Aft sep 2013

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SEPTEMBER 2013 Issue 6 Vol. 22 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • E: l.martin@ryanmediapl.com.au • www.timberbiz.com.au

Inside: • Blueprint for the future ... but it needs the political will to ensure its success • How forestry workers coped with the impacts of RFAs • Mill upgrade boost plus bioenergy deal for South Australia

Chinese delegation impressed with Aussie forest workings

• Carbon gets a guernsey at the MCG • Oscar winner shows common scents!

Cypress sawmillers can now plan for the future

By John Hudswell

F

INALISATION OF 25 year sales agreements between the Government and industry has restored security and confidence in a future for Queensland’s Cypress sawmillers. “When you’re a small business having a level of certainty is a game changer,” said Cecil Plains sawmiller Vic Gersekowski.

Rod McInnes, chief executive officer of peak industry body Timber Queensland, said the agreements delivered longer contracts for companies that already had an allocated license to log Cypress.

“By nature the timber industry is a long-term operation and so businesses need to think and plan in the same manner,” McInnes said.

“These 25 year contracts underpin the security that locallyowned businesses need to invest in processing equipment and take on extra staff.”

John McVeigh, Queensland’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, signed off on the sales permits that apply to 14 Cypress sawmillers, mostly located in the Darling Downs region “This 25 year agreement is excellent for my business (Vic’s Timber & Dressing) planning and in turn it benefits the local area as well,” he said.

The Cecil Plains business (about 300km west of Brisbane) has been in the family for 54 years. Vic’s Timber & Dressing has only been in existence since 2000.

“My family started it all and the mill has been here for 54 years. We’ve always worked on cypress, maybe little bits of hardwood here and there, though.”

Vic said talk of the25 year contract had been in the wind for more than a decade. There was always talk. We were on 5 year renewals until it was our turn to have the statewide process done. We’d pretty much been living on year to year for the past decade or more. That’s the way these things go,” said Vic. All the Cypress blokes up here we knew damn well that with the cypress forests there was absolutely no drama with overlogging or anything like that … it grows like a weed!

“It’s always been very well managed between industry and forestry and we knew - if commonsense prevailed we knew we’d end up getting this so I suppose that’s why a lot of us hung in.”

Vic explained that his business processed its allocation about 7500 cubic metres of logs a year. “Over the years we’ve upgraded but we want to upgrade more to become more and more efficient, of course. Now we’ve got this certainty we’re planning on doing just that.

“Our primary breakdown is a twin edger and then across to a one-man bench then through a docking system and we have the Kara bench that cuts all log and pretty much mills our tails, if you like. It’s a very efficient way of doing it at the moment.

“We’ve have kilns and then we have our machining plant where we produce flooring, decking -- all the mill products,” said Vic.

Having a level of certainty is a game changer

continued on page 4.

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Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 3

Mill upgrade boost plus bioenergy deal T

IMBERLINK AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd and New Forests Pty Ltd welcomed the announcement of a $7.8 million grant to Timberlink by the South Australia Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Tom Kenyon. The grant is financed by the South East Forest Partnership Program, a South Australia State Government program designed to encourage a viable and competitive timber sawmilling industry.

The grant will be matched dollarfor-dollar by capital investment from Timberlink in a strategic upgrade of the company’s Tarpeena sawmill. The new investment is expected to increase sawlog processing volume from 460,000 to 575,000 cubic metres annually, improve productivity, and lower manufacturing costs.

“The Tarpeena sawmill has been a key part of the regional softwood timber industry for over 50 years,” said Timberlink CEO, Ian Tyson.

“This investment program will assist to increase our international competitiveness, protect Australian jobs in manufacturing, and position us for a recovery in the Australian housing market.”

The Tarpeena sawmill upgrade includes environmental benefits such as improving timber recovery and energy efficiency and will likely result in improved business sustainability through a reduction in manufacturing costs. The grant and co-financing will increase capacity and implement a range of new technologies in the greenmill, drying kilns, and drymill.

Timberlink is owned by investment funds managed by New Forests, a Sydney-based institutional investment manager specialising in sustainable forestry.

“The Government’s support of capital investment into the Timberlink business is an

 The Tarpeena mill.

Important step in stabilising Green Triangle’s softwood plantation forest industry important step in stabilising the Green Triangle’s softwood plantation forest industry and underpinning local employment,” said James Davies, Head of Funds Management for New Forests and Chairman of Timberlink.

“The project supports local plantations by enabling long-term supply contracts to underpin the investment and also provides an opportunity to expand other potential industries around the volume of biomass being generated on one site. For example, Timberlink and New Forests believe co-generation in the region presents multiple business, environmental, and social benefits, all of which come from world-class utilisation of plantation-based biomass resources.”

The South East Forest Partnership Program targets strategic capital investment

Defining stage in reestablishment process MORE THAN 4 million pine seedlings have been planted across OneFortyOne and ForestrySA plantation land as part of the 2013 planting program.

Close to 500,000 seedlings were planted every week during the eight week planting “window” which provides seedlings with the best possible chance of survival.

A total of 3.4 million seedlings have been planted across 2,000 hectares in the Green Triangle, and 600,000 over 430 hectares in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North.

Seedlings and cuttings are raised at the Glencoe Nursery annually in readiness for planting.

Six planting crews, plus additional nursery staff were hired; 80 seasonal contractors were engaged in the supply chain from the nursery to planting to ensure the best quality trees are planted in a timely fashion.

ForestrySA’s annual planting program is maintained at a round 2,500 hectares per annum, principally in the Green Triangle.

Penola Forest Manager Adam Ashby coordinates ForestrySA’s annual planting program and explained it required many hours of planning and preparation.

“The program is a big exercise in logistics, with an average of 500,000 seedlings a week going into the ground,” Ashby said.

“Planting is the defining stage in the re-establishment process, which began with clearfall harvest some 12-18 months ago and was followed by numerous other preparatory operations such as residue management, weed control and site preparation.”

ForestrySA is committed to the responsible and sound environmental management of plantation and native forest, and maintains a Forest Management System that is certified to the internationally recognised Australian Forestry Standard (AS 4708)

opportunities in the South East’s forest and forest products sector.

The program’s evaluation criteria include strategic importance for the region, positive and sustainable economic impact, employment, and innovation.

New Forests has also entered into a collaboration agreement with Clean Energy Finance Corporation to finance new bioenergy and biofuel developments.

The new investments could include combined heat and power projects or renewable fuels projects featuring biodiesel or syngas associated with forestry investments in regional Australia.

New Forests has invested in extensive forestry plantations in Australia, and the agreement may support establishment of new domestic markets for hardwood and softwood timber as well as traditional forestry and sawmill waste products. Under the collaboration agreement, New Forests will seek to develop commercially-oriented investment opportunities in renewable energy that complement regional forest sectors.

“This is an opportunity to diversify Australian markets for timber, turn waste material into energy, and create new jobs and investment in rural Australia.

We see biomass based energy and liquid fuels as an area of substantial potential for growth, and an opportunity that could rival the size of traditional timber markets in the next 10 or 20 years,” said David Brand, New Forests’ managing director.

CEFC CEO, Oliver Yates, said: “This is an excellent demonstration of how the CEFC can work with the forestry industry to enable bioenergy projects that will fulfil the potential for the industry to convert its waste products into a valuable renewable energy source. Investment in bioenergy can help reduce carbon emissions, lessen the reliance on traditional electricity and has the potential to boost productivity through reduced energy and operating costs.”

Bioenergy currently provides 0.9% of Australia’s electricity generation, but the Clean Energy Council estimates that this has the potential to increase six-fold

by 2020 with the right support in place.

“Linking Australia’s very significant forestry resources and skills and enhancing these through new clean energy technologies utilising cellulosic biomass will build a new industry of national value,” Yates said.

New Forests’ investments already include 375,000 hectares of land and timber plantation assets in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia and Timberlink Australia, with two softwood sawmills located in Tasmania and South Australia.

Many of these plantations were established under managed investment schemes and now need concerted effort to develop markets and infrastructure.

“Market development is a key part of the work that needs to be done to reposition Australia’s plantation forestry sector for the future,” said Brand. “As an Australian business we seek to achieve excellent returns for investors, and innovation is a key part of that work.”

The collaboration agreement is open to any projects brought forward by New Forests that meet the CEFC investment criteria. New Forests has identified a bioenergy plant in the Green Triangle alongside the Tarpeena sawmill as an immediate priority, as well as an assessment of the potential to use hardwood plantations for bioenergy and biofuel production at other locations.

 David Brand.

Join the Innovation Skills Program 2013 – 2015

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This program has been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. ABN: 39 946 785 543

4 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

Cypress sawmillers can now plan for the future ISSN 1444-5824

September 2013 continued from page 1.

$3500 raised plus a good time.

WFTN at work. See page 23 for more.

Features FWPA special.......................................... 8 Election 2013.....................................9-11 ATTA conference..............................12-13 Lubricants............................................. 14 Harvesting........................................15-21 Exports..................................................22 Women in Forest & Timber Network.....23 Finance............................................ 24-25 Classifieds....................................... 26-27

But, back on the chance to upgrade and Vic put things into perspective … “Because of the uncertainty over the last decade (I’d say decade but it probably goes longer than that, 15 to 20 years) we’ve been living with this and it’s been weld upon weld upon weld, really.

“No bank would ever give us money or at least decent amounts of money to invest because we had no resource guarantee.

“What I’m looking at doing is replacing the gear we have. It’s all still very good equipment but it’s at its used by date so we just want to update our machinery so that it will improve our recovery through saw technology and also our drying, Virtually an upgrade of the machinery we’ve got now to help improve our production and with that efficiency and recovery,” Vic said.

“Our future’s very exciting.

“Another big thing that will aid in our efficiency is the extraction

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 C EO Timber Queensland, Rod McIness.

from harvesting in the bush. A lot of the harvesting is all mainly done by contractors to the sawmills and again those blokes haven’t been able to upgrade their gear either.

“Most of the cypress is still being felled by chainsaw and then the skidder into a log dump and a loader loads it on the truck and then to the mill,” he said.

With the new contract deal Vic believes that many 9of the contractors may even look at going into mechanized harvesting.

“Because we’re small volume native resource which has its own difficulties in the forest – it’s not like a pine plantation as you could imagine – the terrain is pretty rough, they’re looking at machines, smaller machines and more versatile machines, rather than the big machines they currently have in the pine plantations for the amount they’ve got to remove.

“If they do that that will mean efficiencies, too.

“There’s a chance of efficiencies right across the board,” said Vic.

parts of the world. “That’s quite exciting really and that’s all because of that certainty.

“I had a bloke from Belgium ring last year and he had seen cypress in his travels and on the net and he thought that could be something he would look at. The first thing he asked about was supply and added that when you get certainty please ring back, which I have done and he is currently looking at it so that’s the thing that certainty brings.

“None of this is going to happen

There’s a chance of efficiencies right across the board

 Minister John McVeigh.

And, he said there were many more pluses … In Cecil Plains there’s two sawmills in town and they employ close to a couple of dozen people in a small town of 200 people.

“Couple that with the blokes out in the forestry and stuff and it gives certainty to the blokes who work with us. That’s been one of the big dramas. They look at the certainty we had and now with having this (25 year contract) they’re more certain to stay.

“I think it will help us to attract staff to our mills and one of the other big pluses I am very excited for the cypress market place … probably a good 50% to 60% of our production goes overseas. With the quality of the cypress, the white ant resistance and the hardness and obviously the aesthetics, it’s valued overseas,” Vic said.

“Since we’ve had this guarantee a lot of my customers overseas who were holding off are now all gung ho about this as well.

“It’s good news and because it’s a native and because of its different qualities to the run of the mill plantation it allows us to find little niche markets; not big consumable house building market, but the niche markets, you know, the floorings, the deckings … all involved it’s a house building market, of course, but because of the unique quality of the cypress we now have the opportunity to go out there and market into different

do is prolong the suffering (even though I prefaced this with yes we’ve got the agreement that’s great) – none of us will be able to invest in what I’ve just spoken about. It’ll be just a matter of bloody survival until the next boom period comes along,” Vic said.

And, with the good news/bad news aspect of this well and truly covered, Vic was adamant that special mention should be made of Rod McInness and also of the work of the Newman Government and in particular Minister John McVeigh and his staff. “A big thank you to the Newman Government for granting us the 25 years certainty and having faith in the Cypress industry, after all without them this would not have happened.

“Rod McIness is an absolute champion. Don’t know where we would be without Rod. He’s brilliant, so level headed and fair.

I just can’t speak highly enough of Rod’s strength and commitment.

Everyone in the industry up here that I know will say exactly the same thing. [Timber Queensland is currently negotiating with the Queensland Government over the royalty rate and when asked whether there was any chance of the reported 30% increase McInnes was quite blunt …

“That’s not going to happen”. He said that TQ was still negotiating and added: “our arguments are pretty persuasive”.]

overnight because, unlike the SEQ process with the hardwood here in Queensland, and even the NSW cypress blokes and pretty much all the other RSAs and SEQs that have been held along with their 20 years agreements, they also got a bundle of money from the various State and Federal Governments to put into their mills to upgrade and spend on marketing.

