Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

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July/August 2023

ALL IN THE FAMILY

The Forvico/Boisverco logging and woodworking operation: truly a family enterprise

NEW BRUNSWICK’S PARENT FAMILY:

Passing on the logging operation to the next generation WITH THIS ISSUE...

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

HARDWOOD SAWMILL AMEX BOIS FRANC

utilizes wood basket to supply global markets

ONTARIO SAWMILLER KEN ZOSCHKE

takes resourcefulness to a whole other level

FEATURES July/August 2023 Volume 54 • No. 4 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling, Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski Publisher/CEO Anthony Robinson • (778) 991-3500 E-Mail: arobinson@forestnet.com Associate Publisher Hannah Robinson • (778) 688-9127 E-mail: hannah@forestnet.com Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Digital Marketing: Hannah Robinson Email: hannah@forestnet.com Subscription Enquiries (604) 990-9970 Fax: (705) 434-9052 E-mail: SubscribeLSJ@forestnet.com Design & Art Production Manager Sheila Ringdahl E-mail: artwork@forestnet.com Accounting Manager Shelina Jessa • (604) 731-1535 E-mail: accounting@forestnet.com Office P.O. Box 86670 North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Phone: (604) 990-9970 Website: www.forestnet.com Subscriptions: Canada $58 a year; two years $70; three years, $85. Group accounts, six or more subscriptions, $25 per subscription per year. Outside Canada, $95 per year.

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Published July/August 2023 “We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada” Logging & Sawmilling Journal is a member/associate member of the following industry organizations:

On the Cover: Michel and Christine Parent have built MDA Foresterie from a single machine slashing wood at roadside to a five-machine cut-to-length operation which produces 75,000 to 80,000 tonnes of wood annually. Their plans call for cutting back their current operation by selling their cut-to-length processors and forwarder to their sons David and Anthony, and offering them guidance on how to build their own forestry contracting business. Read all about the transition beginning on page 8 (cover photo by George Fullerton).

4 Spotlight:

20 Resourceful repurposing

Forest industry consultant David Elstone talks about how B.C.’s forest sector is facing a brewing crisis—strong markets in the last couple of years have delayed some of the effects of challenges in B.C., but that has changed rapidly with recent weakening markets.

24 All in the Family

B.C. forest industry facing a brewing crisis

8

Parents passing over logging operation to the next generation

The successful Parent Family logging operation in New Brunswick—supported by solid iron in the bush—is in the process of being handed over to the next generation.

12 Wide wood basket for global customers

Hardwood sawmill Amex Bois Franc is using its base in a small Quebec town— and a large wood basket—to produce high quality wood products to ship all over the world.

18 Guest Column

Tired of high scrap lumber rates?

Automation is the answer, says Matthew Nemeth, of E+E Elektronik.

DEPARTMENTS

Calendar...........................................6 Tech Update....................................38 Suppliernewsline............................42 Ad Index/Subscriptions..................45 Classifieds......................................45 Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

Ontario sawmiller Ken Zoschke takes resourcefulness to a whole other level with his operation in eastern Ontario; the power unit for his mill operation is the cab and chassis of a repurposed International truck with a L10 Cummins engine.

The Forvico/Boisverco logging/woodworking operation is truly a family enterprise, with the children and grandchildren of Marc and Julie Vigneault involved in the business.

28 Living a sawmilling dream

Daniel Chassé is literally living the dream these days, running a sawmill business that produces high quality wood products from less commercially popular species.

34 How to choose the right manufacturing partner for your sprocket needs

Drop Sprocket on how to gear up for success, and find the perfect manufacturing partner for your sprocket needs.

36

Included in this edition of The Edge, Canada’s leading publication on research in the forest industry, is a story from the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC).

46 The Last Word

This year’s terrible wildfire season demonstrates the need to develop more resilient forests, says Tony Kryzanowski.

3

spotlight

B.C. forest industry facing

A BREWING CRISIS British Columbia’s forest sector is facing a brewing crisis—strong markets in the last couple of years have delayed some of the effects of challenges in B.C., but that has changed rapidly with recent weakening markets.

By David Elstone

T

Given a number of challenges, including a decline in the B.C. Interior timber supply and significant uncertainties about the future available land base for timber harvesting, British Columbia’s forest sector is facing a brewing crisis.

he forest sector is an important generator of employment in British Columbia. The number of jobs per thousand cubic metres of timber harvested is often used as a metric to compare British Columbia’s forest sector performance to other jurisdictions, but it does not tell the entire story.

British Columbia generated an estimated 1.01 direct jobs per thousand cubic metres of harvest in 2021. Over the last five years, that statistic has averaged 0.95 jobs. The forest sectors in Quebec and Ontario generate much higher jobs per thousand cubic metres harvested (for 2019), at 2.29 and 3.03, respectively.

An immediate conclusion is that British Columbia should generate more jobs from its forest sector, like Quebec and Ontario.

Industry critics have said British Columbia’s comparatively low generation of jobs per thousand cubic metres harvested is due to log exports, mechanization, forest management practices and minimal value-added processing, without evidence to support their assertions. Unfortunately, rarely has further analysis been done to understand the inter-provincial differences.

We can learn about the differences between these provinces by breaking down the total jobs numbers into their three main categories: Forestry & Logging; Wood Products Manufacturing; and, Pulp & Paper Manufacturing.

Even though Quebec and Ontario have substantially lower harvest volumes, the number of jobs created from manufacturing are close to or exceed that of British Columba. Several distinctions can be identified between the forest sectors of these provinces to explain this:

to page 6 4

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

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spotlight THE SPECIES PROFILE of Quebec and Ontario are much higher to hardwood species, which lends itself to specialty wood manufacturing (these species do not grow in British Columbia).

TRADE FLOWS show British Columbia is a net exporter of logs. Quebec is a net importer of logs (mostly from the United States) for processing in Quebec sawmills. Between 2018 to 2021, Quebec imported an average of 2.7 million m3 of logs per year.

Sawdust is another commodity that is imported in greater quantities into Ontario and Quebec than into British Columbia. Sawdust is used in wood products manufacturing for non-structural panels or pulp manufacturing.

Unfortunately, the jobs data does not reflect where the fibre comes from, meaning wood product manufacturing jobs in Quebec, and to a lesser extent Ontario, are relatively higher because they represent harvested timber as well as a higher proportion of imported fibre. Whereas jobs in British Columbia and Alberta are fewer due to their significantly lower reliance on imported fibre.

PULP & PAPER SECTOR: Quebec’s and Ontario’s forest sectors are focused on pulp, paper, and paperboard products which supply the large nearby population centres including those south of the border. Pulp and paper manufacturing is capital intensive and tends to suppose a lot of skilled labour.

Also, some paper product mills in Quebec and Ontario use both harvested wood fibre and recycled paper fibre for which the jobs data, again, does not distinguish between the two, thereby skewing the jobs data in favour of these two provinces.

The jobs representing British Columbia’s and Alberta’s pulp and paper manufacturing rely almost entirely on harvested virgin wood fibre.

Further complicating comparisons is a sub-industry of pulp and paper manufacturing called “converted paper product manufacturing,” which uses paper and paperboard products produced at a primary facility which is then converted into more readily consumable products for the end user at a secondary facility. In a sense, converted paper manufacturing represents “value-added manufacturing” of pulp and paper products. In 2021, approximately 39 per cent of Ontario’s forest sector employment (14 per cent of Quebec) came from converted paper product manufacturing.

Conversely British Columbia and Al-

berta generate very little converted paper products manufacturing jobs, at 3 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively. Why doesn’t this source of jobs exist in British Columbia or Alberta? Simply because the end-market for converted paper products is not close enough to justify production.

INDUSTRY STRUCTURE: Another differentiating factor is the number and average size of mills in each province. Quebec has by far the most sawmills, panel mills, and pulp and paper mills of any province.

Many of those sawmills are small. Whereas, British Columbia has fewer mills and some of the largest sawmills in Canada.

One implication is that British Columbia (and Alberta) are more efficient in terms of converting timber into various products with less labour.

Being more efficient should be regarded as a positive attribute for ensuring a globally competitive forest products sector—it means jobs should be sustained when economic times get tough (that’s assuming all else being equal because despite the larger average size of B.C. sawmills, when fibre availability is constrained, capacity closures will occur and do occur).

So, when critics say that British Columbia should create more jobs from harvested timber like other provinces, such as Ontario and Quebec, what they are really saying, unknowingly, is that British Columbia should import more fibre, have more pulp and paper mills and decrease the industry’s global competitiveness by becoming less efficient…none of which is likely aligned with their interests, nor the interests of the sector or the people of British Columbia.

BRITISH COLUMBIA LOG EXPORTS: When it comes to forestry and jobs, log exports are an easy target given the imagery of ships loaded with logs leaving the province without creating manufacturing jobs.

Let’s assume a full log export ban was in place and the 3.3 million m3 of logs exported in 2021 was still harvested and consumed domestically. Assuming a generous rate of jobs per thousand cubic metres at 2.0 jobs to the repatriated volume, British Columbia’s jobs per thousand cubic metres harvested in 2021 would increase from 1.01 to 1.08 jobs—technically an improvement—but a ban hardly changes the province’s position with respect to other provinces and actually may be counterproductive to job creation. (total log exports for 2022 are projected to be their lowest in years, at close 2.6 million m3).

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF JOBS from harvested trees in British Columbia

6

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

from page 4

must overcome a number of challenges: • B.C. interior timber supply is declining; • There are significant uncertainties about the future available land base to conduct timber harvesting; • Investments to improve competitiveness are likely to be technology-oriented which will serve to reduce the number of workers for a given process; • Opportunities for capacity growth are limited given the bureaucracy and costs in building new greenfield projects; • Manufacturing capacity is projected to decrease; • B.C. government forest policies and directives including old growth deferrals are directly reducing the available log supply; and, • It is hard to find skilled workers.

To be blunt, given these challenges, British Columbia’s forest sector is facing a brewing crisis. Very strong markets of the last couple of years have delayed some of the effects of these challenges, but that has changed rapidly with recent weakening markets. Increasing the number of jobs per thousand cubic metres will be necessary to offset the projected job losses over the next few years, but so far there is no apparent plan. _________________________________ This opinion piece is excerpted from the View From The Stump newsletter, and written by David Elstone, RPF, Managing Director of the Spar Tree Group Inc, the newsletter’s Publisher (viewfromthestump.com).

CALENDAR

September 7-9 Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, Escanaba, MI 715-282-5828, www.gltpa.org

September 19-20 Wood Pellet Association of Canada AGM, Ottawa, ON 250-837-8821, www.pellet.org September 21-23

Pacific Logging Congress (PLC) Ninth Live in-Woods Show, Vail, WA 360 832-1745 www.pacificloggingcongress.org September 24-27

Canadian Institute of Forestry National Conference & AGM, Nanaimo, BC

705-744-1715 www.cif-ifc.org/national-forest-week

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contractorprofile From one generation to the next: from left, David, Anthony and Michel Parent.

Parents passing over logging to the next generation

The successful Parent Family logging operation, supported by solid iron in the bush, is in the process of being handed over to the next generation.

By George Fullerton

M

ichel and Christine Parent have built MDA Foresterie from a single machine slashing wood at roadside to a five-machine cut-to-length operation which produces 75,000 to 80,000 tonnes of wood annually.

The plan is to cut back their current operation by selling their cut-to-length processors and forwarder to their sons

8

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

David and Anthony this year, and offer them guidance to build their own forestry contracting business.

Michel has years of contracting experience, starting out working with his father Bertheleme’s operation, based out of the community of Kedgewick in northwest New Brunswick. At 10 years of age, Michel was loading trucks on the family contracting operation. At 18, Michel invested in a slasher and became a contractor for J. D. Irving (JDI). His business association

contractorprofile with JDI continued for 15 years, and his harvesting kit expanded to include a feller buncher and a Landrich harvester with a Ponsse H7 head.

