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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

Volume 42 • Number 7 • SEPTEMBER 2017 Founded in 1976 • Our 436th Consecutive Issue

Renew or subscribe on the web: www.timberprocessing.com

Executive Editor David (DK) Knight Editor-in-Chief: Rich Donnell Managing Editor: Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor: David Abbott Associate Editor: Jessica Johnson Associate Editor: Jay Donnell Art Director/Prod. Manager: Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coordinator: Patti Campbell Circulation Director: Rhonda Thomas Marketing/Media: Jordan Anderson Classified Advertising: Bridget DeVane • 334.699.7837 800.669.5613 • bdevane7@hotmail.com Advertising Sales Representatives: Southern USA Randy Reagor P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 904.393.7968 • FAX: 334.834.4525 E-mail: reagor@bellsouth.net

NEWSFEED

West Fraser Strikes Again

SWEDEN’S SÖDRA

OPENING FACES

EMPIRE LUMBER

Forest Owner Association Banks On Lumber Editor Wants To Remember 9/11 Taking Care Of The Big Ones

TWIN RIVERS LAND & TIMBER

Clay Crosby Has Biomass On The Mind

MACHINERY ROW

PRODUCT SCANNER

Edger Optimization At Oberhofer Latest From Cone Omega

Midwest USA, Eastern Canada John Simmons 32 Foster Cres. Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1R 1W1 905.666.0258 • FAX: 905.666.0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com

COVER: Södra, the Sweden-based timberland owners association, has several sawmills running, including Unnefors, which operates a Söderhamn Eriksson sawing line that’s now serviced by USNR. PAGE 14. (David Abbott photo) VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.timberprocessing.com

Western USA, Western Canada Tim Shaddick 4056 West 10th Avenue Vancouver BC Canada V6L 1Z1 604.910.1826 • FAX: 604.264.1367 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca

Member Verified Audit Circulation

Kevin Cook 604.619.1777 E-mail: lordkevincook@gmail.com

International Murray Brett Aldea de las Cuevas 66, Buzon 60 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain Tel: +34 96 640 4165 • FAX: +34 96 640 4331 E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net

Timber Processing (ISSN 0885-906X, USPS 395-850) is published 10 times annually (January/February and July/August issues are combined) by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscription Information—TP is free to qualified owners, operators, managers, purchasing agents, supervisors, foremen and other key personnel at sawmills, pallet plants, chip mills, treating plants, specialty plants, lumber finishing operations, corporate industrial woodlands officials and machinery manufacturers and distributors in the U.S. All non-qualified U.S. Subscriptions are $55 annually: $65 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.timberprocessing.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Timber Processing 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 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 endorse nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Timber Processing. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reject any advertisement which it deems inappropriate. Copyright ® 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and at additional mailing offices. Printed in U.S.A.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to Timber Processing, P.O. Box 2419, Montgomery, Alabama 36102-2419 Other Hatton-Brown publications: Timber Harvesting • Southern Loggin’ Times Wood Bioenergy • Panel World • Power Equipment Trade

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THEISSUES

David Abbott Senior Associate Editor

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS 14

lthough published from North America, Timber Processing is actually an international magazine. Since late 2009, a portion of our readership has been in European countries. As such, we make an effort to cover international aspects of the industry as much as possible. Unfortunately, frequent international travel, such as the editors undertake domestically to prepare the articles that appear each issue, can be costly, but we do what we can. As for me personally, in 2010 I went to Germany and Austria and brought back several articles on companies there with sawmill supplier Springer and its affiliate Microtec. Those articles appeared in this magazine and others from Hatton-Brown Publishers. In 2013 I even brought back a story on a remote mill in Romania. Now that was an experience—dark brown tap water from the hotel sink, an irate taxi cab driver I thought might murder me. Fun times. This summer I had the opportunity to do some more international travel. For the second time, I attended the massive Elmia Wood show, held in Sweden in June (I had also been to the last Elmia, in 2013, just before my adventure in Romania). Elmia is advertised as the world’s largest forestry fair, and with a reported attendance of some 40,000, I believe it. The four-mile walking trail of live equipment demonstrations was PACKED. In fact it was so crowded that at one point, my colleague and I lost site of each other for just a second while I took a picture, and it took us more than an hour to find each other again. I skipped the second day of the four-day show to make a visit to the Södra Skogsägarna sawmill in Unnefors, about a 25-mile drive from Jönköping, the town where we stay during the Elmia show. Anders Frykman, a rep from Söderhamn Eriksson, a USNR subsidiary that supplied most of the mill’s machinery, picked me up at my hotel that morning. Anders had helped set up the meeting before I left for Sweden. Now, I haven’t mentioned yet that this summer was very much the opposite of my two previous June trips to Sweden, both of which offered very warm, dry weather. This time it was rainy and cold. On top of that, for much of the two weeks before I left, every single person in my immediate family had been very ill with a stomach virus; my older son caught it twice. I took care of and cleaned up after all of them, and somehow never caught it. I just knew I was going to come down with it the morning of my flight to Sweden, but as it happened, fortune smiled and I escaped the virus unscathed. Until the morning of my meeting with Södra, that is. Thank God I never actually got sick but I sure felt like I was going to at any minute. Even so I managed to do the interview and tour the mill. The article that resulted from that visit begins on page 14 of this issue, and by now I’ve sure you’ve seen this issue’s cover photo from the Södra Unnefors sawmill. Interestingly, Södra is actually a kind of a cooperative of many different private timberland owners who collectively own the means of production as a way of getting better prices for all of them. It’s not quite like anything we have in the U.S., to my knowledge anyway. It might, however, be something that some might want to consider, especially as many find their timberland holdings shrinking and as the pattern of forest ownership has been changing TP in the last several years. After all, there’s strength in numbers. Contact David Abbott, ph: 334-834-1170; fax 334-834-4525; e-mail: dabbott@hattonbrown.com

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NEWSFEED

BUYOUT OF SYP MILLS RESUMES

est Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is acquiring the operations of the Gilman Companies from the Howard Gilman Foundation and other shareholders for US$430 million. The Gilman Companies are composed of six sawmills and a fingerjoint mill in Florida and Georgia as well as an administrative office in St. Marys, Ga. The transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter. The transaction continues a trend—that had quieted somewhat—of Canadian-based wood products corporations purchasing southern yellow pine sawmills. Counting this transaction, more than 40 SYP sawmills have sold to Canadian counterparts in the past 10 years, mostly to West Fraser, Canfor and Interfor The Gilman operations include sawmills in Dudley, Fitzgerald and Blackshear, Ga.; Lake Butler, Maxville and Perry, Fla.; and a fingerjoint/millwork plant in St. Marys, Ga. These operations employ 900 and have a combined annual production capacity of 700MMBF. All of the mills produce lumber from southern yellow pine. In the 12 months ended June 30, 2017, the Gilman Companies generated EBITDA of US$67 million on estimated sales of US$330 million. The acquisition represents a further step in West Fraser’s continuing expansion of its U.S. lumber operations. Upon completion of this transaction, West Fraser will have combined Canadian and U.S. lumber production capacity of 7.2 billion BF. Canadian capacity of spruce/pine/fir (SPF) lumber will represent 57% of this capacity and U.S. capacity of southern yellow pine (SYP) lumber will represent 43%. 6

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Gilman Building Products purchased Perry Lumber in Florida 20 years ago.

“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a U.S. lumber producer of a meaningful scale with high quality facilities and a culture similar to our own,” comments Ted Seraphim, West Fraser president and CEO. “We are delighted to announce this transaction,” says Mary Farrell, president of The Howard Gilman Foundation. “West Fraser is a leader in the North American forest products industry, and through them we have found a true partner for Gilman Building Products capable of providing strategic expertise and capital to grow and modernize the business. “The Foundation has been a proud steward of the company for nearly 20 years and believes that a combination with West Fraser will deliver longterm benefits to our loyal and long serving employees and the communities in which we operate,” Farrell adds. West Fraser intends to finance the acquisition with cash on hand, available lines of credit and a new five-year $200 million credit facility to be made available in connection with the acquisition. Annual synergies of approximately US$10 million are anticipated to be achieved within three years as a result

Dudley, GA

Fitzgerald, GA

Blackshear, GA

Maxville, FL

Perry, FL

Lake Butler, FL

of this transaction. The synergies are expected to be achieved through non-capital operational improvements and through implementation of best practices. The acquired mills also provide an attractive pipeline of high payback capital projects over the next three to five years, according to West Fraser. According to Forisk Consulting, the deal will allow West Fraser to overtake Weyerhaeuser as the largest lumber producer in the region. The total capacity for operating softwood lumber mills in the South currently stands at 19.6 billion BF, according

to Forisk, and West Fraser will control 3.1 billion or 16% of the region’s capacity. The total portion of southern softwood lumber supply that is produced by Canadian firms will increase to more than 30% after the deal is complete, and will increase further after Conifex opens its refurbished sawmill in El Dorado, Ark. later this year. While the influence of small and mid-sized regional sawmill companies has diminished in recent years, Forisk notes, they still account for more than 40% of the South’s softwood lumber TP production.

