Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

Visit LSJ’s website at www.forestnet.com!

December/January 2017

FOREST MANAGEMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA’S Sea to Sky Corridor has a new look

RESOLUTE FOREST ramps up its new Atikokan mill WITH THIS ISSUE… The Edge!

SPRAY LAKE SAWMILLS makes improvements to planer mill set-up GETTING READY FOR LEGAL POT: How it can impact the forest industry

FEATURES On the Cover:

December/January 2017 Volume 47 • No. 8

A Tigercat 870C buncher at work for D. Lind Contracting in B.C. In this issue, Logging and Sawmilling Journal looks at the situation the forest industry is facing with an increasingly older workforce, and where future equipment operators are going come from, beginning on page 4. (Cover photo courtesy of The Inland Group).

Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski

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Publisher Rob Stanhope • (604) 990-9970 E-mail: stanhope@forestnet.com

Spotlight – Where are the industry’s future employees going to come from?

Associate Publisher Anthony Robinson • (604) 990-9970 E-Mail: robinson@forestnet.com Sales Associates James Booth • (604) 990-9970 E-mail: jbooth@forestnet.com Perry Rosehill • (604) 613-3001 E-mail: rosehill@forestnet.com

There is growing concern in the forest industry about where future loggers and equipment operators are going to come from—and a B.C. logging company is taking action in its own backyard, working closely with a local high school to encourage students to look at the forest industry for their careers.

Circulation Manager Maureen Cole (905) 201-0853 Fax: (905) 294-8645 E-mail: mcole@idirect.com Design & Art Production Manager Sheila Ringdahl E-mail: artwork@forestnet.com

10 A new look for B.C.’s coastal forest industry

Office Manager Betty Rosales E-mail: brosales@forestnet.com

Forest management in B.C.’s Sea to Sky Corridor has taken on a new look, with majority-owned First Nations companies, such as Sqomish Forestry LP, now being large forestry players in the region.

Office PO Box 86670, 211 East 1st Street 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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ISSN 0226-7572. Back copies from 1996 onward are available through our website www.forestnet.com Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064045 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to CIRCULATION DEPT. PO Box 86670 Stn Main North Vancouver BC V7L 4L2 e-mail: mcole@idirect.com POSTMASTER: Send US address changes to LSJ Publishing Group, PO Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020-0610 Published December/January 2017 Printed in Canada on 20% recycled paper.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal is a member/associate member of the following industry organizations:

18 Forest safety—by satellite

Satellite technology is transforming lone worker safety in the forest industry by ensuring no worker is ever without access to a vital line of communications in the remote locations so common to the industry.

24 Resolute ramps up Atikokan sawmill

Resolute Forest Products is ramping up its brand new sawmill near Atikokan, Ontario, part of the company’s overall investment of $150 million in the region, creating more than 200 jobs.

30 A family logging affair Chris Weare of Nova Scotia’s R&C Weare Logging has readily stepped up to the plate—with the support of family—in running their logging business, a heckuva of a busy business affair with an equipment line-up that includes 13 harvesting machines, 10 tractor trailers hauling wood, and roadbuilding gear.

36 Bouncing back

Alberta’s Spray Lake Sawmills has bounced back from the economic downturn, and is even stronger now thanks to consistent mill improvements—and it is looking to grow its treated wood program.

42 Getting ready for legal pot

The imminent legalization of marijuana— which could happen as early as this year—provides a good reason for forest companies of all sizes to prepare themselves with at least a well-defined and communicated substance abuse policy.

48 Building businessand a safe workplace

Ontario logger John Fleming has won two health and safety awards, and has found that in addition to helping build a safe workplace, the awards have helped build his business.

55 The Edge

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

66 The Last Word

Jim Stirling on how B.C. is dealing with the spruce bark beetle on steroids, and possible containment strategies.

DEPARTMENTS

Calendar............................................ 8 Suppliernewsline............................. 60 Classifieds....................................... 64 Ad Index / Subscriptions.................. 65

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

3

spotlight

Where are the industry’s future loggers going to come from?

Bill Nelson (far right) of Holbrook Dyson Logging with Jason Kerluck (centre, plaid shirt), who runs the forest program at Carihi Secondary School in Campbell River, B.C., with Carihi students on a field trip.

There is growing concern in the forest industry about where future loggers and equipment operators are going to come from, but a B.C. logging company is taking action in its own backyard, working closely with a local high school and encouraging students to look at the forest industry for their careers.

By S.J. Trotton

I

n any high school classroom, career planning is a standard curriculum option, with teachers highlighting vocations determined to be most in demand. Robotics, senior health care, financial auditing and jobs in information system development are almost always mentioned.

One of Canada’s key economic contributors, forestry, however is not

4

often part of that conversation which is something forest industry leaders like Bill Nelson are trying to change.

In his Vancouver Island hometown of Campbell River, Nelson works with partners in managing the day-to-day activities of his and his partners’ long-time operation Holbrook Dyson Logging, Ltd. But he is also president of the Forest Education Association, and is helping out with a forestry high school program at Carihi Secondary School, in Campbell River.

Since its inception about three years ago, the program has been growing in popularity and attracting a surprising number of females, says Nelson.

“Last year 50 per cent of the program’s demographic was girls,” reports Nelson.

He attributes the program’s success to its practical aspects. Just like Nelson who

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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spotlight from page 4 eagerly explains much of his workday consists of getting outside and working in the field, the program is planned around ensuring students spend as much time as possible working outside and conducting tasks forestry workers would typically do.

“Students get to learn what they need to know when they go to work in the industry and they are doing it outdoors where they need to be,” he says.

Nelson is equally as adamant the program’s existence has helped tremendously in reminding youth and the public-atlarge, that B.C.’s forest products industry is vibrant and open for business.

“With this program running, people are starting to really understand that there’s opportunity here,” he says.

Described as student project inquirybased, Carihi’s forestry program is focused on teaching students employable skills ranging from stream traversing and GPS usage to tree species identification and compass line placement, through classroom and hands-on activities. Carihi forestry students are able to choose an area of study and research throughout the year.

Upon completion of the course, students receive eight credits toward a science elective.

Carihi’s skills-based high school program is one of only a few in the province.

Other examples include Port Alberni’s District Secondary School project-based learning program for students in grades nine and 10 who get the opportunity to cover all of their academic content on a Christmas tree farm and woodlot. Grade 11 students at the school can take a Sustainable Resources Management course that counts as four credits and teaches them about the career opportunities within forestry, fishing, agriculture and mining.

The long-time running program at Charles Bloom Secondary School in Lumby, in the B.C. Interior, gives students the chance to practice occupational first aid, maintain chainsaws, operate heavy equipment and even work in their own woodlot. In Vanderhoof at Nechako Valley Secondary School, forestry students also have access to their own woodlot and the school’s graduates often look to become natural resource management employees as they identify with the livable wages the industry is known for. Kelowna’s Rutland

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At the elementary level in B.C., the forestry education experience usually focuses on environmental awareness, where activities such as natural hikes on interpretive trails are on the agenda. Camps such as woodlot-based Gavin Lake located in the Cariboo region, Evans Lake in Squamish and Silver Lake in Peachland see

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

spotlight Bill Nelson (left) talks to Carihi students.

The forestry program at the Carihi Secondary School ensures that students spend as much time as possible working outside, and conducting tasks that forestry workers would typically do.

hundreds of elementary students annually.

In the town of Sooke on Vancouver Island, students have the option to take part in the program Nature Kindergarten, one of the first of its kind in Canada that was piloted in 2012. Those children spend the first half of every school day outside where they “experience natural systems and materials found there”.

In Maple Ridge, a suburb of Vancouver, kindergarten to Grade 7 students enrolled in the Environmental School Project spend

extensive time learning outdoors. At North Vancouver Outdoor School, students from kindergarten to Grade 12 all have opportunities to turn their natural habitats into classroom settings. And the same goes for Saturna Education Centre and Comber Community School located in Fanny Bay. Despite the existence of these innovative, environmental and career-focused programs, on a much-wider scale students throughout B.C. and across the country are not necessarily choosing forestry for their vocations and national statistics show the same story Nelson tells. In a labour market report issued by the Forest Products Sector Council, the forest industry is expected to have to fill up to 130,000 jobs by 2020, with 60,000 of those jobs to be filled by individuals with the right education, experience and training. Nearly half

of Canadian manufacturers have labour shortages today, and this year it’s expected that 1.3 million skilled-labour jobs in Canada will be vacant for lack of anyone qualified to do them, according to numerous national studies.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has long since recognized this labour shortage and skills-gap dilemma the industry faces. Working with industry, the federal government and forest experts from across Canada, they developed the Greenest Workforce Job Match Tool, which is a website resource for both job seekers and employers. Freeto-use, those looking for work can use the site to browse or search for current openings. They also have the option to register as a job seeker so their skillsets can be matched with the right jobs. For employers, the site gives added visibility to their openings as well as an opportunity to identify and connect with a qualified talent pool they need. The site can be seen at: http://thegreenestworkforce.ca/ index.php/en/home/.

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7

spotlight

Canada’s forest industry faces a challenge in that it is going to need thousands of new workers in the years ahead as current employees retire—and students from Carihi Secondary School (above) in Campbell River, B.C., could be part of the solution. from page 7 The site is also described as a contentrich information source that highlights current Labour Market Information (LMI) reports and industry-specific trends and forecasts for anyone wanting to know more about the careers available within Canada’s forest products industry. The site’s LMI data is searchable at the national, provincial and regional levels as well as by occupation. It aims to help employers make the right business and human resources decisions and assist industry associations and post-secondary institutions in addressing skillset issues.

“Forest products companies are going to be hiring thousands of new recruits in the coming years and this tool will really help to fast-track those matches,” FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor states. “When you consider the wide range of skills we are going to need and the opportunities that the growing forest products sector presents, I expect this tool will be very popular with job seekers and companies alike.”

Going forward, Nighbor and his association also contend the pace of hiring is expected to further increase as the industry continues to transform itself. For the time being, the industry is currently in need of all types of workers such as

millwrights, pipefitters, engineers, forest technicians, truck drivers and management personnel.

Nelson echoes Nighbor’s opinion: ‘”There is no doubt there are going to be all kinds of opportunities going forward.”

CALENDAR

Forest industry job FAQs:

T

he Canadian forest sector creates more jobs and contributes more to the balance of trade for every dollar of value added than do the minerals and metals sector or the energy sector.

As non-traditional forest products have become more important to the sector and provide clean-tech development opportunities, industry employers will need more skilled workers who can further the development of these products.

Canadian Business lists forestry professional among the top 100 best paid 8

jobs in Canada for 2016.

Across Canada, for people just starting out in the industry, workers can expect an annual salary of between $45,000 and $55,000. Forestry workers who move into senior executive positions can expect to make six-figure salaries.

Some 38,000 people depend on B.C.’s coastal forest industry for their livelihoods.

The average B.C. forest worker earns $40 an hour in wages and benefits.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

January 18-20

74th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention, Vancouver, BC 604-684-4291, www.tla.ca January 26-27

Forest Products Assoc. of Nova Scotia 83rd AGM, Halifax, NS 902-895-1179, www.fpans.ca January 30-February 3

Western Silviculture Contactors' Assoc. Conference & Trade Show, Victoria, BC 604-736-8660, www.wsca.ca February 10

Forests Ontario Annual Conference, Alliston, ON

877-646-1193, www.forestsontario.ca February 13-17

Paper Week Canada 2017 Montreal, QC 514-392-0265 www.paperweekcanada.ca

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FirstNationsforestry

A NEW LOOK

for B.C.’s forest industry

Forest management in B.C.’s Sea to Sky Corridor has taken on a new look, with majorityowned First Nations companies, such as Sqomish Forestry LP, now being large forestry players in the region.

Jeff Fisher (left), President and Forestry Manager of Sqomish Forestry.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

FirstNationsforestry A big focus for Sqomish Forestry is its dryland log sort in Squamish, B.C. In addition to sorting their own wood, they also do contract sorting.

In an average year, from 180,000 to 200,000 cubic metres will go through the sort.

By Paul MacDonald

T

he community of Squamish, B.C., about 45 minutes north of Vancouver, used to be known as a logging and mill town. Logging trucks regularly rolled down the Sea to Sky Highway and the main streets of Squamish to one of several log sorts and then on to the Interfor sawmill or Western Forest Products pulp mill.

But that, as the saying goes, was then, and this is now. The sawmill and the pulp mill have since closed.

And now the town, with its spectacular setting in the Coast Mountains, is more known for its countless recreational activities—but logging is still a major contributor to the local economy. It may not have as great a role as it used to, but it is still providing solid, good paying jobs for local people.

Reflecting the changes in time and government policy, forest management and logging in Squamish and the surrounding region now have more of a First Nation influence. Witness forest company Sqomish Forestry LP, which is majority owned by the Squamish Nation (The company has the traditional Coast Salish name of Sqomish, which is another variation of the word Squamish).