In 2000, Michel and Christine incorporated MDA Foresterie, and in 2017 they switched their harvesting operations to Groupe Savoie (a hardwood mill), bringing a John Deere 1910 forwarder and their Landrich harvester. Christine has continued to support the business by bringing her accounting talents to the business side of the enterprise.

The switch to Groupe Savoie also coincided to an increase in contract volume, a switch to more Tigercat gear and more involvement of his sons David and Anthony in the family business.

A Tigercat 1075 (20 tonne) forwarder joined the team in 2018, followed by a Tigercat 845 with a Log Max 7000 head in 2019. Again in 2021, a Tigercat 1055 (14 tonne) forwarder joined to back-up the 1075 forwarder. The 1055 goes to work when the 1075 is down for service, or when the processed wood on the ground is getting too far ahead.

An 845 Tigercat buncher with Tigercat felling head leads the MDA harvesting operation, and the Landrich continues to be a key part of the operation.

Michel’s plan to transition his sons into the contracting business will see him selling them the machinery kit, save for the buncher which he plans to continue to contract with Groupe Savoie. Michel will also hang on to the 1055 forwarder for “personal” use.

David and Anthony grew up immersed in the family contracting business, and they began tailing their father to the woods to see operations and to lend a hand at mechanical repairs and maintenance. They also began operating the equipment in their teens.

To further encourage their education and skill acquisition, Michel encouraged the boys to attain post secondary education. David completed a diploma in heavy equipment at College Communautaire New Brunswick at the Bathurst Campus and Anthony gained certification in welding from the Bathurst college.

“Having an education in heavy equipment and welding provides us with skills to make sure the equipment keeps operating,” commented David. “I also have experience operating the buncher, processors and forwarders. Anthony has operating experience with the processors and forwarders.”

Currently, Anthony takes a regular shift on the Landrich/Log Max processor,

while David supervises and focuses on service and repairs through the day shift.

David has operating experience with all the equipment. “My father operates all of our machines, so together we are able to cover for an operator who is out for a day,” says David.

On the night shift, Michel is on site and or on call for any mechanical issues that occur.

Michel shared that he was immediately impressed with the Tigercat 1075 forwarder soon after it went to work in the MDA operation. “With the forwarder, we soon learned that Tigercat builds very reliable and high performing machines. We have also developed a very good relationship with Wajax, our Tigercat dealer in Moncton,” commented Michel.

“Wajax has a comprehensive parts inventory. And we can get smaller parts delivered overnight by bus, which means in most cases the machine is back in production in a very short time,” said Michel.

David pointed out another advantage to building Tigercat into their contracting business is in the area of stocking wear and other replacement parts, which are common to their Tigercat machines, and streamlining the spare parts inventory.

“I also like having the common Tigercat base because experience with the machines makes us familiar with service schedules, and the ability to recognize when components need attention, before they fail, and avoid a lot of unnecessary downtime and expenses” said David.

“We are very happy with the performance of the Log Max head,” he added.

“It has two drive wheels that hug the stem from the side. Our hardwoods are notoriously hard to process because typically they have crook and sweep.

“With the Log Max, the wheels follow the stem, while other heads we have used tend to operate as if they were trying to straighten the sweep, and as a result, they tend to spin out and or lose measurement,” explained David. “When a processing head spins out, the operator has to drop the tree and reposition the head to continue processing.

“It takes time to drop and reposition, and that is non-productive time. Over a twelve-hour shift that can accumulate a good deal of production loss. We find

to page 10

The MDA operation includes a variety of Tigercat equipment, including Tigercat bunchers and forwarders.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

9

contractorprofile from page 9 the Log Max very effective working in hardwoods.

“We also like the Log Max for its design,” said David. “After you take the hood off the back, all the hoses and solenoids are visible and reasonably accessible.

Other heads we have worked with are not so well engineered, and take more time to do maintenance or repairs.”

In the service trailer, David pointed to a series of cases with the Log Max logo.

“That service kit came with the head, and basically it contains every part required to overhaul the head. Our Log Max dealer is in Moncton and they provide excellent support. Another advantage with the Log Max head is the computer which is very intuitive and easy to work with. That kind of solid engineering makes troubleshooting issues and making adjustments easier to carry out, and gets us back into production faster.”

Watching the buncher at work, Michel shared that the operator, Sylvain Lavoie, has been working with Michel for fifteen years.

“Sylvain has worked with every type of machine that we have—and in the buncher, he is critical to maintaining high productivity with each step that follows him. He clearly understands the importance of making separate bunches of each species, because there are several sorts for spruce and fir products, and similarly several species specific sorts for the hardwoods.

“Sylvain understands that bunches have to be strategically placed so that processors can reach the bunches, and have

adequate space to pile specific products in separate piles. He understands that the forwarder must be able to maneuver and be able to build loads that allow products to be kept separate. The set-up by the buncher impacts our production efficiency right to roadside.”

The Groupe Savoie sawmill at St. Quentin saws hardwoods, including aspen, to produce high quality, valueadded hardwood lumber products, as well as sawing lower grade hardwoods for pallet manufacturing. Groupe Savoie is a sub-licensee for AV Group, which operates dissolving pulp mills at Atholville in the northern part of the province and at Nackawic, which is closer to the centre of the province. The 10-foot pulp logs are directed to Atholville and sixteen-foot pulp logs go to the Nackawic mill.

Softwoods in the forest mix, mainly spruce and balsam fir, are produced into sawlogs, directed to the J. D. Irving sawmill at St. Leonard, and to the Twin Rivers sawmill in Plaster Rock. Softwood studwood, eight- and nine-foot logs, go to the J. D. Irving mill in Kedgewick. Eight- and tenfoot studwood logs are also directed to the Chaleur Sawmill in Belledune. At Groupe Savoie, high quality maple and birch (greater than eight-inch top diameter) is sorted out in the harvest operation and directed to their Restigouche sawmill. High quality aspen logs are also sorted and directed to the Restigouche mill. Lesser quality hardwood (top diameter greater than 3.25 inch) is directed to the pallet sawmill, adjacent to the Restigouche mill at St. Quentin.

It is something of an understatement to say that product sorting is complex.

Michel explained that with each harvest

block, he receives a prescription for product sorts, and he programs the processor computers to help ensure species, diameter and length parameters are met.

In addition to complex sorts, MDA Foresterie also meets silviculture guidelines in hardwood stands, which have the potential to develop high value hardwood timber.

About 20 per cent of MDA’s harvesting is selection, and another 20 per cent are strip cuts to encourage tolerant hardwood regeneration. The balance of the harvesting is clearcut, since the stands do not offer much development potential or tolerant hardwoods.

In selection harvest, the feller buncher operates on a five-metre wide trail and reaches into a 20-metre wide leave strip, to select species other than sugar maple and yellow birch, but leaving a specific crown closure to encourage natural regeneration and allow the high quality trees to develop further.

Strip cuts are on the same five-metre trail and 20-metre leave strip, but with no fibre harvested from the leave strip.

The strategy is to allow light into the trail and sides of the leave strip, to encourage natural regeneration.

The hardwood silviculture prescriptions are guided by Northern Hardwood Research Institute silviculture guidelines.

Cutblock maps are delivered by data stick and they show harvest block perimeter, roads, buffers and other details. As the feller buncher operates, the onboard computer (GPS) establishes a coloured line on the map representing the trail that has been cut. As each subsequent harvesting step occurs, different coloured lines are laid down in the mapping data.

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contractorprofile Michel explained that the mapping tool helps keep operators productive and provides him with a clear overview of the progress of the operation.

Mud season is the time for training.

Groupe Savoie sponsors operator training that covers workplace safety, silviculture aspects and environmental security. Additionally, MDA contracts a two-day First Aid training course for all their employees.

Groupe Savoie staff make at least two visits with MDA crews through the year to review all aspects of operational safety, environmental and silviculture issues.

David and Anthony plan to make a deal with Michel and Christine to buy out the two processors and the 1075 forwarder, form a business partnership, and negotiate a contract with Groupe Savoie. Michel plans to contract the feller buncher for Groupe Savoie, bunching on his sons’ operation, harvesting roads for Groupe Savoie and bunching for other contractors.

“We are very positive about the opportunity to become harvest contractors,” said David. “Groupe Savoie is a family business that has been around for a long time and they continually expand the

manufacturing of hardwood lumber into products which are in very high demand by many markets. Our father reminds us that when he was going to school, he was told there was no future in cutting wood, because all the trees would be cut down in 20 years.

“We still have lots of trees and we see them grow every year, so we are pretty sure there will always be trees to harvest, and a need for well managed businesses to contract the harvesting,” said David.

While Anthony and David have admirable goals, the contacting business will still present many challenges.

“I will be around and be able to keep an eye on their operation and offer guidance if required,” explained Michel.

“Another thing they have going for them is Christine will be doing their accounting, and believe me, if they look like they are making a bad business decision, she will straighten them out, very quickly, no question about it!”

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From harvesting through to forwarding, David and Anthony Parent grew up immersed in the family contracting business, and they began tailing their father to the woods to see operations and to lend a hand at mechanical repairs and maintenance. They also began operating the equipment in their teens.

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millprofile

WIDE WOOD BASKET for global customers

Hardwood sawmill Amex Bois Franc is using its base in a small Quebec town—and a large wood basket—to produce high quality wood products to ship all over the world.

By George Fullerton

A

mex Bois Franc hardwoods stands out in the Canadian lumber industry for a number of reasons, including its wide reach for timber.

In addition to sawing only hardwood species, its wood basket extends from New Brunswick in the east to central Ontario in the west, and south into the hardwood forests of Pennsylvania.

The Amex Bois Franc partnership of the Vigneault Family handles everything from log sourcing and delivery, through to marketing lumber globally. The ownership/management team includes David Vigneault, who manages log procurement, and his brother, Pascal, who functions as controller. Their cousins, Daniel and Francois, manage the milling operations.

The VOG sawmill part of the Amex operation is a partnership representing the Vigneault, Offerman and Genest family business interests. The sawmill has been operated by VOG since 1998. Amex markets hardwood lumber globally under the Primewood brand.

The Amex operation is based in Plessisville, situated halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, about 30 kilometres south of the St. Lawrence River and 100 kilometres north of the New Hampshire-Vermont borders. Appropriately for a town with a hardwood sawmill, the community is actually known as the “World’s Maple Capital”—with production of maple syrup and maple products a major industry in the area.

12

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

millprofile While situated in the heart of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest region, which offers maple, birch, basswood, beech and other hardwoods, Amex sources about 75 per cent of their wood supply from the northeastern United States.

Hard maple, white oak and walnut are Amex’s premier species. Their Primewood lumber brand includes red and white oak, soft maple, white and green ash, hickory, yellow and white birch, basswood, yellow poplar as well as some tropical species.

In addition to sawing lumber, Primewood also buys both green and dry hardwood lumber from other sawmills.

Amex has been able to economically source high value hardwoods from distant logging operations in the U.S. by engaging trucking operations which haul flatbed loads from Quebec into the U.S., offering them sawlog backhauls to the sawmill.

Trucking operations adapt their flatbed trailers with stake pockets and stakes to facilitate sawlog securement.

Amex operates a web-based dispatch service and assigns a dedicated person to manage it. Logging operations notify Amex when loads of hardwood logs are on their landings and the loads appear on the dispatch site. Truckers can book to pick up the loads, according to their scheduled trip back into Quebec.

Amex goes an extra step to show their appreciation for truck drivers by offering a shower facility and fresh towels.

“Lots of the drivers spend their week living in their truck, and they really appreciate the opportunity to have a shower,” explained David Vigneault.

