“This expansion and new machine is our commitment to our expanding industry and our industry partners. Combining both the most advanced K2i 1300 with an in-sequence 6-axis robot, this new machine allows us to meet the growing requirements of the mass timber industry, while simultaneously increasing our capacity to produce authentic timber frame products,” says Jeff Bowes, president and owner of CTF. This announcement is accompanied by the news that CTF is increasing the size of their facility by 50 per cent, adding an additional 10,000 sq. ft. to their facility, to accommodate this machine and further optimize production.

The purchased CNC machine with a 6-axis robot is one of the most efficient and comprehensive solid wood processing machines for heavy timber and glulam in the mass timber industry. With over 34,000 sq ft of manufacturing capacity to come, this new machine enables them to run larger timber sections (18 x 51 x 70’), handle more complex & larger scale commercial projects in both timber & mass timber, and deliver results that align with CTF’s reputation of excellence.

Timber and engineered wood products are a strong, low-carbon building alternative to concrete and steel.

Twenty-two years after Canadian Timberframes brought Canada’s first Hundegger K2 machine to the country, they are once again innovating. “We congratulate Canadian Timberframes on the upcoming installation of the largest and most advanced K2i in Canada, and one of the largest & most advanced installations in North America,” says Hans Hundegger, founder and president of Hundegger.

View CTF’s facility video with a virtual 3D model of their expansion and new machine.

“We are preparing for the future of this organization; our success has been built on quality products and services. This investment back into the company is not only for our clients but our employees. This investment allows CTF to remain competitive, strengthening our market position and offering world class Timber Frame products, while growing within the mass timber and tall wood construction industry” says Stephanie Bowes, vice-president of CTF.

“Canadian Timberframes promises extraordinary quality and professional service; it is our highest priority, focus and my promise!” says Jeff. “As far as our customer service is concerned, construction will not affect our regular operations”
Canadian Timberframes works closely with Clients, Architects & Builders throughout North America – Servicing the entire United States; and beyond.

From the beginning
All equipment will eventually reach the end of its life cycle and a logger must decide to either repair, rebuild or replace the machine at some point. There are many factors to consider – the costs of owning, operating, and maintenance will affect the total life cycle of the machine but future depreciation, resale value and production levels also need to be considered. The end goal is always to get the best return on your investment. Having a concrete business strategy that considers all factors can help bring clarity to the situation and, in particular, having a strategy from the start can keep costs down and your equipment running.

Rebuilding or repairing equipment can be more economical than purchasing new, but the best way to get the full picture is by doing a cost analysis. One way to do this is to use a Life Cycle Profitability (LCP) calculator, which can help you decide on the best option for your business. Your LCP plan should start the day you buy the machine and you should discuss with your dealer at the time of purchase what options are available to you. Things can and will change, but a flexible plan and having a strategy in place from the beginning can provide a long-term roadmap to success for your business.

Maintenance – a big factor
Unscheduled repairs and unplanned downtime are often the culprits getting in the way of machines meeting production goals. That’s why the best equipment plans involve discipline and following a scheduled maintenance program to give your machine the care and attention it needs to decrease downtime and meet productivity goals for the life of the machine.

Regularly scheduled maintenance combined with just-in-time service can also extend operating hours. Done right, you can stretch that initial 10,000-hour milestone to 12,000 hours or more before you need to consider a trade-in.

Recognizing important maintenance milestones, including switching out minor components before they fail, will help to ensure machines can deliver their maximum value and peak operating hours. An unplanned failure can cost three to four times that of a planned component change-out. And this doesn’t account for the added issues associated with lack of productivity. The availability of parts and service for unscheduled maintenance can also significantly impact the cost and timing for repairs and further extend machine downtime.

Consider all options
Once you understand what your business priorities are and you’ve conducted a cost analysis, you should also look at the advantages and disadvantages of repairing, rebuilding or replacing your equipment, as well as when it makes the most sense to do so.

