Australian Forests & Timber - April 2022

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All they want is a fair go

In the news

… as WA turns off the switch Keith Smiley

N

eil and Andrea Whiteland are spending the last minutes of their 40 years in the Western Australian timber business with an enviable reputation, and a bad taste in their mouths after the State Government’s decision to shut down the native timber industry next year.

The decision was made without consultation or discussion according to Neil Whiteland. All mill businesses across the West will be forced to close in 2023.

As a going concern the Whiteland mill, moulding and kiln works are worth $5 to $6 million dollars. Only last year, they spent $300,000 to upgrade their kilns and a further $100,000 to buy a new loader. The loggers themselves paid a fortune on their new equipment, to no avail, as this government juggernaut continues hellbent on ‘green reform’.

“People are looking for security; are worried, and stressed to the max,” says Andrea, wife of Neil Whiteland.

“Older people are wondering where their firewood will come from. Sawmills are not allowed to export timber using state government forestry logs, but are required to value add, under your licence.”

The WA government set an end date to all major forest logging. They mediated this information by word of mouth, catching everyone off guard. What logging is left, will be put out to tender for mills to compete for the crumbs off the table.

“All we needed was for the WA government to give us ten more years. What the Gallop government began, the McGowan government enforced. Even the forest industry association of WA are being blocked,” says Neil.

“One minute we had a business worth $5 million, and now we have scrap metal. Even the scrap metal people say it would cost about $500,000 to clear the site.

It’s not right. Mr McGowan has no consideration for families, or townships, and the indirect effects on others. The government says www.timberbiz.com.au

• Whiteland Milling’s Andrea and Neil Whiteland, and below, inside their mill. logging is unsustainable yet we’re only using one percent of the total forests area,” said Neil.

Whiteland mills jarrah, marri, karri, sheoak and WA blackbutt timber, sourced and harvested from Western Australian State-managed sustainable forests. Whiteland was established in 1981 producing furniture-grade timber from sheoak trees.

By 1984 they had their licence from Forest Products Commission. They added a mould section, kilns, a whole machine shop, and increased employment to forty workers drawn from the local area.

Whiteland sell a lot of flooring to Perth but getting it from overseas will be costlier and slower. Whiteland is in a prime position, to fulfil the demand on hardwood product, with a mill array of Grey automatic machinery and upgrades of the nearby processing plant which operates three moulders and two dockers, for an efficient throughput.

“When Neil gets his mind set on something, he’ll stick to it. “He doesn’t like something to just sit when it can make money,” says Andrea.

“I’m a workaholic, but I would appreciate the government being fair and just, to cover what we are about to lose, instead of an overnight switch, so unexpected,” said Neil.

No wonder people are ‘pretty worried because they are not sure how they

can get out of this mess.’

Whiteland is a sound operation, with experience and know-how, cultivated by Neil and his working ‘family’.

His son Marc manages the machine shop, flooring and moulding and his wife Sandy works in the office alongside Andrea and another sister.

“It’s a great relationship.

Marc has been working with us for 18 years and he loves the involvement on the drying facilities and seeing our fine furniture grade timber put to good use,” said Neil.

Neil is a kindly, gritty person, who after 66 years, will continue the fight if it’s in the best interest of his extended family and his vibrant, once highly viable business.

He is grateful for the start he had with his father, and his marriage to Andrea, a union without argument they say.

The Whitelands bought a hobby farm and run about 130 cattle breeders, lot feeding them each year, so they’ll have something to look forward to.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

Cautious welcome to package THE WA forestry industry has cautiously welcomed the State Government’s draft workforce transition programs, amid seeking clarification on the detail.

Announced following the Native Forest Transition Group Workforce Transition Group meeting, the packages have been described as extremely generous in comparison to the business support packages.

The Workforce Transition Program provides financial assistance to employees in the native timber industry.

This includes both a transition payment and a range of reskilling and retraining supports to assist workers as they take the next step in their careers.

The Workforce Transition Program will include financial assistance through a one-off Worker Transition Payment of up to $10,000 for full-time native forestry workers and casual employees working more than 22.5 hours per week, who decide to voluntarily exit the industry to retrain or find new employment.

Should a sawmill choose to close or a native timber worker be made redundant, the package includes a Worker Transition Payment of $30,000, plus a top-up or scaled variable payment of $1,000 per year of service in the timber industry to a maximum of $15,000.

This means an eligible, long-term native forestry worker could receive a total Worker Transition Payment of up to $45,000.

Forest Industries Federation WA Chief Executive Officer Adele Farina said industry played a critical role in providing information to the State Government and Australian Workers Union to develop the packages.

However, Ms Farina the differences between the business and worker packages were extreme, potentially why Forestry Minister Dave Kelly was happy to share more financial detail about the worker packages.

“We welcome these packages but are still seeking clarification on several points, including the possibility that some workers may be ineligible,” Ms Farina said.

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4

When the woodchips are down where will SA land?

Tony Pasin MP

the Government funding component.

So for example, for every $4 million of Common-

ble is a great start and has been widely celebrated by industry.

With a forestry industry

directly contributing more than $3 billion to the South Australian economy each year and employing more than 18,000 people, I expected both major parties to jump at the opportunity to partner with the Federal Government to increase our local plantation estate.

Surprisingly, both major parties have been relatively quiet on the proposal. Apparently, unable to commit to such a policy without ‘more detail’. The details they seek are of course still to be negotiated with the Commonwealth in a funding agreement – in other words, many of these ‘details’ will be determined by the States themselves, dependent on the circumstances and intricacies of their own unique forestry estate.

There is a total of $86 million on the table to be distributed to hubs across the country. I’m perplexed as to why South Australian major parties wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to snap up as much of this funding as possible. I urge the South Australian Government to commit to this program before other eligible States take the lead and leave us with the crumbs.

bipartisan commitment to meet the need for one billion more plantation trees by 2030. The AFPA welcomed the $86 million forestry cash-for-grants scheme unveiled by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Launceston recently, but Mr Hampton also cautioned that more policies will need to be brought in if the one-billion-tree target is likely to be met.

Obtaining a bipartisan commitment might not be as difficult as it sounds when it comes to the two major parties; both the Government and the Opposition have expressed their

support for the timber industry as a whole, including the native timber industry.

But in the current political climate, and as election day draws near, independents are going to play a major part in the result. And of course the Greens’ stance on the timber industry – in particular the native timber industry – is well known.

So don’t expect any bi-partisanship there.

The National Farmers’ Federation’s wish list is even grander. It has identified 20 regional centres, such as the key forestry precincts of the Green Triangle and the Gippsland Region, as targets for regional renewal.

And the NFF wants more than $1.4 billion in new investment to secure a bright future for those regional

centres and to provide a blueprint for regional renewal.

The proposal puts the onus on National Cabinet to establish a framework, including local government, to develop a plan for 20 Regional Development Precincts.

However the NFF concedes that a governmentled strategy to deliver for growing populations and to guarantee the regions’ vibrant future remains elusive.

Pipe dreams? Maybe, but it is a starting point.

As that unknown election date draws near, watch for the pile of wish lists grow.

Because among them there are certain to be some truly decent proposals.

R

ecent supply constraints on structural timber have highlighted what everyone along the timber supply chain has known for decades. We need more trees in the ground.

While the plan to expand the nations forest estate by 1 billion trees by 2050 has been hampered by bushfire, drought and a pandemic the Prime Minister announced a key measure last month to get back on track; An $86 million investment over five years to help fund the establishment costs of new plantations. This policy alone aims to grow the estate by 150 million trees and is one of many measures being taken to see our sovereign capability increase and supply constraints eased in the long term.

This unprecedented measure would see State and Federal Governments contribute 50 percent of the costs involved in new plantations leveraging the other 50 per cent from industry.

While the Federal Government has now announced this proposal and has $86 million set aside in the Fed-

MY VIEW Tony Pasin MP Federal Member for Barker South Australia

eral Budget it is expected that State Governments, having primary responsibility for forestry, would contribute 60 per cent of

wealth Government funding made available, the State or Territory Government will need to contribute $6 million with industry matching that $10 million investment dollar for dollar. That’s a $20 million investment in growing our estate and for someone who has grown up in a timber town, a really exciting prospect.

The funding agreement between the Commonwealth and State Governments to see this scheme rolled out in forestry hubs across the country is obviously still to be negotiated along with the details of the relevant grant program in each state. The fact that the Federal Government has initiated this proposal and put money on the ta-

• Tony Pasin with Timberlands Pacific’s Kelly Williamson

Poll on the way, campaigning starts

T

he Federal Election can’t be that far away.

It seems the only thing left is to decide the date.

All we know is that it will be after the Federal Budget is handed down on March 29.

While the election campaign proper is yet to be announced, the wish lists are starting to pile up.

The Australian Forest Products Association kicked things off in Tasmania with the most reasonable of requests. The AFPA simply wants all sides of federal politics to outline their plans to support the timber industries ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

The demand is both polite and logical.

The platform calls for a

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

In the news

Vic mills running out of supply Court cases adding to uncertainty Philip Hopkins

T

imber mills around Victoria are bleeding, with even Australian Paper in the Latrobe Valley potentially threatened, as they are running out of wood supply due to the injunctions on harvesting in logging coupes ordered by the Victorian Supreme Court.

The mills are likely to run out of timber before winter, when harvesting is not permitted, raising the possibility that industry will be without wood for much of the year.

Opal Australian Paper said in a statement that, like many organisations, Australian Paper was currently managing a challenging supply situation across a wide range of key inputs.

“However, we are committed to ensuring that we continue to meet our ongoing customer requirements,” the company said.

One mill owner, who asked not to be identified, said the decision of one judge had brought the industry and its employees to its knees.

The Supreme Court’s Justice Richards on December 23 put injunctions on all of East Gippsland and Central Highlands coupes, shutting down about 80 per cent of Victoria’s native timber supply.

One court case is to be heard in May, but green groups have launched 10

www.timberbiz.com.au

• Carlie Porteous

• Gary Blackwood

• Michael O’Connor

• Vince Hurley

court actions designed to prevent timber harvesting.

Australian Sustainable Hardwoods at Heyfield is down 50 per cent on log deliveries to date.

The managing director, Vince Hurley, said ASH just got through to Christmas with supply of shining gum from HVP Plantations and certified timber from private property in Tasmania.

However, it all depended on supply from VicForests.

“If they stopped tomorrow, the mill would stop in four weeks. However, the real issue is winter. We might scrape through until May, but then all deliveries cease for three months and slow deliveries for another two,” he said.

“Normally we would accumulate sawlogs so that by 31 May we had four months’ of logs in stock.”

The general manager of the Australian Forest Contractors Association, Carlie Porteous,said there was a lot of uncertainty.

“Until VicForests get more coupes planned and ap-

proved through the court process in early March, there is nothing until at least mid-March before the contractors have anything in front of them,” she said.

“The uncertainty is growing – it’s hard for the contractors to deal with - until the court hears the appeal in May, based on the decision made on December 23 around harvest cessation as a result of the Greater Glider.

“They need cash flow and to plan for their future.”

Eight contractors have been stood down due to the dispute and will be supported by VicForests through stand-down payments.

Over the past four years, VicForests has spent about $10 million on legal costs fighting the court actions brought on by green activists, according to documents filed with the Upper House inquiry into ecosystem decline.

From January 2018 until the end of last year, VicForests had spent just over $9.5 million, with appeal

costs in the Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum case at that stage costing a further $324,150.00.

This comes as the Government advised VicForests against pursuing the green group My Environment over $2 million it owed VicForests arising out of a Supreme Court case seven years ago.

“No formal direction was given to VicForests by the Victorian Government,” a spokesperson said.

“All agencies and departments are required to follow the ’model litigant guidelines’ particularly when matters relate to historic cases and charities.”

Court decisions can hinge on the interpretation of the ‘precautionary principle’ in the Code of Practice for Timber Production. The Opposition spokesman on forestry, Gary Blackwood, said the current interpretation focussed solely on protecting creatures at the coupe level instead of assessing the coupe in the broader landscape level where the

creatures are abundant.

Mr Blackwood, who is the Member for Narracan, said the simple fix to the problem was to legislate to stop such litigation, as was done in both New South Wales and Victoria where no legal action could be taken against the Environment Protection Authority.

The union representing timber workers also called on Premier Daniel Andrews to urgently amend the laws to better protect timber jobs from green court challenges.

National secretary of CFMEU Manufacturing, Michael O’Connor, said these court actions ruined people’s lives by exploiting loopholes in environment laws.

