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C The Timber Preservers Association of Australia IT'S TIMBER - TREAT IT WELL !!

NOVEMBER ISSUE 2016

Correspondence: 3, Wright Street BRIGHTON VIC 3186 Telephone: (03) 9596 8166 Email: doug@tpaa.com.au Email: secretary@tpaa.com.au Web: www.tpaa.com.au Plant Register Web: www.tpaa.com.au/treatment-plants

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President: Gerry Gardiner (07) 3204 0444

Secretary: Jack Norton (0418) 989 398

Editor: Doug Howick (03) 9596 8166

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Photo by

Jim Bowden

TPAA Councillor and Incoming President

Gerry Gardiner from Brisbane

New Board, New President

A new Executive Team to lead our Association’s

activities in the forthcoming year was approved

and installed during the 2016 Annual General

Meeting (AGM) on 26th

October. Incoming

President Gerry Gardiner tells your Editor that

he is pleased to have accepted the position of

President of TPAA. In stressing that he will be

ably supported on the 2015/2016 TPAA Council

by Kerry Bloor, of Lumber One(NZ) and Jack

Norton as TPAA National Secretary, he

explained that he would not have felt confident in

taking on this commitment without their support.

They will operate as an Executive team and look

forward to growing the number of active members so

that TPAA can be truly representative of all of the

treatment industry. Gerry agrees that a lot has been

achieved by our Past President, Garrie James, for

which we must thank him and that Jack “has been

tireless” in his efforts to modernise TPAA, particularly

with the work he has undertaken on the new TPAA

website.

Mr Gardiner has a long involvement with the Australian

timber industry, having operated his own business as a

timber Importer for some thirty years and more recently

as a business owner of itreat Timber, in Brisbane.

Furthermore, he has held numerous roles within the

industry on bodies such as the Queensland Timber

Importers and the Australian Timber Importers

Associations and he currently represents the ATIA on

the AS 1604 Standards Committee (TM-012).

2015/2016 Councillors

Gerry Gardiner, (President) - itreat Timber

Andrew Forster – Southeast Pine

Angelo Hrastov - Lonza

Elias Akle - Koppers

Garrie James – Outdoor Timber

Harry Greaves – Harry Greaves Consulting

Ian Clarke – TimTech Chemicals

Kerry Bloor – Timbalink NZ

Lew Fisher – Fishers LOSP

Pat Shelton – Shelton Timber

Peter Webb - IVS

Warren Banks – Kop-Coat NZ

Wayne Lewis - Koppers

2015/2016 Technical Committee Harry Greaves (Chairman), Ronald Clawson, Laurie

Cookson, Stephen Crimp, Richard Forrester, Mark

Fortune, James Hague, Greg Jensen , Jack Norton, Rick

White, Kerry Bloor, Noel Coxhead, Tim Evans.

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C NTACT

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TPAA has cooperated with TimberTrader News on their

production of a termite booklet. No doubt the Journal

had recognised the increasing importance and interest in

termites by their readers. In the interests of the users of

treated timber products, we commend this initiative to

improve knowledge of the termite hazard and ways to

prevent problems.

In addition to the TPAA contribution on Wood

Preservation through National Secretary Jack Norton,

the booklet also contains an article on Termite Risk

Management by Nick Livanes, Termite FAQs and a

Product guide.

We believe that the broader timber industry, which is

well represented in the readership of TimberTrader

News will benefit from the information in this booklet.

Have a look at it yourself!

Download Termite Booklet Now

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Items provided in this CONTACT Newsletter

are drawn from a number of sources. The

source of the item is quoted, either by

publication or organization in line with the

practice of fair reporting.

TPAA does not necessarily agree with or

endorse the content of articles written by others.

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3

Pulp Friction: New Wood to Shake

up Furniture Industry

By Caleb Radford - 14th September 2016

(Editor’s Note: THIS IS AMAZING! To me , it

sounds like all the answers to some of the

questions we were asking in Wood Preservation

at CSIRO Division of Forest Products in the

1960s &’70s and there is a passing feeling of

nostalgia for “SCRIMBER”, which CSIRO

Division of Forestry & Forest Products invented

in the 1980’s and which, with the benefit of

hindsight, has often been recognised as “a

development before its time”!)

3Wood blocks manufactured from (left to right)

Blackbutt, Bluegum and Radiata Pine

AN INNOVATIVE “smartwood” project is turning

pulpwood into a material almost identical to tropical

hardwood that is stronger and more environmentally

friendly.

Researchers from the Flinders Centre for NanoScale

Science & Technology (CNST) in South Australia have

collaborated with Australian company 3RT Holdings

Pty Ltd to develop a method for converting cheap

pulpwood into a highly sustainable tropical hardwood

substitute. 3Wood contains the same properties as

tropical hardwood but maintains a stronger dimensional

stability, making it easier to be moulded into furniture.

