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A Hatton-Brown Publication Co-Publisher David H. Ramsey Co-Publisher David (DK) Knight Chief Operating Officer Dianne C. Sullivan PUBLISHING OFFICE Street Address: 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Telephone (334) 834-1170 Fax 334-834-4525

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Executive Editor David (DK) Knight Editor-in-Chief Rich Donnell Western Editor Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor David Abbott Associate Editor Jessica Johnson Associate Editor Jay Donnell Art Director/Prod. Mgr. Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coord Patti Campbell Circulation Director Rhonda Thomas Marketing/Media Jordan Anderson ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES SOUTHERN USA Randy Reagor (904) 393-7968 • Fax: (334) 834-4525 E-mail: reagor@bellsouth.net

Vol. 64, No. 6: Issue 658

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

OurCover Long distance logging is routine for Illinois-based Stan Wilson & Sons, which earlier this year invested in more productive equipment to accelerate the harvest of 384 acres of prime hardwood hugging a challenging site near Greenwood, Miss. The Wilson equipment lineup includes a pair of reliable CSI DL4400 slashers. Story begins on page PAGE 10. (David Abbott photo)

OurFeatures

MIDWEST USA, EASTERN CANADA John Simmons (905) 666-0258 • Fax: (905) 666-0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com

WESTERN USA, WESTERN CANADA Tim Shaddick (604) 910-1826 • Fax: (604) 264-1367 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca

Kevin Cook (604) 619-1777 E-mail: lordkevincook@gmail.com INTERNATIONAL Murray Brett +34 96 640 4165 • Fax: +34 96 640 4022 E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net

Demo International Offered Lots Of Variety

American Loggers Council Adopts 5-Year Strategic Plan

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Bridget DeVane 334-699-7837 bdevane7@hotmail.com Timber Harvesting & Wood Fiber Operations (ISSN 21542333) is published 6 times annually (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December issues are combined) by HattonBrown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscriptions are free to U.S. logging, pulpwood and chipping contractors and their supervisors; managers and supervisors of corporate-owned harvesting operations; wood suppliers; timber buyers; businesses involved in land grooming and/or land clearing, wood refuse grinding and right-of-way maintenance; wood procurement and land management officials; industrial forestry purchasing agents; wholesale and retail forest equipment representatives and forest/logging association personnel. All non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $50 annually; $60 in Canada; $95 (airmail) in all other countries (U.S. funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries— TOLL-FREE 800-669-5613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.timberharvesting.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Timber Harvesting magazine are accepted and published by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses, or other liability resulting from any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Timber Harvesting & Wood Fiber Operations. Copyright ® 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and at additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.

Member Verified Audit Circulation POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TIMBER HARVESTING, P.O. BOX 2419, Montgomery, AL 36102-2419

30 Keys To Fleet Safety

Include Attitude, Commitment

Equipment World:

Demo Day Action, Much More

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MyTake DK KNIGHT dk@hattonbrown.com, 334-834-1170

TEAM Safe Trucking Moves Ahead; A Logger’s Wife’s Appealing Blog TEAM Safe Trucking (TST), a broad-based, non-profit volunteer group seeking to elevate the standard and performance of the challenging forest industry transportation sector, is slowly moving ahead with its meritorious program, according to organizers, who met in late September to review the progress of TST and adjust some priorities. By far the most important work of the organization continues to be the series of awareness presentations initiated in September of last year by Jimmie Locklear of Forestry Mutual Insurance Co. He has crisscrossed the nation, proclaiming the TST core mes-

stakeholders and through grants. At least 10 companies and associations have contributed funds to TST. As well, Virginia Tech University has committed funds and a graduate student to conduct log/chip truck accident research, which is just beginning. The study will help guide TST’s work going forward. Organizers consist of logging companies, log trucking entities, wood fiber suppliers, paper/wood products manufacturers, insurance companies, and logging and forestry association representatives. According to TST president Rick Quagliaroli, “Our objective is to help make the forest industry’s trucking segment safer, more accountable, more efficient, and more acceptable to the public. This will take some time. For the good of the industry as a whole, we’re asking for all connected parties to ‘buy in’ with their ideas, enthusiasm, and support.” Here is the contact information for both Quagliaroli and Locklear: rick@ swampfoxagency.com, 843-761-3999; jlocklear@forestrymutual.com, 910733-3300.

Deborah Smith sage a total of 23 times to logging and forestry associations, reaching thousands in the process. Mike Macedo of International Paper and TST president Rick Quagliaroli have delivered the message as well. In October TST launched a web site, teamsafetrucking.com, that ultimately will be loaded with information and tools designed to help stabilize and strengthen the log/chip hauling sector. Its emerging safety-focused program embraces awareness and education; driver training, skillset improvement, motivation and recruitment; fleet best management practices; and public image enhancement. The organization expects to expand its program nationwide as it secures additional funding through donations from

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Earlier this year I attended the annual meeting/biennial static equipment show staged by the Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. in Valdosta, Ga. That’s where I crossed paths with northwestern Georgia logger Travis Smith and his wife, Deborah, who have been married for 34 years and have 10 children—seven they created and three adopted from Africa—and two grandchildren. They have homeschooled their kids since 1991. Deborah says she earned an English degree from Shorter College because Travis wouldn’t let her quit. She loves her family, encourages others to keep the faith, to keep taking the next right step, no matter how hard life gets. I encourage you to check out her blog at buttercupsbloomhere.blogspot.com.

What follows is one example of her writing talent: We were together, in his work truck, headed to a place about 40 miles away where a mom and pop tire business treats people with respect. His tool truck needed a set of “new feet,” as he calls them, and last week he asked me to save the morning for him, for us. So I did. We are learning this new thing, saving time for each other, in our 50s, and after three decades of marriage. We realized that the plans of our children can, not in any bad way, fill up the time we need to have together as a couple. The kids aren’t bad. They aren’t planning to sabotage their parents’ marriage—there’s just always lots to do and places for them to go. So, Travis and I have started making dates and keeping them. I feel like I’m 17 again when he asks me when we can we go out. This date was two-fold, but that was OK. The diesel motor roar and hydraulic oil smell comforted me. He stopped at his favorite fuel station and bought us a delicious breakfast, then we were on our way. We talked about small things and big things, important things and nothing. It was just time, together. That simple morning was refreshing and the sweetest time we had had in long time. On the way home, I thought about how easy it would have been to have refused the offer; to say that I was busy. He would not have argued the point. He would have just walked away, accustomed to the refusal. I’m always busy. Now, as I look back and thank Holy God for holding us together, I realize how important time is. I take more pictures of the two of us than ever. I cherish his time. I have learned to stop at stop signs in our marriage: the weary look, the tired walk, the invitation, the effort to reach into my world and help, to need to be listened to after a hard day. Whatever is swirling around in my head or in the kitchen can wait. Stopping to really see him and hear him is way more rewarding than finishing some never ending chore. Stopping gives our marriage TH the fuel it needs to carry on.

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NewsLines Oregon Logging Conference Set February 23-25

Along with the usual displays, an interesting seminars program is on tap.

Organized around a theme of “Growing the Future Today,” the 79th Oregon Logging Conference and equipment show commences February 23-25 at the Lane County Events Center & Fairgrounds in Eugene, Ore., including a reception, dinner and Oregon Women in Timber auction at the Eugene Hilton on February 22. Officials with the OLC recently announced the event’s keynote speaker, plus topics for OLC technical and education seminars that earn loggers continuing education professional logging credits. Kicking off the fairgrounds activities is keynote speaker Merv George, Forest Supervisor for Six Rivers National Forest in northern California. A lifelong resident of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation who was also executive director of the California Indian Forest & Fire Council, George has worked for the FS since 2008. This year, digital technology takes center stage in the “Better Ideas” seminar on new logging systems and technologies. Drone use is covered, with presentations on drone forestry applications, plus legal requirements for operating drones commercially. Other presentations include log measurement via photographs, off-highway computerized logging tools and the John Deere Forestry Timber Navi system. There’s also a tethered logging systems update. Key sections of the OLC seminars include updates to Oregon and Washington forestry regulations, with the Oregon update covering new riparian management area rules, new fire rules and an update on the Oregon OSHA tethered logging waiver process. The Washington section addresses fish protection issues and unstable slope identification. Other seminars include log scaling basics and sorting export logs; diesel exhaust emissions update; steep-slope feller-buncher operation; and “How to Build a Kick @$% Crew.” The popular OLC Log Loader Competition is back again this year, sponsored by Triad Machinery and Link-Belt, plus the high school forestry skills competition.

