Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

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November 2020

WIN/WIN DEAL: Getting more fibre out of the forest in the B.C. Cariboo WITH THIS ISSUE...

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

IN THIS ISSUE: Your 2021 LSJ Calendar!

FREYA LOGGING tackles range of harvesting jobs in B.C. Interior MAJOR MILL UPGRADE at Alberta’s Foothills Forest Products

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November 2020 Volume 51 • No. 6 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling, Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski Publisher/CEO Anthony Robinson • (604) 990-9970 E-Mail: robinson@forestnet.com Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Digital Marketing: Diane Mettler Email: digitalmarketing@forestnet.com Sales Associates James Booth • (604) 506-8631 E-mail: jbooth@forestnet.com Perry Rosehill • (604) 613-3001 E-mail: rosehill@forestnet.com Subscription Enquiries (604) 990-9970 Fax: (604) 990-9971 E-mail: SubscribeLSJ@forestnet.com Design & Art Production Manager Sheila Ringdahl E-mail: artwork@forestnet.com Accounting Manager Shelina Jessa • (604) 731-1535 E-mail: accounting@forestnet.com Office P.O. Box 86670 North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Phone: (604) 990-9970 • Fax: (604) 990-9971 Website: www.forestnet.com Subscriptions: Canada $58 a year; two years $70; three years, $85. Group accounts, six or more subscriptions, $25 per subscription per year. Outside Canada, $95 per year.

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FEATURES On the Cover: With equipment such as this Eltec harvester, Freya Logging, based in Prince George, B.C., has proven itself to be a versatile and diversified log harvesting contractor, handy attributes to have during a period of industry transition. Freya has demonstrated a willingness to take on a range of logging assignments in the B.C. Interior. Read all about the outfit beginning on page 8 of this issue (Cover photo courtesy of Freya Logging).

4 Spotlight:

Win/win deal = getting more fibre out of the forest

A new fibre supply agreement in B.C.’s Cariboo region is leading to better forest resource utilization for the Esk’etemc First Nation, and more fibre for wood pellet producer, Pinnacle Renewable Energy.

8 Freya Logging tackles

range of harvesting jobs

Freya Logging has proven to be a versatile and diversified logging contractor in the B.C. Interior, taking on a range of harvesting work, including commercial thinning, with a variety of equipment.

DEPARTMENTS

Calendar.................................................6 Tech Update.........................................26 Suppliernewsline...............................34 Classifieds...........................................37 Subscriptions......................................37 Ad Index...............................................37

12

Making a mark with mill upgrade

A major investment in Alberta’s Foothills Forest Products is being described as a pivotal moment in the sawmill’s history.

18 Not your typical wood

pellets …

The new Skeena Bioenergy plant in B.C. is not a typical wood pellet operation—using proven European equipment, it is turning out high quality wood pellets from a feedstock of Western Hemlock, not SPF.

22

Training for work— and a career—in the forest industry

A recently developed program in northwestern Ontario is helping to train First Nations members as equipment operators for work—and a career—in the forest industry.

30

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

38 The Last Word

Tony Kryzanowski notes that a recent wood biomaterial supply agreement with a major player in the global cosmetics industry is massively important to the forestry sector.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

3

spotlight

WIN / WIN DEAL

=getting more fibre out of the forest

The Esk’etemc Nation began leasing a CBI 6800 BT industrial chipper grinder from a Williams Lake company to treat the logging biomass. The heavy duty tracked unit is powered by a Cat engine, is all electric and remotely operated for safety.

A new fibre supply agreement in B.C.’s Cariboo region is leading to better forest resource utilization for the Esk’etemc First Nation, and more fibre for wood pellet producer, Pinnacle Renewable Energy.

By Jim Stirling eals make the most sense when they’re equally beneficial to the parties making them. By that definition, many deals struck just don’t make much sense.

A wood fibre supply agreement in British Columbia’s Cariboo region however, is proving mutually beneficial to both its signatories.

Pinnacle Renewable Energy, a large industrial wood pellet manufacturing firm, has recognized that the types of fibre available from the region have changed and alternate sources are needed. For the Esk’etemc First Nation, the fibre supply agreement provides another way to use more parts of its timber supply base to

enhance the landscape and benefit its people.

Alkali Resource Management Ltd (ARM) is the integrated forest management company for the Esk’etemc Nation.

It’s based at Alkali Lake in the east Chilcotin, southwest of Williams Lake.

Making use of all the forest provides is a guiding principle for the Esk’etemc Nation, and the fibre supply agreement with Pinnacle represents its most recent example. The three-year fibre supply agreement between Pinnacle and ARM was formally signed last December. It calls for ARM to process, store and deliver a guaranteed 25,000 tonnes a year of biomass from harvest residuals resulting from forest activities on its lands. Biomass in this context is defined as the woody

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D

material of the tree left after traditional log harvesting methods.

Finding a productive use for the biomass prevents burning piles and reduces wildfire risks.

“What does the Pinnacle deal mean to the Esk’etemc?” asks Gord Chipman, forest manager for ARM. “Well, we see it as the way it should be to manage the forests for the future. The Esk’etemc are very tied to the land and have been concerned about what was being taken away.

We see using the biomass as one more step towards full utilization and long term stability in the forest.”

ARM was formed in 2001 to manage to page 6

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spotlight

The three-year fibre supply agreement between Pinnacle Renewable Energy and Alkali Resource Management Ltd (ARM) calls for ARM to process, store and deliver a guaranteed 25,000 tonnes a year of biomass from harvest residuals resulting from forest activities on Esk’etemc First Nation lands.

the Esk’etemc Nation’s area-based forest assets on its traditional territories in the Alkali Lake region. This includes management of a 27,000-hectare community forest; a 60,000-hectare First Nation Woodlot Tenure and a 400-hectare woodlot. The community forest and woodland tenure produce about 70,000 cubic metres a year of sawlogs, pointed out Chipman. But harvested stands typically produce about 25 tonnes of biomass per hectare. “There’s a lot of it out there,” he understated.

About five years ago, the Esk’etemc Nation’s commitment to utilization was demonstrated through the creation of a district heating system based on biomass connecting all the band’s public buildings in Alkali Lake. Although the heating system only requires about 500 tonnes of biomass a year to run, it slowed the procession of propane trucks into the community from Williams Lake. And it helped reinforce the fibre utilization tone for the future.

ARM and its associated companies were busy during the first months of 2020, stockpiling biomass as part of the Pinnacle Pellet agreement. About 10,000 tonnes were awaiting the springtime relaxation of highway restrictions prior to shipment to Pinnacle’s plant in Williams Lake.

The Esk’etemc began leasing a CBI 6800 BT industrial chipper grinder from a Williams Lake company, Celtic Eldorado Construction, to treat the logging biomass. The 6800 Horizontal Grinder has been specifically designed for processors who demand high-volume throughput and maximum reliability, says CBI. The machine is the first grinder ever made that can grind whole trees as fast as a 30˝ chipper can chip, with a fraction of the prep and maintenance, says the company.

With an optional 1125 HP Cat C32 engine and production capacity of up to 200 tons per hour, the CBI 6800 is said to be a mobile wood processing juggernaut.

The machine features a high torque,

hydrostatic feed system, and a PT Tech hydraulic clutch.

The CBI dealer for B.C. is Frontline Machinery Ltd. Established in 2013, Frontline Machinery is a Canadian, family owned and operated mobile heavy equipment supplier specializing in the aggregate processing, wood, biomass, and waste and recycling industries.

ARM is examining re-load options for the stored biomass. Any decision made will be part of a deliberate approach.

“We’re taking the ‘walk before run’ approach,” explained Chipman. That is also the case when it comes to new machine acquisition. Most of the tenures ARM manages are comprised of dry belt Douglas-fir. He says they’ve become overly dense because of the way they’ve been consistently managed. ARM has responded to stand characteristics with some juvenile spacing and fire hazard abatement projects. Commercial thinning is a future option under consideration, added Chipman.

The warming climate trend isn’t helping with new challenges like spruce budworm infestations and now, for the first time, the tussock moth. This pest has migrated into the Alkali Lake region from further south in B.C. The moth poses a risk to healthy Douglas fir stands by stripping trees of their needles.

Meanwhile, the fibre supply agreement with ARM slots into a broader strategy being implemented by Pinnacle Renewable Energy. The company knew the regional fibre available for its wood pellet manufacturing plants was changing. Dry sawmill residues which originally comprised an important furnish for pellet production were in shorter supply because of sawmill efficiencies. Exacerbating the situation has been sawmill fibre shortages, insect infestations, forest fires and politics that have collectively created a severe contraction in both sawmill numbers and production levels.

Pinnacle’s pellet plants in Williams Lake and at Meadowbank, about 40 kilometres north of Quesnel, have had

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

from page 4

to be adapted to accommodate the new realities.

“What we’re really looking at doing,” explained Pavel “Paul” Pawlowski, Pinnacle’s director of energy and environment to the media last fall, “is bringing in wetter material, which is the only material available today.”

