Forestry

Lubricant specialist Zeller+Gmelin presents its latest developments at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg (October 22nd to 24th) for the first time. At the trade fair stand in Hall 1, Stand 1210, innovative Thermosure products for direct battery cooling and Multicut cutting oils for non-ferrous metal processing will be presented, among other things. The focus is on progresses in the field of e-mobility, thermal management and powertrain.

As an established partner to the automotive industry, Zeller+Gmelin is strengthening its activities in the area of e-mobility. The highlights of the trade fair include the Thermosure products, which were developed specifically for the requirements of direct battery cooling and the cooling of PEM fuel cell technology. “Our Divinol Thermosure products are designed to maximize thermal efficiency in electric vehicles and charging infrastructures,” explains Thorsten Wechmann, Strategic Business Unit Manager at Zeller+Gmelin. “Thanks to their advanced properties, they reliably prevent overheating and improve both the performance and service life of electronic components.”

Efficient thermal management with Divinol Thermosure

The trade fair exhibits include the dielectric coolant Divinol Thermosure BCF 10, which ensures reliable heat dissipation thanks to a high thermal conductivity of 0.136 W/mK at 60 °C. The silicone-free Divinol Thermosure GF28-27 is presented for applications in battery systems and power electronics, which impresses with a high thermal conductivity of 2.8 W/mK and is particularly suitable for automated applications. Another highlight is the glycol-based coolant Divinol Thermosure FC 40, which was
specially developed for cooling PEM fuel cells. It is characterized by a low viscosity of 3 mm²/s at 40 °C and an electrical conductivity of 1.14 μS/cm at 50 °C.

Multicut cutting oils for non-ferrous metal processing

At the IZB, Zeller+Gmelin is also presenting Multicut products that have been specially developed for the requirements of non-ferrous metal processing. Particularly noteworthy are the label-free high-performance cutting oil Multicut FSE HSC 15 NF, which is particularly effective in demanding and precise machining in the décolletage, and the high-performance grinding oil Multicut Grind HP 10 NF for cylindrical and profile grinding.

“With Multicut we meet the growing demands of modern industry. Our cutting oils achieve excellent results, both with difficult-to-cut materials and with sensitive non-ferrous metal alloys such as beryllium copper,” explains Dr. Irene Kreitmeir, product manager at Zeller+Gmelin. She also emphasises that the Multicut NF products are particularly economical due to their reduced consumption: “Due to low oil mist formation and low evaporation loss, consumption drops significantly, which reduces both process costs and environmental impact.”

The portfolio shown at the trade fair also includes the versatile cutting oil Multicut Basic HP 15 Extra NF, which is suitable for the most difficult cutting tasks on steel and non-ferrous metals, as well as Multicut Plus 10 NF, a flexible all-round product for medium-heavy cutting work.

With a view to the Wolfsburg supplier exchange, Dr. Irene Kreitmeir: “All Multicut NF products are compatible with non-ferrous metals and offer decisive advantages for different applications in metal processing. We are glad to provide IZB trade visitors our advice in order to find the optimal solutions for their processes.”

Zubora: More power for the drive

The “Powertrain” division also focuses on the latest water-miscible high-performance cooling lubricants. Worth mentioning is the new, pictogram-free cooling lubricant Zubora TTS PF, which does not contain any critical ingredients and still offers maximum performance. Thorsten Wechmann explains: “This cooling lubricant combines optimal cutting performance with the important requirements for health, occupational and environmental protection. This offers users long-term economic benefits through lower storage and handling costs.”

At the IZB, the experts from Zeller+Gmelin would like to demonstrate how modern lubricant solutions can be optimally tailored to developments in powertrains. “The requirements for the drivetrain are evolving rapidly – both for electric drives and for conventional combustion engines. At Zeller+Gmelin, we therefore attach particular importance to offering holistic solutions that cover both the machining of individual engine components as well as their calibration and forming. With our broad product portfolio, we respond to this dynamic and offer tailor-made lubricants for every link in the drivetrain,” explains Mr. Wechmann. “The IZB offers us the ideal platform to present our latest innovations in the powertrain sector. We look forward to welcoming many trade visitors and presenting our tailor-made solutions to them.”

Cover image: Trade fair stand (Image source: Zeller+Gmelin)

Caption: Zeller+Gmelin at IZB 2024, Hall 1, Stand 1210: The focus this year is on powertrain and e-mobility

To read previous Supplier Fair posts click here.

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Speaker, Gilles Gauvin with Carbotech Group joins the afternoon session, “The Ins & Outs of AI Implementation,” with his talk: “The Logmeter and the AI: Aiming for Another Level of Digitalization of Logs on Truck Loads.” Gauvin joins Levesque, Weithofer and Laudon in this can’t-miss session.

Conference registration is now open as part of TP&EE show registration—add it to your TP&EE plans today!

To read previous TP&EE Expo related posts click here.

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The 2024 edition of the Sawmill Productivity & Efficiency will co-locate with the Timber Processing & Energy Expo to be held in Portland, Oregon on Thursday, September 26. And in the afternoon, it’s all about AI.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Dane Floyd, BE&E
• Anne-Marie Levesque, BID Group
• Gilles Gauvin, Carbotech Group
• Karl Aicher, Grenzebach
• Norvin Laudon, MiCROTEC
• Robert Weithofer, Valutec

Conference registration is now open as part of TP&EE show registration—add it to your TP&EE plans today!

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Combilift gains further global recognition as it secures awards in 2 categories at the recent UK Materials Handling Association Awards in Birmingham on Saturday the 14th of September. Up against some of the biggest names in Material handling, they walked away with the coveted ‘Ergonomic Innovation of the Year’ and the ‘Manufacturer Product Innovation of the Year’.

