News

Pfeifer Group, Austria has invested in Raute’s latest panel repairing technology. The automated Panel Repair Station R5, including the latest machine vision technology, will be used for repairing 2,1×5,2m three-ply massive wood panels with polyurethane filler. With the new automated way of repairing, Pfeifer is able to save repair material and labor, increase capacity, and secure constant panel quality.

Raute was selected for being the one-stop shop from design to all the way to installation. The line will be delivered in December 2023.

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Raute Corporation has signed a contract worth EUR 49.6 million with Lumin in Uruguay for the technology delivery of a new plywood mill. This project was earlier referred to in the stock exchange release dated March 9, 2023 (Raute plans directed share issue, rights issue and junior loan to support targeted growth and strengthening of capital structure and proposes combination of share classes). Following the receipt of an advance payment for the project it has become effective as of today.

Lumin will build a green-field plywood mill in Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay. The new mill will increase their plywood production capacity from 304 000 m3 to nearly 500 000 m3, making Lumin the second largest plywood producer in South America.

The order for Raute’s technology includes all main production processes to this new eucalyptus plywood mill: a log handling line, a veneer peeling line, two veneer drying lines with grading, three veneer composing lines, two plywood lay-up lines, two plywood pressing lines, panel repairing and sawing lines with extensive service package and long-term on-site management. All lines are of the most modern automated R7-Series technology equipped with analyzers for grading and MillSIGHTS software for data capturing.

“We are very pleased to receive this order, which shows our ability to serve our customers as a complete, one-stop-supplier. Lumin is our long-term customer with multiple technology deliveries from Raute over the years”, says Mika Saariaho, CEO of Raute.

The ordered machinery and equipment will be delivered between February 2024 and June 2025. They will be manufactured at Raute’s production units in Lahti and Kajaani in Finland, and in the company’s partnership network.

This new mill, which will be in full operation in 2026, is part of Lumin’s strategy to capitalize on the growing global demand for sustainable timber products for the construction and furniture sectors. On the other hand, they are giving added value in Uruguay, instead of exporting timber, to the tree farms that they have been sustainably managing for more than 15 years in Cerro Largo and Treinta y Tres.

Lumin, employing 780 people, is a leader in forestry and forest products in Uruguay. With more than 25 years of experience it manages 120 000 hectares of timberland and has two plywood mills in Uruguay. Lumin is dedicated to the sustainable production of plywood panels destined for international markets. It is owned by a consortium of long-term investors.  www.lumin.com

Photo:  Render of the new plywood mill in Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay (© LUMIN)

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Hekotek AS has signed a supply contract for the delivery of a new log sorting line to Versowood OY in Finland.

Versowood is one of the largest private sawmills in Finland, which acquired 2022 for its existing production units. in August, in addition, the Kissakoski sawmill, where the aforementioned line will also be delivered and installed.

The new sorting line, equipped with a turret turner, has 32 sorting pockets and the annual production volume is planned to be approximately 200,000 m³ saw logs per year. In addition to the log sorting function, where the logs are sorted into sorting pockets according to the given parameters, the receiving measurement of the logs is also performed on the sorting line – using an X-ray and 3D meter, and the obtained measurement results are the basis for invoicing with the log suppliers.

Delivery and installation of Hekotek is planned to start in summer 2023.  As usual, Hekotek is responsible for the production of the equipment as well as the full installation and start-up.

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Tigercat Industries will be showing off the 920 dozer at CONEXPO 2023. The 920 is branded under the new TCi badge. The TCi brand differentiates Tigercat’s core forestry machines from the on and off-road products developed for the construction, utility and industrial sectors. All products falling under the TCi brand are, and will continue to be designed, manufactured, and supported by Tigercat Industries.

The TCi 920 is powered by the Tigercat FPT N45 Tier 4f engine rated at 101 kw (135 hp). It is equipped with a 190 mm (7.5 in) pitch heavy duty undercarriage, and a responsive and efficient closed loop track drive system. As the 920 was initially designed as a forestry dozer, it is built stronger and more robust than an ordinary construction dozer. With impact-resistant belly pans, and durable structural components throughout, it can operate in tougher conditions such as land clearing applications.

