In 2005, Forestry Tasmania was successful in securing the commitment of the Malaysian-based timber company, the Ta Ann Group, to develop two rotary veneer peeling mills in Tasmania. The mills will process regrowth logs only and are to be located ‘in the forest.'
“A rotary veneer mill is an efficient means of adding value to short logs that are not useable for higher-value purposes such as sawmilling," Bob Gordon
The first of the mills opened in the Huon district and the second at Smithton in the North West.
Now many regrowth logs that were previously classified as pulpwood are suitable for the manufacture of rotary veneer for construction grade products. Through Forestry Tasmania’s partnership with Ta Ann, up to 25% of wood that was previously chipped is now ‘peeled’ here in Tasmania for higher value veneer production.