Friday Offcuts – 13 December 2013
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! It appears that the New Zealand Government has finally started to look a little more closely at the country’s poorly performing emissions trading scheme. After stalled climate change negotiations in Warsaw the Government announced late last week that from 2015 the country’s ETS won’t be able to trade certain international Kyoto units (see story this week).Up until June 2015 Certified Emission Reduction units (CERs), Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) and Removal Units (RMUs) can be used but after this date, ETS participants will need to surrender New Zealand Units (NZUs) to meet their obligations. As pointed out by the NZFOA (story below), there’s still no incentive however in the Government’s current thinking for increased new planting to mitigate the effects of climate change. The change has come about through continued uncertainties within Kyoto markets, rock bottom prices for New Zealand Unit carbon prices and the lack of any new tree planting in the country. Of course, the Crown accounts for the four months ended 31 October showing the Government recorded a NZ$210 million loss from the ETS probably helped as well. In Australia this week a new Bushfire Report from the Climate Council has been released. In short (a link to the full report is supplied below) it says that climate change is driving up the risk of fire danger weather and as a consequence, the fire season is getting longer with fire weather for many regions now extending into October and March. For planning next year, our lead story this week details FIEA events scheduled for 2014 for New Zealand and Australian forest products companies. Building on a comprehensive and well supported programme in 2013, a full programme of technology related events has been set up next year. Mark the dates into your diary and please make contact with us at this early stage, if interested in being involved. Finally, for regular Friday Offcuts readers – and advertisers – next week (Friday 20 December) is going to be the last issue for the year. If you’re wanting to place an advertisement or provide comments or contributions, best you send these through early next week. Normal Offcuts services will recommence on Friday 17 January 2014. Any adverts for the first newsletter next year can of course still be placed on-line over this period if you’re working over the break.
Our Partners & SponsorsFriday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies. 
This week we have for you:
2014 technology events planning
After an incredibly busy year, the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) has developed in conjunction with a wide cross section of industry on both sides of the Tasman, an Events Planner for next year. With new programmes in 2013 for Mobile Communications for Primary Industries, the inaugural Wood EXPO 2013 series set up for wood processing and manufacturing companies where we had over 1,00 attend and the just completed and sold out events, the Forest Industry Safety Summit and Steep Slope Wood Harvesting conference, FIEA is excited with what 2014 holds. Events being planned for 2014 include: 1. Forest Investment & Market Outlook 2014 9-10 April 2014, Auckland, New Zealand 14-15 April 2014, Melbourne, Australia www.fimo2014.com 2. Wood Flow Logistics 2014: Harvesting – Wood Transport - Logistics 11-12 June 2014, Rotorua, New Zealand 17-18 June 2014, Melbourne, Australia 3. MobileTECH 2014 - PRIMARY Industries Future 5-6 August 2014, Brisbane, Australia 12-13 August 2014, Auckland, New Zealand www.mobiletech2014.com 4. Wood Innovations 2014: Timber Preservation – Wood Modification – Composite Products 17-18 September 2014, Rotorua, New Zealand 23-24 September 2014, Melbourne, Australia 5.ForestTECH 2014: Remote Sensing - Field Inventory - Forest Estate Planning 19-20 November 2014, Rotorua, New Zealand 25-26 November 2014, Melbourne, Australia Mark the dates into your 2014 calendars. At this early stage, if interested in either presenting or exhibiting, let us know and if appropriate, we can look to build you into the planned programmes. Attached for your information is a PDF of 2014 Technology Events which provides you with further information on the schedule of events planned for next year. Decisions on Kyoto Protocol emission unitsActing Minister for Climate Change Issues Simon Bridges has announced decisions to restrict the use of some types of Kyoto Protocol emission units within New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme.“Decisions in the international climate change negotiations in Doha last year, including restrictions on New Zealand’s ability to trade any international Kyoto units after 2015, and the lack of action on international markets at the recent Warsaw negotiations, have contributed to uncertainties within Kyoto markets,” Mr Bridges says. “These conditions make it preferable for our ETS to operate with restricted access to these markets for the time being.” Mr Bridges confirmed that the current hold on issuing Letters of Approval for direct participation by New Zealand entities in Clean Development Mechanism projects will continue, meaning the ETS will operate with restricted access to Kyoto markets from 2016 onwards. “The Government considers international markets an important component of the Emissions Trading Scheme, and intends to review the level of access to international markets within it when international market conditions are better suited to New Zealand’s domestic circumstances.” Mr Bridges also announced a complementary decision around the use of existing Kyoto units in the ETS after May 2015. More >>