“We never got any of that. I’m not one for subsidies. I don’t believe in them. What the Governments have got to do now is give us a go, instead of trying to instead of wanting to whack the royalties through the roof.

“Fair enough I can understand it’s the people’s resource, it’s not my resource but for chrisake give us a go.

“Give us a chance now that we’ve got this guarantee, give us at least five years to upgrade our mills and get out their and market these vast opportunities that are out there.

“There was a 2.5% hit when they gave this to us (the 25 year agreement) and now they want to increase it more.

“Give us a chance to get into these other markets … the higher value markets. That’s what we’ll all be chasing -- then when we get that established we may be able to look at a royalty increase but, no, the bureaucrats want it now.

“If they try to push through a royalty increase now all that will

Timber donation helps to enrich lives VICFORESTS visited the site of East Gippsland’s future All Abilities Playground in Bairnsdale to inspect works on the much-anticipated communitydriven project. The playground has been designed as a recreation space for children of all abilities and ages.

East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor, Cr Richard Ellis, said VicForests had contributed greatly to the project in the form of donating sawn timber and timber poles “The supplied timber is all sourced from East Gippsland,” Cr Ellis said.

“The value of the VicForests donation is approximately $25,000, which has been greatly welcomed as a contribution towards this magnificent project.

“Partnerships between the Shire, community and agencies such as VicForests, have been crucial in making the project become a reality,” Cr Ellis said.

The East Gippsland All Abilities Playground

is planned to be a themed play space that reflects the East Gippsland landscape and major regional activities. The play space will include “mountains” with play structures based on an old sawmill. A “riverbed” connects the mountains to the “sea” with a large shipwreck-themed play space. The playground also includes play equipment designed for use by all ages and all ability levels, and sheltered picnic and barbecue facilities.

“VicForests is proud to have been able to assist a project that is aimed at providing a safe recreation space for all children to enjoy together, regardless of their abilities. We at VicForests are members of many local communities. Our staff, contractors and customers, work and live across the State and are committed to contributing to these regional communities,” said David Walsh, VicForests’ Manager, Corporate Communications.

The playground is due for completion this October (weather permitting) and Liz Riseley, a

 Work on the new All Abilities Playground.

member of the All Abilities Playground Committee tells us that her son, Harry (in the wheelchair), is patiently waiting for a chance to make full use of the facilities. It should be in full operation well before Harry’s 10th Birthday 1 April 2014.

Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 5

Chinese delegation impressed with Aussie forest workings A

CHINESE delegation’s visit to the Tumut region to gain an insight into intensive forest management, environmental rehabilitation, forest technology, and re-afforestation techniques has proved successful.

The Forest Industry Council (FIC) along with TAFE NSW Riverina Institute Forest Industry Training Centre (FITC) hosted the 15 man delegation of senior forestry representatives from the Chinese Forestry Institute, Shandong Province.

FITC manager David Priem said the group comprised forest engineers and the managers of either district or provincial forests in Shandong.

Shandong Province, which is just south of Beijing, is one of the richer and more developed provinces in

China, but also is one of the least forested with only about 13.5% of the province covered in forest due to past land clearing for agriculture.

“Re-afforestation for environmental reasons is a major activity in Shandong,” Priem said.

“As well, the province wants to establish a large commercial plantation base to encourage the development of a major forest industry.

“Because of the scale and importance of the timber industry in the Tumut region, the forestry delegation from Shandong was interested in viewing the region’s forestry operations.”

He said the response from the delegation was particularly warm when they were formally welcomed at FITC by Tumut Mayor Trina Thomson.

T umut Mayor Trina Thomson receives a gift from the head of delegation.

Changes at the top ADRIAN HATCH has been appointed the new Chief Executive of ForestrySA, replacing Islay Robertson, who left ForestrySA on 15 August after three years at the helm.

Hatch had been General Manager – Commercial after joining ForestrySA four years ago.

Prior to that he held a number of senior positions within the forestry and timber processing industries within Australia and overseas.

“His commercial skills are well suited to manage the business as a plantation owner in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North, and Service Provider to OneFortyOne Plantations Pty Ltd in the Green Triangle,” said ForestrySA Board Chairman Ian Kowalick.

Further south and Steve Whiteley is Forestry Tasmania’s new Chief Executive. He was previously FT’s Chief Operating Officer, and had been Acting Chief Executive since Bob Gordon’s departure in May. Whiteley, who has a forestry degree from the University of Melbourne, joined FT as a forester in 1985. He has worked across the State in positions including District Forest Manager for the Derwent District and General Manager Operations.

Gordon had given a lifetime of service to Tasmanian forestry. A graduate Forest Scientist, he joined

 Group photo at FITC.

FITC trainer Dr Hans Porada said the delegation was interested in the importance of the FITC’s role in delivering competency based as well as technical training across NSW. Priem and Porada accompanied the group for the day. Highlights of the field tour included a harvesting and forwarding demonstration

by Callum Lonergan, Lonergan Harvesting Contractors.

“Despite time constraints, the delegation was particularly receptive to what they saw and asked some excellent questions,” Porada said.

“Also of great interest to the delegation was a visit to Sugar Pine Walk where there was still snow on the ground.

“Trees the size of the sugar pines in Bago State Forest are a rarity in China, so walking among trees, whose girth was twice that of the outstretched arms of delegation members, was something very unusual for the visitors.

“Seeing members of the delegation ‘hugging’ these trees to gauge their diameter was something very special.”

Priem thanked the Forestry Corporation of NSW for generously providing industry and corporation information, as well as directions and approvals to view operations.

Carbon gets a guernsey at the MCG

 Adrian Hatch.

the former Forestry Commission in 1978, rising through the ranks to Commissioner Commercial and then on corporatisation to General Manager Marketing before being seconded to the Pulp Mill Task Force in 2004.He was appointed Managing Director of Forestry Tasmania in January 2007.

RECOGNISING THAT developing Australia’s approach to carbon reduction policy and implementation has been such a sporting contest, Australia’s premier carbon conference and trade fair this year moves to one of the world’s great sporting stadiums.

Carbon Expo Australasia 2013, which will focus on Australia’s national carbon reduction policies and implementation measures in the post-election landscape, will be held in Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), 2-4 December.

T he head of the delegation with David Priem, Mayor Trina Thomson and Hans Porada.

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As the successful applicant, you will achieve product optimisation and customer satisfaction goals in the region through the development of our product support partners and operators’ technical support capacity and capability. You will resolve technical issues as required to ensure Waratah Forestry Attachments achieves customer ownership experience expectations. This role will also develop our product support partners to help manage customer relationships, optimise product performance and customer support capabilities.

Specifically, you will: • Assist operators and dealers with new and used machine start up operations • Identify training needs and perform both machine and operator training • Perform follow up visits with customers to ensure customer satisfaction, including activities such as: operational testing, adjustments, program updates, and additional operator training as needed • Assist in engineering trials and product development programs • Set up and carry out product demonstrations • Lead all aspects of development and execution in regards to product and series introductions with customers and dealers; • Administer product warranty and other reimbursement policies To be successful in this role you must have: • Knowledge of customer/dealer product support; • Understanding of customer support process; • Knowledge of products, customers, markets and competitors; • Knowledge of training processes and adult learning principles; • Knowledge of heavy machinery dealer business practices; and Waratah established a Distribution Center in Melton, Australia, in 1986. This facility provides sales and product support to all Australian regions, as well as to the African and Asian forestry markets. The facility has earned a reputation as being the pre-eminent market leader in the region for innovation, market response, and customer satisfaction.

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6 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

Upcoming

timber events If you would like to promote a forthcoming event, please email details (including contact numbers, email, etc) to: editorial@forestsandtimber.com.au or phone 08 8369 9500

2013 4-6 September Bioenergy Exhibition and Conference – Jyvaskyla, Finland. www.bioenergyevents.fi 5-7 September 68th Annual Lake States Logging Congress. The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association is a nonprofit organization that is committed to leading the Forest Products industry in sustainable forest management.

Members include loggers, truckers, sawmills, paper manufacturers, private and commercial forest landowners, forestry professionals and outdoor recreational enthusiasts. http://timberpa.com/ 8-12 September Future Directions of Small-scale and Community-based Forestry. Fukuoka, Japan. http://ffpsc.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/policy/ IUFRO/IUFROF2013.html 3-5 September WoodEXPO,Albury. www.wood-expo.com 11-13 September WoodEXPO,Rotorua. www.wood-expo.com 18-20 September Low Volume Roads Workshop – Rotorua, New Zealand. http://www.roads.co.nz/index.htm 20-21 September Mid-Atlantic Logging & Biomass Expo.

Selma, NC 24-27 September 18th International Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation of Wood Symposium.

Madison, Wi, United States. http://www.forestprod.org/symposium2013/ 7-9 October 2nd IUFRO Conference on Complex Forest Ecosystems: from Tree to Landscape.

New Orleans, La, United States. http://gis.latech.edu/cfe/ 10-11 October “International Timberlands Investment”.

London. www.prcc.com.au 28-31 October PPI Transport Symposium 20. The Premier Event for the Global Forest Products Logistics Industry. Baltimore, MD USA. http://www.risiinfo.com/events/ transport_symposium/

Taking ‘innovation’ from theory to reality: Innovation Skills Program F

ORESTWORKS ISC has announced the new Innovation Skills Program, aimed at supporting the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry to collaborate and develop greater skills and knowledge to innovate more effectively.

This ForestWorks ISC initiative has been funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIICCSRTE) to help facilitate the conditions in which innovation can occur at an enterprise level.

“The economics of the value chain is shifting so, to thrive in future, we have to be creative, lead and manage change in order to adapt,” said ForestWorks ISC CEO Michael Hartman.

“We need to follow the lead of other developed nations and learn how to work more collaboratively

with others in the local value chain who we have traditionally seen only as competitors. We know the key to innovation is collaboration and changed management skills, yet this is the area in which we have traditionally been weak in this country. Our true competition is overseas – not over the road.

“The program will bring guidance and advice to enterprises from business and innovation experts. This will help us to understand best practice in enterprise and business development which is what innovation is all about,” he said.

ForestWorks ISC encourages your enterprise, its business leaders and owners, to be part of this opportunity.

The program will assist you to better analyse what can be done differently in challenging markets; manage workplace and

THE WORLD’S first koala sniffer dog, Oscar, visited the Royal Camp State Forest for four days in late July to track and survey the local koala population for Forestry Corporation of NSW. Forestry Corporation’s Regional Ecologist John Willoughby said Oscar was taken to the region to complement the extensive surveys of the local koala population already undertaken by expert ecologists.

“Oscar the Labrador is the first dog in the world to be trained to track live koalas living in native forests, and this was the first time he has come to the State forests on the North Coast,” Willoughby said.

“We took Oscar through 100 hectares of forest over a period of four days to assist us in our regular surveys of the local koala population.

“When Oscar came across a live koala he alerted us by standing on his hind legs with his front legs on the tree. He is also adept at identifying signs of Koalas by finding fresh faecal pellets at the base of trees.

“We’ve now mapped all the trees Oscar identified, and will combine this information with the rest of our survey data so we can develop accurate operational plans that exclude Koala High Use areas from harvesting.”

Regional Manager Craig Busby said Forestry Corporation of NSW was not complacent about koalas and had a broad range of sciencebased programs and principles in place to mitigate the identified threats to the koala.

“In more than a century of forest management, Forestry Corporation has successfully managed

Oscar winner!

To express your interest or learn more about the program visit the website or contact: p. 03 9321 3500 e. innovation@forestworks.com.au w. www.forestworks.com.au

F orestWorks CEO Michael Hartman.

O scar the koala sniffer dog (wearing a GPS tracker, with owner Jim Shields and Regional Ecologist John Willoughby).

regrowth forests with thriving koala populations,” Busby said.

“We complete extensive surveys of koala populations while planning our operations, consistently monitor throughout any harvesting activities, and we are independently audited.

7-9 November 9th International Conference “Wood Science and Engineering in the Third Millennium” - ICWSE 2013. The “transilvania” University, Brasov, Romania http://www2.unitbv.ro/il/en/ICWSE2013/ tabid/8547/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx 11-15 November PEFC Forest Certification Week, KL, Malaysia. http://www.pefc.org/pefcweek-2013/home

“The fact remains that the main potential threats to the koala in NSW remain habitat fragmentation for human development, human activity, wildfire, wild and domestic dogs, clearing, vehicles and roads, and drought – not native forest timber harvesting.”

CORRECTION Re: article in “Australian Forests & Timber News” August 2013 Issue 5 Vol. 22 Page 16 – Transport, Moving more in the Green Triangle Article written by Peter Lynch

15 November VAFI Annual Dinner.

More details to follow soon.

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business change; strengthen value chain partnerships; work together; lift productivity; and, ultimately, create greater business value.

