TP 1022 digimag

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E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net Processing (ISSN 0885-906X, USPS 395-850) is published 11 times annually (monthly except Jan./Feb.) 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: 800-6695613; 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 ® 2022. 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.

THERE’S MAGIC IN THE AIR

One of the first things a lot of folks ask me is how I got my job. I feel like it is a fair question, given that I grew up in metro Atlanta to a dad from Philly and mom from sunny SoCal. We had like maybe five trees in our yard growing up. My parents had never heard of “Mt. Gilead, NC.”

They did however raise me to be a hard worker. To be fearless, adventurous and just a little bit of a pain in the…well, you get the point. My tenacity is not what got me this job, though it is definitely why I kept it. And sort of like the brand new southern yellow pine sawmills of late that this issue does a deep dive into, of which I’ve been to almost literally all of them, I sort of just went for it— all guns blazing. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, but I believed in myself. I knew how to write sentences, so I therefore could write sawmill stories.

Tim Biewer knew how to operate a red pine sawmill in Michigan, therefore he could operate a great monster of one that cut southern yellow pine in Mississippi. We both proved that we can, could, and do.

At my job interview here I somewhat infamously showed up in a skirt suit and high heels, while Editor-in-Chief Rich Donnell sat across from me in jeans, an Auburn University polo shirt, Keen boots and a look that said, “uh, what, you?” But I got the job as an editor. I ditched the heels, found some Wolverines and found my voice. I found my place. In finding my place, my voice got a little more tenacious. I got little more annoying, too. And in that tenacity, I started trespassing.

It started innocently enough. European giant Klausner had announced sawmills to be built in Florida and North Carolina. Coincidentally, sort of, I found myself only 30 minutes from their site in Florida one day. Armed with a huge load of BS if I got stopped by the cops as to what I was doing, me and my camera went to visit Klausner Lumber One. I am happy to report I did not get into any trouble just simply standing on a public road while snapping photos. It was my first taste of sawmill reporting—finding information and going after the story. Or at least, getting some cool pictures to go with a short news item. I did it again at Klausner Lumber Two.

Recently, I had great success when completely by “happenstance” I drove by—okay, I stopped with camera in hand—Canfor’s new construction site in DeRidder, La. And in support of a story in this issue, I drove to Taylor, La. to visit the latest Tolko/Hunt venture and snap a few photos of the dirt and the slabs. I asked for and received permission from Hunt President Richie LeBlanc this time. Maybe I’m getting soft.

For this city girl, though, the real thrill isn’t trespassing on sawmill sites. It’s seeing the new ones in action. Smelling the fresh pine pitch that forever makes me think of Christmas morning. The excitement fluttering in my fingers, and the scrambled eggs my brains become while I try to figure out what exactly makes a given site unique. Each time I learn something new about engineering and sawmilling, and also about life. I learn about the pursuit of something greater, something more—demands of quality and excellence, how a new sawmill doesn’t just make lumber, it changes the fabric of a town.

The lines run, the steam billows, and the 2x4s spit out. When I started here more than 10 years ago, greenfield and brownfield startups were few and far between. Now, some might say, they are a dime a dozen. I prefer to think of them as dots of magic across my beloved U.S. Southeast. TP

Contact Jessica Johnson, ph: 334-834-1170; fax 334-834-4525; e-mail: jessica@hattonbrown.com

HANCOCK ACQUIRES

MADISON LUMBER

Two of New England’s top performing eastern white pine manufacturing companies will be stronger together as Hancock Lumber announced plans to acquire Madison Lumber Mill of Madison, NH. Hancock Lumber’s eastern white pine operations will expand to four mills

While Hancock Lumber will be purchasing Madison Lumber Mill following the expected September 30 closing date, the Madison, NH based location will continue to operate under the Madison Lumber Mill name. A synergistic opportunity for both companies, the plan is to keep Madison Lumber’s employees, manufacturing systems, customer relations, and products produced unchanged.

“The addition of Madison Lumber is filled with synergy for both companies. The current owners, Kim Moore and Jim Smith, have built an exceptional company. When you find caring owners that are looking for an exit strategy that can preserve and perpetuate their love for their business, employees, industry and customers – well, it’s a winwin,” comments Hancock CEO Kevin Hancock. “This is a rare opportunity, and we are excited to maximize its full potential for the benefit of everyone associated with both companies. Our commitment

to eastern white pine takes a long view and this partnership enhances that view.”

Located an hour west of Hancock Lumber’s headquarters in Casco, Maine, Madison Lumber Mill is estimated to be the sixth largest manufacturer of eastern white pine. In addition to producing pine boards and products, the company operates a significant wholesale division. The current co-owners purchased the former International Paper mill in 2001. Hancock Lumber last acquired an eastern white pine operation when the company purchased the Chadbourne sawmill in Bethel, Maine in 2000.

Adding this fourth mill to its portfolio will make Hancock Lumber the largest eastern white pine producer in the United States, expanding not only their manufacturing capacity, but also their talent with the addition of Madison Lumber Mill’s sales, operations, and log procurement teams. General Manager John Fuller, along with all of Madison Lumber Mill’s employees, will remain part of the team while current owners Moore and Smith will remain during a transitional period.

SMARTLAM ANNOUNCES NEW GLULAM FACILITY

SmartLam North America announced several major projects that will have a significant impact on the mass timber industry. SmartLam North America, which is the first U.S. manufacturer and is reportedly the largest manufacturer in North America of cross laminated timber (CLT), announced it will build a $50 million glulam manufacturing facility in Dothan, Ala.

The new SmartLam facility, to be built

adjacent SmartLam’s existing CLT facility in a 144,000 sq. ft. structure, will manufacture annually 84MMBF of large glulam beams and columns that are required to properly serve the mass timber market. SmartLam has chosen to partner with Ledinek to build a turnkey, state-ofthe-art glulam facility. The new glulam facility is expected to be 100% operational in October 2024.

SmartLam North America CEO Derek Ratchford states, “We are pleased to announce the new state-of-the-art custom glulam manufacturing plant which will be the largest custom glulam plant in North America,” adding that Dothan is strategically located in Alabama to serve the Southeast, the fastest growing mass timber market in the United States, and that SmartLam North America has 1.5 billion BF of available southern pine lumber annually between its four Southern sawmill shareholders.

SmartLam North America will also spend an additional

$24 million to fully automate its existing Dothan and Columbia Falls, Mont. CLT facilities. This additional investment will allow each facility to produce 2 million cubic feet annually.

Ratchford adds, “Most mass timber glulam beams and columns are manually produced. The new glulam plant will be automated allowing SmartLam to significantly increase production and simultaneously deliver multiple mass timber projects. With the CLT automation upgrades and the new glulam addition, SmartLam will become the largest mass timber (CLT/glulam) producer in North America.”

PEAK RENEWABLES PLANS PELLET MILL

Vancouver, Canada-based Peak Renewables plans to build a 180,000 metric tons per year wood pellet mill in Dothan, Ala. The $30 million project will utilize residuals from Rex Lumber sawmills in the area.

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by mid-2023. Peak is building the plant adjacent the SmartLam

cross laminated timber plant and upcoming glulam facility in Dothan.

Peak and SmartLam have some common ownership, including longtime sawmill construction and equipment supplier Brian Fehr. Also, Scott Bax, formerly COO with Pinnacle Renewable Energy, is the CEO of Peak, which is also a partner in a proposed OSB facility in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan called One Sky Forest Products.

PATTON IS RETIRING FROM WESTERVELT

The Westervelt Company recently announced a change of leadership in the wood products business. Mark Richardson has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager, Wood Products, effective January 1, 2023. He will be promoted into the role currently held by

Joe Patton, who recently announced his retirement after a 24+ year career with the company.