The carefully designed cab offers the operator clear sightlines augmented by the sloped front hood and rear-mounted exhaust. The cab is quiet and comfortable with a heated and cooled air ride seat, ergonomic armrest mounted joysticks, and a large touchscreen machine control system interface.

About Tigercat Industries

Tigercat is a privately owned, vertically integrated Canadian company with deep expertise in engineering, fabrication, manufacturing, and the support of machinery suited to severe duty applications. The company’s the three main products streams are forestry, industrial equipment and material processing machinery.

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Lumin, Uruguay has decided to invest in the new Raute Green Veneer Composing Line R7. The line will be installed as an in-line solution into a non-Raute brand peeling line and will be used to combine green veneer sheets to handle full sheets instead of randoms.

With the green veneer composing line, LUMIN is expecting to maximize the utilization of raw material, improve overall recovery, save manpower, and increase drying process efficiency.

“In this new project, Raute and LUMIN did together a raw material test at the mill before ordering the equipment. This was an excellent opportunity to know better the behavior of the local raw material at the composer and also at the drying process”, says Ricardo Inciarte, COO of LUMIN.

This will be the first new generation Green Veneer Composing Line R7 to be delivered in Latin America. The line will be delivered by the end of 2023

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On 17 February, the 19,000th PONSSE forest machine was handed over to Scottish long-term customer Elliot Henderson Ltd, with the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band playing in the background. The PONSSE Scorpion Giant harvester with H8 harvester head will work at logging sites in the Scottish Borders and Scottish Lowlands.

“Thank you to the Elliot Henderson group and the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band for coming to Vieremä to celebrate the 19,000th machine milestone with us. I understand this is the first time a pipe band has played at Vieremä village, which makes this day even more special for all of us, as this is Ponsse UK’s first milestone machine. This is a day that we will remember for years to come,” says Gary Glendinning, Managing Director Ponsse UK.

Elliot Henderson Ltd

Elliot Henderson Ltd is based in Selkirk in Scotland. The company started more than 35 years ago, planting trees with a small squad of men. Over the years, the business has grown and diversified into forestry, construction, and scaffolding. Today, Elliot Henderson Ltd comprises more than 40 forest machines which can undertake clear fell, thinning, steep ground harvesting operations, ground preparation or the construction of forest roads. Elliot Henderson Ltd also has the capability for site brash clearance, stump removal and servicing the biomass industry. The company is also a founding member of the Forest Industry Safety Accord and is a member of the Forestry Contractors Association.

With Elliot Henderson Ltd being a long-standing customer for well over 20 years, it’s a fitting tribute to the relationship between the customer and manufacturer that the landmark 19,000th machine is joining the fleet.

“Elliot Henderson Ltd has always been at the forefront of new machine releases over the years, which in turn keeps the harvesting fleet productive and at the vanguard of innovation. We are excited to be adding this Scorpion Giant to the fleet. This machine will go straight to work in the windblow resulting from Storm Arwen and we feel the extra power and H8 head will benefit us in this application. We look forward to seeing what it can do! We are currently running PONSSE Scorpion, Ergo, three Elephants and one Buffalo.” says Neil Purves, Director of Harvesting for Elliot Henderson Group.

Ponsse UK 

Ponsse UK was established in 1996, and since 2017, the company has operated at Annan, Scotland. The first PONSSE forest machine was already delivered to the country in 1994, and the fleet now comprises nearly 400 Ponsse machines. The Annan service centre is a workplace for about 30 Ponsse professionals.

PONSSE Scorpion Giant harvester

The PONSSE Scorpion Giant is a versatile harvester for demanding conditions. Scorpion Giant can be equipped with either the H8 harvester head or with any of Ponsse’s smaller harvester heads. Scorpion Giant features many solutions familiar from the Scorpion product range, which has been developed even further, including an increased tractive force and an even more powerful C50+ crane. The cabin offers excellent visibility to the logging site, and the machine includes advanced active levelling and suspension systems. PONSSE Scorpion Giant is equipped with a one-piece windscreen that extends to the roof of the cabin. As a result, visibility from the cabin is even better, and working is safe in all conditions. The cabin is like a practical and quiet office with a view, developed to support the operator’s comfort and wellbeing.

