Equipment & Supplier News

A new equipment company, Norco Equipment, is emerging with a distinctive value-driven business model that blends the stability of a large company with the deftness of a smaller one—all designed to benefit the customer.

Norco Equipment’s roots go back to early 2008 when a team of industry insiders began building the company’s foundation while they defined its business philosophy. Later, the group began acquiring companies that were creating original customer-focused equipment for niche markets and that were clearly in search of new ideas.

ALC Leadership Series: Steve Sherich by Danny Dructor

In continuing the series of articles introducing Timber Harvesting and Wood Fiber Operations readers to the American Loggers Council officers, the focus is on Steve Sherich, owner of Sherich Logging, Hayden Lake, Id.

Steve’s love for the mountains, wildlife and the forest prompted his entry into a logging career 35 years ago in the rugged terrain of northern Idaho. In 1990, after 15 years working on U.S. Forest Service holdings, Steve and his wife, Jena, started Sherich Logging. Steve says there were some trying times during those early years, much like those that are being experienced by veteran loggers today.

Back In The CTL Saddle by May Donnell

A few months ago fourth generation Minnesota woodsman Nik Rajala found himself on the phone with his Nortrax Equipment salesman. “Okay, so let me get this straight,” the salesman said, scratching his head. “You want to trade it all in again?”

It was a legitimate question, coming just months after Rajala, the owner for a dozen years of Pohl Creek Logging, based here, chunked his cut-to-length equipment, hired his twin brother and switched to conventional full tree logging mode with brand new stuff, including skidder, feller-buncher, delimber, knuckleboom loader—and all the financing he could muster.

Biomass Impact? by Dale Green, Andres Enrich, Shawn Baker

Today, renewable energy provides just 7% of total U.S. energy use, with roughly half coming from biomass sources. About 75% of this comes from forests. But biomass use is growing, thanks largely to an expanding wood pellet industry that is supported by government subsidies in Europe.

Recently introduced climate change legislation in the U.S. includes ambitious federal renewable electricity standards of 15-25% over the next 10-20 years. Should this legislation be enacted, demand for woody biomass in the forested regions of the U.S. will increase dramatically to help meet these mandates. Although chemists are still trying to figure out how to economically make liquid fuels from wood on a large commercial scale, Congress already expects the nation to be doing so in just a few years. The 2007 energy bill set targets of 28 billion gallons of cellulosic fuels by 2022 (about 20% of current gasoline use).

Demo Days by Jennifer McCary

The sun came out in time for Morbark’s field demonstrations to go forward as scheduled during the 2010 Demo Days, held each year at the company’s factory and nearby woodlands. It was touch and go for a while with the heavy downpours that greeted attendees arriving for the May 13-14 event. Mother Nature finished putting on her show while guests toured the million sq. ft. factory, attended a number of seminars and enjoyed good food and fellowship with Morbark employees and several of its vendor partners.

More than 300 potential customers, dealers and vendor representatives from 15 countries attended the fourth annual event, which attracted the largest turnout so far. It is designed to give potential customers a one-on-one opportunity to see what goes into the production of a machine and to meet the people who stand behind the Morbark name.

One Hot Event by Rich Donnell, DK Knight

Oppressive heat and humidity, irritating dust and abundant bugs combined to make it bittersweet to the end, but in the end, the delayed and relocated Timber & Biomass Expo Southeast was more sweet than bitter. At least that’s how most major exhibitors will probably remember the spectacle, which took place June 11-12 near this tiny crossroads community deep in south Georgia

Despite the discomfort, visitor turnout was good on both days, but the heat had most departing by early afternoon. “The people came out; they just didn’t stay very long,” aptly summed up one exhibitor. For that matter, few exhibitors whined about the early departure of attendees; they were right behind them.

Slash Solutions by Heather Hager

For operations that get biomass straight from the forest, the first step in the supply chain is deciding how to collect and transport the leftover slash from logging. Efficient slash handling can be difficult because the material varies in shape and size and lacks density. To make slash recovery cost effective while maintaining a clean, high-quality product, several machines are now going where none have gone before: into the forest.

Bruks’ strategy is to bring the chipper to the slash rather than dragging it to chipper or grinder, says Blase Grady, vice-president of mobile chipping North America for Bruks Rockwood. A Bruks drum chipper, with 450 HP diesel engine, mounts directly on any brand of forwarder and blows chips into a self-contained chip bin. Once the bin is full, the forwarder moves to roadside and dumps the material into a waiting chip van or roll-off container.

New Products & Technologies

With the recent redesign of the Bandit Model 3090 track chipper, land clearing contractors and loggers now have power and productivity without sacrificing operator comfort. Key upgrades to this 30" capacity chipper include a spacious operator’s cab provided with a rear entry door, an emergency escape door on the left and a pop-out escape window on the right. Convenient joystick controls operate all functions of the machine, from the loader’s main and jib boom movement, to the engine controls and feed system.

Because of the ease in positioning and moving the chipper at the landing, the 3090 will fill a 30-ton chip trailer in less than 15 minutes. The 30" x 30" chipper opening is fronted by Bandit’s diagonal dual top feed wheel system, allowing it to process the toughest whole trees with limited trimming. Other features include a Cat 325EL undercarriage and backhoe style loader equipped with a 360º bypass grapple. Engine options up to 630 HP. Phone 800-952-0178; visit bandit c

Developments, Meetings

During the spring I participated in Idaho and Montana loggers’ annual meetings. Great events, well done!

I got a pleasant surprise in Kalispell, Mont.; an old friend was on the agenda. We didn’t get a chance to visit; he was on the run as usual. So on Sunday morning, on my way back to Enterprise, Ore., Sandy and I met PJ and Bruce Vincent for breakfast in Libby. It was like old home week. We reminisced about times gone by and trips to DC, kids and grandkids and old friends.

The Multiple Benefits of Managed Forests

Forest management can lead to cleaner air, safer communities and lower firefighting costs, yet its greatest value may lie in addressing climate change and what it keeps hidden underground.

Managing forests helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It lowers the threat and severity of wildfire, a significant source of avoidable emissions. It also keeps fossil fuels underground.

Industry News

Florida Public Service Commission approved the city of Gainesville’s proposal to build a 100 MW wood-burning power plant. The proposal features a 30-year contract between Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) and American Renewables to establish the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center. The plant would be built, owned and operated by Boston-based American Renewables and fueled by woody residuals from a variety of sources within a 75 mile radius of Gainesville.

Project officials say the plant should be operational by 2013.