Osmose has been working with Timber Training Creswick to develop a training program for plant operators. Timber Training Creswick is a nationally Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that specialises in Forest Industry qualifications from Certificate II to Diploma level. The program involves operators using a self paced CD based learning program to work through the knowledge needed for timber preservation, and then practical assessment of operators conducted at your premises.

Participants will complete the unit FPISAW3201B Treat Timber which is the required unit for plant operator competence under plant operator competence Restricted Chemical Product (RCP) status. The unit is part of a nationally recognised Certificate III or Certificate IV level qualification and you may be able to access federal government training incentives to have operators complete full qualifications.
Assessment can be conducted by Osmose representatives, and Timber Training Creswick will enrol the students and issue the Statements of Attainment or qualifications. We anticipate the CD will be ready for distribution from October 2011. To register your interest, or if you would like more information, contact Chris Tzioutziouklaris at Osmose,
chris@osmose.com.au.
If you have done the OSMOSE plant operator training program in the last 5 years, you will be able to apply for direct practical assessment without working through the learning program. Those who have done the OSMOSE training more than five years ago should find the CD quick and easy to work through, saving time on a complete enrolment.

General
Many timber products are preservative treated to extend their service life, ensuring that timber can be used with confidence in many applications ranging from landscaping and fencing to window frames and cladding as well as house framing. The different situations where these products are used involve different levels of weather exposure, fungal decay and insect attack. For example, house framing may be exposed to potential termite attack whereas landscaping timbers may be exposed to fungal decay and termite and borer attack. Modern preservative treatment methodologies use different preservative formulations to give the treated timber product an extended service life. That is why it is important to ensure that the preservative treated timber you buy is treated to the appropriate “Hazard Class” or “H” level for your application. This should be indicated on the timber by a burn brand, label or mark indicating the appropriate H-level, For example, treated timber for outdoor use in above ground applications should be treated to an H3 level. Treated timber for ground contact applications should be treated to an H4 level or H5 depending on ground conditions. More information on Hazard Classes for preservative treated timber is available on the Osmose website.
Why Reseal with a Brush On Preservative Product?
All preservative treatments complying to the Australian Standard (AS1604 series) are treated in dedicated timber treatment facilities. Most traditional timber treatments are applied using a vacuum/pressure process.   However, new generation treatments can be applied by a dip or spray or in the glue matrix of engineered timber products such as plywoods, LVL and others. When a treated timber product is cut, notched, drilled or worked in any way that breaks the surface of the timber product, then it is generally recommended that a resealing preservative product be applied to the exposed areas.  Resealing with a preservative is important to protect untreated coated areas from fungal decay or insect attack. 

Different Product Categories and Formulations Need Different Sealant Strategies
Water based Copper Preservative Treatments
Includes MicroPro, (Micronized Copper Quat), CCA (Copper Chrome Arsenate) and ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary)
Products treated with these formulations should be resealed with PROTIM SOLIGNUM CN TIMBER OIL (CN Oil). This is a copper –based solvent/oil formulation that is green in colour. If a paint system is to be applied after resealing, allow time for the CN Oil to be absorbed into the timber and then follow paint manufacturers recommendations.
Solvent Preservative Treatments
Products treated with these formulations should be resealed with PROTIM SOLIGNUM XJ CLEAR TIMBER PROTECTIVE (XJ CLEAR). If a paint system is to be applied after resealing, allow time for the XJ Clear to be absorbed into the timber and then follow paint manufacturers recommendations.
Envelope Treated “Blue” Interior Timber Framing
These products have a preservative product applied to surface of the timber including the ends. Because the timber is protected by an envelope of preservative on the outside of the timber, it is recommended  to reseal  any exposed timber as a result of  cutting, notching or drilling holes for services. If the cut end is to be butted against a treated surface in service, then resealing is not required. See Osmose “Determite” Information sheet for further advice and product description. Use PROTIM-SOLIGNUM XJ CLEAR TIMBER PROTECTIVE (XJ Clear) for Blue Treated framing.

For application information on Protim Solignum TimberCare products and other important information, visit our website at www.osmose.com.au.

