Designed and built in Dubuque, Iowa, the 1050K Crawler Dozer is the largest, most powerful dozer ever built by John Deere. Utilizing years of research and extensive customer feedback, the 1050K has the durability, reliability, and productivity needed for mining, quarrying, road building, and other large-scale applications.
“The 1050K is a new generation of crawler dozer that provides the uptime, low daily operating costs, and productivity needed on today’s jobsite,” said Mark Oliver, crawler dozers product marketing manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Customer feedback was vital in developing this game-changing dozer. This is a Deere-designed machine that is fully supported by John Deere dealers and it’s unlike any crawler dozer our customers have ever seen in this size class.
” The 1050K incorporates an EPA Final Tier 4/ EU Stage IV PowerTech^TM diesel engine with 350 hp (261 kW). Completely redesigned from the ground up, the 1050K’s dual-path hydrostatic transmission allows an operator to push a full load through turns without losing material, unlike torque-converter transmissions on competitor machines.
Like the smaller 850K, the 1050K features Eco mode. The Eco mode feature optimizes fuel economy while maintaining ground speed by automatically adjusting engine speed and transmission settings based on load. This has the potential to reduce fuel consumption up to 25 percent with no loss in productivity in many applications. Operators don’t have to worry about diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning as it still occurs automatically with no impact to machine operation.
Ash service intervals for the diesel particulate filter are condition based, meaning the machine will notify the operator before service is required. Typically, ash service is not necessary until the first engine overhaul. Extensive testing allowed John Deere’s DPF to go up to 15,000 hours before ash removal.

The 1050K also features excellent total fluid economy (diesel fuel and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)). The production-class dozer’s heavy-duty undercarriage is sealed, lubricated, and built to last. Its oval-track design has only one wear-causing forward-travel flex point, for longer life. One-piece welded maintenance resists torsional stress, absorbs shock loads, and delivers maximum strength while allowing easy service access to major components. For added durability, heavy-duty double-reduction planetary final drives are mounted independent of the track frames, where they’re effectively protected from shock loads.

Inside the cab, a deluxe suspension high-back seat is angled 15 degrees to provide a more comfortable view of the ripper and adjusts seven ways for daylong comfort. An updated LCD display monitor provides enhanced onboard diagnostics with real time values for every temperature, pressure, and speed sensor on the machine. The crawler dozers constantly monitor transmission temperature to avoid damage to the hydrostat system. Before tackling the jobsite, operators can set the maximum desired ground speed, and the power management system automatically maintains peak engine RPM and power efficiency without stalling or shifting. An ergonomically correct joystick provides intuitive, low-effort control of steering, direction, and groundspeed.

An exclusive Total Machine Control (TMC) monitor allows an operator to select decelerator mode and response – forward/reverse groundspeed ranges, steering modulation, F-N-R shift rate, and forward/reverse speed ratios. A hydraulic power-pitch option allows the operator to control blade pitch from the cab. The blade pitch is also adjustable to three mount locations for superior performance in a variety of applications and materials. The programmable return-to-pitch settings allows the operator to preset blade-pitch positions, which can be activated with the push of a button. The 1050K’s controls can be customized to meet the individual needs of an operator.
The decelerator can slow both ground-speed and engine RPM, or with the touch of a button, control ground-speed only, to help maintain traction without affecting engine power and hydraulic response. Fully depressing the pedal applies the brakes. With standard Electro-Hydraulic (EH) controls, all 1050K dozers are grade-control ready making adding a grade-control system as easy as plugging in the components, calibrating, and going to work.

John Deere’s “open-architecture” design lets customers easily employ their favorite brand of grade-control system – Trimble, Topcon, or Leica. The 1050K can also have a Topcon 3D-MC2 grade control system installed at the factory for faster availability and the ability to finance the system with the dozer purchase. “The 1050K is 100 percent John Deere and it’s a total machine,” said Dave Rock, equipment asset manager, Sureway Construction. “When providing our feedback, we wanted the hood lower, we wanted to better see the ripper, and the dealers had to be behind this machine for parts, service, sales – everything.”
Operators looking to get the most out of their 1050K can rely on Ultimate Uptime featuring John Deere WorkSight^TM. With Ultimate Uptime, operators receive pre-delivery and follow-up inspections; three years of JDLink^TM telematics, machine heath prognostics, and remote diagnostics and programming capability; and the ability to add additional dealer-provided uptime solutions to customize the package to individual needs.

