NZ Logger August 2020

August 2020

| $7.20

A better

ISSN 1176-0397

Heavyweight without the weight

NZ School of Forestry celebrates 50 years!

An old-time Pine planter looks back

A NEW DAY.

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contents AUGUST 2020

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FOREST TALK New construction policy bodes well for timber use; Port Nelson restructures; First bio-secure Kauri sanctuary in the pipeline; Labour defends farmland; Forest owners to fund Tolaga Bay cleanup; It’s not road versus rail; Revamp for Tigercat’s 220E loader; ‘Real world’ skills training; ForestTECH 2020 – it’s on!; Polycarbonate protection.

30 18

30 12

CONFERENCE COVERAGE Forest Safety 2020: No simple solutions to complex problems; Technology takes on safety; Six steps to beating fatigue.

WoodTECH 2020: Manufacturing in the fourth industrial revolution; Here come the cobots; People matter more than ever; Bring on the robots.

SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST Brolly Logging’s 36-tonne class newcomer has undergone extensive surgery, including a purpose-built forestry cab, in addition to the high and wide chassis, reinforced hydraulic clamshell bonnet and loads of guarding. And that’s just the start of what this Next Gen Cat 336 has to offer.

SPECIAL FEATURE: NZ SCHOOL OF FORESTRY 50TH This year the NZ School of Forestry at the University of Canterbury celebrates its 50th year of producing leaders, thinkers and above all, hard workers to grow the forestry sector.

36 36

SILVICULTURE There’s more to Pine planting than meets the eye. Jeremiah Hori gives a fascinating first-hand account of his career mountains and milestones.

DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 38 fica 40 top spot 43 new iron 47 classifieds

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 1

from the editor

August 2020

The future is now!

| $7.20

A better

ISSN 1176-0397

PHOTO: JOHN ELLEGARD

Heavyweight without the weight

NZ School of Forestry celebrates 50 years!

An old-time Pine planter looks back

There’s no substitute for quality and reliability in the forest, which is why Jude Brolly got himself a customised Next Gen Cat 336.

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2 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

A

S ALWAYS, THERE’S NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN FORESTRY. WITH OUR pages hot off the press, Parliament has just passed the controversial Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill which we covered in detail last month.

Among other requirements, forestry advisers, log traders and exporters will be required to register and work to nationally agreed practice standards.

Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, says the Bill will provide better information on log supply and help build forestry links and investor confidence in the sector.

Not everyone agrees and it will be interesting to see the true impact of the Bill on the forestry sector in the coming months.

Meanwhile, a sharp fall in log prices has raised concerns of job losses but if you dig a little deeper, the drop shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The lack of exports during lockdown, and resulting increased demand, created a false market which couldn’t remain buoyant with Europe and America still largely closed to China. The impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry has also played a role.

But with close proximity to China and competitive pricing, the NZ industry will no doubt turn around before long. And a glance into the future is exactly what our most recent industry conferences gave us. Forest Safety 2020 and WoodTECH 2020 were no less informative and engaging than in previous years, despite their online formats.

Forest Safety 2020 covered fatigue, the influence of workplace culture and personal life on safety, and safety technologies – illustrating the fact that safety issues are changing, with risks less about major physical damage from trees and branches and more about less visible harms.

WoodTECH 2020 had its focus on disruptive technologies, with some fascinating case studies offering a glimpse into the future of wood manufacturing. It soon became clear that the future is now!

With so many interesting speakers at both, we cover a small selection but encourage you to read further on these fascinating issues.

Also in this edition you’ll find a heavy-duty Iron Test and we celebrate Canterbury University’s School of Forestry’s half century! It’s hard to believe so many years have passed since those early days but the School certainly has made its mark on the NZ forestry industry.

After that you’ll find a gem of a story from a Pine planter who feels the role of planters is too often overlooked. His account of the rigours and rewards of planting over the years will have you looking at this occupation with new respect.

By contrast, look out for a feature on mechanised planting later this year.

Towards the future indeed.

Until next time, stay safe.

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forest talk

New construction policy bodes well for timber use THE MBIE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ‘BUILDING FOR CLIMATE Change’ will mean more timber is used in New Zealand construction says the Forest Owners Association (FOA).

FOA President, Phil Taylor, says he’s been waiting three years for the government to announce a wood preference, or wood first policy, for new government buildings, since it was part of the 2017 Labour Party Manifesto.

“Even though the MBIE announcement doesn’t mention wood at all, the inevitable result of a government attempt to drive down the use of carbon emitting building materials, will mean more wood is used in construction overall.

“So, it’s potentially better than having ‘wood first’ which would have been restricted to just the government sector.”

The MBIE announcement identifies a change in construction materials as one way to reduce the carbon footprint of New Zealand buildings to combat climate change.

“Iron and concrete are carbon emitters – wood on the other hand locks up carbon for the life of the building,” says Mr Taylor.

“We don’t imagine for a moment that every construction in every town and every city will be all wood, but we do expect the ratio of wood use to markedly increase as this policy works through into building codes,” he adds.

“It’s also a timely announcement for the government to make.

We’ve spent the past few weeks trying to get the government to

FOA President, Phil Taylor. listen to us that before more wood processing can occur in New Zealand, the market needs to expand.

“The solution is not the Log Bill, which is currently before parliament, and which NZIER has called ‘a policy throwback to another time’ with an attempt to force more logs into local mills instead of exports.

“The solution is in growing the timber market though specifying buildings which are more climate friendly.” NZL

Port Nelson restructures PORT NELSON HAS RESTRUCTURED ITS LOGISTICS and warehousing operations in a drive to both improve efficiencies and connect more closely with its customers.

All warehousing and packing services on the Port will be consolidated into one operation, QuayPack. This will allow the QuayConnect operation to work more closely with clients, to offer supply chain solution services.

QuayConnect turned five years old this year. Since its inception in 2016 this new approach has led to the annual removal of approximately 5150 truck trips, or 620,000km of travel, saving 900 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to the traditional logistics model between Nelson and Marlborough, says a Port spokesperson. To put these numbers into context, the total CO2 removed to date is the equivalent to what would be removed by a 1000-hectare forest over this period.

This new focus for QuayConnect will allow it to seek and achieve similar efficiency improvements for its clients. This work will continue to move product from the Te Tauihu region out to major New Zealand centres and the international market.

QuayPack was established over 20 years ago to service the export needs of the forestry sector, primarily the storage and packing of MDF, LVL and swan timber, and as an accredited Transitional Facility. Its service offering has grown over the years to include wine flexitank fitting and now, under its new

4 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

structure, has a total of 40,000m 2 of warehousing and service space in the Nelson and Marlborough region.

The Port sees challenging times ahead for the next 18 months, with the ongoing global implications of COVID-19 saying wine, apples, kiwifruit, fish, and logs are likely to continue to have strong export demand, with processed timber more likely to be impacted by the economic downturn but remaining strong for the region. As it is unlikely that the cruise industry will fully recover by the coming season despite murmurs of domestic cruising, this lack of arrivals will severely impact the Port. NZL

forest talk

First bio-secure Kauri sanctuary in the pipeline THE GOVERNMENT AND NORTHLAND iwi Ngāti Rēhia have announced some $6 million in One Billion Trees funding for a new Kauri sanctuary.

Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, says the sanctuary will be New Zealand’s first biosecure Kauri sanctuary, free of Kauri dieback disease.

“I am pleased to announce the establishment of a Kauri sanctuary that will help protect this precious taonga for future generations. There is no known cure for dieback and without innovations such as this, we may continue to see our kauri forests ravaged by the disease,” says Mr Jones.

Since 2018 Ngāti Rēhia have been clearing

the selected site, building fences, testing the soil and adhering to biosecurity measures to ensure it is free of Kauri dieback, with help from funding from the One Billion Trees fund.

“Clearing and caring for this land has been no easy feat, but this is Ngāti Rēhia ancestral land and they are committed to using it to protect Kauri and create educational and employment opportunities for their people,” says Mr Jones.

The funding means Ngāti Rēhia can move ahead with works such as: • Establishing pest-proof fencing.

• Creating boardwalks and other requirements for biosecurity such as installing and improving existing quarantine stations.

• Further land clearing and planting activities.

• Employment and training of Ngāti Rēhia iwi to become kaitiaki of their lands.

• In 2018, Government funding of $288,000 was committed to a partnership between Ngāti Rēhia and Scion to determine whether ancestral land in Takou Bay was free of Kauri dieback.

This involved soil testing and analysis for Kauri dieback. The feasibility study was one of the first of its kind to determine whether Kauri, or other native species, could be successfully established in Northland and remain disease-free. NZL

Labour defends farmland LABOUR MPS SAY THEY WILL require any conversion of highly productive farmland into forestry to have a resource consent to ensure rural communities are well supported during the country’s economic recovery.

“While we will continue to plant the right tree in the right place to meet our climate change challenges, our food producing soil will be our number one priority,” says Labour Party forestry spokesperson, Stuart Nash.

“Within the first six months of the next term of Government, we will revise the National Environment Standards for Plantation Forestry to enable councils to once again determine what classes of land can be used for plantation and carbon forests.

“Resource consent would be required for plantation or carbon forests on Land Use Capability Classes 1-5 – often known as elite soils – above a threshold of 50 hectares per farm to allow farmers flexibility in creating small plantations to support environmental goals,” Mr Nash says.

“While 90% of forestry planting for ETS purpose happens on less productive soils in classes 6-8, we want to ensure all planting happens away from our most valuable soils 1-5,” adds Labour Party rural communities spokesperson, Kieran McAnulty.

“Forestry is not bad: we need the right tree in the right place, but we also need the right mechanism to ensure this,” she says. NZL

Labour Party forestry spokesperson, Stuart Nash.

Forest owners to fund Tolaga Bay clean-up THE BEACH IN UAWA IS STREWN WITH LOGS AND DEBRIS from forestry operations up in the hills which washed up after just a metre of rain fell in 24 hours. The Forest Owners Association (FOA) has apologised and says the industry is committed to cleaning the beach and owners will pay for it, not ratepayers.

“I can assure the community on the East Coast that the forest industry is committed to cleaning the beach up in conjunction with GDC (Gisborne District Council). That planning is underway,” says FOA President, Phil Taylor.

“The reality is this is likely to continue but in a reducing way for a number of months and years,” he adds.

Work has been ongoing since the storm of 2018, but it is a high-risk

job to remove the logs and debris from the ravines, he explains: “What I can tell the community is that the forestry companies unreservedly apologise for this and they are doing their utmost to ensure the impacts are reduced. Where it does continue to come out of the forests – which should be on a much-reduced level – they commit to clean it up.”

More rain could cause even more problems for the region. Tolaga Bay Civil Defence emergency manager, Greg Shelton, says unlike the greener logs in 2018, this time there is more slash.

“We’ve been lucky. All the slash and silt stayed in the waterways.

Apart from road closures, there have been no infrastructure, houses or fences damaged.” NZL

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 5

forest talk

It’s not road versus rail THE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTING $40 MILLION THROUGH the Provincial Growth Fund to designate and buy land and design a planned intermodal freight hub to deal with growing freight volumes in the lower North Island, just northeast of Palmerston North.

“KiwiRail has looked at a range of potential sites around Palmerston North, considering a range of factors. Building the 2.5km long road-rail hub between the airport and Bunnythorpe makes sense,” says Minister Shane Jones.

“New Zealand’s freight volumes are forecast to increase by more than 50% in the decades ahead and Manawatu’s role in this is nationally important.

“Palmerston North is already a key logistics and distribution centre for the lower North Island and the regional freight hub will help take that to a new level – attracting more distribution businesses and helping create jobs while reducing congestion from heavy trucks in and around the city.

“Building the hub next to the major distribution companies in the North-East Industrial Zone will ensure rail is close to potential customers and Palmerston North Airport, while supporting the local and regional councils’ vision for Palmerston North.”

The regional freight hub will also link to planned council and NZTA road improvement projects, which will manage road freight traffic around Palmerston North and Bunnythorpe.

“The regional freight hub will bring a log yard, a container

terminal, warehousing for freight businesses, and KiwiRail’s operations and maintenance facilities, together in one place,” Mr Jones adds.

“It will make the transfer of domestic and export goods between road and rail safe and easy, and create an ‘inland port’ that will attract more logistics businesses to the area.

“This is the kind of big picture view we need to take across our transport system. It’s not about road versus rail. Innovations like this hub are about making the best of all transport modes, which sets our regions up for economic growth while minimising the impact on our people.”

Meanwhile, the Wairoa to Napier line is gathering dust.

