All posts by Jo English

LX877 Feller buncher

Tigercat Releases LX877 Feller Buncher

machinery, New release

Tigercat has released the LX877 feller buncher, the second model to be built on the new sloped tail platform. The LX877 is equipped with Tigercat’s well-proven closed loop drive system. Equipped with a 260 kW (350 hp) engine, it is best suited to high production, steep slope, mature timber clear fell applications.

Optimized weight distribution and low centre of mass, along with Tigercat’s patented super duty levelling undercarriage, provide the operator with comfort, stability and confidence on sloped terrain.

One of the most important LX877 design features is the sloped tail profile. It provides increased levelling capability to 26 degrees, and better cable clearance in winch assisted applications.

Along with the improved levelling angles, Tigercat redesigned the ER boom system to provide a larger envelope with tighter tuck, and increased below grade capability. Through-tip hose routing offers better protection of the boom hoses leading to the felling head. The boom has three operating modes – ER, semi-ER and conventional – and can be set based on operating conditions, tree size and operator preference.

Other enhancements include further improvements to service access, and in-tank hydraulic filtration for extended service intervals. The side opening engine enclosure completely exposes the top and both sides of the engine and most hydraulic components. When open, the enclosure roof serves as a safe, spacious and convenient work platform.

The LX877 is best matched to the Tigercat 5702 and 5702-26 felling saws.

To read previous Tigercat related posts click here.

 

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100th-anniversary short film

Comact wraps up a transformative year with its 100th-Anniversary short film

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SAINT-GEORGES, QC, DECEMBER 10, 2024 — As 2024 comes to a close, Comact, a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services, and aftermarket support supplier, is proud to celebrate its 100th-anniversary short film that highlights a century of innovation, evolution, and leadership in the wood processing industry.

This year has been a pivotal one for Comact. Alongside commemorating its centennial, the company introduced a refreshed brand image and welcomed a new management team. These milestones mark its continued growth while staying true to the values that have defined Comact for 100 years: performance, innovation, and commitment.

“At Comact, our roots run deep. While we’ve grown and evolved over the past century, our core mission remains unchanged—empowering the wood processing industry with the tools, technologies, and support needed to succeed,” said Simon Potvin, Comact’s President and CEO.

The 100th-anniversary film reflects this journey and Comact’s vision for the future: pushing boundaries, delivering results, and driving progress for generations to come.

To watch the film and learn more about Comact, click here or visit comact.com.

ABOUT COMACT

For over 100 years, Comact has been a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services, and aftermarket support. Driven by innovation and excellence, we are dedicated to helping our customers address their most pressing operational and business challenges in today’s industry.

Whether for brownfield or greenfield projects, Comact’s expertise provides wood processing facilities with the confidence that their investments will yield superior performance, throughput, and ROI. This ensures they remain competitive and achieve sustained growth in an ever-evolving market. Trust Comact to deliver exceptional performance every time. For more information, visit www.comact.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To read previous Comact related posts click here.

 

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business & finance awards

Combilift Scoops ‘Company of the Year’ at the 2024 Business & Finance Awards

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Monaghan, Ireland – 9 December 2024 – Combilift, the global leader in material handling solutions, has been awarded Company of the Year at the prestigious Business & Finance Awards 2024, in association with KPMG Ireland. This remarkable achievement marks Combilift’s 9th major win in the last three months, solidifying its position as an industry leader.

The Company of the Year award, presented to Combilift’s CEO Martin McVicar by Seamus Hand from KPMG at the 50th Business & Finance Awards ceremony – held in Dublin, is a testament to the company’s significant impact on both the Irish economy and the global market. Combilift, with annual revenue exceeding €500 million, has continued to thrive with its export-focused business model, with 98% of its operations serving international markets.

Since its founding in 1998, Combilift has built a global reputation as the largest manufacturer of multi-directional, articulated, and sideloading forklifts, as well as large material handling equipment such as straddle carriers, with over 85,000 units in operation across 85 countries. The company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and research and development has been pivotal to its exceptional growth, making it a true leader in the material handling industry.