CNST Director and co-developer David Lewis said

3Wood helped eliminate wastage and was a more

environmentally friendly alternative to other products.

“We can manufacture blocks of wood out of pulpwood

with the same strength as a 100-year-old tree but

without the problems,” he said. “There is a lot of

wastage in current hardwood production. If you take a

big tree only a small percentage of that becomes

hardwood, the rest is chipped and burned.

“We use a glue to stick it (the wood-waste) together and

reconstitute it, get it into one block and do it in an

environmentally friendly system. Our adhesive is

formaldehyde free.”

3Wood is made from a complete log – includes

wastewood – and does not bleed out or stain nearby

floors or walls.

3RT use a process known as lignocellulose

manufacturing technology to compress softwood to

create a new product that is denser, harder and more

durable than the original. During the process, ordinary

pulpwood – which is cheap and accessible – is given a

unique water-based adhesive that reacts with the fibres

in the wood to make it stronger.

The wood is then exposed to a combination of

temperature and pressure to form it into a rectangular

shaped 3wood block with dimensions of 120cm x 13cm

x 5cm.

TAFE SA has designed a table from the new product to

help give the research team a better understanding of the

properties and demonstrate its effectiveness.

Professor Lewis said by changing its form it was easier

to manipulate the wood and shape into different

products without the downsides of normal hardwood.

He said more materials could be added to the wood

to make it termite resistant, UV light resistant, water

resistant or fire retardant but those modifications

were still being developed.

3RT managing director Peter Torreele said the

availability of the new “smartwood” made it easier to

reduce the carbon footprint of the manufacturing

industry.

“There are a lot of materials with a very high carbon

footprint, whereas wood has a very low carbon

footprint,” he said. “Almost 40 per cent of all logs in

the world are being cut into chips for the pulp and paper

industry.

“This 3Wood makes the harvesting of native forests,

unnecessary. We are aiming to replace all applications

where today hardwood would be used if it were

available – furniture, floors, frames and there are other

possibilities – it is endless.” Torreele said 3RT were in

discussions with various companies around the world to

commercialise the product.

South Australia’s capital Adelaide has three long-

standing public universities:

Flinders University, University of South Australia,

and the University of Adelaide, each of which are

consistently rated highly in the international higher

education rankings.

Key contacts: Prof. David Lewis Flinders Centre for

NanoScale Science & Technology Flinders University

61 8 82017905 david.lewis@flinders.edu.au

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Covers launches renewed timber mill

29 September, 2016

Covers Timber and Builders Merchants in

Chichester (UK) celebrated the launch of its renewed

timber mill on 16 September.

The opening of the improved mill completes the multi-

million pound investment Covers has made during the

past two years to the company’s timber services, which

includes expanding the range of hardwood timber stocks

in a new hardwood shed and extended timber

treatment facilities, including the Tanalith green and

Protim clear treatment plants.

Covers’ considerable investment in two Weinig planing

and moulding machines, new production line and

building extension comes at a time when demand for

machined timber remains strong. The updates will

provide their customers with a unique on-site service

including faster production, as well as a vast amount of

different types of planed-all-round skirting, architraves,

TGV boards, shiplaps and mouldings, which can be

machined to order as and when customers require.

As part of the launch, the depot welcomed the leader of

Chichester District Council, Tony Dignum, who

officially unveiled the timber mill in front of other

special guests before they were treated to celebratory

drinks and lunch, and were given a guided tour of all the

new facilities.

Rupert Green, chairman of Covers in Chichester,

said: “Our new facilities demonstrate Covers’

commitment to timber as a leading merchant in the

South. We are absolutely delighted with the additions to

the timber mill, which will offer faster service to both

trade and internal customers of our high quality

products with more choice and convenience. We are

already producing over 150 kilometres of timber a

week, which would have been inconceivable before.”

Premier acquires further sawmill

27 October, 2016

Premier Forest Group (UK) has continued on the

acquisition trail with the purchase of a further

sawmill – Jeffrey Walker Ltd in Harworth (UK).

The deal is the group’s third significant sawmill

acquisition in the last 18 months and pushes its annual

sales revenue to more than £120m.

Jeffrey Walker Ltd converts locally grown pine logs

into sawn timber for use in pallets and packaging,

fencing, garden landscaping, DIY and agricultural

products. The business also runs a fencing production

line and has two heat-treatment kilns and a pressure

treatment plant at its 13-acre site.

“The acquisition of Jeffrey Walker gives us the

opportunity to expand our geographic reach and sales

volume,” said Terry Edgell, director and co-founder of

Premier Forest Group.

