FR
201 EE 9 Y P EA IN LANR SI NE DE R
November 2018 | $7.20
ISSN 1176-0397
A R E T C X -5 A h s a d E P chi a t i H AN H OF wnehweel loader S A D
51 years without lost time injury!
View from the top - tree climbing
WH400 winches Youtube
LG23583
Excavator Mounted Yarding System
contents NOVEMBER 2018
22
38
4 4
LG23583
10
FOREST TALK New owner for Tasman pulp and paper mill; delay for FGR forestry transformation plan; Australians match NZ with 1 billion trees plan; Gisborne foresters censured; Forest Practice Guides launched; new Loggic system for Woodsman Pro heads; joint biosecurity plan launched; unfair log trade undermines green economy; Southland forester wins Prince of Wales Award; satellites aid continuous forest monitoring; more grants to boost tree planting. DANA FORESTRY CONFERENCE Some of the heavy-hitters of the forestry industry came together in Taupo for the 2018 DANA conference to background the progress made by their companies and comment on recent trends.
16
FOREST GROWERS RESEARCH CONFERENCE Today’s research is helping to shape the forestry industry of tomorrow and this year’s FGR conference in Tauranga showcased some very interesting studies.
22
SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST Wheel loaders used to be popular in Woodhill Forest for stacking and log truck loading duties, but they disappeared a while ago in favour of tracked machines. They’re making a comeback, with the first in almost a quarter of a century now working for Stokes Logging. The NZ Logger Iron Test team puts New Zealand’s first forestry-spec Hitachi ZW220-5 under the spotlight.
10
42 38
THE TREE CLIMBER Tree climbing is not among the skill sets that forestry loggers need to hone in their line of work. A visiting tree climbing specialist explains some of the skills needed.
42
TALL TIMBER Taranaki contractor, Tom Valintine, has set an enviable record during his 51 years in the bush – he’s never lost a day’s work to injury. We could learn a lot from his experiences.
DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 49 top spot 50 fica 52 new iron 59 classifieds
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 1
from the editor
Unclear future
F
201 REE 9 Y P EA IN LANR SID NER E
November 2018 | $7.20
ISSN 1176-0397
PHOTO: JOHN ELLEGARD
RA CdaE -5 EXT F PneA hi sh N w Hitac er A O ad lo heel w H DAS
51 years without lost time injury!
View from the top - tree climbing
The first Hitachi ZW220-5 supplied into New Zealand forestry is working hard with Stokes Logging in Woodhill Forest.
ADVERTISING, ADMINISTRATION, SUBSCRIPTIONS POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 112 062, Penrose, Auckland 1642 STREET ADDRESS: 172B Marua Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051 PHONE: 09 571 3544 WEBSITE: www.alliedpublications.co.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS: $70 (incl. GST) for one year (11 issues) within NZ. Overseas rates available on application. Sue Woolston: accounts@trucker.co.nz PUBLISHER: Trevor Woolston, 027 492 5600, trevor@trucker.co.nz ADMINISTRATION: Sue Woolston, accounts@trucker.co.nz EDITOR: John Ellegard, 021 975 452, editor@nzlogger.co.nz ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT: Trish Barnett, 021 925 600, sales@nzlogger.co.nz DESIGN: Luca Bempensante, Zarko Mihic PRINTING: Nicholson Print Solutions DISTRIBUTION: Gordon & Gotch NZ Logger is published on the second Tuesday of every month except January. NZ Logger is published by Allied Publications Ltd. CONTRIBUTIONS: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…). If the return of material is required please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail, fax, or email prior to submitting material. NZ Logger reserves the right to edit submitted material. COPYRIGHT: Articles in NZ Logger are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher.
NZ Logger Magazine
Net circulation – ended 30/06/2015
3,271
www.nzlogger.co.nz Official Magazine of
NZ LOGGER MAGAZINE AN ESTIMATED
30,000 READERS THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
2 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
T
HE DECISION BY SEVERAL LARGE CORPORATE FOREST OWNERS to stop pruning trees over the last few years may well return to bite us all in the future. A future that could come around sooner than we think. This fact was brought home after listening to a presentation made by forestry consultant, Jeff Tombleson, to the 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Rotorua last month (see page 10). Figures presented by Jeff indicate that we are much closer to the peak of the Wall of Wood than previously thought, especially so in the central North Island, where there is considerable demand for clear wood. He calculates that by the end of 2020, the availability of pruned logs could fall by 50% in that region compared to 2017 levels. And by 2037, just 15% of the logs harvested will be pruned. Those figures are very worrying for the 12 mills in the central North Island that rely on pruned logs to make higher value clear wood products. They don’t want wood with lots of knots that could compromise the strength and value of their products and their customers won’t accept finger-jointed timber as a substitute (unless it’s going to be painted). I can see why the large forest growers have gone away from pruning. They require a $60-to-70 premium over the best non-pruned logs to continue pruning their estates and only once in the last 20 years has that been achieved. In other words, it’s costing them money. So why don’t the mills just cough up the extra? Mill owners argue they’re already paying the international market price and the market obviously doesn’t value pruned logs as highly. To pay more than others would make their products uncompetitive. It’s Catch 22. Some pruning will continue among smaller forest owners and in plantations owned by mills that process clears, but it’s looking like unpruned trees will dominate in future. That’s a great shame, because it reduces the options to attract further processing of logs that this industry is so desperate to make happen within New Zealand. Effectively, if we are to see any new mills established in the future they will either have to produce industrial lumber or boards. Further down the track our scientists may be able to breed trees that have fewer and smaller branches that don’t need pruning, yet still produce clear wood. However, that’s well into the future and it won’t save most of the 12 sawmills facing shortages now. Clearly a case of one part of forestry out of step with the other. NZL
forest talk
New owner for Tasman pulp and paper mill Purchase of the Tasman mill near Kawerau has saved 160 jobs. NORWAY’S NORSKE SKOG HAS SOLD THE Tasman pulp and paper mill near Kawerau to another international newsprint company, paving the way for the threatened business to remain in operation. Last month the Overseas Investment Office (OI) gave its approval for NS Norway to buy Norske Skog’s Kawerau assets for $29.9 million. “We consider that without this Investment, the Tasman mill and New Zealand-based business of Norske Skog Tasman are likely to be closed down in the short term,” states the OIO, pointing out that Norske Skog was in a “financially distressed” position. “This Investment is likely to enable the business and Tasman mill to continue operating while it is economically feasible to do so. “We note that the international paper market is experiencing aggregate oversupply issues
and there is generally expected to be on-going decreasing demand for paper products over the longer term.” The sale also includes 351 hectares at the mill’s Fletcher Ave site in Kawerau and 48ha at nearby Springs Rd, described as “sensitive land” requiring OIO consent. New owner, NS Norway, is an international newsprint and magazine paper producer that has been operating for about 50 years, largely controlled by US investors. NS Norway says it intends to continue to run the business from New Zealand in conjunction with its international paper mills and product supply chains across several countries including Australia, Ireland, Poland and Austria. The deal protects the 160 jobs associated with the mill and also comes as a welcome relief to the forest companies, harvesting contractors
Delay for FGR forestry transformation plan THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED START TO A MAJOR FORESTRY RESEARCH project to transform harvesting operations in New Zealand is unlikely to take place until the New Year. Negotiations between Forest Growers Research (FGR) and the Ministry of Primary Industries to secure partial funding for the project from the PGP programme have taken much longer than anticipated. “Realistically, this will not happen until January 2019, which is disappointing, but we keep at it,” says Keith Raymond, Harvesting Programme Leader for FGR. However, there have been some ‘small’ wins for forestry research, he says, with FGR’s Forestry Automation programme having recently progressed to the contracting phase. The recent release of the review of the Primary Growth Partnership by consultant, Deborah Battell, which was commissioned by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor a year ago, confirms there are nine smaller programmes in the PGP pipeline, four of which have progressed to contracting phase. One of these programmes is FGR’s Forestry Automation programme, which seeks to continue the research and application of automation and robotics applied further down the forestry value chain to drive the momentum already generated. Financial benefits from the nine-year-old the programme have already exceeded the $272 million the Government has invested to June 30, 2018. • See the Forest Grower’s Research conference coverage on page 16. NZL
4 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
and transport operators who supply wood from nearby forests. The mill produces around 150 kilo-tonnes of newsprint annually. Meanwhile, Juken New Zealand has confirmed that it will go ahead with a multimillion dollar upgrade at its Triboard plant at Kaitaia that will keep it operating for the foreseeable future. Last month, NZ Logger reported JNL was undertaking a review of the Triboard plant, which has been operating unprofitably. After negotiations with staff and their union, JNL says it will invest in new technology equipment and other refurbishments at the mill, whilst moving from a 24/7 operation to a 24-hour, 5-day week. This will result in some of the 250 staff being made redundant. Discussions are also ongoing to secure logs for the mill, which has faced shortages. NZL
Australia matches NZ with 1 billion trees plan AUSTRALIA IS FOLLOWING NEW ZEALAND IN TARGETING ONE billion new trees as part of its strategy to boost the forestry industry. The Australian Government’s intention is clear from its title ‘National Forest Industries Plan, Growing a Better Australia – A Billion Trees for Jobs and Growth’. Just like New Zealand, the Australian plan commits to supporting industry with its goal of planting one billion new plantation trees over the next decade. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud, says: “A key theme which came up during consultation was Australia will need to plant a billion new trees over the next decade to meet demand in 2050, particularly saw logs for building and construction.” His Assistant Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck, goes on to say the delivery of the plan will underpin growth in the renewable timber and wood-fibre industry, provide the vision and certainty for Australia’s sustainable forestry industries and support the sustainable forestry industries as long-term growth engines for the regions. He adds that the Australian government will spend $20 million over four years to support the implementation of the plan and also negotiate and implement improved 20-year rolling Regional Forest Agreements with relevant state governments. NZL
forest talk
Gisborne foresters censured Gisborne District Council is putting harvesting crews under greater scrutiny to avoid this happening again. HARVESTING OPERATIONS IN THE Gisborne region have come under greater scrutiny since the winter floods brought down masses of slash behind Tolaga Bay, which has led to 17 abatement notices being issued by the District Council. In a newsletter published by the council, it says it has issued 17 abatement notices under the Resource Management Act to a number of the forestry companies in the Tolaga Bay catchment. Those abatement notices required companies to cease actions contravening their resource consent conditions relating to forestry debris, skid sites, erosion risk and sediment control.
The newsletter goes on to say: “Given that some forestry companies have appealed their abatement notices, we can’t comment further while these cases are before the court. “However, our enforcement officers have recently carried out inspections to check compliance and have found that forestry companies appear to have made good progress in addressing the issues highlighted in the abatement notices, in the forests they inspected. “Unfortunately, we can’t give an absolute guarantee that there won’t be further collapses, debris issues and possibly flooding.” The council says it has found issues where debris is lying on very steep-sided slopes
and has worked its way into gullies where it is no longer retrievable by machinery or too dangerous for people to access, adding that “some of these areas are susceptible to landslides”. It goes on to add that there are also issues beyond the council’s statutory powers and resources to address, where material has made it outside of the forest and large amounts of slash has built up in rivers or is already on flood plains in the catchments. In the meantime, the Gisborne District Council is continuing its investigation into what caused the Tolaga Bay flooding and subsequent damage and expects this to be completed by the end of the year. NZL
Forest Practice Guides launched THE FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION HAS LAUNCHED A SERIES OF 28 Forest Practice Guides that will help better manager fragile forest environments. A joint venture between the forest sector and MPI, they were initiated as part of the implementation of the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF). The NES-PF – a set of nationally applied rules and conditions for plantation forestry was developed to better protect the environment while also increasing operational certainty for foresters. The new Forest Practice Guides will help industry and councils by providing standard practice guidance to include in management plans as part of requirements under the NES-PF. The guides will be especially useful for smaller companies with less specialist in-house expertise because the information is standardised to enable the forest industry to meet the NES-PF rules and conditions. FOA President, Peter Weir, says the guides will help contractors and forest managers implement best practice across all regions by providing clear direction on best practice, and to be inserted into harvest plans so the resources are standardised and easily accessible.”
“They’re freely available and will direct forest owners and managers to other resources and technical specifications,” he says. The Guides offer forest owners and managers guidance in a number of areas of forest operations: • Earthworks and construction (including planning and design) • Erosion and sediment control measures • Construction of river/stream crossings • Construction of tracks • Vegetation measures to manage erosion • Slash management. The Guides build on earlier work completed by FOA and update it with reference to the new regulations and to reflect the changing and improving practices of forest operations. The Guides themselves are not regulatory but can be used as references in management plans to support compliance obligations under the Resource Management Act. They were developed from content provided by forest managers who have on-the-ground practical experience in what works and what is considered best practice in the industry nationally and will be updated regularly as practices change and improve. NZL
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 5
forest talk
New Loggic system powers Woodsman Pro heads A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART MEASURING and control system, called Loggic, has been introduced to run existing and new Woodsman Pro harvesting heads. Developed in-house by the software development team at Rotorua-based Ensign, the new Loggic system has been designed to make life easier for operators and lift processing performance. Loggic replaces the previous OptiPlus system that had been used for the past ten years, utilising its best features and combining them with impressive upgrades. Ensign’s David Cox says the new Loggic system has advances that customers will appreciate, including improved reliability and an automatic back-up system, along with an easy-to-use fault-finding information display. Everything can easily be located on the straightforward and intuitive touch-screen, which makes learning and using Loggic simple for any operator. He also says it is simple to send off files without having to navigate through multiple programmes to extrapolate the information. There is a straight-forward export feature that makes downloading StanForD-based reports
The new touch-screen Loggic measuring and control system for Woodsman Pro heads is easier to use and speeds up processing.
to a USB quick and effortless. All files are STICKS compatible. Operators won’t have to fight with the predictive optimiser either, because it is much more intuitive and easier to work with, resulting in faster cutting cycle times and improved productivity. The measuring is also more accurate and is accompanied by a new and easy-to-use calibration system. Ensign says Loggic is compatible with digital electronic callipers used in quality-control reporting and largeend paint-marking upgrades. The new system allows multiple users to customise their own preferences independently on a single machine, thus making it very versatile. Loggic is now being installed on all new Woodsman Pro processing heads and, including upgrades to existing heads, there are now more than 50 Loggic systems running throughout the country. Retro-fit installations are carried out by Ensign’s qualified service team and includes all training and full support if required. Adam Aldworth, Woodsman Pro Service Manager, says the word has got around
quickly about how good the new system is and demand for Loggic is extremely high, adding: “We have calls literally every day from customers asking to upgrade. “Our customers who are using Loggic, are raving about it; their log-making is going incredibly well, with both APT files and basic cut plans. “Customers are saying the consistency and reliability of lengths and diameters is great. Everyone is finding the screen and operation of Loggic extremely user-friendly.” Among them is Phil Jones, from Roxburgh Contracting in Otago, has been using Loggic and says: “I’m really impressed with Loggic, it’s very user-friendly and easy to navigate through. “Loggic’s log-making performance is very advanced, with diameter readings coming in faster (than OptiPlus) from the head to the machine, making my life way easier. “Another stand-out feature I’m impressed with is when I get to the end of the stem and cut the end off with my top saw, I can use the quality button and the computer will work out the best grades to cut the rest of the stem, which really minimises wastage.” NZL
Joint biosecurity plan launched FOREST OWNERS AND THE MINISTRY FOR Primary Industries are joining forces under the GIA (Government Industry Agreement) to improve forest biosecurity preparedness. The first jointly-funded initiative under the partnership will be a forest biosecurity surveillance programme designed to detect unwanted forest pests and pathogens in highrisk places. FOA and MPI recently signed the Commercial
6 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Plantation Forestry Sector Operational Agreement for Readiness under the GIA. The agreement establishes a new way of working in partnership between the two organisations and will see a doubling of efforts to improve forest biosecurity readiness, says Andrew Spelman, MPI’s Acting Director, Biosecurity Readiness, adding: “This continuing partnership will build on the considerable contribution the forest
industry has made to biosecurity to date and we look forward to collaborating to improve biosecurity processes and outcomes for New Zealand.” Chair of the FOA and Farm Forestry Association Biosecurity Committee, David Cormack, says: “We’ve worked closely together for a long time but joint-funding is another level and demonstrates the commitment MPI has made to the forest industry.” NZL
FEWER MOVING PARTS. LOWER MAINTENANCE. TWIN ROTATE MOTORS.
FIXED AXIS FOR BETTER CONTROL.
LARGE DIAMETER, HEAVY DUTY SLEW BEARING.
ELIMINATES LOAD INDUCED SWAY.
MULTIPLE CLAMP ARM OPTIONS AVAILABLE; INCLUDING BUNCHING, WIDE AND MULTI-TINED ARMS.
LINKED CLAMP ARMS WORK IN UNISON REDUCING CYLINDER DAMAGE.
ENSIGN – ATTACHMENTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR ALL LOG, TIMBER AND GENERAL MATERIALS HANDLING.
Game changer ENSIGN FIXED TOP GRAPPLES ARE A
Our customers tell us that the stability they gain using fixed top grapples dramatically improves log handling control. That means the good guys can work faster, and the new guys can learn faster. That explains why over recent years, more and more Ensign customers have opted for fixed top grapples. We’ve got a range of standard fixed top grapple designs, or we can engineer a design to suit your needs. Give us a call and we’ll get you sorted.
GR APPLES
LOG FORKS
BUCKETS
PALLET FORKS
WOODSMAN PRO HARVESTING HEADS
ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTD 73 Biak St, Waterford Park, Rotorua, New Zealand. | P. +64 7 348 1286 | E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZ © Copyright 2018 Engineering Services (Rotorua) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Ensign, Woodsman Pro and Loggic brands are trademarks of Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd.