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HASSLACHER Group has acquired a 40% stake in Egoin Wood Group. This domestically and internationally active company, with production facilities in Ea (Biscay) and Legutio (Araba), has more than 30 years of experience in the development of constructional timber solutions and currently employs around 160 people.

“The HASSLACHER Group’s 40 percent holding represents an important strategic step for the Egoin Wood Group to strengthen its position in the field of industrial timber construction and timber engineering in Spain and the international markets,” says Unai Agirre, CEO of Egoin Wood Group. “This partnership is an ideal synergy and enables the exchange of know-how and optimization ranging from forest management through the production of high-quality system solutions for modern timber construction to renewable energy solutions such as biomass and photovoltaic systems.”

Specialists in engineered timber

“The 40 percent stake in the Egoin Wood Group is an ideal opportunity to drive further the expansion of the HASSLACHER Group and strengthens our position in Southwest Europe,” says Christoph Kulterer, CEO and owner of the HASSLACHER Group. “In addition, from the family origin and the culture and values by which we live, we also share the strategic vision in terms of development, circular economy, and decarbonization as well as sustainable forest management and thus the preservation of forests.”

About Egoin Wood Group

Based in Spain, Egoin Wood Group is an international timber industry company with sites in Ea (Biscay) and Legutio (Araba) and has an experienced team of over 30 engineers who work with leading architects, developers and contractors in the design of timber construction solutions. Egoin Wood Group currently employs around 160 people in total and, once the new cross laminated timber plant in Legutio is up and running, the Basque timber industry company will employ over 200 people. Egoin Wood Group currently has a total production capacity of 22,000 m³ engineered timber products (14,000 m³ cross laminated timber, 8,000 m³ glulam), which is expected to double to up to 52,000 m³ when the third cross laminated timber plant in Legutio comes on stream in mid-2023.

Photo:

Unai Aguirre (CEO Egoin Wood Group) and Franz Meließnig (CFO HASSLACHER Group) celebrating HASSLACHER Group’s 40 percent stake in Egoin Wood Group. © HASSLACHER Group

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Lumin, a leading timberland and forest products company, will invest ~US$ 136 million to build its third industrial plant in Uruguay, which is expected to create more than 300 jobs and significantly increase the country’s sustainable plywood production. The announcement was made this afternoon in Melo at an event attended by the President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, the Mayor of Cerro Largo Department, José Yurramendi, and Lumin´s CEO, Álvaro Molinari. Following approval by Lumin’s Board of Directors, which includes representatives of the BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG) and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), construction of the new plant will begin in the first quarter of 2023, with operations expected to commence the first quarter of 2026.

The expansion is part of Lumin’s strategy to capitalize on the growing global demand for sustainable timber products for the construction and furniture sectors. All of Lumin’s 120,000 hectares of commercial forests are independently certified as meeting the global standards for responsible forest management of the FSC® (FSC-C162602).

This new investment complements investments of US$ 48 million made over the last two years into the company’s existing facilities, which includes the construction of a thin peel line and a new warehouse facility.

Álvaro Molinari, Lumin’s CEO, said: “Lumin currently employs 780 people and produces 304,000 cubic meters of plywood per year at its two existing plants in Tacuarembó. We expect this new plant to create 320 additional jobs and to expand Lumin’s production capacity to nearly 500,000 cubic meters. Based on current figures, this would make Uruguay the second largest producer of plywood in Latin America.”

The new plant aims to capitalize on tree farms that Lumin has been sustainably managing for more than 15 years in the departments of Cerro Largo and Treinta y Tres.

