In-market log prices have been variable this month. Pruned logs have found further support in the Chinese market and as such have risen in price since last month, to be at US$186/JAS. A grade log prices have fallen by around 1% to US$130/JAS. This small change is inconsequential to demand in China, and now marks 7 months in which the price for A grade logs have traded within a US$3/JAS range. Log exports are well supported and the volumes exported to China are steady, though many ports have been running down inventories and sit at around 1 month’s supply. At this rate prices are unsustainable and they will have to rise to offset this decline. New Zealand exports will receive support from better prices, though price rises may attract more competition from Pacific North-West exports to China, which have been declining of late. After working through over-supply issues, Indian prices have risen to reach parity with other Asian markets. The risk is that it will once again be flooded by international logs looking to enter the market with favourable prices. South Korean exports are lower. K-grade logs have lowered in value, though the larger knotted KI grades have had a price rise of around 1%. The log price indicator moved up one point to 83 this month. This has come on the back of movements in the North Island, as well as some increase in the South Island unpruned logs. North Island pruned log and unpruned log indicators moved up one point each. Most of the support for prices has come from movement in the export unpruned grades. Pruned price movements have also contributed to the shift. The offshore market is well placed for upward price pressure moving into summer. With log inventories running lower in many ports, New Zealand is the only major supplier that has been increasing exports of logs to China. This means if inventories are lifted, New Zealand suppliers are in a position to move on prices. North Island Domestic: Pruned Grades are up Export: Pruned grades are down, others are steady South Island Domestic: Pruned Grades are up Export: Pruned grades are down, others are steady For more detailed reports contact NZX Agrifax at www.nzxagri.com/agrifax The Agrifax log price data is a weighted average of prices collected each month from a range of New Zealand log buyers and sellers. Log prices shown in the table will vary regionally and by supplier and should only be used to provide a broad trend of log price movements

Innovation has taken us from being a small sawmill equipment supplier to a global leader in manufacturing machine systems to create panels and plywood, dimensional lumber, fingerjointed components and engineered wood products. We supply product and service solutions for plants around the world including Canada, Chile, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, the US and many other countries. Our diverse array of products includes nearly every piece of machinery you would find in a modern wood processing plant, from panel and plywood processing to lumber manufacturing to value added processing of such materials as fingerjointed components and glulam beams. Our products stem from well-known brand names like Coe, Mann-Russell, Washington Ironworks, Perceptron, Forano, Newnes, McGehee, Inovec, Log Boss, HEMCO, Irvington-Moore, Coastal, Kockums, Schurman, and Lunden. All are now part of the USNR family.

Today, USNR is the only OEM supplier of parts for Coe lathes and dryers, Coastal planers, Log Boss carriages, McGehee gangs, Perceptron and Inovec sensors, Irvington-Moore lumber dry kilns, Schurman edgers, Forano debarkers, Newnes trimmers, HEMCO sorters, Lunden stackers, or Kockums-CanCar Chip-N-Saws. Innovation drives us to continually improve upon these tried and true designs in our new product development. Whether you are looking for new technology to improve your yield, reduce your resource requirements or expand your markets, USNR has the solutions and the talented resources to get you there.

Besides providing the most innovative processing solutions in the industry, we are committed to providing superior customer service. We offer support and training from the initial sales contact through the operational life of your equipment. From design and manufacturing through final installation and start-up, we work closely with you to keep your project on track, on budget and on time. Innovation. It’s a way of life.

http://www.coemfg.com/

Pukepine Sawmills, New Zealand orders USNR’s BioVision technology Mail:05240273

USNR’s BioVision technology is advancing on the land down under with an order for a new grade scanning system to be installed at Pukepine Sawmills, Te Puke, New Zealand. The order includes a Multi-Track Positioning Fence, 6M (20’) USNR Grade Scanning Trimmer Optimizer system featuring BioLuma 2900LVG+ scanning, and V7.2 Transverse Cant Optimizer software  / hardware upgrade.

The BioLuma™ 2900LVG+ sensors together with proven optimization, defect recognition and classification, provide the basis for this world-class sawmill automated grading system. These BioLuma sensors are unique in the marketplace, offering fully integrated GrainMap™, HD color vision and HD laser profiling. Grain Map grain angle measurement affords more comprehensive defect analysis, allowing the optimizer to detect and classify more defects. The system’s 3D modeling provides far more detail than any other scanning platform currently available. The resulting optimized solutions make the most of the extensive data collected to maximize recovery and value from each piece.

