TP 0424 digimag

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Other Hatton-Brown publications: Timber Harvesting • Southern Loggin’ Times Wood Bioenergy • Panel World • Power Equipment Trade

OREGON FACING DANGER SIGNS

Financial outlook, log supply and overall operating dynamics for many mills in the Pacific Northwest are taking a turn for the worse, especially in Oregon where the state has embarked on a new regulatory structure expanding no-cut areas on both private and state forest lands.

The state may be the top U.S. lumber producer right now, but log supply in Oregon the past 30 years or so has been an uneasy balance of private, federal (Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management) and state timberlands. Now, with state and private timber owners taking a regulatory harvest reduction, it’s more important than ever for federal officials to meet—and ideally increase— timber harvest levels to help maintain that balance.

Officials with the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) are sounding the alarm after three mill closures announced in Oregon this year: Hampton Lumber’s Banks mill, Interfor’s Philomath mill, and a two-year sawmill closure announced by Rosboro in Springfield while a new glulam plant is being constructed. In all three cases, the companies involved cited ongoing uncertainty over log supply as contributing to the closure decisions.

Also adding to raw material concerns is the ongoing impact of Oregon’s September 2020 wildfires that burned 971,000 acres of timberland and destroyed 15 billion BF of green timber with more than $30 billion in end-product value, according to an Oregon Forest Resources Institute report.

But perhaps the biggest ongoing 2020 fire impact is the reduction in future timber harvests: between 115-265 million board feet less per year for the next 40 years, according to the report. And almost half the acres burned (46%) were in productive private ownership that’s so important in providing logs directly to mills and to the open log market.

AFRC President Travis Joseph and organization members are urging the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation to take steps to help reverse the trend of more mill closures. This includes more active oversight to ensure the FS and BLM meet and increase timber harvest goals.

Maintaining a healthy and robust forest industry sector is also a key component of addressing federal forest health and wildfire issues. An additional $6 billion outlay to the FS and BLM to increase the pace and scope of forest treatments and stewardship projects hasn’t yielded an uptick in log supply that traditionally accompanies such projects, Joseph says, noting that the BLM’s western Oregon timber sale program this year has been arbitrarily reduced by more than 25%.

The group is also taking the long view on the issue of maintaining a vibrant forest industry sector. The cautionary tale is Arizona, where years of federal forest management neglect allowed forest industry infrastructure to almost disappear. And now, the state is still struggling to develop the timber processing and utilization facilities to make a difference in forest health operations.

There’s also the role of wood building materials and other wood products that sequester carbon permanently and help decarbonization efforts. It’s a sustainable industry that produces sustainable products.

Joseph adds: “If the Federal Government is going to be successful in addressing the current federal forest health and wildfire crises – and protect the extraordinary social, environmental, economic, and cultural values of our public lands –it must sustain and grow the forest infrastructure and related workforces.” TP

HOFFMAN ACQUIRES BESSE FOREST PRODUCTS

The Hoffmann Family of Companies (HFOC), a Florida-based family-owned private equity firm, has acquired Besse Forest Products Group, the longstanding Michigan-based family-run company with 10 manufacturing facilities, including four sawmills, a lumber drying concentration yard, four veneer mills and a cut-to-size

plywood mill.

The transaction adds to HFOC’s vast portfolio, complementing its existing Ferche Millwork operations. With more than 2 million square feet of production facilities and a workforce of more than 1,400, the combined strength of Besse and Ferche positions HFOC as a significant player in the wood products manufacturing industry.

Besse Forest Products mills are located across northern Michigan and Wisconsin.

Greg Besse, right, and Cain Besse will continue to lead operations.

The company was founded in 1966 and has remained 100% family-owned.

“We are excited to partner with Besse as they enter a new chapter under the Hoffmann Family of Companies umbrella,” says Geoff Hoffmann, Co-CEO of HFOC. “With the acquisition of Besse Forest Products Group, we’re not just expanding our footprint but building on a legacy that spans generations.”

Greg Besse, CEO and owner of Besse Forest Products Group, expressed confidence in the acquisition, stating, “The decision to join forces with the Hoffmann Family of Companies was based on their exceptional brand and reputation as a well-run family business. We believe this partnership will not only modernize our operations but also ensure that our legacy continues to thrive.”

Greg Besse will remain as CEO and his son, Cain Besse, will serve as President.

The Hoffmann Family of Companies (HFOC) encompasses more than 100 national brands, employs 9,000 global employees with businesses in 30 countries and 250 locations. The HF Companies’ verticals include Aviation, Agriculture, Financial Services, Hospitality, Business & Professional Services, Industrial, Manufacturing, Marine, Media & Marketing, Real Estate and Transportation.

Since 1958, Ferche Millwork has provided high quality standard moldings and millwork, while headquartered in Rice, Minn.

PYRAMID MOUNTAIN CLOSING SAWMILL

Reports in late March indicate that Pyramid Mountain Lumber plans to close its Seeley Lake, Mont. sawmill. Pyramid announced its board of directors and shareholders unanimously voted “with the heaviest of hearts” to shut the mill and wind down operations as a result of a financial crisis that is

worse than challenges the mill weathered in 2000, 2007 and 2015.

“Among other problems, labor shortages, lack of housing, unprecedented rising costs, plummeting lumber prices, and the cost of living in western Montana have crippled Pyramid’s ability to operate,” the company said.

The mill employed at least 100. Grant Kier, head of the Missoula Economic Partnership, said the announcement is devastating for people who have built

lives and livelihoods around the mill.

“This is a huge community institution and part of their community identity,” Kier said. “It’s a tough blow at the local level and for the community, but it’s also a significant impact on the wood products and forest industry.”

A news release from Pyramid said the company was founded in 1949 and has been family-owned and operated since then. Roger Johnson served as president and general manager of Pyramid for more

than 60 years. Two of his sons, Todd and Steve, currently serve as president/general manager and sales manager, respectively.

