A partnership between Pioneer Energy and Niagara Sawmilling Company Ltd in the lower South Island of New Zealand has been formed to meet the demands of the biomass market to supply high quality product to the end users, with both organisations bringing together their respective wood fuel supply businesses. Niagara’s wealth of experience in forestry, procurement, processing and transport coupled …

As global demand soars, extractive industries are embracing automation. A mining outfit in Australia is making a big bet on big robots. Following a recent proof of concept at a gold mine, mining contractor MACA will retrofit a fleet of 100 very large vehicles to create one of the largest autonomous heavy equipment fleets in the world. This is a …

The WA government has tried to ease the pain on forestry businesses affected by a logging ban by announcing a revised multi-million-dollar compensation package. ln September the government announced it would end native forest logging from 2024, a move that divided opinion and saw hundreds of people protest in the state’s forestry region. In pressing ahead with the plan, Forestry …

Remsoft has announced a new collaboration with Australian-based company ForestPHD, the developer of STICKS, to enable the use of forest machine data in Remsoft Forest IntelligenceTM solutions. The partnership will improve visibility and data-based intelligence for forestry companies using Remsoft Operations SaaS software to plan and schedule their harvest and wood flow activities. Widely used throughout Australia, New Zealand and …

In August 2021 a decision on the Reassessment of methyl bromide for fumigation of New Zealand logs was released by the EPA. This was followed more recently by the release of the decision approving the use of EDN in mid-April 2022. Details on the announcement were covered in a Friday Offcuts story a couple of weeks ago. Both processes had …

How can forestry companies look after their teams? See how Gisborne-based contractor Stirling Logging does it with things like top gear, hot food, smart targeting of bonuses and being a good neighbour. And see what their crews think. If you’ve got a story to tell about things helping you to run a better forestry business let us know. These stories …

With Forico’s implementation of cloud-based Remsoft Operations, planning pressures can be predicted 6-12 months in advance and the scheduling process is more efficient, taking 50% less time. Forico, Tasmania’s largest private forestry management company, has implemented Remsoft Operations as a solution to overcome the limitations of spreadsheet-based operations planning. Forico sustainably manages 172,000 hectares in Tasmania, Australia of which 90,000 …

A new type of forest machine is currently driving around the forests of Sweden. It combines a low-impact approach, increased productivity and an improved operator environment and is the result of a major cooperative project that has been under way since 2019. The concept machine is called Centipede and it has been developed by eight Swedish forestry companies and a …

Tigercat Enters Yarding Niche with 180 – The new Tigercat 180 swing yarder is purpose built from the ground up. It combines the speed and stability of conventional yarders with the mobility and simpler controls of excavator-based yarders. The result is a powerful and versatile yarding machine for extreme terrain logging applications. The 305 kW (409 hp) carrier was carefully …

Genesis Energy believes converting part of the Huntly power station to run on biofuel could be economic, but it will need a source of the specialist wood fuel needed to be created in New Zealand, which the government could assist in setting up. Genesis chief executive Marc England said preliminary work showed converting two of the Rankine units at the …

A vessel normally used to transport cars and trucks called at Northport this week to load approximately 5,000 cubic metres of triboard from the Juken Mill in Kaitaia. The m.v. Istra Ace has sailed from South America and is destined for Japan. She was scheduled to depart Northport late Thursday or early Friday. The PCTC (Pure Car, Truck Carrier) is …

John Deere has announced the release of the new and innovative Forestry Full-Tree Training Simulator. This development offers cost-effective and efficient operator training in a risk-free environment, all while avoiding wear and tear on equipment. The Training Simulator allows operators to explore interactive virtual logging sites as if they were in the cab of an actual John Deere machine. This …

C3 Limited, part of the broader LINX Cargo Care Group, has officially unveiled the new C3 Log Vessel Grapple (LVG) at the Port of Tauranga, a first in Australasia. Held exclusively by C3 Limited, and developed in collaboration with industry partner, Page Macrae Engineering and customers, the revolutionary log loading technology is set to deliver unparalleled levels of safety and …

Murray Logging owner Andrew Murray said cutting the trees and getting them on a truck was laborious. They were cut from Manuka Gorge in Otago, NZ and were about 80 to 100 years old, he said. Once they were cut down the trees were impossible to move whole and had to be cut into logs wherever they fell. The largest …

Dynes implements driver fatigue cameras across the whole fleet – Moving to the deep south, in a pioneering move, Dynes Transport has implemented driver fatigue cameras across its entire fleet. Dynes also has a dedicated staff resource specifically for managing fatigue, so that we are proactively managing fatigue events. This puts Dynes at the forefront of the industry when it …

As part of the FGR programme in Automation and Robotics, a project has commenced to develop a safe and efficient alternative load securing system in New Zealand for logging trucks. Many logging truck drivers suffer musculo-skeletal injuries that are caused by throwing chains over the load and then manually tensioning the load restraints. An improved method of load restraint is …

This log is from a Sequoiadendron giganteum. The tree’s common name is either Giant sequoia or Sierra Redwood. It has also been given a nick name, “Wellingtonia” with history suggesting a man by the name of John Muir gave it this title in memory of the Duke of Wellington. Giant sequoia is one of three of the last remaining closely …

A Wairarapa-based forestry company are paving the way with stream crossing bridges that don’t disturb the waterway. Josh Blazek and Guy Farman of Farman Turkington Forestry came up with the design over a series of prototypes. Farman said forestry had always had issues with trucks crossing water and keeping the water clean, and they set out to find a solution …

