Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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May 2017

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SHOW GUIDE

PLANER UPS PRODUCTION at Tolko Armstrong FIGHTING FOREST FIRES with drones WITH THIS ISSUE… The Edge!

LO-BAR TACKLES HIGH GROUND in B.C. Interior

FEATURES May 2017 Volume 48 • No. 3 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski

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On the Cover:

Simple, clean and efficient were the guiding principles for B.C. logger Gregory Jacob when he began his examination of available steep slope log harvesting methods. He was able to get exactly that, and the key new machine in Gregory’s steep slope arsenal is a wheeled John Deere 1910E cut to length forwarder with a Haas winch. Read all about it on page 10 (Cover photo by Jim Stirling).

4

Spotlight – Finding your future employees

A new Forestry Machine Operator Training program being offered by the Canadian Woodlands Forum and several other organizations could be part of the answer to the challenge of finding, and training, equipment operators—and be a model for elsewhere in Canada.

10 Lo-Bar tackles high ground

B.C.’s Lo-Bar Transport has a new steep slope system involving a wheeled John Deere 1910E cut to length forwarder with a Haas winch which provides easier access to timber across a broader cross section of steep and challenging terrains.

14 Up in smoke—not

A new sawmill came on stream this spring in the B.C. Interior—thanks to the co-operation of three forest industry parties—and the end result is that wood fibre that would have been piled and literally gone up in polluting smoke will now be converted to viable wood products.

22 Combining the

efforts—and tenures— of First Nations

The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in the B.C. Interior is looking at ways that scattered First Nations communities with small tenures can work together, and scale up the opportunities and benefits from the forest resource.

26 Going Dutch on sawmill Two companies have joined forces on a new specialty sawmill that is taking Sitka Spruce in northwestern B.C.—known for growing tall and straight, with long fibres and tight ring counts—to produce high end product for a reman plant in Holland.

34

Canada North Resources Expo Official Show Guide

Extensive show coverage including CNRE stories, exhibitor list, floor plan … and more!

56 Forest fire fighting— with drones!

Drones are proving to be very useful tools in business, and a B.C. firm is now exploring their practical applications in the working forest, notably in wildfire control and prevention, an increasing area of concern considering extreme weather patterns.

62 Planer ups production The planer mill at Tolko’s Armstrong, B.C., sawmill is seeing positive bottom-line results from an upgrade that has allowed the planer operation to greatly increase its production—with the kicker that more of that production is higher grade lumber.

68 The Edge

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

78 The Last Word

Super logging equipment consumers are super valuable to logging equipment manufacturers—and dealers, says Jim Stirling.

DEPARTMENTS

Calendar............................................ 8 Tech Update.................................... 71 Suppliernewsline............................. 74 Classifieds....................................... 77 Ad Index / Subscriptions.................. 77

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

3

spotlight

Finding your future employees

A new Forestry Machine Operator Training program being offered by the Canadian Woodlands Forum and several other organizations could be part of the answer to the challenge of finding, and training, equipment operators—and be a model for elsewhere in Canada.

By George Fullerton

F

inding qualified harvester operators seems to be a perpetual challenge for the forest industry—and with the current contingent of equipment operators aging, bringing new recruits into the industry is essential.

But the industry is working on solutions. Earlier this year, a dinner to celebrate completion of a novel Forestry Machine Operator Training program was held in Turro, Nova Scotia. The honoured guests were eight millennials, who passed intense screening, in-class training, in-seat training, and went on be hired by contractors and had completed several weeks of one-on-one coaching.

Peter Robichaud, executive director of the Canadian Woodlands Forum, emceed the graduation proceedings and dinner.

He addressed the trainees, noting they should be very proud of their achievement.

Robichaud pointed out that operating a tree harvester productively, efficiently and safely is a highly technical and demanding job. He went on to extend a special thanks to the contractors who participated in the program

Al Angrigon (above), manager of the Forest Safety Society of Nova Scotia, happily hands out jackets at the machine operator training graduation. The program includes three weeks of classroom training, with the focus on studying forestry and logging fundamentals, followed by four weeks of basic “in-seat” training.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

by hiring the trainees, and supporting the extended coaching period.

Robichaud said organizers were happy with the success of the program and explained that it established an important precedent for effective operator training.

He added that the program brought together special talents in trainers and coaches, in addition to financial and in-kind support from industry and government.

The innovative training program was launched in 2015 by representatives of the Canadian Woodlands Forum, BioApplied Innovation Pathways, Forest Nova Scotia, Forest Liaison, and the Forest Safety Society of Nova Scotia.

Logging contractors have routinely expressed frustration in finding qualified operators. Contractors who undertake to train and new recruits invest a good deal of time and other costs, with no guarantee the recruit will work out.

Contractors see many candidates try out as forest equipment operators, but they often leave because they either lack the required skills or decide that working in the woods is not for them.

Contractors realize a significant cost when they invest in training operators who don’t remain in the job. The costs to contractors, in turn, impacts the entire forest industry.

The Machine Operator Training program organizers developed a comprehensive training program, which included screening applicants to ensure each one possessed the required skillset, attitude and commitment to become a competent and productive machine (harvester) operator. The second step was to train the screened applicants in basic forestry, to page 6

spotlight from page 4 and harvester operation. The third—and perhaps the most important element— was to match each trainee with a harvest contractor, who would hire the trainee and support them through the on-the-job coaching period.

The training program benefited from financial and in-kind support from Northern Pulp, J.D. Irving, Port Hawkesbury Paper, and Northern Pulp. Funding was also generated from registration fees from contractors involved in the program, and tuition charged to students.

The innovative and progressive approach to training and employment gained attention and financial support from the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education, and Nova Scotia Forestry Innovation Hub. The first step in the Machine Operator Training program was to recruit trainees.

This was done through a number of different channels such as advertisements and job bank listings. Robichaud said at the end of the exercise, posting the opportunity on advertising web site Kijiji yielded the best results.

The recruitment exercise generated some 60 potential candidates. Each applicant then completed an on-line assessment, administered by Profile XT. The assessment provides insight into the applicants’ behavioral traits, reasoning, and occupational interests. The results provided a high probability of an applicant’s potential for success as a forestry machine operator. The assessment results also provided certain guidance for on-the-job coaching.

6

The honoured guests (above) at the grad dinner—wearing their new jackets— passed intense screening, in-class training, in-seat training, and completed several weeks of one-on-one coaching in the Forest Machine Operator Training Program.

Profile XT developed their peak performance model-assessment tool for a harvester operator, relying on collected data from around the world.

The Machine Operator Training organizers sat down with Profile XT to review their forest worker assessment tool, and only slight tweaking was required to fit the project, explained Rod Badcock with Bio Applied Innovation Pathways.

The assessment tested for verbal and numeric aptitudes, energy level, and even social considerations. The applicants’ individual assessment results were compared against the Profile XT model, and if a candidate possessed the preferred attributes, they were invited to continue in the training program.

Badcock explained that the assessment results highlighted a few traits which were common among their top trainees.

One was that they tend to learn most effectively through experience, rather

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

than instruction. “They have to see it and test it to learn effectively,” he pointed out.

As an example, Badcock described telling a trainee that he would be able to travel his machine through a wet spot, and that they would have to go to the spot and test it for themselves, to be assured they should travel through it.

Secondly, the top applicants did not require a highly structured (social) workplace. Working alone suited them fine, or even best. A shift in a machine, with limited human contact, was a comfortable workplace for them.

Thirdly, the applicants were comfortable to work in chaos. While we might not like to think of harvesting as chaos, it continually does present numerous and evolving challenges, very different from operating in a gravel pit or construction site.

The second evaluation step had each applicant test on a Simlog tree harvester simulator, to test their hand/eye coordination and depth perception.

Badcock said the simulator was a very effective tool to evaluate operator potential. He said a number of candidates disqualified from the program, simply because they lacked the skill to move the simulated harvester head to the simulated tree.

While candidates were being screened and tested, organizers were also recruiting contractors who had operator employment opportunities.

Organizers conducted four contractor information sessions, in addition to networking through the Canadian Woodlands Forum, the Safety Society of Nova Scotia, and with forest industry partners.

All of the 17 candidates who successfully completed the screening process were given the opportunity to apply for jobs with the contractors who joined the program. Contractors initially reviewed each candidate’s Profile XT and simulator

spotlight assessments, and then interviewed selected candidates to see if there looked to be a good personality fit.

Reciprocally, each trainee candidate also reviewed a profile of the contractors to see if they thought they would fit the contractor’s operations, and the geographic region of operations.

From the start, the program’s organizers were determined that every seat in the training program would be tied to a job with a harvest contractor, following formal classroom and in-machine training periods. Essentially, the contractor agreed to hire the trainee and employ him on his machine for at least the coaching period.

Classroom training, with 10 candidates, began early in August 2016, and ran for three weeks, with the focus on studying forestry and logging fundamentals. The in-classroom study was followed by four weeks of basic “in-seat” training, conducted by New Brunswick Community College.

NBCC supplied three instructors, along with two harvesters, a Ponsse Beaver and a Hyundai carrier with a Log Max head, as well as a forwarder. The forest classroom was a Crown forest block, managed

by Northern Pulp in Riversdale, about 20

kilometres east of Truro, NS. The in-seat training included night shift operating.

In addition to machine operating, candidates also trained in proper maintenance practices, adjustments, troubleshooting and repair.

Following the official four-week instructed training, candidates moved on to a sixteen-week ‘coached’ work period with the contractor who hired them.

Forest Liaison provided the on the job coaching.

Forest Liaison, based in Moncton, New Brunswick, is a mechanized harvest training business operated by Carl Tingley. Forest Liaison offers a multitude of training products, including on the job coaching for machine operators. It engaged three coaches to work with the eight students who completed the Machine Operator Training course.

In the first few weeks of the ‘coached’ training period, the coaches would visit and engage with the students two or three times per week, and they prioritized coaching time based on the needs of the students.

“Some students learn very quickly,” explained Tingley. “And the ones that are more motivated to listen and eager to

learn generally need less coaching time.”

Tingley pointed out that the coaches worked with the students multiple days in the first four weeks, and then started to spread out the coaching intervals.

Coaching intervals were extended for the students who were progressing well and were ready for more ‘alone time’ and development time. Trainees who required more skill development received more frequent coaching visits. Coaching sessions were typically every week, but there was never more than two weeks between sessions, explained Tingley.

The coaches conducted a documented evaluation of the operator at the start of every visit and then identified, by priority, what areas to train and coach for on that day. Tingley said that this procedure is the most effective method, due to the constant changes in physical conditions in the woods, on a day to day basis.

Each coaching visit lasted between four and six hours, depending on the student’s progress.

“We try to use the student’s progress to gauge how much time to spend with them. to page 8

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7

spotlight from page 7 The operators who are consistently improving require less coaching time, but with other operators who are not consistently improving, or are falling behind, we need to spend more time bringing them along.”

Marc Goodwin works as a coach with Forest Liaison and he pointed out that his tablet has become one of his most important tools for effective coaching.

“When I come on site, I use my handheld tablet to film the operator as he works with the harvester,” Goodwin explained. “Later, I view the video with the operator, and point out actions which need to be corrected. Without the video, I would have to explain the action I want to coach, but communicating or describing the specific incorrect action is not always accurately described or can be incompletely communicated. ”My description of the action and corrected measure may be confusing for the operator—but when we are both looking at the same video, the communication is very effective and coaching is much more effective.”

In addition to completion of the intense

training, and a job with a contractor, each trainee was also awarded certification as a Qualified Logging Professional, under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

In awarding the QLP certificates, Peter Robichaud related that SFI recognized the quality of forestry, logging and harvesting training they had received and noted that it exceeded the QLP standard.

Through conversations with the operators and the participating contractors, the training program was a resounding success. The trainees entered the formal training with the qualifications to be successful and land a job. For the contractor, they had the opportunity to employ a person with the required skillset, aptitude and ambition to be a successful operator.

The project team feels that the Forestry Machine Operator Training program can serve as a model for how partnerships between industry organizations and government agencies can effectively support the development of good jobs for people in rural communities in support of Canada’s traditional resource based industries—and they hope to be able to offer more training programs in the future.

CALENDAR May 26-27 Canada North Resources Expo, Prince George, BC 888-454-7469, www.cnre.ca June 6-7 Private Forest Landowners of BC Assoc. AGM, Cowichan Bay, BC 250-381-7565, www.pfla.bc.ca June 7-10 Elmia Wood, Jönköping, Sweden 4608 441 70 80, www.elmiawood.com June 8-9 Maritime Lumber Bureau 78th AGM, Moncton, NB 902-667-3889, www.mlb.ca June 14-16 Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition, Atlanta, GA 504-443-4464, www.sfpaexpo.com June 23-25 Saw Tech Log Expo 2017, Renfrew, ON 705-264-2251 www.sawtechlogexpo.com

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BCinteriorlogging

LO-BAR tackles high ground

B.C.’s Lo-Bar Transport has a new steep slope system involving a wheeled John Deere 1910E cut to length forwarder with a Haas winch which provides easier access to timber across a broader cross section of steep and challenging terrains.

By Jim Stirling

S

imple, clean and efficient. Those were the guiding principles for Gregory Jacob when he began his examination of available steep slope log harvesting methods. His quest steered him toward a straightforward sounding system with an inferred efficiency.

“It appealed to me,” he recalled. The system involved using winch assisted machines to allow harvesting equipment easier access to timber across a broader cross section of steep and challenging terrains.

Jacob is president of Lo-Bar Log Transport, a full service log harvesting contractor for Canfor Corp., and his operation is based in Prince George, British Columbia. While it’s still early days, LoBar’s system is working well and fulfilling its early promise.

The key new machine in Lo-Bar’s steep slope arsenal is a wheeled John Deere 1910E cut to length forwarder with a Haas winch. Scheduled for a demo around the time this is being read is a JD 1470G rubber tired forwarder that will also be fitted with a Haas winch.

10

Other machines already playing integral roles in the Lo-Bar harvesting system are a L870C Tigercat levelling feller buncher and—what is believed to be the first of its kind delivered in Canada—a Tigercat LX870D buncher.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

BCinteriorlogging

Lo-Bar Transport president Gregory Jacob (left) and machine operator Chad LeTondre, with the winch assisted John Deere 1910E forwarder. The forwarder is being targeted for slopes up to around 50 per cent, although slopes southeast of Prince George, where it was operating earlier this year, are often inconsistent and come with steeper pitches and flatter sections.