Those who work for Sqomish Forestry sometimes can see the changing use of land first-hand in interesting ways—especially compared to other areas of B.C., says Jeff Fisher, President and Forestry Manager of Sqomish Forestry.

Fisher notes that in their urban interface operating areas, they have to use lots of safety signage and sometimes traffic control flaggers to identify their work areas and facilitate safe public access through the work area.

“It’s a bit different than if you were logging up around Prince George,” he says. “Up there, you wouldn’t have your feller buncher operating in an area and have four hikers in spandex looking to get through the block on a trail one way, and a mountain biker looking to get through the other way.”

The evolution of Sqomish Forestry dates back to a change in provincial government forestry policy in 2004 that saw part of the timber supply in B.C. allocated to major licencees clawed back, and redistributed to First Nations groups, community forests and BC Timber Sales.

As part of this, the Squamish Nation received a licence for harvesting 98,800 cubic metres per year, which was previously part of forest company Interfor’s cut, explains Fisher. The Nation subsequently

purchased the balance of Interfor’s cut in the region through a purchase of Tree Farm Licence 38, northwest of Squamish, and part of a Forest Licence in the Soo Timber Supply Area.

The Nation’s involvement in forestry has evolved over the years since then, notes Fisher. “We have gone through several changes over the years,” he says.

Fisher has been involved in those changes, since he came directly from Interfor along with the purchase of TFL 38. He has a role in the business aspects of the company, but also the forest management, since he is a Registered Professional Forester. As company president, he reports to a board of directors consisting of five Squamish Nation elected councilors, and the two owners of Garibaldi Forest Products which is a partner in the company.

Fisher has worked in the region for more than 20 years, and said that previous to 2004 and the government changes, First Nations groups had very little forestry tenure in the area.

“But now, they are big forestry players in the region—First Nations groups together control more than half of the quota in the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District—and the Squamish Nation is now the largest licencee.

“The district is somewhat unique in the province in that none of the major forest companies are here anymore,” he added. “Interfor, Canfor, Western Forest Products, and going back, MacMillan Bloedel, used to be here.” Often, a region of the province can be dominated by one

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FirstNationsforestry from page 11 company, such as Western Forest Products on Vancouver Island, and Canfor in B.C.’s Central Interior.

“Bill 28 in 2004 was supposed to change things, and in this forest district, it has done that very significantly, diversifying the ownership of the timber supply.

Most foresters and contractors who used to work for one of the major companies now work with or partner with a First Nation in some way, so it’s brought a significant change to how things are done.”

That change includes looking at forest management with a different time horizon, says Fisher.

“The Squamish Nation has been here for many thousands of years. Unlike the forest companies who are a business, and who buy and sell tenures and might exit an area, the Squamish Nation doesn’t plan on going anywhere.

“They are slowly and methodically building their forestry business and acquiring new tenures, with the idea that they are going to be here forever.

“As a professional forester, having an ownership that sees many years into the future, I personally like that. Their goals line up with my goals as a forester, managing the forest in a sustainable way, long term.”

The forest management approach of First Nations groups tend to be more balanced, vs. the forest companies, which are in the business of maximizing profit.

“Sqomish Forestry has to be profitable— they issue a dividend every year. And they are very clearly in business. The Nation has made it very clear that they don’t want to

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One of the challenges Sqomish Forestry faces is they get more than half their timber from old growth stands, typically at high elevation, in the back of valleys. These areas have a very long winter, so getting their old growth timber in is constrained by seasonality. be putting money into the company.

“But they are not necessarily profit maximizers,” Fisher adds. “They will trade off making a bit of money for something they view that might be better for wildlife in the area, or that would make it more sustainable.”

In addition to having more control over land in their traditional territories, the bands are also looking for economic benefits, in terms of jobs.

“There is capacity building that is required,” says Fisher. “There are some jobs at the beginning, but there will be more over time as more First Nations people gain experience and training, and move into being supervisors and managers.”

When Fisher got the job 10 years ago, one of his assignments from the Nation was that when he retired, they would like to see a First Nation person replace him.

But a transition, of course, is necessary.

“When the Nation took over operations, they did not clear out existing staff and contractors, but they try to replace them with qualified First Nation members as jobs and opportunities become available,” he says. “They have taken on the licences, and the people, with the idea that over time, they would bring in First Nations people, who would get trained and have the necessary skills.”

Some might view this as a slow process. “But First Nations are a very patient people,” notes Fisher. And respectful, too, he added, as they did not want to disrupt the way the business is run now, or, as much as possible, the lives of the people who work for them.

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FirstNationsforestry

At the dryland sort, Sqomish Forestry has a Hitachi EX480LL log loader (above) a Cat 330 log loader, two Cat 966 wheel loaders, and a Wagner L4130 log stacker. A recent purchase for the company was a Kenworth T800 logging truck. from page 12 Most of the logging work is done by contractors, who are encouraged to hire First Nations members, if they are qualified or can be trained.

Depending on the level of activity, about half of the company’s employees— between the office, the company logging operation, the dryland sort, and recreational camp sites it manages—are Nation band members.

Along the way to their current size, they have added/subtracted heavy equipment, mostly to their dryland sort in Squamish.

“The equipment came over time— we’ve kept most of it, and added to it, but sold some of it, as well,” says Fisher.

“We have a very eclectic mix of heavy equipment.”

Sqomish works with three primary logging contractors: Skytech Yarding, KRK Logging, and YardHard Logging. Richmond Falling does falling for the company and JIN Construction does the road building. They deal with a number of trucking companies for hauling timber, some single truck owner/ operators, and others who own multiple units.

Sqomish has its own logging crew, that takes on smaller jobs. It uses a Clark 667 line skidder and a Hitachi 200 excavator.

“We’ll take on the smaller, but not necessarily the easier, blocks,” says Fisher.

“Some of them are more complicated, and where it usually doesn’t make sense to low-bed in a feller buncher and a processor to do them.” The three to four 14

person crew is made up of Squamish Nation members.

One of their contractors, KRK Logging, has mostly its own equipment, but contracts with Sqomish Forestry for the use of a Cypress 6280 grapple yarder that the company owns. “We own the yarder, but they put the people on the machine and run it. We work closely with them on their operations.”

Even though the 6280 yarder is older, it does what they need it to do, says Fisher.

“We bought it a few years ago, and put some money into it—it’s no beauty queen, but it does the job,” he says.

Another of their contractors, Skytech Yarding, owned by Brian Elesko, has a variety of equipment, including a new Tigercat 630D grapple skidder. “Brian runs a full on, high production, Interiorstyle logging operation,” says Fisher. “He has a lot of iron, and lots of power, and can put out a lot of wood. When he’s running full tilt, he’s doing 10 to 15 loads a day, upwards of 600 cubic metres, on less adverse ground.

“We’ve only started to get back into the gentler slopes as we’ve gotten back into the second growth wood,” explained Fisher.

Skytech also does cable yarding, with a Washington 88 yarder.

One of their current challenges is that they are in both types of ground: gentle slopes, and steep ground.

“For a month, Skytech might be in ground with 30 per cent slopes, second growth, smaller wood. The next month, they could be working in blocks up to

4300 feet elevation, on a 70 per cent slope, that has to be grapple yarded, or might even be skylined.”

Another of their contractors, YardHard, has a mini-tower and grapple skidder operation, so it can alternate, as well.

“We really have the full range of equipment available to us,” says Fisher. “For us as a company, it’s good. We can look at what we have ahead of us, and then figure out how best to harvest it, and which contractor to use.

“Part of what we do is to try to develop a plan to keep the three contractors as busy as much of the year as possible,” explains Fisher. “We want to avoid having a contractor doing 10,000 cubic metres in one block, and then have to low-bed 70 kilometres, and go up a spur road, to do the next block. We try to put sets of blocks together so the contractors have minimal moves and the logging is suited to their equipment.

“Sometimes this might mean that they have three blocks in a valley, and two are good for their equipment, and one is not so good. So on that third block, you might have the big machine doing little wood, or the small machine doing big wood, but it’s hard to avoid this.

“As much as possible, we try to optimize operations so it’s efficient for the contractors, and they can keep the wood moving to us.”

Fisher noted that one of their challenges is that Sqomish Forestry is still getting more

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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FirstNationsforestry from page 14 than half their timber from old growth, typically at high elevation, in the back of valleys.

“These areas have a very long winter,” he says. “We’ll have cut blocks where the snow comes off in July, and comes back in October. If you put fire season in there in the middle, with possible shutdowns, that can make for a very short time window.

“So a lot of our old growth inventory is constrained by seasonality. Another challenge is the market for old growth hemlock/balsam. Unless you can export a significant component of that, it’s very difficult to harvest it financially.”

This year, they were looking to harvest around 110,000 cubic metres, most of that on their licenced land, with the balance on some private land that Squamish Nation has around the Squamish area.

With the growth of recreational activities in Squamish and area, and a shift in where they harvest, Sqomish Forestry is working more closely with local recreational groups. “Our logging has moved closer to town,” says Fisher. “The logging had been more back of the valleys for the last 10 years or so. But the second growth has matured, and we are now doing more logging closer to Squamish.”

In the meantime, though, mountain

bike trails have been built through these second growth areas.

“Those bike trails were put in before the second growth was mature, so there were no conflicts of use when they were being built. But the harvesting has now come back,” says Fisher.

“Many of the trails were not built with any legal authority, so you could say they are not established, and just log over them. But that’s not the proper way to do business—mountain biking is a big part of the community, and for our social licence, we want to find a way to work with the mountain bikers.”

Sqomish Forestry actively works with the local mountain biking association Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) and the local off road motorcycling association, Squamish Dirt Bike Association (SDBA).

“Before we do harvesting in these areas, we’ll go over the maps and show them where we are going to harvest and we try to sort it out,” says Fisher. “Every one of those bike trails is important to someone, especially to the guy that built it. But we try to sort out the really important trails, and we’ll consider establishing a buffer on the most important trails.

“If we have to harvest over a trail, we’ll look at reconstructing the trail when the logging is completed—or donate money

The evolution of Sqomish Forestry dates back to a change in B.C. government forestry policy in 2004 that saw part of the provincial timber supply that was allocated to major licencees clawed back, and redistributed to First Nations groups, community forests and BC Timber Sales.

16

to the biking association, and they can rebuild the trail.”

Fisher says it can be a bit of a process dealing with the groups. “But over the last few years, it has worked out relatively OK. There can be someone who might be upset that a trail is logged, but the bike groups understand that land can sometimes be dual use, or even triple use—and we need to make it work.”

He added that, by and large, the groups also understand that they would not even have access to many of these areas without the road network built and maintained by the forest industry.

On the business side, a big focus for Sqomish Forestry is its dryland log sort. In addition to sorting their own wood, they also do contract sorting. So in an average year, from 180,000 to 200,000 cubic metres will go through the sort.

“The sort can be a very busy place,” says Fisher.

In terms of managing the equipment at the sort, and out in the bush, Sqomish has a lot of resources to draw upon.

In addition to dryland sort supervisor Chris Turner, there is also Bryan Shier of Garibaldi Forest Products, which is a partner company in Sqomish Forestry.

“Bryan’s background is in log brokering, and he was a logger for many years,” says Fisher. They also have Kelly Jian Contracting, which has a shop in Squamish and handles the servicing and repairs of their equipment, and offers input on equipment purchases.

“When you put all that together, we have all the pieces to make it work well,” says Fisher.

At the dryland sort, they have a Cat 330 log loader, and two Cat 966 wheel loaders; the latter machines will likely be replaced in the next couple of years.

“The wheel loaders have a lot of hours on them,” says Fisher. They also have a Wagner L4130 log stacker, and a Hitachi EX480LL log loader. A recent purchase was a Kenworth T800 logging truck.

The longer term challenge for Sqomish Forestry’s dryland sort is that it needs to find a new home, due to the growth of the town of Squamish.

“At some point, Loggers Lane, where the sort is located, will likely be condos,” says Fisher. “We might have five years left here, but in 10 years, we are not going to be here.” Such is progress, says Fisher.

So they are going to be looking at relocating the sort, or partnering up with one of the three other log sorts in Squamish.

“We’ve got some time to figure that out,” he says.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

industrysafety

FOREST SAFETY —by satellite

Satellite technology is transforming lone worker safety in the forest industry by ensuring no worker is ever without access to a vital line of communications in the remote locations so common to the industry.

By Jim Mandala

O

Satellite phones, messengers and data hot spots are making a difference in the forest industry by allowing workers to be where they need to be and stay connected and safe. Devices such as the SPOT GPS Satellite Messenger (inset photo) are one such affordable, practical and effective solution for lone worker check-in.

18

n September 11, 2016 in an area west of Campbell River, B.C., a faller died as a result of his injuries when the snag he was falling broke up and struck him. In a similar incident on July 4, near Bella Bella, B.C., another faller was fatally injured when a danger tree fell in an unintended direction and hit him.

