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Harvesting
New biomass harvester twice as productive
 April 23, 2013, Stokholm - Studies in Scandinavia show a new
feller-compactor unit greatly increases productivity over older models,
suiting it for small-diameter clearing work.
Fibre from BC Hydro project up for bids
April 16, 2013, Victoria, BC – BC Hydro has issued a Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ) for the utilization of non-merchantable fibre for the Site C Clean Energy Project near Fort St. John.
Analysis tool for biomass to ethanol pathway
April 10, 2013, Portola Valley, CA – A company says it has developed an analysis tool that allows biomass producers to track their emissions and energy inputs.
Biochar slashes bioenergy soil emissions
 April 3, 2013, Swindon, UK – Researchers at the U.K.'s Natural Environment Research Council published a study indicating that adding charcoal to a plot of land before planting bioenergy crops reduces carbon emissions from that plot by about one-third over the long run.
Terex line of biomass tree chippers
 March 26, 2013, Farwell, MI – Terex Environmental Equipment manufacture a comprehensive line of biomass whole tree chippers that can produce up to 250 tonnes of biomass per hour.
Bandit adds new Canadian dealer
March 12, 2013, Remus, MI—Bandit Industries continues to experience rapid growth, adding three new dealer locations to the North American market in the first quarter of 2013, including one in Canada.
PEI lookig to expand biomass heating
March 5, 2013, Wellington, PE – A western P.E.I. business is hoping for a sizable expansion of its operation that uses wood chips harvested from Island forests to heat government buildings.
Timber volume available in Central Newfoundland
March 3, 2013, Gander, NL - An annual wood supply of 280,000 m3 and other assets are available to the right investor looking to launch a forestry or bioenergy business in Central Newfoundland.
Pilot project studying willow for biomass fuel in PEI
 February 26, 2013, Charlottetown, PE – Pilot project in Prince Edward Island has been studying viability of willow production for biomass fuel.
New mulching tool from Fecon
 February 26, 2013, Lebanon, OH – Fecon Inc. introduced the Samurai Knife mulching tool, a reversible double-edged tool with a shape resulting in faster smoother cutting, finer chip size, and greater production.
Vermeer's new trommel screen
 February 20, 2013, Pella, IA — Vermeer introduced a newly enhanced trommel screen that puts more control in the hands of the operator and more power to produce a quality end product.
OSCIA looks to Europe for biomass answers
February 20, 2013, Guelph, ON – The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association didn’t want to reinvent the wheel. That’s why it is organizing a trade mission to Europe to explore biomass processing and market development.
Alberta town growing willows as an energy crop
 February 14, 2013, Camrose, AB – What if you could treat your sewage by growing willows and use the willows as biomass to heat your buildings? The County of Camrose, Alberta is doing just that. Working with the Canadian Forest Service the county has planted a willow plantation right next to a sewage lagoon. The idea is to harvest the willows every three years and use the wood to heat their municipal building.
Bandit celebrates 30 years with contest
February, 11, 2013, Remus, MI – Hand-fed wood chippers and stump grinders are the backbone of Michigan-based Bandit Industries, and as the company celebrates 30 years of operation, Bandit will also reach the milestone of 50,000 Brush Bandit machines produced.
Marginal lands a resource to grow biomass
 January 18, 2013, Lansing, MI – Marginal lands – those unsuited for food crops – can serve as prime real estate for meeting alternative energy production goals, according to new research.
Delayed flowering gives 50% increase in biofuel crop yield
January 4, 2013, London, UK – Researchers working on the biofuel crop Miscanthus sacchariflorus, commonly known as Asian Elephant Grass, have shown that delaying flowering in the plant can result in a 50% growth increase.
BC fuel management grants help towns
December 8, 2012, Victoria, BC - B.C. municipalities, regional districts and First Nations will soon get more help to protect their communities and local infrastructure from wildfire threats, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.
The Biomass Pyrolysis Spectrum
We use the pyrolysis of biomass every day without realizing it. The roasting and baking of foods are such processes.
Biomass plant to benefit from USFS contract
November 28, 2012, Eagle, CO – The U.S. Forest Service awarded a total of $13.4 million to two Colorado companies and one of those stewardship contracts has positive implications for a local biomass plant.
