AUGUST 2012 Issue 5, Vol. 21 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • F: (03) 9888 4840 • E: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au • www.timberbiz.com.au
To the point Queensland Forestry Minister John McVeigh plans to revive the lagging fortunes of Queensland’s timber industry. He said his department and Timber Queensland would jointly develop an industry plan to provide a road map for the future. Timber Queensland is not surprised by a report that shows a rapid decline in the number of sawmills. The report by the ABARES shows log processing mills have declined 70% over the past decade to just 332. The decline is due to a move towards larger mills producing more timber and the locking-up of stands has also played a part. Tasmania’s forest industry has welcomed new research funding, saying it will complement the state’s forest peace agreement. The Federal Government announced $5 million in research funding for the forestry and aquaculture industries. The money will be used to set up an Experimental Aquaculture Facility and National Institute for Future Forest Industries, both in Hobart. TWENTY-four more jobs will be lost across NSW as the Government attempts to restructure and corporatise Forests NSW. The job cuts include closing five workshops in Wauchope, Eden, Batemans Bay, Toronto, and Grafton with a total of 11 job losses. Thirteen jobs will also be cut in the Brigalow Region.
Woodchip facility Portland.
Hammer set to fall on woodchip port facility A
USTRALIAN BLUEGUM Plantations, a subsidiary of US-based firm Global Forest Partners, has been touted as the likely buyer of Gunns Portland site. As this edition of AFTN went to press there had been no official move on the sale for a reported $60 million. Gunns, which has a 25-year lease on a 4ha site at Portland, had been seeking to finalise the transaction before June 30 but several factors, including an investigation by the ACCC, delayed the completion. Gunns built a stockpiling and ship loading facility at the Port of Portland over 2009/10 at a cost of $24 million to support its plantation operations in the
Green Triangle, on the border of South Australia and Victoria. It had also planned to use the facility to load up to 1.5 million tonnes of woodchips to be used as feedstock in the $2.3 billion Bell Bay pulp mill. However, a need to liquidate assets forced the Portland sale as Gunns focuses on progressing its $2.5 billion pulp mill project at Bell Bay in Tasmania. According to a Gunns spokesperson, “there’s an orderly (sales) process happening”. A spokesperson said Gunns had originally expected the Portland facility would be used as a transit point for woodchips from the “Green Triangle” in Victoria and South Australia to
Labor plan sounds death knell for WA native forest logging STATE LABOR is planning a new forest policy that could include a halt to all native logging or ban the felling of jarrah in West Australia. Shadow environment minister Sally Talbot said the final policy was yet to be determined but Labor was taking “very seriously” two Environmental Protection Authority reports since 2010 that noted the northern jarrah forest was unlikely to sustain current logging levels. “There are a whole series of policies being worked on and certainly we are interested in native forests, I mean Labor’s got the runs on the board as far as ending the logging of old growth goes,” Dr Talbot said. David Gosatti, group manager of fabricated timber manufacturer Inglewood Products, said a ban on
native logging would sound the death knell for his 50-year-old family business. “There’s no alternative timbers for us to mill,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of work with the Forest Products Commission on plantation timber. “But for using them in products that we produce - which is joinery, flooring and other building products - none are suitable in that you can import cheaper timbers that are of better quality than we have access to here.” An estimated 3000 people were directly or indirectly employed by the native logging industry and a ban would result in mill closures and impact on regional communities. Old-growth forests are native forests that have never been logged.
be sent to feed the pulp mill in Tasmania, however, it is now believed there is a sufficient source of woodchips available in Tasmania.
“So, the strategic benefit of the port is now less,” the spokesperson said. “Also, Gunns is really going to be a pulp producer rather than a woodchip exporter.”
Complete tyre solutions for forestry equipment
At Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres we understand that our customers expect tyre servicing to be completed quickly, safely, and efficiently. As a Solutions Driven organization, exceeding customer expectation is our primary focus. RY DUST G IN DRIVIN years
Our qualified service personnel are trained beyond national standards and our safety procedures comply with industry standards. Our equipment is modern and highly developed to ensure that it is fit for purpose.
Our involvement with the world’s leading tyre (Bridgestone) ensure the latest technologies, products and procedures are embraced for the safety of everyone.
Contact us at: sales@bsem.com.au
Toll-free phone:1800 114 040
www.bridgestone-earthmover.com.au
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 3
ForestrySA starts annual tree planting program A
S WITH all primary industries, technology in forestry is expanding at a dramatic rate. Tree harvesting is now decided by computer programs; bull dozers are fitted with computers that monitor driver time and speed in the site preparation work; and helicopters are fitted with GPS devices to determine where to spray the weeds. The end goal of all this technology is to create the best environment for the pine tree seedling to be planted in. And how will the young pine tree be planted, in this, the technological age? Quite simply by a person using a shovel to make a hole, and carrying a bag of seedlings as they go along. Long serving ForestrySA employee Des Schebella, is about to organise the re-planting of a site in the Caroline forest that he first planted 31 years ago. “During the past 31 years I have seen dramatic change in many forestry operations. I remember when harvesting was done with a chainsaw and a tape measure, and not the giant machines that now grace the forest.” Despite all this advancement in technology, the genesis of any plantation estate, the actual planting of the trees, remains as it has been since the start of commercial forestry in South Australia 140 years ago. This year as well as re-planting at Caroline, ForestrySA will plant 4.5 million seedlings over 2,690 hectares. Work will be across all the plantation forests in the Green
Triangle, Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North. Thanks to continued innovations in work practices from ForestrySA’s Nursery staff, all the trees to be planted across the plantation estate are home grown at the Glencoe Nursery. To assist in the dispatch of these trees to the field a number of upgrades have occurred at the Nursery to make the daily delivery of 150,000 trees occur smoothly. To undertake this work there will be an additional 80 seasonal workers taken on by ForestrySA contractors to lift and send the trees from the Glencoe Nursery, and to undertake the actual planting under the watchful eyes of the ForestrySA operational staff.
Wirrabra and Mount Gambier. • 1882 South Australian Woods and Forests Department formed. • 1889 First Arbor Day in Australia in Adelaide (20 June). • 1899 Planting begins at Kuitpo in the Mount Lofty Ranges. • 1902 Milling commences at Wirrabara in the Mid-North. • 1907 Planting of large areas of Radiata pine in the South East. • 1909 Planting begins at Mount Crawford. • 1910 Government land purchases for forestry totals 45,290ha. • 1931 Government sawmill at Mt. Burr commenced operation. • 1935 S.A. Forestry Royal Commission. Expansion of plantation Reservation and management of native forest areas.
ForestrySA planting operations in the Green Triangle.
opens its first tissue plant at Millicent. Pressure preservation timber used for electricity and communication poles. • 1970 Start of implementation of solutions to stop second rotation productivity decline. • 1973 ForestrySA stops clearing of native forest for new plantation establishment, ahead of the South Australian Government’s Native
The actual planting of the trees, remains as it has been since the start of commercial forestry in South Australia 140 years ago. Planting commenced after the long weekend in June, and should be completed by the end of July. Given that the time honoured tradition of tree planting has been featured it’s timely to have a quick look at how ForestrySA has progressed over the years: • 1 873 “Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Bill” to encourage tree planting in S.A. • 1 875 First Forestry Board appointed with G.W. Goyder as Chairman. • 1 876 Planting begins at Bundaleer,
• 1939 Zinc deficiency in soils identified as cause of dieback and rectified. • 1941 First annual surplus of income over expenditure payment to South Australia Treasury. • 1942 Wood pulp production commences using small logs from thinning operations. • 1957 Particle board production begins in South Australia. • 1958 Wandilo Fire, eight employees killed in a fire storm event. • 1960 Kimberly-Clark Australia
Vegetation Act in 1985. • 1982 First RFW Fire trucks put into service. • 1 983 21,000 hectares of pine plantation destroyed in Ash Wednesday fires. Thousands of tonnes of wood salvaged and stored in Lake Bonney. • 1985 Native Vegetation Act stops the clearing of native forest in South Australia. • 1992 Bleached pulp produced from plantation Radiata pine at KCA mill in Tantanoola. First softwood chip exports.
• 1 993 State owned sawmills sold to Carter Holt Harvey. • 1 995 First use by ForestrySA of aerial water bombing in fire control. • 1 999 First Bundaleer Forest Festival Weekend. • 2 001 South Australian Forestry Corporation established (trading as ForestrySA). • 2 002 Certification to international environmental standard ISO 14001. • 2 004 Record harvest of 1.8 million cubic metres of log from ForestrySA plantations. Certification to Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) AS 4708. First ForestrySA Wood Sculpture Competition. FireKings replace RFW fire trucks. • 2 007 New ForestrySA Head Office opened in Mount Gambier. Commencement of use of containerised seedlings. • 2 008 Increase Green Triangle sawlog harvest to 1 million cubic metres. Pioneered use of LiDAR for plantation productivity assessments. • 2 010 Reviewed silvicultural strategy and increased target sawlog harvest in Green Triangle to 1.1 million cubic metres. • 2 012 Decision on who will take over the forward sale of ForestrySA.
Millions of seedlings ensure sustainability Forests NSW has started planting four million pine seedlings in the Hume Region around Tumut, Tumbarumba and Batlow. Forests NSW regional manager Bob Germantse said the seedlings were part of a large planting operation that will see Forests NSW plant approximately nine million seedlings across 7500 hectares around the State, predominantly in areas that have previously been planted to pine. “The re-establishment process is vital to the sustainability of the region’s Hume forestry industry, which employs approximately 1700 people in full-time or equivalent jobs across the forest management, harvesting, haulage and timber processing sectors,” Germantse said. Forests NSW manages about 235,000 hectares of State-owned planted forest across NSW, of which, 92,000 hectares lies within the Hume Region. Germantse said the planting of 3700 hectares of pine in the Hume Region was the culmination of 12 months’ hard work preparing land and growing seedlings. “Planting conditions at present are ideal following recent good rain in the forests,” he said. “The planting program runs through to the end of August, utilising
the seedlings when they are at their least active and can best tolerate the transplanting stresses. “Due to the scale of the operation, the entire planting program is contracted out to specialized, small businesses, to ensure planting can be completed in a tight timeframe. “Forests NSW crews are actively involved in a comprehensive quality control program that supports the work of contract planting crews that employ more than 120 people.” Germantse said most of the seedlings being planted were genetically improved containerised stock, that had been grown in Forests NSW nursery at Tumut. “The benefit of containerised stock is that if conditions are not quite right, the seedlings are more robust, compared to bare root seedlings that have been traditionally used to establish pine plantations, and even held over to the following year’s planting season if necessary,” he said. Germantse said the Hume Region supplied more than 1.5 million tonnes of timber to NSW processors each year. “The timber processed in the region is used for structural timber and manufactured boards used for house construction, plywood, and pulp and paper manufacturing,” he said.
Three million pine seedlings are being planted in forests at Bathurst, Orange, Oberon and Lithgow. NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, said the re-establishment process was vital to the sustainability of the Central West softwood forestry industry, which employs approximately 2000 people in full-time or equivalent jobs across the forest management and timber processing sectors. “The Macquarie region supplies more than a million tonnes of timber to NSW processors in Bathurst, Oberon and Tumut each year. “Approximately $800 million is estimated to be invested in processing of timber in the Macquarie Region,”
she said. Forests NSW has started planting almost one million pine seedlings in the Monaro Region around Bombala and Moss Vale, Forests NSW regional manager Mark Chaplin said. He said the planting of 820 hectares of pine in the Monaro Region in 2012 would be increased to 1800 hectares per annum in 2013. “This is the result of increased forest production as a result of demand from our timber customers, including a $74 million sawmill investment by Dongwha Timbers at Bombala,” he said. The Monaro Region supplies more than 700,000 tonnes of log products to processors in south east NSW.
Planting underway in Green Hills State Forest near Batlow.
4 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
ISSN 1444-5824
August 2012
Skill levels taken to new heights By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
W Still as sharp as ever. Page 22 Features Biofuels............................................ 16-20 Certification...........................................21 Blades of history....................................22 AFCA Hall of Fame.......................... 23-25 Kilns................................................. 26-27 Sawmilling....................................... 28-32 Scanning......................................... 33-35 Surveillance...........................................37 Fuels & Lubricants..........................39-40
MEDIA
INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED
630 Regency Road, Broadview South Australia 5083
Postal Address:
PO Box 1006, Prospect East, South Australia 5082 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501 Advertising: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au Melbourne Office (03) 9888 4834 Trader classified: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au Melbourne Office (03) 9888 4834 Editorial: editorial@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9512 Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9555 General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editor: John Hudswell Advertising: Laurie Martin Subcription rates One-year (8 editions) $55 Two-years (16 editions) $95 Production: Nathan Grant Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria, 3127, phone (03) 9888 4822 Conditions: Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor/publishers; information is published in good faith and we do not accept responsibility for damage which may arise from any possible inaccuracies. All rights reserved, none of the contents may be used in any other media without prior consent from then publishers. Published by Ryan Media Pty Ltd. Print Post No. PP 767324/00002
Australian Forests & Timber News is a member of Circulation Audit Bureau (CAB).
HEN GREG Howard, director of Timber Training Tasmania, started working in forest harvesting during the early 70s, the situation was basically that you turned up, and were given a job. “A huge expansion was occurring in the industry then as the woodchip side was taking off,” Howard recalls. “But there was no accredited training, no licensing system, and people just assumed you could drive the machines, or use a chainsaw, or haul a tree. Anyone who owned a chainsaw was suddenly a tree faller.” Obviously, the massive safety ramifications meant this situation was unsustainable. The Tasmanian forestry industry recognised the importance of raising its professionalism – and not just to improve safety: a strategy was necessary to attract skilled workers, and maintain a skilled workforce. To this end, the ForestWorks Forest Operator Assessment and Licensing Scheme (FOALS) was established in 1982. In 1989, Workplace Standards Tasmania (WST) moved to support the licensing scheme under the Industrial Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations, 1990. The repeal of the Regulations a decade later saw the implementation of alternative competency assessment systems. However, the lack of regulation relating to the quality of the training, and the fact that there was no central control of assessment standards, created difficulties for WST inspectors and company safety officers. Lobbying from various industry bodies resulted in the Director of Workplace Standards Tasmania gazetting FOALS in its current form in 2004, with a mission to achieve the following objectives: • Set a minimum standard to which each operator is trained. • Ensure the operator has the necessary skills to carry out the assigned task safely. • Guide employers in the minimum skill level workers must have. • Provide an avenue for employers to access information and training. • Hold training and assessment records in one place for easy access. • Enable access to current licence details.
Assessment for safety is the key driver of the licensing scheme, and WorkCover Tasmania statistics show vast improvements in safety outcomes for forest operators. “Operators are better trained, better educated and their knowledge of safety and environmental care are just so far ahead of what they were when I worked in forestry,” says Howard. Vast improvements have also occurred at the workplace, as a welltrained operator looks after their machine better and gets more from it. The mandatory Forest Practices Code Assessment undertaken by all machine operators means they also understand how to look after the environment. “So it’s been a massive bonus to the whole industry,” says Howard. Licensing covers a range of forestindustry and associated tasks, with categories relating to individual items of equipment or skills. ForestWorks accredited assessors – such as Howard, who has been an assessor since 1989 – conduct all assessments to national standards where units of competence are available, or alternatively to standards drawn up by state consultative committees. “Licensing assessment tools are updated in line with the National Competency Standards, and the system continually seeks ways to improve on safety, quality and environment issues,” says ForestWorks licensing standards officer, Debbie Tickner. The assessors must hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment; workplace first-aid level II; a minimum five years
perform to an acceptable standard. Failure to do this can lead to withdrawal of accreditation. The operator assessment process involves a theory test and a practical test. “We also need a third-party agreement from someone on the job
Licensing assessment tools are updated in line with the National Competency Standards. working experience in the field being assessed; a current operator licence in their area of assessing; two work-related references; and peer assessment and interview with the licensing standards officer. Assessors are required to abide by a stringent code of practice and assessor protocol as a guide of conduct. Assessor accreditation is for one year, during which time they must
who has seen the person operate the machine,” says Howard. “So, not only does the assessment say that yes, what they did on the day was correct, but a person such as the job supervisor or the bush boss also signs off to say this person operates at that level on a normal basis, not just on the day he was assessed.” A simple assessment may happen in one day, but some may take place over weeks or even months. “There’s no time limit on how long it can take to complete the assessment,” says Howard. “A person may be competent in the majority of the assessment on a given day, so you can tick them off on those components and then wait until they have more experience before completing the rest of the assessment.” Licences are issued only when the operator has completed all the requirements of the assessment. In the interim they’re still counted as a trainee, which means they must be supervised on the job. While the assessor makes a decision on the operator’s competence, the licensing standards officer decides whether a licence can be issued on the evidence presented by the assessor. Operator licences
are issued for three years, after which they may be reregistered, with a third party – usually their employer – verifying currency of competency. If third-party verification is not possible, reassessment is required. A provisional licence may be issued where the operator is deemed competent, but lacks experience. The operator is reassessed after 12 months experience. WST may request a licence be withdrawn or suspended if an operator is found to be operating unsafely or is involved in an accident or incident. A licence may also be withdrawn if the operator breaches the Forest Practices Code. In both instances, the licence can be reinstated only after verification of the remedial action taken, whether retraining or reassessment. Records of more than 14,000 operators are kept on the ForestWorks database, which can be searched for a single operator or employer-group of operators. Database printouts can be provided to employers or principal contractors to use as an auditing tool. ForestWorks manages a Safety Standards Committee on behalf of the forest industry in Tasmania. Comprised of representatives drawn from principal companies, major enterprises, contractors, associations, unions, registered training organisations and assessors, this committee ensures that safety standards and competency standards are maintained, and provides input into codes of practice and units of competence. “Other industries including local councils, some companies working in the construction industry, and the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, have recognised the FOALS initiative as best practice and insist their operators hold a FOALS licence,” says Tickner with pride.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 5
Right policies can ensure forests reach maximum potential By David Pollard Chief Executive Officer AFPA
I
T’S BEEN a busy time for AFPA over the past month or so with not only the release of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the carbon tax taking centre stage but other matters such as workplace health and safety in the forestry industry and plantation investment taking time and resources as well. Overlaid on all of this was the RIO+20 summit which got very little coverage in the mainstream media, in part due to a distinct lack of tangible outcomes. Water allocation is a topic of interest but it’s not just the Murray Darling Basin that is the issue, there is also the Green Triangle. On water issues it has been necessary at times to convince Government departments that trees have a different impact on water resources than does irrigation. The reality is that trees self-regulate water use during times of drought (i.e. when there is less water trees necessarily use less), whereas irrigators continue to be able to pump water from groundwater. AFPA continues to monitor and engage where necessary with the content and rollout of the Government’s ongoing carbon price development and implementation. We have met with the Clean Energy Regulator, expressing concerns about regulatory burden and a number of other issues.
A workplace health and safety information page has been set up on the AFPA website. It includes current information on the key issues and relevant web-links to other sites and AFPA has been pursuing the purchase of the IRIS (Incident Recording Information System) from the New Zealand Forest Owners Association. IRIS is an established (and proven) system of WHS reporting and benchmarking, specifically tailored to meet the workplace health and safety needs of forest managers. The IRIS data base will be most likely be accessible through a portal on the AFPA website – watch this space for more details. With the carbon tax now in place the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Guide has now launched a hotline (1300 303 609) and online carbon price claim form, inviting complaints about false or misleading carbon price claims.
One outcome from the RIO+20 Summit was the release of a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization titled Forests at the Heart of a Sustainable Future. The report indicates the world’s forests, if managed properly, can help deliver a strong and durable global green economy. But the report’s authors said that nations needed to do more to ensure the right policies are in place if forests are to meet their maximum potential. It was pleasing to hear one official quoted as saying that; ‘The sustainable management of forests offer multiple benefits - with the right programmes and policies, the sector can lead the way towards more sustainable, greener economies.’ The Australian Forest Products Association is deeply concerned by the latest round of misinformation being spread by extreme green groups to damage manufacturing and cause job losses in Australia. AFPA has taken the step of producing its own YouTube video to counter some of the misinformation and to provide comfort to customers of Australia’s renewable forest products industry. The response has been terrific and Australian workers in regional areas deserve no less support although I do wonder where the Australian government is on this issue. See the video at http://youtu.be/FeNxbfLwpk
WorkCover premiums unchanged following reforms WORKERS COMPENSATION scheme reforms have stopped NSW employers being faced with a 28% increase in their insurance premiums. WorkCover Advisory Board Chairman Michael Carapiet said the WorkCover Board had decided the target premium collection rate would remain at 1.68%. “This scheme has a deficit of more than $4 billion and needed to improve the support and services for injured workers it was set up to care for and protect,” he said. “The NSW Government has acted by gazetting a regulation ensuring that the existing premium rates will stay the same. “This means that employers who have not had major change in their business, for example, growth in wages or expansion into new industries or poor claims experience, would not experience an increase in their worker’s compensation premiums from 1 July 2012. “WorkCover reforms enacted by Parliament last week mean increases to premiums are no longer necessary and can remain at their current level. “Had these reforms not happened, employers were facing premium hikes of 28% which, according to figures previously released by the NSW Business Chamber, had the potential to see the loss of more than 12,000 jobs. “Existing premiums paid by NSW employers are already between 20% and 60% higher than in Victoria and Queensland
– and any further increase would have had a adverse impact on the economy. “We can now get on with the job of rehabilitating injured workers and, where possible, getting them back to work,” Carapiet said. Carapiet said that up until the reforms were passed, seriously injured workers were receiving payments barely above the poverty line but the changes meant workers would now be eligible for higher benefits. “For example, the most severely
injured workers receiving weekly payments of $432.50 will now receive a new rate of $725 a week,” he said. “The NSW Government introduced the Workers Compensation Legislation Bill on June 19, 2012, and on June 22 the Parliament passed laws that made key changes to the scheme. “Some of these changes have already begun while others will come into effect gradually over the next 12 to 18 months,” Carapiet said.
