NZ Logger June 2024

June 2024 | $9.50

k c i u q One e l p p gra nd efficient ISSN 2703-6251

Strong a

A day in the sawmill in 1972

One machine, many tasks

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contents

JUNE 2024

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FOREST TALK Scion staff cuts “deeply concerning”; Short rotation forestry holds strong potential; Pay attention to apprentice safety; Cost pressures on transport sector easing; Restoring native species in Queenstown; New report fuels misconceptions; Temporary stream crossings benefit ground-based logging; First locally manufactured Madill log loaders; A strategic merger; Look to biomass for power solutions; Addendum; New forestry manager for Powerco; A “game-changer” for tree management SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST Ernslaw One’s Bill Wheeler’s sole focus is project managing the cyclone cleanup. In his arsenal of equipment is the Falcon Slash

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Grapple Rake SG1730 which bolts on to Ensign’s 1730 grapple in under three minutes. It’s moving large volumes of slash while mounted on a pre-loved Sumitomo SH240.

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LOOKING BACK In this pictorial, historian Ron Cooke follows up his previous article titled A day in the bush with his next chapter, A day in the sawmill, illustrating his visit to Edhouse’s Mill in 1972 about 18 months before it burnt down.

BIOMASS Volumes of harvested trees on skid sites and landings may soon be manufactured by specialised plants locally, taking the pressure off the current volatile log export market.

Jim Childerstone investigates.

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FOREST ENGINEERING A recent field demonstration at Loggabull’s harvesting operation in Kinleith Forest showed how one machine and operator can do multiple tasks, with the Automated Quick Coupler system base machine changing attachments quickly and safely in just a few seconds without the operator leaving the cab.

DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 50 fica 54 top spot 58 Greenlight New Iron 61 classifieds

June 2024 | NZ LOGGER 1

from the editor June 2024

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One quic

grStarongpanpdleffiecient ISSN 1176-0397

PHOTO: TIM BENSEMAN

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A day in the sawmill in 1972

One machine, many tasks

The Falcon Slash Grapple Rake SG1730 is moving large volumes of slash north of Gisborne.

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2 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

Drawing on experience WHILE THE WORD SLASH HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A SWEAR WORD IN the past year, and you’d be unlikely to find a logger naming their newborn daughter Gabrielle anytime soon, the impact of 2023’s severe weather is not simply a thing of the past. Slash and log clean-ups are ongoing and repercussions are still being dealt with in the forestry industry.

As Ernslaw One’s Bill Wheeler says in our Iron Test, which focuses on one such project north of Gisborne, “There have been lessons learned from the cyclones. There have been significant changes to our operations and we have engaged an independent, highly regarded engineering expert to assist with the removal of debris out of challenging areas, where it is safe to do so, as well as remedial plans.”

They say necessity is the mother of invention. And while no-one would have asked for the consequences of those cyclones, the fact that we are still dealing with them over a year later and developing the best ways to do so, is testament to the ‘stick-to-itiveness’ and inventiveness of those in this industry.

Looking forward, in the same vein, Jim Childerstone highlights Australian company Foresta’s ambitious, large-scale plans to process New Zealand’s forestry resources into useful biomass products.

And we can’t look forward without looking back. While the GW Edhouse & Sons mill sadly burnt down in 1974, getting a glimpse into all the impressive manual labour that went into producing wood products back then, makes us grateful for modern machinery.

Appropriate then that also this month we take a look at an Automated Quick Coupler system developed specially for new Zealand’s typical steep country larger model processors – saving on production costs while allowing a single machine and operator to take on multiple tasks. Now it’s just a case of waiting for log prices to lift to see if it takes off.

All in all, it seems clear that drawing on previous experience and actions, and building on them, makes us better prepared for next time, because there always is a next time… and there is something frightening, challenging and somehow comforting in that.

Until next time, stay safe.

forest talk

The Scion Forest Flows team taking readings.

Scion staff cuts “deeply concerning” ROTORUA’S FORESTRY-FOCUSED CROWN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Scion, has told staff that 30 jobs or around 10% of its workforce may go, as it looks to secure “ongoing viability” through economic challenges.

As various public sectors face shedding hundreds of jobs in the Government’s drive to cut costs, Rotorua’s MP says Scion’s proposal was a commercial decision, not a Governmental one.

The institute says while it has not been affected by Government budget cuts to the public service, it has been hit by a reduction in Government and industry spending on research.

“We are facing a reduction in the work we expect to be doing, and so we will not be able to retain the number of staff that we currently have,” says Scion Chief Executive, Dr Julian Elder.

“The goal is to align capacity and capability with expected work in years ahead, while safeguarding Scion’s role as a provider of forestry research, industrial biotechnology and advanced manufacturing expertise.”

Mr Elder adds that the forest and bio-economy have enormous potential to grow the economy while meeting the climate change challenge.

“The steps we are taking are essential to secure Scion’s ongoing viability so we can continue to provide leading scientific research.

That is so important for the sustainable development and growth of New Zealand’s forestry and biotechnology sectors, which are significant contributors to the economy.

“However, shifts in government priorities and the effect of the current economic situation on research spending by government and industry are impacting the amount of work that Scion is being contracted to deliver.”

Forestry minister, Todd McClay, says there have been no changes to the way it funds Scion and the proposal is a commercial decision.

“This is not a result of cost-cutting from the Government,” he says.

Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell, says Scion is among other large and small organisations needing to find efficiencies. She says the institute plays an important role in the future of forestry – a critical part of the local economy. The institute also attracts highly skilled employees from overseas.

The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has expressed “deep apprehension” over the potential redundancies. The Institute 4 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

highlights the imminent threat to crucial scientific expertise and the detrimental impact on the forestry sector’s innovation and sustainability efforts, says NZIF President, James Treadwell.

The NZIF is calling for a collaborative effort among government agencies, industry partners, and the academic community to ensure the preservation of Scion’s research capacity and uphold New Zealand’s position as a global leader in sustainable forestry practices.

“As the global community grapples with pressing environmental challenges, the forestry sector stands as one sector which offers sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change and drive economic progress. At the heart of this vital industry lies science, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of New Zealand’s forests and enhancing the nation’s economy,” says Mr Treadwell.

“Scion, renowned for its pioneering research in forestry, plays a pivotal role in driving advancements in sustainable forest management, biosecurity, and wood product innovation. The loss of skilled scientists due to lack of funding would not only disrupt ongoing research projects but also undermine New Zealand’s ability to address pressing environmental challenges, including climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

“Forestry is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economy and environmental stewardship. The potential loss of scientific talent at Scion is deeply concerning. These scientists are at the forefront of innovation, driving sustainable practices and solutions which benefit both our forests and society as a whole. Their expertise is irreplaceable.”

From pioneering sustainable harvesting techniques to developing high-value wood products, science is driving efficiencies and competitiveness, ensuring the sector remains a key driver of economic prosperity, he adds.

“Beyond economic and environmental benefits, the forestry sector plays a crucial role in empowering rural communities across New Zealand. By supporting scientific research and education initiatives, the sector is cultivating a skilled workforce equipped to drive innovation and prosperity in rural areas.

“By continuing to invest in research, innovation, and collaboration, the nation can unlock the full potential of its forests, driving economic growth, safeguarding the environment, and fostering thriving communities.” NZL

forest talk

Short rotation forestry holds strong potential LEVERAGING SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY (SRF) FOR bioenergy production will not only diversify regional economies, but also contribute to sustainable land management and generate environmental benefits, according to a two-year research project.

Silviculture and forest carbon scientist, Alan Jones, says Scion’s modelling shows that SRF as a feedstock for bioenergy has the potential to replace six percent of New Zealand’s annual fossil fuel demand from less than one percent of the land area.

“We’ve built on research from a decade ago and assessed the feasibility of rapidly upscaling bioenergy production from forests.

We’ve found there are particular regions well-suited to SRF, which provides a real opportunity for communities to transform their economic base and reshape New Zealand’s energy future.”

A key outcome from Scion’s research is a ‘how to’ guide for SRF targeting landowners, forest investors and government agencies.

It not only outlines the feasibility of SRF but also identifies specific regions most suitable for it in New Zealand.

Scion’s research recommends that SRF should be established on lower value land (Land Use Capability Class 5-7) in locations where transport distances to processing locations can be minimised.

Regions highlighted include the Central North Island, Northland, the East Coast and Otago.

The ideal species for SRF is Pinus radiata, owing to its rapid growth rate and high degree of adaptability and disease resistance in a range of growing locations. Other options include Eucalyptus fastigata and Eucalyptus regnans for their potential to rapidly yield large volumes of woody biomass from young age trees.

According to Scion’s modelling, short rotation would ideally be between 12 and 18 years for the production of wood biomass. This is considerably shorter than the conventional 28-year harvesting cycle.

According to the study, one of the key advantages of SRF is its ability to provide a steady supply of biomass for energy production on relatively economically marginal land, with plantations harvested multiple times. Additionally, SRF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuels and promoting carbon sequestration in the form of sustainably harvested living trees.

The research presents owners of low production grazing land on steeper hill country with alternative options to maximise productive capacity and increase economic viability.

Several challenges could impede the future widespread adoption of SRF in New Zealand – primarily low value of bioenergy feedstock under present market conditions. Considerations such as land costs and transportation distances further complicate the potential adoption of SRF bioenergy nationally. To address these challenges, Scion’s analysis proposes integrating the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) carbon value of standing trees in SRF plantations into their economic assessment, which provides additional incentives for investment.

Mr Jones says the guide provides a glimpse into what could be possible in the future for SRF as a vehicle to scale up

bioenergy production. But the benefits would go much further if decentralised processing of harvested material was promoted to stimulate regional economies and fast-track bioenergy availability.

“It’s about developing forest systems that are optimised for bioenergy. But in more economically disadvantaged regions, it also makes sense to build and establish processing facilities there because the energy itself is a lot cheaper to transport once it’s chipped and dried, or transformed into liquid biofuels.”

To validate theoretical findings, Scion is collaborating with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on developing designs for forest bioenergy trials. These trials will involve rigorous testing of growth rates, optimal density and tree health for different species, including Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus varieties. The collaboration represents a critical step in moving from theoretical models to practical implementation, addressing the complexities and uncertainties associated with on-the-ground application.

Scion researchers are also looking at ways to optimise tree genetics by reevaluating past stock for its compatibility with bioenergy. Conventional tree breeding over the past 50 years has focused on timber quality, minimal branching and straightness. As a feedstock for bioenergy, Mr Jones says optimal trees have very different traits.

“We want high levels of branching, and we don’t mind growing bendy stems because we also want high resin production and high wood density. So, some of the traits that would have been conventionally bred out of that breeding stock in the past, we’re looking to bring back in for bioenergy.” NZL June 2024 | NZ LOGGER 5

forest talk

Pay attention to apprentice safety URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED BY THE TRADES TO TAKE BETTER care of apprentices, after the second court sentencing this year for a trainee killed on the job, says WorkSafe.

Josh Masters was fixing the hydraulics on a log loader when the vehicle’s boom fell and crushed him at Balmoral Forest in North Canterbury in January 2022. Mr Masters had nearly completed his diesel mechanic apprenticeship with Button Logging – which has now been sentenced for health and safety failures.

The 23-year-old was told to position the loader’s forks vertically to gain access for the repairs, but the boom fell when the forks collapsed.

