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CONGRATS

BR. WIKBLAD

WARATAH

Jamie Cullen, 13, is now qualified to operate diggers after passing CITB test.

Logging in the Finnish Archipelago has to be scheduled according to port timetables.

Frank Chandler and his crew working in Washington with a new Waratah HTH623C.

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January 2021

FOREST

WELCOME

MACHINE MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY LOGGERS FOR LOGGERS

H

Subscriptions: UK £30 per year, Europe £40*, Rest Of World £72 6 issues per year

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and are rejuvenated and ready to face the New Year ahead.

* New lower price Subscribe Here www.forestmachinemagazine. com/subscriptions/ TO ADVERTISE IN PRINT OR ONLINE CONTACT RAB AT forestmachinemagazine@ mail.com CONTACT US: forestmachinemagazine@ mail.com +44 (0)7582055748 www. forestmachinemagazine.com 33 Holm Gardens, Bellshill, ML4 2PB. UK Forest Machine Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate information, errors or omissions. Forest Machine Magazine considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible.

However, reporting inaccuracies can occur and consequently readers using this information do so at their own risk. The opinions expressed in each article are those of its author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Forest Machine Magazine. Therefore, Forest Machine Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinions expressed thereon. Through the magazines you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Forest Machine Magazine. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites.

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Happy New Year to one and all!

One or two exhibitions this year have already had to cancel or reschedule due to Covid-19. Hopefully if the vaccine is a success and reduces the risk of contagion those that are still planned will still be able to go ahead this year.

A lot of us who deal with European, Baltic and Scandinavia colleagues are still unsure how all this Brexit thing is going to work out. I feel that no matter what, we still rely very heavily on each other. Although, in effect, we will no longer be a part of the EU it’s not like we are upping anchor and sailing off into the sunset, we will still be neighbours!

Let’s just hope that the politicians see it that way and can act like adults so that we can continue trading without too many hurdles to scramble over.

We are putting together a feature that I am particularly proud of in the February issue of our subscription magazine, we are covering a mid range harvester round up with good, honest no holds barred feedback from the operators who use them.

We will be following this in the April issue with a mid range forwarder round up.

See you again soon, Take care and Keep Safe

Owner, Editor and Writer

FIND US ON

© 2021 Forest Machine Magazine.

All rights reserved.

#homeoflogging | #writtenbyloggersforlogger | #loggingallovertheworld January 2021

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13-YEAR-OLD DIGS PATH FOR FUTURE WITH DRIVING QUALIFICATION

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13-year-old passionate about diggers and tractors has become the youngest person to gain a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) Red Card, making him a trained operator.

Jamie Currie, from Cullen, is now qualified to operate diggers after passing the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, followed by a theory test, which required Jamie to answer 90 questions from the examiner, and a practical test.

For the practical test, Jamie had to name parts of the machine, drive the digger through chicanes, then over rough ground followed by steep ground. He was also required to dig a manhole to specification, which was later checked with a laser level, dig and reinstate a track to specification, load dumpers and then reinstate the work. Finally, Page 4

Jamie was required to drive the digger back to the yard and perform shutdown procedures and have a debrief with the examiner.

He passed with flying colours, scoring 206 points out of a possible 215 with MG Training at a test centre in the central belt, deliberately chosen because the examiners would have no prior knowledge of Jamie or his father James Currie, director of Currie Contractors Cullen Ltd and NPORS instructor at Heavy Plant Training Ltd. There is no age requirement for CPCS membership, however some legislation or company policies regarding the use of plant or equipment may specify different age limits for a working environment, resulting in the card holder being prevented from using that plant or equipment.

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January 2021

So, although Jamie has passed his CPCS ticket, he will be unable to use his new qualification on commercial sites.

Jamie made an appearance at the Keith Show, demonstrating his tricks. Lots of kids and adults had a shot as well but nobody could match him.

Despite this, Jamie was keen on gaining a qualification for his skills to prove to others, as well as to challenge himself physically and mentally, that he was able to drive a digger as well as an adult could. He therefore booked his test with MG Training.

Speaking about Jamie’s achievement, Callum Mackintosh, Vice President of the Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) said: “Congratulations, Jamie! I’ve been lucky enough to see Jamie’s digger driving skills and the talent he shows is comparable to – if not better than – some adult operators. It’s great to know that we have this talent coming into the industry and I’m sure that Jamie has a bright future ahead of him.”

Jamie said: “I’m really happy and proud to have my CPCS Red Card. I’ve always loved diggers, so I hope this is my first step to a career in the plant industry.

When I’m 16, I hope to do a NVQ in digger driving and upgrade my Red Card to a Blue Card, before building my own business. And, of course, I want to own my very own digger, specifically a Doosan 18 tonner with Tiltrotator!”

Jamie’s interest in diggers stems from an even younger age, inspired by his dad James.

James picks up the story: “When Jamie was just six we built a new house and for that we bought a 1.5 tonne Hanix to move top soil and lay the drains. Jamie was hooked! He insisted on helping me operate the Hanix. We took a family holiday in County Durham and paid a visit to Diggerland where he had an absolute blast!”

