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FEATURES
Installation of the final few pieces of equipment at the Edgewood Forest Products stud mill in Carrot River, Saskatchewan marks the end of a three-year journey, with a more than $240 million investment by Dunkley Lumber that has resulted in a significant achievement for the company. The new state-of-the-art, two-line stud mill leverages some of today’s most advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for sawmills, and the mill is now capable of producing 70 per cent more lumber on a two-shift basis than what they were able to produce previously with three shifts on a single line. (Cover photo by Tony Kryzanowski).
4 Spotlight: Back to the future: re-establishing a historic forest landscape in B.C.
A group of First Nations forest companies are working to re-establish the diversity of forests in B.C.’s Chilcotin region—and making the forest better equipped to survive wildfires.
10 State-of-the–art Sask. sawmill
Dunkley Lumber has completed a $240 million modernization on its Edgewood Forest Products stud mill in Saskatchewan—and the project includes the latest in Artificial Intelligence technologies.
18 Taking great pride in a strong focus on safety
The Miller Family logging operation in the B.C. Interior has a long history in the forest industry, and takes great pride in their strong focus on employee safety.
24
Published November/December 2024
“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada”
Included in this edition of The Edge, Canada’s leading publication on research in the forest industry, is a story from the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC).
26 Driving for constant improvement—in and out of the bush
A constant drive for improvement, personally and in business, has paved the way for Alberta logger Les Zeller prospering through more than four decades of working in the bush.
32 Producing pine lumber—ten years after
The Commonwealth Plywood specialty pine sawmill in Quebec’s Pontiac County has started up again after a ten-year hiatus.
38 Blow down creates business opportunity
A new Ontario sawmill is looking to become a one-stop shop for Eastern White Cedar, utilizing salvage timber from a massive blow down in the northwestern part of the province.
46 The Last Word New Softwood Lumber Agreement Needed—Now
It’s unclear exactly what incoming President Donald Trump’s overall trade policy will be, but a new Softwood Lumber Agreement or matching punitive duties on U.S. goods is needed now, says Tony Kryzanowski.
DEPARTMENTS
BACK TO THE FUTURE: Re-establishing a historic forest landscape in B.C.
A group of First Nations forest companies are working to re-establish the diversity of forests in B.C.’s Chilcotin region—and making the forest better equipped to survive wildfires.
By Jim Stirling
Abenchland overlooking B.C.’s Chilcotin River is an ideal location to recreate an historic forest landscape from the region’s past. It was an ecosystem of grasslands interspersed with groups of trees and it reflected how much of the region once appeared.
A group of First Nations forest companies are working to re-establish the diversity of yesterday’s landscape while making
the forest better equipped to survive the more devastating wildfires predicted, as global warming conditions intensify.
The Chilcotin Plateau lies west of the Fraser River near Williams Lake in British Columbia’s Cariboo region. The Chilcotin’s pastiche of forest, grasslands and lakes extends west across the belly of the Interior toward the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
The back to the future forest landscape initiative had a baptism of fire. The forest
fire season of 2017 won’t soon be forgotten in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. It began early in the spring and persisted well into fall. In the interim, the fires caused incalculable damage on many levels. Two major wildfires changed the Chilcotin River valley that year. The Hanceville-Riske Creek wildfire—which the B.C. Wildfire Service believes was the result of a single lightning strike northwest of 100 Mile House in May—had consumed more than 240,000 hectares by July. The Plateau complex,
Daniel Persson (above), Forestry Superintendent with Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd.
where several smaller blazes combined forces to create a megafire northwest of Williams Lake, was burning across more than 450,000 hectares by August 2017.
The decision was taken to replant the burned area near the Chilcotin River in 2021. But the elements hadn’t finished creating their havoc.
“That was the heat dome year,” reminds Daniel Persson, forestry superintendent with Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd (CCR) based in Williams Lake. The heat dome recorded temperatures approaching 45 degrees Celsius, and wiped out about 95 per cent of the newly planted seedlings, continues Persson.
CCR is a joint venture company owned by Tsi Del Enterprises Ltd and Dechen Ventures Ltd, the Tl’etinqok Government’s economic development corporation. “Our focus is to coordinate and implement large scale forestry programs and initiatives within our traditional territories to provide sustained economic opportunities for our communities and to ensure the long term sustainability of
to page 6
deliver several advantages. The rotating scarifying discs improve soil aeration, redistribute compact soil and aid nutrient distribution.
Forestry tracks developed in various sizes and designs to suit virtually any terrain, the harshest climates and all machine types. Lydia Stone : 207-250-3284 (français et anglais)
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. uses a John Deere 748 GIII skidder to pull shaped mechanical discs positioned to alter the soil’s structure and composition. The process can
Professi o n al Forestry Equip me nt
spotlight
from page 5
our traditional forest land base,” explains CCR’s website.
The Hanceville Project overlooking the Chilcotin River occupies approximately 275 hectares and supported a primarily Douglas fire forest prior to the 2017 wildfires. Persson says the area has inherent challenges to successful replanting strategies. It’s exposed with south facing slopes with compacted soils in a concave landscape.
“That’s why we are trying a new approach with the objective of minimal soil disturbance while still being able to establish trees that mimic a more historical stand with clumping distribution that is resilient toward wildfire,” describes Persson.
Planting site preparation is required and CCR opted for a ground ripping technique. Loosening compact soils allows for improved water infiltration, drainage and root development on Douglas fir seedlings. Variables such as moisture availability, to page 8
company has successfully applied disc scarifying treatments to mixed Douglas fir/
of a planting micro site to provide tree seedlings (or seeds) with a head start dur-
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd, based in Williams Lake, B.C., is a joint venture company owned by Tsi Del Enterprises Ltd and Dechen Ventures Ltd, the Tl’etinqok Government’s economic development corporation.
Continuous wood drying greatness
“A faster and better way to dry lumber”
Pleasant River, USA
“They further the development of lumber drying”
Moelven, Norway
“The TC kiln saves up to 50% energy, compared to traditional batch kilns”
JD Irving, Canada
“A partner in our development”
Setra, Sweden
“An automated drying process with high capacity”
Egger Brilon, Germany
Valutec’s state-of-the-art TC continuous meets the highest standards of drying quality with minimal moisture content variation and risk of cracks. They also provide fast drying processes, low energy consumption and high flexibility. All covered in a robust stainless-steel construction with no need for re-skinning.
No wonder they have become the most exciting choice for future-oriented sawmills in North America. Read more at valutec.ca
“Energy efficiency is optimized and the carbon footprint is minimized”
Ha-Sa, Finland
“The TC kiln offers superior capacity”
Hasslacher Group, Austria
from page 6
post-planting care and species adaptability need to be regularly monitored and adjusted to align with the Chilcotin’s evolving climate dynamics.
An additional factor enters the Hanceville Project’s considerations.
Cows. Ranching is a traditional Chilcotin industry with a rich history.
The historic Chilco Ranch, founded in the 1860’s, sits adjacent to the project’s site. CCR wanted to ensure the movement of cattle on the range wouldn’t be unduly impacted by the ground ripping project. Persson says after listening to area cattlemen, the CCR opted to rip the land
in a basic northwest to southeast orientation. Cattle—like people—will typically follow the course of least resistance when using an area.
Barring future developments, plans were to replant the site in the fall of 2024. The block is not subject to stocking standards as specified in the appraisal system. It allows for the planting of fewer stems per hectare, helpful in achieving the tree clump-grasslands mix sought to better replicate the Chilcotin from the past.
CCR leases the ripping equipment required in the project from its partner, Dechen Ventures along with the Cat D7R which typically pulls it.
CALENDAR
January 14-16
BC Natural Resource Forum Annual Meetings, Prince George, BC 250-640-7469 www.bcnaturalresourcesforum.com
January 15-17
Truck Loggers Association Annual Convention, Vancouver, BC 604-684-4291, www.tla.ca
January 22-23
Mapping the Course: Timberlands, Forest Products & Fiber Issues, Portland, OR 503-226-4562 www.westernforestry.org
January 29-31
Western Forestry Contractors' Assoc. Conference & Expo, Victoria, BC 604-736-8660, www.wfca.ca
February 10-13
Paper Week Canada - The Annual Meeting of Canadian Mills, Montreal, QC 514-392-0265 www.paperweekcanada.ca
February 11-13
GLOBExCHANGE, Vancouver, BC 604-695-5000 www.globeseries.com
CUTTING EDGE prairie sawmill
Dunkley Lumber has completed a $240 million modernization on its
Edgewood Forest Products stud mill in Saskatchewan—and the project includes the latest in Artificial Intelligence technologies.
By Tony Kryzanowski
Installation of the final few pieces of equipment at the Edgewood Forest Products stud mill in Carrot River, Saskatchewan marks the end of a three-year journey, with a more than $240 million investment by Dunkley Lumber that has resulted in a significant achievement for the company.
The new state-of-the-art, two-line stud mill owned by the Strathnaver, B.C.-based company leverages some of today’s most advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for sawmills, and the mill is now capable of producing 70 per cent more lumber on a two-shift basis than what they were able to produce previously with three shifts on a single line. Truly, a big win, production-wise.
The company still employs roughly the same number of workers, as with this production uplift and investment in new technology they were able to reassign some staff and add a third shift at their planer mill. They have 171 employees.
Production has increased from about 130 million board feet annually to 200 million board feet of 1 x 4, 2 x 3, 2 x 4, and 2 x 6 framing lumber in 9’ lengths. While the facility is a stud mill, the capability has been built in to also produce 10’ stud lumber as well as wider lumber up to 2 x 8 at some future time.
“Our future intent is to be able to run
this entire sawmill with three operators,” says Mark Novak, Dunkley Lumber Capital Projects Manager. “That will consist of one individual operating the entire log infeed including two saw lines, another individual operating the trimmer, and a third individual operating the stacker, with support staff to react to or fix unforeseen conditions.”
The old sawmill operated with 11 employees per shift. The goal is to reduce that to 6 employees.
This investment has not only been transformative for Edgewood Forest Products and family-owned Dunkley Lumber, but also for the small community of Carrot River, two hours east of Prince Albert.
Prosperity has been secured for the long term in Carrot River as a result of this investment. Local businesses benefitted significantly over the three-year construction period. A new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school has been built, recognizing the number of young families moving into a growing community often to take jobs at the sawmill, and incoming highways have been newly paved by the province in multiple directions.
Dunkley Lumber Capital Projects Manager Mark Novak (left) and Mill Manager Trevor Reid quarterbacked the advancement of the $240 million Edgewood Forest Products stud mill modernization, which originally was expected to take more than a decade but was accomplished in just three years.
