Primary Wood Processing: Principles and Practice

Forestry and the timber trade are of great economic significance internationally and the importance of appropriate practice in primary wood processing is obvious. This book provides a comprehensive account of the forest products industry. The reasons for processing timber in a particular way are explained and the choice of techniques used is discussed. Salient features in sawmilling, panel products and pulp and paper are examined taking into careful consideration both the chemical and physical properties of wood and the enormous variability found in wood quality. The authors of the book have wide experience of teaching the subject areas covered and have produced a book which should be of great use to upper-level students studying forestry, wood science and forest products as well as personnel in the timber trade responsible for production and quality control. This book should be of interest to production and quality control personnel in the timber trade, upper level students on wood science and forest products courses; and postgraduate students in plant sciences, engineering design and structure, pulp and paper.