Raul Kirjanen, Chairman of the Management Board of Graanul Invest AS, was elected Chairman of the Management Board of the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association. According to the new chairman, the forest and timber sector has great potential in light of the European Green Deal.

‘We need to work to ensure that the general quality of Estonian forests improves, that our forest and wood industry is internationally competitive, and that we are able to sufficiently contribute to innovation to create new value chains for wood with high added value,’ says Kirjanen. He adds that the Estonian society benefits from a well-operating forest and wood industry, and that the wood industry is and will continue to be one of the flagships of Estonian economy.

‘I believe that a sustainable and modern forest and wood industry will ensure a self-sufficient country and allow us to pass down healthy and strong forests for the next generations,’ says Kirjanen.

The following people were elected into the management board of the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association: Ando Jukk (Estonian Plywood AS), Ivar Dembovski (Rait AS), Jaak Nigul (Tarmeko Spoon AS), Jaan Kers (TalTech), Jaano Haidla (Graanul Invest AS), Jüri Külvik (Lemeks AS), Linnar Pärn (Estonian University of Life Sciences), Argo Aavik (Stora Enso Eesti AS), Mati Polli (founding member of the association), Margus Kohava (Combimill Sakala OÜ), Raul Kirjanen (Graanul Invest AS), Silver Rõõmussaar (UPM-Kymmene Otepää OÜ), Tiit Nilson (Woodwell AS), Tõnu Ehrpais (Viiratsi Saeveski AS), Mait Kaup (Warmeston OÜ), and Lauri Raid (Estonian Cell AS).

The Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association, established in 1996, is a non-profit umbrella organisation for companies of the forest and wood industry. The association comprises 67 members, including four educational institutions providing professional education. The CEO of the association is Henrik Välja.

Potlatchdeltic Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results

SPOKANE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– PotlatchDeltic Corporation (Nasdaq:PCH) yesterday reported net income of $81.0 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, on revenues of $313.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Net income was $20.6 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, on revenues of $226.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Generated record quarterly Total Adjusted EBITDDA of $135.4 million and Total Adjusted EBITDDA margin of 43%
• Historic lumber prices drove Wood Products record quarterly Adjusted EBITDDA performance
• Timberlands set quarterly records for harvest volume and Adjusted EBITDDA
• Expanded strong liquidity position to $528 million as of Q3 2020

“Our Timberlands and Wood Products businesses achieved record financial performance as outstanding operational execution by our employees capitalized on the historic run in lumber prices against the backdrop of a challenging COVID environment,” said Mike Covey, chairman and chief executive officer. “Looking to the fourth quarter of 2020, our financial results will continue to benefit from high lumber prices through an extended lumber order file and lagged index pricing on our Idaho sawlogs. Additionally, we expect that our Real Estate business will finish the year very strong by closing a large Minnesota transaction. PotlatchDeltic is well positioned to take advantage of favorable industry fundamentals and our strong liquidity provides a high degree of flexibility as we seek to maximize shareholder value,” stated Mr. Covey.

Business Performance: Q3 2020 vs. Q2 2020

Timberlands

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Timberlands Adjusted EBITDDA increased $34.1 million from Q2 levels
• Northern and Southern harvest volumes increased seasonally
• Northern sawlog prices increased 30% due primarily to higher prices on lumber-indexed volume

Wood Products

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Wood Products Adjusted EBITDDA increased $70.8 million from Q2 2020 levels
• Average lumber price was $637 per MBF Q3 2020, 55% higher than Q2 2020
• Lumber shipments increased 17% in Q3 2020 driven by higher production hours
• Wood Products positively impacted by plywood mill returning to normal operating level after Q2 2020 curtailment

Real Estate

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Real Estate Adjusted EBITDDA increased $4.1 million from Q2 2020 levels
• Sold 11,048 acres of rural land for $1,202/acre
• Sold 26 residential lots at an average $83,000/lot in Q3 2020

Non-GAAP Measures
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, which management believes are useful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered only as supplemental to, and not as superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Management uses Adjusted EBITDDA to evaluate the performance of the company. This is a non-GAAP measure that represents EBITDDA before certain items that impact comparison of the performance of our business either period-over-period or with other businesses.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income Per Diluted Share are non-GAAP measures that represent GAAP net income and GAAP net earnings per diluted share before certain items that impact the ability of investors, securities analysts and other interested parties to compare the performance of our business, either period-over-period or with other businesses.

Reconciliations to GAAP are set forth in the accompanying schedules.

