. naturally
. naturally
Issue 7 - December 2010
A quarterly newsletter from Gunns Timber Products
Window and door components
Gunns' positioning for
the future!
For further information on this product
visit www.gunnstimber.com.au
On 18 October 2010 Gunns announced the agreement to acquire the
Forest Enterprises Australia’s (FEA’s) Bell Bay Softwood Sawmill.
Chris Peterson, CEO Gunns Timber Products, comments further about
the purchase. "The purchase of this facility represents a logical
progression in Gunns Timber Products’ growth strategy in the Australian
plantation based timber industry."
The 85 hectare Bell Bay sawmill is a modern and low cost production
facility that will help increase softwood production and capability as
well as allowing Gunns Timber Products to grow into existing and new
markets within Australia. The Bell Bay mill has just entered its fourth year
of operation.
Whilst Gunns has identified several operational benefits and synergies
through this purchase, FEA’s investment in modern sawmilling
infrastructure has meant the softwood sawmill has world class
technology. Chris further commented that through the new
ownership of the mill, Gunns Timber Products can "saw better, grade
better, dry better and have a better final product coming out of its
Tasmanian operations."
Among the many advantages of this new facility, those that stand out are
the technological investments which will help to improve recovery and
grade yield for the timber products. This means customers will continue
to see cost competitive, consistent and reliable products with consistent
supply.
Continued inside
GTP Photo
Opportunity
$3,000 up for grabs!
In this edition of Gunns.naturally
See inside for details
H
ar
ris
- Farewell to Terry and Garry
Te
rr
y
- VAFI Award for Innovation
on
- Sales offices and manufacturing closure times
Th
om
ps
- "Buy Australian Timber Framing" campaign
G
ar
ry
- GTP photo competition
Australian Jarrah
Australian Tas Oak & Vic Ash
Australian Pine
Continued
from
cover...
Some of the key benefits of this facility include
Chris further comments, "significant synergies and production cost
savings will be achieved for Gunns Timber Products through processing
the combined FEA and Scottsdale softwood sawlog volumes through
the one modern and efficient mill. The log-in for the Scottsdale facility
was 146,000m3 per annum of Radiata Pine, the combined facility will
process approximately 450,000 tonnes of sawlog annually. Scale,
proximity of market and log resource security are all key ingredients for
success which we have at Bell Bay.“
Christine Briggs, GM Sales and Marketing comments, "beside the
obvious additional volume that will now be available from GTP in
softwood products for the Australian market, this now means that GTP
has a base of two scale mills that are able to supply the various state
markets in Australia with more flexibility and reliability. The Bell Bay
product will go to market through current GTP sales and warehousing
infrastructure. This means that customers should ring their normal state
office to enquire about Bell Bay product availability. The offer will
include both mill direct and pack lots via our warehouses in the
southern states (Vic, SA and WA).“
•
The installation of a Canadian ‘optimil’ automatic scan and set
sawline that helps achieve better recovery of the saw log
through the use of rotation and positioning functions, a Quad
(4) bandsaw, optimising board edger, curve cutting cant
profiler and a multi rip saw
•
A significantly large undercover finished goods warehouse
that provides 8,500 square metres of undercover storage
which not only allows products to be held ready for despatch
but means they are kept out of the weather
•
New Metri Guard technology including a stress grader,
grading, trimming, sorting and stacking line which means
the products will be consistently graded
Chris Peterson concludes, "Gunns’ future operation in the Tasmanian
softwood sawmilling industry is based on owning and operating a
modern and efficient softwood mill with a sustainable wood supply
volume with throughput and scale to operate in a competitive market.
We are achieving this through the acquisition of the Bell Bay sawmill.”
•
An automated strapping and packing station that aligns and
compresses the wrapped packs and inserts the pack bearers
then straps the packs with high strength poly strapping ready
for despatch, for a higher standard and more uniform
packaging of the products
The state based sales teams are contactable on the following toll free
numbers:
P 1800 088 135 F 1800 337 104
This new equipment allows the sawmill to saw more accurately, provide
better fibre recovery, use density sorting to segregate the heart-in
products reliably and allows a more uniform kiln drying process.
