The Doppstadt INVENTHOR Type 9 shredder, from the SMART SHREDDING LINE, is a new high-performance machine that is setting new market benchmarks when it comes to quality and performance. By bringing together the most innovative mechanical developments, innovative control and regulation systems, and a brand new noise emissions concept, Doppstadt has created an environmentally friendly cost-effective one-stop solution for the recycling sector.

Thanks to its modular service-oriented construction and range of suspension variants, this machine is equally suited to use as a stationary fixture or in the service industry sector.

A new concept for the smart shredder generation

The INVENTHOR Type 9 is the first machine in an entirely new generation of Doppstadt shredders. Everything, from the drive to the housing and the quick-change tools has been designed with an eye to the future.

The new VarioDirect Drive demonstrates its quality right from the start. It handles even the toughest shredding tasks without any loss of performance, giving it scope for future development and job-specific programmes. From shut-down to running at maximum power, the shredding roller gets to work immediately, even under a full load.

One of Doppstadt’s highest priorities is to reduce exhaust and noise emissions: The INVENTHOR Type 9 meets the Euromot Stage IIIA and IV exhaust emission requirements and will also meet Stage V, when updated. It also performs all its tasks with very little noise. This shredder also features a new range of solutions when it comes to accessibility.

The shredding comb provides generous access to the shredding space, meaning tools can be exchanged quickly and ergonomically. Large new glass fibre doors make daily maintenance tasks easier.

Strong and innovative: this new shredder’s name says it all. Doppstadt fused “inventor”, representing ingenuity, with “Thor” the Norse god, for strength, when naming the machine. Here, “Thor” stands for Thor’s hammer, his magical weapon.

At IFAT, Doppstadt will present the INVENTHOR Type 9 shredder to the world. A knock-out machine for the international market, this machine is built in Germany.

Visit daily live presentations with the INVENTHOR Type 9 at the VDMA “biomass” demo area at IFAT. Doppstadt at IFAT: Hall B6, Stand 439/538.

May 14 to May 18, 2018 in Munich.

The Inventor Type 9 shredder is a high-performance solution for processing a range of waste materials, including biomass, scrap wood and mixed construction waste.

Peterson Pacific Corp., has introduced the new Peterson 3310B drum chipper.

“The new-3310B drum chipper is smaller and lighter than our previous model, but still packs impressive performance,” said Jody Volner, President of Peterson Pacific Corp. “The 3310B can operate on even tighter landings for biomass and land clearing operations. We are excited about the capabilities of this remarkable machine.”

With a 540 hp (402 kW) Tier III or Tier IV Caterpillar engine, the 3310B has the power to handle up to 24-inch (61 cm) diameter logs. With large access doors on both sides of the machine for serviceability, the fully enclosed engine compartment keeps things clean.

The 3310B’s transverse design allows for a much smaller operations deck, providing flexible production configurations in diverse terrain. With 230-degrees of rotation, the end-load or optional top-load spout design allows trailers to be loaded in a variety of positions, depending on the demands of the job site.

Using the proven drum and knife design from the larger 4300-series drum chippers, the 3310B’s main components are robust and offer long life. The 3310B is available with a four-pocket drum for typical biomass chips, or an eight-pocket drum for microchipping applications. The chips exit the machine from an innovative auger system which feeds an accelerator to increase payload density.

The 3310B is available with an optional powered feed deck, allowing for shorter stems and tops. Both the powered- and standard fixed feed deck can be stowed for transportation purposes.

The Peterson 3310B drum chipper is also Peterson+ enabled–a new remote monitoring solution providing machine owners access to real-time and historical data of their machine’s performance and location.

On the 1st of April Mr. Jari Alahuhtala will become the new Managing Director (MD) of Komatsu Forest Oy and Mr. Timo Korhonen will become the new Sales and Marketing Director of Komatsu Forest Oy.

“With a heritage of innovations within the CTL-method and being in the forefront in forestry today, Finland is, and has always been, a very important market for Komatsu Forest. To best serve our customers throughout Finland and the Baltic States we are happy to announce this new organization. Mr. Alahuhtala and Mr. Korhonen are both esteemed colleagues and will work together to strengthen the customer relationships, the company and the Komatsu Forest brand even further”, says Ola Boström EVP and Marketing Director of Komatsu Forest.