“Accompanied by a brass band, Minister Shane Jones announced in 2018 that the launch of the Wairoa to Napier line represented a ‘great day’. He confidently predicted there would be six trains a week on the line. In addition to providing cheaper transport for the logging industry, the revamped line was supposed to reduce the number of trucks on the roads,” says New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke.

“In reality, there have been three trains in five months which equates to a miserable 0.15 trips a week. The logging industry has shunned the rail service and trucking continues unaltered.

Taxpayers have spent $6.2m for effectively nothing more than press conference on a train. That is over $2 million a train trip.” NZL

Revamp for Tigercat’s 220E loader TIGERCAT HAS RECENTLY RELEASED THE 220E loader with notable improvements, including an upgraded operator’s station and the addition of the Tigercat FPT power plant.

Conforming to Tier 2 and Tier 4 emission requirements, the quick and lightweight 220E is powered by the Tigercat FPT N45 Tier 4f or the Tigercat FPT N67 Tier 2 engine, delivering 125kW (168hp).

The totally redesigned operator’s station has a significantly improved climate control system along with a number of additional features to improve operator experience.

The new heavy-duty suspension seat is wider and standard equipped with heating and cooling. The seat has improved adjustability and many of the frequently used rocker switches have been repositioned into the armrest mounted joystick pod for enhanced ergonomics. The climate control system is further enhanced by the addition of window blinds for the front windshield and skylight. Acoustical engineering along with the quiet Tigercat FPT engine contributes to

6 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

extremely low in-cab noise levels, while the new sound system with Bluetooth® audio allows for hands-free calling.

A new main pump and larger hoses to the boom cylinders provide faster boom and swing functions. Hydraulic component layout remains unchanged, with hydraulic

valves easily accessible underneath the deck plate cover, allowing for clean, easy service access. The updated electrical system incorporates hydraulic pressure sensors that can be monitored on the display in the cab as well as improving fuel economy with an automatic engine idle down feature. NZL

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forest talk

‘Real world’ skills training EASTLAND WOOD COUNCIL HAS TAKEN POSSESSION OF ITS own Waratah training simulator.

“We are grateful for funding from both the Forest Growers’ Levy Trust through supporting our Generation Programme (GP), and Trust Tairawhiti to enable us to purchase it. The simulator is a great training asset for the region to have. There is a strong industry demand for trained and skilled machine operators,” says the Council’s Kim Holland.

Karl Christensen from Waratah in Rotorua provided training to the tutors at Turanga Ararau Forestry Training, and to forestry supervisors who will train others in using the equipment.

“Having the simulator provides more opportunity across the industry to access ‘real world’ skills training to build the capability of our forestry workforce. It enables us to provide the skills that our workers need as we move towards the increased use of mechanisation across the industry,” says Ms Holland.

She adds that Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, announced the

release of the Wood Processing and Forest Industry Workforce Development Plan earlier this year, with a strong move towards utilising technology. “Increasing the use of technology across the industry, but particularly for harvesting reduces the health and safety risks of our workforce, particularly those that work in high rise areas such as fallers,” she says.

The simulator will be used as part of the GP Base Camp training programme, to ensure that the GP training continues to be relevant to the needs of industry by increasing the skills and training base of trainees. It will also be used for other industry machine operator training as required, as part of the Forest Industry EXPO at the Gisborne A&P Show, and for other industry events. NZL

ForestTECH 2020 – it’s on!

EVERY YEAR, SINCE 2007, FORESTRY RESOURCE MANAGERS, remote sensing, GIS and mapping specialists, inventory foresters, researchers and key technology suppliers from across Australasia have attended the forestry technology series, ForestTECH. It has now well and truly established itself on the international forestry calendar. As well as Australian and New Zealand companies, forestry companies and technology providers from the USA, Canada, Europe, SE Asia, South Africa and South America are regularly involved with the annual technology updates.

With a bit of to-ing and fro-ing around restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) can finally announce that the 2020 event is on! It will run in Rotorua on 18-19 November 2020. Early details can be found on the event website, www.foresttech.events/ft20 The usual format, though, has been changed. This will allow maximum interaction with inventory foresters and tree crop managers from across the region – and further afield. Major changes include: 1. In addition to the usual focus on remote sensing and new data collection technologies, for the first time since 2008, a second day will focus on mechanised planting and automated silviculture.

European technologies are already well advanced and are being trialled on flatter terrain by some of the larger forestry companies in New Zealand and Australia.

2. For the first time since its inception, the physical event (on-site presentations, exhibitions and workshops) will be run in just one location, Rotorua, New Zealand. This is a direct consequence of border restrictions between countries and between States in Australia. This provides some surety for planning for exhibitors and delegates.

3. Live links from the New Zealand event will be set up for those unable to travel (because of border restrictions, company directives or budgets). This ensures Australian and international delegates can still be actively involved this year. On-line questions from virtual conference delegates will be able to be made to all presenters – live.

8 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

4. An additional Australian component has been set up for virtual conference delegates. A selection of Australian presenters planned to present in the original conference programme have been included in a special 90-minute on-line workshop on the completion of day two.

5. Increased international involvement will be through the new live and virtual hybrid format. Key technology presenters from the USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, South Africa, Brazil and Australia will be presenting this year.

6. Two additional half-day workshops will be available to those delegates attending in Rotorua. These include a half-day Remote Sensing Cluster Group meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday 17 November and a half-day demo and workshop on the Hovermap LiDAR simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) technology being run by Interpine, Emesent and Scion following the conference and exhibitions on the morning of Friday 20 November.

Further details and information can be found on the event website.

See pages 12-16 for report-backs on two recent online conferences, Forest Safety 2020 and WoodTECH 2020. NZL

Mechanised tree planting using the Finnish Risutec Planter.

logger4.indd 1

22/07/20 10:16 AM

forest talk

Polycarbonate protection

Above: GlassProtech technician installing film on site.

Right: GlassProtech Eastern’s Max Wood (left) and GlassProtech Christchurch’s Jake Wood (right).

NEED TO IMPROVE SITE SAFETY, MAINTAIN CLEAR VISION FOR operators and keep your fleet in good working order? Polycarbonate could well be the answer. Polycarbonate is used as a replacement for glass whenever there is a need for clear vision but glass is deemed too heavy, or glass shattering is a real hazard.

Cost-efficient application of polycarbonate screen and marguard protection on forestry machines, diggers, trucks and other heavy machinery, provides improved operator vision and, as a result, operator safety.

GlassProtech offers specialised glass protection and restoration throughout NZ. It began as a service company for heavy machinery operators, providing polycarbonate protection to forestry machines, diggers and other heavy machinery. The company was the first to bring polycarbonate protection services to NZ nearly 20 years ago and is today run by locally-based experts.

Typical projects include installing polycarbonate window film on forestry machinery windscreens to protect them from scratching. To avoid costly business interruptions and operative disruption, the job can be done wherever is most convenient, even at workshops or on forestry sites.

In terms of maintenance, polycarbonate protective film can be replaced at a cost far lower than replacing the polycarbonate itself.

The film can considerably prolong the lifespan of the polycarbonate and gives a financially viable option to glass while still keeping vision clear.

10 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

New to the GlassProtech team are a pair of young brothers from Wellington.

Keen to follow in his parents’ footsteps, Jake at age 18 jumped at the opportunity to purchase a GlassProtech franchise in Christchurch when it became available in late 2018. This meant relocation for him and his partner and the start of a new journey. He covers the lower half of the South island and other areas on road trips.

Max at 21 was of the same thinking when the owner of a long term franchise in the Eastern region decided to hang up his tools in late 2019. Max was already living with his partner in Napier and working in engineering fabrication, producing attachments for forestry machinery.

The deal was done, and this is the new base for GlassProtech Eastern, serving the east of the North Island including Taupo and Gisborne.

Both Max and Jake had previous experience in the industry and have undergone extensive training in all aspects of the GlassProtech system.

The pair have adapted well to business life, albeit with a pretty large learning curve.

As for all involved in the forestry industry, COVID-19 had a large impact on both new businesses, but some creative thinking and support from GlassProtech NZ saw both of them come out the other side. They are now in full swing, and ready to provide protection solutions for forestry substrates of all types.

They are attending the Safetree Conference: Connect for Success in Wellington on 19 and 20 November 2020, so if you are there, drop by the GlassProtech trade stand 13 and say hi…. NZL

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Forest Safety 2020

No simple solutions to complex problems FATALITIES ARE “PROBABLY THE WORST thing to measuresafety performance on, but they get people’s attention,” says keynote speaker at Forest Safety 2020, Roger Harris – British Columbia’s (BC) longstanding Forest Safety Ombudsman. From his experience dealing with industry and government, he spoke on Lessons learnt over a Decade: An Independent View of Key Drivers and Outcomes for Improving Forest Workplace Health and Safety.

Mr Harris says an ombudsman’s role is not to be an advocate for change, but to help those who’ve set goals for themselves to achieve them. In 2005, when a staggering 43 people were killed in the BC forest sector, Government and industry together drove the formation of the BC Forest Safety Council.

Up to then people “weren’t comfortable raising issues” in case of fallout, he says. So the ombudsman position was created to serve as a safe forum in 2006. “It is difficult to facilitate between two very different parties, so the ombudsman could look more widely at the industry and use reviews to assess and provide recommendations,” says Mr Harris.

Initiatives to improve safety outcomes in the forest sector range from labour agreements to forest policy changes, often with the understanding that the more you harvest the more likely you will have accidents: “The intuitive thinking is that in years of high harvest you should expect more fatalities and accidents,” says Mr Harris. “In my experience over 14 years in this job, there is very little evidence to support that. If you could regulate and legislate safety, it would have been done a long time ago. For the first half of my tenure it was the industry that was more engaged in safety, more recently it’s

Forest Safety 2020 Year

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Annual harvest (000s cubic metres)

Accepted Fatal Claims – WorkSafe BC

73,937 79,232 75,639 76,471 75,213 68,629 64,967 75,998 76,988 72,008 73,386 61,925 92,361 83,136 78,652

High harvest doesn’t necessarily mean more fatalities and accidents. the public too. I’ve found over time that people are constantly looking for simple solutions to complex problems and those just don’t exist.

Achieving safety objectives is complex.”

He identifies several crucial components of a safety culture: • Process and substance – solid legislation and regulation but the process is not always more important than the results.

• Industry, not company driven – publicly responsive.

• Safety culture lives in the mindsets, attitudes and behaviours of workers,

A case in point A SENTENCING DECISION RECENTLY released in Wellington District Court is a reminder that working on slopes is a daily challenge, and planning and communication are essential safety components.

Logging extraction company, Sabre Logging, was fined $60 000 for failing to manage the risk associated with using machinery near steep slopes, after a worker suffered a fatal head injury in 2017.

12 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

27 33 35 30 40 41 26 25 27 30 31 26 16 43 18

Amount of Annual harvest per person (000 cubic metres) 2,738 2,401 2,161 2,549 1,880 1,674 2,499 3,040 2,851 2,400 2,367 2,382 5,773 1,933 4,370

While hauling logs, one snagged. When the worker went to reposition the skidder to free the log, the machine lost balance and rolled down the hill.

WorkSafe’s Chief Inspector, Steve Kelly, says there was no causative link between Sabre Logging’s failings and the worker’s death.

However, the risk of the skidder rolling was not minimised.

He says WorkSafe’s investigation found

supervisors, managers and owners – as opposed to specific policies and programmes.

• It is not what leadership writes through their beliefs, but rather what leadership conveys through their actions.

Ultimately the safety process is about leadership engagement, a collective industry strategy, freedom to fail instead of fear of discipline, employees themselves stopping any at-risk behaviour, good relationships at all levels, integrating safety into day-to-day work and celebrating successes along the way, he says. NZL

extraction tracks were not properly formed, with debris on one track and another was sloped on a reverse camber.

“The company also did not measure the gradient of the slope prior to work taking place and this was judged by experience only,” says Mr Kelly.

“A site specific hazard plan should have been implemented and reviewed daily, taking the changing terrain and gradient of the slope into account. This message should be heeded by all businesses working outdoors as the risk is not exclusive to forestry.” NZL

Forest Safety 2020

Six steps to beating fatigue FATIGUE MAY NOT BE THE sole cause of workplace accidents but when you dig deep, it’s often the root cause, Fiona Johnston, Managing Director at Shiftwork Services told delegates.

Worksafe NZ defines fatigue as a state of physical and/or mental exhaustion which can reduce a person’s ability to perform work safely and effectively, reduce alertness and may lead to errors, and an increase in workplace incidents and injuries. Common causes of fatigue include poor sleep, work environment, hours of work and emotional wellbeing. It can affect mood and appearance as well as performance.