According to the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) there were nine fatalities in the province’s logging sector in 2016, as of November 2016. This is after a spike in logger deaths in 2015 led WorkSafeBC to call a special meeting with industry representatives to discuss ways to improve safety in the forest.

While the details of the most recent tragic fatalities have not yet been disclosed, among the key challenges facing loggers and lone workers is the remote locations where they work. These locations are typically well outside the scope of cellphone coverage, which severely limits communication capabilities and in the event of an accident, time to rescue.

As a result, resource companies are increasingly looking to the next generation of satellite technology to bring dependable, fast, mobile coverage even in the most remote locations.

Many companies operating in resource-based sectors such as oil and gas have already started the shift away from

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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industrysafety Until recently, companies in the natural resources sector have had to rely on two-way radios to stay connected to their workers in the field and meet Lone Worker regulations. But there was no guarantee someone was available to pick up on the other end in the event of an emergency.

As well, without GPS capabilities, it was almost impossible for employers and search and rescue responders to quickly determine the location and needs of stranded or injured workers and respond in a timely manner.

That’s where satellite phones, messengers and data hot spots are making the difference by allowing workers to be where they need to be and stay connected and safe. Devices such as the SPOT GPS Satellite Messenger are one such affordable, practical and effective solution for lone worker check-in. This GPS-enabled communications device enables more accurate and consistent check-in procedures, creates a digital trail of where the worker is at all times and features an SOS button, which will send GPS coordinates of the worker’s location.

The device can also be used in an emergency situation to map the best routes to

from page 18 legacy voice-based safety programs to affordable, satellite-enabled lone worker check-in procedures—a trend that is poised to continue and one that readily applies to the forest industry.

Consider a few key stats: According to the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, Canada has one of the world’s largest areas of responsibility for search and rescue, covering 18 million square kilometres of land and water. Forestry, oil and gas, mining and maritime companies largely operate within the almost eight million square kilometres outside the reach of traditional cellular and GSM networks.

While mandates vary across the country, most provinces have regulations in force to protect lone workers in the field, requiring organizations to maintain always-on and reliable contact with workers. For example, in an effort to further prioritize safety, the BC Forest Safety Council created the SAFE companies certification program that has made certification, which includes worker check-in requirements, a prerequisite to bid on or to carry out certain work.

get into a cut area or to track cuttings, for example, for future reference, improving both safety and efficiency.

In the logging industry, maintaining and repairing equipment often requires travelling to remote regions of the province.

Black Diamond Mechanical & Welding Ltd. does much of its equipment servicing in its Parksville, B.C. shop facility. In many cases, however, technicians have to travel

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

industrysafety Satellite technology is transforming lone worker safety in the forestry and natural resource sectors by ensuring no worker, such as a faller, is ever without access to a vital line of communications, whether on or off the cellular grid.

hundreds of miles to service machines in the field. One logging site, Taleomy, is so remote, there is no cell service and no access road. Crew are transported by a Turbine Otter float plane and the equipment and heavy supplies arrive via tug and barge.

To maintain voice communications between master mechanics and remote technicians working in field operations,

Black Diamond has been a long-time user of Globalstar GSP-1700 satellite phones.

Recently, it became the very first business in Canada to deploy Globalstar’s new Sat-Fi satellite hotspot technology so that workers can use their devices (Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, tablets and laptops) to send and receive satellite communications.

“With Sat-Fi, our remote crews can use their own smartphones, tablets and computers to communicate using reliable satellite technology, without the need to access to cellular or GSM networks,” says Black Diamond owner David Pope. “This ensures we have open and operational communications networks with our field crews at all times.” For more information visit Globalstar.com/BlackDiamond.

Satellite is delivering on the Internet

of Things promise that anything that can be connected and will be connected by extending its reach to otherwise unreachable places. This keeps lone workers safe in the process and helps ensure compliance with lone worker regulations and check-in policies. For example, Calgarybased Aware360 is using SPOT satellite technology to develop exception-based monitoring software solutions for lone worker applications in the oil and gas and other resource-based industries.

“Pre-satellite, the only time we’d know you were safe would be when you were on the phone with a monitoring center agent,” says Rod Heitrich, vice-president of business development, Aware360.

“When SPOT came out, we were able to have workers check in or immediately send an SOS with location and be tracked for the first time in the 80 per cent of the country not covered by cellular service.

The monitor centre can see where you are the whole time, without taking calls, knowing that each worker is OK unless they signal otherwise.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 22

21

industrysafety from page 21 The Aware360 WorkAlone solution, along with SPOT Satellite technology, is designed for people working in high risk activities such as forestry where they are almost always remote and often alone.

Heitrich explains that “SPOT satellite technology made the broad application of digital exception-based software possible and enabled us to significantly improve worker safety outcomes.”

With this type of exception-based digital monitoring, employers were for the first time able to provide their remote

lone workers with “automated check-ins and the ability to signal for assistance in case of an emergency in an affordable and efficient way”.

Satellite technology is transforming lone worker safety in the forestry and natural resource sectors by ensuring no worker is ever without access to a vital line of communications – whether on or off the cellular grid. In the process it has helped companies streamline their operations and improve worker productivity by providing reliable access to voice and data networks, using a variety of affordable, flexible satellite solutions. Companies

now have a wide range of choices when it comes to proactively meeting provincial mandates for lone worker safety and check-in. The technology is here. It’s up to forestry companies to use it. ___________________________________ Jim Mandala is vice-president and general manager of Globalstar Canada Satellite Co., a leading provider of satellite voice and data services. Jim can be reached by email at JMandala@globalstar.ca.

Who needs satellite technology?

R

oughly two billion people in the world either live, work or play beyond the range of terrestrial networks. Additionally there are those people who temporarily find themselves without cellular coverage for whatever reason, including, but not limited to: • Companies operating in forestry, mining, oil and gas and other natural resources industries who rely on constant, cost-effective connectivity and network

uptime for work productivity, lone worker safety and check-in policies that comply with provincial regulations.

• Emergency responders and those impacted by natural or man-made disasters where cell coverage often becomes unavailable.

• Commercial boat owners and their crews, who need to be able to make calls, send e-mails and communicate via SMS text messages over satellite while

maintaining the capabilities and flexibility of their existing smartphones and computers.

• Temporary industrial worksites that rely on reliable voice and data connectivity within a portable office environment.

• Avid outdoor recreationalists, such as hunters, hikers, boaters and campers who need assurance when adventuring on or off the cellular grid.

SPOT technology goes beyond cell coverage

S

POT is proven technology providing a vital line of communications beyond cellular to hundreds of thousands of users around the world. Since its launch, SPOT devices have initiated more than 3,400 rescues in Canada, 4,500 worldwide.

• With 18 million square kilometres of land and water, Canada has one of the world’s largest areas of responsibility for search and rescue, according to the National Search and Rescue Secretariat: – 243,800 kilometers of coastline – three oceans – three million lakes including the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River system • Some eight million square kilometres of Canada’s geography falls outside the reach of traditional cellular and GSM networks

22

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

Ontariosawmilling

RESOLUTE

ramps up Atikokan sawmill Resolute Forest Products is ramping up its brand new sawmill near Atikokan, Ontario, part of the company’s overall investment of $150 million in the region, creating more than 200 jobs.

By Tony Kryzanowski

an overall $150 million investment and creation of over 200 new jobs in the reesolute Forest Products has helped to gion by the company. All told, Resolute’s three Ontario sawmills produce about breathe life back into northwestern 560 million board feet of lumber, making Ontario’s forest industry, and in particular struggling communities like Atikokan, it one of the largest dimension lumber producers in the province. having spent more than $50 million to Located in Sapawe, about 30 kilobuild a new sawmill east of the town. metres east of Atikokan, the site of this The sawmill is an exclamation point to

R 24

greenfield project is the former home of another sawmill called Atikokan Forest Products. It closed permanently in 2007 and was completely dismantled.

Construction of Resolute’s sawmill started in November 2013, with the drilling and blasting of 130,000 cubic metres of bedrock just to prepare the site for construction, which began in March 2014.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

The breakdown line at the Atikokan sawmill consists primarily of repurposed Comact equipment from other closed Resolute sawmills in Quebec and Nova Scotia, except for Comact’s TBL3 optimized sawing/chipping/profiling equipment, which is a new addition.

The sawmill is a sign of hope for Atikokan, a picturesque community known as the ‘Canoe Capital of Canada’, which has gone through many resource booms and busts for decades. Its population reached nearly 8,000 when area iron ore mines and forestry enterprises thrived, but has declined now to about 2,800 permanent residents as a consequence of the loss of those mines and forestry jobs. Suffice to say that the Resolute sawmill has brought smiles to the faces of many area residents who are being trained to work at the sawmill. It has provided 90 jobs operating on a two-shift basis, with about 80 per cent of those employees coming from Atikokan itself. Another 100 jobs are tied to the contract operations supporting the sawmill.

“We are taking people who formerly worked in daycares, gas stations, and retail shops and we are teaching them how to become sawmillers,” says Michael Martel,

vice-president of forest operations at Resolute, who has been directly involved overseeing Resolute’s capital investment plan for northwestern Ontario.

“We have a lot of apprenticeships, and people with no industrial experience whatsoever.”

On the technical side, they have attracted some employees from other Resolute operations and from across Canada, who either moved and welcomed the chance to come back to Atikokan, or just saw this as a great opportunity.

Construction was completed in spring 2015, and the sawmill is now close to achieving its production target of 150 million board feet of dimension lumber annually.

It produces dimension lumber from 2” x 3” to 2” x 10”, in lengths from 6’ to 16’, with the highest volume products being 2” x 4” and 2” x 6” in 16’ lengths.

In addition to the sawmill, the project included construction of a new, high speed planer mill, capable of running at 226 lugs per minute. It will process 260 million board feet annually, as it will also plane 9’ lumber manufactured at Resolute’s stud mill in nearby Ignace.

The sawmill consumes about 600,000 cubic metres of wood annually, consisting of about 80 per cent jackpine and 20 per cent spruce. All logs harvested for Resolute’s Atikokan and Ignace sawmills and 30 per cent of the Thunder Bay sawmill requirements are delivered cut-to-length (CTL), with 16’ logs specifically directed to Atikokan, 10’ logs to Thunder Bay, and 9’ logs to Ignace. The remaining 70 per cent of Thunder Bay’s log diet is in tree-length form.

Sawmill construction occurred on an

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 26 25

The management team at Resolute that supervised construction of the new sawmill east of Atikokan were (left to right in photo), Gilles Plante, general superintendent for the Atikokan sawmill, Maxime Langlais, general manager for all of Resolute’s sawmills in Ontario, and Michael Martel, Resolute Vice President of Forest Operations.

from page 25 aggressive timeline and was completed in only 13 months. Site development was handled by Rainy Lake Tribal Construction, while the 220’ x 40’ building construction was performed by Constructions Fabmek Inc. The mechanical contractor

was KTG Mecano Inc., the electrical contractor was Grimmard Electric, controls and optimization was managed by Comact and Pacificon Systems Ltd., and the dust collection system was provided

by Rodrigue Metal. Project management was by CLLB Consulting while B-Team Consulting oversaw the mill construction.

Resolute carefully evaluated the most cost effective way to install the breakdown line in Atikokan, working with CLLB Consulting to design the mill. Resolute chose the option of using Comact equipment from closed Resolute mills in Quebec and Nova Scotia, and re-purposing them in Atikokan.

The only new item on the breakdown line is Comact’s TBL3 optimized sawing/ chipping/profiling equipment, which offers single-pass cant sawing and profiling. This equipment was also part of the investment that Resolute made at its Thunder Bay sawmill, where Maxime Langlais is the general manager. He is general manager for all of Resolute’s sawmills in Ontario, with Gilles Plante working as general superintendent for the Atikokan sawmill.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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Ontariosawmilling Martel says there is tremendous value to having the same technology deployed in both Atikokan and Thunder Bay to standardize and simplify the technical knowledge required to operate the breakdown equipment in any of the company’s Ontario sawmills.

“One of our biggest challenges is finding qualified people with sawmill experience, particularly in trades as well as operations,” he says. “So having similar equipment two hours away makes sense.

It sounds like Atikokan and Ignace are close, but they are extremely remote from key suppliers. The challenge we face is the same as every other mill in North America right now, which is finding qualified tradespeople, electricians, millwrights, and employees skilled in optimization.”

The sawmill infeed sends logs along two infeed decks leading to either a 17” or 22” Nicholson debarker, and then into three sorting bins. The logs are then processed through a Comact canter-quad single length infeed (SLI), through the Comact TBL3 curve sawing gang, and then through a Comact optimized board edger, trimmer, 45-bin sorter, stacker and Signode strapper.

The operator’s booth at Resolute’s new Atikokan sawmill looks a bit like a traffic control centre, and in reality, it probably is just that when it comes to manufacturing lumber from logs on the Comact breakdown line.

