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February 2020

CONFERENCE: Advance coverage!

MANUFACTURING CLT IN WASHINGTON STATE with Canadian lumber WITH THIS ISSUE...

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

SAWMILLING: BREAKING DOWN WOOD without breaking the bank RAMPING UP CHIP PRODUCTION with new debarker/chipper combo from CBI

February 2020 Volume 51 • No. 1 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling, Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski Publisher/CEO Anthony Robinson • (604) 990-9970 E-Mail: robinson@forestnet.com Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Digital Marketing: Diane Mettler Email: digitalmarketing@forestnet.com Sales Associates James Booth • (604) 506-8631 E-mail: jbooth@forestnet.com Perry Rosehill • (604) 613-3001 E-mail: rosehill@forestnet.com Subscription Enquiries Maureen Cole, Circulation Manager (905) 201-0853 Fax: (905) 294-8645 E-mail: SubscribeLSJ@forestnet.com Design & Art Production Manager Sheila Ringdahl E-mail: artwork@forestnet.com Accounting Manager Shelina Jessa • (604) 731-1535 E-mail: accounting@forestnet.com Office PO Box 86670, Suite 200 - 120 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, BC V7M 2E8 Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 Website: www.forestnet.com Subscriptions: Canada $58 a year; two years $70; three years, $85. Group accounts, six or more subscriptions, $25 per subscription per year. Outside Canada, $95 per year. Airmail $165. Single copy, Canada $6; elsewhere $10. Reproduction prohibited without permission of the publisher. ISSN 0226-7572. Back copies from 1996 onward are available through our website www.forestnet.com Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064045 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to CIRCULATION DEPT. PO Box 86670 Stn Main North Vancouver BC V7L 4L2 e-mail: SubscribeLSJ@forestnet.com POSTMASTER: Send US address changes to LSJ Publishing Ltd., PO Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 Published February 2020 Printed in Canada on 20% recycled paper.

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FEATURES On the Cover: Building components manufacturer Katerra recently opened North America’s highest volume cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory in Spokane Valley, Washington, and Logging and Sawmilling Journal has all the details on the new production facility beginning on page 28. The new plant has an annual manufacturing capacity of 185,000 cubic metres, the equivalent of 13 million square feet of 5-ply panels (Cover photo courtesy of Katerra Inc.).

4 Spotlight:

Advocating safety— in all parts of logging

The BC Forest Safety Council is a leader in forest safety, and its employees such as Mike Pottinger are great advocates for industry safety, from the bush to the repair shop.

10 COFI Conference

coming up in April

Logging and Sawmilling Journal outlines the issues and previews the B.C. Council of Forest Industries’ (COFI) annual convention coming up in April in Prince George, B.C., the largest gathering of the forest sector in Western Canada.

Giving ‘er in B.C. logging…

Young logging contractors may be in short supply these days, but the ones that are out there, like B.C.’s Brandon Connolly, are extremely effective with their equipment, and are—as Connolly says—“giving ‘er”.

DEPARTMENTS

Calendar.................................................8 Suppliernewsline...............................48 Classifieds...........................................53 Subscriptions......................................53 Ad Index...............................................53

22 More chips, please!

B.C.’s Valiant Log Sort has seen big-time growth in its wood chipping operations, with the closure/curtailment of a number of sawmills, and it has added to its equipment line-up with a new CBI 7544 Flail Debarker and Disc Chipper.

28 Manufacturing CLT

state-side—with Canadian lumber

Building components manufacturer Katerra has opened a $150 million, highvolume cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory in Washington State—and feedstock, in the form of dimensional lumber, is all coming from Canada.

34 Breaking down wood—

without breaking the bank

B.C. custom sawmiller Bob Jerke has discovered how to break down timbers into high volumes of boards without breaking the bank, thanks to a lower cost, manually-operated band sawmill.

40 Tech Update

Logging and Sawmilling Journal takes flight with this Tech Update, with a focus on drones in the forest industry.

Included in this edition of The Edge, Canada’s leading publication on research in the forest industry, are stories from Alberta Innovates and Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC).

54 The Last Word

The present may look gloomy for the B.C. Interior forest industry, but it is tackling adversity and planning for the future, explains columnist Jim Stirling.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

spotlight

ADVOCATING

SAFETY —in all parts of logging The BC Forest Safety Council is a leader in forest safety, and its employees such as Mike Pottinger are great advocates for industry safety, from the bush to the repair shop. By Jim Stirling

t’s a bit like a chat around the kitchen table. But this one is taking place at the front counter in the office of a small log harvest contracting company. There’s plenty of paper getting shuffled and goodnatured bantering going on. During the process, clarifications are made, recommendations offered and answers provided. By the conclusion of the session, considerable time has been saved for the logging company, frustrations spared and the operation’s annual SAFE company audit is much closer to being satisfactorily filed. Mike Pottinger participates in lots of sessions like that one while taking the audit filing process direct to B.C. loggers. Pottinger works for the BC Forest Safety Council and is the regional safety advisor for the northwest and central interior areas of British Columbia, operating from a base in Houston, B.C., about 300 kilometres northwest of Prince George. Pottinger extends the process to the bush, spending considerable time visiting a logging company’s harvesting operations. When there, he chats about the current state of the forest industry and talks safety issues pertinent to both the specific machines being used on site and the log harvesting operation in general. BC Forest Safety is passionate about safety issues. Among its tenets are that all forestry fatalities and injuries are preventable, and that the safety of forestry workers is an over-riding priority that’s key to the long term success of the industry. Pottinger doesn’t adopt an evangelical fervour to the work or present a dictatorial approach. Mike Pottinger (above), the BC Forest Safety Council’s regional safety advisor for the northwest and central interior areas of British Columbia. Pottinger knows the B.C. forest industry well—he’s spent many years working in the to page 6 industry at different jobs and in varied parts of the province. 4

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spotlight from page 4 “I’m a support mechanism for loggers,” is how he modestly describes his role. Pottinger is quick to appreciate the good safety-enhancing initiatives whenever he comes across them on a logging show. But, he adds, he will also explain the benefits of compliance with safety regulations. One of the flip sides of ignoring them is the possibility of a financial penalty. “That tends to grab the owner’s attention,” notes Pottinger. That’s understandable, given the squeeze on tight operating margins small logging businesses face these days. The subject of penalties introduces a recurring theme for Pottinger and the council. The BC Forest Safety Council suffers from a continuing case of mistaken identity, he says. The council is not safety’s policeman—WorkSafeBC does that. BC Forest Safety representatives can’t show up unannounced on a logging show, for example, nor can they write tickets for regulatory non-compliance. Enforcement of regulations is WorkSafeBC’s domain. BC Forest Safety’s role is first and foremost to make log harvesting operations

The BC Forest Safety Council is passionate about safety issues. Among its principles is that all forestry fatalities and injuries are preventable, and that the safety of forestry workers is an over-riding priority that’s key to the long term success of the industry. safer—for everyone working on them. When that occurs successfully, there’s less likelihood WorkSafeBC inspections will provide examples of regulatory non-compliance.

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Pottinger is well qualified for his job. He’s spent many years working in the B.C. forest industry at different jobs and in varied parts of the province. And he’s got the scars to prove it. “I know from my own experience the specific pressures on the body from running a skidder all day; the risks of fire in a feller buncher and the repetition of operating a processor for a 10-hour shift,” he says. Pottinger’s past experience and understanding allows him to communicate easily with loggers—and appreciate their working environments and problems. BC Forest Safety has tried hard through the years to make the SAFE company audit process, for example, more userfriendly. “There is an audit standard that’s been developed that is simplified and easier to understand,” Pottinger explains. “We’ve tried to make it both simpler and functional. We’re here to help people achieve compliance.” Logging contractors are encouraged to create a paper trail, he continues. “We try to influence them to the benefits of documentation. When things aren’t properly documented, they can be hard to verify and that can lead to complications.” Pottinger reckons one of the most important strategies logging companies should prepare and maintain is a functional Emergency Response Program (ERP). What that means is having the right information, training and equipment on to page 8

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spotlight from page 6 hand to respond safely when there’s an injury on site, or some unexpected event occurs. Fires and floods are examples of unexpected events. The ERP is essentially designed to reduce confusion and panic, and instead respond efficiently to the situation. The ERP lists all contact information that may be required for help, including everything from 911 to summoning helicopter assistance. The ERP should also involve pre-work information, explains Pottinger. This includes things like detailed area maps showing prominent physical features like streams and steep ground. These can be especially useful to new workers to a site or for those who work on multiple shows. “The ERP is more complex than just a piece of paper,” he continues. One thing tends to lead to another. For example, in an isolated region, satellite communication devices can literally be life savers in an emergency situation. That is as long as people know how to properly operate them, points out Pottinger. An emergency situation is not the best time to be fumbling through an instruction manual.