The Combi-CB70E was celebrated for its groundbreaking ergonomic design. The 7-ton electric-powered, multidirectional counterbalance forklift is the shortest 7-ton capacity truck on the market, making it highly efficient with long loads in tight spaces. The truck’s surprisingly spacious cab, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass, provides operators with excellent visibility and enhanced safety.

One of its standout features is the Auto Swivel Seat, which automatically swivels 15 degrees to the left or right, depending on the direction of travel. This feature significantly reduces driver strain, particularly when reversing.

The CB70E also incorporates a gas strut suspension system, typically found in larger industrial machinery. This advanced suspension and large super-elastic tyres ensure a smooth ride, even across rough or uneven terrain or during extended shifts. Combilift’s independent electric traction system -previous Red Dot award winner- provides 100% traction control for all front and rear drive wheels. This system eliminates the need for a differential lock on slippery surfaces, reduces load swing, and enhances safety and precision when transporting long, heavy loads particularly when navigating sideways, regardless of ground conditions.

Combilift’s second award, the ‘Manufacturer Product Innovation of the Year’, went to the Combi LC Blade, a cutting-edge machine designed specifically to address the growing challenges of transporting offshore wind turbine blades from the manufacturing plant to storage or transportation facilities.

These blades, which can reach up to 115 metres in length and weigh up to 70 tonnes, have long posed logistical challenges due to their size, fragility and complexity.

Combilift’s Heavy Equipment Design Team, known for developing pioneering solutions like the Combi-SC Straddle Carrier and Combi-MG Mobile Gantry worked hand in hand with Siemens Gamesa, a leading supplier of offshore wind turbines, the LC Blade ensures unparalleled stability and safety during transport.

Now implemented in manufacturing sites across the world, Combilift has transformed the logistics of handling wind turbine blades and set a new industry standard.

Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar; “We are more than delighted to have won not just one, but two prestigious accolades at this years Archies 2024, making this our 12th Archies to date. Competing against such high-calibre competitors highlights what a fantastic team we have, which are willing to push the boundaries of the material handling industry.”

These awards solidify Combilift’s winning momentum after taking home ‘Design Team of the Year’ for the LC Blade and the ‘Industry Leader Award’ – recognising McVicar’s transformative leadership at the UK EMA Awards in London, bringing a total of 4 awards for the Irish manufacture within two weeks!

As Archimedes once said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Combilift embodies this spirit of innovation, continuously pushing the boundaries of material handling solutions.

To read previous Combilift related posts click here.

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Gatineau, Quebec – The Canadian Woodlands Forum’s flagship event, DEMO International®, is set to take place in the Venosta, Quebec forest region from September 19 to 21, 2024. This renowned event is one of North America’s largest LIVE in-woods forest equipment expos, with this year marking its 14th edition.

DEMO International promises excellent photo and video opportunities, featuring hundreds of pieces of live-action forestry equipment in operation. Attendees can witness cutting-edge technology and innovative machinery in action over a 3.2 km route, showcasing equipment for forest harvesting, forwarding, biomass processing, and more. Interactive Site Map

The event will showcase over $100 million worth of forestry machinery from top global manufacturers. In addition, visitors can watch or participate in the Log Loader Competition, presented by Barko and Équipments Marquis, which will run throughout the 3-day event.

Public Registration: Available online. Pre-registration is $40+tax for a one-day pass. Tickets at the door will be $60 for a one-day pass, or $80 for a three-day pass.

This event promises to offer some of the most impressive forest machinery demonstrations and exclusive insight into the future of forestry technology. Don’t miss this unique opportunity!

To read about previous Demo International® events click here.

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Norra Timber recently announced a three-phase upgrade of its Hissmofors, Sweden, sawmill with an investment of up to SEK 150 million (US$14.8 million). Approximately 70 people are currently employed at the sawmill and the associated planning mill.

Henrik Jönsson, Industrial Manager at Norra Timber, said, “The sawmill contributes to both local jobs and smart climate products. For us, it is important to invest here and thus balance the technical degree and competitiveness of our sawmills.”

Norra Skog’s Board of Directors has previously made a policy decision regarding the investments in Hissmofors. The planned investments will take place in three stages and will begin with new post-processing along the saw line. The new machine equipment will have significantly higher capacity than the previous one and therefore enable production increases.

The sawmill in Hissmofors currently has an annual production of approximately 170,000 m3, with the goal of increasing production to 200,000 m3 within the next two years. The mill currently produces spruce and pine rough sawn and planned into boards and planks, and the wood products are sent on to customers both in Sweden and abroad.

The investment in the new machine equipment amounts to approximately SEK 40 million (US$3.9 million) and will mean a production increase of 10,000 m3sv annually. The next two investment steps that are planned involve upgrades in the sawmill line and comprise approximately SEK 100 million ($9.8 million).

“Of course, the investments feel great for us at Hissmofors. We secure jobs and get a receipt that Norra Skog believes in us here in Jämtland. This announcement inspires confidence in the future,” says Thomas Haiduga, sawmill manager in Hissmofors.

Facts Hissmofors saw

The sawmill in Hissmofors currently has an annual production of approximately 170,000 cubic meters, with the goal of increasing production to 200,000 cubic meters within the next two years. Here, spruce and pine are sawn and planed into boards and planks, and the wooden products are sent on to customers both in Sweden and abroad. To make use of all parts of the forest’s raw material, Stallströ and Agricultural litter are made from the chippings from the planer. It becomes a litter product that is clean and free of dust, which creates a healthy environment for both animals and people. Today, around 70 people work at the saw and planer, which is located just outside Krokom.

To read previous Norra Timber posts click here.

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Combilift, a leading global innovator in material handling solutions, has achieved dual recognition at this year’s UK Engineering & Manufacturing Awards 2024, securing two highly prestigious awards.

Design Team of the Year

The ‘Design Team of the Year’ award was presented to Combilift’s Heavy Equipment Team for their exceptional work on the groundbreaking 12-Wheel “Combi-LC Blade.” This cutting-edge machine has been specifically engineered to handle offshore wind turbine blades, which can reach up to 115 meters in length and weigh as much as 70 tonnes. The design significantly enhances the ability to transport these large, non-uniform loads safely and efficiently from manufacturing sites to storage and deployment locations.

This innovative solution addresses the growing needs of the renewable energy sector, where the demand for efficient logistics systems is increasing as the size and scale of offshore wind turbines continue to grow. Prior to the development of the Combi-LC Blade, existing transportation methods were often inadequate and posed logistical challenges. Combilift’s Heavy Equipment Design Team drew upon their extensive experience in engineering complex transport systems, previously creating the renowned Combi-SC Straddle Carrier and Combi-MG Mobile Gantry ranges.

In collaboration with Siemens Gamesa, one of the world’s largest suppliers of offshore wind turbine technology, Combilift designed a transport system that offers unparalleled stability and safety in moving these massive turbine blades. The Combi-LC Blade has now been successfully deployed at manufacturing sites across the globe, demonstrating its effectiveness and transforming the way wind turbine blades are handled and transported. Combilift is renowned for its customer-centric approach and ability to develop customized material handling solutions specifically tailored to meet customers’ needs. This award, sponsored by *Eureka Magazine*, not only recognizes the team’s exceptional skill, collaboration, and dedication to solving one of the most pressing challenges in renewable energy logistics, but also highlights the company’s commitment to providing innovative customer-led solutions.

Industry Leader Award

In addition to this remarkable team achievement, Combilift’s co-founder and CEO, Martin McVicar, received the coveted ‘Industry Leader Award’, sponsored by *Menzies*. This accolade honors McVicar’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to innovation, which have played a pivotal role in transforming Combilift from a small Irish manufacturer into a global leader in the material handling sector.

Martin McVicar’s leadership has been instrumental in Combilift’s success. Since co-founding the company, McVicar has overseen its rapid growth, transforming it into one of Ireland’s top exporters, with a projected turnover of €500 million this year. His approach to leadership combines technical expertise with a hands-on, inclusive management style. Known for his engineering prowess, McVicar has a background as Chief Engineer at Moffett Engineering, a role he held at the young age of 19.

Under his guidance, Combilift has become synonymous with innovative problem-solving in material handling, consistently delivering tailored solutions for complex logistical challenges. The judges highlighted McVicar’s ability to navigate the company through a range of external challenges, from the impacts of the pandemic to global supply chain disruptions, while maintaining a forward-thinking approach that identifies opportunities for growth and transformation.

Beyond business success, McVicar is deeply committed to fostering a strong corporate culture. Combilift’s headquarters, the largest factory under one roof in Ireland, serves not only as a manufacturing hub but also as ambassadors for corporate social responsibility. The company regularly hosts apprenticeship schemes,  charity events, family days, and educational visits, further solidifying its role within the local community. Combilift also sponsors the local Ladies GAA team, demonstrating McVicar’s commitment to supporting gender equality in sports.

Combilift’s double win at the UK Engineering & Manufacturing Awards 2024 is a testament to the company’s innovative spirit and visionary leadership, reinforcing its position as a global leader in the material handling industry.

For further information about the UK Engineering & Manufacturing Awards 2024, please visit www.engineeringmanufacturingawards.com

To read previous Combilift related posts click here.

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BID Group, a leader in the wood processing industry for over a century, has announced its new identity as Comact.

This transition marks a significant evolution in the company’s journey and reflects its commitment to innovation and excellence. From its origins as an OEM, Comact has been instrumental in transforming the wood processing industry.

The company has consistently invested in research and development, addressed customer challenges, and adapted to their evolving needs. Through strategic alliances and acquisitions of leading brands, Comact has established itself as a world-class leader and pioneer renowned for its high-performance technology and equipment and its exceptional customer engagement.

“The decision to transition to Comact aligns with our strategic plan to expand as a high-tech OEM with key customers worldwide,” explained Alistair Cook, president and CEO. “This new identity signifies the beginning of a transformative phase for us. We are reaffirming our commitment to being the premier OEM in the industry by delivering cutting-edge technologies, world-class project services, and unparalleled dedication—qualities that have cemented Comact’s reputation as a market leader in high-performance, innovative solutions.”

As Comact, the company will continue to focus on what matters most to its clients: optimizing operational performance, leveraging advanced technologies, and delivering exceptional field support. Our comprehensive project services, including construction and installation, will continue without interruption.

The company has also unveiled its new brand identity and logo, which embody its customer-centric approach and the robustness and high performance of its equipment.

The company will gradually implement the new brand across all touchpoints starting now. Customers, partners, and stakeholders can expect a seamless transition with no disruption to its operations. Further details will be shared soon.

ABOUT COMACT

For over 100 years, Comact has been a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services, and aftermarket support. Driven by innovation and excellence, we are dedicated to helping our customers address their most pressing operational and business challenges in today’s industry.

Whether for brownfield or greenfield projects, Comact’s expertise provides wood processing facilities with the confidence that their investments will yield superior performance, throughput, and ROI. This ensures they remain competitive and achieve sustained growth in an ever-evolving market. Trust Comact to deliver exceptional performance every time. For more information, click here.

