I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R FEBRUARY 2016 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • www.timberbiz.com.au
Special Feature - Forest Corporation NSW centenary
Exhibitors committed to premier industry event AUSTimber is an industry event that has been running in Australia in one form or another since the 1970s. AUSTimber2016 will be staged in Gippsland for the first time and without equivocation the In-forest demonstration site provided by sponsor HVP is world class in its layout. The point of difference for the event is the concentration on, where possible, the demonstration of advanced machinery rather than its simple exhibition. Show. Not just Tell! It has also had a strong focus on forestry production with excellent support from the major international harvesting equipment brands, plus excellent support from suppliers to the industry as exhibitors with more support coming on board every day. See our AUSTimber2016 lead-up feature in this edition starting on page 16.
Training hub offers more than future work security E
STA BL I SH M E N T OF the Arbre Forest Industries Promotion and Training Hub at Invermay (Tasmania) is seen as more than just a new approach to ensuring qualified workers for the future ... it’s a huge attitudinal change from industry and its participants! The hub aim is to upskill forestry workers, in conjunction with our relevant RTO,s, to meet changing expectations of expertise in all facets of the work AND it’s about changing community attitudes towards that work. Hub Project Manager Col McCulloch, a longtime forestry contractor who knows the industry exceptionally well, says the industry wants to do a better job of “showing who we are, what we are, how we do it; being proactive and re-directing the conversation around forestry and its importance within the Primary Industries nationally”, and this ties in with the skill set change. Col said Tasmania’s wood and forestry industry had changed and now needed more people equipped with the right
skills and attitudes than had been required in the past. “The ownership of the forests is completely different to what it was five or 10 years ago. We’re very much owned by investment-based companies, most of those being international. Expectations around safety and training are a lot higher, as they should be, and of course industry has got to perform to standards set by certification programs,” Col said. Col said the hub would cater to former and existing forestry workers as well as new entrants and he was hopeful that up 50 candidates would benefit from the centre in its first year.. The hub is working with existing training providers and careers advisors, to join the aspirations of employees to the jobs and career pathways that would emerge as the industry recovered and started to expand. “We do need people who understand what mapping is, forest value recovery and understand computer values now more so than ever. If we can sell that message into our communities, into our
¢ J odi Batchelor, working on her Skidder as she graduates through the hub’s Timber Skills Learning Environment Program.
schools, into our education system that if you are a good person we will find you a job, then that’s half the battle,” said Col. Sam Hall, from a well-known north-east Tasmania logging family, has just joined the hub as Coordinator and he, too, is looking forward to the centre playing a crucial
role in providing wellskilled future employees for the industry. “The wheels are in motion to have things fully operational by the start of the education year,” said Col. In the meantime, special simulators have been installed at the Invermay
Continued on page 4
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In the news I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R
ANWE takes over SEFE operations
February 2016 Issue 1 Vol. 25 Established 1991 Features In The News Special Report Year In Review Special Report Forest Corporation NSW Centenary AUSTimber Bio Harvesting Haulage Skidders Fire Prevention
3-6 8-10 11 12 13-15 16-28 30-32 33-36 37 38-40 41-42
¢ The Eden site.
Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editor: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9512 Advertising: Michael Dolphin m.dolphin@ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne Office (03) 9888 4834 Production: Luke Westle Trader classified: m.dolphin @ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne Office (03) 9888 4834 Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9522 Subcription rates One-year (8 editions) $55 Two-years (16 editions) $95 Accounts: Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9555 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501 Melbourne Office: Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria, 3127, Phone: (03) 9888 4822 Website www.timberbiz.com.au Printed by Lane Print, Adelaide, SA Conditions The opinions expressed in Australian Forests & Timber News are not necessarily the opinions of or endorsed by the editor or publisher unless otherwise stated. All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. All material in Australian Forests & Timber News copyright © Ryan Media. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, the published will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.
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FTER 45 years of operations, South East Fibre Exports at Eden in south east New South Wales will be sold to new Australian owned company Allied Natural Wood Exports Pty Ltd. Allied Natural Wood Exports (ANWE) is a new world class wood products marketing and logistics company that will sell certified natural and plantation grown wood products from public and private growers to the international market. Drawing on a wealth of international marketing experience, ANWE has agreed to meet the existing chip export supply agreements which run to 2018, however, their ultimate goal is to enhance and improve the way Australian wood product exports are managed and marketed. Spokesman for Allied Natural Wood Exports local forester, Rob de Fégely says that ANWE will be partnering with Australian Marshalling Services Pty Ltd, an established Australian logistics business, which has been operating at Eden and in the surrounding region for nearly 20 years. ANWE took ownership of South East Fibre Exports on 23 December 2015. All the SEFE staff and contractors have been notified of the sale and a number of new positions in line with the longer term objectives of the company will be offered to both the staff and the harvesting and haulage contractors. ANWE’s goal is to grow the business with the objective of creating a range of sustainable economic opportunities for the region.
Local resident and experienced forest industry operator Kel Henry has been appointed General Manager of ANWE. In the longer term ANWE sees hardwood and softwood plantation development, new wood processing technology and innovation as the key strategies for their future and they will be actively exploring these new opportunities to develop their business along the far south coast of New South Wales and throughout eastern Victoria. Australian Forest Products Association Chief Executive Officer Ross Hampton said it was pleasing to see the
strong vote of confidence by ANWE in wood product exports and the forestry industry in south east NSW. “The SEFE facility has been, and will continue to be, an integral part of the social and economic fabric of the Eden region, sustaining hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. SEFE has exported more than 35 million tonnes of woodchips to the international papermaking industry and achieved sales of more than $2.3 billion in its proud 45 years of operation,” Mr Hampton said. ANWE acknowledged the positive contribution of the current and previous owners
¢ Kel Henry has been appointed General Manager of ANWE.
of SEFE to the Eden and the regional forest community. ANWE is committed to the growth of the business and looks forward to working with all stakeholders.
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In the news
New TCA Chair looks forward to ‘defining period’
N
EW TIMBER Communities Australia (TCA) Chair, Brenton Yon, believes 2016 will be a defining year as TCA prepares to roll out new initiatives. Mr Yon, National Sales Manager with Komatsu Forest, was elected Chair of the Board, following TCA’s annual general meeting in late 2015. “The timber industry in Australia continues to make a remarkable recovery in many regions and remains a key part of regional and metropolitan communities across Australia,” Mr Yon said. “The coming year is a defining period for Timber Communities Australia and we have the opportunity to build a bigger and better TCA on the back of new ideas, new initiatives and renewed enthusiasm. “A strong TCA means a strong voice for grassroots timber communities around Australia and our Board is committed to ensuring new and existing members see the value membership provides. “Membership growth is one of the organisation’s key aims in 2016 and we will be running different programs - aimed at helping members to build their skills and networks, as well as highlighting the important
¢ Brenton Yon
contribution our industry makes in local areas. “One initiative TCA will be launching in 2016 is a ‘Young Ambassadors’ program which will foster the next generation of community voices within the industry and I look forward to providing more details about this program in the coming weeks. “I thank all of our members for their continued support and encourage others working in the timber industry to consider joining TCA to help us maintain a strong and vibrant organisation,” he said. Among the other board changes announced at the 2015 AGM were, Australian Forest Contractors Association General Manager, Stacey Gardiner was elected to an Affiliate Member position and
has become vice-chair. Peter Rutherford from the South East Timber Association was re-elected to an Affiliate Member position. David Walsh from Victoria was elected to a Sponsor Member position, joining Tasmanianbased James Shevlin who was re-elected. “I would like to thank outgoing Chair, Trevor Sargeant for his work with TCA following the organisation’s 2014 restructure. Trevor will focus on his role as coordinator of the NSW North Coast Task Force and I’m very pleased he will also remain an active TCA member,” Mr Yon said. “Mrs Lexie Hurford did not stand for re-election at the recent AGM and I again thank Lexie for the contribution she had made over many years to both the ‘new’ TCA and its predecessor organisation. “The TCA Board looks forward to continuing to play its role by serving to better the lives of our members and working closely with our industry across Australia,” he said. Individual members interested in filling the casual TCA Board vacancy, previously filled by Mr Sargeant, are encouraged to contact Helen Murray on 0419 991 424 or hmurray@ tca.org.au.
PEFC SecretaryGeneral to visit Australia for AFS talks THE CEO and Secretary-General of the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Ben Gunneberg will visit Australia next month to take part in a round of meetings and site visits. Mr Gunneberg will be a guest of Australian Forestry Standard Ltd and will be keynote speaker at an AFS-hosted dinner in Melbourne on 21 March– the International Day of Forests. AFS Ltd is the Australian member of PEFC and is one of 30 national forest certification schemes endorsed by the PEFC, the wworld’s largest forest certification system. The Australian Forestry Standard has been developed in accordance with the procedures of the Australian Accreditation Board for Standards Development Organisations (ABSDO), ensuring that it meets all the rigorous requirements necessary for it to be officially recognised as an Australian standard. AFS has also been fully evaluated as meeting PEFC’s sustainability benchmarks. While in Australia, Mr Gunneberg will take the opportunity to visit AFS supply-chain stakeholders.
¢ Global talks .. Simon Dorries, CEO of Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (right), catches up with PEFC International CEO Ben Gunneberg at a summit meeting on sustainable forest management certification in London earlier his year.
Training hub offers more than work security for the future Continued from page 1
¢ H ub Project Manager Col McCulloch
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centre and another major simulator will go on show at AUSTimber 2016 before being installed at the hub. “The hub’s charter is to work diligently, and foster strong relationships with the education industry, government agencies, training providers, and community groups to promote the value and opportunity of forestry careers,” said Darrell Clark (Chairman of the Governing Board represented by Forico, Forestry Tasmania, the Kevin Morgan Group, Timberlands Pacific, Norske Skog and I-Farm ). Darrell said the project was “much overdue, and very much industry driven”. “We will create a membership base of like-minded employers within the industry that will be informed, on time, of any potential employee possibilities through a communications program involving introduction, progress and follow up, as well as up to date information and participation in training and employment programs as and when they appear. The bigger and wider we can create this network, the more successful the Hub will be,” Darrell said. Tasmanian Resources Minister Paul Harriss said the hub will allow us to meet the current and future needs of an expanding forest industry across a range of operations, including harvesting, haulage and the highly technical plantation sector. The Tasmanian Government contributed a one-off grant of $150,000 to enable the start-up, matched with a dollar-for-dollar commitment from industry. Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
¢ Hub Coordinator Sam Hall explains the functions of the Waratah Simulator to Hub Chairman Darrell Clark (Timberlands Pacific).
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In the news
$9.4 million boost for innovation
T
he Australian Government’s decision to allow for the matching of voluntary contributions to Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) could lead to an increase of $9.4 million investment in innovation. The decision was announced in conjunction with the Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) and commits the Government to co-investing up to $4.7 million over four years, matched by industry funds, for additional research, development and extension. This will create a total pool of total funds of $9.4 million. “This is a great announcement and ratifies one of the key recommendations of the Productivity Commission into rural research and development corporations,” said Ric Sinclair, FWPA’s managing director. “I would like to thank the Assistant Minister, Senator Ruston, and Minister for Agriculture and Water, Barnaby Joyce, for taking this step and I am confident that it will be warmly welcomed across the forest and wood products sector. Senator Ruston said the Government was committed to research and development in the forest and wood products sector, which builds a foundation for a productive, sustainable and profitable future. “This is new funding on top of the government’s existing matching payments to FWPA—we invested $3.3 million in 2014–15,” Minister Ruston said. The Senator said the new funding provided for additional research and
development projects that would not only benefit the forest and wood products sector but also the Australian economy and therefore the broader community. More than 70,000 people are employed in the sector with many of these jobs in regional Australia. “Research and development can lead to improved wood products that are better matched to market needs, increased efficiency within the value chain, and reduced risk to challenges such as forest biosecurity. An example of beneficial research cofunded by FWPA and the Australian Government is the identification of enhanced wood property and productivity traits which are incorporated into tree breeding for the sector. “FWPA’s investment priorities are based on increasing market share and the value of its products—and have input from the industry and research community. This not only maximises the chance of the success of the research but also industry adoption. “This new funding is additional to the initiatives announced in the Government’s Innovation and Science Agenda. By encouraging companies to invest in forestry research, it supports the aims of the Agenda and complements the government’s existing support for rural research and development,” the Senator said. FWPA receives matching payments from the Australian Government for investments in research, development and extension but this is currently limited to funds received via the compulsory levy
system. The recent announcement will allow the provision of matching payments for industry investments outside of the levy system, which are called ‘voluntary contributions’. FWPA is forecast to receive $3.5 million in matching payments from the Government for this financial year. If industry voluntarily commits additional funds into projects managed by FWPA, then this would be matched by the Government and would create a boost to research, development and extension. “We have been working closely with the Department of Agriculture and Water for some time on this matter and we are hopeful that we can get the administrative arrangements into place very quickly,” Mr Sinclair said. “AFPA and others have been arguing for two years that a ‘voluntary matching’ provision is a missing piece in the R&D architecture of the sector. Senator Ruston is to be congratulated for delivering on this Government commitment in a tough budget environment,” said Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Chief Executive Officer Ross Hampton. “Forest industries specifically, and agriculture more generally, are the key parts of the economy poised to deliver major growth and productivity benefits to Australia. “In a carbon constrained global economy placing a premium on renewable and recyclable products, Australian forest industries will play an ever increasing role. A key to maximising that potential is innovation. Today we took a step in the right direction.”
¢ Ric Sinclair, Managing Director Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited
Mr Hampton said the next vital was for the Government to back the industry’s call for modest funding in the coming budget to bring together the dispersed forest industry research capacity under one virtual roof with the establishment of a National Institute for Forest Products Innovation. Such a body would ensure we grasp the opportunities of the environmentally focused 21st century, and our modelling shows we would add up more than 12,000 new regional jobs,” said Mr Hampton. The National Institute would bring together Australia’s forest industries’ R&D efforts in a coordinated national structure to maximise the impact in traditional areas such as tree growth and wood products, as well as cutting edge fronts such as biomaterials, biochemicals and bioenergy.
ChAFTA has mixed results for wood and paper From Greg McCormack Chairman of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA)
WITH THE ChinaAustralia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) signed and officially in law, it’s a good time to reflect on what this means for the Australian forest product industries. We are a diverse industry which includes the entire value chain from forest growing and harvesting through to wood and paper products, and this means that the ChAFTA has equally diverse outcomes throughout the industry. This diversity is evident given the opportunities for tariff reductions for some timber product exports but with the imbalance in tariff reforms for other products such as paper. 6
The Australian Forest Products Association, as the peak national body for the forest, wood and paper products industry, strongly supports the principles of trade liberalisation in order to remove unnecessary trading barriers and promote greater efficiency, innovation and investment to support global trade. However, we believe it is imperative that these principles are applied equitably and with comparable tariff reduction commitments from our major trading partners in order to deliver these positive outcomes to the entire industry. China is growing to be a very important export market for forestry products, with free market access for Australian raw material
exports including woodchips and roundwood. Over the past decade there has been increasing two-way trade in forest products between Australia and China with rising levels of Chinese imports. The value of forest product imports from China was over $1.1 billion while Australian exports to China were around $540 million in 2013-14. Australian forestry exports to China have mostly comprised woodchips, round wood and recovered paper which are tariff-free under existing arrangements. By comparison, Australia imports a high proportion of processed forest products from China including sawnwood, wood-based panels and paper as well as manufactured wood products
Australian Forests & Timber News
including furniture. Coming on the back of a similar free trade deal China negotiated with New Zealand, the ChAFTA will now have reduced tariffs for some manufactured wood product exports made from Australian grown radiata pine, including medium density fibreboard. This is great news. However, the ongoing protection of some sectors deemed to be sensitive for China under the ChAFTA, such as pulp and paper, remains a concern for the Australian paper industry. Paper product exports to China will continue to attract tariffs of around 5% to 7.5% while Australian paper tariffs on imports they are now zero or will be zero over the next 3 to 5 years. This will have an adverse trading impact on
February 2016
¢ G reg McCormack
the paper industry, and will impede export opportunities particularly for packaging paper. In 2016, the Association will continue to work to address these unbalanced outcomes under ChAFTA through the 3 year review mechanism, as well as improve trading opportunities for wood and paper products in other trade negotiations including with India and the European Union. www.timberbiz.com.au
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SPECIAL REPORT Andrew Lang attended the COP 21 in Paris as a World Bioenergy Association vice president and board member representing Australasia-Oceania. This is his Australian Forests & Timber News exclusive report.