Martin McVicar, CEO of Combilift, said:

“This award reflects the bold vision and relentless drive that has been at the heart of Combilift since Robert Moffett and I started in 1998. Every forklift, every innovation, and every milestone reflects our commitment to pushing boundaries and transforming material handling worldwide. This moment belongs to our employees, our dealers, and our customers, who rely on us to deliver quality material handling solutions to optimise their warehouse space.”

Joining a Legacy of Excellence

Winning this award places Combilift among an elite group of previous winners, including industry giants Glen Dimplex, Kingspan, Primark, Google, and Intel. As a homegrown Irish business with a global footprint, this latest recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the company’s ongoing success and its critical role in shaping the future of the material handling industry.

Photo  L-R. Ian Hyland – Business & Finance, Martin McVicar -Combilift, Seamus Hand – KPMG

For previous Combilift posts click here.

 

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Burton Mill Solutions

Menominee Saw & Supply is now part of Burton Mill Solutions

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Burton Mill Solutions has announced its acquisition of Menominee Saw & Supply, based in Menominee, Michigan. Menominee specializes in supporting wood processors in the Northern Great Lakes region and across the Midwest by supplying and reconditioning a variety of industrial cutting tools, including machine knives, small- and large-diameter circle saws, and wide and narrow band saws.

This acquisition significantly expands Burton’s geographic footprint and enhances its technical capabilities, enabling it to provide better service to primary wood producers. With the addition of Menominee, Burton strengthens its already comprehensive technical expertise in wood processing technology, including saws, knives, filing room equipment, technical services, and industrial wear parts.

Chuck Wert, Senior Vice President of Burton, commented, “We are excited to work more closely with the Menominee team. This partnership will allow us to elevate our service offerings and better address the needs of our customers in the Midwest.”

John Brock, General Manager of Menominee, shared his thoughts, saying, “Burton has been important partner for many years, but by joining forces, we’ll be able to significantly expand our network and capabilities. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”

Dale Brown, CEO of Burton Mill Solutions and sister companies USNR and Mid-South Engineering, added, “this acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to provide innovative solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency in the wood processing industry.”

Menominee’s Great Lakes location will complement Burton’s existing network of saw and knife reconditioning service centers in Maine, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.

About Burton Mill Solutions

Burton Mill Solutions is the leading North American manufacturer and supplier of industrial saw blades, machine knives, filing room equipment, cutting tool reconditioning services, and vocational training to the lumber, pulp, and wood biomass industries, with a history dating back to 1832.

About Menominee Saw & Supply

Based in Menominee, Michigan, Menominee Saw & Supply specializes in designing, manufacturing, and reconditioning cutting tools and supplying a variety of related products to the primary and secondary wood products markets in the Northern Great Lakes region, and across the Midwest.

Image: Dale Brown, CEO of Burton Mill Solutions

 

 

 

 

 

To read other Burton Mill Solutions posts click here.

 

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Karelia

Segezha Group clears old-growth Karelia forests, endangering 1.5 million hectares of unique ecosystems

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Karelia forests – Since late 2022, Segezha Group, a subsidiary of Russian AFK Sistema, has engaged in large-scale logging operations near Lake Maksimyärvi in Karelia, an area proposed for reserve status. Over one year, the company has cleared 1,700 hectares of old-growth forests with trees ranging from 150 to over 300 years old. These forests are home to 72 species listed in the Red Data Books of Russia and Karelia, including rare plants, fungi, and animals. Logging activities have destroyed six critical wildlife habitats and 73 documented sites of rare flora and fauna, as reported by Kedr.Media, which has been labelled a foreign agent by Russian authorities.

Until the fall of 2022, these forests were protected under a moratorium agreed upon by Segezha Group and FSC. However, FSC’s withdrawal from Russia and the loss of European markets led Segezha to abandon its commitments. Between June and November 2022, the company removed 1.5 million hectares of old-growth forests in Karelia from protection. These areas include sites intended for reserves such as Kuzharvi, Lakes Nyuk, Vygozersky-2, and Zaonezhsky.