Proven algorithms provide the most valuable cut solution utilizing, product setup information as input by the mill user, board measurements from the sensors and available operator inputs. The following represents some of the most significant features offered:

• Fixed width / crook and bow control / fence and trim logic
• Marginal length feature: lumberline saw lift / send extra wood to the planer
• Variable length trim feature: trims variable lengths for Cuttings grade lumber products
• Target length trimming: trims lumber within min/max lumber length specifications
• Wane control: equivalency or compound with 3 wane allowances
• Scant control / steep edge wane control
• Wane orientation marking to planer
• Up to 240 products (thickness x width combinations), and 28 separate nominal lengths
• Up to 8 product groupings (by species or visual grade classification)

To learn how BioVision sawmill grading can improve your bottom line, please contact us today at 800.BUY.USNR or info@usnr.com. http://www.usnr.com/about/news/newsletters/MI_3-13-E.pdf

Don Cooper, The Sales Heretic on “The Myth of Price – Why You Should Charge More and How to Do It.” Cooper is an internationally acclaimed sales expert who helps salespeople, business owners and professionals dramatically increase their sales. His clients include Yamaha, Costco, Nissan Canada, Johnson & Johnson, and Harley-Davidson.

John Min PhD, Chief Economist, World First Foreign Exchange on “Global Currency Trends and Forecasts.” Min co-founded World First USA and serves as Managing Director and Chief Economist. He has over 20 years of financial service industry experience in sales, research and management.

Scott Clemons, Chief Investment Strategist, Brown Brothers Harriman on “Economic, Financial and Wood Markets Outlook.”  Scott Clemons is one of BBH&Co.’s primary writers and speakers on topics related to the financial markets and wealth management. He manages one of the firm’s six Private Wealth Management offices, based in New York. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute.

2015 World of Wood Convention Registration Opens
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Posted by: Joe O’Donnell For Immediate Release October 21, 2014 Media Contact: Mike Burita 202.420.9361 or mike@buritamedia.com59th Annual Event Promises Innovative Business Solutions, Market Intelligence and Networking with over 300 Attendees from Robust Global Imported Woods Market

Alexandria, Virginia – The future looks bright for the imported wood products industry as demand for high quality and affordable wood products continues to fuel a robust global sales market.  World of Wood 2015 will take place March 18-20, 2015 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a premier luxury resort in the heart of the world renowned Las Vegas Strip.  The 59th annual convention hosted by the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) provides access to over 300 importers, U.S. manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, offshore suppliers and service providers to the global wood products industry from nearly 30 countries. IWPA has assembled three days of informative presentations by industry leaders, networking opportunities and market-focused events that will give you new ideas for your business, provide important market intelligence and include opportunities to network with colleagues from around the globe.  World of Wood 2015 will also include an impressive series of presenters including leading industry experts on economic, market, supply, and distribution trends such as: Attendees and their families can also take advantage of fun activities and networking events including the IWPA Annual Golf Classic, the Hoover Dam Discovery Tour, a performance of the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys and a Whiskey Flight Tasting reception. The three-day event will take place at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the most original destination in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Conveniently located ten minutes from the Las Vegas airport, this unique luxury resort & 100,000 square foot casino is unlike any other. Enjoy residential-styled living spaces with private terraces and breathtaking views of the Las Vegas skyline. Dining is reinvented with a one-of-a-kind restaurant collection featuring world-class chefs making their Las Vegas debut. Register and book your hotel accommodations today!  Take advantage of Early Bird rates before they expire December 31.  All hotel accommodations must be booked by February 13, 2015.

REGISTER HERE
: HOTEL RESERVATIONS HERE
: SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES HERE
: Established in 1956, the International Wood Products Association (http://www.iwpawood.org/

The leading international trade association for the North American imported wood products industry, representing 220 companies and trade associations engaged in the import of hardwoods and softwoods from sustainably managed forests.  Association members consist of three key groups involved in the import process: U.S. importers and consuming industries, offshore manufacturers and the service providers that facilitate trade. <style>

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2015 World of Wood Convention Registration Opens

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Posted by: Joe O’Donnell For Immediate Release October 21, 2014 Media Contact: Mike Burita 202.420.9361 or mike@buritamedia.com 59th Annual Event Promises Innovative Business Solutions, Market Intelligence and Networking with over 300 Attendees from Robust Global Imported Woods Market Alexandria, Virginia – The future looks bright for the imported wood products industry as demand for high quality and affordable wood products continues to fuel a robust global sales market.  World of Wood 2015 will take place March 18-20, 2015 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a premier luxury resort in the heart of the world renowned Las Vegas Strip.  The 59th annual convention hosted by the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) provides access to over 300 importers, U.S. manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, offshore suppliers and service providers to the global wood products industry from nearly 30 countries. IWPA has assembled three days of informative presentations by industry leaders, networking opportunities and market-focused events that will give you new ideas for your business, provide important market intelligence and include opportunities to network with colleagues from around the globe.  World of Wood 2015 will also include an impressive series of presenters including leading industry experts on economic, market, supply, and distribution trends such as:

Don Cooper, The Sales Heretic on “The Myth of Price – Why You Should Charge More and How to Do It.” Cooper is an internationally acclaimed sales expert who helps salespeople, business owners and professionals dramatically increase their sales. His clients include Yamaha, Costco, Nissan Canada, Johnson & Johnson, and Harley-Davidson.