Wellons Canada provided the sawmill’s two direct fired with natural gas lumber drying kilns. One is a new 154 ft double track; the second is a 134 ft Wellons double track kiln that was relocated from a Resolute facility in Nova Scotia, extended to 154 ft and updated with a new lo-NOx combustor to satisfy Ontario regulations.

The planer and planing line was provided by USNR, and completed with a Comact GradExpert computerized lumber grading system. Martel says installing Comact’s GradExpert technology in Atikokan was, “an

to page 28

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27

Ontariosawmilling from page 27 easy decision, as we operate the GradExpert in all of Resolute’s high-speed planing mills and partnered with Comact to develop this grading platform since the first unit was installed at Thunder Bay over a decade ago.”

The Atikokan sawmill is part of a cluster of forest industry assets that Resolute operates in northwestern Ontario. The company has invested $150 million in northwestern Ontario in recent years to build the new sawmill near Atikokan, restart the stud mill in Ignace, upgrade its sawmill in Thunder Bay, construct a 65-megawatt, combined heat and power (CHP) facility, and a 45,000 tonne wood pellet plant at Thunder Bay. The pellet mill supplies Ontario Power Generation (OPG) with this biofuel as part of the utility’s strategy to phase out coal-fired power generation.

All of the company’s facilities in this geographic area are somewhat integrated, with studs from the Ignace mill sent for dressing to the new planer mill in Atikokan, and residuals from the sawmills going to support Resolute’s pulp, paper, power, and pellet operations in Thunder Bay. Martel says it feels great to have nearly reached full production in Atikokan, but there is still a lot of work to do to optimize each location by focusing on the continued development of employee experience and knowledge of sawmilling operations. He adds that one major benefit from investing in restarting and building new sawmills in that region is greater wood utilization in the forest.

“By building more sawmills, we are reducing the amount of timber that we need to chip in the forest to feed our pulp and paper assets,” he says. “We are optimizing sawlogs among our three sawmills, pulp wood for our pulp and paper operation,

28

The new Resolute sawmill near Atikokan processes 16’ logs, with 80 per cent jackpine and 20 per cent spruce, producing dimension lumber from 2” x 3” to 2” x 10”, in lengths from 6’ to 16’, with the highest volume products being 2” x 4” and 2” x 6” in 16’ lengths. and roadside residues as biomass for the CHP facility in Thunder Bay.” There is no doubt that this major investment by the company has meant the return of good paying and steady jobs to economically struggling and remote communities like Atikokan and Ignace, not only at the sawmill level, but also in logging, construction, and other services that support the local forest industry. These investments have also provided opportunities for jobs and business ventures for a number of First Nations communities in the area.

“Our focus even before we announced Atikokan was to work in partnership with the local First Nations, whose members not only work at the Resolute mills, but also participate in supplying many of the

key contract services required to operate the mills,” says Martel. “Over $100 million in contracts with First Nations companies were developed as part of the Atikokan and Ignace start-ups.”

Martel says what made the company’s overall northwestern Ontario investment plan viable was the Ontario government’s forest allocations to support these facilities. They became available as a consequence of the industry downturn back in 2008, which created a surplus of merchantable wood in the province.

Resolute responded by developing a capital investment plan that would see a welcome return of the wood products sector in northwestern Ontario.

However, Resolute is concerned about the potential impact of new wood harvest guidelines being used by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The new guidelines are motivated by the province’s Endangered Species Act, specifically around maintaining caribou habitat and new Forest Management Guidelines for Boreal Landscapes. This new set of forest planning rules, “will result in a significant reduction in wood supply in Ontario, but we are not sure of how it will affect our operations because MNR can’t tell us what the impacts will be yet,” says Martel.

The potential impact could become more clear when the company’s first forest management license comes up for renewal over the next few years.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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eastcoastlogging

A family logging affair

Chris Weare of Nova Scotia’s R&C Weare Logging has readily stepped up to the plate—with the support of family—in running their logging business, a heckuva of a busy business affair with an equipment line-up that includes 13 harvesting machines, 10 tractor trailers hauling wood, and roadbuilding gear.

By George Fullerton

O

n a day-to-day basis, there is a lot going on at R&C Weare Logging Limited, with harvesting and trucking operations, along with a large maintenance and repair shop and mobile maintenance equipment. The equipment line-up includes 13 harvesting machines and 10 tractor trailers hauling wood, in addition to road building gear.

Chris Weare, 36-years-old, handles the

bulk of the daily management decisions in the harvesting and trucking operations, and he also supervises the maintenance and repair shop. While the management demands are fairly hefty, Chris comes across as relaxed, friendly and comfortable with his extensive responsibilities.

R&C Weare Logging was established in 1970 when Roger Weare began working for Bowater operations in the central part of the southern end of Nova Scotia, with a cable skidder. Roger along with his wife,

Joanne, built their business in their home base, in the Village of Caledonia, Nova Scotia. The operation was built up to five cable skidders with hand cut crews and they eventually added a feller buncher, still using the cable skidders to yard trees to a rail delimber and slasher. In 1995 they added a cut-to-length component, with a Target processor head on a Komatsu carrier.

Chris grew up in the business. Equipment and business was the family table talk, and he began operating feller

Chris Weare (above, right) with operators David Smith (centre) and Shane Faber. Chris grew up in the logging business; he began operating feller bunchers at a young age, and his early career provided him with a good deal of mechanical experience, working on gear in the woods and in the shop at the family home.

30

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

bunchers at the tender age of eleven.

Chris’s early career also provided him with a good deal of mechanical experience, working on gear in the woods and in the shop at the family home. Chris’s responsibilities with management multiplied when Roger passed away in 2014.

Currently, Chris supervises the shop and the harvesting and trucking operations, while his mother Joanne runs the office and contributes her experience to the major business decisions. Chris’s sister, Cindy Ross, also helps out in the family business, providing office support.

R&C Weare’s equipment line-up includes three feller bunchers: Tigercats 870, 860 and 845, all with Quadco saw heads. The harvesting contingent includes two Tigercat 855 machines and an 822, all with Waratah 622B heads, a Direct 257 with a Waratah 622 head, a TK 711 with a LogMax 7000 head and a 322 Cat with a Hornet head.

Chris confesses a deep admiration for the productivity and reliability attributes of Tigercat gear. “Tigercats are built tough and they work well,” he says.

Chris also shared his admiration for Waratah heads for the processor work behind the bunchers. He says they have proven reliable and deliver great performance, and adds that they have excellent computers in his estimation.

The harvesting contingent for R&C Weare Logging includes two Tigercat 855 machines and an 822, all with Waratah 622B heads, a Direct 257 with a Waratah 622 head, a TK 711 with a LogMax 7000 head and a 322 Cat with a Hornet head.

Forwarder power comes from Rottne sixteen tonne machines (below) and Tigercat 20 tonne forwarders.

to page 32

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

31

eastcoastlogging from page 31 “One of the reasons we like the Waratah heads is their ability to pick stems from the buncher piles,” he explained.

“They also work okay for harvesting when needed, but we don’t have a great number of jobs where they work as harvesters.”

Forwarder power comes from two Tigercat 20 tonne forwarders and three Rottne sixteen tonne machines. On the trucking side, they operate with a complement of 10 Western Stars, and the trailer inventory includes six B-Trains, two with loaders. Straight trailers include one quad axle and three triaxles, all of which are self loaders. Trailer brands include Trailex, Manac and Deloupe, and the mounted loaders are Rotobec. Weare Logging typically hires an additional three trucks to keep production going to the mills.

Additional log loading capacity comes from a Cat 320 and a converted Timberjack 608, each with Rotobec grapples.

Roadbuilding equipment includes Cat 320 and 325 excavators, a D5 dozer and a frameless dump trailer. Service trucks include a Freightliner with a twenty-four foot box and a Ford 450. Diesel tanks for harvest operations are mounted on tag-along trailers.

For float service, Weare Logging relies on James Barkhouse, who works pretty much full time moving Weare equipment. Chris commented that the service from Barkhouse is excellent.

The Weare service and repair shop is located just outside the village of Calendonia, in the former Holdrite Lumber sawmill. They purchased the sawmill site and buildings in 2002, and undertook renovations in 2010. The main part of the former sawmill provides two drive-in bays, each of which can comfortably fit a loaded B-Train. The green chain side of the mill building is used for parts storage.

Weare Logging operates on a combination of private woodlot stumpage operations and contract harvesting for Northern Pulp and other mills. The former Bowater woodlands were acquired by the province after the Bowater mill operation at Liverpool was shut down in 2012. A good deal of Weare’s harvest operations continue to be on the former Bowater lands, with the wood shipped to various mills across Nova Scotia.

A good amount of the studwood from Weare’s operations goes to Sproule Lumber

On the trucking side, R&C Weare operates with a complement of 10 Western Stars, and the trailer inventory includes six B-Trains, two with loaders. in Truro, and is delivered as eight and ten foot lengths. About 30 per cent of the volume to Sproule is provided in eight foot logs, which is primarily produced by the Hornet processor. Sawlogs and some studwood goes to Harry Freeman and Son Limited in nearby Greenfield, which is only 25 kilometres from Weare Logging’s base.

Pulpwood goes to Northern Pulp at Pictou.

Trucking distances are quite divergent,

the call of big money in the oil patch, he currently has a relatively young crew of operators and truck drivers.

“Our crew consists of relatively young operators in their 20’s and up to their 40’s,” he says. “Our oldest operator is only in his mid-50’s. There are not a lot of employment opportunities in rural Nova Scotia, and our workers like the rural lifestyle and want to live here, and we provide them with a good employment opportunity.”

They generally train new operators by putting them in a forwarder cab with an experienced operator.

Initially, the trainee simply observes, to learn how the machine works and operates. Eventually, the rookie operator will try out the seat for short periods. The experienced operator evaluates the trainee’s progress on both operating and maintenance tasks. If the trainee shows promise, the training continues. If the trainee candidate does not appear to have the particular talents to succeed, they are advised to seek alternative employment.

“Typically, we start out operators on forwarders,” says Chris. “If they show good operating and maintenance talents, and an ambition to expand their talents and are looking for a challenge, we try them on a harvester or buncher.”

Six of Weare’s machine operators have extensive experience, and can switch between machines effortlessly, which

Chris Weare has a deep admiration for the productivity and reliability attributes of Tigercat gear. "Tigercats are built tough and they work well," he says.

32

with the Freeman mill located less than 30 kilometres from their base in Caledonia, while the trip to the Northern Pulp mill, one–way, is 300 kilometres. The Truro mill is just over 200 kilometres.

Weare Logging’s area of operations covers about a 150 kilometre radius of Caledonia. The return trip to the Northern Pulp mill at Pictou is nine to twelve hours.

The long trucking distance led Weare’s to invest in B-Trains, which get a significantly better payload.

Hardwood from private woodlot operations is supplied to firewood operations in Berwick in Annapolis Valley and another operation in Liverpool, on the South Shore. Distance to both firewood operations is about the same from Caledonia.

Chris related that Nova Scotia had lost a good deal of equipment operators and mechanics to the western oil patch over the past number of years. While he realized that a number of his operators had followed

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 34

eastcoastlogging from page 32 provides a lot of flexibility for the operation. The balance of the operators have a high competence with just one machine.

Operators and drivers work a ten-hour day shift and they are all on hourly pay. Weare Logging maintains a fleet of nearly a dozen Ford pickup trucks for operator use, to commute to job sites.

Their harvesting and forwarding machines are equipped with FPDAT technology. Northern Pulp provides cut block maps for the FPDAT by data stick. “Our operators really like the FPDAT because they can continually see exactly where they are on their cutblock,” explained Chris.

The FPDat also provides detailed data and analysis of machine function and productivity.

While Northern Pulp provides maps, the operation requires additional layout information including marking wetland/ watercourse buffers, boundaries and the like. The layout work is contracted to

34

forester Max Crouse, who also handles layout on private woodlot operations.

Crouse also lays out roads that have to be constructed and cruises private woodlot stumpage blocks. Chris said Crouse brings a high degree of talent and professionalism to the operation.

While Chris shares high praise for the dedication and skill of his operators, he also talked about the one position that has historically been hard to fill.

“It seems we can quite readily find operators and drivers and good practical

mechanics to work in the shop, but we had a real hard time finding a licensed (transport) mechanic for the shop,” he says.

“We need a licensed mechanic to sign off on safety inspections and warranty work.

We searched for a qualified mechanic, but never had much success, so I investigated what additional training would be required to upgrade one of our current mechanics. Through that exercise, I discovered that anyone could challenge the testing.

“I had worked on machines and trucks all my life, so I decided that I would challenge the test, and as a result I gained my red seal certification, so I now spend a good deal of time in the shop.”

With 30 employees and lots of gear, Chris certainly has lots to occupy his work day and lots of nights, no doubt. But regardless of the responsibilities, Chris sees a positive future and enjoys all those challenges, keeping the wood moving, and his clients well served.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

millupgrade

Bouncing back Alberta’s Spray Lake Sawmills has bounced back from the economic downturn, and is even stronger now thanks to consistent mill improvements—and it is looking to grow its treated wood program.