Amex Hardwood is located in an industrial park in the town of Plessisville.

The log yard, sawmill and kilns and corporate headquarters occupy one side of the street, while the opposite side of the street has a very tidy lumber yard and a large dry storage warehouse, including a spacious covered area for loading and tarping loads.

The dry storage warehouse has a capacity for about one million board feet of lumber. Primewood also operates a storage warehouse and shipping operation in Drummondville, which has a capacity of around six million board feet of lumber.

Overseas orders are loaded in sea containers at the Drummondville facility.

The Plessisville mill yard is completely paved and very orderly. Similarly, Amex’s building and kilns are well maintained and fit well in the industrial park.

“We pay well for the delivery of very high value logs, so we take very good care of them in our yard,” said Vigneault.

The Amex Bois Franc partnership of the Vigneault Family handles everything from log sourcing and delivery, through to marketing lumber globally. The ownership/ management team includes David Vigneault (above, left), and cousin Daniel Vigneault (right).

Amex Bois Franc operates 24 kilns, all of which are Brunner Hildebrand, with total capacity of 1.2 million board feet. The first BH kiln was installed in 1998, and six additional BH kilns were installed three years ago.

“Mobile equipment operates on a solid footing over the year, with no mud and no degradation. We can pile down bark and sawdust in the yard, and we have no mud contamination issues of concern to our customers.”

Loads of logs are piled down and subsequently scaled according to the loggers’ preferred scaling system. In addition to International Scale, Amex offers scaling

by Doyle, Scribner, Maine, Roy and Ontario log scale rules at the log producer’s request.

Amex accepts mixed species loads as well as loads made up of logs from more than one producer.

“We have a good working relationship

with our suppliers,” explains Vigneault.

“They know what quality of logs we require, and they are set up to load the trucks we send to their landings. If we get a call from a new supplier, we query them about what they have and how logs are produced.

“If we have some questions about the logs, we will ask them to send photos so we can be assured of the quality.”

Logs can be unloaded 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Logs are graded/scaled on special steel frames which allow scalers to roll

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

13

to page 14

millprofile the logs with little effort, to assess all faces of the logs. Once scaled, logs go in piles according to species. In hot seasons, some species have water spray to maintain their quality (cracking, stain).

Logs are sawed by species batches.

Wheeled log loaders with trailers move logs from piles to the infeed deck.

Logs are debarked by a Nicholson cambio debarker and immediately pass through a metal detector; if metal is present, logs are kicked out of the mill and piled down in a segregated pile.

Subsequently “metal” logs are scanned with a portable metal detector and once the metal is located, it is cut out with a chainsaw, and the logs are then processed in the mill.

“We see all sorts of metal from spikes and nails to staples. Metal lowers the value of the logs and creates additional work to find and remove the metal objects,” said Vigneault.

On the breakdown line, logs are separated by length. Eight and ten-foot logs go to one USNR set-up and over twelvefoot logs to a second USNR carriage and

double-cut bandsaw. When the supply of twelve-foot logs gets low, shorter logs will fill the supply gap.

Amex’s neighbours in the Plessisville industrial park include USNR and Carbotech manufacturing facilities, so log processing technologies are close at hand for the company.

The sawing strategy is to saw the log faces to make a cant, and then saw quality lumber from the best faces of the cant.

The sawyer turns the cants and selects a saw program and moves the cant to a deck facing the carriage, and concentrates on inspecting the next cant for the quality face.

As the evaluated cants load on the USNR carriage, the program for the cut is executed and the lumber heads down the process line and the cant comes back around to the sawyer for evaluation and is programed for another trip on the carriage. Depending on the log quality, cants are sawed down to either seven by nine inches for railroad ties or to three by four to supply pallet and other markets.

Similar to the quality control of logs in the yard, quality lumber recovery is the primary goal in the sawmill. Breakdown

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

from page 13

includes resawing the outer boards and edging to recover quality (least amount of defect) lumber. Additionally, trim decisions are made by an operator with the focus on trim to make the highest value grade from each piece of lumber. Total sawmill production is 21 million board feet, annually.

In addition to buying logs, Primewood also buys both green and kiln dried hardwood lumber from other sawmills. Some may be resold as green lumber and some is kiln dried.

The Plessisville facility also includes a T-shed with curtains, to store sawed green lumber in order to maintain quality (cracking and stain) until it is scheduled for drying or shipped to customers.

Lumber movement in the sawmill and sort bins is supplied by Machinage Piché, which are manufactured in Daveluyville, Quebec.

Lumber from the sort bins is automatically stacked and is stickered if lumber is to be dried, or without stickers if lumber is to be sold green. to page 16

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millprofile

A grader sorts lumber by grade and dimension (above). Amex Bois Franc maintains a very large inventory of lumber that allows the mill to meet customer demands for species and dimensions, especially for overseas orders. When a customer places an order, they want to maximize load space in the shipping container. from page 14 Amex operates 24 kilns, all of which are Brunner Hildebrand, with total capacity of 1.2 million board feet. The first BH kiln was installed in 1998, and six additional BH kilns were installed three years ago. There are curbs along the kilns to minimize contact with kiln walls by forklifts and snowplows. Energy supply to the kilns is from a combination of wood biomass and natural gas.

“We maintain a very large inventory of lumber and it allows us to meet customer demands for species and dimensions,” explained Vigneault. “When a customer places an order, they want to maximize load space in the container. If we can not supply one specific size in a species, the customer is likely to cancel the entire order. Consequently, we maintain a very large inventory to be able to meet the needs of our customers.”

Amex offers some lumber valueadd manufacturing including ripping and dressing to meet certain customer requirements.

The company stuffs seacans that deliver their high quality hardwood lumber around the world.

Because Amex relies primarily on shipping to customers world-wide by sea containers, they are very concerned about labour issues and transportation logistics to the Port of Montreal.

“Labour issues have caused us some

problems in recent years,” says Vigneault.

“In the next few years, there will be major construction in the highway tunnel that the majority of trucks use to access the port, and we fear that will result in shipping delays for us.”

Meeting customer needs extends beyond meeting lumber species and dimension and delivery schedules. Vigneault explained that certain customers can distinguish quality differences in lumber, according to where the trees grew.

“For these customers, maple lumber from New Brunswick logs is not the same as maple lumber sawed from Vermont logs. Customers recognize the difference

16

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

and will specify where their order should be sourced from, in order that they can maintain their unique manufacturing and marketing strategy.”

The Amex operation employs eighty people operating two shifts.

For Amex, teamwork is the key to their success. “Without everyone’s efforts, we could not be successful in our field,” says Vigneault, noting they work hard to have a positive work environment. “The smiles on our employees’ faces speaks volumes about the attitude and respect that prevails among us. We thank all our employees for their dedication and passion for a job well done,” he says.

guestcolumn

Tired of high scrap lumber rates?

Automation is the answer

By Matthew Nemeth, E+E Elektronik

Y

ears ago, drying wood for use in construction, furniture, and even firewood took months or even years.

Now, thanks to the kiln-drying process and advancements in technology, sawmills can achieve the optimal moisture content necessary for specific uses of wood in as little as a few days. Nevertheless, drying lumber is a tedious task that requires accuracy, attention to detail and careful application.

Accelerating a natural process demands high precision given the complexity of manipulating variables. A well-done application will require the measurement of relative humidity and airflow to control the rate at which the surface of the wood releases moisture. In parallel, there must be precise temperatures to accelerate the diffusion process of pulling moisture from the center of the wood to its surface.

These variables must all be controlled simultaneously and in cooperation to ensure a high-quality product that achieves the desired moisture content.

When done correctly, lumber will achieve an on-target moisture percentage, giving sawmills a higher-quality yield and therefore higher marginal revenue. Inaccurate controls, however, can cause the quality of the board to suffer. When air circulation is too slow, the drying rate is slower than necessary, and mould could develop on the surface of lumber. On the other hand, if air circulation is too fast, surface checking and other drying defects can develop. In terms of humidity, if it is too low in the early stages of drying, it can lead to excessive shrinking, resulting in surface and end checking. Outside of 18

quality, poor control of variables can lead to incorrect specified-moisture content, the level of dryness necessary for a particular use of wood.

Greater Control Inside Your Kiln

A simple and cost-effective improvement that can have a significant impact is the introduction of automated humidity sensors. E+E Elektronik’s high-end humidity and temperature sensor with smart relay, which allows for remote control of the electrical circuit (EE-310,) was purposefully designed for industrial uses such as in sawmills and kiln-drying environments. This sensor accurately measures humidity, and the smart relay can adjust the temperature as needed, just as an operator doing manual checks would. The ability to withstand up to 180°C (365°F) paired with its proprietary corrosion-resistant coating makes it the most advanced and effective sensor for kiln-drying applications.

In addition to lumber with fewer defects due to weather, installation of sensors boasts long-term financial gains. For example: A sawmill scraps 250 thousand board feet. The current price of lumber is $380.90 per thousand board feet, as it was recently, and the sawmill’s gross margin is estimated at 50 per cent. This results in a whopping $47,612.50 loss.

Incorporating sensors can reduce scrap by as much as 80 per cent for a savings of more than $38,000 using the above example. Furthermore, sawmills can realize considerable labour cost savings due to the automation of data collection and can shift those labour resources to focus on increasing production.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

White Paper Explores Automation Using Sensors

In E+E Elektronik’s latest white paper, “Automating Simple Tasks Using Sensors,” we calculate how the cost of the sensor investment can be recuperated within one month, when accounting for staff turnover and the savings from a lower scrapping rate. For those sawmills that already have sensors implemented into their drying process, they can still reap financial rewards from upgrading their sensors to ones with higher accuracy and durability.

When choosing a sensor, it’s important to consider long-term stability, accurate measurements in a harsh environment, robustness, high resistance against pollutants, and the opportunity for easy, periodic maintenance and calibration.

For more information about E+E Elektronik sensors and technology, check out our website at epluse.com ___________________________________ Matthew Nemeth is Managing Director in the U.S. for E + E Elektronik, an Austrian-based Internet-of-Things technology company that develops and manufactures sensors, transmitters, hand-helds and data loggers for air velocity, CO2, relative humidity, dew point, flow, moisture in oil, pressure and temperature. E+E operates a nationally accredited calibration lab and is appointed to maintain the National Standard for Humidity and Air Flow Speed in Austria.

E+E Elektronik, USA 847-495-7744 office.us@epluse.co

REPURPOSING

RESOURCEFUL

smallsawmilling

Ontario sawmiller Ken Zoschke takes resourcefulness to a whole other level with his operation in eastern Ontario; the power unit for his mill operation is the cab and chassis of a repurposed International truck with a L10 Cummins engine.

By George Fullerton riving on Highway 60 in eastern Ontario, the log pile identifying the Zoschke Sawmill yard is barely visible from the road.

The millyard is dominated by piles of cedar logs, and Ken Zoschke emerges from the mill with a welcoming smile and engaging conversation.

Zoschke operates his mill single-handed, and in addition to sawing for another local lumber producer, Gerard Ostroskie, he also does a bit of custom sawing for people in his local community. The mill is located in the community of Alice, in Ontario’s Laurentian Township. Alice is about 20 kilometres southwest of Pembroke, the major centre for the region.

Zoschke explained that he began sawmilling working alongside his father in their family-owned small scale sawmill.

“I quit school when I was 16, and my father decided we should have a sawmill to keep me occupied,” he says. “So we

set out for a drive through the countryside, looking for parts to build a mill.

“We found a Corinth American carriage, which had been rebuilt following a mill fire. The carriage was originally air operated, but I converted it to hydraulic.

We picked up other pieces, mostly from mill junk piles, and brought it home and assembled it all into a working sawmill.”

The Zoschke Sawmill is a truly a tribute to its owner’s ingenuity, and creativity.