Tom Browder, chairperson of the Seeley Lake Community Council, estimated the closure will mean roughly $4 million to $5 million in annual payroll will disappear from the community.

“We just have a serious housing problem in Seeley Lake, and it doesn’t just affect them,” Browder said of Pyramid.

Pyramid reportedly planned to cut off logs on March 31 and run the inventory through the sawmill, then surface and sell all lumber before auctioning off the mill equipment.

“The owners would like to thank our employees, both past and present, for their hard work and professionalism over the years,” Pyramid said. “Their dedication has truly been the difference between Pyramid and its competitors. The owners would also like to thank Seeley Lake and the surrounding communities for their support over the years.”

Fred Johnson (born in Norway) and Oscar Mood traveled from their timber work in Minnesota to Seeley Lake and in the winter of 1949 purchased the Bockmier Mill, renaming it J&M Lumber. In 1958 the company reorganized from the partnership between Johnson and Mood to a corporation owned by the two families and changed its name to Pyramid Mountain Lumber, named for Pyramid Peak that distantly overlooks the mill from the northeast at the southern reaches of the Flathead National Forest.

The Johnson-Mood partnership continued to 2001, when the Mood family sold its ownership to Charlie Parke, a successful logger in the area. Meanwhile, Fred’s son, Roger, ultimately took over leadership of the company from his father.

It was late in 2001 when Pyramid Mountain Lumber considered auctioning off its machinery and laying off workers, but a local bank rallied behind the company and collaborated with USDA Rural Development and other financial sources to put together a loan and credit package.

The company continued to make periodic improvements to mill operations in the years since, including the installation of an automated lumber grading system in 2019, along with other modernizations to the planer mill.

LOGPREP

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted these editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements placed elsewhere in this issue. Please refer to those advertisements for web site and contact information. All statements and claims are attributable to the companies.

BID GROUP

BID’s optimized merchandising system is a game-changer in stem processing. It offers two configurations: transversal and linear, each with unique advantages to process stems into logs, poles, or plywood logs. Its true-shape scanning design allows for precise analysis, ensuring every part of the stem is utilized to its fullest potential. This translates to significant benefits such as simplified integration. With a compact design, BID’s merchandising optimizer is easier to incorporate into existing layouts.

The system also excels at maximizing recovery rates and log value. By efficiently determining the optimal cutting parameters, it ensures that every log produced is of the highest quality, increasing profitability. It optimizes cutting patterns according to downstream equipment, and its fully electric servo positioning guarantees precise log length control.

The product mix configuration in the optimizer allows lumber producers to adapt to market demands. This flexibility ensures that operations can quickly respond to changing market dynamics, in addition to being able to simulate production results with a different product mix and different prices.

Optimized veneer solutions, based on new algorithms, are also among the interesting features. Once a stem is scanned, the software assesses both its shape and roughness to anticipate the presence of large knots. If the surface and shape meet the criteria, the optimizer attempts to position the veneer patterns at various places on the stem. The veneer solution is retained only if its value is greater than the standard sawing solution.

BID’s merchandising system optimizes saw positions based on previous positions, enhancing production rates. With a production speed of up to 700 FPM, it can handle a wide range of diameters, lengths, and wood species. The optimizer also receives a PLC input when metal is detected in the stem. Therefore, the optimizer will avoid cutting the metal, finding an optimized solution to reduce loss.

In a rapidly changing wood processing industry, BID’s products deliver innovation and efficiency. The optimized merchandising system offers technological advancements and practical solutions to optimize wood processing operations. By investing in these stateof-the-art products, sawmills can unlock new levels of efficiency, ensuring a sustainable future.

FIBERPRO

FiberPro specializes in roundwood and dimensional fiber handling systems and processing solutions—log bucking/merchandiser systems, lumber handling, drum debarking systems and log/stem singulation systems. Our mission is to use innovation and personalized service to create value for sawmills, chip mills, and paper mills nationwide.

Our engineers have worked in the industry for decades designing log and lumber equipment. The company’s history and expertise reflect a customized approach, so each client has a system designed for their specific needs and future mill production/recovery expansion plans.

FiberPro’s priority is to supply our clients with the highest performing engineered solution that has the highest safety and reliability standards in the industry. Our latest generation of merchandiser systems have redundant safety systems integrated into the design and oversized components for increased reliability/uptime compared to past designs. It has taken more than 25 years of constant development and improvements to reach the speeds and productivity the latest generation systems are currently achieving.

Our new stem and log singulation systems utilize innovative design changes that include a new heavy duty drive design and are selfcleaning with either a fully plated design or screw fiber feeding technology.

Extremely accurate log gap produced by our screw feeder coupled with our patented cam feeder gives mills a 15-20% production increase over existing feeder systems by just updating the log feeder.

The Log Trimmer saw gallery has an updated lineal guide system that allows the traveling saw modules to be guided on a large center mounted solid steel roundway assembly with a single high efficiency direct interlocking mechanical drive system that allows the modules to travel at speeds in excess of 80 inches per second and accel/decel times in less than a quarter of a second for unparalleled shifting performance, safety and repeatable accuracy. Saw modules are designed with such advanced materials as aluminum and advanced drives like servos for added speed/strength with less mass to move.

FiberPro also offers a wide range of cost-effective parts to better service customer needs.

FINNOS FUSION

Finnos Fusion x-ray scanner boasts an impressive array of features such as complete AI system, automatic species detection, annual ring width detection, fiber density, extremely accurate under bark diameter measurement, foreign object detection, internal quality, type of knot detection (live or dead knot), and rot just to name a few. By detecting these items, it allows sorting for end finished products such as: fingerjoint products, sound knot grades, quality products, clear products, strength grades, lamina grade products.

Full stem tree sorting on merchandising lines using the Finnos Fusion incorporates factors beyond just diameter and length, including knot type (dead or live), rot, annual growth ring width, and 3D log contour. Log sorting lines can sort by length, quality, under bark diameter, true shape thanks to 3D imagery, sorting for saw line cutting patterns.