The sawmill was actually closed for five years from 2007 to 2012, devastating Carrot River economically as it was the community’s largest employer. However, hope returned when the stud mill started up again on a single-line basis and with an investment in a LINCK processing line in 2015 as the backbone of the operation. The LINCK breakdown system is in fact the only major piece of hardware left intact in the refurbished mill because Dunkley found that their technology is a good fit for the stud mill’s small log line.
In 2019, Dunkley Lumber purchased Edgewood as well as Foothills Forest
Products in Grande Cache, Alberta, already contemplating what sort of capital investments could be made to modernize both facilities by taking advantage of new technologies to maximize their potential.
“We knew at the time of acquisition that these facilities were undercapitalized,” says Novak.
Ironically, Bill Dunkley and his brothers and sisters, who founded Dunkley Lumber in Strathnaver, started out in the Carrot River region. They owned and operated the local Beaver Lumber Planeryard in the 1940’s before moving to B.C. The
Novak family purchased Dunkley Lumber in 1977.
The move outside of British Columbia to Grande Cache and Carrot River was a first for Dunkley Lumber and a strategic decision to diversify geographically. Also, the stud lumber produced in Carrot River was a good complement to Dunkley’s random length dimension lumber production in both Strathnaver and Grande Cache. Finally, Edgewood’s location pro -
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Edgewood design/build contractor BID Group changes name to…Comact
In September, the BID Group, which was the design/build contractor on the three-year, $240 million, Edgewood Forest Products project in Carrot River, Saskatchewan to install, among other things, a second production line at the stud mill, took on a new identity as Comact, its renowned OEM high-performance equipment brand.
Founded in 1983, BID Group, based in Prince George, B.C., recognized the significant market potential of joining forces with Comact, a leader in wood processing products with several facilities throughout Canada. That took place in 2013. Without question, both companies
have played a leadership role in transforming the North American wood processing industry, and this year Comact celebrates its 100th anniversary since its founding.
As Comact, Alistair Cook, President and CEO at the time of rebranding announcement, said that the company will continue to focus on what matters most to its clients: optimized operational performance, leveraging advanced technologies, and delivering exceptional field support. Its comprehensive project services, including construction and installation, will continue without interruption.
“The decision to transition to Comact
aligns with our strategic plan to expand as a high-tech OEM with key customers worldwide,” said Cook. “This new identity signifies the beginning of a transformative phase for us. We are reaffirming our commitment to being the premier OEM in the industry by delivering cutting edge technologies, world-class project services, and unparalleled dedication—qualities that have cemented Comact’s reputation as a market leader in high performance, innovative solutions.”
The company’s five business units include processing technologies, project services, digital transformation, reliability solutions, and Global Learning Center.
millupgrade
Edgewood Forest Products appreciates the versatility of their Sennebogen 830E wheeled units to transport logs, using attached trailers, from the yard decks to the stud mill, and to feed logs either to the long log or cut-to-length log infeeds.
from page 11
vided the company with good access to markets in the American Midwest.
The plan initially was to phase in capital investment at Edgewood Forest Products over more than a decade with the main focus initially on Grande Cache, where there was a more immediate need for a new sawmill line. However, the income earned during the spike in lumber prices during COVID created an opportunity to move faster on the Carrot River project—and they did. Construction began in 2021 and was completed in 2024.
“We turned a 10 to 15-year capital investment plan into three years,” says Novak. “It was always our intention to increase throughput by 70 per cent and the availability of fibre also worked in our favor.”
Mill Manager Trevor Reid says that prior to the capital project at Carrot River, they already had 70 per cent of their fibre needs for a two-line stud mill under tenure and were able to complement that with third party and several Indigenous fibre supply agreements. The province has
also made some additional incremental fibre available. Their SPF log basket of mainly spruce and jackpine ranges from 4” to 20” in diameter.
Everything on the Edgewood Forest Products site has physically changed.
Drainage, with a design supplied by TTES Consulting from Tisdale, Saskatchewan, has been vastly improved with installation of over 1,000 meters of buried concrete drainage pipe including a multitude of manholes. Also, truckloads of gravel were delivered, geotextile was installed in some wet areas and major earthworks took place throughout the site. As a result, the site is more functional and they were able to reclaim some of it for new buildings. Local contractor Bryden Construction worked on the civil construction project.
“SaskPower, who has been a great partner on this project, also had to build a brand new incoming overhead power line on the west side of the property to feed our 25 kV distribution switchgear panel, and a second new service line to the east to feed our mobile shop and the bio-refinery facility,” Novak says.
The entire capital project consisted
of a number of pieces which involved several different equipment suppliers and contractors, but the expansion project from one to two production lines in the stud mill and overall technology upgrade was provided entirely on a design/build basis by Comact. It features some of their latest digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Prince George, B.C.-based, Milltron Electric, was their main electrical sub-contractor on the project.
“The appeal of the design/build concept with Comact came from their ability to execute quickly and efficiently while maintaining our high quality standard,” says Novak. “We had done several smaller-scale projects with them prior and gained a level of comfort with both their approach and the company.”
As a separate piece, Allied Blower supplied the dust and shaving collections systems on the site.
The first building construction phase of the overall makeover of the Edgewood Forest Products site, before the beehive to page 14
High
Long-reaching boom
Fast,
Comact provided and installed the entire second processing line at the Edgewood Forest Products stud mill on a design/build basis, dismantled the old sawmill building and worked on a number of supplemental projects on the site.
from page 12
burner was demolished, was to capture and manage the residuals that would otherwise have been sent to the beehive burner. A new hog building, equipped
with a Rawlings Manufacturing PXZ wood hog, as well as a new chip screen building, is equipped with two BM&M 10’ x 14’ 3-Deck Counterflow Chip Screen “twin fines” models, manufactured in Surrey, B.C., which were selected due to its 280
sq. ft. of fines removal ability (per machine) while maximizing sellable fibre, and was provided by Prince George, B.C.-based, Heartland Steel Structures Ltd. The buildings feed residual bins for hog, sawdust and chip storage.
Comact was the installer on this project and Milltron Electric did the electrical work. The hog and sawdust generated by the stud mill are all collected and sold now to Canadian Kraft Paper Industries in The Pas, Manitoba. The kiln dried planer shavings are sold to local buyers for use in various agriculture applications as well as the oil and gas sector.
This project involved the relocation of the mobile equipment shop with another new building supplied by Heartland Steel Structures. Heartland also provided the building for the onsite bio-refinery.
The old beehive burner, dismantled by Bryden Construction, was permanently shut down in May 2022 and removed the next month.
A new fuel dispensing system was provided by Saskatoon-based, Petrocare Construction.
The new pre-engineered sawmill building shell and pillars were constructed around the existing building and then the old building and its support structure were dismantled, all while lumber production continued largely uninterrupted. It quite literally had the appearance of how a caterpillar changes to a butterfly, perhaps symbolically representing the entire transformation of the Edgewood Forest Products site.
A 53’ Behlen Building-brand building for the new stud mill, provided by Heartland Steel Structures, encompassed the existing 40’ building. After it was erected, Comact’s Project Services team dismantled the old building.
“The columns were strategically placed to avoid interference with existing infrastructure such as the electrical tray, production equipment, access, pass-through, and so on,” says Novak.
Reid adds that employees were incredibly patient throughout construction with parking, access, locker room and lunchroom disruptions. But in the end, he says, they anticipate staff will appreciate the stud mill’s new locker room, first aid station, lunchroom and bathrooms when completed in a few months’ time. There is also a new administration building and industrial scales provided by Saskatoonbased, VCM Construction Ltd.
Because the infeed and log handling portion of the new sawmill was entirely new, that adjacent building was able to be constructed and equipment installed
while production continued on the single saw line.
The mill accepts both long length and cut-to-length (CTL) logs fed to designated entry points by Sennebogen 830E loaders equipped with trailers to transport logs from the yard decks to the infeed as needed. The ‘stems’ infeed log deck is capable of handling 9’ to 30’ log lengths, but typically handles 18’4” logs already merchandized in the bush, with the CTL infeed capable of handling 9’ to 10’ logs.
Both log decks transfer to V-Flight reception conveyors using Comact Wave Feeders and also travel through Comact log tally optimizers, or more specifically a true-shape C2-scanner, prior to entry into the debarkers.
The CTL line feeds a Nicholson 22” A8 tandem ring, air seal debarker with hydraulic pressure roll control. The stems line feeds a Nicholson 27” A8 triple ring, fixed-flare reducing debarker, with the first ring being the fixed-flare reducer and the two subsequent rings being 22” conventional air sealing rings.
to page 16
The job of the infeed and sawmill line operator at Edgewood Forest Products resembles the job of an air traffic controller. Understandably, the position is relieved several times per shift, but the operator has considerable assistance from artificial intelligence working with him on the processing line.
It’s not an
business...but it’s an honorable profession.” — Eric Fritch, Fritch Sawmill
WATCH THE FRITCH SAWMILL STORY!
As part of the Edgewood Forest Products upgrade project, new facilities were built to capture and manage the residuals that formerly went to the now-demolished beehive burner, including a new hog building, equipped with a Rawlings Manufacturing PXZ wood hog.
More Volume In A Smaller Footprint
from page 15
“We can fixed-flare reduce a log but we can also whole-log reduce, for example, taking a 25-inch diameter log and reduce that down to 21 inches,” says Novak. “And we catch everything.”
The CTL line kicks logs into one of two log sort bins. Logs on the stems line will kick onto a slasher deck equipped with fixed saws that process stems to 9’ lengths, or to one of the two previously mentioned log sort bins. Following the slasher deck, a 48” transfer belt will convey slashed logs specifically to ‘Log Sort Bin 1’.
Both log sort bins then transfer to two log sort lines using Comact Wave Feeders and travel through Comact log sorter optimizers and metal detectors prior to being sorted into one of seven bins in advance of the small log line or large log line primary breakdown units. One of the bins consists of rejects and metal detected logs, which are conveyed to a whole log chipper.
Three bins are designated for the LINCK profiling small log line and three are designated for the Comact Optimized Length Infeed (OLI)/TBL large log line, with the break point determined more by an optimized menu of changeable cutting patterns, rather than specific diameters. This allows the mill to continue operating even if one line goes down because both lines can process logs from 4” to 20”. The LINCK line is optimally suited to process small diameter logs and is also capable of profiling all sideboard options based on optimized solutions.