Those who attended last years Osmose seminars will remember that Osmose’ Gary Converse gave a comprehensive and compelling introduction to the development, features and implementation of MicroPro. Tasco had shown keen interest in the MicroPro process and initiated trials of MicroPro treatment technology to replace ACQ as the treatment for its pine decking product. While being happy with ACQ, the process required a very involved production procedure to achieve the aesthetic finish required by customers. MicroPro offered a simpler process with the promise of a product that could be painted or stained by the end user to achieve the colour and appearance they were after.
To achieve the right product, Tasco worked closely with Osmose and Davids Timber to run treatment and drying trials over the latter part of 2010 and early 2011 and the end result was a series of refinements and adjustments to sorting the timber, the treatment process and the drying of the timber decking. Tasco have now moved completely to MicroPro decking and the response from their customers has been very positive. Osmose would like to thank the team at Tasco and Davids Timber for their vision in pursuing a better product for their production process and for the highly detailed and professional way they approached its testing and implementation.
Osmose staff have been pleased to help and look forward to assisting other customers in implementing MicroPro over the next months. More information and brochures on MicroPro are available on the Osmose website.

Boracol has been an important part of the Osmose product line for many years being used by dedicated customers for timber bridges and other heavy timber structures as a protective and remedial treatment for decay and insect attack. In recent months there has been renewed interest in Boracol as a result of its use in the treatment of frames and other timber structures affected by the devastating flooding in many areas of Australia. There are 3 grades of Boracol and while the formulations are similar, each one has been created to be most effective for specific situations.
To answer common questions and to assist in determining the correct Boracol formulation, Osmose has produced 4 new brochures to assist specifiers and end users. These brochures are available on the Osmose website.
For pricing and availability please contact Osmose on 1800 088 809

It is with great sadness that we heard the news of Charlie’s passing on the 29th of February this year after a short illness. Several Osmose staff members had the pleasure of working with Charlie over the years and have their own remembrances of a man of great knowledge, sense of humour and devotion to the timber industry he loved. In recent years it was great to hear Charlie on ABC radio as one of the “Woodies”. There will be much said in memory of Charlie by the timber and related industries and so we simply want to say our condolences to his devoted wife Caroline and their family for their tragic loss.

The Osmose Process Control System (PCS) is a powerful software tool that has been proven to yield benefits in control, efficiency and powerful reporting functions for any treatment plant. In the last few months Osmose has continued to install the PCS into customer sites and we are pleased to report the installation into Hayters Sawmill in Sydney, Dale & Meyers Tiaro Queensland site and CHH Yarram in Victoria. Feedback from these sites has been very positive and in particular, plant operators have been impressed with increased efficiency, consistency of charges and user friendliness of the system including the ability to get assistance from Osmose specialists who can log into the system via the internet. If you would like to discuss the PCS for your plant please contact your Osmose technical representative.

Timber treatment companies would no doubt be aware of the current media focus on the resources boom and related rise in the value of metals. A very high proportion of the cost of most treatment chemicals is directly related to the cost of raw materials. Over the last 12 months in particular the cost of these raw materials has increased significantly due to the rise in global base metal prices.
For example the cost of copper has risen by over 50% over the last 12 months as can be seen from the graph below. All indications at this stage are that the price of copper will remain high throughout 2011 and may increase even further – some experts are tipping it will break through US$12,000 per tonne by mid-year from its current level of approximately US$9500.

In addition to increasing copper costs, chromic acid price for 2011 has also increased significantly. Chromic acid accounts for approximately 50% of the raw material cost of an active tonne of CCA Oxide and thus this cost increase also has a significant impact on the total cost of CCA Oxide.
Osmose is continuing to use its global purchasing power and sourcing ability in securing our raw materials at the lowest cost and this will allow us to ensure we get supply and to minimize the volatility in pricing as much as possible however some price movement for CCA in the future appears likely due to these escalating costs.

Recently, the APVMA was made aware that a major reseller supplied copper chrome arsenate (CCA) treated timber to schools for use in structures where children are likely to be exposed to the treated wood on a frequent basis.

Such use is contrary to APVMA advice

In 2005, the APVMA recommended that CCA no longer be used to treat timber destined for a range of outdoor uses. These actions were taken to restrict people’s exposure to arsenic, particularly children, who could have frequent and intimate contact with such structures. Uses where contact is occasional or unlikely, continue to be permitted, such as for power and telegraph poles, fencing and some structural building uses.

