Manufacturing

ASH aren’t like any other timber mill and processor. Technology, innovation and culture have and will continue to be at the forefront of our business.

Decades of experience means we know what to look for in quality timber and cultivate the best conditions for it. An impressive 13 manufacturing operations means we streamline the entire process for our partners to produce the best possible outcome. Our process has been designed to get the most from harvest and maximise efficiency and quality in a safe manner.

OUR PROCESS

• Our location in the Gippsland regional town of Heyfield, Victoria is not by chance. It was carefully selected many years ago in a dry belt on flat ground that naturally allows the right amount of sun and air flow to slowly equalize the timber until it is ready for kiln drying. This process minimises internal stresses or the need to burn unnecessary fossil fuels for power.
• The large open area ASH occupies in Heyfield provides plenty of space and guarantees that our racks of timber aren’t rushed through production. This means they are only selected for reconditioning and kiln drying when they are ready. Not because they need to be moved to free up space.
• The power for each of our kilns is created when burning dry sawdust – a carbon neutral process that releases only the amount of carbon which was taken in by the tree during photosynthesis. Sustainable harvesting practices ensure that the carbon released is captured again within the next regeneration program thereby eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels for energy. Learn more about sustainability at ASH.
• Once inside the kiln, the timber is connected to a computer to regulate temperature, humidity and wind speed. The technology only allows the drying process to stop once the timber has reached the optimum moisture content of 10%
• At 10% moisture content, timber has completed most of its shrinking. Now it’s ready to be straight line cut (a process unique to ASH) to ensure that our customers do not need to straighten before use.
• An ultrasound scanner is then used to search for internal defects and the timber is graded. The resulting product being the most stable, straight, well graded and dried timber possible.