Forest Products Industry

A team of researchers in Scotland is supporting a clean tech startup to transform co-products from the forestry sector into high-value, eco-friendly alternatives to chemicals used in everyday products. Source: Timberbiz Sonichem’s ambition is to reduce the reliance on petrochemical-derived ingredients in industries such as cosmetics, packaging and pharmaceuticals. Using its patented ultrasound technology to break down forestry co-products including woodchips and sawdust, the company extracts natural compounds that can be transformed into green alternatives to essential chemicals. A recent feasibility study funded by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), with support from the University of Glasgow, has helped the business to take its technology to the next stage. The UK generates approximately 4.5 million tonnes of wood co-products every year. Only 55% of logs that enter a sawmill become usable construction timber, while the remainder ends up as low-value co-products such as woodchips and sawdust. The premium target organic chemical being collected through Sonichem’s process is lignin – a polymer that acts like a natural glue, binding the cells and fibres in trees and other types of plants together. This property makes it well-suited for use in products such as resins, films, coatings and foams. While naturally occurring lignin from sawdust is not immediately transferrable to these types of products, the researchers used a series of chemical reactions to create compounds that better matched the synthetic counterparts and could be used in manufacturing. “Compounds derived from petrochemicals are the building blocks for so many of the products we use every day, but to achieve net zero that needs to change.,” Andy West, chief chemist at Sonichem, said: “Trees are a great natural resource that could become part of the supply chain and lignin, in particular, is highly versatile and can be used in almost any setting. But it is the natural glue that holds a tree together, which makes it difficult to extract. In the past, we explored various methods before developing the ultrasound technology to do so effectively. “The next step in the process is about engaging with both the chemical manufacturers, as well as the forestry sector, to ensure that the right number and type of trees are planted now to secure the availability of the product for years to come. This project has been an important stage in the commercial development of our offering and the creation of our first biorefinery plant.” Professor Dave Adams from the school of chemistry at the University of Glasgow, said that working with Sonichem, they have been able to modify the base lignin extracted from sawdust to turn it into a range of more useful chemicals. Of the five routes we tried, all five worked well, which is highly promising and gives the business the information needed to scale up this initial work to a commercial level. Dr Liz Fletcher, director of business engagement at IBioIC, added that Scotland’s forestry sector is worth over £1 billion to the economy, but there is potential to see this grow by using the biomass that sawmills generate in manufacturing. “Sonichem is a great example of a business looking at alternatives to petrochemicals from a feedstock otherwise used for low value applications. Up to 270 million tonnes of synthetic resin were used globally last year, highlighting the sheer scale of the opportunity to improve the sustainability of the chemicals sector,” she said.

Mack Trucks has launched the Mack Live Tour digital experience, offering prospective buyers a personalized, virtual truck exploration from the comfort of their home or office. Source: Timberbiz As the first OEM to offer this type of experience, Mack connects buyers directly with dedicated product specialists who provide comprehensive, one-on-one virtual tours of its truck models. “The Mack Live Tour demonstrates our commitment to meeting customers where they are, providing unprecedented access to our product line while respecting their time and convenience,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “This approach allows us to showcase our trucks’ features and capabilities in a manner that is most convenient for the potential customer—all in an interactive way.” During each 30-minute session, segment-specific product specialists guide customers through detailed tours tailored to their interests. The platform features a one-way video format, allowing customers to view the specialist’s perspective while maintaining the customer’s privacy. Participants can communicate through either audio or chat options. Product specialists provide insights into the selected truck model’s exterior and interior features, with customers directing attention to the details that matter most to their operations. This approach focuses on information and answers, ensuring a pressure-free environment for customer decision-making. The program is currently available to qualified buyers in the United States and Canada. Interested parties can learn more and schedule their personalized virtual tour by visiting https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/  

This year marks 40 years since the introduction of the first Komatsu 901, one of the world’s first single-grip harvesters designed from the ground up with a specific harvester chassis. Source: Timberbiz With the 901 came the Komatsu Stability Concept, which still helps machine operators work safely and productively today. Today’s forestry machines are high-tech tools that combine strength and smart technology with innovations that are specially adapted for forestry. Mechanised forestry took off around the 1980s and since then a lot has happened in terms of technological development. But one thing remains the same, and that is Komatsu’s stability concept, which was launched in 1984, a full 40 years ago this year. The breakthrough came when Komatsu engineers wanted to build a harvester from scratch, rather than on a modified forwarder chassis as was common at the time. They developed a prototype for a thinning harvester, but the difficulty was stability. After many tests, they came up with the solution that is still a hallmark of Komatsu harvesters today. The concept consists of an innovative swing axle that improved stability by locating the engine at the rear. This design, together with a unique hydraulic levelling solution, allowed the machine to navigate difficult terrain with both high precision and efficiency. The tilt cylinders were linked to the swing axle stability cylinders, which meant very good machine control during work even in steep terrain. It sounds complicated but in practice it means that if the crane is working far out from the machine and carrying a heavy tree, two stabilising cylinders work as an automatic counterforce to maintain stability. This innovation, combined with the automatically levelling cab, makes Komatsu harvesters very stable and comfortable to work in. And that’s probably the most important benefit of a stable machine. The feeling when you can sit safely and upright even though the terrain is sloping. It allows you to work in a more relaxed way and thus feel more alert at the end of the day. Four decades later, Komatsu’s stability concept shows that true innovation not only stands the test of time, but continues to make life easier for operators, whatever the terrain.  