David Pollard
Chance to apply for funding under new CIT program LOG SAWMILLING, wood chipping, timber re-sawing and dressing, prefabricated wooden building manufacturing, veneer and plywood manufacturing and pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturing are among those eligible to apply for grants under the Clean Investment Technology (CIT) program Applications are currently open for funding under the Government’s $800 million program that offers the opportunity to gain assistance for eligible capital investment and associated activities that generate carbon and energy savings. The Program is administered by AusIndustry and will provide grant funding over a seven-year period from 2011/2012 – 2017/2018. It is designed to support Australian manufacturers to maintain competitiveness in a carbon-constrained economy, through investments in energy-efficient capital equipment and low-pollution technologies, processes and products. For more information go to http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/ programs/CleanTechnology/CleanTechnologyInvestment/Pages/ default.aspx
6 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
Upcoming
timber events If you would like to promote a forthcoming event, please email details (including contact numbers, email, etc) to: editorial@forestsandtimber.com.au or phone 08 8369 9500
AUSTRALASIA 2012 26 July NZ FICA Regional Meeting – Rotorua/Tokoroa 27 July NZ FICA Cable Logging Workshop – Tokoroa 23-25 July Australian Timber Trainers Association (ATTA) Annual Workshop – Albany, Western Australia. www.atta.org.au 22-23 August Carbon Forestry, Auckland. www.carbonforestryevents.com 23 August NZ FICA Regional Meeting – Gisborne 24 August NZ FICA Practical Leadership Workshop – Gisborne 27 September NZ FICA Regional Meeting – Nelson 28 September NZ FICA Practical Leadership Workshop – Nelson 10-11 October Wood Innovations, Melbourne. www.woodinnovationsevents.com 14-17 October Australian Forest Growers conference (Diverse Subtropical Forestry). Gympie. 17 October Forest And Wood Products Association (FWPA) annual general meeting, Gympie, Queensland 16-17 October Wood Innovations, Rotorua. www.woodinnovationsevents.com 18 October NZ FICA Regional Meeting – Northland 19-21 October Melbourne Working With Wood Show. Melbourne Showground 30-31 October ForestWorks Industry Development Conference, Canberra 1 - 2 November FICA Annual Conference – Rotorua (Challenges of Steep Country Logging & Silviculture) 16 November 2012 VAFI Annual Dinner will be held on in the Melbourne CBD. Further details will be made available closer to the date. 22 November NZ FICA Regional Meeting – Balclutha 23 November NZ FICA Cable Logging Workshop – Balclutha 26-27 November Bioenergy Australia 2012. Australia’s premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2012, Sebel and Citigate Albert Park, Melbourne. Technical tour 28 November. http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org
Forest Industry Council highlights achievements P
ROMOTING LOG truck safety and working with the NSW Game Council were among the achievements highlighted at the Forest Industry Council (FIC) annual general meeting. The meeting was followed by the FIC annual dinner at The Nest at Tumbarumba. This year’s dinner speaker was Environment and Business Development manager, Michael Machin, who spoke about the Norske Skog Biomass and Gas Co-generation Project. Machin has worked in the newsprint paper industry for 25 years in a variety of operational and management roles including electrical maintenance, recycled paper recovery, supply and logistics, environmental and new and developing business. He said the Biomass and Gas Co-generation Project would support the mill’s ongoing viability by reducing energy costs and reducing the carbon footprint by more than 15%. “This will be achieved by replacing electricity sourced from the grid and generated from NSW black coal with electricity generated on site by a combination of natural gas and locally available biomass,” he said. Machin said the project was undergoing detailed assessment by the company and, if approved, construction would take about 18 months. FIC chairman, Theresa Lonergan, said as well as the 1800LOGHAUL campaign (a system for receiving compliments and complaints), FIC’s other major achievements for the year included an impressive marquee at the Henty Field Days, awarding the FIC scholarship to a local university student, a great working relationship with the NSW Game Council and changes to the Forest Operator’s Licence. “We are particularly excited about our commitment to the Henty Field Days again this year and also a move to introduce a
Michael Machin (who spoke about the Norske Skog Biomass and Gas Co-generation Project), FIC chairman Theresa Lonergan and FIC deputy chairman Kevin McGrath at the dinner.
‘women in forestry’ program,” she said. “The FIC web page has also been improved to include access to Safe Operating Procedures and the $2000 FIC scholarship is once again available at forestindustrycouncil.com.au. “Last year was also the United Nations ‘International Year of Forests’ and this helped to raise awareness of the need for sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.” She said the had been an excellent opportunity for all sectors of the timber industry, including forest growers, processors, haulers and harvesters, to get together and discuss issues formally at the AGM and informally over dinner later in the day. Government representatives attending the dinner included State Member for Albury Greg Aplin, Tumbarumba councillors Sue Fletcher and Brent Livermore, and
Ian Brown, Forests NSW director of Planted Forests Operations. FIC executive officer David Priem said FIC had had another growth year and continued to be highly regarded as an effective forest industry association with a focus on safety, training and industry promotion. Priem said FIC had re-signed the Memorandum of Understanding with TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, which has facilitated support to FIC and the extension of Forest Industry Training Centre training and assessment services to around 1400 students across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. FIC also welcomed new members Total Harvesting (Tumut and Western Australia), Bassover (Bombala), and FirstSuper (Associate member). “That brings membership to 35 businesses across southern NSW and north east Victoria with a combined direct and indirect value of production of around $1.2 billion a year,” Priem said.
Forest worker wins TAFE award FORESTS NSW Grafton-based supervising forestry officer (SFO) Matt Beetson has been named North Coast TAFE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year. Matt (21) is now a Forests NSW SFO after completing his Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management in 18 months instead of the usual two years. He is now competing for the NSW title and if selected as a finalist will attend the award night in Sydney in August. “The North Coast award ceremony was held in Coffs Harbour and it was great to see my Forests NSW workmates and the North East regional manager Craig Busby come along to support me.” Craig said Matt worked hard to complete his TAFE Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management and this, along with his willingness to work and
good attitude, helped him win the SFO position. “He has absorbed all the advice he has been given and has become part of the team,” Craig said. Matt was an Aboriginal Employment Strategy trainee with Forests NSW North East Region before he gained the 12-month position as a temporary SFO from applicants across Australia. Matt, who used to work at Grafton abattoir before joining Forests NSW, is in charge of a range of timber harvesting operations in the Clarence region, working with harvesting contractors, performing pre-harvest tree marking, undertaking ecology surveys, organising hazard reduction burns and fighting bush fires. As a trainee he worked in native forest operations and planted forest operations before starting his new role in native forests. His aim is to continue in a fulltime position with Forests NSW.
Draft Safety Codes SAFE WORK Australia has now released the fourth set of draft model Codes of Practice for public comment. These new draft Codes include: Managing Risk in Forestry Operations (draft Code) and the associated Managing Risks associated with Cable Logging (draft Guide). Public comment to Safe Work Australia closes on Friday 24 August 2012. Since 1 January 2012, six jurisdictions have implemented new WHS laws based on the model WHS laws: Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania (with a commencement date of 1 January 2013), the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth. The draft Code has been developed by Safe Work Australia to support the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations. The draft Code aims to provide practical guidance for duty holders in forestry operations on how to eliminate or minimise the risks. It attempts to provide advice on planning, coordination and preparation, work health and safety practices for forestry operations and guidance on identifying hazards and common control measures. The draft Guide provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking on how to manage health and safety risks associated with cable logging activities, in support of the draft Code. Safety in the workplace is of immense importance to the forest industry and AFPA has a strong interest in this area. AFPA will review closely the detail contained in the draft Code and draft Guide, seeking feedback from our members and other affected stakeholders with the intent to submit comments to Safe Work Australia.
WRAP THIS
ROUND YOUR GUMS
To maximise returns for both contractors and forest owners, the Tigercat 855C Shear Carrier fitted with the DT2002 series II shear head cuts lower to the ground with lower maintenance costs in rocky or sandy soil conditions. Combined with the Tigercat 630D skidder made to handle the toughest jobs, demanding terrain, extreme temperatures and heavy loads, this equipment system makes working with eucalypts a breeze. This shear and skidder were developed by Tigercat for the Australian Eucalyptus market to ensure maximum productivity.
855C Feller buncher Powerful, efficient Cummins QSB 6.7 260HP engine. ER boom technology. Twin swing drives for powerful swing torque. Tigercat-built F8 Forest duty undercarriage. High capacity & fast cycle times with 2002 series II Shear. 300HP Cummins QSL9-powered 860C carrier also available.
630D Skidder Advanced ergonomics with Turnaraound® two-position rotating seat and full rear facing drive control allows reversing at the same speed as driving forward for improved productivity. Large capacity dual-cylinder grapple with plate tongs and slash spoons. Standard equiped with Severe Forest duty axies.
SaleS – PaRtS – SeRVICe 226 Frankston Dandenong Road, South Dandenong, VIC 3175 Phone: 1300 727 520 Fax : (03) 9794 9392 Email : sales@onetrak.com.au For used equipment list visit our web site www.onetrak.com.au
Tasmania South Australia Victoria Brighton Mt Gambier West Dandenong Mob: 0409 711 111 Mob: 0409 711 117 Mob: 0417 111 592
For used equipment list visit our web site www.forestcentre.com.au
Oberon Area West Australia Queensland Bathurst Bunbury Phil Mob: 0437 400 481 Mob: 0439 906 125 Mob: 0418 472 839
8 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
Upcoming
timber events If you would like to promote a forthcoming event, please email details (including contact numbers, email, etc) to: editorial@forestsandtimber.com.au or phone 08 8375 9827
INTERNATIONAL 2012 23-27 July 3rd International Conference on Soil Bio- and Eco-Engineering - The Use of Vegetation to Improve Slope Stability. Vancouver, Canada 27-29 July 2012 - Lumberjack World Championships - Wisconsin, USA. www.lumberjackchampionships.com 28-31 August Second International Conference on Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems and Landscapes. Cork, Ireland 30 July – August 3 12th International IUFRO Wood Drying Conference. Belém, Brazil
NTCA annual delegation to Canberra By Kevin Peachey NTCA Coordinator
T
HE NATIONAL Timber Councils Association (NTCA) recently visited Canberra as part of their annual delegation to the capital. This visit included two events, the NTCA general meeting and a visit to Parliament House. The NTCA held a general meeting, as an affiliated event of the recent Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly. The event was held at the Crowne Plaza of Canberra and hosted several prestigious speakers. Senator Richard Colbeck spoke on many of the issues faced by the forestry sector and the communities they support; Professor Mark Brown
discussed the state of forest education and research and development in Australia; and Australian Paper CEO Jim Henneberry discussed the recent feasibility study into a deinked recycled paper facility at their Maryvale Pulp and Paper Mill in the Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. This event served as a great medium to convey information between Local Government, the Federal Government and the forest industry. The large amount of support and interest shown was very promising - Launceston City Council sought membership to the NTCA on the day of the general meeting, with the aim of representing local government’s concerns in relation to recent forest industry related job losses in Launceston.
(From left) Cr Malcolm Hole (NTCA President, Wellington Shire), Senator Richard Colbeck.
30 August-1 September FinnMetko 2012 - Jämsänkoski, Finland. http://www.finnmetko.fi 4 September 3rd International Plantation Industry Conference & Exhibition (IPICEX 2012) kota kinabalu, Malaysia
(From left) Kevin Peachey (NTCA Coordinator), Cr Malcolm
3-6 September Forest-Water Interactions with Respect to Air Pollution and Climate Change. Kahramanmaras, Turkey 9-14 September 6th Meeting of the IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09 Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems. Córdoba, Spain 16-18 September Sixth European Conference on Wood Modification ECWM6. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hole (NTCA President, Wellington Shire), Senator Barnaby Joyce, Steve Kozlowski (CEO, East Gippsland Shire), Cr Lindsay Passfield (Kyogle Shire).
(From left) Cr Malcolm Hole (NTCA President, Wellington
Shire), Professor Mark Brown (University of the Sunshine Coast), Cr Lindsay Passfield (Kyogle Shire), Ian Ruscoe (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).
20-22 September 2012 - Demo International - Saint-Raymond, Quebec. www.demointernational.com 25-26 September Timber Expo 2012. , Ricoh Arena Coventry, Coventry, UK. loretta.sales@timber-expo.co.uk
(From left) Cr Lindsay Passfield (Kyogle Shire), Cr Malcolm Hole (NTCA President, Wellington Shire), David Kelly MP, Steve Kozlowski (CEO, East Gippsland Shire).
4-6 October MTC Global Wood Mart, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia 8-11 October Managing forests for ecosystem services: can spruce forests show the way? Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
(From left) Cr Lindsay Passfield (Kyogle Shire), Hon Rob
Oakeshott MP, Cr Malcolm Hole (NTCA President, Wellington Shire), Steve Kozlowski (CEO, East Gippsland Shire), Jay Lynch (Advisor to Tony Windsor).
8-12 October 45th FORMEC Symposium: Forest Engineering: Concern, Knowledge & Accountability in Today’s Environment Dubrovnik, Croatia. http://formec.boku.ac.at 23 October 4th Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference Helsinki, Finland 5-12 November Biannual IUFRO Forest Landscape Ecology Conference: Sustaining Humans and Forests in Changing Landscapes: Forests, Society and Global Change. Concepción, Chile
( From left) Cr Lindsay Passfield (Kyogle Shire), Sid
Sidebottom MP, Cr Malcolm Hole (NTCA President, Wellington Shire), Steve Kozlowski (CEO East Gippsland Shire), Darren Chester MP.
On the following morning, the NTCA walked through the extensively timbered interiors of Parliament House to attend meetings with various Federal politicians and political advisers. The audience included (in order of appearance); advisors to Simon Crean, Robert Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, Darren Chester, Sid Sidebottom, Senator Richard Colbeck, Chief of Staff for Senator Barnaby Joyce and Mike Kelly. The main goals of these meetings were to discuss Local Government forestry-related issues raised by local councils from across the nation, and to discuss these issues at a federal level. There were several key issues discussed, including the impacts of forestry-related activities on local infrastructure; encouragement of forestry research and development in Australia; and land management issues such as continued access to the forest resource and challenges relating to the Carbon Farming Initiative. Congratulations were also given to the responsible
parties for their involvement in the Bombala Timber Precinct Infrastructure Project, which will receive $4.7 million from the Regional Development Australia Fund and create 140 timber industry jobs and a further 100 jobs during construction. Encouragement was given during the course of the day to the NTCA’s proposed submission to secure funding to undertake a nation-wide timber impacted roads evaluation study, similar to the Victorian TIRES document. This study will help address changes in Australian plantation log supply which is expected to increase considerably, as recognised by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences recent report, Australia’s plantation log supply 2010 – 2054. The NTCA was very well received, with the NTCA annual delegation strengthening the Local–Federal Government communication link on forestry matters.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 9
Top recognition after excellent career F
ormer FORESTS NSW employee Phillip Collins who lives at Batlow received a prestigious NSW Service Medallion from NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell at a ceremony in Sydney. The NSW Service Medallion is awarded to employees who have completed 40 or more years of meritorious service for the NSW Government. NSW public sector employees are nominated by Government agencies and are endorsed by the Director General or Chief Executive Officer of the nominee’s agency. Phil, who retired in January this year after almost 46 years with Forests NSW, said he was honoured to receive the award. “It is great when someone acknowledges the time and effort I put into the job,” he said. “I really enjoyed my ‘roading’ work and it was an honor to work with the people I did. I like to think we had the best roading team in NSW.” Phil’s last position at Forests NSW was Infrastructure Field manager for Hume Region, which covers Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba. Regional manager Bob Germantse said Phil had constantly worked to deliver services at a standard of excellence. “During his career he has been a leading force in developing and
maintaining a world-class forest road system, which now services annual haulage of more than two million tonnes of log and wood products,” he said. “Among the other many noteworthy achievements in his career, Phil has been in charge of numerous emergency responses. He has earned an
award for bravery and shown great leadership in the face of adversity. “Phil took a leading role in combating major fires in the 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 bushfire seasons.” He added that Phil had shown unparalleled commitment to developing and protecting a world-class timber resource.
“Phil has always demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. He also has high levels of technical expertise, which when combined with his commitment to forestry, has delivered highquality results.” Phil said that although he had retired, he still kept in close touch with his workmates.
“I loved my time working with Forests NSW, but at the age of 62 work and also having to run my farm became too much, so I retired. Now I am now really enjoying spending more time with my wife Diane and my grandchildren as well as fitting in a bit more fishing and lawn bowls,” he said.
SP 591 LX
Purpose built for harvesting and debarking of plantation grown eucalyptus.
The SP 591 LX is purpose built for harvesting and debarking of plantation grown eucalyptus. It offers an unrivalled productivity, feed speed and debarking efficiency. Together with the over all super duty design that guarantees also maximum reliability and uptime the SP 591 LX truly offers all you need for a profitable harvesting operation.
Phill Collins receives a
prestigious NSW Service Medallion.
Randalls Equipment Company Pty Ltd
Wallace Ave, Point Cook, Melbourne VIC
Phone. 03 9369 8988 - Fax. 03 3969 8683 - Mob. 0418 356 306 Email. randalls@randalls.com.au www.randalls.com.au
10 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
Controlled burns given the green light F
IGHTING FIRE with fire has been given the green light by a new study of techniques used to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. And with a rise in wildfires predicted in many parts of the country, researchers say controlled burns and other treatments to manage this risk should be stepped up. The paper, published in the June issue of the peer-reviewed journal BioScience, and led by researchers at UC Berkeley, synthesizes 20 years of research throughout the country on the ecological impact of reducing forest wildfire risk through controlled burns and tree thinning. It comes as California braces for a potentially bad fire season, particularly in the southern Sierra where precipitation was half its normal level. “We need to act, because climate change is making fire season longer, temperatures are going up, and that means more fire in many regions, particularly ones with a Mediterranean environment,” said lead author Scott Stephens, UC Berkeley associate professor of fire science. The study authors, which included scientists from the U.S. Forest Service and six research universities in the United States and Australia, relied upon data from the U.S. Fire and Fire Surrogates Study, in addition to a wide range of other studies. Together, the studies represented a broad spectrum of ecological markers, detailing the effects of fuel-reduction treatments on wildlife, vegetation, bark beetles, soil properties and carbon sequestration. “Some question if these fuelreduction treatments are causing substantial harm, and this paper says no,” said Stephens. “The few effects we did see were usually transient. Based upon what we’ve found, forest managers can increase the scale and pace of necessary fuels treatments without worrying about unintended ecological consequences.” A few of
the researchers’ specific ecological findings include: For the first five years after treatment, some birds and small mammals that prefer shady, dense habitat moved out of treated areas, while others that prefer more open environments thrived. The study authors said these changes were minor and acceptable. When mechanical tree thinning
“This paper is more comprehensive and definitive than any other article I’ve seen,” said Malcolm North, research scientist with the U.S. Forest Service and an associate professor in forest ecology at UC Davis. “In one place, it summarizes the state of the science in fuel-reduction treatments, and to my mind, it shuts the door on those who say
fires common in California for thousands of years. Before 1800, Stephens said, an estimated 1.1 million acres of forest burned annually in California, including wildfires ignited by lightning and other natural sources, and blazes set intentionally by Native Americans as a way to manage or alter landscapes. Most were blazes of low-to-moderate intensity that
When mechanical tree thinning was followed by prescribed fire, there was an increase in the overall diversity of vegetation. was followed by prescribed fire, there was an increase in the overall diversity of vegetation. However, this also included non-native plant species. The researchers recommend continued monitoring of this effect. Only 2% or less of the forest floor saw an increase in mineral soil exposure, which could lead to small-scale erosion. Other soil variables, such as the level of compaction, soil nitrogen and pH levels, were temporary, returning to pre-treatment levels after a year or two. Increases in bark beetles, a pest that preys on fire-damaged trees, was short-lived and concentrated in the smaller diameter trees. Researchers noted that thinning out a too-dense forest stand improves tree vigor and ultimately increases its resilience to pests, in addition to fire. The results of this paper may help inform an analysis of one of the larger prescribed fires in the history of the U.S. Forest Service. Called the Boulder Burn, the proposed treatment covers 6,0009,000 acres in the Southern Sierra Nevada’s Sequoia National Forest and is tentatively set to begin by late fall.
that any type of fuels treatment is detrimental to the forest. If done properly where surface fuels are reduced, treatments work. It’s time to get on with it.” Nearly a century of fire suppression and the preferential logging of large-diameter trees, which are better able to withstand forest fires, have left forests vulnerable to more destructive, albeit less frequent, wildfires, the researchers said. In addition, the lack of fire has hindered nutrient cycling in forests and the proliferation of certain plant species, such as the sequoia, that rely upon fire to promote seed dispersal. This realization led to the gradual re-emergence during the past 20 years of fuel-reduction as a forest management tool. The goal is simple: Thin or remove dense stands of trees, ground vegetation and downed woody debris in a carefully controlled way before they become fuel for a raging wildfire. When low- or moderateintensity controlled burns are not an option, fire-prone trees are mechanically removed or shredded on site. Such techniques are an attempt to emulate the frequent
Smartphones used to fight wildfires SPADES AND hoses are not the only things that rural firefighters can use to fight wildfires; thanks to Crown Research Institute Scion, they can also use their smartphones. Fire researchers at Scion have developed an Android-based smart phone application that helps fire managers to predict fire behaviour. Fire managers can input wind speed, relative humidity, slope, and other factors into their phone and the software calculates how hot and how fast a fire is likely to spread in different vegetation types. Senior fire scientist Grant Pearce said the tool was based on 20 years of research into how fire is likely to behave in New Zealand conditions. “We used data collected from experimental burns and wildfires to develop tools that help fire managers to make decisions about how best to tackle any given fire. “These tools started out as paper-based look-up tables and field manuals. Over time, we evolved these into software applications, which are now designed to run on smartphones.” Grant said fire managers were keen to have everything at their fingertips in an emergency. “People used to just use their phones for calling 111.
Now firefighters can use them to calculate a fire’s rate of spread, its fire intensity, flame length and a whole lot of other useful measures for managing the fire fighting.” The software was presented to fire agencies at the 4th Fire Research Workshop in Rotorua on 14-15 June. The development of an Apple-based application will begin following the completion of the android version. Development of this smart phone application was funded by the Forest and Rural Fire Association of New Zealand (FRFANZ), with production of the underlying fire behaviour models funded by the Ministry for Science and Innovation (MSI) and rural fire end-user organisations. Scion is a Crown Research Institute that undertakes research, science and technology development in forestry, wood products, biomaterials and bioenergy. Scion’s work contributes to beneficial economic, environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand. Formerly the NZ Forest Research Institute, Scion employs approximately 320 people and has its head office in Rotorua. For more information, please visit www.scionresearch.com/fire
more than 80% of the trees could survive, unlike the catastrophic wildfires of modern times. “Today, the combination of wildfires and fuel-reducing treatments only touch 6-8% of the land that used to burn annually before 1800, and fuel-reducing treatments alone only affect 1%,” said Stephens. “That’s a pittance. At that level, it’s just triage rather
than fire prevention.” To approach levels that have a chance of reducing wildfire risk in the long term, he said, the amount of land to be treated in a year would need to increase by 2-4% — still low compared to historical levels. Stephens noted that two-thirds of the fuel-reduction treatments in the western United States rely upon mechanical thinning, which would be much more costly than prescribed burns to scale up. In the southeast region, the use of prescribed fire dominates. In the West, particularly in California, the biggest challenge to expanding controlled burns is the potential reduction in air quality during treatment, said Stephens. “We have a choice,” he said, “of dealing with lower levels of smoke from prescribed fires that may only be needed every 15 years or so, and which can be timed for optimum wind conditions, or acute levels of smoke from catastrophic fires that can last for months when they hit.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture-U.S. Department of the Interior Joint Fire Science Program helped support this research.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 11
Retention forestry: sparing trees and benefitting biodiversity A
WORLDWIDE assessment finds that sparing some trees during harvesting is reducing conflicts between conservation and production in all major terrestrial biomes. The management practice known as retention forestry, which involves deliberately leaving selected trees standing when wood is harvested, has spread to forests over much of the world and is bringing broad benefits to conservation, according to an assessment published in the July 2012 issue of BioScience, the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. The study, by an international group of researchers headed by Lena Gustafsson of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, concludes that the practice can complement reservebased conservation in landscapes with widely varying histories, by preserving the complexity associated with natural forests. This contrasts with the ecological simplification that usually results from traditional industrial forest management. Retention forestry started 25 years ago in north western North America under the names of “new forestry” and “green-tree retention”. Both live and dead trees may be retained, with a preference for large specimens and for rare species. The practice brings a variety of benefits: it maintains
the supply of ecosystem services, increases public acceptance of harvesting, and ensures the continuity of key habitat components, for example, with corresponding benefits for treedwelling plants, wood-inhabiting insects, and fungi. Retention forestry also has fewer off-site
impacts than traditional industrial forest management and brings aesthetic benefits. Retention forestry has not yet been fully implemented in tropical forests, although some elements of it are present. Elsewhere, forestry companies have often taken a lead role in developing the retention
approach, especially in parts of the United States, Australia, Canada, and several European countries. Certification by organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council, as well as legal policy instruments, has helped advance the practice. The BioScience authors maintain that a minimum of 5% to
10% of trees should be retained in proper retention forestry. But more research is needed to learn how best to practice it in different areas and when different requirements predominate. There is also an urgent need to understand better the effects of retention forestry on flows of water and nutrients.