The program includes innovation forums and working groups supported by industry and business experts, which allows you to work with others in your value chain. Opportunities are also available for participants to receive formal recognition for the skills currently held and developed as part of this program.

The Innovation Skills Forums for this program start in October this year and will run until June 2015.

It should be noted that Wendy is NOT Wendy Boult. She is Wendy Fartch, Administration Manager, and the article should have read “Local Operators Kevin and Gerard Boult from KC & MR Boult Pty Ltd”.

 Some of the koala scats Oscar found in Royal Camp.

Australian Forests & Timber News most sincerely apologises for the error and any embarrassment caused.

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FWPA

New research shows how forestry workers coped with the impacts of RFAs during the four stages of the unfolding of the Agreements: the anticipatory, initial-response, longer-term and subsequent change stages.

Impact reduction strategies

Additional stress

To reduce the impacts of these changes, the agreements included mitigation strategies, called Forest Industry Structural Adjustment Packages (FISAPs), to assist those affected. These measures included Business Exit Assistance for businesses who left the industry; Industry Development Assistance to help surviving businesses’ capacity to ‘value-add’; a Worker Assistance Package to provide financial and personal support to employees who lost their jobs; and

The anticipation stage was arguably the worst, where the imagined future was very uncertain. One Mill manager explained, ‘the fear was imminent demise of … the business, that supports not just us but a whole lot of other families’, while another reflected great concern for their employees’ ability to find new employment, particularly as many had low literacy - where are you going to employ these people if they are not in the timber industry?’ People, such as mill owners who negotiated

The anticipation stage was arguably the worst

training and employment programs with government agencies.

For the research Edwina interviewed 80 participants (39 from upper north-eastern NSW, and 41 from Western Australia) who had worked (or still worked) in the native forest industry, including owners and managers of sawmills and other processing businesses, harvest and haulage contractors, as well as industry and community group representatives.

A wide range of perspectives were gained from across the industry, with interviewees from those who had closed their business, lost their job, relocated for work, expanded their business, and experienced little change.

“I really enjoyed my research.

My field work gave me a special opportunity to travel widely in upper north-east NSW and south-west WA. I met a lot of generous people who shared their experiences with me, for which I am really appreciative,” says Edwina.

The research has revealed that participants experienced multiple negative and positive impacts

the Agreements on behalf of workers and communities, also felt additional stress as they tried to minimise any negative impacts of the agreements, spending long periods of time in the State capitals in emotional and stressful meetings.

Once the RFAs had been implemented there were other stresses, particularly for businesses who had been successful in obtaining harvest and haulage contracts in the new business environment.

Supported by Industry Development Assistance measures, some gained confidence to make significant financial and personal investments in their businesses; however, others decided to exit the industry or downsize their business.

For individual workers there were similar negatives and positives, with some working as before, some changing employers, some moving away and some working in new jobs. Some mills assisted their ex-workers to find new work, while several mills that remained open actively sought to employ ex-workers. Workers

who participated in the training programs experienced several benefits, including getting valuable peer support when they trained with their ex-workmates. In some cases, the benefits of this peer support may have been as valuable as the skills they learnt.

Training benefits One of the key benefits of training and new employment was the increased self-esteem it gave participants, particularly as it led them to realise they had more skills than they realised; an exworker reflected, ‘I didn’t realise that all the way through my life I had already acquired most of them skills and I didn’t even realise I had them.’

However, a minority of participants had not found stable employment since the RFA, which led to ongoing negative impacts, particularly due to a loss of income and the perception of having been treated unfairly.

Overall, participants’ experiences of change, and of positive and negative social impacts, were influenced by their individual motivations, fears, skills, and responses. These factors were influenced by the extent to which participants were able to respond proactively, the changes and impacts they anticipated they would experience, and their access to information.

And importantly, when people in affected communities are given support, both individually and to work together, it can be a lot easier to deal with the stresses of change.

In general, Edwina’s important research shows most people interviewed found the transition period difficult but have since experienced benefits, even if they also continue to experience some negative impacts.

Her findings indicate one of the greatest impacts associated with proposed projects or policies is stress caused by uncertainty about what the proposal will entail and how people will be affected by it. The negative impacts may worsen if this anticipatory stage continues for an extended time, and, unfortunately, necessarily

Got some good spare parts or attachments taking up room and gathering dust?

32 – July 2012 , Australian 34 – July Forests 2012 &, Australian Timber News Forests & Timber News

Australian Forests & Australian Timber News, Forests July&2012 Timber – 33 News, July 2012 – 35

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34 – July 2012 , Australian Forests & Timber News

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protracted negotiation processes occurred during the RFAs to allow well-informed decision making.

In fact, there is a risk that rushed negotiation processes may result in insufficiently informed policy decisions and worse long-term outcomes for all. In addition, policy changes introduced after the RFA was signed in south-west WA increased the sense of uncertainty about the future of the industry, making investment in the industry difficult.

The design of any future policy change processes—either for the timber industry or any other industry—should include greater acknowledgement of the stressful impacts related to uncertainty and perceptions of risk that occurs in the anticipation stage.

A communication strategy should ensure people are kept up to date with the negotiations, informed about mitigation measures, and explain how the consultation process has been carried out fairly.

It is also important that industry members are supported through this time by the encouragement of peer support. This might include group counselling or training as well as community or business social activities, as having strong social networks helps individuals and communities respond to, and cope with, change.

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Tell someone who might want to buy them with a black & yellow ad up the back.

 Dr Edwina Loxton.

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W

ITH TECHNOLOGICAL and social change, over time all industries change the way they operate to produce products or services. When change comes quickly the impact on those working in an affected industry can be devastating, particularly in rural and regional communities where there are fewer employment opportunities compared to the major cities. It was this scenario that played out when Australia’s Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) were signed into existence between 1997 and 2001 by the Commonwealth and four Australian State Governments.

Now an FWPA (Forest and Wood Products Australia) sponsored PhD researcher, Dr Edwina Loxton, has gone back to see how those affected by the RFAs experienced the process, and what the general community can learn if, in the future, similar legislated changes are proposed for other business sectors.

“The social impacts of RFAs is quite an emotional topic for a lot of people. One of the benefits of this research project was the opportunity to record people’s experiences,” says Edwina.

“A lot of people experienced negative impacts; however, this research also uncovered a lot of positive social impacts. I’m not saying that everyone experienced positive impacts, but I think it is important to publish results about both the negative and positive experiences.”

When the Regional Forest Agreements were signed they changed the balance of how public native forests would be harvested or conserved for environmental, economic, social and cultural values. However, as a result there was reduced access to these forests for wood production, with an accompanying loss of business and employment opportunities for forestry businesses and rural communities. The Regional Forest Agreements and other forest policy and resource access changes reduced the public native forest estate available nationally for timber production from 13.4 million

hectares in 1998 to 9.4 million hectares in 2008, and contributed to a 13.6 million hectare increase in the conservation reserve estate between 1990 and 2008.

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Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 9

ELECTION 2013

Put science in front of politics J

AMES NEVILLE Smith didn’t mince words when addressing the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainability in Canberra ...

“Our regulators are so politically driven they choose to ignore good, pragmatic science and have voted down the recognition of forest waste as renewable,” he told the gathering.

And James, Executive Chairman of Neville Smith Forest Products, should know a thing or two about the industry, coming from a long line of industry pioneers and innovators.

The Neville Smith family have been leading sawmillers and suppliers of hardwood timbers in both Tasmania and Victoria since 1924. An ethos of continuous improvement, innovation and customer relationships has always been a hallmark of the family companies.

“My family have been in the forest industry since 1924.

Originally my grandfather used to buy timber from Tasmania and sell it to the SEC for cross arms on the power poles that were being rolled out all over the mainland.

 James Neville Smith.

• A vibrant forest industry based on native forests and in the future growth via plantation estate continued on page 10.

Editorial

Blueprint for the future ... but it needs the political will to ensure its success  Twin high tensile MEM bandsaws.

Forestry workers have more genuine care for the forests than those who justify their existence by claiming to care for the forests “It wasn’t long before my grandfather and his brothers built a sawmill and set up kilns on the Melbourne wharf, recognising that the timber they were selling was of a quality that would be better utilised in higher value markets such as housing frames, joinery and furniture.

“We have always been in the value added sector of the industry.

In the 1980s we cut our teeth on the regrowth logs that emanated from the fires in Victoria in 1939.

We taught ourselves and in turn others within the industry how to extract the most out of these young logs. We took that same approach to Tasmania in the late 90s and

built and operate today the most sophisticated hardwood sawmill in Australia and arguably the world.

“As a relatively young fella, I sought to achieve a vision for our company and the industry that I had grown up with, an industry that had given me such a wonderful opportunity in life.

“My vision has always been to see the forest industry and the products that emanate to be recognised as renewable, sustainable and therefore part of the global environmental solution, rather than problem.

“Ten years ago Phillip Toyne and I set about trying to bring ENGO’s and the industry together. This was in part successful; however, the ferocity of the debate in Tasmania was such that any material progress was impossible.

“A decade later, times have thankfully changed. There is no doubt in my mind the demise of listed Timber giant Gunns has been the catalyst for the Tasmanian Forest agreement that has now been signed.”

James told the forum the TFA was an agreement between the Australian Conservation Foundation, Forest Industries Association of Tasmania, Australian and Tasmanian Forest Contractors Associations, Australian Forest Products Association, Timber Communities Australia, CFMEU, Environment Tasmania, and the Wilderness Society Inc, as well as the Wilderness Society Tasmania.

He said the essence of this agreement had been to achieve the following: • Affirm a long term commitment to the forest industry, the environment and the communities of Tasmania.

• Ensure a genuine, lasting end to the conflict over Tasmania’s native forests through commitment to a long term durable agreement that delivers:

THE TIME for platitudes is over. Practical, pertinent policies to ensure the future of the forest and timber industry should be demanded rather than placating the minority who would willingly see its demise.

Maybe our decision-makers could take a leaf out of the Canadian book when it comes to forestry and wood products. Canada is a world leader in policy, planning and implementation to ensure the sector is the best in the business. Its policy-makers in Government and also in the private sector recognise the importance of the industry to the economy.

In fact, Canada invests more than $100 million annually in research; research that moves away from what is regarded as the ‘norm’ in forestry products. Canada recognises that the future for forestry is an array of products right along the value chain, including Nano-Crystalline cellulose (biodegradable substitute for medical, pharmaceutical, automobiles, aircraft); Cross-Laminated Timber (lighter, less expensive, sustainable non-residential buildings); Rayon. Lignin and other products made from cellulose and, of course, biofuels.

Why, then, is it so difficult for Australia to grasp these fundamentals?

Australian Forests & Timber News, your voice for the industry, has long been a campaigner for the whole industry, and gives wholehearted support to AFPA’s roadmap for a renewable future.

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10 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

ELECTION 2013 Put science in front of politics continued from page 9.

• Further protection of forest areas with important conservation values.

• Strong, resilient communities, and decent and secure jobs for workers and contractors to the industry • A strong focus on R&D to assist in driving these objectives.

• James said the signatories agreed to publicly and proactively support the outcomes of this agreement, including the promotion of Tasmanian forest products in both domestic and international markets.

“So, this is a wonderfully progressive step for all concerned,” said James.

“There are those on both sides of the debate that disagree with the outcomes, which was always going to be the case. However, the greatest threat to the principle of forestry being recognised as part of the future solution (which is clearly the view of all the signatories) is politics.

“Unfortunately there are those in politics that have chosen to put their own political survival ahead of the communities of Australia and indeed the environment - by doing all they can to scuttle this agreement. The Christine Milnes/ Bob Browns are not interested in the science and renewability of the forest industry; they are only interested in protecting their hard

line views that are now so clearly outdated. They are interested in their own political future, not the wellbeing of the people of Tasmania or indeed Australia.

“The position taken by the Greens demonstrates poor strategic thinking and longer term foresight. Surely they should recognise they have all but shut down a sustainable, certified industry; a highly regulated industry that is now a shadow of its former self.

“It doesn’t stop with the Greens, albeit their fingerprints are all over the regulatory hypocrisy that we as an industry and nation must operate within. Let me give you two simple examples of where politics has taken precedence over proper, pragmatic, scientific, economically sensible policy...

Around the world today countries like Canada, Finland, Denmark, USA, Germany, Turkey, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Brazil, Chile and India have all adopted and are in different stages of progress towards maximising both their native forest and plantation forests for biomass which in turn is used to replace fossil fuel (namely coal, or in Japan’s case nuclear) for energy production. In England the country’s largest coal fired power station (Drax in Yorkshire) has converted 30% of its turbines to utilise fibre from forest industry waste to in turn reduce carbon emissions.

 Square dressed, set length Tasmanian Oak.

 Aerial view of SmartFibre.

In Australia, our regulators are so politically driven they choose to ignore good pragmatic science and have voted down the recognition of forest waste as renewable. The result being that our forest waste is left on the forest floor and burnt via the regeneration process. Indeed, the sawdust and woodchips that are generated from our sawmills as a result of turning a circular natural product into a rectangular building material are also burnt or exported at low value. All of this biomass could be used to produce energy without one additional tree being cut down.