About Lumin

Lumin is a leader in forestry and forest products in Uruguay. With more than 25 years of experience, Lumin manages 120,000 hectares of timberland in Uruguay in the departments of Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo and Treinta y Tres. Lumin is dedicated to the sustainable production of plywood panels destined for international markets. www.lumin.com

About BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group

BTG Pactual (BPAC11) is the largest investment bank in Latin America, operating in the Investment Banking, Corporate Lending, Sales & Trading, Wealth Management and Asset Management markets. BTG Pactual Asset Management has an international presence with over US$ 100 billion in assets under management and administration. BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG), a division of BTG Pactual Asset Management, is one of the world’s oldest and largest timberland investment managers with US$ 5.6 billion in assets and commitments and 3.0 million acres under management globally as of Q4 2022. TIG is focused on achieving compelling investment returns while also applying high standards of environmental and social governance. TIG has a 40+ year track record with over 100 professional staff members in 15 offices around the globe, bringing local, regional, and global experience to bear on the management of client investments.

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Ten tree nurseries across the state are receiving over $4.4 million this year to help them increase their ability to produce badly needed seedlings. The seedlings are needed to help reforest millions of acres deforested in recent years by wildfire, disease and pests.

The money was given to ODF after passage by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 of House Bill 5006. The bill was a response to the devastating 2020 wildfires which burned a million acres of forest. In the wake of those fires, there were many barriers to reforesting, including shortages of money, labour, and for some smaller landowners appropriate tree seedlings.

ODF Small Forestland Owner Assistance Unit Manager Nate Agalzoff said, “These grants are helping nurseries make strategic investments to increase their ability to grow more seedlings, which will enable them to better support reforestation needs in the future.”

Nurseries are using the funds to invest in everything from adding irrigation to building new greenhouses and seedbed space as well as storage facilities for storing seedling trees. Funds can also go toward:

• equipment
• the cost of collecting or purchasing tree seeds,
• buying land on which to expand nursery facilities.

“These grants are increasing overall capacity across the state for whenever seedling demand rises,” said ODF Reforestation Program Project Coordinator Astrea Strawn. “In the case of nurseries in Union and Hood River counties, the grants also ensure there will be capacity to provide geographically appropriate seedlings for those areas.”

Strawn said funds must be spent before the end of this summer.

“This makes us optimistic that landowners, especially smaller ones, will have better access to seedlings. When they do, they can promptly reforest after future tree losses to keep Oregon’s working forests working for Oregonians,” she said.

“The funding will allow Lava Nursery, Inc. to increase seedling production for the small woodland owners, helping them to meet their reforestation needs after forest fires and/or harvest operations,” said Lava’s Assistant Nursery Manager Jeff Snyder. “These funds will also allow for additional freezer storage capability for long-term storage of seedlings to ensure the best quality seedlings are available at the time of planting.”

To qualify for a grant, a nursery had to have experience growing high-quality commercial conifer trees for reforestation in Oregon, including Douglas-fir, grand fir, noble fir, western redcedar, ponderosa pine and others.

“The awards were targeted to nurseries which showed interest in helping with future reforestation needs, whether from wildfires or climate change losses,” said Strawn.

Nurseries which received funds include:

• Brooks Tree Farm – Salem in Marion County $540,000
• Drakes Crossing Nursery – Silverton in Marion County $540,000
• PRT Growing Services – Cottage Grove and Hubbard $540,000
• Trillium Gardens – Eugene in Lane County $531,000
• Weyerhaeuser – Aurora and Turner in the Willamette Valley $500,000
• Champoeg Nursery – Aurora in Marion County $458,000
• Lava Nursery, Inc. – Parkdale in Hood County $458,000
• Scholls Valley Native Nursery – Forest Grove in Washington County $367,000
• The Plantworks, LLC – Cove in Union County $276,000
• Kintigh Nursery – Springfield in Lane County $238,000

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BID Group has announced it will be expanding its digital offering with its new AI-Powered Smart Vision. Ideally positioned to lead the digital transformation, BID is bringing sawmills to higher productivity levels. BID Group provides industry-leading solutions for its highly valued customers by delivering a complete range of smart equipment, turnkey installations, digital technologies, and aftermarket services.

The system can be deployed at all stages of the process and uses Artificial Intelligence to analyze images from the cameras that constantly watch production and identify objects of interest, leading to an increase in productivity.

