Industry News Roundup

INDUSTRY NEWS ROUNDUP As We See It: What’s Happening? A Lot!

By Scott Dane

First and foremost is the American Loggers Council Annual Meeting on October 7-9in Coeur d’Alene, Id. Aside from the Summer Board of Directors Meeting that took place in Minneapolis, this will be the first time in two years that the American Loggers Council membership has gathered. The conference promises to be a great event in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, culminating with nationally renowned keynote speaker, retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills. Registrations have been strong, so if you haven’t registered do so now.

Of course, American Loggers Council has been very involved in the $200 million Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program. The application period is now open. To date 3,000 applications have been submitted. Prior American Loggers Council surveys and estimates indicate that far more are eligible. The application is quite simple, only one and a half pages. The local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices are prepared to assist loggers and truckers with the application and process. There is probably not a simpler federal assistance program. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2021.

“I’ve worked with federal grants before and this application was by far the simplest I have ever applied for. I don’t know how it could have been any simpler. On a scale of 110, with 10 being very difficult, this program and application is a 1. The application only takes 30 minutes to complete, and the FSA office was extremely responsive and helpful with any questions,” comments Nancy Glass, Office Manager, Rutar Logging. l American Loggers Council was hosted by the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference and toured the aftermath of the California wildfires by helicopter. Video footage of that survey was professionally edited and compiled to give a real-life perspective of the impacts, challenges, salvage, and restoration opportunities created by the rampant wildfires. This video was incorporated into a press release advocating for a new national policy and strategy to reduce wildfires. A copy was shared with the White House and the Washington Office of the U.S. Forest Service. l American Loggers Council participated in a Congressional Hearing, with Government Relations Chair Henry Shienebeck testifying regarding the U.S. wood products industry: Facilitating the Post COVID-19 Recovery. American Loggers Council was also invited to represent the American logging industry in a White House Summit on the Homebuilding Supply Chain.

l American Loggers Council has been traveling extensively over the past few months. A recent trip to Washington, DC to look at potential office space incorporated meetings with the White House, FSA and USFS. Additionally, American Loggers Council has visited members in Texas, Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia, Missouri, Arkansas, WisDane consin and Michigan, with trips to Mississippi, Maine, Alabama and Idaho this fall. The membership of the American Loggers Council, particularly Individual Logger Membership and Associate Membership, has been growing. Over the past three months approximately 10 new Individual Logger Members and eight new Associate Members have joined, increasing membership revenue by more than $20,000. American Loggers Council Communications Director Kevin Smith has upgraded the web site to allow for online Associate Member Application and payment. The communications plan has increased the Amer ican Loggers Council profile

on the national level.

So, what’s happening? A lot, and the American Loggers Council welcomes the opportunity to represent the members and industry whenever, wherever, and however we can.

Scott Dane is the Executive Director of the American Loggers Council. ALC is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests of timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses across the United States. For more information visit www.amloggers.com.

Construction Ongoing At Drax Pellet Plants

Construction has started on Drax’s second satellite industrial wood pellet plant in Arkansas, this one in Russellville, Pope County, in northwestern Arkansas. Commercial operations are expected to begin at the plant in 2022. The move is part of a $40 million investment by Drax in the state.

Earlier this year construction began at Drax’s first satellite pellet plant in Leola, Grant County, and commercial operations are expected to begin late this year. Progress is being made on selecting the third and final site.

The three pellet plants are expected to produce a total of 120,000 metric tons of pellets a year from saw mill residues, supporting the renewable energy company’s plans to in crease self supply to its power station in the UK.

Matt White, Drax Biomass Senior Vice President, comments, “Drax has made great progress in delivering our $40 million investment in Arkansas. The investments will bring jobs and opportunities to rural communities in Arkansas alongside supporting international efforts to tackle the climate emergency. These plants support Drax’s plans to develop bioenergy with carbon capture and storage—a vital negative emissions technology that will be needed around the world to meet net zero targets.”

Drax has transformed its power station in the UK to become the largest decarbonization project in Europe by converting it to use sustainable biomass instead of coal.

