Carter Holt Harvey in south east South Australia is spending more than $13.5 million on a major upgrade of its equipment. Source: ABC News
The company said it was investing in new machinery at its Jubilee Highway green mill, which would allow it to better compete with overseas markets.
A new log feeder and curve saw will allow the company to maximise the use of its timber logs.
A spokesman from the Greater Green Triangle branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Brad Coates, said the investment showed a renewed belief in the timber industry’s future.
“There’s been some scepticism and a few rumours around about the future of some of the Carter Holt Harvey operation in Australia but it’s also important to the fact that it’s a substantial investment in upgrading equipment to better compete with overseas imports,” he said.
“Here in Australia most of the technology … is very much outdated in comparison with say a lot of the facilities in … South America and Europe, so it’s good to see that companies are investing in some new technology upgrades. “There has been some significant investment in the last two years and it’s good to see it’s continuing.”