To read previous BID Group posts click here.

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• Transformation needs flexibility: ZF invests in hybrid drivetrain technologies and introduces TraXon 2 Hybrid to further support the decarbonization of commercial vehicles

• Decarbonization beyond the drivetrain: trailer and power take-off technologies also in focus

• Electrification portfolio: ZF anticipates global demand

Friedrichshafen, Germany. ZF continues to lead the charge towards developing innovative technologies to make commercial vehicles more sustainable. As the industry undergoes its greatest transformation since the invention of the internal combustion engine, ZF will continue to set the pace of innovation by actively responding to customer needs with a full-flex portfolio.

The company will showcase as such during this year’s IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany, from September 17th-22nd.

As the world’s largest component and system supplier with the broadest portfolio to the commercial vehicle industry, ZF is well positioned to provide the technical expertise, manufacturing flexibility and cross-divisional technology transfer needed to provide cost-effective solutions. ZF anticipates that customer demand for e-mobility to grow over the next few years.

Hybrid technologies

ZF is investing in hybrid drivetrain technologies as a rapid solution to reduce commercial vehicle emissions. ZF’s latest variant of its successful TraXon 2 transmission, the TraXon 2 Hybrid, is a new concept that effectively enables OEMs to incorporate hybrid technology into their existing design platforms with reduced effort and complexity. The system facilitates clean, safe and efficient mobility, while bringing total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits.
Hybrid technologies offer significant emissions reduction potential while retaining many of the advantages terms of range and refilling capabilities. With its extensive experience in developing hybrid technologies for passenger cars, ZF is able to leverage its technical and industrial capabilities to develop viable, cost-effective hybrid solutions.

Zero emissions technologies: ZF’s E-Mobility Kit

ZF’s family of next generation electric drives provides all the elements manufacturers need to electrify their vehicles. ZF’s E-Mobility Kit employs a unique modular approach, seamlessly integrating components to create a compact, lightweight and powerful system. ZF’s in-house development of key components, including inverters, e-motors, transmissions, e-actuators, and electronic control units including software, allows them to tailor e-drive solutions to the unique specifications of OEM customers across various vehicle applications.

Catering to a wide range of customer requirements, ZF’s kit includes a central drive platform – the CeTrax 2 dual and CeTrax 2 – which can slot into the same space as a conventional transmission, as well as an axle drive platform – the AxTrax 2 dual and AxTrax 2 – which sits closer to the wheels, providing greater design flexibility.

OEMs have the flexibility to use complete e-drive systems from ZF or integrate individual components, software, or subsystems. This versatility facilitates a smooth transition to electric mobility, offering electric drive solutions that can either be easily integrated into existing vehicle platforms or provide additional design flexibility to meet various applications.

Electrified Trailers

The trailer will play an increasingly significant role in helping to decarbonize road freight transport, whether hauled by an ICE or electric truck. ZF’s electric trailer concept, which integrates its in-house developed AxTrax 2 e-Axle together with its trailer EBS and battery system box into a trailer, effectively converts an ICE powered truck into a hybrid. In the case of an electric vehicle, the electric trailer concept effectively extends the vehicle’s range.

When pulled by an ICE, the technology can help reduce CO2 emissions by up to 16% through recuperation, while up to 40% with the plug-in-hybrid solution. The concept is possible thanks to the development of ZF’s latest electrified traction axle, the AxTrax 2, which was originally designed for trucks, buses and coaches. Integrating its e-mobility technologies such as the AxTrax 2 combined with ZF´s leading expertise in braking control systems demonstrates how ZF applies its technical-transfer capabilities to meet a wide range of applications effectively.

eWorX

ZF also excels in the domain of electrified power-take off solutions (ePTO). ZF’s eWorX integrates components including a 50-kW e-motor, inverter and electronic control unit with application-specific software. eWorX powers a range of equipment including hook lifters, skip loaders or loading cranes installed on electric commercial vehicles. Developed in close collaboration with OEMs and body manufacturers, the concept is proving highly successful with demand for eWorX products expected to double over the next few years.

ZF’s latest version of eWorX is integrated into the frame of the truck and uses the truck’s cooling system. The innovative design reduces installation space and allows the system to be used in a wider range of vehicle applications. Additionally, ZF will soon introduce a next generation to the ZF eWorX family with a 70 kW, 800 V, cyber security capable drive for electric power take-off solutions as well as a multifunctional, bidirectional I/O device to power applications on electrified commercial vehicles.

Photo: World premiere: Speeding up decarbonization with the new TraXon 2 Hybrid transmission system for heavy commercial vehicles.

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Gatineau, Quebec – The Canadian Woodlands Forum flagship event, DEMO International will be moving into the Venosta, Quebec forest region later this month. DEMO International is one of North America’s largest and unique LIVE in-woods forest equipment expos. 2024 will mark the event’s 14th edition and will be taking place September 19th through 21st.

“We can’t be more thrilled to get this event off the ground.” Said National Show Manager, Mark Cusack. “The planning process has been extensive so it’s exciting to see some of the larger equipment finally start to roll in.”

Visitors can look forward to seeing over $100 million in forestry equipment and machines on display from top manufacturers and suppliers internationally. The DEMO route is over 3.2 kms long and will showcase both large- and small-scale equipment including forest harvesting, forwarding, biomass, firewood processors and more.

Registration is available now online for those interested in attending. Pre-registration is just $40+tax per person for a one-day pass (one day pass will be $60 at the door, three-day pass will be $80 at the door)

There will also be a Log Loader competition presented by Barko and Équipments Marquis. Guests wanting to test their skills will have the opportunity to compete over the 3-day event.