A WorkSafe investigation found the company did not have an effective procedure for the repairs, and when Mr Masters asked for help on how to proceed, he was given inadequate instruction and supervision.

“It was Button Logging’s responsibility to set down its expectations for working under a raised boom, and they had to ensure all workers, including apprentices, had knowledge of and

were properly trained to meet those expectations,” says WorkSafe Acting National Investigation Manager, Casey Broad.

“This tragic case is about the failure to manage a critical risk – it was utterly preventable and avoidable. As a result of that, a family is now deprived of a son, grandson, brother and partner.”

Businesses must manage their risks, and WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe, he adds.

“Although Mr Masters was nearing the end of his apprenticeship, he didn’t have decades of experience to his name and deserved better when he sought direction,” says Mr Broad.

The sentencing of Button Logging follows another in late January, over the death of 19-year-old apprentice builder Ethan PerhamTurner in the Bay of Plenty.

“Apprentices are the future generation, and companies that take on apprentices need to recognise they have a responsibility to look after them as they do with their own employees and put health and safety first,” says Mr Broad. NZL

Cost pressures on transport sector easing TRANSPORT SECTOR COST PRESSURES continued to ease as activity weakened in the March 2024 quarter according to National Road Carriers Association’s (NRC) cost index tool collated by economics consultancy, Infometrics.

Infometrics Chief Forecaster, Gareth Kiernan, says diesel prices were 3.5% lower than in the December 2023 quarter, while finance costs edged lower for the second consecutive quarter. Labour costs recorded their smallest quarterly increase in more than three years, at just 0.4%, and there were signs of moderating pressures across most other cost categories.

“Diesel prices look likely to be slightly higher in the June quarter than they were in March, due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war,” says Mr Kiernan. “To date, the reaction of international markets to the risk of Iran being drawn into the conflict has been relatively muted. Nevertheless, transport operators should keep a close watch on developments in the Middle East, given the significant cost risk posed by a spike in oil prices, which experience from previous conflicts suggests could last for six months.

“Further interest rate relief will be limited throughout 2024, as the Reserve Bank continues to signal that rate cuts are still distant. Financial markets suggest the official 6 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

cash rate will be cut from late 2024, but the Bank’s own forecasts suggest mid-2025.

“The reduction in other cost pressures, in part reflects an easing labour market. With the unemployment rate rising to 4.3% in the March quarter, wage growth is gradually slowing across the private sector.

“Stagnant economic activity means that demand for transport services is weakening.

Operators are coming under financial pressure as volumes soften, meaning fixed

operating costs have to be covered across a smaller revenue base.

NRC GM Policy and Advocacy, James Smith, says the quarterly cost index tool updates give NRC trucking operator members timely information to plan and better manage their businesses. NRC members can log onto www.natroad.co.nz to enter their cost inputs into the cost Index tool to see the impact of economic changes on their specific business. NZL

Heading up our all-new HX line, the new 626HX redefines the legendary icon with a lot more performance. It’s faster, stronger and smarter. And it’s ready to perform day in and day out to take harvesting to the extreme.

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forest talk

Restoring native species in Queenstown FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL HARVEST OF CORONET FOREST, the contract to deliver an aspirational vision to “recloak” the Forest with native planting has been awarded to Te Tapu o Tāne and e3Scientific.

“The early harvest was carried out between January 2020 and May 2023, removing over 90,000 tonnes of timber from the site and with it, a major wilding source,” says Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) General Manager Community Services, Ken Bailey.

“Getting rid of this wilding source is a huge win as we work to eliminate the spread of the pest species Douglas fir. And importantly it leaves a blank canvas for regeneration.

“The return of native species such as tawhai rauriki (mountain beech), kōwhai, kōhūhū (pittosporum) and kapuka (broadleaf ) to their rightful place will help to restore the biodiversity values of the area, which is a key goal of our Climate and Biodiversity Plan.”

QLDC Mayor, Glyn Lewers, adds, “This partnership is bigger than a regeneration project. Ultimately this is about creating relationships and connections as we work together to restore and protect our local natural environment for generations to come.

“It provides a unique opportunity to be a leading example of how ecological restoration can be successfully achieved within the Otago region and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Te Tapu o Tāne Chief Executive Officer, Jana Davis, says the Coronet Forest kaupapa is all about building on the partnership between QLDC, Mana Whenua, Te Tapu o Tāne and Citycare Property, as well as the kaimahi at e3Scientific: “On behalf of all our partners it is a privilege to be delivering this kaupapa 8 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

for our hometown and building the Whakatipu Basin towards a deafening dawn chorus of taonga manu (native birds) and providing access to the largest indigenous reforestation project in the history of the basin. He waka eke noa, we are all in this waka together.”

The kaupapa will provide opportunities supporting regional development including local jobs and training.

“We plan to hold a few wānanga (workshops) over the next 12 months as we get the site ready to come alive with eco-sourced trees and plants. The Queenstown community has spent the last few years watching the pine forest come down.

It’s going to be great seeing the new direction for the maunga (mountain). e3Scientific Managing Director, Glenn Davis, says he is looking forward to working alongside Te Tapu o Tāne and QLDC to reinstate a beech forest to the slopes of the Coronet Range.

“Coronet Forest stands on the shoulders of a significant network of ecological restoration work that has developed in the district over the last 20 years.

“These projects have provided the ecological community with the skills, expertise and confidence to reinstate local biodiversity at a landscape scale.

“The role of e3Scientific is to bring together and impart the knowledge we have gained to maximise the performance of the plantings and ensure that the project leads the delivery of large-scale ecological restoration in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The first year of work involves site preparation and planning.

Native planting is expected to begin in March 2025 and to take five to seven years. NZL

forest talk

New report fuels misconceptions A NEW REPORT IS A PROMISING STEP TOWARDS ADDRESSING complex land use management issues in New Zealand but needs to recognise the value of forestry in building a more resilient environment, says the Forest Owners Association (FOA).

The report, titled Going with the Grain: Changing land uses to fit a changing landscape, was released last month by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE). It acknowledges the longstanding complexities of land use management in New Zealand and the need to shift to a more granular, mosaic approach in the face of a changing climate.

FOA Chief Executive, Dr Elizabeth Heeg, says forest owners are supporters of an integrated land use conversation but forestry must first be recognised as a valued part of that land use mosaic.

“Unfortunately the report paints forests as part of the land use problem when the opposite is true,” she says. “It is time for the government to acknowledge the pivotal role New Zealand’s production forests have in creating a resilient landscape and for the sector to be supported in driving change.”

New Zealand’s 1.75 million hectare production forest estate currently sequesters more than half the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions each year and is arguably one of the most effective tools at the nation’s disposal to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The report’s suggestions to alter the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and phase forestry out of the ETS, could jeopardise meeting our 2050 climate change target, Ms Heeg says, adding that confidence in the ETS is vital for forest owners to continue to invest.

“The addition of a biogenic methane-based ETS could disincentivise emissions reductions further, affecting supply and demand at a time when we need a greater commitment to offsetting emissions.

“A new scheme may add to the volatility of that market, not to mention the unnecessary complexity and overheads.”

She says more trees are needed to build New Zealand’s resilience to climate change, not less as the report suggests.

“The area of new planting has not exceeded more than 70,000 hectares per year in more than three years. Forestry would need to multiply that planting area at least 11 times to make inroads to reaching that 2050 emissions target, according to a 2022 report from the PCE .

“It makes no sense for the report to suggest that reducing production forestry is a positive way forward.”

Ms Heeg says the report’s view that forestry offers fewer benefits and removes land use options from future generations is fuelling misconceptions about the sector.

“Production forests are four times more productive than sheep and beef farming per hectare. They generate significant economic activity for rural communities, including employment for more than 40,000 New Zealanders.”

“Plus, it’s clear that production forests offer just as many, if not more, ecosystem benefits as other land uses do.”

“Proposed land use solutions and policies must be evidence-based, cost-effective and not value one land use over another. Forest owners need the support of the community and recognition of the sector’s value, to do so.” NZL

forest talk

The second bridge used in Norman Road block.

Story: Hayley Leibowitz.

Temporary stream crossings benefit ground-based logging WENITA FOREST PRODUCTS HAS CONSTRUCTED AND TESTED the first of two transportable, temporary crossing structures planned for use in its ground-based logging operations.

“The project came from the idea of having a lower impact on streams when utilising temporary crossings in our groundbased logging operations,” says Logging & Planning Manager Jade Phillips. He adds that Otago’s Regional Council, where the company is based, has more stringent regulations on stream bed disturbance than the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF).

Construction of the first crossing began in October 2023, and it was completed and installed at the first location by mid-January 2024. “We now have two of the temporary crossings constructed and in use out in the forests,” says Mr Phillips.

The crossings were first used in Otago Coast Forest, helping one of Wenita’s ground-based logging crews access difficult areas across a waterway. Stream bed and bank disturbance was 10 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

considerably reduced relative to what potentially could result from the culvert and log crossings that are typically used in these situations.

Traditionally, logging crews have created a temporary river crossing by laying culverts in the river bed and covering them with logs, which is a permitted activity under the NES-CF. However, this method can lead to stream bed disturbance and sediment mobilisation, degrading water quality and fish habitat.

“Our temporary crossing structures aim to minimise streambed disturbance when extracting stems across waterways, reducing it to a small footprint in the stream bed – or ideally causing no disturbance at all – while allowing water to flow freely through or under the structure,” explains Mr Phillips.

Built by Hancock Engineering based in Milton, the new crossings are constructed from large I-beams from an old bridge with a steel pipe through the centre of the structure.

forest talk

The deck is made from Douglas fir timber cut from the forest that the temporary crossing was first used in. The deck surface has smaller dimensioned timber and rubber conveyer matting, which acts as a sacrificial layer over the main wooden structure.

The structure was designed to be narrow enough to not need a pilot vehicle when being transported, which resulted in the deck being made of two separate parts.

When installing, the steel part of the structure is placed in or over the waterway with an excavator and the two-piece wooden deck is then placed on top and chained down. Stems can be placed either side of the deck to contain any dirt or debris bought onto the deck by drags pulled by the skidder. Slash is also put on the deck to reduce damage to the deck surface when machines with aggressive tracks cross over.

Mr Phillips says challenges were around making the structures transportable without a pilot vehicle, while still being large and strong enough to take the weight of a 40+ tonne excavator and six-wheeled skidder with a full grapple of stems. Other challenges included how to ensure the crossing could be installed with the machines that are on site.

He explains that the temporary crossings have a 4.5m overall length, which is best suited to narrow and more deeply incised rivers that are most common in our forests, rather than wide and shallow riverbeds. “Under the NES-CF, it could be used as a temporary crossing, a single span bridge, or a removable in-stream structure, depending on how it is positioned relative to the waterway.”

The desired result has been achieved, with the two completed

temporary crossing structures being used in several locations so far this year. Stream bed and bank disturbance has been low at the crossing locations.

“Going forward we’ll be improving the design to improve the ease of installation with grapple machines. We may also look into how it can be used to aid our cable logging operations, such as shovelling stems to, and extracting them across, a fixed point in a stream when cable logging,” says Mr Phillips. NZL

Unloading the bridge.

forest talk

First locally manufactured Madill log loaders TASMAN-BASED MANUFACTURING COMPANY, DC EQUIPMENT, has completed its first-ever production run of Madill log loader excavators right in the heart of Nelson-Tasman. As the first locally produced commercial excavators, the move not only represents a significant achievement for the company, but also for New Zealand’s industrial sector. The first two Madill 4000 log loaders rolled off the production line at the Nelson-Tasman facility last month.