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NEWSFEED JOHNSON ALWAYS PUT IT IN WRITING Eric A. Johnson, longtime executive editor of Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, and a devout spokesman for the wood products industry and its participants, died July 18 surrounded by family at the homestead in Coloma, Wis. He was 59. Following a brief career as a logger, Johnson was hired in 1982 as the editor of the Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, published in Old Forge, NY. He worked for the magazine and for Northeastern Loggers’ Assn. for almost 35 years and was highly regarded for his

ability to communiumn and continucate the benefits of ing to travel. His responsible forest last column admanagement and dressed his June keep his regional trip to the Elmia readership abreast Wood show in of news and develSweden and the opments in an everemphasis in that changing industry. region on smaller Johnson was machine sizing Johnson in his element due to sensitive born in San Francisco, Calif., the son of David harvesting tract requirements. and Marcia (Caudle) Johnson. “Eric was always a pleasure He married Patricia Bove on to be around,” comments DK May 5, 1978 in Madison, Knight, executive editor of Wis. He had graduated high Timber Harvesting magazine. school in Taipei, Taiwan. “He was gracious and honorLater, he attended UWable. He had a lot of followers Stevens Point and graduated out there. I always enjoyed with a degree in Journalism reading his editorials and he from UW-Madison. was good at what he did. He Johnson worked until the really loved the industry.” end, writing his monthly colNortheastern Loggers’

Assn. recently presented Johnson with the 2016 Outstanding Service to the Industry award at the annual loggers’ banquet in Brewer, Me. In addition to writing, Johnson enjoyed back-country skiing, biking, gardening, and producing prodigious stacks of firewood. Johnson is survived by his wife Patti of Clinton, NY, his mother Marcia of Coloma, Wis., his two children Jason Johnson of Duluth, Minn. and Sarah Schulman of San Francisco, his nephew Ryan Devine of Baraboo, Wis. and his sister Julie Klenko of Coloma. He was preceded in death by his father and an infant brother. Private family services were held.

DOST WAS EXCELLENT WOODSMAN (AND PITCHER) Richard (Dicky) Edward Dost, Jr., who was instrumental in the formation of two sawmill operations, and who pitched in the New York Mets minor league organization, died at his home in Louisa, Va. on August 5 surrounded by family and friends after a brief battle with cancer. He was 69. Born September 13, 1947, Dost grew up in Vienna, Va. and graduated from James Madison High School in 1966 where he achieved All State honors in baseball and football. The New York Mets drafted Dost in 1966 as the 81st player taken in a draft that included Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. Dost who was listed at 6-3, 195, pitched in the minors for two seasons, and reached A ball with the Mets’ Durham Bulls team in 1967. In 1973 Dost began a whole tree chipping operation, Chips, Inc., and later built a stationary chip mill in Troy, Va. in 1983. For several years, Clark Diehl, who worked at Diehl Equipment in Gatesville, NC, tried to convince Dost to build a sawmill to process chip-n-saw logs. They teamed up in 1986 and in 1987 broke ground on a scragg mill. In 1993 they built a new sawmill nearby, which they substantially upgraded in 1997 and which included an early curve-sawing gang from Hi-Tech Engineering. Dost focused more on log procurement while Diehl handled lumber sales. In 2000 Dost and Diehl launched ArborTech Forest Products in Blackstone, Va., along with John Talley and Tim Stephenson, and in 2001 they started up a new high production SYP sawmill that included a large log side with double length infeed and a small log side with curve-sawing. Dost was a vibrant man, deeply engaged in the varied aspects of his dynamic life. He was an avid outdoorsman— hunting, fishing and working on his Louisa farm. He also relished spending time with his friends. Many describe him as “larger than life.” Dost was a Past Worshipful Master of Reedville #321 Ma10

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Dicky Dost, at right, with Clark Diehl in 1997

sonic Lodge and Louisa Lodge #58. He served as president of the Louisa Industrial Development Assn. He was inducted to the James Madison Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Dost was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen and Dick Dost of Vienna, Va. He was husband of 20 years to Karen Dost of Louisa, brother to Joann Dost of Pebble Beach, Calif. and Jacqueline Lee Dost of Vienna, father of Wally Dost and Heather Moroch of Louisa, and doting grandfather to seven grandchildren. A Celebration of Life ceremony was held August 27 at Dicky and Karen’s Fair Oak’s Farm in Louisa. The Masonic Lodge #58 Of Louisa and #321 of Reedville conducted a Last Rights Ceremony. Please send any desired donations to the Dicky Dost Memorial Fund, Virginia Community Bank, PO Box 1059, Troy, VA 22974. The monies will be distributed to community groups that had special meaning to Dost in the Louisa area.

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MONTH 2008

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NEWSFEED WARD LED ROSSI’S EMPORIUM MILL Jay Ward, former general manager at the Rossi Group’s Emporium Hardwoods sawmill operation in Emporium, Pa., died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 10 in Akron, Ohio. He was 54. Ward was born in Lackawanna, NY to Charles and Nancy Ward. He graduated from the National Hardwood Lumber Assn. Grading School in Memphis, Tenn. in 1986, the same year he married his wife, Stephanie, in Jamestown, NY. He began working for Rossi Group as a lumber grader in Higganum, Conn. and worked his way up to general manager at Rossi Group’s Emporium Hardwoods in 2012. Under Ward, the Emporium operation became Rossi Group’s flagship and key ex-

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port production facility. Family was always Ward’s favorite accomplishment. He was a proud Eagle Scout and a passionate outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking, cooking and board games. His family will remember him by his selfless love, humor, work ethic and tendency to engage in spontaneous laughter. He was central part of every family gathering. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Ward, and father-in-law, Dana Bohall. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Ward; two children, Taylor and Ethan Ward; mother, Nancy Ward; brother, Barry (Janet) Ward; nephews, Brandon and Kyle Ward; motherin-law, Barbara Bohall; and brothers-in-law, Mark and Roderick (Johanna) Bohall. A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 19 at St. Hillary

Catholic Church in Fairlawn, Ohio. Memorials gifts may be made to: The Taylor and Ethan Ward Memorial Education Fund, c/o Barry M. Ward Co., LPA, 1 Cascade Plaza 1000, Akron, OH 44333.

ONTARIO’S IWI PLANS SAWMILL International Wood Industries, an Ontario-based company whose principals have operated a sawmill in Europe and have been involved in timber harvesting in Ontario and Quebec for many years, reports it plans to invest $140 million and build a sawmill operation in Bonfield, Ontario. The company wants to locate its operation on 212 acres and build a sawmill, three dry kilns, planer mill with CNC machinery, hardwood flooring and moulding operations.

IWI expects to have all necessary permit approvals in place by mid-September and begin site work in October, with construction completed by December 2018 and production startup in January 2019. IWI President Gary Medwid says the facility will process both softwood and hardwood, producing lumber as well as value-added products such as tongue-and-groove decking, hardwood flooring and pre-packaged log homes. In addition, wood waste from the operation will be used on site to create pellets. He says IWI already has a couple of log supply commitments in place with those who have cutting rights, including the Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation. The proposal also includes a partnership with the Ottawa Valley Railway for a spur line.

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SWEDISH

KNOWHOW

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By David Abbott

Swedish landowners association has long history with wood production.

UNNEFORS, Sweden ith corporate headquarters in Växjö, Sweden, Södra Skogsägarna, which roughly translates to Southern Forest Owners, is an economic association of timberland owners in southern Sweden. It represents 50,000 forestland owners who collectively own more than half of the privately held timberland in the southern part of the country. The average size of each member’s holdings is 50 hectares (123.5 acres). As Sweden’s largest forestry cooperative, Södra, or South, employs about 3,600 in everything from forestry management and environmental conservation to accounting, sales and product development. The group also owns several mills to process its wood and markets the products in both Swedish and international markets. “Landowners started to go together to get better prices and get better disposal for forest products, and the industrial side grew from that association,” says Michael Kihlblom, production manager at Södra Wood Unnefors sawmill, which Timber Processing visited in June. With three paper/pulp mills and seven sawmills, Södra produces sawn and planed goods, interior products, paper pulp and biofuel. Södra also now produces, from wood residue, more electricity than it uses. From its beginnings nearly 80 years ago and continuing into today, Södra’s mission has always been to increase profitability for its timberland owner members. The members own the company, supply its raw materials and share in its profits. How large a share of the profit each member gets is based both on how much wood they deliver to Södra mills during the year and on what percentage of the group's capital the member owns. That percentage is recalculated each year to reflect the size of each member's timberland holdings relative to the total amount of timberland in the group.

LONG HISTORY Although 1938 is usually given as the year of Södra’s founding, its roots go back earlier. Driven by the need to obtain healthy prices for raw material, several smaller associations merged to form the Småland Forest Owners Assn. in 1926. Södra grew from that merger just over a decade later. That began a series

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There has been a sawmill at Unnefors since 1771; it has been part of Södra since 1964.