The primary goal for repairs is to keep equipment components intact so the machine can continue to function and accumulate hours. This can be the quickest and most affordable way to get a machine back up and running and typically does not require a visit to the repair shop. However, repairs can sometimes fall short if you want to get the best life expectancy out of a machine or access the latest technology.

If you are considering a rebuild, the turnaround is typically six to eight weeks. But if not properly planned, the time frame can increase significantly and go on for months. A basic rebuild involves replacing parts, changing out components, calibration and adjustments, with the end result being a like-new machine that should perform at the same level as a brand new one. A good rebuild should be well organized, ensuring all the necessary parts are ordered in advance of the job start date and giving time to schedule technicians for the repair, go over the rebuild plan in detail and understand the owners’ expectations and business needs. The right equipment dealer can guarantee exchange components down the line, including the availability of not just parts, but service and labour.

Some contractors will trade in their equipment for a new or used machine. But if the data has not been captured on the machine from the beginning, they can risk trading it in too early, resulting in an unnecessary loss in life cycle productivity. In a recent survey of western Canadian dealers on used processor inventory, machines that were 10 years old or newer had an average of 11,000 hours or less – meaning customers were trading in machines well before the end of their functional life and were not getting the most value out of the machine.

The Cat 548 Forest Machine. Purpose built for high production work, the 548 optimizes engine, hydraulics, technology and controls delivering peak efficiency and productivity.

Use your dealer
Engaging your dealer at the time of purchase can significantly increase productivity and help reduce downtime due to equipment failure. Dealers can also help track maintenance schedules and machine health to ensure service and repairs are done before they become a bigger issue to both your business and the bottom-line.

Tapping into a dealer’s network of service and support options can take your business to the next level of productivity. Experienced dealers are equipped to help with parts and maintenance programs such as remote monitoring, which provides a unified view of the health, location and productivity of your entire fleet. They can also provide a better understanding of other technologies like GPS and telematics to bring new insights into job site operations, streamline communication, increase efficiency and keep workers safe on site.

Dealers can also help in the collection and analysis of data and offer continued support when it comes to monitoring machine health and tracking maintenance and service requirements to maximize uptime. When a machine is monitored by the dealer, they will know when maintenance is required to avoid a failure, what parts are needed for the job and they will be able to order the parts when needed. This can help prevent ordering and shipping delays and minimize the time the machine is out of service.

Most dealers can also arrange financing and have product support representatives available to address your equipment questions and concerns.

Stay competitive
Forestry operations will stay productive and efficient when loggers invest in quality equipment, leverage new technologies and partner with a trusted, informed dealer. Working with a dealer on a future plan, using the tools available, and sticking to a maintenance strategy will help stretch the life of equipment and provide substantial cost savings in the long run.

New technologies may come along, workloads may fluctuate, and the industry may experience more ups and downs, but a strong maintenance strategy and a better understanding of equipment needs and available options provide the best opportunity for loggers to get the most out of their fleet.

Brian Mulvihill is the industry manager – forestry for Finning Canada.

The order features a Revolver Lug Loader with MillTrak backlog conrol, Transverse High Grader (THG), Multi-Track Fence, clamshell-style trimmer, Low-Profile Stacker, and WinTally sorter management integrated with the THG.

This mill previously ordered a Counter-Flow Kiln conversion for its USNR batch kiln, scheduled to be started up in Q1 2021. It also recently ordered new USNR optimization and controls for its merchandiser, scheduled to be installed December 2020.

USNR is very proud to be a major vendor for this important wood processing operation in the US Southeast region.

Fully automatic, it offers tremendous versatility and lowers downtime with its pallet magazine and dispenser that can handle pallets of different sizes. The high-speed robotic palletizer is also capable of handling bags, bales and bundles, and when slip and top sheets are required the robot can be programmed to pick the sheets from a bin and place them on the pallet.  For maximum speed, automatic slip and top sheet dispensers can be added so that the robot can focus solely on palletizing.

The Pattern Expert, an intuitive and user-friendly interface, allows users to easily modify existing palletizing patterns and to create new ones with highly accurate bag positioning. Available in multiple languages, the user interface is accessible remotely by Premier Tech whenever support is required. Click here to see a video.

Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for New Brunswick and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), joined Garant GP officials at the sawmill to tour the facility.

"With the current market conditions, the Canadian manufacturing industry is more than ever challenged to maintain a high efficiency level to remain competitive in the North American marketplace. With ACOA's involvement in the funding of this project, this will enable Garant GP and its employees to maintain employment in New Brunswick. Having been part of the Woodstock community for over 50 years, carrying out this project will help to ensure the continuity of our operations for many years to come," says Jean Gaudreault, President, Garant GP.

The project involved a building expansion and the installation of advanced technology to improve the plant's productivity. An obsolete circular saw and carriage were replaced with a new high efficiency band saw and carriage. A new scanner technology system was also added to improve wood usage. These upgrades will increase the profitability of the various lines of wooden dowels that are manufactured at the Garant GP sawmill, and help the plant remain competitive.

"Our Government is pleased to work with businesses like Garant GP to help strengthen the economy of our region. The expansion and new equipment at Garant's Woodstock sawmill will increase productivity and improve overall efficiency and will boost the sustainability and competitive edge of this business," says Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for New Brunswick and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency).

The Government of Canada is investing $473,300 in the project, through ACOA's Business Development Program.

Garant GP is a national leader in the manufacturing of non-motorized winter snow removal and summer gardening tools, thanks to its continuous investment in new technologies and the development of a highly skilled and experienced workforce. Founded in 1895 in Saint-François, Quebec, Garant GP was originally a small family operation that offered hand fashioned and forged tools.

Today, the Prince George and Galloway facilities are both running new purpose-built SENNEBOGEN 830 M-T material handlers.

Bob Stewart was the Plant Manager in Prince George when the purchase of their 830 M-T was proposed to head office. "We looked at 3 or 4 different makes of machines last year, made our decision on Sennebogen and put together the business plan to acquire it."

In Galloway, meanwhile, Richard Harkies was also shopping for new equipment. "We had already looked at the other two big names in material handlers," he recalls. "Then Tom Truman (from the Sennebogen dealer, Great West Equipment) came by and took us to see a Sennebogen demonstration in Lavington. We hadn't actually heard of Sennebogen before then!"

Before the year was out, Galloway had become a Stella-Jones operation and the purchase of the machine went ahead. Great West Equipment delivered the first one of its 830 M-T's to Prince George in January, and the second was delivered to the Galloway Mill in June.

The 830 M-T is a purpose-built material handler for trailer pulling. It has an undercarriage and transmission configuration that's specially built to pull over 100,000 lb. log trailers. The two material handlers were then fitted with Rotobec log grapples. They were also customized to widen out the tines and the tips to minimize damage to the wood. Each was then equipped with a live heel.

While the two sites differ in some ways in their specific application, their managers are equally satisfied that the 830 M-T was the right way to go.

The Prince George plant processes both utility poles and railway ties, so its log handler has to manage moving and loading square timber as well as round wood. "We stack the ties in packs of 25 for air seasoning," says Bob Stewart. "Then we load the bundles onto gondolas for delivery. The 830 M-T pulls a tridem trailer loaded up to 75,000 lbs. It could be a larger sized machine than we really need, but we wanted to be prepared for future demands, too. We anticipate that we'll get 10 to 15 years of service from this unit."

"It has a lot of hydraulic power," he continues. "It takes a fine touch to grab a large load without damaging the wood. These controls are very user-friendly and the hydraulics are very responsive. We also find that the stance of the machine, with its wide wheelbase, is much better for getting around even in soft ground than what we experienced before."

Richard Harkies also cites improvements in mobility among the advantages of the 830 M-T. "We have to drive a half-a-mile from one end of the yard to the other. With a separate transmission on each axle, it pulls smoother and it doesn't shift as hard and it's more stable."