Built in Australia, built tough
.55IR22
.80IR22
1.3IR22
2.0IR22
20 ton excavator class
30 ton class excavator
20 to 25 ton excavator class
30 ton plus excavator
We use and recommend Indexator Rotators – the world’s leading designer and maker of rotators GRAPPLe SAW
.36 STANDARD
Forwarder Grapple
.36 HeAvy DuTy
Grapple Forwarder and small excavator
Randalls equipment Company Pty Ltd 8 Wallace Avenue, Point Cook, Melbourne, Victoria, 3016 PH: 03 9369 8988 Fax: 03 3969 8683 Email: randalls@randalls.com.au www.randalls.com.au
12 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
John deere
REID logging S
OUTH AUSTRALIA HAS enjoyed a rich history within the forestry industry with early European settlement playing a fundamental role during the 19th century. Native forests were cleared for farming activities in order to supply building and fencing materials for domestic and commercial construction. The search to discover the most suitable tree that could be grown in South Australian conditions fuelled demand for forestry plantations. This expanded during the 1920s and 1930s with private forestry companies commencing operations as growers and timber millers.Reid Logging is
a company with a history extending back to the 1960s. Founded by John Reid in 1966, the family business has embraced a tradition and heritage established almost 50 years ago in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Directors Colin and Deb Reid now run the company along with their son Craig who has worked as a machine operator for around 15 years.In the early years of its foundation, Reid Logging utilised a team of thirteen men working as pine fellers to cut short pulpwood 1.2 metres in length, which were loaded by hand onto a truck. In 1974, the move to a longer length pulpwood system saw the introduction of a Volvo SM462, the
Making history in South Australian forestry first forwarder in first thinning in the South East region of South Australia. Colin joined the company at this time where he was appointed operator of the forwarder. John Reid introduced a John Deere 743 harvester in 1978, which was the region’s first mechanical harvester. A new operator was engaged to operate the forwarder with Colin trained to take over operation of the harvester. In 1980, another John Deere 743 harvester was purchased with both machines employed by ForestrySA and private softwood plantations. A Timberjack 1270A wheeled harvester was purchased in 1996 after the signing of a ten year pine thinning contract with ForestrySA. In 2001, a Timberjack 1270C wheeled harvester was purchased to work alongside the Timberjack 1270A.In 2006, South Australia had 167,000 hectares of plantation forests. Approximately 123,000 hectares of this were softwood (Pine) and 42,000 hectares contained hardwood (Blue gum). ForestrySA now manage the most extensive areas of Pine forests in the south-east near Mount Gambier where 80% of the State’s forest plantations grow. High rainfall and excellent drainage in the soils have contributed to positive growth rates of pine.In 2009, after a new contract was won, a John Deere 1710D Eco III forwarder
was purchased to work alongside the company’s existing Timberjack 1270C wheeled harvester. In March 2011, the Timberjack 1270C was approaching 20,000 hours and Reid Logging made the decision to purchase a John Deere 1270E harvester. Despite the age of the Timberjack 1270C, the machine remains in immaculate condition and is still in operation today working simultaneously with the 1270E harvester.According to Colin Reid, “Maintaining maximum efficiency and attention to detail are crucial to the successful operation of our business. Previous experience with John Deere as well as backup support and parts availability from Hitachi allows us to provide the most competitive,
productive and reliable service to our customers. Operator comfort, ease of operation and serviceability are impressive features for operators,” added Colin.Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia continues to work actively with Reid Logging to support their machinery requirements and project obligations. “We have a great relationship with Jason Rudd at Hitachi and he has provided us with detailed insight regarding the suitability of equipment prior to purchase,” said Colin. History, local knowledge and quality machinery are the heart of the forestry industry and are a testament to Reid Logging’s success preparing them for potential future challenges within the industry.
Preventative maintenance promotes uptime FORESTRY EQUIPMENT that runs efficiently and achieves top production is the hallmark of a profitable equipment fleet. To achieve this goal, equipment must be maintained at the least possible cost, says a report by forestry machinery manufacturer John Deere. The following tips about condition-based maintenance will help fleet managers achieve maximum productivity and uptime while minimizing your costs. Condition-based maintenance sounds complex, but it’s pretty simple really. It’s the act of identifying problems and performing service before a failure occurs. In conditionbased maintenance, a technician uses one or more of a variety of available techniques to read the health of the machine, then based
on the information gathered, he performs service. One of the most powerful techniques is a complete oil analysis, which includes filtration of the hydraulic system. Your technician will compare the oil analysis results to particle count guidelines and determine if any specific machine inspections or service is required. For example, an oil analysis may indicate that the oil contains a high amount of iron particles. In large quantities, iron can damage bearings, oxidize the oil, and consume the oil’s additives — all problems that can shorten the life of the machine’s key components and impair productivity and uptime. When you change oils, some of the iron remains, so it’s important to
collect iron using magnetic filtration. The technician may recommend magnetic filtration, to capture the iron particles, for components such as axles. The oil analysis may also indicate a high level of contamination. The technician may recommend supplemental filtration to clean up the system. This can be done through a bypass filtration method or with an onsite filtration caddy. The on-site caddy can clean the hydraulics quickly while you’re performing other services. The bypass method will take two or three weeks to reach the same level of cleanliness. When you are changing or adding oils and lubricants it is a good practice not to mix different oils. Mixing oils or lubricants can have adverse reactions on your equipment.
Mixing two different oils creates a new product that has not been tested for performance, quality, or endurance. Mixed oils often accelerate component wear, shortening component life and dramatically increasing operating costs. Another result of mixing lubricants is a reaction called copper generation. Copper comes from bronze, which is an alloy used in all high-pressure systems in the pumps. Sometimes, mixed lubricants can leach (pull) copper from the pump’s bronze parts. This weakens the bronze parts, decreases pump efficiency, resulting in contamination of the entire system and components. Excess copper can be detected during a filtration analysis and measures put into place to filter it out.
IT’S ABOUT TIME SAVING IT. SPENDING IT WISELY. MAKING THE MOST OF IT. INTRODUCING A NEW RANGE OF SWING MACHINES FROM JOHN DEERE. WHEN IT’S TIME TO LEAD, IT’S TIME TO TALK TO THE WORLD LEADER.
TTHE HN EEW N NEW EW D SERIES NEW
SWING MACHINES S 2154D
2454D
2954D
3754D
DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE www.hcma.com.au
THE ROBUST DESIGN of a John Deere swing machine guarantees powerful performance, whether harvesting and processing, log loading, felling or even road building. Purpose-built to be more durable than modified excavators, you get strong, durable structures, right-sized components, and heavy-duty, next-size-up undercarriage components. Plus, our hydraulic systems are ready to work seamlessly with industryleading Waratah heads, right out of the box, delivering better productivity, efficiency, uptime... and no excuses.
John Deere Construction and Forestry equipment is distributed by Hitachi Construction Machinery (Australia) Pty Ltd
14 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
From the very basic to the very best, Har H
AROLD BRANT has been driving Forwarders for the past 37 years with a “home-made Mac” one of the early machines he operated. Since then he’s put quite a few through their paces and he readily admits that the machines of today are a far cry from those early offerings. “Really, you just can’t compare them,” he says. Harold says it doesn’t mater what the brand is the current day machines are quite simply streets ahead. He recently spent two weeks trialling the new Logset Titan 10F Forwarder (which made its debut
at AUSTimber 2012 near Mount Gambier) and says the Finnishmanufactured machine more than lived up to its credentials. “I was surprised at just how good the machine was,” he said. “The worse part was that at the end of the trial I had to give it back,” he quipped. Markku Turunen, of Karmet Enterprises (Australia’s Logset dealer), was in the cabin with Harold for the start of the testing. “As soon as I hopped in and started driving it down in the bush I knew it was something special,” said Harold. “I did one load and then another one and he (Markku)
stopped me and asked what I thought of it and I said it was the best machine I had ever driven.” Harold said there was good vision from the cabin plus it was comfortable and quiet inside the cabin. “It had good reach with the boom ... much the same as all of them (other machines) around. “It rode very smoothly despite it being pretty rough where I trialled it. The ground was flat but very rough. “Tonnages were similar to the others trialled against it, and the engine had plenty of power; the same motor as some of the others have got, same motor as the Komatsu has got. “Logset has a feature in it where when you need it you can get 10% more power, but we didn’t need that where we were working because it was too flat. That’s more for steep terrain work. “The operating control set up was very good; just have to go into the computer and adjust them as you want them. Nice light levers; very good to operate. “It was a little bit different because you have to do it with your levers, switch your crane off and then work around it with your lever and boost your percentages up or down to where you want them and then kick it in and go to the next one.
LOGSET on show at AUSTimber.
New forwarder crane hits the market CRANE MANUFACTURER Cranab has released the FC16, the largest model in its new generation of cranes for forwarders. The FC16 has been developed especially for the market’s largest and most powerful forwarders. The development of today’s forwarders has resulted in their becoming larger and more powerful, with an increased loading capacity. The largest machines have an increased load capacity from 18 tonnes to 20 tonnes. At its full range of 8.5 metres the crane can lift all of 1310 kg at the tip. Gross lifting torque is 165 kNm. Added to this is a powerful slewing engine with a slewing torque of an impressive 42.5 kNm. “We have followed market developments and users needs very closely, and have designed our new model entirely to meet the new demands of the industry. This new crane is, for example, optimised in proportion to the slewing effect and the lifting force. We have been very careful in this respect when developing the new FC16,” said marketing manager Micael Olsson. “We know that harmony between lifting force and slewing effect is crucial. These properties are vital in sloping terrain where it is especially important that the forwarder is fitted with a crane strong enough to both lift and slew while fully laden in the same motion cycle.” The FC16 has all of the excellent properties featured in the new generation, with the addition of the increased capacity for larger machines. The FC16 comes as standard as a single telescopic crane, but it will also be available as a double telescopic crane and a 10 metre version. The new giant FC16 was premièred at the KWF exhibition in Germany in June.
“Bit different to what we have normally been used to but once you started to get used to doing things like that it was OK,” said Harold. And what about any bad points ... “couldn’t find anything really wrong with it but the bars in the rack were a bit close together and a bit hard to see through but they (Logset) said they’d make another one for it. “Bit hard to climb up to clean the back window so he (Markku) said ‘right we’ll put a step on there’ (one each side). Anything you wanted done they said they would do. “I suppose they’ve got to to start and sell them. “Getting used to the controls didn’t take very long; they’re all very much the same these days with mini levers,” he said. Was the computer system hard to operate? “You don’t have to touch it really unless you want to do some things like reversing down into the bush at night. It’s a bit hard to see with cab lights going and if
you wanted to turn some off you had to go into the computer to do it and you could turn off one light at a time. Only took a few seconds to do, though. “It’s got wiper blades on the side windows which are good. “Lot of room in the cabin. “Good travelling speed in low gear. “They’re made fairly solid. “They’ve got a sliding rack and bolster, the first two bolsters and the rack are joined together and you just press a button in the cab to move it backwards if you want to load shorter wood and there’s the extension out the back of the chassis for doing long poles, all operated from within the cabin. “Just switch the crane off and press another button, operate the lever and back it goes,” said Harold. For a man who has been in the business pretty much all his life this Forwarder came up trumps. Harold started in the industry
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 15
rold’s operated them all
“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my work,” he said. So, from a man well credentialed to cast a verdict on the Logset Titan 10F ... “It’s the best machine I’ve been in. I reckon they’ll sell a lot of them once they sell their first one.”
statiivi.fi
working in a sawmill when he first left school then went pine falling for about 11 years. “It was getting too hard and a lot of people were getting out of it then and the machines were starting to come in so I went on the Forwarders and never looked back.” His operational skills – apart from normal day-to-day work – have been on display at competitions around Australia and also in Sweden. He’s won three National Forwarder titles and competed in two in Sweden. “You’ve just got to take it easy and away you go. If the nerves don’t get to you you’re right,” he said of the demanding competition standards.
Logset brings a better logging experience to the forest machinery market. Logset 10F Titan 18 ton forwarder offers better efficiency, better durability, better usability and better productivity. Logset is simply better – for a logger who demands more.
– way to improve performance! Logset offers its customers a totally new way to keep the fleet up and running. Logset’s FAST -program allows contractors to achieve considerable cost savings by optimizing the service process and making maintenance more efficient. SALES
Karmet Enterprises PTY LTD Markku Turunen ph. +614 0417 8541 fax. +612 696 44477
10F TITAN
DESIGNED FOR YOUR SUCCESS – 20 YEARS
Oy Logset Ab Hännisentie 2 66530 Koivulahti Finland ph +358 10 286 3200 fax +358 6 2103 216
www.logset.com
16 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
BIOFUELS New design flail drum being put to the test FUNCTION CHAINS Pty Ltd is about to start a trial with its new design flail drum. The new flail drum has the six rows of flail chain as the standard flail drum, but the difference being each row has 10 single holes for the flail chain instead of the conventional six double and one single hole. The trial is aiming to achieve two improvements, first, the layout and spacing of the single holes will result in a flail chain being uniformly spaced 14.91mm apart across the width of the flail drum for each revolution of the flail drum. Phillip Dohnt, one of the principals of Function Chains, believes this will result in improved lower bark percentage particularly in low yielding plantation where the spacing of flail chains in conventional flail drums may allow small stems to pass without contact with a flail chain. With improved bark results the opportunity is then available to reduce flail drum speeds, which would directly impact on improved wood fibre recovery. The second improvement is in the life of the flail chain, with years of flail chain trials it has shown flail chains have less wear when flailing as a single chain compared with flailing when the chains are doubled up as they are not only wearing with contact with the trees but also continually working against each other.
The drums are a cast manufactured between 36 to 40 HRC.
“It is in everyone’s interest to support the use of biofuels” T
HE OVERALL theme and impression during my morning in Jönköping was one of hope, inspiration and progress. So many different players, from all corners of the world, who are working with very diverse things, from wood chippers to computational models. And all of whom are contributing to a more sustainable long-term future. That gives hope. And inspiration. Many thanks for this!” The words are those of Sweden’s Minister for Information Technology and Energy AnnaKarin Hatt, who opened the trade fair and conference at which thousands of representatives of the global energy sector met during World Bioenergy 2012 at Elmia in Jönköping. “It is a trade show in the true meaning of the term, where not only politicians, organisations and researchers take part but also companies – and companies with the aim of doing business,” the energy minister continued. No fewer than 143 exhibitors from 19 countries presented their products and services within a variety of segments to the global bioenergy sector.
www.functionshains.com.au Speak with Michael Huangfu 0402 448 893 Email: Huangfu@westnet.com.au
Longer life flail chains We know having to replace flail chains costs a lot in both parts and lost production. Our unique chain design with its square link (patent pending) configuration has a longer life and delivers the sorts of results being appreciated in major chipping operations in Australia and North America. Proven in Australia and Canada, try it for yourself in your own operation. For full details on this product, go to our website or call Michael.
functionchains.com.au
“What a show of force! We actually had participants from a total of 1,320 companies and organisations from 63 countries and all continents here,” said a satisfied Jakob Hirsmark, product manager at Elmia. “We also set a new record in the number of countries represented among the exhibitors.” An extensive conference program was held at the same time as the trade fair and featured five parallel sessions in three days. “This year’s conference program was broader than usual, as in parallel with World Bioenergy we also arranged World Pellets, World Biorefinery and Sustainable Bioenergy Day, with speakers from 34 countries and more than 600 conference participants,” said Gustav Melin, CEO of Svebio (The Swedish Bioenergy Association). “We also organised about 40 very popular field trips to various bioenergy facilities.” One such excursion went to the new biogas facility in the nearby municipality of Skövde. The facility produces 40 GWh/yr and is co-owned by Göteborg Energi and Skövde Municipality. There, visitors from such countries as China, Russia and Australia could see how waste from the food production lines at Arla Foods and Skövde Slakteri is transformed into environmentally friendly vehicle fuel for buses and cars. During Sustainable Bioenergy Day it became clear that there is a great need for standardisation and certification in the fuel market – something that involves a risk of relatively high costs for smaller producers. Certified producers of biofuels therefore need to be able to add on a price premium, something that has proven to be difficult in many cases. Topics discussed at World Pellets included the opportunities for further value-added products by means of torrefaction and the use of new raw materials from by-products such as agro-pellets in agriculture and lignin pellets in the forest industry. At the same time, the issue of electricity generation from biofuel was a hot potato at one of World Bioenergy’s sessions. As a counterweight to the
discussion, the trade fair included several exhibitors who supply combined heat and power (CHP) plants in various sizes, such as Norway’s Viking Development Group, which has developed a pelletsfired CHP system for use in single homes. The system supplies up to 5 kW of electricity while also heating the house. Another innovative exhibitor was Sweden’s Meva Innovation, which supplies slightly larger systems in which the biomass
40 popular field trips to bioenergy facilities is first gasified and then used by a gaspowered engine to produce electricity and heat with a relatively high degree of efficiency. Enterprise Europe Network held another of its matchmaking events at this year’s trade fair. Industry players met at pre-arranged business meetings spread over two days to make new contacts that can lead to profitable joint ventures and business deals. The World Bioenergy Award was presented for the second time, this year by Energy Minister Hatt together with Kent Nyström of World Bioenergy Associatio and the initiator of the award, Jakob Hirsmark of Elmia, both of whom were members of the jury. Finalists were from India, Russia, Spain, the UK and the USA, and the winner was Harry Stokes of the USA. He has built up, funded and led Project Gaia, which aims to improve the health, economic situation and quality of life of a very large number of families in developing countries. He has led a global initiative that promotes techniques of producing and using alcohol fuel for cooking and household equipment. “Since the global environment links the world together and since half the planet’s population lives in energy poverty, it is in everyone’s interest to support the use of biofuels in developing countries, not only for export but also for local use,” Stokes pointed out.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 17
BIOFUELS
Catching up on bioenergy business S
WEDEN IS still the world leader in bioenergy, but the world is catching up, according to Mats Mared,
companies in Scandinavia because it’s a market we have experience of. However, we are now receiving queries from Northern Europe, the
It is very evident, particularly here at the fair, that bioenergy has gained a foothold in the rest of the world in recent years,” says Mats Mared, managing director of Mared. managing director of Mared. “It is very evident, particularly here at the fair, that bioenergy has gained a foothold in the rest of the world in recent years,” he says. Mared has long been established on the Scandinavian market as a dealer of machines and a supplier of total solutions in recycling/ energy and woodworking. “We consciously target
Baltic States and Russia as well.” Mared says that just a few years ago players in these countries were still in the starting blocks when it came to building bioenergy plants. “Today they’re fully up and running and are looking for ways to increase their capacity,” says Mared, adding that the company is not at all averse to collaborations like these, but that
it evaluates queries from outside of Scandinavia in a different way. “It’s important to be aware that other markets can also present challenges, for instance when it comes to guarantees and service.” At its World Bioenergy show stand, Mared revealed the Vecoplan VAZ 1300 to the Swedish market for the first time. It is an all-round mill that, with adaptation, can be used for virtually any material. “It has a specially developed motor that can reduce energy consumption by up to 60% compared to conventional motors. This is of great significance, particularly when it comes to awkward materials,” Mared said. The company is leaving the fair with several new contacts and interesting projects. Mared is delighted with his company’s participation. “It has gone better than expected. Bioenergy has grown in large parts of the world and there are conferences everywhere, but Sweden is still at the forefront and attracts industry folk from all over the world.”
Powered by a Cummins 600 HP or CAT 580HP engine, this machine produces more than 75 tons per hour and is totally dedicated to biomass. To see it in action, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ9cPHrHyQ8.
Mats Mared.
Contact: Andrew or John Ph: 03 5153 2722 Fax: 03 5152 5483 Email: info@jondod.com
18 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
BIOFUELS
Continuing to hone specialist business throughput
Turn your waste into profit! Why not help the environment AND your company’s bottom line The world renown Italian made POR Briquette making machine is now available in Australia and can turn your waste material into usable fuel. At the same time you can reduce your dust problems and the need to transport and store waste.
n n n n n
Easily installed Fully automated Can output from 500 kg to 6 tonne a day Eight models available to suit different needs Produces an ideal product for today’s market For For further further details details contact contact
Les Les Field, Field, WOODFieLD WOODFieLD Machinery Machinery Pty Pty LTD LTD 56 56 aldinga aldinga St, St, Blackburn Blackburn South, South, Vic Vic 3130 3130 Ph: Ph: 03 03 9899 9899 8660 8660 Fax: Fax: 03 03 9899 9899 8661 8661 Mobile: Mobile: 0419 0419 516 516 658 658 wtjahjon@optusnet.com.au wtjahjon@optusnet.com.au
Qld Qld and and Nth Nth NSW NSW G.S.MachiNery G.S.MachiNery Gary Gary Spillane Spillane 07 07 5580 5580 8887 8887 Mob: Mob: 0418 0418 217 217 374 374 garyspillane@bigpond.com garyspillane@bigpond.com
R
ENAISSAN C E PARQUET’S principal Hans Unger junior is a forward thinker. Some time back he was faced with the problem of dealing with leftover wood shavings and sawdust with just a bin system in place; the bins took up valuable space; they had to be filled manually (unproductive work time); then they had to be removed; and finally, the contents were dropped in landfill... all a costly exercise. Hans wanted a system that would enhance workplace safety and reduce time lost with the menial task of filling/shifting/ dumping the wood shavings, so he contacted Les Field at Woodfield Machinery who suggested a POR Oscar briquetting machine. “Woodfield Machinery’s Les Fields has been operating for 10 years now and is well known for his wood machining knowledge and has a great reputation for machinery service support. We have known Les for years and he installed this POR Oscar briquetting machine at our factory,” said Hans. Shavings from all sections of the work system are ducted to a central point at the POR machine The briquettes are made by compressing the sawdust/materials with a hydraulic press and don’t require any additives to bind the materials together. But the story doesn’t end there …Hans has built an outfeed shoot from the briquetting machine to deliver the compressed product to a rotating carousel to semi automate the bagging of the product. “The market for this product growing as people try alternative products made from paper or bricks made of ground, painted pallets and realise the ash residue from our briquettes made from fresh, hardwood sawdust is much lower and no heavy metals are left behind.” He suggested an ash content of about 2% v something over 10% for paper.
Also on the plus side is that by extracting dust directly to the briquetting machine lowers the overall fire risk while ensuring a dust free environment. “It’s better for workers and making the coating of products less problematic.” Renaissance Parquet, a recognised leader in specialist flooring, has moved to larger premises enabling accommodation for larger machines with more throughput and has expanded its range to include doors and tables, and is able to finish raw, imported product to precise colours so batch differences in imported finished product are avoided. “we can deliver a quality controlled, finished flooring product (from raw) for the same price as importing a finished product or laying a raw product and finishing it in situ; advantages being local quality control, ability to repair any damage occurring during installation and greater precision in colour matching,” he says. Because of Europe’s economy and relative strength of Aussie economy and dollar, we have been able to buy raw material (offcuts) in France at increasingly lower prices or better terms so we have stockpiled raw material. Renaissance Parquet Is having some floorboard product manufactured in China to import for final finishing. Hans believes there is “fudging going on” about something required of imported product (sustainable production?) so, rather than go into his shell, has decided to take the imports on through diversification and niche management. “Part of our products appeal is that, at around the same price on the floor as carpet or tiles, there is considerable local manufacture before local labour is used to install so there are more local jobs being supported as well as greater opportunity for customization,” says Hans..
