Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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August/September 2019

BEN HOKUM LUMBER increases production and flexibility

SITE PREP MOUNDER success in Alberta THINGS ARE COOKING for New Brunswick logger Jeff Cook MILL UPGRADES A GAME CHANGER for Ontario’s Manitou Forest Products WITH THIS ISSUE...

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

FEATURES August/September 2019 Volume 50 • No. 5 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling, Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski Publisher/CEO Anthony Robinson • (604) 990-9970 E-Mail: robinson@forestnet.com Associate Publisher Rob Stanhope • (604) 990-9970 E-mail: stanhope@forestnet.com Digital Marketing Kirsty Graham • (604) 990-9970 Email: digitalmarketing@forestnet.com

On the Cover: Ben Hokum Lumber has completed a major upgrade at their sawmill, located at Killaloe, west of Ottawa. The mill directly employs more than 100 people and produces white pine, red pine and aspen lumber. With a view to improving efficiency, the company looked at various options to upgrade the entire milling operation—and decided the best strategy would be to replace the small logline with a ‘small to medium’ saw line. Read all about the details of the upgrade beginning on page 12 of this issue of LSJ.

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4 Spotlight:

B.C.s silviculture sector rising to the challenge...

B.C.’s forests—hit by beetles and two successive big wildfire seasons—are in need of rehabilitation, and the province’s silviculture sector is rising to the challenge, ramping up to meet the need for seedlings.

8 Mill game-changer

Ontario’s Manitou Forest Products has recently added to their mill production facilities with equipment that will help increase production, and create more jobs—and it’s been a game-changer for the company

12 Increasing

production—and flexibility

26 Site prep success

A project by an Alberta silviculture site prep contractor to mount a Swedish Bracke mounder on a John Deere skidder has met with success—with the equipment combo delivering solid results in the number of hectares prepared.

32

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

46 The Last Word

The B.C. forest industry is starting to look at, and carry out, commercial thinning, by necessity, notes Jim Stirling.

A big capital investment by Ontario’s Ben Hokum Lumber will increase their lumber production—and the flexibility of the sawmill to meet the needs of its customers.

18 Things are cooking

for New Brunswick logger

Bolstered by demand for wood from both sides of the border—and his son entering the business—New Brunswick’s Jeff Cook is optimistic about the industry, which has prompted him to carry out some equipment upgrades.

DEPARTMENTS Calendar..................................................... 6 Tech Update............................................. 34 Suppliernewsline................................... 40 Classifieds............................................... 45 Subscriptions.......................................... 45 Ad Index................................................... 45

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

3

spotlight

B.C’s silviculture sector rising to the challenge...

B.C.’s forests—hit by beetles and two successive big wildfire seasons—are in need of rehabilitation, and the province’s silviculture sector is rising to the challenge, ramping up to meet the need for seedlings.

By Jim Stirling

T

he repercussions of a warming climate continue to exert pressure on British Columbia’s forest industry.

The silvicultural services sector is not immune and faces its own set of challenges.

Not the least of them is planting the best suited tree seedlings to begin the repair of a badly battered forest landscape.

The cumulative effects of the prolonged mountain pine beetle epidemic, the successive record-setting wildfire seasons of 2017 and 2018, expanding spruce beetle populations and wildlife land exclusions have exacted a terrible toll. Just how terrible is difficult to measure: there hasn’t been the time or money allocated to get on to the land to precisely assess the damage. But the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development estimates some

4

1,750,000 hectares of the harvest land base in the province has been impacted by the disturbances. Clearly a huge rehabilitative task lies ahead.

Just last fall, however, the prospects appeared even bleaker for a forest sector facing as it does an unprecedented increase in demand for growing, planting and silvicultural surveying. The seedling growing capacity of the nurseries was a major concern. Could it be ramped up to meet the increased demand for seedlings?

But the nurseries have risen to the challenge so far, reported John Betts, executive director for the Western Forestry Contractors’ Association. Sowing requests made in 2018 for growing in the nurseries during 2019 and available for planting in 2020 totalled 308 million seedlings and is on track to be met.

“That 308 million is a 15 per cent

increase from this year’s planting (2019),” said Betts.

Concerns were also being expressed about the declining numbers of available tree planters. Like every other forest industry workers sector, recruiting and retaining tree planters is an expanding problem. One of the exacerbating factors was that government-set minimum wages were gaining on tree planters’ average earnings. It made the physically demanding job less appealing to rookie tree planters. Betts said it can take a couple of seasons and additional supervisory costs to give tree planters the experience and skills needed to produce at their potential.

But wages have been increased for the 2019 planting season by an average 15 per cent, he added.

But work remains to be done in other areas. The federal government needs to

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

spotlight

An issue facing the industry was that government-set minimum wages were gaining on tree planters’ average earnings. It made the physically demanding job less appealing to rookie tree planters. But wages have been increased for the 2019 planting season by an average 15 per cent. be encouraged to reinvest in its forest carbon initiative. The initiative recognizes the value of forests and the role they play in carbon sequestration. But the federal contributions supporting increased levels of tree planting will soon expire. Next year (2020) will be the final year for sowing under the federal cost sharing forest carbon initiative funding unless pressure is put on the federal government to renew or increase its contributions to the program.

“It’s widely held now that we need to set our sails for the political funding winds blowing and take advantage of what we can reasonably undertake. It’s uncertain when we might see this chance again,” said Betts.

The Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia (FESBC) is also playing a key role in restoring and rehabilitating B.C.’s forest lands. The organization began operations in 2016 with an $85 million budget from the B.C. government. The FESBC’s stated vision is to enhance forest resilience to wildfire and climate change to the benefit of the environment, wildlife, forest health and communities.

During its brief tenure, the FESBC has been active funding projects across the province that help mitigate the damage caused to the publicly-owned landscape and its communities by wildfires and forest pest infestations. Latterly, the FESBC has recognized the urgency for action in addressing the rehabilitation of the forest landscape. It has expedited its approval process of project funding applications. As an example, it has funded projects that have removed more than 1.1 million cubic metres of wood debris from B.C.’s forests since the winter of 2018-19.

The FESBC likes to support applications for funding on projects which offer a range of benefits, explained Steve Kozuki, the

Is safe phase integration part of your harvest plan?

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Visit worksafebc.com and search for “Managing risk”.

to page 6 Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

5

spotlight

A wide variety of forest rehabilitation initiatives are taking place in B.C. Pictured above is a spacing planning crew for Haida native-owned Taan Forest, which has long term plans for the area in the Yakoun River drainage on Graham Island on Haida Gwaii. The project aims to enhance the forest within the drainage by strategic thinning. from page 5 FESBC’s executive director.

A recent example of the multiple benefit approach was a forest rehabilitation project on Haida Gwaii. The Haida native-owned Taan Forest has long term plans for the project in the Yakoun River drainage on Graham Island on Haida Gwaii. The project aims to enhance the forest within the drainage by strategic thinning. The process will create employment, help promote the growth of valuable forest product species like Western Red Cedar while at the same time restoring wildlife habitat for a variety of species, explained Kozuki.

Jeff Mosler, Taan’s planning manager, expanded on the benefits the company anticipates from FESBC’s support. “This funding allows us to move forward with treatments to the land, which incorporates Haida culture and will benefit many species like the black bear. By accelerating the transition of young trees through thinning and fertilization to become forests with more old growth characteristics and values, we will improve the black bear habitat.

6

“The project will also restore forests within the river valley with benefits to salmon and other fish and many spin-off benefits to goshawk, eagles, saw-whet owls, bats and many other resident and migratory birds. With FESBC funding and planning, overstory removal, fertilization and thinning, it’s an exceptional collaboration with what we hope will provide some outstanding results,” he said.

Another interesting FESBC collaboration is a wildfire risk mitigation project in the Kelowna area of southern B.C. The $1.6 million project focuses on about 1000 hectares of Crown land southeast of Kelowna. Dense stands of pine and Douglas-fir require thinning and the removal of dead wood accumulations. Local forest company Gorman Bros Lumber Ltd., has started the initial thinning work to reduce fuel loads as part of its regular cutting permit work. The project reduces the wildfire risks for local residents and helps protect public infrastructure.

For further information about the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia consult www.fesbc.ca

CALENDAR

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

October 6-9

111th Canadian Institute of Forestry AGM, Pembroke, ON 705-744-1715, www.cif-ifc.org October 6-10

Formec, Int. Symposium on Forestry Mechanization, Sopron, Hungary

43147654-91500, www.formec.org October 8-10

Austroforma - Live in Woods Show, Forchtenstein, Austria

43050259-24204, www.austrofoma.at November 4-6

110th Pacific Logging Congress Convention, Waikoloa, HI 360-832-1745 www.pacificloggingcongress.org November 20-22

ExpoCorma 2017, Concepción, Chile

56-688-7978, www.expocorma.cl

sawmillupgrade

mill

GAME-CHANGER

Ontario’s Manitou Forest Products has recently added to their mill production facilities with equipment that will help increase production, and create more jobs—and it’s been a game-changer for the company

By Heather Hudson

I

f you’ve ever wondered what government-funded business loans and grants can do for a business and its community, look no further than Manitou Forest Products.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) recently funded the First Nations-owned Manitou Forest Products sawmill with more than $900,000 for new equipment and building refurbishments that will increase production and allow year-round operation of the sawmill building, creating seven or more full-time jobs. It’s the second time they’ve worked with the organization to help build their business—and Manitou General Manager Dale Kaemingh says the funding is a game changer.