With thorough lead insulation for radiation protection and robust climate management via integrated air conditioning and heating systems set to keep components at 20° C, our securely fastened sandwich configuration leaves no room for concern regarding excessive heat or cold-induced component failures.

By implementing the advanced Finnos Fusion log scanner, forward-thinking sawmills are seeing enhanced yields on average 2%5%, leading directly to substantial financial gains of $1.09-$3.28 USD per cubic of logs received and a flawless track record of repeated orders from sawmill groups.

MDI

MDI is proud to present our latest model, the TWA5000-X Series Metal Detector System. Setting a new standard in metal detection technology, this scanner is revolutionizing the industry by providing unmatched precision and reliability. The TWA5000-X delivers the best metal detecting capabilities to the sawmill industry, ensuring superior product quality and operation efficiency.

For nearly 60 years, Metal Detectors, Inc. has provided excellence in industrial solutions for the sawmill industry. In the dynamic landscape of the industry, efficiency, safety, and unparalleled customer service are paramount. MDI has the expertise to understand these critical needs and offers cutting edge industrial metal detectors, specifically tailored to the sawmill sector, that will integrate into existing sawmill workflows.

At the core of sawmill operations lies the challenge of processing vast amounts of timber, swiftly and efficiently. However, this process can be jeopardized by the presence of metallic contaminants within the wood or those introduced into the conveyor line. Our metal detectors quickly identify the presence of metal before it inflicts damage to your valuable machinery or compromises the quality of your product.

Our advanced metal detectors systems are meticulously engineered to meet the rigorous demands of a sawmill environment. MDI employs state-of-the-art scanning technologies, environmental shielding and intelligent detection algorithms, to give our detectors unparalleled sensitivity and accuracy. Thus, ensuring the accurate detection of metal contaminants amidst the most challenging of applications.

Exceptional customer service is a commitment of MDI from day one. From initial consultation to installation and ongoing support, our dedicated team stands ready to assist you every step of the way. We understand the unique challenges of the sawmill industry and tailor our products to meet your specific needs. Our superior technology and responsive technical support ensures that your metal detector investment will yield maximum returns and efficiency.

Invest in MDI metal detectors today and elevate your sawmill operations to new heights of productivity, safety and peace of mind. In an industry where precision, reliability, and exceptional customer service are non-negotiable, Metal Detectors, Inc. stands as your trusted partner.

MEBOR

Mebor is one of the biggest European sawmilling machinery manufacturers as well as the leader in wide blade horizontal sawmills. Until today it has supplied machines to more than 70 countries and gained experience with all sorts of wood and working conditions. Originating from a sawmill business the Mebor team understands the needs and problems of sawmills, which makes Mebor competent in advising customers on how to improve their production—providing machinery for small, medium and bigger scale sawmills—from a small sawmill to complete sawing lines. Amongst them is the log debarking machine, Mebor SLH 1200.

The heavy-duty, high-capacity machine features remote control and automatic operation, so constant presence of the operator is not required. The 27,000 lbs. (12 t) machine is equipped with a simple scanner to recognize the position and diameter of the log. According to the log diameter the log is debarked automatically at a suitable speed. After the log is debarked, the debarking head returns to its initial position automatically. The debarking process is therefore entirely automatic and does not require an operator to be present full time. In case of bad-shaped logs manual intervention from the operator is possible. Large, toothed wheels provide good grip. The teeth on the wheels can also be replaced.

A 50 HP butt-end reducing unit is available as an option. The depth of the reduction is set automatically. Both operations, debarking and butt-end reducing, can be executed simultaneously and work in automatic mode.

The Mebor SLH 1200 can process logs up to 4 ft. (1200 mm) in diameter. The debarking head with knives is powered by a 30 HP motor. Hydraulic pressure and debarking depth can be adjusted. Wide range of additional options and equipment include log loading decks, log sorting and cross cutting systems, metal detecting systems, bark conveyors and more.

All Mebor machines are equipped with high quality and reliable components from worldwide present and renowned manufacturers.

MELLOTT MANUFACTURING

Mellott Manufacturing, known for its brand of log and lumber handling equipment, has been expanding its product line to offer more complete systems.

Mellott offers several models and sizes of rosserhead-style log debarkers. Like the rest of the company, over the years Mellott debarkers have continued to evolve. The company’s most popular models are the LMR 48 in. and LMR 36 in. debarkers. Mellott debarkers are ruggedly built and are of heavy-duty construction. Features include cast steel alloy bull wheels, 3-7/16 in. shafts with urethane lined bearings and replaceable inserts, and remote lubrication system. The shock cord arrangement on the head and proportional joysticks allow smooth control to follow the contour of the log.

Mellott also offers the Model 70E Log Flare Butt Reducer. It is designed and built with the same rugged quality as the LMR debarkers and as all the Mellott product lines. The log flare butt reducer is designed to be added to a mill infeed system to reduce log handling problems and improve productivity. The butt reducer has an automatic control system with the option of a wireless remote control.

With the ring debarkers gaining popularity due to their increased production, the Mellott LMR debarker as well as the log flare butt reducer are being used in conjunction with some ring debarkers. Installed ahead of the ring debarker, the removal of butt flares and oversized knots provides a more efficient debarking system. Then the log is transferred through Mellott heavy duty log decks to infeed and outfeed log troughs specifically designed to work with the ring debarker. A belt conveyor with a MDI metal detector system is an option that can be added to the conveyor line. Mellott engineers design a custom layout for each project.

Whether your company is replacing a machine or putting in a completely new system, Mellott Manufacturing can supply quality, rugged equipment that is designed and built to provide reliable, durable performance. All Mellott equipment is designed and built by Mellott with an experienced staff of sales, mechanical and controls engineering along with a knowledgeable customer service team.

