Friday Offcuts – 9 December 2011
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! We've been delighted to see so many foresters turn up over the last couple of weeks at ForestTECH 2011. Together, around 200 forest resource and inventory foresters attended the technology event with the New Zealand leg of the series finishing in Rotorua on Wednesday. As anticipated two years ago when the first extensive trials were being rolled out across some large tracts of Australian forests, the operational and financial benefits from remote sensing technologies have turned out to be substantial.For those companies trialling the technology over the last couple of years, almost without exception, the application of the data and magnitude of the savings have turned out to be much higher than first expected. Forestry Tasmania, as one of the first adopters of LiDAR in this part of the world for example had budgeted on saving around 15% on the time taken for harvest planning. The organisation’s already achieving time savings of 29% per planning operation using collected LiDAR data. In plantation management, the data is also being used for site quality assessments, harvest scheduling, road-lining and remedial silviculture. Change management has been pretty simple – in fact, the LiDAR products are now being demanded by field staff. In just two years remote sensing for estimating key stand variables is now routinely being built into forest inventory and management planning. As well as LiDAR, a number of other new platforms and technologies have been tested over the last six months. Results already are pointing to real improvements for forest planning purposes. For those unable to get through to the two yearly technology update, we’ll cover some of the key points that came out of ForestTECH 2011 in upcoming issues of Friday Offcuts. Whilst environment ministers and advisers this week debate global climate change at a summit in Durban, South Africa, the price of carbon (NZU) in New Zealand for the first time dropped to below NZ$10 (see story below) on the back of jitters in the European market and an oversupply of CER’s. Understandably the size and speed of the drop is causing some real angst to foresters, investors and those involved in the developing carbon markets. Finally, with the Xmas break fast approaching, our last issue of Friday Offcuts for 2011 is going to be sent out one day early - on Thursday 22 December. If wishing to place an advert in this final issue, please ensure you get it through to us early in that last week.
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This week we have for you:
NZ timber engineering pioneer passes awayIt is with sadness that we note the passing of Ken McIntosh on 3 December, after a long illness. Ken’s contribution to the glue-laminated timber industry in New Zealand and beyond was immense. Beyond his own pioneering efforts in timber structures and innovations he was admired for the way in which he has been able to lead and inspire others.He had been deeply involved with the Timber Design Society, both as an avid contributor to technical papers and presentations and as its President from 2003 to 2006. During this time as President he was a prime influencer in a number of initiatives which the wider forest products industry is now seeing the fruits of now. These include the establishment of the timber engineering capability at the Universities of Canterbury and Auckland, the delivery of a number of technical seminars, the establishment of a MAF programme to promote engineered wood in the construction sector which led to the NZ Wood programme. He continued to be an avid supporter of McIntosh Timber Laminates, a company developed from his father's furniture company, I.R. McIntosh in 1958. He and his father pioneered the use of curved timber arches for new premises for his father's furniture company. The rest is history. Indeed, as a testimony to his thoroughness, Ken's life story is immortalised in his recent book entitled "McIntosh Glulam - 50 Years New Zealand". So while it is a time of sadness, there is plenty to celebrate. Our thoughts are with Ken’s family at this time. A service of remembrance for Ken was held yesterday in Howick. Acknowledgement: Ross Davison, President, NZ Timber Design Society. Forestry maps and models from FFR Maps and modelling programs developed through Future Forests Research are showing forestry investors where to plant trees and forest managers how to manage them for best quality and value. FFR’s 2011 Annual Science Report outlines new research findings that can be used to ensure the right sites are used to produce the right wood for specific markets.Scientists at Scion, the forestry Crown Research Institute, have produced a map of New Zealand that provides a detailed picture of what wood properties can be expected on any site in the country. As wood density is driven by temperature, silvicultural regime (such as pruning and thinning) and genetics, the knowledge gained in this study will help to guide tree breeding programmes and planting decisions on specific sites. Using the same data, gathered over 40 years, models have been developed to predict the distribution of wood density within trees and between trees on any site, with adjustments for age and stocking. These models will allow forest managers to control their silvicultural and management decisions to manage wood density and thus carbon sequestration and product performance. The new research findings over the past year has been added to FFR’s Forecaster software to continually improve Forecaster’s ability to provide a complete forestry chain value modelling system. Additions include:
