New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor announced on Wednesday that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will reorganise its functions to create a stronger focus on core responsibilities.

Mr O’Connor says government will set up four portfolio-based entities, Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety.

“Our priority is to achieve greater clarity and unity of purpose for these areas. We are seeking enhanced visibility of government policy and regulatory activities and clearer lines of accountability and engagement for stakeholders.

MPI will build up its forestry presence in Rotorua, Mr O’Connor says. “Rotorua’s location puts it at the heart of our forestry sector and makes it the most appropriate site for a dedicated forestry presence to support the Government’s ambition in this important sector.

“It’s likely further change in the forest space will occur after policy and operational work to deliver the Government’s ambitious goals in this area.”

Reorganisation of MPI’s functions will occur in the early part of 2018 and will be in place by April. The estimated cost to implement the changes is NZ$6.8 million to establish the four portfolio-based business units. Additional ongoing operating costs are estimated at NZ$2.3m per annum.

MPI will commence planning immediately. Reorganisation of MPI’s functions will occur in the early part of 2018 and will be in place by April.

Source: Scoop

Hiab, part of Cargotec, has launched a revolutionary new oil tank using cyclone technology, which reduces oil usage, weight, space and running costs.

The patented technology, the first of its kind in the industry, introduces a new generation of efficient hydraulic oil tanks. The tank uses a cyclone system to remove air from the hydraulic oil returning to the tank, which is up to ten times more efficient than standard systems.

The technology allows oil to be circulated and filtered more often, so that the size of the tank can be significantly reduced. This means that the volume of oil required is also significantly reduced, plus the slight over-pressure in the system’s outlet prevents cavitation in the oil pump, leading to a longer operational lifetime for the pump, oil and hydraulic system.

“Our new cyclone oil tank is a game-changing accessory for use in a truck-mounted or crane-mounted application,” explains Markus Sjöqvist, Hiab’s Product Manager, Loader Crane Accessories. “Because the cyclone removes air from the oil up to ten times more efficiently, we can work with a much more compact oil tank. So, for example, instead of the 250 or 300 liter oil tank you would expect to find on a standard truck mounted with a Loader crane or Forestry Crane, we can now fit a 100 liter cyclone tank. This reduced size and weight allows the truck to reduce its fuel consumption, and lower its CO2 emissions by up to 600 kg a year. The tank size and weight reduction also gives additional cargo capacity, plus the advantages of lower oil usage of up to 60 per cent, and a more durable hydraulic system, so operating costs are reduced too.”

The cyclone oil tank can also be mounted directly onto the crane, and will be included in the crane’s warranty package. The higher mounting position on the crane enables better operating conditions for the pump, and installation costs are lower than the truck-mounted option.

“Reduced weight, volume and cost means more cargo capacity, and better operating profit. The Cyclone tank technology works with most Hiab crane models. Plus the benefits for the environment cannot be ignored by any company looking to reduce their impact on the planet in these climate-challenged times”, concludes Sjöqvist.

Link to an animation: https://youtu.be/UQOZURb63y8

For more information, please contact:

Markus Sjöqvist, Product Manager Loader Crane Accessories, Hiab, tel: +46 70 663 5263, e-mail: markus.sjoqvist@hiab.com

Kent Lindberg, Director, Loader Crane Accessories, Hiab, tel: +46 70 574 8132, e-mail: kent.lindberg@hiab.com

Hanna-Kaisa Talvensaari, Senior Communications Manager, Hiab, tel: +358 40 758 1572, e-mail: hanna-kaisa.talvensaari@hiab.com

Hiab is the world’s leading provider of on-road load handling equipment, intelligent services and digitally connected solutions. As the industry pioneer, Hiab’s more than 3,000 employees worldwide focus on our commitment to increase efficiency in our customers’ businesses and to shape the future of intelligent load handling.

Hiab is part of Cargotec Corporation. Cargotec’s (Nasdaq Helsinki: CGCBV) sales in 2016 totalled approximately EUR 3.5 billion, and it employs over 11,000 people. www.cargotec.com

Log harvests from Tasmania’s private forests are at record highs, with further increases expected. Tasmania’s private forest log harvest is the highest recorded since 1994-95 when Private Forests Tasmania (PFT) began collecting data. Logs from hardwood plantations dominate the harvest, which are expected to increase slightly and then stabilise as the State’s plantation estate matures and reaches a long term sustainable yield. Further increases in the private forest log harvest are possible from native forests.

Tasmania’s private forest estate of 1.03 million hectares is around 30per cent of Tasmania’s reported forest area with 0.84 million hectares of native forest (27.5 per cent) and 0.19 million hectares of plantations (62.5 per cent). Private forests log harvest has recently grown to dominate the Tasmanian log supply. In 2012-13 the private estate, for the first time, provided more than half (58 per cent) of the State’s total log harvest, growing to 67 per cent in 2015-16 and 73 per cent in 2016-17.

