Forest Products Industry

Australian door manufacture Specialty Doors has launched two new product-based businesses Specialty Commercial and Specialty Acoustics. Specialty Commercial is focused on timber profiling and custom componentry, while Specialty Acoustics offers a range of acoustic products. Director Marcus Bastiaan said the new product businesses were an answer to sustained enquiry and a chance to expand The Specialty Groups product range. “The new companies give us the chance to broaden our existing product range. We have found a growing demand from existing customers for quality timber componentry and a renewed focus on acoustic performance from the Australian and New Zealand building industries.” Specialty Commercial is focused on production and supply to primarily the Queensland and New South Wales market. The company is currently operating from Brisbane and supplies resellers to order. Marcus Bastiaan said the company will embark on an instore range of timber componentry products in the New Year. “This is the first time we have offered resellers stock lines. First to market will be a range of entry door handles made from recycled Australian Hardwoods.” The company’s focus on sustainable sourced and recycled timber has been an opportunity to showcase Australia’s world class forestry standards. Marcus Bastiaan believes the construction industry should be championing native forestry products, and that it’s up to manufacturers like Specialty Commercial to offer products that compete with imported species. “We have the best hardwood in our backyard, and we intend to showcase more of it. Too often when it comes to componentry the building industry gets pigeonholed into using imported species like Pine, Beech and American Oak. Our new range is price competitive and made from Australian timbers like Blackbutt, Tasmanian Oak and Spotted Gum.” Specialty Acoustics has an entirely different mission. The company is focused on providing quality acoustic products to meet growing demand in the construction industry. Through a technical and installation partnership with Acoustic Doors Australia the companies provide specification, manufacturer and installation services. Marcus Bastiaan said the business will give builders the technical and onsite support they need. “Acoustic products are highly engineered and require careful installation. The new company’s product and service offering gives site managers peace of mind and offers accountability to commercial construction companies.” Specialty Commercial and Specialty Acoustics will officially launch on Australia Day 2025. Alongside Specialty Doors, the three businesses sit within The Specialty Group.  

A tree planting taskforce will overseas the planting of millions of trees across the UK, this will strengthen collaborative work and improve tree planting to ensure the long-term survival of woodland. Source: Timberbiz A new Tree Planting Taskforce has been launched to oversee the planting of millions of trees across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Taskforce, chaired by the forestry ministers from the four nations, brought together representatives from key arm’s-length bodies and delivery partners from across the UK. Top of the agenda at the meeting was how to drive forward the UK’s tree planting in order to meet the collective net zero targets, as part of the Government’s critical mission to make the UK a clean and green energy superpower. The UK has less tree cover than almost anywhere in Europe and more work is needed to close this gap. The Taskforce is designed to strengthen collaborative working across the UK, identifying opportunities to work together, to improve tree planting and ensure the long-term survival of woodland, safeguarding their benefits for future generations. “This Government was elected on a mandate to protect and restore nature,” Forestry Minister Mary Creagh said. “That is why today I am proud to fulfil our promise to set up a Tree Planting Taskforce that will oversee the planting of millions of trees across our four nations. “Trees deliver huge social, environmental and economic benefits – from absorbing carbon dioxide, cooling our cities, improving wellbeing and helping reduce NHS costs, while a thriving forestry sector supports green jobs and drives economic growth.” Currently Scotland has delivered around 75% of all new woodlands in the UK. In 23/24 it created 15,000 ha of new woodland and this accounted for more than 50% of the UK target.  Whilst this is a substantial contribution, there is potential to do more. The announcement comes after a commitment in the Budget to provide up to £400 million in England across the next two years (2024/5 and 2025/6) for tree planting and peatland restoration. The Government has launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to ensure it meets its legal targets, including the Environment Act target of 16.5% tree cover by 2050.

