TimberWest Magazine - March/April 2023

March/April 2023

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WYEAST TIMBER SERVICES

Adds Firewood Business

LOGGER IN THE EAST TURNS

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RENEW FOR 2023

PAYLOAD, CYCLE TIME ARE KEYS

to Productive Grapple Yarding

THE ORIGINAL

WELCOME TO OUR TERRITORY

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ON THE COVER Paul Jones started WyEast Forestry Management with only a rented bulldozer. A little over 10 years later, the business has evolved and grown to include three distinct companies.

March/April 2023 Vol. 48 No. 03-04

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WyEast Timber Services on the Grow

12

Winch-Assist Approach Makes Its Way East

Zach Hubbard Logging

Firewood business unit enables company to be vertically integrated, spurs growth.

West Virginia logger looking to improve safety gets a boost in production with technology used in the West: a TimberMax Traction-Winch.

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Good Crew Leads to Success for Wayne Stone Logging

Wayne Stone attributes his nearly 40 years of success in the logging industry to his productive crew and reliable equipment.

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Payload, Cycle Time Are Keys to Productive Grapple Yarding

Recent research suggests grapple yarding can be very productive, yarding more than 100 tons per Productive Machine Hour (PMH). Payload and cycle time are the keys.

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Oregon Logging Conference Gets a Boost

Wayne Stone Logging

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The 85th Annual Oregon Logging Conference got a boost in attendance and visitors compared to a year ago. Pre-registered attendance and exhibitor participation both increased.

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Tech Column

Daily service check will help ensure proper maintenance of heavy equipment. Matthew Flood, Product Marketing Manager for John Deere, has some suggestions on how to go about it.

Departments

Page 4..........................................................In the News Page 20............................................. Association News Page 28..................................................Machinery Row Page 37........................................................ Safety Alert Page 37............................................ Calendar of Events Page 37....................... Subscription/Advertiser’s Index

TECH COLUMN

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

12 Research Looks at Grapple Yarding

22 3

IN THE NEWS Biden Budget Increases Funds For Wildland Fire Management

The Biden Administration submitted to Congress the President’s budget for fiscal year 2024, which includes significant funding increases for wildland fire and hazardous fuels management. These investments will help address the nation’s wildfire crisis and implement comprehensive reforms for the wildland fire management workforce that provide stronger financial and health support to wildland firefighters, who are the backbone of wildland fire management nationwide.

The budget request for the Forest Service’s wildland fire and hazardous fuels management totals $2.97 billion, which is $647 million, or 28 percent above the comparable 2023 enacted level. The FY 2024 budget request for the Department of the Interior’s wildland fire and hazardous fuels management totals $1.33 billion, which is $233.1 million, or 21 percent, above the comparable 2023 level.

The workforce reforms proposed in the FY 2024 budget request will increase federal and tribal firefighters’ pay, invest more in their mental and physical health and wellbeing, improve their housing options, and expand the number of permanent firefighters.

These reforms build on the temporary pay increase provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The permanent pay reforms require authorizing legislation, and the Administration is committed to working with congressional leaders on developing a comprehensive legislative proposal.

Last year, nearly 69,000 wildfires burned more than 7.5 million acres across the country. On average, wildfire activity, severity, size, and cost are escalating.

Crowd Criticizes Oregon Forestry Board Habitat Plan

A crowd of about 100 people gathered at the Oregon Board of Forestry’s March meeting to blast a proposed habitat conservation plan that would restrict logging on 640,000 acres of state forests west of the Cascade Range.

Opponents of the plan testified that reductions in timber harvest will threaten high-paying jobs and decrease revenue for essential services in rural communities, including schools, public safety, fire protection and health care.

While discussion of the plan was not on the board’s agenda, students, loggers, industry representatives and elected officials took turns speaking during an open public comment session, urging the Department of Forestry to reconsider the plan.

“These are lifetime decisions,” said Courtney Bangs, a Clatsop County 4

commissioner. “Take time, do the work (and) get the best deal, before these communities are gutted.”

The plan is essentially an agreement between the state and two federal agencies — NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — that the forests will be managed to mitigate harm to 17 species that are either listed as endangered, or could be listed. That list includes the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, coastal marten, red tree vole, three different salamanders and 10 species of fish. In exchange, the plan protects land managers from potential lawsuits in cases of “incidental take” if management activities result in killing species or destroying habitat.

The state has an obligation to harvest timber on state forests as a source of revenue for 15 Forest Trust Land counties. About two-thirds of the money from these timber sales goes to taxing districts in the counties, and the Oregon Department of Forestry keeps the remaining one-third for its budget.

Most of the 640,000 acres in question are in Clatsop and Tillamook counties, along the north Oregon coast.

The state initially estimated it would harvest between 225.4 million and 226.2 million board feet of timber annually after the plan is implemented. However, new figures released in February prescribed a harvest of 165 million to 182.5 million board feet annually for the next two years. That reduction has raised alarm from officials who worry the lost revenue will have devastating effects on the rural economy.

Bill Would Expedite Treatment of Fuels on National Forest Lands

A bill introduced by U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) would require the U.S. Forest Service to expedite treatment of more than 70 million acres of National Forest lands, in consultation with states, that have been identified as needing treatment to reduce the threat of insect and disease infestations and catastrophic wildfires.

“The lack of active forest management is changing the role of forests from carbon sinks to carbon sources on National Forest lands in many Western states,” said Tim O’Hara, vice president of government affairs for the Forest Resources Association. Tree mortality rates are greater on Forest Service lands than non-federal public and private lands, he adde.

“Senator Thune’s legislation, Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act, would expedite forest management that would improve carbon sequestration and storage on National Forests lands across the U.S while supporting rural forest-based economies,” said O’Hara.

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

The legislation would: • Require the Forest Service to expedite treatment of forests through application of the insect and disease and hazardous (continued on page 6) Editor: Tim Cox, tim@forestnet.com Contributing Editors: Andrea Watts, Jan Jackson, Dawn Killough, Hunter Harrill, Matthew Flood –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com CEO / Advertising Sales: Anthony Robinson – arobinson@forestnet.com Phone: (778) 991-3500 Associate Publisher/Advertising Sales: Hannah Rayment – hannah@forestnet.com Phone: (604) 990-9970 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Publisher & Production Manager: Sheila Ringdahl – sringdahl@forestnet.com Digital Marketing: Anthony Robinson arobinson@forestnet.com Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Accounting Manager: Shelina Jessa – accounting@forestnet.com Corporate Office Information: Phone: (425) 778-3388 • Fax: (425) 771-3623 timberwest@forestnet.com • www.forestnet.com TImberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 PUBLISHER’S EDITORIAL STATEMENT: TimberWest reports on the logging and lumber segment of the forest industry in the Western United States with emphasis on the states of AK, WA, OR, ID, MT and CA, providing current information on timber harvesting techniques, sawmill operations, news, legislation, events, people and products pertinent to this market.

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IN THE NEWS (continued from page 4) fuels categorical exclusion for projects on acres suitable for timber production while providing necessary exclusions for National Wilderness Preservation System lands and roadless areas; • Require the agency to publish a report annually detailing the acres that have been treated; • Require the service to prioritize reducing the risks of infestations and wildfires over other objectives in forest plans; • Expand the insect and disease and hazardous fuels categorical exclusion to include certain forest lands that have been susceptible to infestations and wildfires in recent years; and • Allow states to retain good neighbor agreement timber sale revenues for authorized restoration services on any land under a good neighbor agreement in the state.

The Forest Service has designated approximately 74 million acres nationwide as insect and disease treatment areas, but only a fraction of those acres have been treated, according to the National Association of State Foresters. The lack of active management on federal lands is threatening the continued

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flow of social, economic, and ecological values from federal forests as millions of acres continue to be altered by insects, diseases, and uncharacteristic wildfires.

Groups Oppose Injunction Against Using Fire Retardant

Several groups of associations, cities and counties are attempting to challenge a case in Montana they say has the potential to take away an important tool from firefighting efforts at a time when Western U.S. wildfires are worsening.

