Forest Products Industry

When a raging forest fire is approaching a community, a good rainfall greatly reduces the chances of the flames reaching buildings. But if rain isn’t in the forecast … well, that’s where the RainStream tower is designed to come in. Sources: New Atlas, Wildfire Innovations Manufactured by Canadian company Wildfire Innovations Inc, the device takes the form of a telescoping steel tower that lies on its side (and shortened down) on an integrated trailer when not in use. It can be towed to the point of deployment – such as the outskirts of a town near a forest fire – by a 1-ton pickup truck. Upon reaching that destination, the trailer’s four stabilizing legs are extended, the tower pivots on the trailer to stand vertically, then it extends to its full height of 100 ft (30.5 m). Its ground crew proceed to run a hose from its diesel-powered pump to a fire hydrant, lake, river or other source of water. Once the pump is started up, the RainStream starts spraying water out of its rotary-lawn-sprinkler-like “rain head” at the top of the tower. That head can be set to rotate 360 degrees as it sprays, or to spray in just one direction. In either case, the water forms a fire-thwarting mist that drifts down to wet and cool the trees and buildings over an area of 8 to 20 acres (3.25 to 8 hectares) depending on the prevailing winds. Set-up reportedly takes a little under 40 minutes with a two-person crew, or half that with four people. One tankful of diesel should be good for up to 40 hours of runtime. And needless to say, more than one tower can be deployed per fire. “The normal operating procedure is to position a RainStream fleet upwind of communities or critical infrastructure to create a ‘Wall of Water’ and provide a protective mist,” Wildfire Innovations CEO Rolf Wenzel tells us. “However, it can be placed in any location at any time to support firefighting efforts.” Wenzel adds that the company is starting production of the towers this year, for delivery to clients next spring (Northern Hemisphere). A permanent version of the RainStream tower is also in the works. It can be installed at locations such as wilderness lodges, oil refineries or ecologically sensitive areas, and remotely activated if necessary.

Every fourth seedling planted in Sweden comes from SCA’s tree nurseries. And to get seedlings, you need seeds – lots of seeds. SCA has several fully owned and part-owned seed cultures around Sweden, from which cones are harvested each year. Source: Timberbiz “Our business year begins with cone picking,” said Ove Einberg, at NorrPlant and responsible for SCA’s seed cultures. “Only the best possible seed is good enough,” is written in a SCA brochure from 1958, which describes the SCA’s pine seed cultures at that time. It’s a slogan that still holds true today. “That’s right. If we are to produce seedlings of good quality and high growth rate, we need the best possible seed material adapted to different regional growing conditions. This is why we have seed cultures in various locations across both northern and southern Sweden for spruce, pine, and lodgepole pine,” Mr Einberg said. To produce half a kilo of seeds, you need about 100 litres of cones. Each year, NorrPlant collects around 100,000 litres of cones to meet SCA’s annual seedling production of approximately 110 million seedlings. “The pine and lodgepole pine cultures often yield good harvests every year. Spruce, however, is a bit more challenging because it doesn’t bloom as frequently. But in those years it does bloom, we can get a lot of seeds. We can freeze seeds and keep them in stock, and we also purchase some seeds,” Mr Einberg said. One of SCA’s pine seed culture is called Skeppsholmen and is located next to Sundsvall-Timrå Airport. On the 12-hectare area, there are approximately 3,800 pines in long rows, but they don’t quite look like the pines you see in the forest. “They are more shrub-like because we top and prune the trees regularly to make picking easier and to promote the growth of cones,” Mr Einberg explains. “These trees are also not real trees but so-called grafts.” Producing the right seeds and the right trees is an art in itself, where grafting plays a central role. Today’s tree breeding dates back to the 1940s when researchers realized that forestry had much to learn from agriculture, which had been working on breeding for thousands of years to increase growth and quality of various crops. It started with selecting the very best trees. Then, seedlings were raised from their seeds and the offspring were planted in test areas to monitor how they were coping. The test areas have different conditions regarding climate and other factors. Some trees thrive better in one environment but worse in another. “To get many specimens of the selected trees, they are grafted onto ‘ordinary seedlings,’ just as you do when grafting apple trees. They are then placed in seed cultures. When the grafts grow into trees and start to bloom, they naturally cross-pollinate with each other, although there is also some background pollination from the surrounding forest,” said Anders Tolblad, group leader for seeds and sowing at NorrPlant. It takes about 20 years to produce one generation of seeds, from the selection of parent trees until seeds are available. “Today, we can offer seeds from third-generation seed cultures, which means that these seedlings produce forests that grow 25 percent better than non-bred trees. Last year, we established our first seed orchard for fourth-generation seeds,” Mr Tolblad said. Managing seed orchards takes more time than you might think. “Pruning and topping the trees takes time. Then we clear away brush and other vegetation around all the trees and monitor the vole protection along the trunks. We also need to ensure that the fences around the orchards keep out hungry moose,” Mr Eiberg said. All seed and plant breeding are conducted under strict controls. The main responsibility lies with Skogforsk, the forestry research institute, which guides everyone with seed cultures and tree nurseries. “Quality is incredibly important when it comes to seeds. We always send cone samples to Skogforsk before we start picking. Each seed culture also has its own registration and pedigree letter to keep track of the seed’s origin. Every harvest must also be registered and approved by the Swedish Forest Agency before the seeds can be used for sowing. There are also various plant samples,” Mr Einberg said. “It’s quite fascinating with the time perspective because the cones and seeds we collect now will produce trees that will be harvested in 80 to 100 years.”

