In English - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
No 1 • 2008
NEWS IN FOCUS
NEW PRODUCTS
ON A BROAD FRONT
901.4 • 911.4 • 941.1 • 840.4 • 860.4 •MaxiXp lorer • 450FXL • 430FX/F XL • FX10
18
Switch to the right color
Bröderna Hollsten has replaced its old
forwarders with three Valmet 890s.
READ MORE
36
Good maintenance
for improved length
measurement
• Valmet 941.1 a test success 10 • Tips and advice 14
• Increased logging = increased mechanization 15 • High-capacity contractor 22
komatsuforest.com
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A year packed
with news
2008
is an important
year for Komatsu Forest. Having spent time mustering our strength,
we’re now ready to launch our new harvesters, forwarders, control systems, harvesting heads, and fellers on a broad
front. This is actually the most extensive update to our product range for very
many years, so I’m very proud that we’re
able to present so many new products and
improvements in 2008.
This year’s product launches are the
result of intensive efforts for continual
improvement focused on customer benefits. We work with Japanese quality assurance methods, which entail the factory, dealers, and customers cooperating
to ensure that Valmet products are continually refined and improved. Together we can create Dantotsu products that
we know to be the best of the best with
guaranteed profitability for our customers. To shorten the development cycle
of improvements, we’ll also strengthen
the resources of the research and development department.2008 will also be
marked by greater inf luence from The
Komatsu Way. This means we’ll collaborate more closely with Komatsu Ltd to
combine the best of both worlds. As an
example, we’ve already initiated even closer collaboration with our suppliers who
attended the Suppliers Days event. The
aim is to optimize component deliveries
for both machine production and spare
parts supply.What’s more, this year we’ll
also be in the spotlight more often for
our customers. We’re investing in harder
marketing to bring our operations to our
important markets and to increase product exposure and availability to all customers. We’ll attend all the major forestry conventions throughout the world. And
that’s not all. We’ll also go on the road to
meet customers and bring our demos to
them. Finally, I’d like to take the opportunity to invite you all and hope that as
many as possible find the time to visit us
at a convention or demo to get a closer
look at all our new products. r
Toshio Miyake
CONTENTS
Faster, stronger, smarter,
and comfier
4
MaxiXplorer for
smarter harvesters
8
Valmet 941.1 a test success
10
Films and facts on new website
12
Tips and advice
14
Global trends
15
Forwarder of the right color
16
New Valmet 840.4 and 860.4
18
Valmet Comfort Bogie
20
New MaxiForwarder
21
High-capacity contractor
22
Silviculture gains in importance
with climate change
24
The legend grows
26
Power and economy
28
New Valmet FX10
29
Invest in a new grapple
31
Good maintenance for improved
length measurement
32
Chief Executive Officer,
Komatsu Forest
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
Publisher: Roland Lundqvist roland.
[email protected]
Editor: Gunnar Andersson
[email protected]
Address: Just Forest, Komatsu Forest AB,
Box 7124, SE-907 04 Umeå, Sweden
Contact: Telephone +46 90 70 93 00,
fax +46 90 12 04 60
Internet: www.komatsuforest.com
Production: AB NordreporternWriters: Gunnar
Andersson, Anders Pauser, Erik Säfvenberg
Photographers: Anders Pauser, Erik Säfvenberg,
Gunnar Andersson, Jostein Skeidsvoll, Lasse
Forsberg
Layout and original: Fredrik Lundell
Printing: Ågrens Tryckeri, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Paper: Gotic Silk 130 gramCirculation:47,000
Languages: Swedish, Finnish, English, German,
French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian
The content may be quoted if the source is cited.
komatsuforest.com
JUST FOREST NO 1
• 2008
3
NEXT GENERATION HARVESTERS
Faster, stronger,
smarter, and comfier
A new cab, a new bogie, a refined transmission, and a brand new control system.
These are just a few of the many new
features to be found on Valmet’s harvesters
now when the entire range is upgraded.
