August 2020- Chip Chatter Page 1 Chip Chatter · August 2020- Chip Chatter Page 3 Tree Planting Season at Blue Ridge Despite delays due to COVID-19, the annual tree planting in Blue

August 2020- Chip Chatter Page 1

Chip Chatter Monthly Newsletter

West Fraser’s Employee News / August 2020

BiomaterialsPAGE 6

Capital ProjectsPAGE 7

Blue Ridge Lumber Tree PlantingPAGE 2

Indigenous Peoples DayPAGE 4

MILL NEWS

Jerry Hampton and Charles Scheer at Russellville.

One of our core beliefs is to be cost-effective in every area of our business. It doesn’t mean cutting corners at our mills and with personnel—in fact, it often means the opposite.

The rolling stock at our mills is anything that, well, rolls on wheels, and includes forklifts and yard equipment. Jerry Brock looks after that department in Russellville. When he took it over in 2018, it was his job to figure out where the mill could save some money. At the time, the mill was renting two forklifts because the two they had were frequently broken and out of service.“When I took over the job, we

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restructured it and hired mechanics for forklifts. Before that, we were hiring contract labour and no preventative maintenance was being done on the equipment,” says Jerry.

The first year, the goal was to spend 60 thousand dollars a month on rolling stock and repairs. This represented savings of about 30 thousand dollars a month. To do that, it meant making sure the equipment could work consistently. Charles Scheer, already working as a mechanic at Russellville, was joined by an additional mechanic, Jerry Hampton, who was also brought on. The mechanics were received additional training on forklifts, including Certified Taylor Classes and Vision Plus training. (con’t)

How training and planning saved Russellville thousands of dollars on rolling stock

CONTENT

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Rolling Up Savings

August 2020 - Chip ChatterPage 2

Rolling Up Savings (Cont’d)

History of Tree PlantingBlue Ridge Lumber’s first seedlings were planted in 1975, hitting 1 million trees planted by 1979.

FORESTRY

It was a small in-person ceremony for Blue Ridge’s 200 millionth seedling planted celebration, but it was a huge accomplishment for the Alberta operation.

The first seedlings were planted in 1975, hitting 1 million in 1979. West Fraser hit 10 million in 1987, and we’ve been continuing with our promise as responsible stewards of the promise since that time.

This July 14, a small group met at the nearby improved seed orchard to plant the 200 millionth seeding. The orchard is planted with the best of the best seed, and the trees are then replanted in the mills’ forest management area (FMA). Right now, the woodlands group is expanding the orchard, which is why it seemed like the perfect place.

There was a pizza party with people from the mill, the local forestry office, political officials, and a few folks from other divisions.

“For me, it’s a huge accomplishment,” says Stacey Pike, the Silviculture Superintendent. “It shows our stewardship of the land, and our dedication to reforestation. Hitting 200 million is not a small feat!”

The local MLA, Martin Long, mentioned Blue Ridge Lumber’s accomplishment in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, saying, “It is such an honour to represent people like the ones that work at Blue Ridge Lumber.”

Blue Ridge Lumber marks a major woodlands milestone

Blue Ridge Lumber’s 200 Millionth Tree Planted

Blue Ridge Lumber’s team at its nearby tree orchard.

Within the first year, the department exceeded its

goals and saved an additional 60 thousand dollars

per year. In 2020, the goal was to spend only 40

thousand dollars a month, and so far, they’re

beating that, too.

“We’re still looking every day as a way to save

money, whether it’s 50 cents or 100 dollars, I’m

always looking for new ways,” says Charles Scheer.

To sum it all up, the total spending for 2018 on

forklift repairs and maintenance was $1.2 million. In

2019, total spending was just under $600 thousand,

a difference of more than $600 thousand. So far,

in 2020, they’ve have spent about $150 thousand

and this time last year they had spent about $340

thousand, a reduction of 56 percent.

“Though the overall goal isn’t to stop spending

money,” says Jerry Brock. ‘It’s to have our equipment

in good shape. Our lead mechanic Charles has

been really pumped at learning new skills and

finding new ways to fix the equipment.”

With the additional training, Charles is supporting

other mills and helping with their equipment.

The department sends emails to other divisions

if they notice something about the forklifts and

equipment that could be helpful to them, too.

“The little tips and tricks help the jobs go quicker.

If you can catch something before it goes bad, it’s

going to save a lot of money. Instead of costing

$10 thousand, it could only cost you a grand,” says

Charles.

“The key part of it is that the team really cares

about going a good job,” adds Jerry. “I sent out an

email applauding their good work because we

recognize jobs well done.”

The team is going to more finely tune the process,

including referring to the Company-wide Reliability

project and following their own preventative

maintenance schedule. Sometimes the most

cost-effective measures aren’t about spending

less money but finding better ways to invest in

equipment and in our employees.


Tree Planting Season at Blue Ridge

Despite delays due to COVID-19, the annual tree planting in Blue Ridge is going ahead as scheduled. They anticipate they will hit a goal of 9.2 million in 2020!