Spotting talent in the young Jamie, his dad decided to encourage this further and even went as far as setting him a series of challenges, this time using a Bobcat for which James bought a series of attachments including a Rototilt R1.

Soon a dab hand at these challenges, which included picking up old paint pots by the handle and placing them inside a container, January 2021

James, a fellow member of the SPOA is understandably bursting with pride: “I’m really proud of Jamie for gaining this qualification at such a young age. After finding out that you can sit the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test after the age of 12, he bought the revision book and downloaded the app and revised at weekends and weekdays after school. He was determined to pass and has also gained a qualification for ‘Emergency at Work First Aid plus Forestry’.

“Despite the fact that I do plant training myself, Jamie was determined to gain the Red Card on his own merit. I’m sure Jamie has a great future ahead of him and, if he wants, he will definitely be getting a job with us as soon as he is 16.”

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January 2021

THE POWER OF A SAFE BET

By Caroline Schweitzer

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ust a few miles northwest from Longview, Washington, second generation logger Frank Chandler of C&C Logging and his crew are working in a dense stand full of hemlocks, Douglas firs and mixed hardwoods. They are running a typical harvesting operation, during atypical times.

“This year, we’re reminded how important it is to take care of our forests and the safety of our people,” said Chandler, operations manager for C&C Logging based in Kelso, Washington. “Right now, the wildfire risk is high. We have to be extremely careful.”

Chandler’s parents started C&C Logging more than 53 years ago. What began as a simple operation with a power saw is now a full-service contracting business with 14 operating sides including three

January 2021

winch assists (tethered logging systems), two grapple logging machines as well as multiple towers and GB sides. One thing that has remained the same is the family element. Today, Chandler’s parents and sister still work for the company in addition to 112 employees, and a fleet of machinery that includes a John Deere 3156G log loader with a new Waratah HTH623C loader processor (LP).

“Having healthy forests is so important to the world, and fire abatement is such a big thing,” Chandler said. “That’s why we have extra fire training and drills for our team and always maintain our equipment to reduce risk.”

While this year has thrown a few curveballs, it’s nothing they can’t handle. Earning the highest

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safety rating in the state of Washington for 10 years, C&C Logging is known for its legacy of jobsite safety. And for 2020, it seems like safety has never been more relevant.

“With the added layer of COVID, we have to spread out our rigging crews and keep people at a safe distance,” Chandler said. “We have to be extra careful.”

Doing the job safely and doing the job right has been key to C&C’s success, as the company has grown rapidly over five decades. Chandler himself has seen the industry evolve since he first began working with his father as a teenager.

“I always have liked the physical work. One day, my dad handed me a power saw and we started delimbing and bumping knots. Back then, everything was hand bucked manually. The mechanical harvesting was me,” Chandler smiled.

Today, Chandler and his team turn to the power and efficiency of mechanized processing and loading. And for that, they trust John Deere and Waratah.

A WINNING COMBINATION One of the latest additions to the C&C fleet is the John Deere 3156G log loader with a new Waratah HTH623C LP head. The pairing has proven to be a winning combination on jobsites by delivering productivity, strength and stability in tight spaces.

“With the power of the John Deere carrier, you can move faster,” Chandler said. “You don’t have to wait for your head to move where you need it to.

You can just be a little faster and a little smoother.”

That speed makes a huge difference, especially when coupled with the ability to delimb and move multiple logs in one fell swoop with the Waratah loader processor head.

“The loader processor adds versatility to the machine and the operator,” Chandler said. “You can load trucks efficiently and still manufacture logs, which is a big thing for us.”

The new HTH623C LP has a shorter tilt frame, which allows it to maneuver in tight spaces and reach higher deck piles with ease. Its versatility allows C&C to have fewer pieces of equipment on a crowded jobsite. And while powerful, it has just the right touch to ensure log quality.

“We don’t want to give up on log quality,” Chandler said. “Waratah did a great job in developing a system that maintained log quality but is still versatile to load with.”

TECH TO SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES Along with safety, C&C is all about increasing efficiency. Over the years, Chandler has embraced technology solutions that increase accuracy and output.

“I love the technology side of these machines, and it’s changing a lot,” Chandler said. “There’s a lot of opportunity to bring innovation

Below: Frank Chandler and the John Deere 3156G log loader with the new Waratah HTH623C loader processor.

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January 2021

into our industry to make these jobs safer and better.”

Being able to see data connected to his machines’ productivity is huge and allows his team to see the big picture of performance on each jobsite.

Waratah’s TimberRite measuring and control system combined with JDLink has allowed him to see these details at a glance.

“With TimberRite, I can easily see the productivity of that machine,” Chandler said. “I watch closely to see the volume per hour, per stem and fuel per cubic meter harvested. It’s hands-down the best telematics out there that I’ve seen.”

“BUILT TO WORK, NOT TO WORK ON” To Chandler, durability means more uptime. And it means his crew can get more logs loaded, which directly affects his bottom line.

“Every time a guy has to get out of the cab, you’ve

January 2021

got productivity and safety issues,” Chandler said.

“But with the Waratah, you don’t have to get out and tinker with it. It just works every day.”