The mill’s power unit is a cab and chassis of a repurposed International truck with a L10 Cummins engine. The truck sits backed into the mill between the log deck and the lumber deck. The truck’s drive shaft extends over the differential, into the mill, and drives hydraulic motors.

Zoschke explained that his previous power unit was a Louisville truck with an L10 engine, which had come to the end of its life. He eventually sourced the ‘new’ truck, backed it into place and hooked it up to his mill.

He required the L10 specifically because

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

D

he installs a governor on the engine, to get proper power delivery as the mill’s power requirement rises and falls.

“There are lots of newer computer-controlled engines available, but I was unsure if the governor would operate properly with a computer engine,” he explained.

“I put the governor on the engine and dropped the transmission in seventh gear and smoothly drove it around the yard.

It worked very nicely, so I backed it into position, hooked up the driveshaft extension—and went to work.”

The truck engine operates at 1350 rpm, which drives the radial hydraulic motor and gives the saw around 600 rpm. The carriage travel is generated through a CharLynn orbital hydraulic motor. Zoschke said the Char-Lynn provides good torque characteristics, along with instant start and stop.

The circular head saw is 52 inches in diameter, which handles most of the logs to page 22

smallsawmilling

Ken Zoschke (right) operates his mill single-handed. His mill operation includes a modified Corinth American carriage (above, with cedar logs).

The carriage had been rebuilt following a mill fire. The carriage was originally air operated, but Zoschke converted it to hydraulic.

The Zoschke mill is all about ingenuity. The mill’s power unit is a cab and chassis of a repurposed International truck with a L10 Cummins engine. The truck sits backed into the mill between the log deck and the lumber deck. The truck’s drive shaft extends over the differential, into the mill, and drives hydraulic motors.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

21

smallsawmilling from page 20 which come in the yard. On occasion, he will use his chainsaw to finish the opening cut on a large diameter log.

The mill’s edger is a Morbark unit, which consists of two adjusting horizontal circular saws. The blades make the edging cuts prior to the headsaw cut.

Zoschke understands that the Morbark edger design dates back to the 1970s, and that Morbark mills were very popular throughout the Ottawa Valley region— and many of them continue to operate in smaller mills.

The Morbark edger saws adjust for different widths and move out of the way for the opening face cut.

All carriage functions from log turning, taper, log dogging and carriage travel are controlled by a series of hydraulic control valves/levers.

Zoschke saws a large log, or several small logs, then leaves the sawyer station, and takes several steps over to the trim station where he sends slabs out the end of the mill on a live belt, and lines lumber up for the trim saws.

“Gerard Ostroskie, who I cut for, only

wants one end squared up and wants me to leave as much trim on the piece as possible so he has more options for the final trim, to increase the final grade,” explained Zoschke.

Lumber is segregated by thickness, and piled into random length bundles.

Ostroskie picks up bundles as they are completed, which keeps Zoschke’s inventory and the need to store lumber low.

Logs are handled from pile to the skidway with a New Holland farm tractor.

A vintage Michigan loader can also move logs, but is used primarily for loading bundles of lumber.

Slabs are bundled and delivered to Killaloe Wood Products where they are ground for mulch.

“I made up the tipping mechanism for the end of the slab belt, using a brake pot from the front axle of the truck. The air supply is from the compressor on the engine.

The slabs land in a cradle and when it fills up, I strap it and move it with the loader.”

Sawdust is picked up by farmers.

“They come with loader tractor and trailers, and they keep it cleaned up pretty good. I don’t charge for the sawdust—I am just glad I don’t have to get rid of it.”

There is no cooler on the mill’s hydraulic system. “I have never had any issue with the oil heating,” he says. “If the atmospheric temperature gets to the point when that might be an issue, I am not sawing. I will saw when it is cooler, and just lay off in the heat of the day.”

Zoschke’s single handed mill daily production will average about 1500 board feet per day, “depending on log quality, and if there are any breakdowns”.

Logs are scaled by Ostroskie as soon as they are delivered into the Zoschke mill yard. Zoschke is paid mill scale for the sawn lumber.

The Zoschke mill, evidently, relies more on ingenuity, than on salesmen, for parts or service.

“When I need a part to replace something broken or worn completely out, I go to my junk pile and look for something that resembles what I need, and then I make it fit and go back to work.”

Being resourceful, and having loads of ingenuity, were clearly part of the this mill operation when it was first set up—and that continues right through to the present day, under Ken Zoschke’s watchful eye.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

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Quebeclogging The newest equipment to the Forivco logging operation: a Tigercat 822D and a Tigercat 1075.

All in the

FAMILY

The Forvico/Boisverco logging/woodworking operation is truly a family enterprise, with the children and grandchildren of Marc and Julie Vigneault involved in the business.

By George Fullerton orvico is a family based stump-todump harvest logging business based in Plessisville, Quebec, with a strong family focus.

Marc Vigneault established himself as a logging contractor in 1979, working with a John Deere 440 cable skidder. In 1993, Marc and Julie Vigneault established the family business as Forvico, and over the years brought their sons Marc-Andre, Dany, Christian and Alain into the family enterprise.

Through the years, Julie has continued to be an intricate part of the family business, overseeing office work and sharing input on business strategy.

Marc-Andre joined the family business in 1997, about the time the first mechanical harvester started working on Forvico operations. Dany joined the business in 2002, and Alain the following year.

Christian chose an alternative career and became a technician working with cattle genetics for Boviteq, a subsidiary of Semex, based in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.

In 2010, the Vigneaults decided it was time to separate the business office from Marc and Julie’s home. Their search for a suitable building led them to a commercial building which housed a woodworking shop, on the outskirts of Plessisville. After they made the deal for the real estate, they took a hard look at the woodworking enterprise and decided that it would, in fact, make a good addition to the family enterprises.

Consequently, Boisverco was established and their son Alain became the manager and shop foreman. Christian also dedicates his talents to Boisverco, when extra help is required to complete a project.

Boisverco has only a few permanent employees, but relies on the contribution of the extended Vigneault family, including Marc and Julie’s sixteen grandchildren, assisting with custom woodworking projects, from time to time. It is clearly evident that the Vigneault Family is immensely proud of the Boisverco operation, and seeing high end value added products generated from lumber

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

F

produced from harvest operations like Forvico.

Boisverco carries a large and diverse inventory of kiln dried native hardwood lumber, in addition to hardwood species from the U.S. (white oak, walnut, cherry etc), which are processed in regional sawmills. In addition to utilizing lumber in the shop, Boisverco also retails lumber to other local businesses and crafters.

The shop is equipped with high quality saws, planers, moulders, end matcher, sander, glue racks, and dedicated paint room. One completed project was a series of cooling racks destined for a bakery chain based in Toronto.

Plessisville is situated about midway between Montreal and Quebec City, about 30 kilometres south of the St. Lawrence River. Forvico harvesting operations are generally within a two-hour commute from Plessisville.

Forvico operations are in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest zone, which is a transitional zone between hardwooddominated forest to the south and boreal forest to the north. The Great Lakes-

Quebeclogging St. Lawrence forest zone supports a very diverse tree species mix. The sawmilling industry is equally diverse with both hardwood and softwood, and pressed board, mills scattered throughout southern Quebec.

Forvico’s initial venture into mechanized harvesting was with a John Deere 690E excavator conversion. Forwarding was initially handled with a Tree Farmer F4 and later a Rotobec F2000.

In 2012, Forvico purchased their first Tigercat machine, a 1075B forwarder. The Vigneaults were impressed with the performance of the forwarder, and in 2015 added a Tigercat 822 harvester to the fleet. Since then, they have added two more 822 Tigercats and in 2022, a new 1075 forwarder.

In 2016 Forvico added trucking to their operation, with an International tractor and a Trailex B-train trailer. Currently, the trucking fleet consists of three International tractors, each pulling Trailex trailers equipped with Rotobec loaders. The trailers all run on super single tires, which perform well and reduce the amount of mud the trucks carry on to public highways.

The harvest operations are supervised

by Marc-Andre who also handles mechanical issues with the machines, and fills in as operator when required. Dany works as a full-time harvester operator and can also fill in on the forwarder when required.

Historically, this region of southern Quebec was settled and the arable land developed for agriculture, and the less desirable land remained wooded. In addition to commercial timber production on private woodlots, the region is also recognized for maple syrup production.

The forest terrain that Forvico operates in ranges from relatively flat to very steep hills.

Forvico contracts harvesting on private woodlots through different stumpage approaches. About 50 per cent of their operations are by stumpage contract developed between Forvico and the landowner. Stumpage can be agreed to be a lump sum payment for the wood on the block of land or by a percentage of the revenue by scale at the mills.

About 30 per cent of Forvico operations are by contract with private woodlot Groupement organizations. Groupements are an association of woodlot owners who join together to collectively market wood to mills, and to provide silviculture and other management activities to their membership, and sometimes to non-member woodlot owners seeking management work. Groupements employ

forestry professionals to supervise woodlot activities. Harvest and silviculture work is contracted with Groupement Agro-Forestier Lotbuniere-Megantic. Groupements represent more than a thousand woodlot owners in the Plessisville region, and south to the New Hampshire/Vermont borders.

Another 20 per cent of Forvico operations are on land that Forvico purchases.

After harvest is complete, Forvico typically sells the cutover land. In southern Quebec there is a strong demand for cutover land by city residents seeking property for recreational uses including cottages and hunting.

About 70 per cent of Forvico operations are clearcuts, 20 per cent are commercial thinning, and 10 per cent

are represented as natural regeneration release cuts.

Forvico has developed a reputation for plantation thinning, and has been at it long enough to have done second thinning interventions on some plantations. Since the 1960s, many Quebec woodlot owners have developed spruce, pine and fir plantations, either to regenerate cutovers or to reforest unused agriculture land.

The majority of Forvico’s log delivery to various mills is within an hour to ninety minutes away from their harvest operations. Forvico delivers hardwood logs to two hardwood sawmills, a series of six softwood sawmills, one cedar mill and to page 26

Marc Vigneault (top photo). It’s clear that the Vigneault Family, from Mark and Julie, down to their children and grandchildren, are proud of the Forvico/Boisverco logging/woodworking operation. From left to right: Christian, Marc-Andre, Malik, Julie, Marc, Coralie, Dany, and Alain.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

25

Quebeclogging from page 25 two mills which saw tamarack.

Currently, Forvico is working with its original Tigercat 1075 forwarder (20 tonne), along with a new Tigercat 1075C forwarder purchased in October 2022.

The harvester side of the operation incudes a Tigercat 822D with a modified Log Max 7000XT head, a Tigercat 822D with a Tigercat T570 head and a Tigercat 822C equipped with a Waratah 415 head. The 822 Tigercats, with their compact structure, can fit and operate effectively on narrow trails, and still have the power and stability to handle big timber.

On a recent visit, the Forvico operation was split to two sites. The two 822 harvesters (Tigercat and Waratah heads) were operating on two neighbouring woodlots near Megantic, southwest of Plessisville.

The cutover retained a good deal of immature hardwoods and softwood trees, as well as emerging natural regeneration.

Machines work to form trail and take care to keep forwarders on one track across an agricultural field, to pile down wood at roadside.

On a woodlot about an hour to the east of Plessisville, their Tigercat H822D with Log Max 7000XT was operating alongside the 1075B forwarder. Forvico was just completing a harvest which selected the ‘well’ matured softwood, leaving immature

26

A truckload of Forvico studwood (above) near Megantic, NB. Forvico operations are in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest zone, which is a transitional zone between hardwood-dominated forest to the south and boreal forest to the north. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest zone supports a very diverse tree species mix. maple and other hardwood trees. This addressed the landowner’s desire to develop a maple sugar operation down the road.

As the operation neared completion, the landowner was left with a well distributed stocking of young maples. Forvico had built a temporary stream crossing to protect the water quality in a stream adjacent to the public road.

