John Deere updates JDLink connectivity serviceJohn Deere has improved the ability for customers to maximize machine performance and uptime through updates to its JDLink platform.
Customers no longer need to renew their JDLink connectivity service subscription, and can enable their JDLink service on any compatible machine in their organization at no additional charge.
Additionally, once customers enable JDLink connectivity, they can select to automatically activate all future JDLink compatible models, further streamlining fleet management. With this update to the JDLink service offering, it is easier than ever for customers to maximize machine productivity and minimize downtime, says the company.
Available on most new models, John Deere’s JDLink telematics solution delivers valuable fleet insights directly into the hands of the machine owner or fleet manager. The JDLink service provides customers with access to vital data such as machine location and utilization, time in idle, fuel level, upcoming maintenance, machine alerts and more, all from a web or mobile platform. Beyond machine monitoring, the JDLink solution also enables John Deere Connected Support, allowing dealers to remotely identify critical issues and take action minimizing potential downtime or by remotely sending software payloads to ensure the machine is running efficiently.
The Carbotech Group has acquired Autolog, which specializes in wood processing optimization and automation.
Carbotech Group has experienced continuous growth due to a wood processing industry boom, says the company. As a result, it developed an expansion strategy which included acquiring Autolog. As for Autolog, a company with wood processing expertise that has been in the business for more than 30 years, it was looking to join a visionary group that would value both parties’ expertise.
The result is that Carbotech, which designs and manufactures machinery for the sawmill industry, has added another string to its bow, it says. Thanks to Autolog’s optimization and automation services, the company will now be able to provide an even greater range of solutions to its customers. From mechanics to electronics, customers will now be able to enjoy complementary products and services from experts working in tandem, according to the companies.
Carbotech Group’s two offices will remain as is. Additionally, Autolog will continue to serve and work with its current customers and mechanical partners from its Blainville, Quebec facility.
Carbotech Group’s headquarters will remain in Plessisville, Quebec and its team will continue to serve customers around the world.
Tigercat introduces LSX870D shovel loggerTigercat has raised the bar again with the introduction of the LSX870D shovel logger, says the company.
Based on the popular LX870D series track carrier platform, the machine is designed for extreme duty steep slope logging. With the choice of attachments including the new Tigercat BG13 grapple with a live heel boom or the SC08 shovel clam grapple, the LSX870D is suited to pre-bunching and shovel logging in challenging terrain.
The addition of the LSX870D to the Tigercat lineup provides a higher power, closed loop drive alternative to the LS855E. Where the LS855E provides higher swing speed and lower ground pressure, the LSX870D allows for improved multifunctioning ability and quicker, more responsive travel speed, says Tigercat. The Tigercat FPT C87 engine supplies 245 kW (330 hp), which combined with the dedicated attachment pump, provides plenty of multifunctioning power.
Tigercat’s leveling track machines use innovative technologies and systems optimized for a wide range of steep slope applications including shovel logging, felling and harvesting. Tigercat’s super-duty leveling undercarriage is longer and wider, providing exceptional stability on steep slopes. The patented leveling design uses two massive hydraulic cylinders and heavy steel sections for a solution that is simple, robust and reliable. Unlike competing systems, the Tigercat leveling system leans into the hill when leveling to the side which further improves machine stability and operator comfort.
Rottne plans expansion of dealer and service network to Alberta and B.C.Rottne Industri is growing in Canada with three new dealers and three new service providers. It is currently recruiting dealers in Alberta and B.C.
Rottne says its harvesters and forwarders have had a good reputation in Canada since the early 2000s. It added that there is a new and clear demand for the Swedish machines and Rottne Industri is ready to flex its muscles once again. In the long run, the idea is to also expand into the United States, the company says.
“The North American market is undergoing exciting changes. From harvesting with the full tree logging method, more and more people are switching to the cut-to-length method, an area where our machines have a great deal of interest,” says Arne Isaksson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Rottne Industri.
“Our machines have been developed with outstanding crane power and accessibility,” he adds.
At present, there are five dealers in Canada, plus a subsidiary company—Rottne Canada Inc. In addition, three new service providers have been added to cut down the distance for customers.