The Government in December promised changes to legislation to provide greater certainty about how the timber code’s ‘precautionary principle’ should be implemented. “It is a key ambiguity on which much green litigation is based,” he said.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

5

Round table

Q&A Panel

With the federal election possibly just a matter of weeks away we saught the opinions of the major parties on the future of the timber industries. Both the Government and the Opposition were happy to take part however dispite a number of approaches The Greens did not reply to our invitation to take part

Q

A strong, sustainable sovereign timber industry is essential to our nation’s future

Australian economy, and demand for these products is only set to increase. The sector provides timber for construction, wood for pallets that keep the economy moving, beautiful appearance-grade timbers for cabinets and benchtops, and paper and card for packaging.

Australia’s forest industries employ 73,000 people around the country and have a strong future in Australia as a creator of regional jobs and producer of critiDemand for timber is riscal resources for domestic ing and will keep rising as and export markets. new and innovative prodBoth native and plantation ucts and applications are forest products are used developed. It is a more susin almost every part of the tainable alternative than

Shadow Minister for Aggriculture

try has a strong future but it needs a partner in government to continue to grow.

Forestry is part of Labor’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, which will high carbon commodities help to value add to the secsuch as steel and concrete, tor and unlock new jobs and and a product that will help investment.

Australia achieve our target Unlike the Morrison-Joyce of net zero emissions by 2050. For these reasons the Government, Labor will Morrison Government has work closely with industry now committed over $245 and all levels of government million to our National For- to help grow our forestry inestry Industries Plan, which dustry. It is clear the Morriwill drive over $550 million son-Joyce Government has of further investment into not done nearly enough to Australia’s forest industries support the forestry indusand set them up for the fu- try to help meet its goals. ture.

The Morrison-Joyce GovJULIE COLLINS ernment dragged its feet for Australia’s timber indus- three years before finally

o you support the retention of native D timber industry?

remain the best mechanism to balance the environmenNative forestry will always tal, economic and social be an important part of benefits to the community our forest industry and we and create a sustainable investment environment for should protect it. forest industries.

Australia is a world leader While a large portion of in sustainable forest management, and the Morrison the wood produced in AusGovernment is committed tralia comes from our planto a long-term renewable tation estate, we still need native forest industry. The to harvest from our native Australian Government forests. The timber required believes that the Regional for use in products like furForest Agreements (RFAs) niture, floorboards, musical JONNO DUNIAM

6

JULIE COLLINS

hat part does forestry/timber industry W have in Australia’s future?

JONNO DUNIAM

Q

JONNO DUNIAM Assistant Minister Forestry and Fishery

do not care about the environment, and wood production may be associated with deforestation, rather than harvest and reforestation. instruments and other high This is why the Morrison value products can only be Government is committed sourced in large quantities to maintaining a sustainfrom native forests. Ending able native forest industry native forestry, as the Labor in Australia. governments in Victoria Over many years, native and Western Australia have done, will result in demand forestry has been the subfor these appearance-grade ject to ideological attacks timbers being pushed off- from the industry’s detracshore, larger quantities of tors that are not based on imports, and Australian science, but emotion. Decijobs being exported to other sions by Labor state governcountries. In many cases, ments in Victoria and Westthese imports will come ern Australia to shutdown from countries where they sustainable native forestry

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

making changes to the water rule, which was holding back investment in new timber plantations, after Labor promised it would do so in 2019.

Forestry fibre has been excluded from the MorrisonJoyce Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy funding opportunities. One of the few policies the Morrison-Joyce Government announced to help meet this goal, a concessional loan, only opened for funding applications late last year.

Only an Albanese Labor Government can be trusted to deliver for our forestry industry and the jobs and communities it supports.

sector will destroy thousands of rural jobs and communities that rely on the industry, and have been made without adequate consultation with industry or scientific analysis. I will continue to support and defend our sustainable, world-leading native forestry sector and advocate for those states to reverse their decisions to provide certainty to the industry.

JULIE COLLINS On the same day the Prime Minister was making his latest forestry re-announcement in Tasmania I was visiting Britton Timbers in www.timberbiz.com.au

Round table

Somerset and reiterating Federal Labor’s commitment to the native timber industry.

Federal Labor has no plan to shut down native timber.

At Britton I was able to see how the native timber industry was supporting jobs and assisting the local construction sector to provide high quality products to Australians.

Labor is committed to our

Q

native timber industry and to growing our plantation industry, as well further value-adding of Australia’s fine forest products.

An Albanese Labor Government can be trusted to deliver for our forestry industry and the jobs and communities it supports. Be assured we will work closely with industry and all levels of government to help grow our forestry industry.

ow important is H engineered wood for the future of the forest industry?

composites. The Morrison Government will continue Engineered wood is al- to support research and ready a very important part development in these areas of Australia’s forest indus- as they are crucial to the futries and this will grow in ture of the industry. coming years. The range of The Morrison Governexisting products is broad, and the number of uses is ment is also supporting ever-expanding. We have industry by stimulating destructural composite lum- mand for engineered wood ber such as laminated ve- products. The Government neer lumber, and decking recently announced the made from wood-plastic $300 million Timber Buildcomposites. Changes to the ing Program. Under the building code a few years program, the Clean Energy ago have led to multi-storey Finance Corporation will buildings being built from provide loans to commerengineered wood, and the cial building projects that use low-carbon engineered potential is vast. wood products. This will reInstitutions such as the duce emissions while supregional National Institute porting the future of Ausfor Forest Products Innova- tralia’s forest industry. tion centres in Gippsland, Launceston and Mount JULIE COLLINS Gambier, the Centre for Labor understand engiSustainable Architecture with Wood at the University neered wood is very imporof Tasmania, the National tant for the future of the Centre for Timber Durabil- forest industry. This is why ity and Design Life at the forestry is part of Labor’s University of the Sunshine $15 billion National ReconCoast, and programs such struction Fund, which will as the National University help to value add to the secWood Challenge are being tor and unlock new jobs and supported by the Morrison investment.

Government to develop It’s been a pleasure as the high-tech, value-added products that will ensure Shadow Minister for Agrithe future of this valuable culture to see how producand sustainable industry. ers across the country are Australia’s forestry indus- innovating in this space to try is already investing in meet the demands of new new facilities to manufac- and future consumers. It’s ture engineered wood prod- clear the forestry industry ucts, such as glulam, cross has a bright future in Auslaminated timber and bio- tralia.

JONNO DUNIAM

www.timberbiz.com.au

Pine tree residue could help power Queensland

B

ioenergy produced from harvest waste across South East Queensland’s pine plantations could significantly reduce net carbon emissions and nurture an emerging industry, according to research led by the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The collaborative research through USC’s Forest Research Institute shows the potential environmental and economic benefits of replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy generated from the branches, tops of trees and stem wood left behind after trees are logged for mills.

The paper led by Leanda Garvie, a USC accounting academic with a science background, has been

tares along the coast from Beerburrum to Maryborough, and at Bundaberg,” she said.

“In the Toolara-Tuan Forest Estate alone, the modelling identified up to 8,000 dry tonnes of harvest residue that could be available to generate bioenergy each year.

“If that material was burned or processed to replace coal-fired electricity, it could reduce emissions by more than 20,000 tonnes each year.”

The results found that forest residue bioenergy would be a viable alternative to traditional energy sources, offering substantive emission reductions,

• USC’s Leanda Garvie.

try interest and a ready market, and the technology to achieve this scale is already well established in places such as Europe.

“Plantation forests are a great example of renewable biomass. As we regrow the forest, the trees draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, pro-

• Stem wood waste after harvesting in Queensland. published in the MDPI journal Forests, with coauthors Stephen Roxburgh from the CSIRO and Fabiano Ximenes from the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

PhD student Ms Garvie said the Toolara-Tuan Forest Estate in the GympieMaryborough region was the case study for the research, which used maths modelling to estimate the quantity of harvest residue available as a potential energy source, and the emissions reductions that could be achieved.

“We found large volumes of harvest residue currently available at the case study site, an important forest in SEQ’s softwood pine plantations estate which covers more than 100,000 hec-

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

with the potential to contribute towards renewable energy and emission reduction targets in Queensland.

Ms Garvie, who is supervised by USC Professor of Forestry Operations Mark Brown, said the research would be valuable to other Australian regions exploring the viability of developing local bioenergy industries to produce electricity, heat or transport fuel.

“Currently, there is some use of mill waste to generate bioenergy in Queensland’s commercial forestry industry, but our study found that this could be expanded to include large quantities of harvest waste which is in plentiful supply,” she said.

“There is strong indus-

duce timber products that store the carbon throughout their lifetime and can also be a source of a renewable energy replacing fossil fuels.”

She said the research was the first time that FullCAM – a national tool for calculating and reporting Australia’s carbon emissions to the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory – had been used to assess forest residue bioenergy at a project level in Queensland.

The next stage of her PhD into the social and economic sustainability of harvest residue bioenergy will involve surveying experts and stakeholders to identify the key drivers and trade-offs for forest bioenergy in Queensland.

7

In the news NIFPI funding Victoria’s forestry industries are set to benefit from five new research projects funded by the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation centre in Gippsland. The new projects have been backed by funding from the Federal and Victorian governments, showcasing the valuable partnership between government, industry and the research community to back-in the forestry sector.

Covid helps sell timber industry’s argument

Scion directors The Scion Board has appointed Brendon Green (Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāpuhi) as a director and Dr Melinda Webber (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu) in a 12-month future director role. Brendon Green is the founder of Kaitiaki Advisory Limited and holds board positions with Watercare, Tainui Kawhia Incorporation, Workforce Development Council Waihanga Ara Rau (Construction and Infrastructure) and Hiringa Energy Limited.

Dr Webber is Te Tumu, Deputy Dean and Professor of Māori Education in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland.

Illegal felling Trees in special protection zones were illegally cut by anti-forestry activists to construct a tree sit during anti-forestry protests in the Central Highlands, according to Forest & Wood Communities Australia. The trees were cut from an area in Snobs Creek identified as a Leadbeater’s Possum Special Protection Zone and Rainforest Site of Significance, an offence which attracts penalties of up to $100,000.

Call to action Timber industry veteran Peter Crowe says it’s time for the talking to stop and action to start when it comes to increasing softwood plantations around Tumut and Tumbarumba.

The chair of the influential Softwoods Working Group, Mr Crowe, and the Group’s CEO, Diana Gibbs, addressed an Upper House inquiry examining the sustainability of the timber industry in Tumut.

8

• Ross Hampton

• Greg McCormack

he Covid pandemic and its associated lockdowns has provided the timber industry with the opportunity to educate politicians and officials of just how ‘essential’ timber and fibre is to Australian functioning as a society.

In his annual report Australian Forest Products chairman Greg McCormack said that it had required constant vigilance from our national and state Associations, but each time industries were closed the AFPA had been able to successfully explain that many everyday items from paper towels to packaging, to pallets for food transport came from forest industries.

“Not to mention the timber which underpins so much construction,” Mr McCormack said.

“Economically, many fundamentals are very good for forest industries, and this is reflected in global prices.

“There are major challenges on the trade front ranging from China’s log ban through to skyrocketing costs for shipping containers, but the signals are very strong. The demand for timber products is on an upward trajectory as macro

cries of ‘runaway land use change’ and yet we continue to have to argue against the discriminatory treatment of plantations in both state and federal policy.

“On the other side of the coin, it is extremely disappointing that the very modest area of sustainably managed, certified, native forestry continues to shrink.”

He said Western Australia had announced it will cease the industry there in 2024 – a decision which had “shocked and appalled many”.

“WA joins Victoria which has also said it will not seek timber from its native estate from 2030.

“Neither state government has adequately explained where it will find hardwood for floors and kitchens when they don’t source it locally.”

Mr McCormack said that while stronger climate targets and debate about the impacts of this on various parts of the economy were hitting the headlines, forest industries were an overall part of the solution for both the globe and Australia.

“AFPA has been accelerating our policy work in this area as we are well aware

T

factors drive consumers and businesses towards us.”

He said this ranged from the global pivot away from plastics through to the growing number of buildings being constructed from mass timber.

“The biggest challenge for all of us is the same as it has been for many years – a shortage of resource to make the most of these opportunities,” Mr McCormack said.

AFPA had worked with Master Builders Australia to identify that unless more plantations were put in the ground – and very quickly – Australia nation would be short some 250,000 house frames by 2035.

“This is a ridiculous situation when we have some 380 million hectares of agricultural land in Australia,” he said.

“Plantations occupy about 1.8 million hectares and we need to grow that by about 400,000 hectares.

“This shouldn’t raise any

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

of both the risks and opportunities which climate change and carbon sequestration presents to our broad membership.”

