West Fraser announced Ted Seraphim’s plan to retire as CEO at the end of the 2Q 2019. West Fraser also announced the appointment of Ray Ferris, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, as President and Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. Ray will be appointed CEO upon Ted’s retirement next year.

Ray Ferris has been with West Fraser since 1997 and has progressed through a series of key leadership roles. He was appointed West Fraser’s Executive Vice-President and COO in 2016 and before that served in several executive positions including as Vice-President, Wood Products, Vice-President, Solid Wood and Vice-President, Lumber Operations.

West Fraser is a diversified wood products company producing lumber, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, newsprint, wood chips and energy with facilities in western Canada and the southern United States.

Tigercat has announced that Kusiah McCullough has been appointed to the position of factory representative for Washington and Oregon.

Based in Shelton, Washington, Kusiah McCullough has been involved in many aspects of the logging industry in the Pacific northwest for his entire working career. His specialties include steep ground logging application with a lot of seat time in both the Tigercat LS855C shovel and the L870 series feller bunchers. Kusiah also has several years of experience managing field operations for various logging companies.

“I have operated almost every machine utilized in timber harvesting and I find Tigercat far superior to any competitive brand. The customer service, quality and safety of the machinery and the fact that Tigercat is at the forefront of modern logging techniques makes them the pinnacle of all timber harvesting machinery,” Kusiah comments.

With a somewhat unique perspective stemming from his experience as a machine operator and field manager, Kusiah will be primarily involved with product support and operator training. “I want to enable customers to safely and efficiently realize the full potential of the equipment they have purchased and to teach new and innovative techniques especially as they pertain to steep ground logging.”

In 2017, Tigercat developed and released its most compact skidder platfrom, the 602 series. The prototype 602 skidder was sent to France last summer to be fitted with a Belgian designed and manufactured swing boom for use in mountain regions of Europe.

Now the 602 is available as a cable skidder suited to pockets of North America and other traditional winch skidder markets. The 602 cable skidder is ideal for high value selective hardwood logging and for retrieving timber from steep slopes and gullies.

The 602 is equipped with the Tigercat FPT Tier N45 engine which  provides full emissions compliance for Tier 2 and Tier 4f , along with excellent fuel economy. Both engines deliver 125 kW (168 hp) at 2,200 rpm.

The machine has a fixed front axle with an oscillating centre section to achieve a very narrow overall width of 2,7 metres (106 in). The agility of the 602 is ideal in selective felling applications. The machine can access high value timber in steep terrain, while minimizing damage to the residual stand.

Maximum fuel efficiency is achieved by the use of Tigercat’s load sensing hydraulic system – only supplying the amount of oil that the various functions require for reduced engine load.

The 602 cable skidder offering has already attracted a lot of attention in the United States, where the first machine debuted at the Paul Bunyan show in Cambridge, Ohio this past October.

Bill Shufflebotham, based in Rockport, Illinois purchased the first 602 cable skidder. He states, “It’s the only quality small machine on the market. It’s easy to move at nine feet wide and it’s powerful”.

U.S. log exports increased 15.5% YoY to 1.15 million m3 in February 2018, the exports value exceeded $238.2 million (+27.4%), according to the USDA.

U.S. log exports to China, the largest consumer of U.S. log, have jumped 24.7% to 544.3 thousand m3 and 33.1% by value ($126.0 million). The exports to second-largest consumer Canada have declined 2.3% to 305.2 thousand m3, and exports to Japan have increased 13.5% to 171.4 thousand m3.

The average price of U.S. log in February 2018 was $207 per m3, increase 10.3% from the same period last year. The average price of log exports to China was $231 per m3 (+6.7%), to Canada was $98 (-2.9%), and to Japan was $266 (+21.6%).

Ontario is supporting Columbia Forest Products to expand its plywood mill in Hearst and Rutherglen, helping to create and maintain almost 350 jobs and boost economic growth.

With support from Ontario’s Jobs and Prosperity Fund, the company will be able to grow its business and increase efficiency by modernizing its infrastructure and purchasing new equipment to maximize production capacity, increase competitiveness and expand into new markets, while ensuring resources are managed sustainably.

Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Columbia Forest Products is one of North America’s largest manufacturers of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer products.

Expoforest, the only dynamic forestry fair in Latin America took place between April 11th and 13th, with 30,645 visitors.

