Friday Offcuts – 4 November 2011
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Working together and innovation are two main themes for this week's issue. Planet Ark, on the back of some pretty compelling research funded by their campaign partner, FWPA, has launched a “Make It Wood - Do Your World Some Good” campaign. It’s designed to promote the increased use of wood as a building material. Another powerful tool which has gained traction is the joint and generic marketing efforts for wood products to architects, specifiers and end users. NZ Wood and its Australian counterpart, Wood. Naturally Better, have both made real inroads in recent years in this part of the world. In Sweden, the Swedish Forest Industries Federation has also moved in this direction deciding to bring all of its activities relating to the promotion of wood, wood products and wood construction together under the one name, Swedish Wood (see story below).A couple of weeks ago we ran a story where the Master Builders Australia’s September quarter 2011 national survey highlighted a worrying deterioration in business conditions that builders operating in both commercial and residential building were facing. For those supplying wood products into the housing market it’s a worrying sign. As if you really need it, we have more evidence of the drop off in Australian housing activity this week. Some of the major construction companies have been recently downgrading their forecasts for Australian housing starts by about 10% and a more recent report from Deutsche Bank is predicting Australian housing starts could fall as much as 18.4% in 2012. On a much more positive note, for innovation this week we have a Canadian company that's designed a unique air boiler system for biomass combustion, we profile a new guide system designed to dramatically improve the performance of high speed band saws (outlined to Australian and NZ sawmiller's for the first time by EWD at the FIEA SawTECH 2011 technology series and covered in the latest R&D Works Newsletter) and we cover the first trial flight in China of a passenger jet powered with a mix of biofuel and traditional aviation fuel. To finish with innovation, we have a story sent in by one of our readers on an old timber planer recently unearthed in NSW that’s still going strong - even after 137 years.
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Gas to wood chips offers clean green energy securityIn the wake of the rupture of the northern pipeline from the Maui gas field in New Zealand, major industries, hotels, hospitals and large schools in the central North Island should be seriously considering forest residues as an energy source, say forest owners.Both the government and Fonterra are carrying out post-mortems on the security of energy supplies. Fonterra says it will be looking at all its options after 15 of its northern milk processing plants had to shut down because of the gas outage. Forest Owners Association senior policy analyst Glen Mackie says vast quantities of forest residue, including branches, reject logs and stumps are available – a by-product of the normal forest harvesting cycle. At present, the burning of wood chips involves conventional boiler technology. However, wood gasification is just round the corner. EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), Waiariki Institute of Technology and Wellington company Windsor Engineering are working on a pilot plant in Rotorua, using technology developed in Norway. This involves burning wood in an atmosphere low in oxygen to generate syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The objective is to develop a highly automated process for generating syngas so that it can be used in existing industrial heat plants and boilers as a direct substitute or back-up for fossil gas from the Maui field. Although gasification is not a new technology, until now the fuelling process has not been automated. Wood gasification allows biofuels with higher moisture and ash content to be burnt, with no smoke and minimal residues. It is also more efficient, burning less fuel for a given thermal output. Source: NZFOA New Directors for VicForestsMinister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh has announced the appointment of four new directors, including a new chair to the board of VicForests. The appointments increase the level of practical expertise on the VicForests board, with three of the four new directors experienced in forestry-related industries.Gordon Davis has been appointed to chair VicForests," Mr Walsh said. "Mr Davis has an outstanding track record in senior management at companies including Orica Mining Services and at AWB Limited, where he was appointed managing director in the wake of the Royal