John Deere expands the capabilities of its popular  Grade Pro (GP)-Series of motor graders with new technology, including two industry-exclusive features, Blade Stow and Auto-Gain for Cross Slope. The new features, which also include Machine Damage Avoidance, deliver higher productivity, increased uptime and lower daily operating costs during operation.

“Our customers challenge us to find new ways to incorporate smart technologies into Deere products. They are looking for solutions to help make equipment easier to run and more efficient,” said Luke Kurth, product marketing manager, motor graders. “These new features allow new operators to come up to speed more quickly, and all operators can take full advantage of the productivity of Deere graders. We are committed to delivering a differentiated customer experience by bringing innovation to the always-evolving construction industry.”

The technology updates include two industry-exclusive offerings, Blade Stow and Auto-Gain, providing greater simplification for the operator. Blade Stow, standard with machine presets or Automation Suite, adds a configurable setting to automatically stow the blade with the touch of a button.

With Auto-Gain, the machine automatically adjusts the Cross Slope gain setting on the fly based on the operating conditions, eliminating the need for operators to make manual adjustments. Auto-Gain improves productivity for operators by ensuring accurate blade movement in ever-changing conditions.

The GP-Series motor graders can be further enhanced with optional Machine Damage Avoidance. When activated, the feature reduces the chance of downtime by preventing the moldboard from inadvertently contacting the tires, the cab steps or frame and the saddle from contacting the table. With this feature, operators can focus on the job at hand, improving productivity.

SmartGrade™ motor grader models received additional enhancements to the industry’s first mastless motor grader for greater flexibility and productivity, including a larger file-processing capability, up to 20% faster file transfers and increased real-time kinematic (RTK) radio stability. SmartGrade machines are now compatible with network RTK and local positioning system (LPS) technology.

In addition, John Deere now includes the factory-installed Premium Circle on all new SmartGrade motor graders. The fully sealed bearing and pinion help reduce maintenance costs and downtime by eliminating wear inserts and ensuring the circle remains tight during operation, maximizing accuracy while also significantly boosting circle torque and speed.

The addition of the package, combined with the power of the SmartGrade technology, will boost machine productivity and uptime, positively impacting contractors’ bottom lines.

Photo: Exclusive features and factory Premium Circle enhance the SmartGrade models

The BSW Group has acquired Dick Brothers Forestry Ltd, the UK’s largest timber harvesting company.

Established over 25 years ago and headquartered in the Scottish Borders, the business boasts state-of-the-art forestry equipment and market leading capabilities to harvest some of the largest and most complex forests in the UK.

Dick Brothers represents a cornerstone acquisition for the BSW Group, strengthening its vertical integration of the timber supply chain and securing in-house harvesting capabilities for its forestry and harvesting management division Tilhill.

Davy Dick, Managing Director of Dick Brothers, said: “We are delighted to be joining the BSW family. Whilst it is very much business as usual, we are excited to be working with the BSW team to continue the growth of the business and enhance the services we can bring our customers. We would also like to thank our previous owners, Faro Capital, for their support and investment in the business over recent years.”

Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW, commented: “This is fantastic news for BSW. Dick Brothers is a business with strong heritage and fantastic prospects, and one that we believe will bring huge value to BSW.

“The acquisition enables BSW to become a streamlined stump to sawmill operation, utilising the experience of Dick Brothers to develop smart solutions to timber breakout from the forest and match to sawmill and ultimately customer demands. This places us in a unique position within the UK domestic wood supply sector.

“Whilst operations at Dick Brothers and BSW will remain largely the same, there will be a number of areas for our businesses to support each other. We look forward to working with the Dick family to grow the business as part of the wider BSW Group.”

Tony added that it was important that the new acquisition also maintained and grew business with other players: “The sector is very interdependent and what might be one of our division’s customers might be another division’s supplier, so it is critical that Dick Brothers will retain the flexibility to trade across the industry.”

