Water: Logged Ply the River Company Secret - Finning Canada

BIG SAVINGS. LASTING VALUE.Take advantage of low lease paymentson Cat ® machines. And protect yourinvestment with a Cat EquipmentProtection Plan.$298/mo *TO LEASE A CAT SKIDSTEER LOADER.Add a 3-year/3,000-hourEquipment Protection Planfor just $26/mo0% financing for 42 months!$504/mo * $470/mo * $949/mo *TO LEASE A CAT MULTI TERRAINLOADER. Add a 3-year/3,000-hourEquipment Protection Plan for just $56/moTO LEASE A CAT MINI HYDRAULICEXCAVATOR. Add a 3-year/3,000-hourEquipment Protection Plan for just $13/moTO LEASE A CAT BACKHOE LOADER.Add a 3-year/5,000-hour EquipmentProtection Plan for just $40/moContact your Finning representative today!1-888-finning | finning.ca(346-6464)* Offer good from February 1 to May 31, 2011 on select new models at participating Cat Dealers. Offer is available to customers in the USA and Canada onlyand cannot be combined with any other offers. For complete descriptions of the terms, conditions and exclusions of Equipment Protection Plans, pleasecontact your Cat Dealer. Suggested retail 60-month payment of preconfigured machine represents financing through Cat Financial and does not includetaxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options, or attachments.Financing and published rate are subject to credit approval through Cat Financial.Lease usage (hour limits) and application restrictions apply. A minimum of $1 million in liability coverage is required prior to funding. Additional termsand conditions may apply. Subject to change without prior notice.

ContentsSpring 116Columns & Departments4 Finning FocusWay to go, Jordy!5 LettersKids are cool for Cats6 GroundbreakerStill trucking, new IT system, miningacquisition, Finning and NAIT, newlocations, bright future, SAGD news9 By the Numbers10 Yesterday & TodayThe Russell grader11 Safety FirstBuild safety into scaffolding1616 Lost TreasuresA British Columbia logging company harvestsunderwater wood with Finning’s yellow iron20 Loaded for ServiceA high-tech oil filtration system and Cat comfortensures this log loader works for Richply2012 Manager’s TipsManage the old/young divide at work13 Operator’s TipsFive ways to kill a perfectly good dozer14 Tech SpotlightTime has come for Tier 4 tech32 PortraitBill Holmberg: At home in Houston33 Bill’s BusinessBill’s ladles up some tech advice34 Count on Us26 SPECIAL REPORTInnovation: Finning staff show that continuousimprovement is just another service offering30 The Secret’s OutThere’s a new Cat truck coming26On the CoverBryan Kathan, Finning employeeinnovator from Fort McMurray.Photo: Rick Tolhurst12www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 3

SPRING 2011 Volume 51, No. 1PUBLISHERRuth Kellyrkelly@venturepublishing.caEDITOR-IN-CHIEFJen Janzenjjanzen@finning.caASSOCIATE PUBLISHERJoyce Byrnejbyrne@venturepublishing.caEDITORMifi Purvismpurvis@venturepublishing.caCOPY CHIEFKim TannasEDITORIAL ADVISORSHilary Anaka, Jeff Howard,Michelle Loewen, Jeff WuiteART DIRECTORCharles Burkecburke@venturepublishing.caASSISTANT ART DIRECTORColin SpencePRODUCTION MANAGERVanlee RobbleePRODUCTION COORDINATORBetty-Lou SmithCIRCULATION COORDINATORJennifer Kingcirculation@venturepublishing.caADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVEAnita McGillisamcgillis@venturepublishing.caCayden Martens,François Lake, British ColumbiaMEXI-CATOn a recent trip to Mexico in January with my wife Birgit Billington (along-term Finning employee), we went to the local Walmart to pick up afew things. When we pulled into the parking lot, there was this graderworking and I said, “I have to get a picture of this.” So I went to thefence to take a couple of pictures and the operator saw me. You couldtell that he was proud of his Cat grader and he waved me over so that Icould get a better picture with him operating it. I am a HD mechanic bytrade and I listened to the machine running and it ran great, no smoke,no hiccups at all. It’s not a new 24M, but it still gets the job done!Thanks,Jack Billington, Service Operations ManagerFort McMurray, AlbertaCONTRIBUTING WRITERSDavid DiCenzo, Cailynn Klingbeil, Martin Dover,Keith Haddock, Jon Moore, Geoff Morgan, Steve Penner,Remo ZaccagnaCONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS3TEN Photo, Brnesh Berhe, Heff O'Reilly,Raymond Reid, Rick TolhurstTracks & Treads is published to provide its readerswith relevant business, technology, productand service information in a livelyand engaging manner.Tracks & Treads is published forFinning (Canada) byVenture Publishing Inc.10259-105 StreetEdmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3Phone: 780-990-0839Fax: 780-425-4921Contents © 2011 by Finning (Canada)No part of this publication should bereproduced without written permission.Tell us what you thinkTracks & Treads would love to hear from you. Tell us what you thinkof the magazine’s stories, columns and look, so that we can improveit and make it a more interesting read.Send your comments to editor-in-chief Jen Janzen by email atjjanzen@finning.ca or the old-fashioned way to: Jen Janzen, Tracks & Treads,Finning (Canada), 16830 – 107 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5P 4C3www.fi nning.cawww.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 20115