The groups, led by the National Wildfire Suppression Association, filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Missoula to intervene as defendants in a case that seeks to enjoin the U.S. Forest Service from using aerial fire retardant. They were part of several groups that include the wildfire-prone counties, as well as towns like Paradise, California, which was destroyed by massive the 2018 Camp Fire.

The Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics filed a suit against the Forest Service last fall, arguing the agency’s discharge of aerial fire retardant into the nation’s navigable waters violates the Clean Water Act.

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

According to the suit, between 2012 and 2019, the Forest Service discharged retardant on at least 459 occasions totaling more than 761,000 gallons from aircraft directly into national forest navigable waters. The suit calls fire retardant a pollutant, noting that it is composed of mainly inorganic fertilizers (ammonium phosphates) or other inorganic salts (magnesium chloride), which kill or damage aquatic species and have adverse impacts on the waterways. The lawsuit also argues that the impacts go beyond environmental to include aesthetic, scientific and recreational impacts.

The suit seeks to halt the Forest Service from using the retardant on waterways, as well as to recover costs and expenses from the legal action.

This motion by opponents argues that an injunction against the aerial fire retardant is not in the public interest and that the potential harm to communities if aerial fire retardant drops are halted includes massive economic damages and potential losses of life. The retardant “unquestionably reduces fire’s rate of spread, intensity, and danger to the public,” the motion states.

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ContractorProfile

WyEast Timber Services on the Grow

By Andrea Watts

H

OOD RIVER, OREGON

Paul Jones started WyEast Forestry Management with only a Cat D5 dozer with a winch rented from Peterson Cat in 2012.

A little over 10 years later, the business has evolved and grown to include three distinct companies. Now vertically integrated, Jones has been able to diversify beyond traditional timber harvest operations and develop profitable uses for unmarketable timber.

Jones and Matt Hegerberg, who owned Hegerberg Timber Services, merged their companies to become WyEast Timber Services in 2014, and Jones acquired Hegerberg’s share of the business to become the sole owner in 2018.

Jones promptly added four full-time positions: a forester, two mechanics, and a shop manager. The investment in personnel has supported the increased growth and production that has followed since. “That has been our secret sauce,” Jones explained. “Focusing on the business infrastructure and making sure that we have all of those things in place in order to expand.”

These days you’re unlikely to find Jones in a cab, operating a piece of equipment.

Instead, he’ll be found in the office, overseeing and managing the enterprises. He 8

Firewood Business Unit Enables the Company to Be Vertically Integrated

spends his time looking for ways to improve efficiency, possible expansion, and having the right business infrastructure in place.

On any given day, three WyEast Timber Services crews work in the greater Hood River area, each customized to that landowner’s needs. The past year the company has gotten significantly into contract logging, with a focus on high-volume production for clients that include Green Diamond Resource Company. Another crew performs thins for American Forest Management to improve forest health and restore oak forests.

The third crew is dedicated to U.S. Forest Service timber sales that the company purchased a few years ago. Working with the Forest Service adds another layer of paperwork, Jones conceded. Ensuring the company complies with contract specifications requires an additional one or two people, he estimated.

“It’s been good for us,” added Jones. “It’s been very good for the mills, and it’s also good for the Forest Service. The areas we’re working in are going to look really good for years to come. It’s definitely something for us to hang our hat on.”

WyEast Timber Services is equipped with 17 machines to keep those crews working. Each crew has about four or five employees and at least a feller buncher, a skidder, a processor, and a loader.

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

Jones has shown a preference for LinkBelt and Tigercat machines. “The reason is that we have a very good relationship with Triad Machinery out of Portland,” Jones said. “We buy a lot of equipment from them, and they do a very good job on servicing the equipment and keeping us going.” WyEast Timber Services also has a trio of Cat skidders.

The most recent equipment investment was a Tigercat 880 Logger with the Southstar 600 head for processing. The Tigercat 880 Logger is a purpose-built, multi-purpose track carrier that can be configured as a shovel logger, a processor, or a loader; it can be equipped with various options and features for each application. The Southstar QS600 is a dangle head designed for processing medium to large sized wood; optimum operating range is 22-26 inches in diameter.

All WyEast Timber Services employees are cross-trained. Each crew has specific skill sets and equipment for the type of work they perform. Protecting oak trees or watching out for squirrel nests while thinning requires a different approach than the production focus of a 60-80-acre clearcut. Jones pairs larger pieces of equipment on the clearcuts. (continued on page 10)

The most recent equipment investment for WyEast Timber Services is this Tigercat 880 Logger with a Southstar 600 head for processing.

The Tigercat 880 Logger is a purpose-built, multi-purpose track carrier that can be configured as a shovel logger, a processor, or a loader.

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

Two Link-Belt machines work side-by-side, processing small diameter logs on a thinning job. Partly visible between them is one of the company’s three Cat skidders. (continued from page 8) About 70 percent of the company’s production is Doug fir, and about 20 percent white wood and 10 percent pine. Most logs are supplied to WKO, which operates mills in Carson and Bingen, Washington, and Mt. Hood, Oregon. “We do ship some logs to other markets, depending on the client’s needs,” said Jones.

Thinning produces smaller-diameter logs that have less market value, yet Jones has found a way to make the wood more profitable. He purchased Neel Creek Forest Products from Mike Adams in 2018; the business produces compost, rock, and bark, and also does snow removal. Jones expanded into custom cutting and firewood, and it has become the largest firewood producer in the Columbia Gorge. What once was a one-man operation now employs 100plus full-time, year-round employees. The workhorses of the firewood operations are a pair of 2040XP2 firewood processing machines from Wisconsin-based Multitek.

Neel Creek Forest Products is located in the same industrial complex as WyEast Timber Services and Jones’ other business unit, Middle Mountain Trucking.

Following the Eagle Creek fire in 20217, the Oregon Department of Forestry and Forest Service did extensive removal of hazard trees along Highway 84, resulting in log decks that had a mishmash of burned and unburned timber, different species, 10

lengths, and diameters. Jones bought all of it.

“We were the only supplier able to utilize all of the wood,” said Jones. “It’s a benefit to the Forest Service, benefit to the community, and benefit to the environment. At the end of the day, we’re making a product that people can use.”

Neel Creek Forest Products received a U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant in 2020 to explore different options for using smaller-diameter logs. Jones researched the feasibility of using the wood to make pallet stock, biochar, and chips. Firewood remained the most profitable use of the logs.

“We’re one of the few grantees, in my opinion, that within two years has been able to build a business and show an actual product, a tangible outcome from the grant,” said Jones.

Further expansion over the firewood business is underway. Jones recently invested in a firewood kiln. Producing kiln-dried firewood will enable the company to produce bundled firewood for sale to big box stores in the region.

Middle Mountain Trucking has seen a similar growth trajectory as its counterparts.

Jones had only one truck in 2018 and was unable to move equipment timely. He was at the mercy of trucking contractors. “We found out that we were losing significant production days when we were first getting going,” he recalled. “That forced our hand to get into the trucking business.”

The trucking unit now is equipped with TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

four low-boy rigs, a couple of long loggers and two short loggers, all Kenworths. Two new Kenworths from the Portland dealer arrived in the first quarter. With his own trucking business, Jones estimated that he hauls 30 percent of his wood, using contractors to haul the rest.

Keeping the businesses running and productive requires good workers, and Jones credits success to his “amazing employees.”

He has invested in personnel. Employees are eligible for health insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and up to 12 days of vacation.

Employees also have the opportunity to move into management and “side rod” or supervise a crew – overseeing contracts, dealing with landowners, and running the jobs.

Supervisors and other company leaders meet on Fridays to discuss day-to-day operations and production goals.

“It’s been a great transition to watch these people who have been extremely competent equipment operators learning to deal with landowners, contracts, and our equipment vendors,” said Jones. “They have accepted the challenge and have stepped up in these leadership positions.”

All three companies are positioned for continued growth, which makes Jones optimistic for the future. “We’ve basically gotten down to the minutia of how we can maximize and utilize every single stem of wood that we get out of the woods, whether it goes to our yard or the mill.”

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ContractorProfile Hubbard Logging’s new TimberMax T20 traction-winch package is attached to a John Deere 350G excavator. The winch is tethered to the company’s TimberPro TL 755D track harvester so it can operate on steep ground.