4
JUST FOREST NO 1 • 2008
T
he cab, bogie, transmission, and control
system are the main
new features the
upgraded Valmet harvesters. But
that’s not all. We’ve made a large
number of smaller improvements, all of which help guaran-
tee these machines will exceed
your expectations.The Valmet
911.4 and 901.4 cabs are brand
new. This is seen both inside and
out. For starters, the cab is considerably roomier than before,
benefiting the operator environment. The greater headroom is
The new cab offers a better operator environment. It’s considerably
roomier and the ergonomics and air quality are improved. The result
is the best operator environment on the market.
ab
New c
✔ w bogie
Ne
orer
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✔
nt is more than just the interior
design. Air quality is also important to the operator environment, and Valmet’s designers have
worked on this. The new cab has
a larger air intake and an extra
pre-filter on the air conditioning,
ensuring better air in the cab.
ECC is now standard on the Valmet 911.4 and the Valmet 901.4.
To make life in the cab even more
comfortable, we’ve added more
storage compartments and spaces. The printer is now in a safer
location.
THE EXTERIOR has a number
directly noticeable, and the cab
is longer and wider too. Want to
carry a passenger? No problem!
The innovative placement of the
printer makes a space that can
be used as a seat. And the driv-
er’s seat rotates a full 90 degrees.
Combined with Valmet’s integrated cab and boom concept,
the result is the best operator
environment on the market.
However, the cab environme-
Valmet Comfort Bogie provides more even ground pressure and
many good handling characteristics such as better climbing ability, better maneuverability, and better stability.
of new features, including work
lights fitted flush to the door panel and a new handle that makes
it easier to open the door even
when wearing thick gloves. A
new nonslip footboard makes it
easier to clean the windshield or
adjust the new, flush-fitted forward work lights.
The cab environment and
ergonomics are important if
operators are to perform effectively every hour of every day.
Nevertheless, operators need the
right tools as well.
All three new harvesters are
equipped with Valmet’s new control system, MaxiXplorer, which
READ MORE
has new hardware and software.
Hardware changes include a new
system computer, a new PC, a
separate display, and a new chassis computer. All hardware is
now connected with a minimum
of cables. The biggest change
users will notice is the new work
mode. Work mode provides operators with all relevant and necessary information presented in
an optimized layout. Work mode
features new information tabs
showing, for example, machine
status, alarms, and real-time production data.
While work mode is the most
visually striking change, the new
functions for assignment management and crosscutting are
among the most valuable. With
MaxiXplorer, the main system
and crosscutting are better integrated. With 3000 percent greater processing power and more
internal memory, crosscutting
ability is considerably greater. The system can also handle
larger pricelists than before and
it’s even easier to edit pricelists.
Assignment management has
been given a simpler interface,
uses database technology for production reports, and offers a better production overview. r
BOGIE FACTS
You can read more about Valmet’s new bogie on page 20.
5
MORE NEW VALMET 911.4 AND
VALMET 901.4 FEATURES
VALMET 911.4
Electronics:
Boom:
Electronic main circuit breaker
Redesigned light protection on
Connector for jumper cables
outer boom
New vertical gas pedal
Boom computer
Diesel tank sensor
Easier service
Central unit, fire protection
New boom-to-head interface
Hood and frame:
boom valve
Optimized hose routing to
Redesigned ladder
Redesigned hydraulics hood
New hydraulic pump
Redesigned battery compartment hood
✔ New bogie
More versatile and
more comfortable
THE NEW VALMET 911.4 copes better with steep terrain and poor ground conditions. What’s more, stability is
improved. The reason is the Valmet Comfort Bogie. Valmet’s well-proven bogie design has been further refined
and now combines increased climbing ability in steep terrain with retained good maneuverability on soft ground.
The high wheel arch and large bogie suspension are
retained in the new design, and together they provide
evenly distributed ground pressure, a smoother ride, and
increased stability. The refined transmission delivers 22
percent more traction, also helping improve handling.
The Valmet 911.4 has a new cab that is much roomier
than before. With improved visibility, air quality, and ergo-
nomics, this cab helps increase productivity. Together with
Valmet’s integrated cab and boom concept, the result is the
best operator environment on the market.Another new feature is increased hydraulic pressure throughout the boom.
