The rules have shifted. Long-term contracts or multiple projects are no longer assured. Contractors now face shorter cycles, narrower margins, and uncertain pipelines. This change has led to different purchasing habits. Instead of focusing on…
Following the success of its inaugural event, BoardTech returns on 17–18 September 2026 to Nukor’s showroom in Edenvale, Johannesburg, to showcase the latest products, technology, and expertise for the cabinetry, furniture manufacturing, kitchen, joinery, and…
Nukor has been dedicated for over 60 years to supplying top-tier machinery, expert technical support, and reliable after-sales service to Southern Africa’s woodworking, sawmilling, and forestry industries. As our clients expand, so do we. We…
Harvesting and transport specialist Mkhoba Forestry has invested in the proven TimberPro 725D levelling harvester and SP Maskiner 761LF head combination to address steep-slope cut-to-length operations in south-western KwaZulu-Natal. Mkhoba Forestry is based in Harding…
When you need to slow or stop the spread of fire, you need to remove the fuel. This is where professionals rely on the STIHL BR range of backpack blowers to clear combustible material and…
Forestry does not wait. Production targets don’t pause, terrain doesn’t get easier, and downtime is never convenient. For contractors across Africa, every decision comes down to one question: Will this machine keep working when I…
By Graeme Wild, CEO of Sappi Southern Africa After many years in forestry and the bioeconomy, I have come to believe that we sometimes make the relationship between people and trees seem shallower than it…
The FSC Stadium of Life in Maseru, Lesotho, has been selected for the Top 50: EMEA Regional Showcase at the Dezeen Awards 2026, from more than 4,300 entries across 91 countries. The FSC Stadium of…
An average Eucalyptus pole is handled at least 13 times from felling to final sale or export. Much of that handling is now mechanical, and at Khulani Timbers in Limpopo, Bell Equipment’s logging machines carry…
By David Marks of MEWA There are moments in an engineer’s life when it is probably best not to examine too closely how they arrived at their present situation. Standing in the MEWA factory, watching…
The rules have shifted. Long-term contracts or multiple projects are no longer assured. Contractors now face shorter cycles, narrower margins, and uncertain pipelines. This change has led to different purchasing habits. Instead of focusing on…
Pinky Mooko, director of Baleti Estate in Mpumalanga, combines forestry with avocado, macadamia, pecan and honey production, while creating permanent and seasonal employment opportunities within the local community. Through Sappi’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD)…
PG Bison has lodged an anti-dumping application with the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) regarding imports of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) from China, which PG Bison believes are being dumped into the Southern…
By Namhla Phikwa Although I had already spent a significant amount of time researching timber housing for my master’s research, I arrived at the RAW Modular camp confident I understood timber as a construction material…
By Joy Crane Forty-one years ago, a small company was established in Knysna to manufacture handcrafted log homes. Today, the T&B Group’s prefabricated building systems remain in demand in South Africa and, through savvy management…
Following the success of its inaugural event, BoardTech returns on 17–18 September 2026 to Nukor’s showroom in Edenvale, Johannesburg, to showcase the latest products, technology, and expertise for the cabinetry, furniture manufacturing, kitchen, joinery, and…
By Joy Crane How does a sawmill without its own log supply survive Covid, a collapsing structural timber market and soaring input costs driven by load-shedding? For the White River Saw Mills (WRSM) Group, the…
Nukor has been dedicated for over 60 years to supplying top-tier machinery, expert technical support, and reliable after-sales service to Southern Africa’s woodworking, sawmilling, and forestry industries. As our clients expand, so do we. We…
Localisation has become one of South Africa’s favourite economic buzzwords. It appears in policy documents, industry master plans and conference speeches. Yet for many manufacturers, the reality on the factory floor tells a different story.…
By Joy Crane Forestry South Africa’s annual general meeting offers a glimpse into a rural industry that may be small in national agricultural terms, yet its resilience, ability to build relationships within and beyond its…
By Joy Crane There was a steady stream of visitors through the hall housing the WoodEX for Africa exhibition in June, and one exhibit stopped people in their tracks. Holzbau CPT erected a large exhibit…
By Joy Crane Roy Southey, executive director of Sawmilling South Africa (SSA), says the depressed local market made 2025/26 an extremely tough year for sawmillers, yet they have shown resilience that many rural communities appreciate.…
Harvesting and transport specialist Mkhoba Forestry has invested in the proven TimberPro 725D levelling harvester and SP Maskiner 761LF head combination to address steep-slope cut-to-length operations in south-western KwaZulu-Natal. Mkhoba Forestry is based in Harding…
When you need to slow or stop the spread of fire, you need to remove the fuel. This is where professionals rely on the STIHL BR range of backpack blowers to clear combustible material and…
By David Marks of MEWA in Darling, Western Cape In the May 2024 issue of WoodBiz Africa, I wrote an article about the extraordinary engineering of the De Havilland Mosquito. This World War II British…
By Joy Crane It has been two years since the last South African Saw Doctors Educational Association (SASDEA) meeting, and sawmill managers and saw doctors travelled from as far afield as Zimbabwe and Eswatini to…
The South African Saw Doctors Educational Association (SASDEA) AGM has elected Stefan Botha from Tekwani Sawmill to lead the organisation as it prepares to launch the new qualification amid rising costs due to global geopolitical…
Panel and board manufacturer PG Bison has issued a call to action for businesses across the wood products and furniture supply chain to ensure they are fully tax-compliant and to report those who aren’t. The…
By Joy Crane Dr Tatenda Mapeto of the Department of Forestry in Nelson Mandela University’s Natural Resource Science and Management Cluster is leading Future21, the EU-funded project to reshape how universities prepare students for work…
Forestry does not wait. Production targets don’t pause, terrain doesn’t get easier, and downtime is never convenient. For contractors across Africa, every decision comes down to one question: Will this machine keep working when I…
Africa Biomass Company (ABC) understands the operational challenges of wood recycling and, since 2004, has been at the forefront of developments in biomass recycling and a market-leading equipment supplier and contractor to the forestry and…
By Joy Crane The annual Wood Conference in Cape Town is the only timber-focused event in South Africa that has brought together a network of over 1000 people from diverse professions and interests. It is…
Forestry is a tough job. Mud, slopes, stumps, water crossings, and long hours in remote areas quickly reveal weaknesses. Downtime under these conditions is frustrating and costly. Machines must be versatile, robust, and efficient enough…
When STIHL marks one hundred years in business, it does so from a position few in the forestry equipment sector can match: a century shaped by engineering innovation and long-term relationships with professional users. Founded…
South Africa’s commercial plantation forests are mostly FSC certified. That’s not a small thing. It represents a significant and ongoing investment by forest managers in responsible practice, and it’s reflected in the cost of the…
Over 1000 professionals, academics, business owners, investors, sawmillers and students interested in using timber in the built environment joined the Kuratle family to celebrate the 15th annual Wood Conference in Cape Town in February. The…
In the demanding, ever-evolving landscape of Southern Africa’s forestry sector, operational efficiency, reliability, and strong technical support are essential. AfrEquip, a specialist supplier and support partner, has spent over two decades refining its role within…
MTS Parts have more than a decade of experience in the Forestry and Agriculture equipment industry, MTS Parts is a leader in the supply and maintenance of Forestry Machines and equipment. Catering to a diverse…
By David Marks, CEO of MEWA Let me tell you about a project that was a rollercoaster adventure in problem-solving, complex mathematics, engineering across many disciplines, creativity, craftsmanship and teamwork. I couldn’t be prouder of…
Registration for Focus on Forestry 2026 is open, and the organisers, CMO, Nelson Mandela University and Forestry South Africa have announced that the theme for Focus on Forestry 2026 is Operational excellence in African forestry: Building…
Founded in January 1989, Numill is a leading South African wholesaler of timber and building materials, supplying manufacturers and resellers across Southern Africa. Built on a foundation of reliability, trust, and long-standing relationships, Numill has…
Johannesburg, South Africa – Visitor registration is now officially open for WoodEX for Africa 2026, taking place from 9–11 June 2026 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg. WoodEX for Africa is Southern Africa’s leading trade…
Pine plantation Recent high-resolution climate modelling research has revealed that the suitability of key pine species for plantation forestry will shift dramatically by 2060. The lead author, Dr Jaco-Pierre van der Merwe of York Timbers,…
Farming is in Ewald Klingenberg’s blood. His family is part of the fifth generation of German settlers who originally came to the southernmost part of the picturesque Mpumalanga Province as missionaries and later began farming…
Wood took the stage in November at the 2025 Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) in Cape Town, where industry experts addressed delegates in a timber-focused workshop on the theme Timber transformed: Building our future…
Wits University and Sappi Southern Africa have renewed their research partnership to increase forestry resilience to climate change risks by extending the Wits Sappi Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability until 2028. The new…
Maximise productivity, reduce downtime, and cut smarter with every shift using the STIHL MS 382 petrol chainsaw while gaining consistent returns through power, efficiency, and durability. You’re a reader scanning the financial news, eyeing diversified…
Our sawmilling customer needed a solution and decided to build a machine unlike any we have delivered before. The result? The double arbour Multirip 260 is our largest and most powerful machine to date.…
The FX Group was established when its board upgrading specialist, FX Veneers, expanded into melamine pressing. It was then forwardly integrated into retail through its HDS Cut & Edge stores, and backwardly integrated into panel…
The retail arm of The FX Group, trading as Home Décor Solutions (HDS) Cut and Edge, is celebrating its 25th year of changing the wood-based boards industry and building its reputation on value, service, and…
The bark, leaves, and roots of indigenous tree species in Africa form the backbone of traditional medicine, providing remedies passed down through generations. However, indiscriminate harvesting is threatening ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of…
By Joy Crane Visitor numbers were up from last year, with a significant increase in attendees from other African countries showing an interest in the South African exhibitors who dominated the 4000 square metres of…
Introducing John Deere’s new 2144G forestry swing machine – built for the woods. Efficient. Agile. Productive. The John Deere 2144G Swing Machine is changing the way forestry professionals tackle timber harvesting. Purpose-built with insights from…
By Joy Crane All photos by Joy Crane © ForSawn Media Pty Ltd The organisers and several exhibitors celebrated 50 years of dedicated service to the sector, reaffirming the biennial trade fair’s global position as…
By Joy Crane All photos by Joy Crane © ForSawn Media Pty Ltd Over the past three years or so, a subtle yet significant shift has been taking root in South Africa’s sawmilling industry. A…
Steep slopes are one of the new frontiers of mechanised harvesting systems as forestry companies and contractors seek to find the safest, most productive and cost-effective means of harvesting timber. Steep-slope harvesting machines require exceptional…
By Chris Chapman The 23rd Forestry South Africa AGM provided fascinating insights into how the public and private sectors are chipping away at the structural reforms and investments required to spark an exciting phase of…
As cosy nights and warm drinks become the norm this South African winter, we face a critical, less welcome seasonal threat: wildfires. Dry air, dormant vegetation, and fierce winds turn harmless debris into explosive fuel,…
John Deere’s next generation of 1270H and 1470H wheeled harvesters are equipped with many improvements designed to boost productivity, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance operator comfort, all while standing up to the rugged demands of…
By Chris Chapman Winch-assisted steep slope harvesting has come to South Africa for the first time, with two Ponsse Cobra wheeled harvesters doing the business in the KZN Midlands and Melmoth in Zululand. The harvesters…
By Joy Crane The 2025 Precision Forestry Symposium focused on the application of innovative technologies, open-source and specialised software, and artificial intelligence (AI) to plan, manage and monitor operations from nursery to logyard. The Department…
