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■ table of contents

www.woodbioenergymag.com

20 6

FROM THE EDITORS No Business Like Show Business

FIRE PREVENTION Here’s Some Technology

IN THE NEWS Enviva Welcomes Public Comment

PRODUCT NEWS GreCon Names New Leader

16 NEUSE RIVER FOREST PRODUCTS New Logger Is Chipping For Energy 20 DRAX WEIGHS IN In-Depth Question & Answer Exchange 28 THE ARIZONA STORY Saving Forests Is Proving Difficult

Cover Photography: Neuse River Forest Products provides regular chips to an industrial wood pellet plant. (Jessica Johnson photo) Inset photo, Drax brings home the pellets. (photo courtesy of Drax)

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table of contents ■

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

Volume 11

Number 5

32 Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. Street Address ■ 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address ■ P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Tel: 334.834.1170 ■ Fax: 334.834-4525 Publisher/Adv. Sales Manager ■ David H. Ramsey Chief Operating Officer ■ Dianne C. Sullivan Editor-in-Chief ■ Rich Donnell Senior Editor ■ Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor ■ David Abbott Senior Associate Editor ■ Jessica Johnson Associate Editor ■ Patrick Dunning Publisher/Editor Emeritus ■ David (DK) Knight Art Director/Production Manager ■ Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coordinator ■ Patti Campbell Circulation Director ■ Rhonda Thomas Online Content/Marketing ■ Jacqlyn Kirkland Advertising Sales North American Sales Representative Susan Windham ■ P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery AL 36102-2268 334.834.1170 ■ Fax: 334.834.4525 E-mail: windham.susan4@gmail.com International Sales Murray Brett ■ 58 Aldea De Las Cuevas, Buzon 60 Benedoleig 03759, (Alicante) Espana +34 96 640 4165 ■ Fax: +34 96 640 4048 E-mail: murray.brett.aba@abasol.net Classified Advertising Sales Bridget DeVane ■ Tel: 334.699.7837 ■ 800.669.5613 E-mail: bdevane7@hotmail.com A Hatton-Brown Publication Other Hatton-Brown Publications:

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■ from the editors

Number 6 On Tap

Wood Bio Conference T

he sixth Wood Bioenergy Conference & Expo will be held March 10-11 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The event, which is hosted by Wood Bioenergy magazine and Georgia Research Institute, is once again pulling together a stellar lineup of keynoters—such as Enviva CEO John Keppler and Graanul Invest CEO Raul Kirjanen. Those two represent, respectively, the world’s largest producer of wood pellets and Europe’s largest producer of wood pellets. We’re counting on William Strauss, president of consulting firm FutureMetrics, to join us as well. No conference is complete without Bill’s worldwide perspective on production, markets and trends. Heck, there might even be a politician in the mix, but that announcement is down the road. Along with the keynoter speeches are a number of technical sessions on a range of pertinent topics, including Fire Prevention & Dust Control, Dryer Island Technologies, In-Woods Chipping & Grinding, Dry Residues Integration, Raw Materials Handling, Plant Operations Training, Positive International Market Directives, and other subjects. The Wood Bio Conference will include dozens of exhibitors in the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni Hotel, which is immediately adjacent the speaker rooms. And once again, the Wood Bio Conference will immediately precede the seventh Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo (PELICE), with numerous exhibitors participating in both. We can recall our first Wood Bio Conference in 2010, and a look back at that participation list reveals that everybody was testing the water in this new generation wood-to-energy industry. Many didn’t stay with it, many others found new business to be had and are still with us.

As if you haven’t already noticed, the industry is supported by several established conferences and expos, and they all seem to happen fairly soon in the year. Bois Energie will be held in Nantes, France in late January. The International Biomass Conference will be held in Nashville in early February. There’s our event in Atlanta in March. Argus Biomass is scheduled for London in mid April. European Biomass Conference and Exhibition is scheduled for Marseille, France in late April. All of these are excellent events and each has their own style. Our event, which is held every other year, has always focused on two things—being exclusive to wood biomass, and bringing in speakers who are the leaders in the industry. And it’s held in the middle of the southern pine belt, which is the hub of industrial wood pellet production. Exhibitor sponsors are signing up now, and conference presentation proposals are still being accepted. Registration opens November 1.

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Enviva Completes Public Comment Process Enviva Partners, the world’s largest producer of wood pellets, issued a statement thanking the North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) for their work to ensure that residents’ and other interested parties’ voices were heard during a month-long public comment period including a public hearing held at the Northampton County High School on August 20. The comment period and hearing were part of a permit modification process initiated by Enviva’s request to increase air quality controls and annual production capacity at its Northampton wood pellet production plant. The plant is currently permitted to produce up to 535,260 tons of wood pellets per year while utilizing up to 30% softwood on a 12month rolling basis. The permit application calls for emission reduction controls while increasing annual production to 781,255 tons per year “by upgrading pellet dies with a new prototype,” and increase the amount of softwood processed from 30% to a maximum of 80% “to meet new customer demands for increased softwood percentage and production rates.” The air control plan calls for installing a new direct-fired wood dryer equipped with a new wet ESP

Yana Kravtsova, Enviva’s Environmental Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer, speaks at a public hearing at Northampton County High School.

John Hatcher, Executive Director of the North Carolina Forestry Assn.

and regenerative thermal oxidizer and installing a new RTO after the existing wet ESP on the existing dryer; the plan also calls for removing two existing green wood hammermills, constructing five new green hammermills and installing two new dry shavings hammermills and affiliated dry shavings material handling equipment. Economic analysis data indicates that Enviva’s Northampton plant contributes over $150 million annually in regional economic impact. The plant supports nearly 300 direct and indirect jobs and the plant’s average hourly wage is more than double the per capita county income. Enviva has invested over $100 million at its Northampton plant, and in addition spends approximately $70 million in operating expenses per year. Enviva reports that the United States Census Bureau indicates the number of families in Northampton County living below the poverty rate has decreased by over 15% since Enviva’s Northampton plant opened. Enviva purchased the 121 acre plant site near Garysburg in August 2011 and produced its first pellet in April 2013. The Northampton plant was the company’s first greenfield pellet mill along the Atlantic Coast, following the startup of a plant at a former wood products plant site in Ahoskie, NC. Enviva now operates seven wood pellet plants.

Germany Saying Goodbye To Coal

Enviva wants to boost Northampton production.

Germany will shut down all 84 of its coal-fired power plants over the next 19 years (as of 2038) to meet its international commitments in the fight against climate change, the government’s Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment reported. The government convened the commission last summer to develop a broad social consensus around structural changes to energy and climate policy in Germany. Coal plants account for 40% of Germany’s electricity, itself a re-

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Strangers Scope Out Enviva Enviva issued a statement that on August 20, the day of a public hearing concerning its plant at Northampton (Garysburg, NC,) two individuals claiming to be Danish reporters followed a logging truck from a job site around Clayton, NC to Enviva’s Sampson facility, some 50 miles away. The two made their way onto Enviva’s property briefly to take photos and film. They were addressed and dismissed by Enviva staff. The individuals were driving a van with South Carolina plates. “This is not the first time that unwanted ‘journalists’ have ventured to an Enviva entrance. I expect it will not be the last,” comments Chris Brown, Community Relations Manager for Enviva.”I wanted to share as a heads up for wood dealers, loggers and others in the forest products industry who might want to take precautions for daily operations and closing down a job site in the evening.” duction from recent years. The plan includes $45 billion in spending to mitigate the pain in coal regions. The decision to cease coal production follows an earlier move by the German government to shut down all of its nuclear power plants by 2022 in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011. Twelve of the country’s 19 nuclear plants have been shuttered so far. The plan to eliminate coalburning plants as well as nuclear means that Germany will be counting on renewable energy to provide 65% to 80% of the country’s power by 2040. Last year, renewables overtook coal as the leading source and now account for 41% of the country’s electricity. There are still 20,000 jobs directly dependent on the coal indus-

try and 40,000 indirectly tied to it. The panel that made the recommendation included leaders in the federal and state governments along with top industry and union representatives, scientists and environmentalists. Included in the recommendations is that the phase-out target be reviewed every three years. Also, the final deadline could be moved forward by three years to 2035. The initial targets are considerable, calling for a quarter of the country’s coal-burning plants with a capacity of 12.5 gigawatts to be shut down by 2022. That means about 24 plants will be shut within the first three years. By 2030, Germany should have about eight coal-burning plants remaining, producing 17 gigawatts of electricity, the commission said.

—A 17-year, take-or-pay offtake contract to supply a coal-tobiomass conversion power plant project currently being developed by a group of Japanese industry leaders. Deliveries under this contract are expected to commence in 2022 with volumes of 340,000 MTPY of wood pellets. In addition, Enviva executed a firm 2-year take-or-pay off-take contract with Albioma Le Moule, a leading renewable energy generator in Guadeloupe, to supply a power plant currently being converted from coal-fired to biomassfired, which Albioma reports will increase the share of renewable energy on the island from 20% to 35%. Deliveries under the contract are expected to commence in 2020 with volumes of 130,000 MTPY of wood pellets.