The BC Forest Safety Council works to remind the forest industry to proactively think safety and develop and practice safe working habits. Safety in forestry is not a concept workers in the industry need to be sold on. “I’m not selling anything,” agrees Pottinger. But what the BC Forest Safety Council is doing, however, is reminding the forest industry to proactively think safety and develop and practice safe working habits. They are applicable to bush operations, in and around the logger’s offices

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Convention to focus on how the industry can move forward The Council of Forest Industries (COFI) convention—coming up in April in Prince George, B.C.—will be focusing on how the industry moves ahead following a year full of challenges.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

By Jim Stirling

ritish Columbia’s forest industry is coming off its own version of an “annus horribilis”. But unlike when Queen Elizabeth II famously used the term to describe her family’s misfortunes in 1992, the provincial forest industry may well be facing more ‘horrible years’ before the industry succeeds in realigning itself

and resumes a more positive and diversified trajectory. That said, the year 2020 does promise progress toward reversing the forest industry’s fortunes and restoring investor confidence in the B.C. industry. “2019 was a very difficult year with lots of challenges,” concurs Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries (COFI). “We’ve endured significant operational downtime and mill closures.” While those factors will form the context for COFI’s annual convention and trade show this year, they will not be its focus. COFI’s annual convention is usually the largest event of its kind on the Canadian forest industry calendar. It attracts industry CEOs and executives from North America and overseas. The convention is attended by representatives—and speakers—from all levels of the forest industry, the federal and provincial governments, First Nation governments and their regional and local counterparts. The COFI event is also well attended by those providing the broad range of services needed to support an industry the size and scope of forestry. This year’s convention will return to the Prince George Civic Centre April 1 to 3. No provincial region has escaped the enforced effects contributing to the forest industry’s predicament, but it is fair to say the B.C. Interior with its many forest dependent communities has experienced and is still enduring some of the harshest consequences of mill closures and lumber production curtailments. But both convention speakers and participants will be looking forward. One of the key conversational topics—formally to page 12

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from page 11 and informally—is expected to be discussions surrounding “Smart Future: A Path Forward for B.C.’s Forest Industry”. “We will indeed be talking about it,” confirms Yurkovich of the COFI-produced discussion document. Smart Future contains five broad discussion categories designed to help move the forest industry forward in a positive and comprehensive manner. The categories are: • Invest in and protect a working forest land base; • Have smart rules to protect the environment and encourage investment; • Strengthen industry participation with indigenous peoples and communities; • Focus on market and product diversification;

• And become the global hub for expertise in low carbon green building techniques. Smart Future’s lead-off recommendation—investing in and protecting a working forest land base in B.C.—is fundamental in a province where other groups and constituents have been successful in carving off large chunks of B.C.’s publicly owned land base. Establishment and protection of a working forest land base provides a level of certainty required by potential investors. “The industry needs to have secure access to fibre at a reasonable cost,” summarizes Yurkovich. Forest companies can then better make decisions to look at manufacturing products that move up the value chain, she adds. A constant volatility surrounding industry costs and operating conditions has

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

plagued B.C. forest companies in recent years. “We’re an export industry, about 90 per cent of B.C.’s wood products are exported, and the competition out there is fierce and becoming more so,” continues Yurkovich. The realization was reinforced last November when Yurkovich and other B.C. forest industry executives were part of the annual trade mission to Asia led by Doug Donaldson, B.C.’s Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “There are lots of opportunities for B.C. forest companies in Asia and especially in China, but we have to be competitive,”

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from page 12 she explains. About 25 per cent of B.C.’s wood product exports are destined for China, she points out. But the Chinese market potential has not gone unrecognized by wood product producers elsewhere. European countries are aggressively exporting to China, for example, and so is Russia, boosted by a devalued Ruble. The industry has to produce the products required by China on a consistent basis

with a cost structure that’s appropriate to a competitive market, explains Yurkovich. But B.C. no longer has the low cost lumber producer status in the marketplace it once enjoyed. Fibre costs and trade issues are among the reasons why. The industry has been successfully combating internal costs for years, but it has to make further strides. Yurkovich suggests the regulatory efficiencies Smart Future refers to might help. “The way we manage our forests to achieve more yield from

them and finding smarter ways generally of doing business will help our overall cost structure.” But the wheels of change are turning in the right direction. “We share a lot of common goals about wood fibre with the provincial government. They, too, want a healthy forest sector,” says Yurkovich. COFI and the rest to page 16

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from page 14 of the forest industry has also been collaborating with other partners including universities, colleges, First Nations and other associations. “We’re putting the building blocks in place,” she adds. A few more might be positioned when COFI’s convention dates roll around. Program details and key speakers were still being confirmed at the Logging & Sawmilling Journal’s deadlines But the convention organizers always present a top level speaker list drawn from diverse spheres to address the several hundred delegates expected. The 2020 convention will prove no exception with presenters who are both educational and provocative. The impact of the Coronavirus on the Chinese economy is likely to be among the topics that will be discussed by speakers and attendees, formally and informally, at the COFI convention. This Annual General Meeting will also include a couple of pace-changing events that have proved popular in recent conventions. They feature the industry leaders of today and tomorrow. The informal and insightful dialogue of the CEO’s panel —the people faced with the realities of today’s challenging circumstances—and the young people’s panel where opinions and ideas are voiced from a different and often refreshing perspective. As ever, the Prince George event will have ample time built into the formal agenda for delegates to renew acquaintances and relate their survival strategies. The always well-presented and diversified trade show component is a further essential part of the COFI annual convention experience. Consult cofi.org for the latest 2020 convention updates and registration information.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

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Giving ‘er

contractorprofile

in B.C. logging… Young logging contractors may be in short supply these days, but the ones that are out there, like B.C.’s Brandon Connolly, are extremely effective with their equipment, and are—as Connolly says—“giving ‘er”.

Connolly Timber’s primary equipment line-up includes a Tigercat 855C harvester with a Waratah 622C head on the business end.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

contractorprofile By Jim Stirling

ndangered, perhaps, but definitely not extinct. There are still smart young logging contractors getting into the business out there. They are as committed as their older predecessors are— sometimes veering to the addicted—in their drive to get the job done. Brandon Connolly is one of these new old breeds. Lately, the 24-year-old has been crafting his trade and applying his Nova Scotian work ethic to steer a small, flexible crew in a log harvesting operation up in the northern Rocky Mountain foothills of British Columbia. It’s true there’s a dearth of young blood entering the ranks in sufficient numbers to replace the older corps of retired veterans through all sectors of the forest industry. The current state of the forest industry is just exacerbating the situation. Costs are high, fibre supply is low, sawmills are closing and the social impacts of the situation are far-reaching. But there are exceptions to every generality—and it is the exceptions who serve as examples and set the new standards. “With these uncertain economic times, I find we are thriving in the current environment focusing not on massive volumes, but on mainly single-grip clear cutting and selective cuts,” summarized Connolly. He says his company, Connolly Timber Inc, harvests between 100,000 to 140,000 cubic metres a year with around 40,000 of that volume in private wood. About 100,000 cubic metres is harvested annually under contract for Chetwynd Forest Industries, a division of West Fraser Timber. Connolly Timber’s primary equipment line-up is short but versatile. A Tigercat 855C harvester uses a Waratah 622C head on the business end; there’s a John Deere 910E forwarder and a Deere 2054 log loader. An appreciation for the role of forwarding felled timber was acquired early on for Connolly. “Forwarders are in my blood from back east,” he confesses. But forwarders have to be applied correctly to be effective; they’re not skidders, he cautions. Connolly grew up in rural northwestern Nova Scotia. His family wasn’t in the logging business per se but several of his early influences were. He was cutting and selling pulp wood in eight-foot bolts as a 14-year-old. The tools of his trade then were a Husqvarna 357 chain saw and a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor. He migrated

to B.C. as a 16-year-old and found work as an equipment operator. He began Connolly Timber Inc., in 2017 and worked sub-contracting in the Mackenzie area with a Hitachi 210 processor with a Waratah 622B head. Along the way he ran a processor for Lo-Bar Log Transport Co., Ltd based in Prince George, and was later reunited there with a forwarder. Strangely, it was the same John Deere 1910E machine

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

Connolly now owns. He snapped it up when Lo-Bar made it available. “I knew they (Lo-Bar) have a good maintenance program. I never dreamed I’d end up owning the machine.” Connolly Timber’s log harvesting machine line-up has to adapt to a changing work environment. to page 20

contractorprofile from page 19 “The weather is no longer predictable and we’re running out of dry summer ground up here,” he explains. “We have to give ‘er when the sun shines.” Connolly knows he has to plan ahead to meet the anticipated changes in operating conditions. It’s one reason why he’s investigating the feasibility of using eightwheel harvester machines in the future. “Their big advantage is handling the softer terrain,” he points out. “They are more stable on steeper ground and have better production in the smaller stem profiles,” adds Connolly. He’s the regular operator of the Tigercat 855C/Waratah 622C machine combination. The ruggedness of Tigercat forest machines was something else Connolly witnessed and appreciated first-hand in Nova Scotia and has seen reinforced on his own shows. “There were some Tigercats still working back there with 60,000 hours on them,” he recalls. The Waratah 622C head has proved a compatible partner. “Its biggest advantage is probably its multiple stem cutting ability,” he outlines. “The 4x4 feeding system

holds the tree well and the three-quarter saw with bigger bar and chain produces more uptime in our applications.” Connolly is convinced a logging system that incorporates a forwarder used correctly is a really flexible one. Forwarders

can keep producing within an appropriately designed logging system when skidders are forced to park. The machine can multi-task. When the Logging & Sawmilling Journal visited, the company’s Deere 2054

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

contractorprofile

Company owner Brandon Connolly is the regular operator of the Tigercat 855C/Waratah 622C machine combination.

log loader was undergoing scheduled maintenance. The forwarder was deputized into service. It was loading wood that had been decked toward the end of winter and before the road system was in place. The father and son team of TJ and

Tony Frizzie based in Williams Lake, B.C. handle Connolly Timber’s log hauling duties with a pair of Peterbilt logging trucks. Sawlogs were being trucked to West Fraser’s Chetwynd sawmill while pulp logs were scheduled for shipment south