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 19
BIOFUELS
Georgia Biomass project stands testimony to expertise in the field L
AST DECEMBER, Andritz Feed & BioFuel successfully concluded performance tests on the pellet mill island at RWE– BMC’s wood pellet manufacturing facility in Waycross, Georgia, USA. Pellet production started in May 2011 and the plant is now running well at capacity. This order was the first EPC project of this magnitude to be awarded turnkey to Andritz Feed & BioFuel and it was the first time that a combined cross-divisional effort was employed at site in this field of business. At the time the order was placed in January 2010, the planned wood pellet manufacturing facility was the largest in the world. Andritz was awarded an EPC contract for wood processing (including debarking, chipping, bark processing, and bark and chip handling and storage systems) along with the pelleting islands. Since the contract for the RWEBMC plant, Andritz has been awarded the contract for an even larger plant (900,000 tpa) by Vyborgskaya Cellulosa in Russia. The pellets produced at Georgia Biomass are for use in RWE power plants in Europe, both in dedicated biomass facilities and in combined coal and biomass combustion. RWE-BMC sources 1.5 million
tons of tree length logs from within an average radius of 50 miles (80km) around the factory. This much wood is needed on an annual basis to produce the 750,000 tons of pellets each year. The trees used as feed-stock are all plantation wood, grown in a 20year rotation cycle.
Why Georgia? The US state of Georgia is ideally suited to the forest products industry as it has the best price/ performance ratio of all available raw material basins, while meeting the criteria of sustainable forestry management. The Georgia Forestry Commission reports that 72% of the state is commercial forest land. The total forest land area in Georgia has remained consistent for almost 100 years. Of the available forested area, 59% is owned by private tree farmers. Private tree farmers in Georgia have witnessed a steady decrease in the number of forest product mills over the past 20 years as pulp mills, saw mills, and veneer mills have been in decline. Georgia’s forests are growing more softwood and hardwood volume than is being harvested. The decline of pulp and paper
production has led to an increased availability of raw materials, and the supply chain infrastructure from railway transportation to shipping ports in the United States is already in place.
Why biomass? The great thing about using wood is that it is infinitely renewable. We can keep planting trees forever, even in places where no trees were planted before, making new forests to serve as good ecosystems while providing the resources we need for products we use every day, such as paper and energy. The use of renewable forestry resources as fuel for power and heat generation, replacing fossil fuels, helps reduce carbon emissions. In sustainable forestry, new trees are planted where the mature trees have been removed. These small trees will absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and generate oxygen while growing, thus making sustainably forested biomass carbon neutral.
Why pellets? The largest increase in the demand for fuel pellets has been seen for co-firing in Northern European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and the UK. This is driven mainly by the availability of pellets for green electricity and the relative cost competitiveness of biomass with the cost of coal, plus CO2 emission allowances. The demand for fuel to generate electricity and heat is typically found in or close to municipalities, far away from the forests. Pelleting is a widely used technology to ease transportation and handling costs. The main drivers for pelleting are:
• Densification of wood to approximately twice the density of logs • Increased heating value and removal of water prior to transportation • Reducing costs of transportation by a factor of 4-5 compared to logs, and of 6-7 compared to wet wood chips • Stable storage properties (reduced biological activity) • Homogenous, manageable fuel for power plants supporting better and more energy efficient combustion • Standardized product quality parameters supporting global tradability Andritz Feed & BioFuel has been the industry leader in wood pellet production for more than 30 years and has experienced steady growth in parallel with the growth and development of the market. Andritz
Feed & BioFuel pellet mills produce more than half of all wood-based fuel pellets manufactured globally. Andritz holds an equally strong position with wood processing technology (Fibre Technologies division – KFT), which includes wood receiving, debarking, chipping, size reduction, and material handling technologies. Competence in drying solutions is added by the KDB (Pulp Drying and Biax Film) division.
Supplier of technology and solutions for the biofuel industry
MARKET LEADERS IN: ■ Complete wood pelleting process lines ■ Dryers and chippers ■ Sawdust and chip handling systems Local presence and service ANDRITZ FEED & BIOFUEL Australia and New Zealand: enquiries.au@andritz.com
Andritz P/L Australia
www.andritz.com
Tel: + 61 (0) 38 773 4805
20 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
BIOFUELS Bioenergy conference promises to be a gem BIOENERGY AUSTRALIA has held 12 very successful conferences and integrated exhibitions from 2000 – 2011, and now this year’s major event is shaping up to be the crown in the jewel. The Bioenergy Australia 2012 Conference will be held 26-27 November at The Sebel & Citigate Albert Park, Melbourne, and as an add-on, there will be an off-site tour on 28 November to bioenergy facilities in the area. The event will cover policies and programs, projects and project development case studies and emerging opportunities. The conference will consider the many facets of bioenergy, including having some 80+ presentations on: • Biomass resources and supply aspects • First and second generation liquid biofuels • Algae and other future feedstocks • Pyrolysis bio-oil and bio-char • A naerobic digestion and livestock wastes • Energy-from-waste • Heat and power • Overarching aspects of bioenergy, such as life cycle emissions and sustainability. Last year’s conference in Queensland attracted 300 delegates from across Australia and also from overseas. Bioenergy Australia was established in 1997 as a Government-industry forum to foster and facilitate the development of biomass for energy, liquid fuels, and other value added bio-based products. Bioenergy Australia is concerned with all aspects of biomass and bioenergy, from production through to utilisation, and its work embraces technical, commercial, economic, societal, environmental, policy and market issues.
Investment in new products and target groups “THERE ARE so many places around the world where interest in bioenergy is growing,” says Ola Galfvensjö, head of the Bruks mobile chippers business area. Despite what is quite a cautious market this year, incoming orders are strong for Swedish company Bruks, which makes mobile wood chippers and stationary system solutions for fuel management/ preparation. In the latter business area, Bruks is now also focusing heavily on the combined power and heating industry. There is excellent growth potential in this area, and this is where the number of customers is growing most quickly, according to Ingemar Sund, head of sales for the Nordic and Baltic regions. For instance, Bruks is now intensively marketing its tried and tested fuel transporter, the Tubulator, to customers in this industry. And there has certainly been keen interest. The world’s
largest pellets factory, Green Circle in Florida, is one company that has chosen Bruks’ solution. “The Tubulator is unique in that the conveyor belt runs inside a tube. It’s a spill-free system that’s unique to us,” says Ingemar Sund. During World Bioenergy, Bruks showed its mobile wood chippers in the outdoor demonstration area. There were two brand new concepts in focus: a machine that is pulled behind an agricultural tractor, and a new wood chipper built into a truck, adapted for the Finnish and Central European markets. “As regards the wood chippers that attach to a tractor, we have seen a great need in Sweden and the rest of Europe for a smaller machine, one that is more mobile yet still professional. The target group is contractors, but also large farms that want a broader base to their operations,” says Galfvensjö.
Log on Today! Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.
Finland leads the field in bioeconomy By Karel Smrcka
F
OREST INDUSTRY products bind carbon. Renewable and recyclable products can help reduce the amount of non-renewable raw materials and fossil fuels used. The sustainable use of renewable materials like wood is at the core of bioeconomy. Forestrich Finland, driven by the forest industry, is well positioned to become a pioneer in bioeconomy. Finland’s forest reserves are, according to calculations, more abundant now than they have been since the 1800s. Yearly forest growth exceeds the amount of forests lost as a result of harvesting and natural causes, which means forest stands are constantly increasing. Finland has long traditions in forest competence. “We have been processing wood into various products for hundreds of years. So there are traditions that guide the use of wood . . . and end-uses that support the properties of wood,” says the Finnish Forest Industries Federation’s Antro Säilä. “We have also learned to manage forests in a way that ensures that they will continue to be productive from one generation to the next. The level of wood and forest research in Finland is unparalleled in the world. A good example of that is the forest industry’s ‘Nobel Prize’, that is, the Wattenber Prize, which this year went to Finland for an innovation related to paper manufacturing.” In addition to the Finnish Forest Act and the Nature Conservation Act, Finnish forestry is governed by the long-term National Forest Program 2015, whose aim is to increase citizens’ wellbeing based on forest resources and to develop forests from an economic, social and ecological point of view. According to Säilä, forestry is already bioeconomy. Wood raw material is recyclable, binds
carbon and is biodigestable. It is also produced from local raw materials. Products manufactured from wood and the by-products generated are efficiently recycled, and valuable raw materials are used sparingly. Finland has a unique competence in forestry, as well as in wood products and the paper industry dating back centuries. More paper and wood products engineers graduate from Finnish universities than from all European universities combined. Aalto University, for example, represents a unique combination of design and trade and engineering disciplines. Its recently launched master’s degree program in bioproducts technology is a ground-breaking
Finland’s strength is its worldleading forest cluster, which encompasses the forest industry, forestry, raw material suppliers, and machinery and equipment suppliers, as well as researchers, and research and development centres and academic institutes associated with them. Finnish company Lunawood is the world’s leading producer of ‘thermowood’. No chemi- cals are used in the Lunawood process – heat and steam are all that is needed. The process makes the end product completely natural and chemical free. Thermowood can easily be recycled or reused. It is intended for both indoor use and outdoor areas. Another company, UPM Plywood, is Europe’s largest
Decision-makers must boldly stand by renewable and sustainably produced raw materials and the products manufactured from them. research program in the field of bioeconomy. It is predicted that Finland will become a global bioeconomy power. How will this vision be realised? Firstly, the operating conditions for the current forest industry must be well looked after. Only a profitable industry can invest in renewal and development, Säilä stresses. Decision-makers must also boldly stand by renewable and sustainably produced raw materials and the products manufactured from them – for example, wood construction and the wood-fibre packaging industry. Finland must ‘frontload’ conditions that attract companies to develop products in line with sustainable bioeconomy in the country.
plywood manufacturer and the creator of formable plywood. Based on new composites technology, formable plywood promises to offer major benefits for furniture manufacturers and other industries. Using the new material is in complete contrast to traditional bonding, which is a one-time operation in which bond lines remain intact and cannot be altered after the adhesive has set. By creating a unique chemical bond that can be altered later by heating, UPM’s new adhesive overcomes this limitation. This characteristic enables plywood to be formed into the desired shape in a simple three-step process of heating, forming and cooling. Karel Smrcka is an international information resources consultant
Biomass and forest restoration, too! THE U.S. Forest Service has chosen Coloradobased Pagosa Land Co. to remove woody biomass from national forestland in Pagosa County. Through the Pagosa Area Biomass Long-Term Stewardship Contract, a project developed to restore the region’s forest while reducing fire risk through a 10-year contract, J.R. Ford, president of Pagosa Land Co., and his team will have access to the national forest to harvest woody biomass. The contract will include the removal of saw timber products other than logs, as well as limbs and tops of trees found in ponderosa pine, mixed conifer or aspen stands, and also allow Ford and his team to perform road maintenance and other
associated activities. Roughly 1,000 to 2,000 acres of forest will be treated each year. Ford is involved in a number of forest health, restoration, or biomass-related ventures. During a recent presentation before the Colorado House of Representatives, Ford testified about his projects, including Renewable Forest Energy LLC, which will run a gasification system to produce 5 MW from woody biomass taken from the region. “The process for removal of biomass from the forest is at its prime,” he said. “New European equipment options provide point of harvest mobile tree chipping at a fraction of traditional costs.”
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 21
CERTIFICATION
Future of wood certification in Australia A
GROUP of about 100 representatives from ENGOs, the forest and wood industry, retailers, manufacturers and engineers gathered at Dockside in Sydney’s Darling Harbour to discuss and workshop the current state of wood products certification in Australia. The event, ‘Certification: Growing demand. Increasing confidence. National Wood Products Forum & Workshop 2012’ was the first of its kind in Australia, and unusual in that it brought together parties with widely differing points of view on many aspects of forestry. Facilitated by researcher Howard Parry-Husbands, the forum began with everyone writing down what a successful day looked like from their point of view. It was engaging and interactive from the start. The morning session aimed to identify the barriers to wood certification and it kicked off with four speakers who set the scene well. The audience heard from Nick Bez, a director of Mobium - a consumer research company
need to do in order to increase awareness of certification? What are the triggers? Speakers providing the consumer perspective were Armineh Mardirossian, Group Manager, Corporate responsibility, Community & Sustainability, Woolworths Limited, who spoke about chain of custody certification programs, Mark Gomm, the Risk/Sustainability Manager at Bunnings/Officeworks who discussed achieving the twin aims of sustainability and growth, followed her. Next, Jacqueline Fegent-McGeachie, Sustainability Manager, Kimberly Clark took the group through the promotional campaign (Love Your Forests) associated with the Kleenex brand and FSC. The resellers were followed by Richard Stanton, National Secretary, Australian Forestry Standard, who discussed promoting the AFS, while Natalie Reynolds, CEO, Forest Stewardship Council shared some of the experiences of FSC in driving growth. The subsequent breakout
Triggers. session asked participants to list the triggers to initiate action to promote certification. Five key areas were identified: consumer demand, public procurement, collaboration, trust and balance. An interesting conclusion was that there were more demand based concerns than supply side. From the day’s workshops it seems clear that in order to promote
certification the whole supply chain, from growers to resellers and certification bodies, must work to increase the demand for it. The international speaker from the UK – architect and academic Alex de Rijke, director, de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects, brought delegates back to the real world with a fascinating presentation featuring projects built with certified wood products, in this case cross laminated timber (CLT). These UK examples showcased
Barriers.
who discussed environmental or ecolabeling. Two academic certification specialists - Fred Gale who presented case histories of certification in four different countries and Chris Taylor who presented an analysis of the AFS and FSC standards, followed him. The morning’s presentations concluded with Stephen Mitchell, the Sustainability Program Manger from the Timber Development Association talking about certification from a builder’s point of view. The morning breakout session split the audience into small groups who were asked to identify the barriers to certification. Surprisingly there was a degree of consensus in the room. The top three barriers identified were consumer awareness and trust, clarity and complexity of the schemes and the additional cost of certified wood. ‘The breakout sessions took everyone ‘back to basics’, the first one was ‘token’, got everyone to shed a layer’, reported a delegate on their feedback form. The afternoon session focused on the positives – what do we
the beauty and ease, and speed of construction offered by advanced timber building systems. Comments from the day include: ‘A good representation of the industry and not forced’; ‘I hope there are more of these events’; ‘The workshop was excellent, well done planet Ark’; ‘amazing to get everyone in the same room, saw a lot of hand shakes, felt positive’; ‘Planet Ark is a good honest broker’; ‘The day reflects well on Planet Ark’.
New innovative products from around the world that can be adopted by local companies in; • • • • • •
Building Materials & Construction Sytems Solid Wood Panel Products Bio-Materials Wood Finishing Wood Modification
Improving international cost competitiveness through smart science, research, and technology 10-11 October 2012 - Melbourne, Australia
16-17 October 2012 - Rotorua, New Zealand
For more information visit www.woodinnovationsevents.com
22 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
SWINGING BLADES OF HISTORY
Hand-felled jarrah tied to the past and the future FOREST PRODUCTS Commission Senior Forester Todd Brittain was recently involved in capturing for the history books, the last hand-felled jarrah in his native State of Western Australia. Here’s Todd’s story…
I
was keen to capture on film and photograph, the hand-felling of a large jarrah using axe and crosscut saw. The tree to be felled was selected by myself and local axeman Brian Doust (forester in the private sector, and long time friend) in Amphion 0311, a current FPC harvesting coupe located in prime Jarrah ( E marginata) country 20 kilometers east of Dwellingup. Brian has been one of WA’s top axemen in recent years, especially in tree-pegging events, and was the obvious person to approach. He too was very keen on the idea and arranged for Steven Rees, his friend and also top WA axeman, to help him fall the tree. I can’t take credit for the original idea. That belongs partly to the now retired (but still very active in promoting sound forest management in WA) Roger Underwood, a WA forester and author of considerable note, who, while District Forest Officer in Pemberton in 1971 organized a similar event to document the hand-felling of a large karri by my late father, Tom Brittain and his fellow axeman John Tillman, both of whom represented WA at the world log-chopping championships held in Tassie in 1970 (the ‘71 felling was filmed by the ABC for “this day tonight” and interviews were conducted by a then, very young Paul Lockyer ...) The day dawned bright and clear. All was set and we conducted the event in front of a small group of very interested onlookers (FPC staff and bush crew who stopped work to come up and watch). The tree selected was 1.2m diameter and 35m tall: big and solid. Three smaller jarrah were at first hand-felled to provide an opening into which the main tree could fall. When these had been removed it was time to tackle the large tree. The felling of the large tree was a sight and sound to behold: As the men chopped out the scarf, each chop produced a hollow ring which resonated up through the bush and one couldn’t help but reflect on days of old and how different it must have been in the bush prior to the advent of the power saw.
When the scarf was finished, the men had a quick breather and commenced backing the tree down with the cross-cut. This obviously, was very hard work and both men appeared to be close to their limit. Nevertheless they kept going and after approximately one hour of hard slog (including the time taken to chop out the scarf), dropped the tree precisely on the chosen spot. The stump had been perfectly set up with even hingewood all the way across. Between 170-180 growth rings were counted, but the tree is quite likely older than 170-180 as Jarrah can persist in lignotuber form for decades, not sending up a dynamic shoot to turn into a sapling until it (the lignotuber) has first attained sufficient size to support the sapling and even then, not until there has been an opening in the canopy. One might speculate then, that the tree was still a young sapling at time WA was first settled in 1829. Four logs were cut out of the tree, the main one being 8.1m long with a butt diameter of 1.2m. It was solid to the heart and featured a tight curly grain. The three remaining logs comprised two shorter crown logs, approximately 3m long and the large ‘queen cut’ between these and the main log. All four logs contain feature grade timber which will be sold at one of the regular timber auctions held by the FPC at our mill in Harvey, 140 Km south of Perth. It is intended that some of the premium grade boards cut from the main log will be set aside from auction and used to fashion a fine conference-room table. This table, together will photos taken of the event, will complete the picture and provide a permanent reminder of the last hand-felled jarrah and the beauty of the timber for which the jarrah tree is renowned. All in all, the day turned out to be a great success, largely due to the efforts of Brian and Steve, both of whom now have a story they can proudly tell their grandchildren. Thanks also to Chaz Newman, Fiona Gray, Craig Gardiner, Judy Pitcher and Jarita Darman at FPC and Lance Quartermaine of Dawson Contracting.
Axemen continue to show their prowess in demanding sport S teve Rees Snr competes in the Nokian Forestry Tyressponsored tree pegging event.
WOOD CHOPPING is an art; a very demanding, rigorous and oldfashioned art. Competition wood chopping now is testament to the pioneers who wielded their axes to help shape this nation. It doesn’t matter where competitions are held the sport attracts the best in the field and crowds never seem to diminish. Such was the case with the Back to Fontys wood chopping competition in Manjimup (WA) when 12 of the best axemen in the world pitted their skills against each other.
According to those who follow the sport closely, wood chopping in Australia and New Zealand is in particularly good shape at present, and the competition is very even, which makes for exciting viewing. One of the more demanding (not that any other facets of wood chopping aren’t demanding) features of the Manjimup competition was the tree pegging event, very popular with spectators as it highlights the skill and balance required to be able to participate.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 23
AFCA HALL OF FAME
AFCA 2012 Launceston Green; Max Helm; Dennis James; Trevor Leis; Glen Radford; Leon Triffett; the late George Whatley; John Whatley; Victor Weller; Peter Williams; Robert Williamson; and Yule Woolley. All up, this group has amassed more than 550 years service to the industry. Drane recognised the support provided by AFCA sponsors, which were represented on the evening by Komatsu Australia; Caterpillar Australia; OneTrak and Premium Wholesale Tyres. AFCA director, Ken Padgett spoke of his involvement in the painfully slow negotiations that will ultimately decide the future of the state’s forestry industry, but appeared quietly confident of achieving a positive outcome.
By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
A
ROUND 70 forestry people attended the AFCA Hall of Fame induction dinner at Launceston’s Grand Chancellor Hotel on May 31, 2012. AFCA manager David Drane hosted the evening, and with his usual skill introduced the inductees and extracted stories about their experiences. Only four were present: Ray Palmer, Max Iles, Oliver (Percy) Chatwin and Stephen Flewin, but all admitted to thoroughly enjoying the evening – even those who had been hesitant of accepting. Those not present were Ray Taking; Anthony
gottstein trust applications for 2013 awards
the Joseph william Gottstein Memorial trust invites applications from interested persons for Gottstein fellowships and Gottstein industry awards. GOTTSTEIN FELLOWSHIPS Fellowships are awarded to people from or associated with Australian forest industries to further their experience, education or training either within or outside Australia. Project proposals on any relevant topic are welcome. Candidates will be selected on the value of the project, and on their ability to complete and disseminate the information acquired.
GOTTSTEIN INDUSTRY AWARDS 14 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 15
From the very basic to the very best, Harold’s operated them all 2012 Issue AUGUST
5, Vol. 21
• P: (03) 9888
4834 • F:
(03) 9888
4840
z.com.au • www.timberbi ber.com.au @forestsandtim • E: lmartin
int To the po
Minister Forestr y revive Queensland gh plans to of John McVei g fortunes y. the laggin timber industr ment and Queensland’s his depart would He said Queensland y plan nd. Timber p an industrfor the y Portla map chip facilit jointly develo e a road Wood to provid future. is not sland Queen shows Timber by a report that r surprised in the numbe decline report by the rapid a sing lls. The of sawmi shows log proces over ABARES declined 70% 332. have just to mills decade a move the past is due to ing The decline mills produc -up larger towards and the locking part. played a more timber the has also of stands benefit of strateg ic spokesperson industr y forest “So, the h the mill in port is now less,” is really going Tasmania’s ed new researc will the pulp than to feed er, it is now said. “Also, Gunns er rather has welcomsaying it forest be sent ient howev a pulp producer.” funding, the state’s l border of Tasma nia, is a suffic in to be hip export le, on the complement ent. The Federa ia. ed there availa ble a woodc $5 Green Trianglia and Victoruse the believ of woodchips peace agreem announced for GUM to g source South Austra N BLUE planne d Governmentresearch fundin lture millio n Tasma nia. in USTR ALIA a subsid iaryl It had also up to 1.5 aquacu be million to load hips to be used y and Plantations, firm Globa facilit y sed the forestr The money will woodc billion of US-ba has been touted tonnes of the $2.3 industries. up an Experimental rs, Gunns as feedst ock in and set mill. ate Forest Partne buyer of of used to Facility likely Bay pulp need to liquid as for Future as the site. As this editionhad Bell a Aquaculture sale Institute However, the Portla nd both in press there sale Portla nd National ssing its the went to Industries, assets forced s on progre t at move on AFTN Forest official million. mill projec Gunns focuse been no Hobart. ed $60 25-yea r $2.5 billion pulp nia. jobs for a reportwhich has a nd, Gunns in Tasma r more a NSW as to y Gunns, 4ha site at Portla e Bell Bayding TWENTY-fou a ’s an orderl lost acrossattempts to to finalis30 Accor lease on n, “there will be seeking ment June atise spoke sperso s happe ning”.Gunns had been ction before the Govern and corpor cuts includ ing (sales) proces n said job the the transa l factor s, restructure ACCC, spoke sperso expec ted NSW. The workshops A the severa by but ally Forests five be used igation ans closing had origin y would an invest completion. hips include ope, Eden, Batemwith the iling and Portla nd facilit for woodc in delayed built a stockp point in Wauch o, and Grafton en Port the transit Triang le” a Gunns g facilit y at Bay, Toront job losses. Thirtethe “Gree n Austra lia to at a as 11 from the 2009/10 South ship loadin a total of also be cut in nd over n to support Victor ia and of Portla jobs will Region. the millio in $24 cost of tion operat ions Brigalow its planta
H
AROLD BRANT has been driving Forwarders for the past 37 years with a “home-made Mac” one of the early machines he operated. Since then he’s put quite a few through their paces and he readily admits that the machines of today are a far cry from those early offerings. “Really, you just can’t compare them,” he says. Harold says it doesn’t mater what the brand is the current day machines are quite simply streets ahead. He recently spent two weeks trialling the new Logset Titan 10F Forwarder (which made its debut
at AUSTimber 2012 near Mount Gambier) and says the Finnishmanufactured machine more than lived up to its credentials. “I was surprised at just how good the machine was,” he said. “The worse part was that at the end of the trial I had to give it back,” he quipped. Markku Turunen, of Karmet Enterprises (Australia’s Logset dealer), was in the cabin with Harold for the start of the testing. “As soon as I hopped in and started driving it down in the bush I knew it was something special,” said Harold. “I did one load and then another one and he (Markku)
ll on set to fa Hammer ping facility ip h c wood
ell death kn g n sounds Labor pla tive forest loggin for WA na
his knell for the death he would sound logging us to mill,” business. that native r-old family tive timbers for 50-yea ts forest policy no alterna ban the ng a new Forest Produc “There’s is planni native logging or with the LABOR of work to all STATE lia. said said. produce done a lot timber. e a halt “We’ve plantation products that we building West Austra er Sally TalbotLabor could includ ission on in jarrah in but minist and other import felling of environment be determined nmental Comm for using them g can floorin you “But yet to Enviro Shadow joinery, e in that than we policy was seriously” two 2010 that noted - which is are suitabl better quality the final “very s since to sustain products - nones that are of was takingAuthority report was unlikely y or timber r were directl ry Protection rn jarrah forest d cheape to here.” g indust being worke , have access ted 3000 people t on the northe native loggin g levels. policies An estima ed by the closures and impac series of ted in native forestsas current loggin native whole employ a mill as far forests are indirectly would result in “There are ly we are interes on the board Dr Talbot . Old-growth . and a ban on and certain s got the runsgrowth goes,” communities been logged Labor’ regional never of old I mean logging ted timber forests that have ending the on of fabrica manager ts, said a ban said. i, group ood Produc David Gosatt r Inglew manufacture
The same industry-leading news, views and ad’s you’re reading in this issue are now available on-line as well. While we know print is the most convenient form for reading in the cab, lunchroom or highlighting an important point for the next reader, we also know that many of our readers want to go straight to websites or send emails from the articles and ad’s they’re reading.