There’s some high-tech wizardry taking place as this ISO Limited log shuttle heads through the company’s log yard at Port Taranaki. We’re thrilled ISO is supporting the growing export log trade at our port by installing a new Auto Tally Shed (ATS) on-site, which uses 18 high-resolution cameras to detect and scan log barcodes and automatically count the logs as …

Learning with the Generation Programme has proved life-changing for 22-year-old Ariana Ngaronoa and she’s already lining up more study to pursue a career in forestry that she previously hadn’t considered. “It is amazing,” she says. Plenty of Ariana’s extended whanau are in the industry but it wasn’t until a friend suggested the programme to her that her world changed. For …

The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co have successfully completed a demonstration test of the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large car ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushuu City, on 17 January. This demonstration was part of MEGURI 2040, a project promoting the development of fully autonomous vessels supported by The Nippon Foundation. This …

As part of the NZQA-mandated five-yearly qualification review, the suite of New Zealand forestry qualifications spanning across forest harvesting and silviculture operations have been updated and officially launched. Coverage of some new operations has been introduced to keep pace with technology and changes in the industry and ensure updates to health, safety, and environmental regulations are followed. This includes programmes …

In another step towards a fossil-free society, SCA and Scania are together developing the first electric timber truck with a technical capability of up to 80 tonnes total weight. The vehicle is a sustainable transport solution enabled through another close cooperation between Scania and a progressive customer. It is possible to drive longer distances with heavy electric transports. Scania and …

China imported 30% of its total volume of softwood logs from Europe in 2020 and2021, thus surpassing supply from Russia and North America. European softwood logs were practically non-existent at Chinese ports five years ago. However, a combination of a never-ending hunger for more wood in the country, reductions in shipments from previously significant trading partners, and an oversupply of …

Historically there is little love lost between the mining industry and green groups. However, the two may now have some common ground in the pursuit of better EV technology and a broader rollout across Australia. Australia’s resource industry is well positioned to benefit from the EV revolution, having a wealth of nickel, copper, lithium and other elements required to power …

Volvo Construction Equipment says it is the first company in the world to trial a remote-controlled high-lift wheel loader over a 5G network in a complex forestry application – in a bid to develop safer, more productive timber processes and explore its potential as an enabler for automation. The Remote Timber research project is a collaboration between Volvo CE and …

On 10 November Pacific Forest Products Ltd (PFP) completed the loading of the largest log vessel ever to load from Australasia. The Conrad Oldendorff was chartered by PFP’s subsidiary South Pacific Shipping Ltd (SPS) from Oldendorff Carriers with the aim of creating new economies of scale through the port of Tauranga. The Post Panamax vessels have no ships cranes and …

A dramatic drop in global log prices has impacted on operations in the East Coast region of New Zealand and some forestry crews face a lean Christmas until prices lift again and full production hopefully resumes. Eastland Wood Council (EWC) chief executive Philip Hope said global economic factors could have major repercussions for the forestry industry while a prominent contractor …

Dr Glen Murphy was presented with the International Forest Engineering Achievement Award at the 2021 Council on Forest Engineering (COFE) Conference held in September in Corvallis, Oregon. The award recognizes and honours significant achievements in forest engineering by individuals for outstanding service and sustained contributions to the profession through education, extension, research, development, or administration. Thirty-five International Forest Engineering Awards …

With its brand-new design, the Komatsu X164E has been specially developed to efficiently harvest eucalyptus. When developing this head, Komatsu Forest’s engineering team put aside all existing head designs for softwood trees and instead focused solely on the needs and conditions of eucalyptus harvesting. “To minimise losses in production time, we established strict requirements for the debarking function. With the …

In a world full of cords, cables and wires, life without them is still mainly a vision. That, however, shouldn’t stop us from moving in the wireless direction. The fact is that if there isn’t even a cable to begin with, then obviously the risk for entanglement or breakdown is eliminated. The Dasa Wireless 1 is one vital step towards …

If you need a clear demonstration of how safety conscious harvesting contractors have become in the past decade, the sale of the 150th Falcon Winch-Assist machine provides convincing evidence. It took just seven years to reach that milestone and manufacturer, Nelson-based DC Equipment, says demand is currently at an all-time high. The shift to mechanised tree falling on steep slopes …

The log carrier Noble Island, with a LOA of 199.9 metres and summer DWT of 61,115 tons made calls to Tasmania’s Burnie and Hobart ports in early October. The arrival of the Ultramax vessel was the culmination of the work of Braemar ACM who successfully brokered the charter between Wood Based Products (WBP) and the Pacific Basin Shipping Limited. A …

Two European pension funds, APG Asset Management (APG) on behalf of its Dutch pension fund client ABP, and UK’s Pension Protection Fund (PPF), have agreed to purchase Sinotrans New Zealand Limited’s (Sinotrans NZ) shareholding in Wenita Forest Products Limited (Wenita). Wenita is the largest producer of timber in Otago, New Zealand, across almost 30,000 hectares of sustainably managed forests. With …

Major changes are looming for the New Zealand forestry sector as the deluge of raw log exports fades amid dwindling supplies and demands increase from the building industry and other users. An industry report by investment house Forsyth Barr suggests the mainstay of the industry, log exports, will peak and then drop by more than a third within a decade. …

The Australian Forest Contractors Association’s (AFCA) Forestry Haulage Gap Analysis System will receive key funding through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Federal Government. The Forestry Haulage Gap Analysis System will allow for industry participants to effectively understand their relative transport risks resulting from the industry-endorsed Forestry Log Haulage Registered Code of …