“We can now move further into the north of England

and increase our sales capacity for FSC certified

fencing, pallet wood and value-added timber products

across the group. We have also gained access to a wider

range of log types, which will open up new markets to

us including USE Class 4 treated fence posts and

motorway specification materials.”

He said that following Brexit and the devaluation of the

pound, the cost of imported materials had increased

significantly, improving the competitive edge of home-

grown timber products.

“The Jeffrey Walker mill will allow us to expand our

sawmilling capacity across the UK and maximise

opportunities for biomass power generation and waste

recycling,” he added.

Other recent sawmill acquisitions were Cornish sawmill

Duchy Timber in May 2015 and Border Group’s

Croespenmaen sawmill in Crumlin, South Wales less

than six months before that.

Dean Krygier and Simon Harris of Jeffrey Walker Ltd with Terry

Edgell of Premier

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Bora-Care with Mold-Care Now

Packaged in Blue Bottles

October 27, 2016

Nisus Corporation announced that its Bora-Care

product will begin shipping in blue bottles within the

next few months. There is no change in the product

or the package except for the color.

“Bora-Care with Mold-Care is the preferred product for

protecting wood after flooding,” says Lee Barrett, Vice

President of Nisus Pest Control Division, “and with

the flooding in Baton Rouge and Iowa, our bottle

inventory for the year was used up in about six weeks.”

Rather than waiting another few months to be scheduled

with the bottle manufacturer for the normal green bottle,

the company decided to do an immediate run along with

a blue bottle that was being run for another company.

This move ensures consistent delivery to PMPs treating

for wood protection, especially critical in flooded areas.

Bora-Care with Mold-Care is in high demand for

mold control after flooding for good reasons, Nisus

reports. “Disinfectants don’t kill mold in wood and are

not very effective on porous materials,” explains Dr.

Jeff Lloyd, corporate vice president of research &

development at Nisus Corporation. “Mold-Care is 21

times more concentrated than disinfectants, and when

combined with Bora-Care is synergistic. It not only kills

mold, it also prevents mold as long as water in the wood

is controlled.”

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Traction steam engine hauling borax in 1904 (Ed.)

Avoid theft - secure your CCA

CCA is widely known as an extremely valuable

commodity, making it vulnerable to theft. To prevent

your own CCA from being stolen – and then sold on

the black market – the product should be well-secured

on-site, preferably within a locked-up facility.

The illegal trade in treated wood is a growing problem

in Africa, and its growth is tarnishing the reputation of

our own industry. Most stolen CCA is bought by

backyard treaters, who simply dip their poles in CCA,

or paint on the preservative.

These “treated” poles are bought by some sub-

contractors in a bid to save costs. However, dipped

poles typically fail very early, and their widespread use

is one of the factors damaging the reputation of treated

wood in Africa.

It is not CCA that is the problem, but poor treatment

processes in the informal market. This market is so

prevalent in East Africa that it has created much of the

existing demand for treated wood in the region, says

Dolphin Bay Sales Executive for East Africa Darren

Marillier. Of course, the improper handling of CCA

can also lead to health and safety risks and

contamination of the environment.

“Dolphin Bay is taking several measures to help

improve the reputation of our industry in East Africa, in

particular, in partnership with our clients. “We look

forward to telling you more about these efforts soon,”

“Meanwhile, we wish to give the assurance that Dolphin

Bay commits to supplying wood preservative chemicals

only to reputable companies. This is one of the many

ways in which we are working towards ensuring the

sustainability of our industry in Africa.”

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6

Durability and stability assured in

Lunawood screening, cladding and

decking

Image: A Lunawood deck

Lunawood thermowood is a beautiful wood material

from Finland that comes with the assurance of long-

term durability and dimensional stability when used in a

wide range of applications.

Recommended for screening, cladding and decking

applications, Lunawood thermowood is manufactured

using natural methods and is not chemically treated,

providing a non-toxic wood product.

Improved natural durability Field tests conducted in Australia have demonstrated

that Lunawood products are resistant to termites. This

happens when sugar chains – the termite’s food source

in timber fibre – are reduced to levels below the food

source threshold. However, it is still recommended that

appropriate termite barriers are installed to Australian

Standards. LunaThermo D-class thermowood has a

decay resistance class of 2 (durable) (EN 350-2); wood

products with decay resistance classes of 1 and 2 are

suitable for outdoor use without any additional

treatment.

Improved dimensional stability The production of Lunawood thermowood involves

thermal modification wherein the moisture content of

the wood decreases to around 4-6 percent. The

equilibrium moisture content is also permanently

reduced as a result, becoming half that of untreated

wood. Therefore, thermowood does not react to

changes in humidity as drastically as untreated wood,

increasing its dimensional stability and ability to retain

shape far better, all without adding any chemicals.