J002192 DEVCICH.CO.NZ
TO VIEW OUR R ANGE OF FIXED TOP GR APPLES VISIT ENSIGN.CO.NZ
forest talk
Southland forester wins Prince of Wales Award A YOUNG SOUTHLAND FORESTER HAS WON THE PRINCE OF WALES Award for Sustainable Forestry for 2018. David Saathof, who works out of the Rayonier Matariki Invercargill office, is the second New Zealander to be recognised with this prestigious award after it was established here last year. The award recognises engagement in the principles and practice of sustainable forest management including policy, planning, practice and sound science-based land stewardship. Awardees must be committed to public outreach and knowledge exchange, focusing on the wise use and conservation of forests and forest ecosystems. The New Zealand Institute of Forestry, which has worked with the Prince to establish the award, says David achievements mark him out as an emerging leader in sustainable forestry in New Zealand. “David joins a select group of young leaders with a common passion for sustainable forestry, from throughout the Commonwealth, who now have an international platform to exchange ideas, promote sustainability and share their knowledge,” says the NZIF. “The award recognises that sustainable forestry management principles are fundamental to the practice of forestry in New Zealand.” David graduated from the School of Forestry at the University of Christchurch in 2015 with First Class Honours and has been working in Southland for Rayonier Matariki since then, as a Harvest Planner and Roading Engineer. He has taken on the role of Environmental Coordinator for the region and received an Environmental Award from the Southern Wood Council in 2017. He has been recognised for his work in designing low impact stream crossings and for his community outreach work with local schools through Southland Youth Futures, and a local catchment group. NZL
David Saathof, winner of the 2018 Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry.
Unfair log trade undermines ‘green economy’ WOOD MAKERS SAY THEIR CONTRIBUTION to helping New Zealand become a ‘zero carbon economy’ is being undermined by unfair trade practices. At a meeting of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA) and New Zealand Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association in Rotorua last month, WPMA Chairperson, Brian Stanley says the market is being manipulated in favour of overseas buyer and manufacturers. He points out that despite the wood manufacturing industry having all the credentials of the ‘zero carbon economy’, with its ability to deliver good jobs, more resilient communities and a better environment, all
8 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
this is being seriously undermined by the wholesale export of raw logs propped up by overseas subsidies. WPMA has already presented a case to the government pointing out the unfairness of the market for domestic logs and Mr Stanley adds: “Overseas buyers can pay inflated prices for logs because they are supported by subsidies. In doing this, they are denying local mills competition for logs at fair and sustainable prices. “If it is some comfort to you, I can report that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s very recent inquiry into this matter has indeed revealed a long list of subsidies being dished out overseas – subsidies they describe as
controversial under WTO law. “For a country so dependent on trade and the international laws that govern trade this finding by our trade officials is crucially important. “Take further comfort from that fact, Trade Minister, David Parker, has acknowledged MFAT’s findings by commissioning a formal investigation into the degree of harm being caused in the domestic market for logs. “The WPMA is all for free trade, but it must be fair trade and fair trade for all. Right now, our manufacturers are struggling to see the benefits of free trade agreements when they are being strangled by WTO-controversial subsidies. We will be following Hon. Parker’s investigation very closely.” NZL
forest talk
More grants to boost tree planting ANOTHER $5.9 MILLION IS BEING GIVEN TO LANDOWNERS nationwide to plant 4,574 hectares of trees under Te Uru Rākau’s (Forestry New Zealand’s) Afforestation Grants Scheme (AGS) in its last year under the current format. In the last round, 83 applications were approved, which resulted in 2,788 hectares being planted in the North Island and 1,785 hectares in the South Island. The latest AGS grants will contribute about 4.5 million trees to the government’s One Billion Trees programme. This will see Southland, Waikato and the Manawatū-Whanganui regions planting the largest amount of trees, with 1,246, 1,220 and 428 hectares respectively. But don’t expect to see many pines in the mix, as Mānuka will make up the greatest numbers. With the 2018 funding round complete, the AGS will be replaced
by a new grants scheme, which will be launched later this year under the One Billion Trees programme. “The new forestry grant scheme will be simplified and accessible and will continue to help landowners meet the cost of planting and establishing trees,” says Steve Penno, Director of Te Uru Rākau’s investment programmes. “The goal will always be to ensure we have the right tree in the right place, for the right purpose.” The new forestry grant scheme will be funded through the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) with $118 million set aside over the next 3 years. A further $120 million has been set aside for partnership projects that will work to create closer relationships with regional councils, non-government organisations, researchers, training organisations, Māori landowners, and community groups. NZL
Satellites aid continuous forest monitoring REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THE FOREST HAVE come a long way in recent times and many forest managers now rely on drones and LiDAR for day-to-day monitoring. While the low cost of drones has driven their use, it’s the increased availability of imagery and technological advances from high above the canopy providing near real-time views that have been the catalyst for greater adoption of satellite information. New satellites with the capacity to record and monitor vegetation change are now launched monthly and their ready availability and reduced access cost is enabling foresters to monitor a given location repeatedly to detect subtle changes in vegetation vigour and identify underlying trends. Any such initiatives do, however, involve massive data sets and downloading and storing these for local processing can lead to unworkable delays. That has now been overcome by the advent of cloud storage. This has enabled Indufor’s resource monitoring team to develop a Continuous Plantation Monitoring System (CPMS) that can access both free and commercial satellites (such as Planet) to provide timely and accurate information across forests. Dr Pete Watt, head of Indufor’s Resource Monitoring Team, says the CPMS outputs save time and resources by allowing targeted field inspections. These are designed to quickly validate harvest areas and pinpoint areas of un-mapped change, disease or crop failure. “For example, before going to the field, we run our Canopy Index (CI) model over the satellite image to check for any unusual deviations from expected benchmark values,” he says, adding that examples might include areas affected by foliar diseases or pockets of wind damage. Algorithms have been developed to provide automated monitoring of such planned operations as harvesting, roading and plantation thinning. These events can be tracked by comparing images acquired
at different points in time. The detection algorithm identifies the change and groups all similar pixels to produce a change layer that can be loaded into a GIS. The outputs include a summary of the area harvested to date. Dr Watt will be among a number of experts presenting at the upcoming 2018 ForestTECH conference being run for forest resource managers, remote sensing specialists and inventory foresters later this month. It runs in Rotorua on November 14-15 and then again in Melbourne a week later. For more details go to www.foresttech. events. NZL
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 9
DANA Conference 2018
Wall of wood to peak next year THAT SO-CALLED WALL OF WOOD COULD pass much quicker than originally forecast as a result of the recent practice of harvesting younger trees. According to forestry consultant, Jeff Tombleson, ‘peak wood’ could actually occur as soon as next year – that’s right, 2019. He told the 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo last month that official MPI statistics that show the Wall of Wood starting around now and continuing for much of the next decade, with a peak around 2024, is probably wrong. That’s partly due to inaccuracies in the figures, and partly because trees are being harvested at a much earlier age. Mr Tombleson was presenting an update on his research about the upcoming shortage of clear wood in the central North Island, as a result of many forest owners going away from pruning. When he surveyed forest owners in the central North Island recently he also discovered that the average age for harvesting has been around 25 years, which equates with the peak of planting back in the 1990s. “Many commentators are saying that the Wall of Wood from the 1990s planting boom is a little way out, it’s not – peak
Harvesting trees at a younger age has helped to bring forward the Wall of Wood.
wood is 2019, as far as the central North Island is concerned, and I’m seeing this from harvesting contractors I talk to already,” he says. “I believe that we are on the top of the curve currently and then it’s all downhill from there and it will impact on harvesting contractors, log transporters and everyone else, not just the mills.” The peak will differ from region-toregion, Mr Tombleson concedes, but there is evidence of trees being harvested at younger ages in other areas and when the forestry resources of New Zealand are taken as a whole, he believes the overall picture is one of an earlier peak than has been forecast. Meanwhile, the news is even more grim for saw mills and wood processors who require pruned logs to continue doing business in the central North Island – a total of 12 mills. His updated peak wood forecast means the supply of pruned logs for domestic use will reduce much quicker than originally envisaged. Mr Tombleson says the central North Island mills will now face a cut of 50% in pruned log supply by 2020 as key forests like Taumata (Kinleith) run out and other factors come into play.
In particular, he says previous assumptions that some of the upcoming shortfall could be made up by diverting the 40% of pruned logs that are thought to be currently exported back to local mills are wrong. “We don’t export 40% of our pruned wood,” he says. “My follow-up research shows that just 10% of the pruned harvest is exported, so there is little or no opportunity to pick up the slack in terms of diminishing wood supply.” That means we’ll see a drop from the current volume of 1.2 million tonnes of pruned logs supplied from central North Island forests in 2017, tumbling to just 600,000 tonnes – much faster than earlier thought. And by 2037 just 15% of the current pruned log total will be available to the mills. “This will commercially compromise the mills that rely on clear wood and many will be forced to close if they cannot find alternatives,” adds Mr Tombleson. On a brighter note, Mr Tombleson says that if the government’s One Billion Trees programme succeeds, it will produce a mega wood market for industrial grade logs, leading to the requirement for another Red Stag-size super saw mill. NZL
Pan Pac to upgrade saw and chip mills PAN PAC IS LOOKING TO UPGRADE BOTH THE SAW MILL AND chip mill at its Hawkes’ Bay site, last month’s 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo was told. The confidence of owner, Japan’s Oji Corporation, has seen it invest more than $170 million at the site over the past five years, says Michael Reaburn, General Manager of Wood Processing. And now it is set to go through another upgrade that will see the
10 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
saw mill expand its capacity to be able to produce 500,000 cubic metres of wood annually by next year, with a continuous drying mill among the items to be installed. Mr Reaburn also told the conference that reduced demand for newsprint is also likely to see the pulp mill converted to fully produce bleached chemical pulp in future, which has wider market uses. NZL
NEW CAT 500 SERIES FOREST MACHINES ®
548FM & 558FM
NEW PURPOSE BUILT CAT 500 SERIES FOREST MACHINES ARE BUILT TO PROVIDE FORESTRY OPERATIONS WITH A LIFETIME OF EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. Key features include: u New premium rear entry cab improves operator experience u Cat Tier 4 engine with increased horsepower for maximum performance under load u More hydraulic horsepower for better implement performance u Increased swing torque provides added power for more productivity u Cooling capacity increases for trouble free operation u Premium operator cab comfort and enhanced visibility u Technology options to monitor production and manage site efficiency
Contact us today to find out more!
0800 BUY CAT 0 8 0 0 2 8 9 2 2 8 Branches Nationwide | GoughCat.co.nz |
DANA Conference 2018
Improved ETS scheme to boost new forests HIGHER INCOME FROM AN IMPROVED ETS SCHEME WILL DRIVE the expansion of plantation forests in New Zealand in the future, says a senior government official. Julie Collins, head of Te Uru Râkau, the new forestry division of the Ministry of Primary Industries, says a focus currently being considered for the ETS is to make the carbon market more ‘liquid’. This will see a move to ‘averaging’ of new forests for carbon credits, which means that instead of having to pay all of the units back when the forest is harvested, forest owners may be able to keep up to 60% provided the trees are replanted. So they’ll be able to sell those credits and earn additional income, as well as selling the wood. Along with other changes being proposed, Ms Collins says this will make it easier for forest owners to get into the ETS and manage their carbon liabilities. This should deliver a significant incentive for private investors to develop new forests without the need for support from the public purse. But there is still a considerable amount of land that currently needs incentives to help owners develop new forests and one of the tools that is helping to make this happen is the joint venture programme being developed by Crown Forestry to plant up to 24,000 hectares in 2018 and 2019 in partnerships. Currently, 5,000 hectares has already been contracted to go into forests.
Ms Collins also acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges to the government’s plans to expand forestry in New Zealand is the shortage of labour in key parts of the industry. “This is hitting nurseries, planting and silviculture and in some places, logging,” she says. “So one of the key things we are going to need to do is see how we are going to improve our workforce pipeline and bring more people into the system and get them trained up for these roles and to retain them. “We do know that to get some of Mr Jones’ nephs off their couches will require more support to get work ready. “One thing the industry needs to do to help is significantly improve its track record in employment conditions and health & safety if we truly want to become the first place for people looking at future careers.” Meanwhile, she says her organisation is now looking at what it needs to do to develop a skills and training package that can further assist the industry. Another focus will be to look at domestic log supply and encouraging more wood processing to be done in New Zealand. Among the schemes being considered that will assist the industry is the development of a wood-first procurement policy for use in government buildings. “And once we’ve got those pieces in place we are looking at developing a comprehensive future forestry strategy.” NZL
Scientists to foresters: work closer with us FORESTRY COULD BENEFIT HUGELY FROM greater “interaction” between scientists and the industry, according to the head of Rotorua-based research organisation, Scion. Dr Julian Elder, CEO of Scion, told the DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo last month that science has helped to increase the value of forests in New Zealand by $6.8 billion in the period between 1980 and 2010 and it can provide a much greater boost in future. Just adding an extra one cubic metre of wood per year to each hectare adds $300 million to the value of the estate and Dr Elder says Scion is working on a number of programmes to help the industry make
12 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
those sorts of gains. But it can be further improved by more collaboration between scientists and foresters and he encouraged the industry to make more use of Scion. The development of the new Innovation Hub at Scion’s campus will make it easier for the two to work together, he says. Dr Elder forecast that by 2050, New Zealand will benefit from a 10-fold increase in GDP from forests and manufacturing, along with associated benefits to the environment and social wellbeing. Meanwhile, Timberlands’ CEO Robert Green told the conference his organisation is on course to achieve its own projected
increase in growth by 2050, the so-called 50:50 plan. This aims to increase the current sustainable harvest output by 50% by 2050. Mr Green says this will be achieved through improved tree genetics and forestry practices, which will see more wood produced without having to increase the amount of land. And he also had a message for people who criticise the industry for not adding value to logs that are exported from New Zealand, saying: “We take a seedling worth a few cents and turn it into a $220 value by harvest, which is very significant, so I don’t accept that the failure to process here does not add value.” NZL
How to attract a new saw mill to central North Island WHAT DOES NEW ZEALAND have to do to encourage overseas investors to build a new sawmill in the central North Island to use the region’s growing resource? Just days after a delegation from New Zealand, including Minister Shane Jones, visited China to press that question, the subject was hotly debated at the 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo last month. And to put it squarely into perspective, Mark Smith of Forest Investment Advisors (FEA), showed conference delegates the result of a survey of mills from different parts of the world that highlighted the cost of producing and then shipping lumber to Shanghai, putting New Zealand among the most expensive. The reasons, he says, are partly due to the high net cost of wood here and partly to our high saw mill costs. A consortium of Taupo business interests has proposed a brand new $86 million mill that could make use of the latest milling technologies, along with geothermal heat for drying, consuming 400,000 tonnes of A-grade logs per year, which could lower some of those costs and make it competitive to some of the best mills in South America. But no investors have put up their hands to back the project. Meanwhile, China continues to buy huge volumes of lumber from Russia and other countries, including Canada and we’re also seeing timber produced in China from New Zealand Radiata Pine logs being exported back here and sold for less than we can produce it. Sequal Lumber’s Executive Director, David Turner, who visited China with the Jones delegation, has some ideas on how we can convince the Chinese to get on board with New Zealand lumber.
He says we need to consider what is important to China and currently it’s about providing and then protecting the jobs of its people. Mr Turner says that New Zealand needs to convince China that the primary processing of logs into boards is not going to disadvantage its own workers. He says sawmills employ a small number of people, but downstream processing into products such as furniture employs far greater numbers of people and delivers added value and that is what we should be articulating. But he adds that anyone exporting timber to China faces an “unfair” market because China tips the balance in favour of its own wood processors with use of local taxes and other
barriers. New Zealand also faces huge competition from Russia, according to Dennis Neilson, who also visited China recently to observe the wood market. Mr Neilson says around six million cubic metres of sawmill capacity has been commissioned by Russia in the last three years and another three million cubic metres of production will be coming in the next three years. All of it aimed at the Chinse market – and Russia has the advantage of being able to ship it easily across the border on rail wagons. With Russia recently announcing that it will impose even higher taxes on logs exports, there will be greater emphasis on milling the wood in future, he says. NZL
Hopes are still high of attracting investment in a new sawmill in the central North Island.
Rising shipping costs to hit log exports LOG EXPORTERS FACE ANOTHER RISE IN SHIPPING COSTS beyond the current oil price surge. Tony Spelman, Business Development Manager for Swire Shipping, told the 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo last month that the introduction of low sulphur fuel in 2020 will have an impact. Ship owners will either need to switch over to the new, more environmentally-friendly fuel or introduce exhaust scrubbers to clean fumes from their older engines. “That will inevitably flow through to the cost of shipping,” he says.