Workers push the case for Australian paperThe future of the Australian Paper mill in the Shoalhaven might come down to something as simple as governments and businesses buying Australian-made paper. A delegation of Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) pulp and paper workers travelled to Canberra last week to meet with federal parliamentarians, including Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis, to discuss challenges facing the industry.Union officials attempted to gain assurances that federal government departments and agencies would use Australian-made paper and prevent the dumping of cheap overseas imports on the local market. National secretary of the union’s Pulp and Paper Division Alex Millar said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Shoalhaven mill was shut down. He said if the mill didn’t get some support and protection its days could be numbered. In its heyday the Shoalhaven mill employed 600-plus workers, now it is down to less than 100. “The Bomaderry mill hasn’t made a profit for three years,” he said. “If it had been in the hands of a less committed operator than Nippon Paper, it would have closed years ago. “Nippon Paper has shown a lot of patience, it will not last forever.” Workers sought the MPs’ support as part of their Don’t Shred Pulp and Paper Jobs initiative, a part of the CFMEU’s Let’s Spread it Around campaign. “We will continue talks and will endeavour to get MPs to sign a pledge to set the right example to the community by buying Australian-made paper and paper products for their offices and personal use,” Mr Millar said. Source: South Coast Register
Carbon price rules 'a lost opportunity for forest owners'
The New Zealand Government has clarified what units will be permitted in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2015, but this does nothing to stimulate action to reduce the nation’s net greenhouse gas emissions, says the Forest Owners Association. "In making the announcement last Friday, acting climate change minister Simon Bridges said he wanted to bring certainty to participants in the ETS. But overhanging the market is the ability of the government to auction NZUs to stimulate supply," says association vice-president Peter Clark. "Since the government has given no indication of the NZU price at which auctioning would be used, both emitters and foresters have been left uncertain and unwilling to take action. This is deeply concerning for anyone who understands the economic and environmental potential of forestry. Without a meaningful carbon price, new planting will remain at extremely low levels and deforestation on land with dairying potential will continue apace." Mr Clark says participants will be able to continue to use dodgy cheap international credits to meet their emissions obligations until June 2015 when NZ units will be the only ones permitted, with supply controlled by auctioning. "Ever since this government took office forest owners have been asking for a government commitment to a carbon floor price to match the current ceiling price and for the removal of the one-for-two taxpayer subsidy for emitters. We and other participants need to know that the government is committed to carbon prices being in a band that provides us with an incentive to invest in carbon reduction." Less than a month ago iwi leaders met with the prime minister to ask for the ETS to be strengthened. They asked for a carbon price mechanism that better balances the interests of emitters with those who have the ability to invest in measures to reduce emissions. The Forest Owners Association wrote to the prime minister in support of the iwi submissions. "We said a higher carbon price will lead to increased forest planting. This would give greater security of supply to domestic processors, increase primary sector diversification and resilience to adverse economic and environment events," says Mr Clark. "Given that the maximum price has already been passed on to consumers by power companies and fuel suppliers, a meaningful floor price is unlikely to have a significant impact on costs to household consumers." He says a higher carbon price is not a subsidy for forest owners, because any credits they earn are met with an equal liability at harvest. Also, income from carbon would help offset the risks which deter farmers and others from investing in forestry. "Forestry is a more profitable land use and contributes more to the economy than hill country sheep and cattle farming, but in the current economic and regulatory climate no-one is willing to commit to an investment where you have to wait 30 or more years before you get a return. A clear indication of the band in which the government would permit NZUs to trade in via auction would provide the certainty that all participants need to base investment decisions on." Factory Forests? USDA considers genetically engineered trees
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers whether to approve the first genetically engineered (GE) forest tree for commercial use, Center for Food Safety (CFS) released its new report, Genetically Engineered Trees: The New Frontier of Biotechnology. The report details the potential ecological and socioeconomic hazards of GE trees currently under commercial development. USDA is currently reviewing a GE Eucalyptus for unrestricted planting. Eucalyptus is primarily cultivated to provide pulp for paper and “wood pellets,” which are used for fuel. The GE tree, developed by the biotechnology corporation ArborGen, is engineered to grow in colder climates. ArborGen hopes to cultivate GE tree plantations across much of the southeastern United States. Debbie Barker, international program director for Center for Food Safety, and editor of the report, stated, “Commercializing GE trees could be devastating to the environment. ‘Factory forests’ will accelerate and expand large-scale, chemical-intensive, monoculture plantations. We need to understand the risks in order to determine if GE trees are a sustainable way forward or a dangerous diversion.” GE trees have been promoted under a banner of environmental sustainability. However, the report reveals that GE tree plantations would require vast amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, and water. Further, tree plantations reduce biodiversity, can increase greenhouse gas emissions, and lead to deforestation. “Eucalyptus is the first forest tree now being considered for approval for unrestricted planting, but some of the largest biotechnology, paper, and energy corporations are experimenting on pine, poplar, chestnut, and several varieties of fruit trees,” said Barker. Despite the negative environmental impacts, GE “factory forests” would likely be very profitable for biotech companies. For instance, if GE eucalyptus is approved, ArborGen, the leading biotechnology tree company, has projected its profits will grow from US$25 million to US$500 million in five years. To download a copy of the full report, please click here Australian carbon offset scheme hits milestoneReuters reports that Australia this week surpassed 3 million credits issued under its carbon offset scheme for agriculture, forestry and waste. However, experts say that uptake of new projects is low with regulatory uncertainty weighing heavily on project developers.The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) was launched in 2011 under the former Labor government to drive emission reductions in sectors not covered by the carbon pricing mechanism, as part of Australia's target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 5 percent below 2000 levels by 2020. Under the CFI, developers that curb carbon emissions are issued offset credits, known as Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), which they can sell to big emitters looking to meet carbon targets imposed by the government. But with the new government eager to repeal the carbon pricing scheme, demand for ACCUs has fallen away and development of new projects has almost ground to a halt. "Should the carbon pricing mechanism be repealed, demand for ACCUs will be limited to the voluntary market," said Lloyd Vas, general manager with lobby group the Carbon Market Institute. Compared to mandatory emission markets, voluntary demand is modest. The conservative government wants to keep the CFI as a supplier to carbon cuts under its proposed Emissions Reductions Fund, but it remains unclear how the fund will work. "We haven't had any investment interest in 18 months," Andrew Grant, CEO of CO2 Group, Australia's biggest carbon project developer, told Reuters in October. In addition to political uncertainty and lack of demand, project development is also hampered by the long lead-time and approval process farming and forestry projects need, according to observers. "A few small forestry projects have gotten through, however, the larger projects have found it very onerous," said one developer who wished to remain anonymous. "In reality, investment in new CFI land-based forestry projects will not be viable without a significant carbon price or a clear price and purchasing signal," he added. With at least another seven months likely to pass until the future of Australia's climate policy becomes clear, observers expect the nation's offset market to languish for a while longer. Source: Reuters Slowdown in Japanese housing expectedHousing starts in Japan continued to move up in 2013 to ~920,000 units (from 883,000 in 2012). Japan’s consumption tax will rise from 5% to 8% in April 2014 (new houses were required to have a formal contract in place prior to the end of September 2013 to avoid the increased tax). As a result, a slowdown in housing is expected for 2014, as much of the pent-up demand for new homes is already under contract.Japan continues to increase its self-sufficiency in wood demand through the harvesting of its maturing forests; it is currently close to 30%, and the government’s goal is 50%. However, Japan’s timber harvesting faces many issues, including inefficient logging practices, an aging workforce, a lack of efficient domestic sawmills, fractured land holdings, etc. After several years of steady decline — from 21.8 million m3 in 2004 to a low of 14.4 million m3 in 2009 (-34%) — Japanese consumption has grown consecutively each year from 2010–2013. Given the likelihood of reduced housing starts in 2014 due to a general slowdown, and the impact of the consumption tax (starting in Q2/14), demand is forecast to move from 16.7 million m3 in 2013 (10.3 billion bf net, or 7.0 billion bf nominal) to 16.2 million m3 in 2014, and to 16.0 million m3 in 2015. The Japanese government introduced its Wood Points program on April 1, 2013. The program was designed to increase the supply and usage of domestic forest products from 20 million m3 in 2011 to 28 million m3 by 2015. The program has a massive budget of ¥41 billion, and subsidies for domestic wood use could potentially be extended to cover more than 135,000 new homes (in 2012, total wooden housing starts totalled 486,756 units). This program could impact imported lumber, as Japanese buyers are rewarded by using the Japan forest resource (which is heavy to second-growth) at the expense of imported wood. Source: International Wood Markets Group, www.woodmarkets.com Whittakers closing native-hardwood sawmillWhittakers Timber Products, one of Western Australia’s largest native-hardwood sawmill and processing operations, is preparing to end operations at its mill northeast of Greenbushes, ABC Rural reported on 10 December. The mill, about 250 km south of Perth, is the company’s primary production facility, according to its