The sawline, installed in 2005, is from Söderhamn Eriksson (bought by USNR two years ago).

Sideboards fall off after the first quad saw.

The mill processes pine almost exclusively now.

of mergers that have continued ever since, allowing the group to expand its presence geographically. The Confederation of Southeast Sweden’s Forest Owners Assn. formed in 1938, and that is considered the start of what would become known as Södra. In 1953, the individual county associations that had made up the Confederation dissolved, and Södra replaced them as the joint venture of all member forest owners. Later, a merger among the associations in Halland, Jönköping and Södra Älvsborg formed by the Swedish Confederation of Forest Owners increased the group’s numbers, and the growth has continued ever since. As recently as 2007, two more county associations, Bohuslän and Dalsland, joined Södra. In a desperate move to prevent economic collapse following a decline and financial crisis in the late ’70s and early ’80s, in 1979 the Swedish government spent 500 million Swedish Krona to purchase 40% of Södra’s shares. Half of the members left the association during the bleak years that followed. Drastic changes were necessary for the group to survive. 16

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Several processing plants and other assets were sold or shuttered, and nearly 75% of employees were let go between 1976 and 1994—from 10,000 to 2,500. But, with improved overall economic conditions, by 1985 Södra was strong enough to buy back its shares from the state (at a price tag of 750 million Krona), returning ownership fully to the members. Despite some market setbacks in the early 1990s, profitability and productivity continued to grow throughout the ’90s and early 2000s.

PULP, LUMBER The year 1940 saw Södra’s first industrial activity with the opening of a tar and turpentine factory in Lenhovda. The turpentine would be used as fuel in passenger cars. As World War II raged and oil imports to Sweden ceased, Södra became a significant supplier of wood fuel for the country’s energy supply, both for heating homes and fueling vehicles. With the return of oil imports in the post-war years, the demand for fuel wood decreased, leaving timberland

owners to seek alternate markets. With demand from sawmills insufficient to sustain growth for the landowners, Södra’s founder and CEO, Gösta Edström, led the group into starting its own pulp mills, located in Mönsterås (in 1959), Mörrum (1962) and Värö (1972). Sawmills were also in the mix and in 1979 the group formed Södra Skogsenergi to develop the production of biofuels. A new corporate strategy decided upon and implemented by Södra’s board of directors in 2013 would turn out to be the largest industrial investment in the group’s history to date. Dubbed Expansion Södra, the project involved a capital expenditure of 6 billion Swedish Krona ($736.2 million U.S.) at the three pulp mills. The biggest chunk of that investment, more than 4 billion, went to Södra Cell Värö, which saw an increase in production capacity from 425,000 metric tons (468,482 U.S. tons) to 700,000 metric tons (771,616 U.S. tons) annually by 2016. Another billion-plus Krona went to increase production at Mörrum by 45,000 metric tons, with the remaining 300 million invested in increasing both

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productivity and energy efficiency at the Mönsterås mill. With the Värö mill having become one of the world’s largest producers of barley sulphate pulp since September 2016, the Expansion Södra investment is projected to have pushed Södra’s total pulp mill production capacity to 1.9 million metric tons (2.1 million U.S. tons) by 2020. Södra bought its first sawmill in 1943, in Hallabro in Blekinge. It has since grown into one of the largest sawmill companies in the country. Today, two of its sawmills operate adjacent two of the

pulp mills. The Värö sawmill started in 1974 next to the pulp mill that was only two years old at the time. The goal of the combined sawmill/pulp mill was to better manage the raw material supply from the member-owners’ lands. The same logic applied to the Mönsterås sawmill, which opened next to the pulp mill there in 1999. At the time this was the group’s largest sawmill, with a 400,000 m3 (169.5MMBF) capacity. It was eclipsed by increased capacity (600,000 m3/254.3MMBF) at Värö in 2011. Although it has had several sawmills

Michael Kihlblom, production manager at the Unnefors sawmill

in the last 74 years, Södra opted to decommission many of them in 2016 as part of a restructuring plan aimed at increased profitability. It currently has seven sawmills operating, located in Kinda, Värö, Mönsterås, Torsås, Haminna (in neighboring Finland), Orresfors and Unnefors. Södra plans to shut down the Torsås mill at the end of this year.

UNNEFORS MILL The history of the sawmill at Unnefors actually goes back much further even than the history of Södra. The first mill was constructed on this site in 1771, and there has been a sawmill operating there ever since. Jönköpings Läns Skogsägarförening, a county association similar to Södra Skogsägarna, bought the mill in 1944. It became part of Södra when that group joined in 1964. According to Kihlblom, production manager at Södra Wood Unnefors, the mill is situated in Sweden’s inland, approximately 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Jönköping. Log supply comes in from member-owned land, with little or no timber purchased from outside companies or public lands. Generally the member/owners contract the harvesting to small, private outfits, but a few do own their own harvesting companies. With 41 employees on site, Unnefors can produce a capacity of 135,000 m3 (57.2MMBF) per year. The facility processes mainly pine, with only a very small amount of larch occasionally in the mix. Dimensions for sideboards range from 19x75-150 mm to 25x75-225 mm (roughly 1x3 to 1x9 in.) and a smaller amount of 38x100-225 mm (1.5x4-1.5x9 in.). Center cants are 32x125-225 mm (1.25x5-9 in.), 50x100-250 mm (2x4-10 in.), 63x125-225 mm (2.5x5-9 in.), and 75x150-225 mm (3x6-9 in.). The company exports much of its lumber and pulp production to other countries, mainly England, Norway, Germany and parts of the Middle East. Similar to chain of custody and sus18

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erates in the whole world. Söderhamn Eriksson has now a very big portfolio for existing and new customers but also the opportunity to sell traditional, high end Söderhamn Eriksson products in North America.” Lumber sorting line from USNR was completed in the last decade. At Unnefors, the current tainability certification programs in the Söderhamn Eriksson production line was U.S., such as SFI and FSC, Sweden has installed in 2005. The log infeed and sortits Supplier Code. It applies not only to ing line takes incoming material about 50 the suppliers with which Södra has enhours a week. “It has a higher capacity tered into oral and written agreements, than we normally use,” Kihlblom says. “It but also to timber harvesting subconwas built to take spruce and pine, but in tractors who have been hired by the middle of 1998 the mill switched to Södra’s suppliers. It is the responsibilionly saw pine.” ty of the supplier to ensure that their Unnefors sorts in 13 different log disubcontractors comply with Södra’s ameters, from 15 cm (6 in.) up to 550 supplier code. mm (21.6 in.). “If they are larger than The first shift at Unnefors starts at 550 mm we reduce them down,” accord5:30 in the morning and the second ends ing to Kihlblom. Logs are separated into at midnight, Monday-Thursday, while on batches by diameter, and the mill will Friday production ends at 2:15 p.m. process everything from one batch or Sawmill operators change out blades and size before adjusting saw spacing to perform maintenance during the off move onto another size. hours. While the saw line runs two eightAfter sorting, logs proceed via hour shifts, the planer mill runs a single wheeled loaders onto a large turntable. 10-hour shift five days a week. They flow by conveyor to a metal detecMaintenance crews perform routine tor and then a Valon Kone debarker that upkeep work from 5:00 a.m. till 4:00 was installed 2004. A Milltech scanner p.m. Monday through Friday. After mid- precedes primary breakdown on the night, the second shift maintenance crew Söderhamn Eriksson sawline. The sawtakes care of shifting saw blades and line includes eight band saws (two sets making any repairs that can’t be made of quad saws), two standalone reducers, during production time. Saw filing is not CAR feedworks/curve-sawing system performed in house, but sent for sharpen- and edger optimizer. ing to Swedish company, LSAB. The true shape scanner optimizes logs at the infeed with automatic log turning and side shift functions before logs enter MACHINERY the first set of quad saws. The first stanAlmost all of the machinery at Södra dalone reducer is set up in this section for Unnefors was manufactured by Swedish logs that are too large for the infeed. On company Söderhamn Eriksson AB, acthe back end of the quad saws, a cant conquired by USNR in 2015. Anders Frykveyor, cant turner and board separator man is the Söderhamn Eriksson sales lead to a “merry go round” turntable representative for this region of Swesorter. Following initial breakdown, the den. system features a cant infeed with a sec“USNR has been a very good injection ond standalone reducer, feedworks, and in Söderhamn Eriksson,” Frykman obthe second set of quad band saws, then serves of the acquisition. “The family another board separator. Cants and sidewas in third generation as owner, so a boards flow to Exeltec optimized edger new engagement was in my opinion with three saws. The entire line requires needed. USNR is a very professional only one operator. company and has immediately after the Feed speed at the infeed to the first takeover taken care of IT systems to quad saws ranges from 40 to 90 m (131 to modernize them for a company that op295 ft.) per minute. It can take logs from a TIMBER PROCESSING

