October/November 2008

On the Cover:
Liebherr equipment is versatile and continues to prove its wood handling capabilities—both in the millyard and inside the mill. Read about how a move to electric Liebherr material handlers is helping Ainsworth Lumber increase log throughput at its Grande Prairie, Alberta OSB plant on page 28 of this issue.


Spotlight
Facing tough wood products markets, Canadian producers are looking for a competitive edge—and are finding it with CertiWood and its broad range of services, including certification.

Positioned well for the turnaround
A multi-million dollar upgrade at Nova Scotia’s Freeman Lumber—reinforcing the operation’s product and market diversification—has put the mill in a good position for the industry turnaround.

Harvesting on both sides of the Rockies
Oler Bros Contracting takes a unique approach to where it operates its harvesting, in that it works on both sides of the Rocky Mountains and has clients in both Alberta and British Columbia.

Deere Skidder climbs better

Banking on higher recovery with upgrade
WKO Inc has upgraded its sawmill in Washington State with a new USNR double length infeed set-up with some special features, and the company’s owners are banking that the new configuration will result in higher recovery.

Handling logs better, electrically
A switch to electric Liebherr material handlers is helping Ainsworth Lumber increase log throughput at its Grande Prairie, Alberta OSB plant.

Focus on equipment utilization
Thunder Bay’s Marcri Logging—a major player in northwestern Ontario logging—has downsized and is now focusing more than ever on best utilizing its logging equipment as it holds on for better times in the industry.

A green Bear
Bear Lumber, a small sawmill operation in the Kootenays region of BC, has developed a niche market for timbers that are produced from salvage wood, and some customers are promoting the timbers as being environmentally green.

New and noted at Demo 2008
Logging & Sawmilling Journal takes a look at the new equipment and services that were on offer at the Demo 2008 show, held in Halifax in September.

The Last Word
BC is taking the first steps, tentative as they may be, to much-needed forest tenure reform, says Jim Stirling.