New Zealand wood drying industry
Since the reform and opening-up policy, China's wood drying industry has experienced remarkable growth, with significant progress made in both research and development of drying processes and equipment. However, due to a relatively weak foundation, the overall technical level still falls short of meeting the demands of national economic development. During a visit to New Zealand's forestry, wood processing, and furniture industries, the author paid special attention to the country’s timber drying sector and was impressed by the advanced technologies and research being conducted on fast-growing wood drying methods.
New Zealand is known for its large-scale industrial cultivation of fast-growing tree species, particularly radiata pine. The country has 1.7 million hectares of radiata pine plantations, with trees taking approximately 25 years to mature from seedlings. Every year, New Zealand produces 17 million cubic meters of radiata pine, valued at around S$5 billion (approximately RMB 20 billion). By 2025, the government plans to expand the plantation area to between 3.5 and 4 million hectares, with an expected increase in annual output to 55–60 million cubic meters. The country places great emphasis on the utilization of radiata pine, including the production of glued laminated timber (Glulam), drying, preservation, joinery, and furniture manufacturing. It also actively develops medium-density fiberboard (MDF) using this high-quality raw material.
Windsor Engineering Group Ltd., established in 1975, currently employs 95 people. The company is based in Wellington, with a wood processing technology and sales office in Rotera on the South Island of New Zealand, and a project engineering and sales department in Albury, Australia.
Since 1980, the group has manufactured over 200 drying kilns. Today, 75% of wood in New Zealand is dried using these systems. Wood drying equipment remains the company's core product, alongside vacuum cleaners and environmental protection devices, which are widely used in chemical and food processing industries. Notable examples include the drying kilns installed at the "New Century Woodworking Plant" in South Africa and the Solych Factory in Concepción, Chile. With the southern hemisphere rich in pine resources, there is a growing demand for New Zealand's advanced wood drying technology to enhance the value and usability of local timber.
All of these drying kilns utilize a unified control system. This system was developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Forestry Research Institute and the New Zealand Institute of Electrical and Automation, and has been continuously improved over time. Currently, it supports internet connectivity and global remote operation. For instance, a drying issue in South Africa can be resolved remotely by a New Zealand expert through the internet. The system allows multiple drying kilns to be connected and monitored simultaneously, with precise control over parameters such as temperature, humidity, and moisture content of the wood. Users can easily input different drying schedules, and the system automatically displays key data like drying time, moisture levels, and environmental conditions. It also enables dynamic control of heat sources and fans—adjusting fan speed during the late drying phase to reduce energy use or controlling fan rotation for better air circulation. Additionally, it automatically regulates the amount of hot water or steam according to the drying benchmark, ensuring efficiency and energy savings. The entire system includes a modem for continuous online monitoring.
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