Friday Offcuts – 13 September 2024
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Offcuts.This week, we bring you a roundup of key developments and challenges affecting the sector. In New Zealand, the closure of Winstone Pulp International, a major timber industry player, has significantly impacted the central North Island region, highlighting ongoing sector pressures such as rising energy costs and the urgent need for sustainable practices. In Australia, the Victorian government is tackling housing shortages with a new initiative focused on prefabricated construction, while New Forests has published a paper advocating for a systemic shift towards prioritising nature conservation and restoration. On the technology front, AI is being harnessed in New Zealand to combat truck driver fatigue, Swiss researchers are examining drought impacts on trees, and Scion is exploring innovative uses for pine pollen. Meanwhile, Australia's Fortescue is advancing hydrogen technology with the introduction of a prototype hydrogen truck and a liquid hydrogen refueling station. Read all this and more in another packed edition of Friday Offcuts. Enjoy!
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This week we have for you:
Confirmed - Winstone Pulp closing central North Island mills
Hundreds are set to lose their jobs after one of the central North
Island's biggest employers made the call to shut two of its
mills. Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton has confirmed Winstone
Pulp International will be closing its two central North Island mills
due to unsustainable energy prices.For the past few weeks Winstone had been meeting with energy company Mercury and government ministers to try and find a way to keep the Karioi and Tangiwai mills open. Around 230 jobs will be lost. A petition was launched last week to save the mill, fearing nearby communities would turn into ghost towns, Winstone being the main employer in the area. More >> Source: RNZ Further reading: Rangitīkei District Council shares its disappointment The closures are the result of unsustainable energy prices and will result in the loss of over 200 permanent jobs, including many from the Rangitīkei District. A strong advocate for a collective solution to prevent the closures, Mayor Andy Watson said he is disappointed and concerned by the lack of support from central Government. “These closures are the result of a systemic energy problem felt by industry providers across our country. If Government do not prioritise supporting businesses that sustain our local economy, our communities will continue to suffer. More >> Source: Rangitikei District Council NZCTU Slams Govt For Failing Mill Workers NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is slamming the Government for failing to bring a plan to the table to save around 300 jobs in the Ruapehu district, following the decision of Winstone Pulp International to close the Karioi pulp mill and the Tangiwai sawmill. “Our hearts go out to all the workers who have lost their jobs, and we stand in solidarity with them at this terribly difficult time,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. “The Government had the power to keep the mill alive by creating a plan for power price stability, but they failed to deliver. “This decision will be devastating for the Ruapehu district who were already dealing with high unemployment and a lack of opportunities. This is the last thing they need. Government has a responsibility to keep rural communities alive by supporting regional economic development and stepping in to show leadership when critical industries are struggling. Writing off whole communities is simply unacceptable. “Local manufacturing plays an important role in our regional economies and that needs to be protected into the future. It is the role of Government to guarantee this by implementing employment, regional development and Just Transition strategies that prioritise job creation and protection in rural communities. “Everyone deserves good work that is secure and pays well, regardless of where they live. This decision shows we have a long way to go to make that a reality,” said Wagstaff. Source: NZCTU Image credit: WPI Victoria promoting prefabricated construction industry
The Allan Labor Government is backing Victoria’s
prefabricated construction industry, with a new directory making
it easier and more accessible for local manufacturers to work