website.Nearly half of its roughly100 employees were laid off five months ago. The Greenbushes mill site was put on the market, but after a year received no offers, according to site manager Graham Duncan. The jarrah, karri and marri wood the mill processes come exclusively from managed forests in Western Australia under contract by the state government through the Forest Products Commission. Melissa Haslam, from Forest Industries Federation WA, said more environmental restrictions in a newly released forest management plan (see other story in this week's issue) are going to increase the cost of harvesting wood from the forests, putting pressure on multiple levels of the industry. Additionally, Gunns Ltd. sold about half of the contracts to its resources in the south of the state to Auswest Timber, leaving Whittakers with northern resources that were unviable to the mill site in the south of Australia given the expense of transporting the timber. Source: ABC Rural Climate change drives up risk of bushfire in Australia
Australia has always experienced bushfires but climate change is driving up the risk of fire danger weather, a new Bushfire Report from the Climate Council, an independent organization, warned on Monday. The Climate Council is an Australian independent non-profit organization formed to provide Australians with clear, easy to understand facts on climate change. It was formed by former members of the Climate Commission after it was abolished by the coalition government. It is funded by donations from the public. According to Chief Councillor, Professor Tim Flannery, hot dry conditions are the ingredients for bushfires, and climate change is making conditions hotter and drier in the southeast and southwest of Australia. The report finds that the number of record hot days has doubled in the last 50 years, heat waves have become longer and more frequent, while some parts of the country are becoming drier. "Extreme fire weather has already increased over the last 30 years, across the southeast of Australia where some of Australia's largest population centres are located," he said. The fire season is getting longer with fire weather now extending into October and March, he said, adding, "This is reducing opportunities for hazard reduction burning meaning that there's less chance to safely reduce the fuel." The report also finds that recent bushfires have been influenced by record hot dry conditions. "NSW has experienced the hottest September on record; days well above average in October and exceptionally dry conditions. These conditions mean that fire risk has been extremely high and we have already seen severe bushfires in New South Wales before summer has even begun," the report said. According to the report, fire frequency and intensity is expected to increase substantially in many regions, especially in those regions currently most affected by bushfires. The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) following the release of the report by the Climate Council welcomed a sensible debate about the role of effective fuel reduction to help control future bushfires. Chief Executive Officer Mr Ross Hampton said, “The Climate Council points to a scenario where fuel reduction may have to be massively increased to manage greater frequency and severity of bushfires. AFPA agrees and argues that removing some of that fuel load by mechanical means instead of just burning must be part of the solution”. “In bushfire prone areas where people live the fuel load can be reduced by removing small trees from where there are too many, removing woody debris on the ground and taking out a lot of the bushy undergrowth. This can be followed by a controlled burn that is far less likely to get out of control because there is less fuel”. "These approaches to fuel management are being adopted in other fire prone areas such as in the western United States, where forest land management agencies such as the US Forest Service are undertaking combined tree thinning controlled burns to reduce fuel levels”, said Mr Hampton. The report can be downloaded here From cellulose to a new textile fibreAalto University has developed an internationally significant new process for working wood cellulose into a textile fibre. The process created in the research programme and the resulting textile fibre will open up new markets for the Finnish forest and garment industries.‘We are still studying the properties of cellulose in order to begin pilot projects that utilise the new process. The projects will be carried out in cooperation with companies. There is a growing market for environmentally friendly textile fibre,’ Aalto University researcher Michael Hummel says. With the new manufacturing process cellulose can be made into a high quality textile fibre in a more environmentally friendly way than with traditional viscose production methods. The textile fibre is produced using a processing method based on ionic solvents developed at the research group of Professor Ilkka Kilpeläinen, University of Helsinki. “The Ioncell fibre is ecological and an excellent alternative to cotton and viscose,’ says Hummel. The research was carried out as part of the Finnish Bioeconomy Cluster FIBIC's FuBio Cellulose research programme. The new textile fibre developed at Aalto University can be processed into a high-quality end product. A textile sample was produced from the cellulose fibre in collaboration with Aalto University's Department of Design. ‘I designed and produced a scarf which showcases the material. The new material has an excellent capacity for reproducing shades and it is surprisingly easy to work with,’ says Marjaana Tanttu, who is studying in the Master's Degree Programme in Textile Art and Design. See how the scarf is made by clicking here.
