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■ table of contents

www.woodbioenergymag.com

8 6

FROM THE EDITORS Another Alternative Energy Project?

IN-WOODS CHIPPING Lots Of Technology To Squeeze In

IN THE NEWS Lots Of New Developments

PRODUCT NEWS New Technology, New Dealers

18 PETE MADDEN Q&A Endowment Leader Tells All

Cover Photography: For long-time logger Bill Harrison, chipping for the biomass power plant in Gainesville, Florida has changed the way he operates. (Patrick Dunning photo)

22 CHIPPER OPERATOR Logger Leans Into Biomass

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advertising index Advertiser Index is a free service for advertisers and readers. The publisher assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

Air Burners

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Baker Rullman Manufacturing

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CW Mill Equipment

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Europe Forestry

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Volume 13

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Publisher/Editor Emeritus ■ David (DK) Knight

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■ from the editors

But Will

It Scale? W

alking through ZeaChem’s cellulosic ethanol refinery demo plant in Boardman, Ore. back in 2012, we were standing on a catwalk two stories off the floor, looking at a jungle of pipes, valves and tanks. Former ZeaChem CEO Jim Imbler looked around and said that to successfully scale up the company’s innovative and efficient acid-based conversion process to a true commercial wood-based cellulosic ethanol operation, among other things, every component we were looking at needed to be 10 to 100 times larger in size or capacity while still operating under the same tolerances and inputs and outputs that made the concept “provable” in the lab or demo plant. While the demo plant is still in Boardman, the story is a familiar one in the alternative energy industry: The financing required to take the concept commercial never materialized—and circumstances changed. The price of oil and natural gas have stayed remarkably low, leading to less incentive to finance many different alternative energy projects. Meanwhile the 30,000 acre tree farm nearby that was to furnish most of the ZeaChem refinery’s raw material was sold and converted to a huge dairy operation. ZeaChem went on to reinvent itself as Zea2 Bioworks, which now provides scale-up and custom manufacturing solutions for the production of nutraceuticals, supplements, food ingredients, and API for the agriculture and biotechnology industries. The facility isn’t lighting the bioenergy world afire, but it’s also a viable operation that’s survived, although in a different form. Then again, most of these type ideas and concepts don’t even get out of the lab, much less survive in the real world in any form. So it was with much interest that we recently read of the joint effort between researchers at Lawrence Berkeley and Sandia National Laboratories that has developed a more efficient process to manufacture cellulosic ethanol using commercially available enzymes and a specially engineered yeast to break down lignin and re-

lease wood sugars and convert to ethanol. The new “one-pot” single container process uses less water and energy as well, researchers say, and is a game-changer that makes wood-based cellulosic ethanol fully cost competitive with the corn-based ethanol that dominates the market today. The research effort is targeting the need to develop woody biomass markets in California, which is embarking on a major wildland wildfire prevention and woodland thinning program that will generate mountains of biomass. Cupertino-based Aemetis is the company that’s working to commercialize and scale up the technology. The company has a solid record, operating a California ethanol plant and biochemical plant in India with more than 110 million gallons capacity combined. We wish them all the luck and look forward to one day touring an Aemetis woody biomass cellulosic ethanol plant and writing about it. But even the best ideas can get derailed by technical issues that may or may not be controllable or by market and financial issues that are definitely not. A process has to scale up efficiently to have a chance, but finances and markets must be favorable as well.

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■ in the news Drax Announces Arkansas Investment Drax Group will begin constructing the first of three new “satellite” pellet plants in Arkansas, the company has announced. The three plants are together expected to produce around 120,000 metric tons of sustainable biomass pellets a year from sawmill residues, supporting the renewable energy company’s plans to increase self-supply to its power station in the U.K. Drax will begin construction of the first plant later this month near a West Fraser sawmill in Leola, Grant County—with commissioning expected in October. The company will begin construction on two more plants in other locations in the coming months. In total, Drax will invest $40 million in the state, creating approximately 30 new direct jobs and many more indirect jobs across three Arkansas communities. The development of the satellite pellet plants is part of Drax’s strategy to increase biomass self-supply to five million tons by 2027, improving supply chain resilience while reducing pellet costs. Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, comments, “By building these new pellet plants Drax is bringing jobs and opportunities to rural communities in Arkansas, boosting the state’s post-COVID economic recovery. Through this investment, Arkansas will play an important role in combating climate change, supporting Drax to increase the amount of sustainable biomass we produce as part of our plans to pioneer bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. By using sustainable biomass, we have displaced coal-fired power generation, reduced carbon emissions and provided renewable electricity for millions of homes and businesses in the UK.” The Leola satellite pellet plant is expected to produce around 40,000 metric tons of sustainable biomass pellets a year. Drax will utilize the sawdust and other dry residual ma-

terials from West Fraser’s co-located facility. By co-locating the pellet facilities with sawmills, Drax will benefit from lower infrastructure, operational and transportation costs. The company will host job fairs to recruit for positions at the Leola site in late May.

Enviva Move Forward On New Plants Enviva reports the possible development of a wood pellet plant in Bond, Miss., about 50 miles north of Gulfport. Enviva states it “recently advanced a site it controls in Bond, Mississippi to the next phase in its development process. This plant is expected to be designed to produce between 750,000 and more than 1 million tonnes per year.” Given its close proximity to the Port of Pascagoula, production from a Bond plant would be delivered to the Pascagoula terminal by truck for export worldwide. Construction is ongoing at Enviva’s deep-water marine terminal in Pascagoula, which will have throughput capacity of more than 3 million MTPY. Construction is expected to be completed in the middle of this year with the first shipment from the terminal expected later this year. When fully constructed, the Pascagoula terminal will be able to receive wood pellets by truck, rail and barge. Enviva reports that construction of a 750,000 tonnes wood pellet plant continues in Lucedale, Miss., with completion expected in the middle of this year. Enviva continues to move forward on the development of a wood pellet plant in Epes, Ala. Enviva has acquired a wood products mill adjacent the Epes site and is evaluating utilizing the existing infrastructure there to reduce installation costs of the Epes plant, as well as increasing the Epes plant’s production capacity to more than 1 million MTPY.

New Venture Forms Bioenergy Platform ReEnergy Biomass Operations LLC and Ember Infrastructure announced plans to enter into a joint venture to create a bioenergy platform. The company will be named ReGenerate Energy and will be led by team members from ReEnergy and Ember. The new company will acquire an ownership interest in ReEnergy’s two biomass power plants in Maine, ReEnergy Stratton and ReEnergy Livermore Falls, and will look to expand the platform through the acquisition of additional bioenergy assets across North America. Larry Richardson, CEO of ReEnergy Holdings and one of its cofounders, comments, “This is an exciting time in the history of ReEnergy. With the combination of Ember’s capital and experience in the energy industry, and ReEnergy’s expertise in the bioenergy sector, we look forward to a period of new growth and innovation.” The transaction is expected to close this summer. ReEnergy Biomass Operations LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of ReEnergy Holdings LLC, which was formed in 2008 by a senior management team. ReEnergy Holdings LLC also owns ReEnergy Black River, a 60 MW biomass power facility located on the Fort Drum U.S. Army installation near Watertown, NY, and ReSource Waste Services LLC, which operates five facilities in New England that recycle construction and demolition waste materials. The 48 MW ReEnergy Stratton and 39 MW ReEnergy Livermore Falls facilities support 50 direct jobs, more than 300 indirect jobs, spend more than $30 million annually and purchase more than 700,000 tons of fuel each year from Maine loggers/truckers and mills. Founded in 2018, Ember is a New York-based private equity firm delivering capital solutions to businesses and assets seeking to reduce

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carbon intensity and enhance resource efficiency.

Strategic Biofuels Gains Ground

Pinnacle Is Officially Part Of Drax

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards joined Strategic Biofuels LLC CEO Paul Schubert in an announcement that the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Louisiana Green Fuels, plans to develop a renewable diesel plant near the Caldwell Parish seat of Columbia. Situated on an 171-acre site at the Port of Columbia, the plant would produce up to 32 million gallons of renewable fuel annually through established refinery processes with wood waste as the feedstock. The company is completing feasibility and financing phases for the project in anticipation of a final investment decision by late 2022. Louisiana Green Fuels would make a capital investment of at least $700 million. The company would create 76 new direct jobs and more than 400 new indirect jobs. Strategic Biofuels reports it has raised 85% of its early-stage financing from investors in north Louisiana. In addition to the Columbia renewable diesel refinery, the company envisions the development of additional Louisiana refineries that would target production of renewable aviation fuel, as well as diesel. “Caldwell Parish is the ideal location for our Louisiana Green Fuels plant,” Schubert comments. “It combines the required forestry waste feedstock for fuel production and the right geology for carbon sequestration within the state of Louisiana’s visionary legislative framework, which has been further strengthened by the Climate Initiative established by Governor Edwards. We are especially thankful for his signature on the recent $200 million tax-free bond allocation, which substantially advances the financing for this project.” “Louisiana Green Fuels is an example of how our state can merge traditional and emerging forms of energy in exciting ways to address climate change,” Gov. Edwards says. “The company has engaged Justiss Oil of Jena to drill a seques-

Pinnacle’s plant at Aliceville, Ala. and the entire Pinnacle portfolio of wood pellet plants has joined the Drax Group.