Forestry professionals from all over the world came to Santa Rita do Passa Quatro (Brazil) on April 11th, 12th and 13th to visit the 4th Expoforest – Brazilian Forestry Fair. In total, 30,645 visitors (1st day: 10,318 | 2nd day: 13,632 | 3rd day: 6,695) followed the product launches of 240 exhibitors. Visitors from every Brazilian state were present at the fair, as were professionals from the following countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Germany, Finland, France, Kenya, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, the UK, the USA and Venezuela.

According to information provided by the exhibitors, negotiations at the fair resulted in over BRL 310 million in business deals and prospections. “This result is 101% higher than the business volume at Expoforest 2014, which totaled BRL 152 million. This growth proves the potential of the Brazilian forestry sector,” says Ricardo Malinovski, Marketing & Events Director at Malinovski (the Expoforest organizer).

Brazilian forestry sector,” says Ricardo Malinovski, Marketing & Events Director at Malinovski (the Expoforest organizer).

The Brazilian Forestry Fair brought 240 exhibitors to showcase their machinery and equipment in static displays and dynamic operations. “When we were organizing the 2018 edition, we presented the motto Extreme Forestry Fair. We’re certain those who visited the fair were able to witness in loco the best live timber harvesting, transportation and biomass demonstrations in the world,” reiterates Ricardo Malinovski.

In an innovative way, the 4th Expoforest hosted the 1st South American Forwarder Operator Championship, which emphasized the key role played by the professionals who work on the frontlines of the forestry sector. The champion was Klabin operator Rodrigo Lemes da Silva. Carlos Alexandre Gomes Pereira, from Duratex, placed second. “The finals were very exciting. I came to compete, but I’m very happy I’ve won. If I have the chance, I’ll be back to try to win twice,” celebrated the winner.

According to Malinovski, the next Expoforest will take place in 2022.

For more information click here.

Photo: Courtesy of Expoforest | Raphael Bernadelli.

MaxiXplorer’s new function, stem codes, improves environmental reporting by automating and simplifying the reporting process for machine operators. The update will be available as of MaxiXplorer 3.14 and in machines manufactured from February 2018 onwards.

Using the hand controllers, machine operators can flag and register in the production file that an environmental object (such as a high stump or a retained stand) is being left standing next to the tree being harvested. This new function makes it easier for the client to see the number of flagged trees, as well as their coordinates. Using this function, clients and landowners can more conveniently plan their environmental work and use the information for environmental audits. The computerised planning system back at the office can then present the outcome of the environmental considerations made during a harvesting assignment.

This MaxiXplorer function is available on all harvesters, provided that the codes are registered in the bucking instructions that the client provides for the machine. The function ensures that the right information reaches the client. The function has been developed in a collaboration between Skogforsk, forestry companies in Sweden and Komatsu Forest AB.

The photo shows a visualisation example from Skogforsk based on an assignment for Stora Enso in Sweden.  This was a trial involving the registration of stumps and newly discovered cultural objects using stem codes in the harvester in conjunction with final logging in northern Uppland. The example shows 26 high stumps (4.7 per ha). In addition, one protected tree (retained tree) and two stands have been registered.

On April 10, 2018, Komatsu Forest (President & CEO: Mitsuru Ueno) acquired Oryx Simulations (CEO: Rami Morssy), a company based in Umeå, Sweden.

Komatsu Forest and Oryx Simulation share a long history. During the 1990s a project was started by Komatsu Forest and Umeå University that was the starting point for Oryx Simulations. During the years Komatsu Forest has been a customer to the company. Today Komatsu Forest sells simulators, developed by Oryx Simulations, all over the world. Now the cooperation is further deepened when Komatsu Forest acquires the company.

“Oryx Simulations is a very interesting company that we have had the opportunity to follow closely as a customer. They are a cutting-edge technology company in their industry and the simulators they develop have received very good response among their users due to their high fidelity and lifelike graphics. Training is significantly facilitated by these simulators and we see that Oryx Simulations has a great potential for further growth”, says Annelie Persson, Press Officer Komatsu Forest.

After the acquisition Oryx Simulations will continue their business as usual as an independent company and the customers will not experience any changes. Both companies consider it a very important part of the acquisition that Oryx Simulations maintains its independence and integrity for continued trust among its customers. “It’s an honour to get this confirmation by a major customer, that they are paying attention to our technology and wants to own us,” Rami Morssy, CEO Oryx Simulations says. “It is also very positive that Komatsu Forest cares that we increase growth and keep our independence and business as usual,” Morssy concludes.