MEDIA
INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED
working in a sawmill when he first left school then went pine falling for about 11 years. “It was getting too hard and a lot of people were getting out of it then and the machines were starting to come in so I went on the Forwarders and never looked back.” His operational skills – apart from normal day-to-day work – have been on display at competitions around Australia and also in Sweden. He’s won three National Forwarder titles and competed in two in Sweden. “You’ve just got to take it easy and away you go. If the nerves don’t get to you you’re right,” he said of the demanding competition standards.
“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my work,” he said. So, from a man well credentialed to cast a verdict on the Logset Titan 10F ... “It’s the best machine I’ve been in. I reckon they’ll sell a lot of them once they sell their first one.”
INTERVIEWS statiivi.fi
A
stopped me and asked what I thought of it and I said it was the best machine I had ever driven.” Harold said there was good vision from the cabin plus it was comfortable and quiet inside the cabin. “It had good reach with the boom ... much the same as all of them (other machines) around. “It rode very smoothly despite it being pretty rough where I trialled it. The ground was flat but very rough. “Tonnages were similar to the others trialled against it, and the engine had plenty of power; the same motor as some of the others have got, same motor as the Komatsu has got. “Logset has a feature in it where when you need it you can get 10% more power, but we didn’t need that where we were working because it was too flat. That’s more for steep terrain work. “The operating control set up was very good; just have to go into the computer and adjust them as you want them. Nice light levers; very good to operate. “It was a little bit different because you have to do it with your levers, switch your crane off and then work around it with your lever and boost your percentages up or down to where you want them and then kick it in and go to the next one.
Logset brings a better logging experience to the forest machinery market. Logset 10F Titan 18 ton forwarder offers better efficiency, better durability, better usability and better productivity. Logset is simply better – for a logger who demands more.
LOGSET on show at AUSTimber.
New forwarder crane hits the market CRANE MANUFACTURER Cranab has released the FC16, the largest model in its new generation of cranes for forwarders. The FC16 has been developed especially for the market’s largest and most powerful forwarders. The development of today’s forwarders has resulted in their becoming larger and more powerful, with an increased loading capacity. The largest machines have an increased load capacity from 18 tonnes to 20 tonnes. At its full range of 8.5 metres the crane can lift all of 1310 kg at the tip. Gross lifting torque is 165 kNm. Added to this is a powerful slewing engine with a slewing torque of an impressive 42.5 kNm. “We have followed market developments and users needs very closely, and have designed our new model entirely to meet the new demands of the industry. This new crane is, for example, optimised in proportion to the slewing effect and the lifting force. We have been very careful in this respect when developing the new FC16,” said marketing manager Micael Olsson. “We know that harmony between lifting force and slewing effect is crucial. These properties are vital in sloping terrain where it is especially important that the forwarder is fitted with a crane strong enough to both lift and slew while fully laden in the same motion cycle.” The FC16 has all of the excellent properties featured in the new generation, with the addition of the increased capacity for larger machines. The FC16 comes as standard as a single telescopic crane, but it will also be available as a double telescopic crane and a 10 metre version. The new giant FC16 was premièred at the KWF exhibition in Germany in June.
These awards are available to assist workers in the Australian forest industries to improve their industry knowledge and work skills. Applications focusing on small group study tours will be favourably viewed, although any relevant project topic may be proposed. Candidates will be selected on the value of the project.
“Bit different to what we have normally been used to but once you started to get used to doing things like that it was OK,” said Harold. And what about any bad points ... “couldn’t find anything really wrong with it but the bars in the rack were a bit close together and a bit hard to see through but they (Logset) said they’d make another one for it. “Bit hard to climb up to clean the back window so he (Markku) said ‘right we’ll put a step on there’ (one each side). Anything you wanted done they said they would do. “I suppose they’ve got to to start and sell them. “Getting used to the controls didn’t take very long; they’re all very much the same these days with mini levers,” he said. Was the computer system hard to operate? “You don’t have to touch it really unless you want to do some things like reversing down into the bush at night. It’s a bit hard to see with cab lights going and if
you wanted to turn some off you had to go into the computer to do it and you could turn off one light at a time. Only took a few seconds to do, though. “It’s got wiper blades on the side windows which are good. “Lot of room in the cabin. “Good travelling speed in low gear. “They’re made fairly solid. “They’ve got a sliding rack and bolster, the first two bolsters and the rack are joined together and you just press a button in the cab to move it backwards if you want to load shorter wood and there’s the extension out the back of the chassis for doing long poles, all operated from within the cabin. “Just switch the crane off and press another button, operate the lever and back it goes,” said Harold. For a man who has been in the business pretty much all his life this Forwarder came up trumps. Harold started in the industry
– way to improve performance! Logset offers its customers a totally new way to keep the fleet up and running. Logset’s FAST -program allows contractors to achieve considerable cost savings by optimizing the service process and making maintenance more efficient. SALES
Karmet Enterprises PTY LTD Markku Turunen ph. +614 0417 8541 fax. +612 696 44477
10F TITAN
DESIGNED FOR YOUR SUCCESS – 20 YEARS
Oy Logset Ab Hännisentie 2 66530 Koivulahti Finland ph +358 10 286 3200 fax +358 6 2103 216
www.logset.com
Applications for each category will be considered by the Trustees and promising applicants will be selected for interviews in October 2012.
FURTHER INFORMATION Further details may be obtained from the Trust’s website at www.gottsteintrust.org, or from the Secretary.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
Now available on-line Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/aft today to view your copy online
The closing date for applications is 7th September 2012. Applications should be forwarded to: Dr Silvia Pongracic, Secretary, J. W. Gottstein Memorial Trust Fund, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC 3169 Telephone: 0418 764 954 Fax: 03 9545 2139 Email: secretary@gottsteintrust.org
24 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
AFCA HALL OF FAME
By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
R
R
AY PALMER entered forestry at age 19, relatively late compared to some of the other inductees. “I completed my mechanics apprenticeship, and it was either shift to the west coast or finish. So I finished.” As a fourth-generation bush person, forestry is tightly woven into his DNA: his father, grandfather, and great grandfather had all worked around the bush getting sleepers and/or firewood, while his grandfather also sawmilled for 40 years. So Ray and his dad went falling for Peter and John Symons at Little Swanport, and after six months came back and felled for Teddy Howell at Buckland. After a stint there, Ray returned home and spent three months cutting firewood, before buying a truck from John Hall. Various carting contracts followed, including one with Eric Upton. “When Eric gave it away, I ended up hiring his gear and went sawlogging,” says Ray. “After three or four months, I had an opportunity to work with Northern Woodchips, which I took. I started off on 200 tonnes a week, progressed to 15,000 tonnes, and eventually got to 20,000 tonnes.” Ray stayed with the company as it evolved from Northern Woodchips through Boral to Gunns, selling out the bush contract five years ago, after notching up 32 years in the industry. Two years earlier he’d sold his last truck, a Western Star. From the old single-axle Dodge he’d purchased from John Hall, Ray progressed to a Flintstone Mack. “She was a bit hard on the body, that one. It was pretty rough to ride in,” Ray recalls. A Volvo came next, followed by a couple of Fords, then a Scania, and finally the Western Star, which Ray believes was the best in terms of allround durability. “I usually drove the trucks myself because it was easier to have people in the bush as it was a shorter working day, seven or eight hours, whereas I put in plenty of 18-hour days,” says Ray. “When we were carting to Longreach, I was doing up to 12 loads a week from down the bottom side of Oatlands. You wouldn’t be able to do that now with the logbooks.” At the same time, he was running his farm at Nugent. He now runs wool sheep on his farm at Whiteford. He employed three men in the bush. “Two were with me for more than 20 years – local boys,” says Ray. “One started when he was 18, and his brother started when he left school, Both stayed with me until I sold out – the older fellow, Darryl Scott, actually bought me out. We never had any great disagreements. They were good and dependable, good on the gear. So they
looked after me and I tried to look after them.” Ray’s decision to exit the industry came after Gunns rationalised things. During the Northern Woodchips and Boral days, he always cut the full block. However, the story changed with Gunns. “If there was as decent block of timber, one of the bigger contractors would cut half or two-thirds of the good stuff. Because I was only a 20,000 tonner, and never had any trouble supplying the wood, I got the poor end of it, poorer class of timber and difficult to harvest. I took it for a couple of years, but eventually thought, well I’ve got to where I am, I’m not going to let you break me, and so gave it away” Regarding the current state of the industry, Ray believes the environmentalists have virtually won. “I can’t see them turning things around now The Triabunna mill’s shut – the government was pretty weak to let them buy it, I think. Tasmania has a dirty name now because it was tied up with Gunns. If it does turn round, I reckon it’ll take five years, but by then no one will be left to work here. All the skilled people who’ve worked in the bush are getting older, while the younger ones will get other jobs and they’re not going to come back here.”
EARED IN the bush, stayed in the bush,” is how Max Iles describes his background. After cutting and carting timber off the family property with his father, Max started working in forestry during the late 40s, when it was all axe and cross-cut saws. “About that time, a lot of sawmills were being started up close to a road,” he recalls. “We had a f lat-tray 4WD Blitz truck for carting firewood out of awkward places, or where it was a bit boggy. There were a lot of these about after war, disposals. I knew a man who built a winch to suit them. He fitted a little frame on the back to hang a block in. The wire rope went through and you pulled the log up close, pulled the brake on. It partly held the weight of the log on the rear of the Blitz.” He continues: “You had to use skid chains on the front wheels, and in open country they worked well. Well, it was either work well or nothing, because there was nothing else suitable! She pulled the logs into a landing you built, a bed log with two skids up to it in each end, same height as the tray, and rolled them on one by one with a wire rope.” The Blitz carried five logs – three on the bottom, two on top – anything up to 18 feet long, which was tray length. “You wouldn’t want a full load of 18 foot logs as it’d be too light in front,” says Max “And you had to cut out what you could get from the tree, you couldn’t afford to waste a lot.” It was hard, muddy work. “We’d wait, wait, wait and wait for summertime to come because everything was dry, the work was easier.” Max aimed to do two loads a day in the summer rather than one. “But it was time consuming. When you got to the mill, you’d unload with a wire rope on the winch. No lifting it off with a big front end loader – too easy!” Initially he worked by himself, but later usually had one man in the bush full time. The mid-50s brought the first evolutions in harvesting equipment. “We bought a small crawler with a winch on it, which was good,” says Max. “Later we had a different one with a blade on the front end to winch. In the late 60s, we went to a full-blown bulldozer – blade and winch, hydraulics and everything. It worked well, you just pushed them on with the blade. “We went from a f lat-tray truck to a single-axle truck and single-axle jinker, and carted twice as much, providing the road was right to get out. You’d put a drag track in where you couldn’t work with the
Got some good spare parts or attachments taking up room and gathering dust?
Australian Forests & Australian Timber News, Forests July&2012 Timber – 33 News, July 2012 – 35
Australian Forests & Timber Classifieds Parts Clearout 1 x Rexroth Control system to suit Rosin felling heads (no hand pieces) $3500 + GST
Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee. For rates and deadlines call Laurie (03) 9888 4834 or email: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au
FIREWOOD MILLS
For Information, please, call 0419-536 804 or email your postal address to info@firewoodmills.com.au
1 x set of EME levers to suit Dasa 380. Used but in good condition. Helicopter switch type. (can be adapted to other control systems) $2000 + GST 1 x Valmet Diesel Lift pump and filter (PN-83686784) New still in plastic $400 + GST 1 X Dasa 380 computer mount. Would suit excavator or track machine. $100 + GST 1 x Dasa (Scriptos printer) used. $50 + GST 1 x new Sure grip handpiece including 2 x proportional switches to suit IQan control system $250 + GST 1 x Dual diameter sensor control box. (brings 2 encoders into one signal) Suit Rosin harvesting head $100 + GST
New model BigX50 coming soon!
Different sizes of mills with optional feeding table. Tractor, Diesel Power Pack or Electric Power Pack driven models.
www.lucasmill.com
Australian Portable Sawmill
Australian Forests & Timber Classifieds
AUCTION
Enquiries to vendor 0429 961 413
(NSW)
targeted industry
employment
Now you can target qualified and experienced personnel in the forest and timber industries with www.timberbiz.com.au
10am 7th July 2012 Ben Boyd Drive, Eden NSW
1 x 2003 904 Kenworth Prime Mover 1 x 2006 950 Kenworth Prime Mover 1 x 2001 Western Star Prime Mover 1 x 1985 Kenworth W Model Prime Mover I x 1999 Kennedy Tri axle Jinker air bag suspension 1 x 1996 Blackwood Folding Skel Trailer air bag suspension 1 x 2003 Kennedy B Double Trailer 1 x 2001 Kennedy Single Trailer 1 x Valmet Harvester with Waratah Head 1 x Valmet Forwarder 1 x Komatsu 65-8 1 x 2004 Toyota Landcruiser ute 1 x 2005 Toyota Hilux 1 x 2008 V8 Toyota Landcruiser ute 2 x Bogey pulp trailers 2 x Highway trailers 1 x Workshop on ½ acre land plus surplus logging equipment
All jobs are listed for 3 days on Daily Timber News for even greater market coverage. Post your job online at www.timberbiz.com.au/timberjobs
its the service with a touch of a button!
AVAILABLE NOW Softwood Bandsaw Processing Mill For high recovery sawmilling
FOR SALE
$135,000 + gst
Timberjack 460D 2002 mod dual arch grapple and winch. Tyres as new 98% with front chains. 9100hr machine in excellent condition.
Valen Kone VK26 Debarker In and out feed conveyors.
$37,000+GST
Komatsu PC 300 Harvester Log mate head VHLC boom/stick and over body
Top dogging. Log handling. Remote operator. Log diameter 60cm – 12cm, 6m - 2.4m. Hydraulic sizing 30cm – 7.5cm. $188,000+GST
Contact Mal on 0418 924 696
Enquiries: Robert Drummond
325L Cat Log mate saw Kennedy grab Forestry guarded.
MORBARK MODEL 75 CHIPPER Feed bed, fully reconditioned K19 Cummins with blade sharpener. Remote controls etc. Very good condition. Want to clear. 0438 599 412
POA
MACHINE CLEARANCE SALE OR HIRE 2006 445EXL with 622B 10,300hrs
0418 132 763
2007 425EX with 622B 9,300hrs (2 of)
Auction
on behalf of Kelly Gang Forestry Services Deloraine, Tasmania Friday June 29th 11.30am GST will apply - No Buyers Premium
2006 & 2007 890.3 13,700hrs & 11,444hrs
John Deere Skidder 748G-3 2003, Good Condition, fitted with log grab & blade. Rear tyres good condition, front tyres have chains. 6850 hours.
Timber Cat 630C Skidder
CAT 330B with 624 Waratah 14,956 hrs
All in good order, ready to work. MULCH AWAY PTY LTD For further information please contact Simon
Salem Twin 54” Band Resaw
• Cummins QST-30 engine – 2200hrs (1050hp) • PT Tech Wet Clutch • IQAN control system-radio remote-auxiliary air compressor-tri axle • $435,000 (not inc GST)
Excavators & Skidders: 2002 Case 21 tonne Excavator 450 hours c/w standard rock bucket (A1) - 2000 Caterpillar 325B Excavator, log canopy, side covers, c/w log grab (Needs 1 Final Drive) – 1994 Caterpillar 325A Excavator, log canopy, side covers c/w log grab – 1990 Caterpillar EL300 Excavator, log canopy, side covers c/w log grab – 1987 Mitsubishi 180-8 Excavator, log canopy, side covers c/w log grab (Track gear poor) – Komatsu 300-5 Excavator (Burnt) Good boom and rams – Caterpillar 530B Log skidder grapple & winch (No motor or tyres) – John Deere 648D Log skidder grapple & winch, tilt blade (No tyres or rear diff) – TD15C International dozer, hyd. tilt blade, Hyster winch (Track gear poor) – Komatsu D755-3 Traxcavator (Motor seized) good tracks, c/w log forks & dozer blade to suit – International 175C Traxcavator c/w winch (No tracks) – Rosnin 980 Processing head c/w all hoses back to excavator & computer Trailers: 36ft Trailer mobile workshop/lunch room (No reg.) – Fruehauf tandem jinker , single point spring susp. – Elphinstone tandem jinker, single point spring susp. – Taylor triaxle, airbag susp. log jinker – 1990 Freighter triaxle flat top 41’ chequer plate floor, 3 way twist locks, super singles spring susp. (No reg.) – 1990 Fruehauf Chip bin, air bag susp. Super singles, fibrelgass sides – 1996 Matilda 41’ walking floor, full chassis, spread axle susp. & spring, sides open up – 1986 Matilda 41’ walking floor, triaxle spring chip bin trailer – 1986 Fruehauf chip bin, spread axle, susp. Spring Chippers: Morebark mobile chipper, 75” wheel, 3 knives, 22” round log, 12v 71 Detroit diesel @ 500h.p. (Full rebuild & new clutch), tandem axle @ 22 tonne weight – Morebark 1974 stationary chipper, 75” wheel electric chipmill, 500h.p., all electrics (Starter etc.) for full chipmill, belts & drives etc. – Morebark re chipper c/w motor, ok on frame - Morebark high volume chipscreen 16’ x 8’ complete - Log in feed steel plate conveyor – Complete electric chipmill, 48” precision v, 6 knives, 150h.p. infeed chain - Low deck, infeed conveyor, outfeed conveyor - 7’ x 7’ chip screen, elec. Cabinet, starters etc. ideal for mill waste, chip 11” round logs or wide slabs – Chipper overflow accumalator to feed screen long chip conveyor belt, high volume @ 18m long x 900mm wide belt, c/w motors and drives etc. – Knife sharpeners etc Photo ID required for bidder registration NO BUYERS PREMIUM – GST may apply – No outside entries – Refreshments available – Photos available www.robertsltd.com.au (Go to Livestock then Clearing Sales)
2 Collins Street, Hobart, Tasmania Telephone (03)6235 1444
FOR HIRE / LEASE / SALE
50hp motor, Hydraulic feed. $12,500+GST $9,800+GST
Ph: 03 5728 7283
$94,500 + gst
Hitachi ZX230 excavator with VHLC log grab and 3/4in cut off saw. 13,400hr in good condition. 12,840hr.
$88,000+GST
Forano Twin 60” Bandsaw Log Breakdown line
Call for FREE DVD pack Today!
Tigercat L830 Feller buncher with Rosin FH885 directional felling head. New track links. 13,800hr in good condition.
$85,500 + gst
Comes complete with quick release, large chip bucket and log grapple forks.
Robinson 54” wheels heavy duty bandsaw
Used 2008 Morbark 50/48A NCL Drum Chipper – Serial # 547-1063
Auction Sale Friday 27th July 2012 at 10.30a.m. On site, Sawmill Glen Huon Road, Huonville, Tasmania Account Owner due to cessation of logging activities
$252,000 + gst
Volvo L90 Loader
Email- visualclue@hotmail.com.au
Log on Today!
Australian Forests & Timb
For Sale
All machines currently working and available for inspection at harvesting site in Southern NSW. Prices negotiable. 0418 633 715
Cat 325L 1993 mod heavy duty log grab with 404 cut off saw. Has had a out of chassis engine rebuild. In very good condition.
6c Service St, Bairnsdale Vic 3875 Phone 03 5152 6411
Ph - 0411075135
Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.
34 – July 2012 , Australian Forests & Timber News
Quick, easy and
Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee. For rates and deadlines call Laurie (03) 9888 4834 or email: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au
Log on Today!
Contact Laurie Martin on 03 9888 4834 or email lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au
32 – July 2012 , Australian 34 – July Forests 2012 &, Australian Timber News Forests & Timber News
Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.
Tell someone who might want to buy them with a black & yellow ad up the back.
Blitz – the Blitz worked best in sheeprun country. The dozer was better for the heavier timbered country. “Later when the timber became a bit scattered on stony country, I got a rubber-tyre skidder, and if the logs were in an awkward place, I’d pull them out with the dozer to the main track and then just drag them in with the skidder. They didn’t mind a stony track, the rubber tyres would just walk over it easier than a crawler.” Following on from these innovations was the arrival of the one-man chainsaw, which truly revolutionised the industry. Max contracted to the mill at Midway Point for about 30 years, working on crown land falling the timber and delivering it. He retired officially in 1981, but continued working as contracts came up for dragging and carting. He uses one of his dozers on his 50-acre farm, where he runs mainly wool ewes. Max agrees with Rob Easton’s remark that Tasmania’s timber industry has been trashed. “I think the IGA won’t be signed, because you can’t deal with the environmentalists,” he says with obvious sadness.
Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.
Max lles
Log on Today!
Ray Palmer
Roundabout. Operator cabin. Hydraulic sizing, fence, line bar, cant turner and handling equipment. Sawn timber transfer deck. $279,000+GST
Mobile: 0417 699 130 Western Star 2009 4964 FXC Constellation, Eaton 18 Speed Road Ranger, FUPS Bumper, EGR 550 Heavy diffs. Air liner suspension. Approx. 190,000 km’s .
2006 & 2007 Rottne Rapid 7,500hrs & 6,000hrs
Moreen Johnston 50” Horizontal Band Wing line
With roundabout and wing transfer deck.$44,000.00+GST
Windsor board twin edger
With laser guides, pneumatic sizing and conveyor waste transfer.
Austral Timber Group Contact Ken Baker 0438 643 992 kjb@agnew.com.au
$37,000+GST
Dozer, TD 15B International. Has C model Transmission & engine. Tracks as new. Fitted with ripper, blade, tree pusher & root rake. Excellent condition.
