Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

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May/June 2024

VALUE-ADDED UPGRADES

on Vancouver Island for Western Forest Products

FINDING MERCHANTABLE TIMBER in fire-damaged areas in British Columbia WITH THIS ISSUE...

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

PEACE RIVER LOGGING

successfully rolls with industry changes

ELMSDALE LUMBER

ready for its second century with major mill upgrade

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FEATURES May/June 2024 Volume 55 • No. 3 Editor Paul MacDonald Contributing Editors Jim Stirling, Tony Kryzanowski George Fullerton Tech Update Editor Tony Kryzanowski Publisher/CEO Anthony Robinson • (778) 991-3500 E-Mail: arobinson@forestnet.com Associate Publisher Hannah Robinson • (778) 688-9127 E-mail: hannah@forestnet.com Social Media: Kaitlin Davidson Digital Marketing: Hannah Robinson Email: hannah@forestnet.com Subscription Enquiries (778) 991-3500 Fax: (705) 434-9052 E-mail: SubscribeLSJ@forestnet.com Design & Art Production Manager Sheila Ringdahl E-mail: artwork@forestnet.com Accounting Manager Shelina Jessa • (604) 731-1535 E-mail: accounting@forestnet.com Office P.O. Box 86670 North Vancouver, BC V7L 4L2 Phone: (778) 991-3500 Website: www.forestnet.com Subscriptions: Canada $58 a year; two years $70; three years, $85. Group accounts, six or more subscriptions, $25 per subscription per year. Outside Canada, $95 per year.

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Published May/June 2024 “We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada” Logging & Sawmilling Journal is a member/associate member of the following industry organizations:

On the Cover: The Mercer Peace River (MPR) pulp mill in Alberta has taken a significant step toward reducing its overall generation of carbon emissions with a $75 million investment into a green-powered wood room, and switching away from in-block chipping.

On the cover, a massive diesel/electric hybrid Sennebogen 870E material handler feeds the new MPR wood room from a Peace River Transport truck. The trucking company is also owned by MPR. Read all about the new wood room beginning on page 20 of this issue (Photo courtesy of Mercer Peace River).

4 Spotlight: Finding

merchantable timber in fire-damaged areas in British Columbia

There sure is no shortage of fire-damaged wood in B.C. forests, following some record-breaking, and terrible, forest fire seasons. We look at what potential exists for salvaging merchantable timber in firedamaged areas, how logging contractors can best handle harvesting the wood, and the importance of harvesting it quickly.

8 Value-added on

Vancouver Island for Western Forest

Western Forest Products has completed significant upgrades at its Saltair sawmill operation on Vancouver Island, as part of a value-added initiative—and there is more to come for other company operations.

14 Elmsdale Lumber

ready for its second century

Nova Scotia’s Elmsdale Lumber has a rich history, reaching back more than a century, but the company continues to be focused on the future, and is now in the midst of a major upgrade.

20 Going green with new

wood room

The Mercer Peace River pulp mill in Alberta has invested $75 million to reactivate its wood room with a focus on greener processes, and it’s fed by a massive diesel/electric hybrid Sennebogen material handler.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

26

Finding the best thinning solution

Nova Scotia’s Jason Casey has given several equipment combo’s a go in the effort to find the best pre-commercial/semicommercial thinning solution.

32

Peace River Logging successfully rolls with industry changes

Rolling with industry changes, Alberta’s Peace River Logging has now successfully made the transition from in-block chipping to whole tree logging, revamping its equipment line-up along the way.

38

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

46 The Last Word

Jim Stirling talks about the development of the B.C. wood pellet industry, and John Swaan, a forest industry trail blazer, considered the godfather of the Canadian wood pellet industry.

DEPARTMENTS

Calendar...........................................7 Tech Update....................................40 Suppliernewsline............................42 Ad Index/Subscriptions..................45 Classifieds......................................45

3

spotlight

SPEEDING UP salvaging burned wood In response to criticism about slow permitting for burnt wood salvage, the B.C. government has finally responded—and mills are likely to take up any salvage at a time when the B.C. industry is facing a severe fibre shortage.

By Tony Kryzanowski iven the number of complaints of a slow response from the B.C. Ministry of Forests to green lighting permitting of salvage operations in burn areas—at a time when some sawmills are facing significant fibre shortages—the province has announced new measures to streamline and accelerate timber salvage permitting.

The goal is to make it easier for the forestry sector to recover and repurpose damaged wood and regenerate the forests.

In 2023, a staggering total of 2.84 million hectares burned in B.C., which is more than double the previous record set in 2018 of 1.35 million hectares.

And according to government figures, the number of hectares being impacted

by wildfires in the province is increasing exponentially each year.

That represents a lot of burned timber, some of which could be salvaged.

According to industry experts, salvageable timber must be harvested within about a year of a forest fire for the wood fibre to retain its highest value. The complaint was that neighbouring Alberta was permitting salvage operations in about 60 days whereas it was taking up to a year or more for approvals to be granted by the B.C. Ministry of Forests.

The B.C. government is aiming to improve on that, recognizing that a significant amount of potentially merchantable fire-damaged timber has in the past been left to decay in the forest due to the government’s slow permitting response.

“During my visits in forestry communi-

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

G

ties throughout the province, speeding up salvage is something I’ve been hearing a lot from people,” says Andrew Mercier, B.C.’s Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation. “Making the salvage of fire-damaged wood faster, easier and more economic means more forestry operations can access fire-damaged wood, supporting forestry-dependent regions and forestry workers.”

In February, the Ministry of Forests updated its forest cover inventory maps to reflect 2023 fire perimeters. The goal is to enable more accurate and faster salvage planning.

According to the B.C. government, initial estimates show 12 to 15 per cent of wildfire-damaged areas from 2023 wildfires are available to salvage when considering such issues as accessibility,

spotlight

One thing is certain about the willingness of B.C. forest companies to process fire damaged versus green timber: there will likely be very little resistance. There are a lot of areas in the province where the timber supply has gone down so much that any wood is valuable wood right now. damage, burn severity, retention areas and cultural values.

Secondly, the province is making adjustments to its stumpage fees, “making it more economic for businesses to salvage damaged wood”, it says.

That is reflected in changes made to the Interior Appraisal Manual in April that the government says increases flexibility, and has established pricing policy for forestry operations and First Nations that want to salvage wildfire-damaged timber in B.C. The updated pricing guidelines, it says, better reflect the price of wildfiredamaged wood in the government’s stumpage fees and in the associated costs of salvage logging.

Recognizing that more and more intense wildfires could become an issue every year given climate change, B.C. has also established a wildfire salvage leadership committee which it says brings together specialists from across government, the forestry sector and the First Nations Forestry Council. The committee has already developed key recommendations and set targets to improve the salvage of wildfire-damaged timber.

As a result of their recommendations, a wildfire salvage guidebook is under development.

Some salvage logging was already approved prior to the changes made to the Interior Appraisal Manual. The Ministry of Forests says that salvage cutting permits had already been issued for almost 1.4 million cubic metres of volume, equating to about 28,000 logging truck loads of wildfire-damaged wood recovered.

A cross section of industry, labour and forestry groups have responded favorably to these changes and an expert in forests and fires—particularly in B.C. and Alberta —says that change in how quickly B.C. grants permits for burnt timber salvage logging was definitely needed.

Bruce Blackwell, owner of B.A. Blackwell and Associates, headquartered in North Vancouver, is a registered professional forester and biologist with 35 years of experience providing a variety of forest management services to companies in B.C. and Alberta. The company has considerable experience in advising on fibre management in areas impacted by the

mountain pine beetle. He has a Masters degree in Wildfire Science, has advised government on policy, fire management and mitigation, and prescribed fire, and has worked as an expert witness in wildfire related litigation.

“There seems to be a trend where we are seeing larger and larger areas being affected by wildfire,” says Blackwell.

Given climate change, it was predicted back in the early 2000’s that fires would become more severe and impact a larger area, and if the past year is any indication,

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

5

to page 6

spotlight

from page 5 that prediction has come true. The 2023 fire season wasn’t just a one-off as a consequence of the El Nino weather pattern.

The amount of area being burned in B.C. has been trending upwards for some time.

But to capture the highest value of available salvage timber, it bears repeating that time is of the essence. Blackwell says that fire damaged wood from this summer should be harvested by the following winter.

“We have a very short window to maximize the value,” he says. “From how I understand it, you lose about 50 per cent of the wood fibre’s value if you can’t log it in that first winter. To get it logged in that first winter requires that we have an expedited permitting process.”

Until the recent announcement by the B.C. Ministry of Forests, he says that wasn’t happening. One of the issues that the government will have to address going forward—because fires tend to be concentrated regionally—is whether it

6

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

has the employee capacity working in those burned areas to meet its expedited salvage permitting objective, while still addressing such issues as maintaining biodiversity and considering other hazards like landslides, erosion and debris flows.

Assessment of which areas are available for salvage logging is necessary because there are biodiversity and hazard related issues, Blackwell says. Some wood should be left standing because it is ecologically important and valued. That takes time— but these are not normal times. Never

spotlight before has B.C. experienced this amount of geographic area impacted by wildfire, with so much salvageable merchantable timber available.

One thing is certain from Blackwell’s perspective about the willingness of forest companies to process fire damaged versus green timber: there will likely be very little resistance.

“There are a lot of areas where the timber supply has gone down so much because of the mountain pine beetle that any wood is valuable wood right now,” he says. “The annual harvest has gone from about 54 million cubic metres (annually in the Province of B.C.) down to about 32 million. So adding a couple million cubic metres to that 32 million figure is a significant uplift.”

Quicker harvesting of salvageable burnt timber will be a boon to industry to help maintain the viability of some sawmills, and continue to provide jobs in some forest-dependent communities. It will also facilitate more timely and prompt reforestation that will reduce the Crown’s future reforestation liabilities. However, Blackwell says it won’t be anything like the ‘gold rush’ that occurred when salvage

operations were at their peak during the height of the beetle infestation.

In that case, the amount of salvageable wood was so plentiful at times and with the clock ticking that some companies set up extra capacity like temporary sawmills to process all of the suddenly available merchantable timber. The difference in salvaging merchantable burnt timber and what occurred during the beetle epidemic was that the merchantability of the beetleinfected wood lasted much longer than expected, says Blackwell. That won’t be the case with the burnt timber.

There are significant benefits from salvage operations simply from a forest management perspective, given lessons learned from the beetle infestation.

“The one thing that we have learned (from the beetle salvage process) is where we don’t salvage for beetle, those dead stands go to the ground, young trees grow up into that dead wood, and they actually become a significant fire hazard,” he says.

“And those fires are some of the worst fires we have seen in the past 20 years— those impacted beetle stands.”