Winch-Assist Approach Makes Its Way to East

West Virginia Logger Gets Boost with TimberMAX Traction-Winch

By Jan Jackson

L

EWISBURG, WEST VIRGINIA

Zach Hubbard had to rely on chainsaws and felling by hand on steep ground where his feller buncher could not function safely. That changed a few months ago when he invested in a new TimberMax T20HD tractionwinch package.

Hubbard, who owns and operates Zach Hubbard Logging Inc., reports that in the first couple of months of use the TimberMAX T20HD winch enabled him to significantly increase production, improve safety for his crew, and lower his worker’s compensation insurance premiums. He just wishes he had bought it sooner.

West Virginia, the only state wholly within Appalachia, is nick-named the 12

Mountain State, its highest peak at 4,800 feet. Its forests are 75 percent mixed hardwoods containing high value red and white oak, yellow poplar, maple, cherry, with a little bit of hemlock and spruce. Clearcutting is the primary harvest method.

Mike Moran, a lead forester for Weyerhaeuser, said that safety is a top priority for Weyerhaeuser. However, winchassisted timber harvesting, with cutters tethered to an anchored or stable winch at the peak of a summit, has been slow to develop in the East, he noted.

“Challenges in implementing traction assist technologies in West Virginia have a lot to do with our lower timber volumes and smaller contractors because that means less money per acre to spend on equipment,” said Moran. “But because safety is a core value for us, Weyerhaeuser is actively supporting the TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

push toward traction-winch technology. We also appreciate the fact that the operators no longer must bulldoze skid trails to get equipment down to extract the timber, making the system better for environmentally sensitive areas.”

Hubbard, 28, was willing to consider the technology, which has come into its own in the West and in other countries.

“Change is always hard, and there are plenty of people who will tell you, ‘That won’t work here,’ ”observed Moran. “Zach was willing to look at the new technology as a challenge. Everyone said it wouldn’t work in their area. Zach stood up to them and said, ‘I think it will, and I’m going to try it.’

Zach is a good operator and a good example of the younger generation continuing in the business.”

When Hubbard expressed interest in a

ContractorProfile winching system, Moran arranged a meeting with Kelway Cox, president of TimberMAX North America, who flew from British Columbia to visit Zach’s job site. Hubbard wanted to try the equipment himself, so the three of them flew to British Columbia to visit a logging site that was using a TimberMax winch. Once Hubbard tried it, it didn’t take him long to see that it would work for his application in West Virginia.

Hubbard comes from a logging family.

His father was a logger, as well as his paternal grandfather. He began helping his father as a boy and then worked for him until deciding to go into business for himself. He bought out his father in January and got his TimberMAX T20HD soon after.

Hubbard’s business is based in Lewisburg, which is in southern West Virginia, close to the state line with Virginia and near the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. He and his crew of nine cut exclusively for Weyerhaeuser. Conditions are not as favorable in the winter, which is rainy.

However, the biggest challenge is the fluctuating hardwood markets, he said.

“It’s still logging, but it’s a different ball game over here,” Hubbard said. “Where the West’s market fluctuates some, the West pretty much cuts the same thing all year.

Here, we have a much larger variety, and we only cut what is selling at the time. It may be wood for pulp one week, fine furniture next, and veneer the week after that.”

Hubbard supplies saw logs to the AFP sawmill in Buckhannon, West Virginia,

From left, Zach Hubbard and Kelway Cox, president of TimberMax North America.

Cox was on hand to lend Hubbard Logging a hand with the start-up of the company’s new TimberMax T20. peeler logs to the Columbia Forest Products plywood mill in Craigsville, West Virginia, and pulp to the WestRock paper mill in Covington, Virginia. The company has seven trucks to haul logs, three of them currently running full-time.

Beside the TimberMAX T20HD winch,

which is attached to a John Deere 350G excavator, Hubbard’s company is equipped with a TimberPro TL 755D track harvester, a Tigercat 635H skidder, two John Deere 748L-II skidders, two trailer-mounted (continued on page 14)

Trailer-mounted loaders, a Cat 559C in foreground and a John Deere 437E behind it, process hardwood logs at the landing with pull-through delimbers and slasher saws.

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

TimberPro TL 755D track harvester working in hardwood. On steep ground it is tethered to the TimberMax T20HD winch. (continued from page 13) loaders (a John Deere 437E and a Cat 559C), and a John Deere 850K bulldozer.

TimberMax, based in Quebec, Canada, specializes in versatile traction winch attachments that enable logging machines to operate in steep terrain. Its winches can be attached directly to a harvester, feller buncher, skidder, or other machine. TimberMax traction winches improve production and safety while reducing ground disturbance.

TimberMAX offers a number of different models with varying capability. The TimberMAX T20HD is one of the most powerful, capable of pulling 20 tons. It comes complete with the winch unit, hydraulic components, and an iWinch Control system. It features a built-in spooling device and remote control for easy rig-ups.

TimberMAX also offers a self-propelled traction winch.

(For more information about TimberMAX, visit www.timbermax.ca.)

His crew “thought I was crazy” for buying the winch, said Hubbard, but it has provided a big boost in production. “Before, on the steep ground that the cutter wouldn’t cut, we had to hand cut, and it knocked production down to probably three or four loads, maybe five loads a day. Now, with the T20HD, we are up to 12, 13, 15 loads a day, and there is not much difference in cutting on flat or steep ground.”

Using the TimberMax T20HD winch on the excavator, tethering the TimberPro so it can work on steep ground, also improves safety, noted Hubbard. “Equipment is expensive, but I don’t think anybody’s life has a price tag on it. So if I can keep men off the ground, it’s worth it to me.”

The men in his crew have changed their mind about the TimberMAX T20 winch.

“First, they said they would quit before they had to run it,” noted Hubbard. “Then

they were OK as long as I was running it.

Now they can see it is going to work.” His father didn’t think the technology would work, either, but now he’s a believer, too.

Only one other logger in the area is using a winch-assist system to tether machines so they can work on steep ground, according to Hubbard. “But I expect tethering will pick up,” he added.

One of the biggest challenges for Hubbard going forward is labor. He has a good crew of workers with a lot of history with each other, but he is looking to add a couple more.

Hubbard and his wife have four children.

When asked what he did for fun, he was quick to say travel.

“We have two girls and two boys ranging in age from a year-and-a-half, 3, 6 and 8, so travel for me right now is me and my wife hanging out on the beach, playing with the kids. If they’re happy, then I am, too.”

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

Good Crew Keys Success for Wayne Stone Logging

Link-Belt 4640 with Waratah head processes logs at the landing for Wayne Stone Logging. The company has seven Link-Belt forestry machines.

By Dawn Killough

S

ANDY, OREGON

Wayne Stone 16

Wayne Stone attributes his nearly 40 years of success in the logging industry to his productive crew and reliable equipment. He is well respected by his employees and others in the industry. He’s seen markets fluctuate many times but has still found a way to keep his crew busy.

Stone grew up in the industry, as his father owned and operated a one-man logging and excavation business. Wayne Stone Logging Inc. was started in 1983, when Stone was 22, with two employees and a Skagit swing yarder. (Today his yarding operations employ a crew of eight.) He added

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

a Madill 071 yarder two years later and hired a few more men.

Stone continued to run one crew for most of the 90s, occasionally adding a second crew if he had enough work. Around 2000 he began running two yarding crews year-round. He also operates a mechanized job with a crew of three. Stone currently employs about 35 workers in his logging and trucking enterprises.

The mechanized job relies on Stone’s most recent equipment purchase, a second Tigercat LX830 feller buncher he purchased from Triad Equipment in Portland, Oregon.

Both Tigercat LX830 machines can cut and process at the stump with a Waratah head.

Stone invested in the Tigercat in anticipation of increased demand for thinning work.

ContractorProfile He chose Tigercat due to its quality and toughness, he said, and the machine’s production can’t be beat. It cuts as much in one day as a three-man crew of hand fellers, he said.

The Tigercat works well on steep terrain.

“It’ll climb real well and perform on steep ground,” said Stone.

Beside the two Tigercat LX830 feller bunchers, the company has a Tigercat 855 track harvester with leveling capability to work in steep terrain. When cutting timber on a steep slope the Tigercat 855 is tethered to a Cat 330C excavator.