LOGPREP

MID-SOUTH ENGINEERING

Optimizing the log merchandising operation involves leveraging scanning technology for accurate analysis, designing handling systems to accommodate different timber characteristics, selecting appropriate feed systems based on scale and long-term cost-effectiveness, and considering total operating costs over the equipment’s life cycle. These considerations can help improve efficiency, maximize value, and reduce overall costs in sawmill operations. Some specific things to consider include:

—Scanning Technology

l Utilizing laser scanning allows for accurate analysis and segmentation of stems.

l Accurate measurement and merchandising of stems are crucial for maximizing volume and value.

l Scanning and optimized cutup systems can significantly increase both volume and value, depending on physical characteristics like taper, stem length, sweep, and crook.

l Incorporating scanning technology before or after the debarker is beneficial for enhancing efficiency and productivity.

—Log/Stem Handling

l Logs and stems vary in form and species, requiring tailored equipment and layouts.

l Design considerations should include managing the weight of logs, inertia during conveyance as well as sweep, and crook.

l Limiting drops and turns during handling helps minimize inefficiencies and can increase the useful equipment life by reducing wear and tear.

—Feed System

l Choosing between rubber-tired feeding and log cranes depends on the scale and long-term plans of the operation.

l Log cranes are more cost-effective for larger operations over time but may not be feasible for smaller ones initially.

l Planning for potential expansion allows smaller operations to incorporate log cranes in the future.

l Traffic patterns of log trucks should be considered when designing the log processing layout to optimize efficiency and safety.

Mid-South offers project planning and design expertise tailored to the specific needs and scale of any operation which is essential for maximizing productivity and minimizing costs in your log merchandising operation.

TS MANUFACTURING

TS Manufacturing has been building log handling and merchandising systems since its inception more than 50 years ago. Like everything in the sawmill industry the core design has undergone a number of changes and improvements over that time.

Our current generation of log merchandising saw systems are based around electric actuation and control, with the complete removal of hydraulics. The overhead merchandising mechanism is powered by closed loop electric positioning and electric crank systems providing Zero Shock for high cycle rates and durability.

Historically, TS Manufacturing has designed its merchandising systems to handle the needs of pallet mills and small to medium sized sawmills, where getting the maximum recovery out of each log is critical, and log lengths shorter than 8 ft. are common. While our Dual Line Optimized merchandising systems are able to provide more than 13 pieces per minute production rates, many of our customers require simpler, lower production systems, often with piece sizes as low as 30 in. long.

Coupling the TS Merchandiser with our preferred optimization partner allows us to couple our fenceless positioning technology and Crank Actuation to minimize cycle travel and reduce movement for reduced maintenance cycles. Available with integrated waste handling and log sorting systems, TS merchandisers are available to handle logs up to 36 in. in diameter, and have been used to recover grade logs out of stems that would otherwise go to the pulp mill.

TS Manufacturing offers a complete line of machinery, controls and software to fit your mill.

USNR

USNR is proud to offer the industry’s most accurate high-production merchandising system featuring the LogPro-brand merchandiser. USNR’s fully integrated solution maximizes value and volume recovery from each stem. Our experience with technology for integrating mechanical equipment, PLC controls, scanners, and optimization is second to none.

USNR merchandising systems are available in transverse and lineal configurations. Transverse bucking is a unique and innovative solution that has proven to be extremely efficient merchandising stems at high rates of speed. It can be a better fit for some mills, reducing the footprint and saving on building costs. The lineal orientation is more widely accepted in some regions and has many more installations.

Transverse scanning with Lasar2 is a great option when space limitations for a linear scanning layout cannot be overcome. Lasar2 is ideal for transverse bucking applications as well as carriages, end-dogs, and close-coupled sawing systems. Immune to high levels of ambient light, Lasar2 rapidly scans logs and stems with unparalleled resolution and data density.

The BioLuma 3900L scanning sensor delivers the highest speed, ultra-high density (UHD) laser profiling for the most demanding lineal applications. It’s perfect for lineal bucking, log lines, shape sawing gangs, and lineal edgers. Both sensors are sawmill-ready, easy to install, and easy to maintain.

USNR’s Bucking Optimizer features full 3D modeling capabilities to let you capture the maximum value from every stem. It has a well-planned interface and parameter setup that offers more features and functionality than any other system.

The LogPro-brand merchandiser has been refined for safety, performance, reliability, and low power consumption. Its advanced electric design delivers smooth and accurate bucking at high piece/log counts. The all-electric design reduces energy consumption by at least 40% over previous models.

USNR provides everything you need to build an impressive and productive operation, including infeed conveyors, stem kickers, stem pushers, inclined lug chain conveyors, traveling saw carriages, and outfeed belt conveyors, along with our renowned scanning and optimization solutions. Creative process control options like MillTrak, the vision-based measurement system, optimize log flow during processing and communicate with downstream optimizers.

Contact us today to learn more about this powerful combination for the log yard.

TAKE AIM CONFERENCES

ATLANTA, Ga.

More than 700 wood products industry producers, equipment technology providers, consultants and others participated in the Wood Bioenergy Conference & Expo and the Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo—two conferences held back-to-back—at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park in Atlanta, Ga. in mid-March.

The events are hosted by Wood Bioenergy and Panel World magazines, affili-

ates of Timber Processing Georgia Research Institute.

Combined, the events included 60 presentations and 150 exhibitors in the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni. While tailored to the wood-to-energy and structural and non-structural panel industries, there was significant discussion pertinent to the lumber manufacturing industry.

Some presentation highlights from PELICE:

Greg Lewis, VP at Forest Economic Advisors (FEA), painted a positive por-

Greg Lewis

dian SF home since 2021. However, he added that U.S. housing starts have been well below underlying demand of 1.6 million for more than a decade.

He said supply side constraints will prevent housing starts from rising more, noting that buyers expect prices or interest rates will decline if they wait, in addition to issues with labor availability. But he noted that inflation has retreated substantially from its recent peak, though concerns remain. However, housing starts will tick up slightly in 2024 to 1.44 million (single-family and multifamily both edging upward), followed by continued increase in 2025 to 1.56 million (again both segments increasing).

