PNG timbers include a huge spectrum of colour, grain density and strength combinations. Only some timbers are suitable for processes such as peeling, slicing or drying, and some woods are not amenable to gluing or preservative treatment using available technologies. Although much data has already been published on the properties and processing methods for timbers harvested from PNG's primary forests, there is limited information available for the utilization of lesser-known timbers of a younger age. The following technical reports are the result of an intensive testing program undertaken at the PNG Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Lae to assess the processing characteristics of selected PNG timber species harvested from plantations and secondary (regrowth) forests:
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Technical report on the physical and mechanical properties of 26 PNG timbers
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Technical report on the machining characteristics of 25 PNG timber species
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Technical report on the gluing characteristics of 24 PNG timbers
- Technical report on the treatability properties of 28 PNG timbers
Testing the mechanical properties of 26 PNG timber species
The ACIAR project Enhancing value added wood processing in PNG supported an intensive testing program at the PNG Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Lae to assess the processing characteristics of 26 PNG timber species harvested from plantations and secondary forests. Six mechanical properties, namely bending strength, stiffness, compression parallel and perpendicular to the grain, shear parallel to the grain, and hardness were evaluated for all 26 PNG timber species using 2,641 small clear specimens from 130 trees. The impact of the position in the tree on the selected mechanical properties was also assessed. Nine species were harvested from plantations and 17 from secondary forests. The group included 3 softwoods and 23 hardwoods.
Heavy hopea (Hopea iriana) offered the best mechanical properties of all selected species, providing significantly higher properties in all categories. Pellita (Eucalyptus pellita), Malas (Homalium foetidum), and Kwila (Intsia bijuga) are other species that usually performed significantly better than the average. Click on the link below to view and download the technical report:
Testing the machining characteristics of 25 PNG timber species
The ACIAR project Enhancing value added wood processing in PNG supported an intensive testing program at the Timber and Forestry Training College (TFTC) in Lae to assess the processing characteristics of 26 PNG timber species harvested from plantations and secondary forests. A total of 1,337 specimens and more than 3,600 linear meters of timber were planed with a standard moulder machine and visually assessed by means of planing grading rules developed for the PNG wood processing industry. This report presents the machinability behaviour of 25 species sourced from Morobe and West New Britain provinces. Eight species were harvested from plantations and 17 from secondary forests. The group included 3 softwoods and 22 hardwoods. One species could not be assessed.
A total of 18 wood species proved to machine very well with more than 90% boards being graded either “excellent and requiring very light sanding” or “good and requiring light sanding”. Eight species from this group obtained a perfect score (i.e. 100%) across all three runs. Click on the link below to view and download the technical report:
Testing the gluing characteristics of 24 PNG timber species
The ACIAR project Enhancing value added wood processing in PNG supported an intensive testing program at the Timber and Forestry Training College (TFTC) in Lae to assess the processing characteristics of 26 PNG timber species harvested from plantations and secondary forests.This report presents the gluability behaviour of 24 species sourced from the Morobe and West New Britain provinces. Seven species were harvested from plantations and 17 from secondary forests. The group included 3 softwoods and 21 hardwoods. Two species could not be assessed.
Five species were found to bond very well (i.e. achieved satisfactory results for both dry use and wet use applications), namely: PNG Basswood (Endospermum medullosum), White Cheesewood (Alstonia scholaris), Erima (Octomeles sumatrana), Labula (Anthocephalus chinensis), and Klinki Pine (Araucaria hunsteinii). Click on the link below to view and download the technical report:
Testing the treatability properties of 28 PNG timber species
The ACIAR project Enhancing value added wood processing in PNG supported an intensive testing program at the Timber and Forestry Training College (TFTC) in Lae to assess the processing characteristics of 26 PNG timber species harvested from plantations and secondary forests.This report presents the treatability/permeability characteristics of 28 PNG timber species. Eleven species were harvested from plantations and 17 from secondary forests. Twenty samples of each species were tested to PNG Wood Preservation Standards at Sarco Timbers in Port Moresby and PNG Forest Products in Bulolo, Morobe Province.
This study found that the physical characteristics of each species greatly influenced the treatment characteristics. Low density species tended to be more treatable/permeable than high density species. Species harvested from secondary forest and plantations showed improved treatment characteristics compared to the same species harvested from primary forest (except for a few medium and high density species). Click on the link below to view and download the technical report:
Best applications for 26 PNG timber species
The ACIAR project Enhancing value added wood processing in PNG supported an intensive testing program at the Timber and Forestry Training College (TFTC) in Lae to assess the processing characteristics of 26 PNG timber species harvested from plantations and secondary forests. This report combines the results of the research activities (see reports above) and provides recommendations on the type of products and their applications for which these species could be used. The timbers were harvested from the Morobe and West Britain provinces. Nine species came from plantation forests and 17 from secondary forests. The species included 3 softwoods and 23 hardwoods.
The classification of wood products was made by dividing products into non-structural and structural products for dry and wet uses. Examples of potential uses for each species are provided in a table. Click on the link below to view and download the technical report: