International Forest Industries E Magazine December 2016 January 2017

DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

INDUSTRY VOICE Volatility rules but cash is flowing DOWN SHE GOES Tree-length heads from US heavyweights ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS USNR stars in downstream processing SAWLINES The biggest deals from 2016 BIOMASS Size reduction matters SOMETHING FOR NOTHING Proteak partners with Tigercat in Mexico

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LOGGING • BIOMASS

CONTENTS

INDUSTRY VOICE 2016

Respondents

category two hurrica all of their permitted fibre operations use screens and stacking quantities of woody mulch, compost, or fi leading supplier wor recycling and compo

Steve Jones, Peterson Forestry Market

Dr Heinz Leitner, Komptech CEO

54

Gero Springer,

Jari Mennala, Director, John

Ellen Nelson,

Springer CEO

Deere Forestry Sales & Marketing, United States,

Lucidyne CFO

Barko: We have seen a decr sales mainly due to d leading to an increas equipment market, e states. We have also in the southwest ear in the south now. Wo have remained const have kept their yards construction and sal Other markets like o been down the past could also be effecti as well.

Gary Olsen, Tigercat

Steve Talaga, Barko Products Manager

International Sales Manager

Development Manager

Roberto Lautenschlager, Serra Maschinenbau Sales Manager

Canada, Latin America

Slow & steady

Q. 70 INDUSTRYA. VOICE

How has the macro-economic situation affected your sales?

The industry’s finest have once again fed back to International Forest industries on how the

sector looks to them, what their clients are asking for, and where they see the opportunities for

the immediate future. And it has been a mixed response, as key figures from leading companies offered varied accounts of market strength, while most agreed it was volatile. However, the majority of respondents said they continued to experience growth when able to deliver on demands for innovation

Komptech: There is still uncertainty in the market, so market behaviour is very volatile.

The confused political situation also has a negative effect, first and foremost Brexit and events in the Middle East with Turkey, Russia and Syria. Brexit is causing a reduced willingness to invest, while a Trump presidency is still a big question mark in terms of international trade developments.

Pulp and paper companies are replacing older production lines with new capacity in South America and Asia Pacific. This involves new and expanded fibre basins, varied forest management and silvicultural practices, and the associated transport infrastructure for movement of fibre from field to mill. In-field chipping increases harvesting utilization, results in higher fibre yield per hectare and increases per-load transport capacity and therefore has become an integral part of many new pulp and paper forestry operations.

Globally, interest in biomass power has declined over the last few years due principally to low oil and natural gas prices. Some existing biomass power plants have been idled and some new projects have stalled or been curtailed.

Additionally there has been less right-of way clearing for gas and oil pipeline distribution.

These trends are impacting sales of chippers and grinders to supply these traditional energy sectors.

We are also seeing growing interest in recovered wood fibre as many urban areas continue to expand. This is the interception of woody debris and its processing to save valuable landfill space. Several large public landfill operations on the US east coast have stated that “we are one

The industry’s finest have once again fed back to International Forest industries on how the sector looks to them, what their clients are asking for, and where they see the opportunities for the immediate future

54 BIOMASS The turf wars among size reduction manufacturers has only intensified as the market has grown and companies have fought to maintain market share

Peterson: The primary driver impacting forestry chipper sales continues to be changes in supply chain strategy as the pulp and paper industry ‘rebalances’, adjusting to new consumer trends. For example, demand for printing and communications papers continues to decline, while the market for absorbents and packaging material is increasing year-over-year.

70 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

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2655 IFI Dec Jan Insides cc.indd 70-71

52

78

52 HOLTEC

64 FELLING HEADS

76 OPERATION FOCUS – TIGERCAT

A new log yard concept at Ridings Sawmills improves log availability and reduces handling costs

Two North American-based industry heavyweights are positioned toe-to-toe, or head-to-head, in this year’s review of felling head technology

Teak round log export specialist, Proteak, ventures into eucalyptus in Mexico in a big and bold way

LUMBER PROCESSING

DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

REGULAR FEATURES

8 Logging News

13 World Markets

CONTENTS

80 Advertising Index

COVER: Logeye Scanner Bundled into one Multi-Sensory Quality Scanner, Logeye features full shape 3D, colour and density scanning. Over 200 government approved Logeye scanners for automatic log volume measurement are running worldwide.

Rock-solid hardware, Multi-Sensor cameras as well as next generation X-ray technology give you the power to increase efficiency, maximize productivity and optimize your

DECEMBER 2016

production mix based on your priorities and value parameters.

/ JANUARY 2017

INDUSTRY VOIC E Volatility rules but cash is flow ing DOWN SHE GOE S Tree-length head s from US heav yweights

Logeye enables log scaling and sorting according to volume, quality and strength as well as bucking and breakdown optimization and is the selected choice for the log yard and saw line control.

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUC TS USNR stars in downstream processing SAWLINE S The biggest deals from 2016 BIOMASS Size reduction matters SOMETHING FOR NOTHING Proteak partners with Tigercat in Mexico

www.microtec.com 2655 IFI Dec

Jan cover.indd

1

19/12/2016

14:47

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 1

Tigercat: It would seem that th managed to come th relatively unscathed mining, agriculture a Unfortunately, this h purpose-built marke currencies have deva Traditional products ailing industries are the logging sector at their clear inferiority this, the logging ind have remained healt equipment. Tigercat in the past year to in that our industry wil more years to come.

Springer: The only heavy influ situation between th Russia but our Russi manage this crisis ve

John Deere: Globally we have see markets, particularly indicator for the maj industry. However, th experienced a slight

Advertisers 2016 i

LUMBER PROCESSING

CONTENTS D ECEMBER 2 0 1 6 / J A N U A RY 2 0 1 7

SAWLINES

30 32

34

30 OPTIMIL

32 USNR

34 EWD

A world leader in primary log breakdown.

Since its founding in 1983, Optimil’s objective has been to help progressive sawmillers produce more lumber from their existing wood resource

North American sawmilling manufacturing behemoth has enjoyed a busy 12 months across its equipment range and over various markets

Three installations over 2016 typify the high standards and efficiencies for which EWD has become renowned

SAWLINES Scanning & Optimisation

36

42 40

36 HEWSAW

40 BID/COMACT/MCGEHEE

42 MICROTEC

This new four arbour dx sawing process from HewSaw provides major benefits for modern sawmills, including maximizing speed and recovery

Profiling is becoming a standard practice in the industry and the BID Group is working hard to provide the best possible solutions to its valued customers

SCA Timber is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of wood-based products, with an annual production capacity of several million cubic meters

46

48

50

46 LIMAB

48 AUTOLOG

50 LUCIDYNE

Over a lengthy period of success and incremental improvements, LIMAB believes the scanning and optimisation units delivered to clients over 2016 represent another level of technological sophistication

When Groupe Rémabec’s sawmilling subsidiary, Arbec, was looking to improve efficiency, it went to Autolog

Lucidyne reviews its success stories from 2016 and examines returns on investment

LUMBER PROCESSING

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS 14 News

2 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

80 Advertising Index

CONTENTS

WORLD LEADING manufacturer of scanning technologies.

Hankins, Inc., Ripley MS buys Lucidyne GradeScan!

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Delivering the most advanced sensor set on the market for unrivaled defect detection and final grading optimization.

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LUMBER PROCESSING

24

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS In-depth coverage of the Plywood, LVL, Particleboard, OSB, & MDF industries.

We incorporate first hand detailed reports about new panel mills as well as reports from the machinery manufacturers.

24 USNR - PRESSING RESET LEGENDARY PRESS LINE IS BACK!

26

USNR’s plywood and panel division has installed presses globally for OSB, MDF and other panel products from the Washington Iron Works (WIW) line

26 USNR - POWER PLAY Rebuild and renew your press performance

DRYING TECHNOLOGY

Easy Shift™ Synchronous Valve Control (ESSVC) offered by USNR provides servo valve capability for precisely metering large volumes of oil synchronously through multiple OSB press pre-fill valves

28 WESTMILL INDUSTRIES Westmill’s Dryer Innovation (patents pending) technologies to increase dryer production and improve veneer quality

28

76 PROTEAK - MEXICAN MDF Currently, the Proteak mill employs 120 people and supplies 30% of the domestic MDF board market. (Previously 95% of MDF consumed in Mexico was imported.)

Proteak employs over 1,000 people and is harvesting 200,000 m3 of the six million cubic metre annual cut in Mexico

76

The brand new MDF plant is full of the latest German continuous press technology

EWP

21 News

4 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

The plant is now supplying 30% of the Mexican market with MDF board

80 Advertising Index

Complete Sawmill Solutions Optimil is a name recognized around the world as a leader in primary and secondary log processing machinery, as well as providing log and board optimization systems for the progressive sawmill.

Since its founding in 1983, Optimil’s objective has been to help progressive sawmillers produce more lumber from their existing wood resource

Equipment Supplied to: Timberlink Bell Bay Sawmill, Australia EXTENDED LENGTH INFEED SYSTEM Auto-Rotation Conveyor Log Turner with Rotation Verification Extended Length Infeed With Skew & Slew 2- Sided Canter Quad Bandmills Separator Outfeed Scanning, Optimization & Controls For ARC & Infeed BOARD EDGER SYSTEM S- Shaped Unscrambler Queue Decks Hi Speed Infeed 4 Saw Edger Scanning, Optimization & Controls

CURVE CHIPPING CANTER WITH GANG SAW Centering Infeed Curve Chipping Canter Profiling Module Passive Curve Sawing Gang Saw Scanning, Optimization & Controls

Head Office: 8320 River Road, Delta, B.C. Canada V4G 1B5 (604) 946-6911 US Office: One Independence Plaza, Suite 412, Birmingham, AL U.S.A. 35209 (205) 978-5388

www.optimil.com

ISSUE 54 DEC 2016 / JAN 2017

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 583 emma@internationalforestindustries.com Annual Subscription UK and Europe £160, €230 Rest of the world US$270 EDITORIAL T: +44 (0)1442 877 583 F: +44 (0)1442 870 617 www.internationalforestindustries.com 2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UK Editorial Director John Chadwick john@internationalforestindustries.com Editor Chris Cann chris@internationalforestindustries.com Editorial Board Dr Patrick Moore – Chairman and Chief Scientist of Greenspirit (Canada) Darren Oldham – Managing Director Söderhamn Eriksson (UK) Professor Piotr Paschalis-Jakubowicz – Warsaw Agricultural University (Poland) Mr Kim Carstensen Director General Forest Stewardship Council Eduardo Morales South American Forestry Consultant ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS Lansdowne Media Services Ltd Advertising Manager Phil Playle phil@internationalforestindustries.com Group Advertising Manager David Lansdowne david@internationalforestindustries.com +44 (0)1442 87 77 77 Associate Editor Robin Peach robin@internationalforestindustries.com Advertising Production Enquiries Emma Smith emma@internationalforestindustries.com International Forest Industries is published

by International Forest Industries Ltd, 2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UK International Forest Industries (ISSN 1755-6732) is published bi-monthly by International Forest Industries Ltd GBR and is distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 and additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick NJ. POSTMASTER: send address changes to International Forest Industries, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 © International Forest Industries Ltd 2007 – 2014 IFI uses, as preference, SI units throughout.

All dollars are US unless otherwise stated.

EDITOR’S COMMENT

A bumpy ride

O

ffice kitchens are all of a sudden overstocked with mince pies and some of the less-dedicated staff members seem to have all of a sudden had their senses dulled over-consumption of mulled wine (you know who you are).

It can only mean two things: Christmas is almost here and International Forest Industries’ annual Industry Voice survey has been published. And while not everyone gets excited about Christmas, everyone in our industry should be keen to cast an eye over the thoughts and forecasts from some of the biggest and most influential in the game.

The past few years have almost exclusively suggested strong and robust markets but this year anxiety has returned. This year’s Industry Voice survey was something of a throwback to those around 2010-2011, when the world was recovering from the financial crisis but things were still exceptionally volatile.

This of course has been the result of significant political events that have shaken confidence. The two key happenings were the UK’s vote on its European Union membership and the US presidential election. Both of these events provided a shock.

The UK’s pending departure from the EU has taken a huge chunk out of future EU budgets.

What’s more, it is looking more likely that another major economy, Italy, may follow suit. With those two marching for the door it is questionable how keen remaining big guns within the bloc will be to support an EU weighted heavily toward countries that have traditionally been net receivers of EU funding.

This could mean the break-up of the EU or it could mean drastic reform or something in between. The issue is for international forestry markets is, simply, that no one knows – and markets hate uncertainty.

In the US, the concern is how President-Elect Donald Trump will handle the power he so badly wanted. Raw material markets have performed strongly since the November election on the back of Trump’s infrastructure spending pledges but there are dark clouds hovering as economists question how he’ll pay for all his promises. The coal industry for one is already coming to terms with the fact that, despite all the strong rhetoric, he won’t

6 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

be its white knight after all.

Again, it is the lack of clarity that is hurting business.

This upheaval has been particularly damaging for US forest industries, where the resilient US dollar has made exporting forestry products into the resource-reliant Canadian economy or struggling Europe exceptionally difficult.

At the same time, Canadian producers are having a field day, while established European brands are finding themselves with an opportunity to move into the US market using the advantage of lower home-based operating costs and sales in stronger US dollars.

These challenges and volatility may be the new normal. Most economists are predicting political and fiscal tumult for the foreseeable future.

However, somewhat counterintuitively, this does not mean innovation has stopped. Far from it.

Our respondents to the Industry Voice survey said the latest generation of forestry professionals saw just how important the latest technology was in running profitable businesses resilient to market swings – far more so than their predecessors.

Contrary to the idea that technology was complicated and would therefore complicate what should be simple businesses, most professionals these days acknowledged there were smarter ways to operate and technology could make operating more straight-forward and comfortable for managers and for those running the tools.

And, of course, keeping in step are the suppliers, which continue to spend big on R&D and cite innovation (along with customer service and after sales care) as the key point to securing new business.

Merry Christmas!

Chris Cann

Ride tall When there is a job to be done, it does not matter what is beyond the next hill. Or what shape the trail is in. Or if the weather is going to play nice. You have got work to do, and you cannot afford costly slowdowns or standstills. Serious foresters choose serious tires.

Ride Tall with Trelleborg Forestry tires. www.trelleborg.com/wheels

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

Detroit aligns with AT&T, Microsoft to deliver enhanced connectivity services Detroit Diesel Corporation, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), has announced collaborations with AT&T and Microsoft Corp. to deliver enhancements to its Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle services. AT&T will provide Internet of Things connectivity for the new Detroit™ Connect Truck Data Center platform. Exclusive to the new Freightliner Cascadia®, the platform features communications hardware that will deliver new capabilities for Detroit Connect, including Detroit Connect Remote Updates, which enables overthe-air engine programming and powertrain electronic firmware update capabilities for customers, as well as the ability to integrate

third-party telematics applications.

Microsoft will support all Detroit Connect services with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

“Our collaboration with technology leaders such as AT&T and Microsoft further enhance our ability to provide advanced connected vehicle solutions that will deliver vehicle performance insights and update capabilities to our customers,” said Matt Pfaffenbach, director, connectivity for Daimler Trucks North America.

“With the enhancements to Detroit Connect, we’re able to deepen the connection between our customers and their vehicles more than ever before.”

“Daimler Trucks North America is an industry leader in innovative

solutions and represents more than 40 percent of the long-haul trucking market in the U.S. and Canada,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. “The Detroit Connect platform is a prime example of how Internet of Things connectivity can improve efficiency, safety and performance in connected vehicles. We look forward to providing our global connected vehicle expertise and IoT solutions for these trucks.”

The connectivity platform will be available with start-ofproduction of the new Freightliner Cascadia in January 2017.

A five-year standard base package, including Detroit Connect Virtual Technician™ remote.

One billionth tree planted to celebrate milestone The Hancock Timber Resource Group is celebrating the planting of its one billionth tree since the organization’s founding in 1985.

The Boston-based timberland investment management organization recently celebrated the milestone with a group of conservation stakeholders at an event in McCloud, California at the McCloud Forest, one of the company’s longest held properties.

The one billionth tree planted in McCloud was dedicated to the company’s employees, stakeholders, business partners and future generations. Brent Keefer, President of the Hancock Timber Resource Group noted that the one billion seedlings, a $1.1 billion investment, have been planted on the properties it manages in the United States, Canada, South America, New

Zealand and Australia.

The Hancock Timber Resource Group, founded in 1985, is a division of Hancock Natural Resource Group, Inc., a unit of Manulife Asset Management Private Markets. Based in Boston, it manages approximately 6.3 million acres of timberland in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Canada, New Zealand and Australia on behalf of investors worldwide.

Brent Keefer, President of the Hancock Timber Resource Group

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LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

September trade data released Exports of Southern Pine lumber swung upward again to near record levels in September, amounting to just under 61.5 million board feet (MMbf ), according to the latest reports from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. This volume represents an increase of 18% above the same month last year, contributing to a year-to-date increase of 15% when compared with the first nine months of 2015. Offshore shipments during September roughly break down

as 29.3 MMbf dressed, 12.7 MMbf rough, and 19.4 MMbf treated lumber.

Softwood lumber imports to the U.S. edged higher in September, reaching 1.32 billion board feet (Bbf ), up six percent from the volume imported during September of 2015. Through the first nine months of this year, softwood imports are up 30% when compared with the same period a year ago.

SFPA members can find detailed

Juha Vidgrén Finland’s best growth entrepreneur Ponsse Chairman Juha Vidgrén has won Finland’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2016. The winner and five category prices of this year’s Growth Entrepreneur competition were revealed at the national finals on the 4th of November.

Juha Vidgrén was also selected as the winner of the Production category, and will represent Finland in the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year competition in Monte Carlo in June 2017.

“This award is recognition especially to all of us at Ponsse and my brothers Janne, Jarmo and Jukka. Together we have succeeded in driving forward the work that my father Einari started.

The EY Entrepreneurship award is a recognition for the whole branch where forest machine entrepreneurs are doing a valuable job in challenging conditions”, Juha Vidgrén said.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year is an international award for fast growing and responsible businesses among entrepreneurs.

The annual competition looks for companies who all have profitable growing businesses and promising future prospects.

- The story of Ponsse is an excellent example of how success has continued from one generation to the next. There is still a lot of potential in the international markets, and the story of Ponsse will undoubtedly continue to generations to come. Ponsse is an international success story that we Finns can be proud of, says the chair of the judging panel and EM Group owner Marjo Miettinen.

The members of the jury each represent top expertise and experience in their respective fields. The nine members of the independent jury included e.g. the CEO of Supercell Ilkka Paananen, Piia-Noora Kauppi from Finance Finland, and Kone Group’s Vice Chairman of the Board Jussi Herlin.

monthly reports of Southern Pine exports and softwood lumber imports in the Members Only section at SFPA.org. These reports are provided as a benefit of SFPA membership. This data originates from USDA; SFPA assimilates the USDA wood products data and prepares a more user-friendly eight-page report to reflect only relevant Southern Pine volumes exported and a two-page report of softwood volumes imported, including three-year comparisons

by month and year-to-date.

SFPA’s reports by country also feature conversion of all volumes to thousand board feet (Mbf ).

Contact SFPA’s Vernon Barabino at 504/443-4464 or e-mail him at vbarabino@sfpa.org with any questions about these reports.

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International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 9

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

John Deere 800M-series tracked feller bunchers & harvesters now equipped with final tier 4 engines As a part of its commitment to offer loggers equipment designed to meet their needs, John Deere has upgraded the 800M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and 800MHSeries Tracked Harvesters with engines that meet FT4 emission standards. Building upon the revolutionary design launched in 2015, the machines are equipped to deliver premium performance, fluid efficiency, reliability and economical operating costs, built on decades of engine experience and millions of hours of Tier 4 runtime.

“The John Deere FT4 engines have been rigorously tested in the most extreme applications and harshest environments. This extensive testing process offers loggers peace of mind that their machine will be able to OUTRUN™ the most adverse conditions,” said Jari Mennala, Director, John Deere Forestry Sales & Marketing, United States, Canada, Latin America. “We

are committed to providing loggers with the most comprehensive solutions in the industry, developing superior products that deliver quality, performance and efficiency while meeting current and future emissions regulations.”

While the upgraded FT4 engines are new to the 800M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and 800MH-Series Tracked Harvesters, the machines still maintain the features that loggers raved about when they first launched. The operator station is roomier and more comfortable, equipped with ergonomically designed controls, fully adjustable armrests and an air-conditioned seat. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling front and side windows plus an overhead skylight provides operators with an outstanding view of the cutting area. As noted by Cory Isley, D&J Isley and Sons, “The cab is more spacious and comfortable with much better visibility. A

Sawmills

SERRA

Floor-to-ceiling front and side windows plus an overhead skylight provides operators with an outstanding view of the cutting area. The machines are equipped to deliver premium performance, reliability, and exceptional fluid economy comfortable operator is more productive.”

The machines feature the same undercarriage and boom featured on the 900M- and 900MH-Series counterparts. “Everything is built solid, with a stronger boom and bigger pins and bushings,” said Mike Misokvich, MM Timber Harvesting. Additionally, other core features include the through-nose harvester head plumbing options

to extend hose life, optional undercarriage-mounted toolbox for convenient storage, and an increase to the fuel tank on the 800M by 50 percent, extending intervals between fill-ups.

Gorse of course

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Made in Germany! call +49 8051 96 40 00 www.serra-sawmill.com 10 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

Take a drive along the Midlands Highway through Tasmania and you will see hillsides covered in thousands of gorse plants. The spikey evergreen has become a major problem for farmers and the state’s environment since it was introduced with the arrival of Europeans.

“It tends to like the conditions down here,” John Boland from Gorse Power told Leon Compton on 936 ABC Hobart. We have an infestation, according to the National Gorse Taskforce, of between 60,000 and 100,000 hectares. “There’s only 800,000 hectares of available land here in Tasmania.”

But Mr Boland and Matt Bennett believe they can turn this gorse problem into cash by harvesting it and selling it to China

as a fuel. “It’s basically going to be replacing coal as a major fuel source for the solid barbecue market,” Mr Bennett said. “[Barbecue] is a very popular way of cooking in China, especially with the high-rise living [there].” Mr Bennett and Mr Boland’s company Tasmanian Renewable Energy Enterprises is building a factory at Conara in the state’s north to turn gorse into compacted biomass fuel, which they are calling Gorse Power.

They expect to employ about 20 people to harvest the gorse and compact it into usable barbecue bricks. With thousands of hectares of gorse growing across farming land, the resource is close to endless. The factory at Conara is expected to be finished by early 2018 with exports to China to begin later that year.

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

Metsäliitto Cooperative elects Jussi Linnaranta to its board of directors Metsä Group’s parent company, Metsäliitto Cooperative, has elected Jussi Linnaranta to be a new member of Metsäliitto Cooperative’s Board of Directors as

of 1 January 2017.Linnaranta has a long time experience from forestry as well as from positions of trust in Metsäliitto.

He has been a member of the

Supervisory Board since 2004.

Mikael Aminoff will be leaving the Board of Directors. Aminoff has been a member of the Board since 2008.Metsä Group is a forerunner

in bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests.

Morbark appoints David Herr new CEO Morbark, recently announced the appointment of David Herr as Chief Executive Officer. In addition to being an active member of the current Morbark Board, he brings extensive knowledge from experience with both products and services companies. He replaces Dan Ruskin, who resigned due to health issues.

“The Board is thankful for Dan’s leadership over the past six months as the Company has transitioned to the next phase in its development,” said Ray Whiteman, Chairman of the Board. “Our thoughts are with Dan and his family, and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

“Morbark is fortunate to have a strong and deep leadership team and Board, and we are pleased that David Herr has agreed to step into the CEO role,” Whiteman added.

“We have known Dave for many years and have been impressed by his track record of building high-

performing leadership teams that drive growth while respecting core values. The Board is excited about the Company’s strategic direction and commitment to supporting its current and growing customer base, partners and employees.”

Ruskin said, “It has been an enormous privilege to have led Morbark during this period of important change and growth. I remain confident that Dave and the team will continue to execute Morbark’s strategy and that the Company will enjoy continued success in the future.”

Herr is an accomplished industry executive with more than 30 years of relevant experience in operations, supply chain management and executive management with major companies, including Navistar, GE Aircraft Engines and BAE Systems. He has diverse business experience in the areas

of heavy-duty truck manufacturing, commercial avionics, commercial ship repair, munitions production, and information and intelligence analysis. In his most recent role as executive vice president at BAE Systems, he was responsible for one of the largest government service sectors in the U.S. with over 19,000 employees. He also currently serves as a Board Member for MHI Holdings, a ship repair contractor for the U.S. Navy.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from St. Francis College, in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Master of Business Administration degree from Northern Kentucky University.

He has generously donated his time to numerous charitable organizations and will be relocating from Ft. Wayne, Ind., to Winn, Mich., in the near future.

“Morbark has built a great reputation with its customers

David Herr, Chief Executive Officer

and partners. I look forward to moving from a Board position to leverage my operational experience to further grow the Morbark franchise,” said Herr.

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www.morbark.com/dealer International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 11

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS

Weyerhaeuser appoint Devin W. Stockfish VP of Western Timberlands Weyerhaeuser Company has appointed Devin W. Stockfish as vice president of Western Timberlands, and Kristy T. Harlan as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.

Both changes will be effective January 1, 2017.

Stockfish currently serves as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.

In his new role, he will lead the company’s Timberlands operations in Washington and Oregon.

Stockfish will report to Rhonda D. Hunter, senior vice president of Timberlands.