Other machines already playing integral roles in the harvesting system are a Tigercat LH855D self levelling processor with a Southstar 600 head; an L870C Tigercat levelling feller buncher and—what is believed to be the first of its kind delivered in Canada—a Tigercat LX870D buncher.

“We’re trying to do something that not everyone else here is doing yet,” explained Jacob. And harvesting the higher ground efficiently is something that needs to be done.

The easy ground timber close to the sawmills was long ago creamed off. The pine flats are basically exhausted, with the finishing touches applied by the accelerated and prolonged salvage operations associated with the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Now there’s nowhere else to go but further out and up. It’s the new forest, into the larger diameter old growth spruce and balsam forests.

With that harvesting site migration comes a new and expensive package of challenges for the log harvesting contractor. For the licencee, the trend means more costly wood fibre and probably a different species mix. Logging higher elevations in many areas of the B.C. Interior involves harvesting larger volumes of balsam with its associated lumber production and drying issues. Given that background reality, Lo-Bar expressed a willingness to take on the risk of developing a workable

high ground log harvesting system. Canfor responded and assigned the logging company to work in the higher elevation Tumuch country, southeast of Prince George.

Lo-Bar had been working with the winch assisted Deere 1910E forwarder for about three months when Logging and Sawmilling Journal visited the hillside block where it was working. “We have been very happy with the outcome,” reported Jacob.

“Our expectations have been met. There were no ugly surprises. The machine has worked straight out of the box.”

The forwarder is being targeted for slopes up to around 50 per cent, although slopes in the Tumuch are often inconsistent and come with their steeper pitches and flatter sections.

The drum containing the Haas winch

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

is welded on to the back of the forwarder while a strawline is anchored at the top of the hill being harvested. The winch contains 400 metres of 14 millimetre diameter cable.

“The winch acts more as an assist,” Jacobs said, “and it’s more integral in getting up the hill. It kicks in if the wheels start to spin,” he added.

The tilting crane levels out, allowing a more effective swing. The well protected operator’s cab looks somewhat like a glass gondola. “The operators love the visibility.” The cab follows close behind the movement of the boom and has a rotation of about 270 degrees. The swivelling to page 12

11

BCinteriorlogging from page 11 ability can contribute around 10 per cent more work from the machine and is easier on and less tiring for the operator. “It’s all about efficiency,” he summarized.

It will take more time to fully assess all aspects of the machine’s overall performance. “Our cost analysis of the machine is still underway.”

Effectively extending the log harvesting season is a further anticipated benefit to emerge from the forwarder. “A brush mat laid ahead of the forwarder can reduce damage to the ground and keep us working longer into the breakup period,” Jacob pointed out.

Lo-Bar took delivery of its Tigercat LH855D with Southstar 600 head last fall and the combination has been acquitting itself well. The machine represents wellunderstood and appreciated equipment for Lo-Bar and its crews. “We have 11 Southstar heads, eight of the 600 size which allow us to manufacture more trees, and three 500s.”

The Tigercat/Southstar combination is an all-Canadian manufactured duo. Tigercat machines are manufactured in Ontario and Southstar heads in Kamloops, B.C. Jacob believes Tigercat make good, reliable and productive purpose-designed log harvesting equipment. Those advantages bring with them another. When it comes time to upgrade or replace, the Tigercats

ogy. It’s another reason why finding methods to elongate the log harvesting season through the annual break-up period can be hugely important. Break-up in the Central Interior of B.C. has in the last few years become something of a nebulous occasion, hard to predict by date or longevity.

But the weather started to impact and influence log harvesting and transportation scheduling last fall with prolonged periods of wet weather.

“We’ve never caught up,” said Jacob. In March and April this year, the challenge was on to keep Canfor’s fibre short mills running according to schedule through the break-up period, however long that turns out to be. A method of trying to achieve that was to bring the wood down from the high country and seek the relevant permission to create re-load points on main haul logging roads closer to highways and the sawmills.

The Tumuch and surrounding drainages which include harvesting sites more than 4,000 feet above sea level are about a two-hour drive east of Prince George. Jacob had the foresight to acquire a mobile

“We’re trying to do something that not everyone else here is doing yet,” explained Lo-Bar’s Gregory Jacob. And harvesting the higher ground efficiently is something that needs to be done.

12

command good re-sale prices. “That is a major consideration.”

Lo-Bar’s new Tigercat LX870D fully meets the latest Tier 4 emission standards and has other new features. Jacob said these include a re-designed operators cab and a closed loop drive system. The system allows a dedicated hydraulic pump for each track.

But the weather can still trump technol-

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

BCinteriorlogging

camp about a year ago as part of his strategy for offering the licencee a steep slope harvesting capability. The camp is a well equipped oil field style unit that is readily portable. It has a 32 room private room capacity. The problem is, Jacob’s anticipating having up to three divisions of his

company working in the Tumuch region this summer which could translate into 50 or 60 people. He was considering an addition to the existing camp site. It’s relatively central to the sprawling region and has the advantages of permitting and infrastructure such as wells already being in place. “It

should be the best location to service the client (Canfor),” Jacob explained. And to maintain the critical flow of fibre from the summer ground in the Tumuch to Canfor’s sawmills.

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BCinteriorsawmilling The new Corewood sawmill at Houston, B.C. is essentially an open air operation, minimizing the necessity for elaborate sawdust extraction systems, and the product is hand-piled. Mill management anticipated a conservative production estimate of 120,000 to 160,000 board feet a shift, at the beginning of operations.

Up in smoke—

NOT

A new sawmill came on stream this spring in the B.C. Interior—thanks to the co-operation of three forest industry parties—and the end result is that wood fibre that would have been piled and literally gone up in polluting smoke will now be converted to viable wood products.

By Jim Stirling

I

t’s amazing what a little creative cooperation can achieve—and there is a great example of that within the forest industry of west central British Columbia.

A new sawmill is on stream principally because of an agreement between a large licencee, an associated wood pellet manufacturer and a log harvesting and milling contractor. The result is that wood fibre that would have been piled and literally gone up in polluting smoke will now be converted to viable wood products. New jobs are being created in the process and regional forest industry-reliant communities like Burns Lake and Houston have an

to page 16 14

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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BCinteriorsawmilling from page 14 improved economic future.

The principals in the agreement are Canfor Corporation’s Houston operation, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc’s wood pellet manufacturing plant in Houston and the Tahtsa Group, the last which has rebuilt and upgraded the old Corewood mill site operation, also in Houston.

Canfor supplies low grade material that won’t make the standards for conversion to commodity lumber products. Tahtsa’s new mill extracts value from the material in the creative form of other wood products, while Pinnacle receives Corewood’s residuals for wood pellet manufacture.

Pinnacle’s pellet manufacturing facility in Houston is a joint venture with Canfor.

“The five year supply agreement with Canfor and the off-trade with Pinnacle’s pellet plant supports the new investment in Houston,” explained Klaus Posselt, President and CEO of the Tahtsa Group, based in Burns Lake. “Canfor and Pinnacle have been very fair and supportive.”

The Tahtsa Group also includes Tahtsa Timber Ltd., a well established log harvesting contractor, Pacific Timber, a

16

sawmill in Burns Lake, and the Sheraton Custom Milling Ltd., operation east of Burns Lake.

The Tahtsa Group collectively knows of what it speaks when it comes to converting low grade material into viable wood products. It’s had plenty of experience.

Waste is an anathema to Posselt and that attitude percolates throughout the operation.

Pacific Timber hasn’t stopped production in the six years it’s been in operation.

They have been close a couple of times with a lack of fibre, admitted Karl Garrett, sawmill manager, but so far the company has always managed to turn something up to keep going.

Pacific Timber helps itself by being proactive. For example, the Burns Lake mill recognized the opportunity and is currently working its way through fibre burned in the China Nose wildfire. The blaze threatened rural properties southeast of Houston three years ago this summer. “There’s about 57,000 cubic metres of burned wood there—that’s about 966 logging truck loads,” estimated Garrett.

“We’ve consumed about 40,000 cubic metres already.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Pacific Timber can process material diameters from about 11 inches down to a four inch top. Material larger than about an 11.5 inch diameter is directed to the company’s Sheraton Custom Mill.

The Sheraton mill is located adjacent to the Babine Forest Products sawmill, about 19 kilometres east of Burns Lake. The Sheraton mill’s old headrig operates on an as-required basis.

BCinteriorsawmilling

Karl Garrett (above), manager of Pacific Timber (a sister operation to the Corewood sawmill), says the mill works hard in terms of obtaining timber supply, and is proactive. For example, the mill recognized the opportunity and is currently working its way through fibre burned in the China Nose wildfire.

About 95 per cent of Pacific Timber’s production is exported to China, typically in cant form like 3 x 3s and 6 x 6. The company’s manufactured products are lighter and easier to transport than raw

logs and being squared already produce less falldown than round logs.

Apart from capitalizing on processing opportunities like burned fibre, the mill takes on dry beetle killed wood, stems

with spiral checks, cat faces and other quality defects problematic for commodity

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

17

to page 18

BCinteriorsawmilling from page 17 mill use. “There’s a four-inch white core in there somewhere—and we find ways to extract it and create a marketable product,” said Garrett.

Not all those markets are in China.

Recent destinations to show promise for Pacific Timber’s products are Iran and Pakistan, traditionally served by Russian manufactured wood products, he added.

“The more tentacles into different markets, the better off we are.”

Pacific Timber was also in the business of producing rig mats and associated products for the oil patch in Alberta and northeastern B.C. “That market went from about 100 miles per hour to zero about two years ago.” But it might be on its way back. The energy industry is emerging from its doldrums, just not at the same velocity as its decline.

Key to creating Pacific Timber’s products is a veteran V-6 canter dating back to the 1950s/1960s, said Garrett. It has received a few helping hands along the way. The installation of Porter Engineering setworks, for example, and temposonic cylinders to deliver more accurate lineal

18

positioning. The old canter is a solid machine, however, he continued. The company has a second machine for parts or, failing that, has access to a machine shop to manufacture what’s required.

The sawmill operation employs about nine people. They work four 10-hour days, with one day devoted to maintenance and clean-up. Pacific Timber is unlike other mills in that it regularly gives work opportunities—stepping stones, if you will—to new entrants with little hands-on experience in the forest industry or other industrial employment.

“We work with the College of New Caledonia in Burns Lake to take entry level people who are taking courses there,” explained Garrett.

Some move on quickly, others stay put.

Pacific Timber now has some employees who have taken that route with three and four years’ experience of working with Pacific in a safe sawmill environment. It’s the kind of mutually beneficial arrangement that works especially well in small towns like Burns Lake.

The Burns Lake sawmill benefits from Tahtsa Timber’s operations. They include logging for major licencees in the Hous-

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

ton, Burns Lake region and on Vancouver Island. The sister company can harvest and sort out low grade log sizes suitable for the Burns Lake sawmill.

The new Corewood sawmill at Houston follows the same basic principles practiced at the Burns Lake mill but on a larger scale, said Garrett. It, too, is essentially an open air operation, minimizing the necessity for elaborate sawdust extraction systems, and the product is hand-piled. “We anticipate a conservative production estimate at the beginning of 120,000 to 160,000 board feet a shift,” added Garrett.”When all three mills are operational (Burns Lake, Corewood and Sheraton), we will consume about 220,000 to 250,000 cubic metres of wood while utilizing the whole tree.”

At the heart of the Houston operation is a used Optimil canter acquired from a mill in the United States. “We’ve refurbished the whole thing including making our own infeeds.” The Houston mill will be able to process log diameters from four inches to 20. Larger stems will be set

to page 20

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BCinteriorsawmilling from page 18 aside for transportation to the Sheraton Mill’s head rig.

Having a new mill come on stream these days is a notable achievement, albeit comprised of second-hand equipment. That is especially so in the context of the mountain pine beetle epidemic’s toll on timber supply and the political uncertainties facing the commodity lumber producing sector. But what the Corewood mill does is amply illustrate how to be more creative in using wood volumes that no longer have value to commodity lumber mills.

“For me, I wanted to see and do something to create jobs from something that was being thrown away,” explained Tahtsa’s Posselt “We could do a lot more. The biggest challenge is making some changes to the outdated Forest Act so that more of these types of fibre can be accessed and fast tracked,” he added. “The provincial government needs to understand how important it is to small communities, especially given the overall decrease in fibre supply.”

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

BCforestry

Combining the efforts —and tenures— of First Nations

The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in the B.C. Interior is looking at ways that scattered First Nations communities with small tenures can work together, and scale up the opportunities and benefits from the forest resource.

By Jim Stirling

T

here may be strength in numbers but there are economies and opportunities in scale. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) understands that and wants to take advantage of the potential of scale.

The CSTC is examining ways to extract more value and benefits from its traditional forestlands through combining its joint resources. As it stands, the eight scattered communities that comprise the CSTC in central British Columbia hold valid forest licences, but they are generally of the small and non-replaceable types.

“The small tenures are not economically viable on their own,” pointed out Terry Teegee, the CSTC’s tribal chief. “If we could package them together, we would

22

have good leverage in terms of making a deal with a forest company. We need to look at the landscape level.”

The timing for furthering that objective could prove fortuitous. “There are a lot of dead pine trees out there now and we could be part of the solution toward using them,” explained Teegee. He sees end use possibilities from the fibre source in biofuels and green energy for isolated communities that could help wean them off costly and polluting diesel generated power.

“We are right in the midst of a five to 10 year transition period of change and flux,” continued Teegee, who is a registered professional forester. “We have the current state of affairs in the United States, timber supply reviews that mean less available timber in this part of B.C., Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

and we have small, forestry dependent towns in the region needing help.” Teegee believes this transition period needs to be recognized and accommodated by the provincial government.

Member nations in the CSTC are: the Burns Lake Band; Nak’azdli Band; Nadleh What’en; Saik’uz First Nation; Stellat’en First Nation; Takla Lake First Nation; Tlatzen Nation and the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council’s eight member First Nations have a combined population in excess of 5,000 people and territories amounting to twice the size of Vancouver Island. The CSTC acts as an advocate for and frequently represents the interests to page 24

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BCforestry from page 22 of its member nations in forestry related matters.

First Nations and their traditional territories are fundamental to the B.C. forest industry functioning smoothly. The reality was reinforced in June 2014 with the Ts’ilhqot’in Nation decision in the Supreme Court of Canada.