Even in tough wood types, Chandler and his team have seen reliable performance from Waratah, which is what has made them repeat buyers.

The new HTH623C LP is the latest example of toughness in his fleet. Chandler described the Waratah handling even Radiata pine with ease, a wood he described as the “gnarliest” out there.

“We’ve bought Waratah for quite a few years now, because they’re durable. Pound for pound, they hold up really well,” Chandler said. “They’re built to work…not to work on.”

C&C Logging is serviced by Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry, Kelso, Washington. www.waratah.com www.construction.papemachinery.com

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NEWS quality and productivity. As such, Tigercat also designed a 3 metre wide mulching head to complement the new carrier. The new 4061-30 mulching head is based on the original Tigercat 2,5 metre 4061, with several updates and enhancements. The 2,5 metre 4061 will be rebranded as the 4061-25 when similar updates are introduced in early 2021.

TIGERCAT ADDS HIGH HORSEPOWER MULCHER CARRIER

T

igercat adds to its mulcher line-up with the release of the 760B mulcher and the 4061-30 mulching head.

The new 760B is a 550 hp class mulcher carrier that shares major components with the field proven and similarly classed Tigercat 480B track driven mulcher as well as the popular M726G wheel driven mulcher.

The 760B was designed primarily for silviculture applications.

Forestry companies require the capability to efficiently clean up

residual post-harvest forest debris and grind stumps to ground level. The 760B meets this requirement and the machine will also find application in large scale land clearing and ROW projects.

In stable, well drained soil types, a high horsepower wheel driven machine has many advantages including quicker travel speeds, lower operating costs and the ability to run a wide mulching head for improved coverage and wider swaths, increasing

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REDUCES WILDFIRE RISK BY RECORD 5.4 MILLION ACRES

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he Department of the Interior announced recently that it has once again made substantial progress to reduce the risk of wildfire nationwide, treating 5.4 million acres of land since 2017 and a ten-year best, 1.5 million acres in Fiscal Year 2020. Under the

leadership of President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) significantly reduced hazardous fuel loads in fire-prone areas by treating more than 782,000 acres using a variety of active management vegetation treatments including mechanical,

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The 760B will be standard equipped with boom float, LogOn™ (Tigercat’s wifi based machine monitoring system), ground level fueling and Tigercat’s WideRange transmission. The operator’s station was designed with operator comfort in mind, with a climate controlled seat, Bluetooth audio connectivity and ergonomic controls.

Tigercat mulcher carriers offer superior build quality, greater hydraulic efficiency, better operator ergonomics and easier access to components and daily service points than competing mulcher carriers. The result is greater uptime and higher productivity. www.tigercat.com biological, and chemical tools as well as prescribed fire.

“President Trump set aggressive targets to more effectively and actively manage our rangelands and forests to prevent catastrophic wildfires. He took bold action on this issue, which had been missing in previous administrations,” said Secretary David L. Bernhardt. “Answering January 2021

NORBORD EXPLAINS NEW CARBON NEGATIVE STATUS

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n the first of a series of blogs, Norbord will guide you through the new construction – and indeed world – buzz phrase CARBON NEGATIVITY. Each will look at different angles on the subject and what it means to all of us – and Norbord’s customers specifically. You only have to start looking around search engines, construction associations and the media to see that, in 2019, “the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. The target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, compared with the previous target of at least 80% reduction from 1990 levels.” In every aspect of every company’s organisation, this target must be the golden thread.

In fact, we should all be aware of how we live our lives in terms of protecting the environment; we have all got the message now so what has happened at Norbord this month?

Very proudly, Norbord now holds a net carbon negative status the call in hitting our significant milestones were our top-class wildland firefighter crews, who have been on the front lines working around the clock to conduct these preventative treatments and extinguish destructive blazes throughout the West this year. They deserve our unending appreciation.”

across all products and operations, locking up more CO2 than the organisation emits. Norbord has always led the way in tackling the issue of climate change and, today, the company’s four European sites and three product ranges sequester a total of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon annually. That means it is removed from the atmosphere and locked up!

While carbon neutrality – another term you will see everywhere – means that an activity releases net zero carbon emissions into the atmosphere, carbon negativity signifies that an activity goes beyond achieving net zero carbon emissions. This creates an environmental benefit by not releasing carbon dioxide that would ordinarily be released into the atmosphere. And, as timber is the main component of Norbord’s products, carbon is sequestered and locked up for the life of the board.

The confirmation of Norbord’s carbon negative status comes after more than a long year the importance of fuels treatments to the national stage in a way no previous President has done before” said Casey Hammond, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management.

“President Trump has elevated

These efforts are part of a larger national wildfire reduction strategy guided by President Trump’s Executive Order 13855 –

January 2021

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of analysis and independent verification, although many Norbord products have been carbon negative for significantly longer. After all the hard work, all Norbord products now have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). If a customer or any other interested party would like to know more at this stage, these EPD documents communicate transparent and comparable information about the product’s life cycle environmental impact. The life cycle analysis accounts for all stages from forest to merchant, including harvesting, production, sales and logistics.