On the woodlot next door, Forvico had just completed a second intervention thinning in a spruce plantation.

Observing the second thinning, it was evident that Forvico took a great deal of care in the operation. Crop trees were evenly spaced and there was virtually no machine damage to the crop trees. Also evident was the versatility and agility of the Tigercat 822 and the operator’s talents. Compliments were also in order for the forwarder operator for avoiding contact with crop trees and assembling tidy, well situated piles of product for the truckers. Forvico had also supervised major truck road improvement in order to access and complete management harvesting throughout the woodlot.

The Log Max 700XT head has been heavily modified. Michel Thibeault, sales rep for Wajax Quebec, explained that the Vigneaults’ long experience with mechanized harvesting allows them to see opportunities where equipment modification will improve productivity, and their mechanical and design work is first rate.

The Tigercat 570 head has not received much enhancement, with Marc-Andre Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

pointing out that it is a very heavy duty product, which requires less maintenance than other harvest heads. He points to the large and tough measuring wheel which works extremely well in all weather conditions, and the continuous 360-degree rotation as a couple of the attributes which make the 570 a great performing product.

Dany noted that the newest Tigercat 822D brings all the size, power and stability characteristics as the older model 822 machine, and additionally some advances including cushions on all the hydraulic cylinders, which makes it a very comfortable machine to operate, and in the long term reduces wear on the machine.

Marc-Andre declared that along with the great performance they get with Tigercat machines, they also see the great support they get from Wajax and Tigercat as very important for the business.

“When we have an issue with equipment, we get fast and accurate responses from Wajax and Tigercat,” he says.

“Wajax in Quebec City keep a large and comprehensive parts inventory, and if the part is not at Quebec City, the factory in Ontario can get a part to us within a day. We get great follow-up from the Tigercat factory on any issue we share with them. And they are very good on providing us with continuous technical updates on the equipment we run,” he added.

This all helps to keep what is a thriving family business operating, with many Vigneault family members involved, moving forward.

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eastcoastsawmilling

Living a

SAWMILLING DREAM

Daniel Chassé is literally living the dream these days, running a sawmill business that produces high quality wood products from less commercially popular species.

Daniel Chassé decided to focus on less commercially popular species, in particular, cedar, tamarack, pine and poplar, with his mill operation.

By George Fullerton cierie Chassé was created out of Daniel Chassé’s dream to have his own business and be his own boss.

Growing up in Kedgewick in northwestern New Brunswick, Chassé gained a good deal of mechanical and equipment operating experience working alongside his father, Armand, in the family backhoe/ gravel truck business.

When it came time to build his own business, Chassé decided he would like to work with lumber and wood manufacturing.

In 1999, he launched his business with the purchase of a Wood-Mizer portable sawmill. Rather than build a business on the portable aspect of the equipment, he installed the sawmill in a large wood framed building—basically in the backyard of the family home. Chassé hung out

his Scierie shingle and began producing lumber.

In addition to the Wood-Mizer, Chassé also purchased a Valley edger, recognizing that it would increase the overall production of his operation.

When the diesel engine on the mill expired after five years of heavy use, Chassé relied on his mechanical aptitude to adapt an electric motor to operate the mill.

“The electric motor made the operation a lot cleaner, quieter and resulted in better air quality in the building—it worked very well,” commented Chassé.

Realizing the spruce/pine/fir side of lumber production was well served by large, high production sawmills throughout the region, Chassé decided to focus on less commercially popular species, that typically went looking for markets, or were left standing on harvest operations because of lack of demand by mills.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

S

In particular, cedar, tamarack, pine and poplar logs often had only limited, or no regional markets.

Chassé has built a strong business relationship with a handful of contractors who operate on private woodlots, who appreciate the market for a good deal of the less-popular tree species that come off their operations. Contractors contact Chassé when they have logs available, and deliver directly into the Chassé mill yard.

The mill’s product line continues to include interior panelling, flooring, mouldings, log cabin siding, squared timbers, and for a period of time the business included assembled cabins. Chassé and his crew would saw the necessary lumber and then assemble the cabins inside his spacious sawmill building. Cabins to page 30

eastcoastsawmilling from page 28 were transported to customers’ lots by trailer. In addition to selling to individuals, some cabins were supplied to fishing camp operations. In 2000, Scierie Chassé produced 15 cabins. While the cabin construction business has stopped, the production of siding, panelling and trim has increased.

In order to produce high quality flooring and panelling products, Chassé required kiln drying and moulding and end matching capacity.

The kiln drying demand was met with the purchase of a small kiln based on a highway trailer. Chassé set up a Wood Doctor outdoor furnace in a small building adjacent to the kiln, which supplied heat for the drying process. The furnace was hand fed waste wood from the milling operation, supplemented with firewood logs.

While cost effective from an investment perspective, the kiln schedule performance was less than optimum because of inconsistent (long cold nights) heat delivery.

After the furnace building and furnace was destroyed by a fire, Chassé upgraded the kiln operation with a propane-fired burner.

“Propane gives us a constant controlled heat,” he explained. “Since it is automatically controlled, we don’t have to dedicate time to handling wood and feeding the furnace. It’s made the kiln much more efficient.”

Dry kiln controls were supplied by Innovative Control Systems, based in Bancroft, Ontario.

Chassé purchased a Holytek moulder to transform dried lumber into mouldings/trim products and flooring/paneling products. An end matcher and a Holytek

Daniel Chassé (above) in the sawyer’s cab. In 2015, Chassé made a major upgrade to his operation with the purchase of a Select double-cut sawmill equipped with an electric motor. sander rounds out the equipment line for flooring, moulding and paneling production.

Chassé has developed his business skills along with skills to saw and machine lumber. He and his staff of five people have the talent and the equipment to produce very high quality products. While cedar, tamarack and poplar are not utilized for frame construction, they do milling and follow-up machining/processing on these species to produce very attractive products which have their own particular and distinctive grain patterns, and visual tones, that add appealing accents to homes.

In 2015, Chassé made a major upgrade

to his operation with the purchase of a Select double-cut sawmill equipped with an electric motor. The double-cut band blade is 6” wide, running on 36” band wheels. Power is delivered by a 75 hp electric motor. The mill features hydraulic components including log turner and setworks. Cutting speed is spec’ed at three feet per second.

“The Select mill allowed us to double our sawing capacity,” he says. “It works very well and we are very happy with its performance.” to page 32

The mill equipment line-up includes a Morbark debarker (above) and a Morbark chipper to handle green slabs and trim. The chips are sold, along with sawdust, as biomass feedstock to the Groupe Savoie hardwood sawmill in St. Quentin, NB. Trim material from kiln dried lumber is packed in large tote bags and sold to households in and around Kedgewick.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

eastcoastsawmilling from page 30 Chassé has maintained his position as chief sawyer in the operation. The Select mill is operated from a sawyer cabin which features a video monitor that provides views of various operating centres in and around the mill.

Along with the new Select mill, Chassé added a new infeed deck which is loaded with a Volvo wheel loader through a garage door. The garage door remans closed when the weather is cold or wet, keeping it comfortable in the building. For the past couple of years, they have used a Morbark rosserhead debarker set up in the mill yard, a short step from the log infeed, for log debarking.

A pressure washer takes up station adjacent to the log infeed. In addition to being available for cleaning mobile equipment, it is sometimes used to wash ends of logs that show a lot of dirt and grit.

Clean ends make for longer use of blades between filings.

The principal yard machine is a Volvo L70H, from dealer, Strongco, which has a branch in Moncton. In addition to handling logs to the debarker and mill infeed, the loader handles snow plowing through the winter.

Mill equipment also includes a Morbark chipper to handle green slabs and trim.

The chips are sold, along with sawdust, as biomass feedstock to the Groupe Savoie hardwood sawmill in St. Quentin, NB. Trim material from kiln dried lumber is packed in large tote bags and sold to households in and around Kedgewick.

The sawmill facility also includes a dry lumber storage building with capacity for 8,000 board feet.

Finished products are sold regionally, primarily in New Brunswick. Customers typically pick up their order from the mill.

Chassé has continually worked with

white pine, selling it almost exclusively as interior paneling. In recent years he has been supplying kiln dried white pine to a door and window manufacturer in Moncton. When that customer requested product beyond what Chassé could supply from the white pine delivered by his contractor suppliers, he applied to the provincial government for a Crown land allocation. His efforts eventually secured him a one-million board foot allocation.

Chassé says that while he is grateful for the opportunity to buy Crown wood, his Moncton customer has requested that they supply them with six million board feet of white pine. Chassé said that his efforts to increase the Crown allocation have not been successful since most of the white pine allocation in the province is dedicated to a major licensee.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

Along with the new Select mill, Chassé added a new infeed deck which is loaded with a Volvo wheel loader. The Volvo L70H, from dealer Strongco, which has a branch in Moncton, is their principal yard machine. In addition to handling logs to the debarker and mill infeed, the loader handles snow plowing through the winter.

Scierie Chassé’s sales office is located along the side of the mill building. The interior is paneled with a variety of wood species, providing a quick and ready way to show customers the aesthetic characteristics of the different woods. The sales office also carries a large inventory of Livos Canada stains, oils and waxes to provide the finishing touch for Scierie Chassé trim, flooring and paneling products.

Chassé shared that COVID brought a significant increase in his retail business, with lots of home owners buying his products to do household building and renovation projects. Since COVID has levelled off, demand for his products has only eased somewhat. Chassé, along with his crew, look forward to continuing to provide their customers with very unique and attractive finished products.

Continuous wood drying greatness

“They further the development of lumber drying” Moelven, Norway

“A faster and better way to dry lumber” Pleasant River, USA

“A partner in our development” Setra, Sweden

“The TC kiln saves up to 50% energy, compared to traditional batch kilns”

“Energy efficiency is optimized and the carbon footprint is minimized” Ha-Sa, Finland

JD Irving, Canada

“An automated drying process with high capacity”

“The TC kiln offers superior capacity” Hasslacher Group, Austria

Egger Brilon, Germany

Valutec’s state-of-the-art TC continuous meets the highest standards of drying quality with minimal moisture content variation and risk of cracks. They also provide fast drying processes, low energy consumption and high flexibility. All covered in a robust stainless-steel construction with no need for re-skinning.

No wonder they have become the most exciting choice for future-oriented sawmills in North America. Read more at valutec.ca

Meet us at Forest Product and Machinery Expo, Stand 943

productfeature

How to choose the right manufacturing partner for your sprocket needs Gear up for success: finding the perfect manufacturing partner for your sprocket needs.

I

n the dynamic world of manufacturing, selecting the right manufacturing partner is crucial for the success of any business. This is especially true in the sprocket industry, where precision, quality, and efficiency are paramount. Whether you are a start-up or an established company, finding a reliable and compatible manufacturing partner is essential for achieving your production goals.

First, let’s start by exploring the essential factors to consider when choosing a manufacturing partner in the sprocket industry. This checklist will empower you to initiate a successful search and pinpoint the perfect match for your requirements.

Following this, we will use a case study on DROP Sprockets to assess how these elements are implemented by a particular partner, offering valuable insights for com-

parative analysis and aiding you in making informed decisions.

Let’s start with eight key factors you’ll need to consider:

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE

When evaluating potential manufacturing partners, it is important to consider their expertise and experience in the sprocket industry. Look for a partner who truly understands the functionality you are looking to achieve with your sprockets. A manufacturing partner with a thorough knowledge of your specific requirements will be better equipped to deliver high-quality products that meet your specifications.

MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES Assess the manufacturing capabilities of potential partners, including equipment,

technology, and facilities. Ensure they can produce precise and high-quality sprockets.

Evaluate production capacity, expertise, and adaptability. Consider quality control, certifications, and regulatory compliance. Assess supply chain management for raw material sourcing, inventory management, and logistics coordination. These factors impact manufacturing operations and efficiency.