The ruling recognized the First Nations aboriginal title to its traditional territories in the Chilcotin region of B.C. “We’ve said to the forest industry things have to change. We are now a recognized form of government and decision maker,” explained Teegee.

Most of the forest companies now understand that, and co-operate with the new reality, said Teegee. But there are others which still want to stay in the old ways of doing business on the land base.

“They need to understand we are the decision makers, a part of the economy and contributors to the economy.”

Teegee noted the recognition of First Nations as land use decision making partners brings with it responsibility. When it comes to shared First Nations territories, they have to find ways to deal with them internally, as a unit, he explained. “We can then make better decisions on the land use,” he added, “ and contribute better to the economy.”

about the state of First Nations in British Columbia. They knew about unsettled treaties here and that First Nations have a huge say in matters concerning timber, oil and pipelines.” He said Japanese buyers appreciate wood use in their buildings and especially high quality wood products. In homes and other structures, whether it ends up being covered by other material or not, clear wood is preferred, he continued.

The Japanese buyers appreciate B.C. wood not just for its quality but for its strength, seismic resistance capabilities and fire resilience properties.

Teegee said B.C. First Nations might consider sending a larger contingent to countries like Japan and China. He said the participation level could be part of the now regular provincial government-led trade promotion visits or First Nations might consider organizing a visit specifically tailored to potential First Nation opportunities in the Asian markets.

In the meantime and in a more regional context, Teegee suggested another way the forest industry can benefit now from the emerging First Nation economy. The well documented ageing population and its effects on the economy generally and industries like forestry specifically are already showing up and creating manpower shortage issues. “A large segment of our population is youth, under 25 years old, and it represents an untapped opportunity for employers,” pointed out Teegee.

Forest companies are looking for people and by offering more opportunities for training and education, the job demand could be filled, he suggested. He cited Conifex Inc., in Fort St. James as an example of what can be accomplished.

Three bands have an interest in the operation and supply it with timber. A conservative one-third of the sawmill workers there are native. Additional numbers of First Nation workers find jobs in the bush, driving logging trucks and in silvicultural activities.”We think there’s a huge potential there as more and more of the First Nation workers become better trained and educated,” said Teegee. Increasing and improving employment prospects in the forest industry represents a further example of First Nation participation in, and contribution to, the overall provincial economy.

“The small tenures are not economically viable on their own,” says Terry Teegee, tribal chief. “If we could package them together, we would have good leverage in terms of making a deal with a forest company.”

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Teegee was part of last fall’s B.C. government-led trip to Asia to promote the use of wood products and the province’s forest industry resource. The trade promotion trips are typically attended by governments—including First Nations—forest industry executives and ancillary industry representatives. It was an eye opener for Teegee.

“In Japan they were very well informed

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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BCsawmilling JCI Touchwood Sawmills’ design concept emphasizes accurate cutting and careful handling, rather than throughput. “We might take three or four hours on a single 40 foot long log,” notes Warren Gavronsky (in photo). “We try to respect the age and quality of these trees.”

GOING DUTCH on sawmill

Two companies have joined forces on a new specialty sawmill that is taking the Sitka Spruce in northwestern B.C.—known for growing tall and straight, with long fibres and tight ring counts—to produce high end product for a reman plant in Holland.

By Jim Stirling

A

t one point, the mountain-fringed site in northwestern B.C. was little more than a gravel pit clearing. By August last year, that origin was still evident—but a 100 x 65 foot building now dominated the location. And within it was a headrig and positioned strategically around the headrig was an edger, band resaw and a robotic vacuum-controlled material handling system.

All of the processing machinery originated in Europe. The mill’s design concept emphasizes accurate cutting and careful handling, rather than throughput. It’s the new operation’s guiding principle.

JCI Touchwood Sawmills Ltd.—calling itself the specialty sawmill of the north—is

to page 28 26

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

BCsawmilling from page 26 about10 kilometres north of Terrace in northwestern British Columbia. It’s a partnership between JCI Sawmilling, a home-grown Terrace custom sawmilling operation, and Touchwood BV of Schijndel in Holland.

JCI—Just Cut It sawmilling—headed by father and son team Percy and Warren Gavronsky, operate custom mills producing a range of products including western red cedar beams and lumber, bridge timbers and drill pad material. Touchwood Sawmills, owned by John Lammerts van Bueren, was until recently sawing Sitka spruce in southeast Alaska, processing it there and shipping it for finishing at a custom built reman plant in The Netherlands.

The Canada/Holland partnership behind the new Terrace specialty sawmill came about serendipitously.

“I heard about his operation and first e-mailed him (Lammerts van Bueren) to find out more about it five years ago,” recalls Warren Gavronsky of JCI Sawmilling. “Then he phoned me a couple of years ago, inquiring about the availability of quality Sitka Spruce in the Terrace area.

28

He was having increasing problems accessing the kind of timber he requires in Alaska.”

The upshot of that was a visit to the Terrace area by van Bueren for a first hand assessment. “He’s been incredibly happy with the wood (quality) so far,” reports Gavronsky.

The valleys and inlets of the Skeena River drainage near Terrace are coastal in nature without being on the ocean. Some of the Sitka Spruce growing there reflect that subtle difference, growing slowly, tall and straight with long fibres and tight ring counts. They make the ideal feedstock for van Bueren’s discerning customers.

The result is JCI Touchwood Sawmills, incorporating the upgraded processing equipment from the operation in southeast Alaska.

The partnership was underwritten by van Bueren, with JCI contributing the site, local knowledge and expertise, explains Gavronsky.

He reckons it will take the equivalent of about three months’ mill production to supply the up to 500 cubic metres a year of prime product van Bueren requires for his reman plant in Holland.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

The specialty products include high grade Sitka Spruce mast and spars in up to 40 foot lengths, and yacht and ship decking and boat planks in varying specifications. van Bueren is an experienced sailor and well understands the market and product requirements.

The Sitka Spruce is also in high demand for clears graded to customer specifications for use as sounding boards in concert grand and upright pianos for the concert halls of Europe. Sitka Spruce

BCsawmilling

John Lammerts van Bueren (above, left) and Warren Gavronsky of JCI Touchwood Sawmills, of Terrace, B.C. Previous to the two men setting up the company, Lammerts van Bueren, was sawing Sitka spruce in southeast Alaska. Warren Gavronsky and his father, Percy, operate JCI Sawmilling, a home grown Terrace custom sawmilling operation. clears are also incorporated into harpsichords and guitar tops. Aircraft quality Sitka Spruce is crafted to military and custom specifications and for use in traditional archery blanks.

During the balance of the time, JCI Touchwood will be supplying a full range

of western red cedar and hemlock products including lumber from 1 x 4 to 4 x 12 sizes in a range of grades. Sitka Spruce is also converted to products like drill pads, bridge timbers and low-bed planking, while knotty spruce is available in standard and custom designs.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Drill pad work continues to be a key product for JCI Touchwood despite the slowdown in the oil and gas sector, says Gavronsky. The demand slack there has to page 30

29

BCsawmilling from page 29 been absorbed by the LNG sector, he explains. Sitka Spruce’s strength/weight ratio proves an advantage in helicopter delivery of the material to remote locations.

The mill’s versatility is further reflected by a customer with specific requirements on the other side of the continent. The Maine manufacturer finds the Terrace mill’s clear red cedar shakes and shingles perfect for his clients.

But it’s also important to Gavronsky to have the mill’s ability to precision cut in a variety of sizes and species available to the local and regional markets around Terrace. The mill’s reception area is being designed to promote and showcase the attention to individual customer requirements.

They focus on details like separating a customer’s logs from others in the yard,

and continue the individual attention through to finished product. “We do our processing at a slower rate,” notes Gavronsky. “We might take three or four hours on a single 40 foot long log. We try to respect the age and quality of these trees.”

The raw material is primarily bought direct from loggers, he continues.

“There are log yards in Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Stewart and Greenville.”

Good relationships with other local forest industry players also helps with accessing the timber JCI Touchwood requires.

He cites Terrace-based Skeena Sawmills which doesn’t usually process much spruce or cedar. “They’ve been superawesome to deal with,” says Gavronsky.

The new specialty mill’s horizontal headrig and setworks were manufactured

by Bogli in Bern, Switzerland. The headrig can accommodate log lengths of 60 feet

and diameters of 80 inches. Yet the headrig can also produce long length veneers down to a four millimetre thickness with negligible variation.

Logs are fed into the machine along a 163 foot concrete track with steel runners beginning out in the log yard and drawn in by cable. Boards and flitches coming from the headrig are removed by a 42 foot vacuum robot handling system made

by Joulin Aero in France. The vacuum lifting, handling and positioning system is controlled by PLC and allows pre-grading between headrig and edger.

The Esterer-Socolest 6 x 36 inch edger has one stationary and two moving hydraulic saws. The English-made Stenner band resaw has a 48 inch diameter wheel and a 24 foot maximum product length. to page 32

Booklet chronicles Northwest B.C.’s timber heritage

B

ritish Columbia’s northwest forests have a reputation for poor timber quality. It’s well earned in many respects. Forests in the mountainous region abutting the Pacific Ocean are expensive to access and have significant stands of homogenous over-mature and decadent timber. But that doesn’t reveal the complete picture of the timber profile.

The region has long been recognized for pockets of high grade timber material nearer the top end of the value spectrum.

Straight grained, rot resistant western red cedar in the Skeena River drainage has long been recognized as a prime telephone and hydro pole making material.

Demand for those products greatly accelerated with the advent of World War II in the late 1930s and continues today.

Some of the finest pole-making cedar trees grew in the Kitsumkalum Valley north of Terrace, B.C. Harvesting and transporting the pole making material from the valley spawned a decades long

30

logging tradition and lifestyle.

Those days come back to life through a fascinating collage of old photos and recollections compiled by the Terrace Regional Historical Society. The booklet— Cedar Poles and Iron Peevees, Pole Logging in the Kitsumkalum Valley—was published in 2015. It uses the photos and memories from two collections of local families with historic connections to working in the pole industry, primarily in the 1940s and 1950s.

The Peevee referred to in the collection’s title was essentially a spike with a hook near the end of a hardwood pole, and it was used to move logs around.

Manhandling an 18.5 metre long cedar log was no easy matter, requiring two or three men and a sound grasp of leverage mechanics.

Many of the collections’ grainy black and white photos reinforce just how far the mechanization of the timber harvesting industry has progressed. These were Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

still the days of two-man cross-cut saws and original horse power for log skidding, and the use of water when available to move the logs.

A bush sawmill established up the Kitsumkalum Valley would process the logs into poles. Then they were handed over to usually under-powered logging trucks for the often perilous journey to the railhead in Terrace and distribution around North America.

The hard, physical work routinely described in Cedar Pole and Iron Peevees understates the tenacity and ingenuity those early loggers routinely practiced to keep the logging operation functioning and the product moving to market. Perhaps that’s one part of logging today that hasn’t changed that much from yesteryear.

Cedar Poles and Iron Peevees is available at Misty River Books in Terrace, B.C.

BCsawmilling from page 30 A trim saw completes the mill’s principle equipment. There’s ample space within the central mill building for future additions, like a planer or moulder.

With the exception of the PLCs, the mill has no computerized setworks.

“We wanted to keep things simple so we can fix things ourselves,” outlines Gavronsky. JCI also differed from conventional wisdom by acting as its own contractor on the new mill project.

One new piece of equipment in the mill is the full length and width 5 ton Demag overhead gantry crane supplied through Kristian Electric of Edmonton. The crane has the flexibility to handle and turn the long logs, flitches and beams around the mill, while minimizing mechanical damage with soft slings. Local company Skeena Blower and Sheet Metal engineered the mill’s combustible dust elimination and storage system. Gavronsky is hoping to find a market for the sawdust byproduct.

Gavronsky estimates when JCI Touchwood is fully up and running it will employ up to eight people, depending on

The specialty products turned out by JCI Touchwood Sawmills include high grade Sitka Spruce mast and spars in up to 40 foot lengths, and yacht and ship decking and boat planks in varying specifications. The Sitka Spruce is also in high demand for clears graded to customer specifications for use as sounding boards in concert grand and upright pianos. orders. “We’ve got a good core of guys to run the mill.” It’s a core group that embraces the mill owners’ objectives of delivering quality products beginning with a respect for the raw material from which they’re manufactured.

“We’re carving out our little niche and manufacturing the most value out of some of the best quality trees we have left,” concludes Gavronsky.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Experience the Progress.

Visit us at:

The Canada North Resources Expo May 26 – 27, 2017 South Prince George, BC Booth OS-22

Liebherr Wheel Loader L 580 LogHandler XPower® Specialised timber handling kinematics deliver excellent manoeuvrability at maximum lift heights with a selection of grapples for optimum machine availability and versatility High-performance Liebherr-XPower driveline accelerates quickly and enables high travel speed at low fuel consumption Ideal working conditions thanks to superb visibility and numerous safety features

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Welcome to Canada North Resources Expo!

O

n behalf of the entire show management team at Master Promotions Ltd., I would like to welcome you to the third edition of the Canada North Resources Expo in beautiful Prince George, British Columbia.

Known to be the capital of northern British Columbia, Prince George offers the ideal location for an industry event of this nature – easily accessible by air, as well as points north via rail and inland port to Prince Rupert.

There’s no better way to pay tribute to the many sectors that support the region’s economy, including mining, oil and gas, forestry, bioenergy, education, health care, transportation, and professional services.

The Canada North Resources Expo will showcase leaders and rising stars of each

36

of these industries in a celebration of all things north!

This year’s show will feature tons of big iron, inside the CN Centre and featuring a massive display of outdoor exhibits. At the show you’ll find the best products, equipment and services needed to get jobs done on time and on budget- it’s the place to be for planning major projects in the region.

Enjoy the Demo Zone; the Health, Wellness & Safety Zone; and the Northern BC Safety Conference, as well as all the other features the Canada North Resources Expo has to offer.

We would like to thank our media sponsor: the Logging & Sawmilling Journal; our community partner: the Resources Expo Society; and the Canada

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

North Resources Expo steering committee for their invaluable assistance, input and support of this fantastic event.

These are exciting times in the region – let’s get building!

Mark Cusack National Show Manager Master Promotions Ltd.

Canada North Resources Expo

READY TO ROLL ….