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minimum 15 cm (6 in.) diameter/2.8 m (9.2 ft.) length to a maximum 55 cm (21.7 in.) diameter/5.8 m (19.3 ft.) length. Feed speed on the edger is up to 450 m (1,476 ft.) per minute, with an average hourly capacity of 50 boards per minute at 4 m (13 ft.) lengths (60 boards per minute is the peak). The edger has a recovery rate of 96%. Based on 220 shifts per year, the line’s capacity at full optimization is 135,000 m3 (57.2MMBF) per year. After one batch of a given size logs is finished, operators change diameters programmed into the system, and process a different batch or size. The mill will usually process a given size for several hours or even an entire shift before switching. A KMW boiler consumes some of the mill’s residue to power a VEÅ heater, which in turn fires six Fläkt Wood chamber kilns, installed in 1987, and three Valutec continuous flow kilns, from 2006. Three of the chamber kilns hold 16 packages each and the other three take 24 (a package is approximately 6.5 m3/2.8MBF). Total capacity in the six chamber kilns is 120 packages, or about 780 m3 (330.5MBF) at a time.The three continuous flow kilns can take 17 wagons (three packages per wagon) at a time, with one exiting as another enters. There is room for 10 wagons before and 10 wagons on the exit side of the continuous kilns. In all about 995 m3 (421.7MBF) fits in these three kilns at once. The USNR lumber sorting line was completed in the 2000s. Optimization throughout the mill, from the green end through the planing area, is supplied from USNR. The planer section features what Kihlblom refers to as a “very old” Weinig model H22 machine. “The planer we have now is way too slow and weak for what we need,” he says. “We plan to change to new equipment next year, maybe a new machine or maybe a renovation.” Sawdust from the facility goes to an outside company that makes pellets for heating. Bark is burned for heat at the mill, and the excess is sold to the public heating company. Unnefors ships its chips to Södra’s pulp mill in Värö. All work vehicles, such as forklifts and wheeled loaders, at both the Orrefors and Unnefors sawmills are now totally fossil fuel-free, running instead on hydrogenated vegetable oil. Södra started moving toward renewable fuels in 2009, with plans aiming for fossilfree production by 2020 and fossil-free transportation by 2030 adopted in TP 2016.

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OPENINGFACES of people were standing around a large waterfall structure where the names of Jay Donnell ■ Associate Editor the victims of the September 11 attacks were inscribed. There was also a very long line of people waiting to get inside the museum dedicated to the horrific tragedy. I stood in line for a while, but the line didn’t seem to be moving anywhere and I didn’t have a lot of time so I walked over toward the waterfall pool. I Ph: 334-834-1170 felt a wave of emotions rush over me as I Fax: 334-834-4525 read the names of the victims engraved e-mail: jay@hattonbrown.com into stone all over the structure. This pool and another one like it nearby represent the bases of the two towers that TRIP TO NYC HELPS went down on 9/11. It made me think ME REMEMBER back to the day of the attack. n July 22 I made the trip up to I was only 11 years old on September New York to get several stories 11, 2001, but I remember my fifth grade for Timber Processing and other teacher wheeling in a TV and turning on Hatton-Brown publications. I decided to a news channel to show us all what was fly in a day early so that I could spend a going on. All of us young students sat in little time in New York City because I had awe while watching replay after replay never been there and wanted to get a of planes crashing into the twin towers. small taste of the world famous city beOne of my classmates’ parents was on a fore I embarked on my journey across flight to NYC that day and he was burstNew York State and Pennsylvania. ing in tears. Everybody was scared, but I had less than 24 hours to spend in the he was absolutely beside himself, not city and the thing I really wanted to do knowing if his parents were safe. Luckibesides see a friend and enjoy an adult ly a teacher was able to contact his parbeverage was visit the ents and he was able 9/11 Memorial. I had to talk to them on the heard a lot about it phone, easing his confrom friends who had cerns. I don’t remembeen to NYC and ber too many details while the Statue of about that day as far Liberty, Empire State as how I was feeling, Building, etc. are all but I do remember great tourist attracbeing shocked and in tions, I knew my time the ensuing hours rewas limited so I made alizing this was an invisiting the World credibly sad time for Trade Center my top our country. priority. Nearly 10 years On the morning of later, the day Osama Sunday, July 23, I made bin Laden was killed I the walk from my hotel felt a sense of justice, on 31st Street down to but I still felt like the World Trade Center there were many othmemorial where thouers who were still out sands of people gaththere uncaptured. It ered to see the sights. I was great that we wasn’t exactly sure took out bin Laden, where the actual muse- At 1,776 ft. high, One World Trade but the amount of Center leaves no doubt that America um was so I walked planning it took to continues to stand tall. into the World Trade pull off something Center terminal buildlike 9/11 took years ing and immediately saw a massive photo and lots of people so I’m not sure jusreplica of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. tice will ever be served for the heartless There were all kinds of stores including a and cowardly attack on our nation. giant Apple shop inside the facility. When I look back on 9/11 I think of I wandered back outside and hundreds the policemen and firefighters who sacri-

One of two pools, each sitting within the footwork of the original twin towers, and each inscribed with the names of those killed.

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WTC terminal building

ficed so much in order to save as many people as they could, many losing their lives in the process. I think of an image of a policeman saluting with tears streaming down his face. While I was only a child I’ll never forget that day and the days that followed. I can only hope that America will never experience another attack like that again. Flight regulations have gotten much stricter and traveling isn’t nearly as easy as it once was. Sometimes I find myself getting impatient while standing in airport security lines, but I always try to remind myself there’s a good reason for all of this. We can prevent another attack on this country if the proper security measures are in place though it’s hard to agree on what exactly those should be. My trip to New York City was a lot of fun, but it was also a much needed reminder of how great it is to live in America. The newly constructed One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, stands 104 stories tall and serves as a symbol that no matter what anyone does to try and hurt this country we will rebuild and we will move forward because this is the greatest country TP in the world.

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EMPIRE

STRIKES BACK By Dan Shell

Empire Lumber has recovered and prospered following a major fire with a new large log mill that has boosted flexibility in pursuit of specialty and diverse product lines.

WEIPPE, Id.

fter recovering from a major fire in 2008 and the economic downturn that followed, Empire Lumber Co.’s high quality, premium board and dimension lumber production operation here on the Weippe Prairie is running better and stronger than ever. With the large log mill’s 2012 re-start and an improving economy, the two-sawmill facility is in good balance with Empire’s finished products distribution facility that includes drying, planing, sales and shipping operations at company headquarters in nearby Kamiah, Id. Empire’s corporate office is located in Spokane, Wash. Empire Lumber’s history dates to 1956, when Kamiah Mills in Kamiah, Id. joined the forest products business, working with Hutchins Lumber in Weippe, a little more than 30 miles away in a relationship that still stands between the two mills as unfinished lumber from the sawmill facility in Weippe is trucked to Kamiah for final processing and shipping. In addition to an existing large log mill, a small log sawmill was added at Hutchins Lumber in 1967, then updated and rebuilt in 1989, giving the company adjacent large- and small-log sawmills to handle a wide variety of sizes and 24

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Large log mill, back to full production in 2012, handles logs up to 54 in.

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LUMBER SPECIALISTS

Kamiah, Id. facility handles final processing.

he company slogan for Empire Lumber Co. proclaims the company has been “Specialists in the Wood Products InT dustry Since 1956.” It’s a sentiment that truly reflects its deep

Debarking line includes bark knives, background, for handling cedar.

Empire Lumber pursues specialty items up to 20 ft.

Each mill has its own filing room.

and diverse product line that ranges from random length dimension to specialty boards, paneling, decking and flooring in a variety of species. The company’s two-mill facility cuts Douglas fir and larch and grand fir dimension, plus 1 in. boards in cedar, Douglas fir, larch, Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pine, Idaho white pine and grand fir. Empire’s specialty line is led by its wellknown inland red cedar lumber products that make up a significant percentage of overall production. “We’re a flexible mill, and we can move and shake with the market,” says Randy Eller, Empire Lumber Co. Wood Products Manager. “If someone needs a specialty item or two, we can produce it, and if a customer needs some more 1x6s, we just tell the operators to make more 1x6s.” After the large log mill rebuild from the major fire in 2008, and after surviving the worst market downturn in decades, Empire Lumber faced a series of 2015 wildfires that burned 125 structures just outside the city of Kamiah and narrowly missed Kamiah Mills. That year, fires burned more than 10 million acres across Idaho and the Western U.S. Eller says he’s happy to see that housing and lumber markets have strenghtened, with a measure of consistency. “Lumber is selling well, pricing is decent and everything is going good right now,” he says. “It makes it a lot easier to operate when things are steady.” Company owner and President David Klaue notes that both of Empire Lumber’s operations are located along the historic Lewis & Clark travel route, and he says the same resilience shown by that legendary 1805 expedition is reflected in the modern day company, especially apparent after the challenges of the past decade and longer, going back to another major fire that occurred October 19, 1987—also the date of the “Black Monday” Wall Street crash. Klaue says that “never in my wildest dreams did I think we would go through one major fire, let alone several of them magnified back to back, and come out the other end of the fire gauntlet, time and time again, better and stronger from the experience.” Such challenges make a company stronger, Klaue believes: “Empire’s survival instincts and the ability to adjust, refocus and achieve extraordinary growth objectives is tribute and testament to the vision, tenacity, teamwork, hard work and perseverance of the company’s leadership team and experienced TP employees.” TIMBER PROCESSING

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species. In 2005, Empire Lumber bought Hutchins Lumber after longtime second generation family owners Elwin and Emerald Hutchins retired. Ironically, Empire Lumber executives were planning a round of improvements at the Weippe facility—and the fire started on the same day a fire suppression and sprinkler system project was to begin. In addition, the mill had an upgraded double-arbor gang and trimmer-sorter line ready to go in when the large mill burned on Election Day, November 4, 2008. “We were looking at a partial rebuild anyway, and the fire made the decision for us,” says Randy Eller, Empire Lumber Co. Wood Products Manager, adding that as mill personnel were cleaning up from the fire and decisions were being contemplated about the future, the large log mill’s personnel began operating a night shift at the small log mill to keep lumber production going at a steady pace.

