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December/January 2018
CLIMBMAX A GREAT FIT for steep slopes, Island style
VAN OMMEN CONTRACTING TACKLES STEEP SLOPES in B.C. Interior WITH THIS ISSUE… The Edge!
CO-OPERATIVE CONTRACTING in Quebec RED STAG: Kiwi super sawmill is super fast and super accurate
FEATURES December/January 2018 Volume 48 • No. 8 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski
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On the Cover:
For Vancouver Island logger Jesse Drover of JBM Falling Ltd, getting involved in steep slope logging was a natural progression. Drover operated a feller buncher for 13 years, so he was very familiar with mechanical harvesting before starting work with the ClimbMax steep slope harvester—and the tethered harvesting system is working out well for him, doing steep slope logging on the Island. (Cover photo by Paul MacDonald).
4
Spotlight Keep on truckin’…
The BC Forest Safety Council—and forest industry—are taking a leadership role in a training program for new logging truck drivers in the province, spurred on by the large number of experienced logging truck drivers retiring.
8 Taking over—and
tackling steep slopes
The next generation is gradually taking over at B.C.’s Van Ommen Contracting, and they’re finding steep slopes ahead of them—but there’s good equipment out there to tackle those steep slopes.
14 A great fit for steep
slopes, Island style
The New Zealand-developed and built ClimbMax tethered harvesting system is making its mark on Vancouver Island— and logger Jesse Drover says the steep ground they have to work in is ideal for the ClimbMax.
22 Co-operative
contracting in Quebec
Quebec’s Eclaircie Gaspesie contract logging operation has found its own path to success: a combination of equipment operators David Lévesque and Sebastian LeBlanc, along with forestry co-operative Groupement forestier cooperative Baie des Chaleurs—supported by solid Ponsse equipment.
28 SATCO head gets
thumbs-up in Alberta
Alberta logging operation R. Bruce Erickson Construction says their new SATCO processing head is performing well, with the company’s Cody Erickson giving the head the thumbs-up both in its production capabilities and precision.
34 Kiwi super sawmill
The recent start-up of a new line at the Red Stag sawmill in New Zealand has created a lot of excitement, as the mill could now be the largest in the southern hemisphere—and there’s certainly no doubt that it is super fast and super accurate.
40 The next big
thing in plywood
Already known for embracing technology and innovation, Oregon’s Freres Lumber is now taking its operations a step further, building a specialized manufacturing facility to produce the company’s newest innovation, Mass Plywood Panels.
46 The Edge
Included in this edition of The Edge, Canada’s leading publication on research in the forest industry, are stories from the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Alberta Innovates, Alberta Agriculture and FPInnovations.
62 The Last Word
It’s time for a mountain pine beetle battle plan—involving the Feds—in Jasper National Park, says Tony Kryzanowski.
DEPARTMENTS
Calendar............................................ 7 Tech Update: Logging Truck Trailers... 52 Suppliernewsline............................. 56 Classifieds....................................... 61 Ad Index / Subscriptions.................. 61
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
3
spotlight
Keep on truckin‘ —SAFELY
The BC Forest Safety Council—and industry—are taking a leadership role in a training program for new logging truck drivers in the province, spurred on by the large number of experienced logging truck drivers retiring.
By Jim Stirling
F
orestry safety and injury prevention programs are frequently most effective when the industry itself takes a leadership role. A training and assessment program for new logging truck drivers in central British Columbia is a good example of the industry championing a practical solution to an expanding problem. Major licencee Canfor has taken the initiative and is committed to working with logging contractors and other partners on an operational and shared cost model to encourage more new logging truck drivers to enter into the system, outlined Dustin Meierhofer, director of transportation and northern safety with the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC). The council is involved in the program primarily through its Trucking Advisory Group, which includes most major licencees in B.C. Canfor’s offer of financial assistance can be a persuasive benefit for cashstrapped logging truck driver aspirants to gain a foothold in the profession. The initiative is certainly timely. The large numbers of experienced logging truck drivers recently retired or on the cusp of retiring is contributing to a significant shortage of to page 6
spotlight from page 4 trucks and qualified drivers in many parts of the province. “It’s still early days but it’s been a pretty successful venture so far,” added Meierhofer. “The objective now is to roll it out further and hopefully get more licencees involved.” Helping broker solutions to safetyrelated issues for the logging truck sector is just one example of the BCFSC’s work spreading across several different fronts. For example, a spate of logging truck rollovers—including some high profile incidents on public roads—helped instigate the development in 2013 of the BCFSC’s Truck Advisory Group (TAG). An awareness program was developed that examined the anatomy of a rollover, recalled Meierhofer. “It examined rollovers and some of the related challenges.” Key among them are truck speed, road conditions and overweight issues. Meierhofer reckons about 3,000 log haulers in B.C. have participated in these awareness seminars and continue to do so. “The reaction from the drivers has generally been very positive,” he reports.
Creating higher levels of awareness has helped speed become a specific issue for discussion across the province and it’s fostered a fuller understanding that the weight loaded on a logging truck is critical to its handling—and the vehicle’s dynamics and performance. The safety council’s broad based awareness approach to reducing logging truck rollovers in B.C. seems to be working. In 2013, there were 51 such incidents in B.C. By 2016, the number was down to around 15. “Industry-wide, the numbers have come down substantially— but the issue remains a concern.” The safety council’s TAG launched a monitoring program of logging truck weights being hauled in B.C. Contractors were more closely tracked to ensure the loads being delivered to millyards were in compliance with the sawmills’ tolerances. “Overall, we’ve had good success with that,” noted Meierhofer. Driver fatigue is another factor involved in efforts to reduce the numbers and severity of incidents involving logging trucks. The hours a logging truck driver can legally be on the job are regulated by the provincial Commercial Vehicle Safety and
Plans change.
Make effective communication part of your operation.
Enforcement restrictions. “We need to identify the challenges related to the hours worked—especially when night shifts are involved—and how the industry can help alleviate them,” he continued. The BCFSC initiated a series of fatigue awareness seminars around B.C. which Meierhofer estimates have been attended by around 1,000 people. “The seminars help raise awareness of how to manage fatigue in the workplace, and how fatigue
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6
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
spotlight
applies to operational performance and safety.” The physical nature of logging truck equipment that drivers operate continues its evolution, potentially contributing to more safety issues. The introduction of nine-axle logging trucks to B.C. highways is currently being examined. A pilot project involving hauling with four nine-axle trucks was recently completed in the Vanderhoof region of central B.C. The forest industry and FPInnovations are monitor-
ing and evaluating the results of the trial. There is considerable appeal and benefits to the industry from the wider permitting of nine-axle logging trucks in the province. The extra axles increase the truck’s gross vehicle weight by around 16 per cent and up to 71 tonnes on a vehicle about eight feet longer than a conventional logging truck. The effects of that for industry include a reduction in transportation costs and possibly fewer logging trucks consuming less fuel travelling specific highways. The industry also makes the case that nine-axle logging trucks have improved braking abilities and cause less damage to road surfaces through more even weight distribution. Meierhofer said the BCFSC has been keeping a watchful eye on the trucks’ development. “There have been no major safety issues identified, but this is still in its early stages. Our role is to work with industry to find solutions to any problems that do arise.” He noted the site specific use of nine-axle logging trucks is not a new concept, except in B.C. “This technology has been introduced in other parts of Canada and used internationally.”
CALENDAR January 17-19
75th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention, Victoria, BC 604-684-4291, www.tla.ca January 15-19
Assoc. of Equip. Distributors (AED) Summit & Condex, Las Vegas, NV 800-388-0650, www.aednet.org January 16-18
15th Annual BC Natural Resource Forum, Prince George, BC 250-640-7469 bcnaturalresourcesforum.com January 24-25
Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia 84th AGM, Halifax, NS 902-895-1179, www.fpans.ca February 5-7
Western Forestry Contactors' Assoc. Conf. & Trade Show, Kelowna, BC 604-736-8660, https://wfca.ca February 5-8
Paper Week Canada 2018, Montreal, QC
514-392-6969, www.paperweekcanada.ca
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
7
BClogging
Taking over—and tackling steep slopes The next generation is gradually taking over at B.C.’s Van Ommen Contracting, and they’re finding steep slopes ahead of them—but there’s good equipment out there to tackle those steep slopes.
By Paul MacDonald
T
Van Ommen Contracting has a Cat 552 with Cat’s Satco boom and felling head to do harvesting on steep slopes. To help best utilize the 552, the Van Ommen operation purchased a Remote Operated Bulldozer (ROB) winch assist system.
8
he next generation of the family is gradually taking the reins at logging operation Van Ommen Contracting— and they are taking on some pretty steep ground these days in B.C.’s Eagle River region, in the province’s Southern Interior. Kelly Van Ommen, who’s 27, is taking over operation of the logging contracting operation from his father, John Van Ommen. He’s helped by his brother, Tyson, 31, who works as a feller buncher operator, and tree faller, when required—and the two of them do just about everything else on the logging side. This marks the third generation of the Van Ommen family to work in B.C.’s forest industry. When he was younger, John worked for his father’s sawmilling operation in Salmon Arm, B.C., before striking
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
BClogging
Kelly Van Ommen (right, in the photo) is taking over operation of the logging contracting operation from his father, John Van Ommen (left, in photo).
out on his own in logging. John says he was kind of surprised that Kelly, a gifted musician, has become involved in the logging business. “I really never saw that coming,” he says. “One day, I was sitting at the kitchen table, talking with my wife, Carol, about how I wished I could find a loader operator for some right-of-way work,” John recalls. “And Kelly asked how much it paid—and he started working for us shortly after that—and has stayed.” John himself started out in the woods when he was a teenager, doing bucking. “Back then, I dreamed about having my own chainsaw. When I got that, I thought it would be nice to have a pick-up, and then a skidder. It kind of grew from there.” It was close to a decade of working for others before John bought his first machine. But he gained valuable experience running loaders and skidders on the
logging side, and construction equipment on the roadbuilding side. Van Ommen Contracting today has both a logging side, and roadbuilding side, working in the Monashee Mountains, around the small community of Malakwa, about 50 kilometres west of Revelstoke. In the mid-1990s, he bought his first Cat machine, a used Cat 225 excavator. Further Cat equipment was to come. “One winter, we had a whole bunch of wood that had been felled ahead of us in high elevation spruce country—and it had snowed and snowed—and then it snowed some more. You could hardly see the tree branches sticking out of the snow. “And Finning had this new Cat 527 machine, with a swing grapple. I thought we should try that, and we brought one up, and it worked so well, we kept it. And a year later, we bought another one.” These days, the operation is mediumsized, with about half-a-dozen employees in logging, and three in roadbuilding. Keeping it modest in size is a goal. “At one point,” says John, “I had 25 guys working for me, but it was too much. It was a lot of extra work, long hours— and little pay.” The connection to Cat equipment, and Cat dealer Finning, continues to this day for Van Ommen Contracting, though the operation now has a fair bit of Tigercat equipment, as well. In fact, the operation bought the fourth tracked buncher that Tigercat ever built. “There are some great machines out there,” says John. “Everyone makes good equipment, but it all eventually needs
fixing, and needs parts. So it’s really all in the service, who can fix your equipment and get it running again.” In addition to using the services of the dealers—Finning, and Inland, which handles Tigercat, both have branches in Vernon—Van Ommen Contracting also has its own mechanic, who works for them on a seasonal basis. They run things pretty lean, explains John, so they need their equipment up and operating. “We do hot logging, with the skidder skidding directly to the processor. We don’t have much of a wood supply buffer. Basically, if the skidder is down, we’re out of wood within a day.” That situation is usually due to the steep ground that they operate in—the landings are small. “We don’t have a lot of room to build landings,” says John. “Sometimes we might be ahead, in the bunching, but that is rare.” If they were working elsewhere in B.C., in flatter ground, they could stockpile wood, and the various operations could be more phased, and independent— rather than being interdependent. “Our equipment really has to work together— and we work hard at doing that.” Working in this part of B.C.’s Southern Interior for Louisiana-Pacific, which has mill operations further east, in Golden, Van Ommen Contracting has always had to contend with steep ground. It’s just a fact of logging life in this part of the province. But they are now working in even steeper ground, says John. “So, we’re doing it differently now,” he explains. “We used to do hand falling, then hoe chuck the wood and trail everything. Now, with tilting bunchers, and hoe chuckers, we can take on bigger and steeper areas, and move the wood down to one spot, rather than having to trail everything. That’s how we got into tethered equipment.” First came a Cat 552 with Cat’s Satco boom and felling head. “We knew as soon as we demo’ed the Cat machine with Satco boom and directional felling head that we could use that machine in our country, that it would be a big help.” The Cat 552 Series 2 is a full tail swing machine designed for high production clear cut and for clear or select cut in rough terrain. It is also a leveling machine for more comfort on steep terrain. On the 552, a Cat C9 ACERT engine delivers 303 hp of power. The C9 has a proven track record of reliability and
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
to page 10 9
BClogging from page 9 durability in the woods. A high capacity cooling system and on-demand reversing fan help to optimize performance, durability and fuel efficiency. The 552 features the Cat PRO (Parallel Reach Operation) System, which gives operators the ability to complete a smoother, more fluid harvesting motion. One joystick either extends or retracts the work tool by combining both the main and stick boom functions. For feller buncher configurations, the head is kept level as well. By combining these functions in one joystick, the operator can efficiently move the head in a planar, parallel motion relative to the ground. The machines also have enhanced power management software tailored for the unique engine-hydraulic interactions in a forestry application. To help best utilize the 552, the Van Ommen operation purchased a ROB tethered steep slope logging system. Both John and Kelly attended the Steep Slope Logging Conference, organized by Logging and Sawmilling Journal, in 2016. “We saw the ROB set up, and we figured
10
“We have one of the largest log spec sheets going, producing logs for the different companies in the region, and their different operations.” we could use one of those, too.” For those not familiar with it, the ROB system is the Remote Operated Bulldozer (ROB) winch assist system developed by New Zealand-based logging contractors Rosewarne and May. Vancouver Island logger Lyle Newton of Island Pacific Equipment Ltd., purchased a ROB system several years back, and liked it so much he agreed to become the North American distributor for the system. With the system, the ROB is mounted on a dozer, equipped with hydrostatic drive, which assists with feeding of cable through the twin-winch systems. The cable is fed through fairleads that, in Van Ommen Contracting’s case, lead down to the Cat 552.