Iknow Machinery, Nippon Paper Industries and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha have conducted a cargo handling trial of the world’s first automatic crane operation system, which was developed for wood-chip carriers by Iknow Machinery. The trial was performed at Tomakomai port (Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan) in late August and enabled the three companies to confirm the effect of the system to reduce …

The Vienne Test System, followed by the use of simulators, results in productive operators being selected and their subsequent learning curve being quicker with less machine damage. Researchers used people with no simulator or logging machine experience to test whether applicable aptitude tests, such as the Vienne Test System, could successfully select operators that would be productive machine operators. The …

Larry Bolduc has been a truck driver for more than 25 years and is now the head of the family business Transport Raoul Bolduc in Girardville, Que., in the Saguenay/Lac-St-Jean region of Canada. He also launched another business in parallel, called Électrocamion. The business plan is to convert forestry or mining trucks into hybrid diesel-electric vehicles, whether they are new …

The Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) has announced that General Manager (GM) Stacey Gardiner had tendered her resignation on Friday of last week after six and half years in the role and a range of achievements. Adan Taylor, AFCA Chair, said, “Stacey has made a significant contribution to AFCA during her time as GM, and she has led the organisation …

Logging of native forests in Western Australia’s South West will be banned from 2024 thanks to a state government decision lauded by environmentalist groups. But the forestry industry lobby claims the sector has been blindsided by the move, which it claimed came without consultation and would impact jobs despite a proposed AU$50 million transition fund from the government. Premier Mark …

A deal has been finalised that will soon see the largest vessel to ever call at New Zealand for the loading of logs. The deal between South Pacific Shipping (SPS) and Oldendorff Carriers was brokered by Braemar ACM’s Bruce McFarlane, a Mount Maunganui local. Braemar also negotiated the deal with ISO Stevedoring that delivered the mobile cranes from the manufacturer …

It is no secret that electrification is the future. Over just a few years, electrification moved from being a concept to being a reality. And we’re not talking about cars anymore, we’re talking heavy-duty trucks used in the energy, mining, and forestry sectors. Since technology for full electrification of these heavy trucks isn’t yet ready to meet contemporary operational requirements …

For New Zealand and Australia, it’s been over 8 years since a wood residues programme has been run by FIEA showcasing new innovations around harvesting, bio-fuel handling and transport technologies. Because of the huge interest being shown right now by forest owners and wood harvesting contractors in extracting wood bio-fuels to supply the ever-increasing demand from large industrial scale heat …

There are massive pay offs when you think outside of the box! By adding PolyCom Stabilising Aid, TPMS cut the metal requirements by a massive 54.2% over their standard pavement design, decreasing the build costs of this 3.2km by 15.9% and saving three days of standard construction time. Last year (May 2020), TAML Forestry of Hawera, South Taranaki approached Total …

CEAC warns that use of trucks with biodiesel will cause far more damage to environment than using electric trucks, overseas studies have found that production of biofuels for use in diesel truck engines will speed up the climate change, not slow it down as is depicted here from University of Waikato Troy Baisden, Professor (Environmental Sciences), University of Waikato. Growing, …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …

A new era in highway safety regulation begins in Canada as electronic logging devices that track a driver’s hours behind the wheel become mandatory in semi-trucks traveling between provinces. The electronic logging devices (ELDs) replace the use of paper log books and effective June 12 are a requirement under a federal regulation aimed at preventing fatigue in commercial drivers. The …

A new digital radio system from Motorola Solutions and communications partner Central Radio Services (CRS) is helping New Zealand’s City Forests to work more safely and efficiently while complying with COVID-19 work requirements. Initially deployed to replace an outdated analogue radio network, the system delivers many additional benefits. Among them are contact-free communication and social distancing in the field, replacing …

Leading European commercial vehicle manufacturers have signed a non-binding agreement to install and operate a public charging network for battery electric, heavy-duty, long-haul trucks and coaches across Europe. The agreement lays the foundation of a future joint venture (JV) – equally owned by the three parties; the Traton Group with its brands Scania and MAN, as well as Daimler Truck …

In the latest episode of FWPA’s WoodChat podcast series, listeners will hear about a research project that took an in-depth look at the various elements of Australia’s log and woodchip export supply chain, and how it can most effectively be managed. The team behind the comprehensive FWPA-supported study reviewed optimum conditions for logs during storage, haulage and at ports. Their …

(WorkSafe) Health and Safety Paramount On Forestry Sites. A tragic forestry fatality on the East Coast could have been avoided if industry guidance had simply been followed, says New Zealand’s WorkSafe. Businesses are being reminded once again to make sure work is being done correctly, safely and to higher industry standards or risk seeing their workers injured or killed. Two …

School of Forestry staff members Rien Visser and Campbell Harvey recently gave a presentation on “Forest Roads in NZ” to an international audience. The presentation includes an overview, details current construction practices, as well as highlights issues and research of forest roading. It was part of a Webinar series on ‘Forest Roads around the World’ coordinated by IUFRO (International Union …

WorkSafe New Zealand are reminding people that they are obligated to comply with WorkSafe inspectors exercising their compliance powers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. If people fail to comply with WorkSafe inspectors, they run the risk of facing legal enforcement action.  The reminder comes after a 2019 incident where Scott Larsen, obstructed WorkSafe inspectors from carrying …

C3 Limited, part of LINX Cargo Care Group, has officially opened its new checkpoint facility at Port Nelson in New Zealand’s South Island. The new facility is a complete upgrade of the site’s original facility that had been used for more than 25 years and was no longer fit for purpose. The new facility spans more than 1,000 square metres …

