Pentarch technical services overview
Pentarch provides analytical and laboratory services across Australasia. The Pentarch Technical Services (PTS) lab in Kawerau (New Zealand) carries out tests in both the wood and agricultural sectors; Burnie (Tasmania) and Eden (NSW) focus on wood testing and labs in Victoria (Mallee Hay) and Western Australia (Narrogin) focus on testing agricultural products.
our Key Services New Zealand
The PTS laboratory in Kawerau, New Zealand has a 25-year history of testing wood-based and agricultural products for a variety of uses, including biofuels. It operates 365 days a year and is open to enquiries from across the primary industry for the services it provides.
PTS currently tests for:
- Moisture content (dry matter)
- (Particle) size (classification)
- Ash content
- Bulk and basic density
- Calorific value
Tests are regularly carried out on woodchips, wood residues and hog fuel, wood discs (from logs), increment cores (from standing trees), silage and grass. The same tests apply to other biofuels, such as briquettes and pellets, additional agricultural feedstocks such as hay and a broad range of horticultural products such as blueberries, avocadoes and kiwifruit.
PTS also runs a Quality Management System (QMS) for major woodchip providers and users. It receives samples from across New Zealand and also carries out sampling services for clients. As an independent laboratory, PTS is ideally placed to perform testing for verification and quality control purposes e.g., for new and existing biofuel producers.
Further test methods are being developed to allow a more complete service in the areas of diagnostic testing. Please get in touch with any queries.
our Key Services Australia
Wood Testing
The focus in Burnie and Eden has been on wood chip classification testing for wood chips but the laboratories are capable of testing other wood-based materials including but not limited to biofuels and wood residues. The Burnie laboratory is NATA accredited (Accreditation No. 20450).
Current tests are:
- size classification of wood chips - AS/NZS 1301.014rp:2002
- determination of moisture in wood chips - AS/ NZS 1301.010s:2007
Agriculture
The agricultural laboratories in Mallee Hay and Narrogin have largely focused on hay. However, the tests undertaken also apply to other agricultural products.
Current test include:
- Dry matter
- Crude protein
- Neutral detergent fibre
- Acid detergent fibre
- Metabolisable energy
- Water soluble carbohydrates
- Moisture
While testing has been focused on internal needs to date, Pentarch is actively investigating providing services to external clients.
The Pentarch Technical Services Team
NEW ZEALAND
Alex Bruce
Manager - Technical Services
Alex is an industrial chemist with more than 35 years’ experience who has worked in NATA, ISO9001 and IANZ accredited laboratories in Melbourne and Mount Maunganui and now manages the PTS laboratory in Kawerau. He has extensive experience in wood adhesives and chemical manufacturing. He has had both laboratory and account management roles. He has looked after customers manufacturing wood-based products in NZ, Australia, Fiji and PNG. He has worked in a variety of roles including product development and implementation, quality control, account management and technical service, project management and process improvement.
This has given him a good knowledge of products used for food manufacture, pulp and paper and cleaning industry, solid wood, and composite wood-based products properties, uses and testing.
AUSTRALIA
Wayne Denny
Regional Manager, Pentarch Forestry (Tasmania)
Wayne joined Pentarch Forestry in 2014 and was responsible for the NATA accreditation of the Burnie laboratory. He has over 3 decades of experience in the pulp and paper and woodchip export industries. This includes laboratory management, pulp and papermaking, wood chipping operations, wood chip quality, log quality and export ship loading.
EnquirIes AND ContactS
NEW ZEALAND
Alex Bruce
Manager
PENTARCH TECHNICAL SERVICES
Tasman Mill Site, Fletcher Ave
Kawerau 3192, New Zealand
Ph: +64 7 323 6537 Mob: +64 21 926 055
Email: a.bruce@pentarch.co.nz or pts-lab@pentarch.co.nz
AUSTRALIA
Wayne Denny
Regional Manager
PENTARCH FORESTRY (Tasmania)
PO Box 3033 MDC
South Burnie, TAS 7320, Australia
Ph: +61 3 6430 7333
Email: w.denny@pentarch.com.au