“I think in the beginning there were a lot of reservations and stress with the contractors. We didn’t know what we’d be able to do, what would happen if there was a COVID-19 case. Would we be able to survive? But because of the planning and preparation that was done, it was a success,” adds Stacey Pike, Blue Ridge Lumber’s Silviculture Superintendent.

Tree planting in the Blue Ridge FMA wrapped up by the end of July.

2 for 1 Trees

We plant more than ten different native tree species

and at least two trees for each tree we harvest.

63 Million Trees in 2019

We planted 63 million native tree seedlings and 100%

of harvest sites are re-established as forests

Planning for the future

We renew the forests we harvest for future generations and plan 200 years into future

for every harvested area.

WF Tree Planting Facts


Working with Local Communities

We work with more than 100 Indigenous

Communities and organizations in Canada.

West Fraser works with more than 100 Indigenous communities across Western Canada and aims to have long-term, respectful relationships with the people who live in the areas where we operate. It means respecting traditional rights, having open discussions about our activities, and striving to provide more equitable access to employment and other contracts.

Some of that work includes supporting programs such as the Outland Youth Employment Program and working on projects such as the Cardinal River Campground. It also means recognizing culturally significant events such as National Indigenous Peoples Day. On June 21, Canadians celebrated the heritage, diverse cultures, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Here’s a highlight of some of our Company’s celebrations.

Sundre Division and the Stoney-Nakoda Nation

At the Sundre Division, the local Stoney-Nakoda Nation led a pipe ceremony on June 23 to launch the summer forest operations. It was set up by Barry Wesley, a Stoney consultation representative, with two elders from the Bighorn Reserve and a helper leading the event.

First, it started with smudging to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. Both elders had a pipe for the smudging, and there were hand drums and offerings. Then, they presented four prints: white for the mind, yellow for the sun, green for nature, and red for the blood of the people.

Leo Fagnan, a planning superintendent with West Fraser, asked for safe and successful forest operations, and the group took part in several prayers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, smoking from the pipe was optional, and the group also passed around blueberries to share. In the

COMMUNITY FOCUS

How West Fraser celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day across Alberta

Indigenous Peoples Day at West Fraser

Pipe Ceremony in Sundre.


end, the group sang four songs, and West Fraser employees were asked to watch out for springs and other culturally significant areas and items.

Eugene Burnstick is an Aboriginal Community Engagement Coordinator with West Fraser and is from the Paul First Nation which is located west of the City of Edmonton.

“The ceremony had put everyone in excellent spirits as the purpose of it was to connect with the creator. It was good to see West Fraser staff connecting with the local community and respecting the beliefs and participating in the ceremony,” says Eugene.

Sundre Forest Products

A couple of days before the pipe ceremony, in Rocky Mountain House Alberta, the Sundre division was taking part in another event. The Rocky Mountain House Native Friendship Centre Society (RNFCS) hosted a parade, barbeque, and a fireworks show to celebrate. West Fraser employees Al Kurney and Eugene Burnstick took part in the ceremony, and our Company also made a donation to support the celebration. West Fraser has a long-term relationship with RNFCS; the Centre provides programs for off-reserve youth and others with life challenges .

Slave Lake and the Cree People (Nehiyawak)

At our Slave Lake Veneer facility, there was a Tipi teaching ceremony on June 22. From the Cree (Nehiyawak) Nation, Elder Ross Giroux, tipi teaching presenter Denny Giroux and his son Kage led the event. They showed how tipis are set up and why they are culturally significant to Indigenous people. Doug Gladue, who organized the Tipi teachings, is a community engagement coordinator for West Fraser’s North Central Woodlands out of the Slave Lake office.

“There was certainly a lot of cultural reflection that were shared about the Indigenous cultural teaching that was presented by Elder Ross and Denny and young Kage. Their teachings were passed on by their Indigenous mentors, just as it was when I was growing up. I felt it was important to share the cultural teachings of the Indigenous peoples where West Fraser operates in.”

West Fraser continues to support Indigenous peoples and their communities as they come together to celebrate their culture, their songs, dance, and the stories they share with us.

At the end of the ceremony, Doug took this photo in Slave Lake: a triple rainbow.

Doug Gladue took this photo from the celebrations.

“The tipi teachings relate to nurturing the

four aspects of the self, the spiritual, physical,

emotional and mental, which are rooted in the

four directions. The tipi is also a symbol of the

women, so in honour of every mother and great

grandmother and Cree women everywhere.

There’s a Cree word we use today; we say

“Migawap.” The structure of the tipi made

possible to make a fire inside. The women were

named after that fire in the center of the tipi,

which brought that warmth and comfort. In the

Cree language, the center, the fire, is iskwuptew.

“Woman” in our language is iskwew, more than

one woman, iskwewuk. Woman were named

after that fire, iskwuptew, and that is very

powerful, because it honours the sacredness of

that fire. That is what the tipi is - it is the spirit

and body of woman, because she represents

the foundation of family and community. It is

through her that we learn the values that bring

balance into our lives. That is why, when you

construct a tipi, it involves ceremony: because

the ceremony of making a tipi represents the

value of women’s teachings.”