Waratah Forestry Equipment has just announced the new H425, H425HD and H425X – a trio of rugged harvester heads built for tough jobs. With a powerful control valve and four roller feed arm geometry, each high-performance head is productive on wheeled or tracked carriers. “These models are built for durability and performance,” said Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. …

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 …

Native forest barriers will be planted on New Zealand’s East Coast in a game-changing initiative to protect waterways against forestry slash and silt in future storms. East Coast landowner Aratu Forests has signed a 90-year agreement that gives environmental land use business eLandNZ the right to plant and manage areas that are no longer suitable for production forestry. It follows …

The Australian Forest Contractors Association wants Federal and State governments to assist contracting businesses on New South Wales’ South West Slopes. AFCA general manager Stacey Gardiner said that the forest industry recently celebrated the last load of fire salvaged wood hauled to a mill in the South West Slopes. But for forest contracting businesses and their workers, this symbolised a …

New web service shows real-world scenarios for fleet operators to consider commercial EVs – Critchlow Geospatial has launched SwitchMyFleet, a free-to-air website for fleet operators who are considering switching to electric vans and trucks and could be the catalyst to give New Zealand businesses the confidence to switch to EV fleets and reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. Most New …

C3 New Zealand, part of LINX Cargo Care Group, has won the prestigious Best Collaboration Between PCBUs Award at the 2021 New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards. Announced at a gala dinner in Auckland, hosted by Safeguard Magazine and supported by WorkSafe New Zealand and ACC New Zealand, C3 New Zealand beat an impressive collection of finalists to claim …

Northport is to invest NZ$8m in infrastructure needed to support the growth of container traffic through the port. It is buying container-handling equipment and a simulator module to train staff in its operation, expanding its container storage area and upgrading its lighting to enhance safety during 24-hour operations. The NZ company is forecasting a 15 percent year-on-year increase in the …

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is set to launch an Australian and New Zealand validation programme for an Actros that can help steer itself. The active drive assist technology will be showcased at the upcoming Brisbane Truck Show. It enables SAE Level 2 partially automated driving capability which is a first for New Zealand heavy trucks The Mercedes-Benz Trucks validation programme will consist …

Authorities in Chile’s southern province of Arauco have intercepted a string of trucks carrying massive loads of stolen pine wood, revealing just how common it for timber traffickers to pilfer wood from legal plantations in the heart of the country’s logging industry. In mid-May, police revealed they had seized seven trucks loaded with 161 meters of stolen pine wood, worth …

Robotic Research, a global leader in Automated Driving Systems (ADS), and FPInnovations, a Canadian private non-profit research and development centre have announced their collaboration to develop an off-road truck platooning system for the forest industry. This project will combine Robotic Research’s proven expertise as a global leader in self-driving technology with FPInnovations’ knowledge in forestry and transportation to adapt the …

Japanese equipment maker Komatsu hopes to generate 140 billion yen ($1.27 billion) in revenue from forest machinery after four years, which would mark a 40% increase, due to robust housing and material demand. Komatsu intends to fulfil its goal by offering a stronger lineup of equipment such as feller bunchers and forwarders for the North American market. The U.S. has …

A third of New Zealand’s plantation forest estate is in the hands of woodlot owners. Harvesting can be a stressful time for some woodlot owners with little knowledge and experience of this phase of the woodlot management cycle. The 15-video series, “How to market and harvest your woodlot for profit”, attempts to provide woodlot owners with sufficient information to help …

Mosaic Forest Management is announcing its partnership with local Vancouver Island service provider, EcoWest Driven, to introduce several Tesla semi-trucks into log hauling. There are currently no commercially available electric log truck solutions appropriate for the terrain on Vancouver Island. The BC forest sector has a significant role to play in addressing climate change. The working forest captures carbon as …

Waking up to the news that the local mill is not accepting wood for the next three weeks can throw an operations manager’s morning into chaos. Suddenly, the manager must redirect the wood that was being collected on the dozens of active harvest units in the area to alternative mills. Can the transport contractors cope with the new requirements? Will …

The last log truck carrying salvaged, burnt logs from the 2019/20 bushfires was waved into the Hyne Tumbarumba Mill on Tuesday. The unprecedented, 15 months of salvage harvesting has seen over 1.6 million burnt plantation pine logs processed at the Hyne Mill alone. 75.5 million linear metres of timber has been processed from salvaged logs which would almost wrap around …

Ponsse is launching a new debarking PONSSE H7 HD Euca harvester head alongside the previously released H8 HD Euca. The new powerful harvester head further strengthens Ponsse’s strategy to be the leading global manufacturer of harvester heads. “This new harvester head has been developed together with our customers, based on their feedback. We wanted to introduce an even more powerful …

Pedersen Group, part of LINX Cargo Care Group, has welcomed an impressive piece of new machinery with the Sennebogen 875E – the first in Australia – already delivering improved safety and productivity outcomes. Following an intensive and extended design consultation between Sennebogen, Pacific Materials Handling and Pedersen Group, the new purpose-built material handler arrived onsite at Maryvale, Victoria from Germany …

For the past decade, Nelson businessman Dale Ewers’ goal has been to get workers in the logging industry out of harm’s way. In 2010 Ewers, the chief executive of Moutere Logging Ltd and DC Equipment, set a 20-year plan for his company to reduce work accidents to zero – in an industry where logging crews on steep slopes faced challenging …