At this point, they are using the ROB system in niche ground conditions—they need to find the right area, but when they do, it works well. “There are certain areas in the block that it can be used—we’re learning that, and Louisiana-Pacific, who we work for, is learning that, too.” L-P has been working with them, reviewing maps to determine where the ROB system can best be used. John emphasized that the locations they work in have to be feasible, equipmentwise—and just as importantly, cost-wise. “This equipment is costly, and we need so many dollars per cubic metre, or we can’t do it.” The use of such expensive systems and equipment reinforces the need for licencees and contractors to work together, he added. “That is key, deciding where a system or equipment can best be used for the benefit of the contractor and the licencee.” John added that L-P faces some challenges in that they have a small cut, about 150,000 cubic metres, in the Okanagan Timber Supply Area. “It can be difficult to find areas where the tethered machine works efficiently.” Tolko and Interfor, which also operate
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
BClogging in the Southern Interior, have larger tracts of land, and larger cuts, to work with. Added to that, this area is traditionally steep slope, as mentioned earlier. “It’s always been tough ground, the rocks are bigger, the ground is steeper, and the trees have more rot. Our costs are higher, and the production is lower. Almost anywhere near here, it’s better. We see all logging conditions—but that’s all right, that’s what we have to work with.” John says that they’ve been using the ROB more steadily in the last six months. If they can’t find the right ground to use it in for L-P, there are other companies, such as Tolko, that are interested in hiring it out. They’ve done some work for Tolko in steep ground around Lumby, on the edge of the Monashee Mountains. The timber could not be yarded there; it had to be logged using a steep slope system—or by helicopter. “That worked out well,” says John. “It was a good learning experience.” That particular block saw Van Ommen Contracting set up the ROB tether system roadside, and Tolko arranged for its own crew. “Tolko helped us out there. We couldn’t take our crew from Malakwa and move them for the smaller jobs for Tolko. The tethered equipment wasn’t committed to anything else at the time, so it worked out. And Tolko has talked about having us back to do some more.” John reports that Lyall Newton and the ROB people have been very helpful in getting them up to speed. “They sent their best operator to us for a few days when we to page 12
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
11
BClogging from page 11 first started working with the system. We had some small issues with the hydraulic pump heating up, but they looked after it all. They’ve been really good to deal with.” Their Cat 552 has been good, too, reports John. The demo machine they bought did not have a live heel, so it took some time to get that engineered and built. But they’ve had good support from Cat and Finning, along the way. “They wanted to get it right with the heel,” says John. “They had done the heel before, but the issue was that there was only one cylinder running the heel, and there was not enough power. With this heel, they put on two cylinders and put
them on top of the sticks. So it’s now got a lot of lifting power—and you need that when you’re hoe chucking.” John noted that they did their homework before they invested in the new ROB equipment and system, and there were quite a few considerations. “There are so many different options and systems, and you can debate it back and forth. But we had to make a choice, and we thought a two-line tethered system would be better, so we went with the ROB.” At some point, he added, you make the best decision you can, and then work from there to incorporate the equipment into the logging operation. They have a fairly large road system— about 1,200 kilometres, including spur
Working in this part of B.C.’s Southern Interior for Louisiana-Pacific, which has mill operations further east, in Golden, Van Ommen Contracting has always had to contend with steep ground. It’s just a fact of logging life in this part of the province. But they are now working in even steeper ground, says John Van Ommen. 12
road—to work with, with the L-P land, and it can involve some moving around. Half of the land is around Malakwa, and about half is north of Revelstoke, to the east. “Normally we stay in the part around Malakwa, but sometimes we work the Revelstoke ground, too, and that is a big move when we go there.” Working under L-P’s direction, Van Ommen Contracting is essentially doing market logging, harvesting wood for a number of other mills and operations in the region. “We have one of the largest log spec sheets going, producing for the different companies in the region, and their different operations—each one has different sizes and specs.” And the mix in the bush can vary greatly—one block can be half old growth, and half second growth. How do they deal with so many sorts and such varying tree conditions? “It takes good processor guys and good loader guys,” says John. Due to the varying logs and where they are going, the trucking is co-ordinated by L-P and Van Ommen, working together. John says he feels fortunate to now have both his sons in the business, along with long term employees. He noted it can be difficult to get good people. “First of all, we try to keep the people we have so we don’t have to look for new employees. But sometimes, people decide to move, and do other things.” When they were looking for excavator and skidder operators this past spring, they had a large number of people applying, from all over the province. But they try to hire local, wherever possible. “Local guys seem to work best for us—they are more likely to stay around,” he says. Though he is encouraged to have family in the business, John said he is very concerned about the sustainability of the logging contracting sector. He’s looking forward to seeing the report from former provincial Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott, who is currently overseeing a Contractor Sustainability Review for the B.C government. The review could be one of the most significant pieces of work to affect timber harvesting contractors in decades, say some industry people. While he recognizes the licencees have made investments in milling operations, and need a return on their investment, contractors such as himself have also made significant investments in equipment, and people—and require a reasonable return on their investment. “The companies need to be willing to share more,” he says.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
coastallogging
A GREAT FIT FOR STEEP SLOPES,
Island style Vancouver Island logger Jesse Drover had a solid 2,000 hours under his belt with the ClimbMax as of this past fall—and he’s pleased with its performance.
The New Zealand-developed and built ClimbMax tethered harvesting system is making its mark on Vancouver Island—and logger Jesse Drover says the steep ground they have to work in is ideal for the ClimbMax. By Paul MacDonald
F
or Vancouver Island logger Jesse Drover, of JBM Falling Ltd, getting involved in steep slope logging was a natural progression. Drover operated a feller buncher for 13 years, so he was very familiar with mechanical harvesting before starting work with the ClimbMax steep slope harvester. In a partnership with Dorian Uzzell of Wahkash Contracting, a well-established West Coast logger, Drover has been operating a ClimbMax tethered harvesting system on the Island, coastal islands and inlets since April 2016. He had a 14
solid 2,000 hours under his belt with the system as of this past fall—and it’s going well. There are only a handful of the machines currently on the Island, and Drover has had a lot of experience with the machine and the steep slope logging approach, since he had the second ClimbMAX on the Island. “We found operating in this type of ground is just ideal for the ClimbMax,” he said. “It just sings in this type of ground, going up and down steep slopes all day long.” And Drover knows exactly how well the machine is working since he is always
in the cab of the ClimbMax. For those not familiar with this breed of New Zealand-built equipment, Drover’s ClimbMAX tail hold steep slope harvester is a Hiatchi 330 excavator equipped with a felling head and a winch capable of felling trees up to 45 degrees—and then some. The harvester has been expressly designed with a low centre of gravity to support tree-falling, bunching, and shovel logging (hoe chucking), on steep slopes. It’s designed by Nigel Kelly and manufactured by NZ-based Trinder Engineers.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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coastallogging
By moving contractors and employees to a comfortable and protected cab, the ClimbMAX Steep Slope Harvester improves safety, and markedly increases production, and that has been exactly Jesse Drover’s experience. It has, in some cases, made steep forestland—that would have been too expensive to log using fallers and grapple yarders—economic to log. from page 14 The fully integrated winch system provides extra tractive assistance while a blade offers extra stability if required. The tail hold, at the top of the hill, is firmly attached to tied back standing trees or stumps. “There is no way that 15 tonnes is going to pull a tied-back two-foot tree out of the ground,” notes Drover. By moving contractors and employees to a comfortable and protected cab, the ClimbMAX Steep Slope Harvester improves safety, and markedly increases production, and that has been exactly Drover’s experience. It has, in some cases, made steep forestland—that would have been too expensive to log using fallers and grapple yarders—economic to log. The safety benefits are substantial. Rather than having fallers working in steep ground, doing the dangerous work of cutting down massive west coast trees, the CimbMAX is able to nimbly move up, down and across hillsides, taking down timber. While Drover has not worked as a 16
faller, he started out his logging career working on the rigging, so he knows how tough, and dangerous, it can be to work on the ground in steep slopes. As noted, there are a number of ClimbMAX machines working on Vancouver Island now, but Drover has operated in northern parts of the Island, which can be extremely tough and challenging. Drover was recently logging around the midIsland, on Comox Lake, for Wolf Lake Logging, but he’s usually working more up island, around Johnstone Strait, off Campbell River, for Wahkash, on TimberWestowned forestland. Forest company Tolko had done pioneering work with the ClimbMAX machine in the B.C. Interior, and Wahkash Contracting’s Dorian Uzzell had seen it in action there. Also taking a look at the machine was Aaron Racher, Contract Manager of North Island Operations for TimberWest in Campbell River. “Aaron has been a big part of this, and TimberWest has been very supportive,” says Drover. “It was Dorian that really came up with the idea to get the ClimbMAX,” Drover
explained. “He could see that with the majority of the wood being on the high side of the road with no access from above, being able to work in steep slopes is the way things are going. And I think he knew I would be the right fit to operate it.” While the ClimbMAX machines have good uptime, Drover said an operator should know to tackle minor repairs. “You have to know how to fix the machine, and not have to call a dealer. Really, I think you need a combination of an operator, a rigging guy and a mechanic.” And Drover fit the bill. While Drover is a fan of the machine, he noted they have made some changes to their ClimbMAX to get it to where it is today. “It’s a tough application for the ClimbMAX here on Vancouver Island,” he explained. “We had to do a number of minor upgrades to the track frame, to beef it up. We’re working in more broken
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
to page 18
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coastallogging from page 16 ground and in bigger wood than they do in New Zealand. But the Kiwi’s have been awesome in helping us out.” With any issues, Drover e-mails—or sometimes, even texts, if he is in cell phone range—the Trinder team in New Zealand. “If I send an e-mail, whoever is responsible for the area I’m asking about, hydraulic, electrical or general technical, grabs on to that issue and gets back to me that same day. They’re a good bunch of guys.” Drover noted that Trinder wants his machine to work for him, and they of course have a vested interest in all the ClimbMAX machines working in B.C., to further develop the market. Drover says it definitely takes some getting used to, operating on such steep slopes. He initially spent two weeks on the machine, untethered, in 20 to 25 per cent slope ground, just to get the feel of the ClimbMax. There was also the switch from running a hot saw to a bar saw to get used to. When he started doing work tethered on steeper slopes, there was some natural hesitation, Drover says.
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“Everything in your being is telling you not to drop off the side of that steep hill. When you drop over a bank, with your boom up in the air, you think you will go tumbling down the hill. “But the ClimbMAX does not even spin a track—it’s slow and steady.” He noted that it’s possible to do some steep slope work with conventional equipment. But you can bet that it’s going to be stressful in very steep ground, and those controls are going to be covered in sweat at the end of the day. “You could be on the edge of your seat all day. But with the ClimbMAX and being tethered, there is pretty much a zero per cent chance of you flipping that machine over when you are staying in good lead with your tail hold. “You can reach over the side of the track with something heavy, or swing a bundle of trees way out, and it may want to tip like any other machine—but the ClimbMAX is not going anywhere.” Holding the operator in place in the cab is a four-point harness. It’s comfortable and it’s way less stress, he says. Operators can focus on running the machine 100 per cent vs. being in an
untethered machine, and maybe working at 30 or 40 per cent capacity, because they are rightfully being super cautious. “With an untethered machine, you could push the wrong button or lever that could send you tumbling down the hill.” Drover said that 500 hours of operating time seemed to be the point where he felt more comfortable with the ClimbMAX.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
coastallogging Jesse Drover knows exactly how well the ClimbMax is working since he is always in the cab of the machine. “We found operating in this type of ground is just ideal for the ClimbMax,” he said. “It just sings in this type of ground, going up and down steep slopes all day long.”
“You’re getting to the point where you get the feel of it pretty good, what you can and can’t do. You could probably shorten that up quite a bit if you had someone do the training with you, saying it’s ok to do this or that, and not ok to do this or that.” The Trinder folks checked him off against a six page check list, to ensure he knew the workings of the machine.