Forestry’s critical role in Australia’s move to a carbon-neutral economy
D
UE TO concern among scientists and environmentalists a major conference was held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 to discuss the rise in atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases and the result of global warming. This started the annual climate conferences, known as the Conference of the Parties (or COP) held every year since then. In December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) held in Paris, negotiations by the 196 countries represented produced the Paris Agreement. This Agreement had as its central item that all efforts should be made to keep average temperature increases for the world to well under a rise of 2 C above preindustrial levels and that the world’s countries should strive to limit warming to a rise of 1.5 C. However, the average temperature rise to date is about 1 C, and the real estimated rise, if all countries do only what they have undertaken to do in their plans submitted before COP 21, will be at least 2.7 C by 2100. Scientific opinion is united that even a 1.5 C average rise will bring with it some very serious changes, and for Australia it will mean more frequent major storm events, reduced rainfall and more heatwaves, fires and droughts. A warmer climate is likely to threaten many of our native forestry ecosystems, including major reduction in area suitable for Mountain Ash forests. In Australia the forestry and timber industry is well-placed to play a major role in helping reach the targets for reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030
and beyond. The target of a 30% reduction of GHG emissions under the levels of 2000 by 2025, and 4060% by 2030, was recommended by the Climate Change Authority (CCA) in a report in July 2015. What was taken to Paris by government negotiators was for a far lower reduction of 26-28% under 2005 levels by 2030 (2005/06 were the highest emissions years). To help achieve this modest target the coalition government may use credits generated by overshooting our Kyoto emission reduction targets. However, it is possible that political pressure will mean a move to the far more ambitious targets recommended by the CCA. Australia has the highest GHG emissions level on a per-person basis of any larger country (about 30 tonnes of CO2-equivalent per person) and so a 30% reduction by 2025 has us with a per-capita emission figure still higher than the present average of EU countries. By 2100 the target for Australia, along with other developed countries, is to be effectively ‘carbon neutral’ – so where any GHG emissions are offset by carbon sequestration. ‘Sequestration’ can be as carbon being absorbed in trees, as raised levels in agricultural soil, and by removal of CO2 from industrial flue gases (including power plants) and its purification, liquefication and injection into underground gastight reservoirs (usually referred to as ‘carbon capture and storage’ or CCS). Forestry, stored carbon, and bioenergy Australia trails well behind other
¢ Within the six massive permanent conference halls all offices, national pavilions, lecture rooms, etc., were built of chip board for the event.
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¢ A ndrew Lang was a 2008 Gottstein Fellow, studying economics, logistics and underpinning policies of energy from biomass in Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
OECD countries and most of our trading partners in use of biomass for energy. Development of bioenergy is a major part of the renewable energy strategies elsewhere in the world, including in Japan, China and Korea. Denmark has a target to have all energy coming from renewable sources by 2050 with half of it from biomass. Austria is working towards its target of having all electricity and heat from renewable sources by 2030, with half from biomass. Sweden already is getting over 34% of its utilised energy from biomass and aims to get 39% by 2020. To date, however, the scenarios for moving toward renewable energy in Australia largely ignore the potential for energy from biomass. ‘Biomass’ in this context means all material of a biological origin, and ‘bioenergy’ is the energy produced from
“To maximise carbon sequestration the forest needs to be managed by removal of mature trees before they cease to actively grow. This harvested wood then goes either into processed products or into energy, and Australia is one of the few advanced countries where this is not normal practice”
Australian Forests & Timber News
biomass, either as electricity, heat or transport fuels. Depending on the form of biomass its conversion to bioenergy is done using one of five main technologies, with some of these being highly scaleable. One of the simplest, cheapest and most scaleable is using woody biomass to fire a boiler to produce heat. While the Paris Agreement coming out of COP 21 made some mention of carbon stored in living forests it talked far more about carbon capture and its storage underground. However to extract CO2 from flue gas of power plants and industrial processes, liquefy it and pump it deep into the earth is very costly, energy-inefficient, and not 100% reliable. By contrast, about 50% of the weight of dry wood is carbon, and the take-up of atmospheric carbon (carbon dioxide) by trees to become a major part of wood is the method of carbon sequestration that is most simple, low cost and possible to do on an enormous scale. In Australia part of this can be as planting back to forest or multipurpose farm plantations up to 10 million hectares of the 100 million ha of forest that has been cleared for agriculture since European settlement. However, a locked-up forest or plantation can only store a finite amount of carbon per hectare. To maximise carbon sequestration the forest needs to be managed by removal of mature trees before they cease to actively grow. This harvested wood then goes either into processed products or into energy, and Australia is one of Continued on page 10
February 2016
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Forestry’s role in Australia’s move to a carbon-neutral economy the few advanced countries where this is not normal practice. The forestry industry, by its harvesting and processing of logs into wood and wood fibre products including paper and paperboard, is putting sequestered carbon into some form that is a more or less permanent storage of carbon. The woody material (so-called biomass) that goes into the energy stream includes tops, defective wood and some of the residues from milling. It also includes non-recyclable wood fibre product and used wood, such as from demolition and construction. This biomass can be used to produce heat and electricity, or to produce wood pellets, or to produce transport biofuels. It can also be used to produce bio-chemicals that substitute for chemicals derived from petroleum. While getting up to 30% of our utilised energy (as heat, electricity and transport fuels) from all forms of biomass might sound unlikely in the Australian context, it is being widely done elsewhere, including in countries that do not have our tree growth rates or large land base. A key advantage of biomass-fuelled
combined heat and power plant is that they produce energy on demand, just like any coal-fired plant, and so can fully replace coal-fired plants. This is what has progressively been done across Europe, parts of North and South America, and most recently in countries in Asia. Woody biomass to energy – issues of logistics and economics. Biomass-fuelled plants are usually sized so that the heat produced can be fully used in nearby industrial processes, and this means they are rarely of more than 50 MW electrical capacity, and usually between 15-30 MWe. Annual biomass requirement for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant is in the order of 500010,000 tonnes per MW-e capacity (depending on moisture content of the biomass and the temperature and pressure of steam produced), so to fuel a 25 MW-e CHP plant up to 250,000 tonnes of chip per year will be needed. This is nearly 1000 tonnes a day, 5 days a week, year round It is clear that the management of the supply logistics and keeping the delivered costs to reasonable levels
¢ This truck-mounted chipper this is a Finnish-made Giant chipper produced by LHM Hakkuri. Output is up to 300 m3/hour though more usually 150-200 m3/hr (loose).
¢ Wood to energy. The Fixteri energy wood harvester/bundler (developed in Finland for doing first thinnings or thinning regrowth. the Fixteri was developed to crack the economics of thinning, which is key to expanding bioenergy in Finland. The cost of thinning has always been about small piece size, multiple handling and low value of the material (plus soil and stones contaminating loose material picked off the ground, plus variable drying rates and complex transport logistics)
¢ Forests and carbon. Forestry on farms - carbon sequestration, wood products, shelter, energy, diversified income, with potential for massive scaling-up.
¢ COP 21 was low-carbon by design: all chip board construction, no bottled water, all wastes recycled or to energy.
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are a critical part of this whole process. This is the main reason why the whole scare campaign about the large-scale use of native forest harvest residues for such plants generally is unfounded. Just consider the costs of annually supplying 250,000 tonnes of chip from forest coups many hours by road from the plant. A plant operator can normally pay no more than about $60/tonne for green chip in order to make electricity at a competitive cost. To aggregate, chip, load and truck this material, and to pay wages, maintenance and floating, plus provide some profit, is not possible for material from native forest harvest sites unless they are very close to the plant. However, in this case the supply from any local source area managed under normal native forest regulations would be very rapidly exhausted. So supply of biomass for energy
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
will be mainly from sources such as urban wood waste, timber processing, and from regional plantations. Another possible source might be from fuel reduction thinning around towns and cities, something commonly done in the USA, where it is seen as a practical solution for reducing severity of wildfires impacting on property and urban populations. Forestry managers in Australia could learn much from the USA and Nordic countries, in understanding how native forest management can become an environmental service, providing a number of increasingly important environmentallysustainable options for protection of life and property, producing a carbon neutral building material, and maintaining critical habitat and urban water catchments, while increasing sequestration of atmospheric carbon. www.timberbiz.com.au
YEAR IN REVIEW
2015 In Review: RET bill a major policy victory for industry By Ross Hampton Chief Executive Officer Australian Forest Products Association
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WENTY-FIFTEEN was a tumultuous year for politics but a remarkably productive and positive year for the forest products industry, despite a number of ongoing challenges. As Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said during the launch of the National Innovation and Science Agenda, there has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian. And what an exciting year of politics it was! September saw Malcolm Turnbull elected as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister, and with that a Cabinet reshuffle. Barnaby Joyce was reappointed as Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, with South Australian Senator Anne Ruston promoted to Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources with responsibilities for forestry. Senator Ruston has already proven to be a great champion of the industry and will no doubt continue this. Other relevant Ministers include the reappointment of Greg Hunt as Minister for the Environment, and Christopher Pyne appointed as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. With a change in Government, a powerful crossbench in the Senate, and plenty of strong opposition, AFPA continued to work determinedly with all sides of Government to advocate for the industry. A major policy victory for the industry was the passing of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) bill, with the two important elements of the Bill for industry including the full exemptions for all emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities and the reinstatement of native forest wood waste in the RET. The Bill provides a 100% full exemption for Emissions Intensive Trade-Exposed industries from costs associated with the RET. The reinstatement of native forest wood waste in the RET was a major win for industry by recognising all eligible feedstocks for bioenergy. Until we grow square trees we will always have a large amount of residues and offcuts from our sustainable forestry operations. It is just common sense policy to use this waste for energy.
Mixed results The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) was signed and put into law in 2015, which will have mixed results depending on the nature of the exposure of wood and paper products to the China market. We are a diverse industry which includes the entire value chain from forest to wood and paper products, and unfortunately this means that the ChAFTA has equally diverse impacts across the industry. This diversity in results is evident given the opportunities for tariff reductions for some timber product exports but with the imbalance in tariff reforms for other products such as paper. The ChAFTA will now have reduced tariffs for some manufactured wood product exports made from Australian grown radiata pine, including medium density fibreboard. This is great news. However, the ongoing protection of some sectors deemed to be sensitive for China under the ChAFTA, such as pulp and paper, remains a concern for the Australian paper industry. Paper product exports to China will continue to attract tariffs of around 5% to 7.5% while Australian paper tariffs are now zero or will be zero over the next 3 to 5 years. AFPA is hopeful of working www.timberbiz.com.au
¢ Ross Hampton (AFPA CEO) and NFF CEO Simon Talbot.
¢ Pine forests.
constructively with the Australian Government to improve trading opportunities for the wood and paper products industry under ChAFTA through the 3 year review mechanism, as well as in other future trade negotiations including with India and the European Union. AFPA provided industry input in submissions on a wide range of industry issues including nonconforming building products, Regional Forest Agreements, foreign investment, and biosecurity. AFPA also worked tirelessly with the Government on the export certification cost recovery review to ensure the export cost recovery model is fair, equitable, and transparent for the forest products industry.
Strategic Plantation Hubs AFPA has also been a strong voice in arguing for new policy instruments for plantations, both to get more trees in the ground and grow the productivity of the standing estate. Softwood and hardwood plantations represent more than 80% of our total timber and wood fibre harvest. However, investment in new plantations in Australia has effectively come to a standstill. Although we have just experienced a record boom in construction, much of the growth has been filled by sawn softwood from as far afield as Europe. This is, in part, because we aren’t providing sufficient plantation resource in this country for our domestic sawmills. AFPA released the ‘Plantations: the Missing Piece of the Puzzle’ policy proposal solution to the plantations crisis facing the national forest products industry, which charts a course back to modest plantation growth within defined ’Strategic Plantation Hubs” around major processing or port sites. AFPA also produced a policy proposal calling on the Coalition Government to revitalise the Australian forest products industry and back regional jobs with $40 million over four years to establish a National Institute for Forest Products Innovation. Australia has a competitive advantage in growing trees and producing timber and other wood-based products. To grasp the opportunities of the environmentally focused 21st century, what we need is an innovative, nationally organised, well-funded, future-focused research and development (R&D) organisation for the forest, wood and paper products industries. The proposed National Institute for Forest Products Innovation would focus on key areas of competitive strength and accelerate the emergence of innovative, higher-value focused sectors of the industry. The National Institute would bring together Australia’s forest, wood and paper products R&D effort in a Australian Forests & Timber News
coordinated national structure to maximise impact in traditional areas such as tree growth and wood products, as well as cutting edge fronts such as biomaterials, biochemical and bioenergy.
Strength in numbers The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomed AFPA as its newest commodity member in October 2015. The NFF exists to provide a single, strong voice for primary production in national policy-development, and to represent those businesses on the national stage. As an important part of the primary production picture, the forest products industry has many mutual goals and issues of shared importance with Agriculture, including the responsibility that comes with being stewards of the Australian landscape, the management of the precious resources on which we all rely and increasing market access for high-quality products. AFPA now joins 30 NFF members at the decisionmaking table, bringing the industries’ interests forward for debate at the highest level and supporting the development of effective policy for our primary industries. AFPA worked hard throughout 2015 to secure the hosting responsibilities for a series of international forest industries events in Sydney in July, 2016. The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), the worldwide network of forest and paper industry associations, will meet in Sydney this year, with representatives from across the globe as a forum for global dialogue, coordination and cooperation, and functions as the industry’s advocate at the international level. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will be holding the 57th annual session of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI) in Sydney, which will provide guidance on the activities and work programme of the UN FAO Forestry Department on issues relevant to the forest products industries. Australian forest, wood and paper product industries are world-class and the fact that Australia has been chosen to host these meetings is an acknowledgement that we are a heavy-weight in the world of forestry and forest product industries. We are going into the election year strong and focused on the issues that affect the forest products industry. It is AFPA’s single focus to push for the best possible Federal policy settings to be put in place to ensure the growth and longevity of this industry that directly employs 120,000 people, and a further 180,000 indirectly across the whole value chain.
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SPECIAL REPORT
It’s time to manage our forests properly By Tim Johnston Chief Executive Officer Victorian Association of Forest Industries
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T’S TIME to be upfront and honest – our forests need to be actively managed. Each year we face the threat of bushfire and, as we have seen, the effect can be absolutely devastating. In Victoria, nearly eight million hectares of Crown land is managed to provide environmental, social, cultural and economic values to the people and local communities. Of these eight million hectares of natural forests, 4.74 million in Victoria is formally protected in national parks and conservation reserves. In recent years the primary tool for protecting these values, in particular the environmental values of our forests, has been increases in reserves (including National Parks). Governments from both sides have closed off thousands of hectares, which has resulted in an overload of fuel, a recipe for disaster in the summer months. However, rather than locking up forests and allowing the fuel load to accumulate to such dangerous levels, active management is required across the landscape. Whether the forest is a national park, state forest or part of other reserve systems, all forests need to be actively managed to reduce the risk of destructive bushfires. The fact is simple: we must manage for fire first, as catastrophic bushfires in Victoria are the greatest threat to biodiversity, the viability of many threatened species, water supply from Melbourne’s catchments, and our future supplies of timber. Put simply, it is more effective to reduce the risk of catastrophic bushfire than it is to try to recover these values. Forest, biodiversity, water, and land management policies must prioritise the minimisation of the risk of catastrophic bushfire. Sustainable forest management supports a range of environmental, social, cultural and economic values. It is important that forest management practices meet the high regulatory standards that are required in Victoria and are continually improved to reflect new knowledge, technology and values. The aim of sustainable forest management is to manage forests in a way that maintains their biodiversity, productivity and regeneration capacity. It also makes forest regions healthier and more productive. Unfortunately this Christmas we saw bushfire destroy property along the Great Ocean Road, with more than 100 homes burnt to the ground
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¢ Tim Johnston, CEO, Victorian Association of Forest Industries.
around Wye River and Separation Creek. These towns border a vast estate of natural forest. Years of only cosmetic attention has left the forest to its own devices, and fuel load accumulation has left it in a prime condition for a bushfire of devastating consequences. The lessons to be learnt from recent fires are that our current notions of preserving forests in a fire prone environment are flawed, and we need active adaptive management regimes. The main drivers of significant fire risk are weather, fuel load and topography. Of these three drivers, only fuel load is within our control. The only thing that will really stop a big fire is the ongoing management of the fuel load, and rapid suppression when fires do occur. Rapid suppression requires locals with knowledge of the forest and the equipment to suppress fires. This is one of the many roles the forest and wood products industry performs. Forestry is a tool for forest management. The activities and skills of the industry are not limited to commercial harvesting of timber but include ecological forest thinning, biomass management to reduce fuel loads, forest regeneration and restoration, roading and infrastructure, and first attack fire response. It is important to understand the vital job forest industry workers perform in fighting fires and reducing the fire risk throughout Victoria. Many forest workers dedicate their time and energy to firefighting efforts every summer, and are on the frontline of efforts to keep all Australians safe. We need to work together to save our forests, our industry, our homes and our communities.
¢ Frightening ... fire scene.
Investigating a future for Mid North forestry in SA THE STATE Government is seeking options for the potential future use of land in the Mid North forests region. Minister for Forests Leon Bignell said the State Government wanted to ensure jobs were created and the region’s economy was prosperous. “Given the extent of damage caused by the bushfires in recent years, a business as usual approach for the Mid North Forests is not an option,” he said. “ I n d u s t r y, community and government must work together to find solutions and this next step – the Request for Proposal (RFP, which closes 5pm 11 March) - will help determine the future use of the forests,” he said. “It’s our priority to support regional
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
economic growth, while balancing environmental and community values. “It became clear during the former phase – the Expression Of Interest - there was huge potential for expanded and new enterprises to employ people in the Mid North region. “Recreation and tourism, commercial forestry, grazing, hor ticulture and cropping or alternative management could be uses for some of the land where the forests have been destroyed. “With this RFP process we are looking for binding commitments which we can consider and negotiate with the view of entering into contracts.” “The proposals will be complex and
it will take time to work through them but I am hoping a final decision will be made this year,” the Minister said. Each proposal will be considered against criteria including: • Job creation • Regional development • Value for money • Environmental, cultural and community values • fire risk
¢ Minister for Forests Leon Bignell.