By Joy Crane The Kuratle Group’s 14th annual Wood Conference, held on 25 February 2025 at the CTICC in Cape Town, convened a diverse group of architects, wood scientists, timber engineers, sawmillers, students, and enthusiasts…
The Lantern House community centre in Johannesburg’s Eldorado Park is an example of adaptive reuse that repurposed and upgraded the defunct and fire-damaged Goud Street Substation into an aesthetically pleasing community centre using cross-laminated timber…
South Africa’s furniture industry is grappling with a surge of undervalued imports that distort market pricing and undermine fair competition. These imports are often declared under incorrect Harmonised System (HS) tariff codes, which mask the…
Austro Woodworking is back with a new team and a renewed focus on Biesse‘s high-end, technologically advanced Italian-manufactured machines like its well-known Stream edgebanding and Rover CNC machines. The new company’s director has assembled a…
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Southern Africa has registered a process to develop a new Forest Stewardship Standard (FSS) for natural forests in South Africa by year end. Currently, there is no FSS specifically designed…
Designed by international experts to last longer than similar industry standard chains, the STIHL Rapid Micro Harvester Special (RMHS) has up to a 70% longer service life and less chance of downtime than conventional harvester…
Denver de Kock, MD of RD Sawmill near Maclear in SA’s Eastern Cape Province, defies harsh trading conditions with a thriving sawmilling business. The multi-generational De Kock league of aunts, uncles, brothers and cousins have…
By Chris Chapman Forest scientists from all corners of the country gathered in Pietermaritzburg recently, showcasing the breadth and depth of research currently on the go in the forestry sector. It has been seven long…
Bricks made from alien trees, vaulted floors and ceilings … innovative design for Cape housing project addresses environmental issues and climate change, using old-school technology to reduce the fossil fuel footprint of construction. Read more…
For the first time in 17 years, the Green Building Council South Africa’s (GBCSA) annual Convention programme included an entire session on timber in the built environment and an impressive exhibition stand built with mass…
It’s an easy choice when a chainsaw combines performance and reliability with fuel savings and user comfort. The STIHL MS 382 is this machine… Specifically designed for the rigorous demands of professional forestry, plantation management…
Wood-based building products and design processes come in many forms. In the latest Talking Timber online seminar, three approaches to architecture were discussed. Leon Pienaar explained how Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) students experiment with…
The 14th Fire Management Symposium, held in Karkloof in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Midlands, was well attended by FPA managers, firefighters, land managers, foresters, researchers and trainers, once again proving its worth as the country’s premier…
In January 2025, the Nukor Group will celebrate its 65th anniversary and open the doors to a fresh chapter in its storied history. It has relocated to its new headquarters in Edenvale, Johannesburg. The relocation…
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has introduced the JSE Ventures Carbon Market, a new trading platform developed in partnership with Xpansiv. Trading carbon credits and renewable energy certificates (RECs) stored in local or global registries…
The superstructure for the four-storey CheiChei Living building, which is Africa’s first cross-laminated timber (CLT) hybrid structure with more than two levels has been completed and fit-out is well underway. The first residents are scheduled…
A recent wattle field day organised by NCT Forestry provided an ideal opportunity for local tree farmers to pick up some pointers from the wattle “experts” who have been working with wattle for decades. The…
In the right hands, wattle trees are true champion trees, giving commercial and small-scale growers multiple product options. Unmanaged, these prolific seeders can spread everywhere across the hills and valleys, negatively impacting biodiversity and using…
Clinton Fielies was born in the Garcia forestry village 39 years ago. He grew up in one of the classic wooden bosbou (forestry) houses around the corner from where he lives today with his wife…
Rob Scott, owner of the Shire Eco Lodge near Stutterheim, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, says the curved shape of its chalets takes its cue from nature. “I wanted the design of the chalets…
NMU’s creative duo Noa Solomon and Rudolph Botha won the 2024 National Timber Design Competition with their Blooming Branches design incorporating engineered timber to vertically extend the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) building at the University…
The highly anticipated second Timber Construction Conference again showed that “growing timber connections” involves human relationships, supply chain strength, environmental stewardship, economic sustainability and transdisciplinary collaboration across knowledge domains. The 230-strong enthusiastic group of architects,…
The annual Timber Construction Colloquium was an instructive forerunner to the Growing Timber Connections conference, presenting multiple research topics on improving the quality, knowledge and applications of engineered timber. The increasing number of master’s, doctorate and post-doctoral…
PG Bison hosted over 100 guests to celebrate the launch of its impressive new medium-density fibreboard (MDF) line in Mkhondo, Mpumalanga on 8 and 9 October 2024. Gerhard Victor, PG Bison’s CEO and Greg Boulle, CEO of…
A chainsaw operator’s lightning-fast reflexes aren’t enough to prevent chainsaw injuries, making personal protective equipment (PPE) an unwavering necessity. While most professional chainsaw operators use essential PPE gear like goggles, eye protection, and gloves, protective…
Witzenberg Properties (Pty) Ltd is seeking a Forester to manage harvesting and silviculture operations in our forestry department. You will be based in the Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres. As a member of our timber division team,…
Festool’s 18-volt battery-powered ExoActive exoskeleton assists you by boosting your arms when doing strenuous overhead tasks. Whether installing wall cabinets or a ceiling, shopfitting or painting, the ExoActive exoskeleton gives users an added boost when…
With its Wood-Mizer log processing line, New Heights Sawmill lies in the shadow of South Africa’s most extensive mountain range, the magnificent Drakensberg, which in Afrikaans means “dragon” mountain. The farm and sawmill trading as…
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR PROVISION OF ENUMERATION,GROWTH & YIELD RESEARCH AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICES The purpose of this expression of interest (EOI) is to engage company profiles from interested parties who wish to participate…
The high rainfall, cool temperate climate, and well-drained red soils make the Hermannsburg area, with its traditional authority villages, Mbulwane and Ematimolo, ideal for growing Acacia mearnsii (wattle) trees. Two small-scale wattle timber growers are…
Khethezakhe Nkosiniphile Zulu, a small-scale tree farmer and timber transporter, was awarded the prestigious NCT Small-scale Tree Farmer of the Year Award at the organisation’s AGM. He obtained his matric at Nokhalela High School in…
Delft Forestry, a family-owned and run business, won NCT‘s Commercial Tree Farmer of the Year Award. The family’s farms, Delft, Welkom and Lodewykslust Landgoed, cover a total area of 4,600 hectares in the Mkhondo area…
Uganda’s Timber Innovation Centre (TIC) is attempting to showcase timber-based construction to meet the needs for infrastructure development and housing for millions of homeless and young people entering the housing market. In 2018, Lightwood, an initiative…
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has released its flagship publication, Forest Futures. This pivotal work leverages current scientific research to assess the state of the world’s forests and explore their potential for profound change. It…
The Great Southern BioBlitz is an opportunity for all Southern Hemisphere countries to record organisms during Spring and showcase our beautiful biodiversity to the world. The Great Southern BioBlitz: 20 – 23 September 2024. Participants in…
BPW has launched a new update to the AirSave piping kit that immediately replaces the previous generation. The primary advantage is using metallic parts and connections instead of the current plastic components. This will provide…
Nearly 60% of the hottest hotspot for concentrations of vulnerable plant species, the Agulhas Plain in the most southerly region of Africa, is threatened by biological invasion. However, the Regenerative Space (R-SPACE) team has been…
In 2019, Cyclone Idai tore through the Southeastern highlands of Zimbabwe, severely damaging 70% of infrastructure, homes and Tilbury Estate, an area covering 10,000 hectares owned by Border Timbers. In June 2023, Border Timbers contracted…
Nwabisa Mpompo’s journey from unemployment to establishing a business and becoming MTO’s silviculture contractor at Garcia Plantation has not been easy. It is a journey of overcoming self-doubt, seizing opportunities and gritty determination. “Early this…
There is a place few dare to tread from a design and a construction perspective, as there are no guidelines. David Marks, managing director of Marks Engineering Works, calls this area of timber construction; extreme…
For over four decades, budding and professional woodworkers visiting Rare Woods SA in Cape Town have been awed by the unique scent and opportunity to feel and see rows, shelves and stacks of thousands of…
The evolution of modern forestry machinery has ushered in an era where technology plays a crucial role in delivering faster cycle times and improved efficiency. Today, this advancement reaches new heights with the debut of…
PG Bison is seeking a seasoned Financial Manager to join our team in George. Are you an experienced Financial Manager ready to take on a new challenge in a rapidly growing, technologically advanced company? PG…
On 28 June 2024, the XXVI International Union Of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress issued the Stockholm Congress Statement calling for resolute and equitable actions and the best use of the knowledge provided by…
When Incomac’s Italian Drying Group (IDG) acquired the Nardi brand in December 2023, it created a business boasting the installation of over 25,000 kiln systems worldwide. Continue reading – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/june-2024-issue-38/#june-2024-issue-38/12/
Nukor’s large stand featuring working machines gave visitors a taste of international industry trade shows where machines and dust extraction systems are put through their paces. Stephanie Maier of Nukor said the show exceeded their…
The new South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) website includes an industry tender bulletin portal that lists all government tenders related to the industry in a central location. This is critical for members looking to grow…
The South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) has redesigned its website with new functionalities, including an employment portal, business directory, and tender bulletin in an easily navigable and accessible format. A significant change is that membership…
Prof Daniela Kleinschmit of the University of Freiburg is the new president of the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), succeeding John Parrotta. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in IUFRO’s 132-year history, as…
Nomvelo Nzuza, a Grade 12 student at Phindizwe High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal, is inspired by a video she watched at school about a young woman who overcame home and school challenges to establish her…
The annual WoodEX for Africa trade show co-located with the Big Five Construct Exhibition at Gallagher Convention Centre last month was well-attended. There was a steady stream of visitors from when the doors opened on…
In June, IUFRO launched the Resilient Future Forests Laboratory (RFFL) website and guidebook at the World Congress. The RFFL is establishing a global network of long-term, operational plots in different climatic and socio-economic conditions to…
The Winelands Fire Protection Association (WFPA) reports that for every one-degree increase in global temperatures, there’s a 29% increase in fire risk. Between 1 December 2023 and 31 January 2024, more than 6,000 fires consumed…
How legal action can help the country adapt better to climate change By Tracy-Lynn Field, Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law, University of the Witwatersrand. Massive wildfires broke out in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province on…
The time is overdue for all Southern Africans to realise that the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) is a regional treasure of knowledge and expertise. Its work has far-reaching influence on private and public…
Exhilarating is the word that best sums up the experiences of the 4,300 delegates who attended the 26th International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) World Congress in June and experienced 3,500 presentations, 200 sessions,…
Following the launch of five new models in its 25th anniversary in 2023, Irish materials handling specialist Combilift recently premiered the Combi-CLL (Container Log-Loader) for mechanising loading logs and packs of timber into containers. Continue…
Since its inception in 2018, over 82,000 visitors and 13,000 attendees, including 7,400 South Africans, have visited and completed one or more of WoodApp’s free and comprehensive online courses on all aspects of building with…