Depending on the ground that they are working in, Drover says the machine can be extremely or even super-efficient, even bringing wood to roadside. “In this one block, I was bunching it on the hill for the grapple yarder. But with the majority of the wood, I was bringing it all to the road,” he says. “I start at the back end of the block, falling the wood, and then forward the wood to the road and work our way out. And then they were able to come in with the processor and a loader.” Maintenance-wise, the equipment is not demanding, he reports. “It’s pretty straightforward, changing filters and fluids.” He recommends buying the Uptime Kit Trinder offers, which basically contains a spare for every cylinder on the head,
and a variety of electrical and hydraulic valve components. “That’s come in handy quite a few times, giving us more uptime.” When they are being built, Trinder essentially takes a Hitachi machine, and strips it down, building a wide undercarriage, and repositioning components to get as much weight as low as possible, to achieve a lower centre of gravity. Among the items they keep, though, are the engine, the pumps and some track gear— pretty much everything else is custom. There are custom hydraulics, a custom boom and arm (which is longer) and a custom cab, all manufactured by Trinder. The machine comes with its own Trinder directional felling head. Drover noted that Waratah has purchased the patent for the head from Trinder, so they are now able to get support for the head from Waratah. As has been emphasized with all tethered equipment, the ClimbMAX is cable assisted—the cable helps hold the machine in place. But there is often little, if any, weight on the cable when the machine is working. The winch can be in
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coastallogging from page 19 auto mode, which allows it to take in or let out cable, as required, as the machine moves up and down a slope. In Drover’s operation, the ClimbMAX is equipped with 380 m of 23 mm (7/8”) swaged cable. The winch is designed by Trinder. In addition to actually operating the machine, Drover says there can be a learning curve in winch attachment technique, which trees to catch, and which trees to hang on. Rigging experience is key, he said. If a block is not well planned out, Drover says, it can be a bit of a struggle. But forest company TimberWest, which has extensive private and public landholdings on Vancouver Island, has been very supportive. Strategic Natural Resource Consultants Inc does the primary forestry and engineering work, doing the layouts and ribbon hanging. And TimberWest brought out some of its own senior people, plus Strategic Natural Resource people, to take a look at the ClimbMAX machine and ask Drover questions, to try to make sure they are making optimum use of what Drover likes to call a “game changer”, in terms of logging equipment. They’ve carefully chosen the ground the machine is working in. “Good planning and communication is crucial,” he said. And there is going to be a lot of steep ground going forward in B.C. Drover noted that there are estimates that upwards of 70 per cent of the fibre on the B.C. coast over the next 20 years is going to come from steep slopes. “Unless you are hell bent on staying with hand falling and grapple yarding, which can be very costly, you are going to have to do something different.” And it has come on quickly, he added. “If someone had told me five years ago that I’d be taking a machine up these slopes we are doing now, I’d have said they were crazy.” In addition, there are likely to be fewer fallers available for work going forward. The average age of a B.C. faller is now 58. But probably the most important consideration is safety. Operating steep slope equipment means no one on the ground, logging. Drover is in full agreement with that since he’s seen his share of friends and associates injured, and worse, over the years. Even though the ClimbMAX does the equivalent work of fallers on steep slopes, Drover noted there are always going to be situations where steep slope equipment 20
can’t be used, and fallers are still going to be required. “There will always be a place in the industry for good fallers,” he says. For other operators or contractors looking to get into steep slope equipment such as the ClimbMAX, Drover said they first and foremost should have a solid operator. “It doesn’t matter what kind of equipment you have, it’s who is pulling the levers and pushing the buttons,” he said. “And with this equipment, you also want to make sure you have steady work. You don’t want to make payments on this kind of costly equipment if it isn’t working for you—a lot,” he added. The move to operating the new machine came at the right time for Drover. After many years running a feller buncher, it was good to move on to something new, he says. “Running the buncher was kind of like mowing the lawn after
a while. I needed to do something else, but I did not know what that might be. I probably could have run out my career on a buncher, but I knew this was going to be the next big thing.” Drover noted the move to purchasing the ClimbMAX with Wahkash Contracting was a gamble, but a calculated gamble. “It was a bit of a roll of the dice, but I was confident I could run the machine. But in terms of the ground we are working in and the application we are using it for, it was still a gamble. I had never seen one of these machines before, and I had never felled trees with a bar saw before. “But I was confident I could run the machine. Besides, like my grandfather used to say, ‘No risk, no reward’. You have to put yourself out there if you want to make a go of it in West Coast logging.”
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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Quebeclogging The Eclaircie Gaspesie partnership consists of three partners, from left to right: Pierre-Luc Desjardin, who represents the Groupement forestier co-operative Baie des Chaleurs, Sebastien LeBlanc and David Levesque.
CO-OPERATIVE CONTRACTING in Quebec Quebec’s Eclaircie Gaspesie contract logging operation has found its own path to success: a combination of equipment operators David Lévesque and Sebastian LeBlanc, along with forestry co-operative Groupement forestier cooperative Baie des Chaleurs—supported by solid Ponsse equipment. By George Fullerton
E
claircie Gaspesie is a relatively young Quebec harvest contracting business which has grown in an unconventional manner, bringing together unique talents and an unconventional business structure, to meet specific forest management demands. The partners in the enterprise combined their talents with a positive performance history to make a deal in 2016 to acquire a new Ponsse Scorpion King harvester, which has made their thinning and
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harvest operations even more productive. The Eclaircie Gaspesie partnership consists of three partners: David Lévesque, Sebastian LeBlanc and the Groupement forestier co-operative Baie des Chaleurs, represented by general manager PierreLuc Desjardins. The partnership was formed as a means for the Groupement to acquire consistent and high quality harvesting services for their woodlot owner members. The Groupement is a co-operative organization which represents some 700 woodlot owners on the Baie Chaleur
coast of the Gaspe. The landowners collectively own some 40,000 hectares of woodland in the Escuminac and Paspebiac districts, which lie north of the Groupement headquarters in the coastal village of New Richmond. The Groupement provides harvesting, silviculture and other land management services to their members. The Eclaircie Gaspesie partnership was formalized in 2014 with the joint purchase
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Quebeclogging from page 22 of a Ponsse Fox harvester, with an H6 Ponsse head. Lévesque and LeBlanc shared the ambition to become mechanized harvest contractors. They had established their reputations as competent operators and talented mechanics through employment with other contractors in the Gaspe. However, as a pair of young, novice businessmen, their negotiations for financial support to purchase a machine were not well received by the financial institutions. The Groupement, on the other hand, did have substantial fiscal capacity, in part, through their annual wood sales in the range of 100,000 solid cubic metres. The business partners formed Eclaircie Gaspesie, with the Groupement, Levesque and LeBlanc each holding a one-third stake in the business. Pierre-Luc Desjardins serves as the Secretary-Treasurer (as well as CEO of Groupement), Sébastien Leblanc holds the vice-president position and David Lévesque serves as president. Sebastien and David, of course, hold machine operator positions as well. Desjardins explained that the Groupement manages 100 per cent of the day-today business. “We looked to employ the
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Sebastien LeBlanc (left) and David Levesque with their Ponsse Scorpion King. The partners agree that the Scorpion King, which has a Ponsse H6 head (pictured below), has the attributes to handle high capacity clearcutting, and also the finesse for thinning.
operators as shareholders, as a means to attract the best operators,” he explained. “It’s very hard to attract and hold on to that kind of operator talent. As shareholders, they have a stake in the business, and they are committed to seeing it succeed. They bring the operating and the mechanical skills, and the Groupement brings the harvesting contracts and the experience of managing a business.” In 2014, the partnership purchased the Ponsse Fox, which they considered at the time to be the top machine to operate in the steep terrain of the Baie Chaleur coast. Jasmin LeBlanc, salesman for ALPA Equipment, located across the Baie Chaleur in Balmoral, New Brunswick, made the deal on the Fox harvester. The Fox, with its eight wheels and a four cylinder engine, had the combination of fuel economy, along with the climbing and stability attributes to suit the harvesting demands. Its H6 head is compact and powerful, with three feed rollers. The feed rollers open to 23 inches. The thirty-inch saw bar will cut a twenty-five inch diameter stem. The Fox proved to be an agile and productive machine, meeting the production goals Eclaircie Gaspesie had established. That is, until the Ponsse Scorpion King became available. The principals of Eclaircie Gaspesie immediately recognized the added power, increased stability and cab levelling offered through the three frame construction and load shifting technology of the
Scorpion King. The Scorpion King also brings other benefits, such as a unique wishbone base for the crane which extends over top the cab, providing an unobstructed view of the work area. It also has a H6 head. The Scorpion King’s Mercedes engine is rated at 210 kw compared to a 150 kw standard in the Fox. The Scorpion King is equipped with a 145 and a 190 cubic centimetre hydraulic pump, compared to a single 190 cc pump in the Fox. By 2016, Eclaircie Gaspesie made the decision to upgrade to the Scorpion King, and ALPA dutifully took the Fox on trade and landed the new Scorpion King. The partners now happily admit the Fox was the second best machine to meet their harvesting needs. The Scorpion King also came equipped with the H6 head. Ponsse markets the Fox primarily as a thinning harvester. Desjardins explained that harvest jobs for the Groupement are nearly an even split between commercial thinning/partial cuts, and straight ahead clearcuts. The partners agree that the Scorpion King has the attributes to handle high capacity clearcutting a lot better than the Fox, and also the finesse for thinning. “We bought the Ponsse Scorpion King because it is the best for both harvesting types. First, it has excellent visibility and ergonomics for the operators, and secondly, it
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Quebeclogging from page 24 has the power,” said Desjardins. He added that with the diverse stand types and different harvest prescriptions, they needed a “hybrid” harvester, which would be highly productive for any harvesting demands and ensure the production would amortize the machine cost. “We love the H6 head,” he says. “First, the H6 processes trees really fast, feeding up to about six metres per second. The combination of the power of the Scorpion King with the H6 is really impressive. In partial cuts, the H6 handles really well between the residual trees, for good production and without damage to the crop trees.” David Lévesque operates the Scorpion King for ten to twelve hour shifts opposite Sebastian LeBlanc. “The Scorpion King has all the power we could ever want,” says Lévesque. “There is no need to get stressed when operating on very steep slopes. It has the power to get moving and it holds itself in position without any worry. It is a very stable machine, both travelling and working.” Lévesque also had lots of positive feedback on machine design. “This machine is extremely well designed. Everything is easy to access for servicing, which also helps us to be more productive”. When Lévesque and LeBlanc move the Scorpion on to a new harvest block, they are following Groupement technicians, who have consulted with the landowner about their management plan, and identified the harvest or thinning priorities. The technicians lay out the harvest block, recording the GPS co-ordinates of the boundaries, as well as mapping any buffers, boundary lines, roads and any other features that will benefit operating the block. The GPS data is downloaded into the Scorpion King’s guidance system, which allows LeBlanc and Lévesque to keep in the block and also record the harvest progress. Lévesque said the GPS mapping system allows them to take on the steepest or most challenging areas during the daylight shift, and leave less challenging parts for the night shift, which results in greater overall productivity. “To be efficient on private forest management, we need to minimize floating,” added Desjardins. He pointed out that as a producer co-operative, they have the ability to operate numerous woodlots in a given area, which reduces the need for floating. “We have great forest technician 26
teams who work upstream to lay out and prepare the future harvesting. All our members have a management plan, which helps us to bring all treatment work in a specific area in one forestry operation.” The Groupement provides additional forest management work including manual logging. “We have two great teams of manual fallers, specialized in hardwood management, and commercial thinning,” says Desjardins. “We also plant 700,000 spruce seedlings each year, in addition to 500 hectares of pre-commercial thinning or plantation cleaning for our members. We also have contracted forestry work, for many years, for Gaston Cellard Inc. We do a lot of thinning for Cellard, as well as harvesting, wood supply management, operational planning and other related work.” Desjardins pointed out that his membership is increasingly engaging in more and more partial cut harvesting. He said that one of the driving influences has been the exclusion of herbicide spraying to control competition in softwood plantations. “For sure, with the drop of the government subsides in forest management, we need to be smart,” he says. “We think the best way for us to do more with less is to do more shelterwood work—and the Scorpion King is the best machine for that kind of work.” Late in 2016, the Groupement invested
in a new Ponsse Buffalo forwarder. Their previous contractor sold his forwarder, and the decision to purchase was in part due to having good forwarder operator talent already working with the Groupement. “Like the Scorpion King, the Buffalo is the best forwarder in both partial cut and clearcut,” notes Desjardins. “The Buffalo has balanced bogies for climbing steep slopes, and it has the ability to retract the bunks for tight trails. It has great power with the Mercedes engine, and it has Ponsse machine reliability. We get good service from ALPA and they are nearby whenever we need assistance or parts.” In the late-1990s the Groupement began working in multi-resource planning and development. In 2001, it created a subsidiary, Activa Environment, which has done a good deal of work in the wind energy sector in Quebec and New Brunswick. Activa can conduct environmental studies, handle site supervision, conduct financial compensation studies, along with other related work. Like the Groupement, the Eclaircie Gaspesie partners have a energetic and innovative approach to their industry and share a positive outlook. “Our partnership is very positive, and we make a good team. We are all the same age, and we are looking forward to the next 25 years working with our Groupement members,” says Desjardins.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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equipmentprofile
SATCO head gets
thumbs-up in Alberta Alberta logging operation R. Bruce Erickson Construction says their new SATCO processing head is performing well, with the company’s Cody Erickson giving the head the thumbs-up both in its production capabilities and precision. By Tony Kryzanowski
E
ncouraging younger family members to join the family business often brings enthusiasm, energy, and an eagerness to investigate new ideas to well-established logging companies. Alberta logger Cody Erickson is a good example of that. “I actually remember the day I started work quite well,” says Cody. “It was a Saturday morning in 2001, the year I
graduated from high school. “My dad, Murray, said that I should come out and give him a hand at work. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be helping him that day, the weekend, or what. And fast forward, here we are 16 years later, and it has been full time since then.” Cody is the third generation of the Erickson family to take up a career in logging, and he works in a variety of hands-on roles—including foreman, safety
coordinator, and contract negotiator—at R. Bruce Erickson Construction. The business, started by his grandfather, Robert Bruce Erickson, has several decades of experience working as a stump-to-dump and road building contractor for West Fraser Timber. They supply logs to both Sundre Forest Products and West Fraser’s laminated veneer lumber (LVL) operations near Rocky Mountain House. to page 30
Cody Erickson (in hard hat) and operator—and long term employee—Brendan Crebas with the company’s SATCO 323TSC processing head mounted on a Caterpillar 320 carrier. 28
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
You’re gonna need more trucks WAJAX IS A PROUD DISTRIBUTOR AND SERVICE PROVIDER FOR HITACHI PRODUCTS ACROSS CANADA VISIT US AT THE 75TH ANNUAL TRUCK LOGGERS ASSOCIATION JANUARY 17-19, 2018
equipmentprofile from page 28 Cody says that in addition to his dad, his uncle, Allan Erickson, who now owns the company, has been a great role model for learning all aspects of this demanding business. The company is headquartered in Red Deer County, with Cody and most logging operations staff members located in Sundre, about 130 kilometres northwest of Calgary. Their current annual cut for West Fraser is 100,000 cubic metres with an additional 20,000 cubic metres harvested from right-of-ways. Cody says that R. Bruce Erickson Construction is definitely interested in taking on more contract work to grow their annual cut to 160,000 cubic metres, where they have been in the past. They have 15 employees. Logging takes place primarily in the broken rolling foothills about an hour west of Rocky Mountain House. Their log diet is about 85 per cent lodgepole pine, with the remainder being white and black spruce in the 12” at the butt diameter range, but it can go as high as 20” in some cutblocks. Cody has a good understanding of the key challenges facing loggers, such as how to access timber in steeper slope environments. He knows that while the company has an excellent reputation for both logging and road building, it will be important to consider new technologies like tethering and cable-assist equipment to help conventional equipment work more efficiently in more extreme slopes. He has attended demonstrations where this equipment has been put to use by other loggers, to see how it might fit within their own operations. While not the norm, they can encounter slopes of more than 60 per cent, but the average is more in the 30 to 40 per cent range, which offers challenges in
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The terrain where R. Bruce Erickson Construction logs is described as broken rolling foothills with slope typically in the 30 to 40 per cent range. The operation has four Caterpillar skidders in their fleet. Two are model 525s and two are model 545s. both road building and logging. Cody is also well aware of the importance of maintaining a balance between what forest companies are prepared to pay their logging contractors and the cost of operating a successful logging business, with such issues as the escalating cost of equipment as something that many loggers now face. He was part of the company through the industry downturn in 2008. “The downturn reinforced the mentality with us that you need to be aware of your economics within your business because you never know when you might have to experience a downturn,” says Cody. “It has created a level of stability so that even when times are great, we don’t let that get away on us.” He understands the importance of keeping an open mind to new ideas, technology, and equipment that may provide the company with an edge, and an advantage to maintaining a healthy business.
