Forest Products Industry

Metsä Group has selected Valmet to deliver a 3D Fiber moulded fibre production line for their mill in Äänekoski, Finland. The investment responds to growing demand for alternatives to replace plastics by enabling high-volume industrial production of three-dimensional fibre-based packaging that is competitive with similar plastic solutions. Source: Timberbiz This investment marks a significant milestone as the world’s first commercial-scale implementation of the innovation. It follows Valmet’s extensive development, piloting, and the successful launch of the 3D Fiber technology in June 2026. The start-up of the line is scheduled for 2028. “After years of fruitful co-development with Valmet, including the start-up of the joint demo plant in 2022, Muoto is now entering an exciting new phase. We are expanding our capabilities, deepening customer collaborations, and building the foundations for future growth. At the same time, demand is growing for packaging solutions that combine performance, circularity, and scalability,” said Antti Valtonen, Vice President of the Muoto project, Metsä Spring. Valmet 3D Fibre technology enables the production of lightweight yet rigid end products, including trays, plates, and food packaging containers, offering alternatives to plastic. The technology uses cellulose fibres to form ready-to-use, three-dimensional products directly from pulp, eliminating the need for intermediate steps. Valmet offers a complete solution from fibre processing to automatic packing of end products along with services. With comprehensive testing and piloting opportunities, customers are able to develop and test new end products together with Valmet. “Valmet 3D Fiber technology is the first large-scale moulded fibre production technology on the market, and it provides an attractive and competitive end-to-end solution for the growing sustainable packaging market. “The investment confirms the market potential of the technology and accelerates the replacement of plastic packaging in high-volume production. Over the years, Metsä Group and Valmet have worked closely together to develop and validate the 3D Fiber technology, creating a strong foundation of trust and shared ambition,” said Juho Pyrrö, Head of 3D Fiber at Valmet. Valmet and Metsä Group have been developing the technology together in a demo plant in Äänekoski. The new production line will be located alongside the existing demo plant with a nominal capacity of more than 100 million products per year, demonstrating the scalability of the technology and paving the way for future industrial investments.

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Timber crane operators are increasingly looking for control systems that offer ease of use, precise controllability, and superior operating comfort. During long working days, a smooth control feel, quiet operation, and the ability to adapt the system to individual operator preferences become especially important. Source: Timberbiz Kesla addresses these needs with the new KESLA proPILOT and KESLA proC i 2.0 control systems. Both systems have been developed to provide smooth and precise crane control together with a user-friendly operating experience across a wide range of timber crane applications. KESLA proPILOT – Smooth, Precise and Quiet Crane Control KESLA proPILOT is a hydraulically pilot-operated control system designed for both high seat and cabin-mounted timber cranes. The system delivers smooth and precise crane operation through load-sensing (LS) control hydraulics and light, smoothly operating control levers. Key advantages of proPILOT include its comfortable operating feel and exceptionally quiet operation, helping to reduce operator fatigue during long working shifts. Control options include: 2-lever control with pedals 4-lever control with pedals   KESLA proC i 2.0 – An Electrically Pilot-Operated Control System Designed for cabin-mounted cranes, KESLA proC i 2.0 is an electrically pilot-operated control system that combines precise crane handling, versatile adjustment options and operator-specific customization. Its smooth and precise control feel is achieved through the combination of load-sensing (LS) hydraulics, joystick controls and touchscreen-based adjustment features. Operator profiles allow the system to be tailored to the preferences of multiple users. In addition to the factory default settings, the system can store personalized settings for up to five operators. Separate loading and unloading profiles can also be configured for each operator. KESLA proC i 2.0 control options include: 2-lever control with mini joysticks 2-lever control with maxi handles 2-lever control with pedals 4-lever control with pedals   Both proPILOT and proC i 2.0 have been designed to meet the expectations of today’s timber transport and forestry professionals, including comfortable operation, precise controllability, reliability, and the ability to tailor crane controls to individual preferences. With the introduction of these new control systems, Kesla continues to enhance its timber crane offering by providing operators with greater comfort, flexibility and control throughout the working day.

