TimberWest - September/October 2014

Running on All Cylinders

Brintech Inc., Mossyrock, Wash.

Good Crew Makes the Company RDL Northwest Inc. Lebanon, Ore.

Keeping on Thinning

Pleines Logging Forks, Wash.

ScorpionKing Struts Tech Review

Brushcutters & Mulchers

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ON THE COVER

September/October 2014 Vol. 39 No. 09-10

Photo by Diane Mettler of Brintech Logging and the company’s two new machines — a Doosan and Hyundai

Keep on Thinning 6

Keep on Thinning Pleines Logging has focused on thinning for two decades

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Good Crew Makes the Company RDL Northwest Inc. is picky about its crew and equipment

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Running on All Cylinders While companies were struggling through the recession Brintech expanded

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Woody Biomass Column Be Ready with the Message

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16 Seconds: The Divider Winners and losers of the LWC

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Good Crews Make the Company

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Running on All Cylinders

ScorpionKing Struts Ponsse shows of the new ScorpionKing in Rhinelander, Wisc.

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Guest Columnist Preparing Your Forestry Equipment for Winter

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 .............................................................In the News Page 14 ..................................................... Machinery Row Page 30 ................................................. Association News Page 32 ........ Tech review - Brushcutters & Mulchers Page 42 ........................................................ New Products Page 45 .................................................Advertiser’s Index Page 45 ............................................... Calendar of Events Page 45 ................................................. Classified Section Page 45 ............................Subscription/Reader Service

ScorpionKing Struts

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Firefighting, Timber Harvest Rules and Landslide Mapping Lead DRN Budget

Money to fight wildfires, regulate timber harvests, and map Washington’s geological hazards are key requests in Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark’s budget for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), published last week by the state’s Office of Financial Management.

“The firestorms and landslides we experienced in 2014 remind us how important it is to prepare for disasters, prevent them when we can, and fight them when we must,” said Goldmark. “This budget will give us the tools we need to improve public safety for the people of Washington.”

The agency is seeking $4.5 million to restore numbers of trained firefighters to pre-recession levels. This will increase the agency’s ability to respond quickly to fires on the 13 million acres it protects. DNR will request $3.2 million to boost oversight of timber harvests to ensure forestry activities meet clean water standards and do not harm salmon or increase natural landslide dangers. DNR also is asking for $6.6 million to expand LiDAR mapping of geological hazards and provide technical support to counties, cities, and the public to help them understand the data.

New Sawmill Brings Jobs to Williams, Helps Thin Forests

There’s a new sawmill in Flagstaff, Arizona — Newpac Fibre LLC. The company opened its new mill at the site of a mill that had closed its doors in 1995.

The opening reflects not only an upsurge in the economy, but also a new commitment by the forest service to reduce the fire threat by thinning forests.

Wood from the sawmill will be used for paneling, flooring, doors, and more. Nothing will go to waste. Whatever isn’t used to produce building materials will be ground into mulch to be used for landscaping or fuel.

Simpson Lumber May Sell Longview Mill

In late September, the Tacoma News Tribune reported that privately owned Simpson Lumber Co. may be offered for sale. Among Simpson’s operations is their Longview mill, which opened in 2007. The mill employed approximately 85 full-time and 10 temporary employees.

Simpson also runs mills in Tacoma and Shelton, Wash., as well as Georgetown, S.C., and Meldrim, Ga. The company’s door-making operation in McCleary, Wash., is not for sale.

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Roseburg Mill to Reopen

The enormous fire that tore through Weed, Calif., burned homes to the ground, caused hundreds to be evacuated, and did damage to the Roseburg veneer mill, one of the town’s major industries. There was talk that the mill may not reopen, but that’s not the case.

Roseburg anticipates being back on line

by Thanksgiving. In the meantime, it has moved its Weed veneer inventory and logs to its plywood operations in Oregon. Sixty of Weed’s 135 employees were also offered positions in Oregon, manning extra shifts to keep up with production needs and existing order files.

Forestry Transfer Degree Offered at SWOCC

Southwestern Oregon Community College and Oregon State University have signed an agreement to link degree programs for students pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees in forestry. This is great news for students enrolling at the college for fall term.

“We’re hoping that other community colleges see this as a precedent – a model,” said Dr. Claire Montgomery, with OSU’s department of forest engineering, resources, and management.

Students are already signing up, and the first graduates will hit the workforce in 2016.

If you would like more information, visit http://www.socc.edu/academics/pgs/degrees/.

AB 2142 Signed by Governor Brown

Last year in response to the Rim Fire, the legislature passed AB 744 to evaluate the expansion of the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption (FFPE). This 3-year pilot project encourages landowners to conduct forestthinning projects to reduce the occurrence of wildfires, mitigate the damage, and improve overall forest health in the Sierra Nevada region, specifically in high and very high fire hazard zones. The only problem with the bill was that it didn’t cover several high risk areas.

In September, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2142, authored by Wes Chesbro.

The bill added Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma Counties to the AB 744 Forest Fire Prevention Exemption pilot project, which will create a more robust pilot project that will help policymakers evaluate methods for safeguarding forests.

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

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Editor: Diane Mettler, diane@forestnet.com Copy Editor: Beth Szyperski Contributing Editors: Lindsay R. Mohlere, Clayton Petree, Kenneth Boness, Barbara Coyner ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sales Mgr: James Booth – jbooth@forestnet.com Director: Rob Stanhope – stanhope@forestnet.com Sales Contact Information: Toll Free: 1-866-405-6462 Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Publisher & Production Manager: Sheila Ringdahl – sringdahl@forestnet.com Office Manager: Betty Rosales – brosales@forestnet.com Corporate Office Information: Phone: (425) 778-3388 Fax: (425) 771-3623 timberwest@forestnet.com www.forestnet.com Send all materials - Insertion Orders, Contracts, Copy, Photos, Disks to: TimberWest Publications, LLC P.O. Box 610 (300 Admiral Way, Suite 105) Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Send both OLD and NEW Circulation information to: TimberWest Magazine Attn: George Aldridge P.O. Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020 Fax: (425) 771-3623 • subscribetw@forestnet.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Advertising created by TimberWest Publications, LLC is the sole property of TimberWest Publications, LLC and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher.

PUBLISHER’S EDITORIAL STATEMENT: TimberWest reports on the logging and lumber segment of the forest industry in the Western United States with emphasis on the states of AK, WA, OR, ID, MT and CA, providing current information on timber harvesting techniques, sawmill operations, news, legislation, events, people and products pertinent to this market.

TIMBERWEST (USPS #024858) is published bi-monthly (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) by TimberWest Publications, LLC, 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA, 98020. Periodicals postage paid at Edmonds, WA and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Subscription rates to qualified subscribers are Free and all non-qualified subscriptions in U.S. are $22 per year payable in advance. Canada $35 (U.S.). Other $40 (U.S.). Single copies paid in advance $4. Company affiliation, title, date and signature must appear on subscription forms.

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ContractorProfile

Keep on Thinning Pleines Logging focuses on contract cut-to-length

By Clayton Petree

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leines Logging Inc., headquartered in Forks, Wash., focuses primarily on contract cut-to-length thinning in northwest Washington. But that wasn’t always the case.

Current owner Fred Pleines began his logging career by helping his father Fred Sr. harvest in the late 1960s and early 70s.

When Fred’s father passed away in 1975, Fred Junior’s mother Beatrice asked Fred to finish the job on his own. Beatrice did not want to own and run the logging operation, so she transferred her interest in the company to Fred Jr., helping him continue working under the Pleines Logging name.

Fred ran Pleines Logging for another decade, working a number of smaller jobs. By 1985, he was working bigger, long-term jobs for

Left, Fred Pleines and on the right, operator Joe Burwash.

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Pleines Logging looks to its John Deere 1270E with a Waratah 480c head for thinning jobs.

ContractorProfile Pope & Talbot under the guidance of Milt Philbrook. Working on bigger jobs for Pope & Talbot, and later an Asian export operation named Golden Springs, provided good consistent work for a number of years.

The Move to Cut-to-Length

One day, Fred saw an opportunity — to bid on a 2,500-acre DNR thinning job called “Little Tree.” He decided then to go all in on thinning. It was around 1990, and Timberjack (well known today) had just released cut-to-length thinning equipment in the U.S. market. Ahead of his time, Fred decided to purchase equipment from the new company.

“The first year on the Little Tree job just about put us under,” says Fred. “We had to learn how to operate cut-to-length efficiently, and the new equipment sometimes caused lengthy delays for parts.”

Once he and his men perfected their corridor layout, and the there was a larger parts supply in the U.S., things got better. Pleines purchased a second harvester in 1992. When the Little Tree job wrapped up, Pleines continued thinning work for another 10 years, covering about 10,000 acres of DNR lands.

Still Thinning

Today, Pleines works one side and employs five people. He runs both a Timberjack 1270D with a 762c harvester head and a 1270E John Deere with a Waratah 480c head, along with a 1210 Timberjack forwarder and a 225 Cat log loader. For other duties, Fred says his firm uses a 315 Cat excavator, 416 backhoe, 12G grader, and their trusty 1982 GMC shop truck which, according to Fred, “Just keeps on running.”

When asked how Pleines Logging has been successful for so long, Fred blames the

longevity on his crew. “I handpicked them, and they have had a big hand in Pleines Logging’s long-term success.”

He also credits a successful operation to having a good attitude and a well-stocked shop and shop truck. Pleines makes sure everything is organized and in top running shape, which allows them to hit their deadlines with very low damage rates.

Pleines is also willing to travel away from the Forks area, depending on the job, and he can work with the customer to meet their various needs, such as recovering biomass

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ContractorProfile

The 1210 Timberjack forwarder at work. Fred says the challenge isn’t finding quality equipment, but qualified help. material. Another key factor to the company’s success is his long-term relationship with Barry Swanson trucking. Fred says they would have their own trucks but it’s difficult to find drivers; by contracting, they can focus on thinning instead of human resource management.

Tough Assignments

Fred says the most difficult job his firm has ever tackled was on the Pysht Tree Farm, a fir and spruce plot that had been neglected and infected with weevil eggs, causing the spruce trees to grow multiple tops, having

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limbs all the way from top to bottom. The stunted, 30-foot trees turned out to be unusable for saw logs but were usable for pulpwood. Although time consuming, they clear cut the diseased spruce and thinned the fir so that it could grow into a healthy forest again.