It means developing methods to utilize fibre from a wider range of sources, including harvesting residuals, that might otherwise be burned. The pellet plant upgrades will contribute to their flexibility and achieve a series of safety and environmental advances, anticipates Pinnacle.

The company also predicts an increase of 80,000 tonnes a year in combined overall pellet production capacity between Williams Lake and Meadowbank.

Key among the upgrades is the installation of “best in class” drying and air filtration technologies. Apart from the diversification in fibre types processed, the upgrade project is also predicted to contribute a more consistent particle size and prevent the overdrying of smaller fibre particles and shavings. Low temperature bed drying is incorporated into the plants (120-degrees C. compared with the more typical 500-degrees C. in conventional dryers). The lower drying temperatures contribute to a more even process, while lowering the risk of fire. Pinnacle predicts the increased air flow will improve particle dispersion while the air filtration will be enhanced by new baghouse installation. (Watch for a story on the Pinnacle plant upgrades in the next issue of Logging and Sawmilling Journal).

Pinnacle Renewable Energy operates eight production facilities in western Canada and one in Alabama with two plants under construction (one in Alberta, the other in Alabama). The company also operates a purpose-built export port terminal in Prince Rupert, B.C. to serve its Asian customers.

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Freya Logging tackles range of logging jobs

On a recent harvesting job, Freya Logging’s purposebuilt Eltec 277L harvester was joined on the job with a nimble Komatsu 931 wheeled harvester, while a John Deere 1710D forwarder and a Ponsse Buffalo King forwarder moved the harvested wood to roadside.

Freya Logging has proven to be a versatile and diversified logging contractor in the B.C. Interior, taking on a range of logging jobs, including commercial thinning, with a variety of harvesting equipment.

By Jim Stirling

W

ithout any unproductive movement, the Eltec harvester advanced into the dense understory of the young forest stand. As it created room for itself, the machine began carving out an operating trail for the other equipment involved in the commercial thinning operation, creating the space to follow and perform efficiently.

That European style of timber harvesting system represents familiar territory for Freya Logging Inc. And it’s likely to become a more familiar occurrence in British Columbia, too, as the forest industry goes through a comprehensive period of re-adjustment to changing operating conditions going into the 2020s.

Freya Logging is based in Prince

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BClogging

Freya Logging’s Olaf Weber (left) and Liam Parfitt credit the 55 or so people working with them for the success of the operation. “We’ve done well because we have good people,” says Olaf simply.

George, B.C. and has proven itself to be a versatile and diversified log harvesting contractor, handy attributes to have during a period of industry transition. Freya has demonstrated a willingness during its first three years in business to take responsibility for a range of logging assignments.

The company’s European pedigree is no surprise. Two of the company principals, the husband and wife team of Olaf and Claudia Weber, came to Canada from Germany about seven years ago.

Sofia Parfitt, part of another husband and wife duo, comes from a Swedish family with a rich logging tradition: her dad used to work on log drives along the rivers of Lapland. Liam Parfitt has extensive experience in several facets of the B.C. forest industry to match his knowledge of log harvesting systems in Sweden.

The group combine a synergy of talents.

Claudia Weber keeps a firm hand on the company’s business tiller. That talent was especially needed during Freya Logging’s early days as a company. It was taking on different sizes of jobs spread across a wide geographic area creating logistical challenges. “You need to be careful,” she

recalls, adding with a smile, “it’s really important to add some order to the chaos.”

Liam Parfitt says Olaf’s mechanical skills are a key factor in consistently getting the best performance from its fleet of log harvesting equipment. It’s not an easy task when most of it is used equipment and the machines represent various manufacturing companies. Parfitt is the one to use his regional contacts and knowledge to rustle up the work, and oversee its progress in order to keep the company busy and maintain its cash flow.

It all seems to work. Olaf Weber says Freya Logging harvested around 330,000 cubic metres of wood for its customers during the last year.

The company principals are quick to brush aside any individual contributions, however, and instead unanimously credit the 55 or so people working with them.

“We’ve done well because we have good people,” says Olaf simply. “Awesome people,” adds Parfitt. “People who will take an ownership role in their part of the process.” Many of them have European experience or have worked extensively on equipment like forwarders and harvesters

in eastern Canada, where logging systems are more European in nature and vary from the feller buncher/skidder approach most familiar in interior B.C. forests.

The thinning operation referred to at the beginning of the story helps illustrate the point. The log harvesting site was high up the Holmes (Beaver) River valley east of McBride in east central B.C. and close to the Alberta border. Carrier Lumber Ltd., which operates a sawmill and planer complex in Prince George, is the licencee holding harvesting rights at the site. “Carrier has been a great company for us to work with,” adds Parfitt.

The stand selected for thinning was around 40-years-old and was being thinned using small, specialized equipment matched with experienced operators. The purpose-built Eltec 277L harvester manufactured in Quebec was equipped with a Ponsse H8HD top saw. It was joined on the job with a nimble Komatsu 931 wheeled harvester, while a John Deere 1710D forwarder and a Ponsse

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

9

to page 10

BClogging from page 9 Buffalo King forwarder with a 10 metre crane used the narrow trails to move the harvested wood to roadside.

Commercial thinning is not an easy working environment. Operating space is at a premium, sightlines can be comprised and care must be taken to reduce collateral damage to the remaining stand and its soils. Parfitt adds that as a general rule up to about a third of the stand volume was being harvested in the thinning pass with the focus on taking the smaller, crooked steams from below and retaining the most robust trees. “That way, we achieve older growth characteristics in the stand faster,” he explains.

Commercially thinning a stand suited to it contributes several advantages. “It creates more logging jobs per cubic metres of wood harvested than clearcutting,” points out Parfitt. The process also creates a source of sawlogs for companies which are or soon will be scrambling for sources of suitable wood fibre for their sawmills and wood processing plants.

Research has shown a second advantage to a commercially thinned stand is that it reduces the forest fire risk and its rate of spread within the stand, continues Parfitt. Opening a forest stand’s canopy through commercial thinning triggers a kind of Nirvana biological chain reaction. Competition for light and nutrients becomes less intense and the remaining trees grow faster and straighter. There’s also a considerable benefit to the stand’s biodiversity, continues Parfitt. Connected to the stand’s rejuvenation is the social compact, he adds. The forest becomes more user friendly for recreational purposes.

Utilization of the thinned material goes beyond providing Carrier with its sawlog source. Suitable pulp log material was being shipped to Canfor’s pulp mills in Prince George. The remaining solid wood

fibre was being productively utilized by Pacific Bioenergy Prince George Limited Partnership’s industrial wood pellet manufacturing plant.

Parfitt reckons commercial thinning applications in B.C. forests represents one example of a cultural shift that’s underway. “We are having to re-think how we use the forest resource.” He doesn’t subscribe to the belief we’re running out of wood. “We do have generally smaller diameter wood and our block sizes tend to be smaller but trees are generally growing faster due to improved genetics and climate change.”

Parfitt says there are many stands in the region like Carrier’s near McBride that would benefit from commercial thinning. Pellet plants like Pac-Bio’s in Prince George increase the economic viability of the process by productively utilizing wood that that might not meet pulp wood specifications. “We are now in more of a carbon management industry,” he notes.

It’s one where renewable wood pellets can replace more coal as an industrial power generating source.

As pointed out, Freya Logging has undertaken a variety of log harvesting jobs. The aptitude is reflected in some

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The mechanical skills of Olaf Weber of Freya Logging are a key factor in consistently getting the best performance from its fleet of log harvesting equipment. It’s not an easy task when most of it is used equipment and the machines represent various brands. of the other sides operating around the same time as the McBride thinning work.

A heightened awareness of the damages inflicted by wildfires is one of the few positive results of the horrendous forest fires in the B.C. Interior in the summers of 2017 and 2018. A spate of projects have since been undertaken to mitigate risks to communities and infrastructure by reducing the accumulations of flammable materials in the most vulnerable locations.

Parfitt says Freya Logging was involved in a “fireproofing” project in Jasper National Park with the help of a John Deere 2150 with a Waratah 622C harvester head. A thinning project took place on the southern approaches to the Prince George International Airport and an Eco Logger 550B harvester fitted with a LogMax 4000 head was involved in a fire hazard reduction project at the Quesnel Airport. The project was in co-operation with the City of Quesnel’s initiative to source fibre for local sawmills.

Among the equipment assigned to a blowdown block north of Prince George was a Tigercat 855D harvester with a Waratah 623C head to handle the larger diameter stems as well as a Hitachi 210-3 with a Waratah 622B fitted with a ¾” inch bar. The machines supplied two John Deere 1910E forwarders and an Ponsse Elephant King. The Ponsse forwarder was fitted with balanced bogies, slope sensors and a 10 metre tilting crane to help maintain production on slopes in excess of 35 per cent.

The common denominator in Freya Logging’s projects is the willingness to log in unconventional ways when they’re warranted, in order to meet the production and additional objectives of its customers and its own environmentally considerate standards.

Albertasawmilling The new owners of Foothills Forest Products, B.C.’s Dunkley Lumber, recently completed a major upgrade of the Foothills facility with the installation of a new Comact primary breakdown system.