By Tony Kryzanowski

T

he town of Cochrane, Alberta has grown a lot from being the quiet suburb on the western edge of Calgary, where Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) calls home. And the sawmill has grown along with the town, having recently invested in a significant upgrade to its planer mill and a new line of sienna-colored, treated wood products.

Owned by forest industry veteran Barry Mjolsness, the 73-year-old business has prospered by aiming for 100 per cent wood utilization, focusing on value-added markets by manufacturing high volumes of treated wood products, and supplying primarily the western Canadian market.

“This operation is set up quite a bit differently from most other sawmills, gearing towards higher value-added and quality products versus aiming for commodity

markets,” says Arnold Fiselier, SLS senior vice-president and Chief Operating Officer. Fiselier joined the company four years ago, bringing 25 years of industry experience with him.

On the solid wood side, about half of the company’s production is treated wood products for the agriculture, permanent wood foundation, decking and fence market, which complements its commodity dimension lumber sales. It also markets wood chips, peeled and treated fence posts, cattle bedding, and operates a successful division called Top Spray. All of the company’s byproducts and residuals are marketed through Top Spray. It uses a fleet of blower trucks to apply bark mulches and soil blends.

Nothing goes to waste at SLS, and that is reflected at both the sawmill and in their log harvest where, unlike many other sawmills in the province, they do no slash pile burning. Instead, their three main logging contractors process at the stump and leave branches in the cutblock to help promote natural regeneration, which complements their reforestation efforts.

One other unique aspect to the business is that logs processed at the stump are skidded tree length to roadside for delivery to the mill. That’s because the company operates a highly selective log merchandizing line at the front end

Logging and Sawmilling Journal would like to thank the Tigercat crew (above) who built a wooden bridge to our exhibit area. Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017 36

millupgrade

Unlike many other sawmills in Canada, Alberta’s Spray Lake Sawmills has focused primarily on the value-added markets, with about half of its product outturn being treated wood products.

of their sawmill to ensure that the right diameter and quality log proceeds down the correct processing path on their three breakdown lines.

With the logs arriving tree length, that gives the sawmill more control and options to capture maximum potential value and recovery from each log. SLS can produce lumber in dimensions anywhere from 1” x 4” to 6” x 6”, up to 16’ long.

“Our mill is set up for cutting specialty wood products,” says Fiselier. “We poured a whole bunch of capital into our front end a while back, so we really have optimized scanning capabilities to find solutions based on value right from the cutoff saws.”

Front end merchandizing decisions are driven by the company’s product lines, particularly from their treated wood division, where demand for certain wood products like decking, fencing and fence posts are quite seasonal. The production schedule is set from a weekly sales meeting that compares market demand for certain products against existing inventory.

Tree length spruce and pine logs first encounter Perceptron true shape optimizing scanners at the sawmill infeed, and then proceed to the cutoff saws. Working in a booth looking down on the mill infeed, an operator processes logs in lengths anywhere from 8’ to 16’, based on the scanners’ solution.

“Based on the values we have put into the optimizer, the scanners will look for a certain diameter and instruct the cutoff saw to cut it to a certain length. It will have calculated, for example, that if the log is cut to a ten foot piece, it will for sure make a six by six and some two by six with some sideboards,” says Fiselier.

After the cutoff saws, each log is debarked either through a VKB 17” debarker for smaller diameter logs or a Nicholson 27” debarker for larger diameter logs.

They are then sorted for processing down one of three breakdown lines. These are

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 38

37

millupgrade from page 37 a HewSaw 200 line for smaller diameter logs, an Optimil Canter line for midsize logs, and a Forano headrig line for oversized logs. Before they enter the Optimil line, which processes about 90 per cent of the mill’s log volume, each log is scanned again with Perceptron scanning to verify the solution designed for it by the infeed merchandizing line scanners.

Speaking of this two-step optimization scanning process, Fiselier says, “it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty good”.

“As long as they are in sync and the values somewhat match, the system will drive for higher value products and then work down to high recovery to ensure that we are still recovering as much as we can from each individual log.”

The sawmill accepts logs down to a 4.5” top. Smaller diameter logs that will yield little lumber value are diverted to the treated fence post line.

After the debarkers, logs are sorted into one of five bins. Three supply the Optimil line, which will process up to a 17” diameter log. One bin supplies smaller diameter logs that will yield at least a couple of two by fours to the HewSaw line, and the final bin contains logs over 17” diameter, for processing through the headrig line. The sawmill produces a lot of special order cuts on this line, such as large timbers up to 8” x 8” and odd sizes like 3” x 10” lumber.

Logs processed through the Optimil line first encounter Key Knife bottom, top and side cutting heads. The cant continues through a horizontal quad arbor edger (HQAE), which cuts the sideboards.

Two Perceptron optimizing scanners program the cutoff saws at the Spray Lake Sawmills infeed to maximize both value and volume recovery from each log.

They are diverted and processed through a Cantech board edger. The cant’s final cut occurs through a 10” Optimil vertical double arbor edger (VDAE), which comes equipped with a shifting arbor.

“The VDAE shifting arbor allows us to produce timber products in line along with our dimensional lumber products,” says Fiselier.

The lumber and timbers from all three processing lines proceed through a USNR optimized trimmer line, then into a 48 bin J-bar sorter, and finally into a Newnes stacker and stick placer. The green lumber

is then dried in either a newer Wellons dry kiln or older Moore dry kiln.

To complement the high level of process control in the sawmill, SLS installed a new Comact GradExpert computer-based, lumber grading system in its planer mill, in 2014.

“We have seen gains around grade outturns, decreased trim, and overall productivity,” says Fiselier. “This was a very successful project for us, and has

to page 40

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millupgrade

A new Comact GradExpert computer-based lumber grading system was installed at Spray Lake Sawmills in 2014, resulting in considerable product uplift and the ability to reduce the workload at the planer mill from 88 hours to 60 hours per week, to keep up with the sawmill. from page 38 effectively improved our processing and made us stronger.”

The refurbished planer mill can now operate on a 60 hour work week versus an 88 hour work week, to keep up with sawmill production.

After the planer mill, about half the lumber produced is processed through the on-site treatment plant.

“Part of our business model is to actually grow our treating program,” says Fiselier.

SLS was the first supplier of sienna-colored treated lumber in Western Canada,

40

launching the product in 2012. Since then, it has steadily grown that market.

Fiselier adds that striving for excellence in all aspects of the business and a “never give up” attitude has served the business well. Most noticeably, the diversity of the business made a big difference to help the company survive the general industry downturn precipitated by the American housing crisis in 2008.

While SLS currently produces about 124 million board feet of lumber annually on a two-shift basis, it was forced to reduce production and only operate on a one-shift basis through the downturn.

However, as markets improved, SLS was able to return to two shifts in 2013. Overall, current production is more than they were producing before the downturn in 2008.

Returning to two shifts has meant a lot to the town of Cochrane, especially with the oil and gas sector having suffered a major setback over the past few years.

SLS is the town’s largest private sector employer, providing 300 direct jobs, “The downturn actually had a positive and negative impact on us,” says Fiselier.

“On the positive side, we had a fairly high turnover rate three years ago, but since the downturn, we’ve had some well qualified people join us. On the negative side, we have seen some softness in our Top Spray product lines, particularly in northern Alberta.”

Wood supply will present a challenge to the business in the coming years. The Alberta government has placed a moratorium on logging as well as any expansion to oil and gas activity in what is known as the Castle area of the company’s logging quota area north of Waterton Lakes National Park. SLS is in discussions with the province on what impact that moratorium might have on their log supply.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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forestryworkplace

GETTING READY FOR LEGAL POT

The imminent legalization of marijuana—which could happen as early as 2017—provides a good reason for forest companies of all sizes to prepare themselves with at least a well-defined and communicated substance abuse policy.

By Tony Kryzanowski

L

ike it or not, changes in the law will force the Canadian forest industry to consider how the proposed legalization of marijuana, also known as cannabis, could impact industry productivity as a whole, and one-on-one relationships with employees in particular.

That’s because the Canadian government intends to introduce legislation in

the spring of 2017 to legalize this currently prohibited drug. It has appointed a task force called the Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation to advise the government on how best to proceed with legalization.

Experts have concluded that there are adverse effects to marijuana use generally. It can impair cognitive functions, particularly in people under the age of 25, and also manifest itself in symptoms

like anxiety and paranoia. Some users also develop a dependency to the drug.

However, it has achieved a certain level of ‘normalization’ in Canadian society.

For example, there are currently 14 marijuana and paraphernalia retailers operating in the City of Victoria alone, despite the drug being illegal, except for certain

Whether it's in the sawmill or the bush, employee impairment of any kind from drugs, alcohol, or fatigue is a primary concern within the forest sector because of dangerous working conditions involving the operation of high-speed and heavy equipment.

42

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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forestryworkplace from page 42 circumstances of prescribed medical use.

There are an estimated unlicenced 54 marijuana dispensaries doing business in Vancouver.

So why is the government moving forward with legalization? According to experts like Dr. Scott Macdonald, assistant director of the Centre for Addictions Research for B.C. and also a professor at the School of Health Information Science at the University of Victoria, in addition to the drug having achieved a certain level of ‘normalization’ within Canadian society, legal consequences like having a criminal record for marijuana use and possession are not working as a deterrent.

Macdonald says a total of 57,000 Canadians were convicted of marijuana possession in 2015 alone.

While decriminalization would represent an intermediate step where offenders would be fined instead of facing a criminal record, Macdonald says this step would still involve attempting to control marijuana use and proliferation through the justice system, which has already proven ineffective.

He says what legalization will permit is a greater level of control, a new income stream for the government with some funds dedicated to public health to help individuals manage the consequences of marijuana use, as well as funding for public education programs related to how marijuana used can impact an individual’s health. This consumer awareness initiative is not occurring through attempting to use the legal system as a control method.

It goes without saying that employee impairment of any kind, whether from drugs, alcohol, or fatigue is a primary concern within the forest sector because of dangerous working conditions involving the operation of high-speed and heavy equipment, as well as logging trucks, either in the mill or in the forest. In forestry, workers can get hurt in a hurry, sometimes threatening both life and limb of the individual and those around them.

“Cannabis has become so normalized 44

and so common that I don’t think there is going to be a great, immediate impact in terms of the workplace,” says Dr. Macdonald.

However, like alcohol, he says that marijuana use on-the-job should not be tolerated, although, there are issues that companies need to address. For example, will marijuana use be permitted at company functions where alcohol is being consumed?

An investigation conducted by the Logging and Sawmilling Journal discovered

that unlike the oil and gas sector, which has sent a letter of concern to the Task Force, there does not seem to be that same level of concern among associations representing the forest sector.

Conversely, an oil patch safety organization called Enform, which is funded by industry groups that includes the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, has sent a letter to the Task Force stating in no uncertain terms that, “there can be no doubt that marijuana use is incompatible with working in a safety-sensitive workplace.”

One forestry organization that is working at the forefront of this issue is the BC Forest Safety Council. In June 2015, the council released a document entitled, “Alcohol and Drugs: Canadian Policy Development,” with research conducted by the consulting firm, Barbara Butler and Associates. The document is highly instructive as it provides information about current trends in alcohol and drug use, as well as issues to consider when developing a substance abuse policy.

Making reference to the Canadian

Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey conducted in 2013, the document points out that alcohol is by far the most prevalent substance used by Canadians, with nearly 76 per cent of Canadian adults reported as being ‘current drinkers.’

“Marijuana continues to be the illicit drug of choice,” the report says. “Some 10.6 per cent of Canadians report being current marijuana users. 48.6 per cent of those age 15-24 report being current users, as do eight per cent of those 25 plus.

Reported current cannabis use in B.C. is the highest in Canada, at 13.3 per cent and reported use of any drug was highest at 13.7 per cent.”

There are many good reasons for forest companies of all sizes to prepare themselves for the imminent legalization of marijuana with at least a well-defined and communicated substance abuse policy.

For example, some researchers have pointed out that if companies ignore the potential of alcohol or drug use occurring on the job, as well as employees who obviously display impairment, they can become enablers. In other words, if the boss says nothing, then employees begin to believe that the practice is okay, which can lead to more employees taking up the practice, greater potential for impairment, and greater company liability by not providing a safe work environment. Legally speaking, the Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed that a company is required to provide a safe work environment.

While the Canadian government seems eager to legalize marijuana, unlike other countries like the United States, which requires pre-employment and random drug testing for such occupations as truck and bus drivers, the Canadian government has left it up to the courts, through a patchwork of legal decisions, to define the boundaries of a company’s right to conduct drug testing. Some Canadian industries, with cross-border business dealings, have simply adopted the American standard in their Canadian operations.