Enviva Continues To Build Markets

Global Wood Bio Trending Positive

In addition to 2,000,000 metric tons per year of long-term off-take contracts with Japanese counterparties, Enviva has recently executed several agreements with Japanese counterparties totaling more than 1,000,000 MTPY of additional volumes, including: —A 15-year, take-or-pay off-take contract with a major Japanese trading house that is a new customer to supply a new biomass power plant. Deliveries under the contract are expected to commence in 2022 with average volumes of 60,000 MTPY of wood pellets. —A 20-year, take-or-pay offtake contract with a major Japanese trading house to supply a new biomass power plant. Deliveries under this contract are expected to commence in 2024 with volumes of 400,000 MTPY of wood pellets. —A 10-year, take-or-pay offtake contract with a major Japanese trading house to supply a biomass co-firing power plant. Deliveries under this contract are expected to commence in 2022 with volumes of 210,000 MTPY of wood pellets.

Recent developments continue to underline the continued strong growth expected in global demand for industrial grade wood pellets, including: l In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass a law to bring GHG emissions to net zero by 2050, compared with its previous target of at least an 80% reduction from 1990 levels. The government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change estimated that in order for the country to achieve the net zero emissions target, 15% of the UK energy mix would need to come from biomass, up from approximately 7% currently. l The newly elected President of the EU Commission has announced the goal to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. To make this happen, she has committed to propose, in her first 100 days in office, a European Green Deal, which is expected to include the first European Climate Law that will set the 2050 climate-neutrality target into legislation. This enhanced EU climate goal could lead

October 2019 / Wood Bioenergy

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FutureMetrics Leads Vietnam Pellet Plant FutureMetrics announced that a project that it has guided for over two years is now producing high quality pellets. Under the guidance of FutureMetrics’ operations expert, John Swaan, a new 120,000 metric ton per year pellet plant located in Binh Dinh province Vietnam has reached the com- All hands on deck at Ayo Biomass mercial operation stage. When FutureMetrics was retained by Ayo Biomass in early 2017 the objective was to build a world-class pellet mill that broke the stereotype of the typical Vietnam pellet factory. Ayo wanted to produce pellets that would be on par with North American industrial wood pellets in terms of quality, consistency, sustainability, and to The mill operates six pellet presses. have the pellets produced in a plant that is safe, clean and reliable. From the beginning, Swaan insisted that no corners would be cut. He helped Ayo design an industrial wood pellet factory that would not be out of place in British Columbia or in the Southeast U.S. The plant has been built with high quality equipment, including six Andritz PM30 pellet presses and a dryer by U.S. dryer specialist Player Design. The pelleting island process flow is optimized with a vertical configuration from the metering bins, to the pellet presses, to the coolers. The production is controlled by an integrated process control system that monitors every stage in the process. Finally, as Swaan says, even with the best equipment and process controls, if it is not properly operated and maintained, safety, quality and reliability will degrade. Swann provided many hours of operating and maintenance training throughout the construction phase and during cold and hot commissioning.

Mill operations team celebrates the first pellets.

to increased carbon pricing over time and improve the competitive position of biomass, especially in countries such as Germany, where coal continues to form a significant portion of the electricity and heat generation mix. l Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy expects the law adopting the goals recommended by its Commission on Growth, Structural Economic Change and Employment to phase out coal will come into force by early 2020. The law is expected to provide specific dates for the shutdown of coal- and lignite-fired power plants. Several German utilities have publicly confirmed they are assessing options to replace coal with biomass for some of their combined heat and power assets. l In June 2019, Poland’s government published the draft amendment to its Renewable Energy Sources Act as the government seeks to accelerate renewable energy development to avoid the cost of missing the renewable energy targets set by the EU’s Renewable Energy directives. During the first quarter of 2019, over 100 megawatts of new biomass generation capacity was launched in Poland, bringing total biomass capacity in the country to more than 1.4 gigawatts.

Enviva Gears Up For Lucedale Plant Enviva reports that in July the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board unanimously approved the air permit for the proposed wood pellet plant in Lucedale, Miss., which is the principal permit required to begin construction. In addition, Enviva continues to evaluate a potential wood pellet production plant in Epes, Alabama, along with other sites in Alabama and Mississippi, which would export wood pellets through the Pascagoula terminal. Enviva reports that its industrial wood pellet plant in Hamlet, NC plant is now operating and expects

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to exit 2019 with a production runrate of 500,000 MTPY and will reach its nameplate production capacity of 600,000 MTPY in 2021. Enviva announced that projects to increase the aggregate production capacity of its wood pellet production plants in Northampton, North Carolina and Southampton, Virginia by approximately 400,000 MTPY are progressing, as detailed engineering is in process, major pieces of equipment are being delivered, and site preparation work is advancing. Enviva expects to complete the construction of the expansion activities in the first half of 2020 with startup thereafter, subject to receiving necessary permits.

Konin Power Plant Goes For Biomass In early July the supervisory board of ZE PAK S.A. accepted a

detailed concept for the implementation of the investment in the Konin Power Plant, involving the modernization of the existing K7 coal boiler together with turbo generators and the creation of a second biomassfired generating unit. After the modernization, the boiler will cooperate with a 50 MW turbo generator producing electricity on an everyday basis. In emergency situations, and during planned repairs, the new unit will supply a turbo generator producing heat and electricity for the city of Konin. The Konin Power Plant is the oldest power plant belonging to Zespół Elektrowni P tnów-AdamówKonin S.A. The official commissioning of the power plant took place in September 1958. It was the country’s first power plant fired with lignite supplied from nearby open pits. For several years, the power plant had produced electricity

for the National Power System and heat for the city of Konin. In 2012, the first biomass unit in ZE PAK S.A. was commissioned in the Konin Power Plant area. The power of the unit put into service is 50 MW. In March 2018, the biomass unit was adapted to heat production for the city of Konin. The biomass unit activation and its subsequent adaptation to the heat production was the first stage of the Konin Power Plant technological transformation from a conventional source toward a renewable energy source based on biomass combustion.

Pinnacle, Tolko Teaming Up Again Pinnacle Renewable Energy has entered into a partnership agreement with Tolko Industries Ltd. to build Northern Pellet Limited Part-

October 2019 / Wood Bioenergy

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nership, a new industrial wood pellet production facility in High Level, Alberta. The facility will use wood fiber sourced primarily from Tolko’s existing sawmill in High Level. The facility is expected to have a run-rate production capacity of 170,000 to 200,000 metric tons per year. Under the terms of the Partnership, Pinnacle will operate the facility and manage all aspects of customer relations, marketing, sales and logistics. Tolko will supply both heat energy and fiber to the facility under long-term supply agreements. The facility, which will be built on land owned by Tolko, will begin construction in the third quarter of 2019. Initial wood pellet production is expected to commence in fourth quarter 2020. The capital cost of the facility is expected to be $54 million. Pinnacle and Tolko have a similar arrangement at the Pinnacle pellet mill in Lavington, BC adjacent the Tolko sawmill there.

Arizona Forests Dealt Major Blow The Arizona Corporation Commission recently dealt a major blow to forest restoration efforts in the state by voting down a proposal to convert an electricity generating unit to burn biomass instead of coal at the soon-to-be-closed Cholla Power Plant. The conversion would have produced 60-90 MW of electricity from biomass and provided a critical market for raw materials coming off major national forest restoration projects in the state that aim to treat more than 2 million acres. Commission members who voted against the proposal cited its cost, which analysts had said would add $1-$3 to some power bills. Throughout northern Arizona, officials for the past year had lobbied the corporation commission in attempt to create a market for the millions of tons of biomass coming from the U.S. Forest Service’s 4Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI). (See related story, page 28.)

Pinnacle Announces Asia Contracts Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. has entered into two new longterm, take-or-pay off-take contracts with customers in Japan and South Korea, both being accelerated growth markets for Pinnacle. The contract in Japan is an extension of an existing contract with Mitsubishi Corp., a global integrated business enterprise in Japan. Under the terms of the contract, Pinnacle will supply 110,000 to 120,000 metric tons per annum of industrial wood pellets to Mitsubishi beginning in 2021. The contract in South Korea is with GS Global Corp., a large diversified conglomerate in South Korea and the first dedicated biomass independent power producer in that country. Under the terms of the contract, Pinnacle will supply 100,000 MTPA of industrial wood pellets to GS beginning in 2022. “These new contracts represent the strengthening of our relationship with Mitsubishi and expansion of our business in the Asian market, with the relationship with GS marking our third contract in South Korea,” says Rob McCurdy, CEO of Pinnacle. “With the growth of our contracted back-log and diversification of our counterparties, we are continuing to evaluate and develop further opportunities to add incremental production capacity, supported by our recently expanded credit facility.” l Pinnacle has commenced upgrades at its Williams Lake and Meadowbank production facilities, located within the Cariboo region of British Columbia, with new fiber drying and air filtration equipment, and improvements to access infrastructure. The upgrades will allow the two facilities to process a broader array of available fiber sources available in the region and achieve a series of safety and environmental advancements. Upon completion of the upgrades, the Williams Lake and Meadowbank facilities are expected to have

an increase of 80,000 MTPA in combined overall production capacity. The capital cost of the upgrades is expected to be $34 million.