From left, Empire Wood Products Manager Randy Eller, maintenance supervisor Eric Martin, and sawmill superintendent Mike Deal.

REBUILDING Making the job even tougher for Empire was a near-fatal car accident just days after the mill fire involving owner and President David Klaue, whose family has owned Empire Lumber Co. for 61 years. Klaue was responding to the fire aftermath coordination when the accident occurred and was airlifted to Seattle intensive care for multiple surgeries and lengthy hospitalization. Klaue hastened his recovery over the next few months and returned to lead Empire’s recovery, sawmill rebuild and recession survival planning for the organization. In the interim, Eller says some consideration was given to rebuilding adjacent or nearer to Empire’s Kamiah finishing facilities, but ownership decided against relocating. Though Weippe is 30 miles away and a steep 2,000 ft. climb from the Clearwater River valley up to the prairie, the mill is situated right on the edge of a huge timbered region reaching all the way into Montana and is in a good location for local and regional log procurement. In rebuilding at Weippe, Empire personnel were able to upgrade the site with some needed excavation, foundation and rock fill work, important in an area that can experience really tough winters. When designing the new mill, Empire Lumber worked with old-school large log mill designer Gary Reimer out of Portland, Ore. “He understands big log sawmills and understood what we wanted and what works for us,” Eller says. “He and our crew decided what we wanted, and we built it.” The new mill includes rail tie and 26

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Large log mill can produce specialty beams up to 24 in. wide and 12 in. thick.

C-frame small log system provides flexibility for Empire’s diverse product line.

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beam production capabilities. It was decided to keep the mill at 20 ft. to maintain a smaller footprint and avoid extensive conveyor work. A fire suppression system from Western Automatic Sprinkler was also installed. Of the main large log mill equipment, the debarker outside the mill was salvaged and rebuilt, along with the McDonough bandmill, after a Jem Machine rebuild project that included shipping the wheels to Wisconsin for factory reconditioning. Other new and used equipment was bought through various channels and rebuilt and reconditioned as needed by Empire’s highly skilled and capable employees at the Weippe fabrication and machine shop. The large log mill’s proven machine centers were then further upgraded with the latest lumber processing technology, including Lewis Controls scanning and optimization systems at the headrig and board edger, and a Softac scanning, optimization and controls package on the trimmer-sorter line. The mill’s new generation electronics are installed in eight separate self-contained rooms to keep the systems clean, cool and free of debris. Empire began pouring concrete for the rebuild in late 2009, and a new 60,000

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Empire saws products that cover all regional species except ponderosa pine.

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sq. ft. steel building went up soon after. The new mill started limited production in fall 2011 and was in full production by January 2012.

OPERATIONS During the rebuild and despite the poor economy in 2009-11, Empire Lumber was able to sell its large logs, and a nearby mill happened to go out of business. With a ready supply of small logs available, Empire was able to purchase enough volume to maintain consistent production in the small log mill during the rebuild of the large log mill. Company ownership and executives are proud that even through several years of the large log mill rebuild and poor economy, no one at Weippe was laid off. Instead, the small log mill ran two reduced shifts, Eller says. “We definitely slowed down and even cut back to six hours a shift while we worked through the rebuild process and until we saw the markets start to come back,” he adds. Today, both mills are running eight hour shifts, with a swing shift that essentially goes where the logs are and operates either mill depending on sales and markets. Meanwhile, the mill running a

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Cedar boards make up a significant portion of overall output.

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Sawmill facility is 30 miles from planer mill but located in timber-rich area.

single shift moves to four 10-hour days, allowing maintenance personnel to work on that mill on Friday and the other mill on Saturday. “That way we don’t have to get all our maintenance done in both mills on one day,” Eller says, “and the crews like the way it’s set up.” Operators are extensively cross-trained at both mills, especially the second shift that has to run machine centers in both mills, and almost all employees know how to run more than one machine. “As people come up through the organization they generally learn how to operate more than one machine, and while we don’t want to carry more employees than is necessary, we also need to have enough manpower to

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cover both mills, so we’re always working to get people trained up in different areas,” Eller says. The crews’ flexibility reflects the flexible nature of the two-mill facility itself: Having both mills that can handle logs as small as 51⁄2 in. up to more than 4 ft. diameter in all regional species except ponderosa pine allows for annual production and sales approaching 100MMBF. This includes dimension and plenty of specialty grade products, given the two mills’ ability to pursue specialty niches and products that larger commodity mills can’t. The ability to handle a wide variety of logs is also crucial to being able to efficiently purchase timber sales and process all logs in-house.

MILL FLOWS Though located near millions of acres of Forest Service timber, the mill gets very little volume from the FS. Empire Lumber gets much of its log supply from the Idaho Dept. of Lands state timber sale program. Potlatch is also a large industrial landowner that sells open market timber in the region. In addition, Empire has close relationships with many other industrial and non-industrial timberland owners in the area who sell logs and private timber holdings. Preferred single segment log lengths are 16, 18 and 20 ft., and two segment log lengths are 33, 35, 37, 39 and 41 ft. The small log mill handles logs from 5½

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in. to 12 in., with bigger logs going to the large log mill that can handle diameters up to 54 in. Though located adjacent each other, the mills are operated independently, with separate log infeeds and Nicholson debarking lines. Logs entering the large log mill go under a Lewis Controls scanning frame and optimization system and onto a Corley carriage for breakdown by the McDonough bandmill. The optimizer primarily focuses on recovery, says Mike Deal, sawmill super-

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intendent, adding that operators make grade-based sawing override decisions when needed. Cant size ranges from 6-12 in., with custom beams possible up to 24 in. wide and 12 in. thick. Cants from the headrig flow to the Schurman (USNR) double arbor gang; boards flow to the Schurman 54TA board edger with new transverse TMT infeed and Lewis Controls optimization; and multiples go to a 6 ft. CSMI (USNR) resaw with merry-go-round for triples. Lumber flow converges at the trimmer-sorter line that features a single LSI

trimmer feeding two side-by-side 46 bin LSI sorters and operates with a Softac scanning, optimization and controls package. The sorter feeds to a high speed Moco Engineering stick-placing stacker. At the small log mill, primary breakdown is a custom C-frame system feeding two chipping heads and a pair of circle saws. “We thought about going to a Hewsaw-type system at the small log mill, but the way we do things with so many different species, lengths and widths, we are able to get everything we want from the C-frame setup, and it works well for us,” Eller says. Cants from the C-frame flow to a Klamath 10 in. double arbor gang, while boards flow to a Schurman 26 in. board edger with Softac scanning and optimization. The trimmer-sorter line is a Salem trimmer with Softac scanning and optimization, controlling a Salem 15-bin sorter feeding to a Gillingham-Best stacker that produces solid packs. The solid lumber packs from the small log mill and stickered packs from the large log mill are both hauled to the Kamiah Mills drying, planing and finished prodTP ucts facility for final processing.

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ALL ABOUT

BIOMASS By Jay Donnell

HAWKINSVILLE, Ga. lay Crosby started buying wood while he was in college—mostly small tracts with big timber. During his last semester of school, he bought a chain saw, a $5000 loader, $3800 skidder and he paid $3000 for a truck and trailer. He and a friend were the only employees. Crosby cut the wood with the chain saw, his friend moved it to the landing with a cable skidder and then Crosby loaded it on the truck. They were producing about three loads per day. That escalated to some better equipment and within four years Crosby had four company crews and a contract crew. Crosby was buying the wood for all five crews and running the loader for one of them every day. He did that for several years and then sold out of log-

ging and focused on buying timber. In 2009 he formed Twin Rivers Land & Timber (TRLT) with his business partner, Dennis Rich. When Crosby started TRLT he knew he was taking a big risk. The economy was bad and biomass markets weren’t substantial. He started off with only one contract crew producing roughly 30 loads of logs a week. In retrospect, Crosby says he should’ve been more hesitant when he started TRLT, “but I was too ignorant to know any better and I didn’t know how to do anything else. I made $12,000 my first year and it was a big struggle. But it has worked out well.” Indeed it has. Today Crosby has 15 company and contract crews that are producing more than 900 loads of chips a week. His operation also moves more than 400,000 tons annually of mill residue (shavings, sawdust) and pecan waste, working with numerous wood

products mills and pecan plants. Ocmulgee Biomass, a sister company of TRLT owned by Crosby and brothers Jeff and John Hair, strictly owns the chippers and chip vans while TRLT is the timber company that owns the contracts to cut and deliver the wood. TRLT has been a much-needed addition to the Georgia wood products scene because of the struggling longwood markets around the state. “I take a treelength logger and I provide the chipper and the vans for them to load,” Crosby explains. “I pay them a logging rate and deduct my rent on the chipper and that has worked well so far.”