Conference Call Information
A live conference call and webcast will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Investors may access the webcast at www.potlatchdeltic.com by clicking on the Investors link or by conference call at 1-833-968-2227 for U.S./Canada and 1-778-560-2697 for international callers. Participants will be asked to provide conference I.D. number 9171206. Supplemental materials that will be discussed during the call are available on the website.

A replay of the conference call will be available three hours following the call until November 3, 2020 by calling 1-800-585-8367 for U.S./Canada or 1-416-621-4642 for international callers. Callers must enter conference I.D. number 9171206 to access the replay.

About PotlatchDeltic
PotlatchDeltic (NASDAQ:PCH) is a leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that owns 1.8 million acres of timberlands in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota and Mississippi. Through its taxable REIT subsidiary, the company also operates six sawmills, an industrial-grade plywood mill, a residential and commercial real estate development business and a rural timberland sales program. PotlatchDeltic, a leader in sustainable forest management, is committed to environmental and social responsibility and to responsible governance. More information can be found at www.potlatchdeltic.com.

INVESTOR CONTACT

Jerry Richards
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Investor@PotlatchDeltic.com
Source: PotlatchDeltic Corporation

Photo: Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Potlatch Corporation

Honkarakenne Plans To Reorganise Its Production And Commence Co-Operation Negotiations In Accordance With Chapter 8 Of The Finnish Act On Co-Operation Within Undertakings

Honkarakenne Oyj intends to reorganise its production and will commence co-operation negotiations, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Finnish Act on Co-operation within Undertakings, concerning the reduction in the use of personnel at the company’s factory in Karstula, Finland. The planned reorganisation is estimated to have a significant impact on the company’s personnel roster. The co-operation negotiations will cover the company’s production employees, excluding its production managers. The negotiations will also not apply to the company’s clerical and managerial employees.

The aim of the planned reorganisation is to increase the efficiency of the company’s production processes and improve its competitiveness. According to the company, the reorganisation process under consideration would help it increase the efficiency in which it will be able to manufacture products that meet both consumer demands and modern construction standards.

According to the company’s preliminary assessment, the planned measures would lead to a maximum of 25 employees being dismissed or shifted to a part-time position. In addition, 40 employees could be subjected to significant, redundancy-based provisional amendments.

If implemented, the plans may result in adjustments being recorded in the company’s income statement. Any potential adjustments will be specified after the end of the co-operation negotiations.

HONKARAKENNE OYJ

Marko Saarelainen
President & CEO

For further information, please contact:
Marko Saarelainen, President and CEO, tel. +358 (0)40 542 0254, marko.saarelainen@honka.com or
Leena Aalto, Vice President – Finance, CFO, tel. +358 (0)40 769 4590, leena.aalto@honka.com

The visibility in Komatsu thinning forwarders is excellent in all directions.

When thinning, it is especially important that the operator has a clear view of both the surrounding forest and the machine’s position relative to each individual tree. That is why the visibility in their thinning forwarders, as in all Komatsu forwarders, is excellent in all directions – over the hood and down towards the wheels as well as over the load area and towards the treetops. This enables you as an operator to feel confident about not damaging standing trees.

See more about why this is important in thinning operations.

2020 continues to be a successful year for USNR’s Cambio debarker product line. The latest addition to our order book is a CamShift 600 modular debarking system ordered by the Moelven Soknabruket sawmill in Sokna, Norway.

CamShift is USNR’s modern and modular adaption of traditional Cambio debarking technology, allowing for a variety of configurations to match different application requirements. This particular unit comprises a CamTrim flare reducer, a Cambio 600 debarking rotor, and six CM 600D direct-drive feedworks modules that transport logs through the machine.

Both the flare reducer and the rotor slide out of the machine for easy maintenance. USNR will also deliver a CIM 800 log infeed and an outfeed conveyor. This system will replace a Cambio 800 and will be installed during summer 2021.

Main Image: The image shows a similar system at Höglands Såg & Hyvleri AB, Sweden.

RDO Equipment celebrated a big milestone in September, delivering its 50th John Deere forestry machine to loyal customer Austimber in Gippsland, Victoria.

After what has been an unpredictable and extraordinary year, RDO and John Deere are both celebrating the success of achieving 50 sales in just over 12 months since RDO Equipment took over the John Deere Construction and Forestry contract in all states except WA.

“No doubt this past year will be one to remember for all sorts of reasons, but we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the support of John Deere and continue our success in the Australian forestry sector,” said Nathan Psaila, National Sales Manager for RDO Equipment.

“Our teams in both forestry and construction have worked incredibly hard over the past 12 months to cement our position in both markets, so this sale is a testament to their dedication and performance, and I know our customers would say the same thing.”