Commission's investigation into the practices of the organisation. "He was also employed as a forester with the Forestry Commission in Tasmania for about 10 years and has been the recipient of both the Commonwealth Forestry Prize and the Victorian Sawmillers Association Award," Mr Walsh said. Mr Walsh also welcomed Australian Foundation Investment Company board member Catherine Walter to VicForests. "Mrs Walter has been on the audit committee of many other boards in the past, including National Australia Bank, Orica, James Hardie and WorkCover," Mr Walsh said. Mr Davis and Mrs Walter have already commenced in their roles, with two other new directors, Alison Posa and Graeme Stoney, to begin on 19 November. "From 2002 to 2010, Mrs Posa was employed by Kraft Foods, Australia and New Zealand, working as finance director and a member of the executive team from 2005," Mr Walsh said. "Between 1995 and 2000, Mrs Posa worked in finance and risk management roles for Fletcher Challenge Paper, which has pulp and paper operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South America." Mr Stoney joins the VicForests board having served as the State Member of Parliament for Central Highlands for 14 years, including four years as the shadow spokesperson for forestry. Between 2007 and 2009, Mr Stoney was also general manager of FFORNE Hardwood Co-operative which comprised 70 landowners growing 1700 hectares of native trees in north-east and central Victoria for high quality sawlog production. Key dinner presenters confirmed for ForestTECH 2011Take two topical issues in either country just at the moment; the use of water in some parts of Australia and implications for forest owners and managers and in New Zealand, Carbon Forestry. Already close to 200 foresters have signed up for the ForestTECH 2011 technology series that runs in Albury on 1-2 December and again in Rotorua for NZ forestry companies, on 5-6 December.Two after dinner presenters on the first night of each event have been confirmed. In Australia the Murray Darling catchment cuts across five States. After an extended period of drought over a decade or so, planning is underway to secure the long-term ecological health of the Murray-Darling Basin. The suggested plan entails cutting existing water allocations and increasing environmental flows. In June this year, a federal parliamentary committee delivered its report to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and its recommendations on water cutbacks in the basin. Based on the heated meetings within the region, it’s certainly controversial and the implications to forestry are substantial. David Harris, Commissioner of the NSW Office of Water will give the after-dinner presentation as part of the ForestTECH 2011 event in Albury on the evening of Thursday 1 December. Foresters will hear first-hand how the draft plan could impact on fire protection for the high catchments, whether plantation growers will be expected to pay for their water, what will be the impact of allocations and flows on downstream processing operations and a look maybe at some of the science behind some of the planned decisions. In New Zealand the New Zealand carbon trading market is following the European market which has plummeted. Carbon prices are now at all-time lows in the European carbon market. New Zealand Units (NZU’s) have recently been traded at just over $14/t. Based on the current price of the CER’s it is quite possible that the spot price for NZU’s could fall below its previous low of NZ$13.25. To provide an update on where the market is and what the future holds in this rapidly changing environment, Wayne King, Director, of Carbon Market Solutions will give the after dinner presentation for ForestTECH 2011 delegates in Rotorua on Tuesday 6 December. For those yet to register, details and registrations can be made on www.foresttechevents.com.
Make it Wood – Do Your World Some Good campaignWood has long been seen as an attractive option for buildings, furniture and flooring, but now a new consumer awareness campaign by environmental education organisation Planet Ark is encouraging people to see wood for its environmental benefits too.A recent survey conducted by campaign partner Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) showed that although 93% of people understood that trees absorb carbon, only 39% of them realised that when the tree is responsibly harvested and used to make wood products, the carbon remains locked in the wood for the life of the product. The Make It Wood - Do Your World Some Good campaign promotes the increased use of certified, responsibly sourced wood as a building material. Check out the new website and use this to direct those enquiries you get on how wood stores carbon.