DC Equipment acquired the iconic Madill brand from the Canadian based Nicholson Group in July 2023. Having been associated with robust cable logging equipment globally and valued by loggers throughout North America, the Madill brand brings a legacy stretching back to 1911 Under the stewardship of DC Equipment’s founder, Dale Ewers – a seasoned logger with a 35-year connection to Madill – the brand is set to thrive.

After witnessing several accidents in the logging industry, Mr Ewers established DC Equipment as an independent business that had previously been a part of his logging operations. Motivated by the wider impact these accidents had on workers, family, crew and the operation, Dale set out to revolutionise and enhance safety in steep-slope logging operations.

“Owning a Madill tower yarder was a dream of mine when I first saw them,” Mr Ewers says. ‘’Madill’s reputation for durability and performance makes it a perfect match with our Falcon brand’s values. This is more than an acquisition; it’s about creating a legacy of excellence in the logging industry.”

With this acquisition, DC Equipment not only enhances its existing product lineup but also reaffirms its mission to transform the steep-slope logging industry globally through safety and productivity enhancements. ‘Our goal isn’t to be the largest manufacturer, far from it, but to deliver the best solutions to our customers” Mr Ewers emphasises.

12 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

This commitment extends to maintaining the integrity and heritage of the Madill brand, with plans to integrate DC Equipment’s advanced technologies and innovations without altering the essence of Madill’s trusted machinery, he adds.

“Madill will always be Madill – there’s a tremendous amount of heritage, history and customer loyalty we recognise and respect.

We see exciting opportunities to enhance these machines with our innovative technology, especially for use in challenging steep slope conditions.”

Known for its Falcon Forestry Equipment brand, DC Equipment offers a comprehensive range of logging equipment, renowned for safety and reliability across more than a million operational hours with a record of zero harm. Currently DC Equipment manufactures and exports equipment to North and South America, while supplying the New Zealand and Australian markets.

The company is also advancing towards automation, data integration, and lower-emission technologies. NZL

TA IN

forest talk

A strategic merger THE NEW ZEALAND FORESTRY INDUSTRY HAS WITNESSED A significant development in the new year with the merger of industry stalwarts, West-Trak Equipment and Mainline Track. This strategic merger leverages the strengths of both entities for the benefit of the forestry sector, with the ‘TUFF’ range from Mainline Track, and the industry knowledge, experience and multi-location depots of West-Trak.

As a result, with its longstanding history and service to the forestry industry, West-Trak NZ now offers unique product and a wider range to forestry contractors across New Zealand. Now, four months into operations, the newly formed company is well placed to solidify its position as a strong provider of forestry equipment undercarriage and wear part solutions.

As part of the merger, all stock from the two Mainline Track branches was relocated to the existing West-Trak branches in Auckland, Westport, and Cromwell. Combining the stock into just three locations resulted in significant savings and efficiencies says Managing Director, Truan Bailey, allowing West-Trak NZ to dispatch over 90% of orders on the same day.

Forestry Industry Manager at West-Trak NZ, Gavin French, who brings over 25 years working in the industry to the operation, from manual felling to machinery operation, says, “The merger has been fantastic. Before, I was responsible for two select regions, but now I’m able to focus on the entire forestry industry, and am able to work with loggers all over the country. Access to the brilliant TUFF

Superseal Chains has really made a difference for our customers with significant cost savings and longevity.”

Looking forward, Truan Bailey, the new Managing Director of West-Trak NZ, joining from Mainline Track, says, “I’ve been impressed by the dedication and passion within the company.

The merger has allowed us to bring together Mainline Track’s pioneering technologies with West-Trak’s longstanding reputation and customer relationships. It’s an exciting time for us as we leverage these strengths to drive forward, delivering nextgeneration solutions and services to the forestry industry.”

He adds that West-Trak NZ is committed to helping forestry contractors across New Zealand optimise their operations. NZL

West-Trak Forestry Industry Manager, Gavin French (left), pictured with Hamish Matthews from MCH.

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forest talk

Look to biomass for power solutions IF THE COUNTRY DIVERSIFIED ITS HEATING sources to include biomass as a fuel, regular electricity shortages over New Zealand’s colder months could be a thing of the past, says the Bioenergy Association’s Brian Cox. “The yearly announcement from Transpower that there may be insufficient generation to meet demand is a situation which will become more common if there is too much reliance on electricity for energy supply, compounded by looming gas shortages. This is a situation of putting too much focus on a single form of energy.”

With continuing strong population growth, a focus on decarbonising industry, and greater electrification of the vehicle fleet, Mr Cox says New Zealand risks being caught seriously short in electricity generation capacity for years to come.

“And of course uncertainty over the future of the Lake Onslow hydro battery project has been hanging over the market for almost a decade. It has meant while those demand factors have been growing, generators have been hanging back from making any generation commitment, lest they be left with stranded assets if Onslow went ahead.”

“While the decision has been made for it to not go ahead, long lead times to create more generation capacity create a real squeeze on New Zealand’s electricity generation supply for several more years yet until those new generation assets come on stream.

“If ever there was a time to have a joined-up national energy strategy, that time is now. And if we did, it would be very timely to include the use of biomass alongside electricity as an energy source for industrial processes, like heating and steam generation.”

Mr Cox points to forestry firm OneFortyOne

that recently signed an agreement with Canterbury Woodchip Supplies to take forest slash and turn it into biofuel to replace coal for heating horticulture crops in Nelson.

“That company aims to reduce its slash and forest waste from its forests by 75,000 tonne over the next five years. That is the equivalent of 2000 logging trucks’ worth of timber.”

With almost a third of New Zealand’s household waste comprising greenhouse gas emitting food scraps, there is also an ample feedstock source to enable the supply of biofuel for heating.

“Between forestry and food waste there is a very deep resource of biofuels that would go a long way to not only help remove this seasonal squeeze on electricity, but also make a major contribution to New Zealand’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions profile for the industrial sector,” Mr Cox says. NZL

Above: The Bioenergy Association’s Brian Cox. Below: OneFortyOne Operations Manager, Mark Coghill.

Addendum

Dear Editor, I have been approached to comment on the article titled Addressing fatigue connection failures published in the April edition. It uses a tension chart graphic from one of our early studies, carried out nine years ago when winch-assist systems were still in their infancy. The study showed that tension in the rope changed rapidly with the movement of the machine on the slope. The purpose of those studies was to help support further development and improvement, and subsequent winch assist machine design significantly reduced this type of loading (as established in more recent studies).

The article contends that the rapid tension change shown in the chart might be caused by shackles ‘jerking’ over one another and result in friction welding. However, the change in tension on the chart takes place over about two or three seconds, whereas ‘jerking’ caused by two shackles jumping across one-another would show up as an almost 14 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

instantaneous shock load. I have taught many winch assist workshops and have not come across a shackle failing during normal operations.

I have no qualms with any manufacturer using a double lubricated connection system. It is correct that the hitch connection on the machine itself has been a component of concern that has required improved design over time. However, a bow shackle is also a correct piece of rigging equipment to both transfer and redirect load in wire rope applications. Being a critical element, shackles have a factor of safety of six, compared to three for the rope itself. Shackle wear is readily identified during inspection, and replacement requirements well established.

As the article noted, it is the most common connection used across our range of winch-assist machines.

Regards, Rien Visser, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury.

forest talk

New forestry manager for Powerco NEW POWERCO FORESTRY MANAGER, Nick Catton, has first-hand experience of climbing and cutting trees near power lines thanks to his background as a utilities arborist and machine operator in the forestry industry. He has brought this experience, as well as work as a civil contractor, to his new role as Forestry Manager at Powerco.

“With the growth in forestry and increased carbon planting across New Zealand it was time to have a dedicated person to work proactively with forestry owners and managers,” says Powerco Senior Vegetation Manager, Colin Winch.

Mr Catton is based in Masterton and is responsible for forestry across the Powerco network.

“By developing relationships and getting in early on new forest plantings and harvest we can work together to minimise faults to our network while helping forest owners keep their costs and risks to a minimum,” says Mr Catton.

The growth of carbon forests, particularly in the western footprint of the Powerco network is also keeping him busy.

“There are a range of strategies from plant selection to planting plans to create power line corridors to help mitigate the potential impacts of these forests on our electricity network,” he explains.

Falling trees and branches in forestry blocks contribute to a significant number of faults on the Powerco network.

“Trees grow exceptionally well in New Zealand, and with a bit of upfront planning and consideration around harvest we can get the best for all parties and keep the lights on for our customers,” he adds.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity and gas distribution utility with over 900,000 customers (across 457,000 connections) connected to its networks.

The company’s electricity networks are in Western Bay of Plenty, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Whanganui, Rangitīkei,

Manawatū and the Wairarapa. Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay. NZL

Powerco Forestry Manager, Nick Catton.

forest talk

Results from the TLC trial at Kuratau.

A “game-changer” for tree management NEW MEASURES TO PROTECT POWER LINES FROM FALLING TREES have been cautiously welcomed by King Country-based energy distributor, The Lines Company (TLC).

Energy Minister, Simeon Brown, recently announced that Government will make it easier for companies like TLC to take action to reduce the risk of trees taking down power lines and cutting power.

But the measures only “tinker around the edges and don’t go anywhere near far enough” to remove the risk to communities from power outages, says TLC Chief Executive, Mike Fox. Mr Fox says 10% of TLC’s network – 150,000 hectares – is covered in forestry blocks. About a third of all TLC’s power outages each year come from vegetation and, of that, more than 90% are from falling trees. The company has 269km of power lines running through forestry blocks as well as 106km of line through Department of Conservation (DoC) land.

“We literally spend millions of dollars to manage trees and repair damage, but there are some blocks on our network which, to be frank, are poorly maintained by a small number of forestry owners,” he says.

“When storms come through, we know that no matter what we have done, we are likely to see fallen trees on power lines, cutting power and putting our communities at risk. That is wildly frustrating because it’s our community which bears the brunt of the issue and they can least afford it.”

During Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, TLC sustained $1.65 million 16 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

in damage, most of it from trees falling onto lines. Across New Zealand, trees interrupted supply to 68,000 households.

“The measures announced by the Minister are a step in the right direction but only a tiny step,” Mr Fox says. “If these new rules had been in place during Gabrielle, they wouldn’t have made much difference at all because they still don’t address issues of falling trees.

“Our sector is being forced to work with regulations which are now 20 years old and well out of date. We’ve been asking for changes for more than a decade now.”

Specialised tree-trimming The Minister’s announcement comes just one week after TLC unveiled its use of the heli-saw, a specialised tree-trimming saw hanging from a helicopter. The heli-saw has the potential to “transform” the industry by safely and quickly trimming trees too close to power lines, says Mr Fox. The heli-saw, owned by Lakeview Helicopters in Taupō, was recently trialled by TLC in a forestry block in Kuratau near Taupō.

In just over one hour, the heli-saw successfully trimmed 950 metres of radiata pine along a corridor housing a 33kV network line. Material was left at the base of the trees, leaving two blocks of trees – nine years and 14 years – undamaged.

TLC’s Vegetation Manager, Jason Gaukrodger, says the trial was “sensational”, saving the company “weeks and weeks of work

forest talk

Main: The heli-saw was designed and built by Lakeview Helicopters in Taupo.

