operate’ we have to engage with people in new ways – not only to explain to them what we have to offer, but to hear from them about their expectations and needs. “It is no good knowing you are right if society’s perception is that what you are doing is wrong. Foresters in the UK have learned this lesson the hard way – to look outwards from the forest sector, and to engage in new ways with a predominantly urban population. We have had to give up a lot of traditional ‘sovereignty’, but perhaps we have become more powerful as a result. “The messages from forest restoration programs around the world are clear: forests can be replaced to restore the environmental, economic and social functions they originally provided, and this can be done relatively quickly and economically. “However, the involvement of local people lies at the heart of almost every example of successful forest restoration and sustainable management around the world. “Without their input and their support, we will fail.” Note: The full text of Mr Rollinson’s lecture can be read at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/ infd-83ddrb
issue 117 | 22.03.10 | Page 13
Chain of Custody I N F O R M AT I O N S E M I N A R
Brisbane • Thursday, August 20, 2009
New POR Briquette System
Chain of Custody 433 On Logan Conference Centre 433 Logan Road, Stone’s Corner LIMITED INFORM A T I OTO N60SSEATS EMINAR
This Brisbane important and timely seminar, organised by TABMA Queensland, • Thursday, August 20, 2009 will help reduce433 some the confusion relatingCentre to chain of custody. It OnofLogan Conference 433 Logan timber Road,industry Stone’shas Corner will ensure the Queensland the information required LIMITED TO 60 SEATS for compliance with legislation,Key speakers will present information This seminar, organised by TABMA Queensland, andimportant there willand be timely a question and answer forum. will help reduce some of the confusion relating to chain of custody. It Speakers include:
will ensure the Queensland timber industry has the information required • Colin MacKenzie, manager, timber application and use, Timber Queensland for compliance with legislation,Key speakers will present information • Simon Dorries, General Manager, Engineered Wood Products Association of and there will be a question and answer forum. Australasia Speakers include: • Kayt Watts, chief executive, Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) • Colin MacKenzie, manager, timber application and use, Timber Queensland • Michael Spencer, chief Manager, executive, Engineered Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) • Simon Dorries, General Wood Products Association of Australasia • Kayt Watts, fee: chief executive, Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) hot breakfast Registration $65 pp (TABMAAustralian member) $80 pp (non-member) • Includes • Michael Spencer, chief executive, Forest Stewardship (FSC) begin at 8 am. and morning tea. Note: Arrival 7:30am. Breakfast 7:45 am.Council Presentations RSVP by Friday, August 14, to: Registration fee: $65 ppPO (TABMA member) $80 pp (non-member) • Includes hot breakfast Tabma Queensland, Box 532, and500 morning tea. Note: 7:30am. 7:45 am. Presentations begin at 8 am. Brunswick Street,Arrival Fortitude ValleyBreakfast 4006 RSVP Friday, Tel:by (07) 3254August 3166. 14, Fax:to: (07) 3254 4599. Tabma Queensland, PO Box 532, Mob: 0438 295 136 500 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley 4006
www.tabma.com.au
Tel: (07) 3254 3166. Fax: (07) 3254 4599. Mob: 0438 295 136
Description: Super Oscars x 2, oil cooling system, Bagging carosels, 25 m3 live floor hopper to allow for ebbs and flows of sawdust shavings. This is a very neat system. It will reduce your waste by 90% of original size. We have spent a lot of time to develop this machine and are selling due to a change in business model. Machines have done +&- 100hrs Come and look .. you won’t be disappointed!
Timber & Lattice, Port Adelaide SA 5015 Contact:
Mark Tucker 0412 698 956
for sale
www.tabma.com.au
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