IFI October November 2019 Issue

LOGGING • SAWMILLING • BIOMASS

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

HOLTEC

THE LOG HANDLING SPECIALISTS

SAWLINES Lucidyne - Carrier Lumber & Seneca Harvester Heads Prime Movers & Mulchers Operation Focus Tigercat in Texas John Deere in BC

WHAT WILL YOU GRIND? New from Peterson, the 1700D Horizontal Grinder.

Small, and mobile, but packed with the features that make Peterson grinders the most productive machines on the market—producing materials at the lowest cost per ton.

1700D Specifications Operating Length Operating Width Operating Height Machine Weight Engine

1344 cm 296 cm 427 cm 18 597 kg Caterpillar C9.3B Tier IV, 339 kW Caterpillar C9.3B Tier III, 309 kW Rotor pinned or drum rotor available Feed Opening (width x height) 137 x 69 cm Wheeled, Tracked, & Stationary Electric Options

Blower Trucks

•

Chippers

•

Grinders

•

Screens

•

Stacking Conveyors

LOGGING • BIOMASS

CONTENTS

HARVESTER HEADS

22

Advanced sensing technologies & software to communicate with the sawmill have transformed cut-to-length harvesting in recent years

48

50 50 OPERATION FOCUS - JOHN DEERE

48 PRIME MOVERS & MULCHERS

A Legacy of Determination & Deere

Lahner Forst - more than an ordinary forestry business

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

REGULAR FEATURES

6 Logging News 58 Advertising Index

LUMBER PROCESSING

COVER: HOLTEC - The log handling specialists

LOGGING • SAW

MILLING • BIOM

CONTENTS

ASS OCTOBER / NOVEM

BER 2019

More than ten years ago, Holtec successfully launched it’s chainlessTM technology and set benchmarks in wear optimization and reduction of operating costs.

Then as now the arguments are clear: Step feeder technology with nearly no wear, electric drive concept with crank drive and no use of chain drives and hydraulics.

In addition, capacities of up to 50 logs/min are possible.

These arguments also convinced PIVETEAU group. This is the third time they have chosen HOLTEC as preferred supplier for a sawmill turn-key system.

HOLTEC

THE LOG HAN

DLING SPECIALISTS

SAWLINES Lucidyne - Carr Lumber & Seneier ca Harvester Head s Prime Movers & Mulchers Operation Focu Tigercat in Texas John Deere in s BC

www.holtec.de

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 1

49

Cedar Eaters OF TEXAS

54 54 OPERATION FOCUS - TIGERCAT

49 INNOVATION - TIGERCAT

In Texas, mulching has become the intervention of choice for landowners battling cedar on their ranch lands.

The new 845E and L845E track feller bunchers have been upgraded with several new features

43

IBC

43 INNOVATION - JOHN DEERE

IBC INNOVATION - JOHN DEERE

Utilizing invaluable customer feedback, John Deere is rolling out increased options on its G-Series forestry swing machines.

T he FS50/FR50 Felling Heads build upon the successful qualities of previous models for increased productivity, range and visibility

LUMBER PROCESSING

CONTENTS

SAWLINES

16

18

17 16 LUCIDYNE

17 LUCIDYNE

18 HOLTEC

Going against the grain: How Lucidyne is revolutionizing Lumber Grading with Deep Learning

Carrier Lumber & Seneca choose Lucidyne GradeScan

At PIVETEAUBOIS in Sainte-Florence the new HOLTEC log yard has been running since 2018 – in due time for the 70th anniversary of the company

2 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

GradeScan®

with Perceptive Sight® Intelligent Grading

mill Seneca Saw ed a second has purchas tive Sight. p e c r e P h it w 9 GradeScan cember 201 e D n o ti a ll Insta regon mill O , ti o N ir e in th

Perceptive Sight uses deep learning artificial intelligence, revolutionizing how lumber is graded.

And it’s only available from Lucidyne.

Lucidyne Technologies Inc. lucidyne.com | 541 - 753 - 5111 Corvallis, Oregon USA

ISSUE 71 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 583 emma@internationalforestindustries.com Annual Subscription UK and Europe £160, €230 Rest of the world US$270 EDITORIAL T: +44 (0)1442 877 583 F: +44 (0)1442 870 617 www.internationalforestindustries.com 2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UK Editorial Director John Chadwick john@internationalforestindustries.com Editor Chris Cann chris@internationalforestindustries.com Editorial Board Dr Patrick Moore – Chairman and Chief Scientist of Greenspirit (Canada) Darren Oldham – Managing Director Söderhamn Eriksson (UK) Professor Piotr Paschalis-Jakubowicz – Warsaw Agricultural University (Poland) Mr Kim Carstensen Director General Forest Stewardship Council Eduardo Morales South American Forestry Consultant ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS Lansdowne Media Services Ltd Advertising Manager Phil Playle phil@internationalforestindustries.com Group Advertising Manager David Lansdowne david@internationalforestindustries.com +44 (0)1442 87 77 77 Associate Editor Robin Peach robin@internationalforestindustries.com Advertising Production Enquiries Emma Smith emma@internationalforestindustries.com International Forest Industries is published

by International Forest Industries Ltd, 2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UK International Forest Industries (ISSN 1755-6732) is published bi-monthly by International Forest Industries Ltd GBR and is distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 and additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick NJ. POSTMASTER: send address changes to International Forest Industries, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 © International Forest Industries Ltd 2007 – 2014 IFI uses, as preference, SI units throughout.

All dollars are US unless otherwise stated.

EDITOR’S COMMENT Greenshoots of hope

T

he forestry sector has faced uncertain demand conditions for several years but key shifts in the mood and make-up of the international political and economic communities suggest change is coming.

Talk has been of the likelihood of global recession for some time, but that conversation has now turned to the imminent arrival of said recession.

US jobs and manufacturing data have dipped lower again, while similar numbers consistently come out of China. The numbers from the world’s fourth-largest economy, Germany, suggest recession could bite there first.

The reasons for this trajectory have been many. For starters, the world never really got back on its feet after the 2008-2009 financial crisis. When things looked promising in late 2017, toxic trade policy and protectionism reshaped economic fortunes.

Much of this can be attributed to Trump’s trade war with China but to land him with sole responsibility would be wrong. Europe has handled Brexit in a manner history will no doubt regard as one of the great administrative and political incompetencies.

The effects on forest-related industries has been better than most would have anticipated given its primary role in construction and industry and therefore link to global GDP. We should be proud of our resilience and, in the past month, it seems as if we may have an outside chance of waiting out the storm ahead of brighter days.

Trump looks certain to be impeached and even if he is not removed from office his re-election is looking increasingly unlikely, as ongoing scandals are now coupled with the results of economic mismanagement following the initial boost delivered from irresponsible tax cuts – an outcome we predicted at the time. Potential replacements are less likely to continue the hard line with China now that businesses and ‘ordinary folk’ are feeling the effects of a trade war.

Brexit, meanwhile, looks to have finally painted itself into a corner and, with parliament having legislated out a ‘no

4 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

deal’, all options will be an improvement on the current situation and restore a level of certainty to a region that badly needs to get on with restoring the fortunes of, first, Germany and Italy (eighth-largest economy), and then the UK (fifth) and France (seventh).

Moreover, the world has potentially seen enough of the corrosive effects of protectionist policy to ease back from the brink without a second major global recession in a decade.

Just think how business might react to a more stable and open relationship between the two superpower economies and a refocus of attention toward health in four of the remaining top-10 economies. Billions in investment that has been parked for up to half-a-decade could be steadily released as confidence builds in a return to political competency.

The effect on forestry is clear. Construction sector growth would benefit from not only increased demand but the reopening of international trade opportunities as contracts are signed with certainty, making trade surpluses immediately more manageable.

By-product energy revenues would be easier to realise.

This, of course, is just one possible direction for the world. The re-election of Trump or a clone is possible and, if politicians in Europe have shown anything in the past three years it’s a talent for innovation in elongating the Brexit process.

But we at International Forest Industries are optimists. There is a light at the end of the dark tunnel. Most are fed up and it is the motivation for something better that should propel politicians, business communities and society in general to seize on this gap in the fence and escape the drift into recession.

Enjoy Chris Cann

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LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

Tigercat acquires ROI, gaining foothold in material processing sector

Effective September 30 2019, Tigercat Industries Inc. based in Ontario, Canada completed the purchase of Ragnar Original Innovations (ROI) located in New Hampshire, USA. The company, founded by Anders Ragnarsson, currently manufactures material processing machinery used in the

construction, forestry and recycling industries.

Tigercat has welcomed Ragnarsson and his staff to the Tigercat team. They bring decades of experience and expertise in the design and manufacture of material processing machinery, broadening Tigercat’s range of capabilities within the marketplace.

Ragnarsson has assumed the role of VP engineering, material processing products. He and his team will continue to operate from their Chester, New Hampshire location until a new facility in Freemont, New Hampshire ­– currently under construction – is completed.

The initial and immediate addition to the Tigercat line-up will be the Carbonizer product line.

Already a commercially available product, this innovative carbon negative technology can convert processed and unprocessed wood debris into a product called Biochar.

Still relatively new to the marketplace, this technology has attracted widespread interest from both the private and public sectors seeking practical methods to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions. The Carbonizer’s single step process sequesters carbon and significantly reduces debris

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Anders Ragnarsson, Vice President Engineering

volume while creating a product useful in agriculture.

All ROI products retailed to date will be fully supported by Tigercat throughout their lifespans.

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

The new 46 MW Ence plant in Huelva brings its first megawatt of energy to the Red Eléctrica burning of agricultural residues.

The investment that the company has allocated to this new plant reinforces Ence’s commitment to generate high efficiency and low

The new 46 MW biomass generation plant that Ence is building in Huelva has already joined the Red Eléctrica and has generated its first megawatt of renewable energy from biomass.

The new installation will continue in the testing phase until December, when it is expected to complete this previous test period and make it into official operation.

The plant has been built following the best available techniques and can produce an estimated 299,000 MWh of electricity per year, equivalent to the energy needs of almost 56,000 people.

Once started, the plant will generate about 1,200 sustainable jobs, which will be added to the 500 direct jobs that have generated its construction work. The company is now working on the training of professionals who will be in charge of operating the facilities, once it becomes operational.

For the hiring of these new professionals the company has had the professional schools and municipal employment services of several Huelva municipalities, especially with that of San Juan del Puerto and Huelva, within the framework of the collaboration commitment that Ence maintains with these consistories for the promotion of local employment.

Biomass is a manageable renewable technology, since it can be stored and programmed. Ence’s commitment to this technology thus contributes to advancing the decarbonization objectives set by the European Commission and to advancing the path of the energy transition.

The company has also developed a Decalogue for the Sustainability of Biomass as a Fuel.

The sustainable management of biomass helps to mitigate climate change and prevents fires in the mountains, as well as the polluting

emission energy, since it will use the most advanced technologies and systems to guarantee a permanent respect for the environment.

Since 2012, Ence has invested more than 300 million euros in what is already the most important and advanced biomass generation complex in Spain.

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International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 7

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

The Swedish BISON DEMO TOUR has begun!

From September 2 2019 until January 13 2020 it is going to travel from the south of Sweden to the most northern parts and is going to make at least one stop per sales district.

Contact your local contact for more information when the Bison is coming to your neighbourhood.

And keep yourself updated with more information by following Ponsse on social media (Facebook and Instagram).

Stop #1 week 36-37 SKÅNE, BLEKINGE, SYDÖSTRA SMÅLAND Andreas From, Tel. 070 399 03 28

Stop #2 week 38-39 VÄSTRA SMÅLAND, SÖDRA VÄSTERGÖTLAND, HALLAND Thomas Andersson, Tel. 070 399 15 30

Stop #3 week 40-41 ÖSTERGÖTLAND, NORRA SMÅLAND, GOTLAND Robert Johansson, Tel. 070 399 44 11

Stop #4 week 42-43 VÄSTMANLAND, SÖDERMANLAND, NÄRKE Jerker Welén, Tel. 070 399 52 80

Stop #5 week 44-45 VÄRMLAND, DALSLAND,

BOHUSLÄN, NORRA VÄSTERGÖTLAND Jesper Magnusson, Tel. 070 399 07 37

Stop #6 week 46-47 DALARNA, UPPLAND, GÄSTRIKLAND, SÖDRA HÄLSINGLAND Lars Dahlin, Tel. 070 399 41 53

Stop #7 week 48-49 MEDELPAD, HÄRJEDALEN, NORRA HÄLSINGLAND, JÄMTLAND Jon Holmström, Tel. 070 595 90 17

Stop #9 week 2-3 NORRBOTTEN Jan Förare, Tel. 070 669 33 93

Stop #8 week 50-51 VÄSTERBOTTEN, ÅNGERMANLAND Jonas Sundin, Tel. 070 399 80 93

Ponsse opens a new training centre in St. Petersburg share”, Laurila says.

The new training and service centre in St. Petersburg features all PONSSE simulator models for operator training and a test track for practical training. Mechanics are trained in service facilities that have room for three forest machines at the same time.

Jaakko Laurila, Managing Director of OOO Ponsse

Growing market requires training services

The grand opening of the new training and service centre of OOO Ponsse, Ponsse’s subsidiary in Russia, was celebrated earlier this month in Gorelovo, St. Petersburg.

With its area of 1,500 square metres, the new training centre is one of the company’s largest investments in Russia, totalling approximately EUR 3 million.

The new training centre is the flagship of OOO Ponsse’s training network, featuring the best training equipment and skills in the industry. Jaakko Laurila, Managing Director of OOO Ponsse, says that the company is a pioneer in the development of training services.

“We want to offer the best training services in this industry.

This new training centre is exceptional in terms of its quality and training content. Highquality training services give us a significant competitive edge and enable us to increase our market

In just over ten years, large parts of Russia have shifted from treelength harvesting to the more efficient and eco-friendlier cut-tolength (CTL) method. Currently, Russia is the world’s largest forest machine market. This can be seen not only through increased forest machine sales, but also as a growing need for training and maintenance services.

Russia does not offer any official training for forest machine operators and mechanics, which strengthens the importance of Ponsse’s training range even further. Studies have shown that high professional skills of operators play an important part in terms of productivity.

Ponsse’s subsidiary in Russia was established in 2005 and, nearly ever since, the company has worked with educational institutions in the field of forestry.

