Forest Products Industry

Swegon is a global company that offers solutions for ventilation, heating, cooling and climate optimisation has developed its first wooden air handling unit that could redefine the industry’s approach to reducing carbon emissions. Source: Timberbiz When the GOLD air handling unit was launched in 1994, it was an all-new concept with its pioneering design and innovative features. Now, three decades later, embodied carbon is increasingly in focus, and the first wooden concept air handling unit was designed. So far, two functioning prototypes of wooden GOLD air handling unit, size 005 have been built, where the traditional casing of conventional steel has been replaced by cross-laminated timber (CLT). By replacing the steel, Swegon managed to reduce the CO2 footprint by 40%. For a larger air handling unit, the saving would be even greater. “We have already introduced recycled steel inside our GOLD units to minimise environmental impact. With this concept wooden air handling unit, we take a significant step further, in line with our ambitions within the RE:3 concept to be in the forefront of reducing embodied carbon of products,” said Annika Sedwall, Head of Product Management, Kvänum. The unit is a concept product that is not on the market for sale, but will be evaluated and used in discussions around future alternative materials. “By rethinking material choices and challenging industry norms, we are driving the future of sustainable building solutions, and this concept is an important step in testing the limits for the industry,” said Martin Ottersten, PhD, Innovation and Knowledge Centre at Swegon.

Metsä Board, a producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has launched a new solution to enhance and simplify the recycling process for packaging materials customers receive as part of Metsä Board product deliveries. Source: Timberbiz Metsä Board has introduced QR codes on the pallet and reel labels of its products for all volumes delivered to its customers. The QR code directs customers to an intuitive app that provides detailed information on the various packaging materials used to protect the paperboard during the logistics chain. This information will assist customers in determining how each component of the delivery’s packaging should be recycled. By providing accessible and clear recycling information, the company aims to make it as easy as possible for customers to sort and recycle all the materials they receive with the product deliveries. In addition, customers will be able to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and ensure the materials are recycled as part of the local circular economy loop. “The implementation of the new recycling QR codes on our paperboard deliveries stems from a strong commitment to sustainability and customer convenience,” said Isto Hongisto, Product Safety Specialist at Metsä Board. “Recycling can sometimes be complex, and our goal is to make it as seamless and straightforward as possible for our customers. This initiative will not only save them time, but it will also ensure that the materials used in our deliveries are recycled in an optimal way.” The QR codes have been visible on all paperboard deliveries as of November 2024.

Canada Wood has taken a decisive step toward promoting mass timber and hybrid construction in China with the signing of three pivotal memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with key stakeholders. Source: Timberbiz These agreements with Treezo Group, East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), and the National Center for Technology Innovation – Green Building (NCTI-GB) underline its strategic pivot to advancing mass timber and hybrid construction in China. They also highlight the growing potential for Canadian wood products to play a significant role in China’s evolving construction market. Treezo Group, one of China’s leading manufacturers of OSB, plywood, cabinetry, flooring, and prefab buildings, is at the forefront of integrating mass timber into its operations. With the completion of the design for a 7-storey mass timber office building at its headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Treezo is actively exploring the establishment of its own mass timber manufacturing facility to support this project and expand its prefab business. The MOU with Treezo solidifies a partnership focused on advancing research and development, facilitating connections with Canadian academic institutions, and providing technical expertise. This collaboration aims to strengthen Treezo’s capabilities in mass timber production and its application in China’s growing prefab and mass timber markets. East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), part of Arcplus Group PLC., is one of China’s most respected architectural firms, known for iconic projects such as the CCTV Headquarters and Shanghai Pudong Airport Terminal 3. ECADI is now channelling its expertise into the development of tall wood mass timber construction. The renewed MOU with ECADI focuses on establishing a wood construction innovation centre dedicated to advancing mass timber research and development. Canada Wood is supporting ECADI’s proposal for a 10-story mass timber office building in Shanghai, providing technical guidance to facilitate the adoption of mass timber construction. The National Centre for Technology Innovation – Green Building (NCTI-GB), endorsed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), is a national platform focused on decarbonizing construction and promoting green building technologies. As a central force in driving low-carbon construction, NCTI-GB’s mandate aligns closely with Canada Wood’s objectives to promote mass timber as a sustainable alternative. Facilitated by BCFII China office, the MOU with NCTI-GB underscores a commitment to joint efforts in resource sharing, technical exchange, and the development of standards and demonstration projects. This collaboration is poised to drive advancements in mass timber construction, with a shared goal of establishing wood as a key component in China’s green building agenda.  