That shows with his willingness to consider new equipment brands entering the market. R. Bruce Erickson Construction recently purchased a SATCO 323TSC processing head mounted on a Caterpillar 320D FM carrier. They tested the unit extensively to evaluate how well it could process logs, and were satisfied that the head could perform at least as well as other popular brands working in their fleet. Caterpillar owns the global distribution rights to SATCO products, and what helped Cody to make the financial commitment for this lesser known head is the service support that local Caterpillar dealer, Finning, has provided to the company over the years “For as long as I have been working with the company, we have always had a great relationship with Finning,” says Cody. “They have always provided exceptional
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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BURN LESS FUEL AND PRODUCE MORE PONSSE NORTH AMERICA INC 4400 International Lane Rhinelander, WI 54501 Office: 715-369-4833 Eero Lukkarinen Area director (Canada) Tel. 358 (406) 565 139 A.L.P.A EQUIPMENT LTD New Brunswick, Canada Tel. 1 (888) 590-0858 HYDROMEC INC. Quebec, Canada Tel. (418) 276-5831 READYQUIP SALES AND SERVICE LTD. Ontario, Canada Tel. (705) 268-7600
PONSSE HARVESTING AND PROCESSING HEADS are widely used in track and rubber tired harvesters in Canada. PONSSE has been designing and manufacturing harvester heads for 30 years. The long-term experience and active listening of customer feedback shows in the products – every model is at the top of its class in productivity and reliability. DURABILITY WITH LOWER WEIGHT is ensured by using welldesigned structures and highest quality steel. Saw is quick and precise, feeding fast and strong, making our heads productive. MORE CUBIC METER PER HECTARE with PONSSE Opti control system designed for PONSSE heads.
HLS FUHRER CONSULTING INC. Lacombe, AB, Canada Tel. 1 (403) 352-7191
A logger’s best friend www.ponsse.com
equipmentprofile
The typical log size the SATCO head will encounter in the Erickson operation is 12” at the butt, but it can go as high as 20”. The SATCO processing head uses a DASA computer system that experienced operators at R. Bruce Erickson Construction were able to learn very easily. from page 30 service, with really salt-of-the-earth staff that connect well with the logging industry. Caterpillar and Finning have stepped up and provided excellent support for that SATCO head.” However, like other popular processor brands, Cody says that SATCO’s biggest challenge will be to prove that its processing heads can survive over the long term and work consistently in the notoriously challenging and cold weather Canadian logging environment. They own three other heads from a competing brand that all have well over 10,000 hours and closer to 20,000 in service. Cody describes them as having “fantastic performance structurally, with only minor overhauls as needed, and they just go back to work. So SATCO will have to pass the test of Father Time.” SATCO, with its headquarters in New Zealand, says that its primary aim has been to build a rugged head that has had plenty of logger input into its design. It is the newest entry in what has become a Kiwi-dominated processor head market in Canada. Competitors such as Waratah and Southstar also originated in New Zealand. The SATCO 323TSC processing head comes with a continuous rotation system. Among its features are a hose-throughcentre system, which the company says not only encases and protects the hoses, but also allows the hoses to travel through the centre line of the pins. This means that the connecting hoses can be made as short as possible. It also eliminates any possible over-bending and rubbing of the hoses, which can cause premature failure. 32
Its tri-knife system features a unique grapple-type design for the delimbing knives in the company’s series 3 models. SATCO says this system simplifies picking logs out of the deck and holds logs straight when delimbing. It has an auto tension saw unit with the ability to run either ¾” or .404 chain by just changing bar, sprocket and catcher on the same unit. “You are not going to notice a whole lot of difference between a SATCO and a Waratah when they are working,” says Cody. “They are going to look a little different physically, but the SATCO does what is required to process a tree to our client’s specifications.” He describes its production capabilities as excellent and its precision as topnotch, meeting what Cody describes as their very high standards to fulfill client requirements. One of the more recent requests from West Fraser has been to produce more random length logs on their smaller diameters, so that the last processed log consistently has an 11 centimetre top. “SATCO was able to write up software for that almost overnight,” says Cody. “It was pretty remarkable, and I believe it actually performs better than some of our other units on that specific task.” The SATCO processing head uses a DASA computer system, and although different from the systems used on other heads, Cody says that the transition to this system for his experienced operators was “pretty minimal”. He describes the cost of the head as very comparable to the cost of competing brands, and notes that SATCO does have a selection of models so that the right unit
can be purchased to match a contractor’s typical log diet. In the past, because of the excellent service from Finning, R. Bruce Erickson Construction had 100 per cent Caterpillar equipment in their fleet, but lately, they are venturing out to include other brands to meet specific needs, particularly in their feller bunching operations. At present, they have a John Deere 903 feller buncher with a 22” felling head and a Tigercat 870 feller buncher with the company’s model 5702 felling head. Both are non-tilting, full tail swing units because R. Bruce Erickson Construction is already able to harvest trees in areas that exceed their skidders’ abilities to retrieve the wood. So a tilting option wouldn’t bring a lot of extra value like an equipment tethering system, where the company could pursue wood on more extreme slopes. Their processing fleet consists of four Caterpillar 320 carriers. Three are equipped with Waratah 622B processing heads, with the fourth equipped with the SATCO 323TSC processing head. They have two Caterpillar 525 skidders and two 545 Caterpillar skidders, with a Caterpillar 330 carrier for a log loader. Cody has been quite surprised by how well the SATCO processing head has performed. “There is a little bit of trepidation when you are dealing with the new kid in the sandbox,” says Cody. “To see that there are other options out there that can perform as well as some of the more common brands for our region, it’s refreshing and exciting to see that.”
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
NewZealandsawmilling
i w i K
SUPER SAWMILL
The recent start-up of a new line at the Red Stag sawmill in New Zealand has created a lot of excitement, as the mill could now be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere—and there’s certainly no doubt that it is super fast and super accurate. By John Ellegard
W
hen New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English officially opened the brand new $60 million (NZ) Red Stag sawmill line on the edge of the city of Rotorua on the country’s North Island, it marked another step along the path to creating a super-fast, super mill. Already the largest sawmill in Australasia, the Red Stag operation might just be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere as well, although no one is quite sure whether there’s a bigger one in South America, such is the hush-hush business of timber
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milling in some quarters. At any rate, it’s the world’s newest large sawmill, undoubtedly one of the fastest and most accurate, and it’s bristling with technology that is the envy of the industry. A super mill is generally considered to be an operation that can put through more than one million tonnes of logs per year, and produce 600,000 cubic metres of timber. Following the building of the new saw line, Red Stag has seen its production rise from 450,000 to 550,000 cubic metres and it’s on course to surpass 600,000 cubic
metres by the end of 2018 once it gets a few “tweaks”. If the decision to go ahead and spend a further $60 million on stage two of the expansion gets the green light, Red Stag will surpass the 700,000 cubic metres mark. In the New Zealand context, it’s always been a super mill, producing up to 25 per cent of the market’s timber needs from its single site at Waipa. Around 60 per cent of production goes into the local market these days, with 40 per cent exported. Originally constructed in 1939 by the government of the day to produce timber
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
Instead of sourcing various items from different suppliers, Red Stag decided to put the whole mill project in the hands of one company: USNR. This ensured they would get an integrated plant with all components designed to work seamlessly together. The saw shop (below) is bright and airy and features the latest automatic saw sharpening equipment made by Swiss manufacturer, Iseli.
from the state-owned Kaingaroa Forest, the mill has undergone a series of upgrades over the years, with the main sawing line being replaced in the early 1990s. The mill passed into private ownership and was purchased by the current owners in 2003, when the Red Stag Timber name was established. Under the guidance of the Verry Family, key components on the site have been replaced or upgraded, including a new acoustic grading system, dry mill planing plant with Comact GradExpert scanner, three Mahild counterflow drying kilns, new stackers, a remanufacturing plant incorporating WoodEye scanning and a Grecon finger jointer, USNR bin sorter pusher lug upgrade and now up to 98 bins, scanners and a second CAA pressure treatment cylinder. But the remaining constant has been the saw line, and try as they might, the Red Stag team has never been able to make it work the way they wanted. “The small log line was never a great saw line, regardless of what we tried to do to improve it,” says Tim Rigter, General Manager of Red Stag Timber. Sawmilling is a very difficult business.