MAKING with mill A MARK upgrade A major investment in Alberta’s Foothills Forest Products is being described as a pivotal moment in the sawmill’s history.

By Tony Kryzanowski t didn’t take long for the new owners of Foothills Forest Products in Grande Cache, Alberta to put their distinctive mark on sawmill operations. And in doing so, they have solidified their commitment to employees—and the local community—that they will be around for the long term.

The new owners, B.C.’s Dunkley Lumber, has completed a major upgrade of the Foothills facility with the installation of a new Comact primary breakdown system that includes wave feeders, a log turner, and an optimized length infeed (OLI) with profiling capabilities and TBL shape sawing section.

There has also been a major overhaul

of the entire residual system including the construction of a building to house new chip shaker screens, replacement and realignment of most main residual conveyors and a new dust extraction system.

The operator’s work station has been transformed from a cramped booth to a spacious, centrally-located and well-lit control room where production can be monitored on both lines in the sawmill.

The beehive burner and legacy Heede log crane in the yard have also been removed.

Suffice to say that with the improvements made over the past year, employees are finding their work environment much more appealing.

Foothills Forest Products is a dimensional lumber sawmill and an anchor

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I

industrial operator in Grande Cache, a small community located about four hours northwest of Edmonton. The mill supports about 200 jobs in Grande Cache. The operation produces about 130 million board feet of lumber annually in dimensions from 1” x 4” to 2” x 10”, in lengths from 6’ to 16’.

Along with the acquisition of Foothills Forest Products, Dunkley Lumber also purchased Edgewood Forest Products in Carrot River, Saskatchewan and has been making strategic capital investments there as well, having recently installed a new Comact GradExpert computerized lumber grading system in their planer mill.

A Comact GradExpert was installed in the Grande Cache planer mill in late-2019.

Both systems use cutting edge artificial

intelligence to improve accuracy on a continual basis.

As far as the Foothills Forest Products location is concerned, Kris Hayman, Dunkley Lumber’s Vice President for Solid Wood and Finance for Alberta and Saskatchewan, says that this capital investment is certainly one of the biggest that this two-line sawmill has ever seen. It represents a significant upgrade in technology as the processing equipment that made up the previous large log line was almost 30 years old.

Calling it a “generational advance in technology” at Foothills Forest Products, Hayman says that the Comact OLI/TBL system is able to produce fully profiled sideboards and uses curved sawing through the gang section, with the philosophy being that the cant is manipulated through fixed saws to optimize recovery.

“It’s sort of like comparing a modern supercomputer to your original Windows PC from back in the early 90’s,” Hayman says. “Its capabilities are incredible.”

The entire project was delivered on a turnkey basis by several divisions within the BID Group, which also owns a controlling interest in Comact. Additional services were supplied by Milltron Electric, of Prince George, B.C. Parker Snyder, General Manager at Foothills Forest Products, says that workers at the sawmill view the recent ownership change and the follow-up major investment as “a new lease on life”.

“Folks were pretty darn grateful that Dunkley Lumber became involved in the site,” he says.

Employees have mentioned to him that they appreciate that they can now work at the sawmill until retirement, and that their children, who are also employed at Foothills Forest Products, have a bright future.

Darren Neufeld, who has been at Foothills for 16 years and was Project Superintendent on this investment, described it as a “pivotal moment” in the life of the facility.

“We’ve gone from spending several years prior to Dunkley Lumber’s purchase in a survival mode to installing the latest cutting edge technologies,” he says. “The

to page 14 The Foothills sawmill project was delivered on a turnkey basis by several divisions within the BID Group.

Additional services were supplied by Milltron Electric, of Prince George, B.C. Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

13

Albertasawmilling from page 13 workers who have been around for a while realize that it not only gives them a future, but it also gives them an opportunity to succeed.”

Staff at the sawmill were eager to embrace this advanced technology and are now playing more of a monitoring and troubleshooting role, while letting this modern processing equipment function in the way that it was designed.

“It has already changed the way that we think about what employees need from a training perspective and how they operate,” says Snyder. “It’s a much more refined process.”

Neufeld adds that a significant amount of thought went into the project design to “engineer out the leaks”—there is now a lot less waste material collecting in the facility from the manufacturing process, leading to an overall cleaner operation both inside the sawmill and in the yard.

Foothills Forest Products was able to de-commission its beehive burner because of a longstanding agreement it has with wood pellet producer, Pinnacle Renewable Energy, to take all its residuals, excluding

the chips, for wood pellet production.

In addition to a much improved work environment, the investment by Dunkley Lumber in Foothills Forest Products is expected to have a significant impact on several performance metrics. Production throughput is expected to increase by 25 to 30 per cent and recovery by 25 per cent, while delivering an overall value uplift to the lumber products. The volume of J-grade lumber produced for the Japanese market is between 10 to 15 percent and when combined with their #2-and-better grade products, this represents as much as 85 per cent of their overall production.

The pursuit of high value recovery is a core philosophy of Dunkley Lumber.

The timber profile associated with the Foothills operating area consists of about 60 per cent lodgepole pine and 40 per cent spruce. Being located in a high elevation growing environment, the logs typically have a bit more taper and tight grain.

Logs entering the mill measure on average about 12 centimetres (7”) in diameter, though Foothills’ high utilization rates ensure that top end diameters of down to 2 ¾” are brought in for processing.

Foothills Forest Products processes cut-

to-length logs exclusively. The average log haul distance to the mill is between 30 to 50 kilometres.

The small log line features a HewSaw R200 breakdown unit and processes logs up to 5” in diameter, while the large Comact line processes logs 5” and up.

The recent major investment to the large log line follows on the heels of an upgrade to the small log line. Comact scanning, optimization, and log rotation were added on the infeed, and the small log line now has full scan and set optimization capabilities.

As logs enter the mill, they encounter two separate step feeders. Most of the sorting has been done in the cutblock by their logging contractors prior to delivery.

Logs are then debarked through either a 22” or 27” Nicholson debarker prior to being scanned and sorted by size. Small logs proceed directly through the HewSaw R200. It can produce anything from a single 2” x 3” up to three 2” x 6” boards.

After log processing, the lumber continues to an accumulation table. to page 16

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

Albertasawmilling

The operator’s work station at Foothills Forest Products has been transformed from a cramped booth to a spacious, centrally-located and well-lit control room where production can be monitored on both lines in the sawmill. from page 14 Larger logs are collected in one of two bins prior to reaching Comact wave feeders which singulate the logs for processing. They are scanned and rotated and then fed into the Comact OLI where the log is first processed through chipping heads to open up a lumber face. The faced cant then encounters a profiling section capable of recovering up to two side boards from either side of the cant with chipping heads and vertical saws.

The profilers work independently meaning that the number of boards recovered from either side could be different.

“You could have a scenario where you are recovering a 16’ long 1” x 4” on one side and a 16’ long 2” x 4” on the other side,” says Hayman. The previous breakdown unit could not produce any side lumber.

The cant is then rotated so that it is flat side down and processed through the shape sawing TBL gangsaw section, first encountering cylindrical chipping heads followed by fully optimized final processing of the cant, with lumber conveyed to the same accumulation table as lumber processed through the small log line.

Foothills Forest Products has been very impressed with how well the Comact OLI

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performed right out of the gate.

“To stand back and see the boards coming out of this machine from the exact same logs that we had a month ago, it’s a lot more useable lumber from a building standpoint,” says Neufeld. “We are making quality lumber right now and as it ramps up, we’ll make a lot more of it.”

Snyder adds that based on what they have witnessed so far, sawmill personnel feel that they have the ability to exceed the projected output gains established for the large log line.

All the lumber then proceeds through an unscrambler and lug loader followed by optimizing through an existing USNR board optimization section and then a trimmer. If a board requires remanufacturing, it is redirected to an existing USNR edger. Given how the Comact OLI functions, they anticipate that fewer boards will require reman edging. Lumber not requiring remanufacturing proceeds to the sorter bins. Once sorted, the lumber is stacked in preparation for kiln drying.

All components for the refurbished residuals collection system were also provided by BID Group. A second power transformer was installed by ATCO Group’s electricity division, to ensure that the entire sawmill was properly energized.

Given the significant efficiency gains being realized at Foothills Forest Products with this investment, they have now turned their attention to assessing additional opportunities to support the new line and optimize production flows— and on the future.

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bioenergy

Not your typical

WOOD PELLETS...

The new Skeena Bioenergy plant in B.C. is not a typical wood pellet operation—using proven European equipment, it is turning out high quality wood pellets from a feedstock of Western Hemlock, not SPF.

By Jim Stirling

F

Gary Johnston, Skeena Bioenergy plant manager (left) with plant superintendent Nathan Bond. A major challenge for Skeena Sawmills was how best to establish and maintain a return from the significant quantities of bark, sawdust, chip fines, and planer savings generated from its sawmilling operation— and Skeena Bioenergy was the answer.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

orest companies need to make practical use of all their available forest profile if they expect to prosper.

A major challenge for Skeena Sawmills was how best to establish and maintain a return from the significant quantities of bark, sawdust, chip fines, planer savings, etc. generated from its sawmilling operation. The company’s answer resulted in the creation of Skeena Bioenergy, its new wood pellet manufacturing plant.

