Lumberjack Expo arrives in Bangor

By Wanda Curtis

The Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition, also known as the Loggers’ Expo, arrives in Bangor. The Expo will be held at the Cross Insurance Center on Friday September 24 and Saturday September 25. The doors will open at 9 a.m. each day. The Expo alternates between Bangor during odd years and Essex Junction, Vermont during even years.

Northeastern Loggers’ Association chief executive Joseph Phaneuf said everyone was excited about this year’s Expo in Bangor. He said that after last year’s show was canceled due to COVID, everyone is anxiously waiting for things to get back to normal this year.

“We are very happy to be able to organize an Expo this year,” said Phaneuf. “Last year’s show in Vermont was canceled and our original dates for this show in May didn’t work out. I think the entire forest products industry in Maine and beyond will be excited to come together and celebrate something that is almost normal.

According to Phaneuf, a crowd of 5,000 to 7,000 people are expected to attend the two-day show. He said they look forward to welcoming a variety of people from the forestry industry, including loggers, sawyers, firewood workers, truckers, equipment operators and anyone else interested in l forestry industry. Participants are expected to come from across Maine, New Hampshire and beyond. In the past, they have had participants from Eastern Canada, but their participation will depend on the lifting of border restrictions.

“I expect that we will welcome large and enthusiastic crowds this year,” said Phaneuf.

Numerous indoor and outdoor exhibitions

In the past, the Loggers’ Expo has hosted over 200 exhibitors. There was a mix of live demonstrations and static exhibits, both indoors and outdoors. They typically feature a variety of equipment from forest products to lumber, trucks and trailers, firewood splitters and portable sawmills, Phaneuf said. There will be products and services of interest to the forest products industry, as well as to the homeowner who might be interested in wood heating, he said.

“The evolution of forest products equipment is underway,” Phaneuf said. “Equipment, for many years, has been growing with huge productivity gains being the target, so there will likely be something new to see in this area. “

Newspaper loading contest

A popular activity, featured at other exhibitions, was the annual log loading competition sponsored by Weiler Forest Equipment and Milton-CAT. The competition will be held again at this year’s Expo, Phaneuf said.

Heavy equipment

When it comes to equipment used in the logging industry today, The Northern Logger and Woodworking Editor-in-Chief Eileen Townsend said the logging industry has changed a lot over the years.

“A typical logging operation involved workhorses,” Townsend said. “In the past, a small operation involved a chainsaw and a cable skidder. Those people are still there, but we also have a range of other heavy equipment used in the industry – feller bunches, grapple skidders, cut-to-length fellers, heavy chippers and chippers.

According to Townsend, much of the equipment on display at the Expo is “a big iron for fully mechanized loggers who run what are called complete tree systems or cut-to-length systems, according to Townsend. the terrain and the markets with which they deal ”. The equipment market is driven by what lumberjacks have for lumber, Townsend said, and the big companies that make equipment for forest products “always drive innovation.” Regulations are also responsible for some changes in the types of equipment on the market, she said.

“Industrial engine emissions regulations have changed so that some of the newer equipment has streamlined engines that are both more efficient and more environmentally friendly,” Townsend said.

Many companies represented

As in the past, many large companies such as John Deere, Komatsu and Ponsse will be represented at the Expo. Freightliner of Maine President / CFO Tracy Thibodeau said they will be showcasing OEM Freightliner products as well as Alliance aftermarket products “to better equip hard-working trucks.” They will adapt their displays to the heavy-duty and lumber markets to match the theme of the show, she said.

One of the newer pieces of equipment Freightliner will be showcasing, Thibodeau said, is the Western Star 49X heavy tractor that just went into production last year. She said it has a very extensive list of possible configurations and will be a serious competitor in the heavy-duty market.

“We will also have a few heavy spec Freightliner tractor units, as well as dump trucks that are used in logging and construction applications,” said Thibodeau. “Our stand is normally staffed with parts and truck sales representatives who will also have documentation as well as advertising material. “

Freightliner Open House

In addition to their exhibit at the Expo, Thibodeau said Freightliner will be holding an open house at its Bangor dealership (located at 422 Perry Road) at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 24. She said they will have a meal, with vehicles and products on display. Sales representatives and staff will be present to answer questions.

“This helps make the customer experience as complete as possible for their weekend visit to the region! Said Thibodeau.

Registration & Presence

To learn more about the show, email expo@northernlogger.com or call (315) 369-3078. The show is scheduled for Friday September 24 and Saturday September 25 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The registration fee is $ 10 (which covers entry to the show for both days), and attendees can fill out a registration card at the gate. The doors will open at 9 a.m. each day.

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