THREE-PLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 6

THREE-PLY

MADE IX NEW ZEALAND. A NEW USE FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL TIMBERS. ’ THE INDUSTRY REVIEWED. (By Our Special Representative.) Whilst walking down Victoria street, Hamilton, a few days ago, my eye was attracted by a modern' brick building adjoining the railway property. It was the nameplate, hotvever, which caused me to stop. This read “Ellis Veneer Co., Ltd.” Do they make veneer in New Zealand? was the query in my mind. So I stepped inside and learned the following interesting facts and accepted an invitation to visit the firm’s mill. Until recent years, the veneer used in New Zealand has been imported. In 1910, however, Air Ellis, a partner in the wellknown sawmilling firm of Ellis and Burnand, Ltd., became convinced that threeply veneer could be made locally. To increase his knowledge of the manufacturing process, he visited the United States secured a thorough insight into the threeply industry, ,md returned still more convinced that he could manufacture highgrade three-ply in New Zealand. How well founded was his conviction is graphically shown in two modern buildings m the progressive town of Hamilton, the Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Ltd., and Ellis and Burnar.d, Ltd., the offices of which are panelled with different kinds of plywood manufactured by the Ellis Veneer Company. This enables anyone wishj.g to buld to see what a fine effect can be obtained by rising .plywood made of New Zealand timbers. Accompanied by the company’s manager, Mr H. Voider, our representative had the pleasure of inspecting the plywood factory at Manunui, some three miles from the flourishing town of Tnumarunui. Here is installed an extensive plant where the manufacture of plywood and veneers can be seen in all its stages, and a most interesting sight it is. A large amount of capital has been invested in this (industry, which provides employment for a considerable number of men. t HOW THREE-PLY IS MADE, Any tree and every tree is not suitable for making three-ply; only those of good shape and sound growth are-selected. And (here they were —true forest monarchs, brought in from the timber country across the Wanganui River. The trees are brought to ‘the veneer factory ir. their full length by a powerful geared locomotive specially constructed to climb the steep grades of the tramway which traverses one of the finest forests in the dominion. The log trucks are brought to the factory and placed alongside a steam-driven crosscut saw, somewhat similar in shape to a carpenter’s hand-saw, and the 10 feet of steel teeth quickly cuts the tree into 5 feet lengths.,and the logs are then taken to the ' steaming chambers. To the newcomer these chambers have in them qaulities of miniature infernos, for when the doors are swung open great clouds of steam rush out, vividly suggesting the conditions prevailing within. The company employs four of these chambers—and keeps them busy. In them the logs remain for various lengths of time, from one and a-half days to as long as four days, according to the nature of the veneer to be made. SOMETHING LIKE A LATHE. From the steaming process the logs are lifted by a runner crane, and placed on a machine which gives promise of a most interesting, performance, and which fulfils that promise. It is a lathe of grand proportions, with a sharp knife running its full length. The log is held at the ends by powerful grips, and a gauge is set to give a cut of the required thickness. The machine is then set in motion, the log revolved, the keen knife begins to bite. Immediately one sees a fine, thin sheet of wood—a giant, ever growing shaving—peeling from the log and spreading up a long platform where two men break it into 20-foot lengths. Rollers next 1 convey the sheets to a guillotine. Here any defective sheets are rejected, whilst the good ones are cut _ to needed sizes, and taken to the drying chambers.. After drying comes the glueing, a most important part of the process. GUARANTEED BORER-PROOP. After exhaustive experiments extending over a period of three years, an adhesive was produced from casein mixed with several different kinds of chemicals, which renders the plywood not, only waterproof but also proof against, the attacks of the borer, which has caused so ’much damage to buildings and furniture throughout the dominion. This is a very important feature of the company’s plywood, as many of the foreign plywoods imported into the dominion very quickly become riddled by this destructive insect. • , The Ellis Veneer Company guarantee their plywood to bo positively proof against, not only borers, hut all other insect pests. A piece of the company’s three-ply was shown to our representative, which had been nailed between two pieces of borer-riddled white pine for over five years, and had remained free from attack, the surface not oven having been touched by the borer. The reason of this is that the chemically laden adhesive is forced through the pores of the w'ood by the enormous pressure which the plywood undergoes, as, to complete the process, the sheets of veneer, after going through a bath of the adhesive, are placed in a huge hydraulic press, and subjected to a terrific pressure of several tons to the square inch, "for about three hours; and it now becomes ply-wood. Each sheet, when taken out. of the press, is finally examined, graded, cut, to size, and placed in racks. SUPPORT LOCAL INDUSTRY. Here is an industry worthy of loyal support from every architect, contractor, carpenter, and home-builder in New Zealand. The company makes three-ply in various lengths and widths, and in three varieties—“Rimu.” “Dominion,” and “Silvrife.” Th? only difference is the timber; each variety is guaranteed. The question naturally arises, “Why buy imported three-play?” and it. is a foregone conclusion that when the quality, finish, and prices of E.V. Co. Threc-piay are compared with those of the imported product, the New Zealand Threeply will win out in all points. "Keep. the money in the country” is the slogan of our Government at the present time,'; and buyers of plywood would do well to bear this in mind and use the New Zealand article. Last, year the factory turned out nearly a million feet of plywood. Also 4,000,000 scaleboards (for use. in cheese crates), and 2.000,000 strawberry baskets. The latter are mostly supplied, in the flat state, to the Blind Institute, Auckland, where they are made up bv the blind inmates. Questioned as to prices, Mr VaJder said that the Ellis Veneer Company can supply highest grade Thrca-ply at figures below the imported article, and much below the prices asked for paper pulp materials. One advantage of (heir Three-play is its fine finish and lovely grain. One piece shown to our representative brought to mind the front of a grand piano. Ellis Company Three-ply needs no painting or decorating; it is the" finished thing. Price list and details as to sizes will be sent on application to the Ellis Veneer Company (Ltd.), Hamilton. Architects, builders, and those planning new houses or alterations should got in touch with the New Zealand product, which combines a pleasing finish with a reasonable price. Since, (he visit of our representative a hue and cry has arisen over scrim and its disease and dirt-earrying propensities, and rightly so —but why have scrim when you can get the above Ellis Three-play Wood to make healthy artistic decoration—cheaper, cleaner, and more lasting. “Don’t scrim— Three-ply it.” That’s the slogan for a final thy. virile nation. Three-ply your ceilings and walls—and do it now.— Advt.