Drax completed its acquisition of North America industrial wood pellet produce Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. The transaction received overwhelming support from both sets of shareholders. The acquisition increases Drax’s annual operational pellet production capacity to 4.9 million tonnes at 17 plants across Western Canada and the U.S. South—up from 1.6 metric tons. Of this increased capacity, 2.9 million will be available for Drax’s self-supply requirements. The deal also gives Drax access to four deep water port facilities and three major wood fiber baskets. By advancing the strategy to increase self-supply and reduce biomass production costs, the acquisition paves the way for the company’s plans to deliver Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), permanently removing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. By becoming a world leader in BECCS, Drax can deliver on its purpose of enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future, and achieve its ambition to become a carbon negative company by 2030. Drax will seek to export its BECCS expertise around the world to support global efforts to address the climate emergency.

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Enviva, Drax Sign Letter To Biden More than 400 businesses and investors with a footprint in the U.S., including major industrial wood pellet producers Enviva and Drax, as well as the likes of Amazon, Apple and Walmart, have signed a letter to President Biden indicating their support for the Biden administration’s commitment to climate action, and for setting a federal climate target to reduce emissions. The letter demonstrates strong support for a highly ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target, or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pursuant to the Paris Agreement, in pursuit of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Business signatories of the letter collectively represent more than $4 trillion in annual revenue and employ more than 7 million U.S. workers. Investor signatories of the letter collectively represent more than $1 trillion in assets. A portion of the letter reads: Dear President Biden, We, the undersigned businesses and investors with a major presence in the U.S., applaud your administration’s demonstrated commitment to address climate change head-on, and we stand in support of your efforts. Millions of Americans are already feeling the impacts of climate change. From recent extreme weather to deadly wildfires and recordbreaking hurricanes, the human and economic losses of the past 12 months alone are profound. Tragically, these devastating climate impacts also disproportionately hit marginalized and low-income communities who are least able to withstand them. We must act now to slow and turn the tide. As business leaders, we care deeply about the future of the U.S. and the health of its people and economy. We join the majority of Americans in thanking you for re-entering the U.S into the Paris Agreement and for making climate action a vital pillar of your presidency. To restore the standing of the U.S. as a global leader, we need to address the climate crisis at the pace and scale it demands. Specifically, the U.S. must adopt an emissions reduction target that will place the country on a credible pathway to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. We, therefore, call on you to adopt the ambitious and attainable target of cutting GHG emissions by at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. New investment in clean energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation can build a strong, more equitable, and more inclusive American economy. A 2030 target will also guide the U.S. government’s approach to more sustainable and resilient infrastructure, zero-emissions vehicles and buildings, improved agricultural practices, and durable carbon removal. Finally, the commitment would inspire other industrialized nations to set bold targets of their own. Many of us have set or are setting emissions reduction goals in line with climate science since the establishment of the Paris Agreement. The private sector has purchased renewable energy at record rates and along with countless cities across the country, many have committed themselves to a net zero-emissions future. If you raise the bar on our national ambition, we will raise our own ambition to move the U.S. forward on this journey. While an effective national climate strategy will require all of us, you alone can set the course by swiftly establishing a bold U.S. 2030 target.

tration test well that will confirm the integrity of carbon storage a mile below the earth’s surface.” Strategic Biofuels states its renewable diesel is significantly different from biodiesel and is not subject to biodiesel’s severe blending limitations. “Renewable diesel is a high performance, low emissions, ‘drop-in’ synthetic fuel. The greenhouse gas, primarily carbon dioxide, produced by Louisiana Green Fuels will be captured and permanently sequestered in underground geologic formations, thereby preventing the captured carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.” The site, 25 miles south of Monroe, is on an active port site with a Union Pacific rail line. The company says the Port of Columbia site is located within one of the largest fiber baskets in the country ensuring long-term cost-effective feedstock supply; that within a 75-mile radius of the site there are more than 40% more tons of pine grown annually on private lands, mostly managed plantations, than are harvested. The plant is expected to produce 83% renewable diesel and 17% renewable naphtha. Both renewable fuels are ‘drop-in fuels’ that are chemically identical to fossil-derived diesel and naphtha. The company says it will use gasification to convert wood waste into syngas, and that Fischer-Tropsch technology will reassemble the carbon monoxide and hydrogen syngas, followed by upgrading technology that converts the synthetic crude into transportation fuels.

Air Permit Issued For Proposed Plant Renewable Biomass Group has been issued an air quality permit by the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Div. for the construction and operation of an industrial wood pellet mill in Adel, Ga. The permit allows the processing of not more than 497,000 oven

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dried tons of wood chips in the wood pellet dryer, not more than 337,968 tons of wood chips from the green hammermill, and not more than 246,234 tons of wood chips from the dry hammermills during any 12 consecutive months. The permit also requires the operation of a wet ESP and RTO. Several environmental interests immediately petitioned the U.S. EPA to revoke the air pollution permit and asked that the state “correct its practice of issuing certain air pollution permits without the opportunity for public review.” Last September the Adel City Council voted to annex an 171 acre industrial park area in Cook County into the city of Adel and to re-zone the property from agricultural to heavy-industry, where the new plant will be located. The company hopes to begin commercial production in the first quarter of 2022.

The Renewable Biomass Group web site indicates the company wants to develop 2 million metric tons per year of industrial wood pellets projects over a seven-year period. The RBG web site shows Craig Whitlock as CEO with experience in international business development; Jeremy Ham as CFO with experience in capital raising; and Patrick Madigan as general manager and director. Madigan was head of Irish electricity producer Bord na Mona’s bioenergy division when that company announced its intention to build an industrial wood pellet plant in Georgia in 2017. At an earlier city council hearing the executive director of the Cook County Economic Development Commission, Lisa Collins, spoke in favor of the project, calling it “monumental for Adel.” The RBG air permit application

indicates the plant will procure 1.1 million tons of softwood annually.

Hyuga Biomass Plans 50 MW Plant ITOCHU Corp. of Tokyo is establishing Hyuga Biomass Power Generation Co., Ltd.—a business operation company funded jointly by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., Tokyo Century Corp. and Tokyo Energy & Systems Inc—to construct a 50 MW biomass power plant in Hososhima Industrial District in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Startup of the operation is expected in late 2024. ITOCHU will provide a longterm supply of wood pellets and Green Power Fuel Corp. of Osaka Gas Group will provide domestic wood chips. In addition, Tokyo Energy & Systems will take a role in operation and maintenance, while Daigas G&P Solution Co., Ltd., a

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subsidiary of Osaka Gas, and Tokyo Energy & Systems will take a role in the owner’s engineering. Located in Hyuga City, the Hososhima Port is a large-scale public port. Along with its various renewable power generation businesses, ITOCHU is committed to developing the next generation power solutions utilizing energy storage devices that will play an important role in ensuring a consistent supply of renewable energy.

Lignetics Expands Pellet Offerings Generational Capital Markets, a mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, announced the sale of its client, Great Lakes Renewable Energy, Inc., to Lignetics, Inc. (a holding of Taglich Private Equity, LLC). Located in Hayward, Wis., Great Lakes Renewable Energy is a wood pellet manufacturer specializing in BBQ wood pellets, primarily under the Lumber Jack Grilling Pellets brand. Lignetics, headquartered in Louisville, Colo., is the largest residential wood pellet manufacturing company in the U.S. with a production capacity of more than 1.2 million tons per year. The company now operates 17 manufacturing plants. Consumer categories include residential heating, home grilling, and most recently, the pet products category. Lignetics is dedicated to bringing innovative products to its consumers under various brands including the Lignetics (residential heating), Lumber Jack Grilling Pellets (through the GLRE acquisition), Bear Mountain BBQ (home grilling) and Catalyst Pet (pet products) brands.

Enviva Joins Sea Cargo Charter Enviva has joined the Sea Cargo Charter, a cross-industry partnership of more than 20 ship charterers that aims to establish a consistent global

framework for transparently assessing and disclosing the climate impact of ship chartering operations. Earlier this year, Enviva announced its goal to become net zero in its operations by 2030. As part of this commitment, Enviva will track and transparently report its progress in reducing its emissions, including its Scope 3 emissions, those generated as part of its upstream and downstream supply chain, annually. The company also vowed to work with partners to improve the environmental emissions intensity of its shipping and other transportation logistics. Enviva plans on advocating for the development of new solutions and accelerating its work with stakeholders to bring those solutions to market. One such solution is the Sea Cargo Charter, which offers a standard greenhouse gas emissions reporting process that significantly simplifies some of the complexities often associated with reporting. By joining the Sea Cargo Charter, Enviva will benefit from an industry-established, global baseline that quantitatively assesses and discloses shipping activities in line with the climate goals set by the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ agency responsible for regulating shipping. These goals include the IMO’s ambition for GHG emissions from international shipping to be cut by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. Gordon Lugsdin, Head of Chartering at Enviva, comments, “A standardized reporting framework is vital for the shipping industry to demonstrate its commitment to reducing GHG emissions, becoming more sustainable, and fighting climate change—core values we share at Enviva.” The Sea Cargo Charter continues to grow since its inception in October of 2020, when some of the world’s largest vessel charterers launched the initiative to demonstrate their role in promoting responsible environmental behavior and incentivize the decarbonization of international shipping.

