It’s an understatement to say it’s been an extraordinary year so far. As construction ramps up and new house starts resume, opportunities are appearing for specifiers and builders to be at the forefront of recovery. Products made locally have gained new interest. And products made locally with locally grown materials can support recovery even further due to the people they employ and the communities that they support.
Manufactured from sustainably grown Australian and New Zealand Plantation Radiata Pine, Ecoply is Australia’s leading brand of structural plywood. With more than 30 years of manufacturing the trusted plywood brand, Carter Holt Harvey Plywood specializes in the production and supply of environmentally sustainable plywood products from its Myrtleford mill in Victoria. The state-of-the-art plywood mill employs 169 locals and has been a significant part of the community since the 1970s.
A 2010 upgrade included the introduction of a high-speed lathe which allows for the production of thin ribbons of veneer, at a speed of one log “peeled” every seven seconds. It’s true cutting-edge technology. The upgrade to the mill has made it more efficient and enabled an increased supply to the market. There are also environmental improvements with fewer emissions, lower water use, better air quality, noise reduction and the sustainable sourcing of the raw material.
It’s a local manufacturing story the Australian government are keen to replicate in other industries across the country: a story that combines sustainability, technology and local community. The Manufacturing Modernization Fund is helping small-to-medium businesses achieve these goals. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said, “I am determined to further strengthen Australian manufacturing and the current pandemic gives us the opportunity as a nation to reassess and commit to the values of Australian-made goods.”
Ecoply is commonly used for flooring, bracing, interior linings, membrane substrates, hoardings and DIY projects. Ecoply plywood products provide durability, strength and design flexibility. Locally made products include Ecoply square-edged structural, non-structural, Formrite formply and Plyfloor flooring – treated and untreated – in a wide range of grades, sizes and thicknesses. It’s a material that inspires architects and designers and is easy for builders and carpenters to work with.
Across the ditch, other popular Ecoply products such as Shadowclad and the recently launched Pinoli are manufactured and are also experiencing a resurgence of interest.
The January bush fire events in Australia challenged the forestry industry, but local expertise enabled the successful salvage and processing of a large volume of fire-damaged plantation logs at the Myrtleford Plywood Mill and has helped communities move forward with confidence.
As we rebuild the economy for future generations, it really is local products such as Ecoply that will support its growth. At least we know it will be structurally sound.
