The former Martinsons’ sawmills in Bygdsiljum and Kroksjön, Sweden will take on the Holmen name from June 1.

The move is part of the work of merging the companies following Holmen’s SEK1bn acquisition of Martinsons last year.

The acquisition almost doubled Holmen’s sales of wood products to over SEK3bn, while also advancing positions in wood construction and providing Holmen with the capacity to process the majority of the raw material from its own forests in its own industry.

“Of course, I have many emotional ties to Martinsons, not least to do with identity and pride,” said Olov Martinson, one of the former owners of Martinsons and now mill manager at the plant in Bygdsiljum.

“And the same is true for many of our employees, but it now feels natural for us to fully become part of Holmen. We’ve established that there are many similarities between the organisations and only a few adaptations are needed. Now we’re taking the next step in the company’s history by continuing to build pride, just under a new and common flag!”

Martinsons Building Systems will retain the Martinsons brand as it is strongly established in the Swedish construction market.

As early as October 1, 2020 Martinson’s forest workers became part of Holmen Forest and from January 1, 2021, all products produced at the Group’s five facilities in Bygdsiljum, Kroksjön, Iggesund, Braviken and Linghem have been sold under the Holmen name and dispatched in Holmen branded packaging.

Building with tree and timber is booming in Scandinavia and Europe despite the prevailing pandemic and growth in the timber industry still looks strong. To meet sharply increased demand from the Nordic countries and the European market, Woodsafe has continuously invested in stae-of-the art facilities and is today totally Co2 neutral with solar energy.

They are investing in a topmodern new kiln-dryer from Valutec. The new drying plant is the first step in a multi-step program to meet higher demand for their services. For several years Woodsafe has invested in increased capacity and streamlined production.

“It feels good and we are very pleased that we have established a collaboration with Valute Woodsafe has big future plans and just like Valutec we are leading companies in our businesses. “Therefore it feels extra fun to be part of their continued expansion says Robert Larsson CEO of Valutec”

The dryer plant that Woodsafe invests in is a chamber kiln-dryer that Is built in stainless steel and it is equipped with pressure frames for minimal deformation of the upper layers of the wooden product.

“Width and depth are little out of the ordinary and are based entirely on reflection capacity as all projects more or less differ from each other, says Stefan Hedqvist Production Manager at Woodsafe”

The choice of supplier for the new chamber kiln-dryer is based on our high quality requirements and the choice of Valutec was a decision not difficult to make concludes Thomas Bengtsson

Daniel Pesic
Market & Media Strategies
+46-(0)10-206 72 34
daniel@woodsafe.se

Woodsafe provides a service to the construction industry to improve wood properties against fire for interior and exterior use. For more than 30 years, Woodsafe Timber Protection has focused on becoming a leading manufacturer of fire protected wood products. Our production is ISO 9001 certified and our long-term sustainability environmental work is ISO 14001 certified. Every year, Woodsafe Timber Protection, in collaboration with our premium partners, manages more than 1000 projects using fire retardant wood products for schools, high schools, colleges, hospitals, sports arenas, public buildings, multi-storey houses and facades, transportation, prefabricated building industry etc. ALL-IN-ONE by Woodsafe is a quality chain of selected partners and sales channels that facilitates and ensures companies to take a holistic approach for the litterally vital work with fire protected wood in construction projects. Customers’ natural choice. Woodsafe a trusthworthy partner for the development of new wood types and wood components with fire-retardant properties.

The drivers of logging trucks have to navigate school zones, tight intersections and small-town traffic because federal law prohibits them from driving on interstate highways. A new bill from a Wisconsin congressman would change that.

Research suggests the federal weight limit on interstates makes logging truckers’ routes more dangerous, costs timber companies money and leads to more greenhouse gas emissions. They’d use less fuel, make more efficient routes and encounter fewer obstacles on interstates.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, said his bill would change what he calls “outdated” regulations. The measure has the support of Wisconsin’s timber industry and it’s bolstered by new research documenting the inefficiencies and potential dangers of barring the trucks from highways.

Every morning at 6 a.m., Scott Koerner, of Oshkosh’s Koerner Forest Products, maps routes with his drivers.

“Very often, we say, ‘Boy, if we could just jump on the interstate, this would be quite an easy run,'” Koerner said. “Sometimes, we’re paralleling that piece of interstate for 60, 70, 80 miles on county roads and state highways, just trying to keep the route still as short as we can.“

In particular, he said the routes that require drivers to pass through school zones are a stressor.

Gallagher said his eyes were opened to the issue when he did a ride-along with a logger in late 2019 and witnessed them navigating the massive vehicles through roundabouts and busy intersections seemingly not designed for them.

“They’re very skilled drivers,” Gallagher said. “But it makes no sense why we seem to make their trip from Point A to Point B almost as challenging as we can.”

Recent research supports the point. Forest resources professors with the University of Minnesota studying timber routes in central and eastern Wisconsin found interstate travel would reduce the time they take by more than 20 percent, would reduce fuel consumption by between 6 percent and 14 percent and would eliminate school zones from the routes.

