On October 27, a conference was held in Tacuaremb\u00f3 to promote the current and future state of the mechanical wood processing industries.<\/p>\n
Organized by the National Academy of Engineering of Uruguay (ANIU), the Forestry and Wood Technology Center, INIA and CUT, it brought together more than 70 people related to the subject.<\/p>\n
The presence of the undersecretaries of the Ministries of Industry and Energy and Transportation and Public Works, as well as a representative of the Planning and Budget Office and the director of the General Forestry Directorate, provided information of great importance to the sector.<\/p>\n
The organizers explained the reasons for organizing the event, and expressed the hope that it would represent a basis for further joint work.<\/p>\n
Presentations were made by companies that are already in operation, such as Urufor, Fymnsa, Lumin and Arboreal, and companies that will be starting up in a few months, such as Kluntex Lumber, AF, and LUMIN, which will be setting up new plants and expanding their current capacity outside the Tacuaremb\u00f3 and Rivera catchment area.<\/p>\n
At least three other projects are known to exist in the area of eucalyptus and pine sawmilling and plywood.<\/p>\n
While many of these industries have their own forests to supply timber, others rely on contracts with third parties, which implies an important change in the area\u2019s forest economy.<\/p>\n
Two relevant aspects were mentioned: on the one hand, the concept of \u201cby-products\u201d of the industrial process, which implies that there is no waste and this promotes the sustainability of the sector.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, and no less important, the complementation of the mechanical wood production sector with the cellulose industry, which captures wood from thinnings and chips from the sawing and plywood process, increasing forest harvesting.<\/p>\n
In the case of pine, the industrialization of by-products is beginning in a pellet plant installed at Fymnsa: it remains to be seen whether this industry can be expanded to include thinning and other pine by-products.<\/p>\n
Special emphasis was placed on the silvicultural experience gained over the years, which in the case of eucalyptus represents the extension of cutting shifts to 25 years, and intensive pruning and thinning to produce logs of significant size.<\/p>\n
In short, the sector is growing exponentially and its main challenges:<\/p>\n
At the level of the General Directorate of Forestry, the need to ensure the continuity of pine raw material supply should be evaluated, since the forested area has decreased and the harvesting periods are very long.<\/p>\n
Mechanical wood processing in Uruguay: Current situation and future scenarios<\/a> Current events in the forestry sector<\/a> The commitment to make a better Uruguay<\/a> Agro Empresa Forestal S.A.<\/a> Association of Woodworking and Allied Industries (ADEMA)<\/a> Kluntex Lumber<\/a> COFUSA \u2013 URUFOR<\/a> LUMIN<\/a> Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)<\/a>
\nRosario Pou<\/p>\n
\nCarlos Faroppa<\/p>\n
\nJuan Jos\u00e9 Olaizola<\/p>\n
\nDan Guapura<\/p>\n
\nDaiana Morgavi<\/p>\n
\nErnesto Wagner<\/p>\n
\nJavier Otegui<\/p>\n
\nDaniel Bidault<\/p>\n
\nForestry Caja Bancaria<\/p>\n