Luckily, most jobs are not that tough, and Fred believes there’s a good future for thinning-only operations like his because of the positive effect thinning has on growth rates and forest health. He plans to continue to provide quality, on-time work and perhaps improve efficiency through several equipment upgrades such as the Cat 574 forwarder they are in the process of purchasing.

“The biggest challenge is finding qualified help when I need it,” he says. “Other challenges include the tremendous increases in fuel and parts costs we’ve seen in recent years.”

It’s been many years since the Little Tree job, but Pleines and his specialized logging firm intend on thinning for many more years to come. Fred intends to continue to refine their process and upgrade their equipment so they can survive—and even thrive—in today’s competitive market.

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ContractorProfile

A Good Crew Makes the Company

RDL Northwest Inc., Lebanon, Ore.

Logan Cooley, Jessie VanNice, Rick Dennis, Mark Bowman, Jessie Powell. Not shown: Stephany Johnson, David Keutzer and David Gibbs

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

“

M

y crew is really good. They

have high expectations. So it’s tough trying to find the right guy for the job. The crew won’t tolerate someone who can’t keep up,” says Rick Dennis, president and owner of RDL Northwest Inc., as he shuffles

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through a thick stack of employment applications. “If someone goes to work here, they’ve got to have experience in the position. We have to keep production at a high level.”

RDL Northwest is a shovel logging operation headquartered in Lebanon, Ore. It has nine employees, all of which have been with the company for several years.

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Team with Logging in Their Blood

“We’re a little company but we’re growing,” Dennis says. “We have very low turnover, and we don’t have entry level positions.

It’s hard for someone to flow right into a position. It’s not fair to them or the crew. The people that work here, they all grew up in the logging business; they’re conscientious. They

ContractorProfile pay attention to the work. They keep it top of mind.”

His responsibility, Dennis explained, starts at the top of a chain of command. “I try to keep everybody busy by keeping the general logging plan implemented,” he says.

“Give the crew good tools to work with and have the job planned out…They’ll get it done.”

RDL Northwest rewards employees with a benefit package that includes a family standard of living wage, 100 percent employee medical, dental, life insurance, and matching 401K contributions. The company also has a bonus program that’s paid out at the end of the year. In addition, RDL Northwest has an in-house safety program administered by Dennis.

Dennis, who started RDL Northwest in 1988 as a one-man operation, applies a basic business philosophy he learned from the ground up. “The company provides decent equipment and pays a good family wage. I also try to make sure everyone goes home at night without any job-related problems. My guys are really good at what they do.”

Dennis also believes you’ve got to let your people experience the work. “It’s a learning process. When you’re at things for a long time, you already know what’s going to happen before it does. At some point you’ve got to let people stand up and fall down a little bit. That’s how you learn.”

In the Northwest steep slopes are just part of the business. Here the Cat 325 log loader makes it looks easy.

There’s No Time for Downtime

Dennis admits one of the difficult parts of his job is keeping everybody busy and productive.

RDL’s shovel logging side relies on newer equipment to get the job done while contracting out most of its maintenance work. Machines are replaced or repurposed on a five-year cycle or 10,000 to 12,000 hours of service. Currently, RDL utilizes

a 2011 CAT 527 Grapple Skidder, a 2013 CAT 325 log loader, a 2014 Link-Belt 240 X2 log loader, and a 2009 Hitachi 240 log loader.

Processing is handled by a reconditioned 2006 Link-Belt 290, a 2007 Kobelco 290, and a 2005 Link-Belt 240 all with 622 Waratah processors. Also used is a 240 LinkBelt with a Pierce Pacific stroker/delimber.

A small, but handy, agricultural Mitsubishi

RDL normally has machines on a 5-year cycle. New to the fleet is the 2014 Link-Belt 240 X2 log loader.

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ContractorProfile 200 articulating front-end loader finishes out the company stable.

If the timber business continues to grow, RDL will consider adding a yarder side to its arsenal.

The company does its own hauling with three Peterbilts. Other haulers are contracted as needed. RDL’s oldest truck, a 2004 Pete, is being reconstructed to a mule train configuration, giving the company added versatility to handle short log hauling. A fire truck and two tanker trucks are also on site during fire season. Cutting is contracted out to C & C Timber Operations out of Sweet Home, Ore. RDL also contracts with an on-site watchman. “It saves on our insurance and adds peace of mind,” Dennis says.

Dennis also emphasized preventative maintenance is an absolute necessity to keep production at a high level. “Uptime is really important to my crew. You don’t have control over a machine when it’s broken down.

You’ve got control when it’s up and running.

If a machine worked when it was new, it should still work now,” he said.

From Humble Family Beginnings to Sole Proprietor

Like his crew, Rick Dennis grew up in the logging business. In the late 40s, Rick’s dad ventured out to Oregon from Wisconsin at the urging of his brother Ray who said there was money to be made in the logging business out in the Northwest. “Those were the days when you’d move a tree into a saw mill and then hauled the boards to town. My dad and Uncle Ray, made a go of it,” Dennis says with a chuckle. “Probably made twelve cents a day, up from ten cents in Wisconsin.”

Dennis’ first job came about when his dad had babysitting duties while his mom worked at the local hospital. Armed with a tape measure and a small hatchet, Rick marked all the logs that came into the

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RDL primarily works for large timber companies like Cascade Timber Consulting, but will sometimes take the smaller, private jobs. landing. He measured out the logs and marked them with a little chop. His older brother Gary would then come along and buck the logs.

During high school, Dennis ran ground machinery on the landings. After high school, he went to college while working full time.

Through the late 70s and 80s, Dennis worked with his older brother at what would become Shell Lake Logging Inc. “It grew into a pretty big operation,” Dennis says.

“We ran a cutting side, two yarder sides, and a tractor side.”

When his brother passed away in 1987, Dennis ventured out on his own. “I didn’t have anything,” he says. “I started over from scratch. That was 1988.”

Shortly thereafter, Dennis bought a selfloading log truck and began hauling logs for other contractors. He also did odd jobs liking hauling loads — whatever it took. He even loaded short logs destined to become 2 x 4s into the back of his pickup truck. The

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

business grew, and Dennis rented an old 850 CASE and worked farmer patches and such.

About a year later, his operation had grown into a small logging company. Dennis decided to move up and bought a newer 850 because he liked what he could do with the one he had rented. “I’d take small jobs, big jobs, whatever I could get. I’d accumulate better equipment when I could afford it.

My goal was to log for a large land owner,” Dennis says.

Big Jobs to Full-Meal Deal

Nowadays, most of RDL’s contracts are with larger timber operations like Cascade Timber Consulting Inc., but he still isn’t one to sit back and wait for something to happen. One of the few North West logging contractors with a viable website that helps promote his business and capabilities, RDL Northwest will take on smaller jobs, private jobs, and occasionally a “full-meal deal.”

The company will do the marketing, contract the cutting, log it off, and reforest.

Start to finish. “We don’t do a full deal very often. Pretty time consuming on my end. A lot more goes into it than running around in a pickup.”

Over the years RDL Northwest has weathered the turbulent dips and slams the logging business has experienced and come out a strong contender. Dennis does admit he’s had some help along the way. “I couldn’t have done it without help from some other people. There’s the insurance man that got me insurance when no one else would touch it. And the banker that helped with the loans. I’ve kept with the same people for many years.”

But the real key to RDL’s success is very simple, “I’ve got a great crew…and we work at it.”

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Peterson Pacific Delivers 2,000th Machine

Peterson Pacific Corp. has delivered their 2,000th machine to come off the production line to Tabeel Trading, based in Australia. The milestone machine is a Peterson 5000H, a Delimber/Debarker/Chipper, which produces

high-quality, low-bark-content chips for wood pulp and pellets, processing whole trees in one continuous operation.

Peterson hosted a special on-site delivery ceremony for their employees. Tabeel Trading’s machine was adorned with the U.S. and Australian flags, and a special logo

commemorating the 2,000th machine.

“We are excited that our 2,000th machine is a 5000H—this is one of our flagship models, and we trust that it will be a valued addition to Tabeel Trading’s operations,” said Michael Spreadbury, Peterson’s marketing manager.

Eliminate engine overheating and operator downtime with a Flexxaire engine-cooling fan.

Variable Airflow | Saves fuel AutoReverse | Cleans the radiator 14

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Vermeer Announces Family Succession Plans

As part of its family succession planning process, Vermeer Corporation announced that third-generation family member Jason Andringa will serve as the company’s next President & CEO, effective Nov. 1, 2015.

Port of Longview Staffer to Lead State Public Relations Committee

Ashley Helenberg, Public Affairs Manager for the Port of Longview, has been named chairwoman of the Washington Public Ports Association’s Public Relations Committee.

The WPPA’s Executive Committee appointed her to the position in July.

“Our executive board recognized Ashley’s professional excellence, and we are excited for her to take over leadership of this important group,” said Eric Johnson, executive director

of WPPA. “Ashley’s deep knowledge of communication and community outreach strategies will be a great asset to our members.”

The Public Relations Committee promotes Washington State’s strong, diverse network of 75 ports and the benefits they provide locally, regionally, and nationally.

“As the Port of Longview grows in both size and influence, this is a great opportunity to accept the responsibility to leverage this for the benefit of all our state’s ports,” said Geir-Eilif Kalhagen, CEO of the Port of Longview.

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Jason will assume the role of President & Chief Operating Officer for one year, when he will transition to the role of President & CEO of Vermeer Corporation. He currently serves as President of Forage and Environmental Solutions.

November 1, Mary Andringa, current President & CEO, will assume the role of CEO & Chair of the Board, and Bob Vermeer, current Chairman of the Board, will assume the role of Chair Emeritus (the honorary role for individuals who served as Vermeer CEO or Chair of the Board).

Peterson Hosts Employee Group at PLC

One of the highlights of the Pacific Logging Conference for Peterson was hosting a group of their own employees at the show. Peterson held a raffle for their factory employees to get a paid day off to visit the show, check out the displays, and actually see how the product they make every day stacks up against the competition.

“It was great to get the guys out of the shop, up here for the show,” said Michael Spreadbury, marketing manager for Peterson. “We had a drawing at a recent employee meeting and brought out one employee from each major part of manufacturing so they could see how what they craft every day works in the real world. This was a great chance to see the competition and learn other facets of this industry—this kind of outing can really go a long way to refocusing and re-energizing the men and women at Peterson.”

