JH-Series Harvesters get down to business…p/3

January 2008
JH-Series Harvesters get down to business…p/3
Measuring up....p/8
Getting into the swing down south....p/10
66 years in the woods — and he still loves it....p/12
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PRODUCTIVITY | UPTIME | LOW DAILY OPERATING COSTS
We all know the type: The go-getter who works harder and longer to get the job done, the
Fast, Fair, Flexible.
self-starter who fearlessly accepts every challenge on the way up the company ladder.
Why not add an ambitious up-and-comer to your workforce? The new 700JH-Series Tracked
Harvesters deliver superb harvesting performance, thanks to 26-percent more hydraulic flow across
the board and 17-percent more to the harvesting head, and thanks to load-sensing hydraulics, impres-
At John Deere Credit, we believe in being flexible with our
forestry customers. We know you’re in a tough industry, so we’re
committed to helping you succeed with features like these:
• Customized financial solutions — skip payments, flexible
terms, and no prepayment fees on installment loans
• PowerPlan™, a commercial line of credit for attachments,
parts, maintenance, and more
• A trusted reputation of integrity
With more than 50 years in the industry, John Deere Credit is the
number-one forestry lender in the United States*. We’re always
working to help you succeed. Visit your local John Deere
dealer today to find out more.
www.JohnDeereCredit.com
*Based on 12-month UCC filings of new forestry equipment as of May 30, 2006.
Subject to John Deere Credit approval. PowerPlan is a service of FPC Financial, f.s.b.
sive improvements in boom cutting swath, and more oil flow to the head. Like every eager-to-please
overachiever, these machines make your job easier — and make you look good. > > >
The changing landscape
Four years ago, 11 forest-product companies including Georgia-Pacific
and International Paper were among the top 30 owners of industrial
timberland in the United States, with holdings totaling 26 million acres.
Since then, most of these forest-product giants have sold almost 20 million acres of their timberlands to TIMOs (Timber Investment Management Organizations) and REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). Today
only one significant forest-product player, Weyerhaeuser, remains
in the top 30, with 6.4 million acres of timberland holdings.
This dramatic change in timberland ownership is altering timberharvest management in Arkansas and throughout the South. While
the goal of forest-product companies has been to feed the mill with a
constant supply of timber, the principle objective of TIMOs and REITS
is to maximize return for shareholders. Loggers are being required to
cut logs to exacting specifications so that each one yields the highest
value, or “merchandising.” Some loggers are cutting to as many as
nine or ten different specifications.
To maximize merchandising capabilities, many loggers are mechanizing log measurement by adding Waratah processing heads to tracked
carriers. Waratah heads are proving themselves again and again in the
South, delivering higher value wood, increased productivity, and greater
cost efficiency.
Merchandising is also challenging log-handling logistics at the
landing. TIMOs and REITs may change harvest-cutting orders several
times a day, so loggers must be able to efficiently sort and load multiple
species onto trucks. To give them more flexibility, some loggers are replacing trailer-mounted knuckleboom loaders with tracked log loaders.
John Deere is ready to help you capitalize on this opportunity with
the right equipment — including 753J, 2054, and 2554 Tracked Harvesters, and 2054 and 2554 Log Loaders. See your John Deere dealer
today to learn more.
Go-getters
Hard-charging new JH-Series Tracked
Harvesters bring it on
Domenic G. Ruccolo
Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division
COVER STORY /
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All guts, all glory
moves into position more quickly, ready and waiting to make
well, you’d be right. The hydraulic system increases flow
These hard chargers have not only the guts to get you into
the next cut.
to the head by over 100 gpm.
the dense, challenging woods, but the agility and strength to
After settling into the fully adjustable suspension seat, the
operator will immediately notice how roomy the cab is —
All JH-Series Harvesters are factory engineered to be
it’s among the most spacious in its class. It’s extremely quiet
maximize output once you’re there. The redesigned hydrau-
Success has gone to its head
compatible with Waratah heads. Known for their durability,
thanks to its isolation mountings, too, so it’s easier to focus
lic system helps you get more done, faster, more precisely
And while these powerful performers boast plenty of brawn,
reliability, and precision, Waratah heads help you maximize
on the job at hand.
and efficiently. Higher flow to the main circuits increases
they also have the brains needed to make it to the top.
production, while getting the highest-value cut per stem.
hydraulic flow across the board, while more flow to the head
Load-sensing hydraulics deliver smooth, predictable multi-
improves feed speed and delimbing.
function operation. The hydraulics prioritize power loads,
Most comfortable seat in the woods
with confidence. Tinted windows further increase visibility
so you always have enough dedicated flow for essential tasks
JH-Series machines always work as if they’re on the fast track
— and productivity.