What you need to do
Appropriate information about the use of CCA-treated timber needs to be provided to retailers and resellers to mitigate potential downstream risks from the inappropriate use of CCA-treated timber. This may require provision of advice and information sheets in locations accessible to customers and training of sales staff to answer customers’ questions.

Point-of-sale information to consumers is important. Failure to provide appropriate information may lead to the use of CCA-treated timber in places where children are likely to be exposed frequently. Such a situation will only heighten the concerns of the APVMA and other regulatory authorities, and could lead to stricter controls being imposed on the use of CCA for treating timber.

We ask that you carefully read the CCA Information Sheet and consider distributing this information to your members in industry newsletters or other correspondence.

The Timber Preservers Association of Australia (TPAA) has considered the APVMA notice and has responded on behalf of industry, reiterating the industry’s commitment to the agreement for the production and distribution of CCA treated timber products and the production and distribution of appropriate information. To download a copy of the industry guide, follow this link:
http://www.tpaa.com.au/files/Industry%20Guide%20-%20CCA%20timber%20TPAA%207-2-06.pdf).

Osmose settle lawsuit  | June 2010

In July 2005, Drs Robin Wakeling and Nicholas Smith MP made statements in television, radio and print media that were extremely critical of the efficacy and suitability of Osmose’s surface applied boron timber preservative, known as TimberSaver®, used to treat house framing.

As a result, Osmose issued court proceedings claiming that a number of those statements were untrue and defamatory.  Osmose claimed significant damages for losses, as the statements made and the subsequent uproar in the marketplace utterly destroyed the market for TimberSaver®.                                                                                                                                                                                 
Subsequently, Osmose joined several other parties to the litigation alleging that evidence showed they had participated in and shared responsibility for the statements made in the media by Drs Wakeling and Smith.   The parties Osmose joined to the litigation included Arch Wood Protection (NZ) Ltd (a competitor of Osmose formerly known as Koppers Arch Wood Protection (NZ)) and Bay Treatment Ltd (one of Arch’s largest customers).

Osmose is pleased it has been able to reach a settlement of the litigation with Dr Smith, Arch and the other defendants.  While the terms of the settlement are confidential, Osmose is satisfied with the settlement and with the apology that Dr Smith has provided, in which he acknowledged that statements made about timber treated with TimberSaver® were incorrect and unfair to Osmose. 

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MicroPro is a go!

MicroPro®, the most revolutionary new timber preservative technology developed in recent years has been approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for use in Australia. The MicroPro technology is a micronized copper quaternary based preservative system manufactured by Osmose for timber products protected from termites and fungal decay. MicroPro treated timber products can be used in interior applications as well as exterior above ground, ground contact, and fresh water immersion applications. Typical uses include decking, fencing, landscaping and many other outdoor projects. Some of the benefits of the MicroPro technology include better corrosion resistance for code approved fasteners and hardware, lighter more natural colour, improved painting and staining qualities and MicroPro treated timber can be used in direct contact with aluminum building products.

MicroPro Top Reasons Brochure

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2010 IS SHAPING UP TO BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR OUR INDUSTRY

Welcome to our latest edition of the Osmose® Compass newsletter. 2010 is shaping to be a very significant year for our industry. You will read in the newsletter about the issues the industry is facing with the ongoing maintenance and writing of standards and CSIRO’s decision to terminate the Forest Products Division. These issues are coinciding with the current review of the Queensland Timber Utilisation and Marketing Act where the Queensland Government is expected to report in the next few months whether it will continue enacting the TUMA legislation or whether it will repeal the legislation bringing and end to TUMA. Any end to TUMA will also call into question the long term future of the Timber Marketing Act of NSW. Thus, we are faced with the real possibility that the timber industry will lose our local independent research and product monitoring which so many in the industry have relied upon over a long period of time. As for Osmose news, we are pleased to have received our MicroPro® registration as you will also read about. MicroPro addresses many of the concerns that the treaters and users of treated timber have with the current amine based copper systems. We are looking forward to the markets for treated timber continuing to improve. While there has been some definite improvement in the structural timber market for house construction, the markets for rural applications of treated timber remain soft. I hope you find the newsletter informative and as always we look forward to your feedback.
Thanks and all the best from the Osmose team. Elias Akle, General Manager