There will also be a 2-day technical conference in conjunction with the event held at the Delta Ottawa City Centre. Organized by the Canadian Woodlands Forum in collaboration with the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, FP Innovations, and Université Laval, the DEMO International conference’s theme is “Adapting to New Forestry: Unlocking Innovative Solutions.” Register HERE to be part of the conference.

For complete details and updates on DEMO International, please visit the show’s website at www.demointernational.com or find the show on Facebook or Instagram.

SHOW INFORMATION

Thursday, Sept. 19: 9 am – 5 pm
Friday, Sept. 20: 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday, Sept. 21: 9 am – 4 pm

Social Media:

• Twitter: @DemoIntl
• Facebook: @DEMOIntl
• Instagram: @DemoInternational

To read previous DEMO International posts click here.

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Ce mois, DEMO International s’installe à Vénosta, au Québec

Gatineau, Québec – L’évènement phare du Forum canadien des opérations forestières, DEMO International, prendra en charge la région forestière de Vénosta, Québec plus tard ce mois-ci. DEMO® International est l’un des salons d’équipement forestier LIVE et en forêt les plus impressionnant et uniques en Amérique du Nord.  2024 marquera la 14ème édition et se déroulera du 19 au 21 septembre.

« Nous ne pourrions pas être plus enthousiastes pour le démarrage de cet évènement. » A dit Mark Cusack, Directeur national de salon. « Le processus de planification a été long donc nous sommes ravis de voir certains des plus gros équipements commencer enfin à arriver. »

Les visiteurs peuvent s’attendre à voir plus de 100 millions de dollars en équipement de foresterie et des machines en expositions provenant de fabricants et fournisseurs au premier rang de l’industrie international.  La route DEMO s’étend sur plus de 3.2 kms et présentera des équipements à petite et grande échelle, notamment pour l’abattage, la transportation, la biomasse, la transformation de bois de chauffage, etc.

Pour ceux qui sont intéressés, l’inscription en ligne est disponible maintenant . Le coût de préinscription est de 40$ + taxes par personne pour un laissez-passer d’une journée (le laissez-passer d’une journée sera 60$ à l’entrée, le laissez-passer de trois jours sera de 80$ à l’entrée).

Il y aura également une compétition de chargeuse à bois présentée par Barko et Équipments Marquis. Les invités qui souhaitent mettre leurs habiletés à l’épreuve auront l’occasion de participer à la compétition lors de l’évènement de 3 jours.

De plus, il y aura une conférence technique de deux jours précédant le salon qui se tiendra au Delta Ottawa City Centre. Organisée par le Forum canadien des forêts en collaboration avec le Centre canadien sur la fibre de bois, FP Innovations et l’Université Laval, la conférence DEMO International a pour thème « Adaptation à la nouvelle Foresterie : Débloquer des solutions innovantes ». Inscrivez-vous ICI pour participer à la conférence.

Pour obtenir tous les détails et toutes les mises à jour concernant DEMO International, veuillez consulter le site web du salon à www.demointernational.com ou retrouvez le salon sur Facebook ou Instagram.

INFORMATIONS POUR LE SALON

Jeudi le 19 sept: 9h – 17h
Vendredi le 20 sept: 9h – 17h
Samedi le 21 sept: 9h – 16h 

Médias Sociaux:

• Twitter: @DemoIntl
• Facebook: @DEMOIntl
• Instagram: @DemoInternational

The post DEMO International Moves Into Venosta, Quebec This Month appeared first on International Forest Industries.

As their old equipment started to lag behind what was needed for the business, Bright Wood turned to USNR’s AddVantage scanners for a solution. Bright Wood purchased eight systems with the plan to replace existing scanners and to add more locations.

The goal was to utilize the system’s AI defect programming to help reduce the amount of waste, create fewer cutbacks, and produce an overall better product for their customers.

An outdated scanning system can be severely detrimental to any facility. From slow processing time to misallocated manpower to excess waste, it can be the weak link that costs a mill thousands of dollars every year. This is exactly what led Bright Wood to search for alternative scanner options.

The AddVantage uses AI-driven defecting technology that provides industry-leading detection and classification of defects. But finding the AddVantage was just the beginning. Upgrading and refining their process has now led Bright Wood to new ventures and better product.

Read the full article here.

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New for 2024, the Timber Processing & Energy Expo will host a morning session on current panel manufacturing best practices and industry trends, Thursday, September 26.

With speakers continuing to be added, confirmed presentations include George Harmati from Westmill and Connor Easton from Raute.

Conference registration is now open as part of TP&EE show registration—add it to your TP&EE plans today!

In his talk, “Modernizing the Plywood and LVL Industry,” Connor Easton with Raute leads off the morning. Modernization in the plywood and LVL industry is now widely considered essential in order to stay competitive in the market.

The growing shortage of labour coupled with increasing wages and insurance premiums necessitate mills to turn to automation in order to meet their output, efficiency and budgetary goals. Raute, a global manufacturer of veneer, plywood and LVL solutions, has responded to the need by offering a greater range of automated equipment that solves these pressure points and more.

He’ll share performance features of several automated lines as well as real statistics from clients who have modernized their mills.

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Broader focus on silviculture

With the increased importance that the global Forest Industry has on the decarbonization of the atmosphere, and in order to help global forestry customers meet the growing demand for sustainably sourced, cost-effective wood products, John Deere Forestry has shifted its strategic focus from forest harvesting to include the entire Forestry Production System.

