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CONTENTS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

A painless process
The wood processing industry is constantly throwing new
challenges at manufacturers and suppliers, forcing them to
come up with more efficient and productive equipment 36

43

15
15 Biomass – A fine grind
This US company has developed some
of the foremost biomass processing
machines in the world and is ready 40
to take on the expanding European
biomass market. Chris Cann reports

Regular Features
26 Operation Focus – Russia
A public listing is about the only thing
London-based forestry company Russian
4 Sawpoints
Timber Group is prepared to put on
hold as it pushes full steam ahead
6 World Markets
with its expanding Russian business.
22 World Wood
Chris Cann reports
45 Sustainability
36 Operation Focus – EWD
Sawmilling stalwart EWD explains where 47 Cutting Edge
the sawmill supply industry is headed to
IFI editor Chris Cann 26 56 Show Calendar

COVER STORY – MagIndustries

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40 High Profile I Cover Jan_FEB

A forester with a mind for machines The Republic of Congo’s largest private employer is
chatted with Editor Chris Cann about the a sustainable forestry operation that is mechanising
challenges in front of him as the man in
its log logistics and expanding with a chip mill.
charge of John Deere’s marketing in
Europe and Russia MagIndustries is a resource and energy
company active in Central Africa. MagForestry,
Republic of Congo, operates a 68,000 ha
43 Operation Focus – USNR
The operating philosophy of North eucalyptus plantation, including a 500,000 t/y
American sawmills generally is to treat wood-chipping facility that is nearing completion.
every log as unique, while European MagIndustries also has MagMinerals and
mills tend to pre-sort their logs in the MagMetals (Pointe Noire), and MagEnergy (DRC)
yard for continuous batch processing to
as subsidiaries. John Chadwick reports
achieve a comparable production

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 1

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OPERATION FOCUS

ISSUE 2
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

SUBSCRIPTIONS EDITOR’S COMMENT

Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 583

T
jane@internationalforestindustries.com The global economy is the topic on everyone’s lips of late. And the continued
Annual Subscription decline of global stock markets along with general uncertainty will do nothing for
UK and Europe £160, €230 troubled US forest industries that rely more than anything on housing starts to
Rest of the world US$270
drive their business.
EDITORIAL The world has been waiting with bated breath to see what will happen in the US,
T: +44 (0)1442 877 583 praying the world’s largest economy will be able to dodge a recession. No one is more
F: +44 (0)1442 870 617 hopeful than the North American timber industry, but, as time goes by, the situation looks
www.internationalforestindustries.com
more and more bleak.
2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings Road
Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UK Interest rate cuts in the US in late January tempered fears of a recession to some extent
but then that may also serve to increase inflation, which would make future rate cuts
Editorial Director
John Chadwick difficult.
john@internationalforestindustries.com The situation is dire. Professionals enjoying more prosperous conditions in Europe
Editor touch briefly on the subject in this edition of International Forest Industries, if only to
Chris Cann confirm the depressing predicament of their North American colleagues. Meanwhile, our
chris@internationalforestindustries.com friends at International Wood Markets have provided an update on another problem
Editorial Board gripping that part of the world – the mountain pine beetle epidemic in British Columbia.
Dr Patrick Moore – Chairman and Chief It seems that many industry professionals in North America are moving away from the
Scientist of Greenspirit (Canada)
traditional robust market – if they have the means – in favour of greener pastures, which
Darren Oldham – Managing Director
at the moment means just about anywhere else in the forestry world.
Söderhamn Eriksson (UK)
While much rides on the fate of the US economy and the North American industry
Catherine Murphy – Chief Executive of the
National Association of Forest Industries
remains at a stand-still, the greater forestry world keeps on turning – in some cases more
(Australia) rapidly than ever before.
Professor Piotr Paschalis-Jakubowicz – More speed, more accuracy, and more productivity. That is what the sawmills of today
Warsaw Agricultural University (Poland) are calling out for, and that is what the sawmill suppliers are giving them, according to
Andre de Freitas our report. The IFI sawmilling technology review examines some of the leading products
Forest Stewardship Council currently on the market from optimising equipment to handling systems. We also chat to
Head of Operations one of Europe’s longest running and most reputable sawmill suppliers – EWD.
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS
We delve into deepest, darkest Africa to look at MagIndustries’ harvesting and chipping
Lansdowne Media Services Ltd operation in the Congo and speak to the head of an English company looking to secure
Advertising Manager public capital in order to pursue its lofty ambitions in Russia.
Phil Playle There is even some good news coming out of the US in this edition through our
phil@internationalforestindustries.com biomass lead feature on South Carolina-based Jeffrey Specialty Equipment, which is
Group Advertising Manager expanding its business through the processing of biomass for various industries. Two
David Lansdowne recent orders for the company come from two of the world’s largest wood pellet plants,
david@internationalforestindustries.com also in the US, which are shipping their product to European markets crying out for
+44 (0)1442 87 77 77
green fuels.
Design & Production I would like to use this forum to once again thank the increasing number of companies
CSDA – csims@nildram.co.uk
and individuals who are supporting this magazine as it grows. The Wood Technology
Publishing Consultant Clinic in Portland in March will be the first major industry event attended in the flesh by
Robin Peach
IFI and the April edition of the
robin@internationalforestindustries.com
magazine will feature more visits to In the next edition, editor Chris Cann
Advertising Production Enquiries will report on his visit to an A & J Scott
Jane Alter site by our editorial team for harvesting operation in Scotland
jane@internationalforestindustries.com Operation Focus articles from and its milling operation in
around the world. Northumberland, England
International Forest Industries is published
by International Forest Industries Ltd, Our coverage is becoming
2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings Road increasingly extensive and we are
Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UK
starting to meet more of our
Periodicals Postage Paid at Rahway NJ readers. The magazine is designed
and at additional mailing offices to be a forum for sharing
POSTMASTER: send address changes
to International Forest Industries information and a service to the
c/o DHL Global Mail, international industry and as such
365 Blair Road,
Avenel, New Jersey, NJ 07001. we always welcome your feedback.
Printed by Broglia Press, Dorset, UK
© International Forest Industries Ltd 2007
ISSN 1755-6732 Chris Cann
EDITOR
IFI uses, as preference, SI units throughout.
All dollars are US unless otherwise stated.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 3

IFI_PG04_5_Sawpoints:layout 8/2/08 15:31
SAWPOINTS
Cameroon
joins PEFC
The Cameroonian Association of the Pan African
Forestry Certification (PAFC Cameroon) has
been unanimously accepted as Cameroon’s new
member of the European-based Programme for
Endorsement of Forest Certification Council
(PEFC). Cameroon is the second member
country from Africa after Gabon and its
membership raises the number of PEFC
member countries to 33.
Following an initial application by PAFC
Cameroon and certain minor clarifications, its
membership was accepted and has now
been confirmed.
PAFC Cameroon Chairman Christine Anjembe
Nkene: “PAFC Cameroon is delighted to be
accepted as a member of the PEFC Council and
looks forward to working with our partners and
colleagues towards developing our own forest
certification system. We aim to develop,
promote and implement a forest certification
system that is adapted to Cameroon and
accepted under the umbrella of PEFC – the
largest forest certification system in the world.
PEFC Secretary General Ben Gunneberg said
the council was pleased by PAFC Cameroon’s
commitment to sustainable forest management
and to working with the PEFC Council: “While
there is a great deal of work to be done
beforehand, we look forward to the submission
of the Cameroon system for PEFC endorsement
and we will work with our new member
towards that goal.”
Uganda invests
$253 million
into planting
Uganda plans to plant millions of trees in the
next four years at a cost of $253 million, as it
tries to restore dwindling forest cover to 30% of
its area from 22%, according to a Reuters
report. Deforestation in Uganda leads to dried-
up rivers, soil erosion and threatened wildlife.
Ugandan officials have also called for a
recognised carbon sink that would enable it to
earn credits on mechanisms set up to help
countries meet their CO2 emissions targets.
“Our aim is to plant trees in our forest
reserves but also to encourage those who own
private land to plant. In four years, we think we
should reach 30% cover,” National Forest
Authority spokesman Moses Watasa said. The
initiative is set to involve several unnamed local
and international timber companies and most of
the start-up capital was to come from donors.
4 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Page 4
Russian government to overhaul timber industry
Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
has put the spotlight on
Russia’s timber industry,
according to online news
service, Russia Today, calling
for a rethink on how the
country managed one of its
most valuable resources at a meeting with key
players and ministers in the Vologda Region.
Though Russia owns almost a quarter of the
world’s timber reserves, its role in the industry
has decreased significantly since the 1990s.
And, despite a number of initiatives, it has not
showed any signs of improving, according to
the report.
Zubkov declared it was time to shake up and
remodel the entire timber industry: “There are
still more questions than answers in the areas
of industrial timber processing, forest road
building, technical equipment, timber trade and
personnel training. But one thing is clear –
Russia’s timber industry needs to be
overhauled.”
The first port of call according to Zubkov was
to diversify exports away from raw materials to
Shareholders back Tembec recapitalisation
Canadian integrated forest company, Tembec,
has gained additional support from
noteholders for its proposed recapitalisation
transaction flagged in December last year.
Since Tembec’s public announcement of the
recapitalisation, more noteholders have
executed support agreements, backing the
transaction. As of New Year’s Eve,
noteholders had agreed to vote some $774
million of notes in favour of the deal.
Key points of the
transaction were:
• Conversion of $1.2 billion of
Tembec’s debt into new
equity
• Implementation of a new
four-year term loan of $250
million to $300 million (final
amount to be determined by
Tembec) to provide additional liquidity
• Reduction of Tembec’s annual interest
expense by some $67 million
• Business as usual for employees, trade
creditors and customers. They will not be
affected by the recapitalisation
• Implementation of the recapitalisation was
expected to occur by the end of February.
The new capital structure is designed to
provide a stronger financial base for the
execution of Tembec’s operating strategy and
enhance the long-term value of Tembec,
according to President and CEO James Lopez.
“This recapitalisation transaction is a
significant and positive development for
Tembec and its stakeholders. It is a
processed production. At present, processed
production in Russia is relatively rare though
there are exceptions. The processing operations
in practice at the moment generate a range of
wood products from plywood to cottages, which
are both purchased domestically and
internationally, the report said.
These operations alone had helped reduce
the quantity of raw timber exported from 70%
in 2000 to 40% in 2006. Forest industries are
bursting at the seams to kick-start the
processing industry in Russia, with the Energy
Ministry swamped with more than 200
proposals, from almost 40 regions for new
developments. Four of those were set to be
implemented this year.
Economic Development Minister Elvira
Nabiullina said the industry was desperate for
private investment from both home and abroad:
“The share of timber industry in both GDP and
export is relatively low. That is why we need
financing for both mid-sized and large projects.”
Meanwhile, environmentalists warn that the
forest itself should not be forgotten amid talk of
further exploitation, Russia Today reported.
consensual solution that is fair to both our
noteholders and our shareholders, and it
meets Tembec’s previously stated business
objectives of improving its capital structure
and liquidity. This transaction does not affect
Tembec’s customers, suppliers or workforce.
It is business as usual.”
The Tembec board unanimously
recommended all noteholders and
shareholders support the transaction
because it will reduce net debt by
some $1.2 billion, normalising
Tembec’s capital structure. The
deal was recommended by
Tembec’s financial advisor,
BMO Capital Markets, which
said the terms of the
recapitalisation were fair from a
financial point of view to the
company.
“With this transaction, Tembec is
delivering on its key commitment to explore
and pursue strategic alternatives to reduce
its debt levels and improve liquidity,” Tembec
Chairman Guy Dufresne said. “The board and
management believe this transaction
accomplishes Tembec’s objectives. It is a
comprehensive recapitalisation that creates a
stronger company and allows for the pursuit
of greater opportunities.”
Tembec expected separate noteholder and
shareholder meetings on February 22, 2008
in Montréal, Québec, to deliver the required
approvals for certain steps necessary to
implement the recapitalisation transaction.
IFI_PG04_5_Sawpoints:layout 8/2/08 15:31
Fund to stimulate Scottish
timber industry
A blueprint designed to boost business
efficiency in the Scottish timber industry was
launched by Environment Minister Michael
Russell in December last year. The Timber
Development Program has a budget of £1
million ($2.02 million) with which it aims to
invigorate the industry through a series of
partnerships between the forestry and research
sectors over the next three years.
An industry-led steering group chaired by
John Kissock OBE will assist Forestry
Commission Scotland in prioritising the delivery.
The program will facilitate innovative research to
increase timber use in construction, improve
market information to encourage investment,
and support sustainable management of UK
forests to grow high quality timber.
Russell said: “The Timber Development
Program will add value to this important sector
of Scotland’s economy. The outputs of many of
the initiatives will contribute significantly to
Scotland’s response to climate change by
encouraging more use of timber as a renewable
resource in construction and minimising the
impact of timber transport on our environment.
I am particularly encouraged by the level of
enthusiasm and support from the timber
industry for this initiative.”
The Timber Development Program has four
key objectives:
• To promote a predictable and stable timber
supply. One aim is to produce a more accurate
long-term forecast of timber production from
the private sector. This will provide the
industry with greater confidence to identify
and plan for development and investment
opportunities
• To encourage more use of timber and timber
products. A key output is to continue to
support specific activities where there is a
clear market opportunity for home grown
timber. Work is also to be commissioned to
compare the carbon impact of wood with
other materials in a range of building types
FINNISH GROUP TO PRODUCE RESEARCH STRATEGY
A stakeholder group termed the “wood products
cluster” in Finland will write out a research
strategy aimed at improving competitiveness
within the global wood products industry. The
Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) will
coordinate the work in which companies and
research institutions from the wood products
sector are invited to participate.
“A strong foundation for the competitiveness
and future success of the Finnish wood
products cluster must be established,” Finnish
Forest Industries Federation Senior Vice
Page 5
Environment Minister Michael Russell with
author Peter Wilson
• To encourage improvements to the timber
supply chain efficiency. Initiatives such as the
Strategic Timber Transport Fund are designed
to minimise the impact of timber transport on
the environment and rural communities.
Encouraging haulage via rail or sea and
opening up access to landlocked forest areas
will allow more timber to be harvested. This
flow of timber is essential for satisfying
increasing demand for existing and emerging
markets for wood products such as woodfuel
• To encourage improvements to the quality of
the growing stock. A series of projects will be
carried out to improve the fitness for purpose
of timber including encouraging growing
quality broadleaves for the domestic
hardwood sector.
The Minister also launched ‘New Timber
Architecture of Scotland’ written by Peter
Wilson and commissioned by Forestry
Commission Scotland. The book illustrates 90
construction projects in Scotland that use
timber and provides an insight into the use of
wood in contemporary Scottish architecture and
design. The book is free and copies can be
obtained by contacting Wilson on
pr.wilson@napier.ac.uk and Andy Leitch on
andy.leitch@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.
President, Pertti Laine, said in a statement.
“Research and development plays a very
significant role in this totality.
“Additional resources need to be allocated to
research and the development of the cluster;
funding should also be directed more
effectively. The resources necessary for the
development of the industry will be mustered
into joint research projects, in which the entire
cluster and every company that is determined
to achieve future success will participate.”
Recent projects have already sketched out
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 5
SAWPOINTS
Investlesprom deal
seals $100 million in
Russian sales for JD
A huge deal to deliver forest machines to
Investlesprom’s Russian operations in Arkangel,
Segezha and Vologda has tipped John Deere
Forestry’s Russian sales over the $100 million-
mark for the December quarter, 2007.
The latest ‘framework agreement’ between
John Deere Forestry and Investlesprom was a
follow-up to Investlesprom’s earlier order for 29
forest machines in November. John Deere acts
as Investlesprom’s strategic partner.
In connection with signing the latest
agreement, Investlesprom also revised its
harvesting targets for 2012 from just over 2
million m3 to more than 6 million cubic m3.
“This fall has been the most successful that
John Deere Forestry has ever had in Russia,”
John Deere Forestry Managing Director, Timo
Kyttälä, said. “This most recent deal with
Investlesprom is one of John Deere Forestry’s
all-time largest orders from Russia. In addition
to this agreement, we also have other
important orders in the pipeline, such as the
forest machine deliveries to Ruukki Group and
Mondi Group.”
A forest commission is to be set up in Russia
next year to supervise harvesting and the use
of forested areas as well as to coordinate and
support the development of the forestry sector
by building access roads for forestry operators,
for example.
Investlesprom is one of the largest forestry
companies in Western Russia as well as
Russia’s largest forest lender. The company
owns more than 27 Mha of forest in four
different locations around Russia.
what the future might hold for the wood
products industry and outlined development
targets for the sector, but the number of
common research projects is still too low,
according to the FFIF. “The needs of customers
as well as the use of locations and possible
new uses of products have become increasingly
important in the determination of research
goals. Success in global competition calls for an
increase in the degree of value-added and the
development of products that meet the needs
of customers,” the organisation said.
IFI_PG06_World Markets:layout 11/2/08 08:12 Page 6

WORLD MARKETS

BC battles on despite beetle

Various factors indicate that SPF lumber output from British Columbia could remain in the
16 million m3 to 24 million m3 (net measure) range for the next 10 years despite the affects
of the mountain beetle epidemic, according to International Wood Markets

W
ood products consulting firm
International Wood Markets Group
has predicted the BC Interior
industry’s ongoing massive salvage of mountain
pine beetle‘-killed’ timber and the processing of
this timber into SPF lumber will continue to be
very strong for at least the next five years.
Concerns that the BC Interior’s industry’s peak
lumber output of more than 24 million m3 in
2005 and 2006 was going to plunge in the
short-term appear unfounded. It is now
expected that lumber output could stay in the
21.5 million m3 to 24 million m3 range for
another five years before any structural
industry changes are recorded (please note that
all m3 figures are in net, not nominal measure)..
There continues to be considerable
uncertainty around the “economic shelf life” of
processing dead pine trees, or the length of time
after attack that beetle-killed pine trees remain
merchantable for manufacturing dimension-type
lumber. “What we have learned to date is that
the BC Interior forest industry has become very
efficient at milling three to five-year-old dead
pine trees,” IWM Vice President Mike Jahraus
said. “Although grade recoveries have slipped
somewhat, so far the industry has largely been
able to battle the beetle’s potentially devastating
impacts on mill productivity and lumber recovery
by strategic capital investments in new
technology, changes to mill configurations and
enhancements to log processing in the woods.”
In its report, IWM combined its ongoing
research in this area with BC Government
projections on beetle-associated pine mortality
to suggest a high and low scenario on how and
when future timber harvests and lumber
production in the BC Interior could be affected.
The sheer volume of pine timber still to be
affected by the beetle epidemic, the experience
of the industry in processing this timber, and
expected market conditions in 2009/10 and
beyond, suggest that the industry may
experience harvests closer to (or even better
than) the “high case” scenario projected for the
next 10-year period. As a result, over half of the
900 million m3 of pine timber that will be killed
by the beetle by 2017 is expected to be
harvested and processed by the BC industry.
“We forecast that during the next five to six
years, BC Interior lumber output will be in the
range where it has been since 2004, or in the
21.5 million m3 to 24 million m3,” IWM President
Russell Taylor added. “At some point the timber
quality will become uneconomic and lumber
production will trend lower, bottoming out
somewhere in the 13 million m3 to 16 million m3
range towards 2020 (an output of 16 million m3
would be similar to pre-beetle output achieved
in the late 1990s). However, many variables
(local to global) could allow for even higher
output over the next 10 years.”
There is still much uncertainty looking out
beyond the next 10-year period, as timber shelf
life, market/economic conditions, technology
options and developments in non-sawlog
products cloud any future timber harvest and
lumber production forecasts. The potential long
term impact of the mountain pine beetle on the
BC forest products industry cannot be
underestimated since about one third of the BC
Interior’s total timber volume will have been
killed by the beetle by around 2015. However,
it appears that because of a number of factors,
more of the beetle-killed pine timber will be
economically recoverable than previously
thought, maintaining the BC sawmilling
industry’s position as a major supplier of
construction lumber for at least the next
decade. IFI
International Wood Markets has published the
WOOD Markets Report since 1995 and is one of
the leaders in global wood products research,
analysis and strategy. www.woodmarkets.com