Ms Johnston’s role is to help shift workers manage sleep and fatigue, to sleep better, feel better and live with more energy and focus. With firsthand experience of fatigue working in security in the Shetland islands for oil rigs she says at that time she “did everything wrong”. She subsequently trained as an occupational therapist and her experience in sleep management in mental health services encouraged her to develop six steps to sleep well regardless of other problems. “The goal is empowerment,” says Ms Johnston.

The six steps are:

Common Signs of Fatigue Mood ❑Irritable ❑Easily stressed ❑Distant ❑Unconcerned ❑Overreactive

Appearance ❑Yawning ❑Rubbing eyes ❑Slouching ❑Constant blinking ❑Slurred speech

• Personality – things like body clock, natural rhythm and sleep positions.

• Mindset – negative thoughts can be selffulfilling.

• Bedroom – be aware of things that help and disrupt sleep eg, TV and phone as well as pillows and mattress.

• Bed time routine – this gets your body to train your mind for sleep. Using sensory modulation to calm your nervous system also enables good sleep.

• Relaxation techniques.

• Daytime activities – healthy food and exercise.

Performance ❑Cut corners ❑Forgetful ❑Poor decisions ❑Poor judgement of time and distance ❑Sleeping on the job

Fatigue follows the classic boiled frog analogy she says, with workers moving from being a little bit tired to exhausted without being mindful of the severity or effects. “By measuring hours of work we can predict how fatigued you are likely to be at any time of the day or night,” says Ms Johnston.

She says according to the Centre of Sleep Research, the minimum amount of sleep we need is five hours in 24, 12 in 48 and 50 hours in a week. Below that you are operating at the legal limit for drinking and driving! Consider that the next time you sit at the helm of a powerful machine. NZL

Technology takes on safety AUTOMATED IN-CAB DRIVER MONITORING IS REVOLUTIONISING workplace and transport safety, Autosense’s Fiona Weston told conference delegates.

The Guardian in-cab unit – your guardian in the passenger seat – detects fatigue and distraction while driving.

It has three primary roles: • To prevent fatigue or distraction.

• To protect by waking the driver up.

• To review and advise preventative measures to keep safe.

The technology uses facial recognition points around the eyes and nose, operating on eye closure for fatigue and head movement for distraction. “It alerts if you are distracted or wakes you up with an alarm or seat shaking if you fall asleep and then provides data and camera footage to the Arizona-based centre. It’s really a buddy in the cab to keep you safe while driving,” explains Ms Weston.

With an initial baseline for each driver and thresholds to catch microsleeps, the system is custom applied.

“The driver himself may not know he has suffered a fatigue event.

Fatigue is not always the classic feeling tired with blinking and exhaustion,” she says.

With close to 2500 units currently operating across all types of trucking in NZ, some interesting forestry-specific data has emerged: • The rate of fatigue in forestry is similar to the national average, even though that average includes a considerable amount of nightshift driving.

• Parameters often need to be adjusted for forestry, for instance allowing for glancing at screens for maps and driving between 10 and 20kph on forestry roads.

• GPS issues when loading require covering of the camera when stationary.

• 3G coverage increases the importance of an immediate in-cab alarm.

• There is often fatigue on open-road driving – typical of the nature of microsleeps.

In answer to the two main concerns from drivers – if they are being watched all the time and if the system’s infrared light can damage their eyes, Ms Weston gives a clear no. Only a potential event is recorded in response to fatigue (eye closure) or distraction (head turn) and the light is at the low end of the spectrum – 2% of daylight – and has been tested. NZL

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 13

WoodTECH 2020

Manufacturing in the fourth industrial revolution WITH THE COST TO ENTRY AS LOW AS EVER AND THE TOOLS more accessible and user-friendly than ever, there is no better time to invest in technology for a business, says David Chuter, CEO and MD, Innovative Manufacturing CRC, Australia, speaking at Woodtech 2020.

The biggest change and investment for companies right now is in: • ‘The internet of things’, forecast to be a multitrillion dollar industry.

• Robotics – collaborative robots or cobots.

• Artificial intelligence/machine learning.

• Computing power to allow this all to take place.

Mr Chuter urges companies not to “get caught up in the tech”.

“Rather, think what it can do for you and your business and supply chains,” he says.

The so-called fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0 – encompasses a range of tools and technologies, several examples of which were covered at WoodTECH 2020. With 100 years between each historical industrial revolution, this marker of disruptive

technology took place in half the time.

On the manufacturing side it includes sensor and data analytics, advanced materials, smart robotics and automation, additive manufacturing (3D printing) and augmented and virtual reality. Of course, there’s also the software side.

And it’s all about improved outcomes, particularly in the timber industry. “It’s the what you do, the why and the how,” says Mr Chuter. It’s about capturing value inside your business – from energy use and labour efficiency to machine operation and risk mitigation.

Also things like service opportunities, research and development, he emphasises. In turn, this leads to new growth opportunities eg, through tracking and tracing logs through the manufacturing process and tracking logistics.

Mr Chuter says businesses need to ask actionable questions: “Ask what your business is and what is unique about your business model, then ask what technology can do to enhance that business model, especially in this disruptive world. How can you grow your uniqueness going forward using these technologies?” NZL

Here come the cobots COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS, OR COBOTS, OFFER NEW opportunities for wood producers says Nathan Allpress, Mechanical Engineer at Callaghan Innovation, NZ. These robots or robot arms are designed for working with people, he told conference delegates. “They are easy to use,” says Mr Allpress. “If you can use a touchscreen, you can programme a robot.

Built in sensors stop the cobot if it comes into contact with anything.

So they are safe to use, programmed with a combination of a touch screen and physically manipulating the robot by hand.”

He adds that they are flexible to re-use in different applications eg, for product customisation with similar but different tasks.

Overall, he says cobots offer increased productivity, improved quality, compensation for seasonal labour shortages and safety: “You can reduce time spent on dull, dirty and dangerous tasks and get consistency, quality and cost savings back. They fill the in between space between a human and fully automated/mechanised robot, so they can work alongside a human and take on the difficult or customised parts of a task.”

In terms of the wood industry, opportunities are numerous, including: • Machine tending – where it is dangerous to access or tying up an operator unnecessarily.

• Finishing tasks like polishing and grinding.

• Assembly tasks for a manufactured wood product.

• Packaging and palletising eg, to unload conveyers or stack and de-stack pallets.

14 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

• Mr Allpress’ tips for best use of this technology include: • Invest time in learning – play around and get comfortable with it.

• Start with simple tasks and see where it makes sense to use it.

• Have a clear idea of the problem you’re trying to solve and the value you’re trying to add eg, increase productivity, improve quality or solve a Health & Safety problem.

• Consider the whole process.

• Do a safety risk assessment for the whole process.

Cobots now make up 5% of the global robots and automation market, estimated to take up 30% in the next decade. In New Zealand, companies can try one out for 30 days from Callaghan Innovation. NZL

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WoodTECH 2020

People matter more than ever GISBORNE’S SHAUN BOSSON SPOKE ON WOOD ENGINEERING Technology’s (WET) innovative operation producing optimised engineered lumber and soon to be producing optimised engineered panels at the company’s fully automated production facility in Gisborne.

The challenge was to build a fully functioning plant in Gisborne based on the pilot plant in Auckland. The machines and manufacturing process were all WET’s own design. The impressive capacity is a 50+ machine centre processing 7000 components an hour, 24/7.

This was implemented using Industry 4.0 philosophies of fully automated continuous production, laser and general sensing technologies, mass serialisation and big data, continuous innovation and the like.

Mr Bosson says it was important to “run at tech not away from it” and to build internal competency to manage it. IT and OT (operations technology) had to converge to interact seamlessly.

Added to this he says, “It’s all about the data and lots of it. Data has never been cheaper, so we needed as much as we could get our hands on to future-proof the business.”

This includes unique identification of all work in progress and the finished lumber which are all serialised and barcoded.

He emphasises also that it’s “not just about robots”: “People matter more than ever – the role of the team just changes. There is now more optimisation and problem solving as well as preventative maintenance.

Our process is 100% automated. Automation is not a threat to jobs. It’s a way for business to scale and grow.

“There is a high rate of change in our business and we need to keep moving forward and create an environment of continuous improvement as technology moves very fast around us. We need to be innovative around how wood can provide solutions to some of the challenges the future world faces.”

Where to from here? Mr Bosson says the company’s future focus includes more machine learning, better decision-making from data, a focus on supply/demand chain integration, a continued focus on organisational capability and effectiveness, and continuing to dream big and run forward as a premiere building solution company.

As to advice for others in the wood sector, he says: • Dream big but start small.

• Model what you do and what to do differently.

• Define the information you need.

• Uniquely identify all objects in your plant.

• Start collecting data and simulating.

• Continue to think and challenge assumptions.

• Define the technology to bring it to life – it doesn’t require a lot of technology to get you to this point.

• Make something tangible happen.

• Build capability to implement more and more. NZL

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WoodTECH 2020

Bring on the robots

HYNE TIMBER AUSTRALIA’S TUMBARUMBA MILL HAS PUT emerging technologies into practice with four picking robots and two pack folding robots. The company’s David Spencer told WoodTECH delegates that companies that plan and develop wisely in difficult times are the companies that thrive.

Mr Spencer says the challenge that set the company on the path to fully mechanised robots was to solve problems around the dry mill area and bottleneck. Previously, about 11 million boards per annum dropped out which was dealt with by hand sorting and the resulting manual hand injuries. In turn, it was difficult to retain people to do the job.

Possible solutions included adding a second stacker and sorter line or a simple robot, but these were seen as compromises which would still need people and create safety issues.

With safety as a primary driver, the company wanted to remove the need for manual handling.

On the production side the aim was to add capacity and improve fibre recovery and not struggle with absenteeism.

The idea was to upskill the team, not take away jobs. However

16 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

there were several challenges along the way: • It seemed a radical idea to a sceptical, traditional business.

• It was hard to find the right vendor for a unique solution.

• They needed to build a machine centre safely in the middle of the plant.

• Production losses during installation could be an issue.

• There were technical challenges.

• There were pre-conceptions around robots and change.

• Communication regarding the changes was key.

The company recruited an in-house automations manager and set clear objectives – to eliminate manual handling and for safety, increased volumes and pay-back in less than three years.

The robots were imported from Germany with a number of concept designs and simulations tested in Sydney before bringing them on site. Employees were upskilled and had to accept interruptions and workarounds, but this challenging project was finally implemented and is starting to show results, says Mr Spencer.

Established in 1882, Hyne Timber is now in its 6th generation and one of the largest employers in the New South Wales region. NZL

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Story & photos: John Ellegard

The first Next Gen Cat 336 to go to work in a New Zealand forest, seen here on the landing of the Brolly Logging operation near Te Kuiti.

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THE THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER SUPPLIER TOTO NEW TO NEW NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 18 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

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HERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY AND reliability in the forest. Any contractor will attest to that.

So it wouldn’t have surprised anyone to learn that when Jude Brolly was looking to replace his long-serving Cat 330DL and Waratah processing combo, he went like-for-like. Well, almost.

He purchased the logical successor to the 330DL, a Next Gen Cat 336 base and mated it to the larger Waratah 626 Bigwood because the trees in the forest currently being harvested by Brolly Logging near Te Kuiti can be huge – P5 monsters are not out of the ordinary in here. This is Pine Tree Meads country, after all.

The fact that the 330DL and its 625 head clocked up in excess of 20,000 hours did weigh heavily on Jude’s mind when making the decision.

You don’t go away from something that has worked well for you unless there is a seriously compelling reason, he says: “We have a few Cats up into

the high hours and they are still performing well. So why change?

Same with the Waratah, this is our fourth and they’ve gone well for us and we get very good back-up from both companies.”

Hard to argue with that.

But there is always a tinge of nervousness when you are the first in the country to put a new model into operation. No one likes to be a guinea pig.

The good thing is that other models from Caterpillar’s Next Generation line-up have already proven successful in forestry applications in other parts of New Zealand, which goes to alleviate some of the doubts in the back of the mind.

Late last year, the NZ Logger Iron Test team got our hands on the first Next Gen Cat 323 to enter service in forestry, working as a forest road builder with Douglas Logging in Northland. We were impressed by just how well it went and the difference the new technology made.

Unlike that smaller Douglas machine, which received a few modest upgrades to make it suitable for working in the bush, Brolly Logging’s 36-tonne class newcomer has undergone more extensive surgery, including a purpose-built forestry cab, in addition to the high and wide chassis, reinforced hydraulic clamshell bonnet and loads of guarding. Plus, it has a very large processing head on the end of the dipper arm, not a lightweight bucket.

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August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 19

Brolly Logging chose to go with a Waratah 626 Bigwood processing head to suit the large stems coming out of this forest.