Non-toxic and chemical-free

Lunawood thermowood is produced using natural

methods with only heat and steam used in the

manufacturing process and no chemicals added

whatsoever. During the process, steam acts as a

protective gas and prevents the wood from splitting and

becoming damaged during treatment.

Improved thermal insulation Tests have shown that the thermal conductivity of

thermowood is reduced by around 20-25% compared

with untreated coniferous wood. As a result,

Lunawood is an excellent choice of material for diverse

applications including exterior doors, cladding,

windows and saunas.

Lunawood is available in Australia from Wright Forest

Products.

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Many myths exist regarding pole restoration. Some

originated from misinformed perceptions, some from

past practices that no longer reflect today's design or

installation processes, and others are simply

misinterpretations or misunderstandings of key

concepts.

(For the interest of our readers, “CONTACT” will run

several of these myths over a few Issues Ed.)

MYTH Poles in concrete cannot be restored.

TRUTH Poles in concrete CAN and SHOULD be

restored.

Not only is pole restoration in concrete possible, it is a

wise practice. Poles set in concrete are more difficult to

accurately inspect because the concrete restricts a full

excavation inspection. An Osmose restoration will

restore a decayed pole in concrete in excess of its code

mandated strength, regardless of the pole's condition

below ground.

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7

Termite proof timber to

weatherproof an outback economy

ABC Western Qld - By Lucy Murray

PHOTO: Blackall-Tambo Regional Council will spend

almost $500,000 fixing the abandoned sawmill. (ABC

Western Qld: Lucy Murray)

The western Queensland town of Tambo has turned

to timber in an effort to diversify their economy.

The council is fixing up the town's abandoned sawmill

to attract a new lessee and a new industry to town. With

the help of the federal and state governments a total of

$1,025,000 will be spent on the renovation, but

Blackall-Tambo Regional Council Mayor Andrew

Martin said the return would 100-fold.

"At the end of the life of the timber licence, which goes

for 25 years, it will return $100 million or more to this

region," he said. "It'll probably bring in a million dollars

a year to the Tambo region alone."

Cr Martin said the major benefit came from the new

mill employees who would call Tambo home.

"Not only do we bring the labour force here but they'll

bring their wives their children and motorcars with

them. "They'll need food, they'll need fuel, they'll need

renovations to their homes, they'll need carpets — they

need to live here," he said.

"Well an extra 20 employees, plus 20 wives plus 2.3

children for each family, you're looking at another

teacher, and another teacher's aide."

A plan to weatherproof the economy

The grazing town has been hit hard by the drought over

the last four years.

Local business women Richelle Curnow said the

graziers had not been able to spend as much in town,

meaning the small businesses were suffering as well

"In every industry you speak to in town, whether it's

people on properties, or just your local shopkeepers,

people have really been finding it hard," she said.

"It is as hard as I have ever seen it. "A lot of the older

people say they've never had it this hard either."

But, the sawmill will provide another group of

employees that will still be spending during agricultural

downturns.

"It takes the troughs out of the bad time and adds to the

peaks in the good times," Cr Martin said. "It would be

the same as opening a mine here, while its primary

production, it's another string to the bow, and it's

another set of jobs that can take up the slack when there

is a beef slump or a wool slump."

Cypress pine in demand

The council's $250,000 timber permit allows the lessee

to take 5,700 tonnes of timber from state forestry

reserves, surrounding the town, per year, for the next 25

years.

The logs are native cypress pine, which is in demand as

it is naturally termite proof. This means it is often used

for building housing frames, but the pine also has a light

honey colour when polished as floorboards.

The permit includes restrictions, such as each tree

logged must have a girth of at least 25 centimetres to

ensure the sustainability of the reserve.

The first logs are expected through the mill by as early

as next year.

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8

HOW TO BE IN DIFFERENT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME

The date was 30 December 1899.

The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through

the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The

navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought the result to

the master, Captain John Phillips.

Warrimoo’s position was LATITUDE 0 degrees 31' N and LONGITUDE 179

degrees 30' W. “Know what this means?” First Mate Payton broke in,

“We’re only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the

International Date Line”.

Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of the

opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his

navigators to the bridge to check and

double check the ship's position. He

changed course slightly so as to bear

directly on his mark. Then he adjusted the

engine speed.

The calm weather and clear night worked in

his favour. At midnight the SS Warrimoo

lay on the Equator at exactly the point

where it crosses the International Date

Line.

The consequences of this bizarre position were several:

The bow of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere and in the

middle of summer.

The stern of the ship was in the Northern Hemisphere and in the

middle of winter.

The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.

The date in the forward part of the ship was 1 January 1900.

The ship was therefore not only in two different days, two different

months, two different years and two different seasons, but in two

different centuries – all at the same time!

I know it has nothing to do with timber treatment but it’s a nice story! Ed.