At WoodTECH 2017 in Rotorua, TimberSmart joined Saito to showcase a new drone scanning technology that can be used in the mill or timber yard to collect packet data. The drone has the ability to travel up to the top stack and using the attached camera, photograph and collect information from labels or tags. This technology eliminates ladders or scissor …
WoodSolutions launches comprehensive Timber Species App
WoodSolutions has launched the WoodSolutions Species App to support professionals in the design and build industry, including furniture makers and DIYers to choose and specify the best timber species and products for structural, exterior and interior applications. The free App, now available for Apple and Android devices from their app stores, covers a broad range of hardwood and softwood species, …
Understanding lumber size control
As part of the recent WoodTECH 2017 series, Nick Barrett, President of SiCam Systems, Canada gave a 90-minute workshop to event delegates in both Australia and New Zealand. In the workshop Nick covered; establishing the importance of value in a sawmill, analysing the financial impacts in the mill, methods of analysing a QC program throughout the sawmill and planer to …
Simplifying robotic pick-and-place with 3D
Robotic pick-and-place is an important automated manufacturing process in many industries. In this application, robots pick up parts presented one at a time and place them in a preset order and location, even when the exact location and 3D orientation of the part is variable. By using 3D smart sensors with onboard software, an industrial robot can perform this task …
Selecting & operating your log carriage & optimiser
Another practical workshop given at the WoodTECH 2017 series was from two of the industry’s leading specialists in carriage head-rig operations. Together, Marv Bernhagen, COO, Lewis Controls and Chuck Boaz, President of Corley Manufacturing, USA have around 80 years’ experience in manufacturing and project managing new equipment installations. Attached is the presentation given as part of the practical workshop series …
Hundegger expansion in Australasia
Hundegger Australasia Pty Ltd are the regional representatives for Hans Hundegger AG of Germany, leading manufacturers of up to 6-axis CNC machinery for the truss and frame, engineered timber and CLT panel processing industry. From humble beginnings in 2007, Hundegger Australasia has grown under the direction of Managing Director Charlie Hutchings to deliver over 85 machines across Australia and New …
Timberlink launches employment campaign
Timberlink’s growth and reinvestment has been significant over the past 5 years and the plans are for this to continue. With this strategic imperative of growth and sustainability, the company has recently launched a campaign promoting the employment and career opportunities at the Australasian company. Since becoming Timberlink, the business has increased its employment by 151 additional full-time equivalent employees …
Boral Timber Murwillumbah back in operation
One of the larger, purpose-built flooring manufacturing businesses in Australia – the Boral site at Murwillumbah – is now back in operation, following major repair work over the past two months. The Hardwood Engineering Manager for Boral, Peter Robson, said the site had been significantly affected by the Cyclone Debbie flood in late March this year, which also caused major …
Anyone use a wooden nail?
Nails are wonderful things; the invention of the cheap wire nail made them into a cheap mass produced commodity that contributed to the development of the American housing industry. But they are also a problem; they make it hard to recycle wood, and on finished wood surfaces they are often ugly and can cause staining. Now Beck Fastener has invented …
WoodTECH 2017 Event Summary
It was certainly a full house – in both Australia and New Zealand. The WoodTECH 2017 technology series that focussed on sawmilling or green-mill operations drew in a record number of over 400 delegates in September 2017. It was the largest gathering yet seen of sawmilling companies, saw-doctors and technology providers from around the globe in Australasia. The series run …
WoodTECH 2017 Event Photos
We had a great turnout for WoodTECH 2017. This was the largest gathering yet seen of sawmilling companies, saw-doctors and technology providers from around the globe in Australasia. Click here to see event photos from WoodTECH 2017. You can also read the full event summary here.