Derek Rather, machine shop supervisor, also came along on the trip. “Watching the Peterson grinder handle that nasty pile of stumps really helped give our guys the ‘ah-ha’ moment and gets them excited about Peterson products and the work we do every day.”

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ContractorProfile

Running on All Cylinders Brintech Inc. expands while others try to stay afloat Diane Mettler

T

he recession hit most everyone pretty hard. But there were a few outfits, like Brintech Inc., out of Mossyrock, Wash., that expanded during that period. It just took a little luck, hard work, and a good head for business.

Always a Dream

Jerry Brindle, owner of Brintech, always knew he was going to be a logger. When he was 17, he bought a little dozer and did some logging. His dad was a shovel logger (and still is) for Weyerhaeuser. “Thompson Timber hired me right out of high school. I ran a processor for him for a little over five years before I got enough money saved up to go buy my own.

“Roger Smith of RL Smith hired me and my processor. He gave me a lot of pointers and helped me get rolling.”

Jerry officially opened his own business Owner, Jerry Brindle

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in 1999 as a one-man show with one processor. It wasn’t until 2003 that Jerry bought his second machine — a new Kobelco 210 — and hired an employee. Today he employs 27 and owns a fleet of equipment including a brand new Madill 3800C, a Hyundai 330LC-9A, and a Doosan DX300LL.

Expanding During a Tough Time

Ironically, while others were struggling to weather the recession, Jerry was getting traction.

“Weyerhaeuser work was drying up, and the company was laying off contractors,” says Jerry. “They pretty much kicked us out the door. So I went and bought a great big 700acre thinning sale from the DNR during that time.”

Most would have considered the DNR sale a risky step, but Jerry went ahead. Jerry says bidding is always a calculated risk.

“Anybody can do math, but there’s a certain amount of straight up guessing that goes into a bid, and you’d better be pretty good at it. If it was all perfect, everybody would have the same number and it’d be easy.”

The DNR sale worked out well for Brintech. Jerry bought it for nothing and then prices started going back up. “That gave me the funds to get going. I hired two more employees and bought a little Cat D4 and another shovel to do the thinning job.”

After the DNR sale, in 2011, Jerry invested in a Thunderbird 225 swing yarder and hired five more to the crew. “Economically, things were still not that great, so we got a pretty decent buy on the yarder,” he says.

Over the years, Brintech ran used machines, but Jerry says it didn’t pencil out. “We make way more money running new stuff that we’re not working on. The payments may be big, but the machines run every day, your operators are happy, and production is moving.”

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

Today Brintech tends to run a piece of equipment no more than 10,000 hours before replacing it, in part because at 10,000 hours the equipment still has a good tradein or resale value. “If you start running them too much longer, you just don’t get anything back out of them.”

The Bulk of the Work

Although Jerry and his crew may occasionally handle a sale for Weyerhaeuser, the company’s main contractors are Hancock and Olympic Resource Management.

ContractorProfile

Above: Brintech is a fan of Doosan. They already owned four when they purchased a Doosan DX300LL. Right: The company runs two towers and says it’s important to find the right job for the right tower.

“They’ve been really good to work for,” he says. “Whatever they tell you, you can pretty much count on it. Their prices are really fair and competitive. What I like best about them is they keep work in front of us. They give us a year’s worth of work, and it’s all negotiated throughout the year instead of having to go bid a bunch of stuff. So we pretty well know we’ve got work all year long.”

On these jobs, Jerry subcontracts all the cutting. “We yard, process, put on a truck, and take to the mill.”

Some of the trucking is also contracted out. “We easily run about 15 to 20 trucks, says Jerry. “There’s the 2015 Kenworth, which is our low bed, but it switches back and forth to being a long logger. Then we have a 2000 W900 Kenworth long logger, a 2014 T800 Kenworth, and a ’99 Kenworth.”

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ContractorProfile

One of the company’s purchases this year was a Hyundai 330LC-9A. Brindle says, “We make way more money running new stuff that we’re not working on.”

Credit to the Crew

To date, hiring great guys for his crew hasn’t been a problem (knock on wood), although he admits finding really experienced people is harder. Because of the lack of experience in the rigging, training is required.

Clint West, Jerry’s brother-in-law and a hook tender for 18 years, does most of it.

Hook tender Clint and operator Robert Luuers are who Jerry leans on to help manage the sites. “It really helps having a guy like that on site. It makes a big difference,” says Jerry.

Maintaining a good crew also requires being a top notch employer. Brintech supplies good medical and competitive wages.

“And then, of course, fairly new equipment always helps to keep your operators around,” says Jerry.

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In addition, Jerry feels no company can be too safe. He has been involved in the L&I safety initiative and believes it’s not only the right thing to do, it also makes good financial sense.

“My personal opinion is if you’re not involved in it, you’re probably trying to hide something. Why wouldn’t you do it? They’re giving you a 20 percent cut right off your rates. For an outfit of my size, that’s almost $80,000 a year in savings. How do you say, ‘No, I’m not doing that’?”

Meeting the Challenges of Growth

With growth come challenges. Lately, Brintech’s biggest challenge has been adjusting to the new yarder. Last August Jerry bought a big yarder — a Washington 137

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

and hired five new employees. “It’s all new to us and the big layouts. It’s been a challenge getting that all working, but we’re getting there.”

That challenge didn’t keep Jerry from purchasing a few more pieces of equipment from Cascade Trader this year, including a 330 Hyundai with a 623 Waratah head.

“The 320 has been around for a long time, but the 330 is the newest one that’s got the Tier 4 motors.” Now that all the bugs are worked out, he’s extremely pleased with how it runs.

Jerry’s other purchase was a Doosan DX300LL. “We have four [Doosans] already, and we really like them. They didn’t have any 300s in at the time, when I needed one, but they had these new and a nice financing package. We like it. It’s a lot

heavier duty machine and guarded up a lot better.”

Making this kind of investment takes planning, because the equipment doesn’t pay for itself overnight.

“The amount of money it takes to start a tower side is unbelievable,” explains Jerry.

“You have to build a pretty good income before you can invest. You’re not just going to buy a yarder and expect to make it work. It just doesn’t work that way. You have to have all your ducks in a row before you even consider buying a tower.”

Jerry says the average tower costs between $4,500 and $5,000 a day, and with new equipment it takes time just to break even. “It’s hard….until you get the crew gelling together and everything is working right, and you’re finding the right jobs for the right tower.”

These kinds of huge investments would make some nervous. Jerry just smiles.

“Before, it used to be a little scary, but now I’m just kind of numb to it.”

A Look ahead

Jerry doesn’t see more new equipment purchases for awhile. Brintech is running one shovel site and two towers and has a 330 Cat (yoder) to move a yarder or to use if a yarder is broken down. “Right now that’s

Jerry Brindle (right) with one of his right hand men, Al Stamper. They stand next to the new Madill 3800C, just one of a number of new equipment purchases in 2014. plenty,” says Jerry.

“I’m just proud that we’ve gotten as big as we have and made it through the tough times and are able to just keep expanding while other people were going the other

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way,” adds Jerry. “Just being able to keep really great people around — that’s the most important thing.”

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www.forestnet.com September/October 2014 TimberWest

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Be Ready with the Message

By Barbara Coyner

T

he Idaho Forest Products Commission has a woody biomass message worth memorizing— it’s called The Triple Win:

• Restore forest health, fire resiliency, and wildlife habitat.

• Help meet Idaho’s [or another state’s] energy needs with a renewable resource.

• Provide hundreds of jobs and revitalize rural communities.

Make no mistake about it, while the forestry industry sees common sense in turning woody biomass into renewable energy, there’s plenty of pushback to the Triple Win, especially when it comes to allowing harvest activities on national forest lands in the West. Furthermore, there is an established army of opposition to woody biomass power in general, and some of that opposition gets fairly emotional. If you don’t believe it, check out two samples at: www.thingsworsethannuclearpower.com or

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www.energyjustice.net. By contrast, Idaho Forest Products Commission’s one-page summary on woody biomass (www.idahoforests.org/img/pdf/Biomass.pdf ) is worth keeping on hand for reference.

Push Against Biomass

Despite the obvious, that western forests are overcrowded and giant wildfires contribute to poor air quality, as well as loss of resources and wildlife habitat, many activists still fight woody biomass power. This is especially true when it comes to logging federal forests for forest health improvements. The familiar argument is that loggers will take out the big trees to gain better monetary returns. The reality is that loggers are often logging small diameter wood and leaving limbs and branches behind as slash when such waste could instead be chipped into biomass.

Again this year, payouts for wildfire suppression vastly outweigh funding dedicated to thinning, chipping, and other related forest health restoration procedures. It’s a

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

foolish way to care for nature’s gifts and a complete waste of resources.

Places to Spread a Positive Message

Getting beyond the opposition, the positive message of woody biomass power should be on instant recall by all who work in the forest industry. First, we can’t assume that we are preaching to the choir anymore when the choir no longer knows the songs.

Kids of logging families and millworkers seem to know less and less about forestry and logging these days, even when they grow up in traditional timber communities. And today’s timber towns have often given up and are now preparing the next generation for a technology, sometimes even as logging and mill jobs go begging.

Meanwhile, a new culture is moving into rural America. Urbanites are fleeing long commutes and urban decay in favor of fresh air, pastoral settings, and the “simpler life.” Retirees are bailing out on smoggy cities and traffic to breathe the fresh clean

WoodyBiomass air of country life. While it might be easy to resent the newcomers, it is far more practical to welcome the chance to educate them.

In my community, for example, the rural roads are filling up with new homes and transplants from the city. Many want to own forested ground, and in time, some of these people will want to know more about forest management.

Logging contractors already know some of the new residents and might even be cutting a little timber for them. Sometimes loggers now include a mastication head or chipper in their toolbox, possibly because they have had people request an alternative to burning slash piles. Several newcomers are seeing forestry with new eyes, and as they stay around, they pick favorite loggers because of how those loggers treat their woods.

If landowners want to avoid burning slash and have wood residuals chipped, the logger needs to know more about the tools for chipping – and the markets that will buy those chips. This is another chance to make a case for woody biomass power and for the logging industry in general. Sure, chips are a low-value commodity, but as woody biomass power takes hold in certain areas, there is actually competition for the chips. Ask power

plant managers, and they will tell you that sourcing chips and hog fuel to keep woody biomass power generation plants operating is a constant challenge.