The AFPA had employed a specialist Climate Policy Manager, created a climate Subcommittee and will be entering the coming federal election with well-argued policy requests of all Parties.

AFPA CEO Ross Hampton is his report said that the organisation’s policy priorities leading up to the Federal election this year were “simple at heart for which we will be seeking bipartisan support’> These were: To secure federal backing for ongoing modest, sustainable native forestry.

Secure policies which grow the plantation estate.

And secure funding for more research and development to unlock new opportunities and job creating industries.

“Through it all we are telling the positive stories of the enormous contribution our industries are making to the vital issue of climate policy, and arguing for the frameworks which will allow us to do even more,” Mr Hampton said. www.timberbiz.com.au

In the news

Industry’s resilience Glen Marley

S

ince 2000, retail sales in my territory have steadily increased, taking a foothold and dominating flat terrain Eucalyptus in Australia and steep terrain harvesting applications in New Zealand. In July of this year, we retailed our 1000th machine.

Australia has sold 535 units since 2000, with New Zealand catching up quickly, having delivered 465 units since 2002. A magnificent milestone for all involved.

NEW ZEALAND New Zealand continues to be a vital link in the softwood log supply chain to China, currently having over 40% market share.

With favourable log prices and exchange rates, log exports for the 2020/2021 fiscal year are up 21% to over 36 million cubic metres.

The outlook for forestry

exports to Asia looks very good, both short-term and long-term.

Tigercat and AB Equipment’s on-the-ground relationships have proven successful at transitioning contractors toward mechanical harvesting systems over manual extraction.

Tigercat leveling track machines, roadside processors, and six-wheel skidders lead the way across New Zealand’s challenging plantation regions. In turn, this is having a very positive effect on operator health and safety, and vastly improving the efficiency of overall forestry operations.

Our customer and dealer involvement in the recently released 865 logger is another clear example of Kiwi ingenuity and the ability to recognize challenges, initiate ideas, and follow through on concepts to ‘make it happen.’

To date, the rollout of the

865 logger has proven to be widely successful.

AUSTRALIA Current trade tensions between Australia and China for forestry product exports remain a challenge.

Conversely, Australia’s recent domestic building boom has the softwood pine industry at full capacity.

The hardwood industry has recovered from a recent downturn in exports.

The Tasmanian forestry sector primarily leads this.

Our loyal Tigercat customer base in that region has contributed to the increased output of Eucalyptus wood chip, pulp logs, and peeler logs.

The combination of the very popular H845E harvester fitted with the 570 harvesting head in debarking and processing operations continues to be remarkably successful in Tasmania.

The 2020 bushfire salvage

North East Wood’s LH822D track harvester equipped with •a 575 harvesting head working the slopes in Australia. operations in NSW have concluded as log recovery is no longer viable.

The frontline contractors in that region have almost exclusively used Tigercat machines to extract just over 2,7 million tonnes of Radiata Pine from the 52,000 hectares of burnt plantations in that state alone.

I am proud to say these machines have excelled and endured the task exceptionally well.

The Australian logging industry has constantly prov-

en its resilience, and there is no doubt that with continued support from Onetrak and Tigercat, contractors will survive and ultimately thrive throughout these challenging times.

With our 1000th unit in the region, there’s a cause for celebration and a very optimistic outlook for this part of the world.

Glen Marley is based in Gundagai, NSW, and has worked for Tigercat since 2004.

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CONTACT + 64 21 842413 OR GO TO QUADCO.COM

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Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

9

In the news Co-chairs for ForestWorks board

M

ichael O’Connor and Stacey Gardiner have been appointed co-chairs of the ForestWorks Board in 2022.

Michael O’Connor is the National Secretary, Manufacturing Division of the CFMEU and has held this position since 2005. He has been with the Union for over thirty-five years, commencing work as a union organiser in 1985.

Michael is Co-Chair of First Super, a $3.24 billion industry superannuation fund, which has 46,000 members across the timber, pulp and paper, and furniture and joinery industries, and their communities. Michael also chairs the First Super Investment Committee. He is a Director on the board of Industry Super Australia (ISA).

Stacey has worked in the forest industry for the past seven years and is an experienced leader committed to building mutually beneficial relationships across organisations and industries to support transformation and value creation.

She has over 20 years’ experience in strategic planning and managing teams focused on creating strategic frameworks and developing evidencebased policy. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and a Master of Land Use Planning.

Outgoing Board Chair, Tony Price, will be retained as a ForestWorks board member.

In other changes at ForestWorks, as part of a planned leadership transition and growth strategy, David Forbes has been appointed as the Deputy General Manager of ForestWorks.

David brings a wealth of experience in stakeholder engagement and understands the skills challenges facing our industry.

ForestWorks is also recruiting for a new General Manager to take over from Yvette Nash. At the conclusion of her contract, Yvette has chosen to pursue other opportunities.

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Forestry Australia farewells vice president Harding F orestry Australia has paid tribute to outgoing Vice President Dr Kevin Harding, who has announced his retirement from the Board as part of an ordered and planned transition to encourage fresh leaders to continue to grow the sector’s future.

Dr Lachie McCaw was elected to fill Dr Harding’s Vice President position which he will serve alongside current Vice President Dr Michelle Freeman who remains in the role.

Lachie McCaw has worked in forestry since 1980 and is a Registered Forestry Professional (RFP) with skills in native forest management.

He has extensive experience in bushfire research and management with a focus on forests, woodlands and shrublands in Western Australia and has published more than 80 journal articles and book chapters on fire.

His professional interests include fire behaviour, fire climate and weather, and the role of planned fire in sustainable land management.

He has been involved in a many aspects of native forest management including regeneration processes, thinning of regrowth stands and forest health.

Lachie was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2021 and is an active volunteer firefighter with his local bush fire bri-

• Dr Lachie McCaw.

Forestry Australia •President Bob Gordon

• Dr Kevin Harding

gade. His spare time is occupied managing a 15 ha family forest at Manjimup in the southern forests of Western Australia.

Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon thanked Dr Harding for his “huge contribution” to Forestry Australia and its predecessors the Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) and Australian Forest Growers (AFG).

“Kevin’s encyclopaedic knowledge of Farm Forestry and his willingness to pitch in and get things done led to the survival of the AFG in extraordinarily challenging times,” Mr Gordon said.

“He championed the merger with the IFA that led to the successful establishment of Forestry Australia and drove the integration process that ensured the voice of farm forestry continues to be heard.

“Dr Harding’s career as a research scientist has been important in providing scientific rigour to Forestry Australia’s deliberations and we look forward to con-

tinuing to collaborate with him.”

Dr Harding thanked Forestry Australia members and Board colleagues for the opportunity to serve on the AFG, IFA/AFG and Forestry Australia Boards, saying there was great momentum and positivity about Forestry Australia’s future.

“I thank all members for their generous support and assistance in giving me the privilege to serve AFG and IFA during a period of significant organisational change that has resulted in a stronger, healthy and expanding Forestry Australia organisation,” Dr Harding said.

“The newer members of the IFA/AFG and Forestry Australia Boards that I have served with in the last three years have made very sig-

nificant contributions and I have great confidence that our next generation of members are ready, willing and able to step up and take the organisation forward.

“I strongly support the Chair and Board’s succession planning to stagger exits of more senior members of the Board to create opportunities to grow the next generation of leaders.

“I encourage all members to consider their capacity to serve on the Forestry Australia Board and committees or to contribute as a volunteer.”

Following Dr Harding’s retirement, Forestry Australia’s Board will be seeking expressions of interest from Forestry Australia members to fill a Casual Vacancy Position on the Board.

This Director would serve until the next Annual General Meeting to be held in October 2022.

Forestry Australia members will be provided with more details about this expression of interest process in the coming days.

• Bonnie Galbraith

• Carmen Windsor

• Amanda Sharman

Bonnie Galbraith (Timberlands Pacific), Amanda Sharman (CLTP Tasmania) and Carmen Windsor (Sustainable Timber Tasmania) will complete the AICD Foundations of Directorship Online Course this year; a struc-

tured 11-week program that combines virtual classroom sessions, online learning activities and individual study with support from a team of experienced faculty members.

Topics covered by the pro-

gram include Governance for Directors, Finance for Directors and Strategy and Risk for Directors. and sincerely thank the TFFPN for supporting my leadership journey,” Ms Windsor said.

Timber scholarships for trio

Women in Leadership Scholarships have been awarded by Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network to three women working in the Tasmanian forest industry, to further establish their leadership skills.

The number of high-quality applications for the two Women in Leadership scholarships on offer meant TFFP decided to extend its offering, awarding scholarships to three women working in the Tasmanian forest industry, to further establish their leadership skills.

Scholarship recipients,

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

Training

Tapping into Tassie youth market Key Points current Directors of • The Arbre are: Hickey – Chair – • Greg Sustainable Timber Tasmania

Herd – Vice • Darren Chair – Forico Pty Limited

Brown – • Steven Treasurer & Secretary – Timberlands Pacific

Hoffmann – • Owen Reliance Forest Fibre Morgan – • Paul Casegrande Lumber Pty Ltd

Turner – PF Olsen • Garth Pty Ltd Webb – Midway • Clint Tasmania Pty Ltd Botha – C3 • Pete Australia Pty Ltd

• Field Days featuring Arbre’s virtual reality demonstrations are a popular attraction for young people.

T

asmania’s training facility Arbre Forest Industries Training & Careers Hub is facing the forest industry’s problem of connecting with the younger generations head on.

Arbre was created in 2015 by industry leaders from around Tasmania to promote Forest Industry Careers and Training across the whole industry. The focus is on the need to increase the number of employees entering the industry, encourage a younger workforce as well as improve training and uptake of training.

“We’re not getting hundreds of students knocking on the door saying, “ I want to work in forestry,” Arbre’s Manager Denise DeBattista said.

“But there is a definite interest.

And the more programs that we put together, obviously the more interest that generates.

Four years ago we would only be able to access maybe 20-25 schools to talk about careers in forestry,” she said.

“Now we’re looking at anything from 50 to 60 visits, so it’s building, it’s definitely building.”

Arbre is a not-for-profit organisation funded by membership and run by a board of eight directors from across the industry representing forest growers and processors, suppliers of products or services, forest contracting businesses and corporate entities. Arbre is not a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and therefore doesn’t carry out the training.

“We connect our members to the

www.timberbiz.com.au

right RTO based on their training needs and assist with access to funding if available,” Denise said.

Arbre vice chairperson Darren Herd said capturing the attention of young people was an issue.

“We tend to use forest simulators at school visits, so it’s very a popular stand generally because it’s very interactive and hands-on,” he said.

Denise said a structured Work Experience Program with employers and schools was being developed and a pilot scheme would be tested this year.

“We’re going to cover quite a few different areas of forestry in this program,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of employers who have agreed to participate, and six schools, so the pilot will run in six schools local to where we are in the north of Tassie.”

Darren said the other avenue of workers Arbre looks at is postschool.

“How to get people who have finished high school? We’ve developed a few courses around that as well to assist them to be job-ready to come into our sector because there’s a base level of training that is required.”

Certificate III in Harvest & Haulage, Certificate III in Sawmilling & Processing, and Fire Awareness and Suppression training are among the most sought after training courses in Tasmania, followed by Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management and the Cadet Forester Program.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

11

In the news

Helping to inspire our next generation of foresters S

ince 2011, Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has run its ForestLearning program to help Australian teachers with quality lesson resources and tools to educate future generations about Australia’s sustainable forests and wood products.

The one-stop-shop education portal – forestlearning.edu.au – now houses over 70 Foundation, year 12 curriculum resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum. These resources are written by teachers for teachers and approved by the Australian Forest Education Alliance across all subject areas.

Now, ForestLearning is rolling up its sleeves to further assist forest and wood product industry professionals to engage with their local schools and students through the ForestLearning Industry Educa-

12

tion Champion Program and new Schools and Industry Champions Toolkit.

ForestLearning Industry Education Champions come from forest and wood product organisations all over Australia and are involved in a range of face-to-face and virtual activities with schools in their regions.

But there is more that can be done.

ForestLearning is calling for more industry champions from across our sector to join with them in amplifying learning in schools.

Industry Champions volunteer their time based on their own capacity from 1 hour to 1 day a year to

help educate the next generation about the sustainable forest cycle and the great work in science, innovation and technologies that exists within our industry.

Industry champion, Sarah Porter from Timber Queensland, volunteered her time during National Ag Week 2021 with Jason Ross of Responsible Wood to run the forestry education stand at Calvary Christian College primary industries education expo. Sarah reflected, “We were encouraged to hear the foundational knowledge that the students already had about trees and the carbon cycle, and it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm the next generation has for learning, engaging in sustainable practices and potentially working on the land.”