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MEETING OF AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS COMMITTEE ON TIMBER TREATMENT

The funding of Australian Standards has long been problematical with less and less support coming from Australian government and research and public organisations which have been the mainstay of funding and representation. Last year, Standards Australia suffered a funding crisis brought on by the global financial woes and as a result industry was asked to contribute the real costs for standards Australia to produce the standards. The end result of this was a stalemate between Standards Australia and a number of committees including the one that looks after treatment standards. Osmose Australia along with Dr. Harry Greaves, Chairman of the Committee and Doug Howick (Timber Preservers Association of Australia) and other industry companies have been meeting with Standards Australia to work out a solution. In the end, Osmose and others have stumped up money to enable the current amendments to the AS 1604 series to go to publication with a meeting of the TM-006 Committee on the 10th and 11th of February enabling the amendments to go to Public Comment before publication. Thanks must go to Doug Howick, Dr. Harry Greaves and David Marlay for their hard work in coordinating funding and interaction with Standards Australia. Special thanks go to Dr. Harry Greaves for his hard work in preparing meeting papers and the Standards for Public Comment and eventual publication.

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TARMAC SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PLANT UPGRADE

Grant Tucker, Technical Manager Tarmac Group writes; “Many thanks for the work last week done by Osmose and it’s contractors. We are pleasantly surprised as we daily discover the many benefits of the new Control System. The expectation was that we would have a fully automated control system and some kind of manual interface, data entry and record keeping. This we have, but also much more. The amount of control over the process is amazing To have support from yourself and the process engineer John Lord via broadband connection has been helpful and reassuring. The project was facilitated in less time than promised and in a highly professional and friendly manner. I enjoyed being part of the process, as did our operators. There are measurable savings in chemical usage due to less over treating and in less power use due to soft starters, better valving and process control. And of course its quicker”.

If you would like to find out more about the Osmose Process Control System (PCS) and how it can assist your business, please contact your Osmose state representative.

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NEW STAFF AT OSMOSE

Osmose prides itself on it service to its customers and this comes from a team of dedicated staff involved in all aspects of the business including product development, production, warehousing and delivery just to name a few. We are pleased to announce two new staff members in the production facilities at Mt. Gambier and at Geelong in Victoria.
Rick Heaver started with us in September last year and is working as a plant operator in Mt Gambier, involved in the manufacture and despatch of CCA, and Determite products.
Chris Edwards started in Geelong in October last year and is working as a Plant Operator, manufacturing and despatching Osmose LOSP and Timbercare products.

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CSIRO TERMINATES FOREST PRODUCTS RESEARCH AFTER 91 YEARS

In 1919, the Institute of Science and Industry (Later CSIR - the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and later still CSIRO - the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) accepted an offer from the Government of Western Australia of an annual grant and a site on the grounds of the University of Western Australia for the establishment of a forest products laboratory.
That was the beginning of a proud history of government sponsored forest products research in Australia culminating in a world famous Division of Forest Products. With a reputation for industrial innovation and research excellence, in its heyday it employed more than 300 personnel all working for the benefit of both science and the Australian forest products industry.
After many, many reviews, re-organisations and down-sizing, particularly over the last twenty years, we understand that just a week or so ago, the remaining 28 personnel still working on forest products related projects have all been given “potential redundancy” letters.
Thus, within just a few weeks from now, almost a century of forest products research will have ended.
As far as we know, CSIRO has not yet issued any statement of explanation or apology to the industry. (From TPAA newsletter, thanks to Doug Howick)

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Timber Care

Osmose is justifiably proud of its range of timber-care products that have been used by professionals and handypersons around Australia for many years. The range will be expanded so watch this space for new product announcements in the future.