Two Rivers Lumber Plans New Sawmill Two Rivers Lumber Co. plans to invest $65 million to build a state-ofthe-art sawmill in Demopolis, Ala. that will create nearly 100 jobs. The mill will be built just south of where the Black Warrior and Tombigbee rivers meet, inspiring the com6

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pany’s name. Two Rivers plans to produce all sizes of southern yellow pine dimension lumber. “We are excited about building a new sawmill in west Alabama and what it will mean to local landowners as well as bringing quality manufacturing jobs to the area,” says Jay McElroy, a principal in Two Rivers. “Planning began over a year ago and this

project would not be possible without support from the city of Demoplois, the state of Alabama, and our lender, Alabama Ag Credit.” McElroy has formed the operation along with Roy Geiger, owner of Sumter Timber in Demopolis, according to a report. Two Rivers has contracted with Bid Group to design and build the sawmill. The mill will have an annual capacity of 200MMBF annually, according to the governor’s office. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2017, with production expected to begin in September 2017. The company said it expects the mill will create many indirect jobs in the forest products industry to support the operation. McElroy pointed to his family’s long history of forest operations in the area. In 1964, J. C. McElroy, Jr. started a small pulpwood trucking business, which grew into a hardwood logging operation named Sumter Timber Co. By the 1970s, Sumter had become a logging contractor and was hauling chips, sawdust and shavings for local mills, and began shipping lumber from area sawmills to regional states. In 1985, the flatbed portion of the operation expanded to form its own business, McElroy Truck Lines. Through the years, MTL, based in Cuba, Ala., added satellite terminals, trailer pools near customers and more truck drivers and trucks.

West Fraser Will Expand Newberry Mill West Fraser is expanding its Newberry County, South Carolina sawmill operations with a $33 million investment which will increase production by more than 37%. “Building a strong business supports our mill’s competitiveness so we can continue to be an active employer and a positive contributor to Newberry County,” comments West Fraser Newberry Lumber Mill General Manager DJ Russell.

GP Completes Gurdon Upgrade In a celebration with community leaders, Georgia-Pacific recently marked the completion of a $40 million expansion at its Gurdon, Ark.

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NewsLines lumber operations. The investment expands the production capacity of the sawmill by 60%. Georgia-Pacific has eight facilities in Arkansas, five of which are part of the building products division. It employs 2,700 directly in the state, with more than 665 located at the Gurdon lumber and plywood operations.

Bankrupt Pellets Plants Remain In Operation Production continues at two Southern U.S. pellet plants in Woodville, Tex., and Urania, La. that were formerly owned by German Pellets GmbH of Wismar, Germany, with both currently in bankruptcy as the plants’ largest creditors seek buyers or new investors. German Pellets, formerly a major producer of industrial pellets in Europe and parent company of Texas Pellets and Louisiana Pellets, filed for bankruptcy in February 2016 after the company was unable to meet debt obligations.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Debt holders hope to sell former German Pellets’ mills.

Louisiana Pellets filed for bankruptcy a week after the parent company, unable to make a $4.2 million payment. Texas Pellets filed for bankruptcy in May 2016, citing creditors’ claims and liens. The Texas plant had started up in 2013; the company built an accompanying pellet shipping facility in Port Arthur, Tex., and the mill

was running well at its 500,000 metric ton annual capacity until the bankruptcy. The Louisiana plant, meanwhile, also a 500,000 metric tons facility, is currently running despite suffering from construction and startup problems in mid 2015 that slowed its production ramp up. Officials with investment firm In-

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NewsLines vesco, Ltd., which is the largest debt holder for the Louisiana plant ($89 million) and Texas facility ($39 million), did not respond to an e-mail about current ownership structure, operations or any future plans for the facilities. Sources say the Louisiana plant is paying up front for its raw material purchases, and the Texas plant remains an active member of the Texas Forestry Assn. News reports note both facilities are relatively new plants in good locations, and investment analysts with Invesco and the private equity industry have cited future projected pellet demand.

Weyco May Sell Uruguay Timber Weyerhaeuser is exploring strategic alternatives for its timberlands and manufacturing operations in Uruguay. Weyerhaeuser established its operations in Uruguay in 1997. Today, its business there includes more than 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) of timberlands in northeastern and north central Uruguay,

Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

as well as a plywood and veneer manufacturing facility, a cogeneration facility, and a seedling nursery.

Norbord Takes Aim At Biomass Subsidies Norbord UK is calling on the government to amend biomass subsidies. According to Norbord, earlier this year a major energy supplier lobbied the government to make biomass power stations eligible for future subsidies. The company wants to be allowed to bid for “green” subsidies that the government is planning to auction off. Norbord notes there are several reasons why this technology should not receive subsidies but the most basic is that wood is, fundamentally, very different from other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Nobody has to buy their wind or sunshine and there is no market for these energy sources, according to Norbord. Wood markets, however, are well-established. It is a raw material for numerous industries and is traded

internationally. “Subsidies fundamentally distort the market for timber and applying the same incentives to wood as to wind or solar power generation is nonsensical,” Norbord states. Norbord, a leading producer of oriented strandboard, is one of many manufacturers for whom wood is the principal raw material and depends upon the ability to buy materials competitively in a free and open market. As a manufacturer, Norbord burns process residues to generate 75% of its heat energy from on-site biomass plants for which it receives payment under the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive. However, this payment does not even get close to offsetting the impact of wood price increases resulting from subsidies paid to biomass power stations, Norbord claims. “To incentivize the burning of wood as biomass simply distorts the market and damages established industries— industries that provide jobs and produce useful products for society,” Norbord states.

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The Wilsons’ first track cutter, with its leveling cab and long 28 ft. boom, helped the family operation harvest a 384-acre challenging hardwood tract situated on the edge of the Mississippi Delta.

Reaching Out For Prime Hardwoods Illinois-based logging family goes the distance to bring home veneer logs for export. DAVIDAbbott

long commute to work is hardly uncommon, but Stan Wilson & Sons LLC takes it to an extraordinary level. The family logging company is based in the southern Illinois town of Du Quoin, where the Wilsons live, but they spent most of this year working outside Greenwood, Miss.—a solid six hours to the south. That’s where Timber Harvesting caught up with them in early July of this year. 10

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This isn’t a temporary or recent scenario, either. While the family occasionally harvests some timber closer to home, clan patriarch Stan Wilson, 59, says he has logged long-distance for most of his extended career. Since age 23 he has traveled to cut tracts in Tennessee, Alabama and elsewhere, including often in Mississippi. The reason? He’s always searching for veneer grade white oak. “It doesn’t matter

where it is, as long as the tract has the right quality timber,” he says. Wilson grew up in logging; his father and most of the rest of his family made a living from the woods. He followed suit, starting his company at 18. Over the next five years he developed a good reputation that ultimately led him to what would become his niche. He tells: “I worked for a big company, Memphis Hardwood. They had seven sawmills,

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Quinton Mathis, kneeling, with the Wilsons, from left, Chad, Stan and Derek

two new machines speeded things up considerably; they actually finished in October. Wilson says the tract yielded 4MMBF. The Wilsons typically remove sawlogs and pulpwood first, selling to local and area mills. After clearing this out, they start on the premium material. In this case, they extracted 30 loads of white oak veneer logs (butts) from the tract. From wherever the crew logs, six company and contract trucks transport veneer logs to East St. Louis where they are placed in containers for shipment to Europe. and I bought all their white oak for years. I lucked into a good veneer tract and that got the attention of an old German export company, Kling Veneer. I started shipping to them, and they showed me the ropes.” Very often, that led him to buying tracts containing veneer-grade timber in the south, and hauling the logs back north for export. His sons, Derek, 31, and Chad, 28, joined him a few years ago. Rounding out the team is employee Quention Mathis and full time truck drivers Leon Dixon and Clem Campanella. When traveling such long distances, the six leave Illinois between 2 and 3 a.m. every Monday and arrive at the job site by 8. They stay in a hotel, work four days and head home on Thursday night. One might think this lifestyle would get old, but Wilson says he’s become accustomed to it. Specifics of the operation vary with each tract. The Greenwood job, 384 acres of mature forest, started last January. In July they hoped to have it finished by year’s end, but the addition of Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

