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NEW ATTITUDE
Review of the Oregon Logging Conference
By Diane Mettler
Something
new happened at the 2004 Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) this past February in
Eugene, Oregon. There was the expected state-of-the art equipment on display and
the well-attended educational seminars. But this year there was also a new
attitude — a general feeling of optimism that’s been missing the last few years.
Since OLC 2003, big changes have taken place, including wildfires that woke up a
nation to consider new forest management, and President Bush signing the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act into law. The industry is now looking forward to more
work and a better working environment. These events were reflected in a general
mood of hopefulness not seen for some time. Keynote speaker and Governor of
Montana, Judy Martz, reinforced the new outlook. She received a standing ovation
as she entered the room. When she spoke to the group, rallying them to work
together to improve the industry, she was periodically stopped as the audience
applauded. When she finished, she received another standing ovation and cheers.
Many of the exhibitors said that sales were up. They too felt the logging
community as a whole was more confident about its future, evidenced by the
investment in new machinery, and the retiring of some older pieces that had
limped along in hopes of a shift in the business climate.
For those in the market to buy,
there were, as always, a number of new pieces of equipment on display. Cat
introduced its new grapples designed for shovel logging, and Waratah presented
its new HTH622B head, designed for timber up to 24" in diameter. Attendees got
to take a look at the Timberjack 1490D slash bundler, which collects, compresses
and bundles logging residuals into giant "fuel logs." Other highlights included
the new Timberline DL3800 delimber, the Log Max 12000 head, the Keto 604PHD
Supreme log and tree processor, and the new Morgan SX-706 SB grapple skidder.
First-timer to the show was H&W Emergency Vehicles, with its FireTracker, an ATV
equipped to handle medical emergencies in the woods, and the Log Packer,
designed to eliminate the need for a separate skidding machine. Although the
attendees had to deal with a little rain, the family events went off without a
hitch. On Saturday, the OLC hosted the high school logging competition, and the
Wheeler Pavilion children and parents took part in forest education activities
and got an up close look at some of our forests’ birds of prey. The Oregon Women
in Timber also had a successful event, raising approximately $55,000 (including
cash donations and a donation of $10,000 from Ford) their Talk about Trees
Program. The OLC was an event filled with hope and optimism. And, with the
combined efforts of all of those in the industry, a good omen for the remainder
of 2004.
OLC Pictorial Review
| Pro Mac Manufacturing
debuted their 52 COS brushcutter mounted on a Deere 200LC swing machine at
Pape's exhibit area. Designed for roadside clearing, understory and fuel
load removal, this extreme duty brushcutter features a high torque, bent-axsis
hydraulic motor, shock absorbing drive and mulching disk with special
masticating teeth. Pro Mac brushcutters can easily process stems up to 10"
in diameter and is designed for 20 to 30 ton carriers. |
PRO MAC
BRUSHCUTTER  |
| Wood-Mizer Products offers
portable band sawmills, ranging from hobbyist needs to professional-use
hydraulic mills to industrial strength mills. All products necessary to
take lumber "From Forest to Final Form," including a twin-blade edger, a
multiple head resaw, a straight-line ripsaw, and five-spindle moulder are
available. Wood-Mizer is the only band sawmill manufacturer to make its
own blades. The company has sold more than 30,000 sawmills and is
well-known for its supremely helpful and knowledgeable customer service
team. Call 1-800-553-0182, or visit
www.woodmizer.com. |
WOOD-MIZER
 |
| White Mountain Chain of
Bonners Ferry is the largest importer of the Trygg line in the United
States. We carry a vast array of tire chains for pickups, loaders, motor
graders, skidders and just about anything with a rubber tire. Depending on
what the application is and what your needs are, we work with you to
recommend what will be the most economical chain for your needs. Now that
you have played with the rest, get the best. Call Edat 800-439-9073 or
visit
www.whitemountainchain.com. |
WHITE
MOUNTAIN
 |
| If booms and grapples were
your game, then Young was the name at the 2004 OLC Show. With years of
proven quality and experience as well as a complete selection of styles
and sizes to fit just about any forestry application, today's loggers know
and appreciate the Young name. Featured in their booth in the Exhibit Hall
were Young's newest LG52, LG58 and LG60 log grapples along with the model
175 swing boom and grapple. Capable of putting the squeeze on small logs,
Young grapples extend service life under the most demanding conditions.