Looking Past the Smokestack

As for people still living in cities, it’s simply much harder to make the case for woody biomass power because lots of city people automatically envision smokestacks and dirty air as the scenario. Yet there is progress.

In Idaho’s Latah County, the sanitation department recently started chipping tree trimmings, clean construction debris, and other wood wastes that clog the landfill.

Adjacent Whitman County in Washington has already been chipping urban wood waste (see the May/June 2014 Woody Biomass column in TimberWest). Such urban developments in handling trash make it much easier to initiate a common sense discussion on woody biomass power as practical renewable energy.

Woody Biomass on the Rise

Statistically, woody biomass power is growing as an energy source. That is the good news. Biomass Magazine reported in the August online edition that during the

first six months of 2014, wood and woodderived fuels generated 20.71 megawatt hours of electricity, up 8.6 percent compared to the same time period last year. Biomass capacity grew somewhat in the Mountain Region, reaching 189.9 megawatts in June, up from 159.9 megawatts recorded the previous June. Other western areas also grew slightly during the same time span. And such programs as Fuels for Schools are bringing the woody biomass power concept right into the classrooms of many of our young people, with parents now being more aware of biomass as renewable energy.

The old timber wars of the 90s and the spotted owl fiascos rearranged much in the western timber industry, and now whole states lack both loggers and mills. The starryeyed city people are moving to the country and might not like the high-pitched whine of the chainsaw. Yet the influx of urban refugees presents a perfect chance to show the timber profession in a positive light. Once people see that slash piles can instead heat local schools and add to the power grid, opinions will change. Loggers need to have the sensible message of woody biomass power ready to present!

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www.forestnet.com September/October 2014 TimberWest

21

LumberjacksCompete

16 Seconds:

The Divider

By Kenneth Boness

F

or fifty-five years, lumberjacks and jills have gathered in Hayward, Wisc., for the Lumberjack World Championships (LWC). Held in the latter half of July, the event draws competitors from around the world. Leaving their mark again this year were men and women from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

The Big Winners

The first Pacific Northwest female to win a championship was Tiffany Messmer (Seattle, Wash.), who ruled the Women’s Single Buck-Novice class and placed 3rd in the Women‘s Underhand-Novice. Michael Hattershide (Milwaukie, Ore.) stayed out of the water better than all the rest to win the Men’s Semi-Pro Log Rolling. Hattershide also placed 6th in the 60’ Pole Climb, an event in which Brian Bartow (Mollala , Ore.) placed 2nd. In addition, Bartow won the 90’

Above: A happy Erin LaVoie is the 2014 Women’s All-Around Champion.

Right: With David Moses, Jr., assisting, Erin LaVoie saws her way to the women’s single buck world championship.

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LumberjacksCompete poles and finished 8th in the Springboard finals.

Lukas Brown-John (Squamish, B.C.) placed 3rd in the Springboard finals, while Caleb Graves (Bellingham, Wash.) ranked 6th in the Men’s Boom Run. Out of 46 competitors entered in the Axe Throw, David Moses, Jr. (Snoqualmie, Wash.) placed 8th. Moses was a busy man as he also took 8th in the Single Buck, 6th in the Underhand Chop, and 5th in the Standing Block Chop. Additionally, David did the standing block segment of the firstplace relay team led by Amanda Beams (Australia), and he was one-half of the seventh-place Jack & Jill Crosscut team — which brings us to the “jill” on the other end of that saw: Erin LaVoie.

Erin LaVoie Comes Out on Top

Erin LaVoie, the 2014 All-Around Women’s World Champion, is a native of Spokane, Wash., who began competing in 2002. Over the years, she honed her skills, competing at various venues, but there is another reason for her success—away from the sawdust and chips. She has spent considerable hours training, building muscle tone, and increasing her stamina as a professional trainer.

In the 2014 competition, there were four

Caleb Graves of Bellingham, Wash., sprints across the boom logs and ranked 6th in the Men’s Boom Run. dominant lumberjills: Nancy Zalewski (Wisc.)

— the favored champion, Erin LaVoie, Lindsay Daun (Ill.), and Denise Ott (Minn.).

Sawdust and chips began flying on July 24 when they stepped up on the logs for the

Underhand Chop. Erin finished 2nd with a time of 32.37 compared to Nancy‘s 53.28.

After the first round of the first event, it was LaVoie - 5; Zalewski - 3. The race had begun.

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www.forestnet.com September/October 2014 TimberWest

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LumberjacksCompete Crosscut

The women soon were on-deck again, this time with crosscuts in hand. Although each of the Mid-Western women had, over the years, won the Single Buck World Championship in Hayward, none came close to beating LaVoie, who led the way through the log in 15.00sec. After just two events, LaVoie had already built up a three-point lead over Zalewski, seven on Daun and eight over Ott. Those three competitors would soon regain lost ground.

Everyone except Zalewski has a weak event. For LaVoie, it is the Jack & Jill Crosscut. Finishing only 6th, LaVoie’s point total was 12, allowing the others to quickly tighten the gap. Daun took 1st to pull within two points of the leader. Zalewski finished 5th and tied with Daun, while Ott took 3rd to more than double her points to a total of 7.

On day two, with Ott eliminated from the Underhand on the previous day and this being Daun‘s weak event, it was left to Zalewski and LaVoi to pad their point totals.

LaVoie’s second-place finish brought her allaround score to 17, while Zalewski’s thirdplace finish in the event moved her into 2nd place with a total of 14—four points more than Daun.

Single Buck

After the single buck, there was only one event left on Thursday. One event wouldn‘t be enough to overtake LaVoie, but the Jack & Jill was Erin‘s Achilles’ heel. How much of her lead would she lose?

A multi-world champion in this event, Daun (with partner Dave Jewett (Pittsford, NY)), took 1st and gained six points. Ott and J.P. Mercier (Quebec) earned five points for 2nd place. LaVoie and David Moses, Jr. settled for 5th with two points, while Zalewski and Mike Sullivan (Winsted, CT) placed out of the top six. With sparkling performances, Daun came within five points of LaVoie’s lead (25 vs. 20), and Ott slipped ahead of Zalewski: 17 - 16.

LaVoie‘s lead was solid but not insurmountable as she would only be in two events, having been eliminated from the Jack & Jill finals by 0.05sec.

Zalewski‘s swings in the Underhand were swift, sure, and strong; the final blow coming at the 34.24sec mark. Still, LaVoie had subdued her 11“ aspen block nearly 4sec faster to secure First Place. Instead of

Launching into a winning climb, Brian Bartow of Molalla, Ore., heads skyward and places second.

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LumberjacksCompete gaining points on the leader, Zalewski (current world record holder in the next event - Women’s Single Buck (11.61sec)) was now 11 points behind LaVoie and tied with Daun, the current holder (with Dave Jewett) of the Jack & Jill World Record (6.00sec).

To win the All-Around title, either Daun or Zalewski would need to ace both remaining events and LaVoie would need to finish last in the Single Buck.

The Run for the Championship

A champion has a champion‘s heart, and it showed in all four women. Ott took 4th in the Women’s Single Buck with a time of 16.61sec. Daun did a 16.13sec cut for 3rd while Zalewski zinged her way to a 16.04sec finish to claim 2nd. Unable to claim first place in the event, both Zalewski and Daun were eliminated from all-around title consideration—Erin’s lead was solid.

During the three days of competition, none of LaVoie‘s all-around competitors had turned in a single-buck time under 16sec; in those same three days, LaVoie never registered a time over 16sec, having severed white pine cookies in 15.00sec, 15.64sec, and 15.03sec. That, my friends, is a championship performance.

With Erin on the sidelines in the Jack &

On the left, Derek Knutson, climbs a half-step behind Lukas John-Brown (Squamish, B.C.). Lukas would go on to place 3rd in the Springboard finals.

Jill Crosscut, Daun took first, Ott took third, and Zalewski followed in sixth place.

Her lead unquestioned, Erin LaVoie claimed the All-Around Women‘s World Championship with a score of 37. Daun

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followed at 29, Zalewski at 26, and Ott tallied 24. Let me tell you, it was something to see.

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MachineryDemo

ScorpionKing Struts S

By Kenneth R. Boness

corpions, it turns out, can really draw a crowd, especially if it’s the North American introduction of the revolutionary Ponsse ScorpionKing.

On August 8, 2014, near Ponsse‘s North American headquarters in Rhinelander, Wisc., the performance of a tree harvester— the likes of which had not been seen before — drew the interest of loggers like few other machines could. Ponsse’s ScorpionKing immediately grabbed and held everyone’s interest as Antti Räsänen, Machine Marketing manager at Ponsse’s headquarters in Finland, explained the advancements embodied in the Scorpion concept, and operator Eli Ladwig (who spent about 50 hours working the ScorpionKing in preparation for the demonstration) put the harvester through its paces.

The Cab

Scorpion stands a shade over twelve feet high with the crane lowered and has a length—boom not included—of a bit over twenty-six feet. Big enough to be muscular but sufficiently sinewy to investigate every nook and cranny.

The inspiration for the name comes from the crane. Whereas other Ponsse harvesters have the crane mounted out in front, and the harvesters of many competitors have cranes or booms anchored alongside the cab, the crane on the Scorpion is mounted right in the middle of the machine. And the cabin? Well, the cabin is mounted within the crane. The crane‘s base splits as it rises from

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the spindle (spreads, if you will) to form a pocket large enough to accommodate the cab. The crane then comes together above and in back of the operator’s compartment, then proceeds to the harvester head, much like other Ponsse cranes.

Sitting directly above the spindle, the operator doesn’t experience the fatiguing “carousel sensation“ inherent in side-mounted cabs. Because the cab is literally in and under the crane, all harvesting is done directly in front of the operator. The harvester –head—take your pick of H5, H6, or H7 (on ScorpionKing)—moves directly away from the operator to encounter the targeted tree. Tree harvesting also occurs, of course, directly in front of the operator.

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

Visibility

Demonstration operator of the ScorpionKing, Eli Ladwig, owner of 4Seasons Forest Products based in Montreal, Wisc., and owner/operator of two Ponsse Ergo harvesters, says of the visibility, “It’s outstanding.