You’re competing in a commodity market and the cost of logs has been going up in recent times, leaving margins wafer-thin, especially for products being exported. The only way to increase margins is to lower costs and by 2011, Red Stag had squeezed just about every cent out of the system. “We asked ourselves whether there was a more cost-effective way of doing it, either by modifying some of the mill or
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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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NewZealandsawmilling from page 35 looking at a completely new mill,” says Rigter. “We have done lots of improvements to various parts of the operation over the years, but we couldn’t find any way to make the existing system work better. Finally, we came to the decision that we needed a new sawmill.” When the decision to start with a blank piece of paper was made with the new sawmill, sawmill manager Steve Roberts was given the task of putting the plan together. The target was to make the saw line faster and to increase the amount of recovery from each log. “We aimed to get a three per cent recovery increase,” says Rigter. “Steve Roberts knew what he wanted and he came up with the design for the mill—he knows sawmilling better than any of us. He’s been here for 18 years, prior to the creation of Red Stag.” Armed with Roberts’ shopping list, the Red Stag project team visited numerous sawmills in North America about three years ago to finalize what they wanted, and decide on the suppliers. Instead of sourcing various items from different suppliers, Red Stag decided to put the whole project in the hands of one company: Washington State-based USNR, one of the largest sawmill equipment manufacturers in the world. This ensured they would get an integrated plant with all components designed to work seamlessly together—and only one company to talk to if things didn’t go to plan. The biggest challenge would be ensur-
36
The saw line itself is unique and thought to be the only one of its kind in the world, utilizing double-quad bandsaws, which have gone up from five feet with the old single quad saw line, to six feet with the new one.
ing the existing sawline continued to operate without interruption while the all-new sawmill was being built. Fortunately, Red Stag occupies a huge site by comparison to most other mills; but it still required some operations to be dismantled and shifted to make way for the new mill building, which would occupy half a hectare. Standing alongside the existing mill, the new building has been erected where the previous chip system was situated. That meant a whole new chip screening facility needed to be established, further to the west, and new services laid underground. The chip plant is an important ingredient in the Red Stag operation, supplying quality grade chips to both the Kinleith and Kawerau pulp mills. And the way Red Stag gets rid of waste from the new mill is unique. The new saw line sits on the first floor, allowing a huge area to be created on the ground floor where all the chips and sawdust fall onto conveyors to be carried away. There’s around 6.5 metres of headroom in the ground floor level. In fact, the whole building is quite unique. While the ground level is built from concrete and steel, the hall above it that houses the new saw line is almost
entirely made with wood. The roof is supported by massive engineered beams made from Red Stag’s own timber by TimberLabs, with each span weighing 30 tonnes, and the walls are lined with plywood, which minimizes dust. Plus, it’s been built to exceed current earthquake standards—by an impressive 20 per cent, according to Rigter. The effect is one huge, open-plan space covering 5,000 square metres. The saw line itself is also unique and thought to be the only one of its kind in the world, utilizing double-quad bandsaws, which have gone up from five feet with the old single quad saw line to six feet with the new one. “Our understanding is that USNR hasn’t built a quad/quad before and we don’t know of any other around the world, so we could be the only one,” says Rigter, adding that the size of the logs dictated it. The increase in saw size means the new mill can now process logs up to 60 cm large end diameter in size, compared to 40 cm with the old small log quad line, which helps to improve capacity. Up to 12,000 logs are processed each day. The opportunity to start with a blank sheet encouraged the Red Stag team to include as much new technology on their shopping list as possible. So there’s not just one or two scanners
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
Metal-Free Lumber
employed in the mill, but something like 13 scanners all up and the whole process is fully automatic, with just a handful of people overseeing the operation. “We’re scanning the log to look at the shape and it automatically rotates the log to optimize the position for maximizing the conversion into boards—that’s been a huge plus,” explains Rigter. “It’s scanned again and then we have an ELI (Extended Length Infeed) where we can do slew and skew. So basically the log has been rotated into position to go through the saw and then we can slew or skew the whole log on the ELI again to maximize conversion along the length of the board. Instead of getting two short boards, you can get one long board and one short board, so again it maximizes value out of the log. “So that’s the positioning of the log to maximize recovery. And then we’ve got some chipper canters for the opening face and then it’s the first set of quads. The boards off the first set of quads go to Edger 1. It all goes pretty quick, up to 15 logs per minute, which equates to 60 side boards per minute. “From Edger 1, the wood goes into our green line into the bins,” says Rigter. “The second set of quads sends sideboards to Edger 2. From there the cant gets processed, where the centre of the log gets turned on to its side and goes through the
curve saw gang. It’s one of those dancing floor contraptions that USNR calls an HSS, a Horizontal Shape Saw—basically it’s a curve sawing gang that moves with the shape of the grain, floating on a thin film of oil to produce straighter stress-free timber. It’s just magic to watch.” Then it goes to the trim line where it’s finished or gets trimmed. “We have an unscrambler and then it goes through a scanner where there’s some sorting and then another scanner, which determines how it’s going to be trimmed and then into the bins,” says Rigter. “We’re up to 98 bins now. Originally we had 68, then we built an extra 10 and about two or three years ago, added another 20. It’s nice to have that many sorts, but we knew that we would need it for the new mill to cope with the volume. “Then it goes through the stacker and that’s still a limitation as we only have one stacker. We’ll need another stacker as part of stage 2, which we still have to decide on.” To go with the larger capacity, Red Stag also had to upgrade its steam pipe for the additional drying that is required. In place of the existing 6-inch and 10-inch pipes, a new 18-inch single pipe is being constructed, which should serve the mill for another 20 years.
®
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NewZealandsawmilling
An increase in saw size at Red Stag means the new mill can now process logs up to 60 cm large end diameter in size, compared to 40 cm with the old small log quad line, which helps to improve capacity. Up to 12,000 logs are processed each day. from page 37 In the past, Red Stag has been able to generate all its steam and electricity on site and also sell excess power back to the grid, but it is now consuming more than it generates. So a third boiler is in the process of being added, and a new generator and turbine will also be built to utilize the extra residues of sawdust and shavings. With two sets of quad saws requiring saw changes every six hours on average, a brand new saw shop has been built right next to the big hall. As with the saw line, much thought went into the planning and equipping this important element of the operation. The saw shop is bright and airy and features the latest automatic saw sharpening equipment made by Swiss manufacturer, Iseli, considered to be among the best in the world. Under saw shop manager Regan Eisenhut, the facility is kept meticulous. The new mill continues to handle both Radiata Pine and Douglas fir, supplied from Kaingaroa and other local forests. In
fact, it’s the largest processor of Douglas fir in New Zealand. Being harder wood than pine, it’s harder on the saws, so more saw changes are required when it goes through the line. The chips from the Douglas fir have to go into separate bins, too.
of the medium-to-larger structural log grades. Our green industrial production would have dropped by 40 per cent. There’s enough there for the domestic market, we just export less. That’s been good. “We’ve also more than doubled our CCA capacity in our treatment plant, with another cylinder the same size, but the cycle times are faster. It’s gone from a 60,000 cubic metre capacity up to 140,000. That has opened up opportunities for us to go into posts and fencing.” The number of people working within the new mill is down to 13 per shift. There are three people on the line that breaks down the log, where there used to be about 10, and then there’s about 10 people to process the wood once it’s actually been cut. It’s still run on two shifts, with the option to go to three shifts if required.
“We’ve been fortunate in that we have expanded as the market has taken off—mind you, we took decisions when it wasn’t so good, such as putting in the re-man plant during the global financial crisis.”
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While the new mill is bigger and much faster, it still makes the same products as before. But it cuts it differently and needs more time to produce some lines like pith in packaging grades. “The new mill produces a lot less industrial grade, which is good, because those are the lower grades,” says Rigter. “That’s been a big plus although it did create a bit of a shortage for a while because of the volumes that we used to produce. “We process fewer small logs and more
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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NewZealandsawmilling
In the New Zealand context, the Red Stag operation has always been a super mill, producing up to 25 per cent of the market’s timber needs from its single site at Waipa. But following the building of the new saw line, the mill has seen its production rise from 450,000 to 550,000 cubic metres and it’s on course to surpass 600,000 cubic metres by the end of 2018 once it gets a few “tweaks”. from page 38 But the speed of the new mill has upped the ante in other parts of the operation, with more staff required on the planer mills, which now have three shifts and the treatment plants have gone from two to four shifts. The sawmill itself works Monday to Thursday on two 10-hour shifts, with Friday reserved for maintenance, unless demand requires processing on that day through overtime.
Total employment has risen slightly to 290 employees and 80 full-time equivalent contractors across the entire site. Prior to the new mill being built, there was a suggestion that the speed and volume of production would help to reduce the price of timber, but any savings that have been made are now being swallowed up by the higher cost of logs. But the log prices are set by the international trade, so it affects all sawmills and the efficiency of the new mill means that Red Stag is now firmly in the driving seat as the lowest cost timber producer in Australasia. Crucially, the new mill at Waipa has come on stream at a time when demand for its products in New Zealand has never been stronger, thanks to a building boom in the country. “We’ve been fortunate in that we have expanded as the market has taken off—mind you, we took decisions when it wasn’t so good, such as putting in the re-man plant during the global financial crisis,” says Rigter. “We’ve just done it, despite market conditions. But it’s paid off very well, because the market’s never been stronger.” When the new mill started up, it was expected that the old saw line would continue for some time, while the new process was commissioned. But the installation went so well, the old mill was switched off, just over three months after the new line started up. “It’s been brilliant starting from scratch and building it off-line because we could stage it, commission it and our production didn’t suffer because it was all off-line,” adds Rigter. But it’s a complex process, with some ramping up left to do. “We’re not quite there yet. It’s a big operation and we’re still learning about it. We’re not quite there yet. It’s a big operation and we’re still learning about it.” As for the old building and saw line, it will be demolished soon, as it doesn’t meet earthquake standards. And the future? Stage two, which will require another continuous drying kiln (in addition to the existing three), more stackers, the new boiler and other handling systems, is yet to get the final go ahead, but it can only be a matter of time. (This story was published in the March 2017 issue of New Zealand Logger, www. nzlogger.co.nz, and is reprinted with their kind permission).
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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
engineeredwood
The next big thing in plywood
Already known for embracing technology and innovation, Oregon’s Freres Lumber is now taking its operations a step further, building a specialized manufacturing facility to produce the company’s newest innovation, Mass Plywood Panels. By Lindsay Mohlere
S
ince its beginnings, Freres Lumber Company has thrived in spite of the wild rollercoaster ride of the lumber business, and by investing in ingenuity and innovation, it has become one of the premier wood products manufacturing companies in the Pacific Northwest. According to Rob Freres, the company’s executive vice-president, Freres Lumber has embraced technology and “never quits upgrading” in order to stay on the leading edge of efficiency and competition. Founded by T.G. Freres in 1922, and currently managed by third generation family members, the company has grown from a small, local sawmill to a diversified engineered wood products company producing green and dry veneer, high quality sheathing and touch sanded plywood panels, custom industrial and standard lumber products, chips, sawdust and bark dust.
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Over the past 12 years, Freres Lumber, located in Lyons, Oregon, has spent nearly $100 million in plant upgrades. In 2016 alone, the company invested over $10 million on upgrades, which included replacing an ADCO West stud mill with a HewSaw Series R200 set up, which helped increase output and chip production. West Coast Industrial Systems, Inc. of Lebanon, Oregon, provided engineering, procurement and construction services to facilitate the HewSaw installation. “We operate the HewSaw to process core from our veneer manufacturing operations and small diameter timber approximately six inches and smaller in 8 foot, 9 foot, and 10 foot lengths,” explained Rob. “We produce custom industrial and standard lumber products to customer specifications. Our primary lumber products are variations of 2 x 3 through 4 x 6 dimensions. Examples of the wide variety of products that we can produce are landscape timbers, standard and better lumber
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
engineeredwood for truss manufacturing, and heat-treated products for export packaging.” Noting that their plants are now up-todate, Rob said they may coast for about a year before upgrading other facilities. “It gives our maintenance personnel a chance to troubleshoot and get the bugs out and make the plant run better,” he said. “We saw similar production results in 2016, where we were producing the same as what we produced in the prior year—but we were able to achieve that production in only nine months vs. a full year. “We were running with far less overtime because our plants were running better. It’s all because the maintenance crews were able to concentrate on making our new installations perform at a higher level.” Freres Lumber also replaced the crane rails under their Kone crane, built a new maintenance shop for the company’s rolling stock, installed a new AKI Grenzbach dryer, and purchased five new Kenworth tractors and trailers. To help maintain top efficiency, the company operates over 30 highway trucks utilizing a combination of flatbed maxi’s,
Senior executives of Freres Lumber with the company’s Mass Plywood Panel (MPP) product. Left to right: Ted Freres, President; Kyle Freres, VP Operations; Rob Freres, Executive VP; and Tyler Freres, VP Sales. curtain vans and chip trailers. Freres trucks deliver product throughout Oregon, Washington and California and backhaul from various locations in the Northwest. The company also fields 15 log haulers, and an assortment of roadbuilding
equipment used mainly for road reconstruction, landings, spur roads and maintenance on timber sale roads.
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engineeredwood
from page 43 Taking a giant step forward, Freres Lumber is currently building a specialized manufacturing facility to produce the company’s newest innovation, Mass Plywood Panels (MPP). MPP is a veneer based engineered wood product that is a massive, largescale plywood panel with maximum finished dimensions up to 12 feet wide by 48 feet long, and up to 24 inches thick. Designed for the tall building construction market, MPP is the latest structural system in the Mass Timber movement (Cross Laminated Timber and glulam) and is viewed as a sustainable replacement for concrete and steel. The new MPP plant will be housed in a new, 168,000 square-foot building a short distance from Freres’ main manufacturing facility. Engineering and construction of the plant will be the second largest expense in company history, Freres said. The estimate is in the $20 million range. German companies HOMAG Group and Minda Group, along with U.S. company Stiles Machinery Inc., are providing a combination of respective expertise in engineering, automation technology and machinery to deliver a turnkey solution in construction of the plant. A Minda press and a Weinmann CNC machine are spec’d to be the main pieces in the manufacturing process. North Santiam Paving Company, from Stayton, Oregon and CD Redding Construction, of Salem, Oregon are the building contractors, with Stiles Machinery overseeing machinery installation. The
Freres Lumber has been an industry leader in the production of high-quality sheathing and touch sanded plywood panels.