This allows for smaller feed roller motors, providing faster
and more effective cutting and improved fuel economy.The
Valmet 911.4 features the new MaxiXplorer control system
for more effective work. The hardware is more advanced,
offering greater capacity and speed. Work mode is brand
new and all operator information is presented in an optimized layout. Function improvements include crosscutting and assignment management, which are more intuitive, more advanced, more flexible, and even faster. r
You can find more information at
6
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atsu
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VALMET 901.4
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✔
Faster and more comfortable
THE VALMET 901.4 has a brand new cab,
an improved transmission, and a new control system. Transport speed is faster - up
to 6 mph (10 km/h) in terrain and at least
15½ mph (25 km/h) on the road. The new
cab fulfils all new ergonomic requirements
demanded of modern forest machines.
The cab is bigger and roomier. Operator
comfort is the best the market has to offer.
A larger air intake and an extra pre-filter on
the air conditioning for better air quality
than before and ECC included as standard.
An adjustable computer display improves
visibility and increases seating comfort.
There are more storage compartments and
areas and an innovative printer cubby. Add
to this Valmet’s integrated cab and boom
concept and you have the best operator
environment on the market.
The Valmet 901.4 also features the
new MaxiXplorer control system. Together with the unique operator environment,
MaxiXplorer helps increase productivity. MaxiXplorer offers greater capacity and
speed. A feature you’ll soon notice is the
new work mode, as well as the improved
crosscutting and assignment management functions. The latter two are now
easier to use, more advanced, more flexible, and faster. r
(Read more about MaxiXplorer on pages 8-9)
Smarter and stronger
BIG, STRONG, AND PRODUCTIVE. The Valmet 941.1 is designed
from the ground up to cope with really tough conditions. But this
new harvester is up to the task. The new MaxiXplorer control system sets the scene for greatly increased productivity. One of the
control system’s major new features is the brand new work mode,
which presents all relevant operator information in a new optimized layout with clearer symbols. Other important new features
include greatly increased crosscutting ability compared to earlier control systems. The system can also handle larger pricelists
than before. Assignment management is easier to use, more flexible, and offers a better overview. Hardware changes include a new
system computer, a new PC, a separate display, and a new chassis computer. Overall, the system offers considerably better performance than before with faster communication between units.
The Valmet 941.1 also has a new boom valve that makes it easier to
alter the boom tip parameters. r
VALMET 941.1
rer
✔
Xplo
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7
MaxiXplorer for
smarter harvesters
Komatsu Forest has developed a new control system, MaxiXplorer. The component hardware and software are both new. This means new features, higher quality,
increased system capacity, a more intuitive user interface, and easier service. All three
new Valmet harvesters are equipped with MaxiXplorer.
F
or users the most obvious change is the new
work mode. Work mode
provides operators with all relevant and necessary information,
presented in the optimal manner. All work mode graphic symbols have new, clearer designs.
The most notable change, however, is the new configurable information tabs that show, for example, machine status. The tabs can
display, for instance, oil temperature, fuel level, speed, operating
hours, and tilt angle. There are
tabs for alarms and alarm logs,
real-time production data showing production volume, number
of trunks, average breast height,
average trunk volume, and the
volume of the last tree. While
work mode is the most visually striking new feature, the new
functions for handling assignments and crosscutting are probably among the most beneficial
improvements. With MaxiXplorer, integration between the main
system and the crosscutting
function is greater. The system
processor has 3000 percent greater processing power and more
internal memory, increasing
crosscutting ability considerably
compared to earlier control systems. The system can also handle larger pricelists than before.
What’s more, it’s even easier to
edit the pricelists.
8 JUST FOREST NO 1 • 2008
MaxiXplorer includes a new
program for creating and editing crosscutting instructions.
MaxiB is used when value crosscutting and MaxiA are not used.
With MaxiB, creating crosscutting instructions is much easier than before. The program is
Windows-
based and very easy to use.