Visit our web-site at www.youngcorp.com
|
YOUNG CORP
 |
| Timberking introduced their
new 700 series track feller bunchers by showcasing the TK 732. The TK 732
is one of a family of four new models offered by Timberking. All models
feature a limited tailswing to work in select cuts or thinning
applications. The TK 722 and TK 732 feature a patented 3-cylinder leveling
system to work on adverse terrain and all four models have great track
power. The strong lift and the incredible swing torque will be immediately
noticeable. Timberking offers many other product lines. See your dealer. |
TIMBERKING
 |
| Our in-motion variable pitch
systems effectively purge debris from the radiator and engine compartment.
No other fan can help warm engines more quickly and keep them at optimal
running temperatures in low ambient conditions. This feature is exclusive
to Flexxaire, as our fan blades rotate through the zero, or neutral
position. The end user will experience increased productivity, less
downtime, unparalleled engine temperature control, extended engine life,
savings in fuel and horsepower. |
FLEXXAIRE
 |
| With its Rottne line of CTL
equipment, Blondin services and maintains its customers through solid
training and good parts availability. Rottne is the oldest, privately held
CTL company remaining. Its standards are still being looked after by the
founder, Borje Karlsson. Rottne holds customer care as the foremost factor
for success and that one factor is more than ever a key in today’s market.
With the addition of the Turner, Ore. shop and a parts depot in Idaho,
Blondin looks to the future. Several new product lines are available in
the West. Blondin has added Logmax Harvesting Heads and the MHT/Neuson
line of track harvesters. |
BLONDIN
 |
| Blount Inc and Triad
Machinery highlighted three products at the OLC show. First, the Hydro-Ax
721E addresses the growing concern of brush abatement and “fire-proofing”
communities. Multiple attachments are available to increase utilization
and flexibility. Second, the Prentice 490 dual arch skidder, with its
industry leading visibility and the great serviceability features like the
tilt cab. And third, Prentice introduced a new line of four crawler feller
bunchers. The hinged house on 1290T showed how serviceability can be
designed into a shorttailswing feller. |
BLOUNT, INC
 |
| Denis Cimaf designs and
manufacturers land clearing equipment. The company specializes in
brushcutters for excavators, its product line covers attachments for
machines from 6 tons class up to 30 tons class. The TRH-100 & 150 series
are the top of the line in heavy duty brushcutters/chippers available on
the market. Designed to be installed on excavators in the 20 to 30 tons
class (97 kw/130 hp and more). The DAH-100 & 150 can be used independently
on soft or hardwood, and perform well on the original excavator
hydraulics, without requiring the additional power unit. Visit us at
www.deniscimaf.com. |
DENIS CIMAF
 |
| OLC visitors had an
opportunity to view a full line of John Deere equipment at Pape's exhibit
area. John Deere's pur-pose-built forestry swing machines were the most
prominent machines on display. Built with loggers in mind, these popular
machines can be configured as roadside log loaders, decking in mill yards
and used in delimbing, processing, shovel logging and roadbuilding
applications. In addition to the swing machines, John Deere also featured
at the show an articulated dump truck motorgrader, skid steer, three sizes
of dozers, a wheel loader and a loader backhoe. |
JOHN DEERE
 |
| Oregon Tractor
was recently appointed as the authorized New Holland Construction
full-line logging as well as construction equipment dealer for Ore.,
Southern Wash. and Northern Calif.. Oregon Tractor offers parts and
service support for New Holland Construction equipment, Ford Backhoes as
well as Fiat Allis Wheel Loaders. It can meet all your logging and
construction needs. The New Holland Equipment line up includes : log
loaders, dozers, excavators loader backhoes, wheel loaders, motor graders,
telehandlers, skid steers, compactors and articulated trucks. Visit us at
www.oregontractor.com
|
OREGON TRACTOR
 |
| KMC Hydrostatic Drive Rear
Engine Mulchers are designed to work within the wildfire control system
using the unique design of torsion bar suspension, "live" steel track and
hydrostatic drive. The KMC Model 1100H and 2100H Tracked Vehicle can go
"the extra mile" in wilderness areas. These newly designed rear engine
(240 hp to 350 hp) machines can be equipped with either the FAE or FECON
mulching heads capable of mulching and mixing effectively stems 10" – 15"
diameter. The KMC mulchers can operate on favorable slopes and adverse
slopes |
KMC
 |
| LeTourneau Sales & Service
displayed a remanufactured LeTourneau SL. The thirty-five ton capacity SL
is the latest in a long line of LeTourneau log stackers that have moved
the logs of the Pacific Northwest timber industry since 1955. The SL
featured the latest developments in LeTourneau stackers including a
powered rotating control station with joystick controls. LeTourneau Sales
& Service says that the SL is their largest selling stacker because it
meets customer demands for high productivity, low operating cost, ease of
maintainability, safety, and environmentally friendly operation.
