Wood, pulp and paper

Sawmilling

The sawmilling industry is labour intensive and a key contributor to the rural economy.

Find updates on www.timber.co.za, website of Sawmilling South Africa.

Board Manufacturing

• Timber board refers to products, which are made by compressing woodchips and other wood residue into a condensed panel by using heat and pressure. The two types of timber board products are (i) particleboard (chipboard), used in in shopfitting, kitchen manufacturing, domestic and office furniture industry amongst others; and (ii) fibreboard, which includes medium density fibre board (MDF), insulation board and hardboard.
• The furniture manufacturing industry, the largest user of timber boards, is cyclical, with much higher production in the second half of the year, reaching a peak in the last quarter of the year, where manufacturers have to operate optimally.
• The export market for board products is subjected to production capacity of other world players and the variability of our exchange rate. A weaker Rand favours increased exports and vice versa. Timber boards are primarily exported to India, the rest of Africa, Europe and South America.

Wood Preservation

• The science of timber preservation entails the treatment of wood to make it more durable and therefore extending its service life.
• All wood preservatives used in South Africa have to be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Wood preservatives are divided into three main groups: (1). Water-borne preservatives, applied in a pressure treatment plant are traditionally organic chemicals dissolved in water. The most commonly used is Copper Chrome Arsenic (CCA), which is a heavy-duty preservative offering a broad spectrum of insecticidal and fungicidal protection. (2). Creosote is an oil-borne preservative, which is applied in an open or pressure treatment plant. It is a heavy duty preservative used primarily to treat wooden poles. (3). Light Organic Solvent Preservatives (LOSP), are named so because the term LOSP describes the solvent carrier of the preservative. This preservative is mainly used for timber mouldings and engineered wood products.

Visit www.sawpa.co.za for information on the South African Wood Preservers Association’s industry.

Furniture Manufacturing

• The South African furniture industry is an important sector in the South African economy, considering both its labour-intensiveness and its potential for the development of SMMEs and improved export capability.

Further reference:

• South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) http://furnituresa.org.za
• Cape Furniture Manufacturers’ Association www.cfma.org.za
• Wesgro. 2022. Analysis of the furniture industry (including HS9404: mattress supports; articles of bedding and similar furnishing). Available at www.wesgro.co.za/uploads/files/Wesgro-Research_Analysis-of-the-Furniture-Industry-Globally-and-in-SA_2022.06.pdf
• Reporter. 2021, March 10. “Furniture industry masterplan to reposition SA”. SA News. Available at www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/furniture-industry-masterplan-reposition-sa

Wood in Construction

THE TIMBER ROOF TRUSS INDUSTRY

The Timber Roofing Industry is a significant user of building timber. There are five key role players, who ensure that the industry delivers on its mandate to produce safe and properly designed roofing structures:

• System manufacturers who manufacture nail plates, develop and provide software trusses, for the design of nail plated timber roof play an important role in providing the wherewithal to manufacture roof trusses.
• Engineers with substantial experience and proven competence in timber engineering, provide the technical expertise to the industry.
• Timber Truss fabricators, who design, manufacture and supply prefabricated nail plated timber trusses to the desired standards.
• Companies that install and erect prefabricated nail plate timber roof structures.
• Professional roof inspectors, who are accredited by the ITC and aligned to an approved engineer, are able to inspect timber roof structures for compliance with the National Building Regulation A19.

Visit http://itc-sa.org, website of the Institute for Timber Construction SA.

TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION

•   SANS 10400 and SANS 10082 – the Code of Practice for Timber Buildings – are incorporated into the National Building Regulations.
• The estimated total number of timber frame builders nationally is approximately 265. This translates into around 1 550 buildings of an average of 200m2 each per annum. The market share value is therefore around R1.5 billion per annum.
• With increasing focus on green building principles and reducing the carbon footprint of building structures, timber frame construction is poised to play a much larger role in the future of construction in South Africa.

Visit http://itc-sa.org, website of the Institute for Timber Construction SA.

THATCH INDUSTRY

Over the years, the market has seen the move from using creosote poles, to greater use of CCA and Boron treated poles. Creosote poles have formed an integral part of a thatched roof’s character from an appearance point of view. Initially in the early 1980’s only creosote poles were available. Some clients believed that the creosote treatment acted as a repellent to keep insects away. With the growing popularity of CCA treatment, Thatchers were provided with more options. Boron treated poles are favoured by certain clients because of their natural colour as opposed to the green colour of CCA treatment, but do have draw backs in that they cannot be planted in the ground or be exposed to the weather, which does occur with certain aesthetically pleasing designs.

Poles used for thatch roof construction have to meet specific size, treatment and strength requirements for roofs to be of sound and safe construction.

For more, visit the website of the Thatchers’ Association of South Africa, www.sa-thatchers.co.za.

Source: The brochure which was available at https://thewoodfoundation.co.za (website now defunct