Steve Roebuck, Director, EHS, Norbord Europe believes “carbon dioxide emissions are one of the most significant drivers of climate change and there is an urgent need for products and businesses to achieve carbon neutrality in order to meet the UK’s aim to be carbon neutral by 2050. Norbord’s carbon negative status means we’ve not only already achieved this goal but have gone significantly further, clearly demonstrating our determination to be a market leader in sustainable, climatefriendly products”. www.norbord.co.uk Promoting Active Management of America’s Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk, as well as Secretary’s Order 3372 – Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management.

The Bureau of Land Manegment www.blm.gov Page 13

NEWS landscape maintenance to private forest owners, forestry and contractors and professionals in municipal landscape maintenance.

WOODCRACKER® CL190 PRUNING SHEARS

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n the middle of November a new Woodcracker® CL190 was greeted by its owner in the beautiful Innviertel (Upper Austria). Josef Wiesinger is a forester with heart and soul and even now, at the age of 80, still looks for solutions to make his work easier. The Woodcracker® CL190, which he attaches to his farm loader, a Weidemann 1280, will be used for a combination of thinning in his own forest and for

jobs in the surrounding forests.

The Woodcracker® CL series was specially developed for agricultural use. One of the key features of this series is the low operating weight, which makes the machines suitable for attachment to Hoftracs / farm loaders. The areas of application range from the quick harvest of small trees and bushes, through to the harvest of short rotation plantations, cultivation and

JAMES JONES & SONS LTD

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ames Jones & Sons Ltd has announced that it has funded the acquisition of the UK’s first subsidy-free windfarm, Inverclyde Windfarm Ltd, from BayWa r.e., in tandem with London-based specialist asset manager, Gresham House Asset Management. Located in Inverclyde, south of Greenock and west of Port Glasgow, the site consists of eight wind turbines and has a total capacity of 24 MW. The clean energy produced will displace more than 18,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Earlier this year, Tesco Stores Ltd signed a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement as the energy off-taker, thereby

contributing to the retailer’s commitment to use 100 percent renewable electricity across the Tesco Group by 2030.

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Chairman, Tom Bruce-Jones said: “James Jones & Sons Ltd is delighted to have funded this acquisition and this will further strengthen our trading and investment relations with Gresham House. We are constantly seeking ways to further enhance our carbon negative credentials for our products and activities, and displacing 18,000 tonnes of C02 via the Inverclyde windfarm now supplements the reduction of 17,200 tonnes from our in house

The extremely robust design and proven technology is what led Wiesinger to decided on the Woodcracker® thus avoiding and unnecessary downtime caused by lengthy repairs. Like the majority of Woodcracker® machines, the CL190 is made of high-strength Hardox steel and is lowmaintenance and hard-wearing.

In addition, the high-strength knife can be easily re-sharpened and is insensitive to dirt. Should it ever be necessary to change the knife, this can be done within a few minutes.

“I am very satisfied with the Woodcracker® CL190 and I am glad that I chose this reliable machine,” says Wiesinger proudly. www.westech.at biomass plants. We have been at the forefront of innovation with regards to all environmental matters for a number of years for all of our sawn timber, engineered wood products and pallet and packaging solutions.”

This investment is part of a Group wide 2020 capital expenditure programme that has not slowed down in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Group has completed two new biomass projects at Aboyne and Mosstodloch, has opened a new pallet inspection and repair site in Coventry and is extending the Lockerbie sawmill site logyard in a £3M project. Total 2020 Group capex is £20.4M. www.jamesjones.co.uk January 2021

ESTONIA’S HARMET MANUFACTURES PREFABRICATED HOUSING MODULES AT SPEED

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armet is an Estonian offsite construction company that was founded in 1992 and employs some 800 people across five factories in Estonia and Finland. Harmet’s main products are wooden modular houses and worksite facilities.

The use of Metsä Wood’s Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) products enables the fast, light and green construction of wooden modules.

Harmet is one of the region’s biggest producers and suppliers, with an export share of more than 90%, mainly in the Scandinavian countries, but currently expanding into the UK. The company’s biggest clients are Cramo for construction site huts and Skanska’s BoKlok for modular homes. Harmet uses Kerto LVL products in many parts of the wooden modules and elements they produce – for example, in flooring and for supporting walls and partitions.

Besides the product’s properties

and quality that result in faster production, Harmet is satisfied with its cooperation with Metsä Wood, and values Metsä Wood’s technical expertise and product understanding, which help manufacturers develop their business.

“We have a very good and close relationship with Metsä Wood. They’re always ready to offer advice and help to offsite manufacturers like us,” says Ivari Hiiemäe, Pre-Production Manager at Harmet. “It also helps a lot that Metsä Wood customises some products for us – for example, cutting large crosssections into specific lengths before delivery.”

DESIGN VERSATILITY AND FASTER PRODUCTION The technical properties of Kerto LVL products allow comparable structural properties with less material, enabling the manufacture of the modules at high speed.

Harmet’s newest and most modern factory in Kumna in Estonia manufactures more than 3,600 modules a year, corresponding to approximately 130,000 m² of living space. At such production speeds, it is essential that both product quality and delivery reliability are top-notch.

