Forest Talk

Southland is the location for June’s Iron Test, of the CDL log grapple made by 3D Industrial Engineering in Rotorua, paired with a Caterpillar Next Gen 320.

We venture about as far south as you can go, to Invercargill, to test this grapple at Neville Stirling Excavating, and find it hard at work on a macrocarpa windblown salvage operation.

It's a tough test. The macrocarpa logs are heavy, big and old, but the grapple shines through as a solid b..... more

Andrew Leighton is OneFortyOne’s incoming Chief Executive Officer.  He will join the company following a comprehensive selection process and will succeed Michael Barbara, who has been serving as Interim CEO.

OneFortyOne Chairman, John Gilleland, said the board was delighted to appoint a leader of Mr Leighton’s calibre.

“Andrew is an accomplished senior executive with deep experience across forest products and complex industrial businesses ..... more

National Road Carriers Association (NRC) has welcomed the decision to prioritise freight carriers as part of the government’s updated Fuel Response Plan in the highly unlikely event New Zealand will move to Phase 4 of the plan.

The Government’s Fuel Response Framework has four escalating phases – 1 Watchful, 2 Precautionary, 3 Managed, 4 Protected, with the country currently in Phase 1.

Earlier this week, the government announced four categorie..... more

The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has welcomed the release of the Climate Change Commission’s 2026 National Climate Change Risk Assessment, particularly the recognition of forestry as one of New Zealand’s most significant climate related risks.

NZIF President, James Treadwell, said the report correctly recognises forests are already facing increasing pressure from climate change, including more severe storms, wildfire risk, drought, changi..... more

Over the last two decades, a lot of effort and research has focused on improving cable logging systems

This has been driven by the need to mechanise both for productivity and safety reasons, and also in recognition of the fact that, in many regions, harvesting has moved on to ever steeper terrain.

The list of improvements are impressive, with motorised grapples, winch-assist, mobile tail holds, advanced operating controls and even remote-contro..... more

Next month, Innovatek’s New Zealand and Australia WoodTECH conference series will bring industry leaders and technical specialists together to network and learn.  The focus is on getting the best from advancing technologies. With leading international experts there will plenty on offer. It’s all about new ways of improving wood products.

For 2026 conference sessions will include: Sawing technology developments, wood treatment product advances, k..... more