BY JEN JANZEN, CAILYNN KLINGBEIL AND MIFI PURVISStill TruckingCaterpillar is redefining the trucking business.At the ConExpo event in Las Vegas in March,Caterpillar launched its innovative CT660 HeavyDuty Class 8 Vocational Truck for the NorthAmerican market. This set-back axle day cab truckconfiguration will be the first of several modelsthat Cat will introduce in the next few years. Checkout www.DriveCat.com for a sneak peek, or turnto page 30 for an overview of the CT660.In addition to service and support for the newtruck, Finning is fully committed to supporting thethousands of Cat truck engines already on the roadtoday in Western Canada. Here are some of themost in-demand product and service supports thatFinning is offering:Extended Service Coverages (ESC) – Warrantyprotection for newer engines, up to 10 yearsUsed Engine ESC – Protection for engines not yetready to overhaul, up to three yearsOverhaul Protection Trucks – Warranty coveragefor overhauled engines, up to four yearsPrecious Metals – Basic to full In-frame overhaulkits to add a second life to your engineComponent Plus – ESC for several separatecomponents purchased, up to four-year coverageCat Reman Components – Be environmentallyfriendly, and cost effectiveChassis Dyno Service – Know the condition ofyour engineFinning OverhaulsIT SystemsFinning’s insides are getting an overhaul this year as the companyswitches its computer-based systems over to an enterprise resourceplanning (ERP) system.The new ERP, powered by Lawson Software Inc., will eventuallymerge Finning’s systems across alllocations in Canada, as well as acrossthe company's business in the UK,Ireland and South America. At thesame time, Finning will be changingsome of its business processes, workingto minimize any impacts on customers.Check out “We Are Making Changes”on www.finning.ca to read about somechanges you should expect soon.Caterpillar AcquiresBucyrusCaterpillar is fulfilling its goal of becoming a leader inthe mining equipment industry with the acquisition ofmining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus International.Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman says the transaction,worth $8.6 billion US, comes in response to Caterpillarcustomers’ requests. “For several years,” he says, “miningcustomers have been asking us to expand our range ofproducts and services to better serve their increasinglycomplex requirements.”Dave Parker, president of Finning (Canada), notes thatBucyrus equipment is popular at mine sites around theworld, and its addition to the Caterpillar line will benefitFinning customers. “It constitutes a very broad productoffering for surface and underground mining,” he says,“making Finning a one-stop shop for mining needs.”Caterpillar intends to locate its mining businessheadquarters in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whereBucyrus headquarters is currently located. The closingof the transaction is expected to take place in mid-2011, subject to regulatory approvals and customaryclosing conditions and approval byBucyrus stockholders.6 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

Wave of the FutureMore of Finning’s newD7Es have been sold sinceSurmont Sand and Gravelbecame the fi rst Finningcustomer to purchasethe machine. The D7E, aunique machine with anelectric hybrid engine, isthe result of nearly twodecades of engine designand more than 100 patents.Four D7Es were recentlysold to Calgary's LyncorpInternational, with twodelivered in late 2010and two more deliveredat the start of this year.One D7E was also recentlysold to Northern Alberta'sSucker Creek Holdings,with another sale for thesame company currently inprogress.The machine, whichboasts superior performanceand a smaller environmentalfootprint, is also part ofFinning’s rental fl eet. “Whenthese tractors went out ontheir preliminary road showand customers got to usethem, there was quite a lotof excitement about them,”says Eric Shopland, rentaloperations manager withFinning’s heavy-equipmentrental fl eet. “They were wellreceived.”New LocationsA new Finning location is set to open in earlyApril in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., right around thesame time that construction is scheduled tobegin on a facility in Fort McKay, Alberta, nearFort McMurray.Finning has rented a site just outside ofTumbler Ridge since 2005. The trailers formakeshift offices and large tents for storeinventory were no longer enough. “There wascustomer demand and a strong business caseto upgrade that facility,” says Drew Godley,director of facilities and property.Finning worked with a developer, who hasbecome the building’s landlord, to collaborateon the new location’s design. Along withwarehouse space and a front office, a smallerstorage unit currently under construction willprovide even more space.The Fort McKay location was a natural choice.“The volume of business in the oil sands andthe amount of equipment that we have in thatregion has driven the need for increased shopspace in Fort McKay,” Godley says. The FortMcKay Finning location is scheduled to open inthe fourth quarter of 2012.Mutual InterestsFinning recently donated eight new engines to NorthernAlberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), part of a $3-millioncommitment between Finning and Caterpillar to NAIT’sIndustrial Heavy Equipment Technology (IHET) program.The 6.6-litre engines were donated last summer to replaceoutdated training engines, just in time for their usein the fall program.The IHET program is a two-year course divided intotheoretical and practical learning. Hands-on experienceon the equipment is very valuable for students learninghow to put the theory into practice.“Where these engines really come into play,” says DaveScott, manager of learning and development at Finning,“is when students actually get practical exposure to theequipment prior to getting out into the field and workingon the equipment.”“With the close proximity and close relationship wehave with NAIT, and the size of NAIT as a technical trainingprovider, the rationale behind this donation was theyhelp us and we help them to turn out quality apprentices,”says Scott.Of the $3-million donation to NAIT, Finning has committed$1-million worth of equipment, of which the enginesare part, along with another $1-million in cash, and$1-million from Caterpillar, all over a five-year term.www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 7