Oberon-based Mangan Logging & Haulage has reached a major milestone with the Australian-owned business marking 60 years of operation and welcoming its fourth generation into the family-run business. Established in 1961 by Bert and Monica Mangan, the business has grown from one trucking unit to 25, along with numerous harvesting units, two mechanic workshops, a 24-hour breakdown service and a …

Russia has been one of the largest roundwood traders globally for many years by exporting roughly 15-20 million m3 per year between 2010-2020. The main importers of the Russian roundwood are traditionally China and Finland, importing around 90% of the total Russian export volumes. Based on the announcement of President Vladimir Putin last year, instructing the country’s government to ban …

In line with the focus this week on log transport as part of the just completed HarvestTECH 2021 event, below is a new trucking induction video developed by New Zealand’s WorkSafe. The trucking induction video gives an overview of things to consider when route planning, cab safety, on-site traffic management and loading and unloading. Whether you are a trucking operator; …

Further enhancing the machine operation in demanding forestry applications, John Deere adds its Smooth Boom Control (SBC) technology to its M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and MH-Series Tracked Harvesters. Developed in global collaboration between the John Deere Wheeled Cut-to-Length and Full-Tree Forestry teams, the SBC system instantaneously responds to operator input while smoothing out the acceleration and deceleration of hydraulic functions …

The current pandemic made clear, once again, that digital transformation is one of the most relevant matters in the industry, and the forestry industry is not free of this challenge. In the last few years, the leading companies in the forestry industry have incorporated technologies into their supply chain, specifically in their wood fibre measurement processes. One of the pioneering …

Asia Pacific freight giants VISA Global Logistics and Mondiale Freight Services have announced they will be merging to form a significant international transport and logistics entity. The merged company will have a combined annual revenue of A$1.2 billion, with operations across Australia, New Zealand, North Asia, South East Asia, Indian Sub-Continent, and Europe. Both companies have made large investments in …

The advancement of forestry equipment has typically focused on generating more powerful machines. Now, John Deere has launched a new tech-driven initiative that will marry strength with intelligence. Through the Precision Forestry initiative, Deere will reorganize its technology portfolio and increase its efforts in delivering solutions designed to increase efficiency and productivity in the woods. “It’s not about getting bigger …

An Australian mining group has advanced the future of mobility (in mining at least) with the deployment of a fleet of fully-autonomous Ford Rangers at one of its mines. Fortescue Metals Group has retrofitted four Rangers at its Christmas Creek mine in Western Australia with autonomous systems created by the company’s Technology and Automation team, to remove the need for …

Sprinklers have been activated at the dam on its Macgill property where KIPT plans to store more than 100,000 tonnes of pine. The pine logs, harvested from the fire-damaged Gosse West plantation will be preserved in preparation as the company awaits approval and construction of the Smith Bay export facility. KIPT plans further storage facilities on other properties it owns …

The no-compromise 875E logger introduces several new features, including an updated operator station, two undercarriage options, and various grapple configurations to tailor the machine to your specific needs.The 875E logger is a multi-purpose carrier with two boom options for loading or processing applications. The machine can be equipped with the Tigercat FPT N67 Non-certified, Tier 4f or Stage V engine, …

Leaders of New South Wales (NSW) forest contracting businesses came together last week for the launch sessions of the ForestFit training program pilot (training pilot) in Tumut (16 March) and Grafton (18 March). Ms Stacey Gardiner, General Manager, Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) said “The training pilot is designed specifically to meet the needs of leaders of small and medium-sized …

A pilot project that we reported on recently aiming to address a severe shortage of logging truck drivers through telemetric wizardry may lead to new jobs being created, not their elimination, the proponents say. When the $700,000 project by Marathon-based Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation (NFMC) and Ottawa-based Provectus Robotics Solutions became known, some assumed truck drivers would no longer be …

Bridges traditionally sit above the water at all times, providing continuous access even in severe weather. But the potential for flash flooding in two streams in the Kopua Forest in Maraetaha, Gisborne, meant an innovative solution was required to allow Aratu Forests Limited to carry out its harvest operations. Existing fords across both streams did little to provide reliable day-to-day …

Anyone who knows machinery understands the value of proper hydraulic servicing – especially now. It is a fast moving and demanding field of expertise, currently evolving ever faster and in terms of machinery sophistication that might astound its founding fathers, starting with the child prodigy, mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal. Pascal (for whom KPA is named) gave us in his …

PhD student in forest engineering, Campbell Harvey, is this year’s New Zealand nomination for the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations Blue Sky Award. Campbell has been using drones and flight control programmes to capture imagery of landing slash piles – followed by image processing and then overlaying outputs with engineering survey software to automate volume/shape calculation. He is …

A forestry company has had a NZ$2.89 million debt set aside by the NZ High Court after failing to harvest on deadline for a contract written on bad advice from the Marlborough District Council. Zindia Limited signed the contract in 2016, to harvest pine trees on Arapaoa Island, previously known as Arapawa Island, between Tory Channel/Kura Te Au and Cook …

With a couple of exhibition spaces becoming available, two new exhibitors have just been added to the record turnout that’s expected in Rotorua in a few months as part of this year’ s major log transport and wood harvesting event, HarvestTECH 2021. It runs in Rotorua, New Zealand on 13-14 April 2021. Full details can be found on the event …

Ponsse has announced that it’s responding to the need for the development of training by modernising its simulator product range. The new PONSSE Full Simulator is a full-range training system. Its realistic forest environment and detailed graphics create a perfect platform for professional training. The upgraded simulators offer a modern learning environment for harvester, forwarder and PONSSE Opti information system …

