The Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau has officially responded to the N.C. Building Code Council warnings of Friday, June 11th in regard to the use of European lumber in North Carolina home construction.
News in international markets
Wood Engineering Technology Embarks on Lumber Revolution with Opening of Gisborne Facility
Gisborne, a city located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, is the center of a potential $200 million (NZD) “revolution” in wood processing and New Zealand home building. The official opening of Wood Engineering Technology’s (WET) plant, the only one of its type in the world, is producing a breakthrough product OEL.
Premier Forest Group (UK) Announces Sale of Irish Subsidiary Premier Forest ROI Ltd
Premier Forest Group has announced that it has sold, for an undisclosed price, their Irish subsidiary Premier Forest ROI Ltd to Northern Ireland based Murdock Builders Merchant. Premier Forest ROI Ltd is an eight-site subsidiary comprising of Brooks Timber and Building Supplies and Dublin Plywood and Veneer (DPV).
Australia’s Vision for Forest Products Innovation
Citing other countries with world-leading forest industry research institutes that are delivering breakthrough discoveries right now, The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and the University of Tasmania are calling on the Australian Federal Government to invest $100 million (A$) over the next 4-years, with matching funds coming from the industry to correct Australia’s research shortfall.
KSI Sawmills Announces $4.5 Million Investment in New South, Australia Sawmill
KSI Sawmills has announced that they are making a $4.5 million-dollar (A$) investment in South Australia’s timber industry. KSI Sawmill currently operates a small mill at Nuriootpa and plans on building a new mill which will be strategically located allowing for expansion, offering improved transportation routes central to both local timber plantations and downstream markets.
Stora Enos Provides Additional Information on the Closure of their Veitsiluoto Pulp and Paper Mill
Responding to reduced demand in the paper market, Stora Enos announced back in April 2021 that it planned to permanently close down pulp and paper production at its Kvarnsveden and Veitsiluoto mills. As a result of the co-determination negotiations regarding the Veitsiluoto site, the three paper machines, chemical pulp and groundwood production, and the sheeting plant will be closed permanently.
Russia to Build the First New Pulp and Paper Mill in 40-years in the Republic of Karelia
The Russian State Commission for the Development of the Arctic has announced it has approved an investment project for the construction of a new pulp and paper mills (PPM). It will be the first new PPM to be built in Russian in over 40-years.
Metsä Group Selects LSAB Suomi Oy to Deliver Blades to its New Rauma Sawmill in Finland
Metsä Fibre has announced that it has selected long-time partner LSAB Suomi Oy to deliver blades to its new Rauma sawmill in Finland. The value of Metsä Fibre’s Rauma sawmill investment amounts to approximately 200 million Euro, and the new unit will produce around 750,000 m3 of pine sawn timber annually.
North Carolina’s Building Code Council Issues an Alert on the Use of European Lumber in Home Building
North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey issued an alert on Monday (6-14-21) in regard to European lumber being used in the construction of homes and buildings throughout the state. The Building Code Council has determined European lumber, which is being imported to help with the nation’s lumber shortage, does not meet N.C. building code requirements and, in some cases, could cause catastrophic failures in wall, floor and roof framing.
New Zealand’s Log Exports Have Domestic Wood Industry Leaders Fearing for their Survival
Having sold off much of the Crown forestry estate over 30-years ago, most of New Zealand’s (NZ) forestry lands are currently in private hands. Today the NZ government is looking for those private forestry land holders to help them with carbon offsets, provide enough timber for housing, and earn export income and supply biofuels and biocoal to fill the countries’ vehicles and boilers.