Forest Products Industry

Safeguarding the biodiversity of forest nature requires, in addition to forest protection, the promotion of practices that strengthen the state of nature in commercial forests. Metsä Group has set a goal of verifiably strengthening the state of nature by 2030. Source: Timberbiz “Forest protection and strengthening the state of nature in commercial forests support each other. It is important that the boundaries of protected areas and commercial forests become clearer than at the moment, as it also stabilizes the operating environment for wood procurement and forest ownership,” says Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group. According to the biodiversity strategy published by the European Union in 2020, the remaining primary and old-growth forests must be protected by 2030. The member states, including Finland, are committed to this objective as part of a broader goal to stop the biodiversity loss. The national criteria set for the protection of primary and old-growth forests is being prepared under the guidance of the authorities, and it is important to set the criteria quickly. The completed set of criteria is the starting point for the forest mapping work, which can be used to expand the network of protected areas on scientific grounds. It is also particularly important that the criteria cover all groups of forest owners, such as private forest owners. At the same time, property protection and adequate and fair protection funding must be ensured. Safeguarding biodiversity and forest protection initiatives are important for Finland and Finns in many ways. Stopping the biodiversity loss and strengthening the state of nature is also important for economic life, regardless of industry. Vibrant forest nature creates a strong foundation for a developing forest-based bioeconomy. “We are ready for a fair sustainability transition and strengthening the state of forest nature in our own operations. In terms of forest protection, this means a clear set of national criteria, mapping of sites to be protected and financial compensation for forest owners,” Hämälä said.

The first lumber packages were loaded in Spruce Product Limited’s (SPL) new continuous kiln from Swedish Valutecwith that has eight drying zones and a yearly capacity of approximately 60 MMBF. Source: Timberbiz “We enjoyed a truly great collaboration where we were able to work together with extremely capable employees on site,” says Andreas Lövgren, Production Manager at Valutec in charge of commissioning along with commissioning technician William Marklund. Canadian SPL, located near Swan River, Manitoba, is a manufacturer of premium lumber and wood products for the construction industry and the integrated wood products industry. Using the latest technology available, every aspect of the log is used in the product lines. SPL has been supplying products for Canadian and International markets since 1942. “Actually, there’s no difference between commissioning a kiln in Canada from one an hour away from our head office in the north of Sweden. We staff projects to provide the customer with the best solution possible and to make sure we deliver on everything we’ve agreed upon,” says Lövgren. Since introduced Valutec’s TC continuous kiln has achieved great success on the world’s sawmiling markets. It is a kiln type that comes with distinguishing features such as low energy consumption, high flexibility and superior capacity. It gives the operator the possibility to create the ultimate drying process with unlimited freedom to mix dimensions, minimal moisture content variation and reduced risk of checking. Annual capacity can reach 125 MMBF with target moisture contents down to around 12-18%. The installation of the dryer, which has a capacity of close to 60 MMBF, began last spring and was led by Valutec’s assembly manager Mattias Henriksson together with a Canadian assembly team. “Delivering to other countries and working with local assembly teams is part of our everyday lives. We have built up a great deal of experience in projects in other countries and know what it takes, from design to planning of logistics and on-site work. As long as we have capable, committed people to do the work, we achieve good results. And this was no exception to that rule,” said Henriksson. The differences that exist concern optimization issues and new opportunities created by Valutec’s drying process. “Our TC model continuous kilns represent an entirely different product compared to the existing lumber kilns on the North American market,” Henriksson said.  “What’s more, we also offer world-leading process control with our Valmatics 4.0 control system. It invites discussions on issues such as drying schedules for specific types of lumber, or managing situations where we need to optimize the energy load as other parts of the sawmill are also operating near capacity.” The TC kiln is probably the market’s most sustainable timber kiln. Constructed in stainless steel, resistant to thermal expansion and fatigue, the kiln has superior longevity and requires minimal maintenance. Studies shows that Valutec’s stainless steel TC continuous kiln emits 23 tons less CO2 per year than the correspondent kiln built in aluminum. 23 tons of CO2 is about as much as three hectares of coniferous forest absorb in a year.  