Grass pellet heating system to help farmers
November 28, 2012, Halifax, NS – A new heating system at Perennia Innovation Centre in Bible Hill will encourage Nova Scotia farmers to produce green energy, increasing their profits and helping protect the environment.
Bandit 200UC utility chipper
 November 22, 2012, Remus, MI – The Model 200UC “Utility Chipper” brings low cost with reliable performance and production to the popular 12-inch capacity disc chipper segment.
Logger turns waste wood into Bio Logs
 November 9, 2012, Darby, MT – The owner of a Montana lumber and helicopter logging company is taking wood waste and turning it into a marketable product, "bio logs", which burn hot and clean.
Exploring possibilities for alternative energy crop
 November 1, 2012, Brooksville, KY – Five years ago, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents and forage specialists began working with northeastern Kentucky farmers on a project to produce switchgrass for biomass. Now, they are jointly exploring other possibilities for the native, warm-season grass.
Grow It, Harvest It, Burn It
Harvesting both wood and greenhouse vegetables is what Luc Verrier has been doing for most of his career.
Biomass crops benefit marginal soils
October 11, 2012, Columbia, MS – Bioenergy crops can be a good match for areas of fields that have lost productivity.
PrimeTech introduces PT-600
 October 5, 2012, Fondo, Italy, The PrimeTech family of prime movers for forestry, building and agricultural applications has added the new PT-600, which will join the existing PT-200 (180 hp), PT-300 (275 hp) and PT-400 (415 hp).
Nova Scotia Power tenders for biomass supply
September 25, 2012, Halifax, NS — Electricity supplier Nova Scotia Power (NSPI) is inviting bids for biomass supply to its 60MW Point Tupper biomass-fired power project, the utility said.
Port Hawkesbury mill to re-open
September 23, 2012, Port Hawkesbury, NS - A last minute deal has been reached between Nova Scotia and Pacific West Commercial Corp. (PWCC) that will allow the former NewPage paper mill to re-open.
Biomass projects can utilize bark-beetle timber
September 10, 2012, Frisco, CO – The future of forest health and preventing wildfire among dead trees affected by the bark-beetle epidemic are causing officials to join forces in brainstorming possible solutions, including biomass projects.
Could Less Mean More?
Michael Weedon, executive director of the Vancouver-based B.C. Bioenergy Network, greets newcomers while clutching a copy of a presentation he authored, Partnering for a Green Future.
Willow as bioenergy crop gets closer in NY State
August 5, 2012, Ithaca, NY - The commercialization of shrub willow as a bioenergy crop could be years closer, thanks to a $1.37 million grant that will allow Cornell University researchers to take advantage of the newly mapped shrub willow genome.
Terex Woodsman brush chippers
 July 26, 2012, Farwell, MI – Terex® Woodsman will be exhibiting two of their popular brush chipper products, the Woodsman 730 and Woodsman 750 on booth 1179 at the ISA Show in Portland, Oregan, August to 11-15.
Demand for woody biomass drops
July 23, 2012, Seattle, WA - Prices for woody biomass in the US, whether sawmill by-products, forest residues or urban wood waste, have been sliding for most of the past three years, but were still higher late in 2011 in most regions than they were five years ago, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review.
Ontario company wants to sink money into N.S. agricultural lands
July 16, 2012, Windsor, NS - Pro Farm Energy Inc. is looking to lease thousands of acres of agricultural land in hopes of growing enough Miscanthus giganteus to feed a 10-megawatt power plant developed by Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd.
Dual shaft shredder from Vecoplan
 July 12, 2012, Archdale, NC - Vecoplan has introduced their new VNZ 80 XL dual shaft shredder. Known for their single shaft, ram fed, rotary shredders, Vecoplan incorporated two rotors and eliminated the ram in their new VNZ 80 XL.
Vermeer introduces new dolly transport system for grinder
 July 11, 2012, Pella, Iowa — Vermeer has enhanced its popular HG6000TX track undercarriage horizontal grinder with a new dolly transport system, longer load-out conveyor and Tier 4i/Stage IIIB engine to help improve jobsite efficiency.