Hardline approach suggested for protestorsIn a hardline Australian first, environmental protesters who enter Tasmanian workplaces will face mandatory jail terms under a Liberal government. In a key platform of the Liberals' forestry policy, "illegal" protesters would also be hit with AU$10,000 on-the-spot fines - a 26-fold increase - for "invading” a workplace.Under the crackdown, corporations that "incite or encourage this illegal behaviour" would attract fines of up to AU$100,000. Kick-starting his party's election campaign this week, Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said: “We will send a very clear and strong message to people who engage in illegal protests and who cost Tasmanians jobs. Under the Liberals there will be no get-out-of-jail-free card if you repeatedly invade a workplace”. The tough law-and-order stance comes just months out from the next state election. It also coincides with the federal government's reaffirmed pledge to unwind the landmark Tasmanian forest peace deal that was meant to end three decades of forestry warfare. Under the protest policy, first-time offenders who enter or impede access to a workplace will face on-the-spot fines of AU$10,000. Second-time offenders will serve three-month mandatory jail terms at a minimum. Fines of up to AU$50,000 and five years' jail could be slapped on protesters who damage property. Environmental organisations that encourage such behaviour could face a crippling AU$250,000 fine. Mr Hodgman said protesters would also be liable to pay for any economic loss caused by their actions. Tasmania is not the only jurisdiction cracking down on activists. Victoria's Liberal government has proposed AU$3000 fines for people protesting in logging coupes and AU$8660 fines for ignoring an exclusion order. Source: Tasmania Examiner NHVR previews access management system for heavy vehicles
The Australian National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is keen to give industry operators a preview of the new access management system (AMS). Describing it as a “one-stop-shop for access applications“, the initiative comes with the new national rule book for heavy vehicles “just around the corner”, the regulator says. It has released two videos to introduce the AMS and its online mapping tool, the NHVR Journey Planner, both created with partners HCL Technologies and Esri Australia. "On 10 February 2014, the NHVR is launching Australia's first cross-border, cross-agency system for managing heavy vehicle access to the nation's road network and we want industry to see what's coming down the line,” NHVR CEO Richard Hancock says. "We've put draft access forms on our website so operators know how to fill them out and what information is needed. With the AMS, operators can submit access applications entirely online, with key features to include: - an online journey planner - digital signatures that allow applications can be completed online without printing forms - a unique customer login so that an operator's details are automatically pre-filled on future applications - electronic tracking and documentation for up-to-date records and to quickly track progress on applications. The Journey Planner video shows how this tool combines individual state- and territory-approved routes into a single national online map. Operators can plan their heavy vehicle journey across multiple jurisdictions using one single online tool. Once a journey is planned, operators will no longer need to apply for permits from multiple road managers. The NHVR will be a single contact for operators, dealing with the relevant state and territory road authorities and local governments to manage applications from start to finish. The AMS and Journey Planner videos can be viewed here. New Forest Management Plan for WAA new Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2014-23 covering 2.5 million hectares of south-west forests has been released for Western Australia following a two-year consultation and review process. The new plan comes into effect on 1 January 1 2014.The FMP is based on long term scientific research, and sets out harvesting limits that are well within sustainable levels. Under the new FMP over 62% of the State’s native forests is set aside in reserves, and all areas classified as old-growth forest are reserved and protected. It will see improved monitoring and reporting of forest health and biodiversity and will ensure forests are fully regenerated after harvest. However, under the new FMP there will be challenges for the native timber industry. One of these will be to ensure that the existing industry has ongoing access to suitable timber for processing and value adding into furniture, joinery and flooring. There will also be higher costs of accessing the forest as a result of the increased protection of conservation values. In addition, areas available for harvesting contain a larger proportion of low yielding forests than under the previous FMP. On the other hand, there are opportunities for the timber industry to develop with new technology in engineered wood products, biofuels and bioenergy. These initiatives require large investments and will have important regional socio-economic benefit if successful. Key features of the Forest Management Plan 2014-23 include: - continued protection of all old-growth forest, totalling more than 334,000ha - enhanced protection for large marri trees, which provide nesting and food for black cockatoos - an increase in protected areas by adding 4,000ha to Whicher National Park near Busselton - increased retention of habitat logs for native animals - improved monitoring and reporting on the health and diversity of the forest - a new objective to protect and conserve the value of the land to Noongar culture and heritage. Following an extensive process of development, consultation and review, including assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority and appeals under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the plan will include timelines for completion of some management activities. In addition, the Environment Minister must approve any industry request to access maximum sustainable