50 | FORESTRY PermaPine PermaPine evolves to meet demand T Richard Loader The majority of Permapine’s logs come from the Kaingaroa Timberlands Forest Estate. T to page 52 Hugging the edge of Kaingaroa Timberlands Forest Estate, one of the largest softwood plantations in the Southern Hemisphere, PermaPine is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Roundwood and CCA treated timber products. Managing Director Ian Piebenga emphasises how fortunate he believes PermaPine is to be located in the heart of the Central North Island’s most significant and sustainably managed pine forests. “From the south our logs come from New Zealand Forest Managers and their forests are between Taupo and down toward Turangi. From the North our logs are coming from Matakana Island, and then you include coastal Bay of Plenty. But the majority of our logs come from Kaingaroa.” Ian and now retired business partner Chris Morrisey founded PermaPine 17 years ago after buying an existing processing plant in Reporoa. Tumu Timbers came on board as a third shareholder. “Chris and I had been involved with large corporate forestry and timber processing for a number of years and we both had a strong desire to go out in business for ourselves. “Sometimes you reach a point where your personal values aren’t aligned with the business you work for and that’s when the time is right to make a change.” Through passion, solid teamwork, recognising opportunities, and the investment in plant and people, PermaPine has evolved from a business of eleven staff to a team in excess of ninety employees, with the main site in Reporoa and a smaller site in Rotorua. “When we started with eleven staff we operated a very flat staff structure. But as the organisation grew and we started running multiple shifts we needed to create new roles. We’ve developed and grown many team leaders from staff who have shown potential, leadership, passion and a desire to get up and grow.” While humble about any hint of success, Ian is deeply passionate about the industry that has shaped his life and says timber and trees are a good story for the environment. “They are great sequesters of carbon dioxide through their lifecycle and there’s a good story to be told about the products produced using timber when compared to alternatives of steel and concrete.” The foundations of PermaPine have been built on roundwood posts and poles and almost all products are ground treated. “Pretty much every rural crop in New Zealand uses treated roundwood products, be it grapes for wine, hops for beer, posts that go into dairy farms, or sheep and beef fencing. “Apples are now all grown on posts, avocados are all grown on posts or stakes. So those are our key cornerstone markets for roundwood. Horticulture is using a lot of poles because land use is becoming more intensive and that’s also why apples are now grown on trellising systems.” Ian says that while Kiwifruit has always been grown on posts and protected by shelterbelts, many orchards are now completely covered in shade cloth supported by poles. Since the Christchurch earthquakes there has been an increased focus on piling for commercial and residential construction, with many residential buildings also built on square piles. “We also process fence battens and other timber products at our Rotorua plant and dry and treat these in Reporoa, catering to farmers and lifestyle block owners.” For quality engineering and customsolutions P 07 347-4475 • E info@lakelandsteel.co.nz 3 Davies Street, Rotorua lakelandsteel.co.nz • Design • Manufacture • Install & Maintain Proud to support PermaPine Ltd • Cranes • Conveyors • Safety Solutions Proud to be associated with PermaPine Ltd Offering a full range of Hi Vis & Corporate Clothing PPE Supplies Promotional Products 021 2771817 | www.cisafety.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=