The near-universal use of H2 blue, green or red framing timber in construction is now a time bomb for landfill in 20-40 years’ time. It cannot be composted nor recycled, and thus is sent to landfill. In an ideal world, buildings would be carefully deconstructed and every skerrick reused, but in the Land of Oz, where labourers are paid $55 …
Pan Pac invests $13m in new log infeed system
Pan Pac Forest Products plans to substantially upgrade the sawmill log infeed system at its Whirinaki (Hawke’s Bay) site in New Zealand. The investment (at approximately NZ$13 million) to replace the sawmill log infeed system originally installed in the early 1980s highlights the continued commitment of Pan Pac’s shareholder Oji Holdings, said Pan Pac Managing Director Tony Cliifford. ‘Such strategic …
Whakatane mill may shut down
More than 200 staff at the Whakatane Mill in the eastern Bay of Plenty have this week been presented with a proposal to close the mill. General Manager Juha Verajankorva said in a statement that, faced with the loss of its biggest customer, the plant was no longer economically viable. “We have begun consultation with staff on a proposal to …
New timber building tops out in Brisbane
The latest five storey mass engineered timber building to be constructed in Queensland, topped out last week as the final, prefabricated Glue Laminated Timber Beams and Cross Laminated Timber panels are craned into position. The NIOA facility extension in the Brisbane Airport precinct is the first mass timber structure of its kind for builder, Besix Watpac and Site Manager, Ben …
Timber Machining apprentices thriving
MLC, a New Zealand manufacturing company currently has two staff members who started an apprenticeship programme in timber machining. In this article, we take a look at the career path of the two employees and how they have got to where they are within the company. Simon Williams-Fry, one of the company’s first trained machinists who completed his apprenticeship over …
Largest investment ever made in Finnish forest industry
Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, has made the investment decision to build a new bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. The value of the investment is EUR 1.6 billion and it is the largest investment ever made by the Finnish forest industry in Finland. The construction phase will take approximately two and a half years, and the mill will be …
Neville Smith announces production increases
More than 40 jobs are set to be created both in the short and long term across Tasmania in the forestry industry, after Neville Smith Forest Products announced an increase in production at their Southwood site in the Huon Valley. A further 30 full time jobs will be created in the state’s south as a result of a second shift …
Hundegger supplying CNC machinery for CLT/GLT plant
Timberlink Australia is delighted to partner with Hans Hundegger AG who will supply the key CNC machining equipment for the new Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) plant being built in Tarpeena, South Australia. The decision to commission Hundegger Australasia Pty Ltd comes following an extensive international review to find the best Computer Numerical Control (CNC) panel …
Modifying timber to reduce fire risk
In the wake of the last, disastrous fire season in Australia, materials are under close scrutiny. Clever options like FLAMEfixx use advanced technology to make timber safer in BAL zones and beyond. The Bushfire Royal Commission recently handed down its 1,000-page final report. Alongside important recommendations regarding government action, better firefighting capacity and mitigation strategies, an entire chapter (19) is …