Still on the subject of shipping, the owners of the Port of Gisborne are progressing with plans to redevelop the site to cater for two ships, instead of one. Gisborne claims to be the most efficient log export port in New Zealand, handling three million tonnes per year. The port is also looking to re-establish a wood chip export facility, make increasing use of coastal shipping to improve efficiency and is investigating the development of a barge port at Hicks Bay to cater to logs produced from the northern East Coast forests. NZL
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 13
DANA Conference 2018
Future Foresters are the future of forestry A NUMBER OF KEEN YOUNG FORESTERS HAVE SET UP A GROUP aiming at attracting new blood into the industry and it’s already making a difference. They call themselves the Future Foresters and at the 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo last month, one of its foundation members spoke about its aims and ambitions. Sheridan Ashford, who is Export Operations Manager for Summit Forestry, says the idea for Future Foresters was sparked a year ago and it became established as a special interest group within the New Zealand Institute of Forestry thanks to funding from the Forest Growers Levy Trust. “It’s so frustrating that we have a skills and labour shortage when there are incredible opportunities out there for young people in our industry,” Sheridan told the conference. “So we created Future Foresters with three main goals; to establish a community of young foresters and make it a place where foresters can engage with the industry and feel part of the collective group; increase the number of young people who choose forestry as an industry career; and build engagement and awareness of forestry as a diverse and rewarding profession within schools and tertiary providers. “We want to connect with young professionals either studying or working in forestry and we want to reach further and grab prospective talent and bring them into our industry.” Future Foresters was formally launched at the recent NZIF conference in Nelson and the group has built a website (www. futureforesters.com), created a Facebook page and Instagram presence as part of a social media campaign to target young people with information about the opportunities in the industry. The website went live in June and is attracting a growing number of people who want to know more about forestry as a career, while
A group of young professionals in the industry has formed the Future Foresters. the Facebook page and Instagram are still relatively new. The next stage of the campaign has been to create a series of short videos starring young foresters who talk about their positive experiences in forestry, inviting viewers to try it themselves as part of a Get In Touch campaign. The first video, featuring Alfred Duval of Port Blakely Forests in Tauranga, has already been seen by 70,000 people via Facebook and Instagram. Interestingly, Sheridan says the people who are viewing the Future Foresters sites mostly come from the big cities, such as Auckland and Christchurch and, importantly, 65% of people who viewed the Alfred Duval video are under the age of 25, which shows there is interest in non-traditional forestry areas. Future Foresters is looking to grow its membership and presence around the country and, in addition to attracting more people into the industry it aims to help with professional development mentoring of young foresters. NZL
Clear wood products will survive in CNI DESPITE THE GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR central North Island mills facing significantly reduced pruned log supplies, one company remains upbeat about its future. Tenon’s Technical Development Manager, Wayne Miller, told the 2018 DANA Forestry Conference in Taupo last month that his mill is talking to a number of forest owners to secure its future and he is confident it will succeed. He also forsees the demand for its clear wood products continuing to rise on the back of ongoing popularity in appearance
14 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
grade wood in the United States and more interest in modified wood in Europe. Tenon has boosted sales to both those markets in recent years based on the excellent properties of New Zealand Radiata Pine, which lends itself to machining, gluing, staining and also being modified through heat or chemicals. It is particularly suited to being thermally or chemically modified and Mr Miller says this is a new growth market for high grade Radiata. His company is already supplying producers in Europe, where modified timber
has been used in such projects as building a large bridge in the Netherlands. He can see exports of New Zealand clear wood destined to become modified timber products doubling in quantity over the next two years, consuming more than one million cubic metres of pruned logs. The conference heard that in the absence of pruning in New Zealand forests there is an opportunity for trees to be bred with reduced branching and smaller knots in future that can be used in clear wood production. NZL
THE NEW FL85 SERIES 2
STEEP-SLOPE SPECIALIST
Designed for 20-25 tonne carriers or where a mid-class size felling head can add value through not compromising larger carrier base stability and reach, such as tethered applications. Our FL85 series II has substantial cutting capacity together with auto-tension mainsaw which increases daily uptime and a low overall cost to run- and like all of our heads, when you put one to work, our Waratah support team goes to work – to get you going and keep you productive.
www.Waratah.com
For more information contact:
0800 4WARATAH or 0800 492 728
Forest Grower’s Research 2018
Plea to continue Forest Growers’ Levy A PLEA HAS GONE OUT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF SMALL plantation forest growers around New Zealand to support the levy that raises funds to help deliver much-needed research, support and promotion for the industry. The levy, which currently stands at 27 cents per tonne of wood at harvest, was introduced in 2014 by a large majority and needs to go back to the growers next year to enable it to continue. Large corporate forest owners and active members of the Farm Forestry Association have keenly supported the levy since it was introduced, but the trust that oversees how the money is raised and spent says it is important to maintain and build that support. Geoff Thompson, Chairperson of the Forest Growers Levy Trust, says around 84% of growers who voted in the first ballot for the introduction of the levy supported it. But the numbers who voted was not large, with many growers of small forests not bothering to cast their vote. An estimated 16,000 small plantations are thought to be growing in New Zealand, many of them on farms and comprising less than 20 hectares. But the actual number is not known and many were probably unaware of the levy when it was introduced. Since then, the Farm Forestry Association has been actively seeking out people who are growing plantation trees on their properties and it now says it has identified more than 14,000. The next vote is scheduled to take place in April 2019 and the Trust has already begun a campaign to promote the importance of maintaining the levy and encouraging tree growers to get behind it. A series of workshops is being held around the country over the next few weeks and a website has been set up to explain how the levy is collected and what the Trust spends the money on (www.fglt.org.nz). Research takes the largest share expenditure and Mr Thompson told the 2018 Forest Growers Research conference in Tauranga last
month that around half of the $42.6 million raised since the levy began goes to a variety of science projects, ranging from programmes to grow better trees, to projects that support improved environmental outcomes. Biosecurity takes the next largest chunk of cash, as foresters work to help prevent the incursion of future diseases and manage those that already infect our forests, such as Red Needle Cast. The conference was also told that without support from the levy, the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) would not have been established to help improve safe work practices – around 9.6% of the budget goes to health, safety and training. Another significant spend is on promotions, which are seen as important in taking a positive view of forestry to the public and other target audiences. This includes production and broadcasting of the Forest Call series of programmes on FACE TV. “Whatever we spend has to benefit all forests – small and large,” says Mr Thompson, adding that it is vitally important to get support from a wide majority of tree growers for the levy to continue. Among areas targeted for increased expenditure, provided the levy continues, is training and education, which is seen as vital for attracting new blood into the industry, as well as improving safety. David Rhodes, CEO of the Levy Trust, told the conference that research has shown a “broad groundswell” of support for the levy to continue, but warned the industry not to be complacent and says it needs to earn that support. He outlined changes and improvements being considered that will ensure the levy benefits as many forest growers as possible in the future, including establishing a body within the trust to better look after the needs of medium-sized forest owners, as well as those at either end of the scale. NZL
Report awaited on land slip issue A REPORT DETAILING STRATEGIES TO DEAL with future flood-related land slip issues, like June’s Tolaga Bay incident, is expected to be finalised by the end of the year. An Erosion-prone Land Workshop organised after that event, which saw hundreds of thousands of tonnes of slash and tree debris washed into rivers and over farms and roads. Russell Dale, CEO of Forest Growers Research, told the organisation’s 2018 conference in Tauranga last month that a draft report summarising key actions had already been released pending the full report that is due soon. He says experts predict these severe rain
16 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
events will happen again and probably with more frequency and severity, so forestry needs to take action now. Mr Dale says the National Environmental Standards regulations that only came into effect earlier this year will result in change and improvements, given time. However, there is much the industry can do to mitigate the situation now, including the need to ensure that slash is left in a secure place where it cannot get into waterways, as well as building slash barriers. Where possible it would be desirable for some residues to be removed from the forest altogether to be used as fuel or in other ways.
PF Olsen’s Environmental Manager, Kit Richards, told the conference foresters can no longer label these incidents ‘acts of God’ and there is a need to step up and take ownership, because communities are becoming openly hostile towards forestry. “We are at the point of severe reputational risk,” he says, adding that the industry must get better at recognising and understanding the underlying problems and how to address them. Mr Richards says that as much as 20% of steep land current planted in trees may not be suitable for this purpose and owners will need to look at retiring it. NZL
A tip to keep yarders standing AUTOMATION HAS BEEN TOUTED IN FORESTRY AS A MEANS TO HELP IMPROVE production, keep people safe and also overcome the shortage of workers in our industry. But it can also help contractors protect their investments, according to Rien Visser, Associate Professor of Forestry Engineering and the University of Canterbury. Prof Visser told the 2018 Forest Growers Research conference in Tauranga last month computers react much faster than humans, meaning they can avert situations that might cause equipment damage and injure people. He highlights the example of a yarder pulling a stem to the landing, saying: “If a tree coming up a slope hits a stump it results in a big spike in tension and it takes an operator one-and-a-half-to-two seconds to respond to that – the computer can respond in one one-thousandth of a second to that and actually slow it. “We are tipping over one yarder here in New Zealand every month and this is one of the ways technology can help us to prevent these occurrences.” Prof Visser says that is just one example where foresters should be welcoming automation in the workplace. Among other examples of how automation is likely to be seen in harvesting equipment are driverless skidders and forwarders. He points out that farm tractors doing repeat jobs are already being automated, as are trucks working in mines. He can foresee automated machines being built without cabs, thus saving contractors up to $15,000 for, say, a harvester for forwarder. NZL
Methyl Bromide recapture on track A TAURANGA BIOSECURITY COMPANY may have an answer to the problem facing forestry, which has been looking for a replacement for Methyl Bromide before the log fumigant has to be phased out in 2020. By then, Methyl Bromide use will need to stop altogether or a successful way of fully recapturing the ozone-depleting gas found so that it can continue to be used for fumigating export logs. To date, no system has been built that can recapture 100% of the gas, but Tauranga company, Genera, has developed one that has been proven to be up to 95% effective. Mark Self, CEO of Genera Group, told the 2018 Forest Growers Research conference in Tauranga last month that it would be impossible to capture the remaining 5% because it is caught up in the log and bark, and takes time to be released. He suggests that official approval be sought for the recapture of 90% of Methyl Bromide as an option for meeting the requirement. Meanwhile, the industry is also waiting to hear if a substitute chemical, called EDN, will be approved for fumigation. NZL
This new Falcon 171 tower hauler has been equipped with latest technology that will enable it to be fully automated in future.
Fighting back against Red Needle Cast IT WAS ONLY DISCOVERED IN NEW ZEALAND in 2008, but Red Needle Cast is already causing enough concern to forest owners about its potential effect on future log production to prompt a major effort to combat the disease. Thought to have originated in North America, Red Needle Cast first showed up on Radiata Pine trees in the central North Island and appears to be confined to this species, causing needles to turn red and then fall off. Affected trees do recover, though it can significantly affect their growth in the immediate period after defoliation. The disease may return, but not for a few years and outbreaks tend to happen in colder and wetter months. Red Needle Cast has now spread to other Radiata plantation forests around the country and the science community has been formulating plans to fight back. One of the biggest issues is identifying outbreaks when they occur, which can be hard to discover in the middle of large forestry blocks.
The 2018 Forest Growers Research conference in Tauranga last month heard that research by Scion has shown that the disease can be spotted from satellites passing over New Zealand. With an increasing number of satellites now being commissioned, it is possible for outbreaks to be spotted relatively early, enabling foresters to send up a drone to make a closer inspection. Once identified, it then becomes an issue of whether to treat or not. Copper sprays have been shown to combat Red Needle Cast, but treatment costs need to be weighed against how effective it is and whether it is financially worth it. To help forest owners make that decision, Scion is working on developing a decision support tool that will help show if it is necessary or beneficial to spray. Meanwhile, research also continues on obtaining more precise information on outbreaks and whether they can be predicted, along with work to breed trees that are resistant to Red Needle Cast. NZL
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 17
Forest Grower’s Research 2018
Trees deliver more wood thanks to genetics GENETIC MODIFICATION MAY BE A DIRTY word among the greenies but improving the genes of our trees has already delivered bumper benefits over the years. It’s just had to be done using natural techniques instead of artificial gene manipulation or through the transferring of ‘alien’ genes into the host because GM and even gene editing are banned here. New Zealand is leading the world in the use of natural genetic science to improve the quality and growth of our most important plantation tree, Radiata Pine, including being the first to map its complete dna. Scion researchers, Dr Heidi Dungey and Dr John Moore, told the 2018 Forest Growers Research conference in Tauranga last month that genetics has already helped to deliver a 30% improvement in the growth and wood properties of Radiata. And there’s much more to come. The next step, they say, is in the use of genomic selection to help speed up the delivery of genetically improved trees, which
Genomics is helping tree scientists to produce better Radiata Pines. will derive greater gains in the future. Genomics is the science of understanding, interpreting and harnessing the dna code to create better solutions. Dr Dungey believes it would be possible to know within 9 years the potential of a new tree clone, instead of the current waiting time of 17 years, roughly halving the time. So new, improved trees can be brought to market
speedier, she says. Using this technique will lead to greater gains in wood quality in future trees, improving their density and stiffness, as well as increasing their growth rate so that they mature at a younger age than current trees. Scion will be using the genomics approach as part of its Radiata Pine Breeding Company programme over the next two years, utilising a world-leading SNP Chip technology that will allow it to genotype 20,000 individual trees. More improvements could be on the horizon. Dr Moore says that while legitimate techniques, such as gene editing, which is claimed to be totally safe and could help to speed up the development of improved trees even further, are unable to be used at present the Scion team is looking at other genetic tools. He says some of the traits that will need to be developed in future are trees that can deal better with climate change, with a particular emphasis on engineering drought resilience. NZL
Growing confidence in forestry’s future WHEN SCION LAUNCHED AN AMBITIOUS programme four years ago aimed at doubling the productivity of New Zealand plantation forests by 2050 it all seemed pie-in-the-sky. After all, the size of the forest estate had been going backwards and no one really knew if it was feasible to double the amount of wood grown in just 36 years without increasing the land – effectively, it meant taking a quantum leap in just a single rotation. But the programme, launched under the title ‘Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future’, differed from anything tried before, because it followed a highly integrated approach, pooling all the research resources to maximise results. The idea being that the sum of the whole would be greater than the individual components. A joint initiative between Scion, forest growers and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the programme was based on fostering and establishing new links between various researchers and interested parties to benefit forestry as a whole. And it’s already showing promising results. The progress made in just four years was outlined by the Scion team at the 2018 Forest
18 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Growers Research conference in Tauranga last month. The programme is based on ‘innovation clusters’ drawn from various groups, with four having been established: Product Quality Improvement cluster, Phenotyping Platform cluster, Productivity Enhancement cluster and Sustainability cluster. Their goal is to build more productive, resource-efficient forests that provide the raw material base for added-value processing to be achieved through shifting forest management to a ‘precision forestry’ basis by integrating latest advances in sensor technology, tree physiology, genetics, improved management etc. The approach starts from the breeding programme and includes developing trees that match specific sites and climatic conditions around the country instead of a one-size-fits-all method. Gains can also be made in how nurseries raise trees from seeds and much research has centred around reducing fungicide, which may harm some beneficial bacteria as well as killing off harmful ones, plus reducing the amount
of fertiliser, which will not only save costs but also benefit the environment. Scion is working to develop these ‘recipes’ for nurseries around New Zealand. Other research is focusing on using satellite and LiDAR technology to predict sites where wind damage is likely, so that forest owners can mitigate these. And as forests grow, the same technology will help identify where fertiliser should be applied to boost growth and to constantly monitor for diseases. New types of fertiliser, such as Biuret (a by-product of nitrogen fertiliser manufacturing) are also being trialled, with good results. The research may also identify which sites are more profitable for growing structural timber and which ones produce trees better suited to pruning. Some of the results from the programme are already impacting future forests, with research showing that the optimum stocking level for structural timber trees is 676 stems per hectare, not the 500/ha figure currently used. The Scion team says the GCFF programme is adding value across the board and the ultimate goal is within grasp. NZL
Key Features: No Guy Ropes required Quick & easy Line Changes Easily Transportable Hawkeye Motorised Carriage IP Camera technology & Full Rotation • Take the machine to the trees!
• • • • •
Web: www.emsnewzealand.co.nz
LG28593
E: dean@emsrotorua.co.nz • PH: 07 3483655
T
A
W
1
2
3
4
1: Paul Millen (left) receives his award from Forest Grower Levy Trust Chair, Geoff Thompson. 2: Scion’s Simeon Smaill (left) presented with his award by Geoff Thompson. 3: Jessica Kerr (right) receives the award on behalf of her team from Geoff Thompson. 4: Paul Adams (right) is presented with his award by Geoff Thompson. 5: Rebecca McDougall, who was not present to receive her award. 6: Nurzhan Nursultanov (right) receives his award from Geoff Thompson.
Record number honoured in science awards A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN honoured for their achievements in the 2018 Forest Growers Research Awards, presented last month. Eight researchers received honours for their ground-breaking work across a wide range of projects that will help improve, protect or support the industry in the future: • Research Award for Communication and Sector Engagement went to Paul Millen from the Drylands Forest Initiative, a public/private research venture formed to promote the growing of durable eucalypt species in dry areas. Paul’s enthusiasm for the project has seen almost 1,000ha of trial plantings established for screening. • Research Award for Innovation that Enhances Sector Value, presented to Scion’s Simeon Smaill, for investigating the potential of novel methods to improve the growth and vitality of Radiata Pine. He’s worked with forest nurseries to produce tree seedlings using reduced input of fertilisers and fungicides, which inhibit beneficial mycorrhizal fungi, thus reducing costs and lessening environmental impacts. • Research Award for Science of International Quality, presented to a team comprising Jessica
20 NZ LOGGER | September 2015
Kerr, Brooke O’Connor and Steve Pawson from Scion in Christchurch for their world-leading research in the Urban Battlefield Biosecurity project. This led to the creation of an ‘insect cyborg’ to improve the efficiency and speed of insect detection during an eradication campaign. • Research Award for Research Participation and Implementation, made to Paul Adams, Technical Manager for Rayonier/Matariki Forests. He’s a member of the technical committee for the Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future (GCFF) research programme, actively engaging with research that includes a mid-rotation fertilisation trial and a forest accelerator trial to boost tree growth. • Research Award for Contribution to a Science Team, presented to Rebecca McDougal for her contribution to supporting the forest health team at Scion working on how diseases are diagnosed, using new molecular techniques. • Research Award for a Young Scientist, made to University of Canterbury PhD student, Nurzhan Nursultanov, for research to replace Methyl Bromide log treatment using non-chemical electrical heating technology. NZL
5
*T
S +
W
6
THE SUPPLIER TO NZ HEAVY INDUSTRY SINCE 1909
AFTER TOP QUALITY GEAR FOR LESS? WE’LL BEAT ANY QUOTED PRICE ON EX-STOCK EQUIVALENT
7/8” 6x31 SWAGED $7.95 PER METRE
10mmx70m STRAWLINE $195 EACH
WIRE ROPE LUBE $60 PER 5L
10mm SYNTHETIC STRAWLINE MBL 12,500kg $7.50 PER METRE
OPSAL 487 1-1/8” RIDER BLOCK $2200 EACH
ROYAL PURPLE OPEN GEAR LUBE $60 PER 1L
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. ALL PRICES NET +GST EX STORE. WHILE STOCK LASTS. VALID NOVEMBER
SCORE A FREE TEE + HYDRATION PACK WHEN YOU SPEND $1000 ON
[ SALES@SHAWS.CO.NZ | CALL THE TEAM 0800 4 SHAWS 07 823 4029 ]
iron test
R T X E AN F O H S DA : Story & Photos
John Ellegard
ANNER ANNER ANNER 111
EST EST EST 1909 1909 1909
THE THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER SUPPLIER TOTO NE TO NENE ZEALAND ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 22 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
A R T E C A P OF The first forestry-spec dash-5 Hitachi wheel loader deposits a big bundle of logs at the Stokes Logging skid site.