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FCNSW CENTENARY
Forestry Corporation of NSW honours its centenary
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HIS YEAR marks the centenary of the work of Forestry Corporation, which sustainably manages over two million hectares of native and plantation forests in the State. In 1916 the Forestry Commission of NSW, the predecessor to Forestry Corporation of NSW, was officially formed through the enactment of the Forestry Act 1916 – the first formal forestry legislation in Australia. “Millions of trees have been harvested from NSW State forests since the Forestry Act 1916 was passed and formal forest management began,” said Forestry Corporation of NSW’s CEO Nick Roberts. “The Act was aimed at protecting forests from further unmanaged clearing to ensure long-term sustainable management of the State’s timber reserve. Today, our forests remain full of trees, are great places to explore and support an intricate web of plants and animals. “NSW State forests are managed to balance the ways people use forests for timber production and recreation with the conservation of unique forest features like wildlife, clean water and cultural heritage sites. “As a community, we need sustainable materials to build our homes and infrastructure like bridges, wharves and railways. But at the same time, we want to conserve our unique plants and animals, cultural heritage sites, have clean water to drink and enjoy bushwalking and camping in the great outdoors.
¢ Forestry Corporation of NSW CEO Nick Roberts.
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“Forests provide timber, employment, habitat, clean air, water and a place to be. They are resilient, dynamic and evolving – an integral part of a healthy landscape,” said Mr Roberts. Today, Forestry Corporation contributes 14% of all timber produced in Australia each year, making it a major force in the state’s forest and wood products industries which employs more than 22,000 people and adds over $1 billion per annum to the State’s economy. “Our softwood plantations produce enough pine to build a quarter of all houses across Australia each year. “The Corporation staff, past and present, are rightly proud of the contribution they have made over the last 100 years to the economic development of the State through the timber they have provided for thousands of kilometres of railways, road bridges, wharves and buildings to name just a few,” Mr Roberts said. “They are equally proud of the sustainable way they have managed the forests that continue to support eco systems and habitat of numerous native plants and animals. “Forestry has changed significantly over the last 100 years with major improvements in safety, technology and the scientific understanding of sustainable forest management. With these improvements, a bright future for the industry is assured and Forestry Corporation will play its part in supporting a vibrant forest and wood products industry and protection of environmental values of NSW State forests.” Mr Roberts said Forestry Corporation would also continue its commitment to initiatives such as the provision of public access, amenities and recreational opportunities for the thousands of people who visit State forests every year. “Offering spectacular scenery, State forests attract tourists for bike and horse riding, bush walking, fossicking, camping, mushrooming, hunting and orienteering,” Mr Roberts said. Visit forestrycorporation.com.au/ visit or #visitnswforests on Facebook for more visitor information. The Corporation has released a short video on the organisation’s history for the centenary at https:// youtu.be/pRvul6LazK8 which can be also found on the Forestry Corporation’s web page at http:// www.forestrycorporation.com.au/ about/history.
¢ Way back when ... long before forestry in NSW became organised it was the likes of this cedargetter who defied the odds to work and survive in harsh conditions. Forestry Corporation of NSW Image Library
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
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FCNSW CENTENARY
Marking a centenary of forestry in NSW
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016 MARKS a centenary of operations for Forestry Corporation of NSW. Forests provide timber, employment, habitat, clean air, water and a place to be. They are resilient, dynamic and evolving – an integral part of a healthy landscape. Millions of trees have been harvested from NSW State forests since the Forestry Act 1916 was passed and formal forest management began. The Act was aimed at protecting forests from further unmanaged clearing to ensure longterm sustainable management of the State’s timber reserve. Today, our forests remain full of trees, are great places to explore and support an intricate web of plants and animals. NSW State forests are managed to balance the ways people use forests for timber production and recreation with the conservation of unique forest features like wildlife, clean water and cultural heritage sites. As a community, we need sustainable materials to build our homes and infrastructure like bridges, wharves and railways. But at the same time, we want to conserve our unique plants and animals, cultural heritage sites, have clean water to drink and enjoy bushwalking and camping in the great outdoors. Sustainable forest management combines the complex task of balancing the sale of forest products with maintaining the many social and environmental values our State forests provide. Before a harvest operation can commence, staff undertake a thorough and complex planning process. Flora and fauna surveys are undertaken to identify and protect threatened species. Strict prescriptions are put in place dictating where and how harvesting can take place. Avoiding harvesting on steep slopes, near creeks and rivers ensures
that erosion is minimised and water quality protected. Of course, no more trees are removed from native forests than can comfortably regenerate and many trees, especially habitat trees are retained, meaning our State forests can continue to regrow and thrive. More than two million hectares of native and plantation forests make up the State forest estate. Fewer than two per cent of native forest is harvested for timber each year, ensuring a sustainable supply today and into the future. Wood is a natural, renewable material we use in our everyday lives – durable, versatile and costeffective. And when wood comes from a certified forest, like NSW State forests, you can be assured it is a sustainable resource. The timber the corporation produces is certified sustainable and following independent auditing we have again retained certification under the Australian Forestry Standard and our Environmental Management System remains accredited to ISO14001. Today, Forestry Corporation contributes 14% of all timber produced in Australia each year, making it a major force in the state’s forest and wood products industries which employs more than 22,000 people and adds over $1 billion to the State’s economy. We have sustainably produced timber for 100 years and look forward to continuing with sustainable timber production for another century.
Our story We acknowledge the people that ‘are’ Forestry Corporation, our dedicated teams across NSW, past and present, for the progress made since 1916 to ensure that Forestry Corporation and its predecessors have remained a sustainable timber
business and a world class forest manager for the people of NSW.
Our history 1916 The Forestry Act 1916 is passed, marking the first piece of forestry legislation in Australia. Under the Act, the Forestry Commission of NSW is established and is responsible for the management of State forests, timber reserves and some Crown land. 1939 World War II places heavy demands on the State’s forests. Timber is needed for planes, ships, rifles and building projects. 1950s A building boom begins as World War II ends in 1945 and soldiers return. 1951 1360 sawmills in NSW 1960s Scientific research is used to draw up management plans for forests. 1970s – 1980s Public perception of forests begin to change. More than just a source of timber, State forests are also seen to contain a rich variety of plants and animals, clean water and air, and recreation sites. 1999 NSW first Regional Forest Agreement or 20 year plan for the conservation and sustainable management of native forests is completed. 2004 Forests NSW is established as a public trading enterprise within NSW Department of Primary Industries; 311 sawmills in NSW. 2013 In 2013 our transformation to a State Owned Corporation was yet another step towards ensuring the long-term viability of our business. 2016 Keeping forests healthy and productive for now and the future is a complex and challenging task. Every year we chart the progress Forestry Corporation of NSW is making towards its vision to be Australasia’s leading forestry business.
Milestones prior to 1916 Pre-1788 Aboriginal people skillfully practice forest management, using fire for hunting and to stimulate new growth. 1788 Half of NSW is forested when the First Fleet arrives. New settlers need timber for homes and clear forests for farming. 1820 Timber cutting licences are issued by the Government to ‘persons of good character’. 1869 83 sawmills in NSW 1870s Areas of forest are set aside by the Government for future timber production. 1879 Australia’s first national park, the Royal National Park in Sydney, is established. 1880s The first Forestry Commission nursery opened near Gosford. Seedling production begins and plantations are established. 1881 Poet Henry Kendall is appointed Inspector of Forests NSW 1882 1.4 million hectares of forest in reserve for future timber production. 1888 Wages for sawyers and mill workers for an eight hour day, 5.5 days a week is one pound, 16 shillings and eight pence. Today this would equal less than $4 an hour. 1909 The Department of Forestry is established. Timber inspectors had been on the job since the early 1900s. 1913 Longworth’s tramway near Laurieton which opened for horse traction in 1913, and steam engines in 1916. The Corporation has released a short video on the organisation’s history for the centenary at https:// youtu.be/pRvul6LazK8 which can be also found on the Forestry Corporation’s web page at http:// www.forestrycorporation.com.au/ about/history
¢ The power of steam engines was a force to be reckoned with in early logging days. Here the Longworth steam engine (Laurieton) plies its trade. Forestry Corporation of NSW Image Library
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February 2016
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FCNSW CENTENARY
Sustainably management forests – reflections of 2015
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VERY YEAR Forestry Corporation of NSW charts the progress it is making towards its vision to be Australasia’s leading forestry business. The past 12 months has been another year of advancement towards this vision. “The long-term viability of the business rests on the sustainability of the forest. Achieving a balance between commercial results, environmental performance and community expectations over the long-term is critical,” said Forestry Corporation of NSW CEO Nick Roberts. “Updated Forest Management Plans were prepared for both the Softwood Plantations Division and coastal forests of the Hardwood Forests Division and put on public exhibition ahead of our re-certification audit against the Australian Forestry Standard.” Mr Roberts welcomed the acknowledgement of Forestry Corporation’s sustained improvement in financial performance and the strength of the balance sheet, when Moody’s upgraded the Corporation’s credit rating to investment grade, a notable
achievement for a business of this size. “Forestry Corporation has consolidated its commercial focus in the financial year ending 30 June 2015, delivering a strong financial result benefitting from reduced costs following major restructuring during the financial year ending 30 June 2014 and strong sales on the back of the improved housing market,” Mr Roberts said. “The corporation returned an underlying profit of $52 million, measured in terms of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), 46% higher than last year. This level of profitability facilitated the declaration of $19 million in dividends. “The Hardwood Forests Division returned a positive EBIT for the first time in over 10 years. This is a landmark result as the division endeavours to be independently profitable. The result was underpinned by over $5 million of cost savings achieved through implementation of a new functional operating model.” Mr Roberts added that ongoing Community Service Obligation
funding from the NSW Government ensured that Forestry Corporation could continue to deliver valued services to regional communities. “Efficient management of these funds and targeted spending has delivered real value for money to shareholders and taxpayers,” Mr Roberts said. “Additional funding for firefighting has further enhanced protection of regional communities and dedicated resources to facilitate forest tourism on the south coast are laying the groundwork for improved community facilities over the long term.” Forestry Corporation’s support of regional tourism was recognised on 26 November 2015, when the Corporation won bronze at the NSW Tourism Awards. “The State forests of the Coffs Coast and Sealy Lookout at Orara East State Forest each won bronze, and Forestry Corporation’s Visit NSW State forests campaign was highly commended at the 2015 NSW Tourism Awards,” Mr Roberts said. Other significant achievements in 2015 related to the enhanced use of technology which
was revolutionising Forestry Corporation’s work in the forest and improving environmental compliance. “The use of iPads in the field is increasing with most field-based staff now having access to iPads with the Corporation’s in-house developed mapping application loaded,” Mr Roberts said. “This allows staff to record terrain and forest features live with satellite-assisted GPS ensuring accurate geolocation. “Computers in the heads of harvesting machines are storing information about every tree and log cut, allowing optimisation of the log products cut from each tree and vastly improving the value of the products drawn from the forest. “All of Forestry Corporation’s achievements in the past 12 months are encouraging and they could not have been achieved without the commitment of our staff, who continue to represent the organisation with great dedication and professionalism.”
¢ The logyard at Wauchope was the mecca for timber work. Crosscutting with a Danarm chainsaw 1944. Forestry Corporation of NSW Image Library
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Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
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AUSTimber 2016
Putting a good face on the industry By Laurie Martin General Manager AUSTimber Events
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HEALTHY and thriving forest products industry is the key to battling climate change and improving Australia’s international performance when it comes to advanced manufacturing production. We have a relatively high wage economy (this relativity is starting to improve thanks to the falling $AU) meaning that, to even think about our manufactured goods competing well on the global stage, we have to be applying strong intellectual property and advanced technology while also looking to other advantages such as supply of raw material and costs of transport to market. Our cost of production has to be contained through productivity efficiency gains. We can’t afford to try to compete in low tech, high manualinput manufacturing. We shouldn’t settle for exporting commodity or low-input product. AUSTimber is an industry event that has been running in Australia in one form or another since the 1970s. The point of difference for the event is the concentration on, where possible, the demonstration of advanced machinery rather than its simple exhibition. Show. Not just Tell! It has also had a strong focus on forestry production with excellent support from the major international harvesting equipment brands. In fact, despite the economic gloom surrounding it and the slump in industry fortunes at the time of AUSTimber2012, these major brands rated the Australian Expo as one of the top three of four forest Expo’s in the world. This year, AUSTimber2016 will be staged in Gippsland for the first time and we can say without equivocation that the In-forest demonstration site provided by our sponsor HVP is World Class in its layout. We also have excellent support from suppliers to the industry as exhibitors with more
¢ The AUSTimber2016 In-forest demonstration site is in the foreground of this shot which shows a spread of brown coal fired power stations in the background.
support coming on board every day. But efficient production in the forest has no reason for being unless there is secondary and tertiary industry use of the resulting product. When we began discussions with Latrobe City on bringing the AUSTimber2016 event to their region, their first response was to welcome it as an event that could bring tourism dollars. But when they reflected on the environmental benefits provided by carbon storage in wood fibre and the already prominent size of the forest products industry in their region, they saw the positive future this industry can bring compared with the local, high profile brown coal-fired electricity generation industry.
¢ HVP’s Gelliondale nursery has capacity to produce 10 million plants a year and is the starting point for 160,000 ha of HVP plantation around Victoria.
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February 2016
We encouraged them in their work on introducing a Wood Encouragement policy. They considered this initiative in light of those policies already in place in a number of international markets but did so with a strong focus on encouraging development of advanced manufacturing operations locally. A new advanced manufacturing hub using wood fibre as an environmentally superior raw material. Innovation is just an idea unless something is actually done or changed. Innovation in the wood fibre industry requires investment in R&D and technology. The move to increasing investment in this area has to be rooted in the pragmatism of the market. If you can’t make a buck out of it, it’s unlikely to be pursued. One aspect of this market consideration is supply of raw material. Insufficient security of supply of wood fibre must result in reticence to invest in innovative or global scale technology. If success relies on producing significant volumes of product within confined time frames being processed using high tech equipment, who will invest in this equipment if they don’t know whether they can secure an adequate ongoing supply of acceptable quality raw material? In keeping with the requirement for running the most efficient supply chains, we have an international conference on Sustainable Supply Chains for the timber industry of the future. With the plenary session lead by Professor John Sessions of Oregon University and Rob de Fegely of the Institute of Foresters of Australia, there is a good range of papers being presented by international speakers on research projects around the world that are providing answers to some of the industry’s greatest concerns and opportunities. But ensuring the political will exists for resource to be made and remain available is where the general public comes in. If they become more aware of the industry’s environmental credentials when it comes to sustainable management and the extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere, they will also become more aware of the important role this industry should be playing in the Australian economy. www.timberbiz.com.au
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! All the live demonstration exhibitors at the In-forest Expo are busy making sure their sites are stunning and they have the latest equipment on display. The Main Pavilion at the Traralgon Showgrounds is filling fast including manufacturing exhibitors not seen before at an AUSTimber. Sustainable Supply Chains for the timber industry of the future will be a first class, international conference with 23 speakers including 11 internationals from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and USA. We have a range of Field trips on offer from growing seedlings to manufacturing for export – all of them with a point of interest not widely accessible to the public. The Welcome dinner will combine country-sized portions of good food with interesting speakers, great camaraderie and a charity auction for a worthy cause. To book your tickets and arrange your accommodation, go to our website www.austimber.org.au
Early Bird discounts deadline 29 Feb, 2016! Sponsored by
Supported by
australasian
I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R
www.austimber.org.au
AUSTimber 2016
Proud to host forest and timber industry feature event
¢ Michael Rossiter, Mayor, Latrobe City
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ATROBE CITY is proud to be hosting AUSTimber2016, the Australian timber industry’s biggest event. AUSTimber2016 is perfectly suited to Latrobe City’s unique and abundant natural resources which support a productive timber and forestry industry, providing softwood, value-added hardwood and paper products sold to domestic and export markets. Latrobe City is one of Victoria’s four regional cities. With our central location, range of accommodation and country feel you’ll be a welcome visitor here. Our local community have embraced AUSTimber2016 with accommodation providers, hospitality venues, the retail sector and local businesses looking to complement the delivery of the event. This year there is a strong focus on sustainability. Although the location of the inforest event site near the Loy Yang brown coal fired power plant may seem ironic, especially given the benefits of sustainably managed timber production in a low carbon economy, Latrobe City sees this as an opportunity to underscore the environmental benefits inherent in the timber industry. AUSTimber2016 will provide the public an opportunity to see the latest equipment in action as well as highlighting a broad range of available career options. The event will also provide suppliers the opportunity to deliver live demonstrations of the latest technology to prospective users, owners and investors. We understand that the opportunity to host
AUSTimber2016 is significant. The event will not only bring an abundance of visitors to our region, but will lift the profile of our regional city, with exposure both nationally and internationally. We are excited that this event will create many economic and employment opportunities now and for the future in our local economy as well as in the wider region and across Victoria.
Projected figures of 15,000 visitors over the five day event will return a projected economic benefit in excess of $20M to our regional economy. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to host another two AUSTimber events in 2020 and 2024, which would add to our solid reputation as a leading regional event destination. We look forward to you being our guest.