Japan Power Plant Construction Starts Renova-led Omaezakikou Biomass has started work on the construction of a 74.95 MW biomass power plant project at Shizuoka Prefecture. Aside from Omaezakikou Biomass, Renova’s biomass power generation portfolio includes the Akita Biomass power generation facility, which has completed construction and is currently operating smoothly, and the Kanda and Tokushima Tsuda Biomass power generation facilities, which are under construction. Omaezakikou Biomass operations are expected to commence in July 2023, and the intention is to contribute to the revitalization of the economy around Omaezaki City and Makinohara City.

Trillion Trees Act Grows Support U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (RArk.) introduced the Trillion Trees Act, legislation that would plant 1 trillion trees globally by 2050 and incentivize the use of wood products as carbon sequestration devices. U.S. Reps. Kevin McCarthy (RCalif.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Andy Barr (RKy.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio) all joined the bill as original cosponsors. “Trees are the ultimate carbon sequestration device,” Westerman says. “Every day, countless billions of plant cells are pulling carbon from the atmosphere and permanently storing it in wood. That’s why this legislation is so important. We’re taking proven science and turning it into practical solutions. Not only are we setting an ambitious goal of planting 1 trillion new trees by 2050, but we’re also reinvesting resources into managing forests and using wood products.” “I am proud to stand with our loggers in introducing this legisla-

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tion, as the forest and paper industry is a cornerstone of northern Minnesota’s economy,” Stauber adds. “The legislation will increase our logging output, rightfully recognize the carbon neutrality of biomass, and provide a commonsense solution to carbon in the atmosphere without needlessly driving up the cost of energy.” The Trillion Trees Act is based on a July 2019 Swiss report featured by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science that concluded planting 1 trillion trees across the world could sequester 205 gigatonnes of carbon. That’s roughly the equivalent of two-thirds of all manmade carbon since the Industrial Revolution. The bill has three parts: —Plant more trees in urban areas and on marginal agriculture land domestically while offering technical support and assistance for other countries to maximize forest growth

internationally and reverse deforestation. —Grow more wood in existing forests and make them more resilient to insects, diseases and catastrophic wildfires. —Store more carbon by incentivizing innovative building practices with a sustainable building tax credit.

Stored Solar Buys Biomass Power Plants Based in Enfield, Maine, Stored Solar LLC has acquired four nonoperating wood chip power plants in New Hampshire and is attempting to bring them back on-line. In 2020, Stored Solar purchased biomass power plants in Whitefield and Springfield, both previously owned by EWP Renewable Corp., and the Pine Tree Power biomass power plants in Bethlehem and Tamworth. The New Hampshire plants had

been closed since 2019 following Gov. Chris Sununu’s veto of a bill to subsidize the wood-burning power plants, which were having a difficult time competing as the wholesale price of electricity fell.

IP Helping Fund Research Programs Again this year, International Paper (IP) is offering a program that’s funded $500,000 in academic research grants the past two years to explore new technology and key issues for forest landowners and the forest products industry. Since 2019, International Paper has asked U.S. universities for research proposals to explore innovations in: remote sensing technology; timber supply modeling; understanding and managing risk from the forest to the mill; and the relative advantages of important global wood baskets. During the past two years, six

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programs at four universities were selected for funding. North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Mississippi State University are researching timber supply modeling with the ultimate goal of improving market models that predict resource trends and prices. Virginia Tech and Texas A&M are exploring remote sensing technologies that will help characterize forest attributes. Virginia Tech is evaluating satellite and aerial imagery to estimate stand characteristics over large areas, and Texas A&M will be studying the use of space-borne and aerial sensors. Mississippi State University and NCSU are also conducting a comparative assessment of global wood fiber production.

SC Road Entrance Permit Now In Effect In South Carolina, the SCDOT Blanket Encroachment Permit is now in effect for temporary logging road entrances. The department requires an encroachment permit any time travel or work is done on or across a state owned right-of-way. The permit lets SCDOT know where the access is and what type of activity is being conducted and is required to be kept on the job site. The SC Timber Producers Assn., Forestry Assn. of SC and the SC Forestry Commission worked with SCDOT to develop the temporary logging road access encroachment permit. The permit is annual, and there is no fee charged.

Project Learning Tree Releases Curriculum Project Learning Tree (PLT) recently released a new curriculum guide to engage kindergarten through grade 8 students in exploring their environment. Project Learning Tree is a long-established, award-winning environmental education program that uses trees and forests as windows on the world to advance environmental literacy, stewardship, and pathways to green careers.

The guide includes 50 fieldtested, hands-on activities that integrate investigations of nature with science, math, English language arts, and social studies. It incorporates outdoor education and connects youth to nature.

SFI Launches Urban Forest Initiative Officials with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) announced the launch of a partnership to develop a new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard for application in North America and potentially globally. SFI will collaborate with five urban forestry leaders: American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Society of Municipal Arborists and Tree Canada. “The SFI network is looking forward to collaborating with our urban forestry partners to promote the establishment of sustainable urban and community forests that meet local needs, while meaningfully contributing to national, bi-national and global initiatives such as the 2 Billion Tree initiative in Canada,” says Kathy Abusow, SFI President and CEO.

Northern Spotted Owl Is Back In Court Preservationist groups and timber industry interests have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service over developments concerning critical habitat acreage designation for the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO), which has been listed as a “threatened” species (not endangered) since 1990 under the Endangered Species Act. Federal acreage set aside for the owl, and related reductions in national forest timber sales caused a major disruption to the Northwest forest products industry in the 1990s that lingers to this day. Preservationists filed a lawsuit March 23 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Di-

They’re back!

vision, claiming USFWS bypassed procedures, laws and all reasonable discretion when in January the USFWS ruling published in the Federal Register eliminated 3.472 million acres of federal land from the owl’s critical habitat designation in Washington, Oregon and California counties—an amount that was increased from 204,000 acres in 15 Oregon counties in a preliminary proposal by USFWS in 2020. Preservationists are asking that the USFWS ruling be totally struck. Some of the preservationist groups acting as plaintiffs include Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Audubon Society and the Environmental Protection Information Center, among others. Meanwhile USFWS delayed the effective date of its ruling through the end of April and possibly beyond, calling for more public comment. One of the reasons for the delay, according to USFWS, was that the incoming presidential administration recommended that all rules published in the Federal Register but that had not taken effect should undergo further review. USFWS stated, “We are delaying the effective date of the final rule to give us time to consider questions of law, policy and fact in regard to that final rule,” adding that “in light of the litigation history of Northern Spotted Owl critical habitat designation, we are reviewing whether the rulemaking was procedurally adequate.” Subsequently, American Forest

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in the news ■

Resource Council joined the Assn. of O&C (Oregon & California) Counties and other counties in Washington, Oregon and California in a lawsuit challenging the USFWS delay in implementing its January ruling. The January 2021 critical habitat designation removed areas that are not habitat for the owl and have been set aside for timber production under the Northwest Forest Plan and federal law, according to AFRC, adding that acreage setasides for the owl this century have cost Pacific Northwest communities more than a billion dollars and over a thousand family-wage jobs, while providing little benefit for species conservation. “The 2021 designation aligns NSO critical habitat with federal law, modern forest science, and common sense at a time when unprecedented and severe wildfires threaten both owls and people

from northern California to Washington State,” AFRC stated. “We are challenging the delay because it violates federal laws and wrongfully restricts timber harvests on non-NSO habitat.” The delay also restricts the use of active forest management tools that help reduce the risks of severe wildfires—the kind burned more than 560 square miles of suitable nesting and roosting spotted owl habitat in Oregon last year, AFRC stated. The AFRC lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges USFWS failed to provide a lawful justification for the delay, nor did it provide the public with notice or opportunity to comment. Critical habitat acreage designation for the owl has hovered around 6.8 million acres of federal land, not including national parks, national wildlife refuges and congressionally designated wilderness areas where logging is largely pro-

hibited, since the original USFWS designation in 1992. The AFRC lawsuit argues the USFWS critical habitat designation was the product of extensive public comments and is consistent with the agency’s obligations under the Endangered Species Act and the O&C Act. The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court to vacate the USFWS’ delay and declare the 2021 critical habitat designation as immediately effective.

Good Earth Names Management Team Arizona-based Good Earth Power AZ and its operating entity, NewLife Forest Products, have formed a new senior management team to expand forestry management and lumber manufacturing operations. l Adam Cooley has been appointed as Vice President, Corpo-

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rate Development. His responsibilities include supporting the company’s strategic planning processes and building relationships with key stakeholders. As a fourth generation lumberman in the Arizona forest products industry, Cooley is proficient in sales, purchasing, operations, production, transportation, credit management and USDA procedures for international lumber shipments. l Josh Ray has been named Manager of Finance & Administration and oversees all accounting, finance and administration. l Kevin Ordean has been appointed as Forest Operations Manager. Ordean is responsible for overseeing all forest related operations from planning to harvesting and ensuring that NewLife is in compliance with the U.S. Forest Service regulations. l Mark Chamberlin has been appointed as Mill Operations Man-

ager overseeing mill operations at NewLife’s Heber and Williams facilities in addition to planning and building of the new sawmill in Bellemont. GEPAZ is managing Phase I of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) contract with the U.S. Forest Service. The mission of the 4FRI program is to restore the health of 2.4 million acres of Arizona forestland.

Rural Schools Gain USDA Funding USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen announced the issuance of more than $193 million to support public schools, roads and other municipal services through the agency’s Secure Rural Schools program. The funding will be delivered as payments to more than 700 eligible counties in 41 states and Puerto Rico.