Everything always is right in front of you, there’s never hesitation or question on what the head’s doing. The boom structure and style was impressive as well. It’s like having the head on a remote control in front of you.

And the boom is very smooth to run. The cab leveling was very smooth too, and it was very stable on any position of a hill, which was nice as you are never sitting at an awkward angle.”

Eli added that the cab design and

MachineryDemo

placement of the operator seemed well thought out. The seat was comfortable with extra support adjustments. “Where you’re sitting in the very center of the rotating point of the cab, it gives you a very sound feel of the machine. After a long day it doesn’t feel like you’ve been on a fair ride like some concepts where you’re placed way outside of the rotating point and receiving a carousel effect while operating.”

Stability

The demonstration site was purposely selected for its hilly terrain. With a 275 hp,

Stage IIIA, Mercedes-Benz diesel under the hood, generated torque ranked somewhere around 1100Nm, and that was translated into a max of 38,216 lbf of tractive force to the eight wheels capped by steel tracks. That, in conjunction with automated cabin leveling and machine stabilization, made working the hills mere play. A buzz was heard in the crowd when Ladwig positioned the ScorpionKing cross-slope and processed a tree down-slope.

That maneuver turned out to be no big deal as sensors constantly monitored the position of the chassis and the crane. Instantly

exerting pressure on the down-slope side of the machine, a stable platform was ensured, and harvesting wasn’t interrupted for a second. But there is more to the story than simply hydraulic pressure.

Most articulated machines have a combined horizontal/vertical joint. Scorpion has two. Utilizing a front and rear chassis, Ponsse suspends a third segment in between, causing Scorpion to be even more like a flesh-and-blood scorpion. This “suspended segment” supports crane and cabin. The arrangement allows for 12 degrees of sideways leveling flexibility and 15 degrees of

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MachineryDemo front/rear, the latter accomplished by a pair of cylinders located between the front and middle segments. To counter the operator developing a false sense of security, Scorpion automatically stops the drive system when encountering unsafe positions.

Eli was blown away. “The three-frame system seems to twist and articulate so well it never hits a limit causing it to bind like other concepts. So it sort of slithers over obstacles seemingly effortlessly, and as an operator, you never feel any of the jarring and tossing around I was used to.”

Productivity

The Scorpion was built to harvest and improve productivity.

“I instantly found myself reaching for trees and instinctively harvesting them in ways or areas that are not possible with any other harvester, which really made me cover a lot of ground much faster,” says Eli. “Definitely a more productive style as an operator can cut a timber stand with less travel time and also make for more efficient forwarding with more volume placed on each trail.”

ScorpionKing’s crane can slew 280 degrees while reaching 36 feet. Combine that with a lifting torque of 252Nm and a slewing torque of 57Nm and it becomes easier to understand the potential for increased productivity from the forwarder and the need to add another highway hauler to the fleet.

During the third and final working demonstration, this reporter found himself next to Brian Nelson, owner of Nelson Logging, Cornell, Mich., and current president of the American Loggers Council. What was his

impression? “Quite impressive.”

What were the demonstration operator’s final thoughts? Eli confessed, “All in all, I was very impressed with the Scorpion and, as an operator, really enjoyed running it.

Ponsse definitely put some serious time into engineering the design and seemed to think of every little thing. I think they have an extremely sound product with the Scorpion and again set the bar in the industry even higher.”

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Kelsey wondered what Eli SCORPION SPECIAL DELIVERY wasPuzzled, doing, bringing a tree that close to the

W

hile demonstration attendees lunched, the

ScorpionKing and Ergo harvesters were each working through another tree or two before the break. Suddenly, Eli Ladwig’s ScorpionKing hugged a mediumsized hardwood, severed it, laid it down, ran the butt out a half-dozen feet, and proceeded toward the spectators, slowly bringing tree and harvester within a few steps of Diana

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Olkowski (Ponsse marketing coordinator) and Kelsey Fischer, Eli’s longtime girlfriend.

Diana knew Eli’s plan; Kelsey did not.

All trees have rings inside but this one held something special. A diamond engagement ring had been wired into a hole that was drilled near the butt of the hardwood. A co-conspirator had suggested that a “Snoopy ring” be substituted for fear of loss, but Eli insisted that Kelsey would get the real ring right then and there.

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

crowd. When Eli stopped, Diana invited Kelsey to join her in examining the tree and that strange wire. A wire cutter magically appeared and, within seconds, Kelsey slipped the ring on her finger and was gazing toward Eli, still seated in ScorpionKing’s cabin.

Kelsey bounced up onto the Scorpion. Eli had opened the cabin door and the two of them embraced to the cheers and applause of all in attendance. When the wedding occurs, it won’t be surprising if ScorpionKing is again selected to be the ring bearer.

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Your Health Idaho

“Please don’t hesitate to call me at (406) 752-3168 if you have any questions or would just like to look into your health care options,” says Potts.

The Idaho Logger reported that Idaho is finalizing details for the new Your Health Idaho system, which will be ready to go live at the open enrollment period of 2015 starting November 15, 2014, and closing February 15, 2015. If you receive an Advance Premium Tax Credit for 2014 through HealthCare.gov, you will need to renew and update your information with Your Health Idaho.

FRA, ALC Join in Logging Careers Promotion

The American Loggers Council and the Forest Resources Association are working together on a project to help men and women who are considering a career in logging to understand what logging work is like and link them with the connections they need to find employment.

A four-color brochure, Is Working As A Logger For You?, describes basic qualifications for logging employment, characterizes several logging configurations, and presents statements from employers about what to expect from employment in logging. It also provides a link to a page on ALC’s website, www.americanloggers.org/careers, which provides state association contacts who can connect motivated individuals to employers and training opportunities.

“One of the major issues facing the timber harvesting industry today is finding enough motivated, career-oriented workers to fill the jobs that are opening up in the logging woods,” stated Danny Dructor, ALC executive vice president. “We have

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FFRC Launches New Website

been working with members of Congress to address the anticipated worker shortage by focusing on succession with family members, but this brochure can help to educate others who are interested in a logging career.”

ALC and FRA are seeking contacts with organizations in a position to distribute the brochure to potential logging workers.

Anyone with a distribution contact to recommend should contact FRA’s Neil Ward at nward@forestresources.org or (202) 2963937. The brochure may also be downloaded as a high-resolution PDF at www.americanloggers.org/2014_LoggerBrochure_v3final.pdf.

Potts Joins MLA Services

Malinda Shafman has retired from her post at MLA Services, Inc. Erica Potts has taken the position of Member Services Representative, and she is ready to work with members and their health insurance needs.

Her duties will be to continue to market and service the variety of group and individual health insurance plans as well as keeping everyone up to date on all aspects of health care reform.

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

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The Federal Forest Resource Coalition is a website worth visiting — www.federalforests.org.

The site emphasizes streamlining management to improve forest health and provides a quick way to stay up-to-date on federal forest issues. Currently the site hosts six federal forest issues that effectively advocate FFRC’s position: Wilderness designations; equal access to justice act; stewardship contracting; secure rural schools; carbon; and reforming the Forest Service budget.

The Federal Forest Resource Coalition is a unique national coalition of small and large companies and regional trade associations whose members harvest and manufacture wood products, paper, and renewable energy from Federal timber resources. With members in more than two dozen states, the Coalition is building a national voice for sound management of our Federal forests.

Coalition members employ over 350,000 workers in over 650 mills, with payroll in excess of $19 billion. The Coalition will work with allied industry, conservation, and local government groups to support a growing and sustainable Federal timber program.

After February 15, 2015, insurance coverage can only be purchased as short-term policies, subject to health underwriting, or because of a qualifying life event.

TW

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BRUSHCUTTERS & MULCHERS Advanced Forest Equipment

The SS Extreme is the newest of Advanced Forest Equipment’s product line. The SS Extreme is designed for the largest of skid steers with 110 hp and steel tracks. It features a 125 to 250cc Rex Roth bent axis piston motor, large bearing box with 6” heat treated shaft, large 10” drive coupler system, Swedish-made Weldox T-1 steel cutting disc, debris waste gate, and an expandable cutting teeth arrangement system.

A large windshield provides a superior view of the work area, and the standard rear-facing camera and in-cab display (along with rear view mirrors) allow for exceptional visibility for operators.

The forestry mower attachments are the most rugged of their kind currently available. Built in-house at Bandit headquarters, these mulcher heads are designed to provide years of service and deliver maximum power to the cutterhead with two powerful hydraulic motors. The stump grinder attachments feature a Revolution cutter wheel, providing an aggressive and efficient cut to stumps. www.banditchippers.com

Barko Hydraulics

The Barko 920, 930, and 937 industrial tractors offer power options up to 365 hp while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency for all-day performance. Barko tractors deliver up to 106 GPM of hydraulic power where it’s needed most, at the attachment. A newly available quick-attach system allows easy connectivity to a wide

One of this mulching attachment’s unique features is the operator can see the cutting teeth engaging the material, allowing him to guide the material into the top of the cutting disc. There are no belts, pulleys, or shivs. Advanced Forest Equipment systems are direct drive. The power goes directly into a bearing box, transferring 100% of the power to the cutting disc.

The SS Extreme also features a unique design of the reduction shroud system, the direct drive motor, and the 58” diameter-cutting disc. Inertia is carried through the cut. Material less than 4” in diameter is pulled into the shroud, productively mulching in a onestep process. www.advancedforest.com

Bandit Industries

All Bandit forestry mowers, from the 142 hp Model 3000 all the way up to the 600 hp Model 5000, feature powerful and efficient hydraulic systems. Large Caterpillar track undercarriages endow these crawlers with low ground pressure, allowing operators to traverse

range of attachments for land clearing, right-of-way maintenance, snow removal, utility work, and farm applications.

Trouble-free attachment adaptability is also complemented by a patent-pending hydraulic control system that displays real-time hydraulic flow and pressure on a convenient electronic display. Safety prompts are also included to verify settings and provide optimal hydraulic flow that could otherwise damage the attachment.

Operators control machine operation with dual seat mounted joysticks in a climate controlled, sealed, and pressurized cab providing comfort, even when working in the most demanding environments. Maintenance of the Barko industrial tractors is also efficiently handled with removable side engine panels and grouped single-point grease fittings. www.barko.com

Caterpillar

unpredictable terrain common in land clearing settings. Operators can sit in complete comfort in spacious, climate-controlled cabs.