For additional information and model-specific specifications on the new 1050K, visit www.JohnDeere.com/pushback or contact your local dealer for a demo

Three years in the making and backed by over a half-century of experience in the woods, the John Deere M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and Tracked Harvesters are officially making their debut. The latest additions to the John Deere family of tracked forestry machines include the 800M and 800MH-Series Reduced Tail Swing, setting a new standard in midsize machines, along with the 900M and 900MH-Series that improve upon John Deere’s industry-leading large-size machines.To develop the M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and Tracked Harvesters, John Deere enlisted loggers from around the world to form a Customer Advocate Group (CAG). The CAG provided real-world insights on what they need in a machine to be successful. Inspired by their feedback and validated by thousands of hours of testing in every day conditions, John Deere listened and responded with machines that change the game in terms of uptime and productivity. “When we designed our new midsize and large-size machines, we relied on the input of the people who are in the machines every day – our customers,” said Cliff Caudill, Manager, Product Marketing, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “After collecting invaluable customer input, we spent over 11,000 hours testing the machines until we got them exactly right. The result is a new fleet of machines that redefine the meanings of uptime, productivity and low daily operating costs.” The M-Series machines are built for the way loggers work, and the proof is in their feedback:

• “It’s so important to get customer input into a product because we’re the ones who spend our lives in the equipment. These machines are very well built, and they represent pretty much everything we asked Deere to build.” – Mark Maenpaa, K&M Logging, Thunder Bay Canada
• “John Deere addressed everything we asked them for. What’s not to like? The stability, the visibility, the serviceability. Hats off to them for building machines that fit many different applications. They’ve done a great job.” – Brent Day, William A. Day Jr. & Sons, Porter Maine
• “I didn’t realize how committed John Deere is to its customers until I was involved in the Customer Advocate Group. It really opened my eyes to how they are as passionate about logging as we are.” – Rick Cuneen, Plantation Harvesting, Myrtleford, Victoria Australia

800M- and 800MH-Series machines share many common components – including the engine, undercarriage, booms and cab – with their 900M- and 900MH-Series counterparts, simplifying maintenance and repairs when needed. Maximize Productivity Rapid Cycle System (RCS) combines automated felling-head arm cycling with simple boom control, dramatically reducing operator fatigue while increasing efficiency and productivity. RCS can be tailored to individual skill levels and specific harvesting conditions, from large single-tree harvesting to high-speed, multistem cutting. An added benefit for operators is its selectable operation, which allows them to engage and disengage RCS with a single touch of a button. Multiple RCS settings can also be saved according to individual operator preferences based on skill levels. RCS is standard on all 800M- and 800MH-Series machines and as an option on the 900M and 900MH-Series. Operate in Comfort The new operator station on all M-Series machines was designed by loggers for loggers. It’s roomier and more comfortable, with ergonomically designed controls. Fully adjustable armrests provide fingertip control of all machine functions, and an air-conditioned seat provides exceptional daylong comfort in the climate-controlled cab. Floor-to-celling front and side windows plus an overhead skylight provide 44 percent more visibility, providing an outstanding view of the cutting area. Increase Uptime All machines feature John Deere’s field-proven boom design from the 900M- and 900MH-Series models. All booms are strong and robust with thick plates and large pins and bushings to ensure long life. Additional uptime increasing features include:

• A through-nose harvester head plumbing option that routes hoses up and out of harm’s way to extend hose life.
• An optional undercarriage-mounted toolbox that provides convenient storage for tools, additional saw bars and other spare parts, minimizing trips to a service truck.
• 800M fuel tank capacity has been increased by 50 percent to extend intervals between fill-ups, allowing loggers to run up to 24 hours without refueling.
• John Deere ForestSight^TM and Ultimate Uptime are also available as an option on all M-Series machines. This integrated suite of technology solutions brings the machine, technology and the dealer together to help loggers better manage their equipment and operations with fast, accurate remote diagnostics, rapid service response and on-demand dealer support.

John Deere’s 800M- and 800MH- Series and 900M- and 900MH- Series family of Tracked Forestry machines are now available in North America. To learn more, view product features and hear real customer feedback, visit www.JohnDeere.com/GameChangers. Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division  Mailing:  P.O. Box 8806  Moline, IL 61266-8806 Media Contact:  Caitlin Haskins  IMRE  Phone: 410-821-8220  E-mail: caitlinh@imre.com

Tigercat® is pleased to announce it has officially broken ground for a new $12 million, 127,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Paris, Ontario, Canada, located approximately 100 km southwest of Toronto.