BID’s Smart Vision will better serve its customers by providing the following benefits and technologies to sawmill and planer mill operations:

• Identification of production anomalies that normally require mechanical and/or human intervention
• Reduction of major production stoppages and equipment breakdowns
• Alerts when a problem occurs so that action can be taken automatically or manually

• Continuous management and monitoring of one or more stages of the wood transformation process
• Ongoing measurement of quality control and optimization of equipment maintenance

“We are proud of our team and the hard work that was put into our new Smart Vision, a technology that will allow our customers to easily optimize their production flow and get the most out of their mill. Artificial Intelligence is changing the face of our industry and BID is leading the revolution by relentlessly pushing the limits” said Simon Potvin, President of Wood Processing.

BID’s Smart Vision is only the beginning, a series of applications is to be developed, in addition to the ones just launched.

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Rottne Industri delivered 40 new forest machines to Canada last year.

And interest in the Swedish forwarders and harvesters continues to increase on the other side of the Atlantic.

‘The investment in the North American market continues. One step in this is that Rottne Canada is going from previously being tenants to now having acquired a property with modern premises’, says Tobias Johansson, CEO of Rottne Industri.

For Rottne Canada, having its own premises means that the company can more easily continue with the investment that began a couple of years ago. In recent years, the company has built a new network of dealers in the country with very good results.

In terms of sales, we see a clear rise in our machines, says Niklas Lefévre, sales and marketing manager at Rottne Industri.

Above all, it is about our large forwarders, Rottne F18 D and Rottne F20 D , which account for 60 percent of the orders. Interest has also skyrocketed in our harvesters, in particular the Rottne H21D.

Rottne Canada was formed as a subsidiary of Rottne Industri in February 2008, mostly to provide a spare parts warehouse for the machines. Since then, the company has leased its premises in Moncton, New Brunswick, on the Canadian east coast.

Until last fall when the opportunity arose to purchase premises from a former paver company, built in 2018.Rottne Canada now has a permanent home in Moncton, NB WE are excited to now have premises that will contribute to our success. This means that we can take care of our customers even better and also have room to grow, which is one of our goals, says Denis Surette, site manager at Rottne Canada.

Rottne Canada is a large company and since their market is growing, we want to own our premises, not rent. The contract is valid from January and since last autumn we have been on site in our new premises, continues Tobias Johansson.

The property is strategically located on the outskirts of Moncton with close proximity to the main routes around the city. The approximately 1,000 square meters have space for the machines, service, spare parts warehouse and office building for the approximately ten employees.

Our type of felling machines do well in this part of the world. Apart from the fact that they are good machines, other significant advantages are also environmental awareness, being able to absorb directly out in the forest and fuel-efficient engines now that the fuel has skyrocketed even in North America, says Tobias Johansson.

The effort that Rottne Industri has made in Canada has borne good fruit. The order intake continues to be replenished, both for forwarders and harvesters, but that does not stop future plans.

We succeeded in our goal of delivering 40 new machines to the Canadian market in 2022. With new and own premises, as well as an established dealer network, we have significantly greater opportunities to continue growing and thus take the next step in the market. And that is our plan, says Niklas Lefévre.

In summary, 2022 was a successful year for Rottne Industri, which delivered a total of 192 machines, which is an all-time high. And this year the company aims even higher.
The order books are fully signed and the goal is to deliver 220 machines, which feels very fun and exciting, says Tobias Johansson.

About Rottne industri AB

Rottne Industri AB is a family-owned Swedish company and one of the leading forest machine manufacturers. For 68 years, the company has developed forest machines for modern forestry. Rottne Industri AB offers a complete machine program of harvesters and forwarders, from thinning to rough final felling. Around half of the production is exported. www.rottne.com

Rottne Canada

Rottne Industri’s product line has been in the Canadian market for over 25 years. Rottne Canada Inc. was formed in February 2008 to take over the marketing, support and spare parts inventory of Rottne products. Both harvesters and forwarders are highly respected for their high productivity, reliability and economy of ownership and operation. The company has an extensive range of spare parts on site and offers a full range of grapples and sawing units. Rottne Canada is located in the city of Moncton in the state of New Brunswick

 

Photographer: Rottne Industri

The Rottne F18D and Rottne F20D forwarders are both very popular in Canada.