“Joe has had a remarkable career at Westervelt, and he has shaped our lumber business into an industry leader in quality, safety and culture,” says Brian Luoma, President and CEO. “Joe leaves a long legacy of leadership that has benefited our entire industry. Mark has been with Westervelt for 24 years, and has worked closely with Joe as the Lumber Sales and Marketing Director. We’re excited to welcome him to his new role.”

In related moves, Rick Brignac has been promoted to Lumber Sales and Marketing Director, after serving most recently as senior sales representative, and Bryan Martin has been promoted to Manufacturing Director, after serving most recently as process excellence director.

WEYCO REPORTS

NW WORK STOPPAGE

Weyerhaeuser Co. announced that on September 13 a work stoppage involving members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union had impacted its operations in Oregon and Washington. Weyerhaeuser has approximately 1,200 employees who are members of IAM, including employees in the company’s Wood Products and Timberlands organizations.

“We have been formally engaged in collective bargaining with IAM since May, and we have made several offers related to wages and benefits,” says Denise Merle, senior vice president and chief administration officer for Weyerhaeuser. “After we presented our final offer, IAM workers at multiple sites went on strike. While we are very disappointed in their decision to walk out, we are committed to supporting our employees and negotiating in good faith with union representatives. We are prepared to continue discussions to produce a contract that is beneficial for employees and sustainable for the company across business cycles.”

Weyerhaeuser will continue working

Joe Patton

closely with customers and other partners in the region to minimize supply disruptions.

Weyehaeuser owns or controls approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manages additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. The company, which is a real estate investment trust, in 2021 generated $10.2 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,200.

JASPER LUMBER GAINS APPALACHIAN GRANT

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a $300,000 grant to help Jasper, Ala. based Jasper Lumber Co. to expand and provide new jobs in the area. The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will supplement a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant

awarded by the governor in March 2022 to assist Jasper Lumber Co.

ARC funds will be used to reconstruct two rail lines from the mill to the main railroad line enabling the company to transport its lumber.

The company is expanding through an agreement with Tolko Industries, a Canadian-based company. Jasper Lumber expects its output of lumber to grow from 70MMBF million to 200MMBF annually.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC and CDBG programs in Alabama.

ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Walker County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.

WESTERN FP NAMES HOFER PRESIDENT, CEO

Western Forest Products Inc. appointed Steven Hofer as President and CEO and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Hofer succeeds Don Demens, who will remain at Western in an advisory capacity until March 31, 2023 to ensure a seamless transition.

Hofer joins Western from BID Group, a global leader in wood processing technologies and solutions. At BID Group Hofer was responsible for creating and leading its key strategic initiatives, including BID’s digital technology strategy to drive revenue growth and market, product and geographic diversification. Hofer started his career in the BC Coastal forest products sector and has deep and expansive industry experience.

“Steven brings a wealth of industry knowledge and has the vision, leadership skills and commitment to sustainability to guide Western’s execution of its strategic plan and drive disciplined, long-term shareholder value,” says Michael Waites, Chair of the Board. “Steven embodies Western’s core values,

Steve Hofer

and his holistic approach to the business equips him to continue working with our partners to strengthen our business.”

“Western is a leader, not just in supplying specialty building materials, but in sustainably managing forests, advancing reconciliation and making important contributions to British Columbia,” Hofer adds. “It is an honor to be at the helm of this company, and to be returning to BC. Don and his team have built a

strong foundation and achieved significant transformational growth at Western. I look forward to working to capitalize on the significant opportunities ahead for the company.”

Hofer has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the forest products industry with proven, long-lasting results identifying opportunities for innovation and building strategic partnerships. Prior to joining BID Group, Hofer held leader-

ship positions with Interfor for 12 years, including serving as Interfor’s Senior Vice President, Northwest Operations and Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

Demens joined Western in 2009 and served in a number of strategic roles before being appointed President & CEO in 2013. Demens led the strategic transformation of Western into a premier wood products company, championed safety in the workplace, built mutually beneficial relationships with First Nation partners, and accelerated the company’s sustainability work.

“Don’s unwavering leadership has been invaluable to Western’s growth and success,” Waites says. “His work fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, recognizing safety as key priority in building long-term business success, and forging open and meaningful relationships with Indigenous groups has created a strong foundation for Western’s continued success. We wish him the best in his retirement.”

With operations and employees located primarily on the coast of British Columbia and Washington State, Western is a premier supplier of high-value, specialty forest products to worldwide markets. Western has a lumber capacity in excess of 1 billion BF from seven sawmills and four remanufacturing facilities. The company sources timber from its private lands, long-term licenses, First Nations arrangements, and market purchases. Western supplements its production through a wholesale program providing customers with a comprehensive range of specialty products.

STRATEGIC BIOFUELS GAINS SUPPORT

Strategic Biofuels announced that the Port of Columbia, home to the Louisiana Green Fuels (LGF) project, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA through its Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).

The PSGP is part of a series of grant programs created by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen defenses around the nation’s critical infrastructure. The PSGP specifically provides funds to state, local, territorial, and private sector partners to help protect port-wide risk management and transportation infrastructure in

THEGREAT

By Rich Donnell

Announcements of new southern yellow pine sawmills to be built hardly register on the Richter scale anymore. That’s because such announcements from numerous companies during the past decade have, amazingly, become commonplace.

Did you hear that Canfor plans to build a SYP sawmill north of Mobile, Ala.? Yawn!

Or that Claw Forestry has one in mind in Gloster, Miss.? Ho-hum!

Or Teal Jones in Plain Dealing, La.? Hunt Forest Products and Tolko in Taylor, La.? Roseburg in Weldon, NC? Canfor in DeRidder, La.? Some of these are well into construction. Somebody get me a cup of coffee!

Not to mention the ones that started up this year, like Biewer at Winona, Miss. and Idaho Forest Group in Lumberton, Miss. Or in recent years like Hunt Forest Products (LaSalle Lumber) in Urania, La., Angelina Forest Products in Lufkin, Tex., Rex Lumber in Troy, Ala. Old news!

And there have been so many other large sawmill expansions announced for existing facilities. Nap time!

All kidding aside, when it finally dawn ed on somebody some years back that southern pine timberlands had a tremendous stock of sawlog trees, or sawlogs soon to be, thanks in part to the decline of pulpwood production, it was the dawning of a new day. Any company who completed one of these sawmills in time for the record lumber prices of the 2020s in tandem with a resurgence of new housing starts has reaped the rewards. And though the current pricing and housing situation has softened, and interest rates continue to get higher, the companies currently building a new one or expanding one may be wrapping up their projects about the time things turn for the better again, as demographics for potential new home buyers remains favorable.

Timber Processing recently interviewed a handful of sawmill owners and executives who have participated in these projects and invited them to reflect

on the experience and where they’re going from here.

The general consensus usually points to Michigan-based Biewer Lumber’s greenfield startup in late 2016 in Newton, Miss. as the beginning of the new era of SYP sawmill construction. President & CEO Tim Biewer joins this Q&A; as does Robert Jordan IV, president & CEO of the Jordan Family of Companies, which started up a new sawmill in Mt. Gilead, NC in late 2017; and Fritz Mason, president and general manager of Georgia-Pacific Lumber, which started up three sawmills in a span of two years at Talladega, Ala.; Warrenton, Ga.; and Albany, Ga.; and Brian Luoma, president & CEO of The Westervelt Company and its greenfield sawmill that started up in Thomasville, Ala. in spring 2021; and William Van Devender, manager of Claw Forestry and its newly converted sawmill (Vicksburg Forest Products) at Vicksburg, Miss. that hit its stride in the last quarter of 2021, followed by an announcement that Claw is building a new one in Gloster, Miss.

