Innovating with Impact: How Dovetail Is Helping to Shape the Timber Industry

South Australia’s timber industry is flourishing, being valued at over $3 billion, driving both economic growth and environment leadership. Covering over 168,000 hectares of plantation forests (with no native forest harvesting), the sector plays a vital role in combating climate change by capturing more carbon than it emits. The industry also supports around 18,000 local jobs and supplies a significant portion of Australia’s structural timber, particleboard, packaging and agricultural-grade wood.

Despite the industry's strengths, nearly 40% of South Australia’s timber is exported without being processed- This represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen local manufacturing, add economic value and create more jobs.

To address this gap, manufacturers like Dovetail, a Bedford-backed social enterprise, transforms timber into high-quality products that deliver local value while generating meaningful social and economic impact.

As one of the country’s largest producers of flatpack furniture and other timber and board products, Dovetail is helping to unlocking the full potential of South Australia’s timber resources by turning raw materials into producing ready-to-assemble products for homes and businesses across Australia and New Zealand.

Operating across multiple sites in Panorama, Gepps Cross, Reynella and Mount Gambier, Dovetail delivers a wide range of timber and board solutions, including cabinetry, structural framing, fencing, crates and flatpack furniture, designed to meet the needs of diverse industries and customers.

But Dovetail’s impact goes beyond just products, It is driven by a deeper purpose.

When you choose to partner with Dovetail Advanced Manufacturing you are actively contributing to meaningful social change. Dovetail is all about commercial timber and board products made with purpose. In other words, Dovetail delivers commercial and social return through an unwavering focus on employment outcomes for people who experience barriers to work. It is a Bedford-backed social enterprise that manufactures timber furniture and other products at high volume and high quality, from sites at Panorama, Gepps Cross, Reynella and Mt Gambier. And its new Salisbury Advanced Manufacturing Hub is expected to be operational late in 2025.

At Dovetail, environmental responsibility is embedded across our operations. We implement a range of sustainability initiatives across the business, from modular designs that can be easily repurposed or reconstructed with minimal waste, to innovative timber processing that diverts materials from landfill. Our mills plays a key role by converting excess timber into products such as decking, fencing and poultry bedding. These initiatives support a circular economy and reducing Dovetail’s environmental footprint.

Dovetail is committed to continuous improvement with its new state-of-the-art manufacturing hub in Salisbury. This new facility will double production capacity and incorporate advanced automation technologies, setting a national benchmark for combining social impact with sustainable manufacturing practices.

Additionally, the Salisbury hub will expand open employment opportunities, enabling more people to pursue meaningful careers in advanced manufacturing.

What sets Dovetail apart is the dedication and expertise embedded in every timber product that they create. Their manufacturing teams bring passion and precision to deliver a diverse range of high-quality timber solutions, serving industries such as government, defence, transport, agriculture, biotech, freight and even mining.

Dovetail’s commitment to excellence is reflected in their ability to meet complex manufacturing and timber processing needs for a broad customer base, delivering products that combine durability, functionality and sustainability. Whether it is structural framing, cabinetry, flatpack furniture, or specialised industrial components, every piece is crafted with care and a focus on quality that customers can rely on.

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