JUKEN NEW ZEALAND (JNL) TO BE REBRANDED MILLARI NZ
AFTER RECENT AQUISITION

MILLARI NZ GUARANTEES OVER 90% OF LOCALLY AND SUSTAINABLY SOURCED PRODUCTS
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TIMBER INDUSTRY IN 2025.

Millari Group Australia is set to start producing LVL, plywood, and timber for the Australian timber industry after recently agreeing to acquire 100 percent of the 25-ha Juken Gisborne facilities in New Zealand, to be rebranded as Millari NZ. This is the first sawmill purchase in the Millari Group Australia portfolio and settlement is currently expected to occur later this month.

The Gisborne manufacturing facility is located on the North Island of New Zealand at Gisborne and specialises in producing LVL, plywood and structural Radiata pine products. With a perfect mix of engineered products and solid pine framing, the mill will be an asset best suited to ease the burden on businesses in Australia, which have been forced to rely on imported products due to the lack of local manufacturing.

True Blue Timber, which has been supplying high-quality and reliable imported products to Australia’s leading wholesalers, will now be driving local LVL and timber production for the Australian industry with the Millari NZ facilities.

True Blue Timber offers a versatile range of products which are all FSC 100% timber, including structural framing material in treated and untreated, LVL (laminated Veneer Lumber), I-Joist, GLT, plywood, and ancillary products. There are two True Blue Timber sites in Australia, True Blue Timber Sydney in Smithfield and True Blue Timber Melbourne in Clyde North. 2024 saw True Blue Timber increased its factory facilities in NSW from 4,000m2 to 25,000m2 – an increase of over six times. They also increased engineered wood products imports, including LVL and I Joist, by 148% in 2024.

With the acquisition of the new Millari NZ sawmill, the Millari Group will invest a significant amount into the LVL and plywood manufacturing line in the next few years to upgrade and increase the production capacity. The current output capacity of the Millari NZ sawmill is 130,000m2 per year, 60,000m3 is timber, LVL is 55,000m3 and plywood is 15,000m3. The production capacity of the sawmill, LVL and plywood is expected to increase to 200,000m3 by 2027 (timber 100,000m3, LVL 80,000m3 and plywood 20,000m3).

Millari NZ plans to establish direct LVL, plywood and sawmill production for the Australian industry, including LVL E14, E13, E10, and LVL Formwork; structural and non-structural plywood panels and MGP and F-graded Radiata pine, and H2, H3 and H4-treated pine.

Millari NZ will ship LVL, plywood and sawmill products with AS/NZS standards directly to Australia’s eastern coast, significantly decreasing Australia’s timber industry’s dependence on imports from Europe and Asia.

Owner and CEO, Ryan Yari said, “Our Millari NZ facility in Gisborne will be on track to increase the output capacity of LVL, plywood and timber production over the next few years as we invest in new machinery and technology for the 35,000m2 factory.
“With these exciting facilities alongside our True Blue Timber operations, we will continue to offer the Australian industry a reputable and reliable ongoing source of high-quality EWP (engineered wood products) and timber products and deliver them directly with quick turnarounds.”

Since closing in March 2024, the Millari NZ Gisborne facility will re-open in the coming months, providing 100 direct and 500 indirect jobs and opportunities to the Gisborne community of 38,000 people.

Yari continued, “JNL Gisborne has been the cornerstone of the community for many years, and it will be Millari Group’s pleasure to restore it to its former glory. The Millari Group team is excited about the new challenge ahead and looks forward to being a part of the Gisborne community for many years to come”.

Millari Group Australia includes True Blue Timber, True Blue LVL, and True Blue Plywood, and Millari NZ supplies FSC 100% timber products to Australia’s leading Timber and Hardware retailers.