“When we discuss meat consumption we applaud those who advocate a tail to snout no waste approach. However, in the same breath we denigrate those who advocate the same to apply to the fibre we harvest from our trees.

“Indeed the scheduled chair of our discussion today (who was a noshow), the Honourable Tony Windsor, sat on a multiparty climate change committee that recommended native forest residues be an accredited renewable energy target source – but when it came to a vote in parliament he voted against it!

“The argument against the use of forest residues is not a dispute about the science – which is of course undeniable. The reason the Greens and in turn the Gillard Government voted against the recognition of wood waste for energy use is fear that if by allowing wood fibre to be used for energy production we as a nation will see our forests destroyed for energy production.

“This proposition is so draconian and absurd. Those who work in this sector have more genuine care for the forests than those who justify their existence by claiming to care for the forests. The Australian forest sector is highly regulated, so the proposition that trees will be cut down specifically for energy is just scaremongering and is insulting to all of us who work in the industry and care for the sustainability of the forests,” he told the forum.

“If Australia decides to join the rest of the developed world we can produce over 3000 megawatts of renewable energy from forest biomass without cutting down one additional tree –this is 7% of the country’s renewability energy requirements.”

D rying Tasmanian Oak - NSFP has 15,000m3 of fresh stock now in the system.

 SmartFibre Radiata Pine stockpile and conveyor to the port.

The second example of regulatory hypocrisy is the non-recognition of embedded energy in the green building codes.

Embodied energy is conveniently omitted from the green building code when assessing what are the most sustainable and low carbon building materials to use.

When comparing the kilowatt hours of energy consumption used to make a finished product no other building material can compare to timber – • A steel beam requires more than 10 times the production energy of the equivalent timber beam • Aluminium window frames use over 50 times the energy of the equivalent timber window • Timber is also a carbon sink • Timber stores up to 15 times the amount of carbon dioxide released during its manufacture, whereas steel and aluminium store negligible amounts.

• Steel making releases about 2 tonnes of CO2 for each tonne of steel produced •A steel framed house accounts for the effective release of 3.5 tonnes of carbon, whereas an equivalent timber frame house stores 3.1 tonnes of carbon.

“Despite these statistics, as a nation our policy makers have chosen to ignore embedded energy and evaluate the thermal benefits of the building materials when insitu. This places the most renewable building product of all at a disadvantage to steel and aluminium!

Why? Politics!

“In Australia the forest industry employ 85,000 people directly and another 130,000 indirectly, predominantly in regional areas.

“These hard working folk are using a sustainable, renewable, versatile resource to create everything from house frames to furniture, windows, staircases, flooring, tissue and writing paper (locally manufactured paper that the Australian Government

refuses to buy. Consider this once more – a legal enterprise employing thousands of men and woman that our Federal Government doesn’t support!)

“Every time they make something from timber they contribute to the battle of climate change by storing carbon absorbed from the atmosphere. Every new tree planted (of which there are millions) removes even more carbon from the atmosphere.

“This industry offers Australia the ability to be self-sufficient in wood products, reducing the reliance on imported forest products (many of which the origins and sustainability measures are very difficult to trace).

The waste residues from operations today, if smart policy framework is adopted, can be used to make a significant contribution to our renewable energy targets while at the same time employ many thousand Australians whose work today is largely ignored - or worse undermined by policy-makers.

“The national leaders in the environmental debate (WWF, ACF, Wilderness Society) have spoken.

They recognise that our forests, if managed correctly, can contribute to a healthier environment which, in turn, makes a contribution to a healthier economy/community.

“The balance of the developed world has spoken and are actively embracing the technological advances that can come from a positive approach to sustainable forest management – this compares to the lack of progress made in recent times in a Australia, which for too long has focussed on the emotion and politics of the debate rather than embracing the renewability of the sector and investing in its development.

“It’s time the Australian policymakers put science in front of politics, showed strong leadership and put in place sensible policy that will see investment flow, jobs created and positive environmental outcomes achieved,” he told the forum.

Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 11

ELECTION 2013 Greens out on a limb “I want the forestry industry to have a future” on forestry policy

O

PPOSITION LEADER Tony Abbott says a coalition Government would grow forestry, despite its major struggles in international markets.

“I want the forestry industry to have a future, not just a past,” he said when describing the Labor Governments’ $100 million package for Tasmania as a symbol of the Federal Government’s “hate” for forestry.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had announced the carve-up of the funding on a visit to the State.

The cash is intended to help Tasmania’s economy restructure after a huge downturn in its forestry sector.

It was fast-tracked by former PM Julia Gillard following an historic peace deal between environmentalists and the timber industry to cease their decades-long conflict.

Abbott says contracts under the package will be honored but has criticised it for helping shrink Tasmania’s forest industry from $1.4 billion to $700 million per year.

“Under these sorts of policies it’s going to get smaller and smaller and smaller with each passing year,” he told reporters in Launceston.

“Labor-Green governments, instead of loving forestry as a way of having sustainable clean-green industries, they hate forestry and they want to close

 Tony Abbott.

it down. “If we’re going to be supporting business, it’s going to be supporting business to grow, not to shrink, and that’s the tragedy of these payments.”

THE AUSTRALIAN Forest Products Association has slammed the Greens policy to oppose native forestry and wood-chipping as naïve, unfounded in science and impractical.

“The science is clear; actively managing our forest for multiple benefits provides the best environmental, social and economic outcomes. The Greens’ dogmatic approach is to simply ignore the facts that they don’t like,” said AFPA Chief Executive Officer Ross Hampton.

“Active management of forests brings social, economic and environmental benefits to Australians including carbon sequestration, emission reductions, renewable energy, and bushfire reduction, as well as jobs.

“An Australian Government-funded study from 2006, using Australian examples, has suggested that ‘there are ways to better recognise the greenhouse credentials of forest and wood products’.1 “It is dishonest and unacceptable for any political party to misdirect public debate with narrow assessments like, ‘Carbon accounts for industrialized forests must include the carbon emissions associated with land use and associated management, transportation and processing activities’ 2 while ignoring facts that prove actively managed forests increase the bank of stored carbon over time . 3 “Real action to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions include making use of more sustainably harvested wood, using waste and residues for energy, recognising carbon stored in wood and making lifecycle assessments of building materials that compare timber to carbon intensive building materials such as steel and concrete.

“AFPA members are very disappointed in the Greens’ blanket opposition to native forest logging and their refusal to suggest any alternatives.

“What the Australian population needs is a sensible, informed policy on forestry,” said Hampton.

Forest Policy will decide this election ByRoss Hampton Chief Executive Officer Australian Forest Products Association

THERE ARE 150 seats in the Federal Parliament but only a few that really matter if it goes down to the wire. It is the marginal seats where this election will be decided.

Seats such as Eden-Monaro in southern NSW, and the three northern-most seats in Tasmania; Bass, Braddon and Lyons.

Coincidently these four seats are also bastions of the forest industry.

Forest, and forest product, businesses in these seats employ hundreds of locals. Those workers use services which provide employment for hundreds more accountants, café staff, hairdressers and so on.

It is therefore no stretch to say

that forestry based enterprises shoulder significant weight and carry serious clout in the electorates which will deliver the Lodge to either Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott.

That being the case, the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has a message for all the candidates... Support forestry and your voters may decide they support you!

Our marginal seats campaign has been under way and candidates were being surveyed.

We are not asking for much.

We wanted candidates to acknowledge that with $4 billion in paper and timber being imported into this country every year (and the number is growing), it makes sense to make a stand for our home grown operators.

No one will have missed the Government announcing that all Government cars must be Australian made in support of Australian jobs.

But where is Government intervention when forestry and our producers need it?

Despite pleading from Australian business, the Government regularly fails to step in to ensure that departments and agencies choose Australian paper products even when the price difference is as little as 1%! If jobs are lost in Australia because of such decisions is it really providing ‘best value for the taxpayer?’

AFPA has delivered a plan to all federal politicians which would see our industry prosper and grow.

Not a plan for subsidies but for resource security so that we get

the certainty needed to encourage business investment. We make a call to speed up approvals processes. A call to acknowledge that well managed, repeatedly harvested forests, are by far the most efficient means of delivering carbon capture and storage.

The future for Australian forest products should be bright. The decline in newsprint is dwarfed by the surging consumption of all sorts of other timber and paper products – led by China and India.

As well, the world is discovering hundreds of innovative new uses of forest products such as cross-laminated timber which is spawning a new generation of high rise wooden buildings. I even have on my desk a water bottle which looks like malleable plastic but which has been moulded from tree cellulose.

Add to that burgeoning energy uses. All over the world power stations are now converting forestry and saw-mill offcuts (and other organic waste) into power, heat and fuel.

Other countries have determined they will fight to ensure their forestry operators make the transition from older business models to a newer, greener, future.

In Canada, for example, the Government has partnered in a $90 million forestry innovation institute. Where is ours? In Japan, a renewable energy feed-in tariff program has produced a woody waste power plant. In Norway there is a “wood first” policy for government buildings. If you invest in a forest in the United Kingdom you get tax free timber sales.

And in Australia?

Here governments have been too slow to renew the RFAs which balance environmental and business needs. Meanwhile our businesses have been slugged with arbitrary rezoning of forest into ‘no go’ areas.

We also aren’t driving the planting of the long rotation trees which we will be crying out for in years to come.

This Parliament even failed to give the tick for offcuts and waste from native forestry operations to be used as a green energy source despite bipartisan agreement that it should be so!

The renewable energy issue is one of our candidate survey questions.

Think carefully aspiring MPs. The voters are listening.

Re-training package THE LABOR Government has pledged extra assistance for Tasmanian forestry workers to re-train. The election sweetener came as Labor tries to hold onto two seats in the State’s north.

Employment Minister Brendan O’Connor said the $2.4 million for a re-training program was on top of Labor’s $100 million Tasmanian jobs package and was contingent on the forestry deal passing State Parliament.

The assistance program will be delivered by the not-for-profit group ForestWorks.

12 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

ATTA CONFERENCE

21st anniversary conference a resounding success

By David McElvenny ATTA Secretary

T

HIS YEAR’S Australian Timber Trainers Association (ATTA) Annual Workshop was a special one. Attendees came together from around Australia to discuss industry developments and training issues as they have done every year since 1992 – so this time we were able to celebrate ATTA’s 21st anniversary!

The workshop was held at the Ramada at Marcoola Beach, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, from 29-31, with an optional fourth day on 1 August. At its peak there were more than 60 attendees. Participants came from TAFE colleges, private training providers, industry associations and Government bodies.

Tim Isaacs (ATTA president and general manager of Fitec Australia) was the main organiser, and Fitec staff members provided back-up support. The overall theme for the workshop was ‘Looking ahead’, and there were several sessions devoted to exploring how the future might look for the VET sector and the timber industry.

The keynote address was given

by Dr John McVeigh, Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He emphasised the importance of the timber industry to Australia’s economy and its progression towards a sustainable future.

Other speakers on Day 1 included Michael Hartman (ForestWorks CEO) and David Garner (ASQA regional compliance manager).

On Day 2, participants undertook a field trip to various sites, including HQ (Hancock Queensland) Plantations near Caboolture and the Blackall Range remnant rainforest at Maleny.

Day 3 involved a range of workshops and discussions on topics covering the ACSF, professional development requirements for trainers and emerging technologies in the industry. Speakers included John Dwyer (VELG VET quality consultant) and several ATTA members.

Day 4 was optional. Some participants chose to do a tour of the Sunshine Coast TAFE Sustainability Centre. Others attended an RTO managers’ meeting to discuss compliance and management issues.

Our loyal sponsors Stihl and ForestWorks provided the major sponsorship contributions. We also welcomed two new sponsors this year – TABMA Queensland and Prime Super. They were represented by Alicia Oelkers (TABMA) and Karen Hyland (Prime).

All participants who attended the main three-day workshop program received a certificate of attendance, which listed the topics covered and activities undertaken. The purpose of the

2

1 certificate is to provide evidence of continuing professional development and industry consultation. We have found that ASQA and the other State-based regulators view these certificates very favourably when they conduct RTO audits.

Next year’s annual workshop will be held at Tumut, NSW. The local organiser will be Adam Farquarson, ATTA executive committee member and head teacher of forestry at the Forest Industry Training Centre (TAFE NSW Riverina Institute). More details will be posted on the ATTA website once the workshop program begins to take shape.