Swedish wood promotion under the one umbrella The Swedish Forest Industries Federation brings all its activities relating to the promotion of wood, wood products and wood construction together under the name Swedish Wood. In Sweden, it will be known as Svenskt Trä (Swedish for “Swedish Wood”).“We have significant depth and breadth of expertise in wood marketing within our business”, says Jan Söderlind, director of the international wood programme at Swedish Wood. “Now we have a clear brand for our external communications to ensure our contribution is fully recognised.” "Swedish Wood’s goal is to increase the use of wood in Sweden and selected international markets by providing inspiration and information, spreading knowledge, and encouraging the development of markets relating to wood, wood products and wooden buildings. We aim to raise awareness of wood as a competitive, eco-friendly and sustainable material." "In our international promotion Swedish Wood cooperates with national partners. In the UK, this promotion goes under the name Wood for Good, and in France, Bois.com. In our work in Japan and China, we act through an international network called European Wood, of which we are a member." Swedish Wood represents Swedish sawmills, planing mills and glulam producers, and is a department within the trade and employers’ organisation, the Swedish Forest Industries Federation. China completes first Biofuel jet test flightOn 28 October Air China conducted its first trial flight of a passenger jet powered by a mix of biofuel and traditional aviation fuel. The Jet A-1 biofuel kerosene used in the flight was derived from the seeds of tung trees, more commonly known as japtropha.Air China's Boeing 747-400 landed safely at Beijing Capital International Airport at 9:30 a.m. after burning more than 10 tons of the biofuel, a 50-50 mixture of traditional Jet A-1 derived from oil and Jet A-1 processed from the japtropha seeds. The jatproha Jet A-1 is what's known as a drop-in, simply being admixed in a 50-50 ratio with conventional Jet A-1, and requires no engine modifications. More >>
Magnetic bandsaw guide innovation
In a new innovation from EWD, magnets are being used to significantly improve the performance of high speed bandsaws in busy saw mills. The ‘Flying Bandsaw’ technology has been developed over the past couple of years and successfully tested at European mills on quad bandsaws. It was introduced to Australasian sawmiller’s as part of the FIEA SawTECH 2011 series run in Brisbane and Rotorua in June 2011. It consists of a pair of electro-magnets placed either side of a saw blade and in place of the usual pressure guides. Without the pressure guides, the blades can rotate at higher speeds and deliver greater accuracy – while also reducing heat and wear.The magnetic guides do not touch the blade and have sensors that correct the tracking of the saw and make adjustments to ensure it is running straight. These sensors can control the gap to within 1mm and runs a standard deviation of 0.28 compared to 0.4 with normal pressure guides, a reduction of 0.5mm. For full details on the story and link to the study, check out the latest R&D Works Newsletter
More worrying signs for Australian housing marketA new research note from Deutsche Bank has expressed a number of concerns about the Australian housing market, and has forecast an 18.4% decline in housing starts during the 2012 financial year, based on an assumption interest rates will fall by 50 basis points. The note come just as the International Monetary Fund has released its own report, claiming that despite the enviable status of the Australian economy it is under threat from a housing market that could be as much as 15% over valued.DB analyst Emily Behncke wrote in the note that if the RBA cuts interest rates by 50 basis points over the next year, and the world economy does not fall back into recession, housing starts may fall 18.4% in the 2012 financial year. For more details click here. Source: ITTO Market Report Woodco's Strategic Action Plan to be unveiled A wide cross section of industries across the NZ forestry sector have been involved in and have seen the Woodco Industry Strategy Study which recommended that Woodco develop an Industry Strategic Action Plan. A project team has developed a draft of this plan. It’s planned that this will be presented at a series of regional workshops across the country between the 14-29 November. For those keen on hearing what has been developed – and wanting input to the draft –check out a local meeting.They’re been held in; Balclutha: Mon Nov 14th, 1.30 – 3.30pm - Rosebank Lodge Motor Hotel, 265 Rosebank, Balclutha Christchurch: Tues Nov 15th, 2.00 – 4.00pm - ChCh Netball Centre, 455 Hagley Ave, ChCh Nelson: Wed Nov 16th, 1.30 – 3.30pm - Tahuna Conference centre, Tahunanui, Nelson Lower Hutt: Thurs Nov 17th, 2.00 – 4.00pm - Alan MacDiarmid Centre, C/- Industrial Research Ltd, 69 Gracefield Rd, Gracefield, Lower Hutt Napier: Thurs Nov 24th, 1.30 – 3.30pm - Napier War Memorial Hall, Marine Parade, Napier Rotorua: Fri Nov 25th, 1.30 – 3.30pm - Rimu Room, Scion, 49 Sala St, Rotorua Auckland: Mon Nov 28th, 1.30 – 3.30pm - Rayonier NZ Boardroom, 32 – 34 Mahuhu Cres, Auckland Whangarei: Tues Nov 29th, 1.30 – 3.30pm - NZRC Lounge, Toll Stadium, Okara Dr, Whangarei. Please rsvp to Bim Rogers: bim.rogers@nelsonforests.com by 10th Nov if you’re able to attend. New biomass boiler technology being trialled