Inset: The Heli-saw perfomed cutting well.

and thousands of dollars” and proving the heli-saw technology has “incredible potential”.

“I had high expectations, but this blew me out of the water in terms of how efficient it was. It was much faster than I anticipated, and the pilots had incredible control. This technology has the potential to be transformational for electricity distribution companies like ours, as well as for the forestry sector.”

Mr Fox adds that for customers the potential benefits could be huge, with TLC servicing 24,000 connections across some of New Zealand’s most challenging geographical terrain.

“It is an ongoing battle to keep trees clear of power lines, making the network vulnerable to storms and weather events,” he says.

“In a normal year, we’d invest around $1.6 million in vegetation management but in the future, we will need to invest more because of increasingly volatile weather patterns and the increase in commercial forestry. Over the next 10 years, we’ve budgeted a further $200,000 to $600,000 per annum to keep trees away from power lines and in some cases, reroute some lines away from trees completely.”

TLC is also trialling the heli-saw technology in a plantation forest south of Piopio in the King Country. A 2.6km corridor through a commercial forest is being trimmed, with support from the forestry owners, and the company will continue to work alongside foresters.

Mr Gaukrodger says this technology helps both TLC and forestry owners manage the risk from trees and does so cost-effectively, especially in steep or hard-to-access terrain: “The other option

is felling the trees completely, but removing edge trees opens up forestry blocks to wind. We can send arborists in to trim trees but we are literally looking at weeks and weeks of work. With this technology, weather permitting, we’re talking hours.”

He adds that when considering the heli-saw, safety was TLC’s primary concern. Heli-saws from Lakeview Helicopters are approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for use under H125 B3E and AS350 B2 helicopters “We began looking at this technology a few years ago, so have had time to think about every facet of safety. We’ve put a huge amount of time into health and safety documentation and into developing a helicopter guide for use on our network. The trial itself also involved a site-specific Health and Safety management plan,” he says.

“This is a tool desperately needed by our industry and none of us want it to fail. It has the potential to transform the way we manage vegetation and that’s important for TLC, because across our network, more and more land is now going into commercial forest. It also allows us to reduce safety risk because we’re not having arborists up trees for extended periods of time, sometimes in challenging terrain.”

Heli-saws also have the potential to help distribution companies better manage faults, he says.

“If a tree brings a line down and if weather permits, we could trim the whole corridor, doing the job once and doing it properly. We have to get ahead of the game and, used appropriately, this could be a game-changer for us and the wider sector.” NZL June 2024 | NZ LOGGER 17

Iron Test

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A bird’s eye view of the Falcon SG1730 at work near Tolaga Bay.

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ents, for the diameter. This heavy

at set it apart from Above: The grapple is robust, having spent over a year in the rough stuff in East Cape.

Right: Even when grabbed awkwardly, the grapple holds on well.

YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GET INTERESTING WHEN YOU are still 20 kilometres from the skid north of Gisborne and the road, halfway up the range, surrounded by grass paddocks for miles, suddenly looks like a hillbilly’s driveway due to cyclone damage. Out the gate steep and narrow and it’s got a twist in it. Surely log trucks or even regular trucks would fall off the side of this trail? Maps app says it’s a public road.

We have just driven past big warning signs announcing major risks ahead. I guess this is what they mean. The road gets even narrower, steeper and more winding. We check the map again because surely this is actually someone’s driveway but no, still a road.

A few cattle stops later, some sheep scuttle out of the way and West Ho Forest spreads out before us. At 1800 hectares this used to be a sheep and cattle station inland from Tolaga Bay, which has had a few issues with woody debris.

We meet up with Tom Filmer and Tom Simpson from DC Equipment and Bill Wheeler who is hosting us today, from Ernslaw One. Bill grew up in Kaitaia and says there were really only two options there, farming or forestry. He completed his forestry degree in the late eighties, so has had a bit over 30 years in forestry and has been with Ernslaw since 2009, having worked for Ngati Porou Forests prior,

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so has plenty of local experience.

Bill, who was Regional Manager, is now focussing solely on project managing the cyclone cleanup. And in his arsenal of equipment is the deployment of the Falcon Slash Grapple Rake SG1730 which bolts on to Ensign’s 1730 grapple in under three minutes. It’s moving large volumes of slash today while mounted on a pre-loved Sumitomo SH240 belonging to Raywood Contracting.

The first Flacon Slash Grapple Rake made was for Dale Ewers’ crew, Moutere Logging 3 in Nelson. That was used to load woody debris and slash into trucks to ensure there were no environmental issues if there was a significant weather event. That first one went into Moutere in 2022. The Moutere 3 crew had obviously seen the writing on the wall with mobilised slash further North and decided to start responding to this growing threat and to get ahead of it. Falcon now has three versions available, one to fit the Ensign 1530, this larger one to fit the 1730 and another to run on haulers via the Falcon Claw, but more about that later.

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ents, for the 20 NZ LOGGER | June 2024 diameter. This heavy at set it apart from

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Main and opposite: Regular operator,Curt Kururangi, doing the good work of derisking old hauler landings near Tolaga Bay.

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Still a recovering landscape Engaging four-wheel drive, the belly of the ute scrapes on the road as we sidle up and over one ridge and down to a creek crossing which has blown out during Gabrielle and been rebuilt temporarily.

Speaking with a few loggers from the region I hear there are multiple sites like this on the Cape and there is not a lot of room for error or complacency on some of these crossings. By that I mean your tyres just fit on it but they might be hanging over on the sloping sides a tad, and from there it’s all downhill. Wider tyres and four-wheel drives are advisable. Presumably once everything has been reopened, the roading crews will work their way back through to widen and improve these areas.

“We have taken a break from harvesting in this forest,” Bill says, “actually, mother nature has made us take a break really.”

And with that we turn onto a side road and see that high volume de-risking team in action. The SH240 with the slash grapple has a

massive load of reject logs, branches and processor residue in its teeth and is slewing around to place it in the centre of the landing out of harm’s way. A long-reach excavator with a pull rake on it is reaching probably 20 metres down over the side and dragging up log processing offcuts from the deepest part of the bird’s nest. Very interesting to see that long reach in the forest too. Must be a bit hairy with that much leverage up on a hill. There is a Komatsu Moxy type truck for end hauling. It’s parked up today as the hauler landing that the crew is on is big enough to centre-store the waste wood without end hauling it.

Bill says, “We’ve got a 22-tonne long reach rake machine and behind that is a 37-tonne excavator fitted with the Falcon slash grapple.

“What we are doing with these two bits of kit is pulling that material back, right back to bare earth where that can then be grassed and the post-harvest debris placed in the centre of the

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1: From left: Tom Filmer (DC Equipment), Bill Wheeler (Ernslaw One) and Tom Simpson (DC Equipment) survey a rehabbed bird’s nest site that is ready for reseeding.

2: From left: DC Equipment’s Tom Filmer and Ernslaw One’s Bill Wheeler demonstrate the scale of the SG1730.

3: From left: DC Equipment’s Tom Filmer, operator, Curt Kururangi and Ernslaw One’s Bill Wheeler are all impressed by the SG1730.

4: While it’s lost a bit of paint, the SG1730 is still nice and straight despite a gruelling year-and-a-bit at work. landing, safe and secure away from an edge that could be somewhat compromised and likely to fail in another weather event. The idea is to get it to the stage where you can safely drive your work ute around the slash pile so there is a good buffer of stable ground between the slash piles and the edge.”

It looks like Ernslaw One is going above and beyond the call of duty here as several sites we visit today are now surrounded by two- and three-metre high trees which are stopping debris piles from sliding off site, but they know their sites best so when in Rome…

“We have prioritised the worst sites,” Bill says. “We’ve worked through those and now a lot of the work is on lower risk sites that are less vulnerable to failure but we are still addressing them. You could argue that the surrounding young trees are gaining a degree of canopy closure and are all acting together as living debris traps so

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that, should debris be mobilised, it will be captured.

“Ernslaw is very supportive of doing the right thing and beyond Ernslaw it’s industry and local body governments. We’re all in this together. If I’m talking about our Gisborne or Tairawhiti district, it’s well known that our geology is some of the most erodible nationally and even globally.”

That statement brings to mind the notorious Tarndale Slip not far from here which has been falling down for over a century and there are multiple sites like it within virgin native bush on the Cape that are moving downhill more every year due to the nature of that geology.

Bill continues: “There have been lessons learned from the cyclones. There have been significant changes to our operations and we have engaged an independent, highly regarded engineering expert to assist with the removal of debris out of challenging areas,

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where it is safe to do so, as well as remedial plans.

One of the key pieces of equipment to do the job is the slash grapple. Absolutely wonderful piece of kit with its ability to transform a regular log grapple with its sometimes frustrating ability to move smaller slash, into a highly effective, large volume, material handling device.”

DC Equipment’s Tom Filmer asks if there has been much collaboration within the community or whether it’s an “it’s all up to you approach”.

“There has been some strong vitriol within the community but what people need to realise is that the staff within the forestry companies and the contractors’ staff – we are part of the community. Our kids go to the schools, they go to church, rugby clubs… we are part of the community. So when there has been that very strong vitriol, it hits very hard. We don’t wake up in the morning to say ‘whose lives are we going to mess up today?’ That’s not what we are about and that’s not why we got into the industry. These guys here operating these two machines are from Tolaga and Ruatoria and together, we’re making a difference,” says Bill.

Collaborative approach Ernslaw One has cleaned up people’s farms, stacked woody debris for burning and cleaned up beaches, and the work in the community continues but the focus has also turned to the forests.

“A lot of the remedial work has been completed. For the last three months we have been working in our most vulnerable forest areas to address the woody material – whether it be trees with root balls or post-harvest material – and our infrastructure such as roads, bridges and culverts,” says Bill.

“Now it’s time to look at the bigger picture. We are working together with the wider forestry industry to develop practices and technology to reduce the impact of these major weather events. This is a massive task which is ongoing.”

The regular operator for this grapple machine is Curt Kururangi.

He has also been in forestry for around 30 years and has a good rapport with Bill. Curt spent five years down the hill breaking out for Peacocke Logging before getting into the seat of a hauler tower, and spent 15 years there, so has a good grounding in hauler landings, cutover and operations in general.

“It was nice to get out of towers and into a swing yarder,” Curt says.

“I wouldn’t go back to towers. Eventually I went into a roadlining crew

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on the earthmoving side for Kimberly and every year I would meet my mate Kelvin (Kelvin Diack from Raywood) and I would ask him if he had a job for me, and every year he would say no. And then a couple of years ago I asked him and he said yes. I told him, ‘you were supposed to say no’.”

Good for moving anything And that’s how Curt got to be operating the SH240 and the slash grapple, which at 1900mm long, has a huge volume capacity of 0.89m3 or 890 litres just within the boundaries of its open jaws. It will hold and move a lot more than that. This was the third prototype slash grapple out of FFE and arrived on the Cape in February 2023 as part of Ernslaw’s response to Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.

“It’s good for moving anything,” says Curt. “Sometimes we need to switch over to a bucket machine if there is a slip blocking a road, and if the bucket machine is not handy I’ll start moving dirt with the slash grapple while I’m waiting and it will move a lot more dirt than a bucket. It’s good for bulking out. This grapple will even pick up bulk bark from the processor in a big wad.”