WSM’s Bale Processing System is an automated, high-volume processing system for baled agricultural residuals, delivering process ready feedstock for large scale bio-fuel, bio-refining, bio-power, and animal feed operations. A single line system consists of five integrated processing modules to process 40-50 bales per hour. Multiple lines can be installed additional capacity.

Bulk Receiving, Singulating, Orientation, and Inspection are the first stage of this innovative process. The unique QC inspection station with reject option provides an added layer of protection. WSM’s Bale Destringer removes twine, with an adjustable opening to handle various sized rectangular bales. The built-in disposal system removes string from the processing line. WSM’s Bale Chopper deconstructs the bale and performs the initial size reduction.

WSM’s Screening/Cleaning System reduces maintenance by pre-screening dirt, grit, ferrous metal, and other contaminants from chopped fiber and classifies sized material prior to milling for reduced power consumption. Produce process-ready feedstock, sized to work with your conversion technology, with WSM’s massive Super Shredders. These high capacity and high efficiency machines, suitable for 24/7 operations, ensure you get the finished product you need.

To learn more about WSM’s innovative Bale Processing System. 503-364-2213 | 800-722-3530 | info@westsalem.com | westsalem.com

Kuala Lumpur, 12 November 2020 – The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme (PEFC) for the greatest increase in PEFC-certified forest area at the virtual PEFC Awards Ceremony yesterday. MTCC is the National Governing Body that implements the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) endorsed by PEFC since 2009.

The recognition was given to MTCC for the marked increase of 957,583 ha of MTCS/PEFC-certified forest area from September 2019 to September 2020. The total certified forest area in 2019 was 4,315,151 ha and increased to 5,272,734 ha with the certification of 10 forest management units (FMUs) in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. This is in addition to the existing 20 FMUs, many of which have been maintaining their certification for over 10 years such as the FMU for the states of Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu, Anap-Muput FMU in Sarawak and Segaliud Lokan FMU in Sabah. Despite the overall increase, a number of FMUs have their certification suspended and withdrawn over the years due to non-conformity with the sustainable forest management standard.

The virtual award presentation ceremony was hosted by PEFC International in conjunction with its 25th General Assembly held on 11 November 2020. The Certificate of Appreciation was presented by PEFC International Chairman, Peter Latham and PEFC International Secretary General, Ben Gunneberg. Based in Geneva, PEFC is the world’s biggest non-profit, non-governmental organisation of forest certification system.

In the award acceptance remarks, MTCC Chairman, Kamaruzaman Mohamad dedicated the achievement to the concerted effort and commitment from the forest managers and stakeholders in managing the forest sustainably under the MTCS.

“We dedicate this award to everyone who has been working tirelessly behind the scene – the forest managers in particular, and all our stakeholders – civil society and governmental organisations, industry, unions and academician – who have been supporting our efforts to ensure sustainable forest management is implemented, independently assessed to the highest standards and continuously monitored for improvement. Without this shared vision and commitment to sustain our forests for the future, this achievement would not have been possible,” he said. Also present at the event was MTCC CEO, Yong Teng Koon.

Apart from certified forest areas, MTCC currently has 382 PEFC-certified timber companies under the MTCS.

Prepared by: Malaysian Timber Certification Council

For more information, please email Senior Executive Public Relations & Marketing, Muhammad Hasif Azizan at hasif@mtcc.com.

Tigercat has released a new RemoteLog® portal with several enhancements.

New diagnostics dashboard
Mobile users may now easily review machine fault codes grouped in cards and colour coded by severity. Office personnel may view fault codes in an easy to sort and filter list. A single click brings up technical information for any fault code. The easily accessible engine troubleshoot guide gets you the answer you need quickly.

New machine summary report
A new one-stop machine summary report is now being sent to you weekly. It contains data that matters to your business such as operating time, production metrics, total fuel consumption, fuel rates, engine hours, machine utilization, and summary of fault codes.

Enhanced machine management
Easily access the control software version running on the machine. Get at the telematics firmware version to see if it needs to be updated. Quickly find your primary dealer contact.