The greatest southern yellow pine sawmill industry expansion ever is happening now.

BUILD UP

Timber Processing: Has your com pany’s project or projects proceeded about as you had anticipated several years ago?

Biewer: Our entry into the South has gone surprisingly better than we had anticipated years ago. Newton ramped up production in a good market, and Winona has also been lucky enough to come on at a good time.

Jordan: Now that the new mill is going into its fifth year of operation, our team has evolved with the new standards and technology needed to maintain a state-ofthe-art sawmill. No real surprises, just continuous time and dedication from our employees to understand what makes the mill run like it should and getting the right team together to make sure we have the skills and knowledge to keep it running at peak performance.

Mason: I would like to think we were smart to get things started in 2017 with the three new builds, but there was obviously no way to foresee the worldwide pandemic

and the resulting market responses, but we were fortunate to be in a good position.

Luoma: We were able to complete construction and startup of the mill on budget and on time. I am very proud of that given we obviously weren’t planning for a pandemic during construction and commissioning yet we still came up on time. There were no major surprises during construction and the initial startup exceeded our expectations. We did run into several challenges after initial startup that are probably pretty typical of a greenfield project. Some were equipment calibration and operational issues and some were PLC and electrical issues. It took a little while for our people working with the BID people to learn how to run the mill consistently and trouble shoot issues. Over all, I am very happy with where we are now.

Van Devender: We knew when we purchased the mill that the facility had the footprint (infrastructure and storage capacity) to become a much larger mill over time. From the very beginning, we envisioned adding a Chip-N-Saw line at some

point but that we had to first earn the right to expand the mill. Once we achieved our operating goals and had confidence in our abilities, we set out to add the additional production capacity. We definitely had surprises along the way such as COVID cases, supply chain issues and personnel challenges but we feel like we mitigated many other potential issues during such crazy, uncertain times by signing a turnkey agreement with one single provider, Timber Automation.

TP: For the part of it that has gone smoothly, what enabled that to happen?

Biewer: Our people at Newton and Winona have been our biggest asset in having successful startups. We feel like we have great team “buy-in” that has translated to efficient production.

Jordan: We had our challenges at the start, but with BID Group’s team spending almost two years helping us with startup issues, we were able to work though the good times and the bad. Both companies

Hunt/Tolko site, Taylor, La., September 22. (Photo by Jessica Johnson)

worked together to make the saw line something that makes us proud.

Mason: Leveraging our internal resources, that is one of our strengths. We draw on knowledge and skills from across all of GP and Koch Industries. That is something unique about us. Additionally, there was a definite advantage with the learnings we realized from one new build to the other.

Luoma: Many things went really well because we took our time and prepared a good plan. We worked very cooperatively with the BID team and they with us. We also didn’t try to cut any corners. This was a huge investment for our company and we did not want any weaknesses that we would regret later. We did have to change and adjust a few things in order to run the way we wanted but we do not have any major weaknesses.

Van Devender: The part that went smoothly was adequate planning, as we really took our time to study various options for expansion. Expansions are always difficult and our entire workforce did an excellent job of staying focused on their daily duties despite cranes and heavy equipment operating all around them each day during the nine month expansion project.

TP: And for the part of it that had

some challenges, what were some of the challenges and how did you overcome them?

Biewer: There have been challenges coming into a new geographical area and a new market for our company with SYP. We’ve been able to overcome these challenges by building good trusting relationships with log suppliers, customers, and other mills.

Jordan: Most of the challenges we had at startup and sometimes still struggle with today involve the rapid advancement in technology. All the bells and whistles are nice to have until something goes wrong; then being able to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem is taking more training and skills than we anticipated.

much capability we have internally. Also BID Group has been a great partner as we continue to develop our execution.

Luoma: The pandemic was probably the biggest challenge. We basically locked the site down during construction and limited who could come and go to minimize exposure of all the people on site. That proved successful as we never had any major out-breaks during construction or commissioning that hindered the project. However, we had planned to do a lot of training of our new Thomasville people at our Moundville mill which we did not do

“The increasing number of sawmills has been great for the industry; a lot of new ideas have been brought forward in these new mills that are transforming how lumber is made.”

—Tim Biewer, Biewer Lumber

because of COVID. So initial training of our people was slower and more challenging than we expected. We also started running into supply chain issues in late 2020 and early 2021. Getting spare parts and other materials on time became a challenge as we had to re-think our inventory plan and ordering patterns. The last issue was just the level of turnover of people especially in our hourly ranks. Between the pandemic, government stimulus/incentives and maybe the nature of the work itself we had a high percentage of people who hired on and then decided they didn’t want to work. Thankfully, that has significantly improved as we have been able to attract and hold a very solid crew at Thomasville now.

Van Devender: We also had our challenges. Due to COVID the project was definitely behind schedule. We had to work with our log suppliers to adjust deliveries and startup dates to make sure that we were all on the same page and could execute. We, of course like any mill project, had startup issues with new equipment and with residuals handling. We worked with Timber Automation to correct these issues and we were able to overcome them and learn how to get better each day. We’ve found that direct communication and working together are always

the most important factors in being successful on a project.

TP: How have you found the labor pool?

Biewer: The labor pool has been a challenge just like in every other industry today, but we feel that we’ve been able to accumulate good talents at both of our new mills that has attributed to our successes.

Jordan: A lot of our labor came from the old mill that we have shut down at this time that is on the same plant site. We are blessed in Mt. Gilead to have a loyal base because we have been around for over 80

some difficulty in finding all the skilled labor needed, especially for night shifts and especially for the high skill maintenance and programming positions. We see hiring and retaining high skilled people one of our biggest challenges going forward. In trying to continue to be a favored place to work we are now breaking ground for a “Jordan Employee Appreciation Park” on a 26 acre parcel across from our largest mill that will include a state-of-theart daycare and after school facility and also a Chaplain’s Office, two doctors offices and a workout facility. In addition it

“We have had some difficulty in finding all the skilled labor needed, especially for night shifts and especially for the high skill maintenance and programming positions. We see hiring and retaining high skilled people one of our biggest challenges going forward.”

will include a large stocked fishing pond with walking trails and several covered cookout areas and a large playground.

Mason: We were fortunate to start up Talladega and Warrenton prior to the pandemic so it was pretty much business as usual for hiring/training. Albany was ready to start up just as the pandemic was starting up so Albany had a few struggles. Now all of our sites are in the same position as every other company to find qualified labor that want to work in industrial settings.

Luoma: We have generally found the people we need to run but there were many times we had to run short. People just didn’t show up for work with no notifications. Our management teams had to scramble many times to fill out a shift and make sure we could run safely. This situation has improved some at both mills now.

Van Devender: Vicksburg is a great city to both work in and live in and it’s actually quite large as far as lumber mill towns go. We’ve been very pleased with the support we’ve received from both Warren County and the City of Vicksburg and that has allowed us to attract talent and be successful. We believe we have developed a reputation of trust within the community where we value our employees and we believe that has allowed us to be a preferred place to work. Of course we still face some workforce challenges, but we believe we’ve been able to recruit talented people to our team to continue making the mill a success. The employees have now seen what they’re capable of with the new upgraded equipment and there is a tangible feeling of confidence and teamwork.

compete in this industry no matter how many competitor’s mills are built. The wood baskets we are in are solid and we continue to spend a large amount of capital on our mills to keep improving them. Of course, we don’t want any additional competition but I believe it is true that competition can be good and that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Mason: The U.S. South is the most efficient source of lumber supply to the U.S. market. Market forces are driving the growth in manufacturing capacity in this region.