Putting a good face on industry Accommodation service Continued from page 16
If they are aware the industry in general doesn’t rape and pillage the landscape and that the preservation and ongoing maintenance of native forests is held as dearly by the people of the industry as it is stated to be by those in the environmental protection industry, they will be more likely to listen with an open mind to the prospect of having a well defined and uninterrupted supply of locally grown wood fibre. It is the ability to include the general public in the AUSTimber2016 event that makes the event so important to the industry. We are working on getting as many local year 10 students as possible to participate in our schools program at the start of the week. This program is a series of field trips where students will be taken into certified, sustainably managed forestry and manufacturing locations so they gain a clear understanding of the industry’s sustainable management practices. As part of this program, we are targeting a native forest production coup that was logged about 15 years ago and using this backdrop to describe how native forests can be and are managed for the benefit of the environment and community. 18
The feedback we get from these visits will be passed on to other localities through the National Timber Councils Association and other interested associations to help spread the message amongst young people and their teachers. The Expo days will be an opportunity for the general public to come and see the forestry industry, in particular, on display so they can see the sophistication of the equipment being used and get a feel for the modern industry. This will also be an opportunity for young people and their families to see what jobs and training are available in the industry. Given the constant need for recruitment, this is an important opportunity to display the kinds of jobs available and the people who share the industry. While it is important for industry and suppliers to get together and have a good look at what aids to productivity are there to help build productive efficiency, it is also important for the industry in its entirety to be present at the event and take the opportunity to interact with members of the general public and put on a public face that will benefit us all in the coming years.
BEAVERING AWAY out of the Latrobe Visitor Information Centre is a team of people working to ensure all exhibitors at and visitors to AUSTimber2016 can find the accommodation they require. The team is highly motivated to ensure all visitors to their region have a good experience and can report back to their friends, relatives and colleagues that travelling and working in Gippsland is a pleasant experience. Contact has been made with every Latrobe City accommodation provider to explain the scope of the AUSTimber2016 event and get their buy-in to keeping the centralised availability-listing up to date. The strong network of VICs across the broader Gippsland region are geared to ensure that major events such as AUSTimber2016 are supported with tourism officers on hand to provide assistance to visitors for accommodation, transport and touring. Through their web-based booking service (www.visitlatrobevalley. com/accommodation.asp), the VIC is providing visitors with an online capability based on some basic search criteria. However, for those with larger groups and more complicated requirements, they are also offering an email-based service (visitorcentre@latrobe.vic.gov.au) where you can send in your brief and they will come back to you with suggestions and liaise with accommodation providers right through to the final booking. “Team Caterpillar was truly amazed by the speed and quality of the visitor centre team response securing accommodation for our large team during the coming AUSTimber2016 in Traralgon. We were contacted only a few hours after our initial email requesting assistance and confirmed our bookings in one of the great locations in town. We really appreciate the visitors centre team help and definitely recommend their fantastic services,” Ayden Piri, Industrial, Waste and Forestry Specialist APD, Cat Global Construction and Infrastructure. If you are thinking of attending AUSTimber2016 and haven’t already confirmed your accommodation, the suggestion is that you make your arrangements sooner rather than later to secure your preferred location.
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
A NEW GENERATION OF
FOREST MACHINES NOW IN AUSTRALIA!
RANDALLS EQUIPMENT COMPANY is proud to be associated with PONSSE Plc Finland by introducing the full range of PONSSE forestry machines to Australia. PONSSE is the world leader in supplying the logging industry with productive and environmentally friendly cut-to-length harvesting systems. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION RANDALLS EQUIPMENT COMPANY PTY LTD email: randalls@randalls.com.au www.randalls.com.au HEAD OFFICE VICTORIA Randalls Equipment Company 8 Wallace Avenue, Point Cook, Melbourne VIC Contact: Peter Randalls Ph: 03 9369 8988 WESTERN AUSTRALIA (NEW) Randalls Equipment Company 9B Charles Street, Albany WA Contact: Adam Bremner Ph: 0437 059 477
FORWARDERS: From 10.000 to 20.000 kg load capacity. HARVESTERS: PONSSE offers a full range of wheeled harvesters for the most challenging logging conditions. Six impressive models that range from the Beaver to the heavyweight Bear, including the new and very impressive ScorpionKing. The product range includes both six and eight-wheel harvesters in all size categories. Application ranges from harvesting softwood saw logs to harvesting & debarking eucalypt pulpwood.
A logger´s best friend www.ponsse.com
AUSTimber 2016
Powerful Ponsse presence at AUSTimber
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NE OF the largest manufacturers of Forwarders and Wheeled Harvesters in the world will be making its presence felt at AUSTimber 2016. Ponsse machines will be highlighted during the special event near Traralgon and, according to Ponsse’s Australian agent Peter Randalls (Randalls Equipment Company), it will be a top chance for contractors to actually try the machines. “I’m sure AUSTimber will be the first time for many Australian forestry contractors to actually sit in the machines,” Peter said “Ponsse is today the largest manufacture of Forwarders and Wheel Harvesters in the world, so for Australian logging contractors to see what the world uses in the industry is sure to be a highlight. “We will be running the Ponsse Bear Harvester in pine site alongside a Ponsse Elephant King Forwarder. “In the hardwood site we will run the ERGO 8wd Harvester with Euca H7 head also with a Ponsse Elephant King Forwarder. “I am sure one big attraction for anyone visiting AUSTimber will be the Ponsse Scorpion King Harvester. This model will be on site and we expect great interest in it,” said Peter. The plan for Ponsse machines to be displayed at AUSTimber includes Ponsse Elephant King 8WD Forwarders, Ponsse Bear 8WD Harvester, Ponsse Scorpion King Harvester, Ponsse ERGO 8WD Harvester with Ponsse Euca H7 harvesting head (for the hardwood), Ponsse H10 Harvesting head static .
¢ A pair of Ponsse machines at work.
¢ Ergo eucalypt harvesting.
And, when it comes to heads, Randalls will be featuring SP Maskiner... the SP591LX G2 Euca harvesting head fitted to SANY SY245F Excavator base harvester build up. There will also be static display for the SP harvesting heads . Randalls Rotating Log Grapples
¢ The Scorpion King.
will be static on site with another static unit SANY SY235C or 245F High Wide on site with Randalls Rotating Grapple model .80IR22. Indexator Rotators will also be featured around the site. Randalls Equipment Company has been manufacturing and distributing forestry equipment
Reputation for build and accuracy is second to none
AUSTIMBER 2016 will see Tasmanian-based manufacturer Elphinstone Engineering and Melbourne based Elphinstone Weighing Systems exhibiting their Australian designed and built stateof-the art equipment. Elphinstone concentrate on designing and building to suit the Australia logging industry with the safety and wellbeing of operators uppermost in their mind. Their extensive range includes single axle pole trailers, jinkers, single skel trailers and B-Doubles in tandem or tri-axle versions and the latest concept road train (A-Double). All configurations can be built in Elphinstone’s own Easyloader configuration or flat tow to suit customers’ specific requirements. Elphinstone’s reputation for accuracy is second to none in on-vehicle weighing systems and transportable weighbridges. Both systems offer the operator payload confidence every load. There is a system to suit almost every transport need. No doubt there will be a selection of the ever reliable Easyweigh and blue tooth products on show as well. 20
“We have been a strong supporter of AUSTimber over the years and 2016 will be no different with a diverse range of Elphinstone products on show,” Graeme Elphinstone said recently. They are still working through their requirements for the AUSTimber exhibit but you can be rest assured they will have something exciting and innovative on their stand at the In-Forest site. Celebrating 40 years in business in 2016 Elphinstone has a reputation for providing back-up service and spare parts. Drop by their stand and have a chat to the experts in log transport, on-vehicle weighing and transportable weighbridges.
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
and attachments since 1968. The company manufactures a large range of Rotating Log Grapples for Excavators with sales throughout South East Asia. Einari Vidgrén delivered the first Ponsse Paz forest machine to machine entrepreneur Eero Vainikainen in 1971. On the wall of the shabby coffee room of the small machine shop, there was a map of Finland. A pin was placed on the location where the customer was based, Karttula. It was a difficult time in the Finnish economy. Industrialisation was only beginning, farm fields had been rapidly removed from use and hundreds of thousands had migrated to Sweden to find work. It was a time of recession. However, Einari firmly believed in the newly completed machine. “This will become the Mercedes of the forests” was the phrase he kept repeating in the small Vieremä village, far removed from industrial centres. In the beginning, the production quantities were modest, and the young entrepreneur could not get any financing. However, the machines built with hard work functioned well and were constantly developed. Years have passed and Einari’s work continues. Ponsse has reached the top of forest machine manufacturers worldwide and early this year notched up a superb milestone ... its 10,000th forestry machine was delivered. The map that started from a single pin has since gathered pins in more than 40 countries. www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTimber 2016
Forest Centre display breaking new ground
F
OR AUSTIMBER 2016 the Forest Centre static display site will be hugely different to any previous exhibitions, whilst visitors can otherwise expect to see some of the same faces and brands they have become so familiar with over the years. “We are excited to catch up with some of our long-standing customers and also make some new acquaintances, whilst displaying the latest equipment from our established product lines” says Rey Kell from Forest Centre. “In addition to the brands we are most known for, equipment from some new arrivals onto Australian shores will also be on show.” Canadian manufacturer Taimi Hydraulics is now represented in Australia by Forest Centre, offering innovative swivel products that improve hydraulic reliability, reduce leakage and increase up-time of forest machines. Taimi’s unique ball-less and Pressure Spike Protected TM hydraulic swivels are now being used by
www.timberbiz.com.au
numerous OEMs, and come in various configurations to help improve hose durability in problem areas. Taimi’s products include in-line swivels, swivel cartridges, swivel manifolds on crane kingposts and feed roller motors, and the spherical ball-joint style “Swiroll” hose swivel for harvester heads. A compact felling grapple saw from Dutch manufacturer Gierkink Machine Techniek will also make its Australian exhibition debut with Forest Centre at AUSTimber 2016. Designed for easy installation on any machine
that can run a rotating log grapple, the GMT series attachments can add small diameter tree felling and cross-cutting capability to forwarders, truck mounted cranes or compact excavators. A valve on the head allows tilt, grapple and saw functions to all be operated from one control lever and the existing grapple control circuit. Two different models with 350mm and 500mm single cut capacity will be on display. Hultdins grapples and saws will make their biggest ever AUSTimber appearance, with the addition of the new SuperGrip II bunching grapples and new ‘A’ models with asymmetrical grapple jaws. “The pointed jaws on A-series grapples provide more precise gripping function when on steep terrain and picking different timber assortments” explains Rey. The new A-series jaws also improve the rolling of logs into the grapple whilst feeding out any material that would normally obstruct the closing motion of square type jaw tips. With A-series grapples loading and unloading cycle times can also be reduced. When it comes to log haulage equipment, brand new offerings in both log bolsters and auto-tensioning load restraint will be showcased under the ExTe banner. Visitors will be able to take a hands-on look at the totally redesigned ExTe TU model auto-tensioner with easier operation and a wider range of lashing possibilities, together with the newest in low weight high loading capacity log bolsters (in both allaluminium and combination steel/aluminium) for those seeking lowest possible tare weights on log trailers.
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
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AUSTimber 2016
Cutting edge results every time
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HE BEST, most expensive harvesting machine is only as good as the cutting attachments on it’s “business end”. That’s why discerning operators turn to OREGON® for their harvester bars, chains and sprockets. With all of OREGON’s products you can be confident that your machine will perform to its highest potential. Your cutting proficiency is maximised and your down time is minimised. We understand all aspects of mechanical harvesting, that’s what enables us to build cutting chain, bars and sprockets that give you top performance and the longest lifespan of your products possible, in the highly demanding conditions where you work. That’s also why you’ll find OREGON® products as original equipment on many leading timber harvesting and processing machines. OREGON® - the world’s leader in advanced cutting technology for the forestry industry offers you a complete range of cutting attachments for your harvesters. All of Oregon’s harvester chains are built with patented OREGON® OCS-01 steel, developed specifically for use in high-performance saw chain. Along with steel that is specifically formulated for your applications. OREGON chains also feature a superior cutter design, and are manufactured using advanced methods. No detail is left untouched.
Oregon Harvester Products OREGON® MechanicalHarvester Sprockets – OREGON pays attention to all the details. Nowhere is more evident than in the harvester drive sprockets. The drive sprocket moves the cutting chain around a harvester and is an essential element of the harvesters head’s cutting team, which consists of bar, chain and sprocket. OREGON® offers a wide range of sprocket types for different sawing applications. OREGON® MechanicalHarvester Guide Bars - many giant timber-harvesting machines equipped with bar-and-cutting-chain felling heads are equipped with our bars. We offer solid bars with sprocket noses, solid bars, and replaceablesprocket-nose bars. We also supply double ended slasher bars. All are engineered to the highest precision and quality.
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Mechanical-Harvester Chain the OREGON® family of harvester chains are designed to meet the extreme demands of high-powered, high-speed machinery used for harvesting and processing timber products. Dura-Max™ Heavy-Duty Chain Breaker & Bar-Nose Rivet Driver - another heavyweight champion of service tools from OREGON®. This multi-purpose tool breaks any kind of saw chain and can also be used to drive out bar-nose rivets. OREGON® Hydraulic Assist Bench Grinder - this unit has all the features of our most popular bench grinder plus a built in hydraulic assist that closes the chain vise automatically each time the motor and wheel are lowered. Eliminating manual locking and unlocking of the chain vise as each cutter is sharpened. Complete with extra wheels and accessories.
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
FWPA is bringing forest and wood product information to classrooms around Australia. Become a Forest Industry Education Champion to help to spread the word to more teachers. Sign up at www.surveymonkey.com/r/forestlearning2015 Forest Learning is a leading educational resource and we regularly update lessons, information and support for teachers. All lessons are developed by educators in line with the Australian curriculum and subject guidelines.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE OUR VALUABLE INDUSTRY TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUSTRALIANS.
www.forestlearning.edu.au
An initiative of Forest and Wood Products Australia Ltd.
For additional information, forestlearning packs or more postcards contact info@forestlearning.edu.au
Start seeing the wood for the trees
The new look forestlearning.edu.au site is easy to use and packed full of resources. It’s easy to search by Australian curriculum number, subject area, keyword, or type of resource.
There are loads of facts and links to help your students explore the theory and connect with real world forests and the products that they produce. With forestlearning.edu.au your students can understand the vital role that Australian forests play in providing forest and wood products and environmental services. So visit: www.forestlearning.edu.au start downloading these exciting new resources and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter to the latest updates.
For more information or a forestlearning pack (includes posters, bookmarks and postcards) contact info@forestlearning.edu.au
www.forestlearning.edu.au
An initiative of Forest and Wood Products Australia Ltd.
AUSTimber 2016
Komatsu Forest anniversary ties in with AUSTimber
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USTimber will be more than just a chance to showcase the latest forestry machinery for Komatsu Forest ... it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary of operations in Australia! “We’re still the only factory-owned operation and the longest running forest machinery business in Australia, so we would like everyone to help us celebrate this milestone,” said KF Marketing Director Mike Jones. No stone has been left unturned in a bid to ensure the Komatsu presence is massive. “Komatsu Forest will be a major participant at AUSTimber2016 with machines performing live demonstrations at the Softwood, Hardwood and Chipping Sites as well as conducting the traditional Forwarder Competition on the site next to our marquee located on the Softwood Site,” said Mike. “The marquee will follow a similar look to previous AUSTimbers and will feature a full active Komatsu Forest Simulator, new harvesting heads, spare parts and service displays. “And don’t forget our usual lunch BBQ and cool drinks which will be provided to all visitors ... even a breakfast of eggs and bacon for those in need,” said Mike. “Our marquee will especially feature special guests from our factories in Sweden, USA and Japan,” he said. Some of the Komatsu Forest machines scheduled for AUSTimber are:• Softwood Site (Working) “best range of harvesters on the Aussie market”, says Mike. • Komatsu 951/172 Harvester. A newlyreleased model which is largest available on the market. • Komatsu 895 Forwarder with 20 tonne capacity and current market leader in Australia. • Timberpro TL765C /Woodsman750 Harvester. A brand new model from Timberpro; a real contender in the levelling tail-swing market. • Komatsu XT460L/398 Harvester. The new generation XT Series 3 providing a high production combination with the Komatsu 398
¢ Hero of the hill.
• Hardwood Site (Working) • Komatsu PC270-8/202E Harvester/Debarker. The budget combination for the blue gum market. • Komatsu 895 Forwarder. Well proven high performance in the blue gum forests. • Chipping Site ( Working) • Peterson 6800 Flail and 6910 Chipper twin system with high production results. • Supported by PC200-8 Loader and PC300FX Feller Shovel. • Marquee situated on the Softwood Site. (Static) • Extensive range of new Komatsu harvesting heads • Viewing/Inspection Area for all the machines working on the Softwood site.
Mike said the two main attractions at the Komatsu sites will be the big new range of harvesters which will cover the full spectrum of the Australian and New Zealand harvesting requirements which feature high production and low operational costs. “Then, when it comes to really high production, the new Peterson split system of flail and chipper excels all others,” Mike says. “When contractors visit the marquee, there will be refreshments available while inspecting the new range of harvesting heads, working on the Simulator or having a chat with the likes of KF CEO Mitsuru Ueno and President of Timberpro Lee Crawford. “We’re really looking forward to these major events ... AUSTimber and also our anniversary celebrations,” said Mike.
