Do you know the grading standards for New Zealand radiata pine logs?

New Zealand radiata pine is undoubtedly a top choice in the timber market, with large quantities, wide radiation range, and numerous uses.

Generally, they are graded according to 4m, 6m and small A/medium A/large A, but do you know how the standard grading works?

New Zealand's radiata pine plantations produce predictable, high-quality logs for the timber market. This is made possible by the region's excellent growing conditions and top-notch forest management techniques. Most New Zealand plantations are pruned at a young age, resulting in knot-free timber and limiting knots to a small area near the heartwood. More than half of New Zealand pine plantations undergo three prunings within the first ten years of growth, making New Zealand radiata pine unique.

New Zealand Pine Timber Grades and Suitable Uses

Pruned rotary-cut timber (high-quality, large-diameter, straight logs) is used for slicing or rotary-cutting veneers.

Plywood and decorative panels.

Industrial rotary-cut timber (large diameter, straight, unpruned logs) is used to produce knot-grade gluing.

Boards and laminated veneer lumber.

Trimmed sawn timber logs (large diameter, straight logs) are used to produce knot-free and appearance-grade sawn timber.

And industrial-grade sawn timber.

Small sawn timber (S): Used to produce high-strength timber.

Large sawn timber (L): Used for the production of temporary building lumber, packaging materials, and exterior components.

Long-pitch sawn timber (taken from trees with wider branch spacing) is suitable for finished wood furniture and joinery.

Material yield.

Column timber: (small to medium diameter, straight logs) with a low degree of twist, used in construction and...

For applications involving ground contact, chemical treatment is required.

Fiber and pulp logs: high-quality logs that do not fall into the categories mentioned above – used for paper production.

Pulp and engineered wood products.