My name is Greg Weir. I am a second-generation Australian sawmiller and timber processor. For the past 34 years I have been employed by various large and small timber processing operations and Government organizations across Australia, mainly in the capacity of General Manager, Production Manager or freelance consultant. For a short time I was employed as Product Manager for a Company manufacturing large timber drying kilns. Apart from increasing my contact-base for choice timber products, my extensive experience and significant lifetime observations were reinforced during that time as well as providing opportunity to hone a half lifetime's drying skills.

Some of the early observations were:

• That Australia is blessed with a very large range of high quality, unique hardwoods suitable for quality joinery.
   

• As a general rule, air seasoning practices resulted in significant waste of valuable timber resource.
   

• Changing market conditions required efficient, low cost drying systems to avoid the wasteful historic practice of air seasoning timber.
   

• Solar drying had potential to produce superior cost and quality outcomes to conventional drying prescriptions.
   

• Early Solar drying kiln technology had problems that represented a challenge to my abilities.

Consequent to these observations, I have applied my life time of commercial timber processing and drying skill plus a considerable investment in time and money during the past 10 years to develop our own hybrid kiln dry technology that has been known as “Slipkilns” and more recently “SolaRola” kilns.

Multiple competitive advantages created by our drying technology have been instrumental in the successful growth of our current multi-faceted business and funded our ongoing technology improvement programs. Advantages include markedly lower production costs, lower degrade losses and higher quality-value outcomes.

Third generation family members compliment our committed staff. We have become a leading producer and retailer of quality timber products with emphasis on flooring, solid timber laminated and furniture timbers. Our January 2003 acquisition of Adams Timber Wholesale at Kilsyth represents not only a major expansion in retail timber sales activities but also an improvement in our capacity to market quality Australian Hardwoods. Our award winning best flooring showroom and courteous staff underpin our success in delivering excellent service to a range of client categories small and large.

Multi-Faceted Business

Apart from unparalleled experience, our drying research and kiln manufacturing activities remain a major reason for our success and reputation as a quality timber producer. Our technology has become the technology option used by many Australian timber operations where quality is of paramount importance.

In June 2006, over 90 kiln units have been sold mainly to repeat customers. We also own and operate a unique vacuum drying system that allows us to dry solid large sections unable to be dried by any other means to a standard suited to the highest quality applications. Our stocks routinely include large section slabs and square leg stock in a range of species.

One of our major furniture timber species is Forest Redgum. Apart from the largest stock range in Melbourne, we also carry a comprehensive range of other Australian hardwoods. We pride ourselves in being able to offer a complimentary range of factory-direct bench-tops and stair components to suit our comprehensive range of flooring and decking products.

Key Facets Of Our Business

Contract Drying: Subject to adequate volumes and security, we supply and build our kilns on client’s sites for a contracted time and rate, providing a cost- effective quality drying service that allows clients to reduce capital outlays, benefit from our skills and enjoy low drying costs.

At the same time we will continue to enjoy the advantage of higher quality, solar dried timber with the knowledge that we are also doing our but for the environment by reducing unsustainable energy use.

Meantime, we'll keep working to stay "a cut above the rest"!

Greg Weir
Director