In addition to payments for schools and roads, the Secure Rural Schools program supports Firewise Communities programs, reimburses counties for emergency services on national forests, and funds development of community wildfire protection plans. The Forest Service retains a portion of Secure Rural Schools program funds to support projects that improve forest conditions and support jobs in rural communities. Resource advisory committees, made up of local residents representing varied areas of interest and expertise, review and recommend projects that meet their local needs. Beginning in 1908, the Secure Rural Schools program allowed the Forest Service to share 25% of its revenues from timber sales, mineral leases, livestock grazing, recreation fees, and other sources with counties in and around national forests. By the 1980s, largely because of dimin-

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in the news ■

ished timber sales volume, Forest Service revenues from these sources began to decline. The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 replaced the revenue sharing model with a guaranteed level of payments, giving forestdependent rural communities a more reliable set of funding, while protecting forest resources that provide clean water, recreation opportunities and other benefits. These payments were most recently reauthorized for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020. Payment amounts are determined by a number of factors set in the law, including acres of federal land within an eligible county, an income adjustment based on the per capita personal income for each county, and the 5% reduction in the overall payments each year.

a Logger, a children’s book about logging. The book’s purpose is to educate young students about the opportunities and benefits of timber harvesting. Lucy Meets a Logger follows the main character, Lucy, as she ventures into the woods and meets Mr. Logger, who explains to her why

logging is good for society and the environment. Alabama Forestry Assn. and Forest Workforce Training Institute have begun touring Alabama with legislators on the “Lucy Tour.” This tour allows legislators to visit schools in their area to read ➤ 38 Lucy Meets a Logger and

Book Teaches Kids About Logging

Stephanie Fuller, who works for the Forest Workforce Training Institute (ForestryWorks), has authored an illustrated book for children about the logging profession. Fuller is the daughter of Todd and Shelia Fuller, owners of Fuller’s Logging in Chambers County, Alabama. The experiences gained from being a child in the industry inspired Fuller to write Lucy Meets

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■ q&a

The Future

Is Bright EDITOR’S NOTE: Pete Madden took over as President of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities in mid-2020. Madden joined the Endowment with more than 30 years of experience in the forest sector— and is a registered forester. He has held roles in land management, procurement, supply chain and logistics and renewable energy within well-known and respected industry players including Westvaco, Georgia-Pacific and Plum Creek. Most recently, Madden led Drax Biomass as president and CEO. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marlboro College in Vermont and both a Master of Science in Forestry and an M.B.A. from the University of New Hampshire. The Endowment, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, was established in September 2006 at the request of the governments of the U.S. and Canada in accordance with the terms of the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement. Madden agreed to answer several questions posed by the editors of Wood Bioenergy.

valuable to the Endowment and our projects. Another change is that we’re looking at ways to better communicate the outcomes of our projects not only across the industry, but also to the broader public. We recently brought on a new staff member to more effectively share what we learn from the many projects in which we are involved as part of our overall program execution. A major way we can strengthen the forestry industry and the communities they serve is by not only doing the projects and finding new and innovative ways to tackle issues, but also by sharing our findings publicly. WB: Now that you’ve been in the role, and implemented those changes, what is next for the Endowment? Madden: One thing that’s gaining traction not just for the Endowment but for the industry is carbon and the forest industry’s role in the future of carbon. From carbon sequestration and climate change to the effects on industry and the bioeconomy, it is a vast space. We’re attempting to look at forest carbon from a holistic perspective, including how it might be used to benefit forest-rich communities. Another view into the future is TimberHauling.com, which we just launched. It focuses on providing financial benefits to independent trucking and hauling businesses. Right now, they’re facing many obstacles, including tight budgets, labor shortages, etc. TimberHauling.com gives loggers national buying power they have never had on parts and services that helps them focus more on growing their businesses. While it’s currently being piloted in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, we see great potential for this project for the industry and potential expansion to other areas of the country. A final item as we look to the future relates to diversity, equity and inclusion. We recognize that improving diversity is paramount to success in business and that includes the forestry sector. While there’s increased attention to that fact, there have been limited and fragmented efforts to advance this opportunity. We want to develop a platform and commit to making sure that all voices are being heard with regard to their current and future needs. We will strive to foster success for all in the sector and in the communities our industry serves.

WB: You’ve been at the head of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities for almost a year now. What changes did you want to see the Endowment make when you first took over, and what is their status now? Madden: The Endowment is a dynamic organization by design. We have a robust collection of initiatives and projects where we focus on large-scale change that most others are either unable or unwilling to do. Right now, we’re in the midst of refreshing the way we tackle projects. That means reassessing our strategy and evaluation methods, as well as enacting a more disciplined approach to the way we allocate capital and resources. We have a great track record of success in these areas, but there’s always room for improvement and “We have the data and science to demonstrate the positive we’re taking some time to assess our approaches so we can climate influence of biomass energy. We need to argue have the greatest impact with against critics by using scientific rigor that demonstrates the our resources. We’re also looking at ways positive climate impacts forests and forest products proto best utilize the experience and expertise of our board of vide. Biomass utilization is a tool for landowners to help directors. Each of them reprewith sustainable forest management—a problem especially sents different areas of our work and we recognize their seen in areas with increased wildfire risk.” perspective is exceedingly

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WB: Speculate on 10 years from now, where the world might be with regard to wood biomass heating and electricity as part of its infrastructure? Madden: There are parts of the world that have embraced wood biomass heating and electricity. In my view, there’s only one way to go and that’s up. I believe that as markets expand, there will be great opportunities for the forest industry. Right now, much of the biomass that is being created for these heating and energy products abroad is being produced from right here in the U. S. With energy producers looking for alternative energy sources to replace coal, wood biomass is a natural successor. WB: Where does the U.S. fit into it? Madden: There are programs in place, including from the USDA, that are encouraging this development in America. The U.S. has well-managed and sustainable forests and that is a critical advantage that the sector is taking advantage of and why other countries are looking to the U.S. when they source alternative fuels and fiber. Our country can easily adapt what’s currently in place elsewhere and utilize wood biomass for future renewable energy projects. That means more sustainable energy production and greater markets for wood products right here.

like wood energy are critical to forest landowners as they provide opportunities to manage their forests for higher value products and create the kinds of incentives that provide for continuous renewal of these forests. Creating markets for low value biomass will strengthen the forestry infrastructure and enhance the local restoration economy. WB: How do you view the incoming U.S. presidential administration’s possible impact on wood biomass power development? Madden: We know that there are players within the administration that seem receptive to biomass power development. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm knows the impact. When she was Governor of Michigan, she created a state-level commission devoted to renewable fuels, to which I was honored to receive her

WB: What are the biggest challenges facing wood energy and power in the world moving forward? Madden: We at the Endowment know these challenges first-hand. One of the Endowment’s largest, most audacious ventures is in Restoration Fuels, LLC, which is a biomass torrefaction facility in John Day, Oregon. We know the bottlenecks in the supply chain and the hesitancy of small, independent businesses to embrace change. Change here, like with most things, is incremental. But we can overcome those challenges and open up a whole new world for those in the timber industry as long as we are persistent and show the value potential for future markets and revenue growth. Another challenge is public perception around forest harvests. For some critics, showing pictures of logging has been a very successful fundraising tool. It’s been a very effective strategy to describe forest management as forest destruction. While we know differently, that the value forest products bring to landowners help them keep their forests as forests. We understand the growth cycle of trees and that low value markets

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appointment. The bioeconomy was a concept discussed then and now that she’s Energy Secretary, I believe she will be key in forward progress on this matter. Furthermore, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s work during his

previous tenure at USDA is noteworthy. USDA has continued to invest in biomass power bringing additional value to the landowners they serve and real value for the electric grid in terms of reliable baseload power. Vilsack’s return to USDA is wel-

come as his department has stated it will continue to promote biomass power as a climate solution. WB: How could we market U.S. sustainably harvested biomass better? Madden: One thing that needs to be made clear and transparent is the full life cycle assessment (LCA) of biomass energy. We have the data and science to demonstrate the positive climate influence of biomass energy. We need to argue against critics by using scientific rigor that demonstrates the positive climate impacts forests and forest products provide. Biomass utilization is a tool for landowners to help with sustainable forest management—a problem especially seen in areas with increased wildfire risk. Market-based solutions are the path to restore resiliency and ecological function to these forests and provide the scale needed to address the forest health crisis in the West But as part of that, we have to get the documentation and auditing of carbon neutrality right. Saying something is carbon neutral is one thing; pointing to hard evidence of that fact is another. Showing the public there are uniform guidelines as to what it means to be ‘carbon neutral’ and that this sector is, indeed, carbon neutral is essential for buy-in and credibility. WB: How much potential is there in co-firing with coal in the U.S.? Madden: The possibilities are substantial. We know many companies and industries are looking for alternatives to coal as a source for energy production and there is an opportunity for biomass to not only help wean communities from coal dependency, but also support the transition to a more renewable energy system. Right now, the industry is slowly but surely shifting toward more alternative, renewable energy sources and that is where biomass has a distinct advantage.