The Comact large log line consists of a number of optimizers including a rotation scanner, OLI optimization system, profiler optimization system, advanced Smart Tools Primary Breakdown Closed-loop and TBL optimizing system.
All rough lumber, not including flitches, merge at the landing table and are unscrambled and delivered to the lug loader where they are optimized through the Comact TrimExpert.
Flitches from the OLI section of the Comact line travel an alternate path to the Comact edger where they are optimized for value then re-introduced onto the landing table with the other rough lumber ahead of the unscrambler and lug loader.
The TrimExpert is equipped with integrated vision and artificial intelligence and is able to detect different species.
If a board does not need to drop out into the edger, it continues to the 40 bin lumber sorter. From there, lumber is transferred to a Comact double fork stacker with kiln sticks delivered by a Comact automatic stick placer. The trimmer, sorter, and stacker line is capable of handling 190 lugs per minute.
The overall project includes installation of a new Comactsupplied, 132’ dual-track batch kiln with common sidewalls and single peak roof. The kilns are direct-fired with natural gas, and down the road, the option exists to utilize syngas generated by the bio-energy plant. One existing kiln installed back in 1974 was dismantled while a second Wellons kiln installed in 2016 continues to operate.
“The new kiln has helped us greatly improve our drying efficiency and grade outturn in the planer,” says Reid.
The optimization capabilities installed within the new stud mill are complemented by a new Comact GradExpert lumber grader and Comact trimmer installed in the planer mill in May 2020.
Reid says that the stud mill has already achieved 115 percent of its production milestones four months after start up. So the company is very pleased with how well the technology—combined with the extensive staff training that has occurred—has performed.
Transform
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Taking GREAT pride in a STRONG FOCUS ON
By Paul MacDonald
The photos on the walls around the office above the maintenance shop of family-owned Miller Logging and Soler Logging in Clearwater, B.C., span a huge whack of time in the Canadian forest industry.
The older black and white photos show steam powered, farm-based sawmills and horse logging, while the newer photos show the latest and greatest in processing, loaders and roadbuilding equipment, as of 2024.
The Miller Family has been proudly involved in the forest industry for four generations—and are working hard these days to keep their people busy despite the challenging business conditions, wildfires and uncertain timber access in B.C.
Kim Miller proudly shows the photos of his Dad, and Grandfather, working on farming, logging and sawmilling operations in Alberta, before part of the family moved to the B.C. Interior.
This family logging outfit has been a
SAFETY
The Miller Family logging operation in the B.C. Interior has a long history in the forest industry, and takes great pride in their strong focus on employee safety.
prominent figure in the North Thompson Valley of B.C. for over 40 years and is a trusted prime contractor for forest company, Interfor. With a focus on integrated forest management and logging road construction and maintenance, the company has established a strong reputation for its unwavering commitment to safety.
Soler Logging was set up in the early 1980s. The Miller Family came from a farming background, working on their homestead near Stony Plain, Alberta, so they were used to being resourceful,
when it came to equipment—and working hard, and working long hours.
“They didn’t have a quitting time back then,” says Kim. “You quit when the field was done, or when the combining was done or it started raining.”
Kim’s father originally worked for Swanson Timber in Hinton, when his sons, Kim and Dale, moved to B.C.
When Kim and brother Dale set up Soler Logging, they started out with three pieces of equipment: a dozer, a skidder and a wheel loader.
Over the years, they have had a variety of equipment, including the major brands: Cat, Deere, Link-Belt. In recent years, they have shifted into Tigercat equipment, as they like the purpose-built nature of the Canadian-built brand. And their operators prefer working on the Tigercat equipment—and though they have low turnover among their dozen employees, the Millers want to keep their operators happy.
The newest piece of equipment they got this past spring continues the Tigercat tradition, a LX870D buncher, which is working out well for them. Kim’s son, Morgan, notes a new buncher had been on their wish list for a couple of years, and they decided to pull the trigger this year.
In 2023, they picked up a couple of pieces of equipment, and these days their line-up includes a Tigercat 635H skidder, 855E processor, an 875E loader, and a T-Winch 10.1 unit. But they are going to go with buying just the new buncher this
Dale Miller’s tremendous safety legacy
Though he passed away in 2020, Dale Miller’s dedication to safety left a lasting impact on the forest industry, leading to the creation of the prestigious Dale Miller Safety Award by forest company Interfor in 2021.
Today, under the leadership of Kim Miller along with Dale’s son Derek and Kim’s son Morgan, the company continues to prioritize safety, honoring Dale’s legacy and ensuring the well-being of its crew.
The Dale Miller Safety Award acknowledges companies that uphold a safety-centric culture, ensuring the well-being of Interfor’s contractors and employees each day and celebrates contractors who exhibit exemplary safety performance and safety culture, much like Dale Miller did
throughout his four decades of service.
The award serves as a reminder of the paramount importance of safety within the industry and pays tribute to Dale’s enduring commitment.
Carved out of a single piece of cedar, the award features a hard hat and safety gloves, representing the core safety values Dale instilled in his company.
The first presentation of the memorial trophy was in May 2021 to the Miller Logging operation, who was rightfully awarded it for their continued commitment to outstanding Safety Culture and Performance.
“It really was an honour to receive the award,” says Morgan Miller. “For ourselves, it’s very important. Being the Dale Miller award, it has Derek’s Dad’s name on it, my Dad’s brother’s name on it, and my uncle’s name on there.”
The Miller Family has a strong, four-generation legacy in forestry: Kim Miller (centre), Kim’s son Morgan Miller (left) and Kim’s nephew, Derek Miller.
year. “With the uncertainty in the industry, we’re going to be pretty much sticking with what we have, in terms of equipment,” says Morgan.
Sales and service for Tigercat equipment in B.C. is provided by dealer, Inland Equipment. Morgan says they try to set up solid contacts with folks at the dealers, so they can quickly get what they need, in terms of service and parts. “The ideal is you can phone them up, they know you, and they get whatever you need quickly.”
In addition to logging, through Soler
Logging, the Miller Family also oversees road construction for clients.
“That’s kind of how we do it,” says Kim. “We like to do all the phases, from the roadbuilding to the logging—we don’t own any trucks, but we try to do it all until the trucks hit the highway.” That can also include some road deactivation, if required.
It is, says Kim, just how they roll. “We try to do it all.”
to page 20
BClogging
from page 19
On the logging side, they have a core group of late-model equipment that is used regularly, so it is kept up to date. With the equipment used for road construction, it is not used quite as often, so it tends to be older. The roadbuilding equipment is usually picked up used, often at auction, whereas the logging equipment, because it sees a lot of production hours, is usually purchased new.
Roadbuilding equipment is still required, however, as like the logging equipment, pieces such as rock trucks and graders are purpose built—it’s the right piece of equipment for the job.
“Some of the roadbuilding equipment can sit for a while—you might not need a rock truck every day, for example—but when you need it, it’s the right piece of equipment, and you have it on hand,” says Kim. “And if there is a shortfall on the logging side, if you’re waiting for permits
to come through, you have the option of a guy working on something else on the roadbuilding side. It gets back to keeping your guys working, and keeps us flexible.”
Regardless of the age of the equipment, there is a very conscious effort on maintenance.
During break-up, most of the equipment will make its way into the shop, but Morgan does a good deal of the maintenance out in the bush, with equipment only seeing the shop if it involves major maintenance work.
“It can vary for break-up,” says Morgan. “The last few years, we have had longer break ups. But before that, we would have continued to work through break-up—it can depend on the weather, where we are operating, markets for the mill. We have boney enough ground that we won’t necessarily get mudded out during break up.”
They divide up the work, with Kim overseeing the roadwork, Morgan looking
after the mechanical side of things, including with their service truck, and Derek, Dale’s son, running operations in the bush.
Sadly, Dale passed away in 2020, but all the Millers are continuing his strong safety legacy (please see the sidebar story on page 19).
The three men all have a hand in safety, and they also use the services of consultant Brett Gunn, also of Clearwater.
“With dividing things up, we’re not stepping on each other’s toes,” says Derek. “But safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
When it comes to safety, it’s always been important with the Miller Family logging operations.
“It all started with Dale and myself,” says Kim. “Safety has always been a high priority. The guys come to work and go home healthy and safe at the end of the
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The Miller Family logging outfit has been a prominent figure in the North Thompson Valley in the B.C. Interior for over 40 years and is a trusted prime contractor for forest company, Interfor. With a focus on integrated forest management and logging road construction and maintenance, the company has established a strong reputation for its unwavering commitment to safety.
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day. That was probably Dale’s biggest drive and he worked very hard at it.”
Throughout the years, the Miller Family have taken significant measures to prioritize the safety of their crew. One legendary safety measure they introduced was the monthly “Breakfast with the Millers.” This tradition continues today, with Kim leading the charge in maintaining safety and fostering strong relationships within the company.
“We do some meetings in the bush because there can be value in doing them
on site. But it can be hard to get everyone together,” says Kim. “And it’s better having breakfast with everyone in a restaurant, than standing out in the bush with the bugs, the cold and the rain.”
The breakfast safety meetings seem to have a different, more relaxed, vibe—people are enjoying a meal, having another coffee, and there is no rush to get back to work, because the work site is miles away, in the bush.
These breakfast meetings, held at the local hotel, serve as a platform for open dialogue, ensuring that safety remains at the forefront of every phase and reinforc-
Over the years, the Miller’s have had a variety of equipment, including the major brands. In recent years, they have shifted into Tigercat equipment, as they like the purpose-built nature of the Canadian-built brand. And their operators prefer working on the Tigercat equipment—and though they have low turnover among their dozen employees, the Millers want to keep their operators happy.
ing the tight-knit nature of the company. They are a great example of how collaboration can help build a strong safety culture and keep everyone on track to get home safely every day.
In terms of topics, they will often review any alerts from the BC Forest Safety Council, and employees will talk about anything that might be affecting operations on a day to day basis. For example, when the Trans-Mountain pipeline extension was being built near their operations, an issue being discussed was the night lights from the pipeline construction shining on the road, affecting visibility.
“Our breakfast meetings are usually after the monthly safety meetings we have with Interfor, and if something has been raised there, we will bring it up,” says Morgan. Interfor’s logging contractors are encouraged to share any and all safety issues at these monthly meetings, and this can benefit all contractors.
Recent Breakfast with the Millers topics included being aware of operating a buncher on a section of loose material, and ensuring regular check-ins were being done for guys operating on their own.
“I’d say that you can predict about 80 per cent of what will be discussed at a safety meeting—the weather, the roads, wet conditions in the bush, hunters on bush roads in the fall,” says Morgan.