Although the oil and gas industry has

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 46

forestryworkplace from page 44 been an industry leader in terms of introducing mandatory drug testing as part of their relations with employees, ironically, it was a Supreme Court decision involving forestry giant Irving Pulp and Paper which determined that employers do not need ‘proof’ of a problem before taking proactive steps, including testing, under certain circumstances. However, the Supreme Court has gone on to require a “bona fide occupational requirement” for companies to introduce a comprehensive drug and alcohol program that includes testing.

Since the Exxon Valdez oil spill incident in the late 1980’s, where the ship’s captain was found to be impaired by alcohol, the oil and gas sector has been a leader in establishing comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention programs, including random testing. What’s interesting is that recently these policies have also extended to contract workers, which if copied by forest

companies, could also be extended as a contract requirement for its logging and log haul contractors.

One key finding in the BC Forest Safety Council report is that alcohol and drug testing on its own is no magic bullet to discover and manage issues of alcohol and drug use in the workplace. Dr. Macdonald

daily and then they stop, they could still test positive for another three weeks after that,” says Macdonald.

So what’s to be done if an employer suspects that an employee may be using marijuana on the job? Rather than relying on random drug testing, Dr. Macdonald says it’s better to find the smoking gun— in this case, the smoking toke.

Actual discovery of physical evidence leaves nothing to chance. Another good reason to have a clearly defined substance abuse policy and protocol, such as the requirement to submit to a blood test on demand as a condition of continued employment, is to allow a company to take action should they develop a suspicion of marijuana impairment. One example is the telltale smell of marijuana smoke coming from an employee. They could have policies in place to require immediate submission to a blood test, which is considered the most reliable form of impairment detection, if this occurs. However, legally speaking and to be fair, that door swings both ways, where an accused employee could request an immediate blood test to prove that they are not impaired at work, if they feel they have been unfairly terminated.

The best business reaction to the imminent legalization of marijuana is to adapt current policies related to alcohol use on the job to include marijuana. A substance abuse policy should clearly state the consequences of substance abuse at work or showing up to work impaired, including clear steps with supervisors trained in what to do if they suspect a problem, as well as a comprehensive and well-communicated prevention program to minimize the potential of this issue becoming a problem in the first place.

Forest companies wanting to prepare themselves for the legalization of marijuana, should consider the BC Forest Safety Council as a good resource.

It has prepared a video entitled, “How to Implement a Workplace Alcohol and Drug Program,” available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=sFHd7OZE8SU. The council has also provided a written, step-by-step document that companies can follow to introduce a Workplace Alcohol and Drug Program. It is available on the Council’s website at www.bcforestsafe.org, under their ‘Resources’ tab.

A substance abuse policy should clearly state the consequences of substance abuse at work or showing up to work impaired, including clear steps, with supervisors trained in what to do if they suspect a problem.

46

agrees with this conclusion. In fact, he is no great proponent of pre-employment or random drug testing. He says that all drug testing shows is what the person being tested has used recently, whether alcohol, marijuana or any other drug. It does not prove impairment on the job.

“If a heavy (marijuana) user has used

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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Ontariologging

BUILDING BUSINESS— and a safe workplace

Ontario logger John Fleming has won two health and safety awards, and has found that in addition to helping build a safe workplace, the awards have helped build his business.

By Meg Parker

T

his past September was significant for Fleming’s Trucking and Logging: the Ontario company was on the receiving end of two awards from health and safety association Workplace Safety North (WSN) in its forestry and small business categories.

The WSN President’s Award recognizes the top health and safety performers in Ontario’s mining, forestry, paper, printing, and converting sectors, as well as small businesses in northern Ontario, based on safety performance over the past two calendar years.

Based out of St. Joseph Island near

Sault Ste. Marie in northern Ontario, John Fleming is a long-time logger who has seven employees, including his wife, Melissa Fleming, as office manager, and his fatherin-law, Bryon Hall, as safety coordinator.

“I’m a fourth generation logger, and my dad has been logging about 60 years. I’ve been working with him since I was old enough to ride in the truck,” says Fleming, who is vice-president of the company.

“My dad is 76 now and still working with us every day.”

Over the decades, they have gone from using horses to the latest mechanical harvesting equipment, and now have a cut-to-length system that Fleming says is working really well for them in Ontario’s

hardwoods. The majority of their wood is maple, beech, oak, and birch.

As a small business owner, Fleming admits it’s hard to find the time to do everything. But he considers health and safety to be a solid business investment. “If you’re going to be in business, sometimes you have to invest in different things,” he explains. “I invest in lots of machinery and the last thing I want to do is have somebody come in and shut me down. I decided to hire somebody on a part-time basis to handle safety because I wanted to make sure, when the Ministry

John Fleming (right, in front of logs) with employees and part of the equipment they use in their cut-to-length operation in Ontario hardwoods.

48

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 50

Ontariologging from page 48 of Labour comes to visit, that our health and safety program, including paperwork and training, is up to date.”

Fleming hired his father-in-law as health and safety coordinator. “I chalk it up as an expense, but when people show up and they want to investigate, want to visit, well my door is open. I don’t have to worry about anything.

“If they have any questions, we answer them, and it’s a good visit vs. everybody being on edge because this may be not right or that may be not right. So that’s the way I see it. It’s an investment that’s well worth it because we don’t get shut down, everything’s good and safe.” And importantly, his employees are safe.

A variety of sophisticated harvesting equipment means Fleming’s Trucking and Logging can cut and process wood on site.

Logs are stacked at the side of the road for pick-up by trucks. “It’s nice and neat,” says Fleming. “It’s good for the bush.” With the skidders they used to work with, there was the potential for damage to second growth.

“Now, with cut-to-length, everything gets cut short: eight foot, ten foot, twelve foot.

We load them on to the forwarder and bring them out to the road, so there’s less damage to the remaining trees.”

Fleming is proud of his crew: two men on harvesters, one man on a forwarder,

Equipment on the move (above) for Fleming’s Trucking and Logging. As one of the largest contractors in Ontario for J.M. Longyear, the majority of Fleming’s Trucking and Logging wood goes to Michigan sawmills. another building roads, while he hauls wood in his truck.

“I strive to have newer equipment,” he says. “It just makes everything better. The operators want to go to work when they have new equipment to work with. So we really strive to keep good equipment.”

The equipment line-up includes a John Deere 853M feller buncher, a John Deere 250G LC excavator, and a TimberPro TF 840C forwarder.

“This year, we had the new buncher on hand, the John Deere 853M, and in

John Fleming says he strives to have newer equipment for his operators. This past fall, they took delivery of a new 24-ton forwarder, a Timber Pro TF840C, and they also have two cut-to-length harvesters, a Timber Pro TL725B and a TN725B. Both are equipped with Rolly II harvester heads, from Risley.

50

October, we took delivery of a new 24-ton forwarder, a Timber Pro TF840C,” says Fleming. “We also have two cut-to-length harvesters, a Timber Pro TL725B and a TN725B. Both have Rolly II harvester heads on them from Risley.

“Last year, I bought a shovel, so now we have a road crew going steady. We bought a John Deere 250G LC road shovel, and we’ve got a D6R for bulldozing.

“It’s going well,” he says. “We’re working in little areas, picking up little parcels here and there, putting in roads and hauling gravel. We’ve changed our operation a little bit, but the bush operation is still working to its full capacity.” And the operation has its own truck and float, so when they need it to haul wood, it hauls wood, and it’s also available to move equipment.

“We’re hot loading three loads a day,” he explains, “and the rest of the loads we’re having self-loading trucks pick up.

A little under half the wood doesn’t touch the ground, it goes off the forwarder on to the trailer.”

Two of Fleming’s employees recently attended supervisor training. “Our guys have really taken hold of the training. We sent two guys to the supervisor training in the spring. That worked well. They’re proud of what we’re doing.”

The training encourages staff to continually scan for any issues. “It’s not that you get a certificate at the end. It’s the end result: it’s a better workplace to be in, for one thing, because everybody’s thinking about safety. We’re looking for things that are unsafe, and changing it—it’s a constant thing.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

to page 52

Ontariologging from page 50 As their operations change and grow, Fleming says, “little things come up” and his staff’s mindset is to fix it before an outside auditor can point it out.

“The guys are looking at things the way an outsider might, like when our health and safety association rep or the Ministry of Labour comes to do an audit or visit. They’re trying to get ahead of them—so we’re on top of that before they can point it out.

That’s the kind of thing the guys are focused on—and around the machines, they’re like, ‘We should fix this before we have issues’ ‘Yeah, let’s get it done’ So, it’s great.”

Last year, when Fleming took the time to travel to North Bay to accept the WSN awards, he missed the annual area contractors meeting in Sault Ste. Marie.

“There were 30 to 40 guys there—loggers, truckers, and operators— everybody was there. As soon as we got back from North Bay, I dropped off my family and went directly up there. I was just getting in at the end of the meeting, but I flipped our awards out on the tailgate and said, ‘Here, look what we got.’

“So everybody had a look at them.

The other contractors didn’t even know that you could get awards. I said, ‘Yeah, you do the right things and get everything in place, and they come and check you out—you can get them, too.’ Anyway, it’s kind of a show-off thing,” he laughs, “but my guys were all there, my crew. So that was the first time they got to take a look at them, and actually hold on to something that was awarded to them—so, here, look at it, show it off. It worked out well.”

With the publicity from the awards, the Flemings received an unexpected call from people who had recently moved to the area from Windsor and had read an online article about Fleming’s business.

“I had a call to meet with some land-

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The Workplace Safety North President’s Award that Fleming’s Trucking and Logging owner John Fleming and his crew received recognizes the top health and safety performers in Ontario’s mining, forestry, paper, printing, and converting sectors, based on safety performance. owners who wanted 100 acres looked at.

Right out of the blue—it blew me out of the water. They said, ‘Oh yeah, we know a little bit about you.’ I said, ‘Well, how do you know me?’ They said, ‘Well, we were on the Internet and we saw some pictures of you receiving the awards.’ That kind of surprised me. So it’s great that people can get on the Internet and type in our business and that’s what comes up, you know: good news things.”

Fleming encourages other businesses to participate in their regional health and safety awards. “I think as an employer it’s a good idea to participate. Then there is something to show for it. In our eyes, it’s a big thing.

“When you’ve cut wood all your life, it’s nice to be rewarded, to have something to show for it. You try to build and build your business, and at the end of the day, you sit at home and there’s something there that says, ‘Yeah, you did a good job,’ and it makes you feel good.”

As one of the largest contractors in

Ontario for J.M. Longyear, the majority of Fleming’s Trucking and Logging wood goes to Michigan sawmills. They also feed some softwood to local mills, and ship some wood to Quebec, including cedar shingles.

The majority of their hardwood goes to a mill in the U.S., which uses it for products such as butcher blocks, gym flooring, pallet stock, cupboards, and cabinets.

Winning an award makes life easier, according to Fleming, because it helps to build in business owners the confidence that they’re doing all the right things to make their workplace safer.

“People should be trying to do better and trying to get in on it because it makes your life easier, too. If you have something to show for it, you can tell people like Mike Lemay, the Workplace Safety North Health and Safety Specialist, or the Ministry of Labour, ‘Yeah, look what we did.

We succeeded at this.’ It shows them, and they have confidence in us, that we’re doing the right thing. So it definitely could help others.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

December/January 2017

The Edge Work underway on improving fir drying schedules

F

orest pests have left a significant burden to Canadian forests over the last few decades. The mountain pine beetle infestation that took place in Western Canada is a good example of the major impact this kind of devastation can have on harvesting processes and use of some wood species. Now that the worst is behind us, the forest sector faces challenges of a completely different nature.

The beetle devastation caused significant changes to the characteristics of the fibre, which forced sawmilling companies to adapt to the very high proportion of pine harvested in B.C. and Alberta. However, the situation is now reversing and sub-alpine fir now occupies a more important place in the mix of species being sent to kiln drying. Therefore, because of the very different drying characteristics of fir compared to other SPF species, FPInnovations’ Drying and Energy Group has undertaken a national initiative aimed at helping member sawmills adapt their drying schedules to this new situation.

While more appropriate programs are being developed to improve energy efficiency while optimizing lower-grade recovery, the presence of wet pockets in wood represents another issue that needs to be evaluated. Sub-alpine fir is notorious for containing wet pockets that significantly extend drying times and make it difficult to create a uniformly dried end product. Consequently, significant volume of sub-alpine fir lumber is still wet at the end of the drying process, resulting in substantial financial losses due to downgrade.

Green sorting represents an interesting solution towards drying efficiency and the research group is working at finding technological solutions to improve green

sorting that could be implemented by sawmills.

Due to the similarities between subalpine and balsam fir, results from the initiative will also be applied to Eastern Canada. While some regions face an outbreak of emerald ash borer, more appropriate drying programs for balsam fir could help the industry be in a better position to face upcoming challenges. A

good deal of work remains to be done and the group continues its efforts to better serve its members.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

For any questions or to learn more about the initiative, please contact Luiz Oliveira, Research Leader of FPInnovations’ Drying & Energy group, at luiz. oliveira@fpinnovations.ca.