Biomass reg threaten renewable energy export boom
July 9, 2012, Boston, MA - A single Northeastern U.S. state is preparing to miss out on growing export markets for woody biomass fuel production due to pending new regulation designed to lower carbon emissions.
Vecoplan's new VAZ 1600 shredder
J  une 20, 2012, Arcdale, NC - Vecoplan has introduced the new VAZ 1600, on of the new generation shredders, which features improved performance, durability and decreased maintenance.
New stacking conveyor by Superior Industries
 June 12, 2012, Morris, MN - Superior Industries, a leading American manufacturer of conveyor systems and components, revealed its newest conveyor design, the Geotrek Conveyor.
Dutch Topell Energy secures financing
June 11, 2012, London, UK - Dutch biomass torrefaction firm Topell Energy has secured financing of €13mn to help increase production and facilitate the future sale of plants.
Tembec Building Biomass Knowledge
A comprehensive biomass harvesting experiment is taking place in northeastern Ontario thanks to Tembec Chapleau Operations.
Barko Hydraulics acquires Norco
 May 28, 2012, Superior, WI - Barko Hydraulics has announced it has acquired the assets of Norco Equipment Company to expand customer options in the forestry, bio-energy, recycling
and right-of-way maintenance markets.
Martin Return Roller designed for replacement
 May 22, 2012, Neponset, IL - Martin Engineering has unveiled their new EVO Return Roller, a track-mounted,
pivoting, return-side idler that allows service and replacement from one side
of the conveyor.
Feedstox purchases harvesting upgrades
May 22, 2012, Wichita, KS - Feedstox, a KABB company, has purchased seven new pieces of agricultural equipment as part of the nation's most advanced harvesting fleet.
Massachusetts biomass changes explained
May 17, 2012 - The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) held a webinar information session recently to explain the changes suggested in its woody biomass regulations released in April.
AV Nackawic chooses Fuji King Debarker
May 11, 2012, Surrey, BC - Carmanah Design and Manufacturing Inc. have supplied a Fuji King Debarker to the AV Nackawic Inc. Pulp mill located in Nackawic, NB.
Premier Tech's high-speed stretch wrapper
May 4, 2012 - Premier Tech's new LW-300  is a fully automatic system designed to apply a mechanically pre-stretched film with tension to a pallet load.
Massachusetts standards hurt Maine biomass plants
May 2, 2012 - Biomass power plants in Maine could be in danger from new industry emissions standards in Massachusetts.
Caterpillar expands self-loader line
Apr. 24, 2012 - Caterpillar Forest Products has entered into a marketing agreement with Palfinger Inc. to distribute a line of knuckleboom self-loaders produced by Epsilon Kran GmbH, part of the Palfinger Group, under the brand name Prentice/Epsilon.
Biomass availability in B.C.
Apr. 10, 2012 - There is a significant number of biomass available on the British Columbia landscape that needs to be removed to help improve the ecosystem, but there are numerous market impediments and constraints that are standing in the way.
New filter technology from Tri-Mer
 Apr. 10, 2012 - Tri-Mer Corp., a world leader in air pollution control systems and indoor air quality products, has introduced Tri-Flow, a new filtration concept that delivers HEPA level performance with a MERV 16 rating.
Low prices mute North American biomass markets
Apr. 4, 2012, New York, NY - Bearish prices for industrial wood pellets in Europe are quieting the North American export market. Current prices are too low to foster any deals and many participants are away from their desks for the Easter holidays.
New engines added to Deere bunchers and harvesters
 Apr. 3, 2012, Moline, IL - John Deere announces the addition of a 9.0-liter John Deere PowerTech Plus 6090H Engine to its 700-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and 700-Series Tracked Harvesters, replacing the existing 8.1-liter engine.
Fibre and labour key to lumber recovery
April 2, 2012, Moncton, NB - Speaking at the Canadian Woodlands Forum AGM last week, Peter Woodbridge of Woodbridge Associates Inc., outlined why he feels strongly that when the industry takes off in 18 months, those with access to wood and the people to harvest and process it will be in the catbird seat.
Forestry's Fresh Future
The Canadian forest industry is a place to grow. It is a place to grow a career, investments and innovative ideas.