The company also has two Madill yarders, two Skagit yarders, seven Link-Belt forestry machines and two Kobelcos, a Tigercat 250 truck-mounted loader, a Cat 527 skidder, and three Cat bulldozers. Wayne Stone Logging is equipped with eight log trucks, and the company also uses trucking contractors as needed.

The most recent challenge Stone has faced was a slew of wildfires in Oregon during 2020. More than 20 fires burned throughout the state, destroying more than 1 million acres of forest land. Fire destroyed eight pieces of Wayne Stone Logging equipment. In addition, the flames burned five years’ worth of thinning work. Wayne’s company scrambled to harvest as much of the timber as possible before it went bad or became infested. The market was good, so pricing was competitive. The company is just now reaching the end of that work, more than two years after the fires.

One of the most drastic changes to his business came in 1990 when the northern spotted owl was classified as an endangered species. Because of the designation, old growth harvesting on federally owned lands was curtailed and logging practices were heavily scrutinized. This substantially affected the amount of timber being harvested and processed. Stone knows many loggers who went out of business as a result.

When Stone talked to TimberWest, he was operating a yarder job on a Weyerhaeuser site along the north fork of the Molalla River, in the hills above Molalla, Oregon. (Another yarder job site already was snowed in.) Eight men were working on the job – the yarder operator, processor operator, loader operator, four in the brush, and one hook tender on the landing. The crew used a Madill 172B yarder. A Link-Belt 4640 forestry machine with a Waratah HTH324C attachment processed the trees at the landing.

Saw logs and pulp logs from the job were being supplied to the RSG Forest Products and Interfor mills in Molalla. Wayne Stone Logging was averaging about 200,000 board feet per week from the job. Weyerhaeuser (continued on page 18)

Yarding crew crowded on top of one of the company’s two Madill yarders. From left are Andrew Sloan, Jerry Warren, Mike Bennet, Brandon Bennet, Riley Lemons, Jeff Klucas, owner Wayne Stone, Jeremiah Powers, Ben Norgren, and Josh Meeks.

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 17) brokers its timber sales, so Stone is paid according to his production.

The company mainly cuts Douglas fir and some hemlock on Wyerhaeuser land and “a little bit of hardwood,” said Stone. The average job for Wyerhaeuser is a little over 100 acres, he said.

Beside working for Weyerhaeuser, Stone occasionally buys timber on public and private land. The company usually works in the Molalla River area, with some work on the Oregon coast, Washington, and eastern Oregon. It harvests mostly Douglas Fir and some hemlock and alder, too.

Stone specializes in harvesting timber on steep terrain that other loggers won’t touch.

“We do a lot of longer, tougher cable jobs that most guys don’t want to do,” he said. He has found success in these jobs because of the skills of his workers and the equipment he uses. “Our success is due to having a good, productive crew.”

Mill prices have been good, according to Stone, but they are starting to fall due to rising interest rates.

Stone’s son, Zach, supervises a yarder crew, and his son-in-law, Andrew Sloan, is a hook tender and supervises another crew.

Many of Stone’s employees have been

The company’s newest piece of equipment is this Tigercat LX830 feller buncher.

It now has two of the machines as well as a Tigercat 855 track harvester. working for him for 10 years or more, including a couple who recently retired. Employees are eligible for health insurance, a retirement plan, and safety and holiday bonuses.

Stone has been recognized by his peers.

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He was runner-up for the Oregon Logging Conference Logger of the Year award in 2021. He was named Logger of the Year in 2015 by both Associated Oregon Loggers and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Oregon Loggers Elect Dober

Tom Dober of Banks Rock Products in Gales Creek was elected president of Associated Oregon Loggers at the organization’s recent annual convention. He served on the AOL executive committee the prior eight years.

California Loggers Elect Hawkins, Holland

The Associated California Loggers board of directors elected Russ Hawkins president and Jeff Holland vice president at the organization’s annual meeting recently. They will serve two-year terms, 2023-24.

Hawkins owns Del Logging with his wife, Helen, in northeast California. It is a multi-generational family business with deep roots in the Sierra-Cascade region.

Holland is president and operations manager of CTL Forest Management in Placerville, CA.

Associated California Loggers Seeks Donations to Special Fund

Associated California Loggers is asking members to consider making a donation to the organization’s Resource Availability Fund.

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The ACL’s board of directors created the fund in 2016. The fund is overseen by a board of governors that reports to the ACL’s board of directors. The governors oversee spending from the fund and the direction of contract employees and projects.

The Resource Availability Fund is overseen by a “Resource Availability Fund Board of Governors” who, in turn, report to the ACL Board of Directors. This RAF Board of Governors consists of a Chair, one member of each of the active ACL chapters, and the ACL President. This board oversees the expenditure of RAF funds and the direction of RAF contract personnel and projects.

With voluntary donations to the fund, the ACL has been able to hire a federal timber specialist, a state and county issues specialist, and a communications specialist.

Funds also have been used to pay for ACL’s

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

participation in lawsuits and other actions to represent and benefit members.

“The Resource Availability Fund was designed to fund work ‘above and beyond’ ACL’s basic mission, staff, and operational budget,” association president Robert D’Agostini said in an email to members.

‘We believe that the personnel and projects funded by the RAF have already significantly raised the profile of Associated California Loggers in state and federal arenas, and have led to direct achievements on behalf of ACL members.”

Members are asked to contact the ACL office to obtain ‘pledge formulas’ or to otherwise make a donation.

Private Landowners, Family-Owned Forests Can Get ATFS Certification

SCS Global Services (SCS), the premier third-party certifier of forestry management claims in the U.S. since 1991, is now accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to offer certification to the American Tree Farm System Standard (ATFS).

ATFS certification enables family-owned forests and private landowners in the U.S. to demonstrate that their forest management practices conform to rigorous environmental standards.

ATFS is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which enables supply chains and companies sourcing products from ATFS certified woodlands to receive recognition in international markets. ATFS certified woodlands are a principal source of fiber for chain-of-custody programs under PEFC internationally and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) in the U.S. and Canada.

“We are excited to expand our existing portfolio of responsible forestry certifications to include the American Tree Farm System,” said Maggie Schwartz, SCS’ managing director of natural resources. “ATFS certification allows landowners of smaller stands to showcase their commitment to sustainable forest management and participate in the chain of custody programs of PEFC and SFI.” ATFS provides three options to achieve certification: an individual third-party certificate, an independently managed group program, or a State Tree Farm Program.

ATFS certified projects range in size from 10 to 10,000 acres of woodlands.

To learn more about ATFS certification through SCS, visit www.scsglobalservices. com, and use the pull-down menu for Services, then Sustainable Forestry.

EquipmentProfile

Payload, Cycle Time Are Keys to Productive Grapple Yarding

By Hunter Harrill

Y

ARDING

with a grapple carriage has gained much attention in recent years in the Pacific Northwest and other parts of the world. Introduced in the 1960s, grapple yarding with either mechanical or motorized carriages has changed little until recently. Both types required the use of a swing yarder with interlock to be effective. The concept worked well where terrain, timber type, and access to equipment and skilled crew allowed.

The recent resurgence in grapple yarding is easily explained. One is labor. Not only is it more expensive to employ people on the ground as choker setters, it is also harder to find people who will do this type of work.

Second, the global market spurs 22

competition to be more efficient, to produce more with less inputs. In the past major gains in efficiency in logging and other industries were achieved by mechanization.

Grapple yarding continues to be an efficient mechanized system when employed in the right conditions.

Finally, mechanizing or removing workers from direct hazards creates a safer working environment.

Despite the benefits of improved efficiency and safety, the lack of equipment and/ or the right conditions prevented many loggers from mechanizing the yarding process until recently. For many the barrier to entry has been the mechanical type grapple carriage and the prerequisite of having an interlocked swing yarder to effectively operate.

In the past decade, however, several manufacturers have successfully commercialized TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

motorized grapple carriages. These carriages have opened the door for grapple yarding to conventional tower yarders and are also employed on swing yarders or small excavator yarders and yoaders. Many other simultaneous developments, such as camera systems for both types of carriages, improved yarder control systems, and tension monitors have made it easier to adopt and manage grapple yarding.