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The Edge

Improving log truck fleet optimization

O

ver the years, transport regulations have evolved as industry and government try to improve the safety and productivity of log hauling operations. Implementing some of these changes can result in productivity increases and reduce log transport costs.

For example, finding the right trucks for a particular operation can yield significant reductions in transport costs, while optimizing truck and trailer tare weights will result in larger payloads.

FPInnovations has initiated a study aimed at conducting an in-depth review of trucking operations, and looking for opportunities that will improve efficiency and reduce costs. This service is offered as part of the Transport and Energy group’s ongoing program, and the cost to a participating company may be partially or fully covered, depending on the depth of the diagnostic.

The participating company will be asked to provide FPInnovations with its trucking fleet’s historical load data, where available. Payload and tare weight analyses will be done by configuration to determine payload size, average tare weights, and if the trucks are reaching full payload capacity. The analyses will also compare different configurations within the fleet, and examine whether configurations for hauling tree-length or cut-to-length logs are the most efficient for that operation.

After the load data analysis is completed, FPInnovations will visit the company’s operations over two to three days to collect information on its log hauling operations. Focus areas include the make-up of

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the existing fleet, fuel efficiency, highway and off-highway hauls, load size, and tare and payload weights. Over the course of the visit, logging operations and sort yards will be visited, and informal discussions will be conducted with drivers, company personnel, contractors, and truck and trailer dealerships. These discussions will be focussed on gaining a better understanding of the operations and discussing potential options that arise during the course of the project.

Upon the project’s completion, a

report will be presented containing the findings of the project, along with recommendations for implementation. This report will contain the details and costs for all of the suggested changes. In addition to the report, a meeting with company personnel and contractors can be held to discuss the results and how FPInnovations can assist with implementation.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

For more information, please contact Rob Jokai, Principal Technologist in FPInnovations’ Transport and Energy group, at rob.jokai@fpinnovations.ca.

The Edge

Autonomous vehicles exploring new opportunities for mill yards

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echnologies that will allow vehicles to run without drivers are within reach and some examples of autonomous vehicles are already being developed. Level 4 and 5 autonomous vehicles (based on a scale ranging from 1 to 5, where 5 means complete automation) are expected to be on the roads by 2030.

In recent years, many industries have invested in technologies to automate their machines and processes, and FPInnovations foresees a strong potential for the use of autonomous vehicles in the forest sector.

One goal for autonomous vehicles is for them to perform monotonous tasks so that people can focus on more important tasks at hand. With that in mind, FPInnovations’ Transport and Energy group has initiated a project to evaluate various applications, including their use in mill yards. A possible configuration could take the form of a cab-free, remotely-operated motorized platform equipped with security devices such as proximity detection and alert technology (PDAT) systems. An example of such a platform, adapted for

use in harbour operations, is already being offered by Terex Port Solutions.

The use of autonomous vehicles in mill yards could offer numerous advantages, including optimization of transportation logistics within the mill yard, elimination of duplicate equipment, reduced labour costs, and increased worker safety. The project, now at the business plan development stage, could also include the testing of anti-collision and anti-roll systems.

Some member companies have already expressed interest in participating in the development of the vehicle, and the creation of a consortium is a possibility.

A prototype for the mill yard is expected to be available within two to three years, and wider applications for the forest sector could follow.

The deployment of such technologies in the forest sector will require consideration of the distinctive features related to wood transportation, as well as the various regulatory aspects. However, automated vehicles present a viable future for the forest industry to address safety, productivity, and staffing issues.

For more information on this project, please contact Dimitri Markou, Researcher in FPInnovations’ Transport and Energy group, at dimitri.markou@ fpinnovations.ca.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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The Edge

CWFC launches knowledge transfer and demo events aimed at developing wood biomass supply chains

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI

T

he Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) recently hosted the first in a series of knowledge transfer and active demonstration events aimed at highlighting wood biomass opportunities and product options. The event succeeded in reaching key players who will take what CWFC has accumulated through years of research into actual operational applications.

Held in Drayton Valley, Alberta, CWFC representatives provided attendees with examples of potential wood biomass sources, recovery options, handling and transportation strategies, potential commercial product options, as well as information about decision support tools available through CWFC. These are designed to help anyone from biomass producers to investors to bio-product manufacturers with the support they need to make informed business decisions.

They include BIMAT, which is an online query tool to locate sustainable sources of available biomass anywhere in Canada, and the Biomass Value Simulator, which can be used to model the input and output costs of various sources of woody biomass to manufacture an end product based on actual supply chain case studies and research conducted by CWFC. “The value of an event like this is to provide participants with a better understanding of the whole system and all the important components along the supply chain that are necessary to develop a successful industry,” says CWFC Regional Co-ordinator and Program Manager, Derek Sidders.

“It was really important because we had representation from different components of the industry,” he adds. “We had final users, biomass recovery service suppliers, land managers, and researchers who are doing the developmental work across Canada.”

The goal was not only to share information about technologies that can be adapted for biomass production, recovery, handling, transportation and processing, but also cost-effective ways to apply these technologies at an operational level.

CWFC shared examples of biomass harvesting, provided information related to the economics of transporting and storing large volumes of wood biomass, pre-processing the raw material to ensure that it is consistent and has the proper characteristics to produce quality end products, and the various bio-energy and bio-product options available from wood biomass as the feedstock.

Complementing this knowledge exchange were presentations and demonstrations given by representatives from FireSmart, an Alberta government-funded fire mitigation system that generates considerable woody biomass; a demonstration of the Gyro-Trac woody biomass harvesting and compact baling system being used commercially by an Alberta-based business called Hedgco Environmental; and a description of the technology used

by Edmonton, Alberta-based, Innovative Reduction Strategies Inc. (IRSI), to convert woody biomass into bio-char.

FireSmart representatives said that fire mitigation, through removing fuel around property, could begin to generate a lot more biomass in the not-too-distant future because there are indications that

The CWFC kicked off the first in a series of knowledge exchange and demo events in Drayton Valley, Alberta, recently, and it featured a demonstration of the GyroTrac wood harvester and baler.

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the insurance industry may require some property owners to meet certain fire mitigation standards before they qualify for insurance. However, what they have discovered is that using the mulching method to FireSmart a property is often not a good treatment method because it leaves the fuel in the forest. So in addition to sharing information about their program, FireSmart representatives were also interested in the Gyro-Trac harvesting and baling demonstration in Drayton Valley, because this technology can be used to both harvest and remove potential forest fire fuel as part of a FireSmart program.

CWFC Wood Fibre Development Specialist Tim Keddy said that because of recent advances in biomass harvesting and packaging technology, it is now possible to transport significantly higher volumes of biomass by truck. As part of its research related to various biomass harvesting methods, CWFC made an important discovery related to the shelf-life of biomass bales held in storage.

Since wood biomass is a biological product, end users have a concern about degradation while in storage. Through CWFC’s work studying the effectiveness of Gyro-Trac’s woody biomass bale compaction system, Keddy says they have discovered that bales produced using this system and held in storage for well over a year in less than ideal conditions did not degrade.

While more research is needed to confirm why degradation did not occur, Keddy says that it could be related to how tightly the bales are compacted, as this means that there is less oxygen within the bale to support micro-organisms that cause woody biomass degradation. This is an important discovery as it shows that bale compaction could impact the shelf-life of baled and stored woody biomass.

For more information about future events and CWFC’s research and tools related to biomass sources, recovery options, handling and transportation strategies, and potential commercial product options, contact Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@canada.ca or Tim Keddy at tim.keddy@canada.ca.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

The Edge

Alberta Innovates supports development of CNC-based biofilm to combat hospital-acquired infections including dentist and doctor offices.

“Alberta Innovates invests in research and innovation that utilizes our province’s ospitals may soon have a new renewable resources in the agriculture and bio-based weapon to fight the forest sectors,” says Steve Price, Acting transfer of harmful bacteria from Vice-President, Bio, at Alberta Innovates. one patient to another. Alberta researchers have developed a light-activated, “CNC from wood fibre has many excitanti-microbial biofilm containing cellulose ing applications,” Price added. “In the nanocrystals (CNC), an adcase of Dr. Heyne’s project, we vanced biomaterial that can see tremendous potential benbe extracted from wood fibre. efit for the health system and The CNC acts as the the well-being of Albertans, platform for molecules that along with the potential upside kill these bacteria, including for our forest sector.” those resistant to antibiotics.

Financial support from AlThe goal is to prevent berta Innovates to help commerthe spread of microbes and cialize the product and having minimize the occurrence of easy access to CNC produced at hospital-acquired infection an Alberta Innovates facility have by using this CNC-based been huge benefits to advancing bioproduct where all sorts of this research, says Dr. Heyne. harmful bacteria find a fertile Alberta is a global leader in growing environment. developing and refining the Hospital-acquired infecprocess of extracting CNC from University of Calgary researchers Dr. Belinda Heyne, Dr. Todd tion is becoming a serious wood fibre. Alberta Innovates Sutherland and Dr. David Press have developed a light-activated, problem world-wide as more operates a CNC pilot plant in microbe-killing, biofilm prototype that uses CNC as its platform. and more antibiotic-resistant Edmonton capable of producing bacteria surface, but because several kilograms of CNC per the bioproduct is light-activated, simply new and improved bioindustrial products day. It is one of only a few facilities in the turning the light on kills the bacteria and bioindustrial technologies. world able to manufacture this quantity growing there.

So far, U of C researchers have develof high-quality CNC. Alberta Innovates is This novel use of CNC represents the oped a prototype biofilm. The next three supplying CNC to many companies and potential for a significant boost to Alyears leading to commercialization will research organizations around the world berta’s forestry sector. include further research on more bacteto further their research and product CNC has many useful properties, rial strains to demonstrate and prove the development. including special optical characteristics biofilm’s effectiveness.

“If we didn’t have this local source of and a very large surface area at the nano“How the product works is a little bit CNC, we wouldn’t have been able to do scale, making it an ideal platform for like the Tom Cruise movie, ‘Minority our research,” says Dr. Heyne. housing bacteria-killing molecules.

Report’,” says Dr. Belinda Heyne, project Because CNC is a sustainable and Alberta Innovates provided a seed lead and an associate professor in the U of environmentally-friendly nanomaterial, it grant of $25,000 to help develop the C’s Chemistry Department. “It catches the is a safer platform to use for their formulaproduct at the University of Calgary (U of bad guy before they commit the crime. In tion of light-activated, bacteria-killing C). Alberta Innovates then contributed a this case, we are creating an environment molecules, she adds. Using CNC is also matching grant of $403,750 under its Alwhere bacteria cannot grow.” a cheaper alternative to non-renewable berta Bio Future research and innovation nanomaterials.

She describes this research as unique in funding program so that U of C researchthe world. Collaborating with her is departers could pursue development of a comment colleague, Dr. Todd Sutherland, with For more information about this mercial product within three years. further assistance from Dr. David Press. research project, contact Dr. Belinda The Alberta Bio Future (ABF) program Dr. Heyne describes the potential globHeyne at bjmheyne@ucalgary.ca, and was launched in March 2015. Its purpose al market for this bioproduct as massive, for more information about the Alberta is to expand a competitive, sustainable since it can be used in any hospital or Bio Futures funding program, contact and profitable bioindustrial sector through medical facility where transfer of bacteria Julia.Necheff@albertainnovates.ca. an integrated program with a strong infrom one patient to another is a concern,

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI

H

dustry focus. ABF also has been designed to encourage and support collaborations and partnerships between industry, the academic community, government departments and other funding agencies.

The ABF program focuses primarily on projects that add value to biomass in agriculture and forestry, and the creation of

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

59

SUPPLIERNEWSLINE Finning and T-Mar Industries sign partnership agreement

Finning Canada has become the exclusive dealer for T-Mar Industries Ltd.’s Log-Champ brand of swing yarders and cable assist systems in Western Canada.

This agreement expands Finning Canada’s forest product market offerings to include Log-Champ cable assist machines and swing yarders for steep slope harvesting. Finning says that customers will benefit from the convenience of one source for world-class forestry product support, service, parts and equipment. Steep slope harvesting in B.C. is expected to grow in the next 10 years, which could mean a significant increase in market opportunity for these products in the southern interior and coastal regions of B.C. These products represent years of development and testing in the centre of North American steep-slope logging country.

T-Mar’s Log-Champ traction assist vehicles and swing yarders have been built and developed in B.C. to the highest engineering specifications, says the company.

The Log-Champ swing yarders represent the first modernization of the machine in a generation. These machines, when operating in conjunction with a mechanical harvesting system, can substantially increase productivity over traditional hand-felled operations, according to T-Mar and Finning. www.finning.ca

By Tony Kryzanowski

New ECO-Tracks KovaX track suitable for all-around use

The newest track model in the ECO-Tracks family of tire tracks, KovaX, is a premium all around track.

