Coeur d'Alene 2014

John explained the geography of the “green triangle” of southeast Australia and showed a video on the scaling process used in Australia. Unlike many other regions, staff are trained in processing, skidding, loading and scaling logs. Scaler turnover is 20% per year, which is an improvement over New Zealand operations, although something that they would like to improve upon. John went on to cover how checking and training are carried out. John also covered some of the issues and operations in New Zealand for comparison

Kim presented a critical review of some of the self imposed limitations that are holding us back as measurements professionals. For example: why we continue to round volumes despite the fact that we are virtually all using electronic means of calculation; why we assess gross volumes, subtract defect to determine net volume and then only keep the net figures when the gross can be very useful. We should be able to collect more basic data and manipulate it as needed. It is time to stop using Scribner. We need to stop providing rules for making estimates which do not reflect reality. Finally, we need to recognize that we are in the measurement business, not scaling business.

Mike stated that one quarter of manufacturing jobs in northern Idaho are in wood products and are forecasted to increase in the next 10 years. The need for scalers is particularly critical. Scaler training can be very costly and often companies do not have the capacity for intensive training so a need and economies of scale afforded by utilizing the college were requested. The program was initiated with support from 3 mills for 2 years to train students for three jobs: log scaler, industrial control technician, and saw filers. The mills provide a train-the-trainer course and support to develop training plans. There is a high degree of commitment from industry. On-line learning is new for trainers and students; also how to train adults is an issue.

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Jerry covered the approach at Potlatch to maximize value not volume. They have 700,000 acres in Idaho and are currently delivering logs to 19 locations. Their procedures include: no harvesting without a customer order; manufacture the log as best possible and avoid mis-sorted logs. They have annual training for their harvest contractors, on-site inspections and regularly inspect logs in their customer's log yards weekly. Contractors are familiarized with what the customer wants and foresters go over this with each contractor, looking at preferred lengths, acceptable lengths and also unacceptable lengths. They can have up to 7 different customers per harvest area. Jerry shared a training video (click here to view) that Potlatch uses to help inform logging contractors of what they expect.

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The Forest Industry: harvest, demand and foreign trade in North America

Gordon Culbertson, PNW Regional Manager, Forest2Market, Eugene, Oregon

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The Forest Industry: harvest, demand and foreign trade in Brazil