The final hurdle many still faced was related to adequate payload. With timber size gradually declining over the years, the most productive loggers are yarding pre-bunched timber. This has become possible by using tethered or winch-assisted machines on steep slopes for felling and-or shoveling.

Contractors now have options to purchase new or retrofit existing equipment for grapple yarding operations. They can have

EquipmentProfile

Productivity of different tower yarders and carriages over various yarding distances (Harrill 2014).

As shown above, yarding operations with motorized grapples average the highest levels of production, although production declines for all types as yarding distance increases.

Tower yarder operating with a motorized grapple. Yarding with a grapple carriage has gained much attention in recent years. Research has shown motorized grapple carriages are the most productive.

fully mechanized cable logging operations where every task, from felling to loading trucks, is performed by a machine. But how do they apply it successfully?

Recent research by myself and three others suggests that grapple yarding can be very productive, yarding more than 100 tons per Productive Machine Hour (PMH), which is approximately four truckloads, but it can be a struggle to sustain these high levels. Earlier research I conducted, as illustrated in the accompanying chart, showed the average is 60-80 tons, although the range and maximum were greater.

What can recent productivity studies of grapple yarding tell us?

Daily production (number of truckloads or total volume) is the standard most logging crews are evaluated by. It can be broken down to an hourly rate or productivity (often

North Bend: A simple standing skyline system that employs skyline, mainline and haulback with a simple carriage, fall block and butt-rigging.

North Bend Bridled: A variation to North Bend where the haulback blocks are offset to facilitate some lateral yarding capability.

Motorized Slack Pulling (Shotgun): A standing skyline system employing only skyline and mainline; gravity is used to outhaul the carriage. The motorized carriage can pull the mainline as slack to facilitate lateral yarding.

Motorized Slack Pulling (Slackline): A variation of Shotgun where a haulback is used to aid with carriage outhaul.

Motorized Grapple (Shotgun): A live skyline system (the skyline is raised and lowered during each cycle) with only a skyline and mainline. The carriage is outhauled by gravity. The motorized carriage opens, closes, and rotates the grapple.

Motorized Grapple (Slackline): A variation of Shotgun where a haulback is used to aid with carriage outhaul.

preferred by researchers for comparison). For the sake of simplicity, consider tons per hour.

If the yarder has an average turn (cycle) – a trip by the carriage back and forth – time of six minutes, that’s the same as 0.10 hours.

If each turn has an average payload of five tons, average hourly productivity would be five tons divided by 0.10 hrs or 50 tons/ PMH with no delays. (Simply put, productivity is payload divided by cycle time.)

In order to improve yarding production, loggers must either increase payload or reduce cycle time, or both.

There are two key factors loggers can control in order to trim cycle time. The first is average yarding distance. Grapple yarding – relative to choker setting options – tends to have smaller payloads and is therefore more sensitive to yarding distance. Research suggests that grapple yarding distances be kept TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

less than 200 meters, or about 650 feet, to reduce cycle time. This is a shorter distance compared to other yarding systems and must be considered with planning and infrastructure development.

The second thing loggers can control is grappling time. Having a skilled operator is essential. In fact, research suggests that an experienced operator is five times more productive than a novice. An inexperienced operator may take a few minutes to grapple a stem or log, a task that an experienced operator may perform in just 10 seconds.

Tools like grapple cameras and distance outhaul measurements displayed to operators in the cab certainly help, but proper bunching and stem presentation cannot be overlooked. (continued on page 24) 23

EquipmentProfile (continued from page 23) When I worked in New Zealand, the first grapple yarding crews working with tethered feller bunchers went through an abrupt learning curve. The feller bunchers often formed huge ‘surge piles’ in the clearcut because they thought it would help the yarder; they shoveled all the stems into one pile under the cables. In reality these large piles of timber were difficult to grapple; it took much longer than if the timber was separated into small bunches of two or three trees. (The difference in productivity was 10 t/PMH.) Planning for adequate yarding distances and appropriate orientation of the felled timber to facilitate quick grappling will have significant effects on reducing cycle times.

Small improvements in cycle times can make a big impact because grapple yarding crews have a high number of cycles per day.

One crew I previously worked with gained an extra truckload per day in production when they fixed a mechanical issue that cost them just five seconds each cycle.

Payloads should be maximized by bunching the appropriate number of stems or logs where they can be picked up. This sounds simple, especially with the ability of tethered equipment. However, it requires payload

24

analysis and thoughtful planning. Perhaps the largest determinant of payload is the amount of deflection or sag in the cables.

Contractors should ensure each skyline road will have adequate mid-span deflection, which ideally is 10 percent or more.

They also must determine how much payload can be transported by the carriage at each point along the skyline road. The payload that can be picked up at each point varies. For example, when yarding across a

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

gully, maybe the carriage can carry 10 tons on the front face but only 3 tons from the opposing (back) face. So there is no need to bunch 10-ton payloads on the back side of the gully.

To facilitate optimal bunching, payload information can be overlayed onto digital topographic or Lidar maps along with the location of the skyline road. The feller (continued on page 26)

EquipmentProfile (continued from page 24)

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

buncher operator can access the information via a tablet in the cab; they can see in real time where they are in relation to the skyline road so they can optimally orient and bunch the timber.

Another tool that loggers are adopting is the tension monitor, which shows the yarder operator the real time tension of the cables.

Knowing the tension helps the yarder operator avoid overloading the cables. It also enables them to make sure the cables are not underloaded and the crew misses out on potentially larger payloads and greater productivity.

It’s important to remember that yarding is just one step or task in the overall process of felling the trees, processing them, and loading the logs on trucks. Contractors must consider how yarding integrates with their entire operations.

I am reminded of the 5Bs of mechanized logging from an old Oregon State University video: Bottlenecks, Balance, Buffers, Breakdowns and Blunders.

The bottleneck in most logging operations is the yarding process. However, the bottleneck will not always be the yarder, and it can change from day to day or hour to hour.

It is critical to balance the flow of production from one task to the next. For example, if the yarder only produces 20 tons per hour but the processor following it can produce 40 tons per hour, the processor will run out of work quickly.

If contractors cannot maintain a steady flow of productivity between processes, then they need adequate buffers of material. For example, the processor may need a large deck of wood to work on when it is waiting for trees to be yarded or to keep working if the yarder is broken down or changing roads.

Contractors can improve yarder utilization by employing a mobile anchor to reduce road change time or shoveling timber to fewer skyline roads.

With full mechanization, breakdowns become more critical to utilization.

Minimize breakdowns by having appropriate preventative maintenance plans for equipment..

Finally, avoid blunders or large mistakes.

Grapple yarding requires a high level of analysis and planning Hopefully some of the information shared from others in this article will help you consider some of the challenges and be successful when adapting to grapple yarding.

(Hunter Harrill is assistant professor of forest operations at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt in Arcata, California.)

MACHINERY ROW Waratah Marks 50th Anniversary

Waratah Forestry Equipment is celebrating 50 years of innovation within the forestry industry and thanking its customers for decades of trust and loyalty to the brand.

“We’re proud to celebrate our 50th anniversary this year thanks to our loyal customers and dedicated team members across the globe,” said Heather Robinson, general manager of worldwide distribution at Waratah. “It’s exciting, because we are in a unique position to offer our customers experience, expertise and innovation.”

Established in New Zealand in 1973, the company manufactured a delimberfeller-buncher with a four-roller fixed head to meet the heavy-duty delimbing needs of loggers. Following that innovation, a grapple processor manufactured for Canadian markets marked the start of the 600 Series line.

Today, Waratah’s full line of harvesting, processing and felling heads are used in a variety of logging applications, from cut-tolength hardwood harvesting at the stump to processing on a landing, felling on steep slopes, or debarking on plantations.

For more information visit Waratah.com.

Tigercat Names Parker to Post

Tigercat has appointed Ethan Parker as a product support representative for harvesting heads. Based in Bairdsville, New Brunswick, he is focused on harvester and processor systems support throughout the North American market.

“I look forward to the chance to work with such a great and respected group, and Tigercat’s industry leading equipment and technology,” said Parker. He supports dealers and customers with new start-ups, ongoing support and troubleshooting.