CALENDAR

September 5-7

Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, Green Bay, WI 715-282-5828, www.gltpa.org September 15-18

Canadian Institute of Forestry National Conference & AGM, St. John's, NL

705-744-1715 www.cif-ifc.org/national-forest-week September 17-18

DEMO International Conference, Ottawa/Gatineau 888-454-7469 www.demointernational.com September 19-21

DEMO International Equipment Show, Ottawa/Gatineau 888-454-7469 www.demointernational.com September 25-27

Timber Processing & Energy Expo, Portland, OR

334-834-1170, www.timberprocessingandenergyexpo.com

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

7

BCcoastalsawmilling

VALUE ADDED

on Vancouver Island for Western Forest Western Forest Products has completed significant upgrades at its Saltair sawmill operation on Vancouver Island, as part of a value-added initiative— and there is more to come for other company operations.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

By Paul MacDonald

B

.C. forest company Western Forest Products (WFP) has a strong focus these days—it’s straightforward, and can be summed in two words: value added.

The latest initiative in that move to value added came earlier this year with the completion of construction of the first continuous dry kiln on the coast of B.C., at the company’s Saltair sawmill in Ladysmith, B.C., on Vancouver Island.

BCcoastalsawmilling contractorprofile WFP also plans to continue accelerating its transition to higher value products with approximately $35 million of investments for two additional continuous dry kilns.

“Our investments to modernize our mills on the B.C. coast underscore the strategic shift we are making to increase our production of value-added products with our facilities on Vancouver Island,” says Steven Hofer, President and CEO, of WFP. The new kilns will deliver efficiency

The newly installed $12 million Wellons continuous dry kiln at the Western Forest Products Saltair sawmill adds to the mill’s drying capacity, producing high quality dried lumber, and maximizing environmental benefits by reducing energy consumption.

and productivity gains that further position the company’s mills to meet the needs of customers for high-value, specialty products over the long term, said Hofer.

“We’re working to move up the value chain,” added WFP’s general manager of manufacturing, Derek Haupt. “That’s one of our clear priorities. It supports our growing integration of engineered wood products and MSR lumber.”

The newly installed $12 million Wellons continuous dry kiln at the Saltair sawmill adds to the mill’s drying capacity, producing high quality dried lumber while maximizing environmental benefits by reducing energy consumption.

“It’s still a learning process, but if you look at other results achieved in the industry, there is generally a 15 to 20 per cent energy savings from continuous kilns,” says Haupt.

“Studies done by FPInnovations show volume increases of up to 28 per cent from continuous kilns.

“We’re also able to achieve better drying with the lumber coming out of the new kiln,” added Haupt. “That will help us downstream, with our planers.”

A further bonus is WFP is eligible for a $1.5 million rebate from Fortis BC for installing more energy efficient equipment.

The Saltair sawmill has a capacity of 240 million board feet and produces hemlock and Douglas fir products. The mill focuses on medium diameter logs, with a smallest processing capability of 6” diameter logs. The sawmill produces wood products for the Japanese traditional home segment, wide dimensional structural lumber, and products for the treating segment.

Saltair is the largest single-line sawmill on the coast of B.C. following a multiphase strategic capital investment of over $45 million to modernize the sawmill since 2013 (please see the sidebar story for mill upgrade details).

The new Wellons kiln adds to the three existing kilns on site for drying lumber.

Following the successful completion of its first continuous dry kiln, WFP is pushing ahead with two additional continuous dry kiln projects. One of the kilns will be constructed at the company’s Duke Point sawmill in Nanaimo, and the other at its Value-Added Division in Chemainus.

Each of the new kilns will have an annual capacity of approximately 70 million board feet. The additional capacity will support increased volumes of kiln dried to page 10 9

BCcoastalsawmilling from page 9 products, including lumber used to produce glued laminated timber for mass timber applications.

The two additional continuous dry kilns are slated to be completed over 2024 and 2025.

WFP has made significant investments in its B.C. coastal manufacturing operations to modernize its primary manufacturing facilities, increase kiln drying and planing capacity and expand its engineered wood products and remanufacturing capacity.

The company announced a $35 million investment in 2023, which includes the new continuous dry kilns. Part of that investment went towards MSR equipment

at its Duke Point sawmill, and the installation of Wellons TruMark in-kiln moisture meters in their existing kilns.

The installation of an Ecoustic machine stress rated lumber grader at its Duke Point sawmill supports increased production of higher value lumber destined for mass timber applications. The MSR machine provides strict lumber grade quality control with known values for strength and stiffness for lumber utilized in engineered products, including roof trusses, glulam and mass timber.

With the increasing use of wood in multi-storey construction as a low carbon solution, WFP sees this as a strong market opportunity. Adding equipment that allows it to manufacture product lines used in glulam and mass timber building repre-

sents a growing market opportunity.

And it’s a good corporate fit. In terms of mass timber, two years ago WFP acquired Calvert Company, Inc., one of the oldest glulam manufacturers in the U.S., which produces glulam beams in multiple species, including Douglas fir, southern yellow pine and yellow cedar, for industrial, commercial and residential projects.

Calvert has manufacturing facilities in Washougal, Washington and Vancouver, Washington with a combined annual glulam capacity of approximately 35 million board feet on a two-shift basis.

Back on Vancouver Island, there were also some upgrades to the Duke Point to page 12

In addition to the new continuous dry kiln at the Saltair sawmill, Western Forest Products plans to continue accelerating its transition to higher value products with approximately $35 million of investments for two additional continuous dry kilns.

Western partners with First Nations on Tree Farm Licence Western Forest Products has lumber production capacity in excess of 1.0 billion board feet from seven sawmills, as well as operating four remanufacturing facilities and two glulam manufacturing facilities, in B.C and Washington State.

It sources timber from its private lands, long-term licenses, market purchases, and First Nations arrangements.

In fact, the company has been involved with a number of ventures with

First Nations groups.

The most recent came last fall, when it was announced that four First Nations groups will acquire a 34 per cent interest from Western in a newly formed Limited Partnership. The partnership consists of certain assets and liabilities of Western’s Mid Island Forest Operation, including the newly-established Tree Farm Licence 64.

The operations of the new partnership cover approximately 157,000 hectares

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

of forest land in the traditional territories of the Nations near the communities of Campbell River and Sayward, on eastern Vancouver Island. The partnership will manage an allowable annual cut of 904,540 cubic metres of timber and it includes a long-term fibre agreement to support Western’s British Columbia coastal manufacturing operations.

BCcoastalsawmilling from page 10

Western‘s Saltair sawmill has solid equipment foundation In the past, the management of B.C.-based Western Forest Products has tapped into the technological expertise the sawmill equipment industry has to offer with its mill facilities, including its Saltair sawmill, in Ladysmith, B.C. A decade ago, a $38 million upgrade—that included the sawmill’s edgers, stacker and sorter—increased production by 15 per cent and helped decrease the per-unit cost of production, at the Saltair operation.

Since then, Saltair has been able to achieve significant efficiencies.

As reported in Logging and Sawmilling Journal at the time, the Saltair sawmill implemented upgrades involving a number of industry suppliers, such as USNR, the BID Group, Lucidyne Technologies, Mill-Tech Industries and Samuel Strapping. And true to the company’s support of B.C.-based suppliers, the project also involved a number of smaller companies, such as Warnaar Steel Tech, Duncan Iron Works, MicroWest, Advanced Millwright Services, and KJ Contracting.

WFP’s overall strategy for these capital investments then was to expand its ability to provide a wide variety of products to a diverse customer base, helping it withstand the typically cyclical nature of the wood products industry.

The Saltair operation has, as they say, an excellent equipment foundation on which the company is building further, with the recent addition of the new continuous dry kiln earlier this year.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

planer to improve efficiencies and achieve better throughput. This builds on previous upgrades. The sawmill and planer underwent a previous multi-phase strategic capital investment of $54 million to modernize the facility.

In term of its capital investments, Haupt says “we look for projects that fit with our strategic plan and offer the best payback”.

There is a strong appreciation for utilizing modern mill equipment from the company’s CEO, Steven Hofer—he is the former executive vice-president of major mill equipment supplier, the BID Group.

The company has some aged assets that could use further investment, and Hofer sees that and is certainly interested in looking at other upgrades that increase wood utilization, and deliver financial paybacks, says Haupt.

Haupt, as general manager of manufacturing for WFP, brings his own forest industry perspective to the operations, having had a 35-year career in the industry, beginning on the green chain at MacMillan Bloedel’s White Pine division in Vancouver, followed by mill management roles, and sales and marketing positions.

“I love being in the sawmills—that’s where I came from,” he says.

In that time, there have been huge advances in sawmill technology, he noted. In addition to helping produce lumber faster, “we also make sure we are utilizing every bit of fibre we possibly can, and increasing our recovery from the logs”, he says.

There is more to come, says Haupt, including Artificial Intelligence. “I think that’s going to be a big part of our future in the forest industry—we’re already seeing that,” he noted. “We’re already doing some work at our mills, such as AI-enabled cameras to help control equipment.

I think technology is going to continue to expand more rapidly.

“I think the B.C. coastal forest industry needs to step up its technology to catch up with other areas, like the B.C. Interior or the southeast U.S.,” he added.

The technology going into the new sawmills in the U.S. is pretty impressive, he says. “Historically, there has not been as much technology on the large log side of the business here on the west coast, with not as much focus from suppliers— but there is no reason we can’t utilize some of the technology that we see elsewhere in the industry on the small log side.”

millupgrade

The Elmsdale Lumber operation these days includes a 99 bin lumber sorter.

ELMSDALE LUMBER READY for its second century

Nova Scotia’s Elmsdale Lumber has a rich history, reaching back more than a century, but the company continues to be focused on the future, and is now in the midst of a major upgrade.

By George Fullerton

N

Employing state-of-the-art technology such as Autolog equipment, the current production of the Elmsdale mill is 100,000 to 120,000 board feet per shift. Its premium lumber products are marketed mainly in the Atlantic provinces.

14

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

ova Scotia’s Elmsdale Lumber Company (ELCO) has witnessed a lot of changes to the sawmill industry over its 106-year history. Currently, ELCO is in the midst of a major upgrade of its sawmill to lead it into the future.

Additionally, ELCO is actively working toward building a mass timber plant, and a biochar project which would transpose sawmill residual products into a soil remediation product or energy feedstock.

ELCO was founded by Walter S. Wilber, who built a sawmill in 1917 to produce lumber for the United Kingdom in support of World War I efforts. In 1939, he established the mill permanently at Elmsdale, east of Halifax.

Walter’s son, James B. Wilber, grew up on the lumber business sales side, as well as at the sawmill operation. In 1939, James went to work for Charlie McCulloch, purchasing lumber from small

millupgrade

sawmills throughout Nova Scotia to supply European markets.

In 1950, James and Fred Miller purchased the Elmsdale Lumber operation.

When Miller started his own planer mill, he sold his Elmsdale shares to Luther Anderson. On Anderson’s passing in 1976, James’ son, Robin, bought the Anderson shares and joined the business with his father.

Today, Robin points out that he learned intricacies of the sawmill business from his father, the sawmill operation from Luther Anderson, and woodland knowledge from Downey Thompson.

Upon his father’s passing, Robin realized that to be successful into the future, ELCO required modernization and upgrades. In 1990, production was 9.6 million board feet annually with a complement of 150 employees, and by 2022, production was 30 million board feet, with 50 employees.