Another Industry Champion, Sarah Maddison, Planning Forester and drone operator for OneFortyOne Plantations, has partnered with ForestLearning since 2019.

Over this time, she has flown drones at regional career events, presented virtual classrooms to classrooms around Australia via zoom from her office, and starred in the Geography Teachers Association Victoria magazine Interaction.

Sarah said, “I’m really proud of the work I do in planning and forestry. Forestry has such a positive and hope-filled story that directly speaks to today’s climate challenge. Although I’ve not worked a lot in schools before, ForestLearning was with me every step of the way, from helping prepare and edit my presentations to handling the school bookings and technology”.

With forest and wood industry initiatives running across regions of Australia – from virtual classrooms, bus tours, tree planting days, and career events – ForestLearning in collaboration with the Forest Education Foundation has developed a new suite of industry and teacher resources that help align industry themes with educational outcomes, saving industry champions and teachers valuable preparation time.

This free to download pack of resources aims to take the guess work out of industry presentations and excursion visits for schools by outlining topics relevant to the Australian Curriculum by year level and subject area. Guides for F-12 teachers provide educators with the know-how and inspira-

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

OneFortyOne drone operator •Sarah Maddison has partnered with ForestLearning since 2019.

I

’m really proud of the work I do in planning and forestry. tion to embed forest and wood activities and presentations to meet their curriculum needs.

The Forest Industry Education Champion Toolkit is now available to download at https://tinyurl. com/forestindustrychampion and comprises: • How-to Guides for Industry Champions and Primary and Secondary teachers • Activity and presentation preparation checklists and top tips and tricks for Industry Education Champions • Evaluation tools for teachers and industry education champions Industry Champions can also access PowerPoint slide templates for school presentations, order teacher packs for events, or enquire about ForestVR Headset loan kits for VR activations in schools or related school events by contacting Beth Welden, ForestLearning Program Manager – beth@ forestlearning.edu.au.

Further information on ForestLearning, the Industry Education Champion program and how to order a free teacher pack is available at forestlearning.edu.au. www.timberbiz.com.au

Workplace safety

Putting the hard yards into finding the right boots to wear T he unique environmental conditions and varying tasks performed in different occupations necessitate a variety of boot designs to match each worker’s occupational safety and functional requirements.

Within the Forest & Timber industries, the challenge brands face is that work-related footwear must be designed for three purposes with equal focus—occupational safety, functionality and comfort. While the average person may walk 10,000 steps a day, a worker on their feet can cover in excess of 30,000 (1). As such, comfort features such as cushioning, weight and fit should all be considered important factors when choosing the right work boot.

Research has shown that variations in work boot design have a huge impact on fundamental tasks such as walking (2), with instances of lower limb injuries and workplace fatigue widespread in occupations that require safety footwear.

“Boot design can alter the way the foot moves while walking, affecting the way the ground reaction forces are distributed throughout the lower limbs. For those who work in the Forest and Timber industries, it is crucial that their’ boots meet the demands placed on their lower limbs while walking and when performing other working tasks,” says Adrian Blandford, Blundstone’s Global Work and Safety Range Manager.

“Otherwise, the risk of these workers experiencing a lower limb injury is increased— whether it is an acute injury, such as a sprain or strain due to slipping or tripping, or a chronic injury, such as Plantar Fasciitis due to prolonged periods wearing incorrectly fitted boots,” he said.

Whilst safety footwear is defined as a boot design that incorporates protective features to safeguard the wearer from injuries that arise through accidents, the statistics also prove that many foot injuries are related to incorrect footwear. The National Safety Council also discovered that as many as www.timberbiz.com.au

120,000 work-related foot injuries occur each year, and according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, threequarters of those injuries occurred because workers were wearing the incorrect footwear (3). Thus, many of these problems can be prevented with the right work boot.

Safety footwear sold in Australia must comply to Standard AS 2210.3:2019.

But not all safety boots are

the same.

For workers in the Forest and Timber industries, focus on the following features when selecting your safety footwear: • Fit for Purpose | The forestry and timber industries are some of the harshest working environments.

It’s important that your boots can withstand these conditions—from safety to design and comfort. When there is a risk that a person may come in contact with a live electrical circuit, electrical shock hazard footwear will provide the best possible protection against electrical shock hazard.

• Safety Toe Caps | Given the potential risks within the forest and timber industry. It’s important to select a boot with a safety toe cap to prevent injuries from rolling compression and drop impact.

• Quality Uppers | Choose uppers that are breathable and protective. Given the potentially wet environment of forests, it’s recommended that your boots have a water-resistant upper. Select styles in Blundstone’s safety range are specifically treated to create a water-repelling membrane.

This provides added protection from the elements.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

• Sole Design and Material | Ensure the tread pattern will provide adequate stability on the uneven surfaces within your industry.

Durability is also key.

• Footwear Design | Comfort features, closure systems, linings make all the difference. Make sure the boots fit and feel right for you and there is no excessive movement of the foot.

Once you’ve selected the right boots for you, taking care of them will keep them in good stead. Treat with a waterproof spray regularly, remove caked dirt and debris with a soft brush and apply a small amount of polish as needed. When your boots are wet it’s important to dry them at room temperature. Never dry your boots with artificial heat or in front of an open fire as this will cause the leather to harden and crack.

With over 150 years’ experience, iconic footwear brand, Blundstone, is a world leader in tough, no nonsense footwear that is reliable and fit for purpose. Investing heavily in research to access the best and latest technologies available, Blundstone’s safety styles are built to protect, with features that provide optimum protection against impact and penetration, plus resistance to cuts, chemicals, heat, electrical hazards, rolling forces, and other foreign stimuli. On top of this, their boots are renowned for providing unmatched comfort.

Workplace environments and risk factors vary enormously, and OH&S risk assessments should be consulted before choosing footwear protection.

For further information, please visit: https://www. blundstone.com.au/workboots 1 Safety and health Magazine: Work Boots and Fatigue article 2 University of Wollongong: Work boot design affects the way workers walk: A systematic review of the literature 3 EHS Today: Foot Protection article – These boots are made for walking 13

Workplace safety

Industry wide approach leads to long-term rollover reduction A ustralian forests owners and haulage operators have worked closely together for over a decade in an unprecedented united effort to tackle truck crashes, in particular, rollovers in the logging industry.

The cooperative effort has led to a significant reduction in these crashes, and the data shows that the benefits can be long term and sustainable.

Alan Pincott form Australian Trucking safety Services & Solutions (ATSSS) says, that he has not seen any other industry sector work so closely on an Australian wide front in a road safety effort.

The efforts line up perfectly with the National heavy Vehicle Regular aims of Chapter 1A of Heavy Vehicle national Law, 26A Principle of shared responsibility (1) The safety of transport activities relating to a heavy vehicle is the shared responsibility of each party in the Chain of Responsibility for the vehicle.

The rewarding part is that they were doing this well

individual strategies and actions implemented, but the thing that makes this industry unique, is that these parties all talk to each other and unselfishly are eager to celebrate and share their

about safety improvements.

Almost all log and woodchip truck drivers in Australia have participated in the heavy vehicle rollover awareness program and many undertake regular re-

before this legislation was introduced in 2018.

Back before 2010 they had developed their own training program around truck rollovers which was the foundation of the VicRoads Rollover Prevention Program that is recognised internationally.

There have been many

stories and assist others in developing and implementing their own.

It exciting when you see a group of industry operators, who are competitors in a commercial sense, standing as one to share their resources, skills and knowledge to work closely on a regional strategy to bring

fresher and update training to ensure that the message is kept in front of mind. This training is fairly generic, and the industry recognises that every operation, type of wood and geographic location has its own unique risks and challenges. This is where they stand out by working together to tackle

14

the risks and challenges in a cooperative long term and sustainable approach to crash reductions. The encouraging thing is that it is not just the drivers that are targeted.

They have recognised that for best outcomes we need all people with influence on the transport activity to understand what happens when these trucks rollover and why. The contributing factors can come from many places and it’s the driver that typically needs to deal with them. By training all these other parties and giving them an understanding on how they may be able to reduce the pressure points on the drivers, the industry has been able to increase safety dramatically. This can easily be seen in the improvements in vehicle design, technology, loading methods and compliance in recent years.

Engagement is the key. By involving as many people within the industry to develop and implement these initiatives, everybody involved has a sense of ownership and this leads to engagement by all involved.

An excellent example is where a forest owner in Gippsland was able to meas-

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

ure a direct link where an increase in interactions with drivers, loaders and other associated staff led to a proportionate reduction in crashes and rollovers.

Most Forest owners have similar initiatives based on the best way to interact and engage. Some sectors are fortunate in that they have one or two major receival points where it is easy to interact. In other cases, they go into the bush and talk to the guys on site. It takes a lot of work, and they need to be constantly working hard to monitor any new trends or risks and be ready to tackle them quickly.

Geographic areas such as the Green Triangle, Gippsland, South East NSW, Northern NSW have also shown some great examples by developing strategies around their own operations.

And the important thing that sets this industry apart is that everybody is willing to share all of this and to assist others.

There is a common theme that is right across the timber industry when it comes to road safety, “If by all of this work, if we stop just one crash, its all been worthwhile”. www.timberbiz.com.au

Workplace safety

Augmented reality a game changer in improving safety A ugmented reality, which superimposes digital information on the ‘real’ world, can be used to guide machinery maintenance processes on site to improve forest crew safety and harvesting productivity.

A safer workplace is a priority for the forestry industry. Not all incidents are related to actual harvesting. Between 2015 and 2019, nearly 500 harvesting maintenance work-related incidents were recorded.

Scion has been working for two years with harvest equipment manufacturer Waratah and digital tech developer StaplesVR to create a practical solution. Augmented reality has been incorporated into an in-field servicing tool. The application provides step-by-step

maintenance instructions in real time to guide people onsite conducting repairs on a Waratah 622B Harvester Head.

Scion’s industry partner, Waratah, provided detailed schematics and expert engineering interviews of the

Harvester Head, along with the parts catalogue, operator manual and standard operating procedures for daily maintenance tasks.

From this, StaplesVR created an application that includes safety modules, a fault reporting module,

Control freak?

detailed visualisation of maintenance and service tasks, highlighted machine subsystems and an updated user interface.

We expect this application to markedly improve the productivity by minimising downtime and the potential for accidents during onsite maintenance by crews. Currently, forestry crews have limited onsite support/ knowledge to carry out daily checks and routine maintenance. The augmented reality solution offers opportunities to bridge these knowledge gaps in a reasonable and realistic timeframe. We can also overlay safety information, implic-

itly teaching operators to take care of themselves and eliminating maintenance injuries as a result of limited understanding of machinery. Timely maintenance has the potential to eliminate unnecessary service expenditure and product malfunction, saving all industry stakeholders money and time.

The need for safer machinery maintenance solutions such as this will continue to grow as the level of mechanisation in forestry increases. With marked improvements in cost, application and content quality, there are numerous uses for augmented reality beyond maintenance service and support including manufacturing and marketing/ education.

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Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

15

Workplace safety

Hi Vis the norm but the regulations are complicated H i Vis clothing has become an industry ‘norm’ in Australia and throughout most of the world.

Anyone ‘on the job’ is expected and required to wear it to remain visible to moving vehicles or machinery. However, it is important to understand the legislative requirements and standards to ensure your staff are wearing high visibility gear that is compliant. Just because their shirt is bright yellow doesn’t always mean they are compliantly dressed and safe from harm!

While all hi vis gear may look the same, there are some ‘dodgy’ brands of garments available in Australia that are non-compliant and unsafe to use. Manufacturing clothing to meet or surpass the AS/ NZS standards is not always cheap, so some companies are willing to compromise on safety in order to maximise profits. As a reseller and manufacturer of high visibility clothing, we refuse to stock ‘cheap and nasty’ brands that are not compliant, so you can be sure our range is safe!

There are a couple of main stand-

ards regarding high visibility garments.

AS/NZ 4602.1: 2011 High visibility safety garments – Garments for high risk applications This standard specifies the design of the garments used by employees who are exposed to hazards from moving vehicles, equipment or other high-risk situations. There are different classes within the Standard for different times of day: C6HVNC HiVis Short Sleeve Polo Shirtlass D – These garments are designed for use in the daytime only. They provide the wearer with high visibility under daylight conditions but are generally ineffective in providing visibility in darker environments. A typical example of a Class D compliant garment is a yellow/navy polo without tape. To meet this standard the garment must: Have an approved colour of hi visibility material that encircles the entire upper torso. The colours

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specified in the standard are Orange-red, Red, Yellow, Orange and Yellow (restricted).