6 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

Volvo FP ad:Layout 1 21/11/07 17:20 Page 1
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1
SAWMILL FOCUS
A painless
process
The wood processing industry is
constantly throwing new challenges at
manufacturers and suppliers, forcing
them to come up with more efficient
and productive equipment
W
ith the Wood Technology
Clinic in Portland almost
upon us, now is the
perfect time to investigate the
latest technology and product
developments in the sawmilling
industry from around the world.
As Wood Technology Committee
Chairperson Rich Donnell has
pointed out, the struggles of the
wood products markets,
particularly in North America, have
been well documented and “very
much felt”. He said it was during
such markets that producers
discover they must and can
squeeze additional efficiencies out
of their operations. And so,
sawmill suppliers all over the
globe are finding news ways to
process and handle raw materials
in a bid to get more out of existing
operations.
OPTIMISATION
North Florida Lumber recently
bought a GradExpert from Comact
for sister company, Rex Lumber, in
order to optimise return on planed
lumber. However, Comact Project
Manager Luc Girard said
integrating a GradExpert into an
existing production line presented
many challenges. The Comact
team needed to take precise
8 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12/2/08 09:56 Page 8
measurements to make sure that
the equipment fit perfectly into its
designated space.
Back in Quebec, Comact had
done its homework and custom
designed, fabricated and
configured a system using the
GradExpert with the objective of
meeting the specific needs of Rex
Lumber and its product line.
“The GradExpert was started up
in mid-November. In full
production, our new GradExpert
boasts a production rate of 140
pieces/minute with a margin of
error under 2%, without graders,”
Girard said.
The GradExpert has a planermill
grade optimiser with features
including:
G Geometric and Vision data
generates a complete grading
solution of all the boards
LHG’s high resolution vision images, hihghlighting fiber separation
detection capabilities
G The fastest return on
investment in the industry
G Up to 220 boards/minute
G Consistent performance 24
hours a day
G Stable transversal scanning
ensures accurate measurement
of bow, crook, twist, skip and
wane
G Vision System that provides
accurate detection of knots,
pith, blue and red stains, decay,
bark pockets, paint marks
(MSR/Wet), splits, shakes and
worm holes
G No need for any marking and or
recognition system.
Typical damage seen in the sawmill
The GradExpert is capable of
fully grading spruce-pine-fir, the latest) has devastated forestry
southern yellow pine, douglas fir, in the region but it has also
hemock, and white pine. created the opportunity for
www.comact.com sawmill suppliers to develop
The mountain pine beetle products capable of battling
epidemic in British Columbia (see against the affects of beetles.
World Markets in this edition for Canadian group Coe Newnes
McGehee’s Linear High Grader
(LHG) will be grading lumber killed
by beetles on more West Fraser
Mills’ planermill lines in 2008. The
LHG automated grading system
detects and classifies
characteristics such as size, wane,
skip, planed bark, knots, stain,
splits and shake, pith location,
moisture content, strength and
more. The LHG’s performance
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1 12/2/08 09:56 Page 9
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1
SAWMILL FOCUS
Covers over edger infeed at Hasslacher Hermagor GmbH, Austria
grading beetle-affected lumber was
initially proven in operation at West
Fraser’s Fraser Lake, BC division.
Two recent LHG orders will add one
new and one upgraded system on
dual planermill lines at its Quesnel,
BC division.
The new planermill Coe Newnes
McGehee (CNM) will supply at this
site includes tilt hoist infeed,
(refurbished planer), Revolver lug
loader, SEC PosiLock positioning
fence, multi-saw trimmer with
precision end trim saw, 56 vertical
bin pusher lug sorter with live bin
walls, electric bellcrank stacker
with vacuum lath placer, a
separate prime stacker line for
stacking premium lumber,
package outfeed line with quad
paper feeder and cutter, and
package re-entry line.
The automated grading orders
for West Fraser include the E-
Valuator MSR grading module that
delivers non-destructive, high
yield MSR production from the
challenging, “bug kill” fiber.
“There are reasons for West
Fraser’s success with LHG
technology,” CNM Marketing
Manager Colleen Schonheiter said.
“At the eight West Fraser mills that
currently run LHG systems, the
company has invested in training
its personnel, it follows a thorough
standard quality assurance
process, and takes ownership for
its own success.”
Canfor is another major
producer affected by damage from
the mountain pine beetle. Canfor’s
PG Sawmill division is based in
the heart of beetle territory, an
area struggling with volume
recovery. With current geometric-
only scanning capability, mills are
experiencing a marked increase in
lumber breakage and associated
10 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12/2/08 09:56 Page 10
The Catech OptiScan 6000 drives the sawblades in the trimmer for correct cutting
parameters to take into
consideration are numerous and
the time to make a decision is
At the eight West Fraser mills that currently extremely short. Regardless of
run LHG systems, the company has invested in experience, you can only inspect
one side of the timber. “Even if you
training its personnel, it follows a thorough do your very best it is extremely
hard to make decisions that match
standard quality assurance process, and takes the desired qualities and ordered
quantities for each product.
ownership for its own success The drawbacks are obvious!
CNM Marketing Manager Colleen Schonheiter And so are the advantages when
you incorporate WoodEye Rip into
the production line.” The system
allows total control of the
production process and produces
downtime. The Canfor team has technical expertise. exactly the right quantities of all
chosen CNM’s Sawmill BioScan “Optimisation is constantly wood products. www.woodeye.se
Bolt-on upgrade to alleviate these evolving, and key to success is
issues on their existing transverse developing better partnerships During 2007, Catech developed a
edger system. The mill also with experienced customers like new wane edger optimiser that
agreed to become CNM’s beta site West Fraser and Canfor,” improves work and productivity in
for the bolt-on module. Schonheiter said. “These the raw sorting. Catech’s wane
CNM’s Sawmill BioScan technologies are proven and edger optimiser operates
technology is field proven, after successful in their current forms unattended while the optimising
running successfully on beetle- however there is always room for program and the measuring zone
affected fibre for over a year inside improvement. Feedback from mill are doing the work. Measurement
a capital installation BioFrame. The personnel and the opportunity to is made touchless, which
bolt-on is a relatively easy upgrade evaluate improvements in the field increases speed (earlier the
in that it is housed in a separate ensure the technology continues measurement was made with a
module that can be bolted on to to evolve to meet future measuring frame that pressed the
the side of the existing scanner challenges.” www.coenm.com boards down). Measurement
frame. The bolt-on upgrade will results are sent to Catech’s unique
provide two-sided vision scanning WoodEye Rip measures and optimising system, OptiScan
to detect and analyse visual inspects timber, up to 750 mm 6000, which drives the saw blades
characteristics such as knots, wide and 20-100 mm thick, and in the trimmer for correct cutting.
splits and shake, stain, etc. optimises ripping based on a wide Catech´s own developed
The Canfor installation was range of defined products and optimising system OptiScan 6000
scheduled for mid-February. The quality criteria. It is all carried out has the latest technological
system was to be brought on line at full production speed – fully features. OptiScan 6000 is an
during the mill’s structured objective and constant over time. advanced simulation – and
weekend down time schedule to With its ability to optimise the analysis tool. During production
allow system tuning without yield and minimise waste operators can simulate boards to
affecting production. Canfor has WoodEye Rip can be an integral determine if the optimal yield is
assigned a mill systems liaison part of the modern and efficient produced, according to sawmills’
team to work as part of the project production line. best price for sawed boards.
group. The company’s recipe for As the company notes, efficient Operators can see each board in
success includes using key people manual inspection before ripping 3D, which increases the
in rolls of communication and is an almost impossible task. The possibilities to analyse the optimal
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1 12/2/08 09:56 Page 11
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1
SAWMILL FOCUS
yield. Operators can use four types
of parameters for optimising;
batch table, wane rules, dimension
and advanced constants. In the
batch table board dimensions,
length and quality is connected
with different price levels. The new
OptiScan 6000 has been delivered
to Hasslacher Hermagor GmbH,
Austria.
A new scan head is said to
speed up the scanning process
while measuring more points and
improving recovery rates,
according to its manufacturer. The
JS-20 WX Scan Head made by
Vancouver-based Joe-Scan has a
wide-angle laser scanner, which
delivers accelerated and precise
profile measurements for
transverse scanning of boards and
cants. The JS-20 WX Scan Head is
the latest in the JS-20 series.
President Joey Nelson: “Given
the importance of transverse
scanning, JoeScan has engineered
a product that is fast and accurate.
The JS-20 WX is capable of 650
profile measurements per second,
with each profile containing up to
243 data points, and it is
substantially faster, collecting as
much as 10 times more data than
the typical multipoint scanner.”
The JS-20 WX provides accurate
length, width and thickness
measurements of board and cants,
using one type of scan head. The
transverse scans provide total
surface coverage and improve
recovery rates. With points located
every 31.25 mm, the scanner
provides more data and detects
finer details and defects.
The scanner is easily installed,
requiring only 24V DC and an
Ethernet connection for operation.
12 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12/2/08 09:56 Page 12
It eliminates the need for
additional, custom computer and
interface electronics. The JS-20 WX
Scan Head features one-click,
automatic calibration. The scanner
is designed to withstand extreme
vibration and is fully sealed to
keep out dust and moisture.
Joescan claims all the products
in the JS-20 series are designed
for the most challenging industrial
environments. The scan heads can
withstand the extreme vibration of
riding on the carriage, and the
aluminium housing is fully sealed
to keep out dust and moisture.
“With no moving parts, JS-20
models are designed to deliver
years of unfailing service,” the
company states.
JoeScan provides the source
code for communicating with the
scanners. All the heavy lifting of
sockets, network protocols,
message decoding and encoder
synchronisation is neatly wrapped
up and well-documented. “The
code compiles under both
Windows and Unix, and we
provide bindings for Visual Basic
6.0 as well. We work closely with
you to ensure that it’s easy to
communicate with our scanners in
your environment.”
Finally, the company says the JS-
20 models are easy to use and can
The AWMV LT300 industrial sawmill
can improve profitability by decreasing
be installed in
minutes: “With just 24V
DC power and an Ethernet
connection, you can monitor and
configure the scanner from any web
browser on the network. The
calibration techniques for JS-20
scanners are the most intuitive and
flexible in the industry: Just drag
the scan data near the shape it
should fit on, and the scanner
finishes the job.” www.joescan.com
SAFETY
Working environment in sawmills
has become more and more
important. That’s why Catech has
designed covers for edger and
edger outfeed. The covers protect
the workers from loud noise,
accidents and saw dust. The
covers open easily using
hydraulics.
Catech´s new maneuver panel
gives the operator complete
supervision over the edging
process. Instead of having
monitors and buttons all over the
cabin, every function is gathered
at one place. www.catech.se
HANDLING
Caterpillar offers customised
versions of the 988H wheel loader
for efficient and reliable
production in special applications-
handling logs in millyards. The
handling and labour
versatile 373-kW 988H wheel
loader provides the platform and
the power. The 988H Log Loader
Arrangement includes a special
application linkage, larger tilt and
lift cylinders, additional
counterweight and third valve
hydraulics for top clamp
operation. A lock-up clutch torque
converter and ride control are
available to improve productivity
and enhance operator comfort.
Additionally, a trash resistant
cooling system with an auto-
reversing fan is available. The
hinged fan assembly swings out
for easier cleaning. Log loader
work tools are logging forks-for
unloading trucks-millyard forks, a
woodchip bucket and full width
forks. www.cat.com
The Brunette vertical log
singulator (VLS) is designed to
process logs from 10-67.5 cm
diameter, lengths from 2.44-22 m,
and speeds to 30 cycles/minute.
The VLS’s face is precisely profiled
for maximum separating efficiency
in any depth of log pile, and this
profile also reduces wedging forces
when lifting logs from the pile.
The product contains the
following operational features:
G The final log loading stage is
driven and controlled separately
for catch-up, plus is designed
with a minimum drop into the
take-a-way conveyor for quick
loading, to eliminate log gaps
and lost production
G Feed speeds to 30 logs/minute
(faster for stud machines),
using variable frequency drives
and a dedicated control system
for operational flexibility
G A steep log pile contact surface
for optimal log alignment
against the machine
G Lifting arms closely spaced for
positive log pick-up, even on
randomly spaced short logs
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1
Söderhamn
Eriksson’s
Logmaster HPS
is in a class of
its own
G Large height gains in a short
distance, especially important
in retrofit applications, or to
save valuable building space
G Upper and lower main arms are
connected to produce a
balanced machine, for reduced
horsepower savings
G Multiple machines can be
installed side by side with no
gap, for minimum space
requirements
G Loader frame designed for end
support under bin walls, to
allow unobstructed residuals
clean-up below the machine
G Custom units can be
manufactured for special
situations, such as stacking
vertically to obtain greater lift
height, ending rolls built into
the final loading section, or
supplied with tandem drives for
alternating long or short wood
operations.
Installation and maintenance
features are as follows:
G Standard length units shipped
in one piece for minimum field
installation costs
G All drive components such as
VFDs, gearboxes, bearings and
spherical rod ends oversized for
long life
G All main pivot points are double
row spherical roller bearings,
and all grease points easily
accessible from the back for
routine maintenance
G Manufactured from heavy duty
structural steel sections and
thick plate for long life.
www.brunetteindustries.com
12/2/08 09:56 Page 13
AWMV engineers have come up
with a brilliant way of moving
boards off the mill while further
reducing labour. The AWMV
transfer table uses gravity to get
the job done, according to the
company. “After the material
moves onto the transfer table, the
operator either kicks the cut piece
off one side (onto another
conveyor or storage area) or lets
the board automatically travel
down a roller table where it is
stopped and held.”
This unique design eliminates
the need for chains, gears and
even the electric motor. The
transfer table can be made for
either right or left-handed use.
It is part of a greater AWMV
material handling system
that features in the AWMV
LT300 industrial sawmill,
which claims to be able to
increase profits by
decreasing log handling and
labour requirements. The heading
is controlled from a separate
operator station – from the sawyer
has the best possible view – by
joysticks and sophisticated but
easy-to-use setworks, according
to the company.
“From there the operator
controls all log-handling
functions, determines
board thickness, and
controls the movement of
the cutting head. An airjet
sweeps sawdust from the
SAWMILL FOCUS
freshly cut surface providing an
unobstructed view of the cutting.”
Unique to the LT300 is the
cruise control system that
automatically regulates feed
speeds to the highest possible
rates for maximum production.
The company says the LT300
can produce more than 2 million
bd ft/y of grade lumber. “With its
thin-kerf, narrow band blades
produce 40% more lumber than
circle saws. The 30 horse power
electric motor can process the
biggest logs at just a fraction of
the power needed to operate
larger mills.”
AWMV has also placed great
emphasis on safety with blades
extensively guarded operators and
off-bearers working away from the
cutting head.
DRYING
Grenzebach BSH introduced the
press dryer technology for
simultaneous drying and
smoothing of veneers in 1984
based on the experience of 4,000
veneer dryers since 1919. After
several phases of development
the new generation pf press
dryers, Thermojet novapress, has
been presented.
Following a pre-drying
phase, the veneer is guided
by means of a press roller
group at the end of the
dryer at high, controlled
humidity. This results in
smooth and flexible
veneers.
The heavy duty AWMV E430 edger
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 13
Special features of this new
generation are: optimised
Thermojet air guidance, use of
large press rollers and concave
belt controls and foreign-object
controls to protect the valuable
rustproof belts that are driven
individually by large rollers. No
chains and no oil lubrication
points. Easy to clean due to
smooth bottoms.
Various options for automation
and control are available. The
option of guiding veneer through
the dryer at an angle also further
reduces the formation of folds
and waves in wood with defects of
growth.
Modern infeed and discharge
systems to increase productivity
supplement the range of dryers.
Versions Thermojet compact
and Thermojet midi provide press
dryers designed for the processing
of ultra-thin veneers and root
veneers, respectively that are
designed for low throughput.
www.grenzebach.com
SAWS
Exeltec is a system that
manufacturer Söderhamn
Eriksson says sets a new standard
IFI_PG08_14_Sawmill focus:Layout 1
SAWMILL FOCUS
The EuroSaw’s double arbour technology
guarantees first class product accuracy
and highest performance
in high-speed optimised board
edging. The need for premium
board recovery and increased
piece counts from modern
sawlines has led to the
development of this new high-tech
edger generation. Exeltec is
designed for feed speeds of up to
450 m/minute and piece counts
up to 80 boards/minute. The high
resolution scanners for wane up or
down combined with unlimited
edging solutions ensure first class
fibre recovery and system stability.
“Exeltec is designed with robot
technology for the toughest
industrial requirements and based
on Söderhamn Eriksson’s more
than 25 years of experience as a
leading manufacturer of edgers –
this to meet tomorrow’s
requirements for speed and
reliability,” the company states.
Söderhamn’s Logmaster HPS
band saw sets new standards in
high speed saw production that
the industry may not quite be
The Exceltec system developed by Söderhamn Eriksson sets a new standard in high-speed optimised board edging
ready for just yet (IFI December
p16). Its extreme production
performance and thin saw kerfs
mean profitable sawing is raised
to levels never experienced
before, according to the company.
“Logmaster HPS is designed for
feed speeds up to 180 m/minute
and saw speeds up to 100
m/second with excellent product
accuracy. Supported by its new
electronic monitoring and self-
adjusting features, system
stability and reliability are solid,
Söderhamn said.
14 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12/2/08 09:56 Page 14
In the not-too-distant-future,
Söderhamn plans to release an
equally impressive and
revolutionary circular saw –
EuroSaw S6 D. The Eurosaw S6 D
is a new shifting double arbour
circular breakdown saw for four-
sided cants. Developed with the
experience from the successful
Eurosaw with fixed saws, S6 D
now features six instantly shifting
saws on telescopic arbours.
“The double arbour technology
guarantees first class product
accuracy and highest
performance. With its extremely
heavy duty arbours design,
Eurosaw S6 D meets the highest
requirements. For our clients, this
means an accurate product, better
sweep sawing, minimised
downtime, more product
dimension possibilities. It will
simply reward them with the
highest possible performance
there is.” www.se-saws.com
The AWMV E430 edger is a saw
capable of keeping up with
strenuous demands of
contemporary sawmilling. The
heavy duty E430 edger meets the
toughest requirements for a
modern edger – speed, accuracy
and flexibility on large boards.
The saw can handle boards up
to 10 cm thick and 90 cm wide, and
the 30 horse power electric motor
can power two blades through the
toughest material. Both 40 cm
insert blades move outward from
the centre to allow the use of an
optional tailer, while a standard
laser
helps
ensure
accuracy to
improve yield
and grade.
The company has also
developed “one of the fastest
and most economical” ways to
add value to wood through
resawing. The MultiHead
horizontal band resaw uses
durable and dependable steel,
flat-bed conveyer to feed the
material into the saws. The steel
conveyer has a longer life than its
rubber counterparts and produces
more accurate lumber, according
to AWMV.
The MultiHead saws butt-to-
butt up to 100 ft/minute and are
ideal for sawing cants into any
dimension, and for manufacturing
pallet boards, fencing and even
flooring planks. The saw can also
reduce sawing time by 50% by
cutting six boards in the one pass.
Frozen or kiln-dried woods are no
obstacle and an optional merry-
go-round automatically feeds
uncut cant portions through the
MultiHead.
“The MultiHead is designed to
be easy to operate and maintain,”
AWMV states. “It handily defeats
circle gangs when it comes to
reduced labour costs and
increased lumber yield. There are
hundreds of MultiHeads in
operation around the world –
AWMV’s MultiHead horizontal
band resaw is tougher and more
accurate
satisfied owners continually vouch
for its quality.”
DEBARKING
The Kodiak debarker is the
product of “decades of
manufacturing experience and
research” combined with the
“latest emerging technologies”,
according to manufacturer
Brunette Industries. The result is
what the company describes as
“unsurpassed high-speed
debarking with the highest uptime
in the industry”.
High uptime is possible
because the Kodiak is built to
withstand the abuse that comes
with a demanding job like
debarking. Extra heavy-duty
construction means a general
immunity from break-downs. As
well, any time spent on
maintenance is minimal because
of carefully thought out features
that allow safe and simple
accessibility to key components.
The produce fits nicely into
sawmills, plywood plants and chip
plants to deliver reliable, speedy,
cost-efficient and productive
debarking quality.
The Kodiak debarker is available
in a size and configuration to suit
the following applications:
G 42.5 cm, 55 cm, 67.5 cm, 80 cm,
90 cm
G Single or dual rotor
G Optional self-centering infeed
conveyor
G Optional butt reducing rotor
G OSB
www.brunetteindustries.com IFI
IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:07 Page 15

BIOMASS

The WBE EZ hog is capable of processing

biomass at up to 220 t/hour

A fine grind
This US company has developed some of the foremost biomass processing machines in the
world and is ready to take on the expanding European biomass market. Chris Cann reports

M
ore than 60 years of experience in the crushers, locomotives, cars, rams and power associated with climate change had increased.
business of biomass processing has shovels for the mining industry. The obvious Jeffrey has doubled its sales of 60 series
industry stalwart Jeffrey Specialty synergies with size reduction led to the forestry machines for two years running. The 60 series
Equipment perfectly positioned to take arm of the business as the company developed machines typically operate at a 100 t/hour rate.
advantage of the current surge in demand for machines for wood and biomass reduction in “Our most dramatic growth has been in the
biomass machinery. the 1940s. last two years and we see it in two ways. Firstly,
The biomass industry has grown incredibly in The forestry arm had been responsible for the number of machines that we’re selling in
the past two years, fed tirelessly by the need to about 40% of total company sales two years the wood hog range, and secondly the size of
increase capacity and efficiency with a ago, however, with the explosion of the machine we’re selling. The number of machines
heightened consideration for the environment biomass industry that figure has grown by half we’re selling has more than doubled and the
from society that is enforced by legislation and again, and size reduction equipment for use by physical size of the machine – the amount of
financial incentives. Harvesting, sawmilling and pulp and paper, panel board, sawmilling, and material that can be processed – has probably
pulp and paper companies are turning to wood energy industries now makes up 60% of doubled as well. We’re now making machines
biomass processing Jeffrey sales. that can process up to 220 t/hour,” Sublett
as a way of fully The chief Jeffrey machine-line for processing said. “The market has gone toward these very
utilising the raw biomass is the wood hog. Those close to the large machines across the board. And that all
material felled. industry would also know these units as has to do with the amount of biomass being
South Carolina- hammer mills, shredders, and grinders – or just processed.”
based Jeffrey, now a hogs. The company’s sales in the past have
subsidiary of K-Tron been dominated by its series 40 or series 50 HOGS FOR PELLETS
International, started ranges, which work at a rate of about 20-50 A perfect example of the direction in which the
commercial life well t/hour of material. But all that has changed biomass industry is headed can be seen in two
over a century ago as quite recently and it is now the bigger models recent orders filled by Jeffrey. Jeffrey has
a supplier of coal- that are the best sellers, a trend that accurately delivered machines to two massive wood pellet
cutting machinery reflects the industry, according to Jeffrey Sales mills that have just been established in the US,
and then and Marketing Manager, Doug Sublett. He said one of which is apparently bigger than anything
Doug Sublett, Sales
and Marketing underground the biomass processing arm of the business else previously built worldwide. Green Circle
Manager, Jeffrey mechanised miners, had grown as the environmental issues Bio Energy (owned by Swedish company JCE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 15

IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:07
BIOMASS
Group AB) has built a pellet plant with a world-
record capacity of 560,000 t/y in Florida, while
Dixie Pellets (owned by US company New Gas
Concepts) had almost completed construction
of a 500,000 t/y capacity plant in Alabama.
Green Circle is up and running, while Dixie was
being finished at time of writing though some
smaller lines were already running. Most of the
mills’ combined capacity of more than 1 Mt/y
will be shipped into a European market hungry
for pellets to feed anything from residential
boilers to large co-fired coal plants.
A large European market has been evolving
for some time on the back of regulations aimed
at fighting global climate change which have
created incentives for power companies to
boost their use of renewable resources. Europe
already consumes nearly 8 Mt/y of wood
pellets to run factories and power plants, and
to heat entire neighbourhoods.
Another plant is reportedly being built by DG
Pellets – also in Alabama and also owned by
New Gas Concepts – that plans to eclipse the
Green Circle plant production by generating
more than 600,000 t/y of wood pellets.
Though Sublett remained tight-lipped about
the details of the Jeffrey deliveries to Green
Circle and Dixie, he did say that three 800
horse-power plus machines were sold, capable
of processing bark and wood chips at high rates
with very tight product specifications. Machines
of that size retail at between $200,000-
$250,000, meaning those two orders alone
netted Jeffrey a minimum $600,000 gross.
Given two primary hogs are said to be used at
Dixie it could also be assumed they would both
be Jeffrey machines.
Those machines are from the company’s
largest machine range at the frontline of hog
The Jeffrey hogs are made to order
16 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Page 16
A sketch of the biggest wood pellet plant in the world
technology – the WBE EZ Access wood hogs.
The Model WBE wood hogs have been
redesigned with Jeffrey’s exclusive EZ AccessTM
technology, which allows safe, fast, and easy
access to the hammers, rotor, and liners,
according to the company website.
“Maintenance operators can safely and quickly
clear plugged chutes to minimise downtime and
perform routine maintenance with more safety
and ease. The new EZ Access technology also
lets operators remove the wood hog’s rotor
without removing the feed chute,” the site
spruiked. The technology can also be added to
existing Jeffrey wood hogs using a retrofit
package.
Sublett: “With the front folding down it
means you can get in and maintain the machine
very quickly. We also use replaceable tip
hammers now so as opposed to replacing the
whole hammer you just replace the tip. The
hammers in these machines are about 150 lb a
The number of machines we’re
selling has more than doubled
and physical size of the
machine – the amount of
material that can be processed
– has probably doubled as well
piece so changing them can be a real struggle,
but the tip is only 25 lb”
He said maintenance requirements for the
WBE EZ range depended almost entirely on the
cleanliness of the material being processed.
Sublett said 90% of servicing was devoted to
the hammers and the grates, and hammer sets
were generally replaced three times before the
grate needed replacing.
“If the wood is clean you can see eight
months on a set of hammers. But if the wood is
full of sand, dirt, grit and everything in between
then it might be two weeks. The example for
the latter would be a mulch manufacturer who
is using a front-end loader to pick up all the
junk off the ground and half the dirt. As the dirt
increases so does the wear on your machine,”
Sublett said.
Other features of the WBE EZ range were
multiple hammer designs available for both
standard and SS design rotors; lower housing
extended to provide 180° of screen grate area;
disc-type rotor assembled on a high, alloy-steel
shaft and is mounted in self-aligning spherical
roller bearings in rugged steel housings;
substantially reduced maintenance time because
the rotor shaft is drilled for the hydraulic removal
of the bearings to ensure quick bearing removal
without damaging the shaft.
In addition the hogs have Slant-Flow® screen
grates that are unique to Jeffrey wood hogs
and, unlike conventional screen sections, the
IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:08 Page 17
IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:08
BIOMASS
Hammer speed is adjusted according to client
needs
Slant-Flow design is angled into the flow of the
material being shredded. This gives more
shredding action and allows the material to
evacuate faster.
The liners are manufactured from thick
abrasion-resistant steel plate to protect against
high impacts and normal wear, and every Jeffrey
wood hog has an integral metal trap that
effectively collects the odd pieces of smaller
tramp metal that can damage the hog. Rolled-
steel, structurally reinforced housings ensure
long-lasting durability. When properly
maintained, the hog’s fully lined interior prevents
the housing from wearing on the inside.
The way these machines are used differs
between the Green Circle and Dixie plants. In
Alabama at the Dixie plant, the WBE EZ hogs
are used as a primary facility. The material is
bought locally from different mills or chippers
in wood chip form at a pre-specified size and
the hogs grind that material to the appropriate
size for efficient drying. Once the material is
dried it will go through a secondary process
and is then shipped.
The Green Circle plant is set in the middle of
an established pine plantation and is importing
whole trees to be processed with a knife
chipper in the first instance before secondary
processing for wood chips. Here, Jeffrey hogs
are used to process bark mainly, along with any
other disregarded wood and general twigs
and sticks.
“We discussed wood hogs but in the end
they [Green Circle] went another direction.
Based on our experience with our Chip-sizer
technology we felt that using a wood hog would
have required far less maintenance. When you
start looking at knife-based technology versus
hogs to process wood chips, from a
maintenance standpoint the knife chipper will
be much higher maintenance because you’re
using knives instead of hammers to do the
work, not to mention what happens with you
encounter tramp metal.”
Sublett said Jeffrey was grateful to have been
part of both facilities and felt confident that
both organisations would be successful given
the current biomass environment.
18 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Page 18
WIDER USES FOR THE HOG butt ends. The panelboard industry is similar to
The function the Jeffrey hogs have at Green Circle pulp and paper where we handle most of the
is closer to the typical function of the machines. material at the front end of the process or in the
About 65% of Jeffrey’s biomass business is woodyard and primarily the debarking area,”
devoted to the pulp and paper industry, which Sublett said.
would position a hog in the woodyard. Logs are “Sawmills will typically sell it to someone
delivered to the woodyard to be debarked and offsite though some will use it themselves for
the bark is put through the hog to be ground kilns or firing a boiler for energy of some sort –
down to a specified size, typically about 2-inch but they’re usually the much smaller mills. Most
(5 cm) minus to be sent to the boiler. Fallen will sell it off to a pulp and paper mill, while
limbs and broken wood also go through the hog. some sell to wood pellet manufacturers.”
The Jeffrey hogs also take pre-hogged material About 20% of the business is miscellaneous
from the field at a size of around 8-inch (20 cm) activity like the direct wood pellet business,
minus and put it through a secondary hogging dedicated energy producers using biomass for
process to ready it for the boiler. firing boilers, and special projects involving
About 15% of the business is committed to gasification or cellulosic ethanol production.
the sawmilling and panel board industries,
where the machines pick up pre-milled and MADE TO ORDER
post-milled biomass ‘waste’ product to process Different clients require different machines
into an end product that the mills can either sell depending on three main factors – the size of
on or use themselves. “Most of the work we do the desired end product, the rate at which they
with sawmills has to do with processing need to feed the hog, and the size of the
sawmill residuals, the material left over after material the client wants to feed the hog.
the wood has been converted into is final form. Jeffrey has a range of equipment and can tailor
This material includes chips, shavings, cants or different machines to fit the specifications of
Not just hogs
Jeffrey’s other forestry machine is the
Chip-sizer, which, as the name suggests,
re-sizes oversized wood chips for the pulp
and paper industry. The Chip-sizer was
pioneered in 1996 in response to industry
concern over high maintenance costs for
typical re-chippers. Jeffrey was the first
company in the industry to research and
develop a true no-knife re-chipper,
according to the website. Several designs
were discussed and tested in the lab
before determining that the current
patented design would be best suited for
the industry. The first unit was put into
production in February of 1997 and
quickly achieved results beyond anyone’s
expectations.
The Chip-sizer looks like a typical wood
hog. But while the operating principle is
similar to a wood hog, the Chip-sizer re-
chipper incorporates several special
The Chip-sizer will be on display at SPCI 2008
features and components. The hammer
conference in Stockholm this May
allows the unit to operate at speeds much
at the Rader booth
slower than hogs and also offers a “soft-
touch” to the chips to keep from creating pins and fines. This along with “other patented
components” makes the Chip-sizer re-chipper more efficient than other similar industry products.
“In the pulp and paper mills during the chipping process, as chippers wear or become dull you
get what the industry calls ‘overs’ and/or pins and fines. Our Chip-sizer re-sizes the oversize chips
while minimising pins and fines, and allows you to put them back into the process. We see a
recovery in the neighbourhood of 90-95% using that machine,” Sublett explained.
“The more traditional way to do this before we developed this product was to send ‘overs’ back
through a knife re-chipper – again, high maintenance. A knife chipper requires around $60,000-
$70,000/y to maintain the knives, whereas you might spend $10,000/y to maintain the Chip-sizer
and still get a good ‘spec’ product. It’s also tramp-metal tolerant, so if you get a piece of metal
through the machine it will take it, deposit it into the metal trap and keep on going. If a piece of
metal goes into the knife re-chipper it destroys the knives.”
Jeffrey has up to 140 Chip-sizer units in the field at the moment and most of the major players
use the machine as best practice, Sublett said.
IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:08 Page 19
IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:08 Page 20
BIOMASS
Because we have a lab
that allows us to dial-in
a very accurate and final
specification, we are
confident in what we
give our customers
individual clients. This is done at the company’s
lab in South Carolina. Once the appropriate
model of hog is chosen from the range of
20-220 t/hour machines to fit the feed
requirements, Jeffrey selects the proper screen
arrangement and selects the proper hammer tip
speeds, which can be between 10,000-20,000
feet/minute to produce the appropriate size biomass material for sale to a pulpmill, which
product according to the order. required a 2-inch (5 cm) minus product. The
Using a sawmill example; a large mill would sawmill has a high volume of biomass to be
come to Jeffrey and say it needed to process processed so it requires a machine capable of
BIOMASS IN BRIEF
> UPM-Kymmene to build a renewable energy power plant
at its Caledonian mill in Scotland
UPM-Kymmene is building a new power plant to be mainly fuelled by
biomass at its Caledonian mill in Irvine, Scotland. The new boiler will
utilise a 350,000 t combination of biomass and site derived residues
as its primary fuel. The total investment cost is £59 million ($115
million).
The new power plant, once started-up in the first quarter of 2009,
will continue to reduce UPM’s carbon emissions by 75,000 t/y. The
company has reduced its production related fossil CO2 emissions by
25 % during the last 10 years by investing in biofuel-based energy
generation and in energy efficiency. The latest investments have been
in a new boiler plant at the Shotton mill in the UK and power plants
at the Rauma mill in Finland and Chapelle Darblay mill in France.
The Caledonian mill power plant will also significantly assist the
Scottish Executive in achieving its 2010 national renewables
generation target of 18%. The investment further reinforces UPM’s
Caledonian mill site as being one of the largest ever inward
investments in Scotland.
20 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
The Rader Disc Screen is used to screen material before it enters the hog
processing 150 t/hour, and, it will also need to
take offcuts and cants. The specification is
reviewed and/or tested in the lab and the
desired machine is selected to fit the order.
> Plantation waste turned to renewable energy
The Forest Products Commission (FPC) in Australia has signed a
A$10.5million contract to supply plantation residues to private
company Western Australia Biomass.
FPC General Manager Dr Paul Biggs said obtaining a significant
buyer for this material was an important step towards increased
profitability for the entire plantation forest industry. “This new
agreement offers a local and environmentally sustainable solution for
the use of plantation pine residues, which are presently a low value
resource.”
“This is an excellent example of the FPC partnering with industry
to produce a win-win for the environment and the economy,” he said.
“After five years of joint development work between the FPC and WA
Biomass, about 150,000 t/y of pine residue will be converted into
renewable energy.”
“The FPC is continually working with industry to minimise waste
and find maximum value uses for our timbers. This new contract will
help make handling of forest residue more efficient and also return
direct value to the State of WA.”
WA Biomass Executive Adrian Rizza said the company had applied
for permission to construct a 40 MW renewable energy power facility
near Bridgetown. “WA Biomass has been developing this project for
the past five years and the power facility is expected to bring capital
investment of around A$120million to the South West.”
“During the construction phase, which is projected to last between
18 months and two years, this new facility is expected to employ up
to 300 people. We estimate another 120 new jobs will be created
directly and indirectly over the life of the plant, with job security over
the next 30 years. In total, this is expected to increase household
income in the region by around A$4-5million/y.”
“Our company has extensive experience in renewable energy,”
Rizza said. “We are involved in major projects in several countries,
including wind farms in South Australia, WA, USA, Spain, Germany,
Portugal and France. We are also involved in a number of other
wood-waste power plants in Australia.”
IFI_PG15_21_Biomass:layout 12/2/08 10:08 Page 21

BIOMASS

BIOMASS IN BRIEF
> Report: US biofuel technology in lift-off
Over the last six years, a total of 2,796 biofuel related patents were published in the US, with
the number increasing by over 150% in each of the past two years. In 2007, the number of
biofuel patents (1,045), including biomass, was more than the combined total of solar power
(555) and wind power (282) patents published in that year. This was the finding from a report
by US legal firm Baker and Daniels.
The number of patents
published from 2006-2007
over technologies covered in Our Sweden office is
the report were; biodiesel
(299), agricultural already working in Russia
biotechnology (110), ethanol
so we will use them
and other alcohols (42),
biomass (41), and enzymes as a springboard
(35). The five countries, by
location of the patent owning into Russia too
entity, with the highest number of biofuel patents over 2006-2007 were the US (184), Germany
(34), Japan (14), Italy (10) and France (10). In the US alone, the patents were owned by 78 “Because we have a lab that allows us to
different entities. In Germany, Japan, Italy and France, the corresponding numbers was 14, 12, dial-in a very accurate and final specification,
14 and five. we are confident in what we give our
“Our review has left us with the following impressions. First, if we assume that biofuel, customers,” Sublett said. “Size and tonnage
solar power and wind power are the leading renewable energy technologies, then in 2007 are the two most critical items. Once we have
biofuel patents clearly dominate renewable energy, in terms of sheer numbers,” Baker and that we look at what the infeed size material is.
Daniels stated. “Moreover, if we assume that biodiesel and ethanol and other alcohols are the “If we have large cuts like cants, that will
leading biofuel technologies, then in 2007 biodiesel came in first place, with ethanol and play a role in the size of the machine because
other alcohols being a far second.” we need to have enough hammer-weight to
“Looking to the future, as venture funding and government funding inside and outside of destroy that piece. Or, if a pre-chipped material
the US increases, we expect that the number of biofuel patents will continue to grow steadily. at 6-inch (15 cm) minus is brought in that needs
In the US alone in 2007, venture entities invested $2.9 billion into the biofuel industry. This to be ground to a 0.5-inch (1.25 cm) minus then
amount is expected to increase significantly within the country and around the world in the we have to size the machine tighter to make
coming years. sure we get everything through, which means it
“In addition, the US Federal Government has allocated, for 2008 to 2015, $500 million in will dwell in the machine longer. If you want to
grants under the Energy Independence and Security act of 2007 to promote the development feed a large amount of material through quickly
of advanced biofuels. We also expect that the number of agricultural biotechnology biofuel to produce that small an end product you need
patents will significantly increase in the coming years as transgenic plant technology is a big machine.”
directed to biofuel applications.
“In the future, we also GOING GLOBAL
expect that legislation directed Jeffrey is a household name in the size
to climate change will strongly reduction industry in North America where it
influence biofuel patents. For does 80% of its business. But Sublett
example, the recently enacted recognises the need for expansion and the
Energy Independence and opportunities available in international
Security act of 2007 requires markets, particularly Europe as highlighted by
that 16 billion gallons (more the Green Circle and Dixie wood pellet projects.
than 60 billion litres) of US This was part of the reason behind the
transportation fuel be company’s acquisition of Rader Companies in
cellulosic biofuel by 2022. The September last year for almost $16 million
act requires that by 2022, 21 billion gallons (almost 80 billion litres) of US transportation fuel (funded by K-Tron). Rader manufactures and
be derived from sources other than traditional ethanol biofuel. markets pneumatic conveying systems,
“Accordingly, in the coming years, we expect to see an increase in cellulosic biofuel screening equipment, engineered storage and
patents, and we also expect that traditional ethanol biofuel patents will continue to lag reclaim systems, and truck dumpers for
behind biodiesel patents in the future.” processing bark and wood chips for the global
> Metso strengthens biomass drying technology pulp and paper and forest industries. The
Finnish paper company Metso Paper has acquired a global full product licence for the Swiss company is based in Georgia but it has a
Combi belt dryer, Kuvo, in a bid to increase the offering to customers on the growing biomass headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Jeffrey
utilisation market. The agreement covers the area of pulp and paper making and in power intends to use that European base to increase
generation, according to an online news service. its business in Europe and Russia.
The Kuvo belt dryer is able to utilise various low-temperature heat sources. Its drying “We’re already global in a lot of other
process is gentle to the product and it has high availability and high capacity. The dryer fits product areas more so than the wood hog
well into Metso’s biomass utilisation product portfolio and promotes the expansion on the industry, but I think there are definite needs in
growing bioenergy generation markets. Europe for our type of product and I think we
Swiss Combi is a 50-year-old Swiss engineering company that specialises in the can penetrate that market through the Sweden
development, construction and custom realisation of industrial dryers for biomass. Metso is a office,” Sublett said. “Our Sweden office is
global engineering and technology corporation with 2006 net sales of approximately €5 billion. already working in Russia so we will use them
as a springboard into Russia too.” IFI

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 21

IFI_PG22_25_Chile_World wood:layout 8/2/08 16:24 Page 22

WORLD WOOD C H I LE

Forestry hotting
up in Chile
PERU

Arica BOLIVIA
South
Pacific Iquique
Ocean

Antofagasia

The plantations of Chile have grown impressively in recent

CHILE
history and are carrying the weight of the country’s forest
industries, but is the Government allowing its native forest ARGENTINA
Valparaiso
SANTIAGO
resource to slowly deteriorate in the meantime? San Antonio

Chris Cann reports Talcahuano

BACKGROUND
Chilean forest industries have enjoyed a boom
over the past few decades largely based on
plantations of radiate pine and to a lesser
extent, eucalyptus. Most of Chile’s produced
wood comes from these plantations and is
directed to foreign markets, according to a
report titled Chile: Forest Resources, Forest
Types, Forest Retention, Current Issues, and
Forest Protection.
The growth of plantation forestry has pushed
the industry into economic prominence as the
second greatest earner in the Chilean economy
and a highly competitive sector on an
international level, the report said. To maintain
its domestic and international standing, the
industry has been rapidly adapting with the
challenges of globalisation, new markets, new
trade agreements, and especially greater
environmental social consciousness.
Additionally, the consistent development of the
Lebu
sector based in planted forests has also had to Temuco
face certain local problems and challenges.
About 45% of Chile’s total land area is Puerto Monti
potential land for forestry. The forest resource
in Chile is divided into the native forest and
commercial plantations. The native forest area
is more than 13.44 Mha (17.8% of the national
area), while plantations cover almost 2 Mha
(2.8% of the national area), according to The
South
World Forestry Centre (WFC). SOUTH Atlantic
AMERICA
The native forest is noted for its diverse Ocean
hardwood species. This forest is principally
used in the production for the domestic market,
for woodchip exports to Asia, and other product
export to Europe. About three quarters of
plantations are radiate pine, with the remaining
25% eucalyptus, poplar, and others. Tree production of supplies for the pulp and paper,
plantations cover less than 3% of the nation’s panel, and lumber industry which are the
territory and represent slightly more than 14% support of the Chilean forestry industry and the
of the nation’s total forests. Nonetheless, they export of the sector. Over the last five years the
sustain 96% of the country’s forestry industry. annual plantation rate has reached 100,000
“The purpose of these forests is the ha,” the WFC states.