Robin’s son, Mark, is the current vicepresident of ELCO, and like his father and grandfather before him, grew up well-initiated in the sales and marketing, business management and sawmill operation. The current production of the mill is 100,000 to 120,000 board feet per shift, producing premium lumber products marketed mainly in the Atlantic provinces.

At a relatively early age, Mark oversaw the installation and commissioning of a new bin sorter (2011) for ELCO and major upgrades to the planer mill.

Currently, Mark is guiding a major upgrade to the sawmill which includes a new building to enclose lumber breakdown and sorting, and new processing

equipment to increase lumber recovery and speed up processing.

Prior to the recent upgrade program, the ELCO mill featured a Forano doublering debarker which can handle logs up to thirty-inches using the larger ring, and an eighteen-inch ring handling smaller diameter logs. Large logs are processed through double-cut band saws. Smaller diameter logs are processed through twin circular saws, with cants from both lines moving on to a Valley combination board and gang edger with 15 saws. The combination edger relies on an operator to decide the optimum recovery, and to manually line up cants with laser guidance to feed into the combination edger.

The combination board edger is highly labour intensive, with production relying heavily on operator knowledge, judgement and energy. Slabs from log breakdown are processed by the board side of the combination edger. The combination edger had been in operation since 1994.

In 2018, the TS Manufacturing twin saw, on the small log side, was optimized by USNR (VAB).

More recently, ELCO has seen upgrades to the drying and planing equipment including conversion of the hydraulic drive Yates planer to electric drive, with technology provided by Gilbert. Planer mill equipment beyond the planer is a PHL trim saw.

Grading is manual, with premium grade lumber receiving additional grade scrutiny, and a third and final grade confirmation

Elmsdale Lumber has witnessed a lot of changes to the sawmill industry over its 106-year history. Currently, the company is in the midst of a major upgrade of its sawmill to lead it into the future.

to page 16

It’s all in the family: Above standing on left is Robin Wilber, President of Elmsdale Lumber, and on the right is Robin’s son, Mark Wilber, Vice-President of the company.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

15

millupgrade

from page 15 at the stacker. Second grade travels a separate conveyor system and lumber is manually pulled and stacked.

In 2021/2022, a kiln upgrade converted the boiler from a 150 horsepower low pressure system to a 350 horsepower high pressure system. “The boiler upgrade made an amazing improvement to our

drying capacity,” shared Mark. “With high pressure, we are now much better able to modulate the drying process and realize greater drying efficiency.

“There were three major reasons which led us to proceed with the current mill upgrades,” he added. “First, the current mill required intensive labour inputs. Second, it is increasingly difficult to find and retain workers in our milling

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

operation. The third major driver was that our mill equipment was getting worn out and required lot of costly maintenance to keep in operation.”

The upgrade project was structured to be carried out in three phases, which included the construction of an entirely new building shell over the existing mill building while production continued. In 2023, a new optimized board edger was installed and went into production. The second phase of the upgrade began with a mill shutdown in January 2024, with the plan to become operational in late-January. The second phase included a new curve gang with Autolog optimization. The third phase will see commissioning of a new optimized quad saw to replace the rotary twin primary breakdown system, late in 2024.

“The upgrades to our mill will allow us to gain efficiencies from each log, improve and speed up processing and realize increased recovery from small logs,” says Mark.

“When the time came to select equipment for upgrades, we reached out to McDonough Manufacturing, in large part because they manufacture in Mactaquac, New Brunswick which translates directly,

millupgrade and very importantly, to very fast service and support for the processing equipment. We had a historic connection through the Valley combination gang/ edger,” says Mark.

“Valley Equipment was established in Nackawic by Joe Weirathmuller and they developed a highly respected reputation for quality engineering. For optimization support for the process machines, we worked with Autolog. ”The mill upgrade began in 2022 with construction of a new steel building which was built over the existing mill by Lindsay Construction.

“The new shell has a significantly larger footprint than the old mill and is designed to accommodate new processing equipment and associated transfer conveyors,” noted Mark. “Additionally, the higher ceiling allowed the opportunity to install an overhead crane system to facilitate installation of processing equipment in upgrade phases, as well as future operations and maintenance.”

Mark and a few key ELCO personnel will be trained on the new equipment by the manufacturer’s staff, and the ELCO team will in turn work with their operators

to run the new equipment.

In addition to upgrading their sawmill, ELCO has been actively working for a number of years toward building a mass timber plant and developing a biochar operation.

Robin Wilber, Mark’s Dad, has been a leading member of the Maritime Lumber Bureau and a keen supporter of the Atlantic Wood Works program.

Since 2011, Atlantic Wood Works has followed a mandate to promote wood

use in construction and lead change in advanced and sustainable wood construction technologies. Mass timber has been a constant technology advanced by Atlantic Wood Works.

Large samples of Nova Scotia spruce, pine, and fir have been tested in Oregon, and found to meet the quality demands required for mass timber production. to page 18

A new McDonough edger was a first phase installation in the three phase upgrade.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

17

millupgrade

Above, a Sennebogen loader feeds logs to the mill infeed. The upgrades to the Elmsdale mill will allow the company to gain efficiencies from each log processed, improve and speed up processing, and realize increased recovery from small logs.

Robin announced at the Fall Meeting of the Canadian Woodlands Forum meeting that ELCO, in partnership with Ledwidge Lumber, will see the ground-breaking in 2024 for a $200 million, mass timber plant.

“It’s very important that Nova Scotia help fill the demand for mass timber supply,” says Robin. “It’s also important for Nova Scotia to be a leader in the green economy with mass timber, which can replace a lot of energy-demanding construction products like concrete and steel.”

Robin added that wood products,

including mass timber in multi-storey construction, is a means to store carbon and mitigate climate change.

Another project championed by ELCO has been the development of a biochar production plant in the Elmsdale region, which would consume sawmill and wood manufacturing residual products.

Biochar is a product produced by cooking wood at very high temperature, in the absence of oxygen. Biochar is recognized globally as having important soil fertility properties, and has potential as a fuel for industrial processes.

ELCO has teamed up with Halifaxbased RDA Inc. to research and develop

18

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

from page 17

their biochar project.

Robin explained that ELCO’s biochar initiative has faced a lot of hurdles, but in 2023 they finally won approval to construct and operate a containerized pilot system which will demonstrate the potential for a large scale project.

Moving ahead in their second century in operation, Elmsdale Lumber is solidly committed to embracing advanced technologies for lumber processing, as well as technologies for wood use in construction—and generating products which move society toward a greener economy and help mitigate climate change.

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woodchipping

GOING GREEN with new wood room

The Mercer Peace River pulp mill in Alberta has invested $75 million to re-activate its wood room with a focus on greener processes, and it’s fed by a massive diesel/electric hybrid Sennebogen material handler.

The new batch-style rotary debarker at the front end of the Mercer Peace River wood room was custom designed and built by Industrial Equipment Manufacturing.

It is the largest batch debarker operating in Canada and can process 400 cubic metres per hour. Andritz supplied its horizontally-fed HHQ chipper (below) to the project— it’s said to be is the biggest chipper installed in Canada.

By Tony Kryzanowski

T

he Mercer Peace River (MPR) pulp mill has taken a significant step toward reducing its overall generation of carbon emissions with a $75 million investment into a green-powered wood room, and switching away from in-block chipping.

Owned by Mercer International, which was founded by UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering grad Jimmy S.H. Lee, the pulp mill located in Peace River, Alberta was purchased from DaishowaMarubeni International (DMI) in 2019 for $465 million.

The pulp mill, which began operations

20

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

woodchipping A massive diesel/electric hybrid Sennebogen 870E material handler feeds the new Mercer Peace River pulp wood room.

in 1990, produces both hardwood and softwood pulp and manages 2.7 million hectares of forest in northwestern Alberta.

DMI shut down its wood room in 2004, opting for in-block chipping for its hardwood chip source and partnering with companies like Peace River Logging which operated four in-block chippers before the transition to whole tree logging began in 2021. The chips were transported from the block to the pulp mill in standard chip vans.

The transition back to chipping cut-tolength (CTL) hardwood logs at the pulp mill was announced in 2021 as MPR’s Fibre Procurement Project.

In addition to major investments in new equipment at the pulp mill, the project also included the establishment of a new log haul company, Peace River Transport (PRT), which is owned by MPR. It has purchased 22 trucks and trailers to reliably transport primarily 18’ and 21’ CTL logs from the cutblocks to the mill, with the aim of eventually expanding its fleet to 40 trucks. At present, their fleet consists of 16 Western Star 49X and six Kenworth T800 trucks. Their trailers consist of three Doepker King B’s, five Manac King B’s, 15 Peerless King B’s, and four Gerry’s King B’s. The trucks are operated with a combination of PRT employees

and owner-operators. Logging to supply the pulp mill is mainly done on a seasonal basis from October to March.

“The decision to reactivate the wood room was made to improve both the efficiency and sustainability of our operations,” says Roger Ashfield, MPR Managing Director. “This way of processing hardwood improves MPR’s environmental performance sustainably.”

The overall project is expected to reduce MPR’s fossil fuel emissions by over 900,000 tonnes of CO2e and sequester

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

21

to page 22

woodchipping from page 21 2.6 million tonnes of CO2e through forest conservation.

“By eliminating diesel hardwood chippers in the forest to chip, we have significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions,” Ashfield adds. “Also, when we were using the diesel wood chippers, unfortunately they left some wood chips in the forest. The new debarker utilizes the whole log, so we now need to harvest less

hardwood to produce our pulp.”

He says that by harvesting less hardwood, MPR is conserving the carbon capturing processing that naturally exists with trees within the forest.

The pulp mill has also improved the utilization of its harvested wood fibre by more efficiently using all parts of the tree at the mill, with more efficient retention of waste wood materials through improved debarking at site. The bark is used to generate green energy. Burning the bark as

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hog fuel results in less natural gas burned at the facility. All the new equipment installed in the re-commissioned wood room will operate on electric power generated by the pulp mill, as it has the capability of generating 69 megawatts of power.

“Our onsite debarker, wood chipper, and Sennebogen 870E (material handler) run on green energy generated by MPR,” says Ashfield. “The equipment provides some of the most innovative debarking, chipping and monitoring technologies.”

The massive Sennebogen material handler used to feed logs into the mill is a diesel/electric hybrid unit, which the company says is able to reduce operating costs by 30 per cent.

Sennebogen is a major world-wide supplier of material handling equipment and is no stranger to Canada’s forest industry. It offers the 870E hybrid material handler in weights from 97 to 145 tonnes, with a maximum reach up to 27 meters.

It also comes in drive variants from 250 kW to 261 kW. The machine has a fuel storage tank in the rear and, depending on the type of machine, one or more additional hydraulic cylinders on the boom.

When the operator lowers the boom, the system stores the energy and makes it available to use during the next lift with virtually no loss. The stick can be customized to match its intended usage, and there are also a wide range of undercarriage options available.

In terms of the wood room, a number of companies were involved in the overall design and equipment supply of this critical section of the pulp mill.

The project began in earnest during the first half of 2021 when excavation for the new wood room, plus demolition, engineering and material ordering began.