¢ Ease of operation in varied terrain.
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Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTimber 2016
Your chance to pick up $2500 at AUSTimber2016
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NCE AGAIN, Komatsu Forests is sponsoring the Forwarder competition at AUSTimber2016 with the winner not only getting bragging rights but also a cool $2,500. The competition is a good test of an operator’s crane skills along with a good demonstration of correct machine operation, adherence to safety standards and the ability to correctly identify and handle the individual components of a Forwarder. “The overall aim of the competition is to find the operator who is most likely to respect the product being harvested, operate the machinery
most efficiently and go home safely at the end of the day”, said Laurie Martin, General Manager of AUSTimber2016. Brett Jones, Managing Director of Komatsu Forest Pty, has confirmed the machine being used this year for the competition will be the recentlyreleased Komatsu 895. There are now over 55 of these 895s working in Australia. “The Komatsu Forwarder previously known as Valmet, has been the most popular Forwarder in Australia now for over the last 20 years. The tradition certainly seems to be continuing, even with the 895 being the new kid on block,” said Brett.
“It will surpass the legendry 890.3 in the coming years. It’s amazing that there were 120 of these 890.3s delivered into the Australian market from 2006 through to 2012 making it the most successful Forwarder to date in the Australian market,” he said. Komatsu Forest has sponsored the National Forwarder competition since the AUSTimber 2000 show when the 890.1 was first released which was followed by the 890.2. Between these two models there were also over 120 units delivered into the Australian market. “Once again the 890.1 and 890.2 had to live up to the successful reputation of the previous two models being the good old 892 (approx. 80 units) and the black 890 (approx. 80units) so there were over 160 combined sales of these two models into the Australia market. “When you add up all these numbers there is no disputing that all the Komatsu (Valmet) Forwarder models have dominated the Australian market,” Brett said. “We’re very conscious the Forwarder competition is not only of interest to contractors and forest managers but is also a good showcase to the general public of the technology and skills at work in the forest.” said Laurie. “Given the industry needs to continually attract new people to work in it, having something like
this competition gives prospective employees the opportunity to see there is work for smart people with good hand/eye skills.” “We’ve also positioned the competition arena adjacent to the forest site entry point so all visitors are aware of where it is even when it’s not operating and they can include it in their list of things to see while they’re on site.” Apart from the “Firewood heap” which always draws good attention from the watching crowd, this year there will also be “The clean up” which requires the operator to pick up an empty drink bottle and place it in a bin. Apart from the operational skills, it is also a way of showing viewers the fine motor skills that are required and that can be successfully deployed to operate a forwarder to the highest professional standards. To enter, operators should go to www.austimber.org.au/event/ competition-page/ and fill in their details. Entries close 1 April but, given there is a limit to the number of heats that can be operated over the two days of competition, operators thinking of entering should get their entry in ASAP to make sure they get the opportunity to compete. After all, if you’re good enough to win the competition, it would be a pity to see someone else walk away with the cheque.
Waratah to host worldwide meeting during AUSTimber AUSTIMBER 2016 will be a multi-function event for leading harvesting and processing head designer and manufacturer Waratah. “We will be utilising the opportunity to host our Worldwide Waratah Distribution meeting as well host a number of customers and design engineers from all over the world,” said Waratah General Manager Jules Larsen.. “There is special interest within this region to see the latest advancements in the large class tracked and wheeled cut to length attachments, so we are really proud to use this event to launch a number of innovations. “This coming April we will get to see three new harvester heads to the Waratah portfolio as well as display the latest in harvester options from new chainsaw designs right through to the latest in tablet and phone technology for managing your operation. “We consider the AUSTimber a home ground event so we are looking forward to displaying our complete harvester dedicated business from product to service right though to our parts and aftermarket solutions,” said Jules. Waratah has served the global forestry industry for over 30 years, pioneering innovations in mechanised harvesting. It has continuously and systematically improved its skills, increased its efficiency, and enlarged its distribution area and product offerings to provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction. www.timberbiz.com.au
“From the first stone axe to the latest computer-controlled harvesting head, forestry attachments have improved the safety, productivity, and working lives of forestry workers worldwide,” said Jules. “With a focus on increased mechanisation and technology application, we aspire to be the preferred f o r e s t r y attachments provider by distinctively serving global ¢ WaratahMate. f o r e s t r y customers with a business that constantly delivers greater value to all of our stake holders.” Waratah’s forestry attachments are produced in state-of-the-art factories in New Zealand and Finland. Affiliated companies produce Waratah products in Sweden. Australian Forests & Timber News
¢ Waratah factory floor.
¢ Waratah 622C working in Tasmania at the Morgan Group site.
February 2016
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AUSTimber 2016
Trelleborg launches innovative new forestry tyre range
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RELLEBORG WHEEL Systems Australia will be attending the AUSTimber2016 and its soon-to-be-released prototypes in the new forestry range will be on display, and Trelleborg representatives with expert knowledge will also be available to assist. Trelleborg has introduced an all new Twin Forestry Tyre series, which combines the best attributes of the previous range with innovative performanceenhancing technology. The new design, including ProgressiveTraction™ and inter-lug terraces, delivers the next generation of self-cleaning, track compatible tyres with superior traction for tough forestry applications. ProgressiveTraction™ was specifically developed to increase tyre efficiency and performance based on the action of a double lug. Operating on the soil at different times, the double lug progressively releases higher traction when required. The double lug also provides the tyre with better flotation capability, producing even pressure distribution over the extra wide footprint and less impact on the forest floor. The tyres are made from a newly developed enhanced rubber compound and have been redesigned to improve track capability, so that maximum grip and maximum performance is achieved with and without tracks. The new forestry range consists of the T440 and T480 series, complemented by the existing skidder range, T418.
¢ The T480.
¢ The new range is due for release within Australia in the second half of 2016 ... the T440.
Fire protection specialists at AUSTimber FIRE PROTECTION is a crucial part of the work scene and while Recon Industries Australia’s main focus is special hazards such as vehicle systems it is also involved in fire systems for substations, explosive bunkers and the petrochemical industry as well as all general fire safety equipment and systems along with testing and servicing of this equipment.
James Gray (Operations Manager) and Cameron (Gray) each have over 13 years involvement in the fire industry. “We organise and run fire technicians for servicing fire suppression systems, fire fighting equipment and installations across Australia,” said James. Like any other piece of equipment that is
heavily relied on in the work situation, fire suppression units are no different when it comes to maintenance. “Maintenance of the fire suppression system is a critical link as this helps ensure that the system is in a condition that will allow it to function correctly. “The normal maintenance under the Australian standards is every 6 and 12 months. The service provider will supply inspection paperwork to show what has been inspected and any follow up work required,” he said. Recon Industries Australia will be at AUSTimber and will be highlighting the latest fire suppression and fire protection products. “Fire technicians manning the stand to discuss the products on display as well as answer any questions that you have,” said James Some of the products that will be on display include: The new Checkfire 210 control system from Ansul which is now standard fitment on all Komastu forest equipment. Fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment. A range of AFFF suppression systems. Brochures on different types of fire suppression systems “Our technicians will be on hand at the stand to assist with and discuss compliance with Australian standards and how to best maintain the fire suppression systems fitted to machinery. “We will also be giving away multitools to some lucky visitors.” For more information please visit the Recon Industries Australia stand.
¢ One of the fire suppression systems Recon Industries installed at the Komatsu Forest Wodonga workshop. The machine is now in operation near Eden.
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Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTimber 2016
Forester signs on as AUSTimber2016 Operations Manager HIS FIRST encounter with production forestry was as a university student in South Africa before embarking on a career that, over the past 30 years, has seen him in various management roles in South Africa, Tasmania and Gippsland. Now Wayne Shaw-Johnston has taken on the role of Operations Manager for AUSTimber2016 to make sure the event runs smoothly for all visitors and exhibitors from having enough toilets on both expo sites to getting the product produced at the forest site efficiently carried to its commercial destination. Wayne is no stranger to the AUSTimber2016 In-forest expo site as he was one of a small group who explored various locations in Gippsland to find the one that could meet all the requirements set for it by the organisers. Stands of eucalypts and pines located in close proximity to each other on the one site, an interesting landscape for the traditional Forest Walk and good access from Traralgon. Having worked as Harvesting and Roading Manager for HVP in Gippsland up until early last year and his 20 odd years experience in operational production roles helped him know where the most appropriate
site would likely be. “HVP Plantations, who are leaders in innovation and many initiatives in the forest industry, have prepared a great forest expo site. This commitment to providing the industry with a first class demonstration site has been supported by HVP management at all levels from the COO Cameron MacDonald to the GIppsland General Manager Simon Gatt and under the direct management of Travis Healy,” said Wayne. With plenty of local knowledge, he is looking forward to renewing his acquaintances in the Gippsland region as well as catching up with local government officers and exhibiting machinery suppliers from all over the world. “I am privileged and excited to be part of the team presenting to the industry the latest technology that enables the efficient delivery of all aspects of the forestry supply chain from growing and maintaining a renewable natural resource, to getting the right product delivered to mills through eventually satisfying end customers’ manufactured timber requirements.” “Showing this can be done safely thorough a sound certification process is something I’m particularly keen for
¢ Wayne Shaw-Johnston has taken on the role of Operations Manager for AUSTimber2016.
the general public to see for themselves as it can only help our public image while making employment in the industry a more attractive proposition to potential new recruits. “Added to this, the Wood Encouragement Policies adopted by the two local councils (Latrobe City and Wellington Shire) underpin that it is possible to have a well balanced and an environmentally sustainable industry producing various timber products that will help grow our economy in many positive ways,” said Wayne.
“I am also looking forward to recruiting and working with the volunteer team who will help ensure AUSTimber 2016 will be a great event for all visitors and exhibitors. It is all about working together as a team and as a complete industry. We are one “min cura future “ We care for the future!” Wayne took up his new role at the start of January and expects to be flat out dotting i’s and crossing t’s ensuring a safe and efficient AUSTimber 2016 event until the last exhibitor is bumped out from the expo sites in mid April.
Grappling with work made easier
ROTOBEC WILL be attending AUSTimber 2016 in April. Its featured forestry attachments at the show will include its Log Grapples, Bunching Grapples and Combination Grapples. “Our Log Grapples are available in our Standard Duty, Heavy Duty and Super Heavy Duty series; there is a Rotobec Log Grapple suited to every application,” says Josh McTeer, Rotobec’s Marketing Manager based in British Columbia. Log Grapples come equipped with Rotobec’c built-in house 5,000 PSI cylinders and our RTSeries watertight rotators. Our Combination Grapple features a bypassing jaw design that allows operators to easily and efficiently handle single logs or full cords of pulpwood. The unique jaw shape allows for optimal log rolling making it incredibly easy to grab a full load every time. Rotobec Bunching Grapples come standard with bolt-on cylinder heads and our robust interlocking head structure. All grapples are backed by Rotobec’s 18 month/3,000 hour warranty. Visit www.rotobec.com or stop by our booth at AUSTimber 2016 for more information. If you would like to purchase a Rotobec product, contact one of Rotobec’s dealers across Australia. These include Onetrak (www.onetrak.com.au), Pacific Material Handling (www.pacificmh.com. au), Forest Centre (www.forestcentre.net.au) and Scandinavian forestry, (www.scanforestry. com). For product ordering in New Zealand, contact Transdiesel (www.transdiesel.com). www.timberbiz.com.au
¢ R otobec Log Grapple with RGS Grapple Saw.
¢ R otobec Super Heavy Duty Log Grapple.
¢ Rotobec Bunching Grapple.
Australian Forests & Timber News
¢ Rotobec Combination Grapple.
February 2016
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AUSTimber 2016
Cat to have strong presence at AUSTimber
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ATERPILLAR FOREST Products will exhibit at AUSTimber 2016, the largest timber industry exposition of its type in Australia whic has been held every four years since the 1970s. The 2016 show will be held April 11-16 in Traralgon, Victoria. The Australian forest products industry is very important to Caterpillar, and the company will have a strong presence at the exposition accordingly, displaying and demonstrating a number of Cat forestry machines. The Caterpillar exhibit will consist of about a dozen machines and attachments showcasing capabilities in harvesting hardwood and softwood and total forest industry solutions. Local Cat dealership William Adams will assist in making the show a success. Among the machines to be exhibited will be the new Cat D Series skidders, which were introduced in Australia just a year ago after more than four years in research and development. The
Cat D series skidders are faster, more powerful, and more versatile, yet they reduce operating costs to loggers. For example, fuel economy and total fluid efficiency is improved, and extended service intervals reduce maintenance. In addition, the company will exhibit the Cat 320D FM (Forest Machine), a purpose-built track machine that can be configured for a variety of forestry applications, including handling, moving, and loading logs. Caterpillar’s exhibit is expected to showcase machines used to harvest and process timber, remove the wood from the forest, and log loading and handling equipment. Caterpillar’s presence also will include representation from senior leadership, product managers and engineers who will be available to meet and talk with customers and others in the forest products industry. The company’s exhibit also will feature refreshments, giveaways, and merchandise for sale.
¢ Cat D Series Skidder.
Caterpillar Forest Products is a leading manufacturer and worldwide marketer of timber harvesting, millyard, road-building and land management equipment. Products are marketed under the Cat, Prentice and CTR brand names through a global independent dealer network. Caterpillar Forest Products is a division of Caterpillar Inc., the
world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services.
Game-changing machine line-up at AUSTimber John Deere Forestry and its Australian dealer, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia, will have a full range of new ‘gamechanging’ forestry harvesting machines at AUSTimber 2016 . A number of both Cut-to-Length and Full-Tree-Length equipment will be on static display and also working on two live demonstration sites. These will include the new M Series tracked harvesters and feller bunchers and L Series skidders with the first models of these products only recently brought into Australia. There will be the new John Deere 948L skidder, the largest skidder John Deere produce, working along with an 853M feller buncher on the eucalyptus demonstration
¢ John Deere L and M Series Range
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site. Just across the road in a pine stand attendees of the show will be able to view John Deere’s latest technology regarding CTL equipment, a 1270E eight-wheel harvester. But it’s not all about the iron, customers will also be able to view a demonstration of John Deere’s newest forestry equipment fleet management software package “Forestsight Solutions” and test their skills on a John Deere forestry simulator. A large marquee will be surrounded by an impressive range of static equipment and will feature an outdoor viewing platform allowing visitors to watch the live demonstrations with ease. To help visitors refuel for a big day at AUSTimber, free
refreshments will be on offer each day. “HCA is excited to be heading back to AUSTimber this year to talk with visitors and discuss ways we can help with their business needs,” said Frank Gili, National Sales Manager - Construction & Forestry at HCA. “Being the largest forestry show on the Australian calendar we are very much looking forward to again being a part of this event,” he said. Representing each of the three John Deere factories that manufacture forestry equipment, and supporting the local Hitachi Australia sales team, will be 20 John Deere global forestry experts including Product Managers, Engineers and Marketing
Personnel. “Asia Pacific is a strong and growing market for John Deere forestry machines and it’s the intention of the Deere and Hitachi team at AUSTimber to show customers the benefits of all the latest John Deere technology that makes Deere such a global leader in forestry equipment technology,” said Simon Shackleton, Sales Manager for John Deere Forestry, Asia Pacific and Africa. “We encourage customers to visit the John Deere / Hitachi display and come and meet our global team and take the opportunity to discuss our new and exciting products which will be on show at AUSTimber 2016,” he said.
¢ John Deere L Series Skidder
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
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Meet the team beyond the ordinary! Eco Log gives you the ultimate in harvesters and forwarders the Eco Log 590D Harvester and the Eco Log 594D Blue Forwarder Eco Log
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With 300hp, 19.5 tonnes of loading capacity and 24.5 tonnes of tractive effort, the Eco Log 594D dominates all other forwarders. The Eco Log 594D Blue Forwarder with its massive 19,500kg loading capacity rules the forest. See our other forwarders: the 554D, 564D and the 574D for the complete range.