“Longer spans with stable dimensions, and the possibility to build lighter and more versatile designs, are definite benefits from the production perspective,” says Hiiemäe about using Kerto LVL. OFFSITE PRODUCTION, ONSITE ASSEMBLY Construction is increasingly moving from building sites to offsite manufacturing. Industrially standardised products increase the quality and efficiency of construction. The turnaround time on building sites becomes shorter, and errors are reduced.

One of the company’s biggest clients is BoKlok, a concept jointly developed by construction company Skanska and IKEA. BoKlok houses are affordable blocks of flats and terraced houses, delivered to the customer as a turnkey solution.

Harmet manufactures the prefabricated modules, which come complete with doors and windows, power and water systems, ready-fitted bathrooms and kitchens. www.metsawood.com

NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue of Forest Machine Magazine Anthony Carr interviews operators of mid range wheeled harvesters to get the low down. Find out what they really think!

To make sure you don’t miss this great feature subscribe here www.forestmachinemagazine.com January 2021

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NEWS H2ACCELERATE – NEW COLLABORATION FOR ZERO EMISSION HYDROGEN TRUCKING AT MASS-MARKET SCALE

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VECO, Daimler Truck AG, OMV, Shell and the Volvo Group have committed to work together to help create the conditions for the mass-market roll-out of hydrogen trucks in Europe.

As a growing number of governments and businesses align on a common vision of a net-zero emissions energy system, the H2Accelerate participants believe that hydrogen is an essential fuel for the complete decarbonisation of the truck sector.

Achieving a large-scale rollout of hydrogen fuelled trucks is expected to create new industries: zero-carbon hydrogen production facilities, large-scale hydrogen distribution systems, a network of high-capacity refuelling stations for liquid and gaseous hydrogen, and the production of the hydrogen fuelled trucks. H2A participants believe that synchronized investments across the sector during the 2020s will create the conditions for the mass market roll-out of hydrogen fuelled heavy duty transportation which is required to meet the European

ambition of net zero emissions by 2050.

The decade long scale-up is expected to begin with groups of customers willing to make an early commitment to hydrogenbased trucking. These fleets are expected to operate in regional clusters and along European high capacity corridors with good refuelling station coverage.

During the decade, these clusters can then be interconnected to build a truly pan-European network.

Throughout the scale up, support from the public sector will be required. Under H2Accelerate, the participants expect to work together to seek funding for early pre-commercial projects during the first phase of the roll-out.

In parallel, the participants will engage with policy makers and regulators to encourage a policy environment which will help support the subsequent scale up into volume manufacturing for hydrogen trucks and a Europewide refuelling network for zero carbon hydrogen fuel.

Gerrit Marx, President

CHINA SUSPENDS AUSTRALIAN TIMBER IMPORTS China has suspended imports of timber from Australia’s New South Wales and Western Australia after local customs offices found pests in cargoes

from those states, the General Administration of Customs said late on Wednesday.

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The ban, effective from

Commercial & Specialty Vehicles at CNH Industrial, stated: “The widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell technology in heavyduty transport is a function of the necessary infrastructure. We also need very concrete projects to demonstrate with hauliers and other stakeholders in the industry that this solution is financially and operationally viable. The ground-breaking H2Accelerate collaboration will create the conditions for this to happen and accelerate the transition to zeroemission transport.”

“The prize is clear. By boosting scale in a big way, hydrogen fuelled trucks will need to become available to customers at or below the cost of owning and operating a diesel truck today.

This means truck customers will need to have access to a fully zero emissions vehicle with a similar refuelling time, range and cost range compared to the vehicles in use today. To achieve this ambition a clear regulatory framework is needed, including policies addressing the supply of hydrogen, hydrogen fuelled trucks, refuelling infrastructure and consumer incentives in a coordinated way,” said Elisabeth Brinton, Executive Vice President for New Energies at Shell. www.iveco.com

Wednesday, came after China suspended timber shipments from some Australian states including Victoria and Queensland, amid worsening relations between Beijing and Canberra, Reuters reports. www.thestandard.com January 2021

TIGHT TIMBER & PANEL PRODUCTS SUPPLY CONDITIONS CONTINUING INTO 2021

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he Timber Trade Federation is advising all timber users and buyers to strengthen their purchasing strategies in dialogue with their suppliers, as a lack of stock on the ground and tight supply conditions are set to continue well into 2021.

The very challenging situation for the timber supply chain in 2020, affected by pandemicrelated issues and massive changes in market dynamics, and exacerbated by high levels of global demand for timber and wood products, is setting the scene for continuing tight timber supply conditions certainly into Q2, 2021, if not longer, warns the Timber Trade Federation.

Early in the pandemic many European sawmills were temporarily shut. Lockdowns across the UK and Europe then produced a massive surge in demand for timber for DIY and garden projects, which began to impact supplies through to Britain’s construction sector.

Additional high demand for structural timbers, particularly CLS and carcassing, from across Europe and especially from the USA, has also affected the amount of material available in traditionally well-stocked markets such as the British builders’ merchant sector.