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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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engineeredwood
Taking a giant step forward, Freres Lumber is currently building a specialized manufacturing facility to produce the company’s newest innovation, Mass Plywood Panels (MPP). MPP is a veneer-based engineered wood product, a massive large scale plywood panel with maximum finished dimensions up to 12 feet wide by 48 feet long, and up to 24 inches thick. from page 44 plant should be up and running by late 2017. Introduced at the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) Traders Market show in October 2016, Mass Plywood Panels are the latest structural system innovation in the Mass Timber/Tall Wood movement and are positioned as an alternative to Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Mass Timber and/or Tall Wood are terms used to describe technologies that
include Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), Nail Laminated Timber, Laminated Strand Lumber and Laminated Veneer Lumber— and now, Mass Plywood Panels. The advancing technology can be used as an alternative to steel, concrete and masonry in a variety of mid- and high-rise building types. Mass Timber buildings are structurally sound and less expensive to construct. Developers and governments have also noted that Mass Timber construction has significant environmental benefits, and is fully renewable, and prevents pollution associated with the
Freres Lumber’s equipment line-up includes 15 log haulers, and an assortment of roadbuilding equipment used mainly for road reconstruction, landings, spur roads and maintenance on timber sale roads. 46
manufacturing of concrete and steel. CLT is a wood panel consisting of three, five or seven layers of dimension lumber oriented at right angles to one another. It is then glued together to form structural panels and is noted for its strength, dimensional stability and rigidity. CLT has been used in Europe since the 1990s and is now gaining traction in North America. The idea of a Mass Plywood Panel was first hatched in 2015. Interest in the new Mass Timber technologies led Kyle Freres, vice-president of operations and brother Tyler Freres, vicepresident of sales, to travel with professors and the forestry dean at Oregon State University to Hanover, Germany to attend LIGNA, the largest wood products show in the world and tour CLT plants. Prompted by what he learned during the trade show and subsequent tours of the CLT plants, Tyler led the charge to develop an alternative product. “We have to give a lot of credit to Tyler,” Rob said. “Tyler hand made some of the material to be tested, researched it, and ultimately convinced us to move forward with the product.” True to the company’s commitment to innovation, Freres Lumber began the process to develop the product. The fact that MPP was a natural evolution of the company’s present manufacturing process and products was a major influence on the decision to create the product. “Plywood is already cross-laminated— it’s how we make it,” says Rob. “We
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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engineeredwood
Founded in 1922, and currently managed by third generation family members, Freres Lumber has grown from a small, local sawmill to a diversified engineered wood products company. The company has an approach of embracing technology and continually upgrading, to stay on the leading edge of efficiency and competition. from page 46 thought we could produce a superior product to CLT because it’s similar to how Trus Joist I-beams have replaced solid sawn 2 x 10’s and 2 x 12’s. They can perform better with a fraction of the wood fiber without the squeaks and defects. “CLT is low production and deals with lots of pieces—2 x 6’s and 2 x 8’s— whereas we deal with large pieces of 4’ x 8’ panels that we scarf together,” he added. “There’s also an issue of drying. CLT lumber needs to dry to lower moisture content than normal. Plywood does not have that problem. There’s less waste in using plywood rather than lumber.” Rob explained that using the specialty veneers they make now to produce a new product that others can’t make is a step in diversifying the company’s product mix. “We’re in the Douglas fir region. I don’t think other mills can manufacture what we’re going to make. It won’t have the same characteristics. Southern pine may not have the strength properties of Doug fir. We’re playing to our strength and what we know best.” The Freres’ veneer plants can efficiently and responsibly use second and third growth timber with a minimum of a 5-inch block diameter to produce engineered panels. Natural defects within the log are engineered out of the raw material prior to constructing the mass panel by virtue of the traditional plywood laminating process. The compounded veneer layers, and the ability to engineer each individual layer, allow Freres to customize 48
the panels to specific engineering needs. Rob believes market conditions will also push the product forward. “We feel we are a low cost producer of the sheathing products we make, and MPP will diversify our product mix away from commodity pricing,” he explains. “We will
make a wide variety of products like columns, beams, rim-boards and long length plywood in addition to floors and walls for tall buildings. We hope to make complete building packages. Our goal is to have greater pricing power, better margins and greater stability in sales.”
From waste wood to watts
T
he “upgrade” philosophy at Freres Lumber has also created other opportunities to diversify the product
mix. In 2007, Freres launched its Evergreen BioPower LLC subsidiary, which produces electricity as a byproduct of heat generated for the plant processing operations. “It’s sort of like back to the future,” Rob Freres said. “We had a co-generation plant back in the 1950s when they were building the Detroit Dam to the east of us. When electricity was cheap and plentiful and reliable from the dam, we took out the co-gen plant. “In 2005-06, natural gas power prices went to $140 per megawatt. When it hit that price we had the residuals—bark, planer shavings and fines—so we had an internal supply of biomass,” he said. He added that they also had chip vans coming back empty from five different paper mills located in Eugene, Oregon and Longview and Camas Washington, which gave them the opportunity to pick up urban wood at a backhaul price to enhance
the raw material they already had. Since the new bio-power plant could be incentivized by energy tax credits from the State of Oregon and production tax credits for about a penny a kilowatt from the federal government, the company decided to go ahead with biomass and build a new co-generation plant. Soon after the new co-gen plant went on-line, the company started selling power to the local public utility.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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December/January 2018
The Edge GoPro cameras increase efficiency and safety in the forest
I
n the course of tedious sampling work, researchers from FPInnovations’ Fibre Supply group had a simple and original idea that led to results beyond expectations… The idea emerged while researchers were collecting data on site for the purpose of quantifying the effects of spruce budworm damage on harvesting machine productivity. Despite the many hours spent by the researchers in the field, the results obtained were not satisfactory. That’s when they decided to place cameras inside a machine operator’s cab: not only did they not have to be physically present all the time, but the solution also allowed them direct access to many machines at the same time. The method is simple and inexpensive: two GoPro cameras are placed in the operator’s cab such that both the monitor of the onboard computer (OBC) and an overall view of the site can be seen in a
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single shot. The collected data, which is analyzed by FPInnovations staff, allows for a precise evaluation of the work being performed, in this particular case lengths and diameters of logs produced in various stages of infestation. The results speak for themselves: the amount of data collected in a day increased tremendously. This approach offers many benefits. In addition to the increase in productivity of data acquisition, the use of cameras in cabs improves the level of safety in the field since the presence of foresters in the vicinity of the equipment is not required anymore. The data collected can also be used for training purposes,
allowing for greater consistency in the dissemination of information. Finally, the data acquired is a source of quantifiable information in case additional in-depth analyses are required. You can watch the FPInnovations video, Fly Cab on the Wall: GoPros to Improve Efficiency and Safety, to learn more about this technology.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
Matthew Thiel (matthew.thiel@ fpinnovations.ca) or Jean-Philippe Gaudreau (jean-philippe.gaudreau@ fpinnovations.ca), researchers in FPInnovations’ Fibre Supply Group, can also be contacted for more information on the different options offered by this approach.
The Edge
Partial harvest approach can help industry address imminent short to mid-term supply challenges BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI
T
he cumulative effect of land use competition, forest fires, insect outbreaks, and climate change have raised concerns within the forest industry and government about potential short and mid-term commercial timber shortages, at a time when Canada is becoming more dependent on second growth forests for its fibre supply. The Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) has shown that one way that companies can avoid future timber supply shortages is to consider use of partial harvest systems, particularly as they transition to harvesting more second growth forests. Because of moderate to heavy commercial forest harvesting since the early 1970s, about 18 per cent of Canada’s commercial forest now consists of second growth managed forests that have the benefit of established infrastructure. Applying partial harvest techniques like those suggested by CWFC is one way to protect the integrity of these stands at a time when they are experiencing greater adverse impacts on their health. Partial harvest removes some of the commercial timber as, for example, a second growth stand matures. This has the effect of increasing the value of the remaining fibre, while also maintaining and enhancing forest health. “In very dense growing conditions, there will always be a certain amount of natural mortality,” says Derek Sidders, Program Manager at CWFC. “Our partial harvest systems anticipate that natural occurrence by entering a site and conducting a partial removal to open up these stands, resulting in the partial capture of commercial timber and better growing conditions for what remains.” CWFC has been applying, measuring, and verifying the outcomes of various commercial thinning practices on research and demonstration sites for the past 20 years and is working to transfer this knowledge to industry for its benefit. CWFC is hoping to launch new research and demonstration sites, in partnership with industry and government, to enhance
This 34-year-old lodgepole pine plantation stand is a good candidate for partial harvest. what it has already learned about partial harvest outcomes, involving new species and different stand scenarios. Additional partial harvest knowledge will soon become available as a result of a research project completed in 2002 involving partial commercial thinning of white spruce-dominated stands aged 60 to 70 years post-establishment. They numbered about 1,600 stems per hectare or about 500 cubic metres. The project involved commercial thinning at rates of 30, 50 and 70 per cent retention. Of those trees removed, 90 per cent were sawlogs, with the remainder unmerchantable small stems. All sites were tracked and monitored with permanent sample plots and were harvested using conventional cut-to-length logging equipment in unique designs developed by the CWFC a division of the Canadian Forest Service. “The 15 year growth response to this commercial thinning treatment is now being evaluated after being sampled this past fall, and information will be analyzed by research scientists with the CWFC, looking at the values associated with the growth and response of the trees to the thinning,” says Sidders. They will also evaluate the results of windthrow, which is a major risk associated with commercial thinning, and also how well these sites are naturally regenerating, asking whether this practice is selfperpetuating as the stand re-establishes itself with seedlings in the understorey before final removal. Potential new projects involve partial
harvest of a pure pine plantation stand aged between 35 to 50 years with existing access roads and handling areas. These projects will be designed for partial harvest treatments that will recover about half the stand volume, while maximizing incremental growth potential and response, with the intent of a second entry in 10 to 15 years. “This approach allows us to ‘borrow’ values and volumes from the future,” says Sidders. Another potential opportunity involves partial harvest in a 40 to 45 year old upland spruce plantation already producing volumes of 280 to 350 cubic metres per hectare, with the goal of 40 to 50 per cent volume removal. A variety of thinning strategies are being suggested, aiming to enhance forest health and to evaluate realistic patterns that are cost-effective. This partial harvest would use both conventional equipment and new technology that is being designed specifically for commercial thinning. “We are also looking at applying partial harvest research in natural forests where there is uneven age among the standing timber that will allow us, through multiple entries, to enhance their value, reinvigorate the stands, manage diversity, and take maximum advantage of an overstorey crop to assist in the reforestation of these sites,” says Sidders.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
For more information about what CWFC can offer for partial harvest strategies, please contact Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@canada.ca. 51
The Edge
Alberta Innovates invests in testing of “Biobattery” for GHG reduction and bio-product manufacturing BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI
“
B
iobattery” technology developed in Germany has arrived in Alberta. It could potentially allow forest companies to transform their on-site mill residuals and forest waste into syngas, biooil and biochar, which they can then use to power and heat their own operations or sell as raw materials for refining downstream. For example, the bio-oil produced from this technology can be refined into biobased gasoline, diesel or jet fuel. Biochar can be used to fuel the conversion process or sold as a soil amendment. The syngas could be blended with natural gas as part of a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy by natural gas producers or used in a combined heat and power plant. The Biobattery was invented by Dr. Andreas Hornung of the Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute, part of the Fraunhofer Society, a renowned applied research organization in Germany. A demonstration unit capable of processing 30 kilograms of raw material per hour has been brought to Alberta as part of a research collaboration between the society and the University of Alberta. The technology is being commercialized and marketed in Canada by a spinoff company of Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Susteen Technologies Canada, based in Calgary. The Fraunhofer Society consists of 69 institutes and manages about 2.7 billion euros in technology development funds. It has signed a research collaboration agreement with the U of A as part of the university’s Future Energy Systems research initiative. Alberta Innovates invested $300,000 from its Alberta Bio Future funding program into the Biobattery project, in a partnership that also includes the Future Energy Systems initiative, the Alberta Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, WestJet, and Susteen Technologies, to bring the demonstration unit to the U of A for validation and testing with a variety of organic feedstocks. Dr. Amit Kumar, professor of mechanical engineering at the U of A and Deputy Director of the Future Energy Systems initiative, says the Fraunhofer Society is one of the leading research institutes in 52
German Biobattery technology, like this compact 30 kilogram per hour unit, can process raw materials like forest residuals into bio-oil, syngas and biochar in one process. the world. The Biobattery’s connection to this society provides it with a high degree of credibility. “It aligns very much with what Alberta is trying to accomplish. Greenhouse gas mitigation is a key driver for us,” Dr. Kumar said. “This technology can help by reducing waste, and then by producing products that can help to reduce GHG emissions by substituting for fossil-fuelbased energy products.” Dr. Kumar described the Biobattery as a very decentralized unit that could be installed in communities on a small scale. Using their municipal waste or forest residues located in their areas as the raw material, communities could generate energy products for their own use or bioproducts that they could sell. The Biobattery uses Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR) technology—a system that combines an advanced form of pyrolysis with a second-stage process. Bio-oil produced with this novel technology has higher-value properties compared to conventional pyrolysis. These properties are a key factor in the overall feasibility and economics of using biomass-based feedstocks for conversion to fuels and chemicals. Alberta Innovates (AI) and other partners are interested in the Biobattery technology. AI is interested in the fact TCR goes beyond conventional pyrolysis, can be done at a smaller scale and has the potential to process a range of biomass feedstocks.