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Florida Logger Finds Success

Supplying Power Plant By Patrick Dunning WILLISTON, Fla. hat began as a swamp and hill operation in 1971 hand-felling pulpwood in Williston, Fla., has diversified into a substantial chipping-for-biomass operation in recent years for William “Bill” Harrison, 69, and his company Harrison Logging Co. What brought the change? A variety of factors, but the biggest being the opening of a new market near Harrison’s home in Florida, a municipal electric utility burning wood chips for power, now operating under the name Deerhaven Renewable Generating Station. First brought online in late 2013 as Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC), the 102.5 MW facility burns biomass chips sourced from the region Harrison cuts, so it was a natural fit. Harrison has crews that contract cut for Columbia Timber Co., and have since the 1980s. Columbia had the first contract to provide wood for the Gainesville plant, and

“I wish there were chip mills everywhere. It would change the way people look at loggers.” through that contract, Harrison was introduced to chipping-for-biomass. The logging company operated a Bandit chipper that Columbia purchased for a while, before stepping out on their own and purchasing a Bandit chipper. In the beginning, the logging crew used the Columbia purchased Bandit 2590, but it quickly became evident that the market demanded a heavier-duty machine, and an increase in production. Now, Harrison operates three Bandit chippers, one 3590XL for M. A. Rigoni and two 3590s for Columbia Timber Co. producing a total of 250 loads of chips a week. “The 3590 Bandit chipper helps us diversify our market and the landowners love it. Their land is clean when we leave,” Harrison explains of the machine and its re-

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supplier profile ■

Tripp and Bill Harrison

ception since being added to the equipment list as the biomass power plant’s demand rose. What might have taken months to cut, now takes Harrison a matter of weeks, and leaves the land cleaner. For example, when Wood Bioenergy visited, the crew was chipping a 160-acre tract and was slated to finish the clear-cut in just under five weeks. “There is just not a lot of debris left when we leave,” he adds. “I wish there were chip mills everywhere. It would change the way people look at loggers. Sometimes we go behind pine crews and chip their block and it looks terrible. Not that they aren’t doing anything wrong, they just don’t have a chipper.”

On The Job Harrison has always known what he wanted to do: “My mommy told me the first toy I asked for when I was a baby was a log truck.” At 18, he stepped out on

his own and founded Harrison Logging. In ’87, he added a second crew—a few years after son Tripp, 45, joined the company. In total, the company operates five crews (three chipping and two conventional logging). The chipping crews are set-up similarly, but not identically. One crew runs a 595 Barko loader, two 643L John Deere feller-bunchers, 948L John Deere skidder and 3590 Bandit chipper. One crew runs a Caterpillar 595B loader, DelFab threewheel feller-buncher, Cat 555D skidder and 3590 Bandit chipper. The other chipping crew runs a Cat 595B loader, John Deere 843L and 643L feller-bunchers, two 525C Cat skidders and a 3590XL Bandit. Harrison prefers running two crews (one chipping and one conventional) on the jobsite simultaneously when a clear-cut block is available. “I like to have two crews on the same job that way the feller-buncher operator can cut everything as they go, put chips in one pile and pine in another, then carry it to whichever loader it needs to go,” he explains. “Pine is too thick to actually go through there and get the chipping wood out first. If you cut the pine first you’ll tear all the chip material down which makes it a nightmare to pick up. We prefer to run them together.” Harrison Logging utilizes 22 Peerless and ITI chip vans, which under good conditions can be filled in 1315 minutes. Eight company trucks (a mix of Mack,

A mix of logging iron keeps Harrison’s three chippers steadily supplied with material.

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■ supplier profile

Western Star, Peterbilt and Kenworth) and 20 contract trucks get the production hauled. In addition to Deerhaven, Harrison hauls pulpwood to GP, Palatka; WestRock, Maxville; a shavings mill in Cysero, and occasionally Rayonier, Fernandina Beach. Sawlog markets include Resolute Forest Products (Suwanee Lumber), Cross City; West Fraser, Lake Butler; West Fraser, Maxville; and Cross City Lumber,

Cross City. Cypress logs are hauled to Cracker Style Log Homes, Williston; South Eastern Timber Corp., Lady Lake, takes mat logs. While the crew hauls to many area mills, it’s clear both Bill and Tripp enjoy producing biomass chips. Tripp explains, “Future-wise were trying to produce more chips as long as the mills are wide open. I was out of town looking for a new chipper just a few weeks ago.”

Gainesville Still Likes Biomass onstruction on the Gainesville Renewable Energy C Center (GREC) started in June 2011 and, when completed in October 2013, the $500 million, 102.5 MW biomass power facility began a nearly 10-year roller coaster ride of shutdowns, full-speed operation and acquisition. When the facility began commercial operation, with the intent to use 1 million tons of woody biomass annually, it faced significant scrutiny locally because of the costly and lengthy power purchase agreement between the city and the developers. It then was plagued with other issues ranging from noise complaints to a lawsuit from one of its primary biomass suppliers over feedstock requirements. In late 2017, GREC was sold to Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), a municipal electric utility, owned by the city of Gainesville. This acquisition brought desperately needed diversity to GRU’s power generation portfolio—which has an aggressive longterm renewable energy goal. Renamed Deerhaven Renewable Generating Station (DHR) following GRU’s acquisition, the plant provides reliable markets for fuel providers like Bill Harrison and is helping GRU towards its goal of becoming 100% renewable by 2045 across all generating sites. “The DHR biomass plant is very important to the resolution. When you look at renewable energy in the state of Florida, your two options with current technology are solar and biomass,” Dino De Leo, GRU’s energy supply officer says. “Biomass is clearly a large portion of the renewable portfolio and will become even larger as we move towards our resolution.” An independent energy services company operated and maintained the plant for two years from 2017-2019, until it transitioned to full GRU staffing in late 2019. Reaching 100% renewable is currently impacted by natural gas pricing. GRU was 42% renewable in 2019 and 32% in 2020, due to the price point of natural gas. “We have a responsibility to our customers to operate

as efficiently and economically as we can, so when natural gas prices fell it did not make sense to run the biomass plant at higher loads,” De Leo says. “We still run it every day just not at higher loads because we can economically generate those megawatts at a lower cost with natural gas. Our obligation to our customers is to have renewable aspects of our generation but not to the point where it burdens them with higher rates.” De Leo says they tuned down the plant in 2017 from its previous minimum 70 MW load to 30 MW over the span of two months to preserve energy and associated costs. “The plant used to operate anywhere between 70-102.5 MW and did not fit our system very well,” he adds. “When everyone went to bed and load decreased we were dumping power into the grid below the cost of making it.” The plant now uses 30-35 MW on average in the mornings during lower loads and occasionally tops 100 MW in the afternoons based on customer demand and weather patterns. At any one time there’s typically 30,000-40,000 tons of wood on-site that averages 19-30 days of operation— 2,400 tons a day full load average. “We can’t keep wood in large quantities because of the decomposition of wood and we have to control the inventory based on needs,” De Leo says. GRU’s integrated resource plan executes different goals and projections for higher renewable percentages with the understanding that technology evolves every seven years or so. He explains, “When you think about the Deerhaven plant, it was put in service in 2013 as a 30-year plant and is scheduled to retire in 2043, so you could be looking at possibly two more biomass plants, based on the retirement of Deerhaven. Right now, our integrated resource plan does not call for another biomass plant; we won’t project that until we get there because we want to take advantage of the technology we have.”

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chippers & grinders ■

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted these editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements placed elsewhere in this issue. All statements and claims are attributable to the companies.

Bandit

1,200 HP. Tracks can be equipped on most units and a cab and loader is available on select models. The patented slide box feed system provides unmatched pulling and compressing power reducing the need to trim or reposition material.

Bruks Siwertell

Since 1983, Bandit has manufactured equipment for a multitude of wood waste processing markets. The vision since the beginning is to build quality, highly productive, easy to maintain equipment providing years of dependable service. The commitment for quality, innovation and dedication is instilled in every employee and is one of the main reasons why Bandit became an employee-owned company (ESOP) in 2018. Bandit’s line of whole tree chippers and horizontal grinders are either supported by a highly trained dealer network or the Bandit factory. For those supported by a dealer, each dealer has qualified sales, parts and service personnel that receive ongoing training from Bandit. These dealers carry a wide variety of parts and machines to meet your needs and are supported by Bandit regional sales and parts representatives. If there is not an authorized dealer in your area, then the Bandit factory would handle all your parts, sales and service needs. Bandit employs experienced and knowledgeable parts, sales and service personnel and has multiple service trucks on the road to service customers accordingly. Bandit’s line of horizontal grinders known as “The Beast” are the most versatile units available on the market today. These units are the most efficient way to process wood waste. The heart of each Beast Recycler is a patented cuttermill that will cut material apart opposed to the beating action of competitive grinders. This process is best described by comparing an axe to a sledgehammer, which would you prefer to use to cut down a tree? A wide variety of towable and track units are available ranging from 18 in. to 45 in. diameter capacity and engine options up to 1,200 HP. A line of durable and productive whole tree chippers is also available in capacities ranging from 18 in. to 36 in. diameter capacity and engine options up to

Bruks Siwertell is a market-leading supplier of dry bulk handling and wood processing systems. With thousands of installations worldwide, our machines handle your raw materials from the forests. We design, produce and deliver systems for loading, unloading, conveying, storing as well as stacking and reclaiming dry bulk materials, alongside equipment for chipping, screening, milling and processing wood for the biofuel, board, sawmill, pulp and paper industries. We are global and local. You will find main offices in Sweden, Germany, the U.S., China, Philippines, Russia and Taiwan, supported by a dedicated network of hundreds of representatives and dealers worldwide. We deliver stationary and mobile chippers to match all needs. Wood chippers have been used for centuries making the most out of waste wood materials. Today’s machines have high-performance capabilities vital to supporting the booming renewable energy market, pulp industry and numerous other key applications. Bruks Siwertell heavy-duty chipping machines, including both stationary and mobile chippers, are at the forefront of the industry, supplying facilities worldwide with high-capacities and quality wood chips. The size and variety of the wood to be processed are usually the deciding factors for which technology to select, but some industries require much greater control over chip size, while others need very low running costs. Off-road chippers operate directly in the forest or nearby, handling residual production. The wood chipper is mounted most commonly on a forest machine type forwarder, but it can also be on dumpers, tractors or other purpose-built off-road vehicles. On-road chippers operate directly in the forest by the

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■ chippers & grinders

edges of roads, and transport the material, primarily residual products and tree parts, directly to the user. This system applies when using a truck as a chipper, on a trailer, or alternatively on a trailer pulled by a fastmoving farm tractor. Bruks Siwertell has combined the best of our technologies to deliver machines that match all needs.