With demand continuing at a

high level into 2021, there has been no ‘quiet season’ in Britain’s building trade, and thus little opportunity for sawmillers and importers to replenish stocks on the ground here in the UK to their previously-plentiful levels.

COVID-19 is still producing spikes in cases, such as that recently seen in the UK’s largest timbersupplying partner, Sweden, where an increase in cases has resulted in a tightening of operating conditions and delays where vessel crews are required to self-isolate. Import logistics, especially with the end of the Brexit transition period and the new arrangements with the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, may add further pressures on supplies, as the timber sector will need to compete with many other industries in obtaining road haulage capacity within the UK. To ensure available material is distributed equitably, many Timber Trade Federation members are continuing to operate on customer allocations.

Volumes are likely to be available but on much longer lead times than previously. Merchants, manufacturers and building contractors are advised to contact their supplier to discuss future needs, and similarly to become more aware of the factors influencing suppliers’ capacity to meet demand.

Companies without a longer-term purchasing strategy will struggle to replenish stocks through justin-time buying in Q1 and Q2, 2021.

David Hopkins, Chief Executive of the Timber Trade Federation, said: “Pre-COVID, timber buyers were used to there being plentiful landed stocks available to meet immediate demand. Suppliers were also used to having time over traditionally quiet periods in the trade to re-build stocks for the following season. This situation has now been turned on its head. It is understandable that many customers should be surprised by, and angry about, the new reality we are facing together. The reported price inflation has also made it difficult for some manufacturers to accurately price projects for customers.

“We would like to reassure the wider sector that volume supplies are available, though on much longer lead times than we have all been used to. This situation will be with us well into 2021 so we advise contacting your suppliers to discuss meeting your needs for the year ahead. The challenge going forward will be to achieve the balanced product mix needed by the market, a factor which may be further complicated by the haulage demands and new customs and plant health procedures engendered by Brexit.” www.ttf.co.uk

TRIALLING

Later this month we will be looking for more timber fallers to try out the BaSt-Ing ValFix 16 tonne lift and the ValFast 26 tonne lift spindle wedges. Interested? Contact Rab at forestmachinemagazine@mail.com January 2021

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HARVESTING WOOD IN THE FINNISH ARCHIPELAGO

Kjell Wikblad receives the fuel tank in the boat. Andreas Nynäs sits inside the forwarder cabin.

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orking in the forests of the Finnish archipelago is almost like working on the mainland – except some things make the work in the archipelago more demanding. With 13 years of experience, it can be said that working in the forests of the archipelago is routine for brothers Kjell and Tomas Wikblad. They founded their company Br. Wikblad on New Year’s Eve 2007.

January 2021

With the year 2020 nearing its end, the brothers are applying finishing touches on a site in Sundom archipelago, Vaasa.

Operator Andreas Nynäs delivers a huge load of logs to the shore. Then the forwarder fuel tank needs to be refilled.

Andreas works as a farmer, but he helps the Wikblads when needed.

“Me and my brother are originally from

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Soklot and usually work in the areas around Kokkola and Oravais. We are used to harvesting forests in the archipelago every summer, even though we usually do not work in the Vaasa region”, says Kjell.

Br. Wikblad operates under Forest Kings and all their logs are sent to UPM manufacturing plant in Pietarsaari. During their career as entrepreneurs, they have owned nine different forest machines. At the moment, they own one harvester and one forwarder.

The forwarder is a Logset 6F GT from 2019 and their first Logset machine.

Kjell Wikblad says that 2020 with Logset forwarder has gone well even though they have driven the machine comparably little.

“My brother wanted to continue buying the same old and familiar machine brands because he is rather conservative. However, after a test drive with a Logset machine, he had a change of heart and the forwarder was delivered to us in November 2019. We have driven now approximately 1 700 hours. It is a quite low number, as usually we drive 2 500 h/year. The restless year 2020 with strikes, coronavirus and economic uncertainty has impacted our productivity”, Kjell says.

PROPERLY EQUIPPED MACHINE Conditions of the archipelago demand a properly equipped machine. Kjell says that they mostly work in private owned forests and perform thinnings. Logset forwarder has a shorter load bay, which makes manoeuvring the machine easier.

The crane is a 10-meter long Mesera 92 and the forwarder is equipped with central lubrication.

“We cannot always work within the crane’s ideal reach. The crane must be able to lift heavy loads even when it is stretched to its full capacity, if we are loading a pram or lifting a fuel tank”, Andreas explains.

There is plenty of work to do in the archipelago, but the sites are far apart. The logging has to be scheduled according to port timetables and Page 20

weather has a big impact on the work. Logistics needs more planning: when should the machines be fuelled, what spare parts are needed and who is able to deliver equipment to the islands?

“If something gets broken everything is much more complicated than on the mainland. We’ve been lucky to discover that Logset warranty works well”, states Kjell.

WELL-THOUGHT-OUT PACKAGE Kjell and Andreas both think that the forwarder is a well-thought-out package with nice details.

Andreas has good things to say about the Smooth Ride cabin.