EVOLUTION AND PROJECTED TREE PLANTATIONS PLANTING AND

PLANTATION GROWTH TO 2010 (2,118,836 hectares) HARVESTING LEVELS

AVERAGE
PLANTING RATE
(1994 - 2002)
94,000 hectares/year
74%
RADIATA 18%
PINE EUCALYPTUS
AVERAGE
HARVESTING
8% RATE (1994 - 2002)
OTHER 46,000 hectares/year
SPECIES

SOURCE: Prepared by CORMA, based on INFOR data SOURCES: 1994-97 CADASTRE AND INFOR
SOURCE: Prepared by CORMA, based on INFOR data

Chile’s forest industries rely increasingly on its plantations and plants trees at a greater rate than they are harvested

22 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

IFI_PG22_25_Chile_World wood:layout 8/2/08
The forestry sector is responsible for more
than 14% of national exports each year and
employs more than 100,000 people.
Though almost half of Chile’s land mass is
suitable for forestry, most of that is protected
because of the fragility of the soils, the
steepness of the terrain or the proximity of
ravines and watercourses, according to the
Chilean Government.
More than 86% of Chile’s woodlands is made
up of native forests in different stages of
growth, mostly located on private or
Government-protected land, and therefore, not
used commercially. The Chilean Government,
through its National Forestry Service (CONAF),
is responsible for the conservation of the
country’s forest resources and for the
protection of its native flora and fauna.
“Timber production is a renewable activity,
since by law, all harvested woodlands must be
reforested within a period of two years,” the
Government stated. “The planting rate during
the past few years has greatly exceeded that of
harvesting, with two trees planted for each one
felled. Thus, there has been a sustained
expansion of these man-made forests from
350,000 ha a little over twenty-five years ago to
six times that figure today.”
About 90% of these “man-made forests” are
planted in barren areas. Their timber helps
reduce the demand for wood from the country’s
native forests and they also help solve two
primary ecological problems – the greenhouse
effect and erosion.
Chile has devoted resources and efforts to
research and development of silviculture to
better their seed selection and genetically
improve seeds. “Consequently, today it can be
rightly said that Chile truly cultivates the
forests it plants,” the Government states.
“In the past, natural forests used to be
subjected to a traditional logging method that
basically consisted of extracting the best
individual trees for sawn wood, which led to a
gradual deterioration of the stands. However,
today, anyone seeking to obtain an economic
benefit from a native forest – even if he is the
16:24 Page 23
WORLD WOOD C H I LE
Chile’s native forests host a great variety of cherished trees and native fauna
owner – is required by law to have a forestry
engineer prepare a management plan, based on
the condition of the soil and the resource that
guarantees its future sustainability. The CONAF
About 90% of these
is responsible for evaluating and approving the man-made forests are planted
plan, and supervising its implementation.”
in barren areas. Their timber
THE ISSUES
helps reduce the demand for
Despite the Government’s statement that Chile
has one of the highest percentages of protected wood from the country’s
forests in that part of the world and the
increasing positive effect of plantations in native forests and they also
reducing the strain on native forests, Global
Forest Watch believes Chile’s forest protection
help solve two primary
is not up to scratch. ecological problems – the
“Chile’s frontier forests today face several
urgent threats, such as illegal logging, greenhouse effect and erosion
conversion to plantations of exotic species, and
unsustainable management practices,” the
Chilean Government
NGO organisation states. “Given these facts,
current protection plans in Chile are not
sufficient to safeguard these valuable forests. from these areas, only a small fraction of forest
In the State’s protected areas system, the in the rest of the country is protected.”
SNASPE, forest types are poorly represented, The frustrations of GFW in regards to the
and reserve size in many regions is inadequate. Government’s inaction on forest protection are
For example, 84% of these protected areas are understandable in light of a reported
concentrated in Regions XI and XII – regions ‘breakthrough’ in native forest protection
with low human population densities and few legislation last year.
forest-related industrial developments. Aside A law offering limited protection for Chile’s
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 23
IFI_PG22_25_Chile_World wood:layout 8/2/08
WORLD WOOD C H I LE
Eucalyptus plantations make up a quarter of Chile’s forest plantations
native forests was approved by the Senate in
August after more than 15 years of delay and
revision. “Never before has legislation been
pending for such a long time,” Senate’s
Commission of Agriculture President Juan
Antonio Coloma was reported as saying in local
newspaper The Santiago Times.
Most analysts attribute the 15-year delay to
the strong presence of Chile’s politically
powerful forestry company lobby, led by the
Matte and Angelini business conglomerates, the
newspaper reported. The lack of a material law
to protect native forests had given them ‘carte
blanche’ to develop hundreds of thousands of
pine and eucalyptus tree plantations, which
oftentimes replaced native forests.
The Law was to be debated in the House of
Deputies and was due to pass with little
modification. “The principle obstacles have
already been overcome,” Conservative Senator
Antonio Horvath said at the time.
However, critics say that the legislation is
only a small step forward, and that many
amendments are needed to make the law
stronger and more complete, The Santiago
Times said.
The law was significantly shortened to
expedite approval and fails to address several
important issues – including protection of sites
where biodiversity is particularly vulnerable –
and still remains lengthy and convoluted.
Senator Alejandro Navarro boycotted the Law’s
inaugural
ceremony and
said the current
version lacked
strong
environmental
provisions and
enforcement
mechanisms.
“This is a law
which should
enforce the
preservation of
native forests,
The export of finished but it is based
products from forest
industries continues to on a weak
increase penalty system.
24 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
16:24 Page 24
CONAF does not have the
capacity needed to maintain
such a system. Passing this
law is the equivalent of
putting cops on the
streets with toy guns
Senator Alejandro Navarro
Roughly 97% of the fines which CONAF hands
out are not paid … CONAF does not have the
capacity needed to maintain such a system.
Passing this law is the equivalent of putting
cops on the streets with toy guns,” the report
quoted Navarro as saying.
The legislation also fails to address native
forest land-grabs, the theft of Chile’s protected
alerce forests or the shortcomings of CONAF.
The relationship between forest companies
and neighbouring communities is an issue
gathering momentum in Chile, according to
engineer and academic Hernán Blanco in the
report, The Challenge for Forest Companies in
Chile. “In many cases, communities argue that
they receive all the negative impacts of the
activity – the effects of forest trucks on the
roads and of pesticides on their crops – and few
positive impacts associated with employment
and economic activity, the report stated. Some
forest companies then blame the communities
for forest arson, illegal wood extraction, and
animal intrusion in their lands.
The report listed the following factors as
influencing this critical relationship:
• Historical problems of land tenure,
particularly in the case of the Mapuche
people that inhabit the vicinity of forest land
• The pressure that forest development exerts
on communities ie. confining them, and the
impacts on peoples’ patterns of life
• The fact that, generally, companies are not
visible neighbours for communities, which
makes daily conflictive situations more
difficult to deal with.
“The quality of the relationship between
company and community is, increasingly, an
important dimension in the forest business.
Whereas years ago it was the environmental
dimension that had to be included in
companies’ management principles, today the
relationship with neighbouring communities is
becoming part of companies’ principles and
management practices,” Blanco said.
Despite its problems, the industry’s bottom
line is healthy. The Chilean Wood Corporation,
the industry lobby group, estimated that
revenue from 2007 wood product exports would
reach $4.8 billion, double what it was five years
ago. This news comes despite the fact that
demand from the United States – the main
destination of all Chilean wood products – had
fallen. The percentage of total exports to the US
dropped from 31.6% to 18.3% this year,
according to a report in The Santiago Times. The
drop in US business had been more than made
up for by countries like China, Italy and Peru.
China was buying 15.8% of Chile’s total timber
production and was predicted to overtake the
US as its main consumer early this year.
The record value of pulp on the international
market also pushed revenues up. Pulp made up
47% of forestry exports for September 2007, and
was selling at a record $841/t at time of writing.
The export of pulp grew 81% in 2007 and was a
critical factor behind the booming year. Furniture
exports along with door and window sales have
all been reduced because of the poor performing
US sector, the paper reported.
Early in 2007, around 7,000 workers striking
against Celulosa Arauco y Constitución SA – the
largest forestry and pulp producing company in
Chile – were rewarded with a 12% rise in wages
for the highest earners and a 52% rise for the
lowest earners.
The deal was brokered by the Chilean
Confederacion de Trabajadores Forestales in
May. All other demands had been met prior to
the strike, which was called in response to the
company’s offer of a 5% raise, according to an
online report.
During the strike, a blockade was attacked
by the police during which 26-year-old Rodrigo
Cisternas was shot and killed. BWI was calling
for continued protests to the Chilean
Government in response to the violence.
IN PRACTICE
Major Chilean forestry and paper company
CMPC CAR.SN more than doubled its profit for
the first nine months of 2007 as world prices for
wood pulp rose and production volumes grew,
according to a Reuters report.
Company profit for the period was 188.389
billion pesos ($368.5 million) compared with
85.518 billion pesos in the corresponding
period of 2006. Revenue for the period rose
26% to 1.183 trillion pesos. The increase in
IFI_PG22_25_Chile_World wood:layout 8/2/08 16:24 Page 25

WORLD WOOD C H I LE

dollar terms was actually 32%, led by growth in increase of 28.8% over the $687 million ‘other non-operating income’, partially offset by
wood pulp sales, the report said. obtained in the third quarter of 2006. The higher interest expenses.
CMPC said a reduction in North American increase in consolidated sales is the result of a
production had been outweighted by booming strong increase in pulp sales explained by OUTLOOK
demand in China and Europe. The company’s higher sales volume coming from the Nueva There has been consistent, year-on-year growth
intensive investment in pulp production Aldea pulp mill, and by a better pulp market in Chilean forest industries for some time and
capabilities over the past three years also price scenario. This increase in pulp market there are no signs of things slowing up. Despite
yielded benefits. “Additional production sales was followed by higher sales of panels falling demand from the US, companies such as
capacity, greater forestry harvest volumes and and sawn timber respectively, the CMPC and Arauco are reaping greater profits than
favourable price scenarios had a positive company reported. ever thanks to rising demand from China mainly,
impact on the company’s operating results.” The September quarter of 2007 generated as well as throughout Europe. A better pulp price
CMPC said that even though the demand for consolidated EBITDA of $337 million, an has added to the prosperity of many companies.
sawn wood products was down, consolidated increase of 18.3% compared to the $285 million The increased production stems from the
EBITDA increased 20% to 347.38 billion pesos. EBITDA reached during the same period in growing acreage of pine and eucalyptus
The company’s main business areas are wood 2006. This growth is mainly due to an plantations, which are theoretically in tune with
pulp, paper, tissue and paper products, and improvement in the pulp division’s EBITDA, a sustainable forestry future. However, the
forestry products. partially offset by a lower EBITDA coming from recent legislation, for which Chile has waited 15
One of Chile’s and Latin America’s other the forestry division. Arauco’s net consolidated years, does not go far enough to protect the
major forestry enterprises is Arauco – a group income for the period reached $175 million, an country’s valued native forest resource. The
of industrial, forestry and commercial increase of 7.7% compared to the $163 million economic surge of Chile’s forest industries is
companies owned by the Chilean corporation of net income obtained in the third quarter of set to continue, but several stakeholders are
Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. The the previous year. This increase is the result of questioning the cost of such uninhibited
company feeds off its vast plantation holdings a higher increase in operating income and in growth. IFI
to feed its market kraft woodpulp, and
sawntimber and panels businesses.
In Chile, Arauco owns the country’s largest
area of forest plantations, mostly of radiata
pine and eucalyptus. It also owns forest
plantations in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. At
present, Arauco’s acreage covers a total of 1.41
Mha, with 930,000 ha devoted to plantations,
281,400 ha to native forests and 200,000 ha to
other uses. In 2006, the company purchased
21,000 ha of forest plantations from Cementos
Bío Bío, located mainly in the VIII Region of
Chile. With the commissioning of the woodpulp
mill of the Nueva Aldea Forestry-Industrial
Complex, Arauco will reach a production
capacity of over 3 Mt of bleached and
unbleached kraft pulp, representing a 39%
increase compared to 2005.
The company has 16 sawmills (14 in Chile
and two in Argentina) and six remanufacturing
mills (five in Chile and one in Argentina). Their
aggregate annual sawing capacity is more than
3.842 million m3, with a kiln drying capacity of
2.757 million m3 and a production capacity of
manufactured products of 503,000 m3. It also
has one facility for manufacturing laminated
beams in Chile with an annual production
capacity of 11,200 m3.
The Lomas Coloradas sawmill and
remanufacturing mill were purchased in June
2006 from Forestal Cementos Bío Bío. These
mills have an annual capacity of 260,000 m3
and 40,000 m3 respectively.
Arauco has an annual production capacity of
3 Mt of kraft pulp, 2.3 million m3 of wood
panels, 3.8 million m3 of sawn timber and
514,000 m3 of remanufactured wood products.
Its wide international reach is the result of
sustained industrial growth and a significant
increase in its product lines, which has been
the hallmark of Arauco’s growth in recent years,
according to the company.
Arauco’s consolidated sales reached $885
million during the third quarter of 2007, an

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 25

IFI_PG26_31_Russia:layout 12/2/08 12:29 Page 26

OPERATION FOCUS RU S S I A

RTG rushin’ to expand

A public listing is about the only
thing London-based forestry
company Russian Timber Group is
prepared to put on hold as it pushes
full steam ahead with its expanding
Russian business. Chris Cann reports

R
ussia has the forestry world captivated steadily built the resource base by establishing pegged for late last year and is pending an
at present. It is home to the largest a private company called Tynda Forest Holdings improvement in market conditions.
expanses of forest on the globe and sits that raised funds in 2005 to acquire several The group has three main divisions covering
on the doorstep to one of the world’s fastest other significant harvesting companies, along its operations in different regions – the Tynda
growing timber markets – Asia. It is not just with a couple of processing operations. He Division in the Amur region of Russia, the
forestry professionals who have been tempted consolidated and re-branded the group under Hupex Division in the Irkutsk region of Russia,
by the Russian timber bank. The opportunities the name of Russian Timber Group in March last and the China Division. Both the Tynda and
are clear to any entrepreneur that cares to stop year and was preparing for listing in London at Hupex divisions are made up of several
and look. time of writing. That listing was originally harvesting and processing subsidiary
The Leo Hambro-led Russian Timber Group
(RTG), now Russia’s second largest harvesting
company, did not grow from pure forestry roots.
The original acquisition was based on a
mining play by Hambro’s father and the
Executive Chairman of Peter Hambro
Mining – Peter Hambro.
In 2004, Hambro Snr and business partner Dr
Pavel Maslovsky bought a harvesting company
called TyndaLes, which was based in the Amur
region of far-east Russia. TyndaLes was the
largest harvesting company in the region and
owned a processing site that the two
businessmen were interested in using for
processing titanium dioxide that would be
generated by their mining company, Aricom.
However, Hambro Snr and Dr Maslovsky
realised the worth of TyndaLes and the
potential for forestry in Russia and decided to
build on the asset. Chief Executive Leo Hambro A wheeloader in operation at SEL-Tairiku

26 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

IFI_PG26_31_Russia:layout 12/2/08 12:29
companies, while the China Division
consists solely of the Far-East Forest
Company (FEFC) processing business.
The group’s processing capacity at the
moment remains relatively modest.
At present, RTG leases about 2.4 Mha – an
area near the size of Belgium – over the Amur
and Irkutsk regions of Russia through its
subsidiaries, which contain some 200 million
m3 of mature and over mature reserves. The
listing was set to raise about £100 million (circa
$200 million) to fund the group’s serious
expansion plans, which will make the most of
its vast harvesting operations by expanding its
processing operations to become a vertically
integrated organisation. Though the listing
was on hold, a private placement was likely
to go ahead shortly so RTG did not have to
break stride.
HARVESTING
In 2006, RTG recorded a total harvest volume of
about 2.1 million m3 of roundwood,
predominantly of Angara pine and Siberian
larch, through a combination of mechanised
and non-mechanised harvesting methods.
According to data from the Federal Service of
State Statistics in Russia (FSSS), the group’s
Amur harvesting operations are the largest
within the region, and timber harvested by the
group accounted for some 41.2% of the total
timber harvested in the Amur region in 2006.
The group’s Irkutsk harvesting operations are
the second largest within the Irkutsk region,
and timber harvested by RTG accounted for
Page 27
RU S S I A OPERATION FOCUS
some 11.1% of the total timber harvested in the
region in 2006. Though the 2007 figures were
not available at time of writing, similar numbers
were expected to those received from 2006.
RTG has sustainable annual allowable cutting
rights of up to 3.3 million m3 of trees. The bulk
One crew typically
produces 1,500-3,000 m3
of roundwood each month
depending on the conditions
within the forest
of harvesting in these regions is done in the
winter months, between September and April,
and produces roundwood, pulpwood and
fuelwood. Some waste (comprising tree tops
and branches) is left in the forest, whilst
roundwood and pulpwood are delivered to the
lower landings, where the roundwood is graded
or processed and, along with pulpwood, loaded
onto rail wagons for delivery to processing
plants or other customers directly across the
border in China, Japan and the Koreas.
At present, the groups’s harvesting is done
by two methods – Tree Length (TL) and
mechanised Cut-to-Length (CTL). In the case of
CTL, trees are delimbed, crosscut and sorted in
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 27
the stand or at the road side. While with TL, the
whole tree, excluding the top and branches, is
delivered to lower landings for crosscutting,
sorting and piling. At the lower landings the
harvested roundwood that is not to be
processed is graded and, along with the
pulpwood, loaded onto rail wagons for delivery.
Most of the machinery used is of “very good”
quality and from Russia, however, Russian has
not moved with current technology and will
need to be upgraded. RTG also uses some
Swedish machinery supplied by Komatsu from
its Valmet forest machine range. The company
has eight pairs of Valmet harvesters and
forwarders with a capacity of 50,000-80,000
m3/y. RTG is also trialling a John Deere
mechanised TL harvester that has a capacity of
200,000 m3/y.
Hambro plans to improve the harvesting side
of the business by increasing mechanised TL
harvesting where appropriate; developing road
networks to reach currently inaccessible forest
plots; replacing less advantageous labour
arrangements; and increasing the utilisation of
harvesting leases to provide roundwood for the
group’s current and planned processing
operations.
It is the company’s intention to achieve an
annual harvest volume of 2.9 million m3 by 2012
on existing leases.
Irkutsk Region
The 13 forest leases within the Irkutsk region
account for 2.14 million m3 of the group’s
holding. In 2006, RTG harvested 1.544 million
IFI_PG26_31_Russia:layout 12/2/08 12:29
OPERATION FOCUS RU S S I A
Our strategy is to expand
along the timber value chain
by investing in processing
capabilities with planned
expenditure totalling
approximately $500 million
over the next four years
m3 of timber in Irkutsk where it has four lower
landings with direct access to the Baikal-Amur
mainline (BAM) Railway.
Harvesting in Irkutsk is based on the TL
harvesting system. This harvesting method is
generally favoured because of its low
maintenance and operation costs. In Irkutsk,
approximately 63% of the total wood harvest
volume is harvested using the manual TL
system, and 37% is harvested using the
mechanised TL system.
Manual TL harvesting is typically done in
eight-hour shifts in daylight by crews of six
labourers, with each crew operating for about
eight to nine months each calendar year. In
some areas of Irkutsk weather conditions can
cause working months and hours to vary.
One harvesting crew usually consists of two
fellers operating with chainsaws and two
helpers, one skidder operator and one loader
operator. For every two crews there is a
supervisor, a mechanic and a cook. Crews live
on location in the forest in mobile housing and
rotate between two weeks work and two weeks
holiday. One crew typically produces 1,500-
RTG’s harvesting operations recorded a volume of 2.1 million m3 in 2006
28 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Page 28
3,000 m3 of roundwood each month depending
on the conditions within the forest. The
production levels fluctuate throughout the year
depending on the season and accessibility of
plots. For instance, in the summer season
production is lower because of hot continental
weather resulting in lower accessibility due to
the soft soil.
Crews utilising mechanised TL harvesting
operate in one or two shifts per day depending
on the machinery. One crew has four operators,
consisting of a feller-buncher, a skidder, a
processor and a loader. The productivity of one
crew is 40,000-80,000 m3/y. The productivity of
the mechanised TL system depends on the
number of shifts and machinery. The machinery
is typically operated for 10 months/y.
Amur Region
Fourteen forest licences within the Amur region
account for 1.15 million m3 of the company’s
forests. In 2006 the group harvested 542,000
m3 of timber in the region, where it has 10 lower
landings with direct access to the BAM Railway.
Harvesting in the Amur region is also based
on two systems, manual TL and CTL. About 70%
of the Amur harvesting is done using the
manual TL system in the same manner as
utilised in Irkutsk. However, in contrast to
Irkutsk, where mechanised TL is also used, all
TL harvesting in Amur is done manually.
In the Amur region, RTG does a limited
amount of mechanised CTL harvesting, using
eight pairs of harvesters and forwarders. At
present, the mechanised CTL harvesting
operations are carried out by Russian
operators, while North Korean sub-contractors
handle most of the transport, sorting/piling and
rail car loading logistics. Workers from Ukraine
and elsewhere are currently being recruited to
supplement or replace the North Koreans,
which were inherited with the licence and are
extremely expensive.
Leo Hambro
Mechanised CTL harvesting crews comprise
two operators, one harvester operator and one
forwarder operator. The use of the CTL
harvesting method is in a preliminary phase
with operating techniques still being tested
and, to date, productivity has varied
dramatically and has yet to be satisfactory,
according to Hambro.
PROCESSING
In 2006, RTG produced a total of 185,000 m3 of
sawn and planed softwood from two sawmills
in Irkutsk and 20,000 m3 of parquet flooring at
its plant located in China. At present, just 18%
of the group’s harvested raw material is
processed by its mills. Processed wood
products are further along the value chain than
unprocessed roundwood. The Irkutsk sawmills
have modern technology and the Chinese
flooring plant, which is currently in a start-up
phase, has modern machinery.
“Our strategy is to expand along the timber
value chain by investing in processing
capabilities with planned expenditure totalling
approximately $500 million over the next four
years and to increase levels of mechanisation in
our harvesting methods with planned capital
expenditure of approximately $50 million
through to 2012,” Hambro said.
“We are very resource rich. We have a
business that harvests an enormous quantity of
timber already but there are enormous margins
to be made in further value-added. We need to
be processing everything we harvest into one
form or another.
Irkutsk Region
RTG currently owns, or has interests in, three
sawmills in the Irkutsk region: SEL-Tairiku in
Igirma,;KirenskLes in Yantal; and Rudnogorskoe
in Rudnogorsk.
The group owns 50% of SEL-Tairiku through a
regional subsidiary. The mill operates under an
exclusive tolling contract processing the group’s
timber. The company is considering buying the
IFI_PG26_31_Russia:layout 12/2/08 12:29 Page 29
IFI_PG26_31_Russia:layout 12/2/08 12:29
RU S S I A OPERATION FOCUS
remaining 50% is from Japanese company,
Tairiku Trading.
SEL-Tairiku currently processes timber
supplied by RTG on a “cost-plus” basis. The
current operations in Igirma include lower
landing operations and a sawmill with planing
facilities. The total area of the site, which
includes the sawmill and the lower landings
with direct railway access to the BAM Railway,
is 15 ha. The roundwood preparation area
includes a Hekotek roundwood sorter with
48 pockets.
The roundwood is scanned with a Visiometric
2D measuring system. The speed of the
roundwood sorting line is about 105 m/minute
with a capacity of more than 8,000 m3 of
roundwood per shift. The roundwood yard is
operated by three wheel-loaders and has a
storage capacity of 30,000-40,000 m3.
The sawmill in-feed line was modernised in
2004. The roundwood is debarked with Valon
Kone equipment. The main sawing machinery is
a HewSaw 200, which was modernised in 2004.
The speed of the sawing line is circa 90
m/minute. Sorting of wood with natural moisture
content is done manually. The sawn pieces are
separated on two conveyors, one for centre cut
pieces and one for sideboards. Defective pieces
can be steered to a manual rip-saw. Stacking is
automatic for centre cut pieces. Four manual
stacking stations are used for sideboards.
Drying is done by 18 Tekma Wood chambers
each with 150 m3 capacity and four Mühlbock
chambers with 200 m3 capacity in each. The
entire production is dried. The current drying
capacity is around 150,000 m3/y. The power
plant has six 10 MW boilers that use sawdust
and bark as fuel. The power plant supplies heat
for the local village. The facilities include a new
Ledinek Superplan 5V-S 200 planing line with
KallFass sorting and packaging equipment that
commenced operation in the autumn of 2006.
The planing operations also include another,
older line with substantially lower capacity with
30 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Page 30
POSSIBLE NEW PROCESSING OPERATIONS
Irkutsk region
Igirma Sawmill: Sawing high-quality logs sourced from the company’s harvest and will have an
estimated production capacity of more than 400,000 m3/y.
Igirma Planing Mill: Planing high-quality sawn timber from the Igirma sawmill. The production
capacity of the planing mill is estimated at 250,000 m3/y.
Ust-Kut Sawmill: Sawing high-quality pine logs partially sourced from RTG’s harvest. Production
capacity is estimated at 300,000 m3/y.
MDF Mill: To process all species of roundwood sourced from the company’s own harvest. The
production capacity is estimated at 270,000 m3/y.
Pellet Mill: The pellet mill will specialise in utilisation of wood residues from sawmilling and
planing operations. The production capacity is estimated at 60,000 tpa of wood pellets.
Amur region
Tynda Sawmill: Sawing high-quality larch logs sourced from RTG’s harvest. Production capacity is
estimated at 280,00 m3/y.
Tynda Planing Mill: Planing high-quality sawn timber from the Tynda sawmill. The production
capacity of the planing mill is estimated at 70,000 m3/y.
Tynda Glulam Mill: Glulam, also known as glue laminated timber is an engineered product using
structurally graded timber laminations. The glulam mill will specialise in treating and processing
the sawn timber from the Tynda sawmill. Production capacity is estimated at 80,000 m3/y.
Tynda OSB Plant: To process all softwood species of roundwood sourced from the RTG harvest.
Production capacity is estimated at 324,000 m3/y.
Tynda Pellet Mill: Specialise in using wood residues from sawmilling and planing operations at the
Tynda sawmill and planing mill up to 60,000 tpa of wood pellets.
manual sorting and packaging. There is a sorting line with 20 pockets and operates at a
limited amount of storage space under cover. rate of 90 m/minute. The log yard is operated by
The total area of the KirenskLes in Yantal site two wheel-loaders. The roundwood sorting line
in Yantal, which includes the sawmill and the operates in three shifts for five days a week.
lower landings with direct access to the BAM The roundwood is debarked with Valon Kone
Railway, is some 49 ha. The mill is located on a machinery with a line speed of up to 90
relatively congested site on a river bank. The m/minute that can accommodate log diameters
KirenskLes sawmill has a Hekotek roundwood from 80-450 mm. The main sawing machine is a
HewSaw 200, capable of handling roundwood
with diameters between 11-28 cm. Sorting of
wood with natural moisture content is done
manually, whilst the stick-stacking, which
facilitates roundwood drying by allowing better
air circulation, is done semi-automatically.
The mill, which has no drying facilities, is
equipped with an anti-stain handling facility
that protects the timber from becoming
discoloured as a result of exposure to moisture.
The power plant consists of four boilers that
burn bark as fuel and, like SEL-Tairiku, also
supply heat for the local village. There is no
storage for finished products under cover on
the site, however, as this site is predominantly
a lower landing there is ample storage space
available.
The Rudnogorskoe facility is not in operation
but could be reactivated relatively quickly if
necessary. The site could also be used for
development and/or the construction of a new
processing facility. The total area of the site,
which includes three sawing lines and the lower
IFI_PG26_31_Russia:layout 12/2/08 12:29 Page 31