CW Mill is always looking ahead to see what can be improved for our customers, and each HogZilla is custom-built, how the customer wants.

Europe Forestry BV

CW Mill

Do you need to go into the woods to grind? Look no further than a HogZilla track mounted tub grinder from CW Mill. HogZilla track mounted tub grinders come standard with a Caterpillar engine, torque converter drive and are available in model numbers HTC-1464T and HTC-1462T. CW Mill Equipment Co., Inc. has been manufacturing track mounted tub grinders for 20 years. A HogZilla tub grinder on tracks is one of the most rugged heavyduty track mounted machines on the market, and our customers will attest to that. Jason Anderson with Missouri Organic, located in Kansas City, Missouri, says, “Their service is amazing. But then on top of that, these grinders are built stronger than anything else on the market.” Missouri Organic took delivery of a HogZilla HTC-1462T in early 2021. A HogZilla on tracks is unparalleled in production and mobility; allowing for grinding in wet weather or on soft terrain; eliminating the need to build roads to get HogZilla moved and eliminating towing a truck and grinder on the job site; therefore saving hours a day moving from pile to pile; resulting in increased production. Clean up around and under the grinder is easier, which in turn reduces maintenance. Because the HogZilla on tracks is operated using a remote control, it allows for a one-man operation. The loader/excavator operator can stay in the cab while moving the track mounted HogZilla to different locations using a remote control. Hydrostat Pumps driven off the front of the engine allow grinding to continue while moving the HogZilla. Most other grinders require the operator to stop grinding before moving the grinder.

Europe Forestry BV from the Netherlands last year designed a brand new EC 640 wood chipper with an infeed opening of 600x400 mm, galvanized tandem trailer chassis, 175 HP engine, EFC crane 2050 that can lift 2 tonnes and have a reach of 5 m with the maximum weight of 3500 kg, to be road legal with a standard drivers license. Additionally, they just came out with a tracked version of the EC 640 on the same base as the trailer machine. Europe Chippers are built modularly, therefore using all the same components. The tracks can carry 6 dynamic tonnes and have a travel speed of 5 kilometers per hour in the high speed and 2 kilometers per hour in the low speed with double torque. The machines can climb steep hills up to 45°. The rubber tracks have seven support rollers with vibration dampeners. Dimensions of the tracks are 2500x300 mm wide. The total length of the EC 640 chipper is 3.5 m, therefore the overhang at the front and in the rear is only 50 cm. On this new EC 640 clients can choose between two engine arrangements: Standard Europe Forestry supplied 175 HP engine or a C4.4 engine from Caterpillar/Perkins. For heavy duty activities, Caterpillar gives special arrangement with 140 kw between 1800 and 2000 rpm with high torque up to 750 Nm! It is this 10% higher torque that prevents the drum from blocking. Another advantage of modular design is that clients can choose regular steel infeed plate or hydraulic foldable infeed table with hydraulic infeed chain. Clients also can choose the extra hydraulic operated bottom. The standard Europe Forestry supplied hydraulic crane (EFC 2050) can lift 2000 kg at the boom cylinder and has a reach of 5 m; or clients can choose the

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chippers & grinders ■

EFC4070 crane that can lift 4000 kg and has a reach of 7 m. All cranes will be supplied with proportional valves with radio remote control for the chipper and crane and with the grapple and rotator. Europe Forestry sees a bright future for all EC 640 Europe Chippers, mainly because of their minimum dimensions that give maximum maneuverability, combined with maximum output. Plus, the big engine with 140 kw is the low fuel consumption of less than 7 L per hour average. Tree Mech Ltd. represents Europe Forestry in the U.K.

normal operating vibration. If a non-grindable object enters the grinding chamber while in grinding protection mode, the Vtection system will sense the spike in vibration or trip point and instantly stop and reverse the

infeed conveyor. By reversing the infeed conveyor, the vtection system lowers the rotor’s chance of repeatedly striking the foreign object. Once the Vtection system is triggered, Morbark’s Integrated

Morbark

Morbark recently introduced a new, patent-pending Vtection system option for their 3000, 3400 and 6400 series Wood Hog horizontal grinders. The Vtection system monitors rotor vibration to reduce damage from contact with non-grindable objects or other causes of damaging vibration like an out-of-balance rotor, broken insert or defective bearing. When coupled with Morbark’s breakaway torque limiter, dual hammermill protection—both mechanical and electrical—is achieved. To use the Vtection system, the operator sets an operating vibration level through the electronic controller. Since different feedstocks produce different vibration levels, the operator can quickly fine-tune the trip point to match the grinding application. Adjusting the trip point based on the feedstock can help avoid unnecessary stopping of the infeed from

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■ chippers & grinders

Control System (MICS) initiates several actions to remove the material out of the rotor area. The sequence of these actions includes reversing and stopping the infeed; bringing the engine speed to idle; disengaging the clutch, and displaying a warning message on the MICS screen. At this time, the operator can inspect the grinder and remove the object that caused the trip point before resuming operation. The system cannot guarantee a machine is without a defect. Please use caution after the system trips and service work begins, as other components may have experienced damage. Ship-out kits are available for in-woods installations on pre-existing 3000X, 3400X and 6400X horizontal grinders.

and 2366, while the heavier XL-245 models are mounted on the larger 2675 and 3086 units. Models 2675 and 3086 come standard with a 15 ft. long chain infeed conveyor to allow the larger diameter stems to be consistently fed into the chipper. Whether making micro-chips for the pellet industry or chipping 3 in. metallurgical chips for electric smelting the Precision chipper is a cut above the competition.

US Blades

Precision-Husky

Since 1964 Precision Husky Corp. has led the industry in producing the highest quality, most rugged equipment available. That fact is evident in the Precision Husky whole tree chippers. Built more rugged than the competition, the Precision Husky whole tree chippers are equipped with heavier trailer frames, oversized hydraulic stabilizers and the field-proven, industry-leading Precision chipper. Available in four sizes, from 58 in. to 86 in. models, roundwood capacities range from 18-30 in. in diameter. Each model comes with different number of knife options for many different applications and production rates and may be fitted with conventional or disposable knives. Depending on application and production, power options range from a Caterpillar or Cummins 500 HP (373 kW) diesel engine to a larger 1050 HP (783 kW) engine. The engine is fitted with a totally enclosed, wet hydraulic PT Tech HPTO hydraulic power take-off, which acts as a torque-limiter by slipping to absorb the shock load. A microprocessor controller provides push-button engagement of the HPTO. The controller is capable of monitoring clutch pressure, temperature, filter condition, engine speed and clutch output speed. The Precision whole tree chipper can be built with or without heavy-duty Husky loaders, may be trailer or track mounted, end or top loading. The Husky XL175 loader comes standard on chipper models 1858

US Blades and the Wood Fiber Group provide the highest quality chipper and counter knives, anvils, knife holders, clamps and chipper parts for portable and stationary chippers. Our products are American made and shipped from various stocking locations around North America. The quality of our products are second to none and manufactured to the tightest tolerances in the industry. Inventory is shipped from stock typically. US Blades not only provides premium knives and parts, we also service the products we sell. Our service area covers from Maine to Texas with US Blades trucks providing weekly pick-up and delivery from four strategically located service centers. Knives are sharpened, honed, babbitted and returned ready to run. Whether you are chipping for fuel, paper or micro-chipping for pellets, we have a service program that is tailored for your operation. We’ll help you minimize your cost with longer running knives that are professionally sharpened. With 14 trucks running and 5,000+ inches of grinding capacity, you will never need to worry about running out of knives. Our knowledgeable staff can help with technical assistance if needed.