New production metrics
Track how much you are producing with your machines. Mulchers now reporting mulched land area to give you a sense of their productivity. Harvesters and processors report production volumes and stem counts while forwarders report number of loads.

A purpose-built logger, the Tigercat 865 will offer many advantages over excavator conversions, including better service access, stronger swing torque and superior operator visibility. The Tigercat FPT N67 engine delivers 165 kW (221 hp) at 1,900 rpm.

The 865 logger can be configured as a loader with boom options for various grapple types, or as a high capacity processor, capable of running large harvesting heads in demanding duty cycles. Dual swing drives will provide ample torque and speed for high-performance loading or processing.

Service access has been carefully thought out with the ability to step down into the centre of the machine for clear, unobstructed access to the engine and daily service points. Large enclosure doors and a spring assist side service platform provide a large, stable work area for performing maintenance on hydraulic components and changing filters. A large cast counterweight provides excellent stability with a swing-out door that allows access to the engine from the rear of the machine.

The rear entry elevated cab, full-length front window, and additional floor windows provide superior visibility with clear sightlines. LED lighting and the rearVIEW camera system further augment operator visibility. Stay tuned.

INVL Asset Management, one of the largest asset management companies in the Baltics, has established the INVL Sustainable Timberland and Farmland Fund II (STAFF II). An initial offering of the fund raised EUR 32.45 million from private investors. The target size is EUR 100 million. The fund will invest in sustainably managed forests and agricultural land in the Baltic Sea region and Central and Eastern Europe.

The new INVL fund is registered in Luxembourg and is administered by Apex Group, one of the biggest providers of fund services in Europe. The STAFF II is intended for institutional and private investors from EU countries.

“We see this fund as a continuation of the INVL Baltic Forests Fund I which started in 2017, but more universal and much broader in geography. The experience we gained and investors’ trust encouraged us to realize the idea of creating long-term portfolios of top-quality forests and agricultural land and managing them according to the strictest standards of sustainable forestry and agriculture. In acting on those goals we did not set any time frame for the fund – its length is unlimited,” said Vytautas Plunksnis, Head of Private Equity at INVL Asset Management.

He said the fund’s maximum size will be limited and may not exceed EUR 200 million, though its investor composition may change as some of its participants take advantage of the right to leave the fund within a certain period of time and others take their place.

“We’ll start the fund’s activities ‘closer to home’, looking for acquisitions in the Baltic countries. We will invest in Baltic coniferous forests and agricultural land with a high level of productivity and big consolidation potential. Later we plan to expand the portfolio in Eastern EU countries where investment returns are attractive and the regulatory environment is stable. We will heavily emphasize sustainable management of the forests and arable land, considering not just nature conservation but also social responsibility in investing in these asset classes. The fund will operate according to sustainable forestry standards, and we will implement sustainable farming principles on the agricultural land,” noted Martynas Samulionis, a partner of the INVL Sustainable Timberland and Farmland Fund II.

The STAFF II fund is regulated and will operate according to the laws of Luxembourg and will invest in different countries in keeping with the regulatory limits set by those countries but without deviating from the fund’s strategy. Currently the fund is not registered for public distribution in the Republic of Lithuania.

About INVL Asset Management

INVL Asset Management, one of Lithuania’s leading asset management companies, is part of the Invalda INVL group. The group’s companies manage pension and mutual funds, individual portfolios, private equity and other alternative investments. They have more than EUR 1 billion of assets under management, entrusted to them by over 200,000 clients in Lithuania and Latvia as well as international investors. Established in 1991, Invalda INVL has 28 years of solid experience managing private equity assets and developing market leaders in the Baltic States and the region of Central and Eastern Europe.

About Apex Group

Apex Group Ltd., established in Bermuda in 2003, is a global financial services provider. With 45 offices worldwide and 4,000 employees, Apex delivers an extensive range of services to asset managers, capital markets, private clients and family offices. The Group has continually improved and evolved its capabilities to offer a single-source solution through establishing the broadest range of products in the industry; including fund services, digital onboarding and bank accounts, depositary, custody and super ManCo services, corporate services and capital markets services, business services including HR and Payroll and a pioneering ESG Ratings and Advisory service for private companies.