“Without NOHF, it would be a struggle for us,” he says. “The funding is a good incentive for us to expand, modernize and grow.”

The historic Manitou sawmill sits on land owned by the Rainy River First Nations situated in the tip of northwestern Ontario near the U.S./Manitoba border.

8

According to Kaemingh, it was built in the early 1970s as a small operation owned and managed by the Rainy River band, which had a hardwood licence and a contract with CN Rail to cut lumber for wooden railcars and rail ties. After only a handful of years, the mill shut down, likely due to wood shortages and market conditions, he said.

In 1980, Rainy River First Nations approached a few business owners in the nearby town of Emo, Ontario, with a proposal to invest in the sawmill to get it up and running again. Kaemingh had just graduated from high school and was working for his dad, the owner of a number of businesses. He and two partners entered a rental agreement with the band to run and manage the sawmill—and called it Manitou Lumber.

The mill instantly created jobs for First Nations community members, but plans to expand were made challenging by the rental agreement.

“There was never a lot of money back then and no real margins. If we had to fix something in the mill, it just didn’t happen. The business owners didn’t own it

and the band didn’t have money to fix it,” said Kaemingh.

“I realized for the business to expand, we needed to change from a rental agreement into a partnership.”

In 1998, Manitou Lumber and Long Sault Lumber, the Rainy River First Nation’s company, combined their assets and partnered to become Manitou Forest Products. With 51 per cent, the band has majority ownership of the company; Kaemingh owns the remaining 49 per cent.

“I think we formed one of the first partnerships with First Nations communities. In the 1990s, there weren’t a lot of those,” said Kaemingh.

Today, Manitou Forest Products operates in the original sawmill on Rainy River First Nations land. They produce approximately five million board feet each year from a wood basket in the Rainy River district, which comes from two to three forest management plans in the area.

“We primarily saw white pine and red pine, with small amounts of ash and cedar,” explained Kaemingh. “Our allocation level is enough to be sustainable and

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

sawmillupgrade

The First Nations-owned Manitou Forest Products sawmill has received funding for new equipment and building refurbishments that will increase production and allow year-round operation of the sawmill building. to fit within the provincial guidelines. We have about 25,000 cubic metres of allowable cut that we’re allowed to harvest from the forest within the 200 kilometre radius around our mill.”

With a limited supply of wood, they make the most of what they have, using dry kilns and planer molders to create value-added products such as pine flooring, wall paneling, log siding, timber framing and square timbers for log homes.

They also partner with Norbord, a local OSB producer, to take their raw product stock and add value by turning it into rim board used for building homes and apartment blocks.

Although the business once did its own logging and harvesting, they now farm it out to contractors. Kaemingh says about 30 to 50 per cent of the logs that come in the yard come from under Manitou’s licence. The rest comes in from other contractors in the area. “We’re a huge land base, so there’s no such thing as getting a block of pure sawlogs. We might get a block that’s only 25 to 50 per cent sawlogs and the rest is pulp that may go to a paper mill or stud mill that cuts 2 x 4s or the OSB mill that cuts aspen.

“The balance of the wood supply that comes in is from the open market. There are about 15 to 20 logging contractors in this area. Some of them are First Nations and others hire a fair percentage of First Nations members who are trying to get into the forestry side of things.”

The number of Manitou employees fluctuates between 30 and 40. Out of their minimum staff of 30, more than half are First Nations. The business is governed by a board of directors which includes Kaemingh and his son Tanner,

and members of the Rainy River First Nation band.

“Our goal is to try to promote from within the community whenever we can.

Everybody gets a chance,” said Kaemingh.

Manitou Forest Products is on a mission of continual improvement. Eight years ago, they did a $1.2 million expansion; $650,000 came from a loan and grant from NOHFC to add two new specialty dry kilns and a new planer/molder that can do more specialty wood projects.

They added two SII dry kilns, each with capacity of 35,000 board feet. The natural gas-powered kilns are front loading, with heat recovery ventilation. The moulder was a Leadermac Speedmac 630, 7 head with 8” X 12” capacity. Their new moulder is a newer version Speedmac 730SP, 7 head 8” x 12” capacity, which offers more flexibility, says Kaemingh.

Their latest improvements, funded in part by the NOHFC, are focused on modernizing the sawmill itself. They’re replacing aging equipment that will allow for more production and efficiency. Plans include: • A new debarker line with a new rosserhead debarker—one of the first built by Cleereman Industries—with increased to page 10

With a limited supply of wood, Manitou Forest Products makes the most of what they have, using dry kilns (above) and planer molders to create value-added products such as pine flooring, wall paneling, log siding, timber framing and square timbers for log homes.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

9

sawmillupgrade from page 9 log deck capacity, to clean wood better without losing wood fibre. “Cleaner bark opens up new markets in horticulture,” says Kaemnigh.

• A new carriage line with a Cleereman HS360 hydraulic proportional carriage.

The system kicks the log one at a time on to the carriage and the sawyer controls the cuts with computerized PawTah-John controls in the saw booth. “For 25 years I ran a smaller Cleereman carriage. This is basically a bigger, upgraded version.”

• A second line with a Wood-Mizer WM-4500 band saw, the largest industrial band saw available. Designed for specialty timbers, it can cut up to 24’ long, and the yield is a lot greater than with a circular saw. “There’s more maintenance and upkeep with it, but it’ll give us more options with alternative species like hardwood and cedar,” said Kaemingh.

• A plan to winterize the sawmill so weather is no longer a factor for production. With no heating or insulation, the mill typically shuts down for December and January. The goal is to winterize and get it heated to increase productivity throughout the year.

Kaemingh says these improvements will create five to 10 part-time and full-time employees to work the new lines. “We’ll need two additional staff for the new saw line on the Wood-Mizer and more manual labor to pile lumber with more wood coming out. We’ll also need more staff on the planer operation, which leads

10

Manitou Forest Products primarily saws white pine and red pine, with small amounts of ash and cedar. It has about 25,000 cubic metres of allowable cut that it harvests from the forest within a 200-kilometre radius around the mill, located near Emo, in northwestern Ontario. into maybe needing another millwright.”

The cost of this round of improvements was initially expected to be $1.9 million but it climbed to $2.3 million thanks to the higher than anticipated U.S. exchange rate and tariffs on steel products coming from the U.S. “The extra costs caught us off guard but at that point we were two years into the planning stage and there was no turning back,” said Kaemingh.

With experience putting together a successful proposal for NOHFC, Kaemingh

knew the process would take time and require meticulous attention to detail. “They have tough criteria. It took two years and almost a year of back and forth making sure everything was covered before they’d sign off on the loan.”

Manitou hired accounting firm BDO to help them build a business plan. “We looked at the increased yield, production and revenue we’d generate from the improvements to see if we could afford to go that much in debt. The numbers had to match or else it didn’t make sense,” he said.

NOHFC will fund 50 per cent of a project up to a maximum of $1 million.

“We had to finance the rest. And they don’t just hand you the money. You have to have financing in place, buy the equipment and make the improvements before they reimburse you.”

About 75 per cent of their $913,000 funding is a loan; 25 per cent is a grant.

Their plan was approved last August, they started the expansion and renovations in September and were finishing up at year end.

The sawmill has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1970s.

Kaemingh and the First Nations owners are looking at transitioning to the next generation. If their past is any indication, they have a recipe for success.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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Ontariosawmilling

Increasing production —and flexibility

A big capital investment by Ontario’s Ben Hokum Lumber will increase their lumber production—and the flexibility of the sawmill to meet the needs of its customers.

12

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

Ontariosawmilling

By George Fullerton

D

ean Felhaber, president and owner of Ben Hokum Lumber, says that the $20 million investment in their sawmill increases their production, as well as their flexibility to continue to serve their markets with high quality lumber.

The Hokum mill, located at Killaloe on Golden Lake, west of Ottawa, directly employs more than 100 people and produces white pine, red pine and aspen lumber.

Their impact on the regional economy is multiplied when the wood and service suppliers are considered.

Ben Hokum and his son Ben Jr. established the first Hokum mill on the present mill site in 1956. The first mill had a circular head saw and carriage, and the logs were lifted out of the lake with a jack ladder to feed the mill. The mill produced 2.5 million board feet annually.

Dean Felhaber is a grandson of Ben Jr., and he had spent a summer as a teenager working in the Hokum mill and its subsidiary, North American Sawmill Equipment.

Felhaber explained that he had completed his education and was employed in a government position when his grandfather suggested that he might like to try out sawmilling—and if it worked out, Dean could have a stake in the family business.

Sufficient to say, it has indeed worked out.

The most recent upgrade is considered the fourth generation mill on the site.

Prior to the new construction start on Labour Day 2018 (and continued through mid-November), the mill operated a large log line (greater than 12 inch) double cut bandsaw and carriage, on a double shift basis. Additionally, the mill operated a small log line on single shift. The small log line was built in 1998 and featured 2D scanning using Sawquip technology. The canter twin mill relied on an eight-inch gang for breakdown.

Looking to improve efficiency, Felhaber reviewed various options to upgrade the entire milling operation. While the trend is toward smaller piece size at the log delivery end, consideration was given to simply upgrade the small log side, and stay with the same basic diameter sort between the small and large log lines. Originally, Felhaber considered upgrading the large log line, because it was older and more costly to operate.