Luoma: I am not surprised or overly concerned by the lumber capacity growth in the South. The South has been growing much more timber than it has been cutting for many years. Private timber landowners have been doing a great job of increasing growth and managing sustainably for years and that will continue. I believe wood supply and lumber capacity will find an equilibrium in the South which may actually be starting to happen now. The wild card over

mills to this area and that has been great for these small, rural communities in the Southern U.S. We take pride in being able to bring higher-paying jobs to these communities.

TP: How do you feel about the current SYP markets moving forward?

Biewer: The markets have settled down since the COVID spike, and look to stay steady at a higher level than they have in years past.

Jordan: I believe, even though we are seeing a strong slowdown in housing, that the large group of Millennials that are now in their first home buying years will keep supply for the next few years in steady demand. Of course, that is as long as the rising interest rates don’t go too far.

Mason: Maybe you could lend me your crystal ball?

Luoma: I don’t feel great about the SYP markets at this moment because of the recession and the decline in housing

“I would like to think we were smart to get things started in 2017 with the three new builds, but there was obviously no way to foresee the worldwide pandemic and the resulting market responses, but we were fortunate to be in a good position.”

—Fritz Mason, Georgia-Pacific Lumber

Jordan: Yes Mason: Yes

Luoma: I do feel good about the SYP timber supply four our mills. We supply a percentage of our log usage from our own lands at both mills. The rest we purchase in the open market. We have very good relationships with many landowners and log suppliers. We know that landowners who we purchase timber from are doing a good job managing their lands sustainably and will continue to do so.

Van Devender: We feel really good about our timber supply. We chose Gloster, MS for the mill location because we felt like there was room for one more lumber mill in southwest Mississippi and we had existing timber suppliers and residuals customers in the area that we have strong relationships with. We do feel there are very few areas left in the South with adequate logging capacity and available timber to support additional mills after the build-out that has taken place over the last decade with the size of these new, modern mills.

TP: Is there another new SYP sawmill in your company’s future?

Biewer: Our goal is to grow our company in the lumber business so who knows what our next step will be.

Jordan: Sorry, I can’t answer that right now.

Mason: Always!

Luoma: I wouldn’t rule out another greenfield mill for Westervelt under the right circumstances, but I also believe this is a time for caution based on what’s happening in the economy. We will continue to prepare for disciplined growth across all of our businesses and execute when the time is right for us.

TP: Obviously there is a new sawmill in your future. Why Gloster, Miss.?

Van Devender: The town of Gloster was very supportive and welcoming. We

looked at a half dozen other locations in the U.S. South and they each didn’t work out due to a lack of key infrastructure, flood prone areas, topography challenges, proximity to other mills, etc. We felt that we could draw the talent that we needed to build a great team in Gloster. The area had been evaluated over the years by others but ultimately didn’t work out for one reason or another, mainly due to the size of the site. The former GP site itself was only about 45 acres, which wasn’t large enough for a modern mill—we were able to combine some adjacent parcels together to create one single parcel of nearly 70 acres. The local community support was integral to making this happen. P

“We do feel there are very few areas left in the South with adequate logging capacity and available timber to support additional mills after the build-out that has taken place over the last decade with the size of these new, modern mills.”

—William Van Devender, Claw Forestry

SECOND LOOK: BEAMING

Our cover story in the August issue was Biewer Lumber’s new southern yellow pine sawmill at Winona, Miss. It marked Biewer’s second new SYP sawmill in the Magnolia State in recent years, with the first one at Newton, which was the one that began a remarkable turnkey trend in the Southeast (see story on page 18). Biewer has made such an imprint “down here” that it’s easy to

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted these editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements placed elsewhere in this issue. Please refer to those advertisements for web site and contact information. All statements and claims are attributable to the companies.

BARTON MAQUINARIA

Barton Maquinaria, S.L. is a family-owned manufacturing company with more than 60 years of experience in the sawmill industry. From its headquarters located at Valga (Pontevedra) in Galicia (a northwest region of Spain well known because of its forest), Barton Maquinaria, S.L. designs and manufactures sawmill solutions that are used all around the world.

Barton Maquinaria, S.L. has modern manufacturing facilities in which its great potential in the area of machining stands out. In addition, it has a highly qualified human team for PLC programming and technical remote support—so important when it comes to after sales service.

At Barton we are always ready to provide the best possible technical solution to meet the needs of our customers. Regardless of the climate or the type of wood, your process or your volume of production, Barton will be ready to give you an answer. The dialoguing phase with our customers is an essential part in the innovation of our products. We greatly value your practical experience.

Barton Maquinaria, S.L. is taking part in industry conventions and machinery expositions in Germany, Poland, India, Italy, Portugal and Spain as a strategy to give more visibility to the company and as a meeting point with both existing customers and new potential customers.

At Barton Maquinaria, S.L. we are very proud of the achieved technical level of our Independent Columns Log Carriages. Available in vertical or tilted versions, with pneumatic or hydraulic hooks, these log carriages are fast and precise. Durability and reliability are standard features.

Our log carriages are suitable for all types of wood, from softwood to exotic. We will take care of configuring the machine according to the wood to be processed.

In the picture, we show our log carriage with 3 independent columns, Model CPTH-3B4 ECOBAR, with hydraulic hooks and hydraulic turning system, suitable for exotic species.

Our band saw headrigs, with double side cutting technology and driver to control the cutting speed (optional), will meet your cutting needs regardless of the wood that you need to cut.

Of course, at Barton Maquinaria, S.L. we also take care of the design, manufacture and installation of all the necessary mechanizations: dosing chains, roller conveyors, firewood evacuation systems, etc., which together will allow you to get the most out of our log carriages.

CARBOTECH (AUTOLOG)

Carbotech is a specialist in the manufacture of sturdy equipment for sawmills, planer mills, and other businesses that need reliable, long-lasting technical solutions for their operations. It strives to provide optimal equipment and solutions that contribute to their client’s success.

Thanks to its 30 years of experience, Carbotech is renowned as an innovator in the manufacture of lumber handling solutions. The company constantly invests in R&D to make its equipment more efficient and reliable while continuously improving the industry.

Recently, Carbotech has used its solid expertise to enter a new market, log handling, with the recent addition of the Stream Feeder to its lineup. Designed to improve efficiency, productivity, and ultimately, profitability, it is ideal for any process that needs to unscramble logs before they head to a log merchandiser, log sorting system, debarker infeed, or primary breakdown infeed. What’s more, it’s suitable for both softwood and hardwood, with or without bark.

When Carbotech acquired Autolog, which has more than 30 years of knowledge and expertise in sawmill optimization/automation technologies, it took a big step toward offering a truly comprehensive range of turnkey solutions for the industry. Autolog provides solutions to the wood transformation industry for businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to small entrepreneurs.

Autolog started its journey by offering industrial controls such as log and lumber sorters to reduce head count and streamline operations. It has since become recognized worldwide as a pioneer in wood processing optimization. It offers solutions for every part of the sawmill process, including log merchandisers, log sorting systems, breakdown equipment, edgers, trimmers, sorters and stackers. It also offers innovative solutions for optimizing planing mills and automating their processes.

For Carbotech, acquiring Autolog was a natural choice. The companies both share values such as offering optimal solutions and excelling in customer service. It was simply the logical next step to providing an all-encompassing solution for the industry.