By Jim Stirling

T

he largest logging and heavy construction show of its kind will swing open its doors May 26-27 in Prince George, British Columbia. The Canada North Resources Expo show (CNRE) will be staging its third biennial edition at the CN Centre in the Central Interior city.

“We’ve had real good support from exhibitors for the 2017 CNRE and I think it will be sold out by event time,” predicted Matt Mitchell, show manager, with Master Promotions Ltd., the event organizer.

Sold out translates into the participation of at least 140 exhibitors in the CNRE. Attendance, too, could reach new levels this year from the approximately 8,600 people participating in the most recent show in 2015.

The CNRE is an event of two complementary parts, as visitors can attest while wandering the four acres of the CN Centre site on their personal self discovery tours. Inside the buildings are scores of exhibitors displaying all descriptions of goods and services the forest and heavy construction industries need when they go to work each day. The range includes what you might not expect. Health, safety and wellness equipment, for example, to ensure the working men and women of industry come home at the end of each day.

The inside exhibits and displays are wrapped, as Mitchell colourfully describes it, with outdoor heavy equipment displays and demonstrations: the second of the CNRE’s twin personalities. For many visitors, these demonstrations constitute the true texture of the show. But in reality, the inside exhibits are simply what help the outdoor ones function better.

Inside and outside exhibits are toured by two principal categories of attendees.

The first is comprised of the professional logger and trucker. The CNRE is their showroom, where they can see the latest high-tech tools of their trades. Each exhibit is staffed by people—dealers and

manufacturers—who can speak the same language as the professionals, and can answer the tough questions. It’s their job to know that feller buncher, portable sawmill or logging truck and trailer from the inside out. Many exhibitors, those inside and out, make a point of having their latest equipment, machines and supplies on display at the CNRE. It’s where to go to see all the latest bells and whistles.

Outside the marketplace function, the CNRE doubles as a public showcase.

All those machines and all that equipment provide a visual clue into the daily work of the logger and trucker in the

region’s resource industries. It’s a world dominated these days by computer driven technology. The public might not notice it but the operator’s cab of a forest machine equates to the technical sophistication of an airliner’s cockpit.

The second day of the CNRE—Saturday May 27—is officially family day.

Children are attracted to big equipment as moths to light. Who knows if anyone’s studied the correlation between a wideeyed kid climbing up into the cab of a

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

37

to page 38

from page 37 front end loader for the first time and the career path that child chose.

The CNRE is produced by Master Promotions based in Saint John, New Brunswick. Master Promotions is Canada’s largest independent trade, consumer event and conference management company. In the trade show category alone, Mitchell reckons Master Promotions staff will present six to 11 trade shows each year, serving diverse industries and in locations across the country.

Apart from all the months promoting and selling the CNRE, Mark Cusack, Master Promotions national show manager, and Mitchell take on another important chore. They roll up their sleeves and personally help set up the CN Centre site for the specific requirements of the CNRE and its exhibitors. Mitchell says the process begins the Sunday before the show and ends—with luck—

38

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

the Sunday following it. In between is a set-up blueprint: laying out spaces and coordinating a host of activities before the heavy equipment starts rolling in on the Wednesday preceding the Friday opening.

Well proven blueprint or not, there’s extra time factored in to allow for the unexpected so the whole CNRE is ready to go at 9 a.m. Friday May 26.

There is, additionally, a made-inPrince George element to the CNRE. The four members of the Resource Expo Society administer the disbursement of monies raised by the CNRE for the benefit of the local community, explained Linda Self, society chair.

They distribute the funding they receive within their community and region in various ways, including awarding forestry or resource industry bursaries and supporting forestry and related organizations, she said. It’s the lasting way the CNRE gives back to Prince George and the region.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS & PARTNERS

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www.CNRE.ca 40

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

THE DELO® TRUCK IS BRINGING A LOAD OF KNOWLEDGE.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Prince George is all about

LOGS AND LUMBER Prince George is at the epicenter of B.C.’s softwood lumber industry— and its industry-leading Wood Innovation and Design Centre and UNBC programs reflect that very strong heritage, and connection.

P

rince George has always been at the epicentre of British Columbia’s softwood lumber industry.

The fact that the Canada North Resources Expo with its heavy emphasis on the forest industry is coming to town for its third biennial edition May 26-27 is a good example and a reflection of Prince George’s continuing relationship with the softwood lumber industry.

The relationship has evolved in many ways through the years. In latter times and as a consequence of government and industry international awareness and marketing efforts to expand the use of wood products, a broader and more diversified appreciation of wood’s versatility has taken tangible shape.

Visitors to Exhibition Park, the venue for Canada North Resources Expo, need only to travel to downtown Prince George to see an architectural example of wood’s potential as a multi-faceted building material. The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) represents several facets of working with the renewable and sustainable building material. When the building

44

was completed in 2014, its 29.5 metres of six storeys and mezzanine represented Canada’s tallest contemporary wood building. It features at least five species of B.C. wood products within its construction, and it illustrates the incorporation of engineered wood products like cross laminated timbers (CLT).

The building also serves as a green classroom for the University of Northern British Columbia including its Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design program. The WIDC is evolving into a research centre for Tall Wood and hybrid structural design possibilities. The hybrid structural design concept combines the environmental benefits of using wood with other structural materials like concrete and steel.

During this past winter, the announcement was made for building an estimated $4.5 million Wood Innovation Research Lab adjacent to the WIDC and in effect, marching it on to the next and logical high-tech level. The new customized lab will test and extend the structural use of wood.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Prince George’s reputation as a wood use and construction technologies research centre has been recognized outside Canada’s boundaries. The UNBC and Prince George will be host in 2018 to a Halz Bau Forum conference. The German-based group attracts thousands of technical experts in wood construction to its events, appealing to engineers, builders and architects specializing in large scale wood built structures.

In March 2017, there was announcement of another wood use innovation planned for Prince George. The Central B.C. Railway and Forestry Museum is to build a new wood frame shelter to protect and enhance some of its valuable outdoor exhibits. The museum staff has struck a partnership with The Timber Framers Guild to create a new pavilion-type structure on site this summer. It will be 44 feet wide and 266 feet long. The Timber Framers Guild is an international group dedicated to supporting and advancing the timber framing craft.

Resource renewal in B.C. Renewed growth and investment in the natural resource sectors in central and northern B.C. provide a solid underpinning of support for the Canada North Resources Expo in Prince George.

46

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o one is breaking out into choruses of ‘happy days are here again’, but there are positive indicators of renewed growth and investment in central and northern British Columbia’s natural resource sectors.

The optimism is good news for the heavy construction and project infrastructure industries that support the primary oil and natural gas and mining sectors. The uptick in enthusiasm is set to trigger more business interest and activity at the Canada North Resources Expo being held May 26 and 27 at the CN Centre in Prince George.

Here are just a couple of recent indicators fanning a resurgence of confidence in the futures of the oil patch and mining industries. The primary factor is gradually

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

improving commodity prices which are stimulating renewed petroleum activity in the Peace River basin, traditionally a high cost operating region because of the nature of the bitumen resource. As earnings and prospects continue to improve, more companies will be favourably inclined to increase their field capital spending, especially later in 2017, predict industry analysts.

That will mean more employment, more oil rig crews at work and a boost in activity for the range of oil patch support services in the region.

The Canadian Association of Oil Well Drilling Contractors reckons the number of actively working drilling rigs bottomed out last May at 35.

In February of this year, it said the corresponding figure had improved to 270.

The same improvement in world commodity demand and prices is evident in factors influencing the mining industry.

The sector is in better shape than it has been for a while. Financing activities has always been a major challenge for junior and exploration companies probing the landscape for promising mineral properties, the first step in the arduous and expensive process of mine development.

Exploration financing was the featured subject of a business panel at the recent Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto. Representatives of Canada’s big five banks participating in the business session concurred they were more positive about financing exploration activities today than they recently have been. That collective attitude is good news for the exploration sector and the suppliers servicing it.

Anything that gives the junior mining companies a more positive attitude toward financial support helps the sector better navigate other business options like acquisitions and mergers. Improving the operational climate of commodity resource industries tends to then filter throughout their operations and supply networks.

Unfortunately, there’s not much light filtering anywhere but out just now on a liquefied natural gas industry for B.C. Liquefied natural gas has been a political embarrassment for the B.C. Liberal government which promised great things to be forthcoming from it long before now.

While LNG has been eased aside, the government has pushed through its $9 billion BC Hydro Site C dam project on the Peace River near Fort St. John. The project has had its issues with lawsuits, most of which have been brushed aside, and with environmental compliance infractions

related to the project’s construction sites.

Statistics released by BC Hydro revealed 2,124 people were working on the Site C project in January. The Ministry of Energy and Mines said in a news release that 41 per cent of the 1,719 positions in January were filled by workers from the Peace River Regional District. Some 257 of those regional workers were women and 198 aboriginal, according to the ministry’s figures. Creating jobs for local residents is a bone of contention with many B.C. mega projects.

When completed, the reservoir created by the new dam will flood 83 kilometres of the Peace River valley and 35 kilometres of tributary valleys. BC Hydro also says the dam will produce enough energy to power approximately 450,000 homes.

Exhibitor List ALL-WEST GLASS Booth # 322 www.all-westglass.com APEX SPECIALIZED RIGGING & MOVING Booth # 336 www.apexspecialized.com ARGO WORLD Booth # 532 www.argoworld.ca AVENZA SYSTEMS INC. Booth # 321 www.avenza.com AXIS FORESTRY INC. Booth # OS-130 www.axisforestry.com BABINE TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT Booth # OS-60 www.babinetruck.com BGE SERVICE & SUPPLY Booth # 752 www.thefiltershop.com BIG BEAR SERVICES Booth # OS-120 www.bigbearservices.com BK TWO WAY RADIO LTD. Booth # 714 www.bktwoway.ca

CANADA CULVERT Booth # 710 www.candadculvert.com

CANNON BAR WORKS LTD. Booth # 323 www.cannonbar.com

CANADA FREIGHTPLUS INC. Booth # 524 www.freightplus.com

CAP-IT PRINCE GEORGE Booth # 722 www.cap-it.com

CANADIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION Booth # 430 www.diabetes.ca

CAYMEN SERVICES LTD. Booth # 712 www.caymenservices.com

CANADIAN FOREST INDUSTRIES Booth # 704 www.woodbusiness.ca

CENTRAL INTERIOR PIPING & MAINTENANCE LTD. Booth # 702 www.cipltd.ca

BLOUNT INTERNATIONAL Booth # 614 www.blount.com

CANADIAN MINING & ENERGY MAGAZINE Booth # 408 www.miningandenergy.ca

BRUTUS TRUCK BODIES Booth # OS-88 www.brutusbodies.com

CANADIAN WESTERN BANK Booth # OS-102 www.cwbank.com

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION Booth # 511 www.investprincegeorge.ca CLARK SERVICES & INSULATIONS LTD. Booth # 302 www.heat-shield.com

to page 50

48

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

STIHL MS 661 C-M MAGNUM ® CHAIN SAW

The MS 661 C-M MAGNUM® chain saw is equipped with cutting-edge technologies for the best possible performance. Weighing in at just 7.5 kg/16.5 lb and with an impressive output of 5.4 kW, it boasts a high power-to-weight ratio and is the lightest chain saw in its engine displacement class. It’s not just power that counts when you’re harvesting large timber, but also every gram of weight. The extra powerful and efficient delayed stratified scavenging engine allows you to work effectively, thanks to its high cutting performance and low emissions. The MS 661 C-M MAGNUM® also features the STIHL M-Tronic™ fully electronic engine management system, which uses a microchip to control the engine’s ignition timing and fuel supply.

PREMIUM PERFORMANCE, WITH MINIMUM EFFORT • STIHL M-Tronic™ - microchip controls the engine’s ignition timing and fuel supply, taking into account variables such as temperature, fuel quality and elevation • Delayed stratified scavenging - efficient engine that consumes up to 20% less fuel and emits up to 50% fewer emissions • High power-to-weight ratio - special components significantly reduce the weight, such as the stainless steel muffler and the STIHL ROLLOMATIC® ES guide bar

• Anti-vibration system - provides precise control, with a significant reduction in vibration levels • HD2 filter - made of PET polyethylene material that prevents fine dust from entering the chain saw, thereby increasing the engine’s service life and reducing wear • Ematic™ with oil pump system - allows for an infinite adjustment of the oil delivery rate, ideal for dusty conditions or when using longer guide bars

MS 661 C-M MAGNUM®

91.1 cc 5.4 kW 7.5 kg/16.5 lb

Displacement Power Output Weight †

Without fuel, guide bar and chain

†

QUALITY AT WORK FOR OVER 90 YEARS. For over 90 years, STIHL has been a world market leader and innovator in outdoor power equipment. German engineered products featuring the latest pioneering technologies make STIHL the preferred choice for professionals, consistently providing uncompromising quality. STIHL products are only available at independent STIHL Dealers who provide personal advice and expert service. Thank you for the continuous support and for making STIHL the brand you trust.

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Exhibitor List from page 48

COAST LUBRICANTS LTD. Booth # 708 www.coastlubricants.com CONNEXUS INDUSTRIES INC. Booth # 410 www.cnxsind.com CURTIS-ELITE SECURITY LTD. Booth # 327 www.curtiselite.com D & L TIMBER TECHNOLOGIES LTD. Booth # OS-126 www.dltimbertech.com DE-ON SUPPLY Booth # 405 www.deonsupply.com DENIS CIMAF INC. Booth # OS-140 www.deniscimaf.com DHIMAN INDUSTRIES LTD. Booth # 602 www.dhimangroup.com EQUIPMENT SALES & SERVICE Booth # 436 www.essltd.com FACTORS WESTERN INC. Booth # 404 www.factorswestern.com

FALCON EQUIPMENT Booth # OS-06 www.falconequip.com

FRASER VALLEY TARP & TIE LTD. Booth # 416 www.fraservalleytarp.com

FBC FARM BUSINESS CONSULTANTS Booth # 312 www.fbc.ca

FREFLYT INDUSTRIES INC. Booth # OS-81 www.freflyt.ca

FLASH FIRE & SAFETY Booth # OS-108 www.flashfiresafety.com

FRONTIER POWER PRODUCTS LTD. Booth # 523 www.frontierpower.com

FLEXXAIRE INC. Booth # 314 www.flexxaire.com

FWS GROUP OF COMPANIES Booth # 516 www.fwsgroup.com

FMDC WATERMIST CANADA LTD. Booth # OS-110 www.fogmakercanada.ca

G&B PORTABLE FABRIC BUILDINGS Booth # 503 www.gandbbuildings.com

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION! INTRODUCING THE PIERCE PD5500M. The new PD5500M monoboom delimber represents the best of both worlds: the design integrity of industry leading Pierce and Denharco stroke delimbers, plus the genius of new cutting edge processing technology.