International Quest Engineering handled the civil and mechanical engineering on the project. Salem Contracting worked on the civil, mechanical and structural components. Electrical work and piping was supplied by Flint Energy, and Mercer logging contractor Peace River Logging (see page 32 of this issue for a feature story on Peace River Logging) worked on the excavation and demolition. Rentco provided rental equipment and mobile units, as needed, while Pro-West Refrigeration Ltd provided HVAC and dust collection equipment. Hydraulic power units and associated tubing was supplied by Applied Industrial Technologies.

In terms of internal hardware, Surrey,

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

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The Mercer Peace River pulp wood room project tapped a number of Canadian suppliers for the $75 million project, including Kelowna, B.C.-based Versatile Fab and Machine which supplied a step feeder to singulate and convey logs.

from page 22 B.C.-based, Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (IEM), provided the batch-style, bottom discharge, rotary debarker for the project. It was custom made for the MPR wood room and is the biggest batch debarker in Canada. It has five rolls plus two recirculating rolls to process 400 cubic metres per hour.

Kelowna, B.C.-based, Versatile Fab and Machine (VFM) provided a step feeder to singulate and convey the logs within the wood room.

ANDRITZ supplied its horizontally-fed HHQ chipper to this project, which is the biggest chipper installed in Canada. The chipper is best-suited for long logs, but it works with short logs, as well, because the infeed chain conveyor will orient short logs during chipping. The chipper disc is equipped with long-lasting TurnKnife-IV blades and the Helical Face Technology (HFT), which reduces log bounce-back and improves chip uniformity.

“The improved cutting geometry and optimized cutting speed produce thinner rectangular chips, with a profile best-suited for today’s cooking or refining processes,” says the company.

Logs are fed directly into the HHQ chipper through a large horizontal spout by a chain conveyor at a controlled Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

speed. The chips are side discharged to a screw hopper placed above floor level. The gentle discharge reduces chip damage as well as the amount of fines and pins produced. Tests conducted by ANDRITZ show that the chips are of such high quality that they can be compared to screened chips.

The bark recovered from the rotary debarker is collected and conveyed to a Grizzly mill, a hogger supplied by B.C.based Brunette Machinery Company. It grinds up the bark material into smaller pieces, to burn efficiently at the pulp mill’s power boiler. Brunette says that the rugged heart of the Grizzly mill hog is an extremely heavy duty, solid steel, offset helix rotor that shears material from two directions against an anvil and grate. The rotor turns at half the speed of a conventional hammermill rotor, resulting in substantial savings in maintenance costs.

The MPR Fibre Procurement project received financial support from a number of grant programs aimed at projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among them were $7.5 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta, $8.5 million from the federal government’s Investments in Forestry Industry Transformation program, and $7.5 million from the Alberta government’s Sector-specific Industrial Energy Efficiency (SIEE) grant program.

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forestmanagement

JC Contracting’s choice of a rubber tracked Hyundai came about through consultation with the A.L.P.A. Equipment Truro, Nova Scotia team. The machine is narrow at six feet, and has zero tail swing, both of which contribute to achieving spacing and crop tree count. Pictured is Ryan Dickie, part-time operator on the Hyundai.

FINDING the best thinning solution

Nova Scotia’s JC Contracting has given several equipment combo’s a go in the effort to find the best pre-commercial/semi-commercial thinning solution.

By George Fullerton n his position as Forest Resource Manager for Elmsdale Lumber Company, Jason Casey has become acutely aware of the challenge to carry out pre-commercial thinning and semi-commercial work.

Casey began working at Elmsdale Lumber Company (ELCO) in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia while in high school. Following graduation from the Maritime Forest Ranger School in 2000, he became a

permanent employee, handling a variety of forestry responsibilities, working his way to the Forest Resource Manager position. It was through this position that he witnessed the challenge to effectively meet the need to handle both pre- and semi-commercial thinning on Elmsdale’s forest lands.

“One of the chief challenges for precommercial thinning is an ageing workforce and the need to attract new workers to a very challenging job,” pointed out Casey.

26

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

I

He went on to share that there is an acute demand for pre-commercial and semi-commercial thinning, not only for ELCO, but also for other forest companies and woodlot owners, all across Nova Scotia.

“We have a serious labour challenge for silviculture,” he explained. “Our current workforce is ageing out, with the average thinning saw operator somewhere in the mid- to late-50 years of age, and soon looking to retirement. Manual

forestmanagement silviculture work is not an attractive career option for younger workers. Many do not want to work outdoors, dealing with weather and other environmental challenges.

“The cost to get set up with equipment and transportation is a serious challenge to start working in the sector,” he added.

“There is also a lack of basic training and incentives to support workers until they develop the skill level to be productive and be able to take home a respectable paycheque. The seasonality of the work is not attractive for many. Many rookie thinning-saw operators reflect on their first two weeks of effort and investment, look at their paycheque and then see $16/ hour at McDonald’s as a viable alternative career choice.”

In Nova Scotia, semi-commercial thinning is challenged by a lack of pulpwood markets, since the shutdown of the Paper Excellence mill at Abercrombie Point due to environmental issues.

“First entry commercial thinning is important to maintain the growth curve established with pre-commercial thinning,” says Casey. “Equally,” he added, “that timely first entry commercial thinning is important to maintain crown development which directly corresponds to root development, and which has a direct relationship to wind firmness.

“Tropical storm Fiona in September 2022 was devastating to many commercial thinned stands across central Nova Scotia. As severe wind events continue to impact our province, it’s important to keep a focus on tree development and especially wind firmness.”

For some time, Casey has realized that

Elmsdale Lumber Company in Nova Scotia is facing the challenge of effectively meeting the need to handle both pre- and semi-commercial thinning on Elmsdale’s forestlands. One of the chief challenges for pre-commercial thinning is the need to attract new workers to a very challenging job—mechanization could be part of the solution. mechanization of pre-commercial and commercial thinning has a place in the industry, along with professional thinning saw operators to work in stand conditions where their expertise is required.

“I have thought of mechanizing precommercial and first entry commercial

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

thinning only as a complement to manual thinning,” he explained. “For example, mechanized would fit well for stands that have advanced (height and diameters), to page 28

27

forestmanagement

Jason Casey’s journey to develop mechanized pre-commercial thinning steered him toward mini excavators equipped with mechanical shear heads for cutting trees.

Casey (above) demo’ed their 3.5 tonne Hyundai/TMK 200 shear head during the 2023 Fall meeting of the Canadian Woodlands Forum.

beyond what thinning saws can reasonably handle, but where the forest managers want to maintain the growth of crop trees.”

Casey points out that there have been pre-commercial thinning trials conducted with adapted commercial tree harvesters, but he contends that it is hard to imagine a silviculture contractor being able to make that level of investment and make a living with current assistance rates for thinning.

Casey’s journey to develop mechanized pre-commercial thinning steered him toward mini excavators equipped with mechanical shear heads for cutting trees.

Caseys’ JC Contracting (sideline business) demo’ed their 3.5 tonne Hyundai/ TMK 200 shear head during the 2023 Fall meeting of the Canadian Woodlands Forum.

“This small excavator is relatively economical to purchase and equip with the TMK shear head, right around $100,000,

28

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

from page 27

or the cost of a new pickup truck. That is an investment that a small contractor can consider, and use, as a complement to an established thinning saw crew.”

Casey said the choice of a rubber tracked Hyundai came about through consultation with the A.L.P.A. Equipment Truro, Nova Scotia team. Narrow at six feet, and with zero tail swing, both of which contribute to achieving spacing and crop tree count, he also wanted to try working with a machine that would have an afterlife, if it did not work for thinning.

“Fuel cost is a serious consideration, and this unit sips fuel at about 2.5 litres per hour. The machine maintains mechanical functions and appearance which is important to consider for trade-in value.

It can handle challenging terrain, as the operator gains experience,” said Casey.

The choice of a TMK shear came about through consultation with Don Philippe, owner of Forotek, based in Edmundston, New Brunswick. The TMK 200 has the size, weight and operating capacity to conduct and perform adequately on the Hyundai 3.5 unit. The TMK shear is equipped with a stem accumulator arm and a heavy duty cylinder on the shear function, providing power to cut larger stems. The shear is robust and structured such that the operator can safely anchor the shear to the ground to lift and or pull with the boom, to help the excavator climb over obstacles.

Casey is quick to sing praises toward Truro, NS-based M-C Power and manager Jason Monk, who has been instrumental in setting up, and troubleshooting any issues with the Hyundai/TMK machine.

“M-C Power is pivotal for our journey toward mechanized pre-commercial thinning. Jason Monk has a great attitude and talent for innovation, design, mechanics and fabrication,” said Casey.

As for drawbacks, Casey said rookie operators were challenged with rubber tracks spinning off when trying to turn against stumps. He suggests that steel tracks would have been a better choice. He underlined that maintaining track tension is an important daily maintenance item.

He also allowed that the little Hyundai did experience overheating issues on really hot days, since the engine compartment in the zero turn machine is crowded, and the hydraulic oil cooler collects chaff and debris.

The first TMK Shear experienced trouble severing small diameter stems. Rather to page 30

forestmanagement from page 28 than cutting the small stems, some species would simply bend, and would remain damaged but intact, and would have to be pulled out of the ground to ensure the stems were indeed killed.

When Casey and M-C Power directed their talents building a six-ton excavator for thinning, they selected a TMK 200 shear head which had a cutting face on the grapple arm which, essentially, exerts a scissor like cutting force, and provided more effective stem severing action.

Casey concluded that the Hyundai 3.5 to five tonne excavators are generally the appropriate size carrier for precommercial thinning ‘to waste’ (no fibre recovery). JC Contracting saw an average daily production of 0.5 hectares, with the production ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 hectares, depending on terrain difficulty, tree size and density.

Casey pointed out that his operator Shane Taylor has also made a huge contribution to JC Contracting and the adventure toward mechanized pre-commercial and commercial thinning.

“Shane has embraced mechanized

thinning, despite all the challenges we encountered, dealt with, and overcame.

He has the most hours operating the Hyundai/TMK over the past couple of years we have worked with it.

“When we built our 6 tonne excavator with TMK 200 and the JOBO combi head for first entry commercial thinning, he became the operator and took it to production. Shane has two notable talents; operating proficiency and patience to figure out both mechanical and operational challenges.”

Reflecting on the Hyundai/TMK combo, Casey would consider that an excavator in the range of a 5 tonne machine with steel tracks may make a higher production combo with the TMK 200 head, pointing out that it would not be a lot more capital cost, but it would offer greater hydraulic flow.

Casey experienced a level of success with Hyundai/TMK, to give himself the confidence to look at mini excavators as the base for mechanized commercial thinning, initially with a TMK shear head. His initial idea was to purchase a TMK shear head with delimbing capacity, to produce merchantable volume in stands advanced

beyond pre-commercial thinning stage of development.

“When M-C Power undertook mounting and plumbing the TMK 200 shear head on the excavator,” said Casey, “Jason Monk brought my attention to the JOBO Combi head, which is a combination of roller and stroke delimbing harvester head. After some study and conversation with the manufacturer, we purchased the JOBO combi head for the excavator.

