Introduction U
ruguay is a country in South America, on the Atlantic Ocean; to the west it is bounded by Argentina and to the northeast by Brazil. It is a country of great political and economical stability, which favours investments within the territory.
During the past three decades world timber harvest has increased at an annual average rate of 1.8%. Since the approval of the forestry act in 1987, forestry production in Uruguay has shown a very significant rise. This act promoted afforestation with different species through tax exemptions on land considered of forest priority. To date, there are more than 1:000.000 hectares planted with eucalyptus and pine.
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hree companies integrate our corporation: Fymnsa (Pine plantations), Dank S.A. (timber industrialization and trade) and Ponlar S.A. (electric and thermal energy generation from forestry biomass). Since 1976 Fymnsa has been devoted to sowing and forestry management in the district of Rivera on deep sandy soils with low agricultural value. Pinus taeda plantations are sustainably managed in order to achieve high quality timber production. The company owns around 12.000 ha of plantations and 2.000 ha of protected natural forests. Pine plantations are pruned to a height of seven metres to attain defect-free timber production. In the industrial plant, Dank S.A. processes logs from Fymnsa plantations. Sawn timber is dried, remanufactured and conditioned for sale. Products of different quality, completion and dimensions are obtained. In 1989 the first sawmill was installed and in 1993 processed timber exports began. Ponlar S.A. makes use of the waste from this industrial process to produce heat as low pressure steam (used during the drying process) and energy which is diverted to public use.
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Company’s history F
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ymnsa started in 1974 in the district of Rivera as a family project; with time production became more complex and today the company has a vertical integration and makes an integral use of resources.
In compliance with the project designed plan, in 1986 the first sawmill was set up. Initially, the production was sold within the domestic market. In 1993, as production volume increased and quality improved, exports began.
Pinus taeda and Pinus elliottii were the chosen species (remaining P. taeda as the primary species), as the founders had enough experience on its aptitude for timber, volume growth and pest resistance.
In July 2002, Fymnsa was certified according to the forest Stweardship Council’s principles and criteria (FSC®), an international non-governmental, non-profit and independent organization, whose aim is to promote an environmentally responsible forest management, beneficial for the society and economically viable of forests worldwide. This certification is renewed every five years.
In 1976 Pinus taeda first plantations began, within a sustainable project, in order to achieve quality timber production with high added value in harmony with people communities and its environment.
In 2008 the company expanded; Ponlar S.A. emerged and Dank S.A installations were improved. Since then, a continuous process of improvement has taken place, in response to the market’s requirements.
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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is a trademark.
Cycle of pine 1. I1. It starts in the nurseries, where seeds are sown in beds to produce seedlings. 2. The soil is prepared by making furrows where the seedlings are planted. 3. Once the furrows are made, the plantation begins, performed in different ways: manual, semi-manual and mechanized. 4. During the first years, seedlings are taken care of, with three types of treatment: herbicide to combat weeds, ant insecticide and plant fertilizer to provide the plants with adequate nutrition and obtain faster growth.
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5. When the trees are three years old, the first pruning is carried out, thus obtaining knot-free timber of greater value. Pruning is performed up to a height of 6-7 m. Once the pruning process is completed, thinning begins. There are two different kinds: non-commercial and commercial. 6. Finally, clear cut is done when the tree is twenty-three years old, and a new cycle begins.
Pinus taeda Properties Name
• Scientific name: Pinus taeda • Common name: Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda Plantations • Argentina • Brazil • Native to Southeast USA • Uruguay • South Africa
Physical Properties
• Bulk density at 12 % moisture: 380-450 kg/m3. • Dimensional stability: Volumetric shrinkage quotient 2.6%.
General Description
Pinus Taeda’s timber is extraordinarily versatile. It is considered to be of average density, with fine texture, easy to dry and treat with preservatives. Excellent workability, nail fastening, resistance to splits and dimensional stability. It has high impregnability.
Mechanical properties at 12% • Janka Hardness: 28.9MPa. • Modulus of rupture: 79 MPa. • Modulus of elasticity: 8017 MPa. • Nail removal: 715 (N/40 mm)
Timber description
• Sapwood: creamy- yellow. • Heartwood: light brown. • Fiber: straight except the heartwood. • Characteristics: firm nodes, resiny, absence of stains. • Sapwood: easily treatable for every use, even marine. • Heartwood: treatable in compliance with standards of usage in contact with the soil, it does not appear in fast growth. •Impregnability: good
Utilizations
• Appearance (carpentry, furniture, molding, coating, covers, etc.) • Structural (building and formwork) • Packaging, platforms and fences.
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Products O
ur products are made according to the highest quality standards and taking the clients’ needs into account. The raw material’s homogeneity and its sustainability assure our buyers a first-class product.
UNPRUNED SAWMILLING DIAGRAM
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PRUNED SAWMILLING DIAGRAM
Product line and main destinations: The commercial strategy covers different countries and products, using our resources as efficiently as possible. The company’s whole production is finally sawn and dried in high performance kilndriers.
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Timber for packaging & platforms Thin logs and heartwood is turned into packaging material and pallets.. The commercial name of this group depends on the destination’s market, but in general it is called heartwood, industrial lumber, lumber for pallets, lumber for packaging.
Pinus taeda timber suitable for packaging and pallets. • Kiln dried. • Moisture content: 10 - 15%. Uses: Packaging, pallets.