Through high speed planer and metri guard grading Gunns Timber
Products can provide a uniformly consistent product.
Whilst the pine products produced by the Bell Bay sawmill are
consistent with the existing product and service offer of Gunns Timber
Products, the nature of the Tassie resource will be complementary in
some product ranges to our existing offer ex-Tarpeena. Structural
products will continue to be a key area of this product mix.“
Visit www.standards.org.au and type 'AS1684'
into the search to access MGP span tables.
For all wholesale enquiries contact your state sales team on P 1800 088 135 F 1800 337 104
“In a commodity market,
you can only be as good
as your dumbest
competitor.”
Peter Drucker
(The father of modern business management practices)
Help raise the intelligence
level of the pine market in
Australia.
Buy Australian Pine Framing.
Auspine® – reliable Australian
pine framing from
Gunns Timber Products
Auspine and Gunns have been
suppliers to the Australian
merchant, resellers, fabricator
and manufacturing market for
a lot more than 10 years.
Our people have had years of
experience in the industry and
are well known to our customers.
This proud history of growth includes
Auspine’s purchase of Frenchpine
in 2005, Gunns purchase of
Auspine in 2008, and most
recently Gunns purchase of FEA
(2010).
Choose Auspine framing from
Gunns Timber Products.
We pride ourselves on being reliable
and our state-based sales and
GTP has a proud history of growing
service teams are always available
their supply base in Pine through to visit your business or spend
capital improvements at our mills time with you and your customers
and through acquisitions of some helping plan mutual growth and
iconic companies in the Australian “reading the market cycles”
timber landscape.
together.
We work closely with our customers as
valued partners understanding the
market cycle and protecting the
value of our precious Australian
plantation pine resources.
Our main focus as an Australian
sawmilling business employing
Australians is to service the
Australian market.
P 1800 088 135

Locally manufactured in Australia
to exacting OH&S and
environmental standards
 No change or extra costs in
plate material

The right pack size

Supply isn’t linked to world
markets

Australia IS our long term
business plan
F 1800 337 104
This year Gunns Timber Products says
farewell to some of its most valued staff
members as they leave the company
to embark on another journey called
retirement.
Terry recalls the last 42 years for him in the industry as being in constant
This year we say farewell to Terry Harris, the former Tasmanian State
Manager and Garry Thomson, an Account Manager in Tasmania.
Together these guys have put in a massive innings with a combined
service of over 85 years in the Tasmanian timber industry.
For Terry’s future he says, “I am looking forward to the future and joining
so many of my ‘baby boomer’ colleagues in becoming ‘grey nomads’,
touring the length and breadth of Australia and seeing more than the
usual capital cities.”
Terry Harris
For Terry Harris, "there was no question which industry I was going to
work in. Timber was the obvious choice.” In 1968, Terry began in the
industry, with timber company H.T. Russell and Sons, as a timber clerk.
In 1978, working in production planning at the time, Terry commenced
with J & T Gunn. In 1986 he moved from an accounting and associated
duties role to a sales role and then in 1993, took on a marketing and
major group management role for the company. Terry remembers
being a part of the administration team involved with the purchase of
seven substantial forest industry companies including Kauri, KilnDried
Hardwoods and Boral Tasmania, at this point Terry was responsible for
the production planning over these three major sites.
change. "We would bed down one acquisition and then the next came.”
Graeme Stevenson, GM Tas Manufacturing says, "so many people have
come and gone under the mentorship of Terry, his knowledge and
guidance is something that Gunns Timber Products will miss. He has
been a strong supporter of Gunns and the industry in both good and
tough times."
“The trouble with
retirement is that you
never get a day off.”
Abe Lemons
A highlight for Terry has been his "shared responsibilities with export
customers in Europe, Thailand and New Zealand. Along with setting up
distribution stores and agents/ stockists in all states." Terry was also a
key part in the management of the sports floors concept rollout in 2001.