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Visit us at AUSTimber 2016 - Traralgon April 11 - 16 Contact Johan from Scandinavian Forestry on (02) 6947 4505 or 0408 614 503; or visit our website: www.scanforestry.com Lot 10, Snowy Mountains Highway, Tumut NSW 2720
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How is biomass energy faring in Australia? By Sohum Gandhi
About the Author: Sohum Gandhi has a Bachelor’s of Engineering degree from the University of Victoria, Canada. Since 2004, he has been working within the Australian energy industry. As the General Manager of Energence, Sohum has partnered with Polytechnik Biomass Energy to bring Australian Industry international standard biomass energy systems. Energence installed projects to date offset many thousands of tonnes of CO2 emission annually, and save clients millions of dollars in fossil fuel costs. You can contact Sohum Gandhi – email: sohum@energence.com.au or website: www.energence.com.au
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IOMASS ENERGY combustion systems (as a segment within the larger bioenergy classification) is a hot topic in certain arenas such as climate change groups, industry bodies, conferences, research, universities, magazines, and all levels of government and politics. Nevertheless, the project takeup in Australia can be seen as a trickle and not a flood. Like any industry once you get away from the macro and move into the micro analysis you see all the nuances and variables that have positive and negative impacts on the industry as a whole. As far as project take-ups go, despite all the spin and renewability slogans, it always comes back to the universal truth of business‌ investment return. Some projects have a great return. And speaking for our own business, these are the types of projects we have won and successfully delivered. Unfortunately for business operators like myself these gems are not plentiful. And over the last 10-12 years we have definitely seen more stress in the industry as new system providers emerge to capitalize on all the hype. So what is holding the flood gates closed? Because in actual fact it is now well established by international governments, climate change bodies, experts, and a large contingency of the general public that biomass energy is nothing short of amazing. It is accepted,
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proven and documented that biomass energy systems achieve the goals of preventing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I believe the explanation lies in how each challenge can affect the bottom line. Challenges Australia is a coal and gas rich country. Both are a significant part of our economy and majority contributor to our electricity mix. Without these fossil fuels, it is lights out so we understand the political implications around penalising producers and users. When a potential biomass project is being weighed up against a cheap energy rich fuel source such as coal or natural gas, biomass is often in second place on the ROI (return on investment) scale. This happens when the capital investment of the coal or gas plant and the cost/GJ of the coal or gas fuel is simply lower than that of renewable biomass. Now what about the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)? Each state has an EPA
which is responsible for governing the regulations / legislation that protect the environment. While being a necessary body, many projects get lost in the minefield of works approvals. With biomass energy being relatively unknown (in Australia) it is often viewed with extreme scrutiny and mistrust in comparison to fossil fuel counterparts. This in turn can lead to project frustration or cost blow out as layers of expensive equipment is selected to bring the projects in line with what is perceived to be standards met by fossil fuel energy generation. Believe it or not, many projects even get stalled or discarded due to negative community perception. Common themes such as air pollution and deforestation are cited as reasons why biomass energy systems should not be allowed. Without going into details, these negative views are simply incorrect when applied to reputable biomass projects. Biomass energy is backed by
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
world leaders, climate change policy, not to mention being a major contributor to the energy mix in many countries such as Austria, Germany, Finland, and Sweden just to name a few. There are even several reputable high efficiency, low emission, renewable biomass projects on the ground in Australia. And based on the low cost waste streams being used for fuel they could never pose a threat to high value logs harvested from native forest, as the economics simply do not allow it. Some funding schemes do exist, however, they are not comprehensive, substantial or inclusive enough to provide a significant boost to biomass energy systems. To date of the dozen plus biomass energy systems delivered by our business, none has received government funding but instead have stood alone in their investment merit. Properly designed funding packages and eligibility criteria would have the potential to boost the industry overnight. Typically when we think of
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biomass energy systems we think of heat of various transfer media (steam, thermal oil, hot water) or co-generation where the steam or thermal oil is used to spin a turbine and create power in addition to heat. Co-generation projects can be several multiples more capital intensive than heat only and therefore put excessive strain on
the ROI. So in order for the ROI to stack up (in a co-gen scenario) one of the criteria that is often missing in Australia is the ability to sell power at a reasonable rate back into the grid. Without this contract in place projects are reliant on their on-site power usage which may be time of day, week or year dependent and rarely draw at
full capacity. Again, this means the plant has a lower usage and therefore a poor ROI. Solutions: Well, that was a bit of a downer. But it is not all doom and gloom, as projects are still trickling in. Some biomass projects win against coal because the client wants to steer clear of the dirty
fossil fuel. In many instances the project is located too far from the nearest coal mine so the freight component makes it too expensive against the locally sourced waste biomass. Likewise some projects don’t have access to a natural gas main or have natural gas pricing that is far higher than biomass. In these instances the client gets a great payback with biomass when compared to expensive natural gas or exorbitant LPG. Awareness associated with biomass energy is increasing. Industry bodies are delivering great conferences where community, industry, research, and government can meet, learn, and share ideas. And with open and educated communication the issues and challenges related to the EPA, community perception, and government support can be resolved in a way that makes Australia renewable and profitable. While momentum may be a little slow in building, quality and reputable projects successfully delivered lead to more projects in the pipeline as businesses strive to replicate the success and returns achieved by others. Because of this and because of tireless efforts put in by industry proponents, I believe you will see a slow but steady uptake of biomass energy projects in Australia over the coming years.
Doppstadt “chips in” to celebrate 50 years in style
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NVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY company Doppstadt staged what was arguably the largest European trade show of 2015 at its works site (Saxony-Anhalt), and it attracted more than 5000 guests from the environmental and recycling sector. On show were more than 100 machines for shredding, sorting and treatment of waste and biomass. What was unique was that more than half of the machines could be seen in action. In two-hour live demonstrations, guests saw how coarse shredders, screening machines and exact hackers shredded tree trunks into sawdust, separated waste from recyclables and sorted pebbles from sand heaps. Doppstadt demonstrated its problemsolving skills through combined processes: material collected by machines was initially shredded, then separated into its various components by means of separation processes such as screening, washing or air separation. Almost 50 new developments, machine updates and concept studies for different areas of application were on show. The reason for the two-day trade show was the 50th anniversary of the family company’s founding. However, the focus was less on the past and much more on the future.
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“We are both technology leaders and environmental pioneers. And we are well on the way to being a full-range supplier that can provide the appropriate technology for every environmental challenge in its core markets or if necessary can invent and develop it for its partners and customers,” said Managing Director Ferdinand Doppstadt. On hour-long factory inspections guests learned how a screening drum was created from a piece of steel using computer-aided production technology and craftsman’s skills, before being installed in a screening machine in the assembly workshop. Guests also learned how much the family-run company relies on teamwork and networking in its strategic alignment. Doppstadt was established in 1965 and has facilities in Velbert, Wülfrath, Calbe, Wilsdruff and Vienna as well as in Bethesda (Maryland) and Washington. Doppstadt serves customers in over 40 countries around the world through its own dealer network, with intelligent machinery and complete process engineering solutions in the core markets of shredding, separating, sorting, screening, splitting, sifting, washing, moving and conveying. Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
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Time is ripe to consider biomass energy for Tasmania
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URRENT CONCERNS regarding energy supply in Tasmania present an opportunity to consider appropriately scaled biomass plants in the State, and one man who knows this better than most is Senator Richard Colbeck. Currently Minister for Tourism and International Education as well as Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Senator previously championed the forestry and timber industry when he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture. Senator Colbeck said the addition of another renewable energy source would enhance Tasmania’s reputation as a renewable State. “A compilation of global science published in the journal Future Science shows that on a lifecycle basis biomass can reduce carbon emissions by up to 96%,” the Senator said. “In 2013 Professor Andreas Rothe, from the University of Applied Sciences in Weihenstephan, produced a report that found Tasmania currently uses about 400,000 tonnes per year of bone dry forest biomass to generate heat – about 6.5% of Tasmania’s total energy supply. “Based on current practice in Europe, biomass could supply up to 30% of Tasmania’s energy needs
without having to cut down one additional tree. “The WWF and the European Biomass Association set a target for achieving 15% of electrical production from biomass in OECD countries by 2020. “As an OECD country with effectively no renewables coming from biomass, Australia has a long way to go to meet that target,” the Senator said. “Biomass is renewable, cost-competitive with wind and cheaper than solar and provides base load energy when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine – it just makes sense. “Biomass plants in Tasmania would create ongoing local employment and would add up to $200 million to the economy, with the greatest benefit in regional communities.” Senator Colbeck said a biomass plant in Southern Tasmania would assist with the forest residues and provide surety for people working in the industry in that region. “One of the very positive changes to the Renewable Energy Target made last year in accordance with our election commitment was to restore biomass back into the scheme,” Senator Colbeck said.
New biomass database to help boost renewable energy sector and open new markets for farmers AUSTRALIA’S FARMERS could benefit from a new database being developed by the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) which will map out the locations of existing and potential biomass that could be purchased for renewable bioenergy generation. Biomass is any organic matter of plant or animal origin and it can be used to generate electricity and heat or to produce liquid fuels for transport. Biomass is available in many forms, such as agricultural products, forestry products, and municipal and other waste. Traditionally mainly woody biomass has been used for bioenergy, however more recent technologies have expanded the potential resources to those such as agricultural residues, oilseeds and algae. The database that is being developed by RIRDC with $3 million support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will bring together data on biomass resources across Australia, providing a clearer picture of where untapped sources of biomass are available. RIRDC’s Managing Director, Craig Burns said the $6.2 million project would help the Australian bioenergy sector become better integrated and ultimately more productive and efficient. “This database will build better linkages between biomass producers, many of whom are farmers, and bioenergy generators; and that will make it easier to develop biomass generation and biofuel projects in Australia,” Mr Burns said. “Once developed, the database should also help farmers and businesses get more value from organic material destined for landfill, disposal or 32
other low value uses by more easily identifying potential buyers for that biomass. “Once RIRDC has collected the data it will be used to map where biomass resources currently are or where they are predicted to be and then group this with other data on transport infrastructure, land use capability and demographics.” RIRDC will work with states and territories to collect data on the location, volumes and availability of biomass for inclusion on the ARENA-supported Australian Renewable Energy Mapping Infrastructure (AREMI) platform. AREMI is a centrally accessible repository for ARENA project information and shares mapping data and information with the renewable energy industry. “There is huge growth potential in the bioenergy sector with bioenergy currently accounting for nearly 1 percent of Australia’s electricity production, and 7 percent of renewable electricity production. Biofuels account for approximately 1-3 percent of Australia’s fuel consumption,” Mr Burns said. The first tranche of data is expected to be uploaded to the database in mid-2016 and the project is scheduled for completion in November 2020. As part of the project Queensland University of Technology and the University of the Sunshine Coast will form a partnership to develop interactive analytic tools to enhance the utility of the data. The investigative tools will be developed in conjunction with various industry sectors to present useful information on current and future potential biomass resources.
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
¢ Senator Richard Colbeck.
Renewable energy raises the bar MORE THAN 24 million jobs would be created globally and Australia’s gross domestic product would grow by 1.7% if renewable capacity were to double by 2030, a new report has found. The report, released by the International Renewable Energy Agency, found Australia was one of the countries that stood the most to gain from higher investment in renewable energy due to the reduced health impact of coal pollution and a large increase in GDP. Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said the report also found that water withdrawals in 2030 could decline by more than a quarter in Australia if renewable energy capacity was to double globally on 2010 levels. “Solar and wind energy uses up to 200 times less water than conventional power options such as coal and gas,” she said. “An economy that is dependent on dirty, ageing and inefficient coalfired power stations is harmful to our health, our climate and our bottom line. “Instead, we can build a stronger, more prosperous society with energy from the wind and the sun, which never runs out and doesn’t drain our water supply like coal. “Australia will still be one of the world’s powerhouses. But instead of trading in resources that are bad for our health and bad for our climate, we’ll be building and sharing renewable technologies that will power a healthy future and a healthy climate.” www.timberbiz.com.au
HARVESTING
Manual to mechanical sees a 150% increase in output
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FORESTRY contractor working at one of Indonesia’s largest plantations has seen its output increase by 150% with the use of four Volvo excavators. At the PT Acacia Andalan Utama (AAU) plantation run by Sinarmas Forestry in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, much of the harvesting of trees is still done manually. It is dusty and dangerous work, but one contractor at the site has sought to modernize things, introducing an automated process. The initial success of the automation has attracted the attention of neighboring contractors and further mechanization at the plantation is expected in coming months. PT Citos Energi Lima (CEL) is the contractor that is introducing mechanized harvesting at the site in Kembang Janggut District, using four Volvo EC140BLCM excavators including one fitted with a special shear head attachment for harvesting the Acacia and Eucalyptus trees. The Volvo units, together with their shear head attachment, take care of a variety of tasks that were previously managed manually, including cutting the trees; setting them in preparation for being cut to length; piling them for transfer to the
loading area; and loading them onto trucks after they have been moved to the loading area. Introducing mechanised harvesting has delivered impressive productivity increases for CEL. Whereas previously the company could deliver 1,800t of wood per month using manual harvesting, with the Volvo excavators the company is delivering 4,500t per month, and processing close to 80 trees per hour. The 14-t class EC140BLCM offers great strength too, working with a 14 in. (35.5 cm) shear head that would typically be found working on a larger 20-t class excavator. In addition to the impressive power and productivity the Volvo units deliver, they are using less fuel than competitor machines in the same application. So far the EC140BLCM units have been using an average of 2.3 litres of fuel per ton of wood they are processing, versus more than 2.5 litres that competitors use. But impressively, the team at CEL is confident that fuel consumption can be reduced even further, and a target of 1.84 litres per ton has been set, which they hope to achieve through better efficiency of operations. Ramadoni Noviyanto, president of CEL, said his company was
¢ Volvo making work a lot easier
very pleased with its first foray into mechanised harvesting. “We chose Volvo excavators for this task because they delivered lower fuel consumption while also giving us the power we needed for the job,” he said. “This is a new mechanised process but the EC140BLCM has been a perfect choice and works well with the shear head attachment. Our local Volvo dealer Intraco Penta
Prima Servis (IPPS) gave us great support, helping us identify the best machine to begin with and then also assisting us in finding financing.” Sinarmas Forestry is the primary supplier of raw materials to Asia Pulp and Paper, one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world, and is a leader in sustainable forestry in Indonesia. Its locations are all managed in accordance with the Indonesian Government’s Ministry of Forestry’s regulations plus a number of internationally-recognized codes for sustainable forestry, such as those run by global certification body TÜV and LEI (the Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute). Sinarmas Forestry also runs large tiger and orangutan sanctuaries within its plantations. The organization’s AAU plantation, where CEL is working with its four Volvo excavators, covers 26,000 hectares, of which 9,000 hectares are used for timber production. CEL is one of four contractors on the project site.
Scorpion notches up special steel award for Ponsse LAST YEAR’S winner of the international Swedish Steel Prize is Ponsse from Finland. The prize was awarded for the company’s new generation of forest harvester, the Scorpion which, with the use of high-strength steel, realized a revolutionary design that improves both performance and comfort. “Ponsse has not only significantly improved operator ergonomics, but also enhanced functionality and safety, and increased productivity with this new design,” says Gregoire Parenty, chairman of the jury and www.timberbiz.com.au
Executive Vice President and Head of Market Development SSAB. For decades forest harvesting machines have remained pretty much the same. They have traditional designs that focus on function and not on operation. The Finnish company Ponsse decided that by building a new harvester around the operator, with a focus on ergonomics, they could improve both performance and comfort. The Ponsse Scorpion features a symmetrical crane boom where the operator sits in the
Australian Forests & Timber News
centre point of all movements. If offers the operator total visibility and the ability to work comfortably and efficiently. By using Strenx 700 MC Plus high-strength steel in the crane arms, Strenx 700 in the chassis and Hardox 450 in the cutter head, the Scorpion has a lower overall weight which helps manoeuvrability in rough terrain. Lower weight allowed more bearings to be added, which gives the Scorpion its unique stability. Furthermore, fuel consumption has been reduced and boom movements are faster.
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HARVESTING
Real world testing ensured new head was ready to compete
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IMBERHEADS, AN American company based in Antigo Wisconsin, started in 2008 with one goal in mind ... to build a simple, reliable, affordable processor to handle the largest hardwoods, yet still run fast in softwoods, in any environment. That goal has now been achieved with the release this year of the Kodiak TH24D and the Kodiak TH24F. Timberhead principals Paul Wolf (designer), Bob Klinter (applications engineer) and Kevin Marshall (owner of Marshall Logging) explained that two years had been spent developing and prototyping. “Everything was modeled using state-of-the-art CAD software, however, as good as that is, we still needed to do over 6000 hours of real world testing before we felt the production model was ready,” they said. This team has years of experience in designing, building and operating some of industry’s best
forestry machines. “This part of the US has a unique history to the origins of modern logging with Pat Crawford’s Timbco and Gafner’s Iron Mule, and we want to continue that tradition. “This region has a large variety of weather, terrain and species, and making a processor work well here can translate to working well in a majority of areas across the country,” they said. They started with a list of what they termed necessary features which included: • Simple design that’s easy to operate and service. • Long-lasting, strong, reliable and rebuild-able. • Keep weight to a minimum. • Handle large hardwood. • High production in softwood. • Handle extreme weather conditions. • Use state-of-the-art, proven components. • Be adaptable to any carrier. • Manufacture and source locally.
The main body of the Timberheads processor is constructed from laser-cut, high alloy 100KSI steel, with the knives been made from even higher grade steel. The steel pieces are fitted together with precision, and after welding is complete, the structures are stress relieved before machining. All machining is done as a unit to achieve precise alignment of all bores. This reduces unnecessary wear. All main pin bores have a hardened steel sleeve fitted to tight tolerances, giving extended life to the structure and allows for easier future rebuilds. Pins and bushings are manufactured from highalloy polished and ground steel. The Timberheads Kodiak TH24D is a 1,678 kg (3,700 lb) head designed to harvest trees up to 61 cm (24 in). The Kodiak TH24F is also designed for 61 cm (24 in) trees, but weighs 1,944 kg (4,285 lb) including the rotator. Continued on page 35
Pendulum swing for big data THE BIGGEST change in enterprise computing in decades is under way, with big data to the fore in the year ahead, according to MapR boss John Schroeder. Source: IT Brief Schroeder, chief executive and co-founder of the converged data platform provider, says big data had a profound impact on 2015, and will increasingly do so in the future. He says how data is stored, analysed and processed is transforming businesses and he sees an acceleration in big data deployments. “An organisation’s competitive stance now relies on the ability to leverage data to drive business results,” Schroeder says. He is predicting five key trends for 2016, with converged approaches becoming mainstream; a move from centralised to distributed; storage – particularly flash – becoming ‘an extremely abundant resource; increased focus on fundamental value’ and a ‘flight to quality’. While accepted best practice for the last few decades has been to keep operational and analytic systems separate, in order to prevent analytic workloads from disrupting operational processing, 2016 will see converged approaches becoming mainstream as leading companies reap the benefits of combining production workloads with analytics 34
¢ Bob Klinter (applications engineer) and Kevin Marshall (owner of Marshall Logging).