ANNER ANNER ANNER WWW
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 23
There’s as much glass in the rear of the cab on the new Hitachi ZX220-5 as there is at the front – but if the operator wants more rearward vision, a camera provides a close-up view.
A
LL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS PROMISE TO deliver more performance and productivity with each new model introduction, but how many of them manage to do that as a result of switching to a smaller AND less powerful engine? Hitachi appears to have achieved this feat with its latest ZW220-5 wheel loader. Replacing the 164kW (220hp) Isuzu 7.8-litre engine with the smaller Cummins QSB6.7 unit that puts out 145kW (194hp) in the recently introduced 5-series model might have been viewed as a retrograde step. But slot yourself into the operator’s seat and it’s a different story. There’s power aplenty from the Cummins engine and hydraulic performance seems to have gone up a notch. That was our opinion after Iron Testing the first of the Hitachi dash-5 wheel loaders to go into the forest in New Zealand. This particular machine has been working with Stokes Logging for Hancock Forest Management in one of the northern blocks of Woodhill Forest for the past year and although it’s taken us a while to get around to looking at it, we’re glad we did. The opportunity came about after arranging a test of the new Eltec that Steven Stokes is now jointly distributing in this market. His Hitachi ZW220-5 has been on our radar for a while, however we always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But with the Hitachi working in another of Steven’s crews 20 minutes up the road from the Eltec that we covered in last month’s issue, the stars were perfectly aligned. Crew 733 was formed specifically to work in the northern part of Woodhill and the Hitachi was purchased with that job in mind. It’s been a long time since any wheel loaders have worked in this
ANNER ANNER ANNER
sand-based forest to the west of the Auckland metropolis. Around 20 years, thinks Steven, adding: “I don’t know why, they just fell out of fashion. “When I was young, my old man ran wheel loaders and my uncle drove one when they were in Woodhill Forest, so we decided to look at one when we were asked to move in here.” Steven hasn’t had much personal experience with wheel loaders during his own logging career but he recognises that they can be a fantastic tool in the right locations and provide a real lift in performance. They are popular in parts of Kaingaroa and similarly flattish forests in the central North Island, as well as around Nelson and Marlborough, where ground conditions remain firm across all seasons. Among the selling points for Steven was the fact that Hitachi distributor CablePrice has a branch at nearby Silverdale, which has a good reputation for providing back-up “and that was a real drawcard for me – I did look at other wheel loaders but it was the back-up that sold it”. Steven freely admits that he doesn’t know much about wheel loaders, saying: “I didn’t even know there was a new model coming out when I bought this one.” But after testing it at the CablePrice yard with some logs to make sure he was happy with the balance, there were no qualms about proceeding with the purchase. And he’s still happy with the new ZW220-5. “It’s great, goes well,” says Steven. “Seems to do everything we ask of it and it’s been very reliable, we haven’t touched it since it arrived.” Despite his lack of wheel loader knowledge, Steven recognises their plus points, compared to a tracked loader. “In the right operation a wheel loader is extremely efficient and it
W
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS 24 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
180221
INNOVATIVE 4x4 DRIVE SYSTEM THE MOST PRODUCTIVE PROCESSOR ON THE MARKET www.southstarequipment.com 0800 784 787
180221_SS_4x4_450_Advert_A4.indd 1
21/02/18 9:45 AM
would be good to use in some of our other operations, but it’s the terrain – we can get away with it here because there is more flat areas where it can get around quickly and the base is sand,” he says. “The turn-around on your logging trucks is twice as quick as a digger. And you can de-phase your skids, push your stacks out so it becomes a safer environment and you haven’t got diggers working on top of each other under pressure trying to put the wood away.” There are significant cost-savings, too. Steven says: “We’re running one digger plus the wheel loader and if we didn’t have the ZW220 we’d probably need to have three diggers, so it replaces two machines. “The biggest efficiencies for me is that we can do 400 tonnes a day with a digger and the wheel loader. If you’ve just got two diggers trying to do that sort of tonnage it’s quite stressful and you probably won’t reach your targets. “The wheel loader takes all the pressure off the front end of the job. So loading out times are much quicker – he can load a truck in under 5 minutes – and with some of our loads going to Andersons down the road at Kumeu
it means if your truck is doing four loads a day normally, you can get it back for an extra load. Trucking is a hell of an issue down here and it just makes it a lot easier for them, too.” The advantage of a wheel loader is not just about speed over the ground, it’s also those big forks on the front that can grab around twice as much as a tracked loader’s grapple. The Ensign-made beak on this particular machine can hold up to 1.7 square metres of logs and it will cope with an all-up weight of around 8 tonnes. Not bad for a machine that only tips that scales a tad over 18 tonnes itself. Since the ZW220-5 went to work for Stokes Logging it has certainly lived up to Steven’s expectations. “There’s lots to like about it, such as low operating costs,” he says. “Because of its speed over the ground you can send it out to load wood at different skids. That’s probably the thing I like about it the most. It’s that fast. When you shift skids the wheel loader can go and start work at the new site and then it can shoot back to load out a truck at the old one. It can even do a little bit of 2-staging – if we get a pocket of wood say 100 metres down a forestry road and there’s no skid for it, we’ll sometimes shovel it back
and load it out, and it’s still productive.” Armed with that information and Steven’s ringing endorsement, the Iron test team sets off for South Head, not far from the entrance to the Kaipara Harbour. When we arrive at the Crew 733 skid site, the Hitachi ZW220-5 is loading a truck and trailer, with a second one waiting in the wings. At first glance, it’s hard to spot the changes that separate the new 5-series from the previous ZW220 model from the outside. We know the cab is a wee bit different, benefitting from the increase in size of the front and rear screens, which improves what was already outstanding vision from the operator’s seat. This is further enhanced by re-shaping the rear bonnet to provide better close-up views behind the machine, which is augmented by a standard rear-view camera. Operators can see better in the dark too, thanks to an extra pair of front and rear lights. And to keep the machine looking cleaner on muddy sites, the mud flaps have been
ANNER ANNER ANNER W
WWW
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS 26 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Left: Lifting the forks provides better forward vision close to the stacks. Below: The Ensign TR2C No5 grapple can swallow up to 8 tonnes of logs.
ANNER ANNER ANNER WWW
W
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 27
Above left: A couple of loads are enough to fill the bunk – much quicker than an excavator-based loader. Above right: Iron Tester, Stan Barlow, uses the precise controls to nudge wayward logs into place. Below: Regular operator, Leighton Lipsham, has no trouble lifting the 4-axle trailer off this truck. widened and elongated. But it’s on the inside of the new ZW220-5 that the majority of the 5-series changes have taken place. As mentioned at the start, Hitachi has replaced its Isuzu engines with Cummins in its medium range wheel loaders (ZW180-to-ZW220 models) for environmental reasons, although the units running in New Zealand are still Tier 3, not the Tier 4 Final ones used in other markets. On paper, this would seem to be a step backwards performancewise, as the previous 7.8-litre Isuzu engine puts out 13% more (net) power than the new 6.7-litre Cummins. However, the Cummins delivers a similar amount of torque to the Isuzu and its peak is spread over a wide rev range, so the operator is treated to near-maximum levels of performance once it gets into its work. To make more of the available power and torque, Hitachi has equipped the ZW220-5 with a new torque converter automatic transmission with five forward gears in place of the old four-speed box (it still has three reverse gears). It’s an automotive-style planetary automatic transmission, which makes gear shifts feel smoother and more car-like, while the lock-
up torque convertor helps to improve fuel efficiency. Although it’s automatic, the operator can select the most appropriate gears for the machine to utilise, depending on the ground conditions – by selecting third gear, for example, it will shift through first up to third and down automatically, but not go beyond that limit. During heavy work around the skid there’s an automatic shift-up delay of four seconds from second to third gear to provide the operator with more urgency and controllability, which is particularly handy when working in confined spaces. Hitachi says all shift changes are based on engine load rather than rpm or speed, ensuring the transmission selections are made at the most efficient time. Another neat feature of the new ZW220-5 is the ride control, which reduces vibration while the wheel loader is travelling on rough ground. This feature turns on when the machine is travelling and goes off automatically when it’s in loading mode. To put Hitachi’s power smoothly and effectively down to the ground, the ZW220-5 employs torque proportional differentials, reducing wheel spin and minimising tyre wear. Heavy-duty axles ensure this loader can put up with the rigours of working in hostile forestry environments. The hydraulic system has also been enhanced to make it more responsive to operator input and smoother during finer loading manoeuvres. Another new feature is the anti-drift valve that prevents internal oil leakages that can cause creeping of the lift arm.
ANNER ANNER ANNER W
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS 28 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
A4_ad_c
®
GB 3/4” TITANIUM BC REPLACEMENT NOSE HARVESTER BARS
Next level
EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR
forestry equipment for NZ contractors
GB FORESTRY PRODUCTS
Manufactured to exacting tolerances to maintain precision clearances for sprocket rotation providing less sprocket heating. Ultra high strength material, ensures trouble free performance in all cutting conditions. Now fitted with the new GB9BC nose tip. ENSIGN stock GB Harvester Bar Mounts to suit: WOODSMAN PRO, WARATAH, LOG MAX, TIGERCAT, TIMBCO, TIMBERLINE, UNICON, KETO, HULTDINGS, ROSIN, SATCO, SOUTHSTAR and more.
EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR
GB FORESTRY PRODUCTS
D R IVE S P RO CKE T S
GR INDE R S
B REAKERS & SPI N N ERS
N OSES/TI PS
H ARVE ST ER BA R S
ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTD 73 Biak St, Waterford Park, Rotorua, New Zealand. | P. +64 7 348 1286 | E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZ © Copyright 2018 Engineering Services (Rotorua) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Ensign brand is a registered trademark of Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd.
A4_ad_concept.indd 1
17/10/2018 2:05:19 PM
D
Above left: The pivot provides an excellent turning circle. Above right: Cleaning up the skid site with a log in the forks helps smooth the surface for faster speeds. Below: Even with a heavy load, the Hitachi ZX220-5 keeps its wheels firmly planted on the ground when outstretched. There is a choice of two work modes, which the operator can select to suit the job and working conditions; in the Standard mode the engine revs are controlled so that the emphasis is on smooth, efficient operation in normal conditions, while the Power mode offers extra traction for heavy-duty loading or travelling uphill. When working in Standard mode, a quick power switch on the dashboard can be selected by the operator to deliver a power boost when extra lifting performance is required. Steven mentioned the good fuel consumption he’s seeing from the new ZW220-5 and additional fuel savings can be achieved with an optional auto-engine shutdown function that prevents excessive
idling by switching off the machine after a set time, which is fitted to this machine. To help the operator maintain efficient work practices, an ECO monitor display shows when the wheel loader is operating economically in ECO mode. Improved maintenance has also been a focus in the design of the new ZW220-5 and preventing the radiator from clogging up in dusty conditions without the operators having to get out and clean it themselves was one target for Hitachi. The reversible cooling fan can be set to automatic mode to provide a minute of reverse flow for every 30 minutes of operation or the fan can be reversed manually. There’s better access from the ground to the daily maintenance points around the engine as a result of the redesigned engine covers, which lift up further out of the way. Access to the cab is safer, thanks to steps that are less steep because they’re angled further outward.
ANNER ANNER ANNER W
U Fo
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS 30 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
w
Y
There are doors on either side of the cab but the primary entranceway is on the left side of the machine, which also opens out wider than before. Up here, the fruits of the enlarged glass area are immediately noticeable. The operator has a completely unobstructed, panoramic view forward, with the front pillars moved further out. There’s good vision down to the ground on either side of the forks and to the rear, both sides of the counterweight can be seen clearly from the cab for better manoeuvring in tight quarters. The heated air suspension seat is very welcome on cold early morning starts and it comes with adjustable lumbar support and a high level of travel to comfortably accommodate even the tallest operators, while the wrist and arm rests and side console are all adjustable. Getting into the seat is also easier because the steering wheel can be tilted further forward when the operator is entering or exiting. The layout of the new dashboard is much cleaner and more user friendly, but what we particularly like is the introduction of transmission controls to the joystick lever on the right, where the operator also works the boom and forks. There’s still a transmission lever on the steering column for traditionalists, but it’s largely redundant, as we’ll soon see. The A/C system has also been upgraded and is better at keeping the cab warm and cosy in winter and cool on hot summer days. There’s a new sound system too, which incorporates an MP3 dock to allow operators to play their own choice of music. Plenty of storage spaces around the cab, with a large space behind the operator’s seat for a lunch box and to the right-hand side is a cooler compartment that will hold four cans or bottles plus, there’s a large
drink holder on the other side of the seat that will hold a 1.5-litre bottle. I’ll leave it to Iron Tester, Stan Barlow, to further explain the nuances of the cab and controls in his column on page 36. Meanwhile, regular operator Leighton Lipsham, has finished loading the first truck and is in the process of lifting the trailer off the back of the second truck to allow Stan to load the bunks and fleet around the skid as part of his Iron Test duties. When Leighton joins us for a quick chat before Stan takes over we mention how easily the Hitachi seemed to cope with the weight of the flat deck trailer. This trailer is probably around the 7-tonne mark, but Leighton says it has coped with more: “One of the 5-axle log deck truck and trailers that comes in here is 7,900kg and I can pick it up for the driver to reverse out without any problems.” We don’t want to hold the driver of this unit up, so Leighton gives Stan a quick run-down on the ZW220-5 controls and points to the stack of logs that need to be loaded. This may be the last truck today, so we want to take advantage of the opportunity now. With Stan under way, I ask Leighton how he is enjoying his time in the forest, as he’s only been in the industry since this crew was established last year. “Really enjoying it, I was in earthworks operating a digger for a contractor, but that was with a bucket, so this is my first experience with logs,” he says. Before he could be let loose in a machine in the forest Leighton first had to learn how a harvesting skid site works and he spent six months as a QC, with the occasional opportunity to hop into the ZW220-5 cab during smoko breaks.
DESIGNED FOR HEAVY DUTY CLEANING Unleash the power of the NEW STIHL Petrol Waterblaster range. For professional service and expert advice, contact your local STIHL Dealer www.stihl.co.nz
YOU’LL ONLY NEED ONE
The Hitachi started in this block with the highly experienced senior operator, Harold, at the controls and Leighton says he learned a great deal from the veteran logger. “I count myself very lucky to be taught by someone like Harold – such an excellent operator,” he says. As Leighton gained more experience he was able to sit his wheel loader ticket, followed by a fleeting ticket and then loading truck and trailer ticket. By Christmas, he was in the machine full time. Does he like it? “Yeah, although I’ve got nothing to compare this with as it’s my first forest machine – it’s completely different to a digger, especially one with a bucket, which is what I’ve been used to,” he says. “It took a while to get comfortable working with a fork, because you have to work with gravity whereas buckets are mostly about the controls.” Watching Stan manoeuvre back and forth to position himself between the trailer bolsters with a full load of logs in the beak, Leighton says it’s much easier to use the right-hand combination lever to work the gears and the arm/forks instead of the separate steering column-mounted forward/reverse lever. “I did use the gear lever on the steering column when I started, but I don’t anymore,” he says. “Once I used the joystick option I found it way better, you save a whole lot of time, especially when I go in for a grab with it in neutral or reverse and I can do it all with one hand.” For a reasonably long machine – just under 8.5 metres from counterweight to the tip of the tines – the ZW220 is highly manoeuvrable. There’s limited room on the side of the trailer that is closest to the log stacks, but the pivot provides good steering lock to allow Stan to line it up easily without too much fuss.
Leighton agrees, adding: “One thing I like about this machine is its mobility. It’s good to move around on the skid, it’s fast and very agile, especially when I’m fleeting.” When he’s just working around the skid Leighton prefers to minimise the gear changes and restrict the transmission to no higher than third gear. “That’s more than enough,” says Leighton, and after checking the spec sheet to see that even in third gear he can still hit a top speed of 24.9km/h, I’m inclined to agree. Out on the track between skids it’s a different matter and the ZW220-5 can be given its head, provided the ground isn’t too rough, with a maximum of 36km/h possible in fifth gear. “It’s quite handy to have that fifth gear when we’ve got two skids
ANNER ANNER ANNER W
WWW
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS 32 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Above: The Cummins QSB6.7 has replaced the previous Isuzu engine in this model. Above right:A handy tool box is built into the top step. Right: The big cab seems even roomier with the wider front and rear screens.
ANNER ANNER ANNER WWW
W
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 33
IFICATION
SPECIFICATIONS – HITACHI ZW220-5 WHEEL LOADER ENGINE
AXLES
6-cylinder, 6.69-litre, Cummins QSB6.7 Tier 3 Bore / stroke Power (net) Max torque Max travel speed
107mm x 124mm 145kW (194hp) @ 1,900rpm 929Nm @ 1,400rpm 36km/h
Front/rear Differential TYRES Size:
TRANSMISSION
REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES)
Type Torque converter auto with manual setting, 5 fwd / 3 rev gears, lock-up on all gears, four-wheel-drive
Fuel tank Engine coolant Engine oil Hydraulic tank
HYDRAULICS Main pump Variable displacement axial, 275 L/min at 2,200rpm Fan pump Fixed displacement gear, 65.8 L/min at 2,200rpm Hydraulic cylinders (arms) 2 x double acting type, 130mm bore x 880mm stroke Hydraulic cylinder (forks) 1 x double acting type, 165mm bore x 510mm stroke LOADING SYSTEM Forks Max opening Tine length Weight
Ensign TR2C No5, with solid tines 2,622mm 1,500mm 2,350kg
running and I have to go between the two, you can get up and back a whole lot faster – it would take a digger half-an-hour to walk,” Leighton adds. Like all modern equipment, the Hitachi controls can be customised to suit the operator or the operation itself and one feature he particularly likes is the ride control where he can set it for different speeds, ie firm for fast speeds when travelling longer distances and a low setting to deliver a smoother ride on a bumpy skid site. There is, however, one setting Leighton doesn’t like; the dual lift arm auto lever. “It’s kind of a nuisance because it probably relates more to using a bucket for loading metal in a mining or quarry situation,” he says. “When it’s on and I go in for a load it clicks back and then auto levels, which is annoying when I’m trying to flush out logs or clean something up and the stack starts to rise and it gets in the way, so I turn it off.” But he is happy with just about everything else and says that even with a heavy load in the forks the controls respond quickly and precisely, which make loading a truck and
ANNER ANNER ANNER
Semi-floating Torque proportional
23.5 R25 (L3)
255 28 25 114
DIMENSIONS (MM) Transport length Transport height Transport width Ground clearance Wheelbase Articulation Counterweight Operating weight (without forks)
trailer easier. And the machine feels very stable with the 2,270kg of counterweight on the back. “It’s got a good tonnage ratio, so it will do 7 tonnes around the skid site easily and maybe 8 when I load a truck and trailer, but I wouldn’t want to go past 8 tonnes,” Leighton says. “With a 4-axle truck, two grabs and it’s done, then two grabs and a top-up for the trailer. And with the 5-axle trailer its one grab for the first packet and then two for the back.” Loading the truck and trailer is made easier with the excellent all-round vision, though Leighton says he keeps an eye on the reversing camera when backing up, because there are still blinds spots behind the big bonnet. He’s set it so the view from the rear-facing camera comes up automatically on the large screen whenever reverse gear is selected. Stan has completed loading the truck, which has now moved off to where the driver can chain up, leaving the skid clear for a spot of fleeting. Leighton briefs Stan on where the cut logs are to be stacked and he’s off to get a feel for how the machine behaves in this role. Being a Friday afternoon, we’re mindful of
the fact the boys want to finish on time so they can get into town. That’s not going to be a problem, thanks to the way the Hitachi ZW220-5 skips around the skid and leaves it tidy with minutes to spare. If only more sites around the country were able to make use of a wheel loader – think of the lift in in productivity. NZL
Good access to the engine and maintenance points from the ground.
