A newly formed partnership between Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and the New Zealand forestry industry will drive research into the development of better quality and higher yield solid wood timber in both countries.
One of the aims of the $9 million Solid Wood Initiative (SWI) is to generate further profitability for the industry by developing sawmill processes that deliver better performing structural timber to customers whilst also reducing energy, kiln emissions and water use.
FWPA will contribute $2 million over a five year period to the research, allowing Australian and New Zealand researchers to create mill ready technologies that improve products and profit margins.
The objectives of the research include identifying more efficient ways to manufacture better performing structural products, produce better performing appearance grade products and significantly reduce kiln emissions, energy and water consumption in timber drying.