FLEXIBILITY AND CUSTOMIZATION

The ability to accommodate flexibility and customization is essential in the manufacturing process. Unexpected challenges can arise, and your original product vision may evolve as you learn more from an engineering standpoint. Choose a partner who can adapt to changes and provide customizable solutions. However,

productfeature be cautious about long lead times often associated with customized or Made-ToOrder (MTO) products.

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

Effective communication and collaboration are crucial for a successful manufacturing partnership. Choose a partner who values open and transparent communication, actively listens to your needs and concerns, and demonstrates a commitment to providing regular updates and progress reports throughout the manufacturing process. This ensures that any issues or adjustments can be addressed promptly, leading to smoother operations and a higher likelihood of meeting your manufacturing goals.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Efficient supply chain management is essential to ensure timely delivery and minimize delays. Consider a manufacturing partner who follows a MTO approach, where production begins only after receiving a confirmed customer order. This pull-type supply chain strategy ensures that the customer’s demand triggers the item production process.

IN-HOUSE ENGINEERING TEAM

Often overlooked, having an in-house engineering team can be beneficial for a smooth transition from design to manufacturing. It allows for better collaboration and problem-solving, ensuring that the manufacturing team understands the engineering requirements. Additionally, combining services with one provider can lead to potential cost savings and streamlined processes, ultimately providing your operations with higher value.

LOCATION

Consider the location of your manufacturing partner strategically. Take into

account the potential impact of import/ export supply chains, such as longer lead times and increased transportation costs.

Cross-border manufacturing may also entail additional charges for import and transport. Assessing the proximity and logistical advantages of the partner’s location can optimize operational efficiency and mitigate potential challenges associated with distance and international trade.

CREDIBILITY

Research the credibility and reputation of potential manufacturing partners.

Look for online reviews, testimonials, and feedback from their customers. A solid reputation indicates that the company is reliable and trustworthy.

With all this to consider, let’s take a closer look at our case study, using DROP Sprockets as the example: DROP Sprockets is renowned for their expertise and experience, specializing in sprocket manufacturing with complete design and engineering control, built on a 67-year manufacturing heritage. Their focus on understanding functionality and specific requirements ensures top-notch products that meet the specifications of their customers. DROP Sprockets caters to the MTO market with their flexibility and customization. They adapt to unexpected challenges, offering tailor-made solutions.

Open and transparent communication is their mantra, fostering effective collaboration with customers.

Efficient supply chain management is also a strength. DROP Sprockets follows a made-to-order approach, minimizing waste and ensuring timely delivery. With their in-house engineering team, they ensure a smooth transition from design to manufacturing straight through to delivery, repeatedly saving costs and streamlining processes.

Location is always a consideration and

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

with DROP Sprockets having facilities on both sides of the American/Canadian border, this allows for fast and cost-effective domestic shipping and delivery, reducing lead times and transportation costs.

DROP Sprockets’ strong reputation in the industry speaks volumes about their commitment to excellence and innovation. Customer testimonials show their trust in DROP Sprockets for expertise, efficient supply chain management, and dedication to meeting their requirements.

Choosing the right manufacturing partner in the sprocket industry is a critical decision that can significantly impact your business’s success. By considering these factors, taking the time to research and assess multiple partners, as well as seek recommendations from trusted sources, you’ll keep you and your company on the right track. A reliable manufacturing partner will not only provide high-quality sprockets but also contribute to the growth and efficiency of your business.

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the ideal manufacturing partner for your sprocket needs, careful evaluation is essential. The case study clearly demonstrates that DROP Sprockets stands out as a dependable and experienced option, offering top-notch products to enhance the growth and efficiency of your business. Utilize this guide as a reference for selecting your next manufacturing partner, and don’t hesitate to reach out to DROP Sprockets for Made-To-Order (MTO) sprockets. By considering these factors, conducting thorough research, and seeking recommendations from reliable sources, you can ensure that you and your company stay on the right track. ___________________________________ This article was supplied by DROP Sprockets (www.dropsprockets.com).

35

THE

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

Adopting reforestation and forest management practices to address major issues putting forest health and maximum value at risk

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI ecent events—such as the most devastating wild fire season in Canadian history—which to some degree is a consequence of a changing climate, has put forest health and its maximum value at risk.

Historically, Canadian forest health has frequently faced similar challenges, but they have been overcome by adapting appropriate forest management practices. That same effort is needed now, given how our changing climate is impacting the health of our forests.

A good example of a past national initiative implemented to mitigate a challenge to forest health and maximizing its value was the reforestation backlog program of the 1980s and 1990s (Forest Development and Partnership Agreements in Forestry) to address a lack of maintenance and sustainability of the natural forest mix. Major initiatives were launched, combining the resources of the Government of Canada, and provincial and territorial governments, to address the issue of maintaining the forest’s values such as its natural species mix, size, scale and occupancy across various sites in Canada.

One of the main issues at the time was related to the reduction in volumes and tolerance of softwood species. They had establishment issues as it related to natural regeneration after harvesting activities. There was a noticeable reduction of softwood components in the forest mix. Forest development agreements primarily between the federal government and provinces resulted in a national initiative to address the dwindling softwood component in the forest by stimulating activity on the ground that advanced site management practices. This program was successful in recovering the distribution and production of the softwood component in the forest mix across Canada.

Today and since the turn of the century, the impact on forest health resulting from a changing climate has become evident with fluctuations in temperatures throughout the year, variation in snowpack and summer moisture, and wind and temperature extremes.

This has resulted in pathogens and pests, as well as vegetation competition, some of which are exotic, that would not normally be associated with these types of forest conditions. But because of a changing climate, they have adapted and established themselves within Canadian forests, impacting them in a negative manner. This has also resulted in single species stands becoming more susceptible to wild fire, as is quite evident this year, more so than the volume and intensity of wild fires that would naturally occur had these changing climate issues not occurred.

“We now need a major movement toward adapting our management practices, not by completely changing what we are doing now, but taking our novel practices, ingenuity and resources as it relates to management skills and expertise, and applying them in the forest in a manner that will minimize the risk to social and economic values while maintaining forest health,” says Derek Sidders, Program Manager Technology Development and Transfer at the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC).

One of the main goals should be forest diversity, including biodiversity in combination with a healthy forest that can sustain an economic component, providing quality material with valuable attributes for solid wood products, composites, and pulp and paper products.

“We have also developed the most advanced fire behavior and intelligence systems in the world, mimicked and adopted by many other countries, and have a tonne of expertise on the ground as it relates to forest and fire management,” says Sidders.

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R

This includes local management expertise distributed right across Canada. Many have been dabbling in novel treatments and managements that have enhanced their ability to manage their preferred species and/or habitats to maintain a healthy and economically valuable forest resource for their local communities, company employees, and the public.

The Canadian Wood Fibre Centre/Canadian Forest Service’s primary mandate is to protect and maintain forest values for Canadians. As such, they have developed a significant research catalogue related to tweaking various management practices to maximize value and health while minimizing vulnerability to the variety of climate, weather, and physical issues challenging the maintenance of a long term cover crop. There are many opportunities to learn from the legacy and historical demonstrations, trials and research studies developed over decades by individuals working within the CWFC/CFS research, forest stakeholder, and forest management networks.

Furthermore, the Two Billion Tree Program and other Government of Canada and partner tree planting and habitat and tree planting enhancement programs contribute to the adoption of climate change mitigation and adaptation practices and programs.

Fundamentally, it will also take a commitment from commercial consumers of the forest to adopt and apply proven, novel initiatives to maintain a healthy and resilient forest, given the challenges presented by a changing climate in today’s world.

For more information, contact Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca or Tim Keddy at tim.keddy@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

High Efficiency Softwood Kilns

Flexible Energy Options including; Heat Pump, Indirect-Gas, & Steam/Hot Water.

Industry Leading Kiln Controls.

Turn-Key Installation Packages.

Learn More 12 Stevens Road Brewer, ME 04412 (800) 777-6953 kilnsales@nyle.com www.nyle.com

TECHUPDATE

By Tony Kryzanowski

Wood Dry Kilns and Technology E+E Elektronik

For more than three decades, E+E Elektronik has been manufacturing high quality digital sensors that measure environmental factors for industrial applications like wood kilns.

E+E’s digital sensors address all three principal factors—humidity, temperature and air circulation—for the highest quality wood drying. The stainless steel encased EE310 and EE75 sensors provide the most accurate readings, says the company, and can withstand temperatures up 180 degrees C. (356 degrees F.).

E + E Elektronik says that customers can instantly lower their scrap rate, operator costs and energy waste with this powerful combination that pays for itself in less than a year, and lasts at least 10 years.

With the ability to be linked to the kiln, the sensors can initiate a sequence of changes, like turning off the heater, opening vents or increasing fan speed, the same way an operator would.

Simply put, these digital sensors take the place of a wet-bulb system, perform the calculations continuously and autonomously, and provide accurate and reliable results, ensuring the highest quality product, says the company. www.epluse.com

Brunner-Hildebrand

Brunner-Hildebrand, located in Tennessee, has many different types of lumber dry kilns in its large product portfolio and a long and successful history. The new Hildebrand Continuous Kiln (HCK-series) has a unidirectional feed with an individual zone design, which, in combination with the most modern wood moisture measurement, allows for the best quality in a continuous drying process.

In the HCK-series, in contrast to the older development stages of continuous kilns, lumber packages are transported through different drying zones in the longitudinal direction. This enables separate and independent drying zones that are individually 38

designed and equipped with powerful intermediate heaters. The unique GreenKilns system from Brunner-Hildebrand ensures that the individual drying zones work together in a thermal compound, which optimizes energy efficiency and drying time.

Each zone is equipped with temperature and humidity measurement on both sides, supplemented by temperature measurement on the booster coils. The intelligent software knows how quickly and evenly the individual packages dry based on the change in temperature and humidity, and can intervene accordingly. These findings are specified and checked by the weight measurement built into the kiln carts. Together with the stored database, the current wood moisture content can be determined.

Brunner-Hildebrand says that it offers even more technical features and, with its new HCK-series together with its wellknown reliability and experience, it has a great solution for medium-sized and large sawmills. www.brunner-hildebrand.com

Valutec

As a leading developer and leader in continuous kilns, Valutec says that it has delivered more than 1500 continuous kilns to sawmills around the world. The latest development is the “TC continuous kiln”. It is a sustainable state-of-the-art kiln that combines high capacity and flexibility with excellent quality and low energy consumption, says the company.

The TC kiln is probably the market’s most sustainable timber kiln, according to the company. Constructed of stainless steel, and resistant to thermal expansion and fatigue, the kiln has superior longevity and requires minimal maintenance. Studies shows that Valutec’s stainless steel TC continuous kiln emits 23 tonnes less CO2 per year than the corresponding kiln built in aluminum, it says. That amount of CO2 is about as much as three hectares of coniferous forest absorb in a year. www.valutec.ca

USNR

USNR’s UniFlow kiln uses the same automated approach as Counter-Flow kilns, but lumber tracks move in the same direction

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

techupdate instead of opposite directions, achieving increases in throughput and lumber quality. It acts as a combination pre-dryer, kiln, and equalizer that smooths and reduces the energy required to dry lumber, allowing moisture content to equalize and achieve a low standard deviation comparable to Counter-Flow kilns. The unidirectional process provides an ergonomic mill flow with fewer hydraulic units. www.usnr.com

Mühlböck

A belt dryer with an annual capacity of 112,000 tons, to be commissioned in 2024 for Moelven, Scandinavia, is the largest belt dryer Mühlböck has built to date.

To ensure the reliable and energy efficient drying of sawdust and wood chips, Mühlböck revolutionized belt drying technology, with its efficient 1003 Premium Heat Recovery system, making energy savings of up to 50 per cent possible compared to traditional drying systems.