Several hundred employees, community officials, Tigercat partners and supporters attended an official ground breaking ceremony last week to mark the start of construction and celebrate the companies continued growth. Tigercat also announced the purchase of an existing 66,000 square-foot plant in Kitchener, Ontario. “This is a significant milestone for our company,” states President, Tony Iarocci, who was Tigercat’s first employee when the company started in 1992. Tigercat is one of the few remaining heavy equipment manufacturers in a region that once was at the heart of the industry. Tigercat currently has seven southern Ontario locations, a large parts distribution and training centre in Georgia, a sales and distribution facility in Sweden and a dealer network that spans the globe, covering the forestry regions of North America, South America, Australasia, southern Africa, Europe and Russia. The new building will be located on the same property as the current Paris, Ontario facility, on a previously vacant lot at the northwest corner. The new plant will initially focus on swing machines and cut-to-length attachments including the 200 series material handlers and the 800 series track feller bunchers, harvesters and shovel loggers. Iarocci explains that the new plants do not tell the whole story of the scope or capacity of the ever-growing Tigercat. “These two projects will increase the company’s manufacturing footprint by 20%. The space is urgently needed for existing demand and future growth. We already have over 1,200 employees and 200 or 300 more subcontractors.” Vicano, the construction company hired for the project, will be including numerous crane lanes and flexible assembly lines along with a large office space for an engineering group allowing the building to be flexible for future projects.

About Tigercat
Tigercat Industries designs and manufactures premium quality forestry and off-road equipment with manufacturing facilities in Canada and worldwide distribution. The diverse product range includes complete full-tree and cut-to-length harvesting systems, a growing line of land clearing and vegetation management equipment and specialized off-road industrial and material handling machinery.

Contacts:
Samantha Paul
Marketing Specialist Tigercat Industries Inc.
Tel: 519-753-1539 ext. 4279
Email: spaul@tigercat.com

Chugoku Lumber, the largest Douglas fir lumber manufacturer in Japan, decided to reduce dry beam lumber prices by 2,000 yen ($19.6) per cubic metre after lumber market has been weak since April after the consumption tax was increased by 3%. Movement of structural materials has been slowing since last January, ITTO reports.

The prices peaked in January and the movement got worse after April. Competing laminated lumber prices are also weakening. Douglas fir log export prices dropped for two straight months of April and May.

Demand expected to drive further recovery over the next two years – Housing demand in the United States was a key reason for the lumber market crash in 2009. As U.S. housing, and more importantly housing starts, continue to recover, the North American softwood lumber industry is expected to see both demand and price increases. This is according to a new report from the Rabobank Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) group, titled “North American Softwood Lumber: Industry Outlook Solid, But Not Out of The Woods Yet.”

As indicated in the title, the bank’s current outlook is very optimistic but notes a number of potential challenges. “U.S. lumber production and imports are constrained at the moment,” noted Rabobank analyst James De Jong, the report’s author. “This limited supply, in addition to overall economic recovery, is the reason we expect to see softwood lumber prices increase 10 to 15 percent over the next two years.” The report goes on to outline the biggest challenges for the industry. “The biggest challenges we see are the headwinds in the Chinese economy and the U.S. housing market transition,” notes De Jong. “The housing market in particular is still in a significant transition. The adjustment from an investor-led recovery to one driven by ‘real’ homebuyers will create bumps in the road but our expectation is that this will affect, but not derail, the lumber recovery. ” The full report is available exclusively to clients of Rabobank and to media upon request.

CONTACTS: FAR Report Requests/Media Inquiries Lynne Burns Rabobank North America Wholesale D: 212-808-2581 Lynne.Burns@rabobank.com Jessup Wiley Rabobank, N.A. D: 559-353-4608 North American lumber industry looking solid again

Swedwood Karelia’s FSC certificate has been suspended. The suspension affects 295,348 hectares in the Russian Karelia region.
FSC’s annual audit report for Swedwood Karelia LLC reveals six Major Corrective Action Requests (CARs) and 11 Minor CARs. Because five Major CARs were still open, the Audit Report led to the immediate suspension of Swedwood Karelia’s Forest Management certification. This suspension affects 295,348 hectares in the Russian Karelia region. The company’s Chain-of-Custody certification is not affected. Swedwood Karelia is a subsidiary of IKEA, the worldwide home furnishing company. FSC welcomes the fact that both Swedwood and IKEA have committed to taking immediate action to correct the CARs. In a statement, Swedwood confirmed its commitment: “We take our responsibility for the forests and the people who work there very seriously and we appreciate that correcting the deviations will improve the way we manage the forest in Karelia. IKEA is committed to responsible forest management and to the principles of the FSC. Our lease in Karelia has been FSC certified since 2006 and we believe that a reinstated FSC certificate will continue to be the best protection for natural values in the logging areas.”

Bandit Industries Returns to NASCAR for 2014 with Parker Kligerman

Following a great 2013 NASCAR season with rising superstar Parker Kligerman, Bandit Industries will return to the stage at Daytona International Speedway with Kligerman in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on February 21. Bandit will serve as co-primary sponsor for Kligerman, driving the No. 58 Bandit Chippers/North American Power Toyota for BRG Motorsports in the Nextera Energy Resources 250. Live coverage of the race will begin at 7:30pm on Fox Sports 1.