“We found that in stands with heavy limbs to the ground and with larger diameter trees, we were using the stroke delimbing function about 80 per cent of the time. The stroke function has a long cycle time which reduced production compared to using the roller head function. Despite that drawback, we could produce around 30 tonnes per work shift.

However, in nice clean stems and in small clear cut patches, the excavator/JOBO using roller delimb function can produce fifty to sixty tonnes per day shift.”

Since the Woodlands Forum demo, Casey has had interest from another contractor to purchase the excavator/JOBO machine and he has already begun negotiations to purchase a nine tonne excavator

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

forestmanagement and a Nisula roller processing head.

“M-C Power is a dealer for Nisula heads, and when the Nisula reps discovered what we were trying to build for commercial thinning, a factory rep visited with us and they recommended their Nisula 425H as a good fit for the nine tonne excavator and for the tree types working within our typical commercial thinning stands.”

JC Contracting uses a nine tonne Rottne forwarder for bringing marketable fibre to roadside. Casey points out that when considering producing fibre from pre- and semi-commercial thinning, the economics must consider volume of product and market prices, as well as the requirement to upgrade road access for commercial trucking.

Casey is convinced that small excavators can be productive base machines for pre-and semi-commercial thinning. He is also convinced that work must be done to determine what types of stands will benefit from mechanized thinning. He is also convinced that compensation rates for both manual and mechanized thinning have to be realistic in order to attract workers and contractors to the forest industry.

A.L.P.A. Equipment recently sold a Hyundai R60 with a TMK shear head to Merrill Harvesting (above), showing that the Hyundai/TMK equipment is proving to be a popular combination for thinning applications. Merrill Harvesting will be using the combo in thinning applications for J.D. Irving.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

31

Albertalogging

successfully rolls with transition

Rolling with industry changes, Alberta’s Peace River Logging has now successfully made the transition from in-block chipping to whole tree logging, revamping its equipment line-up along the way.

By Tony Kryzanowski ignificant changes have occurred at Peace River Logging (PRL), the largest logging contractor supplying the Mercer Peace River Pulp mill in Alberta.

The biggest change has been transitioning from in-block chipping to harvesting and

processing whole logs (see the feature story on the Mercer Peace River Pulp mill re-activating its wood room beginning on page 20 of this issue).

It has obviously required a significant revamping of a portion of PRL’s logging fleet as well as some employee retraining.

A stump-to-roadside contractor, PRL

32

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

S

has a contract to harvest up to 600,000 cubic metres of primary and incidental hardwood for Mercer, as well as up to another 200,000 cubic metres of primary and incidental softwood for the Boucher Bros sawmill located south of Peace River, in Nampa, Alberta.

The timber harvesting company is a

Albertalogging A stump-to-roadside contractor, Peace River Logging has a contract to harvest up to 600,000 cubic metres of hardwood for the Mercer Peace River Pulp mill, as well as up to another 200,000 cubic metres of softwood for the Boucher Bros sawmill.

joint venture between the Woodland Cree First Nation and Mercer Peace River, and has operated as the Peace River Logging Limited Partnership since 2004. At its peak, it employs about 85 people with logging typically taking place about two hours from the pulp mill, which is located in the town of Peace River. They also provide mill yard and landfill maintenance services to the pulp producer.

PRL is a seasonal logger, operating from October to the end of March. They have negotiated an extension to that season with Mercer Peace River to include a planned

summer procurement program starting in mid-July, which will help with employee retention and business cash flow.

The switch to delivery of whole logs— instead of chips—is just one of several significant changes that have taken place in forestry in the Peace River region.

It started in December 2018, when Mercer International purchased the Peace River pulp mill from Daishowa-Marubeni International (DMI) for $465 million. It was DMI that made the decision to switch to what was a novel concept at the time, in-block chipping, shutting down its wood Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

room in December 2004. PRL became one of DMI’s largest in-block chipping contractors with four in-block chippers in its fleet, before the transition to cut-tolength processing.

Not long after purchasing DMI, Mercer Peace River made the decision to reinvest and re-commission its wood room at the mill site. The transition began during the 2021/2022 logging season with the purchase by PRL of two new log processors.

The transition is now complete with a total of six processors in their fleet and the liquidation of all their in-block chippers.

They also subcontract the services of four processors, so all told, they have 10 log processors working at peak logging season.

Another recent change at PRL was the hiring of Ryan Hee as the incoming General Manager, in September 2021.

Previously he was a Woodlands Operations Supervisor at Mercer for nine years, so he was very familiar with PRL and their in-block chipping program. After joining the company, he helped to shepherd it to whole tree logging.

Over the years, the annual harvest volume at PRL has increased significantly.

“Back in 2004 when PRL originated, with the previous General Manager, Bernard Fortin, it had one feller buncher, two skidders, one in-block chipper and one dozer,” says Hee. “It has grown exponentially since then. Originally, we were doing 100,000 cubic metres annually with one line and now we have been up to 800,000 cubic metres annually.”

Hee adds that this growth has filtered down to benefit the area’s First Nations communities. The joint venture with the Woodland Cree First Nation was intended to include local First Nations in the economic prosperity that a large operation like the Mercer Peace River pulp mill provides to the region, and that continues to this day.

“I believe that the motivation was and continues today to be providing economic benefit and employment opportunities to Alberta’s northwest indigenous population,” says Hee. “There has been consistent and sustained economic growth and development with the Woodland Cree First Nation. It’s been almost 20 years now, and both partners have benefitted from the relationship.”

PRL also has an ongoing initiative to encourage band members to consider coming to work for the logging contractor, and it can also be an opportunity to

to page 34 33

Albertalogging from page 33

The biggest change with the transition from in-block chipping to whole log harvesting was the need for log processors and employees to operate them. Peace River Logging is a major seasonal employer in the Peace River area, offering up to 85 jobs during peak logging season.

With so many pieces of equipment in its fleet, including seven Tigercat 632H skidders, Peace River Logging is one of Canada’s largest logging contractors.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

acquire and improve on their skillsets. For example, they currently have one band member signed up in a mechanical apprenticeship program at PRL. In terms of process flow in company cutblocks today, operations have essentially changed from feller buncher, skidder, chipper, and B-Train chip trucks to feller buncher, skidder, processor, and log loader. Hardwood logs are processed to 18’ in length for hayrack 8-axle log trucks, and 21’ for 10-axle trucks.

“The block designs and the block roads have changed a bit to accommodate the long length, 10-axle log haul trucks,” says Hee. With in-block chipping, chips were essentially being loaded directly into standard size chip vans. Now, PRL loads logs from roadside on to trucks owned by Peace River Transport, which is responsible for delivering them to the mill.

One of the benefits of the transition away from in-block chipping for PRL has been a lot less daily stress.

“One of the aspects of in-block chipping is that it is very capital intensive and there was a lot of repair and maintenance required with the chippers,” says Hee. “The cost of one of those chippers now is over $2 million. To keep that equipment going, there was mechanical staff on duty 24 hours a day, tied to a chipper at all times. It was very excruciating in terms of the costs in maintaining those mobile chippers.”

There was also a requirement to maintain a standard chip quality from those chippers. With the transition to delivering whole logs and chipping at the mill, Mercer Peace River is now responsible for the chip quality from their new wood room.

Needless to say that PRL has one of the largest equipment fleets compared to any other logging contractor in Canada.

It starts with six Tigercat X870D feller bunchers.

“One of the reasons we have chosen this feller buncher is for the footprint alone,” says Hee. “Given the seasonal component of our business, as we transition into freeze up, we want to be careful not to create any environmental impacts.

The feller buncher’s low impact allows us to get into some areas as freezing occurs.”

The next fleet component is seven Tigercat 632H skidders, followed by six Tigercat 850 carriers equipped with Southstar QS500 processing heads.

Hee says that this size of processor head is a good match for their wood

Albertalogging basket where trees typically measure about 14” in diameter, going up to 20”.

Processing is random length to maximize fibre recovery, but the majority of the processed logs are 18’ and 21’. Incidental softwood from Mercer’s cutblocks is processed into cut-to-length logs, for delivery to area lumber mills.

The softwood logs harvested by PRL for Boucher Bros are tree length, down to a top of about 4.5”, with incidental hardwood processed and transported to Mercer Peace River.

The final step in their logging operation is loading, and PRL’s fleet consists of five log loaders featuring three Tigercat 880 log loaders and two 875 log loaders.

Attachments vary but they are primarily CWS power clams with 12 sq ft grapples.

Tigercat has been the go-to logging equipment brand for PRL since 2017.

“The biggest reasons why they have kind of won the market in our area of northern Alberta is hydraulic flow for production utilization and fuel efficiency,” says Hee. “These are key—and crucial — with our winter logging requirements and the window of opportunity to harvest.”

He adds that PRL relies on the dependability of their Tigercat fleet and the technical servicing provided by Wajax, which is PRL’s Tigercat vendor in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

“The hydraulic flow provides better control for the operator, especially with our minus 20 to minus 30 temperatures,” Hee says. “It’s still sensitive so that what you are trying to provide for control, there is very little hindrance in cold weather.”

Fuel is a huge variable cost for any logging contractor, and any gain in fuel efficiency in equipment operation is a tangible bonus.

“The biggest considerations in logging are fuel and wages,” says Hee, “so fuel efficiency is always something that you are trying to improve upon. The Tigercat telematics platform allows us to monitor our fuel efficiency and produces reports on how each individual machine is operating. It’s very good reporting for use when negotiating logging rates.”

In terms of the processing head selection, he says that there are quality options on the market. The reason they chose the Southstar QS500 processing head is that they are rugged for the environment in which they are used and PRL has found them to be a better fit, particularly for less experienced operators. They also are well-serviced for parts and repair.

While it may not qualify as an obvious transition, one of the biggest challenges

that PRL faces today as a seasonal logger is changing weather patterns. For example, this past November Hee was in the process of moving logging equipment to new locations because of unseasonably warm weather.

“Typically, the weather at this time of year is minus 10,” he said at the time. “Tomorrow, it is supposed to be plus seven.”

He says that there is no doubt that a pattern of warmer winter weather is having an impact on maintaining production flow and the company is finding that it is having to move equipment a lot more to ‘contingent ground’ that is still accessible in reaction to unseasonably warmer weather during the logging season.

Since Peace River Logging is a seasonal logger, they depend highly on their Tigercat equipment for reliability. Lately, because of warmer weather patterns, the equipment has had to move to contingent ground much more frequently.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

35

DEMO International coming up quickly—registration now open!

T

The final site selection was recently held for DEMO 2024, and was a great success.

Above is Peter Robichaud of the Canadian Woodlands Forum, and in the photo below is Mark Cusack of show organizers Master Promotions, both being interviewed for a promotional video. Follow Logging and Sawmilling Journal’s social media for the latest updates ahead of DEMO.

he Canadian Woodlands Forum (CWF) is excited to announce that registration is now open for its flagship event, DEMO International, to be held outside the Ottawa/Gatineau area in the beautiful region of Venosta, Quebec, from September 19-21, 2024.