Barton Maquinaria log carriage with three columns

Carbotech and Autolog: comprehensive material handling solutions

EASY-LASER

Laser is the easy and reliable way to keep your machines up and running. As you know, a sawmill is a very demanding environment, where the machines are hard worn. Regular checks and adjustment of the machine’s angles and straightness increases the quality of the sawn timber and allows the yield and production speed to be kept at the highest level, hour after hour. With a precision laser measurement system, work can be performed quickly and with the greatest precision. This is experienced by sawmills all over the world who have moved to using Easy-Laser instead of old, cumbersome methods like wire and dial gauges.

The Easy-Laser XT980 sawmill alignment system is designed specifically for the sawmill industry, and can be used for both circular saws and band saws, as well as other components in the saw line like reducers, guide planes, etc. Moreover, there are accessories for other type of machinery. When aligning with Easy-Laser you simply give your machines the best prerequisites for problem free and economical operation. Advantages with Easy-Laser are:

l Faster than traditional methods

l Easy to set up on the machine

l No wire in the way in the working area

l Easy to learn and use

l Extremely high precision

l Possibility to document with PDF

A normal requirement on the final product dimensions is plus/minus 0.3 mm (0.01 in.). Then you also need measurement tools with high precision and repeatability. Another advantage with laser is that the laser beam is not in the way for you when moving around in the machine, like a steel wire would be. The short setup time and quick procedure of a laser system also means shorter or unplanned production stops can be used for an alignment check. The possibility to document the work with a measurement report is also a big advantage to be able to compare data, then find and remove repeated problems.

Benefits of correct alignment:

l Increased production speed

l Higher product quality

l Higher yield

l Less unplanned downtime

l Longer service life for bands and blades

l Longer service life for bearings and wear parts

Contact us today to learn more. We will gladly tell you what suits your requirements best!

JOHN KING CHAINS

We have exciting news to bring to the lumber/timber industry. We have released the latest and greatest lumber chain products and services catalog. It’s a fresh look at what we offer and why we are who we are.

John King has a unique advantage in the lumber industry market with multiple locations worldwide. This gives us the leading edge in product knowledge, applications, fault finding and solutions. The new literature demonstrates just this, detailing existing and some brand new products that we have come across within the industry.

See our JKC155 that we call the “Rhino” and our Manganese long link chains. Our primary products being our drop forged chain and welded steel chains are all assembled and welded in our USA operation with extensive stock levels to meet the high demand of the USA market.

A final service that allows us to tick all the boxes is we offer complete conveyor manufacture and installation. We look forward to customers’ feedback and supporting them in all their lumber industry needs.

Easy-Laser sawmill alignment

LEDINEK

With development of an automatic through-feed press for automated production of narrow format cross-laminated timber wall and ceiling elements, Ledinek entered into the segment of narrow CLT panel production equipment. The press operates on the basis of hybrid pressure, achieved by combining force over spindles with electric drives and pressure force provided by compressed air. The press enables automatic production of CLT segments on an industrial scale in the production premises of the manufacturer and efficient constructional assembly of buildings due to prefabricated elements.

PROJECT DATA

—Type of CLT production - cold pressing

—Glue: PUR for CLT + hotmelt for cross and longitudinal panels —(semi product for CLT cake allows fully automatic handling)

—Capacity up to 42,500 FBM/100 m3 per shift with single XM-PRESS

—Possibility to upgrade to capacity up to 85,000 FBM/200 m3 per shift with the second XM-PRESS.

—Number of operators: 5

MAIN EQUIPMENT

l LAMELA PLANER [MULTIPLAN]

l PANEL PRESS [Z-PRESS 6]

l CLT PRESS [XM-PRESS 6]

l FJ PRESS [BLOCK PRESS]

l FINAL PLANER [SUPERLES]

Based on this latest innovation, Ledinek has developed and built a complete automatic production line for narrow format CLT panels. The production line is aiming for smaller and medium sized com nies interested in entering the CLT market. The main advantage of the line is the possibility to press panels of the same length as boards in the packages and then fingerjoint whole CLT panels into the appropriate lengths with a special FJ block press. This allows many possibilities and reduces the entry price as there is no need to fingerjoint lamellas and the cold CLT press is only ≈20 ft./6 m long.

You can start production with limited means and later modularly upgrade it to more automatic functions and thus raise the capacity of the line. With a fully equipped line you can easily achieve production volume of up to 42,500 FBM/100 m3 per shift. Such version of the line has been in operation in Portugal since the end of last year (see project information above).

Following this pilot project, Ledinek has already gotten similar projects, which are already in our production. For these projects further development is applied and an automatic production line for hybrid panels for a known customer will soon come to fruition.

MEBOR

Mebor manufactures a wide range of sawmilling machinery for small and big sawmills. Worldwide it is recognized as the leader in horizontal log sawing technology.

Mebor produced its first horizontal band saw 40 years ago, back in 1982. Until today it has supplied machines to more than 60 countries worldwide, including the United States, and gained experience with all sorts of wood and working conditions. Originating from a sawmill business, the Mebor team understands the needs and problems of sawmills which makes them competent in advising customers on how to improve their production.

Mebor’s state-of-the-art factory is located in Slovenia, Europe, on a total surface of 20.000 m2. Through substantial and constant investments, the factory uses the latest manufacturing technologies and machinery.

Strong and robust band saws are known by their long life span, lower maintenance costs and precise sawing. High quality of sawing with wide blades is shown through increased yield, precision and high quality of sawn wood. Speed and automation make for more production, time saving and lower operation cost. With simple operation and maintenance and sophisticated safety features, Mebor machines are user friendly and safe.

Mebor System automatic control combined with Mebor’s automatic board removal makes Mebor band saws a one-man operation and saves labor costs. Fully automated control allows the operator to focus on actual sawing, recovery and production. Combined with Mebor’s time saving features, this increases the profit of the sawmill. Cut programming tools allow the operator to choose optimal sizes for best yield.

Mebor’s control is also available as fully automatic - hands free, making it possible for one man to operate the machine and stack wood simultaneously.

Chain driven feeding of the saw head allows a high-speed return. Servo controlled blade positioning for super-fast blade positioning + high precision (+/- 0.05 mm). High speed hydraulic units with fast open-close of clamps; increased speed of log turning, etc.

Every band saw is made to order—with customized equipment, spacing between clamps according to log lengths, etc. Because such details do matter for best results. Combining our experience and your requirements results in the optimal machine for your production.

Mebor HTZ 1200 PLUS horizontal log band saw

SENNEBOGEN

When Larry McKay took over Mountainside Unloading in 2006, he went to work upgrading the fleet at the LP wood yard in Swan River, Manitoba to Sennebogen 830 M-T log handlers. McKay’s first Sennebogen recently turned over 42,350 operating hours. The machine is even running with its original Cummins engine. In fact, all of its original frame and components are still intact.

McKay can say the same thing about all six 830s he now has in service. Another of his Sennebogen machines has more than 41,000 hours while three others have clocked more than 30,000 hours. “They’re bulletproof,” he says.

Constantino Lannes, president of Sennebogen LLC, says that well-engineered, well-constructed machines are just one element in Sennebogen’s commitment to long life and low Total Cost of Ownership. “Our investment to support our machines after the sale is equally important, along with the commitment of owners, like Larry McKay, to protect their investment in the equipment.”

All of the log loaders at Mountainside Unloading work hard, long shifts. But it’s work that the 830 M-T is built for, with its undercarriage specially modified for trailer-pulling and its elevating Maxcab to help operators work quickly and safely. Each axle is driven by its own transmission, delivering powerful 4-wheel drive capable of hauling 100,000-lb. log trailers, often through muddy yard conditions.

