A total ban on methyl bromide fumigation aboard ships in New Zealand is part of a comprehensive suite of new rules imposed by a Decision-making Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Methyl bromide is a toxic and ozone-depleting substance, which India and China require to be used on logs they receive from New Zealand. It is a biosecurity tool, …
Australia’s first hydrogen-powered trucks
Hyzon Motors has signed a vehicle supply agreement with Australian industrial gases company Coregas to deliver two hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The Hyzon Hymax-450 prime movers should be delivered in the first half of 2022 and are expected to be the first hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles to operate in Australia. The vehicles plan to be immediately deployed upon arrival from Hyzon’s …
Father and son graduate forestry course together
A father and son duo from Southland have shown there’s value in getting back to the books, even after four decades in the game. Bobby Baird and his 65-year-old father Robert completed their Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting with Competenz together in May. All employees went through the forestry training together alongside the Bairds and received their …
Impact of stress on wellbeing and productivity
Forestry researcher Trevor Best has written a summary of research he was involved in at Canterbury University on the impact of stress on the wellbeing of forestry workers, and how it affects productivity and business profitability. For the past 18 months, I have been asking machine operators in harvesting crews to tell me about the conditions or situations that result …
Canada invests in hybrid log trucks
As part of #EVWeekinCanada, a $1.7-million investment in FPInnovations was announced to develop and demonstrate hybrid diesel-electric forestry harvesting trucks and help green transportation in Canada’s forestry sector. FPInnovations will retrofit two conventional forestry tractor-trailers into electric-hybrid tractor-trailers. This will be achieved by equipping two forestry trailers with electric drive axles that will assist the diesel-powered trucks, resulting in reduced …
NZ container depots continue to struggle
COVID19 Lockdowns across New Zealand are expected to create further pressure on an already heavily disrupted shipping logistics. ContainerCo managing director Ken Harris said exporters and importers continue to take the brunt of global shipping disruptions and the latest level 4 lockdown in New Zealand will have an impact on the availability of shipping containers. “There is already a tight …
Komatsu NZ opens new South Island hub
Komatsu New Zealand’s new South Island Hub facility in Christchurch officially opened on 27 July 2021. The state-of-the-art facility, which was commissioned late mid-2020, offers greatly enhanced service and support capabilities for Komatsu customers throughout the South Island. It was officially opened by Christchurch Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner in a ceremony attended by key Komatsu customers and suppliers from throughout …
Ponsse manufactures its 17,000th forest machine
The 17,000th PONSSE forest machine has rolled off the production line in Vieremä. The milestone machine, a PONSSE Elk built in mid-August, will start its career in the sure hands of Kuusmoto Oy. “It is a special privilege to hand over the 17,000th PONSSE machine to the Finnish Kuusmoto Oy. I wish to thank Kuusmoto for their trust and …