Presented by timber engineering experts Jon Shanks and Geoff Boughton, the six modules offer engineers the opportunity to increase their knowledge so they can design and specify timber products with confidence. It is available exclusively through WoodSolutions Campus. A glance through international and Australian architecture and design publications, both traditional and online, will show the growing use of wood and …

IWT-Moldrup, a 3rd generation company who design and supply processes andequipment for timber treatment, including industrial wood modification, are now supplying the worldwide first dedicated Cu-Nap plant as an environmentally friendly but effective future alternative to CCA and creosote. Copper naphthenate (CuNap), has been used for many years in the United States andrepresents a well-tested and well-documented alternative to both …

For over 50 years, Wellons has been a leading supplier of biomass-fired energy systems, timber dry systems, and related products and services to North American and international forest products companies. Since incorporating in 1964, Wellons has designed and manufactured more than 370 Biomass Boiler and Energy Systems, over 50 Cogeneration Projects and more than 1,500 Timber Dry kilns. Wellons timber …

The sale of a Southland sawmill has been described as “devastating” for the local community, but the company that has bought it plans to integrate the mill into its own expanding timber operations. Niagara Sawmilling Company Ltd has bought Southland business Craigpine Timber Ltd at Winton, with the sale effective from December 18. More than 50 job losses are expected …

Big River Industries has announced its Forest Hill mill will be closing, cutting 50 jobs as they consolidate operations at their home base in Grafton, NSW. “Some relocation opportunities to Grafton will be offered, as staff numbers will increase there by around 20 positions as the project develops,” read an official statement from Big River to the Australian Stock Exchange. …

Researchers at the University of British Columbia’s HiLo Lab, University of Colorado, Denver’s LoDo Lab, and HouMinn Practice push the potential of the ubiquitous wood member. The “aha!” moment at the University of British Columbia’s HiLo Lab came when researchers, intent on bending strips of wood veneer into unusual forms, stepped back to look at their elaborate setup. “We realized …

A research project led FWPA’s National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life has commenced a testing program for materials used in Hazard Class H3, which covers applications that are outside, above ground and exposed to the weather. The project represents the first time in 30 years that such a range of species, products and preservatives has been tested. The …

In the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, a timber construction is currently being built with a 650m2 cross laminated timber panel. That is a world record! The TS3 technology makes it possible – a development by Timbatec together with the ETH Zurich and the Bern University of Applied Sciences. TS3 technology is a quantum leap: it frees timber construction from its …

AKD is answering the call to support Australian job creation by announcing over 20 new apprenticeship positions and new graduate positions in 2021. The challenges of this year are well known and have impacted on many communities. AKD have always placed the development of their people as a high priority, this year they felt it was even more important to …

The tiny South Australian town of Tarpeena is hoping to wrestle an AU$60 million timber processing facility from metropolitan Melbourne to secure dozens of new jobs. While the pandemic has slowed the decision-making process, Timberlink Australia says the location of the proposed manufacturing plant could be announced within two months. The company – which has major timber processing plants at …

New research is aimed at preparing the forest and wood products industry to best respond to potential revised regulations around wood dust exposure levels. Operations across the timber supply chain, including sanding, sawing, cross cutting and drilling, all have the potential to create wood dust. In response to research strongly associating wood dust in the workplace with health issues like …

Four Bay of Plenty timber businesses will receive investments totalling nearly NZ$22 million through New Zealand’s Provincial Growth Fund to boost the local economy and create jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Rotorua-based sawmill Red Stag Wood Solutions will receive a NZ$15 million loan to develop an engineered wood products manufacturing facility. “Red Stag is a major …

Australian equipment supplier for the wood processing industry, Stirling Machinery has entered the New Zealand market to not just supply and install premium machines but to provide a fully integrated service, from consultancy through to servicing. A division of tooling supplier, Accurate, Stirling has enjoyed strong and steady growth in Australia since its establishment five years ago. Indeed, Accurate customers …