Unless affordable housing is available, the traditional building sector, architects and engineers, and the government procurement process prioritise timber and carbon-friendly projects like mass timber. The continued survival of South Africa’s sawmilling and wood products…
Kleiberit, the family-owned German industrial adhesives specialist at the forefront of the global industry for over 75 years, was introduced in South Africa 25 years ago and quickly gained traction in the woodworking and sawmilling…
Montigny, the largest privately owned and integrated timber company in Southern Africa, has augmented its in-house harvesting team by adding a Ponsse Ergo harvester and a dual-purpose Buffalo forwarder-skidder. The mechanisation drive for safety and…
The demand for mass timber in construction is increasing as society seeks to build with more sustainable materials. Building codes and design guidance for using mass timber vary substantially from country to country, as does…
While I have very little interest in the engineering of aeroplanes and boats, my interest takes flight when they are built from timber. Recently, I came across a fascinating video clip about the de Havilland…
South Africa’s internationally acclaimed interior and furniture designer, Tristan du Plessis, is the Decorex Designer of the Year 2024. From the 2023 Restaurant and Bar Awards Best Club/Night Venue, Giselle Miami, the popular Gorgeous George…
Dr Benice Sivparsad is leaving the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) at the end of the year to join the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) School of Agriculture, Earth, and Environmental Sciences. Benice Sivparsad, a…
Forestry South Africa (FSA) reports that there are over 25,000 small-scale timber growers, with the majority being subsistence farmers supported by forestry cooperatives and social development initiatives of large corporations. The commercial tree species include…
A highly productive sawmill in Liberia uses Wood-Mizer technology to turn large-diameter rubberwood logs into export-quality sawn timber for furniture and flooring production plants in Asia. The global demand for rubber motivated Firestone Tire &…
Continuous improvement describes the philosophy of the family-owned German wood products company, Best Wood Schneider. Seven years ago, it embarked on an ambitious greenfield project at Meßkirch to establish an automated end-to-end process of manufacturing…
Prof Mary Scholes and her team at the Sappi Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are pioneering research and capacity-building initiatives to equip the forestry industry to…
Congratulations to Guy Payn Sawmills for participating in the Crickmay & Associates Intermill Comparison (IMC) and attaining the 2024 Sawmill Improvement Award. Andrew Crickmay announced the winner during Sawmilling South Africa’s (SSA’s) annual general meeting…
Nestled in the picturesque KwaZulu-Natal Midlands area of Karkloof is Jetteson Timbers, a family-owned and operated business with Brendon Raw at its helm. Brendon grew up in Karkloof, outside Howick, where his parents owned 90…
Over the past few months, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) received numerous complaints from industry stakeholders and consumers about the sale of illegally treated…
Blowers are an integral part of fire management programmes. The STIHL BR 700 and BR 800 backpack blowers are powerful, reliable and robust, making them ideal for this type of work when you need blowers…
After almost two years of intensive research, the EcoReFibre (Ecological solutions for recovery of secondary materials from post-consumer fibreboards) consortium met in Germany in April to consider interim research results. In May 2022, Dieffenbacher and…
Resource-efficient methods are increasingly in demand in the mass timber construction industry, and optimising the production process – including the adhesive system – is key to affordability and profitability. With the ever-growing demand for mass…
Since Termolegno was established in 1994 by the Fornasier family, demand for the “100% designed and made in Italy” brand’s reliable and efficient drying solutions has grown enormously. We aim to offer our clients a…
Contemporary South African architects, engineers, wood scientists, builders and manufacturers are embracing cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction while grappling with a critical challenge: preserving the wood effectively while adhering to stringent building standards. Willie Conradie believes…
According to the UN FAO, 40%, or about 15,624,000 hectares, of Zimbabwe is forested. Among these, 5.1% qualify as primary biodiverse and carbon-dense forests. Presently, Zimbabwe boasts roughly 130,000 hectares of planted or exotic trees.…
Marcus is the 31-year-old co-founder and managing director of Johannesburg based Mass Timber Technologies (MTT), which he describes as “A progressive and innovative business based on design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) engineered timber solutions…
New Forests has appointed Yida Kemoli as managing director, Africa, reporting to company chief executive officer Mark Rogers and joining the New Forests’ executive committee. We are extremely excited to welcome Yida to the team.…
In a positive move to reduce its carbon footprint, Sappi Southern Africa has concluded a milestone 175GWh per annum renewable energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Enpower Trading, a National Energy Regulator of SA (NERSA)-licensed…
PG Bison is commissioning the state-of-the-art medium-density fibreboard (MDF) line at its Mkhondo manufacturing facility in June 2024, one month ahead of schedule and on budget, with full commercial production starting in July 2024. Gerhard…
Africa Biomass Company (ABC) has been a pioneer in developing biomass processing equipment and products such as wood chips, biofuel, and mulch in both the agriculture and forestry industries of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa…
As a South African entrepreneur looking to expand your woodworking business, you might wonder about the best options for high-quality machinery. Guangzhou KDT Machinery Co (KDT) is a leading manufacturer of woodworking machinery that has…
John Deere’s new large-size class 20-ton 2010H and 25-ton 2510H forwarders offer 25% more load capacity and share the same new engine space, and their hoods were designed with BMW Design Works. The twin-motor driveline…
John Deere has launched a novel two-roller harvester head for hardwood and softwood applications that are fully compatible with the new large-class H Series harvesters and tracked harvesters. It replaces the H270 head. The H216…
Compared to the G Series, the new H Series harvesters enable significantly increased productivity and remarkably lower fuel consumption per harvested cubic meter. John Deere is a frontrunner in setting new production system standards in…
John Deere is rolling out its first H Series wheeled cut-to-length forest machine models. The large-size class machine models – the 1270H and 1470H harvesters and the new 20-ton load capacity class 2010H and 25-ton…
When Dayne Wright, from Millennia Architects, unleashed his creativity on the structures and designs of a resort at an Eastern Cape private game reserve, he went out on a limb. He included the first curved…
This is a serious heading with lots of tongue-tying adjectives. But what is it? A photo is worth a thousand words, and when you look at Bunjil Place in Australia, you can see why I…
When we look at solid wood furniture, how many of us think about the tree and its forest, rain, groundwater, geophysical terrain, or the long and involved process of felling and cutting the tree into…
Set against the backdrop of China’s ambitious drive to modernise its industrial base and accelerate the development of new production capacity, this year’s CIFM/Interzum Guangzhou event, with the apt theme of “Surpass”, attracted 215,166 trade…
Third-year interior design student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Banele Mthethwa, won first prize in the tenth annual SA Furniture Design Competition. Mthethwa was announced as the winner in the student category at…
A forest of officials attended the recent handover of the Mission, Nqamakwe and Mgomanzi plantations to the Tobotshane, Amahlubi and Amazizi traditional councils in Butterworth, Eastern Cape by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the…
A new study reveals compelling evidence that forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in Gabon and the Republic of Congo have more larger mammals and critically endangered species, such as gorillas and elephants,…
FSC forest management certification is back on the cards for Zimbabwe after taking a backseat for almost 15 years, largely due to severe economic challenges, such as hyperinflation, high interest rates, an unstable exchange rate,…
“I realised there was money in wood when I saw a Wood-Mizer sawmill cutting a log,” says Krishna Wood Sawmill managing director Jinajunga Borisomoya. The former transport company owner delivered logs to sawmills in Kolwezi,…
The Forestry South Africa (FSA) online seminar in March provided a platform for a few of the forestry sector’s leading researchers and industry representatives to present an overview of the cross-disciplinary FSA-funded research programmes and…
Team Arxada‘s collective responsibility for fostering a safe and secure work environment contributed significantly to the company, marking, on the 22nd of December, 2023, an impressive record of 31 uninterrupted years without loss of time…
As autumn sets in, the weather conditions create favourable opportunities for mould growth on industrially treated timber. Failure to implement measures to prevent it can decrease timber grade yield and return on investment. Whilst mould…
Hermanus-based Greg Cleaver Woodcraft is a highly creative small business that can turn its hand to anything from decking to hot tubs, furniture or custom-made rifle stocks to homes and bigger construction jobs, including the…
In November, the Kitchen Studio, South Africa’s largest and most awarded independent kitchen manufacturer, celebrates three decades of designing, manufacturing and installing high-end bespoke living spaces. The ethos of quality is communicated by everyone who…
The days of applying pesticides to kill organisms destroying a newly planted crop, and inadvertently impacting the health of people, animals, soils and waterways are gone. In its place is a bewildering cliff of legislation,…
The year 2023 saw a huge increase in mass timber projects in South Africa and at least a 400% increase in interest in complex timber engineering and hybrid timber construction. This is a wonderful sign…
Blum Aventos lift systems are an innovative cabinet hinge solution that allows wall unit cabinet doors to lift easily to conveniently access items inside. Unlike traditional doors that increase the risk of banging your head,…
Since its launch in 2019, the enthusiastic market response to its services and products has encouraged Pascal Hlongwane, the owner of Pascal Kitchen and Renovation Specialist, to grow the business and invest in the latest…
Nearly 600 built environment professionals, academics, students and members of the forestry and timber industries were joined by an online audience of over 250 from all over South Africa to attend the Kuratle Group‘s 13th…
With total funding of nearly R20 million over five years (2024 – 2028), researchers at the Hans Merensky Chair in Advanced Modelling of Eucalypt Growth and Wood Formation (EucXylo) at Stellenbosch University (SU) are well…
South Africa’s state-owned forestry company, Safcol, has commenced its three-year management contract in the Msunduzi Municipality’s timber plantations adjacent to Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal. Read the full article written by Justin Nyakudanga – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/february-2024-issue-34/#february-2024-issue-34/40/
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) says this year’s UN International Day of Forests theme, “Forests and innovation: New solutions for a better world”, is highly pertinent. The FSC’s Africa certification manager, Nano Darko, and policy…
For foresters and farmers, the change of season is a clock with its hands constantly moving onto the next operation that needs to be completed before winter is in full swing. The shift from moist…
In an industry driven by precision, functionality, and seamless integration, Blum is a world leader in innovative kitchen and bathroom design solutions that redefine convenience, efficiency, and aesthetic appeal. From the sleek Legrabox drawer construction…
Cabinet Vision is a world-leading cabinet design-to-manufacturing software solution that makes it easy for woodworking, furniture, kitchen, shopfitting and case-goods companies of all sizes to fully automate and integrate their design and manufacturing processes. Read…
It takes intuition, 75 years of experience, up-to-the-minute market knowledge, dedicated farmers and NCT’s resilient decision-making team to survive in the highly competitive biomass supply chain. Although it took 12 days in October 2023 to…
The 26th IUFRO World Congress will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 23 – 29 June 2024. The theme is Forests and Society towards 2050.The congress is one of the largest forestry events, held every…
Don’t miss WoodEx for Africa, Southern Africa’s premier trade show for the timber and wood-based industries, held at the world-class Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 4 – 6, 2024. Exhibitors and…
York Timbers wholly-owned subsidiary, Stadsrivier Vallei, has acquired Pine-Valley Farms from Sappi Southern Africa for R65.4 million. Pine-Valley is contiguous to York’s Rhenosterhoek plantations and the Stadsrivier Vallei’s agriculture complex. It comprises 1,193 hectares of…