Increased reach combined with a large reduction in mini-
like delimbing feed speed. Cuts happen as fast as you can
to the executive suite, but your operators will feel like they
mum reach enhances boom performance, while 17-percent
make them.
are already there. The comfortable, well-appointed cab gives
that make long shifts more tolerable, like an AM/FM radio,
new meaning to the term “mobile office.”
standard air conditioning, and generous storage for carry-ons.
Improvements to the boom further increase productivity.
more cutting swath allows operators to make more cuts with
And if you think these enterprising overachievers would
less travel. And with 29-percent more swing torque, the boom
let all this improved hydraulic performance go to their heads,
A clear, expansive sightline provides a commanding view
of the entire work area, so loggers can move from cut to cut
And of course there are all the usual creature comforts
JH-Series Harvesters are designed to
work with industry-leading Waratah felling
heads to deliver the utmost in versatility
and productivity.
The robust Shift-tilt™ four-way leveling
system on the 759JH offers the industry’s
most stable platform on difficult slopes.
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Word in the woods
Improvements in boom reach boost
productivity by increasing maneuverability and maximizing cut time.
No time for downtime
700JH-Series Harvesters are built woods-tough to deliver
unsurpassed reliability and uptime. Because like any go-
Here’s what customers and dealers are saying
about the new H-Series Skidders
“The 748H isn’t hurting for power. I’ve run many
getter, Deere machines never like to take time off.
different skidders, and this is one of the strongest
Load-sensing hydraulics increase oil flow in peak perfor-
and quickest I’ve ever been on.”
mance situations, increasing the system’s lifespan. Plus, the
— Steve Watts, President, Watts Timber
hydraulics run cooler and more efficiently, so pumps last
Company, Brookhaven, Mississippi
longer. The optional Flexxaire® system also helps keep the
machine running cooler by automatically reversing, backblowing debris out of the radiator.
“The 748H is even more stable, powerful, and fuel
efficient. And that means more productivity and
Go-getters also pride themselves on being self-starters
cost savings.”
who don’t require constant attention. Like all John Deere
machines, JH-Series Harvesters are hassle free to service
— Rayland Hooper, Territory Manager,
and low cost to maintain. The hydraulic system has been
Stribling Equipment, Brookhaven, Mississippi
streamlined with fewer parts and a new component layout
that dramatically eases access, for faster service and mainte“The new 748H is a home run. They have been
nance. It’s more fuel efficient, too. Plus the new service-door
running circles around the G-IIIs.”
design provides wide-open access to critical systems.
— Mickey Williams, Vice President, Service,
Best of all, JH-Series Harvesters are supported by the most
Stribling Equipment, Brookhaven, Mississippi
extensive dealer network in the industry, with unsurpassed
parts availability. A wide variety of preventive maintenance
and support programs further helps you control costs.
“On long skids, the 640H is faster going back empty
So if your logging operation is looking for more get-up-
than any other machine. At the end of the day,
and-go, go out and get one of these go-getters today. ■
we’ve gained three or four more pulls, so we’re
far more productive — that was a huge selling
point for us.”
— Thomas Cogar, President, Thomas Cogar
Logging, Webster Springs, West Virginia
“Uptime is critical in a chipping operation. It’s not
like normal tree-length logging — when the skid-
The cutting swath has been increased an impressive 17
percent, allowing operators to make more strategic and
productive cuts with less tracking and travelling.
der is down, everything comes to a stop. With its
SPECS
703JH
753JH
759JH
beefier axles and center joint, the 748H will be an
PowerTech Plus™ Engine Power
181 gross hp (135 kW)
241 gross hp (180 kW)
241 gross hp (180 kW)
extremely durable and reliable machine.”