Terry Harris, 1984
Garry Thompson, 1990
For all wholesale enquiries contact your state sales team on P 1800 088 135 F 1800 337 104
Visit
at www.gunnstimber.com.au
Garry Thompson
Garry commenced working in the industry with Kemp and Denning
Timber on 4 December 1967. He started his career on the front counter
doing junior duties and assisting people off the street with general trade
enquiries before moving into a timber dispatch and ‘special orders’ role
servicing builders. Garry then took on a more external role travelling
out with colleagues and other sales representatives, measuring up
floors and other areas for timber construction. Kemp and Denning
then brought out Chestermans, a processing and drying yard in north
Hobart where Garry moved into the 2IC role where his responsibilities
were to rotate the timber through the kilns, into the yard and then to the
reconditioners for further processing.
Garry then moved back into the office where he looks back on a career
highlight of being a part of Kemp and Dennings transition from a small
hardware store into a much larger operation. Garry moved from retail
shop sales out to the mill at which time the company became owned by
Gunns. After the change in ownership he moved back into a sales role
and began servicing the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide
customer bases until warehouses in each of these states were opened.
Garry then moved into his most recent role of Account Manager for the
southern Tasmanian states.
Garry remembers "Going from small building retail sales through to
large construction and wholesale was an exciting challenge for him in
his career”. Graeme Stevenson, GM Tas Manufacturing says "Both the
company and his customers will miss Garry's extremely dedicated and
diligent approach to his job."
Terry Harris comments "I remember vividly the day Gunns purchased the
K&D sawmilling business (early 1980's). The mill manager (Tony Jaeger)
and Garry invited the Gunns management to a dinner at a Thai restaurant
in Hobart. The curries were sooo hot that the drinks bill (all beer), was
almost twice the food bill for the night."
Photo Opportunity
$3,000 up for grabs!
Gunns Timber Products would like to offer our customers the
opportunity to win one of the following prizes just by submitting a
photo of Gunns Timber Products in finished application.
It could be flooring, furniture, framing, F17 Seasoned Hardwood,
outdoor products, decorative products, stair case components or any
product from the Gunns Timber Products range.
Dont miss the opportunity to have your work
professionally photographed!
Prizes will also be awarded for photo shoot location leads.
*
The prize judged as being the best use of
Gunns Timber Products wins
**
A Gunns Timber Products allocated and administrated $3000 budget
for local advertising specifically tailored for that customer
All entries will receive a promotional prize.
To be in the running for these great prizes (or for further information)
please email your name, company contact details and photos (or
leads) to Nicole Lewis at nicole.lewis@gunns.com.au or contact
08 8721 2204. Opportunity ends 1st March 2010.
* Leads means a nominated place and contact person that Gunns Timber Products may contact and arrange a
time for photography of Gunns Timber Products in end application.
** Judged means an internal representative of Gunns Timber Products selecting the customer who has provided
an image or lead of a project deemed to be the ‘best use’ of Gunns Timber Products, winner will be
communicated via the March 2011 Gunns.naturally newsletter.
Garry wants to use his time to now enjoy family, do some jobs around
the home and eventually plans a trip into the wide yonder.