RU S S I A OPERATION FOCUS

landings with direct railway access to the BAM
Railway, is 54 ha.
Amur Region
The total area of the sole site in the Amur
region is about 30 ha and includes a sawmill, a
lower landing and about 40,000 m3 of covered
space. The site is and 18 km from Tynda. The
Canada 2000 sawmill at this site produces
some 2,500 m3/y of lumber (with natural
moisture content).
China
RTG subsidiary FEFC is on a 15 ha site in the
Binxi Economic Development Zone, about 30
km outside Harbin. The company is a joint
venture between RTG-owned Universe On
International and Harbin Sauguan Industrial
and Trading, with Universe holding an 80%
interest. Universe provides FEFC with financial
resources and has the right to appoint a
majority of the directors, whilst Harbin Sauguan
Industrial and Trading provides land and
regional representation. FEFC was officially
opened in June 2006, and installation of the
processing equipment continues. To date, the
plant has produced solid wood, multi-layer
engineered flooring and three-layer engineered
flooring. A number of orders for flooring
product have been placed and sales continue to
be realised. The plant employs approximately
420 people, operating on a single eight-hour
daily shift.
FEFC purchases roundwood domestically from
Chinese companies and produces a variety of
flooring both for domestic and export markets. It
is expected that the plant will reach its full scale
production on an annualised basis in 2009.
about $110-120 million of the capital
expenditure budget with the main component
being the sawmill, which will be supplied by
European manufacturer, Linck. The operation
would process about 900,000 m3/y of raw
material – almost three times the capacity of
the current operations.
The roundwood consumed by the new
processing facilities is expected to come from
RTG’s harvesting operations. The sawmills are
expected to utilise all harvested roundwood,
while medium density fibreboard (MDF),
oriented strand board (OSB) and pellet mills
would use most of the remaining pulpwood and
wood residues, which are currently utilised only
to a very limited extent: “We’ll be turning a zero
value raw material into a commercial product
with a margin so in theory it is a fantastic
opportunity,” Hambro said of the pellet
producing operations.
“Going forward, we plan to upgrade and
expand our processing capabilities to
encompass additional stages of sawn softwood
processing. In addition, we’re considering a
number of further processing opportunities,
including increasing the processing volume of
sawn and kiln dried wood and maximising yield
within existing plants.”
CONQUERING RUSSIAN
ROULETTE
Hambro said there were four barriers to
development within the Russian forest industry
– lack of infrastructure, tree species mix, poor
power supply, and finding good people. He said
RTG had overcome all of those problems and
was champing at the bit to expand.
“We’re very fortunate to be operating in an
area that has two railroads – the Trans-Siberian
and the BAM, which allow us to get our timber
to market.
“The species mix is not all the way across
Russia. The area we’re in has very, very high-
grade softwoods such as Angarsk pine, Siberian
larch and Dahurian larch.
“Electricity is abundant in some areas of
Russia and in very short supply and extremely
expensive in others. The Irkutsk region is
supplied predominantly by hydro-electric
power, which we believe has the cheapest
electricity in Russia and possibly in the world at
about €0.01/kW. The Amur region also has low-
cost hydropower. Electricity is not available in
every operation because of a lack of
infrastructure to deliver it to site.
“Fourth and most important is the team.
Because of a chronic under-investment in the
industry for the past 17 years there have been
very few new entrants in the industry and
therefore there is a lack of experienced people.
If we had been a start-up company we would
have found it very difficult to attract people.
However, we developed through mergers and
acquisitions and consolidated a fantastic team,
which I believe is second to none within the
industry.” IFI

MORE MONEY IN MILLING

“There are substantially higher margins to be
made in wood processing and we are being
further encouraged by the Government, through
the changes in the export duty and introduction
of investment incentives, to invest into this side
of the industry,” Hambro said.
“To implement this strategy, our investment
program, subject to appropriate financing being
available, includes upgrading and expanding of
our existing processing facilities as well as,
more importantly, the construction of several
new processing facilities, which will be
essential especially if the increased export
duties are to be implemented as planned.
“The new large scale mills will utilise state-
of-the-art machinery and produce high grade
products that can be sold to the Japanese or
European markets.” The current cost estimate
for full implementation of these investment
projects is some $550 million.
RTG has started building a new sawmill and
planing mill at LDK Igirma, has plans in place
for several more mill constructions, and is
looking to upgrade both the SEL-Tairiku and
KirenskLes sawmills from 150,000 m3 to
212,000 m3 and from 100,000 m3 to 114,000 m3
respectively. LDK Igirma is planned to consume

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 31

IFI_PG32_35_CONGO:Layout 1 12/2/08
OPERATION FOCUS
Expansion in the Congo
The Republic of Congo’s largest private employer is a sustainable forestry operation that
is mechanising its log logistics and expanding with a chip mill. John Chadwick reports
M
agForestry, a division of
Canada’s MagIndustries,
owns 100% of
Eucalyptus Fibre Congo (EFC), an
established renewable forestry
operation previously owned and
operated by a division of Shell Oil
International (Shell Renewables).
EFC’s operations are based on
the planting and harvesting of
fast-growing clones of eucalyptus
trees, which reach 22-26 m in
seven years at which point they
are harvested and the area
replanted. Shell’s long-term
strategy was to establish a
renewable, sustainable high-yield
source of biomass for future
energy generation. EFC has
different plans. It currently holds
an exclusive 70-year concession
agreement with the Government of
The Republic of Congo. The
plantation concession covers
68,000 ha of which 42,000 ha are
planted.
Three contractors, a total
workforce of 600, are cutting,
debarking and stacking 2.4 m
logs. Presently all wood is
manually harvested. The trees are
felled using Stihl MS 380 chain
saws with 40 cm cutting bars. The
trees are then cut into 2.4 m log
lengths and then were manually
debarked with machetes, but this
is changing with new Bell
machines. Each tree is about 25 m
in height, so each one yields
32 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
17:52 Page 32
approximately 10 logs of 2.4 m.
The average volume per tree is
0.20 m3. The logs are then piled
into 1 m3 stacks or laid across a
supporting log for eventual
removal.
The removal or the forwarding
of the logs is done with Bell 225
loaders and Landini tractors
pulling trailers with a capacity of
6.8 m3. The Bell loader loads the
logs infield onto the trailers. The
Landini tractors haul their loads to
a central strapping station where
the logs are strapped into bundles
that weigh approximately 5.5 t.
Two straps per bundle use
Signode steel strapping; 32 mm
wide by 1.27 mm thick.
An average weekly production
of 6,000 m3 was achieved in the
second half of 2007. This is
increasing to 10,000 m3 for 2008.
The arrival of the Bell 225
debarkers has been important,
requiring training of new
operators on debarking. This
required about eight weeks for
operators to get to the full
production of 500 trees/shift
(12 hours), or 100 m3/shift.
Equipment purchases in
2007 included:
l25 Landini tractors
l24 Pick-ups
l6 Bell TDH 21 6 x 6 trucks with 14
trailers
l9 Bell 225 debarkers
l2 Bell 225 loaders
The arrival of the
Bell 225 debarkers
has been important,
requiring training of
new operators
on debarking
The Landini tractors are used in
the plantation areas for many
tasks, including pulling the trailers
of logs loaded by the Bell 225
loaders. Other trailers are then
hitched to the Bell TDH21 trucks,
which provide the necessary
traction to be used in the forest
areas on dirt roads. The Bell
trucks transport logs from the
bush area to depots on the
asphalt road where the logs are
transloaded onto conventional
trucks for delivery to the port. The
key is to have available inventory
at asphalt depots for the rainy
season.
During the wet season
(October-May) manual debarking
is easier and more productive but
rain is a challenge with respect to
Bell TH21D truck
truck transportation. The company
is addressing this issue with a
more focused road construction
and maintenance program along
with the Bell truck and trailer
combination. The dry season
(June-September) makes log
transportation a lot more
productive but manual debarking
efficiency is reduced due to the
increased adhesion of the bark to
the wood fibre, since very little
water is being drawn up through
the cambium layer from the roots
to the leaves, VP Forestry Dan
Orlando explains. “Of course the
dry season brings the increased
risk of fires, which we contain or
eliminate through better
silviculture practices, stand
tending and a proven fire
management plan.”
IFI_PG32_35_CONGO:Layout 1 12/2/08
Mechanised output
Orlando explains: “With the
advent of the chip plant, which is
scheduled to start producing in
March 2008, we will be going to a
semi-mechanised method and
producing 6 m logs.” The trees
will continue to be manually felled
with chain saws but the debarking
will be done with the nine Bell
225A debarker machines. These
units were all operational by the
end of 2007. They are powered by
the four-cylinder (in-line) Deutz
F5L912 diesel air-cooled engine,
developing 65 kW at 2,000 rpm.
The two front wheels are equipped
with 18.4 x 26 10 ply forestry tyres
with the two rear wheels having
18 x 15.5 10 ply high flotation
forestry tyres. The machine’s
operating weight is 6,300 kg with
the Bell debarking head. The nine
units are working 24hours/day,
seven days a week. The expected
production rate of each unit is
approximately 60 trees/hour or
12 m3/hour. The debarkers are
operated by EFC personnel, not
contractors.
The mechanically debarked logs
are cut into 6 m lengths and
sorted into piles ready for infield
loading. “Where the tree volumes
are greater, we will pre-stack and
sort mechanically with Bell 225A
loaders,” Orlando says.
Once the 6 m logs are stacked,
55 t payload of 10 bundles (five per trailer, each 5.5 t)
17:52 Page 33
the five loaders, powered by the
Deutz F4L912 diesel, air-cooled
engine developing 45.5 kW at
2,000 rpm, go into action. They
have two front wheels with 10 ply
forestry tyre dimensions of
18.4/15 x 30, and one rear 10 ply
high flotation forestry tyre with
dimensions of 4 x 15.5. The
operating weight of these
machines is 5,100 kg with the Bell
35 grapple. These load infield the
fleet of six Bell TDH 21 trucks with
tandem trailers. The Bell THD 21
articulated truck with six 23.5 x 25
radial high flotation tyres is
powered by a Mercedes Benz
OM906LA six-cylinder in-line
turbocharged, air cooled engine
developing 200 kW at 2,200 rpm
with a six-wheel drive automatic
transmission.
The rated payload of the TDH 21
is 21 t and it can pull a 50 t
payload with the two additional
trailers. Orlando points out: “Once
the truck and trailers are loaded
they either proceed directly to the
chip plant or to an intermediary
depot. A couple of intermediary
depots will be located close to the
asphalt roads that lead into the
port of Pointe Noire. Log
inventories will be built up at
these intermediary depots in order
to allow the continuous flow of
logs to the chip mill, especially
during the wet season. We will
OPERATION FOCUS
continue to use contract haulers
to supplement our fleet of TDH
21s. Contract haulers use
conventional truck and trailer
configurations and will be used to
transport logs from our
intermediary depots or in
conjunction with our TDH 21s
during the dry season.”
In 2006 and 2007, EFC
contracted out all loading and
truck hauling. In 2006 the
company cut 160,000 m3 and the
target for 2007 was 290,000 m3.
The plan for 2008 is to cut/harvest
500,000 m3.
All shipments to date have been
made to pulp and paper and
fibreboard plants in Europe and
North Africa. Forestry operations
continue to be streamlined
through the acquisition of new
equipment, training programs and
competitive contract harvesting
practices.
Direct EFC employees total 245,
in addition there are:
lThree harvesting contractors
employing a total of 1,050
employees
lContract silvicuture activities
(planting, site preparation and
cleaning) with 295 employees
The Andritz horizontal fed HHQ-CHIPPERTM features the
HHQ11-XL-16 insert knife system. Its main specifications are:
Nominal chip length
Maximum log diameter
Log length
Chipper disc, diameter
Spout width
Spout diameter
Number of knives
Rotation speed
Moment of inertia (approximate)
Weight of rotor, with knives (approximate)
Weight excluding drive machinery
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 33
lOne wood transportation
contractor employing 40 people
lVarious contractors, individuals
and village organisations
involved in activities related to
fire protection, stand cleaning
and wood recovery for firewood
and charcoal; 740 people.
Log chipping
Early in 2007, MagForestry began
the construction of a log chipping
plant on its harbour side lands
located in the port of Pointe-Noire.
This is a $28 million facility and
commissioning of the 500,000 t/y
plant was expected to occur in
January 2008 with first commercial
shipments of wood chips soon
thereafter. The flow sheets are
shown in the diagrams.
Sales contracts for the 2008
production capacity of the wood
chip plant were concluded in late
2007. Prices for eucalyptus chips
continue to be strong. Total
forestry product sales in 2008,
which will be predominantly
based on wood chips, are
projected to be between $25
and $30 million.
The feeder deck into the
chipping plant has a capacity of
19 mm
500 mm
2.4-7 m
3.36 m
855 mm
790 mm
16
249 rpm
J = 21,500 kgm2
19 t
30.5 t
IFI_PG32_35_CONGO:Layout 1 12/2/08
OPERATION FOCUS
Where the tree volumes are greater,
we will pre-stack and sort mechanically
with Bell 225A loaders
135/270 m3 sub/hour. It will
accept log lengths of 2.4–6/6-7 m.
The feeder deck is 16 m long and
8.1 m wide. The log belt conveyor
has a capacity of 270 m3 sub/hour
for log lengths of 2.4-7 m. The
conveyor length is 42 m, belt width
1,400 mm. It travels at 1 m/second
at an incline of 5˚. A ring-type
metal detector is used for tramp
metal. There is a 7 m long (width
1,850 mm) RCS10 roller conveyor
with bark separation.
The LCI20 chipper feed chain
conveyor features feeding chains
of 8.2 m in length and 4.5 m
spreader chains. The speed of the
feeding conveyor chains (level) is
1.4 m/second, and the speed of
the spreader conveyor chains
(inclination of spreader conveyor
chains 6°) is 1 m/second.
The drive machinery includes
four electric motors (315/25
kW/rps) and a foot mounted gear
reducer with oil circulation and
cooling. The chipper disc is
balanced and ultrasonic tested.
A 10 m long SWC 11/21 screw
34 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
17:52 Page 34
The SCS80-1000 chip screen is 7.99 m long, 5.4 m wide and 3.095 m in
height:
Screening area (upper deck = oversize) 1 x 30 m2
Screening area (middle+lower decks) 2 x 25 m2
Screening decks
Upper deck hole diameter 50 mm
Middle deck hole diameter 19 mm
Lower deck hole diameter 6.5 mm
The CHR10-12 rechipper has the following specifications:
conveyor has a capacity of 1,000 Capacity 60 m3/hour
m3/hour of chips. The nominal
diameter is 1,000 mm, the chip bin Chip length 16 mm
volume 26 m2, the rotation speed Rechipper disc diameter 1.22 m
29 rpm and the inclination 25°. Number of knives 8
There is a central lubrication
Rotation speed 750 rpm
system for equipment inside the
chipping line (total 60 lubrication Handed right
points), with grease lubrication for Moment of inertia J=140 kgm
bearings and oil lubrication for
Net weight excluding motor 2.44 t
roller conveyor chains.
The heavy duty chipper knife grinding machine is equipped with twin
Strategic silviculture beds, type reform or equal:
Asked about biomass, Orlando Grinding length 7.5 m
answered: “We do not collect the
Magnetic clamping table Two 7.5 m by 150 mm
leaves, twigs, bark or wood
remnants. Our soils are very poor Pass height 180 mm
in nutrients and it is critical that Grinding motor 20/25 kW/rps
this biomass remains on the forest
Working speed 2-40 m/minute
floor in order to enrich the soil.
Nutrients are released as the The grinding machine is equipped as follows:
remnants decay.” Round head, diameter 350 mm
EFC is currently expanding its Central lubrication for grinding head
tree nursery to not only support
Coolant attachment with a coolant pump
the re-planting of all harvested
areas but also the planting of Complete inside electrification
20,000 ha of additional lands Automatic feeding down equipped with depth limit
currently under application. The
Special tools
EFC operations represent one of
IFI_PG32_35_CONGO:Layout 1 12/2/08 17:52 Page 35

