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June 2003 - Industry Shows
Alberta show a success & New and Noted
The Northern Alberta Forestry Show proved to be successful despite the tough times in the forest industry.
By Tony Kryzanowski
Bright blue skies and warm weather greeted the nearly 6,500 people who attended this year’s Northern Alberta Forestry Show (NAFS) in Grande Prairie, held May 8 to 10. By show time, the number of display booths was nearly on a par with past shows. Lyle Dalgleish, show organizing committee president, says although the number of display booths was down slightly this time around, the number of booths purchased by each participant remained high. The main contributing factor was the unpredictable weather, which caused some outside display purchasers to hold off until the last minute before making a commitment. “We had a few late arrivals,” says Dalgleish. “I would say that by the end of the show, we weren’t down very many booths at all.”
Attendance was in line with expectations and booth holders were not only pleased with the quantity of attendees, but also the quality. The show featured a brand new exhibit area and layout that provided a much more comfortable and functional environment. Booths were out of the wind and were much more accessible for exhibitors and their customers. “Aesthetically, it was a very high quality show with an appropriate backdrop of evergreen trees,” says Dalgleish. “Everyone that I spoke to had nothing but good comments.” The show, which is held in the alternate year to the Prince George, BC Forest Expo show, continues to attract interest from all over the world.
For example, a couple from New Zealand made their first trip to Canada to assist their Canadian sawmill equipment distributor. A number of head office and factory personnel from various equipment manufacturers were also on hand to assist local distributors. They came from a variety of locations in both Canada and the United States. Equipment manufacturers also used the event to introduce new models and equipment lines. John Deere, for example, brought five pieces of forestry and related equipment that many in attendance had not seen before. “I think a number of visitors came away with a little bit of awe that such a small area could put on such a quality show with a bunch of volunteers and a small amount of staff at the Evergreen Park office,” says Dalgleish.
Money raised from the show contributes substantially to forestry education. For example, show proceeds support an annual bursary to a top academic student enrolled in the forest management program at Grande Prairie Regional College. Also, the show pays to bus about 700 Grade 5 and 6 students from area schools to attend Arbor Day activities sponsored by local forestry companies. The Walk In The Woods program is organized and staffed by Weyerhaeuser, Ainsworth Lumber and Canfor employees, where students are taken through an interactive program of tree identification, harvesting techniques and forest product manufacturing processes. The program is strongly supported by area schools. “The Walk In The Woods program is usually booked solid in less than 24 hours,” says Dalgleish. The show was capped off with the closing night banquet, featuring a live auction of the unofficial forestry show mascot, the Rare Bear. According to legend, the Rare Bear represents prosperity for the buyer.
The buyer gets to keep it until it is auctioned off again at the next forestry show—in this case, the Prince George Forest Expo show in 2004. This year’s Rare Bear purchaser was Risley Manufacturing. Dalgleish expressed his appreciation and thanks to the volunteer organizing committee members for the countless hours they sacrificed to put together a first class show. He also expressed appreciation for the generosity of the community.
The following is a round-up of some of the new products displayed at the Northern Alberta Forestry Show.
Please fill
in our Reader Request Form located at the bottom for more information
on these products.
Waratah’s Feed Rollers
The new, patented rubber feed rollers from Waratah incorporate cast
overlays or plates that are attached to the hub by chains. A chain pattern
on the cast overlays gives them the same tractive force and log quality
characteristics of chain covered feed rollers. The feed rollers require no
chain tensioning and offer superior rubber life and minimal maintenance.
www.waratah.net Reader Service
Card #980
Gilbert’s Hi-cut Saw Blade
The new Hi-cut saw blade from Gilbert Products Inc features more teeth per
blade, interchangeable hardened teeth holders, increased safety of the
teeth and holders assembly and better clearance of the butt plate. It
offers two sizes of teeth—possible on the same saw blade—with low
coefficients of friction and a universal mounting bolt pattern. The tooth
design is a combination of a taper front shape, to increase the volume of
material on each tip, and a lateral circular shape to reduce friction
during the cut. www.gilbert-tech.com
Reader Service Card #981
Rocan’s Compact Harvester
The MHT 20002 HVT from Rocan Forestry Service Ltd weighs over 20 tons and
is the largest of the compact harvesters. With a 60 per cent climbing
capability and a short tail swing radius, it offers stability achieved by
an extremely low centre of gravity. Features include a six-cylinder diesel
engine, two hydraulic circuits, hydraulic pilot control, a 24-volt
electrical system, electric travel pedal, 43.4 kNm swing drive power, a
Loglift 220-volt crane, a standard LogMax 5000/AV12-S and a double
pendulum brake. www.rocan.com
Reader Service Card #982
Finning Funds WOLF
Finning (Canada) and Caterpillar donated a further $35,000 to the Woodland
Operations Learning Foundation (WOLF), bringing total donations by the
companies to more than $100,000 toward the cost of a 3D feller buncher
simulator—modelled after the Cat TK 1051 feller buncher. Unveiled for the
first time at the NAFS show, the $200,000 simulator will be in use in
Alberta’s Northern Lakes College to train operators who will receive about
50 hours of training on the simulator.
www.finning.ca www.w-o-l-f.ca
Reader Service Card #983
Liebherr’s Hydrostatic Wheel
Loader
The Liebherr L 580 hydrostatic wheel loader features a fully hydrostatic transmission. Two piston pumps driving two swash plate motors control the
torque and speed and allow for seamless speed changes. This efficient
system gives more load sensitivity and control as well as full tractive
force at lower rpm. Fuel savings of up to 30 per cent can be realized.
With an operating weight of 24,700 kg, the L 580 has a tipping load—at 40
degrees articulation—of 17,850 kg.
www.liebherr.com Reader Service Card #984
New Forespro Roll/Stroke from Quadco
Quadco used the Northern Alberta Forestry Show to introduce the new
Forespro Roll/ Stroke Delimber to Alberta. Rather than squeezing the stem
from the sides like other roll/stroke delimbers, the Forespro employs a
patented horizontal feed roller-butt plate assembly which uses the weight
of the tree to its advantage. In addition to reducing pressure and spike
damage to the log, visibility is not impeded.
www.quadco.com Reader Service
Card #985
Slidetec/Roundtec
Mills Kayville International featured a Slidetec circular sawmill from
Scandinavia
that features a carriage with a patented sliding technique,
hydraulic log dogging, hydraulic plate guides and an advanced log and
lumber handling system. It also offers low noise, as well as safety and
ergonomic features. The economical Roundtec log lathe produces logs for
log homes, milling them to any length and up to two feet in diameter, all
in one process. The one-person lathe produces even thickness or tapered
logs, as well as performing dowel drilling and corner notching, all in one
operation. www.slidetec.fi
Reader Service Card #986
IMAC’s Shortwood Grapple
The John Deere 800C shortwood power grapple was designed and manufactured
by IMAC Design Group Ltd with the collaboration of the end user, Ainsworth
Lumber. The grapple features a 36-square-foot surface area when jaws are
tip-to-tip, timing links to coordinate opening and closing of grapple
jaws, a bypass of the grapple jaws to allow the grapple to lift various
size loads and maintain constant holding pressure, quad high-pressure
cylinders and a high flow grapple swivel.
www.imac.ca Reader Service Card #987
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