Harlan joins Weyerhaeuser from the law firm of K&L Gates LLP, where she is a partner focusing on corporate, securities and businessrelated transactions, including

securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, financing, joint ventures and strategic alliances, and corporate governance. In her new role, she will lead the company’s Law department. Harlan will join the company as a senior vice president effective November 28, and assume her new role as general counsel and corporate secretary on January 1. She will

Devin W. Stockfish report directly to Simons.

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900.

LOGLIFT and JONSERED forestry cranes on camera

Hiab, part of Cargotec, has opened the order books for the camerabased HiVisionTM control system for LOGLIFT and JONSERED forestry cranes. HiVisionTM, which moves crane operation to the truck cabin, was first showcased in the Bauma exhibition in April 2016 and it has been demonstrated in several locations in Europe and Japan.

Orders for the HiVisionTM system have started in October and the first customer deliveries will be in January 2017.

The HiVisionTM concept is unique in the industry. It has four cameras

on top of the forestry crane that enable a realistic 270-degree view for the operator. This enables the crane operator to see the working area and operate the crane from the truck cabin using virtual reality goggles.

“In the Bauma exhibition, HiVisionTM was already tested by 3,000 visitors. Since then, customers have shown a growing interest towards this new technology. During the past two months we have run several HiVisionTM tours where more than 1,000 customers have had the opportunity to test the crane in real conditions. We have received excellent feedback and there’s been a lot of expectation of opening sales to the market. It’s easy to see the advantages for the crane operators in terms of safety and comfort,” says Jon Lopez, Vice President, Forestry Cranes at Hiab.

In June, HiVisionTM was awarded the KWF-Vision award in connection to the KWF exhibition in Rodin, Germany. According to the jury, “the novel camera-based 3D technologies provide important steps for improved functionality,

12 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

ergonomics and safety, pioneering new ideas in crane control in the forest.”

Jon Lopez says: “The KWF award is considered as the ‘Oscar Prize’ in forestry business and we were very proud to receive it. This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of LOGLIFT forestry cranes and this prize together with the success of HiVisionTM crowns the jubilee year. We were the first in the industry to bring the cabin to the forestry crane and now we

are introducing the groundbreaking innovation in the development of crane operation,” Lopez concludes.

Hiab will presented HiVisionTM as a simulator at the Pollutec exhibition in Lyon, France from 29 November to 2 December.

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS - WORLD MARKETS

Growth of the Softwood Industry underway in the south of Western Australia The State Government’s $21 million investment into Western Australia’s softwood industry has started, with the Forest Products Commission sowing the first of more than five million pines at the Manjimup nursery.

The recently launched Softwood Industry Strategy represents one of the most significant investments in the industry and will create jobs and provide continuity of supply of timber to the building and construction industry.

This year’s new plantations will be established in the Wellington

and Blackwood districts.

FPC Acting General Manager Gavin Butcher said the Manjimup Nursery was currently sowing radiate pine and maritime pine seeds to meet the growing demand triggered by the Softwood Industry Strategy.

This year’s program will include approximately 3.5 million radiata pine and 1.25 million maritime pine seedlings and will focus on drought tolerant strains to improve production in areas of reduced rainfall.

“It is a significant increase on

last year’s production where the nursery produced about 3.3 million pine seedlings,” Mr Butcher said.

“The increased demand has allowed FPC to hire more seasonal staff for a longer period to ensure there are enough seedlings.”

Mr Butcher said the strategy, which focuses on securing longterm supply to the manufacturing and processing hub in the South West, would see the expansion of the softwood estate by up to 10,000ha over the next five years.

“The softwood industry is a long-term business and the

strategy will provide increased confidence and a solid framework for farmers and industry to invest,” Mr Butcher said.

Hancock acquires 37,000 acres of timberlands The Hancock Timber Resource Group has completed the acquisition of approximately 37,000 acres of timberlands in Mississippi and Alabama from Rayonier Inc. “We continually seek to secure high quality timberlands for our clients,” said Hancock Timber

Resource Group President Brent Keefer.

“We are very pleased to acquire these properties which are located in an area of the US South with deep and diverse markets for forest products. We look forward to managing them to their highest potential.”

The timberlands stocked with well managed southern pine plantations and hardwoods are located in eastern Mississippi and south central Alabama. The timberlands will be managed by Hancock Forest Management, the organization’s integrated property management group.

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International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 13

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Setra sells Vimmerby sawmill to Bergs Timber Setra has reached an agreement with Bergs Timber AB on the sale of Vimmerby sawmill in Sweden.

“The decision of this divestment is logical as Setra Vimmerby is not particularly integrated with Setra’s other production units as regards market concept and supply of raw material,” says Hannele Arvonen, president and CEO of Setra.

According to the agreement, Bergs Timber acquires all fixed and current assets at Setra’s unit in Vimmerby, net of certain operating

liabilities, primarily consisting of personnel-related liabilities. The final purchase price is determined based on current booked values at the time of transfer.

The payment will be made partly in cash and partly in newly issued shares in Bergs Timber. 11 million shares will be issued in total, which after the transaction gives Setra ownership of approximately 6% of Bergs Timber.

The transfer to Bergs Timber is expected to take place on

January 9, 2017. Completion of the transaction is subject to the parties entering a final transition agreement for certain administrative services from Setra to Bergs Timber for a period, final negotiated financing with Bergs Timber’s financing bank, the transfer of official permits to Bergs Timber, and the agreement between Setra and Neova El & Värme AB regarding the operation of the boiler at the sawmill being transferred to Bergs Timber.

Hannele Arvonen, president and CEO of Setra

Aiming for a world record speed for band saws A comprehensive modernization of the Northern Forest Owners band saw line in Savar, Sweden will lead to much higher cutting speed and higher yield of sawn timber.

The first phase was replacing the edger and the second phase will see the installation of a brand new band saw line. The investment is estimated at 56 million SEK, with the first log to be sawn in August 2017.

Band saw lines produce narrow kerfs, thus high yield of sawn products, but they cannot operate with the same high speeds as circular saws.

“We want to recover as much as possible of the timber, and together with Söderhamn Eriksson, we set a target of doubling the speed and halving the cut surfaces.

These are very challenging goals,” says Stig Grundberg, sawmill manager at Savar and technical director for Northern Forest Owners.

“It is satisfying to see that the sawmill industry in Sweden is confident about the future and shows a will to invest. Söderhamn Eriksson is a technology driver, and the cooperation with Northern

Forest Owners in such a major, radical project will enable us to help propel development forward.

It is very revolutionary project for the entire industry,” says Christian Winlöf, sales and marketing manager at Söderhamn Eriksson.

The Sävar saw line processes a wide range of timber in all dimensions, from 120 mm to 400 mm at the top of the range, and log weight can vary from approximately 70 kg to one tonne. The average speed of the old line is 65 meters per minute, while the new one will exceed 135 meters per minute on average.

“We can achieve this level of throughput by first placing two reducers in the line to open both sides of the log in order to create square cants. This increases the possibilities both to change the settings and to reduce the log gaps from 2-2.5 meters to 0.5 meters.

Thus we get almost as high a flow rate as in a circular saw line, but with higher yield,” explains Grundberg, who believes that top speeds of more than 150 meters per minute are achievable.

The goal of halving the already thin saw cuts of only 3 mm to 1.5

mm is a much tougher challenge.

I have high hopes that we reach down to two-millimeter cuts in our new line, and then we can say that we have halved the kerfs compared to circular saw lines, which rarely come under four millimeters. You should have challenging goals and there is more knowledge to explore, says Grundberg with a laugh.

Grundberg holds a PhD in X-ray technology in the sawmill industry, and he is passionate about the application of technology solutions. It is one reason that the Northern Forest owners have confidence partnering with Söderhamn Eriksson as a supplier.

“We have enjoyed a good relationship of cooperation with Söderhamn Eriksson in recent years. The company is equally interested in development, and the configuration of the band saw line is unique in the market. It’s exciting to work toward achieving the fastest band saw line in the world and to challenge the market with this unique solution,” says Grundberg.

Stig Grundberg

Christian Winlöf, Sales & Marketing Manager at Söderhamn Eriksson

Suzano to purchase 75,000 h in Maranhão & Tocantins states Suzano Papel E Celulose S.A. (“Suzano”) has entered into with Companhia Siderúrgica Vale do Pindaré and with COSIMA – Siderúrgica do Maranhão Ltda. an agreement for the purchase of forest assets, purchase and

commitment to purchase rural properties and other covenants.

The assets acquired include approximately 75,000 hectares of properties in Brazilian states of Maranhão and Tocantins, of which approximately 40,000 hectares is

14 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

arable land; and planted forests on said arable lands.The total price is an amount in local currency equivalent to $245 million.

The purpose of the forest assets purchase transaction is to increase the supply of wood at

the Imperatriz Unit to meet the demand from the expansion in pulp production at this unit; to reduce the average distance of the forests supplying the Imperatriz Unit.

The sawmill technology of the future is here now with HewSaw

May 22-26 2017 Hannover, Germany Visit HewSaw at:

Hall 25, Stand D24

The revolutionary four arbour dx sawing process from HewSaw offers numerous benefits for modern sawmills, including maximizing speed and recovery.

Speed vs. Log Diameter Speed vs. Log Diameter

250 (820)

Speed in M/min (Ft/min)

200 (660)

150 (495)

dx sawing

150 (495)

normal sawing

100 (330)

100 (330) 50 (165)

Log Diameter in mm (inches) dx sawing

normal sawing

80 (3.25)

120 (4.75)

80 (3.25) 160 (6.25)

Log Diameter in mm (inches)

200120 (8.00) (4.75)

160 (6.25)

200 (8.00)

240 (9.50)

240 (9.50)

280 (11.00)

280 (11.00) 320 (12.50)

360320 (14.25) (12.50)

0

400 (15.75) 360 (14.25)

0

420 (16.50)

50 (165)

(15.75) 420400 (16.50)

Speed in M/min (Ft/min)

250 (820) 200 (660)

HewSaw is once again revolutionizing the primary breakdown sector of the sawmill industry with the introduction of their latest technology - dx sawing. Aimed at maximizing speed, recovery, efficiency and throughput, dx sawing will be a game changer for many sawmills.

With HewSaw’s dx sawing, the saws are cutting through the cant in two stages instead of one, allowing for a substantially reduced depth of cut with each saw. For sawmills using this technology, this can result in higher feed speeds with smaller diameter saws and thinner kerfs.

• more production volume in a shift • higher recovery or yield from each log • the possibility to run for longer periods before saw and knife changes • improved surface quality and exceptional saw deviation • Lower hp motors can be used resulting in reduced power requirements HewSaw is the only primary breakdown producer that can offer this technology and the concept and technology are patent pending worldwide.

With HewSaw dx sawing, the saws are cutting through the cant in two stages, resulting in a reduced depth of cut.

www.hewsaw.com

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Roseburg names Ashlee Cribb sales director Roseburg has named Ashlee Cribb Sales Director for Roseburg’s Solid Wood Business, effective Jan. 1, 2017. This newly created role will consolidate the reporting of the sales organization, giving the business a single point of focus on sales, just as it has on manufacturing.

In this structure, Director of Manufacturing Bob Jewell, Director

of Sales Ashlee Cribb, and Director of Marketing Mark McLean will report to Steve Killgore, Senior Vice President of Solid Wood Business. Gary Pittman, Pat Lynch, and Mike McCollum, the business directors for lumber, plywood, and engineered wood products respectively, will report to Ashlee.

Ashlee has held several roles at Georgia-Pacific. Starting out as

the marketing manager for wood adhesives, she progressed through the organization, holding the senior roles of wood adhesives business manager and vice president of the industrial packaging business. In the industrial packaging role she had profit and loss responsibility and managing the commercial organization as well as 11 manufacturing sites.

West Fraser Timber report 3Q earnings of $107 million West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. reported earnings of $107 million, or $1.35 basic earnings per share, on sales of $1,155 million in the 3Q 2016.

In the quarter lumber operations generated operating earnings of $114 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $151 million.

Higher U.S. dollar lumber prices contributed to the improvement in earnings.

The panel segment, which includes plywood, LVL and MDF, generated operating earnings in the quarter of $30 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $33 million.

Higher plywood prices were the main contributor to the improved earnings.

Pulp & paper operations generated operating earnings of $22 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $31 million. Pulp and newsprint

prices increased and pulp production was higher resulting in increased earnings.

“We’re pleased with the ongoing improvements from our capital spending program. I’m also very proud of our committed and focused employee group who continue to strive to improve operational performance each and every day,” said Ted Seraphim, President and CEO.

Ted Seraphim, President and CEO

Heinola to supply chamber kilns to Moelven Nötnäs AB Moelven Nötnäs AB, based in Torsby, Sweden, is ordering HCH forklift-loaded chamber kilns from Heinola Sawmill Machinery Inc. Initially these will replace older drying kilns, improving both drying quality and working conditions.

The next stage will increase future capacity.

The investment includes turnkey delivery of two chamber kilns. At the same time, 12 existing chamber kilns will be connected to the Heinola Eco Kiln Automation System.

The deal also includes an option for an additional two new chamber kilns and improvement of

the board drying efficiency of the three existing two-zone progressive kilns. The chamber kilns will be equipped with load presses, hot water spraying systems, energy indicators and the user-friendly Heinola Eco Control System, which features the integrated QualityChamber® Opti Simulator.

Moelven is Scandinavia’s largest wood mechanics group, with 52 operational units in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

The production facilities are located in Norway and Sweden, and the Group is divided into three divisions: Timber, Wood and Building Systems.

Metsä Group’s sawmills in Finland are integrated into Metsä Fibre On 29 June 2016, Metsä Group announced its plan to integrate its sawmills in Finland into the Group’s Pulp Industry Metsä Fibre through a group internal transaction.

The transfer was finalised on 1 November 2016. Also, Jani Riissanen has been appointed SVP Sawmill business and a member of Metsä Fibre’s Management Group

as of 1 November 2016.

The sawmills included in the transaction are Vilppula, Lappeenranta, Renko, Merikarvia, Kyrö and Eskola. These sawmills were previously part of the Group’s Wood Products Industry Metsä Wood. The transaction has no effect on Metsä Group’s annual sales, operating result excluding

16 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

non-recurring items, or balance sheet ratios. The transfer will not affect the amount of employees.

Sawmills’ employees will move to Metsä Fibre’s payroll. Metsä Wood will act as Metsä Fibre’s sawn timber sales channel.

Jani Riissanen appointed SVP Sawmill business

SCREW TECHNOLOGY

THE NEW GENERATION OF LOG HANDLING SYSTEMS

"The screw technology turned out to be our favored solution a chainless system makes sense in terms of keeping maintenace costs low. We expect significant improvements in productivity as well as lower conversion costs as a result of the investment."

Barry Hutchins, Roseburg Forest Products

SPRINGER MASCHINENFABRIK AG office@springer.eu | www.springer.eu Hans-Springer-Strasse 2 | A-9360 Friesach | T +43 4268 2581-0 | F +43 4268 2581-45 SPRINGER MICROTEC Inc. office@springer-microtec.com | www.springer-microtec.com 201, 1847 West Broadway | Vancouver, V6J1Y6 | Canada | T 604.879.4628

110 installations worldwide including new projects in the US, Canada, Sweden and Russia.

SCREW UNSCRAMBLER The UNSCRAMBLER with helical screw rolls singulates the logs and can be fitted with an integrated Stop-end chain on the zero end which ensures smooth even ending of the logs.

SCREW FEEDER The SCREW FEEDER is the heart of the line – a patented log allocation unit which aligns, singulates and accelerates the logs in the longitudinal direction as they are loaded onto the receiving conveyor. It has a modular design – individual modules can also be incorporated in existing lines.

SCREW CONVEYOR The screw conveyor transfers logs without the need of chains and it is fitted with a rigid-coated strop wall.

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS

Brazilian pulp exports increased by 12.7% in January - July The planted tree industry of Brazil continues to stand out due to its important contribution to the country’s balance of trade surplus.

From January through July 2016, the sector recorded a $ 3.8 billion surplus, a 7.2% growth year-overyear. Exports revenue from pulp, wood panels and paper was mainly responsible for this result, reaching R$ 4.4 billion ($1.4 billion) yearto-date, reports the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).

“When we evaluate the foreign market the landscape is very distinct. Brazilian pulp exports are still on the rise, with noteworthy

mention to China, which is currently the main destination of this input, with a share of 37% in the revenue. Foreign sales for the Chinese market totaled $ 1.1 billion year-to-date. In turn, paper and wood panel exports are concentrated in Latin American countries, respectively 58% and 54% of the total,” comments Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, CEO of the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).

Brazil’s pulp exports totaled 7.5 million tons in 2016 year-to-date, a 12.7% growth year-over-year. Paper exports increased 5.1%, totaling 1.2 million tons, and wood panel

exports increased 56%, with half a million cubic meters exported.

Brazilian pulp production surpassed 10 million tons this year, 8.9% increase year-over-year.

Paper production remained stable at 6 million tons, the same figures as last year.

In 2016 year-to-date, domestic paper sales achieved 3 million tons, remaining stable year-overyear. In the wood panels segment, domestic sales achieved 3.7 million cubic metres, 5% lower year-overyear.

Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, CEO of the Brazilian Tree Industry

SCA Timber’s planing mill in Tunadal to receive investment worth SEK 50 Million SCA Timber is investing SEK 50 million in its planing mill in Tunadal, in Sundsvall, Sweden. The investment will enable the planing mill to increase its productivity and will also create the conditions required for enabling continued product development.

Markus Henningsson, Manager of SCA Timber Supply Skandinavien says, “We are investing in a new intake for raw materials, a new splitting line and a new packaging line. The investment will allow us to remove bottlenecks and thereby increase productivity, while new

technology means that we can increase our product innovations.

This is very much in line with our strategic aims.”

One main product from the planing mill will be exterior cladding made of raw materials from the Norrland region. There is strong demand for this product among Scandinavian customers.

Henningsson adds, “Our ambition is to be the market leader in exterior cladding. As a result of this investment and the investments that have recently been made in the Tunadal sawmill,

we will be able to increase the pace of innovation.”

In parallel with the investment, SCA Timber is also launching the SmartTimber added value concept for the building merchants in Scandinavia. The concept involves new and innovative products and services, intended primarily for customers from the professional building trade.

An example of a product developed as part of this concept is pine heartwood decking, which has a guaranteed heartwood content of at least 99 percent and thus

provides natural protection against rot. Another example is an exterior cladding with concealed fitting, which results in a more attractive facade and greater durability.

SCA Timber is also investing in providing improved services, such as extended product information, training and sales support for shops.

New Forests launches third AU-NZ forestry fund Australian-based fund manager New Forests have recently announced the launch of its third investment fund dedicated to Australian and New Zealand forestry investment, with more than AUD 660 million in capital commitments.

The Australia New Zealand Forest Fund 3 (ANZFF3) will invest in a diversified portfolio of hardwood and softwood plantation assets in Australia and New Zealand. The fund mandate also allows for investment in processing

or infrastructure facilities, such as sawmills, ports, and bioenergy facilities.

“Institutional investment has played an important part in building the forestry sector in Australia and New Zealand over the past few years,” commented New Forests’ CEO, David Brand.

New Forests manages more than AUD 2.5 billion of investments in Australia and New Zealand and has funds, assets under management, and committed capital of more than AUD 3.6 billion globally.

20 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

The company’s investments and operations include more than 780,000 hectares of plantation forestry and land as well as the Timberlink wood processing, sales, and distribution business, the forest management business Forico, and the international timber marketing business New Forests Timber Products. ANZFF3 will be managed to reflect New Forests’ longstanding commitments to sustainable forest management, third-party forest certification, and responsible investment.

New Forests’ CEO, David Brand

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS - ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS

Roseburg Forest Products CEO Allyn Ford to retire Roseburg Forest Products CEO, Allyn Ford has announced that he plans to step aside as CEO, effective Sept. 1, 2016. Current company president, Grady Mulbery will become president and CEO at that time. Ford will remain a key part of the company in his role as chairman of Roseburg’s Board of Directors.

Ford previously had indicated that he would retire at the end of 2016, at which point Mulbery would assume the dual role president and CEO. But the ease of transition and strength of the leadership team prompted him to advance the timeline.

Roseburg is a wood products company based in Dillard,

Oregon, USA. Its products include engineered wood, lumber, softwood plywood, composite and hardwood panels, decorative laminate, wood pellet fuel, and other value-added panel products.

Grady Mulbery

Stora Enso starts Laminated Veneer Lumber production line at Varkaus Mill in Finland Stora Enso’s new Laminated Veneer Lumber production line at the Varkaus Mill in Finland is one of the most modern in the world.

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is a high-strength wood product used primarily in structural construction applications. It is comparable in strength to concrete or steel.

Premium logs are rotary peeled into 3mm thick veneers and bonded together under heat and pressure. Every sheet of veneer is individually measured in terms of density, moisture content

and modulus of elasticity to optimise the product strength and performance. Sheets are then reglued into a continuous billet.

LVL by Stora Enso can be used in a wide range of structural applications, from posts and beams, roof trusses and prefabricated building elements to wind power installations and other complex engineered structures.

There is also huge potential for large-scale construction solutions that combine LVL and CLT (CrossLaminated Timber) – Stora Enso

is the only company in the wood industry that offers both CLT and LVL. LVL is a renewable and carbonneutral alternative to structural concrete and steel, which can have large environmental footprints.

The advantages of LVL will become increasingly important as population growth and urbanisation further increase the demand on resources to construct housing and buildings, and as part of the solution to combat climate change.

From a customer perspective, LVL is a cost-effective and lightweight material that has a high load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, it has a homogeneous and stable quality and does not warp or twist during its lifespan. LVL also has low logistical costs due to its lightweight nature, and is easy to work with on construction sites.

Raute received €19 million orders from Metsä Wood in Estonia Raute Corporation has received orders worth approximately Euro19 million from Metsä Wood, the Wood Products Business Area of Metsä Group.

The orders consist of machine

lines to be delivered for a plywood mill to be set up by Metsä Wood in Estonia and services related to the installation and commissioning of the lines.

The machine lines will be

delivered and the installation and commissioning of the plywood mill will start at the beginning of the year 2018.

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 21

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS - ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS

Hardwood Plywood producers initiate anti-dumping dispute The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission asserting that imports of hardwood plywood products from China are being sold into the U.S. at dumped prices, below cost, to gain an unfair competitive advantage. In violation of international trade rules, Chinese producers of hardwood

plywood receive illegal government subsidies, such as tax breaks and discounted land and raw materials.

Illegal Chinese subsidies have enabled China to dump products into the U.S. market at prices well below fair market value. These tactics have enabled China to capture an ever-growing share of the U.S. hardwood plywood market.

The import data clearly shows

that Chinese imports have taken market share directly from the U.S. hardwood plywood industry.

Thousands of jobs have been lost, particularly in rural parts of Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Wisconsin and Vermont. “It’s pretty clear that we’re kind of in a death spiral right now,” said HPVA® President Kip Howlett.

HPVA® President Kip Howlett

Coillte opens Smartply manufacturing facility in Ireland Coillte opens Euro 59 million Medite SmartPly manufacturing facility in Belview, Waterford Port, Co. Kilkenny.

Medite SmartPly, part of Coillte Group, manufactures and supplies innovative and sustainable wood panel products to customers

throughout Europe.In 2016 a Euro 59 million upgrade of the plant was completed securing it as one of the South-East region’s largest exporters.Medite SmartPly employs over 160 people directly at the Kilkenny plant with a further

200 jobs supported indirectly in the wider community.

The upgrade of the facility was completed over 16 months with 220 additional people employed during construction. A state of the art manufacturing line was assembled

within the new building delivering significant operational facilities and underpinning new product development.

Raute and York Timbers strengthen their strategic partnership Raute Corporation, a leading technology and service company in the plywood industry, and York Timbers (Pty), the largest manufacturer of plywood products in Southern Africa, have signed a Cooperative Agreement in order to strengthen the level of cooperation towards a strategic partnership.

The parties’ mutual goal is to enhance the profitability of York Timbers via its plywood division with the aim of becoming an international player in the

plywood business. The Cooperative Agreement will be executed in various forms such as production process and capacity development, service delivery, competence development, and sharing of technology upgrades on Raute and other equipment.

“York Timbers and Raute have already cooperated for years. The agreement is a major step forward in strengthening our cooperation in the future”, says Mr. Pieter van Zyl, Chief Executive Officer, York

Timbers.

“Raute will be the main technology, service and development partner to York Timbers. This agreement allows us to commit to York Timbers and to develop our operations in Africa in the future”, says Mr. Antti Laulainen, Group Vice President of Raute Corporation.

Antti Laulainen, Group Vice President of Raute Corporation

Louisiana-Pacific to exchange OSB mills with Norbord Inc. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) has reached an agreement with Norbord Inc. to exchange OSB mills in Quebec, Canada. LP will swap ownership of its Chambord, Quebec, mill for Norbord’s Val-d’Or, Quebec, mill. The asset exchange is expected to be complete in early November 2016.

This transaction, along with the recent acquisition of a former OSB site in Cook, Minnesota, is part of LP’s strategy to increase siding capacity, an area of the business

that has delivered consistent sales growth over the past decade.

“The Canadian mill exchange, coupled with the recent Minnesota acquisition, provides us flexibility and increases our ability to optimize our capacity for sustained business growth,” LP CEO Curt Stevens said.

“We have seen tremendous growth in our siding business and anticipate this growth to continue as we look to meet increasing demand,” he said. “The aim of

22 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

these transactions is to provide additional siding capacity by the end of 2018.”

LP’s immediate priority will be to conduct a detailed evaluation of the Cook site and Val-d’Or mill.