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When we talk about forests, we tend to focus on what they provide – wood, non-wood forest products, raw materials, and the foundation of a sustainable bioeconomy. Rarely do we talk about them as workplaces. And rarer still do we ask who, exactly, works in them. Source: Timberbiz The forest sector employs approximately 42 million people worldwide – not only inside forests themselves, but in the industries, services, and supply chains that forests support. Until now, however, fragmented data and incomplete country coverage have left significant gaps in the global picture and no breakdown by gender. Together with the International Labour Organization and the Thünen Institute of Forestry of Germany, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are addressing these gaps with more precision than ever before. This new joint study provides the first globally comparable, sex-disaggregated employment figures for the forest sector between 2011 and 2022, covering 182 countries and representing 99% of the world’s forest area. The need for this kind of data is massive. To help build a green economy, we need a clear picture of who works in our forests. Internationally comparable data on employment in the sector is essential for creating policies that protect both people and forests. Across every region studied – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania – a persistent gender employment gap is evident. Fewer than 11 million of the 42 million forestry sector workers are women – roughly one in four. Forests provide ecosystem services that are critical to the environment and sustainable development and whose provision needs prudent management. Forests also provide renewable resources which build the basis for sustainable bioeconomies. Particularly in rural areas, where sources of income are often limited, the forest sector provides essential livelihood options and underpins food security, supplying wild foods and non-wood forest products that supplement diets and provides a safety net when other sources of income fall short. The new Forest EMployment model (FEM) used in the study represents a genuine methodological advance over previous approaches, enhancing precision. The FEM model utilizes annual, country-specific data, drawing on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, labour-market variables and forest-related variables to fill the considerable gaps in what countries might report. Wood and wood product manufacturing accounts for 58% of global forest-sector employment – the dominant subsector by far. Forestry and logging consistently represent nearly one-third of the total, while pulp and paper manufacturing make up approximately 16%. Asia, driven by China, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam, dominates with roughly half of all forest-sector employment worldwide. Meanwhile, the forest sector’s share of total global employment has declined by about 3% since 2011 – not because absolute numbers have decreased, but because employment across all economic activities has grown at a faster rate. The study estimates that fewer than 11 million of those 42 million workers are women – roughly one in four. Across every region studied – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania – a persistent gender employment gap is evident. Between 2011 and 2022, approximately 1.5% of men and only 0.8% of women in the global workforce were employed in the forest sector. The gap is widest in Europe, where 1.8% of the total male workforce is employed in the forest sector compared with just 0.5% of women. In South and Southeast Asia, the gender employment gap narrowed between 2011 and 2022, declining from 0.36 percentage points to 0.15. Expanding national data systems to capture non-wood forest products and job-quality indicators, and continuing to invest in sex-disaggregated data, will bring greater attention to the true value of this workforce and strengthen the evidence base for shaping the future of forests. From smallholder producers to skilled technicians, this workforce manages forests, harvests and processes timber and non-wood forest products, and shapes how forests are conserved, restored and used as part of a growing bioeconomy. Making these jobs attractive, safe and rewarding, particularly for youth and women, is key to sustaining livelihoods, attracting new talent and fostering innovation for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient bioeconomy and society.

