TimberWest

Wood-Mizer Manager Is a Champion for ‘Urban’ Wood By Tim Cox, Editor OLIVEHURST, California – Jennifer Alger wears many hats, but all of them have to do with forest products and making good use of so-called ‘urban’ wood. She wears a hat for Wood-Mizer, too. What’s ‘urban’ wood, and why would most logging contractors give a hoot about it? Think trees removed in urban areas by arborists, tree service contractors, and even logging contractors and land-clearing contractors.

Patrick Lumber Adds New Hardwood Mill Patrick Lumber Manufacturing has begun work to add a hardwood sawmill at its manufacturing facility located in Philomath, Oregon. The new mill will be equipped to cut hardwood lumber, an unusual move in Oregon, where the vast majority of mills process softwoods such as Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine, the state’s most common tree species.

By Allison Clonch We have all experienced moments when fatigue creeps up on us, causing our eyelids to droop and our bodies to become sluggish. What most people do not experience is battling such overwhelming fatigue while maneuvering a massive log truck on the highway. Fatigue for log truck drivers and how it impacts accident risk is a concern that affects not only the truckers’ safety but also the safety of everyone else sharing the road.

Western Wildfires Expected to Intensify Until Mid-Century A new federal report describes climate change’s role in the worsening severity of wildfires in the western U.S. The National Climate Assessment, which comes out every five years, expects fires to get hotter, more destructive, and more widespread until at least the middle of the century.

From left, Nelson and Ole Bekkevar and road supervisor Darin Moriarity with Ponsse Scorpion King harvester. Washington Brothers Focused on Growing Forests of the Future Bekkevar Logging & Trucking Adds New Ponsse Machines, Ecoforst T-Winch By Dawn Killough SEQUIM, Washington – Ole Bekkevar sees his logging business as similar to farming. “We’re trying to propagate and retain good quality soils and water for the future generations of forest,” he said.

Prepare Equipment to Conquer the Cold By Jacob Sherman You rely on heavy equipment, like log loaders and road builders, to harvest, process and transport timber efficiently. However, harsh winter weather and sub-zero temperatures can pose challenges for these machines and require specialized care. Winterizing equipment is critical to prevent equipment failures and costly downtime. Follow these tips to safeguard your equipment and ensure that it can withstand the colder months. 1.

CBA Logging Adds FAE Tracked Carrier with Mulching Attachment By Jan Jackson CHEHALIS, Washington – When a logger like Charlie Alexander insists on working alone, his equipment becomes both his best friend and his trusty crew. The newest addition to the company is an FAE model PT-300 tracked carrier with a mulcher attachment. Alexander works at a power plant and does logging work in his free time.

TREKLOS Grapple Systems This grapple system is designed to utilize the maneuverability and functions of an excavator, (whether it’s a large or mini) to easily handle trees, brush, boulders, logs or any other hard to handle item. The engineers at TREKLOS have developed a mechanical rotator that is designed to give the operator full 360 degree grapple rotation control without a traditional hydraulic rotator.

Background A feller buncher operator was conducting a first thinning operation on a summer morning in the south-central U.S. Conditions were wet from a rain shower earlier in the day. The operator was experienced with all pieces of in-woods equipment, having over 30 years of logging experience. Unsafe Acts and Conditions The operator noticed that his view was becoming obstructed by an excessive buildup of limbs and debris at the base of the cutting head.

NHLA Elects Three New Board Members The National Hardwood Lumber Association elected three new board members during its annual convention and exhibit showcase in Louisville, Kentucky, recently. The newly elected board members are Matthew Gutchess of Gutchess Lumber Co., Tim Pleimann of Farrow Lumber Company, and Chris Rider of AHC Hardwood Group. Retiring from the board was Jordan McIlvain of Alan McIlvain Company.