This is not new at John Deere, since their agriculture team has successfully leveraged Production System thinking to develop a host of technology-driven products that have significantly improved agricultural yield and efficiency, while reducing input costs for farmers.

Applying this holistic thinking to the forest industry, it was clear that the forest harvesting segment has experienced a significant improvement in productivity, efficiency, and safety through mechanization over the past four decades. Forest harvesting has undergone a significant transformation, but silviculture is an area of the overall Forestry Production System that hasn’t experienced much change.

As John Deere Forestry explored this further with customers and forest owners worldwide, it was clear that increased urbanization was making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain forest workers for the labour-intensive jobs typically found in silviculture. In some regions, especially those that have experienced higher than normal forest losses due to the effects of climate change (forest fire, insect infestations, drought etc.), silviculture activities are so constrained by the labour shortage that it is putting significant pressure on maintaining the exceptional history of sustainably managing the forest ecosystem.

John Deere Forestry saw an opportunity to leverage their experience with mechanized forest harvesting and the development of precision soil preparation, planting and spraying technology for agriculture and apply it to silviculture.

Brazilian forests as a starting point

Like all significant change activities, you have to start somewhere. In discussions with forest customers worldwide, they saw a good opportunity to work with Brazil’s forestry industry primarily because they have very organized silvicultural activities, their plantation forestry infrastructure is well defined, and their forests have very short rotation times – which provides John Deere with quick feedback on the positive and any potential negative impacts of mechanized silviculture. Additionally, there was considerable “pull” from Brazil’s forest industry for mechanized silviculture solutions to help them meet the growth of the eucalyptus plantation forest area over the coming decade.

According to the latest survey by the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá, January 2022), the Brazilian forestry sector has 9.5 million hectares of productive forests. In addition to the significant investment in sustainably managed productive forests, Brazil’s forest industry has also developed another 6 million hectares of native forest, exclusively for conservation and providing a natural habitat for native species.

Mechanized planting as a solution to challenges?

Leveraging customer-focused processes, developed by the John Deere Ag Advanced Marketing team, they mapped the entire Silviculture Production System and looked at the areas where customers were experiencing the biggest challenges. They also looked at where the biggest opportunities existed for customers to improve productivity and efficiency. Comparing the challenges and the opportunities, they quickly identified that mechanized planting provided one of the biggest opportunities for Brazilian customers to meet the challenges they were facing.

They assembled a small, highly talented team by bringing together people with experience in Forestry, Agriculture and Construction equipment development. Working closely with customers, this team managed to quickly create a concept Mechanized Seedling Planter that was initially sent for customer testing in early 2020. Unfortunately, the global pandemic stopped our testing and they had to reassemble their efforts during the pandemic based on very limited customer feedback.

Promising test results John Deere Forestry were able to resume field testing after the global travel restrictions were lifted. They presented the concept Mechanized Seedling Planter to many customers at the Florestal 2022 forestry show in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in May 2022.

The Mechanized Seedling Planter is currently undergoing further customer testing. Initial feedback is very favourable, and they are on track to meet the customer’s request to be able to plant one hectare of forest per hour and significantly reduce manual labour by approximately 90%. In order to achieve these results, they integrated several technologies leveraged directly from Agriculture, such as automated path planning and steering, which simplifies the operation of the machine and improves the overall quality of the planting.

Continuous development for healthier forests The Mechanized Seedling Planter is designed to be adaptable to different species and is intended to be used in different forestry markets around the world. The planter is built on the 1510G forwarder that is in serial production at the Joensuu factory in Finland. The 1510G’s performance and ergonomics provide an industry leading platform for the silviculture solutions Deere is developing.

Mechanized planting is only the beginning; through the leverage of Agriculture technologies, there are further opportunities to improve the productivity and efficiency, while reducing input costs for forest owners. Emerging technologies like the recently released John Deere See and Spray have significant potential to further reduce the cost of silviculture activities while improving the health of the forest.

Recent trial results for local foresters

As part of this year’s eagerly awaited ForestTECH 2024 series in November where research, trial results and operational lessons from mechanised tree planting are going to be unveiled to local foresters, Matti Tarkka, Program Manager, John Deere Forestry, Silviculture Projects, John Deere, Finland will be outlining in greater detail the testing results from the John Deere Mechanized Seedling Planter from Brazilian forests and plans for the new planting machine in this part of the world.

Details on the content and coverage for the 20-21 November Rotorua, New Zealand event and 26-27 November 2024 event running in Melbourne, Australia the week after, can now be found on the 2024 ForestTECH 2024 website.

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The clearer structure and the extensive concentration of earthmoving machinery in the gravel pit at the northern end of the area were well received by both visitors and exhibitors at the FinnMETKO 2024 trade fair.

The three-day major exhibition for professionals in the machinery sectors in Jämsä concluded Saturday on a positive note after busy trading.

The exhibition featured over 340 exhibitors, including nearly all the major manufacturers and importers of earthmoving machinery, forestry machines, chippers, crushers, trucks, and other commercial vehicles. Over the course of the three days, a total of 30,700 visitors attended the exhibition.

One of the key themes of the exhibition was fuel efficiency in machinery and the new solutions developed around it. For example, the NorrDigi excavator, developed in collaboration between Norrhydro and Volvo, was showcased.

This excavator, with its new hydraulic solution, has significantly reduced the fuel consumption of a 30-ton excavator. Additionally, various systems that facilitate the work of operators continued to be a strong trend especially in forestry machines. The latest operator assistance systems were presented at FinnMETKO.

For this exhibition, the layout of the area was slightly modified from previous years. The entrance, which was previously located in the middle of the area, was moved to the very southern end, and the exhibition area was slightly reduced in size at its southern end.