Currently, Ponsse’s training

8 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

network comprises, in addition to the new unit opened in St. Petersburg, a training and service centre in Pitkyaranta and 17 training units that work in cooperation with vocational and higher level educational institutions in different parts of Russia and Belarus.

The highly advanced training range covers not only operator and mechanic training, but also training programmes for the management of the harvesting process, productive harvesting and thinning.

The training range has been designed for Ponsse’s operators,

mechanics and customers, the PONSSE network’s retailers and personnel, as well as teachers of educational institutions in the field of forestry. The duration of training periods spans from a few days

to one month. Training manager Nikolai Chernutskii is in charge of OOO Ponsse’s training services.

OOO Ponsse has 120 employees in Russia, as well as an extensive retailer network which enables nationwide operations.

Approximately 2,000 PONSSE forest machines operate in Russia.

The company has service centers in St. Petersburg, Pitkyaranta, Segezha, Tihkvin and Tomsk.

FURTHER INFORMATION: Jaakko Laurila, Managing Director, OOO Ponsse, tel. +7 921 946 18 23 Harri Perätalo, Service Director, OOO Ponsse, tel. +7 921 983 03 34

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

Tigercat releases 1165 wheel harvester The 1165 is a mid-sized harvester well suited for thinning, selective cut and final fell applications.

With strong swing and leveling capabilities that exceed the competition, the 1165 is well suited for steep slopes. The machine is available in both six-wheel and eight-wheel drive configurations.

Powered by the Tigercat FPT N67 engine, the 1165 provides full emissions compliance for Tier 4 final regions, along with excellent fuel economy, all in a simple and reliable package. Both Tier 4f and Tier 2 options deliver 210 kW (282 hp) at 2,000 rpm.

The 1165 wheel harvester uses the same swing components as the larger 1185, as well as oscillating and articulating centre section components used on Tigercat forwarders. The new active oscillation balancing technology provides unparalleled machine stability even while travelling.

This allows crane operation while driving, thus increasing productivity.

The patented long reach ER crane is energy efficient and

provides the same action as a parallel crane, but with simplified construction and less maintenance.

The 9 m (30 ft) crane comes standard for heads up to 1 600 kg (3,530 lb), and 11 m (36 ft) telescopic crane for heads up to 1 100 kg (2,425 lb).

Dedicated attachment and carrier pumps provide ample oil flow for uninterrupted power and

PrimeTech a full range of purpose-built carriers: PT-175, PT-300, PT-475, PT-600

multifunctioning capability. Many hydraulic components are common with other Tigercat machines, and efficient hydraulic system design and plumbing help the 1165 deliver exceptional productivity and optimal fuel economy.

Operator visibility is unmatched in the quiet, comfortable, ergonomically designed cab. The hooked crane design and large

windows provide a clear line of sight to the attachment’s working area and surrounding terrain. The 360° continuous swing upper turntable supplies strong swing torque. Leveling capacity is 24° backward, 18° degrees forward and 18° side/side. This, along with tethering lugs built into the frame facilitates steep slope cable assisted harvesting applications.

- High productivity - Lowest true ground pressure - High reliability - Comfort and safety

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International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 9

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

Tigercat - additional factory support for Western Canada Tigercat has announced that Jochen Reiter has been appointed to the position of factory support representative for western Canada.

Based in Quesnel, British Columbia, Jochen moved to Canada in 2007 from Germany, where he grew up logging with his grandfather and uncle. He is a certified faller supervisor and a Red Seal technician. He has 21 years experience in many aspects of the

industry including operating and supervising conventional groundbased and yarding operations.

“Along with Kushiah McCullough, Damien Donoher and Mark Tourand, I am very excited to add Jochen to the western product support team. We continue to have many new opportunities and applications for Tigercat machines in the west. Having a top-notch support team is critical,”

New Tigercat dealer for Alaska Tigercat has announced that Construction Machinery Industrial (CMI) is now the authorized Tigercat dealer for the state of Alaska.

With over 30 years of experience in the heavy equipment industry, CMI is a leader in the sale and service of construction equipment in Alaska.

Headquartered in Anchorage, with locations in Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan, CMI is strategically positioned throughout Alaska to

deliver its products and services quickly and effectively.

“We are pleased to welcome CMI to the Tigercat dealer network,” says Kevin Selby, Tigercat sales manager for the United States. “CMI is a leader in Alaska’s heavy equipment industry.

The company’s experience and dedication to customer support is the perfect match for our products.”

CMI will be offering the full Tigercat forestry and off-road

explains Rob Selby, Tigercat district manager, also based in British Columbia.

“I am excited to work for the best,” says Reiter. “I am excited to work for a company with great leadership, an inspiring culture, and first-class customer support.”

industrial product line-up including skidders, log loaders, track harvesters and more.

“Our goal is to provide Alaska with the best of the best,” says Ken Gerondale, CMI president. “High quality is the standard by which we operate, and that is only made possible by choosing high quality products from companies like Tigercat.”

Tigercat and CMI look forward to growing its customer base in Alaska. CMI is eager to gain the trust of area loggers by providing strong customer service with parts

Jochen Reiter new Western Canada factory support representative

availability, service support and the best product on the market – Tigercat.

The new Tigercat Power Clam Grapple Series is here Designed for use on the 875 and 880D loggers, the three models – PC08, PC10 and PC12 – are sized for load capacities of 0,8 m² (8 sq.ft), 0,9 m² (10 sq.ft) and 1,1 m² (12 sq.ft).

Using fatigue resistant welded construction, Tigercat power clam grapples feature durable boxstyle tongs fabricated from high strength steel. All weld-on tine tips are made from abrasion-resistant steel and can be replaced. The jaw profile rolls the logs into the grapple to quickly achieve a full load capacity. The profile is also designed to grip a single 150 mm (6

3-6 December 2019 Russia, Moscow, Crocus Expo, Pavilion 1

in) diameter stem when completely closed.

The power clam is available with an optional powered outrigger that provides exceptional control of various sized trees. It has a tapered tong profile and a large 45-degree sweep and is controlled by a cylinder with the same rod and bore diameters as the jaw cylinders.

Routing the hoses over the boom and under the connecting pin maximizes boom hose protection.

The unique cylinder guard design allows easy hose access and reduces the need for large covers.

A multi-section proportional control valve provides generous flow and enhanced timing as spools can be independently tuned.

The fixed displacement piston motor is coupled with a two-stage planetary gearbox that provides ample rotational speed and torque.

A Tigercat designed crossover relief valve, directly bolted to the piston

10 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

motor, features a float setting and provides charged make-up oil for smoother control, and to prevent jerky stops.

Large covers can be removed to easily service all hydraulic components. The main control valve is situated for easy service access to both sides. A sealed

electrical box keeps all wiring connections well protected from the elements.

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Katerra’s new CLT factory is open!

Nestled in the heart of Spokane Valley, Washington State, is the world’s largest Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) factory. Boasting 270,000 sq. ft., this facility is home to North America’s newest building trend — pre-fabricated CLT panels ready for assembly on construction site.

The 20 truckloads of lumber delivered daily provide the raw materials for the 60’ long panels.

With 1,800 lineal feet/minute of lumber fed into the line, the pieces are scanned and tracked throughout the process at a rate of 140 boards per minute. The annual output is equivalent to 50 x 250,000 sq. ft. commercial office buildings per year.

More facts: • fi nger jointing 450 linear feet/ minute

• 60’ board storage and pre-layup • a pplying 320’ of adhesive/ minute • 1 2’ x 60’ long panels on North America’s largest press • p roducing 185,000 m3 CLT annually USNR is the major equipment supplier to this factory. Visit TreeHugger.com to learn more about this unique building process,

and to watch a video of the plant in action. Learn more about USNR’s modular CLT press at www.usnr.com/en/search/ cross%20laminated?dt=1 offered in both pneumatic and hydraulic designs.

Tolko reducing capacity at Soda Creek & Armstrong stud lumber mills Tolko announced that it is implementing a flexible operating footprint at its Soda Creek and Armstrong stud lumber mills. This change will reduce the company’s operating stud capacity by 20%.

Vice President, Solid Wood, Troy Connolly says the decision is a result of high log costs in B.C. and weak market conditions.

“The continued and increasing pressures on log delivery costs in B.C. have eroded our competitiveness. This, in addition to continued weak markets, means we must take immediate and responsible action to ensure our long-term stability in B.C. We are moving to a flexible operating footprint starting next

week. We will continue to monitor our cost competitiveness regularly to determine if further downtime is required. Our top priority is sustaining the business and the many jobs and economic spinoffs it provides to our communities.”

Tolko is a leading manufacturer of a wide range of forest products for customers around the world,

Troy Connolly, Vice President, Solid Wood including lumber, plywood, veneer, oriented strand board, co-products, biomass power, and a growing number of specialty wood products.

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International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 11

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Katerra opens CLT factory in Spokane Valley, Washington Katerra announced the grand opening of North America’s highest volume cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory. Located in Spokane Valley, Washington, the 270,000-square-foot-facility will significantly increase supplies of CLT, a fully renewable structural building material that sequesters carbon for a building’s life and can be used in place of steel and concrete in buildings up to 18 stories.

Katerra’s state-of-the-art CLT facility reflects the company’s technology-first approach, incorporating advanced geometric and biometric scanning of lamstock, an on-site kiln for precise moisture control and artificial intelligence to further improve safety and reduce waste. Katerra’s factory also features the largest

CLT press currently in operation globally, offering customers unmatched design flexibility.

“CLT perfectly embodies Katerra’s guiding principles for product development – it is technologically advanced, sustainable, and offers meaningful cost and time reductions,” said Michael Marks, CEO and cofounder of Katerra. “We have invested in creating the largest capacity CLT factory in North America because we believe deeply in the potential of CLT and want to see this great material advance to the mainstream.”

Katerra’s new CLT factory occupies 29 acres with easy access to rail lines and interstate highways. At full operation, the factory will employ 105 people with an annual manufacturing

capacity to provide thousands of apartments, student housing units, and more than 11 million square feet of floors and roofs.

Katerra is a technology company optimizing every aspect of building design, materials supply, and construction.

Michael Marks, CEO

Derome Sweden acquires Woody Anderstorp Derome, Sweden’s largest familyowned timber company, has acquired wood trading company Woody Anderstorp, Derome has announced.

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already a major supplier of roof trusses in the region and buy forest raw material from here to our sawmill in Kinnared,” said Johan Winroth, CEO of Derome.

Per Enocson and Victor Svensson, who have been developing and operating Woody 17:22 Page 1

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“This is positive for our employees and customers. Victor Svensson and me look forward to becoming part of Derome.

Johan Winroth, CEO of Derome

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LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Holmen introduces digital wood scanning Holmen is now taking another step towards more resource-efficient and digital forestry. Through an advanced three-dimensional image analysis of the forest company’s wood deliveries, Holmen will be able to increase the efficiency of transport and boost the added value of the wood. “This is a climate-smart solution that makes wood scanning more accurate and the whole process more efficient.

Unmanned measurement terminals offer the possibility to be open around the clock, creating greater accessibility and fewer queues. In this way, we can make better use of transport resources, which is good for both the work environment

and the climate,” says Andreas Rastbäck, Marketing Director at Holmen Skog.

During wood scanning, the timber truck drives in through an unmanned measuring rig where the logs’ diameter and solid volume percentage are read digitally. The information is immediately sent on to a log measurer, who then quickly informs the driver that the load has been scanned and whether it has been approved for the plant it is heading to.

This means more accurate scanning of the volume on which payment is based and faster unloading of the load. The first measuring rig will be installed at

the train terminal in Vännäs. Then a rig will be installed at Holmen’s paper mill in Hallstavik, followed by one at the paper mill in Braviken.

Holmen has signed an agreement with the Jönköping company Cind for the supply of measuring rigs, cameras and technology. “Holmen’s strategy to digitise and streamline its wood measurement process fits well with our offering. They will be the first to use our new solid volume calculation function, and I look forward to upcoming joint development efforts in other areas where machine learning will be an important component,” says Marcus Schelin, CEO at Cind.

Andreas Rastbäck, MD, Holmen Skog Digitisation of the forest value chain creates opportunities to gather and process data, making it easier to improve support for intelligent planning and decisionmaking for the forest industry. In the long term, Holmen expects to fully automate wood handling. With the help of Artificial Intelligence, scanning can become more accurate and lead times further reduced.

Raute secures €58 million orders from Segezha Group in Russia Raute Corporation has received orders worth approximately Euro 58 million from Segezha Group to Russia. The scope of orders includes all machinery and equipment for the production

process of an entire plywood mill. The ordered machinery and equipment will be delivered during the year 2020 and production in the plywood mill will start in summer 2021.

The machinery and equipment will be delivered to a green field plywood mill to be set up in Galich, Kostroma region by Segezha Group. The annual capacity of the new mill will be approximately

125,000 cubic meters.

The equipment will be engineered and produced in Raute’s units in Nastola, Shanghai and Kajaani, and also in the company’s partnership network.

E-CUT 200*

The betless trimmer for lumber production

View the E-Cut *patent granted

Springer Maschinenfabrik GmbH | office@springer.eu | www.springer.eu | Hans-Springer-Strasse 2 | A-9360 Friesach | T +43 4268 2581-0 | F +43 4268 2581-45 Springer Microtec Inc. | office@springer-microtec.com | www.springer-microtec.com | 201, 1847 West Broadway | Vancouver, V6J1Y6 | Canada | T 604.879.4628

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 13

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Norske Skog Skogn names Bjørn Einar Ugedal as new Managing Director Bjørn Einar Ugedal has been appointed new Managing Director at Norske Skog Skogn AS from October 15, 2019. He has extensive experience from a number of positions in the process- and power-intensive industry.

Until recently, he was the CEO of Ferroglobe Mangan Norway in Mo i Rana, which produces manganese alloys. He has held a number of leading positions in multinational corporations in the process industry.

When Ugedal takes over as Managing Director, he will replace

Amund Saxrud, who has been Managing Director since 2011.

Amund Saxrud will from October, 15 take over as new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Norske Skog Group, responsible for monitoring operational activities at the Group’s 7 mills.

About Norske Skog Norske Skog is a leading producer of publication paper with strong market positions in Europe, where it occupies a top-tier publication paper position, and Australasia, where Norske Skog is a leading

producer of publication paper in a concentrated market.