OPERATION FOCUS

UR2PI’s mandate is to lead studies and

research in all facets of creation,
improvement and long-term management
of the regions forestry plantations.

the world’s largest renewable-
sustainable forestry operations
lying within a 35 km radius of a
deep-water port (Pointe-Noire).
Once the operations reach full
production capacity in about
seven years, wood fibre
production could reach 1.5 Mt/y.
“Our Kissoko tree nursery,”
Orlando explains, “once the
expansion phase is completed
towards the end of 2007, will be
able to produce over 12 million
seedlings/y. We will be planting
1,000 seedlings/ha. As well, we
are also coppicing some of our
plantations. Presently we are
replanting 350 ha/month and
coppicing 400 ha/month. Once we
reach full production in our tree
nursery, coppicing will be phased
out. We are growing 12 different
clones of Euro Grandis in our
nursery. We expect a growth rate
on average of 25 m3/ha. We are
harvesting on seven-year rotation
so that our yield will be
approximately 175 m3/ha. Our
present lease of 47,000 ha will be
expanded to approximately
68,000 ha during 2008. The
additional area is composed of
non-productive savannah lands,
which are what the original 42,000
ha were planted on over the last
20 years by the previous owners.
We are working towards Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)
certification and expect to be
certified by late 2008. All site
preparation, fertilisation,
herbicide application and planting
is contracted out.”
Coppicing (the cutting of trees
and shrubs to ground level to
allow vigorous regrowth and a
sustainable supply of timber for
future generations) averages 78
ha/month. Total regeneration
amounts to 278 ha/month, while
cutting averages 168 ha/month.
Selected specific parcels are being
regenerated by coppicing (good
sites and growth rates, best
proven clones), to augment
regeneration capability.
Last year, planting was affected
by lack of herbicide in March and
June and lack of seedlings. EFC is
working with contractors to
augment crews in order to meet
site preparation and the planting
target of 1,000 ha/month in 2008.
Capital expenditure in 2008 will
cover the requirements for
additional seedling transportation
vehicles and water tanks and
trailers to meet the targets. Once
the 6 m log harvesting system
begins, additional tractors will
become available for site
preparation (herbicide
application) and planting.
Expansion of the nursery was
about 70% complete in late
October 2007. At that time work
was needed to finish construction
of the mother plant tables,
seedling tables and concrete
ditches. Delays in completing this
expansion project related to lack of
cement; lack of pressure treated
and untreated poles and lumber;
and logistics problems in getting
materials from overseas (netting).
Progress has been made to
mechanise the operations,
including a substrate mixer and
seedling hole puncher. In
December last year, MagIndustries
raised $37.8 million, part of which
was to be set aside to fund the
completion of MagForestry’s wood
chip mill and harvesting
equipment modernisation.
Forestry research
EFC holds a one third interest in
UR2PI (Unité de Recherche sur la
Productivité des Plantations
Industrielles), a forestry and
community research facility based
in Pointe-Noire. The other equal
owners include the French
research group CIRAD Forêt and
the Ministry of Forestry for the
Republic of Congo.
UR2PI’s mandate is to lead
studies and research in all facets
of creation, improvement and long-
term management of the regions
forestry plantations. It combines
work with different partners –
scientific, technical, or economic –
with the help of joint agreements.
UR2PI’s work hinges upon four
research programs: Plant material,
forestry and environment, long-
term plantation management and
forestry restoration. The annual
testing area in place is 30-50 ha,
for a total of 300 ha followed
regularly. UR2PI’s work results in
the creation of plant material with
strong potential in the
development of technical path.
New priorities include the
qualification of the forestry
plantations for world standards
required in the construction and
pulp industries. Qualification of
the forests for carbon credits is
also being investigated.
EFC is working on certification by
the Forestry Stewardship Council
(FSC). The application process is
Loading a trailer hitched to a Landini tractor
being coordinated by UR2PI. A
detailed management plan is
required prior to the start of FSC
audits. A consultant has been
selected to prepare the Forestry
Management Plan (FMP) and FMP
completion is expected by June
2008, with FSC auditing and
certification in fourth quarter 2008.
MagForestry recently signed an
agreement for the sale and
delivery of EFC eucalyptus wood
chips to a major European pulp
and paper producer. The
agreement calls for the delivery of
an aggregate of 268,000 t of wood
chips in 2008 and in 2009 at
delivered prices in excess of
$200/t (C&F). The purchaser has
an option to extend the contract
for an additional year at the same
price. The first shipments are
expected to start in the second
quarter of 2008.
MagForestry also announced
the signing of an agreement with
Mitsui O.S.K Lines which will
provide a specialised bulk carrier
for delivery of the wood-chips.
This vessel will be dedicated for
the delivery of the above
mentioned off-take contract.
MagForestry expects to complete
additional wood-chip sales
agreements in the first quarter
of 2008. IFI

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 35

IFI_PG36-39_OP FOCUS EWD:layout 12/2/08 13:58 Page 36

OPERATION FOCUS

Proven products
tested worldwide
Sawmilling stalwart
EWD explains where the
sawmill supply industry
is headed to IFI editor
Chris Cann

A
lot has changed in the last 145 years of GOING GLOBAL modern optimiser edging systems in Brazil,
sawmilling. And over all that time, Lang said the most exciting markets for the one of the few modern sawmills in Venezuela,
German-based EWD has been there – company at the moment were in South America, and will build a modern sawmill in Uruguay in
growing and evolving with the industry. The Russia, and France. early 2009.
current company was the result of the 1996 EWD was one of the first modern sawmill Lang said the same technology was used in
merger of two well-known suppliers, Esterer AG suppliers to penetrate the South American South America as in Europe, but with different
and Wurster Dietz, which came together to form market. The South American industry only applications to cater for the differences in wood
a company capable of supplying the full range started to really modernise its sawmilling type. “The customers in South America are
of sawmill technology to its worldwide client practices in the 1990s as its plantation timber playing in the same league as the Europeans –
base. Most recently, Esterer sold EWD to industry took off, and EWD has been supplying we’re talking about people who are operating big,
Europe’s largest sawmill supplier by capacity, state-of-the-art technology to the region since industrial sawmills so the work we do with these
the Linck Group, in May last year. The group can 1999. As it stands, the company has supplied people is very similar to the work we do in
now claim to be the largest supplier to sawmills two sawmills in Chile, one of the most Europe,” he said.
in the world.
The words ‘by capacity’ are used
intentionally. While Linck is undeniably the
largest supplier because of its dominance of
the plus 500,000 m3 contract market, EWD
remains a major player in its own right because
it supplies to the full range of markets upwards
of 10,000 m3 to 1 million m3. The company
turned over €58 million in 2007 and has
270 employees.
Technical Sales Engineer Thomas Lang said
EWD’s success was built on almost one-and-a-
half centuries of delivering quality, durable
equipment across the three technology ranges
– band saws, edger
optimisers, and circular
saws/profiling. He said
the ability to build
relationships and adapt
the basic product
ranges to suit the
customer was a winning
formula and had
been replicated in its
Thomas Lang overseas endeavours. The growing plantation forests of South America are providing EWD with serious opportunities to
grow its business

36 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

IFI_PG36-39_OP FOCUS EWD:layout 12/2/08
EWD band resaws will be supplied to Russian operations
“But they have different wood,” Lang
clarified. “The wood in South America is largely
radiate pine from plantations.”
“You have to make an adjustment,” Lang
continued. “The way the customer employs
grade scanning is very important. For the high
production, high volume European sawmills
that churn out a lot of lumber for the building
market the quality is not an issue because it all
goes into structural lumber – if you don’t have
wane then it is standard and better, if you have
wane then it is industrial grade.
“For our South American customers in pine,
their premium product material is clear pine
material that can go to Asia, Europe or America
to be used for mouldings, furniture and better
value products.
“Both customers want a system that can help
to get a better quality material from the supply,
but the approach is different. A typical
The ArcoLine system is best suited for larger operations
13:58 Page 37
OPERATION FOCUS
THE LOG PATH THROUGH
THE ARCOLINE SYSTEM
1
European approach regards the high value 3
product as the centre product and they try to fit
as much of that product into the log shape. The
remaining pieces referred to as the ‘half-moons’
on the outside are filled up with side boards –
that’s like the extra pocket money on top.
“The South Americans take the opposite
approach. The high value product is the outside
boards, which have the highest potential for
clear boards and they don’t have knots. Then you 4
get into the knotty core that is of low value.”
As a result, the optimisation equipment is
configured differently for South America
and Europe.
When asked where the other foremost
growth opportunities were, Lang answered
categorically: “East – go east.” He was of
course referring to the booming forest
industries of Russia primarily, where EWD is
5
installing its reducer circular saw lines and
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 37
IFI_PG36-39_OP FOCUS EWD:layout
OPERATION FOCUS
Both customers want a
system that can help to
get a better quality material
from the supply, but the
approach is different
In France, the sawmills
are generally smaller so
that’s where the other
EWD products and our
flexibility comes in handy
38 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12/2/08 13:58 Page 38
EWD has upgraded edger optimiser technology and now carries the unique Optimes system
band saw technology. During 2008 in Russia,
the company will install one new sawmill with a
profiling line and reducer bandsaw line for a
facility with a log intake of about 1 million m3/y;
one new sawmill with one profiling line for
700,000 m3/y log intake; one new sawmill with
one reducer band saw line for 250,000 m3/y log
intake; and one new sawmill with band saw
technology (combination of bandsaw headrig-
slabber-carriage with band resaws) for 250,000
m3/y log intake.
Though serious growth opportunities lie
outside the European mainland, EWD continues
to maintain its core business, supplying
European sawmills. In fact exports actually
decreased this year because of marginal
domestic growth. An outstanding performer for
EWD in Europe was France, where a number of
smaller “interesting” instalments were supplied.
“It shows the possibilities of a company like
EWD because we’re able to supply equipment to
a full range of markets,” Lang said. “In France,
the sawmills are generally smaller so that’s where
the other EWD products and our flexibility comes
in handy – our flexible reducer circular saw
systems, our board edger optimisers and our
flexible resaw systems.
The chipper canter is an inegral part of the ArcoLine system
“The projects in France are mostly under
250,000 m3/y log intake so it’s a different size of
sawmills but we’re quite satisfied with the volume
of sales we have out of France at the moment.”
Two French sawmills will be installed in 2008
using EWD reducer circular saw technology,
which will allow both sawmills to increase their
log intake volume from about 100,000 m3/y to
170,000 m3/y. Both projects aim to increase
recovery by using the latest scanner and
optimisation technology from EWD.
The one main market EWD is currently not
focused on is North America. Lang said it was
hard enough in the past because of currency
issues but with the drop in the US dollar and
the massive decline in housing starts and the
US economy in general, EWD now has no
exposure to that market at all.
A DEMANDING PRACTICE
Lang said the demands from the customer were
uniform across the globe: “No matter whether
we’re talking to small customers or customers
with big sawmills and large operations, one
trend that is extremely important is increasing
recovery and improving quality.”
He said there had been an emphasis in the
IFI_PG36-39_OP FOCUS EWD:layout 12/2/08 13:58 Page 39

OPERATION FOCUS

past on processing speed, which invariably
compromised quality and recovery to some
degree. These days with the amount of
harvested wood reaching peak levels,
customers were looking to get more from the
wood they were processing.
EWD has come up with the ArcoLine system,
specifically designed for operations with a log
intake upwards of 250,000 m3/y as a direct
response to this demand. The system ensures a
premium product. ArcoLine was developed over
three years and released to the market back in
2005 at Ligna. It is a premium product and as
such consumers pay a premium price, which is
another reason why only the larger operations
will use it. At present, two large sawmills are
using the system.
ArcoLine is a cant scanning and optimisation
technology that allows the straight and curved
sawing of cants. The first step is the 3D
scanning of the cant before a chipper canter
Eastern Europe/Russia and South America.
Lang said the company had built on its already
strong international reputation in these new
No matter whether we’re
regions with the continued delivery of quality
products and services. talking to small customers
“Now we’re in these markets (Eastern
Europe/Russia and South America) the or customers with big
customers know us so whenever they want to
upgrade or install a new saw line there is a very
sawmills and large
good chance they will start off by talking to our operations, one trend that
representatives,” he said. “People knew EWD
from Europe but since we’ve been operating is extremely important
elsewhere they know us from first hand
experience in the performance of our sawmills – is increasing recovery and
we can now build on that. The quality of our
products will always be able to say more than
improving quality
even the best sales representative.” IFI
14:30 Page 1

puts into practice the best possible processing IFI Cover

NOV_DEC:Layo
ut 1 23/11/07

path as calculated by the optimisation tools.

The following resawing process can then be
accomplished by either curve sawing circular
saws with profiling units or band saws with
optimising edger systems. Different optimising
systems are available that are more economical
for smaller operations.
EWD has also developed a board edger
optimisation system for board processing that
is not only for the wane and open face scanning
but can also check for quality – detecting knots,
rot and all other defects. The edger optimiser
Optimes was developed in the mid-1990s, and
while other suppliers provide similar
technology, Lang believes the way EWD has
upgraded the technology of the Optimes is
unique – at least in Europe. The company uses
top and bottom grade scanning in linear
scanning systems for continuous scanning of
the full board length.
The board is placed on an infeed table, wane-
up or wane-down, then passes longitudinally
through a top and bottom scanning system
FREE SUBSCRIPTION
where colour cameras and laser scanning
systems check on both faces for quality.
Following the linear scanning, there is an
Be sure to receive your
intermediate chain bridge acting as a transfer
conveyer, which allows full-length scanning of
FREE COPY of International
the board. As the data is processed the board
travels to the edger for optimal cutting. Forest Industries.
BUILDING THE BUSINESS
Lang said the relationship the company had
Register now using the faxback
with its customers was the single most
important factor in maintaining a successful form on page 55 or online at
business and reputation. He said in Europe,
EWD serviced some family businesses that had
been using EWD technology for up to four
www.internationalforestindustries.com
generations. It is the quality of the product and
the company’s ability to adapt to its customers’
requirements that had established EWD as one
of the longest living and best sawmill suppliers
in the world. That business ethos, which grew
in Europe, is now being applied successfully in

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 39

IFI_PG40_41_High Profile:layout
HIGH PROFILE
Arne Bergmann
We are treating the classic
European market and the
Russian market separate from
each other because of the
clear differences in growth
strategies for those parts
40 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
8/2/08 15:39 Page 40
Heart and head guide
John Deere Director
A forester with a mind for machines chatted with Editor
Chris Cann about the challenges in front of him as the
man in charge of John Deere’s marketing in Europe
and Russia
T
he person who heads up John Deere’s
marketing and sales for Europe and
Russia needs to know their stuff.
Under their control rests the mature
harvesting and pulp market of Europe,
along with probably the most exciting
emerging forestry market, Russia.
The individual who won the position back
in April last year is well-qualified to take on
the challenge, having worked within the
John Deere structure for more than eight
years and before that for a John Deere
distributor. He has the academic
qualifications for the position but, probably
more importantly, he has a genuine love for
forestry.
LIFE LEADING TO NOW
Sales and Marketing Director
Europe/Russia, Arne Bergmann, moved into
forestry as a wide-eyed student at
Germany’s Göttingen University in the late
1980s. Driven by his passion for machines,
the Swedish-speaking German completed
further studies examining the computerised
bucking-to-order system in a combined
forestry and sawmilling company in Sweden
in 1992 as part of a Masters degree.
A European Union Fellowship followed,
during which he spent two years exploring
the possibility of applying the Swedish
bucking-to-order system to Central Europe
conditions, mostly with Timberjack
machinery. He completed a PhD thesis in
the process.
Bergmann was then faced with a crucial
decision – whether to continue along the
scientific path or “get into practical, real
life”. As fate would have it, Timberjack’s
German distributor Nuhn GmbH&Co KG
offered him a position to work on the
company’s computer systems and continue
his education in a more practical sense.
Then, in 1999, Bergmann was recruited to
Timberjack, which was absorbed by John
Deere a year later, and he was made Head
of Marketing Support Europe based out of
Sweden. The academic come marketing
manager held several positions based in the
Nordic region including Marketing Manager
for Europe and Russia, Area Sales Manager
for Continental Europe, and General
Manager of the John Deere retail company
in Sweden.
Bergmann said it was his time working
through the ranks at John Deere that trained
him for this current position and challenge.
“I have done most of the jobs I now
supervise so at least know all the functions
of these various positions. That assists me
in daily management,” Bergmann said. “It’s
been a major step up in both the volume of
business I am responsible for, and the
number of people.
CLASSIC EUROPE vs RUSSIAN
OPPORTUNITY
The job is made more complicated by the
disparity between the two markets
Bergmann governs – developed Europe and
emerging Russia. “Continental Europe is
fast becoming a mature market having
almost reached maximum logging capacity,”
he said. Forest logging figures have almost
caught up to forest growth figures and
when those figures draw level sustainability
requirements will cap logging.
“That means that in the long-run we are
probably not going to see any growth in
classic markets like Finland and Sweden but
in Russia we are going to see significant
growth in the future – the annual forest
growth potential is close to 1,000 million m3
but the realistic annual logging potential at
this point is estimated be some 400 million
m3, while the current logging figures are in
the range of 170 million m3. In terms of our
marketing approach, we are treating the
classic European market and the Russian
market separate from each other because of
the clear differences in growth strategies for
those parts.”
“In line with growth forecasts in Russia,
there has been greater investment into the
industry not just from the Russians but from
foreign companies as well. We hear of new
sawmills and pulpmills being established
every day. This is a hot market at this
moment and it is a challenge.”
Bergmann said John Deere was meeting
that challenge head on with a “strong”
marketing team dedicated solely to Russian
IFI_PG40_41_High Profile:layout
business that included an office in
St Petersburg, a marketing
director dedicated to Russia, and
several Russian-speaking staff
who are familiar with Russian
forest industries.
John Deere has been in Russia
for more than 30 years and has
gradually developed its sales and
distribution network so is ideally
placed to make the most of the
current forestry surge, according to
Bergmann. “Everyone recognises
the situation in Russia and wants
to get their piece of the cake. We
need to keep pace with the Russian
industry and ensure that we stay
ahead of the pack.” He said the key
to consistent evolution was
listening to customer
requirements, which are specific to
the Russian market needs.
Bergmann has very little trouble
communicating with other forest
professionals including clients
because of his extensive
experience and passion for the
industry – he still describes
himself as a forester “deep down”.
“Based on my education I’m
clearly a forester still in the bottom
of my heart but my job has taken
me along a different path. It is
always a great advantage to have
that background knowledge from
my former life – I can speak to some
customers about the silviculture
side of their business and then to a
sawmill managing director about
wood supply – and that helps me a
lot on a daily basis.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
On the opposite side of the ledger
to the raging Russian industry is
the North American sawmill
industry, which has stalled badly.
Bergmann said that forestry was
becoming evermore an
international industry and
companies that were based in
North America would start to
diversify away from their North
American home, which had been
historically the world’s strongest
forestry market. He said
international exposure for North
American companies was likely to
come through overseas
partnerships, specifically into the
pulp and paper industry rather
than the sawmilling game. At the
same time, international
companies based elsewhere were
likely to limit their exposure to
North America.
8/2/08 15:39 Page 41
“We see big players in the
forest industry withdrawing from
projects in the North American
market and investing in other
regions. The North American
phenomena is a bit special
because North American
consumption is more or less
related to the sawmill market –
there is not so much emphasis on
the pulp and paper market as
there is in other parts of the
world,” Bergmann said.
“Sawmilling is of course a very
cyclical business that runs in line
with the construction market. And
one of the major drivers even for
us and our business in North
America, whether it is construction
or forestry, is housing starts – this
indicator is at an all-time low
right now and is expected to
decline further.”
Bergmann expected traditional
wood producing areas that are
established and maturing like
North American and Europe to face
a geographical challenge to deliver
to the developing populations,
particularly India and China. He
said this was leading to greater
investment into countries better
positioned for delivery and with
more growth potential like Russia,
as has been discussed, South
America and SouthEast Asia.
The other industry trend
identified by Bergmann was the
emergence of bioenergy – a sector
to which John Deere has begun to
devote significant financial and
human resources toward for
product development. The latest
product is the Energy Bundler Eco
III, which is currently being seen
in Finland, but also in countries
like Hungary.
“The focus on bioenergy from
the forest has been growing
significantly for the last one or two
years but so far we haven’t seen
any significant growth in terms of
our product sales,” he said. “That
is predicted to change over the
next few years. There are other
supply chains for bioenergy from
forests apart from biomass with
products like woodchips generated
by chippers for local power
stations and other things like that.
“In general, if we look at the big
picture, the whole forest industry
in the 19 European countries will
consume something like 400
million m3 of wood in 2020, which
is close to the current rate. The
HIGH PROFILE
John Deere recently signed off on a massive order from Russian group
Investlesprom
bioenergy targets will clearly
increase the price of wood, which
may reduce the European
industry’s competitiveness. These
are just predictions but it gives us
some idea where the industry is
heading and underlines that a lack
of wood could become a problem
for the European market.”
From the machine
manufacturing point of view,
Bergmann said that major
machine development had just
about reached maturity. He
predicted that current machines
would evolve in future years to
become more fuel efficient, have
better automation functions, and
be easier to use to help operators
to work the machine with 100%
efficiency compared to the 80%-
90% currently possible. “We need
to improve our machines so even
the average operator can utilise
the machine 100%.”
CONCERNS
One of the underlying issues for
harvesting companies at the
moment is the competition for
labour. With the global economy
booming at present, even with the
current downturn, there are plenty
of opportunities for semi-skilled
and unskilled labourers. The
competition for people is being
fought both between harvesting
companies, between harvesters
and other forest industries, and
between forest industries as a
whole and other industries such
as the mining and manufacturing
sectors. Bergmann said the
greater forestry industry needed
to address the problem of
personnel together.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 41
“There is a lack of operators
particularly in European countries.
It is difficult, and will continue to
be difficult, to engage young
people to become forest machine
operators,” he said. “It can be a
lonely job – sitting on a forest
machine for eight or 10 hours by
yourself – and in the Nordic
countries you’re often in the dark.
That is becoming more and more
of a challenge. It must be a joint
effort of forest industries,
contractors and even
manufacturers to grow the image
of the forest machine operators.”
AT THE END OF THE DAY
The task of maintaining John
Deere’s success within the classic
European market close to maturity,
as well as grasping the
opportunities presented by the
Russian market, is a demanding
one. It is not often Bergmann gets
the chance to put his feet up but
when that happens, he heads back
to nature and often the forest.
A keen mountain biker usually,
the flatter terrain in Sweden and
Finland has seen him stick to road
biking and he covers about 2,000
km each year on two wheels. But
when the demands of the office
are put to one side and the lure of
the open road is satisfied,
Bergmann goes back to the forest.
“Like many people I like to just
walk through a well managed
forest with a high diversity in tree
species that has been well
adapted to the local climate. That
is something that really interests
me whether I’m in the far north of
the Nordic countries or in a central
German Beech forest.” IFI
Sandvik ad:Layout 1 21/11/07 17:22 Page 1
IFI_PG43-44_OP_USNR:layout 8/2/08 17:37 Page 43