The assessment will determine the operational feasibility, including access to timely and adequate wood supply, the work required to convert the sites into fully operational siding mills, as well as conversion costs and annual operating expenses.

LP CEO Curt Stevens

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS - ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS

UPM Otepää plywood mill rises to world class - mill expansion and the new bio boiler plant inaugurated The expansion of UPM Otepää plywood mill, started in the spring of 2015 along with the building of the new bio boiler plant, has been completed and will be inaugurated today. The expansion increases the mill’s production capacity to 90,000 cubic meters per year.

The new bio boiler plant, in turn, enhances the mill’s material efficiency and reduces fossil carbon dioxide emissions by 85%. The investments total to approximately EUR 40 million.

“The investments now completed, take Otepää mill to the world-class of plywood mills.

Consequent to the increased production capacity, the mill will be able to better respond to the growing demand for highquality plywood products in

our key customer industries in construction, transport equipment industry and LNG shipbuilding, “says Mika Sillanpää, Executive Vice President of UPM Plywood.

During the expansion, the mill was installed with the latest technology veneer peeling line and drying line, added veneer jointing and composing capacity and the new gluing and pressing lines. In addition, log sorting and soaking capacity was increased to meet growing production volumes.

The new 18 MW bio boiler plant produces all of the mill’s thermal energy using the production byproducts as fuel. Therefore, all of Otepää mill’s wood raw material is used either in plywood production, as raw material to other products or in energy production.

Founded in 2000, Otepää mill is the largest plywood mill in Estonia.

It manufactures uncoated and coated birch plywood mainly for construction, vehicle floors and LNG carriers. 95% of the plant’s production is exported, mainly to Central Europe. Along with

the completion of the expansion, Otepää plywood mill’s personnel has grown by about forty to 240 people. The mill is one of the biggest industrial employers in the Valgamaa County in Estonia.

Second Dieffenbacher plant for S.P.B. in Thailand New THDF/MDF plant supplements existing particle board plant S.P.B. Panel Industries Co. Ltd. broke into the wood-based panels market in 2006 with the commissioning of a Dieffenbacher particle board plant.

Now, a new THDF/MDF plant will be installed on the same site in Surat Thani, Thailand. Based on its excellent experience with the first project, S.P.B. has selected Dieffenbacher once again. A 28-meter-long CPS+ press will form the center of the plant. With a press speed of 1,800 mm per second and a capacity of 800 cubic meters per day, the plant will produce both extra-thin THDF panels—with thicknesses from 1.5 mm—and MDF panels with thicknesses of up to 32 mm.

According to Bernd Bielfeldt, Manager of the Wood Business Unit at Dieffenbacher, the contract confirms the success of the new generation of presses. “The S.P.B.

plant is already the ninth project to feature the new continuous CPS+ press,” he said. Other special features of the project include the Z-sifter, which can reliably take out the latex part of the rubber plant wood that is predominantly used in Thailand, and the PROjet gluing system, which saves up to 15% of the glue compared to conventional gluing systems. In addition, the Dieffensor, combined with the cross profiler in the forming station, ensures exact forming, thereby minimizing the use of raw materials. The S.P.B. plant contract also includes the drum chipper, dryer, raw board handling, pneumatic transports and the automation of the whole production system.

In awarding the contract S.P.B. expressed its satisfaction with the local service provided by Dieffenbacher Asia Pacific in Kuala

Image: Signing of the contract in Surat Thani. From left: Christian Dieffenbacher (Member of Corporate Management at Dieffenbacher), Sontaya Sirianuntaphat (Managing Director of S.P.B. Panel Industries Co. Ltd.), Holger Ries (Sales Manager at Dieffenbacher) Lumpur. “Over the last 10 years with our particle board plant, we have experienced the speed and reliability of support in southeast Asia. This was a key factor in our decision to invest in this plant

once more,” said S.P.B.’s Managing Director Sontaya Sirianuntaphat.

LIGNA 2017 The world’s leading trade fair for machinery, plant and tools for the woodworking and timber processing industry - 22 to 26 May, Hanover, Germany International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 23

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS – USNR

Pressing reset Legendary press line is back!

The new hydraulic pump skid is inspected

U

SNR’s plywood and panel division has installed presses globally for OSB, MDF and other panel products from the Washington Iron Works (WIW) line. The suppliers customers are leaders in the supply of panel products world wide. These presses are monoliths constructed of the highest grade of steel and utilizing specialty processes to withstand the immense forces required for their purpose. Due to this very nature, often rebuilding is preferable to replacement as the equipment begins to show its age. USNR recently undertook a rebuild project for a WIW press that involved the redesign of some of the components. The result reinvigorated the WIW press line.

On the heels of that success the customer has budgeted for several additional press rebuilds.

The customer for this project is a major manufacturer of OSB panels with several plants in its portfolio. Its investment strategy for updating its OSB Washington Iron Works (WIW) press lines includes rebuilding its presses rather than replacing them. This strategy brought the company to USNR to launch a rebuild project for the press at one of its plants.

The plant was built in 1996 and

fitted with a Washington Iron Works OSB press, the predominant brand of press employed at several more of the company’s plants.

Making a case to rebuild The aging press had been the cause of recent reliability issues resulting in structural failure.

The rebuild was targeted to reduce maintenance and improve operational reliability, as well as improve the quality of the OSB panel products. The other goal was to gain the technological benefits of the new HAWE hydraulics system that was available as part of the rebuild package. HAWE is a sub-supplier to USNR for press hydraulic systems.

The company’s drive to rebuild its OSB presses didn’t start with this one plant. It currently has seven WIW presses in its OSB group, as well as additional presses for siding production.

While other vendors could undertake to rebuild this press, the intellectual property is owned

by USNR for component design.

The company would take some risk going with another vendor.

On the USNR supply side, there are several personnel who are veterans of the industry and have been constants with the

24 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

WIW presses over many years and through several acquisitions of the technology. These include Alan Knokey, Vice President of USNR’s Plywood and Panel division, Pete Volk, USNR Senior Account Manager for presses, as well as several design engineers and service technicians.

The hydraulics package was recognized for its innovation and reliability, and was chosen as a standard component for the WIW press systems going forward.

Rebuild versus replace It is a huge advantage to rebuild an existing press. Knokey weighed in on some of the key benefits. He explained that these extreme-load machines typically fail due to high, repeated stress loads which cause key structural members to fail over time. When rebuilding worn out components, the plant realizes all the benefits of a new press with much less capital investment and risk. Choosing the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)

The new hydraulic pump skid is unloaded

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS – USNR to supply upgraded components ensures the new components are manufactured to the exact requirements of the existing machine, while incorporating finite element analysis-driven (FEA) design improvements to reduce stress and increase reliability.

This is particularly crucial when taking into account the amount of force required in the equipment manufacturing process.

Along with the rebuild of mechanical components, the hydraulic and PLC systems are often upgraded at the same time.

New hydraulics and controls advancements have greatly simplified the process, as well as significantly improved throughput and the quality of the finished product. The new hydraulic system has also greatly reduced energy costs for operating the press.

Knokey commented, “What was unique about this project was the application of new hydraulic technology specifically designed for an OSB application. This technology was first installed on partical board presses with exceptional results. We invested a significant amount of development time and effort to reduce the frequency and intensity of hydraulic shock the press must withstand while under load, and the results are proving the value of that investment.”

Scope of the project The press rebuild included a new crown, heavy-duty jack cylinders, new support beams, new bottom platens, new hydraulic power unit, PLC, and the four main cylinders were reconditioned. In addition, the simultaneous closing system was upgraded and many routine wear-and-tear components were replaced.

Because of the extreme loads that presses operate under, the mechanical components of the press are manufactured to exacting specifications. Material certificates are required for the steel used in the structure to ensure compliance with ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. A variety of nondestructive testing methods were employed to verify material and weld quality. Ultrasonic, magnetic particle and radiographic inspections were performed in critical areas of the crown, jack cylinders, and bottom platen.

The major hydraulic system upgrades included replacement of the hydraulic power unit (reservoir, pumps and motors), addition of the Easy Shift Prefill Valve system, and new energy efficient air-to-oil coolers. The outdated PLC and HMI was replaced with Controllogix PLC. The hydraulic system upgrade provided the following benefits:

New press crown

New simultaneous Closing arms

New bottom platen modules New grade beams New heavy duty jack cylinders

reservoir’s footprint did not change but was designed with an increase in height to accommodate additional volume and higher oil head height.

• I mproved press operation reliability

Hydraulic simultaneous closing

• R educed press cycle time

This upgrade included supplying four new redesigned load arms fitted with rebuilt hydraulic cylinders (rebuilt by customer) that significantly reduce the stress at the inner pivot joint when opening/ closing the press. Four new push rods and moving platen brackets with two bearings per bracket, effectively reduce stress and increase stability and reliability, as well as contribute to improved thickness control. The press was also fitted with an accumulator upgrade for the simultaneous close that significantly reduced energy costs.

• I mproved operation control flexibility • Reduced shock and vibration • Reduced leaks • Reduced energy costs • E liminated obsolete hydraulic components from the circuit • Improved oil cleanliness • I ntroduced standard AW68 hydraulic oil • E liminated nuisance adjustments of prefill valve shifting with Easy Shift.

The new increased-capacity reservoir is designed with baffles to prevent aeration of the oil, eliminating another source for potential shock in the system. The

The new hydraulic filtration skid has been put into place

This illustration shows new mechanical components that were replaced on the press

very encouraged by what we had forecasted and what we are seeing.

The biggest improvements are in reliability and finished product quality coming out of the machine.

The rebuild has the potential to increase throughput, dependent on all of the support equipment feeding and taking material away from the press. We have yet to test and vet that.”

This project was very much a collaborative effort by the three major parties involved – USNR, HAWE and the customer. It is a testament to the cooperation and coordination that are typical when USNR takes on a project, be it large or small.

Results After the rebuild was complete the customer commented, “We are

One of the four huge bottom platens is under construction International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 25

PRESS UPGRADES

Power play Rebuild and renew your press performance

E

asy Shift™ Synchronous Valve Control (ESSVC) offered by USNR provides servo valve capability for precisely metering large volumes of oil synchronously through multiple OSB press pre-fill valves.

Precisely and synchronously delivering large volumes of oil to the main cylinders on an OSB press

improves the ability to manufacture a better quality product, creates a safer work place, and reduces the frequency of oil spillage.

Easy Shift control converts the very large and difficult-to-adjust and maintain pre-fill valves into precise servo controlled valves by driving the control spool with precision servo

26 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

motors. Accurately metering large oil flow volumes, despite temperatureinduced change in oil viscosity or a temporary lapse in oil hygiene due to mechanical wear, results in uniform positioning of the moving platen.

Reliably positioning the moving platen during the curing process improves board quality. Easy Shift has been

EWP designed specifically for the harsh environment of the press pit. Prior to the enhanced pre-fill valve control, operators had to frequently climb into the press pit to mechanically adjust limit switches and dash pots to accommodate any subtle change in oil quality or to compensate for valve wear. Easy Shift also eliminates much of the piping and hydraulic connections in the pit reducing the chance of hydraulic leaks and potential for fire.

Synchronously shifting the pre-fill valves without hydraulic pressure overshoot or “spike” also significantly reduces any undue load imposed on the press structures; columns, jack, main cylinders and piping. Due to the very large nature of an OSB press, an hydraulic spike induced by an out-of-control event such as changes in oil viscosity, oil hydiene or valve wear can lead to ruptured pipes and a large loss of hydraulic fluid. Uniform and precise shifting of the pre-fill valve virtually eliminates unanticipated failure of the press mechanical structure and hydraulic pipes.

Powerful collaboration In addition to the Easy Shift Synchronous Valve Control system, USNR has worked with HAWE to develop several other power unit upgrades for new and existing Washington Iron Works (WIW) presses that improve operation and reduce energy requirements. These upgrades improve press operation by mitigating hydraulic shock and reducing the press operating cycle time. In addition, significant energy savings can be realized.

The simplified hydraulic design incorporates improved filtration, proportional pumps, proportional valves, reservoir design, and electrical control of components to improve operation. This approach uses off-the-shelf components that are proven and readily available at reasonable costs.

Using conventional proportional valving in combination with standard pressure compensated pumps allows for circuits that are straightforward and useful in providing multiple functions.

Proportional controls increase system reliability and reduce maintenance by eliminating shock

that is often present, resulting in time savings that can be significant.

Benefits of press power unit upgrades: • Increased production • Reduced energy • Simplified hydraulic design • Reduced maintenance • Improved board quality.

Press power unit upgrades can be implemented as a complete package or as individual components over time.

Pre-fill valve shifting with electric actuation One significant component of the new hydraulic system delivered with the WIW press rebuild package is the Easy Shift™ Prefill Valve system. Through coordinated motion control it regulates fluid going to/from each main cylinder, even when the cylinder is actuated by means other than pressurized hydraulic fluid from the power unit being applied to the ram.

Prior to a rebuild, typically the existing four prefill valves are controlled with conventional

solenoid valves that are either on or off, and can transition unreliably from one state to the other. The solenoid valves require periodic adjustment to keep the valves shifting smoothly, in time with one another. Better control of prefill valve shift eliminates unwarranted hydraulic shock and constant need to adjust flow controls.

• Synchronizes prefill valves • Eliminates hydraulic valving • Reduces cycle time • Eliminates pilots from jack circuit.

• Energy efficient • Reduces shock

LIGNA 2017 The world’s leading trade fair for machinery, plant and tools for the woodworking and timber processing industry

22 to 26 May, Hanover, Germany

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 27

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS – DRYING TECHNOLOGY – WESTMILL INDUSTRIES

Westmill waits on multiple innovation patents Westmill Jet Dryer 6-Deck

Westmill’s Dryer Innovation (patents pending) technologies to increase dryer production and improve veneer quality

F

or over 42 years, Westmill Industries has specialized in Veneer Dryer design and manufacturing and has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment in this field

Infeed and Cooler

28 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

The hallmark of Westmill has always been innovation, the manufacturer told International Forest Industries recently.

“The willingness and ability to innovate and to collaborate with customers to create custom-

tailored solutions are the qualities that have always differentiated Westmill from its large, multinational competitors,” the company said.

Westmill has been actively engaged in a number of product development initiatives over the past few years, leading to some best-in-class technologies that are being embraced by performanceminded end users.

“The commitment to innovate comes hand-in-hand with the reality that not every idea is a game-changing advance,” Westmill stated. “We’re proud of our longterm commitment to innovation and the results it is achieving.”

We’ve catalogued here some of those recent successes, many of which are patent pending or remain confidential as they approach that state.

Emission and Dryer Control system Westmill’s WestVac Emission and Dryer Control system (patent

Problem: Dryer Roll Baffles (aka: ‘stop-off’ walls) are critical to proper dryer balance, efficient operation, quality veneer production and dryer fire reduction. When baffles wear or get bent, gaps are created between the roll and the baffle face. As a result gases are free to move in/out of the dryer and this has a substantial effect on production, energy usage, pitch build-up, increased risk of fires and veneer quality. Typically it takes 12-16 man hours of very labour-intensive work to change just one set of conventional roll baffles. Hence, baffle maintenance is irregular and dryers run at less than optimal conditions.

ICCP Cathodic Protection Dryer pending) is an effective method of controlling dryer emissions while increasing production, saving energy, improving veneer quality and reducing the risk of dryer fires. The supplier currently has this system operating successfully in eight veneer dryers in North America, with more under contract.

over 30 years protecting national structures, pipelines, ships hulls, oil rigs and many more from corrosion. “[But] this is the first time anyone has successfully applied ICCP technology inside a veneer dryer,” Westmill claimed.

Problem:

Veneer dryers are prone to galvanic corrosion especially in environments of high temperature, humidity and salinity etc. With an unprotected veneer dryer, galvanic corrosion occurs when different metals have physical or electrical contact with each other and are immersed in a common electrolyte, or when the same metal is exposed to electrolyte with different concentrations. In a galvanic couple, the more active metal (the anode) corrodes at an accelerated rate and the more noble metal (the cathode) corrodes at a slower rate.

Dryer end-wall leakage is caused when gasses pass from the high-pressure side of the dryer’s end-wall through gaps in poorly designed, poorly fit roll baffle ‘stop-off’ walls. With this, large volumes of pitch-laden steam commonly billow into plants, or into some form of emission mitigation system.

Solution: The WestVac Emission and Dryer Control system is designed to control in-plant fugitive emissions from a jet dryer’s green-end by simply returning any escaped gases, moisture and heat energy back into the dryer via the adjustable Re-Intro-Duct, where the heat and humidity can benefit the drying process.

The WestVac system reduces in plant dryer fugitive emissions, reduces dryer energy consumption while helping to maintain maximum humidity levels inside the dryer, improving dry veneer quality and reducing the incidence of fires.

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system Westmill has now successfully installed the first ever ICCP system (patent pending) in a veneer dryer.

ICCP has been used extensively for

Problem:

Quickly Removable Dryer Roll Baffle system – change baffles in minutes rather than hours Westmill has designed and successfully installed a QuickChange Dryer Roll Baffle system (patent pending) for new and existing jet dryers. This new Removable Roll Baffle design not only provides a superior seal, but also provides users with a quickly replaceable Roll Baffle with the ability to change baffles efficiently.

Solution: Changing roll baffles, with Westmill’s NEW Quick-Change Roll Baffle system now takes about 2 minutes per baffle. It is not required to remove the existing rolls, chain, sprockets, star gears or jet tubes to replace the roll baffles – they all simply stay in place. Quick and easy change-out allows more regular maintenance of baffles, so dryers can be kept properly sealed, increasing energy and efficiency and producing at maximum potential at all times.

Solution: ICCP is a very economic method of maintenance-free corrosion protection over equipment. This technology will ensure longterm structural performance, reduced downtime and consistent equipment quality and operation.

ICCP forces the protected structure (the veneer dryer) to become the cathode by connection to a niobium-coated anode, and through the application of a direct current to the anode using a variable DC power supply.

“In short, the protected structure becomes cathodic, thus suppressing the electronic migration of metal and virtually eliminating corrosion altogether from occurring,” Westmill stated.

Quick Remove Baffles

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 29

A world leader in primary log breakdown

O

ptimil is a world leader in primary log breakdown.

Located in Vancouver, Canada, their manufacturing facility covers 10,000 m2, producing Infeed Systems, two and four Sided Canters, Bandmills, Gangsaws, Edgers and PLC Control Systems.

Optimil gained a reputation with small independent manufacturers for being responsive and easy to work with. With this guiding philosophy, they now also work with the largest North American producers.

For each log, The Optimil Infeed System scans and sets the machine, to achieve optimum recovery, while reducing the need for extensive log sorting and log yard handling. Speeds in excess of 200 mpm are routine, with production rates in excess of 150 m3 per hour.

The Optimil Canter uses linear bearings to achieve fast accurate sets, remote mount drives to remove weight from the moving frames and feedrolls powered by low inertia motors to maintain

Our PLC Group programs equipment to achieve maximum performance, and maintain smooth operation including Primary Log Breakdown, Log Bucking PLC, Edger Controls and Planermill Controls Ross Chapman, Optimil Machinery Inc

30 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

SAWLINES - OPTIMIL

LUMBER PROCESSING

Horizontal Gang

constant control of the piece.

With over 100 - 6ft and 7ft Bandmills installed worldwide, their unique overhung bearing design achieves maximum sawing accuracy with minimum saw deviation, while allowing them to close couple the bands, and achieve continuous control of the piece.

Board Profilers and Gangsaws allow them to produce a multiple of products from a single piece, while reducing the machine centers required.

Their VDAG features a unique swing out door, for ease of saw change and maintenance.

Optimil’s PLC Group programs equipment to achieve maximum performance, and maintain smooth operation including Primary Log

Breakdown, Log Bucking PLC, Edger Controls and Planermill Controls.

Top and bottom profiled boards through VDAG

Optimil top & bottom board Profiler with VDA Gangsaw

Head Office: Canada 8320 River Road, Delta, BC, Canada V4G 1B5 Phone: (604) 946-6911 Sales: Bill LeGentil Birmingham, Alabama One Independence Plaza, Suite 412 Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35209 Phone: (205) 978-5388 Manager: T. Mike Hubbard Optimil’s profiler for top and bottom board solutions. These machines reduce the flow to edgers and provide increased production rates. Close coupled to a vertical gang, these machines operate with four independent axis to chip a profile solution to the top and bottom board, if required.

www.optimil.com

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 31

LUMBER PROCESSING

SAWLINES – USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson The company has a long and strong record for designing lumber handling lines that can meet the most stringent of processing challenges and configurations

USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson describes 2016 as ‘vigorous’ North American sawmilling manufacturing behemoth has enjoyed a busy 12 months across its equipment range and over various markets

U

SNR / Söderhamn Eriksson has enjoyed a flurry of activity over the past year, encompassing the full breadth of its product lines and to its range of industry sectors.

In 2016, the majority of USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson orders came from North America, divided nearly equally between east and west.

The company also drew a large amount of business from Japan, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Scandinavia, Europe and South America.

Primary line technology was the largest segment of the company’s solid wood business over the past year. Lumber dry kilns and lumber handling equipment were closely matched for order

value. Optimization and scanning technology were strong drivers for investments in many of the orders along all product lines, with mechanical and controls enhancements also important factors for investment.

The panel side of the business activities was equally strong in 2016. Orders from this segment

included vigorous investment for press upgrades and veneer drying systems. The acquisition of the Ventek product lines, announced in November, is expected to offer a good boost to the plywood and panel segment for the business, already delivering a robust showing with several new orders.

In terms of timing of the investments, the strongest quarters for USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson business were the second and fourth quarters, followed closely by the third quarter. The first quarter was less busy for order intake, but backlogged business kept the company’s many engineering and manufacturing facilities humming.

Announcements of note There were several announcements of note during the past year for

While 2016 was not a banner year for lumber and panel prices globally, investors are looking for improved markets in the coming year and short term future

The addition of vision scanning technology has proven to be a very strong deciding factor for capital investment, and looks to continue to be a major force for the upcoming year 32 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

the company that reflect the strength of the company’s business overall. At the tail end of 2015, the company announced the appointment of Johan Johansson as Managing Director for its European operations. Johansson came to the company from BRUKS Group, where he was CEO for that global leader.

In April USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson officially opened its newest facility, located at Jacksonville, Florida.

This was a major investment for the company, and a necessary one. It is located near a hub of wood processing activity for the Southeast US region. It is also a significant manufacturing facility for the company’s product lines, comprising more than 150,000 ft2 of flexible manufacturing and warehousing space, and a large office complex for the company’s Jacksonville-based sales, engineering, project management, service, and operations personnel.

The offices also include a new training center, with facilities to host customers and provide technical training.

In July, the company brought on board Chuck Wert as Senior Vice President responsible for aftermarket customer support, including spare and replacement parts, technical service, and HALCO AD:Layout 3 3/8/10

USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson is well known globally for its ability to integrate log breakdown systems that lead the industry with flexibility and technology advancements training. With 18 successful years of increasingly responsible roles in the processing sector, Wert rounds out an impressive portfolio in company leadership.

In September, USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson announced the sale of its 100th Multi-Track Fence, a product that has taken the industry by storm since its launch in 2010.

“With orders coming in from BC to Quebec, Texas to Florida, Washington to South Carolina, Uruguay to New Zealand and Sweden, customers have embraced this design for its1accuracy, 17:22 Page

Optimise your production plan...

its speed and agility, and its economical electric operation,” the manufacturer said.

And in November, the company acquired the product lines of Ventek, the industry leader in veneer scanning, grading and handling systems for the plywood industry. This adds a key technology line to the already significant offering for the company’s plywood and panel business. The activities for this newest product line are operating primarily out of the company’s facility in Eugene, Oregon.

“While 2016 was not a banner

year for lumber and panel prices globally, investors are looking for improved markets in the coming year and short term future,” USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson said.

“We remain committed to the wood processing industry.”

The manufacturer’s record over the past 12 months reflect its very strong position to continue its global growth for the foreseeable future.

www.halcosoftware.com

Optimise your operations OVER

25

Whatever your mill...

Maximize profit by resolving trade-offs between recovery, production rate, and value

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Vancouver, Canada • Tel: 1 604 731 9311 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 33

LUMBER PROCESSING

SAWLINES – EWD

International wins for German stalwart View over the sawline from the reducer quad bandsaw

Three installations over 2016 typify the high standards and efficiencies for which EWD has become renowned

TM

T

his year was another busy one for Esterer WD (EWD).

“We are even installing a new sawline and a couple of edger optimizer systems during the Christmas holidays.

Across this year, the company completed three key installations that it has little hesitation describing as “exemplary”, even by its own high standards.

The review starts in Brazil, with a complete greenfields sawmill supplied to Araupel as a ‘EuroForce’ project. As always with such projects, Springer and Microtec partnered on the installation and delivery. EuroForce is an international project partnership between EWD, Springer and Microtec, which provides turn-key solutions under a single contract to the customer.

The Araupel project was headed by Springer as the general contractor, while EWD provided Araupel with a new small-log sawline for radiata pine from 10- 40 cm and short logs from 2.2-4.2 m in length.

The Araupel plant is processing some 30,000 logs/month in a double shift operation.

EWD also supplied a complete sawline with a reducer 1,800 mm

34 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

twin bandsaw for the primary breakdown, followed by a reducer circular saw unit with FR15 profiling unit for the secondary breakdown and an OptiDrive high-speed optimizing edger for the side boards of the twin bandsaw.

The line runs mixed logs that are graded to centre depending on product dimension then optimized for side board solutions for the twin bandsaw and the profiling unit. Up to 30 logs/minute at feed speeds of 120 m/minute.