Wireless communication is one of the many new features that the PD5500M helps you work safely and productively.

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50

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

PORTLAND, OREGON JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI EDMONTON, ALBERTA

MAY 26-27

Exhibitor List GFL ENVIRONMENTAL INC. Booth # 326 www.gflenv.com

LEAVITT MACHINERY Booth # OS-58 www.leavittmachinery.com

LIEBHERR CANADA Booth # OS-22 www.liebherr.com

GMI WHEELS Booth # 500 www.gmiwheels.com

LES GIRDS SARL Booth # 420 www.lesgirds-sarl.com

LOG MAX Booth # OS-62 www.logmax.com

HEATMASTER SS/STEELTECH INC. Booth # OS-118 www.heatmasterss.com

LETOURNEAU TECHNOLOGIES CANADA LTD. Booth # 307 www.letourneau-inc.com

LOGGING & SAWMILLING JOURNAL Booth # 310 www.forestnet.com

HEAVY EQUIPMENT GUIDE Booth # 402 www.heg.baumpub.com

to page 52

HIWAY REFRIGERATION LTD. Booth # 631 www.hiwayrefrigeration.com HUBER EQUIPMENT Booth # OS-64 www.huberequipment.com INCOTEC PARTS & EQUIPMENT INC. Booth # 706 www.incotec.ca INLAND GROUP Booth # OS-84 www.inland-group.com INSURANCE CORPORATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Booth # 325 www.icbc.com JAMES WESTERN STAR LTD. Booth # OS-54 www.jamesws.com JETCO HEAVY DUTY LIGHTING Booth # 300 www.jetcolighting.com KAYMOR Booth # OS-106 www.kaymor.ca L’EQUIPE FABCONCEPT INC. Booth # OS-112 www.kaskoox04.com LEASE LINK CANADA Booth # 305 www.leaselink.ca LEASELINE EQUIPMENT & VEHICLE LEASING Booth # 399 www.leaselione.com Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

51

Exhibitor List from page 51

MAGNUM TRAILER & EQUIPMENT Booth # OS-08 www.magnumtrailer.com MANAC TRAILER Booth # OS-67 www.manac.ca MASONLIFT LTD. Booth # OS-80 www.masonlift.com MIDWAY PURNEL Booth # 742 www.midwaypurnel.com MNP LLP Booth # 303 www.mnp.ca MORFCO SUPPLIES LTD. Booth # 401 www.morfcosupply.ca MURRAY LATTA PROGRESSIVE MACHINE/BRUNETTE MACHINERY Booth # 309 www.mlpmachine.com NORTHERN METALIC Booth # OS-42 www.northernmetalicsales.com NORTHLAND AUTO GROUP Booth # OS-24 www.northlandautogroup.com

NORTHLAND NISSAN Booth # OS-68 www.northlandnissan.com

PEERLESS ENGINEERING SALES LTD. Booth # 306 www.peerlessengineering.ca

NORTHLANDS WATER AND SEWER SUPPLIES LTD. Booth # 519 www.northlandswater.ca

PEERLESS LIMITED Booth # OS-98 www.peerless.ca

NORWOOD SAWMILLS Booth # OS-114 www.norwoodsawmills.com NOVATONE CONSULTING LTD. Booth # 419 www.novatone.ca NR MOTORS LTD Booth # OS-46 www.nrmotors.ca O’BRIEN TRAINING Booth # 501 www.obrientraining.com OCEAN TRAILER Booth # OS-103 www.oceantrailer.com OLOFSFORS INC. Booth # 398 www.olofsfors.com OTTERPRODUCTS OTTERBOX & LIFEPROOF Booth # 320 www.otterbox.com

PETERBILT PACIFIC INC. Booth # OS-18 www.peterbilt.bc.ca PFANNER CANADA Booth # 526 www.pfannercanada.com PIERCE PACIFIC MANUFACTURING, INC. Booth # OS-28 www.piercepacific.com PIONEER PARTS REBUILDING LTD. Booth # 411 www.pioneerparts.com PREMIUM TRUCK & TRAILER INC. Booth # OS-10 www.premiumtruck.ca PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITY RADIO SOCIETY Booth # 328 PRIMETECH SHREDDING EQUIPMENT LTD. Booth # OS-26 www.prime-tech.com PROLENC MANUFACTURING INC. Booth # OS-40 www.prolenc.com RAWLINGS MANUFACTURING Booth # OS59 www.rawlingsmanufacturing.com RICHMOND STEEL RECYCLING LTD. Booth # 337 www.richmondsteel.ca RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS Booth # 315 www.rbauction.com RL RURKA SALES & SERVICE Booth # 311 www.loadritescales.com ROAD SAFETY AT WORK Booth # 412 www.roadsafetywork.ca RTC RAIL SOLUTIONS LTD. Booth # 331 www.rtcrailsolutions.net

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

SAFETYDRIVEN - TRUCKING SAFETY COUNCIL OF BC Booth # 400 www.safetydriven.ca SHEARFORCE EQUIPMENT & WORK TRUCK WEST Booth # OS-79 www.shearforce.ca SHILOH ENTERPRISES LTD. Booth # OS-78 SHOCKER POSITIVE AIR SHUTOFF SYSTEMS Booth # 316 www.headwindsolutions.ca SILVANA IMPORT TRADING Booth # 332 www.silvanatrading.com SKEANS PNEUMATIC & AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS Booth # 734 www.skeans.com

SMS EQUIPMENT INC. Booth # OS-15 www.smsequip.com SOUTHSTAR Booth # OS-100 www.southstarequipment.com SUPPLY POST NEWSPAPER Booth # 517 www.supplypost.com SUGAR MEDIA - RAM TRUCKS Booth # 525 www.ramtruck.ca SUMMIT TRAILER LTD Booth # OS-30 www.summittrailer.ca

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

53

Exhibitor List from page 53

TABOR MOUNTAIN RECREATION SOCIETY Booth # 428 www.tmrs.ca

WAJAX Booth # OS-48 www.wajaxequipment.com

TELEFOREST Booth # 406 www.teleforest.com

WARATAH FORESTRY CANADA Booth # OS-02 www.waratah.com

TIMBERNORTH CONSULTING Booth # 509 www.timbernorth.ca

WELDCO-BEALES MFG Booth # OS-59 www.weldco-beales.com

TIMBERSPAN WOOD PRODUCTS INC. Booth # 700 www.timberspan.ca

WESTERN EQUIPMENT LTD. Booth # 507 www.westernequipmentltd.com WESTERN OIL SERVICES LTD. Booth # 600 www.westernoilservices.com WILLIAMS MACHINERY Booth # OS74 www.williamsmachinery.com WG DAVIS TRUCKING Booth # OS-104 www.wgdavistrucking.ca WILLIAMS PETROLEUM Booth # OS-94 www.williamspetroleum.ca WILLE NORTH AMERICA INC. Booth # OS-71

TUFPORT INDUSTRIES LTD. Booth # OS-50 www.tufport.com TYCROP TRAILERS Booth # OS-16 www.tycrop.ca/home UNIFIED SYSTEMS INC. Booth # 299 www.unifiedsystems.ca VANDERHOOF & DISTRICTS CO-OP Booth # OS-04 www.vdfcoop.com VISUAL VERIFICATION SYSTEMS INC. Booth # 301 www.vvsystems.com VITALAIRE Booth # 424 www.vitalaire.com VISA TRUCK RENTALS Booth # OS-124 www.visatrucks.com

54

WORKSAFEBC Booth # 425 www.worksafebc.com WURTH CANADA LTD. Booth # 403 www.wurthcanada.com X HAND INC. Booth # OS-142 www.xhand.ca

WOOD-MIZER CANADA Booth # OS-116 www.woodmizer.ca

ZENCO HYDROVAC EXCAVATION Booth # OS-12 www.zencohydrovac.com

WOODLAND EQUIPMENT INC. Booth # OS-89 www.woodlandequip.com

ZINGONG HANYU CEMENTED CO LTD. Booth # 514 www.hy-carbide.com

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

forestmanagement

FOREST FIRE FIGHTING—

with drones!

Drones are proving to be very useful tools in business, and a B.C. firm is now exploring their practical applications in the working forest, notably in wildfire control and prevention, an increasing area of concern considering extreme weather patterns.

By Jim Stirling

U

npredictable and extreme weather patterns have become routine.

Consistently warmer and drier years are placing new strains on forest ecosystems. Trees are becoming increasingly stressed and dehydrated by the prolonged changes, making them more vulnerable to attack from beetles, rusts and other pests and ripe for the ravages of wildfires.

There are more than 8,000 forest fires each year in Canada. In many cases their behaviours are changing with the climate.

Their ferocity and changeability ushers new definitions of catastrophe. The Fort McMurray inferno last spring is one chilling example.

Those charged with containing and extinguishing wildfires are testing and investing in an increasingly technology-

56

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

forestmanagement

driven arsenal of tools. Unmanned aerial vehicles—or drones—are one example.

Larry McCulloch had his moment of drone epiphany when he witnessed a drone undergoing testing in Alaska a few years ago. “I knew immediately it offered a range of practical forestry applications,” he recalled. And so it has proved. McCulloch is principal with L.M. Forest Resource Solutions Ltd., based at Smithers in west central British Columbia.

The company has been offering a range of resource management services to its clients since 1986.

The acquisition of and experience with drones during the last three years offer a new range of opportunity and potential for forest and other natural resource managers requiring precise, detailed information in close to real time. The ability of a drone carrying purpose-designed cameras delivers the types of information that give wildfire control managers an advantage

in allocating resources safely and more effectively.

McCulloch’s company operates three types of drone to suit different applications. There’s a DJI S900 hexacopter (six rotary blades) manufactured in China and teamed with a 36 megapixel Sony A7R full frame camera. McCulloch says the S900 can operate for about 15 minute assignments. The latest acquisition to the company’s fleet is a DJI Matrice 600 which can operate for about 30 minutes at speeds around 60 kilometres per hour.

The Turboace Matrix E drone with Sony A7 camera represents less of a payload and can work for about half-an-hour at speeds up to 100 kilometres per hour.

Transport Canada regulations control the use of drones. The devices have become increasingly popular for a wide

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

57

to page 58

forestmanagement

from page 57

the fire risk initially can prevent a lot of later grief.

“The drones can also scout out areas too dangerous for people to access,” adds McCulloch. “They can provide critical information about the behaviour at the head of the fire and check out things like available water sources.”

Accurately interpreting the data collected by the drone’s cameras is key. Computerized software can produce detailed threedimensional models of a given area. The height, species and diameter of individual trees can be calculated along with information like their crown areas, he continues. A wealth of detailed forest land information can be gleaned from the drone’s imagery.

Road grade details and timber volumes, for example, along with the volumes of materials like gravel in a given location. A model can be produced that strips tree and surface cover to reveal the nature of the bare earth beneath. “It’s amazing what you can do with the technology.”

McCulloch says L.M. Forest Resource Solutions is working with the B.C. Forest Ser-

vice to incorporate drone-delivered image technology to provide accurate forest fuel loading data. The amounts of on-ground fibre affect the speed and intensity of forest fire development. The information is useful in many ways including being able to better predict fire behaviour and in helping indicate areas where “fire-proofing” communities or infrastructure is most required.

Forest Pest detection is a further intriguing potential for a drone fitted with a multi spectral camera, reckons McCulloch. The technology could be applied to identify the presence of stem rusts, for example, before changes in colour occur.

And similarly, the camera could pinpoint trees under attack from the spruce bark beetle. The spruce beetles, unlike their mountain pine counterparts, stay within a tree, undetected by any outward signs until the infestation is well advanced.

A drone with the appropriate camera could provide an early warning system for where an infestation lurks and from that, where it might be reasonably anticipated to spread.

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variety of recreational and other users.

L.M. Forest Resource Solutions has been granted a special flight operations certificate from Transport Canada to operate its drones commercially.

Drone use is typically limited to a height of around 100 metres with a visual line of sight maintained. An advantage of flying higher is that more ground can be covered, but the trade-off is the images produced by the cameras have less resolution. McCulloch says the high resolution cameras he employs on his drones can deliver on-ground accuracies from less than one centimetre per pixel to three centimetres. By way of comparison, when the B.C. Forest Service flies an area to update forest inventory information, the imaging collected is in about 20-30 centimetres per pixel range, he says.

The thermal sensing imagery directed by a drone has several applications for the B.C. Wildfire Management Service in terms of suppression and detection.

“We can get accurate temperatures of a fire as it’s burning and identify hot spots in the mop-up stages,” explains McCulloch.

Wildfires will frequently follow root systems and can persist underground for months. They can then flare up again when temperatures and ground conditions allow. Detecting and dealing with

IO

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MISSISSAUGA 1-888-246-5077 www.GEARCENTRE-OFFHWY.com

58

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

BURN LESS FUEL AND PRODUCE MORE PONSSE NORTH AMERICA INC 4400 International Lane Rhinelander, WI 54501 Office: 715-369-4833 Eero Lukkarinen Area director (Canada) Tel. 358 (406) 565 139 A.L.P.A EQUIPMENT LTD New Brunswick, Canada Tel. 1 (888) 590-0858 HYDROMEC INC. Quebec, Canada Tel. (418) 276-5831 READYQUIP SALES AND SERVICE LTD. Ontario, Canada Tel. (705) 268-7600

PONSSE HARVESTING AND PROCESSING HEADS are widely used in track and rubber tired harvesters in Canada.

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A logger’s best friend www.ponsse.com

millmanagement

Drones deliver data for Pinnacle

A

s forest companies come to appreciate the versatility of drones as a management tool, more of them are opting for ownership of their own unmanned aerial vehicles. Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc., an operator of wood pellet manufacturing plants in the interior of British Columbia, has recently invested in its own drone. The machine’s principal objective is for use as a volumetric assessment tool.

Traditionally, the measurement of large stockpiles of woody materials required for the pellet manufacturing process has been a land-based system. It is a time consuming exercise of varying accuracy with worker safety implications.

