A new state-of-the-art radial timber mill will be opening in Gippsland this month and is set to boost both productivity for the mill and jobs for the region. Source: Timberbiz
Chris McEvoy, managing director of Radial Timber Australia said that the new mill opening in Yarram is a first of its kind in the world.
“Using Australian-developed technology, this new mill will have the ability of tripling the capacity of our old mill, Mr McEvoy said.
“Radial sawmilling is a process that initially cuts logs into wedges like a cake, in line with the way a log naturally splits as it dries.
“This is different to conventional sawmilling which removes the edges of a round log to square it off before sawing into boards.
“This type of sawmilling allows us to produce more timber from smaller logs and can still successfully process sawlogs with splits,” he said.
Nathan Trushell, Acting CEO VicForests, said that the sawmill shows a promising future for both Radial Timber and the greater Victorian timber industry.
“This is a great example of how our industry is constantly adapting and evolving,” Mr Trushell said.
“As the main supplier for Radial Timber we are proud to support them during this exciting time and look forward to seeing the beautiful radial timber products enter the market,” he said.
The sawmill, which cost $4.5 million and took 12 months to build, provided local employment for the duration of the build and will also provide jobs for a number of new on-going workers at the mill.
“This expansion will secure our long-term viability within the industry and more than triple our production, bringing more jobs and activity to the region,” Mr McEvoy said.
“We are confident that between our 10-year contract with VicForests and over 2000 hectares of high value plantations that we have established in the region that we will be around for many years to come,” he said.
Almost 100% of Radial’s products, which include shiplap cladding, decking, screenboards and a range of unique radial products, end up in high end Melbourne and interstate markets.
Radial Timber is now in the planning stages for a further expansion of a new dry mill on the site adding another $1.3 million investment into the region.
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, will be officially opening the mill in a ceremony that will showcase this innovative technology and celebrate the exciting economic potential it will bring to the area.