The 2016-17 total private forest harvest was well above historic levels, increasing 32 per cent from 2015-16 to 3.89 million tonnes. This followed a large increase of 48.5 per cent from 2014-15 to 2015-16 and continues a trend of increasing production from the record low of 2011-12 (1.11 million tonnes). The 2016-17 production levels were 0.71 million tonnes (22 per cent) higher than the previous high in 1999-00 (3.19 million tonnes; see image).

Since 1990-00 the proportion of native forest logs has fallen from dominance to a minor component of the total private log harvest. In 1990-00 native forests supplied 81 per cent of logs harvested from private forests. Historically low volumes of logs have been harvested from private native forests over the last 6 years, hence there is significant potential for increases in the supply of logs from these forests.

The dominance of plantation logs is expected to continue as current harvest levels are maintained or increased into the future. Increased production primarily comes from logs sourced from hardwood plantations, which reached a new high in 2016-17 of 2.46 million tonnes – an increase of 37 per cent from 2015-16. This follows an 89 per cent increase in the previous year.

The supply of logs from softwood plantations also increased in 2016-17, and is likely close to a long term sustainable yield. A large proportion of the Tasmanian private plantation estate is being replanted supporting future harvests.

These data demonstrate the private forest estate’s dominance in the market place and its immense strategic importance to Tasmania’s forest products sector and continued strong contribution to the Tasmanian economy.

Image: Private forests harvest volumes 1994-95 to 2016-17
Source: Private Forests Tasmania

The forest industry’s economic contribution to the “Green Triangle” plantation region of south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia is significant – it directly generated $1.2 billion in sales last financial year and a total of $1.9 billion when flow-on effects in other industries are included.

That was among the key findings of a new industry snapshot funded by Forest & Wood Products Australia, and conducted by the University of Canberra in conjunction with consultancy EconSearch, a division of BDO.

In terms of jobs, the forestry industry employed just over 2300 people in the Green Triangle in the first half of 2017 and, in some local government areas like Mount Gambier accounted for as much as 10 per cent of total employment.

Forest workers also earned higher-than-average incomes compared to others in the area, the industry snapshot found.

Employment in the industry fell five per cent between 2011 and 2016, with a decline in processing and manufacturing jobs partly offset by a rise in employment in growing, harvesting and haulage of plantation timber as hardwood plantations established in the late 1990s start reaching harvesting age.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Jacki Schirmer said that despite the fall of numbers in the industry, there are still strong opportunities for employment.

“Many employers reported finding it difficult to recruit workers, including professional staff, transport workers, heavy machine operators and field staff,” she said.

“The snapshot also included the results of surveys of local residents in the area. Local residents view the industry as very important for the local economy, particularly for generating jobs. There remains some concern about the impact of the industry on local roads, an issue the industry is working continuously and proactively to address.”

To read the report Socio-economic impacts of the forest industry – Green Triangle in full, visit http://www.fwpa.com.au/images/Green_Triangle_Report_8Dec2017_published.pdf

Media inquiries:
Victoria Button
[p] +61 3 9036 6900
[m] + 61 415 201 361
[e]mailto:victoria.button@peselandcarr.com.au

Rottne presents RK 105 – a genuine innovation on the crane side for the forwarders Rottne F10 and Rottne F11.

“It is a crane with significant differences compared to its predecessor RK 85,” says Filip Wirbladh, designer at Rottne Industri.

Behind the idea of the new knuckle boom crane for Rottne’s forwarders F10D and F11D which, among others, was developed based on a desire of a stronger crane, lies an innovative and well-thought-out strategy that has resulted in a completely new and improved product.

“The three main parts that have been redesigned compared with the old crane are: the mast, the lift cylinder and lifting arm. In brief, it is a completely new crane with increased strength. Above all, it is different approach to the assembly process,” says Filip Wirbladh.

The new crane is reinforced in order to give greater lifting force. The development work at the factory in Rottne has resulted in RK 105 having a lifting torque of 105 kNm (kilonewton meter). This is compared to approximately 87 kNm on the earlier model. The lifting angle has also been increased by about five degrees.

“We worked hard to reduce the stresses in the welds and have improved the lifting force with a full 20%,” says Filip.

The new RK 105 will be mounted as the standard crane on all F10D and F11D models delivered to customers from Rottne’s factory around the turn of the year 2017/2018 and onward.

The American Wood Council (AWC) elects Roseburg Forest Products CEO Allyn Ford as the AWC chairman for a one-year term, effective in January 2018.

Danny White, a director of T.R. Miller Mill Company, was elected the first vice-chairman, and Neil Sherman, executive vice president of siding at LP Corporation, was elected as second vice-chairman. Current AWC board chairman, Stimson Lumber CEO Andrew Miller, will serve as the immediate past chairman.