Robot trucks are coming to Northwestern Ontario in 2021 Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation says it plans to use a pair autonomous logging trucks, led by an experienced driver in a third vehicle, on logging roads, to bring felled trees to nearby mills in the Pic and White River Forests, in partnership with Provectus Robotics Solutions Inc. Testing is expected to …

John Deere introduces the new six-wheel 768L-II Bogie Skidder, a true woodland warrior designed to conquer wet conditions and steep slope terrain. Incorporating the proven, durable features found on the John Deere L-II skidder lineup, the new 768L-II maximizes productivity, performance, and comfort when carrying hefty loads over long distances in challenging conditions. “Profitability and productivity are critical in the …

Vinnova, Sweden’s Innovation Agency, together with the forest industry and researchers, invests 20 million SEK (approx. 2 million EURO) on development of an autonomous planting system, the Autoplant. The project is expected to improve forest planting with regard to precision, environmental impact and working environment. Autoplant is the second step in a research program that aims to solve societal challenges …

ACC’s Impact Investment Fund has taken a share in one of the world’s top 50 innovative robotics companies in a partnership to improve the wellbeing of those working in some of New Zealand’s most dangerous industries. Tauranga-based Robotics Plus is the first successful opportunity for ACC’s new Impact Funds which has twin objectives – to improve the health, safety, and …

A leading shipping container supplier Royal Wolf and New Zealand’s KiwiRail have jointly developed a bespoke logging container that significantly improves efficiencies and capacity when transporting logs to the Port of Tauranga for export. The 484 logging cradle cassette containers, built by Royal Wolf’s Intermodal Business Unit, were specially designed as a replacement for KiwiRail’s old log wagons which were …

Very rarely do you get anything for free. Here is one offer though. The offer was eagerly picked up by students for the ForestTECH 2020 event that ran in Rotorua, New Zealand in mid-November last year. We were in fact blown away by the number of applicants. This unique opportunity comes with a free conference registration for two days, refreshments …

Trimble Forestry has announced that its widely used Log Information Management System (LIMS) now integrates seamlessly with the Connected Forest™ Xchange (CFX). The integration allows load ticket information from LIMS to sync to the cloud-based CFX portal, which can be accessed from any device, any place. With CFX’s flexibility, easy-to-view dashboards, and mobile accessibility, key operational data, such as electronic …

Jacob Allum, who completed his degree in Forest Engineering last year, has just been co-awarded the Civil Contractors New Zealand Prize in Pavement Engineering for 2020. “The University of Canterbury has a strong Civil Engineering programme that attracts very academically talented students, so it is great to see one of our forest engineers at the top of their class”, notes …

For all harvesting contractors and harvest planners who’ll will be in Rotorua, New Zealand for the major HarvestTECH2021 event that will be running in mid-April, an extra workshop (no charge to HarvestTECH 2021 delegates) on the afternoon before the event runs on Monday 12 April has been set up. It’s titled “Developing an Intelligent Roadmap for Harvest and Wood Flow …

Australian forestry services company Harvestco has been awarded the contract to harvest, store and stockpile the first 200,000 tonnes of pine in the Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers estate. Harvestco started work on the Island in December 2020, clearing rows of trees alongside powerlines, as part of KIPT’s fire prevention work in conjunction with SA Power Networks. Soon the harvest proper …

The evolution of forestry practices has greatly evolved over the last decade. One of the leaders in innovation is SFM Environmental Solutions, a leading provider of independent plantation management across Australia. SFM has implemented a new software platform that has elevated their chain of custody tracking giving their customers peace of mind- in real time. LOGR is a haulage and …

In line with the eagerly awaited Forest Safety event that is running in New Zealand, Forest Safety & Technology 2021, on Tuesday 13 April, attached is an article that recently appeared highlighting a workplace health risk, the impact on someone working in a manufacturing environment and the steps he’s taken to highlight the often-overlooked issue and develop a device that …

John Deere expands job site visualisation to include Waratah H-16 production data 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. The move will enable the onboard TimberMatic™ Maps and cloud-based TimberManager™ programs to incorporate production data from the Waratah H-16 Measuring …

FPInnovations will be the first body to certify Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) as Canada prepares to mandate the technology. Federally regulated carriers will need to equip trucks with certified ELDs beginning June 12, 2021. While U.S. regulators allow suppliers to self-certify that equipment meets underlying technical standards, Transport Canada requires third-party certification to help ensure the devices are not prone …

Softwood log exports from Russia have been in steady decline for the past 15 years and could reach zero in 2022 if President Putin’s new log export ban is implemented. In a recent statement, the Russian President Mr. Putin ordered the government to strictly control the exportation of roundwood and low-value forest products, and to clamp down on the illegal …

TasPorts has welcomed one of the world’s largest dedicated woodchip bulkers, China Express, to the Port of Bell Bay. Launched in early 2020, the 215 metre vessel is the first of its kind to call to Tasmania and has a total cargo capacity of 60,000 tonnes. The maiden visit signifies confidence in the forestry export sector and the criticality of …

Forest Management Group, which includes Forest Management (FML), Tasman Forest Management (TFM), and Forest Management North Island (FMNI), has selected Trimble Forestry’s Log Inventory & Management System (LIMS) to manage its extensive forestry operations in New Zealand. FMG’s installation of LIMS includes access to the Connected Forest Exchange (CFX), a collaborative cloud solution that allows log load and scale information …