He noted that U.S. housing stock has aged considerably, that almost half of U.S. owner-occupied homes were built before 1980, and only 9.4% were built between 2010-2021.

Stuart Gray, recently named president and CEO of Roseburg, addressed the company’s successful history, pointing to a values-based culture, vertical integration, strategic diversification, financial ingenuity, a long-term perspective, and innovation.

Gray read a passage from Lencioni: “If we can restore the collective attitude that leadership is meant to be a joyfully difficult and selfless responsibility, I am convinced that we will see companies become more successful, employees more engaged and fulfilled, and society more optimistic and hopeful.”

He addressed the five behaviors of

Roseburg’s cohesive team model: trust, conflict, commitment, accountability and results, and pointed to the company’s values-based culture that takes care of its team members and its customers. “Great relationship with team members and customers drive great results.”

He reviewed Roseburg’s integrated model of Timberlands and Manufacturing, and noted that in the past two decades Roseburg has expanded from the company’s 88-year-old base in the Northwest to the Eastern U.S. and Canada, supported by new plants, product diversification and sales share diversification.

He pointed to the company’s $1 billion strategic investments plan, including a new sawmill in North Carolina (Roanoke Valley Lumber), new LVL plant in South Carolina, new MDF plant under construction in Dillard, Ore. and numerous, ongoing modernization projects to plywood facilities in Oregon.

He described the Roanoke Valley Lum-

overcome some obstacles to be nearing completion.

He also emphasized the importance of personnel relations, noting the company’s Legacy Health & Wellness operation, and numerous family-friendly benefits and industry leading employee-development programs. He said some famous company failures have been a result of poor employee management.

He addressed Artificial Intelligence and said “it will transform our manufacturing process, making us re-think how we make our products.”

Nick Milestone, vice president Projects & Construction, Mercer Interna-

Stuart Gray

Roy O. Martin, III

company’s current expansion in the solid wood space with a substantial investment in mass timber, pointing to its purchase of the former Katerra CLT facility in Spokane, Wash. and more recent purchase of the Structurlam operation including a new facility in Conway, Ark. He said Mercer accounts for 35% of mass timber production in North America.

He said Mercer offers a unique value proposition: an integrated technical building partner with robust technology systems and large-scale buying power. He said mass timber supports good de-

sign, efficient construction, healthy communities and environmental responsibility. He noted numerous mass timber attributes over concrete, such as speed of construction, sustainability, aesthetics, reduced waste. “Per square foot, CLT significantly reduces the carbon footprint of new buildings in comparison to structural concrete.”

He described the benefits of the mass timber products glulam, cross-laminated timber, and laminated veneer lumber, and described the manufacturing process and performance testing specifications. He said Mercer uses Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) as a framework to facilitate its partnerships with customers. He also pointed to tech-

Nick Milestone

Paul Oesterreich

from those processes and its permanent geologic sequestration.

He announced that the project, entitled Louisiana Green Fuels, at the Port of Columbia in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, now has a new partner, Sumitomo Corp. of Americas, in a joint development agreement in which SCOA will take an anchor position and lead the formation of a Japanese-based investment consortium aimed at the funding the majority of development capital. The new funding influx has prompted Strategic Biofuels to change its primary renewable fuel product to sustainable aviation fuel, and that SCOA intends to provide a 20-year offtake for the approximately 640 million gallons of renewable fuels produced as well as all state and federal renewable fuel credits.

He said achieving net carbon zero requires net carbon negative SAF to blend with carbon positive SAF at the ratio for example of three gallons of Louisiana Green Fuels SAF plus one gallon of Jet A to equal net carbon zero. He said the plant will use Fischer Tropsch biomass gasification and produce SAF plus Naphtha at 32 million gallons per year. The air permit was issued last year.

He expects 1 million tons per year of plantation forest thinnings to feed the biorefinery and 1 million tons per year of sawmill waste for the biomass power plant, and he noted that 40% more tons of wood is grown per year than harvested in their supply area.

ject cost is $2.9 billion with commercial operation anticipated for 2028.

Oesterreich said Caldwell Parish is just the beginning as Phase 1, with Phase 2 adding at least two plant sites in southern Louisiana, Phase 3 with at least three more in the Southeast U.S. and ramping up to more than 480 million gallons per year of SAF.

He said SAF production provides a new use for forestry feedstocks, especially with the ongoing decline in demand for pulpwood.

No speaker brought down the Wood

Bioenergy house quite like Scott Dane, Executive Director of the American Loggers Council, with his declaration that “Biomass is sexy!” He told of how green initiatives such as SAF and reducing forest fuel loading to reduce wildfires have the attention of policymakers and corporate executives alike.

Dane noted that the bioenergy sector represents the greatest opportunity to expand the forest products industry and overall utilization, and to help replace current pulp log markets that are faltering in certain areas.

biomass for energy enables an opportunity to establish more collaborative relationships between biomass producers; and that longer term contracts with mutually protective costs causes can provide both ends of the supply chain with more

without some seriously carbon negative policies or activities, and that’s one of the many trends now driving demand for greener feedstock sources such as biomass.

Looking at renewable energy trends overall, Walker noted that solar is receiving significant investment, considering that solar energy costs have decreased 80% in the past 15 years. Rayonier views solar as highest potential near-term opportunity, while longerterm are carbon markets and fiber for bioenergy/biofuel (BECCS and SAF for example). He said more than 40% of U.S. electric capacity additions during 2023-2025 will be utility solar.

Demand for CCS is increasing significantly, Walker noted, but structural factors are constraining, such as a four-year plus process for permitting, limited existing CO2 pipeline capacity, and simply cost-prohibitive economics.

Global demand for pellets increased 300% from 2012 to 2024, from 6 million to 24 million metric tons, Walker said, yet in the U.S., pulp mill and machine closures in the past five years represent more wood consumption than the whole U.S. pellet industry combined.