McKay has the machines on rotating, day-long shifts unloading trucks, stockpiling the yard, and feeding wood at the mill. On top of stocking his own parts, McKay can also rely on his dealer parts and overnight delivery.

Sennebogen prides itself on engineering for uptime, including features like automatic central lubrication as standard equipment, 3micron oil filtration, reversible cooling fan, and a unique longitudinal engine mount for efficient flow-through cooling.

The best cure for downtime, of course, is prevention. And this is where McKay’s fleet management truly shines. “When they’re running, we get them to the shop once a day. Two machines come in and two machines go out. They get normal day-to-day stuff: cleaned, greased, checked over, engine oil. We add fuel conditioner once a day at the shop. I use good 5:40 engine oil and really good hydraulic oil. 90% of the hoses are still original. Manuals say you should change all your hoses at 6,000 hours and a lot of these are original at 40,000 hours. I take it to be the good oil I’m using.”

Every 250 hours, Mountainside pulls them through the shop for more intensive servicing like new air filters. They do regular oil analysis, and based on that, will go 750 hours for an oil change. “The little Cummins engines have been top notch. The first machine has the original engine and at 35,000 hours, I put in new fuel injectors and a new fuel pump, and it’s still running great,” McKay says.

TEREX (FUCHS)

In 1925, 21-year-old Emil Mann laid the foundation stone for a company that continued to develop. Today, Westerwälder Holzpellets Gmbh processes up to 120,000 fm of roundwood annually into packaging lumber and pellets. The latest addition to the company’s fleet is the new Fuchs (Terex) timber handler MHL434 .

Due to the multitude of possible applications, the new MHL434 has become an all-rounder at Westerwälder Holzpellets: It is used in a two-shift operation, five days a week. In addition to various manipulation tasks such as emptying boxes, stacking and loading the sawmill, it also supports the unloading of trucks and the loading of the sorting plant.

“The excellent all-round visibility of the MHL434 through the rear-hinged boom greatly increases work safety in the log yard. The performance of the machine is impressive,” comments Joachim Kessler, Operations Manager.

l Compact Design

Fast and maneuverable: One of the biggest challenges for machine and driver is the narrow space available in the log yard. The small rear radius of 2.6 m paired with the small upper carriage swing diameter enables optimal working conditions, even with narrow aisle widths.

An absolutely unique feature in this machine class is the original Fuchs Timber Boom. Due to the arrangement of the boom behind the center of rotation, the MHL434 offers unparalleled visibility conditions, which increases work safety in the log yard. This concept also enables a greater pile height and thus better utilization of the available timber storage area.

Mountainside Unloading operates Sennebogen log handlers around the clock at LP facility.

Fuchs MHL434 moves roundwood at German operation.

l Fuchs Cabin

Comfortable Workplace: The generously dimensioned, elastically mounted and soundproofed cabin with sliding door and tinted windows provides the optimal environment for productive and fatigue-free work. Sun blinds, 10 air conditioning and heating nozzles, swinging armrests/joysticks and a driver’s seat specially designed for Pick & Carry operation.

l Maintenance

Safe and Quick: Service work can be carried out comfortably from the ground. These activities are additionally facilitated by wideopening maintenance flaps equipped with gas springs and closing aids.

“The large front, rear and side windows, as well as the excellent view to the right, thanks to the rear-hinged boom, enable me to keep a close eye on all the processes around me. I also like the powerful yet sensitive work with the MHL434. Despite the large volume of work, I have activated the ECO mode on our MHL434 for over 70% of my daily tasks. This saves me up to 30% of fuel,” comments Sebastian Klein, operator at Westerwälder Holzpellets GmbH.

USNR

Automation is common today in the forest products industry, expanding the capabilities of complex systems and ushering in a new era of smart mill technology. And USNR is on the front lines of that effort. From the use of deep learning AI in our highly innovative automated grading systems, to the extensive data capture that enables dynamic machine adjustments on the fly, USNR advancements are leading the pack.

The Transverse High Grader (THG) offers proven defect detection that meets automated grading requirements by employing machine learning (AI) and integrating multiple sensing technologies. These include GrainMap grain angle measurements, ultrahigh-density color vision, laser profiles, and end-grain pith sensing to deliver precise and consistent grade solutions in a wide variety of species. THG accurately detects, measures and classifies bow, crook, twist, skip, wane; knots; pith; stains; decay; bark pockets; splits; shakes; worm holes.

l Now you can get a taste of the future today with SAM, our Self-Adjusting Machine technology that automates your quality control process. SAM leverages existing scan data to improve your mill processes, effectively replacing many quality control functions that are performed manually.

SAM combines before-and-after measurements with the optimizer’s solution to determine the differences between what was intended to be cut, and what was actually cut, and identifies which saws, chippers, and positioners were used to process each piece.

After collecting a statistically significant set of samples, SAM calculates how to bias the PLC to minimize any errors, making recommendations for each saw, chipper and positioner. Your QC staff can choose to manually approve and implement these recommendations, or SAM can automatically implement the adjustments for you.

Imagine a mill where products are quality controlled through technology, and mill QC staff is deployed for higher level analytical work. Manual quality control measurement for PLC correction is seldom required. Only then is it possible to operate the mill at its peak efficiency, value recovery, throughput performance, and safety.

USNR technology brings you the future. Contact us today and let our experts share advances that will make your process more efficient, improving your operation and your bottom line.

Imagine a mill where products are quality controlled through technology and manual QC measurement is rarely required. Thanks SAM!

NEWSFEED

support of the National Preparedness Goal.

A total of $100 million was awarded under the Port Security Grant Program to 213 recipients across the country. The $1 million awarded to the Port of Columbia was the largest award to the 15 Louisiana recipients.

The LGF project has continued to benefit from the State of Louisiana and federal government’s desire to support Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) innovation and development to meet climate goals. Strategic Biofuels has been a leader in Louisiana since successfully completing the first CCS test well last summer. Most recently, the federal Inflation Reduction Act enacted August 16, 2022 increased the IRS Section 45Q sequestration tax credits the project will receive on the approximately 1.4 million tons per year of CO2 it will sequester from $50/ton to $85/ton.

In addition, on August 1, Act 163 signed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards went into effect, expanding the eminent domain acquisition of the pore rights necessary for underground CO2

storage in Caldwell Parish and directly supporting the LGF project.

Louisiana Green Fuels will produce renewable diesel fuel from Renewable Fuel Standard compliant forestry waste and will produce all its own green power from sawmill and forestry waste materials. The plant and its accompanying Class VI Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) wells will produce renewable diesel fuel with a carbon footprint that is nearly a 400% reduction compared to fossil diesel, making it the most deeply carbon-negative liquid fuel in the world.

ENVIVA IMPLEMENTS HEIRS PROPERTY FUND

Enviva Inc., announced the establishment of the Enviva Heirs Property Fund (EHPF), an initiative dedicated to ending involuntary land loss across the U.S. Southeast. Enviva has formally committed $250,000 on an annual basis to provide support to landowning families in the U.S. Southeast through direct financial support for professional services, identifying path-

ways for families to capture sustainable land value, and through public policy advocacy at the state and federal levels.

EHPF’s efforts will begin in 2022 in Mississippi and North Carolina, and will expand to include direct financial aid to landholders incrementally throughout Enviva’s operational footprint in the coming years, in addition to the national policy work currently underway.

The issue of heirs property predominantly affects southern Black landholders, and has been a significant driver of Black land loss over the last century. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives, a non-profit association of Black farmers, landowners and cooperatives, estimates that 60% of African American-owned land in the South is held as heirs property, and from 1910 to 2007 it is estimated that Black farmers lost approximately 80% of their land, from about 20 million acres to about 1.9 million acres today.

