Industry Updates

Rising costs driving fleet management evolution

World’s second electric log truck launched in Australia

A unique opportunity for young foresters

The future of electric semi trucks

Brazilian log transport options being showcased

Tevva hydrogen-electric truck clocks 560km
The Background
The Woodflow series has been Australasia’s premier technology event. It provides timely insights into innovations, new tools, technologies and smart operating practices being employed by leading forestry, wood harvesting and log transport companies. It’s been run in both New Zealand and Australia, by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA).
With up to 40% of delivered log costs being contributed by transport, the events have provided the platform to showcase the very latest technologies for moving wood from the forest through to the log yard, processing plant, port or market. New initiatives being employed to improve planning, logistics & operations within the wood supply chain have also been profiled.
The last Woodflow series (or Wood Transport) ran mid-year in 2018. Since then, two large wood harvesting events, HarvestTECH 2019 and HarvestTECH 2021, have been run with record numbers of forest managers, harvest planners and logging contractors attending. Both focussed on innovations around steep slope harvesting operations and in-forest automation.
Since 2018, wood harvesting and log transport companies have been kept up to date on new innovations and developments through the regions’ monthly newsletter, HarvestTECH.News, that’s produced by FIEA. Over this time, huge advancements have been made in log measurement, transport and wood scheduling.
After 2-3 years of Covid-related travel, border and in-person meeting restrictions, those involved in log measurement, transport and scheduling have set up a major wood transport event for May 2023.
Key Topics
- Innovative systems to integrate planning, operations, harvesting, transport & sales
- Advances in automated measurement
- Opportunities for hydrogen fuel-cells for heavy-duty trucks
- Battery electric options for wood transport operations
- EV, biofuel and hybrid -diesel fuel technologies to drive fleet decarbonisation
- Commercialisation of platooning and autonomous truck technologies
- Advances in remote control operations for log loading and machine operation
- Fleet electrification – moving from concept to reality
- Innovations in log truck/trailer design
- Improved options for log load securing
- Developments in information technology and data management
- H&S initiatives tackling speed, fatigue & distraction for wood transport operations

Who Will Attend
- Harvesting and wood flow planners
- Wood harvesting and log haulage contractors
- Transport operators
- Forestry managers
- Forest owners
- Port companies
- Technical foresters
- Forestry consultants
- Forest researchers
- Wood supply chain and logistics companies
- Key suppliers to forestry, wood harvesting & transport operations
Programme
We have worked closely with a wide range of New Zealand, Australian and international companies, service suppliers, researchers and government bodies to develop a strong and innovative programme. If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Brent Apthorp on brent.apthorp@fiea.org.nz or (+64) 3 470 1902.
Workshops + BBQ Event

Pre-conference Workshop: Remsoft Operations
Wednesday 24 May 2023 | 8.30 - 10.00am
Unlock hidden productivity and synergies by leveraging Remsoft Operations to create, track and manage operational harvest plans and wood flow.
Hosted by: Corinne Watson, GM Asia Pacific, and Adele Wedding, Manager, Projects and Solutions, Remsoft
Free for all delegates. Registration required

Pre-conference Workshop: Integrated e-docket Workflows - from Harvest to Customer
Wednesday 24 May 2023 | 10.00 - 12.00pm
Demonstrations including: WSX and WSX Mobile Solutions | Driver Lead e-dockets | Crew and Customer interfaces | Delivery Pre Notification | The role of third party data in the validation process.
David Joll, General Manager, Dan Turkington, Business Development Manager, Trimble Forestry Logistics & Francis Richardson, Transport Data Analyst, Orana Enterprises, Australia
Free for all delegates. Registration required

Post-conference Workshop: Woodfibre Measurement in Industry 4.0
Thursday 25 May 2023 | 1.00 - 2.00pm
Woodtech SA invites you to learn more about technologies and the state of art of measurement of raw material in forestry market. Get an insight on woodfiber measurement products that Woodtech offers and learn more details of our main product, Logmeter. Join our speaker for this informative session!
Carlos Bussinger, CEO, Woodtech S.A., Chile
Free for all delegates. Registration required