John Deere announced it has agreed with Hitachi Construction Machinery to end the Deere-Hitachi joint venture manufacturing and marketing agreements. John Deere and Hitachi will enter into new license and supply agreements, which will enable John Deere to continue to source, manufacture and distribute the current lineup of Deere-branded excavators in the Americas.

As a result of the new agreements, the following changes will go into effect on February 28, 2022: —John Deere will acquire the Deere-Hitachi joint-venture factories in Kernersville, NC; Indaiatuba,

Brazil; and Langley, BC, Can. —John Deere will continue to manufacture Deere-branded construction and forestry excavators currently produced at the three

Deere-Hitachi factories. These locations will discontinue production of Hitachi-branded excavators.

John Deere will continue to offer a full portfolio of excavators through a supply agreement with Hitachi. —John Deere’s marketing arrangement for Hitachi-branded construction excavators and mining equipment in the Americas will end; Hitachi will assume distribution and support for these products.

“For many years John Deere and

Hitachi enjoyed a mutually successful partnership in the Americas,” comments John Stone, President,

John Deere Construction & Forestry

Div. and Power Systems. “As we turn the page to a new chapter of

Deere-designed excavators, we remain committed to supporting our customers of today and tomorrow.”

John Deere and Hitachi began a

supply relationship in the early 1960s; then in 1988 the companies started the Deere-Hitachi manufacturing joint venture to produce excavators in Kernersville. In 1998, Deere-Hitachi expanded the relationship to include the production of forestry swing machines at Deere-Hitachi Specialty Products in Langley. In 2001, John Deere and Hitachi combined their marketing and distribution efforts in the Americas. In 2011, excavator manufacturing was expanded with the addition of the Deere-Hitachi Brazil factory in Indaiatuba.

Hyundai Purchases Doosan Infracore

Following the sale completed in mid-August of Doosan Infracore to Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. (HHIH), Doosan Infracore becomes a subsidiary of the newly created Hyundai Genuine (HG) group alongside Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) as two independent construction equipment companies under HHIH. HG will act as the intermediary company of HHIH Group’s construction equipment businesses and will be leading both DI and HCE to maximize the company’s efforts and focus on the construction equipment industry. The plan is to manage overlapping investments and invest heavily in future technologies and innovation. Doosan Infracore will be working to commercialize ConceptX and develop cutting-edge products such as electric excavators, battery packs, hybrid fuel cells and other next-generation products. By focusing on each company’s areas of strength, HG will be able to advance the development of these types of products to gain a competitive edge in the global market.

Doosan Infracore North America, LLC, headquartered in Suwanee, Ga., markets the Doosan brand of products that includes crawler excavators, wheel excavators, mini ex cavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, material handlers, log loaders and attachments. Doosan has more than 160 equipment dealer locations in North America.

Biewer Lumber’s second SYP sawmill in Mississippi is on pace to start up in the first quarter of next year. BID Group is performing turnkey construction, equipment delivery and installation at the site in Winona, which is in the north central section of Mississippi. The new sawmill will be similar to the one Biewer Lumber started up in Newton, Miss. in 2017. Biewer Lumber is based in St. Clair, Mich. and operates two sawmills in Michigan and two in Wisconsin. This photo was taken in midSeptember and is courtesy of Biewer Lumber.

Westervelt Strengthens Management Team

The Westervelt Co., based in Tus caloosa, Ala., announced new officers and leadership changes that posi tion the company to build on and expand its decades long commitment to sustainability.

Effective January 1, Cade Warer is

appointed to the newly created position of Chief Sustainability Officer and will lead sustainability efforts across the corporation.

“For generations the people of Westervelt understood the connections between the wise use of natural resources, service to our communities and enduring business success focused on the highest ethical standards,” comments President and CEO Brian Luoma. “For us, the term sustainability represents a cultural value, and a commitment to sustaining excellence in everything we do. Cade will ensure we continue to operate in a way that not only up holds that commitment, but takes it to a whole new level in the future.”

Dave Donaldson is promoted to Vice President and General Manager, Forest Resources, effective January 1, 2022. He will be promoted into the role held by Jim King, who recently announced his retirement after a 40year career with the company.