Beneath the SandsSTEAMINJECTIONDon’t Forget!Send us a picture of you in your Cat gear to win a $100 gift certificate tobuy even more Caterpillar loot. For more information, and to enter, visitwww.heavydutygear.ca/ShowUsYourGear.htm. Winners are announcedquarterly in 2011.BITUMENPRODUCTIONSAGD, or steam-assisted gravity drainage, hasbecome an increasingly effective method of extractionin the oil sands. This technology enhances oilrecovery, producing bitumen. It’s an advanced kindof steam stimulation in which site staff drill twohorizontal wells into an oil reservoir, positioningthe petroleum intake line just a few metres belowthe steam injector line. Site staff inject low pressuresteam continuously into the upper wellbore toheat the oil and make it more viscose, or runnier.The heated oil drains into the lower wellbore, andpumps on the surface extract it.The process doesn’t impact land and water in theway that traditional mining operations do, makingSAGD operations a more environmentally-friendlychoice. Natural gas prices are low and looking to staythat way, lowering operating expenses for SAGDprograms. New projects and expansions that will takeadvantage of this innovative technology include:Firebag 3 – Suncor EnergyChristina Lake – Cenovus EnergyFoster Creek – Cenovus EnergySurmont – ConocoPhillips/Total E&P CanadaSunrise – Husky EnergyKirby – Canadian Natural ResourcesKijiji for Cat?Are you right-sizing your fl eet? Or are you looking to buy quality used Cat iron or parts? Eitherway, visit www.finning.ca/Products/Equipment/Used_Equipment/Default.aspx. Ifyou’re looking to buy used, you can search by product or manufacturer; parts are searchableby part number. Your search will bring up pictures, hours, mileage, potential maintenance orrepair issues, location, special equipment and safety features and more. And if you’re a Catafi cionado, take a visit just for the heck of it. Lookie-loos are welcome.8 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

By the Numbers701976 3,500EconomicForecastLooksBrightThe future shows manypositive signs of postrecessionrecovery, asbusinesses and peoplemove beyond the uncertaintyand volatility thatsurrounded the outrightcontraction of the worldeconomy in 2009.According to TDEconomics most recentEconomic Forecast, thenational outlook for 2011has brightened. They expectmomentum in bothexports and investmentsto continue into 2012,though longer-termchallenges, such as highconsumer debt loads andweak overall productivity,are still factors thatwill affect recovery.The TD report carrieson to say that Canada’seconomy reboundedstrongly, and recovery isnow transitioning to amore moderate and sustainablepace. Real GDPgrowth is projected toaverage 2.6 per cent in2011, and 2.5 per centin 2012.Year Tim Hortonsintroduced the Timbitto its menuNumber ofparticipants in theworld’s largestdodgeball game:Number of fouryeardegree1programs forconstructionproject managersin Canada:Estimated1project managersAnticipatedenrollment in SAITPolytechnic’s newBachelor of Sciencedegree in constructionproject management,which begins this fall:40Price of the nearly one-kilogram knife on Amazon$902.48Average number of millimeters ofrain annually in Prince Rupert, BC,Canada’s wettest cityCalories in an averageTim Hortons Timbit:20122020alreadyEstimated percentageof timber supplyimpacted by themountain pine beetleinfestation in B.C.Number of toolscontained in thelargest Swiss ArmyKnife:85Number of caloriesin a pound of bodyfat5.08Average number of minutesspent waiting in a TimHortons drive through inEdmontonTotal value of those projects:Number ofconstruction projectseither proposed oralready underway inAlberta:900$182 billionNumber ofannual Star Trekconventions heldworldwide:18Average number of millimeters ofrain annually in Whitehorse, YT,Canada’s driest city:2,470 163230Number of chaptersof the InternationalStar Trek Fan ClubCaptain Kirk actuallysaid “beam me upScotty”0 timeswww.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 9