Hidden changes But it’s what you can’t see that really stands out with the Next Gen Cat 336. And there’ll be plenty of contractors around New Zealand who will be watching the Brolly machines (Jude’s brother Gerrard also has one down in the Wairarapa) with interest to see if these hidden changes really do work.

The previous 330DL and 336 models have largely been toiling as processing machines on skid sites in harvesting operations the length and breadth of the country, where their combination of handy size, grunty power and hydraulic performance marked them as firm workhorse favourites with forestry contractors.

Caterpillar says it wanted to build on the reputation of the previous models and produce something better without spoiling the recipe.

Unlike the 20-tonne class Cats, the new 336 is not a completely new machine from the ground up, even though it is described as a Next Generation model. Some things have carried over, but it is still sufficiently new to carry the Next Gen mantle.

There’s a whole new electronics package and hydraulic system, some of which is designed with civil contracting in mind, which automates lots of function if you’ve got a bucket hanging out the front. But there is enough of the new technology that crosses over to be useful in a forestry environment, too.

Take the new electric-over-hydraulic system, for example. Cat has managed to get rid of more than 60 metres of hydraulic hoses through this new system, which not only responds much better to the operator’s input, it also reduces heat around the machine. It keeps the engine and other working parts cooler and there’s also less need for cooling the cab.

Combine all those effects and the new 336 not only runs more efficiently, it also reduces fuel consumption and that’s one reason why there is a 600-litre tank instead of the 620-litre size fitted to the previous model.

Speaking of the engine, it might look the same as the C9.3 that has

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been used for donkey’s years in this size machine by Caterpillar, but this one is quite different to the old F-series unit. It’s the C9.3B version, which runs in Tier 4 Final environmental specification to reduce emissions.

Surprisingly, a lot of the old ACERT computer gear that had progressively been added over the years to try and improve the engine has been removed. So even though it’s a cleaner engine, the C9.3B is a much simpler unit, with less to go wrong. Loggers will rejoice at that news. We’ve become accustomed to things getting more complicated as technology progresses, and the more computer gizmos that are added to a system, the more potential for breakdowns. Especially when working in such filthy conditions.

But it does mean that the Next Gen 336 now has to be fed a diet of DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid), commonly known as AdBlue, on a regular basis to keep running smoothly and cleanly, and it’s a new experience for the Brolly Logging crew, being their first Tier 4 Final machine. There’s an 80-litre reservoir that is accessed via a fill point built into the second of the steps leading up to the top of the engine, next to the boom.

Jude says it gets topped up twice a week and usage works out around 60 litres a week.

Sure, it’s an extra expense and another maintenance item to tick off, but there shouldn’t be any increase in overall running costs because the Next Gen 336 is using up to 15% less fuel than its predecessor. In fact, running costs may actually be lower.

Jude isn’t quite sure yet, as his new machine has only run for 500 hours, even though it was delivered back in March. That’s because it arrived just a few days before the country went into Level 4 lockdown and it sat idle for a month. It was the first of the new model to go into forestry, even though brother Gerard was supposed to get his new 336 beforehand but had to delay it because the slow-down in February, caused by the log price drop, hit harvesting harder in the Wairarapa.

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EST EST 1909 1909 |TOCALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 20 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

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Lower fuel use With harvesting back to pre-price drop levels, both brothers are very happy with the way their respective machines are running.

In addition to using less fuel, Cat says the Next Gen 336 should also cut maintenance costs by around 15% through a combination of measures.

Among these is a new air filter with integrated pre-cleaner and primary and secondary filters that has double the dust holding capacity of the previous design, so don’t need changing as often.

The new hydraulic return filter has a 3,000-hour service life — a 50% increase over the previous filter.

The fuel system filters are synchronised for service at 1,000 hours — a 100% increase over the previous filters.

Also, the fuel system water and sediment drains, and hydraulic system oil level are positioned closely together at ground level, making routine daily maintenance faster, easier and safer.

Unlike the standard Next Gen 336, all the running gear in the Brolly machine is doubly protected under the clamshell lifting bonnet constructed by PFS of Hamilton. During a lull in the log making we ask regular operator, Andrew (Andy) Lachmaiya, to stop and open this up so we can get a better look.

One of the first things to catch the eye when the bonnet is raised is a stainless steel screen that covers the radiators. Jude says this screen significantly reduces muck going into the radiators and is very easy to clean, just requiring a hose down every now and then. It’s a great idea and beautifully crafted by the PFS guys.

Hopping up onto the catwalk, there’s open access to the top of the engine and hydraulic pumps but if you need to get in further it is necessary to remove the surrounding covers. A hatch at the front on the boom side opens up to a big storage compartment where an air compressor, greasing unit and a pair of fire extinguishers are housed (no automatic fire suppression system). Access to main filters and other regular checks can all be done from the ground.

In addition to the heavy-duty guarding provided by the clamshell bonnet, Jude also decided on a purpose-built forestry cab because he wanted to future-proof the versatility of this new machine, should it need to go out into the cut-over to harvest trees, as well as process them. His crew does have a Cat 552 doing that job, but fully guarding the Next Gen 336 is an insurance policy if anything happens to the harvester.

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1: Many of the stems in this forest weigh in excess of three tonnes. Good lift and slew are provided by the enhanced hydraulics in the Next Gen Cat 336.

2: Although it has been extensively modified for the forest, the Brolly Logging Next Gen Cat 336 retains its standard boom and arm.

3: The extra productivity provided by the new technology in the Next Gen Cat 336 is welcomed by the Brolly Logging crew, helping them keep pace with the 14 log trucks calling each day.

4: Jude Brolly says it is worth the investment going for a full forestry guarding package for his new 336 because it is expected to be working at this pace well into the future.

“PFS has done an excellent job with this cab, it looks very professional,” remarks Jude. “The detail they’ve put in is really good – a very nice package.

Everything is laid out nicely for the operator.”

Both myself and our Iron Tester, Stan Barlow, agree after we’ve clambered up and acquainted ourselves with the interior of the PFS cab. The Hamilton company has managed to transfer the Cat gear into the cab to a factoryfitted standard. Very clean and uncluttered, largely due to a lack of switches and dials, since their functions are now accessed through the computer display on the right front pillar, underneath the Waratah optimising screen.

Top spec seating Terra Cat (formerly Gough) is bringing all forestry 336 machines in with the top spec seat, which features in-built heating and cooling and is very much appreciated by operator Andy on these cold winter mornings. He’s even got a remote control so he can unlock the machine like a car, to get it warmed up through the Red Dot A/C unit.

This cab doesn’t sit on a riser – Jude doesn’t think it’s necessary – but the view is very good and the guarding bars are minimal. Iron Tester, Stan Barlow, details the controls and other cab features in his column on page 26.

One thing that is missing at the moment is the 360-degree camera set-up that provides the operator with an all-round view of the outside. We loved this feature in the Douglas Next Gen Cat 323 and we’re sure Andy will too

Operator, Andy Lachmaiya, places logs in a semi-circle as he

POWER TIME when itSERIOUS gets fitted soon – futureFOR 336’sBIG will have thisLOGGERS system installed as cuts them so that he doesn’t need to move the machine. standard.

ALWAYS SWING A BIG STICK

EST EST 1909 1909 | TOCALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 22 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

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Jude decided to stick with the standard length boom and arm for his machine, since it won’t need to stretch far to grab stems and place logs. He’s got fleeting and loading machines either side taking care of wood movement.

And while he did think about going with another Waratah 625 on the end of the stick, he decided the extra size and beef of the Bigwood was more important.

“The 625 is a brilliant head and because of the changes they made to the 626 that give it the same hydraulic speed as the 625, we thought it would work better for us because of the size of the wood in here,” says Jude.

“It has a reputation for being very robust and later in life that will be important.”

Although it could go out and assist the 552 with falling if required, the new Cat/Waratah combo has mainly been used for processing to date because life on the skid is very busy, providing enough wood to fill a constant stream of trucks. However, Jude recently managed to get his first go in the machine since it arrived, taking it out into the cut-over to do some shovelling to help get wood up to the skid.

“I’m really impressed with how it went out in the cut-over,” he says.

“It feels stable and has heaps of track power. Slew feels very strong too and there’s plenty of power to push the big stems easily through the head – I was able to move a lot of wood in a short time.”

While the downtime during COVID Level 4 interrupted normal operations, Jude says the crew was fortunate in having everything set up and ready to go once the lockdown finished.

“We moved into this forest before lockdown so we had time to get everything set up and ready to go back to work afterwards,” he says.

“We were able to get straight into it and we’ve had a really good run since.

“We harvested over the other side of the hill first and they were really nice trees over there, close to three tonne piece size on average, with batches of around four or five. I could tell from watching this machine that it was able to handle them easily. It was throwing them around without any problem. There is a bit of extra weight that was added in the guarding package, especially in the bonnet, to help with that.”

User-friendly machine The new Cat is working next to the crew’s Thunderbird TSY 6355 swing yarder, on a landing at the top of the hill. Down in the valley, there’s a small ground base operation that feeds wood to the old Cat 330DL and Waratah 625 processor that was kept on for the job. It’s a busy operation.

With the stems stacking up next to the yarder, it’s time for the Next Gen 336 to get back to work to clear space next to the chute, so Stan takes his place in the cab and gets his driving instructions from Andy in order to undertake his part of the Iron Test.

A few minutes later, Andy joins me away from the chain shot danger zone to observe Stan’s progress with the new machine.

Andy has been with Brolly Logging a little over a year and was running a Sumitomo 330 with a Woodsman PRO800 head before then.

He says he feels at home in the cab on the 336: “It’s a nice userfriendly machine. Very comfortable. At the end of the day you can get out and still feel fresh. I like that it has heating and cooling in the seat – it’s got everything you need.”

Although he’s not a computer geek, Andy didn’t have any problems

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Above left: Lots of protection against wayward logs at the front of the Brolly Logging Cat, with the DEF tank concealed within the second step.

Above centre: Heavy-duty walk space around the new Cat 9.3B engine and hydraulics – those plates can be unbolted if required.

Above right: Good access from the ground to the pumps and daily maintenance checks. adapting to the new technology in the Next Gen Cat, including the touchscreen monitor.

“When they (Terra Cat) handed it over they gave us a demo of everything and the way they’ve set it up is pretty much how it should be, so I didn’t really have to change anything. Although I can adjust things to suit different blocks, like the response of the machine – there’s three power settings and you can adjust response as well.

“I use it on high power most of the time, but the middle setting for response. I have tried it on high response, but it doesn’t need to be any higher than what I’m using. It can still pump the wood out on medium. That electric-over-hydraulic system works very smoothly. It’s very responsive. Got a tonne of slew power – some of those trees are up there in size and that thing just wizzes through it. And you have to have a head like that (Bigwood) to deal with those big trees.

“Balance is good. It’s quite a short boom and arm so you don’t have too much weight out in front of you. I’m used to it, because my old Sumitomo was exactly the same, with quite a short dipper arm, but with an extra-long boom and this is pretty much the same. Don’t need to stretch too far on this site, although no two days are the same.”

Andy says he’s cutting 14 grades at the moment, mostly export, adding that there isn’t a lot of prune in this block to send to the local mills. These are dialled into the Waratah TimberRite system and he mostly lets the optimiser decide the best logs to make from each stem, just manually feeding in information on the knots and other defects.

Our conversation gets around to one of the big selling points of the Next Gen 336, its fuel efficiency and Andy says he hasn’t been watching it that closely but “it appears to be good”, probably around 30 litres an hour. Not bad for the size of wood it’s handling.

He could try putting it into the Smart Mode that automatically adjusts engine and hydraulic power for the highest fuel efficiency, but that would reduce the slewing effort and he’s loath to do that.

Jude isn’t sure of the exact fuel use numbers either but says he could check by going into the Cat Product Link™ system, though admits he doesn’t have much time to do the numbers at the moment.

The system is there primarily for Cat technicians to be able to remotely or physically interrogate the 336’s systems to sort out any faults or just check on when it needs a service.

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As we’re speaking, Andy notices that Stan is struggling to cut a very large stem and signals for him to power down so he can explain the method he uses to deal with wood of this size. A combination of unfamiliarity with the machine and unusually big wood has unsettled the Timberite, requiring a computer re-boot. Problem solved, Stan is soon back on track and powering logs out the other end of the 626. If only every issue in the forest could be solved with a re-boot.

One thing that stood out while Stan was grappling with the massive stem was just how stable the Cat Next Gen 336 looked as he was slewing it around to cut the first log. At 37,200 kg operating weight (without the head), it’s not one of the heavyweights of the processing world.

Once Stan is satisfied with his test experience he hands the Cat back to Andy – just in time, as the Heavens open again and the skies darken so much he has to switch on the lights, showing us how effective the new LED lighting package is.