Norske Skog operates a total of seven profitable paper mills strategically located close to attractive markets and with total paper production capacity of 2.6 million tons, comprising 1.7 million tons of newsprint and 0.9 million tons of magazine paper (supercalandered and coated mechanical). The Norske Skog Group has approximately 2,400 employees, and had in 2018 annual revenue and EBITDA of approximately NOK 12.6 billion and

Bjørn Einar Ugedal appointed new Managing Director

NOK 1.0 billion, respectively.

Norske Skog Skogn has 390 employees and had in 2018 annual revenue of NOK 2.2 billion. The mill has an annual production capacity of 510 000 tonnes of newsprint.

Weyerhaeuser to sell its Michigan timberlands to Lyme Great Lakes Holding Weyerhaeuser Company has announced an agreement to sell its 555,000 acres of Michigan

timberlands to Lyme Great Lakes Holding LLC, an affiliate of The Lyme Timber Company LP, for

$300 million in cash. The company expects to recognize a gain on the sale and anticipates no tax liability in conjunction with the transaction.

“This transaction in our Northern region encompasses a diverse mix of hardwood and softwood acres and is part of our ongoing effort to strategically optimize our timberlands portfolio,” said Devin W. Stockfish, president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser. “Lyme will also welcome our exceptional team of highly skilled employees.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and

Devin W. Stockfish, President & CEO of Weyerhaeuser

is expected to close in the 4Q 2019.

Weyerhaeuser Company is one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands.

Scottish Woodlands appoints two new directors Scottish Woodlands Ltd has appointed two new Directors to its Board. David Robertson and Dessy Henry became Directors; David as Director of Investment and Business Development, and Dessy as Regional Director North. The new appointments take the Board membership to nine.

Scottish Woodlands Ltd is a leading forestry management

14 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

company with a long tradition of serving forest owners and investors in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

SCANNING & OPTIMISATION

Going against the grain: How Lucidyne is revolutionizing Lumber Grading with Deep Learning Talk about a knotty problem.

Lucidyne Technologies has been using AI since the late 1980s to detect defects in lumber products.

But no matter how much technology it’s employed, finding imperfections in wood boards — a process that’s critical to categorizing lumber and thus maximizing its value — has remained a challenge.

“This isn’t like being in a factory and scanning cogs. These are all like snowflakes,” said Patrick Freeman, CTO of the small, Corvallis, Oregon-based company.

“There’s never been a knot that looks like another one.”

It’s a job tailor-made for AI, and Lucidyne has jumped in with both feet by building a cutting-edge scanning system for lumber mills that’s powered by GPU-enabled deep learning.

With lumber flying through at speeds of up to 35 mph, the company’s GradeScan system — which physically resembles a mashup of an assembly line station and an MRI machine — scans two boards a second. It detects and collects visual data on 70 different types of defects, such as knots, fire scars, pitch pockets and seams.

It then applies a deep learning model trained on a combination of NVIDIA GPUs, with a dataset of hundreds of thousands of scanned boards across 16 tree species, all of which have been classified by a team of lumber-grading experts.

To generate the most revenue, the model’s underlying algorithm determines the optimal way to cut each board — navigating around defects measuring as little as 8/1,000th of an inch. Those instructions are then sent to the mill’s saws.

Each mill’s findings are fed back into Lucidyne’s dataset, continuously improving the accuracy and precision of its deep learning model. Thus, there’s no end to how much mills will be able to learn about the lumber they’re milling.

Unprecedented Accuracy and Precision A typical scanning application might involve categorizing lumber into one of six grade types, with grade 1 being the most valuable, for example. After scanning a 20-foot board, Lucidyne’s system might determine that the best cut will remove a 2-foot defective section near the center, leaving two 8-foot grade 1 and 2 sections on either side, and an additional 2-foot section of trim, which might be sold to a sawdust manufacturer.

This level of detail separates Lucidyne from the competition by enabling mills to drastically improve the precision of their lumber-grading efforts.

“Going to deep learning has allowed us to be a lot more accurate, and our customers produce packs that are 2 percent below or above grade,” said Dan Robin, Lucidyne’s software engineering manager. “No one else is coming even close to that.”

Lucidyne started deploying GradeScan systems, powered by its Perceptive Sight software, in 2017, with each unit performing inference on NVIDIA P4 GPUs. The company is now deploying systems with newer NVIDIA T4 GPUs. Freeman said the new system is delivering 16x the data processing speed, and at a higher image resolution to boot.

The upshot is that Lucidyne’s decision to travel a deep learning path toward increasingly detailed identification of defects has paid off exactly as it hoped.

Raising the Bar “We wanted to up our game,” said Freeman. “We sought to improve our accuracy on currently detected defects, to correctly classify defects we had never been able to call before, while at the same time delivering more timely solutions and to a larger customer base.”

To that end, the company is working with NVIDIA to develop customized software that extends fine-grain inferencing capabilities

16 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Lucidyne’s system detects numerous kinds of defects in lumber: orange = bark pocket; forest green = fire scar; red = live knots; bright green = dead knots; blue = pitch pockets; pink = minor seam.

using semantic segmentation.

In the meantime, Lucidyne is riding every wave of increased computing power to zoom in on smaller and more subtle defects.

It has recently begun grading redwood, which is much harder to scan because of its color variations.

It’s also looking to expand into hardwoods and eventually hopes to tackle other challenges faced by mills.

All of this innovation has Lucidyne’s technical leaders feeling that they’re onto something bigger.

As a result, they have an eye on disrupting other sectors where inspection of organic materials is involved.

Said Freeman, “What we’re doing that we think is unique is taking industrial deep learning inspection to the next level.”

The new system is delivering 16x the data processing speed, and at a higher image resolution to boot Patrick S. Freeman Lucidyne - Chief Technology Officer

SCANNING & OPTIMISATION

Carrier Lumber chooses Lucidyne GradeScan

C

arrier Lumber has purchased a GradeScan with Perceptive Sight 2.0 from Lucidyne for installation in their Prince George, BC mill.

After closely watching the performance of Lucidyne’s GradeScan at other Canadian mills, particularly those with the Perceptive Sight platform, Carrier recognized that GradeScan was the right decision for their mill.

Their production of several sizes, grades and species requires precision defect detection and consistent meet-or-beat grade standards. Lucidyne demonstrated results on Carrier’s own lumber, making the choice clear.

All new Lucidyne GradeScans come standard with the Perceptive Sight Intelligent Grading platform, using deep learning artificial

intelligence for unmatched defect detection and grading results.

Carrier required a quick turnaround on this system with only 8 weeks from order to startup, and Lucidyne will deliver.

The system will be installed and started up in mid-November of 2019.

Seneca buys a second Lucidyne GradeScan Sawyer comes back for more from leading scanning provider, Lucidyne, following strong performance from historic initial delivery Seneca has purchased a new Lucidyne GradeScan unit with Perceptive Sight for its mill in Noti, Oregon.

Seneca’s Eugene mill purchased its GradeScan many years ago, and recently upgraded it to the Perceptive Sight platform. The results were so impressive that the Noti purchase was quickly approved.

Seneca is proud of its legacy in Noti, where a sawmill has been running since the 1920s, and this latest improvement promises to continue that legacy.

All new Lucidyne GradeScans come standard with the Perceptive Sight Intelligent Grading platform, using deep-learning artificial intelligence for unmatched defect detection and grading results.

Seneca required a quick turnaround on this system with

Perceptive Sight uses deep learning artificial intelligence, revolutionizing how lumber is graded

only 12 weeks from order to startup, which Lucidyne was able to deliver. The system was to be installed and started up in December this year.

Seneca and Lucidyne have had a long and successful relationship over a wide range of products, and both said their was an element of pride in continuing that history with this new GradeScan system.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 17

LE FRENCH CONNECTION PIVETEAUBOIS now process logs up to 5 tons efficiently and flexibly

It was a huge challenge for the HOLTEC team that ended with great success not least for the customer. At PIVETEAUBOIS in SainteFlorence the new HOLTEC log yard has been running since 2018 – in due time for the 70th anniversary of the company.

18 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

SAWLINES – SHIFTING &SORTING – HOLTEC

LUMBER PROCESSING

Feeding, separating and buttreducing long and short logs

Challenging demand The new log yard is designed for a capacity of 500,000 solid m³ logs, with a weight of 5t each and up to 15m long.

The logs - maximum diameter 80 cm - are mostly maritime pine logs. This leads to further challenges – by nature maritime pine logs are curved and are

covered with sand at the butt ends.

In addition to maritime pine the company processes white pine and douglas fir at the Sainte-Florence site.

Flexible log feeding PIVETEAUBOIS processes short logs and long logs with the system on two separate feeding decks.

This allows for maximum

flexibility in terms of wood purchasing. To be even more flexible the long log feeding deck is also able to feed short logs with up to 25 pc/min.

This is achieved by splitting the long log deck into two separately driven parts. Both, short log and long log feeding lines, are equipped with a Baljer& Zembrod type butt reducer to cope with huge International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 19

Crosscutting long and short logs in parallel operation.

butt ends. In order not to decrease the capacity too much, only those logs to be debarked are lifted at the butt reducer by means of specially developed turning prisms.

Low wear chainless system and defined log gap Following both infeed decks, the logs are separated and accelerated by means of the tried and tested HOLTEC chainless system. This system part works without wear intensive chains. The chainless system was developed by HOLTEC

20 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

more than 10 years ago and has been successfully in operation at many sawmill sites since then.

After the logs have been separated, they are fed to a v-rollerway that accelerates the logs. In addition it provides for a defined gap between the logs by means of gap control – another successful development by HOLTEC.

At high-speed to further processing The logs are fed into a Valon Kone

type debarker 8000 HD at up to 30 pc/min before they are scanned by means of the CT log from Microtec.

The latter calculates the log dimensions, but also a complete density profile of the log that displays knot size, knot location and its quality.

This data is the basis for controlling the HOLTEC crosscut saws. After passing the measurement, short and long logs are fed to two separate cross conveyors. Both are equipped with a pre-cut saw.

Successful capacity tests and acceptance of the common log yard project. F.l.t.r.: Samuel Lassalas - responsible for the log yard at PIVETEAUBOIS, Christoph Marxen - Start-up engineer Holtec, Marco Heyen - Sales Manager France, Frédéric Chiron - responsible for new investments in the sawmill, Alexander Gebele - General Manager Holtec

to be designed correspondingly to cope with this exceptionally high number of log lengths. In consequence it has a length of 230m (about 9000 inches).

The logs are kicked out at 150m/min in 162 concrete boxes that are emptied by means of a gantry crane.

Long-term collaboration

The short logs are just cut to the exact length once by means of this pre-cut saw. The long logs need to be further cut to length and are therefore transferred to a cross cutting line with a belt conveyor.

A circular saw with a 2m diameter saw blade and 132kW drive capacity cuts the logs to the required lengths.

9000 inch for sorting logs PIVEATEAUBOIS cuts the logs into lengths between 2.5m and 6m in 50cm steps.

The sorting conveyor needs

HOLTEC states that this is the third project with PIVETEAUBOIS. Before this major project HOLTEC was the supplier for the French site FARGE in Egleton and the Polish site SYLVA in Wiele.

PIVETEAUBOIS is the leading softwood sawmiller and industrial manufacturer of timber solutions for the construction, garden & landscaping and wood energy markets in France.

It is a family-run business with a deep passion for wood and over 70 years expertise from selecting the best quality softwood from eco-certified forests in France and Poland, to wood processing as well as designing, manufacturing and delivering high-quality and innovative timber products.

PIVETEAUBOIS control all manufacturing stages, from selection of the wood to timber delivery, including wood processing operations such as sawing, kilndrying, planing, bonding, finishing, machining, assembling, extrusion and impregnation.

In order to have total quality control, they have integrated all the wood trades, from designers

to engineers and account managers, from timber buyers to project managers as well as workshop managers and industrial production managers.

In 2018, their log throughput was 850,000m3 and their wood pellet production was 200,000 tons.

PRODUCTION SITES Growing and developing primary and secondary wood processing activities on 3 production sites.

• P IVETEAUBOIS in Vendée: Pine and Douglas Fir specialists

• F ARGES in Corrèze: Spruce, Douglas Fir and Larch specialists

• SYLVA in Poland: Pine specialists

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 21

High-Tech Heads Advanced sensing technologies and software to communicate with the sawmill have transformed cut-tolength harvesting in recent years

W

e are, apparently, in the midst of the fourth Industrial Revolution.

The first saw the birth of manufacturing, then more than 100 years after its onset came the second Industrial Revolution, which was typified by rapid industrialisation and technological innovation.

The Third Industrial Revolution arrived about 50 years ago with digitisation but only really found its feet 10 years ago as automation was practically implemented.

Today – Industry 4.0 – it is about combining the use of advanced

sensors and digitisation with artificial intelligence to deliver improvements in real-time decision making.

Outside the sawmill, where scanning and AI are combining on the sawline to reduce waste and enhance productivity, this is best seen in cut-to-length harvesting heads. The ability to understand customer requirements and deliver on those more accurately from the forest is having a transformational effect on forestry operations – a great deal of the technology that is making that transition possible is in the head.

22 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Harvester Heads

1) The PONSSE H7euca is designed for processing and debarking eucalyptus trees. Thanks to its excellent geometry, the H7euca works well with big trees. Suitable for both wheeled and track-based machines.

1

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 23

Ponsse has a long history of manufacturing harvester heads. The first PONSSE harvester head was made in Vieremä in 1986. PONSSE harvester heads have been designed to withstand even the toughest conditions.

They are characterized by a simple and solid structure, which enables them to be used in various harvesting applications from harvesters to track-based solutions.

Each harvester head model is designed on

the basis of efficiency, durability and ease of use. Harvester heads must withstand extreme conditions while operating accurately and as gently as possible without damaging the trunk surface unnecessarily. All PONSSE harvester heads are manufactured and designed at the Ponsse factory in Vieremä. The design process is comprehensive and covers, in addition to mechanical parts, operating controls and software. The manufacturing process is highly automated to ensure high quality and measuring accuracy. The frames of harvester heads are machined from a single piece after the welding assembly. This guarantees the highest quality

2

4

3

5

2 The PONSSE H5 is a multipurpose harvester head

especially suited for efficient thinning

4

3 The PONSSE H7 is a compact, robust and powerful

harvester head for demanding regeneration felling and later thinning work.

5

24 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

with excellent precision.

