The new wave of drying innovations

摘要

Vacuum drying, microwave technology and a new 'all-climates' hybrid kiln are setting the pace for timber drying innovation in Australasia. A collaborative research project by government and industry, centred on a superheated vacuum kiln in Brisbane, is set to enhance the quality and value of Australian timbers. The German-built As 150,000 Brun-ner-Hildebrand kiln at the Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) Salisbury Research Centre is reducing drying times for hardwoods by 50-80% and has providedmajor energy cost savings. "After 12 months of research and development, the kiln's high performance over a range of species, including spotted gum, hoop pine and Tasmanian oak, has caught the attention of industry in eastern states and will be the basis for a national timber drying research program," senior research scientist Robbie McGavin told Inwood.