It’s been a very illuminating day in many respects, not least because we can now confirm that one of New Zealand’s favourite Cat processing machines has got a new lease of life. NZL

The hydraulically-operated bonnet lifts to reveal stainless steel covers over the radiator as part of the PFS Engineering package.

SERIOUS POWER BIG TIME LOGGERS

EST EST 1909 1909 |TOCALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 24 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

iron test: Stan Barlow

CONSIDERING THE NEXT GEN CAT 336 OF Brolly Logging had to deal with such a variety of stems, it never put a foot wrong during our test.

In fact, it was so well planted I could probably have dealt with much heavier stems and still not upset this impressive machine.

Put that down to those long tracks and a low centre of gravity, as well as lots of hydraulic power to keep that big wood under control.

It might have been a different story if the cab had been sitting on top of a 1.3-metre riser, but I was happy without any riser at all. I could see everything I needed to from my seat and a higher cab would only have been necessary if I

needed to see over tall stock piles.

I’ve driven previous versions of the Cat 336 and they’ve never wanted for power and performance, and I’m pleased to report that the new model has power aplenty. What impressed me most was how controllable and smooth it has become in the Next Gen 336.

A bit touchy at first, you soon get used to the very positive response, even though I didn’t have the settings turned up. It felt very natural the way Andy had it. If it was any slower it would have been kind of awkward.

The Brolly machine has standard controls, not Sure Grips, and they felt fine and very well positioned.

It’s been a while since I sat in a processor, so it did take time for me to

Iron Tester, Stan Barlow. remember where the preselect grades were when I wanted to manually cut logs. But it’s a great processing head and the good thing is you’ve got the power to slice through all sizes of limbs and branches, plus the head has the weight and tough construction to handle very large stems. The trick is to work the machine to assist the power.

The operator has a great view of the skid.

The easy forestry package on the Brolly Logging machine was undertaken by PFS Engineering of Hamilton.

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B

IFICATION

SPECIFICATIONS - NEXT GEN CAT 336 FORESTRY TRACKED CARRIER ENGINE

HARVESTER

6-cylinder, 9.3-litre Cat 9.3B Tier 4 Final common rail diesel, turbocharged & after-cooled Bore / stroke 115mm x 149mm Peak power 232kW (311hp) @ 2,000rpm Torque n/a Tractive effort 295kN

Model Waratah HTH626 Bigwood Series 2 Rotation 360 continuous Max feed roller opening 980mm Weight 4,850kg Main saw ¾” pitch, 38” bar Top saw 0.404”, 23” bar

HYDRAULICS

REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES)

Electric over hydraulic System Main pump Load sensing, variable displacement piston type 558 L/min (279 × 2) Swing pump Variable displacement piston type Maximum lift pressure 38 000kPa Maximum swing pressure 29,400kPa Swing speed up to 8.75rpm

Fuel tank Hydraulic system (inc tank) Cooling system Engine oil DEF tank

BOOM / ARM

Shipping length Shipping width Shipping height Tail swing radius Ground clearance Track length Track shoe width Operating weight

Cat (regenerative) Model Boom 6.4m Dipper arm 3.9m Max reach 10,300mm

The main controls for the head are in the usual places. On the lefthand joystick the two bottom buttons are harvester up and down, plus main saw, topping saw and the rollers open and close. On the right is the feed for the rollers, with the trigger underneath to open and close.

For a big machine, it has a fast and powerful slew and lots of power in the lift, even with the heaviest stem in the knives of the 626. Good power in the travel motors for walking, although I didn’t have to do much moving on this skid.

I had no issues with the shorter length of the boom and arm. I was happy with that. You make it work. Just like the head. Yes, the saw bars are a little short for some of these logs, but you just adapt.

600 373 40 32 80

DIMENSIONS (MM) 11,200 3,600 3,990 3,530 750mm 5,030 600, double grousers 37,200kg (without processor)

Top marks to PFS for their design and build of the cab. For an operator this is the place to be. It’s the first of their cabs that I’ve sat in. Looks very tidy from the outside and inside it has a really nice finish, you don’t have all the clutter with buttons or switches all over the place. Most of that is now in the computer and you just touch the screens. I like that.

The decision by Terra Cat to spec the Premium seat makes sense for operators spending a whole day in the cab. It’s very comfortable and supportive, and I’m sure Andy appreciates the heating and cooling function.

As a package, it’s hard to find fault with this set-up. NZL

Below left: The spacious purpose-built cab blends well with the factory seat and controls.

Below centre: Brolly Logging owner, Jude Brolly (left) with Cat operator, Andy Lachmaiya.

Below right: The Brolly Logging team pose with their new processor.

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Special Feature

Celebrating half a cen tu of forestry education Story: Hayley Leibowitz

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HIS YEAR THE NZ SCHOOL OF Forestry at the University of Canterbury celebrates its 50th year of producing leaders, thinkers and above all, hard workers, to grow the forestry sector. Though 1970 marks the official opening of the School, there was plenty of work behind the scenes to get there.

Emeritus Professor, Peter McKelvey, Chair of Forestry from 1967 to 1985 who also served as Head of the School, recalls those early days. At the start of 1967 there were three major requirements for the school – a building, a curriculum and staff. All had to be in place by 1970 when professional classes were scheduled to begin.

30 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

“As a Government-funded building, it was likely to take seven years to finalise, but after some persuasion, the University was given a sum of money and told to ‘get on with it but don’t come back for more’,” says Prof McKelvey.

With the building taken care of, a ninemonth trip visiting forestry schools and industry around the world, courtesy of the University Council, formed the basis of the curriculum. An American academic as well as specialists from the Forest Service solved the staff issue and the first intake of 20 students walked through the door at the start of the 1970 academic year. Since then, the School has birthed over 1500 graduates.

Changing with the times It was no easy path to get there. Up to the time of the opening of the NZ School of Forestry there had been four earlier professional schools, all of which were under-resourced and bogged down by political pressures and agendas dating as far back as the New Zealand Forests Act of 1874, says Professor McKelvey.

Past Head of the School, Professor Roger Sands, points out that the initiative to establish education in forestry arose from within the Government Forest Services and early education was strongly influenced by them.

“When the employer is also the trainer, the quality of the training is usually excellent and immediately relevant. However, an employee

n tury

Left: First Year students venture to Hanmer Springs Forest every year to learn basic forest measurement and plotting skills.

Above top: FORSOC and the School of Forestry, with support from Blakely Pacific, has become involved in the restoration and maintenance of a Bio-node at TĹŤhaitara Coastal Park.

Above: Postgraduates in the field. The Dryland Forests Initiative research programme has supported seven completed PhD thesis projects to date, with more underway.

Students are working on sites in both the North and South Islands.

Special Feature

trained by their employer is also captured by that employer and locked in the employer’s dogma and culture,” he says. By contrast, a University education in forestry like that provided by the School, allows freedom of expression and exposure to ideas from a wide range of disciplines.

Professor Sands adds that there have been significant changes in the forestry sector over the years, with forest services diffused and more privatisation in the production sector, more international involvement and outside contracting, along with an increasing need for business skills in graduates. Along with this has been a move towards adding value from growing to processing, product development and marketing. Farm forestry, tree planting, biodiversity, environmental awareness, conservation and climate change have all come to the fore, he says.

“Years ago an average graduate in forestry was male, financially sponsored by Government while at university and guaranteed a career path in the forest service for life followed by retirement benefits. Today the average graduate will take out a loan to study, will not expect or even want a ‘job for life’, will be employed by a wide diversity of employers and often in small enterprises.

“S/he (the proportion of female graduates has increased considerably) will need to know how to run a business and may operate as a private consultant. S/he will be more attuned to social factors and less conditioned by the paradigm that technology will resolve all issues.

S/he may have quite a different perception about what is a ‘professional forester’,” says Professor Sands.

Future learners While there is a general global trend towards

falling enrolments in forestry, in NZ the pattern seems to be cyclical, depending on perceptions of the health of the forestry industry at the time. “With the countrywide emphasis on plantation forestry, by default this has become the School’s focus,” says Professor Sands, adding that even with greater diversity of systems and forests, ultimately it is a solid, learning-based education that matters.

“In my opinion university-based schools of forestry should promote learning rather

than teaching, education rather than training, knowledge rather than information, questioning rather than accepting, participation rather than observation and the long-term interests of students rather than the short-term interests of employers,” he says, adding that forestry graduates have often done well in other areas of employment because of the management focus in their degrees.

Retired Reader in Forestry, Dr Graham Whyte, who joined the School when it first

Above: The School of Forestry under construction in 1968-69 and photographed in 2007.

Bottom left: The 2010 earthquake had a greater visual impact within the School, than the devastating effects of 2011.

Bottom right: This map of New Zealand was gifted to the School

by FORSOC in recognition of 25 years' education in Forestry. The provinces are made of different indigenous species that are found in the regions. The grid the map is mounted on shows the actual longitude and latitude lines for New Zealand.

32 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

Tāne Mahuta astride Aoraki THIS KAURI WOOD CARVING BY TOHUNGA Whakairo Te Warihi Hetaraka was created at the Russell State Forest Carving School, Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), 1983/1984.

Te Warihi Hetaraka (Ngāti Wai/Ngā Puhi/Tainui) was born in Whangarei, Te Tai Tokerau, and has carved since 1960. He trained under Tohunga Whakairo Hone Te Kauru Taiapa from 1967 to 1970.

This carving was gifted to the School of

Forestry by the New Zealand Forest Service to symbolise the link between learning and forests. It followed a visit to the Russell Carving School by the then secondprofessional year School of Forestry class in 1983. The Bank of New Zealand assisted in the transport of the carving and bringing Te Warihi Hetaraka to Christchurch. The tapu was lifted at dawn on Tuesday 8 May 1984 and the carving was handed over to the

Above: The carving of Tāne Mahuta astride Aoraki is special taonga to the school.

Right: Tohunga Whakairo Te Warihi Hetaraka.

School in a ceremony at 5.15 pm that day.

UC/DEP/0214, University of Canterbury Art Collection.

Grooved Drums and Sleeves

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

Special Feature

opened, says the approach to teaching differs, depending on the course. For forest managers, contextual-style teaching is embraced, rather than “uncoordinated coverage of individual modules”, so that the education has aimed for “a depth of specialised understanding and a breadth of general comprehension that should imbue its recipients with the capabilities needed to fulfil as useful a role in society as possible”.

He adds that the emphasis has been to provide broad and integrated coverage of all aspects relevant to the growing, protecting, harvesting and other utilisation of forests, the processing of raw material from the forest and the use and marketing of forest products.

“This approach has been underpinned by students expected to acquire adequate amounts of specialised professional knowledge, a general understanding of social context and as high a level of communicative skills as possible, before they can emerge with a degree,” he says.

For forest science researchers he says the focus is on “adequate course-work preparation in vital technological skills, even though there is no formal university requirement to do so. Formal study of research methodology is also compulsory in the School’s eyes, to cultivate sound research techniques and habits, together with a breadth as well as a targeted depth of specialist knowledge”.

Dr Whyte emphasises the importance of a balance in “weaning post-graduate students from being directed, stimulated and guided by a supervisor to becoming researchers accepted as informed colleagues in the eyes of the forest science community”.

Another important focus of the School over the years has been to involve academics in the real world. “For the teachers, there is a need, not only to be working on research through their own students, but to gain knowledge and understanding of systems and to conduct independent research,” he says.

Ultimately, he concludes: “I believe there can be no doubt that the School has a proud record of quality education and research in forestry. It is my earnest wish that the sector discard the negatives, evaluate properly the positive outputs of forestry education at Canterbury and take advantage of them in a productive partnership.”

Forestry in 2020 Over the past 50 years the School has seen 1400 plus people graduate with Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Forestry Science degrees, 100 with Doctor of Philosophy and 136

34 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

Top and left: The John Deere simulator is an important training tool for students.

Below: Postgraduates undertake research generally in New Zealand, but sometimes further afield. Here Cameron Leslie is in Canada in mid-winter on a forestry landing site.

K

K Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Forest Engineering degrees. Graduates have travelled the world, become leaders in the industry, both in New Zealand and internationally, have returned to teach the next generation of students and diversified into other career pathways.

While academic programmes have evolved over time, graduates from 1972 will recognise that key areas fundamental to forestry continue to be taught in 2020. As the industry has evolved into a billion-dollar entity, the programme has incorporated marketing, biosecurity, geospatial science, tree breeding and environmental forestry as core or elective papers. Understanding relationships with iwi and the importance of Māori land ownership have become integral to the programmes and are wellaligned with the bicultural expectations

of the University. Field trips and practical work experience are also integral to the programme and provide a focus on teamwork, practical, communication and field skills and formal work experience with industry. Field trips take students to Hanmer Springs Forest, the West Coast, St Arnaud and Nelson Lakes region and the central North Island.