Durable hoses and delimbing knives form an important part of reliability. Ponsse’s selection includes 11 different harvester heads for different conditions from thinning to regeneration felling and processing. The basic product features in all models include powerful feeding as well as quick and efficient sawing.

The harvester heads can be adjusted according to the trees harvested and the base machine used, ensuring smooth operations and a long service life. Their strong grip and accurate measuring system ensure excellent measuring accuracy.

he PONSSE H8 is a robust and powerful harvester T head for demanding work with large trees. Powerful feed and excellent geometry together with efficient sawing enables high productivity. Also available with a top saw. he PONSSE H10 is the largest harvester head in the T selection, suitable for processing large diameter trees.

With a very robust structure, the H10 is designed for track-based machines weighing over 25 tonnes.

In spite of its size, the H10 is not only suitable for processing but also felling.

6

7

8

9

he PONSSE H6 is praised as the best T

multipurpose harvester head on the market. It’s suited to a variety of uses, ranging from thinning sites with small trees to regeneration felling.

6

8

7

9

he PONSSE H77euca is an efficient and T durable debarking harvester head for processing smaller eucalyptus trees. The H77euca is characterised by the feed rollers on the sides, enabling very efficient debarking. If necessary, the H77euca can be equipped for conventional harvesting.

Suitable for both wheeled and track-based machines. he PONSSE H7HD is a very robust and T strong harvester head primarily for large wheeled harvesters and tracked based machines. The structure is based on the popular H7 model, but it has been reinforced for the special operating conditions of track-based machines. he PONSSE H8HD is a robust harvester T head with high power and excellent geometry for demanding conditions. The H8HD is designed for demanding use on large track-based machines with a powerful hydraulic system. Also available with a top saw.

World leading solutions from crane tip to attachment

Innovation and product development form natural parts of Indexator’s operations, and we seek to provide clear added value from crane tip to attachment.

Every part of this chain is optimised to provide the best control, safety and productivity while also helping the customer minimise wear, costs and environmental impact.

•

Indexator’s patented Y-link for protected hose routing.

•

MPB - superior damping.

•

BC - hydraulic brake control.

•

Indexator’s weighing link.

•

The world’s widest range of rotators.

indexator.com

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 25

Keto harvester heads are created and manufactured by KoneKetonen’s factory in Finland.

Kone-Ketonen is family-owned business and has been in the market for 35 years.

Over the course of the past year, several new models have been developed.

The Keto-873 Processor The 873 is a processor head intended for the demanding conditions in North America and for handling extremely large trees.

The 873 was launched at the Oregon Logging Conference in the US. Weighing 3,360 kg, the

head is suitable for installation on 30 ton+ base machines. One important change in the Keto 873 model is the continuous/unlimited Keto rotator. Spinning fully around, the rotator provides entirely new possibilities to use the machine with improved efficiency.

Additionally, the 873 model

Keto Xtreme Launched in June, the Keto Xtreme is, in turn, a harvester head to be installed on light forest thinning machines that are intended for managing the young spruce stands typically found in Nordic countries or the densely branched trees typically found in the forests of Central Europe.

The KETO Xtreme

Keto-100 Karate The Keto-100 was launched last year. Thanks to its large grapple opening, it serves well as a multi-purpose harvester head that handles delimbing, cutting and sorting easily in mountainous terrains with steep slopes.

Keto 873 in Tennessee August 2019 uses the Parker valve system. The valves are proportioned to function only on-demand, a key factor in optimizing the fuel consumption of the base machine, even at low temperatures. Like in all other Keto models, the track feed of the new model uses Danfoss motors. The 500 cmÂł motor produces produces nearly 4 kN of tractive force, guaranteeing that big trees can be pulled by the tracks and delimbed with speed and efficiency.

Based on track feeding, the unique length measuring in Keto harvester heads is the most precise one on the market. It is simple and extremely reliable. A second important feature of the Keto 873 model is its shortest possible tilt frame, which minimizes swaying of the harvester head and makes it easy to control.

The KETO 873 head is intended for demanding conditions

26 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

The KETO-100 Karate

Continued on page 56

FORESTRY MACHINERY FOR ALL NEEDS – FROM LIGHT THINNING TO HEAVY FINAL FELLING

+

SPACIOUS & LUXURY COMFORT CABS SERVICEABILITY PROVIDES EASY ACCESS ROTTNE XPARTS – REPLACEMENT SYSTEM FOR SPARE PARTS LOW GROUND PRESSURE FLEXIBLE MACHINES WITH MANY STANDARD OPTIONS

ROTTNE FORWARDERS AND HARVESTERS MEET EVERY NEED, FROM LIGHT THINNING TO HEAVY FINAL FELLING. WE OFFER SWEDISH-MADE PRODUCTS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, AN EXTENSIVE SERVICE NETWORK AND A COMPETENT AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.

ROTTNE.COM

Rottne H21D with the powerful Rottne EGS706 harvester head which is adapted for heavy final felling

Characteristics for Rottne EGS 706 Robust design and advanced technology in Rottne’s harvester head Rottne has in-house manufactured harvester heads, which are specially designed and customised for each harvester model. The harvester heads are known for simple and robust construction which provides a long service life, something that is combined with advanced technology and a high production capacity.

• T wo-speed hydraulic feeding (3.5 m/s, or 5.2 m/s) which is regulated automatically depending on the tree size – which mainly increases the production capacity for felling in smaller stands and maintains traction in thicker stands.

• S upporting wheel arms and five feed rollers provide a steady grip even on the coarsest stems which facilitates the processing of heavy trees.

• P roportional tilt that is adjustable and lockable for easier tree processing.

• P roportional knife and feed roll pressure provides optimum grip depending on tree species and diameter for fast feeding while at the same time maintaining a low diesel consumption.

work possible with a lower knife pressure – and ensures maximum utilisation of the feed force.

Rottne EGS 406 – small and versatile harvester head EGS 406 is a small compact harvester head fully adapted for the stand-operating thinning harvester Rottne H8D. The harvester head has been updated with a number of new improvements which together give greater operating reliability and increased productivity.

Rottne EGS 706 – robust and powerful for final felling Rottne EGS 706 is a stable and robust harvester head for heavy final felling with a 90 cm bar.

Since it launched, Rottne EGS 706 has been continuously refined, with improved measuring equipment, among other things.

Rottne EGS 596 – all-round harvester head for thinning and final felling Rottne EGS 596 is a proven allround harvester head that can handle everything except the really heavy final felling. The design with supporting wheel arms and three feed rollers makes limbing

Rottne EGS 596 is a proven all-round harvester head for thinning and final felling

28 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Rottne EGS406 is a small and quick thinning head located on the standoperating harvester Rottne H8D and has recently been updated with a number of improvements

Characteristics for Rottne EGS 596 • S upporting wheel arms and three feed rollers that provide a steady grip even on the coarsest stems which facilitates the processing of heavy trees.

• Proportional tilt that is adjustable and lockable for easier tree processing.

• Proportional knife and feed roll pressure provides optimum grip depending on tree species and diameter for fast feeding while at the same time maintaining a low diesel consumption.

Characteristics for Rottne EGS 406

IMPROVED ROTTNE EGS 406 • Double upper and lower knives and one fixed knife.

• Suitable for thinning up to approx. 35 cm breast height diameter.

• Proportional knife and feed roll pressure provides optimum grip depending on tree species and diameter for fast feeding while at the same time maintaining a low diesel consumption.

• Multi-tree handling (option).

The most important additions are new cylinders and a new hose routing for increased reliability and performance. There are also several different types of feed rollers to choose from which are adapted to different tree species and bark types. The harvester head’s frame has also been strengthened, while also being as small and convenient as before.

The harvester head Rottne EGS 406, designed for Rottne H8, has been updated with a number of new improvements which together give greater IMPROVED ROTTNE EGS 406 operating reliability and increased productivity.

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Optimised measuring system that gives rapid calculations with the new Forester computer.

Improved valve protection for accumulation tools.

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Robust pilot valves.

More robust delimbing knife cylinders with powerful induction hardened piston rods and upgraded seals.

1 4 The harvester head Rottne EGS 406, designed for Rottne H8, has been updated with a number of new improvements which together give greater operating reliability and increased productivity

New length measurement with high resolution sensor and more rugged design.

Braced oil pipes for wheel feeding.

9

Improved hose routing with 45 degree angle.

5 6

Moved paint pump for better protection, improved serviceability and easier access.

New wheel motors.

1 8

Saw motors with “power boost”.

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Improved tie rod with larger bearing surface.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 29

Southstar Equipment manufactures a full spectrum of world class forest harvesting and processing heads. The factories are in Canada and New Zealand.

The heads have been mounted with success on any carrier make, giving the customer an exceptional value as there are a lot of quality choices in base machines with local dealer support. Southstar is fully committed to support these dealers. The combination of expertise by the dealers and Southstar produces a well-functioning machine and professional customer experience.

From machines specifically designed for thinning operations, to processing heads in single or multi-stem applications, Southstar Equipment line-up of machines makes it possible for each client to deal directly with one supplier only.

Since all products manufactured by Southstar have the same hydraulic system, the need for inventory and training are consequently reduced.

The only difference between the various models would be the roller motors and the cylinders.

The simplicity of the hydraulic system and the fact that it is the same in all processing heads makes the product support a breeze for any technician.

All Southstar processing, harvesting and felling heads come standard with continuous rotation and auto saw tensioning. Laser type butt end find is also available for processor. Optional features may include replaceable knife edges, different feed wheel styles, computer software options etc...

The processors and harvesters only use four lines from the base machine, which makes installing the heads on any base machine remarkably easy and cost effective.

Each head comes with a full computer system as standard.

One of the most important factors – accuracy in length and diameter has been the focus right from the design process. Today, Southstar processors are referred to as one of the most accurate, in both length and diameter, of all processors available on the market. This gives each owner an advantage as production records are as accurate as they could be.

Various sizes and types of Southstar heads are available to equip a full line of machines needed to make your operation productive, reliable and cost effective.

To begin with the thinning head, QS450, specifically designed to handle smaller trees in the optimum range of up to 35 – 45cm.

QS450 is a fast and durable processor you can count on as a reliable and productive addition to your line of equipment.

Next is the group of harvester/ processor heads: QS500, QS600 and QS630. Each designed to be able to fell and process full trees or to be used in cut to length systems.

The recommended tree size ranges are QS500: 45 to 60cm, QS600: 55 to 65cm, and QS630: 60 to 80cm.

The third group is composed of “grapple processor”: QS505, QS605 and QS635 for similar recommended tree sizes as above.

QS505: 45 to 60cm, QS605: 55

QS 450

30 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

QS600

Southstar QS630

QS450 Processor

QS505 Grapple Processor

to 65cm, and QS635: 60 to 80cm.

The grapple processors are used to process trees on a landing. The

very short hanging bracket gives to these heads more stability and an easier control of movement

QS500 Processor

QS605 Grapple Processor

QS600 Processor

QS635 Grapple Processor

Over the last few years, Southstar Equipment has become one of the leading global suppliers of professional forestry attachments. The satisfied user experience, professional Southstar

staff, loyal dealers with their support, have made this product one of the most sought after forestry attachments on the market today.

Southstar 605 Grapple Processor

Southstar 4x4 drive system, continuous rotation and top-saw

compared to dangling heads with a longer tilt frame. The productive time is improved as the processor is easier to line up with the next log to be grabbed from the pile.

The grapple processor can also be used to load the truck as the arms open up wider than in standard processing heads.

The fourth product is the FD750, directional felling head with a felling capacity up to 100 cm.

The head has many innovative design features. It is one of the first felling heads to be able to give the operator an indication of how many trees have been felled. The onscreen display also gives a warning to the operator when the saw bar is not home, preventing saw bars from being bent when felling trees.

Satellite communication, called the Startrax system, is readily available to enable customers to receive production reports on an automated basis. This system does not rely on cell phone coverage, the use of USB sticks or Wi-Fi; thus eliminating the human error factor and giving you security in the data receiving.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 31

John Deere provides loggers with functional solutions for harvesting trees of all sizes, offering a wide selection of harvesting attachments within its product lineup. Known for outstanding productivity on a variety of jobs, the John Deere harvesting heads available display excellent power-to-weight ratio, exceptional delimbing and measuring accuracy for cut-to-length applications, and increased maneuverability.

The H200-Series harvesting heads are ideal for processing both softwood and hardwood. Twowheel drive feeding combined with powerful delimbing knives ensures solid feeding on both straight and crooked trees. The compact, fourwheel drive, H400-Series product family offer the same high-quality product design and manufacturing standards that loggers trust for undertaking their toughest jobs.

Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) enhances operations when paired with a compatible John Deere harvesting head. IBC is currently available on the CH6 boom on the 1170G harvester, the CH7 boom on the 1270G harvester, and the CH9 boom on the 1470G harvester.

When IBC is utilized, the operator automatically has better control over the harvester head and movement of the boom. The operator maneuvers the harvester head and IBC technology guides the boom accordingly, significantly improving the harvester’s work cycle. Work is precise and efficient with IBC, and new operators are able to quickly learn how to operate machines.

four moving knives help facilitate seamless feeding execution.

Efficient multi-tree-handling option increases productivity and ensures a smooth delimbing process no matter the tree size.

H290 Harvesting Head An extremely powerful harvesting head designed for use with large wheeled or track harvesters, the H290 is optimal for new-generation harvesting. The head’s efficient top saw and dual-speed feeding motors allow for large-volume harvesting at optimal feed force and speed. The head can fell and process trees up to 760 mm in diameter. Long cutting knives remove large branches easily and the head’s top saw option helps to maximize productivity, even in hardwood processing and harvesting.

H413 Harvesting Head The H413 head is designed to carry out a variety of harvesting jobs, including early to late thinnings and regeneration harvesting.

When paired with multi-treehandling equipment, the H413’s powerful saw masters felling and crosscutting with both speed and accuracy. The H413’s continuous four-wheel drive and hydraulically connected feed rollers ensure fast feeding. Its compact frame,

H270 Series II Harvesting Head A powerful and high-capacity harvester head, the John Deere’s H270 Series II are built for superior performance and engineered for simple and intuitive operation.

Providing next-level performance, these heads provide accurate length and diameter measuring. Equipped with long knives and wide-opening two feed rollers, the H270 Series II heads enable tree stems to be grabbed quickly and easily for fell cutting.