Kim notes that in this part of the B.C. Interior, they have always operated in steep ground, so that part of the working environment is not new to them. That said, they have new tools to work in those conditions such as winch-assist machines and tilting bunchers.
“Our winch assist machine, the TWinch 10.1, probably does around 20 per cent of the logging we will do in an average year—it’s not huge volumes. It’s another piece of equipment that does not get used all the time, but it’s there when you need it.” The Canadian dealer for the T-Winch is Kamloops, B.C.–based Woodland Equipment.
Kim says a part of what makes their operation safe is not related to equipment— it’s more of an intangible thing; it’s about being involved. “I think a big part of what gives our company a safe work environment is ourselves being out there, being on site—I think that makes a big difference.” They are out there every day, talking to employees, seeing what conditions are like.
Industry and WorkSafe regulations require a lot of paperwork to be filled out— and they follow that scrupulously. But as the saying goes, there is no substitute for boots on the ground.
And that goes for the boots of the Miller Family, and their employees. People look out for each other—and they know each other, says Kim.
“Everybody lives in Clearwater, and they know each other and each other’s families—that connection is there—no one wants to see anyone get hurt, or be put in a position where that is even a possibility.”
He added that they encourage employees to talk about issues, to not shy away, or feel awkward about bringing something up. In an industry that traditionally has been very macho, people can be reluctant to talk about something that is bothering them. But that approach is slowly being replaced by a strategy of working smart and safe—and dealing upfront with any issue, so everyone makes it home safely at the end of the work day.
Kim says that they have a tight work crew, and everyone is encouraged to think ahead, and consider what could go wrong—and avoiding that—when doing their work. “People really are your most important asset, and we have a good crew—we treat them well. I believe you get back what you put in, when it comes to people. We care about the people on our crew, and we want to keep them working, and keep them busy.” And to do all that safely.
As mentioned, turnover is low at the operation, and when they are looking to hire on someone new, they make sure they are on the same page, safety-wise, as the company.
Operating in a smaller community, you know a lot of people—Kim says he has never done a job interview with anyone whom he didn’t already know, or know through someone else.
The operation has a good mix of ages—some logging operations these days are looking at many employees retiring soon, which can leave them in a bit of a spot. And some folks are just happy to continue on, past traditional retirement age. Kim mentions Mel McDonald, who operates their grader. Having “retired” from driving logging trucks, he knows the area roads well. Mel is a great example of a low-maintenance employee: all he needs is his Tim Horton’s coffee in the morning, and he is ready to go.
Today, Morgan and Derek, who are in their 30s, operate under the name Miller Logging, carrying on the family name in the forest industry, with Soler Logging being responsible for the roadbuilding.
“We wanted to keep the name,” says Morgan, noting that they mark the fourth generation of the Miller Family involved in the forest industry. Both Morgan and Derek say, with a laugh, that they’ll figure things out with the fifth generation, if the family chooses to carry on in forestry— both men just have daughters.
And in spite of the uncertainties the industry is seeing now, they all believe the forest industry will persevere, says Kim, with confidence. He notes he has seen
many industry cycles over the years, with mills coming and going. “But the forest resource is still here—and still growing.”
And don’t expect those breakfast safety meetings to end anytime soon. Though Kim expects to retire over the next couple of years, “the boys have said they want to carry on logging—and carry on with the safety breakfasts,” says Kim.
Canadian Wood Fibre Centre Explores A Novel The Increase In Large-Scale Natural
BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI
The Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) in collaboration with Canadian company Flash Forest is exploring a novel forest regeneration approach using multi-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to apply tree seed-loaded pods in evenly distributed patterns across wildfire sites and other sites identified as suitable for vertical direct application into natural or prepared microsites.
There are several reasons why development and successful deployment of this technology could benefit Canadian forestry.
First, it is considerably cheaper to regenerate a forest using high viability seed versus manual tree planting, and it is a costeffective alternative to the use of nursery-grown stock which would quickly be exhausted if it was the only tree source available to restore the vast area that has most recently suffered catastrophic wildfire. Also, as a cost-effective alternative to manual tree planting, both government and forest companies can address their potential reforestation liabilities more quickly, although, historically, there have been poor results using direct seeding.
Secondly, this technology can be deployed on appropriate sites in a timely manner after a wildfire, and its use is particularly favorable on sites where intense fire has occurred so that a significant amount of the organic layer above the desired mineral soil on the forest floor has been severely burned. The organic layer also hosts potential competing vegetation stems, seed and roots, again, an advantage to tree seed artificially positioned on or embedded in the mineral soil using advancing technologies with seed-loaded pods.
Thirdly, it can be deployed where it would be unsafe to deploy tree planters because of dangerous deadfall, steep ground conditions, and other access limitations associated with natural disturbance; and even on these sites, it provides consistency of distribution with an application from above the standing physical impediments (25 to 30 m. height), using selective flight lines and targeted microsites.
And finally, a diversity of species can be applied on the same site and the resulting stand diversity can be manipulated to influence fuel characteristics, resulting in reduced future risk of wildfire occurrence and intensity.
"We have to look at this from a scaling-up perspective," says Derek Sidders, Program Manager and Regional Liaison at CWFC. "How do we get to more areas faster and in a time sensitive manner, and how do we address the huge increase in the amount of reforestation that is necessary."
CWFC has evaluated data and ground inspected sites where this UAV seeding technology has been deployed over the past three years and germination and survival has occurred.
As this Canadian-developed technology continues to evolve and positive evidence continues to mount, Sidders says that it gives forest managers and stakeholders another tool in their reforestation technology inventory.
"We need to use every technology available," he says. Sidders added that if Flash Forest's technology can be proven to be cost-effective, combined with scrutinizing and stratifying sites overhead and on the ground to identify appropriate bio geoclimatic conditions that are remote, have physical impediments, or where there is a need to treat large-scale sites in very short timeframes to avoid issues such as growth of competing vegetation, "it absolutely has a place if it proves to be successful on the ground as evidence demonstrates successful germination, establishment and growth of the pod-delivered crop to a sustainable size."
Flash Forest collects a significant amount of its own seed in close proximity to where a disturbance has occurred. It has also developed in-house pod manufacturing technology capable of producing over two million pods per day with patent-pending moisture retention and transference capabilities, in what the company believes provides the seed in the pod, infused with 17 different microbial media and beneficial bacteria, with the best chance for germination and survival once it has been applied by the UAV. By using pods, the company can eliminate nurseries from the supply chain, allowing Flash Forest to respond within a matter of weeks or months, instead of years, to any forest disturbance.
To identify suitable sites, Flash Forest first conducts a desktop pre-assessment. Data such as burn classification and severity, solar isolation, mean precipitation, soil moisture content, slope degree, elevation and other indexes based on satellite imagery are analyzed and complemented by data collected from drone flyovers on each site. This data is then analyzed using artificial
Novel Reforestation Technique To Address
Natural
Disturbances In Canadian Forests
intelligence and a company-designed machine learning algorithm to optimize site selection and to remove naturally regenerating sites. Areas with abundant natural seed sources (serotinous cones or semi-serotinous seed), or sites not suitable for trees or better-suited for site prep and tree planting are excluded.
Based on this pre-assessment, company CEO Cameron Jones says that they can offer clients highly specialized seeding prescriptions according to the client's prescribed species mix and the availability of microsites within well-defined polygons situated in disturbed areas. To date, virtually every site they have seeded has combined multiple coniferous species for diversity and seed establishment options and could add deciduous species.
"A more recent burn, such as in the last two years, is much easier for us to plant because we don't have competing vegetation," he says, adding that knowing the area's mean summer precipitation is a critical parameter. "We like to plant sites that have 250 millimeters of growing season precipitation or above."
Flash Forest uses heavy-lift drones adapted and modified from the agriculture industry. The drones can carry 70 kgs and are capable of firing 18 pods per second at 60 metres per second while flying at 7 metres per second. The company is able to apply about 10,000 pods per flight, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes
According to Flash Forest Director of Silviculture Jeff Renton, the goal is to have the vast majority of the pods 60 to 80 per cent embedded into the soil surface for optimal germination potential. Test plots show that embedding to this level almost doubles the germination rate.
Historically, the company planted 20 pods for each established tree with the ultimate goal of establishing 1,500 evenly distributed trees per hectare at 'Stocking Assessment.' That is a gross total of 15,000 to 30,000 pods per hectare. Over the past three years, the average establishment rate after two full growing seasons has been 5 to 6 per cent across all sites they planted. This was calculated with individual pods being accompanied by flags and assessed over multiple years to avoid counting any natural regeneration.
In 2024, they reduced their pod use to 10 pods per tree and believe that with continued refinement of the pod recipe and improvements to microsite selection, they will be able to achieve a ratio of 5 pods per tree. Renton says that certain test plots manifesting specific characteristics related to rainfall, direction toward the sun, burn age and severity, and no vegetative competition delivered significantly better results.
CWFC and its partners will continue to work with Flash Forest to evaluate the potential of this Canadian technology for large scale use in favorable conditions and the management of naturally disturbed forest sites
For additional information, please contact Derek Sidders, Program Manager, Technology Development and Regional Liaison at CWFC, NRCan at derek.sidders@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca or Jeff Renton, Director of Silviculture, Flash Forest, at jeff.renton@flashforest.ca.
DRIVING FOR CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT —in and out of the bush
A constant drive for improvement, personally and in business, has paved the way for Alberta logger Les Zeller to prosper through more than four decades of working in the bush.
By Tony Kryzanowski
With 42 years of logging history under his belt—a longevity that is quite unusual in today’s forest industry—Les Zeller, owner of Alberta’s Zell Industries, has seen a lot and more importantly from his perspective, learned a lot. When asked about the secret to his success, one answer stands out. It starts with one simple question he
asks himself daily before he heads off to work.
“What will you do today to improve yourself? You have to be forward thinking, looking at better ways to tackle an issue and think of ways to be more efficient. You can’t just look at today and think that what you are doing today is going to work tomorrow,” he says.
“So you have to work on yourself personally, like how to read, understand and
Using dual wheel tires front and back on his 748H John Deere skidders allows Les Zeller to keep working in summer when other contractors are parked, and climb steep ground safely and with less disturbance on up to 55 per cent slopes.
Alberta logging veteran Les Zeller wakes up every morning asking himself what he can do today to improve himself personally and build an even better and more prosperous logging company that has 42 years of history.
Albertalogging
interpret financial information, manage people, weigh risks and negotiate. Because if you don’t, at some point, you are going to hit a roadblock and you will fail.”