Rough Ground Steep slopes and soft soil on this tract made it particularly challenging, the elder Wilson points out. “In all my years, in all the places I have been, this is the toughest, roughest terrain I have tackled,” he emphasizes. “They couldn’t find anybody else who wanted to try it.” The atypical experience here, in fact, inspired him to buy his first track cutter—a used Tigercat LX830C fitted with 5702 felling saw—when it came time to replace his previous machine in late June. “I was old school, always ran a wheel cutter. But the help wasn’t working out and it was clear we needed a change. A lot of people run them, but the machine has made a firm believer out of me,” he acknowledges. The 280 HP buncher weighs 86,500 lbs. with a 28 ft. boom and 22 in. head. It has a leveling cab—almost essential steep terrain—so it comes with narrow track pads. “Just to give you an idea, the leveling cab goes to 45 de-

grees,” Chad Wilson illustrates. “In the worst spots, the slope was 15-20 degrees over that, so even with the levelling cab it was never fully level.” The tract was located just above the Mississippi River Delta, and Chad cites this as the cause of the difficulty. “This ungodly terrain wasn’t even so much rolling hills, it was just windblown soil, straight up and down, washout from the Delta,” he says. The stand was mostly white oak, with some red oak and poplar in the mix. The job turned out to be even more challenging than the Wilsons expected when they took it on. “I walked it three times, and like a typical logger, I like a challenge,” Chad says. “I didn’t expect it to be this challenging. The timber was so big, and it was just hanging on the side of a dirt bluff hill. The monster stuff had to be cut by hand. That’s a dying breed, people who don’t mind cutting on the side of a hill. That’s why nobody wanted this job.” Wilson admits it is his son Chad who knows the newer machines best. He chose this particular machine, at least in part, because of the slopes on this tract. “Before, we had two toppers going behind me on the cutter, walking up and down those hills with chain saws. They all quit,” Chad explains. “The steep ground was why they quit. We couldn’t find any help who wanted to do that job.” They talked to Lyle Ricer, at Ricer Equipment in Ohio, the Wilsons’ Tigercat dealer. “He said we had two options,” the younger son continues. “We could go with a track cutter and delete the help, because the machine tops, bunches and processes. Or we could slow it down and go back to the old NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 11

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The Wilsons say their new Tigercat 635E six-wheel drive grapple skidder is as productive as the two smaller grapple skidders it replaced.

With increased felling/bunching/skidding capacity, the family found it needed two loaders for merchandising and filling trailers. 12

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Derek has recently moved his home to Jackson, Tenn.

Other Machines

ways of getting only six loads a day.” At the same time, the Wilsons decided to replace two skidders, Tigercat 610 and 620 models, with a 2015 Tigercat 635E six-wheel drive grapple skidder. “This one skidder moves so much wood that we need two loaders to process and keep trucks moving,” says Wilson. While the track cutter wasn’t purchased just for this tract— the Wilsons liked the idea of eliminating men on the ground with chain saws, in steep terrain or not—the new skidder was bought specifically due to the Greenwood tract. “The old skidders just physically wouldn’t pull on these hills,” Chad says. “I’ll never buy a four-wheel skidder again.” Ricer brought both machines from Ohio for the crew to demo. “It was mind boggling what they could do,” Chad says. “Before, it was easy enough to cut that stuff, but really hard to get it out. After swapping machines, it was a breeze and we actually ran through it fast, faster than we expected.” Since finishing the Mississippi job last month, the crew has moved on to a tract in Tennessee, where they usually work, only three hours from home. In fact, the Wilsons work in this are so frequently that Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

When working in friendlier terrain, the track cutter works in conjunction with a Tigercat 724G wheel feller-buncher fitted with 5702 sawhead. Merchandising logs and loading trailers are John Deere 437D and Tigercat 234B loaders, both paired with CSI DL4400 slashers. The Deere swings a Rotobec grapple, the Tigercat a Tigercat grapple. A John Deere 650 dozer serves in a utility capacity. When it comes to taking down trees containing veneer grade logs, the cutters are idled in favor of Husqvarna 395 chain saws operated by Derek and Chad. “These logs are too valuable to take a chance with the machines,” Stan explains. Stan says before his sons joined the operation, he employed eight to nine and operated more machines, but the operation has since became more streamlined, going with newer, more productive machines requiring fewer operators. “The caliber of equipment is better now,” Wilson says. “This skidder will do what two or three used to do.” That’s a good thing, he says. “You just can’t find anyone to work anymore. That’s why it has to be all mechanized, because you can’t find anyone to run a chain saw anymore. I’m glad it is all mechanized, though, because we have cut so much cost from insurance and labor. To hire

three to five employees with insurance on them will pay for the equipment.” Typically, Wilson runs the skidder, Derek mans a loader, Mathis operates the track cutter and Chad floats between the wheel cutter and the second loader. Equipment dealers are Ricer Equipment in Lucasville, Ohio for Tigercat and Stribling Equipment in Tennessee for John Deere, although the dozer came from Erb Equipment in Mt. Vernon, Ill. Investment is pegged at close to $2 million, including trucks and trailers. The company owns three Peterbilt 379s that pull Battle Wagon and Pitts trailers. Three or four contract haulers usually supplement capacity, although the number varies in each state. Finding enough available contract trucks was a challenge in Mississippi, according to Wilson. The crew shoots for 15 loads a day, but the goal is not always realized, particularly in challenging sites. Though they don’t use scales, the Wilsons are careful to keep trucks loaded under 80,000 lbs., especially when hauling veneer across state lines. They typically stay on local and state highways, avoiding interstates as much as feasible, so the trips take a while. Generally, each truck can only take one veneer load a day. Chad and Mathis handle all maintenance in the field unless they encounter a major breakdown. Since most of the machines are under warranty, big repair jobs go back to the dealers. “Lyle Ricer goes out of his way to help us,” Wilson says. “They come all the way down here from Ohio.” Stan

Key to efficient merchandising are two CSI DL4400 slashers. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 13

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has no preference on brands for spare parts, sticking to OEM specs. Ricer provides all the requisite fluids, filters and parts. “In general the cost of maintenance is low, very low,” Stan says.

Markets Wilson believes an after tax profit of at least 10% is reasonable given the investment of the company. It used to be that and higher, he says. “It wasn’t too hard to make 30% in the early

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’80s. We used to make a good profit doing his, but the margin is increasingly slimmer,” he laments. “You have to have a niche to be able to travel and buy these high-grade tracts. You have to have something that someone else doesn’t have.” He notes the operation might have actually been more profitable during the recession, because the cost of timber went down. The biggest obstacle the Wilsons face, the logger says, is insurance costs. “You get insurance poor,” he

says, adding that they cut no corners when it comes to insurance. M&M Insurance Agency in Du Quoin handles all insurance needs.

Family Business The major downside to working out of state so much is obvious. Wilson missed most of his sons’ childhoods. “I raised them like that, and I thought they would choose to do something else.” Both sons went to college—Derek played baseball and majored in political science at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., while Chad played football and studied recreational parks at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Neither had spent much time working in the woods growing up because of the distances, though they did join the crew in the summers. After college, though, both surprised their father by deciding to join him in the business. “It was in my blood,” Chad says. “I knew during college it was what I would do, and that was one reason I chose the major I did…it was still outdoors, and it would be something nice to fall back on if logging didn’t work out.” Stan says his sons are really selftaught. “I showed them everything I can about veneer, white oak, how to cruise timber, but they picked it up naturally. I used to buy all the timber, but Derek does all the timber buying and marketing now, and Chad goes with him to help get footage.” The Wilsons are equal partners in the business. Stan also has a daughter, Jaime, 38, from his first marriage. He has been with his second wife, Patti, for 32 years. In all they have six grandchildren. Derek and his wife Selena have a daughter, Zoe, 5, and a son, Cruz, who is almost 2. Chad has two girls, Belle, 3, and Julie, 1, with his wife Kristin. Jaime has two sons, Jacob, 15, and Wilson, 12. When they are at home, the Wilsons’ hobbies still keep them outdoors. For one thing, they ride horses and team rope in rodeos. Chad and Stan also like to hunt elk. They have been on more than 50 hunts. Derek doesn’t like to kill elk but he will fish and hunt pheasants. Looking ahead, the elder Wilson sees a lot of questions for the industry, and he’s not sure of the answers. “This is a dying breed, this logging industry,” he says. “There are no young people, like my two sons, in my area, getting into it. I am hoping that someday there is a reward for doing all this TH but I can’t answer it right now.”