Oregon's new cordless chainsaw
 Mar. 22, 2012, Portland, OR - Blount, the world’s largest manufacturer of saw chain, announces the launch of the new Oregon PowerNow 40V MAX* Cordless Chainsaw.
Washington's abundant forests
Mar. 15, 2012, Port Angeles, WA - A new study by the Washington Department of Natural Resources states that more than double the amount of wood that is currently harvested could be used for biomass without any risks to forest health.
Clenergen renews interest in foreign biomass
Mar. 14, 2012, New York, NY - Clenergen Corporation has reached an agreement with Futenco AG to retain 100% ownership of its operating subsidiaries in Ghana, Guyana, and the Philippines for biomass use.
Terex Woodsman launches two new trommels
 Mar. 2, 2012 - Terex Woodsman has launched two new products, the new Terex Woodsman 810 Trommel and Terex Woodsman 830 Trommel as part of its continuing dynamic product development program.
Komptech's new "turnable" chipper
 Mar. 1, 2012 - Komptech has unveiled a new chipper, the Chippo 5010 Cdt, which has the ability to turn and swivel 260 degrees, ideal for working on logging roads.
Loader Works Triple Duty Loading Biomass
Maintaining a kiln temperature in excess of 1450ºC is a highly energetic process that results in a high cost for every cement manufacturing facility.
Going Small
Small trees are often-overlooked sources of biomass in Canada that can be found in our forests and around communities.
New Vermeer S450TX mini skid
 Feb. 7, 2012, Pella, IA - The newest member of the Vermeer Corporation mini skid steer family is well suited for rental customers, as well as landscapers and general contractors who need a compact machine that can perform various tasks.
Lumber output up in BC, down in QC and NB
 Jan 28, 2012, Ottawa - Canadian lumber production fell noticeably in November
2011, according to recently-released numbers from Statistics Canada. Year over year numbers were only slightly off.
Swedish wrap supplier talks residue optimization
Jan 19, 2012, Sweden - Nordic harvest residue cover system supplier Walki has a system and new website dedicated to the optimization and maximization of the use of harvest residues for bioenergy production.
Bandit's small stump grinder solution
 Jan. 13, 2012, Remus, MI - Bandit Industries has unveiled a new self-propelled stump grinder that uses a beltless hydrostatic drive.
Dust Control Technology unveils new suppression ring
 Jan. 10, 2012, Peoria, IL - Dust Control Technology has introduced a new product to be used specifically at conveyor discharge points and maximize particle containment.
LeMar Industries acquires Riley Equipment
Jan. 5, 2012, Des Moines, IA - Moving forward in its plan for strategic growth and expansion, LeMar Industries has acquired leading material handling manufacturer Riley Equipment.
Exports to help wood profits double in 2012
December 23, 2011—Profits for Canada’s wood producers are expected to double in 2012 compared to this year, and employment is forecast to grow by more than 6,000 positions next year.
WSI expects increased cold in NE United States
Dec. 20, 2011, Andover, MA - Weather Services International (WSI) expects January-March to be colder than average in the northeastern US, with above average temperatures in the southeast.
Oregon Biomass credit good for business
Dec. 19, 2011, Eugene, OR - A year after its implementation, the Oregon tax credits for biomass producers and businesses is considered a success, according to a new report.
Helping optimize biomass feedstock harvesting
Dec. 12, 2011 - Harvesting biomass can be very time-consuming, which is why producers are looking for the next innovation to increase productivity while minimizing losses.
Freightliner launches new biomass wagon
 Dec. 12, 2011 - Freightliner Heavy Haul has unveiled its new prototype covered hopper wagon that has been developed for the biomass market.
Small Is Beautiful: Microchipping Woody Biomass
Although the use of microchipping in wood pellet manufacture is just catching on in North America, European pellet makers discovered “small is beautiful” some time ago.
Forest products sector improved, PwC
Nov. 18, 2011, Vancouver - The world's forest products companies showed some recovery in their financial performance during 2010 following two previous exceptionally challenging years, with Canadian revenues up 16%.
Does growing biofuel turn a profit?
Nov. 8, 2011, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN - Can biofuel reduce water and nutrient runoff from farm fields, cut down on soil erosion and turn a profit for the farmers who grow it?