Dynamic log gap control

ensures the shortest possible gaps in the scan&set mode – close to 2 m at a 120 m/minute line speed. A 3D true-shape scanning system with Microtec DiScan units throughout the line optimizes and controls log rotation and log position with an extended length infeed, followed by 3D cant scanning to optimize cant positioning. A skewing function and 3D face scanning provide the “optimum” profiling solutions.

In Europe, business conditions for UK sawmillers is still a little

New Balabanovo EWD sawmill ready for the official opening

stronger than on the continent.

Norwich, UK-based sawmiller Thomson took this opportunity to build a second sawline, following its first complete sawmill project with EWD built back in 2004-2005.

Ten years later, the next sawmill was once again purpose-built for fencing and packaging lumber, with diameters from 10-45 cm and log lengths from 1.8-3.8 m. The annual log intake will be about 100,000 mÂł of small and short logs when at capacity.

The sawing process starts with a reducer quad bandmill, sawing off side boards in a variety of thickness combinations in scan&set mode.

Automatic log rotation and positioning uses the scan data of a Microtec DiScan system. The twosided cants are, after automatic fly turning, re-scanned by another DiScan system for shape.

Optimisation and positioning with skewing function on the infeed is provided by the new EWD ZE2 infeed system.

A chipper canter PF19 with VNK_6-320 double-arbor reducer circular saw unit does the resawing of the cants. A belt conveyor bridges the gap between the chipper canter and the circular resaw. Here, in a future upgrade,

Board separator and cant turner behind the reducer twin bandsaw at the Araupel sawmill

another 3D face scanner and a FR15H profiling unit with optimized, diagonal profiling will be installed.

The edging of the waney side boards is done by an OptiDrive high-speed board edger, running at up to 65 bd/minute at 420 m/ minute feed speed.

Meanwhile, in Russia, national

timber giant Plitspichprom ZAO went into full production with its new sawmill in Balabanovo, southwest of Moscow. The greenfields installation of the sawmill was run by EWD as general contractor, supplying the turn-key sawmill with EWD reducer circular saw technology, DWK, with 3D log

and cant scanner from Joerg. The log infeed was built by Holtec and the debarker was supplied by Valon Kone.

Logs are sawn in two passes using a merry-go-round. The side boards are sent to an EWD Optimes optimizing edger BKO_4 with four moving saw heads for optimized edge and rip solutions.

The lumber sorting and stacking system was built by Kallfass of Baiersbronn, from Germany. It includes a destacker for re-sorting of KD lumber, a trimmer and 20bin drop sorter, followed by an automatic stacking system. The waste-handling system supplied under the EWD contract was built

by Bruks for the sawline and the edger.

Annual sawing capacity of the new mill is some 120,000 mÂł of higher-quality round logs.

For its second processing plant beside Quedas do Iguacu, Araupel built a full-scale remanufacturing plant, employing about 600 people, targeted the US moulding market International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 35

HewSaw dx -Revolutionizing the This new four arbour dx sawing process from HewSaw provides major benefits for modern sawmills, including maximizing speed and recovery.

HewSaw’s latest technology breakthrough was introduced in October 2016 and it will be showcased at HewSaw’s stand at Ligna 2017 in Hannover, Germany from May 22 to 26. HewSaw will have a cant saw with dx sawing on the stand and HewSaw representaves will be on hand to explain the new technology. You will find the HewSaw stand at Ligna in Hall 25, Stand D24.

Based on the needs of today’s sawmillers, HewSaw’s inhouse enginnering team developed the new dx Sawing at the company’s headquarters in Mäntyharju, Finland.

It has been tested at sawmills in Finland and the USA and is now available to HewSaw customers worldwide.

“When we equip our HewSaw sawing machines and sawlines with this patent pending technology, we can provide our customers with the ability to run larger diameter logs at faster speeds for longer periods of time, and we can reduce our saw kerf, increasing recovery and yield from each log,” explains HewSaw’s chief engineer, Raimo Karjalainen.

Below: With HewSaw dx sawing, the saws are cutting through the cant in two stages, resulting in a reduced depth of cut.

The basic principle behind dx sawing is to replace the standard double arbour sawing technique currently used by HewSaw with a four arbour system. The first set of arbours will house the saws for an initial or pilot cut into the cant, while the second set of arbours will house a set of saws that will finish the cut, just as it is in existing HewSaw sawing technology. This works well with HewSaw’s philosophy of centre line sawing where all processing is calculated and alligned to the centre line of the HewSaw machine.

In a typical HewSaw dx sawing scenario, the log is presented in the usual way to the HewSaw scanning conveyor, and following scanning, it is then positioned for the HewSaw with the company’s highly accurate log positioner followed by four sided chipping. The next step is where it gets interesting, as the first set of saws penetrates part way into the cant, making the preliminary or initial cut. Then downstream is a second set of saws on a second set of arbours, which completes the sawing process. This is combined with the edging of sideboards to produce the highest efficiency possible in log breakdown.

Sawing Process! www.hewsaw.com

May 22-26 2017 Hannover, Germany Visit HewSaw at:

Hall 25, Stand D24 Speed vs. Log Diameter

Speed in M/min (Ft/min)

250 (820)

dx sawing

normal sawing

200 (660)

150 (495)

100 (330)

Log Diamter in mm (inches)

Above: An internal look at a HewSaw with dx sawing shows the first set of arbors equipped with smaller diameter saws for the initial cut, followed by a second set of arbours with larger diameter saws for the second cut.

80 (3.25)

120 (4.75)

160 (6.25)

200 (8.00)

240 (9.50)

280 (11.00)

320 (12.50)

360 (14.25)

400 (15.75)

0

420 (16.50)

50 (165)

Higher recovery or yield from

This technology will work with most types of HewSaw machines from the company’s newer model smaller machines with optimized edging through to the state-ofthe-art multi-unit sawlines that can take multiple edged sideboards at each machine centre. It will also work with HewSaw’s CRS units (splitter saws), and it can be used with both batch feeding and scan-n-set applications.

So what are the advantages of HewSaw dx sawing?

Because the saws are not cutting all the way through the cant in a single cut, the depth of cut is substantially reduced, meaning sawmills using this technology can run at higher speeds with smaller diameter saws and thinner kerfs. This is especially beneficial with larger logs or cants.

• more production volume in a shift • same production volume with shorter shifts • higher recovery or yield from each log • improved surface quality and exceptional saw deviation

• the possibility to run for longer periods between •

saw changes Lower hp motors can be used resulting in reduced power requirements

HewSaw is the only primary breakdown producer that can offer this technology and the concept and technology are patent pending worldwide.

With its factory and head office in Mäntyharju, Finland, HewSaw is a family-owned company that has been in business for over 50 years. Recognized for its innovation and leadership in developing new technology for the sawmill business, HewSaw has now expanded its customer base to well over 30 countries on six continents. In addition to the company’s operations in Finland, they also have offices and warehouses in Canada, USA, Australia, South Africa, Germany and Sweden. In total, HewSaw employs over 200 people worldwide and they have delivered over 400 sawing machines in the past five decades.

each log May 22-26 2017 Hannover, Germany Visit HewSaw at:

Hall 25, Stand D24

Above: A HewSaw cant saw with dx sawing features two sets of double arbours.

www.hewsaw.com

LUMBER PROCESSING

SAWLINES – BID/COMACT/MCGEHEE

BID Group delivers another year of excellence Comact profiling units have become the industry standard in many parts of the world

Profiling is becoming a standard practice in the industry and the BID Group is working hard to provide the best possible solutions to its valued customers

I

n 2016, several customers provided the BID Group with opportunities to supply profiling equipment for their capital projects.

The BID Group understands that sawmill operators typically want to run faster and the most common bottle neck within the operations is the board edger.

Profiling allows operators to increase productivity while reducing the workload on the edger by producing the side boards during the primary and secondary breakdown stages. Profiling at the breakdown stages has also shown a gain in recovery, likely because by having profilers on a sawline the edging is done on a solid piece of wood allowing for more stability at a slower speed and more precision.

Additionally, reducing the amount of boards being sent to the edger allows for operators to slow the edger down and better position the boards and achieve better edging results. In some cases, completely eliminating the need for

40 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

an edger is a possibility.

This possibility became a reality at the Biewer Lumber project in Newton, MS. For the Biewer project, a complete profiling sawline was provided consisting of Comact (BID Group subsidiary) equipment.

Previously, Comact had provided profiling on equipment such as small log lines (DDM) and gangs (TBL3) but recent advancements now allow for Comact to provide profiling at the primary breakdown as well, completing the full profiling sawline.

The sawline at Biewer starts with the Comact Flying Log Turner and Optimized Length Infeed (OLI-CS3) and continues through to the Chipper Canter and ChippingProfiling Heads.

The Biewer sawline also uses Comact’s scanning and optimization/controls, including the new 3D PRO sensors and the Chipping-Profiling system PLC/ Controls.

“Profiling any type of log is a challenge but crooked logs are an even greater challenge and typically are a major percentage of the log diet for North American operators, especially those sawing Southern Yellow Pine such as Biewer,” the manufacturer told International Forest Industries.

“The side board on a crooked log is usually not parallel to the feed chain and the profiling tools will need to follow the skewed board. Good scanning, solutions, and controls are required to accomplish this task.

“Comact has the equipment, experience, and expertise to deliver.”

The BID Group said it was “extremely proud and grateful” for the opportunity from Biewer to supply Comact’s first complete profiling sawline without an edger in the Southern US and second overall in North America.

Comact also provided a complete profiling sawline for Troy Lumber in Troy, North Carolina.

Comact has five TBL3 units installed in the southern US

The existing edger was kept as part of the overall operation. The Troy sawline includes a Comact Optimized Sharp Chain at the primary breakdown and a TBL3 at the secondary breakdown. In this configuration, over 90% of the side boards are edged during the sawing process giving the edger more capacity for edging boards from the existing headrig and gang, resulting in an increase of the overall productivity of the mill.

This year (2016) also provided the opportunity to further strengthen the relationship with Sierra Pacific Industries through the supply of two primary breakdown profiling lines for their project in Shelton, Washington.

The two primary breakdowns include a Comact Log Turner and an OLI-CS3 infeed feeding a Chipper Canter and a set of profilers.

These sawlines will allow Sierra Pacific to obtain great production numbers without two or three edgers, further reducing potential bottlenecks and downtimes.

Another highlight of 2016

was the supply of a Comact TBL3 profiling gang to Westervelt, another long-term and valued customer, for its project in Moundville, Alabama.

This TBL3 is Comact’s fifth installation in the southern US for profiling at the secondary breakdown. Having this new TBL3 in the mill will avoid any return from the gang to the edger for re-edging, allowing Westervelt to increase throughput.

In 2016, the BID Group welcomed Ron McGehee and his profiling systems to the BID family.

McGehee profilers can be retrofitted onto any existing straight-sawing or curve-sawing gang. McGehee’s profiling gang has delivered up to a 25% increase in productivity and up to a $25/ mfbm cost reduction. There are currently eight active systems with two recent start-ups in Anderson, California, and Urbana, Arkansas.

“The BID Group would like

to thank all customers and is looking forward to working hard in 2017 to continue to advance the performance and results of

the complete line-up of profiling equipment,” the manufacturer said.

McGehee profilers joined the BID family in 2016

Comact has the equipment, experience, and expertise to deliver

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 41

LUMBER PROCESSING

Operation Focus – Microtec

Top of the line New saw line and log sorting in Sweden features the best of Europe’s sawmilling technology SCA Timber is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of wood-based products, with an annual production capacity of several million cubic meters. The operations include five sawmills in Sweden, wood-processing units with planning mills in Sweden, France and the UK and distribution and wholesale operations Innovation spirit at Tunadal sawmill SCA Tunadal sawmill is located in Sundsvall, Sweden, in the county of Västernorrland. Five years ago, the Tunadal production site was upgraded with a new Springer log sorting line, including two Microtec Logeye 300 log scanners, which included full 3D shape scanning, X-ray scanning for detection of internal wood properties as well as surface image color scanning. One Logeye scanner measures the logs’ volume for payment, performing the log diameter measurement under-bark. The second Logeye 300

42 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

Springer screw unscrambler log singulators at the saw infeed. Logs are loaded on the conveyor from both sides

is used for log sorting, providing precise measurement results without bark, as well as providing images for documentation.

In the most recent project, SCA chose Microtec to supply additional four Logeye 300

measurement systems, which brings the total to six Microtec Logeye measurement devices running at the Tunadal production site. One of the four new Logeye systems is positioned at the saw infeed, for which Springer supplied

Katarina Levin, SCA Tunadal Mill Manager

all of the mechanical equipment as well as PLC controls. Three more are installed on the Linck saw line: the first provides the exact 3D shape for log turning optimization, the second provides 3D shape information of the 2-sided cant after the first set of chipping heads, to check the alignment and optimize the cant for the second chipper. Finally, the third provides 3D shape information of the 4-sided cant for side board profiler optimization.

“SCA Tunadal particularly relies on measurement devices made by Microtec, as the proven technology delivers constant and reliable results. Furthermore, with a forwarding speed at the saw infeed of up to 200 m/min, that means 42-

Complete saw line at SCA Tunadal

43 logs per minute, it is necessary to have the best equipment”, confirms Katarina Levin, mill manager at SCA Tunadal.

The best saw line?

In the last decades SCA has invested about 130 million Euros in Tunadal for modernizing the log yard and dry-sorting mill. In the latest project, SCA assigned a team of about 30 people the task of planning a new saw line with a completely new concept at the Tunadal sawmill. The target capacity of the new installation was 1.4 million qm - 50 million cubic feet - of logs per year, to produce dried sawn lumber. Management’s mandate was to create as much yield from the logs with the least

possible cost. By installing the new saw line and with continued fine-tuning this summer, SCA is proud to have the fastest saw line in Sweden, and were able to dismantle three existing saw lines.

With a lineal speed of 200 m/min, this saw line is indeed one of the fastest in operation anywhere.

“For the optimization on the saw line, we rely on high precision measurement data from Microtec.

In almost all new high-tech sawmills equipped with Linck solutions, there are measuring electronics from Microtec”, explains Manfred Leopold, CSO at Linck.

THE WOOD-MECHANISING COMPANY

1) 3D scanning 2) log turning 3) production of a two-sided cant 4) 90° log turning 5) 3D scanning 6) skewing unit 7) production of a four-sided cant 8) 3D scanning 9) 90° log turning 10) profiling of sideboards 11) sawing of sideboards 12) separation of sideboards 13) 90° turning of the four-sided cant 14) profiling of sideboards (curve sawing) 15) r esawing of centre products and sideboards (curve sawing) 16) separation of boards

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 43

dimension parameters provided by the log yard, Winlog is able to confirm that a log has the required geometrical characteristics for that sawing pattern. The Winlog system also controls the log sorting yard, gathering the measurement data over the entire production cycle and analyzing its efficiency, productivity and recovery based on real time production data. Thanks to the excellent professional cooperation between the engineers from Linck and Microtec, a

In November the new 200 m/min saw line was officially inaugurated

After installation, the first log passed through the new Linck saw line in April this year. The majority of the production are small logs, with a diameter varying from 13-17 cm (5 to 7 in.). The new saw line concept was planned in close cooperation between Springer, Microtec and SCA, and is able to provide a high volume of logs to the saws. In order to have the required amount of logs at the saw infeed, Springer created two identical infeed decks. High lifters place the logs on twin 26 meter (85 ft.) infeed deck conveying systems, which feed the logs to Springer’s proven high speed screw unscrambler log singulators. From the screw unscramblers, the logs are fed on to the conveyor from both sides. The conveyor runs at constant speed of 200 m/min, at which the logs continue through the Logeye Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner.

“Speed is a dominant feature to ensure a high level of productivity,” states mill manager Katarina Levin.

“Furthermore, this project with its completely new sawing hall and high-speed saw line represents a huge step forward in sawmilling.”

The scanning unit detects the overall shape as well as oversized or undersized logs. The exact geometric data such as diameter, length, curvature and position of the top end are measured.

All logs which do not meet the requirements of the Linck saw line are placed into a concrete reject box. The box was specially designed to handle the logs in a smooth and quiet fashion, due to the strict noise requirements of the inhabited areas that surround the sawmill. For this reason SCA installed additional noise protection devices and Springer ensured that the logs are conveyed smoothly from one conveyor to the

Constant 3D profile scanning for a perfect saw line control and breakdown

next. Another new characteristic for a Swedish sawmill is that the log infeed has been installed inside a building, reducing the noise for the surrounding areas and ensuring light barriers are not affected by snow.

Sorting Optimization At the saw infeed, Microtec also supplied a Winlog sorting optimization, which is connected with the log sorting yard and is able to access the sorting rules.

Linck optimization provides the software with the current active sawing patterns. Using the Microtec Logeye 300 at the log and merchandizing yard 44 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

detailed and accurate picture of all the points at which each log is processed is created. Winlog is additionally responsible to ensure all logs are conveyed to the Linck saw line top end first. Using the scan data, Winlog checks whether each log is oriented top end first. If necessary, it routes the log to the 180 degree Springer conveyor to be turned. All measuring devices provided by Microtec are developed to compute a large volume of data in a short optimization time, to always obtain the best results possible.

Microtec Logeye scanner in the box makes sure the log top end goes in front

About SCA

Top ahead: If the logs have to be turned first, PLC automation sends them on the screw conveyor up to the 180° circular conveyor

With modern pine and spruce sawmills, wood-processing units and high quality raw material, SCA is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of solid-wood products for visible end-use. The company mainly supplies products within the wood industry and building material merchants to whom they offer not only high quality solidwood products but also supplier concepts. The concepts include, for example, expert knowledge, efficient technology and complementary service solutions within distribution, warehouse and IT. SCA’s forestry operations are certified in accordance with the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council® and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™.

Logeye 300 Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner Logeye 300 enables log scaling and sorting according to volume, quality and strength as well as bucking and breakdown optimization. Rock-solid hardware, Multi-Sensor cameras as well as next generation X-ray technology give you the power to increase efficiency, maximize productivity and optimize your production mix based on your priorities and value parameters.

More world leading scanning solutions at www.microtec.eu

Logeye features ⤬ Worldwide accredited log measurement for trade ⤬ Full 3D shape, color and density measurement ⤬ Over- and under-bark volume determination ⤬ Optimized breakdown, bucking and sorting ⤬ Increased throughput, productivity and resale value Brixen

Venezia

Linz

Vancouver

Melbourne

microtec.eu

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 45

LUMBER PROCESSING

SAWLINES – Scanning & Optimisation – LIMAB LIMAB’s 3D board profiling system

Fifteen years & counting Over a lengthy period of success and incremental improvements, LIMAB believes the scanning and optimisation units delivered to clients over 2016 represent another level of technological sophistication

T

he LIMAB board scanning and optimisation system, the BoardProfiler, has been a success since its first installation a decade-and-a-half ago. Now more than 200 systems have been installed all over the world.

Over the past few years, the system has been updated with 3D scanning and additional functions for new applications.

The BoardProfiler 3D takes board scanning and optimisation to “another level”, according to LIMAB. The BoardProfiler 3D for edger optimisations in transversal or lineal lines has been installed in several saw mills with significant

46 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

yield improvements both in Europe and overseas.

The first installation at an edger was at Setra in northern Sweden, where an old transversal SAAB scanner was exchanged for a new LIMAB BoardProfiler 3D-TE. The choice was between building a new edger or to do an upgrade.

“In terms of investment cost, the decision to upgrade was pretty easy,” said Hans Liljeström, Site Manager. The installation of the LIMAB system resulted in a significantly higher edger yield without making any larger mechanical changes in the line.

“During the takeover a

verification test was made to verify that the yield requirements were met,” said Liljeström. “We found that the requirements were achieved and that the yield was actually higher than expected. This also applies to capacity, which is now consistently around the target of 30 pcs/minute.

“We are convinced that there are more sawmills that are interested in our BoardProfiler 3DTE,” said Christian Tellvik, Business Area Manager at LIMAB. “Many edger mills have older measurements and automation systems and with a set-up similar to what we have installed at Setra Wood Products in Kalix they could raise their yield considerably.”

Later in 2016, Derome Timber in southern Sweden made a similar installation to the Setra project for an equally pleasing result.

Solida Brasil Madeiras also changed its measurement system to the BoardProfiler 3D in its lineal line. According to Solida, the former supplier opted for LIMAB because it was able to guarantee accuracy and optimisation flexibility.

The installation of the BoardProfiler 3D is easy because LIMAB sensors are pre-calibrated, which means that the installation of sensors and other system modules can be done by the customer.

The BoardProfiler 3D-TT for trimmer applications has also been a success this year with new installations in countries like Sweden and Austria.

Another version of the

We are convinced that there are more sawmills that are interested in our BoardProfiler 3D-TE Christian Tellvik

BoardProfiler 3D that has been successful this year, is the system for dimension control/hit&miss after a planer. The system is installed in lineal processes and is able to find areas or parts of the board that are out-of-tolerance.

The concept is to define a board into one or several sections where there is a certain requirement for a specific tolerance. When a board is scanned and there is an area out-of-tolerance, it is possible to sort or reject the board into specific classes.

This year has seen Limab reach new heights with its technologies “These success stories are proving our scanning capabilities within the sawmilling industry,” the manufacturer told International Forest Industries.

“With the BoardProfiler 3D, we’re able to offer high quality scanning and optimisation systems for trimming, edging and hit&miss

Limab is based in Sweden but has installations across the globe applications. The system has a modular design, which makes it possible to find an optimum solution for the customer both in lineal and transversal saw lines.”

LIMAB was founded more than 30 years ago and has a long tradition of developing laser sensors and non-contact measuring systems. The company specializes in measurement

systems for industrial applications, mainly to support customers in improving product quality and reduce manufacturing costs.

Today, the Sweden-based company has customers on all continents and is offering “stateof-the-art systems across a large variety of applications”.

Limab has been at the scanning and optimisation game for 15 years International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 47

LUMBER PROCESSING

SAWLINES – Scanning & Optimisation – AUTOLOG

Arbec goes with Autolog systems

The Linear Autolog ProGrader planer optimizer with its retractable scanner module, the infeed/outfeed dual press rolls systems and the UV code cabinet (to the left) fit perfectly in the existing building

When Groupe Rémabec’s sawmilling subsidiary, Arbec, was looking to improve efficiency, it went to Autolog

A

rbec’s seven softwood plants across the sawing, planing and finger-jointing sectors are cornerstones of Groupe Rémabec’s manufacturing division.

Arbec plants provide a yearly timber production capacity of 700 mbdft.

The company modernized its planer mill in St-Séverin, Quebec, with an investment of more than $2 million for the re-launch. The mill now employs 52 people and transforms 190 mbdft of wood into various sized pieces: 1 in x 3 in, 1 in x 4 in, 2 in x 3 in, 2 in x 4 in, 2 in x 6 in and from 60 in to 120 in PET in seven different grades and three species (SPF).

To achieve this, Arbec sought to minimize its business risk and orient itself towards a turnkey type of agreement. The scope of the project included replacing the plant’s equipment controls starting with the unscrambler, the planer infeed transfer, the planer area, the lug loader, the multi-saw trimmer, the lumber sorter, the emptying of

48 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

the bins, and the stacker infeed/ outfeed section. But the main equipment to be installed to justify the financial viability of the project was a grade optimizer.

Enter Autolog.

Autolog was founded almost 30 years ago in 1987, supplying products with an authentic and customer-oriented approach, and with controls for lumber sorters, stackers and other equipment related to the sawmill and the planer.

This philosophy has never wavered over time. It has always been both important and beneficial for the company to offer quality controls and optimization solutions to the mills as a complete and integrated package to reduce the risk of conflicts between suppliers, facilitating problem resolution and reducing loss of time when completing contracts.

A secret well hidden from the competition, Autolog is far from a ‘rookie’ in the more complex

projects and competes admirably with companies of larger size due to its flexibility, the quality of its project managers, and its harmonious relationship with its suppliers.

Autolog won the bid for the Arbec overhaul and became the primary contractor for the entire project, which included the risk management for the project, the optimization and automation solutions, and installation of the mechanical and electrical equipment.

Autolog’s chosen partners for the equipment were Carbotech and the Electro Beauce group, two firms whose value system and customer orientation are similar to those of Autolog. All controls for the Arbec project were provided on an Allen-Bradley platform, a standard PLC used in the lumber industry throughout North America and fully mastered by Autolog. In this project, the processors used were the L72 and L71 model.

The major component for

financial justification was Autolog’s ProGrader linear planer optimizer, recognized as a benchmark system in North America, with over 30 systems installed in the last three years. It is renowned for its most reliable and avant-garde technologies in the industry, not only for its 3D sensors but for its vision and use of a dual-laser tracheid scanner.

Its established intrinsic qualities were a deciding factor in Arbec’s choice of supplier. In fact, the ProGrader allows for the synchronized reading from all scanner heads of the four faces of the board at 90°.

The capture of all characteristics, both physical and cosmetic, occurs without the obstruction of the chains and benefits from the constant stability of the boards, which is ensured by infeed/outfeed roll modules that reduce the effect of vibration/

The contract was a turnkey project for Autolog. All the controls were replaced with state-of-the-art PLC technology and included the VFD’s, start-up and training. The controls of the lug loader, trimmer/sorter and the stacker were included in the project wobbling.

Calibration and maintenance is carried out quickly and reduces downtime. Similarly, in the computer room, a real-time tracking system powered by a powerful control computer, a video camera and equipment that measures G force impact in real-time, allows the operator to intervene quickly in order to reduce the costs of errors during start-up and normal day-to-day operations.

However, the moment of truth

for measuring the success of any turnkey installation comes with the quality of implementation and realization that the complete project is delivered on schedule, according to the specifications, while respecting the initial budget.