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Alaska Airlines eliminates inflight plastic cups: West Coast-based airline becomes first U.S. carrier to replace plastic with planet-friendly alternative

Alaska Airlines 

Alaska Airlines have announced the completion of their transition to paper cups for inflight beverages, a move which eliminates more than 55 million plastic cups annually and replaces them with a more planet-friendly alternative. The change to paper cups makes Alaska Airlines the first U.S. airline to eliminate plastic cups. Combined with their Boxed Water partnership, these changes eliminate 2.2 million pounds of plastic waste from landfills every year, the equivalent weight of 24 Boeing 737s.

Paper cups on board Alaska Airlines flights

“Doing the right thing is one of our core values and nothing is more right and urgent than protecting the beautiful places that we connect our guests to through flight,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products for Alaska Airlines. “This is another important step in our journey to eliminate single-use plastics and an important step for the industry to see how product innovations can chart a course to a greener future.”

All inflight beverages on Alaska flights are now served in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper cups or reusable glassware for most First Class services. They began the process of eliminating their  five largest sources of plastic waste in 2018 by removing plastic straws and stir sticks from inflight service – a first for any airline at the time.

In 2021, Alaska continued their  progress by eliminating inflight plastic water bottle waste by replacing them with Boxed Water, another first for airlines. Boxed Water cartons are made from renewable FSC certified paper, 92% of which is plant-based, saving an estimated 1.8 million pounds of single-use plastics on their flights annually.

“Eliminating plastics is a team effort,” said Traynor-Corey. “It requires broad collaboration with our supply chain partners and inflight team to make new products and practices that move us toward a future with less plastic. That progress only happens with a deeply shared commitment to care for our environment.”

Single-use plastics increase the use of fossil fuels, generate millions of tons of waste to landfills, and pollute waterways and natural spaces. According to the most recent EPA study, an estimated 300 million tons of plastics are produced each year worldwide with the vast majority going unrecycled, either to accumulate in landfills or the environment. While Alaska takes steps to eliminate plastics, they also encourage their guests to join them in reducing waste by bringing their own water bottles to #FillBeforeYouFly.

As part of their broader sustainability efforts, Alaska continues to pursue product innovations and supply chain advancements to achieve their 2025 goal of replacing the top five waste-producing items from onboard service and continuing to recycle. In 2021, Alaska established climate goals for its impacts in carbon, waste and water while defining a five-part pathway to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040 to keep the places we live and fly beautiful and viable for generations to come.

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Komatsu’s new XT-5 tracked harvesters provide maneuverability and power in demanding conditions

To harvest trees in tight, dense and rugged-terrain forests, operators need machines with maneuverability, power, versatility and reliability. With Komatsu’s XT-5 tracked harvesters, operators can harvest closer to the carrier and maneuver confidently thanks to a lower center of gravity and off-set boom.

Made to perform in demanding conditions, Komatsu’s XT-5 closed loop tracked harvesters enable operators to simultaneously travel, cut, delimb, harvest and swing timber. Engineered with hydraulic lines for each function, operators can use tracks, boom, arm and tools concurrently.

Benefits of the XT-5 tracked harvesters

• Significantly greater lift capacity
• 10% more horsepower
• 16% more torque
• 5% lower fuel consumption
• Excellent uptime and serviceability

More powerful, more productive

The short-tail swing of Komatsu’s 331 HP harvesters lets operators work through dense forests and clear-cutting environments. The set-back boom allows cutting close to the undercarriage and tracks, while the powerful swing torque excels in demanding applications.

Designed to significantly increase lift capacity, handling trees with the arm fully extended is made easier. With an excellent balance between boom lift and arm holding capacity, the XT-5 harvesters can be equipped with a wide selection of harvesting saw heads.

The harvesters can be adapted to the job with two different working ranges. Use the short reach and larger-scaled head to harvest larger trees or switch to a longer reach and more compact designed head to grab trees further from the carrier.

Even on sloped terrains operators can work with confidence. The XT455L-5 is equipped with a heavy-duty, four-way leveling system that promotes front/rear/side leveling for exceptional stability. The fuel tank placement lowers the center of gravity for enhanced stability.