The fluorescent fabric should cover at least 0.4m2 of the upper torso.

Logos or text printed onto the garments cannot be included in the 0.4m2. Generally, a logo that is no larger than 10cm x 10cm shouldn’t affect the compliance of the garment.

Class N – These garments are designed to provide high visibility in the dark when viewed under retroreflected light, such as vehicle headlights. The AS/NZ 1906.4: 2010 standard discussed in the next dot point specifies which types of reflective material are compliant and the minimum number of washes they remain complaint for. To meet night compliance requirements the tape must be a minimum of 50mm wide, and is commonly in a Hoop, X back or H pattern. The colour of background material used on the garment is not specified in the Standard. An example of a Class N compliant garment could be a black security jacket with reflective tape.

Class D/N – These garments meet both the day and night requirements we’ve outlined above. An example of a D/N compliant garment is a hi vis yellow polo with reflective tape.

AS/NZ 1906.4: 2010 Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes – High visibility materials for safety garments. (plus Amendment 1; 2014) We’ve already mentioned this standard, but it specifies the photometric, colorimetric and physical properties for the various high visibility materials. It categorizes materials into three classes: Class F – Fluorescent fabric for Day Use Only (i.e. hi vis yellows, oranges etc.)

Class R – Reflective fabric for Night Use Only (i.e. 3M reflective tape). It is important to understand the impact of washing Class R materials. The washing process slowly disintegrates the reflective properties of the material. Most reflective

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

tapes used in Australia only remain compliant for about 30 washes.

Class RF – Both Fluorescent and Reflective fabric for Day/Night Use (i.e. the yellow reflective tape used on VicRoad’s clothing) There is an additional classification of ‘W’ for wet compliance, which is normally only relevant for rain-wear garments.

Suitable Applications for High Visibility Garments It is also your responsibility to ensure the application of the clothing is suitable. The Standard has the following recommendations to ensure your team is using the gear correctly.

Have company procedures and policies in place to ensure items are worn correctly and that workers understand why garments will be ineffective if not worn correctly and in the appropriate applications, Store garments so that fading of fluorescent material and degradation of retroreflective material due to heat are limited, Keep garments clean by washing/ cleaning according to manufacturer’s instructions, and inspecting the garments on a regular basis and replacing them if badly damaged, soiled or faded.

“In constant use, garments should be critically examined at 3-month to 6-month intervals.”

It is important to understand the high visibility properties any garment will lessen over time as it fades, stretches and is washed. Following the four recommendations above will ensure you replace your staff’s uniform regularly enough to keep them seen and safe!

If your employees are working outside in the elements it is your responsibility to provide hi vis clothing that provides UPF protection.

The relevant Australian Standard for this is AS/NZS4399 (UV Protection), and you should ensure the UPF rating for the clothing you purchase is in the 40-50+ Excellent Category. www.timberbiz.com.au

Mill technology

USNR pulling out all the stops U SNR is making extensive investments company-wide and retooling all facets of its business. Optimizing manufacturing processes, installing new tooling and equipment, modernizing office spaces, and developing in-depth training programs are expanding the production capabilities of USNR facilities worldwide.

USNR is rethinking and retooling all aspects of its business by streamlining processes and maximizing manufacturing capabilities at all of its facilities.

As product demand continues to soar, USNR is keeping pace, and even moving ahead, by looking inward at optimizing manufacturing practices in its shops, modernizing office spaces, and investing in state- of-the-art training programs.

USNR is built on this cul-

ture of growth and innovation, and it continues to make massive investments in production capabilities and manufacturing processes across the company.

The commitment to cuttingedge technology, first- class training, and deep industry knowledge has cemented USNR as the industry leader.

The four USNR plants (Woodland, WA, Jacksonville, FL, Plessisville, QC, and Söderhamn, Sweden) have successfully adopted the new USNR Production System. This tailor-made approach to process-flow and tooling has allowed USNR production facilities to gain velocity and lower “Work in Process” levels.

“Our production system comes from our experience and things we’ve tried before. We took a look at the latest trends, tools, and philosophies on manufacturing. Then we combined those modern practices with our collective knowledge. We didn’t know it at the time, but we were building our own system,” said Eric Brousseau, Senior Vice President.

USNR installed the Fastems Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) in Plessisville, QC in 2019 and, on the heels of that success, implemented another complete system in Woodland shortly after (pictured left).

The FMS includes three DMG/MORI NHX 6300 horizontal machining centers and organizes and schedules projects to maximize productivity.

Previously, most parts were made on

vertical machining centers, which meant that the spindles were idle while operators changed workpieces, fixtures, and tooling. Vastly improved efficiency with lower machine set-up times has led to streamlined processes and slashed delivery times.

USNR has been able to dramatically lower average lead time for manufactured parts with these new systems and processes. The USNR Production System has been implemented at USNR facilities worldwide and continues to positively impact process flow, overall quality, and predictability.

“With continued growth we saw the need to enlarge this key facility,” said USNR president Dale Brown.

“This new investment allows us to offer customers the best products with faster deliveries, and to expand

our dedicated training infrastructure with additional technical personnel working hard to solve today’s processing challenges.”

In Jacksonville, the operation was relocated from one of the oldest facilities in the USNR family to a much larger, freshly renovated space. The original building was constructed in 1914 by the Moore Dry Kiln Company, which was founded by civil war veteran Lafayette Moore in 1879. The layout of this facility hindered growth and process improvements with its scattered floorplan. The new state-of-the-art manufacturing and office complex is a vast improvement, fulfilling the increased demand for a higher capacity operation in this region.

MILLWIDE SOFTWARE OPTIMISATION & CONTROL SOLUTIONS

www.automationelec.com Ph: +64 7 574 6223 4 Portside Drive, Mt Maunganui, New Zealand Ph: +1 704 200 2350 6 Winners Circle, Arden, North Carolina, USA

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Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

17

Excavators

Volvo takes productivity to a grand V olvo Construction Equipment E-series range has taken productivity and fuel efficiency to another level. The full range includes compact, wheeled and crawler excavators.

All excavators in the series are extremely versatile and highly adaptable to their tasks. They can be used for everyday earthwork jobs to heavy forestry mulching or rehabilitation work with minimal adjustments.

“The E Series comes with Stage 5 ‘emission control’ engines – the latest technology engines and the cleanest engines currently in use in Australia,” says Lindsay Daniels, CJD Equipment’s National Product and Training Manager.

“It also has an electronic platform, which allows the E-Series to carry Volvo’s unique Co-Pilot system.

This android-based system has a variety of applications and in an excavator, it has

RDO2303_Vermeer HG_460X145_1.indd 1 18

the ability to carry the Dig Assist program along with apps like maps and weather.

It puts the control of the machine in the operator’s hands,” he says.

Fuel Efficiency The E-series is designed to further increase operator comfort and machine durability while optimising fuel consumption.

“The hydraulic system is designed to reduce the load on the engine, which helps reduce fuel consumption.

It has adjustable flows and pressures from inside the cab,” Lindsay says.

“Positive control hydraulics and pump input torque

provide increased productivity through a high-pump flow. Combined with an electro-hydraulic control system, the high-pump flow creates faster response and cycle times. The beauty of Volvo engines is they produce a high amount of torque at very low revolutions per minute, so you don’t have to rev the engine, thereby saving fuel and keeping noise pollution down,” he says.

“Volvo’s unique ‘eco’ mode optimises the hydraulic system to reduce flow and pressure losses, resulting in improved fuel efficiency without any loss of performance in most operating conditions.”

Dig Assist

The E-series range also comes with the option of the latest Dig Assist technology.

The Dig Assist system allows operators to input job specifications, providing

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

Excavators

new level

real-time guidance to ensure projects are completed quickly, more accurately and with improved site safety. Volvo’s Co-Pilot system with Dig Assist is available on all 14 to 48 tonne crawler excavators and short swing excavators ECR145E, ECR235E and ECR355E. “The E-series range is powerful and efficient, like all Volvo excavators, but its human machine interface design, which streamlines all in-cab features ergonomically to produce increased operator productivity, really sets it apart. The body-centric design is integrated into everything from joysticks and LCD screens to keypads and hot keys,” Lindsay says.

In designing these machines Volvo has ensured that both operator safety and ease of maintenance remains key. The operator can control pressure and flow within the auxiliary function through the cab, with 20 separate pre-set functions. The smart cab design also gives operators a clear view of the machine through rear and side-view cameras.

Perfect for Forestry Volvo’s tracked excavators set higher standards of value and excellence in the forestry industry. A heavyduty, reinforced undercarriage, with a robust boom and arm that includes internal plates positioned to support pressure points, Volvo machines are specifically designed for the forestry industry. Volvo’s ROPS cab with a reinforced steel structure ensures the operator is protected, while also meeting the ISO standards for safety, these are the ultimate machines for even the toughest of jobs.

When you choose a Volvo you not only get worldclass forestry equipment, you also get full support from CJD Equipment. With a national supply network and 24/7 after hours call out service, you can rest assured you are well supported. Thanks to their vast network of branches and service centres that stretch across the nation, whether you need parts or service, you can trust your local CJD Equipment team to deliver.

For more information about Volvo CE equipment, visit the CJD Equipment website cjd.com.au

VERSATILE. EASY MAINTENANCE FEATURES. BUILT TOUGH. Green waste, trees, logs – Vermeer Horizontal Grinders eat ‘em all for breakfast. And now, the latest models offer remote control systems that let one operator feed and manage the unit.

These powerful machines are the result of decades of refinement – they’re a chip off the old block.

Call your local RDO Vermeer dealer on 1300 VERMEER.

www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

11/11/21 1910:35 am

Harvesters

Customer focus drives development of Precision Forestry Solutions A DEEP understanding of production systems and how to unlock economic value for customers is at the heart of John Deere’s innovation and its range of precision forestry solutions.

John Deere Forestry AsiaPacific and Africa General Manager, Simon Shackleton, said development of the suite of equipment had required John Deere to design and build an easy-touse technology stack made up of hardware and devices, embedded software, connectivity, data platforms, and applications.

“By dedicating our business to our customers, we can better identify the greatest opportunities to help them save on expenses, increase productivity, and become more sustainable,” Mr Shackleton said.

“John Deere offers smarter machines that are the best at their jobs, collaborate with other equipment in our portfolio, and become smarter over time — and that includes our precision forestry solutions.”

The TimberMatic Maps™ and TimberManager™ software platform will revolutionise how customers plan, implement, and monitor logging operations. This map-based productionplanning and tracking system allows customers to share real-time production and location information with operators — taking the guesswork out of effective decision-making.

Real-Time Updates TimberMatic Maps is a new way of seeing the jobsite. Live production and location data is shared among John Deere forestry machines via a wireless mobile network and real-time cloud connection. Operators and contractors can view all machine locations and the current logging situation in real time using the TimberMatic Maps display through the TimberMatic control system in the machine cab.

20

TimberMatic Maps accommodates all common map formats, from simple hand-drawn maps to elaborate shapefiles or PDFs. Standard satellite or topographical imagery can be loaded directly through the JDLink™ cellular connection onboard the machine.

Using TimberManager, owners can change map features and share updates via an online, cloud-based solution without having to visit each machine.

Regarding full-tree-applications TimberMatic Maps shows the GPS-based location, estimated volume, and up to two species of timber when manually counting stems with a feller buncher to make for simple, efficient planning. Then changing to cut-to-length, forwarder operators can immediately see where certain species are located and choose the optimal route to pick up and transport a full load of a desired assortment to the landing.

As the job progresses, production data and logging routes are updated in real time on TimberMatic Maps, displaying the actual, up-to-the-minute status of the jobsite. Using the Areas of Interest and Points of Interest functions, operators and contractors can easily mark hazards, obstacles, soft ground, and challenging terrain, in the

entire fleet. Manage the information your way, set up alerts to go to your computer or mobile device, and even loop in your dealer so they can quickly respond to any John Deere machine issues. If downtime does occur, exclusive remote diagnostics and programming enable your dealer to minimise the time and cost associated with sending a technician to the logging site for an initial diagnostic visit.

You can also receive reminders of periodic scheduled maintenance on your computer or mobile device, cab or on a tablet. These are or from your dealer. shared in real time with all crew members, to optimise jobsite awareness and productivity, while making the worksite safer.