As with their continuous kilns, Mühlböck uses the thermal energy in the final drying zone’s exhaust steam to heat the pre-drying zone.

“Thanks to our willingness to continually improve, we have turned from a new competitor in the belt dryer sector into a technology leader,” says CEO Richard Mühlböck. “By being the first manufacturer in the world to put our revolutionary heat recovery system in a belt dryer, as well as many innovations in the areas of chip drying, we have set a milestone,” he said. www.drykilns.ca

EBI

Since 1995, EBI says that it has been the top quality brand of high temperature, totally enclosed, dry kiln duty motors of durability and long-term reliability.

From 1 to 30 hp, 900, 1200 and 1800 rpm, EBI motors are used by batch lumber dry kiln manufacturers and sawmills in North and South America, Europe and Australia.

EBI dry kiln duty motors are available through a North American distributor network for quick availability. They are built in NEMA or IEC frames for North American or European batch dry kiln users, and EBI says that they are covered by the best warranty on the market (up to three years).

EBI kiln motors are rated at 120 degrees C. (248

degrees F.) ambient temperature. They come with regreasable or sealed bearings and with custom length connection wires depending on each customer preference. The company provides a sturdy high temperature kiln motor made in Canada, and built to save maintenance time. www.ebielectric.com

BID Group

BID, with its DelTech brand, has introduced a real-time kiln moisture tracking system. Developed in collaboration with a cutting edge sensor technology provider, it has become a game changer for wood drying, says the company. Specialized sensors monitor and regulate the wood’s moisture content, enabling kilns to adjust push rates and temperature for optimal drying conditions, reducing wet or overdried wood.

There are said to be many benefits. Improved control over temperature and humidity boosts productivity and ensures consistent results. The integrated operator interface makes data easily accessible, enhancing adaptability, says BID. DelTech HMI offers high-level control and traceability for each load, including moisture information, meeting exportation standards. Operators can make informed decisions during product changes and seasonal variations, optimizing performance with fewer staff.

Innovative systems like the thermal oil system, skid filtration, and real-time kiln moisture tracking sensors exemplify BID and DelTech’s commitment to cutting-edge technology, streamlining productivity in sawmills while minimizing environmental impact, says the company. As trusted partners, BID says it empowers sawmills to maximize timber value while minimizing costs and waste. www.bidgroup.ca

Finna Sensors

Do your operators have an impact on kiln performance and profit? What impact does seasonality have on the performance of your kilns? Which kiln deserves capital to improve throughput and profit? These questions and more can be answered by the experts at Finna Sensors, says the company. As one of the lumber industry’s leading providers of moisture measurement and tracking solutions, Finna Sensors offers a range of solutions to address your needs and guide you towards process and profit optimization.

To optimize the drying process and profitability, Finna Sensors offers its wired and wireless In-kiln moisture to page 40

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

39

techupdate from page 39 systems. With kiln control integration, the company can stop/ pause the cycle or control your push-rate to achieve your target moisture content. Adding ProTrac Kiln Performance Software and the company’s scalable range of automated bundle tracking solutions provides optimal control of the kiln process, and returns value in short order.

In addition, Finna Sensors offer sawmill moisture/density sorting systems, lineal and transverse planer systems, MSR grading systems, and a biomass moisture measurement system for energy system optimization. www.finnasensors.com

American Wood Dryers

American Wood Dryers LLC has been producing quality, efficient dry kilns for the lumber industry for over 30 years, with installations throughout the world.

This includes everything from package kilns for smaller volumes of hardwoods to large volume, high throughput conifer kilns such as high temperature batch track or continuous track kilns.

Kiln structures are aluminum or steel. Enclosures are Alclad aluminum or type 304 stainless steel for some hardwoods.

American Wood Dryer’s prefabricated panel system reduces installation time and maintenance costs. Continuous kilns use a combination of steel and aluminum to optimize performance and cost.

Heat systems include hot water, steam, hot oil, and natural gas or biomass direct-fired.

Fan systems are either direct drive kiln duty motors or standard motors mounted external of the kiln chamber. Variable frequency drives can be supplied to reduce electrical cost and optimize drying schedules.

Drystar PC-based proprietary control systems or PLC systems are supplied to customer preference. www.drykilns.com

Lignomat

Value, support, quality and connection with installations and field support out of southern Indiana—these are the building blocks of Lignomat’s 40+ years of success, says the company.

The connection through technology aspect is prominent with Lignomat’s MP32 control platform.

Lignomat believes improvement and potential savings start with data.

One or more MP32’s interface with customer’s data collection and analysis

40

infrastructure using a built-in API. Single and multi-facility drying operations using, or in the hunt to integrate data analysis tools, stand to benefit from Lignomat’s MP32 Kiln Control System platform.

With MP32, the kiln control system will text and email individuals with kiln specific and condition specific updates.

Whether a kiln charge is complete or you have another event during the charge cycle, the MP32 reaches out immediately so that the correct person knows as soon as it does. www.lignomat.com

PMP Solutions

PMP WeDry is a cutting edge wood drying surveillance system that measures and improves the quality of wood drying operations. One of the key features of WeDry is its comprehensive reporting capabilities in the form of moisture distribution graphs.

By monitoring moisture content during planing, it provides essential feedback about the drying process and its impact on planing results.

Unlike conventional methods, WeDry provides intelligent color-coded displays with real-time data of individual readings of each board.

The benefits are said to be far-reaching, including reduced underdrying and over-drying, decreased drying times, improved understanding of mechanical dryer health, and the establishment of repeatable drying procedures.

Traceability and production scheduling are key elements of drying best practices. WeDry can be integrated to WeTrack and WeSchedule, making it an essential tool not only to optimize drying operations, but also to lower inventory levels, improve planer mill throughput and increase grade-out with no additional operational cost. www.pmpsolutions.ca

Incomac

Incomac is capable of providing all types of kilns for softwood and hardwood drying—track kilns, package kilns, heat treating, and thermal treating of wood for colour.

They have two product lines that are new, with emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint and providing value-for-money.

The Incomac Viscous Dissipation Kiln (model IDV Kiln) requires no external heat source, no boilers or gas burners.

This is a kiln design that uses airflow to produce heat using the concept of viscous dissipation. The term viscous dissipation refers to the conversion of mechanical energy into heat as a result of the friction between a moving fluid and a solid surface.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

techupdate In the context of drying wood, high airflow can aid in the drying process by promoting viscous dissipation.

With the Incomac MAC-Hybrid drying kiln, mills can use available electric energy in combination with a boiler—and make the most of both—to get a better drying performance.

This innovative hybrid drying kiln allows mills to increment the temperature in the kiln and save a significant amount of money, optimize the energy produced by the wood waste boiler and the condensation machine, and use the hot water produced by the boiler to speed up the drying process. www.incomac.com

Nyle Dry Kilns

Nyle Dry Kilns has launched its all-new ProDRY high temperature continuous kilns. As an industry leader, Nyle says that it has redefined lumber drying with this cutting edge series, combining European-style progressive kiln designs with its deep knowledge of the North American lumber drying industry.

These ProDRY kilns set new standards for energy efficiency, incorporating a range of innovative features never before seen in dry kilns, says the company. With advanced state-of-the-art technology, Nyle says that they deliver exceptional performance for both the hardwood and softwood markets.

Customers can customize their drying process by selecting from Nyle’s steam/hot water, gas-fired, or high temp heat pump energy options to suit their needs. The company says that customers will experience unparalleled precision and control in lumber drying like never before. kilns.nyle.com

Wagner Meters

Proven for over 50 years in hundreds of mills worldwide, Wagner’s moisture measurement systems and moisture analysis software have provided solutions to minimize wet claims and maximize profits.

Providing critical moisture quality control data, mills can also rely on these valuable tools to alleviate product degrade due to overdrying. Utilizing state-of-the-art electromagnetic wave technology, the MC4000 includes recent innovations for in-kiln moisture measurement.

The MC4000 Advanced In-Kiln Moisture Measurement System enables the kiln operator to monitor the moisture content (MC) of each charge and develop consistent drying time schedules for improved kiln performance and reduced operating costs. www.wagnermeters.com

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

41

SUPPLIERNEWSLINE Wood Technologies names Dale Brown as CEO

Wood Technologies International, a comprehensive supplier of lumber processing equipment, technology, and essential tooling, has announced that its president, Dale Brown, has been appointed CEO of the company.

Outgoing CEO Craig Tompkins will serve as a Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors of Wood Technologies to help continue to guide the company.

Brown has had a 37-year tenure with Wood Technologies and predecessor company, USNR, starting his career there in 1986 as an accounting data entry clerk. Brown was named President of Wood Technologies upon the USNR/Wood Fiber Group merger in 2021.

Tompkins helped spearhead the merger of Wood Technologies’ predecessor companies: mill automation, equipment supplier and technology system integrator USNR, and sawmill parts supplier/manufacturer Wood Fiber Group, in November 2021.

This combination of highly complementary product offerings and customer bases enabled Wood Technologies to become a leading supplier in the industry, says the company, with 1,500 employees and 30 operating sites.

Tompkins also helped lead and integrate Wood Technologies’ July 2022 acquisitions of Timber Automation, a provider of custom engineered equipment, aftermarket parts, controls and optimization systems; and The Knife Source, a manufacturer of machine knives used in waste wood chipper machines and brush chipper equipment. www.woodtechnologies.com

Tigercat introduces purpose-built 630H silviculture carrier

Logging equipment company Tigercat has contributed significantly to increased efficiencies in timber harvesting operations, and it is also now focusing on gaining efficiencies in the silviculture side of the forest industry.

Many forestry companies struggle to prepare post-harvest sites for replanting using modified ag tractors. These machines are not up to the task, often suffering from insufficient power, cooling capacity and structural durability, says Tigercat.

Tigercat recently released the 630H silviculture carrier to address these deficiencies. Based on Tigercat’s skidder platform, the machine is equipped with hydraulic connectors and several drawbar receiver variations to adapt to a variety of plow or mounding implement connection points. In addition, the carrier can be equipped with an optional winch and bolt-on fairlead system. The whole package is factory equipped and ready to work, says the company.

42

By Tony Kryzanowski

Initial studies conducted by Mexican forestry company Proteak indicate that the 630H carrier is quicker, more productive, and more fuel efficient than the ag tractors that they are replacing.

Operators are safe and comfortable in a climate controlled cab equipped with an air ride suspension seat and ergonomic armrest mounted controls, says the company. www.tigercat.com

J.D. Irving expands its MiCROTEC connection with CT scanner purchase

J.D. Irving Limited, a producer of maple, birch, and poplar wood products headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick, has purchased a MiCROTEC CT log scanner for installation in its veneer sawmill in St. Leonard, New Brunswick.

MiCROTEC’s CT scanner is a worldwide, unique, computed tomography (CT) scanner in the wood products industry, says the company, allowing J.D. Irving to scan and digitally reconstruct the internal features of their logs in 3D. Delivering the optimal cutting solution in real time, this technology is consistent with J.D. Irving’s mission to ensure the use of 100 per cent of every tree. The CT scanner provides a complete reconstruction of the internal features of the logs, allowing the logs to be graded and sorted by quality and optimization. The CT Log solution developed by MiCROTEC’s engineers provides quality grading and virtual grading information in addition to the full 3D log description.

Integrated with MiCROTEC’s Maxicut Pro, Winlog, and MiCROTEC Connect, the CT Log communicates with the Logeye Stereo, providing the head rig operator with the exact degree of log rotation to provide maximum value. Working with the CT Log, MiCROTEC’s Maxicut software optimizes cutting patterns based on value.