Södra and Nordic Forestry Automation AB have signed a letter of intent to roll out operator support for thinning carried out under Södra’s supervision. The system will also be able to collect data for each individual tree for future planning and analysis. Source: Timberbiz Roll out and installations are scheduled to start in the second half of 2025. AI company Nordic Forestry Automation (NFA) is developing the next generation of operator support for forest machines based on sensor technology from autonomous vehicles and AI algorithms. In 2023, Södra became a shareholder in the company through Södra Ädla and has actively supported and followed the development of the system since then. “More innovation is needed in forestry and NFA shows clearly that new technologies can make a difference and be valuable for forest estates. A major advantage is the breadth of the innovation. “It gives us thinning support, while the data collected can form the basis for future planning and decisions. This is a good example of Södra joining forces to add value for forest estates,” said Magnus Petersson, Head of Contractor and Technology Development at Södra. NFA’s operator support will be installed in harvesters operated by Södra and the goal is to commence roll out and installations in the second half of 2025. “Södra has been one of our main partners in the development of our technology from the start. With good advice and clear requirements, they have helped us develop as a company. “The fact that we’ve now come so far that we can set a launch date for our first product is an important milestone for the company and proof that we are well on our way to realising our vision of helping machine operators do a good job every time and create strong and vigorous forests,” said Lars Svensson, CEO Nordic Forestry Automation. The operator support provides revolutionary potential for local adaptation in the forest, making it easier to carry out forest management correctly, thus promoting growth and increased profitability, while providing valuable and effective protection for natural and cultural heritage sites. Thinning a forest involves constant decision-making for the operator about which, and how many, trees to harvest in order to best promote the various values of the forest. This is important for the long-term development of forests, but is usually done manually at present, based on the experience of the individual operator. Cloud services are also linked to the system, which means that the data collected for each individual tree can be saved for future planning and analysis. The data collected for the trees is delivered to the forest owner in a report that shows the thinned and saved trees, and that the thinning operation has been optimised according to the local growing power in the stand. The position of the saved trees is shown to the nearest centimeter. This provides greater transparency, quality assurance of the harvesting and new opportunities for forest owners to use alternative management methods. “Our collaboration with NFA is a clear example of how Södra, through Södra Ädla, can help to accelerate development and verify technology that directly benefits and creates value for forest estates. This is just the beginning, and we are looking forward to continuing to support the development of the company,” said Erik Madeyski Bengtson, Investment Manager Södra Ädla.

Logset Oy is a leading manufacturer of CTL forest machinery and a pioneer in electrification through its hybrid harvesters now the company has started the implementation of the Infor CloudSuite ERP solution, enhancing its business operations with cutting-edge, industry-specific tools for global efficiency. Source: Timberbiz The implementation and ongoing support services are provided by Midport Scandinavia Oy, an authorized Infor partner with extensive expertise in digital transformation solutions. The adoption of the Infor CloudSuite ERP solution underscores Logset’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence. Built on a scalable, cloud-based architecture powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the solution is tailored to meet the unique demands of the manufacturing industry, including streamlined processes, enhanced visibility and real-time data insights. “As a company deeply rooted in providing sustainable and reliable forestry machinery and equipment, we understand the need to stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving market. “The Infor CloudSuite ERP system equips us with the agility and efficiency required to strengthen our global operations and deliver enhanced value to our customers,” said Ron Back, CEO of Logset Oy. Midport Scandinavia Oy, known for its deep understanding of Infor solutions and dedication to seamless implementations, plays a pivotal role in ensuring successful deployment. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Logset Oy on this transformative journey,” said Jouko Hoikkala, Sales Director at Midport Scandinavia Oy. “With Infor CloudSuite, Logset now has a robust platform to optimize its operations, improve decision-making, and accelerate its global growth.” The transition to the cloud-native ERP system is set to support Logset’s expansion and sustainability goals, enabling the company to improve resource efficiency while maintaining its reputation for high-quality products and customer satisfaction.