One of the dealers, Itec 2000, in Rosslyn, Ontario, started business as a small forestry equipment dealer in 1999. Since then, the company has grown and is now a major supplier of products and services in Western Ontario, including equipment from Rottne.
Waratah unveils three new harvester headsWaratah’s new H425, H425HD and H425X are a trio of rugged harvester heads built for tough jobs.
With a powerful control valve and four-roller feed arm geometry, each high performance head is productive on wheeled or tracked carriers.
“These models are built for durability and performance,” says Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. “Among other updates, new hose protection and servicing enhancements make these great heads even better.”
The standard H425 (1360 kg or 2998 lb), H425HD (1390 kg or 3064 lb) and hefty H425X (1426 kg or 3143 lb) each offer increased reliability with new feed motor hose routings and new covers. For quick and easy servicing, each head features a new hinged valve cover and improved access to greasing points.
Optimizing performance, productivity, and delimbing, the H425 excels in large diameter regeneration harvesting.
Built to work on the toughest jobs, the H425HD features a heavy duty tilt frame, feed motors and guarding to provide even more durability.
The H425X features an extreme duty main saw box with heavier steel plating, extra feed motor component guarding, heavy duty tilt frame, hose protection and increased drive arm durability for demanding applications in mixed stand harvesting.
A high speed HewSaw SL200 3.3 saw line is being installed at Fort St. James Forest Products, part of forest company Hampton Lumber.
The sawmill was acquired by Hampton in late 2019 from Conifex Timber. The primary products produced by the line will be 2 x 3, 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 studs in 8’ to 10’ lengths. However, the line will also produce smaller amounts of 1 x 4 and 4 x 4 products, also in 8’ to 10’ lengths. Log diameters will range from a 3” small end to a 13” large end diameter, and the speed range of the line is rated between 500 and 700 FPM, depending on pattern.
The Fort St. James site was previously a two-line mill. The new HewSaw will be the only primary breakdown equipment in the mill following a complete rebuild of the sawmill and planer. The HewSaw is designed to meet the specific requirements of Hampton at this site.
“Our mill design team and HewSaw representatives have spent a great deal of time working together to design a canter line that will be effective and efficient in processing the future log supply for the new Fort St. James sawmill,” says Ian Gray, Hampton’s Canadian Regional Manager. “We are looking forward to working with HewSaw to operate a sawmill that will be successful and stable for many years. This will be important for Hampton, HewSaw and the community of Fort St. James.”
HewSaw will also provide the automation for the new line, including the scanning and optimization from their scanning partner, St. George, Quebec-based Prologic+, and their process controls partner, EBI Electric, also located in St. George.
New Ponsse frame and crane care for service agreementsPonsse Frame and Crane Care is a new, extended protection plan for forest machines that have a Ponsse Active Care service agreement.
Frame and Crane Care covers main frame structures for up to 10,000 engine hours if the machine has a valid service agreement during that period. The Ponsse Active Care service agreement needs to be valid for the whole period, but the agreement can be made in several parts.
Ponsse Frame and Crane Care covers the following frame structures: front and rear frame, middle pivot and articulated frames, crane base, main, lifting and luffing booms without extensions and pillars.
The new Frame and Crane Care plan is valid for machines that have service agreements and are manufactured starting from 2021.
The company says that Ponsse Active Care service agreements ensure maximum productivity. Customers can focus on their key business of logging, while Ponsse takes care of scheduled maintenance, machine optimization and extended coverage. Their forest machines will maintain performance, reliability, and productivity from one logging site to the next. Forest machines maintained regularly by professionals using only high-quality and original Ponsse parts, lubricants and filters remain in good operating condition and retain their value, says the company.
New JoeScan 3D scanner receives warm welcome Sawmill scanning experts JoeScan have officially launched their latest JS-50 WX model scanner.
A successful beta program recently saw scan heads put through their paces in mills across North America. According to the company, JS-50 WX is being praised as a do-it-all sawmill scanner, with current installations covering machine centres from bucking lines to transverse edgers to trimmers.