What do paper towels, tribal leaders collaborating with engineering students, a board game, and one million acres of forest managed by a community-based non-profit have in common? They are all winners of a 2024 FSC Leadership Award. Source: Timberbiz The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is proud to recognize how this year’s winners demonstrate advancement in sustainable forest management and forest conservation for organizational success. “These remarkable organizations are leading the charge from forest stewardship to final product, inspiring us all with their commitment to responsible forest management. Their work sets a powerful example for sustainable practices across the entire supply chain, paving the way for a future where forests and the people who depend on them thrive for generations to come,” said Sarah Billig, FSC US President. The 2024 FSC Leadership Award Winners: Elk Creek Forest Products for being the largest and longest-standing supplier of FSC-certified Douglas Fir construction materials in the Pacific Northwest. Green Diamond Resource Company – California Timberlands for producing over 1-billion board feet of FSC certified logs since obtaining certification in 2013 on 440,662 acres of predominately Redwood and Douglas-fir forests in California. Kruger Products Inc. for Bonterra household paper products, made in Canada with 100% FSC-certified recycled paper and wrapped in recyclable, plastic-free paper packaging. Life in Reterra by Hasbro, Inc. board game, which incorporates strong sustainability themes and artwork that are relatable and resonate with both parents and children. All paper and wood used in Life in Reterra are FSC-certified. Menominee Tribal Enterprises and the Milwaukee School of Engineering for collaborating on The Giving Forest Game, a video game that teaches players about sustainable forestry. It can be downloaded by scanning the QR code at www.mtewood.com on the home page. Model No. furniture company for their regenerative manufacturing processes, uses only FSC-certified or reclaimed hardwoods, and non-toxic materials in all of their products. The Ross Foundation, an Arkansas charitable trust that supports philanthropic programs by revenue generated from its timberland. Established in 1966, they have given over $22m through their grants program. Villanti Printers, FSC-certified in 2005, became the first certified printer in Vermont and the ninth in North America. Villanti has one of Vermont’s largest solar arrays and recycles over 175 tons of material annually. Westwind Forest Stewardship, Inc., a not-for-profit forest management company governed by a community-based Board of Directors, including Indigenous, and FSC-certified in 2002. The French-Severn Forest was the first forest on Crown land in Ontario to be certified. In addition, the following building projects were awarded a 2024 FSC Leadership Award: Centennial College, DIALOG, Smoke Architecture, and EllisDon for 100% FSC-certified mass timber in the A-Building Expansion Project at Centennial College, a 133,000 square foot, LEED Gold, WELL-certified higher education building in Scarborough, Ontario. Muhlenberg College, Re:Vision Architecture, and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation. Achieving Living Future Core Green Building Certification, 98% of wood products are FSC-certified or were intentionally harvested and reused onsite in the first new building project on the Muhlenberg campus since 2006. West Penn Energy Fund, Moshier Studio, and Inscale Architects for Six&Kane, a renovation of a 100+year old vacant building in Kane, PA. The interior of the building features 100% locally sourced and milled FSC-certified hardwood maple flooring, trim, stairs, handrails, and customized cabinetry. Six&Kane earned Passive House EnerPHit Plus.