After observing mill equipment and new technologies across Canada and the U.S., Felhaber and his team decided the best strategy would be to replace the small log line with a ‘small to medium’ saw line. The new saw line handles logs up to sixteen

With the new upgraded small-medium saw line, Hokum’s annual production has jumped from 33 million board feet to over 40 million board feet. As part of the upgrade, the sawmill building was expanded from 18,000 to 28,000 square feet. inches in diameter, with logs greater than 17-inch going to the large log line, which reduced operation to a single shift.

The Hokum woodbasket extends 250 kilometres and logs are delivered and primarily mass scaled, although some are stick scaled.

In the yard, delivered loads are sorted by diameter by mobile Serco loaders. Log sort is 5 to 10 inch, 11 to 16 inch and greater than 17 inch.

“We sort the smaller diameter logs to give us greater efficiency in the mill,” explained Felhaber. “Processing in batches means that the mill equipment is not making significant shifts between a fiveinch to fourteen-inch, for example. The batch system means the mill runs faster and there is less wear on the equipment.”

Logs are delivered to the log infeed deck by wheel loaders. The mill operates with around fourteen wheel loaders, both Cat and Volvo.

A stationary electric Serco 170 loader at the infeed ensures individual logs are centred on the infeed, which Felhaber explained ensures smooth flow through the three ring debarkers. The mill has a

Cambio 18” ring debarker, Forano 18” ring debarker, and a newly refurbished Cambio 24” ring debarker.

The stationary Serco has an adjacent stockpile of logs, in case the log flow from the yard is interrupted.

Debarked logs drop into bins and are then fed to the saw line with a Comact wave feeder. The logs are individually scanned and assessed by a gap controller.

Felhaber explained that maintaining a gap of ten feet between logs is their flow rate target. He said the scan technology adjusts the speed of the wave feeder so that the targeted 10-foot gap is maintained, and ensures the mill achieves the targeted piece count through the shift.

On the chain, each log is 3D scanned (half-inch increments) with True Shape scanner Comact/BID technology. The scanning report data considers all sizes of lumber that the mill produces, trim allowances, and even the value of each piece of lumber.

The scanner can provide more than a

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

to page 14 13

Ontariosawmilling from page 13 dozen sawing solutions, and picks the one that provides the best value for Hokum according to their market orders.

The software picks the solution for each log, and then the software also decides the rotation required for the log.

The software turns the log through the flying log turner as indicated by the scan, and rotates the log to line up. The cant proceeds to a new Comact/BID quad (band) saw system.

The Hokum install is the third one to go into production with this set-up. The quad saw differentiates from other quad saw systems in that the first set of saws is separated from the second set by four feet, with three sets of rollers in that four foot gap to ensure the saw process produces high dimension tolerance.

“With other quad saw systems, there is a much smaller distance between the saw sets and as a consequence, the accuracy of the dimension on the second cuts is highly variable,” says Felhaber. “If the dimension is erratic, our quality is compromised and that costs money.

“We are very impressed with the quality of the lumber coming off the quad

14

saws. The system allows us to take one, two, three, four or no boards off the cant depending on the best value that the cant will produce.”

The two-sided cant is again scanned and then positioned and fed through a second set of canter heads, prior to entering a double arbor 12 inch gang saw, with two clusters, fitted with strobe saws.

The two saw clusters shift for each log, allowing a variety of timber sizes and lumber to be sawn in the same run. Additionally, there is a telescopic saw at the end of each cluster alongside the centre pocket that sets to different thicknesses for each log, to allow additional sawing solutions, and get a best value saw solution.

Board edging is provided with a new 45 degree Autolog scanner providing optimized saw solutions to a new Newnes/ USNR edger which has capacity to handle twenty-eight boards per minute.

At the trimmer, the mill added a lug loader manufactured by Carbotech, which was modified to accommodate Hokum’s variable lumber dimensions.

“We may have a six by six followed by a one-inch board, so the lug loader was modified to handle that kind of variability,” explained Felhaber.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

Following trim, the mill has the option to do a grade sort prior to lumber proceeding to the 60 bin sorter and stacker.

The new upgraded small-medium saw line has seen Hokum’s annual production jump from 33 million board feet to over 40 million. The new saw line has seen considerable improved yield over the previous 2D line.

The air dying reduces moisture content to 15 per cent, and it can take six months to a year to achieve the target moisture level.

The mill sprays water on stored logs through the warm months to prevent staining. They also dip white and red pine in a chemical bath to resist pathogens, which can result in stain and quality degradation.

The majority of their white pine production, some 80 per cent, is stickered and stacked in their yard for air drying.

Hokum’s lumber has been marketed through Falcon Lumber since the early days of the operation.

Felhaber said that while their main white pine markets are domestic, mainly Ontario and Quebec, they also have significant markets in Britain, the Middle East and the Caribbean. He pointed out that Hokum has built very strong business

relationships with their major customers, and maintaining those relationships has been key to their success.

Felhaber said that in recent years, Hokum’s has reduced their exposure to the United States market due to the politics of marketing lumber.

Their red pine is primarily directed to pressure treating providers and fencing market.

Hokum also saws as much as 11 million board feet of aspen annually. While low grade lumber is directed to industrial uses, the high grade lumber ships to processors in Montreal, which supply finished lumber to molding and casket manufacturers.

Bark from the milling operation is supplied to a number of mulch producers.

Clean chips are supplied to a number of secondary processors.

“We are the primary supplier to the Roseburg MDF mill in Pembroke,” says Felhaber. “We also supply chips to a number of pulp mills. A good deal of our sawdust sells to the Ensyn plant in Renfrew, and they process it into a biofuel that is

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It was full tilt at Hokum Lumber during the upgrade

B

en Hokum Lumber employed as many as 70 trades people during the mill reconstruction, 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week, using as many local contractors as possible.

The sawmill building was expanded from 18,000 to 28,000 square feet, and local contractor Luloff Contracting of Eganville co-ordinated the building addition.

The electrical supply was nearly doubled, with work completed by Welk Electric of Killaloe, who has worked with Hokum and other area sawmillers for over 50 years.

They also employed Tru-Way Machinery Manufacturers of Combermere to manufacture log deck and infeeds, as well as chip and sawdust conveyors, and the board edger infeed system.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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Ontariosawmilling from page 15 marketed in the New England States.”

Felhaber says the data collected from the scanning technology provides an edge to maintain high efficiency. He pointed out that scans point out how much trim is on logs entering the mill.

Having accurate trim on logs is very important to the bottom line. If there is not adequate trim, the lumber may downgrade to the next finished length

and that means lower return on lumber from those logs. On the other hand, if logs have excessive trim, they pay for it at the scales, and then cut off that trim and sell it at a discounted price as chips. “If we suspect we see an issue with trim, we have the opportunity to run batches of logs from individual contractors and identify a problem and have it addressed promptly,” explained Felhaber.

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holder for Renfrew County, and additionally buys logs from contractors and small producers.

They have a John Deere harvester teamed with a Tigercat forwarder which operates primarily in red pine plantation.

They also contract four other CTL operators to supply the mill with plantation red pine.

In addition to purchasing cut-to-length logs, the mill also purchases treelength wood.

“We operate three Serco slashers in our yard,” explains Felhaber. “Treelength gives us the option to merchandize out logs at lengths that may be short in the short wood inventory. That flexibility allows us to saw the log lengths we need to fill the lumber orders on our books, and serve our customer needs in timely fashion.”

The Hokum mill has already proceeded with a second upgrade project on the grading system, to meet the increased saw mill output. Construction on a grading system is well advanced, with scanning and automated handling equipment mostly installed and final cladding finishing up.

Plans are to test the new system in October 2019. Carbotech supplied the grading line equipment, and is responsible for the installation. Autolog supplied the controls, and Welk Electric is doing the electrical.

“Our upgrades position us to maintain our business relationships, and continue to provide us with process flexibility to process multiple species and supply a diverse line of lumber products which serve diverse markets,” says Felhaber.

Future upgrades, further down the road, will include kiln drying and planer operation.

“While we have automated a lot of our processes, we have maintained our staff, by moving personnel to new positions,” explained Felhaber. “We have a highly trained and productive workforce.

We continue to support a comprehensive heath and safety program and have supported training and upgrading.

“We train operators for multiple stations and rotate operators on different stations. With cross training, there is the option to fill a station due to the absence of the regular operator, so the mill continues to meet production targets.”

The Ontario government supported the Hokum Lumber upgrade project with $5.5 million through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund, which Felhaber said was a major advantage when the company was seeking the balance of the financing for the entire $20 million upgrade project.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

contractorprofile

THINGS are COOKING for New Brunswick logger

The signage on the truck says it all these days—Jeff Cook (right) has been joined in the business by his son, Nick.

Bolstered by demand for wood from both sides of the border—and his son entering the business—New Brunswick’s Jeff Cook is optimistic about the industry, which has prompted him to carry out some equipment upgrades.

By George Fullerton

N

ew Brunswick logger Jeff Cook is optimistic about his contracting business—and he has reason for the optimism.

Jeff is seeing a lot stronger demand for wood from mills. He is also very happy to have his son, Nick, fitting into the family business, and taking on operator and mechanical challenges.

Jeff says that an improvement in market demand for timber on both sides of the New Brunswick-Maine border has prompted him to invest in more mechanized 18

equipment for his operation.

Over the past several years, he has invested in a mechanical harvester, a slasher and a couple of skidders. Jeff says straight up: “I simply would not be making those kinds of investments in the business without Nick being involved.”