Engie Plans Power Plant In Pamplona Global energy company Engie has been awarded a government contract to construct and operate a 29 MW biomass-based heat plant in Pamplona, Spain that will supply heat to 4,500 homes and several public buildings in the Navarre capital. The infrastructure as a whole calls for a total investment of more than 12.5 million euros. The public company Nasuvinsa will invest 6.5 million euros in civil works, urbanization and distribution networks, with 50% co-financing from the Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 of Navarra, this being one of the projects selected among the actions financed by said Program for its important support for energy efficiency, intelligent energy management and the use of renewable energies. The rest of the investment —another 6 million in two phases—will be borne by Engie as part of a 25-year plant to operate the plant. The plant will generate 90% of its energy from forest biomass, using natural gas as fuel for the remaining 10%. Engie already operates the country’s first heating and cooling network in Barcelona as well as 10 wind farm plants in the region of Aragon. It is hoped that the first 14.5 MW phase of the new biomass heating plant will be operational in 2020, expanding to reach 29 MW at full capacity at a later date.

RoyOMartin Timber Group Runs Safe Wood products manufacturer RoyOMartin announced that its land and timber department has completed 12 years without an OSHA-recordable injury, as of

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early August. Given the vast amount of timberland managed by RoyOMartin foresters—nearly 550,000 acres—this accomplishment is especially noteworthy. Keys to the team’s success include reporting near-misses, performing quality safety audits, and making daily contacts, in cooperation with a dedicated team of health, safety and environmental professionals. “Our team of dedicated ladies and gentlemen continues to effectively grow our work-family’s safety culture,” explains RoyOMartin Vice President of Land and Timber Cade Young. “We believe that positive safety culture is a living thing that must be nurtured, educated and protected from unhealthy influence. Individual recognition and acceptance of personal safety responsibility is necessary to avoid recordable accidents and protect our peers. I am

amazed and proud to be a part of a group whose members have renewed this commitment each of the last 4,383 days.” Executive Vice President and COO Scott Poole states, “These professionals renew their commitment to safety each day, serving as role models to our company and industry. Congratulations on their remarkable accomplishment.” In recognition of working 12 years without a recordable injury, the department planned to host a celebration for its approximately 50 foresters and support personnel.

‘Timber Unity’ Defeats Oregon Legislation Loggers, truckers and others gathered by the hundreds outside Oregon’s State Capitol in late June—with trucks rolling and hardhats and caulk boots worn as

badges of solidarity—to protest and ultimately help defeat proposed state cap-and-trade legislation that they say would have drastically raised fuel prices and hampered operations in multiple natural resource industries. Under a cap-and-trade program, the state puts an overall limit on emissions and auctions off pollution permits or “allowances” for each ton of carbon industries plan to emit. Only the largest polluters are targeted. Opponents argued the pollution caps would raise energy prices, create a competitive disadvantage and cause companies to relocate, all while doing little to address climate change. A state analysis found lowering carbon emission caps would raise gasoline prices 22 cents a gallon by 2021 and $3 a gallon by 2050. Collectively, the protest brought

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more than 2,000 trucks, tractors and other work vehicles to the state Capitol and circled it, horns honking and lights flashing while hundreds of supporters waved signs and showed solidarity. Speakers took to the podium to exhort the crowd. A driving force behind the event was the “Timber Unity” Facebook page, founded by Oregon grass seed farmer Marie Bowers and log trucker Todd Stoffel, who has operations in Oregon and Washington. Acting as an information and organizing vehicle, Timber Unity’s Facebook page grew to more than 50,000 followers in barely more than a month and was a major force in putting “boots on the ground” at the Capitol to protest the legislation. As a testament to their success in defeating the legislation, Bowers and Stoffel found themselves guests at the White House in July. After the issue gained national notoriety and proved so controversial in-state, late in the legislative session Democrat party officials announced the cap-and-trade proposal couldn’t gain enough votes from its own party. Following Timber Unity’s success in Salem, rapid growth on-line and impact on rural and natural resource issues, a recent post on its Facebook page says the group is catching its breath, already engaging in new issues, and spending time expanding its reach and adding to its grassroots credibility.

Maine Loggers Gain Right To Bargain Maine loggers and wood haulers now have the right to engage in collective bargaining after Governor Janet Mills signed into law on June 7 LD 1459, “An Act To Expand Application of the Maine Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act of 1973 to Harvesters and Haulers of Forest Products.” Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, who is also a fifth-generation logger, sponsored the bill. Contractors are generally not granted collective bargaining rights.

However, states can exempt certain industries from federal anti-trust laws, and Maine had already made anti-trust exemptions for other key agricultural industries in the state— potato farmers, fishermen and lobstermen—to form cooperatives and collectively bargain for improved conditions. This new bill extends the same exemptions to timber harvesters and log haulers by expanding the definition of “independent agricultural contractor.” The bill states, in part, that “The marketing and bargaining position of individual loggers and forest products haulers is adversely affected unless they are free to join together voluntarily in cooperative organizations. The inequity of power in determining compensation and the lack of opportunity to join together in bargaining over compensation can result in unfair contract rates for the services of loggers and forest products haulers.” With this Act’s passage, Maine joins six other states–California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Pennsylvania and West Virginia–that already have similar exemptions for forest products businesses. “If the loggers can stick together and form the cooperative the bill refers to, then this could be a game changer for the current procurement system that has stymied loggers for decades,” according to Danny Dructor, executive director of American Loggers Council. “They would do well to take a look at the practices and outcomes from the farmers who are members of cooperatives who have been operating successfully under this structure.”

Panama City Port Expands Handling U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $10 million grant to the Panama City Port Authority of Panama City, Fla. to help build a new biomass bulk storage facility at the Port of Panama City. The project, to be matched with $3.2 million in state

investment, is expected to create 25 jobs and generate $70 million in private investment. “The new biomass storage facility will increase the bulk cargo exporting capabilities of the Port by 300,000 tons per year and protect the Port against future extreme weather,” Ross said. The project will help to build the biomass bulk storage facility as well as a conveyance system that will connect it with the existing flat warehouse bulk terminal. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Emerald Coast Regional Council. EDA funds the Emerald Coast Regional Council to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

Graanul Biotech Shoots For Innovation Järva rural municipality government has issued a building permit for the wood valorization flagship plant to be established by Graanul Biotech, a subsidiary of Graanul Invest. Construction work on the industrial demo plant is planned to start in Imavere, Estonia. Part of the SWEETWOODS project, the plant will use hardwood residues as raw material and turns biomass into biomaterials with innovative characteristics— high-purity lignin and wood sugars. The new biomaterials offer sustainable solution for many different industries—from chemistry and food industry to cosmetics and construction materials. “We are delighted that Imavere as the heart of the Estonian wood industry is growing into a globally important center of wood valorization,” says Raul Kirjanen, CEO of Graanul Invest. “15 years ago, the story of Graanul Invest started with the first (wood pellet) plant in Imavere, and now an innovative industrial demo plant that allows for the research and development to ➤ 27

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■ chipping contractor

Forester

Branches Out

By Jessica Johnson PRINCETON, NC orester Jason Tew, 45, has been in the timber business since 1994. A graduate of Wayne Community College’s Forest Management Technology program,

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Tew has always been interested in the equipment and logging aspect of the timber industry. After years of being a timber buyer for others, Tew struck out on his own five years ago creating Neuse River Forest Products, a oneman timber buying entity with wood supply contracts throughout the timber rich North Carolina coastal plain re-

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gion—including Enviva Biomass. After a few years working with contract logging crews, Tew says he was getting somewhat frustrated with his logging capacity, and how other crews handled jobs. For example, Tew really hates having trash on the ground in the woods, preferring instead to invest in trash cans/bags and emptying them each week. “That’s not something you can force someone else to do,” he says. “There were just some things I wanted to do differently, so I decided to do it on my own.” But, for many years, Neuse River FP continued because Tew has one contractor that works well. “He does a great job,” Tew says of the man. “But we outgrew his logging capacity. And finding another one was almost impossible.” Ultimately Tew took matters into his own hands and started his own logging crew, NRFP Logging, in 2018 when the business was financially able to take the chance. “I’ve always wanted to start one,” he shares. Adding his own crew caused some to give opinions on if it was or was not a good idea, but overall Tew is thrilled with the outcome—more consistency and overall growth. “Now markets are calling saying ‘hey, can you produce this?’ and we can say ‘yes!’ instead of ‘ahhh, maybe?’” Tew explains. After one year in business, steadily supplying roundwood to Enviva, Jason Tew Tew was approached about putting a chipper into this equipment mix as Enviva Sampson transitions from microchips to in-woods, 5⁄8 in., chips. Tew says he was interested in adding the chipper because market conditions in Carolina were changing—hardwood pulpwood is hard to get rid of as roundwood, but chips are not. Considering the amount invested just a year ago, NRFP couldn’t really justify adding a brand new chipper to the lineup. Tew estimates that in order to make that profitable, the crew would have to ramp up production from an average of 65 loads per week to 100 loads, and add at least two more trucks to haul the chips. But then, a 2010 4300 Petersen Pacific chipper became available in early summer 2019 on the used market and Tew jumped at the chance. “It made sense,” he says.

hauling consistently, with a few contractors floating in as needed. Neuse River FP’s main markets are International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Domtar, local sawmills and, of course, Enviva. With International Paper’s Riegelwood mill being an average of over 115 miles away from any given tract—a long haul by all accounts. Tew says the distance doesn’t bother him, instead its turnaround time at the mills as to why he will add extra contract truckers. “If we’re hauling everything to Riegelwood or (Domtar) Plymouth we will bring on more contract truckers, because about two loads is all they can get,” he says. Thankfully, the crew is usually never working more than about 30 miles from an Enviva plant, which allows those trucks to get five loads per day. Enviva’s Sampson plant is Neuse River FP’s main chip market, but also takes a lion’s share of hardwood pulpwood roundwood. Tew’s full-time contract trucker does not have a chip van, so the crew will typically save all roundwood for him to haul, while the company trucks will haul chips. Hardwood chips are also hauled to Craven Wood Energy, because Tew is a believer in not having all his eggs in a single basket. “We haul a handful of loads there just to keep another outlet,” he explains, “I don’t want to overstretch myself.” Enviva remains his primary market for chips. NRFP uses two John Deere skidders to keep wood flowing quickly to the deck. The method takes pressure off a single skidder, one stages piles in the woods, while one brings piles out for processing depending on what trucks need and what mills have asked for. A self-proclaimed technology friendly person, Tew has Samsara GPS tracking and cameras on each of the company owned trucks. Initially, the GPS system was purchased to protect the company in the event of an accident, not to watch drivers. But, because the system is cloud based, any device can access it. Tew and foreman Ed Daniel use the tracking system to tell where trucks are and help plan loads that need to be prepared. “I didn’t think about that when we bought the system but that’s been great,” Tew emphasizes.