BY JON MOOREILLUSTRATION BY BRNESH BERHE8 Steps to SafeScaffoldingWhen working on high, followthese simple rules to ensure youcome back down safelyAccess ladder(mounted on end frame)Aluminum/plywoodcombination platformWhat goes up comes down again. When you’re dealing withscaffolding, that truism has an impact on safety. In January 2010,four men were killed on a worksite in Toronto when their scaffoldingfailed and they plunged 13 stories. Subsequent investigationdetermined that they had not been adequately trained on scaffoldingsafety.The sudden collapse of scaffolding or parts of it (such as theplanking), and the potential to have the tools, materials or workerson the scaffold fall, are risks that can be controlled with properequipment and skills. Here are eight tips to make sure that neverhappens on your worksite.1. Perfect plumb: A scaffold must be nearly perfectly plumb –straight up and down. The CSA standard states that the scaffoldmust not deviate from the vertical by more than 12 millimetresper three metres of height or a total of 38 millimetres over itstotal height.2. Ladder matters: Portable ladders used to reach the work platformmust be secured at the top and the bottom, and must projectabove the work platform by at least one metre. Other systemsinclude vertical stand-off ladders and scaffold stairway systemswith landings at regular intervals.3. Protection from the fall: Workers erecting or dismantlingscaffolding more than three metres above the ground must beprotected from falling.4. Standards standby: CSA International has a standard forscaffolds. Several Canadian jurisdictions have fairly detailed requirementsin their construction regs – B.C. has the most detailed – butall occupational health and safety legislation has a general dutyclause that requires taking “all reasonable measures,” meaningadherence to the CSA standard.5. Platform ply: The platform must be constructed of materialsthat meet certain standards. The usual choices are two-by-10 inchlumber; laminated wood planks specially rated for scaffold use; oraluminum or plywood panels designed for the purpose. There’sa distinction between the specifications for platform materialdesigned to support only workers and those designed to holdconstruction materials.6. Toe the line: The working platform of a scaffold has to have toeboards on at least the three outside edges to prevent tools and materialsfrom being accidentally kicked over the edge and falling on thepeople below. But they also prevent workers on the platform fromstepping or slipping over the edge below the mid-rail.7. Guard your assets: The working platform at the top of the scaffoldhas to be protected by guardrails on at least the three sidesfacing away from the building if it is more than three metres abovethe ground or floor. If there’s open space (such as a partially constructedbuilding) on the fourth side, or if the wall is more than 30centimetres from the edge of the scaffold, a guardrail may be neededthere as well.8. Looking up: Scaffolds tend to be metal structures erected closeto buildings and reaching high above the ground where they are atgreat risk of coming close to electrical transmission lines.9 THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO DONo jumping on planks or platforms.Don’t force braces to fit. Level the scaffold until a proper fit canbe made easily.Avoid climbing or standing on cross braces or guardrails.Stay off scaffolds during storms or high winds.Don’t use ladders or makeshift devices on top of scaffolds toincrease height.Avoid overloading scaffold frames or platforms.Don’t rest materials or equipment on guardrails.Throw out bent or kinked frames rather than trying to repair them.Don’t work below a scaffold without head protection.www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 11

TipsMANAGERSBridge the GapBY STEVE PENNERILLUSTRATION BY HEFF O'REILLYGrowing up in a particular decade can mark your attitudes,style of communication and values as clearly as can your country oforigin. In the workplace, sometimes it’s the way different generationsinteract that defines the corporate culture. In their influential bookGenerations: The History of America’s Future, researchers William Straussand Neil Howe sketched out a demographic theory seminal in helpingemployers navigate the young/old divide.Of course, generalizations about the generations are just that. Agedefines a demographic, not a person.Part of the managerial tool box should include ways to cope with thetensions between the demographic groups on-site. There are strengthsand weaknesses to the way each group approaches work and managersshould try to anticipate the points of friction between them. But here’sa cheat sheet that might tell you something about why Old Dave inwarehousing gives out dirty looks when the twenty-somethings cut outearly on a Friday.Who they are:The Traditionalists are born between 1925 and 1942. They respectauthority and adhere to regulations. To them, work is an obligation andexperience earns respect.The Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are associated with aredefinition of traditional values. In North America, Boomers grew upin a time of affluence. As a group, they were the healthiest and wealthiestgeneration to that time.Generation X is that group born between 1965 and 1980. Gen-Xerstypically are self-reliant. They challenge others and often question “Why?”They are entrepreneurial, value freedom and want constant feedback.Generation Y, born after 1980, is the fastest growing segment enteringGenerational differences can make forworkplace tension. Span the old-andyoungdivide by learning a little about itthe work force. This cohort is tech savvy and achievement-oriented, thoughless willing to sacrifice their personal time to acquire that achievement.They’re confident, ambitious and are not afraid to question authority.How they work:Get a new job: Traditionalists and Boomers see job changing as astigma – you only change jobs if you can’t succeed in your present job.Leaving often is a sign of failure. Gen-Xers view job change as a necessityfor advancement. Labelled “job-hoppers,” they consider change a strategicimperative. They acquire an array of skills so current and potential employerssee them as desirable candidates. Gen Y, on the other hand, wantsmeaningful, challenging work. Their loyalty can be earned with praise andconstant challenge.Get some feedback: Traditionalists assume that no news is good news.Short on praise and words, they value authority and discipline. When theyhave something to say, pay attention. Boomers raised their children witha focus on self-esteem so they’re more lavish with their praise. Gen-Xerswant feedback immediately or within a few days after completing a project.Technology plays a role, since Gen-Xers grew up online. Raised by thoseBoomers who believed in nurturing through positive feedback, a Gen Yemployee may not respond well to direct criticism.Get trained: Traditionalists attended the school of hard knocks. They don’ttolerate whiners and often believe younger employees are spoiled. Boomersfeel "younger people" do not have a strong a work ethic. Gen-Xers mightwant to keep learning new skills to increase their value in the workplace.They might leave an organization if they feel they aren’t getting enoughtraining. Gen-Yers feel empowered if they’re engaged with the trainingprocess; encourage them to use their know-how to coach older employeesin the use of tech tools and you’ll experience a win-win.12 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