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Distinctive Canadian Event The 13th edition of DEMO International took place on steep terrain in British Columbia. JESSICAJohnson

nticipation runs high for around 130 exhibitors, Carter says in-woods demonstrations. he’d love to have one of the highly The universal truth about them is technical machines, but by and that they provide a time for manularge, for his operation, it doesn’t facturers big and small to showmake sense financially. case exactly what they’ve got in The UBC land is the only prifront of a captive and interested vate property Carter regularly cuts audience. What sets DEMO Interon, so until the uncertainty revolvnational apart is its size and fouring around the Canadian tariff on year frequency at a different locasoftwood lumber with the U.S. is tion. Loggers around the world negotiated, it is uncertain where look forward to the popular show, rates will end up and how sustainwhich is the flagship event of the able newer equipment payments Canadian Woodlands Forum. would be. Held this year near Maple “We’ve downsized a lot because Ridge, BC, this was only the third of markets and the fact is we’re time DEMO International was finding it hard to get the rates we staged on the West Coast in the 49 need. The money just isn’t there. years since inception. It took place New equipment is all up 25% and September 22-24 on the University rates haven’t changed. The price of of British Columbia’s (UBC) Malfuel is down and that’s helped, but colm Knapp Research Forest, a the price of new equipment, little over an hour’s drive from parts…Depending on how big the downtown Vancouver. tariff imposed is, that could slow us More than 7,300 attendees from down even more,” he says. across Canada walked alongside While many BC loggers who After a sunny opening day, rain and clouds prevailed on day two. counterparts from New Zealand, spoke with TH feel similar to CarAustralia, Finland, Brazil, India, “There are some issues on these ter, especially those like him that the U.S., the U.K., France and the sites, where they made some trails that mainly log on Crown and Provincial United Arab Emirates. Mark Cusack, will run water when the heavy rains lands, the excited talk of new technoloNational Show Manager for DEMO’s come,” he explains. Since the research gies was especially prevalent at producing company, said attendance on forest is open to the public for camping, DEMO—especially considering the the first day was the single largest attenhiking and observation, the university is mounting safety concerns for steep windance of any DEMO opening day. very cognizant of the quality of the enter ground. Carter admits that tethering BC-based logger and DEMO atvironment. Additionally, part of the site is definitely not something to discount. tendee Doug Carter has a theory about that DEMO was held on has a river “It’s an expensive way to log. But why that might be. It’s a real awakenrunning directly below it, so UBC is that’s the way of the future. We’re ing for people to come and see this concerned that some trails might create going to try out tethering over the grapspecific type of steep ground and how unnecessary run-off. That’s where Carple yarder, but we’re not moving comit has to be logged, especially now that ter and his crew come in. “Everyone pletely away from grapple yarding. The so many loggers and equipment prodid the best they could. A lot of guys expense is too high. You have to have a viders are studying, proposing or imhad their eyes opened to conditions we lot of work and a decent rate to make it plementing tethering techniques. deal with.” work, bottom line,” he adds. For Carter, who actually has the Unfortunately, Carter and his crew contract with UBC to log the research won’t be using the fancy robotic maTethering & More forest on a regular basis, DEMO chines showcased at DEMO. His comTethering wasn’t the only thing on meant nearly eight years of site preppany, Southview Forest Services, is the minds of DEMO attendees, howping and another winter’s worth of more traditional in set-up: grapple yardever, as operator comfort and getting the repairing previous work. ers. After walking the 2.12 mile loop 16

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most out of every machine were also at the forefront. Several manufacturers launched new machine and attachment models while others offered pieces available for the first time in Canada. John Deere took full advantage of the location of DEMO, and its proximity to the John Deere-Hitachi Specialty Products manufacturing facility, located two hours from Maple Ridge in Langley, BC, and hosted various groups from around the world for plant tours, detailed walk-throughs of its new G-series swing machines and appreciation dinners. The entire lineup of G-series machines—3154G, 3156G, 3754G and 3756G—was front and center at the DEMO site and drew lots of attention. Caterpillar Forest Products President Kevin Thieneman said that overall the was show as great, despite challenging markets and a dark, dreary day on Friday. He said he was pleasantly surprised to see how many loggers from far and wide came to to take it all in. Caterpillar focused on its two new forest machines, the 538 and 558, but Thieneman noted that again everyone wanted to talk tethering and lots of customers inquired about Caterpillar’s 522 track feller-buncher with steep slope package, which features updates to the cab and track roller frame. “We are optimistic that this trend will drive more investment in machines in the next several years,” he said. Doosan introduced the DX380LL-5 log loader—the first Doosan machine in the size class—that offers many attracForemost Authority For Professional Loggers

Examples of steep slope harvesting seen at DEMO, from left: an odd wheel-type harvester; Ponsse’s collaboration with FPInnovations; and a Cat 552 II harvester fitted with steep slope package and Satco head.

Doosan introduced its largest log loader, the DX380LL-5, and demonstrated other machines. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 17

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tive standard features, including an auto-shutdown system to save fuel and a cab riser to increase all-around visibility. It comes standard with a rearview camera and 7 in. screen. Canadian-based Tigercat noted that the site was extremely challenging and old growth stumps made everything more difficult. Tigercat demoed four machines, including the LS855D shovel machine equipped with a feller-director boom and the 5195 directional felling saw. Also in the lineup was the first Tigercat-powered 880D. A six-wheel drive 635E skidded on the “good ground” and an 880 logger processed stems with a Southstar QS605. Tigercat showed at least 10 machines as part of its static display. Samantha Paul, Tigercat’s Marketing Specialist, indicated one of the most exciting moments was the drawing for a 2016 Dodge Challenger, sponsored by Tigercat and its BC dealer, Inland. Twenty-five customers who purchased machines were given tickets to the car. Shawn Nicholson of Kaatza Logging Ltd. from Vancouver Island was winner. Among the notable launches, Ponsse brought its H8HD harvester head, geared for big timber in unfavorable conditions. It is also available with a top saw option for crooked/heavily branched timber. The company also noted that it is actively searching for dealers in BC and Alberta. Log Max introduced its new processor, the ProCut 2330, and Waratah showcased its new 600 series harvesters/ processors. Not unlike the average day in the woods for many loggers, DEMO International battled against poor weather on Friday, extremely tough ground conditions and safety concerns, but finished strong each day. At a time when markets are tough, and many loggers are scaling back, dealers across the board reported strong leads as well as some sales, proving what most already know: the forestry sector is resilient. There was also a focus on education. The Malcolm Knapp Research Forest is dedicated to facilitating learning about forests and nature, and the show team organized site visits from area students of all ages. “While DEMO was an immense challenge, it was also very rewarding,” says Paul Lawson, Director, UBC Research Forests. “We were able to bring 200 of our own UBC Forestry students, as well as over 100 students from other 18

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Tigercat’s 880 was coupled with a Southstar QS605 processor.

Inovforest demonstrated its HSM 208-F steep slope machine.

Quadco touted its new 22SC high-speed saw and its 26B disc saws.

post-secondary institutions from around BC to the show, in addition to 350 K-12 students who attended through the DEMO school program.” He added: “I had many comments from these students and from their teachers that this was an invaluable experience beyond compare both in the classroom and in the field. By that educational measure we judge DEMO to be an unparalleled success.” The show was preceded by the

DEMO International Conference, entitled Canada’s Forest Sector —Adapting to a New Reality. It provided 350-plus delegates with a comprehensive program of more than 60 technical presentations, addressing why the adoption of new technologies, best practices and innovation is critical to ensuring a successful and competitive forest sector. TH Images taken by both Jessica Johnson of Timber Harvesting and Andrew Snook of Canadian Forest Industries.

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More Action, Higher Volume ALC adopts a 5-Year Action Plan to strengthen and grow the organization. DAVIDAbbott

t its annual meeting in early fall, the American Loggers Council adopted a five-year action plan designed to strengthen and grow the 22-year-old organization. Recommended by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and accepted by the full body, the plan will be implemented in stages going forward, according to Executive Vice President Danny Dructor, who commented: “The action plan will help steer us in the direction that those we represent have asked for.” One key component of the blueprint is expanding contract communications services via ALC’s web site and various social media. ALC will also begin sending press releases to professional services like PR Newswire. ALC has retained the services of marketing consultant Nick Smith, who has engaged ALC on a limited communications basis for much of the past year. “Bringing a communications specialist like Nick Smith into the organization will not only help us in our out-

reach to the public, but also in our advocacy work in Washington,” Dructor believes. “We are very fortunate to find someone with his experience willing to assist us.” Smith has already been instrumental in expanding the scope of the organization’s online footprint and promoting it in a much wider capacity. ALC plans to interact more with state and regional member associations by attending and exhibiting at major trade shows and by attending state and regional association meetings when requested. It will also ask regional directors to write quarterly updates, which will be distributed and published. Another key aspect of the plan is to become more involved in the political arena. This will include assisting the ALC legislative committee in rewriting the organization’s position statements on issues that impact the industry at a national level. In addition to continued coordination of spring fly-in visits to Washington, ALC will consider subscribing to votersvoice.com.