Drinks, BBQ & Networking
Wednesday 24 May 2023 | 5.30pm
Larger BBQ event for event delegates, sponsors and exhibitors along with local log transport operators
Free for all delegates and local guests
Speakers
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 offers a tremendous opportunity for companies involved in log measurement, log loading, wood transport, scheduling and logistics to maximise their exposure to the New Zealand and Australian industries.
Note: For similar FIEA wood harvesting events aligned to this programme, space SOLD OUT well before the event ran.
FIEA has earned a well-deserved reputation over 25 years of providing both event sponsors and exhibitors with a unique independent platform for promoting their products and services to forestry and wood products companies across this region.
Exhibition opportunities for this event include both stands inside the hotel venue, or space outside the venue for displaying larger equipment such as trucks or log loading machinery. Please contact us for further information.
For early information on planned sponsorship options and benefits for Wood Transport & Logistics 2023, or other upcoming FIEA events, please contact Gordon Thomson, FIEA Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, (+64) 7 921 1384 or (+64) 27 275 8022, gordon.thomson@fiea.org.nz.

Venue
Rotorua, New Zealand
Distinction Hotel Rotorua
390 Fenton Street, Rotorua, New Zealand
With its beautiful garden setting and located just minutes from the city centre, Distinction Rotorua Hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a big day at the conference. After the event, this hotel is also a great base to enjoy the wealth of attractions and activities Rotorua has to offer. Free car parking is available at the venue, however, spaces are limited and hotel guests take priority.
Special accommodation rates:
- Superior Room $185 (single|double|twin)
- Deluxe Room $205 (single|double|twin)
- Junior Suite $245 (single|double)
- Executive Suite $285 (single|double)
* All accommodation rates incl. GST

Registration
Early Bird | $895 + GST (SAVE $100)
Group Rate (3-5) | $795 + GST (SAVE $200)
Large Group Rate (6+) | $595 + GST (SAVE $400)
Workshops & BBQ Evening (In-Person Only) | FREE
Virtual Online (Internationals Only) | $495*
Registration Details
General Notes:
- The Conference Rate refers to your attendance in person at the Rotorua, New Zealand conference and exhibitions.
- Virtual Event registrations can be booked by delegates from outside of New Zealand. This will ensure that those unable to travel into either New Zealand to attend in person will be able to participate directly live online, or view the recorded presentations at a later date.
- All prices exclude GST (15%). For virtual online registrations from outside New Zealand, GST does not apply.
- For New Zealand transactions, including the virtual online event, a credit card processing fee of 2.9% will be charged.
- The Early Bird Rate applies only to the standard conference rate. To be eligible, registrations and payment must be received ON or BEFORE the listed date above. All special discounts require payment at the time of registration and before the cut-off date in order to receive any discount.
- Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) Member Discounts of 10-25% apply to the listed Standard Conference Rate. FIEA Membership Details and Benefits can be seen on www.fiea.org.nz Membership status and discounts available can be checked by calling our FIEA offices.
- For those attending in Rotorua, the event registration payment covers morning and afternoon teas, lunch, refreshments, BBQ Networking Evening, workshops, a conference handbook and post-event access to presentation PPT’s (electronic download of PDF’s, for those presentations where presenter approval has been given).
- For Virtual Event registrations, your registration payment covers live access to all New Zealand conference presentations, post-event access to presentation PPT’s (electronic download of PDF’s, for those presentations where presenter approval has been given) and recorded presentations, for a limited time and where speaker approval has been given.
COVID-19 related information:
- The event organiser will work to ensure that all instructions provided by the New Zealand Government Health Authorities, relating to travel and the running of events because of COVID-19 are strictly adhered to.
- It is the responsibility of the sponsor, exhibitor or delegate, if intending to travel to attend the conference, to check on all updated health and Government guidelines for any specific entry requirements.
- If for any reason the venue is unable to be used because of COVID-19 restrictions that might have been imposed by Government, the event organiser may need to either reschedule the event or move the event online. Your registration will automatically transfer to the new dates and/or format. In this situation, no refunds will be given. If the event is not moved online or able to be rescheduled within 12 months of the original date, you will be entitled to a credit or a full refund.
Cancellation policy:
For cancellations on or before Friday 21 April 2023, a 10% administration fee applies. Cancellations received after this date are non-refundable but are transferrable. Please allow 30 days for refunds to be processed. If you wish to transfer your registration to another individual from within your company, please provide us with at least 24 hours advance notice.
To read our full Terms and Conditions, Click Here.