SSA’s Executive Director, Roy Southey, commenced the proceedings by presenting an overview of the current industry in South Africa. Other presenters included Mrs Mandy Allpass of Crickmay who discussed the most recent industry statistics; Brand Wessels who gave feedback on the most recent developments emanating from the research being done for the industry at Stellenbosch University. Richard Muller, Programme Co-ordinator for Wood Technology at NMMU provided information on his Solar Kiln for the drying of hardwoods, while Cobus Raubenheimer of VBV Holdings shared details of their Gasification Plant at Melanie in the Eastern Cape. This plant runs off sawmill biomass and currently supplies a bakery with its electricity requirements.
Intent on optimising this industry opportunity, some members of SSA also joined the Forestry SA (FSA) meeting hosted by NMMU George in the afternoon.
Photograph: Representatives of the Southern Cape Sawmilling industry who attended a regional information session of Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) at NMMU George recently were:
Back, from left: Sanjay Reewith (PG Bison, Thesens), Roy Southey (Executive Director Sawmilling SA), Ms Mandy Allpass (Crickmay & Associates), Jaco Oosthuyzen (Cape Pine), Irwin Kanyemba (Cape Pine), Brand Wessels (University of Stellenbosch), Karl-Heinz Niemann (Cape Pine), Martin van Niekerk (Cape Pine) and Cobus Raubenheimer (VBV Holdings)
Front, from left: Charl Sparks (Geelhoutvlei Timbers), Shaun Westcott (AC Whitcher), Barry Muller and Richard Muller (both from NMMU George, Saasveld)