Zeller, who grew up on a farm near Wildwood, Alberta, which he believes has contributed significantly to his work ethic, began hand-falling when he was 18-years-old and incorporated his business in 1984.
Since then, he has grown from five line skidders working with hand fallers to full mechanical harvesting of about 700,000 cubic metres annually.
Zell Industries logs for Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd to supply their sawmill near Slave Lake, with wood harvested from the Slave Lake and Athabasca areas. They also log for West Fraser Timber, generally on steep slope, some extreme, in the Rocky Mountain foothills south of Edson, supplying both the West Fraser Edson and Hinton sawmills. They are a stump-to-dump contractor, owning five of their own trucks and sub-contracting the remainder out.
That constant drive for self improvement is what Zeller believes fundamentally divides the contractors who prosper from those that struggle. It takes the ability to admit what you don’t know and to seek out answers. Secondly, it is important not to be afraid to think outside the box to solve challenges, as long as the numbers make sense. Zeller is both a deep thinker and a numbers guy.
For example, rather than operating his skidders in the typical manner of both delivering and stacking their drags at roadside, they only deliver their drags. From that point, a Tigercat 880 loader stacks them while the skidder has already made the turn, heading back to the block to grapple another load. The result is significantly higher production from his skidders or alternatively, a reduction in the number of skidders needed for the job, while decreasing wear and tear on them. And because the loader basically only has one job in this application, Zeller can afford to buy and repair an older model unit, plus the log stacks are neater, and have less breakage.
His employees also work in teams, with the ability to participate in a bonus system.
Zeller, putting his coaching skills to work, knows exactly how much production each team should achieve in delivered wood to roadside per shift. If they
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exceed that number, they earn a bonus. All told, they have up to 90 employees during the peak winter season. The southern operation works 10 months a year and the Slave Lake operation is seasonal
from September/October to the end of March. Taking on a longer contract with West Fraser in 2011 was a pivotal moment for the company, as it really helped them to retain their core workers and maintain cash flow.
Zell Industries employees work from
With experienced operators in high demand, Zell Industries can tap into the entire Canadian job market as they operate two well-equipped live-in camps for their workers. As a stump-to-dump contractor, Zell Industries controls its own destiny on when logs are delivered as they own five log trucks and sub-contract a number of others out.
two very well equipped camps. One benefit of operating camps located some distance from town is that Zeller can hire staff from anywhere in Canada, and he does.
Tired of being shut down because of wet weather in summer, Zeller implemented a dual wheel system for the back axles of his John Deere 748 skidders and front and back axles of his John Deere 948 skidders, which the engineers said would never work on his Deere 748H models because, they said, it would blow his differentials on a regular basis. Seven years later, they work even better than he expected with a bit of tweaking, such as modifying the tire rims. He achieves better flotation and traction and keeps working in summer when most other contractors would be parked. They also install 36” pads when needed on their feller bunchers for better flotation.
With the alternative being having to shut logging down with a camp full of workers, these investments in equipment modifications have been well worth it.
“Also, with the duals, when we went into steep ground, we were amazed how much steeper ground we could operate on,” says Zeller. “We’ve worked up to 55 per cent slope with the duals and have had very few issues.”
And he has a strong belief in the need to make Alberta’s forests more fire resilient, starting with more commercial
thinning. To that end, Zell Industries has answered the call from their client, Vanderwell Contractors, and have invested in a new Ponsse Scorpion harvester working with the 2015 model of their Komatsu 895 forwarder to commercially thin some of their extensive spruce plantations on private land located in north central Alberta. They have now achieved merchantability with harvested logs in the range of 6” to 16” in diameter. Zeller’s son, Mitch, supervises this endeavor.
Other family members involved in the business are Zeller’s wife, Roberta, who is the company office manager and his brother-in-law, Al Lachance, who helps with logistics.
Zeller adds that there are many other long term, loyal employees who are paramount to the company’s success.
So Zell Industries has experience working in a variety of logging environments, including spending literally years salvaging burnt timber which requires significantly more equipment maintenance.
“Anytime you are in contact with charcoal, it is abrasive and therefore there is more aggressive wear,” says Zeller. “For example, tire chains on skidders wear
faster. The processor operators probably have the hardest job. They really have to watch for charcoal and spiral crack and cut any of that out.”
That’s because pulp mills can’t have any charcoal in their chips.
During his journey, Zeller has learned how to plan, budget and evaluate risk in terms of tree size and terrain which he expects to encounter at least two years in advance when making decisions related to equipment purchases, as well as to prepare for contract negotiations. With today’s escalating costs for new and used equipment as well as parts, he is finding that advance planning harder and harder to do.
“A skidder used to cost approximately $300,000 back in 2016/2017 and now it is $500,000,” he says. “I don’t know how you can justify that cost and how you can make that up. Hopefully they are more productive, but I don’t know where this is going.”
equipment needs to be changed out more often and bought new. Typically, he leans toward buying new feller bunchers because used units with low hours are very difficult to find. And he’s open to sharing his approach with other loggers who ask. It is not unusual to find a unit in his fleet with 20,000 hours on it.
His logging fleet consists of a healthy mix of primarily John Deere and Tigercat equipment.
“We tend not to get too heavy with new equipment, even though it is very tempting,” says Zeller. “We do buy new equipment but we also keep a fair bit of used equipment. To make that work, we always have spare equipment to level out our production. We don’t have the peaks and valleys in our production that way, although we try not to get too old in the hours and try to have a good mix “
He adds that based on his experience, the used equipment helps to pay for the new equipment, and the spare equipment eliminates the peaks and valleys.
“When we have breakdowns, we don’t
Essentially, it has forced him to hold on to his equipment longer or tap the second-hand market more often. Given his experience, he knows what equipment in his fleet is worth repairing and what to page 30
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One of the biggest investments that Zell Industries has made recently is a Ponsse Scorpion harvester which they use in their commercial thinning work for Vanderwell Contractors in Slave Lake, Alberta.
from page 29
have to make rash decisions and pay through the nose for repairs because we have that spare equipment, which allows us the time to figure out the cheapest and best way to repair the equipment and get it back into production,” Zeller says. “We tend to keep our equipment longer than most other loggers—but if you are going
to keep your equipment for a long time, you have to be set up to repair it and keep it in good shape as economically as possible.”
Their fleet consists of 10 feller bunchers. Their newest ones are Tigercat 870 feller bunchers and John Deere 953 feller bunchers. There are 13 model 748 and 948 John Deere skidders and one sixwheel drive Tigercat 635 skidder. Their 10
processors consist of model 2154, 2454 and 903 MH John Deere carriers as well as three 850 and 855 Tigercat carriers. The processing heads are a mix of model 622 and 623 Waratah heads. They also have two delimbers to process tree length wood. The smaller heads are used in their southern operations where 95 per cent of the logs are softwood, with most of the bigger units working further north, primarily driven by the occurrence of about 40 per cent aspen hardwoods in those cutblocks. Their log loaders are primarily John Deere 2454, 2656 and 3156 units with one Tigercat 880 machine.
The northern operation uses butt-n-top grapples as a portion of the wood is tree length. The southern operation units use power clams because it is all cut-to-length logging. The loader attachments are a mix of Brandt and CWS brand products.
As stated earlier, Zeller is a numbers guy, now spending about 80 per cent of his time in the office, although he says he really enjoys his time in the field. Though he is now pushing 65-years-old, Zeller still feels he has plenty of reasons to get excited about work every day because from his perspective, there is still plenty to learn.
Quebecsawmilling PRODUCING PINE LUMBER— ten years after
The Commonwealth Plywood specialty pine sawmill in Quebec’s Pontiac County has started up again after a ten-year hiatus.
By Tony Kryzanowski
There’s a new sound coming from the Quebec side of the Ottawa River at Rapides des Joachims in Pontiac County these days, something local residents haven’t heard for 10 years—but it was a sound they definitely missed. It’s the sound of the Commonwealth Plywood specialty sawmill producing lumber again.
After a decade in mothballs, but with equipment left in place and some aggressive lobbying by local politicians, the sawmill is back producing appearancegrade white and red pine lumber, currently manufacturing about 1.3 million board feet annually on a one shift basis, but with a goal of reaching nearly 2 million board feet on two shifts. But it has a capacity to produce 20 million board feet per year, which is what the mill was
producing before the shutdown.
The sawmill produces three grades of 4/4, 6/4, and 8/4 green lumber in widths from 4 1/8”, 6 1/8”, 8 1/8”, 10 1/8” and 12 1/8”, in lengths from 6’ to 16’ in 2’ increments.
About 95 per cent of their log diet is white pine with the rest red pine, sourced to page 34
TS Manufacturing supplied the carriage equipped with a Forano saw as the main breakdown unit at the Commonwealth Plywood sawmill (at left). Cardinal and Mudata recently supplied optimizing technology to improve production and recovery. Logs processed at the Commonwealth Plywood specialty sawmill in Pontiac County (being unloaded below by a Liebherr loader) measure between 22” and 25” in diameter and are primarily white pine.
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locally on Crown land through a government allotment.
The lumber produced at the sawmill is shipped green to remanufacturers who then dry and plane it and market it primarily to big box stores for a variety of interior applications like moulding and shelving.
Jane Toller, Warden of Pontiac County, says that forestry built the county and local politicians want to ensure that the region continues to be a strong player in the industry. She said that she and others lobbying for the sawmill understood the challenges of re-opening it after so long and were very pleased with the decision by Commonwealth Plywood to follow through. In addition to jobs, the operational sawmill brings in significant tax revenue to the region.
“It’s gratifying after five years of working with Commonwealth Plywood to see our dream of growing the forestry industry in the Pontiac come true,” she says. “I believe this news will send a signal to the rest of Quebec that the Pontiac is resourceful—and that we are back in business.”
The sawmilling industry in the region has been struggling since the housing crash of 2008.
Commonwealth Plywood, with 10 production facilities in Quebec and one in the U.S. and 23 distribution centres in five Canadian provinces, invested $1 million to prepare the Rapids des Joachims specialty sawmill for production. Significant equipment software upgrades were required. Since May 2023, when the sawmill re-opened, the company has invested another $1 million, primarily in optimization technology that is already paying big dividends in production.
Commonwealth Plywood President Bill Caine Jr. attended the grand re-opening of the sawmill and said that it holds a special place in his heart because he worked there as a teenager. The decision not to sell any equipment was a conscious choice with a strong belief that the sawmill would reopen again, and that with the housing growth happening in both Canada and the U.S., the company believed that the time was right to turn the lights back on.