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By the time forest products reach our everyday lives, it can be easy to lose sight of the forests, people, practices and decisions behind them. This year’s FSC Forest Walk brought those connections into focus for businesses that support FSC, giving them a firsthand view of what responsible forestry looks like in Australia. Source: Timberbiz Each year, FSC Australia and New Zealand invites businesses to get their boots on the ground, stepping into a certified forest to meet the people responsible for its management. For FSC certificate and promotional licence holders, this experience provides them with a first-hand connection between the responsible sourcing commitments they make and the forests those commitments help support locally. This year, the FSC Forest Walk took place at Taswood Estate in northern Tasmania and was hosted by Timberlands Pacific. The 54,000-hectare plantation estate is predominantly planted with radiata pine and provided the setting for representatives from some of Australia’s leading brands, including Coles Group, Kimberly-Clark, Essity, Merry People, Bunnings, Opal, Winc, Uncle Bills and Visy. The experience began with a smoking ceremony, creating a powerful sense of place and connection to Country. Mark Harriss of Melaythenner Teeackana Warrana (Heart of Country) Aboriginal Corporation invited participants to engage and see an alternative view of self, industry and harmony with Country, burning local native plants to create smoke that moved across the participants. Collaboration and self-ownership were a strong theme throughout Mark’s reflections, particularly the importance of working together in ways that are respectful and responsible to Country. He spoke about the importance of industries such as forestry operating responsibly and in harmony with the landscape. Braving the elements was all part of the experience, with rain, mud-caked boots and low cloud drifting through the trees as participants witnessed harvesting in action, something many had never seen before. They learnt how factors such as slope, terrain and environmental values influence the choice of harvesting method, from ground-based and tethered systems to cable harvesting. The team also explained the role of landscape management in forestry, a strategic approach that considers ecological, visual, cultural and sustainability values across the broader landscape, rather than within individual coupes alone. Skies cleared just in time to provide a clear outlook over the Taswood Estate, showcasing the different age classes of the trees alongside areas of native forest managed for conservation under Timberlands Pacific’s FSC certification. A wedge-tailed eagle soared in the distance right on cue as the Timberlands team explained how management focuses on nest protection, disturbance avoidance and landscape-scale habitat retention. This includes nest identification, constraint periods and Forest Practices Plan prescriptions that establish mandatory protection zones around nests, with restrictions on harvesting, road construction and other operations nearby. Site re-establishment was another key focus, with participants learning how establishing a healthy, well-stocked crop is critical to achieving good outcomes. Every tree is planted by hand and subject to quality assurance checks to ensure the new crop gets off to a strong start. Reflecting on the morning’s learnings, Sally Wilson, Landscape Specialist at Bunnings, said, “Seeing firsthand how responsible forest management is implemented across such a large estate was both impressive and inspiring. From planning and harvesting through to regeneration and habitat protection, it was clear that sustainability and environmental stewardship are at the forefront of every decision.” The smell of freshly harvested pine filled the air as we arrived at a thinning operation, where participants saw firsthand how this practice is used to remove suppressed or poorly formed trees, giving the more dominant, better-formed trees greater space and resources to grow and ultimately meet sawlog specifications. Carefully stepping between the pine trees, participants learned from an Operations Forester how to accurately measure tree diameter at breast height and use a handheld laser to measure tree height. Getting hands-on with these tools gave participants a better understanding of the skill and attention to detail involved in managing a forest and making decisions that will shape its future. Warming up by the fire over lunch at Scottsdale Football Clubhouse, participants heard from Peter Coleborn, Dorset Council’s Bikes and Trails Manager, about how forestry operations and mountain biking coexist within the famous Blue Derby network. Mr Coleborn’s presentation reflected Timberlands Pacific’s commitment to proactive engagement with neighbours and stakeholders. As part of its FSC certification, the company is required to meaningfully engage with those who may be affected by forest operations. Timberlands Pacific approaches this with great enthusiasm, and in Derby this includes shuttle operators, tourism businesses, local government, mountain bikers and the broader community. As the day drew to a close, participants talked about what the forest walk experience had given them, including Cassandra Wheat, Head of Product from Merry People, who said, “It was really insightful to see the scale of the operation, both physically and economically, which I hadn’t fully appreciated before. I also really enjoyed seeing firsthand the measures in place to protect native flora and fauna, waterways and bird habitats.” Many travelled long distances to attend the event, showing just how valuable opportunities like the FSC Forest Walk are for FSC stakeholders. The day was a chance to recognise the work of certified forest managers such as Timberlands Pacific and to see what FSC’s requirements look like on the ground.