Curt gives us a demo and that is certainly something you won’t be doing with a standard or bunching grapple.

The rest of the Raywood crew is still in Mangatu Forest where the SG1730 was first delivered. It was mostly working on moving slash out of risk zones on roads and in riverbeds, before being retasked in the Tolaga Bay area.

Raywood runs a Logchamp swing yarder fed by a couple of Tigercats. Crew co-owner, Kelvin Diack, says there are seven in the Mangatu crew and the Sumi was purchased around 2021 and used to clear windblow and slash with its regular grapple for a while.

“So, we were already on the job clearing up trees out of the rivers before and after the cyclones and Ernslaw then delivered the SG1730 so we could pick up smaller stuff efficiently as well. Some of that was loaded onto the Komatsu dumper for end haul. We also have a 20-tonne Komatsu in Mangatu opening up roads and tidying things up around the place. A lot of our work is second rotation so most of the roads and skids are in, they just need a clean-up. There are a few alterations to the harvest plans from the first rotation, such as no longer pulling through the creeks and so on, but mostly the earthworks are in place,” says Kelvin.

He adds that the guys in the slash grapple crew are doing “a flaming good job” and they certainly are.

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Above left: The Komatsu HM300 dump truck used

by Ernslaw One to end-haul slash to safety.

Above: The hauler version of the slash grapple at C & W Logging’s Nelson operation. Photo: FFE.

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Right: The slash grapple with about two cube of debris in its teeth.

Imagine how much time you would save loading out binwood with this grapple?

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It will be quite interesting to see this slash grapple on a hauler carriage clearing out steeper creeks. The added costs of a hauler to move slash were looking like a major concern but judging by this unit’s huge volume capacity, I would say it would be quite capable and efficient.

And perhaps that is the better way to look at it – you want a high-capacity grapple like this even more if you are using the larger machines to run it. I gave Willie Waldron a call in Nelson at his C & W Logging operation, as he trialled this Falcon prototype on his hauler a few months back.

“That one was owned by Moutere Logging,” Willie said. “It was an innovative idea that we took to the forestry company to solve a problem they did not have a solution to.”

Willie said they only needed it for a few days, where some old crop trees that couldn’t be kept out of a steep creek had left some debris.

So, the task there involved hooking the slightly smaller Falcon Slash Grapple SG1530 under the Falcon Tandem Carriage and grappling gobfuls of branches, shifting them a short distance out of the creek to a nearby plateau so they were on stable ground out of the waterway. This was done just with the hauler and two people on site when the rest of the crew had left, so minimised the costs involved.

Willie’s verdict was that it was a good grapple system that worked well and surprised them with its efficiency, and found it cost less than they thought it would to do the job.

So, this all bodes well for the future environmental reputation of the industry – that we have highly capable and tested tools for managing slash.

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Iron Tester: Tim Benseman

Solid, fast and efficient WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS Falcon SG1730 slash grapple which is pinned on to regular Ensign grapples I was a bit concerned about its longevity but this gadget looks good and straight after over a year in the ground zero zone of slash clean up north of Gisborne. If it was going to get munted this is where it would happen and it’s nice and straight.

I’m surprised regular operator, Curt Kururangi, hasn’t bent it with the size of the offcuts he has been moving here today which is testament to the Falcon reputation too. I ask Curt to give us a demo because I want to make sure I use it how he is using it so we keep everything operational for his important environmental work the following day. He isn’t being overly gentle or tentative with it at all, so it looks like I’ll be able to run it without any issues.

I have loaded plenty of log trucks and

spent years raking forestry debris in CNI forests for a land prep company, so it will be interesting to see where this attachment fits in the scheme of things from that perspective.

Lifting the grapple up with the Sumi 240 I don’t notice its weight out there so it’s solidly built without being too heavy for the machine. Typical smooth Sumitomo performance in the lifting department. I reach out the stick and kick the rotator pedal but that’s not it. Hmmm. The other guys are across the skid in deep conversation so I have a look at other options. Maybe one of these buttons on the joystick? Sure enough and that’s a very intuitive place to put it too, right within thumb reach. The rotator is nice and crisp still with that 1200kg of attachment on board.

I line up half a dozen dishevelled logs

Iron Tester, Tim Benseman. and sticks and drop down onto them and clamp up. Everything arranges itself good in the grapple teeth and clamps up good and tight. Better than expected actually.

I’m impressed.

Stability is good as I lift up the payload and slew to the pile on the left that Curt has started to build during the demo before I got in. It’s not long before I can hardly see the other guys because the stack is getting too high. That’s the sort of problem you want when cleaning up large volumes of debris.

A couple of smaller logs get crossed

A th q e W

Left: Regular operator, Curt Kururangi, hands back a cab camera to DC Equipment’s Tom Filmer after the demo near Tolaga Bay. Below: With 13,000 hours on the clock, the Sumitomo’s engine is still pretty tidy.

LG34395

Right:The hydraulic pump bay.

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9 T N

IFICATION

SPEC S

FALCON SLASH GRAPPLE SG1730 – SPECIFICATIONS Base Machine

Sumitomo SH240-5TLFS

DIMENSIONS (MM)

132 kW /177HP @2,000 rpm 636 N-m at @1500rpm 5.19 Litre

Width Height Ground clearance Max reach Operating weight

ENGINE ISUZU AI-4HK1X turbocharged diesel Rated power Peak Torque Displacement HYDRAULICS 2x 234 l/m pumps 1x 20 l/m Pilot pump REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES) Fuel tank Engine oil Hydraulic tank Cooling system

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up and hang at precarious angles as I slew probably a couple of cubic metres of processor debris, slovens and other offcuts off the sloping area and around to the flat. It feels kind of unnatural to be running a grapple with stuff hanging

3200 3340 470 10160 37000 kg

GRAPPLE Weight -Slash Grapple Rake only 1200kgs Combined Base Grapple Ensign 1730 and Slash Grapple Rake SG1730 2280kgs Max Opening 1700mm Minimum Grip 200mm Maximum Capacity 0.89m3 (890L) Length 1900mm Transportation Dimensions 1900mmx1150mm Rake Configuration 4 teeth each side arrangement

out like that but the grapple strength and grip handles it fine, lets it all go smoothly where I want it and is ready for the next bite at the bird’s nest.

Hats off to Falcon for building a solid, fast and efficient solution to another

forestry task. The sub three minute spring lock attachment process is a nice surprise and even with it being that quick, the design is so unobtrusive that you can still fleet and load a log truck if required without any issues. NZL

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Looking Back

In this pictorial, Ron Cooke, a former Taumarunui engineer and now a sprightly 84-year-old historian happily researching and publishing local King Country events from the past continues his recollections. He follows up his previous article titled A day in the bush (NZ Logger, September 2023) with this next chapter following a similar theme . . .

C

LEAR FELLING OF NATIVE FORESTS HAD OFFICIALLY CEASED BY 1977 because the Government had realised during the 1950s that this valuable resource was rapidly being depleted and action was necessary to preserve what remained.

In hindsight I was fortunate or, to be more accurate, unknowingly on hand, to record the dying stages of an industry whose fate had already been decided.

The date of my visit to Edhouse’s Mill was on Wednesday 22 November 1972 about 18 months before it burnt down on 1 May 1974 and, as a result, sadly ceased operations.

34 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

Opposite: The sawmill of GW Edhouse & Sons was

fundamentally basic and situated south of Taumarunui on State Highway 4 at Manunui about halfway along the straight between the Matapuna Bridge and Manunui School. The family-operated business could be described as “rough and ready” with a structure that was typically open-sided, with the all-important corrugated iron roof effectively protecting the valuable sawmilling machinery from the weather. Native logs can be seen on the mill skids having been delivered by logging contractors.

Above: The native logs that arrived at Edhouse’s mill from the bush skids needed to be suitably cut in half lengthwise to comfortably fit on their breaking-down bench. Here Tuppy Woods (right) handles the two-man electric-powered chainsaw with the assistance of Len Ralph who steadily adds his special skill to the cutting process. George Oliphant, a retired timber worker of Taumarunui, easily recognised the manufacturer of this unusual saw and described it as a Danarm, being similar to an “extremely heavy beast” he used to operate at the neighbouring Hutt Timber & Hardware of Manunui with Max Adler. “It was impossible to carry on your own but it was very powerful with a heavy-duty chain with big links.” George went on to explain that lubricating oil was held in a small tank built into the tail end handle.

The chain also ran over a nose sprocket which improved efficiency and wear. Having availability of three-phase electric power, along with an extension lead, was ideal for working on the skids in relative silence and well before the greenhouse effect was even heard of.

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Looking Back

By the time Tuppy is finishing the chainsaw cut his benchman, Wha Corbett, has dug away, or hosed off, any dirt clinging to the log. This was done to avoid any hidden stones or other debris from damaging the saws. This important task was diligently repeated as the log was turned during the breaking-down process.

Above and below: The massive log is winched into position with the use of a rolling-up hook under watchful eyes ready for the first cut, while below, after two cuts, one section has to be removed from the bench to allow work to continue on the remaining piece.

The solidly-built breaking-down bench shows its flat top and chassis being supported on four or five sets of heavy duty wheels running on tram rails. It is in turn pulled back and forward by a wire rope coiling on and off winch drums either end.

June 2024 | NZ LOGGER 37

Looking Back

The log is seen exiting the two six-foot diameter circular saws on its second cut. The saws are spinning, one above and slightly behind the other, at around 600 revs per minute which means they are ripping through roughly two inches of timber per revolution, creating heavy sprays from the water used to cool and lubricate the blades as well as washing away the sawdust.

Len Ralph carefully inches the offset from the first cut into position to pre-measured marks indicated, sometimes by nails hammered into the wooden bench top, next to a series of steel strips set at right angles that allow the log to slide easily across the bench.

38 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

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T&Cs apply: Valid from 29 February – 30 June 2024. There is a maximum of two ticketed trip attendees per company if two eligible machines or more are purchased by that company. Tickets cannot be transferred unless with prior approval fromTerra Cat.To qualify you must purchase one of the selected first 10 x new Cat or Weiler forestry units available.The qualifying machines are Weiler B758 Feller Bunchers, Cat 538 Forest Machines, 548 Forest Machines and 558 Forest Machines. This Fiordland trip package is not redeemable for cash. Terra Cat is responsible for the costs incurred for the Fiordland charter tour including transfers from and to Queenstown. This excludes travel arrangements to Queenstown from within New Zealand, and accommodation in Te Anau and Queenstown which is to be paid for by each attendee.

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Looking Back

The breaking-down process for native sawmilling ends up with fairly large chunks of unfinished timber, usually with at least one uncut edge that can be manually handled by the breast bench. These are known as flitches and can be seen in this view as the log is in the process of being broken down into manageable slabs ranging down in size from 18 x 6 inch to whatever the benchman had decided would economically convert into saleable boards.

Len Ralph and Wha Corbett use hooks to drag the flitch onto two parallel beams consisting of free-running transfer rollers to easily reach the breast bench without too much effort.