Jeff shared that Nick is interested in the forest industry, and is certainly contributing to the success of the business.

The Cook family business is based in Bailey, just a few minutes outside of the town of St. Stephen. The town sits on the international border, in the southwest corner of New Brunswick.

Jeff has lived in the area all his life and has worked in the woods since he was a youth, initially with his father Morris.

Morris Cook contracted with chainsaws and cable skidders, cutting stumpage on private woodlots and also on GeorgiaPacific operations, which fed their mills at Woodland, Maine, and McAdam in New Brunswick.

After Morris became ill in 1982, the skidders were sold and Jeff found a job driving truck for FM Carson, one of the

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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from page 18 major contractors in the region, with large harvesting, chipping and trucking operations.

After a time, Jeff climbed out of the truck and bought a Tree Farmer C5 cable skidder, and began stumpage contracting.

Two years later, he bought a 1989 Western Star with a centre mount loader so he could move his wood to markets.

Jeff’s operation advanced from chainsaw felling and limbing in the woods, skidding with cable skidder and chainsaw bucking in the yard, to chainsaw felling, two skidders skidding full tree to road where delimbing was completed with a Denis 3000 delimber on a John Deere 200 carrier.

“One guy with a chainsaw could comfortably fell enough wood to occupy the two cable skidders,” he says. “The system consistently produced six loads per week.

We were able to generate a respectable amount of wood with that system.

But what a mess all that slash made at roadside. At the time, our only option to handle the slash was to bulldoze it a ways back into the cut. It was not attractive.”

Despite his reservation with the full tree system, Jeff continued with it until his son Nick returned from a sojourn to the western provinces, and they invested in a harvester.

Nick graduated from high school in 2014, and like lots of young New Brunswickers, headed west to work the oil industry as a roughneck.

After a period, he decided to head home, but on the way out answered an advertisement looking for forestry equipment operators. The company responded while he was at home. The company was interested in his application—but were confused that as an eighteen-year-old, he had referenced four years’ equipment 20

The addition of a harvester to the Cook logging operation led to an upgraded skidder, a Timberjack 450 grapple skidder (above, with Nick Cook), and subsequently another used skidder, a John Deere 648H grapple. They also have a Serco 270 slasher (top photo, processing shortwood product). operating experience. While Nick insisted that he had that experience, the interviewer was not convinced until he was passed on to Jeff, who confirmed that Nick had indeed operated delimbers and skidders and did some truck moving for significant hours, over the past four years.

The interview resulted in Nick climbing

on another airplane and going to work on a right-of-way clearing project in Alberta.

After a period working in the western operation, Nick and Jeff began a conversation, discussing the idea of buying a

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

to page 22

contractorprofile from page 20 harvester, and Nick returning home, joining the family business as the harvester operator.

The telephone conversation between father and son led to the purchase of a Case CX210 excavator conversion with a Quadco Ultimate 5300 head. The harvester was used with 15,000 hours on it, but generally in pretty good shape. When Nick arrived back home in New Brunswick, he immediately began to operate the harvester.

The Ultimate head is a fixed mount and a good system for producing tree length and tree section wood, for which the Cooks have a number of Maine-based sawmill and pulp mill markets.

Jeff likes the harvester, and that it leaves slash at the stump. “I really like seeing the trees delimbed in the woods. All the slash is left at the stump where those nutrients can feed the next crop of trees.”

The addition of a harvester led to an upgraded skidder, a Timberjack 450

grapple skidder, and subsequently another used skidder, this time a John Deere 648H grapple.

While the harvester worked especially well for long-length wood, there was still a need to slash a good portion of the daily

for loading wood some distance from the slasher.

The Cook’s production target is eight loads per week, necessitating Jeff rising in the early a.m. hours to make deliveries before returning to woods operation to run the slasher, making another load, and sorting other products.

Large spruce stems are shipped tree length to Pleasant River Lumber in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, a distance of 130 miles. Smaller spruce and balsam fir tree length (studwood) is hauled 150 miles to the Maibec sawmill in Ashland, Maine.

Mixed hardwoods (tree sections) go to Woodland, Maine, about 30 miles from their home base. The Cooks also have a limited volume, two loads per week, of softwood pulp wood (tree length) that goes to Woodland Pulp.

Early in 2018, Pleasant River Lumber made a deal with Woodland Pulp to pile down tree length sawlogs in their yard,

At the age of 22, Nick Cook is enthused by the opportunity to be in the woods, and be part of his family’s business. “I guess I really like working in the woods.”

22

production into logs and studwood for certain mills in both the U.S. and Canada.

A shopping trip to Paul Equipment in Balmoral, in the northwest corner of the province, secured a Serco 270 slasher.

The Cook’s also operate a 2007 Western Star hauling a Manac six-foot spread triaxle cluster forestry trailer. The trailer configuration allows them to haul maximum gross weight in Maine The harvest operation also counts a Prentice 160 loader on a Kenworth tractor,

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

to page 24

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The Cook family logging operation works with a Case CX210 excavator conversion with a Quadco Ultimate head. The Ultimate head is a fixed mount and a good system for producing tree length and tree section wood, for which the Cooks have a number of Maine-based sawmill and pulp mill markets. from page 22 and efficiently transport backhaul after hardwood delivery. However, Jeff sees a better return to haul the load the extra miles directly to the Dover-Foxcroft mill.

Through much of 2018, the Cooks were operating on a 270 acre woodlot.

The owner, Barry Gregory—in his own right a very astute forest manager—contracted them to carry out harvesting because the balsam fir, which was the largest species component, had become overmature and was beginning to decline in a major way. Additionally, the hardwood component was rather low quality, with a high percentage of shorter lived intolerant species including white birch.

Gregory owns a number of woodlots in the region, and has been recognized by the York-Sunbury-Charlotte Forest Products Marketing Board for his intensive stand management on some of his woodlots, and on woodlots where he had contracted partial cut harvests.

In recent years, his ability to work in the woods has been compromised by a severe health condition. Despite this, Gregory is very engaged with woodlots, but limits his physical work.

“I am very concerned about climate 24

change and the impact it is having on our forests,” he explained. “In our region around St. Stephen, we have seen annual mean temperatures rise by two degrees, and I am convinced it is having a severe detrimental effect on the health of the balsam fir in particular. The impact is distinct enough for me to reduce the balsam fir content, on all my woodlots.”

Gregory’s theory is supported by forestry researchers who predict the decline of balsam fir across New Brunswick, as the climate continues to warm.

Both Barry Gregory and Jeff Cook concur that a mechanical harvester is necessary to handle a large volume of relatively small diameter trees. They agree that contractors can’t afford to operate in small diameter wood with chainsaws in the current economic environment.

At the age of 22, Nick Cook is enthused by the opportunity to be in the woods, and be part of his family’s business.

“I guess I really like working in the woods,” he says. “When I was young, I went along with my father when he was hauling wood or on harvesting operations.

I mostly operated skidder and delimber; I never had a lot of experience with chainsaws.

“Working in the woods is what I want to do, for now anyway,” adds Nick. “The days are long with hard hours, but with lots of challenges. There is something different going on every day. There is always something new to learn.

“The harvester is old, so there are things to fix,” he says. “We learn more about it every day. Our skidder operator, Gordon Stewart, and I work together to figure out problems. Together, we have learned a whole lot of mechanics and electronics over the past three years.”

Right now, the U.S. demand is good for all round wood products. “We can move everything we cut,” says Jeff. “Everyone complains about Trump, but we keep feeding those markets and their products are going into construction and other consumer products, so we have to allow Trump some credit for the strong economy.”

Jeff concluded by sharing that as the market demand remains strong, they are able to find woodlots, make deals for direct purchase or stumpage and market the wood. The Cooks plan to continue to grow their business based on good business and family values—now including a younger generation of the family, with Nick in the picture.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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SITE PREPsuccess A project by an Alberta silviculture site prep contractor to mount a Swedish Bracke mounder on a John Deere skidder has met with success—with the equipment combo delivering solid results in the number of hectares prepared.

By Tony Kryzanowski

A

Larry Zeller (above, left), owner of Larry Zeller Enterprises Inc, hired JB Colbourne (right), owner of Motion Machinery, to successfully mount a Bracke M24 mounder on a John Deere skidder, giving site prep contractors across Canada another site prep equipment option.

26

n Alberta silviculture site preparation contractor has hired a forestryfocused machine repair and fabrication business to successfully mount a newer model Bracke mounder on a John Deere skidder.

The contractor was so impressed with the performance of the first one installed

by Edmonton-based Motion Machinery that he has now ordered a second one.

Site preparation equipment like mounders, ripper plows and disc trenchers are used by contractors to create micro-sites within logged cutblocks prior to manual tree planting. Alberta, as in most Canadian jurisdictions, has a policy of planting at least one tree for every tree harvested.

The goal of the site prep equipment is to lift and expose mineralized soil so that when a tree is manually planted, the roots are exposed to the right combination of soil, minerals, and water to maximize the chance for survival—and growth response.

A mounder implement in particular creates actual mounds or micro-sites of exposed mineralized soil as it rotates when pulled traditionally by a forwarder carrier in a cutblock. The movement of the mounder also ensures that there is

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

equipmentprofile proper spacing between micro-sites, competing vegetation is controlled to ensure that seedlings can establish themselves, while also creating a divot in the ground so water will collect near the seedling.

Attaching mounders on to skidders has been done before. The Motion Machinery project is believed to be the second successful combination of a purpose-built Bracke-brand mounder on to a skidder in Canada. The first was the installation of a three-row Bracke mounder on a skidder used in Quebec.

