This project is funded also by the Australian Government under the ACIAR Program with a funding of AUD $1,058,876
This project presents the opportunity for a new approach to research in developing countries. It is proposed that the project team and Papua New Guinea (PNG) authorities will work more directly with private sector businesses to develop engineered wood products, improving the capacity, skills and knowledge within this important industry. Additionally, the team will work directly with a cluster of Australian processors on development of new durable engineered wood products.
The project will build on momentum from previous research efforts through provision of research, expert technical support and training in the development of more sophisticated processes and prototype products.
Partners and collaborators include representatives from processors and manufacturers, wood preservation and adhesive suppliers, from Australia and PNG.
Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of this project is to work with the private sector to accelerate the development of novel engineered wood products in both PNG and Australia. There are three principal objectives:
Objective 1: Develop and evaluate the use of an industry cluster to accelerate the development of engineered wood products.
Objective 2: To develop engineered wood products appropriate to the timber resources and potential markets.
Objective 3: To understand how public private partnerships can operate to promote expansion of value adding wood processing in PNG.
The likely community impacts, and anticipated times for those impacts to be achieved are:
Economic impacts:
increased log values, positively impacting land lease values providing higher rental income or royalties to landholders, between 5 and 10 years;
increased product values, lower processing costs providing higher profits for processors and manufacturers, within 5 years;
efficient factory layout and improved utilisation of residues will lead to improved productivity, within 5 years;
reduced reliance on imported materials and components and creation of new products suitable for profitable export markets, between 5 and 10 years.
Social impacts:
improved labour force skills, industry knowledge, capacity in processing and manufacturing enterprises, within 5 years;
safer processing facilities through cultivation of workplace safety culture and promotion of the benefits of worker health, within 5 years;
safer construction sites and reduced construction timeframes; within 5 years.
information on the constraints to improving the participation of women in the timber industry; recommendations for strategies to enhance the role of women in this sector and to ensure maximum flow-on of project benefits to women ; within 5 years
Improved quality of life for locals arising from improved skills, safer work places and increased participation of women in the workforce, within 5 years;
Environmental impacts:
More efficient use of wood resources and less wastage, within 5 years;
Less harmful preservatives and adhesives and improved handling and storage protocols, within 5 years;
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Objectives
Aim
The aim of this project is to work with the private sector to accelerate the development of novel engineered wood products in PNG and Australia.
Objective1: Develop and evaluate the use of industry clusters to accelerate the development of engineered wood products.
Activities
1.1 Form industry clusters comprising private sector companies willing to improve processes, products and develop and grow new markets in PNG and Australia.
1.2 Analysis of available inputs, knowledge gaps and potential outputs for cluster companies.
1.3 Undertake a Training Needs Analysis
1.4 Develop new products and markets using idea generation tools and techniques.
1.5 Prepare action plans and include iterative continuous improvement processes.
1.6 Assess current involvement of women and explore options for increasing the project benefits to women in PNG.
Objective 2: To develop engineered wood products appropriate to the timber resources and potential markets.
Activities
2.1 Wood quality and processing research and development
2.1.1 Species/mixes X products matrix
2.1.2 Improve processing systems
2.1.3 Improve wood adhesive systems
2.1.4 Improve preservation systems
2.2 Undertake Market Analysis concerning EWPs in PNG and Australia
2.3 Develop and test prototypes for targeted engineered wood products
2.4 Develop quality manuals, product specifications and information sheets
Objective 3: To understand how public private partnerships can operate to promote expansion of value adding wood processing in PNG.
Activities
3.1 Review the current situation for business development in the wood processing industry in PNG, in particular focusing on the EWP sector.
3.2 Review case studies- PPPs, industry clusters and co-operatives.
3.3 Review financial schemes, investment incentives and make policy recommendations.
3.4 Provide advice regarding a potential PPP model for the PNG forest industry.