4

Captions 1 . Looking across to the Glasshouse Mountains from Wild Horse Mountain Lookout. 2 . Leigh Klienschmidt (holding the file) talks to workshop participants at the Wild Horse Mountain lookout, near Caboolture. As manager of safety and fire for HQ (Hancock Queensland) Plantations, Leigh was able to answer specific questions about the company’s fire mitigation and safe work practices. 3 . Bluey Bettles, Ian McLeod, Greg Howard, Andy Cusack, Barry McGregor, Bill Boyd, Charlie Waites (left to right, from the back). These strapping men are the foundation members who were able to attend the award ceremony at the Day 2 dinner. Each was given a certificate of recognition and allowed to wax lyrical about their experiences over the years. 4 . George Leef plants a tube stock on one of the sand dunes behind Marcoola Beach. 5 . Dr John McVeigh MP delivers the keynote address to the 2013 Annual ATTA Workshop. He reinforced his strong support for the timber industry. 6 . Rob Baker (left) receives an appreciation award from Tim Isaacs. Rob is the technical manager for Stihl in Australia. Stihl has been ATTA’s major sponsor since its inception in 1992.  7. Lyndon Davis plays a traditional piece on the digeridoo as part of his ‘welcome to country’ on behalf of the Gubbi Gubbi people.

8 8 . A strangler fig entombs a tree, allowing one tree branch (half way up) to escape to freedom. There are many strangler figs in the Mary Caincross Scenic Reserve. They start life as an epiphyte in the canopy of the host tree, and gradually send their roots down the tree trunk to the forest floor. As the roots become thicker, they progressively wrap around the tree trunk. Eventually, the host tree dies and rots way. 9 . A group of workshop participants walk through the Mary Caincross Scenic Reserve, led by a volunteer guide. This reserve is a 55 hectare subtropical rainforest which overlooks the Glasshouse Mountains. 1 0. David Garner delivers a presentation titled ‘ASQA: Demystifying the VET regulator’. David is the Australian Skills Quality Authority regional manager of compliance. 1 1. Charlie Waites (front left) receives the inaugural ATTA ‘life membership award’ at the dinner on the second night. Charlie is a foundation member of ATTA and over the years has served in every position on the executive committee. 1 2. Michael Hartman delivers a pre-dinner address on a new publication that ForestWorks is currently developing. As CEO of ForestWorks, Michael attends the ATTA Workshop each year to consult with members and provide updates on the Industry Skills Council’s activities.

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Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 13

ATTA CONFERENCE

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14 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

LUBRICANTS

Right product for right application P

ENRITE OIL Company was started in Australia in 1926 and has an enviable reputation for producing the highest quality engine oils.

While most are familiar with Penrite products used in their vehicles many are unaware of the broad range available to the commercial and industrial sectors.

For 85 years, Penrite has taken pride in producing the right product for the right application. This means Penrite makes products with specific applications in mind, rather than a “one size fits all” approach.

FORESTRY

This is particularly applicable to forestry sector.

Lubricant technology and formulation is evolving rapidly to meet the latest global emissions standards. Operators can ensure these standards are met by using a lubricant that is formulated to the latest industry specifications and performance standards.

Protection of valuable equipment is paramount. No one can afford costly down time due to the use of the wrong or lower quality lubricant in their machinery. In the forestry industry there is also an increasing global requirement for products that are less harmful to the soil and the general environment. For this reason, Penrite has in its range biodegradable products.

Penrite MC-2ST Full Synthetic Two Stroke Oil is the ultimate performance premium fully synthetic ester based two-stroke oil for maximum power and protection in motorcycle and other two cycle engines. It uses a new powerful, practically ashless clean burning high performance additive package for maximum lubricity and low piston deposits. All two stroke engines used in motorcycles on road or in competition, using either a premix or oil injection

system. Also suitable for use in lawn mowers, chainsaws, and whipper snippers. MC-2ST Full Synthetic two Stroke Oil. Good for the environment, low smoke & Biodegradable. Meets API-TC, JASO FD, ISO EG-D,,Piaggio, Hexagon (performance), Aprilia DiTechSR50 (performance).

CEPSA BIO HM-S is a biodegradable synthetic ester hydraulic fluid. Due to its careful formulation, this lubricant minimises the effects of environmental pollution. Enables operation with wide temperature ranges whilst maintaining its excellent lubricant, anti-wear and anti-corrosion properties.

Particularly recommended for hydraulic systems that operate under severe use conditions that require exceptional anti-wear properties and a high time-stable viscosity index. Available in ISO grades: 32 (on request), 46, 68 and meets VDMA 24568 Class HEES and ISO 15380 Class HEES. EU Ecolabel listed FR/27/07.

In addition, there is a low toxicity anti-freeze anti-boil based on propylene glycol, which is much kinder to the environment that ethylene glycol based products.

Penrite PGXL Coolant Premix

POWER GENERATION

MINING

is a blue coloured, heavy duty propylene glycol based, low silicate, phosphate and amine free hybrid engine coolant. PGXL Coolant Premix is designed for use in heavy commercial vehicles where it is formulated to provide excellent high temperature protection.

It provides excellent long term corrosion protection for aluminium, cast iron, brass, copper, steel and solder. It is especially formulated for heavy vehicle application and the protection of heavy diesel wet sleeve liners. PGXL Coolant is premixed and does not require

DEFENCE

any further dilution. For initial fills, it requires no supplemental cooling additives. PGXL Coolant has a lower toxicity than either Mono Ethylene or Di-ethylene glycols but can be used to top up systems containing both OAT and conventional type coolants. It is recommended that if a complete fill is required the system be flushed prior to the introduction of the new coolant. It can be used in on road truck, off road mining, farm and marine applications. It will last 12,000 hours or 1,000,000 km or whichever comes first.

OIL & GAS

MARINE

Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 15

HARVESTING

 The Cat full tail and zero tail swing machines can be configured as processors or feller bunchers.

Harvester line gives Australian loggers options C

ATERPILLAR FOREST Products offers both full and zero tail swing track harvesters with leveling and nonleveling models. Equipped with SATCO processing heads, Cat® harvesters are well suited for a variety of Australian logging conditions.

“Cat track harvesters have the best-in-class combination of lift capacity, swing torque and tractive effort-to-weight ratios,” said Keith Hicks, Caterpillar Forest Products product performance engineer.

The Cat 541 Series 2 and the Cat 552 Series 2 are full tail swing (FTS) track machines designed for high production clear cut and for clear or select cut in rough terrain.

The 552 is a leveling machine for more comfort on steep terrain.

The Cat 521 and 522 B Series machines are zero tail swing (ZTS) track harvesters. The 522B is a leveling machine for select or clear-cut logging in rough, steep terrain, while the Cat 521B is a nonleveling model best for plantation thinning, swamp logging, medium production clear cut, and high production biomass applications.

FTS Series 2 harvesters With market leading lift capacity, reach and tight stick tuck-in capabilities, the Series 2 harvesters deliver high performance. “The Series 2 machines dominate in lift capacity over competitors in their size class,” Hicks said.

With a full 889 mm (35 in.) ground clearance between the tracks from front to back, the Series 2 machines are less likely to get hung up on stumps or rocks.

Tractive effort for the 541 Series 2

is 336 kN (75,500 lb-f), and for the 552 Series 2 it is 462.6 kN (104,000 lb-f). Standard harvester boom reach is 10.7 m (35 ft.) and the short reach is 8.8 m (29 ft.).

“We improved the hydraulics in the Series 2 to give loggers smoother multi-functioning,” Hicks said. “Better hydraulic control will improve productivity and reduce operator fatigue.”

ZTS B Series harvesters The Cat B Series harvesters feature a new, upsized undercarriage, more horsepower and a new hydraulic design for improved multifunctioning performance.

“Major enhancements to the B Series will give loggers faster cycle times, more uptime and longer machine life,” Hicks said.

All the undercarriage rolling components of the B Series have been upgraded to D7 size hydraulic excavator type. “Track shoes, link assemblies, idlers, track rollers and undercarriage frame structures have all been upsized.

Undercarriage life expectancy even in tough terrain is going to increase significantly,” Hicks said.

The B Series machines have a full 889 mm (35 in.) of ground clearance from front to back.

“Strong drawbar pull, along with this ground clearance and the ‘open tunnel’ undercarriage design make for a highly maneuverable machine that easily climbs steep slopes,” Hicks said. The 522B can be ordered with a high drawbar option, boosting drawbar performance by 13% for logging in extremely demanding steeper terrain.

The swing capacity of 82.7 kNm (61,000 lb-ft) is another advantage of the Cat track bunchers when working on steep slopes. “The strong swing torque gives the operator the ability to swing big loads up slopes,” Hicks said. “The combination of swing and lift capacity with improved multi-functioning will reduce cycle times and increase production. And the balance between lift and tipping load capacity gives the machine the stability loggers need to be safe working in steep conditions.”

A complete re-configuration of both the implement and travel hydraulic circuits and new compensator valve spools smooth out and improve multifunctioning. “The operator can maintain a steady rhythm when activating several functions simultaneously,” Hicks said.

Both the FTS and ZTS machines are equipped with the 226 kW (303 hp) Cat C9 ACERT™ engine. The C9 is a common engine design with a proven track record of reliability and durability in the woods. Both also feature the only two-way simultaneous leveling system in the industry. This unique threecylinder design significantly reduces stress loads into the leveler structure, lower frame and track frames, and lasts longer than two-cylinder leveling systems.

Cabs in these harvesters have all the convenience and comfort features built into other Cat forestry machines. “The operator has a clear view of the work tool and surrounding work area for lining up a cut or repositioning the machine and linkage,” Hicks said.

Call Bill: 0427 447 510 | bill@ttimbertraining.com.au | www.ttimbertraining.com.au

TTT is a Western Australian based business that provides nationally recognised training in cut-off machines, chainsaws, basic, intermediate or advanced level tree falling, tree jacking and machine assisted falling.

TTT also provides an Occupational Safety and Health consultancy services specialising in provision of Safety Management Plans and/or Systems, risk assessments, incident investigations and safety audits.

SATCO processing heads

Caterpillar Forest Products offers a full line of processing heads designed and manufactured by SATCO, a New Zealand company.

SATCO heads were built to handle the rugged logging conditions in New Zealand and Australia. The beefy heads are constructed using high-grade materials. Hoses from the carrier to the head are routed through the linkage and are not exposed. This protects the hoses from damage and prevents them from over– bending causing premature failure.

Main valves are rated at 420 bar (6100 PSI) and can easily handle carrier pressures.

The SATCO 223, a two-roller processing head with an optimal stem capacity of 584 mm (23 in.) diameter, is especially well suited for processing wood in Australia. Also a good choice for Australian loggers, the SATCO 3 Series processor is a three-roller head that can be configured for either debarking eucalyptus and acacia or processing pine. Debarking stem capacity is 50560mm (2-22 in.) in diameter and for processing pine 75-560 mm (3-22 in.).

Both heads have the SuperCut 100 topping saw system and 80 mm (3+ in.) roller arm pins for strength and durability. The heavy duty 3/4 in. main saw system features a 45 cc saw motor and large diameter bearing for smooth cross cutting and felling of large diameter trees. The computer system is simple and easy to use.

Keep our forests

healthy and take a

tabloid regularly!

Subscribe at

www.timberbiz.com.au

16 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

HARVESTING

New series designed for success

By Jules Larsen Waratah Asia Pacific Distribution Manager

I

T’S ALMOST hard to believe that just over four years ago Waratah brought to the stage the latest in its heavy duty harvesters. The Elmia Log show in Sweden was used as the official launch of the 616C debarking head and the fully optioned softwood model, the 618C Harvester.

Many Australian loggers at that time were well aware of the potential of these harvesters, as many loggers played an integral role in their design and field testing of the prototypes.

Australian customers had demanded two years earlier that these harvesters must be built for rough – ugly - heavy timber, must have higher productivity than the previous models and must ensure they can retain their reputation in durability and efficiency while being driven by higher horsepower purpose built carriers.

Over those last four years I can say that the 616C and 618C certainly lived up to and have continued to meet customer expectations and are well worthy of the heavy duty reputation. At the same time the Australian forest industry and economy has thrown almost every possible business challenge it could think of. It’s also fair to say these units have weathered the worst of economic conditions in modern mechanised logging and have still remained a reliable and valuable asset in these tough times.

That same harvester owner and operator today has shifted his/her priorities to focus on a much different landscape – one that is driven by flexibility rather than specialty, one that values lowest running costs and highest uptime than that over initial capital cost and finally one that they want to measure what return is being made from this investment in real time.

Both the 616C and the 618C favour those customers requiring changes through this tough period. For some it means a change in configuration for new work and for others it increases the focus on productivity with the lowest running cost possible.

Nevertheless, these are the times when you realise what you have paid for and who is there to support you. As a supplier we have been able to help our customers increase the utilisation of the harvester as well as manage performance data for even greater impact to the business. As a manufacturer I can tell you it is also the greatest opportunity to gather customer feedback and rate the true business

priorities for greatest business returns.

What we are now about to see released into the marketplace is the collection of the next generation of customer needs all rolled into the next series of Waratah 616C and 618C harvesters.

A large number of new design ideas and feature improvements have been incorporated across both models to improve productivity, increase uptime and lower running costs.

616C 618C

Ribbonwood cut their teeth with Deere JAMIE LAW, from logging contractor Ribbonwood Victoria, started in the bush at 16 - most of it with Hitachi or John Deere.

He started as a hand faller. At 22 he got an opportunity of a lifetime.

Kevin and Leigh Goodman, part owners of Ribbonwood New Zealand, offered him the chance to buy a 25% share in an excavator harvester and sub-contract back to them.

