Timber family breaks into Japanese market
From the Autumn/Winter 2009 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
The wood ofnative cypress pines is distinctive in colour and grain and makes fabulousfloorboards. Photo by Sarah Chester
The Grant family have a saying - if you are standing still you are goingbackwards - and this is very much how they run their business. In fact, theyare setting a cracking pace.
Grants Sawmilling Company employs more than 40 people and draws itsnative white cypress sawlogs from State forests in central and southern NSW.
Father Bob and sons Richard and Matthew have been milling cypress atNarrandera and Condobolin for many years and are 100 per cent committed to theNSW timber industry.
It may be a way of life for the family, but they are well aware of theneed to be innovative and willing to invest in a valuable regional industry.
Of late, they have displayed this foresight by investing in machinerythat will add value to small cypress logs, which in the past have had limitedcommercial application.
Grants have recently installed a peeler, small log line and perfectround mill at their Narrandera sawmilling complex to produce a variety ofproducts from small logs including vineyard posts, floorboards and round postsfor such things as play equipment.
“We are making every effort to fully utilise the cypress resource. Weuse 100 per cent of the log, even the by-products are marketed for such uses asgarden mulch and animal bedding,” Richard said.
The business is a fully integrated operation with Matthew specialisingin harvest, haulage and resource management, while Richard looks after theprocessing and sales side.
“Between us we basically control everything from the forest floor to themarketplace,” Richard said.
Grants have been able to fast track some of its development plans withdevelopment assistance provided by the NSW Government to the cypress industryfollowing the Brigalow decision in 2005.
One of the Grants key moves has been the export of cypress products toAsia, particularly Japan and China. The company is particularly excited aboutbreaking into the lucrative Japanese market for ‘dodai’ - a foundation timber in Japanese homes.
The dodai market represents a big boost to the Australian cypressmarket, and is estimated to be worth $5 million a year in sales to Japan.
Last year the Australian cypress industry gained Japanese AgriculturalStandard (JAS) accreditation for cypress to be used as laminates in dodai. ThisJAS accreditation allows more timber to be sold to the Japanese market, andfollows on from accreditation in 2002 for solid timber sections.
“Our white cypress is unique to Australia and meets all their needs. Itis naturally termite resistant and highly durable without requiring the use ofchemicals. And it is nice and strong, which is important in an earthquake-pronecountry,” Richard said.
The Grant family believes that Australians are now starting to followthe Japanese example and seek out environmentall- friendly, natural, chemicalfree products such as Australian cypress.
“In the world of timber, Australian cypress is a boutique market,”Richard said.
“To remain commercial we need to be constantly looking forward, tryingto pick the trends, and be ahead of the market. And you have to realise thatmaking an investment today, doesn’t mean an immediate payout.”
Sarah Chester - Public Affairs & Media, Albury