Skeena Bioenergy is not a stereotypical wood pellet operation. It uses proven European-made equipment to produce high quality wood pellets manufactured from a feedstock of Western Hemlock, not SPF. “It’s still early days, but so far our objectives are being accomplished,” reported Roger Keery, president of Skeena Bioenergy Ltd. The new company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skeena Sawmills, a well-established, privately owned sawmill and planer complex adjacent to the pellet plant at Terrace, in northwestern British Columbia.

“We wanted a plant that would be productive, run safely and efficiently, and have a minimum impact on the environment,” he added. “There was doubt expressed in the industry about the ability to make quality wood products from hemlock,” explained Keery. Skeena Bioenergy’s $20 million plant has dispelled that concern. Hemlock dominates Skeena’s wood basket, with up to half of it comprised of pulp quality logs. Consequently, hemlock in various forms comprises its residual materials.

The company factored into the plant’s design the learning curve with the raw material. “We built in an extra 30 per cent of capacity into the pellet plant,” said Keery. The original plant capacity was rated at about 60,000 tonnes/year with the

bioenergy option to increase that to 90,000 tonnes/ year. Now about 100,000 tonnes/year is viewed as an achievable projection.

Skeena Bioenergy’s primary residuals for pellet manufacture come from a blend of sawdust and bark. They key word is ‘blend’. The feedstock ingredients have differing ages and qualities. They require constant monitoring to ensure the control and consistency of the fibre entering the pellet plant meet the prescribed product specifications.

Plant manager Gary Johnston is the quarterback on the Skeena Bioenergy team. Together, they work to ensure the end product meets quality standards.

Johnston has the background. He is also a project manager and consultant based in 100 Mile House, B.C. with a broad experience in pellet plant design dating to when the concept was seconded from the B.C. agricultural sector.

“Hemlock is very high in lignum which allows us to make a more durable wood pellet,” explained Johnston. But Skeena’s hemlock bark also has a high ash content.

“The objective is to have less than 1.5 per cent ash. Our bark can have up to 2.5 per cent ash, so we must blend the mixture to meet the required percentages.”

“We wanted a plant that would be productive, run safely and efficiently, and have a minimum impact on the environment.”

Conceptual design on the project was done with the help of CWA Engineering and through that process, Prodesa, a Spanish engineering company specializing in biomass pelleting, was chosen to deliver a belt dryer to the plant. The design allows the dryer to run at a much lower temperature—a maximum 110 degrees Centigrade—than a conventional belt dryer. The feature helps produce lower emissions, a priority for Skeena given the plant shares an airshed with business and residential areas in Terrace. The belt dryer delivers the additional advantage of producing a higher energy and consistent wood pellet, added Johnston.

But Prodesa’s role was considerably expanded. The company demonstrated a

Skeena Bioenergy is the first complete pelletizing plant package to be designed and supplied by Prodesa in Canada. Prodesa is a Spanish engineering company specializing in biomass pelleting.

A

Upgrades in the works for Skeena Sawmills

ttention is switching to Skeena’s sawmilling operation in Terrace, B.C., now that the company’s wood pellet manufacturing plant is settling into production mode. A primary goal is the installation of a reconfigured and updated small log canter line. Skeena Sawmills’ wood supply is in a transition from an older growth regime to the next generation of merchantable trees.

“Traditionally, the mill was only intended for material down to an eightinch top,” recapped Roger Keery, Skeena Sawmills President. “Now it is four-inch tops.”

Keery said Stolberg Engineering was retained to re-design the mill flow to allow for installation of a replacement canter line. The mill’s existing Chip-NSaw will be replaced with an Optimil canter with shape scanning system as the main breakdown unit. It will be able to accommodate diameters from 16 inches down to 3.5 inches.

The Optimil canter was opportunistically acquired by Skeena from its original

installation at The Pas Lumber, when it became surplus to the company’s needs. It will be refitted for its new assignment, a process to include replacing the electrical system and overhauling the machine’s hydraulics, and installing an inline profiler unit.

“We hope to achieve a much better throughput—it’s very important for us to get value from more of the stand and make sure we’re being flexible with the grades we can produce,” explained Keery.

A new 22-inch dual ring debarker will be added concurrently and the downstream equipment—including the band mill resaw system—will remain in service.

Several other upgrades to the plant are in the works as well, including new optimization equipment on the headsaw, a trimmer optimizer in the planer mill and new lumber dry kilns. All of these projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

19

to page 20

bioenergy from page 19 “can-do” attitude to what they were trying to create with the new plant, Johnston explained. As a result, Skeena Bioenergy became the first complete pelletizing plant package to be designed and supplied by Prodesa in Canada.

The raw materials for pellet production are trucked to Skeena Bioenergy from storage areas at the nearby sawmill. “Our quality control starts with the front end loader operator in our yard,” continued Johnston. “We try to stay on top of quality and preventive maintenance. We have tried to eliminate unnecessary steps to keep the process as simple as possible.”

Prodesa and Skeena designed the pellet mill with separate infeed systems to control the blend of feedstock. A Germanmade Bruks-Siwertell hammermill handles the green product prior to delivery to the belt dryer. A further feature of the belt dryer is its one-and-a-half pass drying ability. The extra half-a-pass acts like a filter for a more consistent moisture control.

A French-made ProMill dry hammermill follows the drying process. A pneumatic conveyor and filter system

moves the dried product to three 450 horsepower ProMill pelletizer machines.

It’s not just about running a plant—it’s about running it safely, says Johnston.

“When Roger Keery gave us the go-ahead he said ‘design me the safest plant, design me the cleanest plant you can come up with.’” Some of the ways of achieving that

in high risk zones throughout the pellet manufacturing process. Similarly, thermal sensing and water deluge systems from Firefly, a Swedish manufacturer of industrial fire protection devices, have been installed in the dryer.

High tech is great, but it’s people who will get the most benefit from it. “We’re doing some pretty intensive training right now,” said Johnston. “But we have an amazing crew that has become a real team during the training process.”

Marketing Skeena Bioenergy’s wood pellet production was an essential part of the company’s development strategy. Skeena Bio has signed a long term off-take agreement with Pacific Bioenergy Corporation. The company operates a 350,000 tonnes per year pellet plant in Prince George.

Skeena Bioenergy’s pellets are shipped by rail from Terrace to Prince George, and then south to Fibreco’s terminal in North Vancouver. The Skeena pellets are mixed there with other Pac-Bio products.

They are then shipped in bulk from North Vancouver to power producing customers, mainly in Japan with lesser volumes exported to Korea.

Hemlock dominates Skeena’s wood basket, with up to half of the wood basket comprised of pulp quality logs.

Consequently, hemlock in various forms comprises its residual materials.

20

are reflected in small things, both visible and technologically driven.

The SonicAire dust control fan system works unbelievably well, said Johnston.

The system comprises small ceiling fans that rotate 360 degrees, strategically placed throughout the plant. The air flow created by them stops dust from settling on flat surfaces, directing it instead to floor level where it is contained and removed. Other pro-active safety devices have been installed within equipment.

For example, Fike chemical explosion suppression systems have been installed

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

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workforcetraining

TRAINING for work—and a CAREER— IN THE FOREST INDUSTRY

A recently developed program in northwestern Ontario is helping to train First Nations members as equipment operators for work—and a career—in the forest industry.

By Nathan Medcalf oliboski Contracting Incorporated, based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has started a training program that is preparing First Nations members for work in the Ogoki Forest in northwestern Ontario—and for a career in the forest industry.

“I started working for First Nations communities more than 10 years ago,” explains Brad Goliboski, the company’s president and founder. “It was in remote northern communities, doing work as a mechanic sub-contractor for government on water treatment plant generators.

“As the trust grew with the communities, so did our workload,” he added.

“We performed all sorts of odd jobs, from repairing equipment, cars and trucks to snowmobiles and canoes—we even built

winter roads. Eventually, we became a one-call solution for everything.”

Goliboski has always seen the need for pre-employment training. Since he has a great working relationship with First Nations groups in the region, he was approached by Confederation College of Thunder Bay to provide heavy equipment and mechanical harvesting equipment operator training for Supercom (a 100 per cent First Nations-owned business partnership between Fort William First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band, Pays Plat First Nation, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Pic Mobert First Nation and Michipicoten First Nation). They trained 18 students on how to operate feller bunchers, skidders, processors, dozers, excavators and front-end loaders for the east-west tie transmission line project, a large 450-kilometre power transmission line being built in the region.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

G

After a very successful course with Supercom, Confederation College asked Goliboski to help out with training in the Ogoki Forest, which brings them to where they are today.

None of this would have been possible without the prior hard work and dedication of the Ogoki Development Corporation LP, which had signed a forestry agreement that gave them an interim license to manage the Ogoki forest while preparing a formal 10-year forest management plan.

“With what both companies bring to the table, it was an easy decision to do training on the Ogoki,” says Goliboski.