Markets

Equipment

Of the 65 loads per week that NRFP averages, 30% goes to Enviva depending on tract size and composition. Hardwood heavy tracts will produce more than the three to four loads per day of chips that pine tracts do. The crew is split fairly 50/50 in terms of pine plantation thinning and clear-cutting, Tew says, with average tract size of at least 50 loads for a week. “We need a week’s production to justify moving,” Tew says of his target tract size. Three company trucks and one contractor handle all

The crew operates with John Deere equipment purchased from James River Equipment in Garner, NC. Tew says when he got started he didn’t have a preference on logging iron, but instead focused on which dealership would offer strong service and was willing to deal with him. “I had X amount of dollars, laid out the deal and some said they could do it and some said they couldn’t. James River stepped up and they’ve helped us a lot. So, I’m fairly loyal to the green,” he details.

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■ chipping contractor

On a daily basis, Tew still focuses on timber buying for the company and contract crews, but does come by the job every single day. He can run each piece he owns, but admits he’s not as good as his crew, so he only fills in on pieces when needed. He leans on foreman (and loader/chipper operator) Daniel for operational support, coordinating trucks and overseeing maintenance. The crew uses a 2018 643L feller-buncher, 2018 648L skidder, 2019 748LII skidder, a 2018 437E loader with a CSI 4400 classic slasher saw with CSI delimber and the 2010 Petersen Pacific 4300 chipper. Rick Staton, left, with Lened Jones Ed Daniel, left, with Henry Staton Tew was confident in purchasing the used machine, as he knew the first owner. “He’s as particular as I are backed up, the crew will load chip vans and drop them, am about keeping stuff clean and if it is broke fix it,” Tew so trucks can come back later in the evenings and get them says. “With us just getting into chipping, I didn’t want to unloaded. Tew says this method gives the trucks producspend $500,000 on a new chipper. We wanted to get into the tion no matter the mill conditions. game, but didn’t want to break the budget. With everything As to the mixed bag of trucks, Tew says he was driven else being brand new, I had to be mindful of the budget.” by price, but likes the look of the Peterbilt the best, though The three company trucks are a 2015 Peterbilt, 2018 believes the Western Star and International trucks are better Western Star and 2019 International, pulling three Pitts log to handle the woods. He adds that once they’ve had experitrailers and three ITI chip vans. On days when the mills ence with the three major manufacturers, if and when an-

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chipping contractor ■

other truck is purchased, Tew will probably try to keep a single manufacturer. “At the time, we were looking at price and a truck we could get,” he admits.

everything else for the logging and timber buying operation. When not busy with the operation, Tew serves on the Carolina Loggers Assn. Board—saying it is important to be involved in an indus-

try association. “It’s my industry, I love it. It’s what we do, I don’t want to do anything else. But if I am going to complain about it, I should at least be able to go help and fix what I am complaining about.”

Maintenance One of the benefits of purchasing new equipment, Tew is able to take advantage of a PM agreement with James River where the dealer, according to John Deere specs, services all equipment. After conferring with Daniel, Tew ran the numbers and decided to go with the extra cost of the PM agreement. “For what they were doing at the cost they were doing it at, let them have at it. It also helps with the warranty, everything is done by exactly John Deere spec, if something goes wrong they know it. We’ve been very happy with that and it’s saved us a lot of Saturdays being out here changing oil,” he says. Truck maintenance is handled by a variety of local shops, depending on where the crew is working and where the drivers are going. Oil is changed religiously because of the dust. Daniel services the chipper every 250 hours; knives are changed every 20 loads, depending on material. He’s found that gum and poplar chip well and can get a full 20 loads out of the knives. Harder species are tougher on the knives and usually Daniel can only get 15 loads out of a set of six. “Chippers love to be tinkered with,” Tew laughs about the machine in general. “They tend to shake themselves apart.” For now, chipper maintenance is done in the woods—Neuse River FP does not have a shop though Tew has future plans to build one to help take care of trucks, trailers and chip vans. “We just got started, and have a huge investment,” he says. “We’re trying to recoup some of that before we throw out some more money.” Tew’s wife Valerie, an HR professional, helps with bookkeeping and payroll. “She understands the taxes, and that scares me a little bit,” Tew admits with a smile. He handles

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■ adam nicholson q&a

Leading The Charge

Drax Power

EDITOR’S NOTE: Wood Bioenergy magazine visited the Drax Group facility in the United Kingdom in May and shortly after conducted this question and answer session with Adam Nicholson, who is Head of Viable Fuels at Drax Power. Recently, Drax released its half-year report for 2019. Drax reported some weather restricted forestry activities and slightly lower pellet production from its U.S. operations, but also reported that the rail spur at its pellet plant in LaSalle, La. is now operational after a $15 million investment. The LaSalle mill is adjacent a southern yellow pine sawmill jointly owned by Hunt Forest Product and Tolko Industries, and sawdust from the sawmill is transported to the Drax operation as part of a co-location agreement. Drax also announced it intends to expand production of wood pellets at its existing sites in the U.S. by 350,000 tonnes, specifically by 150,000 at LaSalle, 100,000 at its Amite plant in Gloster, Miss. and 100,000 at its Morehouse plant in Bastrop, La. The trifold expansion will require a $60 million-plus investment and focus on upgrades to enable greater utilization of low-cost sawmill residues and dry shavings. Once completed in 2020-2021, the Drax pellet plants in the U.S. will have a production capacity of 1.85 million tonnes, or greater than 25% of the current biomass required for the UK facility. Drax Power Station is the biggest renewable generator in the UK and espouses the largest decarbonization project in Europe. Located near Selby, North Yorkshire, it is connected directly to the national electricity transmission grid, for which it provides a host of system support services. It has a capacity of 3,906 megawatts and produces around 18 terawatt-hours (TWh) of power a year, 75% using compressed wood pellets. The remainder is produced using coal, a fossil fuel being phased out by 2025, if not before. Drax Power Station supplies 12% of the UK’s renewable power. Four of its six power generation units have been upgraded from burning coal to using biomass. Adam Nicholson has been head of viable fuels at Drax since the beginning of the year. He joined Drax in 2008 and has served as project engineer, lead engineer, section head-research & development and section head-process performance. Previously he worked with RWE npower for nearly 11 years in boilers and combustion engineering. He attended the University of Sheffield and received a bachelor of engineering (mechanical) in 2000. (Many of the photos accompanying this article are courtesy of Drax.)

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adam nicholson q&a ■

Wood Bioenergy: In retrospect what was most challenging, or what were the challenges, in the conversion of four of your six boiler units to biomass from coal? Nicholson: At Drax, when we knew the writing was on the wall for coal, we decided to use wood pellets, known as biomass. The problem was that no one else had ever converted a coal-fired power station to use biomass before. There was no road map or blueprint for us to follow. And no existing supply chains to tap into. When converting a generating unit, the steam, turbine and generator remain the same. It was transporting and storing the biomass, and how we got it into the boilers which was the challenging part. Originally the power station was built in two halves: The first half came online in 1974—that was Units 1, 2 and 3. The second half—units 4, 5 and 6—were built later in the ’80s. To convert the first three units to use biomass we invested hundreds of millions of pounds in building new biomass handling and storage facilities at the power station and an entirely new global supply chain was created to ensure we could source the biomass we need. Drax’s biomass storage domes stand 50 meters high and hold 300,000 tonnes of compressed wood pellets between them—enough to power Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool for more than 12 days. Each dome is about the size of the Royal Albert Hall. Each one was built using strong PVC material similar to what is used for bouncy castles—which was inflated in less than an hour. A 1.5 cm layer of polyurethane foam was sprayed on the inside to insulate it, followed by steel reinforcements and concrete. The walls are 35 cm thick. Drax uses around 7 million tonnes of biomass a year—the majority comes from North America and Europe. Drax’s biomass supply chain in the UK runs from coast to coast. We have ports at Tyne, Hull, Immingham and Liverpool with an average of 17 biomass trains arriving per day (over a six-day working week). The train wagons were designed especially for us to maximize the volume in each wagon and also to ensure it is protected from the elements. Unlike coal, biomass can’t be exposed to any moisture. Wood Bioenergy: Didn’t you have a new set of challenges in the conversion of Unit 4? Nicholson: When converting Unit 4 we knew the boiler and mills could be converted—again the challenge was in the fuel delivery system, getting enough biomass to the mills and boiler to produce the power. The existing biomass facilities on site provide fuel to units 1, 2 and 3 but because there’s no link from that part of the power station to Units 4, 5 and 6, we couldn’t use the storage domes or any of that infrastructure for Unit 4. Initially our engineers set about designing a new conveyor system that could connect the domes to the mills and boiler that power Unit 4, but after weeks of design, it was clear that plan was uneconomical. Within our pre-existing plant there was a co-firing facility that had