Wood-Mizer’s association with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) goes back to 1987 when the first Wood-Mizer thin-kerf narrow-bandsaws were introduced as an alternative to more traditional wide-band and circular sawblade saws. Sawmillers benefit from…
Nukor has welcomed Casadei-Busellato into its machinery range as a strategic response to the growing demand for space-saving machines for smaller, modern workshops. Casadei-Busellato, a distinguished Italian company specialising in secondary wood processing industry solutions,…
According to research by Allied Market Research, global demand for furniture is expected to increase, owing to the millennial generation’s rapid urbanisation and high-purchasing power. Advanced manufacturing technology has lowered the cost and time for…
Through the ages, adhesives have been vital in the timber industry, from finger-jointing in the drymill to furniture manufacturing and laminated structural timber beams. The German specialist adhesives manufacturer Kleiberit’s adhesive systems span many applications,…
Industry stalwart, Kerry Davies reminds us to make the most of the circumstances we find ourselves in. She says life is a career journey for everyone. Read her advice for young people starting their careers…
Talkmore Kanda is the marketing manager of Allied Timbers, Zimbabwe’s state-owned entity responsible for domestic and export timber sales under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. In a conversation with Justin Nyakudanga, he says the…
It has been seven months since the Forestry and Agriculture Training Organisation (FATO), formerly SAFCA NPC, was established as an independent entity promoting excellence in developing and implementing training programmes for the forestry sector. FATO’s…
“Despite much written in South Africa about how well we are training and upskilling our population, as a hands-on employer in the construction industry, I know this is not the case”, says engineer and WoodBiz…
Sappi a leading producer of dissolving pulp sold under the brand name Verve has completed a verification against the Higg Facility Social and Labour Module (FSLM) at its Saiccor Mill, achieving a score of 91.5%.…
Miro Forestry & Timber Products has received a $24 million equity investment from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). It marks a significant milestone in the growth of Miro’s sustainable forestry and timber processing…
In the era of heightened concern for sustainability and conserving our planet’s resources, timber stands out as one of the few renewable construction materials, possessing the unique ability to store carbon and return to nature…
Rothoblaas is the Italian manufacturer of standard and proprietary tools and connectors for timber and hybrid structures. Joy Crane discussed mass timber construction with Rothoblaas’ South African branch manager, Mark O’Connor. He believes it’s only…
In four years, The Wood App website has inspired over 8,500 South African architects, developers, designers, industry retirees, contractors and DIYers to use wood more extensively in the built environment. Dr Philip Crafford, The Wood…
The rubber sector in Malaysia is celebrating the game-changing accomplishment of achieving its first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification under CMO Malaysia’s FSC Group Scheme for 56 smallholder farmers working on 183,14ha of rubber plantation…
Structural design considerations and testing The eighth episode of Sawmilling South Africa’s (SSA’s) Talking Timber webinar series featured the University of Pretoria’s structural engineer, Dr Johann van der Merwe, and Stellenbosch University’s wood scientist, Prof…
Architecture and engineering postgrads and professionals are increasingly questioning their roles in designing and creating environmentally friendly “green” built environments rather than brick, cement and steel construction. They are considering the carbon lifecycles of their…
Dr Schalk Grobbelaar at Pretoria University suggests applying systems thinking to develop integrated and optimised housing solutions. This is different from traditional housing design that plugs various solutions into a shell without integrating them into…
The 13th annual Wood Conference is happening at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Wednesday 28 February 2024. This year the theme of the day-long event is “Shaping Africa’s Cities through Sustainable Construction.…
“If it weren’t for the commercial planting of trees from the early 1900s, the country’s indigenous forests would have been eliminated many years ago for our fuel, furniture and fibre needs”, asserts Roy Southey, CEO…
Neil Bassingthwaighte’s company, NB Tool Suppliers in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, is the official Leitz tools and tooling distributor and service provider in South Africa. He is a sharpening specialist with over a decade of experience maintaining…
PG Bison recently handed over a custom-made firefighting 4×4 truck to the Mkhondo Fire Department to enhance the department’s firefighting capabilities. Read the full report here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/november-december-2023-issue-32/#november-december-2023-issue-32/52/
Bell Forestry & Agriculture and JCB Agriculture dealers recently attended an intensive two-day product training session presented by Ben Mansfield, JCB product manager for Loadalls (telehandlers) from the UK. Read the full insert here –…
With almost 70 years of expertise in complex engineering, heavy fabrication, and machining for its range of material handling equipment, Bell Equipment is now offering these specialist services to all industries through its newly formed…
Bell Equipment Limited appointed Ashley Jon Bell, grandson of the company’s founder Irvine Bell, as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 January 2024 Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/november-december-2023-issue-32/#november-december-2023-issue-32/46/
Hunyani Forests has bounced back, and Hunyani Paper and Packaging is now open for business. WoodBiz Africa’s correspondent Justin Nyakudanga had the opportunity to visit his former employer, Hunyani Forests’ headquarters in Marondera, an agriculture…
Sanele Mkhize, MD of Exodec 384, took delivery of three new Mercedes trucks valued at R11.6 million thanks to a financing agreement with the Ithala Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) facilitated by an enterprise and supplier…
Speaking at Focus on Forestry in October 2023, Peet van Staden, Wood-Mizer’s senior industrial product specialist, said sawmilling is vital to the forestry value chain. However, it remains lagging in emerging markets. It has, in…
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Border Force (ABF) recently invited the owners of a CNC woodworking machine to phone them if their machine hadn’t arrived. However, it is highly unlikely that the AFP got…
The climate crisis and biodiversity loss are intertwined crises that demand urgent attention. The temperature rise signifies more than just a number – it’s the line between manageable challenges and catastrophe. The FSC says it’s…
Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) first group of BSc Honours: Sustainable Natural Resource Management students are impressed by the programme’s multi-disciplinary approach. The programme recognises that ecological and sociological systems are interrelated and environmental, social and…
Merensky Timber has relocated its Cape Town Depot from Transnet Park in Belville to a new, purpose-built, expansive warehouse facility in Dynamo Way, Wimbledon Estate in Blackheath. It boasts a weighbridge, a CCA timber treatment…
The mass timber market in South Africa is emerging rapidly. This month, David Marks discusses adhesives for glue-laminated (glulam) beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT). He also briefly describes the tests he conducted on locally available…
The South African Saw Doctoring Education Association (SASDEA) recently convened its 23rd annual gathering of industry members and suppliers to discuss career pathing, saw shop operations, identifying and solving saw blade and related maintenance issues,…
Founded in Moussey, France, three generations ago, the family-owned Lemaire Sawmill has recently expanded and supplemented its large-diameter sawlog line with a new small-diameter processing facility with the assistance of Kallfass. Read the full story…
In the rural community of Bethania in KwaZulu-Natal, a heartfelt initiative has evolved over the past 16 years into a cherished tradition. Initiated by the South Africa Wood Protection division of Arxada, the annual graduation…
African Biomass Company (ABC) has furthered the development of biomass products such as wood chips, biofuel, and mulch in the agriculture and forestry industries of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa over the past two decades.…
The weather tried to put a damper on proceedings by dishing up rain and mist, but foresters are a determined and passionate bunch. Over 300 local and international delegates attended the Focus on Forestry conference…
There is a looming shortage of wood in Africa, and large-scale industrial forestry is not the solution. In three decades, 185,000 ha of industrial plantations were established in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, with investments…
Joy Crane writes that a recent conversation with Duane Roothman, Vice President of Sappi Forests, took an unexpected turn. Instead of a carefully curated set of corporate statements about the company’s vision, mission and achievements,…
The success of the performance-based standards (PBS) trucks in South Africa’s forestry and other heavy freight industries is undeniable. However, nearly four years after the pilot study ended, the national transport department is still prevaricating…
STIHL is celebrating the release of its new FS 161 (1.5kW and 37.6cc) and the FS 291 (2.0kW and 41.6cc) brushcutter models across the globe. They replaced the iconic FS 160 and FS 280 machines,…
The driving force behind the development of cross-laminated timber (CLT) mass timber building systems is the need to provide alternative wood-based products and systems to architects, engineers, and contractors. There are no multi-storey mass timber…
Ambassadors from 17 countries sent a letter to the European Union (EU) Commission and parliament officials describing the regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) as an “inherently discriminatory and punitive unilateral benchmarking system that is potentially…
Combilift, the Irish manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts, premiered five exciting new products at a gala event celebrating its 25 years in business. Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/october-2023-issue-31/#october-2023-issue-31/54/
Wood-Mizer‘s edger and multi-rip ranges offer sawmillers affordable and scalable solutions that boost productivity, cutting accuracy and recovery levels for a competitive edge that builds bottom lines. Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/october-2023-issue-31/#october-2023-issue-31/44/
The South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) is restructuring to remain sustainable and continue delivering on its mandate. SAFI is the national organisation representing furniture, bedding, shopfitting and kitchen manufacturers. Through its working chambers it is…
Carmen Gregan, an interior design student at Design Time School of Interior Design (Cape Town), received first prize in the 2023 PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative. Tiago Loureiro Goncalves from the University of Johannesburg and…
Anco Manufacturing has launched its new high-pressure skid unit powered by Husqvarna’s trusty HH163 MP engine in time for the fire season. The skid units, also known as bakkie sakkies, are mounted on the cargo…
With over 18 years of experience, AfrEquip is one of the South African forestry industry’s leading suppliers and service providers. Established in 2005, the company has grown from strength to strength, supplying and maintaining premium…
Navigating the intricate world of forestry necessitates resilient and groundbreaking equipment. AFGRI Equipment has an unyielding commitment to innovation. It offers a carefully curated array of products tailored to the unique demands of forestry professionals.…
The Coega Biomass Centre recently bought two new Bell 225F loggers from EdgeQuip to handle logs at landings and the processing plant. The company empowers local timber harvesting contractors by allowing them to rent the…
Since 2020, Ponsse’s partnership with its South African dealer, MTS, has increased the brand’s presence in the region. Ponsse and MTS have stood out by placing customer satisfaction at the core of their operations in…
Wayne le Roux of Hin-Tech Manufacturing says conversations around steep slope harvesting have shifted from speed, lines and timber size to mechanisation, software integration, communications on the slope, tethering solutions, live skylines, grapple carriages and,…
In the ever-evolving world of forestry, where innovation is critical to sustainability and efficiency, South Africa’s Novelquip continues pushing the boundaries of precision silviculture with its groundbreaking MPAT pitting machine and partnerships with global forestry…
The young wood scientists at the Hans Merensky Chair in Advanced Modelling of Eucalypt Wood Formation (EucXylo) enjoyed presenting their work at the programme’s annual research day in October. Read the full story here –…
Since its launch four months ago, the Forestry & Agriculture Training Organisation (FATO) is broadening the scope of its relationship with the South African Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA), forestry companies and training providers to include…
Crop and livestock farmer, tree grower, timber haulier, and forestry contractor are among the careers Roger Johnston will draw on as the newly appointed chief executive of the South African Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA). Read…