OPERATORSNotes Fromthe Driver’sSeatFive ways to wear out yourdozer before its timeBY GEOFF MORGAN ILLUSTRATION BY RAYMOND REIDDozers are a signature Cat product.They are engineered for tough work and are a greatchoice for applications including surface mining,cleanup, stock piles, road maintenance, reclamation andmore. A bulldozer is not a disposable tool.Dozers are for long-term use, but the way some tors treat their machines, it’s amazing they last as long asthey do. Finning's heavy construction/mining applicationopera-specialist, Brad Nunn, knows how to get the most outof his machines. There are a few simple rules that dozeroperators should follow, Nunn says, to keep the machineworking over the long term.DOWN THERE: “First and foremost,” Nunnsays, “The undercarriage is the most expensiveconsumable item on a dozer.” Keeping adozer’s undercarriage in good shape meansthat an operator should not put the machine in reverseat high speeds.BACK & FORTH: Nunn recommends thatoperators ensure their reverse distancedoesn’t exceed their forward distance,where possible. So, if you’re at a jobsite,and you’re approaching a load, say, five metres out, don’treverse seven metres.GEAR GUIDE: “Pick the right gear forthe application,” Nunn says. An operatorusing high gear for a low-gear applicationwill quickly wear out a machine. There’s atemptation for operators to load a blade in second gearbecause the machine is driving faster. The problem isthat in second gear, the machine is using less horsepower.“This will give you longer life and less heat in yourtorque converter and drive-train components.” Use first gear to load your blade andcarry each load in second gear.BLADE RUINER: “Back blading is your worst enemy,” Nunn says. He’sreferring to the practice of dropping a dozer’s blade right onto the groundand putting the tractor in reverse. When an operator back blades, he ispulling a load rather than pushing it. “When you’re in reverse, if you havea load on the blade, you’re now putting unnecessary stress on your undercarriage,”he says. Dozers are built to push a load, not pull it. “If the dozer was meant to pushbackward, they’d have put a blade on the back.”MR CLEAN: Running a clean machine is not about keeping a dozer lookingpristine. Maintaining the machine in this manner will actually allow it tocool itself properly. “You need to keep everything clean; meaning that youhave proper airflow through the radiators themselves,” Nunn says. Airborneparticulates restrict airflow to a dozer’s radiator, making it run hotter. “So if you run yourmachine, let’s say, 20 degrees hotter than it should be, then you’ve reduced its longevity.”www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 13

Spot lightTECHTime for Tier 4Caterpillar’s Tier 4 engines faceindustry challenges head on,delivering performance andefficiency while meetingtough emissions standardsCaterpillar is leader in the delivery of dieselengines that meet government emissions standards,which are being phased in throughout the UnitedStates, Canada, Europe and Japan. Industry technologyrequires 15 parts per million Ultra Low SulphurDiesel Fuel (ULSD) for use in Tier 4 Interim engines.Cat engines use ULSD, and also low sulphated ashoils. These cleaner fuels and oils benefit the customer’sbottom line and his environment. They reduceash and maintain service intervals, contributingto low emissions and reducing operating costs.The new Cat engines will also have B20 biodieselcapability, adding greater sustainability wheredesired or required.The allowable amount of particulates and oxidesin emissions has been dropping since 1996 whenstandards were introduced. From Tier 1 (1996) toTier 3 (2006), emissions standards have dictatedan approximate drop of 60 and 65 per cent in theacceptable levels of particulates and oxides.The next, tougher, phase of emissions standards,called Tier 4 Interim in the US and Canada, tookeffect this year. Compared to Tier 3, Tier 4 Interimstandards require a 90 per cent reduction inparticulates and a 50 per cent decrease in oxides.Tier 4 Final, which will become effective in2014, dictates a a reduction to near-zero inthese emissions.14 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

MACHINE BREATHING Cat Tier 4 Interim engines feature improvedair-management systems to optimize airflow and enhancepower, efficiency and reliability. Cat applies simple, reliable turbochargingsolutions, based on engine size and application. Turboperformance is matched to rated output for high productivity,excellent fuel efficiency, long life and low operating costs.UNDER PRESSURE High pressure common rail fuel systems withfull electronic injection improve precision and control. The systemboosts performance and reduces soot for the following engines:C4.4 ACERT, C6.6 ACERT, C7.1 ACERT and C9.3 ACERT.POWERFUL ELECTRONICS The electronics used in Cat Tier 4Interim engines are more powerful and robust than ever. Morefeatures and better connection commonality improve the customerexperience. An over-foam wiring harness adds to reliabilityeven in the most demanding applications.TIONge IV (2014)50 bhp)*EMISSIONS REDUCTION (see chart below) The Cat NOxReduction System, the most reliable system of its type, capturesand cools a small quantity of exhaust gas, then routes it backinto the combustion chamber where it drives down combustiontemperatures and reduces emissions of polluting oxides.0.60.540.2PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)0.026.66420.40109.21996Tier 1/Stage 12004Tier 22004Stage II2006Tier 3/Stage IIIA2011Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB2014Tier 4 Final/Stage IVwww.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 15