• The new location of the southern gate has made visitor movement within the exhibition clearer and safer. The walking routes of the exhibition visitors and traffic to the parking areas are now clearly separated, says the exhibition director, Tapio Hirvikoski.

The new layout received praise from both visitors and exhibitors. There was also much appreciation for the earthmoving machinery area located at the northern end of the area, on the former gravel extraction site at Kaakkolampi.

• Earthmoving machinery made a striking return to the gravel pit. Visitors were pleased to find many familiar machine brands located in the same area. The forestry demonstrations and forestry machines also attracted large crowds, as did the always popular commercial vehicles.

FinnMETKO 2024 was held in Jämsä from August 29 to 31, 2024. The first FinnMETKO exhibition was organized in 1987, followed by the second in 1988. Since then, this professional exhibition for the machinery industry has been held every two years, and this year marked the 20th exhibition.

The next FinnMETKO 2026, will be held in Jämsä from September 3rd to 5th, 2026.

Lisätietoja:

Exhibition Director CEO Tapio Hirvikoski, Finnmetko Oy,mobile +358 40 900 9417
Communications Manager Sirpa Heiskanen, mobile +358 40 900 9423

The FinnMETKO 2024 professional and sales trade fair is Finland’s main event for the heavy machinery industry. The organizer responsible for FinnMETKO 2024 is Finnmetko Oy. The organizations behind the exhibition are the Trade Association of Finnish Forestry and Earthmoving Contractors (Koneyrittäjät) and Keski-Suomen Koneyrittäjät ry.

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BID Automation, a subsidiary of BID Group known for its expertise in control systems across various manufacturing sectors, is rebranding as CORE Integrators.

This rebranding signifies the organization’s continued push for strategic expansion beyond wood processing into a broader range of industries, including agriculture, food and beverage, steel, textiles, asphalt production, automotive, recycling, biomass, and more. Despite this diversification, CORE Integrators will continue to serve the wood processing industry.

While the name has changed, the relationship with BID Group remains unchanged. As a part of BID Group, CORE Integrators continue to benefit from the same strong support and resources that have always empowered them to deliver exceptional value to its customers. CORE Integrators will continue to leverage BID Group’s extensive capabilities—all while advancing its expertise in system upgrades, robotics, and plant monitoring and control.

Customers, partners, and stakeholders can expect a seamless transition with no disruption to its operations. Further details will be shared soon bye CORE Integrators.

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Ponsse demonstrated new solutions for sustainable harvesting at the FinnMETKO 2024 exhibition in Jämsä that support the daily activities of forest machine operators and help forest machine entrepreneurs monitor the profitability and productivity of their fleet.

Ponsse’s new forwarders Elk and Wisend and H7 harvester heads were showcased at the event for the first time. In addition, they presented a material concept for fossil-free steel. Ponsse is the first forest machine manufacturer in the world which has part of its forest machine made from fossil-free steel produced by SSAB.

Aiming for a fossil-free future

Ponsse has made the load space of the PONSSE Buffalo forwarder from SSAB’s fossil-free steel. This material concept focuses on the machining capabilities, behaviour and properties of the new material used in forest machine manufacturing. The load space has only been designed for material testing and does not correspond to production models. The material concept is part of the FORWARD27 ecosystem project.

New PONSSE Wisent and PONSSE Elk forwarders   

PONSSE Wisent forwarder offers load-carrying capacity, agility and productivity at diverse harvesting sites. The excellent weight distribution and geometry of the PONSSE Wisent makes it easy to also transport stems at thinning sites with dense and bendy trees.

PONSSE Elk forwarder operates reliably in changing conditions and at sites with long distances. The new Elk is an efficient and agile forwarder with an excellent load-carrying capacity relative to the machine weight.

The new forwarders feature a big cabin, large windows and thin window pillars, ensuring excellent visibility in every direction. The cabin can also be equipped with the PONSSE Seat, which effectively reduces swaying and impact directed at the operator during the working day.

PONSSE Active Cabin, a cabin suspension system which improves driving comfort, is the most recent addition to the range of optional equipment available for both PONSSE Elk and Wisent. On uneven forest trails and in demanding terrain, ergonomics and productivity improve when the system effectively suspends any strain directed at the cabin.

New PONSSE H7 harvester head 

The new PONSSE H7 harvester head features a powerful feed and an excellent power-to-weight ratio that improve productivity. Thanks to its improved geometry, the new H7 is able to process large stems with ease. The advanced PONSSE Active Speed function is a new feature in the H7 harvester head. It allows the speed of the harvester head to be adjusted according to the tree species and stem diameter. The strong structure, high sawing power and excellent grip geometry of the new harvester head make harvesting even quicker and more productive.

PONSSE Armrest & eArmrest 

Adjustable armrests are among Ponsse’s new solutions for improved ergonomics. Adjusted according to the forest machine operator’s dimensions and driving style, the armrests significantly reduce any stress directed at the nape and shoulders while working. As the adjustments are stored in memory, the operator does not need to adjust the armrests again at the beginning of each shift.

PONSSE Armrests are available as standard equipment for harvesters and forwarders and PONSSE eArmrests are available as optional for all harvesters and forwarders.

PONSSE Active Crane now also available for C5 and C6 loaders   

PONSSE Active Crane makes the crane even easier to use. The operator does not need to control different joint movements: they only need to move the harvester head in the desired direction at the desired speed. End damping makes operations even smoother.

Active Crane, available as an option, requires the Opti 5G control system. Available from Q1/2025

PONSSE High-Precision Positioning 

With the PONSSE High-Precision Positioning solution, the machine operator can see the precise location of the machine and harvester head. The solution uses the industry’s leading navigation and positioning tools, as well as Ponsse’s own advanced technologies such as Active Crane. As a result, the reliability of positioning is at a level not often within the reach of conventional systems.