Only 10 weeks elapsed between the initial shut down of the mill to the signature of the acceptance tests, all carried out according to a well respected and agreed upon plan.

The top/bottom UV code printer module features super heavy duty print head protection. Each head prints 3 identical codes on each side of the boards making a non-readable board code impossible International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 49

LUMBER PROCESSING

SAWLINES – Scanning & Optimisation –LUCIDYNE The GradeScan system in-situ

agreement to purchase up to nine GradeScan systems from Lucidyne for installation at Interfor’s nine Southeastern US mills between 2016 and 2018.

Hampton

Production optimization Lucidyne reviews its success stories from 2016 and examines returns on investment

T

he real payback of any production line upgrade does not come from the steel, according to North American scanning guru Lucidyne.

Only automated scanning and optimization can fully flex the mill’s new muscle, the supplier told International Forest Industries.

The scanner reads fibre and identifies board defects and characteristics on and below the board’s surface, then analyzes and classifies them. Optimization then generates and evaluates all of the possible fence and saw solutions

50 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

as well as provides a grade for the board in mere seconds. Critical to the production process, automated scanning and optimization maximizes fibre, value and ROI. In mills across the US, in Canada and internationally, Lucidyne’s GradeScan is an automated scanning and optimization system that consistently delivers the results planer mills need. This is evidenced

by Lucidyne’s return customers, and those who choose Lucidyne’s GradeScan for multiple sites.

Interfor, for example, signed an

Hampton is a long-term customer, having installed and operated Lucidyne’s Grade Mark Readers at several mills for many years.

Its first Lucidyne GradeScan was installed at the Willamina, Oregon mill.

Before GradeScan, there was an unusual trimming situation that prohibited automatic processing of one of Hampton’s products.

Lucidyne designers solved that problem.

Using the flexibility of the GradeScan system, they created a specialized grade rule and adjusted programming for material handling.

Now Hampton’s customized GradeScan system is seamlessly integrated with existing controls, scanning and optimization systems.

“Increases in product profit, reductions in manpower costs and improved grading accuracy overall have made Lucidyne’s GradeScan a cornerstone to Hampton’s planer mill production, and their ROI,” the supplier said.

Spanish Trail Lumber After thorough research and evaluation of scanner options, Spanish Trail Lumber knew that GradeScan would provide the optimal solution for its operation.

Lucidyne’s reputation for quality, accuracy, payback and partnering with customers played heavily in the choice of GradeScan to replace

We are 100% dependent on GradeScan solutions Timbo Roberts, Spanish Trail

the outdated LHG. With Certified Graders increasingly difficult to find and retain, LHG’s requirement for manual grading put the mill at risk. GradeScan eliminated that risk, providing a sensor network that finds and gives solutions for defects that could never be seen and solved by human graders. Spanish Trail’s Dry End Superintendent Timbo Roberts confirmed since installing GradeScan, they use no check grader and have had no re-runs.

“We are 100% dependent on GradeScan solutions,” Roberts said, commending Lucidyne on the “great tech and grading support” that had been received.

Here too, Lucidyne’s flexibility was a significant incentive for Spanish Trail’s GradeScan choice.

Accommodations were made to serve the mill’s specific needs.

Lucidyne re-engineered the frame, modifying it to work around an existing conduit run, and extending the structure 2 ft, keeping support frame legs away from the existing walkway. Along with GradeScan, Spanish Trail installed Lucidyne’s lineal warp sensor, sorter controls, M5E-200 Grade Mark Reader and extended NAS data storage.

Preparing for installation, Spanish Trail visited Lucidyne’s operations in Corvallis, Oregon.

The team toured the downtown headquarters, the nearby manufacturing facility, and the state-of-the-art laboratory adjacent to the downtown office.

In the laboratory, they saw the fully-functioning GradeScan system and got hands-on experience

running the user interface, learning how to take full advantage of its powerful capabilities. In the course of their visit, they spoke with fabricators, trainers, installers, system designers, scientists, engineers, management and business professionals.

“With this support and experience, Spanish Trail’s team was hands-on with their GradeScan system right out of the box,” Lucidyne reported.

GradeScan was installed in the Marianna, Florida Spanish Trail mill in August of 2016 during a scheduled shut-down. The installation was fast and smooth, and when the mill started up, GradeScan was immediately integral to the operation.

The support of the Lucidyne team has been a key part of the overall service

over, True-Q looks upstream and downstream to re-queue the solutions, matching it to the correct board.

“With flexibility and proven performance that meets or exceeds

its customer’s expectation, Lucidyne’s GradeScan maximizes fibre and value recovery and advances ROI in mills worldwide,” the supplier stated.

Hankins Hankins in Ripley Mississippi knew that a scanner/optimizer would be key to the planer mill production, and has recently chosen GradeScan to fill that key position. After visiting Corvallis, meeting the Lucidyne team and seeing the results Lucidyne could deliver, Harold Hankins knew that GradeScan and Lucidyne were the right solution for his mill.

With a very short-coupled environment and long pieces in the wood basket, they were concerned that the lineal solution would not be their best choice. But Lucidyne demonstrated to Hankins the viability of the lineal solution, and additionally modified the frame design around an existing pipe that could not be moved.

It became clear that GradeScan’s lineal orientation was, in fact, the best solution for their mill.

In addition to the power of GradeScan’s scanning and optimization, the system also includes Lucidyne’s patented True-Q board tracking system that gives assurance of correct sorting.

Downstream from the GradeScan but before the boards are lugged, True-Q captures each board’s image and matches it to the scanner image, insuring that each board stays paired with its correct solution. Even if boards have gotten crossed up or flipped

The GradeScan system can form the heart of a state-of-the-art sawline for modern millers International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 51

LUMBER PROCESSING

HOLTEC

Professional handling of Scottish logs At Ridings, all softwood species from 140 mm up to 680 mm diameter are cut

A new log yard concept at Ridings Sawmills improves log availability and reduces handling costs

P

reparing the logs before the cutting process meant a lot of handling effort at company Ridings Sawmills in the past. This needed to change to improve margins and so Frank Ridings and his family re-organised the log yard completely, implementing proven as well as innovative solutions at the site.

The former log yard at Ridings consisted of a log sorter with integrated debarker, 1D scanner system and six sorting boxes. Parts of the line were more than 30 years old.

“We were not able to buttreduce our big Scottish logs with butt ends like a ‘trumpet’ and bad ‘dog-legs’,” Frank Ridings, founder, owner and manager of the family business at the Scottish West coast told International Forest Industries.

“Our log sorter did not have a metal detector unit and could not keep up with the sawline.”

With the rough pre-sorting of logs, the log sorter became the limiting factor for the sawline and

52 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

the whole mill. After more than two years planning, Ridings placed the order with Holtec and Balier & Zembrod in 2014, before starting work in the Christmas holidays that year.

“Holtec is responsible for the new log sorter, [while] BZ [is responsible] for the manipulation of logs after the sorting,” Frank’s son and Technical Manager, Dave Ridings, said.

“Really soon we saw that the two partners would provide us with the best log yard concept.

From the very first discussion, the Germans had good ideas to meet our requirements, which fit into the limited site and give us additional

benefit.”

The log yard is 120 m by 55 m in size. The log sorter operates under a rail-mounted portal crane system – the first one in the UK. Outside the rail system there is space to store about 9,000 m³ of logs with an average stocking height of 6 m.

“A portal crane has several advantages.” Lindsay McKechnie, Frank’s daughter and Administration Director, explained.

“The system is operated with electric power, not with diesel. This reduces the operation costs for the log handling significantly.

“Machine tracks between the log piles are not required, so we

With the elimination of butt-ends we can operate the sawmill faster and with a higher availability Dave Ridings

are able to store a higher volume of logs. The moving distances are much shorter compared to mobiledriven machines.

“We can take orders from our customers large and small – we quote, produce and supply everything from 1 to 1 million sawn pieces. Correspondingly the crane has to manipulate individual logs, too.”

The portal crane empties the sorting boxes, builds up stock and feeds the sawmill.

At Ridings, all softwood species from 140 mm up to 680 mm diameter are cut. The sorted lengths variate from 2.5 m up to 4.9 m.

After passing the weigh bridge, the logs are directly brought onto the log deck of the log sorting line.

From here the logs are singulated by an electric driven step feeder system.

The operator in the pre-installed delivered cabin classifies the logs

during cross-conveying and makes the decision, whether a log needs to be butt-reduced. In this case the operator actuates only a foot switch.

During the reducing process, the stock diameter is also assessed by the butt-reducer unit. If a log is too big for the subsequent Valon Kone debarker Type VK5000HD, the log is automatically taken out of the line.

Behind the debarker, the logs run through a metal detector unit and a 3D scanner system from Joerg Electronic. The log volume is calculated according to the British Forestry Commission Rules.

Due to the fact Ridings cuts metric and imperial lengths, the scanner and sorting conveyor need high length accuracy. All scanner protocols and data are transferred via W-LAN connection to the crane.

After scanning, the log is sorted in one of the 20 sorting bins. The whole sorting line is equipped with

Frank Ridings

scraper conveyors.

Bark and butt-reducer shavings are stored separately providing Ridings additional value in selling of these by-products.

“With the elimination of butt-ends we can operate the sawmill faster and with a higher availability,” said Dave.

McKechnie added: “After the first days of log sorting we are starting to see the benefits of the log sorting in the main sawmill already, which is great.

“Because of the fine log grading we can faster produce our main products for fencing, carcassing and packaging timber. This will

reduce our delivery time again.”

Frank is convinced.

“Furthermore it improves the yield due to the better classification at the log yard,” he said. “The lower operation costs also bring additional benefit for us.”

The log yard is 120 m by 55 m in size

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 53

Heavyweights at war The turf wars among size reduction manufacturers has only intensified as the market has grown and companies have fought to maintain market share

I

t’s not every industry that allows various companies to grow in size at the same time and all maintain market share, but that’s what happening in the biomass world at the moment. And it’s a phenomena that’s been in play for around a decade.

Established brands such as Peterson, Morbark and Komptech are doing battle with rivals of a combative size such as Doppstadt and WSM as others look to weigh in to scoop up market share where they see vulnerabilities.

This has forced a binary approach where some manufacturers have focused on making one of their units a standout winner, while others have focused on moving forward and enlarging their full range of chippers and shredders in parallel to capture as much business as possible.

At this point, both approaches appear to have been equally successful and, yet again,

54 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

contractors looking for the next big thing in size reduction for their biomass needs are unlikely to be disappointed by developments as they read through this year’s biomass technology review.

Peterson 6300B drum chipper – more power and capacity “Our new chipper for 2016/2017 is the all-new 6300B drum chipper, which was designed for high volume biomass producers who have a wide variety of feed material, from logs up to 36 in (91 cm) in diameter, to brush and small feed stock,” Peterson stated.

The 6300B is powered by a 1050 hp (772 kW) C27 Caterpillar engine, and has an optional Tier IVi engine available. A PT Tech wet clutch has also been added to the machine.

At 85,000 lb (38,555 kg), the 6300B was designed for operations

requiring high production and frequent moves between jobs.

The 6300B has two drum configurations; an 8-pocket drum to make standard biomass chips, or a 16-pocket drum to make microchips. An optional grate system has been redesigned to allow for adjustment from a microchip to a 1¼ in chip with the same grates.

Traditional Babbitt type knife systems are standard equipment, or an optional key knife system is available. Peterson’s chip accelerator system, adds load density, or throws chips well away from the machine for land clearing operations.

The chipper uses a 50 in (127 cm) diameter by 60 in (152 cm) wide drum. Other key features include a sloped feed deck for the ease of feeding and wear resistant AR450 wear surfaces on the drum pockets and shell. The feed chain has been upgraded to WDH120 for improved strength and long life.

Biomass

Peterson’s 6300B chipper is powered by a 1,050 hp (772 kW) C27 Caterpillar engine, and has an optional Tier IVi engine available

Featuring durable AR450 wear surfaces, the 6300B comes standard with an 8-pocket drum rotor with one Babbitted knife per pocket. A 16-pocket drum rotor is available for chipping microchips.

Peterson’s secondary grate system provides ultra-consistent chip sizing; twigs and small stems which can be difficult to size are easily fractured through an innovative system.

The Peterson 6910 disc chipper – mobility and high capacity in one package The all-new Peterson 6910 disc chipper packs an 86 in (218 cm)

5-pocket chipper disc in mobile package that is ideal for many in-field chipping operations.

The Peterson 6910 Disc Chipper produces high quality paper chips when used with a Peterson 6800

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 55

We get plenty of compost out of the shredded screen overflow Klaus Rohm, a Komptech customer based in Germany The 6910’s large feed throat can accept up to 27 in (69 cm) diameter trees or multiple smaller stems

Our new chipper for 2016/2017 is the all-new 6300B drum chipper, which was designed for high volume biomass producers who have a wide variety of feed material, from logs up to 36 in (91 cm) in diameter, to brush and small feed stock

platforms around the engine and chipper.

The 6910’s track system allows for easy machine alignment and site clean out, and the optional tow hitch allows operators to tow the Peterson 6800 Chain Flail Debarker to the job site for the ultimate infield chip plant.

Michael Spreadbury, Peterson Corp

debarker, or fuel chips as a standalone fuel wood chipper.

The 6910 is powered by a Caterpillar C27, Tier III, 1050hp (772 kW), or an optional C32, 1,125 hp (839 kW) engine. The 6910 has a five pocket disc, with several optional sheave sizes to make precisely the chip needed. The chipper disc is directly driven from a high-capacity PT-Tech hydraulic clutch and belts.

Chipping production rates up to 200 US t/h (181,437 kg/h) can be achieved depending on chip size.

The 6910’s large feed throat can accept up to 27 in (69 cm) diameter trees or multiple smaller stems.

The 6910’s parallel wall feed throat stabilises logs. Direct drive feed rolls mean no chain and sprocket wear, nor is there ever need for adjustments.

“Peterson knows that controlling the stems is critical for a high quality chip, and have minimised the distance from the feed roll to the disc for maximum control of the stems,” the supplier stated. “A primary and secondary anvil provides easily serviceable

cutting surfaces for the highest quality chip.”

The chipper housing features a quick release hood clamp, bolt in disc wear liners, and an oversized hood, which easily opens out of the way for superior disc access for knife changes. Servicing the 6910 is accessible from the convenient

Since their successful launch, Komptech’s Crambo directs have accumulated over 100,000 operating hours. At an average savings of 15 litres of diesel fuel/h (versus a hydraulic-drive shredder), this adds up to a savings of 1.5 million litres of diesel and about 4,000 t of carbon dioxide equivalent. After two years in the field, the Crambo remains unique

The Komptech Multistar S3 is the entry-level unit

56 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

with its direct drive.

The Crambo direct is one of the best machines for shredding all types of wood and green cuttings.

Two slow-running drums with shredding tools minimize fine particle and noise/dust emissions, and resist contraries. The particle size is configurable by simply exchanging screen baskets.

The drive train of the Crambo direct combines the functionality of hydraulic drive with the efficiency of mechanical drive.

That means first-rate economy, while retaining all product benefits like overloading protection, reversibility, adaptation to the material etc.

Currently no other direct-drive shredder on the market offers these benefits, according to the manufacturer.

The Komptech Axtor 6010 has high functionality but is compact and powerful “We at Komptech live technology for a better environment,” Komptech CEO Heinz Leitner said.

Shredding and chipping made easy: The Axtor The Axtor is one of the most flexible machines on the market for processing wood and green cuttings. In fast-running shredder mode with free-swinging tools, it produces material for composting.

In reduced-speed chipper mode with fixed tools, it makes biomass fuel for heating plants.

The product range is extended with the new Axtor 6010. High functionality but compact, while packing ample 590 hp power, the Axtor 6010 is designed specifically for the medium-to-high output category. Its most important features are a low-emission Caterpillar-diesel engine in a maintenance-friendly underfloor position, wide-area forward-facing feed with aggressive intake, and high 850 mm clearance.

“Whatever you put in it, the Axtor makes the best of it,” Pascal Frémin, a Komptech customer based in France, says.

The Komptech Crambo delivers first-rate economy, while retaining all product benefits like overloading protection, reversibility, and adaptation to the material

A big bite for the best woodchippings The new Cobras from JENZ

Screening with a star: the Multistar S3 The new Multistar S3 is the entry-level member of Komptech’s professional star screen line.

Designed expressly for the needs of lower to moderate volume users, the S3 combines low cost with a level of performance previously only available in the high-capacity L and XL class.

Built on a crane lift module, it has small dimensions while still offering the requisite mobility for service providers or multi-site use.

Like the higher capacity models, the applications range from compost to green cuttings to bark, chips and shredded waste wood.

www.jenz.de JENZ GmbH Maschinen- und Fahrzeugbau Wegholmer Str. 14 ∙ 32469 Petershagen ∙ Germany +49 5704 / 94090 ∙ info@jenz.de ∙ www.jenz.de

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 57

Undercarriage and hydraulic improvements • Top drive efficiency and functionality: Mechanical direct drive with overload protection, reversing and automatic gear change • C lean energy: Caterpillar diesel engine with the latest exhaust scrubbing • G rain to order: Adjust the degree of shredding by a simple change of the screen basket or the entire screen basket cartridge • R eady for anything: Big shredding chamber with two 2.8 m long counter-rotating toothed drums for active feed • E verything clear and logical: New user interface with simplified menu guidance and visualization of all functions • S ave big: One thousand operating hours per year for eight years are not uncommon for a Crambo. With a savings potential of 15 litres per operating hour compared to hydraulic drive machines, during this period a Crambo direct saves 120,000 litres of diesel fuel. Even with the current low price of diesel, this means savings of more than €100,000.

Similarly, almost all the options of the larger machines are available – wind-sifting of the medium fraction, screen deck variations, switch from three to two fractions, hopper extensions and much more.

“We get plenty of compost out of the shredded screen overflow,” Klaus Rohm, a Komptech customer based in Germany says.

“To make sure no plastic bits get into the finished product, we reduce the screen cut to about ten millimetres. That’s easy to do and very precise on Komptech star screens.”

A 6x6 drive and “enormous” torque, means the mobile Doppstadt DH 812 LD precision chipper reaches even forest areas with difficult access, according to the manufacturer.

“Unmade forest roads, gravel roads, narrow serpentines: Sometimes the cultivation of remote forest areas is a challenge for forestry enterprises,” Doppstadt told International Forest Industries.

“For a smooth operation of the value-added chain from the wood

The Doppstadt 812LD delivers optimal chipping results 58 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

harvest to the heat and power station, they need machines that reach any part of the forest, pick up the firewood autonomously and reduce it to the required size achieving a high-quality product.

“In short: they need complete solutions.”

The full line supplier Doppstadt offers one: the DH 812 LD precision chipper.

The DH 812 LD a chipper with compact equipment mounted on a Mercedes Arocs 3648 truck with crane and a chipping unit of the DH 812 series. The chipper processes log wood, treetops, slabs and shrubs producing wood chips between G 30 und G 100 grain size.

The diameter of the logs that can be processed is impressive: Nearly 1 m (maximum 900 mm).

The infeed of the chipping unit is

1,200 mm wide and 800 mm high.

Thanks to the rotor with more than 3 t gyrating mass, the chipping unit can even process the thickest wood slabs.

In the treetop wood the machine stands out due to its aggressive feed-in drum and apron feeder.

Flexible Operation: The DH 812 LD drives anywhere and adapts to any challenge The truck-mounted chipper with Doppstadt-specific exhaust gas routing reaches practically any place of operation easily thanks to the 6x6-all wheel drive, the 3,900 mm wheel base and the PowerShift 3 automatic switching equipment, which powerfully transfers the slight pressure from the pedal to the machine.

We enable an economically and ecologically efficient wood chip production Daniel Kürten, Doppstadt Product Manager

With 350 KW engine power and 2.3 Nm torque, the truck has an enormous throughput so that it can even pass slopes. The reinforced frame construction makes the whole vehicle extremely robust.

The chipping unit, the crane and the most important components – from the hydraulic drive to the control unit – are located in a compact and safe place on the chassis.

The installed Palfinger M 70 wood loading crane picks up the material, takes it to the chipping rotor where it is chipped and discharged by means of the discharge unit. The drive train is very powerful – Doppstadt has used the technology of their robust machines for the shredding of difficult materials.

Thanks to the Doppstadt system with turbo coupling and vibration dampers between the chipping unit and reinforced power take-off, the drive train helps to protect the engine and the gearbox.

Furthermore, the truck is protected by the belt coupling, which ensures the power transmission from the engine to the chipping rotor.

Optimum chipping results The enclosed rotor with six chipping knives or ‘Doppstadt Quickblade System’ and the optimum coordination of screening basket and knives, allows the DH 812 LD to produce constantly highquality wood chips.

AnzIFI_Dec_Jan2016_ZW.indd 1

The 812LD is flexible and reliable The solid chipping rotor with robust segment design turns continuously at 500 rpm. The wood chip size can be adjusted to the requirements by means of the continuously adjustable feeding speed, the variable knife displacement from 25-45 mm and a choice of suitable screening baskets.

The screening basket can be changed without tools.

Low noise, low vibrations, easy handling The chipper is controlled from the driver’s cabin where all the control units are located. The cabin has been redesigned by Doppstadt with regard to functional and ergonomic

aspects.

Through the windscreen, which is bent backwards, the driver has the working process in sight, a camera in the discharge area films the result. A comfortable Grammer seat and a simple operating concept ensure a “stress-free and healthy” working, additional LEDs permit the work at night.

Daniel Kürten, Doppstadt Product Manager says: “We enable an economically and ecologically efficient wood chip production – the DH 812 LD saves time, resources and energy.

“It is a reliable partner, which can be used in any part of the forest. Thanks to various knife displacements and screening

baskets it can meet any requirement.”

The DH 812 LD: One of 10 flexible lumberjacks Operating on a global scale, full-line supplier Doppstadt has specialized in the recycling technologies. Doppstadt develops and manufactures machine solutions for the efficient recycling of natural materials.

The DH series of chippers includes 10 machines for the production of wood chips: mobile and stationary solutions with variable truck, track or trailer design.

14.12.2016 11:07:55

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 59

The HEM 540 chipping unit is currently the smallest in the Jenz mobile chipper series

The HEM 540 chipping unit is currently the smallest in the Jenz mobile chipper series. For the first time Jenz has fitted the unit on caterpillar tracks and called it the HEM 540 DL Tiger.

Timo Fröhlich, Junior Product Manager at Jenz, explains the most important special features on the new machine.

“The machine is called HEM 540 DL Tiger, because it has similarly reliable driving behaviour and an enormous off-road capacity

thanks to its caterpillar tracks, just like a tiger running through rough terrain,” he said.

“The powerful teeth are emblematic for the unit with its aggressive draw-in, the top roller and the chipper drum.”

The HEM 540 DL rounds off the 540 series product range just as its predecessors the HEM 420 and 360 did. In this case JENZ is using the building block principle once again and is fitting an identical chipping unit to that of the power take-off machines and the chipper trucks.

While they were developing the chipper cell, they relied on proven

longitudinal draw-in’, and this describes the arrangement of the draw-in table in the direction of travel and the mobile chipper drive, which is provided by a Caterpillar C7.1 inline 6-cylinder diesel engine with 205 kW or 280 hp.

The engine complies with the currently required Tier 4 final emission category, which makes worldwide marketing possible.

The compact machine dimensions are a clear advantage, especially in rough terrain where there is hardly any space for shunting or manoeuvring.

“We really have to underline the lower overall weight of 13 t in the basic version,” Fröhlich said.

“When you combine that with dimensions of 6.35 m length, 2.4 m height and 2.55 m width, there are really no problems with transport using a low loader.” The 540 chipping unit processes hardwood up to 42 cm and softwood up to

Brief facts Performance potential: Fragmentation of hardwood up to Fragmentation of softwood up to Throughput up to approximately

42 cm 56 cm 120 lcm

Draw-in opening: • Draw-in width • Draw-in height

79 mm 65 mm

Main drive: • Standard diesel engine • Emission Category • Drive power (in kW/PS)

CAT C7.1 IV 205/280

components from the established HEM machine family.

This means that the HEM 540 stands out due to its huge screen area, which provides optimum preconditions for achieving a high throughput. The appendix ‘DL’ stands for ‘diesel-engine

maximum 56 cm and is capable of producing up to 120 lcm quality woodchippings every hour. The draw-in opening is 79 cm wide and 65 cm height. The chipper drum required for that has a cutting circle diameter of 82 cm and can be operated with eight wearing

The machine is called HEM 540 DL Tiger, because it has similarly reliable driving behaviour and an enormous off-road capacity thanks to its caterpillar tracks, just like a tiger running through rough terrain Timo Fröhlich, Junior Product Manager at Jenz The HEM 540 DL rounds off the 540 series product range just as its predecessors the HEM 420 and 360 did 60 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

materials such as light cuttings into the draw-in roller using its hopper shape.

Both the buckets on the blower wheel and the housing itself are made in high-strength, low-wear steel and therefore have an extremely long service life at high throughput and even longer working life

blades in the single-cut version and 16 wearing blades in the dual-cut version. In contrast to the larger machines with hydraulicallyoperated blowers, the smaller 540 series continues to be fitted with a mechanically-driven blower.

This is mainly due to cost reasons.

However, even the mechanicallydriven blower stands out because of its setup using wear plates. Both the buckets on the blower wheel and the housing itself are made in high-strength, low-wear steel and therefore have an extremely long service life at high throughput and even longer working life.

Maintenance-friendliness has been considered as well.