But the Biobattery needed to be tested under Alberta conditions—“in the Alberta climate and using our feedstocks, to effectively evaluate its operation and to de-risk any future deployment in our remote and small communities,” noted Dr. Christine Murray, Alberta Innovates Director of Agricultural Technologies. “The cost of biojet (fuel) is an ongoing concern that will eventually be solved through a combination of scale, cheap and sustainable feedstock and the price of carbon,” says Geoffrey Tauvette, Director, Environment and Fuel, at WestJet. “The Biobattery could help solve some of these issues by potentially creating a bio-oil from a cheaper feedstock such as wood or agriculture residues which is then sent for processing by existing refineries.” Bruce Hillen, CEO of Susteen Technologies Canada, said the company hopes to have a commercial Biobattery unit capable of processing 500 kilograms per hour available by the end of 2018. “Alberta Innovates’ support is critical for both validating the Biobattery concept and to accelerate commercialization,” Hillen said. Alberta Innovates also played a critical role in bringing together the partners to advance this project, said Dr. Kumar.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
For more information about Alberta Innovates support of the Biobattery initiative, contact AI Communications Specialist Julia Necheff at julia. necheff@albertainnovates.ca.
The Edge
FPDat Transport: better tracking wood transport operations
F
PInnovations has launched an onboard computer for forestry trucks called FPDat Transport that allows users to better track forest transport operations. The system was recently officially added to the list of FPSuite products geared to harvesting operations (FPDat Harvesting) and road maintenance (FPDat Grader). FPDat Transport records electronic control module (ECM) data and the GPS position. Data is then sent through a cellular network to a centralized web platform (FPTrak), where various reports can be viewed. “Generally speaking, we can quickly follow up our transport operations and get comprehensive statistics. The data enables us to respond promptly,” explained Julien Pedneault, the operational efficiency coordinator at Resolute Forest Products in the Lac St-Jean region of Quebec, which has purchased the technology. The data acquisition module is very compact and simple to install. It allows users to gather critical information such as truck position and speed, fuel consumption, driver identity and engine speed ranges. This information makes it possible to generate various reports which are
very useful to forest transport managers. The trucking summary report includes engine idle and travel times, speeds and distances travelled, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It helps to identify what key elements need to be improved. A geozone-based report provides data on specific locations where trucks pass (e.g. bridges, villages, load control areas). Lastly, cycle time reports are also very useful for identifying problem areas, knowing the real time for transport cycles and comparing estimated and paid work hours. All these reports can be sent automatically by e-mail. They can also be exported in Excel or PDF format. “Although data is available in FPTrak, the main appeal of the platform is to be able to provide automatic reports, which makes it easier to disseminate data internally and share information with our shippers,” added Pedneault. The tool’s advantages therefore include the validation of cycle times and hourly rates, increased safety due to the control of excess speed and mandatory stops, and better accessibility to operational data, which allows improvements to be made. “Presenting all the information in one place makes it easier to consult it and get
an overview of operations,” explained Martin Castonguay, FPSuite product manager. “It improves work co-ordination, response time and addresses many unforeseen situations that can happen in a forest.” The FPDat system is sold throughout Canada by a network of knowledgeable distributors who can count on the support of FPInnovations.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
Additional information about FPDat Transport is available by contacting Martin Castonguay, Research Leader of FPInnovations’ Precision Forestry Group, at martin.castonguay@fpinnovations.ca or 514-782-4515. 53
The Edge
Aspen: an underutilized resource in northeast British Columbia
T
he aspen resource in the Northern Rockies is recognized as being of “high quality,” but there is little in the way of supporting data to back up this assertion, and provide support for investigating other markets for aspen products. Based on this observation, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) and FPInnovations started an Aspen Initiative in 2016, a study that will ultimately lead to long-term sustainable business and economic activity in the Northern Rockies from the commercially underutilized aspen resource. The initial aspen quality study done early in 2017 demonstrated that the quality and size of the aspen trees in the NRRM are of substantially higher quality and larger than western Canadian aspen
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in other published studies. “Log quality analyses show that 97.5 per cent of the volume of trees harvested was sound wood, and 2.5 per cent of the volume was rot,” reports Bob Knudson, Research Leader in the Engineered Wood Products Group at FPInnovations. “Another important finding in this study is the merchantable height of the aspen trees.” Based on the positive outcome of this preliminary study, the second phase of the project is currently underway. The focus is to conduct a commercial trial of the aspen resource for veneer and lumber production. The trial will involve the harvesting of approximately 300 trees across 10 sites representing the predominate range of forests in the region. “The logs from the
trees will be sent to a veneer facility and a sawmill facility for commercial processing to determine volumetric and grade yields, to identify any challenges with processing aspen for a commercial product,” explains Knudson. This more detailed investigation is crucial in determining the best fit for NRRM aspen in existing and/or new markets and product lines.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
For more information on this project, please contact Bob Knudson, Research Leader of FPInnovations’ Engineered Wood Products Manufacturing Group at bob.knudson@fpinnovations. ca or 604-222-5738.
The Edge
Mechanical logging options for woodlot owners The Wallenstein Timber Talon (top photo) consists of a log grapple and log bunk for loading and transporting woodlot logs. The Turbo Saw attachment made by Dougherty Forest Manufacturing (bottom photo), which can be attached to a tractor, could be a good option for harvesting trees on flatter land.
BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI
T
he labour needed to harvest a private woodlot often discourages owners from selling their timber or harvesting it for their own use, with the danger that the wood decays and becomes a fire hazard. However, there are mechanical logging options that, with the right circumstances, could make business sense. For larger volumes and in situations where a woodlot owner identifies opportunities to custom log for other woodlot owners, making an investment in either an entry level mechanical harvester, harvesting attachment for a tractor or skid steer, or even purchase of a used feller buncher and skidder could make financial sense. “There is no denying that manual harvesting of a woodlot is hard work,” says Toso Bozic, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Bioenergy/Agroforestry Specialist. “For some, mechanical harvesting might make sense. What could help to pay for the equipment is offering custom logging services to other woodlot owners and to other industries, such as oil and gas, as well as to farmers for small land clearing,” he says. In terms of entry level equipment that is purpose-built and versatile, a Quebec company called Awassos offers its MT70 unit. It can be equipped with a harvesting head capable of felling trees and processing tree limbs. The unit also has a bunk so that logs can be loaded on the fly for delivery back to roadside or elsewhere. Another potential approach is to purchase a timber harvesting attachment for either a tractor or skid steer. Hinton, Oklahoma-based, Dougherty Forest Manufacturing, offers a Turbo Saw attachment powered by a tractor PTO and connected to the back of the tractor. A cautionary note here is that trees would have to be located on relatively flat ground, without a lot of debris around. Keep in mind that tractors are not designed to travel in heavily treed, virgin forest. However, it may be feasible to back the attachment to trees near an existing road, although they still need to be manually delimbed and bucked. Another option
offered by the company is its heavier-duty, CFB-16 feller buncher, attached to the front of a skid steer. Working from the front and equipped with grab arms, this unit makes it easier to control the falling and placement of harvested trees. There are also options for transporting fallen and bucked timber using either a tractor or an all-terrain vehicle. One option is the Timber Talon log loader and trailer offered by EMB Manufacturing of Wallenstein, Ontario. The Timber Talon consists of a grapple to load bucked logs into an accompanying trailer. A final consideration is to purchase used purpose-built logging equipment such as feller bunchers and skidders. Bob Kallio is owner of Edson, Albertabased, Kallio Contracting, and is one of 45 members belonging to the EDFOR Cooperative. Kallio has been working in forestry for decades and has built his business using second-hand equipment. He cautions woodlot owners about purchasing used logging equipment without understanding the risks.
He has considerable experience logging and purchasing wood from private landowners or offering custom logging services. While it may be possible to purchase a feller buncher at auction for as low as $30,000, he notes that replacement of a hydraulic pump alone will cost about $20,000. “It depends how much wood you have on your land whether it is feasible to buy this equipment,” Kallio says. “The problem with that $30,000 machine is that you are buying an old machine, and it is pretty much worn out. That’s where the issues come in. It is so expensive to repair this equipment.” The feller buncher is just one part of a fleet that should also include at least a skidder and a delimber to get bucked logs to roadside. For more information about overall mechanical woodlot harvesting options, contact Toso Bozic at toso.bozic@gov. ab.ca.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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TECHUPDATE
By Tony Kryzanowski
Logging Truck Trailers BWS Manufacturing Ltd
Summit Trailer Ltd
Summit Trailer Ltd has added its new Peak quad wagon logger to its Peak trailer line. This unit comes with a new bunk and stake system that is engineered to be lighter and stronger. Currently stocking a walking beam suspension with scale system, Summit also has a new headache rack engineered and designed to go with its complete rig-up package that it installs at any of its three locations in Prince George, Penticton or Edmonton.
Summit Trailers says that this unit belongs with its tridem hayrack, both highway and off highway versions, B-Train and Super B Loggers from BWS Manufacturing, adding that it can supply and service a variety of log hauling needs. www.summittrailer.ca
Doepker
Introducing StrongArm bunks and stakes, Doepker’s new quad logger is totally redesigned. The combo carries up to three tiers, including a tier on the tri-drive truck. Operators appreciate the durability, reliability and good old fashioned “feel” of the mechanical walking beam suspension with an optional air ride, says the company. Doepker’s quad logger comes standard with industry leading, patented, StrongArm bunks and cam folding stakes. Specifically engineered to be stronger and lighter than the competition,
StrongArm bunks and stakes provide the strength and capacity needed for every load. All components are made of Strenx900, one of the strongest weldable steels available world-wide. The unique, patented, cam folding system is designed to maintain cambered in the vertical stake and self-locking fold for back-haul. The sleek design maximizes payload without sacrificing the robustness required in the toughest forests. www.premiumtruck.ca 56
BWS Manufacturing Ltd is a manufacturer of on- and off-road trailers based in Centreville, New Brunswick. The company began manufacturing forestry trailers in 1967, and is celebrating 50 years of business. Today, BWS continues to manufacture forestry trailers and B-trains for both Canada and the U.S. Thanks to 3-D design software and continuous communication with customers, BWS is able to incorporate the latest technologies in its designs, earning a reputation for manufacturing innovative and reliable trailers. As an ISO certified trailer manufacturer in Canada, the company says that customers can expect to receive consistent quality in each and every trailer built by BWS. BWS logging B-Trains have a wide range of features that deliver value each day, even in extreme environments. The company is currently developing a new line of Super King B-Trains to further assist those in the forest industry. www.bwstrailers.com
FreFlyt
FreFlyt designs and builds 12 trailer styles, both individual and paired configurations, to haul logs of varying length using several bunk widths and stake heights. Customers are encouraged to contact FreFlyt before the construction phase so they can build
a trailer modified to their required specifications. After construction, FreFlyt has bolt-on options to fit customer needs. Also, FreFlyt custom rigs highway tractors to match trailer configurations, which can be customized to customer specifications. www.freflyt.ca
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
techupdate Magnum Trailer & Equipment Inc
Magnum Trailer & Equipment manufactures premium quality forestry trailers in all popular configurations. By offering fully engineered products, and carefully considering customer design input and feedback, Magnum’s designs offer increased productivity and value for end users. Light tare weights and low bunk heights ensure that payloads are maximized, putting more profits into customers’ pockets, the company says. Magnum’s history of providing custom transportation solutions carries over into the forestry lineup: log trailer specifications are tailored to meet the needs of each customer. Magnum works with dealers throughout B.C. to sell, service and support its forestry trailers. www.magnumtrailer.com
ANSER Manufacturing
Anser Manufacturing Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of logging trailers in British Columbia. The Anser product has been available since 1985, and has proven itself in performance and durability for over 30 years, says the company. In recent years, the Anser team has taken aggressive steps towards modifying and to page 58
• PATENTED
OVER CENTRE CAM
• HIGH STRENGTH SWEDISH STEEL
• WEDGE LOCK STAKE POCKETS
Prince George
www.prolenc.com
877.563.8899 Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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techupdate Deloupe Inc
from page 57 improving trailer design by utilizing 3-D solid modeling software and FEA analysis. At Anser, its primary focus is on the needs of the customer. The company pays close attention to detail, implements innovative and practical designs, and it takes pride on maintaining the highest of quality standards.
Anser’s head office and manufacturing plant is located in Vernon, British Columbia. The facility is said to be modern and accessible, which allows the company to provide a high level of service to customers. Its engineers and fabricating staff are experienced, highly skilled and very responsive, and it has an extensive parts inventory, and a service department that ensures the wheels keep turning. www.ansermfg.com
Deloupe says that its star product, the Viking logging semitrailer, is custom-fabricated at a competitive price to meet customer needs and budget. Known throughout North America for its ruggedness and durability, Viking semi-trailers are fabricated with only high-end materials to ensure high quality, says the company.