“I had never driven a machine with suspended cabin. There is a huge difference. The cabin suspension improves performance and works very well. The suspension also eliminates the sideways blows when I load the machine. I can sit more relaxed and my body does not feel as tired after the workday”, he says. “The cabin has plenty of room – especially around the head when you are sitting and driving the machine. The spotlights on the cabin floor help to find things if you have dropped something. And the downwards visibility is great. Only thing I wish is that the windows would be a little bit taller as that would help when loading the pram”. www.logset.com

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January 2021

We provide a wide range of winches suitable for most foresters needs provide a wide range winchesWe to suit forestersmanufacturers needs for both and forWE both excavators and of tractors. usemost reputable andbrand, tractors. reputable as our as wellexcavators as our own allWe of use which can bemanufacturers relied upon as forwell tough and own brand, all of which can be relied on for tough and demanding demanding conditions.

Visit our website to see what other great products we have to serve the forestry and associated industries. Or call for more information on 01434 230852

www.forestmachineservices.com

January 2021

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Page 21

Photo credits: Österreichische Bundesforste

EPSILON ON A MISSION FOR THE SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE CHRISTMAS TREE

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his year’s Christmas tree has been in pride of place on the forecourt of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna since November 5, 2020, having been delivered using a PALFINGER EPSILON crane.

The Styrian mountain spruce was felled at an altitude of 1,300 meters at Stuhleck in Styria in a mild 13 degrees on November 4, 2020. The spruce grew to a towering 28 meters in its 118 years and was chosen as the perfect Christmas tree back in the summer by the employees of the Österreichische Bundesforste (the Austrian federal forestry company). The federal forestry company has been donating the Christmas tree that stands outside Schönbrunn Palace for 18 years. “Every year, the tree comes from a different state, and this year it is our turn and Styria’s turn once again,” said a delighted Martin Lenz, who works for the Austrian federal forestry company in the Mürzzuschlag area.

Before the tree was felled, a specialist forestry worker climbed to a great height and fixed cables from a cable crane to the mountain spruce. As a result, the tree did not fall over after it was felled, but was lifted with the aid of the cable and not damaged. The spruce was separated from the Page 22

Photo credits: Österreichische Bundesforste

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January 2021

rhizome using a chainsaw and lifted with great care by the cable crane operator. With the concerted help of a PALFINGER EPSILON crane from the powerful S-Series, the soon-to-be Christmas tree was gently placed on the loading area of a low-loading trailer. The S-series is perfect for tasks like this one involving the transportation of long wood with lifting capacities of 22 to 30 meter-tons. The tree was trimmed down by another 10 meters for transportation before setting off on its journey to Vienna.

Early on the morning of November 5, 2020, the Styrian mountain spruce arrived at the forecourt of Schönbrunn Palace. At times like these, it is important to the organizer of the Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market to set an example: “We have deliberately stuck to the planned date for the arrival of the tree and want it to be a sign of peace and togetherness,” explained Gabriela Schmidle of MTS Wien, a Vienna-based marketing and tourism promotion company. At sunrise, the experts from Vienna’s Forestry Office took delivery of the magnificent specimen weighing several metric tons. It was skillfully lifted from the longwood transporter using a crane and then anchored in the shaft provided. There were calls of “the tree is up!” as early as 7:30 a.m. Now the beautiful specimen from the Mürzzuschlag forestry district

Photo credits: Österreichische Bundesforste

Photo credits: Österreichische Bundesforste January 2021

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in Styria is ready for its assignment. Decorated with 1,000 environmentally friendly LED lights, the symbol of peace was lit up for the first time on November 21. www.palfingerepsilon.com

Photo credits: Ă–sterreichische Bundesforste Page 24

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January 2021

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MERCER HOLZ RELIES ON AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE LOAD WEIGHTS IN RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC

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hen it comes to the raw material of wood, Mercer Holz is hands on. Every year, the company purchases more than seven million solid cubic meters of wood, five million of which are logs. More than 3.5 million tons of logs, chips, and lumber are transported by rail, which adds up to over 2,000 block trains. This makes Mercer Holz one of the largest purchasers of wood in Europe.

Köhler explains.

Mercer Holz is also one of Europe’s largest rail logistics companies in the wood sector. As valuable as raw wood material is from an economic and climate perspective, it can be difficult for transporters to handle. “Wood can have weight differences of up to 50% due to differences in density and moisture content”, explains Jürgen Köhler, Division Manager for Rail and Ship Logistics at Mercer Holz. Other major uncertainty factors that significantly affect logistics are the costeffectiveness, safety, and error frequency.

With the help of an app, the direction of travel,

The LoadMonitor system by the company PJMesstechnik GmbH from Graz/Austria (PJM) offers a suitable solution. This system determines important data such as wagon weight, GPS location, or mileage via various monitoring functions in real time. As well, it can be used to monitor the loading process. “We need reliable, stable monitoring of the loading process to protect against overloading of the wagons – both for the loading forwarders and for our company”, Jürgen Page 26

With the LoadMonitor system, Mercer Holz has closed a gap in the logistics process chain: all essential information about the freight cars, as well as automatic load control directly on site, is covered by one system. In total, more than 500 freight cars used by Mercer Holz will be equipped with the new system by the end of March 2021.