Parker has performed a variety of roles during his career, including equipment operator, service technician, product support specialist, and operator and contractor coach and trainer.

Tigercat is committed to further developing and growing its line-up of harvesting heads, and significantly ramping up production of the four heads it currently offers. The goal is to offer end-to-end harvesting and processing solutions for every carrier the company produces.

Integral to this effort is the concurrent growth and development of the harvesting and processing systems support team.

“Ethan’s diverse skills and passion for the forestry industry will be a great asset to Tigercat’s overall strategy of providing complete CTL harvesting and roadside processing systems,” said service director Martine Léveillé.

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Rotochopper Conducts Training For Customers

Rotochopper owners and operators gathered at Rotochopper’s manufacturing facility in St. Martin, Minnesota, for training in February. The customer service department hosts Rotochopper University annually for companies that have purchased a Rotochopper horizontal grinder, shredder, or screening equipment during the past year.

The two-day class included a factory tour, best practice training, hands-on demonstrations, and networking opportunities to allow

president and CEO of Vermeer Mountain West. Tim Weaver, who owned Vermeer Northwest, has the new role of vice president of sales with direct oversight for leading commercialization efforts in Washington and Alaska.

“We are excited to continue to build out the Vermeer Mountain West brand as we strive to deliver excellence for our customers,” said Pieratt. “This merger continues to leverage our ability to scale customer service, inventories and long-term career pathing for our team members, in the fast pace and growing markets we serve.”

Vermeer Mountain West will be headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, with branch locations in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Alaska.

Vermeer manufactures equipment for underground construction, surface mining, tree care, and agriculture. For more information visit vermeer.com.

Doosan Names New CEO machine owners to learn from each other.

This year’s session focused on proper feeding of grinders, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Rotochopper hosted 60 owners and operators from various companies around the world for the event.

“Rotochopper University continues to be an event that we find has a great benefit to our customers,” said Rotochopper customer service manager Adam Asmus.

“Factory-direct service and keeping our customers happy are at the core of Rotochopper’s value proposition,” said Chad Angeli, Rotochopper vice president of customer experience. “Rotochopper University is one of the ways our team brings these values to life.”

Rotochopper designs, builds and supports a complete line of horizontal grinders, wood chip processors, shredders, screening equipment, conveyors and mobile baggers.

For more information visit www.rotochopper.com.

Vermeer Dealerships Merge

Vermeer Northwest and Vermeer Mountain West have merged, and the combined business now operates as Vermeer Mountain West.

Both dealership groups will bring equipment expertise and market knowledge to their combined region. Leadership from both dealership groups will continue to be engaged in the business.

Kyle Pieratt will continue to lead as the TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

Chris Jeong was recently named the new chief executive officer (CEO) at Doosan Infracore North America. He succeeds Edward Song, the previous CEO, who was promoted to global sales head of Hyundai Doosan Infracore in Korea.

Jeong most recently served as CEO for Doosan Infracore European Union. He joined Doosan in 2006 as a senior corporate strategy manager after completing his MBA at Carnegie Mellon University. He led strategic activities across various markets before he was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for emerging markets. Jeong oversaw sales and marketing for Doosan employee teams in Asia, Oceania, Commonwealth of Independent States, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Brazil and India.

Doosan Infracore North America, headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, markets the Doosan brand of products that includes dozers, crawler excavators, wheel excavators, mini excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, material handlers, log loaders and attachments.

For more information visit na.Doosan Equipment.com.

ConferenceReview

Oregon Logging Conference Gets a Boost

Pre-registered attendance for the Oregon Logging Conference increased 18 percent compared to a year ago. It was chilly although visitors enjoyed sunny skies.

E

UGENE, OREGON

The 85th Annual Oregon Logging Conference got a boost in attendance and visitors. Preregistered attendance was up 18 percent and exhibitor participation was up 17 percent at the February event compared to a year ago.

This year’s displays by suppliers to the forestry industry included several first-time exhibitors, noted conference manager Rikki Wellman. “The icy weather caused only minor challenges for those planning to attend,” she

said, “and many still came out to review the latest technology in logging equipment.”

The theme of the event, ‘Green Trees Matter. Healthy Forests = Healthy Future,’ “reflected the importance of our industry,” said conference president Craig Olson.

Keynote speaker Travis Joseph and speakers at conference panels and seminars “all touched on topics impacting our industry, the importance of forests, and the products that are provided,” said Olson.

Joseph, president and CEO of the American Forest Resource Council, said his

organization needs help advocating for logging and the wood products industry. The idea that loggers destroy forests and environmentalists protect them and are saving the planet is a lie with “dangerous implications for communities, forests, the environment, and the future,” he said.

“We have to stop letting ourselves be bullied about environmentalism by a bunch of hypocrites and celebrities,” added Joseph, who urged loggers and others in the industry to work together to get their message across.

This year’s seminars and panel discussions

Seminar on scaling logs from the Labor Day Fire and deductions for bugs and char drew a sizeable audience.

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

ConferenceReview included such topics as business succession planning, electrification of equipment, workforce development, new technology, advocacy for the industry, and more. “The Oregon Logging Conference was packed with unique opportunities for forestry and natural resource professionals to network and learn more about their trades,” said Wellman.

Nearly 300 students from 14 Oregon high schools attended the fifth annual Future Forestry Workers Career Day. They interacted with industry professionals and learned about job opportunities and careers in sawmills, reforestation, truck driving, equipment operation, welding, and diesel mechanics. Students also had an opportunity to use virtual timber harvesting technology provided by the Oregon State University Forestry Department.

The Oregon Women in Timber dinnerauction generated proceeds of more than $150,000 to benefit the organization’s Talk About Trees forest education program that is made available to pre-K through grade 8 students. A luncheon event raised more than $15,000 for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, and other auctions raised $27,000 for the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation scholarship program.

The Log Loader Competition was won by Bryan Chipps of Green Diamond Resource Co. Zane Bryant of Bryant Logging won second place, and Ross Cribbs of Black Rock Timber won third place.

Along with the traditional contest to guess a net scale load of logs, this year’s conference also included a contest to guess the net scale of a load of chip and saw logs. The two winners were Jay Messerle of Messerle & Sons Logging and Mike Edwards of Lone Rock Timber.

A number of manufacturers and other suppliers displayed new or improved equipment or technology, including those that follow.

John Deere exhibited a 2956G crawler log loader, which provides an excellent combination of engine horsepower and hydraulics capability. Its design helps simplify transportability and also helps save on transportation costs due to its width and weight.

A new mounting of the log deflector adds strength to the right-front corner of the machine and enhances debris shedding. Other changes increase visibility to the right track and integrate a rearview camera, light, and JDLink antennas into the counterweight for added protection.

Tigercat Industries displayed the new 920 dozer. The TCi 920 dozer is designed as a forestry dozer. It features impact resistant belly pans and is built stronger and more robust for working at logging sites. It has a closed loop track drive system and a

Speakers, seminars and panel discussions drew crowds at the Oregon Logging Conference. This year’s theme was ‘Green Trees Matter. Healthy Forests = Healthy Future.’ six-way blade. The cab is quiet and comfortable with a heated and cooled air ride seat, ergonomic armrest-mounted joysticks, and a large touchscreen machine control interface.

TrackGrip displayed the improved Keto 870C-360 head. The new track design offers up to 10,000 hours of usage. The main saw has a remote bar position and cutting control in the valve system for a sensor-free saw housing. A Technion xLogger computer runs TRIPLE length measuring software using Keto’s dual track measuring hardware, which means no measuring wheel issues. The

360 Keto-made rotator is purpose designed for harvesters with up to 50 tons capacity and lots of torque. It is also available for aftermarket sales.

Axis Forestry unveiled the new Rebel T22 processor head and wireless Cypress Robotics Gen 6 controller. The Rebel T22 is fully designed and manufactured in Canada using American steel. It is specifically built for the North American logger and is best suited for wood up to 24 inches in diameter. (continued on page 32)

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

31

ConferenceReview The new Weiler B758 tracked feller buncher.