www.gunnstimber.com.au
Consider Gunns
Timber Products
for all outdoor
timber needs
Site closure
times
NSW Sales Office / Sydney Warehouse
Last day of business: noon 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 12 Jan 2011
Export Sales Office
Last day of business: 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 10 Jan 2011
Scottsdale, TAS Mill
Last day of business: 21 Dec 2010
First day back: 17 Jan 2011
Tas Sales Office
Last day of business: 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011
QLD Sales Office / Brisbane Warehouse
Last day of business: noon 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 2 Jan 2011
VIC/ SA Sales Office / Melbourne Warehouse
Last day of business: 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011
Tarpeena, SA Mill
Last day of business: 21 Dec 2010
(Despatch), 22 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011 (Despatch),
10 Jan 2011
Heyfield, VIC Mill
Last day of business: 11.00am 22 Dec 2010
First day back: 10 Jan 2011 (F J Lam,
Moulders, Despatch), 17 Jan 2011 (all other
operations)
Adelaide Warehouse
Last day of business: 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011
Bell Bay, TAS Mill
Last day of business: 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011 (Despatch),
12 Jan 2011 (Production)
WA Sales office / Perth Warehouse
Last day of business: 23 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011
Kalangadoo, SA Mill
Last day of business: 21 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011 (Despatch),
11 Jan 2011 (all other operations)
Lindsay Street, TAS Mill
Last day of business: 22 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011 (Despatch),
12 Jan 2011 (Planning and Production),
19 Jan 2011 (All other operations)
Alexandra, VIC Mill - All enquiries to
Heyfield
Manjimup, WA Mill
Last day of business: 21 Dec 2010
First day back: 17 Jan 2011
Deammill, WA Mill
Last day of business: 22 Dec 2010
First day back: 12 Jan 2011
Gunns Agricultural Centre
Last day of business: 21 Dec 2010
First day back: 4 Jan 2011
Vince Hurley accepting the award from The Hon Joe Helper, Minister for
Agriculture
Finished window components
GTP Heyfield has manufactured a new range of fully
finished, profiled, cut to length window and door
components by finger jointing and laminating short
narrow standard grade Victorian Ash. This product is
now being substituted for the imported Meranti
products that were traditionally brought into Australia
and manufactured for windows and doors.
GTP wins
the Victorian
Association of
Forest Industries
'2010 Innovation' award
Gunns Timber Products was recently awarded the Victorian Association
of Forest Industries’ (VAFI) 2010 Innovation award at their annual
Sustainability awards dinner, held in Melbourne on 15 October 2010.
With an array of industry representatives in attendance, Gunns Timber
Products took out the innovation award following the demonstrated
product developments at the Victorian based Heyfield site, the criteria
for the award 'new product in new markets’.
The Victorian based sawmilling site has made hefty investment into
product development, focusing on creating products that broaden the
market for Victorian timbers, along with products that can be used for
import substitution.
Vince Hurley, General Manager of Victorian Operations says, "this was
a great achievement for GTP Heyfield and it is great to be recognised
for innovation in both customer interaction and manufacturing. This is a
key part of the existing business. We want to ensure that we are always
looking for potential opportunities to open new markets and not just
compete in existing, this also provides broader industry benefits.”
Some of the key product and market development has happened in the
following areas.
Door stiles from low grade material
These machined precision docked door stile
components have been manufactured from short
narrow low grade timber. The process used both smart
manufacturing and scanning technology to produce a
product to substitute imported Meranti and
Rubberwood door stiles.
Supachord high strength truss chords
After 18 months of development, the Supachord range
has been introduced. The product is the only Finger
Jointed Laminated truss material in Australia and as
such had to break new ground in Australian
Standards and proof testing. Supachord competes
directly with imported LVL. The high strength truss
structural requirements are greater than can be met by
pine. GTP developed the tension tested product
utilising short, narrow structural grade.
Finger jointed flooring
Maximising the extraction of high grade timber from
each sawlog often leads to the recovery of short pieces
of timber between defects. The market prefers supply
of longer length timber and therefore there is some
concern as manufacturers focus on improving value
recovery resulting in the production of shorter timber
increases. GTP Heyfield has overcome this problem by
horizontally finger jointing short pieces and profiling
longer set end matched length flooring.
European window market
GTP Heyfield has supplied the European window
market since 1994. However, with the EU signing
Kyoto, new rules with regard to insulation and window
design have changed the product requirements. The
company was able to capitalise on the changes by
developing and supplying a range of laminated
window components to both Denmark and Germany,
even in a depressed European market.
For all wholesale enquiries contact your state sales team on P 1800 088 135 F 1800 337 104