John Min PhD, Chief Economist, World First Foreign Exchange on “Global Currency Trends and Forecasts.” Min co-founded World First USA and serves as Managing Director and Chief Economist. He has over 20 years of financial service industry experience in sales, research and management.

Scott Clemons, Chief Investment Strategist, Brown Brothers Harriman on “Economic, Financial and Wood Markets Outlook.”  Scott Clemons is one of BBH&Co.’s primary writers and speakers on topics related to the financial markets and wealth management. He manages one of the firm’s six Private Wealth Management offices, based in New York. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute.

Attendees and their families can also take advantage of fun activities and networking events including the IWPA Annual Golf Classic, the Hoover Dam Discovery Tour, a performance of the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys and a Whiskey Flight Tasting reception. The three-day event will take place at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the most original destination in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Conveniently located ten minutes from the Las Vegas airport, this unique luxury resort & 100,000 square foot casino is unlike any other. Enjoy residential-styled living spaces with private terraces and breathtaking views of the Las Vegas skyline. Dining is reinvented with a one-of-a-kind restaurant collection featuring world-class chefs making their Las Vegas debut. Register and book your hotel accommodations today!  Take advantage of Early Bird rates before they expire December 31.  All hotel accommodations must be booked by February 13, 2015. REGISTER HERE: HOTEL RESERVATIONS HERE: SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES HERE: Established in 1956, the International Wood Products Association (http://www.iwpawood.org/) is the leading international trade association for the North American imported wood products industry, representing 220 companies and trade associations engaged in the import of hardwoods and softwoods from sustainably managed forests.  Association members consist of three key groups involved in the import process: U.S. importers and consuming industries, offshore manufacturers and the service providers that facilitate trade.

The very popular forestry technology series, ForestTECH has been run by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) annually for forest managers and technical foresters in this part of the world since 2007.

In 2012, the Wood Transport and Logistics theme for ForestTECH 2012 attracted over 300 forestry managers, forest owners, harvest planners, transport operators and forestry contractors from both New Zealand and Australia.
This year, ForestTECH 2013 will be a first for the New Zealand forestry industry. It will include two major forestry events over two days and at just one location. FOREST INDUSTRY SAFETY SUMMIT Because of the focus this year on forestry safety, a two-day Forest Industry Safety Summit will be run by FIEA in conjunction with the Forest Industry Contractors Association and NZ Forest Owners Association. It will address the very real Industry and Government concerns around forestry safety and showcase new practices, systems and tools that can be used in the forest to improve safety – with a focus on local and practical outcomes. Keynote addresses from leading safety experts from North America will be complemented by presentations from local health and safety managers. The key themes will be focused on providing more effective and safer ways for contractors and principals to work together.

Steep Slope Wood Harvesting Conference
In addition to the Safety Summit, a two-day Steep Slope Wood Harvesting conference is being run by FIEA. It will be running at the same venue – and over the same two days. Analysis by Future Forests Research indicates that the proportion of the forest harvest from steep hill country (over 20 degrees slope) is currently 44% of the total harvest and this is forecast to rise to 53% by 2016 and to over 60% by 2025. Nationally over the next 12 years to 2025 there is a requirement for a new cable harvesting crew every four weeks. Harvesting steep slopes presents a range of challenges. Choosing the appropriate technology requires careful consideration of cost, productivity, safety and environmental impacts. The Steep Slope Wood Harvesting conference will profile new innovations – equipment, tools and operating practices – around steep slope harvesting operations. The programme for the Steep Slope Wood Harvesting conference is attached here. ForestTECH 2013 runs in Rotorua on 26-27 November.

Further details can be found at www.foresttech2013.com

The risk of serious injury or death has forced the closure of almost one in 10 forestry operations inspected so far in an industry-wide safety assessment. The assessment figures were released by Labour Minister Simon Bridges today after the country’s eighth forestry death this year.
Bay of Plenty forestry worker David Charles Beamsley, 63, from Murupara, was killed yesterday afternoon in what police said appeared to be a tree-felling accident at the Kaingaroa Forest.