The University of Melbourne recently hosted the International Conference on Decarbonising the Building Industry, bringing together global leaders, researchers and industry professionals, including leaders in forestry, timber production and sustainability. Source: Timberbiz A standout session of the conference was the panel discussion on “How to Maximise the Use of Australian Forest Resources to Decarbonise the Building Industry.” Moderated by Dr. Bill Leggate from the Department of Primary Industries, the session explored the pivotal role of Australia’s unique and sustainably managed forests in providing timber – a strong, versatile, cost-effective, and carbon-negative building material – to support housing and construction industries in addressing climate challenges. “Australian forests are not only unique in their biodiversity but also hold the key to achieving significant carbon reductions in our built environment,” Dr Leggate said in his opening remarks. “Our panel today is an incredible lineup of experts who will delve into the innovative ways we can leverage forest resources sustainably.” Shona Heading from HQ Plantations emphasised the importance of sustainable forest management as the foundation of a low-carbon construction industry. “When forests are responsibly managed, we can achieve a balance that supports biodiversity, produces high-quality timber, and sequesters carbon,” Ms Heading said. “The first step in decarbonising the building industry is ensuring our forests continue to be well-managed for generations to come.” Katie Fowden from the Hyne Group highlighted the role of engineered wood products in replacing emissions-intensive materials like steel and concrete. “Engineered timber products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) are game-changers. They not only reduce embodied carbon but also enable faster and more efficient construction processes,” Ms Fowden said. “This was further supported during the recent visit of His Majesty, King Charles III to the XLam supplied Cowper Street Development in Sydney. The King, through the Kings Trust Australia, very much focuses on environmental credentials.” Ms Fowden urged the construction industry to prioritise homegrown, certified timber products to amplify environmental and economic benefits. Professor Tripti Singh from the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life focused on the importance of advancing timber durability and Circularity to increase its adoption in large-scale projects. She highlighted how circularity principles, such as designing for reuse, recycling, and minimising waste, can significantly extend the lifecycle of timber products, “Investing in research and innovation to enhance the longevity of timber structures is crucial,” Ms Singh said. “When we ensure that timber products are durable and adaptable to Australia’s climate conditions, we not only make them a more attractive option for construction on every scale but also align with sustainable practices by reducing environmental impact and supporting a circular economy.” Chris McEvoy of Radial Timbers offered a perspective on timber’s versatility. “Australian forests provide us with hardwoods and softwoods that meet a wide range of construction needs,” he said. “From structural beams to flooring and cladding, our timber products are adaptable to the modern architect’s vision while helping reduce carbon footprints.” Matt de Jongh from Responsible Wood underscored the importance of certification in ensuring that timber is sourced sustainably and responsibly. “Certification is not just a label; it’s a commitment to protecting our forests while supporting a sustainable timber industry,” Mr de Jongh said. “It gives architects, builders, and consumers’ confidence that the materials they’re using contribute positively to the environment.” He also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration across the supply chain to address challenges such as embodied carbon measurement and consumer awareness. “Our industry has a tremendous opportunity to lead in sustainability, but it requires all of us – forest managers, manufacturers, researchers, and policymakers to work together.” Rhianna Robinson from the Department of Primary Industries, who played a key role in organising the session, reflected on the importance of the conference in bringing experts together. “This session showcased the best of what Australian forestry and timber sectors have to offer,” she said. “The insights from the panellists demonstrated we have the capability, skills and the products to significantly decarbonise the building industry today.” The panel concluded with a resounding call to action: to unlock the full potential of Australian forest resources while maintaining a steadfast commitment to sustainability. “Australia has the resources and expertise, to support decarbonisation in the building sector,” Dr Leggate said in closing. “If we continue to innovate, collaborate, and champion sustainable practices, our forests can continue to supply strong, versatile, cost effective and carbon negative timber to manufacture residential and commercial buildings.” This session illuminated the vital connection between Australia’s sustainably managed forests and the urgent need to reduce the building industry’s carbon footprint. It also underscored the potential of timber as a cornerstone for sustainable construction, paving the way for a greener, more resilient future.