Each control cab uses six-way adjustable cushioned seats with a dual-joystick interface to control the functions of the forestry mower.

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The new Cat 586C Site Prep Tractor is a multi-purpose, heavyduty machine built to run attachments like the Cat HM825 Mulcher and BR624 Brushcutter.

The PowerDirect Plus system optimizes performance by monitoring operator and attachment hydraulic demand and delivering power where and when it is needed. The 350 hp engine and oversized hydraulic system push more flow to the attachment for faster recovery without slowing other functions. The 586C also includes faster simultaneous lift-tilt and lift-steer functions and attachment recovery. (continued on page 34)

Circle Reader Reader Service Service Card Card 118 130 Circle

TechReview (continued from page 32) The tractor runs cool and doesn’t collect debris, which cuts down on cleaning. The oversized, on-demand reversing fan spins at a slower speed overall and only turns as fast as needed to maintain proper hydraulic and engine temperatures. The machine is segmented into pressurized compartments to prevent debris from entering.

The pressurized airflow also keeps electronics, sensors, and other key components cool. to 60-inch cutting and mulching trees from 8-inch to 18-inch in diameter. Most models come standard with an automatic wire shear, and a rotating hub debris guard. The Extreme Service Series all come with a magnum drive system standard.

Various models also feature a third boom and material handler, an optional 90-degree tilt mount and a hydraulic trimming saw. www.slashbuster.com

DENIS CIMAF Robust box section frames and a field-proven center hitch with large dual-tapered roller bearings and 3” diameter pins provide a solid foundation. The tractor’s weight is distributed evenly over the axles for rock-solid stability, and the cab is positioned between the axles for a smooth ride. www.cat.com

The DAH Forestry Mulchers are land clearing and vegetation control tools mounted on excavators and backhoes. They use DENIS CIMAF’s patented horizontal-shaft rotor technology with two chevron-like rows of knives that direct the brush toward the center of the rotor rather than to one of its extremities. They are powered by

D&M Machine

D&M provides a variety of brushcutters ranging in size and power from their brushcutters for compact and mini excavators to their Extreme Service Series featuring cutting swaths from 36-inch

variable displacement, axial-piston motors that minimize overheating problems and improve re-acceleration and an industrial coggedbelt drive system that prevents slippage and reduces effort applied to bearings compared with V-belts, for longer bearing life.

Knife holders come with protective discs, reducing risk of breakage of welded parts on the rotor tube.

Heat-treated, bolt-on forged knives deliver maximum resistance to impact and abrasion, and they can be sharpened on the unit. A single nut and bolt holds the knife in place so replacing worn knives is a snap.

The hydraulic panel closes the rear of the hydraulic brushcutter to limit projection chip. By positioning the funnel, it also helps to immobilize the trees standing for shredding. And in the closed position, at ground level, it allows thinly shredded wood chips.

DENIS CIMAF currently offers DAH Forestry Mulcher models that are adaptable on excavators seven to 35 metric tons. www.deniscimaf.com

Fecon

With an advanced blend of innovation, technology, power and performance, the FTX600 is the tractor for high demand, high production work.

The FTX600 is Powered by a 600 hp Cummins QSX15 Tier III engine, combined with Sauer hydraulic pumps controlled by Fecon’s Power Management System® and an IQAN machine operating system. (continued on page 36) Circle Reader Service Card 119 34

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TechReview (continued from page 34) Performance is gained with an oscillating all steel undercarriage and selectable float control, along with the Fecon BH300 hydraulic Bull Hog® mulching head.

The operators cab is designed for production with an air ride seat and a filtered and pressurized climate controlled cab to keep

the operators performance and comfort at a high level. Tinted polycarbonate windows all around and a rear view camera with a large screen, maximize the visibility on this primary ROW performer.

Features of the FTX600 service oriented design include easy reaching service points (all from ground level), large compartment doors, and field service designed component positioning. www. fecon.com

Gilbert Products

applications with the added benefit of being compatible with GyroTrac’s patent-pending Biomass Baling System (BBS). The GT-35 is available with either Gyro-Trac’s captive track system or steel track.

Gyro-Trac’s BBS-XP is a combination of the GT-35 and the BBS. While the GT-35 expertly mulches debris, the BBS collects the mulch, resizes it, and packages it resulting in a bale weighing approximately one ton that can easily be transported to a location of choice.

The GT-35 and BBS-XP are perfect for use in many heavy-duty forestry applications. They have a cutting width of 88 in/224 cm and offer the benefit of low ground pressure and operating on a closedloop hydraulic system.

With more than 20 years of product development and manufacturing, Gyro-Trac has taken the next step in revolutionizing its industry with equipment that is on the edge of emerging technology. www.gyrotrac.com

Iron Wolf

The Iron Wolf Mulcher Series feature a robust, low maintenance design, direct drive: no belts or pulleys; oil-filled planetary drives,

The new GM-6 is the latest addition to Gilbert’s GM Series Brushcutter-Mowers, which are recognized for their cost-effectiveness in roadside vegetation management.

The GM-6 is mounted on a folding boom arm that offers excellent maneuverability with a total reach of 16 feet. It can be used to brush cut ditches and back slopes and trim the trees as needed on forestry, municipal, secondary roads, etc. It easily cuts stems of

which don’t require daily greasing; and a high-torque motor for efficient production and rapid recovery time. Cutting widths vary from the 5X, which has a cutting width of 57.5 inches to the 10XP with a cutting width of 120 inches. www.ironwolf.com

KMC-KOOTRAC

diameters up to eight inches at an average operating speed of six km per hour, thanks to the patented concept that cuts vegetation as opposed to mulching it, using three saw discs rotating at 1700 rpm.

The head can be installed on most graders or carriers using the standard hydraulic and fixing points for easy fitment and removal.

The GM-6 folds tight to the carrier when not in use so there is no interference with the grader blade for fast changeover between road grading and brush cutting work. www.gilbert-tech.com

The Versatile KMC High Speed Steel Track (HSST) vehicle has been adapted to become a carrier for both a rear-mounted mulcher or wildfire-suppression unit.

Gyro-Trac

For 2014, Gyro-Trac has expanded its product line with updated and re-engineered mulchers including introduction of the GT-35.

The GT-35 has added horsepower (350 hp) and the proven features that operators loved from the GT-25XP and also includes the Plus+1 compliant graphical display monitoring system and a redesigned cooling system. It is perfect for use in traditional forestry 36

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(continued on page 38)

Contact: Olofsfors Inc. Tel: (519) 754-2190 Fax: (519) 757-1100 Email: info@olofsfors.com Circle Reader Service Card 121

ECO-Tracks™ is a trademark of Olofsfors AB

TechReview (continued from page 36) This machine is capable of being utilized for fuel reduction, fire reclamation, vegetation clearing and fire guard construction. It can also be quickly converted to a fire-suppression unit for off-highway initial attach or mop-up use.

The KMC HSST Vehicle is capable of working on steep slopes as well as in sensitive soil conditions. One of the major benefits of the KMC Tracked Vehicles, because of the independent torsion bar suspension system, has always been and continues to have minimal environmental impact.

The KMC rear-mounted mulcher can have the same positive impacts on Fire Suppression work by rapidly cutting fire lines and temporary access without the costly post-fire remediation commonly required. Also, after wildfire season, the machine can be converted back to being a log skidder. www.kmc-kootrac.com

withstand rigorous conditions imposed by 40-ton carriers, and lowprofile tooth holders on the drum, which eliminates damage caused by striking immovable objects.

The 48HFT can be equipped with your choice of teeth to accommodate various field conditions. A sixty-inch version of the mulcher is already in production, and a new 100-inch dual drive unit is in development and planned for a spring release. www.promac.bc.ca

QUADCO

QUADCO’s efficient saw tooth technology in combination with its drum mower creates an extremely productive attachment. With a direct drive or belt driven option, the QUADCO drum mower is designed to fit a wide range of applications - from light brushing to heavy full tree mulching.

Prinoth

With a patented direct drive and power belt system, as well as no hydraulics (which means less engine drain), the RT200 and the Raptor 800 are both high production machines when it comes to land clearing and vegetation management.

The RT200 has a water-cooled C 6.6 Caterpillar 6-cylinder 176 hp engine. A maintenance flap allows access to the engine cooling, charge air cooler, and condenser/capacitor for ease of maintenance, and the hydraulic cab tilt system permits easy access to the main components of the drive train. A reverse fan ensures contaminants are blown out.

The Raptor 800 comes with an electronically controlled 6-cylinder Caterpillar turbo diesel engine with an output of 630 hp. The Power Belt System provides the mulcher with a very high range of vertical reach even under full load of the engine. The mulcher lift frame allows for 1.75-inch vertical movement allowing the mulcher to follow the terrain and reduce stress and impacts on the mulcher and the vehicle.

An electronically controlled traction drive and a CANBUS system, which controls all machine functions, are standard on both the RT200 and the Raptor 800. www.prinoth.com

The robust mowers mulch vegetation into fine material, discharging directly to the ground. Both mowers feature minimal operating costs, low-maintenance, and are equipped with an improved 26 staggered-tooth drum that is 3/4-inch thick and offers a choice of rotatable teeth to fit the application—Reversible, Beaver®, Concave, or Carbide.

An anvil system is designed to hold the material for high productivity. A high strength 1⁄2-inch plate used on the main frame makes these the strongest mower attachments on the market today.

The Rexroth variable-displacement 160cc motor provides superior performance. www.quadco.com

Rayco Mfg.

The C260 Crawler is a mid-sized mulcher that delivers 260 hp in a compact, low ground pressure package. This mulcher is suited for clearing small trees, underbrush, and more. The heavy-duty steel undercarriage and powerful final drives allow operators to tackle

Promac

Promac’s new 48HFT drum mulcher features a totally enclosed and protected drive system, a heavy-duty frame designed to

difficult terrain. Rayco’s exclusive elevated cooling design keeps engine and hydraulic temperatures within their limits in all environments. To minimize maintenance, a reversing fan can be activated from the cab to clear the limbriser debris screens, helping to extend service intervals even when operating in hot, debris-filled 38

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TechReview environments. When manually cleaning the debris screens, they are easily removed, and the rear door opens to allow unrestricted access to the debris screen and engine radiator.

