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CHH NZ sawmill may close

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

Carter Holt Harvey says it has begun consulting staff at its Whangarei sawmill about the potential closure of that site. It is understood the sawmill employs about 111 staff. “Following a major upgrade to increase productivity at our Kawerau sawmill, our Kawerau and Nelson sawmills now have sufficient capacity to service our domestic customers,” chief executive Clayton Harris said. “These …

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Fenglin tries a third time in New Zealand

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

China’s Guangxi Fenglin Wood Industry Group is in talks with Trust Tairawhiti to develop a wood processing facility near Gisborne, New Zealand. The firm, which had been planning a development at Kawerau, said it had recently signed a letter of intent to collaborate with the trust to develop a facility which ultimately could process up to two million tonnes of …

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Sudden closure of NZ sawmill

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

This week’s sudden announcement of the closure of Pacific Pine Industries Ltd, a timber processing and sawmill in Putaruru, New Zealand has left its 60 plus employees reeling. Staff were called in from their annual leave on Monday to a meeting where they were informed that the company was entering voluntary administration. Locks were being changed at the site as …

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Hyne Timber Tumbarumba back up and running

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

As recovery gets underway for the Tumbarumba region, NSW, the Hyne Timber Mill is back up and running, despatching truckloads of timber, thanks to the many volunteers and emergency services who protected it throughout the bushfire crisis. A number of team members from Queensland have been deployed to Tumbarumba to assist with the Mill’s recommencement and enable impacted team members …

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Primary processors working together creates efficiency

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

Establishing wood processors close to forestry allows wood processing and forestry residues to be used as an energy source, with any surplus able to be used by other nearby industries. Other primary processing (such dairy and meat processing) could also benefit from this strategy, and there is potential for a shared energy plant to service multiple factories. This strategy of …

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Technology advances at Bell Bay mill showcased

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

Timberlink CEO Ian Tyson, last Tuesday welcomed Guy Barnett, Tasmanian Minister for Resources, to Timberlink’s Bell Bay mill to see recent investments in technology and safety upgrades in action. Timberlink enters the new decade strongly positioned for growth supported by the investments in upgrading the Bell Bay Mill. The installation of new state of the art Contra Flow Kilns (CFK), …

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The 5 biggest challenges for smart factories

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

An Intel survey of 400 manufacturing experts on the front lines looks at what it will take to clear Industry 4.0’s highest hurdles. With the increasing proliferation of data, connectivity, and processing power at the edge, the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is becoming more accessible. However, successful adoption remains out of reach for many: two of every three companies …

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Cypress glulam beams for pre-fabricated homes

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

Research by Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to develop a new sustainable timber product has delivered additional jobs and a boost to a Queensland construction company. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the research by DAF’s Forest Product Innovation team had proven to be a win-win good news story for Cooroy-based Eco Cottages. “An …

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Sawmilling simulation training tool available

In Issue22, WoodTECH, WT Video by FIEALeave a Comment

Like the harvesting simulator that is being used throughout Australasia for training and encouraging younger students to look at forestry as a future career option, a French company, Mimbus, has developed a sawmilling simulation tool. It appears training simulation tools can be offered for the headrig and canter machine centres. As detailed on their website, being a sawmill operator requires …

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Timber framing website launched for builders

In Issue22, WoodTECH by FIEALeave a Comment

The Australian softwood timber industry has got together to launch a campaign to support the FWPA’s The Ultimate Renewable ads. This will consist of targeted online advertising to builders, who research has shown are the number 1 decision makers when it comes to choosing what material a house frame is made from. The industry has built a micro site, attached …