|
LETOURNEAU
 |
| Log Max expanded their line
up of 3000, 5000 7000 and 9000 models at the 2004 OLC; introducing the new
12000 head just 12 months after they announced the program in 2003. This
9,200 lb head puts Log Max into the big wood market segment being
specifically designed for demanding North American logging conditions. Log
Max also displayed a new Heavy Duty update to the popular 7000 model,
improvements provide stronger frame and saw box structures, enhancing
durability, serviceability and reliability. Log Max continues to update
and expand their product line.
www.logmax.us |
LOGMAX
 |
| Amongst the Timberjack
machines at the Pape exhibit area was North Amer-ica's first Timberjack
1490D slash bundler. This machine is designed to collect, compress and
bundle logging residuals into giant "fuel logs" each containing
approximately 1 MWh of energy (the equivalent of between 21 to 28 gallons
of oil) when burned at a co-gen plant. The continuous bundling process is
so the material length does not restrict the work. The fuel log bundles
can be transported by logging truck. The 1490D provides a practical
solution to reducing forest fire risk and producing environmentally
friendly electrical energy and residual heat. |
TIMBERJACK
 |
| The CBI Freedom Hog
distributed by Rexius, the new Western Region Distributor, is designed to
be the most flexible wood-waste processing system in the world. Why?
Because flexibility is crucial in your business. In minutes, the Freedom
Hog lets you change configurations, from stationary, to mobile, to track
mount allowing you to go where you need to go, when you need to go there,
with the right equipment for the job. CBI gives you more value, by design.
It’s behind everything they do. They’re not just building great machines
for customers’ they’re giving you an edge. |
REXIUS/CBI
 |
| Valmet and Timbco brands,
produced by Komatsu Forest, were again displayed by dealer Modern
Machinery. In addition to the 20-ton Valmet 890.2 forwarder (claimed as
the worlds largest) Komatsu Forest and Modern showed the 445EXL and 475EX
feller-bunchers/harvesters. EX machines use new digital engine and
hydraulic controls for smooth performance, reduced fuel consumption and
high production. They retain awesome hydraulics and the set-back boom
other builders dream about. Harvester/processor heads to 32" cutting
diameter were on display. Komatsu Forest has produced 4,000 heads.
|
KOMATSU
FOREST
 |
| Featured at Quadco’s outdoor
booth was the Quadco 24-inch Intermittent Saw Head (called model 2400)
that gives the perfect combination of grab & cut tree control with stop &
go cutting and Quadco's patented 360° lateral tilt. Also on display, the
Brushco® Brush Cutter that has proven its productivity, durability and
cost effectiveness in multiple forestry and land clearing applications.
Its patented spring arm mechanism is designed to protect the motor and
output shaft from shock loads. The brand new Forespro Monoboom Delimber on
display was of the new heavy-duty series designed for larger timber.
|
QUADCO
EQUIPMENT
 |
| Vulcan On-Board Scales
manufactures on-board weighing systems for all types of trucks and
trailers in the timber and other industries that require tough and
reliable equipment. Solutions are available for a wide range of on-board
applications including spring, air and mixed suspensions. Thank you for
helping us celebrate more than 25 years in business and for being one of
more than 25,000 systems installed worldwide. Contact us at 1-800-237-0022
or visit our website
www.vulcanscales.com |
VULCAN ON
BOARD
 |
| Papé Machinery showcased
over 40 pieces of forestry equipment, trailers and trucks from 13
manufacturers: John Deere, Hitachi, Timberjack, Tigercat, TimberPro,
Timberline, Morbark, Airburners LLC, Trail King, BTI, Dynapac, and
Sterling & Western Star trucks. At the interactive exhibit, customers
worked the controls on a computer-generated virtual reality Timberjack
Harvester simulator that allowed them to test their skills at harvesting
trees in the woods. Papé Machinery's full service product support
capabilities were also highlighted. |
PAPE
MACHINERY, INC.
 |
| Pacific Trail Mfg., Inc. has
been known for their line of crosscut unit saws and deck saws. Now, after
15 years of pitch saw chain guide bar production, they have decided to
offer their superior bars to the end user. In an effort to keep the
operator in the cab, Pacific Trail believes that a superior product and
better availability will yield higher production in the field at lower
costs when purchased from the manufacturer. For more information call
888-910-7297 or visit www.ptmi.net.
|
PACIFIC
TRAIL
 |
| Triad Machinery continues to
be a dominate force in the forestry related equipment business with the
Link-Belt LXTL, DL, HP, and RB series. Triad also offers Link-Belt
front-end loaders, articulated off highway trucks, in addition to log
loaders, stock delimbers, road builders, and processors . We also offer a
variety of other forestry related equipment including: the Prentice feller
bunchers and processors, skidders, Hydro-Ax clearing units, stationary
rubber mounted log loaders, chippers, grinders and screening equipment.