In addition, FFR members now have access to calculators for three other species, Eucalyptus fastigata, cypresses and redwoods. FFR has also confirmed that 35 years is a suitable rotation period for redwood to meet end-user requirements. FFR is also conducting research into plantation forestry using indigenous species that have the potential to produce high value timber. Scion and FFR have supported the production of a new handbook by Tane’s Tree Trust for the commercial management of native species such as kauri. Carbon credits pricing crash
We covered a story last week on the recent fall in carbon pricing in New Zealand, largely through NZ emitters able to import credits of dubious quality from overseas, coupled with the recent dumping of international credits by cash-strapped European industrial and utilities companies selling down their stockpiles of carbon to realise cash as the debt crisis.The NZ media this week reported that a crash in carbon credit prices meant that the government had no option but to ban or drastically restrict the use of imported carbon credits of dubious quality, or the emissions trading scheme (ETS) could become a national embarrassment. The price of New Zealand units (NZUs) has crashed from NZ$22 in May to less than NZ$10 this week, stifling interest in developing carbon offsetting initiatives here, according to carbon market participants. The price crash has been so steep that by one calculation, if the price trend continued for another 100 days, the value of NZU credits would be zero. The result has been that those who have created NZUs – perhaps through planting timber on part of their farm – have almost abandoned the market. Wayne King from Carbon Market Solutions addressing the ForestTECH 2011 event in Rotorua this week said that currently at these prices there are understandably low quantities of NZU trades with few foresters wanting to sell and at the same time, large volumes of CER’s are being traded with the low prices very appealing to large emitters. The government has been made aware of the risk. In a prescient statement, the ETS Review Panel in a June report published in September said there was "a risk these units will flood the New Zealand carbon market and drive down the NZU price. This could impact on New Zealand's incentives to abate, including in particular on forestry investments and on the reputation and integrity of the ETS". For further information on this developing story check out this release Ikea using alternative to wood palletsIkea Group will begin using a paperboard-based alternative to wood pallets starting in January, expecting that the switch will save 10% in transport costs, reported Bloomberg News on 3 November. Made from corrugated containers, the new pallets designed by Ikea are lighter and thinner than the wood ones, although they can only be used one way and then have to be re-pulped, the Swedish furniture retailer said.Compared to traditional wood pallets, Ikea’s are one-third as tall and 90% lighter, which the company estimates will save US$193 million annually in transport costs, according to the article, which was carried on SFGate.com. Although Ikea says its design can support a load of 750 kilograms, CHEP does not consider it durable enough for pooling, said James Hall spokesperson for CHEP parent Brambles Ltd., Sydney, Australia. IPP Logipal, part of Europe’s largest pallet maker Faber Halbertsma Group, has begun producing paper pallets in Goch, Germany, and might expand to France, Belgium and the Netherlands next year, said Ruud Schrama, the company’s marketing manager. The company plans to triple or quadruple that business within five years he said but declining to give details, reported Bloomberg. Soure: forestweb.com
In-forest scales to improve log truck efficiencies
Some recently completed research quantified the benefits of using scales in the forest to improve the payload efficiency of log trucks. The research was published in the Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 35(4) of 2011, and was titled “Improving Log Truck Efficiency by Using In-Woods Scales”. The authors were Ryan Reddish, Shawn Baker and Dale Greene. The research examined any form of in-forest weighing, which included on-truck scales and mobile platform scales placed on level ground.The research evaluated data from 47,953 truckloads of timber across nine Southern USA states. The mean tare, net and gross weights of all trucks was evaluated for comparative purposes. The results showed that trucks using scales had tare weights of only 49 kg more than trucks not using scales, but had net payloads of 816 kg more than trucks without scales. Payload variation for trucks using scales was 38% lower than trucks not using scales. A financial analysis showed that log haulage costs when using scales was $ 7.44 per ton, versus $ 7.74 per ton when not using scales. Using scales in the forest resulted in a 4 % cost saving per tonne. These savings were predicted to increase if fuel prices increased. For full details on the story and link to the study, check out the latest R&D Works Newsletter
