Radiata pine: ready & able

I\TEW Zealand radiata pine is Il becoming better known in the U.S. as NZ companies name marketing representatives and U.S. corpofiltions such as International Paper, Weyohaeuser and Fib'refomr International fomr marketing alliances there.

A general pufpose softwood, radiata pine is considered the most important mat€rid for house construction in New Zealand, used in foundations, flooring, wall and roof ftaning, siding, lining, finishing, exterior and interior joinery and interior ftttings as

Strength Properties

duction is projected to double over the next 15 years to 25 million cubic meters. New Zealand Forest Industries Council has estimated that the country could support 31 additional world scale sawmills, four plywood mills and l0 medium density fiberboard mills or two MDF mills and two mechanically based pulp/paper mills.

Grades & Strength Classes Comparison

Specilic Moddus: Modulus: Compressbn Shear Gravily Rupturo

Story at a Glance

New Zealand radiata pine could be a partial answer to timber shortages ... production to double in next 15 years compares favorably with U.S. species accepts prsssu re trsatment readily.

well as fumihre. Comprehensive trials at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute compare it favorably with North American softwood species. (See charls.)

Readily accepting boron salts, CCA, creosote and ligbt organic solvent preservatives, radiata pine lumber treated for ground contact is expected to last at least 30 years, according to New Zealand Forest Indusries Council statistics. In addition, they mainain 'tadiata pine given the correct tr€afircnt can be protected for life - beyond 80 years in some cases."

Availability is one of New T,ealamrd radiata pine's nost important prop€rties. A recent reporq "The New Zealand Forestry Sector - An International Prototype for a Sustained Resource Industry," maintains they 'can produce about 10% of the world's plantation production. New Zealand's planted forest harvest pro-

Machining Properties

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