This skidder/mounder project was initiated by site prep contractor Larry Zeller, operating as Larry Zeller Enterprises Inc. Zeller’s entire career had been spent in the oil and gas industry. His most recent experience was as a construction superintendent for an oil and gas firm in Algeria, but with the recent industry downturn, he returned to Alberta and was searching for a new challenge. He struck on site preparation contracting to forest companies. Although he had an oil and gas background, the forest industry was not entirely foreign to him, as his brother, Les Zeller, is a veteran logging contractor working in the province.

This is only the second time that a Bracke mounder has been successfully installed on a skidder in Canada. Site prep contractor Larry Zeller recommends a John Deere 748 skidder or a Tigercat or Cat equivalent to pull the M24 Bracke mounder.

Larry noted that several forest companies had a significant backlog of forest blocks requiring site preparation work and were offering contracts. Recognizing the opportunity, he made an investment initially into a D8R dozer pulling a ripper plow and an older generation skidder/ mounder. The ripper plow creates a

trench exposing the mineralized layer of the soil, and seedlings are planted within that exposed layer. The benefit of the plow is that this site prep work can be done in winter. The skidder/mounder

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

to page 28

27

equipmentprofile from page 27 works from the time that the frost melts till freeze up, so together, there is the potential to work most of the year.

The key to success in site prep contracting is uptime and hectares prepared per day. It just wasn’t happening for Zeller in his first year of operation with the old skidder/mounder, although he has no regrets about making the transition to silviculture work vs. the oil patch. It provides him with a more stable income.

So he started to investigate other options, included a custom-designed skidder/mounder combination that featured a brand new, purpose-built, model M24 Bracke mounder mounted on to a mechanically-sound skidder.

The Bracke mounder was developed and is marketed by Bracke Forest, a Swedish-based company with a long history of developing and marketing site prep attachments and mechanical tree planting equipment. The Canadian distributor for Bracke equipment is Montreal-based, Silvana Trading. This mounder technology, which has been around for decades, has traditionally been mounted on forwarder carriers partially because skidders are not commonly used in Europe.

“The skidder option seems to be faster and more versatile for traveling around slash piles and generally moving around the block,” says Zeller, compared to a mounder attached to a typical forwarder carrier and even compared to the production of older model skidder/mounders, although it is important to start with a good quality skidder.

“If you have a new mounder, then you should have a good skidder because you don’t want to be breaking down with that investment,” says Zeller. “I think that a skidder is a simpler option. The cost is a bit lower than a forwarder, there is more access to replacement parts, and there are more machines available.”

Klas-Hakan Ljungberg, Managing Director and Export Sales Manager at Bracke Forest, says the company is very pleased with the success that Zeller has experienced with his skidder/mounder combination.

“Larry had an extremely successful season last year,” he says. “Even though he started late in the season, he managed to produce an impressive number of hectares, and Silvana reports that the forest company is very pleased with the work.

Larry plans his work very well. It’s a tough job because Mother Nature also has a say.

It is easy to lose a part of the season due 28

One of the benefits noted by contractor Larry Zeller of using a skidder—instead of a forwarder—with the Bracke mounder is better maneuverability in the cutblock, resulting in better efficiency and more treated hectares per day.

to factors you cannot control yourself.”

He adds that staff at Silvana Trading will be following his progress this season with the second skidder/mounder in operation.

“We hope that other forest companies will take the opportunity to visit and see the mounders in action,” Ljungberg says.

“There is so much research that has been done in Alberta and British Columbia showing the benefits of good site prep. It is nice to see that it is coming back.”

J.B. Colbourne, owner of Motion

Machinery, says when Zeller approached them about mounting the Bracke mounder on a skidder, he was immediately interested because of the challenge it presented.

It was tedious work at times, involving machining and manufacturing of pin bosses to ensure that the attachment was being mounted at the right angle.

“You have to be elevated a bit higher

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

to page 30

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equipmentprofile from page 28 and sloped back to achieve the right angle so that the drums actually engage the ground,” says Colbourne. “You also have to ensure that you have proper clearance for the tires.”

One area that is always a concern is in matching the electrical system and hydraulics, but Colbourne says that thankfully, it was quite straightforward on this project.

“Whether you are mounting the mounder on a skidder or forwarder, that part doesn’t really change,” says Colbourne. “You are just supplying the Bracke mounder with oil, no different than any other forestry attachment, and then it was just tying in the electrical to power the functioning of the valves, hydraulic joysticks, controller and monitor in the cab.”

All of the tie-ins were provided by Bracke Forest with the Bracke mounder attachment, and they sent a technician from Sweden once the project was complete to ensure that everything was tied in properly so that the unit would work as designed. Both Colbourne and Zeller say that Bracke was easy to work with, and were quite supportive and impressed with the installation on to a skidder.

The Bracke mounder creates micro-sites in a harvested block that manual tree planters then target for planting seedlings.

Colbourne adds that an installation similar to this project costs in the range of $30,000.

The only aftermarket add-on was an electric fan cooler for the hydraulic oil, which is essential as the mounder is in

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constant motion often working on hot summer days vs. the functioning of a typical skidder where there are numerous hydraulic stops and starts.

There were no imbalance issues as the skidder is designed to grab a drag of trees and lift it off the ground, while maintaining four-tire contact.

“The John Deere 748 skidder is a good combination with that mounder,” says Zeller. “The 648 is a bit lighter, and a bit rougher to ride in all day long.”

Wide, flotation tires are essential and Zeller says that was the difference for him to continue to work, estimating he only missed one operational day last year with this set up.

“With the wide tires, you are more stable, so if you go up a hill and have to turn at the top, with those wide tires, it’s no problem,” he says.

In terms of skidder selection, any model in the 748 range will work, but it is essential to have a direct drive transmission versus a hydrostatic drive to avoid heating issues. The skidder typically travels in either second or third gear, depending on ground conditions.

“The John Deere is a good skidder for this application because there is plenty of access to machines in the marketplace, and it’s a well-built, reliable skidder.

There is lots of access to parts,” says Colbourne. “I think a Tigercat would work just a well, but the problem with some of the newer models is that the transmissions are hydrostatic. The Cat skidder would also be not too bad, but there just aren’t a lot around.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

THE

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

Lignin can improve phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from wastewater the City of St. Albert and Sturgeon County are developing a community water hosphorus, a fertilizer esservice resource recovery sential for plant growth, demonstration site,” says is a depleting, finite, Patrick Guidera, Director of natural resource derived from Pictured above is struvite without lignin (left) Forest Technology at Alberta relatively few mines in the and struvite with lignin (right).

Innovates. world. It’s estimated that 16 “Her work also provides a per cent of all mined phoslink to the forest sector and of wastewater as part of the treatment phorus ends up in wastewater adds value to lignin, a previously underprocess, it is possible to achieve phostreatment plants. valued waste stream in forestry.” phorus recovery in the range of 98 per Even though wastewater is treated The current method for recovering cent at a lower cost compared to less to reduce the amount of nitrogen and than 80 per cent recovery using conven- nutrients from wastewater is a precipitaphosphorus it contains, most of these tion process that results in a fertilizer tional systems. In addition to its ability nutrients end up being dispersed in the called struvite. to improve recovery of fertilizers from environment and not recovered.

“It is very expensive to operate this wastewater, lignin is also a valuable soil Release of these nutrients into watype of process to adjust the pH so that amendment. ter bodies—whether from municipal it is high enough for the struvite to preLignin is a bioproduct and a byprodwastewater or surface runoff of fertilcipitate out,” says Liu. uct of wood pulp manufacturing.

The izer and animal manure in farming The U of A researchers found that lignin used in this research project was operations—stimulates extensive plant lignin aids in struvite crystal formation. sourced from the lignin recovery plant growth such as blue-green algae, which And because lignin is already high in attached to West Fraser’s pulp mill in may produce animal toxins and lead to pH, it eliminates the need to adjust Hinton, Alberta, which has also received fish death. the pH of wastewater. Lignin, a natural AI funding.

So, finding economical ways to compound in trees, is safe to use and Having proven their concept, U of A recover more of these nutrients from there is also an unlimited supply as a researchers are now devising a process wastewater will help ensure a sustainrenewable resource. for lignin additive and nutrient recovery, able supply of fertilizer for food producLiu says the economics of the recovwhich they hope to have developed tion and reduce their negative impact ery process still need to be studied in within two years. on water resources. more detail, and the cost of lignin and The researchers are also starting to Alberta Innovates (AI) is investing phosphorus must be considered as part evaluate how wood-derived cellulose in research at the University of Alof the discussion. At present, the best nanocrystals (CNC) might assist in nutriberta under the direction of Dr. Yang economic scenario could be the use ent recovery from wastewater. The CNC Liu, a professor in the Environmental of lignin-derived struvite as a fertilizer is manufactured at a pilot plant located Engineering Department who holds in crop production close to where it is at InnoTech Alberta, an applied rethe NSERC Industrial Research Chair manufactured, perhaps by a municipal search subsidiary of Alberta Innovates. in Sustainable Urban Water Developwastewater treatment plant, to save on In total, AI has provided $350,000 ment and the Canada Research Chair transportation costs. through its Alberta Bio Future research in Future Community Water Services. and innovation funding program toward Liu’s team has proven that adding small For more information about these these nutrient recovery research projamounts of wood-derived lignin as part nutrient recovery research projects ects involving lignin and CNC. of the wastewater treatment process involving lignin and CNC, contact Yang “Dr. Liu’s research translates into real significantly improves the recovery of Liu at yang.liu@ualberta.ca and for environmental solutions for local busiboth phosphorus and nitrogen in a form more information about the Alberta Bio nesses and municipalities. The City of known as struvite.