The Caine family purchased the sawmill in 1976, then rebuilt and modernized it after a fire in the 1980s. It was designed to produce specialty pine products right from the start.
The company tapped Jacques Lacroix from its plywood division to prepare the sawmill for production and then hired him as its general manager. He brings a
Cants at the Commonwealth Plywood sawmill are processed through a Comact bull edger (above). Commonwealth Plywood employs manual graders (below) at the Pontiac County sawmill, dividing the lumber into three grades. About 70 per cent of production is the middle grade, with 5 percent high grade select.
wealth of wood product manufacturing experience to the operation from the hardwood plywood sector, having started with Weldwood of Canada in 1978. Lacroix also brings a lot of enthusiasm to his job and is determined to revitalize the sawmill to the point where it is produc-
ing to its potential. The process is well underway.
“We fixed every piece of equipment at the mill,” he says. “There was no lack of maintenance and we had a lot of bearings to change.”
Among his first tasks was to hire workers.
Of the 17 currently employed at the sawmill, four are returnees while the rest are new to the plant. Lacroix says that he would have liked to have hired more former
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Optimize Performance
Heat Recovery Vents
• Shorter Drying Cycles
• Qualifies for Carbon Credits
• Saves Up to 80% of Lost Heat • Increases Boiler Capacity
The reopening of the Commonwealth Plywood specialty sawmill at Rapides des Joachims in Quebec is providing 17 new jobs and many more in their logging operations.
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employees, but over the past 10 years, most have retired. So among the challenges of the first year was the need for training from the front to the back of the mill—”including me,” Lacroix adds.
At present, he is searching for more employees, in particular skilled laborers like electricians and millwrights, to staff a second shift. Their biggest challenge attracting employees is competing with the Chalk River nuclear research facility across the river in Ontario.
Lacroix says he took on the task of general manager with realistic expectations. He knew that the first year of production was going to be extremely challenging—and it has been because the mill was sitting idle for so long.
“Every day we have surprises here,” he says. “Now our issues with the optimizers have been fixed, so that is going to take a big burden off our shoulders on the production side. I’m hoping to increase our production between 60 to 70 per cent this year with the same number of employees because of the investments we have made.”
While the sawmill is providing local
jobs, additional jobs have also been created in their logging operations with their sub-contractors. According to Alain Trudel, Woodlands General Manager, they have hired sub-contractors to provide them with the 100,000 cubic metres allocated to them by the province of which 60,000 cubic metres is hardwood, primarily maple, oak and birch, that they transport to Commonwealth Plywood’s plant in nearby Mont Laurier. The Pontiac County sawmill is benefitting significantly in that the haul distance from the forest to the mill is only between 10 to 80 kilometres.
“That’s because the sawmill is situated right in the forest, close to our wood supply,” says Lacroix.
Commonwealth Plywood was expecting a larger wood allocation from the province and only found out after they decided to re-commission the sawmill that their annual allocation had been cut by 40 per cent until 2028. However, Lacroix says that they are still doing well with the wood supply that they have, and production continues to grow. They look for opportunities to purchase wood wherever they can from both sides of the provincial border to supplement their government allocation.
The logs are delivered to the sawmill tree length and are unloaded and decked using a Liebherr LH 30 log loader. They are bucked in the yard to between 8’ and 16’ lengths using a Serco 270 portable slasher. On average, the logs measure between 22” and 25” in diameter. A Liebherr front end loader delivers the logs to the mill infeed as needed. The sawmill currently produces lumber on a 10.5 hour shift from Monday to Thursday.
Once inside the mill, the logs first encounter a Nicholson A6 ring debarker and then collect in a bin that can hold about 35 logs at a time before entering the production line. The mill has a Morbark 640 debarker as a backup unit. The primary log breakdown unit is a Forano saw on a carriage supplied by TS Manufacturing.
One of the new investments made at the sawmill was to install a new Cardinal and Mudata optimizer to work with the carriage to maximize recovery and improve production. The boards from the carriage are edged on a Comact edger which Comact has also optimized. Cants from the carriage are processed through a Comact bull edger. The existing two-line trimmer is from Piché and it has been equipped with Autolog optimization. The lumber is manually graded for appearance as industrial, #4 or select, and then placed in the Piché 60-bin sorter.
Lumber from the bins is manually stacked, bundled and strapped for shipment.
About 70 per cent of production is the middle grade, 5 per cent select and the rest industrial.
Next on the company’s capital investment list is to review the bin sorter because Lacroix says that it is outdated and cannot be analyzed and fixed remotely.
Sawmill residuals are processed through a Forano chipper equipped with a Vibrotech vibrating conveyor. Chips and
Quebecsawmilling
sawdust are shipped to the Roseburg MDF plant in Pembroke, Ontario while bark and hog is sold to a company in Ottawa.
Lacroix feels positive about the sawmill’s future because it has a good wood supply close to the mill and the company has established a good employee base. Also, they have marketing support from a large parent organization, Commonwealth Plywood, so they can focus strictly on production and quality.
Why are Bandit chippers the preferred solution?
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» Cab and loader options are available on select models
BLOW DOWN creates business opportunity
A new Ontario sawmill is looking to become a one-stop shop for Eastern White Cedar, utilizing salvage timber from a massive blow down in the northwestern part of the province.
By Tony Kryzanowski
When nearly 160,000 cubic metres of salvage wood from a blow down of mostly Eastern White Cedar in northwestern Ontario pretty much dropped into his lap, Stefan Szeder smelled more than just the sweet aroma of this attractive moistureresistant wood species. He also smelled opportunity.
Now, having spent over two years preparing, he’s eagerly looking for customers for his variety of cedar and Eastern White and Red Pine wood products to fulfill his dream. He wants to become a one-stop cedar shop to customers in northwestern Ontario and beyond.
It was a combination of fortuitous events and circumstances that led Szeder, owner of Szeder Sunset Cedar in Barwick, Ontario, to the point where he is today. First, no forest company wanted to salvage the timber from this massive blow down located west of Fort Frances. Second was the availability of 4.5 hectares of land and an abandoned building in the town of Barwick, 45 kilometres west of Fort Frances, where peat moss was formerly bagged and sold. He was able to purchase the land and building at a discount through a tax sale. Surprisingly, it included a working mechanical bagging system and three-phase power was close by. Third was Szeder’s family sawmilling history, specifically producing cedar wood products.
Back in the early 1980’s, they supplied products like cedar lath—manufactured on a saw line set up on the family farm— that was used as the building material for structures to shade ginseng crops, across the border in Wisconsin. Ginseng needs shade to propagate. They then purchased a Morbark PS8 post peeler and expanded into cedar posts and rails and later into cedar shingles.
But as a small enterprise, a new softwood lumber agreement between Canada and the U.S. proved too challenging for them with all the paperwork involved. So the business started by Szeder’s father was retired in 1992 and he went to work in the construction industry. However, several critical pieces of the sawmill remained intact on the farm.
Fast forward 30 years and with a significant amount of salvage wood from a blow down that occurred in 2021 becoming available to him, Szeder decided to jump back full time into the wood product manufacturing business.
“It actually opened up a massive
opportunity for us and we’re working to capitalize on that now,” Szeder says. “Because of cedar’s natural moisture resistance, there are years of material that we can access there.”
One of his biggest supporters is Ian Armstrong, General Manager of the Boundary Waters Forest Management
Ontariosawmilling
Corporation (BWFMC). A fairly new entity, having been established only about five years ago, it is responsible for forest management within a large geographic area surrounding Fort Frances along the to page 40
The Cantek 230-5 moulder (above) is where Szeder Sunset Cedar hopes to make a lot of their profit from high end products like tongue and groove Eastern White Cedar lumber. The business salvages as many 1” boards as possible from logs with centre rot. With better logs, they can produce up to seven 1” boards from larger cants per cut on their resaw unit (below).
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from page 39
American border. Its membership includes several major forest companies operating in the area such as West Fraser Timber and Resolute Forest Products.
Szeder says that BWFMC made the blow down material available to him after its members passed on it, given what a tangled mess it was on challenging terrain, and the fact that it was mainly cedar. Most of its members are softwood lumber producers.
In addition to this salvage wood, BWFMC has also signed a fibre supply agreement with Szeder Sunset Cedar for another 7,500 cubic metres of cedar annually.
Armstrong says that their forest management area is split between the Boreal Forest and the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Forest. While it has abundant merchantable conifer species, it also contains significant quantities of Eastern White Cedar, particularly in that area around Fort Frances. No one was harvesting it before Szeder showed an interest, and then there was the matter of salvaging that blow down timber.
Given the closure of the large Abitibi Resolute pulp mill in Fort Frances about five years ago and the jobs lost as a result, the BWFMC is pleased to support any organization that wants to bring back some forestry jobs to the area, even if it is only a few at a time. Szeder’s knowledge of Eastern White Cedar, its abundance, and severe under-utilization strongly encouraged BWFMC to want to support Szeder’s business plan.
“Basically, no one was using the cedar at all, so it was perfect for a facility to be set up in the area,” Armstrong says. “It’s some sign of growth. It’s a new mill in the area and even if Stefan employs just five or six people, it’s a step in a positive direction in an area that has been under so much doom and gloom since that huge pulp mill closed.”
The doors on Szeder Sunset Cedar opened in 2023 after two years of filing paperwork with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for a timber supply agreement, cleaning out the old peat moss building, installing the electrical wiring, and setting up a production line. The company is still working to find its footing, searching to see where the market will direct them, but it has the essential wood fibre supply, sawmilling experience, and production line in place.
Given his past experience and knowledge of the characteristics of Eastern
One of the benefits of cedar is its moisture resistance so smaller logs make great fence posts. Szeder Sunset Cedar uses a Morbark PS8 post peeler (above) to produce a variety of posts and railing. Company owner Stefan Szeder built his business plan around finding markets for his waste products like cedar shavings before thinking about a solid wood line.
White Cedar, Szeder had a good understanding of the quality of the local resource. Unlike Western Red Cedar, which, as its name implies, tends to have a shade of red, Eastern White Cedar has a yellowish tinge with small solid knots. It also tends to be structurally stronger because it grows slower with very tight growth rings, making it a good and long lasting building material for cedar shakes and shingles.
But Szeder was also aware that the area’s cedar suffers from centre rot, primarily due to its age. So a significant portion of his salvage wood was destined for cedar shavings, too, right from the start,
although they also plan to produce some pine shavings from the small pine component they intend to salvage from the blow down. Szeder says some of their pine logs measure 30” in diameter. Their merchantable wood basket is about 90 per cent cedar and the rest White and Red Pine.