IT’S MUCH easier to mana-
ge assignments with MaxiXplorer too. For starters, assignment management has been separated from the machi-
ne control and ignition systems,
which means, for example, that
you need not start the machine to
switch assignment. The system
always starts with the assignment that was
System design
• Faster system, greater capacity
• More modern, better quality, easier to develop and
maintain
• New Windows-based graphic user interface
• New intuitive and configurable menu system
• Assignment management and production reports with
database technology
• User-friendly assignment management and operator administration, separated from system startup
• Easier to edit pricelists, handles larger pricelists and longer calculated lengths
• New PC offers better performance, separate display, and
USB 2.0 compatibility
• New optimized work mode with configurable information tabs
• MaxiB and MaxiS, new programs for crosscutting instructions and trunk analysis
PC
Aggregat
Basdator
CAN
CAN
New system computer, new PC, separate display, and new
chassis computer.
MaxiXplorer guarantees higher performance than before and
faster communication
speeds between control
system units.
I
Motor
MaxiXplorer Top Ten
Skärm
CAN
Spakar
Chassi
Another new MaxiXplorer feature is the Windowsbased menu system, which
is considerably easier to navigate. The menus have several
access levels and can be configured, though the system
is designed to require changes to as few settings as possible. An unlimited number of
operator profiles can be created. To make getting started as easy as possible, you can
select automatic login, which
uses the last known operator
name when you return to the
machine the next day. r
Transmission
Kran
last in use. The new assignment management system
uses database technology in
its production reports. This
simplifies file management,
creates a more orderly system,
and makes it easier to search
among production files. Also,
files are only created when
needed. Assignment management now has a clearer
interface, providing a cleaner
assignment overview. In addition, users can choose which
parameters to display. Theoretically, the number of assignments is unlimited.
n terms of hardware, the
new MaxiXplorer control
system has a new system
computer and a new PC, both of
which offer higher performance
than earlier models. A new fast
and reliable chassis computer has
also been added, while the display is now a separate unit. All
connected with a minimum of
cables. Overall, the system offers
considerably better performance
than before with faster communication between units. Naturally,
all components have been tested
in climate chambers and in the
field to ensure they are unaffected by cold, heat, and vibration.
MaxiXplorer has a new system computer configured for the
new system design. The state-
Ethernet
of-the-art processor offers a full
3000 percent more processing
power. As the crosscutting function is integrated with the main
system, MaxiXplorer can perform more advanced calculations than earlier models. The
system computer connects to the
PC over Ethernet, ensuring faster, more reliable communication
with minimum delays.
THE NEW PC has 40 percent
more processing power and 100
percent more internal memory.
Windows XP with USB 2.0 support is pre-installed. The 12-inch
display is completely separate
and adjustable for optimum placement. An optional DVD player
that sits flush in the instrument
panel is also available.
The new control system chassis computer is fast, modern, and
reliable, gathering input and outputs signals for the functions
offered by the forest machine.
A new addition to the Valmet 911.4 and the Valmet 901.4
is a boom computer that controls
all boom functions and enables
boom parameter adjustments. r
JUST FOREST NO 1 • 2008 9
A pre-production Valmet 941.1 has
been put through its paces under
tough conditions in northern Sweden,
with operators from forestry contractor Härnö Skog AB behind the
controls. New MaxiXplorer has several much appreciated new features,
including its speed and friendlier
user interface.
”All necessary information is gathered in an simple overview on the
display,” says Martin Åström, one of
the operators at Härnö Skog.
Contractor Peter Bystedt, together with operators Martin Åström and Tommy
Åström, has been testing a pre-production Valmet 941.1 and all three are very
pleased with the new machine.
Valmet 941.1 put to the test
proves a success
W
MaxiXplorer’s many new features include automatically slowing the
engine from working speed to idle if the controls are not used for a
certain time. What’s more, the pedals, levers, and hydrostatics are
easier to calibrate.
hen we met at
a logging site
a dozen or so
miles outside
Härnösand in northern Sweden,
Härnö Skog is in the final phase
of its rigorous trial of a new, preproduction Valmet 941.1, one
of the many trials the system
has undergone. A pre-production machine has also been tested in the UK. These machines
are equipped with the new Max-
iXplorer control system, which
offers greater computer performance, a more intuitive Windows-based menu system, and
a new work mode. All necessary
information about the current
assignment is shown onscreen
when harvesting, while all other information is easily accessed
using the new tabs shown on the
display.A new feature in work
mode is the real-time display of
production data, updated contin-
Work mode provides information about diameters in mm, lengths in cm, current tree species,
assortment, and crosscut length in cm while the
horizontal bar indicates crosscut positions and
timber quality by color. Various machine status
parameters are displayed at the bottom of the
screen.