Scientific research emphasizes the critical role of old-growth forests in carbon storage and climate regulation. A study titled “Large Trees Dominate Carbon Storage in Forests East of the Cascade Crest in the United States Pacific Northwest” revealed that large trees, constituting just 3% of total forest stems, account for up to 42% of stored carbon. Logging such trees not only releases significant CO2 but also undermines ecosystem resilience.

In Karelia, old-growth forests represent only 12% of the total forest cover, equivalent to 10% of the republic’s land area. These ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and support rare species, such as the northern reindeer. The Maksimyärvi area, with an average tree age exceeding 150 years, is considered a unique natural asset.

Delays in formalizing protections for these areas exacerbate the problem. While documentation to designate Maksimyärvi as a reserve was submitted in 2023, legal protection has yet to be implemented. Environmentalists appealed to the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office in April 2023 to halt logging, citing Ministry of Natural Resources Order No. 264, which mandates the preservation of habitats for species listed in the Red Data Books. Despite this, logging continues.

Nikolay Shmatkov, director of the Lesnoy Etalon certification system created by former FSC staff after its exit from Russia, confirmed to Lesprom Network that Segezha Group is logging in proposed reserves, including Maksimyärvi. “This is not an isolated incident, other reserves face similar threats,” Shmatkov stated. “The law requires forest users to identify and protect habitats of rare and endangered species, such as the northern reindeer in Maksimyärvi, yet these obligations are not being met.”

To read previous Segezha Group posts click here.

 

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CSS

USNR – The NEW CSS features the latest in optimization and controls

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USNR’s new Compact Shape Saw (CSS) system comprises multiple modules that work to provide unprecedented performance. This includes the CSS Canter, feed modules, and the CSS Gang.

It also features the latest in USNR controls and optimization technology. This includes their state-of-the-art Self-Adjusting Machine (SAM) Sensing technology. The system continuously compares the measurements to the optimizer’s solution to identify target versus actual cant widths.

It then calculates cutting errors for the saws or chippers, providing this information directly to operators and quality control (QC) staff. After scanning enough pieces, the Gang SAM determines the necessary bias adjustments and updates the settings for each device, either automatically or with approval from QC staff. Chippers are adjusted symmetrically to maintain optimal performance.

To learn more about the controls and optimization technology, as well as the entire CSS system, contact your USNR representative.

CSS Controls

The control system features a new hydraulic force control system for all pressrolls. It replaces the legacy hydraulic over air pressrolls. This more accurately controls how hard any given piece is held against the bed elements.

This reduces the wear and tear on components, the quantity of parts to maintain, and the ability for pieces to convey uncontrolled through the system.

CSS Optimizer

The USNR CSS Optimizer empowers sawmills with advanced curve sawing capabilities, enabling precise placement of products with customized values, targets, and wane rules within the cant.
Its geometric feature recognition accurately classifies user-defined grades based on key characteristics like diameter, length, taper, and sweep. With the CSS and downstream equipment fully virtualized within the optimization engine, mills can confidently project production outcomes and maximize product yield.

SAM Sensing

USNR’s Gang SAM System ensures precise, on-size cutting for lumber by automatically correcting errors in real-time. Using advanced laser sensors, the Gang system scans each cant before and after it has been sawn, capturing crucial data on sawing and chipping errors and making bias adjustments to correct any cutting issues.

To read previous USNR posts click here.

 

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Raptor 800

Celso Kossaka of SPARTA BRASIL announces the first Raptor 800 in Brazil

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SPARTA BRASIL and B&S have announced the first Prinoth Raptor 800 in Brazil! One of the most powerful and productive equipment on the world market!

The robustness of the Raptor 800 with 640 hp of power, is capable of performing the most difficult jobs in the forestry and agricultural sector.

From shredding waste, resetting areas, realigning plantations, preparing for mechanized planting, lowering stumps on the surface and being able to go down to 40 cm deep, with an operational width of 2.35 m of cutting width.

The most productive and fastest for your challenges! SPARTA BRASIL Excellence in Equipment for Vegetation Control and Shredding 11 97638-9945 (WhatsApp)

Catch all the latest news here.