In August, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) started inspecting every cable logging operation in the country to see how well they adhered to the new forestry code of practice, introduced in December last year. Inspectors had so far assessed 150 operations, or about half the roughly 330 in New Zealand, Mr Bridges said. Of those, 14 were shut down because there was imminent danger of serious injury or death. That means 9.3 per cent had potentially fatal or injurious health and safety failings. Inspectors also issued 182 enforcement notices, suggesting more than one safety shortcoming was identified at some of the 150 operators. Of those shut down for imminent danger, seven were in the East Coast region, two in Waikato, two in Northland, and one each were in Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Wellington. The top five regions for enforcement action were the East Coast with 53 notices, Bay of Plenty had 43, Wellington/Wairarapa 14, and Marlborough and Northland 13 each. Nearly half, or 89, of the enforcement notices were due to system failures – the lack of health and safety plans, such as a clear plan for a safe retreat distance during log hauling. Mr Bridges said the assessment results were not good enough. “The number of fatalities in the forestry sector is too high and the safety record is not acceptable – the industry needs to get its safety house in order.” There was no lack of understanding about what the main problems were or what the solutions might be, and it was up to everyone in the industry to ensure it was safe, Mr Bridges said. MBIE’s health and safety operations general manager, Ona de Rooy, said it was concerning that so many enforcement notices had been issued. “There is no excuse for any operator not to know what is expected of them. We are now holding the industry to account, and as the minister says, each player in the sector must step up and take responsibility for making better safety decisions.” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly, who has been campaigning for forestry safety reforms, said she was not surprised by the enforcement notice rate. It showed operators were not complying with the most basic standards, which had already been set too low, she said. “It actually shows us that this industry is not capable of regulating itself and it needs the Government to step in,” Ms Kelly said. “Clearly these workers are working too long, in poor conditions, in the rain, in the bad weather.” Labour Party labour issues spokeswoman Darien Fenton said it was unsurprising that inspectors had found multiple safety breaches and operations had been shut down. She said measures such as limits on working hours could make the industry safer, but Mr Bridges had refused regulation. The minister has ruled out an inquiry into the industry, but has signalled support for an independent review led by the industry and unions. The forestry sector has the nation’s highest rate of workplace injury deaths, according to the Chief Coroner’s office, with an average of five fatalities a year over the last six years. There were also 188 serious-harm notifications last year – the highest number in five years. Bay of Plenty Coroner Wallace Bain will hold inquests into five forestry deaths next year with the aim of casting light on systemic issues in the industry.

Morbark, Inc.,has recognized four of its top dealers. Columbus Equipment Company was named Industrial Dealer of the Year for the second straight year, while Alexander Equipment Company, Nortrax Northeast, and Schmidt Equipment, Inc., earned Gold Tier Dealer status for their tree care products divisions.

“Morbark’s dealers are instrumental to our customers’ success,” said John Foote, V.P. of Sales & Marketing for Morbark.  “They provide more than just our high-performance equipment; they give our customers local knowledge and support to help them grow and maintain their businesses. We’re honored to recognize these dealers who are as devoted to continuous improvement as Morbark is. We’re proud to have them in the Morbark family.”

Established in 1952 and known as “Ohio’s Dependable Dealer,” Columbus Equipment earned the Morbark Industrial Dealer of the Year Award for its 2012 sales of industrial equipment. Columbus Equipment operates in 10 locations in Ohio, and serves customers in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Morbark dealers are reviewed and scored annually on their customer service, business plan, equipment and parts sales, service and warranty process, marketing efforts, and much more. As a result of the 2012 review process, Alexander Equipment and Nortrax Northeast retained Tree Care Product Gold Dealer status while Schmidt Equipment earned its first Gold Tier ranking, marking these companies as exceptional in all aspects of customer support.

Alexander Equipment, Nortrax Northeast and Schmidt Equipment all represent both the Tree Care Products and Industrial lines for Morbark. Alexander Equipment, based in Lisle, Ill., handles Morbark sales for Northern Illinois; Nortrax Northeast has 10 locations covering Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northeastern New York; and, with five locations, Schmidt Equipment serves Morbark customers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Contact: Deana Monahan
Tel. 989.866.2381
Email: deana.monahan@morbark.com        

Plans by Peel Environmental to develop a GBP 65 million ($99.5 million) waste wood gasification facility at the site of the former Houghton Main Colliery in Barnsley have been given the green light by Barnsley Council  Members of the council’s Planning Board voted to approve the proposals, which will see a Timber Resource Recovery Centre (TRRC) built at the site on the A6195 Park Spring Road.

The Houghton Main Renewable Energy Centre will use biomass to generate up to 20MW of energy for export. The facility will accept up to 150,000 tonnes of fuel per year and use an advanced gasification process to generate enough energy to power around 49,000 homes.
Peel Environmental is at the forefront of developing new infrastructure for the waste, mineral and environmental technology sectors across the UK.