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

to Mackenzie. The initiative pleased Connolly. ”We’re getting more value from the resource by shipping out the pulp logs.” In the spring and early summer seasons, Connolly usually switches gears to harvest privately-owned wood, often in the Vanderhoof area of central B.C. The shortage of wood fibre in the B.C. Interior region—after the mountain pine beetle epidemic and two devastating forest fire seasons—is putting a premium on private wood sources and prices. Connolly reckons one of the ways logging contractors can keep ahead of the curve is to be open to new concepts and approaches. “If I see a better way of doing things, I try to apply it,” he says. “I listened to some wise men in Nova Scotia and I learned from them to try and make the right decisions at the right times. That’s been the key to my success so far.” Perhaps that’s always been the right formula: recognizing how to learn from the experience of others to make the judgement calls required to ensure the job gets well done today. It’s the measure of a good logger, young or old.

woodchipping

More chips! B.C.’s Valiant Log Sort has seen big-time growth in its wood chipping operations, with the closure/curtailment of a number of sawmills, and it has added to its equipment line-up with a new CBI 7544 Flail Debarker and Disc Chipper. Combining the CBI Magnum Force Flail 604 and the CBI Magnum Force 754 Disc Chipper, the 7544 Flail Debarker/ Disc Chipper combo (above) offers a standalone solution for businesses that need maximum debarking and highquality chip production all in one unit.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

woodchipping By Paul MacDonald

ance Ouwehand, the owner and president of B.C.’s Valiant Log Sort, has pretty much always wanted to run his own business—though he likely never thought the business would turn out to be as large as the log sort operations the company has now, and its close to 30 pieces of equipment, more than 20 years later. And the wood chips that his equipment is producing are more in demand than ever with the shutdown and curtailment of a large number of sawmills in B.C.—mills that would be pumping chips into the fibre supply chain, for pulp and paper mills. “It’s difficult to keep up with the demand—but we will keep up,” says Ouwehand, with determination. Helping to meet that demand is some new equipment, the recently introduced CBI 7544 Flail Debarker and Disc Chipper. Combining the CBI Magnum Force Flail 604 and the CBI Magnum Force 754 Disc Chipper, the 7544 Flail Debarker/ Disc Chipper combo offers a standalone solution for businesses that need maximum debarking and high-quality chip production all in one unit, says CBI. The machine comes standard with three flails and the option to add a fourth for whole tree debarking. Powered by a CAT C-32, 1,200 HP engine, and 53’ long, this new CBI 7544 machine is now delivering quality wood chips for Valiant, and its pulp and paper customers. Due to sawmill closures/curtailments, Valiant has seen wood chip demand increase tremendously. Consequently, they needed a new machine to support this demand. This new combined machine has allowed them to process increased volumes compared to their previous equipment—and additionally, they can process larger diameter logs, thus outsourcing less. The 7544 is said to be a unique machine in the market, offering a debarker and disc chipper on a single chassis, thus improving productivity and fuel efficiency while reducing costs. The investment in CBI equipment, through dealer Frontline Machinery (see sidebar story on page 25), marks an extension of suppliers for Valiant, as they have two other portable log chippers at their operations, both Peterson models: a Peterson 5000H whole log chipper, and a 5000G whole log chipper, both of which continue to be consistent performers. Ouwehand notes that Valiant is employing its chippers in a different way than

B.C.’s Valiant Log Sort has close to 30 pieces of equipment. And the wood chips that its equipment is producing are in more demand than ever with the shutdown and curtailment of a large number of sawmills in B.C.—mills that would be pumping chips into the fibre supply chain, for pulp and paper mills. most other users, in that in its locations, the chippers are stationary, rather than portable, as they would be in the bush. He said that the CBI equipment has a proven track record, and they are working closely with Frontline to optimize the production of the relatively new 7544 combo unit. Lance’s two sons, Kyle and Nick, who are both Red Seal heavy-duty mechanics, are working with the Frontline Machinery people to manage some of the computer programming and system optimization for their various material feeds.

“We’re figuring it out and working with them to make this a successful piece of equipment,” says Ouwehand. “The Frontline people are doing everything they can to make the equipment work for us.” Case in point: he noted they recently needed a part for the debarker portion of the 7544. “Within 45 minutes, they were there with the part,” says Ouwehand.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

to page 24

woodchipping from page 23 Kyle and Nick, and the young tech staff at Frontline, are the ones that are going to make this new equipment work, he says. “I’m too old for all this high technology.” In making the decision to purchase new equipment, Ouwehand says he considers features such as low financing—but what he is truly looking for is solidly built equipment that is going to work, day-in, day-out, and for good parts and service support. “Uptime is the key thing for us—the chipper is the heartbeat of our sort yard in Port Coquitlam.” In total, Valiant now has three log sorting facilities—besides Port Coquitlam, there is also Maple Ridge and Princeton. “The biggest thing in all our operations is keeping our equipment in good shape, and keeping it running,” he says. While the company does buy new equipment, it makes those purchases selectively, and strategically. “We can’t afford to be buying new equipment all the time,” he says. “Really, if you keep your equipment in good

shape, and maintain it, you get a lot of life out of it.” Much of the timber they handle at the sorts is harvested, through logging contractors, overseen by Valiant. Ouwehand feels that the best way to control the company’s destiny is to have control over its log supply—and he has steadily worked at that. Ouwehand started the sort facility in Port Coquitlam some 24 years ago. Their site is on the north side of the Pitt River, about two kilometres north of the Fraser River. The site has had a forestry related operation on it for more than 120 years. For many years, the Thomas Family ran a sawmill there. Ouwehand was very close with the family, and worked at the mill for many years, starting there as a teenager. “I spent a lot of time there—at 28, I had pretty much learned everything you needed to know to keep a mill going. “But in my mind, I always wanted my own business,” explained Ouwehand. He moved on from the mill, and ran a successful log salvage operation on the Fraser River. But he kept in touch with the Thomas Family, and when they decided to shut

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

the mill down in the early 1990s, Ouwehand leased the land and started a small log sort operation there. “I had one piece of equipment to get it rolling, and then got another.” And another, and another. He was also a pioneer in shipping logs in containers to Asian markets. Initially, the operation did not do any chipping—but these days, it has large chip supply contracts with both Harmac Pacific Pulp in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, and Howe Sound Pulp and Paper, on the Sunshine Coast. They have a reload facility for residuals, and have started a hog grinding business, with sales to Howe Sound Pulp and Paper and the Veolia Green Energy plant in Merritt. Over the years, the business has steadily grown—even when others might have questioned that growth, and the expansion of the business. That, in fact, motivates Ouwehand. Years ago, someone had criticized him, saying there was no way he could build the business. “Anytime anyone says I can’t do something to me now, well, I just go ahead and do it,” he says. to page 26

woodchipping

Chip equipment supplier Frontline opens branch in Ontario

rontline Machinery, the dealer for CBI Equipment, is based in Chilliwack, B.C., and is a family owned and operated mobile heavy equipment supplier specializing in the wood biomass, aggregate processing, and waste and recycling industries. The company was born after the Todd Family decided to evolve from a long history of working in the organics industry. After spending years in that business, they understood heavy equipment and the needs of the industry. With this expertise under their belt, they used that knowledge to make the most of their new endeavor, specializing in renting and selling grinders, shredders, crushers, and screeners. They hunted down brands across the world to find the best equipment for customers. In order to meet market demands,

Frontline Machinery recently opened a new branch in Woodstock, Ontario. With a regional customer focus, this branch offers new and used crushing, screening, grinding, shredding and material handling equipment options for sale and rent, in addition to an extensive inventory of spare and wear parts. “We are thrilled to officially open our facility in Woodstock,” says Frontline Machinery President, Daryl Todd. “The timing is key as we continue to build our presence in that market. The opening of this facility ensures new and existing customers in the Ontario region will receive

the highest level of quality service that we have built our reputation on.” Like their flagship location in Chilliwack, Frontline Ontario will be carrying and servicing the same lines of industrial mobile tracked mounted material processing, handling and measuring equipment including CBI, Keestrack, Neuenhauser, Edge Innovate, Optical Belt Scale and more. The new branch also offers a fullservice mechanical shop and on-site field technical and mechanical support. The new branch is located at #3 – 1099 Commerce Way, Woodstock, ON, and phone is 1-226-242-0928.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

woodchipping That includes getting into chipping. “I was never into chips at the beginning—but we need to use everything, from one end of the log to the other,” he says. Their equipment purchases at the beginning were Peterson chippers, including a used Peterson G5000 that had been run hard. “I rebuilt that machine, put a lot of money into it to make it a decent operating machine.” The chipper continues to perform well, but it’s really designed to handle light wood, like SPF. “We’re doing more hemlock now, right out of the water, and the CBI machine does a good job with the heavy wood, and we can go to larger logs, up to 24 inches,” says Ouwehand. They have a number of sorts at the Port Coquitlam yard. “We sort for a lot of different species,” says Ouwehand. They also have a log sales business, and do sorting and container loading of logs. Having two different types of chippers is not really unusual for Ouwehand as he has a variety of heavy equipment. In mobile equipment, in wheel loaders alone, he has Cat, Kawasaki, John

Deere and Volvo models. In log loaders, he has John Deere, Hitachi and Madill equipment. “I kind of go all over the map,” he says. “I’m not a believer in one brand of equipment.” Recent purchases included a Doosan log loader. “They are really good machines—with five cylinder engines, they are good on fuel efficiency. And the hydraulics are good on the machines. The hydraulics of equipment are really where it’s at for us—it’s really the heart of the machines.” His son, Nick, is completely trained in hydraulics, and is their go-to guy for troubleshooting hydraulic issues on any of the equipment. The operation also has a Kawasaki 95Z wheel loader, and it has proven to be a steady workhorse at the sort. The Kawasaki equipment is handled by dealer Wajax, the Cat equipment by Finning, the Deere equipment is handled by Brandt Tractor, and Volvo by Great West Tractor. Woodland Equipment Inc. sells and services the Peterson equipment in B.C. They have a processor, a Volvo EC220EFC with a Waratah HTH 622C head, for handling oversized wood.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

from page 24

They also have a Nicholson debarker line. Ouwehand says he is fortunate in that he has employees with extensive experience to look after everything from transporting wood from the bush, to chipping to chip transportation. In recent years, Ouwehand was looking to take a step back, and perhaps retire. “But then the boys showed a lot of interest in getting involved with the company,” he says. And he takes pride in his sons achieving their Red Seal certifications, and taking on more responsibilities in the business. Ouwehand now plans on being around for a while. He has some recreational property, and a boat that he likes to spend time on. “I love all that stuff—but I like going to work.”