Simon Shackleton, John Deere’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing – Forestry Equipment, agrees that RDO has made its mark over the past year. “There has been a great response from customers and industry towards RDO, so it’s no surprise they’ve hit their 50th machine delivery in not much more than 50 weeks.”

Ian Reid from Austimber was the lucky recipient of the 50th machine, which also happened to be the business’s 25th John Deere machine purchase, a 1270G Wheeled Harvester.

“We’ve been really impressed with how RDO has started its operation in Australia. Their support staff in particular have been great. Anytime I have had any dealings with them I’ve been met with a ‘can do’ attitude. They work really hard to make sure we’re never left waiting,” Ian says.

“We’ve had a couple of occasions where we needed parts which were overseas, and they organised prompt freight for us, so we had minimal machine downtime. Particularly during the last few months with the added pressure of coronavirus restrictions, there has been minimal impact in our dealings with RDO. Machine deliveries have been trouble-free and on-time, and parts supply and our regular maintenance schedules haven’t been impacted either,” Ian says.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the RDO and John Deere teams and know we’re in safe hands with any future machine purchases

Main Photo: 
Pictured from L to R: Jake Peters (Service Technician, RDO Equipment), Ian Reid (Director, Austimber Harvesting & Haulage), Ryan Sim (Service Technician, RDO Equipment), Jim King (Operator, Austimber Harvesting & Haulage), Mark Hellberg (Sales Professional, RDO Equipment), Adrian Wapling (Product Specialist – Forestry,  John Deere) and Duncan Johnston (Director, Austimber Harvesting & Haulage).

Below: Ian Reid from Austimber was the lucky recipient of the 50th machine, a 1270G Wheeled Harvester.

Right: Simon Shackleton, John Deere’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing 

REDcert and Bioenergy Europe have united efforts and expertise for the establishment of a new independent and credible certification system to ensure sustainable use of biomass within the energy sector
Bonn, 21 October 2020: After two years of meticulous preparation, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES Verifications Scheme (SURE) starts the operational business as of October 2020 by providing a practical solution to all economic operators within the bioenergy sector to demonstrate the sustainability of electricity and heat production from biomass. The aim of SURE is to enable all economic operators to show compliance with the legal requirements of RED II.

Under the recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001, mandatory sustainability criteria have been introduced for economic operators receiving support for the production of electricity or heating and cooling from biomass and biogas. The new rules come into force on 1 July 2021. However, economic operators are well advised to identify potential weaknesses in the company at an early stage and to check compliance in good time. Bioenergy Europe expects that bottlenecks may occur when thousands of economic operators simultaneously seek certification in order to fulfil their legal obligations in due time.

“The implementation of RED II means that all economic operators in the supply chain must provide proof of sustainability. We foresee a huge demand and therefore, it is our strong recommendation to the companies to start the certification process as soon as possible.” – advises Peter Jürgens, General Manager SURE. Therefore, SURE is now available as a well-balanced and practical certification system. As a full scope system, SURE provides certification for the entire supply chain and is open to agricultural and forest biomass producers, producers of biomass fuel from waste and residues, pellet producers, logistic operators, biomass fuel traders, biomass and biogas plants. This broad spectrum enables certification from a single source even for different material flows. Thereby SURE guarantees transparency and objectivity through regular checks by independent and neutral auditors.

In the next months, until SURE is recognized by the EU Commission to verify compliance with RED II, the verification scheme will run operational business on a voluntary basis to prove feasibility and to prepare the bioenergy industry for the RED II implementation. All certification bodies interested to join the scheme are invited to submit their application. First applicants among the economic operators are also expected.

About Bioenergy Europe:
Bioenergy Europe is the voice of European bioenergy. With members from over 40 countries, it has been a stable companion for the interests of bioenergy stakeholders for thirty years. Bioenergy Europe is committed to the sustainability of the biomass markets driven by its knowledge of the requirements and developments of the sector.

About REDcert:
REDcert was founded in 2010 to demonstrate the sustainability of biofuels and bioliquids within the framework of the first Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EU). More than 1,300 system participants in 25 countries make REDcert one of the leading global certification systems. As a certification system recognized by the EU, REDcert contributes its many years of expertise and experience to SURE.

SURE website: www.sure-system.org

John Deere will now offer TimberMatic™ Maps and TimberManager™ as a standard offering for tracked harvesters or forestry swing machines with a factory-installed Waratah H-16 Measuring System.
This will enable the onboard TimberMatic™ Maps and cloud-based TimberManager™ programs to incorporate production data from the Waratah H-16 Measuring System.
The expanded software collects timber processing data from the H-16 system, providing a real-time look at job site progress.

