Arch Wood Protection (SA) (Pty) Ltd, a Lonza Company, has recently completed the installation of the largest CCA treatment plant in Zimbabwe for The Wattle Company. The plant, with a minimum capacity of about 110m³ per shift, falls in line with The Wattle Company’s decision to expand into the treatment sector and establish a state-of-the-art treatment plant.
The Wattle Company project director, Joseph Musemwa, explained the decision to use the services of Arch Wood Protection. “We particularly wanted to take advantage of Arch’s experience in the design and installation of CCA treatment plants. The supply of ‘everything under one roof’: the plant design, installation, commissioning, training, the chemicals and after-sales service, was a huge draw card as well. Being new to the treatment sector, we believed it was a sound decision to enter the market with the expert backing of Arch in order to market our products as effectively as possible and to support our application for ISO 9001 certification.”
The Wattle Company, a forestry resources management business established in 1945, has three strategic business units which handle pine sawn timber, wattle extract and charcoal, and Eucalyptus resource and pole treatment. The decision to introduce CCA pole treatment was driven by the company’s growth strategy which focuses on the best use of its plantation resources to maximise revenue. Over the past six decades, The Wattle Company has built a solid reputation as a reliable supplier not only in Zimbabwe but also in export markets in South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, East African countries such as Kenya and as far afield as India and Pakistan.
Darren Marillier, sales manager at Arch Wood Protection, commented on the design of the treatment plant. “There was an existing creosote plant which had been built but never installed and among the challenges we faced was the need to modify existing civils to accommodate the new 1.8-metre diameter by 24-metre plant and to ensure that the new civil structure was a bunded area, compliant with legislation. Due to the length of the treatment vessel it was delivered in two halves which had to be welded together on site. A key design feature that is unique to this plant is the combined working / measuring tank which is on load cells. Solution uptake into the poles is measured by mass from this tank, which makes it exceptionally accurate.”
The installation of the CCA treatment plant at The Wattle Company further enhances the marketing of the Tanalised™ wood treatment brand in Zimbabwe and further afield through The Wattle Company’s export network.
Gerard Busse, marketing manager at Arch Wood Protection, says, “The growing market for treated wood products in Africa highlights the demand for quality wood treatment products coupled with technical expertise. This installation provides a platform for Arch Wood Protection to showcase its ability to provide a product as well as technical and marketing support services on which its customers’ can confidently depend.”
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