40 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

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Looking Back

The three men operating the breast bench had dedicated tasks as the flitches were taken through their next stage of the journey. At the rear is the breast benchman who had the top job in the mill as he was the one who made the biggest difference in how much money was made. His job was to quickly assess the flitch as it came off the breaking down bench then decide how it should be cut into boards for maximum value. The pin boy (left) was responsible for adjusting the saw fence to the required width from hand signals given by the benchman. Here, the tailer-out (right) assists with receiving a finished board which he flicks to his left on to a chain-driven transfer table (foreground) to be cut to length by the “goosey” whose job was to square off the ends without docking off more than necessary. Meanwhile the tailer-out is returning the offcut from the flitch down the opposite side of the 42-inch circular saw for the benchman’s next cut. This action was achieved on powered return feed rollers running faster than the benchman’s feed rollers and by default there was no time for mistakes or interruption to the flow of “go-go” all day.

Not all sawmills had a furnace to eliminate the bulk of their wastage and in this picturesque scene, GW Edhouse & Sons, believed this to be a better way than just dumping it over a bank. The structure at centre carries the electric motor that drives the conveyor belt transporting slabs, offcuts and a bit of sawdust to their fate as ashes. Other waste was sold for home firewood.

42 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

The staff of Edhouse’s mill, Christmas 1972. From left: Rangi (Tuppy) Woods, Ray Wi, Joe Stevens, Ron Christie, Dan Hohaia, Mick Edhouse, Len Ralph, Gordon Edhouse and Wha Corbett. NZL

Grooved Drums and Sleeves

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

Biomass

REVOLUTIONARY PLANS FOR NZ’S FORESTRY RESOURCES Story: Jim Childerstone Forestry Services

V

OLUMES OF HARVESTED TREES ON skid sites and landings may soon be manufactured by specialised plants locally. Every scrap of timber will be processed into a variety of products benefitting the environment and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This could take some of the pressure off the current volatile log export market, especially to China.

The Australian-based Foresta Group is in the process of developing a significant plant in the Bay of Plenty, run by a local team. A recent NZ Logger article outlined trials of a wood pellet alternative for burning coal at Huntly Power Station. Well, somebody must have been taking note!

The Childers based Foresta Group is well underway setting up the plant to process three basic products and, as reported last month, recently signed a 10-year supply agreement with PF Olsen which will see 150,000 tonnes of logs, stumps and slash sourced from sustainably managed forests underpinning production for Foresta’s planned low emissions torrefied wood pellet manufacturing plant at Kawerau.

Its principle aim is to produce torrefied wood pellets to replace coal for heat energy, such as electricity generators.

Huntly Power Station has already trialled wood pellets at two of its generators.

Known as black pellets they are a dropin replacement for coal, needing little alteration to the boilers.

At the same time the plant will extract chemicals such as terpenes in gum to replace fossil fuel and rosins in sold form for varied uses. The company explains that with 30% of the available chemicals being gum turpentine, it plays a significant role

in the production process. Gum turpentine is primarily used as a solvent in paints, varnishes and other coatings. It also has potential as an alternative vehicle fuel with further process.

Another product is gum rosin – a solid form of resins in pine trees. Gum rosin constitutes 70% of the total available chemicals produced in radiata pine and is widely used in the production of additives, inks, varnishes and rubber. It serves as a crucial ingredient in many industries, including paper, construction and electronics, says a company spokesperson.

The company claims a patent for the method of extraction, although New Zealand Crown Research Institutes (such as Scion Research) have been working on trials over the past decade.

Much of the source of supply comes from Pinus varieties and needs to be green fresh for chemical extraction. Solid form gum rosins make up 70% of the total available chemicals produced from p. radiata trees.

However, it’s the volumes proposed that could have an effect on current and future domestic and export log supply volumes.

Foresta is targeting 57,000 tonnes of chemicals per year to be separated into terpenes and rosins, leaving 216,000 tonnes of chips for torrefied pellets.

And the company already has contracts for significant percentages of the three products.

This will take a considerable percentage of harvest skid site products, although the

company has not itemised the log grades.

Group spokesperson, Teresa Aylott, explains that the source of supply is from whole forest harvests, including stumps.

She says the volume would vary from forest to forest, but Foresta is aiming to secure whole forests and “process the whole tree, every log grade, bin wood, slash and stumps”.

“Harvesting operations of Foresta sites will be much simpler, with cost reduction in many areas as well as risk reduction in areas like environmental, Health & Safety, and fire management.

“Skid site and processing sites will be much smaller considering there will be no need to store stumps, bin wood, slash and sort logs for different grades. All logs are cut to six meters.”

Stage 1AA wood pellet products of 65,000 tonnes per annum on a 10 plus two-year contract is committed to Tailored Energy Solutions. This equates up to 780,000 tonnes over the contract period.

Fifty percent of the chemical extract is committed to Yasuhara Chemical Co. in an offtake agreement of 5000 tonnes of essential oils – the rest sold internationally.

Chipped residues from the extraction process and other available biomass can be used for torrefactions. Ms Aylott explains: “A process that involves heating biomass

Gum rosin is one of three products Foresta will produce, along with terpenes and torrefied pellets.

44 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

in the absence of oxygen to produce a more energy dense material. The torrefied wood pellets obtained from this process have reduced moisture content and volatile gases compared to white chip pellets.”

In an earlier report, Huntly Power Station stated a preference for black pellets over other forms of heating for power generation.

And what about South Island manufacturing potential? Ms Aylott says at least two plants are in company plans to be established, one in the Nelson Marlborough area and the other in the Southland/Otago area.

She adds that Tailored Energy Solutions already has an offtake agreement for the South Island of up to 64,000 tonnes per annum. “This makes it feasible to build a plant there.”

The company has already invested over $19 million on the site, infrastructure and research in the Bay of Plenty.

Further industrial development And while that scheme is undergoing development, a second enterprise to initially utilise current stacks of cyclone-

affected slash is planned.

Titled Slash For Cash, it is being supported by the Tolaga Bay Charitable Trust which is funding three mobile heating units to convert residues into biochar.

The three mobile 15-tonne carbonisation kilns are to be based in the Gisborne area at Uawa, Ruatoria and Wairoa.

So far the new enterprise has processed eight tonnes of residues in trials and began its first project at the end of April.

It is expected to remove 28,800 tonnes of slash by the end of December, 43,200 tonnes next year and 86,400 tonnes in 2026, employing up to 50 personnel.

Products will include 7200 tonnes of biochar briquets per year, mainly used in commercial kitchens and restaurants in place of fossil fuels (gas).

The rest is processed into fertilisers, small sizes bagged for garden sales (2400 tonne) and large sized bulk for farm spread at the rate of 6720 tonne per ha.

The company says vegetative residues of several varieties can be used, such as orchard and market garden trimmings.

To start with, up to 45 tonnes of slash will be processed per day, to replenish deteriorated soils as a result of extreme weather events. NZL

Forest Engineering

ONE MACHINE, MANY TASKS Story: Hayley Leibowitz

I

N THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE there is a strong focus on production costs. A recent field demonstration at Loggabull’s harvesting operation in Kinleith Forest, for forest management companies and logging contractors from both corporate and woodlot scenarios, showed how one machine and operator can do multiple tasks, including felling, shovel logging, log processing, sort and stack, truck loading,

tracking and road building. The Automated Quick Coupler system allows for increased utilisation of machinery while reducing costs, with a base machine changing attachments quickly and safely in just a few seconds without the operator leaving the cab.

Until now, hydraulic or manual hitches have been used for attaching buckets and the felling head but with the operator still

needing to get out to change messy hoses.

The system is comprised of the Steelwrist SQ80 coupler and adapters, Sumitomo SH300-6 excavator base, a Waratah 624 HTH processor, Ensign 1770 fixed top grapple and a standard bucket.

This project and the field demonstration of the Automated Quick Coupler is part of the Automation & Robotics Primary Growth Partnership. In 2013, a group of New Zealand forest managers and harvesting contractors visited Elmia Wood, the Swedish forest harvesting machinery demonstration, where one of the highlights was the Fiberdrive quick coupler developed by Fiberpac AB of Sweden.

The Fiberdrive allowed a forwarder to change quickly and safely from a Swedish sized processor head to a log loading grapple.

The system could handle a maximum attachment weight of 2200 kg, which would make it suitable for the smaller end of the New Zealand processor range (such as a Waratah model 616 or 618), but not the larger model processors common in clearfell.

The New Zealand contractors watching that demonstration saw the potential for reducing the number of logging machines required in steep country harvesting operations. However, further investigation showed the Fiberdrive system would need to be redesigned to handle the heavier weight, larger oil flow requirements and continuous rotation of New Zealand clearfell-sized processor heads.

Unfortunately, Fiberpac did not wish to build a coupler big enough for New Zealand sized processor heads. It was recommended that a quick coupler mechanism be developed in New Zealand better suited for the large processor heads commonly used in steep country harvesting operations.

The concept was investigated further to determine the economic advantages of

The Automated Quick Coupler with Ensign 1770 grapple.

46 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

introducing an automatic quick coupling mechanism into New Zealand. The resulting report in 2015 showed that such a mechanism would be to best advantage where production of a mechanised processor was constrained by operational factors such as limited landing size or low yarder production.

This work showed that for operations less than about 220 tonnes per day, using a quick coupler mechanism sharing a base machine cost $2.86 per tonne less than a dedicated processor and loader.

The potential advantages of using one base machine with a processor head and

Forest management companies and logging contractors from both corporate and woodlot scenarios attended the demonstration.

DIA DG I ANGONSO E S•E D•E D S IEGS N I G•N D•E D L IEVLEI V RER

Forest Engineering

a loading grapple was demonstrated at production levels between 150-240 tonnes per day, through improved machine utilisation. Therefore, for lower production operations (around the 200-240 tonnes per day range) having the ability to change attachments means the underutilised base machines can perform other functions such as truck loading, sorting, stacking or earthworks (if required).

At higher production levels there were few advantages in sharing base machines, as all machines in the logging system reached full utilisation (80%).

Positive results At Mystery Creek Fieldays in 2021, Aptella, formally Synergy equipment, demonstrated a range of Steelwrist tilt rotators and quick couplers for earth moving operations. After observing the demonstration at Mystery Creek, Forest Growers Research (FGR) approached Aptella to supply a suitable quick coupler with sufficient capacity to handle the large processing heads used in New Zealand. The larger SQ80 series couplers were identified as having the required oil flow and load carrying capacity to operate these processing heads.

A joint venture project was set up to develop a prototype machine for the industry to test, encountering numerous setbacks, ranging from COVID to two log price slumps. The participants in this joint venture were: • Aptella which supplied the Steelwrist SQ80 coupler and all of the necessary adaptors to connect attachments to the base machine.

• AB Equipment, Taupo which supplied a brand-new Sumitomo SH300-6 excavator, fully bush rigged, with a Waratah 624 HTH processing head, an Ensign 1770 fixed top grapple and a standard bucket.

• Total Hydraulic Solutions which installed the coupler to the base machine and the adaptors to the attachments and also programmed the computer/s to communicate with each other through the CAN bus communication system.

• FGR funded the purchase of the coupler and fittings, the installation and workshop trials and provided project management services to oversee the development.

• Brian Rutgers and Ivan Quin of Loggabull, who have been involved in the field testing and production trials of the Quick Coupler.

FGR funded the construction of a cradle to support the Waratah processor when it was not in use. The cradle was essential to hold the adaptor on the Waratah in position for ease of attachment and detachment and to prevent the ingress of contamination to the hydraulic manifolds.

The Steelwrist Quick Coupler has worked flawlessly throughout the project to date.

The Quick Coupler on the Sumitomo achieved high utilisation during the 160 odd hours it spent at Loggabull’s operation.