The biggest difference lies in the vast reduction in the number of intersections and traffic lights the truckers would encounter on interstates. Researchers found they would be down between 64 percent and 88 percent. The findings echoed similar research out of the University of Georgia.

Listen here.

Source: By Rob Mentzer — WPR.ORG

John Deere G-Series Harvesters and Forwarders are now available with durable RENCRAFT^® Super Hard Coat polycarbonate windows.

Available as a standard offering on new machines, the more durable windows deliver enhanced optic quality, improved scratch resistance and a thicker coating for increased sound insulation.

Improving the durability of its machines, John Deere now features RENCRAFT^® Super Hard Coat polycarbonate windows as a standard offering on its G-Series harvesters and G-Series forwarders. Providing enhancements over the windows previously used, the upgraded windows are designed to withstand external wear. Additionally, the windows are improved to enhance scratch resistance and withstand chemicals and cleaning solutions, while also enhancing optic quality.

“The optics of the new window are clearly better, and, as a bonus, the cabin is now even quieter. The new kind of coating enabled by the manufacturing technique and the wear protection it brings are also significant improvements on the previous ones,” said Sami Kulmala, marketing manager, John Deere.

The new, more durable coating on the windows is created during the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate coating or minor distortions. Additionally, the new windows comply with the ISO 21876 Saw Chain Shot Testing standard, proving their durability.

With the new windows, the front window of the rotating cab and the rear window of the John G-Series Forwarder fixed cab are almost 50% thicker than before. Additionally, due to the thicker material, the cab is better insulated, resulting in a quieter environment on the job site.

The RENCRAFT Super Hard Coat polycarbonate windows are available as a standard offering on all Model Year 2021 G-Series harvesters and forwarders. To learn more about the new windows, as well as the G-Series harvesters and forwarders, visit www.JohnDeere.com or your local John Deere dealer.

On June 1, 2021, Scott Dane will officially become the next Executive Director for the American Loggers Council (ALC), replacing the retiring Danny Dructor who has been with the ALC since July of 2001.

Mr. Dane brings with him a vast amount of experience working with timber harvesting and timber hauling associations having been the Executive Director for the Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers of Minnesota for the past seventeen years.

Scott has experience in State and National issues impacting the timber harvesting and timber hauling issues at both the State and National level. He has been a critical component of the ALC’s work to gain financial assistance for those businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been involved in legislation allowing State legal weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway System and other ALC initiatives like the Future Careers in Logging Act.

Participating in activities and legislation related to the federal timber sale program and forest restoration projects will also keep Scott busy as he continues to represent the issues and concerns of those ALC members who are dependent on a viable federal timber supply and a federal forest restoration program.

Tim Christopherson, President of the ALC states, “After close to 18 months of searching for a new Executive Director for the ALC, the search committee was able to narrow down the field to one candidate. I am pleased that Scott has accepted the position and look forward to working him during the transition. He has the drive, passion and ambition to take the ALC to the next level.”

Scott Dane commented, “Danny has provided the leadership to develop the American Loggers Council into the leading national voice of the American logging industry. I look forward to continuing to build upon that foundation, expanding the partnerships, supporting the state members with their issues and promoting the agenda of the American Loggers Council.”

The ALC office will be relocated from Texas to Minnesota where Scott will set up the office beginning June 1, 2021.

The American Loggers Council is the only national organization solely dedicated to representing the independent contract logger on the national level. We have the combined forces of independent contractors and state and regional logging associations, as well as our many sponsors around the country to impact our industry positively and pro-actively by sharing the benefits of education and training opportunities, networking, research, promotion and legislative coordination. The Council is committed to enhancing the logging profession, establishing a more level playing field for professional loggers and providing accurate information about the logging profession to the forest products companies, landowners and the public. It serves as a national network and communication center, linking local, state and regional organizations around the country.  https://www.amloggers.com/news

Unilin had been looking for upstream integration in the value chain of (Engineered) Wood/Parquet flooring and is now successful. The deal includes land, buildings and industrial assets. Over 100 employees will transfer to Unilin. Jens Van Rompaey, General Manager Wood at Unilin Flooring explains: ‘Our direct access to premium logs is now guaranteed. The skills and experience of our new colleagues at the Braşov plant, combined with Unilin’s drive for innovation and design, is very promising. We expect to make significant steps forward.’ The company is planning to make important investments in the Braşov-site.

Ruben Desmet, President of Unilin Flooring: ‘After a constructive negotiation with JAF Group, we are very pleased to announce a deal. This integration clearly shows we are committed to the (Engineered) Wood/Parquet category. It will allow us to provide even more value for our customers, in terms of quality and sustainability of our products and services. Our mission is to use wood in the smartest way and store carbon for as long as possible.’

“We are delighted to have found a sustainable purchaser for our production site in Braşov. The negotiation process was extremely constructive and has been successfully concluded,” commented Werner Stix, CEO of the JAF Group, on the positive outcome of the discussions with Unilin over the past weeks.