Harkies notes that the extra stability is especially helpful when the operator's cab is elevated. "The high-lift cab is way better for loading rail cars, because you can see the top of the load. The operators can set it at the best height, for comfort, for whatever they are doing. In the spring, after the snow, you can get potholes, which can make it a little rough up there! The wide stance and pneumatic tires smooth out the ride for them."

Stewart and Harkies are both confident that their concerns about the future reliability of their equipment have been answered. Sennebogen's 100,000 sq. ft. headquarters near Charlotte, NC maintains the largest inventory of material handling parts in North America. Great West Equipment, their Sennebogen distributor, also keeps a large stock of off-the-shelf parts for their customers. And Stewart acknowledges the importance of Great West's experience in the industry. "We have been dealing with (Great West representative) Dillon Healey for 8 or 9 years. We always feel that we get a good deal and they're always very helpful making sure that our equipment is perfectly suited to our application."

The stability and smooth pulling power of the 830 M-T is well suited to the 1/2 mile circuits in the log yard.

Pierre Friolet worked in the forest for 20 years, but in 2008 he decided to give up the forest side as it became harder for the contractor to make a good wage. “It’s all about how fast you’re cutting it now and the technology that’s coming out is just to cut faster and faster.”

As wood prices go up, the sawmills are recouping more of the costs but the logging contractors aren’t benefiting from the market improvement, Friolet explains. “I always loved the wood; we don’t add enough value to our resources.”

Finding more value in the woods
Value is what Friolet and his partner, Robert Lennon, are now adding to the lumber they’re treating at Thermalwood Canada. Building on experience in the local wood products industry, they have carved out a niche to complement rather than compete with other local wood manufacturers. The method they use, thermal modification, can be used on any species, but Thermalwood Canada is narrowing in on hardwoods such as ash and maple.

“We’re going to help to bring more value to the private woodlot owners in the area,” explains Friolet. “We’ve gone down the road of hardwoods, which nobody else has really done - it has allowed us to open up a bunch of other niche markets.”

How the process works
Experimental research on thermal modification of wood was carried out in the 1940s and 50s in the U.S. and Germany, but the industrial application of the process was developed in the 1980s. Research and development on industrial uses has resulted in the development of many thermal modification treatments including: Perdure (Canada), ThermoWood (Finland), Retification (France), Thermoholz (Austria), Intemporis (Switzerland), Iwotech (Denmark), and others.

The kiln Lennon and Friolet use was built by Valutec (which uses the technology developed by ThermoWood) completely out of stainless steel to resist the stress caused by high temperatures, acids and other compounds that evaporate from the wood. Using only heat, steam and water, the wood temperature is raised quickly to around 100 degrees Celsius.

Once the wood’s moisture content is reduced to nearly zero, the actual thermal modification stage begins by bringing the temperature up to a level of 185 to 215 degrees Celsius depending on the wood species. The wood is kept at this temperature for a couple of hours in low oxygen and steam to prevent the wood from burning and to initiate chemical changes.

The temperature of the wood is then reduced using water to cool it and return some moisture to the lumber, for a moisture content between four to six per cent.

The whole process takes about 65 hours in the kiln and doesn’t allow for any shortcuts. If shortcuts are taken and the thermal modification process is initiated before the wood has been completely dried, any moisture that is not removed in the first step of the process would become trapped within the wood’s core as the lumber is heated from the outside in. As the temperatures increase and heat penetrates the wood, the moisture can result in stress and damages to the wood.

But cracks might not be immediately apparent. “If you sold it to somebody in a rough form, then they get it and they want to split it in half, the issues will start to show up then.”

If thermal modification is done properly, however, the heat changes the molecular structure of the wood, improving the dimentional stability, improving its resistance to fungal decay and changing the colour of the wood throughout. Heating the wood to these temperatures results in the degradation of hemicellulose with water-binding properties and lignin reticulation indicating the formation of molecular chemical bonds.

The end product can last as decking for over 25 years and as a siding for over 50 years. Unlike pressure-treated lumber, nothing is added to the wood and the product can be made from local wood rather than imported exotic hardwoods. The end product, however, is less resistant to impact and abrasion, and the chemical changes in the wood accelerates discoloration when exposed to UV radiation or rain. Research in Finland has also found that thermal modified wood remains vulnerable to termites.