“We have also fitted the hydraulically-foldable and lockable screen basket cover on this chipping unit to provide optimum accessibility and maintenancefriendliness,” Fröhlich said. “This means that the screen basket can be easily replaced quickly and in just a few steps.”

This technology has been taken over from the larger Jenz mobile chippers. Furthermore, the DL version of the HEM 540 is fitted with an optimized draw-in table which can also guide bulky

Morbark, led by its founder, the late Norval Morey, pioneered and advocated the use of wood ‘waste’ and logging and sawmilling residues for energy since the 1970s.

“Who knows how much fuel material could be refined from the proper chip separation and classifying system?” Morey had asked in an article in the New Yorker magazine. At the time, Morbark led the industry with its sawmill equipment and the development of the first portable whole tree chipper, the Morbark Chiparvestor, which revolutionized the wood fibre supply chain and created value for underused forest resources. Both of these product lines are still produced and used in the industry today. Since then Morbark has added a full line of tub and horizontal grinders as well as heavy-duty Whole Tree Drum Chippers in various sizes and configurations, from its 30/36 to the 50/48, which can be built as MicroChippers. Morbark also produces the Beever M20R Forestry model drum chipper, an aggressive 20 in capacity chipper, which is ideal for entry-level biomass production.

“Morbark provides a wealth of solutions for your biomass needs, but the star of the line for biomass applications is the Morbark 40/36 Whole Tree MicroChipper,” the manufacturer stated.

Developed from Morbark’s popular 40/36 Whole Tree Drum Chipper and designed to meet the

needs of the rapidly growing pellet market, the 40/36 MicroChipper offers the Morbark’s exclusive enhanced Advantage 3 highperformance chipping drum, which is designed to both create uniform microchips and reduce maintenance demands.

An operator-friendly slide-in forestry grate system reduces oversized chips for a consistent, high-quality end product, while the mechanically driven chip accelerator fully loads the truck.

“The Model 40/36 does an outstanding job on the microchip,” said Jerry Sapp of Sapp’s Land & Excavating. Sapp runs three microchippers: two 40/36 MicroChippers and one 50/48 MicroChipper.

“We typically get about 110 loads of microchips a week between two crews. When conditions are ideal, however, I’ve seen a crew get more than 80 loads a week with a single chipper,” he said. High production and high quality are the hallmarks of Morbark’s MicroChippers.

Morbark has multiple models of whole tree MicroChippers that can consistently make chips that measure ¼-in or smaller in applications that were previously limited to the fuel chip market.

John Foote, Morbark Senior Vice President: “With new biomass plants being built in the United States and the rapid expansion of wood pellet exports to Europe to meet the European Union’s mandate that 20% of its energy come from renewable sources by 2020, our customers need a cost-effective system for making microchips.

“The 40/36 MicroChipper is the solution.”

Overall, global demand for

THE NEW STAR. Multistar S3

NEW

Mobile star screen - WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATION - EXACT SCREENING - LOW OPERATING COSTS - MULTI-FUNCTIONAL www.komptech.com International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 61

An operator-friendly slide-in forestry grate system reduces oversized chips for a consistent, high-quality end product from the 40/36 Whole Tree MicroChipper microchips has doubled over the past three years, estimated Michael Stanton, Morbark Industrial Products Director, and indications are that demand will continue to grow, most notably with pellet manufacturers in the United States.

“New pellet plants continue to be built, so the capacity the US can provide keeps increasing and the markets keep opening doors,” he said. “It’s growing every year.”

Accordingly, the growth of the market presents unique opportunities for the use of portable processing equipment – particularly portable MicroChippers. Morbark also produces drum pocket blanks that can easily turn the MicroChipper into a fuel chipper in short time, requiring only minimal adjustments to the machine for enhanced versatility.

All Morbark equipment is backed by unmatched parts, service and support teams from an extensive and ever-expanding dealer network. Nearly 300 dealer locations sell, service and support Morbark equipment worldwide.

Morbark’s dealers and its own sales and support teams stand ready to truly partner with their customers, helping them in any way they can. By paying attention to trends close to home and around the world, these professionals work to make recommendations and offer ideas that are good for each customer’s business specifically, according to the manufacturer.

“From forecasting business opportunities to helping with financing, Morbark provide ideas – not just equipment – to help its customers succeed,” the company stated in a release. “This is the

High production and high quality are the hallmarks of Morbark’s MicroChippers 62 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

Morbark difference.”

Morbark’s experts can help customers choose equipment that matches their needs now and in the future, as well as evaluate the benefits and potential roadblocks in the ever-changing business environment, and explore new and emerging markets.

Morbark provides onsite and factory service training to help its customers get the most out of their equipment. From testing to onsite support, the company takes every step out of the gate to set its customers up for success.

The 15 in capacity Rayco RC1522G chipper is an economical solution for daily chipping needs, offering an excellent combination of chipping power, large feed

opening, and easy maintenance.

At the heart of the machine is a 130 hp gasoline engine powering a 30 in diameter by 22 in wide, fourknife chipper drum.

The feed system uses a 20 in diameter feed wheel with planetary drive motor to pull in stubborn brush and limbs.

The chipper’s throat is a full 15 in high by 22 in wide straight through to the drum, with no neckdowns behind the feed wheel.

Rayco’s exclusive X-Charge discharge system uses an outboard fan system to provide extra discharge velocity and reduce plugging. The clutchless PTO drive eliminates traditional clutches and reduces maintenance, while an easy-open belt guard allows belt access without tools.

The RC1522G has an X-charge discharge system

West Salem Machinery (WSM) has highlighted a range of screening and size reduction technologies, to International Forest Industries, which allow expanded uses of biomass feedstock materials.

WSM’s machinery installations cover a range of industry uses including wood energy, pulp and paper, and bio-refining, with WSM machines and processing systems delivering high-volume performance in the toughest applications.

Wood energy WSM is a leading supplier of high-volume milling and grinding machines, with high capacity installation for the production of industrial wood pellets, and for direct fuel processing for boiler applications.

Recent start-ups include WSM milling islands for softwood green fibre and dry fibre preparation in wood pellets in North America; integration of WSM grinding machines for processing Acacia and Eucalyptus bark for hog fuel in Southeast Asia; and mixed softwood and hardwood barks for fuel in North America.

WSM’s range of machinery selection – vertical grinders, horizontal grinders, super shredders, and hammermills, combined with experience with various screening and cleaning technologies, which allows the manufacturer to deliver complete and effective systems for fibre and/ or fuel preparation at rates from 10-400 t/h, and fibre sizing from 100 mm to 3 mm.

Chipper, and allows conversion of hogged wood, sawdust, shavings, and other mill residuals that can be processed in to a ‘pin chip’ material that may be suitable as part of your fibre supply.

The ability to use a lower cost incremental fibre in place of high cost fibre can help to dramatically reduce fibre costs and increase mill profit. With capacities that range up to 150 t/h, this fibre preparation system can be a game-changer for certain mills.

Bio-refining The increase in demand for processing of alternative biomass materials, including corn stover, wheat straw, EFB from palm oil industry, bagasse, and cane trash has required development of specialized machinery for converting these feedstocks in to useable fibre products.

WSM’s Bale Processing system with patented de-stringer is ideally suited for high capacity bale handling and processing for use in bio-refining applications. This system includes multiple steps to insure quality fibre, including bale QC, de-stringer, chipper, screening for dirt and fines removal, and finish milling.

The WSM Pin Chipper is a new machine that can help increase the range of feedstocks for a pulp and paper mill, and dramatically reduce the cost of fibre

WSM has a range of screening and size reduction technologies

Pulp and paper WSM is pleased to introduce the high capacity ‘WSM Pin Chipper’ – a new machine that can help increase the range of feedstocks for a pulp and paper mill, and dramatically reduce the cost of fibre.

This system includes WSM’s fine disc screen and WSM’s Pin

The Bale Processing Line is suited to high-capacity operations

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 63

Felling Heads

Head-to-head The John Deere FR22B has wider arm spacing and horn design to deliver a high accumulation capacity to maximize uptime

Two North Americanbased industry heavyweights are positioned toe-to-toe, or head-to-head, in this year’s review of felling head technology

A

head for every occasion, seems to be what both Tigercat and John Deere are shooting for with the latest updates to their felling head ranges. And they appear to be hitting that mark.

Not only are the suites of heads extensive, but the units within the range are increasingly versatile, allowing contractors to buy a single head for multiple jobs. This is a trend that emerged during the global economic crisis but which has gained traction in the industry.

Along with variety, the manufacturers have pushed the boundaries in flexibility and power, along with incremental increases in capacity, where few would have thought advancements were possible.

Designed to enhance productivity, the full line of John Deere felling heads for both wheeled and tracked machines offers solutions for customers in all regions and applications.

“Loggers must keep up with demand, making productivity 64 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

vital to ensure profitability,” the manufacturer told International Forest Industries. “The John Deere felling heads offer superior saw recovery, performance and serviceability to meet and exceed the needs of loggers.”

“When selecting a felling head, it is important for loggers to match the head to the application, tree type and conditions. Not selecting the right felling head can lead to

reduced productivity or increases in operating costs.

“When paired with the L- and M-Series Feller Bunchers, loggers can power through the toughest of jobs, increasing uptime and, ultimately, their bottom lines.”

Drive-to-tree For drive-to-tree operations, John Deere offers several felling head options that are compatible

The John Deere FD55 is ideal for thinning, final harvesting and everything in between

with the powerful L-Series Feller Bunchers.

For improved stability and bunching control, the L-Series machines offer over a 70° tilt forward and a 12° tilt back function.

The one-button Quick Dump feature adds to ease of operation.

As noted by Chris Oates of Lewis Logging LLC, with the Quick Dump feature: “You can fill the head up and tilt it and just hit that one button and it’ll dump everything out. It’ll do all the work for you, you just hit the button.”

The John Deere FD55 felling head was designed based on “extensive” customer input, according to the manufacturer.

Ideal for thinning, final harvesting and everything in between, the FD55 can handle everything from small-diameter thinning to large single stems up to 584 mm (23 in) due to its large accumulation area.

Incorporating a twin-post design first perfected on the FD45 model, the FD55 provides the operator with what John Deere described as “superior visibility”.

Other features include larger bore cylinders, a taller horn and clean bunch release, increasing productivity.

Operators can pair the FD55 with the 843L for steep terrain and the 643L for flatter areas, making it ideal for a variety of jobsites. Most

The John Deere FR24B allows bigger timber to be handled effectively importantly, the head’s fast saw recovery jump-starts the wood flow going to the landing and delivers excellent accumulation.

“The saw recovers real fast, where on other machines you have to wait for the recovery machine to pick back up,” says Butch Lewis, owner of Lewis Logging, LLC. “When you’re thinning, the L-series, that’s not even an issue.

You just cut until your buncher will get full and then you lay it down.

You don’t even have to wait on the recovery speed.”

Compatible with the 643L Wheeled Feller Buncher, the FD45 felling head has the deepest accumulation pocket to improve productivity for thinning small trees.

The head’s offset pocket allows

for multiple stems to be gathered at once and moved to the pocket cut after cut. The twin-post design allows a clear view of what is being cut, increasing operator confidence. When paired with the 643L, it is ideal for both flat and hilly applications in dry or muddy conditions.

The tall, single-post design of the FD22B felling head is ideal for

New light-weight rotator and associated swing damper

Indexator is now expanding its leading range of rotators and swing dampers with the launch of a strong light-weight rotator and a MPB swing damper especially adapted to small and mediumsized machines.

A special package where the weight of the crane tip has been reduced, making the whole machine more agile and improving the operating experience.

indexator.com

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 65

The saw recovers real fast, where on other machines you have to wait for the recovery machine to pick back up Butch Lewis, owner of Lewis Logging

final harvests or large trees up to 559 mm (22 in). For loggers who work on sloped ground or with big timber, the increased tilt-back angle of the FD22B head will give better load transfer capabilities and stability.

The FD22B also boasts large accumulation capacity, strong clamping force for better tree control, and “workhorse” gathering arms — all of which promise productivity and uptime.

Swing-to-tree A variety of boom sets and felling heads can be combined to optimize productivity on the John Deere M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers, even in the harshest of conditions.

For Peter Schmidt of Forest Trotter Contracting, who runs a 953M Feller Buncher, the felling head is one of the key benefits of his machine.

“We have so many different types of wood, large and small,” he said. “And the way you can pack that feller buncher head full of wood and the way it handles that wood is incredible.”

Based on the application, operators can choose between two different types of felling head attachment rotation features. The standard wrist (FS model) rotates 15° to each side, and is typically used when no specific alignment of the tree is required on the ground.

The high rotation wrist (FR model) rotates about 310° or 155° to each side. This wrist design addresses the need to position trees on the ground in a way that allows the next operation to be more efficient. It also allows the operator to cut along boundaries more efficiently without excess travel or swinging to position the fallen timber along the line.

The FS22B head is suitable for the full range of logging

operations, from thinning to final cut of up to 559 mm (22 in) diameter. Ideal for midsize to large timber, the FS22B is equipped with a versatile 30° wrist for plus or minus 15° rotation and strong clamping force for optimal tree control. Its wider arm spacing and horn design deliver a high accumulation capacity to maximize uptime. The FS22B is compatible with several M-Series models, including the 803M, 853M, 903M and 909M Tracked Feller Bunchers.

The FR21B and FR22B felling heads are compatible with the John Deere 803M, 853M and 859M

Tracked Feller Bunchers. The FR21B is best suited for small to midsized timber, while the FR22B is ideal for mid-sized to large timber. Across both models, superior pickup force allows effortless placement of fallen trees. Both models feature the high rotation wrist to deliver best-in-class accumulation capacity and a more compact design to improve visibility to the felling head.

The FR24B felling head is compatible with the John Deere 853M, 859M, 953M, and 959M Tracked Feller Bunchers. This head is intended for medium to large trees up to 622 mm (24.5 in) diameter. The high cutting capacity of the FR24B means big timber can be handled effectively and efficiently. Its high-rotation, bolton wrist allows for a full 310° of rotation, giving operators greater tree control, and reducing swing and travel cycles.

Tigercat builds a full line of innovative felling attachments designed to match the high performance and productivity of Tigercat carriers. The product range includes disc saw and shear felling heads, fixed wrist and directional bar saw felling heads, and a growing line of harvesting heads.

Tigercat felling attachments are used around the world and can be matched to virtually any type of mechanized felling application from small diameter pulpwood and biomass clear fell applications to selective felling of oversized, highvalue hardwood.

All Tigercat felling heads are designed, engineered and manufactured in-house ensuring Tigercat has full quality control.

The heads are fitted to the Tigercat base carrier tested and evaluated at the Canadian assembly plant

The 5195 directional felling saw is versatile for felling, shovel logging, bunching, stacking and sorting. The 5195 is best suited to oversize timber and steep terrain

66 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

4000T

CONVINCING PERFORMANCE The Log Max 4000T has an entirely new frame construction and features the new Log Max True-Cut saw unit. The modernized hydraulic layout greatly improves power and feeding speed making this 833 kg* harvesting head the obvious choice for thinning and light final cut.

Call us today to find out more about all the advantages of Log Max. * Incl. feed rollers, rotator and damped protection plate

Over 200 dealers in 36 countries, find your local dealer at logmax.com

HEADS ABOVE THE COMPETITION logmax.com

The Tigercat 5300 bunching saw harvesting eucalyptus in Brazil

prior to shipping. Tigercat has full control of the build process from flat plate steel, to the finished machine.

2000 bunching shear Although the original bunching shears were designed in the mid-1990s for North American pine thinning operations, the 2000 series has been transformed over the years, evolving into what is universally considered the premium plantation eucalyptus felling head for the blue gum applications in highly abrasive soil conditions, rocky terrain.

With fast shear cycles, the 2000 has proven to be highly productive, and extremely reliable. Compared with a disc saw, maintenance requirements are less and bushfire risk is minimized.

The shear arm pivot bearing design is extremely strong and reliable. The chassis is constructed with hardened steel, with bronze alloy bushings installed in the grab and accumulator arms. The shear blades are some of the toughest on the market and replaceable hardened steel wear strips are available for very sandy soil conditions.

The 2000 shear is commonly mated to the Tigercat 855D feller buncher along with the 340° wrist.

Typically this combination with the 855D can sees production rates of around 600 stems per

hour. Very high flow rates from the base carrier and clever hydraulics account for the “unprecedented” production rates, according to the manufacturer.

The massive 62 cm2 accumulation pocket allows for larger bunches, subsequently boosting skidder production and reducing fuel consumption as the skidder can more quickly accumulate a load. The shear improves the flow of the entire harvesting system.

5300 Bunching saw The Tigercat 5300 bunching saw boosts feller buncher productivity in smaller diameter plantation wood under 405 mm (16 in). It has greater accumulating capacity than the 5000 bunching saw but the added weight of the additional trees and extra steel in the structure means that the 5300 is only suited to the full-sized Tigercat 870 series track carriers.

Feller buncher productivity and efficiency improves because more trees are cut per cycle, reducing unnecessary machine travel.

Skidder productivity and efficiency improves because the bunches are large, well aligned and easy to pick up.

excellent bunching ability with optimized arm profiling and a large accumulating area. This versatility marked the 5702 an asset in mixed diameter stands.

5185 fixed felling saw and 5195 directional felling saw Tigercat’s 5185 and 5195 felling saws are steadily increasing in popularity globally in large timber and steep slope operations.

Contractors in native hardwood and other oversize timber applications are seeing benefits from the 5195 coupled with the LS855D shovel logger due to the excellent shoveling performance on steep slopes. This significantly decreases the amount of side cut skidder trails required to access the timber, which is a big advantage in forests with strict regulations and stringent oversight.

Reducing or eliminating side cuts also saves time and money by reducing the associated dozer work

to build and significantly reduces soil disturbance. The high tractive effort of the LS855D carriers also makes it easier to negotiate around seed and habitat trees when shoveling out of the steep areas.

The 5195 can efficiently top the trees within the cut block. With continuous rotation, the head is quickly and easily repositioned and double cuts on steep slopes are performed quickly without moving the carrier. This makes the head versatile for oversized timber over 1 m in diameter.

The 5195 has full 360° rotate with through-the-link central hosing for enhanced hose protection and extended hose life.

Oversized twin grapple cylinders deliver high performance and control when felling cutting and shoveling. The fully-fabricated chassis and grapple arms design provide strength and added longevity.

The 5185 fixed felling saw, which shares the saw performance and strength and longevity characteristics of the 5195, also has the ability to fell and shovel log oversized timber. However, double cuts are not performed as painlessly as with the 5195 due to the 340° wrist.

Where the 5185 excels is in its ability to control fell and place high value trees, avoiding breakage.

In timber stands with average diameters that are approaching or beyond the limitations of a disc saw, contractors are seeing excellent productivity with the 5185. An added benefits is the ability to top and cross-cut as well as shovel the timber uphill within reach of the skidders and prebunch for skidders or yarders.

5702 felling saw Although the 5702 is well known and widely used throughout the world for big timber felling applications, the saw also has

68 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

The Tigercat 5702 is at home felling large diameter and top heavy trees

INNOVATION - FELLING HEADS

Gilbert recently introduced the 3018 felling head, the latest model of our 3000L Series. Offering a cutting capacity of 18 inch (457 mm), the 3018 model excels in biomass and thinning applications.

Its compact size is optimal for installation on small to medium size carrier as well as excavator which represents an affordable alternative to purpose-built feller bunchers in many territories. A new innovative 350 degree rotation system is integrated inside the top tower as a standard feature for maximum visibility and it allows the trees to be closer to the center of the head.

The 3018 offers the same Gilbert quality with a geometry perfectly designed for accumulation of more trees in tight and straight bunches. Gilbert heads are now available in 18, 22, 24 and 28 inch cutting size with 40 degree or 350 degree high rotation wrists.

Gilbert 3018 Specifications: Cutting capacity

18 in.

(457 mm)

Saw blade diameter

45 in.

(1143 mm)

Accumulating area

3.4 ft²

(0.28 m²)

Max. front opening

35.4 in

(899 mm)

High rotation system

350°/40°

Weight

4300 lbs

with remote control

(1950 kg)

with operator’s cab

The new PT-175, 2016 model!

The new mulcher for all your land clearing and vegetation management needs in very steep and difficult terrain.

Call us for further information and a demo.

FAE Group S.p.A. - PrimeTech Division Via Marconi, 20 // 38011 Sarnonico (TN) // Italy Tel. +39 0463 840 080 // Fax +39 0463 840 099 www.prime-tech.com // info@prime-tech.com

210x131_en.indd 1

a brand of FAE Group PrimeTech Shredding Equipment Ltd. - Branch Office PO Box 4265 // 110 Saskatchewan Ave // Spruce Grove, AB // T7X 3B4 Tel. 780-948-8882 // Fax 780-948-8886 www.prime-tech.com // info@prime-tech.com

31/05/16 15:41

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 69

INDUSTRY VOICE 2016

Respondents

Dr Heinz Leitner, Komptech CEO

Steve Jones, Peterson Forestry Market Development Manager

Steve Talaga, Barko Products Manager

Gary Olsen, Tigercat International Sales Manager

Gero Springer, Springer CEO

Jari Mennala, Director, John Deere Forestry Sales & Marketing, United States, Canada, Latin America

Ellen Nelson, Lucidyne CFO

Roberto Lautenschlager, Serra Maschinenbau Sales Manager

Slow & steady The industry’s finest have once again fed back to International Forest industries on how the sector looks to them, what their clients are asking for, and where they see the opportunities for the immediate future. And it has been a mixed response, as key figures from leading companies offered varied accounts of market strength, while most agreed it was volatile. However, the majority of respondents said they continued to experience growth when able to deliver on demands for innovation

Q. A.

How has the macro-economic situation affected your sales?

Komptech: There is still uncertainty in the market, so market behaviour is very volatile.

The confused political situation also has a negative effect, first and foremost Brexit and events in the Middle East with Turkey, Russia and Syria. Brexit is causing a reduced willingness to invest, while a Trump presidency is still a big question mark in terms of international trade developments.

Peterson: The primary driver impacting forestry chipper sales continues to be changes in supply chain strategy as the pulp and paper industry ‘rebalances’, adjusting to new consumer trends. For example, demand for printing and communications papers continues to decline, while the market for absorbents and packaging material is increasing year-over-year.

70 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

Pulp and paper companies are replacing older production lines with new capacity in South America and Asia Pacific. This involves new and expanded fibre basins, varied forest management and silvicultural practices, and the associated transport infrastructure for movement of fibre from field to mill. In-field chipping increases harvesting utilization, results in higher fibre yield per hectare and increases per-load transport capacity and therefore has become an integral part of many new pulp and paper forestry operations.

Globally, interest in biomass power has declined over the last few years due principally to low oil and natural gas prices. Some existing biomass power plants have been idled and some new projects have stalled or been curtailed.

Additionally there has been less right-of way clearing for gas and oil pipeline distribution.

These trends are impacting sales of chippers and grinders to supply these traditional energy sectors.

We are also seeing growing interest in recovered wood fibre as many urban areas continue to expand. This is the interception of woody debris and its processing to save valuable landfill space. Several large public landfill operations on the US east coast have stated that “we are one

INDUSTRY VOICE category two hurricane away from exhausting all of their permitted landfill space”. Recovered fibre operations use grinders, drum chippers, screens and stacking conveyors to convert large quantities of woody debris into marketable mulch, compost, or fibre fuel. Peterson’s is a leading supplier worldwide to this growing fibrerecycling and compost industry.

Barko: We have seen a decrease in some new machine sales mainly due to decreased lumber demand, leading to an increased inventory in the usedequipment market, especially in the Great Lakes states. We have also dealt with increased rainfall in the southwest earlier this year and droughts in the south now. Wood prices in our region have remained constant for years and the mills have kept their yards stocked, while new home construction and sales have hit all-time highs.

Other markets like oil and gas, and steel have been down the past couple of years and that could also be effecting our sales and markets as well.

Tigercat: It would seem that the forestry sector has managed to come through a tough year relatively unscathed in comparison to the mining, agriculture and construction sectors.

Unfortunately, this has had an impact on our purpose-built market in some countries where currencies have devalued against the US dollar.

Traditional products meant for these other ailing industries are now being peddled into the logging sector at very low prices despite their clear inferiority in performance. Despite this, the logging industries all around the world have remained healthy for Tigercat forestry equipment. Tigercat has invested substantially in the past year to increase capacity on the belief that our industry will remain strong for many more years to come.

Springer: The only heavy influence came from the tense situation between the European Union and Russia but our Russian customers seemed to manage this crisis very well.

John Deere: Globally we have seen stability in the key markets, particularly in Europe, a positive indicator for the majority of the forestry industry. However, the United States market has experienced a slight dip by comparison. To an

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extent this is due to the exchange rate, which has limited the export of wood from the United States.

As the customers in United States are being squeezed by the economic situation, it is important for manufacturers to provide loggers with the resources and equipment they need to deal with the increased pressure. John Deere is dedicated to providing the equipment, technology solutions, dealer support and financing offerings loggers need to maintain growth in the challenging economy.

Even in the stable global markets, loggers are focused on increasing uptime and efficiency, and John Deere is developing the best equipment to help ensure they stay up and running.

Lucidyne: As the economy grows and strengthens, we have seen an increase in activity in the wood products sector. Although 2016 was not as strong as economists expected, what we are seeing is a slower, but very steady increase in economic indicators.

With the expectation that housing starts will steadily increase, we are seeing lumber mills preparing for the higher demand. They are making the capital investments to meet that demand. As a result, we have seen a surge in the sales of our GradeScan automated lumber grader. With a GradeScan system, mills can maximize both fibre and value recovery, and that shows up on the bottom line.