Adam Nicholson, Drax head of viable fuels

laid dormant since Drax stopped fueling its boilers with a mixture of coal and biomass and opted instead for full unit conversions. The co-firing facility included its own rail unloading building (RUB1) and storage silos, which are located much closer to Unit 4 than the bigger RUB2 and the massive biomass domes. The challenge was in moving the required volumes of biomass through the plant to fuel a whole generating unit, using equipment which hadn’t been designed for that purpose—it had been developed to deliver relatively small amounts of biomass to six units, which were also running on coal. The team needed to double the throughput of the system compared to what it was originally designed to do, in order to get enough biomass fuel to Unit 4. To make it work, the team modified a pneumatic transport system, previously tested during co-firing, to have the capability to blow entire pellets from the storage facilities around the power station at speeds of more than 20 meters per second. Wood Bioenergy: Realizing that Drax now operates three wood pellet plants in the United States, has there ever been an issue with wood pellet availability for your UK generation plant? Nicholson: Drax sources from a combination of our own plants and third parties to ensure security of supply. The whole industry had an issue with pellet availability over the course of the last winter where shipments to Europe were delayed due to weather impacts, and supplier plant commissioning and production issues. Our self-supply and diversity of third-party sourcing was fundamental in our ability to mitigate that impact. Wood Bioenergy: What would be the total Drax monetary investment at this point in time, including having to build an infrastructure, of the conversion in the UK? Nicholson: We have invested heavily in converting

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■ adam nicholson q&a

Drax’s massive investment in wood biomass fuel included specially designed railcars.

the power station to use biomass instead of coal—the transformation cost us around £700m ($850 million). This included £300m for the conversion of units 1, 2 and 3 and around £400m in our three pellet plants: Morehouse, Amite and LaSalle and the port of Baton Rouge. In this mix we also spent £50m developing and building a fleet of 225 biomass rail wagons here in the UK. We also supported around £300m investment in the supply chain to create port facilities for biomass handling in the UK. Drax Group contributed almost £1.6 billion toward UK GDP in 2017 and supported over 17,500 jobs across the country. We are a big supporter and contributor to the Northern Powerhouse; in 2017 Drax contributed over £600 million to the northern economy and supported over 6,000 jobs. Wood Bioenergy: What did building an infrastructure entail, beginning with the movement of the pellets from the UK ports to your facility? Nicholson: Drax imports around 300 vessels of biomass every year to the ports of Hull, Immingham, Tyne and Liverpool. Coal and biomass cannot be transported in the same way. Coal is a durable fuel that can be left open to the elements, whereas compressed wood pellets become unusable if they are exposed to moisture. Traditional hoppers, the large open-top train wagons used to transport coal, aren’t big enough, nor do they provide the protection from the elements that biomass needs. To deliver an average of 20,000 tonnes of wood pellets to the power station every day we needed an entirely new railway wagon—these have been designed specifically for Drax by Lloyd’s Register Rail

(now Ricardo Rail) and WH Davis—the UK’s last independent freight wagon manufacturer. We have an average of 17 biomass trains arriving at Drax per day (over a six-day working week) in order to supply us with the pellets needed to generate and supply enough renewable electricity for 4 million homes. Each train contains sufficient fuel to provide 815 houses in the UK with enough electricity for a year. Our fuel is transported to Drax via rail rather than road. This is to further reduce our carbon emissions, as it is more efficient than road transportation. Using rail saves approximately 270,000 truck journeys per year and is estimated to save 32,622.50 tonnes of C02 per year. Wood Bioenergy: What is your timeline on your raw material supply? Nicholson: We import pellets into the ports of Immingham, Hull, Tyne and Liverpool. The Drax supply chain is vital to keeping the lights on. We operate a ‘just in time’ supply chain, meaning that unlike with our coal stocks, there is only ever around three to four days supply stored at the Drax site at any given time. Biomass has to be stored in a very specific way, and can’t be exposed to the elements. Drax’s biomass storage domes stand 50 meters high and hold 300,000 tonnes of compressed wood pellets between them. Wood Bioenergy: Once pellets come to the UK ports is there a quality control or check at that point—such as on the ship itself before unloading? Nicholson: Yes, we have qualified inspectors who will inspect cargo prior to commencing discharge, monitor the vessel during the discharge process and have automated sampling systems which take samples for analysis. Analy-

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adam nicholson q&a ■

Pelletizer maintenance at Drax Morehouse

sis is done in real time as the vessel discharges so that we get an early indication of any issues. This is on top of having a similar process at the load port. Wood Bioenergy: What is your desired wood pellet spec coming in, and is there much variation? Nicholson: We have developed a specification over time which is a variation to the commonly quoted ‘I2’ specification. Variation in quality can come about due to the geography in which the pellets are produced, the species mix of pellets, the methods used in production and storage and logistics factors; however, our spec is broad enough to encompass these factors. Wood Bioenergy: How much of your power plant wood pellet supply now comes from Drax wood pellet facilities in the U.S.? Nicholson: Around 20% of our supply comes from Drax plants currently, and we aim to increase this to around 30%. Wood Bioenergy: Are you considering the construction or purchase of other wood pellet plants in the U.S. or elsewhere? Nicholson: We continue to view a self-supply target

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■ adam nicholson q&a

Generator hall at Drax in Selby, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

of around 30% to be a reasonable aim. To achieve this, we see the development of our existing assets as the option which offers best value but remain open to other opportunities at the right price. Wood Bioenergy: How would you compare processing coal to processing wood biomass? Nicholson: The challenges arise around storing biomass, as outlined earlier. Biomass has a lower calorific value than coal, so we must use around one-third more volume of biomass in order to obtain the same calorific value. We installed an entirely new conveyor system on the plant as well as specially designed biomass storage domes. Biomass is a more volatile material than coal and this serves to protect the fuel from the elements and reduce the risk of fires. We have upskilled people to ensure they can work across both the coal and biomass operations. Not many jobs are coal or biomass specific; boiler engineers work across both coal and biomass boilers, same for the turbine engineers. Wood Bioenergy: Carbon capture storage is an evolving issue. Can you go into some detail on how Drax is addressing this? Nicholson: We started capturing carbon dioxide from our innovative BECCS (bioenergy carbon capture and storage) pilot plant in February– it is the first of its kind

using a 100% biomass feedstock anywhere in the world. IWE are capturing one tonne of CO2 a day at the moment, but if we scaled the pilot up and used the technology on four biomass units, we could capture up to 40,000 tonnes a day. BECCS is a vital technology in the fight against climate change. The CCC’s Net Zero Report states that BECCS could generate up to 173 TWh of electricity by 2050, capturing up to 51 Mt CO2—around half of the remaining carbon in the economy that we will need to capture to become ‘net zero.’ Power generation with BECCS could also provide essential system services to the UK power grid, meaning a more secure, cost-effective electricity system. Having proven that carbon dioxide can be captured from our flue gases using C-Capture’s solvent, we must focus on how our CO2 can be stored and used in other processes. We are talking to several industries about using our CO2 in their processes. This could be to produce concrete, within the food and drinks industry or creating synthetic fuels to use in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like aviation. We are looking at how scaling up the pilot project at Drax in the 2020s could create the world’s first ‘carbon negative’ power station and serve as the anchor for a regional CCS network capturing millions of tonnes of carbon each year from nearby industrial emitters.

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adam nicholson q&a ■

Drax is expanding pellet production capacity by 350,000 tonnes at its U.S. plants.

We are working with National Grid and Equinor to deliver the UK’s first zero-carbon cluster in the Humber region. The UK has a unique opportunity to become a global leader in CCUS (carbon capture, utilization & storage), if it takes steps now to support the development of the industry. Wood Bioenergy: How many people are employed at Drax power station?