The low profile Predator mulcher head is made specifically for the C260 carrier and provides excellent visibility. The rotor is driven from both sides by a pair of variable displacement hydraulic motors and hydraulic pressure in the mulcher drive system is monitored by the cab display. A lift height of 43 inches above ground level helps to reach high brush. The Predator FM185-7R has a mulching width of seven feet, and the Predator FM260 is available in both 7-foot and 8-foot widths. www.raycomfg.com

RWF BRON

The BRON 275 Mulcher comes equipped with a Berco D3/ D4 undercarriage featuring an oscillating front axle for improved stability, maintaining constant ground pressure for a better ride with less wear and tear.

The 275 Mulcher is designed with an upfront, ergonomically designed pressurized cab with single-stick steering controls. The cab seating is designed for operator comfort with height, headrest, and seat tilt adjustments with mechanical suspension to eliminate operator fatigue. The cab is also climate-controlled and features easy to read head pressure gauge and CAT® LCD visualizing to monitor engine status. An electronic pump can tilt the cab making for easier machine access, and lamps inside the engine compartment provide better visibility for servicing.

The newest BRON 275 Mulchers come equipped with a Seppi MIDIFORST mulching head as well as ergonomic tilting cab and removable multi-section belly pans for ease of use and service.

The hydrostatic drives are powered by a CAT® diesel engine.

Balanced in line with the frame, the components are positioned for even traction, easy service access, and maximum cooling. Managed by the Plus+1TM machine control system, the engine power characteristics are matched to hydrostatic demand for optimum cutting performance. www.rwfbron.com

Supertrak

The Supertrak SK350PP is designed to match equal weight of traditional standard counterweight for ease of machine transportation and is equipped with a Cat C9.3 Tier IV engine delivering 100GPM at 5500 PSI. The cooling system features industry leading heavy-duty, high-debris combination charge air, radiator, and oil cooler. Roof louvers get air out of the enclosure quickly, and the large intake area has optional debris screens. The power pack can be track mounted, or built as a stand-alone power unit. Depending on excavator reach, you can clear and maintain steep side slopes.

When the power pack is not in use, the excavator will perform all day-to-day functions.

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TechReview Supertrak also offers a compact wheeled mulching machine. The Supertrak SK170RTL is a super-high-performance mulching tractor for the vegetation industry. Weighing under nine tons and equipped with a Cat C4.4 Tier IV (at 170 hp), this versatile machine packs a punch. The cooling system is equipped with auto reversing fans to maintain optimal hydraulic and engine cooling.

The new selectable work tool hydraulics can produce up to 50 gpm at 6000psi depending on available mulching attachments.

When the SK170RTL is not mulching, it can utilize all standard compact wheel loader tools. www.supertrak.com

Tier 4i engine with an efficient, high capacity cooling system. It features an automatic variable speed, reversible fan for improved fuel economy and cold weather starts, a heavy-duty forestry undercarriage, and extremely low ground pressure for sensitive sites.

This machine has a highly refined closed loop track drive system, high-lift boom geometry, and is built to maintain productivity in uneven and sloped terrain.

The Tigercat 470 is a 300 hp class track driven mulcher carrier well suited to tough terrain, right-of-way, and site preparation projects where a narrow, agile, and extremely low ground pressure machine is required.

The 470 is powered by a clean, fuel-efficient Tigercat FPT C87

A quiet, climate controlled operator’s station is insulated and isolation mounted and includes a high output heater and A/C, an extreme duty air ride seat, CRF counter rotate function for onetouch ‘on a dime’ turns, and an ergonomic armrest-mounted joystick steer and drive.

The 470 gives you a choice of horizontal drum type mulching attachments requiring up to 300 hp and has excellent access to daily service points with a tilting cab for additional access to components. www.tigercat.com

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

Vermeer

Tigercat Industries

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (REQUIRED BY USPS 3526-R) 1.

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Title of Publication: TimberWest, Journal of Logging & Sawmilling Publication No. 0248-58 Date of Filing: Sept. 30, 2014 Frequency of issue: Bimonthly Number of issue Published Annually: 6 Annual Subscription Price: $22 U.S., $35 CDN Complete Mailing Address of known office of publication (street, city, county, state, ZIP): 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA 98020, (Snohomish County) Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA 98020 Name and complete mailing address of (Publisher): Sheila Ringdahl, 300 Admiral Way, Suite 105, Edmonds, WA 98020. (Editor): Diane Mettler, PO Box 26, Eatonville, WA 98328 Owner name, complete mailing address: Rob Stanhope, TimberWest Publications, LLC, 211 E. 1st St. North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None Tax status (purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has not changed during preceding 12 months No. Copies of Average No. Publication title: TimberWest, Journal of Logging & Sawmilling Single Issue Copies Each Issue date for circulation data below: July/August 2014 Published Issue During Proceeding

Nearest to

Filing Date 12 Months Extent and nature of circulation A: Total number of copies (net press run)............................................................. 9,896..........10,389 B: Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Paid or requested outside-county mail subscriptions.................................... 6,156............6,304 2. Paid in-county subscriptions (including advertisers’ proofs/exchange copies).................................................. 0...................0 3. Sales through dealers, carriers, street vendors counter sales, other non-USPS paid distribution................................................. 0...................0 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS............................................................ 88.................65 C: Total paid and/or requested circulation (sum of 15B, 1, 2, 3 and 4)................... 6,244............6,369 D: Free distribution by mail 1. Outside county nonrequested copies stated on PS form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, Request induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists and other sources)........................ 2,920............2,930 2. In-county nonrequested copies stated on PS form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, Request induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists and other sources).................... 0...................0 3. Nonrequested copies distributed through the USPS by other classes of mail (e.g. First-Class Mail, nonrequestor copies mailed in excess of 10% limit mailed at Standard Mail or package services rates)........................ 0...................0 4. Nonrequested copies distributed outside the mail (included pickup stands, trade shows, showrooms and other sources)...................................... 625............1,000 E: Total nonrequested distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), and (3))............................ 3,545............3,930 F: Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e)................................................................ 9,789..........10,299 G: Copies not distributed......................................................................................... 107.................90 H: Total (sum of 15f and g)................................................................................... 9,896..........10,389 I: Percent Paid and/or requested circulation (15c divided by f times 100)......... 63.77%........ 61.84% 16: Electronic Copy Circulation A: Requested and Paid Electronic Copies................................................................... 68.................82 B: Total Requested and Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies................................................. 6,312............6,451 C: Total Requested Copy Distribution (Line 15f) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a)................................. 9,857..........10,381 D: Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both Print & Electronic Copies 16b divided by 16c x 100)............................................................................. 64.04%........ 62.14%

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Built tough enough to withstand the daily grind, and are engineered with exclusive features that promote easy operation, high efficiency and operator safety. They’re also easy to maintain and transport.

Brush chippers range from the BC700XL to the BC2100SL Tier 4. The BC700XL features a centrifugal clutch system, 25 hp Kohler EFI engine, bottom feed stop bar and Vermeer exclusive SmartFeed feed-sensing control system. The new member of the chippers line offers the compact size operators are looking for and the performance they want to achieve a job efficiently.

The robust BC2100XL Tier 4 is powered by a 275 hp Tier 4 Final (Stage IV) diesel engine to tackle the toughest land clearing projects. With a 21-inch capacity and the largest infeed table in its class, the BC2100XL allows for smooth material feeding. Offset horizontal feed rollers have theoretical combined 10,000 lb. of pulling force and allow for easier feeding of material and less need for manual control of the upper feed roller when chipping large diameter material. The exclusive SmartCrush system provides increased down pressure on the material being fed and assists when feeding forked or branchy material. www.vermeer.com TW

A Waratah built to perfectly match the 25-ton carrier class? It’s here. The new HTH623C matches robust brute power with the speed, agility, and skill required to process larger wood. With its high-torque feed motors and the latest hydraulic valve design, the 623C pours on the feed force and delimbing power while striking a precise balance of feed speed. And like all our heads, the HTH623C is backed by the best support team in the business. Get the perfect match between head and harvester, and get a ton of work out of your 25-ton carrier.

www.waratah.net Waratah USA, Kelso, Washington US 866-636-2650

Waratah USA, Peachtree City, Georgia US 770-692-0380

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Komatsu Launches New C144 Harvesting Head

Komatsu America Corp. announces the new high capacity C144 Harvesting Head, the second model in its new C-series family of “carry-style” heads.

Weighing 3,086 lbs., the high performance C144 has a recommended DBH working range of 8” to 20” diameter and has a 28” maximum cutting diameter. It is available installed on Komatsu 931.1 and 941.1 Harvesters and can be installed on other carriers as a loose head.

The C144 features a new robust frame design for improved durability and a new swing damping system for more responsive head control. The 40º rearward tilt angle provides fast feeding performance and reduces head frame stress when harvesting and/or reaching on downhill slopes. The new feed system utilizes four hydraulic motors and drive rollers.

The unique addition of the second roller ensures more contact with the stem, creating feeding force of up to 6,654 lbf. With a maximum feed speed up to 16.4 ft/sec operators can handle more difficult trees and limbs. www.komatsuforest.us

Gem Chain Bar

After several months of field testing, Gem Chain Bar has introduced its own line of 404 harvester bars. Development of this new product line was driven by customer request.

The bars are made from premium grade raw materials and the company used the proven CNC manufacturing process used for its ¾” pitch bars. All of the new GEM 404 bars have a replaceable external tip, and are powder coated a bright white to provide maximum visibility while operating at night. They’re now available in 59cm, 64cm, 75cm and 90cm, with more lengths and mounts are coming. www.gemchainbar.com.

Tigercat Introduces First G-series Drive-to-Tree Feller Buncher

Tigercat is pleased to introduce the 724G, the first drive-to-tree feller buncher powered with the high performance Tigercat FPT N67 Tier 4f engine.

The 724G wheeled feller buncher has more power, a newly designed engine enclosure, and improved component layout, providing superior access and serviceability. Best of all, the Tigercat FPT engine meets Tier 4 final emission standards using the simplest possible technology. www.tigercat.com

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Doppstadt Shredder and Grinder

The powerful and flexible Doppstadt DW 3060 K BioPower Slow-Speed Shredder on tracks comes with 42 wear-resistant steel teeth to accommodate even the most difficult shredding tasks.