This newest investment is part of J.D. Irving’s continued partnership with MiCROTEC. Beginning in 2014 with a Lucidyne scanner installation at its Dixfield, Maine, location, J.D. Irving has since installed Lucidyne scanners at their Doaktown and Kedgwick, New Brunswick locations, with another Wanescan installation at their Dixfield, Maine facility in 2023. Their recent investment of the CT Log is accompanied by a commitment for five MiCROTEC Logeye Stereos, which execute 360-dgree scans during rolling, adding to the information gained before the log is sawn. www.microtec.eu

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

to page 44

suppliernewsline receiving, inventory and settlement processes into a single platform, providing forestry companies with a complete picture of their operations. In addition, the software assists with mobile ticketing in the woods before the logs make their way to sawmills, eliminating the need for manual recordkeeping. www.trimble.com

from page 42

Ontario plant to become LP Building Solutions’ largest siding mill

LP Building Solutions has acquired the assets owned by Wawa OSB Inc, a subsidiary of Forex Inc, located near Wawa, Ontario.

The manufacturing facility, originally envisioned as an OSB mill by Forex, will be converted to an LP SmartSide Trim & Siding mill.

Once converted, the mill will add approximately 400 million square feet of capacity to LP’s portfolio. It will be the company’s largest single-line siding mill and will increase its total siding capacity to 2.7 billion square feet annually.

Built in the mid-1990s as an OSB mill, LP says that the site is an ideal location for SmartSide production due to its access to an ample and sustainable aspen wood basket and efficient logistics options. The mill’s conversion will bring more than 150 jobs to the region, says the company.

LP is evaluating project schedules to determine when construction at the facility will begin. www.LPCorp.com

Tire manufacturer Trelleborg now part of Yokohama family

Trelleborg Wheel Systems has been acquired by the Yokohama Rubber Co. The new company will operate under the name “Yokohama TWS”.

The Yokohama Rubber Co, based in Hiratsuka, Japan, is a global leader in the tire industry and other rubber applications, such as conveyor belts, hoses and couplings, and fenders, employing over 28,000 people around the globe and operating in more than 120 countries.

The company says that this acquisition allows it to consolidate its leading position among tire producers in the world, becoming a global leader in the off-highway tires segment with the addition of Trelleborg, Mitas, Maximo, Cultor brands and Interfit service network to its portfolio. www.yokohama-tws.com

It replaces the DX85R-3 and packs many of its predecessor’s features with enhancements such as greater lifting capacity and more horsepower. The machine is equipped with a DEVELON engine and diagnostics tool, and the mini excavator also boasts a reduced tail swing feature, permitting more power in cramped, congested worksites.

Like smaller -7 Series mini excavators, the DX89R-7 comes with an innovative platform to improve structural durability and machine robustness. Powered by a Tier 4-compliant D24 diesel engine offering more horsepower, the DX89R-7 provides increased productivity from its predecessor. Auxiliary hydraulic flow remains readily available for operators to use hydraulic powered attachments with the mini excavator. https://na.doosanequipment.com

New Trimble log inventory system helps digitize small/ medium size companies

Technology company Trimble has launched LIMS PRO, a new cloud-hosted version of its widely-used Log Inventory and Management System (LIMS) to manage sawmill raw material procurement.

As a cloud-based log settlement solution, LIMS PRO is designed to improve operational visibility for mills, enabling small and medium sized forest companies to realize productivity and growth gains that only large companies have historically been able to afford by digitizing lumber supply chain workflows, it says.

Taking the power of LIMS and creating a more accessible Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) version, this robust business management software streamlines contracts,

New DEVELON mini excavator outlifts its predecessor

DEVELON, formerly Doosan Infracore Construction equipment, has evolved its compact equipment offering with a stronger machine: the DX89R-7 mini excavator.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

Wajax acquires Polyphase Engineered Controls

Wajax Corporation says that its wholly-owned subsidiary Tundra Process Solutions Ltd., has acquired Polyphase Engineered Controls (1977) Ltd. Specializing in producing custom electrical and instrumentation equipment, Polyphase employs 44 people, including a team of skilled wiring and panel assemblers, and operates facilities in Calgary and Edmonton.

“Since 1977, Polyphase has earned a reputation for delivering high quality electrical controls for the oil and gas, utilities, mining, forestry and agricultural sectors,” says Ashley Allers, Chief Executive Officer of Tundra, He adds that this addition expands Wajax’s electrical solutions portfolio to include PLC control panels, protection panels, DCS panels and marshalling cabinets, to name a few. In-house capabilities related to electrical design, production, testing, staging and project management also expand the breadth of Wajax’s electrical and instrumentation solutions offerings. The added expertise, combined with the increased capacity from the Polyphase facilities, enhance the company’s ability to undertake large scale time-critical integration projects, it says.

Founded in 1999 and acquired by Wajax in 2021, Tundra plays a key role in Wajax’s Industrial Parts and Engineered Repair Services growth strategy. www.wajax.com

B.C. government to support Williams Lake added-value operation

To help grow British Columbia’s valueadded wood sector, the B.C. government will support the establishment of a new mass timber production facility that is expected to create more than 70 jobs in Williams Lake, in the B.C. Interior.

The B.C. government will contribute as much as $10 million for Massive Canada Building Systems Inc. to build and start operations of a new manufacturing facility, which has a total budget of $75 million, in Williams Lake. This is the first

project approved through the province’s new $180-million BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, which opened for applications in February 2023.

“Massive Canada brings together sustainable mass timber products and prefabrication in this facility. We manufacture buildings to help B.C. communities achieve their affordable housing and climate goals,” says Gaetan Royer, CEO, Massive Canada.

“The B.C. government’s 2022 Mass Timber Action Plan was a pivotal document for us.

Thanks to the Manufacturing Jobs Fund, we will create jobs for knowledge workers and tradespersons in this innovative industry.”

Through the project, Massive Canada will acquire, renovate and equip an existing 91,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant.

The facility will pre-fabricate laneway homes, apartment units, townhouses and commercial projects, using mass timber building products and systems that significantly reduce construction time. The aim is to increase the supply of housing throughout the province.

The facility is expected to be ready for small scale operations later in 2023, with full operations beginning in 2024, says the company.

Serco Loaders’ Dale Williamson retires, Mark Shukla appointed as successor

Serco Loaders, a leading fabricating and machining company, says that Dale Williamson, Director of Sales, will retire after over 18 years of service, adding that he has played a vital role in the company’s success and will be greatly missed.

During Williamson’s tenure, he was instrumental in growing the Serco brand throughout the company’s dealership network.

In conjunction with this retirement, Serco Loaders has appointed Mark Shukla as Director of Sales to continue driving the company’s growth and success.

Shukla is an accomplished professional with an extensive background in material handling in truck mount loaders, stationary mount loaders, and large material handlers, says the company. He brings knowledge of a wide range of applications including logging, making him an ideal successor to continue Serco’s upward trajectory, it says. https://sercoloaders.com

Wedding bells ring for Logging and Sawmilling Journal/TimberWest owners in July

Wedding bells rang on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast this summer, as Anthony Robinson and Hannah Rayment, the owners of Logging and Sawmilling Journal and TimberWest, were married, on July 7.

Anthony and Hannah invited 85 friends and family from literally around the world to their Sunshine Coast property for the celebration. And the Sunshine Coast lived up to its name, with it being a beautiful day, for the beachside wedding!

Congratulations to Anthony and Hannah! Cheers, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson!

AD INDEX ADVERTISER PAGE Agri-Cover...................................................... 22 Brandt.............................................................. 10 Brunner-Hildebrand................................... 17 Demo 2024.................................................... 43 E+E Electronik............................................... 22 Eltec / Woodland/ Motion...........................2 Full Steam Enterprises............................... 14 Gear Centre.................................................... 14 Inland Truck & Equipment........................ 23 John Deere........................................................5 Liebherr..............................................................7 Microtec.......................................................... 31 Nyle Kilns........................................................ 37 Olofsfors.......................................................... 29 Pacific Logging Congress 2023.............. 41 Petro-Canada................................................ 15 Ponsse............................................................. 47 Superior Glove.............................................. 27 Tigercat........................................................... 48 USNR................................................................ 19 Valutec............................................................. 33 Wallingford's................................................. 11

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

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thelastword

This year’s fire season demonstrates the need to develop more resilient forests

By Tony Kryzanowski

T

he summer of 2023 will go down as the year of smoke in North America, and while it would be easy to panic and predict the end of days, history teaches that this could easily be a one-off year, followed by a cool and rainy summer next year.

We just never know.

Thus is the unpredictable nature of weather. But there is no denying that 2023 will go down as the worst year for forest fires in recorded Canadian history.

At a peak in June, some 3,003 fires had burned nearly eight million hectares, and there were 487 active wildfires, 253 of which were deemed “uncontrolled” by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

What was particularly noteworthy about the past forest fire season was how widespread it was, with nearly every province within the boreal forest scrambling to fight fires. It truly was a national event— and not a good one.

It would be easy to blame Climate Change for this dire situation, and there is no doubt that it is causing more extreme weather patterns like long periods of drought. This contributed to the size of the fires that burned in 2023.

But we can do a better job of forest management in Canada to potentially minimize the size and spread of wildfires by creating more resilient forests. We’ve known about these forest management practices for decades, but have resisted making the change because it is more economical and easier to plant monocultures of same-age trees. One entry, one species—and we’re done. Now we see the consequences and folly of this reforestation policy, particularly in areas that naturally regenerate as mixedwood forests

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or conifer stands that regenerate with mixed species and ages.

But that’s a conversation for down the road. We have a more immediate challenge: developing a national strategy to salvage as much of the remaining merchantable wood fibre as possible that burned this summer before it decays. The time for action on that front is now—and fortunately we have a model to follow that we should be able to replicate, in this instance.

On the face of it, there is not a lot different between a forest that has been ravaged by wildfire and one that has been destroyed by pestilence like, for example, what occurred during the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation in British Columbia.

Both destroyed large swaths of trees, but there is a window where some of that wood can be salvaged. Here we can lean on the example set in B.C. on how that province reacted during the beetle epidemic. While it wasn’t perfect, the province and industry collectively rolled up their sleeves and increased sawmilling capacity to produce as much dimensional lumber from salvaged timber as possible.

That is exactly what is needed now. In fact, it could represent a possible second life for sawmills in some communities, providing a window of opportunity to consider other options to closure once the salvaged timber predictably diminishes.

There have been a number of sawmills closed across Canada lately, and while these mills may have older technology, in the right hands they could be just the ticket for manufacturing something from that cheap and burnt standing timber.

As was the case in B.C., this is also a huge—though short term—economic opportunity for loggers to become involved Logging & Sawmilling Journal - July/August 2023

in this bonanza of cheap wood. No doubt provinces will be begging forest companies to salvage as much of that timber as possible over the next couple of years.

So that’s what’s needed in the short term.

The longer term is where really important forest management decisions need to be considered, and we may eventually have to thank the Americans for muchneeded changes in how we manage our forests going forward. Just how long can we expect our American neighbours, who are the biggest purchasers of our wood products, to tolerate extreme smoky conditions—during their summer vacations— caused by massive Canadian forest fires?

It’s time to talk about developing reforestation plans where harvested mixedwood forests are returned to mixedwood forests, instead of converted into softwood monocultures. We also need to consider species and age variety in reforesting natural softwood sites, which makes them more fire-resilient as healthy, younger trees are less prone to fire.

We know these practices work to mitigate forest fires because thousands of years of forest management by Nature proves it. Fire is nothing new in the fireorigin boreal forest—in fact, it’s natural.

What is new are changes to the natural forest succession that we have adopted in current reforestation practices, including fire suppression on a massive scale, and now we are starting to realize the consequences of this interference. It’s time for change in Canada if we don’t want gaps in the forest resource available to harvest in future, as well as an angry customer south of the border.