Nicholson: Drax employs over 950 people at the Selby site. During outage periods, there can be over 3,000 staff and contractors working on the site. Drax supports over 5,700 jobs across the North of England through our supply chains. Wood Bioenergy: How does Drax feel at the moment about UK and European support of wood biomass renewable energy? ➤ 26

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■ adam nicholson q&a

Conveyor apparatus at the Drax transit at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge

25 ➤ Nicholson: The European Union has put in place sustainability criteria for biomass for the first time. We were very engaged in the process of designing this legislation and we’re happy with the result. The new guidelines put in place replicate the UK’s world leading sustainability regime. This gives us our stakeholders and the government confidence that the biomass we source is done so sustainably. Demand for wood products like biomass stimulates and maintains forest growth. Between 1953 and 2015, tree harvests increased 57%, but, over the same period, annual wood growth increased 112%. Only 3% of total U.S. wood harvest is used for pellet production. Drax sources wood from working forests that are replanted or naturally regenerate; this helps to ensure forests remain for future generations. We source lowgrade wood, such as thinnings, sawmill residues, and smaller or diseased or misshapen trees with little commercial value. 40% of the material used in our wood pellets is residues—exactly the kind of material everyone agrees delivers the greatest carbon savings. Our suppliers’ operations are regularly audited by independent third-party bodies to certify compliance with sourcing policies, forestry standards and regulatory requirements. We would not qualify for renewables support mechanisms if we were not able to demonstrate compliance with strict criteria and requirements—the UK has the

most stringent sustainability criteria in the world. In line with UK government policy we’re working to reduce the costs of our biomass to ensure our biomass is subsidy free by 2027. We firmly believe that biomass has a long-term role to play in the UK’s energy infrastructure—the key is to reduce the costs of our pellets by 30% to make it economically viable without subsidy. We have already achieved a 10% cost reduction (down to $9.4/GJ from $10.4/GJ in 2017) by using more lower cost residues—such as through co-location of sawmills and pellet plants. We will continue to reduce process and transport costs—as in investing £10m in the LaSalle rail spur commissioning in H1 2019 to deliver a $10/tonne reduction in biomass costs. Drax received £789m in government support in 2018. It’s important to remember that these government support mechanisms are not ‘free money.’ Drax only qualifies for support when it produces renewable energy, not when it invests. We have invested £700m transforming the business from coal to biomass. The purpose of the RO (Renewable Obligation) and the CfD (Contracts for Difference) is to incentivize companies to build renewable generation which would otherwise be uneconomic in order to hit the country’s decarbonization targets. This support mechanism is time-limited and not a loan.

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in the news ■

14 ➤ move to the next level in wood valorization is in the process of being built next to that same plant.” According to Peep Pitk, Head of Research and Development at Graanul Invest group, innovative processing of wood provides the opportunity to move from a resource-based wood industry model to a knowledge-based model for developing innovative bioprocesses and novel materials. The demo plant technology has been developed with target to have a minimal ecological footprint and low impact on the environment, which allows dimensioning the plant size according to local conditions. “The location of Imavere precisely between two leading research centers in Estonia creates good opportunities for broad cooperation with Estonian universities in order to create a globally important wood valorization center of excellence in Imavere, which brings together the world’s top science of wood processing and industry,” comments Pitk. The demo plant is part of the SWEETWOODS project supported by funding from the EU – Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking of 20.96 million euros. l Graanul Biotech also announced it has received funding for the VEHICLE project that is working on developing 100% plant-based chemicals produced from renewable raw materials. The VEHICLE project, coordinated by Avantium, aims to widen the business and market opportunities of existing and future biorefineries by demonstrating the applicability of their sugar streams in several downstream options. The main goals are to demonstrate valorization of dilute hemicellulose-rich prehydrolysate streams from pulp mills, which are currently waste streams with little value. Graanul Biotech has previously received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) as a leading partner in the SWEETWOODS project and

as consortium member in the REWOFUEL project funded by EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. All those projects are developing and testing renewable raw materials for replacing fossil-based chemicals with more sustainable alternatives. VEHICLE consortium consists of several other leading companies across Europe: Avantium Chemicals BV (NL), Ecohelix (SE), Metgen Oy (FI), Novamont Spa (IT), Spinverse (FI), Kemira (FI), Fundacio Universitaria Balmes (ES), Graanul Biotech (EST).

Youth Olympics Tout Wood Pellets The Organizing Committee for the Youth Olympic Games, Lausanne 2020 in Switzerland, has announced that its Olympic cauldron, the construction of which began on June 17, will be powered for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games by an eco-responsible fuel. Following the lighting ceremony in Athens, Greece, the Olympic flame will make its journey across Switzerland to light the Lausanne 2020 Olympic cauldron on January 9, 2020 during the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne. For the first time in the history of the Games, and in line with Lausanne 2020’s commitment to sustainability, the Olympic cauldron will be powered by wood pellets. This will be the result of an unprecedented partnership between several organizations in the region which, together, are building a unique value chain from design to completion of the cauldron. To start, Lignum Vaud, the regional action community of Lignum Swiss Wood Economy which brings together all the regional stakeholders from the wood sector, has led the design and manufacturing of the burner, the cauldron’s central element. A team of thermal engineers, mechanical engineers and mechanics has developed a new technology.

This innovative system will make the flame fully autonomous for 24hour cycles, which was the only guideline set by the Lausanne 2020 Organizing Committee. This means that the burner will not need any external power supply to operate and will be filled with pellets only once a day. And that is where its most distinctive feature lies: the only fuel used will be Swiss wood pellets, a first in the history of the Games, but also a sustainable solution and an opportunity to promote local knowledge and knowhow. In parallel, the design of the Olympic cauldron was entrusted to a class of ECAL Industrial Design Bachelor’s students, who worked with apprentices from the Ecole de la Construction and C-For! as well as with Lignum Vaud to develop a technically feasible project. Only one project was selected from among several proposals by a jury put together specially for the occasion. C-For! then took care of the technical drawings required for its production. In order to promote the hard work and innovative ideas from all students, the cauldron projects that were not selected will be on display at The Olympic Museum from October 2019 until the end of the YOG. Production of the cauldron is scheduled to be completed in early autumn. And the final creation will remain a secret until it is unveiled at the Opening Ceremony!

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■ arizona biomass

Arizona Forests Need More

Biomass Utilization

By Dan Shell

orests in Arizona remain at risk, yet contain compelling opportunities for large scale biomass utilization, as state officials recently turned down an opportunity to provide a larger biomass market—while federal officials are ready to release a request for proposals on a massive new 800,000 acre stewardship contract that will greatly increase the amount of biomass being produced in the state. Earlier this summer the Arizona Corporation Commission voted down a proposal to convert one of three power generation units at a soon-to-be-closed coal power plant to biomass. Doing so would have provided a critical additional market for biomass in the state and helped boost efforts to thin forests susceptible to fire. Arizona is in the midst of a forest health crisis with few solutions outside of either massive infrastructure investment or let it burn. Following a 20-year stretch of terrible wildfires that scorched 25% of the state’s forest inventory, the U.S. Forest Service, state and local groups and even environmental organizations came together to develop a series of precedent-setting stewardship contracts under the 4 Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI) to treat more than 2.4 million acres across four

national forests in the state. The first (Phase 1) 4FRI contract was awarded in 2012 and immediately ran into problems as the contract holder couldn’t gain financing for its proposals to build a sawmill, reman plant and biofuel facility. The contract was transferred to Good Earth Power in 2013, and the company has repeatedly come up short of its forest treatment goals—mainly due to a lack of forest industry infrastructure and ultimately, a lack of markets for the many tons of biomass (around 50% of total volume) coming off the forest treatment projects. Totaling around 300,000 acres, the 10-year Phase 1 contract was projected to clear 50,000 acres a year. Despite thousands of acres of pre-approved projects, the Phase 1 contract holder, Good Earth Power, has only managed to thin around 15,000 acres in six years. Observers cite the lack of logging and trucking capacity in a state where forest products infrastructure withered the past 25 years after FS officials drastically reduced allowable harvests on federal lands. Yet it is the lack of biomass markets that have led to much of the poor performance, 4FRI contract operators say, because they can’t find a way to offset biomass harvesting, handling and hauling costs. Currently, there’s only one biomass power plant in

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arizona biomass ■

At left and above, forest thinning and processing biomass in the Tonto National Forest

the state, Novo Biopower in Snowflake, a 28 MW plant that has played a large role in helping sustain thinning efforts for the earlier White Mountain Stewardship project. That project treated around 50,000 acres in 10 years, but benefited from up to $800/acre in FS subsidies for some activities. The Novo Biopower plant remains a critical market, but its capacity means it can take only so much volume. Also, its location on the eastern side of the state is more than 100 miles away from key thinning areas north and west of Flagstaff, which further adds to biomass transportation costs. Instead of buying in to the need to perform critical wildfire prevention thinning, Arizona Corporation Commission members deciding on a proposal to require state utilities to purchase up to 60 MW of biomassbased renewable power cited added costs of $3-$4 per consumer power bill when they voted against it earlier this year. If approved, the proposal would have provided the basis to convert an EGU at the Cholla Power Plant to biomass as the overall facility was being closed anyway. Though not in an optimal location (east of Winslow), the Cholla facility is still along the I-40 rail and truck corridor and would provide a good market for

biomass produced north of Payson. Failure to approve the biomass requirement by the commission also puts the Novo Biopower plant at risk: The facility is in the last few years of its current contract, and if utilities aren’t required to support biomass utilization there’s a good chance power providers would pass over the plant at contract renewal time in favor of wind and solar. Such a development could easily lead to the plant’s closure—and provide yet another setback for forest health activities in the state. Creative solutions to the biomass challenge are also being explored: Professors and officials with Northern Arizona University are working on a project that’s testing the shipping of bone-dry chips in containers by train to a West Coast port, then on to South Korea by ship. A first phase of the project has 60 shipping containers going to Gwangyang, South Korea to JA International, which is seeking sources of sustainable biomass for power generation. Officials with JA International say the company could take a half million tons of chips per year for 20 years. The goal is to make the initial shipment, then go back and study the process to see where improvements can be made. Project leaders say that working with JA International amounts to filling and shipping 220 containers

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■ arizona biomass

Woody biomass yard at Novo Biopower, Snowflake, Ariz.