Mining activity at a nickel industrial park linked to mainly Chinese companies has contributed to mass deforestation in Indonesia, a non-governmental group said in a report. Source: Reuters The report of ecological damage in the nickel industry comes as Indonesia, home to the world’s largest nickel ore reserves, seeks to extract more value from the mineral by attracting investment into its processing and in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries. The country has also set a production target of some 600,000 electric vehicles (EV) by 2030 – more than 100 times the number of EVs sold in Indonesia in the first half of 2023. In the report, US-based Climate Rights International (CRI) documented activity at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP), one of the country’s largest nickel processing hubs, whose investors include China’s Tsingshan Holding Group and France’s Eramet. The operator of the park, on Halmahera Island in the Maluku region, is a joint venture between China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt (603799.SS), Zhenshi Holding Group and Tsingshan. IWIP, Tsingshan, Eramet, Huayou, Zhenshi and the forestry ministry did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. CRI said companies, which had permits, have cut down more than 5,300 hectares of tropical forest within the park’s concession since 2018, citing geospatial analysis of satellite imagery conducted by the group and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States. That is roughly the size of over 6,000 soccer pitches. Experts have raised concerns the nickel industry could worsen deforestation in Indonesia, a resource-rich country that is also home to massive rainforests. After years of rampant deforestation, Indonesia has had success in slowing the rate at which forests are cleared for plantations and other industrial activity. From 2020 through 2022, Indonesia reduced its average primary forest loss by 64% compared with 2015-2017, showed, opens new tab data from research group World Resources Institute. You can view the report at: https://cri.org/reports/nickel-unearthed/  

The implementation plan to assist in delivery of Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy (NBS), a collaborative, national approach to protecting Australia from exotic pests and diseases backed by all government agriculture ministers, has been released. Source: Timberbiz First Assistant Secretary for Biosecurity Strategy and Reform with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Bronwen Jaggers said the implementation plan would inform the delivery of the NBS and reinforce the shared responsibility across government, industry, and the community of biosecurity as a national priority. “The implementation plan reinforces the commitments to action all agriculture ministers made under the NBS and will allow stakeholders to better understand how the strategy will progress and roll out over its 10-year life span,” Ms Jaggers said. “Biosecurity is a shared national responsibility, and it affects all Australians. A foundational element of the NBS is to ensure we build stronger partnerships between all levels of governments, industry, and stakeholders to achieve the most robust biosecurity system for the country, and by providing a clear implementation plan, we are doing just that. “With changing trade and travel patterns and growing biosecurity risks in our region, managing biosecurity is increasingly complex, but any breach of our system could have significant consequences on Australia’s unique flora, fauna and way of life as well as our agricultural sector and access to international markets. It is important all the key players are aligned to counter biosecurity threats. “The implementation plan will assist and guide development of national action plans and monitor progress to ensure that rollout of the NBS supports a connected, resilient and shared national biosecurity system that protects Australia in the long-term.” Australia’s federal, state and territory agricultural ministers endorsed the 10-year NBS in August 2022. Significant effort into a collaborative approach to deliver the strategy has included focused engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the biosecurity system, including industry, landowners and managers, environmental groups and the community. The implementation plan has been developed in consultation with National Biosecurity Strategy Implementation Committee (NIC) and Working Group, overseen by the National Biosecurity Committee. The NIC and Working Group were established in 2023 to support the delivery of the National Implementation Plan and National Action Plan, to bring a range of commercial and technical insights to shaping and driving practical delivery of the plan. “I would like to thank the members of the NBS Implementation Committee for leading development of the implementation plan, while drawing in a wide variety of new stakeholder insights into shaping where best we can target our collective efforts. It’s a great reminder that biosecurity is a team sport, and we achieve more by working together,” Ms Jaggers said. Work to deliver the first National Action Plan, including surveys, focus groups and consultation with stakeholders with relevant expertise and interest, has also been underway. A draft of the National Action Plan, comprising an initial set of actions for implementation under the strategy is planned to be released for public consultation in early 2024. In parallel to the NBS implementation and action planning, work continues to progress on several fronts to further strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system. The National Biosecurity Strategy Implementation Plan can be accessed online at www.biosecurity.gov.au/about/national-biosecurity-committee/nbs