Oryx Simulations
Oryx Simulations is a Swedish company and world leader in simulator systems for heavy-vehicle applications. They are active on a global market. The headquarter is in Umeå, Sweden. CEO of the company is Rami Morssy.

www.oryx.se

Ponsse presents the new loader for Elephant and ElephantKing forwarders. The completely new Ponsse K121 loader offers a new level of efficiency and speed for load handling in tough conditions.

The new PONSSE K121 loader extends Ponsse’s loader series to a completely new size range. The new loader combines high slewing torque and lifting power, increased reach, and a new type of loader geometry that is easy to control. These innovations come together to create the most powerful loader on the market. It enables shorter loading and unloading times, facilitates working in conditions where load handling takes up a large proportion of the working time, and makes it easier to work on sites where large trees must be handled and on slopes that demand great power of loaders.

Fast load handling for short driving distances
In conditions where load handling takes up most of the working time, loader capacity is of great importance. On the other hand, at work sites where the driving distances are short and the load sizes are large the usage time of the loader can be as much as 60 percent of the actual working time. This is the case on plantations, for example, where driving distances are very short. In these working environments, loader efficiency is particularly important to forwarder productivity. The improved geometry of the PONSSE K121 loader, easy control system, and the ability to install a grapple with a surface area that is 16 percent larger ads up to significantly increased load-handling performance.

More power to working on slopes
Harvesting on slopes is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, and Ponsse’s forest machines have opened up a completely new range of possibilities. By making it possible to work on steep slopes and in similarly demanding conditions, Ponsse forest machines make it possible to harvest timber on previously inaccessible land. The new K121 loader further improves the work performance on slopes, by providing the high loader power that is essential for steep conditions. Such conditions also demand a large tilt angle for the crane pillar in order to ensure smooth load handling. The tilt stand available for the PONSSE K121 loader has a larger tilt angle, guaranteeing that the loader works at the right angle even in steep environments.

Efficient handling of large and long logs
PONSSE Elephant and PONSSE ElephantKing forwarders are also widely used on work sites where extremely large saw log are handled. The new loader model makes it easier to efficiently handle and move large logs, for example when loading onto freight trains. Thanks to the high torque, lifting power and stronger reach, trees can be lifted from even further away than before. This reduces the need to move the machine closer to the trees, or having to bring the cut logs to the ground next to the machine before lifting.

A new and tested even stronger structure
The PONSSE K121 loader has been designed to handle the toughest working conditions. The loader has been field tested in demanding conditions in Canada, Russia and the USA, where they have been put to work for thousands of hours. The results of these field trials have been very successful and encouraging. The loader has a great amount of power, it is easy to control, and because of its heavy duty design is highly reliable. In designing the new kind of structure, the geometry of the loader has been comprehensively rethought to ensure that it is highly manageable, even with very heavy loads. The hydraulic system, its hoses and pipes have been placed inside the boom for added protection. The extension cylinders are also protected inside the boom, and the piping of the rotator has been protected by passing the pipes directly through the hanger. In addition, hydraulic end damping has been added to the lifting cylinder to make the operator’s work easier when working at the extreme limits of the cylinder movement, for example on steep slopes. The overall aim of these new structural innovations is to maximise the usage rate and ease of maintenance of the machines.

Technical specifications:

• Lifting torque: 195 kNm
• Slewing torque: 48 kNm
• Reach: 8m/10m (S/M models) (26ft/33ft)
• Tilting base tilt angle: -12°…+24°
• Large grapple surface area: 0.50 m²
• Available for PONSSE Elephant and PONSSE ElephantKing forwarders

PONSSE K121 loader was premiered at ExpoForest fair in Brazil, Ribeirão Preto area, 11-13 April 2018.

Further information: Juha Haverinen, Product Manager, Forwarders
Tel. +358 40 839 8529, juha.haverinen@ponsse.com

Caterpillar announces the launch of two new Cat® Forest Machine models, the 548 and the 548 LL. These machine platforms increase profitability for loggers by maximizing efficiency, increasing production, and reducing owning and operating costs.

The Cat 548 and 548 LL and other 500 series Forest Machine models meet U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards and feature outstanding fuel efficiency and optimized work tools while increasing horsepower, swing torque, lift capacity, and tractive effort.

Cat Forest Machines are versatile, purpose-built track machines that can be customized to perform a complete range of tasks for forestry operations and contractors. Over the last 20 years they have become the industry standard in many logging applications.

