World expert in the forestry sector Dr Rupert Wimmer recently visited the Green Triangle region, offering international insights for future innovation.
Dr Wimmer is an internationally recognised academic and researcher from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna.
During his visit, Dr Wimmer met with policy and industry leaders involved in the Green Triangle forest industry and provided insights into opportunities for further innovations from the use of bio-based fibres.
“It is quite interesting to see what is possible here, I see a lot of opportunity,” he said.
Dr Wimmer is an expert in the field of tree ring analysis, wood quality, wood biology, bio-based fibre materials, wood-based composites, wood products industry, biomaterials and sustainability.
He toured several plantations during his visit and considered the forestry in the region to be short-rotation forestry.
“Even 30 years of growth here is considered to be a longer period, but in Europe we grow trees up to 160 years,” Dr Wimmer said.
“So, it is a different setting and organisation on how you grow and plant.”
Dr Wimmer said the concentration of expertise in the Green Triangle brought great potential to the region.
“There is a university campus where you can establish something between the university environment and the other growers and they are all well connected, they know what to do,” he said.
“I have seen a lot of expertise in the plantation area and the wood-based industry from the CLT plant at Timberlink, sawmilling activities, particle board manufacturers.
“That is unique, having these activities in the region, cooperations are easy to do.”
Dr Wimmer said the Forestry Centre of Excellence was a vision being brought to reality, which will be established at the existing Mount Gambier UniSA/TAFE precinct.
“There are many reasons to have a Centre of Excellence,” Dr Wimmer said.
“To avoid activities that are done in parallel in different places, to coordinate research, optimise the research and also establish a long-term relationship between industry and research, so not just one project and it is finished, by 10 years and beyond perspective is very important.”
Dr Wimmer also presented a public lecture at the UniSA Mount Gambier Campus, where he shared a broad overview of what is possible with wood.
“Most people like wood, but they might have a different view on how trees are grown and harvested and so forth,” he said.
“So, I think it is good to have a vision that is such a wealth of options with how you could utilise wood.
“Using wood in buildings of course, very modern, new technologies people making engineered wood products such as CLT.
“All across the world they are making big buildings out of wood, wooden skyscrapers are possible today.
“But also doing furniture, doing wood in the mobility sector like in cars, there is a lot of research going on in that sector.”
UniSA Mount Gambier General Manager of Forest Research Dr Jim O’Hehir thanked Dr Wimmer for taking the time to visit.
“We were very, very happy to have Professor Wimmer here,” he said.
“It is a real chance to build networks.
“Rupert mentioned the vision to build a Centre for Excellence here and this is part of that plan, it is part of helping to establish that vision and get it moving in the right direction early on.”
Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub Executive General Manager Tony Wright was excited he had the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from Dr Wimmer.
“The forest industry is an essential part of the Green Triangle economy and plays an important role in our state and nation’s response to climate change,” he said.
“There is significant innovation occurring in Australia and around the world in the use of wood products and fibre to not only produce excellent products and materials but to also capture carbon.”
Dr Wimmer was sponsored and hosted by the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub in collaboration with the University of South Australia and visited as part of UniSA’s Visiting Research Fellows program.