Canada-based Firebox Energy Systems Ltd. has announced plans to build a new 30-megawatt (MW) biomass power plant in Alberta. The $60 million John W. Murray Biomass Plant will essentially serve as a demonstration facility for the company’s platform Air Boiler technology, said CEO Jason Janus.Describing the technology, Janus said the system is designed so that only clean hot air moves through the turbine itself. “Compared to a traditional gas turbine, rather than the combustion of fuel occurring within the turbine, the Air Boiler system places the fuel combustion in the flexible fuel furnace that’s adjacent to the turbine, and the overall system is designed to collect the heat generated inside the furnace and utilize it for the turbine’s operation.” Since the combustion of the fuels and the resulting exhaust gases are always kept separate from the turbine operation, the quality of the fuel source doesn’t matter, he added, and the system does not require the use of water to operate. Janus said fuel for the plant will be forest debris, including pine beetle damaged wood. If the plant proves successful, plans are in the works for a much larger, 270-MW power facility on the same land. Source: Biomassmagazine.com 137 year old planer - and still going strong
The photo in this story was sent in by a NZ reader. It’s of s a very old planer which was manufactured in the USA in 1874 – 137 years old. The steam engine running it is about the same vintage. Both belong to someone the reader met who had bought an old sawmill site close to Quirindi in N.S.W, Australia.He had dug the planer out of the sawdust dump where it had been forgotten about for who knows how long and the steam engine he had rebuilt. Along with planer, it had come out of an old gold mine in the bush somewhere around our area. The reader says it produces after 137 years still a pretty decent finish. Is this one of the oldest machines still working out there in the timber industry - or do you know of some that beat this for "years in the trade?" Forests NSW has no plans for carbon sinksABC Rural reports that the NSW Government's forestry operators have no plans for creating carbon sink plantations under the current regulatory and market conditions. Their five-year-old carbon sequestration business earns around AU$3 million a year from the softwood and hardwood plantations established on former farmlands since 1990.But Dr Ross Dickson, from Forests NSW, says timber remains the core business. "Potentially there could be a time when there are dedicated carbon forests that aren't actually grown for timber (and are) simply there for sequestering carbon, but I think that is still a little way off." Dr Dickson says market prices fluctuated for the carbon offsets from AU$12 per tonne five years ago to AU$3 per tonne now.
Wood - the Green answer to the Red ZoneCantabrians are being urged to consider the benefits of timber for the rebuild of Christchurch. NZ Wood – the promotional arm of the Wood Council of New Zealand – is launching a campaign to encourage the use of structural timber in multi-storey and high-rise buildings for the city’s reconstruction.NZ Wood Chief executive Jane Arnott says the organisation wants to ensure Cantabrians get the best advice for the rebuild and that they recognise the resilience of timber. The campaign got underway on 2 November with a series of billboards across the city promoting wood, "the green answer to the red zone". More >> On your bike – your wooden bike
There's a lot of wooden bikes out there, ranging from the glue-it-yourself, no-metal kind, to award-winning, high-end designer bikes. But this near all-wooden bike, handmade by Dutch industrial designer Jan Gunneweg, must be one of the most beautiful wooden specimens we've seen to date.Made out of solid walnut and weighing under 35 pounds, the bike's unique cachet is all in the wheels, which each sport a thick wooden spoke. Drawing attention away from the metal support spokes, the wooden spokes create the impression that there is a continuous line from front wheel, through the frame and all the way to the rear wheel. More >> Source: TreeHugger Jobs
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...and one to end the week on...duck hunting story
An oldie but a goodie. A big city lawyer went duck hunting near Yackandandah. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence. And on that note, have a great weekend. Cheers. Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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