Visit our website at
www.triadmachinery.com |
TRIAD
MACHINERY
 |
| TimberPro has just built a
new plant in Shawano, WI to manufacture their wheeled forestry equipment.
Presently, they are manufacturing a six wheel feller buncher that will
handle attachments to 6500 lbs. and level to 22°. It also has continuous
swing and is designed to work over either end which allows the rotating
upper to be level whether going up or down a hill. The eight wheel
forwarder also has continuous swing, which is a huge advantage when
positioning to pick up wood or fighting fire, hauling concrete, working in
mill yards, tree length skidding with a clambunk, and more. |
TIMBERPRO
 |
| Waratah had a large number
of harvester processor heads on display not only at their own exhibit area
but outside at dealer locations as well. One of the most interesting heads
at the show was the HTH622B — Waratah's new 4,675 lb. head designed for
timber up to 24" in diameter. This HTH 622B is not only faster than the
earlier 622 model, it's lighter too. Other harvester/processor heads at
the Waratah exhibit area included HTH616 with a 20" cutting diameter and
the HTH624 with a 31"cutting diameter |
WARATAH
FORESTRY
 |
| Quadco's indoor parts
display showcased the PROLENC® Snubber, a heavy duty swing brake that has
a unique, simple, patented tapered design. Quadco also offers a wide range
of rotators for forest machinery. Quadco high speed saw discs using the
QuadTooth known to be tough, economical and dependable. All products are
sold through traditional OEMs as well as local distributors. Contact us
for the dealer closest to you. |
QUADCO-PROLENC
  |
| Wyatt's introduced their new
extra tough and longer lasting feed roller rubber at the OLC this year.
The number of feed rollers and the selection of sizes at the Wyatt's
exhibit area continues to grow as more loggers choose the option of
recovering existing cores for far less money than buying new! Wyatt's
staff were on hand to explain how the specialized harvester/proces-sor
feed roller rubber is made and how these rolls are recovered at their
rubber factory. In addition to feed roller recovering, Wyatt's makes a
large number of other molded rubber products such as blocks, pads, bumpers
and wheels. |
WYATT
 |
| There were 17 major
Caterpillare machines on display. The full range of Cat forestry swing
machines showed off attachments ranging from harvesting heads to
delimbers. Also, Cat announced that a dedicated forestry swing machine
assembly line now is operating at the Aurora, Ill. plant. A new series of
Cat GLS grapples designed for shovel logging was introduced, complementing
the GLL grapples. The new Timberking 732 track feller buncher on display
was equipped with an HF201 saw. Skidders included the 527 track skidder
and the wheeled 525B. The new 966G Series II wheel loader featured a
cleaner and quieter engine. |
CATERPILLAR
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| SUPERTRAK, Inc., formed in
1986, is an OEM utilizing Caterpillar® components. We design, build and
manufacture a complete line of vegetation management/land clearing
equipment from 100 to 400 hp. The rubber-tired, tracked and excavator
based units are built to exacting specifications. Our custom equipment
cuts, shreds, and mulches brush, understory, whole trees, stumps, logging
scrap/slash safe and efficiently, SUPERTRAK’s product line does it ALL:
commercial, land clearing, fuel breaks and urban interface fuel load
reductions. Our equipment is highly reliable and durable.
www.supertrak.com
|
SUPERTRAK,
Inc.
|
| Int. Silvatech Industries
Inc. debuted at the OLC its Morgan Forestry Products — specifically the
SX706SB six wheel andswing boom skidder.The products have been
successfully sold and serviced by Komatsu Canada Ltd from coast to coast
and acceptanced by many contractors. The product is unique in design and
function — paying particular attention to environmental considerations,
high productivity and throughput with reduced operating cost and greater
ROI. According to the manufacturer their technologies should not be
directly compared to conventional skidder technology or performance.
www.morganforestry.com
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SILVATECH
INDUSTRIES
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For more information regarding
any company in the OLC review section, look for their ad(s) throughout the
magazine and make note of their reader service number. Please fill out the
information on our reader service card at the back of the book and fax or send
it to TimberWest at PO Box 610, Edmonds, WA 98020. Fax 425-771-3623
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