| 43 T T Hugh de Lacy Bullish despite downturn The machines used are Sumitomo, Tiger Cat and Sany products. Loggabull FORESTRY Apart from its main clients cutting the log harvest back to 80% of capacity for six weeks in the middle of this year, Tokoroa-based logging company Loggabull has come through the deep industry downturn “well enough,” says co-owner and founder Brian Rutgers. And for that, Logabull can thank its main client, Manulife Investment Management and its full utilisation of Red Stag Timber, for keeping things turning over as the log export industry went through its recent hard times. “Manulife and Red Stag both have large domestic markets, so are not as reliant on exports, and they kept us harvesting when a lot of other logging companies round the country were having to park their gear up,” Brian says. “We’ve come through without having to lay off any staff, and we’re looking forward to a recovery over the next year or so.” With wife Dale handling the books, Brian runs two harvesting gangs and a total of 20 staff working the Kinleith forest with an inventory of big cutting machines and loaders. The cutting machines, worth about $1.2 million each, have largely replaced chainsaws in forest harvesting, and Logabull operates two of them, one for each crew, and they are supported by half a dozen loaders each worth $500k to $600k. The machines used are Sumitomo, Tiger Cat and Sany products, which are sourced through local machinery supplier AB Equipment (Sumitomo and Tiger Cat) and Shaw’s Wire Ropes (Sany). Brian went straight into the logging industry after leaving high school in 1999, working out of Taupo for Ron Thomassen’s Lakeland Cable/Thomassen Logging. He was with Thomassen Logging for 10 years before buying a 25% share in BR Logging with Ron Thomassen, staying with that company for nearly 10 further years before selling those shares and going out on his own as Logabull. “The opportunity was there, and we jumped at it,” Brian says. He initially ran just one gang, but nearly four years ago he got the opportunity to buy a hauler crew from Alan Sinton of Sinton Logging, who was retiring. This was in the wake of the Covid slump but, given the reliability of the Manulife contract, Brian and Dale had no qualms about taking on the extra crew. “We’re lucky in Tokoroa in having clients with a diverse market spread across both the domestic and export sectors, which makes them resilient in the face of market downturns,” he says. “It’s the export-oriented timber companies that experienced severe damage from Cyclone Gabrielle that have felt the full impact.” The recent announcement that two timber-processing plants near Ohakune were closing is unfortunate, Brian says, but adds, “Loggabull will not be directly affected by it, though it may create more supply for other processing plants. “The problem there is the cost of electricity in New Zealand, which has sky-rocketed over the past few years. That could send more logging companies to the wall unless the Government comes to their rescue, but currently it’s business as usual for Loggabull,” he says. At R&S Oil Limited, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best quality products available in New Zealand. We import premium quality products that will ensure your business is running smoothly and efficiently, minimising downtime so you will always be working! 91 Raywood Crescent Tauhara, Taupō 3330 Firestone Skidder Tyres Castrol Lubricants Oregon Harvester Bar & Chains 027 243 2867 | Robbie Kirk Sales Contact Robbie to discuss your lubricant needs today FREE DELIVERY on all lubricant for orders over 40L NATION WIDE
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