Vermeer Vermeer offers two electric-powered trommel screen models for biomass producers looking for ways to help reduce exhaust emissions, noise levels and maintenance. The newest addition to Vermeer electric-powered recycling product line, the TR5300EM trommel screen, can produce up to 100 cubic yards (76.5 m3) per hour with .50 in. (12.7 mm)

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trommel screens provide access to service areas and can be operated through either the Vermeer DP10 display mounted on the control panel or through a handheld transceiver remote. From either control, the operator can choose from four programmable presets or adjust on the fly based on the incoming material. screens when material moisture is at less than 40%. For larger production needs, choose the Vermeer TR626EM trommel screen with the capability of running up to 200 cubic yards (152.9 m3) per hour in with similar material. The Vermeer TR5300EM is powered by an industrial-duty, fancooled 60 HP (44.7 kW) electric motor and delivers a drum speed of 0-24 revolutions per minute to handle multiple material types, including biomass. The quiet-operating TR5300EM also features a low hopper infeed with a capacity of 5.5 cubic yards (4.2 m3) and includes new service and operating enhancements. The hydraulically driven drum on the TR5300EM is 15 ft. (4.6 m) long and 5 ft. (1.6 m) in diameter to optimize material processing and deliver a high-quality end product. Quick-change screens and a quickchange drum help make it convenient to perform sizing adjustments. The TR5300EM also features several access doors to help with servicing and a set of dual-hinged doors on both sides of the machine for full access to the drum at ground level. The Vermeer TR626EM features a 6 ft. (1.83-m) drum and a hopper that holds 6 cubic yards (4.6 m3) of material, and is powered by two industrial-duty, fully enclosed and fan-cooled electric motors. A single 150 HP (112-kW) motor powers the hydraulic pump stack while a .75 HP (.6-kW) motor powers the cooling fan for the hydraulic system. It can be outfitted with a 180° arc radial stacking conveyor to increase the amount of material being stacked on the ground. The adjustable stacking height aids with dust control and helps to prevent material from blowing away. Both Vermeer electric-powered

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■ product news

KPA Unicon Has New Majority Owner Business group Partnera Oyj is acquiring a majority share in the KPA Unicon Group, a Finnishbased provider of wood-fired boiler plants and other heat energy products The acquisition will make Oulubased Partnera the majority shareholder (70%) of KPA Unicon Group. The Kovanen family’s company, Prounicon Oy. will continue as the Group’s minority shareholder (30%). “Partnera’s strategic goal is to use its capital to develop business that can promote a positive impact on society and the goals of sustainable development. KPA Unicon is a fantastic complement to our business group, since its products and services are good for both environment and society,” says Jari Pirkola, CEO of Partnera Oyj. KPA Unicon is based in Pieksämäki, Finland, and employs 200 in eight countries. One of its recent announcements was the signing of a contract with Danish company DIN Forsyning for the turnkey delivery of a district heating plant in Esbjerg, Denmark. The combined capacity of the Unicon Renefluid bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) and the Unicon Condenser flue gas scrubber will be 60 MW. The boiler plant will produce heat for the local district heating network for nearly 100,000 inhabitants and will use wood chips as fuel. The plant will start its operation in January 2023. The boiler plant will be located in the port area of Esbjerg. The plant delivered by KPA Unicon will be a significant part of a bigger plan, where three decentralized heat production units are planned to be constructed to the same site for the purpose of replacing the existing coal-fired power plant. The local Combined Heat and Power station (CHP) is to be shut down in April 2023 and DIN

Forsyning is obliged to find an environmentally sustainable replacement for up to 350 MW of district heating.

Doosan Enhances Wheel Loaders Doosan Infracore North America, LLC, is launching its nextgeneration wheel loaders, the -7 Series, in the U.S. and Canada. All-new redesigned cabs with first-class comfort features, increased bucket capacities and new, fuel-saving technologies are highlights of this next generation of Doosan wheel loaders. Seven models of the new Doosan -7 Series wheel loaders, with standard bucket capacities between 3.7 and 7.6 cubic yards, are available now. Five additional Doosan models with bucket capacities between 2.6 and 3.3 cubic yards are planned to launch in early 2022. Wheel loaders launching in 2022 will include the popular tool carrier iterations for two models. “While we have made enhancements to our wheel loaders during the past 15 years, this is a significant milestone in the Doosan product,” says Aaron Kleingartner, dealer and product marketing manager. “The new -7 Series wheel loaders represent more than a decade of research and development, as well as incorporating feedback from our customers. The next generation of Doosan wheel loaders easily competes with any

Doosan introduces wheel loader line.

machine available today.” The new wheel loader cab layout has relocated important and frequently used controls for easier, more intuitive use. All Doosan -7 Series wheel loaders have the same control setup, so operators won’t miss a beat when moving from machine to machine. Electric steering is available as an option for select -7 Series models. In models with this feature, the electronic joystick, which operators can customize to their sensitivity preference, is comfortably integrated into the left armrest. Bucket capacities for select models are 7% greater than prior models. These select Doosan models include the DL320-7, DL380-7, DL480-7 and DL5807. To enable these greater capacities, these beefed-up models feature stronger, larger axles and a strengthened box frame. Large center bearings and self-centering, double-tapered roller bearings distribute vertical and horizontal loads over a larger area. The bearings have dust seals and covers and are vented to prevent grease overfill. An automatic lubrication system is a new factory option for Doosan -7 Series wheel loaders, and it includes full warranty coverage. The system delivers grease at the middle of the pins and bushings for better distribution. DoosanCONNECT telematics makes it easy for owners to monitor their Doosan fleet and manage maintenance to reduce operating costs. Using a smartphone, tablet or computer, owners can check machine location, operating hours, fuel usage, engine idle versus work time, error codes, engine and hydraulic oil temperature and various other data points. The new Doosan Smart Load weighing

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product news ■

system tells the operator the weight of material in the bucket. All menus and settings are integrated into the Doosan Smart Touch screen. Visit doosanequipment.com.

More Orders, More Workforce For Rottne Rottne Industri AB, Smaland, Sweden, reports that an upswing in machinery sales that accelerated at the start of the year is steering the company to recruit new employees in several departments. “We can see a clear upward trend in incoming orders,” states Arne Isaksson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Rottne Industri. The pandemic year 2020 was difficult for many, with great uncertainty in many different markets. This was also true for Rottne Industri, which last year saw its chance to focus on investments, improvements and profitability. “It was a gigantic challenge for us when everything was swinging between hope and despair,” Isaksson says. “Since August last year, however, we have had an upward trend that has increased month by month thereafter.” There are many reasons behind the increase of orders. A cold winter in Sweden resulted in the district heating plants working at full capacity and great quantities of insect damaged forest have been felled to provide biofuel. Another aspect of Rottne’s tailwind is that previously “dormant” markets have awakened and are gathering speed. “This includes Russia, which has seen a really excellent felling season and now needs machinery. In addition, we are making great efforts in the transatlantic market where, above all in Canada, we have had a real upturn again,” Isaksson continues. The company is fully occupied with recruiting new staff, both in the office and on the factory floor. “We will recruit between 10 to 15 people during the year, and we must replace those who retire, so there will be a large increase in staff,” says Tobias Johansson, CEO Rottne Industri, and he believes in a bright future: “It is quite clear that we are facing an adjustment process, but the target of delivering 200 forestry machines during 2022 remains firm.”

Fulghum Develops New Knife Clamp Fulghum Industries recently developed a new knife clamp design to aid those utilizing disc chippers. These new, front-loading clamps will lead to a safer, more efficient chipper operation. Traditionally, knife clamps and their hardware are located on opposite sides of the chipper disc, re-

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■ product news

Fulghum Industries’ front-loading knife clamps

quiring two workers just to change knives. With Fulghum’s new design, the clamps and their mounting hardware are located on the same side as the knives, meaning that one worker can now change the knives in the same amount of time that it takes two workers with a traditional clamp. Also, with fewer people having to physically interact with the clamps, there is a reduced chance of accidents due to miscommunication or inexperience. In addition to greater efficiency and safety, Fulghum’s front-loading clamps are engineered to resist chip packing and unwanted stud releasing that can occur with traditional clamps. Visit fulghum.com.

NAF Invests In Test Center Groundbreaking was held at the new NAF (Neunkirchener Achsenfabrik) building in Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany, marking the start of construction of a new test center. The building comprises a production shop and an office building with a footprint of 2,000 m2 as well as corresponding outdoor facilities.

New NAF test center

The new test center will be used to test the strength of NAF products on ultra-modern, sound-insulated test rigs, some of which are equipped with decoupled foundations with vibration isolation. The planned test rigs will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and will permit endurance testing of the structure and drive train of the axles and transmissions. NAF produces axles and drive trains for self-propelled machines (forestry harvesters, excavators, combine harvesters, etc.). The new facilities will mean that NAF’s newly developed products can be brought to market more quickly; investment will therefore strengthen the flexibility and innovative power of the dynamically growing company. A photovoltaic system (1000 m² / 200 kWp) will be installed on the new building, which, together with energy-efficient construction and energy recovery, will contribute to environmentally friendly operation.

Doppstadt Built Recycling Leader The Doppstadt Group announced that company founder and long-time CEO, Werner Doppstadt, died on April 20. He was 77. In the course of nearly five decades as the company’s CEO, Doppstadt led the family enterprise, which was established in 1965, to international success. Born in Homberg, Germany, he first transformed his parents’ farm into an agricultural contracting business together with his wife Hedwig and his brother Josef. In 1970 Doppstadt developed the cleaning machine PUMA and laid the foundation for the rise of the company to a globally operating specialist for environmental and recycling technology. Today the group with 700 employees is one of the world’s leading machine manufacturers in the field of recycling and environmental technology and re-

source recovery. In 2012 Doppstadt passed along the management of the enterprise to his son, Ferdinand.