Registration is open and delegates from around the world are invited to Brisbane, Australia to attend the 2025 World Conference on Timber Engineering, June 22 – 26. Source: Timberbiz WCTE is the world’s premier scientific dissemination forum for presenting and discussing the latest technical and architectural developments and innovations in timber engineering and construction. The scope covers research, education, and practice topics from all over the world. There is a rise in engineering and architectural firms, developers and investors, now emphasizing timber engineering as a preferred solution for many projects, providing further relevance and importance to the research carried out by the timber design and construction community. A number of exemplar buildings and structures are located within Brisbane, providing an ideal opportunity for site visits as part of WCTE 2025; whilst some stunning examples of modern timber buildings can also be seen in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. More information at https://www.wcte2025.org/event/df0d5655-c16d-47df-b4a6-457a7dc63d96/summary

Deakin University’s Truckwise Roadshow will receive crucial funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Australian Government. Source: Timberbiz The Roadshow will provide invaluable heavy vehicle education for young drivers. Project lead and Deakin University Head of the School of Engineering and Director of the CADET Virtual Reality lab Professor Ben Horan said. “The Roadshow aims to increase awareness of safety around heavy vehicles through virtual reality experiences where young drivers can learn to interact in ways not achievable in the real-world,” he said. A continuation of an earlier program that started in 2022, the project will be delivered over the next two years. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM said Deakin University is one of 16 grantees that will receive funding as part of a $3.9 million investment towards HVSI projects. “The delivery of Deakin University’s project will contribute towards making Australia’s roads safer for all users,” said Mr Petroccitto. “Each project is designed to improve heavy vehicle safety, such as heavy vehicle driver education training technologies, first aid safety training, and recruitment campaigns to entice young people into a career in trucking.” For more information visit www.nhvr.gov.au/hvsi

Two research projects supported by Growers Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) members have been selected among eight projects to receive funding through Australian Forest and Wood Innovations’ (AFWI) inaugural $5 million National Open Call for research. Source: Timberbiz Funded through cash and in-kind investments, both projects seek to improve the resilience and adaptability of Australian plantations, and to support growers in maintaining and increasing plantation productivity in the face of changing climate and weather conditions. These projects are: Developing more productive plantation trees better adapted to changing environments, through Tree Breeding Australia. Enhancing fire resilience in Australian plantations, through The University of Melbourne. The GRAC represents Australian forest growers and managers and is managed by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) in its role as an Industry Services Company. The following growers have committed voluntary funding through FWPA’s Grower Collaborative Commitment (GCC) process. Their significant financial contributions support research projects expected to deliver high value for grower members and the wider forestry and wood products industry.

Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS) announced it proposes to take further action to stabilise and strengthen the company, by simplifying operations at Kinleith Mill in New Zealand, its largest facility that manufactures pulp and paper. Source: Timberbiz “After extensive work and considering a variety of options, we are proposing to simplify Kinleith Mill’s operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing loss-making paper production. Therefore, we are consulting on a plan to permanently shut the Kinleith PM6 paper machine and move to a paper import model for our packaging operations,” Chief Executive Officer Dr Jon Ryder said. “Manufacturing paper has become unprofitable. Paper production at Kinleith Mill has suffered significant losses for several years and we see no prospect of the situation improving. “Due to the complexities of operational changes required at the mill for this proposal, the exact number of potential job losses is unknown at this stage. However, we anticipate approximately 230 roles may be affected. The wider impacts will become clearer as we work through the consultation period, through to final decision and into next year. “This proposal takes into account our ability to continue to serve our customers with as little disruption as possible. We propose to continue producing paper at Kinleith Mill through to the end of June 2025, to ensure we meet our packaging customer obligations and provide a smooth transition to new paper supply arrangements. “Under this proposal, there would be no change to the wastepaper collection service provided by OjiFS Fullcircle, which will continue to collect, sort and bale wastepaper throughout New Zealand for recycling. “This is a difficult change to propose because of the impact on our hard-working team. We acknowledge the history and importance of Kinleith Mill in the local community and region and have made every effort to ensure we continue operating at the site. “Our need for change is in no way a reflection of the experience, skills, and dedication of all the team and leadership at Kinleith Mill. “We will now enter a consultation period with employees at Kinleith Mill, through to early January, to see if there is an alternative we have not yet considered. We anticipate announcing a decision by end of January 2025.” This comes only weeks after Oji Fibre announced the closure of its Penrose recycling plant with the loss of 75 jobs. Workers at Oji Fibre Solutions’ Kinleith mill in Tokoroa were hugely disappointed to learn about the company proposal to end paper manufacturing, which would result in the loss of 230 jobs. The workers, who are members of E tū, FIRST Union, and AWUNZ, were told about the proposal in a meeting. Head delegate Ian Farall said the proposal demonstrates the failures of the company. “I think it’s been a long time in the making, but the company has known it was going to get to this point, and have mismanaged the whole process,” Mr Farall said. “We’re all very disappointed by their inability to turn it around. They can’t control what the market does, but they could have been much better prepared for this point in the cycle. “There have been many problems at the mill, they have not kept up with maintenance, and they have not made the right investments to secure a future for paper production. Union members had a near-unanimous vote of no-confidence in the management and many chose to simply walk out. “It’s not just the directly impacted workers who are angry. We’re in unity here, and we know the downstream effects will harm the whole community. It’s the truck drivers, the local cafes and other businesses – many people locally rely on the mill as the heartbeat of south Waikato,” Mr Farall said. E tū Negotiation Specialist, Joe Gallagher, has been meeting with the members and management and called on the company to do better by their workers. “Oji have got themselves into this situation, and they can’t just hang the workers out to dry,” Mr Gallagher said. “We don’t believe the company has done everything they can to avoid this outcome. It’s a hell of a thing to tell people with Christmas just around the corner, and we need a longer period of consultation to really understand the potential alternatives to stopping paper production completely.” Mr Gallagher said that the Government must also step up to support domestic manufacturing. “The crisis in manufacturing is not simply about unstoppable global market forces. It’s the result of an ineffective energy market, a lack of planning for a just transition, and a Government asleep at the wheel,” he said. “We will not become a high-skill, high-wage economy while our political leadership continues with such a hands-off approach to our industries. Kinleith is not the first plant to be in this position recently and it may not be the last. “Now’s the time for both businesses and the Government to get real about the crisis before us and work to reverse it. That’s the leadership communities like Tokoroa deserve.”

The Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) has welcomed news that TasPorts will construct a new ship loader at Bell Bay – assisting the transport of goods to expanding overseas markets from our sustainable forestry industry. Source: Timberbiz Speaking at the announcement of the new ship loader, TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said the new ship loader was long overdue at Bell Bay. “The provision of essential public infrastructure such as road, rail and wharf access are key for the continued viability of the forest industry,” Mr Steel said. “For years, the TFPA has been pushing for the construction of the new loader. In fact, we started lobbying for its construction as part of our 2021 State Budget submission. “Forestry relies on the State’s main ports, as they are essential in receiving and sending forest and wood products to interstate and overseas markets. “There is huge demand for Tasmania’s sustainable and responsibly sourced forest products, including our wood chips,” Mr Steel said. “Tasmanian wood chips are essential in the production of cardboard and paper that we need and use every day. Wood chips are also vital for the creation of new energy sources – such as biomass. “This new ship loader will open bigger and more markets to our Tasmanian businesses, address our industry’s need for greater efficiency and biosecurity, and reinforce the port’s role in the state’s export economy. “The TFPA congratulates TasPorts and the Tasmanian Government for committing to this vitally important piece of infrastructure, which will support the sustainable Tasmanian forestry industry, the state’s communities, and the greater Tasmanian economy.”