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Forestry Corporation firefighters have stepped up preparations for the approaching bushfire season through a five-day intensive training camp on the Mid North Coast. Source: Timberbiz Held at Mount Seaview near Wauchope, the camp brought together 45 staff members completing nationally recognised qualifications in Fire Fighter, Advanced Fire Fighter and Crew Leader roles. Forestry Corporation Fire Training and Operations Coordinator Nathan Fischer said the fire camps play an important role in ensuring firefighters are prepared to protect communities, forests and assets during the fire season. “Forestry Corporation has a responsibility as a firefighting authority to ensure our people are trained, capable and ready to respond to fires in the landscape,” Mr Fischer said. “With two million hectares of State forests across NSW, it’s essential we maintain a skilled workforce that can respond safely and effectively wherever they’re needed. “The training combines classroom learning with practical field exercises, helping firefighters build confidence and capability in fire behaviour, tactics, leadership, communications and equipment operation.” The camp included a live fire scenario, providing participants with hands-on experience in a realistic fire situation. Among those undertaking training was Tamworth-based Production Supervisor Mat Newberry, who completed a Crew Leader course having previously gaining qualifications as a Firefighter and Advanced Firefighter. Mr Newberry joined Forestry Corporation as a seasonal firefighter after serving 16 years with Fire and Rescue NSW and said the Crew Leader course provided valuable insight into the responsibilities of leading a team of firefighters. “The biggest shift as a Crew Leader is moving from being on the tools to looking at the broader operation,” Mr Newberry said. “You’re responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your crew, identifying hazards and risks, monitoring changing fire conditions and making sure critical information is communicated from your position on the fireground to those managing the operation.” Having worked in both structural and forest firefighting environments, Mr Newberry said the experience had broadened his understanding of fire management. “Forest firefighting is vastly different to structural firefighting, and it presents a unique set of challenges as we often see across the state over spring and summer,” he said. “Since joining Forestry Corporation, I’ve had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience through wildfire operations and specialist training, including working as a Planning Officer within Incident Management Teams during major incidents. “These training camps are beneficial to our staff, the instructors bring a huge amount of experience and knowledge to the training, and it’s a great chance to learn from people who have worked on fires in different forest types across NSW and beyond,” he said. “It also helps build relationships with other Forestry Corporation firefighters, which is important when you’re working together during major incidents.” Forestry Corporation currently has around 500 staff members trained as forest firefighters. The organisation also maintains a statewide fleet of fire tankers, light vehicles fitted with firefighting equipment, contracted aircraft and more than 100 drones operated by trained pilots. Heavy plant machinery used in forest operations, including bulldozers, is also made available through the broader forest and timber industry to support firefighting efforts across NSW. Forestry Corporation is currently planning further fire training camps at Wallerawang near Lithgow in September and at Bondi Forest Lodge near Bombala in October. For more information about Forestry Corporation’s firefighting operations, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au

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Industry personnel and students are invited to apply for the 2026 round of The Gottstein Trust Skill Development Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships. Source: Timberbiz Individuals working, or training to work, in the forest products value chain are encouraged to apply before 19 October 2026. Grants are open to anyone in the Australian sector. They could be a saw doctor, mill or machine operator, GIS analyst, forest ecologist, harvest planner, farm forester, tree geneticist, timber product engineer, marketer, tree nursery expert or a forest scientist, PhD researcher, TAFE student, architect. Each grant category has an online application and a competitive selection process. Then grant funds are provided to a small number of successful applicants. People can use those funds for agreed activities that will build their skills, knowledge and network. The employer of a grant recipient can also benefit from their staff member’s commitment to their own skill development. Funding helps an individual to pursue activities to match their ambition. Applications close at midnight Monday, October 19, 2026. More information, and online application forms are at  https://gottsteintrust.org/grants-courses Enquiries to Helen Murray on 0419-991-424 or email: team@gottsteintrust.org

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Building approvals for new homes declined by 3.6% in July, led by a 4.5% fall in houses, with a 2.4% fall in multi-units. Source: Timberbiz The Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday released its monthly building approvals data for July 2026 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories. HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt said that despite these monthly declines, approvals in the last three months remained materially higher than a year earlier (+8.3%), led by houses (+12.4%), with multi-units up by 2.5%. “There are long lags between changes in market conditions, building approvals and construction activity,” he said. “New home building activity had good momentum heading into 2026, on the back of strong population growth, low unemployment and ongoing shortages of housing across the country. “This year, the Australian government has increased taxes on housing investors, while restricting the ability of SMSFs to invest in housing. “Combined with rising interest rates, global conflict and surging fuel costs, this has interrupted an expansion in home building that was already underway,” Mr Devitt said. “The effect is already visible in a number of leading indicators across the economy. “As expected, the increase in taxes on investors in the established market will have a short-term adverse impact on established home prices, further reduce the supply of new homes, and lead to a worsening in affordability.” He said that lending in the established housing market had tumbled, with loans to investors, in particular, dropping almost 20% in the first half the year. Dwelling prices were declining across the country, especially in Melbourne and Sydney. “This is predictably filtering into the new construction pipeline, with new home sales declining for the three consecutive months to July,” Mr Devitt said. “This adverse shock to new housing supply is yet to emerge in building approvals data. “Increasing the supply of housing and sustainably improving affordability requires the cost of construction to be reduced,” he said. In seasonally adjusted terms, Tasmania saw the largest increase in building approvals in the three months to July compared to the same period a year earlier, to be 44.9% higher. This was followed by Queensland (+24.0%), Western Australia (+15.3%), South Australia (+9.5%) and Victoria (+2.8%), while New South Wales was down by 1.3%. In original terms, building approvals increased by 60.8% in the Northern Territory, while declining by 15.6% in the Australian Capital Territory.

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