Pinus hartweggii (pino de las alturas) from Mexico, Cumminghamia lanceolata from Taiwan, Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock) from the United States and Cupressus lusitanica strands from Kenya — these are just a few of more than 60 tree species from around the world planted on Scion’s Rotorua campus. Source: Timberbiz Together they make up the Tree Library, a living collection of exotic species representing New Zealand’s forestry history, including some now rare examples. Formation of the tree library began in the 1950s with today’s oldest trees dating back to 1962, Scion technologist Toby Stovold says. Before radiata pine dominated, tree breeders planted a range of conifers and eucalypts on Scion’s Rotorua campus and in sister trials nationwide, to assess how things grew and where. The area on campus now includes about 1000 radiata pine selections, some of the biggest Eucalyptus regnans in New Zealand, Japanese cedar acquired from Japan in the 1960s, redwoods and more. Many Rotorua dog walkers will have found themselves walking in the living library about two-thirds of it is also known as the dog park. Blocks within the living archive are sometimes harvested and replanted with different scientific trials. The area acts as a “genetic resource,” Mr Stovold says. It is a way to see species already planted in New Zealand, making seed importation faster and easier, and it is evidence of rare or strange species existing here such as Pinus ayacahuite planted in the 1960s which has large, heavy seeds, and Cupressus guadalupensis a vulnerable species endemic to Mexico where it only grows on Guadalupe Island. The archive forms a big picture to help beyond research. “If industry decided they needed to integrate a species from here into new plantings, it would play a part, but it wouldn’t be the only part. There are sister trials around New Zealand, and you might find different adaptations in different climates. “This library is also a backup for some of these species. We cannot do industry scale seed supply out of here, but we can support a species getting to that scale.” Mr Stovold says it could also prove useful in the future. For example, if climate change affects where Pinus radiata can be grown, the archive would be a point of information about other suitable species. He also sees a future where it could be a public educational resource featuring informational signs with QR codes directing people to educational content for each species. The trees on campus, alongside those in sister trials, also form a database of how species perform in various parts of New Zealand. Vaughan Kearns, secretary of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association’s cypress development group says the library is a seed and information resource including rare and imported species. “It’s an opportunity to see long rotation species in their prime and also we can see what their value is for carbon sequestration, how long they live and how healthy they stay.” He says such a comprehensive selection is not available elsewhere. Scion’s Tree Library has already been a point of call for decades and with samples from around the globe, it could be a resource for many more to come.  

The newly redeveloped Murihiku Marae in Invercargill stops visitors in their tracks with its distinctive tohorā-shaped (whale-shaped) design. At the heart of this NZ$15 million project are Techlam’s curved glulam beams, carefully positioned to echo the ribcage of a Tohorā. Source: Timberbiz The 1,442-square-metre structure stands as a model of sustainable architecture, blending cultural significance with environmental innovation. From the project’s earliest stages, Techlam worked closely with Henderson Construction and Beca engineers to bring this vision to life. The team tackled the complex challenge of integrating curved beams while meeting strict sustainability requirements and project deadlines. “Techlam is one of our major out-of-town suppliers for the project, and they have acted the same as anybody that we would have used locally, they’ve done everything we would expect them to, so thanks for being a part of the collaboration,” Project Manager Brent Henderson of Henderson Construction said. The marae’s structure features 11 curved glulam beams and internally exposed glulam roof beams and columns, creating both the visual centrepiece and structural backbone of the building. Techlam’s glulam curved beams blend strength with design possibilities. They can be shaped to almost any form, with curves ranging from 100mm to 100m radius. Architects can specify elliptical beams, tapering curves with changing radii or even beams that flow from curves into straight lines — all while maintaining structural integrity. Each curved beam for Murihiku Marae has been crafted in Techlam’s facility in Levin, delivering the sweeping curves that define the marae’s unique shape. From an aerial view, these elements come together to form the distinctive Tohorā shape, with the reception area forming the tail and the wharenui Te Rakitauneke serving as the head. The choice of Techlam’s curved glulam beams served both form and function. Comprised of renewable timber, the beams naturally reduce the building’s carbon footprint compared with traditional materials. Their precise engineering cuts down on waste, helping the project achieve an impressive 58 tonnes of carbon sequestration.

The Housing Industry Association has welcomed the Federal Coalition’s commitment to invest in supporting growth and delivery of housing across regional Australia through its $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Program. Source: Timberbiz HIA Chief Executive Industry & Policy, Simon Croft said the targeted investment towards ‘last mile’ infrastructure had the capacity to support 500,000 new homes across the country, including a targeted 30 per cent allocation for regional, rural, and remote areas. Mr Croft was speaking at a HIA Regional Housing Forum in Bendigo, where Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie, announced the plan, which, should the Coalition win government at the next election, would see substantial investment in access roads, water, sewerage, and power to support shovel-ready housing projects. “Housing forums like the one we are holding today are important. The voice of regional Australia needs to come to the fore and get a seat at the table on key decision-making processes as these communities continue to grow and expand,” Mr Croft said. “(The) announcement to allocate 30% of the proposed $5 billion dollars to the regions is a good step in addressing the critical housing shortages facing regional Australians,” Mr Croft said. “The number of Australians moving from cities to the regions continues to grow, and this trend is expected to increase in the coming years. Currently, 8.5 million Australians or one third of the population are now living in regional Australia. “Unfortunately, the housing shortages being witnessed in capital cities are even worse across nearly every regional town in Australia. “Three key factors, hampering the delivery of more housing in regional Australia is access to shovel (build) ready land, investment in necessary enabling infrastructure for new housing estates and staff shortages in regional councils to process planning approvals,” he said. “Therefore, HIA welcomes well targeted policies that aim to boost supply and ease housing pressures by tackling construction costs and roadblocks to delivering more homes for Australians. “Practical measures such as those announced today to unlock housing supply and get projects shovel ready sooner are critical to ensuring the residential building industry can meet increased demand and support greater housing delivery across the country.”