Sean McLaren, vice president of U.S. lumber operations for West Fraser, was confirmed as a new member to the AWC board.

The American Wood Council (AWC) is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, an industry that provides approximately 400,000 men and women in the United States with family-wage jobs.

WorkSafeBC – Mechanised harvesting machines could improve worker safety – It’s an exciting time for British Columbia’s steep-slope-harvesting forestry workers and employers. Approximately 25 new mechanised-harvesting machines equipped with winch-assist technology are operating in the province, and another 20 are anticipated to be put into use over the next two years on British Columbia’s rugged, often treacherous forested landscape.

These new machines can be used to fell, process, and forward wood to the roadside.

Advancements in mechanised steep-slope harvesting have the potential to improve occupational health and safety by getting more workers off the hill. But new technology also presents unique hazards and risks that employers need to identify, assess, and account for to prepare workers to operate new machinery safely.

Hand-falling is a dangerous occupation. The injury rate for manual tree fallers in B.C. in 2016 was 27.3 – by comparison the overall provincial injury rate for the same year was 2.21. Out of 127 accepted time-loss claims in 2016 for manual tree fallers, 30 were for serious injuries – 24 per cent. New technology that reduces the risk hand fallers face by allowing them to stay inside a cab while performing their duties, or operate equipment remotely, is a significant development for the safety of these workers; fully remote-controlled equipment is still relatively uncommon in B.C. and is currently limited to some yarders, carriages, and cameras on grapple yarders.

WorkSafeBC is keeping pace with these mechanical advancements by developing new health and safety resources so employers can ensure this equipment meets the requirements of the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

Source: John Ligtenberg, WorkSafeBC

Australian forestry company New Forests has a war chest of up to $500 million set aside for investing in New Zealand forestry.

Managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Mark Rogers, said the money had been recently raised from mainly European investors.

“We raised $873 million and we need to spend a big slab of it here, at least $400-500m for trees and infrastructure, but not trucking and harvesting because the locals to do that.”

“Pre-election we were thinking it might be quite difficult [to operate] but post- election it’s clear both sides understand that if foreign capital dried up in forestry, New Zealand would have a smaller sector.”

The Forest Owners Association said the Government would be keen to tap into these funds as well as other overseas investment for forestry, partly for environmental reasons.

“My understanding is that the new Government’s intention to see a billion trees planted in the next ten years was largely reasoned on plantation forestry being the only immediate and available tool to reduce New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions to a level anywhere near Paris Agreement commitments,” Association president Peter Clark said.

The Government has attached a rider to its policy on forestry investment to the effect companies need to develop local processing.

Rogers said besides having invested in forests, New Forests already owned a mill in Blenheim employing about 85, and was investing $10-15m into that in order to bring it up to scratch.

New Forests has four radiata pine plantations in New Zealand, totalling 18,800 hectares: Taupo Estate (3900 hectares), Wairarapa Estate (9700 ha, Blenheim Estate (4600 ha), and Southland Estate (600 ha).

US logs dominate shipments through Yantian port – According to the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, log imports through Yantian Port in Shenzhen City were 961,900 cubic metres valued at US$203 million between January and October this year. This represents a 54% increase in the volume of deliveries. Some 85% of all log shipments arriving at the port were from the US.

In order to efficiently clear imported logs the number of sites for inspection and treatment at Yantian Port increased to 320 from 60. The speed at which logs could be fumigated and cleared was shortened saving money for importers.

New wood product trading centre – The Chongqing Traffic and Transportation Group has invested RMB2.5 billion to establish an international wood products trading centre in the Jiangjin Comprehensive Bonded Zone in Chongqing municipality. This is the third Special Customs Supervision Zone in Chongqing municipality.

The centre has an online trading platform for wood products such as logs, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood pulp. The wood products trading centre will service western China.

Currently, timbers used for processing in the Chongqing region are sourced mainly from Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu province so transport costs are high. Transportation costs will be lowered when the trading centre in Chongqing municipality is in full operation.

The Jiangjin Comprehensive Bonded Zone was established on 17 January 2017 and is located on Jiangjin Luohuang Industrial Park.

The centre covers an area of 2.2 square kilometres and is well placed combining port, road and rail links and will become an important centre in the Yangtze River Economic Belt as it links Chongqing, Kunming and the Tran-Asia Railway the starting point for the China/Europe International Railway Corridor.

Source: ITTO TTM Report

Tigercat has announced that Marcos Dos Santos has joined the Tigercat product support team in the position of Brazilian factory support representative, based in Arapoti, Parana State, Brazil. Marcos will be working with their team in the region, providing after sales technical support to Tigercat’s growing customer base in Brazil.

Marcos has more than twenty years experience working within the forestry industry in the technical support area. He began his career with Stora Enso as a junior mechanic and further developed his skills at the dealer level with Latin Equipment do Brazil and CBI do Brazil. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on technical skills to the Tigercat team.