Machinery Row

TimberPro Completes Expansion of Factory

TimberPro has completed an $8 million project that added nearly 49,000 square feet to its factory in Shawano, Wisconsin. The expansion will allow the company to double production capacity, enabling it to meet growing market demand for its forestry equipment and attachments.

TimberPro hosted a public open house to mark the completion of the project. “Our facility expansion represents a significant step forward for TimberPro, and we were glad to be able to showcase our enhanced capabilities,” said Doug Morris, vice president of the forest machine business division for Komatsu, which acquired TimberPro in 2019.

Established in 2002 and founded by the Crawford family, TimberPro manufactures purpose-built forestry machines and attachments, offering tracked feller bunchers and harvesters, forwarders, wheeled harvesters, and felling heads.

Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets.

Diamond Mowers Launches Portal

Diamond Mowers has launched a new online portal to provide dealers with everything they need to know about Diamond’s products and services.

The all-in-one portal allows sales professionals to conveniently access everything from sales and marketing materials to product training, customer care resources, parts lists and more.

“When developing this new portal, we spoke extensively with our dealers to better understand the information and resources they need to make their jobs easier and to help their teams feel comfortable and confident recommending our brand and products,” said Dan Stachel, executive vice president of Diamond Mowers. The portal is “the direct outcome of those conversations and a prime example of our commitment to being the best partner in the industry.”

Tacoma Mill to Close

WestRock Company announced it will permanently cease operating its paper mill in Tacoma, Washington, and would conclude production by September 30.

“WestRock is working to optimize our operational footprint and consolidate production in order to improve our return on invested capital, and we have made the difficult decision to close the Tacoma mill as part of this effort,” said David B. Sewell, CEO of WestRock.

The combination of high operating costs and the need for significant capital investment were the determining factors in the decision to cease operations at the mill.

The mill employs approximately 400 people. Employees will receive severance and outplacement assistance in accordance with WestRock policy and labor union agreements.

The mill produces kraft and white top liner and bleached pulp for a combined annual capacity of 510,000 tons. The majority of kraft and white top liner will be transitioned to other mills in the WestRock system to serve customers in North America and international markets.

Approximately 60,000 annual tons of pulp and 25,000 annual tons of specialty grade capacity will be reduced due to the shutdown.

Ski resort, City Plan Biomass Facilities

As a way to help manage forests surrounding central Oregon, Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort and the city of Prineville are planning construction of biomass facilities that burn unwanted forest material to create heat and electricity.

Mt. Bachelor plans to build a 1.2-megawatt facility to heat its buildings in the winter and avoid having to use 225,000 gallons of propane each year. The resort is on track to complete its project in 2024.

Prineville, 57 miles away, plans to build a 24.9-megawatt power plant to generate electricity by burning debris and unwanted thirsty juniper trees cleared from the Ochoco National Forest. That project is in the permitting stage.

Both projects dovetail with the state’s renewable energy standards, said Amy Schlusser, Oregon Department of Energy senior energy policy analyst. One goal, the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards, aims for 50 percent of the electricity purchased in the state to be produced from qualifying renewable energy sources by 2040.

“Biomass is one of the qualifying resources under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards,” Schlusser said. “It has been deemed by the Legislature as preferable to other sources of non-renewable electricity.”

Oregon ranks 19th among states in terms of biomass generating capacity, according to a 2020 report on the state of renewable energy in Oregon.

Serco Sales Director Retires

Serco Loaders, a leading fabricating and machining company, announced the retirement of Dale Williamson, director of sales, after 18-plus years of dedicated service. He played a vital role in the company’s success.

In conjunction with Williamson’s retirement, Serco Loaders appointed Mark Shukla as director of sales.

Williamson made significant contributions to the company’s achievements and was instrumental in growing the Serco brand throughout its dealership network.

Shukla is an accomplished professional with an extensive background in material handling in truck mount loaders, stationary mount loaders, and large material handlers. He brings knowledge of a wide range of applications, including storm cleanup, waste, scrap, logging, and rail to the position, making him an ideal successor.

“We are immensely grateful for (Williamson’s) countless contributions and the legacy he leaves behind,” said Charles-Étienne Simard, division manager at Serco. “ At the same time, we are excited to welcome Mark as his successor. With his exceptional skills and experience, we are confident that Mark will lead us to even greater heights.”