The City of Port Lincoln is inviting applications from community groups, private individuals and businesses interested in utilising or repurposing salvaged timber from the recently refurbished Port Lincoln Town Jetty. Source: Timberbiz “We’ve had considerable interest from community members keen to acquire some of the town jetty timber,” Port Lincoln’s Mayor Diana Mislov said. “Encouraging the reuse and repurposing of this salvaged timber not only promotes sustainability but also ensures that this valuable resource doesn’t go to waste. It can find new life and purpose in various community and individual projects. “The community is often keen to retain a piece of history, and incorporating the jetty timbers and salvage items into community art or household features will make for interesting talking points in the future – a tangible way of keeping our history alive.” The salvaged timber, which includes old decking, kerbing, girders, and various components of the old Port Lincoln Town Jetty, varies in quality and has been graded into four categories ranging from excellent to poor condition. It’s important to note that some pieces may contain metal pins, nails and bolts. Additionally, certain timber has been treated with oils, solvents, chemicals, and substances, including creosote, making it unsuitable for firewood. The salvaged timber is also not certified for structural use and must not be used in the construction of buildings. “In November 2023, the Council approved a process for the disposal of salvaged timber, offering it at no cost for eligible community projects demonstrating local community benefit and public accessibility,” said Mayor Mislov. For private individuals and businesses, the cost of the timber will be determined by its quality. Timber graded as excellent or in good condition will be available at a commercial price.  Timber suitable for domestic or creative purposes (fair condition) will be sold at market value and poor condition timber will be offered at an affordable $150 per domestic trailer load (6’x 4’). The timber can be inspected at the City of Port Lincoln’s Council Depot, 33 Bel-Air Drive, Port Lincoln, on Friday 23 February between 9am to 3pm, and Saturday 24 February, 10am to 3pm. Applications close at 12 noon on Tuesday 12 March 2024. For further details about the salvaged timber and the application process, an FAQ, and application documents are available on Council’s website at www.portlincoln.sa.gov.au/tenders from Monday 12 February 2024.

TAFE NSW apprentice carpenter Yasmin Anderson is encouraging school-leavers and job seekers to use National Apprenticeship Week as the inspiration to consider a future in a hands-on career. Source: Timberbiz National Apprenticeship Week (12-18 February) promotes the value of apprenticeships to employers, job seekers, industry, and government, and advances the role apprenticeships play in building workforce skills, knowledge, and a robust Australian economy. As the demand continues for people with the skills to work in construction, a group of young Shoalhaven women are building careers for themselves in the traditionally male-dominated building sector. TAFE NSW carpentry student Yasmin Anderson from Kangaro Valley is a second-year apprentice who thinks young people who are unsure about their career options should consider a trade. “After school I knew I didn’t want an office job, I always thought I’d go to uni, then I took a gap year and ended up doing a trade,” Ms Anderson said. “I went with carpentry because it offers so much variety, I’m pretty much doing something different on the job every day from flooring and roofing to fix-outs.” Ms Anderson, who said she’s learned a lot over the past year both at TAFE NSW and on the job. “I’ve got carpentry skills now that are second nature,” she said. I enjoy the fine work involved in fix-outs, adding those finishing touches to the job. “Doing a carpentry apprenticeship means I get to work outdoors and hands-on. I get a real sense of accomplishment when I drive past a house we’ve built. It feels good to be able to say I helped build that.” TAFE NSW Director Infrastructure, Energy and Construction Iain McNiven started his working life as an apprentice plumber and is now proud to be working in the organisation that got his career started. “As the largest provider of skills training in the country, TAFE NSW is playing a key role in helping address areas of high skills demand by training apprentices across the state. “To meet the infrastructure and housing needs of the community we need more sparkies, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, and construction managers. “I know from my own experience how valuable an apprenticeship can be in kick-starting a career. They offer the chance to earn a wage while learning and once qualified, tradies have the potential to earn above average incomes.” “Apprenticeships are a path to full-time employment and can set a person up to move into a leadership role or even to take the exciting step of running their own business,” Mr McNiven said.