on projects across the state.Minister for Jobs and Industry, Natalie Hutchins, today launched the latest edition of the Victorian Prefabricated Construction Directory, which features 24 businesses delivering residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects across Victoria. First released in 2019, the directory showcases the range of products and capabilities of each business, making it easy to find manufacturers that can meet specific project requirements. The directory also highlights innovative examples of the Labor Government’s use of prefabricated construction in building projects, including the two-storey mental health facility extension at the Sunshine Hospital and an affordable regional housing project in Horsham. Prefabricated construction is a modern method of construction (MMC) where buildings and components are manufactured off-site before being transported to a permanent location. This approach can result in lower costs and faster delivery times compared to conventional construction methods. By manufacturing buildings in a controlled factory environment, prefabricated construction minimises delays caused by disruptive weather, reduces waste, and creates safer, more accessible jobs. As the fastest-growing state in Australia, Victoria’s increased adoption of prefabricated construction will play an important role in increasing the supply of residential housing stock by enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of our construction sector. Victoria’s $33.5 billion manufacturing sector is a significant contributor to the economy, generating $23 billion in exports and supporting over 260,000 jobs. The Victorian Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain Directory can be downloaded via the Victoria State Government website. As stated by Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins, “Victoria’s prefabricated construction ecosystem is delivering high-quality projects, from houses to train stations. This resource will enhance market exposure for our prefabricated construction sector, connecting government agencies, construction companies, developers, and the community with businesses that can meet their project needs.” Source: Victoria State Government  Unique pine pollen microbiome discovered
Scion scientists have identified a unique microbiome associated with
pine pollen, a significant step forward in forest research.Led by microbiome scientist Lottie Armstrong and Dr Steve Wakelin, the world-first discovery reveals that pine pollen carries specific microorganisms consistently across regions and years. This microbiome may also offer insights into future environmental and allergy research. As outlined in a newly published paper, Armstrong has been exploring the idea that pollen is more than just a carrier of plant genetic material. “Like humans, many plant surfaces are colonised by microbial organisms, and these microbes influence the fitness of the plants. Pine trees and other conifers have been around a lot longer than humans, so we wonder if they have had much longer to form, or co-evolved, microbiome associations. “Microbiomes may be even more important to trees than they are to us,” she says. Using environmental DNA-based methods, Armstrong examined the microbiomes on pine pollen from different Pinus radiata trees across Canterbury. Over two consecutive pollen seasons, researchers found a highly consistent presence of bacterial and fungal microbiomes on pine pollen. The fact that the same microbial species were present on pollen from different trees, and are stable over consecutive years, indicates this pollen microbiome is conserved and may be important for the plant. “Metabolomic analysis showed that amino acids and sugars on the pollen surface may help maintain this microbiome,” Armstrong adds. This revelation means that when pollen moves from tree to tree, it’s not just transporting the male genetic material—it’s also carrying a microbiome and all the microbial genome too. “Microbiomes are essentially hitchhiking on pollen to move from tree to tree,” she says. “It’s a great evolutionary tool for microbes, allowing them to be transmitted into the wider forest, or to play a role in fertilisation, germination or the health and fitness of the next generation of trees.” This discovery could open up new opportunities for researchers in health-related fields, particularly those involved in allergy research. “In other plant species, some of the allergenic effects of pollen are influenced by the microbiome,” Armstrong says. “Wouldn’t it be great to have a low-allergy microbiome on our pine trees so that those sensitive to pine pollen might get some relief? This could be a useful breeding target for the next generation of pine trees.” While this aspect of the research is still unexplored, the potential implications are far-reaching. The findings suggest that by understanding and possibly manipulating the microbiomes of trees, researchers could not only improve forest health and resilience but also help mitigate some of the allergenic effects of pollen on humans. “This is just the beginning,” said Dr Wakelin. “There’s still a lot we don’t know, but what we’ve discovered here sets the stage for exciting future research. Understanding how trees and their microbiomes interact will not only benefit forestry but may also have broader environmental and public health impacts.” Source & image credit: Scion  Vaporised pines: air and soil dryness impacting forests
Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow
and Landscape Research (WSL) and EPFL are spraying water vapour
into the crowns of mature pine trees in the Pfynwald forest in the
canton of Valais. The large-scale experiment is designed to
reveal the impact of soil and air drought on forest
trees in the context of climate change. The experiment is
presented to representatives of the media today, Wednesday.Something peculiar has been happening in the treetops of the Pfynwald forest in the canton of Valais since early summer: numerous high-pressure nozzles mounted on tall frames are spraying water vapour into the 12-metre-high treetops of mature Scots pines. The installation is part of the ‘VPDrought’ experiment, a world first that aims to unravel the effects of soil and air drought in a natural forest ecosystem. The water vapour increases the humidity – a sophisticated technique uses high-pressure nozzles to atomise water into tiny droplets that evaporate so quickly that neither the trees nor the ground get wet. The project, which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the WSL, the EPFL and the SwissForestLab, aims to understand how hot and dry conditions affect the resilience of forests and which processes lead to the death of trees. The climate is getting hotter and drier, as it already is in many places in the Valais. The consequences are already being felt: in the canton of Valais and in the neighbouring inner-Alpine dry valleys (the region of Innsbruck, Lower Austria, southern Styria, Vintschgau, Aosta Valley), Scots pine trees are dying and being replaced by more drought-tolerant oaks. The WSL has been studying the processes responsible for this in the Pfynwald forest for 21 years. Every night, it waters parts of this forest in order to study the trees with and without drought stress. Climate change is now adding another worrying environmental factor to the mix: increasing ‘air thirst’. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can absorb. This means that the heated atmosphere extracts more water from plants and soil. This ‘thirst’ is called vapour pressure deficit (VPD). VPD is a key factor in how much water trees evaporate through their leaves or needles, and thus has a major influence on the water supply and cooling of the plant. With rising temperatures, it is expected that the VPD will increase exponentially. High VPD values lead to excessive evaporation, which can cause plants to suffer from drought stress. In addition to the direct effects on plant physiology, a high VPD accelerates evaporation from soils, creating a vicious cycle of soil drying, land surface warming and drought stress for plants. More >> Source & image credit: WSL  A systemic change in land use
In a new paper, Investing in a
Nature Positive Future (‘the Paper’), New
Forests, a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and
natural capital strategies, has seen increasing numbers of investors
making commitments to align their investment portfolios with both the
net zero aspiration of the Paris Agreement and the concept of
‘nature positive’ flowing from the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Agreement.To establish effective strategies and make measurable progress against these goals, New Forests says investors will need experienced landscape and forestry asset managers to help manage risks and unlock new sources of value to achieve nature positive outcomes. The concept of nature positive refers to the conservation, restoration and enhancement of nature, reversing its decline by 2030 and achieving full and ongoing recovery of nature by 2050. New Forests, founded in 2005, has almost two decades of experience in optimising risk and returns from nature-based solutions and land-based investments. Investing in a Nature Positive Future offers a practical framework for investors, outlining the policy environment, mechanisms to incentivise conservation and regulate impacts on nature as well as the opportunities arising for investors in private real assets, particularly forestry, agriculture and conservation land management. Taking on this challenge will require new technologies to be able to forecast landscape conditions into the future. Nature-based real assets are increasingly converging into a natural capital asset class offering potential solutions to climate change, nature decline and the provision of critical renewable resources whilst accelerating investment opportunities in real assets. Today, the global investible universe for forestry is USD $300 billion. The new natural capital asset class with exposure to agriculture and timber markets, carbon pricing, biodiversity markets and options for renewable energy development is drawing substantial investor interest. New Forests expects investment into natural capital could rise to USD $1 trillion or more over the next two decades. “To make this rise in investment a reality, it is critical that the economic and policy signals are fit for purpose. We need standardised accounting for carbon in landscapes, metrics for biodiversity, market-based approaches to climate and nature conservation solutions,” says David Brand, Founder and Chair of New Forests, who has 40 years’ experience in land investment, forest management, science, and public policy. The Paper emphasises the imperative to create value for nature, and price signals that make it more economically attractive to conserve and restore nature, than to destroy it. “The positive news is that global recognition of the economic and environmental benefits of carbon projects and biodiversity projects and demand for solutions is growing,” says Mark Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, New Forests. More >> Source & image credit: New Forests NZIF Honours Forestry Excellence at Awards DinnerLast week, the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) hosted its prestigious annual awards dinner in Nelson, recognising outstanding achievements within the forestry sector. The awards celebrated a diverse array of contributions, from grassroots initiatives to impactful policy development and academic leadership.Kirk Horn Award: Bill Liley The Kirk Horn Award, one of the most esteemed honours in New Zealand's forestry sector, was presented to Bill Liley. This award recognises exceptional contributions to forestry and is steeped in history, commemorating the legacies of Thomas Kirk, a prominent botanical explorer, and Captain Inches Campbell-Walker, New Zealand's first Conservator of Forests. NZIF President James Treadwell praised Liley, describing him as “down to earth, highly professional, and a fierce intellect.” In addition to his impressive professional career, Liley continues to manage his own forest and operates a small sawmill to process timber from his land. Forester of the Year: John Hura The New Zealand Forester of the Year award, a highly coveted recognition, was awarded to John Hura for his exceptional contributions to the forestry sector over the past year. Hura played a pivotal role in leading one of New Zealand’s largest salvage operations following Cyclone Gabrielle, ensuring environmental sensitivity and high standards of health and safety throughout the process.  John Huram forester of the year at NZIF Awards 2024 FRESTRA Young Forester of the Year: Sarah de Gouw In a historic moment for the industry, the inaugural FRESTRA Young Forester of the Year Award was presented to Sarah de Gouw. This award acknowledges a young forester who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to both their profession and community, reflecting the values of FRESTRA and Future Foresters. De Gouw was commended for her remarkable efforts in raising forestry awareness, particularly through outreach programs in local schools. She has become a passionate advocate for forestry, engaging with students and teachers alike, and inspiring the next generation. Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup: Chris Ensor The Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup, established in 2017, was awarded to Chris Ensor of Nelson for his unwavering commitment to sustainable forest management. This award recognises individuals who embody the principles of sustainability in policy, planning, and practice, while also actively engaging with the public to promote forest conservation. The forestry industry continues to play a vital role in New Zealand’s economy, with its contributions extending beyond economic growth to include carbon capture, biodiversity, recreation, and overall well-being. "We are fortunate to have such a skilled and dedicated group of professionals who set the benchmark for excellence in our industry," Treadwell said. "The NZIF is proud to celebrate and champion the achievements of this year’s award recipients." More >> Source & image credit: NZIF  Australia’s largest liquid hydrogen plant on a mine site
Fabrum, a New Zealand company leading the world in zero-emission
transition technologies, has collaborated on the design, build and
commissioning of Australia’s largest liquid hydrogen
plant at a mine site with and for Fortescue, a global green
technology, energy and metals company headquartered in Western