¢ Paul Wolf (designer).
to adjust quickly to changing customer preferences, competitive pressures and business conditions. Schroeder says this convergence speeds the ‘data to action’ cycle for organisations and removes the time lag between analytics and business impact. Schroeder says big data solutions initially focused on centralised data lakes that reduced data duplication, simplified management and supported a variety of applications including customer 360 analysis. “However, in 2016, large organisations will increasingly move to distributed processing for big data to address the challenges of managing multiple devices, multiple data centres, multiple global use cases and changing overseas data security rules (safe harbor),” Schroeder says. He says the continued growth of internet of things (IoT), cheap IoT sensors, fast networks, and edge processing will further dictate the deployment of distributed processing frameworks. Next-generation, software-based storage technology is enabling multi-temperature (fast and dense) solutions. Flash memory is a key technology that will enable new design for products in the consumer, computer and enterprise markets. Schroeder says consumer demand for flash will continue to drive down its cost, and flash
Australian Forests & Timber News
deployments in big data will begin to deploy. The optimal solution will combine flash and disk to support both fast and dense configurations. In 2016, this new generation of software-based storage that enables multi-temperature solutions will proliferate so organisations will not have to choose between fast and dense—they will be able to get both. “In 2016, the market will focus much less on the latest and greatest ‘shiny object’ software downloads, and more on proven technologies that provide fundamental business value,” Schroeder says. Companies will increasingly recognise the attraction of software that results in business impact, rather than focusing on raw big data technologies. In terms of big data technology companies, Schroeder says investors and organisations will turn away from ‘volatile’ companies which have frequently pivoted in their business models. “Instead, they will turn to focus on more secure options – those companies that have both a proven business model and technology innovations that enable improved business outcomes and operational efficiencies,” he says.
February 2016
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HARVESTING
A first for Caterpillar: remote operated logging machines Caterpillar Forest Products is advancing technology to develop a purposebuilt steep slope package
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AT® forestry machines are being utilised via remote control for the first time in a project that ultimately may pave the way for wider application of the technology in the logging industry in order to increase operator safety. Although remote operation has been used in Cat mining and construction equipment in the past, this is the first use of the technology with Cat forestry equipment. “Caterpillar is on the cutting edge of technology,” said Kolin Kirschenmann, Product Manager for Cat Forest Products -- technology to help Cat customers work more productively, efficiently, and safely in the most demanding applications and environments. Three Cat 521B track
fellerbunchers worked for most of 2015, removing trees and other vegetation inside Fort Bragg, North Carolina. One of the machines was fitted with a disc saw head for felling large timber while the others were equipped with mulching heads for clearing smaller diameter trees and brush. The Cat machines were operated by remote control. The work is being carried out on the site of a former gunnery range, an area that is littered with unexploded bombs and other military ordnance. Because of the risk associated with the unexploded ordnance, the machines were equipped with the innovative technology to allow workers to operate them from a safe location via remote control. “This is an incredibly important
Continued from page 34
Real world testing ensured new head was ready to compete “Lee Crawford and John Lambert from Timberpro have been particularly helpful on our path to success. We have the same vision for manufacturing quality products to help the logger.” This is the first year of production. Kevin Marshall is currently running (3) TH24D heads on his CAT 550 rubber tyred carriers, and Tim Jacobs Logging (WI, USA) has taken delivery of the first TH24F head for his TImberPro tracked TN725C carrier. “In October, 2015, we introduced both heads at
the Great Lakes Logging & Construction Expo and were well received,” said Paul. “Production orders are being built, and 2016 looks to be very promising,” he added. The heads can be installed on excavators or wheeled harvesters and can be fully optioned to meet the individual needs of the customer. The release of the new heads was the first step for the fledgling company which now has its sights set on establishing a strong base in NA and then possibly exporting in 2017.
range...because we don’t have an aerial gunnery range currently,” said Wolf Amacker, chief of operations for Fort Bragg range control. When the entire project is completed -- the land cleared, ordnance removed and range facilities constructed -- Army aviators will be able to train onsite instead of travelling to other military installations. The range also will be used for training by military aviators from other bases. However, the job of clearing the land is a “daunting task,” said Amacker. That’s because the site had been used as a munitions range for decades. Removing the unexploded ordnance prior to clearing the land would be too dangerous and expensive, and equipping a landclearing machine (that requires an
¢ Kevin Thieneman, president of Caterpillar Forest Products.
operator) with armor provides only limited protection. The solution: forestry equipment operated by remote control, eliminating the risk of ordnance exploding and causing injuries or fatalities of equipment operators. The Army selected Environmental Chemical Corporation (ECC) to be
Continued on page 36
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February 2016
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HARVESTING
A first for Caterpillar: remote operated logging machines Continued from page 35
its contractor on the project. ECC, a global business that specialises in site remediation work for the military and government agencies, has done similar work at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia and Fort Polk in Louisiana.
Kit mounted in 15-20 minutes To provide the equipment and the know-how for the project, ECC turned to another firm, Applied Research Associates (ARA), to supply the remote control system and work with the primary equipment vendor, a New Englandbased Cat dealer, Milton Cat. ARA reached out to Mike Mangin, leader of the track fellerbuncher product team for Caterpillar Forest Products, to collaborate on a solution that would leverage the electric-over-hydraulic controls of the Cat track fellerbuncher. ARA brought the latest version of its teleoperation system to the project, a kit that can be mounted on the machine in as quickly as 15-20 minutes, depending on the technician and experience. The machine operators sit in a nearby office -- an air-conditioned trailer – and operate the equipment via laptop computer and operator controls. The remote operator has several video screens to observe the work -- multiple cameras are utilized and mounted on the machines with magnets to enable good visibility -- and controls the machine as if he was seated in the cab. The cameras can ‘zoom’ and also ‘pan’ or sweep over an area if additional visibility is needed. In addition the site is constantly monitored using aerial drones that provide a bird’seye view of the work zone in high definition video, allowing operators to be aware of obstacles beyond the vision of the onboard cameras. The project requires clearing about 980 acres, most of which will be done with the remotely operated equipment. The work began in June 2015 and is on schedule to be completed soon.
More opportunities “Success in this project will lead to more near-term opportunities at Army sites in Georgia and Louisiana as well as longer term opportunities globally,” said Kevin Thieneman, president of Caterpillar Forest Products. ARA worked with Caterpillar Forest Products so the company’s remote control kit essentially “would plug in and play,” said Greg Hewitt, ARA Unmanned Systems Group Leader. The control kit plugs into a data port, and the machine can be operated remotely 36
¢ An operator running a machine via remote control.
¢ Cat track fellerbuncher being operated via remote control at Fort Bragg.
at a distance as far as two miles. ARA has utilized a similar system in other applications, mainly for the military, including other Cat equipment. The ECC workers had not operated fellerbunchers before but were accustomed to the machines after four hours of rudimentary training provided by ARA, according to Hewitt. The project illustrates the importance of the collaboration of Cat dealers. Milton Cat was not the first equipment dealer that ARA approached, noted James Egan, a forest products sales representative for Milton Cat at the company’s location in Hopkinton, Mass. “They got shot down by other people who were not willing to go down this road with them.”
Looking outside the box “The biggest thing, I think...was Milton Cat’s ability to look outside
the box and look at new options,” he added. Caterpillar Forest Products is advancing this technology to develop a purpose-built steep slope package. (Caterpillar is a sponsor of the Steep Slope Logging Conference planned for Richmond, British Columbia, on March 2. For more information about the conference, visit www. steepslopelogging.events.) The benefit of the technology in such an application parallels the Fort Bragg application: it removes the operator from a hazardous environment and ensures his safety. Instead of working in the cab of a machine navigating steep terrain or manually felling timber with a chain saw, the logger would be located nearby and operate the machine remotely, completely safe. Safety for operators is the paramount concern, Egan agreed. “Remote control definitely eliminates...danger.” Whether it is steep slope logging, demolishing buildings, removing toxic waste
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
or unexploded ordnance, mining or other tasks, any application that can help eliminate hazards to an operator “is a good place for remote control,” observed Egan. Aside from using remote controlled machines to mitigate hazardous work environments, the technology may have wider application for the forestry industry, which has difficulty recruiting, training, and retaining good equipment operators. “There are some people who think it might be a good idea to turn a logger into an office worker,” said Egan, the equipment operators potentially running a machine from home or an office environment up to 100 miles away. Dan Dructor, executive vice president of the American Loggers Council, echoed that sentiment. He has heard talk about remote control forestry equipment, he indicated. “Most talk comes from contractors when they are having labor problems...wishing everything could be remote controlled.” www.timberbiz.com.au
HAULAGE
Multi-purpose movers maximise payload
M
AXITRANS has delivered four innovative PBS A-double combinations to growing Victorian transport company, Porthaul. A collaborative effort by two of its brands, Freighter and Hamelex White, the combinations maximise payload while their modular design means they can be used for a variety of purposes. The ongoing cooperative efforts between MaxiTRANS and growing transport company Porthaul has produced some innovative Performance Based Standards-approved combinations in the last few years, thanks in large part to the adventurous approach of Porthaul General Manager, James Williamson. Son of company founder, Brian Williamson, James says one of the most exciting projects he has been working on with MaxiTRANS is a modular PBS A-double concept – a project that has now come to fruition. The combinations consist of Hamelex White aluminium tubs, similar to those found on a grain tipper, mounted on lightweight skels from Freighter, with Freighter dollies, creating a modular combination produced entirely by MaxiTRANS. “The fact that all parts of the trailer came from MaxiTRANS made the process a lot cleaner than going to two or three different suppliers to provide the separate dolly, skel and bin components. It meant I only needed one company who could coordinate the whole job for me. “They put a team of engineers at my disposal to work together on the project,
from a dedicated PBS expert to skel and tipper engineers,” says James. “Using their Solidworks 3D CAD design software, MaxiTRANS was able to simulate the trailers in action, ensuring they would work as intended before manufacturing began.” The innovative combination is designed to allow the trailers to “tip through” their contents when loaded onto the tipping ramp in Portland, Victoria. The sliding dolly allows the front trailer to be backed up directly onto the rear trailer. The doors of the front and rear trailer then swing open together when the tipping ramp is raised to allow product to tip through from the front trailer, all the way out the rear door of the rear trailer. The modular design also allows the trailers to be used in different combinations based on the type of application they will be put to, providing Porthaul with increased diversity without purchasing extra equipment. “We work a lot with woodchips, transporting around two and a half million tonnes a year. But there are only two tipping ramps we work with in Victoria and if they break down we need to be able to put our equipment to different uses,” says James. “These A-doubles can transport pretty much anything we want, from hauling woodchips, grain or fertiliser in the tubs, to removing the tubs to transport logs. We’ve diversified but haven’t had to add more equipment. In fact, we’ve taken about 20% of our combinations off the road, because this configuration gets it done.”
¢ The innovative MaxiTRANS A-double is designed to allow the trailers to “tip through” their contents when loaded onto the tipping ramp in Portland, Victoria.
www.timberbiz.com.au
“These A-doubles can transport pretty much anything we want, from hauling woodchips, grain or fertiliser in the tubs, to removing the tubs to transport logs.”
¢ The Freighter/Hamelex White modular A-double combination earned Porthaul a nomination for the ‘Investment in Technology’ award at the VTA Australian Freight Industry Awards.
Adding to that saving, James says he has achieved a total of 81 tonne GCM an additional 7 tonne gain over his previous quad quad Super B-doubles and 14 tonne more than a standard B-double. “With the help of MaxiTRANS and its PBS expertise, we have now maximised the total payload available to us on Victorian roads,” he says. At James’ request, MaxiTRANS has packed the trailers full of the latest technology, including full auto greasing, Electronic Braking System (EBS), Central Tyre Inflation (CTI) and weight gauges. “We purposely sourced the best products to go into these trailers, which have now got pretty much everything you can imagine in them,” James says. “Most of the technology also helps improve our driver safety, like the weight gauges, which send readings directly to the driver via a display in the cab, so they don’t have to get out into the forest when we’re working in the plantations.” The inventive design of Porthaul’s modular A-double combination earned the company a nomination for an ‘Investment in Technology’ award as part of the VTA Australian Freight Industry Awards – a just reward for having the confidence to take on a new concept. James is satisfied that the financial rewards delivered by the trailers will be equally as good.
Australian Forests & Timber News
¢ The modular design of MaxiTRANS’ trailers allows Porthaul to carry woodchips, grain or fertiliser in the tubs, or to remove the tubs to transport logs.
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SKIDDERS
Pocket rocket with power and performance
T
IGERCAT’S 610C Skidder is a quick, compact, agile and powerful machine. Basically, it’s a pocket rocket with performance, and that’s according to two contractors who have these machines operating in steep slope work on the north coast of NSW. Jade Osborne (who runs DJ & JB Logging with his brother-in-law Dean Bloomfield) from operations based at Herons Creek, is so far rapt with his new machine. It’s just got 215 hours on the clock but it has done everything asked of it. “The ergonomics are brilliant,” he says. “The turnaround system makes life easier. Where we are working there is limited room to turn around so it’s a matter of straight out and straight back. There’s no neck and back strain. It’s got good visibility. The windows are set up well. “Yep, we’re very happy with it so far. Everything on it seems fairly heavy duty.” Jade says the four-wheeled 610C pulls “half as much again” as his now semi-retired older Skidder (it’s got 15000 hours up and it’s still used for
some private property work) while still using the same amount of fuel. Even though it’s billed as compact, the 610C, according to Jade, is powerpacked and the grapple is top notch... “it’s got a bigger capacity than our older one, and it’s got a lot of power over the wheels,” he says. For about the past 12 months he’s been operating in what he terms a fairly steep block. In fact, 60% of that block was between 25 and 30 degrees so that further highlights the need for power, stability and reliability. Jade is a third generation logging contractor having started “in the bush” up around the Border Ranges (near the NSW/Queensland border) when he was just 14. He followed his father (Bevan) and grandfather (Alf Hoffman) in his career choice. He made the move down the coast in 2004 and started with what was then termed a small contract. Now, though, his contract is for 20,000 tonnes a year and it’s all steep work. “You work a lot harder for a lot less tonnage,” he says, “and you have to have good, reliable machines.” Just down the road a bit is another
contractor with a 610C (they have possibly the only two 610C Skidders in Australia). Steve Townsend (Townsend Logging based at Seaham with his work mainly being between Bulahdelah and Port Macquarie) describes it as a well-rounded package. “We needed to replace an older machine and we spoke to a few different companies ... I shopped it around. Basically, there were two factors that swayed me towards Tigercat -- their build reputation and the availability of a machine. “They had a machine in the country when I really needed to get one. It was ready to go to work, and that’s what I needed. Their reputation and what I had learned from others heavily influenced my purchase,” says Steve. “We had a few teething problems ...nothing major, just after start-up. Onetrak were really good with that. They got on top of it fairly quick. They got things sorted out. The backup has been great. If I need anything it’s only a phonecall away. Whenever they’ve got any service guys going up
this way they always make sure they check in with me to see if we need anything. “The support aspect cant be faulted,” Steve said. However, it’s the build reputation that gets the real tick of approval from Steve, including the Turnaround seat technology. “The operator isn’t straining his neck and shoulders. It’s absolutely brilliant. “The hydrostatic transmission is great as far as ease of operation.” Performance in tough terrain is excellent because full tractive effort is available at any engine speed, minimizing wheel spin and improving breakout performance. The operator appreciates simplified drive control with no gear shifting. Electronic control technology combined with Tigercat’s unique hydrostatic drive system allows the skidder to operate at variable engine rpm, automatically increasing engine speed when additional horsepower is demanded. “I just think the machine is well laid out. It’s built well to work well with a good operator and the machine performs exceptionally well. “It’s a really good, well-rounded package,” he says of its work in undulating to steep hardwood country. Steve has been in the game for almost two decades having worked in roughly the same areas. He says he started in pine then moved into hardwood and back to pine for about three years to fulfil a contract then moved back to hardwood. “I’ve chopped and changed a fair bit,” he laughs. “I don’t know whether one’s worse than the other or one’s better than the other but you have to work with what’s there at the time... as long as it pays the bills.” Steve has a 20,000 tones a year four machine operation (a mechanised feller buncher, the Skidder and two dump excavators) working under contract to Jamax Forest Solutions.
¢ Townsend Logging Tigercat 610c Skidder.
¢ Townsend Logging
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¢ DJ & JB Logging
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
SKIDDERS
Grab and go ... and go ... and go!