This would aid in contacting members of the Senate and House from a grassroots angle. On this note, ALC will also consider hiring a part time contract lobbyist in DC, and will begin working more closely with sponsors, such as Caterpillar and John Deere, that have a presence in DC. Board members attending the annual legislative fly-in will be challenged to bring a friend, and the ALC will commit to work with other like-minded organizations to promote positions and legislation of mutual interest. To promote professionalism within its ranks, ALC will evaluate the current state of the Master Logger Certification program and consider how to expand it. ALC will also work with the North America Forest Partnership to develop logger stories to promote the industry. This will also involve working with sponsors on some programs, such as Caterpillar’s Restoring Natural Infrastructure Coalition and Ponsse’s Iron Horse Loggers stories.

Attendees tuned in to four educational sessions conducted on Friday. 20

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As part of promoting safety, ALC will help develop and support job site and trucking safety improvement initiatives, including TEAM Safe Trucking, TEAM Fire and OSHA partnerships. On the business management side, ALC will consider developing annual meeting topics on leadership, management, marketing, negotiations, taxes, succession planning, corporate structure, general business management, and human resources/employee relations. It will also consider developing a best practices statement for professional logging businesses and working with manufacturers to develop technology training. As far as expanding membership, the action plan calls for ALC to seek alternative methods for bringing new member states into the organization— Tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania were specifically targeted. The organization plans to improve interaction and communication with individual logger members and to increase recruitment by asking friends of existing members to join. The organization is also considering a change to its annual meeting format. Rather than hosting the meeting in the current president’s home state, as it has always done, ALC may consider taking the annual meeting to an area where it is attempting to recruit new membership.

A scene from Saturday’s full membership meeting

Other Activities The 190 attendees of the three-day meeting, held in late September at Panama City Beach, Fla., found a schedule jam-packed with other activities and events. On the first day, Beard Equipment hosted an optional tour of local logger Tim Southerland’s operation. Southerland, who helped organize the weekend due to its proximity to his home base, also helped arrange a lunch after the tour at a hunting camp owned by Neal Land and Timber of nearby Blountstown. There, representatives from Enviva’s Cottondale pellet plant gave a presentation of Enviva’s operations in lieu of a planned tour of the facilities that had to be cancelled at the last minute. Afterward, attendees enjoyed the welcome reception that Thursday evening, and the ALC Executive Committee met. On Friday morning four educational seminars took place. First, forestry consultant and columnist Wendy Farrand Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

Friday night’s fun-filled auction generated more than $21,000 for the organization.

Logger Tim Southerland explained how he operates in northwest Florida. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 21

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spoke about career development and the need for attracting young millenials to the industry. She pointed out that only 6% of the current work force is under the age of 30. Farrand also encouraged loggers to take control of telling their own stories in order to shape public perception of the industry. “Nobody gives a hoot about the logging industry except loggers. Maybe the equipment dealers do,” she quipped. Comparing logging to the farming industry’s “no farms, no food” promotion, she added, “If you don’t take care of yourselves, no one else will.” Communications specialist Nick Smith followed Farrand with his own presentation, which continued the theme of “tell your story.” Smith, who along with his work for the ALC, is the founder and executive director of Oregon-based Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities, advised loggers to control the narrative of how their industry is viewed by the rest of society. “Tell the world what you do and why,” he said. By showing a short video about a logger that had been produced and distributed by the logger’s son, Smith demonstrated that social media can be an excellent tool for telling those stories. He noted that Facebook alone has 1.7 billion users. Former John Deere forestry official Tom Trone, now retired, led two panels to discuss different topics. The first panel, which discussed succession planning, included loggers Ken Martin, Charles Johns, Ken Swanstrom and Mark Turner. Trone, noting that an organized succession plan is rare, facilitated the panel discussion that touched on how to set up a succession plan, the time to think about doing this and how to value a business.

Louisiana logger/state legislator Jack McFarland, left, ALC’s 2016 Logger Activist of the Year, chats with Arkansas U.S. House member Bruce Westerman.

Trone’s second panel was titled “Growing Your Business.” It again included Turner and loggers Richard Schwab, Brian Nelson and Miles Anderson. Trone said, “If you’re only hauling to a single customer, then that’s not much more than indentured servitude.” Observing that two loggers in the same area can have drastically different experiences of their local market conditions, Trone said that diversification allows independence and flexibility to better weather the cyclical nature of the industry.

Going, Going, Gone Friday night after the president’s reception and dinner, the annual auction offered a fun time and raised over $21,000. Among the more noteworthy items, a carved wooden bowl went for $800 following a fierce bidding competition, and a hand-crafted, fully-ar-

Representing M.M. Wright Inc., TH’s 2016 Logging Business of the Year, were, from left, Erin, Travis, Frank and Susan Myers, and Stephen Wright. 22

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ticulated wooden skidder model sold for $2,200. Also, a Stihl Farm Boss chain saw was auctioned for Log-ALoad for Kids and went for $2,000. Saturday was dedicated to meetings of the ALC Board of Directors and the full membership. Committee reports were given at this time, and nominations for 2016-2017 were officially presented. These included President Ken Martin, Mississippi; First Vice President Mark Turner, Oregon; Second Vice President Chris Potts, Alabama; and Secretary-Treasurer Shannon Jarvis, Missouri; as well as several regional delegates.

Awards An awards luncheon followed the Saturday morning meetings. Outgoing president Richard Schwab presented President’s Awards to Congressman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas for introducing the Resilient Federal Forests Act (H.R. 2467), and to Rocky Bunnell of Bunnell’s Logging in New Hampshire for bringing loggers from Vermont and Connecticut to the ALC spring fly-in. Louisiana logger Jack McFarland was recognized as the ALC Logger Activist of the Year. ALC also recognized 27 sponsors. At the farewell dinner that night, DK Knight, co-publisher for Hatton-Brown Publishers, presented the Timber Harvesting Logging Business of the Year award to Stephen Wright and Frank Myers of M.M. Wright Inc., based in Gasburg, Va. ALC’s 2017 annual meeting will take place in late September in NatTH chez, Miss.

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PeoplePower! WENDY FARRAND wendyfarrand@gmail.com, 207-838-4435

Analyze Your Leadership Style There are all types of leadership styles—too many to list and perhaps some we don’t even yet know about. When you analyze your leadership style, where do you find yourself? If your style is command and control, then you are a dinosaur. If you yell and scream to make your point, or if you verbally pummel someone without asking questions, you are a dinosaur. If you feel like you can control people by belittling or embarrassing them, then you just might be a fossil. In an industry steeped in tradition, some things are very hard to let go. If you are a dinosaur when it comes to leadership, it’s time to step up and enter the modern age of management where emotional intelligence is the driver for leadership success. Even if you have been getting good results from the command and control style, those results will most likely diminish or disappear. Why? For the simple reason that the new incoming workforce will create an unbelievable amount of turnover, and your business may not be able to endure. Our future workforce will not tolerate the command and control style of leadership. Timber Harvesting’s 2016 Logging Business Survey makes it very clear that loggers under age 30—the future of our industry—make up just 6% of the logging sector. We must widen our nets and sharpen our skills to make our industry more attractive to the young people who are strong, sharp and waiting to “change the world.” As loggers you are skilled at dealing with many things that you have no control over, including weather, regulations, fuel prices, markets, disease, and so on. With all these fluctuating forces that you battle each day, why wouldn’t you improve in areas where you do have control? Why not work to strengthen your leadership skills by identifying areas for improvement and tackling them? Think about the millennials, those born between 1980 and 1999, and how they have been viewing the world. They have seen their parents work and dedicate their lives to companies where loyalty and tenure ultimately held no value. They have witnessed the pain first hand 24