FOR SALE
Chivers Tri Axle Log Jinker with Bana Boulsters, Pacific scales, brakes redone. Lusty Skell Frame Tri Axle trailer with 6 boulsters
2001 Timber Jack 360. Brand new motor. Excellent service history. $90,000 + GST Ph. 0409 618 371
Roberts Auction Kevin Matkovich 0417 325 936 Michael Kelly 0408 137 604
For further details on any of the items above please contact; Steve Allan Kel Henry
0402 270 612 0400 963 208
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 25
AFCA HALL OF FAME
Percy Chatwin
Stephen Flewin
By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
P
ERCY CHARWIN has notched up an impressive 49 years in forestry – and he started young: as a 12-year-old, he controlled a bullock team pulling logs out of the bush. “My two brothers went into logging and they bought the bullock team – this was way back before tractors. I drove the bullocks for them, pulling the logs out to the landing.” It sounds like seriously hard work for a young lad, but Percy shrugs this off. “It wasn’t then because you were young and energetic and you liked doing it. So it was hard work, but it wasn’t if you get what I mean. The bullocks aren’t hard to control: once you break them in they’ll do exactly as you tell them, just like horses or dogs. They just go where you want them to go.” Percy operated his own trucking business from 1959 to 2006. “I’d been working for a chap for quite a while. His business wasn’t doing well and he had to sell a couple of trucks, so I bought one and went carting for APPM in Burnie – and I worked for them most of my life. It was an International ACF174, a real workhorse.” After a few years trucking by himself, he bought another truck and built up from there. He was carting logs all the time, but he also got into logging with machinery, falling and hauling. “A logging contractor was getting out of the game, so I bought his job from him. I started that about 1965 and continued until 2002,” says Percy. “We used to cart about 8000 super feet. We would have been carting about 25 tonne back then: the trucks were very small compared to today. I bought bigger trucks later on.” He says the changes in logging from when he first started with the bullocks to when he finished were just unbelievable. “No chainsaws – they came later. You only had the old axe and cross-cut saws. You had to put the front scarf in with your axe and then you add a cross-cut saw, one man on each end, and you’d saw the back bbecause that was a lot quicker than chopping, but you’re always partly in to get the tree to go where you want it to.” In the past 15 or so years, Percy’s four sons – John, Murray, Peter and Denzel – have come into the business, while daughter Shirley handles the administration side. Although retired, Percy still works around his small farm, where he runs a few beef cattle. He blames woodchip exports for ruining
A
Tasmanian forestry. “While we supplied mill logs to the small mills around the place and the pulp logs to Burnie Pulp Mill, there wasn’t one bit of problem anywhere,” says Percy. “As soon as they started exporting chips, clear felling came in, and that’s when people started to sit up and take notice. They’d say look at the side of this hill, there’s nothing left. But if you came back in two or three years, you’d see it’s alive with trees, the wildlife has returned in abundance. But people from the town don’t see this cycle.” Percy believes forestry is nearly finished in Tasmania, and is worried that the carbon tax will cause things to become more expensive. “People don’t have the money anymore because there’s no work in Tasmania apart from mining.”
NOTHER WHO got off to a f lying start in the industry is Stephen Flewin: who was driving bulldozers when he was just 13, back in 1963. Surely that wasn’t legal? “No one really worried about that sort of thing,” was his response. Stephen, who proudly says he’s the only Flewin in Tasmania, lost his parents early and was raised by his godmother: his mother passed away when he was five, his father when he was 11. “My father was a bushman, an axe and cross-cut man, and into bulldozers too, so it was in my blood.” He worked for every contractor bar two in the Circular Head area. “I never stayed anywhere long enough to get holiday pay in those days. I moved around I guess because I just liked working for different people, although I worked for one contractor, Dallas Fox, three different times. He used to get a bit upset when I moved on, so I think I did a good job for him. We had a pretty good working relationship, and I can do everything. It didn’t matter whether it was driving the bulldozer, or falling a tree, or barking a log, or even welding something – Dallas taught me a lot about welding and that sort of thing.” Stephen went out on his own as a logging contractor in the late 70s. “I started off with one bulldozer, and it just went on from there,” he says. “I ended up buying trackloaders and then excavators, and more dozers, always working in the Smithton area. I had about five or six men working for me, and one truck driver, plus a subbie who carted for me as well.” He left the timber industry in 2005, having notched up a cool 40 years, and now does general contracting and farm work with his f leet of two excavators and a bulldozer.” Stephen lived very close to a sawmilli, J.S. Lee & Sons, which sold out and Kauri Timber Company. “When Gunns’ closed our sawmill here in Smithton, which goes back Kauri’s days, I was very sad, it brought tears to my eyes to be honest. We used to have a lot of sawmills here at one time. Now all we have is one small
sawmill at Roger River, which belongs to Matthew Timbers, and the other that belongs to Britton Timbers.” Stephen loved the job and is very sad to see what’s happened to Tasmania’s timber industry. “It should never have happened. I wouldn’t even like to be in Britton’s position now to be honest. I know Glenn Britton very well, I worked for him and I’ve been to rallies. I’ve said to Glenn at different times, if you’re having a rally, I’ll be there. I might be out of the timber industry, but I’ll support it ‘till the day I die.” He believes the woodchipping side has had its day. “She’s gone as far as I’m concerned. However, what we should keep going is select logging for our sawmills, high-value product.”
Get the business tools and political support you need for your contracting business. We provide our members with a range of services and information to help them build their businesses while providing the strength of unity in tough times.
For more details, contact David Drane David Drane P: 03 5133 7257 M: 0413 997 257 E: david.d@vic.australis.com.au www.afca.asn.au Australian Forest Contractors Association Ltd
26 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
KILNs
Moisture content measurement made easy D
RYZONE, WHICH specialises in technology to measure moisture content inside drying kilns and in the dry mill, has installations in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and South Africa. In fact, most of the softwood sawmills in Australia uses its electronics. The systems incorporated are the Dryzone in-kiln system and the AquScan in-line moisture meter. With the Dryzone in-kiln system, aluminium sensor plates are inserted in the fillet spaces of a timber stack inside the kiln. The sensor plates are 1.5m long, 90mm wide and 3mm thick. An electromagnetic wave is emitted by the sensor plates that propagate through the timber. Electronics mounted on the kiln wall/roof are used to determine the moisture content. The moisture content is measured accurately because a large number
of boards are sampled allowing for precise end point determination. This system was invented in Australia. The first prototype was installed at Tumut back in the nineties. Jacob Viljoen had just completed work as visiting scientist at CSIRO in wood drying and an opportunity presented itself at Tumut to develop and in-kiln MC system. This project was initiated by Andy McNaught, who was then working as technical manager at CSR Softwoods. The system was required to speed up the process of checking the final MC of a charge before releasing it. Since then it has been installed in more than 600 kilns worldwide, most of them in the USA and Canada. AquScan is an in-line moisture content measurement system that is used to measure the moisture content in individual boards in the drymill. A sensor head/bar made of solid steel is mounted 35mm
A quScan transversal installation – three sensor heads. below the path of moving boards. A weak electromagnetic field is generated above the sensor head. When a board moves above the sensor head the moisture causes a deflection in the electromagnetic field and this allows measurement of the MC. The electronics are not embedded in the sensor head but mounted safely away making the system more robust.
AquScan has reporting software that provides statistical information and allows the mill to track down problems in the dry kilns. This technology has also been tested in tough African conditions. It’s currently in operation in most CHH and Gunns softwood mills and some New Zealand mills. Recent installations by Dryzone include CHH Lakeside, Allied
Timber Products, Gunns Bell Bay, CHH Caboolture (in Australia); Niagara Sawmilling, Waimea Sawmilling, Nelson Forests, Craigpine Timbers (in New Zealand) plus Berneck (Brazil), Alto Parana (Argentina) and Sabie (South Africa). Dryzone is based in Melbourne but does most of its manufacturing in Cape Town.
A quScan sensor head.
ENGINEERS STANDING BY Choosing the wrong propeller can cost an operator thousands of dollars each year. That's why only Smithco offers engineering support for every propeller we sell. So when profits are on the line, call Smithco.
For the optimum cost/benefit backed by two decades of engineering excellence, put Smithco to work for you. • 100% reversibility for uniform drying cycles and maximum through-put • Permanent mold S-profile aluminum blades and hubs, heat-treated for
longest life in kiln environment
• Precision hubs with stainless steel hardware, balanced for low-noise,
vibration-free operation
• Fast, accurate blade pitch angle setting with Smithco’s exclusive Degree Gauge
SMITHCO MANUFACTURING, INC.
7911 N.E. 33rd Dr. • Portland, OR 97211 503-295-6590 • Fax 503-295-6822 www.smithcomfg.com • sales@smithcomfg.com
D ryzone sensor plates inside the kiln.
D ryzone electronic measure unit.
Innovative drying system INCOMAC’S MODEL IDV is being billed as a revolutionary and innovative wood drying system that does not require any type of auxiliary heating system. “Anyone in the lumber drying business or those contemplating drying lumber knows that it requires heat to dry lumber. Heat is essential in the drying process,” says a company release on the product. “Through a process called viscous dissipation, using fan speeds generates heat. Air speed generated by fans is the source of the thermal energy. The phenomenon of Viscous Dissipation is created by the turbulence and the friction of the wood surface, transforming the air speed into thermal energy. “There are no heat exchangers, furnaces, electrical
heating elements, stream valves, complicated plumbing systems, or the need for fire control systems. “The IDV system is efficient, easy to maintain, drastically reduces maintenance costs and simple to operate,” says the release. Incomac also says that comparing operating cost of the IDV to conventional systems results have shown as much as a 50% reduction per BF, and comparing drying times of hardwoods to conventional kilns drying cycle times have been less with superior results in quality. The chambers for the IDV system consist of: • chamber very much like conventional chambers. • Fans and variable speed drives. • Computer operating system.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 27
KILNs
A decade on for the solar gas kilns I
T IS now 10 years since Bellingen-based Solar Dryers Australia (SDA) commissioned the first two of its solar hot water kilns at Kempsey for Macleay River Hardwoods. This was quickly followed by another four kilns, this time for Kempsey Timbers (AST). In the following years, both of those companies added more kilns and there are now a total of 17 SDA kilns, of 50 and 75 m3 capacity in the shire. This puts Kempsey in the unique position of being the largest solar timber drying centre in the world and SDA,
at nearby Bellingen, is the only manufacturer worldwide of this type of kiln. SDA has now built approx 100 solar hot water kilns in ranging in sizes from 10 m3 to 100 m3. These kilns are in all states of Australia, Africa, USA, and Solomon Islands, with the latest being a 300 m3 installation in PNG. Operating costs are the big feature of these kilns, with savings of 70-80% on heating costs – amounting to many thousand of dollars annually for larger companies. Another 30 of the earlier model
solar kilns are still working well, and SDA has more recently produced Heat Treatment units for export packaging, and dryers for a number of other products. In the past couple of years Bruce Bishop has developed a full SCADA control system for SDA’s various types of dryer.
Combined with In Kiln Weight Stations, the system allows total control over any drying process, and gives a continuous readout of moisture content. Quality Assurance needs are met by full reporting and data logging, and remote log in allows control from anywhere in the
world with internet access. The PNG installation uses this system and the kilns were actually run from SDA’s Bellingen office for the first six months ! Current areas of research for SDA are drying of various nuts, coffee and heating of greenhouses.
Solar/Gas Kilns
www.solardry.com.au Bellingen NSW (02) 6655 2100
• Unique concept of solar/gas kilns • Australian designed & built • The most energy efficient kilns available • Supplied fully assembled or in kit form • Kilns from 10m3 to 100m3 • Also, heat treatment units for ISPM 15
28 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
SAWMILLING
Nothing goes to waste in this sawmill By Steve Kelly
F
IVE LOCAL families at the heart of a sawmill business in Barwite near Mansfield are determined to continue making inroads into recycling waste timber. Dieter and Pam Buchholz, trading as Dieters Firewood
Service and Lucas Mill, started the business in 1990 with its sawmilling operations running since 2001. The mill provides products and services such as timber for about eight regular builders, five fencing contractors, furniture makers of tables and bench tops, along with farmers.
However, it’s their focus on reducing their carbon footprint that’s making a real difference. Joe Kirley of Barwite’s Bargain Bulk Firewood and Timber Supplies, who with wife, Alicia, joined Dieter and Pam in 2006, said the logs they use are salvaged because they don’t fit the size specifications of industrial mills.
He said they’re turning something that would have been wasted completely into 100% reusable product. Mansfield Consulting Services principal, Phil Taylor, who has been working with the operators on the planning permit, said their perspective to salvage materials that would have gone to waste is a credit to them. He said the portable sawmill operators during the day-to-day
workings were conscious of waste, with every scrap now taken away and recycled. Another three men are also employed by the mill, providing five families - including 11 children - with their livelihoods. Other work sawmill staff carry out is the removal of dangerous trees in the district. The proprietors have also facilitated community tours of the site for organisations such as retirement village residents.
Sawmill back on track once again
J oe Kirley (left) and Dieter Buchholz have been making good use of timber that doesn’t fit the specifications of industrial mills.
The complete package in solid wood processing! WEINIG is synonymous with technological advancement. And has been for more than 100 years. WEINIG quality allows our partners around the world both in handcrafts and industry to stand out above the competition. With machines and systems that set standards in performance and economy. With intelligent production concepts for optimal value creation. And with customised solutions – from application through to service.
RIPPING · CROSS-CUTTING · OPTIMISING · FINGER JOINTING GLUING · PLANING AND PROFILING WINDOW PRODUCTION · AUTOMATION
ex p er t EINIG Your W IG.com W.WEIN at W W
WEINIG OFFERS MORE
MOST COUNTRY centres find it hard to recover from business closures, especially when the business employees a fair chunk of the available workforce. That was the case at Deanmill (near Manjimup) when Gunns closed its jarrah sawmill in February 2011. Fast forward a little over 12 months and there’s a sense of confidence once again in the community. The mill is working again. Western Australian-based Auswest took over the mill in December … “we acquired the Gunns assets they had remaining in WA,” says Gary Addison, Auswest managing director and one of the founders of the company. “In mid-January this year we actually started to put a few logs through the mill at Deanmill, gradually recommissioning it because it had been closed for over 12 months. “Gunns closed it down and made all the workers redundant. Once that happened it was also the death knell for the Manjimup Processing Centre that we also acquired. That was quickly running out of timber to process so with the closure of the mill 12 months down the track the MPC was in danger of closing as well,” he said. Basically, it was a tandem working arrangement with the sawmill supplying feedstock for the processing centre to dry and machine. {Auswest also has a fairly large karri sawmill at Pemberton that is now also providing feedstock into the MPC.} Back at the Deanmill site and Auswest put in a third resaw line and fortunes started to change. Deanmill employs 42 and Auswest has been able to maintain a workforce of 44 at the processing centre. “That means secure jobs for 86 people in the district.” “Our plan is that about 60% of the sawmill output will go into value adding which will be prime material, about 25% into structural and 15% into lower grade product material,” Addison said. Like any major business, every effort is made to ensure everything is utilized and even the sawmill residue goes to Simcoa (a silicon producer). “They like the jarrah because of its low ash output,” Addison says. The mill sources native re-growth timber from the southern forest area, from Bridgetown to past Pemberton, and Addison believes the timber industry is supporting an environmental gain. “While we’re harvesting trees, we’re also re-planting tree,” he says. “It’s a sustainable industry.” Despite all the positives, the Auswest plan has received a belting from the WA Forest Alliance which claims the community should look for more sustainable alternatives to harvesting native forests, like tourism and agriculture. “We’re not stopping tourism by the activities we undertake,” Addison said. “In fact, we probably add to tourism through forestry road construction and those types of things. I think it goes hand in hand. It’s not a case of one or the other. “If you don’t have one you probably don’t have the other. “If these forests are left and neglected then forestry roads go and before you know it the public can’t access these logging-use type areas. “It’s the same as what is happening in Tasmania now. You had Gunns maintaining roads and so forth and all of a sudden they’ve stopped and the Councils can’t afford to do it themselves so the roads close down,” Addison said. Auswest started back in 1996 as a private company with three shareholders and acquired a small mill in Busselton. Back in those early days Auswest was processing about 15000 to 20000 cubic metres of karri logs. Now, just in hardwood, Auswest processes about 140,000 cubic metres of logs plus a smaller pine mill that processes about 60,000 cubic metres in Fishwyck (ACT).
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 29
SAWMILLING
Britton Timbers: gearing for the future By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
T
O CONTAIN unit costs and stay competitive in a very tight marketplace, Britton Timbers’ strategy has always been to regularly update and upgrade plant and equipment and systems with the latest technology pertaining to their product and scale. “We’ve done this primarily by reinvesting the majority of our profits on the one hand into continually upgrading plant and equipment, and on the other hand, into preventive maintenance,” says general manager Glenn Britton. “This limits downtime, which is obviously very costly; and keeps
our machinery in the condition to produce the first-class product the marketplace demands.” The company’s last major capital expenditure occurred between 2004 and 2006, when $10m was invested in major upgrades to the green sawmill and the dry processing facility to bring everything right up to date. “When the opportunity arose to take up this industry-fund grant, we brought forward certain projects, particularly in the materialshandling facilities in our dry mill, and the possible acquisition of moulding and docking machines to cope with extra volume we’re currently producing from our green
mill as a result of Gunns’ exit;” says Britton. Some changes will also be made in the green mill. However, these will essentially fine tune the excellent plant and equipment in place, building on the good production and quality product they already have. The grant Britton refers to is the $600,000 ($420,00 after company tax is paid) his company secured from the $8m Tasmanian Innovation and Investment Fund, which is money for investment in projects that will provide sustainable employment, and diversify the state’s economy, particularly in regional areas. The company was required to match the grant, but will actually contribute in excess of $800,000 of its own funds. “We’re still finalising these projects,” says Britton. “Shawn [Britton, manager] is currently assessing the possibilities and doing the costings to achieve the best value, and also the best outcome for our product in terms of quality and unit costing.”
volumes can’t be met if this amount is reserved. If the two don’t meet, there’ll be no agreement. And if there’s no agreement, there may be no additional reserves in the short term – or even the long term – and so the war goes on.”
Turning tide However, Britton is convinced the tide is turning worldwide in regard to native forestry. “From the indications I’ve seen first hand in Europe and North America, there’s now an acceptance by moderate greens that appropriate forest management – including harvesting – is not detrimental to the health of native forest, and in fact can in most instances be beneficial. This attitude will flow through to Australia, and I suspect this is why there’s a mad rush by the radicals to lock up as much as they can while they can.”
The additional volume of sawlogs Britton Timbers has been processing as a result of the closure of the Gunns’ Smithton mill means they have extra sawn timber to put into the market. “At this stage, the market has been receptive to this extra volume,” says Britton. “I would think that in another year when all the Gunns’ stock is processed and out of the system, there could even be a stronger demand for Tasmanian oak because of that shortfall in traditional market places, particularly in flooring and joinery in the Victorian market.” Ninety-five per cent of Britton’s product goes into the appearance market: flooring, furniture, joinery and shop-fitting. “No longer is any of our Tasmanian oak used as framing-grade material: it’s now a specialist timber for specialist jobs, and therefore sits in the valueadded market.”
Forging ahead – with trepidation
New telescopic shaft adds to versatility
Britton admits that it’s with some trepidation that they forge ahead with these upgrades, in view of the ongoing confrontation with environmental groups and their determination to shut down all native forestry. “This is a perpetual cloud hanging over our heads. However, we take the attitude that despite their aims, Tasmania will have a viable native forest industry based on sustainable management – just as there is in Europe and North America – as our native forests here are well managed. Though at what level this industry will be, we can’t yet predict. “So we are positive,” he continues. “We have to be. If we don’t keep our plant and equipment up to date, when the dust settles we won’t be in a position to take advantage of the product that is available to us. Certainly, we’re taking a punt to a degree, but by the same token that’s what Brittons has always done.” Britton adds that the combination of this attitude, and the quality product they put into the marketplace to meet Australian and overseas demand, is the reason this is the oldest family sawmilling business still in existence in Tasmania, out of the hundreds that have come and gone over the century they’ve been operating. At the time of writing – late-June – it was not known whether any additional forest will be locked up. “Wood-supply volumes are part and parcel of the IGA,” says Britton. “This means that when the forests required to supply these volumes are identified, any surplus forest can be added to the reserves. This is the current sticking point: the environmental movement wants 572,000 hectares, but all the reports categorically state that wood-supply
HEWSAW IS delivering a new HewSaw R200 1.1 saw line to Stenvalls Trä AB in Lövholmen, near Piteå. The mill is located right in the North of Sweden, near the border with the Lapland area of Finland. Stenvalls Trä is expanding its operation by taking over the Lövholmen sawmill, which was previously closed down by the former owners. New facilities will be built for the new saw line towards the end of 2012, and the old facilities will house the new auxiliary equipment. The new HewSaw R200 1.1 with telescopic shaft is a new development from HewSaw and is a highly versatile sawing line. It has four adjustable telescopic saw blades in the rip saw, which enables the production of all three centre piece saw pattern examples with simultaneous optimisation of a set of single side boards on two sides. The saw line is equipped with the same telescopic shaft technology that is used in HewSaw large rip saws, but the shafts are placed in a vertical shaft arrangement. Therefore, it is an optimal sawing solution for unsorted small logs and/or short production batches. This migrates the technology usually only seen in larger high speed HewSaw Saw lines to the smaller single pass “R” Model machines often favoured by those with diverse product ranges or in need of very flexible production. “We have an entirely new vision of the use of this sawing machine, which combines the scan and set method and fixed saw patterns. Some standard machines will be installed before the saw line, but we are not going to have a traditional log sorting system. The new infeed system is the first of its kind in
Europe, and it suits our production methods perfectly,” says project manager Anders Nordmark, who is also the production manager of the Sikfors sawmill, a part of the Stenvalls Trä Group. The new sawing line is scheduled for delivery in January 2013. Stenvalls Trä is planning to start using the sawing line during early 2013, after what is planned to be a short and efficient commissioning process. Nordmark has previously worked as the manager of SCA’s Munksund sawmill, and has already had positive experiences of HewSaw sawing lines. In 1999, two HewSaw SL250 3.3 sawing lines were installed in Munksund. SCA is also one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of woodbased products, with an annual production of 2.2 million cubic metres. “I am familiar with HewSaw sawing lines. According to my experience, the machines are robust and have a high capacity, which suits our production well,” he says. Stenvalls Trä AB is a family business with paroduction facilities in Sikfors and Luleå, also in the same Northern area of Sweden. The production is targeted to produce planed products and specific orders according to customers’ quality, measurement and length requirements. The clientele consists primarily of companies in the furniture, window and door industries, and of retail chains that sell construction industry and building trade products. Sweden, Norway and Denmark are the biggest single markets, but the company delivers large quantities of upgraded products also to other European countries as well as to Japan.
30 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
SAWMILLING
From the mists a colossus arises From The Bombala Times
W
ITH HEAVY rain having cancelled the first tours planned for March this year, a group of eager Bombala locals gathered at the TASCO mill construction site in June, refusing to let the clouds chase them away. Tasco invited a cross section of the community to undertake site tours on the Saturday morning, with three separate groups touring the construction area of the enormous mill upgrade, named ‘Project Namu’. Throughout the hour-long tours visitors took in the huge scale of the upgrade project, including everything from road works through to new state-ofthe art equipment and necessary buildings. Tasco reported that the construction was on schedule with more than 12,000 truck loads of earthworks dug and approximately 90 industrial containers full of equipment delivered to the site to date.