Developing a niche
Thermally modified wood requires no stains to protect it from the elements, though it will turn grey without it. If thermal modification is done slowly and carefully, there is very little shrinkage or warping during the treatment and the process blends any visual flaws that might have made the wood less desirable before modification.

“We’ve taken a product, like pine, that if you left it outside, you might get five to 10 years out of it and through this process, you’ll get 25 plus. I have used this product for raised garden beds and three years later I pulled it out and washed it just to see how it was. It was just like it was brand spanking new,” says Lennon.

Lennon explains his decision not to compete against pressure-treated lumber, which is much cheaper to make than thermal modification. Because of the price, “people are going to pick the pressure-treated lumber versus the thermally modified right away,” says Lennon. “So we focus more on the hardwoods to be able to compete with the exotic hardwoods, like the mahogany and stuff like that that people are using for decks. Now we can offer white ash or maple for exterior decking whereas people would never have used it before.”

Focusing on underutilized wood, Thermalwood Canada buys bird’s-eye maple that has mineral stains that would reduce the wood’s value for any other application. Instead, after the wood has been thermally modified, it has been darkened and the stains are subtle. The wood that would have previously been used to make pallets is now a premium piece of siding, decking or can be used for interior finishes.

Space to share
At the Canadian Woodlands Forum Spring Meeting in April, Elizabeth Beale, President and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic council told attendees that the forest industry in New Brunswick shrunk by over 40 per cent since 2004. But since April 2013, export growth to the U.S. of Atlantic forest products has been up 20 per cent. Thermalwood Canada is setting itself up to take advantage of the improving economic conditions and support others who want to do the same by sharing warehouse space and wood-processing equipment.

“Our business model has evolved so that we’re building partnerships with people who want to manufacture a product using our wood,” says Lennon. “And if we can set them up here within our facility, it removes a lot of the waste of transporting that material. Once we’ve set up these different companies within our facility, we work together as a cooperative or a cluster format.”

To this end, Lennon and Friolet have bought some conventional kilns and dehumidifiers from a failed sawmill to provide some local drying systems. Using underutilized hardwoods and local species is the company’s aim but they’ve had to go far and wide to get the supply of wood that’s in demand in their markets. Rather than continuing to import from Maine or New York State, the company is making an investment to make it easier to buy directly from a neighbourhood supply.

“If you’re a private woodlot owner, and you’ve got all this wood that you’d love to saw and sell, you can’t because you can’t kiln dry it,” says Lennon. “And their only option today if they want to make some money with the wood on their land is to send it down to Miramichi to get it chipped up for OSB.”

The company currently has partnerships in place with two companies and is in discussions with a third to move it into the warehouse and make use of both the wood and the equipment Thermalwood has on site.

Increased interest
Carl Tremblay, a researcher at FPInnovations, has been researching thermal modification for years and wrote an article on the various technologies of thermal modification available in Canada (www.woodbusiness.ca/sawmilling/burn-it-good).

He is quick to correct the common misconception that the wood takes on inert properties after thermal modification. “Thermally modified wood is not a dead material, there is still water adsorption, swelling and shrinkage [that] can still be observed with variation of the climatic conditions. The higher the temperature of treatment, the more stable the material will be.”

According to his research, there are currently four variations of thermal modification in use in industrial application in Canada with six kilns in production and a fifth kiln manufacturer in Ontario that has closed temporarily. But Tremblay has had enough inquiries into the technique to keep a list up to date so he can send it off quickly and easily when curious investors come calling. “In the last six months, there has been a new wave of interest,” said Tremblay.

The manufacturers process different species for different markets, many of which are exporting to Europe. But despite  increased interest, the kilns are not currently running at full capacity.

Forming partnerships and educating architects is working for Friolet and Lennon, however. “We just got a purchase order for nine thousand square feet of maple siding for a building in Newfoundland. So we’re very happy we got that.”