W
SHA SHA SHA S CO S CO SNZ CO NZNZ 0 000 00000 SHA SHA SHA SSS 34 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
8,500 (inc forks) 3,370 2,825 450 3,300 37-degrees each side 2,270kg 18,190kg
THE NEXT LEGENDARY HUSQVARNA IS HERE!
THE NEW HUSQVARNA 572XP® CHAINSAW At just 6.6kg with a powerful 4.3kW engine, the 572XP® has a better power-toweight ratio than any Husqvarna saw with similar displacement, and 12% higher cutting capacity than previous equivalent models. Excellent cooling and heavyduty filtration mean great performance, while smart design and easy operation keep productivity high even with long guide bars. With AutoTune™, Air Injection™ and low vibration, it’s built to deliver all day long.
PROVEN ENDURANCE FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY WWW.HUSQVARNA.COM
SEE THE FILM AT HUSQVARNA.COM
iron test: Stan Barlow
Learning something new THEY SAY YOU CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DOG new tricks, but I certainly learned a new way of operating this Hitachi ZW220-5. For years on wheel loaders I’ve been changing from forward to reverse using the lever on the steering column and never thought anything of it. But when Leighton showed me what a difference it makes to change gear using the joystick by the driver’s right hand, which usually lifts the arms and forks, I realised what I had been missing out on. Old habits die hard. Even when this function has been available on the joystick of others machines I’ve operated, I chickened out and went back to the old steering column lever, because it’s what I know. I tried doing that when loading the truck with the ZW220-5, but it was a bit of a pain having to keep taking my hands off to use the other controls. As soon as I started using the joystick, it was bang-on, leaving my left hand to steer while the right did everything else. That’s a really good set up and it helped me get my smoothness straight away. It certainly enhanced my opinion of this machine. It’s fast and responsive, as well as being smooth, and it’s got the power – whatever
Iron Tester, Stan Barlow, uses the right joystick to change gears instead of the lever just under the left side of the steering wheel.
I put in that beak, it never struggled at all. And thanks to the big counterweight you don’t really notice what you’re carrying – just dial your speed down and keep the weight in the forks low as you amble across the skid. I followed Leighton’s advice and kept it in third and that was all I needed, even when pushing it hard in some places – the power is always there when you need it. The only time I felt the weight was when turning and lifting with a really big load in the beak, but even though it rocked a bit, it was never unstable – though, from a safety viewpoint, that’s something you really want to avoid. I like how manoeuvrable it is. There wasn’t a lot of turning space on one side of the truck, but I never had trouble positioning the machine, because it has such a good lock and I was able to make good use of the spinner on the steering wheel. The cab is excellent, I had no problems with the visibility and being able to see down on either side of the front and rear bonnet. You can see around the skid really well and I like how the rear-view camera comes on when reversing. With such a lot of glass the large sun visor also came in very handy as the sun was getting lower. That A/C works damn well and will be very welcome
Great view down to the ground just in front of the forks makes loading easier.
Iron Tester, Stan Barlow. as summer approaches. Having good visibility means you can be more accurate when picking up logs and placing them on the truck and trailer. It made it a lot easier to locate the forks and see where the ends were. I found the process easier than some wheel loaders I’ve driven and a lot of that is down to just what you can see and then having that power and dexterity to back it up. The seat is very supportive and soaks up the bumps over the lumpy surface. Also, it’s probably one of the quietest wheel loaders I’ve driven, even standing outside you don’t hear it that much. NZL
This is Leighton Lipsham’s first experience of a machine in the forest.
ANNER ANNER ANNER 111111
EST 1909
SHA S COTO SNZ CO 0 00 0 00 SHA SHA SINDUSTRY S THE SHA SUPPLIER NENZ ZEALAND HEAVY 36 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Logger
Logger A4 1811
Breaking The Tree Climber out
Story: Hayley Leibowitz
I
CAN FIND REASONS TO LOOK FORWARD to climbing any tree, but if I had to specify, the most grand, most beautiful and largest trees are my favourite,” says three-time champion tree climber and third-generation arborist, Mark Chisholm. Visiting New Zealand to run safety workshops for STIHL, Mark says he was exposed to tree care at a young age. “My father was taught by his father,” he says. “I was immediately attracted to the camaraderie of what I saw and how much everyone really enjoyed being on the job together…the hard work and difficulties you survive being part of a team and laughing after work.” The family’s Aspen Tree Expert Company, based in New Jersey, has been around since Mark – now in his forties – was six years old and he says he couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than his father. That and his philosophy of always remaining a student are the two things he credits to his staying power and success in the business and the competitions.
38 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
It’s clear from chatting to him that Mark knows his stuff. What initially drew him was learning to climb. “It is still probably the foundation of why I love what I do,” says Mark. “I’ve always been attracted to being in the trees and doing the actual aerial work. I may be working on a small street tree project today..…tomorrow I could be doing some big crane removal and the next day I could be pruning a majestic, sprawling tree that’s been there 500 years and trying to preserve its life. I like a little bit of everything. It’s a pretty unique profession.” Asked how he reconciles his love for trees with the inevitability of cutting them down, he says it’s about upholding your values and integrity as a tree lover, adding: “It’s not just about money. “You need the right purpose, the right reason like the tree is dying, hazardous or could hurt someone.” Mark believes that’s true of logging too and says: “I think being a logger in
today’s world means you have to be a good steward of the land. “Most logging operations tend to be wise in that they’re not just removing trees and not thinking about how to replenish the forest. I can definitely see that being responsible is pretty easy nowadays and I think what we get out of those resources is just an amazing thing. “I mean all the things that we do with the wood. I think it’s a lot better than developing things out of plastics.” Though he enjoys speed and agility events – pretty clear from the fact that he holds the world record in the 50-foot secured footlock climbing event, with a time of 13.8 seconds – Mark’s favourite event at the world championship is aerial rescue. Climbers are given a scenario such as an electric shock or a chainsaw accident and challenged to come up with a plan to control the area, make sure they’re safe, climb to the victim, care for them and get them out of the tree safely, all within a four-to-seven-minute window.
Penske Penske Power Power Penske Penske Power Power Penske Power Systems Systems Systems Systems
Systems
Up he goes….Mark Chisholm takes his time with this climb, but he holds a world record for tree climbing.
Penske Penske Power Power Systems Systems is is Penske PenskePower PowerSystems Systemsisis thethe New New Zealand Zealand distributor distributor the theNew NewZealand Zealanddistributor distributor of MTU of MTU & Detroit & Detroit engines engines ofofMTU MTU&&Detroit Detroitengines engines andand hashas all your all your servicing servicing and andhas hasall allyour yourservicing servicing needs needs covered covered including: including: Penske Power Systems is needs needs covered covered including: including: • •New New engine engine sales sales •• Zealand New Newengine engine sales sales the New distributor • •Remanufactured Remanufactured engines engines •• Remanufactured Remanufacturedengines engines of MTU Detroit engines • •& Full Full service service capabilities capabilities •• Full Fullservice servicecapabilities capabilities • • Genuine Genuine parts parts and has••all Genuine your servicing Genuine parts parts • •Repower Repower options options •• Repower Repower options options needs covered including:
In terms of dangers that would face an arborist compared to a tree feller on the ground, Mark says accident stats in the US sometimes pair the two together and they’re always in the top three (depending how the fishermen off the coast of Alaska fare). “When they separate us out I find for the amount of people doing each profession, logging is a little more dangerous,” he adds. Mark thinks that’s because a lot of people miss the hidden dangers. They focus on chainsaw safety and proper cutting techniques but not aspects like the terrain. “Like something that could hold a tree up and kick it a certain way and you’re not prepared for that movement and you’re on a slippery slope for example,” he says. “Or there’s a vine connected to the tree behind you and it pulls the top out in your escape route. All these things I don’t think tree climbers have to deal with. Taking a chainsaw into the air has its own dangers, of course, but part of what keeps us safe is that actually it’s a pretty controlled environment if you follow the safety recommendations.” He adds that in logging there are so many things that influence the safety environment, including the terrain, the weather, the tree, the type of wood, how sound it is and whether it’s going to split when you cut it. Mark goes on: “And it’s not just like arborists who are cutting down sometimes one tree all day. Fellers are going out there and cutting down one tree after another after another after another. So
• New engine sales • Remanufactured engines • Full service capabilities • Genuine parts • Repower options
09 250 09 250 78007800 | penskeps.co.nz | penskeps.co.nz 09 09 09250 250 2507800 7800 7800 || | penskeps.co.nz penskeps.co.nz penskeps.co.nz Shane Shane Mabey Mabey Shane Shane Shane Mabey Mabey Mabey +64 +64 277008102 277008102 smabey@penskeps.com smabey@penskeps.com +64 +64 +64277008102 277008102 277008102 smabey@penskeps.com smabey@penskeps.com smabey@penskeps.com October 2018 | NZ LOGGER 39
The Tree Climber
our exposure rate may be a little lower as well.” In terms of techniques, Mark says the air cutting is “pretty similar” but you may have a little bit more variety of what you want to try to achieve, adding: “In felling, a lot of times you want to fell it to where it gets to a certain point and then the hinge breaks, whereas when you’re in a tree you may want to swing something around, you may want it to free fall horizontally and have no holding. “You may want it to fold a certain distance and then jump off the tree. So we have to be smart in seeing what is the best solution for what we’re trying and then match it to the right cut. “There’s a lot more types of cuts you’ll use in a tree than you’ll use on the ground. For example, sometimes in a tree we use a bypass cut or an overlap cut where there’s no real hinge but you bypass it, so it sits until you break it off somehow. “There’s like, three main cuts you do on the ground with some deviations with tapers and all.” Back to climbing, he says some of the most magical trees he’s climbed in New Zealand were Eucalyptus, adding: “We don’t have those in New Jersey. They have them on the West Coast and I’ve climbed them there too but they’re just such a
big, massive challenging tree and I’m in awe of how big a tree like that can be as a living creature.” His ‘Everest’ of climbs is on the West Coast of the US where he’s climbed some 100-metre tall Redwood trees. “That was challenging and magical and awe-inspiring just to be there, much less to climb one of these creatures that just
dominate the landscape there,” says Mark. “It reminds me of how insignificant I as a creature am. It’s just a surreal experience to maybe be the only person to climb this particular tree ever because it’s in the middle of this forest that was never logged. I’ve climbed a few of those now and every time it’s been just as amazing. Maybe a little different, but just as amazing.” NZL
210718_Japan_2019
Above: Mark Chisholm shows how to attach climbing ropes safely to trees during a Stihl-sponsored demonstration. Below: The tree climber's belt is packed with ropes, attachments and a first aid kit.
40 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
210718_Japan_2019
The Hitachi ZW-5B Wheel Loader series includes nine models ranging from the 11 tonne ZW140-5B through to the impressive 47 tonne ZW550-5B. For more information on the full range of Hitachi wheel loaders visit www.cableprice.co.nz 0800 555 456 sales@cableprice.co.nz www.cableprice.co.nz * Terms and Conditions: Offer only available on the purchase of a new Hitachi-5B wheel loader, CablePrice (NZ) Limited reserves the right to vary or cancel this promotion at any time, without notice. Offer not available in conjunction with any other offer. Visit cableprice.co.nz for full terms and conditions.
Tall Timber
Marian and Tom Valintine with one of their older Hitachi loaders.
42 NZ LOGGER | November October 2018 2018
A young Tom Valintine working for his father’s company in 1971.
Story: Rob Maetzig
Timber deep rooted in Tom Valintine’s dna A
T A TIME OF HEAVY MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE PERCEIVED hazards of working in the forestry industry, veteran Taranaki logger Tom Valintine is a shining light – he’s gone 51 years in the game without suffering a single lost-time injury. “It’s important to keep what I call a wide eye on things,” the Inglewood man explains of his impressive safety record. “After a while you develop a sort of sixth sense. So whenever there’s a situation that doesn’t feel quite right, I’ll stop and roll a smoke and think about it.” This simple method of keeping himself and his staff safe has worked numerous times, says Tom, who owns Valintine Logging with his wife, Marian.
“One time I was tracking with a bulldozer, but I didn’t feel comfortable about it and backed up. Then as I was figuring out what to do, the ground in front of me slipped into the valley below. “Another time, for some reason I wasn’t happy about the look of a big Radiata we were going to fell, so we stepped away to consider what to do. Suddenly a great big limb came crashing down where we had been standing. “I don’t know why I didn’t feel comfortable about these situations. I just did. But we needed to step back and think about it – and we were right.” This simple method of ensuring workplace safety remains just as important today, despite an increasing amount of paperwork
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 43
Tall Timber
required under modern-day health and safety regulations, says Tom. “You have to remember that in the timber industry there are a lot of workers who are bright, but who aren’t too literate. Some of them have trouble writing, so it is really important that the safety messages are communicated in all ways. “For this reason I’m a great believer that workers should start their training right at the basic level, so they can learn everything. Bushmen shouldn’t be treated as all brawn and no brain – they should be valued and properly trained in all ways.” The industry itself has made good use of Tom’s knowledge. In the 1970s he was asked to contribute to the writing of the first Forest Code of Practice, which required frequent trips to Rotorua for meetings. And back in Taranaki, Valintine Logging was among the first to write its own H&S Management Plan and wear company-branded hi-vis clothing – which became so popular that even the truckies wanted the tee-shirts! That’s a major change from when Tom first entered the logging workforce in 1967, leaving school at age 18 to start full-time with his father’s firm, Valintine Sawmilling. Up until then, he’d been crosscutting during the school holidays from age 15. “I was taken out into the bush and told here’s a chainsaw, there’s some trees – now go cutting,” says Tom. “If I did something wrong I’d get my butt kicked. I can’t remember
44 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Above: Tom Valintine safely lowers a tree cut down from alongside a Taranaki dairy farm race – his measured approach has kept him injury-free for 51 years.gets to grips with Top left: Logging contractor, Kerry McCormick, drone Below:flying Tom Valintine is expert at building wood bridges, including this structure – note the shipping container underneath, just as a precaution!
NEXTGEN
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! AB EQUIPMENT
SPEIRS FINANCE
Tall Timber
Top left: Marian Valintine with the company’s John Deere forwarder. Left: The forwarder has proved invaluable in taking out logs to the trucks that have been unable to get onto the skid sites. Above: The next generation – Chris Valintine chainsawing a big Taranaki log. Opposite page: Marian and Tom Valintine, celebrating a quarter century of business success with their company, Valintine Logging
things being particularly tough, but it was a no-nonsense learning experience, that’s for sure.” The timber industry was always going to be in Tom’s blood. Or medicine. His grandfather was a doctor (the first Director General of Health NZ) but it was Tom’s great uncle who first took the first steps in forestry and for whom his father Bill worked. Bill was among those to take the very first timber out of Kiangaroa Forest in the 1930s and then spent six years overseas with the Forestry Corporation, cutting timber for use in aircraft manufacture during World War 2, before returning to New Zealand and setting up Valintine Sawmilling in Inglewood. “Things just grew from there,” says Tom. “Dad went from operating
46 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
portable mills to establishing yards on Elliot St and then James St. At one stage he had 30 staff and a lot of time was spent cutting native timber in places such as Purangi and Tangahoe. He also cut a lot of construction timber and wood for use as railway sleepers.” In more recent years Tom has discovered he has other relatives heavily involved in the timber industry in North America and cousins who used to be loggers in Zimbabwe. When Bill retired and sold his business (the site is now Value Building Supplies), Tom and Marian decided to specialise in the logging business and started Valintine Logging in 1994. These days the Valintines have their son, Chris, as part of the company, while another son, Blair, runs his own Stratford-based contracting company. The two companies have worked together, building a log bridge for truck access to a forest Tom was logging near Te Wera, east of Stratford. Tom, who is now 70, is constantly out on the job working with his crew, while Marian is responsible for the administrative aspects of their business. The company harvests around 1,000 tonnes of logs each month, almost all of it in Taranaki. Company equipment includes excavators (mostly Hitachi), a static de-limber for removing limbs from the stems and a four-axle, eight-wheel drive John Deere forwarder that can transport up to 20
tonnes of logs at a time to a waiting truck. The forwarder can be a vital piece of equipment, as truck and trailer units have been getting bigger and unable to drive on-site for some jobs – so instead of getting the trucks to the logs, the forwarder has allowed Valintine Logging to get the logs to the trucks. Valintine Logging buys and sells woodlots either direct or through a log broker. It also specialises in share forest blocks, where farmers have supplied the land and Valintines have planted and cared for the trees in 50:50 profit arrangements. The company is involved in 18 such shared forests in Taranaki.
