Choose the Original
I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R
Choose the Original
www.hewsaw.com
SEPTEMBER 2016 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • www.timberbiz.com.au
www.hewsaw.com
Queensland’s unique forest products research powerhouse T
HE QUEENSLAND G ove r n m e nt ’s Salisbury Research Facility is a hothouse of R&D talent with four staff members either completing or undertaking postgraduate research degrees in various fields relating to forest products. Dr Rob McGavin, Salisbury Research Facility and Project Manager with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) said no other research provider in Australia had the facilities or capability of the Salisbury location. “This makes DAF’s Forest Product Innovation team a unique group in forestry and forest products R&D,” he said. “We are renowned for our know-how and successes
in delivering cutting-edge innovation for industry and our extensive state, national and international project portfolio supports this. “Collectively we represent the largest grouping of scientific and technical expertise in the fields of engineered wood-based composite technology, kiln drying and sawmill technology, adhesive and adhesion development, timber grading and advanced mechanical wood properties testing, timber preservation and performance testing, wood product design and prototyping, wood anatomy and wood identification. “The qualifications of our staff are testament to this, with research
scientist Adam Redman about to complete his PhD studies. Adam specialises in the complex physical and mechanical science involved in wood drying. “Two other team members, Bill Leggate and Gary Hopewell, recently enrolled in PhD studies with a focus on enhancing engineered wood products through wood treatment, and characterising wood quality and value from softwood plantations. “Another staff member Rod Vella is completing his Masters degree with a focus on novel adhesive techniques for composite wood products. “Earlier this year, I completed my own PhD studies with a specialisation in hardwood veneer processing.
¢ (L-R) Rod Vella, Gary Hopewell, Dr Rob McGavin, Bill Leggate, Dr Henri Bailleres, Adam Redman.
“Dr Henri Bailleres heads up the team and is an internationally recognised expert in wood science, processing, modelling and timber engineering.” Innovations developed by the Salisbury Research Facility include: • introduction of new veneer processing approaches now being adopted by industry • design of innovation pole connection system being patented in partnership with industry • development of adhesion and manufacturing system for a composite wood and aluminium building product – now an international product • development of a lowcost wood quality assessment platform
End of a brilliant political career A LACK of numbers spelled the end of a superb political career for Richard Colbeck, a champion of not only the forestry industry nationally but, in more recent times, promoting his home state of Tasmania. As he said, “politics is governed by the hard and fast rules of mathematics - either you have the numbers or you don’t, and at
the completion of the Tasmanian Senate count I unfortunately didn’t have the numbers to continue the great privilege of representing Tasmania in the Senate”. Richard entered the Senate in 2002 as only the 475th Australian to have done so. “I am enormously proud to have represented the Tasmanian people and the Liberal Party in the Australian Parliament
over the last 14 and a half years – it has been an honour and a privilege. “It says a lot about our country that you can come from a dairy farm with a vocational education as a tradesman to become a representative in the Parliament and serve at the level I have served, as a Minister in the Federal Government. Continued on page 9
• non-destructive wood structural properties m e a s u r e m e n t techniques. Dr McGavin said over the past decade, forest product research capacity in Australia had been significantly reduced. “The Salisbury Research Facility is the exception to this trend and continues to provide a critical service to the industry at a state, national and international level,” he said. “We also work closely with the university sector as demonstrated through our partnerships with the University of Queensland and its newly-launched Centre for Future Timber Structures, as well as QUT, Griffith University, James Cook University, University of Melbourne and others.”