Anita Dynes is the first woman to be inducted in the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame for 2020. Dynes, originally from Balclutha, is credited as being crucial to the development of Tapanui-based Dynes Transport. Throughout her five decades in the transport industry, working alongside husband Jim, her substantive work ethic, tenacity and family values were pivotal in the company …

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 …

If you’re involved in wood harvesting, you’ll remember well the major harvesting event, HarvestTECH 2019. It ran in Rotorua, New Zealand last year and the event SOLD OUT well in advance of it actually running. It was the largest gathering of its type ever seen in New Zealand with close to 500 harvesting contractors, harvest planners, forestry managers and equipment …

Komatsu Forest presents a brand-new harvester head specially adapted for the harvesting of eucalyptus. The new model head is a Komatsu S162E, (E for eucalyptus). 20 years ago, the company launched the first harvester head adapted for eucalyptus, the 370E, which was equipped with a more robust frame construction and a felling link dimensioned for the power of an excavator. …

Forestry Corporation of NSW has reached an important recovery milestone – two million tonnes of fire-affected timber has been harvested, hauled and sold from the organisation’s bushfire-affected Tumut and Bombala softwood plantations. Forestry Corporation’s Acting Snowy Regional Manager, Louise Bourke, said the milestone represents around 46,700 truckloads of logs and was a significant boost for communities recovering from the devastating …

The forestry company has paid nearly NZ$400,000 towards the clean-up and a judge has labelled the local council’s lack of monitoring as “disgraceful”. But the Māori Incorporation that owns Paroa Station near Tolaga Bay still has piles of logs and debris that will cost it NZ$160,000 to remove at its own cost. The company managing the pine forest that was …

In Sweden, researchers at Luleå University of Technology (LUT) have designed and built an autonomous forest machine that they say is now ready for in the woods field testing. “We have replaced everything that humans do with intelligence on the machine; with computers working together and controlling it. We have created conditions for the machine to be better than humans, …

New Zealand’s forestry health, safety and wellbeing pilot, Toroawhi, has been given a six-month extension following COVID-19 restrictions. The joint pilot between WorkSafe and the Forest Industry Safety Council saw the appointment of two “roving reps” in the forestry sector to help increase worker representation in health and safety with an aim of ultimately reducing harm occurring in the sector. …

In New Zealand, an Eastland Wood Council forestry training programme aimed at keeping pace with the demand for forestry workers has had an unexpected boon — boosting diversity in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The Gisborne Herald takes a deeper look at the benefits of the EWC Generation programme with programme manager Siobhain Fyall and some of the women who have …

RDO Equipment delivers its 50th forestry machine since launching in Australia. 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 …

Time sensitive harvest operations and restricted road access were key factors in the decision of Aratu Forests to engage Bridge It NZ to deliver a customised bridging solution for their Gisborne site. The proposed site for the bridge necessitated engagement and approval from several stakeholders including Kiwirail, New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA), and Gisborne District Council. A high priority bridge …

A South Australian regional timber processor has warned thousands of tonnes of softwood resource are bypassing mills and heading to China, despite long-term shortages facing some businesses. Softwood export volumes decreased during the start of the pandemic, but trade is again flowing through deep-sea ports in Australia. Photographs supplied to the ABC show softwood resource — sourced from the Green …

Silviculture workers are crucial to the success of New Zealand’s forestry industry. However sometimes the important work they do can be over-shadowed by the harvesting end of the business. But silviculture is where the forestry cycle starts. The planting, pruning, thinning and other work silvi crews do, has a huge impact on the crop as it matures. Good silviculture crews …

A bridge designed to carry heavy forestry loads is a substantial capital investment – but what if you could relocate that bridge and use it across multiple harvests? That’s exactly what Juken NZ Ltd (JNL) decided to do when commissioning two new bridges. In a first for Bridge It NZ, both crossings are designed to be disassembled in the years …

Forest management company PF Olsen has been fined NZ$198,000 for poor harvesting practices that contributed to the devastation caused by forestry waste at Tolaga Bay in June, 2018. The company was sentenced by Environment Court Judge Brian Dwyer in Gisborne on 15 September. It pleaded guilty earlier this year — a day ahead of a scheduled judge alone trial — …

Tractor giant Deere & Co. plans to expand in Australia and New Zealand, with its one-time chief economist leading the charge. Luke Chandler, who has become managing director for the two countries, said he’ll target growth in construction and forestry, including road building and government infrastructure projects. The Moline, Illinois-based firm will also boost its business in precision agriculture — …

The Komatsu 845 12-tonne forwarder is a versatile machine that performs well in thinning, but also in lighter final felling.The 2021 model has been updated with new components, including a new chassis, a new engine and a new control system, bringing it fully in line with the larger forwarders, albeit in a slightly smaller package. New Komatsu 845 options include …

Any business conducting work near live powerlines must consider the risk they pose as part of its safety planning, says WorkSafe. Logging company Mike Harris Earthmoving Limited was fined $100,000 at the Rotorua District Court on Friday after a worker suffered burns from an electric shock that left them without full use of their right hand. In November 2018 Mike …

HVP, Australia’s largest private timber plantation company, with 240,000 ha in production, has partnered with Trimble Forestry to implement a paperless ticketing solution to help address safety concerns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The companies worked together to transfer a system that was reliant on paper ticket exchanges into a seamless, paperless exchange from harvest to delivery. Digital transactions are more …

The TA15 – part of the TARA autonomous transport solution from Volvo Autonomous Solutions – has won a coveted Red Dot Award for product design – the most globally-recognized mark for industrial design quality. The revolutionary TA15 autonomous electric hauler from Volvo Autonomous Solutions has wowed a panel of design experts in Essen, Germany, to win a Red Dot Product Design Award 2020 – …