Biomass is readily available as a key source of decarbonization for a variety of applications, Walker said, and is a solid choice considering the feedstock is part

Seth Walker

Scott Dane

of a mature supply chain with proven logistics and also fits well with coal-burning facilities.

Biomass could also see increased demand as a result of more solar and wind capacity coming on-line in the future, Walker added, as additional baseload power sources are needed to back up such systems and step in for retired coal plants.

He offered several forestry perspectives: typical U.S. forest management produces 50% sawlog material in the U.S. South and 80-90% sawlogs in the Pacific Northwest; current SAF subsidies

require RFS compliant feedstock, which is limited to slash and first thinnings; dedicated energy crops often require flat and expensive agricultural land and end up more expensive than pulpwood from existing forestry operations.

He offered scenarios to “optimize the bioeconomy,” including a “GREAT” stand example, where less expensive open pollinated seedlings are planted at a higher density in pre-planned take-out rows with controlled pollinated seedlings. providing for additional savings in fertilizer and other treatments.

1,600 primary forest products mills, 1.1 million jobs, contributes $251 billion to the South’s economy and accounts for $100 billion in forest products and markets around the world.

Preston further broke down the numbers for Georgia and said employment is 55,418 in the forest industry, total commercial roundwood production is 47 million green tons and timber growth is 50% higher than timber harvests annually on Georgia forests. He estimated 17.1 million dry tons of annual forestry biomass for bioenergy use in Georgia. He said the current pine sawmill capacity is 4.5 billion BF in Georgia, with announced mill expansions expected to increase it to 5.125 billion BF soon.

He looked at challenges for the Southern region. Between 1997 and 2021 the U.S. South went from 103 to 73 pulp mills, not including some recent losses, and that Georgia had lost 10% of its pulp production in recent years. He pointed to pellet mills as being able to help with some of this loss, taking in first-thinning pulpwood. He also mentioned that the South from 2000-2020 showed an increase of 27% in population, putting pressure in certain locations on traditional timber management and even making it no longer viable.

He referred to the initiative Keeping Forests, a group of organizations dedicated to market-based forest conservation. TP

Dru Preston

DANISH MILL ENHANCES PERFORMANCE

Sawmill improvements come with CC-Link IE.

When Dansk Træemballage

A/S (DTE) looked at how to increase the precision and productivity of its sawmill, one of the major challenges was to establish the right automation control network. As the biggest producer of wooden packaging in Denmark, the plant includes more than 100 inverter drives, all of which needed to be controlled simultaneously and in real-time. The technology used to address this challenge was CC-Link IE, an open gigabit Ethernet designed specifically for industrial automation tasks.

DTE’s sawmill is located in Ribe, Denmark and dates back to 1581. The company has called itself Dansk Træemballage (Danish Wooden Packaging) A/S since 1989, when Haastrup Træemballage (Haastrup Wooden Packaging) on Funen merged with Ribe Emballage (Ribe Packaging).

Ribe is now the mainstay facility for the company’s pallet production activity. Each day approximately 35 trucks bring conifer logs to the saw line to produce lumber, resulting in more than 300,000 m3 of raw timber being processed every year. This is then exported or distributed across DTE’s multiple production sites to obtain 150,000 m3 of finished wood that is used to assemble crates and pallets.

The sawmill comprises a number of stations, which turn logs into rough-cut timber and eventually finished lumber by performing debarking, profile cutting, sawing, sorting and stacking activities. All these stages require high-quality, reliable and responsive inverter drives to correctly position and power processing equipment such as grinding rolls and saw blades.

“Running a sawmill means continuously improving the speed and productivity to get the most out of the raw materials. A quality finish is also particularly important for DTE, as we mainly focus on the food industry, which has strict standards on the end quality of the crates and pallets,” Orla Poulsen, Owner of DTE, explains.

➤

The sawmill comprises a number of stations preparing lumber for processing into pallets.

To keep operations at the site in Ribe smooth and efficient, DTE needed a communication network technology able to connect the inverters to PLCs and ensure that the machines could instantly adjust their parameters for optimal performance. Thus, the company appointed Hans Folsgaard as its technical partner to upgrade the plant automation system.

Carsten Olesen, Technical Manager at Hans Folsgaard, agrees with Poulsen: “Accuracy is fundamental. This is why DTE asked us to find a fast network technology.”

Effective high-speed transfer of data creates a highly responsive system. Lars Venborg, Technical Manager at DTE, comments: “In order to improve the quality of our lumber and increase our productivity, we wanted better precision and a faster reaction from the variable frequency drives across the processing line. The old network had become slow by comparison and could no longer support our manufacturing needs.”

The choice of which network solution to use was immediate for Folsgaard—the team selected the Ethernet technology

with the largest bandwidth available— CC-Link IE. This provides data transfer rates of 1 Gbps for high-speed communications. Also, by offering a maximum of 254 stations per network, the solution could accommodate all the variable frequency drives across the saw line as well as supporting future growth.

Tom Burke, Global Strategic Advisor of the CC-Link Partner Assn. (CLPA), explains: “CC-Link IE is the world’s first and only open gigabit Ethernet for automation. As such it offers higher performance capabilities than any other industrial Ethernet. DTE is using CCLink IE to build a very large network of inverters that operate the sawmill. The result is higher productivity and increased business competitiveness as quality and output both rise, without changing the mechanical aspects of the plant machinery.

“It is very important that DTE can get the maximum yield out of each log. By benefitting from the high-speed response time and bandwidth that gigabit Ethernet offers, the machines on the saw line can assess the dimensions of each log as it goes through the mill very accurately and in real-time. In this way, DTE can make the most of its raw materials.”

By choosing CC-Link IE, DTE will also benefit from an easy-to-use system that simplifies management and maintenance in the future. “It is very easy to work with CC-Link IE. When we chose this solution, we also considered maintenance activities and the future of the sawmill. It will be very easy to replace or add inverters, when required, as we will not have to change anything in the software setup,” Venborg adds.