To eliminate the systemic hurdles resulting in involuntary land loss, the Fund will act on the following three functions for landowners:

● Achieve Clear Title: Assist

landowning families in achieving clear title to their land, thus removing the land from being vulnerable to involuntary loss. EHPF will connect families with the professional services necessary to secure clear and marketable title.

● Unlock Sustainable Value from Land: Assist families in receiving value from their land for generations, which they are unable to do until they achieve clear title. Through existing partnerships, EHPF will connect, educate and train families on resources and topics related to best practices for forest/land management, sustainable farming techniques, and merchandising. In parallel, EHPF will help families connect with the broad universe of federal and state benefits to landowners that hold acreage in clear title, such as grants for growing crops or building on their land, federal loans, and other governmentally bestowed benefits.

● Advocate for Changes in Public Policy: Advance policy solutions at the state and federal level to prevent involuntary land loss. EHPF will partner with several organizations that specialize in land loss prevention policy to resolve the ongoing, systemic land loss problem across the American South.

OREGON MASS TIMBER COALITION WINS BIG

President Biden announced the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition as one of 21 winners of the $1 billion Build Back Bet-

ter Regional Challenge, the most impactful regional economic development competition in decades. Funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Regional Challenge is awarding approximately $41.4 million in grants to the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, led by the Port of Portland, to modernize and boost the forest products industry in Oregon.

With $41.4 million in funding from EDA, the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition aims to bring down the cost of home building, provide good jobs and restore forest health. The projects funded as part of this award include working with forest-dependent rural commu-

nities to grow access to wood fiber, facilitate a wood-based products workforce development program, provide resources to university R&D programs

NEWSFEED

conducting design and prototyping of new construction materials, and assist state agencies in creating a favorable regulatory framework to accommodate modular mass timber homes in rural and wildlife-impacted communities.

“Mass timber is an exciting innovation with huge untapped potential. Accelerating affordable housing production, providing good jobs, sequestering carbon, and restoring forest health will provide immense benefits for Oregonians as we seek to construct more energy efficient buildings for the future using all tools available to us,” comments Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.

“Congratulations to the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition on winning a $41.4 million grant through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge,” adds Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR01). “The Coalition, an innovative partnership between government agencies and educational institutions, has worked tirelessly to advance mass timber production and to craft a plan to build affordable housing with mass timber. With this grant, the Coalition will contribute to

better forest management, address the housing crisis, fight climate change, and create good jobs in rural as well as urban communities.”

The Oregon Mass Timber Coalition is one of 21 winners—each a regional coalition of partnering entities —that will receive awards between $25 million and $65 million to implement an average of six integrative projects that will enable each region’s economic transformation and competitiveness.

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge federal grant program provides each regional coalition with significant investments to tackle a wide variety of projects—including entrepreneurial support, workforce development, infrastructure, and innovation—to drive inclusive economic growth.

The 21 BBBRC awardees were chosen from 60 EDA-designated finalists that each received approximately $500,000 in funding and technical assistance to continue developing their cluster strategies. Those 60 finalists were chosen from a Phase 1 applicant pool of 529 applications.

Fulghum Announces Commission Of Crane

USNR Sells DynaStar Maintenance Software

USNR has sold the DynaStar Maintenance Management Software to DrekiTek Software Solutions Ltd. USNR looks forward to a long-term relationship with DrekiTek Software Solutions Ltd as it continues the development and support of the DynaStar system.

Fulghum’s newly designed 175 ft. 45 ton EVR (electric variable radius) log crane sits at the Weyerhaeuser mill in Holden, La. The log crane was installed and commissioned for operation on June 15. This mega crane has many new features including PLC control enhancement, heat tracing, ergonomic operator cab, and a convenient incinerating toilet. Additionally, the crane has a self-contained 60 sq. ft. and 360° rotation grapple that has a gross lifting capacity of 45 tons, which maximizes production rate and reduces truck turnaround time.

DynaStar customers will continue to receive the excellent support they expect along with ongoing development of the product. Existing Software Support Agreement (SSA) customers will continue to receive product support through the DrekiTek organization.

USNR is now a “referrer” of the DynaStar Software Package.

DrekiTek is a new software development company, located in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, BC. Taavettilan-Davis is a leading expert on DynaStar, having more than 18 years with USNR in support of the DynaStar software for clients around the world, in multiple industries. Visit drekitek.com.

South Americans Visit Southern U.S.

Why choose American softwoods?

That’s precisely what delegates from Peru, Colombia, Panama, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Mexico found out during a recent Reverse Trade Mission visit to the U.S. South. The group consisted of lumber importers, distributors and architects interested in learning more about U.S. structural wood panels, engineered wood products and southern yellow pine.

During this full-week visit hosted by APA and SFPA in July, the group of visiting South American building professionals experienced the Southern forest products industry, from seedling to finished buildings and everywhere in between. Stops included:

—Simpson Strong-tie (metal connector) facility tour

—Construction site visits in Dallas, TX

—Boise Cascade plywood plant tour

—RoyOMartin OSB tour

—Logging site visit

—West Fraser sawmill tour

—Gulf South Forest Products meeting

—Universal Forest Products meeting

The fully immersive experience was punctuated with excellent conversations surrounding the benefits of American softwoods and softwood products and their many applications throughout both Latin America and South America.

Shishalh, Interfor Do Tenure Deal

Shishalh Nation (shishalh) and Interfor Corp. took another critical step in advancing their economic relationship and supporting the economic vision of the shishalh Nation. In 2017, shishalh and Interfor transformed their work together through a new Relationship Agreement, which set out a path for shared decisionmaking and economic development.

shishalh has recently purchased 100,000 m3 of annual volume from Interfor. The purchase is being supported through funds provided by the Province of British Columbia through the Foundation Agreement.

Ralph Friedrich, Vice President Coastal Operations of Interfor, com-

ments, “After working with shishalh over the past 20 years, we are pleased to mark this achievement and we will continue to work with its forestry corporation, Tsain-ko, through the transition. This tenure transfer is an exciting step for shishalh and Interfor, and reaffirms Interfor’s commitment to building on our economic partnership and stewardship measures with shishalh.”

Roseburg Internship Class Is Top Notch

Roseburg recently had the honor of welcoming 34 college interns to the company for this year’s internship program—the biggest class of interns Roseburg has ever had. The internship program is built around real-world projects so that team members get hands-on experience tackling actual business challenges. Roseburg also takes a total business model approach, meaning that it recruits interns for positions all across the company, from mills and manufacturing, to forestry, I.T., accounting and more.

Will Potter, an Oregon State Universi-

ty student majoring in forestry, has been helping the Roseburg resources team with post-planting surveys to make sure that Roseburg forestlands are healthy one, two and five years after planting. This means trekking out into the field to gather height and diameter measurements of trees, as well as checking for damage from wildlife such as deer, elk, and mountain beaver.

What Potter appreciates most is the

ways in which his internship brings a deeper relationship to the work that he’s been learning about in school. While he’s spent time processing this kind of data in school, he’s never gone out to the forest to gather it himself.

Rodrigo Rivas Aguilar is an intern with Roseburg’s I.T. department, and he’s been busy digging into the company’s help desk and ticketing systems to look for opportunities for improvement and refine-

ment. Not only is it giving Aguilar realworld experience tackling tangible business problems, it also contributes to Roseburg’s emphasis on continuous improvement across the entire company.

The internship program also includes supplementary experiences like leadership training, mill tours, and team-building exercises to ensure that each class of interns leaves with a well-rounded set of skills to excel in the professional world. This often makes them more hireable after their internships, regardless of whether they stay with Roseburg.