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engineeredwood

Manufacturing CLT state-side —with Canadian lumber Building components manufacturer Katerra has opened a $150 million, high-volume cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory in Washington State—and feedstock, in the form of dimensional lumber, is all coming from Canada.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

engineeredwood

By Diane Mettler

t seems like every time you turn around, another wood products mill has closed. That’s exactly why it’s so exciting to see a facility open—and a very large one at that. In September, building components manufacturer Katerra opened North America’s highest volume cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory in Spokane Valley, Washington. The 270,000-square-foot facility is strategically located on a 52-acre site, with easy access to rail lines and interstate highways. At full operation, the factory will employ 105 people with an annual manufacturing capacity of 185,000 cubic metres, the equivalent of 13 million square feet of 5-ply panels, and can produce up to 140 boards per minute. To put this in perspective, it will be able to produce enough material for fifty 250,000 square-foot commercial office buildings per year. The plant was constructed by primarily local talent—the general contractor was Lydig Construction of Spokane, Washington; McKinstry Company of Spokane handled the mechanicals and HVAC; Evergreen Engineering of Eugene, Oregon was responsible for engineering; ARC Electric and Lighting of Spokane installed the electrical; and Casey Industrial of Westminster, Colorado took on the industrial equipment installation. Katerra’s state-of-the-art CLT facility reflects the company’s technology-first approach, incorporating advanced geometric and biometric scanning of lamstock, an on-site kiln for precise moisture control and artificial intelligence to further improve safety and reduce waste. The result is a Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

consistent, high-quality product. Katerra’s factory also features the largest CLT press currently in operation globally, offering customers what it says is unmatched design flexibility. “The press is 12-foot wide, so we can press a 12-foot by 60-foot long panel. We do three-ply, five-ply, seven-ply and nineply,” says Plant General Manager, Jason Herman, who was involved with the first CLT plant in the U.S., SmartLam in Columbia Falls, Montana, and also assisted Vaagen Timbers on building their CLT mill in Colville, Washington. Hermann adds that the company is currently commissioning a sorting line as well as a chipper system, and things are going well. “I think the industry is going to do very well,” says Herman. “The Europeans have been manufacturing CLT for 30-plus years. The United States started doing mass timber in about 2012, and demand is continually increasing.” One of the things that makes Katerra unique is that it offers end-to-end new build services. It provides design, manufacturing, and construction services to deliver a building project from beginning to end. For CLT, Katerra offers a range of services from material supply to related hardware and materials and install to endto-end building services. Although the Katerra plant is still in its start-up phase, it has already finished producing product for its first project, where it is also the general contractor —the Catalyst Building in Spokane—a dramatic

to page 30 29

engineeredwood from page 29

At full operation, the Katerra factory will have annual manufacturing capacity of 185,000 cubic metres, the equivalent of 13 million square feet of 5-ply panels, and can produce up to 140 boards per minute. To put this in perspective, it will be able to produce enough material for fifty 250,000 square-foot commercial office buildings per year.

five-story, 150,000-square-foot building that will feature two wings around a light-filled atrium. It will be the first office building in Washington constructed out of CLT, and is expected to open in 2020. And, the company is well into its third and fourth projects. As mentioned, Katerra selected the Spokane Valley to build their factory in part for the ease of accessibility for product delivery. But the area is also perfect for its access to raw material resources. Raw material in the form of dimensional lumber is currently coming from Canada, but the company is looking at expanding its raw material supply from within the U.S. “What we have to do is get certified for different species in the U.S.,” says Herman. “We’re currently working on that and then we will use some fir and larch in the future. Until that time, we are using small diameter two-by-six spruce, pine and fir from Canada.” Katerra sources 100 per cent of their lamstock from well-managed forests, a basic Katerra requirement. All lamstock

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

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engineeredwood sourced from Canada is SFI or PEFC certified at a minimum, and it can source FSCcertified wood as desired by its customers. “We now have a pipeline,” Herman says. “We’re good through about 2020.” The facility’s equipment was globally sourced and selected based on a production model. The company determined what it wanted to produce on a daily basis, and based on that, purchased equipment offering production timing that would meet their goals. The system is fully automated. Herman says if the wood is good and dry, it can pass through the CLT process in two-anda-half hours. The process is fairly straightforward. The raw material first passes through a sorting line purchased from USNR in Woodland, Washington. The moisture sensors supplied by Finna Group from Denver, Colorado, determine which material is dry enough for processing. If the wood is dry enough, it is sent through the CLT production line. If not, it goes into a USNR kiln. The CLT line has three planers, all manufactured by Gilbert in Roberval, Quebec. “The wood goes through the first set of planers and gets to near-net-size there,” explains Herman. “Then, on planers two and three, it gets to net-size. Once it travels through the finger jointer, the product makes a continuous ribbon of lumber up to 60 feet, so we can do our layups in our press.” From the CLT press, the product then travels to one of three CNC machines. Two of the CNC machines were purchased from Uniteam (Biesse), of Thiene, Italy. The third came from Germany’s Hundegger AG. Herman says after the CNC work is complete, the material travels on to the sander, which they sourced from Costa in Archdale, North Carolina “From the sander, it continues on to the crane we purchased from Galifco Oregon, out of Eugene. The crane offloads the finished CLT panels and prepares it for Quality Assurance/Quality Control certification. “Once the panel is certified, we load it on the truck, and send it to the job site,” explains Herman. Katerra CLT is tested for its intended use in compliance with the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and all relevant reference standards including ANSI/APA PRG 320 (2018) for ready use in the U.S. The company intends to pursue thirdparty voluntary environmental certification of Katerra CLT to authenticate transparency in its materials and manufacturing

process, as well as quantify the embodied environmental impacts of Katerra CLT. This process will begin once the factory has been in operation for at least 12 months. The environmental label certification Katerra will apply for is a product- and process-specific Type III Environmental Product Declaration to ISO 14025 Environmental labels and declarations; Type III Environmental Declarations Principles and Procedures (EPD.) After so many months of researching,

designing, purchasing, contracting and organizing all the details, Herman says it has been exciting to watch the plant break ground, followed by equipment installation and then, finally, the commissioning in May. “During the commissioning time, we had some training,” he says. “There were five of us who went to Europe for about to page 32

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

engineeredwood

The Katerra plant’s equipment was globally sourced and selected based on a production model. The company determined what it wanted to produce on a daily basis, and based on that, purchased equipment offering production timing that would meet their goals. from page 31 10 days, and we did some training with some other CLT plants. It was really amazing to see other manufacturers produce their CLT.” When the company is fully staffed, it will employ a wide variety of people from different industries. “Our hiring interview process is very effective, and we interview as a management group,” says Herman. “We’ve had very minimal turnover. That is because we treat our people like assets, as they are the assets. We run a sturdy ship here.” Herman is excited about the future of the CLT industry, and is thankful for having a great team.

Herman is not the only one excited about the new CLT plant. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, and Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz were all in attendance at the grand opening of the facility, and enthusiastic about what it meant to the state and the industry. “We are so excited to see Katerra’s investment and innovation come to our state, which could not have happened at a better time,” Franz said. “Mass timber complements the Department of Natural Resources’ forest health work in central and eastern Washington, which will produce byproducts like small diameter trees that can be used to make CLT and create jobs in rural, timber-dependent communities.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

“We have a young generation that is demanding to be saved from climate change and a somewhat older generation who is using their technological prowess, their entrepreneurial zeal and the incredible skillset that we have in working people in Washington State to give them not only solutions to climate change, but jobs for the future,” said Inslee. Inslee was running as a presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, on a platform heavily focused on dealing with climate change. He pulled out of the race in August. Cantwell added: “Cross-laminated timber is a triple-win that can deliver lowcarbon building materials, promote forest health, and create new timber community jobs.”

customsawmilling

Breaking wood

down —without breaking the bank B.C. custom sawmiller Bob Jerke has discovered how to break down timbers into high volumes of boards without breaking the bank, thanks to a lower cost, manually-operated band sawmill. By Tony Kryzanowski

he shortest path to profitability in custom sawmilling is producing the highest value wood product with the fewest number of cuts. However, the road to profitability gets a bit murky when customers want high volumes of thin boards, since each cut costs time and money. That was the challenge that veteran B.C. sawmiller Bob Jerke wrestled with when a customer wanted a lot of 1”

lumber in specific dimensions. He was working with a carriage sawmill to process logs, where thin lumber cuts were more of a byproduct. During his research on how he could satisfy his customer’s product needs, he discovered that there are affordable, lower tech options out there to break down timbers—that he was producing on his carriage—into smaller dimensions. The solution he discovered was a lower cost, manually-operated Timberey band