These days, Tom and Marian are dealing with second and third generations of farmer families as successive blocks of trees have been harvested by Valintines on the same properties. The Valintine family also have their own forestry block at Huiroa, east of Stratford. Tom Valintine doesn’t know when he will retire. He’s fit and able, he loves his work, so doesn’t see any point in knocking off. And, says Marian: “Tom’s proud of our business and he’s very proud of the safety record we’ve achieved over all the years. I don’t think he’ll be retiring any time soon.” NZL
Don’t get bogged down by specialist insurance conventional insurance for heavy machinery • Forestry Industry specialist since 1998
LG24366
• FICA Strategic partner since 2002 • Superior cover • Superior claims
You’ve invested so much… why compromise cover?
Proud sponsor of FICA
Visit our website for more information
www.tlcinsurance.co.nz November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 47
Truckers & Loggers FISHING TOURNAMENT Put yo u chair rself in the for th e Truck ers & 2017 Logge rs
30th March to 1st April 2017 Paihia, Bay of Islands Hosted by the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club (Inc)
REGISTER ONLINE NOW:
www.nztruckanddriver.co.nz/truckers-loggers.html
2017 TEAM NAME:______________________________________________________________
BOAT NAME: ____________________________________________
MOB NO:
VHF RADIO:
______________________________________________________________
YES
NO
ANGLER: 1. _________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________
IF MEMBERS OF YOUR CREW ARE NOT MEMBERS OF A CLUB AFFILIATED TO NZ SPORT FISHING INCORPORATED A TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIP OF $25 PER ANGLER IS REQUIRED. PLEASE TICK BOX IF TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED FOR ANGLERS.
TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIPS REQUIRED No: __________________ @ $25, TOTAL: $ _________________ (Tick Box Alongside Anglers Name) $125 PER ANGLER, No: ___________________________________________ TOTAL: $ _________________ GUEST ENTRY (non anglers) $50 each, No: ___________________________
TOTAL: $ _________________
WE WILL BE FISHING FROM ANOTHER AREA ON THURSDAY MORNING:
YES
NON-REFUNDABLE 25% DEPOSIT with entry to Tournament. Balance payable no later than Wednesday night briefing. Cheques payable to: Truckers & Loggers Fishing Tournament. DEPOSIT: $ ____________________________
NO
TEAM CONTACT NAME: ______________________________________________________________________
PH:________________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ VISA
MASTERCARD
CARD HOLDER NAME: _______________________________________________________
EXPIRY DATE ________/ _________ AMOUNT: $ _______________
SIGNATURE: _______________________________________________________________
SECURITY CODE ________________
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS: TD25820
CHEQUE
in the 2017 gers
top spot
Safety/performance/quality
Keeping our minds on the job IT DIDN’T SEEM THAT LONG AGO THAT WE were starting the competition for 2018, now we are on the homeward run to the end of the year. Daylight saving gives us longer daylight hours, later into the evening. The days are warmer and its noticeable the positivity and smiles crank back into life after winter. However, we also have to remind ourselves that while it’s a great time of the year, it is important to ensure we all get adequate rest and keep a focus on a safe and productive run into the end of the year. In doing this, our assessors are out and about, getting amongst crews and challenging everyone to bring out their best every day. Hey, it’s what we should all be striving to do, regardless of whether there’s a competition or not. Indications are, we are in for very close results again this year – that close that we can’t pick how the results will turn out, other than excellent. Sponsors – They don’t have to do this but they choose to! Awesome companies, awesome people and awesome support!
They back you and your workmates to succeed as professionals, so why wouldn’t you support them. They believe in what we do and what you do. So a big ongoing thank you to our Strategic Partners – STIHL and NZ Logger and sponsor SWAZI. The best way to keep our industry working is to get out and support those businesses that support New Zealand. Participating Companies This competition wouldn’t be what it is without our participating companies. We understand the commitment it takes from them to be part of Top Spot and value their ongoing support and feedback. Our ongoing thanks to Rayonier/Matariki Forests, Nelson Forests, Wenita Forest Products Limited, Port Blakely, Crown Forestry,
Be alert! Working close to machines on the skid site raises the danger level, especially when working with a saw and wearing ear muffs.
Brand Logging, CMH Logging, Phillips Logging, Hauraki and Moehau Logging, Thomassen Logging, Te Waa Logging, Lakeland Cable Logging, Logged on Logging, Pakiri Logging, Rosewarne Cable Loggers, Inta-Wood Forestry, Otautau Contractors, SAW Contracting, Heslip Forest Contracting, Waikato Forestry Services, Hodgson Silviculture, SFNL, Makerikeri Silviculture, NJ Simns Forestry Services, SAS Forestry, XMen Forestry, Central Forestry Services, Mangoihe Logging, Kohurau Contracting, Tohaia Forestry Harvesting, Kuru Contracting, Dennis E Hayes Logging, Swain Logging, Lumberjack Logging, Ernslaw One, Bluewood Logging, Forestry Contracting Ltd, Dewes Contractors, Eastside Logging, Storm Logging, X Men Logging, Forest View Harvesting, Mike Hurring Logging, Penetito Forestry, Pro Forest Services, Johnson Forestry Services, McHaull Contracting, Kaha Logging, JBD Logging, Veal Contractors, Lahar Loging, AR Dempsey, Hautapu Logging, Whisker Logging, Moutere Logging and Norwest Logging.. Into safety? Into performance? Into quality? Contact Shane Perrett on 0274 781 908, 07 3483037 or at primefm@xtra.co.nz NZL
It’s a busy time of year, so everyone needs to be focused on safety.
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 49
www.fica.org.nz
Prue Younger, CEO Message If mobile phones are anything to go by, technology advancement for machinery used in our forests is something that I think will go crazy over the next few years. It’s not that long ago, just in the first half of the 1990s, when mobile phones were brand new, the size of bricks, ridiculously expensive, and all you could do with them was make phone calls. That was fine, they were different, almost science fiction become reality, and they did what they were intended to do. Then mobile phones began to shrink in size, and the idea of sending a text message rather than making a phone call arrived, followed by the pay as you go phone to run alongside the more expensive contracts, and suddenly mobiles were everywhere. Since then, the mobile has advanced by leaps and bounds. These days we take them for granted, and it seems as if almost everyone owns one – the official figures are just over one handset per person. Every month it seems, brings some new advance in mobile phone technology. I think equipment is going the same way and for a variety of reasons which our contractors will tell you about below. Prue
Regional Voice
Nathan Taylor, Mechanised Cable Harvesting Limited - Nelson
Nick Tombleson, Tombleson Logging - Taupo
We are pretty passionate about mechanisation at MCH and have been engaged with utilising new technologies for the last 15 years. Our focus is around mechanisation making it easier to keep people safe in a cab environment rather than on the slopes. There are number of options out there and we progressed with an EMS machine tethering using a grapple swing yarder for extraction and a further EMS machine with a falcon carriage. The cost is expensive but it’s important for everyone involved to rationalise that against the cost of a life and keeping our people safe. From the health & safety aspect mechanisation is key to taking lives out of the most critically dangerous manual situations. We feel that there is great opportunity for our people to train and get themselves a new skill set as the operation of these machines should not be under estimated. Most definitely MCH feel good that we have made every effort to keep our crews safe.
As a ground base crew Tombleson Logging is a different story in regards to mechanisation to others as having operated for 7 years prior with zero incidences, this was not a requirement only for safety. Initially we felt that we did not want to be left behind with technology advancing production. We also recognised the social impact that can come about going mechanised, that social awareness not wanting to lose loyal staff and so were fortunate that we did not have to lose anyone in the changeover. Historically looking back, you think it’s expensive, but you have to consider all the benefits, the production gains and cost benefits. There is a high level of initial debt and I think forest managers may not realise the enormity of that debt. Mechanisation is now moving that fast, that if you’re not keeping up with it you will find you get left behind. Rapid advancements with technology in the last 6 months has provided effective tracking on checks and balances in your business and having accurate data to be able to talk about results with crew. That data is black & white and not hearsay and can be shared, making production real. With crews spread from Northland to Taupo this is going to mean we are more in control of our business.
Wayne McEwen, Blackstump Logging - Gisborne Following a two-day trip to Nelson and being hosted by DC Equipment who were very willing to share their information and show us different techniques in harvesting and using the Falcon grapple, I became fully supportive of mechanisation and the aware of changes in processing and totally behind taking men off the slopes. With an open mind we have made changes to the way we log and we are able to shovel and feed our grapple because we have no people on the slopes. Some settings are getting us 100% off our systems and at times we have to revert back to manual but this is a positive change to the crew not having to do the manual work day after day. Understandably it takes a bit to get the system and operation right, but we are now seeing poor and average logging conditions achieving better production rates and others in the region have tethering technology and getting great results. I also think there is more opportunities for crew to move around the company and take up roles utilising new technologies, providing diversity and that extra challenge to advance themselves and their learning. We are finding that some of our younger crew members have some pretty good talent in this area, we have a 20 year old “weapon” to quote and our main breaker out is now operating the hauler & grapple system. With the addition of a Falcon winch assist machine arriving in March, we are expecting even greater productivity and I am sure it won’t stop there.
Allan Sole, Sole Logging Ltd – New Plymouth We have a huge issue finding labour on the West coast of the North Island and we have had to consider technology if we want to stay sustainable. It is not a shortage of jobs but a shortage of skilled people. So, bearing in mind mechanisation is a huge cost to outlay for relatively low production harvesting but facing severe skill and labour shortages, our options were limited and to continue operating we have invested in two different grapple carriages, the EMS hawk-eye and the DC Equipment Falcon grapple. We know from others that there is a period of learning, changing habits and settling in so it is hard to say what the cost variations are machine vs man but that will become clear soon and obviously there are few options if you do not have people to take up manual roles. Technology is also about testing the concept but unless people are prepared to give it a go, support it and supply feed-back to equipment companies then we will not move ahead. We also now operate 4 processors on the landings, again in response to the scarce labour resource. It is a balancing act to keep people on the ground as there are times when machines cannot be used and physical power versus technology is a totally different skill set. With mechanisation these important skill sets are slowly being lost.
Sponsor Profile Thank you to all of the organisations who support FICA, which in turn works to promote business growth and improved safety and efficiency amongst forestry contractors for the benefit of New Zealand’s Forestry Industry.
Strategic Partners
Business Partners
Gold Partners
To join, call: 0800 342 269
www.fica.org.nz
new iron
JOHN DEERE FOR HICKFORD
CAT & SATCO FOR ELLIOT
Not only is this the first John Deere for Whanganui-based Hickford Logging, it’s also the first 2656G purpose-built forestry excavator in New Zealand and features a rear-entry cab for extra safety and convenience. Owner, Dave, is impressed with his machine’s lifting power, quiet cab and visibility from the driver’s seat.
Grant and Kere Elliot, of Elliot Logging, have added a new Cat 552 Series 2 harvester to their East Coast operation. Working in Pan Pac Forests, the big new Cat features excellent ground clearance, long reach, great stability and tractive power and features a SATCO fall and trim head, making for the ideal forestry harvesting package. The unit was sold by Heath Stewart, from Gough Cat.
MECHANISED TIMBERPRO
FIRST TIGERCAT FOR BRAND
Mechanised Cable Harvesting recently took delivery of a new Timberpro TL765D for its operation in Nelson where it will be working on the end of a tether, using a KF 800 fixed felling head. Operator, Kirk Pont, is very impressed with the performance of the new TL765D. Pictured, from left, are Hamish Matthews, Nathan Taylor, Chris Gordon, Kirk Pont, John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ), Blackie, Ben Rees, Ron Roberts, Lex Thomson, Brent Moir and, kneeling, Paul Gardiner. Photo: Campbell White (Nelson Machinery Repairs).
Tony and Simon Brand, of Brand Logging in Canterbury, have taken delivery of their first new Tigercat. Even though it was more expensive than the competitors, the new features on the new Tigercat 632E skidder, such as the EHS transmission, extra 25hp compared to the 630D and electronic control hill decent, plus a few other features, were just too much to overlook. After having a first drive behind Rangiora in Mount Thomas Forest, Tony is convinced he made the right decision. Picture, from left are Luke Eder, Perry Lyles and Tony Brand. Sale made by Steve Varcoe of AB Equipment, Christchurch.
52 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
new iron
VOLVO & SOUTHSTAR FOR ATS
SATCO & HYUNDAI FOR RL CONTRACTING RL Contracting has purchased a SATCO 325M for felling and processing, which Ray has fitted onto a Hyundai 250-9. The installation was undertaken at the SATCO engineering works in Tokoroa.
Toby and Amy Satherley, owners of ATS Logging, put a new Volvo EC380 forestry carrier onto their fleet, which includes their third SouthStar harvester. This latest head is a QS630 specified with the large wood delimb arms, 4X4 locking kit and optimisation software for work in the Hawkes’ Bay region. The new EC380DL sits firm on the ground thanks to its factory high and wide 50-tonne class undercarriage and is fully guarded from the factory. Power comes from the 13-litre Volvo engine, which provides impressive torque yet maintains Volvo’s proven reputation for low fuel burn. Sold by Ewen Satherley and Karl Scragg of TransDiesel.
new iron
KURU CATS These Cat 568LL and 548LL forest machines are the latest purpose-built forestry Cat units added by Ricky and Leanne Kuru for their operations throughout the East Coast. The 548LL performs fleeting and loading duties with ease, while the top of the range 568LL features a Woodsman Pro 850 head and is powering through the big East Coast wood. Both units are impressing with their quietness, operator comfort, smooth operation, reach and great stability. Heath Stewart, from Gough Cat, sold both machines.
FOREST VIEW DOOSAN & SOUTHSTAR
WOODSMAN TARGETED
Forest View Logging, of Whitianga, recently took delivery of this Doosan DX 300LL, which is fitted with a SouthStar QS600 for road lining operations in Whangapoua Forest. The package was supplied by Priceright Parts and Machinery, Rotorua.
Target Infrastructure has taken delivery of its first Woodsman Pro Ž 850 head, using the new Loggic™ control system. The new head has gone onto a Sumitomo SH350-5 TL that is working in the Waimata Valley near Gisborne.
54 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
new iron 5TH SATCO FOR THOMPSON This new SAT3L2T is the fifth SATCO for AF Thompson Contracting in Gisborne and replaces a SAT325T. The crew is very happy with the changes made to the new head and operator, Tony, was able to get straight into work without any hesitation. Gus put the head onto a CAT336F and Rotorua Engineering Services did the guarding and straightened of the boom, while the head installation took place at the SATCO factory in Tokoroa.
FORWEDA JOHN DEERE Nothing beats taking delivery of your very first John Deere. Peter, owner of Forweda Land Clearing, is impressed with the power and speed of his new John Deere 648L grapple skidder.
CAT PAIR FOR JENSEN This Cat D5K dozer has been acquired by Jensen Logging to work on roading, forming landings and opening up roads for thinning blocks in Kaingaroa Forest. A key reason for owner Russell Jensen adding the D5K to the Rotorua-based operation is its compactness and ability to move down tight thinning’s rows for operator John Murtagh. Also pictured with the D5K are Russell Jensen and Russell
Brown. Another addition to the Jensen fleet is this new Cat 950M wheel loader. Featuring Ensign log forks, the M-series loader is also based in Kaingaroa to perform fleeting and loading logging trucks, mainly double trailer unit trucks, which is in this machine’s sweet spot as it’s the ideal size for them. Operator Gordon Williams (centre) is pictured with Russell Brown and Rachael Brown.
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 55
new iron
TIGERCAT & SOUTHSTAR FOR DM
Peter, Glennys and Tim Mold, of Mold Logging in Houhora, have put this new Komatsu PC 300LC-8 to work in their Northland operation. The PC 300LC-8 is equipped with an Active heavy-duty forestry guarding package and fitted with a Duxson log grapple by Justin, Jason and the team at Duxson Forestry Attachments. Pictured, from left, are Justin Morgan (Partridge Heavy Haulage), Daniel Masters, Tim Mold and John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ). Photo: Ian Clinter.
Southland’s Dean Dahlenburg and Michelle Dahlenburg, owners of Otautau-based D M Logging, have taken delivery of their second Tigercat this year. The latest is a Tigercat H855D fixed base harvester with a SouthStar QS6004 X4 harvester / debarking head fitted. The new H855D joins the first 1085C forwarder that was delivered in New Zealand, suited to the steep terrain logging Dean and forwarder operator, Craig Braven, specialise in. The oil flow from the H855D, combined with the speed and performance of the QS600, have proven to be a great match for the wood type and terrain. Dean (left) and Craig are pictured with the new machine.
CAMERON KOMATSU
SECOND WOODSMAN PRO 850 FOR BBL
Ross Cameron, of RC Contracting, has taken delivery of a new Komatsu PC 270LC-8 sporting an Active forestry guarding package and fitted with an Ensign 1730IH log grapple. Pictured, from left, are Richard Corliss (Synergy Finance), George Te Rangi, Kowe Te Rangi, Tim Woon, Jim Nicholls, (Machinery Specialists), Jamie Southee (Machinery Specialists), Ross Cameron, John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ), Len Mackey and Hurk. Photo: Taylor Mehffy.
Gisborne-based BBL Contracting has taken delivery its second Woodsman Pro ® 850 head, which has been paired with a Caterpillar 336FL. The excavator’s forestry conversion package was handled by Ensign and the new Loggic™ system is used to control the head and its functions.
ANOTHER KOMATSU FOR MOLD
56 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
new iron
LEALAND VOLVO
MARSHALL KOMATSU
Mark Lealand has put a new Volvo L90F to work in the new central North Island crew 046 working for Timberlands. Operator, Mark Good, loves the 90F and is impressed with how high the new machine can lift. The L90F is factory-fitted with an auto grease system, boom suspension and extra logging counterweight and has a set of Ensign log forks. The machine was sold by Ewen Satherley of TransDiesel.
Terry and Debbie Marshall, of Tauranga-based Marshall Logging, have taken delivery of a new Komatsu PC 270LC-8, equipped with an Active heavy-duty forestry guarding package and Ensign 1730IH log grapple. Operator, Adam Redmayne says the new machine has “heaps of track power and is very nimble”. Pictured, from left, are Adam Redmayne, Terry Marshall and John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ). Photo: Mark Amos (Komatsu Forest NZ).
