Pinepac is conscious of its responsibility to the environment and is committed to ensuring its operations have a net positive impact on the environment. Using sustainable resources and promoting best practice manufacturing processes demonstrate this commitment.
Manufacturing at Pinepac’s Roundwood plant is focused on producing post and poles from local pine forests, including production thinnings or small log that would otherwise go to waste.
All logs at this plant are processed through a post or pole peeler where they are first cut to length then the bark and some fibre is removed to minimise taper and any rough surfaces. The peelings that are generated are used in a variety of landscaping and planting applications. They are also used during winter months for farm animal winter pads to improve wet and muddy paddocks.
The peeled log is then graded for size and other defects before being dried using steam in a pressure vessel. After the log is dried to 30% moisture content, we then treat it with a preservative chemical, either CCA or ACQ formulations, which prevent insect and fungus attack.
The treatment plant is fully bunded to prevent chemical spills and compliant with industry best practice guidelines. The tanks and pressure vessels are regularly inspected by Worksafe to ensure they are fit for purpose and safe to use. Regular monitoring of stormwater also ensures that environmental management systems are working.
Posts treated to Hazard Class 4 (H4) are mainly used for farm fences, vineyards and small retaining walls. Poles treated to Hazard Class 5 (H5) are used for structural engineering purposes like foundations, piles and large retaining walls. Marine piles are treated to Hazard Class 6 (H6) where salt water organisms and shifting tides promote rapid decay.
Further information can be found at these web links on how customers use these products: