Biomass Extraction Few jobs are too small, and now too big for Barrett Enterprises thanks to a duo of bush chippers and over 20 years in the biomass business. By Scott Jamieson A Chip off Any Block ed Bruks chipper working over his shoulder weren’t a clue enough. The second generation, family-run harvesting, fi rewood, biomass, and hauling business located just outside downtown Halifax certainly faces unique challenges. “When we’re anywhere near houses, which is much of the time, we have to work around noise by-laws. We can’t start before 7:00 am and have to quit by 9:30 pm.” “OUR So much for maximizing machine utilization. But proximity to Hali- fax does have advantages. A hungry urban fi rewood market right on the doorstep doesn’t hurt a business whose fi rewood processing yard will churn out 1,000 full cords and about the same amount of 8-ft firewood this year. A broad mix of local bioenergy clients that range from green- houses to power generators and can handle the full range of wet to dry 10 CanadianBIOMASS operations are a little bit different,” admits Robin Barrett of Barrett Enterprises with a smile, as if the 22-year-old forwarder-mount- biomass is also a help. And when you’re in the biomass salvage business, being at the heart of an expanding suburban market can’t hurt either. In fact, it makes a nice little business if you’re set up to handle it. “Part of our expertise is to go to a site where they’re building a gro- cery store or other large building, and remove all the merchantable tim- ber and then chip the rest. You have to be fl exible and mobile, but that’s our business.” Over the years Barrett Enterprises has built a team that includes a Pon- sse Beaver-Caribou harvesting team, three chip trailers with Keith walking fl oors (two BWS 46-ft bought in 2000 and 2001, and one Manac 48 ft added in 2007), a Western Star tractor, three Rottne Rapid forwarders (1990, 1997, 2001), plus two service trucks. SWIFT OF FOOT But being fl exible is really where the battle-scarred Bruks chipper comes in. Mounted on an 8WD Rottne forwarder, the old warhorse can be DECEMBER 2008
Canadian Biomass December 2008: Page 10