Nukor has been part of the South African wood processing sector for 63 years. Backed by world-leading technology suppliers, the company’s expertise is aligned with its customers’ flexible requirements for technology solutions that assist them…
Jane Molony says misinformation about paper and its impact on our planet is increasing. The nay-sayers ignore the science-based facts that sustainably grown trees act as carbon sinks and farmed wood is a renewable resource.…
Tanalith E, the water-based wood preservative favoured by architects and builders for treated timber that meets green building benchmarks, is celebrating 20 years of proven performance in the South African market. Read the full story…
Situated at around 1,000m above sea level, the breathtaking Karkloof landscape, with its magnificent indigenous forests, commercial plantations, sprawling grassland, waterfalls and streams, is a paradise for trail runners and cyclists. It is also the…
David Marks, of Marks Engineering Works Association (MEWA) designed and engineered the most complex timber-engineered structure ever built in South Africa. It is the first curved beam timber dome in South Africa and the first…
Africa’s distinct ecosystems demand a specialised approach to logging that emphasises sustainability while catering to the ever-growing global demand for timber. Enter John Deere’s innovations: TimberMatic Maps, TimberManager, JDLink and IBC. These state-of-the-art solutions, having…
Despite several challenges plaguing Mozambique’s sawmilling sector, the country’s sawmillers have responded favourably to Saw Services Lda’s eight-branch network established during the past decade. Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/september-2023-issue-30/#september-2023-issue-30/26/
Since Termolegno was established in 1994 by the Fornasier family, demand for the “100% designed and made in Italy” brand’s reliable and efficient drying solutions has grown enormously. Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/september-2023-issue-30/#september-2023-issue-30/24/
Innovative southern African architects, interior designers and engineered wood products manufacturers with project lifecycle and sustainability concerns can consider applying for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Project Certification that confirms that the forest-based materials used in…
Tekwani’s Thornville Sawmill, twice the winner of the Crickmay & Associates sawmill performance benchmarking programme, has invested in an HTR100 Brunner-Hildebrand low-temperature high-pressure kiln to further improve its recovery. Read the full story here –…
The introduction of the JCB 530-70 Loadall to the South African market by Bell Equipment has brought owning a telehandler within easy reach of farmers looking for a versatile and capable tool for almost any…
South Africa recycled almost 1.3 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging in 2022, with a five-year average paper recycling rate of 67%. It saved 3.8 million cubic metres of landfill space and ensured that…
Timbersoft-Kilns4Africa: In kiln drying, lumber is placed in a chamber where airflow, temperature and humidity are controlled to provide as rapid drying as can be tolerated by the lumber without increasing defects. Each kiln type…
“Every sawmill is unique. What works for one may not work for you”, Edward Ehlers and Christiaan (CJ) de Klerk of TF Design cautioned attendees at the South African Lumber Dryers Education Association (SALDEA) annual…
The University of Pretoria’s Engineering 4.0 Campus was an appropriate setting for South Africa’s first timber colloquium, which featured 16 reports by wood and structural timber researchers and scientists from three academic institutions in South…
The recent fall of the 25m high, 16m spread, and 1.2 m diameter Quercus cerris (Turkish oak) at Arderne Gardens in Cape Town is a loss for the city and country. Thankfully, the wood from…
Students Chiloane Thabang, Njabulo Ngwenya, Andile Gxubane and Lutho Mhlauli, a team of second-year students in the Architectural Technology faculty at Nelson Mandela University (NMU), took home third prize for their design of a Biodiversity…
Architecture students from the University of Pretoria (UP) were awarded first and second place in the national Timber Design Competition. WoodBiz Africa chatted with Shannon Govender (SG), who walked away with first place for her…
The “Timber in Context” Design competition, sponsored by York Timbers in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (the dtic) and the University of Pretoria (UP), challenged student designers and architects to explore…
The judging panel for this year’s PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative is evaluating submissions received from third-year architecture and interior design students from 19 institutions around the country. The competition highlights the work of up-and-coming…
Roy Southey’s mantra, “Cut straight and dry flat”, was the focus of the 24th annual South African Lumber Dryer’s Education Association (SALDEA) diverse gathering of kiln drying veterans, soon-to-be-retirees, young graduates, academics and technology suppliers.…
“We have been through thick and thin in the past and survived. But nobody in the sawmilling industry can remember a time like this. Sawn timber sales are at an all-time low because the economy,…
Forestry South Africa (FSA’s) Timber Industry Pesticide Working Group (TIPWG) commissioned and funded a PhD student, Noxolo Ndlovu, from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), to investigate the environmental behaviour of pesticides in South Africa and risks…
Sawmilling is not all doom and gloom. When kiln managers, suppliers and drying experts get together they focus on shared learning, technologies, kiln controls, drying schedules and more. The annual meeting of the South African…
THE FUND APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW OPEN The Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) is requesting individual companies and intermediaries currently assisting businesses that are exporting or export-ready but are facing technical challenges to access international…
Nairobi City County government has laid the groundwork for the country’s first wood furniture industry industrial park. The development will create jobs while assisting in constructing affordable housing units in Nairobi by manufacturing quality, standardised…
Vuyisile Furniture Factory, located in Tanzania’s Morogoro region falls under Sokoine University of Agriculture’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, is set to receive new machinery to expand its production and increase efficiency. The factory…
The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is changing product labels on chemical agents. Manufacturers, companies, silviculture contractors, wood preservative and finishing products users and training providers should be aware that…
The International Social Security Association (ISSA) selected Altendorf’s Hand Guard system as the 2023 Safe Machines Award winner. It is the cherry on top of several innovation and safety awards and accolades for the system.…
Scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) BioProducts Institute found that if you add tannins to a layer of wood dust, you can create a filter that traps virtually all microplastic particles in water.…
Vivien McMenimen, a woman, a trail-blazing leader, and mentor, is the CEO of Mondi South Africa. Viv’s authentic and perceptive leadership style, enhanced by experience and insight, makes her a role model to many. Viv…
The topic of the seventh episode of the Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) Talking Timber seminar series was Detailing for Mass Timber Buildings. Samantha Choles of Frog Communications organised the event for SSA. Dr Schalk Grobbelaar…
Dieffenbacher‘s digital platform Evoris is a pillar of Cebro. Cebro is a holistic smart plant concept using artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of live data. Evoris is based on standardised interfaces that collect and process sensor…
Fletcher Building has ordered a complete Dieffenbacher Cebro plant for its Laminex site in Taupo on North Island, New Zealand. The order includes the German machine and plant manufacturer’s new Belt Dryer to produce Fine…
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) commissioned IPSOS to conduct one of the world’s most extensive consumer studies, surveying 26,800 consumers across 33 countries. The FSC survey provides new insights into consumers’ concerns, who they trust,…
The Durban Chemicals Cluster (DCC) Accelerator invites SMEs in the chemical sector to apply to join the programme by 30 September 2023. It provides access to the funder, eThekwini Municipality, and participating SMEs could unlock…
Are you a South African professional designer or design student? Do you believe furniture should improve our quality of life, be functional, and complement the space in which it is located? Proudly brought to you…
The choice of harvester carrier is determined by the application terrain, conditions, tree size and attachments required to do the job efficiently. The more challenging the application, the more robust the combination should be. John…
She Is Forestry SA, the non-profit South African forestry organisation promoting and uplifting women across the forest and forest products sector, launched the first four of a series of inspiring videos highlighting career opportunities in…
Kurt Paul’s sons, Ruan and Christian, are the fourth generation following the family’s farming tradition. Today, 60% of KRC Farming’s activities are planted with pine, 30% for regular crops like maize, and the rest for…
Globalisation is hastening tree pest emergence. Forestry South Africa‘s Timber Industry Pesticide Working Group (TIPWG) is tasked with researching and managing integrated and science-based solutions to protect the country’s valuable plantation resources. WoodBiz Africa presents…
Legislation requires South Africa’s forestry and sawmill companies to report GHG emissions and carbon sequestration. However, sawmills and other carbon tax-paying processors can’t offset emissions against the carbon stored in their products unless they own…
PG Bison‘s WoodChem factory, lying adjacent to its existing particleboard and upgrading facilities and developing MDF plant in Mkhondo, Mpumalanga, is the largest urea formaldehyde (UF) and melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin producer and the only…
Rubio Monocoat is the original manufacturer of a single-coat wood finishing product and the first with 0% volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is a well-known interior and exterior wood finishing brand in Southern Africa and,…
The supply of MDF in the Southern African market has been constrained for many years. That is all set to change in July 2024. With an investment of R1,875 billion, PG Bison‘s MDF Contiroll line…
Verra, a world leading standards setter for climate action and sustainable development, made public for the first time the updated draft methodology for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD). It…
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has released new assessment criteria for carbon credits. The criteria establish clear quality thresholds to inspire greater confidence in the carbon markets and their contributions to…
The title refers to a Portuguese proverb about three brothers taking on the world. The Three Brothers Business Group is an inspiring story of three Mozambican brothers seeking a better life in South Africa. With…
Weiss Holzwerk, one of the largest, modern and sustainably managed sawn timber and pallet manufacturers in Bavaria, Germany wanted to guarantee a 24-hour delivery window for their customers by replacing their old cross-cut saw, introducing…
Bigstar subsidiary Panneaux d’Algérie recently produced the inaugural board on its new Dieffenbacher MDF plant in El Tarf, Algeria, the first continuous wood-based panel plant in North Africa. Dieffenbacher says its flexible CPS+ system is…
In March 2023, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopted the voluntary ASTM F2057-23 as a mandatory safety standard to protect young children from injury and death from furniture tip-over incidents. Over 300 American…
Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) has expanded the list of tree species that can no longer be exported from the Central African country as raw logs. A complete ban on exports of unprocessed…
Experts at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) say the perception that reducing paper consumption will save the environment is unsubstantiated, misleading, and can have a lasting effect…
Mondi Rotatrim, Mondi’s copy paper brand, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have partnered with Pick ’n Pay’s School Club and produced an illustrated workbook on the forest value chain for Grade 6 learners. The…
Q&A with Willem Oosthuizen For 29 years, the services of a small South African company are frequently mentioned in fire risk mitigation. WoodBiz Africa interviewed Willem Oosthuizen of Alasia Marketing about the company’s indispensable product,…
“Cabinet Vision saves time, eliminates costly mistakes, and increases productivity”, says Christo Van Dyk, director of Manmade Crafts and the authorised dealer for Cabinet Vision in Africa. Cabinet Vision makes it easy for woodworking, furniture,…
Bernhard Lembeck is a former German petro-chemical paint chemist who became obsessed with making natural wood coatings. Along the way he became known as “the green chemist”. WoodBiz Africa caught up with Bernhard and Sandra…
The Northern Hemisphere is experiencing its hottest summer in recorded history. In Sub-Sahara Africa, tree growers await extreme summer conditions with the arrival of El Niño. In West Africa, a Ghanaian company, FORM Ghana, is…
As the media partner of WoodEX for Africa 2023, WoodBiz Africa wants to thank the organiser, visitors at our stand and our fellow exhibitors who made the event an outstanding success. Held in June over…
