Family and friends kicked off the 84th Annual Oregon Logging Conference in February with great expectation following two years of in-person restrictions and mask mandates as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the theme of Family, Friends and Forestry 2.0, the “loggin’ show” was back in action.
“After the last two years, the best thing about this year is getting back together and gathering in person,” said OLC 2021/2022 President Scott Melcher. “It’s one of the strengths we have. Competing against each other one day, and the next we’re sitting down talking and sharing ideas.”
Conference Manager Rikki Wellman said this year there was more equipment on display outdoors compared to previous years. And while paid registration was slightly down this year, there was no dip in attendance with many industry professionals and members of the public participating in the OLC
“The Oregon Logging Conference is packed with unique opportunities for forestry and natural resource professionals to network and learn more about their trades,” she said.
New to the Show
What the Oregon Logging Conference is widely known for is the extensive, state-of-the-art equipment displays. Here are a few new pieces that debuted in the Pacific Northwest at this year’s show, in Eugene.
Bridgestone Intellitire: Developed by Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, Intellitire is a robust tire pressure monitoring system supported by software and components that are easy to install and use on your smart phone. It features in-yard and real-time TPMS monitoring, digital inspections, critical alerts, fleet issue reports and task lists to proactively address tire pressure issues and avoid downtime to keep fleets running smoothly.
Hilltop Aerial manufactures two product models: the Hexacopter Drone and the Quadcopter Drone. These heavy lift drones can carry or pull a payload, spray, and seed. With a hover time of 30 minutes, the Hexacopter can pull a 5,000-foot layout, and the Quadcopter drone can pull a 3,000-foot layout. Water and weather resistant, the drones feature a return to home program, autonomous flying, low battery warning levels, wide GPS range and a payload release system.
The Mobicat MC 110i EVO2 is a compact, versatile jaw crusher with a wide range of applications as a compact primary crusher and is extremely flexible in transport and use. Featuring a compact design and transport height of 11’2’’, the machine is easy to move and set up. The powerful drive concept easily masters changing application conditions from stone to recycling. The plant can be operated with a variety of control and overload systems, and is extremely powerful and efficient, says the company.
pewag Boogie Tracks takes traction to an entirely new level of performance. The all new pewag bluetrack is specifically made for extreme applications. Increasing the resilience of lighter forestry machines with effortless operation on wet or rock ground, Boogie Tracks feature an innovative mounting of the forged Starwave profile studs ensuring optimum grip.
Quadco M-32 Prototype tips the scales at 1,700 lbs. with a 32” cut and is designed for small 9 to 15-ton excavator applications. The new model is capable of mulching vegetation into fine material and features a built-in grapple with a 40-degree range of motion, left and right.
Rebel X25, manufactured by Axis Forestry, is designed with powerful built-ins based on requests from hundreds of logging contractors. This large wood processor features 360-degree rotation, 36” identical saws, dual tilt and delimb cylinders, smart hose routing and an independent measuring arm.
Raptor 300 is called the chameleon of the mulching carriers because of its customization possibilities. The modular design, coupled with various options, allows multiple configurations. The undercarriage-delta tracks offer improved robustness and better off-road ability while protecting the vehicle from barriers like stumps and rocks. Available with a PTO drive or a powerbelt drive, the Raptor 300 is all about hard work, says the company.
Ragnar Tech PowerGrab Series: A crane mounted, self-powered and remote-controlled log grappler with a bar saw that can cut up to 24 to 36 inches in diameter and be maneuvered onto a tree, make a cut and then lift out to safely lower the section removed to the ground. Available with options like high voltage insulating linkage, man basket and rotation control.
TIREBOSS: The TIREBOSSS Tire Pressure Control system allows you to safely deflate your tires when working off-road at slower speeds or with an empty load. This provides a huge tire life and truck ride benefit with significant saving to the truck owner. TIREBOSS is sold and supported throughout the U.S. and Canada.
G&R Forestry Track Systems is said to be well suited for Northwest conditions on soft slopes, steep ground, low coastal areas and swamp logging conditions. The tracks’ articulated rollerframes create an easier ride over obstacles compared to track machines with a single rollerframe on each side, and are custom ordered for machine and job application.
On the Cover:
Moggie Valley Timber, located in southwestern Ontario, is a sawmill that sells to lumber wholesalers and retailers, and has been in business for nearly a quarter-of-a-century. Moggie Valley Timber also carries out logging, cutting about 10 million board feet per year. On the logging side, in order to harvest the larger trees that Moggie Valley Timber comes across on woodlots in this part of Ontario, the company has invested in an Eco Log 590F harvester. Read all about how the Eco Log 590F is working out for Moggie Valley in this issue, beginning on page 34. (Cover photo and story photos courtesy of Moggie Valley Timber).
B.C.’s ILA show leading the pack …
B.C.’s Interior Logging Association is leading the pack when it comes to the re-start of forest industry events, with its equipment show and AGM coming up in May.
Cutting edge equipment—from cutting edge suppliers
A mill upgrade for Vicksburg Forest Products led to the company sourcing cutting edge equipment from a variety of suppliers—including from B.C. and Quebec.
Northland moves to partial processing—at the mill
Facing narrow log delivery windows, Alberta sawmill Northland Forest Products has decided to move to partial millyard processing, with two TreeKing processors.
Another successful convention expected for BC Saw Filer’s
The B.C. forest industry is facing challenges, but this year’s BC Saw Filer’s Convention & AGM—being held May 27 to 28 in Kamloops, B.C.—is expected to be just as big and successful as it was pre-COVID.
Iron investment handles bigger timber
Moggie Valley Timber has invested in an Eco Log 590F harvester to handle the larger trees that it comes across on woodlots in southwestern Ontario.
Canada’s Top Lumber Producers: West Fraser and Canfor on top!
Logging and Sawmilling Journal’s authoritative listing of Canada’s Top Lumber Producers—produced in association with leading forest industry consultants FEA—shows that West Fraser and Canfor are still the top lumber producers in the country.
New and Noted at the Oregon Logging Conference
The Oregon Logging Conference in February kicked off with great expectation following two years of in-person restrictions due to COVID. The OLC is widely known for its extensive, state-of-the-art equipment display—and we take a look at what was new at the show.
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.
Tech Update
From power upgrades to production improvements, read all about what’s new in small scale logging equipment in this issue’s Tech Update.
The Last Word
Forest giant Canfor is applying sustainability across its entire culture in a bid to prosper in a post-pandemic world.
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