2019 International Forest Industries Magazine December / January IFI Dec Jan 2019 Digital | Page 16

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS
Pollmeier expands its product range with
spruce laminated veneer lumber
As of 2019, Pollmeier Massivholz
GmbH & Co. KG will be offering
spruce laminated veneer lumber
(LVL), which is to be produced at
the Creuzburg / Thuringia site. So
far, only beech veneer plywood,
known as BauBuche, has been
produced in the plant, which went
into operation in 2014.
“I see the new veneer plywood
products made of spruce as an
ideal addition to our product range.
Spruce laminated veneer lumber is
an established material that is used
in structural timber construction
for many standard components
in non-visible areas. By contrast,
beech laminated veneer lumber
is mainly used for visible timber
constructions and heavily loaded
individual components. This means
that spruce laminated veneer
lumber is not in competition with
our BauBuche products, “explains
Managing Director Ralf Pollmeier.
“In recent years, we have
optimized our veneer lumber
production. Now everything is
running smoothly and we want to
go into 3-shift operation in 2019.
This gives us sufficient production
capacity for the production of
laminated veneer lumber products
from both types of wood. Both
product lines have high growth
potential, “adds Pollmeier.
Pollmeier will offer spruce
laminated veneer lumber in
various strength classes both as
an exclusively longitudinal product
as well as with transverse layers.
The new Pollmeier Fichte LVL will
be presented to the public for the
first time at the Bau in Munich in
January 2019 (stand no. 318 / hall
B5).
In 2012, the hardwood
specialist Pollmeier surprised the
industry with the construction
of the world’s first hardwood-
processing laminated veneer
lumber plant. Thus Pollmeier
entered new technological territory.
After the start of production in
autumn 2014, the production
had to be partially rebuilt and
optimized.
Ralf Pollmeier,
Managing Director
The beech veneer plywood
from Pollmeier was a world novelty
and is still the only constructional
material industrially manufactured
from hardwood. The BauBuche has
been able to prove its efficiency
in numerous reference projects
throughout Europe and is today
valued in both timber engineering
and interior design.
Rayonier invests in two Quebec mills
Rayonier Advanced Materials is
investing to update the primary
breakdown line at its La Sarre,
Quebec plant. The company is
installing a new Small Log Line that
will feature a Knuckle Turner and
Extended Length Infeed with slew,
skew and tilt capabilities, PGLR log
rotation monitoring and correction
system, canter, sideboard profiler,
Quad Arbor Sawbox and VSS
vertical shape sawing gang system.
The stud mill operation
processes Eastern SPF logs from
3” - 17” diameter, with the line’s
maximum operating speed at 600
fpm. The La Sarre mill will also
install a sawmill Multi-Track Fence
as it retools to improve its process.
Close on the heels of the
investment in the La Sarre
operation, Rayonier A.M. ordered
a new VSS vertical shape sawing
gang system for its mill at Bearn,
Quebec, as well as a planer mill
Multi-Track Fence for that location.
The Bearn mill produces random
length lumber.
Timber Queensland Board elected
Timber Queensland held its Annual
General Meeting last week. A
unanimous decision by members
present, elected Mr. James Hyne,
Stakeholder Engagement Manager,
Hyne Timber as the new Chair
and Mr. Paul Bidwell Deputy
Chief Executive, Master Builders
Queensland as Deputy Chair.
Timber Queensland Chair Mr.
James Hyne said the incoming
Board has a strong eye to the
future given the significant
potential for further industry
growth and development. “A key
strength of the industry body is its
diversity of members and Directors
who understand all facets of the
industry and the opportunities that
are available for future growth,”
said Mr. Hyne.
“Timber Queensland provides a
united, powerful voice on political,
technical, market development,
industrial and environmental
issues. As an industry, we have
a positive story to tell as timber
really is the ultimate renewable,”
he said.
The other Directors elected at
the AGM included:
• S
 kene Finlayson, Managing
Director, Finlayson Timber and
Hardware
• R
 obert Tapiolas, Director,
Parkside Group
• C
 urly Tatnell, Chairman, DTM
Timber
• D
 oug Simms, Managing Director,
Simms Group
• I  slay Robertson, Chief Operating
Officer, HQPlantations
• J  ohn Ryan, Fabrication Sales
14 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019
Manager, Sunshine Mitre 10
• B
 ob Engwirda, Chief Executive
Officer, Hurfords Wholesale
“We also look forward to
the launch of the Queensland
Parliamentary Friends of the
Queensland Forest and Timber
Industry Network in 2019, with the
inaugural reception to take place in
the Premier’s Hall on 27 February,”
Mr. Hyne said.
Timber Queensland Chief
Executive Officer, Mick Stephens
said the Board has identified
some key priorities going forward,
including long-term resource
security and manufacturing
competitiveness, including low cost
energy and opportunities such as
promotion of bioenergy.
“Now, more than ever before,
our industry’s future rests on
Government decisions that
will be made during the next
few years. These decisions will
impact resource availability and
will influence manufacturing
investment and the use of our
products in the built environment,”
said Mr. Stephens.