WA’s sustainable forest industries released a milestone Forestry Safety Code, with businesses embracing an innovative and safer future.  Source: Timberbiz The Forest Industries Federation WA (FIFWA) Forestry Safety Code provides a critically important guide on workplace health and safety in forestry operations, highlighting potential hazards and providing direction on risk assessment and control measures. It was co-funded by the Forest Products Commission (FPC). FIFWA President Ian Telfer and FPC Commissioner Simon Byrne officially launched the FIFWA Forestry Safety Code in Bunbury, along with industry representatives including FIFWA Chief Executive Officer Adele Farina. Mr Telfer said the Code was the first of its kind in WA, encompassing all aspects of the forest industry, including plantation establishment, maintenance, harvesting operations, loading, chemical handling, fire management and in-field chipping operations. “The safety of everyone working in the forest industry is a top priority for FIFWA and its members,” Mr Telfer said. The new Code aligns with the Work, Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) and replaces the previous Logging Safety Code 2016, which was focused on harvesting operations only. Commissioner Byrne said the FPC was delighted to see the increasing focus on safety within industry. “We embrace the view that safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we are committed to continuing to build a robust health and safety culture,” Commissioner Byrne said. “FPC firmly supports this new guidance for the forestry industry.” FIFWA engaged the services of PF Olsen to develop the new Safety Code, overseen by a steering committee chaired by Bernie Dawson, and including representatives from all sectors of industry and WorkSafe WA. Mr Telfer said months of hard work had gone into working with and seeking feedback from various groups and businesses within industry, to ensure that the Code was widely applicable. He said the completed FIFWA Safety Code was relevant to all main operations within forestry in WA and was a significant step forward for industry. “The FIFWA Safety Code is the result of successful industry collaboration and engagement and is a significant body of work,” Mr Telfer said. “The Code is specific to our forestry operations here in WA and will make for a safer industry, with a sensible and practical approach. “This is something our industry wanted and pushed for, and they should be congratulated for being innovators in health and safety.” FPC General Manager Stuart West also congratulated FIFWA on the new Safety Code. “The result is a positive step forward for our industry, and FPC is proud to have co-funded this important initiative,” Mr West said.