Helps lower maintenance costs and makes servicing easier

With the XT-5 harvesters, you can save on maintenance costs because the innovative hydraulic tank system design requires 55% less hydraulic oil. Pumps are equipped with hydro-nucleation to help prevent pump cavitation  and are 17% larger to help extend component life by operating 500 rpms slower. The engine gull-wing and wide swing-out doors on the XT-5 harvesters offer quick and easy access to all engine service points and all key components.

Operator comfort and customization improve productivity

Help reduce fatigue and support productivity by giving your operators a roomy, comfortable work environment. Excellent visibility, especially to the tracks, and powerful heating, cooling and defrosting systems, help your operators be at the top of their game. When working shifts switch, the controls can switch too by adjusting to each operator’s preference (up to three settings). Set preferences for joystick, boom, stick, tool tilt, swing, cab leveling and more.

Learn more about the Komatsu XT445L-5 and XT430-5.

About Komatsu

Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets.

All comparisons and claims of improved performance made herein are made with respect to the prior Komatsu model (XT-3) unless otherwise specifically stated. ©2022 Komatsu America Corp.

Forestry machines

Tackle tough forestry jobs with confidence using Komatsu wheeled harvesters, forwarders, log loaders, swing machines, felling heads and harvesting heads. Forestry work is often in the most rugged terrain and brutal conditions — and Komatsu forestry equipment is engineered for the task.

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The U.S. Forest Service rule restricts development on more than nine million acres in North America’s largest temperate rainforest, reversing a Trump decision.

La deforestación es uno de los numerosos problemas que deberá afrontar el nuevo gobierno de Brasil. Lo deberá hacer con urgencia.

Deforestation is one of many problems Brazil’s new government will need to address.

For Jason Lentz, being a world-class competitive lumberjack was fated in his family tree.

The Austrian Pfeifer Holding GmbH has signed an agreement on acquiring the Finnish wood processing company Pölkky Oy. The transaction strengthens Pfeifer’s position as one of the leading European timber industry companies and prepares the producer to face global competition. The Pölkky brand, management and operations will remain untouched.

Since its inception in 1968, Pölkky has been owned by the Virranniemi family. As the largest wood processing company in private ownership in Northern Finland, Pölkky employs 420 people and most recently recorded an annual turnover of 200 million Euros. After Pölkky integration into the Pfeifer Group, it intends to continue with its investment programme as planned during years 2022–2024.

Michael Pfeifer, CEO of Pfeifer Holding GmbH, said: “We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition brings. Pölkky is a well-managed family company with a competent management and staff, a unique location in the heavily forested area of Northern Finland and a valuable market position. This is why Pölkky fits perfectly into our strategy of synergistic growth. The Pfeifer Holding’s three-man management team is comprised of CEO Michael Pfeifer, CTO Clemens Pfeifer and CFO Ewald Franzoi.

Thorough analysis resulted in Pölkky being the best option

In a well-founded analysis process, the Holding’s Managing Directors thoroughly examined all acquisition options over the course of the last few years. In the end, Pölkky emerged as the best option. When signing the contracts, the leadership trio announced that they intend to continue Pölkky’s ambitious investment projects and operations with full force and expand the Pfeifer Group’s role as a strong partner in the global sawn timber market.

Petteri Virranniemi, CEO of Pölkky Oy, also emphasises the benefits of the deal: “For me and my family, this step strengthens our development potential, allowing Pölkky to continue to grow and make profits. I am confident that we will be able to create new synergies and additional market potential.”

(Pölkky CEO Petteri Virranniemi) New perspectives for Pfeifer

Thanks to the acquisition, the Pfeifer Group’s number of employees rises to some 2,600 in four countries. The forecast turnover will increase to 1.4 billion Euros in 2023.

For the company previously situated in Central Europe, the transaction means a strategically coherent development in the direction of Northern Europe. Apart from entering an attractive market, this also opens new procurement sources when it comes to high-quality wood from the far North. This will secure the supply and delivery capabilities of the Group in the long run.