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Furniture Sapwood is commercialized in two main ways. The semi-elaborated one is mainly sent to the Asian market, where local furniture industries turn it into: chairs, beds, tables, photo frames, door frames, house objects, among others.
Pinus taeda timber with defects, controlled at different levels depending on each market’s requirements. • Rough,S4S or S2S • Kiln dried. • Moisture content: 8 - 12%. Uses: Furniture production.
Blanks clear finger joint Millwork lumber. This is mainly exported to North America with highreman process. This lumber is used for molding, door frames, doors and windows. These products are named Blanks and EGP panels (Solid boards).
Remanufactured Pinus taeda finger joint boards, natural appearance.
• S4S finishing, free of chemical treatments. • Dimensionally stable, easy to work, and suitable for molding and to be covered with varnish and paint. •Glue used is PVA D-4. Uses: Internal and external finishings for moldings.
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Solid finger joint boards Pinus taeda boards made of solid staves or finger joint with or without knots. • Glue used is PVA D-4. Uses: Furniture, door components and panels.
Clears Free of defect lumber is obtained from the basal part of the tree which was early and carefully pruned to this aim. This product seeks to fulfill the highest quality demands. There are different products: Clears, Mouldings and better, C4, cut-stock, etc.
Pinus taeda free of defect lumber, excellent appearance.
• Rough and S4S • Kiln dried free of chemical treatments. • Moisture content: 8 - 12%. Uses: Raw material to produce furniture and other elements and ornamental pieces.
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Mouldings & better Pinus taeda timber with controlled defects and rips’ clear yield over 70%. • Rough and S2S. • Kiln dried free of chemical treatments. • Moisture content: 8 - 12%. Uses: Production of furniture, mouldings and other elements and ornamental pieces.
FOTO PLANTA
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Bioenergy P
onlar S.A. is a cogeneration (CHP) plant from waste biomass from the sawmill. Waste (sawdust, bark and chips) generated by the sawmill causes a problem, the opportunity for a CHP company arouses. Electric power is sold for public use, reducing the country’s need to generate electricity from non-renewable sources. Heat power is used for timber kiln drying. Ponlar S.A. has an installed capacity of 8 MVAe. This reduces greenhouse emissions (GHG), which helps mitigate global warming. Furthermore, Ponlar S.A. operation generates waste in the form of ashes in the boiler’s outlet, which are used in different ways.
FSC® F
ymnsa and Dank S.A. are certified under the trademark of FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council), considered in the forestry industry global context as a leader trademark. FSC® is a non-profit entity, whose main objective is to promote an environmentally responsible forest management, socially and economically viable. In order to get FSC® certification, certain principles and criteria must be complied with, which are generally related to an appropriate management of the environment, protection and support of communities and forests of high conservation value, respecting the workers’ rights, communities and indigenous people, the construction of economically viable markets, adding higher value and creating equal access to benefits. FSC® certification is valid for five years and is annually audited. In 2002 Fymnsa forests were certified for their forest management and Dank S.A. sawmill as a chain of custody.
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FOTO COMUNIDAD
Relationship with the community The employees of the corporation and the community of Rivera district are taken care of and integrated to our development. Even though the company does not have RSE programs, it systematically contributes with the employees and the neighboring community. • Take charge of building houses with adequate light and running water services • Provide transport to nearby cities • Award scholarships and training courses to our workers • Award study scholarships to their kids • Support the families of those workers who eventually suffer an accident • Offer different loans (housing, vehicles and others) • Provide dental care assistance to our employees • Help mothers who are breastfeeding • Support nearby schools and highschools. Besides, we take various measures aimed at helping the community. Among others, we contribute with yearly donations to different institutions such as “Un techo para mi país” (A roof for my country), MEVIR (rural housing eradication movement), “Camino a la comunidad” (A path to community), Desem (Young entrepreneurs).
Since the very beginning, the organization has worked improving the surrounding roads; it has recently contributed to the construction and asphalting of 20 km of road, donating over a third of the cost to the Ministry of Transport and the Rivera town hall. Every year we receive primary and secondary school institutions, “Universidad del Trabajo del Uruguay” and tertiary education institutes, which are given a tour of the company according to their requirements. Furthermore, ever since our organization was born, livestock activity has been undertaken as complemental to the forestry activity. However, as the majority of the trees have now reached maturity, the company has decided to share these areas with the community, offering them to the neighbors to graze their animals there. This aims at boosting even more social bonds of the company with the community. Currently, over 50% of our planted area is being grazed by over twenty cattle dealers.
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Environment T
he company conservation policy dates back to its foundation. It tends to conserve, protect and keep the area of native forests within its property, untouched. These areas are continuously being monitored in order to maintain biodiversity and its native characteristics. To that purpose various preventive and corrective measures are undertaken to protect natural development and growth of native forests.
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n the year 2008 a flora and fauna reservation was identified and declared as High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) given its historic value, exceptional biodiversity and gulch vegetation landscape, which is scarce in the country’s territory. Over these areas, adequate protective, conservative and divulgation actions are undertaken.
The following are the main preservation, conservation and monitoring measures: • Monitoring native specimens’ state of health, development and growth • Divulgation, education and training of the community on native flora and fauna • Monitoring population parameters in plots • Checking that there are birds’ sightings and record keeping is updated • Checking the quality of the surrounding fence • Verify livestock absence in those areas
Addr.: Juan Paullier 1671 Montevideo - Uruguay - ZC.: 11200 Tel.: +598 2409 9999 E-mail.: export@balerio.com.uy www.dank.com.uy