Eight years ago, Ribbonwood Victoria won a clearfall contract up in the hills of North East Victoria to harvest up to 100,000 tonnes of wood per year, which meant upping stumps from New Zealand and moving lock, stock and barrel to Australia.

Because of his good run with Hitachi and John Deere machines, Jamie and his partners decided to buy a John Deere 853JH harvester with Waratah 622B, a 1710D forwarder and a ZX200 excavator

fitted with a directional falling attachment to do a bit of falling, stacking, shovelling and loading.

The 853JH harvester clocked 11,000 hours before being sold and the 1710D at 12,000 hours is still working like new.

Jamie’s latest contract involves first and second thinning work for Hancock Victorian Plantations.

Excellent support from Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia (HCA) and challenging terrain requirements of the job has seen Jamie look to John Deere for the right gear.

He purchased a 1270E wheeled harvester and a 703JH tracked harvester---both fitted with four roller Waratah 480C harvester heads---for more flexibility when handling the wood extracted by his 1510E forwarder.

“I’m extremely pleased with the equipment and lucky to have found experienced operators in Ferdy

Cabai on the 1270E and Geoff Lindsay on the 1510E,” said Jamie.

“Mark Hellberg from HCA’s Albury branch put the deal together and kept me updated on factory build times, shipping details and final delivery. The timing of when I wanted the machines in the bush was spot-on.

“HCA’s product and technical support team -- Adrian Wapling, Daniel McCarten and Glen Mawhood -- were great in drafting a service contract.

“John Deere’s Technical Support Manager JP Ylikoivula played a major role in training our crew on the software before the machines arrived. He also spent a few days with us to ensure the machines were setup properly and cutting to our expectations.

“My wife Dayna and our three daughters are now settled in Australia. If it wasn’t for the support we got from Kevin and

Leigh Goodman back in the early days we would never be where we are today.

“Life is all about relationships and making the right decisions. I’m

confident that running with Hitachi and John Deere will once again prove a winner.

“It’s as they say---Nothing Runs Like A Deere!”

 (L-r) Jamie Law owner of Ribbonwood Victoria and 703JH operator, Mark Hellberg HCA salesman who handled the deal, Geoff Lindsay 1510E operator, Ferdy Cabia 1270E operator.

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18 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

Harvesting

Logging company says: when yo T

HE NAME Leeson is widely known throughout the harvest and haulage industry and there’s a very good reason for that ... it’s been around for more than half a century!

The family has been in logging and haulage since the early 60s.

“My father was a truck operator in native hardwoods and my step-father was also in native hardwood, but saw an opportunity when the pine plantations opened up in Gippsland in the late 60s. My fate was sealed as I had grown up with forestry,” says Garry Leeson (who now only acts in an advisory capacity for the business).

“In the early 60s the plantation pine industry was all hand cutters.

The workforce was made up of Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Croatian, Yugoslav, Australian and a smattering of other European and English migrants. Chainsaws and axes were the tools of trade and the logs were cut into 6 foot lengths, stacked in bundles ready to be extracted using an exmilitary Blitz truck fitted with a boom and winch. The bundles were lifted and carried from the bush and loaded onto trucks,” he recalls of those early days.

Timberjack skidders were introduced in the late 60s again using a modified boom mounted on the back of the skidder. “This improved productivity and safety enormously. This system was complemented with the first grapple loaders mounted on Fordson 4-wheel drive tractors towing trailers; the smaller stacks loaded onto the trailer and used to top up the bays on the trucks.

“The mid 70s saw a shift from manual cutting to mechanical

harvesting using stroke delimbers.

These machines were imported from Canada and were able to handle the tough branches renowned on radiata pine. The trees needed to be hand felled and the introduction of forwarders for the extraction and loading had started. This change was necessary as labour rates and insurance premiums were escalating out of hand,” said Garry.

“Today’s system of processing and extraction has not changed all that much after the development of the grapple harvesters in late 70s, however, it has certainly advanced in sophistication and productivity has doubled, but the cut to length and forwarder extraction is basically the same.

“Our association with Komatsu Forests has been an ongoing one stemming from my dealings with Mike Jones. Mike has been with various companies all owning the rights to market Valmet machines in Australia. I have always found Mike and later Brenton Yon to be interested in the development

 The Leeson company.

“In a nutshell, though, Komatsu Forests put their heart and soul into forestry, have a great product range and support their machinery better than their competition,” said Garry.

Ricky and Anita. Each has a dominate role in the management structure of the company.

“Vicki and I have been working on a transition policy for some years now and the succussion plan

Interested in the development of the industry, not just because it’s their role to sell. of the industry, not just because it’s their role to sell equipment, but because they have a genuine concern over the total business not just the plantation sector.

We have stayed with Mike and Brenton as they have kept the connection with the Valmet product. We have brought other brands, Cat, Timberjack and Komatsu excavators and have had satisfactory results from them.

Today, Leewright Pty Ltd is the parent company that trades as Leesons Harvesting and Haulage.

Prior to around 2004 the company was simply trading as G.N. and V.L. Leeson.

The change in operating name has really been implemented to satisfy corporate regulation.

“We have now enlarged the directorship of the company to include our children - Joanne,

we have in place is taking effect to the point that I am now only acting in an advisory capacity when needed, and that is getting less and less, thankfully!

“Joanne is working with Ian Boyes, company secretary to the old trading companies, in order to take over the governance duties and financial control of both the harvesting and haulage ... affectionately known as the Chancellor of the Exchequer!

“Ricky has come up through the ranks and is now the general manager looking after the operational side of the businesses. His role is the “on time in spec” of managing our contracts.

“Anita’s role is the ever growing side of OH and Safety. It appears this is expanding every year and the job of staying at the front of injury reporting, return to work situations and being audited is at times a thankless task but one very much required if an accident occurs.

“On behalf of the company Ricky recently negotiated an increase and extensions to our contracts with Hancock Victorian Plantations, raising our annual volume from 240,000 tpa to around 450,000 tpa - additional to 70,000 we are contracted to harvest and haul from Hamilton to Maryvale.

And that brings us to the current role of the company ... well, almost!

Leeson Logging recently opted to update and expand its harvest fleet and the decision to stick with Komatsu was a no-brainer, and this is where Ricky takes up the story...

“We recently won contracts for flat and steep pine clearfall and blue gum clearfall. We transferred our shovel job for a steep clearfall job which complemented our pine second thinning and steep blue gum clearfall/ash thinnings.

“We required additional machines for the two steep clearfall jobs and the flat blue gum,” Ricky said.

“When looking for new machinery for these contracts we wanted to deal with one company so as to provide the best package for us as a business. We have had a very good relationship with Komatsu Forest for a long time. We had a current fleet of 14 machines all Komatsu ranging from a 921 rubber tyred harvester with 25,000hrs, to an 890.3 forwarder with 1500hrs, however, with the changes we now have 16 machines all being Komatsu.

Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 19

Harvesting

ou’re on a good thing, stick to it!

“We spoke to Komatsu Forest and other companies and decided that Komatsu gave us the best overall package. They provide very reliable, quality equipment and when breakdowns do happen they provide backup and service. They are going to strengthen that backup support over the next few months to suit the machines we have just

purchased; Michael Winkel the area salesman here permanently, strengthens their service support.

“We also have our own support staff that have been working on Komatsu equipment and trained with Komatsu which has built a good relationship with their support staff.

“We do all our own servicing

and repairs and wanted to keep the equipment uniform. It also helps with flexibility having the computers and operating functions the same when wanting to move operators around,” Ricky explained.

The equipment chosen for the two steep pine clearfall jobs were XT450L with 398 Komatsu heads with 895 forwarders.

“We’re also going to be using our PC300 feller buncher on this job.

“For the flat blue gum we went with a PC200 basic guarding package attached to a 378E purpose-built hardwood harvesting head. Komatsu had this machine built for the AUSTimber show. We also bought a PC220 with a 378E. “We chose these units as they were a lower cost compared to other units on the market. We went and looked at the equipment both in the field and also at their workshop in Albury just to make sure we were satisfied.

“After that trip we came away satisfied that we had made the right decision to go with Komatsu Forest. Their machines are quality built, good on fuel, reliable and as I have said the backup is first class. The machines are also very

operator friendly and we have no bad comments from the operators,” he said.

Currently all new harvesters are in the field and performing to expectations. “There were a few hiccups at the start but when we have four harvesters all turn up within six weeks things can get a bit hectic. It has been to Komatsu deserves credit for getting us the equipment as quick as they did

on the basis of ordering them in April and the first one turned up at the end of May. We also ordered two 895 forwarders and have one working and the other one will be here by the end of August. That machine is also performing well.

“We feel as a company we have made the right choice and invested into our future. We look forward to working with Komatsu in the future,” Ricky said.

20 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

Harvesting

Power, stability and serviceability are all key points O

P T I M I S A T I O N PLANNING was one of the reasons behind GMT Logging’s recent purchase of a Tigercat LH855C harvester with Satco 630 felling head. It wasn’t their first Tigercat machine but it was the first Onetrak-supplied machine for the Imbil-based family business.

GMT Logging also has a Tigercat LH845C harvester and a 1075 forwarder among its fleet of machines in its hoop pine plantation harvesting operations.

“We bought our 1075 forwarder in 2008, so that was the first Tigercat we bought, and then we purchased the 845 in 2010. We’re really happy with the Tigercat product,” says Adan Taylor.

When asked about some of the Tigercat standout points, Adan said: “I think, from a maintenance point of view, the layout of the engine and access to the engine bay is really good, together with the engineering that’s gone into the hydraulics helps the Tigercat tracked machines stand out from others in the market. Our mechanics love it.” And on operator ease/ comfort, Adan said the machines were very comfortable with a big strong cabin.

“As far as purpose-built machines go they’re built for our type of country which is steep and broken.

You need the counterweight out the back as well as the big undercarriage and you really need that levelling undercarriage.

From an operator point of view, there’s plenty of lift, slew and track power; they’re heavy and stable plus the fact they are very serviceable – that’s a winning combination,” he said.

GMT has been operating for 35 years since being started by Adan’s father Geoff. “Dad and I are both in the business. We were principal harvesting contractor for Hyne Timber at Imbil until late last year when we won a tender process to harvest for HQP for this area. So we now work under a mill door sales arrangement,” said Adan.

“Really, this is probably their most complex mill door sales contract in Queensland.

“HQP purchased the forest from the Queensland Government three years ago and they had been wanting to move to mill door sales since then. The downturn in the market late last year created an opportunity for them to renegotiate their stumpage supply agreement with Hyne Timber here in Imbil for the hoop pine.

“They got to a point where they couldn’t sell the volumes under that supply agreement and it went to a mill door sales agreement, which triggered the tender process.

Fixed head offers more control in tough jobs “THIS FIXED mount configuration from Log Max utilizes the design and durability of the 7000XT series and gives the owner/operator the versatility of control falling and bunching,” says Johan Jaktman, principal of Scandinavian Forestry & Engineering, Australian agent for Log Max. “The hydraulically operated rotation unit with positioning and free floating function is attached directly to the frame,” he said.

“The frame of the Log Max 7000 XT Fixed Head features a top saw, a minimized saw box and a fixed protection plate.

“The Log Max 7000XT fixed head is a controlled felling unit designed to help with those tough jobs, such as pipeline operations and right-aways. The 7000XT fixed head allows the operator to control fall, bunch, and process timber up to 710mm (28 inches) in diameter with a maximum cutting capacity of 800mm (31.5 inches).

“We tendered and won that tender. The annual tonnage now is 140,000 minimum (harvest only) so we do that through two ground based crews and one cable crew.

“The cable crew is currently doing between 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes a year and the rest of the quota is shared between the two ground based crews. On that sort of tonnage they’re only working about four days a week.

“Like everyone we’re waiting for an upturn in the market,” said Adan.

He explained that the Hyne Timber Mill at Imbil used to work two shifts starting at about 220,000 tonnes a year but they dropped back to the one shift in about the middle of last year so that cut GMT’s harvest in half.

“We now supply about 12 grades of material to around eight different mills now.

“It’s quite a complex mill door sales contract and we are just now implementing optimisation into our harvesters. It was part of the tender process -- to go to full optimisation in our processing heads and to stagger that in over a couple of years. That was the reason we bought the 855 Tigercat because we also had an 845 (a levelling machine, a bit smaller) fitted with a 622B Waratah processing head and we had been using it as a feller buncher since writing off our other feller buncher late last year,” said Adan.

“We were using our processor basically as a feller buncher because we weren’t that busy, but with optimisation we then had to optimise the 622B on that machine and we needed therefore to replace it as a feller buncher, so we bought the 855 from Onetrak. It was a pleasure dealing with Onetrak and Phil Turnbull (Onetrak’s Territory Manager) looked after us as we have come to expect. Damien Ambrose from the Onetrak

service department oversaw the fitting of the Satco 630 head and commissioned the machine on site and we are very happy with its performance and the overall delivery.”