The global pandemic forced the postponement of the celebration to recognise 50 years of education at the School. The School hopes to schedule an event when there is certainty that it can be delivered and that the School can share that celebration in some way with the many graduates and former staff who are working around the world as well as those in New Zealand.

Here’s to another 50 years of guiding and nurturing NZ’s forestry professionals. NZL

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NZ Timber Silviculture

Plant those trees deep, a Story: Trevor Coker

‘Unk’s’ Jeremiah Hori looks back over his career in this frank, first-hand account of the rigours and rewards of Pine planting.

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S WE WENT INTO COVID-19 lockdown, I had lots of time to read my old and new NZ Logger magazines. I find there are not too many stories of Pine planting and I have a feeling Pine planters feel they are at the bottom of the forestry works wheel – not all, but some – so I have taken it on myself to represent all Pine planters of Aotearoa.

First of all, it was music to my ears when the Labour Government announced the One Billion Trees planting programme and even better, Hon Shane Jones (Uncle Shane) if you’re from the far North, leading the Provincial Growth Fund. Him (Uncle Shane) being from Kerikeri Far North, me from midNorth Kaikohe, Hokianga.

As I said before, I hope to represent all Pine planters from Aotearoa. Some may say, who are you to represent Pine planters from Aotearoa? I’ll just say fill your cups with tea or coffee or grab a cold one, sit down, relax, then read on.

In 1982/83 I first started planting, winter, May/June season, being 15 or 16 years old, remembering it was steep country, wet,

36 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

raining weather and bloody cold, as I was told it was the best weather to plant Pine trees. Better survival rate. Having been jammed in the back of a Land Rover with old farts that smoked ciggies and weed, they also smelled like pubs, being on the beers all weekend.

Not having too many role models in the eighties, I managed to handle the long rides in the back of the trucks over windy, dusty metal roads, thinking how long to go before I sicked up over the boys in the back handling it. Commonly it took two hours to get to the worksite, feeling sick on arrival, half stoned, I would go to the side to recover.

The boys started moving down steep hills, crossing creeks, going up and across, digging holes for trees with heavy spades that were a mission on their own. Then they started yelling, “Welcome to your office young fella.” Well of course at 15/16 years old you’re thinking, “No, I’m just passing through. There’s got to be an easier way to make money than planting trees.”

Five/six years on, still grabbing rusty spades off the trucks, this time noticing a

The late Colin McNeil (Big Cole) with Jeremiah, planting contour across 300 hectare hillside with massive slip, in Gisborne just after Cyclone Bola.

new wave of workers coming through telling me how sore their wrists were, their backs were and me telling them, “Welcome to your office boys, should have stayed at school and got an indoor job”.

By this stage I was planting 2000-3000 trees per day, taking home a good pay.

Sticking to the hard work, I started to become a worthy top planter, adapting to a simple technique, planting one tree at a time, bags having 100 stems getting my tallies up to 4000+ stems a day. Competition was getting serious, everyone wanted to be top man, top planter.

The year 87/88 our boss got a contract down Gisborne East Coast, just after Cyclone Bola went through, leaving heaps of slips over steep, barren land. I think it was Ngati Porou Forestry that we worked for. We travelled down the East Coast with about 20-30 Pine planters from the North. Being one of the first gangs to fly in on helicopters to the job. All gear and boys were flown in and picked up at knock off, before dark. We had 600/800 hectares to plant, maybe more.

There were a few issues from the locals

p, apu, firm and upright

Mill area map, 1966.

Jeremiah planting in the far North, 1990.

because they believed we were taking their work coming from up North - locals weren’t too happy. The manager from Ngati Porou Forestry said those locals had their chance to do the contract and the forestry had a programme and needed a planting gang to start ASAP. We arrived with 20-30 planters from up North and swapped them each fortnight with 20 more fresh planters.

Those trees could have been logged some time ago, good one because they would have created lots of jobs for the locals.

Other places we planted were Broadwood, Herekino, Operteke, Hokianga, Ngatihine, Wellsford, Port Waikato, Hasting, Whanganui, Coromandel, Taupo, Kaingaroa, Rotorua and Wairoa, to name a few.

Come the 2006 season, we headed to Australia. Man did the boys tallies go up then, from 4000 to 5000, 6000, 7000. My personal top tally was 16, 000+ trees in the ground in one day. That day we were using Horus rules – start dark in the morning till dark at night, some with headlights. Rips were the main planting ground in Australia.

I can see your eyebrows lift. That’s all good.

Have a cold one to lower them.

Like I said, the Labour Government plans to plant one billion trees, awesome. It’s not impossible for all you young planters out

there. Don’t care if you have planted one season or 21 seasons. I will always salute you because it’s planters like us, you and me, that will get this One Billion Trees done, knowing Pine planting is not everyone’s cup of tea job, because it’s hard on the body sore wrists, sore backs, knees and ankles, not to mention the miles you have to walk (6000 trees planted at about 2.5 metres is about 16kms per day).

So planters, when you wake up at 5am each morning and look in the mirror, pat yourself on the back because you are a main cog in the wheel of forestry. You’re not only creating forests, you’re creating jobs, habitats for birds and animals, carbon sinks for pollution, carbon credits and for all owners, great logs to be harvested. The feel-good factor for me is seeing logs go past on trucks, knowing you planted those logs 25/30 years before, and the jobs that created.

So all you loggers out there, don’t get me wrong, because I know some loggers were planters before they logged. When you see those trees on the block far as the eye can see, remember, they didn’t just fall from the sky, they were planted by dedicated planters like us.

I’m not a media person, not on Facebook.

I just write this from my experience. Just for

the record, I’m 54 years young, planted 24 seasons in Aotearoa and planted 13 seasons in Australia in four states – Queensland, NSW, Victoria and ACT. To all planters, plant those trees deep, apu, firm, tight and upright. Go hard, keep safe, keep well.

Lots of respect to all,

Snowed off planting at Mansfield, 2010 season, Australia, Victoria.

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 37

www.fica.org.nz

Where the Wilding Pines Grow

Prue Younger, CEO Message Prue Younger, CEO Message

On Friday 15 May, this year, the Government announced $100 million of operating funding to tackle wilding pines as part of Budget 2020. This funding is for four years and will directly fund regional control work.

The announcement sits within $232 million of funding to support New Zealand’s rural communities, and the impact of COVID-19 on the primary sector. The Government’s priority is to ensure this funding creates job opportunities for people in regions affected by COVID-19, particularly people from the tourism sector, agricultural services, forestry and agricultural aviation.

way to Nelson once government announced that NZ could move to COVID Level 3. They have a mixture of Adventure Tourism guides, others who were planning to move to the Nelson area anyway with their partners, one who planted in Canada last year and one who narrowly missed out going to Canada this year when the COVID Level 4 Lockdown came on with the two-day notice period.

For silviculture contractor Robin Thompson of Action Forest Management Ltd, this came as a bonus when recruitment for employees this year was fraught with the impacts of COVID-19. With unemployment low in Nelson at the beginning of this year, it has been necessary for him to go through the intensive process of applying for an Approved in Principle application with Immigration NZ, as he looked towards bringing in eight Samoan workers, but with the unforeseen closure of the borders, Robin could no longer rely on them to make up his crew.

“In 2019 we didn’t have a very successful tree planting season from a financial perspective or finding suitable planters. We required eight seasonal planters to top up our twelve permanent professional silvicultural employees that year,” explains Robin, “However with unemployment being low, and despite a thorough selection and interview process, we went through about sixteen people to fill the eight positions.”

The typical workplace for silviculture planting requires people that are physically fit, like the outdoors and are keen to work within a whanau-like environment. Robin’s new planters lasted anywhere from one day to five or six weeks, with only one reliable person lasting the full three-and-a-half-month season. He is now part of their permanent workforce and where Robin was able to successfully fill their seasonal requirements locally in previous years because of the turnover, Action Forest Management got behind on their programme and had to give close to 10% of their planting work away.

In April this year, Robin commenced advertising across NZ on the “Work the Seasons” online platform that MSD manage, Trade Me, and their own website along with local word of mouth.

“Using Zoom for interviews, we interviewed applicants from the local area and across NZ”, says Robin, “However in previous years we had a policy of needing applicants to be able to front up in person for an interview, and therefore basically ruled out anyone from outside our region however, with Zoom we decided to look further.”

Action Forest Management successfully found the eight seasonal planters that they required with some being hired up to six weeks in advance, then making their

When Robin heard about DOC wanting some wilding pine work done, he put a proposal in and engaged their selected seasonal planters three to four weeks earlier than planned and dispersed them with some of their permanent Silviculture employees to create a “fit and motivated” Wilding Control workforce of ten people.

There appears to be a real synergy between the Wilding Control work and forestry tree planting. Blending the people and the work makes for a more sustainable model and it appears ideal to be able to get some training in to ensure the employees are going to manage the sometimes steep terrain and develop up the mental stamina while the planting season operates in a single window of opportunity every year through from June to September/October.

“What’s really good is that we plan to retain as many of our new seasonal employees as possible that survive the vigours of the tree planting season to assist with our normal forestry work, and more of this “eco-forestry/ conservation work” in the future,” confirms Robin.

Action Forest Management (AFM) operate from Richmond and Motueka. The AFM team provide high quality Silviculture services to forest owners and managers across the top of the South Island and the wilding work was being done in the Hackett River area in the Eastern Western Hills of the Tasman District. Check them out on www.actionforests.co.nz This funding will support a rapid and extensive expansion of the programme, both advancing work in existing management units, and expanding into priority areas where we have not had as much presence. It is operational funding and will primarily fund regional control work. DOC also expects to seek additional funding contributions from landowners and partners.

Wilding conifers, also known as wilding pines, are invasive trees in the high country of New Zealand.

Millions of dollars are spent on controlling their spread. In the South Island they threaten 210,000 hec tares of public land administered by the Department of Conservation.

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Comprehensive parts stocking, service kits, uptime kits

Training

Machine commissioning, simulator training, operator refreshers Northland Mechanised logging services

Nelson Waimea Engineering

Contact Waratah Forestry Services

Dunedin Progressive field services

Southland Heavy Equipment Repair

0800 492 728

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

top spot

Safety/performance/quality

Harvesting heroes THIS ISSUE WE BRING YOU THE FIRST OF the results for harvesting.

While COVID-19 may have delayed some of our assessment, it certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm or professionalism of participants.

So, congratulations to all those who feature in the results. And remember, there are a number of participants not far away from these top placings.

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.

Logging, Eastside Logging, Veal Forestry, McHoull Forestry, Pride Forestry, Halley Forestry, Penetito Forestry, FM Silviculture, Forest View Forestry, Wayne Cummings, Rodco Forestry, Johnson Forestry, Pro Forest Services, Eastside Logging and Norwest Logging.

Kaha Logging, Lahar Logging, Dempsey Logging, Moutere Logging, JBD Harvesting, McDougall Logging, Forest View Logging, Kimberley Logging, Dewes Logging, X Men Harvesting, Storm Logging, Lumberjack FUNCTION

BREAKING OUT CABLE

CREW

PARTICIPANT

MIKE HURRING PRIVATE

SYLVESTER REEVES TAHI HIROKI TAHU WALKER NOPERA HAENGA BEN HOHEPA CHRISTIAN EVANS NATE FOX HENARE POI MARTY BLYTHE DEVON STEWART KELVIN STRATFORD JOHNNY BEACH REEF ASTON MADISON HONA WALTER BEAMSLEY WHARE KAA PAUL POHIO NIGEL HUTCHINSON JIMMY WHITE DEAN BEAUCHAMP JAREB VERDONER JIMMY HONA TERRY ROBIN CLINT MCIVOR JAMES SELL TEX VAN ROSSEN GILMAN TICHBOURNE CHARNZ HALE SIMI LATU RAWIRI WAITOA DAVID MCKENZIE TE KANI HAENGA DAN COBDEN

DEWES 3 EASTSIDE 16 KIMBERLY 22

TREE FELLING

DEWES 3 EASTSIDE 16 DEWES 3 MIKE HURRING THINNING

Participating Companies

40 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

Contact Shane Perrett on 0274 781 908, 07 3483037 or at primefm@xtra.co.nz. NZL

EASTSIDE 16

FORWARDER

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, Wenita Forest Products, Port Blakely, Crown Forestry, Brand Logging, CMH Logging, Hauraki and Moehau Logging, Thomassen Logging, Te Waa Logging, Inta-Wood Forestry, Otautau Contractors, Heslip Forest Contracting, Waikato Forestry Services, Hodgson Silviculture, 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, Blue Wood Logging, Mike Hurring Logging, McCallum Logging, Whisker Logging,

Into safety?