With a current 5.6 hectare work front newly-appointed project manager Craig Lamont is pleased with the progress. “It is fantastic to see the site transforming on a daily basis. The completed construction is going to be something the entire Bombala region will be very proud of,” he said. With Boral in Bombala supplying more than 750 trucks of concrete to the Sandy Lane site between April and July this year, involvement by the Bombala community is crucial to the success of this construction phase. “We are pleased to partner with local suppliers and the broader Bombala community throughout the mill expansion,” Lamont said. Tour participants were amazed by the rapid progress of the project since major earthworks were completed recently, and most were left astonished by the figures involved in the $74 million expansion. The multi-million dollar investment includes construction
At a glance Project Namu quick facts •4 8,000 square metres of pavement has been laid at the site coverage of more than two city blocks. •F ive new buildings will soon be constructed at the site, covering a footprint of 12,500m2. •A pproximately 20,000m2 of cladding will be attached to these new buildings (enough to cover four rugby fields). •O verall, there will be approximately 130 industrial containers of vendor equipment delivered to the site.
S hrouded in fog during the
tour, this section of the site will house three saws.
of a new green mill, planer and timber treatment plant as well as the associated infrastructure such as boilers, kilns, and new site access and offices HewSaw will deliver an SL250 TRIO sawing line to the new operation. The sawing line model is similar to one that HewSaw delivered to the French Farges sawmill in 2009 and to Vapo Timber Oy sawmill at Hankasalmi, Finland, in the spring of 2011. One of the sawing line’s greatest
T he $74 million mill expansion is moving forward on schedule, with a current 5.6 hectare work front.
T he state-of-the art log sorter has created great interest
during installation, and will soon be fitted with its scanner.
features is its scan-n-set mode. Additionally, the operator can define the log quality just before sawing between packaging and construction quality. The scan-nset mode will according to log size and quality, choose the saw pattern and product sizes and the set the machines log by log at 150 m/min at most. The reliable automation, easy maintenance with service openings and occupational safety are also well known HewSaw features. The new delivery includes a log sorting line, sawmill infeed system and ground floor handling system including chip screens and off-line chipper provided by Nordautomation Oy as well as the new VK8000HD-Combi-3R debarker by Valon Kone Oy. The debarker comes complete with a log butt-end reducer and two Air Seal debarking rotors with pneumatic blade pressure. Nordautomation Oy will deliver the Combi sawmill infeed system and conveyors for the ground floor system and the lumber conveyors to the HewSaw sawing line. In addition to the log infeed, a
sorting line with 10 + 1 log bins is integrated into the Combi sawmill infeed system. The line speed is 150 m/minute. The versatile and flexible solution has been tailored to the Dongwha Timbers needs. HewSaw’s turnkey delivery also includes automation and the log scanning equipment. The automation will be delivered by TUI Technology from New Zealand and the log scanning equipment and optimising will be provided by Prologic+ from Canada. Both companies have been HewSaw’s partners in a number of projects over the years. Kit-Sell Oy has separately agreed on the delivery of a dimension sorting plant and a sticking stacking plant, which will be turnkey deliveries. The plants will utilise Kit-Sell’s most advanced timber handling technology such as the modular TS21 trimmer and SCPB sorting conveyor. The maximum speed of the dimension sorting plant is 160 pieces/minute and, depending on the timber dimension, the sticking plant can reach the speed of 240 pieces/minute.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 31
SAWMILLING
Sawmill upgrade makes life easier A
N $800,000 upgrade to the SA Relf & Sons sawmill at Bulahdelah is not just a boon for the business but it’s a shot in the arm for the community and the region. Parliamentary secretary for natural resources Troy Grant officially opened the new mill system and said the industry could not survive without the commitment and confidence to innovate in times of trouble. ‘‘People underestimate the value these long term residents have invested in the town of Bulahdelah,’’ Tea Gardens Mayor Len Roberts told those at the official function. ‘‘Their contribution to the fabric and sustainability of the town needs support from all levels of Government,’ said Great Lakes councillor Jan McWilliams. The idea for the new computercontrolled multi-saw line was first mooted last year and
specialists A.E.Gibson came into the equation. The engineering business, renowned as a leading manufacturer of high-tech timber processing equipment, was charged with designing and installing a state-of-theart system that could cope with the rigours of cutting east coast hardwoods and increase throughput. Gibson received the goahead about six weeks prior to Christmas and a job that would normally take 12 weeks was ready for installation during the Christmas shut-down. Relf’s removed the old gear and, with some space restrictions, the new system was installed. Gibson staff and the Relf team worked side by side in ensuring the multi-saw line would be ready for commissioning straight after the break. The machine was totally
G uard removed to show 6 unguided saws on telescopic arbours.
continued next page.
M ulti saw infeed.
Off the shelf solutions, customised for your mill G len Dorney (director), Anthony Dorney (director) and Dave Malone (Mill Supervisor) at Multi saw controls.
For over 100 years, we’ve been engineering solutions for the timber industry. In that time, we’ve designed and built a range of equipment proven to improve mill productivity. But we’ve yet to meet a client who didn’t need some modifications to make even the best equipment fit their particular space and needs. Contact us for a quote to make your mill even more productive.
T he founders of Newell’s Creek Sawmill. (from left to right)
Arthur Harvey (son in law), Bart Shoobridge (farther in law) and Harold Dorney (son in law).
• manufacturing • sawmilling equipment • log carriages • resaws • multisaws and board edgers • automatic sorters and stackers • transfers and conveyors. Complete turnkey projects.
From major start-ups to retro-fits, if you want professional service and advice, contact us.
AE Gibson & Sons Phone 02 6559 4001 Email: johns@aegibsonman.com.au
www.aegibsonman.com.au
32 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
SAWMILLING
F looring and decking – Anthony Dorney standing next to flooring and decking products in the dry mill shed.
Sawmill upgrade makes life easier continued from previous page. designed in house by Robert Mudge and his drafting team. Installation was commissioned by Pat Daley and Christian Gibson who had recently returned from installing a Gibson sawmill in PNG. John Scott, Gibson’s sales manager, takes up the story... “The six-saw board edger can cut anything from 17mm to 300mm with a depth of cut of 170mm.
“The big thing about it is that it has telescopic arbors so that the saws were unguided and moved on the telescopic arbors rather than the guides moving the saws. What Relf actually wanted to do was be able to get in normally with a conventional multisaw. It’s hard to get in below 25mm because of the thickness of the guides so by using telescopic arbors we were able to get into 17mm. “We had built telescopic arbours before but were reluctant
to build a machine to cut North Coast hardwoods up to 170mm depth of cut using unguided saws. “We also put in (as part of the project) the infeed, the outfeed; we had a sort system behind it so that timber could go to waste to the green chain and could go back to a bench for resawing or it could go to either of two dockers. “The new machine replaced an existing bench and while the actual Edger space was not a problem fitting in the five way sort system and waste removal
T he mill during the 1940s.
True Shape Carriage Scanning System FEATURES
• True Shape 3D Prole (Cant, Board, MOF, BOF) • Front or rear scan option • Scaleable taper rules • Fast laser snapshot & high denition prole on the y • Comprehensive reports • Ideal for Softwood and Hardwood Sawmills • Local supply with local support 24 hour/7 days
MAIN OFFICE: 4 Portside Drive Mt Maunganui New Zealand. Ph:+64 7 574 6223 Email.sales@automationelec.com Website: www.automationelec.com USA OFFICE: Ruston, LA Ph:+1 318 243 5974 or +1 318 548 7852 EMAIL: jeff@automationelecusa.com Website: www.automationelecusa.com
SEE US AT:
Portland Metro Expo Center Portland USA October 17-19 2012
system was a bit of a challenge.” The new system has been operating for almost six months now and, according to Relf, it’s met all the parameters. The mill’s throughput prior to the new sawline being installed was around 35 cubic metres but this has now increased to about 40 ... and there’s less stress on the workers! It’s interesting to note that both Relf and Gibson are not only pioneers of modern day practices but have significant history on their side, too. In fact, they’re both fourth-generation businesses. The Dorney Group of Companies operates the Relf Mill (Bulahdelah) and also the Newell’s Creek Sawmill at Markwell, plus logging and haulage. Delving back into the history books (courtesy Marius Heymann, business advisor to the Group), the Newell’s Creek Mill was set up by Bart Shoobridge, Arthur Harvey and Harold Dorney more than 70 years ago. Today it’s a fourth generation family business with ddirectors Gary, Glen and Anthony Dorney.
Older brother Greg Dorney broke away from the company to form his own company (Bulahdelah Haulage) and subcontracts to the group. The Dorney Group is a major employer in the region with more than 100 people on its books. Relf & Sons has won an ATIC / Quality Certified Hardwood Award. Australian Timber Industry Certification (ATIC) operates independent third party quality certification schemes for the Australian timber industry. The ATIC quality mark identifies timber products that are certified to comply with recognized standards and specifications. The Newell’s Creek Sawmilling Co. consists of salvage sawmill, export woodchip plant (subcontracted to Boral), workshop (the Group of companies maintenance facility), firewood processing plant, and administration headquarters. Newell’s Creek Logging contracts with Forests NSW (mechanised harvesting crew), and the Dorney Group Plantations project started in 2011, planted April/May 2012. It has planted a 20 acre area with seedlings
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 33
SCANNING
Reaping the benefits of high-tech development A
SOLID working relationship between New Zealand-based Automation & Electronics (A&E) and Australian-based timber processing equipment manufacturer A.E. Gibson has resulted in many centres in both nations reaping the benefits of their expertise. One of the latest Australian installations involving the two specialist bodies was at S.A. Relf, Bulahdelah. Now, the state-of-the-art computerised mill is geared with a strong future in store. First, though, it’s good to have a look back at where A&E started to stake its claim in the highly specialist field. “In 1992 the first A&E vision system was developed on a Shurman Edger infeed pre-positioner for CHH in Kopu. This was a two camera system that viewed the end of Cants and overlaid the saw lines. The development was solely carried out by A&E engineer Tony Cable on an MS Dos C that communicated with the setworks PLC,” said A&E director Brian Smith. “After solving various issues including scalability and calibration it became the first of its type to be deployed in a live situation,” he said. The system was later upgraded in early 2000. After the original EdgerView system in CHH Kopu Sawmill no further developments occurred until in 1997 when A&E put in a bid for an Edger setworks upgrade on a new Edger for Kiwi Lumber in Dannevirke. A&E had been selected as preferred supplier for the setworks. “At that time we discussed the concept of a vision system in place of the laser tower directly on the infeed roll case with a local engineering company who confirmed with that the concept was a good idea and option. “The main advantages we could see were no more lasers; lasers fail and go out of alignment and a mill operator can follow a laser for
many hours not knowing it is out of line with the saw and producing incorrect material that has to be resawn. Other advantages become apparent as the mill no longer had to be dark in order to see the lasers. Light could be introduced to enable the operator to get a better view of grade, defects etc. “Also as there was no longer a big laser tower structure over the top of the machine. The operator now had a better view of the outfeed which enabled him to see problems like jam ups, downstream stoppages and we should also mention the additional safety aspects of being able to see people around the Edger outfeed,” Smith said.
Add-on option a success “This add-on option was put forward to Kiwi by A&E and the engineering company. Kiwi liked the idea and elected for a new machine and placed a separate order with A&E for the Setworks and Vision system (EdgerView),” he explained. Further systems were later sold in New Zealand to Rosvall, R H Tregoweth, WPI Tangiwai, Central Otago Lumber, plus two systems for Cants were sold to CHH Tokoroa and CHH Putaruru. The EdgerView was officially registered as a trademark on 15 November 2000. The same year A&E developed another type of vision system using Camsensor camera technology for measuring log diameters and sawline overlay on End dogging Twinband at Tachikawa forest products. This is an exclusive A&E product. “Also in 2000 a similar but different EdgerView system was
developed as a two camera system for Oliver & Haua Engineering on the dual infeed pre-positioner for Pacific Pines Edger in Putaruru. “This differed in that in past systems the moveable lines on the screen could not skew. In other words the board or Cant was positioned under the lines and moved by positioners or spotting chains. The new system meant the board stayed stationary on pin stops and the setting lines were skewed in position on the PC screen. This passed the solution to the setworks infeed positioners. This concept and idea was by Peter Oliver with the mechanical and hydraulics design being carried out by him also and the system software and controls were done by A&E. “A second system was later sold to Waitete Sawmills based on the Pacific Pine installation, only this time A&E incorporated enhanced low level look-up table optimiser,” Smith said. During the late nineties A&E had also started dialog with Australian sawmill machinery manufacturer A E Gibson and after a further discussion at AUSTimber in 2000 the first installation on a Gibson machine occurred during 2001. Gibson was however still reluctant to use the EdgerView on its machines but after some discussion and a tour of New Zealand installations with
E dgerView on Shurman Edger at R H Tregoweth Sawmill Te Kuiti NZ.
Gibson’s sales manager John Scott this provided them with the confidence to consider this option for the AE Gibson Multisaw and subsequently further EdgerView systems were install on Gibson Edger’s throughout Australia. As the relationship with Gibson evolved into optimisation the AE EdgerView system became an integral part of the Edger Optimisation package as it offered the ability to grade override the geometric scanned solution from the optimiser if a grade decision was required and also the default option of running manually in the event the optimizer was down for any reason. “This meant the Gibson Opti Edger offered the most versatility
of any Edger in Australasia and subsequently Gibson systems were sold throughout NZ and Australia. “The latest system for A E Gibson was recently installed at S.A. Relf in NSW. These latest generation systems run on a Windows 7 operating system combined with EtherNet Gigbit solid state cameras for high speed image capture and communications. “Since A&E pioneered the EdgerView system a couple of competitors have attempted to replicate the development however A&E has remained at the forefront due to continued development and wider variation and integration,” Smith said. EdgerView is also been introduced into the US market via A&E’s US office in Louisiana.
Virtual Operator Interface Live Sawline Positioning (without laser) For manually controlled Edgers FEATURES • • • • • •
Live video of actual board with adjustable sawlines overlayed No need for lasers Increased lighting enables better view of wane defects Adapts also to prepositioning infeeds Better view of outfeed (no laser tower) Application in both Green mill/Dry mill
• Box Pith End Option >>>
MAIN OFFICE: 4 Portside Drive Mt Maunganui New Zealand. Ph:+64 7 574 6223 Email.sales@automationelec.com Website: www.automationelec.com
E dgerView integrates with AE IRIS Edger Optimiser on a Gibson Edger in NSW.
USA OFFICE: Ruston, LA Ph:+1 318 243 5974 or +1 318 548 7852 EMAIL: jeff@automationelecusa.com Website: www.automationelecusa.com
SEE US AT:
Portland Metro Expo Center Portland USA October 17-19 2012
34 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
SCANNING
Value and grade recovery boo A
T LEAST a part of the rationale for turning over the manual grading process to a machine was to eliminate the speed and grading limitations attributed to human grading. But the biggest surprise ended up being a huge
value increase, so much, in fact, that Westervelt bought its second scanner after the first had been in production for only nine months! Westervelt Lumber produces 472,000m3 (200MMBF) annually at its single site facility in Moundville,
r e t a e r g t e G
e u l va r u o y from
r e b tim
Lucidyne’s GradeScan system eliminates the guesswork of grading your lumber. Get the most value from your fiber by automating your planer grading line with this machine and end up with consistent and accurate results at far higher production rates. You can use GradeScan® as your visual AND stand-alone strength grading machine, or harness GradeScan’s® automated grading power in combination with your existing mechanical or acoustic strength system. Lucidyne is successfully scanning the most difficult lumber in the world. For technical details including how to get the most out of your scanning system, visit our website.
Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. Phone: +1 541 753 5111 Fax: +1 541 766 8444 e-mail: info@lucidyne.com 155 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333, USA www.lucidyne.com
Alabama. The bulk of its products include Dimension grades of Southern Yellow Pine as well as decking and multiple appearance grades, with nominal sizes ranging from 25x100mm to 150x150 mm. Both of its planer grading lines
required a minimum of four people to keep up with the production volume, but that only left them two to three seconds on any board. There was also an opportunity to serve a higher value market, but that meant needing to meet more exacting customer expectations. The end result was that graders were being asked to make more important decisions in less time, so the recovery wasn’t as nearly as good as it could be. The mill realized that it was using scanners and computers at almost every step of the breakdown process in the sawmill to get the best value out of the fibre, but were depending on real-time human decisions for determination of the value for each board once the lumber reached the planer mill. It was apparent that that automating the grading process was the solution. The mill’s lead quality control person and the local grading agency inspector headed up a team to select a scanning system supplier. Lumber was graded by hand and then sent to several scanner suppliers for evaluation. The team spent several days at each supplier’s factory with this same batch of wood and compared the results statistically for accuracy. After two rounds of testing over a two-year period, Lucidyne was chosen because Westervelt also liked their included control, monitoring, and analysis software. “What we wanted to do was be able to react if the sales force calls and says they need so many packs of something, that we can make a quick adjustment in price and grade,” said Tommy Clemmons, Site Manager. “The technology we saw with Lucidyne, we felt confident that was the company we wanted to work with.” Lucidyne’s lineal GradeScan system was installed in line with Westervelt’s Line 2 planer in August of 2010. Besides its well-known Grade Mark Reader and a Warp Bridge to measure warp when boards are relaxed, several other elements set Lucidyne’s offering apart from other systems. One of the key features is its patented True-Q system. The True-Q tracks lumber using the “fingerprint” of the board, with no ink or paint marks. Merely taking a snapshot of one face of the board once it gets to the lug chain is sufficient for recognition; the scanner itself saw all four faces of the board so it doesn’t matter if the board turned over before it got to the True-Q camera. The result is a very low reject rate compared to other methods, and essentially no maintenance. The scanner also features twice the resolution of any other scanner, which is necessary for successful defect detection of the tiniest fiber characteristics in higher valued lumber. There are plenty of other advantages built in to Lucidyne’s GradeScan, but the most important to Westervelt is how this tool benefits their business. Darryl Lightsey, Quality Process Manager, pointed out that the system has delivered a huge uplift in grade distribution. Before installing Lucidyne’s
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 35
SCANNING
osted with automated grading equipment, the percent of lumber grading below #2 was in the low 20s. Now, Lightsey says, that number is in the low teens. “We’ve seen a significant uplift in C, #1, #2 prime, 2 and better percentage and in premium decking,” said Lightsey. “We not only saw #2 and better change, we saw the mixture within change—more #1s off the #2s, some C out of ones, that kind of thing.” The immediate result was with no change in the wood input, there was
a lot more value coming out. Once the lumber hit the market, the mill got a few calls from a customer who noticed a change in their lumber and wanted to know why it was not on grade. Westervelt responded by proving that it was indeed on grade, but was also able to make changes for specific customers to keep them happy. One example was a customer who complained about there being too many knots near the ends of boards. “We went in and changed our
G radeScan installed outside planer room. Scanner pulls out for maintenance.
parameters to not allow knots in the last three inches of the boards, and it only took a few seconds to make the change,”Lightsey said. Westervelt’s second GradeScan was installed in March and they have since found other ways to recover even more value from their fibre. Examples include trimming boards with wet pockets instead of downgrading the whole board; utilizing the scanner’s ability to strength grade lumber (it is certified
W estervelt’s QC going over weekly
lumber test results as part of the mill’s continuous improvement program.
Local innovation pushes the global boundaries WHO SAID all good technology only evolves out of Europe or North America! While this has generally been the consensus of an industry that over many years that has many times sought to purchase offshore, New Zealandbased Automation & Electronics NZ Ltd has raised the bar challenging offshore - and in particular North American providers - in the controls and optimisation arena. Although A&E has not developed products that address all aspects of the industry it has proved a competitive option for companies considering Carriage, End Dogging, Edger & Trimmer Optimisation and Kiln Drying outside of their traditional Australasian market. A&E realised a window of opportunity in North American when in 2006 it acquired the assets and records
Learned some valuable lessons along the way of Silvatech Corporation, a USA provider of some 1380 installations over its 30 years history in North America. The main players like USNR, Comact, Autolog etc. were focusing their attention on high speed lineal saw lines, however, as A&E embraced itself into the North American market it realised there were a significant number of clients and traditional family businesses that had not received the support they were wishing for from their providers. “Given the installed base we had developed in New Zealand and Australian sawmills and the long association with Windsor Engineering, which was also moving into the US market, we decided we had the justification to go into a serious product development program to enable us to compete in this market,” says Brian Smith, managing director of A&E. “The key here was to focus on a limited product range and niche market, do it once and do it well,” he said. A&E’s product development team has been through some extreme learning curves in a time when investing in development is hard to justify given the global economy over the past five years.
However, A&E 3D Optimisation and control with Log Carriage, Edger & End Dogging has really accelerated in the last couple of years and has resulted in successful installations in New Zealand, Australia, PNG and the United States. “The other area of growth is our CDK ( Continuous Drying Software ) developed for Windsor CDK Kilns which has now been successfully installed in Weyerhaeuser and Rex Lumber in the United States,” Smith said. “A&E has learned some valuable lessons along the way,” he says. “We need to work with clients who want to own the technology and keep it in tune and calibrated to maintain the benefits. A customer who does not understand or cannot keep the system in tune is not a reference we want. There are many influences outside our control other than the machine itself that affect production. These include machine changes in the mill, change in log diet and personnel to name a few,” he says, “and, all of these need to be kept in check in order to optimise the optimisation. “A&E has concentrated on utilisation of industry standard control products combined with the right scanning device for the application at hand. Some very smart tools within the optimisation programs give A&E products a point of difference that adds value to our customers,” Smith says. Recent applications include a 3D End Dogger for A E Gibson in PNG, Carriage Optimisation at Edwards Lumber, Berkshire Lumber, and last month the very latest 3D Carriage system at Bee Forest Products (in Wisconsin) combined with Edgers in the US at Rockhill Lumber, Algoma Lumber and the new 3D system at Wheeland Lumber in Pennsylvania. “We are replacing traditional Silvatech and Inovec systems and challenging the big guys with personalised local service at both ends of the Globe; no agents, it us at either end, not like our competitors who rely on agents in regions that are not local to them. “We are now deeply involved in further development of pith and corewood detection and grade scanning on greensawn lumber. Further enhancements to our products and having local optimisation people and this knowledge base at hand in New Zealand and Australia can only be good for the industry.
for stand-alone MSR/MEL grading without x-ray, bending, or other equipment); and taking advantage of its very high resolution sensors to develop high-value products for niche markets. Scotty Nolan, Production
Superintendent reported, “In the next few months we hope to continue to refine the system to increase our speeds even more – not just the grading but the overall line. The difference is the graders aren’t the holdup anymore.”
36 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
New harvesting head for the heaviest of assignments K
OMATSU FOREST is pleased to announce the introduction of the 398 in the Australian forestry market. The North American market will also see the 398 through 2012. The new Komatsu 398 is designed to handle a large range of forests, from first thinnings to clear fall, working as both a harvesting head or a processor for pre-felled timber. With its well-considered design, based on tried-and-tested components and a structrally strong chassis, the Komatsu 398 can cope with the tough assignments. Suitable carriers for the Komatsu 398 include excavators in the 27 ton class and upward, or a purposebuilt forest machine such as
the Komatsu XT450L. Low maintenance costs and minimal downtime have been the key objectives in the development of this new harvesting head. The well thought out chassis construction and the fully protected hose routing through the rotator are prime examples of incorporating these objectives in the design. The trunk feed through the head uses three feed rollers, which are powered by four hydraulic motors, with a geometric placement and movement pattern that enables them to not only feed the trunk through the head but also to lift it. The result is a secure trunk grip and superb measurement performance. The
feed rollers are controlled by two cylinders with an equaliser bar. The standard Komatsu 398 has three delimbing knives. Optionally, two additional delimbing knives can be mounted in the rear section of the head. An optional top saw is also available. The standard head is equipped with EcoOiler, an innovative system that provides effective control over the amount of lubricant fed to the chain and bar. The Komatsu 398 is designed for use with the MaxiXplorer Head control system.