Australia.The liquid hydrogen plant at Christmas Creek, which comprises a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage and a liquid hydrogen refuelling station, was unveiled today. Liquid hydrogen from the plant will be used to power Fortescue’s zero-emissions mining equipment prototypes including its Offboard Power Unit and its hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype. The liquid hydrogen plant can produce ~350 kg of liquid hydrogen per day and has ~600 kg of storage. Christopher Boyle, Fabrum’s Executive Chair, said: “We’re delighted to be developing world-leading hydrogen technologies for our partner, Fortescue, to help the company achieve its decarbonisation goals. While others in the industry might see the decarbonisation challenge as too big, Fortescue is leading the way in adopting new technologies to enable a zero-emissions economy. Together, we’re demonstrating the future is here now – and that our liquid hydrogen production and refuelling technologies can enable industry to power operations and transport today.” Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, said: “Fortescue is moving at rapid speed to decarbonise and the completion of our hydrogen facility, which is the largest gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant on any mine site in Australia, is testament to our commitment to leading heavy industry in decarbonising. “Hydrogen and fuels made using renewable energy will have a role to play in decarbonising mining, whether it’s in buses, heavy mining equipment such as haul trucks and excavators, or producing green iron. “This renewable hydrogen plant is versatile, enabling us to produce gaseous and liquid hydrogen to be used to power our mining equipment prototypes, while also providing the added benefit of refuelling our fleet of coaches at Christmas Creek.” Dr Ojas Mahapatra, Chief Executive Officer of Fabrum, said, “This is the first project we’ve collaborated on with Fortescue, an investor in Fabrum, and it highlights the great opportunities we see to help each other be successful in the future. This project also represents our entry into the mining and minerals industry to add to our work in heavy transport, aviation and other industries. It’s an exciting time for Fabrum as we continue to grow rapidly to meet increasing global demand for hydrogen production systems and other technologies.” Source & image credit: Fabrum Using AI to combat fatigue in truck drivers
A three-month trial of Guardian by Seeing Machines cameras in
six of its truck and trailer combinations identified instances of driver
fatigue, leading the company to implement the technology across
their entire fleet of over 200 vehicles.Hilton Haulage GM Safety, Quality and Compliance Tom Bryant, says Guardian cameras are now a non-negotiable in all of their trucks, much like airbags and seatbelts. “We initiated an initial three-month trial not because we thought we had a fatigue issue, but because safety is one of our core values and the technology was out there,” Bryant says. “We hadn’t had an event, but what we identified from the cameras was that people were experiencing microsleeps.” Guardian By Seeing Machines are in-cab cameras that use AI to track driver eye movements and identify driver fatigue and distraction. Proven to reduce fatigue-related events by up to 90 percent, if a driver falls asleep or has a microsleep, their seat will shake and an in-cab alarm will sound to wake them up. “We had some guys who were clearly fatigued, having microsleeps driving down the road, which was a real eye-opener for us.” The results prompted Hilton Haulage to expand the six unit trial to 22 units across the fleet. More >> Source & image credit: Safety News  Vale: Keith Reay (1944-2024)
It is with great sadness that we say farewell and rest in
peace to Keith Reay, the founder of Northpine Ltd
who passed away on Friday 23 August 2024 in Tauranga.As detailed in a recent post by Northpine, Keith was a remarkably successful, innovative and influential sawmiller when he set out on a new challenge in the winter of 1999. He purchased the assets of the defunct Waipu Timber Company to make something good out of a broken - down old sawmill, quickly “roping in” two of his former CHH colleagues Richard Wilson and Bruce Larsen as partners to establish Northpine Ltd. Keith retired 15 years later, having left an indelible mark on many people in the New Zealand timber industry and having founded a business that has grown to become one of New Zealand’s leading timber manufacturers over the past 25 years. Paying tribute to Keith, Bruce Larsen says: “Keith was a man with a passion for sawmilling who had a major influence in the late 80’s and early 90’s on how New Zealand cut timber. He brought back ideas from his time in America and set about improving the efficiency, accuracy and yield of New Zealand sawmills. He also had a strong belief in people and always made time to mentor and coach, in his own unique way, and to lead people to the well of knowledge, even if they weren’t thirsty! There are literally hundreds of people throughout NZ that Keith has had an influence on either directly or indirectly and they, and the industry in general, owe him a massive thanks. I think the following sums him up very well: "Other bosses give orders, you gave us direction. Other bosses give targets, you gave us a vision. Other bosses lead by authority, you always led us by respect. Farewell – and thank you – to a boss like no other.” Source & image credit: Northpine 3D printing disruption: is your supply chain ready?