The clarity of the MaxiXplorer user interface gives the operator a clear overview of all
machine functions and current processing.
FACTS Härnö Skog
Founded in 2002. Machine lineup: Harvesters: Valmet 941 with a Valmet 370.2 head and a Valmet 911.3 with a Valmet 350. Forwarders:
a Valmet 890.3 and a Valmet 860.1, both equipped with LoadFlex. Nine employees at present.
ually, while all graphic information has been made clearer. One
example of this improved clarity is that the tree currently being
processed is shown on the display, color-coded according to its
quality. Moreover, the crosscuts
are shown graphically based on
the chosen assortment, enabling
the system to provide a better
overview. Once the tree has been
processed, a lumber list is briefly
displayed for the operator.
”There’s an enormous difference between the old and
new control systems. All computer processing is much faster and the information shown
on the screen is much clearer. What’s more, the new screen
takes less space and is thinner
than the old one, when it’s separated from the PC,” says Tommy Åström, one of the operators
at Härnö Skog who has been test
driving the Valmet 941.1.Aside
from the speed, the operators
also appreciate the many customizable settings. With MaxiXplorer, you can define an unlimited
number of operator profiles and
switch profiles at any time, even
when the machine is running.
Another valued feature is that the
most recently used operator profile is automatically loaded when
the machine starts, which is very
practical when continuing work
after a break.
BEING ABLE to continually follow the production data directly onscreen, seeing how many
cubic meters each log contains,
enables the operators to determine the volume of every tree.
”Maybe it’s exaggerating a little, but with the new system we
can much easier determine the
volumes of different trees,” says
another of the operators, Martin Åström.Some of the biggest changes concern crosscutting, which is much faster and
offers a range of pricelists and
assortments. A particular favorite is the ease and speed of finishing an assignment. With Martin Åström at the computer, the
assignment is closed up with all
production files saved and printed in much less time than before.
As well as being faster, it’s much
easier too.”The ease of use means
you’re less likely to make mistakes. And file management is
just much easier in general,”
he says.The new control system
includes a number of new settings. The windshield wiper control, for instance, now also controls the wiper interval. Now you
just press the wiper control, wait
until they’re needed again, then
press it again. The control system
remembers the time between
wipes and takes care of the rest.
Lighting is another handy function that the Härnö Skog operators appreciate. A single control
is used to turn all lighting on and
off and you can decide how long
the work lights stay on when you
turn off the machine. This gives
the operator plenty of time to get
out of the vehicle before the lights
turn off at the end of the day.
ADDITIONALLY, MaxiXplorer has a quick menu for allwheel drive and the differential lock. The operators find the
alarm menu easier to understand
and the logging of alarms better.
Another popular feature is a refinement to the gearshift, giving it
two modes. If the shift is pressed
down, the machine reverses until
it is released, at which point the
machine moves forward again. If
the shift is pressed down fully but
briefly, the gears shift as before.
”Being able to quickly reverse
without checking which gearshift mode the machine is in and
to then continue moving forward
when the button is released is
useful,” says Tommy Åström. r
offered more chances to browse
the Valmet offering in digitized
form.
THE NEW WEBSITE also pro-
Films and facts
on new website
The new website is
now ready and has a
range of new features
for online users. With a
focus on products and
news, website visitors
are offered everything
from films submitted
by other visitors to the
chance to ”test drive”
Valmet machines on the
website.
12
I
nternet use is continually on the increase throughout the world and, according to statistics from Internet
World Stats, at the turn of the
year, 20 percent of the world’s
population, or 1.3 billion people,
used the Internet. Most users are
found in Asia, with more than
510 million surfing the web,
while North America boasts the
largest share of the population
using the Internet, just over 70
percent.
In order to meet the increas-
ing demand for and growing
interest in the Internet in general, and in www.komtasuforest.
com in particular, we’ve developed a completely new website.
While producing the new website, we gave much thought to
the suggestions received in our
website surveys, in which we’ve
always received top marks. Users
wanted to see more images and
films, greater interactivity, and
more technical information. As
a result, those eager for a more
interactive experience are now
vides more extensive product
information and visitors can get
a closer look at most machine
components. What’s more, you
can experience the advantages of
a full-circle slewing and self-leveling cab by getting behind the
controls of a harvester or forwarder over the Internet. This is not
a simulator, simply a way for those who are interested to get a better idea of the technical achievements appreciated by so many
Valmet users. Another important
section gathers interviews with
satisfied Valmet owners from all
over the world, and a constant
stream of new opinions is always
readily available.
”The whole idea with the new
website is that visitors should
experience more, be able to try
more, and get to know more
about our products. The focus is
on our products and our visitors,”
says Pelle Hjelm, head of Komatsu Forest’s external website.
VISITORS CAN also contribute
with content by participating in
forums, polls, and competitions,
or by submitting photos and
films of their machines to share
with other visitors. You can also
send electronic postcards and
greetings and recommend interesting website content to colleagues. Another new feature is the
addition of an RSS news feed for
www.komatsuforest.com, enabling you to quickly catch up on
interesting headlines from the
website. r
New forest machine
center for Russia
A new office and forest
machine center in St.
Petersburg now serves
the interesting Russian
market.
”Winter is harvesting
high season in Russia,
much due to the infrastructure,” says Jari
Alahuhtala, head of
Komatsu Forest’s
Russian venture.
T
he Russian forest
machine market is growing dramatically, fueled
by the need to modernize. Development moves fast in these
expansive forestlands, which
deliver 700-800 million cubic
meters of timber growth a year.
”The market is hot. Interest in
Valmet machines, especially CTL
models, is great. Marketing in
Russia has a special nature and
its own culture, and you need to
understand this if you’re going to
work this market,” says Jari Alahuhtala, head of Komatsu Forest’s Russian venture.
throughout Russia, from Karelia
to Khabarovsk.
IN ORDER TO MEET widespread interest, we’ve opened
a new office in St. Petersburg,
Russia’s second largest city with
4.5 million inhabitants. Today,
the office staff of about 20 work
with marketing, training, technical support, and spares. What’s
more, the central warehouse for
the entire Russian market has
been located in St. Petersburg.
Komatsu Forest already had a
representative office in Moscow,
which together with the new St.
Petersburg office serves dealers
THE�VALMET machines that
Russian customers are most
interested in are the Valmet 911
harvester with a Valmet 360 head
and the Valmet 860 forwarder,
supplied as an eight-wheel model with 700-millimeter tire width
for maximum carrying capacity.
Russian forest grounds are often
wet and the excellent maneuverability of Valmet machines is
greatly appreciated. Transport
distances can be relatively long,
making the larger forwarder
more economic. Further, the har-
Some of the staff at the St. Petersburg office who serve dealers throughout Russia with marketing, training, technical support, and spares. Jari Alahuhtala is seen in the front row, third from the right.
vester’s full-circle slewing and
self-leveling cab, along with the
ergonomic advantages of its interior, appeal to many customers.
”The size of the Valmet 911
and, even more so, of the Valmet
860 is perfect, as the lack of forest
roads makes easily transported
and versatile machines a productive option,” Alahuhtala explains.
WINTER IS harvesting high season in Russia due to that same
lack of roads and the wet forest ground. In the winter, frozen
ground enables the use of winter roads. It’s not only the Valmet 911 that attracts custom-
ers, as in the Far East and Siberia we’re seeing growing interest
in the Valmet 941 and full-length
machines, able to cope with the
much larger trunks. It’s interesting to note that the first Valmet
machine was delivered to the former Soviet Union back in 1978, a
Valmet 448 processor.