During his research on how he could satisfy a customer’s needs for a lot of 1” lumber in specific dimensions, veteran B.C. sawmiller Bob Jerke discovered that there are affordable, lower tech options out there to break down timbers—that he was producing on his carriage—into smaller dimensions. 34

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

sawmill. It doesn’t operate every day, but it’s available when needed, and has turned out to be a valuable tool in Bob’s toolbox. Bob owns Bear Lumber with his wife, Carolyn. Their custom sawmilling business is located in southeastern British Columbia, south of Cranbrook, and processes primarily Douglas fir and western larch. The company has been operating for over 40 years. They produce custom sawn green,

customsawmilling rough, industrial wood products. Bob purchased his Timberey M280 band sawmill about three years ago. It runs about 10 per cent of the time versus his carriage. “My customer wanted certain sizes and certain lengths of 1” material to complement his timbers and heavier lumber products, and since he was a good customer, I picked up this bandsaw to accommodate my orders,” Bob says. “It really was customer driven.” The band sawmill is used primarily to produce 1” lumber from timbers measuring up to 12” X 12”. Bob manufactures a variety of timber dimensions up to 24’ long on his high volume, carriage sawmill. It’s the backbone of the business as about 80 per cent of his production is timbers. Log breakdown on the carriage typically generates small volumes of sideboards on second cuts. Prior to purchasing the band sawmill, Bear Lumber was only able to pull whatever random 1” volume they generated from second cuts on the carriage, and it was produced in random lengths. It was hard to predict how much 1” material Bob could produce from his carriage. So if a customer wanted a specific volume of 1” lumber at a specific length, it wasn’t always easy to fill an order. “On the second cuts on the carriage, I didn’t have a choice of whatever 1” product I was producing. It wasn’t always what I needed,” he explained. Having the Timberey band sawmill option gives him more control to produce the exact dimensions and product his customer requires. The deck that comes with the Timberey M280 band sawmill is able to process logs up to 14’ but it is possible to add 4’ bed extensions. It can process logs up to 28” in diameter. Bob has designed and installed a custom built 40’ deck for the band sawmill as an alternative to what comes standard with the unit. It provides him with greater flexibility on

Timberey offers three portable sawmill choices, with a variety of engine options and features. The M280 comes with a standard 14 horsepower gas engine, and an optional 16 or 23 horsepower gas engine. The sawmills feature laser cut steel bed frames and sawheads built using heavy-duty metal.

the maximum length of custom lumber products that he can manufacture, with the ability to produce lumber up to 36’ long. The shortest he produces is 8’. He’s also not limited to 1” products. For example, he has received orders for trailer decking, measuring 2.5” X 12” measuring 26’ long—not readily available at your local Home Depot. In this instance, they produce a 12” X 12” timber that is 26’ long on the carriage and then transport it over to the Timberey band sawmill for final breakdown into custom boards measuring 2.5” thick. They have also done special orders of

1” X 15” boards that are 32’ long. These boards were used to cover steel beams. The smallest lumber dimension that they can produce on the band sawmill is 1” X 2” measuring 8’ long, but that size is seldom required. The blade on the band sawmill has a .0035” kerf, which is much thinner than the kerf on the carriage’s circular saw blade, resulting in higher recovery. “You don’t lose any of the wood when you are making a cut,” says Bob. “That’s

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

to page 36

customsawmilling from page 35 the biggest benefit of this band sawmill.” He purchases his blades from Lillooet, B.C.-based, Western Woodlot Equipment. Bob uses a Lenox-brand classic blade with a 7/8” pitch. If the band sawmill runs for an eight hour shift, it requires four blade changes. To sharpen the blades, he uses a Dinasaw blade sharpener. Timberey band sawmills are manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company has been around for 35 years and markets a choice of band sawmill products and accessories, with dealers in Canada, the United States and around the world. The company says that its engineering team set out to fill what they perceived as a growing need for a sawmill that would be less expensive, but still be able to cut just as well or better as other band sawmills on the market. They also wanted to build the product in the U.S. They offer portable sawmills, board edgers, resaws, blades, and blade sharpeners. “We believe that you shouldn’t have to choose between an American-built or an affordable sawmill, especially when you can have both with Timberey,” the company

says about its decision to focus on manufacturing its products in the U.S. “Some sawmill companies have moved manufacturing offshore to save costs, but have sacrificed sawmill and cut quality in the process.” Timberey offers three portable sawmill choices, with a variety of engine options and features. The M280 comes with a standard 14 horsepower gas engine, and with an optional 16 or 23 horsepower gas engine. The sawmills feature laser cut steel bed frames and sawheads built using heavy-duty metal. One way that the company has made its products more affordable, as shown by their M280 model, is that the setworks and operation of the sawmill are both manual. The operator sets the location of the blade cut using the imprinted scale on the bandsaw mill and then pushs and pulls the sawing mechanism back and forth across the timber. It was this lower tech aspect to the Timberey band sawmill that suited Bob’s specific needs. About 10 years ago, Bear Lumber was doing a brisk business selling remanufactured timbers from demolished grain elevators, and dead wood killed by the mountain pine beetle for use in

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manufactured log homes in the U.S. They were often promoted as being ‘environmentally friendly’ because the company was basically converting salvage wood into a marketable wood product. However, that market nearly disappeared after the 2008 financial crisis in the U.S. Now, Bob only ships a couple of timber and lumber packages per year south. The company only sells about 15 per cent of its production into the U.S. Its biggest market is nearby Alberta, and the rest mostly in B.C. They continue to produce timbers for use as rig mats and pipe dunnage for the oil and gas industry, and they do a brisk business selling corral fencing into the U.S. The company transitioned to oversized fir and larch in excess of 18” in diameter about eight years ago from beetle-infected pine as the volume of salvage wood diminished. Although the manufactured log home market is not as brisk as it once was, they are still processing the same volume of logs as they were a decade ago, at about one truckload per day. Very little goes to waste in Bear to page 38

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customsawmilling from page 36

Bear Lumber manufactures a variety of timber dimensions up to 24’ long on a high volume, carriage sawmill. It’s the backbone of the business as about 80 per cent of their production is timbers. But log breakdown on the carriage typically generates only small volumes of sideboards on second cuts.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

Lumber’s yard as their waste material is transported to the co-gen power plant in Skookumchuck, about 50 kilometres north of Cranbrook. Bear Lumber started out as a family business involving several of Bob’s brothers before he and his wife took over the operation. He brought considerable sawmilling, logging and log trucking experience to the business. It was during his career operating a self-picker logging truck, delivering logs to smaller, custom sawmillers, that his interest in this endeavour was piqued. “I asked one of the custom sawmillers, what are you getting paid to get this done? So he told me and we decided to put one together and start doing it, too. Since then, I haven’t been able to get out of it,” he says with a laugh. He is now in his mid-70’s and spends a lot of time operating the carriage himself. The bottom line is that he likes where he lives and likes what he does—so he says that he will probably keep sawmilling ‘til he can’t any more.

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TECHUPDATE

By Tony Kryzanowski

Forestry Drone Technology applications to confirm boundary and road locations; assurance that all merchantable fibre has been extracted; soil disturbance assessments; slash pile counts; and site preparation mapping. Other applications include: mill and manufacturing applications for woodchip volumetric surveys; inventory management; inspection, and site safety planning. Another application is wildfire hotspot mapping with a thermal camera and mapping of active fire boundaries. This includes post-fire salvage mapping and reforestation surveys. www.suavair.com/forestry

L.M. Forest Resource Solutions

Pacific UAV Technology

Pacific UAV Technology says that their aim is to help integrate drone technology into forestry services. Their specially manufactured and high-powered drones are able to cut down on hard employee labour and increase efficiency and profits. The company has spent years researching and developing ways to improve safety and efficiency for the logging industry, and they are excited to be helping companies with their drones. Pacific UAV Technology says that the possibilities are endless with the number of things its drones are able to accomplish. They have been able to convert hours of layout time into just minutes, which had not been possible before. Other services they perform include repairs, parts sales, fire safety drills, construction, and power line safety. www.pacificuavtech.com

Located in Smithers B.C., L.M. Forest Resource Solutions Ltd is a well-established consulting firm specializing in natural resource management solutions. Since 2014, it has been providing innovative data capture using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for a broad range of solutions including: video up to four kilometres, geo-referenced orthomosaics, pit volumes, pile and object volumes, timber species and volumes using allometric-based algorithms developed in-house, terrain models and contours, silviculture stocking levels, tree height and crown maps, forest health analysis, stream temperature assessments, forest fuel loading, and thermal imagery including heat loss inspections and wildfire hotspot detection.