Thanks to 3D printing supply chain applications, decision-makers have
explored new, faster ways to source components, create prototypes and
more. What have they accomplished, and why should others strongly
consider following their lead?Producing Large Parts Faster During Challenging Times Recent global conflicts have revealed how unreliable the world’s supply chains can become under particular conditions. Situations become more complicated when the products companies need are oversized components primarily produced overseas. Then, those purchasing the items must handle the daunting task of getting those large goods across state and country borders. However, research from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory showed how to apply 3D printing supply chain alternatives to these challenges. Participants explained the increasing difficulties in getting low-volume castings or forgings for components weighing 100-200 pounds from domestic suppliers. Enterprises needing those products must order them from abroad and handle all the potential obstacles accompanying that option. More >> Source: Supply Chain Connect  Fortescue debuts hydrogen-powered haul truck prototypeFortescue’s hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype, dubbed “Europa”, has made the 1,100-kilometre journey from Perth to the Pilbara where it will now complete site-based testing. Over the coming months, the Liebherr T 264 haul truck will be tested in a real-life mining environment at Christmas Creek. This will help inform the company’s future fleet of zero emission haul trucks.Once commissioned on site, Europa will be refueled with liquid hydrogen from a gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant, located at Fortescue’s Green Energy Hub at Christmas Creek. Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto said: “It’s fantastic to have our hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype now joining its battery electric equivalent, Roadrunner, up at site. “Europa integrates for the first time a Fortescue Zero battery into a Liebherr haul truck, marking a huge milestone in our partnership with Liebherr. “Over the next five years we’ll be working with Liebherr to develop a fleet of zero emission haul trucks, which will be progressively deployed across our sites from 2026. This builds on our wider collaboration with Liebherr, where we are working together to develop and validate a fully integrated Autonomous Haulage Solution, which we’re aiming to be the first to operate in zero emission vehicles globally. “To decarbonise mining you need a system solution, so this new operating system which integrates a Fleet Management System and energy management will be a game changer for us in reducing our carbon emissions.” Executive Vice President of R&D, Engineering and Production, Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS, Oliver Weiss said: “What we learn from this hybrid truck will significantly shape and enhance our future development strategies for zero emission haulage. It is fascinating to see how this cooperation helps to fast track our planned developments of new technology from ideas to demonstration and operation in the field.” Press release Source & image credit: Fortescue Port Blakely NZ Essential Oils acquires FSC Certification
New Zealand Essential Oils earns prestigious Forest Stewardship
Council® Certification for sustainable Douglas-fir production.
Port Blakely New Zealand Essential Oils (PBNZEO), a global leader in sustainable essential oil production, is among the first essential oil producers worldwide to attain the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification. This milestone validates the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and recognizes its sustainable practices for customers who maintain chain-of-custody. Internationally recognized as the gold standard of forest management certification, FSC® is an international non-governmental organisation that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC® ensures that forest growers adhere to strict standards, including paying living wages, maintaining at least 10% of ground area for native forest regeneration, and zero deforestation. PBNZEO’s parent company, Port Blakely has forests that have been FSC® certified in New Zealand for over 20 years and is advancing this initiative in alternative forest products. This certification adds to PBNZEO’s BioGro Organic certification, where the conversion period finished in early 2024. “Alongside our Organic certification, this accreditation represents a significant achievement in PBNZEO’s commitment to producing a Douglas-fir oil the market can trust,” said Mitch Cooke, Business Manager at PBNZEO. "It validates the high standards and values practised by our company, and we are excited to lead the charge in bringing a new standard of the highest quality and responsible product to the conifer oil market.” Cooke added, “This achievement strengthens our market position as the leader in environmentally responsible Douglas-fir essential oil production. We now have external validation that we offer products that meet the extremely high standards of quality and ecological integrity that are important to our customers at a scale which provides an accessible price point for this unique essential oil.” More >> Source & image credit: PBNZEO New Competenz GM of Strategic Engagement
Training organisation Competenz, has appointed
Diane Lithgow as its General Manager of Strategic Engagement.
Lithgow will oversee the strategic operations of Competenz’s work-based training partnerships, supporting apprenticeship training for
learners and employers in 36 sectors. Ms Lithgow has held senior
roles in education for the past twenty years. Most recently, she was
National Ako Network Director: Services of Te Pūkenga.Her new role will focus on the organisation’s operations and industry training strategies, looking for opportunities for continuous improvement while leveraging the existing capability within each sector. Ms Lithgow says her priority is to understand the industry’s appetite for change in these more volatile times while assuring employers that work-based training will continue to lift their workforce capability and success into the next phase of their business. “Looking up and looking forward is our focus for 2025. Underscoring everything we do is delivering training that improves productivity for every business, ensuring our employers are ready for the future of work and that our learners are living a life with purpose,” she said. Source & image credit: Competenz  Jobs
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... and one to end the week on… a Mexican, Italian, and an Aussie
A Mexican, Italian, and an Aussie are working on high-rise construction together. And on that note, enjoy your weekend. Cheers. Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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