16 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

A British Columbia logging companyuses Cat equipment to harvest atrove of underwater woodBY CAILYNN KLINGBEILpicturesque inland lake, Ghana’sVolta Lake borders Digya National Parkon the western side of its 5,200-kilometreshoreline. Home to 90 per cent of Ghana’sinland fishery, 80,000 fishers ply its blue waters.But beneath that expansive surface standsanother prize: an underwater forest.There’s the occasional sign of its existence,with trees poking from the surface here andthere, looking like crooked fingers. For the mostpart, the massive forest remains submerged,a state it’s been in since 1965 when the lake –actually a reservoir resulting from the dammingof two rivers – was created. But nowharvesters are bringing those trees surface-sideagain with the help of a B.C. company.Triton Logging Inc. specializes in underwaterharvesting and is set to begin logging thetimber that remains perfectly preserved in thelake. And Triton is using its SHARC system (seesidebar, page 19), which includes a Caterpillarexcavator, to get the job done.Triton got its start in the underwater loggingbusiness, which traditionally involves smalloperations with divers using hydraulic chainsaws,when it saw the opportunity to mechanizethe process. Using patented technology systemsto harvest underwater timber improves safetyand productivity.“The SHARC system, with the Caterpillarequipment, allows us to take proven forestryequipment and to add some unique and proprietarycomponents to it. We place it overthe underwater forest and achieve similarproductivity that you would find withland-based mechanical logging,” says JimHayhurst, Triton’s vice president, businessdevelopment and global services.www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 17

Lost TreasuresVOLTA LAKEUNDERWATER RESCUE: Triton's SHARC system relieson Caterpillar equipment to harvest submerged timber.In addition to Ghana, Triton is currently working in Brazil, wherea number of large hydro electric facilities and reservoirs have floodedareas of rainforest. “We have agreements with governments and withhydro managers to look at harvesting on three reservoirs in Brazil,”says Hayhurst.As Triton expands its project scope and builds more SHARC systems,Finning will benefit from the growth of the underwater loggingcompany. So too, it seems, will many others. “The environmentalistslove it because we’re not impacting natural habitats,” says Hayhurst.“The technology geeks love it because it’s kind of cool, and the businesspeople love it because there are really good returns and it’s a bigopportunity.”SHARCS: Meet the pod; (L-R) Lucas Miller,Stan Worsley, Richard Shipley and Rick Braun.The flooding of hydro dam reservoirs around the world iswhere Triton uses that equipment, as the oxygen-deprived environmentmeans wood-decaying fungi and microbes are unable to attackthe wood, leaving trees dead, but in a preserved state.Triton estimates that some 300 million trees exist around theworld in such underwater forests, a resource worth $50 billion. “It’sa huge resource, especially in a shrinking fibre basket, where livingforests are more and more important,” says Hayhurst, whose companyhas completed forestry projects in underwater forests from BritishColumbia to Southeast Asia.Finning got involved when Triton first approached thecompany to aid in the development of the SHARC system.“Finning was great,” says Hayhurst. “I think they were really curiousabout the project when we approached them – but we’ve knownthem and they’ve known us for a bit. Previously, we were just usingtheir machinery in traditional ways, so when we said ‘this is what wewant to do, we have the designs and we’d like to use the Cat systemas the basis of it,’ they worked with us to integrate that system.”Another benefit of working with Finning, says Hayhurst, is thecompany’s worldwide network. “We’re based in B.C. but the majorityof our harvesting actually takes places overseas. Having that globalnetwork is really important to us.”Triton’s Ghana project is its biggest job yet. The company has20 employees working there, and expects to deploy more equipmentand people to the country. “We’ll be working hard to ensurethat the value of Volta Lake grows exponentially over time,” saysHayhurst. In March, Triton began working under a 25-year har-18tracks & treadsSpring 2011www.finning.ca

HOW THE SHARC BITES (TREES)Triton originally used a system called the Sawfish to harvesttrees in deep water reservoirs. The Sawfish is a patentedvehicle system remotely operated by a pilot in a control roomon a barge. Harvesting operators have successfully used thesystem in northern Canada, Southeast Asia and the UnitedStates. But work in the tropics, where submerged timbertends to stand in shallower water, meant Triton had toinnovate. That’s how it came to its SHARC system.The SHARC system harvests in depths up to 25 metres,though new versions of the SHARC, now in the planningstages, will operate in depths up to 37 metres.A single pilot operates the SHARC, with all navigational,cutting, tracking and retrieval software integrated into thecab. Information from video, maps and sonar equipment,available on interactive multi-view displays in that cab, helpguide the pilot to the underwater trees.The SHARC is a barge-mounted, self-contained surface systemcomprising four main components: a sectional barge thatmoves by itself and doesn’t have to be towed, a Caterpillarexcavator, a telescopic arm mounted on the excavator and acutting head at the end of the arm.After trees are located using on-board technology, thetelescopic arm extends the cutting head to the base of thetree, where the grapple cutting head, with a 1.5-metre opening,attaches to the tree and the saw cuts through its base.When the tree is lifted up, the GPS automatically marksthe cleared area on a map. The tree stem is then raised tothe surface and rotated into a floating bunk storage system,and once that system is full, the bunk is towed by tugboatto the shore. The bunks are then unloaded at the shore andtaken to staging areas, where logs are sorted and readied fortransportation or milling.vesting license for 350,000 hectares of the submerged forest – anunderwater resource that is the largest and most valuable of its kindin the world. “The base log value we believe is about $1.5 billion,”says Hayhurst.The project is significant for both Triton and the country ofGhana, where Volta Lake serves as a huge transportation corridor.“As you can imagine, with trees sticking out of the lake, it’s quitedangerous,” says Hayhurst. “They’ve had a lot of accidents and deathsin the past from people hitting trees with their boats. So part of ourproject is also about clearing channels, and clearing areas where boattraffic can go and not have to worry about hitting trees.”After Triton’s SHARC system brings up logs from theunderwater forest, the wood will go to both international and localmarkets. The wood is treated like any other wood: cut, dried, andthen used in a variety of ways, “anything that regular wood gets usedfor,” says Hayhurst.“There’s probably a couple dozen tree species that we’ll find underwaterin Ghana and many of them are quite valuable, as they arespecies that are difficult to find on land,” Hayhurst says.Because of the low environmental impact of the SHARC system,which doesn’t disturb the lake bed or kick up dirt in the water, thewood can be certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWoodRediscovered Wood program, making it a sought-after product foranyone seeking an environmentally sound wood choice.“It’s in demand around the world for its environmental credentialsand also because it’s kind of a cool story,” Hayhurst says. “People cansay, ‘I have wood that came from a forest that was flooded 40 yearsago’, and that’s quite remarkable.”Wood harvested from Volta Lake will be available locally for useby Ghanaian companies, while other wood will be sold in high-endmarkets around the world. Wood harvested by Triton has previouslybeen used to make a temple in Japan, a green building developmentin Victoria, and has been sold to high-end luxury resorts and furniturecompanies.“At the end of the day, it’s just like any other wood,” Hayhurst says,“except it comes with this incredible story and this great environmentalbenefit.”www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 19