“When Bandit first got involved with NASCAR back in 2010, it was with Parker,” said Bandit’s Marketing and Communications Director Christopher Smith. “To be back with him at Daytona after the great season we had with him last year is very special to us. Parker is a great ambassador for Bandit, he’s an amazing driver, and he’s NASCAR’s next superstar. When he takes to the track he’ll have Bandit customers all around the world cheering, not to mention our mid-Michigan community and the 400-plus employees at Bandit. We couldn’t be more excited to kick off the 2014 NASCAR season.”

Kligerman echoed Smith’s sentiment, adding, “First off, I want to thank everyone at Bandit Chippers and George Bragg at BRG Motorsports for this opportunity. After our awesome race and fourth place finish at Talladega last year, I am looking forward to racing Daytona with one of my partners from years prior in Bandit Chippers. Hopefully we can have successful weekend and challenge for victory, just as we did at Talladega.”

Last year at Daytona, Kligerman narrowly avoided a massive crash on the final lap while racing in the Nationwide Series. Slipping just below the altercation, he steered his Bandit Chippers Toyota Camry to a fifth place finish. Kligerman followed up that race with several heart-stopping runs in his Bandit Chippers Toyota, including a last-lap battle for the lead at Talladega and a memorable run at Bandit’s home track of Michigan International Speedway. In that race, Kligerman held a dominating 1.5 second lead over the pack with just 10 laps to go when he was forced to pit for fuel. After leading a majority of the race and capturing the top-five finish at Talladega, BRG Motorsports is aiming to take the checkered flag at Daytona with Kligerman. With unmatched support from everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports, fresh horsepower from Joe Gibbs Racing Engines, and Kligerman behind the wheel, this independent race team from Mooresville, North Carolina is looking to challenge for the win.

Parker is a dynamic personality and a fierce competitor,” said Smith. “We can’t wait to see the show he puts on for us at Daytona.” Bandit Industries is a global manufacturer of wood processing machinery, ranging from industrial-grade hand-fed and whole tree wood chippers, horizontal grinders, stump grinders, forestry mowers and other specialty processing equipment. All equipment is manufactured by specialized teams at the company’s headquarters near Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

With John Deere’s 903K and 909K tracked feller bunchers new long boom option, more trees can be harvested with less travel.  The new long boom delivers increased productivity by stretching maximum reach to more than 32 feet (9.82m), a 10.6 percent increase over the standard boom, when used with John Deere’s field proven FR21B Disc Saw Felling Head. Designed to maximize productivity, the new long boom also provides a best in class cutting swath of 17′ (5.18m) to handle more trees from one location.”Each new enhancement to John Deere’s forestry equipment is designed with our customers’ needs in mind,” said Cliff Caudill, Manager, Product Marketing, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “The new long boom option on tracked feller bunchers is ideally suited in areas with specific restrictions to limit ground impact on the forest.” John Deere’s optional Rapid Cycle System (RCS) is also available with the new long boom to further enhance productivity. The RCS allows the operator to control the boom, stick and felling head trajectory with a single joystick. Simply push the joystick forward and the felling head moves away from the machine while staying level with the ground.  The result is a smoothness and speed that improves machine productivity and the overall quality of the cut. The new long boom is now available and joins the recently updated standard boom. Both the 903K and 909K can be equipped to maximize productivity for a wide variety of conditions with its standard and long boom options.

For additional information, visit http://www.johndeere.com/ or contact a local John Deere dealer.

GradeScan was installed in Anthony Timberland’s, Bearden, Arkansas, mill in January of 2013.  This project moved the mill from partial auto-grading with a linear geometric-only grading system to total automated grading.  The company ordered a second scanner for its Malvern, Arkansas, site in May.  Their production results while operating the scanner during such a brief time period were so positive that they elected to move quickly toward getting a second system installed.  According to Dan Gibbs, Vice President of Technical Services, “The opportunity cost was too high to NOT buy another scanner.”  Their second GradeScan is scheduled for a January 2014 start-up.  Anthony Timberlands produces a wide variety of Southern Yellow Pine lumber products, including 2” and 4” Dimension, Commons, Decking, and Timbers.

 Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. is based in Corvallis, Oregon, and has provided the wood products industry with Trimmer/Sorter Control Systems, ColorScan® Grade Mark Readers and scanning and optimization systems since its founding in 1985. 

Contact Lucidyne at (541) 753-5111, info@lucidyne.com or on the Web at www.lucidyne.com .