The new training program is designed to give three local First Nations communities (Aroland, Eabametoog and Marten Falls) an opportunity to gain the necessary training to be competent equipment operators in the forestry industry.

workforcetraining right out of our courses to work in the forest, which is a huge benefit. There are a lot of people here in this area that we can provide not only jobs to, but careers.

In providing pre-employment training, we can get the ball rolling.”

According to Goliboski, one of the benefits of the co-operation agreement is the abundance of students looking to get into this training course. “We always have a full enrolment of people of all ages who are looking to better themselves, and work in their home environment.”

Goliboski says he has been looking to create training opportunities for businesses in Northwestern Ontario for the last five years. “Being a business owner, I know first-hand the difficulty of hiring good people for a job and of the expense of training them in-house. So I looked at opportunities for companies like mine that need to hire people at entry-level positions, but with some specific preemployment training.”

The training provides the opportunity for a student to become comfortable with operating a piece of equipment efficiently.

“We train them to the point where, if a company were to hire them, you can trust them to work independently. We give them enough hours to make them competent and safe operators that can take care of the equipment, which is a huge starting point for the companies hiring new people.”

“We are building job opportunities for forestry and mining in the Ogoki Forest and surrounding areas. Forestry is a hard sector to start out in—regardless of whether you are experienced or not—so training new employees to be ready for forestry work is a win-win for everybody,” says Goliboski.

The training program is a joint venture between Goliboski Contracting, Ogoki Development Corporation Limited, and Confederation College with support from the Oshki, Wenjack, Nakina and Longlac sawmills to make this a reality.

“First Nations people are ambassadors for the lands we are working on, so working alongside them is beneficial for both parties. When you respect their way of life and their heritage and understand how mining or forestry impacts that, you can work towards a common goal,” says Goliboski.

“It’s good to see jobs created for local people—previously there just wasn’t the opportunity to train inexperienced new hires on forestry equipment,” he continued. “We have been able to hire people

Each class contains six students and the course is 12 weeks long, including four weeks of life skills, two weeks of safety training, and six weeks of equipment training and operation. People of various levels of experience have taken the course.

Trainees are screened for aptitude and commitment during the four-week life skills course.

“The forest is a unique working environment,” says Goliboski. “Many operators wake up at four in the morning and finish at different times of the day, depending on weather and other environmental conditions. The people who are really interested in forestry progress to the next level, while those who realize it’s not a fit, won’t advance in the program.

“It’s a helpful component to the training—it ensures that once we get to the point where we are putting these students into the machines, they are 100 per cent dedicated and want to complete the training and work in the industry.”

After these skills are attained, they provide a First Aid course that is mandatory for anyone working in the industry, training for working at specific heights, and other safety training, such as fighting forest fires.

After students acquire the necessary to page 24

Tigercat and Ontario Tigercat dealer Wajax have led the way in providing support and any materials needed by the program to assist in teaching new students. When Rick Goliboski started the forestry training program, he decided to use Tigercat equipment because he had owned a number of their machines through his career, and he knows they are solid machines.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

23

workforcetraining from page 23 safety certificates, the class has a oneweek conference session where they go through all the operation and training manuals, and they talk about that material until everyone understands every part of each manual.

“Tigercat and our Tigercat dealer, Wajax, have led the way in providing support and any materials we need to assist in teaching new students. Their assistance in supporting these initiatives has been very helpful. My reps are available any time and even gave us their personal phone numbers in case we had to reach them after hours—that’s dedication to providing the best possible service for your clients.”

Once they’ve completed the one-week conference, students head out to the equipment.

“From there, we go into a brand-new block and harvest trees just like a commercial operation, because it is just that,” says Goliboski. “The layout will be done, but we go in with the students to cut our pink line—the perimeter—and then we actively log with the students just as if they were hourly employees. It’s real-life training that is different every day—and really makes you think about what you’re doing.”

Students first learn the feller buncher, and how felled trees need to be bunched neatly so it is easier for the skidder to pick them up. Then, they learn that the skidder needs to place trees properly in the landing area, because this helps the processor.

“There is an understanding of how using one machine affects the next machine in line, and how it is in turn affected by the machine ahead of it,” says Goliboski.

Each student gets 60 hours of operating time per machine, “and 100 hours on the grease gun”, says Goliboski. The final test requires students to cut down trees, lay down one bundle, park the feller buncher safely, hop into the skidder, do a proper start-up on the skidder, drag the bundle to the landing, park the skidder, hop into the processor, do proper start-up of the processor and process the wood to final product. If they accomplish that, they pass the course.

“It’s a great accomplishment when students who didn’t even know what these pieces of equipment were eight weeks before are able to effectively perform on all three pieces of equipment,” says Goliboski.

When Goliboski had a block selected for training a while back, he purchased three new Tigercat machines from his local

Wajax dealer—an 845D feller buncher, a H822D harvester with a Southstar QS500 processing head and a 632E grapple skidder.

When he started the forestry training, he decided to use Tigercat because he had owned a number of their machines through his career, and he knows they are solid machines.

“They are the easiest to train on because there is not a lot that an operator can do to hurt the machines. For example, the 632E is a hydrostatic skidder, so operators don’t have to worry about being in the wrong gear. The machine knows where it needs to be and that is a huge benefit for training new operators.

As well, the 845D features a big cab so a trainer can comfortably sit behind the operator, which you can’t do with competing machines.”

However, even when Goliboski isn’t in the machines, he can view their operation remotely via Tigercat’s new telematics system. “Tigercat’s telematics helps me from a business and training standpoint, because I can monitor the machine remotely. I know where the machine is, if it’s working efficiently and if there are any errors—all viewed remotely and in real time.”

Component commonality amongst the machines is also a great benefit. “They have the same engines and filters for all machines, so I only keep a minimal amount of spare parts,” says Goliboski.

Durable equipment is important in a training environment. “During training, the machines take a lot of—I won’t call it unnecessary abuse—but there is a learning curve, and Tigercat machines stand up well to these challenges.” And the Tigercat equipment came with upgrades.

The 845D has been upgraded with

24

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

Students first learn the feller buncher, and how felled trees need to be bunched neatly so it is easier for the skidder to pick them up. Then, they learn that the skidder needs to place trees properly in the landing area, because this helps the processor.

several new features to promote increased productivity and improved operator comfort, including a new cab with monitors for the machine’s skyVIEW and rearVIEW camera systems, a larger main hydraulic pump for additional power, quicker functioning of the clamp and accumulator arms, and a longer, (8.5 metres) energysaving ER boom system.

The Tigercat 632E skidder can be equipped with the largest grapple (2.1 metres) offered on any four-wheel skidder on the market. A larger main hydraulic pump and larger valves provide faster operation and better multifunctioning. Larger hydraulic cylinders allow the machine to run pressures that are 10 per cent lower while increasing performance by 10 per cent, on average. The new OB20 rear axle provides 47 per cent more torque capacity and nearly twice the life on all bearings, says the company. Features such as load sensing control and a simplified steering circuit lead to more responsive and adjustable steering control.

The H822D features a new cab structure with narrower front posts and larger side windows for better visibility. A new engine enclosure profile further improves right-hand side visibility.

Similar to the 845D, the machine’s skylight has been replaced by the skyVIEW camera system, which provides the operator with a much wider field of view.

Standard LED lighting improves productivity in night shift operations. Inside the cab, operators utilize a seven-inch colour touch screen for machine monitoring and function adjustment.

“The machines are so easy to operate—you can train anyone to run them,” says Goliboski.

TECHUPDATE

By Tony Kryzanowski

Tire Chain and Traction Systems Olofsfors

Olofsfors is a Swedish-based company founded in 1762 with North American operations in Brantford, Ontario.

The company says it is the market leader in bogie tracks for cut-to-length (CTL) machinery and wheel tracks for skidders and wheeled feller bunchers.

Under the brand name ECO-Tracks, Olofsfors offers a wide range of track models and linkage systems for various machine configurations and ground conditions. Most track models are custom tire chain applications and odd tire sizes such as the dual 35.5-32 5 diamond chain shown here.

Wallingford’s Inc also distributes Veriga GreenTRACKS for harvesters, forwarders and six-wheel grapple skidders. GreenTRACKS are offered in four different plate designs to suit different terrains. Veriga’s link system comes with a 26 x 30 mm or 30 x 35 mm pin size with an oblong design that reduces surface wear and extends service life, as well as a twist inhibiting side rail. All GreenTRACKs are put through a specialized heat treatment process and are manufactured in Europe. www.wallingfords.com

now available in the next generation of curved cross members for increased flotation, less ground disturbance and easier machine turning.

The track assortment ranges from traction-only, flotation-only, and all around. With five different link systems, Olofsfors says it has the most track options available on the market today. The link systems range from 22 mm (7/8”) to 30 mm (1-3/16”) with the 26 mm (1”) being the most popular.

New for 2020 is a larger 29 mm (1-1/8”) link system. It features a 29 mm (1-1/8”) link and wider and thicker link hook for increased lifetime.

Olofsfors has nine families of track models.

The All-Around tracks are ECO-Track and KovaX. Both of these models provide good traction along with good flotation, says the company.

The Traction tracks include EX, OF and EVO with EX providing the most traction.

