TA ANN TASMANIA PTY LTD (TAT)
Established in 2007, Ta Ann Tasmania adds value to eucalypt regrowth logs previously used only for woodchips by peeling them into high value PEFC certified veneer for domestic and international product.
Ta Ann Tasmania has two mills - the Huon mill was built in 2007 and the Smithton mill in 2008.
The mills use world’s best machinery and are capable of peeling & drying Eucalypt billets from regrowth & plantation forests. The Huon Valley mill contains 2 peeling lines using Meinan lathes, Uroko & Taihei dryers and a Raute wrapper; designed to manufacture 6’ & 8’ long grain (LG) veneer as well as 3’ & 4’ short grain (SG) veneer. The Smithton mill also has two production lines using Meinan lathes, a Grenzenbach dryer and a Raute wrapper; capable of manufacturing 6’ long grain (LG) veneer as well as 3’ & 4’ short grain (SG) veneer.
Ta Ann Tasmania P/L has invested to develop two veneer mills, commencing with the Huon mill in 2007 and followed by the Smithton mill in 2008. The new business results from a capital expenditure of over $79M.
Veneer is produced using a rotary technology from short logs known as billets, in a process not dissimilar to unfurling a roll of kitchen paper. Green veneer sheets are dried before stacking on to pallets and wrapping for shipment.
Ta Ann Tasmania P/L receives its wood supply from Forestry Tasmania under long term Wood Supply Agreements.
As a result of the Wood Supply Agreements, Ta Ann Tasmania P/L has gained Chain of Custody certification for its Tasmanian eucalypt veneer under the Australian Forestry Standard and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC). This assures its overseas customers that the product is sourced from sustainably managed forests.
In 2008, Ta Ann Tasmania Pty Ltd was named Australia’s Emerging Exporter of the Year at the annual Australian Export Awards.
In 2011, the business will inject about $45M into the Tasmanian economy.
Employment Enquiries: If you are seeking employment at either our Smithton or Huon Mills, please contact our recruitment agency:
Recruitflex,
Level 13, 39 Murray Street, Hobart TAS 7000;P: 03 6211 7310 or 1300 750 820 o rE: hobart@recruitflex.com.au
TAT has invested to value-add regrowth logs that would otherwise be used for woodchips by producing veneer for international and domestic markets.
Proud of eco- friendly certified forest product.
Ta Ann is very proud of its investment in Tasmania that is based on the supply of billets from PEFC certified native regrowth forests and from plantations. Our investment and the reasons for it were explained in our Annual report 2007, which states :
“we will begin producing eco-friendly wood products using Ta Ann Tasmania's veneer made from log supplied from
PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified planted and regrowth Tasmanian forests.”
Ta Ann is committed to sustainable development including identification and conservation of high conservation values in forest that we harvest or source timber from, as stated in our 2010 report. See more
relevant extracts of the parent company’s annual reports explaining the environmental credentials of Ta Ann Tasmania.
The investments by parent company Ta Ann Plywood result from resource security provided by Regional Forest Agreement, a State -Commonwealth agreement, and by Tasmanian legislation that addressed sovereign risk, from sustainable forest management; and because of 20-year Wood Supply Agreements with Forestry Tasmania.
Eucalypt veneer is produced and sold domestically and internationally and is mainly used to make high value flooring, laminated veneer lumber and other plywood products. Shipments occur from Hobart & Burnie ports about every 3-4 weeks. The business requires veneer from both mills to give sufficient scale to be internationally competitive.
The new business results from a capital expenditure of $78.9M, including a $10.4M Commonwealth grant, to construct two rotary peel veneer mills.
Ta Ann has gained Chain of Custody certification for its Tasmanian eucalypt veneer under the Australian Forestry Standard, PEFC to assure its overseas customers that the product is sourced from sustainably managed forests.
TAT has created about 100 new jobs and other indirect jobs. Some positions were filled by overseas workers from the parent company – initially in construction and commissioning of the mills, but now training & operation of these new facilities. As the local workforce became fully able to meet the demands of production, the number of overseas visa holders has reduced.
In 2011, the business will inject $44.8M into the Tasmanian economy. Both mills are operating on a 5-6 day x 24 hour basis.
In 2008, Ta Ann Tasmania Pty Ltd was named Australia’s Emerging Exporter of the Year at the annual Australian Export Awards
Timber requirements
The business requires regrowth Eucalypt from native forest and suitable plantation billets to meet veneer timber property and quality requirements. As the business is productivity (size), billet quality and price sensitive, specific volumes and size/quality requirements for billets exist. The TAT business also requires:
- Supply as per the conditions of the existing Wood Supply Agreements to be honoured as well as the rollover intentions of the WSAs;
- Supply of regrowth billets and/or supply of plantation timber of suitable quality, size, location & price; and
- PEFC certification via the Australian Forestry Standard.
This provides confidence and supply security for further value adding such as a ply mill that targets the domestic market (import replacement) and international markets.
Regrowth and Plantation Eucalypt
The investment is based on the properties of regrowth billets but suitable plantation timber can also be used if and when it is available.
E nitens and E globulus plantation eucalypt have been trialled by TAT at the Smithton RPV mill and indicates further tree breeding and targeted planting/silvicultural work is required to meet location, volume, quality, and production requirements – such as pruned logs to give green knots, avoid dead knots, provide a small knotty core, and yield particular grades of veneer.
Statements of Support for Ta Ann Tasmania
"The economic benefits that the Huon stands to reap from the mills are sustantial. On behalf of the people of the Huon Valley , I extend our best wishes for the success of the veneer mill." - Robert Armstrong, Mayor, Huon valley Council
"I congratulate Ta Ann Tasmanian for its committment to the Smithton region and to the Tasmanian forest industry." - Senator Eric Abetz, former Minister for forests, currently Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
"With such a major investment in our forest industry the Circular Head community has every reason to feel optimistic about the future." - Ross Hine, former Mayor Circular Head council.
"With such extensive areas of forest protected and new projects such as Ta Ann's rotary veneer mills underway, I believe that Tasmanians can look proudly to their regrowth forests as the basis of a world class timber industry." - The Hon. Paul Lennon, former Premier of Tasmania