Forest Products Industry

Seppi’s Starsoil allows for work on forestry roads, construction sites, and forest paths, utilizing material deposited on the ground to create both temporary and permanent roads, achieving significant energy and cost savings. Source: Timberbiz With its new drive system, the Starsoil offers more efficient and precise work: it can till the soil to a depth of 40cm, crush stones up to 30cm in diameter, and mulch wood up to 60cm in diameter. A special feature is its two-speed gearbox, this system, controlled directly from the ISOBUS terminal, allows the tractor operator to regulate rotor speed during work: the fast gear for surface mulching and the slow gear for deeper work and stone crushing. Possible applications include stabilizing soil for road construction, removing old asphalt surfaces and rubble, renewing farmland and other green spaces, cleaning forests after logging, land development, etc. Seppi’s BMS Forestry Mulcher is equally impressive and perfect for mulching large vegetative residues to ground level. The M-BOOST hydraulic system with automatic variable motor enables automatic pressure adjustment, dynamically adapting to work requirements. In load situations, torque can be increased by up to 40%. Available working widths for the BMS model are 100, 125, and 150 cm, providing the necessary flexibility for a variety of forestry tasks. Both mulchers offer unparalleled performance and reliability in demanding work conditions. With machines like these, materials can be used and reused on-site, reducing transportation to and from construction sites and thereby reducing processing times, fuel consumption, and overall environmental impact. Seppi machines comply with European regulations requiring reduced environmental impact.

Production and deliveries of Swedish wood products decreased slightly in 2023 compared with the previous year. However, future prospects in both the EU Single Market and in the US look good for the Swedish wood products industry. Source: Timberbiz “Broadly, when more people want to build more with sustainable materials, demand for forest products will increase,” Christian Nielsen, Market Expert Wood Products, Swedish Forest Industries Federation said. In 2023, Sweden’s production of wood products amounted to 17.8 million m3, compared with 18.87 million m3 in 2022. Total wood product deliveries decreased somewhat. This decline can be attributed to reduced demand in Sweden due to weak activity in the construction sector. On the other hand, exports of wood products held up well despite tough global economic conditions with annual export growth at 1% buoyed by a weak Swedish krona. “Reduced construction activity in Sweden and Europe means that we can probably expect a further dip in production in 2024. Even if inflation stabilises, it will take some time before this has an impact on the construction sector,” Mr Nielsen said. In the medium term – five to 15 years – the situation looks considerably brighter for the Swedish sawmill industry. Strong demand in particular from the US and the Single Market is set to drive expected growth. Despite global economic uncertainty, coupled with high interest rates, new production in the US is robust. At the same time, Europe is showing strong interest in wooden construction. France, for example, has decided that half of all public buildings must be built from wood or bio-based materials. In addition, the EU’s requirements for climate declarations for buildings, and initiatives such as the EU Commission’s measures to increase the pace of renovations with the aim of improving buildings’ energy performance, will also fuel increased demand for wood products. “The Single Market and the UK currently account for more than 50 per cent of Swedish wood product sales, and we expect increased interest in the US,” Mr Nielsen said. The Swedish wood products sector also benefits from other major producing countries facing challenges. Canada is dealing with declining commodity supplies due to insect infestations such as bark borers and stricter social and environmental requirements. Central Europe has also been hard hit by bark beetle attacks, and imports from Russia and Belarus have effectively stopped due to the war in Ukraine. “Increased construction in wood is one way to achieve global environmental goals. It will fall to Sweden to take on a leading role to supply Europe and the world with renewable, fossil-free building materials,” Mr Nielsen said.

TimberPro, a manufacturer of forestry equipment, recently completed a US$8 million expansion project that added nearly 49,000 square feet to its facility in Shawano, Wisconsin, in the US. The expansion will allow the company to double production capacity, enabling it to meet growing market demand for its equipment and attachments. Source: Timberbiz “Our facility expansion represents a significant step forward for TimberPro, and we were glad to be able to showcase our enhanced capabilities to the community,” said Doug Morris, VP, Forest Machine Business Division, Komatsu. “Forestry is very important to the Wisconsin economy, and this expansion will enable us to provide more good family-supporting jobs, while also allowing us to enhance our research and development capabilities and significantly increase our production.” TimberPro was founded by the Crawford family in 2002. The Crawfords have been involved in the forestry business in Wisconsin for more than 75 years, and in recognition of their contributions, the new expansion was dedicated to the family. TimberPro was acquired by Komatsu in 2019. “This expansion will also allow us to enhance our R&D capabilities and significantly increase our production of existing and new products,” said Lee Crawford, CEO, TimberPro.