Into performance?

Into quality?

BLUEWOOD THINNING MIKE HURRING LOGGING KIMBERLY 22

GROUND BASE EXTRACTION

MIKE HURRING PRIVATE CMH60 MIKE HURRING LOGGING

SHOVEL LOGGING

KIMBERLY 22 STORM 10 BLUEWOOD THINNING

MECHANISED FELLING

MIKE HURRING THINNING MIKE HURRING LOGGING MIKE HURRING PRIVATE

MECHANISED PROCESSING

CMH60 DEWES 3 BLUEWOOD GB

MACHINE OPERATION ON THE LANDING

MIKE HURRING PRIVATE MIKE HURRING LOGGING STORM 10 STORM 10

SKIDWORK

DEWES 3 KIMBERLY 22 MIKE HURRING PRIVATE

YARDER OPERATION

EASTSIDE 16 STORM 10

PLACING 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1= 1= 3 1 2 3 1= 1= 1= 4 1 2 3 1 2 3

top spot

Safety/performance/quality

Mike Hurring Logging's Hauler Crew (from left ): Jareb Verdoner, David McKenzie, James Sell, Sylvester Reeves and Reef Aston.

Kelvin Stratford – from Mike Hurring Logging, 3rd in forwarder operation.

Tex van Rossen – from Mike Hurring Logging, 1st= in Machine Operation on the Landing.

Madison Hona – from CMH Contracting, 3rd in Ground Base Extraction.

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 41

top spot

Safety/performance/quality

Clint McIvor – from Bluewood Logging, 1st= in Machine Operation on the Landing.

Marty Blythe – from Mike Hurring Logging’s thinning crew,1st in forwarder operation.

42 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

Dean Beauchamp – from Mike Hurring Logging, 3rd in mechanised felling.

Jimmy Hona – from CMH Contracting, 2nd in Mechanised Processing.

Jimmy White – from Mike Hurring Logging’s thinning crew, 1st= Mechanised Felling.

new iron

ELTEC/WOODSMAN COMBO FOR SPIERS

MADILL 124 SWING YARDER FOR ROSEWARNE Whangarei’s Rosewarne Contractors owners, Lars and Fiona Rosewarne, have added another new Madill Swing Yarder to their fleet – seen here at Glenbervie Forest, Whangarei, getting ready to do the business.

This joins a growing group of Madill machines in Northland and NZ. Delivered by Paul Gorrie, Porter Equipment Territory Manager, North Auckland & Northland.

Spiers Logging has taken delivery of an Eltec FHL317L Tilter fitted with a Woodsman Pro 750 for its ground-based job in Gisborne. The machine (pictured with the Spiers Logging team) is performing log making, falling and trimming on and off the DC tether winch. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

ECOFORST T-WINCH 10.2 TRACTION WINCH FOR TTP

22ND NEW HYUNDAI FOR FAST & EVANS! This is Fast & Evans’ 22nd Hyundai machine in its fleet. The FX3230LL features underslung boom and arm set-up, offering enhanced lifting and loading capabilities – thus greater productivity.

Delivered by Dave McSorley, Porter Equipment Territory Manager, Waikato/King Country & Taranaki.

Forest harvesting company, TTP, has added the latest traction winch technology to its ground-based operation in Northland. Owner, Peter Davies-Colley, chose the Ecoforst T-WINCH 10.2 to tether its felling and shovel logging machines. Peter had been looking for a safe, cost-effective, steep slope logging solution that met the company’s high environmental standards as their work was getting steeper. He reached out to the New Zealand and Australian Ecoforst T-WINCH dealer, FORCO, last year. FORCO Director, Ian Wilton, organised an on-site trial with a demonstration unit, which was easily done because the system works automatically with no integration required. TTP Operations Manager and felling machine operator, Stan Houston, saw immediate production gains with ease and flexibility of use. Changing between their felling and shovel logging machines can be done in seconds, and they are looking forward to tethering a skidder later this year.

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 43

new iron

BOAPOD FOR JM ENGINEERING AND HYDRAULICS CAT 962M FOR NELSON PINE INDUSTRIES This Cat 962M wheel loader is a recent arrival to Nelson Pine Industries. The proud operator is Neal Thomason, with the new Cat loader replacing its 966H feeding the log deck with peeler logs for the LVL plant. It’s quite a confined working space so the tighter turning circle of the 962M has been much more efficient! It is also the first time the company has used Ensign forks, and both the Cat 962M wheel loader and forks got the big thumbs up in the trial. The unit was delivered by Andy Bunny from Terra Cat branch at Nelson.

Jordan and Dylan, partners at JM Engineering and Hydraulics were stoked to receive their BOApod. This hydraulic hose repair and maintenance facility allows them to add hydraulic hose repairs to their current engineering service offering, within the wider Whangarei area. With an already growing database of heavy machinery users, hydraulic hose repairs are proving to be a successful addition to their business. Oscar Boakes, BOA’s Regional Sales Manager, took them through the BOApod features and training and explained the ongoing support from BOA. Photo(from left): Oscar, Dylan and Jordan.

NEW TIGERCAT FOR ANDERSON LOGGING Anderson Logging owner, Doug Anderson, has just purchased another new Tigercat 635G Skidder. Doug traditionally runs his skidders through to 8000 hours and updates to new, this being his third 6 Wheeled Tigercat Skidder. Doug stuck with the Forwarder tyre rear end and band Track option again this time as he finds it a better all-round combination for the Southland climatic conditions.

Doug’s operator “Dagger” says he is very happy with the performance of his new machine and also the extra speed he now has with the new EHS Transmission.

Pictured with his new machine is Operator “Dagger”.

44 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

SKYLINE GETS ACME GS23 GRAPPLE SLACKPULLER COMBO The Team at Skyline Harvesting has taken delivery of an ACME GS23 Grapple Slackpuller combo to run on its TY90 in TeKaha. They required versatility and reliability for their application so the new GS23 model was ideal to suit. Sold and delivered by Carey Searle of Shaw’s. Photo: The team along with owner Shannon Wheeldon and Carey Searle of Shaw’s.

new iron

HYUNDAI SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR KAITOA LOGGING

FALCON GRAPPLE CLAW FOR ARG FORESTRY SERVICES A brand new Falcon Grapple Claw from DC Equipment, through TDF Solutions was delivered to ARG Forestry Services in Paraparaumu – running on a Thunderbird Swing Yarder. Pictured (from left): Raymond Gates (owner) Adam Ellis (operator) and Zane Gates.

This fully spec’d Hyundai R430LC-9 forestry machine, together with a Satco 3L2T processing head, is ready to pump out high volumes of stems and will work alongside Kaitoa Logging’s Hyundai FX3230LL. Running the high-performing Cummins QSL engine, matched with powerful Kawasaki pumps, the machine is strong and economical.

This was a competitively priced package and matched with a Porter Mechanical ‘Fixed Price Servicing Plan’, meaning Ben has a total understanding of his running and ownership costs from the get go.

Delivered by Steve Puddle, Porter Equipment Territory Manager, BOP/Rotorua/Coromandel M. Photo (from left): The two directors of Kaitoa Logging, Ben Hutching and Desmond Kuik.

KOMATSU PC 400LC-8 FOR STR LOGGING Steve and Liz Rowling of STR Logging, Opotiki, have recently taken delivery of a new Komatsu PC 400LC-8. The Komatsu PC 400LC-8 has been converted to a Harvestline by the team at EMS. Steve commented to John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ) that he is very happy with his new Komatsu and the EMS winch system which gives ”heaps of power”. Pictured (from left): Dave Anderson, Jude Wilson, Toiroa Kameta, Fletch Crawford (operator), Brody Mitchell, Willie Rowling, Chris Hancock (EMS), Steve Rowling and John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ), Absent: Tom Waikato, Nooks Hohepa and Kale Van Derhulle. Photographer Jono Cuff (EMS).

FALCON WINCH ASSIST FOR DOWN’N’OUT Another Logging crew ready to make its logging operation safer and more efficient! Down’N’Out Logging took delivery of its brand-new Falcon Winch Assist (on a Sumitomo SH300 base) in Tologa Bay, Gisborne. Pictured (from left): Foreman Stephen Gee, Owner Dean James, DC Equipment technician Hayden Thorn and operator Kevin Leopard.

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 45

new iron

BOAPOD FOR WILD BOAR ONE IN, ONE OUT New contract new forwarder... Whisker Harvesting upgraded B for C (Tigercat 1075 that is). Operator Mike is blown away by the improvements from the B to the C for this three-man crew doing Douglas Fir production thinning in Karioi Forest with 42 years combined between them. This is the 13th Tigercat for owners Nick and Colin’s fleet. Pictured: Mike, Mardi (AB Equipment), Coiln Wroe, Chet and Smally.

BOA Regional Sales Manager, Oscar Boakes (pictured left), recently delivered a BOApod to Wild Boar Logging, currently working in the Tauranga region. This mobile facility houses a European precision crimper and cut-off saw, Yokohama’s hydraulic hose and matched fittings, all at a low monthly rate. Brad (pictured centre) and Michelle are now enjoying reduced downtime and increased productivity. Instead of waiting for a mobile hose repairer, Wild Boar Logging is taking control and turning wasted time into profit.

ELTEC/WOODSMAN COMBO FOR FOREST VIEW

CAT 320GC FOR MACFARLANE CONTRACTING

Forest View Logging has taken delivery of an Eltec FBL317L Tilter fitted with the latest Woodsman Pro CFH1400 fixed felling head.

This machine is performing all the felling duties for his hauler crew in the top of the Coromandel. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

Rotorua-based Macfarlane Contracting has recently taken delivery of a Cat 320GC excavator for its forestry operation in the central North Island. The unit is the third new Next Generation Cat 320GC for owner Zeke Macfarlane, who is pictured left with operator, Anton. Zeke is impressed with the all-round package, with the 850mm high and wide making it a breeze to get round the cut over.

Brent Van Der Burg from Terra Cat in Rotorua sold the machine.

46 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

new iron

23RD HYUNDAI FOR FAST GROUP! Having a long history with Hyundai, Eugene Bullot, Fast Logging’s crew foreman is pleased with the evolution of the product. He is very complementary about the stability and build quality of the new FX3230LL. “They’ve always been a good loader and man they can climb,” says Eugene. Pictured from left: Fast Group Operations Manager, Graeme Benge, with crew foreman, Eugene Bullot.

NZ LOGGER classified

Forestry Insurance Solutions LG23616

0800 55 54 53 info@stal.co.nz

www.sweeneytownsend.co.nz

Forestry Insurance Solutions

August 2020 | NZ LOGGER 47

NZ LOGGER classified

Mount Machinery Ltd

BLACK DUCK SEAT COVERS

MUD GRABBA 4ELEMENTS SEAT COVERS

Heavy Plant & Machinery Valuers

www.mountmachinery.nz

FLoOR MATS

• 650gsm/19.2 oz Cotton Twill Composite • Heavy Protection • UniqueDuty locking system keeps them in place • Easy to remove for Cleaning • 100% Waterproof Fabric • Moulded to fit your vehicle perfectly • Cotton Soft to Touch • Both front & rear available • Machine Washable • Made from quality PVC • Full replacement Warranty • UV Resistant • Tailored Fit for Comfort and Style • Available in Black or Grey • Protect Your Vehicle Investment

LG30437

INTRODUCING THE NEW & Revolutionary

5% Ph: 0800 158 479

Shareholder Rebate

INTRODUCING THE NEW & Revolutionary sales@blackduck.co.nz www.blackduck.co.nz

4ELEMENTS SEAT COVERS

Contact: James Peacocke 0274 222 476 Email: info@mountmachinery.nz Mail: PO Box 4254, Mt Maunganui, 3149

LG29794

Ph: 0800 158 479

• UV Resistant 650gsm/19.2oz ozCotton Twill Composite •• 650gsm/19.2 • Tailored Fit for Comfort CottonDuty TwillProtection Composite • Heavy and Style HeavyWaterproof Duty Protection •• 100% Fabric • Available in Black or Grey 100% Soft Waterproof Fabric •• Cotton to Touch •• Machine Washable • Protect Your Vehicle Cotton Soft to Touch •• UV Resistant Investment Machine Washable • Tailored Fit for Comfort and Style • Available in Black or Grey • Protect Your Vehicle Investment

Ph: 0800 158 479

sales@blackduck.co.nz www.blackduck.co.nz

Ph: 0800 158 479

Ph: 0800 158 479 For sale

5% Shareholder Rebate

sales@blackduck.co.nz

www.blackduck.co.nz

Woodsman Pro 800 Harvesting Head Fully refurbished after 15,000 hours Ideally suited for a 30-45 tonne excavator with diameters up to 800mm New control valve, hose kit and wiring loom Rebuilt saw and drive motors 3/4 top saw and diameter sensor upgrades Comes with Loggic control system software and all cab components Superior back-up service and field support

$195,000

+gst

CONTACT ADAM IF YOU ARE INTERESTED P. 07 348 1286 | M. 027 370 8468 E. ADAM@ENSIGN.CO.NZ

WOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ

© Copyright 2020 Engineering Services (Rotorua) Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

The Ensign, Woodsman Pro and Loggic brands are trademarks of Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd.