Pölkky there to stay

The Pölkky brand will remain active after the firm’s integration into the Pfeifer Group. Likewise, the management will continue to manage the company under CEO Petteri Virranniemi’s leadership, while the supervisory board will be reorganised. The acquisition has no impact on Pölkky’s staff levels, customers and cooperation agreements. The actual acquisition will take place after merger control approximately in January 2023.

About the Pfeifer Group

The Austrian Pfeifer Holding GmbH was founded in 1948 and is currently run by the Pfeifer family’s third generation. Before the acquisition of Pölkky, the Pfeifer Group had around 2,200 employees at eight locations in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. The company headquarters are in Imst (Tyrol/Austria).

In the Group’s fully integrated sawmills, around 4 million cubic meters of wood are cut annually and processed completely along the entire value chain. Pfeifer focuses on the clearly defined areas of timber construction (cross laminated timber, glulam, glued solid wood panels), formwork (concrete formwork panels, formwork beams), pallet blocks and packaging timber, as well as energy (pellets, briquettes, green electricity and heat).

Pfeifer exports its products to 90 countries, with around 90 % of sales generated in its core European markets. There, Pfeifer is the market leader in shuttering panels and pallet blocks and is one of the largest producers of sawn timber, pellets, formwork beams and glulam.

Learn more at https://www.pfeifergroup.com/en/ 

About Pölkky

Pölkky is Northern Finland’s largest family-owned wood processing company. High production standards, reliable supply relationships, logistics know-how and responsible personnel characterise the company, whose slogan is “Roots for Quality Living”. The sawmills and processing plants are located in Kuusamo (headquarters), Taivalkoski, Kajaani, Kitka and Oulu. Its annual production output is 700,000 m3 of sawn timber, and the product portfolio also includes planed timber, pressure-treated timber, glulam, chips and sawdust. With an export quota of over 70 percent and delivery destinations in 35 countries, Pölkky is a major player in the global sawmill market

To read other Pölkky related posts click here.

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USNR is replacing the Headrig system at Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company with a new End Dogging Carriage line, including several new machines such as:

• Log infeed using belts, chains, and ending screws
• Pinnacle feeder
• USNR carriage optimization with LASAR
• Reciprocating EDC with rotation
• Conical chip-heads with board and cant separators
• A single pass resaw
• An inertial separator to separate the split cants
• Numerous belted and chain transfers

This comes on the heels of another significant investment for Lampe & Malphrus, a new Optimized Edger line slated for installation in early 2023.

A strong business needs constant updating and revitalization, and that’s exactly what a new carriage line will do. Once the new systems are installed, logs will move through faster and with a higher-quality end result.

“The new primary breakdown will allow us to meet our customer’s growing demand for quality lumber while improving recovery and the health and safety of our team members.”<?p>

Will Lampe, President & CEO, Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company

USNR enjoys working with Lampe & Malphrus Lumber on all of their upgrades and expansion projects.

 

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An agreement has been entered into with Lazarus Industriförvaltning AB, which acquires a majority of Eco Log Group AB.

Lazarus is an investment company specialized in operational turn-around of companies facing significant challenges. By combining access to capital with experience of operational turn-around, Lazarus can strengthen Eco Logs’ position and offering going forward. Lazarus already owns companies such as Eurosteel Nybro, AH Automation, Stockholm Repair Yard and other manufacturing industrial companies.

– We believe in the company and in the industry, and our acquisition is an important part of the new start that is now needed. We see particularly good opportunities to strengthen Eco Log’s position and we hope that we as new owners can provide both the capital and the drive that is needed, says Martin Alsander, partner in Lazarus Industriförvaltning AB. 

The company manufactures and sells efficient forest machines for sustainable forestry and is based in Söderhamn.

We are very pleased to have new experienced owners who believe in the company and have experience of operational turn-around during complex situations. The acquisition gives Eco Log the right prerequisites to conduct long-term sustainable operations, says Lars Bredenfeldt, board member of Eco Log Group AB.

The acquisition is conditional by the Swedish Competition Authority’s approval. Weland and Accent remain as minority shareholders of Eco Log Group AB.

At the moment, Eco Log Sweden AB is in an ongoing reorganization process.

To read other Eco Log Group posts click here.

 

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