Increasing job site visibility and visualization, John Deere expands its TimberMatic™ Maps and TimberManager™ software to seamlessly incorporate data from the Waratah H-16 Measuring System. With the new capability, the TimberMatic Maps system collects production data from harvesting heads equipped with the Waratah H-16 system, providing real-time production data of processed timber linked to location through the in-cab monitor and synched to the cloud-based TimberManager. Job site progress data is then accessible to off-site managers or employees through a phone, tablet or computer using the TimberManager software.

The software pairing is available for John Deere tracked harvesters or forestry swing machines equipped with harvesting heads using the Waratah H-16 Measuring System. Additionally, the TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager are included in-base on new machines ordered with a factory H-16 Measuring System. A retrofit option can be downloaded and installed at no additional charge on existing machines utilizing the H-16 system. Machines must be equipped with 4G MTG and an active JDLink™ Telematics subscription.

“With this action, we are bringing together the powerful data collection capabilities of TimberMatic Maps and the Waratah H-16 Measuring System to offer more value to our customers,” said Matt Flood, product manager, John Deere. “Many of the challenges our customers face can be improved through increased visualization of job site workflow and productivity, and communication — seeing what is actually going on. With this expanding offering, we are providing more ways for our customers to collect data and analyze their business, helping them increase outputs and boost profitability.”

Launched in 2018, TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager enhance machine connectivity and communication. The TimberMatic Maps solution features mapping software for use in the field, leveraging a mobile network to share real-time production data between operators and office managers in the office. Data is collected through sensors on the equipment, while production location is gathered through GPS technology. This data is then shared to the cloud, where managers can access TimberManager from a PC, tablet or phone, allowing them to track job site progress remotely.

Russia’s ULK Group is investing close to 400 million euro in one of the country’s biggest sawmill investments in modern times. Their ambition is to have one of the world’s largest and most modern sawmills, with an annual capacity of more than 1 million cubic meters (425,000 MBF) sawn timber and 600,000 t pellets annually, when completed in 2023.

“Our ambition is to build the world’s most modern sawmill, and to do so we must exclusively use suppliers who are technology leaders,” says Artem Samuhin, Deputy General Director for Development of ULK Group.

“Nordautomation’s equipment met the customer’s highest requirements, and we were able to present good references for the log sorters we’ve supplied in the past,” says Timo Kuusisto, Managing Director of Nordautomation Oy. “This is also a great start to our cooperation with Valutec LLC, who represent Nordautomation’s technologies in the Russian market.” Both companies, Valutec and Nordautomation, belong to the same Swedish Addtech Group.

Nordautomation Oy will supply two 60-bin log sorting lines to the project. “We are proud of the order received and that ULK is investing in Finnish technology. We have the ability to meet the highest demands posed by the customer,” says Keijo Lamminen, Sales Director of Nordautomation Oy.

Read article “Nordautomation Oy enters the Russian market” in magazine Timber Industry of Siberia (in Russian) https://lpk-sibiri.ru/news/nordautomation-oy-vyhodit-na-rynok-rossii/.

More information:

Timo Kuusisto • CEO • +358 (0)40 511 8260 • timo.kuusisto@nordautomation.fi 
Keijo Lamminen • Sales Director • +358 (0)400 868 302 • keijo.lamminen@nordautomation.fi 

Highland Pine Product (HPP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Bitzer to the role of General Manager. Mike will replace current General Manager David Knights who recently announced his retirement. David commenced as General Manager in 2016 and since this time has continued to lead the site through growth and change. We thank David for his service to HPP and wish him well in his retirement.

Located in Oberon NSW, HPP is a sawmilling operation employing more than 200 people and is a joint venture owned equally by AKD and Boral. Mike will be seconded to HPP from AKD in November this year and will assume full responsibility for the HPP business and transition out of his current responsibilities as the Chief Technical Officer at AKD.

AKD CEO and HPP Director Shane Vicary comments “the Board is excited about Mike joining HPP in this role and we are looking forward to working with him and the Oberon team as we continue the journey with the many challenges and opportunities that exist at Oberon”.

This is not Mike’s first experience working with the HPP Team, he has a deep understanding of the site having previously worked as the site’s Process Manager, Acting General Manager and almost 5 years as a member of the HPP Board.

Mike combines a highly energetic and passionate approach with significant sawmilling experience, relevant skills, and industry relationships having worked within and been respected in the timber industry for the past 30 years. Mike’s experience, passion and drive will support the team in in identifying and executing on growth and improvement opportunities.

The HPP Board wish Mike all the best in this new role and again thank David for his time with HPP.