MARKETS TRLT began chipping in May of 2011. The first place they hauled chips to was Macon Graphic Packaging where there was a need for boiler fuel. “It just kind of

Clay Crosby’s operations move more biomass than perhaps any other operation in the South.

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went from there and as other markets started to pop up, people knew we were in the chipping business so they would call us,” Crosby explains. “I’ve been in the wood products business for 17 years and in my experience if you’ve got the markets you can put the rest of it together.” Crosby has crews scattered from Macon to Columbus to Waycross and his experience as a timber buyer gives him an edge and he knows exactly what to look for in a good tract. Clay’s brother, Kyle, works as a timber buyer mostly in the Waycross area, Tom Tuggle works the Macon area and Chuck Allen works the Columbus area. As of April the company had more than 5 million tons in inventory around middle and south Georgia. Crosby’s wife, Ashley, does all of the paperwork and keeps all the books, a tough job when you consider all of the moving parts involved with Ocmulgee Biomass, TRLT and their other subsidiaries. TRLT’s primary markets are the Georgia Biomass industrial wood pellet plant in Waycross and the new Exelon-Albany Green Energy 50 MW biomass power plant in Albany. It provides steam for a Procter & Gamble plant and generates electricity for Georgia Power. Crosby believes his company is helping out the logging industry in Georgia. “I think it’s doing a service to this region and the logging industry,” he says. “There are too many people treelength logging now and that’s why everybody’s on quota. The more of them I can provide an alternative market to, the more room it makes for the ones that are left to haul the wood they’re hauling.” Most of TRLT’s crews are four man crews that haul around 60 loads of fuel chips a week. He has one “super crew” that moves roughly 150 loads a week. By the end of May they were up to nearly 1,000 loads a week. Expected production in 2017 from all of the company and contract chipping crews is more than 1 million tons. All of the company’s chippers are Morbark 40/36’s. These include micro chippers and drum chippers. Crosby estimates he has about $6 million invested in TRLT and Ocmulgee Biomass. Ocmulgee Biomass’ equipment dealer is Tidewater out of Thomasville, Ga. TRLT has a partnership with SouthernAg Carriers and Nationwide Ag Logistics, which handles all of the freight for TRLT with access to more than 60 chip vans and trailers Most of the chip vans are 45 ft. shipping containers that have been converted. While things have certainly been going well for Crosby and his business-

Landowners don’t mind getting paid for biomass.

es, it hasn’t always been that way. Reminiscing back to his logging days, Crosby says, “We have been on all ends of the spectrum. We remember the days of having to choose between which payment to make, or having to park equipment until we could get enough money to get it running again. Ashley and I tell our loggers ‘we get it, we have been exactly where you are and we know the everyday struggles that come with logging.’” He adds, “Because we’ve had to weather these storms, it gives us a true understanding of what it takes for a producer contracted under TRLT to make a living and I am so grateful for every learning curve logging threw at me. It gives Twin Rivers Land & Timber a solid basis to secure consistent production.”

THEIR WAY “I’ve always had big dreams,” Crosby explains. “Anything I’ve ever done I’ve tried to do it 100%, but it has actually surprised me how big we’ve gotten in a short amount of time.” The smallest tract TRLT will work on is 50 acres. One of the recent tracts they worked on was 35,000 acres. Crosby finds his tracts by word of mouth or doing some research on his own. His usual routine is to go online and look at maps to to see if there are any areas that need to be fuel wooded and then drive to the site and “drop a pin” on his phone to mark the location. Then he’ll have Ashley look up the landowner’s name and address. Crosby may go two months without having to find tracts himself, but when he hits a slow period he’ll be back at it again. The company prides itself in using

best management practices and promoting sustainability. All fuelwood procured for the use of renewable fuel is non-merchantable timber. “Instead of the landowner having to burn it or pay somebody to spray it, they actually get paid for the wood. “It’s an easy sell to make to a landowner,” Crosby says. —65% of TRLT contracted stumpage is underbrush of a merchantable timber stand. By removing the competitive underbrush, volunteer re-gens and selective cuts of crowded timber stands, the standing timber can develop a better quality of fiber for use in the pulp and lumber industries —30% of TRLT procured biomass is byproducts created by the lumber industry. TRLT has contracted with 12 lumber mills, including pole and post mills to purchase their byproducts and waste wood for use as a renewable fuel source —The remaining 5% of renewable fuel source is agricultural byproducts, such as pecan hulls and peanut shells coming from cleaning and shelling plants. TRLT sends an in-woods chip crew to the site of an overgrown clear-cut or unattended site to clear any volunteer stands of non-merchantable timber. Any merchantable timber is harvested by one of several treelength crews contracted by Twin Rivers. Once the land is cleared TRLT contracts with planting crews to put the land back into timber production. TRLT plants 85% genetically enhanced Elite loblolly that are put into 8-10-year rotations with its pulpwood crews; 10% longleaf seedlings and 5% nut-bearing hardwood seedlings. At times during the year TRLT deals with storm damage timber that has not reached a merchantable stage. These situations require damaged timber to ➤ 44 TIMBER PROCESSING

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Crosby has done a lot of work on chip van conversion.

Most of Crosby’s contractors run Morbark chippers.

41 ➤ be removed by use of an in-woods chipper and timber is replanted. TRLT reports a 96% reforestation average on non-merchantable clear-cut harvest sites and 98% reforestation average on land that it has chipped the underbrush, sent a longwood crew in to harvest merchantable timber and then placed timberland back into timber rotation. TRLT offers each landowner a timber management plan that includes an escrow planting account. The escrow account allows the landowner to take the revenue they would receive from the fuelwood stumpage and/or longwood stumpage and apply it directly to the cost of reforestation. This encourages replanting and allows the landowner to get a “turnkey” deal. A management plan is written with the landowner’s timeframe, financial gains and best timber management practices in mind. TRLT has big plans for the future. Crosby hopes to purchase another eight to nine chippers as wood pellet and renewable fuel markets continue to grow in Georgia. He believes his company will continue to provide an important alternative market for loggers who have been on quota and struggling to make ends meet in the peach state. Crosby’s business has continued to grow every year since he started the company back in 2009. “Being honest with people has carried me a long way,” he says. “You can’t find anybody that’s worked for me or I’ve cut timber for that will tell you that I didn’t do what I told you I would.” Crosby graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with a degree in forestry and wildlife. He’s a member of the Georgia Forestry Assn. When he and Ashley aren’t managing the business in Georgia, they enjoy going to the beach and scuba diving with their children and TP this includes a lot of spear fishing. This article previously appeared in Wood Bioenery magazine. 44

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Oberhofer Goes With BFP, Microtec Package Oberhofer Holzindustrie sawmill in South Tyrol, Italy cuts the best quality possible out of conifer wood with a Primultini band saw. Up to 8,000 m3 per year are trimmed to window, construction and packaging components as well as planing products for their own further processing. For further edging of boards, Oberhofer sawmill invested in a new BFP edger & rip saw with Microtec Optiedge edger optimization, which has been running since January. “It is the best edging solution available on the market,” says Werner Oberhofer.

MACHINERYROW engineering, oversee product development and contribute to strategic direction. “The market for JoeScan’s products is strong,” says Joey Nelson, president and founder of JoeScan. “The company has grown considerably over the past few years. Jason brings a wealth of engineering and management experience to our team that will help accelerate JoeScan’s growth.” Farmer started his career at Aculight

(now Lockheed Martin Aculight), where he led numerous technology development programs in solid state lasers and nonlinear optics. The success of these programs led him to cofound a spin-out company, nLight, with colleagues from Aculight. At nLight, Farmer held a series of technical and management roles in R&D, product development and business unit management. He was instrumental in helping the company raise venture capital from lead-

The board is aligned according to optimization and remains fixed through the saw.

Microtec Crometic cameras reveal the wane along the lumber taking a snapshot by turns. LED illumination from one side at a time displays a shadow line along the wane area, capturing it precisely to the millimeter. The measurement is carried out after the board has been centered on the alginment table and the board is aligned according to the optimization. The huge benefit: The board remains fixed through the saw without movement, which prevents positioning errors seen in standard alignment procedures. “We are very satisfied with the precise measurement and flexibility of the Optiedge. With the high quality of the generated products, we are able to keep the standard up,” Oberhofer adds. Oberhofer H. & CO KG is a family enterprise led by the brothers Werner and Kurt Oberhofer as well as their cousin, Alex Oberhofer. Their production focuses mainly on native spruce, larch and pine logs.