SPACE AGE: Modifications including a custom cab and an oilfiltration system designed by NASA set this 345CLL apart.20 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

BY DAVID DICENZOhere’s a new fixture dotting the landscape when you drive by theFraser River in Richmond, B.C. Underneath the Knight Street Bridge sits a massiveCaterpillar 345CLL log loader, owned by Richmond Plywood CorporationLimited, which operates a mill right on the banks of the river. Twenty-four hours a day,seven days a week, the Cat sits stationary, yanking logs from a boom. The logs will soonbe stripped to make plywood before being delivered to destinations around the globe.“The machine is absolutely huge,” says Gary Sigsworth, Finning’s general line salesrep at the Surrey branch. “It’s in such a spot that you can see it whenever you drive bythe mill. You see this big Cat monstrosity pulling logs – it’s great.”Sigsworth’s exuberance comes from a simple fact. This specific log loader is thefirst Cat owned by Richply (as the company is popularly known), which was originallyfounded by a group of 300 men in 1956. The company is one of North America’slargest producers of plywood, peeling almost 500,000 cubic metres of logs per yearand creating product that goes to Japan, England, Scotland, Italy, Germany and theUnited States, among other countries.The province once had plywood companies numbering in the 30s but is now downto nine mills, with Richply and its almost 400 employees one of the biggest producers,and the lone one left on the Lower Mainland.Any business that has successfully operated for more than half a century goesthrough change. And Richply is no exception. When longtime mobile equipmentsupervisor John Robinson, a dedicated employee since 1975, was in the market for anew loader for Richply, he decided to go with the Caterpillar. The decision, he says,was based on one factor: Finning’s superior service. Robinson was familiar withmany members of the Finning family, employees who had often helped him obtainparts in the past.What he has come to learn since getting the 345CLL running in early October isthat the iron Finning sells and services is pretty good, too.“It’s a beautiful piece of equipment,” says Robinson, a Montreal native who grew upin Toronto before settling in British Columbia. “All of our operators – and we havea lot of them on the one machine because we run it three shifts a day, seven days aweek – they all say the same thing, that it’s like sitting in their living room at home.“We put 2,000 hours on it in just four months. And we haven’t had to touch it.”But Robinson’s loader is no ordinary piece of equipment. Given its unique application,sitting by the river and removing logs to put onto the conveyor, Richply hadmanufacturer Weldco-Beales make some modifications, namely a customized boomstick, heel and grapple and manufactured cab. Weldco-Beales raised the operator’sseat by two feet at Robinson’s request to provide better visibility, making it a “Westwww.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 21

