OVERVIEW
Forestry and paper Sonae Arauco has expanded its White River factory.
Timber frame house. Image: Eco Log Homes
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he White River plant of Sonae Arauco now offers more decorative solutions because of the installation in 2019 of a Dieffenbacher melamine press. The company’s aim is to make the site a uniquely integrated facility. Among the new offerings as a result of the R200-million expansion are a woodgrain named for and inspired by the Chobe River and Grigio, a “marbled fantasy décor”. The company produces particleboard and fibreboard, melamine-faced boards and finishes. The invitation to the launch of the factory extension claimed that the factory is the “most efficient in Africa”. The company has another plant at Panbult between Ermelo and Mkhondo (Piet Retief ). Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) and the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA) made an offer during the Covid-19 lockdown to share with the South African government their skills and expertise. Sawmilling South Africa is an industry association which represents the majority of sawmillers in South Africa. By building alternative housing (with wood), it was felt that this could contribute to thinning out densely populated informal settlements to slow the spread of the virus. MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21
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Sector Insight An Agriculture and Forestry Technology Park is planned. Mpumalanga has the ideal climate and topography for forests. Sabie and Graskop represent the hub of the industry, but commercial forests are also found to the east and south along the Swaziland border. About 11% of the land mass is forested, with 4% of that being natural forest. The province is the national leader in total hectares under forest (514 000ha) and in export earnings. Forestry accounts for about 8% of Mpumalanga’s gross