Pinnacle Renewable Energy wanted to find a more efficient method of attaining the data it required.

“We started hiring drones from third parties,” recalled Erik Marchand, operations controller for Pinnacle, which is based in Prince George, B.C. The results produced by the drone were impressive but expensive, he added.

After some number crunching and payback assessment, Pinnacle decided to invest in and operate its own drone.

Pinnacle turned to InDro Robotics Inc., in Calgary for help. InDro Robotics is a Canadian company fully accredited by the federal regulator to offer a range of remote sensing functions including an operation and training package for drone use,

60

explained Matt Stambaugh, vice-president for UAV operations with the company. In fact, InDro Robotics was recently awarded the very first full compliant SFOC (Special Flight Operations Certificate) in Canada, which allows the company to carry out complex operations nationwide in logging and other industries.

After some number crunching and payback assessment, wood pellet manufacturer Pinnacle Renewable Energy decided to invest in and operate its own drone.

Pinnacle turned to InDro Robotics Inc., in Calgary, for help.

“The function for Pinnacle was primarily as an inventory measurement tool,” said Stambaugh. “Drones can provide a really efficient visual management platform. At the end of a five day engagement, (the trainee operators) had a lot

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

of confidence in their drone flying skills.

Maintaining the height of the drone’s flight is really important,” he cautioned.

InDro Robotics trained five of Pinnacle’s people in drone operation and management. “It’s very easy technology to actually use,” reported Marchand. “The regulatory environment and navigating that on your own is a lot more demanding. But InDro Robotics is a great company to work with.”

The drone and its associated computer software makes easy work of Pinnacle’s volumetric assessment challenges. Programming the drone, collecting the data, uploading it into the computer to produce an accurate 3D volumetric image takes about two hours total, said Marchand.

“It’s unbelievable. The process is also safe and eliminates human error.”

Marchand reckons Pinnacle’s drone will prove useful in other applications.

The residual wood piles of bark, sawdust and shavings used to manufacture energyefficient wood pellets, can generate internal heat. A drone fitted with a thermal imaging camera can accurately detect hot spots for remedial action. “Within our operations, we have several larger structures which periodically require inspecting,” he continued. The drone coupled with a high definition video camera can quickly and easily provide the detailed information required without potentially dangerous human access.

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sawmillupgrade

The Tolko Armstrong planer mill upgrade investment has been paying dividends, with production increasing from 180 lugs/min. to 240 lugs/min.

Planer ups production

The planer mill at Tolko’s Armstrong, B.C., sawmill is seeing positive bottom-line results from an upgrade that has allowed the planer operation to greatly increase its production—with the kicker that more of that production is higher grade lumber.

By S.J. Troughton

W

hen cost-effective production improvement technology becomes available, Canadian forest companies like Tolko Industries Ltd inherently know they should find ways to use it.

Darrell Weatherill, who has been at Tolko’s Armstrong, B.C. planer mill for six years and is superintendent of the opera-

62

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

tion—which is part of Tolko’s Armstrong sawmill—explains that the planer mill underwent an extensive upgrade that began in December 2013 when the first construction phase began. In January 2015, the second phase started and since that time, the investment has been paying

to page 64

The Gold Standard for Performance

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When it comes to critical applications, reliability is everything. But not just any chain can withstand the nonstop stress of high speeds and harsh conditions. That’s why Tsubaki designed its Titan chain to deliver superior durability in challenging environments. Specially coated pins, solid lube groove bushings* and a patented ring-coining process increase fatigue strength while minimizing wear. The result is a significantly longer wear-life, even in extreme environments.

So go on, hold your chain to a higher standard — the Titan gold standard.

To learn more, call 800.263.7088 or visit tsubaki.ca *Lube groove bushings available in sizes 80–140.

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sawmillupgrade from page 62 dividends with production increasing from 180 lugs/min. to 240 lugs/min.

After extensive research involving comprehensive mill tours, Weatherill and his staff agreed on Gilbert as their equipment supplier, an industry name that has been recognized as a market leader in the design and manufacture of planer mill equipment for over 25 years. The Gilbert high-speed planer series is ranked as among the fastest in the world and has a 95 per cent efficiency rating that has been achieved simply by improving the process of how boards run through the planer.

With a description that is self-explanatory, Tolko’s Gilbert planer uses innovative “pull-through” technology, thereby ensuring a gap exists between every board so that every one is pulled through independently into the planer. Unlike the more conventional approach, this technology prevents overlapping and breakage in the machine, which allows operators to run damaged end boards with less trim loss.

Ultimately, downtime is reduced, resulting in increased productivity overall.

Further, the planer upgrade meant the division is able to produce a higher-grade of lumber, given that the Gilbert planer they installed has exactly double the number of knives than a conventional planer.

“Our old planers had 16 knives per head,” explains Weatherill. “The new ones have 32 knives per head. It was a remarkable difference. You could actually see the improvement in quality.”

The Gilbert planer series is known for its ability to produce premium grades and equipment can have as many as 44 knives per head and 16 cutting circle cutterheads.

Further, all Gilbert planers are equipped with electric motorization, to ensure steady speed, high-accuracy planing and safe

operations. When researching what would be most effective in the mill, Weatherill says he particularly liked the Gilbert’s Automatic Positioning System that allows for control over the cutterheads, and efficient changeovers when they are needed, resulting in less downtime and overall production flexibility.

“It also has a quick release system so downtime is reduced because everything resumes immediately after jam-ups,” says Weatherill.

Previously, Tolko Armstrong was using Stetson-Ross and Newman M990 planers for their entire stud mill needs. From companies known for industry innovation and producing leading edge planing technology that incorporated optimized speed control, roll speed synchronicity and cutterhead positioning capabilities, the two planers were “being pushed to capacity,” explains Weatherill. As well, both operated using a more conventional technology where

boards typically overlapped each other due to a number of issues such as “defects that could cause stalls in the whole process.”

While this equipment had steadily delivered over the years, “they were slowly becoming very old machines that needed to be updated,” says Weatherill.

As with any upgrade, the changeover for Tolko’s Armstrong group did not happen until they were convinced they had sourced the equipment they needed.

Weatherill explains he and his staff researched a number of different options before deciding Gilbert was the one.

“We did a lot of research and mill tours and eventually decided on Gilbert. We liked the new technology approach to production.”

The same sort of research also went into who Tolko would seek input from once they had a plan in place. Weatherill says Tolko was very impressed with the independent engineering consultant the

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sawmillupgrade company hired. Based out of Grande Cache, Alberta, Aaron Davis’ company MD Engineering was chosen to oversee the upgrade project that was implemented over two phases.

“Aaron and I worked closely together— Aaron is a very smart individual, not to mention a very good engineer. He certainly knows his stuff and knows how to set up mills.”

Mill Tech Industries from Salmon Arm, B.C. was selected to provide the lumber handling and stacker line equipment. They supplied the mechanical and controls equipment from the lug loader through to the package outfeed, including one main trimmer and three P.E.T. Trimmers, 180 degree turn, pusher lug sorter conversion complete with bin addition, structural steel and walkways. On the packaging end, they provided a package shuttle transfer from the sorter, high speed electric dual fork stacker with lath placing, an endpress, package turning transfer and the transfers through the paper wrap machine. to page 66

After extensive research involving comprehensive mill tours, the Tolko Armstrong upgrade team agreed on Gilbert as their equipment supplier. Tolko’s Gilbert planer uses innovative “pull-through” technology, ensuring a gap exists between every board so that every board is pulled through independently into the planer.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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sawmillupgrade from page 65 “We were very impressed with Mill Tech, as well, and the knowledge they had behind them,” says Weatherill.

In 2013, Tolko Armstrong began the initial installation phase that included a week for dismantling and installation of the Gilbert planer. This project phase was followed by a two-month start-up phase of tweaking the new planer.

“We had to set the machine up and figure out how to make it work for us— find that sweet spot,” says Weatherill.

“Every mill is unique in that regard.”

By January 2015, Tolko was ready to undertake the final phase of the upgrade which included gutting the planer site and eliminating many of its different lines that all needed to be monitored separately “so everything was very labour intensive which meant boards were going everywhere and the operation was not able to run as quickly,” explains Weatherill.

Now, the Armstrong planer operation wood flows through one line, allowing for greatly improved volume capacity.

“We have gone from 40 thousand board feet per hour to 56 board feet per hour. For a stud mill, that’s a pretty phenomenal number.”

Never content to sit idle with initial production improvements that include the ability to eliminate graveyard shifts,

FAST FACTS n Tolko’s Armstrong Division incorporated upgrades to their planer mill that were phased-in over an approximately two-year period. n The mill replaced their Stetson-Ross and Newman M990 planers with a Gilbert high-speed planer that has a 95 per cent efficiency rating. n The Gilbert planer series uses innovative “pull-through” technology, thereby ensuring a gap exists between every board so that every one is pulled through independently into the planer n The planer mill upgrade improved capacity from 40 MBF per hour to 56 MBF per hour. n Tolko has more than 15 primary manufacturing divisions located across Western Canada.

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The key to seeing mill upgrades achieve maximum efficiency includes ensuring all contractors and consultants involved with installing the equipment and designing the layout are working in a co-ordinated fashion—and crew members are comfortable with the new technology, says Darrell Weatherill, superintendent of the Tolko Armstrong planer operation.

Weatherill says he and his staff are always studying how they can increase capacity and further improve every step of the milling process for the products the Armstrong planer mill produces which includes: Jgrade, M-grade, A-grade, #1&btr, #2&btr and stud lumber from fir, SPF, hemlock and lodgepole pine including beetle-killed pine.

Besides their planing upgrade, Tolko Armstrong upgraded the back end of the mill with new technologies such as a DO2 Rapid Wrapper from Quebec-based DO2 that wraps the loads efficiently and automatically without any human intervention. As well, the mill site incorporated a painting robot arm for painting the ends of loads. Often used in car manufacturing, the painting robot arm from Ontariobased Control Systems Innovators Corp. is known to lower operating costs, and improve finished quality through more consistent output, resulting in decreased amounts of wasted material.

“Painting the loads was something we did manually for years and years and now it’s automatic,” says Weatherill.

He is adamant the Armstrong operation will continue to optimize in the future and improve the mill’s processes even further.

“There are still opportunities to go even beyond where we are today. We’re continuing to work on improvements so we can advance even further,” says Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Weatherill. An example of this would be troubleshooting what might still halt the line’s operation. “We certainly run very fast now. We just need to run steady so we are always looking at what might stop the line and how do we prevent that from happening again.”

A 20-year Tolko veteran, Weatherill adds the key to ensuring upgrades achieve maximum efficiency and are therefore ultimately successful is ensuring all contractors and consultants involved with installing the equipment and designing the layout are working in a co-ordinated fashion and crew members are comfortable with the new technology.

“That certainly happened all along the way for this project,” says Weatherill.

Tolko Industries began in 1956 with a small planer mill in Lavington, in the B.C. Interior, and has a reputation for being innovative. Today, the family-owned company has more than 4,700 employees and operates more than 15 primary manufacturing divisions across Western Canada, which manufacture a wide-range of wood products for customers located in 20 countries around the world. Among those divisions are eight biomass energy facilities that contribute to the on-site production of wood products.

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May 2017

The Edge Custom millwork business saves $140,000 annually with wood waste heat system

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI

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adsen’s Custom Cabinets, a custom architectural millwork business that has supplied its products to such projects as the Royal Alberta Museum and Manulife Place in Edmonton is showing how wood waste can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels to heat buildings at considerable savings.

The company estimates that by installing a wood waste heating system, it saves about $80,000 per year in natural gas costs and $57,000 per year in waste disposal costs, for a total savings of almost $140,000 per year. The system has been in place for 12 years, meaning that the company has saved at least $1.5 million in heating and waste disposal costs over that time.

“Before we installed the system, we were shipping 60 cubic yards of wood waste to the landfill per week,” says the company’s majority owner, Kent Madsen.

“After we installed it, we got that down to six cubic yards.”

Their wood waste-fueled boiler heats their entire 40,000 square foot office and manufacturing facility in Edmonton, generating about two million BTUs per hour.

The key to their success is that they have a ready and consistent supply of wood waste available to them, given the architectural millwork that they do. They say that having an in-house or nearby source of waste wood is critical for any business interested in following their example.

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“Madsen’s has shown the potential of using wood waste as fuel to generate heat instead of the costly option of sending it to the landfill,” says Toso Bozic, Bioenergy and Forestry Specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “There have been many advances in complete wood waste systems, and we can help businesses connect with potential suppliers.”

Madsen admits that he was skeptical and had little interest when the concept of converting from natural gas-fuelled boiler heat to wood waste heat was first discussed. But when the financial benefits became obvious, he took notice and a lead role in the project, along with plant manager, Allan Trachuk. Their system is anchored by a Fink Machine Inc. wood waste-fired boiler. The company is headquartered in Enderby, B.C., and provided considerable hands-on engineering and system design advice.

While the system has proven its worth, it has been improved over the years, like the investment in a Weima wood waste briquette press system. It takes the sawdust and processed wood waste accumulated in the business every day through their dust collection system and compresses it into manageable, cylindrical briquettes, creating a more consistent and manageable wood fuel product. This gives the business the ability to combine material from a variety of internal sources.

These wood waste briquettes are then transported using an ingenious pressure tubing system into a large storage bin typically used to store grain. From there, a conveyance system at the bottom of

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

the storage bin supplied by Fink Machine feeds the briquettes continuously into the wood waste heat boiler. The company has a back-up natural gas heating system primarily for when maintenance is required, and as a safety net.

Madsen estimates that a total system at today’s prices would cost about $500,000, with payback starting the minute it is turned on.

Trachuk says that there is no doubt that Madsen’s was a working laboratory for putting all the pieces into place for the system that exists today, but companies like Fink Machine have been great to work with, to tweak the system as needed. He adds that it takes complete buy-in from company staff to ensure that the wood waste is processed properly and that it takes an internal champion with a strong interest in keeping tabs on the system for it to become a business success. It does require regular monitoring and some maintenance every couple of weeks, such as removal of about a household garbage can of ash from the boiler.

For more information or to organize a tour of the Madsen’s Custom Cabinets wood waste energy heating system, contact Kent Madsen at kent@madsensmillwork.com, and for more information about wood waste energy systems and suppliers, contact Alberta Agriculture and Forestry bio-energy specialist, Toso Bozic at toso.bozic@gov.ab.ca.