Once secured, the head’s floating front knife combined with its

The H415 Harvester Head

32 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

four moving knives, and optimal placement of a fixed delimbing knife deliver outstanding delimbing performance. The H413 is known for excellent power-to-weight ratios, effortless serviceability, and high-quality performance overall.

H414 Harvesting Head A great multi-purpose head, the John Deere H414 features exceptional power-to-weight ratio. Specifically designed for mid-sized wheel harvesters, the head’s compact size makes the H414 highly maneuverable, even in dense thinning stands.

The attachment’s mainframe is one piece, providing high dimensional accuracy. The H414’s feed-roller arms feature built-in feed roller guards, protected hose routings, and strong cylinders and pins. The head’s four moving delimbing knives, one fixed top knife and one fixed back knife follow the contours of the stem.

The redesigned knife geometry combined with long cutting edges of the H414 knives guarantee excellent delimbing quality.

H415 Harvesting Head Boasting strength and stamina for large timber, the H415 harvesting head combines large-timber-cutting power with exceptional delimbing properties. The geometry of the

model’s feed-roller-arm ensures that the H415 can reliably grip and carry trunks of all diameter ranges.

Achieving unprecedented treeprocessing performance, the H415

The H415 Harvester Head

model provides a solution for three different tree stem types: standard (narrow stem), buttress (wide stem), and top saw (processing and hardwood).

The head is equipped with the popular MultiSpeed feeding capability, making both feeding and delimbing a smooth process.

The head contains feed motors that are controlled according to tree diameter, feed speed, and tree species. Delimbing begins at first gear, while MultiSpeed provides high torque at a low speed.

MultiSpeed utilizes the highest possible hydraulic power and feed torque, providing loggers with the

tools they need to handle large trees with heavy branches.

The overall raised frame of H415 head helps control the felling process, while the hydraulic solution supports the hoses to last longer. Feeding is extremely effective with the H415 due to the location of the delimbing knives and its strong grip and trunk handling features.

The H413 Harvester Head

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 33

Tigercat harvesting heads are built to match the high performance capabilities of Tigercat track and wheel carriers and are well suited to a variety of jobs including atthe-stump harvesting, roadside processing and debarking.

570 The 570 is most productive working with trees 15-50 cm (6-20 in) in diameter in softwood and hardwood stands. Although best suited to the Tigercat H845 series, the 570 is designed to work with the H822, H855 and 1185 carriers, or a 20-25 tonne forestry excavator.

performance and service access with fewer hoses and connections to improve reliability. Clean electrical routing with common service parts further increases up-time.

An optional top-saw is available for the 570 giving it more versatility. The top saw housing is integrated into the saw chassis, providing optimum head balance, weight, and structure.

575 The 575 is a heavy duty threewheel drive harvesting head also best suited to in-stand harvesting in the 175-560 mm diameter range. It is very effective in tough applications like large

Tigercat 570 harvesting head working in Nova Scotia, Canada With optional hydraulically timed processor knives, the 570 can also be used for roadside processing.

The 570 has recently proved itself beneficial in debarking eucalyptus.

The wheel arms, pins, bushings, cylinders, feed motors and rotator are shared with the 575 model for proven strength and long life. The chassis is designed for optimum strength-to-weight with focus on visibility, component protection and quick service access. A new integrated valve package enhances

limbed hardwood and crooked trees. With optional mechanically timed processor knives for easier picking, the 575 is also an excellent roadside processing head.

The 575 features Tigercat’s unique three-two drive system.

When processing a tree, the head starts in three-wheel drive, maximizing feed force for faster acceleration and quickly powering through bigger trees. As the load drops, it automatically shifts to two-wheel drive, improving

34 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

efficiency and increasing feed speed up to 30%. Both the 570 and 575 use larger diameter hoses and larger capacity valves than similar class heads to match the greater hydraulic flow and power of Tigercat harvester carriers.

568 The latest addition to Tigercat’s line of harvesting heads is the 568. The new 568 harvesting head is a robust, high performance head designed for tracked carriers. It is best suited for roadside processing applications,

The new Tigercat 568 harvesting head with 4WD 2WD auto-shift drive system

with optimal contour for clean delimbing. The front floating knife with spring preload follows the contour of the tree further enhancing delimbing performance.

Single or dual-track length measuring wheels and dual diameter encoders assure superior measuring accuracy.

Other features of the 568 include optional conventional boom or through-tip boom continuous rotation, laser diffuse or through-beam find end sensors, colour marking and various feed wheels.

D5 Control System

Tigercat 575 harvesting head with three-two drive system

particularly in tall straight softwood, or hardwood with fewer limbs in the 15-55 cm (6-22 in) range.

With timed knife arms and triangulated wheel arms, the 568 can quickly pick and maintain positive tree contact and control.

The patented 4WD - 2WD auto-shift drive system provides extra power and positive grip when feeding large trees, fast speed in smaller trees and full manual control when needed.

Knife arms feature doubleedged, replaceable blades

Tigercat’s D5 control system gets the most from Tigercat harvesting heads. The D5 system combines field-proven hardware and bucking control with a simple and intuitive Tigercat-developed user interface. Available in 3 levels of control and reporting, the D5 system handles multiple jobs with multiple operators, and allows for customizing menus and settings, right down to joystick button functions. Over 70 operator specific parameters to tailor controls to each operator’s desires. Multiple password protected logins give each operator their own secure identity.

The clean and easy to follow layout of the touch control screen allows the operator to make adjustments as easily as using a smartphone or tablet.

Touching the length or diameter log symbols immediately direct you to the calibration setting screens. Indicator icons link to relevant setting screens.

Production windows link directly to production reports and bucking instructions. The main diagnostics screen is a map of the system.

Simply touching a controller icon takes you directly to where you need to be and makes diagnosing faults quick and easy. Running a harvesting head doesn’t need to be difficult, and with the Tigercat D5 system, it isn’t.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 35

The Log Max 6000V

Log Max is a Swedish company based in Grangärde, located in the heart of the Swedish forest district, and has been designing and manufacturing machines for mechanized forestry operations for almost 40 years. They have become one of the most significant manufacturer of single grip harvesting heads and have 14 customizable cut-to-length heads in their product range. All heads are built using the same design philosophy for high reliability and durability and are suitable on all kinds of carriers.

Log Max produces between 500-600 heads every year, and over 70% are exported. The largest markets are in North and South America, as well as Russia and Europe. The Log Max heads are distributed in over 30 countries all over the world.

Log Max in Brasil For almost 20 years, Log Max has

been present in Brazil. Currently, over 500 Log Max heads are operating in the country. Last year, 2018, Log Max set up a new subsidiary in Pinhais (PR), in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba.

The local General Manager, Rodrigo Contesini, says that the new location makes it possible for Log Max to even better understand and help the customers with a faster response to their demands.

- “ We know that fast service and getting professional help is important for our customers, and our goal is to be the best option for the customer when choosing our brand. We think that the new structure of the company will help us achieve those goals”, says Contesini.

many different types of heads to meet the needs of all kinds of customers. One other good thing is that the heads can be mounted on many different kinds

There are also many other reasons why Log Max is an excellent choice in Brazil. Rodrigo Contesini explains: - “ The Log Max head fits the Brazilian environment well. It’s robust and simple, with easy access for service. They also have

36 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

The E6

of base machines and gives great flexibility. The heads also have a low weight, which is essential to the Cut-To-Length-system”.

The most common Log Max

• S pecially adapted hydraulics with another type of valve that continuously regulates the clamping force that the knives create/provide and control that the barking is optimal.

• T o be able to deal with harsh conditions such as sand, 24 hours running time, the head is “heavy duty”- equipped from the factory. It comes with cast felling link, thicker wear plates, replaceable knife edges, and extra protection plates.

The head weighs about 1500kg and fits tracked carriers between 18-25 tons.

Log Max 6000V Log Max 6000V is Log Max latest head, where V stands for Versatile.

The unit’s predecessor, 6000B, was a top seller, not only in Brazil but all over the world. Log Max has made many changes to 6000V to increase durability and improve measurement and make the customers even more satisfied.

Here are some of the changes:

heads working in Brazil are the Log Max E6, Log Max 6000 and Log Max 7000XT.

Log Max E6 Log Max E6 is a harvesting head that is specially developed for eucalyptus harvesting. It’s designed to work in eucalyptus plantation with trees between 4-26 cm in diameter. The head is built to meet the particular demands of eucalyptus harvesting, like being able to debark the stem or to deal with environmental conditions such as sand and heat.

Unlike the other Log Max heads, E6 is the only head that needs to debark while operating,

The Log Max E6, therefore, has some unique features: • Special feed rollers that have angled edges that are mounted at the most optimal angle.

• Five delimbing knives, instead of four like the other Log Max heads.

• T he length measurement function is updated to deliver the best possible measurement results; for example, the construction of the measure wheel cylinder is updated, and the measuring wheel arm is reinforced.

The Log Max 6000V

designed for tracked carriers. The XT Series has been developed to provide the logging industry with a productive and durable head for the most extreme applications.

• T hicker wear plates to deal with the hard conditions.

Some of the special features for the heads in the XT-series:

The Log Max 7000XT can be delivered with or without top saw and weights about 2000kg and fits tracked carriers between 25-35 tons.

• C ast felling link to maximize strength and durability.

• E xtra protection for cylinders to reduce the risk of damage and increase the life of the unit.

• C an be equipped with knifes that have replaceable edges to increase their life span.

• T he frame has been reinforced to increase durability and extend 6000V’s life span.

• N ew hydraulic cylinder for the main knives with link bearings and stronger rod/piston.

• R eplaceable pins for felling link cylinder to simplifying service and maintenance.

• T he head is equipped with the fast saw 218/318 TrueCut that maintains an almost constant chain speed of 40 m/s throughout the cutting cycle.

The 6000V weights about 1300kg and fits carriers (both tracked and wheeled) between 18-25 tons.

Log Max 7000XT The 7000XT is a part of the XTremeseries from Log Max and is a heavyduty harvesting head specifically

The 7000XT

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 37

The C144 harvester head was the first Komatsu head to have four driven feed rollers

Komatsu Forest offers productive and robust harvester heads for different types of logging. The C-heads are primarily adapted for high production, while the S-heads are known for their reliability.

There are also custom-made heads for harvesting eucalyptus, the V-heads.

Characteristics C-heads With the C-heads, the stem is held up by the feed rollers and the delimbing knives are primarily used for delimbing. Most of the C-heads have four powered feed rollers, as well as an extra roller in the feed line. These rollers centre the stem, which ensures efficient feeding, while the low clamping pressure reduces friction, which means lower fuel consumption and increased productivity.

The design also gives reliable length and diameter

measurements. What’s more, for some of the C-heads, the diameter sensors in the delimbing knives are fixed, which means no calibration is needed after servicing.

The frame of the C-heads combines light weight with retained strength. The felling link has a large tilt angle for effective harvesting in steep terrain.

This reduces strain on frame components, which has a positive effect on head reliability and operator comfort. The head has cast delimbing knives for maximum durability and good stem handling.

Since 2016, Constant Cut has been fitted as standard on all C-heads. The Constant Cut saw unit is designed for maximum durability and minimum maintenance. It has an intelligent saw motor control that maintains a constant chain speed of 40 m/s, this gives high speed without the risk of overrevving while also reducing log splitting. Fewer splits appear and

38 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

those that do are shorter and more favourably located.

To increase the head’s versatility, there is now the option of smaller feed roller motors. This feature provides an energy efficient and fast feeding start, which is particularly useful for customers who have a forest where most of the stems are thinner.

A practical function for logging and processing is the option ‘Find End’. When Find End is activated, the head returns to the root end and resets the length measurement without the need to trim the stem.

This maximises the length of the stem and thereby the profit. For C124 and C144 there is also the option of integrated working-light.

The C-heads are designed to be service-friendly in order to keep up service and thus high productivity.

The daily service points can be performed with the head in a folded-down position as there are centralized lubrication points for

topping up grease and oil.

Komatsu C93, C124, C144 The C93 is a highly productive allround head in the smaller range, optimal for thinning. A great match for Komatsu 901, 901XC and 911.

The C124 is a versatile harvesting head in the mid-range, that offers maximum productivity, quality and reliability. A great match for Komatsu 911 (230H).

The C144 has been on the market since 2014 and was the first of Komatsu’s heads to have four driven feed rollers, which has proved to be a major market success. It’s one of the larger heads in the Komatsu range and your typical “big and strong” head.

A great match for Komatsu 931, 931XC and 951.

Characteristic S-heads With the S-heads, the stem is being held up by the delimbing knives alone. The heads have a two-wheel

important components. Options and customisation capabilities encompass everything from measurement, feed rollers and the cutting unit to colour marking, stump processing and multi-tree equipment.

The result is a head with a fast feed, rapid cutting, high reliability and reduced maintenance. Quite simply, an extremely productive head.

Komatsu S82, S92, S132 The S82 is a nimble and light head with a large capacity. It’s very effective for thinning dense, challenging stands, and a great match for Komatsu 901, 901XC and 911 (crane 200H).

The S92 is an all-round head for maximum productivity and dependability, even in the most difficult of forests. A great match for Komatsu 901, 901XC and 911 (crane 200H).

The S132 is a very flexible and adaptable head. It’s also reliable and efficient even in the most difficult forests. A great match for 911 (crane 230H), 931 and 931XC.

Multi-Tree Handling The Multi-Tree Handling option is a way to further expand the range of use for the heads, as it helps keep the production high in forests with small stems or mixed forests.

The function is available on the S82-S92 and C93-C144 heads.

The Komatsu 901XC with C93 harvester head

feed system that allows the stems to turn in the head, even those that are forked or very crooked – something that contributes to high productivity.

Another function that contributes to the high productivity is Flex Friction Control, where the trunk’s position in the feed line is regulated with a sensor in the vertical knife. The result is low friction without sacrificing delimbing quality. Other important productivity benefits include the high tractive force and effective delimbing with three hydraulically operated delimbing knives and a fourth moving vertical knife.

The S-heads are very reliable and have a robust construction with a frame in high-strength steel as well as smart hose routing and a well-protected head computer.

They’re also easy to service with good accessibility to service points, valve assemblies and other

The Komatsu 931XC with C124 harvester head

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 39

The H415X includes the latest sensors for cutting accuracy

The Waratah H415X head

Waratah’s harvesting head, the H415X, is purpose-built for tracked machines. With features such as a rugged main saw box with heavier steel plating, extra component guarding, added hose protection and increased drive arm durability, the H415X effectively handles demanding mixed stand applications.

