Veneer Recovery Analysis of Plantation Eucalypt Species Using Spindleless Lathe Technology

Abstract

The Australian hardwood plantation industry is challenged to identify profitable markets for the sale of its wood fibre. The majority of the hardwood plantations already established in Australia have been managed for the production of pulpwood; however, interest exists to identify more profitable and value-added markets. As a consequence of a predominately pulpwood-focused management regime, this plantation resource contains a range of qualities and performance. Identifying alternative processing strategies and products that suit young plantationgrown hardwoods have proved challenging, with low product recoveries and/or unmarketable products as the outcome of many studies. Simple spindleless lathe technology was used to process 918 billets from six commercially important Australian hardwood species. The study has demonstrated that the production of rotary peeled veneer is an effective method for converting plantation hardwood trees. Recovery rates significantly higher than those reported for more traditional processing techniques (e.g., sawmilling) were achieved. Veneer visually graded to industry standards exhibited favourable recoveries suitable for the manufacture of structural products.

Veneer Grade Analysis of Early to Mid-rotation Plantation Eucalyptus Species in Australia

“…As summarised by McGavin et al (2014), many studies have been completed that investigated solid wood processing options (i.e., sawmilling) for the plantation hardwood resource. Despite the varied approaches mainly based on alternative technologies targeting sawn timber products, many challenges remain, resulting in excessively low recovery of marketable products and unprofitable processes.…”

“…The processing of Australian grown hardwood from plantations into veneer using relatively new small-scale spindleless veneer lathe technology has the potential to produce product recoveries that are much more favourable when compared to solid wood processing techniques (McGavin et al 2014). While the technology approach is not necessarily new, recent advancements in design allow the technology to be well suited to smaller diameter plantation forest resources.…”

“…While the veneer recoveries reported by McGavin et al (2014) were high (net recoveries up to 58% of log volume), the grade recoveries were dominated by Dgrade veneers when graded to Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2269.0:2012 (Standards Australia 2012). The low recovery (between 3% and 32% of total veneer) of higher grade veneers (C-grade and better) has been identified by McGavin et al (2014) as a challenge for commercial panel production with insufficient proportions of face veneer qualities to allow a standard commercial mix of structural panel products to be manufactured when only using a resource of this quality.…”

“…The low recovery (between 3% and 32% of total veneer) of higher grade veneers (C-grade and better) has been identified by McGavin et al (2014) as a challenge for commercial panel production with insufficient proportions of face veneer qualities to allow a standard commercial mix of structural panel products to be manufactured when only using a resource of this quality.…”

“…The objective of this study was to analyse at a species level, the grade quality, including defect assessment of veneer which resulted from the processing studies reported by McGavin et al (2014). In addition, defects that had the most influence in reducing grade quality are reviewed and scenarios explored to determine the improvements in grade recovery and relative value that may be possible under different circumstances.…”