Jari Alahuhtala celebrates 30 years in the company and has during that time been After Sales Manager for Komatsu Forest Oy and Komatsu Forest AB, MD for Komatsu Forest Oy and most recently MD for Komatsu Forest BKCIS, Russia. 10 years ago, he was asked to start up the Komatsu Forest Russian Branch in St Petersburg and has during that period established logistical centers for Spare Parts, Service and Marketing, increased the dealer network from 3 to 34 Komatsu Forest dealer points and contributed to expanding a training network together with forestry colleges and universities throughout Russia. Now the time has come for local experienced representatives to continue the forest machine sales in Russia and for Alahuhtala to return to Finland.

“For me being appointed to MD for Komatsu Forest Oy is a great opportunity and it feels like coming home. I already know most of the colleagues and many of the customers. After 30 years I still find it interesting and exiting to work in the forest machines business”, Alahuhtala says. “I’m sure that my experience and my network will be beneficiary in this new position”, Alahuhtala continues.

Timo Korhonen, who has been the MD for Komatsu Forest Oy since 2010, will now take the position as Sales and Marketing Director. Korhonen has been in the company for 19 years and started off as a salesman in 1999 and then as the Used Machine Manager, Marketing Manager and most recently MD for Komatsu Forest Oy. During Korhonen’s almost 8 years as MD Komatsu Forest Oy has among others expanded its facilities with Pirkkala, Jyväskylä and Rovaniemi Service and Spare Part Centers as well as expanded the dealership network in eastern, northern and western Finland to ensure closer proximity to the customers. In 2017 a new logistical solution was taken into effect for shorter lead time for spare parts.

“In the future I can focus much more on strengthening the sales team, sales activities and relationships with customers both in Finland and the Baltic states. The main target is of course to increase sales in both Finland and the Baltic states and I really look forward to getting started. Komatsu Forest’s product range suits perfectly to Finland’s and Baltic’s conditions, and there certainly is a larger potential for increasing sales. 2018 is a very exiting year for us, we have a lot of activities with new product introductions such as the 8wd harvester 901XC to soft ground and thinning operations, new head model C124, and SmartFlow – crane techniques to forwarders etc. and of course the big FinnMetko 2018 fair, Korhonen says.

The new organization will be in place April 1st.

“With this new management, we see a very experienced and dynamic team that will take Komatsu Forest Oy to the next level. With Alahuhtala’s knowledge and experience of working as an MD in a fast growing and changing market and with Korhonen’s strong dedication to the customers we are assured that we are well prepared to meet the expanding Finnish market”, Boström concludes.

Rubicon shares rise after CEO Moriarty says ArborGen on track to more than double earnings- Rubicon shares rose 9.1 percent after chief executive Luke Moriarty told shareholders its sole asset ArborGen is on track to more than double annual earnings.

“We have great belief in the potential future upside in ArborGen,” Moriarty told shareholders at the annual general meeting in Wellington, according to speech notes published on the NZX.

The stock rose 2 cents to 24 cents in early trading.

Last June, the NZX-listed forestry investor took full ownership of ArborGen, agreeing to pay International Paper and WestRock US$28.5 million in three instalments. It has paid US$18.5 million to date with a final US$10 million instalment due in July.

On Jan. 31 it closed the sale of its 45 percent stake in Tenon ClearwoodPartnership for US$15 million, which allowed it to pay Rubicon’s outstanding subordinated debt and gives it the headroom to make that final payment.

ArborGen – which sells and develops advanced genetic seedlings to improve forest productivity – is now Rubicon’s only asset.

Moriarty said ArborGen generated positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in the last financial year and “the target for the current fiscal year ending 31 March is for ArborGen to more than double the US$1.7 million USGAAP ebitda result achieved last year,” he said. USGAAP is the result ArborGen would report in a US listing situation and involves the full expensing of all R&D activities as USGAAP does not allow the capitalisation of these costs.

Moriarty said the result implies gross profit of around US$16 million. “ArborGen is well on track to achieving these numbers – despite the tough hurricane season that prevailed during the year and which materially adversely impacted sales volumes,” he said.

He added the next fiscal year should see a “noticeable further lift in earnings yet again,” and said the company would provide guidance after it closes the current year.

The company has changed Rubicon’s balance date to March 31 to align with ArborGen’s own year-end.

Source: BusinessDesk via Scoop

New Zealand exported more than one million cubic metres of softwood logs in January, only the second time in the country’s history that such a high volume has been shipped in the month.