Not every network offers such a flexible platform to build upon, according to Venborg: “This was not the case with our existing system: We had to modify the software every time we replaced an inverter. As a result, we used to struggle with downtime, and we always needed both technicians and programmers to replace or add a drive, affecting uptime and productivity.”

CC-Link IE technology quickly proved its worth, with DTE instantly reaping the many benefits of the network implementation. Poulsen concludes: “CC-Link IE will help us to continuously improve the productivity and performance of our sawmill. Even better, we also are achieving this in a cost-effective manner.” TP

This article was written by Thomas Burke, Global Strategic Advisor, CC Link Partner Assn. (visit cc-link.org), and submitted by Ripple Effect Communications (visit rippleeffectPR.com).

SECOND LOOK ERIN GO BRAGH

You may have seen our cover story in the November issue on Laois Sawmills in Portlaoise, Ireland. We thought a few more

Roseburg Names Orozco Strategic Business Director

Roseburg annouced that Nadine Orozco has been promoted to Director of Strategic Business Development. She has served as manager of strategic business development since 2022, and has been deeply involved in key company projects, including the recent sale of Roseburg’s Simsboro, La., particleboard plant

to Kronospan and the company’s historic $700 million investment in Oregon manufacturing.

“Nadine has shown tremendous growth as a leader in her time at Roseburg. She understands our business, our culture, and our goals,” Roseburg Vice President of Corporate Strategy and External Affairs Eric Geyer says. “She has the knowledge and strategic mindset necessary to succeed in her new role. I am

excited to see her continued growth and increased responsibility.”

Orozco will lead execution of Roseburg’s strategic initiatives to drive company growth, diversification, and profitability. She will facilitate internal and external teams to develop, evaluate and oversee projects including acquisitions and partnerships, while providing strategic analysis for the company’s executive team and Board of Directors.

Orozco joined Roseburg in October 2012 after earning her master’s degree in Wood Science and Engineering from Oregon State University. She holds a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration and Management from Northland College. During her time with Roseburg, she has held positions of increasing responsibility within manufacturing operations, sales and marketing, sustainability, corporate compliance, and business development.

Georgia Ports Continues Container Expansion

Georgia Ports Authority approved contracts totaling $65.6 million for container yard work at the Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal, a 200-acre facility just downriver from GPA’s main container port. The board approved three project components, including earth compacting to prepare the site to hold container stacks, removal of a former bridge pier and preliminary utility installation behind the wharf structure.

The work will be funded through revenue bonds GPA issued in 2022.

Previously approved upgrades at Ocean Terminal include the purchase of eight ship-to-shore cranes, refurbishing the wharf structure, and construction of an overpass for direct access to US 17. When all work is complete, Ocean Terminal’s annual capacity will grow from 300,000 20 ft. equivalent container units to more than 1.5 million TEUs.

Stiles Machinery Appoints Kellar As President

Stiles Machinery named Barry Kellar as its new President. Kellar will oversee North American operations of the HOMAG Group, which includes more than 650 employees across Stiles Machinery, HOMAG Canada, and HOMAG Machinery North America.

Dr. Daniel Schmitt, CEO of the HOMAG Group, comments, “Barry

brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in manufacturing to the position, which will complement an already exceptional team at Stiles. Through Barry’s leadership and dedication to customer centricity, I am convinced that Stiles will continue to thrive as a market leader in our industry.”

Kellar comments: “The foundation of parent HOMAG as a world-renowned manufacturer of solutions for the woodworking industry, coupled with our customer-centric approach to the market, confirms to me we have the right capabilities to deliver the value our customers expect.”

Drax Group Allies

With Molpus Woodlands

Carbon removals and renewable energy company Drax Group has partnered with Mississippi-based Molpus Woodlands Group in an agreement that will provide Drax with an option to purchase sustainably sourced woody biomass to fuel its bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) operations in the U.S. Southeast.

Drax will have the option to take up to 1 million green tons per year of sustainably sourced fiber under a long-term fiber supply agreement. This supply will anchor Drax’s BECCS developments in the region, which will generate renewable baseload power to contribute toward U.S. energy independence while permanently removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“The renewable power produced through BECCS will contribute to a more diverse and resilient U.S. power grid, while supporting hundreds of jobs across the U.S. South, particularly in rural communities,” says Arabella Freeman, Senior Vice President of Biomass Strategy at Drax.

The fiber to be provided through Molpus meets Drax’s high sustainability standards, enabling the production of highquality carbon dioxide removals (CDR) credits that can be purchased on the voluntary carbon market to help decarbonize other organizations and industries.

Sustainable fiber is sourced from lowgrade roundwood including forest thinnings and residues left over from timber harvesting. Low-grade roundwood is not suitable for sawmilling, and BECCS can provide a valuable new market for this forestry byproduct.

This partnership with Molpus represents a key milestone toward Drax real-

izing its intent to become a global leader in carbon removals through the implementation of BECCS technology, with the goal of capturing 6 million metric tons of carbon a year in the U.S.

Drax’s new and future BECCS projects could also result in hundreds of permanent jobs, with thousands more supported during construction and through the supply chain. Landowners will also be incentivized to practice sustainable

forest management to improve the health and resilience of forests for generations to come.

“Drax shares our passion for responsible forest management and, in bringing BECCS to the Southeastern U.S., will provide a valuable use for the fiber sourced from sustainable forest management practices, lumber production, and other related industries,” says Terrell Winstead, President and CEO at Molpus.

Ransford Automates Post-Pointing Line

Charles Ransford & Son is a producer of British timber products operating on a 38 acre site at Bishops Castle in Shropshire. Fencing and landscaping products represent the lion’s share of its production. The 55 employees work on a single shift and deal predominantly with redwood.

Ransford invested in an automated post-pointing line from Kallfass to increase productivity in fence and gate post production by reducing manual work. The previous manual post-pointing and feeding of the incising system had been a very time-consuming and laborintensive manual process.