Forestry of the Future
Recent media reports have suggested that one of Canada’s oldest economic sectors, the forest products industry, is becoming a bit tarnished
Tense wood makes better biomass
Oct. 27, 2011 - Oak Ridge, TN - Taking a cue from Mother Nature, researchers at the Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science Center have undertaken a first-of-its-kind study of a naturally occurring phenomenon in trees to spur the development of more efficient bioenergy crops.
Farmers switching from corn to poplar?
Oct 25, 2011, West Lafayette, Ind - Purdue University researchers are studying how poplars might be turned into cellulosic ethanol in a large-scale field trial.
Global sawlog prices hit record high
Oct 18, 2011, Seattle, WA - The Global Sawlog Price Index reached a 16-year high in Q2 2011 according to Hakan Ekstrom of Wood Resources International, with large gains in Europe, Canada and Russia.
Community Wildfires
A new management approach could empower communities to protect themselves from wildfire while encouraging bioenergy development.
Cold Climate Cures
Designing material handling systems for use in extreme northern environments requires special care.
Take It or Leave It?
Woody biomass retention guidelines were developed recently for Maine’s forest industry to proactively address some concerns associated with woody biomass harvesting.
Ontario: Yours to Discover
Last spring, I participated in a field visit organized by the Canadian Forest Service in Ontario.
Early Adopters
Harvesting forest residues for biomass means new hope for many sawmill owners and contractors, and many such projects have been announced recently. However, some four years ago, before this strong tendency to develop diversification strategies, an idea was born in the minds of the leaders of two organizations in eastern Quebec:
Back to the Future?
During the 17th century, there was a high level of commercial activity around wood ash in Nouvelle-France. Settlers were clearing forestland for crop cultivation, creating large amounts of residual wood that was not needed for fuel or construction material.
Big-volume Producer
Biomass is often associated with new and innovative sources of fuel for power generation, but at Acadian Timber, it has been a big part of the company’s business for over two decades.
Battle for Fibre
With biomass-powered energy production becoming mainstream, fibre allocation and supply have become hot topics.
Feeding Frenzy
The boiler at Kruger Inc.’s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP) mill in western Newfoundland has a big appetite for biomass – 713 tonnes/day to be precise.
Slash Solutions
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 or thinning. Efficient slash handling can be difficult because the material varies in shape and size and lacks density. In an effort to make slash recovery cost effective while maintaining a clean, high-quality product, three machines are going where none have gone before: into the forest.
Beetle - Wood Mania
British Columbia is abuzz with bioenergy. Of the 68 municipalities, 103 First Nations, and numerous rural settlements in the region of the mountain pine beetle (MPB) epidemic, not many are ignoring the possibilities of turning “beetle wood” into pellets, direct heat, and/or electricity – and at the same time, into profit, jobs, and hope.
Growing Woody Biomass
Coppice cropping has been used in Sweden since the 1970s to produce biomass, and it’s now gaining attention elsewhere in Europe and in places like the United States, New Zealand, and Canada. Intensive willow coppice cropping seems like an efficient way to produce a consistent supply of purpose-grown fibre.
From Forest to Fuel
As the North American housing market fights to stay alive during these tough economic times, some Canadian loggers are rolling with the punches and taking advantage of environmental incentives from the government to stay ahead of the game.
Have Grinders, Will Travel
It seems an unlikely location, but just inside the town limits of Truro, Nova Scotia, is the Verboom family’s small sawmill and home base to a substantial biomass grinding operation. Here, Verboom Grinders processes multiple source streams of non-timber-quality wood to supply two biomass markets: wood fuel and landscaping mulch.
Slash harvest demo a success
 Payette National Forest, ID – In August 2008, the U.S. Forest Service provided a well-attended demonstration of woody biomass chipping and hauling using newly developed equipment.
Back to the Grind
This grinder update provides an overview of some of the large-scale stationary grinders that are available for processing mill residue, construction debris, and other sources of waste wood into useable biomass or hog fuel. All information has been provided by the equipment suppliers.
Residues to Riches: Times have changed
There is no doubt that the use of forest biomass is expanding across Canada. I have been researching forest biomass since 1978, albeit on an on-and-off basis as forest bioenergy has been a hot-and-cold topic for the forest industry over the past 30 years. |
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