Another NZ sawmill closure announcedThe Eurocell timber mill in Upper Hutt is being closed down, with the loss of up to 40 jobs. The mill is owned by Christchurch based Ranex Group, which bought it in 2009. The mill will be phased out over time, with the last of the timber processing staff likely to lose their jobs by March.The company said that a lack of pick up from the Christchurch rebuild, trouble sourcing affordable logs, a weak housing sector and competition from exporters of raw logs were factors in its closure. The business will maintain a sales office in Upper Hutt with a handful of staff and Ranex said its Hunter Bonds timber business in Nelson and the Moutere timber mill would continue to operate unchanged. The Union representing wood processing workers says they have regularly dealt with wood processing job losses, including several over the past six months in Kawerau, Tangiwai and Feilding, as well as reduced hours in other areas. They estimate that 1,200 jobs in the wood processing industry had been lost since 2008 but that figure could be well under half the real amount when attrition and unreported job losses are taken into account. Logging trip planned for Germany, Canada and the USAPlaning your 2012 calendar? Mark two weeks in mid-June to get yourself and your colleagues to Germany, western Canada and the USA along with other Forest Industry Contractors Association members to see the latest forestry and harvesting trends at the KwF 2012 Expo.The planned trip dates are from 11-29 June 2012. Starting with the live forestry demo show in Bopfingen, Germany, this will include meeting with the German Forest Contractors Association. The group will then head to British Columbia to visit contractors logging operations. In British Columbia FICA travelling members will be hosted by members of the Truck Loggers Association. Finally the trip will continue on to Washington and Oregon before departing for New Zealand. Call John Stulen on +64 27 275 8011 to register your interest. Full trip details will be provided following your call. Willmott Forests assets soldKordaMentha and PPB Advisory have entered into an agreement with Global Timber Investors 9, an international forestry investment fund managed by US-based timber investment management organisation, Global Forest Partners LP (GFP), for the sale of the Willmott Forests Plantation assets. The sale is subject to a court approval process. The agreement will allow agreed fire maintenance and prevention work on Willmott Forests plantations to commence immediately. GFP has been actively investing in Australia since 1999 and currently has over AU$3 billion in forestry assets under management worldwide.Forest roading courses offered in AustraliaForme Consulting Group and Forestry Solutions (South Africa) are running two forest roads courses in Geelong in Victoria, Australia. The first course; Forest Roads Construction runs on 5-6 March and is a repeat of the sold out course held in Traralgon, Victoria last year. The Forest Roads Maintenance course on 7-8 March follows on from Forest Roads Construction.The courses are led by Andrew McEwan, a forest roads expert from Forestry Solutions and supported by Chris Carlaw, a forest engineer from Forme Consulting Group. Forest Roads Construction explores what effects different transport configurations have on road design, such as long semi trailers and B double configurations that are regularly used in Australia. The outcome of the course is to have participants able to design a road and have it constructed fit for purpose while considering cost and environmental values. For further information contact Chris Carlaw on Ph: +64 27 430 1736 or chris.carlaw@forme.co.nz or click on the banner advertisement in this week's issue. New research - using synthetic ropes for extracting logsNew research has investigated whether synthetic ropes could reduce operator workload in winching operations. The research was published in the Small-scale Forestry Journal, Volume 10, Number 4 (2011), and was titled "Replacing Steel Cable with Synthetic Rope to Reduce Operator Workload During Log Winching Operations".Wire ropes used for winching are heavy, which would theoretically require more work effort to handle than synthetic rope. Heart-rate monitors were used to quantify the workload differences between operators handling wire and synthetic ropes. Results from the research can be accessed by readers through the journal article Source: Logging On November 2011 Over AU$150,000 available through FWPA ScholarshipsForest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is offering a number of opportunities to students to support their studies in the forest and wood products sector in 2012. These programs have been developed as part