GMT Logging currently employs 16 (in the three crews) and its mechanical side (GMT Heavy Mechanical) is run as a separate business but it’s all owned by the company. Three tradesmen (diesel fitters), an apprentice and a school based trainee cover the mechanical side.

“We’re reasonably busy here in the shed. We have outside work as well. We take it on as it comes to us. We service all HQP vehicles and machinery out here in the Mary Valley, the general area we work in.

“We’re using 13 machines at the moment, and there’s about four or five parked up near the shed,” he quipped.

“We’re keeping our older fleet going by doing a few upgrades to our machines. The problem with a mill door sale is that there is no real fixed volume so you’ve just got to hope that the customers of Hancocks keep buying logs.

“As far as the Queensland timber industry goes, I think because it’s been so slow for so long a lot of operators have had to walk away.

The guys that are left when things pick up again should be in a good position going forward.

“Probably out of a dozen or so that I know there’s about four of them that have gone,” he said.

“As I said, like others we’re waiting for an upturn in the industry. The thing is if Hyne goes back to two shifts, obviously that’s nearly twice the work, and if that happens we’ll probably have to put another ground based crew in the field and find four blokes and four machines and away we go again.”

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22 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

EXPORTS

 Britton Timber greenmill.

 Britton Timber drymill.

Britton exporting

By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie

A

T BRITTON Timbers, exports are inextricably linked to imports, so amalgamating the two departments into a single entity, Britton Timbers International (BTI), was a logical move.

Formed this financial year, BTI is headed by Dominic McNeil, who was involved in the export side when Britton Timbers first began exporting in the early 1990s.

With the appointment of a fulltime export manager at the end of that decade, McNeil assumed responsibility for importing as part of his role as general manager of Britton Timbers, NSW and Queensland.

“We were well-established selling our own species – Tasmanian oak, blackwood and myrtle – from our Tasmanian mill,” explains McNeil. “However, to grow we needed more species. So we started selling other Australian species and became involved in importing in the late 1980s after purchasing a timber-importing company. Imported timbers now account for a large part of our business.”

With the import and export markets often located in the same region, McNeil can service both when travelling overseas. “And import opportunities often create export opportunities – or viceversa,” he says. “I can utilise my import suppliers to export timber direct to export customers internationally, while export customers often have products that can be imported into Australia.”

Buy the best to sell the best From day one, the company’s strategy has been to buy only the best in order to match their ethos of selling only the best: they specialise in appearance-grade timbers for furniture making, joinery, and flooring.

To this end, they align with excellent key suppliers, both nationally and internationally, who can provide consistent supply of very high-quality product. While they mightn’t be the biggest, they’ll certainly be the best, says McNeil.

BTI has established solid relationships across all the company’s export and import markets: the fundamental key to success, says McNeil, but one that requires considerable persistence, given it can take 10 years to develop a sound reputation.

Its primary goal is to export product from Britton’s Tasmanian sawmill. “We sell these timbers to a number of large furniture manufacturers across China. Most of the end product returns to Australia where it’s sold through large retail chain stores. Some product also goes to New Zealand stores.”

The South-East Asian market differs in that the majority of timber exported there is used for domestic consumption. Singapore buys mainly flooring end product, or timber that will be made into flooring, while Malaysia and Thailand predominantly use the timber for manufacture into engineered flooring. “A small quantity is exported back to Australia for the

flooring market, and some goes to New Zealand,” says McNeil.

Certified imports The timber species BTI imports from this region are drawn mainly from Malaysia and Indonesia: surian red cedar, durian, damar minyak, melunak, and northern box are just a few. Many of these species are now FSC and PEFC. Buying from a legal source has always been a priority, but is now mandatory. “Some of our suppliers have Verified Legal Origin (VLO), and another supplier is currently undergoing FSC or PEFC verification,” says McNeil.

Britton Timbers is certified FSC and PEFC. European timbers such as oak and beech are also imported, along with African species including sapele mahogany, wenge, khaya mahogany, niangon, and shedu. All are either FSC, or European Unioncertified legal logs. A significant quantity comes from Pacific suppliers, particularly rosewood from the Solomon Islands, along with kwila. “We do our own kiln drying in our new drying facility in Brisbane,” says McNeil.

BTI is the largest importer of American temperate hardwoods in Australia, with American white oak the major species. “By working with suppliers we’ve known for almost 30 years, we’ve developed a reputation of being one of the best suppliers of American white oak in this country,” says McNeil.

BTI also exports American timber. “I’m constantly quoting on American temperate hardwoods as we can export them to anywhere in the world,” says McNeil. He explains that many mills in the US concentrate on domestic sales because they either don’t have export capability, or aren’t

interested in export. They may not have the relationships, or know where the customers are.

BTI also exports product from other sawmills in Australia.

The softer dollar is a welcome development both for exports and imports. “For a long time American oak, which is in a similar colour range to Tasmanian oak, could be brought into Australia at the same price, or lower, than our species, which puts up some competition,” says McNeil. “But if the dollar stays low, the American white oak will cost 10 or 13% more, which will give our local species a real kick along.”

McNeil is currently working on the challenging Middle East market.

“With any market, the strategy is to align with key suppliers, or start promoting product through architects and specifiers. At the same time we promote through the larger joineries or

the large users. From there, it’s a matter of finding people willing to import. So basically you build from both ends.

“It’s not easy; it takes a long time to be accepted in the market. Then you have to find someone prepared to specify a job in that particular product, and from there find someone willing to import it. And it’s a big risk for people to stock sawn timber in their warehouses, not knowing who will buy it.”

One exciting new product from the US, however, is opening doors: an American hardwood thermally modified at high heat in a controlled atmosphere to improve durability and increase dimensional stability. Called Cambia, this unique product is available in ash, oak, maple and tulipwood. “We are the sole importers, and I have also been quoting this product in some very large jobs internationally, including the Middle East,” says McNeil.

Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 23

women in forest & timber network

$3500 raised plus a good time

 ( L-R) Nat Bramwell, Bree-Ellen Blanchfield (Stairway Solutions), Nissa Blanchfield (Stairway Solutions), Kerrie Gray & Jess Brooker.

H igh Tea Group – (L-R) Sue-Ann Dunlop (CSR), Clarissa Brandt (Timber Queensland), Jenni Day (Versace Timber), Jacinta Colley (Simmonds Lumber), Alicia Olkers (TABMA).

 Action shot highlighting the olde worlde venue Franklin Villa.

H igh Tea Winner Sacha Drake - (L-R) Jacinta Colley (Simmonds Lumber), Jordyn Archer (Destiny Rescue), Justin Rodgers (Queensland Forest Products).

W

OMEN WORKING in the Queensland’s forest and timber industry joined forces to raise $3500 for Destiny Rescue, a Sunshine Cost charity whose mission is to rescue children from child sex slavery.

The inaugural Women in Forest & Timber Network (WFTN) Charity High Tea attracted 52 women (and a few fellas) who were keen to have an opportunity to make connections with other women working in the industry Fuelled by champagne donated by major sponsor Yalumba, the event was full of fun and laughter spiced with emotion following a heartfelt speech from Destiny Rescue’s representative Jordyn Archer. Jordyn, who has spent four months volunteering on the ground in Cambodia, provided sobering insights into the worldwide trade in child sex slavery Destiny Rescue actively sends rescue agents into brothels, red light districts and sexually abusive situations looking for under-aged kids. They then look after the children providing education and vocational training keeping them safe from a life of sex work. Ticket sales, raffle tickets for the 23 prizes donated by generous sponsors and bidding in a vigorous auction meant that the money raised is more than enough money to fund the rescue of two children from child sex slavery.

The organisation of the event by WFTN members Jacinta Colley (Simmonds Lumber), Jenni Day (Versace Timber), Sue-Ann Dunlop (CSR), Alicia Olkers (TABMA) and Clarissa Brandt (Timber Queensland) was also an opportunity to expand each person’s skill base and provide experiences they may not gain in their everyday roles (e.g. public speaking). These career enhancing experiences are a key driver of WFTN. If you work in the forest and timber industry have not yet joined the WFTN you can find out more information and access a registration form here.

The organising committee would like to thank the generous support provided by Gold Sponsors Sacha Drake and Yalumba and Silver Sponsors Winplus, Stairway Solutions, Wood Floor Solutions, Stefan, Bounce, Cemintel, Black & White Cabs, Australia Zoo, Fit Club, Imperial Profilers and Massage Magic.

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24 – September 2013, Australian Forests & Timber News

FINANCE

Management liability insurance No business should be without a policy

T

HESE DAYS it is getting harder and harder to raise “finance” especially as the economy slows down. The last thing that a business needs right now is a bank loan with interest to defend an expensive lawsuit against an OH&S issue or employment issue.

Quite often in business, there is insurance in place for items that have an obvious value to the business – for example, Mill equipment, logging machines, log trucks etc, but then have no policy in place to pay the legal costs and sometimes the huge fines for OH&S issues. Such a lawsuit could become a financial disaster for most companies.

“In recent years litigation has been on the increase and while most businesses will have a Public & Products Liability policy to give them some legal protection, many businesses do not have an all important “Management Liability” policy that can provide peace of mind against risk of prosecutions by relevant OH&S Authorities and employment issues,”

says Joe Diamente, a director of McNair Hurle Latrobe Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd. Joe said many businesses were not be aware of the “heavy fines” that could be imposed by such authorities on companies and directors and that these fines could ultimately put you out of business and then put your hard earned commercial and personal assets at risk.

“In Victoria, for example, a company can be fined up to (approx) $1,100,000 “per breach” and a Director or supervisor/ employee can be fined up to (approx) $220,000 “per offence”. (Note: One incident can be made up of multiple breaches).

“We have seen cases where employees have been killed or seriously injured at worksites and WorkSafe has successfully been able to fine the employer for certain breaches. As employers we all know that it is difficult to always be watching staff and even though there are good employment practices and procedures in place, workplace

accidents still happen and the WorkCover Authority can impose heavy fines.

“To make matters worse, the “legal costs” to defend such cases usually costs thousands of dollars. What is also important to understand is that even if an employer wins the case, legal expenses cannot generally be recovered from the WorkSafe Authority and so the employer is left with a “huge” legal expense bill especially given that most cases can take years to settle.

“A Management Liability Policy is designed to protect you against these kind of events that can basically put your assets at risk and put you out of business. Such a policy would generally include: • Directors & Officers Liability-(which would also cover your legal defence costs) • Statutory Liability cover - To cover the actual OH&S fine & Legal defence costs • Employment Liability -( legal costs to defend claims of unfair dismissal, harassment etc.)

• Crime Investigation Liability Embezzlement by staff “Obviously, the policy does have certain conditions that need to be met such as, you must have an OH&S procedure in place and of course an employee’s safety is still “paramount” and this policy does “NOT” replace the need for an employer to “protect employee’s” against workplace accidents,” Joe said.

McNair Hurle Latrobe Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd has operated since 1977 and is the largest locally owned Insurance Brokerage in Gippsland. It is also part of an Australia-wide network of Insurance Brokers [IBNA Ltd] & [AIMS] that control in excess of $2billion in premium and who have access to Lloyds Of London for those more difficult to place insurances.

“In today’s age of increased litigation, heavy fines and penalties, together with high legal defense costs, can you really afford not to have a Management Liability Policy to give you protection and peace of mind?”

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Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 25

FINANCE

Maintaining finance momentum C

A P I T A L C O R P EQUIPMENT Finance is still able to assist many contractors with their ongoing equipment finance requirements notwithstanding the forestry industry being in unique times.

Despite the extraordinary challenges and changes over recent years, Capitalcorp Equipment Finance hasn’t walked away from the industry. It’s too important to them and they acknowledge that their overall success has been due significantly to their long term relationships within the forestry industry.

There is little doubt that current timber contractors in Australia are a tough breed. They have had to withstand so many challenges and overcome hurdles in recent years that have surely tested their resolve. Capitalcorp Equipment Finance is banking on a brighter future for forestry contractors and the country!

Director, Steve Brumby explains: “The close rapport we hold with the major lenders and our long term history of introducing quality clients has gone a long way to help our cause “Despite the extremely tough times our business has continued to support the forest industry in many ways. We still have success funding both small and large harvesting and cartage equipment. We keep in close contact with industry participants and suppliers, have attended recent pro-development rallies and support the industry via our AFCA membership as well as regular involvement in specific community projects.”

Brumby said the emphasis was to look at each transaction on its merits and definitely not to discriminate against clients

because of the industry they operate within.

“Forestry workers are entitled to be proud of their occupation! Each proposal is seen as an opportunity for the client (to meet their need) and the lender (to welcome additional business); the latter being a challenge Capitalcorp Equipment Finance embraces.

“Dwelling on the features that have impacted negatively on the timber industry in recent times can be educational but no more than that. Now is a time to look for positives, adjust to the industry we now have, be proactive about how it may look in the future and think about appropriate finance options to suit.

“Whether it be concentrating of harvesting and cartage of plantation based hardwood and softwood resources, embracing sustainable forest practices, downstream processing, encouraging more recent initiatives like bio fuels or seeking international options (now that the $AUD is more favourable), it is surely the time to focus on the future,” he said.