Early expressions of interest are being called for to present at next year’s major wood harvesting and log transport event, HarvestTECH 2021. Early details on the planned event can be found on the event website. Background: If you’re involved in wood harvesting, you’ll remember well the major harvesting event, HarvestTECH 2019 that ran in Rotorua, New Zealand last year. The …

There is widespread timber worker, contractor, and community support across the country for the COVID-19-Safe action that took place on Wednesday morning at Bunnings Traralgon in defence of forestry jobs. Four log trucks blocked the entrance to their local Bunnings’ car park in protest of Bunnings’ heartless and ill-informed decision announced earlier this month to stop stocking local hardwood timber …

An exciting new log tracking project for New Zealand’s Forest Growers Research is getting underway within the Automation and Robotics programme, led by Dr Glen Murphy. The project, which is based on Swedish technology, aims to replace paper log tags with a unique punch code that will enable log identification and tracking from the time log is made in the …

HVP, Australia’s largest private timber plantation company, with 240,000 ha in production, has partnered with Trimble Forestry to implement a paperless ticketing solution to help address safety concerns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The companies worked together to transfer a system that was reliant on paper ticket exchanges into a seamless, paperless exchange from harvest to delivery. Digital transactions are …

FPInnovations, Canada, is moving full speed ahead with its automated-harvesting project to usher in a new era of forestry machinery with an eye to one day operating fully autonomous machines. Much of the forestry equipment in use dates from designs that originated in the 70s, with improvements made along the way. In an industry-leading move, the automated-harvesting team is developing …

Europe’s flow of damaged wood to China: Plus 534% in 2019 – In the 2019 calendar year, Europe was shipping enormous volumes of damaged wood to China. In the first three quarters, deliveries already totaled more than 4.5 million sm³. The delivery volume of round softwood is 3.7 million sm³ or 534% more than Europe shipped to China in 2018. …

Timbeter, an Estonian company providing an AI-based digital workflow management solution for the timber industry, and the Swedish image processing technology provider Cind (a spin-off from SAAB AB) have signed a cooperation agreement and launched the first joint project for the automation of timber trucks measurement. Timbeter uses Artificial Intelligence and machine learning for timber measurement, combined with Cloud Computing …

The Northern Hardwoods Research Institute (NHRI) and Remsoft have partnered to support best practice implementation of the Remsoft Operations Cloud within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the forestry sector. The first SME pilot implementation is underway with a leading producer of hardwood products in Canada. Research for the project is supported by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation’s (NBIF) Innovation …

Damage to trees and logs during harvest and transportation can result in significant losses of wood volume and value. To prevent this, researchers are investigating productivity losses, costs and the extent of stem breakage associated with two different types of harvest system machinery. The study was conducted by the University of the Sunshine Coast Forest Research Institute and focused on …

Two well-known and respected John Deere dealerships have hit the ground running as the new homes of John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment in New Zealand. Construction and forestry customers now have access to trusted and reliable sales and service from AGrowQuip (AGQ) in the North Island and Drummond & Etheridge (D&E) in the South Island, to offer the full …

A sharp fall in log prices has raised concerns of job losses but a South Canterbury logging company director believes the industry will recover with minimum damage done. Evan MacClure, a Timaru-based director for Forest Management (FM) said “an estimated 30 per cent drop in price” will impact companies and contractors. “There’s not an abundance of optimism out there, and …

We like to bring you stories on tech advancements. Last week we covered the first large scale operational use of robotics in wood processing operations in New Zealand and Australia (which are being featured in next month’s WoodTECH 2020 on-line webinar series that we have set up for dry-mill and wood manufacturing operations. This week, here’s one out of the …

The installation of a debarker machine at Port Taranaki means full log vessels can now be loaded there. In an emailed statement, Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper said the new machine ensured the company’s export log operations were more efficient and ready to meet future changes to environmental standards. The debarker is owned by China Forestry Group New Zealand …

Remsoft has announced the appointment of Corinne Watson as General Manager, Asia Pacific. In her role, she will support customer success on the ground and drive growth within the Australasia region. A seasoned business leader with a track record in delivering innovative solutions for complex problems, Corinne brings more than 20 years of experience in leveraging software and analytics to …

Hiringa Energy and TR Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer Heavy Fuel Cell Electric Trucks for the New Zealand market powered by Hiringa’s nation-wide hydrogen refuelling network, and TR’s heavy fleet lease, rental, and maintenance management expertise. The companies will offer fuel-inclusive lease packages that offer greater flexibility to heavy vehicle operators and companies looking to …

Waratah Forestry Equipment unveiled the new H415HD, a heavy-duty harvesting head with new features and options to suit customer feedback and rugged application needs. “The new H415HD extends durability to our customers providing another configuration to suit their needs and bolster uptime within the size class of 400 Series model Waratah heads,” said Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. …

John Stone is the new president of John Deere Worldwide Construction and Forestry and Power Systems.  Deere & Company has announced that its board of directors has elected John Stone, 50, to the position of president of Worldwide Construction & Forestry and Power Systems.  Stone will begin his new role on July 1. He will be responsible for the overall management …

Caterpillar Inc. has announced they’ve acquired select assets and hired employees from San Francisco, Cal. based robot and autonomy technology solutions company Marble Robot, Inc. The acquisition is part of Caterpillar’s automation and autonomy strategy and demonstrates its commitment to the next generation of jobsite solutions. Building on its leadership in autonomous mining, the company plans to leverage the deep …