2018 International Forest Industries December 2017 January 2018

INDUSTRY VOICE Q. What are your customers asking you to provide to assist their businesses; how is this changing? A. Cat: Logging contractors make a substantial investment in their equipment. At Caterpillar we have made it our job to improv e machine performance, productivity, and efficiency so loggers get a bigger return on their investment. In addition, our global dealer network supports our customers with services and solutions to boost uptime. Hiring and retaining good workers to operate equipment is a challenge for logging contractors. For one thing, historically it hasn’t been easy to recruit workers for logging. For another thing, workers in the industry are aging. Caterpillar is committed to helping loggers by enhancing working conditions for equipment operators and making their job environment more attractive. The enhancements we have developed will help them in recruiting and retention, and they also will help keep their employees working productively all day long. Autolog: I think that the next technology innovation will be smart manufacturing for the wood industry. Smart manufacturing means using Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to shift from reactionary practices to predictive ones (maintenance, production, etc.), using advance robotics at selected repetitive tasks, using connected devices to track in real time important production metrics, using advance Human – Machine – Interface (HMI) and Augmented Reality (AR) devices to help workers be more efficient in their job. Barko: Machine uptime and timely support is very important to our customers. Barko has focused on improving our aftermarket parts and service department over the past few years and we believe our customers have noticed the improvement. Tigercat: Improved safety for steep terrain operations, improved reliability of equipment on steep terrain and as always more productivity and greater fuel efficiency. John Deere: The reliability and durability of equipment is a key concern for our customers, and we are dedicated to developing machines that leave our customers feeling confident. Whether they are buying a new or recertified piece of John Deere equipment, loggers can be assured that they are purchasing a machine that can withstand the toughest of jobsites. When combined with our expansive dealer network and the availability of parts and service, loggers know John Deere is dedicated to supporting their businesses. We are still hearing that one of the biggest challenges our customers face is the availability and retention of quality employees. To help our customers with this challenge, we offer a wide variety of forestry machines, from our L-Series Skidders and Feller Bunchers, and G-Series Swing Machines to the powerful G-Series Harvesters and Forwarders. We want to ensure that we are providing a solution for every logger, regardless of the timber and regional application. Each John Deere forestry machine is designed to optimize operator productivity, from user-friendly and ergonomic cabs to technology that allows operators to efficiently perform their job. At John Deere, we understand the challenges our customers experience and are dedicated to providing them with the equipment, technology, and service and support they need to tackle any obstacle they may face. Q. A. How important is biomass to your organization? Cat: The more fiber that can be utilized from the forest, the healthier will be the industry that harvests it and processes it. Low-grade wood material from forests is a source of clean, renewable energy. The fact that there are markets for the material is good news because it increases forest productivity and 56 International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 means work for loggers and jobs in their rural communities. Our focus will be to continue supplying the equipment, engines, services and support that loggers need to harvest forest resources -- and to enable them to do it profitably. Barko: Biomass has not been as important to our business as it was in years past. We have seen a significant decrease in demand for the whole tree chippers we produce as more and more people choose lower cost alternative sources over biomass as an energy source. Tigercat: Many of our customers are involved in harvesting for biofuel production so indirectly we view it as important. It is another outlet for fibre. We have not yet been required to design any specific harvesting equipment for this purpose. Our standard plantation harvesting equipment is doing the job very cost effectively. John Deere: As a leading manufacturer in the forestry industry, we see the importance of using and developing forestry originated renewable energy. We want to support practices that help make forests healthier, and we are continuing to develop equipment that can be used for bioenergy applications. Our customers are dedicated to the process of sustainable harvesting, and as a trusted partner we want to provide the solutions they need.

2018 International Forest Industries December 2017 January 2018 | Page 58