Stepping up as a pioneering provider of Forestry Rental Solutions in South Africa, AFGRI Equipment is launching a premier machinery rental service. There is choice of rental opportunities to enable customers to leverage cutting-edge forestry…
Wood-Mizer’s three stands at the Ligna 2023 trade show in Germany presented various new solutions and machines for turning logs into finished products profitably. Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/june-2023-issue-27/#june-2023-issue-27/22/
On 2 July, Kenya’s President William Ruto ended an almost six-year moratorium on logging in the country’s commercial forests, leaving the ban on logging indigenous forests in place. In 2018, as deputy president, Ruto announced a 90-day ban…
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Assurance Services International (ASI), launched a TV loop on FSC-certified teak in June 2022. The analysis of transaction data submitted by the certificate holders included in the scope of…
Komatsu Forest believes sustainability is fundamental to its business and is investing in the future by building a new development department focusing on electrifying forest machines. The company wants to take the lead in the…
Farmers and loggers in Nambuangongo, Angola’s Bengo province, are clearing 800 hectares of forest yearly. Between 2000 and 2020, tree cover declined by 12%, according to Global Forest Watch, and a quarter of that loss…
Third-year architecture and interior design students are working hard on their entries for #WorldsOfDesire, PG Bison’s annual 1.618 Education Initiative competition. The submission deadline is 18 August 2023. Get the full details here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/june-2023-issue-27/#june-2023-issue-27/6/
Woodworking machine manufacturing specialist Wood-Mizer recently installed a heavy-duty, high recovery, and reduced labour industrial sawmill system at Nelson Wood Shims, the largest shim manufacturer in North America. The system features a TV6000 twin vertical…
Terragrn has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mpumalanga’s Manala Mgibe Community Property Association (CPA), representing the Manala Mgibe community and Traditional Council to transform about 200,000ha of unused land in Mpumalanga into a $2bn…
Blaming indiscriminate harvesting of public and private forests, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has revoked all timber export licenses and permits, effectively banning exports of timber from the East African country. Read the full story…
Sappi Southern Africa and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) announced the launch of the Sappi Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability headed by Prof Mary Scholes. The intervention will advance the capacity to…
While visitors at the Malaysian Wood Expo (MWE 2023) networked with industry organisations, exhibitors and each other, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) were behind the scenes matching…
Bruce Breedt, the chief executive of the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), reports that the organisation has delayed South African regulations that falsely label CCA a banned substance and that trade in the wood…
When Umvoni Solutions, a well-established timber harvesting contractor in the Mpumalanga Lowveld wanted to speed up infield bunching and presentation of felled timber, they opted for two nimble Bell Skoggers with grabs and fitted with…
Combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge engineering, Pinnacle-SA consistently develops innovative sawmilling machinery and automation solutions that streamlines timber production while minimising waste and maximising output. The company’s success is based on the technical knowledge and…
Liberia’s Youth Rising project, supported by the European Union and Sweden, and implemented by the UN Industrial Development Organization (Unido), is reviving the country’s technical vocation and education training sector by appointing internationally experienced organisations…
Forestry South Africa (FSA’s) Grower Development Programme has grown from assisting small-scale growers in company-affiliated schemes to securing funding and support for all new entrants, including those coming into the sector through land reform initiatives.…
Ponsse’s southern African distributor and service partner, MTS in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, recently delivered two brand new Ponsse Elephant King forwarders to a customer for clearfell operations. Chris Odendaal, the owner of MTS, says the Ponsse’s…
Tooling manufacturer Leitz knows its furniture and kitchen manufacturing clients are under pressure to efficiently produce high-quality products as cost-effectively as possible. Downtime caused by tool changes reduces productivity and drives up production costs., Leitz…
USNR occupied three stands at Ligna 2023 in Germany’s trade fair city, Hanover. The company showcased its: Advanced technology solutions for lumber production Blades, knives, tooling and automated sharpening and levelling systems Engineered wood products…
Biesse surprised visitors to its exhibition space by presenting a new logo and visual identity. Raphaël Prati, Biesse’s chief marketing & communications officer says the bright corporate colours represent its strategy-centred on “multi-materiality and being…
After a Covid-induced break of four years, the Ligna trade show was back and Kallfass was delighted to return. Kallfass says the visitor frequency at its fair booth was high and included South African companies.…
The Weinig and Holz-Her brands met with lively interest from Ligna visitors. The Weinig Group used the occasion to inform the industry about its investments in research and development, building a new logistics system, lifetime…
Engineers at Leuco, a global woodworking tooling manufacturer, have found inspiration in nature and integrated the Fibonacci principle into their cutting-edge tools. The Fibonacci principle is based on the Fibonacci sequence, where each number is…
After a four-year hiatus, LIGNA 2023 did not disappoint. Visitors discovered the latest logyard, sawmilling, woodworking, wood processing, engineered wood products and biomass machinery technologies and trends. The show highlighted themes of sustainability, the green…
Boison Sawmill is part of a group that serves the building and civil engineering construction in Ghana. Its Wood-Mizer equipment ensure that it provides an effective value for money service to its customers while delivering…
The Form Ghana story is a West African example of how an innovative public-private partnership (PPP) that extends to community agroforestry creates an FSC-certified sustainable win-win relationship. Find out how Form Ghana’s community-driven inter-cropping silviculture…
The value of forestry in a greening economy’ is the Focus on Forestry conference & expo theme at the Karkloof Country Club in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands from 7-9 November 2023. The conference is organised by…
AFGRI Equipment Construction and Forestry is excited to announce the opening of its Tzaneen branch in Limpopo, South Africa. The new branch offers a full range of John Deere Equipment, including construction, forestry, agriculture, residential…
Sawmilling South Africa’s (SSA’s) Talking Timber webinar series aims to overcome misconceptions about wood as a structural material by informing architects, engineers, insurance companies, regulatory authorities, academics, and developers about engineered timber products, innovative mass…
One of South Africa’s leading forestry companies is taking its mechanised harvesting machine operator training programmes to the next level by investing in a cutting-edge Ponsse Full Simulator training system. The virtual training environment is…
Congratulations to Tekwani’s Empuluzi Sawmill for participating in the Crickmay & Associates Intermill Comparison (IMC) and attaining the 2023 Sawmill Improvement Award. You can read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/may-2023-issue-26/#may-2023-issue-26/22/
The global engineered wood market is expected to reach US$490,567 million by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.21% from 2022 to 2030. You can read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/may-2023-issue-26/#may-2023-issue-26/10/
Themed #WorldsOfDesire, PG Bison’s annual 1.618 Education Initiative competition is underway. The 2023 brief asks entrants to imagine and design the ultimate luxury desert oasis in the heart of the arid Tankwa Karoo in South…
Optimism increased slightly during the annual Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) general meeting on the back of Michael Peter’s surprisingly positive spin on the electricity crisis, biomass co-gen opportunities for sawmills, mass timber construction and SSA’s…
South Africa has deployed 400 firefighters and 28 managers to Canada to combat what officials believe to be the worst wildfires in Canadian history. The first group of 200 left on 3 June and the…
The York Timbers sponsored “Timber in Context” competition challenges designers to explore new structural and ecological possibilities of timber construction through innovation in contemporary and traditional wooden materials in designing a Biodiversity Skills Centre that…
The STIHL MS 500i chainsaw is the world’s first chainsaw featuring STIHL injection technology that replaces the carburettor with fuel injection, dramatically improving the startup (no choke), fuel consumption, efficiency, and the machine’s acceleration. It…
Recently, reports of root and collar rot in Eucalyptus nitens in South Africa have been increasing. A research paper published earlier this year entitled “Hybrid vigour in Eucalyptus increases resistance against Phytophthora root rot” found…
University of Stellenbosch MSc graduate Gerald Taziwa recently successfully defended his MSc thesis exploring the topic of calibrating rotation age for eucalyptus species to optimise economic returns for transmission pole and plywood production from greenfield plantations…
AstaChem is the leading Malaysian chemical manufacturer of formaldehyde, adhesive resins, specialty chemicals, hardeners, and fillers, catering to various industries, including forest products. It provides a high-quality products and innovative solutions to meet the needs…
“If you’re considering purchasing woodworking machinery, it’s important to do your research, compare features and prices, and consider factors like customer service and support before making a decision”, advises Leon Fourie of the CMC Group.…
For 23 years, technical developments, advanced materials and exciting product innovations and concepts have been the focal point of the Interzum awards, organised every two years by Koelnmesse and Red Dot for the furniture supply…
Woodworking machine specialist Michael Weinig reports that it agreed at the end of March to acquire majority shares in HIT Maschinenbau and HIT Keilzinkentechnik. The move will add automation and mechanisation to Weinig’s portfolio while…
The Worx Jawhorse workbench offers hands-free clamping with over one tonne of clamping force. The jaws securely clamp items from 1mm up to 880 mm thick. It has a durable all-steel construction and a tripod…
Cape Nature, Helihack, Husqvarna, local landowners, and others collaborated in an alien vegetation clearing initiative in South Africa’s Bosmansbos Wilderness area in the Langeberg Mountains in April around Earth Day. You can read more on…
Minister Barbara Creecy says Carbon Budget regulations are being developed to address the submission and processing of industry climate change mitigation plans. She says the country must battle both loadshedding and climate change. “It is…
The earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance. Divan Vermaak of Husqvarna says the slightest effort on our part, from recycling, re-using and reducing our use of plastic items to planting a…
What do an agronomist (Maswazi Mkhtshwa), an accountant (Jabulile Kunene), and a pharmacist (Kholiwe Shabangu) have in common? You’d probably say nothing; however, they are cousins and partners in Khojama Investments, an eSwatini contract harvesting…
Forestry South Africa (FSA) and representatives from the mining, agriculture, automotive and freight forwarders sectors met with President Ramaphosa and relevant ministers in April to discuss the dire state of South Africa’s ports and rail…
All Sappi’s manufacturing regions in Europe, North America and South Africa once again achieved the highest possible rating, platinum, in the annual EcoVadis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ratings. This achievement places the regions individually and…
WoodEX for Africa is preparing for the most important event in the sub-Saharan African wood and machinery industries. With over 80% of the stands already sold, the event on 27 – 29 June 2023 expects…
The Malaysian Wood Expo 2023 is taking place between 18 and 20 June 2023 at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can read more on this here –…
Varying temperatures and humidity during transition seasons heighten the risk of surface mould on freshly sawn timber. To protect the commercial value of the wood, a preventative treatment like Arxada’s Antiblu 375 provides safe and…
The Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA) cautions homeowners planning to install solar systems on their roofs to remember that most existing roofs were not designed to carry additional permanent loads. No matter the…
Sawmilling automation specialist, Kallfass, has expanded its product portfolio for cross-laminated timber (CLT) production with its own CLT press. With the new press, Kallfass can now supply a complete mechanisation system, from the package pick-up…
Mass Timber Technologies (MTT), an engineered mass timber prefabrication company is producing over 250m3 of mass timber per month and has recently completed manufacturing a four-storey building. MTT plans to increase its output to over…