The Flotation tracks consist of Baltic, U and CoverX, with CoverX being the newest addition. It features exceptional flotation along with good traction. The cross member sits higher on the tire and has raised ridges on the leading edges to increase traction. Lastly is Combination, where loggers can mix and match track profiles to get the perfect track. www.olofsfors.com

Wallingford’s Inc

Wallingford’s Inc offers BABAC chains manufactured at its factory in Maine.

BABAC forestry chains are hand-assembled and built with 10B21, through-hardened, boron alloy steel with a full line of patterns for all tire sizes used on skidders, forwarders and harvesters.

BABAC has computer design capability and specializes in 26

Nordic Traction Group

The Nordic Traction Group has recently established a new presence in North America, Nordic Traction Inc. The newly incorporated company has warehouses already established across Canada and the U.S., and will provide direct access for the company’s dealers to Clark Tracks products, as well as OFA tire chains.

Recognizing the unique challenges that loggers in North America encounter, Clark Tracks has brought the toughest, most durable, and best performing tracks from their portfolio.

Additionally, Clark Tracks have designed and built specialized products for the North American market, like FXS and FXT, already building upon the reputation of the worldwide success of the base FX track model, a durable all-season, all-terrain model favoured by the most demanding loggers in Europe and South America. FXS features a durable cross member, low maintenance, long life and patented Haggis links with double extrawide paddle spikes for unbeatable climbing and traction, says the company. The FXT was developed for the frozen slopes of northern Canada, where a standard spike doesn’t achieve sufficient ground penetration for secure grip—the FXT has a pointed stud that pierces even frozen ground to achieve excellent grip, traction and a long maintenance-free service life. www.nordictraction.ca

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

to page 28

Make Chains Obsolete ECO-Wheel Tracks are an affordable alternative to tire chains. They provide superior traction and eliminate unnecessary maintenance compared to conventional chains.

As the largest manufacturer of tracks for rubber tired forest equipment, our wheel tracks are engineered to lower costs and increase productivity.

Numerous benefits over chains include: • • • • •

Improved traction - NO MORE SPIN AND GRAB Less maintenance, easy adjustments Extended tire life, fits new or used tires Less spinning means less rutting Self-cleaning

Unchain the POWER WHERE THE ROAD ENDS, ECOWHEEL TRACKS TAKE OVER. Think Up, Forward and Over and Choose the Right Tracks.

A PROVEN TRACK RECORD FOR PERFORMANCE & DURABILITY

Visit www.eco-tracks.com for more product details.

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

techupdate Western Equipment

from page 26

Pewag

By asymmetrically arranging the spikes in the chain mesh, Pewag has developed a new generation of forestry chains. The innovative spike arrangement increases grip and stability, says the company.

They also offer non-metal traction options.

Pewag says that it is a fullrange supplier of tracks and traction chains for forestry machines. Working in forests and on rough terrain is always a challenge. Man and machine alike must overcome a multitude of obstacles, deal with unexpected situations, and make sure to protect the environment and the subsoil at the same time. Pewag describes itself as the right partner for this endeavor.

To ensure the outstanding quality of its range of product offerings, the company says that all of its production facilities are still based in Central Europe, allowing it to maintain an overview of the entire manufacturing process as well as to offer forestry tracks, traction and choker chains that create innovative solutions while also living up to the highest quality standards.

Their main Canadian office and warehouse is located in Edmonton, with representation across Canada. www.pewagchain.com

Established in 1947, Western Equipment is one of British Columbia’s leading industrial distributors, supplying the province’s resource-based industries. Western Equipment carries one of the largest inventories of tire chains in Western Canada. It carries the Trygg brand of tire chain. Trygg is known worldwide as a leader in manufacturing top quality long lasting tire chains made with

high quality European steel. Trygg chains are used by the transport, forestry, construction, oil and gas, and farming industries.

Western Equipment’s tire chain inventory includes sizes to fit everything from snowblowers, ATVs, cars, light and heavy trucks, loaders, graders, skidders and all other types of heavy equipment. It has seven branches located throughout B.C., enabling the company to get its products to customers in a quick and efficient manner. www.westernequipmentltd.com

Rud Chain

Rud Chain describes its forestry tire chains as enabling forestry machinery to operate in tough terrain. It offers versatile, robust chains for many applications, aiming for strong grip, optimal traction and tire protection in off-road conditions.

Its products are working in many professional and extreme forestry applications.

Many factors should be taken into account when selecting the right tire chain such as where the chains are going to be used, how often they will be used, the vehicle’s design, and the expectation of a comfortable ride, says the company. RUD offers a variety of snow and traction chains with different fitting systems. www.rudchainusa.com

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

THE

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

L

The Forest will burn regardless— so, what can we do?

et’s be clear: forests burn regardless of human presence. Ecological research has revealed there is a natural rhythm to the cycle of forest fires.

We have built our towns, cities, industries, roads, and critical infrastructure in the middle of the ever-present forest. We got ourselves in the path of a regularly occurring natural destructive cycle.

When a forest burns, an immense amount of energy is released. Uncontrolled, this energy has enormous destructive potential. To give you an idea, the 2018 fires in British Columbia released enough energy to power all of Canada for an entire year.

In the face of climate change, natural cycles of forest wildfires are being affected in ways we don’t yet understand.

We must therefore prepare our communities in Canada as best we can through improved forest management techniques.

Besides, utilizing the byproducts from these sustainable and responsible forest management techniques— namely biomass—can bring about economic opportunities, jobs, cleaner air, energy independence, and local food production. It also reduces reliance on fossil fuels in small communities that must use diesel generators to make electricity.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

FPInnovations produced the video, The Forest Will Burn, that proposes a novel strategy to mitigate the destructive power of forest wildfires while harnessing the energy for constructive purposes. Visit the FPInnovations YouTube channel to view the video.

To learn more about how you can apply this strategy in your community, you may reach out to Christoph Schilling at christoph.schilling@fpinnovations.ca.

Novel forest practices: a legacy of applied research, development and innovation

By Tony Kryzanowski

O

ver the past 15 to 35 years, the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) and Canadian Forest Service (CFS) have established applied field trials, tests and studies with ecological and technical development objectives aimed at addressing a variety of forest management issues.

Today, these are becoming legacy sites with the objective of protecting the investment and infrastructure for continued knowledge development and adoption.

They were developed in partnership with industry and government stakeholders with the intention of bringing research to life, with practical applications to advance ecological and economic efficiencies.

“The knowledge gathered from these sites is worth preserving and passing on to the next generation of researchers and forest practitioners. The goal is to learn from the past to move to the future in an effort to help industry address evolving forest management challenges like climate change, as well as sustainable, speciesspecific, timber supplies,” says Derek Sidders, Program Manager, Technology Development and Transfer at CWFC. This article provides a general overview of ‘forest practices’ legacy sites.

The research conducted on these sites is issues-driven, based on input from industry, with realistic short term and long term objectives, and with the intention of operational adoption.

Follow-up articles will highlight some notable studies and developing field site networks. They will show how in some cases discoveries made on these sites and subsequent application in the working forest have unquestionably changed how we manage our forest resource for the better today.

Here are some examples of forest practices that are being developed

as legacy sites managed with stakeholder support under the CWFC/CFS umbrella.

Addressing the reforestation backlog and subsequent vegetation management – Changing forest management practices resulted in a need for forest replenishment beyond depending on natural regeneration. So many forest practices development sites were established to test and verify a variety of reforestation methodologies that are now standard practice across Canada.

It then became necessary to address

the issue of vegetation management to minimize growing stock competition.

Work on legacy sites helped to develop mechanical and chemical treatments.

Improving the health of dense fireorigin stands with pre-commercial thinning – In this instance, legacy site development investigated pre-commercial thinning techniques so regenerating and dense fire-origin stands were less vulnerable to pathogens and fire, while increasing individual stem growth by reducing densities and selecting prominent crop trees. The goal was to also shrink stand crop rotation intervals and increase forest health. CWFC/CFS offered industry various new tools and techniques like mechanical strip thinning to achieve these objectives.

Partial mixed wood forest harvest to emulate natural disturbance – CWFC legacy sites also include the practice of Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

variable retention within mixed wood forests of primarily spruce and aspen by emulating natural disturbance to enhance species mix, biodiversity and stand health while improving the overall commercial value of these stands.

Testing the value of commercial thinning – The practice of commercial thinning of pure softwood stands to improve overall stand health is included in CWFC legacy sites. Spacing was improved to increase individual stem size, capture mortality, and reduce second entry time lags through multiple stand entries, maximizing volume, stem size and minimizing access costs. Natural regeneration of the tolerant spruce has also been successfully demonstrated with advantageous micro-sites created along access corridors.

Investigating careful logging techniques in mixed wood stands – Industry partnered with the CWFC/ CFS and other R & D proponents to investigate ways to selectively and systematically harvest mature hardwood while protecting immature and important commercial softwood species like white spruce growing in the understorey using techniques that also enhanced their growth potential.