Specifications: • Weight from 2,975 kg from 6,500 lbs
•M aximum feed diameter: 750mm 29.5” •T ip to tip delimbing diameter 630mm 24,8” •R ated feed force 40 kN 8,990 lbf •R ated feed speed 5.4 m/sec 16 fps
Facts: Komatsu Forest Komatsu Forest is an international group with its headquarters and technology center in Umeå, Sweden. Komatsu Forest produces the Komatsu brand of forest machines and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers in this sector. Komatsu Forest has some 1,300 employees and is
represented in all markets where mechanized forestry is used. The company has two manufacturing units, one in Sweden and one in the US. Komatsu Forest has customers all over the world, served by own sale companies or dealers in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Oceania and Asia. Komatsu Forest AB is owned by the Japanese company Komatsu Ltd. Komatsu Ltd is the world’s second largest manufacturer of construction, mining and forestry machinery. The company has annual sales of US$ 22,2 billion and 41,000 employees. Production takes place at 54 factories located throughout the world.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 37
surveillance
C aught in the act.
Cameras help crackdown on illegal forest activity F
ORESTRYSA is continuing its campaign against illegal activities in the forest with the help of its publicised camera surveillance network. The network was established across the plantation estate in May 2010 as a means to help reduce and control instances of rubbish dumping, tree cutting in native vegetation and other illegal activities that cost ForestrySA considerable time and money each year. Since starting two years ago, the camera network has captured images that have been used as evidence in successful enforcement action for breaches of the Forestry Act and Native Vegetation Act. ForestrySA Ranger Mark Whan said cameras were installed in strategic areas of the forest estate and were relocated across the Green Triangle as needed. “Our surveillance cameras have significantly improved the likelihood of offenders being caught and are an important supplement to the regular patrols carried out by Rangers,” he said. “The cameras are very small, hard to find and can record video, still and infra-red images. They have undoubtedly been instrumental in helping us identify people doing the wrong thing. We have little tolerance for people breaching any aspects of the law, and when offenders are caught Rangers take the appropriate disciplinary action,” he said.
However, despite the success of the camera network, ForestrySA Rangers continue to witness illegal activities across the Green Triangle. Activities prohibited on ForestrySA land: • Dumping of rubbish and other items • Illegal entry to forest areas and reckless use of vehicles and motorbikes • Driving off designated roadways and tracks • Driving in native forest and fencedoff areas
• Vandalism • Cutting and collecting firewood without a permit ForestrySA continues to seek public cooperation in helping to address these issues and urges anyone with information regarding illegal activity on forest reserves to call ForestrySA on 8724 2888, during business hours. All information will remain confidential and some cases may be referred to police for further action.
AIR CTI may Save Your Life AIR CTI will Save Your Business More traction Longer tyre life Better braking Longer truck life Heals roads
Longer driver life Healthier Safer Greener More profits
AIR CTI IS NECESSARY FOR CORRECT TYRE MANAGEMENT ThE BEST CTI AT ThE BEST PRICE.
AIR CTI 03 5127 6128
or
andrew@aircti.com www.aircti.com
Our surveillance cameras have significantly improved the likelihood of offenders being caught and are an important supplement to the regular patrols carried out by Rangers.
38 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
Back in the forestry business H
AVING RECENTLY being awarded the Tigercat franchise for SA, VIC and TAS, Onetrak has witnessed a surge in activity from forestry contractors seeking a wide range of services from parts supply, mechanical services and equipment sales. “The Tigercat product is a premium forestry product and it is no surprise that we are generating new business to forestry clients since starting the relationship with Tigercat in March 2012. What is nice to see is the renewed interest in our general range of products from this market sector that supports our wider suite of product such as Hyundai Construction Equipment,” said David Hazell, managing director Onetrak Pty Ltd. “Apart from the highly-productive purpose-built products that we can now offer the market with our Tigercat range there is still a place in some forestry operations for the excavator conversion where capital savings can be made and high-end performance is less critical,” he said. “The Hyundai excavator has always adapted well to this application with its heavy duty boom and arm sets (incorporating cast ends for durability) and the unmistakably rugged undercarriage – especially on the High Chassis models. “When Onetrak started in Tasmania in 2006, as much as 40% of our total business was generated from the forest industry and we converted many excavators for work in native or plantation forests with great success. Some of these machines today have accumulated more than 14,000 productive hours and are still working hard for their owners.
T he blokes who make it happen (from left) John Turvey, Steve Howell and Andrew Evans. “With the expansion of our business to Victoria in 2008 and the eventual (let’s hope temporary) wind back of the Tasmanian forest industry, our business was forced to focus less on the forest industry and more in the expanding civil construction and infrastructure driven industries. “Now having Tigercat as a primary product to offer the forest industry, the more traditional areas of our business, such as the fabrication department, have become very busy as we accommodate our customers’ requests to modify machines to suit
K ettle Logging Hyundai R210LC-7 modified to accommodate processor.
R ecent modifications to Hyundai R290LC-9 for G&R Logging.
their various applications,” Hazell said. "There are no two 'builds' the same, however, there are some common denominators that most contractors require such as over cabin guarding, window protection, track / under-body strengthening and additional lighting packages.
For machines with high-oil flow demand we encourage our customers to fit off-line hydraulic oil coolers to the machine to ensure the machine can operate at its full potential in all ambient temperatures. A speciality of ours is the cab-riser for contractors who either want the benefit of the better
vision or additional storage area on the machine for spare bars, chains and hoses etc. “Our team recently completed a R290LC-9 for G&R Logging in Mt Gambier and we are near completion of another unit for G&C Plant Hire to run a processor in Skipton, Victoria,” said Hazell.
Need for reliability and performance was catalyst for start of new business THIS YEAR marks Tigercat’s 20th year in business. When Tigercat began in 1992, it was with just a few employees working in a back corner of the MacDonald Steel fabrication shop. This small team worked diligently to design and build a better feller buncher. Why? Because loggers from Virginia to Florida to Texas said that they were not really happy with the performance, reliability and lifespan of the machines that they were currently running. Just to expand on what Tigercat found in those earlier days, a vintage Tigercat sales document (1993) outlines the problems that loggers had with existing machines and how the 726 feller buncher addressed those issues. The original Tigercat designers uncovered these shortcomings during their initial market research blitz in the southern US. Market acceptance of Tigercat machines has largely resulted from the company’s ability to rapidly transform customer feedback into demonstrable product improvements. Essentially, Tigercat exists because of its remarkable ability to transform problems into solutions. Overcoming challenges is an ability that is deeply entrenched in Tigercat’s culture. This intensive focus on the forestry industry is what enables the medium sized, privately held company to compete successfully in an arena occupied primarily by multinational industry giants. Tigercat’s innovative and ongoing design improvements are steered toward increasing safety, minimizing environmental impact and reducing harvesting cost per tonne. For example, Tigercat was never satisfied with the inefficient conventional feller buncher boom that combines two arcing motions to obtain the desired reach effect. Tigercat’s ER boom boosts productivity, allowing the feller buncher operator to quickly extend and
retract the boom on a horizontal plane with a single joystick. ER is also more energy efficient than conventional boom systems resulting in lower fuel consumption per tonne of wood produced. Tigercat has introduced many equally important groundbreaking innovations in past years. In 1994, Tigercat released the first in a series of high capacity bunching saws and shears that have contributed to significant increases in feller buncher productivity. Interestingly, the dual post bunching saws and shears, originally designed for Tigercat wheel feller bunchers, have more recently found application on track feller bunchers in southern hemisphere eucalyptus plantations. To commemorate 20 years in the manufacture of forestry equipment, Tigercat is producing a film that will take you through the Tigercat facilities and across the globe to four harvesting operations – all in an effort to tell the story of a unique company that has grown so quickly and played so prominently in the timber harvesting industry. AUSTimber 2012 (near Mount Gambier) was a great show for Tigercat and co-hosts Forest Centre (Tigercat dealer for NSW, Queensland and WA) and Onetrak (Tigercat dealer for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Along with Tigercat management, engineering, sales, marketing and field personnel and Forest Centre and Onetrak team members, representatives from many Tigercat dealers across the southern hemisphere were also in attendance, including AB Equipment in New Zealand, AfrEquip in South Africa and Tracbel in Brazil. Interest in Tigercat products seemed to be very strong and with the blue gum expansion set to kick off with increased export volumes predicted out of the Mount Gambier - Portland region, it all augers well for a bright future.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 39
Fuels & Lubricants
Getting the best out of your machines H arvester operator Brett Mitchell adds a little bit of Morris.
T
HERE ARE all forms of protection available these days ... extra guarding, fire systems, insurance, training and the list goes on. There is, however, one form of protection that most astute operators are well aware of and that’s oils and lubricants. Without these wear-reducing oils and greases machinery just can’t be expected to constantly withstand the rigours of bush work and keep going. The old saying seems to fit the bill ... a touch of preventative maintenance beats a handful of hassles! Matt Stoppa, of Sierra Forest Services, has operations in the north east and central districts of Victoria and is now using Morris oils in the harvesting equipment he runs. “We run Logmax and Waratah processors along with Caterpillar, John Deere and Valmet machines,” says Matt. Specialising in the harvesting of plantation pine with various machines and systems they are always looking to improve their business. “I try and use the best quality equipment I can afford and had read about the good results other contractors were getting with Morris Oils,” Matt says. “We started trialing the Croma 30 harvester bar and chain oil and can say it has reduced bar rail and chain wear along with reduced consumption.
“We are using the Morris Ring Free VS Plus in up to Tier III and the Ring Free Ultra Plus in Tier IIII engines. “We have now started to use it in all our equipment with confidence. The newer diesels now run a lot hotter; they use EGR and the engines just under more pressure so I put in the best oil to avoid trouble,” he says. It’s not as though Morris is a name from more recent days … Morris Lubricants was founded in 1869, and has been blending quality lubricants in the UK for well over 140 years, and now exports to more than 60 countries worldwide. In fact, Morris is one of the oldest and most highly regarded lubricant manufacturers in Europe with a long list of OEM accreditations and approvals. Being an independent company with no affiliation to chemical companies or refineries, Morris Lubricants is in the enviable position of being able to source the best raw materials available without causing internal political conflicts. This means that Morris Lubricants is able to formulate products, and unlike major oil companies with their own refineries, are able to fine tune performance levels by assessing raw materials and combining the best available in the marketplace, in order to give its product the edge. All of this is done with extensive research, development and testing, to ensure that Morris Lubricants meet the requirements of virtually every
S ierra Forest Services machines in action “The best results I have seen, though, are with the diesel engine oils. We started running it in a John Deere harvester engine and the oil samples taken since have shown a big fall in wear particles and a big drop in soot particulates compared to other oils we have used.
OEM worldwide and has letters of approval from Cummins, Detroit, Volvo to name a few. Morris Lubricants has the largest technical services department of any oil company in the UK and prides itself in being able to offer unparalleled stability, technical support and excellent service. Morris blends lubricants for other major oil companies, and is a supplier to the Caterpillar owned Perkins Engine Factory, Caterpillar UK, British Ministry of Defence, General Motors Europe, Claas, Massey Ferguson, Valtra Susi and Volvo UK. ‘To do the common thing uncommonly well brings success’ was the ethos of the company’s entrepreneurial founder, James Kent Morris... a philosophy that has remained a cornerstone of the Morris Lubricants business to the present day.
40 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
Fuels & Lubricants
This is sure to leave you pumped! T
he requirement for mobile refuelling is increasing and most operators are proving the advantage of having a reliable mobile fuel transfer unit on their ute or truck to guarantee fuel supply when they need it. Operators also desire security for their fuel supplies. It’s not a good feeling to find that someone has helped themselves to your fuel. The only sure way of preventing it is to make sure you use a refuelling unit that has a completely enclosed pump compartment with a lockable lid. The Genius™ range from Rapid Spray meets this requirement. The pump, hose, and nozzle are all within this compartment. The filler is included here also with
the added security of being pad lockable. Many operators are time poor, always looking for ways to save on downtime. Refuelling requires a pump that will transfer diesel quickly and efficiently and the Italian-made fluid diesel pump Rapid Spray use on its Genius™ range is one such system. “We are not satisfied with a pump that only has good ‘open flow’ performance. We require performance under pressure and that’s where these pumps really shine and save you time. Such is our confidence in these pumps we back them up with a two year warranty – an industry first,” said a spokesman for Rapid Spray.
The Diesel Genius™ is user friendly; designed to make life easier. “Have you ever gone to refuel equipment and found the hose too short to reach the fill point? Been frustrated because you have to get down and move your vehicle closer – wasting time in the process? We give you an extra-long delivery hose of six metres to prevent this happening again,” said the spokesman. Genius™ diesel units are fitted exclusively with auto shut-off nozzles preventing overfilling, fuel wastage and spillage. Breathers are an essential requirement for fuel tanks to allow for the movement of air and fuel
vapours in and out of the tank, but not all breathers are equal. “Ever seen diesel stains around tank breathers? Rapid Spray’s innovative splash resistant breather has been specifically designed for use in all on road and off road conditions to work effectively without leakage – not only does it work but it complies with Australian Standards AS19402004. “Most importantly, the tank is manufactured from diesel grade poly. The raw material used by Rapid Spray complies with the chemical and mechanical resistance requirements of International Regulations ECE R34.01.
V iew under the lockable
pump compartment cover. Note the optional digital flow meter.
New Shell Biodiesel 20 comes to market
( L-R) Andrew White, Australian Renewable Fuels, Minister Richard Dalla-Riva, Shell VP Andrew Smith cutting the ribbon.
VERY FEW readers will have failed to notice the ongoing conversations around carbon price. Despite heated national and international debate about climate change and what should be done about it, on 1 July laws enacting Australia’s Clean Energy Legislation Package came into force. For those in the industry who are looking to increase their green credentials, Shell recently launched Shell BioDiesel 20, which is being produced at its new biodiesel facility at the company’s Newport Terminal in Victoria. Shell Sales and Marketing General Manager Craig James said Shell has invested almost $5 million, which includes a $2 million Victorian Government grant, in the
TM
the mobile diesel transfer solution
Genius works – when you need it
development of the new tank and blending facility. The fuel, which will be initially offered to Shell’s commercial customers, is made up of Shell diesel with 20% bio component produced from vegetable oils or animal fats that meet Shell’s global sustainability standards. Speaking about the benefits of B20 for its customers, James said Shell believes that biofuels are one of the most practical, commercial ways to assist in reducing carbon emissions from the road transport sector. He explained that while Shell was very excited about the launch of Shell BioDiesel 20, it understood that the fuel may not be suitable for all customers. “B20 is approved for use by a number of the heavy duty engine manufacturers. Prior to using B20, customers should review their fleet and equipment to ensure it meets manufacturer fuel specifications,” James said. Shell is continuing to explore opportunities to extend the B20 offer to other locations, with Shell’s Parramatta facility expected to have Shell BioDiesel 20 capability by the end of the year. Shell BioDiesel 20 is available now for Victorian direct commercial customers. Enquiries can be made with Shell sales representatives or by calling 13 16 18.
where you need it
order yours now Call now 1800 011 000
www.rapidspray.net
B iodiesel tank.
THE NEW 625C
IT’S EVERYTING YOU’VE HAD IN MIND.
When we set out to build the most innovative head on the market, we turned to the real experts: you. Input from real-world loggers drove the creation of the new 625C, so it’s loaded with all your best thinking. With a full 360-degree rotation option, innovative knife designs, 3/4 saw with auto tension, and smart maintenance features that limit downtime, it’s clear that this head will make your operation more productive. And proves yet again that like you, Waratah is built to work.
Waratah Australia Offices Melbourne Melbourne: 03 9747 4200 Parts Product Support / Sales 08 9726 0412 03Bunbury: 9747 4200 03 9747 4213
Bunbury WA Product Support / Sales 08 9726 0413
Parts 08 9726 0412
42 – August 2012 , Australian Forests & Timber News
Australian Forests & Timber Classifieds Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee. For rates and deadlines call Laurie (03) 9888 4834 or email: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au
FOR SALE
$POA
Log on Today!
2003 Epsilon Palfinger log crane with grab. E110Z-96, 9.6m max reach. $35,000 incl GST
Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.
AVAILABLE NOW Softwood Bandsaw Processing Mill For high recovery sawmilling
Southern Cross bogie skel ‘A’ trailer with bogie jinker. $22,000 incl GST
Comes complete with quick release, large chip bucket and log grapple forks.
Valen Kone VK26 Debarker In and out feed conveyors.
Long Established Brisbane Timber Merchant. $88,000+GST $37,000+GST
Robinson 54” wheels heavy duty bandsaw
50hp motor, Hydraulic feed. $12,500+GST $9,800+GST
Forano Twin 60” Bandsaw Log Breakdown line
• Excellent central location. • Wholesale & retail sales of Australian and Imported cabinet timbers to Australia wide market. • Approx $2m + turnover P/A + growing. • 1500m2 warehouse + hardstand which is available for purchase or lease. • Suit owner operator & 2-3 staff. • Established in QLD for 23 years.
Contact - Craig Douglas - MGI STH QLD 07 3002 4800 for more details.
Top dogging. Log handling. Remote operator. Log diameter 60cm – 12cm, 6m - 2.4m. Hydraulic sizing 30cm – 7.5cm. $188,000+GST
Find the supplier or
Salem Twin 54” Band Resaw
button!
Roundabout. Operator cabin. Hydraulic sizing, fence, line bar, cant turner and handling equipment. Sawn timber transfer deck. $279,000+GST
Moreen Johnston 50” Horizontal Band Wing line
With roundabout and wing transfer deck.$44,000.00+GST
Windsor board twin edger
With laser guides, pneumatic sizing and conveyor waste transfer.
Austral Timber Group Contact Ken Baker 0438 643 992 kjb@agnew.com.au
(file picture)
Hyundai R210LC-9 Harvester
New 2012 Model Built to Spec Plumbed & Guarded $POA
Ph 07 4129 7013
FOR SALE Volvo L90 Loader
New 2012 Tigercat H855 In stock now
Tigercat H250B
2010 Model with 3137 hrs inc Tigercat TH575 Harvesting Head Price $295,000 + GST
Timberjack 460D Skidder
8752 hours, Hydraulic Winch Dual Arch Bunching Grapple Price $85,000 + GST
Hyundai R290LC-7 HC
2006 Model, 7000 hrs High Wide Chassis Hyd Thumb Price $75,000 + GST
service you need with a touch of a
Looking for timber industry products and services? Visit the forest and timber industry’s leading online Buyers’ Guide at www.timberbiz.com.au/guide Powered by the Australian Forests & Timber Industry Directory.
$37,000+GST
1300 727 520
Steve McKiernan 0417111592
www.onetrak.com.au
Log on Today! The industry’s timber portal
Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/dtn to sign up today.
Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 43
Australian Forests & Timber Classifieds
Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee. For rates and deadlines call Laurie (03) 9888 4834 or email: lmartin@forestsandtimber.com.au
FIREWOOD MILLS
For Information, please, call 0419-536 804 or email your postal address to info@firewoodmills.com.au
The premier forest and timber industry web portal Latest industry news
Industry event calendar
Buyers guide of industry suppliers
Employment postings
Forests & Timber
A
INDUSTRY DIRECTORY NE
.com.au
ONLI
T I M B E R
P R O C E S S I N G ,
U
S
T
R
P R O D U C T S
A
A N D
L
I
New model BigX50 coming soon!
Different sizes of mills with optional feeding table. Tractor, Diesel Power Pack or Electric Power Pack driven models.
A
N
S U P P L I E R S
Ph +618 8369 9555 Fax +618 8369 9501
MEDIA
Email admin@forestsandtimber.com.au Website www.timberbiz.com.au
INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED
Share your industry news.
If you have a news tip, give us a call. Call John Hudswell on 08 8369 9512 or send him an email at editorial@forestsandtimber.com.au
ABN 57 109 570 336
FOR HIRE / LEASE / SALE Komatsu PC 300-6 Harvester Log mate head VHLC boom/stick and over body
FOR SALE BY TENDER
325L Cat Log mate saw Kennedy grab Forestry guarded.
ALL TENDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 25/8/12
Tigercat 630C Skidder All in good order, ready to work. MULCH AWAY PTY LTD For further information please contact Simon
Mobile: 0417 699 130
2003 Tigercat 822 with Waratah 622 head 5435 hours, SERIAL NO.H822330198 Highest tender not necessarily accepted. All prices must include GST Please forward your tender to FAX 02 6458 3983 For further details, contact 0427 584 564
FOR SALE
FOR SALE 2002 CATERPILLAR 924G Wheel loader 11500 hrs $55,000+GST
For Sale Rottne 2003 wheeled Harvester 7152 hours EGS700 harvesting head DASA computer, full optimisation John Deere motor 250 hp common rail Hydrostatic drive Tilt cab, cab following crane, Tilt base crane Single grip harvester P.O.A
Bigfoot CTI $5,000 + GST Phone 0429 729 765, 0427 483 583 or 02 6948 3583 (ah)
BRUNNER HIGH VAC KILN 45m3 capacity Hot water boiler All trolleys, computer system, manuals, etc Great hardwood drying kiln $300,000+GST
TIMBER TREATMENT CYLINDER Ex CCA plant 1.8mt diameter 10mt long $20,000+GST
RANDALL’S PRENTICE 150 LOG GRAB ON EX-ARMY INTERNATIONAL 6X6 TRUCK Mounted on back with own diesel motor and hyd pack $18,000+GST
KOCKUMS FORWARDER 85-35T No grab Good engine, hydraulics, transmission and tyres $15,000+GST
SMITHS TWIN EDGER 2 x 75hp motors Will cut 700mm diameter x 6100mm log $30,000+GST
LARGE STAINLESS STEEL TANK 3.05mt diameter 4.8mt high Some damage
LARGE STEEL TANK 3.6mt diameter 9.2mt high
$60,000+ GST Hitachi Harvester -2004
Hitachi USR225 Base. Timbermatic 10 computer. Timberjack 758 harvesting head. Regularly serviced and well maintained. Only 1500 hrs on new tracks.
$150,000+ GST
For all enquiries please call Damien on 0417 570 616
Rottne Forwarder - 2004
Rottne SMV Rapid 18 tonne, 8 wheel Forwarder. All new injectors, hydraulic pump, grapple (100hrs), reconditioned valve bank (all new sections). Tyres fair condition. RK90 Rottne Crane. Air con, radio, UHF.
Both machines can be viewed in Mt Gambier Phone David Berkin 0428 397 113
ith Tri BO ev p to N er E U y LM S 39 … I A 8 pu 20 rc 13 ha se d
w
NEXT NEXT NEXT BIG BIG BIG STEP STEP STEP
NEXT BIG HEAD
NEW NEW ADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES NEW ADVANTAGES WITH WITH KOMATSU WITH KOMATSU KOMATSU
KOMATSU 398 HARVESTING HEAD Maximum productivity, precise and robust
Komatsu Forest has released a totally new versatile large harvesting head (3,000 kg) designed and built in Sweden Introducing Introducing Introducing with strong input from Australia which resulted in the proto type being tested here for over 3,000 hrs. Komatsu Komatsu
Komatsu
The Head with the key features and benefits: • Four Feed Roller Motors …… Higher production • New Patented Measuring System …… More precise length • Robust Frame with Smart Hosing …… Higher availability The Komatsu 398 sets a new standard in harvesting plus you get local factory support. And it makes a great harvester package with the Komatsu XT450L
www.komatsuforest.com.au www.komatsuforest.com.au 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