The Edge

Alberta Innovates supports wood residues to renewable natural gas demo project

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI

The Canadian Gas Association has set a goal to have five per cent RNG-blended natural gas in their lines by 2025 and 10 ood residue can be converted per cent by 2030, resulting in a 14-million to renewable natural gas (RNG), megatonne reduction of GHG emissions and demand is growing worldby 2030, or the equivalent of removing wide to blend RNG with conventional three million passenger cars from the road. natural gas to reduce this fuel’s carbon footprint. The challenge has been to dis“G4 fills a technology development gap in our sector and will enable a solution for cover a less expensive conversion method. emerging challenges facing Canada’s enATCO will host the construction of a ergy system,” says John Adams, Managing $2.15 million demonstration project in Director, Natural Gas Innovation Fund™.

Edmonton that will showcase cutting-edge ATCO, a major provider of natural gas technology capable of producing RNG distribution services in Alberta with over from all manner of wood residue at signifi1.1 million customers, is highly supportive cantly lower cost and with fewer processof G4’s demonstration of its ability to coning steps, and injecting the quality fuel into vert wood residue to RNG. ATCO’s natural gas distribution system.

The demonstration project will feature “ATCO is excited to host and sponsor a patented, thermo-chemical process G4 in Edmonton,” says Dean Reeve, Senior developed by G4 Insights Inc., a comVice President and General Manager, Gas pany based in Burnaby, B.C. Edson Ng, Distribution. “RNG is a largely untapped company co-founder and mechanical renewable resource that Canadians can use engineer, says the G4 conversion method to heat and power their homes and busiis considerably less expensive. nesses using a carbon-neutral fuel.”

“We believe our cost for producing Ng says G4 Insights has spent eight RNG could be one-third to one-half the years developing its conversion technolcost versus other thermo-chemical proogy. “Our process is quite unique,” he cesses,” he says. “Also, the quality of the says. It starts with using a hammer mill gas we produce will meet the utility gas to reduce wood residue to particle size. requirement.”

It is then conveyed into the company’s thermo-chemical system where the resiThis technology provides a new outlet due is rapidly heated to between for wood residue. G4’s conver400 and 600 degrees Celsius. This sion method can use residue vaporizes the wood into a “pyrolygenerated by sawmills, slash sis gas” which is transported across piles generated by logging, or a catalyst where it combines with residue produced from forest hydrogen and becomes predomithinning, Ng says. His company nantly methane gas, which can settled on wood residue as the be purified into distribution-grade feedstock of choice because of RNG. its abundance.

While the plant will consume Alberta Innovates (AI) has about 100 kilograms of wood resicommitted $230,000 cash and due per day, G4 Insights calculates in-kind from its Alberta Bio that a large, commercial-scale Future (ABF) program, toward RNG production facility based on a provincial-federal-industry their technology would consume funding consortium helping G4 G4 Insights Principal Matt Babicki and G4 Insights Process about 750 dry tonnes of wood Insights build its demonstration Engineer Courtnay Radway in front of the company’s residue daily to produce 10,000 plant in Edmonton. The project mobile wood waste to RNG demonstration unit. gigajoules of RNG per day, which is also financially supported by is about the amount of gas reNatural Resources Canada; the For more information about this project, contact Edson quired to support 45,000 average Natural Gas Innovation Fund™; Ng at edson@g4insights.com or AI Communications SpeCanadian homes.

Canadian Gas Association cialist Julia Necheff at julia.necheff@albertainnovates.ca

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members Enbridge Gas Distribution, FortisBC, Gaz Metro, Union Gas; utility host ATCO; and FPInnovations—who are contributing a combined $1.92 million in funding and in-kind services.

The ABF program is targeted at accelerating growth of the province’s bioindustrial sector, and adding value to forestry and agriculture biomass through development of new and/or improved bioproducts or technologies.

“Alberta Innovates, and its applied research subsidiary InnoTech Alberta, are very pleased to support G4’s technology demonstration to make renewable natural gas using Alberta biomass, and test the injection of this quality fuel into the distribution line,” says Steve Price, Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation, at Alberta Innovates. “We recognize this as an important step in providing options to ‘green’ Alberta’s energy grid.”

Ng says Alberta Innovates’ support for the project will help G4 Insights expand and fine-tune its base equipment setup, allow for longer operation through continuous feeding of the wood residue to produce RNG, and help the company validate equipment that monitors the quality of its RNG and injection of the gas into commercial gas distribution systems.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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The Edge

Adapting afforestation scenarios to address climate change

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI

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fforestation, or the practice of establishing a forest where there was no previous tree cover, will factor into future adaptation and mitigation strategies related to the impact of climate change on Canadian forest inventories and vulnerable landscapes.

The Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) has established, proven, and demonstrated a number of afforestation strategies and systems involving fast-growing crops like clonal hybrid hardwoods that can be implemented to both adapt and mitigate climate change impacts.

Derek Sidders, CWFC Program Manager, says that CWFC’s decades-old program to establish fastgrowing clonal hybrid hardwood plantations across Canada has relied heavily on a number of partners.

These have included universities, forest companies, forest nurseries, provincial governments, and federal departments. This partnership has also included a number of private landowners such as landowners interested in diversifying their land management values by complimenting their conventional cropping practices with fast-growing tree plantations and those interested in mitigating the negative impacts of past land management practices as well as nonforestry resource extraction activities, using fastgrowing trees to rehabilitate those impacts.

“The outcome is that we have established a national network of technical development sites that present suitable management systems, creating an information system that has validated the growth response of various species of willow, poplar and aspen, optimum management and practices costs, and the value opportunities that they can garnish in various locations,” says Sidders. The primary technical development sites are located in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

What CWFC can provide to a variety of stakeholders faced with addressing climate change impacts are proven systems and a game plan involving high-yield afforestation based on refined systems customized for Canada. These are large stemmed trees simulating a natural forest, but growing eight to ten times faster than natural native rates, as well as species that deliver high fibre volumes that can provide feedstock for such commercial use as bio-energy, while also providing carbon sequestration benefits.

From the adaptation perspective, CWFC has gathered a considerable amount of data through its research program related to site suitability classification for various fast-growing species all across Canada.

This data assesses growth potential based on moisture, temperature and soil conditions, while also taking into account species and clonal hardiness.

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“We can specifically design plantations for locations that have desired final fibre needs,” says Sidders. “As we progress into the future with increased demand for nanotechnologies, bio-plastics, as well as all the different biofuels, these fast growing tree plantations have opportunities for location and expansion in close proximity to urban centres where they can be established over a very short time frame and offer diverse values.”

A well adapted fast-growing tree plantation can also help with protecting land bases that are already exhibiting climate change impacts. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, they are a longer term cover crop that can assist with moisture management in intensively managed areas, and they have also proven successful in use by municipalities in waste water treatment.

The natural forest fringe is among the most vulnerable areas prone to climate change impacts. CWFC has addressed how its fast-growing afforestation systems could assist with maintaining and enhancing this habitat.

“There seems to be an opportunity to investigate establishing mixedwoods, by taking advantage of tolerant softwoods in the understoreys with fast-growing hardwoods in the overstoreys,” says Sidders. “This gives us diversity in species, habitat, and fibre values.

These options can incorporate a fast-growing tree species or be designed in combination with native tolerant softwoods.”

From a mitigation perspective, establishing a highyield afforestation plantation sequesters carbon and reduces emissions by taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transferring it into wood fibre. The trees will absorb as much as 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent on average per hectare per year over the lifespan of the plantation, which Sidders says is a significant opportunity when considering land availability along Canada’s long span of forest-agriculture fringe.

In addition to high-yield afforestation, CWFC has also created specific designs for very short rotation crops, only three years in some cases, in what it calls its concentrated biomass plantations using willow and hybrid poplar.

“The intent here is to coppice-manage multiple crops off of one root system over three or four year rotations, with as many as six recovery opportunities,” says Sidders. “Under this scenario, there is no question that we are sequestering carbon, but we are looking at fossil fuel offsets, where the benefit is a sustainable replacement of liquids, gases or solids for energy, heat, and power currently derived from fossil fuels.”

For more information about how CWFC’s afforestation strategies can help with adaptation and mitigation where climate change impacts are an issue or a concern, contact Derek Sidders at Derek.sidders@canada.ca.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

TECHUPDATE

Skidders John Deere

The John Deere L-Series skidders are said to offer best-inclass horsepower and an impressive power-to-weight ratio, maximizing productivity and increasing efficiency.

The recently updated L-Series skidders now feature more horsepower for increased pulling power and superior multifunctioning performance. The 648L, 748L, 848L and 948L models offer the highest horsepower for each size class, with the

By Tony Kryzanowski

bunk, TimberPro says that it is the ultimate skidder, hauling drags in excess of 20 tonnes. The company says that if there is a need to move a lot of wood over a long distance, the TF840C clam bunk skidder is the way to go.

With eight driving wheels, it offers superior flotation and maximum traction. The TF840C clam bunk carries the load over its rear axle, allowing it to skid uphill much more effectively than conventional grapple skidders. Along with the TF840C clam bunk’s stability and power comes an ability to be transformed from the ultimate skidder to the ultimate forwarder in as little as four hours by simply removing the clam bunk and bolting on a set of log bunks.

The TimberPro TF 840C clam bunk skidder fits the bill for contractors looking for a larger skidder, says the company. www.timberpro.com

Tigercat

Tigercat offers a full line-up of four-wheel and six-wheel drive skidders built for most full tree timber extraction applications worldwide. Tigercat skidders are powered by the fuel efficient and reliable Tigercat FPT N67.

300 hp 948L skidder boasting the highest horsepower on the market, says the company. The simplified engine after-treatment system allows for improved reliability and further reduces diesel fuel and DEF consumption.

The latest updates build upon the popular features from the initial L-Series launch, including a large, best-in-class cab with rotating seat and configurable joystick controls for increased operator productivity. The pressurized continuous-lube system axles, and Outboard Extreme axles on the larger models further improve uptime and durability. All L-Series machines come standard with five-year JDLink telematics in-base, better connecting owners to their machines, jobsites and their local John Deere dealer. www.johndeere.com

TimberPro

TimberPro is all about versatility and delivering the best return on investment, says the company. The TF840C clam bunk skidder is no exception.

With 330 hp, dual-bogie axles, extra-large 32.4 sq ft clam

The new 632E skidder is the most powerful four-wheel skidder ever built, says Tigercat. With a high horsepower engine, the 632E uses larger hydraulic pumps, valves and cylinders than previous models. It also features the Tigercat OB20 axle, delivering 47 per cent more torque capacity and nearly twice the life on all bearings. The 23 ft2 grapple is the largest grapple offered on any four-wheel skidder on the market, says the company.

The 635G six-wheel skidder builds on the improvements in the 632E with a new extreme duty Tigercat bolt-in bogie. The 635G excels in the toughest terrain and steep slopes, and the 25 ft2 grapple again leads the industry, says Tigercat. www.tigercat.com

KMC

Among the best all-terrain, all weather vehicles on the market today is the KMC track skidder, with its three unique features, says the company. These are: balance weight distribution, torsion bar sprung suspension, and high speed steel track.

The KMC track skidder has the ability to skid logs on steep slopes, sensitive soils or wet areas where it is not feasible to operate expensive shovel logging, cable yarding systems or conventional rubber-tired ground skidding equipment.

The KMC has the ability to skid logs on adverse 40 per cent to page 72 Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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techupdate from page 71

Tanguay

gradient, favorable slopes to 50 per cent, and up to 55 per cent with site specific risk assessment of the operation.

The KMC can also skid areas of environmental concern with less soil compaction or site disturbance than any other ground skidding equipment, says the company.

The KMC tracked skidder is not designed to replace other

ground-based skidding equipment—it is designed to be more effective when integrated with existing equipment. It will increase production while reducing the operating cost of existing equipment by working the areas those machines are not designed for, thus reducing wear and tear on the equipment. www.kmc-kootrac.com

Cat

Cat D Series wheel skidders enable loggers to operate more profitably by getting to the landing faster, increasing production, and reducing operating costs, says the company.

Cat D Series skidders feature a six-speed transmission with more gears in the working zone, lock-up torque converter and

The Tanguay TG88E skidder is available as a clambunk or “L Boom” grapple configuration with a huge payload capacity of 35 tons.

Powered by a 400 hp engine, the eight wheel drive TG88E comes with a choice of track width up to 60” wide for low ground pressure. The reliable and proven 100 per cent hydrostatic drive provides incredible manoeuvrability and perfect traction for minimum ground disturbance, says the company.

Tanguay says that the TG88E clambunk and its powerful loader is the machine of choice to economically load and skid tree length to road side on long distances.

The “L Boom” grapple skidder has proven very productive on shorter distances and longer timber stands.

Designed and manufactured in Canada, the TG88E is by far the world’s largest forwarder and a solution for year round operations, says the company. www.tanguay.cc

Awassos

Awassos manufactures compact skidders for low impact operations. The company’s MD 80 skidder offers a modern design and superior capacity. With a reversible workstation, hydrostatic transmission, and a rugged cast iron chassis, Awassos says that it’s the ideal machine for big jobs without sacrificing the low-impact benefits to the environment.

independent front and rear differentials for more pulling power and control, high-capacity cooling system and reversing fan, and high-performance hydraulics. The machines offer a roomy, quiet, and cool operator station and tilting cab for servicing. There are four models ranging from 203 hp to 275 hp.

Caterpillar recently introduced the High Rotation Seat cab and an enhanced monitor display for Cat D Series wheel skidders. The High Rotation Seat cab offers 100 degrees of seat rotation and features the new Cat Advanced Ride Management (Cat ARM) seat suspension for unparalleled ergonomics and comfort for the operator. www.cat.com/forestry

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Awassos strives to design and manufacture a line of forestry equipment that can handle challenging work situations, but are gentle in execution. It also offers additional options to equip its machines to accommodate various types of forestry work. www.awassos.com

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

Rule the Forest with the New Nokian Logger King

Nokian Tyres is excited to introduce our new skidder tire, the Logger King. We have taken our knowledge as a world leader in forestry tires to make the new Nokian Logger King uniquely meet the needs of the modern logger. The Logger King was designed to be used on the largest forestry equipment in the toughest conditions. The new tire features increased tread depth for longer tire life and better traction. The open tread design and shovel lug shape allow for impressive pulling traction and excellent selfcleaning. The Logger King’s wide and tall lug shape on the shoulder allow for excellent lateral stability and traction.