Serra Maschinenbau: We have not been affected at all.

Q.

Do you feel the forestry sector has been robust

in 2016?

A.

Komptech: It has basically been stable.

However, the political signals are negative, with the cuts in biomass subsidies in several EU countries.

Woody biomass is under attack from both the paper industry and the political side. Chip production from logs will probably decline going forward.

Peterson: While we do see growth in certain world regions, much of the traditional forestry sector as it pertains to pulp and paper has been flat or declining. Equipment sales have been limited to normal machine replacement for existing chipping capacity and to supply-chain expansion associated with new pellet mill projects.

We see most long-term procurement planning limited to the mills the pulp and paper industry sees as being viable well into the future (first and second [cost] quartile mills). Beyond that, there is very much a ‘wait and see’ attitude regarding third and fourth quartile mills and their fibre supply strategies. In most instances, Peterson is able to provide options to help these mills remain viable with regards to wood fibre costs, pulp yield and pulp quality.

Barko: Weather and timber prices have been off, so ‘robust’ is a reach. We have seen significant quoting increases of late and we are finishing the year fairly strong. We feel 2017 will be a much improved year.

Tigercat: The forestry sector has definitely been robust in comparison to the other major industries that operate with heavy equipment and in many cases the saving grace for some of our customers and dealers with distribution diversity in the mining, construction and agricultural sectors.

Springer: The first quarter of 2016 was a little slow but afterwards the dynamic seemed to come back again.

John Deere: Internationally, the forestry industry has seen positive indicators, particularly in the European market. However, at the same time, we have seen a slight downward trend in the United States market, partially influenced by the exchange rate. Overall the industry remains stable and strong, a trend expected to continue in 2017.

Lucidyne: The sector is much more robust in 2016 than in 2015. We saw stabilization in 2015, and that created the foundation for more confidence in 2016. Mills continue to invest in plant and equipment, and we are seeing significant investments in upgrading Lucidyne Grade Mark

The

Level Headed Approach to

Land Clearing

POWER TO PERFORM

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 71

INDUSTRY VOICE Readers to the new M5 generation, purchasing new equipment like GradeScan, and adding components like the GradeVU projector system.

These investments evidence a continually improving economy for the industry.

Serra: Definitely. Extremely robust.

Q. A.

Have you seen any changes in your key markets or emerging markets over 2016?

Komptech: Our core markets have remained stable. We’re also seeing more movement in new markets (Southeast Europe, Southeast Asia).

Peterson: We have not seen significant changes in our key forestry markets during 2016. Trends that began prior to 2016 have continued throughout the year. Examples of this include the shift toward smaller microchips for pellet mill feedstock and the reallocation/relocation of manufacturing capacity in the pulp and paper industry. Both biomass power and pulp and paper businesses continue to seek more efficient and costeffective supply chain and fibre raw materials solutions. Peterson is committed to both innovation and continuous improvement and continues to partner with the end users to meet their fibre needs.

We are watching and seek alignment with new process technologies requiring uniformly-sized, high-quality feedstocks such as biomassbased liquid transportation fuels. There are a number of new and exciting technologies being developed. For example, several companies are testing biomass-derived aviation fuel at this time.

Barko: Our key markets have remained constant for the past year. Smaller niche markets and sales opportunities do come up regularly throughout the year and we have to make proper business decisions if we want to pursue those opportunities or not when they present themselves. We have had improved quoting and an increase in sales in South America in 2016.

Tigercat: Our split of unit sales between the US, Canada and the rest of the world remains at the same ratios as last year so no real shift in key markets to speak of. Australia, New Zealand and Chile continue to be strong key markets for Tigercat with growth being triggered by better safety requirements than before, especially when operating on steep terrain.

Springer: All markets were pretty robust with one exception – Canada and the US are getting more and more important for us.

John Deere: There are several shifts in key international markets, starting with the emergence of steepslope logging in the North American market, particularly in British Columbia. Specifically in Canada, we have seen a shift towards cut-tolength equipment, with demand of both wheeled and tracked harvesters increasing.

Europe and the rest of the international markets continue to remain stable, however, the European market has seen a continued emergence of soft-soil logging, which requires special equipment. To address this need, John Deere launched a long-bogie version of 1210E and 1510E forwarders, reducing ground pressure while retaining manoeuvrability.

Lucidyne: We are seeing an increased interest in the value of automated lumber grading in expanding markets that include a wider set of species and products, including European and Asian markets. Because our GradeScan system is so flexible and powerful, we are able to deliver unparalleled grading and optimization accuracy for these important markets, and the industry is investing in that technology.

Serra: Not at all. A very strong market actually is Mexico.

72 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

Q.

What are your key markets and what kind of volumes are you delivering; is this changing?

A.

Komptech: The most important markets are still Central and Western Europe. The largest single national market is the US. Beyond these markets, we’re also strong in Australia, Japan and Iran.

Peterson: Peterson’s key markets are forestry sector chippers for pulp and paper and biomass power applications, and recycling related grinders, screens and conveyance equipment. The forestry sector includes disc chippers to provide high-quality, debarked or ‘clean’ chips for pulp and paper, disc and drum chippers to make non-debarked or ‘fuel’ chips for biomass power and pellets. The recycling sector utilizes grinders to process waste material for power generation, mulch or compost.

Presently, we see the highest equipment demand and most expansion in the recycling side areas of our industry.

Barko: Our key market is primarily the eastern half of the United States, though we are making inroads in the northwest and Canada with new offerings.

We have had a nice run since 2013 with a slowdown in 2016. Bookings for 2017 are solid and we expect to keep growing.

Tigercat: Unfortunately, we are not at liberty to divulge our sales volumes to the general public but suffice to say that Tigercat has made significant market share gains all around the world at the expense of our competition.

Springer: The volumes always vary due to the different investment activities of our customers in different markets. [The] biggest change is an upward trend in North America.

INDUSTRY VOICE John Deere: The key markets have remained largely unchanged, with North America and Europe continuing to account for about 80% of industry sales, and John Deere sales are in line with that mix. We are seeing an increase of cut-to-length logging in Canada and steep-slope logging in the North American market as loggers move into new terrains, which points to a promising future in 2017.

Lucidyne: We are seeing significant business in the Southeastern United States as that market continues to grow. However, we also have strong sales in the Northwest and regions all over the world. Our volumes have increased as the market has strengthened, and as mills are increasingly driven to maximize profitability and optimize the use of their raw materials. The addition of a GradeScan system gives mills that capability.

Serra: Our key markets and volumes have had no changes.

Q. A.

Have any non-forestry international events or circumstances impacted your business?

Komptech: Brexit has caused uncertainty.

With Iran, restrictions in payment transactions continue to limit the amount of business we can do there.

Peterson: With regard to pulp and paper, changing demographics in China, in particular the rapid and huge rise in middle income households continues to drive decision making in the pulp and paper industry. Increased consumer buying power is fuelling the demand for disposable products such as diapers and absorbent tissues.

Additionally, the rise of on-line purchasing venues like Amazon and Ali Baba has fuelled

demand for sustainable and recyclable packaging and shipping materials. This is driving a reallocation of capacity in pulp and paper manufacturing that often includes new paper machines to replace older, less efficient capacity.

New capacity is typically being built in locations capable of providing either the lowest-cost fibre or significant freight advantages to the main markets. While we offered viable equipment options for traditional fibre basins, we have to offer distinct advantages in new-world regions as well.

For biomass, energy policies, especially those related to renewable energy mandates or directives, are the key drivers in the market for new wood-processing and sizing equipment.

Further growth in the pellet industry in the EU and in Asia Pacific will depend on decisions being made now regarding energy policy.

The 2011 tsunami in Japan and subsequent shutdown of much of their nuclear power facilities has forced Japan to take a hard look at their overall energy portfolio. Biomass power looks like it will be an important part of the equation. Globally, localized biomass power is poised to become an important part of many countries’ power production infrastructure.

Barko: Foreign steel has driven the raw material prices down but recently the demand for US produced steel has increased and things are picking up as far as steel production goes. The current exchange rate between the United States and Canada is playing a role in our business and the recent US presidential election may shake things up a bit and help improve certain markets.

Tigercat: As mentioned, the events in mining, construction and agriculture have had a degree of influence on our sales numbers. Brexit has had minimal impact and it remains to be seen whether the election of Donald Trump will have any impact either. Should he foster a better relationship with Russia then we might see an improvement in their currency allowing for better operating circumstances.

Springer: There were two events having an impact, a) the political instability in Brazil, and b) the EUsanctions on Russia.

John Deere: The exchange rate from United States dollar to the Euro has greatly impacted the United States

market and its ability to export wood products internationally.

Lucidyne: Trade agreements forged between countries definitely impact the ability of our customers to address their market demands, and that impacts their capital investment decisions. We see an increasing reliance on the accuracy and reliability of automated lumber scanning to maximize fibre and value recovery to react to those marketplace circumstances.

Serra: No.

Q.

Have you customers, increased, maintained or decreased their spend on new technologies?

A.

Komptech: Customer investment behaviour is constant right now, but no large increases are in the offing either.

Peterson: Our products are substantial purchases and a customer’s decision to buy our machine is the culmination of a very deliberate evaluation of their options. A new chipper or grinder must be able to meet the quality parameters of the end user, must perform safely and reliably and process fibre raw materials in a cost effective manner. New technologies need to translate into improvement in one or more of those categories. Peterson is constantly evaluating design opportunities and new technologies to provide our customers with advantages in the marketplace.

Some examples of new technologies we have brought to the marketplace include: • R emote monitoring applications for production and machine parameters • A pplications for faster service and parts information • C ontrol technology for rapid changes to chip and fibre size.

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 73

INDUSTRY VOICE Barko: Our customers have maintained their spending on new technologies and have been hesitant at times to be willing to accept new technology.

We try to work closely with our customers and meet their needs as best as we can. In some cases, we have had to lay out the details of a new technology for the customer and show them the benefits to get them to buy in and try it. As the workforce ages and younger operators come into the industry, we have seen the demand for technology increase.

Barko is investing in engineers to focus exclusively on new technologies and how we can integrate them into our equipment to bring value to the logger.

Tigercat: The challenge for our traditional customer base has not changed much in that they are striving to put wood at roadside or in the mill for the lowest cost possible. While fuel prices have eased in the past year, our customers still remain heavily focused on this aspect of their business and are always wanting to do more without burning any more fuel. Tigercat embarked on their new engine strategy some two years ago with the Tigercat FPT brand and this has been extremely successful in that the FPT emissions compliance technology is very simple in comparison to most of our competition with fuel savings being one of the many advantages.

Rapid improvement in existing designs and the introduction of new innovative models or ideas remains Tigercat’s MO. Springer: We have seen a constant spending behaviour over the past years.

John Deere: We are seeing a slow increase in loggers adapting technology. In the past, there has been a misconception that technology complicates a business, leading more logging contractors to stick to traditional practices. However, as more loggers begin to adopt new technology, they realize that technology actually simplifies their business and increases productivity and efficiency.

Technology continues to become more sophisticated yet easier to use overtime.

Offerings, such as John Deere’s JDLink, TimberNavi and TimberOffice, provide loggers with the data they need to maximize their productivity and efficiency. Technology

offers an efficient way to anticipate and monitor maintenance needs, manage fleets, and, ultimately, increase uptime, as well as equipment and operator productivity. Those who are embracing technology are reaping the benefits, giving their operations a leg up over the competition.

Lucidyne: New technology is vital to remaining competitive in the lumber industry. Getting the most out of the valuable natural resource and efficient production practices are key. Our customers recognize that and are continuing to invest in the necessary technology.

The recent introduction of our GradeVU projector system has been very popular. GradeVU projects the final grading solution onto the board so a check grader can monitor system performance.

Even as boards are moved or bounced on the chain, the projected solution follows the movement of the board so there is never confusion about which solution is tagged to which board. We are very proud of this patentpending technology, and our customers are investing in this cutting-edge technology.

Serra: Maintained; but they are aware now more than ever the importance of new technologies.

Q. A.

74 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

What are your customers asking you to provide to assist their businesses; how is this changing?

Komptech: The focus is on low operating costs of machines, plus high reliability and availability. The price is not as important as it was in the past. What counts is the right price/performance ratio.

Peterson: All of our customers and the end users they supply operate in a very competitive global landscape. ‘Business as usual’ cannot be part of the vernacular if they want to remain viable. The industry is seeking process improvement as it relates to cost and quality at every stage of the supply chain. Peterson is focused on providing innovation to allow our customers to work safer, be more productive, and produce cost-effective fibre to the market.

In-field chipping and grinding offers fibre supply managers with productive and costeffective options compared to centralized wood processing or woodyard fibre. In-field chipping also provides diversity in the overall supply portfolio that can be key in preventing supply shortfalls. Peterson can help customers and mills evaluate the unbundled fibre costs for their wood basin and develop a diversified supply chain to meet their exact fibre needs.

Beyond in-field chipping, Peterson’s fixed electric machine and system offerings can extend our support into the woodyards and satellite supply yards providing our customers an even broader range of wood-sizing and fibresupply options.

Barko: Anything we can do or offer to increase machine uptime is worth it to the majority of our customers. Safety and productivity are number one to the customer with aftermarket service and support probably being a close second.

Dealers are using new technologies such as telematics to diagnose a machine remotely and know exactly what parts and tools they need to bring to the jobsite to fix the problem and in some cases they have fixed minor issues before the customer even knows about them and prevented a minor issue from turning into something major.

Tigercat: Customers want value for money whatever it is in our design. If they see value in any technology that we bring to the marketplace - whether hardware-based or IT-based - then they are prepared to pay for it. Logging on steep slopes remains a strong driver of demand in terms of the tethering of our machines to be able to operate on extreme slopes previously never considered for ground-based logging.

INDUSTRY VOICE Springer: We are more and more regularly asked to come up with solutions to provide greater efficiency, lower maintenance requirements, and optimization.

John Deere: One of the biggest challenges loggers face is the availability and retention of quality employees.

Our customers are asking for us to provide equipment that makes this process easier, with a simplified learning curve and features that boost operator comfort and productivity during long days on the job. We have addressed these needs with our latest equipment launches, including the addition Intelligent Boom Control on our forwarders and the significant investment we’ve made across our entire product portfolio to improve operator stations.

Overall, loggers are facing more challenges than ever. We are dedicated to helping loggers outrun all of the obstacles they face. John Deere offers loggers everything from a full-line of equipment solutions and industry-leading technology solutions to an extensive dealer network and accessible financing solutions, providing the tools and support they need to grow their businesses.

Lucidyne: Our customers are always eager to learn about the most recent technology and how they can continue to maximize value and fibre recovery.

We are proud to work in close partnership with our customers and potential customers to understand the issues that are important to them, and work together to achieve their goals.

Lucidyne continues to invest in its own research and development so that we can deliver the most cutting-edge technology to our customers.

Serra: The complete package starting from the machine up to installation, training, after sales service and fast delivery of spares. In one word they ask for “complete” solutions.

Q. A.

How important is biomass to your organisation?

Komptech: Komptech does between 30-40% of its business in this area.

Peterson: Biomass is very important our organization and we are well positioned to provide fibre supply solutions to all biomass industry businesses.

Peterson offers a high degree of flexibility with our product line-up of in-field equipment and fixed electric offerings. We seek early involvement with capacity expansion projects or new ventures to assist in developing their fibre supply strategy.

A well-crafted fibre supply portfolio must be developed based on the end user’s fibre specifications, their fibre basin’s existing supply capacity, and the potential to develop new supply chain partners. As every location and fibre basket is different, this can include both in-field equipment and stationary integrated electric systems. The earlier Peterson becomes involved the more opportunities we have to provide the best solutions for high quality and cost-effective fibre raw materials.

Springer: Does not play an important role.

John Deere: While the worldwide biomass market has been subdued for some time, at John Deere we see the use and development of forestry-originated renewable energy as very important, and will continue to deliver equipment for bioenergy applications.

John Deere is supportive of practices that help to make forests healthier. The process of sustainable harvesting is important to our customers, in turn making it important to us as a trusted partner to loggers. We support practices that increase jobs in the forest, providing communities where our customers live and work with a new revenue stream.

Lucidyne: Many mills are taking a serious look at biomass and how they might incorporate it into their mill operations. As a technology solutions provider, biomass is not part of our operation, but we are working with our customers to help them understand their total mill solutions, and how Lucidyne can partner with them to stay ahead in this competitive market.

Barko: Biomass is important to our chipper line. We have seen a significant decrease in demand for those products as biomass has languished.

Tigercat: Biomass remains largely an indirect part of our business in that many of our customers using our equipment will be delivering either round wood or forest residue for the purpose of cogeneration without us even knowing it. As such, traditional products are being used for this purpose as the forest regime and the work object (the tree) have not changed. Should plantations begin to change in terms of their tree size and stocking then it will become necessary to develop new products for the biomass market.

a brand of FAE Group

International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 75

Something from nothing Teak round log export specialist, Proteak, ventures into eucalyptus in Mexico in a big and bold way

P

roteak has come a long way since it started its forestry operations in 2000 with a 180 hectare (445 acre) teak plantation in Nayarit, Mexico – a region with a similar soil type and climate to parts of southeast Asia where teak flourishes.

Ten years later in 2010, the company went public, listing on the Mexican Stock Exchange. By this point, Proteak’s plantations had increased to 4 700 hectares (11,600 acres). Throughout the entire history of the company’s operations, the teak plantations had been harvested manually.

It was not until 2013 when the company acquired 8 000 hectares (19,700 acres) of eucalyptus in Tabasco – a region that receives 2 800 mm (110 in) of rainfall per year – that mechanized harvesting became a part of Proteak COO Enrique Espinosa’s vision. Around

76 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

(L-R) Gary Olsen, Oscar Perezbolde Martinez, Enrique Espinosa and Raphael Riaño at Proteak’s headquarters in Mexico City this time Proteak acquired development land in Tabasco and began construction of a continuous press MDF plant nearby to the

plantations. And this is where the partnership with Tigercat begins.

We toured the forestry operations with Oscar Perezbolde

The 845C equipped with a 5000 series saw working in one of Proteak’s twelve-yearold plantations

The feller buncher is in constant battle with thick vines and underbrush

Martinez and Hugo Palafox.

Oscar is responsible for the eucalyptus chip supply to the mill.

His job starts in the forest with the company-owned harvesting

system, extends to contract transport to the mill and ends once the logs have been fed into the onsite chipper. Hugo is the harvesting manager for the Mexican teak

plantations. There is evidence everywhere of the progressiveness of the company and its people. For instance, the first thing that Oscar did upon arriving on the site was an

Proteak’s 630D skidder decking a bunch. On the short distance skids, operator Geraldo Monzon makes full use of Turnaround® as he shuttles back and forth from the block to the deck International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 77

inspection flyover of the operation using a drone.

The eucalyptus plantations that were acquired in 2013 are of lesser quality than the new clone stock that Proteak is planting at roughly a rate of 2 000 ha (4,950 acres) per year. The neglected and aging plantations, averaging four trees to the cubic metre, are choked with vines and underbrush. It is a tough job for a feller buncher but the quality of the plantations will soon be improving. We drove past endless perfect plantations with fantastic growth rates, superior

(L-R) Skidder operator, Geraldo Monzon and Raphael Sanchez, harvest site manager along with Oscar Perezbolde Martinez, Hugo Palafox and Tigercat’s Gary Olsen

genetics, active management and better vegetation control.

The result of these efforts will be five year rotations and in turn, significantly increased productivity for the harvesting systems.

Some of the initially acquired forest land had already been harvested to meet market demands

at the time and left to coppice.

These coppiced stands were so poor in quality that the first machines Proteak acquired were two M726E mulchers to level these stands, apply good site preparation practices and plant new material.

The two mulchers have worked steadily since 2013, acquiring over

The T250B is equipped with a large capacity grapple saw. It bucks the logs to six metres and stacks the tops in a separate row. It is a very simple operation with no debranching, no debarking and no waste. The tops are transported to the mill as well for fuel.

78 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

6,000 hours. Now Proteak utilizes them in a site preparation capacity, knocking down new vegetation, grinding up coppiced stumps and breaking down residual material from the harvested compartments.

This method of site preparation and vegetation management offers many advantages. It avoids all the negative environmental effects of burning and returns nutrients to the soil. The mulched material also slows the establishment of new vegetation, possibly lowering the frequency or concentration of future herbicide applications.

As the necessity for mulching declines in the future, the machines can be easily repurposed as feller bunchers since they were specified with the multi-function hydraulic system and quick attach boom adapter.

Raphael Sanchez is the harvest site manager, overseeing a three machine crew consisting of an 845C feller buncher, a 630D skidder and a T250B loader. The harvesting system is simple and effective.

The 845C is currently cutting on average about 200 stems per hour or 600 m3 per day in the older plantations. (The eucalyptus

The brand new MDF plant is full of the latest German continuous press technology weighs about one ton to the cubic metre.) The buncher is constantly fighting thick underbrush and vines and has acquired 4,000 hours. The trees are skidded to roadside and then slashed to six metre lengths with a Rotobec-MSU grapple saw that is equipped on the T250B. The loader builds two rows – one for the logs and one for the tops which are also taken to the mill for fuel. (The mill will eventually have net positive energy capacity from waste burning, feeding power back into the grid.)

The logs are left to dry infield for two months, then transported to the mill with bark on. One big advantage to the harvesting operation is that the mill doesn’t require debarked logs. This enables Proteak to have the relatively simple T250B at roadside as

Samples of Proteak’s teak veneer

opposed to a processor and loader.

Currently the mill intake is 600 m3 per day. However, the mill is not yet running at full capacity. As the fibre supply improves, Proteak intends to purchase a second harvesting system and open a second line in the 24 hour continuous press MDF facility, increasing the fibre intake to 1 000 m3 per day. Due to the high annual rainfall, the road system does not support continuous log delivery, so the wood yard holds a threeday stockpile. In addition, the silo holds 10 000 m3 of chips, equivalent to 3,000 m3 of round wood.

Back in 2013 this was all merely a well-laid plan. Today, the mill employs 120 people and supplies 30% of the domestic MDF board market. (Previously 95% of MDF consumed in Mexico was

imported.) Proteak employs over 1,000 people and is harvesting 200,000 m3 of the six million cubic metre annual cut in Mexico.

Today, in addition to the 10 000 hectares (25,000 acres) of eucalyptus, Proteak also has 8 000 hectares (20,000 acres) of teak - all FSC certified. Teak roundwood is exported to India and China for furniture production and there is also a teak veneer market. While the majority of the teak revenue is coming out of Costa Rica and Venezuela, Proteak is now harvesting 1,000 m3 per year in Mexico.

Recently, the company began experimenting with motor-manual harvesting methods for teak using a skidder and feller buncher with manual debarking. This out-ofthe-box thinking has spawned

modifi cations and trials such as rubberizing the skidder grapple tongs. While this mechanized harvesting experiment requires more work to eliminate splitting and other types of damage to the valuable teak logs, Hugo, Enrique and the team are formulating a new plan for a motor-manual system that will produce logs well within the quality standards that the company is achieving with fully manual harvesting. As Tigercat and Proteak continue to collaborate, stay tuned for further developments in Mexico.

This article originally appeared in Between the Branches, November 2016, the official publication of Tigercat Industries Inc.

The plant is now supplying 30% of the Mexican market with MDF board International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 79

ADVERTISERS INDEX SALES OFFICES UK, Europe, South Africa, US East Coast CONTACT: Phil Playle or David Lansdowne Lansdowne Media Services Ltd

ADVERTISERS INDEX Carbotech ����������������������������������������� 21 Morbark ����������������������������������������������11 www.morbark.com www.carbotech.ca

Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Email: phil@internationalforestindustries.com or david@internationalforestindustries.com

Japan CONTACT: Yuko Ishihara

CLEANFIX ������������������������������������������� 12 Optimil ������������������������������������������������� 5 www.optimil.com www.cleanfix.org Doppstadt ������������������������������������������59 Peterson ��������������������������������������������IFC www.petersoncorp.com www.doppstadt.com

Japan Advertising Communications, Inc. Star Bldg., 3-10-3 Kanda Jimbocho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051 Tel: 81-3-3261-4591

Elmia Wood ������������������������������������� IBC Prime Tech ���������������������������������������� 69 www.prime-tech.com www.elmia.se/sv/wood

Fax: 81-3-3261-6126 Email: ishihara@media-jac.co.jp

FAE Group �������������������������������������������69 Serra ��������������������������������������������������� 10 www.serra-sawmill.com www.fae-group.com

Western USA (AZ, CA, NV, UT) Australia, & New Zealand CONTACT: David Lansdowne Lansdowne Media Services Ltd

Halco Software Systems �������������������49 Springer ����������������������������������������18/19 www.springer.eu www.halcosoftware.com

Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Email: david@internationalforestindustries.com

Western USA (MT, ID, OR,WA) & Canada CONTACT: Bob Warren

Hewsaw ��������������������������������������������� 15 TerraSource �����������������������������������������9 www.terrasource.com www.hewsaw.com Indexator �������������������������������������������65 Tigercat ��������������������������������������������OBC www.tigercat.com www.indexator.com

Lansdowne Media Services Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Email: bob@internationalforestindustries.com

US Mid-West, Central & Mountain CONTACT: Kevin Lapham

Jenz �����������������������������������������������������57 Trelleborg ��������������������������������������������� 7 www.trelleborg.com/wheels www.jenz.de Komptech ������������������������������������������� 61 USNR/ Söderhamn Eriksson ����������� 17 www.usnr.com www.komptech.com

J.P.Media Inc 1163 E.Ogden Ave, Ste. 705-359 Naperville IL 60563, USA Tel: +1 (630) 420 9752

LIGNA �������������������������������������������23/27 Westtech �����������������������������������������������8 www.westtech.at www.ligna.de/home

Fax: +1 (630) 420 9763 Email: lapham@jpmediainc.com

Logmax �����������������������������������������������67 Wood-Mizer ��������������������������������������� 13 www.woodmizer.com www.logmax.com

South America CONTACT: Ricardo Cortés Editec S.A. Avda del Cóndor 844 Of. 205,

Lucidyne Technologies Inc ����������������� 3 WSM West Salem �����������������������������63 www.westsalem.com www.lucidyne.com

Cuidad Empresarial Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile Tel: +56 2 757 4200 Fax: +56 2 757 4201 Email: rcortes@editec.cl

MiCROTEC ������������������������������������F/C-35 www.microtec.eu

80 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

IFI WEB VIDEO DIRECTORY

FORESTRY

The

Level Headed Approach to

Land Clearing

Manufactured to endure the most extreme & demanding terrains POWER TO PERFORM

Terra

Grouser

Rocky

TXL

TXCL

CLARK TRACKS

Clark Tracks specialise in providing a wide range of forest machine tracks to suit numerous applications for the worldwide forestry market that we serve.

www.clarktracks.com

E: clarktracks@clarktracks.com T: +44 (0) 1387 722370

high performance for maximum work life

a brand of FAE Group

Flotation

POWER TO PERFORM

BRON Mulcher

BRON 475 Mulcher with SEPPI Mulching Head

Leveling everything in their paths are BRON mulchers - grinding trees, brush and stumps into fine mulch, quickly and easily. Low ground pressure and powerful hydraulics are standard on all models, ranging from 275 hp to 700 hp.