In addition to TimberMatic Maps onboard the machine, contractors and supervisors can monitor live progress from anywhere at any time using TimberManager — a web-based solution for computers, tablets, and mobile phones. Select a logging site and view harvest- Harvesters ing, skidding, and forwardJohn Deere offers the larging progress at a glance, est range of wheeled and along with more detailed tracked harvesters, to eninformation including masure there is a machine for chine production and effievery application. The verciencies. satile lineup helps to overTimberMatic Maps and come obstacles, no matter TimberManager are availthe required use or terrain, able on nearly all models of with technology including: John Deere forestry equipIntelligent Boom Control ment, including skidders, (IBC) is a smart technoltracked feller bunchers, ogy solution available on wheeled and tracked harwheeled harvesters, 953 vesters, forwarders, and and 959MH harvesters, and swing machines. The sysis coming later this year in tem can also be updated 800M Series. IBC makes it on most existing machines. easier to maneuver the harImprove efficiency by sendvesting head. Operators no ing the machine directly to longer need to control each the timber you need. independent boom joint JDLink is your connecseparately — simply steer tion to the profitabilitythe harvester head towards enhancing benefits. From the target, and IBC does the the fleet- management funrest, automatically controldamentals of knowing the ling all boom movements hours and location, to sendbased on the attachment’s ing machine-health alerts location. and tracking machine proThe IBC system adjusts ductivity, JDLink can help to the work cycle, changyou centrally manage your

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

ing boom trajectory and functioning whether the harvester head is empty or holding a tree. IBC helps deliver smoother operation, reducing stress on the entire boom.

Head positioning is more precise, especially with long reaches and mini-lever movement always produces the same amount of grapple speed, no matter how far the boom is extended. The boom tip automatically follows the preferred trajectory and operators can choose Hill mode in IBC to adjust the trajectory for efficiently working on a slope.

Joysticks are now configurable to user preference, so operators can run IBC using their favored control

pattern, including default.

Precise, Efficient Harvesting Control The TimberMatic H-16 control system provides reliable, efficient control of all harvesting functions, for more precise, quicker boom movements and greater productivity. User-friendly software offers easy-tolearn patterns which are also configurable for operator preference, to achieve greater performance of the machine every shift. A remote display and more detailed diagnostics speed up troubleshooting.

Hardworking 1270G with the power to handle large trees, the six-wheeled 1270G is an exceptional allaround wheeled harvester.

This model is also available in an eight-wheel-drive option for conditions that call for maximum traction and Continued on page 23 www.timberbiz.com.au

OUTRUN™ THEM ALL. ELIMINATE GUESSWORK WITH REAL-TIME PLANNING AND MONITORING WITH TIMBERMATIC™ MAPS AND TIMBERMANAGER™.

Available on nearly all models of John Deere forestry equipment, both cut-to-length and full-tree-length, our TimberMatic™ Maps and TimberManager™ software platform will revolutionise how you plan, implement and monitor your logging operations. With this map-based production planning and tracking system, you can view all machine locations and the current logging situation in real time from anywhere via PC, tablet, mobile phone or using the TimberMatic Maps display in the machine cab. As the job progresses, production data and logging routes are updated, displaying the actual, up-tothe-minute status of the jobsite, easily marking hazards, obstacles, soft ground and challenging terrain for optimum jobsite awareness and productivity.

See your John Deere forestry dealer for details.

JohnDeere.com.au/Outrun

TRACTA_J64793_FORESTRY_AU_AFTN

Harvesters Customer focus drives development Continued from page 21

climbing ability, and also offer lower ground pressure.

For ultimate harvesting productivity, choose the stable, smooth 1470G Harvester.

Equipped with a CH9 boom, the 1470G is perfect for tackling large timber in extreme conditions John Deere went to its toughest customers, to help develop the rugged range of leveling and non-leveling 800MH and 900MH series tracked harvesters. These harvesters were designed to take on more and get it done, with large-displacement 9.0L Deere engines delivering the power to drive, high swing torque and tractive effort, multi-functioning and the best in the industry leveling, to ensure productivity is achieved on the toughest slopes. A variety of carriers, boom sets and harvester heads combine to suit a range of applications, while the reimagined cab features a range of comforts that make the task easier to handle for hard working operators.

John Deere’s complete line of forestry swing machines includes eight models from 28 to over 45 tonnes. Customer input has driven the standard for comfort and safety, including a major cab update with improvements, while a simplified electrical system, beefier structures, a more robust cooling system, and a debris-fighting hydraulic reversing fan highlight a host of other features designed to help boost productivity.

Specifications offered include Road Builders, Log Loaders, shovel loggers, harvesters and processors which will change customer expectations about what a swing machine can accomplish.

For further information visit the JohnDeere. com.au. Contact your local John Deere Forestry Dealer, in WA, AFGRI Equipment 08 6278 7100, all other states RDO Equipment 1300 008 608.

22

Delivering in the long term E quipment that continues to deliver value over the long term is one of the key pillars of productive operations, paving the way for a successful and stress-free ownership experience, and helping ensure machine owners get the maximum return on their initial investment.

Cat CVAs are designed to help customers keep assets in top-notch condition and ultimately help achieve lower ownership costs.

The introduction of Cat CVAs to the Australian mar-

place delivers peace of mind in the event of a machine breakdown, providing expert dealer support quickly – to get customers back up and running and keeping downtime to a minimum.

For example, an Equipment Protection Plan (EPP), which may be available with a Cat CVA, provides customers with access to a range of dealer support resources, including troubleshooting at the time of the machine and diagnostics assistance, purchase, meaning customalong with repairs for newers can get in touch with er machines, using genuine their Cat dealer at their conCat parts. venience.

Cat CVAs are available for both new and existing customers, covering a range of forestry machines. With a variety of options and flexible elements, the best next step is to work with your Cat dealer. They can talk through the factors that are unique to your operation and recommend the best solution for you based on your needs and type of forestry equipment you wish to cover.

It’s not just protection, it’s an edge to save on repair costs and maximize your

• Cat CVA customers can arrange to have genuine Cat parts delivered according to an agreed schedule, ket has added to the growing suite of aftersales services available from Caterpillar dealers, with plans available for new, used, and rental machines.

In fact, Cat CVAs can encompass a variety of plan types. Customers can work with their preferred dealer to select a plan that is in line with specific customer requirements – from a fullservice equipment protection plan, to having maintenance kits delivered for installation.

It’s all about helping customers get the most out of a machine.

It is also important to note that Cat CVAs are available for both new and existing customers, and can be purchased at any time, not just

Across the full scope of Cat CVAs, the following are some of the key benefits customers can expect to tap into.

MAINTENANCE SUPPORT Minimal downtime means smooth flowing and productive operations, with Cat CVAs helping machine owners schedule planned maintenance events. It’s one less thing to worry about when it comes to machine upkeep.

For instance, under a Cat CVA customers can arrange to have genuine Cat parts delivered according to an agreed schedule, along with clear instructions to ensure that preventative maintenance is carried out accurately.

Having the right CVA in

KEEP CONNECTED Along with dealer support, Cat machine owners can secure additional peace of mind via access to a range of digital tools, designed to deliver targeted insights into machine health and operations. Tools such as the Cat app, My.Cat.com and Cat Inspect allow machine owners to take a proactive approach to machine management – such as providing insights into machine hours and locations and allowing for fluid health monitoring – all aimed to help keep a step ahead of potential problems. Be it on site, on the road or in the office, customers can access a range of machine information anywhere and anytime.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

machine performance.

When you add in the conveniences of delivered parts and a single payment, you get ownership efficiencies like never before. That’s a CVA. For further information on Cat CVAs get in touch with your local Cat dealer or visit www.cat.com/CVA-au for more information.

NSW/ACT WesTrac 1300 881 064 VIC/TAS William Adams 1300 923 267 Western Australia WesTrac 1300 881 064 QLD/NT Hastings Deering 131 228 South Australia Cavpower 08 8343 1600 NZ TERRA 0800 93 39 39 www.timberbiz.com.au

TIGERCAT FELLER BUNCHERS.

BUILT FOR HIGH PRODUC TION AND TOUGH TERRAIN APPLICATIONS .

Tigercat’s feller buncher range is well-suited to a variety of applications, including plantation thinning, selective and final felling.

Common to all models is operator comfort and visibility, easy access to daily service points, fuel efficiency, and long-term productivity.

www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

23

Harvesters

The TimberPro story in Australia Key Points

Timberpro • Tethered TL755D fitted with Satco 630E.

Logging’s • Mountain TL755C /Timberpro Bar Saw.

TL755D / • TimberPro Komatsu C283.

Logging’s • Mountain TL755D Extreme / Quadco QB3500.

QSC8.3 • Cummins 330HP (243 kW) Fan • Auto-Reversing MD4 7” Touch • IQAN Screen system • control Recovering • Energy Hydrostatic Swing with 76,700 ft• System lbs of Torque Dual • Dedicated Hydrostatic Drive with 108,745 • System ft-lbs • of Tractive Effort

• Mountain Logging's TL755D Extreme/QuadcoQB3500

B

ack in 2015/16 the Timberpro President, Lee Crawford was receiving much feedback from their customers for a larger zero tail swing unit than the TL745 especially on the West Coast.

“Our product development has always been based on customer demand and having been loggers their close customer contact has been key to their success,” said Lee. It led to their catch phrase “Built by Loggers for Loggers”.

At that time, the TL765C tail-swing machine had just been developed and it made sense to utilize some of its key components to increase the zero tail-swing capacity. therefore, the easiest move was basically fit the zero tail-swing upper on the TL765C undercarriage which provided increased stability with the increased track length and a dramatic increase in tractive effort 1.4 : 1 ratio, unmatched in the market.

In addition, it gained the TL765C slew ring system

24

which again provided market leading slew force. The TL755C was now created.

About the same time Andrew Mahnken, Mountain Logging P/L in Traralgon, Victoria, contacted Brett Jones, the MD at Komatsu Forest, looking for a steep terrain feller-buncher with the obvious choice being the new TL755C due to its powerful track drive and slew.

The zero tail-swing TimberPro already offered the standard benefit of 28 degrees levelling. It provided KF an opportunity to test the TimberPro zero tailswing product and was delivered in March 2017 fitted with a TimberPro TBS 32 Controlled Fall Bar Saw and under the guise of a TimberPro TL765C “Short TailSwing” feller buncher.

The success of the TL755C provided KF a zero tailswing carrier with the ability to carry a variety of larger heads such as Waratah 623C and Quadco QB 3500 control fall heads as well as an optional tethering hitch for

very steep terrain.

In 2018 TimberPro upgraded all their “C” Series track machines to the “D” Series which included several updates with the most obvious being the new spacious ROPS/FOPS/OPS cabin and the new Cummins L9 Stage V engine to meet the USA emission standard.

In the short term the Australian version will continue

Timberpro added an extra version of the TL755D to meet the stronger demands for even more steep and severe logging conditions of the USA west coast resulting in the TL755D “West Coast Special”.

It utilizes the even longQSL9 and eventually the er TL775D undercarriage Stage V version of the Cum- (5.3M) as well as 50% increased lift capacities and mins L9 engine.

The new “D” Series in- the tethering hitch is fitted troduction was shortly as standard.

Similar to New Zealand followed by the takeover of Timberpro Inc by Ko- and USA tethering has bematsu Corp (USA) so it was come the latest demand promptly adopted by KF from Australia customAustralia with units sold as ers. Obviously “West Coast harvesters, feller bunchers Special” title doesn’t mean much here, so Komatsu and shovel loggers.

Mountain Logging up- Forest has adopted a more

• A teathered Timberpro TL755D fitted with Satco 630E with the Cummins QSC 8.3 grades with the new TimTier III but in the near fu- berPro TL755D ‘Extreme’ ture will changeover to the model.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

appropriate name TL755D ‘Extreme’.

Early last year Mountain www.timberbiz.com.au

Harvesters Logging decided to upgrade the TL755C with the first TL 755D ‘Extreme’ in Australia as Andrew typically likes to keep up with the latest development and technology.

The TL755C was working in steep terrain areas of East Gippsland. “It was a very

But Andrew said the job had changed a little, he needed a different felling head, and the 755C had done about 7000 hours.

“It was easy to swap it out,” he said.

The new unit is being used in steep pine and eucalypt

more refined than the TL755C. “It’s finished better, has a longer track frame, and more boom lift with a heavier boom,” he said.

Andrew said that with the longer track frame the ‘Extreme’ is far more stable, and Mountain Logging is

discussions with Lee Crawford quickly led to Andrew ordering the first TL 755 models in Australia.

“There’s no doubting the fact that no other zero tail swing machine can match the TL755D when it comes to pure tractive effort and

Industry awards The Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards night scheduled for October will now be held on June 10. Tickets will go on sale on April 25th 2022 and will be available for purchase online.