Extra guarding of hydraulic piping and fittings was necessary for the machine to be able to fell trees without machine damage. In addition, during tree felling, a minor change in technique (approach from the side), was used to minimise coupler contact with the standing tree.

The fixed top grapple worked well when shovelling stems but was a bit harder to use when shovelling smaller pieces.

The Quick Coupler machine spent 70 hours in a windthrow operation at Fast Logging, and in that time, a volume of over 900 tonnes of logs was produced.

Above: The Automated Qick Coupler with the Waratah 624 HTH processor.

Left: The SH300-6 with processor working in East Taupo.

48 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

ensign_g

During the first few days, in the space of 4.5 hours of productive time, the Quick Coupler machine processed, sorted, and stacked 120m3 of logs, or around 27m3 per productive machine hour (PMH).

Accurate data on felling performance was constrained by the windthrow situation. Records showed 174 stems or part stems were felled and bunched in 3.3 hours (over 50 stems per productive machine hour (PMH)).

Bunching with the grapple was also influenced by the windthrow situation.

During 3.5 hours, 140 stems and part stems were bunched from a maximum distance of 160m.

During continuous time study, the Quick Coupler machine processed, sorted and stacked 260m3 in 5.65 hours, or around 46m3/PMH, or 298m3/day (6.5 productive machine hours). Production levels between 150-240 tonnes per day have been identified as its key potential.

A bigger hitch could be supplied to fit a bigger processor. The unit is commercially available for excavator base sizes up to 70-tonne, so able to run the bigger processing heads as well if required.

Trialling the system without the cradle.

The way forward Kinleith Forest, where the recent demonstration took place, is owned by Taumata Plantations and managed by Manulife Forest Management (NZ) which manages over 220,870 hectares (545,790 acres) of plantation forests located in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu-Wanganui, and Hawke’s Bay regions.

The demonstration was well received with close to 60 attendees and such comments as “wish we could have had this years ago”.

Since the demonstration, the attachment and removal of the processing head without the cradle has been trialled. This worked well with just the coupler part of the head being elevated on a log. This means the head can be moved with the base on the transporter and the bucket and grapple can be moved on a trailer.

All interested parties have now finished their commitment to the project and say realistically they are now waiting for log prices to lift to make it viable for someone to purchase. NZL

®

EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR OF GB FORESTRY EQUIPMENT

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9/05/2024 2:15:16 PM

FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

Meeting with Minister of Forestry Nick Tombleson (FICA Chair) and Rowan Struthers (FICA CEO) recently met with the Minister of Forestry, Hon. Todd McClay in his Rotorua Office.

“We were able to explain FICA’s role in the industry and the importance of contractors’ voices being heard at the appropriate level of decision-making. We emphasised the willingness for FICA to be part of an industry solution of the issues facing the industry, just as we did during the H&S crisis in the industry 2013/14,” says Rowan.

“We then raised the recent changes in the Immigration settings and the potential impact on contractors and ultimately NZ’s ability to get trees in the ground for the current planting season. The Minister provided sound advice that we will follow up with INZ, the Immigration Minister and members.

“We then raised Tairawhiti/Gisborne and issues our members were facing there. The Minister is committed to working through the issues in Tairawhiti and FICA will be given the opportunity to contribute.

From left: Nick Tombleson (FICA Chair), Rowan Struthers (FICA CEO) and Minister of Forestry, Todd McClay.

“Given the meeting was scheduled for just 30 minutes (we actually got a lot more), FICA has requested a further meeting with the Minister to discuss the current state of the Forest Industry, the markets, the volatility and the financial strain this is creating and some possible longer-term solutions.”

Both Rowan and Nick were impressed with the Minister’s understanding of current issues in the Forest Industry. They look forward to the next meeting with the Minister.

FICA Strategic Direction The FICA Board has been reviewing the FICA strategic plan for 2024–2027. The focus is on delivering member value in what remains a difficult market for some, delivering practical and tangible outcomes for members.

The top three priorities within the strategic plan are: 1.

Member value

2. Central Government relationship/advocacy 3. Approved Code of Practice influence and fostering our relationship with WorkSafe FICA meet with Mark Preece (WorkSafe) at the May Board Meeting.

50 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

The FICA strategic plan will be published on the website soon. Watch this space.

FICA.ORG.NZ

FICA’S HEALTH AND SAFETY PRIORITIES WISH LIST FOR WORKSAFE Rowan Struthers has met with Paula Collins (WorkSafe Deputy Chief Executive Equity Partnerships and Intervention Design). In short, Paula reports directly to the CEO of WorkSafe and is reviewing the Sector Plan for Forestry. Paula was interested in FICA’s H&S priorities that WorkSafe needs to include in its Sector Plan for Forestry.

OUR WISH LIST INCLUDED: • Well defined processes for consultation and implementation (timing) so everybody is on the same page, for example excavator guarding.

• Completion of the Approved Code of Practice.

• Adaption on new technology to improve safety outcomes.

• WorkSafe to provide FICA good incident/inspection data so we can assist (we want to assist).

• FICA doesn’t have a lot of financial resources, but we have a wealth of knowledge and experience in our membership.

FICA is the conduit to tapping into this knowledge base and is amenable to joint projects with WorkSafe, that can benefit the industry.

• To get better engagement between inspectors and contractors in the field. Contractors understanding their rights while keeping the engagement objective and productive. To achieve this, messaging from WorkSafe needs to be clear and consistent.

• More timely reporting on all fatality and serious harm events. The facts need to be established and conveyed to the wider industry immediately for both improvement and to avoid contractors being targeted or vilified incorrectly.

• Focus on the second-tier contractor base and fringe operations rather than good operators that offer easy access and transparency. Put the penalty and enforcement focus into those that don’t adhere to simple and clear obligations being met i.e. Forest Managers that don’t consistently notify their work.

• Work alongside the likes of NZFOA, FISC in a proactive, positive role, first and foremost.

• Build more effective relationships with WorkSafe at multiple levels.

We are meeting with Paula again soon so she can keep us posted on how her sector plan is shaping up.

• Using good safety data to make good decisions on where the focus needs to be. Manual tree falling is still the main cause of serious harm.

The 5 big financial questions to ask yourself and your financial advisor As we enter challenging times, what should you as a forestry operator be thinking about when it comes to finance?

Understanding your financial numbers, and being able to communicate your story clearly will help any funder to better know and assist your business.

The five big questions you can ask yourself and your financial advisor are: 1. How does your turnover last year compare to prior years?

Was it the same, better or worse than previous years, and why was that?

2. How did this impact your gross profit?

Sometimes you need to ask yourself honestly – are you busy just for the sake of being busy?

3. How do your fuel costs line up against previous years?

What will be the impact of the tax relief coming off this year?

4. Are your repairs and maintenance costs up?

This might be a sign that you need to be putting money aside for new vehicles and/or equipment.

5. Have you considered adding a FAF (fuel adjustment factor) to your freight rates?

Have you investigated renegotiating your freight rates?

Once you and your financial adviser have a good grasp of your current financial situation and have developed a finance plan, UDC Finance can meet with you to see what finance packages are available to suit your business needs.

UDC has been around for over 85 years, so we have extensive experience in, and knowledge of, the forestry industry in New Zealand. This industry expertise allows us to provide you with insights into where your operation fits in the industry.

The Asset Finance section of our website has some useful information, including our Asset Finance Repayment Calculator and the contact details for our Commercial Managers. The team at UDC would love to have a chat with forestry operators like you and provide you with further information. Our team is located up and down the country, so get in touch with your local rep, who understands your region, to have a chat and take it from there.

This article is a general market commentary and does not constitute financial advice. UDC Finance Limited lending criteria, fees, standard terms and conditions apply to any loan.

Talk to our team today udc.co.nz | 0800 500 832

June 2024 | NZ LOGGER 51

FICA.ORG.NZ

FICA signs agreement with Women in Forestry to provide combined member value FICA and Women in Forestry (WIF) have signed an agreement to work closer together, share resources and increase member value for forestry contractors.

WIF is a grassroots network of women working in the New Zealand forestry industry, that focuses on supporting female business owners. Started informally in the 2010’s, WIF has grown to offer more tailored, formalised support in recent years.

As part of the agreement, FICA will provide baseline funding to WIF to work on complementary projects for members, including a group payroll project, a workshop series focusing on topics such as employment law and accounting/costings and shared networking opportunities for contractors to come together.

FICA CEO, Rowan Struthers, says WIF provides complementary support to FICA’s offering, and more can be achieved by working together.

“We’re looking forward to building a stronger relationship with FICA and working together for the greater good in helping logging contractors in their businesses.”

“WIF tends to focus on the back-office side of the business, while FICA focuses more on the operational, health and safety and productivity areas. By working together we can essentially add more value to members.”

www.womeninforestry.co.nz

WIF General Manager, Sarah Davis, says WIF has already started working on some key projects and is excited to be working for the greater good of contractors.

“Being an on-the-ground network, we have a good sense of what the pain points for logging contractors are. We’re excited to have input with FICA and offer our perspective,” she says.

52 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

ROWAN ST RU T H E RS F IC A C E O

SARAH DAV IS WIF GE NE RAL MANAGER

FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

Calling all NZ loader operators – be part of this study

Micro Innovation Challenge

Driven by mechanisation, traditional career pathways in forestry crews are evolving. The Scion Human Factors research group is exploring ways to reshape these pathways to empower operators in their learning process and bolster well-being. A study is being conducted to improve loader operator skills within the normal operations of a crew.

The Harvesting Micro Innovation Challenge is back!

It’s a chance to win $10,000 NZD to help you build a working prototype of your concept. This initiative is special in that it gives you the opportunity to make changes that are often just talked about. The Challenge is Live 12pm Friday 10 May to Friday 5 July 2024 at 5pm.

The study is looking for full-time loader operators (tracked rather than wheeled) that have access to a smartphone and a crew boss/foreman willing to capture footage of them loading at least one truck per week for four weeks.

See more: microinnovation.co.nz

If you are interested, text Trevor Best (Researcher) on (+64) 27 432 3155 or see more here

FICA FICA Partners Partners

Thank you to all of the organisations who support FICA, which in turn works to promote Thank you to all of the organisations FICA, whichforestry in turn works to promote business growth and improved safetywho and support efficiency amongst contractors for business growth and improved safety and efficiency amongst forestry contractors for the benefit of New Zealand’s Forestry Industry. the benefit of New Zealand’s Forestry Industry.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS STRATEGIC PARTNERS

BUSINESS PARTNERS BUSINESS PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS GOLD PARTNERS

TO JOIN, CALL 0800 342 269 OR SIGNUP ONLINE AT FICA.ORG.NZ TO JOIN, CALL 0800 342 269 OR SIGNUP ONLINE AT FICA.ORG.NZ

So, what’s in a Safety/performance/quality

A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS AND this issue we have a few pictures that portray some pretty important messages.

Chainsaw chaps Who’s still using chaps certified for 1988?

Check it’s not you.

Ground hazards This was not visible to the operator but his leg went into it. Again, another hazard that exists that operators need to be aware of.

Kick back If any of your trees are looking like this photo, you need to check your technique as you are likely to be getting kick back from the chain running up the stem.

We have also included a couple of harvesting photos showing examples of pretty good tree layout from felling and potential landing congestion that needs to be managed.