Last year Roseburg hired eight of the 25 interns from the internship program, and the company has a deep pool of team members who started their careers here as interns.

Adam Reed, Roanoke Valley Plant Manager, started as an intern, and now he’s helping to launch a brand new flagship lumber mill in North Carolina. “Interning at Roseburg helped me achieve my current role by providing the opportunity to learn hands-on with some of the most advanced people and equipment in the industry. Roseburg gave and continues to give me an incredible opportunity to excel in my career. Their commitment to the community and their core values sets an amazing example.”

Teal Jones Allies With Pacheedaht

The Pacheedaht First Nation and Teal Jones have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating a framework for engaging in dialogue to identify areas of joint opportunity for economic activities in balance with continued stewardship of and safeguard for the land and water.

The parties aim to identify specific forestry, business, commercial, and employment opportunities within the Nation’s traditional territories and pursue them through Joint Working Agreements. They will also develop a world class Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) to ensure responsible stewardship of at-risk species and ecosystems within the Nation’s traditional territories now and for future generations.

“This agreement makes us both stronger,” says Dick Jones, Teal Jones president and co-owner. “We have long believed businesses have a critical role to play in reconciliation with First Nations on whose traditional territories they work. This agreement reflects our commitment to the Pacheedaht people, and to

Top Wood (360) 263-3371 3779

working side-by-side with them to create lasting prosperity through responsible forestry.”

Teal Jones is BC’s largest privatelyowned coastal forestry company. The company employs more than 1,000 directly in woods and sawmill operations across BC.

Canfor Supports

Bighorn Sheep

Canfor Corp. announced a $50,000 contribution to help the Village of Radium Hot Springs reach its $400,000 campaign goal to Save the Radium Bighorn Herd. Radium Hot Springs’ magnificent Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep are recognized as a species of special concern, reflecting the vulnerability of these beloved animals.

“As a forestry company with a significant presence in the Kootenay Rockies region of BC, we are very proud to make this contribution supporting conservation of the Radium-Stoddart herd,” says Michelle Ward, Senior Director, Commu-

nications & Government Relations. “The community, including our own employees who call Radium home, has shown great commitment to increase awareness of the risks faced by the sheep and to accelerate the building of a safe wildlife overpass for Radium’s One Mile Hill.”

It’s Nice Working For Team Hancock

Hancock Lumber’s number one focus is to create and sustain a world-class employee experience. The company announced that Team Hancock has been named a Best Place to Work in Maine for the ninth consecutive year.

“This is such exciting news—number nine is just as rewarding, if not more so, then number one. To be able to sustain this employee experience and culture while growing and onboarding new people and new companies is a fantastic accomplishment! Congratulations and thank you all for delivering on Hancock Lumber’s #1 priority!” comments CEO Kevin Hancock.

Because people spend so much time at

“The Krueger

“The Krueger Jackie Paolo 866-504-9095

work, the company set out early on to find deeper ways for it to be more meaningful—making work important, but not allconsuming. The team simplified the mission and made everything employee-centric first. While Team Hancock’s 650 employees across 16 locations will pause, celebrate, and reflect on this nine-time honor, it won’t be for too long. The real work happens every day throughout the year—listening, learning, and finding ways to create and sustain a culture where everybody leads, where everybody is trusted, respected, listened to and heard.

“Working at Hancock Lumber has helped me grow as a person. When there was an opening for a promotion, everyone here on my team was so encouraging and motivated me to apply. Now, I make decisions easier and with more confidence. It’s helped my quality of life–I’ve gained friends that are now like family to me. Working here has been a huge gamechanger for my life and I really appreciate all that Hancock Lumber has done for me,” comments Taylor Davis, Pittsfield Sawmill Administrative Assistant.

OCTOBER

7-9—Paul Bunyan Show, Guernsey County Fairgrounds, Cambridge, Ohio. Call 888-388-7337; visit ohioforest.org.

12-15—Xylexpo 2022, FieraMilano-Rho Fairgrounds, Milan, Italy. Phone +39-02-89210200; Visit xylexpo.com.

26-28—Texas Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, College Station, Tex. Call 936632-8733; visit texasforestry.org.

NOVEMBER

14-15—Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop, Lumber Quality Institute, Scottish Rite Center, Salem, Ore. Call 541752-2751; visit lumberquality.com.

16-17—Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop, Scottish Rite Center, Salem, Ore. Call 541-752-2751; visit lumberquality.com.

30-December 3— Woodex, 18th International Exhibition of Equipment and Technologies for Woodworking and Furniture Production, Crocus Expo, Moscow, Russia. Visit woodexpo.ru.

MARCH 2023

2-5—Delhiwood 2023, India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, India. Call+91-80-4250 5000; visit delhi-wood.com.

22-24—HMA 2023 National Conference and Expo, JW Marriott Nashville, Nashville, Tenn. Call 412.244.0440; visit hmamembers.org.

MAY 2023

15-19-Ligna: World Fair For The Forestry And Wood Industries, Hannover Exhibition Center, Hannover, Germany. Call +49 511 89-0; fax +49 511 89-32626; visit ligna.de.

19-20-Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo (Loggers’ Expo), Cross Insurance Center, Bangor, Maine. Call 315369-3078; visit northernlogger.com.

JULY 2023

25-28-AWFS Fair, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. Call 224-563-3761; visit awfsfair.org.

AUGUST 2023

23-25-SFPA Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo, Music City Center, Nashville, Tenn. Visit sfpaexpo.com.

A D N K

A W Stiles Contractors 49 931.668.8768

Barton Maquinaria S.l. 35 +34 986 559 460

BID Group 7 843.563.7070

Biolube 43 260.414.9633

Burton Mill Solutions 3 800.426.6226

Calibre Equipment 45 +64 21 586 453

Carbotech-Autolog 22 819.252.2273

Claussen All-Mark International 16 800.252.2736

Cone Omega 48 229.228.9213

Delmhorst 46 877.335.6467

Easy-Laser AB 43 +46 31 708 63 00

Ernst Reiner GmbH 39 +49 7723 657 0

Esterer WD GmbH 51 +49 86 71 5 03 0

FiberPro 44 501.463.9876

G F Smith 8 971.865.2981

Halco Software Systems 46 604.731.9311

Holtec USA 2 800.346.5832

Joescan 14 360.993.0069

John King Chains 40 +44 1977 681 910

Ledinek Engineering 28-29 +386 2 61300 51

Lico Machinery 31 418.228.3882

Limab AB 37 +46 31 58 44 00

Linck 41 936.676.4958

Linden Fabricating 39, 49 250.561.1181

McDonough Manufacturing 12 715.834.7755

Mebor 47 +386 4 510 3200

Metal Detectors 25 541.345.7454

MiCROTEC 15 541.753.5111

Mid-South Engineering 39 501.321.2276

Minda Industrieanlagen 49 828.313.0092

Nelson Bros Engineering 20 888.623.2882

Oleson Saw Technology 33 800.256.8259

Precision-Husky 17 205.640.5181

Prinz GmbH 56 855.467.7469

Sennebogen 9 704.347.4910

Sering Sawmill Machinery 44 360.687.2667

Signode 23 800.323.2464

SII Dry Kilns 55 800.545.6379

T S Manufacturing 10 705.324.3762

Telco Sensors 13 800.253.0111

Terex Deutschland GmbH 27 +49 0 7253 84 0

Timber Automation 21 501.617.5130

U S Metal Works 46, 49 800.523.5287

USNR 11, 50 800.289.8767

Vecoplan 6 336.252.4824

Wood-Mizer 42 866.477.9268