- Doug Gladue


MARKET INFO

Product Focus: Bioproducts

The process of Propel

Amallin Lignin

Amallin™ is a lignin biopolymer that is recovered from our pulp manufacturing operations in Hinton, Alberta.

Lignin represents 27 percent of the wood in a tree that gives it shape and strength. It has a chemical structure similar to petroleum which can be readily modified and adapted for wide-ranging applications. It is extracted from the black liquor, a byproduct from our Kraft pulping process, using a unique oxidation process. It is then further treated to produce a material suitable for many applications. This biopolymer comes from a certified, sustainable fibre supply, allowing companies to transition away from using fossil fuels in products such as adhesives, thermoplastics, carbon fibre, and more.

West Fraser has been developing our lignin bioproduct for several years, with our Hinton Pulp mill being Canada’s first commercial-scale lignin recovery plant.

Propel Cellulose Biocomposite

Propel™ is a biocomposite masterbatch material containing cellulose fibre derived from our pulp. The fibre chemistry has been modified by a unique process to allow excellent compatibility with plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and PVC and other polymers. It not only benefits the customer because enables plastics to be produced from a sustainable and renewable material, but it is also lower in cost. It also has very positive lightweighting, and stiffness performance attributes compared to high-performance composite-containing material such as glass fibre and carbon fibre. The lighter, stiffer biocomposite also offers cost savings for many applications, together with faster moulding processing times. Our team has been working with several customers, including across several market sectors such as automotive, consumer goods, sporting goods, and industrial sectors.

World Bioeconomy Forum

West Fraser has been spreading the word about our biomaterials, online and through networking. This September, we have the chance to do both by being on a panel discussion at the World Bioeconomy Forum. Dr. Eddie Peace, West Fraser’s Bioproducts Coordinator, is speaking on the Biobased value chains panel, which will all be online. He’ll be talking about the market applications for Amallin™ Lignin and Propel™ Biocomposites, and how West Fraser fits into the bioeconomy.

“I think it’s important to raise our profile on a global level to alert people that we are here, and we do have products in Western Canada,” says Eddie. “When people see our company in this kind of event, it brings up some interest and what we do.”

The forum is streaming live on September

Each month we’re focusing on a different West Fraser product. This month it’s our biomaterials.

More about Amallin:Westfraser.com/Amallin

More about Propel: Westfraser.com/Propel

West Fraser’s Bioproducts Group has been working on several innovative ways to use residuals and other materials from our trees. These include bark, sawdust, and pulp mill residuals and looking at biomaterials as alternatives to fossil-fuel-based products across many application areas. Working with key customers and organizations, we have developed some new products:

RECOGNIZING OUR BRANDS


MILLS NEWS

Investing in Tomorrow

Highlights:

• Complete turn-key modernization at the existing site (sawmill, kilns, planer)

• Increase site capacity by 150 MFBM• Access additional local fibre supply• Improved recovery and grade• Reduced operating costs

We wanted to highlight some of the projects we’ve been working on across West Fraser. Take a look at some of what’s being done at our mills.

Opelika, Alabama

McDavid, Florida

Highlights:

• New planer• $43 million project started up at the

start of the year• It upgrades the 1980’s technology

to the best available• Project will make a significant

uplift in all key metrics: safety, productivity, and cost reduction

Highlights:

• Replaced the existing primary breakdown line with new technology capable of operating 50% faster than the previous system with improved recovery and grade mix.

• Project was commissioned in Q4 2019 with a month of downtime required to integrate the new equipment into the existing mill.

• The project was completed on time and on budget.

Dudley, Georgia

Fibre UtilizationWe use about 98 percent of every log harvested with innovative technology that enables the recovery of 20 percent more of the log of lumber than was possible 20 years ago!

We use the residuals to make wood products such as pulp, MDF, biomaterials, and bioenergy.


A big thank you to all of the departments that contributed to this month’s Chip Chatter.Communications Team: Julia CookTara Knight

Email us at [email protected]

ContributorsHave a comment or want to share a story?

Community Photos

Marilyn Cruz, EHS, Charles Brune, Kiln Operator and Nikki Milton, Kiln Lead-person are showing the 2019 Southern Forest Products Association Award for Whitehouse being incident free in 2019.

Goodbye, Lumbertrack

2019 Safety Awards

Colleen and MJ from Blue RIdge Lumber say goodbye to the old sales system. The new one went online Tuesday, August 4 at all of our Canadian lumber mills and with our export group.

West Fraser donated $1000 to Girls, Inc. in Memphis for the “Hear Our Voices” campaign. It aims to increase awareness, mobilize action and raise much needed funds for programming that equips girls to advocate for themselves, their communities, and the world.

Girls, Inc. Donation

August 2020- Chip Chatter Page 1 Chip Chatter · August 2020- Chip Chatter Page 3 Tree Planting Season at Blue Ridge Despite delays due to COVID-19, the annual tree planting in Blue

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