Ka mau te wehi! Awesome individuals, awesome teams and awesome people behind the scenes supporting them in what they do!!

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?

54 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

They believe in what we do and what you do.

So, a big ongoing thank you to our Strategic Partners – STIHL and NZ Logger and sponsor SWAZI. The best way to keep our industry working is to get out and support those businesses that support New Zealand.

Participating companies This competition wouldn’t be what it is without our participating companies who have all participated in or continue to influence the way in which we operate.

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, Ernslaw One, OneFortyOne New Zealand, Crown Forestry, Forest View Contracting, Makerikeri Silviculture (2020), Mitchell Silviculture, Puklowski Silviculture, Gutsell Forestry Services, Johnson Forestry Services, McHoull Contracting, Wayne Cumming Contracting, Howard Forestry Services, Inta-Wood Forestry, Heslip Forest Contracting, Otautau Contractors, X Men Forestry, Proforest Services, FM Silviculture, Tane Mahuta, Waikato Forestry Services, Rai Valley Silviculture, Thomassen Logging, Forest View Logging, Griffin Logging, Penetito Forestry, Pride Forestry, Mangoihe Logging, CMH Contracting, Kaha Logging, Roxburgh Contracting, Te Waa Logging, Mike Hurring Logging, Bluewood Logging, Storm Logging, Onward Logging, Down and Out Logging, Forest Pro Logging, Eastside Logging, Lahar Logging, Moutere Logging, JD Harvesting, Whisker Logging, Kimberly Logging, Dewes Contractors, Dempsey Logging, Aratu Forests, McCallum Harvesting and Swain Logging.

Into safety?

Into performance?

Into quality?

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

n a picture?

Safety/performance/quality

Top Spot 2023 acknowledgement to Rick Meeusen, JD Harvesting. 1st place – skidwork, QC.

Top Spot 2023 acknowledgement to Shoquille McIlroy (left) and Smiler Katene from Lahar Logging Log 4.

An example of a well-managed toolbox meeting in Thinning For Value at J&T Contracting, One Forty One Forests Marlborough.

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Safety/performance/quality

Another example of a toolbox meeting – different approach but same result.

Awareness of potential landing congestion and management of this, shown at Diack Contracting.

Lefthand side unthinned, righthand side thinned result.

An example of dominance and form being selected over spacing in a stand ready to harvest.

56 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

Layout of felling is critical for extraction, efficiency shown at Diack Contracting.

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MINI CAT FOR BAY PINE FORESTRY

TIGERCAT FOR GILLON LOGGING

Bay Pine Forestry owner, Seru Tabudravu, is pictured with his new Cat 302.7 mini excavator, that comes with the standard Next Generation features. The 302.7 has been fitted with a JAK tree shear which is being used for silviculture track and roadside maintenance, contracting to Manulife in the central North Island.

Machine sold by Terra Forestry Product Manager, Shaun Hunter.

Gillion Logging of Herbert recently took delivery of a new Tigercat 865, replacing a Tigercat 875. Owner, Matt, says he is very happy with it and commented on the ease of the machine functions suited for any operator. Fitted with a Duxson grapple, he says the machine has strong power and speed, while still maintaining its fuel efficiency (with thanks also to Jason and the team at Donaldson Mechanical). Machine sold and supported by AB Equipment Dunedin.

NEW MACHINERY FOR LEALAND LOGGING

FALCON FOR STIRLING LOGGING

This new 948LII was delivered to Lealand Logging Crew 039 working in the Kaingaroa Forest. Machine sold and serviced by the Team at Brandt Rotorua.

Stirling Logging recently took delivery of a new Falcon Tandem Carriage for its cable operation. Pictured is DC Equipment’s Sales & Customer Support Tom Simpson (left) with the Stirling Logging crew near Putere.

58 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

TENTH SANY FOR FAST GROUP

NEW TIGERCAT FOR BUTTON LOGGING

Smiley and Ange at Fast Group have taken delivery of a new Sany SY330H. Equipped with an Ensign 1730C grapple, this machine is the tenth Sany to join the Fast team. Machine sold and serviced

by Shaw’s.

Button Logging of Canterbury recently added a new Tigercat 880E to its fleet. This is the company’s first 880E and the operator, Taylor, commented on how quiet, smooth and efficient it was while processing. Machine sold and supported by AB Equipment Christchurch.

NEW MACHINERY FOR MCH

CAT FOR PETCO CONTRACTS

Hamish and the team at Mechanised Cable Harvesting (MCH) have put to work their fully refurbished TimberPro TL775D. This machine is kitted out with West-Trak forestry undercarriage, including TUFF Superseal chains, and 110mm high grousers. The machine is working with MCH’s crew in the Dovedale forest, near Nelson.

This Cat 325 excavator is a new arrival for owner, Neil Peterson, at Ōwhango-based Petco Contracts. He says the 325 has simpleto-use technologies and a compact radius for working in tight spaces, ideal for the forestry roading operations the machine is working on for Petco in the central North Island. Machine sold by Rotorua-based Forestry Product Manager, Shaun Hunter.

June 2024 | NZ LOGGER 59

10 V

11

NEW TIGERCAT FOR CABLE LOGGING

KOBELCO FOR MOLD LOGGING

Carter of Cable Logging from Geraldine recently took delivery of a new Tigercat LS855E fitted with a Tigercat 5195 felling head. It was carefully delivered by the team from HHH transport. Mike, Jim and Glen decided to replace their existing LS855E with the same spec, as they say the Tigercat product is tough, reliable and productive.

The crew was looking forward to putting it to work and felling some trees. Machine sold and supported by AB Equipment's Hayden McCulloch.

Duxson Donaldson carried out full machine guarding, boom and arm modifications, supply and install of an auxiliary cooler, rops release install, hand railing, and installation of a TMK400 shearhead onto a Kobelco SK140SR for Mold Logging. Named ‘Thin Lizzy’, Mold Logging say they are impressed with the package and performance, saying “The pine needles slide right off the guarding, the machine runs at a great temperature, and the overall set up is spot on”.

ANOTHER DUXSON FOR C3 Another Duxson BX650 bunching grapple and dipper modification carried out for C3 is getting straight to work. With over 37 Duxson bunching grapples working at ports throughout New Zealand, these have proven they stand the test of time, are work hardened and reliable, with the original that went out in 2019 still going strong.

60 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

Ma

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1007 FX2 1003 Williams Valve WM318

1004 ¾ Harvest chain

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1018 VUH4304

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1035 Madill 122-122 Maxibrake

1045 Twin disk clutch separator plate kit

1046 Straw drum pads

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1049-1050 Lining bolts/nuts

1051 Madill 124

1052 Volume booster

1055 Fuller earth

1058 Humphrey

1077 Ensign 1500

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1079 Madill 123/124 GUY

1080 BE85 GUY

1081 Act 06

1082 BE85 M1

1084 22x5, 26x5, 26x7

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1087 Wichita 21

1101a Detroit throttle switch

1107 Twin disc gear selector

1109 Detroit compressor

1118 Bell grapple

1121 Wichita 224

1025 Bendix Air Dryer

101529 Madill/Thunderbird accumulators

1124 1054 Waratah 626 All makes and sizes main drive motor

GEAR TAC 300 / 400 The ultimate replacement for black tack.

101656 Madill 124 swivel join seal kits

102023 Eaton 18&24 inch new and old style piston seal kits

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www.drdiesel.nz sales@drdiesel.nz PLEASE NOTE ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO THE EXCHANGE RATE

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62 NZ LOGGER | June 2024

NZ LOGGER classified

Swing Units for Madill’s & Kenworth Logging Trucks Large Stocks of Heavy Alloy Cores & Completes Full Custom Build Service Fast & Efficient

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RADIATORS

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Clark Tracks from Scotland Single tracks Bogey Tracks 30.5x32 710/45-26.5 35.5x32 750/55-26.5 780/50-28.5

Trygg Ring Lug Chains from Norway are available from 16mm to 25mm 23.1x26 30.5x32 24.5x32 35.5x32 28Lx26

Chain Protection have been selling these brands of forestry Chains & Tracks for 20+years.

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63 NZ LOGGER | October 2023

Knight Logging Ltd

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A DIVISION OF

October June 2024 2023 | NZ LOGGER 63

NZ LOGGER classified

POA

M M

POA

POA

C C

CAT 568 FORESTRY HARVESTER.

JOHN DEERE 909KH FELLER BUNCHER.

11,000 hrs. Southstar QS630 attached.

Good undercarriage. Located in Rotorua.

14,292 hrs. Waratah 623C attached.

Located in Hastings.

TERRY DUNCAN

027 285 1015

NICK CLARK

027 411 2330

POA

JOHN DEERE E400 FORESTRY CONVERSION.

JOHN DEERE 909KH FELLER BUNCHER.

USE USE USUU

12,374 hrs. Top rollers instead of plates, head refurb at 4k hrs. Includes Satco 630 felling head.

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027 411 2330

Comes with Clamshell Package. Ready to choose your harvester. Located in Rotorua.

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Call 0800 433 373 for current pricing.

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Wara W Wara WaW

Northla N Northla NorN Mecha M Mecha Mec M Blenhe B Blenhe Blen BO Onsite Onsite OnsO

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FL100 FL100 Felling Felling Head Head FL100 FL100 FL100 Felling Felling Felling Head Head Head Suitable Suitable for carriers for carriers in 30inton 30 + ton range. + range.

Suitable Suitable Suitable for for carriers for carriers carriers in in 30in30 ton 30ton + ton range. + +range. range. starting starting fromfrom $102,419.00 $102,419.00 limited limited time time only.only. starting starting starting from from from $102,419.00 $102,419.00 $102,419.00 limited limited limited time time time only. only. only.

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Waratah Waratah 624C 624C Waratah Waratah Waratah 624C 624C 624C Complete Complete Rebuild, Rebuild, Complete Complete Complete Rebuild, Rebuild, Rebuild, available available 2024, 2024, $TBC $TBC available available available 2024, 2024, 2024, $TBC $TBC $TBC

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Get in Get touch in touch with with the team the team for Waratah for Waratah service service and support and support in thein the Get Get in Get in touch in touch touch with with with thethe team the team team forfor Waratah for Waratah Waratah service service service and and support and support support in in thein thethe Blenheim Blenheim region. region.

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NewNew Zealand Zealand Stock Stock NZ$NZ$ New New New Zealand Zealand Zealand Stock Stock Stock NZ$ NZ$ NZ$ H290 H290 Rebuild TBCTBC Rebuild in progress, in progress, Available Available 20242024 H290 H290 H290 Rebuild TBC TBC TBC Rebuild Rebuild in progress, in in progress, progress, Available Available Available 2024 2024 2024 TBCTBC Rebuild available available 20242024 H624C H624CRebuild TBC TBC TBC Rebuild Rebuild available available available 2024 2024 2024 H624C H624C H624CRebuild Complete rebuild, rebuild, with with new new chassis. chassis.

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Komatsu 931XC / 951XC

NEW Thinning & Clear Fall Harvesters from Komatsu Forest The Komatsu 931XC & 951XC provide considerable advantages logging in steep terrain and soft ground. The compact eight-wheel design with high underlying tractive force and unique interaction between engine, control system and power transmission combine to provide; • Great climbing ability & stability • Excellent manoeuvrability • Low ground pressure Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cresent Rotorua, New Zealand John Fisken M: 027 771 5254 Paul Roche M: 021 350 747 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com