SOUTHSTAR FOR JB
FIRST ELTEC FH277L ARRIVES
John Burt, owner of JB Logging, has put this new SouthStar 4X4 QS450 har vesting / debarking head onto a Madill HT2250C that is now hard at work in hardwood debarking in the central North Island.
Joining the FH417 processor that featured in the last issue of NZ Logger is the second Eltec for Stokes Logging, an all-new Eltec FH277L model. Delivered by Shaw’s, the new FH277L is fitted with a SouthStar FD750 felling head and is dedicated to carrying out all the felling duties for the Stokes ground-base operation north of Auckland.
November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 57
new iron
JOHN DEERE & SATCO FOR BROLLY
FAST ELTEC
Brolly Logging has taken delivery of a new SATCO 630E and John Deere 959 to perform felling and shovelling duties for its ground base and hauler crew in the Masterton area. Gerard Brolly is the operator and was all smiles when this combo turned up, and he was straight into it.
Fast Logging has taken delivery of its new Eltec FH277L, which has been fitted with a CDL log grapple, making it a multi-functional machine to carry out all the fleeting, loading and shovelling duties at the ground-base operation in the Tokoroa region. Pictured, from left, is operator Lionel Gage, with Jonny Edwards and Liam Barton of Shaw’s.
WOODSMAN PRO FOR BRC
ROSEWARNE JOHN DEERE & SOUTHSTAR COMBO
This new Woodsman Pro 850 head, fitted to a Caterpillar 336FL, has gone to work for BRC Logging in the Tiniroto, Gisborne region. The machine is installed with the Loggic™ control system software and the forestry conversion package was handled by Ensign.
Rosewarne Contractors has taken delivery of another John Deere 959MH, fitted with a SouthStar felling head. Working on the Pouto Peninsular, a long way from assistance, reliability is key to meeting production targets, which is achieved with the new 959MH. Derek Rosewarne is pictured with the new John Deere on delivery day.
®
58 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
415 Lower Queen Street, Richmond, Nelson Office: 03 544 4172 Mobile: 021 811 057 sales@drdiesel.nz | www.drdiesel.nz
HAULER PARTS NZ
FINAL DRIVES
DOOSAN, VOLVO EC290 CAT 325/329DL HITACHI EX300 KOMATSU PC220, 270, 300 CALL FOR OTHER MODELS
LKOMATSU PC138-8 14 TON DIGGER WITH BLADE, ANTI DROP VALVES
2008 KOMATSU PC138-8 REFURBISHED 6500 HRS BLADE ANTI DROP VALVES LIFT AND DIPPER RAM ALL PINS AND BUSHES TIGHT ALL HYDRAULIC RAMS RESEALED REBUILT TWIN RAM BRUCE SHORT BRAND TILL BUCKET TIDY PAINT WORK AIR CONDITIONER REGASSED AND TESTED FULLY SERVICED NEW FAN BELTS WATER PUMP REPLACED NEW BATTERIES HYDRAULIC PIPE WORK FOR TILL AND THUMB
HYDRAULIC PUMPS / MOTORS
GUY ROPE MOTORS
1309a DEUBLIN T-MAR LOG CHAMP
1293 NTA 855 CUMMINS EXHAUST MANIFOLD
1077 ENSIGN HYDRAULIC MOTOR
1314 TIGERCAT REVERSABLE FAN UNION
1291 THUNDERBIRD POWERFLOW CLUTCH PLATE
1154 WARATAH 626 MAIN DRIVE MOTOR
1079 MADILL 123/124 GUY WINCH HYDRAULIC MOTOR
1310 MADILL GUY WINCH AIR RAM
1299 MADILL 071 SNAP CLUTCH
1311 MAC VALVE
1308 REGAN CLUTCH AIR SOLENOID VALVE
1301 1306 WASHINGTON WOVEN BRAKE 1088 SINTERED LINING BRONZE CLUTCH 1/4” 3/8” 1/2” 5/8” DISK 3/4” TICKNESS, CUT TO ANY SIZE
1202 SATCO 630 SAW MOTOR
1311 COOKES 515 ROPE GUARD / BRIDGE
1213 TORQUE CONVERTER MADILL 071/171 TMY 50/70 MOD F-11534 S/N 260387 SPECIFIC TORQUE 340 SPEC NO 63888
SUPPLIER OF ALL BEARINGS & OIL SEALS FOR HAULERS, SHAFTS & SHEATHS
1212 MADILL 124 SLEW MOTOR AND GEARBOX
GEAR TAC 300 / 380 / 460 The Ultimate Replacement for Black Tac
415 Lower Queen Street, Richmond, Nelson Office: 03 544 4172 Mobile: 021 811 057 sales@drdiesel.nz | www.drdiesel.nz
GT-460 MULTI GOLD
5th Wheel / Turntable Grease Replacement
COO T
HAULER PARTS NZ AIR VALVES / CONTROLLERS
1 DE 1 1007 REXROTH HD-2-FX CONTROLAIR & SERVICE KITS
1262 AVENTICS PILOTAIR 2-HA-2
1189 KOBELT CYPRESS & 1031REBUILD KIT
1296 KOBELT MADILL 124
1058 HUMPHREY 70 CONTROL
1020 1302 1209 1207 1019 WILLIAMS WM90DM WILLIAMS WILLIAMS WM512C WILLIAMS PRESSURE 3 WAY, 2 WM498W HYDRAULIC WM-607-C1 MODULATING VALVE POSITION THROTTLE & SERVICE KITS TOGGLE VALVE CYLINDER
AIR RAMS
1193 1251 1003 WILLIAMS 1270 WILLIAMS 1265 WILLIAMS PARKING BREAK WM498P WMR318 MAXI BRAKE WM318-G VALVE CONTROL REPAIR KIT REPAIR KIT SWITCH & REPAIR KITS VALVE
1205 THUNDERBIRD TMY50/70 GUY WINCH MAXIBRAKE
1035 MADILL 122/123 SPRING MAXIBRAKE M2475
1204 12/16 STRAWLINE MAXIBRAKE
1025 WABCO / BENDIX AIR DRYER
1295 1021 1022 THUNDERBIRD MADILL 122/124 TMY 50/70 GUY WINCH AIR MADILL 122 GUY WINCH TOWER DOG RAM & RAM AIR RAM REPLACMENT CYLINDERS
1153 THUNDERBIRD TSY 155
BRAKE AIR VALVES / TREADLES
1178 WM 305 SINGLE TREADLE DUAL VALVE & REPAIR KITS
1047 WILLIAMS 472 & WM325 / WM472 REPAIR KITS
1252 1252 WM472/352 WM472/352 CARTRIDGE CARTRIDGE
1177 BENDIX DUAL ACTION BRAKE TREADLE
1208 WPT DUMP VALVE
1186 DUMP VALVE
EDW BUT
1176 WILLIAMS WM352F MODULATING VALVE
AIR DUMP VALVES
1174 WILLIAMS QUICK RELEASE VALVE
W NE
MADI MAD TRANS S
1052 1026 FAIRCHILD MODEL 20 TWIN DISC CLUTCH HIGH CAPACITY DUMP VALVE & REPAIR VOLUME BOOSTER KITS
1179 WILLIAMS AIR DUMP VALVE & REPAIR KITS
1172 BENDIX T-240004-D DUMP VALVE
AIR COMPRESSORS
1109 BENDIX DF-596 COMPRESSOR
1190 CUMMINS BRAKE AIR COMPRESSOR
1226 CAT COMPRESSOR
1187 QUINCY 325, 350, 370 NEW & EXCHANGE
1305 BRAND NEW QUINCY 370 AIR COMPRESSOR
1292 QUINCY 370 COMPRESSOR AIR COOLING TUBE
1230 PILOTED UNLOADER CHECK VALVE
1192 BENDIX SHUTTLE VALVE
1260 COMPRESSED AIR REGULATOR LUBRICATOR
1229 BENDIX AIR COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR
1284 TALKIE TOOTER AIR SOLENOID
1225 WM80A AVANTICS SHUTTLE VALVE SHUTTLE VALVE
1070 EATON 224 RUBBER DIAPHRAGM
1085 ADT WICHITA 18”, 19”, 21”, 24” AIR TUBE
1313 WICHITA 3 SPUD TUBES HHVVV 18”, 19”, 21”, 24”
SUPPLIERS OF OREGON HARVEST CHAIN + CHAIN SHARPENING SERVICES
REAC
DIS
14”, 1
2
www.drdiesel.nz
sales@drdiesel.nz
ULTRA DEGREASER 1000
OLD
COOLING SYSTEM TREATMENT
Dissolves Black-Tac
1241 COMPLETE DIESEL FUEL TREATMENT
1164 POWERUP GEARMAXX
1055 FULLER'S EARTH POWDER 250G
1004 OREGON 3/4 HARVEST CHAIN
DEUBLIN VALVES
1010 DEUBLIN 5/8”-18
1009 DEUBLIN 1” NPT
1012 DEUBLIN 3/8” NPT
1011 DEUBLIN 5/8”-18
1156 WICHITA LONG WATER UNION ADAPTER
1016 DEUBLIN 1/4” NPT
DEUBLIN SERVICE KITS
019 LIAMS 607-C1
1129 DEUBLIN
53 RBIRD 155
ES
1017 DEUBLIN 3/8” NPT
1057 WICHITA CLUTCH AIR TUBE BLANK ADAPTER
1159 DEUBLIN THUNDERBIRD WATER UNION
1013 DEUBLIN WICHITA CLUTCH 18”, 19”, 21”
1015 DEUBLIN 1”-14 NPT
WATER PUMPS
SWITCHES / BUTTONS
W NE
1014 DEUBLIN 1” NPT
E YL ST
1201 EDWARDS 820 BUTTON (NEW STYLE)
1008 POTENTIOMETE R 4 POLE TERMINALS
1024 MADILL 122-123 TRANS F-REVERSE SWITCH
1023 MADILL 122-123HI-LO TRANS SWITCH
1101 DETROIT 60 SERIES ENGINE THROTTLE SWITCH
76 AMS 52F ATING VE
1266 TWIN DISC 2 SPEED TRANSMISSION COIL
2 IX 04-D ALVE
1203 ACT 8 WATER PUMP 90252008 + KITS
1081 ACT 06 WATER BRAKE PUMP
TWIN DISC TRANSMISSION CONTROL VALVE GASKETS
1082 BE70-85 WATER BREAK PUMP
1194 WATER BRAKE RETURN SCREEN FILTER
1262 DETROIT 60 SERIES ENGINE THROTTLE SENSOR
1279 TWIN DISC 5 SPEED MADILL TRANSMISSION 009/046/071 FUEL / COIL HYDRAULIC PUMPS
1211 CLUTCH ACCUMULATOR MADILL & THUNDERBIRD
1181 STRAWLINE PADS
R BE
1206 MONARCH NT2L8S
1121 WICHITA 224 WATER BRAKE
1242 / 1243 CHOKER BATTERIES CR-P2 & CR2
BRAKE PUCKS 4”, 4.5”, 5”, 6”, 7”, 8” 1199 MADILL 124 HYDRAULIC PUMP DRIVE SHAFT
W ED E N OV N R G P SI IM DE
COPPER PLATES EATON 18”, 24” WICHITA 18’, 19”, 21”, 24“, 30”, 36”
WICHITA 18", 19", 21", 24" WEAR PACKING SPACER
1163 1184 EATON 118 - 218 NUT WICHITA 19" BOLT SET 5/16 X 2 FRICTION PLATE KIT INNER AND OUTER COPPER PLATES
1045 TWIN DISK CLUTCH SEPARATOR PLATE KIT
A BES
”, 24”
nz
REACTION DISCS 14”, 16”, 18”, 24”
1087 WICHITA 18”, 21” ALUMINIUM REACTION DISC
WICHITA / TWIN 1188 DISC WICHITA 16" 14”, 18”, 21”, CENTER FRICTION 24”, 36” TWIN PUCK
1161 ADT WICHITA VENTED DRIVE DISC
1065 EATON 18” / 24” FRICTION DISC
1083 / 1084 BFG OIL TUBE / BAG 20¼ X 5, 22 X 5, 26 X 5, 26 X 7
HAULER PARTS NZ
1191 BFG OIL BAG BLOCK 22X5, 26X5, 26X7
d e t i m i L s e c i v r e S y r t s e r o F h a t a War
Floor Stock on Hand
Soon to be available
Rebuilt 626 Bigwood - New motors, line bore, new pins, hydraulic valve bank reseal, repaint. New TimberRite automation system. Location Rotorua New Zealand
$180,000 + GST
Rebuilt 626 Bigwood
Sample photo
New
FL95 Series II
New
Brand new Rotorua floor stock, Fixed saw box felling head with 1000mm log cut. Ready to replace any existing felling head plug and play. Auto tension main saw NZD $85,000 + GST
Used
HTH622C
Brand new Rotorua floor stock, The ultimate shovel logging felling head with moving saw box. Ideal for steep country logging, shoveling and bunching. NZD $85,000 + GST
Used
TimberRite Head Only Location Rotorua New Zealand.
As is price NZD $40,000 + GST
Waratah 622B
Used
TimberRite Head only. Location Australia
Waratah 622C
TimberRite Head only. Location Australia.
As is price AUD $40,000.00 + GST
As is price AUD $120,000.00 + GST
Waratah Forestry Services Limited Parts/service 0800 492 728
New
Product support helpdesk 0800 492 728
FL85 Series II
Brand new Rotorua Floor stock, small felling head ideal for small 20 ton carrier, auto tension saw NZD $69,000 + GST
FL85 Series II
Used unit Location Rotorua New Zealand.
As is price NZD $103,190 + GST
Used
FL95 Moving Saw Box
Rebuilt 626 Bigwood Rebuilt 626 Bigwood 2007 - New motors, line bore, new pins, hydraulic valve bank reseal, repaint. New TimberRite automation system. Location Rotorua New Zealand
Used
Waratah 625C
Complete with TimberRite optimisation computer, full rotation, auto tension and colour marking system. One owner, serviced by Waratah. Location Rotorua NZ NZD $215,000.00 + GST
W
of the
Equipment MONTH
Finance rates available 0800 346 275
JOHN DEERE JD850J LGP
JOHN DEERE JD624K
CATERPILLAR 330L
2007. Fitted with a Southstar TS610 processing head. 330hp Tier II engine, 24" single grouser. 12,725 hrs.
2010. Trinder Log Forks, Groeneveld auto lube, rear radiator guard, full mud guards, one owner driver from new. 16,342 hrs.
Has good track gear, full length track guards, waratah boom. Waratah 234 Big Wood. 27,640 hrs.
Invercargill #E1018103
$163,000.00
Nelson #E0718076
$79,500.00
Invercargill #E0318024
$75,000.00
JOHN DEERE 903KH
VOLVO EC360CL
TIGERCAT 630B
2014. Excellent example of a late model 630D Tigercat Skidder. winch & grapple. 3,900 hrs.
Waratah HTH626 Big Wood head. Devine engineering ROPS, FOPS, OPS and forestry guarding. Approx. 11,000 hrs.
One set of band new tracks supplied but not fitted, winch fitted. 8,055 hrs.
Hastings #E0917063
$350,000.00
Hastings #E1217095
$240,000.00
Palmerston North #E0818089
$120,000.00
JOHN DEERE 909KH
CATERPILLAR 525C
JOHN DEERE 748H
2010. Tidy machine. Well maintained. Fire suppression system. South Star FD750 felling head. 13,883 hrs.
2006. Recovery winch (no rope), 80% rear / 5% front tyre wear remaining, includes front tyre chains. New radiator recently fitted. A/C working, ROPS cabin. 14,500 hrs.
2007. Direct drive skidder in good mechanical condition. 6000 series winch. 7,849 hrs.
Palmerston North #E0818080
Whangarei #E0818088
$317,000.00
$87,500.00
$180,000.00
SO
LD!
Whangarei #E0718073
HITACHI ZX400LCH-3
JOHN DEERE 903KH
CATERPILLAR 535C
2011. Ensign 1730 log grapple, live heel. Gary Douglas side door guarding package, hydraulic door on cabin ROPS frame. Tidy machine for hours read for work. 15,181 hrs.
2011. fTracked harvester fitted with Southstar TS610 Processing head, 330hp Tier II engine, 24" Single Grouser. 9,600 hrs.
2012. Tidy low hour grapple skidder, near new Firestone Forester special tyres. 4,027 hrs.
Palmerston North #E0818078
Hastings #E0218021
$140,000.00
$380,000.00
Christchurch #E0618059
Contact your local CablePrice sales representative for all enquiries Northland: Phil McKenzie 0276 202 505 | North Shore: Luke Larsen 0275 884 064 | Auckland / Coromandel: Malcolm Pascoe 0275 949 941 Auckland / Hamilton / Taranaki: Simon Birchall 027 809 6211 | Central North Island: Terry Duncan 0275 943 550 Hawke’s Bay / Gisborne: Paul Laird 0272 047 289 | Lower North Island: Cameron Wait 0275 427 250 Nelson / Marlborough: Todd Blackwood 0275 223 445 | West Coast / Canterbury: Andrew McCoy 0275 320 238 | Otago / Southland: Daryl Highsted 0275 771 264 *Terms & conditions apply. All prices exclude GST
$230,000.00
NZ LOGGER classified
www.chains.co.nz ENGINEERED WITH EXPERIENCE....
HARVESTING CONTRACT
Clark Grouzer Super Grip with 28mm links for 30.5x32 Firestone tyres is the single wheel track that delivers maximum climbing capability for 6-wheeled machines. GSG’s give exceptional traction and require less maintenance than tyre chains. $10150.00 + GST per pair while stock lasts. 35.5x32 tracks also in stock.
Angora Forest (20 minutes from Dannevirke towards coast)
TERM 2 Year Agreement for 90,000 Tonne
REQUEST FOR INTEREST Fixed Tower hauler for Angora forest harvesting operations required.
LG27833
Chain Protection have been Clark Tracks NZ agent for 20 + Years.
LOCATION
Please contact Liss on 022 400 8059 / liss@ifsgrowth.co.nz for details. Deadline for expressions of interest are to be submitted by December 4, 2018.
Chain Protection Services Ph: 03 338 1552 • E: chainpro@xtra. co.nz • www.chains.co.nz
Tyres that mean business.