Future program, contact Julia Necheff Devon is considering resource-recovery Researchers have shown that by at julia.necheff@albertainnovates.ca municipal wastewater alternatives, and adding only 0.1 gram of lignin per litre

By Tony Kryzanowski

P

32

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

CWFC‘s Technical Development Group evaluates on-site wood processors for biomass recovery and chip production

By Tony Kryzanowski

T

he Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) recently tested a variety of on-site and portable wood processors that could be used to produce custom pre-processed biomass feedstock captured from a variety of sources for use by communities—particularly in remote locations—and industry to generate both heat and power.

This study is part of CWFC’s mandate to develop/evaluate effective biomass feedstock production systems, and was conducted in partnership with FPInnovations, CANMET, Alberta Innovates, and Drayton Valley, Alberta’s Biomass Innovation Inc. Testing was conducted in two locations.

The first was at CWFC’s Ellerslie Short Rotation Woody Crop Technical Development site in Edmonton as part of its ongoing end-of-lifecycle research program.

Small diameter mixed woods located on private woodlots were also processed and evaluated in Nova Scotia using a large-scale system.

Three wood processors were evaluated, representing a range of technology with varying degrees of chip size production control and volume throughput. This provides potential adopters with a selection of production scale and practical options, so they can select one that is a good fit for their particular needs.

The three wood processors evaluated were the Pezzolato PHT700 drum chipper, the Junkkari HJ250 GT disc chipper and the Peterson 5900 disc chipper. They demonstrated the ability to produce wood chips ranging anywhere from 3 to 40 mm in size.

Both the Pezzolato and the Junkkari were tested in Edmonton using three types of feedstock. These were: full tree length, delimbed and topped hybrid poplar logs; roadside residues consisting of hybrid poplar tops and branches; and, wildfire-killed pine and spruce burned in 2018 and retrieved from the forest after one year. The processers were equipped with various screens or knives to produce specific chip characteristics suitable for small to medium energy conversion systems.

The Nova Scotia study involved full tree processing using the higher volume, Peterson 5900 whole tree chipper, working in combination with a feller buncher conducting select harvesting, with a grapple skidder used to forward full trees to the chipper stationed at a landing.

All end products, representing a wide range of chip sizes, from both the Edmonton and Nova Scotia studies, will be evaluated for density, moisture content, drying potential, and final physical characteristics.

For more information on this activity, contact Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@canada.ca or Tim Keddy at tim. keddy@canada.ca.

The South African-built Junkkari is a disc chipper. It has a 25 to 75 hp requirement and is powered by a tractor's PTO. This was the first time that this technology was demonstrated and evaluated in Canada.

The North American-built Peterson 5900 whole tree chipper was tested in Nova Scotia, with chips blown directly into a walking floor trailer and delivered to the end user.

The Italian-built Pezzolato was equipped with a 2" screen.

Chips were blown into a nearby chip wagon and then evaluated by CWFC to determine the unit's overall performance.

This PTO-powered processor works at approximately 145 hp.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

33

TECHUPDATE

By Tony Kryzanowski

Wood Flow Tracking Technology 3LOG Systems

3LOG’s suite of forestry solutions allows clients ranging from single mills to large multi-divisional organizations ensure loads are shipped and tracked properly from their point of origin in the forest to their final destination.

and revising plans. With real-time impact analysis, organizations can consider plans versus actuals while ensuring they are meeting their targets.

According to the company, Remsoft Operations provides a unified view of operational planning processes while integrating with Remsoft’s award-winning optimization technology, Esri’s Web GIS Platform, and business intelligence capability. This makes for easy collaboration, reporting and sharing information across the organization from the same source.

Remsoft Operations takes supply chains of spreadsheets into one unified view while breaking down silos for instantaneous information sharing.

With role-based-access profiles and the option to share plans and reports across the organization, Remsoft says that Remsoft Operations provides a full view of the operation’s health. www.remsoft.com

Trimble Forestry The process begins in the forest with LoaderWiz, a mobile app allowing loggers to create loads and print paper tickets with QR barcodes that can be handed to truckers or transmitted electronically. It can operate in offline mode if there is no Internet connectivity, and GPS coordinates are recorded to prove chain of custody.

Truckers arriving at scales may then initiate loads in WeighWiz by scanning the barcode on their tickets or electronically using WeighWiz Mobile where the load’s gross, tare, net, and sample weights and other related information is recorded during the weigh-in and weigh-out process.

The final load information then synchronizes to 3LOG’s LIMS system, where statements can be finalized and settled. www.3log.com

Trimble Forestry says that its CONNECTED FOREST solutions and services are designed to mitigate risk, optimize production, and increase efficiency and control to meet the needs of end-toend forestry operations and business processes.

Its CFForest is a spatially-enabled Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for forest owners, and its CFBusiness solution automates manual business processes and provides better

Remsoft

Remsoft says that Remsoft Operations is a new cloud-based application for managing harvest, delivery, wood flow, and finance. Used daily with full enterprise visibility, companies can schedule and manage their operations while tracking progress control of cost and inventory for operations. Trimble Forestry says that with this solution, users can manage all companies and contracts for hauling, logging, timber purchase and sales as well as work contracts for activities such as road maintenance and planting.

The company’s CFHarvest is a day-to-day planning and operations control system for harvesting execution and forestry services.

CFLogistics consists of two solutions to manage transport planning of fibre from the starting depot to the destination. Trimble Forestry’s SaaS solution is also known as LogForce, and its enterprise solution as WSX (Wood Supply Execution). WSX solution to page 36 34

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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‘Stand Tall’ is our commitment to you to deliver more full-service branches, inventory, and productive technologies, closer access to parts, and more service techs, every single day. That’s a tall order, but we’re up to the challenge. That’s Powerful Value. Delivered.

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Trimble Forestry says its Meka product is a comprehensive solution for optimization of the supply chain, all the way from the log yard to finished wood products delivered to the customer’s location. Meka is used in such operations as production of sawn and planed goods, treated products, poles, pellets,

energy products, and glu-lam products. www.forestry.trimble.com

JRP Solutions

JRP Solutions says that solid woodflow and financial forecasts are the basis for successful planning and are relied upon by senior management for critical decisions. Forest OPS by JRP Solutions centralizes the details related to harvesting jobs in one secure database while offering simplicity of a spreadsheet for editing or

analyzing data. The company says that there is no other program on the market that comes close to the quality and performance of Forest OPS. Forest OPS helps plan and schedule forest harvesting jobs and then projects the resulting wood flow and profits. Forest OPS was designed and developed with the direct input of field engineers, foresters, logging supervisors, and operations managers. It is Microsoft Windows-based with a SQL database backend. User based access provides data security remembered user settings for ease of use. Forest OPS is typically integrated with other business data sources to minimize redundancy and maximize utility. www.jrpltd.com

Trakopolis

Forestry operations face some of the most difficult terrain on the planet, says Trakopolis. They are remote, rugged and unforgiving. Having eyes on operations in the bush 24/7 might seem impractical, but technology offers a solution.

With Trakopolis, the company says that customers can protect people, plants and profits without setting foot in the forest.

By linking detailed maps of leases to GPS, Trakopolis says it can track vehicles and machinery with extreme accuracy.

Users can visualize journeys, including stops and starts, to plan more cycle times efficiently, and invoice more accurately.

They can track driving behavior to reduce risks and prevent downtime. Assets such as trailers, loaders and pickers are always visible, reducing theft or loss and making maintenance scheduling automatic.

The company says that it currently works with companies in key forestry regions across North America. The software and specific forestry content it has developed is customizable to every jurisdiction.

Current features include: custom cycle times, journey management, GIS overlays, billing justification, driver scoreboard, asset tracking and utilization, hours of service, engine diagnostics, maintenance for forestry equipment, and distance tax report. www.trakopoliscorp.com

Lim Geomatics

The latest edition of the Lim Geomatics Op Tracker mobile app, Version 1.3, has been released.

The new update enhances an already powerful digital tool that provides forest

to page 38 36

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

37

techupdate SwiftGeospatial Solutions

from page 36

managers and machine operators with detailed GIS imagery and information about the progress of a harvest.

Version 1.3 comes jam-packed with an array of field-tested new features that will help logging contractors improve the safety, efficiency, and productivity of each harvest. These fresh tools for the mobile app include increased configurability for units of measurement, improved data sharing and communication, as well as enhanced data collection.

New features include: the ability to configure units of measurement from the settings screen; improved communication with a more robust Geo Notes; better display capability for the Tracking Panel; and an increase in the minimum threshold for data collection. www.limgeomatics.com

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Swift Geospatial has developed a service capable of collecting this satellite data and transforming this data into knowledge through its online web application and dashboard environment for ease of use and information consumption. Using this technology, it is in a position to provide forest managers with actionable information in the fields of harvest tracking, tree health including pest and disease detection, illegal logging and post-fire damage reports. swiftgeospatial.solutions

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38

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

A talk with Pat Weiler,

of Weiler Forestry—the new owner of Cat’s purpose-built forestry business

E

arlier this year, Weiler Forestry, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement with Caterpillar, Inc. for the purchase of its purpose-built forestry business.

