WPC’s offer wood treatment industry opportunity
As well as a pretty positive picture being painted on the expected growth of traditional treated wood products, alternate products are increasingly making themselves known in the marketplace. Wood Plastic Composites (WPC’s) are making significant inroads into traditional treated wood products. “They’re now a commercial reality but offer wood treatment operations the ability to diversify their manufacturing operations. WPC’s are low capital, flexible and highly automated manufacturing operations that can complement other traditional wood treatment and processing operations” says Brent Apthorp, FIEA Director. The WPC industry was valued at US$2.1 billion industry in 2010. Furthermore, growth has been around 15% compounded each year over the past five years. North America dominates WPC production at the moment – but this is quickly changing. It currently accounts for around two-thirds of world-wide production. Decking and fencing markets typify the recent growth of WPC’s. The US decking market, valued at US$6.2 billion is expected to rise 2.7% per year through to 2014. Wood decking over this time is expected to rise less than 1 % annually while alternative decking materials, such as WPC and plastic or vinyl lumber, are expected to show double-digit demand gains. The US$6 billion fencing market is a similar story. 2010 figures show vinyl and WPC’s already hold a 25% share of the US fencing and railing market. Traditional wood markets such as concrete formwork, container floors and facing panels are also reportedly losing to these alternate products. China, as expected, is the other major producer of wood composite products. From just 80,000 tonnes produced in 2006, over 300,000 tonnes of WPC’s were produced in 2010 and growth of over 30% per year from this point is projected. Over 100 WPC production lines are operating, more than 500 patents have been awarded and more than 20 Universities in China are currently doing WPC research. Australian and New Zealand WPC sales are still small by comparison but expected to double in the next two years. In a recent article on wood substitutes, it was estimated that 8% of all local authorities across Australia are using WPC’s. One source estimated that demand could increase at 50% annually. One of Australasia’s largest recyclers of plastic into plastic wood (22 tonnes every week), Adelaide based Advanced Plastic Recycling, will be presenting at Wood Preservation 2012. They will outline opportunities that exist for production of plastic wood for outdoor products such as park tables, benches, decking and fences. Wood Preservation 2012 will be the sixth in this series of technology updates. It runs in Rotorua on 16-17 May and again in Melbourne on 23-24 May. Full details including the programmes for this latest technology series can be downloaded from the event website, www.woodpreservationevents.com | ||
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