Given the quality of the local cedar resource, he says that he took a unique approach to building his business, which involved ensuring that he had a home for his waste products like shavings and bark before concentrating on solid wood products. To accomplish that, Szeder has purchased a modern, purpose-built, Jackson Wood Shaving machine from the
Jackson Lumber Harvesting Company in Wisconsin, which quickly produces shavings similar to those coming off a planer mill.
Over the past two years, he has learned some important lessons about cedar shavings, moisture content, and plastic bags, making him realize that he needs to lower the moisture content on his shavings to at least 10 per cent. Also, unlike pine shavings, he has discovered that cedar shavings are not conducive for use as bedding for many animals besides small pets, like hamsters. However, given cedar’s naturally attractive aroma, Szeder Sunset Cedar is investigating its use in small bags to improve air quality in confined spaces like closets.
Marketing cedar bark also has potential.
“Our local research has shown that there is a market for cedar bark mulch for around flower gardens and trees,” says Szeder. “We are actually using that byproduct and generating retail sales from it.”
Marketing his waste products is only one part of his business plan. Szeder has moved his circular sawmill, lath mill,
shingle mill, Morbark post peeler, and wood moulder from the farm to the old peat moss building. So they are able to produce a variety of solid wood products from fence posts and railings, to attractive tongue and groove paneling to square timbers. They offer four sizes of fence posts as well as railing. Finally, they also offer custom sawmilling services.
With cedar logs containing centre rot, the company salvages as many 1” boards as they can, using the circular saw, before sending the rest to the shavings unit. With the better quality logs, they manufacture 4” to 6” cants measuring 8’ long on their circular saw, air dry them for about two weeks, process them through a resaw unit recovering up to seven boards from each larger cant, air dry them again, and then process the boards through a five-head, Cantek 230-5 moulder. The knives on the moulder give them the capability to produce a variety of wood products from straight lumber to tongue and groove to side paneling. They also keep some live edge material in stock.
In addition to needing to redefine his cedar shavings market and reducing its moisture content, Szeder says that he also
Ontariosawmilling
has to contend at the present time with a soft market for appearance grade cedar products as a result of higher interest rates. Once interest rates began squeezing homeowners and home builders, the market for high end, appearance grade cedar took a downturn, coupled with what Szeder says is an unexplained sudden availability of cheap Western Red Cedar in Central Canada. Retailers have become reluctant to stock larger quantities of high end cedar, given the current financial squeeze on customers because of the economy. On the positive side, the federal government is investing a lot of money to encourage home building, but it remains to be seen how much high end wood finishes home builders will include in their designs.
Down the road, Szeder is thinking seriously about setting up a cedar shingle manufacturing operation again because he says the demand exists for higher end homes, and they have the capability to manufacture them. However, there is a lot of manual labor still required for this endeavor, and organizing that will take time.
SUPPLIERNEWSLINE
Waratah launches new HX line with trio of heads
Waratah Forestry Equipment has launched an all-new HX line with its 624HX and 626HX harvester heads and purpose-built LPX loader processor head. Building on generations of Waratah HTH attachments, the company says that the new extra large harvester and loader processor heads have been redesigned for extreme applications.
Weighing in at 8796 lbs., Waratah says that the redesigned 624HX harvester head delivers impressive log picking, feeding and handling with unmatched uptime, adding that the new 626HX harvester head redefines Waratah’s legendary Bigwood head with even more performance. Weighing in at 10,141 lbs., this 600 series head takes feeding and delimbing to the next level. Its large 37.4” sawing capacity helps boost productivity day in and day out.
The all-new LPX is a purpose-built loader processor head that includes many of the new HX line features. With a weight of 8973 lbs., this durable head is built to work in tight spaces, with balanced grapple and processing capabilities to improve daily productivity.
www.waratah.com
Tigercat re-imagines steep slope shovel logging with new carrier
Tigercat has released the LS857 shovel logger which it says significantly advances steep slope harvesting, bridging the gap between conventional ground based harvesting and yarding systems.
Built on the highly successful 855E platform, the LS857 re-imagines what a steep slope carrier should be, says Tigercat.
This machine features greater leveling capability and superior cable management for winch assisted applications. It also showcases several design enhancements including improved boom lift and easier service access. The transition to in-tank hydraulic filters boosts filtration efficiency and extends service intervals, while the redesigned fuel tank shape increases usable volume.
The LS857 can be outfitted with various grapple styles or the Tigercat 5195 directional felling saw, allowing for both felling and shovel logging with a single machine. The new heavy lift ER boom
uses large diameter hoist cylinders for excellent lifting power. The new optional long reach feller director boom with live heel delivers 36” reach.
www.tigercat.com
Management changes at Comact
After more than a decade at the helm, Comact President & CEO Alistair Cook will take on a new role to help prepare the next generation of Comact leadership and usher in a new era of growth for the company.
Cook is now Executive Chairman of Comact and Simon Potvin, currently President of the company’s Wood Processing unit, has become President and CEO.
Throughout his tenure, Cook has been instrumental in driving growth and fostering a culture of innovation in pursuit of increasing aftermarket products and services to support Comact’s valued customer base for the long term.
Potvin joined Comact in 1990 as an aspiring mechanical engineer and held
By Tony Kryzanowski
various roles of increasing responsibility throughout his career, most recently with his appointment as President of the Wood Processing unit in 2021. Potvin and his team are responsible for developing industry changing technologies, value engineered solutions and differentiated aftermarket services for the wood processing industry.
Furthermore, Travis McDonald has been appointed Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at Comact. With over 30 years of expertise in engineering and strategic capital investments within the wood processing industry, and having successfully led Comact’s Project Services teams since 2018, he has been instrumental in driving Comact’s growth and delivering some of the most productive sawmills in North America.
In his new position, McDonald will oversee the development of new business opportunities and growth initiatives across all verticals of the sawmill business, while also expanding into new geographical markets. He will continue to lead Comact’s efforts with Smith Sawmill Service, expanding the company’s footprint in cutting tool solutions across North America and guide CORE Integrators into new markets where Comact’s automation expertise can create significant value. Additionally, McDonald will be responsible for building and maintaining key supplier relationships.
www.comact.com
Search North America founder retires
Search North America congratulates its founder, Carl Jansen, on his well earned retirement after serving the wood products industry across the U.S. and Canada over the past six decades.
Jansen started Search North America in 1982, and his legacy will be carried on by
Richard Poindexter, President/Senior Recruiter, and Dave Rupp, Senior Recruiter. If SNA can help with search, recruiting, and placement needs, please contact Richard Poindexter in North Carolina or Dave Rupp in Washington. Richard can be reached by phone or text at 336-4568657 or richardp@searchna.com. Dave can be reached by phone or text at 360601-3717 or daver@searchna.com.
Interfor sells Quebec operations to Chantiers Chibougamau
Interfor plans to sell its three manufacturing facilities and close its Montreal corporate office in Quebec.
It has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its sawmills in Val-d’Or and Matagami as well as its Sullivan remanufacturing plant in Val-d’Or, along with all associated forestry and business operations, to Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée (CCL), a privately-held, Québec-based forestry company.
The purchase price is estimated to be approximately $30 million in cash.
Additionally, Interfor and CCL plan to enter into a multi-year contract for the supply of Machine Stress Rated (MSR) lumber to Interfor’s I-Joist engineered wood products facility in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
As part of the exit plan, Interfor also recently announced that it intends to permanently close its corporate office in Montreal in the coming months, allowing for the full realization of synergies associated with the Company’s EACOM Timber
Rotochopper completes newly expanded production facility
Rotochopper has completed its newly expanded facility, a significant milestone in what the company says is its ongoing commitment to innovation, customer focused solutions, and growth.
With the finishing touches complete, the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of the new Research and Development Innovation Center, at its head office, in St. Martin, Minnesota.
This 12,000 square foot expansion includes a state-of-the-art production space, significantly increasing the company’s manufacturing capabilities, along with an office area to enhance collaboration and efficiency.
Corporation acquisition announced in November 2021.
Interfor will continue to own and operate its five sawmills and one I-Joist EWP facility in Ontario and its two sawmills and woodlands management business in New Brunswick.
www.interfor.com
John Deere debuts new TimberMatic Maps Auto Pickup feature
John Deere has introduced a new forestry technology feature with the rollout of Auto Pickup for its skidder line up.
The company says that industry-exclusive Auto Pickup within John Deere TimberMatic Maps makes it easier for skidder operators to collect production information while enhancing the ability to monitor job progress. Without using Auto Pickup, operators must manually interact with the display to show the production completed on the job. This time saving feature simplifies the collection of operation, requiring less engagement from the operator.
Helping to simplify collection, Auto Pickup can be activated at the beginning of a shift by simply tapping an icon on the TimberMatic Maps display. Once engaged, the Auto Pickup feature stays on between key cycles unless manually disengaged. Therefore, the operator does not need to focus on frequently turning the feature back on, keeping the operator concentrated on the job.
Once activated, the operator simply selects the appropriate landing where loads need to be placed, and using machine
Additionally, the new facility features a dedicated space for research and development. This space will allow Rotochopper’s engineering and R&D teams to continue driving innovation, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technological advancements. As a factory direct company, Rotochopper says that it has a deep understanding of the unique challenges
intelligence, Auto Pickup will continually monitor machine functions to determine if a bunch is properly being picked up. As the operator picks up a bunch, Auto Pickup will automatically select it, and after an adjustable, preset amount of time, the bunch is added to the chosen landing. This new feature helps simplify the collection process and is ultimately a hands-free method, requiring less engagement from the operator.
www.johndeere.com
USNR’s Compact Shape Saw machine centre offers advanced solution capabilities
USNR says that its Compact Shape Saw (CSS) is the industry’s most advanced secondary processing system. It offers durability, reliability, and higher accuracy, resulting in superior quality lumber and chip production, all in a significantly smaller footprint.
The Compact Shape Saw (CSS) was designed from the ground up to provide advanced solution capabilities including skewed sideboards, improved lumber finish, and less off-size lumber. The result is higher recovery and higher value.
The machine requires 53 per cent less linear space than an equivalent USNR HSS layout and it significantly improves contact with each piece as it is processed, adding stability and improving the quality of boards being produced.
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its customers face and this R&D space will be essential in creating the tailored solutions that businesses need.
Tosh Brinkerhoff, Rotochopper CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the completed expansion.