Irish materials handling innovator Combilift has celebrated 21 years of operation in Australia, shortly after marking the 25th anniversary of its establishment in County Monaghan. Source: Timberbiz Co-founder and managing director Martin McVicar last week joined customers, dealer partners and local staff to mark the milestone in Melbourne. Mr McVicar recalled how he was initially approached about entering the Australian market by family-owned dealer group Adaptalift. Founder Peter Whiffen discovered Combilift while searching for a solution for a client’s unique handling needs. As an engineer, he was so impressed with the innovation of the Combilift range that he flew to the company’s factory in Ireland. The visit resulted in the establishment in 2003 of Adapt-A-Lift Imports, trading as Combilift Australia, to import and distribute niche market materials handling products. Mr McVicar still vividly remembers his first business trip to Australia from Cincinnati in the United States to Brisbane via Chicago, Los Angeles and Auckland. The ravages of the trip didn’t affect the presentation and Mr McVicar left with an order of a C4000 truck, the world’s first engine-powered multidirectional forklift, from a steel tubing and pipe specialist which continues to grow its Combilift fleet today. “For us, every customer is valuable, even if they’ve only purchased one machine,” he said. Mr McVicar paid tribute to his local partners. “The team from Adaptalift have been instrumental to our growth in the area, with ongoing investment in inventory, parts and training.” For his part, Mr Whiffen values the relationship with Combilift which, he says, “has never lost its focus on the customer, even though it is now a big company”. Adaptalift has also benefited from Combilift’s unique range. “That has opened doors for us and allowed us to sell other products to the same customers,” Mr Whiffen said. “It extends our range and beautifully complements our other offerings.” According to Combilift Australia managing director Chris Littlewood, whose 10th year with the company is fast approaching, Combilift continues to grow its market share in Australia. This growth has made Australia Combilift’s fifth-largest market, with a fleet in the country exceeding 4,500 units.

The New Zealand Government says that it is delivering on its commitment to combat trade in illegally harvested timber, with consultation starting on operational details to implement New Zealand’s legal harvest assurance system, Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. Source: Timberbiz “The system will limit the risk of importing illegally harvested timber and provide the international market with confidence in New Zealand’s timber and timber products,” Mr McClay said. “As markets increasingly demand verifiable assurances, this system will help us maintain and expand access to higher-value opportunities worldwide.” The legal harvest assurance system is designed to: Reduce the risk of trading in timber sourced from illegal harvesting. Provide exporters with a streamlined pathway to meet global market requirements. Ensure timber imported into New Zealand meets legal harvest standards. Support international efforts to combat illegal logging and strengthen global supply chains. The Government is inviting input on the operational details of the system, which is set to be fully implemented by August 2027. Feedback gathered during the consultation will shape the final recommendations and ensure the system is practical and effective for all stakeholders. Consultation is open until 26 February 2025.

A recent Federal Government investigation into timber imports underlines the reality that if consumers want to be certain in buying sustainably produced wood, they should buy Australian. Source: Timberbiz Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the investigation found that one quarter of timber products imported into Australia have inaccurate species and origin claims, including multiple instances of undeclared veneers and solid timber products with potential Russian origins. “It is ironic that groups like the Bob Brown Foundation and the Wilderness Society, in their rush to promote the banning of sustainably harvested native Tasmanian timber, are effectively promoting the use of imported timber of potentially dubious origin,” said Minister Abetz. “The mind boggles that in the choice between sustainable Tasmanian timber and imported timber from who-knows-where, including unlabelled Russian timber, extremists would prefer the latter. “Tasmanians can be well pleased with our forestry industry, with both native and plantation timber harvested under our world-class forest practices system, ensuring the ongoing sustainability of our public forest estate. “In contrast to Labor Governments around the country which have betrayed timber communities, our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future supports forestry and its 5700 direct and indirect jobs, and we urge Australians to buy local. “We are opening up the Future Potential Production Forest “wood bank”, increasing high-quality sawlog supply to Tasmanian industry, supporting our iconic special species timber sector and supercharging on-island processing with an additional $5 million. “We make no apologies for backing the State’s sustainable and job-rich timber industry.”