The post-pointing line starts with a longitudinal push-off destacking with stick stripping, followed by an automated feeding of an incising system. Before incising, bad quality wood is marked manually with luminous chalk. After incising, a lumi sensor on the sorting conveyor detects the colored marked wood and opens a flap for disposal via a chute.

The zero point alignment takes place before the post pointing station. Four circular saws with a maximum 200 mm cutting depth point the posts on all four sides, with pieces turned three times automatically between saws. A radius milling cutting station is designed for round-topping of square or rectangular posts, complete with clamping operation. Two motors, one turning in and one against feed direction, save the quality without tears at the edge. This station can process five to six pieces per minute.

The sawn posts are stacked afterward in single or multiple lengths with automatic stick placement at a rate of five layers per minute. The already existing final stapping operation was integrated by Kallfass.

Previously, the manual process to produce a four-way pointed post measuring 125 x 75 mm would take three operators 30 minutes to produce a pack of 126

Kallfass post-pointing line transforms operation.

MACHINERYROW

pieces. Now it can be done in 5-10 minutes. The round-topping and incising process is also now considerably quicker. According to Ransford, it used to take two hours to complete manual incising and round-topping process for a pack, as opposed to approximately 10 minutes on the Kallfass line. Instead of producing order by order, Ransford now batch produces and holds more in stock of the more popular products.

The quality of the finish is very important, particularly with gateposts as a visible feature. On the new line, the machine guarantees every cut is the same. That is the quality Ransford strives to achieve.

Article and photo provided Kallfass. Visit kallfass-online.com

Hilmer Andersson Invests In Drying

Swedish family owned sawmill company Hilmer Andersson has invested € 4 million in wood dryers from Valutec, including a FB continuous kiln and three batch kilns.

“Over the years we have developed

more and more from a traditional sawmill to a further processing industry. This has meant increased quality requirements and with this investment we will increase the quality output on every piece,” says Nils Andersson, production manager, Hilmer Andersson.

Hilmer Andersson, which today saws 220,000 m3 (94MMBF) annually, will after investment have a drying capacity of almost 300,000 m3 (128MMBF). An excess capacity of the dryers means that Hilmer Andersson becomes more flexible and can saw what the market demands.

“The current market situation has meant that less went to the construction trade and more towards dried timber exports. Thanks to excess capacity in the dryers, we can now quickly adjust and cut exactly what the sales department wants to sell,” Andersson says.

This is the fourth investment in wood dryers from Valutec that Hilmer Andersson has carried out since 2015. When the new dryers are in place, Hilmer Andersson will have one of Europe’s most modern drying parks consisting of a TC continuous kiln, FB continuous kiln and 11

MACHINERYROW

stainless batch kilns.

“We only have positive experiences from previous projects with Valutec. They drive the development in wood drying and have good service and support, which is important,” Andersson adds.

“Hilmer Andersson is a sawmill with a long history that has done a good job over time. It feels fantastic that we are trusted to deliver to them again and be part of their continued journey,”comments Joakim Berglund, sales manager, Valutec.

Hilmer Andersson, located in Lässerud in western Värmland, Sweden, is a family-owned sawmill in the fourth generation. In addition to Nils, sister Kari, who is CEO of the sawmill, and brother Karl, who runs the part-owned builders’ shop XL Bygg Hilmer, are also active within the company.

The delivery also includes the control system Valmatics 4.0 and the integrated simulator Valusim. The patented systems give the user the opportunity to optimize the drying process based on the central parameters of quality, capacity and energy consumption.

Assembly of the wood dryers will begin in the fall of 2024 and they are planned to be put into operation in the spring of 2025.

COMING IN MAY

PLANER MILL BONANZA—

Don’t get caught short on the back end—tilt hoists, infeeds, planers, MSR, moisture meters, automated graders, sorters, stackers, strappers, printers, packaging.

EXTRA DISTRIBUTION:

• Xylexpo, 28th Biennial World Exhibition for Wood Technology and Components for the Furniture Industry, Fieramilano, May 21-24, Milan, Italy

GREENWOOD KILN STICKS

Importers

Importers and Distributors of Tropical Hardwood Kiln Sticks

“The lowest cost per cycle”

“The lowest cost per cycle”

GW Industries www.gwi.us.com

GW Industries www.gwi.us.com

Dennis Krueger Jackie Paolo 866-771-5040 866-504-9095

Dennis Krueger Jackie Paolo 866-771-5040 866-504-9095 greenwoodimportsllc@gmail.com jackie@gwi.us.com

Top Wood Jobs

Recruiting

MAINEVENTS

APRIL

12-13—East Coast Sawmilling and Logging Exposition, Meadow Event Park, Doswell, Va. Call 804-737-5625; visit exporichmond.com.

14-16—Western Wood Products Assn. annual meeting, Hotel Indigo Vancouver Downtown, Vancouver, Wash. Call 503224-3930; visit wwpa.org.

23-25—2024 Virginia Forestry Summit, Boar’s Head Resort, Charlottesville, Va. Call 804-278-8733; visit vaforestry.org.

29-May 2—American Wood Protection Assn. annual meeting, Westin Portland Harborview, Portland, Maine. Call 205-7334077; visit awpa.com.

MAY

3-4—Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo (Loggers’ Expo), Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, Vt. Call 315369-3078; visit northernlogger.com.

14-17—Fimma-Maderalia 2024, Feria Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Visit fimma-maderalia.feriavalencia.com/en.

20-21— Lumber Quality and Process Control Workshop, Em-

bassy Suites, Perimeter Hotel, Atlanta, Ga. Call 541-7522751; visit lumberquality.com/Southern-Workshops

21-24—Xylexpo 2024, FieraMilano-Rho Fairgrounds, Milan, Italy. Phone +39-02-89210200; Visit xylexpo.com.

22-23— Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop, Embassy Suites, Perimeter Hotel, Atlanta, Ga. Call 541-752-2751; visit lumberquality.com/Southern-Workshops

Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.