OPERATION FOCUS

USNR primary and secondary breakdown line equipped with 3D Smart TriCam
scanning and the new MillExpert Integrated Processing Line optimiser

Blending
North American
and European
technology
The operating philosophy of North American sawmills
generally is to treat every log as unique, while European
mills tend to pre-sort their logs in the yard for continuous
batch processing to achieve a comparable production
o when Murray Timber Products of the new MillExpert Integrated Processing Line

S Ballygar in Ireland came to USNR for a

completely new log line in December
2005, no one predicted that it would result in a
(IPL) optimiser.

new breed of mill operating with a hybrid log
processing philosophy.
Murray Timber operates at speeds slower
than North American mills, but is able to
achieve comparable production. All logs are
pre-sorted to within 1 cm, so the mill can run
continuous batches of homogenous material
with very short gaps between pieces.
The mill was replacing a CSMI (USNR) log
line that was destroyed by fire. “The CSMI line
gave us fantastic service, and since USNR
produces even better equipment now, we could
see no reason not to go with USNR,” Production
Director John Murray said. “USNR is the Rolls
Royce of sawmilling equipment.”
Murray Timber purchased a new USNR
primary and secondary breakdown line
equipped with 3D Smart TriCam scanning and
IPL optimisation
A new hybrid approach blends the speed of
pattern processing with the recovery of
optimised sets. “We presort our logs by
diameter or pattern into 15-20 sorts depending
on length, which are then batched for
production runs up to three hours long. In these
runs we hold a centrepiece pattern and vary the
sideboard products to achieve the best fit per
log,” Murray explained.
USNR’s first pattern-specific optimiser, the
IPL was developed to allow the mill to combine
the high throughput of pattern processing with
the increased recovery of sets optimised for
each individual log’s 3D shape.
The IPL allows the basic sawing pattern to
stay the same throughout a batch of logs,
maintaining a consistent centre cant, but USNR’s quad roll log turner automatically
allowing variations in the widths of profiled rotates logs for optimum recovery

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 43

IFI_PG43-44_OP_USNR:layout 8/2/08 17:37 Page 44

OPERATION FOCUS

sideboards, and also allowing sideboards to be symmetrically sacrificed (first outer

pairs, and then if necessary inner pairs) as needed to achieve acceptable finished
material. No edger is needed.
Murray Timber’s European-style linear log line features three cant turners,
three profiling modules and four scan zones. The scan data images and resulting
optimiser solutions are relayed from station to station successively down the
line, enabling just one operator to run the entire line from logs to boards, as can
be seen in the diagram below.
Logs are initially scanned by 3D Smart TriCam sensors then move through a
quad roll log turner where they are automatically rotated for optimum recovery,
and down a single-length infeed to a horizontal chipper, creating a two-sided cant.
The two-sided cant is then scanned and turned 90o by a ring turner and lands on
a rollcase on the way to the canter infeed. That scanned image is sent to the cant
optimiser computer to develop the solution. The two-sided cant is then fed into a
second chipper with a skewing infeed that creates a four-sided cant. The four- Ring turners are used at various points
in the line to rotate the cants 900
sided cant is scanned and turned again before proceeding to double profilers.
The profiled cant makes its way to a guided saw Quad Arbor Saw Box to
produce sideboards. The
profiled sideboards exit to a
sideboard dispatch table and
transfer to one of the mill’s
two existing sorters. We are incredibly satisfied
The remaining centre cant
is turned a third time and
with the USNR system. Other
flows through another vendors could not, in our
profiler, a versa gang also
with guided saws, and an view, offer a package that
outfeed module. The centre
stack continues on with the would achieve all the
option of being split at the
splitting saw module that
benefits we get with USNR
makes the final cut before John Murray, Production Director, Quad Arbor Saw Box with guided saws removes the profiled
boards exit to the mill’s Murray Timber sideboards
second sorter.

Mill impressions
“The shift record to date is
8,500 3 m logs. But we expect it to increase because our hourly rates exceed this,
and we’ve only been in operation for six months,” Murray declared and added:
“There is still some fine tuning to be done to ensure consistent throughput.”
Murray Timber is a family owned operation formed by Paddy Murray. His four
sons have senior positions in the company’s two mills located in Carlow and
Ballygar, Ireland. The company was started in 1978 with a total of four people,
but has since grown into an operation with over 140 people.
The USNR line supplied to Murray Timber processes 99% Sitka Spruce with top
end diameters from 102-356 mm cut-to-lengths of 2.4 m, 3 m, 3.7 m, 4.3 m and
4.9 m. The mill produces a variety of items including pallet, fencing and
construction products.
“We’re a one stop shop with 2,200 different products,” said Murray. “Ninety
Profiled sideboards exit to a sideboard dispatch table and transfer
seven per cent of our production is sold on the domestic market, which is a small to one of the mill’s two existing sorters
country, so we must cater to a wide range of needs.” IFI

Log at each stage in the process; rotation, station 1, 2 and 3

44 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

IFI_PG45_46_Sustainabilty:Layout 1
Forestry factors
finally rate a mention
The UN conference on
climate change held in Bali
last year didn’t produce
the firm resolutions many
hoped it would but at least
the forests became a key
issue for the first time
T
he United Nations
Framework Convention on
Climate Change in Bali,
Indonesia, in December last year
was cloaked in expectation. The
world followed the two-week
forum hoping furiously for a
breakthrough in climate change
policy and some sort of
commitment to address the
problem that went beyond
intangible guidelines and
flexible targets.
What we got was the Bali Road
Map, endorsed by the UN as the
meeting the three objectives set at
the outset of the meeting –
launching negotiations on a global
climate change agreement;
agreeing to an agenda for the
negotiations; and agreeing to
complete them by 2009.
However, many onlookers
would not call the Road Map a
significant breakthrough. It did
appear at one point that serious
uniform targets were going to be
set before the United States
insisted on alterations to the
commitment for developed
nations at the eleventh hour.
12/2/08 12:10 Page 45
But for all its perceived
shortcomings, the gathering has
done some good. After all, how
can it ever be a bad thing when
leaders from around the world get
together with the intention of
developing solutions for arguably
the greatest challenge of this
generation.
One of the key developments
was the recognition of the role
our forests play. With
deforestation in the tropics
responsible for about 20% of all
man-made carbon dioxide
emissions it seems incredible that
the issue of deforestation has not
taken a more central role in the
past. Nonetheless, better late
than never.
The vital document tabled in
Bali in response to this issue was
a study by the Centre for
International Forestry Research
(CIFOR), which warned that the
new push to “reduce emissions
from deforestation and
degradation,” known by the
acronym REDD, was in danger
because of a routine failure to
grasp the root causes of
SUSTAINABILITY
The causes of deforestation are
more complicated then most
policy makers realise
CIFOR advises decision makers to learn from
the past and look beyond the confines of the
forestry sector to the array of market failures
and governance failures that spark a chain of
events culminating in deforestation
Frances Seymour
deforestation. The study sought to CIFOR Director General
link what was known about the Frances Seymour said while the
underlying causes of the loss of 13 emergence of deforestation as an
Mha of forest each year to the issue of importance was a step in
promise – and potential pitfalls – the right direction, she expressed
of REDD schemes. concern that policy-makers would
CIFOR found that there was fail to appreciate that forest
ample opportunity to reduce destruction was caused by an
carbon emissions if financial incredibly wide variety of political,
incentives were sufficient enough economic, and other factors that
to flip political and economic originate outside the forestry
realities that cause deforestation, sector, and therefore require
according to the research groups different solutions.
website. She said stopping deforestation
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 45
IFI_PG45_46_Sustainabilty:Layout 1
SUSTAINABILITY
in Indonesia caused by
overcapacity in the wood
processing industry was a
completely different challenge
than dealing with deforestation
stemming from a road project in
the Amazon or forest degradation
caused by charcoal production in
sub-Saharan Africa.
CIFOR states that complex,
indirect forces are often more
important than the logging and
slash and burn activities popularly
understood as the main causes of
deforestation. The group cited
forces like fluctuations in
international commodity prices;
agricultural and, more recently,
biofuel subsidies; and roads and
other infrastructure projects as
factors that encourage forest
clearing. Deeply ingrained and
routinely corrupt government
practices often favour large
corporate interests over community
rights to forest resources.
Seymour hoped the study
would help policy makers with
their decisions. “Most importantly,
CIFOR advises decision makers to
learn from the past and look
beyond the confines of the
forestry sector to the array of
market failures and governance
failures that spark a chain of
events culminating in
deforestation,” she said.
For example, according to the
study, Indonesia, which is
estimated to lose 1.9 Mha/y of
forest, has emerged as one of the
world’s leading sources of carbon
emissions in part because of a
global spike in palm oil prices and
a surge in China’s demand for
Deforestation in Indonesia is largely the knock-on effect of high palm oil prices
46 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12/2/08 12:10 Page 46
wood pulp. Together, these forces
have pushed deforestation into
carbon-rich peatlands that are
being cleared and drained to make
way for oil palm and pulpwood Payments to individual land-users have
plantations. Limiting deforestation
in Indonesia’s peatlands should be
the potential to ‘flip’ financial incentives
a high priority because the carbon from favouring forest destruction, as they
losses per hectare are substantial,
CIFOR stated. now do, to favouring conservation
The loss of 4.3 Mha/y in South
America is driven in part by meat Frances Seymour
consumption that encourages
conversion of forests to pasture
lands throughout the region. In
Ecuador, road building has been a
major cause of deforestation. In
sub-Saharan Africa, fuelwood
extraction and charcoal production
are factors behind the continent’s
loss of 4 Mha/y.
The CIFOR report also saw
promise in the increasingly
popular notion that deforestation
can be addressed with financial
incentives that compensate
landowners for “environmental
services.” Seymour said
discussions in Bali to fight
deforestation by compensating
forest stewards for protecting the
carbon-storage capacity of forests
through what is now a multi-
billion dollar global market for
carbon credit are potentially
powerful.
“Such payments to individual
Fiscal incentives may encourage developed countries to pay poorer
land-users have the potential to nations to protect their forest resources
flip financial incentives from
favouring forest destruction, as decisions at the national level that “We’ve seen this happen before in
they now do, to favouring drive deforestation.” similar situations, and there’s
conservation,” she said. “But the Delegates in Bali agreed to a every reason to believe, given the
key question is whether or not framework for richer nations to kind of money now being paid for
REDD incentives will be sufficient affectively pay for forest carbon credits, that it could
to flip political and economic protection in poorer nations but happen again.”
many economists believe The report advises that
mandatory emissions targets were reducing carbon emissions from
needed first to create a forests will require strengthening
meaningful global market. the weak governance mechanisms
Seymour said though the that have long proven unable to
concept was appealing, it was enforce many existing prohibitions
critical to understand that due to on forest clearing, according to
decades of inattention to the rights the CIFOR website. Finally, the
of forest dwellers, new payment report calls for assurance that the
streams tied to conservation could REDD process is fair to poor forest
intensify the severe poverty that communities.
now afflicts the majority of rural “We need to temper the desire
forest communities in the for maximum reduction in forest-
developing world. based carbon emissions with
“Since forest property rights are regard for the legitimate rights of
often very unclear, payment for forest communities to realise the
carbon services could end up income potential of their
providing incentives for corrupt forestlands. At times there will be
officials or local elites to trade-offs between reducing
appropriate this new forest value carbon emissions and reducing
from local communities,” she said. poverty,” Seymour said. IFI
IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread 12/2/08 12:15 Page 47

CUTTING EDGE

MECHANISATION FOR
SMALL-SCALE FORESTRY
Vimek’s Harvester 404T is now in serial He also notes that environmental issues have
production, with a focus on export markets. become more important and small harvesters
This small but powerful harvester is aimed at like the Vimek 404T, are better for the ground
the important first thinning requirements from and nature and offer low diesel consumption,
markets in the south of Sweden and Europe. while still being an effective machine. “The
Interest in harvesting without felling for roads main difference with larger machines is that
has definitely increased after the big storm
(named Gudrun in some countries) that hit
Vimek machines easily enter the terrain very
carefully. The operator has good views and
Tigercat advances
Scandinavian and German regions in 2005, says better control, which reduces damage to mountainous
Fredrik Lundberg, Sales and Marketing Manager
at Vimek.
remaining trees. When no wide branch roads
need to be created, less forest will be harvested terrain work
Vimek has been making four-wheel drive in the first thinning,” says Lundberg. Tigercat has recently released a new levelling
harvesters for first thinning since 2001. Since then Vimek is a producer of small scale forest undercarriage and along with it a new track
the 404 T has been improved and developed. The machine based in Slipstensjön, Sweden, carrier model. The new R6152L levelling
company claims the machine is today “seen as offering three different machines. undercarriage shares the same design elements
the marketing leader in its segment.” www.vimek.se as Tigercat's R7150L undercarriage, first
“The requests from the market introduced in 2000 and used on the L830C and
have now reached a level where L870C series machines. The primary goals of
we decided to go into serial the new leveller were to reduce weight and
production,” says Lundberg. As provide a lower cost levelling undercarriage
well as from the south of Sweden that would work well with smaller platforms
enquiries have also come from offered by Tigercat.
The Netherlands, Poland and the The R6152L uses F8 (Caterpillar D6 sized) track
Czech Republic. He sees many components. According to serior designer,
reasons for the increased interest Bruce Vaile, the roller bearing components used
of small, light and powerful in the major pivot axis are identical to those
harvesters. The wind storm used in the larger R7150L levelling system. The
Gudrun felled some 75 million m3 levelling cylinder seal packs and ball bushings
of forest. One of the reasons for are common as well. The undercarriage is
the devastation becoming so 280 mm narrower and 4,090 kg lighter than the
great was the wide branch roads, FH400 leveller but has the same track length.
which made it possible for the The bottom corner of the track drive motor
wind to accelerate. “The market housing is clipped, preventing the
has now started to look closer at undercarriage from plowing a furrow through
smaller machines and that is the the soil. This leaves extra power available for
segment we know,” says hill climbing.
Lundberg. The prototype undercarriage has been
mated to an 822C platform equipped with
closed loop track drives. The new model,
Faster chipping of forest ‘wastes’ designated LX822C is working in mountainous
terrain in interior British Columbia, Canada.
Clearing and using previously unwanted logging ‘waste’ is becoming an important issue. Bandit’s Feedback has been positive. The operators have
new 750 kW Model 3590 transforms logging slash, land clearing waste, whole trees and brush into commented favourably on the track power and
a uniform, saleable chip product “faster and more efficiently than ever before,” the company stability and also noted the low operating
reports. Fuel chips for use in biomass and wood-fired energy operations are becoming more the temperatures of the engine, hydraulic oil and
‘green’ thing. track drive gearbox. The lighter weight LX822C
“The secret to the Model 3590’s power lies in its newly designed discharge system and one-of- climbs hills more quickly than the LX830C and
a-kind feed system: The most powerful feed system ever developed on a whole tree chipper,” will likely achieve better fuel economy without
Bandit says. The feed system features a wide 965 mm x 1,016 mm opening that can accept giving up too much of the stability that has
material up to 762 mm in diameter. The four powerful feed wheels—two vertical wheels on each made the 35,000 L830 series machines so
side and two top feed wheels set on a popular in BC and the Pacific Northwest.
diagonal—work to effectively crush and In addition to the L822C/LX822C, the new
compress limby material, guiding it to the undercarriage is now the standard lower for the
oversized drum. Once at the drum, eight LH822C, L845C and LH845C. The levelling
305 mm long knives reduce the material angles achieved under the 822C platform are
into uniform, saleable chips, which are 26o forward, 6o to the rear and 20o side to
then ejected from the chipper through the side. The 845C platform has more tail swing,
high-velocity chip discharge system. causing a reduction in tilt angles: 21o forward
www.banditchippers.com and 16o side to side. The rear tilt angle is
unchanged at 6o.
www.tigercat.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 47
IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread 12/2/08 12:15 Page 48
IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread 12/2/08
Husqvarna
expands in Asia
In connection with the integration of the
recently acquired Zenoah operation in Japan,
the Husqvarna Group will expand its
production base and presence in Asia. It has
decided to build a new plant in Changzhou,
China, which will replace Zenoah's existing
Chinese plant and is expected to go on-stream
in the first quarter of 2009. The new facility
represents an investment of approximately
SEK 70 million. This will increase the group’s
annual production in China by approximately 1
million units.
In addition to the new plant, approximately
SEK 20 million will be invested in the Zenoah
facility in Kawagoe, Japan. This plant produces
mainly chainsaws, trimmers, blowers and
brush cutters, and also manufactures large
volumes of components. The investment will
enable increasing production of engine-
NEW PRECISION FLAIL DEBARKER
Capable of processing multiple logs from 75
mm to 585 mm, the Precision FD-2300 two and
four-flail designs increase productivity while
reducing bark content to less than 1% on
average. The fully adjustable hydraulic system
provides the operator limitless control of the
feed rate, flail speeds and rotations. This
flexibility offers any solution to the customer’s
individual needs and maintains the highest
efficiency rates possible.
The new four-flail debarker weighs in at
43,540 kg with each drum being reversible and
infinitely variable. The unit is powered by a
Caterpillar C15 diesel engine. According to Scott
Smith, President of Precision Husky, the total
feed system including all rolls is also reversible
and infinitely variable. The system feeds
multiple stems at 53 m/minute with less than
12:15 Page 49
CUTTING EDGE
HEAVY DUTY
HARVESTING
Sweden’s SP says its 591 LX “is a true heavy
duty harvester head, purpose built for the
toughest of jobs.” The head is available in two
different configurations, one for debarking
eucalyptus and one for non debarking
operations. Features include an extremely
strong and sturdy frame, heavy-duty, cast
delimbing knives, well protected components,
sealed joints, hardened and chromatised pins
cylinders by about 600,000 units annually.
The R&D operation in Kawagoe will also be
expanded.
www.husqvarna.com
0.3% bark content. He suggests that while this
system can process any type of softwood, it is
specifically designed for the eucalyptus
hardwood plantations. The unit includes a
luxurious operator’s cab with the state-of-the-
art comfort control seat for the operator. It has
a heavy-duty steel structure and is believed to
be the highest producing flail debarker on the
market today.
It is specifically designed to match the high-
performance capabilities of the Precision Husky
2366 Whole Tree Chipper.
The FD-2300-4 flail design includes a rugged
Husky XL-175 knuckle-boom loader with a cab
position that ensures superior visibility of the
infeed. The XL-175 is engineered to be highly
responsive with a smooth powerful swing and
perfect balance. www.precisionhusky.com
and more, the SP 591 LX can, the company
says, “take severe punishment without
surrendering – it is truly built without
compromise for the toughest jobs.”
The SP 591 LX is equipped with state-of-the-
art hydraulics and components and should
present perfect logs, time after time, with the
highest possible level of productivity. The
hydraulics make it possible to handle the
timber with perfect pressure in relation to the
diameter being processed, resulting in
minimum fibre damage.
This harvesting head achieves its maximum
productivity on diameters from 100-400 mm
(diameter at breast height – DBH) and is
equally productive working in a CTL operation
as it is processing from decked wood.
www.spmaskiner.se
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 49
IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread 12/2/08
CUTTING EDGE
More productive tracked harvesters
With 15% more cutting swath and a load-
sensing, multi-functioning hydraulic system,
John Deere reports that its 700JH Series tracked
harvesters—including the 703JH, 753JH and
759JH models—“deliver more productivity than
ever before.”
“From the agile, yet strong boom, to the best
service access in the industry, the John Deere JH
Series harvesters have been engineered for
optimum harvesting performance,” said Elliott
Little, Product Marketing Manager for John
Deere Construction & Forestry. Key to that
performance is the new hydraulic system. The
new system architecture and hydraulic
prioritisation deliver power and oil immediately,
allowing the operator to get more done, faster
and more precisely. The hydraulics run cooler
and more efficiently, making pumps last longer.
Improved grabbing pressure and speed is
delivered by 17% higher flow to the head, and
23% higher flow to the main circuits providing
more power and efficiency. Swing torque has
increased by nearly 20%, helping the operator
harvest more efficiently, while the 15% larger
cutting swath allows operators to make a wide
range of strategic and productive cuts with less
tracking and travelling.
STIHL acquire carburettor
manufacturer Zama
The Stihl Group is acquiring Zama – one of the
world’s largest manufacturers of carburettors for
handheld power tools. Zama has plants in Japan,
the USA and China and recorded a sales volume of
about $80 million in 2006. Executive Board
Chairman Dr Bertram Kandziora outlines the
reasons for the acquisition: “Zama is our key
supplier of carburettors. The Japanese owner
family plans to pull out of the industrial business.
In making this
acquisition we want to
safeguard the supply
base of one of the core
components of our
products. At the same
time, the sale of
carburettors to third
parties opens up a new
business segment with
growth potential for us.”
“Stihl has already
named Zama ‘Supplier
of the Year’ in 1997 and
2001,” explains Dale
Gehr, president of USA
Zama based in Franklin,
Tennessee, and
stresses: “Both
companies have co-
50 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12:15 Page 50
Sift-tilt technology gives these harvesters the
industry’s most stable platform for cutting on
difficult slopes—its four-way levelling system
allows the upper structure to shift a full metre
forward, keeping the machine’s centre of gravity
up onto steep inclines. There is a choice of three
Waratah head attachments and two precise
measuring systems to complete the package.
The cab is among the most spacious in its
class, with a clear and expansive sight line and
isolation mountings for a smoother, quieter
ride. A fully adjustable suspension seat
provides easy access to pedals, levers and
joysticks located in the armrest. Low effort
controls have backlit indicator lights and foot
pedals to provide a refined shape and tension
controls for improved comfort. The new
Powerview™ monitor includes state-of-the-art
diagnostic capabilities.
Several features enhance serviceability and
lower operating cost. New rear service doors
are designed for increased access to critical
systems. A cleaner hydraulic layout with fewer
parts provides easier maintenance and less
downtime. The deck floor under components
inside the machine makes cleanout easier than
ever. An optional extended counterweight with
operated harmoniously and very successfully for
many years. We look forward to continuing that
co-operation in the future.”
Zama is a technology leader and a valuable
development partner for the handheld power
tools industry in the area of optimum mixture
control in small engines. One of Stihl’s main
goals is to further reduce power tool emissions.
www.stihl.com
anti-slip edge and a convenient ladder helps
make service quick and easy. And, the optional
Flexxaire® system is a pneumatically actuated,
variable-pitch fan, controlled by a timer and
manual purge switch. At regular intervals, the
fan will reverse airflow direction to blow debris
out of the radiator. The operator can reverse the
airflow through the coolers manually using a
switch inside the cab.
“These go-getter machines really do make
harvesting look easy,” Little said. “A smart
design gets you into dense, challenging woods,
and helps you seize the opportunity once
you’re there.”
www.johndeere.com
MOBILE CHIPPER
Komptech’s CHIPPO 7000 is a new, mobile,
high-performance chipper with its emphasis on
chipping large wood trunks. The feed system is
dimensioned accordingly and comprises front
drum, conveyor belt as well as two in-feed
drums at the top and two at the bottom. During
the feed operation, fine fractions left behind are
directed past the rotor with the bypass system.
The shredding system has an inlet width of
900 x 1,200 mm. The rotor is 1,200 mm in
diameter. If this is not adequate, trunks can be
broken up beforehand using an optional wood
splitter. Easy to exchange screen bars facilitate
the production of different particle sizes. Given
a power rating greater than 522 kW, hourly
throughputs of up to 250 m³ are guaranteed,
Komptech says.
A particular feature is the “material-friendly”,
energy-saving and dust-free discharge of
chipped material via the conveyor belt.
Rotatable and telescopable at the same time,
this system allows material discharge all the
way around the machine at a radius of up to 5
m. Travel to the place of use is reliable and
convenient as a four-axle truck. With its reach of
10 m, the Epsilon mounted crane is then used
on site. www.komptech.com
IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread 12/2/08 12:15 Page 51