48 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

NEW STOCK LINES

WATER PUMP THUNDERBIRD TSY 255 CUMMINS K19/855, MADILL / CAT3406 (B,C), THUNDERBIRD DOOR 355 IDLER ASSEMBLY DETROIT 60 SERIES REPAIR KIT LATCH KIT

MADILL WATER UNION EXCHANGE SLEEVE & SEAL KIT EXCHANGE COMPLETE UNIT

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REACTION DISC MADILL/TWIN DISC 14” STRAW DRUM WILLIAMS THUNDERBIRD CONTROLLERS & REPAIR KITS

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MADILL 122, 123, 124 WIPER ARM KIT

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OPEN GEAR LUBRICATION GEAR TAC 460 SUPREME PERFORMANCE OPEN GEAR ULTRA HIGH VISCOSITY SYNTHETIC LUBRICANT

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MULTI SERVICE LUBRICANT (LOG CHAMP)

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NZ LOGGER classified

Onetrak

Are you a Diesel Mechanic Looking for a change?

Live and work in sunny Brisbane or the beautiful Snowy Mountains.

expoSe youR pRoduct oR SeRvIce

Onetrak is the official dealer for Tigercat forestry equipment in Australia.

We are currently looking for Diesel Mechanics to join our service teams in Brisbane, Queensland and the Snowy Mountains, New South Wales.

For queries regarding the position please call our NSW Operations Manager Brad Madden ph +61439 189 938 or QLD Operations Manager Mitchell Hills ph +61488 711 110.

S S

J J LG18594

Work on quality equipment including Tigercat Competitive hourly rate Relocation assistance Paid overtime available To find out more visit onetrak.com.au/careers

LG30888

• • • •

Get the right exposure through NZ Logger magazine and capture the Forest industry buyers directly.

contact tRISH to adveRtISe

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Protect your Polycarbonate Windows Protective Window Film

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T T T J J J

Email: extremewindowtints@xtra.co.nz

@ExtremeWindowTints Extreme_Window_Tints

LG30877

Polycarbonate windows are prone to scratching and damage causing severe reduction in visibility for the operator creating health and safety issues.

Extreme Window Tints specialise in polycarbonate protection for forestry machine and heavy machinery windows.

By applying our protective film to your machine windows, we can extend the life of the polycarbonate and reduce window replacement.

Forestry contractors benefit from not replacing the polycarbonate window – instead only the film when necessary.

www.extremewindowtints.co.nz 50 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

T T J T J *SJ

*S *S

P P P C C C

SUMITOMO SH350LHD-3B SUMITOMO SUMITOMOSH350LHD-3B SH350LHD-3B SUMITOMO SUMITOMOSH350LHD-3B SH350LHD-3B

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S S

J J

REF: REF: D008148 D008148 REF: D008148 REF: REF: D008148 D008148

CONTACT CONTACT YOUR YOUR FORESTRY FORESTRY CONTACT YOUR FORESTRY CONTACT CONTACT YOUR YOUR FORESTRY FORESTRY SPECIALIST SPECIALIST TODAY TODAY SPECIALIST TODAY SPECIALIST SPECIALIST TODAY TODAY Northland Northland Northland Northland Northland Marcus Marcus Bourke Bourke

Central Central North North Island Island Central North Island Central Central North North Island Island Steve Steve Mellar Mellar

Auckland Auckland Auckland Auckland Auckland Byren Byren Ware Ware

Lower Lower North North Island Island Lower North Island Lower Lower North North Island Island Mardi Mardi Pritchard Pritchard

Marcus Bourke Marcus Marcus Bourke Bourke 027 027 241 241 6126 6126 027 241 6126 027 027 241 241 6126 6126

Thunderbird Thunderbird TSY355 TSY355 Thunderbird TSY355 Thunderbird Thunderbird TSY355 TSY355 JUST JUST $750,000 $750,000 JUST $750,000 JUST JUST $750,000 $750,000

REF:D110635 REF:D110635

REF:D110635 REF:D110635 REF:D110635

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REF:D115754 REF:D115754

REF:D115754 REF:D115754 REF:D115754

Byren Ware Byren Byren Ware Ware 027 027 287 287 8902 8902 027 287 8902 027 027 287 287 8902 8902 Colin Colin Saunders Saunders Colin Saunders Colin Colin Saunders Saunders 027 027 593 593 2661 2661 027 593 2661 027 027 593 593 2661 2661

Steve Mellar Steve Steve Mellar Mellar 027 027 565 565 3956 3956 027 565 3956 027 027 565 565 3956 3956

Mardi Pritchard Mardi Mardi Pritchard Pritchard 021 021 335 335 873 873 021 335 873 021 021 335 335 873 873

Nelson Nelson Nelson Nelson Nelson Martin Martin Talbot-Price Talbot-Price

Martin Talbot-Price Martin Talbot-Price Talbot-Price 027 027 574 574 1712 1712 Waikato/Coromandel Waikato/Coromandel Martin 027 027 574 574 1712 1712 027 574 1712 Waikato/Coromandel Waikato/Coromandel Waikato/Coromandel Tony Tony Hennessy Hennessy West West Coast Coast & & Tony Tony Hennessy Hennessy Tony Hennessy Canterbury Canterbury 027 027 839 839 8153 8153 West West Coast Coast & && West Coast Canterbury Canterbury 027 027 839 839 8153 8153 Canterbury 027 839 8153 Steven Steven Varcoe Varcoe Hawkes Hawkes Bay/Gisborne Bay/Gisborne Steven Steven Varcoe Varcoe Steven Varcoe 021 969 969 323 323 Hawkes Hawkes Bay/Gisborne Bay/Gisborne Hawkes Bay/Gisborne021 Ben Ben Kendrick Kendrick 021 021 969 969 323 323 021 969 323 Ben Ben Kendrick Kendrick Otago Otago 021 021 658 658 554 554 Ben Kendrick Otago Otago 021 021 658 658 554 554 Cory Cory Hellyer Hellyer Otago 021 658 554 MtMt Maunganui Maunganui

Cory Cory Hellyer Hellyer 027 027 288 288 1952 1952 Cory Hellyer 027 027 288 288 1952 1952 027 288 1952 Southland Southland Southland Southland Dean Dean Cousins Cousins Southland Dean Dean Cousins Cousins 021 021 932 932 246 246 Dean Cousins 021 021 932 932 246 246 021 932 246 Tigercat Tigercat Product Product Manager: Manager: Mark Mark HillHill Tigercat Tigercat Product Product Manager: Mark Mark HillHill 027 027 503 503 0483 0483Manager: markh@abequipment.co.nz markh@abequipment.co.nz Tigercat Product Manager: Mark Hill 027 027 503 503 0483 0483 markh@abequipment.co.nz markh@abequipment.co.nz 027 503 0483 markh@abequipment.co.nz

Th Th JU JU

Mt Mt Maunganui Maunganui André André Muller Muller Mt Maunganui

André André Muller Muller 027 027 550 550 1729 1729 André Muller 027 027 550 550 1729 1729 027 550 1729

Tigercat Tigercat Skidder Skidder 610C 610C Tigercat Tigercat Skidder Skidder 610C 610C REF:D106739 REF:D106739 JUST JUST $165,000 $165,000 Tigercat Skidder 610C REF:D106739 REF:D106739 JUST JUST $165,000 $165,000 REF:D106739 JUST $165,000 *Subject *Subject to to L&F L&F LtdLtd lending lending criteria, criteria, Ts&Cs Ts&Cs

Tigercat Tigercat LH855C LH855C Tigercat Tigercat LH855C LH855C JUST JUST $450,000 $450,000 Tigercat LH855C JUST JUST $450,000 $450,000 JUST $450,000

REF:D117672 REF:D117672 REF:D117672 REF:D117672 REF:D117672

*Subject *Subject to L&F to L&F LtdLtd lending lending criteria, criteria, Ts&Cs Ts&Cs *Subject to L&F Ltd lending criteria, Ts&Cs

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Tig Tig JU JU

*Su *Su

PA PA CA CA

IN FORESTRY, IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS

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LG29717

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52 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

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Terms and conditions: Subscription rates and a free copy of Equipment Guide are for NZ orders only and only for NZ Truck and Driver and NZ Logger subscriptions. Rates include GST and postage. For overseas prices please enquire.

• Harvester and processing bars to fit all models • Harvester Bar nose tips

• Double ended super chainsaw bars and nose tips • Special bars carving bars for all model chainsaws and nose tips

• Chipper knives to fit all makes and models • Counter knives and inlaid knives • Brush cutter knives all makes • Grinding wheels for knive sharpening

173c Military Road RD2 Whakatane 3192 Fax 07 322 8857 • whey@xtra.co.nz • 0274 953 513

LG30879

• Saw blades made to measure • Stock all replacable saw tips and teeth for saw blade

FORESTRY TYRE TRACKS Get a grip & pull more wood with a set of Clark Tyre Tracks on your Forwarders & Skidders BENEFITS OF CLARK TYRE TRACKS Increased traction & pulling power Protection for your tyres Less wheel spinning, less fuel burn Safer on the slopes Better steering ability Less ground disturbance

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Great Deals NOW ON 30.5 & 35.5, Heavy Duty Tracks Call 0800 654 323 to order your set now!

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Heavy Diesel Imports Ltd

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CONTACT HEAVY DIESEL IMPORTS LTD

Kelvin Johnson

Ph: 078847942 Mob: 027 307 7701 Email: heavydiesel@xtra.co.nz Te Aroha Waikato

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CUMMINS • CATERPILLAR • DETROIT DIESEL • SPECIALISING IN REBUILT EXCHANGE ENGINES TO SUIT LOG HAULERS • LOG YARDERS • MADILL • THUNDERBIRD • BRIGHTWATER • BULLDOZERS • EXCAVATORS 35 years experience building diesel engines. Cummins QSK19 only 1713 hours since new. We have the correct make up Cummins 855 STC and Caterpillar 3406C and Detroit diesel 60 series engines used in Madill-Brightwater-Thunderbird haulers rebuilt - run up and tested - ready to go. We travel anywhere in New Zealand to fit engines if required. We have Caterpillar 3406C built as log hauler spec, but can be changed to suit other Caterpillar applications such as Caterpillar D8N Dozer and others. We also travel to do jobs such as tune ups - oil leaks or what ever problems you may have on above engines.

FOR FAST TURN AROUND AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE – 12 MONTHS WARRANTY ON REBUILT ENGINES Photos of engines and jobs done around New Zealand.

CONTACT HEAVY DIESEL IMPORT LTD Kevin Johnson Ph: 078847942 Mob: 027 307 7701 Email: heavydiesel@xtra.co.nz Te Aroha Waikato

56 NZ LOGGER | August 2020

LG30816

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Nort Mec

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New Product Call Nelson for more information 021 536 265 Priced $100,000.00 + GST

Waratah FL100

NEW ATTACHMENTS

Waratah FL85

Waratah FL95 SII

Waratah 622B SII

Waratah 618C

With Install Kit Priced $59,000.00 +GST

With Install Kit Priced $79,000.00 +GST

Priced $181,800.00 +GST

Priced $150,000.00 +GST

Waratah 625C

Waratah H414

Waratah 624C

Waratah 622B

Refurbished Unit Priced $130,000.00 +GST

With H16 Cabin Kit Priced $141,500.00 +GST

Head with H16 Cabin Kit Priced $200,000.00 +GST

Head only Priced $43,500.00 +GST

USED ATTACHMENTS

PARTS 10% OFF

Waratah Grapples

Rotators

From $3,867.87 + GST

From $3,160.00 + GST

10% OFF

Wheel and hub sets

Length Measuring Arm Bearing & Seal Kit

*prices exclude GST and are valid for a limited period.

Northland Mechanised logging services

Nelson Waimea Engineering

Contact Waratah Forestry Services on 0800 492 728

Dunedin Progressive field services

Southland Heavy Equipment Repair

Maximise rope life 3 steps.pdf 1 18-Jun-20 9:31:48 AM

maximise the life of your ropes.

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Larger blocks BriLube

TALK TO THE TEAM THAT KNOWS THE ROPES