Managing the mountain pine beetle and recovering merchantable timber from partially impacted pure and mixed wood stands – A more recent initiative took advantage of numerous previous legacy site developments to investigate, at an operational scale, how to economically recover infested commercial timber from sites only partially impacted by the mountain pine beetle, while also reducing stand vulnerability to future beetle attacks and rehabilitating moderate to heavily impacted stands.

For more information about the work and findings from these forest practices legacy sites, contact Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@canada.ca.

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FPInnovations‘ Research Library Now Online!

streamlined and easy-to-use Research Library search feature is now integrated into FPInnovations’ website, making its vast industry expertise widely accessible with a simple click of the mouse.

Do you want to know more about forest-fuel removal treatments for forest operations? Or, improving OSB fire performance in new constructions? The Research Library is a unique digital collection of over 10,000 documents that span the gamut of forest industry research from fundamental to pioneering.

The new search engine has been redesigned to include searches of the full text of reports instead of relying only on keywords or abstracts to find documents. The user-friendly interface also offers a quick-start option that targets searches by forest industry sector and top authors in addition to keywords.

A search by publication/latest editions

is also a new feature. The Research Library search feature is located on the FPInnovations landing page and directly at www.library.fpinnovations.ca

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

Membership has its privileges FPInnovations members have exclusive privileges to download reports that are restricted to their sectors. For example, a pulp and paper member can download a restricted pulp and paper report, but not a forest operations report. As the trend of different sectors collaborating on projects grows, more reports will be available to several sectors. A one-time password-protected online registration will be necessary for members to access the restricted part of the database.

Who else can use the Research Library?

A large portion of free reports and

documents are searchable by the public; however, they do not have access to documents reserved for members only.

The database will eventually be expanded to include non-printed information, such as webinars.

New Amazon virtual bookstore FPInnovations now sells printed versions of its publications, such as the sought-after Canadian CLT Handbook, through Amazon. The titles can be purchased from FPInnovations’ virtual bookstore.

For more information on FPInnovations’ Research Library, please contact Roberta Roberts. To find an expert in a specific research area for a current member project, please email solutions@fpinnovations.ca.

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Lights, camera, action! Light detection coming to a forest near you

imber cruising, forest inventory, and other related data collection methods that help in managing forest operations and logging activities are necessary but expensive, mainly because conventional ground methods are labour intensive. On the other hand, projected labour shortages in the forestry sector are driving the industry to reduce its reliance on operators and field staff. That’s why the exploration and demonstration of new sensor technologies and methodologies such as laser light detection and ranging (LiDAR) are attracting more and more attention.

LiDAR to the rescue Advanced sensor and modelling technologies can facilitate forest inventory and compliance monitoring. One of these technologies, namely LiDAR, has been leading the way towards facilitating traditional ground surveying.

The capabilities of new mobile LiDAR technology have been particularly noteworthy when it comes to precision inventory. FPInnovations pursued testing mobile LiDAR devices in the forest environment with respect to their portability, their high precision data points, as well as the development of automatic detection algorithms.

Promising test results The FPInnovations trials showed that mobile LiDAR could be an accurate tool for extracting single tree level attributes such as stem location and diameter at breast height (DBH). Recent tests indicate that mobile LiDAR could in fact be an efficient tool for enhanced forest inventory and stand structure characterization.

In certain cases, the research indicated that individual tree DBH estimates from mobile LiDAR data acquired over plots or transects can reach a 2-centimitre accuracy level. This makes the DBH estimates well within operational requirements.

Variable factors The average accuracy of LiDARbased estimation depends on several factors such as species composition,

sensor moving trajectory, understory complexity, and laser scanning effective distance. To address these variables, FPInnovations is interested in open collaborations and in developing best practices of data acquisition and better modeling algorithms. This could minimize the impact of the variable factors in more complex forest conditions, therefore achieving consistent estimations. The accurate sampling of trees and their DBHs obtained through mobile LiDAR technologies allows us to calculate basal area (BA) per hectare, which is another important stand attribute. The preliminary research outcomes have been summarized in FPInnovations’ technical reports over the past few years: Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

1. Preliminary testing of mobile terrestrial LiDAR unit and future application considerations 2. Stem and stand characterization using mobile terrestrial LiDAR in plantation and complex multi-cohort stands 3. Towards real-time estimation of tree location, DBH, and terrain surface feature extraction from mobile LiDAR data.

Visit www.library.fpinnovations.ca to download these reports, and for more information, contact Jili Li, Remote Sensing Scientist, at jili.li@fpinnovations.ca.

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SUPPLIERNEWSLINE ing Coordinator and then Sales and Marketing Manager (VAB).

For many years, Ross also occupied the role of associate member on the Board of Directors on the Quebec Forest Industrial Council. www.sechoirmec.com

Deere expands tools to include Waratah production data

John Deere has expanded its TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager software to seamlessly incorporate data from the Waratah H-16 measuring system to increase job site visibility and visualization.

With this new capability, the TimberMatic Maps system collects production data from harvesting heads equipped with the Waratah H-16 system, providing real-time production data of processed timber linked to location through the in-cab monitor and synched to the cloudbased TimberManager. Job site progress data is then accessible to off-site managers or employees through a phone, tablet or computer using the TimberManager software.

The software pairing is available for John Deere tracked harvesters or forestry swing machines equipped with harvesting heads using the Waratah H-16 measuring system. Additionally, TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager are included on new machines ordered with a factory H-16 measuring system.

A retrofit option can be downloaded and installed at no additional charge on existing machines using the H-16 system.

Machines must be equipped with 4G MTG and an active JDLink Telematics subscription. www.johndeere.com

New addition to MEC Dry Kiln team announced MEC Dry Kiln President Yan Rondeau has announced the appointment of Jessy Ross as Sales and Marketing Manager.

With more than 12 years in the lumber industry, Ross has held a number of important positions in the industry and at VAB Solutions such as Sales and Market34

New Opti 8 computer to come standard with Ponsse harvesters and forwarders

Ponsse Opti 8 is a state-of-the-art touch screen computer designed for Ponsse forest machines. User-friendliness, a large high resolution display, high ergonomics in the cabin and responsiveness form the basis of the technical and visual design of the Ponsse Opti 8 computer, all factors that improve working conditions for forest machine operators.

The new Opti 8 computer offers more power and memory than the previous version, resulting in faster and smoother operations. The storage capacity of the hard disk has been doubled to ensure the

By Tony Kryzanowski their new Fort St. John, B.C. facility. Built on the existing 8.5-acre property located at 10611 Finning Frontage Road, the new facility is more than double the previous building size, sitting at 84,000 sq. ft.

The larger facility contains 25 service bays which will operate on heavy-duty trucks and equipment, and two wash bays. The parts department boasts 28,000 sq. ft., allowing for a spacious retail display area and a well-stocked parts warehouse.

The Fort St. John service department is equipped with a frame straightening bay for trucks and trailers, full truck and equipment service for maintenance and repair work, fabrication, full rig ups, and to page 36

Two new road builders added to Doosan forestry equipment lineup

operation of future applications.

“The design of the Ponsse Opti 8 computer focuses, above all, on its use in a demanding forest machine environment.

The computer is developed by Ponsse together with the Group’s technology company Epec,” says Markku Savolainen, Ponsse Plc´s Product Manager, Equipment Automation.

The Opti 8 computer will come standard in Ponsse harvesters and forwarders beginning in 2021. www.ponsse.com

Inland opens new Fort St. John facility at existing location

The Inland Group have announced the company has completed construction on Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

Doosan has extended its log loader product offering with two new road builders.

The new DX300LL-5 and DX380LL-5 road builders are designed for use in forestry and logging applications. Within the forestry industry, they are operated in access road development, timber harvesting, log loading and mill work.

These models are iterations of the current DX300LL-5 and DX380LL-5 log loaders. They provide a package designed to perform road building tasks.

The road builders feature design elements to enhance machine durability and reliability. The DX300LL-5 and DX380LL-5 road builders’ undercarriages can forge across rough terrain.

The high, wide undercarriage travels across exposed stumps, brush and forest foliage. Heavy duty track links and full-length track guiding guards increase undercarriage durability. www.doosanequipment.com

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suppliernewsline from page 34 mobile service trucks for on-site service.

This investment represents Inland’s commitment to Fort St. John’s trucking, forestry, construction, utilities, and mining industries, says the company. Inland Fort St. John offers new and used heavy-duty trucks and equipment as well as complete business support through parts, service, and financing.

“The new facility allows for a better, more efficient workflow,” said Boyd McConnachie, vice-president of business development at Inland. “This means we can better serve our customers, in a faster more effective manner, which allows them to get back to their business sooner.

At Inland we take pride in the fact that we consistently reinvest in our business and believe this strategy has provided and will continue to provide all stakeholders with an improved experience.”

Construction alongside the previous facility began in June 2019. In January 2020, the business moved into the new building, began the demolition of the previous building, and the new facility is now fully ready.

“We’d like to thank our customers and employees for their patience during the construction process,” said Jaret Pieper, general manager of Inland’s Fort St. John dealership. “One of the many things we’re excited for is better showcasing our product lines in the yard, which makes for a more engaging customer experience.”