Raincoat Water Repellent, one of the most popular products in the range is Raincoat clear and pigmented water repellent. Raincoat works on the principle of reducing moisture movement in the timber which of course resists warping, splitting and with regular application delays greying of the timber, however it should be noted that Raincoat is not a fungicide or preservative formulation so is not a replacement for treated timber. Raincoat is a great companion with treated timber in decks, handrails and the like and the range of pigments is sure to meet the requirements of homeowners
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Victoria bush fires and the Bush Fire Standard

In the wake of the Black Saturday bush fires that devastated communities across Victoria and destroyed more than 2,000 homes the spotlight was focused on the performance of residential buildings.
Critics claimed that the industry needed “to do things better” while ill-informed commentators issued a call stating that when rebuilding in the most extreme fire risk areas a concrete slab and exterior of non-combustible materials, such as brick veneer or concrete, would be necessary.
The latter claim – potentially damaging for members of the forest and wood products industry in Australia – is, however a matter of opinion. In fact, in the face of a bush fire, it is more important to seal and protect the building envelope.
This has been confirmed in the upgraded standard AS3959-2009 Construction of buildings in bush fire-prone areas issued by the Victorian Government in early March 2009, which sets out guidelines for rebuilding in the areas affected by the fires.
The new standard, which was introduced via an amendment to the Victorian Building Regulations 2006, incorporates research supported by Forest and Wood Products Australia over the last seven years that is set to benefit the industry.

Traditionally, observations from fire events have been used to develop the requirements of these standards. However, the FWPA backed independent research to demonstrate timber’s performance in a building systems approach rather than studying the performance of individual materials – research that was based on the new test methods incorporated within the draft standard as a means of compliance.
By funding this work prior
to the finalisation of the standard FWPA has ensured that, rather than suffering from the fallout from Black Saturday, the industry is in a good position to deliver results to the marketplace well ahead of other material suppliers.* Forest and Wood Products Australia at www.fwpa.com.au

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Wood Preservation Workshop
Osmose held another of its periodic Wood Preservation Workshops in Brisbane during March of this year. The two and a half day workshop was attended by plant operators and managers looking to improve their skills, knowledge and understanding in all aspects of timber treatment. Subjects included wood properties, the natural enemies of wood, preservative types and descriptions, treatment cycles, preservation specifications, hazards classes, plant records, solution management and calculations, plant and equipment, health and safety, environmental considerations, fixation and waste management as well as a practical demonstration and field trip to a treatment plant.
We believe that Osmose training is an important part of our customer service package as it is part of our commitment in providing our customer’s staff some of the necessary knowledge required to use the preservatives in a safe and efficient manner.

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National Timber Recovery Target*
Leading timber industry representatives today announced a bold plan to double post- consumer timber recovery to one million tonnes each year. The target will see 65 per cent of timber diverted from Australian landfills.
The National Timber Stewardship Group (NTSG), comprising representatives from timber industry associations, importers, wholesalers and retailers, with input from state government representatives, announced the target in celebration of National Recycling Week. Chair of the National Timber Stewardship Group, Mr Andrew Dunn said the target is ambitious, but realistic and necessary.
“Australia already reuses large quantities of pre-consumer timber in products such as finger jointed timber, particleboard, medium density fibreboard and charcoal as well as in landscaping, horticulture and renewable energy products“Today we commit to reductions of post-consumer timber by setting a national target of doubling recovery rates to one million tonnes annually by 2017. This represents approximately 65 per cent of all post-consumer timber sent to landfill throughout Australia.“The target is achievable, but will require a significant coordinated effort by the timber industry, governments and the resource recovery sector. This is why the NTSG proposed the target as part of a national product stewardship strategy for post-consumer timber”, he said. Actions proposed to increase recovery include: improved manufacturing and ordering processes to minimise waste, development of markets for recovered timber in reuse, recycling and energy recovery applications as well as greater education about existing reuse and recycling options.
CEO of A3P (the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council), Mr Neil Fisher said, “The timber industry is proactive, forward looking and a leader in the area of sustainability.“Timber is one of Australia’s truly renewable resources, providing many opportunities for reuse and recycling. By setting a national target for waste recovery, we can focus our activities on maximising timber’s many sustainable qualities.“A3P is committed to developing product stewardship strategies for post-consumer timber products and in particular treated timber products. The target and actions set by the NTSG compliments A3P’s Sustainability Action Plan”, said Mr Fisher.
*Osmose would like to acknowledge the A3P for supplying this press release.

     
Media enquiries, interviews, images:
Stephen Mitchell, Sustainability Program Manager, TDA, 02 9279 2366
Jess Wurf, Communications Officer, A3P, 0448 808 366