JoeScan Names Farmer As VP Engineering JoeScan, Inc., Vancouver, Wash., a producer of 3-D laser scanning technology, has appointed Jason Farmer as vice president of engineering. Farmer will manage TIMBER PROCESSING

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MACHINERYROW ing firms and growing the company to more than 400 employees. “JoeScan has a great core technology and a strong team,”

Farmer says. “I am excited to work with them to enhance and accelerate JoeScan’s product roadmap.” Farmer received his B.S. in Physics and his M.S. in Astrophysical, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Colorado.

Doosan Adds Dealer In Mississippi Doosan Construction Equipment has expanded its dealer network with the addition of Bobcat of Jackson, a division of Equipment Inc. In addition to offering a full lineup of Bobcat compact equipment and attachments, Bobcat of Jackson now provides its customers in the Jackson area a range of Doosan equipment, including crawler excavators, wheel excavators, material handlers and wheel loaders. Equipment Inc. was established in 1951 and now has seven locations in four states—Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and Alabama. After a successful introduction of Doosan equipment at its Shreveport, location, Equipment Inc. decided to also offer Doosan at Bobcat of Jackson. The dealership is located at 620 Highway 49 South, Richland, Miss., 39218; 601-948-3272; visit equipmentinc.com.

OSU Hosts QC, Leadership Workshops The 40th Annual Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop will be held September 11-12 at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore. It will be followed by the 30th Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop, September 13-14 also at Oregon State University. The Lumber Quality & Process Control workshop is presented by the Lumber Quality Institute in cooperation with the Wood Science and Engineering Dept. at OSU. The program has a proven track record and is a must for sawmills seeking to maximize board foot and grade recovery. It’s designed for supervisors of all departments, graders and QC personnel. The Leadership workshop will describe new concepts in quality control and management. Attendees will have the opportunity to go beyond the basics and focus on concepts and ideas that will propel QC programs to the next level. There are several key activities that must be accomplished for a lumber QC program to be successful: leadership, managing the quality function, creative problem solving, and finding long-term solutions to problems. Attendees will have an opportunity to work with these topics and others. This program is designed for managers, superintendents, QC personnel and supervisors. Contact OSU Conference Services: Lumber Quality Institute Workshops 2017, Oregon State University, 200 LaSells Stewart Center, Corvallis, OR 97331-3102; 800678-6311. Registration website: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/lumberquality2017/ General website: www.lumber quality.com for more information. 46

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PRODUCTSCANNER10

SECONDARY BREAKDOWN Cone Omega, LLC, known for its innovative primary breakdown equipment, also offers a full line of secondary breakdown equipment that includes gang saw systems and high speed edger systems. Gang saw options include conventional straight sawing, unique curve canting and linebar curve-sawing. Both straight and

curve-sawing systems are offered with or without profiling. The edger product line includes 2, 3 and 4 saw all with or without a reman option. Both the gang and edger lines utilize a rugged and reliable feed table design. The curve canter and curve gang system are separated so that if a cant coming from the sharp chain line is a chip only/timber only solution, it can pass through the canter and bypass the gang altogether. The curve canter chips around the curve to prepare cants for the linebar curve gang that is out of line from the canter. The curve gang features multiple sawing options such as multiple shifting timbers pockets and multiple banks of saws for various board thicknesses all in the same guide configuration. Since the gang is a versa gang style machine it can shift relative to the linebar as needed and the guide banks shift independently of the main box. The infeed roll module in front of the gang includes the patented variable pitch, variable lead linebar system for super accurate sawing around the curve. The edger line features precision adjustment of all components and simplicity of design for maximum reliability. With many units in operation the edgers are capable of piece counts of 35-40 ppm. Visit coneomega.com.

SMARTSAWING

SmartSawing for medium and small sized sawmills is offered in Teknip’s products line, well known for being innovative, versatile, diverse and efficient. The Chilean manufacturer can supply complete lines at reasonable prices that allow companies to multiply their profits with highly attractive ROI, resulting from maximum fiber recovery and value-based production while decreasing manpower. This is achieved by optimized sawing of each piece, right as they get positioned in front of the saws. Teknip employs true-shape scanners, optimizer software, friendly interfaces, simulators, CNC machinery and advanced equipment to enable the mill to meet order targets, minimize the accumulation 48

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PRODUCTSCANNER10 of undesired stock and obtain profits substantially superior than those achieved with traditional sawing lines. Teknip provides optimized sawing lines from log intake up to trimming and sorting, including close-coupled chipper canters and quad bandmills, prepositioning infeed conveyors (with optimized skewing) and 2-4 saw shifting edgers, offered in various configurations and capac-

ities, including slewing. SmartSawing caters to mills with a range of 2,000 to 10,000 m3/monthly shift. For those interested in seeing installations running, check the YouTube channel (Teknip Comercial) or join the SmartSawing Tour that will be held around the Expocorma Fair November 8-10 in Concepción, Bío Bío Region, Chile. Visit teknip.cl.

MULTI-HEAD RESAW

Wood-Mizer introduces the large capacity, modular, multi-head HR700 industrial resaw. The HR700 is WoodMizer’s largest capacity resaw capable of handling up to 15.75" x 15.75" cants. The machine’s modularity makes it easy to expand from the standard 2 heads to a maximum of 6 heads. In its maximum configuration, the HR700 converts large cants into 6 boards and 1 slab in a single pass. Heavy, powered hold-down rollers stabilize cants on a durable twin-track steel belt conveyor as they are fed through each head during sawing. “Wood-Mizer remains committed to offering high-quality equipment and service to a wide range of sawmilling operations throughout the world,” says Darryl Floyd, Wood-Mizer COO. Visit woodmizer.com.

UL SENSOR SERIES Telco Sensors offers two new UL Recognized Explosion Proof sensor series for use in Class II Division 2 hazardous locations. The SpaceMaster SM 9000 Series is a high-power, self-contained thru-beam photoelectric sensor system with a range in excess of 70 m and extreme penetration power for reliable performance in dusty and contaminated environments. The SpaceScan Series industrial light curtains generate a dense infrared multibeam grid for detection and measuring up to a range of 10 m and a height of up to 2.4 m. Available with discrete or analog output, the SpaceScan Series offers 5, 10 or 20 mm beam spacing for accurate detection of even the smallest items, and can be programmed to ignore smaller objects like sawdust and flying wood chips. The light curtains also offer automatic gain control, which automatically compensates and adjusts the gain level in dusty environments. Visit telcosensors.com. 50

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WOOD PRODUCTS marketplace NORTH AMERICA ■ United States

■ Kentucky HAROLD WHITE LUMBER, INC. MANUFACTURER OF FINE APPALACHIAN HARDWOODS

(606) 784-7573 • Fax: (606) 784-2624 www.haroldwhitelumber.com

■ Georgia Beasley Forest Products, Inc. P.O. Box 788 Hazlehurst, GA 31539 beasleyforestproducts.com Manufactures Kiln-Dried 4/4 Red and White Oak, Poplar, Ash and Cypress Contact: Linwood Truitt Phone (912) 253-9000 / Fax: (912) 375-9541 linwood.truitt@beasleyforestproducts.com

Pallet components, X-ties, Timbers and Crane Mats Contact: Ray Turner Phone (912) 253-9001 / Fax: (912) 375-9541 ray.turner@beasleyforestproducts.com

Ray White

Domestic & Export Sales rwhite@haroldwhitelumber.com

Green & Kiln Dried, On-Site Export Prep & Loading Complete millworks facility, molding, milling & fingerjoint line

■ Minnesota

Buyers & Wholesalers We produce quality 4/4 - 8/4 Appalachian hardwoods • Red Oak, White Oak, Poplar •

Green Lumber: Air Dried, Kiln Dried Timbers & Crossties • Hickory, Sycamore, Beech, Gum & Elm • Custom Cut Timbers: Long lengths and wide widths

Sales/Service: 336-746-5419

336-746-6177 (Fax) • www.kepleyfrank.com

■ Tennessee

STACKING STICKS

FOR SALE

AIR-O-FLOW profiled & FLAT sticks available Imported & Domestic DHM Company - Troy, TN 38260 731-538-2722 Fax: 707-982-7689 email: kelvin@kilnsticks.com www.KILNSTICKS.com

Next closing: January 5, 2018 ■ Indiana

■ North Carolina Cook Brothers Lumber Co., Inc.