Using the RIGHT Oil
Udo Jahn from Modern Engineering and Dean Maier from Industrial Autolube sit down to discuss using oils correctly. This is part of Udo’s Sawmill Education Series on YouTube. Source: YouTube
New startup looking to disrupt the engineered wood industry
Materialize.X launched two new products that it thinks will revolutionize the US$300 billion-a-year engineered wood market. The first is a non-toxic adhesive A lot of engineered wood is created using an adhesive called urea-formaldehyde, which has recently been labeled by the FDA as a toxic carcinogen. Now consumer demand and government regulation are leading to a shift to non-toxic alternatives …
Questioning the threat technology poses to employment
Many jobs that exist today will be displaced by technology. But there is nothing new in this. Manufacturing is an industry where technology has already decimated many jobs. Despite this, unemployment rates in the likes of NZ and Australia haven’t experienced trend increases. There is too much focus on the jobs at threat from robotics and artificial intelligence. Such threats …
Saw & Babbitt Pads
Udo Jahn from Modern Engineering and Dean Maier from Industrial Autolube sit down to discuss using saw and badditt pads. This is part of Udo’s Sawmill Education Series on YouTube. Source: YouTube
3D Laser Profiling vs. 2D Machine Vision
Despite the proven advantages of 3D technology for inline quality inspection applications, many organizations still rely solely on 2D machine vision for their quality control processes. While useful in a select number of scenarios, 2D vision is limited in its ability to achieve 100% quality control—which is why it is so important for organizations to invest in a smart 3D …
Too Much Lubricant
Saw Lubrication – How much it can cost you if you’re using too much, and what the warning signs are. A discussion with sawmill maintenance experts Udo Jahn and Dean Maier. This is part of Udo’s Sawmill Education Series on YouTube. Source: YouTube
One week before WoodTECH 2017 early-bird ENDS
Registrations continue to flow in for this region’s two-yearly sawmilling event, WoodTECH 2017. Sawmilling companies, mill production staff and saw-doctors have all been making full use of the discounted early-bird registration rates. These FINISH this Friday. Super discounts of over 60% off the standard registration rates for multiple registrations from one sawmilling site are also been taken full advantage of. …
Record turnout of global sawmilling expertise planned
Two years ago was pretty good. Over 350 delegates from all major sawmilling companies in this region in addition to leading technology providers from throughout Australasia, North America and Europe converged on Melbourne, Australia and Rotorua, New Zealand for the WoodTECH series run by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA). A record turnout of sawmilling companies was achieved. This year, …
Early Registration Bonus!
As well as a discounted early-bird registration rate, discounts are also being offered if you are a member of one of this region’s key industry associations. A special group rate has also been set up with discounts of over 60% off the standard registration rate. This will enable multiple company and mill employees to benefit. Registrations can now be made …
Global sawmill troubleshooters coming to Australasia
For the first time in Australia and New Zealand, a series of troubleshooting workshops have been designed to run as part of September’s WoodTECH 2017 series. They’ll be providing a unique insight into how sawmills can extract the best performance out of their saws, their machine centres and sawing operations”. Workshops of between 60-120 minutes are being given in both …
Extra one-day conference added to NZ WoodTECH 2017
As an added bonus for those attending the WoodTECH 2017 conference in New Zealand, a one-day conference, Changing Perceptions of Engineered Timber in Construction will be run on the day after the WoodTECH 2017 conference, on Thursday 28 September. It’s in Rotorua, it’s at the same venue and is likely to appeal to many of those in town attending the …
Practical workshops set up for local sawmills in September
As outlined in a previous issue, the two-yearly sawmilling technology event, WoodTECH 2017 will again be running for sawmilling companies in both New Zealand and Australia in September this year. An integral part of the programme will be an insight into the very latest in wood scanning, sawmilling, and mill optimisation technologies from around the globe. “Again, it’s a who’s …
Sawmilling global tech series running in September 2017
Two years ago – over two weeks – the WoodTECH conference series run by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) achieved a record turnout of sawmilling companies. They were drawn from throughout Australia and New Zealand. Over 350 delegates from all major sawmilling companies in the region in addition to leading technology providers from throughout Australasia, North America and Europe …
Sawmilling tech series ready for September 2017
Two years ago – over two weeks – FIEA’s WoodTECH conference series achieved a record turnout of sawmilling companies drawn from throughout Australia and New Zealand. Over 350 delegates from all major sawmilling companies in the region in addition to leading technology providers from throughout Australasia, North America and Europe converged on Melbourne, Australia and Rotorua, New Zealand. Two years …
WoodTECH 2017 programme is being developed
The WoodTECH technology series has provided a unique independent platform for Australasian companies to evaluate the very latest wood scanning, sawmilling equipment and mill maintenance tools from around the globe. What’s being planned for September 2017? WoodTECH 2017 (www.woodtech.events) is planned for 20-21 September in Melbourne, Australia and then again, on 26-27 September in Rotorua, New Zealand. Over two weeks …
Post event summary 2015
Over two weeks in mid-September 2015, FIEA’s WoodTECH conference series achieved a record turnout of sawmillers from Australia and New Zealand. Over 350 delegates from sawmilling companies and leading technology providers from throughout Australasia, North America and Europe converged on Melbourne, Australia and again in Rotorua, New Zealand. To remain internationally competitive, local sawmills increasingly have been looking at tools …