Heating it up at the state’s only biomass power plant

every other week. To do so, more trucking capacity from the woods and more railroad loading capacity in the Flagstaff area have already been identified as key areas to improve.

More, Bigger Amid the confusion over future biomass markets in the state, and despite the recent underperformance of the 300,000 acre Phase 1 4FRI stewardship contract, FS

officials are now readying the final parameters for a massive 4FRI Phase 2 stewardship contract of more than 800,000 acres. Final details are still being ironed out before the contract is put out for bid later this fall. The plan calls for a maximum of 818,000 acres to be treated in the Cococino, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto national forests. According to news reports, FS officials are hoping that a 20-year contractual time frame and hundreds of thousands of acres in pre-approved, ready to work mechanical thinning projects will provide the impetus for large-scale investment in the Flagstaff area. Good Earth Power is in the process of building a modern sawmill in Williams, but more infrastructure is sorely needed. Government officials hope the incentives are enough to interest largescale operations to become involved. The goals are big: To reduce tree density from 1,000 stems/acre to 100 trees/acre on millions of acres and in doing so provide more forest health and protection of at-risk rural communities. Until officials in the state develop the political will or private interests decide to make those large investments—or until the next big super fire that burns it all on the stump instead of at a power plant—Arizona forests remain on the brink of either restoration or disaster. Only time will tell.

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■ Fire Prevention CLARKE’S INDUSTRIES The PyroGuard System, manufactured by Clarke’s Industries, Inc., is designed to detect and extinguish sparks in pneumatic conveying and material transfer systems. Infrared radiation is detected by the spark sensors, which in turn activates a solenoid valve to introduce an atomized water spray inside the duct. During a normal activation, production can continue, as only a limited amount of water is introduced into the pneumatic system. The system is typically installed prior to a dust collector and provides protection for plant personnel as well as equipment and assets. In addition, Clarke’s offers the PyroComm Windows Software package, providing for interaction Clarke’s Industries PyroGuard spark detection and extinguishment from the PyroGuard Control Console to a PC unit. This powerful software program enables monitoring of the spark detection and extinguishment system from a remote location. To supplement the PyroGuard system, Clarke’s manufactures a complete line of safety devices such as HiSpeed abort gates, backdraft dampers, and isolation dampers. Other products which Clarke’s manufactures include: Flo-Matic Storage and Metering Bins, Rotary Screens and Classifiers, Pneu-Aire Filters, Rotary Airlocks, Rotary Feeders, Fans and complete Low Pressure and High Pressure Pneumatic Conveying Systems.

FLAMEX FLAMEX Inc. is a leading supplier of customized industrial process fire prevention and protection equipment. Our company belongs to the MINIMAX-VIKING organization, which is a premier global player in the fire protection industry. We specialize in the protection of facilities that handle combustible dusts that utilize pneumatic dust collection and air filtration systems. Although our name is often considered synonymous with spark detection systems, FLAMEX also offers a variety of other related protection systems and products such as Deluge Systems High Speed Abort Gates, and Explosion Isolation Dampers. Our capabilities include the design, supply, installation, repair and service of complete protection systems. This year, FLAMEX proudly announces the introduction of the new YMX 5000 Detector series, which represents a unique and technologically advanced generation of infrared spark and flame sensors for industrial applications. An industry exclusive self-monitoring optics feature provides “through the lens” testing for each detector in real time to immediately alert the user of a reduction of detector capabil- FLAMEX protection systems help a facility steer clear of ity caused by damage or lens contamination. Wiring require- disaster. ments are minimized by the new design, which allows up to three remote sensors to connect to a field mounted control unit. The Control Unit offers a retrievable lifetime memory function and provides external LEDs to indicate the functional status of each detector. The FM Global approved YMX 5000 Spark Detector is suitable for installation in an extremely wide range of operational temperatures (-40 Degrees F up to 221 Degrees F) and therefore increases its applicability in areas where other detectors may not be appropriate. The increased viewing angle of the detector enhances the detection capability and often reduces the number of detectors required for effective monitoring of a given area. Detectors are protected by robust stainless steel housing and utilize a field removable lens. The detector mounts easily and securely to facilitate installation and maintenance inspections. EX versions for Class 2 Division 1 hazardous areas are available.

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Fire Prevention ■ SCIENTIFIC DUST COLLECTORS Scientific Dust Collectors (SDC) began in 1981 when our first patent for improving filter cleaning was issued. Since then, SDC has been issued a number of additional related patents for improvements in dust collector cleaning technologies including our patented nozzle-based cleaning system which provides a proven advantage. It’s not enough to just simply say you’re the best. You need to be able to prove it. For most wood applications we are able to offer up to a 4 Year Filter Life Guarantee. Who else will do that for you? Our systems also do not require you to add a cyclone or pre cleaner for grain loading up to 75 lbs/cu ft. As we do manufacture a complete line of dry dust collection equipment, not only do we believe that you and your employees deserve a safe and healthy work environment, we also believe you should get the most appropriate dust collection system based on your individual situation, and not by a limited product offering. We do one thing, and that’s manufacture world class dust collectors right here in the USA. You will hear a lot of statements/opinions made with regard to the type of collector you need for a wood application. The reality is that a Scientific Dust Collectors baghouse, for most situations, is SDC model SPJ-320-4RT10, 70,000 CFM with cusyour best choice—especially for requirements above 5,000 cfm. tom discharge enclosure With our customer first approach, SDC is also able to assist you with any NFPA 652 compliance (combustible dust) questions, and/or providing the necessary equipment to help meet those standards. It is important to have your dust analyzed if you are not sure of combustibility. Just because you have not had an incident, for example, in 10 years, does not mean you are safe. Many times, this is when a dust explosion can be worse as the dust has been accumulating over a long period of time. Before you choose your next dust collection system, please consider contacting SDC and Discover the Difference.

AIR BURNERS If you’ve ever needed to dispose of wood waste, you know the challenges it can pose. Grinding wastes fuel and energy while still leaving a huge pile of waste behind, composting takes too long and is fraught with its own difficulties including high emissions levels and high levels of dust, and open burns pollute the air and take too much time. All of these options put strain on the environment, release carbon into the atmosphere, and waste money and resources. Wood waste left to itself provides fuel for forest fires, so it can sometimes seem like there are no good solutions. There has to be a better way, right? Enter: Air Burners. These innovative FireAir Burners FireBox wood waste elimination Boxes are equipped with a strong current of air that constantly passes over the top of the blaze to contain pollutants and speed up the burning process. And because the fire is fully contained in the box, its power can be harnessed to generate energy and create a closed-loop system on your site. When it’s all said and done, the wood is completely gone, the air is cleaner, and you’re left with biochar (carbon) that you can return directly to the soil for future plant growth. By taking preventative steps to eliminate wood, brush and other dry vegetation, you are also reducing the risks associated with wildfires and forest fires. Limiting the amount of fuel available when fires do start is a solid step in the right direction for fire protection and control. It’s time to rethink wood recycling. Let Air Burners help you effectively eliminate vegetative waste.

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■ product news

Fagus GreCon Names Peterson As CEO Fagus GreCon Inc. named Eric Peterson as CEO. Peterson has more than 20 years of experience leading successful teams across a broad spectrum of manufacturing industries from the food industry to the building products. He will be based in Fagus Grecon’s North America headquarters in Charlotte, NC. Peterson, who holds an MBA in Marketing from Indiana University and a BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois, most recently led the Husqvarna Group’s retail handheld portfolio and has previously served as president of Sakrete of North America while at CRH Company-Oldcastle. “It is a privilege to be a part of an organization with such a rich history

of delivering innovative high-quality products and services that not only keep our customers safer but helps them reduce their costs,” Peterson says of his new company. Peterson will be working with the team leadership in establishing a strong infrastructure that will help the organization continue to deliver best-in-class products and services to its customers. The addition of Peterson in Charlotte continues to build upon the organizational move from Portland, Ore. to Charlotte that began two years ago. The move brought Fagus GreCon closer to many of its customers, allowing it to improve the team’s ability to reach its customer base and better assist customers with service visits, technical support and sales visits more quickly and efficiently. In addition, Fagus GreCon

has extended its outreach by establishing a motivated team of outside service technicians to assist customers with their business needs across the U.S. resulting in lowering service costs, and improving service and communications to customers. These changes along with the business and growth plan that Peterson and the team will be building upon for North America will carry the continued momentum from 2019 into the years to come. Fagus GreCon, Inc. is a leading supplier in the development and manufacturing of fire prevention solutions and measuring systems.

Weiler Forestry Comes Of Age

There’s a new brand of logging equipment in the woods.