Antonia Powell
Head of Media Relations
Apex Group Ltd.
www.theapexgroup.com |Tel:  +44 (0) 7789 902 279

Through the agreement, ITOCHU KENZAI Corporation will distribute and resell Timbeter’s solutions in Japan　

ITOCHU KENZAI Corporation, the first trading company in Japan focusing on construction materials, and Timbeter, an Estonian technology company that has developed digital workflow management solutions for the timber industry, have entered into a distribution and reseller agreement.

With this agreement, Timbeter’s solutions will be available to the Japanese forestry industry, and other sectors that use timber in their processes, through ITOCHU KENZAI Corporation. ITOCHU KENZAI Corporation engages in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various housing materials, wood products and materials, and design and construction, among other services and products.

ITOCHU KENZAI Corporation is a subsidiary of ITOCHU Corporation, one of the leading trading companies in Japan, operating in the textile sector, energy, metals, minerals, food and many others.

Japan is one of the leaders in sustainable forestry in the world, and actively contributes to sustainable forest management on an international level, as well as an example and knowledge sharing.

Timbeter’s state-of-the-art technology uses the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and cloud computing for measuring roundwood, to create inventories and reports, trace shipments precisely throughout the logistics chain, and control of volumes throughout the supply chain.The company works with some of the largest companies in the sector such as CMPC (Chile), International Paper (Brazil), Faber-Castell (Brazil), Siam Forestry Group (Thailand), Mekong Timber Plantations (Laos), SEQH (Australia)  and many others.

Timbeter’s solutions, which include mobile applications for iOS and Android, as well as a cloud Web platform, are all available in Japanese. Timbeter also offers support for the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard) formula, along with other formulas used around the world.

Mr. Yasuo Toyoda, ITOCHU KENZAI Corporation executive officer and senior general manager in the wood products division commented “It is a social responsibility to effectively use domestic forestry resources from the perspective of land conservation. We consider that the active domestic forestry and wood industry is relevant to the effective use of the forestry resources. This time we agreed with Timbeter Ltd. to be their reseller and distributor. We also believe that broad familiarisation of their technology will promote the digitalisation of the forestry and wood industry as well as the optimisation of operations, and help the industry active.”

Anna-Greta Tsahkna, CEO of Timbeter said “We are glad to cooperate with Itochu KENZAI Corporation to bring the innovative Timbeter technology to the Japanese market to help companies become more efficient and to manage  their timber sustainably. I think it is very important that Itochu KENZAI Corporation has validated Timbeter’s technology on its own operations to clearly understand the benefits and positive side effects it brings”.

Opticom Technologies is pleased to announce the release of its new 3MP CC04 Series IP camera. (CC04-IP3MV) The new version offers both H.264 and H.265 video compression algorithms. H.265 compression reduces bitrates by approximately 50% which significantly cuts bandwidth and storage usage.

The 3MP CC04 delivers real time triple streaming that can be independently controlled in terms of resolution, bitrate and compression. Environmentally the camera is rated IP67 waterproof/dustproof. The built-in infrared (IR) array also ensures reliable video even in total darkness to a range of 65 feet.

Opticom’s CC04 Series industrial IP camera is designed to meet the tough environmental challenges that exist in wood processing mills and many other industrial facilities.  The camera features advanced vibration damping design right down to the neoprene equipped mount.  The camera installs in minutes in virtually any location and can be integrated with all major video management software (VMS) platforms.

Opticom Technologies Inc. was incorporated in 1973 and continues today as an industrial video camera company specializing in manufacturing application specific cameras for a variety of industries.  Our products are designed to solve the formidable challenges found in heavy industrial applications. For more information visit us at www.opticomtech.com or call us at 1-800-578-1853.