Switch towards concrete poles in parts of Uganda

  The Ugandan authorities are favouring concrete over CCA-treated timber poles in some regions – a move that the Kenyan authorities made many years ago but reversed due to excessively high costs. The change in Uganda has raised fears about the sustainability of the timber treatment industry and the large number of smallholder farmers who […]

Time will be the true test of NRCS Clampdown in SA

  Dolphin Bay welcomes the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications’ (NRCS) recent raids on illegal timber treatment operations in South Africa. However, only time will tell whether the organisation should be congratulated on really cracking down on the huge problem, following years of frustration with their performance. The NRCS reported that inspections were conducted on […]

Overcoming the challenge of sap stain & mould in freshly cut timber

Sap staining fungi and mould are a costly problem in the wood processing industry. Left untreated, freshly cut wood is vulnerable to mould growth within 24 to 48 hours and discolouration from sapstain is noticeable within 5 to 6 days.  Until steps are taken to effectively deal with the infection, the decay fungi will continue […]