Inland’s Fort St. John location is open six days a week, with service hours between 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The branch phone number is 250-785-6105. www.inland-group.com

protector and puncture-resistant insole; and waterproof and breathable Drylock II membrane. www.stcfootwear.com

Forest sector applauds Made-In-Canada biodegradable face mask innovation wide load carrier that enables high loading capacity of 16 tonnes; a Stage V Volvo Penta engine; an updated driveline with a new, more powerful bogie customized for high traction and load capacity that distinguishes the Eco Log 584F from other forwarders of the same size; and, a new range of hydraulic pumps with a standard pump displacement of 175 cubic centimetres or optional 210-cc pump (10.7 cu in or optional 12.8 cu in). This enables the unit to be used with a wider choice of cranes. Improved oil flow makes it possible to perform simultaneous movements, increasing capacity as well as flexibility. www.strongco.com

STC Battler boot offers protection for chainsaw operators

Eco Log adds to equipment line-up with 584F forwarder

The new STC Battler boot offers superior chainsaw bite protection in addition to the great comfort and unmatched durability of the STC boots line.

The company says that STC Battler boot offers quality and protection superior to anything currently available on the Canadian market. From the antimicrobial treatment, to the padded collar and tongue for added comfort, to the waterproof leather upper with sealed seams, the STC Battler boot allows those who wear them to do their jobs safely.

The Battler includes multiple layers offering a protection against chainsaw cuts; it is CSA certified, class 3; composite toe

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

With a loading capacity of 16 tonnes, the Eco Log 584F enters the stage as the sixth forwarder model in the Eco Log range. This makes the newcomer the second largest forwarder in the machine line-up, as it complements the existing models in the larger segment, specifically, the 574F and 594F. Eco Log says that its merger with Gremo this past spring has resulted in one of the broadest and most comprehensive forwarder ranges on the market, covering a loading capacity from 8.5 to 20 tonnes.

Among the Eco Log 584F features are a

FPInnovations has announced the successful completion of Phase 1 in the development of a safe, locally produced, single-use face mask that is 100 per cent biodegradable.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) says that it applauds this important milestone which will allow the industry to create Canadian-made Personal Protective Equipment.

“When President Trump moved to block that shipment of medical masks at our shared border in early April, it was a call to action about how we need to continue to stick to our principles of supporting free and fair trade, but at the same time we must do more to leverage our natural resources and Canadian innovation to be more self-sufficient—to find Canadian made solutions for Canadians,” says FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor.

Kirk Forbes now sole owner of Brunette Machinery

Kirk Forbes has concluded the purchase of shares from his business partners and is now the sole owner of Brunette Machinery Co as the company celebrates over 75 years as a leader in supplying quality equipment to the forestry industry.

This move brings the company back to its family roots. Forbes continues as President and CEO as he leads the company into the next era while investing in growth, product innovation, customers and its people. Brunette Machinery says that this move will strengthen its position as a market leader for machinery in the North American forestry products and biomass industries.

“Nothing changes for us day-to-day,” says Forbes. “We are the same company, have the same leadership, and the same amazing people looking after our customers. We are in a great position to capitalize on our growth potential both organically and through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.” www.brunettemc.com

classified very useful when walking through SPOT X satellite messaging is spot on also large tracks of unmarked forest. The unit

By Anthony Robinson

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ravelling throughout British Columbia and having both SMS and email capability while out of cell range has always been a desire for me, so when Globalstar Canada offered Logging and Sawmilling Journal a SPOT X review unit, I jumped at the opportunity.

SPOT X uses satellite communication to allow users to send SMS and email messages to any phone number or email address worldwide, without the requirement of mobile phone service. In short— you can text from the backcountry. The device also provides S.O.S. The SPOT X unit arrived promptly and soon after opening the neat packaging I had logged on to the online account and started to familiarize myself with the functionality of the unit. The SPOT X seamlessly paired with my iPhone and I was able to sync contacts and send messages to my partner, Hannah, easily—I checked the functionality even before leaving the comforts of home. Before I left home, the Firmware needed updating on the SPOT X unit, so I connected with my computer with the provided USB connector, and

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completed the straightforward process—it took less than 10 minutes.

On a recent hunting trip into the Okanagan region, I found the SPOT X unit very useful. I used the Check-In function to send Hannah back in North Vancouver regular and quick updates, indicating I was safe and sound.

When I had more time, I was able to send more detailed updates using either my iPhone or the integrated keyboard on the unit itself. The Waypoint functionality was

held a battery charge for long periods of time with the built-in lithium battery, and when it needed charging, it was a simple USB used through an external battery pack or the charger in my vehicle—I found this super useful, as I always have a spare external battery pack with me on such trips so this was super easy.

The SPOT X is resistant to impact, dust, and water which gave me a lot of confidence while I was in the backcountry.

While I didn’t use the SOS function on the SPOT X, this is certainly a feature that gives not only me but my loved ones an added level of comfort and safety when heading out of cell range—and something that may save a life one day. Great piece of mind, I say. No pun intended, but I found the SPOT X to be spot on, in terms of ease of use and functionality.

NOVEMBER 2020

NAME:________________________________ TITLE/POSITION:__________________ COMPANY NAME:_______________________________________________________ ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________ PHONE: ______________________________

FAX:___________________________

EMAIL:______________________________________________________________ WEBSITE:____________________________________________________________

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

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thelastword

Wood biomaterial supply agreement with major player in global cosmetics industry massively important to forestry sector

By Tony Kryzanowski

W

ood is a form of cellulose that is green, abundant, and a sustainable biomaterial. It is probably the most abundant biomaterial on Earth.

No wonder we build with it.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are a biomaterial that can be extracted from wood, and they are part of the family of naturally-occurring biomaterials in a tree that provide it with its ability to survive in a sometimes harsh environment. These materials help trees bend without breaking, resist pathogens and insects, and process food.

The discovery of how to extract CNC more efficiently attracted a lot of hype about 20 years ago and Canada jumped on the bandwagon, investing millions of dollars into advancing this technology toward commercialization.

Considerable federal and provincial financial support helped Windsor, Quebecbased CelluForce improve our knowledge of CNC and its potential applications.

CelluForce describes itself as the world leader in the development and production of CNC. Two of its shareholders are FPInnovations and Domtar.

The commercialization of CNC is incredibly important for the Canadian forest industry. Any business owner will tell you that there are two ways to make money.

One way is to produce very high volumes of a valuable commodity with the expectation of a small, predictable return per unit. Softwood lumber and wood pulp fall into this category. The second way is to produce low volumes of a valuable product at a very high profit margin. CNC falls into this category. That is why the extraction of novel biomaterials like CNC is so important to the forestry sector, to help it diversify its product mix and prosper more from the growing, global bioeconomy.

However, the hype related to CNC has diminished over the past decade.

Many in the forest industry wonder if Canada didn’t jump the gun. There has been some early commercial success in the production of more environmentallyfriendly drilling fluids used by the oil and gas industry.

There has also been a patent filed for its use as a paint additive, where light coming into contact with CNC-enhanced paint kills superbugs in hospitals. The medical supply industry is also investigating CNC for the construction of prosthetics and drug delivery systems for treatment of such ailments as throat cancer.

There has also been a lot of discussion about CNC’s strength properties and its future potential to design and build stronger, lighter aircraft. It has even been described as stronger than Kevlar, the material used in bullet-proof vests.

The challenge with CNC has been that despite its wonder material potential on its own merit—and as a potential green substitute for some truly nasty, nonorganic, nanomaterials—it was so novel 20 years ago that considerable research work needed to be conducted to discover just how safe it is to use, even though it is a green and sustainable biomaterial. CelluForce and others working with CNC also needed to introduce it to many industries, work with them to find ways that it could be applied within their products, and discover the lowest hanging fruit for its commercial application. And a lot more work needed to be done on the production end to improve CNC recovery per tonne of wood fibre input.

It seems that Canada’s investment and CelluForce’s patience is about to pay off handsomely—which should have the country’s forest industry standing up and

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - November 2020

taking notice.

At the end of September, CelluForce announced a watershed 10-year commercial agreement with a multinational company working in the cosmetics sector granting them a world-wide exclusivity for the commercialization of CNC-based cosmetic products.

CelluForce expects multi-million dollar sales of its CNC over the next decade and has already decided that it will require a new, larger capacity plant in the near future. This is despite the restart of their Windsor plant in early 2019 after a major upgrade allowing them to produce 300 tonnes of CNC per year. It has new cutting edge equipment to increase process efficiency by 50 per cent and allows the company to produce various grades of CNC. CelluForce says that the use of CNC in cosmetic applications will result in more environmentally-friendly and more efficient products. For example, CNC is already used by several hydroalcoholic gel producers as a biodegradable gelling agent.

The question now is whether this is the tipping point and has CNC finally found its financial footing? If this application leads to the type of expansion that many forest companies have been hoping for, CelluForce will need more raw material suppliers.

Another question is whether this agreement will be the impetus that pushes some forest companies to build CNC production facilities as part of their own operations. Some like Al-Pac in Alberta are very close. CelluForce may need these types of strategic partners to help it fulfill market demand—and what looks to be a promising future.

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