The Cat 548 forestry excavator is configured for forestry tasks ranging from road building and site preparation to processing logs roadside or at a landing. The Cat 548 LL is configured as a log loader and can perform log handling tasks, such as shovel logging, loading, power clam/butt-n-top applications, and millyard activities.

The 548 and 548 LL provide ultimate machine efficiency coupled with enhanced performance. Cat components, purpose-built upper and lower frames, and application specific linkage configurations increase machine up time and reduce machine operating costs.

Enhanced hydraulics aid fuel economy, deliver more power
An enhanced hydraulic system delivers a higher level of efficiency and power. Upsized pumps, the layout of components, and back-to-back main control valve all optimize hydraulic oil flow. The result is powerful, multi-functioning hydraulics for strong machine performance, ensuring that work tools function quickly and smoothly to complete work faster with greater fuel economy.

The hydraulic updates enable the 548 and 548 LL engine to run at a lower steady state rpm while maximizing power. Operating at a lower rpm provides significant fuel savings and lowers operating costs.

At the same time, Tier 4 Final technology and features like a variable pitch fan, variable power modes, automatic engine speed control, one-touch idle, and boom and stick regeneration valves provide excellent fuel economy. With automatic engine speed control, the machines will revert automatically to a lower idle speed when there is a lull in operation. Regeneration valves minimize oil required from the pump, which maximizes efficiency.

Swing torque increases almost 20 percent
The 548 and 548 LL are built to perform, powered by a Cat 152 kW (204 hp) C7.1 ACERT ™ engine with increased horsepower that maintains maximum performance under load. Strong hydraulic horsepower allows the 548 and 548 LL to handle a variety of work tools.

An almost 20 percent boost in swing torque, depending on the model, provides more power to move trees, increasing production and efficiency. Heavy lift mode and other updates enable greater lift capacity to handle larger payloads with improved control, and tractive effort has improved by as much as 13 percent to allow efficient maneuvering when working away from the road.

Boom, hydraulic configurations for specific applications
With boom arrangements and hydraulic systems for specific applications, the 548 and 548 LL are more optimized and effective at road building, loading, processing, shoveling, or millyard unloading and stacking. New track options meet shovel logging and low ground pressure application requirements, and ground saw hydraulics are available for log loader applications. In addition to the standard cab, a purpose-built processor cab option is available for both machine models, and two premium rear entry cab choices are available for the 548 LL.

Cab keeps operator working comfortably, productively
The Forest Machine cabs have features and technology to reduce fatigue and keep operators working comfortably and productively all day. An air ride seat, which is fully adjustable, includes heating and cooling capability, and a bi-level air conditioner, heater, and defroster keep the cab at a comfortable temperature in any weather.

Other features include a satellite radio, 12-volt power supply socket for charging, a larger monitor, and LED lights. Standard tool control software enables quick, efficient selection and swapping of tools.

New rear entry cab options provide convenient access on a fully lit platform through the use of a key fob. For these rear entry cabs, a new cab forward riser and optimized window design improve visibility for shovel logging and other applications, while an innovative cab lock down system increases machine uptime by increasing cab tilt efficiency and minimizing transport time.

Easy to access, easy to maintain
The Cat 548 and 548 LL are designed for serviceability. A one-piece engine hood design with two opening angles allows easy access to engine and cooling compartments. The side-by-side engine and hydraulic coolers are convenient for cleaning due to a cooler that hinges out of the way, and fewer cooling fins per inch improves debris flow-through and reduces clogging. Plentiful storage space at ground level allows ready access to tools, equipment, and supplies that operators use daily.

Purpose-built durability and reliability
Like other Cat machines, the 548 and 548 LL are designed and built for reliable, durable performance in the severest of forestry applications. Cooling capability is increased 12 percent for trouble-free operation, and the variable pitch, reversing cooling fan maintains optimum fluid temperature. Validated, proven excavator technologies ensure overall machine reliability.

The purpose-built upper frame, high-wide carbody, robust linkage configurations, and heavy-duty enclosures feature thick doubler plates, extra gussets, and other weldments and reinforcements. Upsized 216 mm (8.5 inch) pitch (336 HEX) grease-lubricated tracks provide excellent life in forestry applications.

Caterpillar worldwide support
Cat Product Link™ allows for remote location of a machine and tracking of fuel consumption and other indicators.

Caterpillar customers are supported by the industry’s largest network of dealers who will keep them and their machines running with parts availability, field services, state-of-the art diagnostic programs, remote monitoring, and more.

For more information, contact your nearest Cat dealer or go to www.cat.com/forestry.