STAYS ON THE JOB. Call us on 0800 NOKIAN (0800 665 426) or email info@nokian.nz to find a dealer.
64 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
Nokian understands the cost of downtime for a busy contractor. That’s why the entire Nokian foresty tyre range is built to stand up to the harshest of conditions and heaviest of applications. To get the best from your gear, choose Nokian.
USED EQUIPMENT from
AB EQUIPMENT 2010 Volvo FC3329C Processor
9,500 hours on base, 7,000 hours on the head, Satco 424 fall and de-limb head and additional forestry guarding. Ex Palmerston North
Volvo ECR325CL Log Loader
2015 Hyundai R290LC-9 Processor 10,500 hours approx. Blade, 1500 series nsign grapple Ex Taupo
$205,000 + GST 2013 Tigercat LH855C Harvester
$100,000 + GST Caterpillar 525C Log Skidder
Harvester with Satco 223 Processing Head and 10,200 hours, fully serviced and ready to go. Ex Christchurch
Harvester with Woodsman Pro700 Processing Head, 8,100 hours, 700mm Single Bar Grousers with Extensions, Pattern Changer, Electric Grease pot system, Fire Suppression Ex Whangarei
$660,000 + GST
$280,000 + GST Caterpillar 545 Log Skidder 13,00 hours (approx.) 30.5 tyres in good condition grapple and PTO winch Ex Taupo
6,500 hours, band tracks, new front tyres to be fitted, grapple, no winch Ex Taupo
$450,000 + GST 2014 Tigercat LH855C Harvester
4,200 hours, Satco 223T processor, grapple, high and wide, full guarding package including hydraulic bonnet Ex Dunedin
$195,000 + GST 2013 Tigercat 630D Log Skidder
5,500 hours, NZ new, one owner, 19ft grapple, Allied winch, new rear tyres front tyres 30% remaining, good mechanical history Ex Gisborne
$135,000 + GST 2017 Caterpillar 545D Log Skidder
$320,000 + GST
Contact your Forestry Specialist Today: WHANGAREI Marcus Bourke 027 241 6126
HAMILTON Tony Hennessy 027 839 8153
WELLINGTON/PALMERSTON NORTH Mardi Pritchard 021 335 873
INVERCARGILL Dean Cousins 021 932 246
NORTH HARBOUR Charles Dryden 021 751 158 James Maunsell 021 937 304
TAUPO Steve Mellar 027 565 3956
NELSON Chris Jones 027 574 1712
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
MT MAUNGANUI André Muller 027 550 1729
CHRISTCHURCH Nic McLennan 027 275 6252 Steven Varcoe 021 969 323
AUCKLAND Colin Saunders 027 593 2661 Byren Ware 027 287 8902
HASTINGS Ben Kendrick 021 658 554 Richard Walker 027 553 9216
DUNEDIN Cory Hellyer 027 288 1952
AB EQUIP MENT
With 2,165 hours, 1.97mt Box section Grapple, Full Winch, 35.5 Tyres at 50% remaining Ex Nelson
$430,000 + GST
t
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB SITE
www.blackduck.co.nz
SEAT COVERS
• Genuine high quality 12oz canvas • Manufacturing for over 25 years
SEAT COVERS • Water & rot proof
• Easy to fit - easy to clean • Side airbag compatible
• • • • • • • • •
Genuine high quality 12oz canvas • Tailored specifically to fit each type of seat Manufacturing for over 20 years • Over 3000 patterns available Water & rot proof Easy to fit - easy• to clean your vehicle investment Protect Side airbag compatible • Overnight available on most products Tailored specifically to fit each delivery type of seat Over 3000 patterns available Protect your vehicle investment Overnight delivery available on most products
Ph: 0800 158 479 sales@blackduck.co.nz
0 158 479 - sales@blackduck.co.nz - www.blackduck.co.nz
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Valuation Services Include:
Forestry Civil construction and contracting Transport Mining Quarrying and extractive industries Any heavy plant & machinery Valuations for financing Valuation for financial reporting Valuations for insurance purposes Sale and purchase advice of assets Asset management Company acquisitions Lease provision Equity position Market Values Liquidation Transfer of assets into company or trust
Contact: James Peacocke 0274 222 476 Email: james@mountmachinery.nz Mail: PO Box 4254, Mt Maunganui, 3149 www.mountmachinery.nz
LG27935
Forestry Equipment • Trucks • Utes – Vans – Commercials Construction Machinery • Agriculture Machinery • Quad Bikes
L G2 8 7 1 4
UPER OUGH
NZ LOGGER classified
EXPOSE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE
LG28862
Get the right exposure through NZ Logger magazine and capture the Forest industry buyers directly.
CONTACT TRISH TO ADVERTISE
mobile. 021 925 600 phone. 09 571 3544
66 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
NZ Logg
CLARK
TYRE
TRACKS Get a Grip, Grab a set, & Get more done! SPECIAL OFFER! For every set of Clark Tyre Tracks ordered during November 2018, you’ll get a FREE! BYO-Epic Box!
Single Wheel Tracks for Skidders
Bogie Wheel Tracks for Skidders & Forwarders
Call 0800 654 323 to order now! Get in fast while stocks last
NZ Logger_CLARK TRACKS_Advert_Oct 2018.indd 1
19/10/18 11:27 AM
NZ LOGGER classified
Ropetalk Tension Monitor by Logpro Limited and Strident Technology Limited
Price $8200+GST yC yM w yS p yD yD
a lib r a te d fo r th r e e r o p o n i t o r a n d se n so r co m i r e l e sl y e n so r r e a d s t e n si o n 8 e r se co n d o e s n o t h a ve w a r n i n g i sp l a y n u m b e r ch a n g e w h e n o ve r t e n si o n l i m i t y Ta b l e t su p p l i e d f o r a u t o d o w n lo a d y M o u n t i n g b r a cke t n o t su yL o g p r o L t d w i l l m a n a g e fo r $ 6 5 p e r m o n th
e is ez s m u n i ac
Tree Hugga
te
tim e s
Eco-Friendly Chain Bar Oil
si r e n s to re d
Key Benefits:
m a tic
• Cheaper, only $1.99 per litre (based on 1000L) • Eco Friendly/Vegetable Based • Better Lubrication • Non Carcinogenic • Easy to clean from clothes
p p lie d d a ta d a ily
R o p e t a l k ca n b e p u r ch a se d f r o m Doug Gerrard Strident Technology Ltd P0 9 5 3 3 4 2 1 1 M0 2 1 0 4 3 9 4 9 4 E d o u g @ st r i d e n t . co . n z
“We’ve been using Tree Hugga in our Harvesters since 2015, the only differences are the environmental benefits and the price!” Roger - Owner of Sika Logging, Taupo.
LG28734
LG28860
www.strident.co.nz
Proudly made in New Zealand by: Flower Power (NZ) Ltd. 3 Manga Rd, Silverdale. M: 021 022 04 106 E: brendon@flower-power.co.nz
STRONG & RELIABLE GRAPPLES STRONG && RELIABLE RELIABLE GRAPPLES GRAPPLES STRONG Made in NZ
• M SERIES 852 AND 864 – STRONG & RELIABLE GRAPPLES
Grapplesand andall allspares sparesinin Grapples stockwith withovernight overnightdelivery delivery stock
• GRAPPLES AND ALL SPARES IN STOCK WITH OVERNIGHT DELIVERY
LG27145
•SERIES PROVEN AFTER 852 and864 864 MMSERIES 852 and SALES SERVICE STRONG&&RELIABLE RELIABLE STRONG GRAPPLES GRAPPLES
68 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
ProvenAfter AfterSales Sales Proven Service Service ContactMarty MartyororBruce Bruce Contact Ph027 027324 3249091 9091 Ph 79Chambers ChambersStreet, Street,Tokoroa Tokoroa 79 enquiries@cdlloggrapples.co.nz enquiries@cdlloggrapples.co.nz
A DIVISION OF
NZ LOGGER classified
CONTRACTORS PLANT NZ LTD 59 Broadlands Rd - Taupo
EQUIPMENT SALES
NEW STOCK
BROKERS
HIRE
NEW STOCK RE V PR ISE ICE D
Cat 527 Track Skidder: NZ new, genuine 4,000 hours, full forestry guarding, Cat winch and fairlead. Later ball trunnion PAT blade. $315,000 plus GST
Komatsu PC400LC-8 Processor: John Deere 909KH Level Swing Feller 9,500 hours, Purpose built Forestry cab, Buncher: Only 6,800hrs, harvester boom bonnet, Logger boom and arm, Waratah and arm, Satco 424T Processing head with Caterpillar 325DFM Waratah 624 Processor: 7,360 hrs, FM 625C processing head. measuring. Purpose built Forestry machine, 624 Processor with Logrite $P.O.A $480,000 plus GST measuring system. $P.O.A ROTORUA PALMERSTON NORTH CONTACT: PHIL TODD
E: philt@heavymachineryservices.co.nz
M: 027 595 0019
P: (07) 345 4343
LG28858
Thunderbird TMY70: Kawasaki 65ZIV: Cat 511 / Southstar Processing head: Higher hours but Detroit 8V92, Factory 5 guylines, has to be sold. Tidy machine, square back Ensign log forks. cheap purpose built machine with near new undercarriage $350,000 plus GST ready for work. $45,000 plus GST $145,000 plus GST
Komatsu PC220LC-8 Log Loader: 11,000 hrs, full guarding Cat 545C Grapple Skidder: Tidy moderate hour machine, John Deere 548GIII Grapple Skidder: 5,700 hrs. NZ new, package, Ensign grapple, good undercarriage. dual function boom, 30.5 tyres. genuine low hour machine presented in excellent condition. $135,000 plus GST $P.O.A Popular size for woodlot harvesting. $175,000 plus GST
Trades Considered – Finance Available (normal lending criteria applies)
Contact: Peter Wilson Mobile: 0274 948 742 or 07 378 6844 Email: cplnz@xtra.co.nz Contact: Phil Todd Mobile: 0275 950 019 or 07 345 4343 Email: philt@heavymachineryservices.co.nz November 2018 | NZ LOGGER 69
P
NZ LOGGER classified
R
S n 9
M
S
NOW AVAILABLE FOR HIRE
M
6 t w
visit us on
T
LG26859
www.facebook.com/RWFSfieldservice
4 7
70 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
LG28857
Ph: 07 348 0501 Email: Info@rwfs.co.nz Mob: 027 817 9448 Workshop 41 Riri Street, Rotorua
C
PURE LOGGING R320-9 PROCESSOR 2013
648H JOHN DEERE GRAPPLE SKIDDER 2011
Satco 325 processor head, new pump at 7500 hours, new track chains and grousers at 8000 hours. 9750 hours. POA
MADILL SELF LEVELER HT2250C 2015
Reconditioned motor at 8000 hours, new chains on front. 11400 hours. POA
HYUNDAI R320-9 ENSIGN GRAPPLE DIGGER 2011
Satco 630 felling head, 5500 hours.
re-sealed main pump at 7000 hours. 11700 hours. POA
MADILL SELF LEVELER HT2250C twin head 2017 630 auto saw felling head, 325M auto, saw, fell, trim and measure processing head, interchangeable within 1 hour. 2500 hours. POA
TIMBER PRO840 8WHEELER FORWARDER TF8408 2011
LG28857
4 new track bands,new hydro pump at 7400 hours. 7700 hours. POA
POA
2012 HYUNDAI R290-9 FELLER BUNCHER Satco 630 felling head, new track chain and main pump at 8000 hours. 9000 hours. POA
MITSUBISHI FUSO CANTER 6 SEATER 2010 80892ks, will come with rucs, rego, cof. air, grease, waterblaster lines. 1000L diesel tank +pump. 200L water tank, endless storage, compressor. POA
Contact Gerard Harris 027 426 3331 Located in the Hokianga
NZ LOGGER classified YARD FULL OF WOODS READY LOGGING EQUIPMENT Consistent/accurate written condition reports on all equipment Excellent selection of refurbished/serviced equipment
"A name you can trust" www.forestryfirst.com We ship world wide!
11 Tigercat 635D New Engine - 12,686 hrs $125K
Call our International Sales Rep DJ Alrutz 001.828.638.1050
11 Tigercat 480 3,338 hrs - $209,500
16 Komatsu PC240LL-10 4,338 hrs - $209,500
01 Timbco T425D - Quadco 360 head 9,100 hrs - $125K
15 Tigercat T250D 2,783 hrs - $225K
Lexington SC USA (P) 001.803.708.0624 - sales@forestryfirst.com - Ask for DJ
72 NZ LOGGER | November 2018
LG25750
LG26875
*pricing in USD
16 TC LS855D w/ TC 5195 head 904 hrs - $450K
FOR SALE: Clark F665, 666, F667, Cat 525B Grapple Skidder, JD648G, TJACK 460, 560. DOZERS: Caterpillar, D4H, D6C, D6H, Komatsu D65 + D85, tie back dozers, D85/21. Excavators: Caterpillar 320, 322, 325, 330, B,C & D. Hyundai 250/9 Volvo 240C log rigged. Teebar manufactured and sold. Wheeled loader WA470/3.
Lakeland Heavy Machinery Ltd
Branches now in the NZ LARGEST RANGE OF SKIDDER SALE:BETTER Clark 664, 666C, 666B, F67 Grapple Skidders North & South Island CHAINS, HEAVIER HEA FORAND Komatsu D65/6 and D85/21 log rigged, CAT 936, 950B and Komatsu WA470/ wheeled loaders, buckets or forks.
Forestry Tyre Chains NZ LARGEST RANGE OF SKIDDER
Branches noNZ w in LARGEST the North & South IslSTOCKS and
Super Heavy DutyHEAVIER AND BETTER CHAINS, 35.5x32 - Weight 10000kg 30.5x32 - Weight 950kg 29.5x32 28L Super Heavy Duty 23.5x26 30.5x32 - Weight 950kg
Forestry Tyre Chains
OF DOZER
NZ LARGEST + DIGGER STOCKS CHAINS, OFROLLERS DOZER + DIGGER IDLERS, CHAINS, SPROCKETS ROLLER available Roller rebuilding/reshells Track press service IDLERS, Mini Excavator tracks SPROCKETS
35.5x32
Heavy 29.5x32 Duty
30.5x32 -23.5x26 Weight 650kg Heavy Duty Machines
30.5x32 - Weight 650kg
Zaxis 270Standard with teebar. Teebars in stock. D7H with30.5x32 winch - Weight 365kg Machines
Roller rebuilding/reshells available Track press service available Mini excavator tracks also available
PC350/6 with teebar or grapple DYH with winch
Cat and Komatsu Pumps Komatsu Pumps
WE QUOTE HEAVY TRACK CHAINS WE DUTY QUOTE HEAVY DUTY TRACK CHAINS BONING OUT DISMANTLING 525 CAT 518,CAT 525A B & C, Clark, WRECKING, SKIDDERS, John Deere TJack. BULLDOZERS, LOADERS, Excavators all makes, CAT EXCAVATORS All Models, 3x 33OD Cat, FOR SALE: Dozer parts
NYLON / FIBRE DRIVE GEARS NYLON / FIBRE DRIVE GEARS
CAT D5B, D6D, D7H D65 & D85 KOMATSU POA TRY US WE ARE FOR WORTH IT! SALE: More Machines On Our Website NEWParts PARTS, CAT, KOMATSU, New Clark off the shelf MACHINES $2476-$6884 + gst. Grouser Bar From $36 per 3 EXCAVATORS metres HITACHI & SUMI ADJUSTERS DOZERS + DIGGERS Scrap Handling units also 32.5x32 FIRESTONE available Used Tyres RECOIL SPRINGS AVAILABLE 126-136 View Road, PO Box 1976, Rotorua Email: info@heavy-machinery.co.nz • Phone: 07 347 0765 • Fax: 07 349 2325 • Mob 0274 945 886 ROTATING GRAPPLES TO FIT 1 TO 40 TONNES ROTATING GRAPPLES MACHINES $2476 to 30K + gst. TO FIT 1 TONNE TO 15 TONNE Shears, dredge buckets
126-136 View Road, PO Box 1976, Rotorua Email: info@heavy-machinery.co.nz
• Phone: 07 347 0765 • Fax: 07 349 2325 • Mob 0274 945 886 Check our website for more info www.heavy-machinery.co.nz
Check our website for more info www.heavy-machinery.co.nz
EXCAVATOR WORLD
Hokitika South Island BULLDOZERS EXCAVATORS SKIDDERS
ALL NEW STOCK
ORS EXCAVAT FOR SALE
er in 0/3 30 tonn Hitachi EX30 et or grapple. ck bu r de or nice + GST $39,000
LG25750
• • • •
Buckets Cabins Final Drive Parts Grapples
• • • •
Pump Parts Ram Seal Kits ROPS Slew Drives
ALL MAKES, NEW WINDOWS, NEW DOORS + PANELS, NEW RADIATORS AND COOLERS, ENGINE KITS + GASKETS, COMPUTERS, FINAL DRIVES AND PUMPS
reduce downtime. 3 WAYS COOKES CAN HELP MAXIMISE ROPE LIFE AND REDUCE DOWNTIME
Swage 6x31
Larger blocks
BriLube
Our Swaged 6x31 rope provides improved flexibility and increased bend cycles, meaning reduced downtime. Ensuring optimum performance from your graple yarder.
Are your blocks part of the problem? Increasing the diameter of your blocks means increasing the bend cycle performance of your ropes lowering your production costs.
Forestry ropes work hard and fast and with this generate heat and loss of lubricant. Brilube 30 will ensure you get the maximum life from your wire ropes.
YOUNGS LIGHTWEIGHT HEAVY DUTY HAULBACK BLOCKS. When using quality rope, complete the package with Youngs quality blocks. High Strength Alloy Steel Sheaves
Price Competitive
Timken Taper Roller Bearings
Quality U.S Manufacturing
SPEA K T O T HE T E AM TH AT KNOWS THE R O P E S Northland Lana Power 029 773 0744
Tauranga Lance Godfrey 027 480 9589
Upper South Island Mike Beleski 027 479 6806
Auckland/Waikato Andy Palmer 027 474 6032
Rotorua/Lower North Island Dave Caulfield 027 474 2809
Canterbury/Lower Sth Island Steve Marshall 027 434 7148
www.cookes.co.nz