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of dad or mom coming home from work with a pink slip, a paycheck today, then gone tomorrow. They have seen that loyalty means nothing when the ax falls. So in their defense, they have created their own loyalty, to themselves. They are their own brand. They want to know what a company has to offer them. This incoming workforce grew up being heard and recognized for their contributions. The command and control style of leadership stifles that desire to be heard, or the need to be a part of the bigger picture on the job. They want to understand opportunities they have for impacting your business and ultimately the communities in which you work. Innovation and a competitive advantage are key to sustaining a business. Remember that the best ideas for improvement or innovation are waiting to be hatched in the brains of your workers, those who deal with the challenges first hand. These operators or employees know where innovation lies when it comes to the jobs they do. As a leader, you need to extract those ideas by giving your employees a voice with a safe way to share, in an atmosphere of trust. Getting things done faster with less resources is the key to improved production, and as a savvy business person, you should be allowing those ideas to flow without judgement. Your style of leadership may be stifling innovation and opportunities for improvement, or even worse, creating an environment where employees are looking for an opportunity to leave. Instead, create an environment to showcase their strengths, where their input is heard and valued. Good leaders bring forth the things that can improve systems and quality by creating an atmosphere where people can be themselves and feel a part of the whole. I remember interviewing a new operator and right up front he said, “I will not work for someone who yells.” At the time I thought that was a tall order to express right in an interview, but in reality, in a profession where lives can be on the line, yelling and belittling can cause an employee to disengage. A disengaged employee can cost a logging

business thousands of dollars, or loss of life. Employee engagement is key to a safe and productive crew. Employee engagement is the key to the future of this industry. Younger workers will give their heart and soul in exchange for a place where they are valued, heard and feel they have impact. Somehow, as a leader, you have to play to their strengths and their desire to create an impact when they are at work. This has got to be done, not only in individual companies, but as an industry at large. We need to invite this young workforce to have an impact on the world through our industry. Find ways to solicit feedback from your employees so that they can feel a part of things. When your blood starts to boil, and you feel like you may shift into attack mode, take a deep breath, step aside with the crew member you perceive to be at fault, and simply ask “Why?” Then wait and listen. You may find out something you did not know that may even make you feel better about a bad situation. It’s important to remember that this style of leadership will stifle innovative ideas that may save you time and money. Think of this, if someone has embarrassed you, would you share a great money saving idea with them? No, you may have some choice words to say, or you may find yourself wishing that the person who made you feel small is riddled with bad luck. We need to adopt a more inclusive form of leadership and work together for the benefit of everyone. Dinosaurs do have their place when it comes to saving lives. We can see this in the military, where the command and control style of leadership in cases of dire emergency is extremely effective. Shouting out a command that may save someone’s life is the only time that command and control is valuable. Feelings and team building fall by the wayside when a life is held in the balance. On a daily basis a dinosaur can cause more damage than good. High turnover will impact your business in a negative way. We need all the young and strong additions to our industry that we can get. Keep that dinosaur in check; let him out only when danger is looming. Otherwise, you may find yourself alone in the TH woods.

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10 Keys To Fleet Safety When managed correctly, it can have a positive impact on the bottom line.

ommitment To Safety—This commitment from management or owner should be reflected in a Fleet Safety Program that stresses and endorses safety principles. The safety of the lives of employees and the lives of the general public are placed above all else (production, sales, etc.) Management has the attitude that all accidents are preventable and insists that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Management believes that safety can be managed like any other business function, in that when managed correctly it can have a positive impact on the bottom line.

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Management shares its vision of and commitment to safety with the rest of the organization via a Written Safety Policy Statement that incorporates written safety policies and rules that are enforced. Among other things these policies cover vehicle use, drugs and alcohol, following distance, behind the wheel distractions, backing, route deviation, and reporting of accidents. Performance reviews and pay and bonuses of middle management, supervisors, and workers are tied to safety performance. Involve everyone in the organization in doing ‘safety

things,’ such as encouraging safety suggestions, which are taken seriously, and rotating membership on a safety committee and accident review committee. Initial Driver Screening Procedures—These are written hiring standards and practices. Examples include a mandatory prior experience requirement (in similar size vehicle); minimum age requirement; driving record (MVR) assessment for moving violations; driving record assessment (MVR) for chargeable accidents;

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pre-employment drug testing; driving skills assessment (documented road test); and previous employer/reference checks and criminal background check. Ongoing Driver Screening Procedures—These include an annual review of driving record by management and random drug and alcohol testing. Initial Driver Training/Education Programs—These include a probationary period after hiring or promotion to driver; documented training on essential job functions, equipment, and safety rules; supervised on-the-job training period; documentation of feedback from on-the-job trainers (with strengths and deficiencies noted); counseling and retraining on deficient areas and skills; and final documented driving skills/essential job functions assessment before new driver goes out on own. Ongoing Driver Training/Education Programs—These include defensive driving; regular documented safety meetings that address identifi-

Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

able accident trends; regular safety reminders (posters, paycheck stuffers, dispatch safety announcements); special refresher training for drivers involved in accidents or observed in unsafe driving behavior. Regular Driver Supervision— These include clandestine observations of drivers (documented and reviewed with the driver); dcocumentation of feedback from a reporting service, customers, or general public (reviewed with driver); use of engine monitoring devices; use of GPS tracking devices; and use of DriveCam or SmartDrive. Driver Recognition/Safety Incentives—These include individual safety performance recognition and/or bonuses; and group/team safety performance recognition, bonuses, or competitions. Active Safety Committee—All levels of the organization are represented in this group, which has a defined purpose and agenda and has the ability to identify and resolve problems. All ef-

forts are documented and communicated to the rest of the organization. In-Depth Accident Investigation/ Review—All accidents involve detailed information gathering and investigation; management and/or accident review committee reviews all accidents; all drivers involved in chargeable accidents are disciplined and retrained (documented); losses are analyzed for trends and problem areas; and loss trend analysis results are communicated throughout the organization and problem areas are addressed in ongoing safety education and training. Vehicle/Equipment Maintenance Program—Document pre/post-trip inspections by a competent and certified maintenance staff or vendor; document PM inspections and service at regular intervals; keep complete maintenance records; record maintenance and repair trend analysis; and add additional safety equipment (convex fender spot mirrors, reflective tape, grill guards, extra lights, etc.) when TH appropriate. (Source: Alteris Insurance Services, Inc.)

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Dust&Rust Readers are encouraged to send historical items.

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EquipmentWorld Wisconsin Operator Wins Loader Contest

Rotochopper Hosts 6th Demo Day

Left to right, Russell Meyers (first place), Bill Zeller (second place), and Brian Hartwig (third place).

Rotochopper staged more than 20 demos that featured 10 machines.

Drawing more than 200 attendees, Rotochopper’s 6th annual Demo Day in St. Martin, Minn. was its largest event yet, bringing in guests from worldwide to see the “Perfect In One Pass” theme in action. The day began with tours of the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, giving attendees the opportunity to see Rotochopper grinders in every stage of manufacture, from cutting to final inspection and testing. The tours allowed guests to meet the teams that design, build and support their Rotochopper equipment. Rotochopper President/CEO Art de St. Aubin welcomed attendees with opening remarks that focused on the benefits of working with a factory-direct manufacturer: “Today, you’re going to witness what Rotochopper stands for: loyalty, community, commitment and service. This commitment allows us to create new products and equipment enhancements based on your feedback. We represent only one name, Rotochopper, and we’re damn proud of it.” The demonstrations began with Rotochopper’s 950 HP B-66 showing off the convenience of a Track & Dolly system, coming in the yard on tires, switching to tracks and ready to grind logs and whole trees within minutes. Rotochopper completed more than 20 demos with a variety of raw materials and end products, featuring 10 machines: 950 HP B-66 Track & Dolly, 765 HP B-66, 540 HP TS-2 track shredder, 540 HP FP-66, 475 HP MC-266, 400 HP EC-366, 350 HP MP-2, 127 HP CP-118 wood chip processor, 75 HP RMT test mill and the certified factory refurbished 200 HP SB-24E. The day ended with Rotochopper’s trademark: a grind and color finale with the 950 HP B-66, and 475 HP MC-266. Attendees got to watch the machines grind and color black and red mulch side-by-side. Customers and prospects spent the evening before and after Demo Day networking and comparing the ins and outs of various grinding operations and fiber commodity markets over drinks and dinner; as well as building friendships and business relationships that will prove fruitful for years to come. “Every year, Rotochopper Demo Day gets better and better,” comments Brad Bennett, owner of Novem Waste, Inc. “As a business owner, the experience is invaluable for me. I get to see the latest products and equipment that will provide new markets for my business and machine, and meet other Rotochopper owners and operators. The connections I’ve made at Demo Day are vital to the success of my business, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” 30

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A Wisconsin operator narrowly won the Caterpillar Loader Championship at the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo. Russell Meyers of Wausaukee won first place with a time of 2 minutes and 44.07 seconds. Barely one second separated Meyers and Bill Zeller of Germfask, Mich., who placed second with a time of 2 minutes and 45.19 seconds. The Caterpillar Loader Championship was held all three days of the September 8-10 expo. It featured a Cat 559C knuckleboom loader provided by Cat dealer Yancey Cat. The championship raised $992 for Log-A-Load for Kids. The funds include voluntary contestant donations, a matching contribution from Caterpillar, and merchandise sales. The Caterpillar Loader Championship drew 82 participants. Rounding out the top three was Brian Hartwig of Medford, Wis., with a time of 2 minutes and 53 seconds. The top three winners received a trophy, jacket and cash prizes.