“The H415X complements the high power and fast cycle times of tracked machines with added durability in the right places – and, all in, a responsive and high performing package,” said Brent Fisher, Product Marketing Manager with Waratah.

“It’s also very versatile with additional options like a top saw, processing delimb arms or multitree handling, all of which cater to more application productivity and efficiencies for the customer.”

With a powerful control valve, high-performance drive motors, precision delimbing and optional top saw, the H415X is designed to reach that outcome. It features configurations to suit a variety of applications including softwood harvesting, mix stand (hardwood and softwood harvesting), multitree harvesting for dense stands, or even processing. Likewise, rotator options suit many carriers and the

The H415X complements the high power and fast cycle times of tracked machines with added durability in the right places Brent Fisher, Waratah

The Waratah H415X head

40 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

machine offers high torque, high performance feed motor options.

The H415X also offers superior tree holding, log handling and processing of straight and crooked trees. Drive wheel options provide optimum wood quality, and maximum traction in crooked wood.

The H415X four-roller feed arm geometry ensures rollers grip solidly in all diameters, improving responsiveness with unprecedented tree-processing performance, particularly in large timber. Likewise, delimb knives provide the best possible delimbing for large- and smalldiameter wood. Front knife options are available to suit many applications to deliver optimum delimbing coverage.

High-performance saws with ample cutting capacity (maximum 710 mm/28 in) and an optional top saw increase productivity for processing. The H415X also features a large feed roller opening (680 mm/26.8 in) for fast stem catching and productive tree harvesting.

To factor in the importance of balancing performance with measuring accuracy and ease-ofuse for the operator, the H415X comes with the advanced on-board TimberRite H-16 controller. It features the latest length sensor technology coupled with numerous measuring wheel options to provide extreme measuring accuracy and consistency. Dual diameter sensors help provide accurate log volumes driven by easy-to-use assortments and configurability optimizing stand recovery.

Additionally, the H415X offers other options for many applications.

The SP 661 LF is the latest design from established heads manufacturer, SP Maskiner. It is a compact and strong highperformance harvester head designed according to SP’s LowFriction principle for minimum friction and maximum productivity.

The SP 661 LF is designed for the highest productivity in both small and large diameter harvesting of softwood and hardwood.

One of the major focus points when designing the SP 661 LF was to reach maximum reliability and uptime. For this reason, a large part of the design work has been focused on achieving optimal hose routing and protection of hoses.

As with other SP head models, only the best quality hydraulic components are used to further increase the reliability.

The result is a harvester head with zero visible hoses/fittings and probably the best reliability and uptime on the market today.

The SP 661 LF does not only offer what the manufacturer speculates is probably the best reliability on the market, thanks to the LF (low friction) design in combination with state-of-the-art hydraulics and computer software, the head also offers productivity that is “absolutely top class”.

In large diameter harvesting, the proportional angled feed rollers in combination with SP’s patented knife-control system LogHold, ensures an impressive capacity and productivity. When harvesting smaller-diameter trees, the compact and agile design is a great asset. Equipped with the optional Multi-tree handling equipment, the SP 661 LF is able to reach highest productivity also when harvesting very small-tree dimensions.

Other options available are top saw, processor knives and find-end sensor, making the SP 661 LF equally productive felling at the stump as when working as a dedicated processor.

Another feature on the SP 661 LF head is the possibility to change between the .404 and the ¾-in chain/saw bar in just a few minutes.

The SP 661 was released for sale in early 2018 and is today working in more than 20 countries worldwide.

The angle of the feed rollers provide more carry force the larger the tree

SP 661 E The SP 661 E is designed for one task only: one-pass debarking of plantation grown eucalyptus. The highest debarking quality and productivity is achieved through a unique combination of specially designed debarking knives, replaceable bark deflectors and high-speed feeding capabilities.

Thanks to the proportional pressure function on knives and feed rollers the debarking process can be easily and accurately adjusted for different conditions, resulting in the best possible debarking quality and a minimum of fiber damage.

The SP 661 E shares the same state-of-the-art hose routing and protected design as the SP 661 LF and because of this is able to also offer an “unrivalled” reliability and uptime.

“The SP 661 E truly is a productive and reliable debarking harvester head,” the manufacturer said.

The SP 661 E was released in the end of 2018 and is today working in eucalyptus plantations in countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Spain and Portugal.

Main specifications SP 661 E Weight

1,520 kg

Max cutting standard

600 mm

Max feed roller opening

630 mm

The SP 661 E

There are no visible hoses or fittings on the new SP 661 LF

Main specifications SP 661 LF Weight

1,480 kg

Wight incl. top saw

1,600 kg

Max cutting standard

700 mm

Max cutting optional

810 mm

Max feed roller opening

630 mm

Full coverage delimbing range

30-510 mm

One pass debarking dia. Range 27-250 mm

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 41

The Alliance F344 ELIT is up for an award for innovation

Alliance Tire nominated for Agritechnica’s Systems & Components trophy

F

ollowing on from the Innovation Award Silver Medal, which was recently presented to tyre manufacturer Alliance for its 389 MPT, the manufacturer is in the running to receive the Systems and Components Trophy – Engineers’ Choice award for its work in developing the Forestar 344 ELIT. The Alliance F344 ELIT is being marketed as the world’s first lowpressure forestry tyre, operating at half air pressure compared to standard tyres.

ELIT stands for Engineered Low Inflation Tyre, a revolutionary technology, enabling the tyre to carry the same load when inflated to 2.5 bars as possible with a

standard forestry tyre inflated with 4.5-5 bars.

In addition to high operational efficiency, low-pressure tyres offer a significantly larger footprint (26%), leading to less soil compaction, better regrowth of trees and a comfortable ride for the operator.

The larger footprint also provides high traction, reduces fuel costs and increases overall productivity of forest work.

Furthermore, special tread compounds and steel reinforcements provide the necessary durability to sustain extreme working environments during a long service life.

42 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

The Engineers’ Choice award, which belongs to the Systems & Components Trophy series, is an accolade for new or significantly improved concepts capable of playing a particularly instrumental role in driving and implementing progress in production procedures.

The Alliance F344 ELIT has been ranked among the top 20 innovations by a jury of development engineers.

An online vote will now decide on the three winning concepts, which are to be announced at the Agritechnica trade fair on November 10, 2019.

INNOVATION

John Deere announces new forestry swing machine options

U

tilizing invaluable customer feedback, John Deere is rolling out increased options on its G-Series forestry swing machines, to help lower daily operating costs, boost productivity, and increase uptime. New updates, including improvements to the machine design and the addition of more standard features, provide loggers with a streamlined, reliable machine.

“To take a good machine and make it better, we knew we needed to go to our customers. Their input has helped us engineer the best equipped swing machines to handle the daily demands loggers face,” said Jarvis De Groot, product marketing manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “The new forestry swing machines were designed to increase uptime and reliability, even when navigating harsh and challenging terrain.”

The improved machine design includes changes to the boom and arm cylinder guards, hood, and underdecking. Additionally, the

larger undercarriage offered on the 3754G and 3756G swing machines is now available on the 3145G and 3156G models, increasing productivity. A new front sunshade increases operator comfort and visibility in sunny conditions.

The inclusion of a deck handrail increases operator safety while traversing the upper deck, and the redesigned 7-inch tool tray improves access and security.

Additionally, three previously optional features are now available as standard offerings. Available on all Final Tier 4 engine models, a standard pre-cleaner for engine air intake extends filter life and minimizes service frequency.

Additionally, the auto-reversing fan, now standard on all machines, is controlled by a dash-mounted button that reverses airflow to eject debris from the cooler cores, reducing cooler-maintenance frequency. Finally, the extremely effective and durable LED light package, which includes access and service compartment lighting, is now standard.

To learn more about updates to the G-Series forestry swing machines, as well as the full line of John Deere forestry equipment, visit your local John Deere Forestry dealer or www.JohnDeere.com.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 43

Lahner Forst - more than an ordinary forestry business Q: You and your brother, Christian Lahner, founded Lahner Forst GmbH in 2008, a certified forestry company in Leimen in Rheinland-Pfalz after ten years in the timber-felling and logging-contracting industry.

How did it happen?

A: Our Dad was already working in the forestry industry and, when we were kids, we sometimes helped out with light tasks such as peeling tree-trunks. After finishing school, we started our own company and right from the outset, we decided

we’re still involved in normal mechanical/manual felling and reverse-cutting operations, our business also extends to the design and implementation of road-safety solutions such as traffic-control and road barrier systems. We’re also involved in land-clearing, sourcing and supply of fuel wood, road maintenance services, supply of power-lines to energy corporations as well as timber transport and trading. We rely heavily on mechanization and we make use of forest-harvesters,

Munich Trade Fair in 2014. At the time, we were in the market for a skid-steer mulcher. We already had two smaller machines imported from North America, but customer support for those machines had practically been discontinued in Germany, so we had no choice but to look for an alternative. Initially, we were also interested in snow groomers with mulching attachments, but their light frame was a problem. And then we came across what we were looking for at INTERFORST, at

From left to right: Alexander & Christian Lahner to concentrate mainly on mechanization rather than rely on manual labour, to increase efficiency. Secondly, we wanted to go beyond offering the basic run-of-the-mill services, such as tree felling and logging, and create as many addedvalue services as possible. By investing in mechanization from the outset, our productivity has increased and we’re able to work faster. Over the years, our orders have increased and our business has grown.

Q: What is the current focus of your business?

A: Lahner Forst has developed into more than just an ordinary forestry business. Although

long-range forwarders, timber trucks, excavators, tractors and specialized forestry machines such as skidders, mulchers and woodchippers.

Q: How many people do you employ?

A: Our workforce is currently around 70 persons.

the PrimeTech/FAE Group stand, where they had a demo PT-175.

We took note of the high-quality workmanship, user-friendly design and easy serviceability.

After that, everything went very quickly. We visited the factory in Italy where they demonstrated the PT-175 for us, exceeding our expectations in terms of productivity and off-road capability, especially on steep slopes. It seemed obvious that we had to go with FAE.

Q: For the past five years now, you’ve been using tracked vehicles produced by the Italian manufacturer, PrimeTech (FAE Group), for your mulching and milling operations. How and when did you come across this company?

Q: How many skid-steer mulchers have you bought from PrimeTech over the past five years?

A: It was by chance that we came across FAE at the INTERFORST

A: So far, we’ve purchased two PT175’s and two PT-300’s.

44 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Q: What do you use them for mainly?

A: We mainly use them for powerlines, roadside maintenance, agricultural soil preparation, ecological restoration, land clearing and cultural landscape preservation projects.

Q: How would you describe the main applications of each model?

A: It depends on the diameter of the trunks, the width of the tracks and the volume of vegetation or undergrowth to be mulched. For trunks of up to 20 cm diameter, we primarily use the PT-175, while the PT-300 can handle trees up to 40 cm as well as rootstocks without any problems. Basically, the PT-175 is suited to lighter tasks while the PT-300 can handle heavier work.

Mulching is a cost-effective way of preparing soil for planting or removing bush and shrubbery.

The machines clear and shred trees or bush in a single operation. Even rootstocks up to 40 cm in diameter can be removed with this technique.

Shredded material is then spread evenly across the ground as wood chip, which helps to prevent erosion and water evaporation. This also protects the soil from drying out and inhibits the regrowth of weed and unwanted grass, thus creating the optimal conditions for subsequent reforestation.

Q: Do the machines also function well on steep slopes and in extreme conditions?

A: We operate on steep slopes in many of our operations and it’s a big advantage that the PT-300 can operate in all directions even on 45° (100 %) gradients.

We’re often confronted with wet and swampy ground conditions and thanks to an extremely low ground pressure of around 0.30 kg/cm2, the PT-300 can handle it and other kinds of difficult terrain. The oscillating undercarriage and robust frame of the PT-300 enables it to adapt to uneven surfaces and difficult terrain, which also increases

Prime Movers & Mulchers

driver comfort. The PT-175, on the other hand, is a highly manoeuvrable and very compact machine weighing less than ten tonnes and is particularly easy to transport.

Q: And what about productivity?

A: The operational output of the PT-300 is huge and, powered by its 302 HP CAT engine, it can easily mulch its way through rootstocks and trees. The PT-175 has “only” a 160 HP engine, but this is also a really productive machine. Before we switched to PrimeTech, we looked at comparable machines in the same power class, but the PT175 convinced us performancewise.

Q: Do your mulchers operate all year round?

A: Mainly from September to March but the rest of the year is a bit quieter. On average, we clock up about 600 operating hours per vehicle per annum.

Q: How satisfied are you with FAE support service?

A: Whenever we need backup, all we have to do is get in touch

with FAE Group customer service in Werder near Potsdam. Most problems can usually be solved by telephone but if necessary, they’ll dispatch a technician from their headquarters in Northern

Italy. We’re very satisfied with them, which is why we recently ordered our fourth FAE machine.

a brand of FAE Group

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 45

Tigercat off road industrial products are used across many industries including oil and gas and the utilities sector — wherever highly mobile, durable and reliable carriers are required for rugged terrain, high duty cycle applications, extreme temperatures and high levels of airborne debris.

Tigercat specializes in the design and manufacture of premium quality forestry machines and specialized off-road industrial equipment. Tigercat machinery is well known for its structural integrity, long life, high machine availability and excellent resale values. Tigercat has a great deal of experience with severe duty applications and has the ability to build robust machines with complex hydraulic and electronic systems that stand up to hostile operating environments. This

put the company in an excellent position to expand into mulching and land clearing applications over fifteen years ago.

In addition to its emphasis on durability and reliability, Tigercat also focuses on operator comfort, visibility and ergonomics, recognising the importance of a comfortable working environment to attract and retain the best operators. Daily service routines are made to be as painless as possible to encourage proper machine maintenance.

The M726G is ideal for Right-of-Way clearing 46 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

M726G Wheel Mulcher Tigercat has released the newest addition to its off-road industrial line, the M726G four wheel mulcher. The M726G is a 275 kW (370 hp) class mulcher based on the extremely durable and reliable 726 series feller buncher, a machine that Tigercat has been manufacturing and refining for over 25 years. The M726G is well suited to right-of-way, vegetation management, land improvement

and commercial clearing applications.

Tigercat built forestrygrade axles provide tough off road durability, and come in a wide variety of configurations supporting single and dual tire installations to maximize performance in tough terrain.