With this agreement, Weiler acquired Caterpillar’s purposebuilt forestry product line and operations facilities in LaGrange, Georgia; Auburn, Alabama; and Smithfield, North Carolina.

Weiler currently produces an extensive portfolio of products and has a longstanding history of successfully manufacturing purpose-built equipment distributed through the Cat dealer network. Weiler Forestry is now designing and manufacturing the purpose-built forestry products, which will continue to be available through the Cat dealer network.

It’s been a busy time for Weiler Forestry, but Logging and Sawmilling Journal recently caught up to Pat Weiler, President & CEO of the company, for a brief talk.

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, related to the industry, and the company?

“Well, I began my career as a Design Engineer and became a Director of Engineering in 1983. I held multiple roles in senior management through to 1999.

I have over 35 years of experience leading the manufacturing efforts for diverse privately held agricultural and construction equipment companies.

I founded Weiler in 2000 and began producing equipment for major OEM manufacturers with the intent of developing new product. Over the last 19 years, we have grown the company into a major manufacturer of multiple product lines for the paving industry. Weiler now sells through 190 sales offices and service centers worldwide.

I now lead Weiler in the development of new products, while enhancing relationships with dealers and customers.”

Can you tell us some more about the history of Weiler?

“Weiler’s track record of being a nimble, customer driven and very reactive manufacturer has led to its success in the paving industry. Rapidly developing new products and solutions to complement the existing Caterpillar dealer portfolio is a winning combination. Weiler is based in Knoxville, Iowa and is a vertically integrated manufacturer of pavers, transfer vehicles, concrete mixer trucks, graders and road wideners—and now, purpose-built forestry equipment. We rely on over 500 competent and driven employees in Knoxville and are already impressed with the talent and commitment we’ve seen from our 275 new forestry employees.”

What products did Weiler acquire from Caterpillar Inc.?

“Weiler entered into an agreement with Caterpillar Inc. to purchase the purpose-built forestry business, which consists of wheel skidders, track feller bunchers, wheel feller bunchers,

Pat Weiler knuckleboom loaders and related operations facilities. Caterpillar will remain producing the forestry excavator product lines as well as the complimentary products that serve the millyards and other forestry segments.”

How does Forestry fit into the Weiler Portfolio?

“We believe that the purpose-built forestry product line is the ideal addition to our current product portfolio. We have a proven track record of working with Cat dealers all over the world to respond rapidly to customers with specialized product needs. We’re confident that our existing product line experience, our flexible design and manufacturing strategy, and our commitment to customers provide a strong foundation to successfully serve the purpose-built forestry segment.”

Does Weiler have plans to expand the product portfolio?

“Successfully developing and introducing new products is at the core of what we do at Weiler. We will apply the same approach to forestry, focusing on customer needs to make their jobs easier and more profitable.”

When can we expect to have Weiler branded product in the market and will there be any immediate changes?

“We are now shipping Weiler branded products to Cat Dealers.

Customers can expect the same level of customer support they are used to from the best dealer organization in the world. We will work diligently, focusing on the needs of our forestry customers to address product needs and improve manufacturing flexibility.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

39

SUPPLIERNEWSLINE

By Tony Kryzanowski

Prolenc Manufacturing load binders prove popular

Prince George, B.C.-based Prolenc Manufacturing is offering a highly popular truck load binder with many features that log truck drivers are learning to appreciate.

It has a longer, offset, forged handle for more leverage when closing, and will not snap closed on the hand because of its straight handles.

When open, its geometry allows the handle to stand upright when attaching to the chain on a log bundle wrapper. It is manufactured with a 1” round ball on the end of the handle to stop hands and wet gloves from slipping off when closing.

The Prolenc Manufacturing load binder is forged in chain hook for easy positive locking of the handle, rather than the traditional method of wrapping the chain around the handle or using a separate wire restraint. www.prolenc.com

Brinkerhoff new CEO of Rotochopper

Rotochopper Inc has appointed Tosh Brinkerhoff as the company’s next chief executive officer. Brinkerhoff has more than 20 years of industry leadership experience, with a track record in heavy equipment manufacturing.

“Tosh’s personal values, supportive family, collaborative leadership style, professional management experience, heavy equipment marketing and manufacturing expertise and Central Minnesota home base all make for an excellent fit with Rotochopper’s continuing opportunity to grow and sustain the company from its roots in St. Martin, Minnesota,” says Jody Parker, chair of Rotochopper’s Board of Directors.

“I am excited to join Rotochopper and I look forward to building on the legacy of leadership, innovation and customer service that has been established at the company,” says Brinkerhoff.

Brinkerhoff holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University, and an MBA from Duke University. He was hired into a leadership program at John Deere, where he gained experience in operations, business development, public affairs, and marketing. His breadth of experience widened when he joined Geringhoff North America as President and CEO in 2015. There he managed operations, procurement, logistics, customer support, marketing, sales and finance. www.rotochopper.com Rotochopper’s new CEO,

Ponsse launches the Cobra

Logging and Sawmilling Journal recently joined the Ponsse team in Crandon, Wisconsin, for the launch of its new harvester—the Cobra. Amidst rain and wind, the crew ensured attendees had hot coffee and all the information we needed about the new multi-purpose harvester.

The Cobra is known as being a multi talent in all types of harvesting and a versatile tool for changing conditions, which we experienced throughout the day. Buyers and media alike saw the Cobra’s agility in the muddy, slippery conditions and navigating through the trees with ease.

While we rode in the spacious state-of-the-art cab, it was easy to see the appeal of this machine. Using eight wheels to maneuver across the active felling area towards the tree line for further harvesting, and the crane located on the rear bogie, the machine is very balanced and has a smooth ride.

The Mercedes-Benz / MTU engine offers exceptional power and fuel economy, which is vital while working long hours in remote forested areas. And, no surprise that the 36-foot reach makes for swift tree felling and clean, organizing stems to be laid out for the Buffalo to stop by and collect.

Ponsse hosted a fantastic event where everyone was welcomed as a friend and given a first-in-class introduction to the new Cobra harvester. It was great to meet with the team that is producing a harvester that is checking a lot of boxes.

For further information on the Ponsse Cobra harvester, go to www.ponsse.com

Brandt signs deal to acquire Nortrax Canada

The Brandt Group of Companies has reached an agreement to acquire the businesses of Nortrax Canada Inc and Nortrax Quebec.

It will unite all John Deere Construction & Forestry dealerships in Canada under the Brandt banner and deliver access to Deere products, parts and support services to Canadian contractors.

With the acquisition of the Deere-owned Nortrax locations in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, Brandt will own and operate 56 John Deere Construction & Forestry dealerships across Canada with an additional 30 or more service points. They will also employ over 3400 people.

Tosh Brinkerhoff 40

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

to page 42

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

41

suppliernewsline from page 40 “The addition of Nortrax’s impressive branch and distribution network gives us an unprecedented opportunity to offer customers anywhere in Canada a consistent customer support experience, no matter where their projects take them.” says Brandt President and CEO, Shaun Semple. “We are very proud to deliver the quality products and support services that Canadian customers rely on for their success, every single day.”

The agreement is expected to close on October 25, 2019. www.brandt.ca

New TriLink saw chain performs in all weather extremes

TriLink Saw Chain is now offering a new ¾” pitch machine harvester chain, complementing its .404” pitch harvester chain and bars.

TriLink chain is manufactured from high quality alloy steel.

The CAD-designed, semi-chisel cutters are described as having excellent cutting speed for increased board feet production.

They are available with either a fixed or rotating and leveling cab. A cab rotation of 290 degrees provides a better view of the boom and grapple, while large windows allow for virtually unrestricted all-around visibility.

All booms come standard with precise boom control. The CF5 boom is available with optional Intelligent Boom Control (IBC).

Both models are designed to enhance drivability and productivity, featuring a transmission with high tractive force and Adaptive Driveline Control (ADC). A first in the forest industry, ADC improves drivability and productivity by allowing the operator to select the desired rpm setting of either Eco, Normal or Power for the operating conditions. Once selected, the system automatically adjusts the engine’s rpms to correspond with the engine load. In high-load situations, driveline control ensures that the diesel engine runs smoothly and uses the available maximum tractive force efficiently.

The 910G and 1010G models feature the TimberMatic control system, which includes a configurable user interface, cruise control and inclination display. www.deere.com/forwarders

FPAC President to head forest products council The chrome-plated aggressive cutting edge is designed for extreme cutting conditions, from the coldest winters to the hottest summers.

The company’s new ¾” harvester chain is precision engineered for maximum dependability.

TriLink Harvester describes its products as state-of-the-art manufactured, engineered, and tested to deliver the most advanced technology and quality. www.trilinksawchain.com

New Deere forwarders offer maximum power in compact size

Agile and versatile, the new John Deere 910G and 1010G forwarders come equipped with ultra-comfortable cabs and are available with a variety of boom, load space, axle and cabin options.

The 910G and 1010G machines can be customized for different worksites or operational needs.

Available in a six-wheeled or eight-wheeled configuration, the 910G and 1010G models are said to be ideal for early- to latethinning operations and smaller end final felling applications. Balanced bogie axles, rigid front axles on the six-wheel model, and an unbalanced front bogie axle option offer increased durability.

Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), has been elected President of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA).