The country exported 1.1 million cubic metres of softwood logs overseas in January this year, up 32 percent on January 2017, according to data from Global Trade Information Services published in AgriHQ’s monthly forestry market report. That’s the highest level for the month since 2014 and only the second time volumes have exceeded 1 million for a January month.

“New Zealand’s softwood log exports started 2018 with a bang,” AgriHQ analyst Reece Brick said in his March report under the heading ‘Flying start for log exports’. “The strong start to 2018 bodes well for the coming year, as January is historically the weakest month each year.”

The large export volumes in January were partly down to the later timing of Chinese New Year, which moved some of the heavy pre-Chinese New Year trading into January rather than December. New Zealand log exports in January fell 31 percent from December levels ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations, which ran from mid-February through to early March. However, the generally high level of exports this past 12 months were also a factor in lifting January volumes, AgriHQ noted.

New Zealand cemented its position as China’s top source of softwood logs last year, with its share of the market lifting to 36.3 percent from 34.7 percent. AgriHQ noted that New Zealand’s strong presence in the Chinese log market continued in January, with imports of New Zealand logs jumping 43 percent from the same month a year earlier, and accounting for 40 percent of China’s total log imports, significantly ahead of its closest rival Russia with a 21 percent share.

China’s demand for softwood logs has increased after Asia’s largest economy clamped down on harvesting its own forests and reduced tariffs on imported logs to meet demand in its local market.

“All eyes are focused on the direction that China takes after the Chinese New Year holidays,” Brick said. “Activity was relatively dead over the past month, but port-level offtake in the past week or two has reportedly lifted more sharply than expected.

“There’s little to show there will be any deviation from what’s been witnessed over the past 12 months and the general sentiment is for small price increases over the next two months.”

Forest products are New Zealand’s third-largest commodity export group behind dairy and meat products.

Source: BusinessDesk via Scoop

New Zealand has increased log exports to China in February 2018 by 55.9% to 1,17 million m3 with average price of NZ$164 per m3, according to Statistics New Zealand data.

China’s share in News Zealand log exports has gained 10 pp to 75.8%. The supplies to Korea declined 24.7% to 162.4 thousands m3, and to Japan dropped 38.1% to 98.8 thousands m3. In February 2018, total log exports from New Zealand increased 34.2% to 1.55 million m3.

In January 2018, Brazilian exports of wood products (except pulp and paper) increased 28.8% in value compared to January 2017, from $183.7 million to $236.6 million, ITTO reported.

The value of pine sawnwood exports increased 23% between January 2017 ($33.6 million) and January 2018 ($41.2 million). In terms of volume, exports increased 18% over the same period, from 168,300 cubic metres to 198,900 cubic metres.

In contrast to Brazilian wood products, tropical sawnwood exports fell around 12% in volume, from 32,800 cubic metres in January 2017 to 29,000 cubic metres in January 2018. But unit prices were higher such that export values fell less than 1% over the same period.

Pine plywood export values increased a startling 55% in January 2018 in comparison with a year earlier from $34.8 million to $54 million. The volume of plywood exports increased but by only 27% over the same period, from 133,000 cubic metres to 169,400 cubic metres.

As for tropical plywood, exports increased in both volume and value, from 10,600 cubic metres ($3.9 million) in January 2017 to 12,300 cubic metres ($ 5.1 million) in January 2018.

The good news on exports continued with for wooden furniture where export values rose from $26.6 million in January 2017 to $32 million in January 2018, a 20% rise.

Russian sawmills exported approximately 84 thousands m3 of softwood lumber to Egypt in January, analysis company Woodstat reported. This represents an increase of 42% compared to January 2017. Deliveries from Sweden decreased by 7% during the month and Finland increased the export by 3%.

The Russian export to Egypt increased by 63% during the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to same quarter previous year. With increased deliveries from the Russian sawmills they are increasing their market share again in the Egyptian market after a significant loss during the first half of 2017.

Traction aid winches constitute one of the most significant innovations in forest technology over the last ten years. As a valuable tool used for forest work on slopes, they are indispensable for the protection of the soils and in terms of sustainability and under economic aspects.

For companies from the German-speaking area, the winches have developed to become a real export hit. Traction aid winches will therefore make a subject of discussion at INTERFORST in Munich from July 18 to 22, 2018, both at the exhibitors’ booths and within the framework of the Special Show of the Board of Trustees for Forestry Work and Technology [Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik (KWF)].