SuavAir

SuavAir started using drones in 2014 to improve safety by reducing the amount of exposure to field surveyors in steep and dangerous terrain. In addition to the safety benefits, production was double or triple that of traditional ground surveying methods. The high resolution imagery is analyzed, resulting in better forest management decisions. SuavAir has evolved significantly since then, implementing other successful forestry applications. These applications include: silviculture application to produce free-to-grow surveys; brush mapping; treatment efficacy assessments; post-wildfire reforestation surveys; post-harvest survey

L.M. Forest Resource Solutions has a variety of sensors and drones that help it tailor its services to customer needs. The company says it has been pioneering drone use for years, has the experience to help customers decide whether the use of UAVs is an appropriate approach, and knows how to process imagery to extract the most meaningful data. www.lmfms.ca

InDro Robotics

InDro Robotics is a Canadian company focused on providing innovation in aerial robotics to enable complex operations, training, data collection, and custom services in the forestry and resource sectors. Through in-house development and collaborative partnerships with academic institutions and industry leaders in a variety of fields, InDro has acquired expertise in a number of areas including photogrammetric mapping, multispectral vegetation imaging, environmental monitoring, application of image recognition analytics, detection of greenhouse gases, infrastructure inspection, as well 40

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

techupdate as many other applications of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), such as thermal monitoring of forestry sites for spark watch. Training and working closely with industry professionals and regulators, InDro promotes exceptional best practices and operating procedures that are based on a strong aviation background that have been distilled from thousands of hours of accumulated RPAS flight time. The InDro team is future-driven and excited

about the opportunities inherent in revolutionizing forestry through the utilization of RPAS, the company says. www.indrorobotics.ca

Hummingbird Drones

Drone technology and regulations are continuously evolving. Drone operators must now be certified licensed pilots and it seems each month a new drone appears in the market with

better sensors and longer range. Hummingbird has evolved with the industry, providing education as a training school and finding drone solutions for numerous applications in forestry. Infrared sensors ensure that post burn pile assessments are thorough. NDVI sensors enable the pinpointing of healthy vegetation and pockets of stressed timber. RGB cameras can help with road access inspections, inventory tracking of chip piles and log decks and burn extent mapping. All of this is possible with a drone that fits in the palm of your hand. As drone operators and educators, Hummingbird Drones stays abreast of industry developments. With five years of training, innovation and learning behind them, they are more excited than ever for the continued impact of drones on forestry, the company says. www.hummingbirddrones.ca to page 42

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

techupdate from page 41

DroneSeed

DroneSeed is a Seattle-based start-up that says it is capturing the attention of media and major companies. They were awarded the first multi-craft, over-55 lbs, unmanned aerial vehicle license ever issued by the FAA. DroneSeed has custom UAV platforms, equipped with multispectral camera arrays, high end LiDAR, and proprietary dispersal mechanisms containing seeds, fertilizers and other amendments designed to boost seed survival. In forestry, sometimes treeplanters are needed and sometimes

helicopters. DroneSeed is the sweet spot in-between. They keep the speed, boost the survival of seed, and do it affordably and at scale by loading thousands of seed vessels at a time into their FAA-heavy-lift certified drone swarms, with each aircraft planting 3/4 of an acre per flight, or 57 lbs. They can restore thousands of acres of wildfire-ravaged land starting in 30 days and eliminate delays of 18 to 36 months waiting for seedlings to grow in a nursery to replant post-fire. They have already been hired by three of the five largest timber companies in the U.S., the Nature Conservancy, as well as various other nonprofits and local and federal governments. www.droneseed.com

Candrone

Candrone describes itself as Canada’s leading LiDAR systems integrators. It provides drone and LiDAR solutions, training, certification, consulting, data collection and processing services, and turnkey packages.

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Candrone’s Green Valley LiDAR systems have up to a 1,000 metre range, with survey grade accuracy RGB camera integration for colorized 3D point-clouds. Their GVI LiDAR360 software suite provides powerful tools for generating basic topographic outputs such as Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and deriving in-depth forestry metrics including tree count, DBH, and height based on individual tree segmentation. Drone and helicopter-mounted or backpack solutions are available. www.candrone.com

Strategic Natural Resource Consultants

Strategic Natural Resource Consultants (SNRC) has operated a drone program for the last four years and it has learned a lot along the way. Having drones as a tool is exciting, but the company has

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techupdate from page 42 found that it helps to embed this technology with its certified professionals to get the most value. They are foresters, biologists, GIS analysts and incident management professionals using drones to benefit their clients. Everyone is capturing data with drones these days, SNRC says, but few are automating and extracting the best value from their data. That’s where they say that their team is focusing its drone efforts. With forestry as its core business, SNRC has found many ways to maximize the use of fixed wing and multi-rotor drones. Road as-built checks, visual impact assessments, Free To Grow surveys, salvage logging, forest health mapping, waste and residue, timber typing and many other tasks have benefited greatly from SNRC’s drones. www.StrategicUAV.ca

FYBR

FYBR is a precision forestry company providing supply chain insights from forests to the mill. Since launching in Vancouver in 2014, its mission is to put accurate and timely information into the hands of foresters and mill managers, enabling better forest management and fibre utilization decisions. FYBR deploys turnkey automated drone systems with its clients, giving them the freedom to collect data at any time. That data is uploaded to the cloud-based FYBR Engine, a forestryspecific analysis platform and intuitive map interface.

FYBR partners with leading remote sensing academic institutions to validate its analysis, from individual standing stem metrics and species classification, to log deck measurements and compaction-corrected fibre pile analysis. The company says that it is fortunate to work with passionate people all over North America including foresters, loggers, silviculturists, government, First Nations, pulp mills, sawmills, pellet plants, and bioenergy producers. Like FYBR, they believe that sustainably managed forests are our most valuable natural resource and that forest products are the way of the future. www.fybrsolutions.com

Aquiline Drones

From the Australian wildfires to the Iraqi border, commercial drones can quickly assess emergency situations. However, a drone that does not gather data or carry a payload is useless. That’s why a group of airline pilots have created Aquiline Drones (AD), what is said to be the first U.S.-based, drone-dedicated technology and manufacturing company that provides real-time data insights for analysis, reporting and monitoring. AD is a privately held, Americanbased company that is owned and managed primarily by Barry Alexander, along with other business professionals, fellow airline pilots, aerospace and software engineers, distinguished military personnel, including retired Air Force generals, algorithmic mathematicians and other technologists. AD is a progressive drone enterprise, providing advanced drone solutions in manufacturing and OEM services, as well as superior cloud services through its Aquiline Drone Cloud (ADC) division. AD says that its drones are intelligent robots, performing humanlike functions to save lives and provide services that aim to improve society in a safe, responsible and eco-friendly manner. www.aquilinedrones.com

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ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

Afforestation knowledge acquired within Legacy Network of Sites can help guide climate adaptation and mitigation actions

RCan’s Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) recently launched its Legacy Network of Sites Initiative. One segment is the Forest Practices Innovation Network which pertains primarily to legacy research conducted in the natural forest. The second segment of the Legacy Network of Sites Initiative is the extensive national network of afforestation sites established over the past 20 years. These are sites that have no recent history of forest cover that have been planted in a high yield afforestation pattern involving fast-growing hybrid poplar or aspen clones. CWFC has also developed an innovative mixed wood pattern consisting of white spruce or white pine planted in the poplar or aspen understorey, thus yielding two potential commercial crops on the same land base. Initially, funding provided by the federal Forest 2020 initiative helped to establish many of these sites. There are 40 to 50 afforestation sites ranging from 6 to 20 years old from Alberta to Nova Scotia under management

by CWFC and its various government, industry, First Nation and academic partners. The practical knowledge gained in establishing and managing these afforestation sites could prove invaluable as Canada launches various initiatives, including natural climate solutions, to help the forest industry and country adapt to a changing climate. Half of the dry weight of a tree is carbon, and as such, based on the mass of a tree, CWFC has determined the carbon content based on the physical fibre aspect of the tree and the enhanced soil carbon values, as leaves, twigs and branches fall to the ground and decompose. This, added to the tree volumes, equates to approximately 250 to 350 carbon dioxide tonnes sequestered per hectare over the lifespan of the stands of 16 to 20 years. In terms of yield, CWFC has achieved 8 to 10 times the yields garnered from a purpose-grown plantation, or 13 to 17 cubic metres of growth per hectare per year over their lifespan, versus an average natural forest. So deployment of this Canadian-made technology can deliver a proven natural climate solution over a very short time span. “If we look at the yields that we can accrue from our short rotation afforestation work, even if we are conservative and we are looking at 10 to 15 carbon dioxide tonnes sequestered per hectare per year, that’s a minimum of $300 in carbon value per hectare, based on a $30 per carbon dioxide tonne, that we are achieving on the landscape on an annual basis on the median sites for establishing plantations that we recommend,” says Derek Sidders, Project Manager, Technology Development and Transfer at CWFC. Furthermore, CWFC estimates that there are currently millions of moderate to

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

A 13-year-old hybrid poplar and white spruce mixed afforestation stand.

By Tony Kryzanowski

highly productive hectares across Canada’s agriculture belt that would be a good investment for a purpose-grown plantation to not only produce a viable natural climate solution, but also produce a new source of wood fibre for industry, and a new source of revenue for farmers and landowners. Based on its research and development conducted over the past two decades, CWFC’s national network of afforestation sites has the potential to offer guidance in the implementation of this initiative. “It is invaluable to have long term research studies that we can use as leverage and validation of sound practices that can help to inform those responsible for implementing climate adaptation and mitigation measures,” says Sidders. “We are now getting to the end of the first life span of trees planted on these afforestation sites, which has allowed us to complete the first lifecycle loop,” he adds. “This includes recovery, validation of yields and the opportunities related to carbon sequestration, biomass for energy and other alternate, green, renewable applications.” In establishing these sites in various bio-geoclimatic zones across Canada, CWFC has been able to formulate best practices data and field guides, basically developing ‘how to’ manuals and measures, that can be replicated on a commercial scale for species selection, site selection based on a site suitability classification guide developed by CWFC, planting, maintaining and harvesting these sites. For more information about the afforestation segment of the Legacy Network of Sites Initiative, contact Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@canada.ca