“It is an honor to be chosen by colleagues from around the world to assume this role at such an exciting time for forestry and the forest products sector,” says FPAC President, Nighbor. “Canada was built on Derek Nighbor forestry. In Canada, I work hard every day to advance the opportunities that our sector brings to communities like the one I grew up in. In this new role, I look forward to working with my international colleagues to do the same thing on the global stage.”

The ICFPA serves as a forum of global dialogue, coordination and co-operation. Currently, the ICFPA represents 18 pulp, paper, wood and fibre-based associations that encompass 28 countries, including many of the top pulp, paper and wood producers around the world. www.fpac.ca

Valutec launches new kiln drying control system

Valutec has introduced its Valmatics 4.0 control system, which enables sawmills to automate and optimize drying in all types of lumber kilns.

Valutec says that the high quality of the process is ensured by simulators programmed with data from hundreds of thousands of measurements to enable the calculation of drying processes with great accuracy from beginning to end.

“Sawmills want to streamline production while also ensuring the quality of every product,” said Thomas Waming, head to page 44 42

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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suppliernewsline from page 42 of R&D at Valutec. “This calls for intelligent automation, and we’ve dedicated major resources to developing it. “Valmatics 4.0 provides the kiln operator with the help and support necessary to optimize the drying process,” Waming says. “This means gains at several levels as operators have more time to focus on qualitycritical operations such as sampling and checks.”

The increased automation made possible by intelligent simulators is also necessary to take full advantage of increasingly common TC progressive kilns, where drying can take place in parallel in up to ten different zones with different conditions such as dimensions and moisture content. www.valutec.com

MNP expands presence in Prince George

MNP, Canada’s fifth-largest national accounting and business consulting firm, has acquired Deloitte’s Prince George, B.C., practice and will transition the two offices together, effective September 9, 2019.

MNP has 21 locations across B.C. with the firm’s strategic plan calling for continued growth in the province and its regions.

“We have continued to see strong growth in the northern B.C. region,” said Darren Turchansky, MNP’s Executive Vice President of the B.C. Region. “Prince George and the surrounding communities were identified as key locations with diversified economy offering opportunities to support our strategic plans for growth and express our commitment to the Northern B.C. marketplace.

“As we continue to grow our firm to serve the needs of this region, we are excited to welcome a well-established and respected accounting and business consulting team that shares complementary experiences and an unwavering commitment to serving this marketplace.”

The Partners of the Deloitte PG practice said they were most excited to join MNP because of its relationship-based culture.

“MNP offers the best of both worlds—the scope and services of a national firm together with the culture, personalized approach and community commitment of a local office. We know joining MNP will be a good fit for our clients and our team and we are optimistic about the future,” said Cindy Thomson, a Partner transitioning to MNP. Since 1958, MNP has grown to more than 80 offices across Canada and has more than 800 partners and 5,000 team members. MNP serves a wide variety of clients in diverse industries, including all the client and industry groups Deloitte PG currently serves.

“This acquisition is a perfect example of how we can provide our clients the edge they need to stay competitive and overcome current business and industry challenges,” added Thomson.

“Together we are stronger; adding more local resources and specialists and a range of experiences and a complementary 44

perspective of the local Prince George marketplace—all of which will help to provide our clients with continued value. In addition to more local professionals and resources, MNP, like Deloitte, offers us access to national specialists and professionals. It’s truly a win-win.”

Deloitte’s PG office has roots that go back to 1913 and the firm has been operating under the Deloitte umbrella for more than 40 years; serving clients in a variety of locations in the B.C. Interior.

MNP welcomes the office team of 21, with four of the team members— Cindy Thomson, CPA, CA; Greg Sale, CPA, CA; Valerie Eberherr, CPA, CA, and Lorna Wendling, CPA, CA—joining the MNP partnership. The new team will remain in their current location for the short term. As such, MNP will operate two standalone offices in PG but will be looking to transition everyone into one location in the near future. www.mnp.ca

Ponsse’s Dino began journey 50 years ago

Ponsse is celebrating the creation of Dino, a load-carrying forwarder introduced in the summer of 1969, based on an idea

by Einari Vidgrén.

A machine entrepreneur, Einari Vidgrén was getting frustrated with problems caused by poor quality forest machines. He decided to produce a machine that would last for more than just a couple of weeks without problems and repairs. His goal was to create the “Mercedes Benz of forest machines”.

At the workshop of local blacksmith Kauko Väisänen, Lauri Uuksunen was the main contributor to the creation of the machine. There were no drawings. The workshop was located by the village of Vieremä. Einari visited the workshop almost daily to explain his ideas for the “best forest machine in the world”.

The contributors to building the machine also included Erkki Tarvainen, who worked as service manager at Einari’s contractor business.

In the summer of 1969, it was time to drive the machine out of the workshop. Olavi Kauhanen, Einari’s number one driver, was trusted with this duty. The machine seemed to run smoothly, but problems emerged during the first test drive. However, the men were able to fix the machine quickly, and Dino returned to the forest to prove its performance capacity.

A few months later, Einari received a call from the development unit of the Tehdaspuu forestry company.

“You should build more of these. This machine seems to be durable,” they said.

The decision to establish the company was made in the spring of 1970—without equity, training or their own production facilities. This marked the beginning of Ponsse Oy. www.ponsse.com

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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thelastword

B.C. forest industry starts to look at commercial thinning—by necessity

By Jim Stirling

B

ritish Columbia’s forest industry tends to apply silvicultural techniques only when forced. Now is one of those times.

The wood supply issues are critical enough to persuade forest companies to take a serious look at the implications of commercial thinning in newer generations of merchantable trees contained within their forest licences. Thinning a maturing forest stand is viewed as one way of accessing additional fibre. Commercial thinning techniques might also help mitigate the mid-term fibre supply challenges.

The reasons for the shrinking wood supply have been well documented. The most obvious recent ones being fibre losses from the prolonged mountain pine beetle epidemic in the B.C. Interior and fibre losses to wild fires, both phenomena exacerbated by the warming climate. The effects of the diminishing wood supply have been similarly well documented: permanent closures of sawmills and other wood processing plants; shift reductions and temporary closures in those that remain and the residents in many communities worried about their immediate futures.

Canfor, West Fraser and Carrier Lumber are among the growing number of companies taking a serious look at applying commercial thinning techniques on appropriate stands in B.C. They are following a route well travelled. Back in the early-1970s, Sweden used its Elmia wood exhibition as an international exchange of information to help explore commercial thinning issues and generate solutions to problems. The Swedes, like forest companies operating now in B.C., began investigating thinning methods because the Swedish forest industry also needed the wood fibre source potential offered by commercial thinning, albeit for different reasons.

It was no surprise to the Swedes to confirm commercial thinning harvesting costs are considerably higher than those associated with clearcutting. They also quickly discovered that selective thinning techniques were more advantageous to

46

the remaining stand from a biological point of view than geometrical thinning, where the process follows corridors or rows. But the flip side was selective thinning cost more to design and implement.

The main issue with selective thinning techniques is removing the desired stems while minimizing damage to the remaining stand. The working environment is narrow and restrictive. The standing stems get in the way, reducing sight lines and limiting machine boom movements.

Winching out stems selected for removal demands more labour, and its effectiveness is influenced by snow conditions.

The Swedish research concluded a new approach was required to commercially thin a stand most effectively, one specifically designed for operating in the restricted environment.

It’s interesting because the basic elements are the same as in a clearcut scenario. Trees need to be felled, delimbed and processed and the stems removed.

It’s the scale that’s different. The trees are smaller than in a typical clearcut situation, affecting processing efficiency—and the working environment tighter. And add in, of course, the need to avoid damaging the residual stand and its root systems while keeping operating costs within limits.

The Swedish researchers began looking at different designs and configurations of smaller, purpose-built and multifunction machines. Some resembled a combination of a wheeled forwarder with on-board harvesting and processing capabilities.

Much has changed since the 1970s, of course. The knowledge and data gathering about the effects and costs of varying thinning systems on the remaining environment have been collected and analyzed.

The experience with thinning systems in Scandinavia and other European countries with forest industries can only help Canadian forest companies. Conditions might vary considerably but the basic premises surrounding commercial thinning systems are as applicable to southern Sweden as they are to central B.C.

It all means entering the higher cost world of mechanized commercial thinning is much easier today for Canadian forest companies. It’s akin to when mechanized harvesting machines were introduced to North America. Most of them had a purpose-built European pedigree. In many cases, a period of machine reconfiguration and adjustment was needed to fit Canadian operating conditions. But the transitions were successfully made.

Selecting the most appropriate sites for commercial thinning will be an early and essential part of the learning curve for B.C. companies. Which stands will prove the best candidates for commercial thinning? How can they best be laid out and designed to contain costs as much as possible while meeting the forest company’s expectations for the amounts and quality of the wood extracted?

Today’s designers of commercial thinning machines have a sound idea of the machines’ operational requirements— there is already equipment out there, harvesting machines and heads, designed for small diameter stems. The demand side of the equation might prove to be a bit more of an unknown. Manufacturers can only make educated projections about the demand for commercial thinning equipment. It also seems likely that during the initial period of commercial thinning in B.C., the equipment manufacturing maestros will test some prototype versions. They have proved very adept at the process as other generations of forest harvesting machines have matured.

Although unusual circumstances have combined to create the necessity of interest in commercial thinning techniques, they may well prove to have an accepted role in forest management. In Finland, for example, thinnings are considered an unavoidable part of the silvicultural care of a stand during its rotation period. Therefore, thinnings are not a separate problem but part of the system of growing stands and logging.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - August/September 2019

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