No financial details on this transaction are to be made public. The deal is expected to be closed by the fourth quarter of 2021.

Did you know that a forwarder operator spends as much as 70% of their working day operating the crane? This means there is much to be gained by finding ways to optimise crane operation. The most ergonomic work environment possible is also key to ensuring high and constant production throughout the working day. Komatsu Forest is now introducing Komatsu Smart Crane, a crane that reacts to the forwarder operator’s slightest movements, translating them into smooth and efficient crane operation.

Crane operation requires several different but simultaneous actions, and over the space of a day these add up to many hand movements to forward timber to the roadside. Naturally, an experienced operator performs these movements without thinking, but a simplified approach would reduce the physical toll and optimise crane operation. This was the central idea behind the development of Smart Crane.

Smart Crane offers advantages that include a reduced physical burden on the operator, enabling them to maintain high production throughout the day. This is made possible by the crane’s precision and smooth movement patterns, which with less sway and vibration removes stress from the operator.

Smart Crane simplifies crane control too. With just three joystick movements, the operator can easily control the grapple with great precision.

“The telescopic boom extension is controlled automatically, meaning one less thing for the operator to think about. Fewer joystick movements make the job easier – even for an experienced operator – and mean better operator ergonomics. Another advantage is that it is much easier for an inexperienced operator to quickly hone their crane operation skills”, Daniel Grabbe, Product Manager forwarders explains.

Smart Crane alters its behaviour depending on which stage of the crane cycle the grapple is at, just as an experienced operator does. This means that the crane behaves differently depending on whether the operator is gathering timber from the ground, loading it into the load space or stacking it at the roadside – everything to ensure maximum productivity every step of the way. This is seen, for example, in how Smart Crane prioritises the telescopic boom extension over the main boom, saving both time and fuel.

“Our Smart Crane technology builds on SmartFlow, our intelligent crane control that includes an intelligent crane valve to ensure that the right pressure and flow are supplied to the crane at all times, regardless of the load. With its active crane damping, it also ensures impressive responsiveness and great precision in all crane movements. The crane quite simply feels like an extension of your own arm”, Grabbe continues.

Another reason for the crane’s excellent precision is that the Smart Crane system can distribute the movement between the crane functions so that vibrations and shocks are reduced. This contributes to better operator ergonomics while at the same time protecting the crane components and extend their service life.

Since such a large share of a forwarder operator’s working day involves crane operation, increased efficiency offers great potential. Smart Crane provides the operator with advantages such as simpler crane operation, less physical strain and higher productivity. Advantages that benefit both profitability and the operator’s wellbeing.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has announced a new expansion to Hankins Lumber in Grenada, MS.  Hankins Lumber is adding new sawmill operations, Hankins Timbers, to their existing business enterprise. The project is a $12.5 million corporate investment and will create 43 jobs.

“Mississippi’s agriculture industry is our state’s top economic driver, employing tens of thousands of Mississippians and contributing billions to the state’s economy each year,”  Reeves said. “Forestry is the state’s second top commodity in this important industry, with nearly 20 million acres of forestland available to ensure companies like Hankins Timbers continue to provide job opportunities to the people of Grenada County and the entire state for years to come.”

Hankins Lumber has been in operation in Grenada County for nearly 50 years. The company, which produces Southern Yellow Pine lumber products, employs 140 workers at its current facility. Hankins Timbers will use first and second pine thinning as opposed to mature logs. The facility will produce approximately 40 million board feet per year.

Source: Y’all Politics

Timber infested by insects accounted for more than half of the total amount of timber logged

In 2020 a total of 80.4 million cubic metres of timber was logged in German forests. Timber logging reached a new record high: since German unification, the amount of timber logged in Germany has never been higher than in 2020. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that the amount of timber logged again increased by 16.8% compared with the previous record high of 68.9 million cubic metres reached in 2019.

This development was due to increasing forest damage caused by insects, for example, during hot and dry periods. Timber infested by insects accounted for more than half (53.8%) of the total amount of timber logged in 2020.

Source: The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis)  Horticulture and forestry

Roughly half (50.6%) of the total 12.7 million cubic metres exported were sent to China
Producer prices of raw timber far below the level of previous years: -27.3% in February 2021 compared with 2015
Amount of timber logged reached record high in 2020
Mills for sawing, planing and impregnating wood saw increases in turnover: +18.3% in 2020 compared with 2015

The construction boom during the coronavirus pandemic boosted the demand for timber as a building material in Germany and abroad. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that Germany exported a total of 12.7 million cubic metres of raw timber worth 845 million euros in 2020. In terms of quantity, this was an increase of more than a third (42.6%) compared with 2019.

The growth in exports did not continue at the beginning of 2021. Compared with the same period a year earlier, the quantities exported dropped by 12.4% to 1.5 million cubic metres (value: 100 million euros) in January and February

Source: The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) Press office Phone:  +49 (0) 611/75 34 44