Richardson Service_Frances Marion tree thinning

Seppi Midiforst dt 225 Mulcher on the Bron 275 was a perfect combination on a tree thinning project in the Frances Marion National Forest in Huger, SC. The Bron handled flawlessly on the saturated ground while the Seppi Midiforst dt 225 is an easily manueverable and very efficient mulching head. This video was brought to you by Richardson Service and Seppi Partners LLC

BRON 275 Mulcher with Seppi Midiforst Mulching Head

www.rwfbron.com

Can Your Tractor Do This in 10 mins?

Fecon, Inc FTX600

Introducing Fecon’s all-new “FTX 128L High Performance” forestry mulcher! Visit http://fecon.com or call 1-800-528-3113 for more information. This 128 horsepower mulching machine was designed and built from the ground up right here at our Lebanon, Ohio, USA factory to deliver the highest performance and greatest fuel efficiency in its class.

The FTX600 is Fecon’s flagship tractor. This tractor brings the best combination of cutting performance, track power, ground pressure and serviceability in the 600hp class of mulching machines.

FTX148L Forestry Mulcher - Mulching Machine - Fecon - Bull Hog

RTC22/500-8 - Pine Trees

Attached to a Fecon FTX148 Mulching Machine, the Bull Hog Forestry Mulcher is perfect for clearing trees and brush. Bull Hog attachments excel at clearing right-of-way, lines of site, invasive species and fire breaks as well as many other in Forest applications.

Fecon’s® RTC22 is a purpose built mobile chipping system like no other. This dedicated carrier is specifically designed for chipper weight, center of gravity, and serviceability. The high mobility of the RTC22 is welcomed on remote jobsites that could be hard to get to with other vehicles. With a top speed of 12 miles per hour, the RTC22 is three times faster to the job.

You will find unmatched versatility, power, and durability from the FeconFTX 148 Mulching Machine. Jobs normally requiring 2 or 3 pieces of equipment can now be completed with just one due to the machines’ high versatility and rate of production.

www.fecon.com

Bandit visits R.J. Nathe & Sons

Parker Kligerman visits Bandit 2013

Bandit visits R.J. Nathe & Sons on a job site near Ocala, Florida to see how their Bandit Whole Tree Chipper Model 3590 is working for them.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Parker Kligerman visits Bandit Industries and gets behind the wheel of a few other machines.

Bandit Model 2400 XP (24” Disc-Style) Whole Tree Chipper

Operations looking for a high production chipper with a large chipping capacity should take a look at the Model 2400. The Model 2400 is designed for those land clearing operations whose main goal is production, and those loggers looking to produce a high quality, dimensional chip. Like the Model 1900, the 2400 features a five feed wheel system that gives this unit unmatched crushing and pulling power. To aid in this capability, the 2400 features a Caterpillar or Cummins 700 horsepower engine.

Revolution Cutter Wheel

The Bandit Revolution stump grinder cutter wheel is now standard issue for all new Bandit stump grinders, and it’s available as a retrofit for older machines. Don’t have a Bandit stump grinder? No problem—this amazing wheel is also available for a wide range of other stump grinder makes and models so you too can be part of the Revolution.

www.banditchippers.com

John Deere G Series - Harvester and Forwarder

Road Map to Success

Fleet management systems have put Mid Atlantic Tree Harvesters “on the map�.

2013 John Deere 843K Feller buncher at Forestry First 05-02-13

This 2013 model Deere 843K is working in Pine Plantation.

We filmed this cutter working on a second thinning job where the stems are 6 inches or so average, many less.

This feller buncher is very impressive. The owner has been pleased with fuel consumption and the speed and power of this feller buncher is more than adequate in his thinning and logging operations. The operators are also making positive comments about the cab interior which has recently been much improved. The old steering column is gone and it opens everything up in terms of visibility and space for your legs. If you have not sat in one of these you should do yourself a favour and hop into one.

www.deere.com

6600 Track Wood Hog

Morbark 5048 Drum Chipper

Morbark 6600 Track Wood Hog. Footage taken at the 2013 Morbark Demo Days.

Morbark 5048 Drum Chipper equipped with a 10 knife Advantage 3 drum and a Cat C-27 1050hp diesel engine. Footage taken at the 2013 Morbark Demo Days.

Morbark, Inc. I Make America

3200 Wood Hog Demo Days May 2013

Aimed at wood and green waste recycling applications, the Morbark 3200 Wood Hog is a compact and aggressive unit. A smaller, lighter, and more affordable unit with all of the benefits of our larger grinders, the 3200 can handle green waste, regrind, sawmill residue, pallets, and logs up to 14� in diameter ease.

Available as a tracked unit for greater mobility or with electric power, the 3200 can be built with Morbark’s most popular options.

www.morbark.com

4300B Drum Chipper Making Micro Chips

s5710C horizontal grinder with Terra Select S6 E Star Screen

The new Peterson 4300B drum chipper has been updated for 2014 with new features that high-volume biomass chippers demand. The 4300B can be equipped with either a 6-pocket (to make standard biomass chips) or 12-pocket (to make microchips) drum depending on your material needs.

A Peterson 5710C horizontal grinder feeds ground wood pallets into a Terra-Select S6-E star screen. The three fraction Terra Select S6-E sorts the ground material into fines, accepts and overs.

Both machines are ideal for processing mulch, compost, or other organic material.

6700B Mid-Speed Grinder

5710C Pallet Grinding

This Peterson 6700B horizontal grinder is equipped with our new Mid-Speed C&D package, and is doing primary grind in surplus railroad ties. The second grinder (a Peterson 4710B) is processing the material to meet the product spec which is being used for energy production.

This Peterson 5710C horizontal grinder is grinding pallets for mulch production in Indiana. The machine uses a cross belt magnet to pull the nails from the material (watch for a follow-up video on this process soon!)

The Mid-Speed C&D package is designed for highly contaminated material and features several new innovations that have not been seen on high-speed horizontal grinders before. This operation is seeing consistent 300+ tons per hour of production in this material.

The 5710C is Peterson’s latest generation of high production track grinders. Powered by the Caterpillar C27 or C32 engine at 1050 horsepower, this grinder provides the highest power to weight ratio of any Peterson grinder. At approximately 83,000 pounds (37650 kg) the 5710C was designed for operations requiring high production and frequent moves between jobs.

www.petersoncorp.com

Pine harvesting system in Tasmania

1135 wheel harvester: blowdown clear fell

An all-Tigercat pine harvesting system owned by B.R. & K.F. Muskett & Sons. The three-machine system working in the southern part of Tasmania consists of a Tigercat L830C feller buncher, a Tigercat LH855C harvester processing infield and a 1075B forwarder equipped with a Tigercat crane and grapple.

A Tigercat 1135 wheel harvester felling and processing in a tough blowdown clear fell salvage application in Scotland. Although the 1135 wheeled harvester was designed for specialty thinning, the machine is highly capable in a variety of selective felling and clear fell applications.

1075B scarifier in Sweden

Pine harvesting system in Tasmania

A Tigercat 1075B forwarder base carrier equipped as a scarifier.

This 1075B scarifier is operating in Sweden in tough, rock strewn terrain. Durable Tigercat forwarders are ideal carriers for heavy duty cycle scarification applications.

An all-Tigercat pine harvesting system owned by B.R. & K.F. Muskett & Sons. The three-machine system working in the southern part of Tasmania consists of a Tigercat L830C feller buncher, a Tigercat LH855C harvester processing infield and a 1075B forwarder equipped with a Tigercat crane and grapple.

www.tigercat.com

ROTTNE SKÖRDARE

Skotare ROTTNE F13C

Rottne F18

www.rottne.com

Vermeer BC700XL Brush Chipper

HG6000 Horizontal Grinder

Vermeer continues to respond to the demands of the rental, landscape and tree care professionals with the BC700XL brush chipper. The smallest machine in the Vermeer brush chipper line, the BC700XL design is based on operator feedback and focuses on productivity advantage and ease-of-use. The brush chipper features a centrifugal clutch system, 25 horsepower (18.6 kW) Kohler EFI engine, bottom feed stop bar and Vermeer exclusive SmartFeed feed-sensing control system. The new member of the chippers line offers the compact size operators are looking for and the performance they want to achieve a job efficiently.

Process wood waste efficiently with the HG6000 horizontal grinder. Get started with the touch of a button to activate the microprocessor-controlled HPTO clutch. Fifth-wheel towing configuration provides mobility, and the openended, extra-wide feed table allows you to load wood waste over the side. State-of-the-art wireless remote lets you operate the machine from up to 300’/91 m away.

HG8000TX Horizontal Grinder

HG4000TX Horizontal Grinder

The HG8000TX horizontal grinder from Vermeer boasts the largest infeed opening in its class, helping to increase your productivity and expand job possibilities. Powered by a 950-hp (708.4 kW) CAT Tier 2 engine, this unit handles big diameter wood and large, brushy debris with ease. Plus, its innovative design incorporates several features to help reduce material spillage and jobsite cleanup time.

The HG8000TX is equipped with a tracked undercarriage with 28” (71.1 cm) wide double or triple-grouser track pads. Designed to tackle tough jobs, the HG8000TX enables productivity for the long-haul.

Take the self-propelled HG4000TX horizontal grinder to tough jobsites. With its 20”/51 cm double grouser track pads, high ground clearance and sealed rollers, it can get into remote areas easily, without material building up in the track system. A fully enclosed engine helps reduce noise. Infeed over-pressure/auto-reverse function reduces jams. Extra-wide, 48”/122 cm V-cleat discharge conveyor neatly discharges processed material from the machine.

www.vermeer.com

a brand of FAE Group

The Best of PrimeTech PT-175 forestry mulcher

The Best of PrimeTech PT-300 tracked carrier

The PT-175 is also an impressively innovative PrimeTech PT-300 is a medium, low ground mulcher, built around cutting-edge technology pressure tracked mulcher powered by a John with easy access to all components.

Deere 6068 HF485, 6.8 L turbocharged and aftercooled engine, with 6 in-line cylinders and 275 hp.

The Best of PrimeTech PT-600 tracked carrier

PT-400 the movie

PrimeTech PT-600 is a tracked carrier for the hardest and toughest jobs out there, equipped with a Cummins QSX15 turbocharged in line 6 cylinder diesel engine producing 600 hp.

Depending on the front attachment, PT-600 can be used for land clearing and site preparation operations (with mulching head) or for removal of stumps and roots and for land conversion (with forestry tiller / subsoiler head).

PT-400 is a tracked carrier for heavy duty applications thanks to its 12.5 L Caterpillar C13 engine, producing 415 HP. It can be equipped with a variety of front attachments: mulching heads, soil stabilizers and rock crushers

www.prime-tech.com

Terra

Grouser

Rocky

Flotation

TXL

TXCL

CLARK TRACKS

Clark Tracks specialise in providing a wide range of forest machine tracks to suit numerous applications for the worldwide forestry market that we serve.

www.clarktracks.com

E: clarktracks@clarktracks.com T: +44 (0) 1387 722370

high performance for maximum work life

Clark Tracks Ltd - Forest Machine Tracks. Boggiband. Bogiebändern

Clark Tracks Ltd specialise in providing a wide range of Forest Machine Tracks to an ever expanding market. We provide designs and sizes to suit numerous applications for the worldwide forestry market that we serve. This short video will give you an insight to our tracks being used on John Deere, Ponsse, Komatsu and Tigercat forwarders and harvesters.

www.clarktracks.com

RAYCO C260 Mulching

The C260 is a mid-sized mulcher that delivers 260 hp in a compact, low ground pressure package. This mulcher is suited for clearing small trees, underbrush, and a variety of unwanted vegetation across a wide range of environments. The heavy-duty steel undercarriage and powerful final drives allow operators to tackle difficult terrain with confidence. Rayco’s exclusive elevated cooling design keeps engine and hydraulic temperatures within their limits in the harshest of environments. To minimize maintenance, a reversing fan can be activated from the cab to clear the limbriser debris screens. This helps to extend service intervals even when operating in hot, debrisfilled environments. When manual cleaning of the debris screens is necessary, they are easily removable and the rear door opens to allow unrestricted access to the debris screen and engine radiator.

The cabs are climate controlled and sealed from dust and debris to maintain operator comfort. Operators appreciate the high-backed, heated seat with adjustable armrests and air-ride suspension.

For safety, the cab is certified to meet ROPS, FOPS, and OPS specifications and is equipped with a roof-top escape hatch. LED lighting facing front, sides and rearward. A backup camera enhances rearward visibility.

www.raycomfg.com

FAE Forestry Mulcher Kubota KX 80

FAE forestry mulcher in action 1

The DML/HY from FAE is the best of its category, this mulching head can be mounted up to a 10 ton excavator. G.B Equipment inc is the Canadian distributor for FAE, contact us via our website www.gbequipment.ca to know your local dealer.

FAE Forestry And Mulching Heads

FAE forestry and land clearing heads. Forestry Mulchers, forestry tillers, rock crushers. Mulching machines.

www.fae-group.com/

Aciers JP - Installation belge 2015

Mobile rotary log debarker is a portable system is installed on a three-axle trailer for easy transport. It consists of three rotors that ensure contact between the debarking plates and the surface of the logs over a 10-foot length.

The system is designed to debark various types and diameters of wood year-round. European Homologation.

Mobile rotary log debarker http://www.acierjp.com/en/new-releases/products-details.cfm?ProduitID=8 Les Aciers J.P. inc.

15, 3rd Avenue East La Reine, Quebec, Canada J0Z 2L0 Phone: 819 947-8291 Fax: 819 947-6321 E-Mail: info@acierjp.com Owner: RenĂŠ Perreault

www.acierjp.com

TFVJA - Semi-Forestry Mulcher With Oscillating Hammers

TFVMF - Forestry mulcher with fix vidia hammers

Semi-forestry mulcher for tractors from 40 - 130 hp. Best Suited for mulching bushes and trunks up to 140 mm diameter. Suitable for working on all kinds of wood, gardening and agricultural uses.

Forestry mulcher best suited for trunks up to 300 mm diameter. Suitable for all types of wood, gardening and agricultural uses.

TFVMFD - Forestry mulcher double traction with fix vidia pointed hammer

TFVJH – Hydraulic Forestry Mulcher With Swinging/Oscillating Hammers 360º

Forestry mulcher best suited for trunks up to 300 mm diameter and for all types of wood, gardening and agricultural uses.

Forestry mulcher for excavators 7 – 16 Tn. Best suited for trunks up to 200 mm diameter. Suitable for all types of wood, gardening and agricultural uses.

www.venturamaq.com

Doppstadt Expo 2015 - a Bird’s-eye View

50 years of Doppstadt: More than 5,000 guests from the environmental and recycling sector experienced two unforgettable days: on 24 and 25 June 2015.

Environmental technology company Doppstadt staged what was arguably the largest European trade show of 2015 in this field on its 220,000 sq.-metre works site (Saxony-Anhalt). On show were over one hundred machines for the shredding, sorting and treatment of waste and biomass. What was unique thereby

was that more than half of the machines could be seen in action. In two-hour live demonstrations, the guests saw how coarse shredders, screening machines and exact hackers shredded tree trunks into sawdust, separated waste from recyclables and sorted pebbles from sand heaps. In doing so, Doppstadt demonstrated its problem-solving skills through combined processes: material collected by machines was initially shredded, then separated into its various components by means of separation processes such as screening, washing or air separation.

Doppstadt AK 510 BioPower

Doppstadt AK 510 BioPower high speed shredder showing awesome power in wood applications

www.doppstadt.com

IFI WEB VIDEO DIRECTORY

LUMBER PROCESSING

TM

Comact GradExpert

Comact Stacker

Comact Log 3D Scanning

Comact Transverse 3D Board Scanner

www.comact.com

Integrated Log Loader

MyMill™ - Changing the way you work

USNR’s Integrated Log Loader is positioned at the last step in the log feeder, and precisely manages the gap between logs.

MyMill is a new software suite developed by USNR that enables mill personnel to interact with mill equipment using mobile devices, such as iPads and iPods. This new mobile functionality will change the landscape of today’s modern mills.

6-Deck Jet Veneer Dryer - time lapse construction

Murray Timber 4-sided canting log breakdown line

This new 6-deck jet veneer dryer, located at Martco, Chopin, LA, is the largest dryer to date in the southern yellow pine region. This dryer will accomplish the equivalent production of two dryers, reducing labor costs by one-half. At the same time it will reduce thermal energy consumption by 10%, and exhaust fugitive emissions by 15%.

This mill is located in Ireland.

The dryer was erected off-line, and once complete it was towed into place and connected to all services under a projected expedited schedule. This allowed Martco the advantage of choosing the optimum time to disrupt its production schedule to install the additional capacity, and allowed the plant to utilize the existing building structure to house the new dryer.

www.usnr.com

Sweep reducing

Log positioning

The importance of cant positioning is often overlooked.

Only one infeed position will result in maximum product value. Deviation from this position will result in lower output. With a True Shape optimization system the best position is accurately determined.

Söderhamn Eriksson´s positioning system ensures the correct rotating position is maintained and carries out the side positioning which is calculated by the optimising system.

System Edger - versatile and reliable Bandsawing technology edger optimizer

Söderhamn Eriksson´s edging systems with high capacity and maximum yield generates the most valuable product out of each board.

Söderhamn Eriksson´s bandsaws offer the highest accuracy, very thin kerf, short built-in length, easy to set and efficient curve sawing of cants.

- Systems for all capacity requirements - Highest capacity on the market - Designs for unmanned operation - High resolution scanning on both sides of the board - Unlimited edging options - Split and reject modules

- High-strain bandsaws with high accuracy at highest feed speed - Saw kerf 3 mm or less - Reducer band saw combinations with 2,3 or 4 bands - Resaw combinations with 1 to 4 saw bands - Feed speeds up to 180 m/min

www.se-saws.com

Microtec CT Log 360° X-ray CTSawing Optimization

Microtec Goldeneye Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner

CT Log optimized sawing • 100% optimum cutting solution based on highest value of final products • Increased value in every sawn log compared to any other breakdown solution • Maximization of lumber recovery quality that significantly increases revenues & resale value

Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner for lumber Grading, Chopping and Sorting for joinery and wood component manufacturers – doors, windows and wood furniture, high performance planer mills and manufacturers of glulam and lumber construction products Goldeneye 300 advantages • Worldwide-accredited strength grading Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner • Increased lumber utilisation while reducing labor costs • Optimal utilization of your machinery capacity • Next generation sensors, state-of-the-art cameras and components with Full HD resolution, faster image acquisition and on-chip image processing • Including X-ray technology • Award winning design and functionality, long product life thanks to a smart design • Fast return on investment • Integrates seamlessly with all cross and chop saws as well as sorting and packaging lines

Microtec CT Log Virtual Grading

Microtec Goldeneye 900 no. 1 transverse lumber scanner

High-speed 360° X-Ray industrial CT-Scanning for high added-values sawmills by the industry leader Microtec.

• Full digital log reconstruction and virtual grading to determine quality at conveying speed of 180 m / min.

• Virtual cutting solutions to asses multiple break-down angles and cutting masks for value optimization.

• For all types of logs • World leading scanning solutions Microtec is the global leader in optoelectronic wood grading technology.

As one source solutions provider for all sawmilling processes, we optimize, automate and streamline all processes for the wood working industry using optoelectronic Multi-Sensor Quality Scanning technologies. We have provided personalized solutions for our customers for over 35 years.

Innovation is our drive. Wood is our passion!

The world’s no.1 Multi-Sensor Quality Scanner in transverse transport, the Goldeneye 900, is a showcase of the innovative technological capabilities of Microtec.

Goldeneye 900 determines the overall quality of green, dry or planed lumber in one pass from all four sides.

Value optimization before and after kiln drying is possible as the Goldeneye 900 grades both rough and finished lumber.

www.microtec.eu

Industrial Sawmill Business Spotlight SLP2 at LIGNA - Ohio Valley Veneer

For six years, Ed Robbins struggled to make his high grade lumber mill profitable. Finally he turned to Wood-Mizer industrial thin-kerf headrigs and his employees thought he was crazy... See what happened in the video.

Wood-Mizer debuts the SLP2 (Small Log Processing system) at Ligna 2013, in Hanover. Thin-kerf blades and higher automation result in a profitable combination.

WM4000 ENG

WM1000 with new hydraulic system

WM4000 – Wood-Mizer’s latest thin-kerf headrig.

WM1000 – Break down big logs accurately and efficiently with a 1.7 metre (67”) center capacity cut.

www.woodmizer.com

The Westervelt Story

True-Q Patented Board Tracking System

www.Lucidyne.com

TM

EWD Reducer Quad, First logs

Today we cut the first 5 logs on the new EWD sawmill. first the sides of the logs are chipped off, then four bandsaws go to work cutting the log into the desired sizes.

www.ewd.de

Wood Processing Industry: Springer System Fitness Check

SPRINGER - a step ahead through productivity

When correctly serviced and controlled, a system ensures reliable and efficient operation.

That’s why a steadily increasing number of customers is opting for our system fitness check. Following inspection of the system, measures for improving state and performance are suggested. These activities form the basis for a successful and complete system checkup during summer or winter breaks. For that reason, the inspection should ideally be carried out 2 or 3 months before the scheduled system check in your plant.

SPRINGER is well known for machines and conveyor systems and produces innovative wood processing solutions worldwide.

Innovative CLT production lines

SPRINGER - automation of layer press @ Tilly (A)

To optimize the production of natural wood panels with multi-layer technology, SPRINGER was commissioned with the design and construction of an installation, enabling automation of its existing layer press at Tilly Plant I in Althofen, Austria.

Excellent ease of handling, low maintenance effort and, most of all, minimized material input – these are the key characteristics of the innovative CLT production lines made

by SPRINGER. We develop CLT production lines that take cut-outs and chamfers into account early on in the process, specifically during the provision and automatic positioning of lamellas.

This means minimized material consumption thanks to solutions that are tailored to the requirements of our customers.

www.springer.au

Wagner L60 Logstacker

Wagner is proud to introduce the revolutionary, purpose built, 60,000 lb, L60 Logstacker. Perfect for today’s cutto-length loads, Wagner has taken our customers years of experience and devised answers to day-to-day, year-to-year operational challenges. From fuel consumption to ease of maintenance and operator comfort, Wagner offers the lowest cost of ownership in the industry. The Wagner L60 Logstacker is in it for the long haul!

www.alliedsystems.com

Autolog Carriage Optimizer

Autolog Gang Optimizer

The Autolog Carriage Optimizer allows for the best log scanning in the industry with its fullprofile scanner with 5” density.

The Autolog Gang Optimizer allows for the best cant scanning in the industry with an outstanding 0.25” scan density at 45°.

Autolog High Speed Lug Loader Control System

Autolog Linear Planer Optimizer – ProGrader

The Autolog control system offers a high speed and precise operational sequence at the sawmill lug loader.

Our ProGrader is a linear optimizer designed to fully automate the grading process of dressed lumber at the planer.

www.autolog.com

THE WORLD LEADING FORESTRY FAIR Elmia Wood is constructed out in the forest every fourth year and welcomes more than 50,000 visitors and 500 exhibitors from 50 countries. So if you want to find out the latest trends in the global forest industry, Elmia Wood is a must. Here you can do business, update your knowledge of technical innovations, both from all the major machinery manufacturers and from small-scale producers, refresh your contact networks, become inspired and acquire masses of new ideas.

Welcome to Sweden 7–10 June 2017

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7–10 JUNE 2017 SWEDEN

FORWARDING TRANSFORMED. Tigercat’s exclusive low-wide bunk system combined with the powerful hooked crane introduces efficiency and performance gains for the high capacity 1075C and 1085C forwarders. Designed for quicker loading and unloading times, this innovative configuration provides clear sight lines to the top of the load and substantially increases the working range of the crane.

In addition, the C-series forwarders are powered by the field proven Tigercat FPT engine in both Tier 2 and T4f configurations, offering long-term reliability and outstanding fuel economy.

Contact your nearest Tigercat dealer today to learn more about the benefits of owning a Tigercat C-series forwarder.

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