A large attachment pump provides high flow to the mulching head, all important in mulching applications. The optional multifunction hydraulic package with quick attach boom adapter allows the M726G to be quickly converted from a mulcher to a feller buncher

by swapping out the mulching head for felling saw.

The cross-flow cooling system delivers optimal airflow to high a capacity cooling package, essential in the typically high dust levels and extreme ambient temperatures experienced in southern US summers.

Other standard equipment includes a rear camera system and boom float system, allowing the mulching attachment to automatically follow the contours of undulating terrain.

4061 Mulching Head The 4061 mulching head is manufactured to Tigercat’s exacting high standards for robustness and quality. The housing features reinforced side covers and abrasion resistant skis. The housing is optimized with debris door cylinders mounted internally for protection and contains position references to aid in ski alignment.

Timing belts eliminate belt slip and provide efficient power transfer to the rotor, lowering maintenance time and costs associated with conventional v-belts.

Service and maintenance are a snap, maximizing uptime. The Tigercat designed tooth and holder system uses a taper lock interface that requires no torque wrenches, greatly reducing changeover time.

The 4061 mulching head is built to Tigercat’s high standards for durability and quality The teeth are extremely durable with carbide tips and carbide inserts for increased life.

480B Track Mulcher The 480B is a powerful, robust mulcher, able to tackle the toughest terrain with ease.

Tigercat heavy duty build quality provides superior durability with high uptime for large-scale, timesensitive right-of-way and site preparation projects.

The 480B is equipped with an efficient, high capacity cooling system with a variable speed fan and automatic reversing cycle, a dedicated attachment pump and an efficient closed loop track drive system. Inside the cab, the operator has ergonomic electronic joysticks and excellent sightlines.

LED lighting now comes standard along with double grouser track

shoe on the tier 4 final carrier.

With the counter-rotate function (CRF), the 480B can pivot about its center axis effortlessly “on a dime”, for easier turns at the end of a row. The heavy duty steel

engine enclosure and precleaner guard eliminates the requirement for a rear canopy. All structural components are designed for full time forest duty.

We are continually trying to improve efficiencies in order to achieve better fuel economy and direct as much power as possible, no matter what size carrier, to the attachment. We are always making sure the robustness of the carrier meets our customers’ expectations. Tough, Reliable, Productive is Tigercat’s philosophy and we always aim to achieve those goals.

Rob Pentesco, Mulcher Carrier Product Manager

480B Track Mulcher - Excellent performance in challenging terrain International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 47

New FAE MTH and MTH/HP launched: attachments for 300–500 hp tractors The superb Multitask machine MTH from FAE Group celebrates its tenth anniversary, looking towards the future. The restyled version is now on the market, also available in the HP (High Power) model.

This top-of-the-range release is designed to work with powerful latest-generation tractors from 300 to 500 horse power.

The key feature of the FAE Multitask range is versatility.

Various land clearing tasks can be performed with a single

The FAE MTH attachment: breaking down stones and crushing rock with a maximum operating depth of 50 cm, with excellent results across the board.

The MTH model represents the peak of excellence in the FAE range in terms of technology and productivity. This new model features a next-generation frame and a series of technical innovations that improve the model’s performance.

Let’s have a look.

The FAE MTH / HP

Revolutionary “variable displacement chamber” and new kinematics The star feature of the Multitask range is the “variable displacement chamber”, introduced in 2009 and still at the cutting edge.

This system enables ground penetration with just the rotor, as it may be adjusted from the tractor cab.

The volume of the crushing chamber, where the earth is blended, is variable, meaning the

deeper the work, the larger the volume of the chamber. Compared with machines that sink into the ground with their frame, the variable displacement chamber reduces traction forces, lowers fuel consumption, speeds up operations, and saves time.

The new MTH and MTH/ HP feature perfected “variable displacement chamber” with exclusive kinematics.

This mechanical system guarantees perfect synchronization of vertical rotor movement through

the action of two piston rods. The resulting operation is optimized and uniform across the entire work area.

It is also possible to control the particle size of material processed by adjusting the grill on the rear hood and the Hardox® counter blade located inside the crushing chamber. This allows fine or coarse material to be obtained according to individual requirements or specifications set by project management.

MTH/HP: greater power and greater performance on challenging terrain The MTH/HP (High Power) model features a transmission designed for tractors up to 500 horse power, with a strengthened central gearbox, thicker shafts, and parallel axis reduction gears capable of transferring greater torque and power to the rotor.

Additionally, for optimal management of the power surplus required by the HP Version,

new cooling systems have been installed for the central gearbox and parallel axis reduction gears: this prevents transmission oil from overheating, guaranteeing optimum performance, as well as longer lasting components.

Because of its compatibility with very powerful tractors, the MTH/HP is a perfect partner for challenging terrain and is available in the following models: - MTH/HP 225 (max. operating width: 2,320 mm, total width: 2,901 mm) - MTH/ HP 250 (max. operating width: 2,560 mm, total width: 3,141 mm).

FAE rotors and patented tools Two kind of rotors are available for the new MTH and MTH/HP: they provide maximum machine customization and optimal performance in all working conditions. The forged-steel tool holders are attached to the rotor with a robotic welding process and can hold multiple types of high-quality tools designed for different needs. All FAE tools are manufactured in steel with tungsten-carbide tips, that offers exceptional durability.

The exceptional construction quality of the MTH model can also be seen in the finishes and materials used, such as highresistance Hardox® for the counter blades and the bolt-on internal plates of the crushing chamber (easily replaceable without dismantling the rotor).

For info: www.fae-group.com

FAE MTH Land Clearing 48 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

INNOVATION The clamshell style retracting roof enclosure provides excellent access to the engine house. A swing-out door on the right side of the machine allows the operator to easily access daily engine service points. The hydraulic pumps are separated from the engine enclosure and easily accessed.

Tigercat power. Tigercat support.

The 845E track feller buncher is Tigercat FPT Tier 2 or Tier 4f powered. Tier 4f conforms to the latest emissions standards in North America and Europe. With the Tier 2 engine configuration, Tigercat brings the benefits of Tigercat power and support to harvesting professionals around the world.

Tigercat releases E-Series 845 feller buncher The new 845E and L845E track feller bunchers have been upgraded with several new features to promote increased productivity and improved operator comfort

KEY BENEFITS • T igercat FPT N67 engine with Tier 2 or Tier 4f emissions compliance – clean, powerful and efficient; fully supported by Tigercat

845E FELLER BUNCHER

OVERVIEW

The 845E is an efficient, high performance mid-sized feller buncher with limited tail-swing and outstanding service access.

It is well suited to plantations and natural stands and excels in smaller diameter timber.

The 845E/L845E takes the popular 845 platform and adds all of the latest features found on the Tigercat track carrier models. It incorporates the updated cab as well as other improvements to increase productivity and operator comfort.

The cab has been redesigned to optimize ergonomics and improve sound reduction. Redesigned hinge geometry allows the front door to be closed with less effort.

The IQAN MD4 electronic control system interface includes an easy to use colour touch screen for machine monitoring and function adjustment. The new skyVIEW and rearVIEW camera systems eliminate the need for a skylight.

The ER® boom system is highly productive in small stem accumulating applications, where multiple boom cycles are required for each swing cycle. Ever versatile, the 845E feller buncher also has the power and stability to handle larger timber.

The durable design and construction starts with the Tigercat-built forest duty undercarriage and large diameter swing bearing. The upper assembly is built on a thick, one-piece turntable. All weldments are fabricated from high quality steel to resist impact.

L845E FELLER BUNCHER The L845E is an efficient, high performance mid-sized leveling feller buncher with limited tail-swing and outstanding service access. It is well suited to plantations and natural stands and excels in smaller diameter timber.

• E R boom technology® improves fuel efficiency, reduces operator fatigue and increases productivity • T ight tuck ER® boom system with quick cycle times for high productivity in small diameter timber • E R on/off switch to increase increase stick boom out force when required • D edicated pumps for both saw and clamp arms for lightning fast cycles and saw recovery • H igh capacity cooling system – automatic variable speed for improved fuel efficiency; automatic reversing cycle to purge dust and debris • L arge air intake area at the rear, away from saw discharge, for reduced debris build-up • H eavy duty Tigercat-built F8 forestry undercarriage – excellent stability, ground clearance and tractive effort • C lamshell-style roof enclosure with swing-out doors on both sides for excellent access to major components and daily service points • L arge front-entry cab – floor to ceiling front windshield with side door access to expansive area behind the seat

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 49

1932 A LEGACY OF DETERMINATION AND DEERE

During his lifetime, Daniel Mattey witnessed the unfathomable in the logging industry. In 1932 in Chase, British Columbia, he had formed Mattey Bros., Ltd., dedicating his life’s work to logging. His family business was built with years of grueling labor, grit, and determination. It started with a fleet of horses, not a fleet of machines.

STORY: CAROLINE ALTENBERN PHOTOGRAPHY: CHUCK BLACKBURN

S

o, 62 years later, he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing right in front of his eyes. It was 1994, and Daniel Mattey looked on as his son, Danny Mattey, and grandson, Dan Mattey, fi red up a John Deere 690E LC Excavator with an HTH 20T Waratah processing head they had just purchased.

“My grandfather got to see the First processor we got, and it

50 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

was a whole new world for him,” Dan says. “He couldn’t believe what it did in comparison to the days of hand bucking, that’s for sure,” added Danny. “It was totally unbelievable for him. For the work my dad did, they were lucky to get a load or two a day, which now, you do it with four or five guys doing eight to ten loads, depending on the wood they’re in.”

After Daniel retired in 1996,

We trust John Deere because we’ve had good reliability and service from the dealer.

Dan Mattey, Mattey Bros., Ltd.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 51

My dad logged way up at the top end of Adams Lake, British Columbia. They went up by boat, and they’d go for two weeks at a time, with no one at this end knowing if they got there or didn’t get there Danny Mattey, Mattey Bros., Ltd.

his son Danny took over business operations at the office. His grandson Dan became an operator on the jobsites, extending the family business for another generation.

“When my grandfather and his brother started the business, it was just a pole company — they did cedar poles or native cedar poles.

They worked with horses and we’ve worked our way up to machinery,” Dan says.

Back then, the logging industry was much more physically challenging and the work could be treacherous. Using crosscut saws, hand bucking, delimbing and sending logs down a flume, and pulling logs with horses — it wasn’t for the faint of heart. “My

dad logged way up at the top end of Adams Lake, British Columbia.

They went up by boat, and they’d go for two weeks at a time, with no one at this end knowing if they got there or didn’t get there,” Danny says.

“The first tractor they got had no blade, so they had to build the trail with the shovels and picks so the tractor could drive up and down instead of the horses. My grandfather always said it was better than horses because he didn’t have to feed the tractor,” Dan says.

The stamina required of loggers back then was immense, he adds.

“You’d be in a lot better shape then, I’ll tell you that,” Dan says.

A nod to the past, and trust in the future Danny began working for his father in the shop as a young teenager and saw the company grow through the years. “I basically started in the shop here when I was young, then drove the truck for a number of years,” Danny says. “When I started, of course, it was all hand fellers, line skidders, or skidding

with an old carrier of some kind.

Then a few years later, we got into a wheel loader, which was a really big deal compared to the old heel boom. Then we transitioned to what we use today.”

hot logging methods to work as efficiently as possible. This is a logging method where multiple machines are working simultaneously, cutting logs, moving and sorting them from

good luck with them, so it was an easy choice,” Dan says. “And we’ve run a lot of John Deere equipment, so they seem to go hand in hand.

It’s just more dependable than anything.”

“We trust John Deere because we’ve had good reliability and service from the dealer,” Danny says. “Our dealer, Brandt Tractor, is a huge part of what makes us stick with John Deere.”

“My son isn’t a Dan. I broke the tradition,” Dan says, with a laugh.

“I found it too confusing, so I named my son Gavin instead.”

Mattey Bros., Ltd. is serviced

by Brandt Tractor, Ltd., Kamloops, British Columbia.

Tradition and legacy continue

Danny has always enjoyed the lifestyle that comes with the industry, and operating the business and seeing it grow over time has been extremely rewarding.

“I’ve got some guys who have been with me for years and years.

Just to have them carry on and see their families grow — that, to me, is very important,” says Danny.

Today, working mountainside in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Danny, Dan, and his team use

stump to truck in one continuous fl ow. They have a full fleet of John Deere equipment including a 2654G Swing Machine with a HTH623C Waratah head and a Deere 2656G Log Loader with a claw.

Mattey Bros. purchased its first piece of John Deere equipment, a 544 Loader, back in 1968. The company has stuck with Deere equipment since then, as it works so seamlessly with its Waratah processing heads. “We’ve had

Through the generations, many things have changed, but important traditions remain.

For the Mattey family, its legacy in the logging industry has spanned three generations. Dan has been working in the family business for 22 years now. He was hoping to be a hockey player, he joked, but once he started working in the shop and out in the fi eld, that dream changed.

Danny said he looks forward to the day when the next generation, his son Dan, takes over the business.

“I’m hoping Dan will carry it on, and hopefully my grandson will come into the business eventually and continue it,” Danny says.

While Danny’s grandson might carry on the business, he’ll be bringing a new name into the mix.

Danny Mattey proudly holds a photo of the John Deere 690E LC the family bought in 1994.

Brandt Tractor, Ltd. 499 Chilcotin Rd, Kamloops, BC V2H 1G4, Canada

Cedar Eaters OF TEXAS

The Tigercat M726G mulcher with 4061 mulching head operating early morning in Hill Country, Texas.

– Bre Elbourn

W

elcome to Texas Hill Country – where the land is dry and the brush is thick. Texas heat coupled with sparse rains, means vegetation must be resilient in order to survive. Ashe juniper (belonging to the cypress family but commonly referred to in Texas as cedar) is well adapted to these harsh conditions and without intervention, poses a threat to other native vegetation.

In Texas, mulching has become the intervention of choice for landowners battling cedar on their ranch lands. Recognizing a need

54 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

for brush clearing services in their community, husband and wife Stan and Pam Hegener started Cedar Eaters™ in 2001. Now co-owned with their son, Spence Hegener, Cedar Eaters of Texas offers mulching and land restoration services across the state of Texas – occasionally breaking into bordering states. BTB caught up with Spence to learn more about Cedar Eaters’ operations and how the M726G mulcher is tackling the Texas terrain.