The 21-year-old final-year Industrial Design student at the University of Johannesburg, Tshepiso Motau, is the winner of this year’s South African Furniture Design Competition. The winner was announced at a ceremony hosted by the Department…
Nine aspiring, young, black entrepreneurs presented their businesses to a panel of three “dragons” from leading retailers, Mr Price Home, Homewood, and Sheet Street, at KwaZulu-Natal’s eThekwini Furniture Cluster (EFC) Business Accelerator’s second “Dragons’ Den”…
South Africa’s exporters, supported by policymakers, need to start planning to retain their competitiveness and market position in the face of the new reality of trade with the European Union’s wide-ranging climate policy. You can…
A group of 14 European Union trade associations of suppliers of wood and fibre-based products, and renewable energy solutions, supported by six EU associations of forest owners and managers, has launched the Cross-sectoral Coalition for…
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated Deere & Company’s emissions reduction targets through an independent assessment. It determined that John Deere’s targets are consistent with what’s required to keep global warming to 1.5°C. You can…
Criterion Africa Partners (CAP), in a co-investment with FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, has completed an investment of up to US$20 million each in Merensky Timber, one of the leading integrated timber products companies…
Two successful years have flown by since the world’s largest manufacturer of mechanised forestry equipment, John Deere’s dealer channels began expanding in Africa and the Middle East to enable customers to be productive and efficient…
Top achievers in Forestry, Wood Technology and Veldfire Management at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George campus. received special awards for their excellence in the diploma and higher certificate studies. Read more on this here…
Deere & Company has been named one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a leading organisation promoting ethical business practices. Sustainability is at the heart of Deere’s operations, reflected in its business…
ELK is a leading designer and manufacturer of kitchens, bathroom vanities and builtin cupboards in Southern Africa. ELK’s production director, Jaco van Niekerk, says the company’s competitive edge lies in the quality of its products…
If you’re looking for home storage and organisation solutions, upgrading the choice of drawers and pull-outs can help your customers maximise space and easily access items. Drawers and pull-outs are essential cabinetry components that keep…
Blum, an Austrian fittings specialist, will be showcasing new and current products at interzum in Cologne under the motto “For Everyone”. The company aims to create sustainable, smart, and pioneering solutions for the homes of…
From the log infeed upstream of the sawmill to the finished board made of cross-laminated timber (CLT), the entire material flow at the new facility of best wood Schneider in Messkirch, Germany, occurs with minimal…
USNR invites you to visit our stands at LIGNA, where you will find the latest advances in machine technology solutions for lumber and panel production. The first cut into a log is critical because it…
The Weinig Group, with its two brands, Weinig and Holz-Her, will present ground-breaking solutions for improved competitiveness at the Ligna trade fair in Hannover in May. Visitors can expect over 50 technological innovations and developments…
With “neo-ecology” as the overarching central theme, the leading international trade fair for furniture production and interior design, interzum 2023, focuses on the drivers of its slogan, “shaping the change”. According to Haute Innovation, neo-ecology…
LIGNA 2023, the world’s leading woodworking and wood processing trade fair, will showcase the latest developments in digitisation, new materials, and technologies for the woodworking trade. “Woodworking Transformation” will focus on optimising efficiency, quality, and…
The owner of Duva Timbers, 25-year-old Pieter van der Linde, sidesteps log supply shortages with his timber assets and meets market needs with Wood-Mizer equipment to ensure the sawmill’s future growth. Van der Linde attributes…
AFGRI Equipment Construction and Forestry has announced a new dealership agreement with ProMac, a leading manufacturer and distributor of earthmoving and agriculture equipment. ProMac’s highly versatile three-wheeled ProLoader is equipped with a cane or log…
A substantial saving in fuel consumption has justified the purchase of new and more efficient material handling equipment for a Mpumalanga-based manufacturer of timber products. You can read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/march-2023-issue-24/?fb3d-page=16
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and Mondi formed Teaming Up 4 Forests to provide a science-business platform to address climate change challenges and identify ways for the forestry and business communities to…
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Merensky are proud to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Merensky’s Northern Timbers (FSC C010117) and the 21st birthday of Singisi Forest Products (FSC C013164) sawmills. Merensky is guided by…
The Paper and Packaging PRO Alliance has announced the appointment of Dorah Modise as its new chief executive officer. In a dynamic sector that is largely untapped, Modise looks forward to working with alliance partners…
Themed ‘Local is Lekker’, the 11th Proudly South African Buy Local Summit and Expo was held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, in March 2023. The Buy Local campaign boosts job creation to mitigate the…
The topic of the fifth webinar of Sawmilling South Africa’s Talking Timber series was the Sustainability of Timber in Construction. Some decision-makers believe timber is not a workable material for structural applications. As a result,…
The Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&MSeta) recently awarded Forestry South Africa (FSA) a skills grant of R300,000 for firefighting training. Read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/february-2023-issue-23/#february-2023-issue-23/20/
CMC Woodworking Machinery’s Cape Town branch recently a new KDT KS842 beam saw and KDT 368J edgebander at Malcoln Cut, Edge and Spray. Shane Field of Malcoln says the machines lets is provide precision panel…
Johan Kruger, the national sales manager for Husqvarna South Africa, says selecting the correct saw chain for the required workload enhances the performance and efficiency of the chainsaw’s output. Husqvarna range of X-CUT chainsaw chains…
Established in 2005, AfrEquip is one of the leading suppliers and service providers to the South African forestry industry. It specialises in technologically advanced machines for mechanised harvesting operations. Read more on this here –…
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), one of the five South African institutions participating in the Forest21 curriculum development project, is using the opportunity to develop and fast-track a fresh and innovative forestry qualification. Read…
Criterion Africa Partners has completed an investment of $17.1-million in Form Ghana, one of the largest reforestation and community development companies in Africa. Read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/february-2023-issue-23/#february-2023-issue-23/20/
John Deere’s dealer, AFGRI Equipment in Mpumalanga, invites forestry companies and contractors to contact them for expert demonstrations of the John Deere complement of mechanised harvesting solutions. Read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/february-2023-issue-23/#february-2023-issue-23/18/
South Africa’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) celebrated its 25th anniversary when it reopened for business this year. The world-class facility is housed at the University of Pretoria. Read more on this here –…
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria recently hosted the mid-term engagement session of Forest21, a higher education forestry curriculum capacity-building project. Forest21 comprises eight higher education institutions in South Africa, Finland and Norway…
Mass Timber Technologies (MTT) has published a “Cross-laminated Timber & Glue Laminated Timber Design Guide Edition 1 2022”. It provides a South African overview of the design considerations for mass timber structures. Read more on…
Stellenbosch University MSc graduate, MJ Jacobs, has developed a table for three-and five-layer cross laminated timber (CLT) of SA pine for structural engineers to use when designing buildings. CLT is transforming the world’s low -and…
The technical director of LevasFlor, Lukas Schiebe, presented hybrid timber construction with a difference at the Wood Conference held in Cape Town in February. The Carbon Binding House comprises conventional timber frame elements and over…
The 12th annual Wood Conference organised by the Kuratle family focused on the role and potential of timber in engineering, architecture and construction against the backdrop of climate change. The conference presenters were unanimous in…
It is a tough time to be a South African sawmiller. Economic growth is stagnant, and the timber market is at its worst ever. Electricity and, therefore, production are intermittent. Stocks are piling up. Mills…
Cape Town’s family-owned and run company, Boards For Africa, has invested in a KDT edgebander and second beam saw to keep up with the increasing demand for its products. Read more about this here –…
Pinnacle-South Africa, the Southern Cape’s sawmill machinery producer, recently designed and manufactured a purpose-built chain- and belt-less screw-feed log singulator for an international client. Read more about this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/january-2023-issue-22/#january-2023-issue-22/30/
Peter Sorfa dedicated 42 years to South Africa’s sawmilling industry as a researcher, leader, expert consultant, educator and friend to many. His friend for 40 years, Henri du Plessis says Peter had an unrivalled in-depth…
Many medium to large sawmills in Africa either discard or sell their sawmill waste or use some of it to fuel the boilers producing steam for their kilns. Brazilian sawmill equipment supplier, Raphael Rosa says…
WoodEx for Africa returns to the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, from 27 to 29 June 2023. The 2022 event was such a success that the exhibitors and their visitors encouraged the organisers to…
Many people underestimate the contribution of the pulp and paper industry in making everyday products such as toilet paper, envelopes, packaging paper or office paper, or how paper is recycled. The Paper Manufacturers Association of…
Cutting Edge, Wood-Mizer’s dealer in Zimbabwe, is rolling out new service delivery solutions for the country’s sawmilling and forestry industries. Read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/january-2023-issue-22/#january-2023-issue-22/24/
Imagine a sawmill operating at peak efficiency, value recovery, throughput performance, and safety. Technology quality controls the process while mill staff are deployed for higher-level analytical work and manual quality control measurement for PLC correction…
There is an exciting move by developers, consulting engineers and architects as they look to the forest products sector for carbon neutral and renewable options in the built environment. There is a unique climate case…
Dr Adefemi Alade’s study established that PUR and MUF adhesives are suitable for bonding preservative-treated E. grandis laminates to form structural elements like CLT for building and construction applications in tropical and subtropical regions. Read…
The sold-out NCT order book for 2023 and the recently announced wattle price increase testify to the growing global importance of the species to NCT and its members. The cooperative is confident of the continued…
Stellenbosch University wood scientist Dr. Adefemi Alade is the International Academy of Wood Science 2022 winner for the most outstanding PhD research dissertation. Read more on this here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/january-2023-issue-22/#january-2023-issue-22/14/
The molecular revolution has transformed the landscape of plant biology research with a series of genomics projects of enormous taxonomic scope. Five South African institutions are part of the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) Data…
Tiaan Pool says “we are not”. Although the theme of the annual Fire Management Symposium in November 2022 was “Preparing for the next mega fire”, and despite specialised public and private organisations, supportive legislation, and…
South African fire managers know that wildfires usually occur during prolonged dry spells in summer or winter months, however fire expert Dave Dobson wonders if they are adapting to climate change and the emerging trend…
The role of land-use planning (LUP) at a community scale involves more than just a hazard map and an overlay plan for new development. International bushfire expert Laura Gannon says it is about integrating and…
The FX Group started 2023 with a decidedly bullish outlook on the back of switching on the biomass electricity plant at its Lothair particleboard factory. The investment produces the first “green power” boards while supporting…
We strive to produce quality, thought-provoking content that provides a fuller perspective on the achievements, developments and challenges facing South Africa and Africa’s forestry, sawmilling, engineered timber and boards, and woodworking industries. Please continue reading…
JRM Pallets in Hectorspruit, Mpumalanga, is impressed with the quality of the lumber and recovery achieved by the Wood-Mizer WB2000 pine structural timber line commissioned in April 2022. Read more on this – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/november-december-2022-issue-21/#november-december-2022-issue-21/34/