This world-class event, occurring only every four years, will mark the 14th edition of DEMO International. Over the course of its 55-year history, DEMO has evolved into one of North America’s largest and most unique ‘live, in-woods’ forestry equipment shows. Logging and Sawmilling Journal is one of the media sponsors of DEMO. “We are super excited about DEMO— it will feature the latest in forestry equipment, and we look forward to connecting with everyone in the forest industry from right across the country at this very unique show,” said Anthony Robinson, Publisher of Logging and Sawmilling Journal.

A very successful site meeting was held recently, attended by show exhibitors, says Robinson. “The exhibitors are very excited about DEMO, and seeing their

DEMO Event Highlights:

There will be a huge variety of equipment on display at the DEMO show, including: • See over $100 million in forestry equipment: See hundreds of state-of-the-art machines and cutting-edge equipment in action.

• International Exhibits: Discover products and services from world-wide top manufacturers and suppliers in the forestry sector.

• Large and small scale forestry equipment including forest harvesting , forwarding, biomass, small scale equipment for woodlot management, firewood processors.

• Exclusive new product line reveals: Be the first to see the latest innovations and product launches in the forestry industry.

• Live Demonstrations: Experience realworld applications of advanced forestry machinery and techniques.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

customers, and having their cutting edge equipment at the show.”

The DEMO host this year is SBC Cedar, which operates sawmills in Quebec and New Brunswick. The event will take place on a property in Venosta, located within a forty-five-minute drive north along the Gatineau River.

DEMO International is the flagship event of the Canadian Woodlands Forum, showcasing the latest in forestry technology, sustainable practices, and industry innovations. It brings together professionals, experts, and enthusiasts from around the world to explore the future of forestry.

Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to witness the future of forestry, engage with industry leaders, and participate in educational and interactive experiences.

Register now and be part of North America’s premier forestry event of the year!

Contact Information: 2024 DEMO International Forestry Equipment Show & Conference Website: https://conference/ demointernational.com

• Exciting Loader Competition: Watch skilled operators showcase their talents in a thrilling, high-stakes competition.

• VIP Day Experience – Sept 19 : Enjoy exclusive access to demonstrations, networking events, and meet-and-greets with industry leaders.

• Educational School Programs – Sept 20: Inspiring the next generation with hands-on learning opportunities and interactive exhibits.

• Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry experts, professionals, and peers to expand your network and business opportunities.

• Innovative Technology: Explore the forefront of forestry technology and how it’s shaping the future of the industry.

• Interactive Displays: Engage with handson exhibits that showcase the latest in forestry innovation.

• Family-Friendly Events: Enjoy a range of activities suitable for all ages, making it a perfect outing for the whole family.

Connect with your customers before, during and after DEMO 2024!

Logging and Sawmilling Journal has been working with DEMO 2024 and the Canadian Woodlands Forum for 8 years bringing together the latest in forestry technology from manufacturers across the world.

Logging and Sawmilling Journal and www.forestnet.com have all your marketing needs covered. Connect with your customers through our audience of forest industry professionals, in print, online and via our extensive social media platforms.

Why LSJ • LSJ has been the best-read forest industry publication in Canada since the 1960’s. Our circulation department works hard every day to make sure your customers are reached with information on the most up to date technology and innovations.

50,000 to 55,000

Total targeted reach on all four platforms

14,500+ Monthly Page Views

12,900+

Print Subscribers Canada Wide 4,000 receiving both print and digital issues

5,500+ E-newsletter E-blast Subscribers

20,500+ Social Media Followers

• Best social media presence of any forestry publication.

• Our team of marketing experts can help plan the best promotional strategy for your company before, during and after the show.

After the Show

• Flexible pricing to suit your budget!

LET’S RE-CAP!

Before the Show

At the Show

PRINT ADVERTISING • Advertising in the July/Aug issue of Logging & Sawmilling Journal – include booth location and machines customers can expect to see at the show!

• Sent to readers weeks ahead of showtime.

BOOK VIDEO TIME WITH US! Film crew on site for 4 days during the event—promote your brand before, during and after the show.

DIGITAL ADVERTISING • E-Blast - Custom direct email marketing to 5,500+ forest industry professionals across Canada

• Video clips available to share across your social media platforms.

• Forestnet.com - Banner Ads - your logo, image and booth number at the show.

• ForestNews E-Newsletter - Sent bi-weekly to 5,500+ subscribers ahead of the show

• Onsite interviews with your sales team. Book a timeslot to film your latest machine!

• Logging and Sawmilling Journal will publish a re-cap of all new and noted equipment at the event.

• Collaborate with our videographers to edit and build your videos, shared on our social media and available to you for download.

Ask our sales team today about rates.

• Have a happy customer? Let’s collaborate to do a customer testimonial at the show.

• Have your best technician walk us through your latest technology.

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

Anthony Robinson Owner/CEO/ Advertising Sales

Hannah Robinson Associate Publisher/ Digital Advertising

(778) 991-3500 arobinson@ forestnet.com

(778) 688-9127 hannah@ forestnet.com

37

THE

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION

Modernizing the forest industry

F

PInnovations’ Digital Transformation Offensive (DTO), a strategic initiative to demonstrate the potential of digital transformation with comprehensive field support service, represents an ambitious initiative to modernize and revolutionize the forest industry through the integration of digital technologies.

Our approach This process happens by following three key steps: 1. Equipment optimization and data enhancement: FPInnovations focuses on maximizing the use of existing platforms by guaranteeing data quality and security from the outset. Experts ensure that teams use their equipment (e.g. harvester heads, trucks, sawlines) to its full potential.

2. Encode knowledge into algorithms: FPInnovations develops algorithms that contain process knowledge to make that knowledge easily accessible through modern digital tools.

3. Digital transformation: A suite of solutions based on available data that enables better prioritization of interventions and strategic decision-making based on accurate data analysis.

FPInnovations’ expertise lies in adapting existing equipment and systems, developing digital solutions based on world renowned expertise, and supporting industries in achieving their digital transformation objectives.

DigiHarvester: Support Services for Forestry Contractors As part of DTO’s Harvesting component, steered by the Québec Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE), FPInnovations is actively working with forestry contractors to improve and optimize harvesting operations. Its aim is to accelerate digital transformation by developing and implementing algorithms to continuously monitor these operations. This is done to detect anomalies and identify root causes to optimize operations.

Building on existing work to digitize felling heads, the Harvesting component aims to improve accuracy (calibration and maintenance of felling heads), data standardization, and connectivity in the forest.

It also aims to provide a service using the SIPAD (intelligent remote performance monitoring system) solution.

Providing Connectivity in the Forest FPInnovations supports harvesting contractors in the field through the installation of Starlink satellite antennas on service trucks. This technology enables high speed Internet access in the forest. Thanks to these antennas, workers always have access to technical support from anywhere in the world. It also makes it possible to collect more existing data. For example, harvesters generate a lot of data, but often without Internet access, this data cannot easily be exploited out of the machine. With Starlink, all that data is now quickly available through high-speed connectivity.

KMS 360 by Algorex: Revolutionizing the Kiln Drying process Algorex and FPInnovations want to assist the industry in achieving optimal mill performance by providing access to the latest technological and process advancements. Together, they introduced KMS 360, an advanced kiln monitoring and optimization service designed to elevate the efficiency and quality of kiln drying operations.

This service offers continuous process monitoring (24/7). Automated analysis and anomaly detection helps ensure smooth operations with real-time monitoring and instant notifications of any irregularities. Weekly performance reports help mill staff to stay informed and ahead with detailed, regular insights into their kiln’s performance.

This service also offers experts help upon request. A specialized analytical toolbox gives workers access to advanced tools, tailored for in-depth analysis and optimization of kiln operations. In short, this service aims to improve product quality, improve kiln dryer productivity, provide quick and easy access to wood drying process experts, and support kiln operators.

Through technological innovation and close collaboration with industry partners, FPInnovations is determined to shape the future of the forest industry by integrating the benefits of digital technologies at every stage of the value chain.

To find out more about the various components of the Digital Transformation Offensive, visit https://web.fpinnovations.ca/ digital_transformation/

DigiTransport: Improving Operational Efficiency and Safety The Transport component of DTO, which is due to launch shortly, aims to improve the efficiency and safety of wood transport operations by leveraging existing data from transport trucks and weigh scales with advanced analytics to provide useful information on critical issues in transport operations.

At present, this data (e.g., data on fuel consumption, truck driving and idling times, payload, etc.) is under-utilized. FPInnovations converts its expertise into algorithms to provide continuous, remote support for fleets. By combining data from transport trucks and weigh scales, algorithms will be created to facilitate problem detection.

In short, this part of DTO determines cycle times (supply flows), identifies opportunities to maximize productivity, as well as energy efficiency. In addition, the organization is working on carbon accounting and operating costs. By developing innovative tools and technologies, FPInnovations seeks to optimize transport routes, reduce time on the road, and minimize the environmental impact associated with wood transport.

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Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

The history, results, and opportunities in reforestation of managed Canadian forests urrent forest management and reforestation practices over the past half-century have done an excellent job of renewing forests to the free-togrow stage to maintain a sustainable fibre supply, says Derek Sidders, Program Manager, Technology Development and Transfer at the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC).

“The results of our plantation management strategies over the past 50 years and actions have achieved results well above what we were expecting,” he says. “We have good productivity, our densities in terms of stems per hectare are a bit too high in some cases, but we are definitely being successful in terms of sustainability.”

However, he adds that there are issues as it relates to the tendency to regenerate pure stands because of market demand for certain high value wood products, as well as ignoring managed forests once they achieve free-to-grow status, which can leave them vulnerable to the consequences of a changing climate

such as more intense wildfire, pests and pathogens.

Adjusting future forest management practices based on lessons learned from the past—such as giving greater consideration to regenerating more diverse forests, adopting selective harvest and commercial thinning practices, and committing to longer term management strategies—can deliver multiple benefits in forest health, resilience and enhanced productivity.

“We have a huge country with diversity in our species types and great opportunities for the future,” he says. “But I think where we may be lacking is in not learning and following up on our management practices from our early years to understand the implications of those practices, and then designing our new management to take advantage of those lessons. We carry the ball as far as free-to-grow status, but we may not follow it far enough as it relates to what are the risks, technology progress implications and value opportunities in the future.”

It is important to understand that these

Site 1 - This site features results from some of the Boreal Plains mixedwood management strategies applied in Western Canada by CWFC, featuring White Spruce as the primary species with Trembling Aspen and Balsam Poplar as secondary species, resulting in 200 cubic metres of productivity per hectare 40 years after site preparation, planting and selective crop tree brush control.

Site 2 - Further east, in Ontario, here is an intensively managed 73-year-old Red Pine plantation where the trees have achieved on average 40 cms DBH, measuring 26' to 28' tall, with productivity of 650 to 700 cubic metres per hectare at 500 stems per hectare.

These large, straight stems offer the potential to tap specific markets like utility poles and building logs, in addition to lumber and pulp related to the earlier thinnings.

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI

C

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

are not naturally evolving forests, but are managed forests with natural species that actually exhibit enhanced productivity and reduced rotation cycles in many cases.

The concern is the vulnerability of these stands going forward once they achieve free-to-grow status and are primarily left unattended till mature.