Morbark Appoints David Herr As CEO Morbark recently named David Herr as Chief Executive Officer. In addition to being an active member of the current Morbark Board, he brings extensive experience with products and services companies. He replaces Dan Ruskin, who resigned due to health issues. “The board is thankful for Dan’s leadership over the past six months as

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EquipmentWorld the company has transitioned to the next phase in its development,” says Ray Whiteman, Chairman of the Board. “Our thoughts are with Dan and his family, and we wish him a speedy recovery.” Herr is an accomplished industry executive with more than 30 years of experience in operations, supply chain management and executive management with major companies, including Navistar, GE Aircraft Engines and BAE Systems. In his most recent role as executive vice president at BAE Systems, he was responsible for one of the largest government service sectors in the U.S. with more than 19,000 employees. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Master of Business Administration degree from Northern Kentucky University. He is relocating from Ft. Wayne to Morbark headquarters in Winn, Mich. “Morbark has built a great reputation with its customers and partners. I look forward to moving from a board position to leverage my operational experience to further grow the Morbark franchise,” Herr says.

SpecSys Purchases Former Prentice Plant A Minnesota-based company has acquired a heavy equipment factory in Prentice, Wis. formerly owned by Caterpillar. SpecSys Inc. (Specialty Systems), a contract engineering and manufacturing company headquartered in Montevideo, bought the plant as part of its ongoing strategy to seek rurally located manufacturing operations, according to CEO Kevin Wald. SpecSys provides 40,000 hours of manufacturing services and 5,000 hours of engineering services each month. “You are hard pressed to find a major equipment manufacturer in the world that we do not have an existing relationship with, “Wald says. At 220,000 sq. ft., the Prentice plant is a “nice step up in capacity,” Wald adds. “The values you find in a rural work force have been a cornerstone of our companies from day one.” SpecSys intends to start producing forestry products machines in Prentice but hopes to also manufacture equip32

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Morbark Shows Off 12 Machines

Morbark guests size up the new 223 flail during Demo Days in Winn. Mich.

Morbark, LLC, welcomed 250 customers, members of its dealer network, and other guests from around the world for its 10th Demo Days event in Winn, Mich. on October 13-14. Morbark’s Demo Days give attendees the opportunity to not only watch the equipment in action, but also meet the people who build and support the equipment as they see firsthand the manufacturing processes. Events included factory tours, networking opportunities, vendor booths, and a chance to see the equipment up close, as well as try out Morbark’s Boxer line of compact utility loaders. The event culminated with demonstrations of equipment for the forestry, biomass, recycling and tree care markets, including the: HT1042 Slow-Speed Shredder, shown at Morbark’s electric test panel 3200 Electric Wood Hog horizontal grinder, shown at Morbark’s electric test panel 3200 track wood hog horizontal grinder 223 flail 23 Chiparvestor 30/36 NCL whole tree drum chipper 40/36 NCL whole tree microchipper Beever M12R chipper Beever M18R chipper Beever M20R chipper with loader 6600 track wood hog horizontal grinder 1300B tub grinder ment for mining, agriculture, railroad and energy companies. The plant was founded in 1945 by Leo Heikkinen and produced the Prentice hydraulic loader. Wald’s parent company, Ritalka, supports other companies and government agencies. SpecSys, one of the Ritalka’s subsidiaries, now has 275 workers and 700,000 sq. ft. of facilities in eight sites in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “We in the village of Prentice are extremely happy and proud of Ritalka-SpecSys operations purchasing the Prentice Cat operations,” says Prentice

Industrial Development Corp. President Dale Heikkinen. “We want to thank the Wald family for considering Prentice.”

Barko Names Talaga As Product Manager Steve Talaga has been appointed Product Manager for forestry equipment manufacturer Barko Hydraulics, LLC, part of the Pettibone Heavy Equipment Group. Talaga is responsible for product line development, market analysis, and general support and interaction with Barko dealers and customers. Prior to his new position, Talaga

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EquipmentWorld worked for sister company Pettibone/ Traverse Lift, LLC for four and a half years, first as a service technician and then as a design engineer. Talaga has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering technology from Michigan Technological University.

Woodland Joins Tigercat Network

Truckworx Awarded By PACCAR, Kenworth PACCAR Parts and Kenworth Truck Co. recently held their 2016 Parts and Service Meeting in Orlando, Fla. where Birmingham, Alabamabased Truckworx was honored as TRP All-Makes Dealer Of The Year and received Kenworth’s prestigious Gold Award, presented to top Kenworth dealers. Dealers were awarded for their outstanding achievements in various PACCAR parts programs. Performance criteria included parts purchase growth, retail sales growth, absorption, PACCAR MX Engine technician staffing and service profit contribution. “We are honored to be one of two Kenworth dealers to receive the Gold Award for dealer excellence and the TRP All-Makes Dealer Of The Year. I am extremely proud of our team for their commitment to continuously grow our business without compromising our high level of service,” comments Truckworx President Will Bruser.

Woodland Equipment has broadened its equipment offerings.

Tigercat has added Woodland Equipment as its new dealer in the upper Great Lakes region. Based in Iron River, Mich., Woodland will cover northern Wisconsin, the upper peninsula of Michigan, and the northern portion of lower Michigan. “We are excited to introduce Tigercat to our customers in the region,” says Woodland Equipment owner Ron Beauchamp. “Tigercat offers the broadest portfolio and the highest quality in forestry—more productivity, less downtime, longer lasting equipment.” Woodland has been family owned since 1974, with the next generation assuming leadership in 2014.

Mid-Atlantic Logging & Biomass Expo September 15-16, 2017 • Selma-Smithﬁeld, NC

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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InnovationWay John Deere Swing Machines

Tigercat 632E Skidder

John Deere’s new 2154G/2156G and 2654G/2656G forestry swing machines are designed to increase operator efficiency and performance, from loading to processing big wood. The 2156G and 2656G log loaders are distinguished by the 56 model number, while the forestry excavators retain the 54 model number. All four models are equipped with a PowerTech Plus 6.8L engine. On the 2154G and 2156G models, the new engine reduces fuel usage by 5-8%. The G-Series includes a climate-controlled, redesigned cab that much larger and quieter and is equipped with ergonomic controls and excellent window clarity. The forestry excavator models feature a standard 25% larger side-entry cab, while the log loaders/processors have a standard elevated rear entry cab. The design on the G-Series features significant undercarriage improvements. The 2154G and 2156G models have been updated with larger rollers, while the 2654G and 2656G are available with an optional longer track. Improvements to the boom, arm, mainframe and undercarriage increase the life of the structures. The models feature a 35% reduction in electrical components. The machines are equipped with a larger cooling system with hydraulically reversing fans to increase airflow and lower operating temperature. Visit johndeere.com.

The new Tigercat 632E skidder is powered by the Tigercat FPT N67 engine, which provides full emissions compliance for Tier 2 and Tier 4f along with excellent fuel economy. The engine delivers 285 HP at 2,200 rpm, and the Tier 2 option delivers 288 HP at 2,100 rpm. Tigercat reports that the 632E can be equipped with the largest grapple offered on any four-wheel skidder on the market. The larger 2,1 m² (23 ft²) option has a tip-to-tip opening of 152 in. The hydraulic system and driveline have been extensively upgraded. Several components and structures have been upsized for improved durability. The 632E uses a larger main hydraulic pump and valves for faster operation and better multifunctioning. Hydraulic cylinders are larger, allowing the machine to run pressures 10% lower while increasing performance by 10% on average. Cylinder rod sizes have been increased by 25%. The new OB20 rear axle provides 47% more torque capacity and nearly twice the life on all bearings. The axle mounting has been redesigned to use four high-strength 30 mm (1.18") bolts and two 30 mm studs on each side mounted to a massive 77 mm (3") thick steel frame. The new design transfers the force to the skidder chassis and can better handle the higher torque load of the new axle and uprated EHS drive. Visit tigercat.com.