Some advantages and benefits are: optimized rugged design allowing for superior volume-weight ratio, epoxy basecoat topped with two coats of polyurethane paint or an optional galvanized finish to maximize protection, high volume payload capacity to maximize profitability, and galvanized stakes. www.deloupe.com
Arctic Manufacturing
Arctic Manufacturing was established in 1974. It started producing its first logging trailers in 1975 to fill the need for a strong and viable trailer for off-highway hauling, and a lightweight trailer for highway log haulers. All Arctic trailers feature urethane bushings at all axle connections and pivot points in their suspensions. T1 and high strength alloy steels are used throughout the components. Innovative engineering, design and manufacturing provide a model that is light and strong, providing
years of low maintenance, and long life. From tandem axle pole trailers to quads and hayracks, all the way down to custom bunks and bolsters, Arctic Manufacturing says it has the equipment needed by log truckers, as well as a large assortment of parts for trucks and trailers. www.arcticmfg.com
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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
Nordic Traction Group, the parent company of Clark Tracks, Scotland and OFA, Finland, offers a full line of traction products. Nordic Traction has partnered with Wallingford's Inc., North America’s largest manufacturer and distributor of logging supplies, to market these tested and proven products throughout all of Canada.
www.nordictractiongroup.com
TracTion SoluTionS for Harvesters, Forwarders, and Skidders.
FX95
Paragon Soft
OFA specializes in the manufacturing of tire traction chains. At our state-of-the-art factory in Finland, special Boron alloy steel is converted into the highest quality tire chain. Prior to painting and packing, the chains are case-hardened which makes the products extremely durable with high surface hardness and provides excellent fatigue strength and a resilient core.
Clark Tracks specialize in developing and manufacturing forest machine tracks to suit both cut-to-length machines and skidders. We supply tracks in various sizes and designs to suit virtually any terrain, the harshest climates and all machine types. From tracks for climbing to tracks with extreme flotation, Clark Tracks has something to suit your needs.
www.ofa.fi/en | www.ofa.fi/fr
www.clarktracks.com
Clark Tracks and OFA are marketed in Canada exclusively by Wallingford's Inc.
Call or visit Wallingfords online to learn more.
800-323-3708 Find us on
www.wallingfords.com
SUPPLIERNEWSLINE FPInnovations announces new President and CEO
Stéphane Renou is the new President and Chief Executive Officer at FPInnovations. He takes over from Pierre Lapointe, who has held the position since 2008. A native of Montréal, Renou has a number of degrees from Université de Sherbrooke as well as Polytechnique Montréal where he went on to complete a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. In 2015, he earned an MBA (Innovation Management) from the University of Colorado. In 2000, Renou moved to the U.S. to join General Electric’s research centre, where he
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took on increasingly senior positions, heading a number of divisions at various locations. Most recently, he was the Leader of Industrial Outcomes Optimization at GE Global Research. These varied experiences enabled him to acquire a vast background of R&D combined with commercial knowledge and a strong sense of entrepreneurship. He holds eight patents, in addition to having published numerous scientific articles. Pierre Lapointe announced his intention to step down as President of FPInnovations last spring. Lapointe spearheaded many major projects at FPInnovations and is leaving a rich and promising legacy to the Canadian forest industry. His commitment was recently recognized through being officially welcomed to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. www.fpinnovations.ca
By Tony Kryzanowski Morbark acquires Rayco Manufacturing
Morbark, LLC has acquired Rayco Manufacturing, representing the first addition to the company since affiliates of the private equity firm Stellex Capital Management LP (Stellex) acquired Morbark in 2016. The purchase of Rayco represents a significant move towards the company’s strategic focus on broadening its range of tree care and industrial equipment, aftermarket parts, and service offered to customers. Rayco was founded in 1978 in Wooster, Ohio. Today, the company is dedicated to the design and production of a line of environmental equipment, including forestry mulchers, stump cutters, crawler trucks, multi-tool carriers, attachments, brush chippers and the all-new AT71 aerial trimmer. Morbark will operate Rayco as a new division, maintaining its brand identity. Rayco’s experienced management team will continue to manage their operations. www.morbark.com
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
suppliernewsline
Deere focuses on need for quick information with new website design
John Deere has completed its global rollout of a new company website that places those who shop for—and own—John Deere equipment as the number one priority for information offered on its pages. The site design is mobile-responsive and works on a variety of screen sizes, from smart phones and tablets to traditional desktop computers. The improved JohnDeere.com contains concise product information and easy-touse navigation, more useful tools for those who shop for and own Deere products and services, a product-centric focus on helping users accomplish key activities such as identifying the right machine for their use or locating a dealer, and easy spec-to-spec comparisons across John Deere and competitive models. “All of our customers want to quickly find the information they need, whether they are searching from their desk or from a jobsite,” says Sean O’Hanlon, Director, Global Internet Strategy, Deere & Company. www.johndeere.com
by forest managers, better ways to store, process and manage big data, new mobile forest apps, and new GIS applications. “We’ve been seeing a positive response from western forest companies to our line-up of speakers,” says Vancouverbased conference organizer, Anthony Robinson, associate publisher of Logging and Sawmilling Journal. “Service provider interest has been running high as well, which allowed us to add two further technical experts to our one-day conference.”
The 2018 ForestTECHX Conference runs from March 6-7 at the Executive Airport Plaza Hotel in Richmond, B.C. Registrations are now open at www.foresttechx.events For more information on the ForestTechX Conference and to view the program, visit www.foresttechx.events
to page 62
ForestTECHX 2018 Conference in March to focus on unlocking data value
International experts and foresters from countries with strong technical networks are coming together to a new forestry technology conference in early March 2018. The ForestTECHX 2018 Conference will provide managers and technical staff from forestry companies with a timely and independent overview of Lidar, geomatics, and data collection tools.
The focus for the conference will be on unlocking the true value of data for forest operations, and key themes will include: how virtual reality tools are delivering gains, how skillsets are changing for managers, how leading loggers are using harvesting data, knowledge from reconciling remote sensing data in the field, practical application of robotics and sensors Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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suppliernewsline from page 61
Autolog celebrates 30 years
For the last 30 years, Autolog has been offering expertise, know-how and solutions to the wood products industry for large corporations and/or entrepreneurs around the world. As a leader in vision, optimization and automation, Autolog says it will continue to build on its reputation for innovative solutions, quality products and unparalleled customer experience, for many more years to come. Created in 1987, its first commercial offerings were supplying industrial controls such as lumber and log sorters. Over the years, the company continuously added products to its existing line-up and rapidly became recognized world-wide as a pioneer, offering solutions in optimization, automation and vision. Autolog’s team of over 100 professionals is made up of highly dedicated specialists representing the best in their field of expertise. The company says that it is proud to define itself and live by three principles: quality, technology and customer experience, adding that each of these key elements precisely define who it is and how it conducts business. www.autolog.com
Western Forest Products closes Englewood train
Western Forest Products has closed its Englewood logging train on Vancouver Island as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce costs and strengthen its competitiveness, says the company.
Logs will be transported by truck at a lower cost to create efficiencies in the transportation of logs to its mills from northern Vancouver Island forestry operations. At its peak, the train employed 34 people. As a result of this closure, these positions will be eliminated. Because Western Forest Products is working with its employees and union representatives to identify opportunities for the impacted employees to transition to other positions at the company, the reduction in overall jobs is anticipated to be fewer than 15, says the company. www.westernforest.com
Etymotic’s high-definition earplugs reduce hearing loss risk
Exposure to noise from loud machinery and the resulting hearing loss and ringing in the ears is just one of the many occupational hazards with which forestry workers have to contend. Illinois-based Etymotic has a solution: high-definition earplugs and earphones. Etymotic’s safety line of earplugs and earphones reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss and ringing ears. They have been used for years by musicians and others exposed to high sound levels. Etymotic’s HD Safety earplugs are the world’s highest fidelity ready-fit earplugs, says the company. These low-cost earplugs reduce sound levels while preserving clarity, instead of muffling the sound. www.etymotic.com
Pacific Logging Congress announces four new board members
The Pacific Logging Congress, an association of forestry contractors, mill managers, and timberland owners dedicated to supporting the future of logging and the forest industry, welcomes four new board members—including Anthony Robinson, associate publisher of Logging and Sawmilling Journal and TimberWest Magazine. Anthony’s 10-year career in forestry and natural resource management includes project management, consulting, operational planning, harvesting, mining, and geographic information systems. New board member Lindsay Baska, office manager at Mike Pihl Logging, has grown up with the logging company and in the forest industry. Larry Heesacker owns and operates A-1 Logging Inc. out of Yamhill, Oregon. Peter Jackson, a licensed land surveyor and a professional forester, has been employed by Green Diamond Resource Company for almost two decades. “Each of these individuals embodies the spirit and goals of the PLC,” says PLC President, Jeff Wimer. “They bring with them talent, expertise and energy and will be a great asset to the PLC. We’re excited to have them on board.” www.thepacificloggingcongress.com
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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
APRIL 4-6, 2018 PRINCE GEORGE, BC, CANADA PRINCE GEORGE CIVIC CENTRE
JOIN US FOR THE 2018 COFI ANNUAL CONVENTION The BC Council of Forest Industries Annual Convention is the largest gathering of the forest sector in Western Canada. From April 4-6, 2018, industry CEOs, executives, managers, suppliers, business and government leaders from across BC and Canada will gather to discuss key issues and opportunities in the BC forest industry today and in the future.
Visit the website to learn more about the program, featuring all the topics that matter to the industry today: •
International Market Outlook
•
Policy, Politics and Economic Outlook
•
Canada/U.S. Relations
•
The Future of the Forest Industry
•
Softwood Lumber Negotiations
•
A Conversation with the C-Suite
PRESENTING SPONSOR
REGISTER NOW COFI.ORG Contact Diana Gillrie E gillrie@cofi.org T 778-760-1166
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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thelastword
Time for a beetle battle plan—involving the Feds—in Jasper National Park By Tony Kryzanowski
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hat many people predicted as inevitable has happened. A mountain pine beetle infestation building up in Jasper National Park appears to have become an epidemic and is now spreading east into Alberta’s commercial forest. Foresters working along the park’s eastern edge say that there has been a ten-fold increase in beetle infestation in just months. Richard Briand, Woodlands Manager for West Fraser’s Hinton and Edson areas, says that they removed about 40,000 infested trees in 2017. They have been notified that the number now is about half-a-million. The concern is that there is nothing separating the edge of the park’s forest from Alberta’s commercial forest, and that is raising serious alarm bells in forestrydependent communities like Hinton and Edson. This represents an immediate threat to Alberta’s forest industry and potentially to Canada’s entire pine forest without immediate and significant countermeasures. What should be of concern to the entire Canadian forest industry is that scientists have already proven that the beetle will attack jackpine. Based on the work of forest companies harvesting in the midst of the national park boundary, it seems that they have been doing their part within Alberta’s Mountain Pine Beetle Management Strategy by harvesting over-mature pine that tends to attract the beetle. The province also has a Healthy Pine Strategy, recognizing that 60 per cent of its pine forest is 80 years or older. A total of 16 plans have been approved under this strategy. It prioritizes mature and over-mature pine within forest harvest plans to reduce the
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amount of susceptible pine by up to 75 per cent by 2026. Truly, there has been some effort in the park to control the beetle, like prescribed burns, establishing buffers between the park boundary and commercial forest, and mobilizing crews to harvest and burn small infestations. But the fact is that park managers were faced with a no-win situation. It’s a park, after all, and when attempting to manage a park as naturally as possible, the concept of accepting the beetle as a ‘natural disturbance’ has some merit. Despite these measures, it’s quite obvious that the federal government needs to change its strategy. Tweezers won’t work anymore. It’s time to break out the chainsaw. That sentiment is shared by Paul Whittaker, president and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA). “We have a chance here in Alberta to stop an epidemic that could go nationwide,” he wrote in an opinion piece published in the Edmonton Journal recently. “The beetle has been left to run wild in Jasper National Park, but federal funding would go a long way to stopping it from spreading further.” While it is easy to point fingers as to who is to blame for allowing this infestation to escalate in the first place, the goal now should be not to panic. We must leave it to the professionals, who to this point in Alberta have actually done a remarkably good job of keeping the beetle infestation at bay. It seems that we did learn a lot from what happened when the beetle devastated the forestry sector in the B.C. Interior. The biggest lessons learned were to be ready to counterattack now, take no
prisoners, and never, ever underestimate the beetle’s ability to adapt and survive. Sitting on the sidelines to watch Nature unfold is no longer an option. Natural disturbance has found a new and dangerous gear. The focus has to be on how to deal with the sudden, and relatively short term, collapse of the lodgepole pine forest in the park, with the goal of also minimizing the potential for massive forest fires in the park and beyond. Whittaker points to the $85 million spent to effectively control a beetle outbreak between 2007-2008 in the Grande Prairie area. “Now, $85 million is a lot of money, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the $9 billion in damages, firefighting costs, and lost productivity that the fire in Fort McMurray caused,” he writes. Should aggressive, winter-only, commercial logging be allowed in the park for a short duration to mitigate the potential for future, high intensity forest fires that could spread into the commercial forest? This activity would salvage some commercial value before the dying and dead forest turns into a matchbox like the B.C. Interior. Yes, short term logging should be allowed, in addition to some carefully controlled prescribed burns to maintain the park’s natural biodiversity. While allowing the beetle and forest fire cycle to run its course might be defensible as a natural disturbance in ordinary times, these are not ordinary times. Climate change is impacting our weather patterns and expanding the beetle’s natural environment. We must recognize this threat and react appropriately, starting with adequate funding of a countermeasures program for the coming year.
Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2018
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