CUTTING EDGE

Making a good
machine better
Morbark has taken its best selling
tub grinder and made it even
better. The redesigned, highly
productive Model 1300B Tub
Grinder offers a larger screening
area, a longer mill, a roomier cab,
and dozens of other
improvements, resulting in a user-
friendly, tremendously efficient
grinder. One of the most
significant upgrades is the larger
screening area and a longer rotor.
Together, these two
enhancements make better use of
the unit’s available power,
substantially increasing
production rates. Chuck Conkle, of
Conkle’s Tree Service in Lovejoy,
Georgia, USA, is a long-time
Morbark customer who currently
owns four 1300A Tub Grinders, as
well as a 1300B. “The 1300B is an
impressive machine, it has
increased my production by 30%”,
he said.
Changes in the redesigned
operator’s cab include a larger
curbside window, new
heating/cooling ducting, new
wiring ducting and improved
ergonomic joystick controls.
The results are greater visibility,
increased comfort and less
operator fatigue.
The Iqan system is a variable
feed and digital monitoring
system that boosts production
levels by reading engine RPM and
adjusting tub rotation accordingly.
This ensures a consistent feed to
the hammermill and keeps the
entire grinding operation smooth
and efficient. Other improvements
include new tub chain drive, solid
two-bolt anvil, new wearplates on
the mill floor, new style conveyor,
reduced axle weight, B-Loc auger
drives and Super Single tyres.
Retaining proven features from
the previous model, drive train
protection comes standard, in the
form of a PT Tech clutch matched
with a PT Tech gearbox. Both
Caterpillar and Cummins diesel
engines are offered starting at 650
kW, all the way up to 745 kW. In
addition, the machine can still be
equipped with or without a loader
and track models are available
as well.
Morbark also has a new mid-
range power horizontal grinder,
the Model 3800 Wood Hog, aimed
at mid-range wood and green
waste recycling applications. It is
a versatile,
compact unit that can benefit a
variety of recycling operations.
A number of innovative design
elements come together to make
the 3800 an impressive machine.
A large 965 mm x 1.52 m infeed
opening provides outstanding
material flow into the mill
chamber along with a generous
rotor tip swing. A step-frame
design creates plenty of space
under and within the mill area
allowing processed material to
exit the grinding chamber freely.
Equipped with internal hydraulic
drive on the feed wheel, as well as
a six-tooth drive sprocket on the
bed chain, torque is increased to
both the yoke and the infeed
chain, eliminating wayward debris
and congestion at the mill site.
Smooth, efficient grinding and a
high quality end product are
benefits of the unit’s upswing mill
design. Complete with three
sections of screen, the 3800 offers a
roomy 2.32 m2 of screening area. A
two-sided, bolt-on anvil is easily
maintained and, if necessary, easy
to replace.
This unit also has the Iqan
system chamber. The dual belt
discharge system and lofty
discharge conveyor add efficiency
to the grinding operation.
www.morbark.com

ASSET TRACKING OF CAT MACHINES

In North America now,
Caterpillar will equip most of its
new core industrial machines
with EquipmentManager and
Product Link, its remote asset
management solution.
Caterpillar has provided remote
asset management capabilities
as an option since 1998. Product
Link will be available as an
option for the remaining
Caterpillar machines.
This program begins with
wheeled hydraulic excavators
and articulated trucks. The
remaining machines will be
phased in throughout 2008,
arriving to dealers and
customers with Product Link as
standard equipment, along with
a three-year subscription to
Asset Watch, the remote asset
management portion of
EquipmentManager.
The Caterpillar
EquipmentManager/Product
Link is a system that provides
the full depth of asset
management, maintenance, and
health information required by
equipment managers to
effectively manage their fleets.
EquipmentManager is a secure,
web-based application that uses
key indicators from equipment
such as hours, location and
diagnostic codes. Combined
with powerful tools such as
mapping, maintenance
scheduling and troubleshooting
instructions, EquipmentManager
quickly sorts through machine
data to identify events that
require attention and delivers
information in a meaningful and
actionable manner.
Using satellite technology,
Product Link is the hardware
that enables information flow
between on-board systems and
the web based
EquipmentManager. The remote
management system provides
machine location and hours as
well as time and geo-fencing
capabilities. www.cat.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 | International Forest Industries 51

IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread 12/2/08 12:15 Page 52
IFI_PG47_53_Cutting edge:New Spread
BIG SALES FOR PINOX
IN KARELIA
Finland’s Pinox has signed a long
term agreement with its Russian
collaboration partner Harvy
Forester. This includes the
component deliveries for 40
forwarders and 40 harvesters to
Russia over the next three years
Radio remote
control for
cable winches
The F9 has been specially
designed for the rugged
conditions of forestry use. High
quality electronics in a robust
housing make the F9 an ideal
controller for professional
skidding and pulling work. If a
given channel is already in use
when working together, you can
easily change to a free channel
on the transmitter, choosing
from the six channels provided.
This assures interruption-free
remote control of equipment
and thus reliable working
conditions.
Small, light and easy to
handle, the transmitter can be
carried at the hip or on the
chest. The ergonomic layout of
the controls permits fatigue-
free, reliable operation even
when wearing gloves.
Depending on the model,
double or single drum winches
of all makes can be controlled.
Besides the standard functions,
the control has a "Motor
On/Off" function and an
additional three further
commands for operating special
functions.
The receiver has its own
diagnosis field to indicate the
status of all important output
functions and system
messages. This permits rapid
assessment of the status of the
equipment on site. The receiver
electronics are contained in a
robust aluminium profile
housing and protected against
dust and splashing water
(Protection to IP 65). The flat
design facilitates space-saving
mounting in the vehicle.
www.forest-frequency.com
12/2/08 12:15 Page 53
and is a continuation of the co-
operation between the companies
that started in 2005. Final
assembly of the machines will
take place at the Harvy Forester
factory in Karhumäki. Deliveries of
the machines will start this spring.
The agreement also includes a
plan for mutual construction and
design of new machines to be
marketed in Russia. Harvy
Forester specialises in marketing
forest machines and products of
wood processing. The company
has its own sawmill in Karhumäki
and another was to be completed
in Arkhangelsk late last year. The
annual capacity for these saw
mills is about 200,000 m3 of sawn
products.
Procurement of raw material for
these saw mills will employ some
of these new machines. Harvy
Forester has invested a lot in
wood processing and has a strong
market position in Karelia,
together with Pinox. “Therefore
this agreement is a natural
continuation for our development
of the business, says Director
Mikhail Zdor from Harvy Forester.
“This agreement is for our
company of high importance and
gives the basic load for our
production. We act on the Russian
market on the whole forest
harvesting sector, but concentrate
on other markets very strongly in
developing and marketing of
machines for bio energy
harvesting,” explains Pinox
Managing Director Erkki Kare.
“The strongest market for Pinox
machines for bio energy
harvesting is Germany, where use
of this increases very rapidly. The
Multimachines of Pinox can easily
and quickly be converted
according to the different works
and suit also very well to the
requirements of small working
sites and seasonal changes of
harvesting,” says Pinox Sales
Manager Kauko Papunen.
www.pinox.com
CUTTING EDGE
Madill introduces new T1250
feller buncher to industry
Leading
harvesting
machine
supplier, Madill
Equipment
Canada, has
released the
T1250 feller
buncher to the
market. Madill
now offers seven
models of feller
bunchers to the
industry and
these carriers are
all capable of
being converted
to purpose-built
harvesters. The product is powered by a Tier 3 Isuzu 6HK1X7.8 litre, 285
H.P turbo charged diesel engine.
Among its standout features, the T1250 has a Linde load-sensing
hydraulic system, which gives tuneable multi-function capability, and an
HD D7 size tilting undercarriage with 27˚ forward tilt, side-tilt and eight
rollers with simple and easy access.
The latest model comes with Madill’s well established fabricated
boom front and car body assemblies as well as a Madill forestry cab
that carries full instrumentation, alarm system, air-ride heated seat, and
air conditioning.
The tractive effort is a powerful 70,000 lb compared to the machine’s
overall weight of about 67,000 lb including the saw head. The feller
buncher comes with the Madill MTT22" high capacity ‘hot saw’, which
has a 360˚ tilt. www.forest-frequency.com
LUBRICATE MACHINES
IN THE FOREST
QT Equipment has unveiled a lube applications, come with a five-year
trailer that, it says, can save warranty. Customers can also add a
customers up to 60% on lifetime steel tank for carrying diesel fuel
costs when compared with depending on local regulations.
traditional lube trucks. It reduces “We are always trying to help our
costs and improves flexibility for customers come up with ways to
companies that perform lube improve their operations,” said
services in the field. The self- Robert Allee, General Manager at
powered QT Lube Trailer can deliver QT, which is a single-line distributor
several fluids to the jobsite, for Iowa Mold Tooling (IMT).
including new oil products, salvage The lube equipment is mounted
and grease. The unit also features onto a trailer. Typically, traditional
locking storage compartments and lube units mount this equipment
can carry items such as work lights on a chassis. Trailer-mounted lube
or an air compressor. Product tanks equipment enables service fleets
are made of light, contamination- to significantly reduce costs by
resistant polyethylene, which is avoiding the expenses that come
80% lighter than steel. Other with having a separate lube truck,
advantages of poly tanks include such as chassis maintenance, fuel,
cleaner fluid storage, UV resistance, an extra driver and insurance. It
easier tank replacement and also means a significantly reduced
contamination control. The tanks, initial investment.
which can be heated for cold www.lubetrailer.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 | International Forest Industries 53
Svenska Massan ad:Layout 1 21/11/07 17:24 Page 1
IFI_PG55_SUBS FORM:Layout 1 12/2/08 12:21 Page 1

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IFI_PG56_Advert Index:layout 12/2/08 13:55 Page 48

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

AusTimber 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Komatsu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Quadco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

www.austimber2008.com.au www.komatsuforest.com/heroes www.quadco.com
Burger-Klemmbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Sandvik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Log Max . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
www.heinrichburger.de www.smt.sandvik.com
www.logmax.com
Comact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Svenskamassen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
www.comact.com Nielsen/Wood Technology . . . . . . . . . . 52 www.traochteknik.se
www.woodwideweb.com
ESRI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC USNR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
www.esri.com/forestry www.usnr.com
Precision Husky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Jartek Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 www.precisionhusky.com Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
www.jartek.com www.volvoce.com
Madill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ISFC
Kalmar Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC Wallingfords Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
www.madillequipment.com
www.kalmarind.com www.wallingfords.com
KWF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 MagIndustries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FC WoodMizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
www.Kwf-tagung.de www.magindustries.com www.woodmizer.co.uk

SALESSALES OFFICES
REPRESENTATIVES SHOW CALENDAR 2008
UK, Europe, South Africa, MARCH 3-8: • Over 90 000 m² net exhibition area
US East Coast, & Canada AUSTimber 2008 in Mt Gambia, • Special show BioEnergy Wood
CONTACT: Phil Playle or David Lansdowne South Australia. • FKM-certified
Run by Australian Forest Contractors Association. www.kwf-tagung.de
Lansdowne Media Services Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 www.austimber2008.com.au JUNE 5-7:
Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Forest Expo 2008 Prince George, BC
MARCH 12-14:
Email: phil@internationalforestindustries.com Run by Forest and Resources Expo. A
2008 Wood Technology Clinic
or david@internationalforestindustries.com tradeshow with an international focus
in Oregon, US.
Debuting in 1972, the Wood Technology Clinic featuring Seminars, Limited Live Action
Japan Demonstrations and Guest Speakers.
& Show is the only trade event exclusively
CONTACT: Yuko Ishihara www.forestexpo.bc.ca/Web/Screen.aspx?Scre
dedicated to primary wood processing and
Japan Advertising Communications, Inc. enID=1&ID=859
technology setting a standard unmatched by
Star Bldg., 3-10-3 Kanda Jimbocho any other industry event to date. JUNE 11-13:
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051 www.woodtechexpo.com/woodtech/index.jsp Forexpo Technopole Montesquieu
Tel: 81-3-3261-4591
APRIL (Gironde), France
Fax: 81-3-3261-6126
Forest-Tech 2008 The European trade fair for silviculture and logging
Email: ishihara@media-jac.co.jp www.forexpo.fr
Tools & Technologies to Improve Forest
Western USA (AZ, CA, NV, UT) Planning & Operations, in Albury Australia. Run JUNE
Australia, & New Zealand by Innovatek. ScanTech 2008 in Rotorua, New Zealand
CONTACT: George Roman • New technologies for improving plantation and Brisbane, Australia.
Roy McDonald Associates, Inc silviculture Run by Forest Industry Engineering Association.
4779 Luna Ridge Court, • Developments in data collection tools and www.fiea.org.nz/calendar/2008-
Las Vegas NV 89129, USA forest management information systems ScanTech.html
• Innovations in remote sensing for forest
Tel: +1 (702) 515 7247
inventory and mapping AUGUST 27-30:
Fax: +1 (702) 515 7248
• Scanning systems for determining internal Wood Products & Technology 2008
Email: george@roymcdonald.com
log defects The Swedish Exhibition Centre,
www.fiea.org.nz/calendar/2008- Goteborg Sweden
Western USA (MT, ID, OR,WA) ForestTech.html Sawmills and sawmill equipment will be
CONTACT: Bob Warren
specially themed at the exhibition.
Lansdowne Media Services Ltd JUNE 3-6: http://nemonet.swefair.se/templates/StartPa
Tel: +44 (0)1442 877 777 Wenet Conference 2008 geMain____993.aspx?epslanguage=EN
Fax: +44 (0)1442 870 617 Wood Energy Solutions in Koli, North Karelia,
Email: bob@internationalforestindustries.com Finland. Run by Wenet. The 2008 Conference AUGUST 28-30:
will feature presentations by experts in the FinnMETKO 2008
US Mid-West, Central & Mountain wood energy field, highlighting both new Jämsänkoski, FINLAND
CONTACT: Kevin Lapham heating systems and ways to replace non- www.finnmetko.fi
J.P.Media Inc renewable fuels completely or partly with wood
fuels in older heating systems or combined heat SEPTEMBER 18-20:
1163 E.Ogden Ave, Ste. 705-359 Naperville
and power plants (CHP). The latest APF International Forest Machinery
IL 60563, USA
developments in business models such as heat Exhibition 2008 in Staffordshire, UK.
Tel: +1 (630) 420 9752 The APF Exhibition is the largest exhibition and
Fax: +1 (630) 420 9763 entrepreneurship will also be presented.
www.wenet.fi/eng/cfmldocs/index.cfm?ID=1 display of forestry, woodland, arboriculture,
Email: lapham@jpmediainc.com utilities and estate management machinery,
287
equipment, supplies and services in the UK.
South America JUNE 4-7: www.apfexhibition.co.uk
CONTACT: Ricardo Cortés 15th KWF Summit in Schmallenberg,
Editec S.A. Germany SEPTEMBER
Avda del Cóndor 844 Of. 205, • Live presentation of forest technology in the Wood Harvest Optimisation 2008 in
Cuidad Empresarial - windthrow area Melbourne, Australia and
Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile • Topical: municipal technology, components, Roturua, New Zealand
Tel: +56 2 757 4200 transport,energy technology Run by Innovatek.
Fax: +56 2 757 4201 • Over 400 exhibitors from 18 countries www.innovatek.co.nz/conferences_and_event
Email: rcortes@editec.cl • Over 35 000 visitors s.html

56 International Forest Industries | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

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