(continued from page 31) The Rebel T22 is designed tough and features Axis Forestry’s exclusive Cypress Robotics technology. The feature-rich wireless Cypress Gen 6 controller makes operation easy even for new operators. With Axis-made sensors and controller, the Cypress Gen 6 has extremely accurate measuring.

DC Equipment displayed its new Falcon Winch Tandem Carriage and new Falcon Winch Assist. The Falcon Tandem Carriage allows tower yarder crews to log using a grapple carriage without raising and lowering the skyline; it enables easy extraction around sensitive zones where the skyline cannot be lowered. The Falcon Tandem Carriage features a remote control braking system and reduces wear and tear on the yarder and grapple carriage. The Falcon Gen 4 is the latest generation of the Falcon Winch Assist. A dual mode enables it to winch for both track and wheel machines, and an improved swept-back rear design increases functionality in tight areas, such as benched roads.

Equipment NW exhibited the Sany line of excavators, which are designed to work seamlessly with forestry mulching, harvester

and felling heads without costly and timeconsuming modifications. Sany machines also feature a 5 year – 5,000 hour warranty.

Weiler exhibited the new B758 track feller buncher. It is powered by a Cat C9 Tier 3 engine that produces 303 hp. Equipped with the Weiler 201 bunching saw, it has a maximum reach of just over 28 feet. The machine has tractive effort of 104,000 pounds and features leveling capability.

Peters & Keatts Equipment recently began representing Brandt and its line of heavy haul trailers and exhibited at the OLC. Brandt heavy haul trailers feature a patent-pending booster stability system that locks the booster axle when backing up or traveling over 37 mph. They are built for durability and come with a 1-year bumperto-bumper warranty on all components.

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

33

NEW PRODUCTS JDLink antennas have been integrated into the counterweight for additional protection.

For more information contact a John Deere dealer or visit www.JohnDeere.com/ forestry.

Link-Belt Announces 40B Forestry Series Machines

John Deere Introduces 2956G Crawler Log Loader

John Deere has introduced the new 2956G crawler log loader for loggers looking for a machine that combines excellent engine horsepower and hydraulics capability while maintaining a machine weight of less than 90,000 lbs.

“The new 2956G crawler log loader machine not only provides optimal power and hydraulic capabilities, but is still easy to transport due to its excellent width and weight combination,” said Jarvis de Groot, global product marketing manager for forestry swing machines.

The John Deere 2956G crawler log loader features an overall shipping width of less than 11 feet, 6 inches; the design not only helps simplify transportability but also helps save on transportation costs. The new mounting of the log deflector adds additional strength to the right-front corner of the machine, and the new design of the hood profile helps to enhance debris shedding.

The John Deere 2956G crawler log loader features excellent engine power for a machine of this size. Engine power and hydraulic flow significantly boost loading capability, speed, and the capacity to run the Waratah 624. The combination of machine and attachment increases efficiency and production in roadside processing.

The design of the John Deere 2956G also improves operator visibility to avoid obstacles and impact, reducing potential damage and downtime. A rearview camera, light and

34

Link-Belt Excavator Company has introduced the 40B Forestry Series machines.

The new 40B Series machines feature design improvements to increase cooling performance, debris management, and serviceability. The Link-Belt 3440B Processor, 4040B Timber Loader, and 4640B Timber Loader are now available in the U.S. and Canada.

The 40B Series machines feature a 270-degrees, birds-eye view with WAVES (Wide Angle Visual Enhancement System) and industry-leading fuel consumption and productivity. The spacious cab offers unprecedented ergonomics and comfort; a highback seat with air, tilt, and heat features is standard, and adjustable pivoting armrests, headrest, seat height, and lumbar support keep operators comfortable.

The 4040B TL has 21 percent more horsepower and is coupled with increased cooling and airflow management. The dust screen is easily removed from the ground or catwalk.

The all-new 3440B Processor features an Isuzu 177 hp Tier 4 Final engine and an

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

upsized cooling package for superior performance and productivity.

“From increases in productivity to the enhancements in the safety and service of the machine, we’re very excited about what this means for the future of our forestry equipment,” said Adam Woods, general manager of innovation and product portfolio strategies at LBX. For more information contact a LinkBelt dealer or visit www..lbxco.com.

Planer Teeth Now Standard On Diamond Drum Mulchers

Diamond Mowers has made Twin Chisel® Planer Teeth a standard feature across all its depth control drum mulching attachments.

This high-performance cutting tool, which boasts industry-leading durability along with the ability to be sharpened and rotated right on the drum, is available exclusively to Diamond Mowers dealers and customers.

“The ability to sharpen and maintain teeth right on the drum is a major differentiator and time-saving convenience for our customers,” said Dan Stachel, executive vice president of Diamond Mowers.

Twin Chisel Planer Teeth are made of hardened steel for maximum strength and impact resistance and are suited for highproduction applications and intermittent (continued on page 36)

NEW PRODUCTS (continued from page 34) ground contact. The tooth was recently enhanced through a joint development with Quadco, improving the cutting geometry and heat treating to increase durability and reduce fracturing. It also indexes better in the holder, which improves bolt retention and eases rotation for a long effective life.

Twin Chisel Planer Teeth are now standard on all Diamond Mowers depth control drum attachments for skid-steer, excavator, and tractor platforms, including the SK Drum Mulcher DC Pro X, the EX Drum Mulcher DC Pro X, and the new TR Boom Drum Mulcher DC. For more information visit www.diamondmowers.com.

Air Burners Develops New CharBoss System

Air Burners Inc. has developed the new CharBoss®, a small, towable fire box based on its larger BurnBoss unit, which burns wood and vegetative waste with the aid of an air curtain.

The CharBoss operates similarly to the BurnBoss except it captures biochar before it is reduced to ash. Biochar is charcoal from wood burning that is used to improve soil conditions for growing crops and to foster forest health. It is a porous carbon substance that retains water and makes nutrients more available, improving growing conditions.

Biochar is the product of pyrolysis: burning wood in the absence of oxygen.

The CharBoss can be loaded by hand or with a small machine, such as a skid steer.

The waste material burns naturally; there are no hydrocarbon fuels used to support combustion.

The CharBoss will eliminate 1-2,000 pounds of wood and vegetative debris per hour. The engine on the unit consumes about one gallon of diesel fuel per hour. The system also requires about 100 gallons of water per day.

The CharBoss was developed under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, which has been operating CharBoss machines.

For more information, visit www.

AirBurners.com.

36

Yokohama Offers New Tire for Bucket Loaders

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America Inc. offers the new Galaxy Hippo all-steel radial tire for bucket loaders. The high-traction pattern is ideal for loaders working in dirt on construction sites or on farms.

“The new Galaxy Hippo all-steel radial brings a dirt tread to the category to deliver the extra traction many loader operators need,” said Dhananjay Bisht, national product manager for earthmoving, construction and industrial tires.

On dairy farms and other livestock operations, he noted, loaders are used to build silage piles, pack silage, pick up manure, load scales, or do similar work. Loaders performing those tasks need reliable grip and traction in various conditions. Loaders operated at construction sites face similar conditions and challenges.

The new Galaxy Hippo all-steel radial delivers better stability under load as a result of its deep, variable-angle lug. It provides top performance on mud, vegetation and pavement. The lugs on the Hippo radial are thicker than those on the bias-ply Hippo, adding durability and roadability.

Along the outer part of the tread, the lugs are almost perpendicular for maximum traction and feature aggressive, buttressed shoulders that add extra grab. Toward the center, the lugs curve to form a steeply angled overlap for steady roading and reduced wear at up to 25 mph. The nose of each lug is extended and widened to produce a smoother, more stable ride and reduce scrub wear while running on hard surfaces. A new, improved cut-and-chip-resistant compound provides excellent wear resistance on pavement.

For more information visit www.yokohama-oht.com.

Three Gloves, One Mission: Comfortable Compliance

Brass Knuckle Safety Products has introduced SmartFlex™ 400 Series hand protection. Three gloves in the series are designed with a 13-gauge nylon shell offering abrasion resistance, uncoated back and wrist to encourage all-day wear, and ultra-thin polyurethane coating on the palm and finger area for sensitive gripping surface. Each glove enables accurate handling of even the smallest of parts in dry or light oil applications.

TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

These thin-gauge general purpose gloves are suited for everything from electronics repair to small parts assembly. The SmartFlex 400 Series combines outstanding dexterity, lightweight comfort, and protection from injury. Each model is available in seven different sizes with color-coded cuffs to simplify re-issuance.

The 400 Series gloves are ideal for many applications not requiring cut-level protection, from automotive to warehouse to light construction and assembly. Designed for maximum comfort and ease of use for allday wear, the 400 Series offers protection and helps increase wearer compliance.

For more information, visit www.brassknuckleprotection.com.

Nokian Unveils New Front Tire For Reach Stacker

Nokian Tyres has developed a new product for its HTS G2 harbor tire family for reach stackers, forklifts, and log stackers. The HTS G2 L-5S is a new tire developed for reach stacker front axle use. It is available in sizes 18.00-25.

The HTS G2 L-5S is designed specifically for front axle use. This enables even thicker tread than the previous L-4S models, resulting in a longer service life. The rubber compound that has already proven its value in previous models wears slowly and resists puncture damage, preventing unexpected downtime.

“In a heavy reach stacker front tire use, the smooth, extra-deep, slow-wearing tread lasts up to 35 percent longer than our previous comparable tire – depending on your location and application,” said Kimmo Kekki, product manager at Nokian. “Add the stable, steady handling, high load-bearing capacity, and excellent puncture resistance to the package, and you have a real efficiency booster in your hands.”

The Nokian HTS G2 series of port and terminal tires has been designed specifically for high stability and load-bearing capacity in mind. In addition to optimized cost per hour, premium harbor tires with excellent handling properties can improve working safety and sustainability.

For more information visit www.nokiantyres.com.

SAFETYALERT

Steel Shard Lodges in Eye of Worker Background

On a fall day in the Pacific Northwest a bulldozer operator exited his machine to work on a sweep arm pin on the dozer blade.

Personal Characteristics

The operator’s experience and training are unknown.

Unsafe Acts and Conditions

The bulldozer operator was not wearing protective eyewear.

Accident and Injury

The operator hit the sweep arm pin with a hammer, and two steel shards broke off from the pin. One missed the operator.

However, the other shard lodged in his left

CALENDAR April 11-13 American Forest Resource Council Annual Meeting, Stevenson, WA 503-222-9505, www.amforest.org

eye. He called a co-worker for assistance, and he was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

His recovery time and return to work are unknown.

Recommendations for Correction

Workers often take everyday activities for granted. Do a proper assessment of what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is needed prior to performing any work. What are the hazards? What are the risks?

Among other tasks, protective eyewear should also be worn anytime a worker is: • Cutting • Welding • Hammering • Chiseling April 12-14 Intermountain Logging Conference and Equipment Show, Spokane, WA 208-245-3425, www.intermountainlogging.org April 16-18 Western Wood Products Association Annual Meeting, Portland, OR 503-224-3930, www.wwpa.org

• Spraying • Working in an environment involving airborne debris (Source: Forest Resources Association. To access this and other Safety Alerts, visit www. forestresources.org and click on Resources.)

April 26-28 MSR Annual Workshop, San Antonio, Texas 608-310-6768, www.msrlumber.org April 26-28 Olympic Logging Conference, Victoria, BC 360-202-7014, www.olympicloggingconference.com May 12-13 Sequim Irrigation Festival Logging Show, Sequim, WA www.irrigationfestival.com May 19-20 Montana Logging Association 45th Annual Meeting, Missoula, MT 406-752-3168, www.logging.org

AD INDEX COMPANY PG# AGRI-COVER, INC...........................................6 AGWEST FARM CREDIT.................................. 11 AIR BURNERS................................................19 ASPEN TRAILER.............................................. 2 BANDIT CHIPPERS.........................................15 BRAKE SYSTEMS..........................................20 DC EQUIPMENT / MODERN MACHINERY.....24 DEMO 2024..................................................35 DYNAPRODUCTS...........................................21 HILLTOP ARIAL LLC.........................................6 HYDRAULEX GLOBAL....................................31 KETO HARVESTERS.......................................18 KOMATSU AMERICA / MODERN................... 33 LBX / TRIAD MACHINERY / BEJAC................ 27 MORBARK.....................................................39 OLOFSFORS.................................................... 2 PACIFIC LOGGING CONGRESS.....................29 PIERCE PACIFIC..............................................9 PONSSE ......................................................... 7 TIGERCAT / TRIAD MACHINERY / BEJAC......40 WALLINGFORD'S..........................................32 WCLA CREDIT UNION....................................14 YOKOHAMA OFF ROAD TIRES/ ALLIANCE....26 TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

37

TechColumn

Daily Service Check is Key to Good Maintenance

By Matthew Flood

A

S THE FORESTRY

industry continues to evolve, there is a more demand for solutions that help loggers maintain job sites more efficiently. Manufacturers are delivering improved innovations and machine solutions that help increase efficiency and productivity while exceeding loggers’ highest expectations. As the industry is seeing new emerging technologies and innovations enter the market, it’s crucial for manufacturers to focus on the impact their machines and technology will have in the woods and the benefits specific enhancements will have on operators. Forestry business owners are faced with unique challenges every day that drive the need for innovation, new technology and data solutions.

John Deere encourages loggers, business owners, and fleet managers to follow these tips to make sure their machines can tackle even the toughest terrain year-round.

Daily Service Check

Performing daily service checks is key to ensuring your machine meets its productivity potential and minimizes downtime. When performing your service check, visually inspect the machine’s appearance and look for damage. Check fluids — as in the coolant, oil, hydraulic oil and transmission oil levels.

Check and drain fuel water separators.

Take a close look at wear items that could prevent the machine from efficiently doing its job. Visual inspections of key wear components are particularly important.

Some machines are intelligent enough to know when to warm up and cool down, but it is also important to monitor them, considering excess idle time and fuel burn.

Operators are the first line of defense in making sure the machine is in optimum condition to keep the job site running efficiently. Most manufacturers still encourage operators to perform a daily walk-around, and while it may seem redundant, an extra set of eyes never hurts.

Key inspection points will vary between models, but the concept remains the same.

Completing this daily inspection helps to spot potential problems early, which is beneficial on multiple fronts. For one, it saves equipment owners money by amending issues with individual parts and/or overall functionality so that larger, more costly issues with performance and longevity are avoided.

Telematics Systems

Forestry machines are doing more than just sending information to a remote server.

They are truly becoming connected to the world. Historically, a person might have perceived machine telematics as simply providing feedback about machine locations,

working hours, and fuel burn. However, the data and insights from the machines can also help support improved and optimized business decisions.

A customer can view information about machines at his or her fingertips from a location on the opposite side of the world.

Dealers and technicians can remotely monitor and connect to machines and initiate data collection on demand or based on triggers, such as machine alerts or fault codes.

This can, at times, prevent multiple trips and reduce customer expenses.

One of the best ways to leverage telematics is to increase your bottom dollar through managing or limiting idle time on machines.

Traditionally, a machine could idle between 10-20 percent of the hours that it’s utilized through a given week, month, or year. One could argue that the savings in fuel by reducing idle time is quite minimal. However, look at the larger picture: a machine that idles 20 percent of an annual accumulation of 1,000 hours is not producing for 200 hours. That’s 200 hours of lost production time plus a faster degradation of both warranty and potential resale value.

Successful businesses in the future will be defined by how well technology and telematics capabilities are leveraged by customers and integrated into day to day decisions. Equipment owners should partner with dealerships around telematics enabled features such as service advisor remote and machine monitoring capabilities to increase longevity of machines.

Focus on Machine Health

When examining your machine on a routine basis, it’s crucial to get into a regular routine and to complete the checks in the same order. Every time you do an inspection, start in the same place, perform your checks around the machine, and end where you began. This routine makes it easier to spot abnormalities and helps ensure nothing is overlooked.

It is best practice to refer to the operator’s manual or consult your dealer for specific product procedures. However, by following these tips you can begin to best-utilize your machine.

(Matthew Flood is Product Marketing Manager for John Deere.)

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TimberWest Magazine — March/April 2023 — www.forestnet.com

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www.tigercat.com Circle Reader Service Card 132