The comb opens automatically when necessary to avoid damage by large unshreddable material, and all the wear parts are quickly and easily replaceable. A multifunctional display shows all machine data and enables easy machine operation. With fuel economy as low as 9.2 gallons per hour, the shredder provides ultimate performance and high efficiency.

The versatile AK 510 K BioPower Grinder on tracks stands out for its free-swinging flail holders with separately replaceable wearing tools. The heavy gyrating mass of the flail drum works at approximately 1,000 rpm, and the hydraulic support is controlled without engine power. The large protection doors on all sides allow easy maintenance while short set-up times are achieved by the hydraulically foldable discharge conveyor. The AK 510 K BioPower achieves an optimum and efficient recovery of secondary raw materials. www. doppstadtwestusa.com

New Eco Mode on Terex® Fuchs Material Handlers

Terex® Fuchs E Series material handlers now feature standard Eco Mode operation that provides substantial fuel savings.

Conveniently located on the machine’s new multifunction button control panel, operators can select either a “Power Mode,” “Eco Mode,” or “Eco+ Mode” operating setting, to match the application.

Featuring a three-stage engine speed operation, the E Series material handler can be set to “Power Mode,” providing the operator with optimal power and speed for heavy-duty applications. When encountering less-demanding, mediumduty tasks, the operator can simply press the “Eco Mode” button, which lowers engine RPM by up to 12%, depending on the model, and caps engine horsepower at 90%. www.terex.com/construction

New Lightweight Stihl Chainsaw Delivers Smooth, Steady Cut

Stihl’s new MS 661 C-M chainsaw has a low power-to-weight ratio and is the lightest chainsaw in its engine displacement class.

It weighs in at 16.3 lbs., has a displacement of 91.1 cc’s and a power output of 5.4 kWs. Contributing to its lighter weight is the stainless steel muffler and ROLLOMATIC ES guide bar.

The engine uses a cylinder with four-channel technology that delivers high torque over a wide rpm range. This results in up to 20% fuel savings and about 50% fewer emissions. The chainsaw also includes an innovative anti-vibration system and HD2 filter with radial seal.

A microchip controls the engine’s ignition timing and fuel supply, taking into account variables such as temperature, fuel quality, and elevation. No more manual adjustments. www.stihl.ca TW

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PLCReview

Pacific Logging Congress

Review A pproximately 3,000 people attended the 7th Pacific Logging Congress In the Woods show September 25-27 at the Port Blakely Tree Farms in Molalla, Ore. The demo, which is held every four years, proved once again to be both informative and educational.

Up Close Look

There were 48 companies participating this year. Although a number of those companies had static booths, there were continual live demos at several sites. Attendees could walk from a Peterson chipper to a Ponsse/Kohler yarder CTL exhibit.

Student Education

The Pacific Logging Congress (PLC) believes strongly in education, and students came by the busload. “This year, we had 2,600 students and 500 teachers, parents, and tour guides—most of them were from the industry,” says Rikki Wellman, PLC executive director. “We hosted 110 community leaders who had an opportunity to see the great job the timber industry does in managing our forests, which is much better than the alternative of wildfires.”

Auction and Dinner

One hundred and thirty people attended the Logger’s BBQ and Pacific Forest Foundation (PFF) auction.

“We brought in nearly $19,000, of which 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward forestry education scholarships. Since 2013, PFF has awarded $25,000 in forestry scholarships,” says Wellman.

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Lifesaving Effort

One of the big events of the show had nothing to do with the equipment. An attendee collapsed from a heart attack on Thursday.

Thanks to fast acting exhibitors who performed CPR and an “emergency plan” that was flawlessly executed, the man survived. He was airlifted out and a double by-pass surgery was performed on him later.

Now it’s time to start thinking of the next PLC convention. This one will be a little warmer. Mark your calendar for November 9-11, 2015, at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

TW

AD INDEX PG COMPANY RS# 8.............. Agri-Tool & Supply..................................103 35............ Bandit Industries / Bejac Corp.............120 25............ Cascade Trader / Doosan......................113 21............ Cascade Trader / Hyundai......................110 13............ Caterpillar..............................................105 19............ Cleanfix NA..............................................109 34............ CMX Industries Inc..................................119 15............ Feenaughty Machinery...........................107 14............ Flexxaire..................................................106 23............ Gem Chain Bars........................................111 23............ Huydraulex Global................................112 5.............. John Deere...............................................101 19............ Joral LLC..................................................108 2.............. LBX / Bejac Corp. / Triad Machinery......100 33............ Log Max....................................................118 29............ Morbark...................................................115 37............ Olofsfors................................................121 43............ Oregon Logging Conference................124 9.............. Peterson..................................................104 31............ Ponsse......................................................119 47............ Quadco.....................................................125 39............ RWF Bron..................................................122 30............ Select Sawmill Co..................................116 48............ Tigercat Industries................................126 41............ Waratah....................................................123 7.............. White Mountain Chain.............................102 27............ Wood-Mizer..............................................114

CLASSIFIED CALENDAR November 8-10 APA Annual Meeting and EWTA Info Fair, San Antonio, TX 253-565-6600, www.apawood.org November 12-14 NAWLA Traders Market, Chicago, IL 800-527-8258, www.nawla.org November 13-15 Tree Care Industry Expo, Hatford, CT 603-314-5380, www.tcia.org November 17-20 Expobois 2014 Wood Industry Exhibition, Paris France 33 (0) 1 49 68 56 68, www.expobois.net

www.forestnet.com

End Greasing Frustration

Grease goes in, not on, the machine!

Lock and Lube 343 Dorchester Road Lyme, NH 03768

January 13-15 Associated California Loggers 42nd Annual Meeting, Reno NV 916-441-7940, www.calog.com January 15-17 Associated Oregon Loggers’ 45th Annual Convention, Eugene, OR 503-364-1330, www.oregonloggers.org

ORDER 24/7

LockNLube.com (603) 795-2298

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guestcolumnist

Preparing Your Forestry Equipment for Winter Mike Schmidt, Manager, Forestry Tactical Marketing, John Deere Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division

W

inter means different

things for different regions across North America. In areas with a lot of snow, operations can shut down for months, making winter a good time to tackle equipment maintenance projects. In warmer climates, loggers often see wet unpredictable weather, facing weeks to a month or more of conditions too wet to cut. Some regions can only access timber when the ground is frozen, making winter the most productive time of the year.

No matter your location, one constant remains true: when the winter months arrive, new challenges face forestry equipment owners and operators. Like most dieselpowered equipment, these machines need special attention for wintertime use and storage.

A logger’s best resource for any equipment maintenance and wintertime preparation is their equipment dealer. A good dealer will know the equipment as well as the local conditions and will have experienced service technicians on staff who can help get the machines ready for the cold months ahead.

Winter Operation

Forestry equipment is made to work, even when the weather turns bad. Still, there are some precautions and preventive measures you should take to ensure your machines continue to run smoothly through the winter.

Cold temperatures affect fluids more than anything else. Oil, fuel, and hydraulic fluid become more viscous in the cold, which can inhibit the operation of the engine or other systems or even cause damage. Hydraulic oil is the most critical fluid that needs to be kept flowing freely. Cold, thick hydraulic oil can cause pumps, lines, and hydraulic coolers to fail.

It is important to consult applicable manufacturer manuals and specifications to determine the recommendations for coldweather fluids, then change all fluids according to those guidelines. For extreme cold, it 46

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may be necessary to consider arctic weight oils. This is especially important in engine oil and fuel, as it can lead to the most problems with the engine. Oils developed for cold weather will also make it easier to turn the engine over when starting it.

If your machines will be operating in extremely cold temperatures, you may need to equip them with fuel-fired heaters. These will help keep the coolant, engine oil, and hydraulic fluid at a high enough temperature to prevent gelling and keep the machine and all its systems running smoothly.

The electrical system can also be affected by the cold and should not be overlooked.

You should be sure the battery has enough cranking amps to get the engine started after it has sat in the cold overnight. Also, at the beginning of the season, check the wiring to be sure it is in good shape.

Besides the fluids, your machine itself can be affected by the cold. Steel, when subjected to temperatures, can become very brittle.

This can lead to cracks or even breaks in key components. If you’re operating the machine in extremely frigid temperatures, be sure to use care. To prevent added wear on moving parts, use low-temperature grease (minimum three to five percent) at lubrication points.

Set up for Local Conditions

If you typically only see a few days of below-freezing temperatures at any given time, your machine’s factory settings, equipment, and fluids should be sufficient. However, if you regularly work in freezing temperatures, talk to your dealer about cold-starting solutions. These include the cold start aid option that delivers starting fluid, an air-intake heater available on some engines, and a coolant heater. These options ensure strong starts, even in the coldest operating conditions.

Park in the Right Space

In freezing conditions, your parking spot for the night can make all the difference.

Be sure to pick a solid, level surface to park your machine. This will ensure your tracks or tires don’t freeze to the ground and will help prevent damage to your undercarriage components from frozen mud and dirt.

Storing your equipment for the winter

TimberWest September/October 2014 www.forestnet.com

may also invite problems related to safety and security – from curious kids climbing and playing on the machines, to vandalism, to theft. It is crucial that machines be parked for the winter in a secure location.

Avoid the Obstacle Course

In wet conditions, it’s not uncommon to lay a mat of tops and other debris along the forest floor to help navigate in the mud and minimize impact. While effective, these mats—along with water, mud, and snow— can conceal potentially harmful obstacles.

One such obstacle is larger-than-normal stumps, which are a direct result of cutting in challenging conditions. Being mindful can prevent costly repairs.

Stay Hydrated

Your machine relies on the right fluids to run optimally in all conditions, but things like coolant levels and oil viscosity become more important in extreme operating conditions such as cold weather. Make sure the oil viscosity is rated for the temperatures you expect to encounter between changes. This holds true for track and swing drive gearbox oil, hydraulic system oil, and grease. Find what works by referring to your operator’s manual.

Cool Fuel

Diesel fuel has its own set of issues when the temperature dips below freezing, and gelling can be a big problem. It causes waxing in the filters and clogs the fuel filter media. An anti-gel additive prevents that from happening and will help save time and money when the machine is started in colder temperatures.

If you have any questions or have encountered a unique cold-weather situation not covered here, be sure to talk to your dealer—they’ll know just what to do.

TW

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