 

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reputable

Ponsse is once again one of Finland’s most reputable companies

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Ponsse is the third most reputable company in Finland in 2024. A survey by T-Media reveals that the most reputable companies in 2024 among Finns are KONE and Fazer. A total of 10 575 citizens responded to this year’s survey.

“Thanks for this award go to all our Ponsse employees and customers and their families, as well as to our stakeholders around the world. We don’t do this alone, but as a team and together we will succeed in good times and challenging times alike,” says Jarmo Vidgren, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ponsse Plc.

The top three companies in the survey – Kone, Fazer and Ponsse – are all family-owned or anchor-owned companies.

“Throughout the history of the Luottamus&Maine survey, reputable companies have often included family-owned companies, which speaks volumes about the importance of family-owned companies in Finnish society and economy. In many family businesses, reputation management is part of the company’s historical operating culture, and this is also clearly visible in our survey results.” ,” says Riku Ruokolahti, Development Director at T-Media.

T-Media surveyed the reputation of companies operating in Finland in June and July. Of the top three companies, KONE received a reputation score of 3.95, Fazer 3.93 and Ponsse 3.90. The survey used a five-point rating scale (1-5).

The organisations were assessed using T-Media’s Trust&Maine survey model, where an organisation’s reputation score is the average of eight different areas. These are corporate governance, finance, leadership, innovation, interaction, products & services, workplace and responsibility.

To read other Ponsse related posts click here.

 

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Travis McDonald

Travis McDonald Appointed as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

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Vancouver, British Columbia, November 1st, 2024 — We are pleased to announce the appointment of Travis McDonald as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at Comact.

Travis brings a unique blend of skills and experience, making him the ideal leader for this critical role. With over 30 years of expertise in engineering and strategic capital investments within the wood processing industry, and having successfully led Comact’s Project Services teams since 2018, he has been instrumental in driving Comact’s growth and delivering some of the most productive sawmills in North America.

In his new position, Travis will oversee the development of new business opportunities and growth initiatives across all verticals of the sawmill business, while also expanding into new geographical markets. He will continue to lead our efforts with Smith Sawmill Service, expanding our footprint in cutting tool solutions across North America, and guide CORE Integrators into new markets where our automation expertise can create significant value. Additionally, Travis will be responsible for building and maintaining key supplier relationships, fostering partnerships that will help us continually elevate the standards of products and services in the market.

“Travis’s leadership, deep industry knowledge, and customer focus will play a vital role in driving Comact’s continued growth,” said Simon Potvin, President and CEO of Comact. “His ability to build strategic partnerships and lead high-impact initiatives will help us strengthen our market position and deliver advanced, customer-centric solutions across all our business units.”

As part of this transition, the US Project Services teams —including safety, engineering, construction, procurement and sales —will be integrated into their respective role teams to centralize functions, maximize efficiency, and ensure standardization of our offerings.

We are confident that under Travis’ leadership, Comact will continue to innovate and strengthen its position as a leading supplier of OEM high-performance technologies in the wood processing industry. Committed to excellence and driven by innovation, we will continue delivering advanced solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.

To read previous Comact related posts click here.

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planer mill

Rosboro Company in Springfield, OR, invests in new planer mill

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USNR is supplying Rosboro Company in Springfield, OR, with a brand-new planer mill, complete with a Hydraulic Continuous Tilt Hoist, a 4200 planer, a Multi-Saw Clamshell Trimmer, Low-Profile Stacker, and Sorter Top with 36 bins.

The project also includes converting four of their dry kilns to USNR’s Uniflow Dry Kiln design with KilnBoss controls. All these new product installations are designed to support Rosboro’s new glulam production facility with higher output and higher-quality results.

USNR’s 4200 planer offers unmatched high speed performance. This maintenance-friendly modular design puts feed roll changes on the operator’s side, thus reducing change-out time.

The Uniflow Dry Kilns being installed at Rosboro are the first of their kind on the West Coast, meeting the most stringent emissions restrictions. The system is designed to achieve even higher throughput using an existing heat source with no loss of lumber quality.

USNR is honoured to be part of this significant undertaking and looks forward to the next phases of the project.

Ro read previous USNR related posts click here.

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