Traction aid winches have been available since 2004. Initially, they were integrated into forwarders. Shortly afterwards, these first models were followed by versions for harvesters and for the logging of long pieces of timber. The most recently developed winches are put up on the slope separately from the machines. This makes them combinable with the most diverse forestry machines. The technology of these tools will be explained in the course of the KWF Special Show by demonstrating such an autonomous traction aid winch on a KWF-tested system.

In the Central European area, these winch systems are primarily intended to reduce wheel slippage and to improve the efficiency of power transmission. In addition, they stabilize the machines also during jib movements on the slope. However, the machines may only be used on slope sites where vehicles can remain standing also without cable support. Besides their suitability for use on slopes, traction aid winches can also help overcome level passageways over soils with a low load-bearing capacity and a high level of humidity without damages caused by slippage. The layout of the cable force is determined by the following factors: total mass of the machine, slope inclination and permissible slippage.

Since traction aid winches were first launched onto the market, diverse versions have evolved. The classic integrated model of the traction aid winch consists of a winch integrated into a forwarder. The advantages of this system are its immediate readiness for use, for example. In addition, all protection facilities for the driver can be installed directly by the manufacturer, and the control of all systems is located in one place—complex interactions between several control systems do not have to be taken into account.

However, there are also disadvantages. For example, sufficient space for the system must be found in the supported machine. This leads to a reduction of the available load space. In addition, the empty mass of the vehicle increases and its load capacity decreases—ground pressure increases. At the same time, the length of the cable that can be carried along is limited, and disengaging the cable at the exit at the lower end of the aisle is not possible.

Some of these points have led to newer developments—the autonomous traction aid winches. Here, the winch stands separately from the supported machine. As a result, installing an additional weight on the machine can be waived. It is possible to wind longer cables than with integrated systems. Disengaging the cable at the lower aisle exit is easily possible. Moreover, several machines can be attached to a traction aid winch, which makes an investment easier and the use of the winch more versatile and flexible. However, this system presents a few disadvantages, too.

For example, these are two machines, each of them requiring a separate drive. The winch system requires a location above the skid trail and, if necessary, an anchoring. In addition, there must be a separate control system for the machine—if necessary with sophisticated remote control. This may even require an intervention into the control system of the supported machine. Finally yet importantly, as opposed to the integrated system, the cable becomes a running cable.

Therefore, greater attention must be paid to the cable guide. Meanwhile, manufacturers are offering several versions of this model, too. In July, the exhibitors of Interforst 2018 will offer an overview of the state of the art and the current developments in the innovative area of the traction aid winches.

Johannes Manger PR Manager
INTERFORST Tel.: +49 89 949-21483 Fax: +49 89 949-9721482
E-Mail: johannes.manger@messe-muenchen.de

Global Softwood Lumber Trade

Trade of softwood lumber reached an all-time-high in 2017 as demand for wood was strong in most key markets around the world. An estimated 126 million m3 of softwood lumber was shipped from forest-rich countries such as Canada, Russia, Sweden and Finland to markets with high consumption of lumber, including China, the US, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany. Since the global recession in 2008, international trade of lumber has gone up by as much as 50%. With the economy forecasted to stay healthy in the US and Europe in 2018, this might be another good year for lumber exporters.

Lumber markets of North America US softwood lumber production in 2017 reached the highest level seen in ten years. The biggest increase came in the southern states, but other regions of the country also had healthy production gains year-over-year. The higher domestic production levels resulted in decreased demand for imported lumber as US lumber consumption was up by only one percent from 2016. The strong market for lumber in the US led to record high lumber prices in both the US and Canada in late 2017 and early 2018.

Lumber markets of China Over the past two years, prices for imported softwood lumber to China have been steadily rising and in January 2018 reached their highest levels since March 2015. Lumber supply from Russia and North America has generally been the lowest cost lumber imported to China, while lumber from Chile, Sweden and Finland typically is at the higher end of the price spectrum. Russia and Canada continue to be the major suppliers, but their total market share has shrunk from 81% in 2015 to 76% in 2017, with particularly Nordic mills increasing their presence in this fast-growing market.

Lumber market of Japan Although lumber imports to Japan fell in the 4Q/17, the total volume for the year was up slightly for the second consecutive year. The biggest changes in supply over the past few years have been reduced shipments from Canada and increased imports from Finland and Sweden. Compared to most other major markets of the world, domestic and import prices for lumber have been surprisingly stable. Source: Wood Resources International LLC, www.woodprices.com