Reach (With H480 Harvesting Head)
27 ft. 9 in. (8.5 m)
27 ft. 9 in. (8.5 m)
27 ft. 10 in. (8.5 m)
Operating Weight (Without Attachment)
50,960 lb. (23 110 kg)
51,260 lb. (23 250 kg)
59,000 lb. (26 760 kg)
Maximum Tractive Effort
57,400 lbf (255 kN)
57,400 lbf (255 kN)
57,400 lbf (255 kN)
— Pete Peters, owner, PineRidge
Logging, La Crete, Alberta
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Balcaen Consolidated owns
four 748G-III Skidders. They
credit good equipment to part
of their long-term success.
“Deere is in the forefront with
their swing machines.They’ve
been pretty damn fuel efficient,
and I have to say that they have
done a good job for us.”
— Keith Balcaen, Owner, Balcaen Consolidated
Measures of success
K
eith Balcaen started his business in December of
“We’re nobody without our people,” Keith says emphati-
1969 at the age of 19 with an old skidder. Today
cally. “We have very good employees, and we’re very fortunate
Keith’s company, Balcaen Consolidated Contracting
to have that. It’s actually been the bulk of our success.”
Ltd., successfully runs large-scale operations in ranching,
As to the other elements of the company’s success, their
forest management, and timber harvesting in British Colum-
fleet of forestry equipment is large, up to date, and over
bia, Canada. The forest-management and timber-harvesting
half green.
division processes roughly 450,000 cubic meters annually,
making Balcaen one of the top 10 timber-harvesting compa-
The color of forestry
nies of its size and the third largest company in the province
Balcaen Consolidated owns 13 John Deere forestry machines:
to become “SAFE” certified in 2006.
four 748G-III Grapple Skidders, two Deere 953 and one Tim-
Ask Keith what it takes to stand out and be successful in
berjack 950 Feller Bunchers, two 2054 Log Processors, one
this very competitive industry, and he’ll quickly name three
2054 Log Loader, one 2554 Log Processor, one 370 Excava-
key elements: good people, good equipment, and good
tor, and a well-used Timberjack 628 Buncher. On the ranch-
product support.
ing side, there is a whole other sea of John Deere green.
Balcaen Consolidated employs more than 50 people,
Keith had been a loyal Timberjack user and became a
including a number of subcontractors. “I think we’ve got a
John Deere customer when the 748E-Series Skidders arrived.
pretty good working relationship with all of our employees,
He liked the reliability of both brands, and he really liked the
so we’ve been pretty fortunate,” Keith says. “Many of our
color green — so much so that when Timberjack green was
crew have worked with us for 10 to 25 years. They’re all
first replaced with John Deere yellow, Keith took matters into
good, solid people who take pride in their jobs, working
his own hands. “I have always liked the green; it’s a forest-
efficiently and together as a team.
friendly color with a unique style. We even went so far as to
“The 54-Series Swing Machines are
proving to be very effective and
reliable pieces of equipment,” says
Graham Kroeker, General Manager,
Balcaen Consolidated.
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Wahl logging crew: Jim Riley, Matt Henderson, Greg Wahl,
Wade Hill, and Herbert Jones, Jr. “This process is really
twice as fast as using the pull-through delimber.”
Processor boosts production for
Southern logger
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or years, Ar
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ogger Gr
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“You
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re ooff the lo
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“You’re
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,” ssays
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ahl
hl.. “It mayy no
nott be
b much per cut, but
pulpwood,”
Wahl.
hit them with a pull-through delimber on a knuckle-
over a year it adds up. This machine is super-fast. It’s unreal
boom loader, and cut them to length with a bucksaw. That
all changed last summer, when he bought a John Deere
how fast and accurate it is.”
