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A major advance in downstream processing technology, with the potential
to add millions of dollars in value to timber, will be offered to the private
sector.
A major advance in downstream processing technology, with the potential
to add millions of dollars in value to timber, will be offered to the private
sector.
Environment Minister Peter Foss today said the Department of Conservation
and Land Management (CALM) would call for expressions of interest in the
Valwood process, a technique developed by CALM’s Timber Technology unit
at Harvey.
The process involves gluing thin sections of seasoned timber into panels
of various lengths and thicknesses. The panels can be used in a wide range
of products including high quality furniture, bench tops, panelling, doors,
wood carvings and other works of art.
The thin boards are cut from small sawlogs, including thinnings, that
previously would have been sold as low value product such as firewood,
or else burned during forest regeneration burns.
The process was developed as part of a $4.6 million study which CALM
conducted into value-adding to small eucalypts. The study was funded by
CALM, the State and Federal Governments and the timber industry.
The study also led to another technological breakthrough with development
of solar-assisted kilns, which last year achieved an Australian Design
Award and more recently an WA Office of Energy award for commercial design
and innovation.
Both the kilns and Valwood process were accredited with an Australian
Design Mark.
Mr Foss said the decision to call for expressions of interest in the
Valwood process was in line with the State Government’s aim of ensuring
the results of publicly-funded scientific research were made available
to industry.
It also was part of the Government’s forest management policy and timber
industry strategy that set minimum requirements for sawmillers to add value
to 50 per cent of their sawn timber production.
Mr Foss said a licence to manufacture and market the CALM solar-assisted
kilns was granted to the private sector last year. There were now more
than 30 of the kilns in sawmills around Australia.
"CALM’s research has shown that Valwood panels can be made from
a wide range of WA native hardwoods such as jarrah, karri, marri, sheoaks
and Eastern States’ species," he said.
"Even Tasmanian bluegums, which are generally planted to produce
woodchips, can be processed into Valwood for high quality value added products.
"Since the process was first developed in 1989, around $1 million
worth of Valwood has been distributed throughout Australia and Singapore.
"Timber that otherwise would have had little or no commercial use
has been used in panels worth nearly $5000 a cubic metre."
Mr Foss said by licensing the private sector to produce Valwood, CALM
could step up its research into downstream processing technology for species
such as karri and marri.
The research would focus on milling technology, drying conditions, adhesives
and the finishing techniques for the timber.
In Harvey today, Mr Foss commissioned two new solar-assisted kilns builty
by CALM as part of its increased karri and marri research program.
"So far there have been some remarkable results in using karri
and marri to produce a range of furniture and other value-added products,"
he said.
"Marri furniture in particular is winning design awards at major
furniture exhibitions and karri has terrific potential for fine design
furniture as it has great strength which enables smaller sections to be
used."
Media contacts: Ministerial Peter Harris 321 2222 or 222 9595 CALM Terry
Jones 334 0417 Ian Rotheram (097) 29 1913 |
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