A technical challenge presented by New Zealand’s premium glulam manufacturer, Techlam, has led to an exciting partnership with Scion, fostering a unique international collaboration. Source: Timberbiz In response to Techlam’s request for expertise, Scion proposed an innovative solution: inviting Jean Margerie, a student from France’s prestigious engineering school École nationale supérieure d’Arts et Métiers (ENSAM), to join the project on a six-month joint internship. Henri Baillères, Scion’s General Manager of Forests to Timber Products, explains that while Scion has long collaborated with the Levin-based company, this new partnership bridges industry and research, combining expertise and knowledge. “When Techlam approached us for support, we saw an opportunity to meet their challenge with an innovative, mutually beneficial solution,” he says. “For Techlam, it provided access to advanced equipment and research expertise that allowed them to expand their project scope and gain valuable insights into their processes. For Scion, this collaboration offered a direct link to industry, enabling us to apply our research in real-world settings and gain practical feedback to drive product innovation.” After travelling over 20,000 km to New Zealand, Mr Margerie joined Scion in February 2024 to support Techlam’s efforts in improving quality control for glulam beams. He split his time between research at Scion and hands-on work at Techlam. “Partnerships like this are central to Scion’s mandate and strategic approach, fostering cross-sector collaborations to advance forestry research, drive innovation, and promote sustainable forestry practices,” Mr Baillères said. Since its establishment 30 years ago, Techlam has grown from a small operation to a 50+ person company, supplying radiata pine glulam beams across New Zealand, South Pacific, and globally. Managing Director Brett Hamilton describes the partnership with Scion and ENSAM as “transformative.” “Jean tackled our most pressing challenges and contributed to research and development, driving improvements in both product quality and innovation in glulam manufacturing,” he said. Mr Hamilton highlights ENSAM’s status as a prestigious engineering institution known for producing high-calibre students. “The advanced, industry-focused training at ENSAM emphasises practical problem-solving and project leadership, not just theoretical knowledge. This approach has allowed Jean to apply his expertise directly to our processes, achieving impressive results,” he said. For Mr Magerie, the internship was the final piece in completing his studies in engineering. He says his first impressions were overwhelming, but the support from Scion, Techlam, and ENSAM was the key to his success. The internship had three distinct phases. First, a new testing device was implemented on the production line to measure a beam’s stiffness without damaging it, enhancing quality control. The second phase involved two months in Techlam’s factory focused on improving product consistency. Finally, back at Scion, research explored creating hybrid beams with exotic and carbon fibres, aiming for innovative beams compatible with Techlam’s existing processes. Although only a proof of concept was developed, it set the stage for future advancements. Reflecting on the experience, Mr Margerie says it was a unique way to do an internship and a great way to shape his career. “Working in both industry and research has been invaluable, giving me insight into the challenges and opportunities in each field. This experience has shaped my perspective and strengthened my career path in engineering.” Mr Margerie is not the first engineering student from ENSAM to intern at Scion, following in the footsteps of Scion Wood Process Engineer, Romain Meot. Joining Scion in 2023, he played a pivotal role in establishing this successful partnership, serving as Mr Margerie’s mentor and a vital link between Scion and Techlam. “The main advantage for students here is access to experts in many fields. They can reach out to specialists to solve technical problems, giving them well-rounded support.” Techlam Quality Control Manager, Dave Hollows, who mentored Mr Magerie during his time with the company, notes the significant impact of Mr Margerie’s fresh perspective. “Jean collaborated closely with Techlam and Scion to drive the development of innovative, sustainable building materials, and his insights have brought immense value to our team,” Mr Hollows said. “On a personal level, Jean reminded me to approach challenges thoughtfully, to question assumptions, and to look at problems through a more analytical lens.” He says this shift in mindset has fundamentally changed the way we approach problem-solving across our operations. “Having someone from the outside, like Jean, allowed us to step back and reconsider practices we’ve grown accustomed to. His questions often prompted us to think differently about things we’d taken for granted,” Mr Hollows said. “In many ways, he mentored us by encouraging a broader view of situations we hadn’t fully examined before.” While Mr Margerie’s internship concluded in August, he continued his work at Techlam as an employee for three additional months and is looking towards a new position starting next year, working alongside both Scion and Techlam. This collaboration is a model Scion plans to replicate with other companies, furthering industry innovation and strengthening global connections. Mr Baillères notes the growing interest from highly skilled students at prestigious institutions in New Zealand and worldwide who are eager to join Scion for internships, bringing specialised expertise in engineering and problem-solving. “For these students to make a real impact, we need more organisations to step forward and collaborate,” Mr Baillères said. “Companies gain fresh solutions, elevate their projects, and benefit from these dynamic, solution-driven minds, ultimately helping to lift the industry standard.”

By showing the leaders of tomorrow how it is done, Forestry Australia is doing its bit to support the future of Australia’s forest management sector with a call for applications for the 2025 Mentoring Program. Source: Timberbiz CEO of Forestry Australia, Jacquie Martin, said participating in a mentoring program not only fosters personal and professional growth, enhances skills, builds confidence, expands networks, but it creates opportunities for meaningful connections and knowledge sharing in a supportive environment. Now in its fourth year, the program has matched over 180 mentors and mentees Ms Martin said the program supported the development of the next generation of leaders within the forest sector and encouraged diversity of ideas, people and skills. “The program also supports Forestry Australia’s commitment to meeting the needs of its increasingly diverse membership and reinforces the principles of lifelong learning,” Ms Martin said. “A mentoring relationship is a powerful development experience that can deliver personal and professional benefits for both mentors and mentees.” Forestry Australia’s mentoring program runs for 9 months and is designed to establish connections within the forestry sector by pairing experienced forestry professionals with those who are seeking to evolve their career. The program has been developed around a framework and tool kit of resources which will support participants to ensure effective and sustainable knowledge transfer, skill acquisition and maintaining momentum for all participants. “We encourage anyone who is interested in growing their own career or giving back to the profession to help foster the next generation to get in touch and find out how they can become involved,” Ms Martin said. Applications to participate in Forestry Australia’s 2024 Mentoring Program close Monday 3 February 2025. For more information about becoming involved as either a mentor or a mentee, visit  https://www.forestry.org.au/mentoring/