New Zealand’s Government has announced ministerial delegations to support key areas across the Primary sector to deliver for New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. Sources: Timberbiz, RNZ “I will be supported in my roles as Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Hunting and Fishing, by three Associate Agriculture Ministers, Nicola Grigg (National), Andrew Hoggard (ACT), and Mark Patterson (New Zealand First), who will each have delegated areas of responsibility to provide focus and ministerial dedication. “These delegations will allow the coalition Government to focus attention on key areas of the Primary sector, providing them the resource and support they deserve. “New Zealand’s food and fibre sector makes a critically important contribution to our economy and the fabric of our rural and regional communities. “Taking our lead from the agricultural sector that continues to provide for New Zealand; our team is committed to rebuilding confidence, reducing the burden on farmers caused by unworkable central government policies, meeting farmers and their concerns at the farm gate, and working alongside industry to achieve tangible outcomes for New Zealand’s rural communities over the coming Parliamentary term, so our farmers can spend more time farming,” Mr McClay said. Just recently Mr McClay said that New Zealand and India were working together to improve trade and address market access issues for timber exports to the South Asian nation. Easing access for timber exports to India was a key talking point on McClay’s pre-Christmas trip to India, during which he spoke with India’s minister of commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal. In a 20 December statement following Mr McClay’s visit, the Indian government acknowledged the joint need to streamline trade processes, reduce barriers and promote a conducive business environment in New Delhi. “The trade minister of New Zealand appreciated the efforts made by India to sort out the issue related to [the] export of wooden logs to India,” the statement said. McClay detailed the steps both countries had taken to resolve the issue so far. “The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority prohibited ship hold methyl bromide fumigation of logs for export, which took effect on 1 January 2023. This was the fumigation method used for log exports from New Zealand to India,” McClay said. “Biosecurity New Zealand worked with India on an interim phytosanitary option for log exports from New Zealand, which allows fumigation on arrival into India. This ensures trade can continue while New Zealand and India work on other treatment options.”

Big River Group, a leading supplier of building materials and panels across ANZ, has announced a strategic rebranding initiative aimed at fortifying its market position. Source: Timberbiz John Lorente, CEO of Big River Group, said the rebranding is a proactive step to streamline operations, create unity across the business and unlock new opportunities for growth. “By aligning our local service excellence with our national scale, we aim to enhance our operational efficiencies while driving excellence and innovation in our solutions to better serve our customers, suppliers, and shareholders,” he said. With a legacy spanning over 120 years, Big River Group is positioned for future growth while remaining steadfast in its commitment to stakeholders. “We understand the importance of clarity and consistency in how we represent ourselves to the market,” Mr Lorente said. “Our rebranding effort signifies more than just a visual transformation; it leverages our extensive experience and service autonomy across the group, empowering the company to adapt swiftly to evolving market dynamics while maintaining a steadfast focus on customer satisfaction. By consolidating our resources and expertise under a cohesive brand identity, Big River Group is poised to capitalise on synergies and drive sustained growth in the years to come. “There is a need to be representing ourselves as one Big River team showcasing our capability for our customers and suppliers.  Our mission, ‘Committed to doing good business with good people to build better projects,’ serves as a testament to our commitment to operating as one team, delivering exceptional value and product solutions to the market,” he said. Key highlights of the rebranding initiative: Brand Architecture: Big River Group’s brand structure will adopt a hybrid approach featuring five key brands: Big River Group as the Masterbrand, with Big River Commercial and Big River Trade Centre as sub-brands, and Timberwood Panels and Plytech Panels as endorsed brands. Unified Values: The rebranding initiative will align all Big River Group brands under shared common values, ensuring consistency in delivering exceptional products and services. This unified approach will reinforce the company’s dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. Visual Identity: The rebrand encompasses a new logo, website design, and name changes to existing brands, maintaining visual coherence to the Masterbrand, while reflecting the company’s renewed focus on synergy and cohesiveness. As Big River Group embarks on this journey, daily operations will not be affected, its wide product range, services and exceptional team remain unaffected, ensuring a seamless transition for customers and stakeholders. Big River Group remains committed to delivering innovative products and services without interruption. The phased roll-out of the rebranding initiative will commence with the introduction of the new logo, followed by subsequent brand assets throughout the year.  