“To facilitate the greatest range of options, we tested the JoeScans against a number of other considerations and decided to standardize on the JS-50 WX as part of our core offering,” says Joe Korac, President at Automation and Electronics USA. “With our optimizing platform’s current projects requiring log merchandizing, whole log breakdown, gang, edger and trimmer optimizers, the JS-50’s unique attributes made it an excellent fit for all our customers’ needs.”
New tubeless versions of the popular Alliance Forestar III 643 and 644 forestry tires from Yokohama Off-Highway Tires are proving themselves on cut-to-length (CTL) harvesters and forwarders world-wide, says the company.
“The new tubeless Alliance 643 and 644 eliminate all the hassles that come with inner tubes, such as breaking valve stems, messing with flaps, and even just waiting for an inner tube when you need to be cutting timber,” says Terry Goodwin, National Forestry Tire Manager for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America Inc. “These new tires have a more durable sidewall, built-in rim guard and a reinforced, hexagonal bead bundle, so they don’t have to rely on an inner tube to hold the air.”
The tubeless Forestars fit on standard rims, so it is easy to switch from the tube-type designs.
Tubeless Alliance Forestar III 643 sizes include 710/40-22.5, 750/55-26.5 and 780/50-28.5. Tubeless Alliance Forestar III 644 tires are available in 600/50-22.5, 710/40-22.5, 600/55-26.5, 750/55-26.5 and 780/50-28.5 sizes.
The BID Group has contracted with Hunt Forest Products and the Tolko Joint Venture Partnership to deliver a $240 million (U.S.) greenfield sawmill complex in Louisiana.
It’s estimated the mill will require approximately 1.3 million tons of wood annually to produce approximately 320 million board feet of lumber, Hunt said.
Through its industry-leading wood processing technologies and integrated solutions offering, BID says it will manage, design, build, equip, install, and provide full start-up services for the project.
The new operation will incorporate the full spectrum of BID’s best-in-class wood processing technologies including equipment, software, automation systems, artificial intelligence-enabled optimization, and its plant-wide Industry 4.0 solution called Oper8.
BID’s Integrated Solutions Team will provide the design, engineering, planning, fabrication, and installation services for this turnkey project. The sustainment of the plant’s operational life cycle excellence will be supported by BID’s Reliability Program which will provide comprehensive service, parts, consumables, and upgrades. The project will incorporate new leading-edge solutions from BID’s strategic partner, Rockwell.
Work on site will begin in the third quarter of 2022 and commissioning of the sawmill is scheduled for the second quarter of 2023.
On the Cover:
For the San Group, which has been finishing the first sawmill to be built on the B.C. Coast in 15 years, the last year has come with special challenges. But they have been able to successfully meet these challenges head-on. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Langley, B.C.-based company has built a greenfield sawmill/reman operation in Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island. Read all about this new cutting edge sawmill beginning on page 8 of this issue (Cover photo courtesy of The San Group).
A great ride in B.C.’s forest industry
B.C. Interior logger Bill Litke has ridden the rollercoaster that is the ups and downs of the forest industry over many decades—and it’s been an adventurous ride.
B.C. gets a new sawmill, on Vancouver Island
The San Group is wrapping up work on a major new small log sawmill in Port Alberni, B.C.—and there are more investments to come for the B.C.-based company owned by the Sanghera Family.
Focus on fir—and timbers
A focus on Douglas fir and timbers have proven to be the keys to success at Alberta’s HC Forest Products—so much so that they have purchased another sawmill, in B.C.
Family roots run deep in forestry
Father and son loggers Basil and Chris Isbill have a rich family history in New Brunswick logging that includes setting up equipment manufacturing company Forax—and Basil still heading out to the woods every day at the tender age of 78.
Tech Update
LSJ takes a look at the new developments and technologies in Small/Portable Sawmilling.
The EDGE
Included in this edition of The Edge, Canada’s leading publication on research in the forest industry, are stories from the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) and FPInnovations.
The Last Word
Tony Kryzanowski talks about how the success of an Ontario wood products business cluster shows the value of much-needed outreach in the forest industry.
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