Weiler Forestry, Inc. announced the launch of Weiler purpose-built forestry products following its acquisition of Caterpillar’s purposebuilt forestry business. The product line consists of wheel skidders, track feller-bunchers, wheel feller-bunchers, and knuckleboom loaders. Weiler Forestry facilities now include the former Caterpillar manufacturing plant and warehouse in LaGrange, Ga., a demonstration and training center in Auburn, Ala., the Prentice engineering and product development center in Prentice, Wis., and the legacy Prentice parts distribution center in Smithfield, NC. Founded in 2000, Weiler produces an extensive portfolio of paving products and has a long history of successfully manufacturing purposebuilt equipment distributed through

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product news ■

Test Burn Has Good Results Wyssmont reports its large shop assembled unit TURBO-DRYER-TORREFIER unit was delivered to a Pacific Northwest plant and used to torrefy 1,000,000 pounds of wood chips for a test burn in a local power plant. It was reported that the unit produced a high quality product with a very uniform BTU output. The unit was supplied with internal electrical heating elements and a recycle system so the system could operate in an oxygen free atmosphere.

the Cat dealer network. “Over the past several months we have been listening to forestry customers and dealer personnel. We are excited to implement product expansion plans quickly to better serve the forestry market,” comments Pat Weiler, owner and founder of Weiler, Inc. “I am looking forward to continuing to listen to our customers so we can offer them the products that best

serve their needs through the best dealer network in the world,” adds Bill Hood, VP of Weiler, Inc. Weiler Forestry will design and manufacture purpose-built forestry products, which will continue to be available through the Cat dealer network. Weiler entered into a preliminary agreement with Caterpillar, Inc. in August 2018. Weiler stated it anticipates retaining the approximatey 270

employees supporting the forestry business, adding to the nearly 500 employees currently employed at the Knoxville, Iowa based manufacturer’s corporate office and manufacturing facility.

Norden, Enviva Continue Affiliation Norden has contracted with Enviva to transport 1.3-1.5 million tonnes of wood pellets from the U.S. to Europe over a six-year period. The contract runs from 2021 to 2026 and builds on Norden’s long-term collaboration with Enviva. Norden now holds a number of long-running contracts with Enviva for the transportation of wood pellets across the Atlantic, all of which are carried out on supramax vessels.

Morbark Appoints Product Manager Morbark appointed Jason Showers as Product Manager, Tree Care Products. Showers will serve as the subject matter expert for all matters related to Morbark’s brush chipper equipment line. Showers has more than 20 years of hands-on experi-

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■ product news

ence with the brush chipper line and will make important contributions to product development and project management. “I am excited to continue in a capacity at Morbark where I can share my knowledge with other industry colleagues,” says Showers. “After working with Morbark products for many years, I look forward to putting my expertise to work and helping the company grow and innovate this product line.” Before assuming this new position, he served as Morbark’s product manager for the company’s Boxer Equipment line of compact utility loaders and attachments and has been instrumental in developing and managing the product line’s network of distributors, manufacturing representatives, and rental business. Inside Sales Coordinator Mark Rau will now assume the duties of developing and managing the Boxer Equipment network of independent distributors, manufacturing representatives, as well as continuing to develop the company’s presence in the rental market. In the past, Rau

has served as the company’s Dealer Development Manager and has been with Morbark for 40 years.

Kice Offers Larger Airlocks Kice Industries has introduced larger sizes for its popular VJX airlock. The new sizes available include 18x12x12; 18x14x14; 20x12x12; 20x15x15; 24x15x15, and 24x20x20. The VJX airlock gives users less maintenance, reduced downtime and lower overall operating costs. It is designed to comply with NFPA 69 criteria as a passive isolation device. The patented bearing cartridge design bolts to the endplate for ease of assembly and maintenance. A maintenance-free Teflon seal and triple quad-ring seals to protect bearings from product contamination are standard, and there are no packing seals to tighten or replace. With fewer parts and an improved seal, the VJX airlock can withstand higher operating pressures without maintenance, significantly reducing downtime and overall operating costs.

Andritz Supplies Tokushima Tsuda Andritz has received an order from Hitachi Zosen Corporation (HITZ), Japan, to deliver a PowerFluid circulating fluidized bed boiler with a flue gas cleaning system. The boiler will be part of a new biomass power plant to be built in Tokushima in Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island, some 500 km southwest of Tokyo, for the Tokushima Tsuda biomass power plant. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in early 2023. The PowerFluid boiler to be supplied by Andritz features the lowest emissions, high efficiency and availability, as well as highest fuel flexibility. It forms an essential part of a high-efficiency biomass power plant for supply of green energy to the national grid. The biomass power plant fired with wood pellets and palm kernel shells as main fuels will generate around 74.8 MW. This is the sixth order in a row for supply of an Andritz PowerFluid circulating fluidized bed boiler for the Japanese market.

MAXAM LogXtra Forestry Tire

MAXAM introduces the LogXtra forestry line to its broad range of specialty tire programs. MAXAM has engineered the MS931 LogXtra to provide the in-

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dustry with the best solution for abusive forestry applications. Throughout the development and performance validation phase of the LogXtra program, the design components and tire construction have displayed increased efficiency, durability and traction compared to industry benchmarks. The steel belt stabilized construction along with heavy duty shoulder and sidewall thrives in harsh environments while also resisting cuts, cracks, impacts and punctures. A high performance rubber compound has been developed by the MAXAM engineering group specifically for the LogXtra tread to maximize tire resilience in the working environment. To prevent bead winding defects and protect against mounting damage, the LogXtra goes through an enhanced bead wrapping

process that has been developed and implemented during the manufacturing process. In addition, the LogXtra offers excellent traction and flotation thanks to its aggressive self-cleaning tread pattern that is deeper and wider than the industry standards. The MS931 Logxtra will be offered in five LS2 sizes and optional ply ratings. Visit maxamtire.com.

Evergreen Engineering Adds Seattle Office Evergreen Engineering, Inc., is adding a location in the Seattle, Wash. area. “We wanted to better serve our major wood products and pulp and paper clients in Washington state,” comments Evergreen Business Development Director Aaron Ede-

wards. “We also wanted to take advantage of the pool of local talent open to us there.” Kevin Tangen, formerly based at Evergreen’s Eugene, Ore. office, will lead the staff as Project and Office Manager. He will be joined by mechanical engineer Erik Lasher, also formerly of Eugene, and newly hired Senior Project Manager Jeffrey Tuma of Port Orchard, Wash. A complement of locally hired designers and drafters will round out the team. The expansion coincides with the redesign of Evergreen’s website, www.evergreenengineering.com. Site visitors will find the pages more user-friendly, especially for mobile devices. Established in 1985, Evergreen Engineering, Inc., now has offices in Eugene, Seattle, and Atlanta, Ga.

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Peterson Reveals Lighter Grinder

Peterson Pacific Corp has introduced the Peterson 1700D horizontal grinder—a smaller and lighter model than their other grinders but still delivering impressive production. Heavy duty and mobile, the 1700D can easily reduce a wide range of wood biomass materials. Its large feed opening measures 54 in. x 27 in. When boosted by Peterson’ high lift feed roll, the feed opening’s maximum lift of 41.5 in. can tackle the largest of feedstock, and allows excellent accessibility to the rotor for maintenance. Equipped with a Caterpillar Tier 1V C9.3 455 HP engine, or an optional, export only C9 Tier III, 350 HP engine, at 41,000 lbs. the 1700D is the lightest of Peterson’s grinder series, and is easily transportable. Visit petersoncorp.com.

CBI Signs On High Ground Equipment New England will have a new heavy equipment dealership for the materials processing industry with familiar faces representing the CBI and Terex Ecotec product lines. High Ground Equipment, established by Art Murphy and Scott Orlosk in 2019, will be the dedicated New England dealer focused on sales, service

and parts support for the CBI, Terex Ecotec product lines. High Ground Equipment currently operates a support services location inside of Terex’s New Hampshire manufacturing facility and can be found online at highgroundequipment.com. Murphy has represented the CBI and Terex Ecotec brands for many years, most recently serving as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Terex Environmental Equipment throughout North and South America. His background in the industry, knowledge of the products, and long-time relationships with local customers made him a logical choice for the expansion. CBI’s equipment has been manufactured in the Granite State for 30 years and Terex hosts an annual factory forum in Newton, NH.

Mid-South Acquires Stolberg Engineering Mid-South Engineering of Hot Springs, Ark. has acquired Canada’s Stolberg Engineering. Stolberg Engineering will operate from its office in Richmond, BC, as the Mid-South Engineering Stolberg Group, where it will continue to be led by industry veterans Norm Stolberg and Rod Gronlund. Marc Stewart, President of MidSouth Engineering, comments, “The Stolberg team is widely respected and the company has a rich history over the nearly 40 years it has been providing engineering services to the building products and wood pellet industries. This acquisition really strengthens our team and launches Mid-South into a whole new region.”

Stewart explains that the combination is expected to allow MidSouth and Stolberg team members to expand their professional experiences by being part of a broader team—both groups will bring additional expertise and services to their respective existing clients and to new clients in wood products related industries. Together, Mid-South and Stolberg can handle the challenges of large-scale industrial projects across virtually all of the wood processing regions in North America. Gronlund of Stolberg adds, “I’m looking forward to being a part of this larger combined organization. I think our clients will appreciate the greater depth, capacity and range of services that we will be able to offer as part of Mid-South.” All Stolberg staff will continue to work out of the company’s existing offices in Richmond, BC, and will carry on serving clients with ongoing projects. Stolberg Engineering was founded in 1980 as an offshoot of Stolberg Construction, which had been building plants and installing equipment for the wood products industry across Western Canada since the late 1940s. Today Stolberg employs 21 engineers, draftsmen, project managers and support staff, including four licensed engineers, and regularly serves clients across Canada, the Northwest U.S., Australia and New Zealand. Mid-South has additional offices near Raleigh, NC and Bangor, Maine. Since 2017, Mid-South Engineering, which was founded in 1969, has been an independently managed but wholly owned subsidiary of sawmill and plywood mill equipment manufacturer USNR.

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