When we talked to Wahl, he was renewal-harvesting an
2554 Swing Machine with a Waratah HTH624 harvesting/
80-acre plantation near Blevins, Arkansas. The timber stand
processing head.
was predominantly loblolly pine, with some hardwoods
Wahl still uses the feller buncher to fell trees, because
thrown in — gum, hickory, and a few oaks. Operator Jim
he says it’s the fastest way. But now the new swing machine
Riley was using three presets on the swing machine to
follows the feller buncher into the woods. The machine
program the processor for various lengths — light poles,
processes logs, delimbing the trees and cutting off the tops
tree-length logs, and hardwood logs, some of those for
at exactly the right height, and then piles up tree-length logs
railroad ties. Says Riley, “If I’m cutting light poles, it will be
for skidding to the landing.
a 35, 40, 45, or 50 footer. The processor will automatically
The good news: Production is up, way up. “I’m going
run to the longest length.
to say that this process is nearly twice as fast as using the
Or I can run it manually.”
pull-through delimber,” says Wahl, who is based in Antoine,
The accuracy of the
Arkansas. “We used to do 8 to 10 loads a day with the
machine is excellent, according
pull-through delimber and bucksaw, and now we’re prob-
to Riley. “I like the swing machine very much,” he says.
ably averaging 17 loads a day. In both cases, we used just
“It’s very comfortable, and it’s got lots of power. Whenever
one skidder.”
you measure a log with it, that processor is right on target.”
One reason production has jumped is that the skidder
Wahl says at some point he may choose to use the new
isn’t dragging limbs and tops to the landing, so it can pull
processor in the more traditional way of delimbing
more usable wood with each trip. “Plus you do away with
and cutting logs to length at the roadside. It will
the big mess of slash at the landing,” says Wahl. “And the
depend on the timber in the tract. If one tract
timber companies like it, because the processor is more
requires a lot of cuts, with a lot of pulpwood and
efficient — it captures more usable lumber in each log.”
a lot of chip-and-saw logs, it may be more
The processor’s computer automatically gauges the diam-
efficient to skid logs to the roadside proces-
eter at the treetop. The bucksaw operator no longer has to
sor. “That would be on a tract where we
eyeball a log to “see” where to cut it. The processor rolls the
don’t have to gather up all those pieces in
log through and quickly cuts it exactly to match the diameter
the woods,” says Wahl. ■
Greg Wahl is serviced by Warrior
of Arkansas, Camden, AK.
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Family ties
R o y B r o w n ’s c a r e e r s p a n s t h e t i m e f r o m
After Roy Brown grabbed a crosscut saw and began felling trees with
his uncle at age 16, logging became his lifelong passion. Today, at age 82,
Roy is still logging, and his passion has become a family affair.
handsaws to tree-length processors
oy teams with his sons, Donald and Larry; five grand-
R
sawmill and a planer. They liked the way I worked so well that
sons; and about a dozen employees of his company,
they offered to sell me the mill. So we bought the mill on his
M.L. Brown Lumber Ltd., to harvest some 200,000
credit and ran it for eight years.
British Columbia, Canada.
Sawmills. Today we are still working for the same mill.” (The
cubic meters of wood per year from the area around Merritt,
“John Deere equipment is like part of our family,” says Roy,
who runs an 850J Dozer. Donald’s son, Mark, runs a 903 Feller
Buncher, and another son, Shaun, operates a 200 Logger fitted
“In February 1964 I had a chance to work for Nicola Valley
mill has since changed owners and is now Tolko Industries Ltd.)
Roy’s company logs about 4,000 semitrailer loads per year.
“I figure John Deere machines are a good product, and I
with a tree-length processor. Roy’s oldest grandson, Michael,
like their people,” says Roy. “And most times we like the bottom
operates a 2054 Grapple Loader. The youngest grandson,
line that Deere equipment brings us.”
Devon, pulls in logs with one of the three 748G-III Skidders
owned by the company. Larry’s son, Danny, logs on the west
coast of British Columbia, but comes up to help when needed.
“They’re all good operators and great workers,” says paterfamilias Roy. “I couldn’t ask for better.”
In 1942, Roy joined the Canadian Navy and served nearly
He says his operators love John Deere skidders. “They like
the way they pull, and they like their equilibrium.”
“I love running my 850J Dozer,” says Roy. “It keeps me out
of mischief. It’s no harder to run that machine than sitting in my
easy chair watching TV. I never had a desire to sit in an office.