“I am excited about this addition to our factory,” he says. “The new Research and Development (R&D) space not only accelerates our innovation efforts, but also creates an environment where our team can develop fresh ideas and bring cutting edge technologies to life. This expansion aligns with our mission to continually introduce new products to the market, helping our customers become more productive and profitable.”
www.rotochopper.com
USNR accomplishes as much preassembly as possible in the shop, so very little is left to be done in the field, lowering overall installation cost. The CSS then scales up quickly to production levels for faster ROI.
The company says that it has also taken maintenance access to the next level with a walk-up design that is the most ergonomic system on the market. The CSS also comes with maintenance advancements like Quick Change Assemblies and Automatic Maintenance Pins for safe and quick repairs and operation.
The CSS is comprised of individual modules all working together.
www.usnr.com
Saskatchewan issues new timber allocations to One Sky Forest Products for OSB mill
The Government of Saskatchewan has allocated nearly 1.2 million cubic metres of timber to Saskatchewan-based One Sky Forest Products, setting the stage for the company to open an oriented strand board (OSB) mill in Prince Albert.
One Sky plans to begin construction on the $400 million plant in 2025 and open it in 2027, creating an estimated 800 direct and indirect jobs. A First Nations business entity called Indigenous Forestry Investments (IFI) will partner with One Sky on this project.
One Sky was formed in 2020 by Montreal Lake Business Ventures, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Big River First Nation and Tatanka Oyate Holdings, who brought in industry shareholder, Peak Renewables Ltd, a British Columbia forest products company.
One Sky’s four Indigenous shareholders formed IFI to provide one unified voice for the Indigenous shareholders and the communities they represent, as well as provide clarity when seeking additional investors.
“Ownership means we will benefit from the wealth generated, create careers
for our people, and involve our businesses in the supply chain,” Indigenous Forestry Investments Board of Directors Chair Gary Daniels says.
www.oneskyforestproducts.com
KDS Windsor completes advanced continuous dry kiln system, features virtual tour access
KDS Windsor has successfully completed a state-of-the-art continuous dry kiln (CDK) system designed to deliver an annual production of 150 million board feet. The company says that this achievement marks another milestone in KDS Windsor’s commitment to innovative, high capacity lumber drying solutions tailored to meet demanding industry standards.
The CDK system, incorporating KDS Windsor’s patented DrySpec and DryTrack technology, is engineered to optimize drying rates, quality, and efficiency. Featuring a robust reverse flow
double track design, the kiln integrates several phases—preheating, drying, cooling, equalizing, and conditioning—within a single extended chamber. Advanced control and monitoring systems maintain precise moisture and temperature levels, ensuring consistent output and high grade lumber quality.
Additionally, KDS Windsor is offering a Matterport virtual tour of the installation, which is accessible at https://www. kdskilns.com/virtual. This interactive tour features a user friendly menu, allowing visitors to navigate to specifc kiln components.
www.kdskilns.com
Nokian Tyres sets new standards in CTL logging with new size for Forest King F2
Nokian Tyres has launched a new tire size for its Forest King F2 tire family to meet the increasing demands of cut-to-length (CTL) forestry machines, particularly the larger, more powerful forwarders and harvesters now being deployed in the industry.
Nokian Tyres Forest King F2 is a tire designed for harvesters and forwarders. Featuring a protective tread design with strong shoulders, the company says that it provides excellent functionality on tracks and chains, with a strong diagonal structure and steel fortification ensuring excellent puncture protection.
The introduction of the new 30.5” tire size is an important advancement for the forestry industry.
“Demand for more productive equipment is pushing machine manufacturers to develop forwarders capable of transporting more wood with fewer driving cycles,” says Teemu Vainionpää, Product Manager at Nokian Heavy Tyres. “The new 30.5” size for our Forest King F2 tire family is a direct response to this demand, offering increased load capacity and improved performance to meet the needs of the latest generation of forwarders.”
The larger air volume of the new Forest King F2 tire size enables a step forward in load capacity, while the increased wheel diameter improves tire-wheel contact area, resulting in increased tolerance against rim slip. The design of the tire, with its strong shoulders and protective tread, ensures excellent performance with tracks in terms of grip and support to track paws.
www.nokiantyres.com
Sawco Industries and HMT Machine Tools Canada become formal partners
Sawco Industries Ltd, located in Salmon Arm, B.C., and HMT Machine Tools Canada, located in Surrey B.C., have entered a new strategic partnership.
Sawco has purchased the saw sales and manufacturing portion of the HMT business and will focus on industrial saw sales, service and manufacturing across Western Canada and the U.S. HMT will focus their skills and knowledge on sawfiling machine
parts refurbishing and service to industrial
across North America.
The companies say that Sawco and HMT management and staff have worked together for years, and this new relationship of cooperation and support ensures that their customers get the full benefit of the synergies between the two companies. This alignment of skills and knowledge will ensure customers get the best quality saw filing equipment, saws and service, they say.
www.sawcoindustries.com/www.hmtcanada.ca
Burton Mill Solutions acquires Oregon Industrial
Burton Mill Solutions has acquired Oregon Industrial based in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon Industrial is a leading bandsaw blade weld centre, specializing in precision tooth matching for nearly 90 years. The company says that this acquisition expands Burton Mill Solutions’ ability to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence in custom cutting tools.
Thanks to this new team of expert welders, Burton will be able to supply metal cutting bands that meet the most
stringent factory specifications for tough metals and abrasive surfaces. The continued use of the same state-of-the-art equipment and the same experienced Oregon Industrial professionals will ensure the same exceptional quality and service.
As part of this transition, Oregon Indus trial will relocate to the Burton Mill Solutions facility across town in Springfield, Oregon, where it will be integrated into existing operations to the benefit of existing and future customers.
www.burtonmill.com
CBI debuts 5900T horizontal grinder and ChipMax 364T chipper
Attendees at the recent Timberstock event, hosted by CBI, a manufacturer of equipment for the composting, forestry, biomass recovery and wood waste processing industries, were introduced to the company’s 5900T horizontal grinder and ChipMax 364T chipper.
CBI says that the 5900T horizontal grinder combines the best features of its renowned 6800 and 5800 models. With its industry-first 60” infeed and rotor, the 5900T handles wider material and boosts
material flow compared to previous models. This powerful machine, featuring a 755 hp engine with a hydraulic clutch, is optimized for high capacity forestry work. A redesigned dolly system and 8’6” legal transport width allows for streamlined mobility and efficiency, making it ideal for projects requiring frequent relocation.
The ChipMax 364T chipper also made its debut, created with insights from forestry professionals to deliver productivity, versatility, and durability. Available with either a 765 hp or 550 hp engine, CBI says that the 364T chipper operates with exceptional efficiency, lowering total cost of ownership.
www.cbi.com
New Softwood Lumber Agreement or matching punitive duties on U.S. goods needed—now
By Tony Kryzanowski
On October 12, 2015, the last Softwood Lumber Agreement between Canada and the United States expired. That was nine long years ago. On October 19, 2015, Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government was elected—also nine years ago.
During those nine years, over $9 billion in deposits have been paid by Canadian softwood lumber producers to cover any antidumping duties and countervailing duties that may be owed to the U.S. as a result of the fees they have attached to Canadian softwood lumber exported to the U.S., as the two countries ‘supposedly’ continue to negotiate a new agreement.
Regardless of what incoming President Donald Trump does regarding overall trade and tariffs, that’s still $9 billion of Canada’s forest company income just sitting there … waiting … some of which likely would have been spent to improve existing facilities or build new state-ofthe-art sawmills capable of economically processing timber located further afield, a major reason why many sawmills are being closed today and destroying local economies, primarily in rural Canada.
Is it coincidence that we have no new agreement during the entire tenure of the current Liberal government, or is it just a symptom of this government’s penchant toward picking winners and losers within the Canadian economy—and thereby actually fueling the rural/urban divide that is now so obvious, rather than working to unite this country? That’s bad leadership.
All one need do is review the recent results of both the B.C. and Saskatchewan provincial government elections. The stark divide between urban and rural couldn’t be more obvious. Is it any wonder, for example, that folks not living on B.C.’s Coast are now ready to take pitchforks to
the Legislature over such important issues as forest management policy? Who knows what will happen to the industry now that the governing NDP has managed to secure a majority government, if past behavior is any indication.
One fact is obvious. Justin Trudeau and the current federal Liberal government has been and continues to be very bad news for the Canadian forest industry despite the fact that the industry could have been a strong cornerstone piece of his often poorly designed environmental program.
But as mentioned earlier, this is the consequence of bad leadership. There is no way that there should not have been a new softwood agreement done or at least punitive tariffs placed on U.S. goods entering from the U.S. equal to the amount on deposit by now, to send a message to our U.S. counterparts. We need to let them know that we will support our industry, as well as follow the judgments in Canada’s favour reached several times at both the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the mechanism to investigate complaints embedded within the overall free trade agreement with the U.S.
But what do we hear from this government? Crickets and sappy press releases feigning outrage every time the Americans change the antidumping and countervailing duties. At present, Canfor is paying 16.58 percent, West Fraser is paying 11.89 percent, J.D. Irving is paying 11.54 percent, Tolko is paying a whopping 17.27 percent and everyone else exporting to the U.S. is paying 14.4 percent.
Putting this file on the back burner, as the Trudeau Liberal government has done, as well as making the oil and gas industry their favorite whipping boy, has had significant consequences to Canadian unity by largely ignoring rural Canada.
One need look no further than what investment into the forest industry can mean to a struggling rural community like Carrot River, Saskatchewan, population 1,000, where B.C.-based Dunkley Lumber has invested $240 million to completely remake the Edgewood Forest Products stud mill (see article on page 10 of this issue).
Dunkley Lumber has created a sawmill masterpiece featuring some of the most interesting and exciting digital and artificial intelligence technologies available today. They have essentially created a stud mill factory, capable of being operated by six sawmill employees per shift compared to 11 per shift before the rebuild occurred. It should be noted that the company still employs the same number of workers, but has added a shift at the planer mill because of the 70 per cent improvement in production.
Not only has this investment secured jobs for the future for the employees, but a new K to 12 school has been built in the community, most of the highways leading into the town have new pavement, and everywhere local businesses are remodeling or at least putting on a fresh coat of paint.
This is what some of that $9 billion could have accomplished in other rural locales across Canada, and ignoring this fact is one reason why the rural/urban divide continues to grow and become even more deeply entrenched.
Talk about the auto industry in Ontario or supply management in Quebec, and this Liberal government are all ears. Talk about a new Softwood Lumber Agreement that could benefit so many more places in rural Canada, and frankly, they have shown that they could care less because forestry is not on their winners list.