New Dates Planned For Mid-Atlantic Expo Following up on the pandemic postponement of the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Logging, Biomass and Landworks EXPO, the producers of the event, Carolina Loggers Assn. and North Carolina Forestry Assn., announce that the next MidAtlantic Logging, Biomass and Landworks EXPO will be held April 29-30, 2022. With a very strong demand expected for the Mid-Atlantic region event in 2022, the producers continue to plan for an excellent event. Vendors can reserve their spots now. Contact Jonzi Guill at jguill@ncloggers.com. The Mid-Atlantic Logging, Biomass and Landworks EXPO is a nonprofit event that showcases the latest logging equipment and supplies from leading manufacturers to more than 2,500 attendees. Visit loggingexpo.com.

John Deere Unveils Precision Forestry John Deere announces its Precision Forestry initiative, a focused approach to its job site technology solutions. Through Precision Forestry, John Deere is reorganizing its technology portfolio and doubling down on its efforts in delivering solutions designed to increase efficiency and productivity in the woods. The shift to Precision Forestry aligns with the brand’s Smart Industrial operating model, through which John Deere aims to deliver increased customer value by focusing on three core areas: Production Systems, Technology Stack and Lifecycle Solutions. “Previously, the industry has focused on developing bigger, faster, more powerful machines

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product news ■

to boost performance, but larger machines sometimes present more challenges, especially on job sites with limitations,” says Matthew Flood, product marketing manager, John Deere. “With the Precision Forestry initiative, we’re organizing our portfolio to create a foundation for the future of forestry machines and job site technology.” Precision Forestry is a more descriptive term for what customers can expect from the John Deere technology suite, including realtime, map-based production planning and tracking capabilities along with new and evolving operator assistance capabilities. This new alignment lays the groundwork for the future of technology solutions, as John Deere builds in these core areas to help customers

work faster and smarter on the job site. For customers, the new Precision Forestry direction will simplify the John Deere technology portfolio, making it easier to select and adopt customized solutions based on their unique job site needs. To learn more about Precision Forestry technology offerings, visit johndeere.com/forestry.

Doosan Announces Top 2020 Dealers Doosan Infracore North America, LLC announced its top 10 performing dealers of 2020 from among more than 160 Doosan equipment dealers in North America. Doosan annually recognizes its heavy equipment dealers that have

excelled in providing top-level performance in sales, parts and service to the customers in their respective markets. The top 10 Doosan dealers of 2020 include the following enterprises (headquarters in parentheses): —Barry Equipment Co. (Webster, Mass.), fourth consecutive year —Bobcat of Mandan Inc. (Mandan, ND), third consecutive year —Brown’s Industrial Sales (Lloydminster, Alberta) —CG Equipment (Guelph, Ontario), second consecutive year —Coastal Machinery (Pensacola, Fla.), second consecutive year —Equipment East, LLC. (Dracut, Mass.) fourth consecutive year —G. Stone Commercial Div. (Middlebury, Vermont)

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■ product news

—Hartington Farm Services Ltd. (Hartington, Ontario) —Theco Inc. (Big Lake, Minn.) —Wilson Equipment (Central Point, Ore.), third consecutive year “There are four dealers joining this list for the first time, which is reflective of their hard work growing the Doosan brand in their regions,” says Todd Roecker, Doosan Director of Dealer Management and Marketing. Top-performing dealers are offered a selection of several incentives that they may choose from, which will improve their profitability when selling and servicing Doosan equipment. In addition, Doosan North American leadership may look to these dealers for valuable input regarding Doosan initiatives and direction as they represent the dealer network.

Cat Reveals Next Generation The new Caterpillar Next Generation 538 Forest Machine features several significant design upgrades that make it a top choice for working with timber. Available in log loader and general forest configurations, the 538 has a new electrohydraulic control system with 10% more swing torque that allows the machine to do work with more power and precision.

Caterpillar 538 Forest Machine

Updates to the drive system result in a 12% increase in travel speed, helping the Cat Next Generation 538 cover more ground and move up and down slopes faster. High wide undercarriage provides 15% greater ground clearance to help the machine pass over stumps and other obstructions. The 538 features a Cat 7.1 engine that meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and EU Stage V emission standards and is flexible to run on biodiesel up to B20. Smart mode automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to working conditions to help reduce fuel consumption up to 5% without sacrificing performance. The 538 offers a cold-start capability of -25˚ F (-32˚ C) and reliable high ambient temperature operation reaching 118˚ F (48˚ C). It operates at altitudes reaching 9,842 ft. (3,000 m) without derating. Fuel tank capacity is more than double the previous model, which means the new 538 can operate up to five shifts before refilling. The all new Certified Forestry cab design for the Cat Next Generation 538 dramatically improves operator comfort and safety. The cab is 25% larger with 50% greater overall visibility than the previous 538. Operators can start the 538’s engine with a simple push of a button. The new Operator ID allows each operator to quickly program and store their own machine settings and attachment function preferences. A larger 10 in. (254 mm) highresolution touchscreen monitor delivers intuitive navigation through operating menus and includes a digital version of the operator’s manual for quick reference. Compared to the previous model, the Next Generation 538 lowers maintenance costs by up to 15% over the course of

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12,000 hours of operation. Product Link technology captures critical operating data, fault codes, and machine location information to boost fleet management efficiency. Visit cat.com.

Level Switch Detects Wood Chips

Dynatrol level switch

Dynatrol DJ Level Switch for bulk solids provides high, intermediate or low point level detection of sawdust ranging from wood chips and coarse shavings to wood flour. It’s approved for Class I, Group D; Class II, Groups E, F & G; and Class III services. When the probe is uncovered, it is free to vibrate and produces an output signal. This signal operates a relay that indicates the probe is uncovered or that a low level exists. When the probe is covered a dampening of the oscillations occurs, the output signal is no longer present and the relay indicates that a high level exists.

sic appeal, these non-metallic work boots offer all-day comfort and superior traction for a variety of industries and applications. The 6 in. work boot features a non-marring waterproof leather upper, nonmetallic eyelets and lace hooks as well as weight-saving carbon fiber safety toes that are 15% lighter than steel and deliver ASTM-rated toe protection with a roomy, more unobtrusive fit. The KEEN.ReGEN midsole offers superior compression-resistance and provides 50% more energy return for long-days walking and standing. Other performance and safety enhancements include a Keen Safety Boot KEEN.DRY breathable, waterproof Fits Workplace membrane, heat-resistant, rubber The number of tools and tasks outsoles rated up to 572° F that satrequired to navigate isfy Mark II and Satra nonthe work day can be slip testing standards, 90°, 5 many. Today’s con⁄8 in. heel for added stabiltractors and skilled ity and an antimicrobial trades professionals lining delivering natural face a variety of chalodor protection free of lenges that demand chemicals and dyes. versatility and ingeThe Chicago boot is nuity, both in the available in several safety skills that they desilhouettes in both men’s velop and the reand women’s specific fits. Keen Chicago boot sources that they rely The Chicago 6 in. for on. KEEN Utility offers the women is built for the biomeChicago Utility packed with a chanics of a woman’s foot and number of modern features. made to fit with optimal safety Its value-forward construction and comfort, as well as providing makes it a versatile tool for a varithe same durable performance ety of work environments. Built to features found in the men’s veroffer rugged protection with a classions. Visit keenutility.com. The level detector is mounted through a 3⁄4 in. half-coupling at the point of desired level detection. The vibrating probe tolerates considerable buildup and caking, resulting in extended capability of detection. Constructed for a long operating life, Dynatrol detectors require no adjustments and have no moving parts. Visit dynatrolusa.com. They are virtually wear-free. Many varieties of Dynatrol® level switches have been in service for over 25 years.

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■ in the news

17 ➤ educate the next generation about the importance of the forest products industry. ForestryWorks is the jobs promotion initiative of the Forest Workforce Training Institute. The mission of FWTI is to create a pipeline of workers for the forest products industry through education, career promotion and training. This pipeline creates a sustainable source of forestry professionals for generations to come. Traditionally, ForestryWorks’ educational component focused mainly on grades 8-12 to encourage students to consider the forest products industry as a future career path. However, the team began to realize that by the time students reached

eighth grade, they had their perception about the industry and the people working in it. This perception was normally not positive due to misinformation provided to young students from different sources. Lucy Meets a Logger gives FWTI staff, as well as forestry professionals, a tool to take into local schools and tell the story of one component of the forest products industry through the eyes of a child. All profits from Lucy Meets a Logger are put back into ForestryWorks in order to continue creating educational tools for the forest products industry. Go to lucymeetsalogger.com if you are interested in purchasing a copy of Lucy Meets a Logger.

■ CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS ■ ■ employment opportunities 1615

Top Wood Jobs

Oregon Mill Has New Life Following a disastrous 2019 fire that threatened a decade of progress, a group of investors has purchased the assets of Integrated Biomass Resources (IBR) in Wallowa, Ore. to continue operating the small log processing facility as Heartwood Biomass LLC. According to Heartwood CEO David Schmidt, who founded the facility with his wife, Jesse, in 2009, the operation benefits from community support in Heartwood’s goal to create niche products from small diameter timber coming off forest restoration projects. Schmidt believes the facility is scalable and similar ventures could operate in key forest restoration across the U.S. West. In addition to chips and biomass, the facility has produced wood products like bundled firewood for grocery stores; agricultural poles for hops, vineyard and orchard structures; and fence posts for ranches.

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

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WB 0621 digimag

Articles inside

IN-WOODS CHIPPING

PRODUCT NEWS

IN THE NEWS

PETE MADDEN Q&A

CHIPPER OPERATOR

FROM THE EDITORS