Safe trucking As part of the Forest Growers Research program in automation and robotics, a project has commenced to develop a safe and efficient alternative load securing system in New Zealand for logging trucks. Many logging truck drivers suffer musculo-skeletal injuries that are caused by throwing chains over the load and then manually tensioning the load restraints.

An improved method of load restraint is required so this project is aimed at developing ways to automate chain throwing and tensioning.

Nursery completed

• Mountain Logging's TL755C/TimberPro bar saw, and below, TimberPro TL755D/Komatsu C283

Hancock Victorian Plantations has completed its state-of-the-art Gelliondale nursery in Gippsland, capable of producing up to 14 million seedlings a year. The Victorian Forestry Plan supported the nursery expansion with an $875,000 investment.

KI timber The South Australian Government is giving SA Pine $1.36 million to process timber, some of which will come from Kangaroo Island. Some timber was already being shipped off the Island on the SeaLink ferry going to a mill in Jamestown.

Logistics company T-Ports on behalf of forestry owners meanwhile is proposing to transship pine logs, as well as blue gum woodchips, off the Island using its transhipment vessel near the Kingscote jetty.

Safety code

frontline machine,” Andrew said.

It was required to keep up with felling for two processing teams in steep terrain moving around 250,000 tonne per year. www.timberbiz.com.au

operations in East Gippsland with a new Quadco QB3500 multi-functional felling head designed to fall, bunch, shovel, and load.

Andrew said the new TL755D ‘Extreme’ is a lot

operating in steep conditions all the time.

Brett Jones has been deeply involved in the development of Timberpro products for Australia and New Zealand markets and his

slew power,” said Brett.

“These two key features are what makes it different to any other machine on the market and the new longer track Extreme adds stability to the list,” he said.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

Tasmania’s forestry industry has updated its contemporary safety measures to help protect and improve the safety of those working within the sector. The updated Forest Safety Code (Tasmania) 2021 will enhance the safety of the many Tasmanians working in forestry, and importantly, will also meet current work health and safety laws.

25

Logging contractor

Driving Kenworths to the max in South East Queensland

I

t’s not hard to work out that James Asher likes Kenworth trucks.

In a fleet of around 30 trucks hauling logs throughout northern New South Wales and south east Queensland, 23 or so are Kenworths.

And he has six on order for delivery as replacement units to be delivered over the next 12 months.

The Asher family have been operating in the forest and timber industry since 1981. Starting out as a small family run operation, the business has grown substantially over the years to become one of Queensland’s largest independent logging and log transport companies. It remains a family owned business today.

Asher Enterprises have two large workshop locations. Our main office and workshop is situated at Caboolture and our second workshop is situated at Toolara in the Fraser Coast

26

Key Points region.

The company is largely carting hoop pine and southern exotic pine to most of the major mills including AKD, Hyne and Laminex.

“We cart from everywhere to everywhere,” James said.

“We probably do about 1600 movements each month.”

Two trucks are run around the clock with some units operating 24 hours a day.

“We don’t skip any services,” James said. “And anything that breaks gets replaced. We don’t patch so the trucks just keep going.”

James said he believed a lot more companies were putting the effort into maintenance.

The latest delivery to Asher has been two of the Kenworth T610s.

Launched in 2016, the T610 is one of the most aerodynamic and fuel efficient trucks to carry the Kenworth badge and was

T610 • KENWORTH 6×4 • CONFIGURATION: / 8×4 Cummins • ENGINE: X15 Euro 5 –

485/500/525/550/600 hp

Manual • TRANSMISSION: / Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)

Front • SUSPENSION: – Taper Leaf, Multi

•

Leaf / Rear – Airbag, Mechanical CAB: Day Cab / 600mm Aero Roof Sleeper / 760mm Mid Roof Sleeper / 860mm Aero Roof Sleeper / 1400mm Aero Roof Sleeper

designed with the cabin centred entirely around the needs of the driver. Wider than traditional Kenworth cabs, the interior of the T610 offers increased walkthrough space between the seats, greater room headto-toe, more standing room

in the sleeper cabs and additional storage – all positioned for maximum convenience.

“The core of the T610 project was about building a bigger cab to create the ultimate driver environment, which leads to better allround driving performance, safety, efficiency and productivity” said Brad May, PACCAR Australia’s Director Sales and Marketing.

Designed and manufactured in Australia specifically for the road transport market, the T610 has been the single largest investment in product development the company has made in Australia to date and is the result of more than 100,000 Australian design hours and more than ten million kilometres of testing and validation.

Kenworth Electronic Brake Safety Systems (EBSS) further enhance vehicle control and accident avoidance, with a comprehensive list of options available.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

These include integrated active safety systems, incorporating Active Cruise Control with Braking, Collision Mitigation with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning.

Most of Asher’s trucks spend 85 per cent of their time on sealed road with the rest of the time on the rough stuff.

“So they have to withstand the rugged Australian conditions,” James said.

“Kenworth trucks do handle the rugged conditions very well.”

But naturally the real test is how the drivers find the trucks.

“Surprisingly, a lot of the guys don’t like the look of them,” James said.

“They’re a more modern truck and the guys are still getting used to them.

“But overall the guys love them.

“The 610s as twin steers are doing really well. We can run more weight.” www.timberbiz.com.au

M A S T E R S O F T H E FO R E S T

T I R E S FO R H A RV E S T E R S A N D FO R WA R D E R S NOKIAN TYRES Forest King F2 is absolutely the best choice for CTL machines using tracks or chains. NOKIAN TYRES Forest King TRS 2 is an optimum solution where traction and selfcleaning is everything. Both tires have excellent durability and performance in the most demanding forestry work.

N O K I A N T Y R E S .CO M / FO R E S T RY www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

27

Tyres & chains

Making tyres to fit right needs N ot all quality tires are made for the biggest and most powerful tractors.

For many years, the Nokian TR Forest tire with its comprehensive size range has been a proven, reliable choice for light and medium weight forestry tractors.

Now the tire has been renewed with new features – without losing any of the properties that made it a classic for tough forestry work. Introducing the new Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tire.

Forestry work puts tractor tires to the test. The demanding terrain calls for good cut and crack resistance, working stability and puncture protection.

The Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tire combines decades of forestry experience with the latest tire technology, offering excellent value for light and medium-weight tractors in forestry, landscaping and light mulching work.

“In many countries, forestry tractors have a significant role in forwarding and forest ground maintenance work,” says Teemu Vainionpää, Product Manager at

Nokian Tyres. “The new Nokian TR Forest 2 tire is designed to work in the challenging terrain, helping users to get the most out of their machinery.”

Building on a tradition of excellence The legacy of Nokian TR Forest tires goes back a long time. “It has offered trouble-free performance in though application demands,” says Teemu Vainionpää. “People are really relying on it, and they have trust that it doesn’t let them down in the rocky terrain with tree stumps and branches.”

The Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tire builds on this proven functionality, adding a modern styling and current features.

“The tread pattern has been updated with many new features such as optimized edges, traction boost-

ers and flow guides, and if I may add, it looks a lot cooler,” he said.

Puncture resistant for trouble-free work One of the main focus areas in developing the new Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tire has been its cut and crack resistance and puncture protection.

“The thick layer of rubber compound made for forestry use offers a good protection,” says Vainionpää. “There is also a special shoulder armor design that protects the

tive element, the puncture resistance is a result of tire’s protection level and its ability to take hits from outer obstacles.”

Stable and versatile Tire stability is a desirable feature making work more accurate, comfortable and safer.

“The bias structure of the Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tire has excellent shock and swing absorbing characteristics,” says Vainionpää.

“This results in steady performance in several different types of tractor

World Leading Forestry Chains and Tracks

www.chaffeyschains.com.au

03 6491 1686

26 Claude Road, Sheffield TAS 7306 28

shoulder area from damage.”

Another truly remarkable feature is the outstanding strength of the modern bias structure tire carcass that incorporates punctureresisting reinforcements under the tread. Combined, these features make the overall tire construction very strong for high-class puncture resistance.

“For effective puncture resistance, the key is to have all the components in tire construction working together,” Teemu Vainionpää says.

“Rather than just a single protec-

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

work.”

Versatile use of tractors is essential in forestry work. From wood forwarding to crushing, form light mulching to maintenance of forest terrain – reliable tires help the tractor perform its best.

“Our expertise in forestry tires, combined with the modern bias technology and materials, has taken our products to the next level” Vainionpää said.

“We have listened to the user needs and added more useful features to a classic tire, improving its value further. That’s no mean feat.” www.timberbiz.com.au

Multi-Terrain

Demanding

Flotation

HELPING YOU TAKE HELPING THE LOAD YOU TAKE THE LOAD Multi-Terrain

Demanding

Flotation

FXT is the latest member of the Terra95/FX range of SUPER DUTY tracks Grip

EXTRA

FXT is the latest member of the Terra95/FX range of FXT is a balance SUPER DUTY tracks Flotation

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Climate Ground

between durability and grip, and features equal extensions on EXTRA Grip both sides of each track plate for additional EXTRA Flotation side protection, flotation and stability. The FXT Climate the famous Rocky spikes, realigned for grip and features Ground maximising traction. These tracks are built for endurance and performance in all conditions and are suited to the heaviest Forwarders and six-wheel Skidders FXT is a balance working on the toughest terrain. between durability and grip, and features equal extensions on DISCOVER MORE both sides of each track TODAY... plate for additional side protection, flotation and stability. The FXT features the famous Rocky spikes, realigned for grip and maximising traction. These tracks are built for endurance and performance in all conditions and are suited to the heaviest Forwarders and six-wheel Skidders working on the toughest terrain.

WWW.CLARKTRACKS.COM Randalls Equipment Company Pty Ltd

Sales: 03 9369 8988 randalls@randalls.com.au

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WWW.CLARKTRACKS.COM www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

29

Tyres & chains

Clark's thirty years of tracking right around the world C lark Tracks have over 30 years’ experience building tracks for forest machines.

Founded in the lowlands

shot-blaster, which ensures they are spotlessly clean prior to automate this process further and welding, no rust, scale, grease or oth-

paint which then rises, immersing the tracks before lowering to allow the tracks to drip dry.

The paint is finally dried

er contaminants that could ruin a weld.

The track pads are taken to pre-assembly welding, where the track end links are welded on.

The end links are manufactured in a similar, but scaled down, process to the track plates. The end link production was fully automated in 2013.

The components are then moved to the final assembly benches, where the links and paws are welded into position. Because there is a series of very clever jigs which are used during the different welding procedures, the pads and paws are in the correct position prior to welding.

Once all the welding is done the tracks need to be Track colours match the different machine painted. This is fully automanufacturers’ colours. mated with an overhead Once the pads have cooled special boron alloy steel gantry which transports the and the toughness of the they are put through the tracks over a large vat of

in a room which is temperature and humidity controlled to allow the paint to harden. Paint levels are constantly monitored in the vats and automatically refilled if the level drops below a set point. The colours match the different machine manufacturers’ colours.

But, the company’s greatest strength is that of customer support. Clark are engineers as much at home behind the desk driving a CAD program as they are lying under a forest machine in the freezing cold developing new products and listening to our customers.

Clark partner with Randalls Equipment in Australia who stock a wide range of tracks to suit forwarders, harvesters and skidders of all brands. www.randalls. com.au

terrain. The Terra95 bar possibly the most durable on the market, whilst retaining great traction and steel is maximised using a flotation properties, it is a specialised heat treatment

• Clark Tracks at work on a Ponsse Elephant King of Scotland, Clark Tracks has developed a complete range of tracks to suit all sizes and type of forest machine, dependable in all seasons and capable in all terrains.

The factory takes the highest quality Swedish steel, where it is formed and heat treated to be ultra-durable and tough.

Clark’s expertise in heat treatment and metallurgy are reflected in the long service life of the tracks.

The innovative and patented haggis links features special side flanges to reduce link twisting and a clever ovoid profile pin that maximises the contact surface from day one, increasing the intervals between retensioning and adjustment, as well as giving superior longevity of the track.

Clark has track suitable for snow, mud and rocky 30

true all-rounder, suited to process. The track pads are the heaviest and most pow- heated to more than 1000˚C and formed to the required erful forest machines. shape by a 320t hydraulic The tracks are made from press.

•

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

Tyres & chains

Treading lightly in the forest to protect environment F orests are precious and must be organized so that their growth is sustainable. This is because wood never experiences a fall-off in demand, quite the opposite.