Highland Pine Product (HPP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Bitzer to the role of General Manager. Mike will replace current General Manager David Knights who recently announced his retirement. David commenced as General Manager in 2016 and since this time has continued to lead the site through growth and change. We thank David for his service to …

After 15 years of successful cooperation between System TM and Stiles in the North American market, Stiles has announced the majority share acquisition of the Danish engineering and manufacturing partner, System TM A/S, by Homag Group. System TM is a global supplier of optimization and solid wood systems. Russ Suor, executive vice president of Stiles, said, “We are excited to …

The future of the Tasman newsprint mill in Kawerau is in doubt, with its Norwegian owners seeking alternatives to newsprint production at the site. Late last week Norske Skog announced it has ordered a strategic review of one of the central North Island’s largest industrial plants. The company has hired KPMG to find alternative production options and is running a …

It is vital that machinery which requires human interaction is adequately guarded to protect workers from risk, says WorkSafe. This message comes after a worker for Kiwi Lumber suffered fatal chest injuries when she was pulled into machinery the sawmill used for grading and sorting timber in November 2018. WorkSafe’s investigation found when the worker accessed the machine to clear …

AKD has announced that they will recommence operations at their Irrewarra sawmilling site to provide more Australian produced timber for their customers and employment opportunities in the Colac region. In May because of CoVid-19 the business made the decision to idle its Irrewarra sawmill in a pre-emptive move to flex AKD production in anticipation of reduced market demand. “The decision …

Timberlink Australia is pleased to announce that following an extensive international review, Danish based Kallesoe Machinery A/S has been selected as the manufacturing equipment supplier for Timberlink’s planned Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) plant. Working alongside Timberlink, Kallesoe will supply and commission a turnkey solution providing plant design, manufacturing equipment and installation, supported by a fully …

A New Zealand sawmilling operation, Westco Lumber Ltd, picked up this week a major award at the at the 2020 Diversity Awards NZ™ for their efforts to improve learning amongst its staff and workers. West Coast sawmill business Westco Lumber Ltd wanted to reinvigorate a culture of learning among its workers, recognising that an engaged workforce has been key to …

In early September we reported on a review that was being undertaken in conjunction with PwC on the future of Timberlink New Zealand’s Blenheim sawmill. The sawmill was taken over by Australian company Timberlink in September 2015, after they bought the site from Flight Timbers. It had invested more than NZ$10 million into the Blenheim site, where it processed 123,000 …

A worker who was seven weeks into his first job has been left unable to return to work after he lost three fingers and part of his palm as the result of a traumatic amputation in unguarded machinery. Yesterday, Taranaki Sawmills Limited was sentenced at the New Plymouth District Court for failing to ensure the machine was safe for workers …

AKD confirmed that the Caboolture Sawmill will recommence operations on the 14th of September 2020, after a brief closure period due to a storage shed fire in June. This recommencement is possible due to the rebuilding of the fuel handling system which will make for a safer and more sustainable business in the long term. In addition, AKD is excited …

Kiwi Lumber is to set up permanent operations following the successful trial of a sawmill at Matawhero, Gisborne. The operation will create 50 jobs and pave the way for NZ$15 million of capital investment over the next three years and a substantial investment in systems and teams. Kiwi Lumber managing director Adam Gresham is confident the Matawhero mill can be …

The Receivers of the wood products company, the Claymark Group, have announced that they have signed an agreement for the sale of the Companies’ business and assets as a going concern. The agreement is unconditional and settlement is set to occur on 30 September 2020. The business has been purchased by a consortium led by Paul Pedersen. The receivership was …

The University of Maine has been issued a patent for a process to create construction materials that are bound with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and offer increased durability and environmental friendliness. While the technology can be used to create a variety of commonly used building materials, the primary application for this patent focuses on a replacement for particle board, which is …