Alberta researchers achieve breakthrough with CNC-based nanogel for treatment of oral cancer By Tony Kryzanowski

challenge with treating oral cancer is delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to the site of the tumour in the mouth without the drugs being washed away too quickly by saliva. Alberta Innovates (AI) has invested in a novel use for cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) that addresses this issue. AI awarded funding to University of Alberta researchers to develop a groundbreaking CNC-based “nanogel” that can be infused with treatment drugs and then placed in the mouth at the site of the cancer tumour for hours, if needed, without washing away. This medical application for CNC has the potential to vastly improve the delivery of these critical drugs where they are needed, and over the time span required for successful treatment. Also, because the chemotherapy drug is delivered locally, it helps oral cancer patients avoid significant side effects that occur when chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream. No other CNC-based nanogel delivery system currently exists for this treatment. Moreover, this nanogel has many other potential medical applications. It offers a more effective alternative delivery system for all sorts of drugs that are often destroyed by the liver when administered orally. Other potential uses for this nanogel include tissue regeneration, gene delivery and possibly vaccine delivery. The U of A research team received a total of $274,000 from the Alberta Bio Future – Biomaterials Pursuit program administered by Alberta Innovates. This discovery is important from an Alberta forest industry perspective because wood is a natural source for CNC—a novel, advanced biomaterial derived from cellulose. In U of A lab testing, chemotherapy drugs were applied with a non-CNC gel on mucosal tissue having similar characteristics as the environment inside the human mouth. These typically washed away in about 30 minutes. However,

the drugs stayed in place for more than six hours when applied using the CNCinfused nanogel as the delivery system. “Our research results are very promising,” says Dr. Afsaneh Lavasanifar, the primary investigator on this project. Researchers have filed a provisional patent for the CNC-based nanogel delivery system and for a tool that monitors how well the nanogel is keeping the chemotherapy drugs in place over time. Dr. Lavasanifar is a professor in the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department at the U of A. She has a specific interest in pharmaceutical chemistry and drug delivery systems, aiming to make them less toxic and more effective. The financial investment and technical support provided by Alberta Innovates was critical to the launch and advancement of this research project, she says. Assisting her were polymer chemist Dr. Mohammad Reza Vakili, Dr. Behzad Ahvazi from InnoTech Alberta, and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Waleed Mohammed-Saeid. InnoTech Alberta, a subsidiary of Alberta Innovates, provided the CNC used in the development of the CNCbased nanogel and technical advice on its attributes to the U of A researchers. InnoTech Alberta operates a CNC pilot plant in Edmonton capable of producing CNC from wood fibre in volumes of kilograms per day. InnoTech Alberta and Alberta Innovates held several workshops with researchers to discuss and promote

the attributes of CNC, which got them thinking about its use in this specific application, says Dr. Lavasanifar. What is attractive about using CNC is that it is a natural source of nano-scale material, meaning that it has the potential for less toxicity. The nano-structure of CNC offers a large surface area for drug incorporation and contact with biological barriers, making drug delivery more efficient. CNC is also robust and sturdy because it is a crystalline structure, which also gives it excellent retention properties against washout by biological fluids like saliva. The goal now is to advance the research related to the use of this CNCbased nanogel. The next step is to investigate in more detail the level of toxicity for use in humans. CNC is listed as an industrial material on Health Canada’s Domestic Substances List. But it is considered a new material and not yet accepted for medical and food-related uses by Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States—although other studies to date are promising and so far have shown that CNC is safe for human use. They hope to have toxicity testing underway in two to three years, hopefully leading to human trials after that. For more information about the Alberta Bio Future – Biomaterials Pursuit program, contact Julia.Necheff at julia. necheff@albertainnovates.ca.

The picture shows retention of the CNC based gel (bottom sample) compared to control gel without CNC, on buccal tissue from a pig over time following wash by saliva simulating media. A new instrument was designed as part of this project to measure the mucoretention. Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

SUPPLIERNEWSLINE Waratah showcases new FL100 felling head at Truck Loggers show

Woodland Equipment founding partner Wayne Gilroy passes Wayne Gilroy, a founding partner at B.C. heavy equipment dealer Woodland Equipment, passed away on December 21, 2019. Born in Red Deer, Alberta on May 31, 1943, he spent many of his early years hop-scotching all over B.C. His early adult years were spent mainly in Chilliwack, Merritt and Vancouver, where he eventually met his wife, Carol. Wayne’s early years were spent working as a heavy-duty mechanic. He later moved into equipment sales at Interior Diesel, Ritchie Brothers, and finally taking a leap to become a founding partner at Woodland Equipment. Wayne was a very hard worker and truly valued the relationships he had with his customers and the companies he represented.

Waratah Forestry Equipment has released a new, large felling head model, the FL100, which was showcased at the annual Truck Loggers Association (TLA) Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver in January. The large directional felling head, designed for 30+ metric ton carriers, improves productivity, increases durability and extends uptime for steep slope, shoveling and traditional felling applications, says the company. “The high-capacity Waratah FL100 gives our customers the benefit of added productivity in a very capable head,” said Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. He added that they wanted to showcase its many features at the Truck Loggers show especially, since this versatile felling head will be extremely beneficial for loggers within the western Canada region. New features on the FL100 that contribute toward maximum productivity include continuous rotation and dual rotate motors that enable high rotation power requirements. As a large class of directional felling head with a 1m (39.3”) cut capacity, the FL100 also features extra-long, continuously curved opposing arms for enhanced grapple capacity and picking capability and a 1470mm (57.8”) opening and 0.78 m2 (8.4 ft.2) payload capacity. “It has high-capacity grapple arms engineered for improving operational picking and holding force of logs—providing exceptional operational capabilities in

Pro Action Upgrade Kit from Murray Latta Progressive Machine

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

By Tony Kryzanowski traditional felling and steep slope shoveling applications,” Fisher said. The FL100’s forward placed saw unit allows for easier cutting of larger timber. For power in small or large capacity loads, the FL100 has one cylinder per arm plus a synchronizing link for maximum grapple holding force and control. In addition to maximized productivity, the FL100 has a robust and sturdy design for increased durability. Its one-piece, welded, high-strength steel frame is coupled with large pin diameters and a grapple geometry with an arm profile designed to handle various sizes of timber. As an added bonus, the FL100’s grapple force remains high even with its arms at capacity. For simplified integration, the FL100 has a valve in-head design. Its fixed saw box design also contributes toward increased durability in a variety of applications. The FL100 utilizes proven Waratah saw system components, some rotate components and electrical and oiler systems, while providing extended uptime with a variety of new features. For improved serviceability, the chain oil capacity is 35L, and a large chain oil reservoir minimizes frequent top ups. The new machine can also adapt to any carrier and provides efficient pump control, hydraulic system protection and required safety/service lock-outs for added uptime and efficient serviceability. “We are always looking for opportunities that improve our customers’ productivity,” Fisher said. “The FL100 does exactly that. We’re excited for our customers to enjoy the benefits of this new machine.” www.Waratah.com

suppliernewsline Deere launches powerful FS50 and FR50 felling heads

John Deere has added the FS50 and FR50 felling heads to its felling head line-up. The FS50 and FR50 felling heads build upon the successful qualities of previous models for increased productivity, range and visibility. The new felling heads are compatible with the 800M- and 900MSeries tracked feller bunchers and feature 30 degree and 310 degree wrist configurations respectively. The FS50 and FR50 also feature superior alignment of bunched timber for optimal logging and harvesting. The new felling heads provide a taller horn that works together with the pocket and arms to collect larger, tighter bunches. The horn delivers excellent handling of tall trees, which improves skidder productivity during tree removal, the company says. Both models also include arm cylinders mounted high for wear protection of the saw housing, and can easily hold up to 15, 6” trees. The FR50 configuration maximizes versatility when positioning bunches in both plantation and thinning conditions

due to the increased rotation. Additionally, the FS50 and FR50 models provide excellent visibility to the cutting area and superior wear protection of saw housing. A full coverage option is available for both models, and for the FR50 model, sealed bushings in all clamp arm pivot joints are available. www.johndeere.com

Tigercat gains foothold in biochar production with ROI purchase

Logging equipment manufacturer Tigercat has completed the purchase of Ragnar Original Innovations (ROI) located in New Hampshire. The company,

founded by Anders Ragnarsson, currently manufactures material processing machinery used in the construction, forestry and recycling industries. ROI brings decades of experience and expertise in the design and manufacture of material processing machinery, broadening Tigercat’s range of capabilities within the marketplace. The initial and immediate addition to the Tigercat line-up will be the Carbonizer product line. Already a commercially available product, this innovative carbon negative technology can convert processed and unprocessed wood debris into a product called biochar. Still relatively new to the marketplace, this technology has attracted widespread interest from both the private and public sectors seeking practical methods to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions. The Carbonizer’s single step process sequesters carbon and significantly reduces debris volume while creating a product useful in agriculture. www.tigercat.com

to page 50

APRIL 1-3, 2020 • PRINCE GEORGE CIVIC CENTRE

suppliernewsline from page 49

New 50cc Husqvarna chainsaws set a new standard

Husqvarna has unveiled the company’s next generation of 50cc chainsaws for professional loggers, the Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II and the 545 Mark II. The chainsaws were redesigned from scratch, resulting in a new level of cutting capacity, maneuverability and endurance, optimizing them for forestry harvesting and urban forestry applications, including felling, limbing, removals or cross cutting of small and mid-sized trees. The cooling capacity of the Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II and Husqvarna 545 Mark II has been improved by 13 per cent, compared to the previous generation of 50cc chainsaws from Husqvarna. For further endurance, the 50cc chainsaws have a new air filter design. The new design comes from the combination of a redesigned air filter with higher capacity

and improved sealing and an upgrade of the Air Injection. This in turn means the saws are equipped with a new optimized version of AutoTune, Husqvarna’s ignition module software and carburetor calibration. www.husqvarna.com

range of products and unmatched service and parts. Working with Palfinger will enable us to accomplish this goal.” The company has five branch locations in Nanaimo and Surrey, B.C., Leduc, Alberta, Regina, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba www.falconequip.com