In these photos are a few examples of different management intensities and designs from research and demonstration sites observed by the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre/Canadian Forest Service to meet varying objectives that forest practitioners planning and implementing reforestation strategies may find interesting. They show potential outcomes 35 to 73 years after establishment.

“The economic, environmental and climate resistance values are evident and replicable,” Sidders says.

Share your operational reforestation experience from a 35 year-old plus site with a photo and description to Derek Sidders at derek.sidders@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

Site 3 - This 35-year-old site was siteprepared and seeded with Jack Pine cones, resulting in multiple stems establishing in close proximity to one another and over time thinning out or continuing to fight for space, causing variable stem characteristics and susceptibility to natural elements, thus reducing growth, stem shape and potential value.

39

TECHUPDATE

By Tony Kryzanowski

Horizontal Grinders robust anvil-mount structure helps ease the hard-faced wear edge replacement process.

The HG4000 is equipped with a 536 horsepower Cat C13B T4F/Stage V diesel engine and has a working sound level of 112 decibels. A wireless remote control comes standard with the HG4000, allowing operators to run most machine functions from up to 300’ away. www.vermeer.com

Diamond Z

The high capacity, low maintenance Diamond Z DZH7000 series is a good fit for any large scale wood waste and land clearing grinding operation, says the company. It is the largest portable/mobile horizontal grinder on the market, according to Diamond Z.

Bandit

Bandit introduced its first horizontal grinder, the model 3680, in 1995. Since then, multiple Bandit models have been engineered and manufactured featuring a unique cuttermill for processing a diverse range of material.

Expanding the horizontal grinder line in 2024, Bandit introduced its first hammermill grinder, further enhancing the company’s already expansive line of horizontal grinders.

Serving multiple applications, each grinder easily processes a variety of material including but not limited to biomass, chunk wood, compost, disaster clean-up, municipal solid waste, mulch, orchard recycling, pallets, plastic pipe, shingles, stumps, whole trees, and more.

The company says customers can cut it, chip it, or hammer it with a Bandit horizontal grinder, with three different mill options. www.banditchippers.com

Vermeer

The Vermeer HG4000 horizontal grinder offers robust performance in various applications, including wood waste recycling and landscaping material production, says the company.

With up to 1200 horsepower and production capacity in excess of 1000 yards per hour, the DZH7000 is the machine of choice for the most difficult jobs, including storm duty. Diamond Z says that no other grinder can match its power, high production capability and versatility in difficult conditions. It’s equipped with an internal drive feed roller which allows for easy maintenance access and has less moving parts, all while ensuring minimal spillage and the highest surface torque in the industry.

The DZH7000TK series track-mounted horizontal grinder has all the features and capabilities of the DZH7000 with the added mobility of a track-mounted machine. Its complete transport system easily and safely secures to the grinder, making it ready for transport and avoiding expensive permitting fees. www.diamondz.com

CBI/Frontline Machinery The company says that the unit features the proven cutting performance of the Vermeer patented Series III duplex drum with reversible hammers and tips for extended wear life compared to single-sided designs, while offering bolt-in replacement parts. The hard-faced anvil on the HG4000 delivers impressive cutting action with the drum, and a redesigned 40

The CBI 6400CT is an extreme duty machine engineered for resilience, versatility, and the ability to process highly contaminated feeds such as construction and demolition waste, railroad ties, whole trees, pallets, storm debris, shingles, logs, mulch, slash, and stumps.

Featuring four different swappable rotors to accommodate changing materials and processing demands, the solid steel rotor is designed for grinding contaminated demolition debris, railroad

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

techupdate ties, and municipal solid waste, while the forged drum rotor is designed for forestry debris, mulch and hog manufacturing, and the 2- and 4-pocket chipper rotors are used for producing fuel chips.

The new “cassette-style” clamshell design allows end users to completely swap out rotors faster than any other grinder in its class, according to the company. Frontline Machinery says that

users can transition from grinding to chipping in half the time as before, providing confidence in accepting jobs with various material demands.

From construction and demolition to forestry, mulch, and chipping, the CBI 6400CT is said to deliver more processing possibilities with one machine. www.terex.com/cbi www.frontline-machinery.com

Morbark

Morbark offers a full line of Wood Hog horizontal grinders in a range of sizes, on tracks or tires, diesel or electric powered.

With a wide variety of options available, there is the opportunity to customize the perfect grinder for customer needs. Morbark says that the Wood Hog is the best industrial grade grinder for

processing brush, yard waste, clearing debris, storm debris, construction and demolition waste, other mixed woody feedstocks, and asphalt shingles into saleable products. All Wood Hogs come standard with: the Morbark Integrated Control System (MICS) to maximize production and engine efficiency; a laser-cut, factorybalanced rotor for unsurpassed durability; and an aggressive feed wheel with an internal poclain drive that has no chains or sprockets, for more torque and reduced maintenance. www.morbark.com

Peterson

The Peterson 5710E horizontal grinder is particularly suited for land clearing operations or other applications where mobility is desired. The horizontal grinder is equipped with several features designed to improve efficiency and help operators reduce material handling cost.

The 5710E features a larger rotor that can accommodate

a greater number of grinding bits. The new rotor is eight per cent larger and 19 per cent heavier than the previous model.

More mass means more grinding power. To keep up with this improved power, the screening area has also been increased to allow for greater throughput. Additionally, the grate change process has been simplified.

While the weight and size have been increased where it counts, the machine is lighter overall. In its redesign process, Peterson grinder manufacturer Astec Industries examined how to maximize efficiency and simplicity at each stage of the grinding process. That is evident from the rotor to the screens, and even in the new compression roll cylinders, which offer better down force to help process material as it is fed in the rotor. www.astecindustries.com Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

41

SUPPLIERNEWSLINE Tigercat adds to equipment line with new triangulated harvesting head

Tigercat has added a fifth model to its harvesting head line-up with the new three-wheel-drive 573 harvesting head.

Best suited to medium and large tree profiles, the 573 has a 31” maximum cut capacity and offers optimal performance in 16” to 24” diameter timber. The feed rollers close down to 2.4”, allowing the 573 to smoothly delimb and process smaller diameter trees and thus achieve higher value fibre recovery, according to Tigercat.

Tigercat says that the compact frame design deftly handles poor stem form and contributes to tidy delimbing performance.

The triangulated feed wheel arm configuration operates in locked three-wheel drive. This, combined with timed knife arms, provides the operator with fast picking and positive stem control for high productivity in roadside processing applications. Independently mounted, trailing-arm length measuring ensures reliable tracking and accuracy.

The 573 is standard equipped with continuous rotation for ease of use and superior hose routing and protection. It is recommended for the H250D, 850 and 875E carriers for roadside processing applications and the H822E and H855E carriers for in-stand harvesting. www.tigercat.com

Canfor closes B.C.’s Polar sawmill and suspends reinvestment in new Houston sawmill

Canfor has announced the permanent closure of its Polar sawmill in Bear Lake, B.C., located north of Prince George, and the suspension of its planned reinvestment in Houston, B.C., blaming the persistent shortage of economically available timber and challenging operating conditions in northern B.C. Also, one line of production will be indefinitely curtailed at the Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George.

The Polar sawmill, with a production capacity of about 300 million board feet annually, has been curtailed since January 2024. The permanent closure will impact approximately 180 employees.

“Unfortunately, while B.C. has a sufficient supply of timber available for harvest as confirmed by the Allowable Annual Cut set by B.C.’s Chief Forester, the actual harvest level has declined dramatically in recent years,” said Don Kayne, President and CEO of Canfor. “In 2023, the actual harvest was 42 per cent lower than the allowable cut, a level not seen since the 1960s.”

While this decline is partly the result of natural disturbances— 42

By Tony Kryzanowski

beetle infestations and wildfire particularly—it is also the result of the cumulative impact of policy changes and increased regulatory complexity, Kayne added. These choices and changes have hampered Canfor’s ability to consistently access enough economic fibre to support its manufacturing facilities, and has forced the closure or curtailment of many forest sector operations, including its Polar sawmill.

“With the policy and regulatory landscape in B.C. continuing to shift, it’s difficult to predict the operating conditions that we will face going forward,” he said. “As such, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our plan to build a new state-of-the-art sawmill in Houston, as we are not confident that an investment of this magnitude can be successful at this time.” www.canfor.com

Waratah introduces new H216 hardwood harvesting head

Waratah Forestry Equipment has unveiled the H216 head, a new two-roller head added to its 200 series line-up.

Built for hardwood, Waratah says that the H216 is strong enough to handle the toughest tree forms with accuracy and efficiency. Its simple design with excellent feed power, delimbing, and large cut capacity provide productive tree harvesting.

The H216 is built to tackle the toughest crooked timber to the straightest post wood, and everything in between, says the company. While also naturally capable in softwood, debarking or multi-tree handling, this head is designed for efficiency and agility in thinning and harvesting applications with quick cycle times.

“This head not only provides our customers with reliable performance in hardwood but is equally capable of handling softwood, debarking and everything in between,” says Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah.

Weighing in at 3296 lbs, this 200 series head features a tworoller design ideal for hardwood harvesting, late or final thinnings. Floating roller arms allow for superior and easy tree horizontal movement and easy log transport through the head.

High performance single or multispeed options keep timber moving quickly.

The H216 features the SuperCut 100S saw unit with improved auto tensioning and easier servicing. With large sawing capacity, this head can cut logs up to 29.5” in diameter, while an optional top saw tackles heavy branching. The delimb arms are said to provide excellent delimbing power across all diameter ranges, while drive wheel options offer maximum traction for crooked wood. The H216

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

suppliernewsline harvester head uses the TimberRite H-16 control system for optimum head performance, productivity and measuring accuracy. www.waratah.com

Strongco introduces dedicated rental fleet with new Volvo construction equipment

Strongco has launched a new dedicated rental fleet featuring state-of-the-art Volvo construction equipment. The company says that this strategic move aims to provide their customers with enhanced options to manage their cash flow effectively while ensuring minimal delays and downtime to complete their projects on time and within budget.

The newly unveiled rental fleet boasts a comprehensive inventory of top-of-the-line Volvo heavy equipment, including medium to large size crawler excavators (EC140E to EC500FL5

models), articulated haulers (A30G and A40G), and the 50775 soil compaction rollers.

Strongco says that one of the key advantages of its rental fleet is its availability, ensuring that customers can access the equipment they need when they need it most. This eliminates the need for large capital investments in purchasing equipment outright, allowing businesses to allocate their resources more strategically. In addition, Strongco's rental fleet is designed to help customers avoid delays and downtime on their projects by providing reliable, well-maintained equipment, empowering their clients to stay on schedule and within budget, ultimately enhancing their overall project efficiency and success. www.strongco.com

SMS Equipment now exclusive dealer for TimberPro equipment in eight Canadian regions

Komatsu has granted SMS Equipment exclusive dealer rights for TimberPro equipment in Western and Northern Canada, adding that the Komatsu-owned line of purpose-built industry products bolsters SMS Equipment’s offering of equipment, attachments, parts and service for Canada’s forestry sector.