Find out more about Nokian Heavy Tyres and find a dealer near you at nokianheavytyres.com or by calling 800-565-2525

SUPPLIERNEWSLINE

Hitachi introduces upgraded Dash-6 foresters

Hitachi Construction Machinery–Americas has introduced upgraded Dash-6 foresters in North America.

The new models include multiple, new customer-driven features that are said to improve productivity, comfort and safety.

The four new Dash-6 models— ZX210F-6, ZX260F-6, ZX310F-6 and ZX370F-6—use a fuel-efficient Final Tier 4 (FT4)/EU Stage IV Isuzu engine that does not need a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

All four models also feature a quieter cab with 3” of additional leg room, and the side entry cab is 25 per cent larger than the previous Dash-3 models.

“Unlike retrofitted excavators patched together for logging use, Hitachi foresters are built from the ground up in a state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility specifically for forestry work,” says Carlos Uriarte, division sales manager at Hitachi Construction Machinery–Americas. “This ensures quality, and means owners and operators get the efficiency, reliability and durability Hitachi machines are known for.”

All four new Dash-6 models are available as roadbuilders, processors, live heel log loaders and valve-in-head log loaders.

For processor configurations, Waratah heads come factory-installed for seamless integration.

The ZX210F-6, ZX240F-6 and 370F-6 are available in both Canada and the United States. The ZX310F-6 is available in the United States now and will be released in Canada at a later date. www.HitachiConstruction.com

Carbotech extends product line with Kadant Carmanah Design

With the constant goal of developing new product lines and encouraging industry growth, Carbotech has established a strategic partnership with Kadant Carmanah Design for exclusive distribution of products in Eastern Canada.

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Kadant Carmanah Design is based in Surrey, B.C., and designs, manufactures and supplies stranders, rotary debarkers and conveying/feeding equipment for the panel and engineered wood products, pulp and paper, and sawmill industries.

Carbotech specializes in maximizing production operations and efficiency for high-speed sawmill and planer mill lumber handling. It has a workforce of 100 employees. The company’s mission over the past 30 years has been to focus on speed, precision, know-how and toughness. Carbotech has a number of business partners, parts and service distribution centres as well as mechanical intervention centres to cover their markets around the world. www.carbotech.ca

Peterson Pacific debuts new high capacity small chipper

Peterson Pacific Corp recently debuted the all-new Peterson 3310 drum chipper.

With a 540 hp Caterpillar engine, the 3310 has the power to handle up to 24” diameter logs. The fully enclosed engine compartment keeps things clean, but is easily serviced by large access doors on both sides of the machine.

The all-new 3310 is the third and smallest model in Peterson’s line-up of drum chippers. Like the other larger Peterson drum chippers, the 3310 is equipped with sizing screens and an intelligent control system that provides superior fuel economy and the most consistent chip quality. The 3310 is a high capacity small chipper. It was designed for biomass energy producers around the world that will benefit from the efficient feeding and flexible van loading options that are provided by this unique design.

At just under 24’ long, the 3310 uses a transverse-feed design allowing for a much smaller operations deck than typical drum chippers. The rotatable end load or optional top load spout design allows for Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

By Tony Kryzanowski trailers to be loaded in a variety of positions, depending on the demands of the job site. Not only does the compact size allow for easy maneuverability, but it can even be transported in a 40’ high cube container for overseas shipment.

Using the proven drum and knife design used on the larger 4300-series drum chippers, the 3310’s main components are robust and offer long life, says the company.

The Peterson 3310 drum chipper is also Peterson+ enabled, a new remote monitoring solution providing machine owners access to real-time and historical data of their machine’s performance and location. www.petersoncorp.com

LMI Technologies appoints new Sales VP after move to new headquarters LMI Technologies, headquartered in Burnaby, B.C., has appointed Len Chamberlain to Vice President of Sales.

Chamberlain has been with LMI for the past three years and has been instrumental in the growth of LMI’s global sales team.

He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and business acumen to LMI with over a decade of experience working in senior roles in the 3D machine vision industry.

The announcement comes quickly on the heels of a move to a new headquarters. The new building provides a large increase in manufacturing space to support the rapid growth LMI has been experiencing.

The expansive new 62,400 square foot office, complete with state-of-the-art infrastructure and amenities, effectively doubles the company’s manufacturing space in order to meet rising demand for sensor production, while providing added floorspace to accommodate a rapidly growing staff. The address is: 9200 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, B.C.V5J 5J8 www.lmi3d.com

to page 76

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suppliernewsline Hultdins extends XR Rotator range

from page 74

Wood-Mizer introduces LX450 twin rail sawmill

Wood-Mizer now offers the LX450 sawmill, the first WoodMizer LX series sawmill released in North America. The addition of the LX sawmill series makes Wood-Mizer the first and only company to give sawyers the choice between a monorail or twin rail sawmill to accommodate various sawing applications and preferences, says the company.

Featuring many of the same benefits of the Wood-Mizer LT sawmill series, the new LX450 sawmill matches Wood-Mizer’s widest cut at 34” while offering the largest depth of cut at 16 ½” available from Wood-Mizer.

A key innovation of the Wood-Mizer LX450 sawmill is the rigid LX Frame saw head tower that holds the control panel, engine, and the sawmill head. Designed to accommodate a larger width and depth of cut, the LX Frame travels on parallel hardened steel bars on the bed and gives the operator better visibility during the cutting process.

Standard features for the LX450 sawmill include power feed, power up/down, hydraulic log handling with a bi-directional chain log turner, a walk-along operator control console with SimpleSet Setworks on an adjustable arm, six heavy-duty fine adjustment outriggers, dragback board return, powered blade guide arm, hydraulic blade tensioning system, blade lubrication, roller blade guides, and a centrifugal clutch. www.woodmizer.com

FinScan would like to announce and thank Woodgrain Millworkʼs Emmett Sawmill location in their commitment of two BoardMasterNOVA-N Automated Grading Systems for their Edger and Trimmer lines.

Learn more:

@finscaninc

www.finscaninc.com

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Hultdins now offers an expanded range of XR Rotators with a new XR400 model in addition to the larger XR500 and XR600 models.

The XR Rotators offer a compact low profile design with extremely high load capacities for both free swinging attachments and fixed mount applications. XR rotators can handle very high dynamic and static loads in both directions as well as high side forces. Thanks to its compact “power-dense design” with the rotator, bearings, and swivel in a single assembly, the XR is well protected from external damage, which Hultdins says makes it a perfect choice for the toughest environments. The XR rotators also provide large through channels for grapple cylinders or high oil flow applications. www.hultdins.com

Husqvarna battery powered chainsaws offer four hours of run time

Husqvarna has brought more than 300 years of technical innovation to their suite of battery powered chainsaws. The 536Li XP and the T536Li XP chainsaws share Husqvarna’s BLDC brushless electric motor and the BLi150 battery which provides 4.2 Amp hours of performance.

These saws are not designed to fell timber, but have a lot of attributes to make them the tool of choice for those who require a chainsaw from time to time, and especially for professional arborists who typically spend more time climbing and rigging in trees, as opposed to actually cutting trees.

The saws benefit from Husqvarna’s long history of producing high performance equipment, incorporating ergonomics, balance and safety. And it all comes at a low decibel level and markedly low vibration, compared to gasoline powered alternatives, according to the company.

The BLi150 battery gives four hours of run time, and that means two batteries fill an eight-hour day. www.husqvarna.ca

Keto launches new and larger processor head

Kone Ketonen Oy has produced numerous models of harvester heads for thinning and larger heads for clearcutting and processing over 30 years in Finland.

Now the company has launched a new and big processor head, the Keto 873P. The new Keto 873 processor is designed for processing larger trees in demanding North American conditions. The Keto 873 is the latest model of the Keto product family. This 7400 lb head can be installed on tracked machines over 30 tonnes.

Offering a dual or single track length measuring system, the head has a maximum knife tip to tip opening of 860 mm. The 500cc motors deliver a tractive force of 39.3 kN. www.kone-ketonen.fi

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

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Autolog........................................27 Axis Forestry...................................5 Bell’s Machining...........................65 Brake Systems..............................24 Brandt Tractor..............................61 Brutus Truck Bodies......................28 Cannon Bar Works.......................20 Carbotech....................................29 Continental Biomass.....................32 Cleanfix........................................60 D & L Timber Technologies...........18 DO2 Industriel.............................64 Eltec dealers.................................45 Falcon..........................................48 FinScan........................................76

Flexxaire.......................................17 Frontline Machinery.......................7 Gear Centre.................................58 Gem Chain Bars...........................16 Gilbert.........................................67 Hitachi.........................................25 Hyundai dealers...........................33 Inland............................................2 John Deere..................................23 Joral Logging Encoders..................16 L-M Equipment.............................31 Liebherr.......................................35 Log Max..................................46,47 Mill Tech Industries......................65 Nokian Tyres................................73 Northern Metalic Lubricants.........41 O'Brien Training..............................6 Ocean Trailer...............................38

Olofsfors Iggesund........................13 Peerless Ltd..................................51 Peterson.......................................19 Pierce..........................................50 Ponsse......................................9,59 Port of Prince Rupert....................12 Prolenc ExTe.................................53 Quadco/Southstar........................39 Rawlings......................................38 Ritchie Bros..................................75 Stihl.............................................49 Tigercat........................................80 Tireboss.......................................12 Tracbuster....................................54 Tsubaki........................................63 USNR...........................................21 Volvo Trucks.................................15 Wajax...........................................55

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - March/April 2017

Wallingford's..................................8 Waratah.......................................79 Western Equipment........................8 Western Oil Services....................52 Williams Machinery......................36 Wood-Mizer.................................53

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thelastword

Super logging equipment consumers are super valuable to logging equipment manufacturers—and dealers

By Jim Stirling

N

urturing contacts and business relationships are at the core of success for most forest industry companies. It’s a proven way to help get things done when they need to get done.

A good contact in the right place hones the competitive edge.

Contacts and business relationships within the context of a logging contractor are no different. Nowadays, the manufacturers of log harvesting machines and equipment all put quality products out into the marketplace. They’re well built— if expensive—and come with backing and support to varying degrees.

Some loggers cast a wide net and trawl deep when it comes time to part with hard-earned cash on a new machine like a feller buncher or harvester. They prowl the major dealerships, critically assessing not just each machine’s capabilities and costs in the context of their requirements, but what the dealership will deliver after the sale to ensure its productivity and availability out in the real world.

Another group of loggers take a different approach. When it’s time for them to upgrade equipment, they know ahead of time which dealer they’re going to visit because, often as not, they’ve dealt with them for years, know and appreciate the products and understand they can negotiate a satisfactory deal with them relatively easily. This kind of logger has maintained and nurtured a business relationship with that specific logging machine manufacturer—and the dealership that represents it and backs up its product line.

Not that long ago, the manufacturers of log harvesting equipment simply introduced to all markets their latest offering of a feller buncher, a skidder or a log loader. It was more of a “here it is, take it or leave it”, one size fits all mentality.

Today that attitude has changed, probably because it had to. The consumer—the logger—is more insistent that a given piece of log harvesting equipment can do the job required under the duress of the

78

logging conditions he daily encounters.

The manufacturers got the “customized” message and began fostering a more “what-can-we-do-for-you” approach to business. The category of logger they understandably approached were the loyal customer group of purchasers. In the world and lexicon of business management wonks, this group of loggers qualify as ‘super consumers’.

From a marketing perspective, super consumers can be super valuable to a logging equipment manufacturers’ marquee and its dealership network.

Super consumers not only buy that manufacturers’ equipment, they also tend to buy a lot of it. Frequently, all the key production machines in the loggers’ equipment fleet are painted the same colour and are supported by the same dealer. The super consumer has the entrenched attitude that “this equipment will get the job done for me”, according to the business management experts.

The super consumer’s enthusiasm for the product can be contagious and subtly influence their peer group, goes the belief.

A more demonstrable benefit for the super consumer logger is contributing his ideas and insights into improving his favourite product. The more progressive manufacturers and dealership personnel will encourage such source-based problem solving with their super consumers.

It’s not unusual these days for a logger’s recommended improvement to a machine’s design or effectiveness to be incorporated into his next purchase. He can sometimes see it happen on the factory floor.

This level of customization within the relationship simply reinforces the bond.

The loggers appreciate being taken seriously and the equipment manufacturer benefits from practical improvements to his product line.

Log harvesting equipment manufacturers will tell you they’re perpetually looking at ways to improve their products and Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May 2017

there is no reason to doubt their sincerity.

But a buncher operator, for example, who spends 10 hours a day, five days a week in the machine is going to develop a different attitude toward the machine and its performance than an engineer in a distant office. It’s precisely that type of perspective that can lead to valuable improvements—some subtle, some less so—in machine design and function.

They’re valuable to the logger, because their suggestion was heeded, and valuable to the manufacturer/dealer team for an enhanced reputation that can translate into an improved market share.

The logging contractor super consumer also helps the manufacturer maintain focus on their core business. There’s a tendency in this info-saturated world to become sidetracked and bedazzled by ‘Big Data’.

One of the challenges for the logging equipment manufacturing fraternity and their dealers is to identify the younger loggers who are most likely to become tomorrow’s super consumer. The aging population in general is equally evident in the log harvesting sector fraternity.

The dealerships can come in particularly handy in this regard. Area managers know their clients and the general composition of the regional log harvesting community. Some large companies in other industries reportedly take this ferreting out of future super consumers most seriously and almost subversively. For example, some resort to studying and monitoring social media activity, Twitter postings and letters of complaint indicating a connection to a given product.

Just another little tidbit of encouragement to log harvesting equipment manufacturers out to identify the next wave of super consumers. A different industry, granted, but MIT’s Sloan School of Management found about 80 per cent of breakthroughs in scientific instruments came from ‘lead users’ not the manufacturers.

FORWARDING TRANSFORMED. Tigercat’s exclusive low-wide bunk system combined with the powerful hooked crane introduces efficiency and performance gains for the high capacity 1075C and 1085C forwarders. Designed for quicker loading and unloading times, this innovative configuration provides clear sight lines to the top of the load and substantially increases the working range of the crane.

In addition, the C-series forwarders are powered by the field proven Tigercat FPT engine, offering long-term reliability and outstanding fuel economy.

Contact your nearest Tigercat dealer today to learn more about the benefits of owning a Tigercat C-series forwarder.

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