timber harvesting limits, known as the ‘upper limit allowable cut’. Details on the new Forest Management Plan available at www.dpaw.wa.gov.au Another look at thermally & chemically modified woodIs modified wood on the cusp of a market invasion, or dying a slow and painful death? Currently, there are two techniques for modifying wood: Thermal modification (heating the wood in low oxygen conditions) and Chemical modification (impregnating the wood with chemicals within a vacuum pressure tank).Modified wood products are generally more expensive than traditional “outdoor” woods such as cedar and pressure-treated southern yellow pine (SYP), but less expensive than hardwoods. Manufacturers tout their products’ aesthetic qualities and eco-friendly attributes as key selling points. A number of these new products have yet to make a profit, and manufacturers of others have quietly exited the marketplace. AccSys Technologies’ annual reports indicate that its Arnhem factory is running at only 50% capacity. Eastman Chemical recognized a US$17 million restructuring charge on its Q4/2012 annual report to account for “inventory costs in excess of recoverable value.” In an interview with U.K. magazine TTJ, Kebony admitted that the company’s manufacturing plant has yet to make a profit. Other producers have had to cancel product lines, supply partnerships, and/or distribution agreements. In the U.S. especially, the structure and culture of the building products market have made it difficult for modified wood to gain a toehold. The two-step distribution process has contributed to a slow uptake of new products, as recession-weary distributors have had little cash to spend building inventories for multiple or new product lines. Furthermore, most modified wood manufacturers are relatively small in comparison to their customers and competitors (think Home Depot and Trex), and as such are at multiple disadvantages. Both builders and large distribution chains tend to favour large, well-established firms that can supply multi-region or even continent-sized territories, and honour warranties. In addition, in a crowded marketplace, small producers have a hard time competing with their deep-pocketed rivals for market recognition. In the European marketplace, manufacturers are counting on the recently adopted EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) to provide a window of opportunity for modified wood products to break into the market, replacing tropically sourced hardwoods. Given that many tropical timber-producing countries have yet to sign FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade) Voluntary Partnership Agreements (required for export to the EU), shortages of tropical wood are expected. In addition, the environmentally friendly nature of the products (non-toxic chemicals, FSC-certified timber) has been widely touted. Modified wood producers face a tough business environment. A lack of economies of scale puts them at a cost and market disadvantage, and new products have often lost money over their first few years in production. Modified wood has key advantages of being long-lasting, durable, dimensionally stable, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally friendly. However, it is relatively expensive and has a niche application at the high end of the market, where performance is required. Succeeding in the marketplace will require identifying a customer base that appreciates — and is willing to pay for — the wood’s superior qualities. Source: International Wood Markets Group, www.woodmarkets.com . Britain updates 3D-printed gun rules
Following on from the story last week on the planned 3D printing of a full house, the British government came out last week and said that the unlicensed 3D printing of guns is illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This move was designed to address growing public concern about plastic guns. Weapons made by printing their components are already banned under the 1968 Firearms Act, but the Home Office has updated its rules to prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase and possession of them unless properly licensed. The regulations also apply to individual gun components. Printed guns have prompted unease among public and police forces since the first firearm blueprint was successfully fired and then freely published online in May this year, attracting over 100,000 downloads in just two days. "The Liberator" handgun was invented by 25-year-old Cody Wilson, a Texan law student. His company Defence Distributed was quickly forced to remove the plans by the US government, which said he had not received approval for making the weapon. Jobs
Buy and Sell
...and one to end the week on....no room for error
One worth watching - for all of us who fly. A pilot landing at the enchanting inland airport of Queenstown, New Zealand, recently put a GoPro camera in his cockpit, recorded in stunning HD the last minutes of his flight, and posted it on YouTube. The video, which has since gone viral, shows the plane skirting sunlit mountain peaks and forbidding valleys, and piercing a thick blanket of clouds above the runway. One more for you - the haircut. A teenage boy had just passed his driving test and inquired of his father as to when they could discuss his use of the car. His father said he'd make a deal with his son: 'You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible, and get your hair cut. Then we'll talk about the car.' The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the offer, and they agreed on it. After about six weeks his father said, 'Son, you've brought your grades up and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm disappointed you haven't had your hair cut. The boy said, 'You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair, and there's even strong evidence that Jesus had long hair.' You're going to love the Dad's reply: 'Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?'  And on that note, have a great weekend. Just one more week of Christmas shopping. Get into it. Enjoy. Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
Copyright 2004-2024 © Innovatek Ltd. All rights reserved
|