Falcon Equipment and Palfinger team up in Western Canada

Falcon Equipment Ltd has announced its exclusive partnership with Palfinger AG. Falcon will provide sales, rentals, service and parts support for all Palfinger products throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It will sell and support the Palfinger product line which includes: knuckleboom cranes, material handling cranes, forestry cranes, aerial lift trucks, hooklifts, rail cranes, and truck-mounted forklifts. “We’ve been in business since 1988, and over 31 years later we are still looking for ways to grow our business and provide better products and support to our everchanging markets,” says Dan Kielan, President of Falcon Equipment. “To do this, we need to offer our customers the best

EACOM and USW reach six-year agreement at Timmins sawmill

The United Steelworkers union and EACOM Timber Corporation have ratified a new six-year collective agreement for EACOM’s Timmins, Ontario sawmill. “The speed at which we reached this agreement is a testament to the level of collaboration and trust between both parties and our willingness to arrive at a mutually beneficial solution,” says Wade Zammit, Chief Operating Officer at EACOM. “Our people are at the centre of our operations and the focus we place on taking care of them is what makes the sawmill such an attractive place to work.” “Members of the United Steelworkers Local 1-2010 are satisfied with the agreement that was presented to them, as it

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

suppliernewsline was ratified,” says Jacques Jean, President of the United Steelworkers Local 1-2010. “As always, the union is looking for an agreement that is fair and beneficial for both parties and we believe that this was achieved during this round of negotiations. “Now it’s time to continue building on and improving the already good relations, communication, trust, and collaboration between the parties,” added Jean. EACOM employs 160 people at its Timmins mill and regional administrative centre, 110 of whom are members of the United Steelworkers. www.eacom.com

Jonathan Comber joins Carbotech team

With an undergraduate degree in engineering, Comber also has pertinent management experience in manufacturing production and various projects within the forestry industry. He has also supervised infrastructure development and production expansion for a sawmill operation in the northeastern United States over the past few years. His leadership, critical analysis and results orientation, including expertise in sawmill equipment, convinced the company that Jon is the right person to support Carbotech and their clients in numerous projects, said LaFond. www.carbotech.ca

“We have a really good team of people out there looking after our dealers and our customers,” he added, noting an additional focus for the company going forward is to also develop new business. Customers and dealers will be getting some further support from the Quadco Group with the opening of a 20,000 square foot warehouse/service facility at the Port of Kalama, Washington in April. “This facility marks the first time we will have all three product brands—Quadco, Southstar and Log Max—under one roof, outside of the management office in Montreal,” noted Webb. In addition to such facilities, it’s also Quadco’s people that deliver solid service every day to customers that distinguish the company. “The key to our success is our employees, and the great products we sell and service,” he says. “I’m very proud of our team—let there be no doubt about it: we are dedicated forest industry people.” And they are looking to grow their

workforce team for the future. “We’re always looking for good service techs and service engineers.” Webb noted that those who work for the company can look forward to solid, and lengthy, careers. Among its 165 employees, the average time an employee has been with the company is 15 years, with some having been with the company for 25 years. There is a wealth of experience among such long time employees, and new employees, with innovative ideas and tech savvy, are building on that very solid foundation. From the Truck Loggers show, Webb was soon off to another industry show, intent on staying in close touch with the company’s customers. He noted the Quadco Group is in attendance at more than 25 industry shows a year, plus many more association meetings. “We’re very interested in meeting with our dealers and our customers, and learning from them on an ongoing basis,” he says.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

Pierre Lafond, head of Carbotech project management, has announced the appointment of Jon Comber to the position of Project Manager at the company. This announcement supports the growth management plan that was put in place slightly more than a year ago, says Lafond. Comber will have the main task of taking charge of client projects, from equipment design to installation to implementation on production lines. He will oversee various markets including Canada, the United States and abroad.

Quadco CEO Dan Webb focusing on customers and service; new service facility to open soon After several decades working south of the line, the appointment of Dan Webb as President and CEO of Quadco Inc. in 2019 marked a return to Canadian roots for this native of Swan River, Manitoba. Though he is now based at the company’s head office in Montreal, Webb still has a busy North American travel schedule, visiting dealers and customers for the company’s products, which range from Southstar and Log Max harvesting heads through to Quadco saw teeth and attachments. Webb has had a 28-year career at Quadco, starting as Southeast U.S. Sales Rep in 1992, and moving up to Southeast Sales and Lexington, South Carolina branch manager, then vice-president of U.S. operations, and vice-president of North American Sales and U.S. operations. Webb was appointed the company’s President and CEO in August 2019. “It’s been a challenge taking over as President and CEO, but a good challenge,” he said. Webb was interviewed at the recent Truck Loggers Association (TLA) trade show held in Vancouver in January, and talked about his focus for the Quadco Group. “We want to keep moving forward and being innovative, and determining how we can best help our customers harvest trees in the next five to 10 years and beyond, with a focus on improving customer service,” Webb said. He noted that the company has some very loyal customers for its products, but it is important to keep those customers satisfied, and not take their business for granted.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

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B.C. Interior forest industry is tackling adversity—and planning for the future By Jim Stirling

ortunately, there are two sides to every coin. If the British Columbia Interior’s forest industry issued a coin, its tail side would reflect the gloomy present. It’s one characterized by permanent sawmill closures and production curtailments that have dumped several forest industrydependent Interior communities and their residents into financial crisis. The combination of circumstances that trigger the contraction have not changed. It means more misery is on the way, according to observers like FEA Canada, a consulting firm targeting the international solid wood products manufacturing industry. FEA predicts the equivalent of a dozen further sawmill closures in the region during the next decade. The changes in wood fibre supply and increased costs could also translate into operational changes among plywood plants, wood pellet manufacturing facilities, co-gen plants and even pulp mills, says FEA Canada. The company’s computer modelling indicates that as a result, the B.C. Interior forest industry might become a smaller regional force in future global forest product markets. That’s one version of what could happen if nothing changes, and the fate is accepted. But the people in the B.C. Interior forest industry have for more than 100 years faced adversity by demonstrating a combination of resiliency, fortitude and innovation. It’s the results of those qualities that dominate the heads side of the B.C. Interior’s forest industry coin. The industry’s future is not all about change. The region will continue manufacturing dimension commodity lumber. Not in the same quantities as in the past, but with the same quality for which the region’s people and plants have established the world’s standards. The menu of other wood products manufactured in the region, however, is likely to become more diverse and less conventional. A glimpse of what that future might look like is already on display in Quesnel. The city in the Central Interior of the province officially opened its Forest

Innovation Centre in 2019. It houses displays and information about local wood’s plethora of potential, and provides flexible working spaces and meeting rooms. Quesnel has emerged as something of a poster child for embracing a positive and collaborative attitude toward its changed forest landscape. Decades of focused industrial activity more recently imprinted with the effects of warming climate-inspired insect infestations and wildfires of mega proportions have left a cascade of consequences. Add in trade wars and escalating operating costs and that is why the regional industry is reeling. Led by Mayor Bob Simpson and city council, Quesnel has for a couple of years been actively involved in seeking ways to redefine its regional forest industry. The creation of the Forest Innovation Centre is just one initiative Quesnel has taken as it looks toward its future. The centre is the visual part of a broader Forestry Initiative Program created to address the industry’s challenges, and tailor them toward a sustainable forestry future for Quesnel. The wildfire seasons of 2017 and 2018 dramatically reinforced the notion that becoming more fire smart is everyone’s business. Quesnel urges its businesses and homeowners to identify potential wild fire hazards and take proactive steps to mitigate their effects. Quesnel has also developed a community wildfire protection plan. It includes a large-scale fuel management program in co-operation with its partners. The plan starts with areas within two kilometres of the urban interface and works outwards.. Partnerships are also key to Quesnel’s approach to landscape level analysis and restoration. The city explains: “We are proposing a learning laboratory on the land west of the Fraser River to test alternate forms of ecosystem management. The proposed project consists of research, management and planning to better understand the role of fire and forest health on ecosystem function.” A whole suite of techniques are involved, including the use of prescribed fires, forest management like thinning and

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - February 2020

spacing and utilizing more fibre including the volumes left after the conventional harvesting of insect and fire damaged timber. Quesnel is fortunate that it has a core of wood manufacturing facilities, which can springboard product diversification. The city is working with partners like FPInnovations to identify some of the new product possibilities. They include prefabricated construction materials; wood composites; bio-fuels; bio-oils; wood pellets and biodegradable single use products. Others are not exactly household names. Yet. Take nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), for example. The product is extracted from woody biomass in solid, liquid or gel forms. Its features include high strength, electromagnetic response and the adaptive ability to add stiffness and gloss to host materials like paper. Depending on the results of pilot production experience, NCC proponents envisage other applications ranging from the aerospace and automotive industries to health products and food sectors, according to Natural Resources Canada. Lignin is viewed as a renewable, green alternative to fossil fuel-based compounds used in adhesives, thermoplastics and a range of other potential applications. West Fraser Timber has been extracting its trademarked Amallin Lignin during its pulp manufacturing operations. ”Growth is core to our business and the world’s appetite for wood products continues to increase. We are always looking for opportunities where we can step forward and expand into new markets,” summarized Chris McIver, vice-president, sales and marketing with West Fraser, which has its headquarters and corporate roots in Quesnel. Potential new wood products sound exotic and far removed from the world of 2x4s. But whatever the end product, the wood growing in the forest must still be harvested, transported and processed— and that means sustainable jobs in communities like Quesnel.

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