Loaded for ServiceHEAVY LIFTING: The loader is a permanent fixturealong the Fraser River.Coast cab,” meaning the design is bigger on the inside and the cab isaccessed from the deck of the machine, rather than the side.“They are a long way off of the ground,” Robinson says of hisoperators.The more significant change isthe high-tech filtration system thatwas installed to keep the machine’soil as clean as possible. Six largecans that measure approximately24 inches tall by 12 inches in diameterare mounted on the log loader’swalkway, close to the fuel tanks. Three of the cans are associated withthe engine, while the other three are for the hydraulic system.Richply changes the oil and filters with every 2,000 hours of use.This means that the Cat was ready for maintenance after its first fourmonths of heavy work. Because of the modified filtration system,he expects the oil, which is tested in Edmonton, will come backextremely clean.All of Richply’s loaders are fitted with this unique filtration system.Robinson says the work environment on the Fraser River is actuallyvery clean but, back in the mid 1980s, the company encountered aproblem with contamination in the mill. He contacted a companycalled Harvard Filtration to assist in addressing theissues.Robinson ultimately dealt directly with anotherorganization – one that had literally sent people to themoon.“We installed a bunch of their (Harvard’s) equipmentto try and clean up some of the hydraulic reservoirs onthe big equipment,” says Robinson. “We had some problemsand Harvard hooked me up with a fella in NASA.”Yes, that NASA.“It was extremely cool. The guy would call me up atnine in the morning and B.S. with me on the phone foran hour.” Through the course of these conversations,Robinson figured out what the problems were.“Nobody else really understood how the filtrationsystem worked, but the space program people understood.They know exactly how to get their oil down towhere it’s so damn clean there are just no wear particlesin it at all, and still not touch the additive package.”Robinson jokes that the oil is probably cleaner whenOF THE ALMOST HALF A MILLION CUBICMETRES OF WOOD PROCESSED BY RICHPLYYEARLY, EVERY LAST PIECE OF FIBRE THATCOMES INTO THE MILL WILL GET HANDLED BYTHE MACHINE, SO RELIABILITY IS CRITICAL.it comes out of the machine than when they put it in brandnew. To put it into the machine, the oil is charged through asophisticated system of couplings so that it’s never actuallyexposed to the air. He jokes, but the results are serious stuff.Because of the decrease in wear, the life of the machine isextended. Dramatically.The typical life expectancy of the 345CLL would be in theneighbourhood of 50,000 hours in any standard application.But Richply’s augmented machine could possibly double thatoutput. “I assume it will do at least 100,000,” says Robinson.“There is no contamination in the oil so there’s no wear. If itdoesn’t wear out, it seems to run forever.”Of the almost half a million cubic metres of woodprocessed by Richply each year, every last piece of fibrethat comes into the mill will get handled by the machineso reliability is critical to the entire operation. Switchingfrom their old brand of choice has worked out with the veryvisible Caterpillar, tucked under the Knight Street Bridge,proving its worth daily.“With the expertise of forestry manager Dave Aldridge and partsperson Ken Brew, we were able to show them why the Cat was better,”Sigsworth says. “And John signed off on it. It’s a purpose-built log loader.”Robinson says that the plywood industryas a whole has been sufferingfor a variety of reasons. There is theworld economy and falling housingstarts in the United States. The strongCanadian dollar has also impactedforest companies negatively. Withso many of Richply’s customers abroad, exports take a big hit and thecompany receives less for its product.Despite facing some difficult challenges in its unique market,Richmond Plywood Corporation Limited continues to chug along.With a new addition to its fleet of equipment and an innovativemodification that will help that loader live a longer life, the 55-year-oldcompany is poised to remain a heavyweight.“We actually produced more this year than last year,” saysRobinson.That’s as good a sign as any. As for the potential to add more yellowiron in the future, Robinson’s response is succinct: “Yes!”LOGGING HOURS: The loader runs threeshifts a day, seven days a week.22tracks & treadsSpring 2011www.finning.ca

navigates weather, wasteBY REMO ZACCAGNAFreezing wind chills, drifting snow,frost biting at any piece of skin that’s exposed:a Peace Country winter can be unforgivingfor even the toughest northern residents.This last winter proved to be a challenging onein the County of Grande Prairie. Winter broughtnumerous freeze/thaw cycles and near-recordsnowfall in January that accounted for nearly aseason’s worth of the white stuff in just a few weeks.Encompassing the City of Grande Prairie andsurrounding areas, the County has a populationor more than 18,000 and covers 5,570 squarekilometres. Though the weather was unpredictable,the County’s fleet of Cat equipment performedadmirably, clearing and removing snowfrom local roads, says public works superintendentHerb Pfau.www.finning.ca tracks & treads Spring 2011 23

Portrait: Bill HolmbergFinning Branch 32is in Houston, B.C., onthe Yellowhead Highwaynorthwest of PrinceGeorge. It’s a small branchand sales branch managerBill Holmberg has to do alittle of everything. Nowin his 17th year at Finning,Holmberg works in conjunctionwith his customerservice manager to overseea staff of 21.Holmberg closed hisforestry servicing businessof 15 years to work forFinning, first doing demosof yellow iron and trainingoperators. Because ofthis experience and thefact that he’s a heavy dutymechanic with a Class 1license, he says he “speaksthe same language” ashis customers. And hisapproach to work reflectsthat.Holmberg's philosophyis to follow the GoldenRule. “I learned thatyou should treat peoplethe way you want to betreated,” he says. “And youhave to keep the peoplearound you engaged inwhat they’re doing. Workhard, but have fun at work.If you don’t like it, whywould you do it?”Holmberg transferred toHouston from VancouverIsland, where his kids andgrandkids live, nearly eightyears ago, intending to staya couple of years. But heand his wife, Laurel, bothHarley Davidson enthusiasts,fell in love with place,bought an acreage andshow no signs of leaving.32 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

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Count on UsIN THE BEGINNING...Before there was the yellow ironmanufacturer we know in this day,there was the Holt ManufacturingCompany and the C. L. Best TractorCompany. A Best machine is shownhere in this shot from forestry’sfledgling days.The two companies merged in1925, creating the CaterpillarTractor Company.34 tracks & treads Spring 2011www.finning.ca

Big MachinesBig OpportunitiesOur commitment to customer service hasbeen the backbone of our operationfor more than 75 yearsEvery individual, regardless of responsibilities, relies on teamwork toget things done. We know that the highest quality work comes fromcombining the skills and expertise of people and providing the supportthey need to take personal responsibility for their own success, and forthe success of the team.As a growing company, we are in constant need of skilled, experiencedand dedicated people to help us maintain our leading position in theindustry.With operations throughout Western Canada, big opportunities await.Join the Finning team today!1-888-finning(346-6464)finning.ca