“We’re delighted to welcome TimberPro to our lineup,” says Darren Wood, Executive Vice-President, Construction, West Regions, at SMS Equipment. “We’re not only growing our forestry fleet, we’re also diversifying our product line to offer more customized solutions to our customers.”

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

to page 44

43

suppliernewsline from page 43 SMS Equipment says that the modularity of TimberPro feller bunchers, harvesters and forwarders makes the line a desirable choice for forestry operators. Combined with Quadco attachments, also available through SMS Equipment, one machine model can be used for many applications. In some cases, multiple functions can be performed at one time on the same machine. Advanced leveling capabilities, tethering hitches and continuous rotation provide additional operator safety, especially in steep slope operations. www.smsequipment.com

TimberPro President Lee Crawford retires After seven years as president of TimberPro, forest industry veteran Lee Crawford has announced his retirement.

This draws to a close Lee’s nearly 40 years in the forestry machinery business.

Pat Crawford, Lee’s father, was a third-generation logger whose company, Shawano, Wisconsin-based Timbco, had become known for its popular line of leveling machines. But Lee never planned on entering the forestry industry, becoming an engineer at the Oshkosh Truck Company in 1982.

In 1985, however, Lee’s father asked him to join the family business at Timbco where he started on the assembly line. Lee eventually become Vice-President in 1992.

In 2000, Timbco was sold to Partek, a Komatsu-owned company. The Crawfords bought back the wheeled division from Partek in 2002 to form TimberPro, which became recognized for its innovative track machine products. TimberPro was acquired by Komatsu in 2019.

Lee says that he feels safe leaving his companies in Komatsu’s hands.

“Komatsu wants TimberPro to grow. Komatsu has the means and ambition to plan and grow our offerings over time,” he says.

“My family was comfortable. Komatsu has the drive to get bigger and bigger and bigger. It’s going to be exciting.” www.timberpro.com

Opticom Technologies releases new wireless capabilities for video monitoring

Opticom Technologies has developed new IP wireless video monitoring capabilities with its AR-5803-900 and AR-5808-900 wireless transmitters.

The new wireless transmitters can be paired with any IP networking camera to transmit video feeds wirelessly to networked monitoring and storage devices. Opticom offers 1.6 km and 7.2 km units, both of which can be used as transmitter or receiver.

One transmitter or receiver can be used for multiple cameras.

Examples of where Opticom customers plan to use these wireless units include video monitoring outdoor areas of a facility 44

and parking lots, on cranes and other moving equipment, and other situations where a hardwire connection isn’t available or cost-effective.

The wireless units are built to meet Opticom’s promise of rugged durability in the harshest industrial environments, like sawmills. They are open platform, so they can be paired with Opticom cameras or any camera with IP networking capabilities. www.opticomtech.com

Former President of BC Lumber Trade Council and CEO of Council of Forest Industries passes

In February, John Allan of Victoria, B.C. ended his brave battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, according to an obituary published in the Victoria Times-Colonist.

He passed surrounded by family, and on his own terms, by receiving Medical Assistance in Dying at the age of 78.

Allan moved to Victoria in 1977 and entered the B.C. Public Service and worked his way up the government ladder until he became a Deputy Minister in 1990. He retired from the Public Service in 1999 and went on to become the President of the BC Lumber Trade Council and CEO of the Council of Forest Industries (COFI), positions he held until 2013 in Vancouver.

During that time, he assisted in the negotiations for the Softwood Lumber Agreement. In 2013, Allan semi-retired again but still worked part-time as a consultant until he was asked to return to the B.C. Public Service to serve once again as the Deputy Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. After more than 25 years in the public service, Allan finally retired again in the spring of 2021.

Kenworth to begin production of Class 8 trucks for new Cummins natural gas engine

Kenworth will begin production of the T680 and T880 models specified with the new Cummins X15N natural gas engine later this year.

The Cummins X15N, powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) or Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), is the industry’s first 15-litre natural gas engine that delivers diesel-like power, range, and performance, says Kenworth, making it appealing for short, regional, and long-haul operations.

The X15N produces between 400 to 500 hp with up to 1850 lb-ft of torque and is compatible with Eaton Cummins Endurant and Allison Transmissions.

“This new engine offering will be a great alternative solution for Kenworth customers seeking to reduce emissions in applications that require the power and performance they’re accustomed to with diesel engines," says Kevin Haygood, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing.

The Cummins X15N meets stringent EPA emission requirements and CARB 2024 Low NOx standards and features up

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

classified to a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy over Cummins’ 12-litre natural gas engine with similar rating and duty cycle. Kenworth is the first major truck manufacturer to offer an engine that meets CARB’s NOx emission standards, says the company. www.kenworth.com

Quesnel, B.C. earns BDO Zone 'A' rating for woody biomass

The B.C. city of Quesnel, Foresight Canada and Ecostrat have announced the issuance of an investment-grade Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone ‘A’ rating for Quesnel and surrounding area.

The Quesnel BDO Zone encompasses a 120-km drive distance from the centre point of Quesnel and is the first ‘A’ rated BDO Zone in British Columbia for forest residues.

The Quesnel BDO Zone features robust feedstock supply chains and infrastructure supported by an experienced forestry workforce. The B.C. Government, along with a network of dedicated orga-

nizations and stakeholders, say they are committed to integrating forest residue recovery into pre-existing value-added supply chains.

"The BDO Initiative will help Quesnel start utilizing the types of low-value residual fibre that is often piled and burned,” says Byron Johnson, City Manager, City of Quesnel. “The large piles that are left in the forest not only increase the risk of wildfire for our community, but this wood could be used for products or energy production.

“We are hoping to attract investors with fresh and innovative ideas to turn this low value waste into products that can be used in Quesnel, the Cariboo Region, and beyond.”

Erin Robinson, Quesnel's Forestry Initiatives Manager, adds that the BDO Zone will help the city create more elegant supply chains by creating products from under-utilized forest waste streams.

This will help to reduce fuel loading in the forest that contributes to forest fires, and help to sustain the forest industry for future generations. www.quesnel.ca

AD INDEX ADVERTISER PAGE A.L.P.A. Equipment......................................29 AGRI-COVER..................................................31 Andritz.............................................................22 B.A. Blackwell & Associates........................ 5 BID Group.......................................................23 Brunette Machinery....................................24 DEMO 2024....................................................25 Gear Centre....................................................31 Hargassner North America......................16 John Deere.....................................................47 Linck.................................................................19 LogOX..............................................................43 McDonough Manufacturing...................17 MNP..................................................................34 Olofsfors............................................................ 7 Ponsse.............................................................13 Promac Equipment Ltd.............................27 Sennebogen.................................................... 2 SMS Equipment............................................. 6 Weaver Auctions..........................................48 Wellons............................................................11 Wood-Mizer...................................................30

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

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thelastword

John Swaan: a forest industry trail blazer, and the godfather of the Canadian wood pellet industry

By Jim Stirling

P

rince George was once known as the western white spruce capital of the world. The city is at the epicentre of British Columbia and was at the creative hub of around 22 per cent of Canada’s softwood lumber production.

Prince George’s economic foundation at the geographic heart of an expanding and vibrant forest industry proved a powerful magnet for people, too. The type of people who recognized the opportunities offered by the rough-edged community and its abundant forests. They were willing to invest their time and hard work which, with a dash of good fortune, could and did yield rich results. Their ideas were to define the futures of the logging and sawmilling sectors far beyond central British Columbia.

A core of the pioneering opportunists fled from the northern parts of the Prairie Provinces fearing quite wrongly a surge of communist sympathies at home. The idea of a wide open, free enterprise Valhalla in the B.C. Interior appealed. They were some of the people who founded enduring sawmills around Prince George which collectively created and refined a new lifestyle for their employees. They also set high standards, the results of which are rooted in today’s highly sophisticated electronic array of log breakdown machines.

A similar standard of evolution happened in the bush. The development of mechanical shears for falling trees is an example. The concept—and its challenges —stirred the creative juices of loggers. Individuals and backstreet machine shops throughout the region mulled the opportunities and challenges offered from coming up with a feller buncher head that would perform more efficiently and be less wasteful of valuable butt timber.

The ideas began with a scrawl on the back of envelopes containing unpaid bills.

They emerged from late night and early morning brainstorming sessions fueled by

cigarette smoke and cheap rye whisky.

Cumulatively, the creative concoction coalesced into today’s sleek harvesting and processing heads.

A more progressive attitude toward the forest land base itself began a hesitant step forward in the region. The provincial Ministry of Forest’s Prince George region began pioneering work on its folio system for forest land use planning. The concept was condemned by many at the time as a waste of money: a costly intrusion into the job of cutting down trees and making money. But the idea survived the criticisms and gradually matured aided by the public’s growing awareness that a forest was more than 2 x 4s in storage.

Harvesting and processing prime quality timber created growing volumes of wood waste. Dealing with the expanding mountains of the stuff became an increasingly urgent challenge. Sawmills used increasing volumes to create energy and the province’s pulp mills had a voluminous appetite for the right quality byproduct.

A provincial ban on incinerating wood waste in beehive burners meant an answer was needed and soon. John Swaan had one.

John and his brothers, Jim and Rob, were farming stock and operated a dairy operation south of Quesnel in the 1980s.

John Swaan had a question: could pelletizing wood for fuel be made as feasible as pelletizing livestock food? It could but not easily. The quest took over the next 30 years or so for Swaan. Along the way, the journey took more twists and turns than an Alfred Hitchcock thriller.

One of the early assists in the development came from a deal offered by Carrier Lumber in Prince George to build a standalone wood pellet mill.

It was a fitting arrangement. Bill Kordyban Senior was one of those entrepreneurs who left the northern Prairies for the promise of Prince George’s forests.

Kordyban began Carrier Lumber in 1951

46

Logging & Sawmilling Journal - May/June 2024

at Wansa Lake, a few miles east of Prince George. Kordyban was a mechanical whiz who developed new sawmill equipment.

He introduced fine kerf sawing and high wood utilization into portable salvage locations like those caused by the rising waters behind the Bennett Dam in B.C.’s northeast, and forest fire salvage sites.

Swaan’s first wood pellet mill proved successful and a new industry was born.

For a series of reasons, Swaan was forced to look overseas for a sustainable wood pellet market to replace the burning of coal for power production. He managed to secure a market in Sweden for his wood pellets. That achievement was followed by others in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

Japan followed in 1989.

Swaan’s persistence was supported by his wife, Trudy. She was also the glue that held together Forest Expo and its earlier incarnations, helping steer the Prince George event to becoming Canada’s leading logging show.

This past October, John Swaan’s contributions were officially recognized by his peers at the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC), an organization he helped form in 2006. He received a lifetime achievement award and was dubbed the “Godfather” of the Canadian wood pellet industry.

The timing was appropriate. The year 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of the first bulk shipment of Canadian wood pellet exports from B.C. to Europe. Swaan was blazing his own trail. No one else had established a template. Swaan later told an interviewer: “I’m sure a lot people thought I was crazy but it was just one challenge after another, and I needed to do what I had to in order to get it done.”

Spoken like a true pioneer. It’s the type of talk that goes down really well in the western white spruce capital of the world.

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