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EW LOGGING machines are not bought on a whim. They’re the result of talking, testing, trialling, comparisons and, most of all, whether they will be able to handle a specific job and all its associated rigors. This reasoned approach is second nature to the majority of forest contractors; they know the value of a reliable piece of equipment in the “bottom line stakes” and worker safety. So, it was no surprise that Mangan Logging (a name synonymous with forest contracting and haulage for decades) opted for a Tigercat 635D Skidder for its contract work at Mount Macquarie. Matt Mangan (manager) explained that the purchase of the new machine was “because we wanted to do the job a different way” and, so far, he’s rapt with the 635D. “We’re happy with it. Serviceability all good so far. We’ve only had it couple of months, but it outpulls all the competitors. “As I said, the reason we got this one was because we were looking at doing the job a different way; we’ve got it working in our shovel operations at Mount Macquarie near Blayney in NSW. “The grapple size and strength is second to none,” he says. “Whatever wood you put in the grapple it pulls it.”
Matt was also high in praise of the “turnaround” (reversing seat). “That’s a huge advantage. You don’t realise the difference it makes until you have it. Just drop your logs at the dump and drive straight back up backwards to get the next bunch. Much quicker ... don’t have to turn the skidder around ... just drive straight back up.” The operator drives blade-forward or grappleforward with full control of all functions. The full speed range and maximum tractive effort is available in both directions. Tigercat’s Turnaround seat swivels effortlessly, locking in either the forward or rear-facing position. Once facing rear, the operator has full control of all machine functions including drive controls. Instead of a wheel, the steer function is controlled with an armrest-mounted joystick that places the operator in a more secure, less extended, ergonomically-correct seating position. With Turnaround, forward and reverse have become meaningless terminologies. Thanks to Tigercat’s advanced hydrostatic drive technology, the operator can drive comfortably with the full speed range available either blade-forward or grappleforward. The operator has control of all machine functions in either seating position. That means quicker turns and reduced fuel consumption. Rather than perform a wide U-turn or 3-point turn, the operator simply shuttles back and
¢ Mangan Logging Tigercat 635D Skidder
forth from the deck to the cut block without ever turning the machine around. “It out-pulls anything we have had so far. “The 635D skidder is very well laid out from a service and maintenance perspective. We have just had our first service on this machine and it was quick and easy. The aftersales service we get from Onetrak is of a very high standard and the team at their Tumut branch could not be more helpful,” said Matt. When asked about fuel usage Matt said they hadn’t really measured it as yet “but it’s no worse, which is surprising with the six wheeler versus the four wheeler”. The 635D is Tigercat’s highest capacity skidder. With six-wheel drive and a massive grapple, the machines are built for extreme duty and super high production logging operations. Electronic control technology combined with Tigercat’s unique hydrostatic drive system allows the skidder to operate at variable engine rpm, automatically increasing engine speed when additional horsepower is demanded. “The stability is really good. That’s a build factor with Tigercat ... we know they build a good product.” In fact, the Mangan business has had a few Tigercat harvesters in its fleet with 830s, 855s and 822s ... “The last one is an LH855C which we’ve had for about 18 months. No worries,” said Matt.
Timber Doing Business in Queensland CONNECT
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INAUGURAL STATE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
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8-10 June 2016
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Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
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SKIDDERS
Wheeled workhorse gives more production at less cost
T
HE CAT D Series wheel skidder was introduced in 2014 after more than four years in research and development. Caterpillar relied on extensive feedback from loggers and dealers at every stage of the machine’s development. While faster, more powerful and more versatile than its previous model, the Cat D series skidders reduce operating costs to loggers. For example, fuel economy and total fluid efficiency is improved, and extended service intervals reduce maintenance. “Loggers have a more versatile machine that is highly effective in sensitive applications such as first thinnings while maintaining the stability for working in tough conditions,” said Matt McDonald, product specialist for Caterpillar Forest Products. The Cat D Series skidders feature a six-speed transmission with more gears in the working zone, lock-up torque converter and independent front and rear differentials for more pulling power and control, high-capacity cooling system and reversing fan, high-performance hydraulics, a roomy, quiet and cool operator station, and tilting cab for servicing. There are four models of Cat D Series skidders. They range in horsepower from the Cat 525D (203 hp, 151kW) to the Cat 555D (275 hp, 205kW). The Cat D Series skidders are equipped with the Cat C7.1 ACERT™
engine. It delivers more power and more fuel economy while complying with both U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and EU Stage IV emission standards. The D Series also offers a Cat C7.1 ACERT engine that is equivalent to U.S. EPA Tier 3 and EU Stage III emission standards. Designed for durability and long life, the engine will provide maximum uptime and reduce operating costs. The high-capacity cooling system and on-demand, hydraulically driven reversing fan keep the engine running at proper operating temperature, optimizing performance,
The torque converter enables a smooth start when the skidder has a heavy load. Then the lock-up clutch automatically engages, and the transmission goes into direct drive for high efficiency hauling. In normal operation, all four wheels move independently. In poor ground conditions, the independent front and rear differential locks can be engaged separately for better pulling and maneuverability. The locks are hydraulically actuated and can be engaged on the go. A new hydraulic system gives the Cat D Series skidders faster multi-
“A more versatile machine that is highly effective in sensitive applications” durability and fuel efficiency. The cross-flow configuration and compartmentalization of the engine and cooling system maximize efficiency and reduce debris collection. Cool ambient air is pulled in from the side -- not from the engine compartment -- and air is exhausted out the opposite side. The oversized fan spins only as fast as needed to maintain proper operating temperature, and it automatically reverses every 20 minutes to expel debris. The Cat D Series skidders have a six-speed transmission with gears more evenly distributed in the working zone to maximize efficiency on any terrain and ground conditions.
functioning capability and greater lift capacity. “ “You can steer, back up and activate arch, boom and grapple functions at the same time,” said McDonald. “Cycle times are significantly faster, increasing productivity.” Hydraulic system pressure has been increased 1523%, depending on the model and matched to boom length, to increase lift capacity. Increased rigidity of the lower frame gives extra support to the bottom guarding to prevent damage from stumps and rocks. The rear frame, which has to stand up to heavy, swinging and twisting loads, features box-section construction. A pin-mounted blade provides
more durability, and bolt-on edges maximize blade life. The 360-degree continuous rotation grapple features box-section construction and threaded grapple tong pins that maximize structural integrity. Tongs have replaceable wear tips and internal welding in high wear areas for greater grapple durability. Logging and retrieval winches are available as options. The operator cab is roomy, quiet, and cool and provides great visibility. The standard seat swivels 30 degrees to the right so the operator can see grappling and skidding. The grapple is controlled through the seat-mounted joystick, so the operator can have full control while resting his forearm on the armrest. The three-piece front windshield and tall, wrap-around rear windows give the operator a 360-degree view, including the corners of the blade and winch drum. A tilting cab with field-proven tilting pins provides access to components. Bolt-on panels around the base of the cab and removable steps provide more access. All components of the cooling system are easily accessed. The Cat D Series skidders are faster, and they feature more pulling power and high performance hydraulics for faster cycle times and increased production, greater fuel economy, durability and reliability, and reduced maintenance for lower operating costs.
¢ CAT 535D Skidder
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Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
FIRE PREVENTION
The correct fire suppression system can make a big difference!
R
ECON INDUSTRIES Australia was formed in 2011 and has been involved with the timber industry since 2012. The highly specialised business works across Australia in the timber, waste and mining sectors. “Our main focus is special hazards such as vehicle systems but we are involved in fire systems for substations, explosive bunkers and the petrochemical industry as well as all general fire safety equipment and systems along with testing and servicing of this equipment,” says James Gray, Operations Manager. “Cameron (Gray) and I both have over 13 years each of involvement in the fire industry. “We organise and run fire technicians for servicing fire suppression systems, fire fighting equipment and installations across Australia. “All of our technicians receive OEM training on the fire systems as well as certification from an independent body,” said James. “Recon Industries Australia has available and or is able to access most parts for most fire
suppression systems. As well as being an Ansul distributor and a Qtec distributor we also have parts for Fogmaker and DAFO readily available which are fitted to some imported European machines,” says Cameron. “This enables Recon to service most of the machines regardless of which system is fitted. We are able to offer customer AFFF, Dry Chemical, Dual agent and wet chemical fire suppression systems as well as the maintenance of these types of systems,” he said. When asked what should clients (in this instance the forestry industry) do to select a system that is right for the occasion, James listed the steps that should be taken: Ask questions. Make an effort to understand the systems available, servicing costs; servicing duration; estimated cost of system for the life of the machine; is the product at end of life will it be supported for the life of the machine? Does the system meet Australian standards? Ask for proof of being tested to Australian standards.
¢ Peterson chipper fitted with suppression system.
Don’t jump for the cheapest option. The overall costs including servicing need to be considered. Ensure that a full risk assessment is conducted in accordance with
AS5062 Fire protection for mobile and transportable equipment. The right fire suppression system can be a game-changer when things get tough.
RECON INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA
Fire Suppression & Protection Solutions
RECON INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA – Proudly Servicing the Timber Industry
We work with you and the equipment OEM’s to ensure the best fire system is selected and installed. Pictured above is one of the many fire systems installations we have conducted for Komatsu Forest. www.timberbiz.com.au
Across Australia we have the solution for servicing your forestry fire systems on all types of machines, equipment as well as supply and servicing all of your fire firefighting equipment. Australian Forests & Timber News
www.reconindustries.com.au Head Office (02) 4953 4131 Or contact James Gray on 0422 156 532
February 2016
41
FIRE PREVENTION
Pumped up for the season
E
VERY YEAR in November, HVP runs a Fire Training Day for the members of their CFA Brigade at their Flynns Creek depot. This day is the culmination of a number of familiarisation sessions held earlier where brigade members use various pieces of equipment to ensure they are proficient in a number of fire fighting competencies. However, rather than run this training day as simply a dour display of competencies for certification, HVP organisers run a program whereby skills are tested and demonstrated in a series of events involving competitive teamwork. Over 90 brigade members and officials gathered at the latest training event. The brigade members are largely drawn from silviculture contractors employed by HVP. With normal silviculture operations suspended in forests once the Fire Danger Index hits 35, keeping the workforce employed in fire protection duties is a means of providing them with continuous work over summer whilst providing dedicated firefighting capacity to protect HVP’s forest assets. The program comprised six events. Find ‘n’ Wind. Given a series of coordinates, teams had to use maps to make their way to various locations before eventually arriving at a location where they had to use figure 8 hose winders to untangle hoses and leave them in a fit state to use. Survival exercise. In teams of three per truck, on command they had to deploy their fire curtains, truck sprinklers, breathing apparatus and warning lights in compliance with the checkpoints printed on the back of the curtain. Once the judges confirmed all safety procedures had been followed, the teams then needed to select the right fittings and pressure to use a hose to push a basketball through a series of culverts. Tanker fill. In a time test, teams needed to draw enough water from a dam to fill two, 1000l shuttles in the
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bush connected by two hoses. Teams needed to calculate the volume of water required to fill both shuttles and the connecting hoses then operate the equipment efficiently to deliver it in the fastest time. Flying fox. As an exercise in fighting stag fires in trees and using the pump monitor on trucks, teams needed to push a disk 200m along a flying fox strung approximately 12m above the ground. This exercise was a test in using pump monitors and selecting nozzle pressures, etc. to deliver an accurate result at height. Slip ons. In teams of three driving vehicles carrying 400l capacity tanks, each team needed to chainsaw three rings off a log then take their vehicle to a dam to load enough water to go through a 4Wd course then discharge their load into a 44gallon drum which, when filled with enough water, would float a ping pong ball through polypipe to a target. Rake hoe. In an exercise of pure muscle and sweat, teams were required to clear a 200m X 1m mineral earth trail using rakes and axes. With judges measuring to maintain accuracy, this was a race to finish using the hand tools with perhaps the longest history of use in fire fighting. According to an organiser of the event, Travis Healey, introducing competition and variety into the training exercises helps ensure skills are better learnt in an environment of teamwork and with the pressure of time to achieve a result. He also sees this event as an opportunity for senior HVP management and silviculture contractors to interact with each other where they wouldn’t normally get to do so in the general course of business. If you’re going to AUSTimber2016 you might just see some of these faces volunteering to keep you safe from fire while you’re there so say G’day if you do.
¢ S urvival teams working hard to push a basketball through a series of culverts.
¢ Cannon fodder. Teams competing in a stag fire exercise requiring them to move a disk along an overhead cable on what turned out to be a very windy day.
¢ HVP Gippsland Manager Simon Gatt and Harvesting & Haulage Manager Jack Barnes have a crack at the crosscut saw competition after lunch. Photo: Laurie Martin
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
www.timberbiz.com.au
Classifieds
Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee. For rates and deadlines call Michael Dolphin on (03) 9888 4834 or email: m.dolphin@ryanmediapl.com.au
CLEARANCE
Milling & Processing Machinery Wolfenden Twin Circular Resaw
30kw, ideal for high production of sawn battensfrom 150x38 feedstock, (or similar operation), Hydraulic feed. Was $18,000+GST Now $14,000+GST
Profiled moulding sander High capacity, multi head, give away
20% OFF
$10,000+GST
Anthon 1.8m wide belt sander
Very heavy duty, high production machine. $15,000+GST
Loser - Dowell cut off machine x 2
$3,500+GST Each
No. 220
Loser - Dowell rod sander
$4,000+GST
4 Tonne Side loader forklift
Perkins Diesel $9,000+GST
Tilt Hoist pack destripper
with multi Bundle infeed and strip conveyor $32,000+GST very good unit.
Rhinbold offcut chipper Very good condition.
$16,000+GST
Austral Timber Group Contact: Ken Baker 0438 643 992 or ken.baker@ubteam.com
CONTRACTOR REQUIRED Pilliga forest 11,000 m3 Forestry Corp guarantee supply Log, snig, haul to mill at Baradine Contact:
Mick Paul – 0409 928 410 / mick@austwood.com
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SAWMILL
A once in a lifetime opportunity to own an established and growing timber sawmill operation. It has an established customer base and efficient production facility located just one hour out of Melbourne. All the hard-work has been done by existing owners and the business is ready for an astute investor to reap the rewards. The business consists of adequate annual log volumes, land and buildings, sawmill and other general plant & equipment. The vendors offer this business for sale on a WIWO basis and the purchaser will be provided with suitable support and training.
Forest Equipment Specialist
John Deere 848H Skidder (VIC)
Dressta TD20M
$187,000 inc. GST
$ POA
Tigercat 635D Skidder
Kobelco SK330-6E
$357,500 inc. GST
$132,000 inc. GST
John Deere 848H Skidder (NSW)
Timberking TK722A
$176,000 inc. GST
$150,000 inc. GST
Tigercat 1075 Forwarder
Kobelco SK260LC-8
$187,000 inc. GST
$77,000 inc. GST
Valmet 425EX + Waratah HTH622B
Rosin CF850 Felling Head
$137,500 inc. GST
$55,000 inc. GST
All enquiries treated with the strictest confidence and directed to;
Glenn Ingram Phillipsons Accounting PO Box 859, SALE, VICTORIA 3850 (03) 5144 4566
Clearance Sale
Mt Beauty Timber Industries Pty Ltd is seeking to clear all sawmilling plant & equipment from our site at Mount Beauty in N/East Victoria. Most items priced under $20,000 List of items include; • Gibson Log Carriage with McKee Load Deck • Twin Circular Log B/Down Unit & Outfeed • Macsim Sizing Carriage with Loading Deck • 72” Klamath Band Saw • Isles Forge 54” Band Resaw & Roundabout • Grey Circular Saw Bench & Infeed • Sumner Multi Saw Edger • 48” Precision Chipper and Chip Screen • Twin Saw Board Dock/End Trim System • Board Unscrambler • Terex Log Loaders with Buckets • Armstrong Band Saw Sharpener & Tensioner • Sawdust Blowers & Cyclones • Stainless Steel Reconditioning Chamber • Ingersoll Rand SSR 2000 10L Air Compressor • Transfers, Rollcases, Trolleys, Blowers & more
To view all items and prices visit our website at www.mtbeautytimber.com or contact Bruce on 0428 361497 or mbtimber@bigpond.com
BUSINESS FOR SALE
• Large existing customer base, specialising in retail/ trade treated pine posts, poles and sawn timber. • The business is ideally located in a high visibility site on the South Gippsland Highway, two minutes from the Korumburra CBD. • The site is 5 acres of land which includes quality offices and showrooms, shedding that house numerous timber machining equipment, large area of covered timber racks, timber treatment shed with 64 ft x 4 ft diameter treatment cylinder, Volvo loader and Kamatso folk lift. • There is huge potential for further growth to expand this long time established and well respected business. • Price $650,000 + stock
BUNCHING GRAPPLES
If you are looking for a heavy-duty grapple that will sort, bunch and load all day, every day, then you need a Rotobec. Onetrak offers the complete range of Rotobec Bunching Grapples, Heavy-Duty Log Grapples and Multi-Stem Grapple Saws. Give us a call for more information.
1300 727 520
www.onetrak.com.au
For information or a private viewing please email -
sales@albertontimber.com.au, call John on 0429 832 437, or Luke on 0429 832 434 www.timberbiz.com.au
Australian Forests & Timber News
February 2016
43
NEXT BIG STEP
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