Stora Enso’s new EUR 79-million production site for cross-laminated timber (CLT) at Ždírec, in the Czech Republic, strengthens the Scandinavian company’s position as a leading provider of wood-based building solutions. The estimated annual production capacity…
Dr Letitia Schoeman recently presented her breakthrough X-ray computed tomography (CT) of eucalypts research at the Fifth Xylem International Meeting (XIM5), in Würzburg, Germany. Her investigations demonstrate that X-ray CT is a valuable tool for examining…
East Africa’s forestry value chain is modernising. The launching of the Geospatial Forestry Platform (GFP) opens the door to precision silviculture and harvesting practices that could transform the entire value chain. Read more on this…
Vacsol Azure, a metal-free light organic solvent wood preservative (LOSP) is verified to be worthy of the Global Green Tag certificate that is recognised by leading green building programmes worldwide including the Green Building Council…
“If I got R100 every time I get a request for the whereabouts of a qualified saw doctor, or a mill manager looking for assistance in sorting out sawing issues, I could afford to go…
It’s easy to fall into a groove by doing the same thing every day. Unfortunately, it is a dangerous place to be. You start to miss critical things, seeing them but not recognising them as…
Gatsby Africa’s Commercial Forestry team took a small group of Kenyan and Ugandan furniture and joinery firms on a recent three-day tour of South Africa to explore the use of eucalyptus in high-end manufacturing. Read…
The media are the dominant source of information on wildfires in South Africa. They influence the public and policymakers’ views, opinions, memories, and how society understands and responds to fire. Negative public perceptions create barriers…
Five years have passed since the mega-fire in and around the Knysna area of the Southern Cape, but the burn scars run deep in the topography and the region’s psyche. In November 2022, the 13th…
The two-stroke oil you choose for your forestry power tools can seriously impact the machine’s lifespan and operational efficiency. Not all oils are equal. It can make or break engines and the profitability of your…
Modern furniture manufacturing has changed since the 1990s when stand-alone CNC machines with proprietary software from the same and different marques were incompatible. Today, interconnected design, materials scheduling, production control and monitoring, and inventory management…
Europe’s second largest pallet producer, the family-owned Juodeliai Group, has sawmills in Akmenynai, Jure, Radviliskio and Mrijampole in Lithuania and aims to produce 630,000 cubic metres of pallet blanks and elements in 2022, generating €200-million…
After a two-year hiatus, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) announced the comeback of its all-successful international wood and woodworking trade show, the Malaysian Wood Expo (MWE) 2022. MTC chairperson Hajah Norrida Yusoff says the council…
Ask a seasoned sawmiller about value-adding at the mill, and the immediate answer is, “it starts in the log yard”. From the gate to the infeed, the purpose of the logyard is to kickstart the…
The CMC Group is the new South African distributor of the Swiss woodworking machinery manufacturer, Striebig’s specialist range of space-saving vertical panel saws. CMC has its head office in Durban and branches in Johannesburg, Cape…
USNR, a division of Wood Technologies International, has acquired Timber Automation, an industry leader in wood processing equipment and technology. The amalgamation solidifies USNR’s leadership position in providing equipment and technology to the global wood…
Mention wood and pulp; the first things that come to mind are furniture, trusses, paper and packaging. But wait, there’s much more. Dissolving pulp is an incredibly versatile product serving as a feedstock to a…
The Cape Timber & Furniture Cluster (CTFC) is a fresh approach to business collaboration. It has adopted the European Union (EU) cluster guidelines used by over 3000 clusters. This Cape-based cluster focuses on the whole…
Cassie Greyling’s company, Can-Do Timbers, recently took delivery of a new John Deere 859MH tracked harvester carrying a Waratah 616C series-III harvesting head. The machine is an upgrade on the company’s reliable nine years…
By Joy Crane Geographical proximity and the similarity of its pine resource make South Africa a compelling alternative supplier of softwood timber to Australia. In 2020-21 Australia imported 66,3% of its softwood supplies from Europe,…
By Sappi Southern Africa Economic growth in communities stems from more people having access to decent work and earning a living using their talents and skills. This growth leads to stronger, more resilient and successful…
The deputy minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Makhotso Sotyu, recently handed over forestry plantations to the Batlokoa and Makhoba communities in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape. The combined extent of…
Sawmilling and wood processing equipment supplier, Nukor recently installed two HTR100 low-temperature high-pressure Brunner-Hildebrand dry kilns at RF Gevers sawmill near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal. The double-track fully aluminium kilns have stainless steel heating systems in…
“I believe we are of the most advanced semi-automated sawmills in southern Africa,” remarks RF Gevers’ operations director Kelvin Bland. The commissioning of two new kilns rounds off several years of intensive research, upgrades and…
Forklifts and pallets are ubiquitous in all industries and critical assets needed to keep bulk goods moving within and between countries. The global pallet market reached a value of US$ 57.6-billion in 2021 and is…
Arxada’s South African-based company, Arch Wood Protection, has adopted ComplianceWire to facilitate and maintain its customer-focused culture of compliance with quality and regulatory standards. Arxada is the global developer and supplier of quality-assured wood protection…
Radical change is afoot in South Africa’s primary and secondary wood processing industries. If any sawmillers think it is “business as usual”, then they did not attend (or stream) Sawmilling South Africa (SSA’s) first face-to-face…
Congratulations to Merensky Timber’s Langeni Sawmill for participating in the Crickmay & Associates Intermill Comparison and attaining the 2022 Sawmill Improvement Award. Andrew Crickmay announced the winner in June during Sawmilling South Africa’s (SSA’s) annual…
Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) is stepping up its campaign to promote wood’s invaluable role in the country’s future. It launched its new corporate colours, branding and slogan “we saw the future” at its Annual General…
No matter how high-tech the sawmill, preparing a kiln-dried workpiece for the market usually involves a few standard processes – ripping or edging, cross-cutting, and planing. When it comes to cross-cutting, especially if there is…
Large-scale industrial solar panel installations provide tremendous cost-cutting benefits for sawmills, wood processing plants, and furniture manufacturers. There is no better time than now to capitalise on solar technologies. Running a sustainable business is challenging…
Globally, increasingly competitive renewables-based generation, especially solar and wind, are rapidly transforming power systems as countries try to meet the deadline for Net Zero levels by 2030. In South Africa, the motivation to get off…
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency says South Africa ranks as one of the top 15 nations in the world in driving the green growth agenda – ahead of Australia, Singapore, and Finland. The agency attributes…
Research on the effect of tree and harvester size on productivity and harvester investment decisions demonstrates that the difference in productivity rates largely negates the difference in ownership and operating expenses between larger and smaller…
The PEFC Board of Directors has appointed Dr Michael Berger to succeed Ben Gunneberg as the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) secretary-general/CEO. “Michael will be an engaged, responsive, and dedicated leader for…
Wood-Mizer pulled out the stops at Grain SA’s Nampo Harvest Day 2022, the largest agricultural expo in the Southern Hemisphere! According to Toit Wessels, Grain SA’s assistant manager for marketing and Nampo, about 73,000 visitors…
Leroy Robbert operates the KDT beam saw at Boards for Africa and, after 18 months, remains amazed at the speed and reliability of the machine he has renamed “fast and furious”. The company has ordered…
The recently launched Innovus Spirit finish, designed to complement Sonae Arauco’s woodgrains set, combines the elements of “Matching Life” with contemporary interior decorative applications. Spirit is an exclusive finish that appears full of movement and…
Sonae Arauco’s Innovus MFC decorative product range has won the Green Product Award 2022 in the Interior and Lifestyle category of the much anticipated annual awards in Munich, Germany. Nils Bader founded the Green Product…
An independent and verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) analysis of Sonae Arauco’s wood-based decorative panels confirms that in 2021 it retained 3,5-million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the products supplied to customers in over 75…
PG Bison has appointed Christo Bester as its new sales executive. He will take up the position at the company’s Boksburg head offices from 1 June 2022. Bester holds a master’s degree in organisation and…
Arxada has appointed Johan Nortje as the customer accounts manager for the KwaZulu-Natal, southern Mpumalanga and Swaziland (Eswatini) regions Arxada, trading as Arch Wood Protection South Africa, is a global leader in wood treatment technologies.…
Newly planted seedlings and saplings are prone to damage by many pathogens and pests. Among the vertebrates, birds, small and medium-sized rodents such as porcupines and hares may ring-bark young pine trees, while antelope, like…
Wood-Mizer invites African sawmillers to become part of the company’s network of satisfied and productive customers. Etienne Nagel of Wood-Mizer explains the manufacturer’s service philosophy: Our sawmilling technology is class-leading and spans sawmilling and manufacturing,…
Hardwood sawmillers and roundwood exporters work closely with their resource suppliers to ensure a consistent supply of logs that are good enough to produce sufficient volumes of higher-grade material for returns to exceed the cost…
Employers, organisations and training providers registered with the Fibre Processing & Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&MSeta) have until midnight on 30 April 2022 to upload their skills development reports. The FP&MSeta’s CEO, Dr…
Local forestry harvesting specialists realise that harvesting operations must consider utilising purpose-built equipment that is up to operating in harsh environments. This same equipment also needs to produce the highest quality of stable output as…
By Joy Crane Biesse’s Facebook page counted down the days to an important announcement. On 4 March, the trade markets director Gianluca Ticchi revealed that “we are proud to announce that our new partner in…
Michael Jordaan has replaced Robin Kuriakose as Sonae Arauco’s chief marketing and sales officer (CMSO) in South Africa. Jordaan has an MBA from Stellenbosch University and over 20 years of supply chain management and business…
By Paige Sherriff, Project Manager at the eThekwini Furniture Cluster (EFC) In the first months of 2022, I’ve found myself having the same debate on three different occasions with furniture manufacturers. The starting point for…
By Michael Brink, founder of BalloonBox Technology, Canada Blockchain is becoming mainstream. Worldwide, there is growing distrust of the tech giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon that collect and manipulate data from devices and…
Furniture manufacturers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) can develop their in-house design capacity while offering newcomers an opportunity to learn about manufacturing, productivity, workflow, and design and the “soft” skills to navigate the world of work. The…
Rolling out Cape Town’s Tree Canopy Management Project to other cities and towns could be a valuable tool in coordinating urban tree-planting initiatives under the government’s Plant a Million Trees Campaign and managing risks at…
Board selection and sorting throughout the milling process assists sawmills in selecting cutting patterns and products standards for their market segments and is essential for quality assurance. Unfortunately, the sorting method often damages boards and…
There is extensive and worldwide scientific evidence that wood is the only renewable resource and that forestry and forest products have high carbon reduction potential. This is good news for Africa’s fabricators of solid wood…
Sawmillers and furniture manufacturers in Africa, Europe, North America and Asia increasingly specify tooling from the extensive Wood-Mizer Tools range. Industry veteran Grant Smith is Wood-Mizer’s tooling sales manager in Africa. He ensures that his…
Green Cape Timbers’ news that it manufactures and supplies untreated eucalyptus poles for vineyards adds fuel to ongoing discussions timber pole suppliers and users. Vergelegen wine estate is presently trialling three different pole materials in…
South African forestry and forest products companies are sector leaders in wetlands conservation in Africa. For decades, they have worked with scientists and conservationists to rehabilitate and conserve over 28,000 hectares of wetlands on forestry-owned…
“Let the debate begin,” remarks Pieter Smuts, managing director of Husqvarna South Africa. He believes the advantages of battery-powered chainsaws will soon outweigh that of traditional petrol-driven units. “With the recent advancements in technology, choosing…