There are numerous “actors” engaged in making it a successful sector, including tires, an extremely power-

lenge by designing highly specialized tires, developed in the workshop, starting from observing the real working conditions and enabling the vehicle to express

FORESTECH is ideal for forwarders, i.e. those selfloading trailers, which operate in the toughest situations. With a high level of traction, a key feature for working in forests, it has an extremely robust hitch and a reinforced shoulder rib to resist punctures.

FS 216 offers extraordi-

self-cleaning, offers excellent traction and a high load capacity.

F 240 is designed for transporting trunks. Among its main features are the exceptional traction, outstanding self-cleaning and manoeuvrability. In addition, the particular and superior tread mix guarantees an ex-

Looking Back 2019 A new report exploring the long-term potential of establishing new timber plantations in Australia, indicates an additional 200,000 to 250,000 hectares of new softwood plantations would be required by 2050 to meet demand for softwood sawlogs.

The new ABARES report reveals that Australia needs to significantly increase the amount of softwood plantations over the coming decades if we want to meet this demand domestically.

The report notes “While there are some limitations of the modelling framework used in this research, the analysis outlines key factors that could influence future plantations and highlights potential missed opportunities for the forestry sector, if action is not taken.”

2016 THE QUEENSLAND Government has released a new plan for AU$1.4 million of research, development and extension funding which will support the growth of the state’s forest and timber industry.

The framework outlines a range of areas for investment across eight key themes: native forests, softwood plantations, hardwood plantations, forest protection, wood residues, logistics and processing, timber products and building systems.

• caption to come ful instrument.

The conditions in which the tires are used during forestry applications are extreme and they must move in difficult situations, on uneven, muddy terrain and surfaces, which often throw up obstacles, trunks, etc.

The forestry world is one which, owing to its particular difficulties, requires great skill and experience.

It takes strength, resistance, load capacity, stability and character which must come to the fore in the most challenging moments.

BKT has taken up the chalwww.timberbiz.com.au

its full power.

The company offers four forestry product lines aimed at a range of machinery and equipment: from forwarders to skidders, from machines for loading the timber to those for extracting trunks and transport vehicles.

These are FORESTECH, FS 216, F 240 and TR 678, which are all resistant, and so have a long product life, and this in its turn means a lower number of replacements and less downtime with environmental and economic benefits.

nary resistance to cuts and tears and is perfect for forwarders and skidders. Durability, enhanced tread, high resistance to punctures, excellent traction, self-cleaning and high load capacity make up the identikit of this tire which is available in two different versions with a structure in steel belts or in aramid fiber.

TR 678 is instead aimed at loggers. It is a very versatile tire which is perfect also for digging and is equipped with steel belts which make it resistant to damage and punctures. In addition, it is

tended life cycle as well as resistance to wear and tear and cuts. Finally, the width of the tire print has been increased and improves stability on the ground.

The whole world requires ever more wood and the forestry system must work like a single large clock whose mechanisms fit together perfectly to meet growing demand and ensure that the sector continues to be sustainable. BKT contributes to the cause with efficient tires which provide a valid response to the demands of such a challenging market.

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

2011 Approval, with controls, has been given to Scion to field test genetically modified radiata pine (Pinus radiata) in outdoor containment.

Field trials are designed to provide proof of concept in a contained outdoor site that is similar to a natural forestry setting.

They are an intermediate stage between the production of genetically modified trees in the laboratory and commercial forest plantation.

The approval permits Scion to plant genetically modified Pinus radiata in a series of experiments over a 25-year period. The trees must be cut down when they reach eight 31 years of age.

Mill profile FORESTRY FORESTRY

GROW GROW

HARVEST HARVEST

TRANSPORT TRANSPORT

CFForest CFForest

CFHarvest CFHarvest

CFLogistics CFLogistics

BUSINESS BUSINESS

CFBusiness CFBusiness

Our OurCONNECTED CONNECTEDFOREST™ FOREST™solutions solutionsare aredesigned designed totoimprove improveproductivity productivityand andstreamline streamlineallallforestry forestry operations. operations.

Our Ourportfolio portfolioprovides providessolutions solutionstotomanage managethe thefull fullrawrawmaterials materialscycle: cycle:planning, planning,planting, planting,growing, growing,harvesting, harvesting, transportation transportationand andprocessing. processing.

Trimble TrimbleForestry Forestryoffers offersthe theworld’s world’sleading leadingintegrated integrated software softwareand andsolutions solutionsfor forcollecting, collecting,communicating communicatingand and analyzing analyzinginformation informationacross acrossand andthroughout throughoutthe theforestry forestry business, business,allallininreal realtime. time.

ToTo learn learn more more about about Trimble’s Trimble’s Connected Connected Forest Forest solution solution and and to to request request a demonstration a demonstration visit visit forestry. forestry. trimble.com, trimble.com, email email forestrysales@trimble.com forestrysales@trimble.com oror contact: contact:

32

Aaron Aaron Ford Ford APAC APAC Regional Regional Sales Sales Manager, Manager, Trimble Trimble Forestry Forestry 0202 6658 6658 1478 1478 Direct Direct 0477 0477 007 007 134 134 Mobile Mobile aaron_ford@trimble.com aaron_ford@trimble.com

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

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Software

Advanced LiDAR technology tackling the challenges E mesent has launched Hovermap ST, the latest version of their world-leading Hovermap autonomy and mapping payload.

The tough, lightweight, IP65 rated Hovermap ST is being launched with Emesent’s new Automated Ground Control feature.

This powerful combination is poised to set the standard for survey grade autonomous LiDAR mapping in challenging environments.

Since its 2019 launch, Hovermap has earnt a reputation for its versatility, ease of use, and mapping data quality. With thousands of hours of autonomous flight logged by customers around the world, it is the most proven LiDAR mapping and autonomy solution for challenging GPS-denied environments.

Hovermap ST with the Autonomous Ground Control feature builds on this reputation with significant improvements, allowing autonomous data capture in even harsher environments and for a wider range of use cases.

“We’re excited to be providing our customers with a new robust and reliable autonomous mapping tool for challenging environments, including those that were previously not well suited to SLAM-based mapping,” said Emesent CEO and Co Founder Dr Stefan Hrabar.

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) based systems have proved their value for rapid mapping of complex environments, but achieving survey grade accuracy and repeatability has been a challenge in some environments. Surveyors were faced with a compromise between fast data capture and data accuracy, depending on the job requirements.

This is no longer the case with Hovermap ST and the Automated Ground Control feature, as the feature enhances the SLAM solution to remove SLAM drift and produce survey grade, georeferenced point clouds.

“This is a huge step forward for mobile mapping, providing unrivaled SLAM accuracy and workflow efficiencies,” said Dr Hrabar.

Emesent Ground Control targets are placed in the environment and captured in a continuous scan with Hovermap ST. There is no need to stop or place Hovermap on the targets, ensuring the capture process remains as efficient as before.

The targets are automatically detected by Emesent’s SLAM processing engine and used to both improve the SLAM result and automatically georeference the point cloud to the control points. The process includes automated constellation matching between detected targets and known survey coordinates, eliminating

The tough, IP65 weather sealed design allows the mapping of harsh environments without •concern for dust, rain, extreme temperatures, or humidity. cumbersome manual work which can introduce errors.

Hovermap ST has been redesigned from the ground up with robustness and reliability in mind, without compromising mapping quality. It features a lightweight, IP65 weather sealed design, a powerful embedded computer for autonomy and mapping, and an accessory expansion port to further enhance its capabilities. The rotating LiDAR produces up to 600,000 points per second in dual return mode, covering a near spherical field of view.

Hovermap’s Tap-to-Fly autonomy feature enables

Guided Exploration in previously inaccessible areas beyond line of sight and communication range.

The omnidirectional Collision Avoidance and smart Return-To-Home functions ensure assets are kept safe and valuable equipment isn’t damaged or lost.

Equally capable above ground or underground, indoors or out, Hovermap ST’s unique plug and play design enables seamless switching between drone, walking, vehicle- or backpack-mounted scanning, providing the versatility needed to capture data anywhere.

This powerful combina-

tion of precision engineering, world-leading SLAM algorithms, and robust drone autonomy capabilities provide accurate LiDAR mapping for as-builts, surveys, or inspections.

Now, Hovermap ST with the automatic ground control feature will empower users to capture these environments and others, more accurately and faster than ever before.

Find out more about Hovermap ST and the automated ground control feature on the Emesent website.

New features for RemoteLog and LogOn

T

igercat has introduced a new text messaging feature on its powerful RemoteLog telematics system.

Using the same satellite connection as RemoteLog, machine operators or technicians may now send and receive simple text messages when no mobile network is available. There is no need for another messaging service – RemoteLog does it all.

Worksite supervisors can send messages to machine operators quickly and easily. Get direct support at the www.timberbiz.com.au

jobsite from your Tigercat dealer when your phone is out of coverage range. Optimize your forestry operations through better communication.

well documented ISO 15143-3 (AEMP 2.0) Web API that is widely used in mobile machinery applications. Contact RemoteLog Support to get started.

RemoteLog web service

LogOn reports

You can now access the ‘Data that Matters’ from RemoteLog directly through a new web service using your IT servers. Now it is possible to share geographic position and production data for your machines with landowners and forestry operations companies.

RemoteLog utilizes the

You can easily view production metrics, activity timelines, and fuel consumption on your mobile device using LogOn at the worksite.

Download reports in PDF or CSV formats and save to your mobile device. View the reports anytime, or share them through email.

Tigercat D5 Prio, Prio PC, and Optimization systems will automatically send summarized production data to RemoteLog. This information, viewed in RemoteLog, provides a quick overview of daily activity, along with some additional

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

productivity metrics such as stem count, stem volume, and machine activity.

Tigercat D5 Prio PC and Optimization systems can be configured to allow StanForD Classic production reports to be downloaded from the harvesting head computer using LogOn. This provides easy onsite access to reports from a smartphone via WiFi. The reports can then be sent to the office via email.

33

Classifieds Tigercat H822C Harvester with Waratah HTH618

$150,000 + GST

CBI Magnum Force 604 Flail Debarker

$325,000 +GST

Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee.

For rates and deadlines call Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or email: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au

Komatsu PC270LC-8 Harvester

$135,000 + GST

$312,500 + GST

Rotobec Forwarder Grapples

Tigercat 1075C Forwarder

COMING SOON! Tigercat 822 Harvester with Waratah HTH624

$125,000 + GST

Tigercat LH855D Harvester with Waratah HTH624C Head

$575,000 + GST

Tigercat E625C Skidder

$155,000 + GST

Onetrak

COMING SOON!

Tigercat H860C Harvester with Waratah HTH622B or HTH624C $165,000-$185,000+ GST

From

$5,700 + GST

Tigercat 1075C Forwarder

COMING SOON!

$287,500 +GST

Tigercat DT5003 Bunching Saw

Waratah HTH624C

$45,000 +GST

$55,000 + GST

Tigercat 570 & 575 Harvesting Heads Available for immediate delivery!

NEW Tigercat H822D Harvester Ask for special pricing!

All Prices exclude GST

1300 727 520

www.onetrak.com.au

www.leesons.com.au 1995 Volvo NL12 with Prentice loader

2013 Komatsu PC220 with C202E head

Loader has done 18,500 hours.

Ready to go to work.

Price $60,000 including GST.

Engine and Hydraulics was modified to the same specification as PC270

by Komatsu. Hours are 13,500. $135,000 including GST.

1998 Kennedy B folding B double trailers $75,000 including GST.

2004 Kennedy A folding B Double trailers with EBS

1997 Kennedy B folding B Double trailers

$100,000 including GST.

$65,000 including GST.

LEESON’S LOGGING & CARTAGE PHONE 03 5199 2768 EMAIL ricky@leesons.com.au

34

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

Classifieds

Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee.

For rates and deadlines call Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or email: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au

ÒÛÉ ÐÎÑÜËÝÌ H215E debarking head suitable for Tracked & Wheeled carriers 15 to 25 ton.

Priced from $94,738.00 Call Brendon for more information 0438 445 550

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

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www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2022

35

725D 745D 755D

Zero Tail Swing Komatsu Forest has expanded the TimberPro track range in Australia and New Zealand to include the new 'D' Series zero tail-swing levelling and non-levelling models.

They can be supplied with feller-buncher or harvester boom sets and feature many benefits for logging contractors: • New Larger Cab for operator comfort • Lohmann final drives for high tractive force • Market Leading levelling with 28 degrees forward / 24 degrees side • Cummins QSL 8.3 333hp Engine (Tier 3)

The Crawford history has led the way in forest track machines.

www.komatsuforest.com.au

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd. 11/4 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127 Australia T: +61 2 9647 3600 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com