More than 500 cars used by Mercer will be equipped with PJM’s LoadMonitor system to make Mercer’s lumber shipments more efficient, safer and less expensive. (Source: TRANSWAGGON GmbH)

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January 2021

mileage, current position, last message, last movement, current country, and nearest city can be evaluated in real time for all freight cars.

This ensures faster and more effective timber loading. Weight monitoring also ensures that the volume of the wagons is optimally utilized without causing dangerous overloading. Mercer Holz is thus making further progress in our continuous improvement of occupational safety. Wear on the wheels can also be detected at an early stage, increasing the profitability of the wagons and improving the productivity of the shippers. www.mercerint.com

The automatic control of the loading weight ensures the best possible use of the loading capacity. This provides safety, for the timber shipper on site, but also for the forwarder.

Overloaded wagons with difficult material such as wood, gravel, scrap or bulk material are a thing of the past. (Source: PJM)H)

The trains are compiled via app; everything in view and editable with one click. (Source: PJM)

Great collaboration of the project partners Mercer Holz, TRANSWAGGON (TWA) and PJM (from left to right): JĂźrgen KĂśhler, Mercer Holz; Lothar Krebs, TWA; Thoralf Ziesmann, Mercer Holz; Thomas Borstell, Mercer Holz; and GĂźnther Petschnig, PJM. (Source: Mercer Holz GmbH)

HIRING

We are looking for people passionate about forestry that have good working knowledge of the industry to assist us to cover visits and exhibitions both in the UK and overseas.

Writing skills are not essential as you will get full support but a good command of reading and writing in English is required.

The work will be on a part time freelance basis with all expenses covered and articles paid by the word or on an agreed day rate. We would be happy to work around your full time employment where possible.

If this is of interest then please email us at forestmachinemagazine@mail.com or telephone Rab on +44(0)7582055748 www.forestmachinemagazine | forestmachinemagazine@mail.com | +44(0)7582055748 January 2021

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January 2021

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milestone in forest machine technology, John Deere’s Intelligent Boom Control (IBC), is now available for all John Deere WCTL forest machines. IBC was launched for forwarders in 2013. It was introduced for harvesters in 2017, initially for the 1270G and 1170G models. IBC was available for the biggest harvester model, the 1470G, earlier in 2020, and it will now be available also for the smaller 1070G harvester.

PRECISE AND SMOOTH WORK WITH IBC

A boom equipped with intelligent boom control is fast, easy to use and precise. IBC is a unique boom control system developed by John Deere.

The sensors in the intelligent control system read the harvester head’s position, and the algorithms adjust the boom’s trajectories in one easily controlled motion. IBC also functions as a platform on which we can introduce new functionalities that facilitate work.

In harvester operations, IBC is designed to suit the machine’s work cycle. The trajectory and function of the boom automatically adjust as the boom is taken to a tree and when the tree is in the grapple. The operator doesn’t have to activate the different sections of the boom individually. IBC ensures precise operation and efficient work practices. The boom’s electronic end dampening makes the work process pleasant and smooth, and reduces stress on the entire boom. IBC improves work ergonomics and guides the operator in the correct use of the boom, which is directly reflected in the increased productivity of the machine and in the everyday working capacity of the operators.

1070G, IBC AND THE NEW H212 HARVESTER HEAD

The agile 1070G equipped with the new, narrow and light H212 harvester head is an ideal combination for first thinnings. The advantages of IBC in thinning work are unbeatable. Precise and controlled movements and grabbing trees, a frequent matter in thinning work, are emphasized in first thinnings and in bundlehandling.

The dimensions of the H212 harvester head bring agility to moving about even in dense January 2021

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thinnings. Delimbing has been optimized especially for smaller trees, enabling a very high-quality delimbing result. Thanks to the narrow frame of the H212 harvester head, visibility to the stem is excellent. The location and the high-speed cutting of the saw increases productivity and minimizes cutting damage. And it has the power and feeding speed to handle bigger trees if needed. The H212 harvester head is available for John Deere 1070G and 1170G harvesters.

NEW DURABLE WINDOWS COMPLIANT WITH ISO 21876 SAW CHAIN SHOT TESTING STANDARDS FOR FOREST MACHINES

In September 2020, ISO 21876 was published. The new standard defines the requirements for the windows of harvesters, which are at risk of being hit with a broken saw chain or its parts.

Since March 2020, all John Deere forest machines have been equipped with windows fulfilling the requirements of this new standard. The new RENCRAFTÂŽ Super Hard Coat (ECE 43R LEVEL L)

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polycarbonate windows are more durable. The scratch resistance of the windows and their ability to withstand chemicals and cleaning solutions is significantly improved.

The front window of the rotating cabin and the rear window of the forwarder’s fixed cabin are now almost 50% thicker than before. Also the front window of the fixed cabin is thicker than before. The thicker material provides better sound insulation, making the cabin an even quieter working environment. The windows can also be retrofitted to all the latest models that have a rotating and levelling cabin or a fixed cabin. www.johndeere.com

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January 2021

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G N YOU

S R E G G LO SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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FIND THE TEN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO PICTURES

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January 2021

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Forestry of tomorrow

January 2021

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