Gordon Culbertson, PNW Regional Manager, Forest2Market, Eugene, Oregon

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Automatic sawlogs grading

Jacob Edlund, VMU Timber Measurement Development, Uppsala, Sweden

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Timber Measurement Society Meeting, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 9-11 April, 2014 The meeting was attended by more than 100 people from the US, Canada, Chile, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and Switzerland. Most of the presentations from the meeting can be downloaded below. Download the agenda, minutes and view photos from the event.
April 9, 2014
Scaling operations in Australia John Ellis, Group Technical Manager, C3 Ltd.; and Managing Director of Scaling Research International, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand John explained the geography of the “green triangle” of southeast Australia and showed a video on the scaling process used in Australia. Unlike many other regions, staff are trained in processing, skidding, loading and scaling logs. Scaler turnover is 20% per year, which is an improvement over New Zealand operations, although something that they would like to improve upon. John went on to cover how checking and training are carried out. John also covered some of the issues and operations in New Zealand for comparison
Statistical sampling issues Kim Iles, Kim Iles and Associates, Nanaimo, British Columbia Kim presented a critical review of some of the self imposed limitations that are holding us back as measurements professionals. For example: why we continue to round volumes despite the fact that we are virtually all using electronic means of calculation; why we assess gross volumes, subtract defect to determine net volume and then only keep the net figures when the gross can be very useful. We should be able to collect more basic data and manipulate it as needed. It is time to stop using Scribner. We need to stop providing rules for making estimates which do not reflect reality. Finally, we need to recognize that we are in the measurement business, not scaling business.
Scaler training course: combination of online and practical coursework to train log scalers Michael Weller, Northern Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene Mike stated that one quarter of manufacturing jobs in northern Idaho are in wood products and are forecasted to increase in the next 10 years. The need for scalers is particularly critical. Scaler training can be very costly and often companies do not have the capacity for intensive training so a need and economies of scale afforded by utilizing the college were requested. The program was initiated with support from 3 mills for 2 years to train students for three jobs: log scaler, industrial control technician, and saw filers. The mills provide a train-the-trainer course and support to develop training plans. There is a high degree of commitment from industry. On-line learning is new for trainers and students; also how to train adults is an issue.
Computer tomography scanning technology for log merchandizing Federico Giudiceandrea, Microtec, Brixen, Italy Click here to view the presentation
Lost in Translation - consequences of misinterpretation of timber measurement data and what you can do to minimize it Neal Hart, Jendro & Hart LLC, Sun River, Oregon Click here to view the presentation
Management of log manufacturing quality Jerry Youmans, Potlatch Corporation, Moscow, Idaho Jerry covered the approach at Potlatch to maximize value not volume. They have 700,000 acres in Idaho and are currently delivering logs to 19 locations. Their procedures include: no harvesting without a customer order; manufacture the log as best possible and avoid mis-sorted logs. They have annual training for their harvest contractors, on-site inspections and regularly inspect logs in their customer's log yards weekly. Contractors are familiarized with what the customer wants and foresters go over this with each contractor, looking at preferred lengths, acceptable lengths and also unacceptable lengths. They can have up to 7 different customers per harvest area. Jerry shared a training video (click here to view) that Potlatch uses to help inform logging contractors of what they expect.
How to get the ultimate in resource grade GPS accuracy under the tree canopy Jon Aschenbach, Resource Supply, LLC., Beaverton, Oregon Click here to view the presentation
Shrinkage and checking in roundwood Tom Gorman, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho Click here to view the presentation
Effects of knot collars as they pertain to board grades Gary Baylous, President/General Manager, Pacific Rim Log Scaling Bureau, Lacy, Washington Click here to view the presentation
Log scaler retention and recruitment: How do we make it attractive as a career Steve Schofield, Roundwood Services Ltd., Whitecourt, Alberta Click here to view the presentation
Log yard inventory and usage volumes: why they get out of balance and miss expectations Matt Fonseca, UNECE, Geneva, Switzerland Click here to view the presentation
April 10, 2014
The Forest Industry: harvest, demand and foreign trade in North America Gordon Culbertson, PNW Regional Manager, Forest2Market, Eugene, Oregon Click here to view the presentation
The Forest Industry: harvest, demand and foreign trade in Brazil Gordon Culbertson, PNW Regional Manager, Forest2Market, Eugene, Oregon Click here to view the presentation
Measurement of wood energy assortments in Sweden Lars Bjorklund, VMU Timber Measurement Development, Uppsala, Sweden Click here to view the presentation
Automatic sawlogs grading Jacob Edlund, VMU Timber Measurement Development, Uppsala, Sweden Click here to view the presentation
3-P log scaling: how is it done and what are its advantages over other methods Kurt Stagner, Regional Measurements Specialist, Rocky Mountain Region of the USFS, Delta, Colorado Click here to view the presentation
Factors affecting weight to volume relationships for sawlogs in Idaho Jarred Saralecos, University of Idaho, Moscow Click here to view the presentation
Measurement of export logs for China Rick Kosolofski, Pioneer Scaling Ltd., Campbell River, British Columbia Click here to view the presentation
Latest features and future possibilities in field data recording and processing technology David Dean, Field Data Solutions Inc. Jerome, Idaho Click here to view the presentation
Housing report: analysis of current and forecasted demand for housing in North America and Europe Delton Alderman, Researcher, USFS, Princeton, West Virginia Click here to view the presentation
New developments in scanning logs and wood fiber on truck Christian Paccot, Woodtech Measurement Solutions, Santiago, Chile Click here to view the presentation
Targeting the right log to maximize profits Steve Henson, Potlatch Corporation, St. Maries, Idaho Click here to view the presentation
A log purchasers perspective on buying timber using different measurement units Scott Kuehn, Procurement Forester, Missoula, Montana Click here to view the presentation
A complete, efficient and time-saving log scaling solution with the DP II computer caliper and HMS Matthew Bozeman, Haglof Inc., Madison, Mississippi Click here to view the presentation
April 11, 2011
On April 11, the group visited the Potlatch compound in St. Maries, Idaho. There was a mill tour in the plywood plant and a rollout of logs to scale in the log yard. Potlatch provided lunch and a well organized field day for the group. The logs for the rollout were particularly challenging because they had been in inventory for quite some time, so it was difficult to determine the extent of the heart checks (as seasoning exaggerated their size) and ignore the effects of the surface checking that occurred in inventory. The agreed upon school-book answer was (Scribner short log): gross volume = 21,520: net volume = 19,040. Many thanks to Potlatch for the excellent hospitality.
TMS Central Committee Officers and Contacts Chairman: Matt Fonseca Matthew.Fonseca@unece.org Vice chairman: Gary Baylous Gary@prlsb.com Vice chairman: Mario Angel Mario.Angel@woodtechms.com Secretary-Treasurer: Thelma Alsup TSAlsup@yahoo.com Program coordinator: Max Matthews MMatthews@millarwestern.com Communication and outreach: Dallas Garcia Dallas.Garcia@canfor.com Go back to TMS homepage