The OneSafe Group has recently celebrated its 100th meeting, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to enhancing safety across the forestry industry. Source: Timberbiz Initiated in 2016, OneSafe Group was established as a collaborative by OneFortyOne and its partners to improve safety practices within the forestry industry and communities involved. Companies represented in the group are: OneFortyOne, Fennel Forestry, Greenfreight, LV Dohnt, Merrett Logging, Moreland Holdings, QUBE Forestry, Reid Logging, Tabeel Trading, LITA, PFP, GEM, Teagle, TPPL, Trimble, I&D Contracting, and WFC. OneFortyOne Marketing and Operations Manager Ockert le Roux said the group aims to align safety practices with a shared approach to managing risks. “This initiative brought together senior leadership from various organisations and includes contractors as integral stakeholders in safety strategy,” Mr Ockert said. “Since the group’s inception we’ve made measurable progress in safety throughout the local industry.” OneSafe Group innovations include the development of a Contractor Safety Induction System, application of machinery isolation improvements, and implementation of fatigue guidelines. “Additionally, the group has introduced Guardian safety systems throughout its log haulage network and in selected light vehicles in the high-risk category” Mr Ockert said. “Guardian is an in-vehicle monitoring system which detect distractions and fatigue related events when the vehicle is in use.  It alerts drivers through and alarm and a chair-shaker when a microsleep event occurs. It also sends a notification to fleet owners to investigate and address events with drivers.” OneSafe Group has been instrumental in improving safety standards within the forestry industry by introducing safety leadership training, increasing safety awareness, and developing robust safety protocols like the Drug and Alcohol Policies and Fatal Risk Control Protocols. The group also shares best practices and lessons learned from incidents across participating organizations, embedding safety metrics and performance audits into regular operations and contracts. The group has been learning from each other and implementing improvements and has achieved an 86% reduction in Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) over the past nine years. As OneSafe Group celebrates its 100th meeting, the collective looks forward to further reducing TRIFR, and future goals include expanding safety culture transformation, continuing to develop safety innovations and tools, and strengthening partnerships with contractors to collectively improve safety outcomes. “Reaching our 100th meeting is a testament to the dedication and collaborative spirit of everyone involved in the OneSafe Group,” Mr Ockert said. “Our ongoing efforts to innovate and improve safety practices have made a significant impact, and we are committed to continuing the pursuit of a safer industry for all.”

A workshop in Fiji this month will seek to strengthen biosecurity in the Pacific by developing a new strategy to manage risks associated with sea container movements. Source: Timberbiz The strategy aims to reduce the global spread of hitchhiker pests across the Pacific region via the sea container pathway. These include the giant African snail, whose voracious appetite poses a threat to crops and other plant life, and the formosan termite, one of the world’s most destructive termites, both detected in shipments to Australia in October. More than 2.5 million sea containers arrived in Australia in the 2023-24 financial year, up 4.7% on the previous year. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Deputy Secretary for Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance Justine Saunders said the workshop would promote heightened biosecurity and further trade in the region. “Our region relies on trade via sea containers, but we need to ensure we can safely and responsibly develop our trade between nations and not allow the spread of pests and weeds,” Ms Saunders said. “A new strategy will help strengthen the biosecurity capabilities of Pacific for sea container pathways, including those to and from Australia and other Pacific Island countries and territories. “It will reduce biosecurity risks for agricultural industries within the region, supporting preservation of pest status and food security. Once implemented, the strategy could lead to faster border clearances and reduced costs for commercial sea cargo industries.” The workshop will also focus on exploring ways to automate sea container hygiene as part of the digitalisation of cross-border trade. The event will bring together representatives from Pacific Island countries and territories, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the World Bank Group, and commercial sea cargo industries for the Pacific Strategy for the Sea Container Pathway Workshop in Nadi, Fiji, from 25-29 November. The event is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the World Bank Group.