High-Precision Positioning shows the precise location of the harvester head in a map view, significantly improving the productivity of harvesting. Using the solution, the operator can clearly identify the areas from where trees need to be harvested and those that must be avoided. The location of every stump is saved in the production file, and the forwarder operator can clearly see the harvester trail. New solutions improve the productivity and safety of operations.

High-Precision Positioning is available in Finland, Sweden and Germany for all PONSSE harvesters equipped with Active Crane, and it can also be installed as a retrofit solution. More information about availability in other market areas will be announced later.

PONSSE Scale – a wireless loader scale system 

PONSSE Scale is a wireless loader scale system, which weighs the load and sorts, saves and manages load data during all work stages. Accurate weight measurements ensure optimal loads. Weighing is fully automatic during both loading and unloading, and detailed data on each load is registered. Load data, logs and the measuring accuracy are available in easily readable reports. PONSSE Scale has excellent weather resistance and produces accurate results in all conditions, ranging from hot summer days to freezing cold.

PONSSE Scale can be installed in all new PONSSE forwarder models.

PONSSE Manager 2.0. – a platform for next-generation digital services

PONSSE Manager 2.0 is a platform for next-generation digital services and a forest machine management system. The system allows customers to track the location, productivity, and fuel consumption of their machines. It also monitors the growth of stands and the progress of plans. In addition, it can be used to manage machine transportation, monitor the production volumes of machines by assortment and print measuring certificates.

The digital platform allows users to create a custom landing page or dashboard, with immediate access to vital data. Important information can be read quickly, and changes are easy to spot. Further information: https://manager2.ponsse.com/

The Siirrot Pro application can now also be integrated into Ponsse Manager 2.0

Siirrot PRO is a paid application for planning machine transportation in advance, monitoring transportation in real time on a map, giving notifications of transportation stages to all parties and improving the efficiency of rapidly changing situations at worksites through communication. Transportation management using the app supports daily management, cost monitoring and transportation optimisation in machine companies.

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Competing with five other companies, Timber Group won the award for best Ponsse representative in South America in 2023. Coming in third place in the world ranking, it competed with 30 other companies that represent the brand worldwide. Among the criteria analyzed for the award are results in sales, after-sales and customer satisfaction.

Every year, Ponsse awards its subsidiary and the brand representative that stood out during the period. In 2023, the Brazilian Timber, considered the best in South America, won third place among all representatives worldwide. First place went to Wahlers Forsttechnik, Ponsse’s representative in Germany since 1993 and in Austria since 2019.

The Timber Group, which has represented Ponsse since 2015, officially operates with the brand in three Brazilian states (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná). This award, presented at the beginning of August, is not the first that the company has received. In 2020, they achieved first place in the world ranking.

The focus on customer needs and the synergy with Ponsse are highlighted by Timber Group CEO Jober Fonseca as the differentiators for achieving this distinction. “This recognition validates all the effort and dedication we put into our work every day. It is a testament to our ability to offer high-quality solutions and our team’s commitment to exceeding customer expectations. This motivates us to continue evolving and always seek the best for our partners and customers.”

For the Executive Sales Manager and Area Manager for Dealers at Ponsse Brazil, Rodrigo Marangoni, developing the brand through representatives is also what sets Ponsse apart. “We are closer to our customers, focusing on personalized service that truly understands the needs of the field. We feel that this closeness is what makes the difference,” says Rodrigo.

For Jober, after-sales service is the main differentiator in achieving customer satisfaction. “The Timber Group’s differential lies in our continuous focus on deeply understanding our customers’ needs and providing solutions that truly make a difference in their operations. Our specialized technical support, combined with after-sales service, ensures that our customers have confidence and peace of mind when operating our equipment. I believe this combination of exceptional service and constant innovation is what positions us as leaders in the sector,” he said.

Ponsse South America Vice President Martin Toledo also emphasizes that the similarity of values ​​between the two companies translates into results. “We feel that Timber Group is aligned with Ponsse’s values ​​and this is reflected in customer satisfaction. At the same time, we want this recognition to be a way to encourage other representatives in South America to also achieve excellent results,” Martin concluded.

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FAE enhances the versatility of its RCU75 remote controlled tracked carrier with the new PMM/RCU75 swinging hammer mulcher.

The PMM/RCU75 is an efficient solution for mulching grass, brambles, twigs and small shrubs up to 8 cm in diameter.

This head features a hydraulic hood for better control of the outflowing material, a support roller with integrated skids, a trapezoidal belt transmission, and interchangeable protection chains.

The PMM/RCU can be equipped with PMM hammers or Y/3 flails.

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USNR ‘s powerful history as a strong visionary leader has brought many important innovations to the industry, and it’s time to unveil our next groundbreaking product development.

We’re revealing a brand-new piece of equipment exclusively at this year’s Timber Processing & Energy Expo, September 25-27 in Portland, OR. We’re thrilled to introduce this latest product offering from USNR that is as innovative as you are.

We’ll also be showcasing new advances in optimization and panel technology. You’ll be able to see special displays from our parts and upgrades teams and meet our expansive network of experts so you can learn more about what USNR has to offer.

Join us as our special guest with this form and be one of the first in the world to witness this exciting moment!

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The IFI August September issue is now available in Digital here.

Features include:

SAWLINES
Skidders
Shredders and Grinders
PONSSE in South America

The post The IFI August September issue is now available in Digital format appeared first on International Forest Industries.