“Our experience is that forestry businesses are predominantly made up of hard working passionate individuals who unwaveringly seek success. Often it’s also to set up future business opportunities for their family members to follow in their footsteps – a very worthy plan.

Understanding how the individual business operation ticks is a vital component. Rarely do contractors want to upgrade equipment without a good reason and we make it our role to explore, understand and sell the ‘business case’ to the lender.

“Typically, major purchases are to improve productivity,

advertorial

C lockwise from top left: Paul Harman (in the yellow t-shirt), Steve Brumby, Alan Hogge, Paul Kearney.

upgrade ageing equipment or to fund new growth options as they arise. Whether it be (new or used) harvesters, processors, skidders, excavators, chippers, forwarders, trucks or work vehicles etc, there are still opportunities to finance them.

“Capitalcorp Equipment Finance is definitely open for business, embraces challenges and will continue to support existing and new clients. They have continually maintained the momentum to support the forestry industry. They handle finance for any vehicles or heavy equipment in a personal, quick and efficient manner.”

Utilising water flows THE $80 million Koondrook-Perricoota Forest flood enhancement project to deliver environmental water to more than 17,000 hectares of forest is under way.

New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson and Member for MurrayDarling John Williams commissioned the project during a ceremony at Torrumbarry Weir.

The major infrastructure project, located on the Murray River between Echuca/Moama and Barham, involves a series of channels and regulators built to efficiently deliver environmental water entitlements to water more than 17,000 hectares of forest.

“Projects such as this use infrastructure to efficiently direct water to meet environmental

outcomes while providing economic and social outcomes to local communities during the construction phase,” the Minister said.

“Water from Torrumbarry weir pool will be directed into natural flood runners within the 33,000 hectare forest with up to 52% or 17,000 hectares of forests being able to be inundated before water is returned to the River Murray system.

“This enables the water to be reused for other purposes further downstream.”

The project was managed by the NSW Office of Water with significant contributions from State and Commonwealth agencies, indigenous groups and local community organisations.

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Australian Forests & Timber

26 – September 2013 , Australian Forests & Timber News

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Australian Forests & Timber News, September 2013 – 27

2012 AUGUST

Issue 5, Vol.

21 • P: (03)

9888 4834

• F: (03) 9888

4840 • E:

ber.com.au restsandtim lmartin@fo

u erbiz.com.a • www.timb

H

AROLD BRANT has been driving Forwarders for the past 37 years with a “home-made Mac” one of the early machines he operated.

Since then he’s put quite a few through their paces and he readily admits that the machines of today are a far cry from those early offerings. “Really, you just can’t compare them,” he says.

Harold says it doesn’t mater what the brand is the current day machines are quite simply streets ahead.

He recently spent two weeks trialling the new Logset Titan 10F Forwarder (which made its debut

int To the po

ster try Mini e d Fores reviv Queenslan eigh plans to of John McV ng fortunes try. the laggid’s timber indus and Queenslan his department would He said Queensland . try plan Timber Port land op an indus for the devel y p facility map jointl  Woodchi de a road to provi future. not d is Queenslan shows Timber by a repor t that er surprised in the numb decline repor t by the a rapid The ssing ills. of sawm shows log proce over ABARES declined 70% 332. mills havedecade to just move the past ne is due to a cing produ The decli larger mills locking-up towards r and the d a part. playe more timbe the has also of stands benefit ofrson try strat egic t indus “So, the less,” the spokespegoing rch s fores in y Tasmania’ med new reseawill pulp mill port is now Gun ns is reall r than it feed the has welco saying it is now said. “Also, producer rathe sent to forest cient howe ver, a pulp er of be funding, nt the state’s ral the bord Tasm ania, there is a suffi in to be chip exporter.” gle, on compleme ment. The Fede $5 ria. avail able ved a wood Gree n Trianralia and Victo use the belie of wood chip s unced peace agree ce to EGU M for nt anno h Aust on sour ania. plan ned IAN BLU idiar y Sout Governme research funding re milli also RAL subs Tasm in UST It had up to 1.5 million try and aquacultube ns, a Global facil ity to load chip s to be used Plantatio n d the fores The money will ntal ased firm of wood the $2.3 billio of US-b has been toute tonn es industries. up an Experime and ers, stock in Gun ns set Fore st Partn y buye r of on of as feed pulp mill. date used to re Facility e likel Bay to liqui as the site. As this editi had Bell ever, a need and sale as Aquacultu Institute for Futurin How both press there sale Portland d the Portl National ng its the went to Industries, asset s force ses on prog ressi ct at move on AFT N Forest proje official ns focu been no rted $60 million.25-year Gun pulp mill Hobart. billio n jobs a repo ania. a $2.5 has more for Gun ns in Tasm and, which as a -four to Gun ns, 4ha site at Portl ise Bell Bay TWENTYlost across NSW to orde rly a to final 30 Acco rding , “ther e’s an lease on will be rnment attempts rson seek ing g”.

June ratise spokespe happ enin ns had beenaction before the Gove and corpo cuts including (sale s) proc ess rson said Gunthe job the trans ral factors, restructure espe ACCC, NSW. The workshops A spok expe cted used but sevetigat ion by the Forests nally five be ans closing had origifacil ity would , Batem letion. an inves chip s include g and and the comp with hope, Eden for wood delayed built a stock pilin Port Portl in Wauc to, and Grafton een it point gle” in ity at the at a as a trans “Gre en Trian ralia to Gun ns Bay, Toron job losses. Thirt the facil ng the 11 from 2009/10 Sout h Aust ship loadi a total of also be cut in supp ort ria and and over of Portl $24 million to in the Victo jobs will Region. s ation cost of Brigalow ation oper its plant

at AUSTimber 2012 near Mount Gambier) and says the Finnishmanufactured machine more than lived up to its credentials.

“I was surprised at just how good the machine was,” he said.

“The worse part was that at the end of the trial I had to give it back,” he quipped.

Markku Turunen, of Karmet Enterprises (Australia’s Logset dealer), was in the cabin with Harold for the start of the testing.

“As soon as I hopped in and started driving it down in the bush I knew it was something special,” said Harold. “I did one load and then another one and he (Markku)

ll on set to fa Hammeripping facility woodch

ath knell sounds de g Labor plantive forest loggin for WA na

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my work,” he said.

So, from a man well credentialed to cast a verdict on the Logset Titan 10F ... “It’s the best machine I’ve been in. I reckon they’ll sell a lot of them once they sell their first one.”

Logset brings a better logging experience to the forest machinery market. Logset 10F Titan 18 ton forwarder offers better efficiency, better durability, better usability and better productivity.

Logset is simply better – for a logger who demands more.

 LOGSET on show at AUSTimber.

New forwarder crane hits the market

his knell for the death d sound ” he ng woul business. ers for us to mill, native loggi d family timb y that 50-year-ol no alter native forest polic ucts ban the ing a new Forest Prod “There’s is plann native logging or with the LABOR said. to all a lot of worktimber. uce STATE halt a said prod done t ralia. de we ation “We’ve ing on plant in products that could inclujarrah in West Aust ster Sally Talbo Labor mission mini other build rt d but felling of environment using them impo ing and ental Com deter mine “But for joinery, floor in that you can yet to be two Environm Shadow we noted ble h is ty than policy was usly” the final g “very serio ts since 2010 thatsustain - whic - none are suita of better quali are ucts to prod or ers that was takin Authority repor was unlikely directly t per timb le were ng industry Protectionern jarrah fores ed chea access to here.” peop work 3000 loggi being e ct on the north ts, have estimated policies ng levels. and impa by the nativ An series of native fores as current loggi employed t in mill closu res ts are native a whole ested in far are as ectly inter re fores are indir resul h board “The t would inly we on the Old-g rowt d.

Dr Talbo and a ban unities. on and certa r’s got the runsgrow th goes,” nal comm never been logge Labo old regio of mean I logging timber forests that have ending the on of fabricated p manageructs, said a ban grou said. tti, David Gosa Inglewood Prod rer manufactu

CRANE MANUFACTURER Cranab has released the FC16, the largest model in its new generation of cranes for forwarders.

The FC16 has been developed especially for the market’s largest and most powerful forwarders. The development of today’s forwarders has resulted in their becoming larger and more powerful, with an increased loading capacity. The largest machines have an increased load capacity from 18 tonnes to 20 tonnes.

At its full range of 8.5 metres the crane can lift all of 1310 kg at the tip. Gross lifting torque is 165 kNm. Added to this is a powerful slewing engine with a slewing torque of an impressive 42.5 kNm. “We have followed market developments and users needs very closely, and have designed our new model entirely to meet the new demands of the industry. This new crane is, for example, optimised in proportion to the slewing effect and the lifting force. We have been very careful in this respect when developing the new FC16,” said marketing manager Micael Olsson.

“We know that harmony between lifting force and slewing effect is crucial. These properties are vital in sloping terrain where it is especially important that the forwarder is fitted with a crane strong enough to both lift and slew while fully laden in the same motion cycle.”

The FC16 has all of the excellent properties featured in the new generation, with the addition of the increased capacity for larger machines. The FC16 comes as standard as a single telescopic crane, but it will also be available as a double telescopic crane and a 10 metre version.

The new giant FC16 was premièred at the KWF exhibition in Germany in June.

The same industry-leading news, views and ad’s you’re reading in this issue are now available on-line as well.

While we know print is the most convenient form for reading in the cab, lunchroom or highlighting an important point for the next reader, we also know that many of our readers want to go straight to websites or send emails from the articles and ad’s they’re reading.

MEDIA

working in a sawmill when he first left school then went pine falling for about 11 years. “It was getting too hard and a lot of people were getting out of it then and the machines were starting to come in so I went on the Forwarders and never looked back.”

His operational skills – apart from normal day-to-day work – have been on display at competitions around Australia and also in Sweden. He’s won three National Forwarder titles and competed in two in Sweden.

“You’ve just got to take it easy and away you go. If the nerves don’t get to you you’re right,” he said of the demanding competition standards.

statiivi.fi

A

stopped me and asked what I thought of it and I said it was the best machine I had ever driven.”

Harold said there was good vision from the cabin plus it was comfortable and quiet inside the cabin.

“It had good reach with the boom ... much the same as all of them (other machines) around.

“It rode very smoothly despite it being pretty rough where I trialled it. The ground was flat but very rough.

“Tonnages were similar to the others trialled against it, and the engine had plenty of power; the same motor as some of the others have got, same motor as the Komatsu has got.

“Logset has a feature in it where when you need it you can get 10% more power, but we didn’t need that where we were working because it was too flat. That’s more for steep terrain work.

“The operating control set up was very good; just have to go into the computer and adjust them as you want them. Nice light levers; very good to operate.

“It was a little bit different because you have to do it with your levers, switch your crane off and then work around it with your lever and boost your percentages up or down to where you want them and then kick it in and go to the next one.

“Bit different to what we have normally been used to but once you started to get used to doing things like that it was OK,” said Harold.

And what about any bad points ... “couldn’t find anything really wrong with it but the bars in the rack were a bit close together and a bit hard to see through but they (Logset) said they’d make another one for it.

“Bit hard to climb up to clean the back window so he (Markku) said ‘right we’ll put a step on there’ (one each side). Anything you wanted done they said they would do.

“I suppose they’ve got to to start and sell them.

“Getting used to the controls didn’t take very long; they’re all very much the same these days with mini levers,” he said.

Was the computer system hard to operate? “You don’t have to touch it really unless you want to do some things like reversing down into the bush at night. It’s a bit hard to see with cab lights going and if

you wanted to turn some off you had to go into the computer to do it and you could turn off one light at a time. Only took a few seconds to do, though.

“It’s got wiper blades on the side windows which are good.

“Lot of room in the cabin.

“Good travelling speed in low gear.

“They’re made fairly solid.

“They’ve got a sliding rack and bolster, the first two bolsters and the rack are joined together and you just press a button in the cab to move it backwards if you want to load shorter wood and there’s the extension out the back of the chassis for doing long poles, all operated from within the cabin.

“Just switch the crane off and press another button, operate the lever and back it goes,” said Harold.

For a man who has been in the business pretty much all his life this Forwarder came up trumps.

Harold started in the industry

– way to improve performance!

Logset offers its customers a totally new way to keep the fleet up and running. Logset’s FAST -program allows contractors to achieve considerable cost savings by optimizing the service process and making maintenance more efficient.

SALES

Karmet Enterprises PTY LTD Markku Turunen ph. +614 0417 8541 fax. +612 696 44477

10F TITAN

DESIGNED FOR YOUR SUCCESS – 20 YEARS

Oy Logset Ab Hännisentie 2 66530 Koivulahti Finland ph +358 10 286 3200 fax +358 6 2103 216

www.logset.com

Now available on-line Visit www.timberbiz.com.au/aft today to view your copy online

Australian Forests & Timber

Australian Forests & Timber News, August 2012 – 15

Classifieds

14 – August 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News

From the very basic to the very best, Harold’s operated them all

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