Hill Country, Texas Operations Located in Comfort, Texas, the Cedar Eaters base of operations, including the mechanical shop and offices, backs onto the Guadalupe River on a gorgeous 20-acre property. Pam and Stan’s personal home sits at the back of the property, overlooking the river. A beautiful ponderosa pine barn – with an interior that looks more like a high-end cottage – is home to the administrative offices.

It is a relaxed environment where

After recognizing a need in their community for brush clearing and mulching services, Pam and Stan Hegener started Cedar Eaters™ in 2001.

Now co-owned by their son, Spence Hegener, Cedar Eaters offers mulching and land restoration services across Texas while occasionally breaking into bordering states.

mechanical issue on one machine, mechanics can keep an eye out for similar issues with other machines and perfect the repair process – reducing the overall downtime required to service the fleet. “Buy one kind of machine, stick with that machine,” says Spence. “Tigercat was the best quality machine after being through all the other ones; that was what we went with and decided to keep building on.”

Spence notes that another reason he chose and then stuck with Tigercat is because “they listen to the customer. For example, there’s a lot of things that I think I may have had some input on with this head! Or I’ll ask for something to be done on the machine, and then I look down on some of the newer machines and those things have been taken care of. Access to different areas where it was a pain in the butt in the earlier models, now it’s easier to get into them.

Just little things like that. They listen to the customer and take that knowledge and implement it. We don’t get that anywhere else.”

construction and pipeline industry in Louisiana. With Pam’s background in HR and business management and Stan’s in industrial construction and operations, the two successfully managed a large industrial construction company, with over 500 employees, for over fifteen years.

In 2001, the Hegeners left the industry in Louisiana, purchasing a ranch in Texas Hill Country with the intention to retire there. Stan found himself competing with brush on their own ranch – specifically cedar.

Having worked in the industrial construction industry, the Hegeners were familiar with mulchers, which are commonly used by pipeline

How they began Pam and Stan Hegener first made their name in the industrial The faces of Cedar Eaters. L-R: Spence Hegener, co-owner and operations manager; Pam Hegener, C.O.O./majority partner; Stan Hegener, president.

employees are even able to bring their dogs in for the day. An in-house property maintenance crew keeps the grounds in peak condition.

Totally focused on land restoration, Cedar Eaters offers services such as cedar and brush mulching, mesquite grubbing, and hand crew cutting and chipping for both residential and commercial properties. “But most of what we do is selective clearing of cedar for ranch owners, because cedar trees are viewed as a bad tree in our neck of the woods,” Spence explains.

Cedar Eaters operates four Tigercat M726E mulchers with Fecon heads, one 470 track mulcher, and two M726G mulchers equipped with the new Tigercat 4061 head. Spence explains that by sticking to one brand of mulcher, parts and tools can be swapped out interchangeably. If there is a

The M726G has high-lift boom geometry for improved performance on sloped terrain, the machine is incredibly agile, allowing the operator to selectively mulch and leave desirable trees undisturbed.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 55

Mulching creates a protective layer over the ground, locking in moisture. It’s full of nutrients, creating the ideal environment for native grasses and desirable trees to thrive.

contractors for ROW (right-of-way) clearing. Pam and Stan decided to buy a small mulcher of their own for personal use. After clearing their own land, Spence tells us they “cleaned a friend’s ranch up, and it kind of got out through word of mouth that we were cleaning properties up around us in the Hill Country.” Thus, Cedar Eaters came to be. Having started out with just one small mulching machine, Cedar Eaters now employs around 25 people with seven Tigercat machines in their eight-machine fl eet. While Spence has taken hold of managing day to day operations, Stan and Pam still have yet to actually settle down and retire.

The thing about cedar So what’s so bad about cedar trees? The short answer: they’re really good at retaining water.

Cedar trees are known for their ability to thrive in poor quality soil with sparse rainfall. Spence describes how a cedar tree is built to direct rainwater to its own root system, “If you ever look at a cedar tree – our cedar trees – they’re kind of built like this,” Spence motions a funnel shape with his hands where the branches of the tree are wider at the bottom. “All the branches get smaller as they come up the trunk, right? So when it rains the tree is like a funnel and it catches the water in its branches where it runs down each branch to the trunk of the tree.” Its dense-leaved canopy offers a large surface area to collect rainfall. As a result, very little

We have this problem that used to be controlled by nature or by humans and now it’s not

rainwater reaches the soil surface below. With cedar hogging all of the water, other native grasses and trees are unable to get what they need to survive and thrive.

So why does grass matter?

Why not just let cedar take over?

The long root systems of native grasses help to hold soil in place, preventing ground erosion.

Removing cedars using the

mulching method not only helps prevent ground erosion, it improves the health of the grasslands and will increase the underground water supply. Instead of water getting sucked up by the tree’s root system or evaporating from the tree’s canopy, water is fi ltered through the soil and grass roots and goes back into the water table. Another very important reason is wildlife diversity. A variety of grasses and other vegetation attracts a wide range of wildlife and promotes a healthy, well-balanced eco-system.

It’s not so much that cedar is an undesirable tree – it just requires some maintenance if you don’t want it to be the only tree on your property. Spence explains that cedar was once controlled by

Spence Hegener, Cedar Eaters co-owner and operations manager.

56 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

natural disasters. “Wildfi res would run rampant, people would set fi res, lightning would strike and fi re would just go. Well now that we’ve privatized and subdivided all the land, we have this issue where no one wants to burn anymore; for fear of being sued if it gets out of control. So, we have this problem that used to be controlled by nature or by humans and now it’s not. It doesn’t have fi re to keep it at bay so now the only thing people can do is go in there and doze it, shear it or mulch it. We prefer the mulching method because over time the mulch will turn back into soil, and it’s better for the land in the long run.”

Benefits of mulching

Terrain in the Texas Hill Country is rocky, predominantly consisting of limestone. It’s very dry with little topsoil. Unfortunately, the process of turning organic material into topsoil doesn’t happen overnight. Formed from the erosion of rocks and decomposition of organic materials and organisms over hundreds of years, it forces landowners to think long term.

Mulching essentially helps

speed up that decomposition process while conventional methods such as dozing or burning, strip away all organic material with nothing left to decompose. “Basically, cedar trees are very acidic and limestone is an alkaline agent. When the cedar trees are mulched over limestone, it creates an acidic layer over top of it that will break down over time and create new topsoil. You can see this when you look underneath a cedar tree, there’s actually more topsoil underneath the tree. Well, that’s because the needles are falling down every year, and then it’s actually breaking down and creating topsoil. So the concept is, 50 years from now, the property that has been mulched is going to have more topsoil than the guy that goes out there and dozes it.”

Spence also mentions “the benefi t of mulching versus dozing is that the regrowth is considerably less with mulching, because dozing disturbs the ground allowing berries that contain the seeds to be replanted.”

Mulching creates a protective layer over the ground, since the machine mostly drives on top of the mulch, leaving much of the land undisturbed. This layer of mulch left behind also locks in moisture. It’s full of nutrients, creating the ideal environment for native grasses and desirable trees to thrive. In turn, this helps prevent soil erosion and can also help to improve the water table by preventing evaporation.

Putting the M726G to work When asked about the performance of the new M726G mulcher, Spence tells us that, while they’ve had some growing pains with the 4061 head, “we’ve

been really happy with the M726G mulcher. It runs cooler than even the M726Es. It’s got a lot more power. From what I’ve seen, the production rate on the M726G models has improved by at least 25%. The cut rate is quicker, basically. We can go through more land faster with either head on that machine.”

The Hegeners decided to start switching to Tigercat mulching heads because they “feel it will outlast the heads of Tigercat’s competitors.” While they’ve had a few setbacks, Spence tells us that “any issues that have occurred have been addressed quickly with the support of Tigercat and our dealer in Texas, Tejas Equipment.”

Acknowledging that any new product is a work in progress, Spence is confi dent in Tigercat and tells us, “with its robust build and the engineering behind it, the 4061 will no doubt rule the market over time.”

Since 2001, Cedar Eaters has owned a total of 22 mulching machines spanning over fi ve different brands before committing to Tigercat. “The reason we have settled in with Tigercat is their attention to detail and their unwavering drive to improve their products. The support from Tigercat’s ownership, engineers and Tejas Equipment’s technicians as well as our sales rep, Jared Swenson, has been unmatched.”

about how to manage cedar in an environmentally friendly way.

The Cedar Eaters name is a trademark. Spence mentions that he hopes to someday, “bottle up what we’re doing here and replicate it in different areas of the country that are battling the same issue with cedar.” With cedar rapidly encroaching on land in New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas, there’s no denying that there’s opportunity for Cedar Eaters to grow in all of these areas as well.

This article originally appeared in Between the Branches, April 2019, the official publication of Tigercat Industries Inc.

The next generation

they listen to the customer and take that knowledge and implement it. we don’t get that anywhere else

Spence has been a major part of Cedar Eaters since his parents founded it in 2001. While he did not start with the company until 2005, he would often run the machines on weekends at the family ranch in the early years. Spence has grown to develop a great appreciation and passion for what they do and strives to educate those

2610 South Medford Drive Lufkin, Texas 75901

Cedar Eaters operations in Comfort, Texas is on a 20-acre property overlooking the Guadalupe River. On the main floor is a beautiful kitchen and sitting area complete with an old-school jukebox and Pam and Stan’s offices.

Upstairs is an open-concept administration area.

International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 57

ADVERTISERS INDEX SALES OFFICES UK, Europe, South Africa, US East Coast CONTACT: Phil Playle or David Lansdowne Lansdowne Media Services Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Email: phil@internationalforestindustries.com or david@internationalforestindustries.com

Japan CONTACT: Yuko Ishihara Japan Advertising Communications, Inc. Star Bldg., 3-10-3 Kanda Jimbocho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051 Tel: 81-3-3261-4591 Fax: 81-3-3261-6126 Email: ishihara@media-jac.co.jp

Western USA (AZ, CA, NV, UT) Australia, & New Zealand CONTACT: David Lansdowne Lansdowne Media Services Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Email: david@internationalforestindustries.com

CLEANFIX ������������������������������������������� 33 Ponsse ������������������������������������������������� 5 www.ponsse.com www.cleanfix.org FAE Group ��������������������������������������������� 9 Prime Tech ������������������������������������������� 9 www.prime-tech.com www.fae-group.com Green Light Marketing Solutions ������14 Peterson �������������������������������������������� IFC www.greenlightmarketingsolutions.com www.petersoncorp.com Halco Software Systems ��������������������12 Rottne ������������������������������������������������� 27 www.rottne.com www.halcosoftware.com Holtec GmbH & Co. KG ��������������������F/C Serra ���������������������������������������������������� 11 www.serra-sawmills.com www.holtec.de Indexator ������������������������������������������� 25 Springer ����������������������������������������������13 www.springer.eu www.indexator.com Jenz ������������������������������������������������������� 7 Southstar Equipment / Quadco ��������31 www.southstarequipment.com www.jenz.de Keto Harvesters ����������������������������������� 6 Tigercat �������������������������������������������� OBC www.tigercat.com www.kone-ketonen.fi Lucidyne Technologies Inc ����������������� 3 USNR ����������������������������������������������������15 www.usnr.com www.lucidyne.com

Continued from page 26

Western USA (MT, ID, OR,WA) & Canada CONTACT: Bob Warren Lansdowne Media Services Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Email: bob@internationalforestindustries.com

US Mid-West, Central & Mountain CONTACT: Kevin Lapham J.P.Media Inc 1163 E.Ogden Ave, Ste. 705-359 Naperville IL 60563, USA Tel: +1 (630) 420 9752 Fax: +1 (630) 420 9763 Email: lapham@jpmediainc.com The KETO-100 Karate

South America CONTACT: Ricardo Cortés Editec S.A. Avda del Cóndor 844 Of. 205, Cuidad Empresarial Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile Tel: +56 2 757 4200 Fax: +56 2 757 4201 Email: rcortes@editec.cl

If necessary, it can also be used for loading.

The head has a fixed track system, which means that there are fewer wearing parts.

KETO harvester heads are manufactured by experienced staff with the latest technology and automation at its disposal.

KETO single-grip harvester heads are available in eight size categories: KETO-51, KETO-100, KETO-150, KETO-500, KETO-600 and KETO-800, as well as the Eco Supreme series

58 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

and KETO Forst Eco, which are the latest results of Kone-Ketonen’s product development.

There are different models for export to for example Japan and Europe whilst their biggest and heaviest models are exported to the USA.

INNOVATION

John Deere Launches Powerful FS50/FR50 Felling Heads John Deere has announced the addition of the FS50/ FR50 Felling Heads to the felling head line-up

John Deere FR50 felling head

T

he FS50/FR50 Felling Heads build upon the successful qualities of previous models for increased productivity, range and visibility. The new felling heads are compatible with the 800M- and 900M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and feature in 30-degree and 310-degree wrist configurations respectively.

“We are committed to producing high-quality, reliable equipment. Based off of customer feedback, we are excited to add the FS50/FR50 Felling Heads to our forestry equipment line-up for increased accumulating capacities, improved range of motion and excellent visibility,” said Jim O’Halloran, product marketing manager for John Deere Tracked Harvesters and Feller Bunchers.

“These new models will make even the hardest tasks easier and more efficient for our customers.”

The FS50/FR50 features superior alignment of bunched timber to allow for optimal logging and harvesting. The new felling heads provide a taller horn that works together with the pocket and arms to collect

larger, tighter bunches. The horn delivers excellent handling of tall trees, which improves skidder productivity during tree removal.

Both models also include arm cylinders mounted high for impressive wear protection of the saw housing, and can easily hold up to 15 six-inch trees.

The FR50 configuration maximizes versatility when positioning bunches in both plantation and thinning conditions due to the increased rotation. “I always try to work more efficient, smarter, more precise. Nothing else

on the market holds the timber that this one holds,” said Thomas Johnson of Thomas Johnson Logging. “My production has [gone] up using this bunching head.”

Additionally, the FS50/FR50 models provide excellent visibility to the cutting area and superior wear protection of saw housing.

A full coverage option is available for both models, and for the FR50 model, sealed bushings in all clamp arm pivot joints are available.

International Forest Industries | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019 IBC

EXTENDED COVERAGE Increase your drivetrain component coverage to 3-year/6000 hours, with no deductible.

Contact your Tigercat dealer for details.

www.tigercat.com/coverage