Search Results: 'BSW'

Winning formulas
09 December, 2006
The coatings and finishes sector is becoming increasingly hi-tech

Raising the game
28 October, 2006
Delegates at the TTF conference heard that the timber industry must be more proactive and innovative if it is to beat off the competition

Hi-tech hard cell
28 October, 2006

Growing appeal
14 October, 2006
David Castle trod the walkways of GLEE and discovered that timber is still a main contender in the garden products sector

Titan Wood buys new technology
30 September, 2006
Wood acetylation company Titan Wood has bought new technology from New Zealand research institute Scion to help it further improve production of Accoya-branded acetylated wood.

Informing the informers
16 September, 2006
As part of its promotional campaign, wood for good hosts educational trips for journalists

Taking more stick to brick
19 August, 2006
The timber frame sector continues to grow and diversify

Pirates ahoy
05 August, 2006
Timber companies are now more willing to take action to defend their intellectual property, reports marketing consultant Stephen Key

Forscot forges on despite opposition
05 August, 2006
Phase one funding of £700,000 has been secured for detailed research and initial planning/environmental approvals work on Forscot's proposed £1bn pulp, paper, sawmill and renewable energy facility at Invergordon. In an interview with TTJ, managing director Tharald Frette said that it was proving “quite tough” to raise the £6-10m required to complete the planning/environmental permits process and detailed engineering work. But he added that “four or five” potential funding routes were being pursued at present, including potential partners and the financial institutions. The target for commencing construction had been 2006 – with operations beginning in 2008 – but this timetable was now “more like a year out”, according to Mr Frette. Anticipating that construction would begin some six to eight months after the resolution of the funding package, he insisted “we will get there – of that there is no doubt”.A vocal opponent of the development, MSP Fergus Ewing, claims that Forscot has over-estimated the volume of available Sitka spruce from Scotland and northern England. As a result it would put a major strain on supplies. But Mr Frette responded: “We have looked at the same numbers as everybody else. The best judges of whether the figures are realistic are the institutions who are going to give us that money. They are more stringent and tough than any politician has ever been.” The Forscot venture emerged following a re-evaluation of an existing Scottish Enterprise-led project to consider the creation of a pulp mill in Scotland. According to Mr Frette, the Forscot concept trumps its predecessors by combining “pulp, power and paper in an integrated project”. Under current proposals, initial work would centre on developing the necessary infrastructure for the facility – including the installation of wood handling equipment and a rail spur, as well as the rebuilding of a pier. The initial phase of boiler/power station work would then be completed ahead of the construction of a mill with an annual production capacity of 550,000 tonnes of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp.Proposed sawmill The Forscot sawmill as currently proposed would be capable of producing around 250,000m3 per year of sawn goods for the UK housebuilding and DIY markets. But this is planned to be a separate part of the development. Mr Frette emphasised it would be an independently owned and operated facility and the go-ahead would depend on an investor partner.One of the key attributes of the Forscot proposal is self-sufficiency in heat and electricity, thereby helping the government and the Scottish Executive to meet its renewable energy targets. The venture's biofuelled power station would be brought on stream – by early 2009, according to the latest timetable envisaged by Mr Frette. Of the 144MW expected to be made available for use, internal consumption is calculated at around 135MW. The surplus could well go towards the production on site of necessary chemicals such as oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and ozone. “This would relieve the load on the infrastructure and create further business opportunities,” said Mr Frette.In terms of wood requirements, Forscot's managing director explained that the pulp mill would consume a total of 2.8 million tonnes per year. An assessment of wood resource availability would then be required before committing to the construction of a 420,000 tonnes per year publication paper mill on the Invergordon site, he said. If built, this would consume 500,000 tonnes of wood per year. But Fergus Ewing still regards Forscot as a “flawed” venture. The MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber described the scheme as “a distraction” given the emergence of other projects backed by established timber companies. He alluded in particular to: BSW Timber's proposal to invest more than £25m in relocating and expanding its sawmill operations in Fort William; and Balcas’ plan to invest £20m in a biomass renewable energy plant, also in Invergordon. Noting that Forscot had already received £229,000 of public money and had “taken up two years of public sector time”, he called on Scottish ministers Ross Finnie and Rhona Brankin to end any debate about a further £150m being ploughed into the project from the public purse and to focus their attention on other timber industry projects.

PEFC UK Ltd announces changes
29 July, 2006

Firm foundations to build on
27 May, 2006
Timber got some great publicity last week smack bang in the middle of London.

Sikkens showcases Accoya
13 May, 2006

BSW Alouette steps out
13 May, 2006

First signs that spring has sprung
01 April, 2006
Many of us get maudlin in the winter due to the lack of sunlight. This year, according to feedback we’ve had, a lack of orders has deepened readers’ seasonal blues.

Heat increase
21 January, 2006
Heat treatment continues to be a growth area

Wadkin completes BSW project
20 January, 2006

UPM man awarded CBE
18 January, 2006

TTJ readers tee off
07 January, 2006
The fifth annual TTJ Golf Challenge took place in France last month