of FWPA’s commitment to building skills capacity to promote careers in the forest and wood products industry.There are a number of scholarships and awards now open accepting applications including: • Four FWPA Post Graduate scholarships worth up to AU$35,000 per annum are open to Post Graduate students undertaking research into a number of priority areas of interest to Australian forest and wood products based industries. Application closing date is 31 December 2011. • Two FWPA Indigenous scholarships worth AU$5,000 each and is available to eligible Indigenous Australian students who are completing a Certificate IV, Diploma or Degree in subjects that relate to the forest and wood products sector. Application closing date is 31 January 2012. • The Prestigious Denis Cullity Fellowship designed to support the on-going professional development of leading Australian forest and wood product scientists. Application closing date is 31 January 2012. • The Russell Grimwade Prize worth $40,000 designed to encourages the advancement of forest science in Australia. Application closing date is 31 January 2012. If you would like to apply, or have employees or students looking to further their career in the forestry industry visit www.fwpa.com.au/scholarships-and-prizes for details and application guidelines. Visy seeking AU$300M funding Australia-based papermaker Visy Industries Ltd. is requesting federal funding for a AU$300-million waste-to-energy (WTE) project it proposes in Australia, reported Waste Management World on 29 November. The project would include a AU$100-million mechanical biological treatment facility to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into waste pellets to fuel a $AU200-million plant that would generate 75 megawatts of electricity, according to The Australian, Waste Management World reported.The project is a first of its kind and would be “of national importance,” Anthony Pratt, executive chairman of Visy, told The Australian. Australia does not currently have a WTE plant that processes MSW. A new clean energy plant has just officially been opened at Visy in Melbourne, reported ABC Riverina on 30 November. The company recently officially dedicated a new $50-million biomass power plant that converts manufacturing waste into energy used to power papermaking at its Coolaroo, Victoria, pulp and paper mill, reported Waste Management World. Tumut in New South Wales has been proposed by Visy as a site for a AU$100-million clean energy plant, which the company announced in June when it officially opened its second pulp and paper mill there, ABC Riverina reported on abc.net.au. However, Visy is also determining the benefits of siting the plant in Sydney, New South Wales, or in Brisbane, Queensland, according to company spokesperson Tony Gray. A decision is expected by next year. Source: ForestWeb Forests NSW outsourcing nurseriesForests New South Wales says change is needed in its loss making retail nurseries and that is why they are being outsourced. Tenders have opened for leases on nurseries at Dubbo, Muswellbrook, Gunnedah, Narrandera, Wagga and Cumberland in Sydney. The nurseries employ about 30 full and part-time staff.The director of land management and forestry services, Ross Dickson, admits the agency has not applied the necessary focus on the retail nursery network to make it more successful. However, he says the Government focus is on commercial plantations. He also commented that when these sorts of nurseries are attached to a larger timber company, they’re landed with significant overheads. If run as a single private operation then they’re much more likely to run at a profit. Source: ABC UBC’s $37 million living laboratory openedThe University of British Columbia opened the $37 million Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, a "green building" itself to serve as a laboratory for research into green building design and performance.The building, also called a "living laboratory," will house an international centre for research on sustainability issues, including green building design and operations, environmental policy and community engagement. CIRS will house more than 200 inhabitants from several academic disciplines, including applied science, psychology, geography, forestry and business. Built to exceed LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge standards, the centre is one of the few commercial buildings constructed primarily of certified wood and beetle-killed wood, which is currently British Columbia's largest source of carbon emissions. Its wood structure locks in more than 500 metric tons of carbon, offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions that resulted from the use of other non-renewable construction materials in the building such as cement, steel and aluminium. Jobs
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...and one to end the week on...media coverage
And for the forestry industry - we can probably all relate to this final story. And on that note, have a great weekend and good luck with the Xmas shopping. Cheers. Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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