Suitable for most ground conditions and machine configurations, KovaX features a double grouser and larger cleat for good traction as well as curved ends for increased flotation, less ground disturbance and easier machine turning. www.eco-tracks.com

Iggesund Forest launches tough Blue Line bar

Iggesund Forest has introduced Blue Line, which it describes as “the strongest bar ever produced due to a unique metal alloy and improved tempering techniques.”

Blue Line is more rigid yet flexible and the material reduces vibrations, reducing wear and providing straighter cuts. Blue Line has also increased the dimension of the lubrication holes for improved oil flow and better adaptability with grease lubrication.

Iggesund Forest has also launched an upgraded ¾” pitch saw bar. The R9 series features a stronger metal alloy in the bar and tip for increased lifetime and wear resistance. R9 comes standard with a wide tampered replaceable nose tip and many different bar mounts to suit many different harvesting heads. www.iggesundforest.com

Tigercat goes bigger with new 632E skidder

The new Tigercat 632E skidder is described by the company as the most powerful, productive four-wheel skidder ever built.

Several enhancements have been integrated into the new model.

The 632E is powered by the Tigercat FPT N67 engine which provides full emissions compliance for Tier 2 and Tier 4f along with excellent fuel economy, says the company.

The Tier 4f engine delivers 285 hp at 2200 rpm. The Tier 2 option delivers 288 hp at 2100 rpm.

The 632E can be equipped with the largest grapple offered on any four-wheel skidder on the market. The larger 23 sq ft option has a tip-to-tip opening of 152”. Complementing the higher horsepower and larger grapple, the hydraulic system and driveline have been extensively upgraded. Several components and structures have been upsized for improved durability.

The 632E uses a larger main hydraulic pump and valves to page 62 60

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

5-7 APRIL 2017 VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA

Vancouver Convention Centre - West

The Council of Forest Industries’ Annual Convention is the largest gathering of the forest sector in Western Canada.

From April 5-7, 2017, industry CEOs, executives, managers, suppliers, business and government leaders from across BC will gather to discuss key issues and opportunities in the BC forest industry today and in the future. This year, for the first time, the COFI Convention will take place in Vancouver, at one of the city’s most beautiful locations – the Vancouver Convention Centre West – with its stunning use of BC wood throughout the venue.

The theme for the 2017 Convention is FORESTRY FOR THE PLANET. FOREST PRODUCTS FOR THE WORLD. An overview of the program includes: •

Keynote sessions from government ministers

•

Economic outlook

•

An update on international markets

•

Innovation in the wood products industry

•

Community leaders’ panel

•

CEO panel

•

And more…

REGISTER NOW COFI.ORG Contact Diana Gillrie E gillrie@cofi.org T 778-760-1166

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

suppliernewsline from page 60 for faster operation and better multifunctioning. The hydraulic cylinders are larger allowing the machine to run pressures that are 10 per cent lower while increasing performance by 10 per cent on

average. Cylinder rod sizes have been increased by 25 per cent.

Load sensing control and a simplified steering circuit lead to more responsive and adjustable steering control. A newly enhanced EHS transmission produces 11 per cent more torque , with the same top speed as the previous generation of EHS transmissions. www.tigercat.com

Next generation Link-Belt excavator delivers

LBX Company now offers the Link-Belt 210 X4 excavator, featuring an electronically-controlled 160 hp Isuzu engine that meets EPA Final Tier 4 requirements, without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF) The mid-size 210 X4 is easy to transport and nimble enough to take on a variety of tasks, such as stockpiling overburden, trenching, road building and truck loading.

“The 210 X4 delivers up to nine per cent faster cycle times than its predecessor,” says Nori Kumagai, LBX Product Manager. “This performance increase is largely due to a new proprietary control valve with a 30 per cent larger hydraulic passage area.”

Link-Belt also increased the size of arm, boom and auxiliary spools to reduce pressure loss and distribute oil more smoothly. Two electrically-controlled Kawasaki variable-displacement axial-piston

USNR acquires Ventek

Mill equipment manufacturing company USNR has acquired the business of Ventek Inc, an industry leader in veneer scanning, grading, and handling systems for the plywood industry.

Based in Eugene, Oregon, Ventek has designed and built vision-based and moisture-based grading solutions for veneer since the company was founded in 1991. From the very start, Ventek developed a reputation for having some of the best technology in the industry, and for many years the company has been a go-to choice for veneer scanning and grading solutions. Building on its expertise in veneer scanning and grading, Ventek formed an internal group to design and build green and dry veneer handling systems. The group’s patented multi-point diverter has become the flagship product of Ventek’s veneer handling product catalog.

“Our customers on the lumber side of our business have long recognized the value of tightly integrated mechanical and optimization technology,” says Chris Blomquist, USNR’s senior vice-president for sales and engineering. “With the addition of Ventek’s veneer scanning, grading, and handling solutions to USNR’s lathe, dryer, and downstream product portfolio, we now have an opportunity to bring this integration benefit to our customers on the plywood side of our business as well.” www.usnr.com 62

pumps and one Kawasaki gear pump assure that hydraulic flow gets delivered precisely when and where it’s needed.

The end result is more smoothness, maneuverability and precision across all operating modes.

The 210 X4 delivers up to 12 per cent improved fuel economy than previous models, says the company. www.lbxco.com

New dealers in the West for ELTEC bunchers/carriers

Technologies Element has announced two new dealers—Woodland Equipment in B.C. and Motion Machinery in Alberta—for its Canadian-made, purpose built ELTEC feller bunchers and carriers.

Woodland has six branches strategically

located throughout B.C. and Alberta dealer Motion Machinery is headquartered in Edmonton's Winterburn industrial area.

The partnership of ELTEC and Woodland Equipment and Motion Machinery brings a family-owned equipment manufacturer with four generations of logging experience together with two equipment and service support providers with decades of experience servicing all makes and models of forestry equipment.

"ELTEC forestry carriers are built by loggers for loggers, and who knows Canadian forestry better than Canadians," says ELTEC representative, Karl Element.

Headquartered in Val D'Or, Quebec, and manufacturing forestry carriers for the past five years, ELTEC offers three sizes of tracked feller buncher/harvesters suited either as processor carriers or as feller bunchers, with a variety of boom and stick options available. Customers can also request installation of any attachment brand with the carrier.

Loggers will notice some important differences about ELTEC carriers right away, like the longer track with the nine roller option for greater stability, 8" more ground clearance, a 55" swing bearing, 100,000 lb tractive effort, 85,000 lb swing effort, powerful engine, highly responsive hydraulics, large operator cab, and easily accessible components for servicing.

B.C. ELTEC dealer Woodland Equipment is one of Western Canada’s leading equipment dealers, and has been serving the equipment needs of the construction and resource industries since 1980. Its dedicated and experienced staff is available to assist customers with new and used equipment purchases, and parts and service. Woodland Equipment also offers customers assistance with financing of their equipment purchases.

ELTEC has allied itself in Alberta with a well-respected dealer. Motion Machinery has built its business and reputation providing parts and service support for all makes and models of forestry equipment, construction equipment and highway trucks and trailers. www.technologieselement.com www.motionmachinery.com

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

DON’T MISS OUT, RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY! For more information about this premier event, please contact: MARK CUSACK National Show Manager • mcusack@mpltd.ca Toll-Free: 1.888.454.7469

Pre-Registration Coming Soon!

Stay tuned to our website & social media for updates: www.CNRE.ca

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

CARBOCARE SERVICE DIRECTOR NOMINATION We are proud to announce the nomination of Claude Laprise to the position of CarboCare Service Director. Mr. Laprise undertakes his new role beginning January 1, 2017.

As a graduate with various specialized degrees such as drawing, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic design, among others, he began his career with the multinational firm, Bose Inc. For the next 18 years, Claude was directly involved in project management coordination for both prototypes and large scale product distribution. With the Bose Corporation he played a direct role as liaison between engineering and client services on a technical level and in after-sales service for various projects and facilities. In the summer of 2003, Mr. Laprise decided to become co-owner of Cyme Tech, a company specializing in the design and manufacture of wood components, primarily for the acoustic and furniture industries.

For the past 2 years, Claude has been a member of the Carbotech project management team. With his deeply developed sense of customer service over the past 30 years coupled with his knowledge of Carbotech’s equipment specs and already having great relationships with most of our active clients, we believe he is the perfect candidate to oversee the new service department, CarboCare, which will include top-quality service before, during and after each sale.

We wish to offer Mr. Laprise our sincere congratulations for this nomination and wish him great success in his new position. We are confident that his commitment, fine-tuned knowledge of service issues as well as his strong expertise will all be tremendous assets in fulfilling his mandate in the continual improvement of CarboCare service. We promise to offer our full collaboration as he begins his new tasks with Carbotech.

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1-819-362-6317

INDEX DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017

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

FAX:___________________________

EMAIL:______________________________________________________________ WEBSITE:____________________________________________________________

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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thelastword

Dealing with beetles on steroids in British Columbia

By Jim Stirling

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his past fall, a gathering of forest experts in Prince George, B.C., examined circumstances surrounding the region’s latest significant spruce bark beetle outbreak. The infestation is gathering momentum in specific areas of north central B.C. and it’s a worry.

The participants in the meeting were drawn from the forest industry, ministry and academia. Many of them were people who have been around long enough to experience first-hand the devastating spruce bark beetle epidemic in the region in the 1980s. They were gathered to pass on their collective knowledge from that period to the industry and ministry people of beetle containment strategies this time around.

The big difference between then and now is the consistently warming forest environment. A major consequence of that is the beetles’ life cycles are now on steroids. The consistently warmer weather is creating a host of interdependent changes that combine to shorten the time taken for spruce beetles—and all the other species endemic to B.C.’s forests—to reach maturity. Their numbers are increasing exponentially as a result. As a speaker at the Prince George meeting put it: “By the time you start recognizing you have the spruce beetle (problem), they’re several generations into the outbreak.”

The consensus strategy about how to deal with the new reality seems to be a shift in management philosophy. You can’t continue managing the forest just for tree growth. What progressive foresters are trying to do when they’re permitted the luxury is to manage the ecosystem. The forests, not just the trees.

Take a look at the issue from another perspective. About 220 million tree seedlings are scheduled for planting in the interior of B.C. during 2017. Another 20 million could be planted in coastal B.C. The ballpark figures come from the usually reliable indicators of sowing requests received by the Western Silviculture Contractors’ Association.

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The association members are largely responsible for planting those seedlings on behalf of their client companies. Most of those seedlings in the interior will be lodgepole pine. Does that mean we’re on the way to creating another monoculture; one that creates a productive environment for beetle populations and other forest pests to proliferate? At the same time creating a scenario for the rapid spread of massive and disastrous wildfires on the scale we’re experiencing more frequently? Not necessarily. But the situation does help illustrate the complexities of Mother Nature’s reactions to a warmer, drier climate and the expectations and demands placed upon a shrinking industrial forest land base. The objective is to have these two realities working in concert—not opposition. The question is how.

Creating a new, responsive and independent management system for forest land appears a promising conversation starter.

There have been generally informal discussions about making adjustments within the existing appraisal system to recognize and compensate licencees for planting different species site specifically, and generally being more creative on the landscape. But such systems are vulnerable to short term changes. Strategic is the euphemism regularly employed.

Similarly, funding for a new forest land management system would need to be on a different basis than the present expediency inherent with a four-year political cycle. Trees take a long time to mature, even in a warming B.C. Interior. Their welfare should no longer be dependent upon the whim of a provincial government or viewed as a pot to plunder whenever it has the fiscal urge to do so. A long term approach and commitment to forest land management in all its guises would avoid that tendency.

And therein lies the underlying principle to any discussion about the future of

forests in B.C. The lion’s share of the province’s productive forests grow on Crown land and as such are owned by all the people of British Columbia. Maximizing a return to the public owners is paramount.

A return is not necessarily measured in the same way as the forest industry’s. Rather, it’s measured in terms of a resilient and sustainable landscape upon which growing and safeguarding trees is a motivating principle.

A reconstituted and financed forest service could be designed as a public trust to be the kind of independent vehicle required to drive forward the idea. The financing part is trickier, especially when independence and longevity are implicated issues. But there are always solutions.

Trees are a hard asset. It is especially true today. We’re in a world where greenhouse gas emission reductions are becoming economic drivers. Trees are becoming more marketable as carbon sinks—not just future lumber sales.

B.C.’s forest industry is fortunate to have working within it many gifted and dedicated people. They’re employed in forest companies, in governments, academia, NGO’s, consultancies and First Nations. And they’re questioning the status quo more frequently.

The present system cannot always produce the holistic landscape approach that many view as a route to more successful outcomes. It seems, from this quarter at least, that increasing numbers of these people get it. They understand a different approach is worthy of investigation. As well, they are recognizing changes influencing forest lands in B.C. can’t always be satisfactorily addressed by maintaining or tweaking the status quo. A radically changing forest landscape may well warrant, or even demand, a corresponding shift in longer term management response to best benefit its owners: the people of B.C.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - December/January 2017

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