“Jim’s career at Westervelt has been remarkable, and has shaped our Forest Resources business to be known as one of the best in the country,” Luoma comments. “Dave has been with Westervelt for 26 years, and has worked closely with Jim over the last several years as he’s managed our Woodlands division. We’re excited to welcome him to this new role.”

Travis Hemmen is promoted to Director and General Manager, Westervelt Ecological Services, and President of WES LLC, effective January 1, 2022. He will replace Greg Sutter as the business leader of WES, following Sutter’s retirement at the end of 2021. Hemmen and the Westervelt Ecological Services business will report to Cade Warner.

Martco Announces Corrigian “Two”

Martco LLC (RoyOMartin) announced that its Texas subsidiary, Corrigan OSB, LLC, will invest $211 million and construct a standalone oriented strandboard (OSB) manufacturing facility near its current OSB plant located in Corrigan on U.S. Highway 287 between Lufkin and Livingston. Construction is scheduled to begin this year, with startup anticipated in 2023. The new facility is expected to significantly increase production capacity at Corrigan, while focusing on existing and new value-added OSB products.

RoyOMartin CEO Roy O. Martin III points to a population surge of more than 4 million residents in the state in the past decade, and more families and companies relocating to the Lone Star state. The increase in home prices and rising costs of building materials, appliances, and labor in the past year indicate a severe shortage of OSB supply, Martin notes. Corrigan OSB is stepping up to meet this increased demand with the addition of the new facility. RoyOMartin started up the first Corrigan OSB plant in 2018, and also operates an OSB plant in Oakdale, La., which started up in 2007. The company also operates a plywood mill and timbers mill in Chopin, La.

Brandeis Machinery, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., has been named the authorized Komatsu distributor in eight counties in the western region of West Virginia. The counties of Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Wyoming, McDowell and Mercer will now be serviced by Brandeis Machinery out of the Stanville, Ky. branch location.

Brandeis Machinery is a member of the Bramco family of companies, one of the largest equipment dealers in North America and Komatsu dealer for Kentucky and Indiana. This expansion allows Brandeis Machinery to bring their expertise and top level service to Komatsu customers in several West Virginia counties.

Brandeis Machinery is pleased to have Jeremy Murry, sales representative, join the company and continue to service this region.

Shelton Appointed To Virginia BOF

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that Chad Shelton, Vice President of Virginia Loggers Assn., is appointed to the Board of Forestry (BOF). Shelton will serve as advisor on the BOF to the Virginia Dept. of Forestry and Governor’s office, representing the forest harvesting sector of the forest products industry.

Shelton grew up in a logging family. His parents, Howard and Lana Shelton, are owners of H. J. Shelton Logging, Inc.

While Chad is active in the family business, he is also adding on a new specialty sawmill, and serving as an active leader in his community and VLA. He is an active board member who serves the industry at large with conviction and dedication for the industry.

Haygood’s Sales Career Covered Many Decades

A graveside service for Jack Haygood, well known Georgia forestsawmill equipment figure for decades, was held September 24 at Monroe Memory Gardens in Forsyth, Ga., his home town. Long retired, Haygood, 93, died on September 21.

Known for his outgoing personality, generosity, encouraging nature and love for his family, Haygood was the son of a small sawmill owner who later became a pulpwood producer. In 1961 he joined a middle Georgia Jack Haygood sawmill machinery concern that sold Morbark portable pulpwood and log debarkers. The mechanically gifted Haygood not only sold his share of debarkers but also came up with a solution—a simple bracket—that kept the machines from throwing drive belts. Morbark owner Norval

Morey traveled from Michigan to see the device and approved it for inclusion on all new units that

Morbark built. Later, Haywood joined Morbark of Georgia, where he refined his sales ability.

His contribution to Morbark’s early success gained him mention in the book My Way: The Norval

Morey Story, published by the

Donnell Group a few years ago.

Other career stops for him were

Alsobrook Lumber Co., Windham

Mfg. Co., West Georgia Equipment Co., Pioneer Machinery and

Pine Timber Co. He continued working well into his 80s.