I love the outdoors and working where the action is. Feller
four years in World War II. While on a leave in Montreal, he
bunchers are cutting the logs, skidders are bringing them in,
met and married Anne Burgess. After his discharge in Decem-
and loaders are loading trucks. That’s living, man! That makes
ber 1945, he worked in a logging camp with a team of horses
me happy.” ■
skidding logs to the landing, one at a time. A large A-frame
horse-powered jammer lifted logs onto the trucks. Roy’s father,
M.L. Brown Lumber Ltd. is serviced by Brandt
Tractor Ltd., Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
brother, and uncle worked for the same company. “My mother
cooked for that company for 10 years,” says Roy.
After short stints working for the railroad and building a
pipeline, Roy returned to the woods. “When I finished the
pipeline job, I had saved enough money to make a down
payment on my first dozer,” says Roy. “We started logging for
ourselves, working for a couple of fellows who had a portable
Left: Roy, Donald, and Larry Brown. After
years of logging in two spreads, the family
now keeps everyone working together.
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Continued from page 9
response time to our jobsites, is absolutely one of the biggest
paint some of our yellow machines green, because green is
things that we have found to be top-notch with Brandt and
definitely the color to go with for forestry.”
John Deere. This is one of the keys for us and other contrac-
PRODUCTIVITY I UPTIME I LOW DAILY OPERATING COSTS
tors to stay competitive in today’s market.”
Great machine, great support
Balcaen Consolidated’s equipment is well supported by
Keith says that uptime has been good on all of their machines.
Brandt, and the company is very satisfied with the efficiency
“When we have needed help, our dealer support from Brandt
they get out of their machines. The 54-Series Swing Machines
Tractor out of Vernon, British Columbia, has been excellent.”
have especially impressed them. “They’re proving to be very
Brandt Tractor Ltd., headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, is the world’s largest privately owned John Deere Construction & Forestry equipment dealer.
“We’ve had really good luck with the equipment and the
effective and reliable pieces of equipment, meeting our
quality and production expectations,” says Graham.
“Deere is in the forefront with their swing machines,”
Keith notes, “especially on the 2054s and the 2554 we’ve
support,” says Graham Kroeker, general manager for Balcaen
got now. They’ve been pretty damn fuel efficient, and I have
Consolidated. “For us, that’s a very important factor — down-
to say that they have done a good job for us. So our costs per
time affects not only the machine needing repair, but the other
hour to run them have been good; I’m not complaining at
equipment that relies on that machine so they can keep work-
all. They’ve done a good job.”
ing. That can cost us big dollars, quickly. The service from
Brandt, including the warranty, parts availability, and the
Add it all together and Balcaen Consolidated has great
machines, excellent support, and good people to put it
all into motion, which is a great way to measure success. ■
Balcaen Consolidated Contracting Ltd. is serviced by Brandt
Tractor Ltd., Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.
“Soul Mates”
These two were made for each other. Separately, they’re powerful — but together, they’re unbeatable.
This cut-to-length couple shares innovative Eco III features like Tier 3 engine, fuel-saving powertrain, and boomcontrol upgrades, as well as the quietest cabs in the industry. Beyond comfort, your operators will love the way these
machines provide responsive control in any terrain. So don’t wait for destiny to bring you and John Deere together.
See your dealer or call 1-800-503-3373 to make a perfect match today.
Graham Kroeker, General Manager,
Balcaen Consolidated, says they’ve
had good success with their John
Deere equipment and with their
dealer, Brandt Tractor.
www.JohnDeere.com/soulmates
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PRODUCTIVITY I UPTIME I LOW DAILY OPERATING COSTS
“Levelheaded”
Even in the toughest terrain, this feller buncher never loses its cool. With its built-in Shift-tilt™ feature, this new
759J Feller Buncher offers the industry’s most stable platform on difficult slopes. Its four-way leveling feature can shift the upper structure
a full three feet forward, adjusting the center of gravity and properly distributing the weight of the machine. Combined with a 50-percentlarger cutting swath, precision cuts are well within reach — as is multitasking with streamlined, load-managing hydraulics. Get more
done, and put your business on solid ground. See the 759J at your John Deere dealer or call 1-800-503-3373 today.
www.JohnDeere.com/levelheaded
Not all products sold at all locations.
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