Manufacturer of Appalachian Hardwood Lumber LEONARD COOK, Sales (828) 524-4857 • cell: (828) 342-0997 residential: (828) 369-7740 P.O. Box 699 • Frankin, NC 28744 NATIONAL HARDWOOD LUMBER ASSOCIATION

WANT TO GET YOUR AD IN OUR NEXT MARKETPLACE? Call or email Melissa McKenzie 334-834-1170 melissa@hattonbrown.com

08/17

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Call Toll-Free: 1-800-669-5613

EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES Executive – Managerial – Technical - Sales

FOREST PRODUCTS RECRUITING SINCE 1978

JOHN GANDEE

WWW.SEARCHNA.COM

& ASSOCIATES, INC Contingency or Retainer

“Your Success Is Our Business”

gcopeland@mrihouston.com • www.mrihouston.com

Top Wood Jobs Recruiting and Staffing George Meek geo@TopWoodJobs.com www.TopWoodJobs.com (360) 263-3371

Serving the Wood Products and Building Materials Industries For more than 21 years.

Management Recruiters of Houston Northeast

Gates Copeland 281-359-7940 • fax 866-253-7032

CONTACT CARL JANSEN AT 541-593-2777 OR Carlj@SearchNA.com

Depending on Circumstances / Needs

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

3779

Give us a call for your upcoming project needs. 3220

Editor – Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine Editor sought for the Northeast’s leading trade magazine serving the forest products industry. The Editor is responsible for editorial content and integrity, advertising and circulation promotion, and production of both a monthly print magazine and a periodic electronic newsletter. Applicants should have strong analytical skills and be able to write and edit on deadline about a wide range of editorial topics pertinent to the forest products industry. The Editor will conduct or oversee all activities relating to the magazine under the supervision of the Publisher and according to the policies and practices determined by the organization’s board of directors. In addition, the Editor will serve as a key member of the trade association staff and will assist in multiple areas within the organization including the operation of an annual equipment exposition.

We are a full-service construction firm specializing in: • Site work • Pile Driving • Concrete Foundations/Slabs/ Structures • Concrete Demo/Crushing • Mechanical Installation • Structural Steel Fabrication/Erection • Pre-engineered metal building erection Sam Estis samestis@sicllc.net www.sicllc.net 318-348-7947 13437

Toll Free 1-800-536-3884 www.johngandee.com Austin, Texas

The Jobs You Want — The People You Need

Specializing in confidential career opportunities in the Forest Products industry 2200

SEARCH NORTH AMERICA, INC. IT'S YOUR MOVE...

1615

Recruiting Services

PROFESSIONALSERVICES

Experience as a working journalist is preferred, including reporting as well as an editorial background. A bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field is desired. Knowledge of or experience in the forest products industry is preferred.

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Must be willing to relocate to the Old Forge, NY area.

1336

E-mail letter of interest, resume, writing sample, and salary requirements to nela@northernlogger.com. 52

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Call Toll-Free: 1-800-669-5613

PROFESSIONALSERVICES

LUMBERWORKS

WORN OR MISALIGNED CARRIAGE RAILS?

USED SAWMILL EQUIPMENT

• Rails straightened & ground in-place at a fraction of the cost of rail replacement • No down time for the mill • Restores carriage rails to optimum sawing efficiency

•Precision Laser Alignment • Machining and Grinding • Carriage and Bandmill Alignment 489

LUMBERWORKS GREENWOOD KILN STICKS

CARRIAGE RAIL RESTORATION SERVICE FOR SALE Profitable, Expandable Operate from Anywhere Pacific Northwest Business Brokers www.pnbrokers.com

Importers and Distributors of Tropical Hardwood Kiln Sticks 127

“The lowest cost per cycle” GW Industries www.gwi.us.com

Dennis Krueger 866-771-5040

Jackie Paolo 866-504-9095

greenwoodimportsllc@gmail.com

jackie@gwi.us.com

489

Visit: www.timberprocessing.com

– Hewsaw R 200 MSA – 42” A2 Nicholson Debarker – 17” VKB Mark5 debarker new 2007 – 17’ Nicholson A5B new 2000 – 17” VK Mark4 debarker 2 rings, clean checked – Rawlings 48”x 60” high inertia hog system with building conveyors, electrics and truck bins – Dry Kiln 33’x106’, new 2006 Hot water heated – Comact Wave feeders, 3 available, 20’ – BMM chip screen 7’ x 10’ good condition – Scalping screen, 5’ x 12’ for 3” minus material – 53 bin sorter with trimmer and stacker, for 16’ lumber – Salem 3 bunk carriage with 6’ bandmill, new 2012 – Newnes bins, 15 bins complete for 16’ lumber, dismantled – USED plywood machinery contact for details

Mackay Sales • 604 277 7046 mackayh@telus.net

4045

A Proven Process

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MAINEVENTS SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

10-12—Alabama Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Ala. Call 334-265-8733; visit alaforestry.org.

1-3—Forestry Association of South Carolina annual meeting, Hyatt Regency, Greenville, SC. Call 803-798-4170; visit scforestry.org.

11-12—40th Annual Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore. Call 800678-6311; visit lumberquality.com.

3—American Lumber Standard Committee annual meeting, Savannah, Ga. Call 301-972-1700; visit alsc.org.

13-14—30th Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore. Call 800-678-6311; visit lumberquality.com. 15-16—Kentucky Wood Expo, Masterson Station Park, Lexington, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org. 17-21—American Wood Protection Assn. Technical Committee meeting, Margaritaville Key West Resort, Key West, Fla. Call 205-733-4077; visit awpa.com. 20-22—Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. annual meeting, Marriott, Newport, RI. Call 207-829-6901; visit nelma.org. 26—Pennsylvania Forest Products Assn. annual meeting, Toftrees Resort & Conference Center, State College, Pa. Call 717-901-0420; visit paforestproducts.org.

OCTOBER 3-5—Arkansas Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Holiday Inn Airport, Little Rock, Ark. Call 501-374-2441; visit arkforests.org. 4-6—North Carolina Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Hilton Riverside, Wilmington, NC. Visit ncforestry.org. 6-8—Paul Bunyan Show, Guernsey Co. Fairgrounds, Cambridge, Ohio. Call 740-452-4541; visit ohioforest.org. 10-12—Mississippi Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Golden Nugget, Biloxi, Miss. Call 601-354-4936; visit msforestry.net. 18-20—Southern Forest Products Assn. annual meeting, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, Bonita Springs, Fla. Call 504443-4464; visit sfpa.org. 18-20—Alaska Forest Assn. annual meeting, Best Western Plus Landing, Ketchikan, Alaska. Call 907-225-6114; visit akforest.org. 25-27—Texas Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Hotel Fredonia, Nacogdoches, Tex. Call 936-632-8733; visit texasforestry.org. 25-27—National Hardwood Lumber Assn. Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase, Omni Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. Call 901377-1818; visit nhla.com. 30-Nov. 2—99th Annual Railway Tie Association Symposium and Technical Conference, Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, Calif. Call 770-460-5553; visit rta.org.

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JANUARY 2018 17-21—Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers annual meeting, J W Marriott, Marco Island, Fla. Call 336-885-8315; visit www.appalachianwood.org. Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.

●

This issue of Timber Processing is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products. ADVERTISER Arkansas Economic Dev. Comm. Autolog Baxley Biolube Bruks Rockwood Claussen All-Mark International Cleereman Industries Cone Omega Corley Manufacturing Esterer WD GmbH Gilbert Products Grasche USA Heavy Machines Holtec USA Hurdle Machine Works JoeScan Kanefusa Linck Linden Fabricating Lucidyne Technologies McDonough Manufacturing Mebor Metal Detectors Metriguard Technologies Microtec SLR GMBH Mid-South Engineering Muhlbock Holztrocknungsanlagen Nelson Bros Engineering Pantron Automation Piche Precision-Husky Premier Bandwheel Samuel Packaging Systems Group Sennebogen Sering Sawmill Machinery Team Safe Trucking Teknip Comercial Telco Sensors Tradetec Computer Systems U S Blades USNR/Soderhamn Vollmer of America West Coast Industrial Systems West Salem Machinery Wood-Mizer Woodex Moscow Woodtech Measurement Solutions

PG.NO. 7 33 55 32 29 9 45 39 28 42 21 18 2 56 35 20 8 49 32,46 13 48 37 30 44 43 42 39 8 31 23 34 34 12,50 11 20 42 35 27 19 36 3 17 36 46 38 47 36

PH.NO. 800.275.2672 450.434.8389 800.286.7803 260.414.9633 877.809.2589 800.252.2736 715.674.2700 229.228.9213 423.698.0284 +49 86 71 5 03 0 418.275.5041 800.472.7243 901.260.2208 800.346.5832 901.877.6251 360.993.0069 859.283.1450 936.676.4958 250.561.1181 541.753.5111 715.834.7755 +386 4 510 3200 541.345.7454 509.332.7526 +39 0 472 273 611 501.321.2276 +43 7753 2296 0 888.623.2882 800.211.9468 819.367.3333 205.640.5181 604.591.2080 800.667.1264 704.347.4910 360.687.2667 910.733.3300 +56 41 3168330 800.253.0111 800.278.1098 800.862.4544 800.289.8767 412.278.0655 541.451.6677 800.722.3530 800.522.5760 +7 499 750 08 28 503.720.2361

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