Aurecon has committed $200,000 in funding and in-kind support as a Principal Partner of the $16.5 million ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment, administered by the University of Queensland. Source: Timberbiz The aim of the hub is to develop the resources, enablers, and drivers to advance timber, as a natural resource, to be the material of choice, leading towards a net zero future for Australia’s built environment. Aurecon is involved in various nodes including Performance of Building Components, Manufacturing Innovation, Towards a Low Carbon and Circular Economy and Building Performance for Occupants. Aurecon’s Major Project Director, Ralph Belperio, who is on the Hub’s Executive Board and Hub Partner Investigator, said that Aurecon has identified that timber has a key role to play in decreasing both embodied and operational carbon as we move towards a net-zero future. “Several of the research nodes that the Hub is tackling are directly relevant to the decarbonisation pursuits of many of our key clients,” Mr Belperio said. “We have assembled a team of our most eminent practitioners to focus on each of the relevant nodes that can help guide the research strategies to ensure that the outcomes remain industry focussed and meet the needs of the broader construction community. “Our significant investment is key to our desire to remain at the forefront of innovation, both in the efficient and effective use of timber in our efforts to decarbonise the built environment, and in our broader drive for more sustainable outcomes”. Aurecon has an enviable track record of designing and delivering mass engineered timber structures, including Murdoch University’s Boola Katitjin, which won the 2023 Engineers Australia Project of the Year; 25 King St, which is Australia’s tallest mass-engineered timber commercial building; and Gaia, one of the largest mass-engineered timber buildings in Asia. Aurecon also contributes to mass-engineered timber advocacy as a partner of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership Coalition on Greening Construction with Sustainable Wood and the Materials Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance. The research support for the ARC Advance Timber Hub is just one of a number of research and development commitments that Aurecon is currently undertaking, including the development of sustainable alternatives for sand in shotcrete, improving design through AI-assisted stakeholder engagements, and reducing wastage through a circular economy approach to building retrofits.

  Effective collaboration across the timber industry and learning the lessons from past fire salvage efforts have been highlighted as key factors underpinning the success of the record salvage program in the Tumut and Tumbarumba regions following the Black Summer fires in a report commissioned by Forestry Corporation of NSW. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Corporation’s Sales and Procurement Manager Peter Stiles said the report summarised the challenges, successes and lessons from the timber salvage program and was being shared with the industry to inform future fire recovery. “The Black Summer fires were devastating for the local community and the region’s softwood timber industry was severely impacted, with about 50 per cent of the pine plantations in the south west slopes burnt,” Mr Stiles said. “Unlike many native species, pine trees die when they are burnt, but the industry was able to mobilise quickly and in numbers against the backdrop of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic to salvage a remarkable 2.7 million tonnes of timber in the two years following the fire. “This was the biggest ever salvage effort in this country’s history and there is a lot to be proud of in what the industry achieved. The salvage program kept the lights on for our local processors immediately following the fires and created a boom in harvest and haulage work across the region, but importantly, it also maintained a quality supply of essential structural lumber and packaging products to the broader industry at a time of high demand. “The lessons from past fires underpinned the success of this salvage program, so while we hope fires like this will never be experienced again, it is important for us to share the lessons from the Black Summer salvage with the industry for the future.” Report author Damien O’Reilly from Mayday Hill Consulting said the review made it clear that collaboration across the timber supply chain was a key to the salvage program’s success. “Forestry Corporation of NSW is a plantation manager that engages contractors to harvest timber and supply it to third party processors and close collaboration across the supply chain and with local and interstate forest growers was an essential ingredient in the salvage program’s success,” Mr O’Reilly said. “The timber industry as a whole shares the objective of maintaining a sustainable supply of timber not just for today but also for the future, so the industry worked to balance immediate and long-term timber needs in the decisions that were made following the fires. “The salvage program benefited from experiences in assessing damage and managing the processing of burnt timber that were learnt following past fires in NSW such as the Billo Road fire in 2006 and Jananee fire in 2014, as well as invaluable advice and support from the industry across Victoria and South Australia, and through Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA). “This salvage program demonstrated the effectiveness of remote sensing technology and estate modelling in prioritising salvage operations, and informing processors, contractors and the community about the medium and long-term impacts on the resource.” There was also significant investigation into log storage options under water or sprinklers, including a trial that provided useful lessons should long-term storage of burnt timber be required following fires in future. Overwhelmingly, the report found collaboration with customers and contractors was a fundamental reason underpinning the success of the program. Flexibility from customers, coordination of contractor capacity and engaging with other growers enabled the industry to both maximise the salvage of burnt timber and minimise the harvesting of unburnt timber to allow it to grow on to deliver timber in future years. The report is specifically focused on the salvage of softwood timber from the Tumut and Tumbarumba regions and has been published on the Forestry Corporation website to assist the timber industry. Several inquiries and inquests have looked into the 2019-20 fires and Forestry Corporation continues to work with the NSW Rural Fire Service and other government agencies to implement improvements recommended by those inquiries.