Ponsse H8HD Harvester Head

Caterpillar Forest Machines

The new Ponsse H8HD harvester head is designed for harvesting and processing big timber in demanding conditions. It continues the success of the smaller Ponsse H7HD harvester head and can be installed on the Ponsse Bear harvester and on over 20-ton track-based machines. The new harvester head model offers a superior performance considering its size. A powerful feed, combined with its geometry which firmly supports larger trunks on feed rollers, guarantees extreme productivity and fuel economy. Thanks to the Opti automation system, it has an excellent cutting precision, and trees are always fed directly to the specific length at maximum speed. Ponsse H8HD is also available with a top saw for processing curvy trees with a lot of branches. The Ponsse harvester head range also includes Ponsse H10 intended purely for processing. Visit ponsse.com.

Caterpillar offers two new Forest Machine models, the 538 and 558. They are the first models in the 500 series to meet U.S. EPA Tier 4f final emission standards. Both machines feature outstanding fuel efficiency and optimized work tools while increasing horsepower and swing torque. The machines are versatile, purpose-built units that can be customized to perform a range of tasks. The 538 is available in a general forestry version for road building, stroke delimber applications, grapple applications, site preparation and processing. Both the 538 and the 558 are available in a log loader configuration for loading, shovel logging, butt-n-top/ power clam applications, and mill yard activities. The 538 and 558 feature a new design, engine, and opti-

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InnovationWay

mized components and work tools to provide excellent fuel savings and productivity. The 538 features a wider track gauge and heavy-duty counterweight to maximize stability and operator experience in diverse logging conditions. The heart of the 538 is the 164 HP (122kW) Cat C7.1 ACERT Tier 4f engine. The 558 is more powerful, equipped with the 239 HP (178kW) C7.1 ACERT Tier 4f engine, a twin-turbocharged power plant. Both models feature uniform speed control to maintain a constant engine speed regardless of load. The main pumps, control valves and hydraulic oil tank are located close together to allow for shorter tubes and lines between components, reducing friction and pressure drops. Updates to the hydraulic system translate to an impressive boost in performance: maximum horsepower, greater swing torque, and added lift capacity. In addition, an electronic boom regeneration valve minimizes pump flow when the boom lowers by regenerating oil from one end of the boom cylinder to the other, saving energy and improving fuel efficiency. The engines feature an improved side-by-side cooling system with increased cooling capacity for both models. The radiator package has been updated, and fin spacing has increased 25% to improve airflow and cooling capability. Visit cat.com/forestry.

Log Max ProCut Processor Optimized for LogMate 500, the ProCut 2330 from Log Max is simply designed for optimal processing of 23" diameter timber. Extended front knives make it easier for handling large logs and processing operations. Precise highspeed feeding and high traction increases consistency in length measuring. Three drive feed rollers provide high traction to firmly feed the tree through the head. The triple grip also limits slipping, and prevents bark from clogging the measuring wheel. Visit logmax.com. 38

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SelectCuts

Bob Weisertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Equipment Love Affair Bob Weisert, a retired heavy equipment operator who settled in the northern Minnesota town of Squaw Lake, does amazing things with wood, as confirmed by the accompanying photos. His acute interest in equipment and his advanced woodworking talent enable him to build extremely Bob Weisert detailed logging and construction machine replicas that border on functioning works of art. The wooden components are actually functioning systems. They include hydraulic rams and cylinders, self-leveling cab, sawhead, swiveling seat, grapple, oscillating axles and rotating tracks

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SelectCuts and slasher blade. Even the mirrors are adjustable! Weisert doesn’t replicate these works from scaled plans purchased at a hobby store; he builds everything from photos he takes or those appearing in brochures or calendars. He handcrafts every single component, and each machine takes hundreds of hours to build. His replicas include track and wheel-type feller-bunchers, knuckleboom loaders, skidders, slashers, harvesters, forwarders, bulldozers and more. At the American Loggers Council’s annual meeting in late September, the Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers of Minnesota (ACLT) donated a Weisert six-wheel drive bogie skidder, complete with 12 tires, for the ALC’s fund raising auction. It went for a cool $2,200. Earlier, ACLT asked Weisert to craft a six-axle log truck and presented it to Minnesota Cong. Rick Nolan in recognition of Nolan’s successful leadership in sponsoring the Transportation Bill amendment that allows six-axle log trucks to access an interstate highway between Duluth and Cloquet, Minn. (Thanks to ACLT’s Scott Dane for providing information and photos for this item.)

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SelectCuts ALC Attracts 130; Tidwells Recognized The Alabama Loggers Council held its annual meeting at the Marriott Prattville Hotel and Conference Center in Prattville, Ala. on October 29. Board chairman Chris Potts and executive director Joel Moon welcomed more than 130 loggers and friends. The meeting included presentations on a variety of topics, including an overview of the state’s forest industry, BMPs, trucking regulations and compliance, insurance, safety, endangered species and the American tree farm system. In addition, the event generated $1,353 in donations for Log A Load for Kids. Attendees earned six hours of continuing education credit as part of the state’s professional logging manager (PLM) program. Keith Plott, procurement manager for Louisiana Pacific’s Hanceville plant, presented the 2016 Albama Out-

standing Logger of the Year award to Freddy Tidwell. A second generation logger who grew up in the woods and worked on his father’s crew before branching out on his own, Tidwell and his wife Cyndi started their company, F&C Logging, LLC, based in Double Springs, in 1993. The recognition was given in part for Tidwell’s outstanding commitment to safety—his company has had no accidents in the woods, ever, and to his

standard of excellence for the quality of his work. For instance, upon attending his first PLM training in 1997, Tidwell realized that his crew was already doing most of what was taught. According to Plott, Tidwell is devoted to state BMPs and SFI protocols, often carrying a prism to check basal areas, and has served as a mentor to younger loggers, hiring them as subcontractors and even using his own trucks to help ➤ 46 them gain experience. In his

LP’s Keith Plott, left, recognized Freddy and Cyndi Tidwell as the ALC’s 2016 Alabama Logger of the Year.

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SelectCuts 43 ➤ emotional acceptance speech, Tidwell described himself as “destined to be a logger, from the beginning.”

Wolfe & Parker Receive FRA Honor Wolfe & Parker Logging of Moorefield, W. Va. was honored by the Forest Resources Assn. (FRA) and Stihl Inc. as FRA’s 2016 Appalachian Region Outstanding Logger at an awards dinner on September 14. FRA Appalachian Region Chairman Jay Phaup presented the honorees with a wooden crosscut saw plaque, and Rick Bryan of Bryan Equipment, a regional Stihl distributor, provided a $250 check and a gift certificate for a chain saw. Co-owners Randall Wolfe, Donald Parker, and Wayne Wolfe run a mechanized, highly productive operation, yet they take great care to conduct and close out harvesting operations in a careful, environmentally sound manner. They often harvest on George Washington National Forest and have excellent working relation-

ships with West Virginia Div. of Forestry foresters. Jared Simpson, a forester for Allegheny Wood Products who has a working relationship with Wolfe & Parker, commented that Wolfe & Parker gets many referrals and harvest job requests because they aim to please the landowners. Wolfe FRA Appalachian Region Chairman Jay Phaup, right, and Bryan & Parker Logging is noted for being depend- Equipment’s Rick Bryan, left, congratulate Donald Parker, left center, and Randall Wolfe. able, exhibiting professionalism, practicing good log utilizaon its board. The company has retion, and having a strong work ethic. ceived the West Virginia Div. of ForRandall Wolfe commented that estry award for Loggers of Excellence “When we first started logging, peoevery year since that program started. ple only gave us six months before FRA’s Outstanding Logger Award they thought we would be out of busiprogram is designed to raise the visibilness. But here we are 28 years later. ity of professional logging contractors All we do is work.” and to encourage other loggers to adopt Wolfe & Parker belongs to the West the performance of the award winners. Virginia Forestry Assn. and Parker is a The Regional Award winner becomes a founding member of the West Virginia nominee for FRA’s National OutstandLoggers Council and currently serves ing Logger recognition.

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January 10-11, 2017— Missouri Forest Products Assn. 2017 winter meeting, Jefferson City, Mo. Call 573-6343252; visit moforest.org.

This issue of Timber Harvesting is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products. Alliance Tire Americas

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January 10-12—Associated California Loggers annual meeting, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno, Nev. Call 916441-7940; visit calog.com.

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February 9-11—68th Annual 2017 Forest Products & Constr. Equip. Expo, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson, Calif. Call 530-222-1290; visit sierracascadeexpo.com. February 23-25—Oregon Logging Conference & Show, Eugene Hilton & Lane Events Center & Fairgrounds, Eugene, Ore. Call 541-686-9191; visit oregonloggingconference.com. February 24-25—Carolina Loggers Assn. annual meeting, Hilton Wilmington Riverside, Wilmington, NC. Call 828421-8444; visit ncloggers.com. 46

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