”The modernization of the
Russian forest industry has only
just begun, and export tax on
roundwood has been increased,
which means greater investments in the domestic forest
industry and increased local
need for roundwood,” says Alahuhtala. r
13
TIPS AND ADVICE
Just Forest plans use this space to publish practical tips and advice for users of Valmet forest machines.
The editors are happy to publish any ideas you may have. Please send any tips or questions to [email protected].
Filter for high performance fuel
H
igh performance
engines need high
performance fuel.
For this reason,
a pre-filter with an integrated
water separator is now an option
on all new Valmet forwarders
and harvesters. A pre-filter is
used to prevent unwanted particles entering the fuel system.
The filter has an integrated sen-
sor that indicates when its water
content is too high. When this
happens, a message appears on
the computer screen.
The pre-filter can also be fitted
to older machines. With a conversion kit suitable for all machines
with Tier 2 or Tier 3 engines, you
can easily ensure fuel quality is
always as it should be. The kit
can be ordered from your near-
est Valmet dealer.The water separator also enables engines fitted with Tier 3 compliant common rail technology to run on
100 percent esterified biodiesel
meeting the EN14214 or ASTM
D 6751 standard. No engine
modifications are needed to use
biodiesel, though as biodiesel is
more prone to absorb water an
approved water separator must
be fitted. The engine can run on
biodiesel with retained performance and durability. However, when 100 percent biodiesel is
used, the service interval must be
halved to ensure long-term operation. This applies to the service
intervals of the following: engine
oil, engine oil filter, and fuel filter
(both the standard filter and the
filter in the water separator). r
Increased logging means
increased mechanization
600000
In the future, as global logging volumes
500000increase so will forestry industry mechanization. This is the conclusion of a report from
400000Pöyry Forest Industry
Consulting.
L
300000
ogging volumes are
expected to increase in
the future and 60 percent
of the increase will stem from
200000plantations. As volumes increase,
greater mechanization will be
needed, which means increased
100000forest machine sales. All according to the report published by
0
Dr. Hubert Röder of Pöyry Forest Industry Consulting. Mechanization is expected to gain most
speed in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The exact degree of mechanization will depend on local conditions. In Spain, Portugal, and Italy, for example, forest machines
are only used on corporate plantations while private landowners
almost always employ hand cutters to log their forests.
IN REGIONS that are already
highly mechanized, such as Scandinavia, increased mechanization will mostly depend on state
intervention, such as through
heightened safety regulations,
and greater demand for thinning
and possibly harvesting.In other
regions with less mechanization,
there is a growing need for basic
forest machines for a reasonable
cost. One problem slowing mechanization in these regions is a
lack of qualified forest machine
operators.
Current increases in the
popularity of the cut-to-length
method are due in part to its economic efficiency, but mostly
because of the lower environmental impact compared to the fulllength method. The most impor-
tant growth regions for CTL are
plantations south of the equator,
Russia, and Eastern and Western
Europe.According to the report,
the full-length method will
remain effective and continue to
offer high productivity and profitability in large-scale clearing
and on plantations supplying the
pulp industry.
OTHER FUTURE TRENDS
include sawmills outsourcing a
greater share of their harvesting.
Moreover, climate change will
push the integration of biomass
fuel harvesting, logging, and
transport systems. r
Over the space of just a year, Sven-Åke Hollsten and his cousin Östen
Hollsten replaced their old forwarders with three Valmet 890s.
Forwarder
of the right color
Better stability and better fuel economy. These are two good reasons why the
company Bröderna Hollsten changed to
Valmet forwarders.”We have absolutely
no regrets,” says Sven-Åke Hollsten.
B
röderna Hollsten
is a Swedish forest machine company in the small community of Hagfors in Värmland.
The company is owned and run
by Sven-Åke Hollsten and Östen
Hollsten. Even though the company name translates as The
Hollsten Brothers, Sven-Åke and
Östen are cousins, not brothers.
”A clerical mistake was made
when we registered the company
in 1982 and we never corrected
it, instead remaining Bröderna
Hollsten,” Sven-Åke explains.
When they started their business, they were the first company
in the area to offer mechanized
thinning, and until two years
is extreThe terrain where Bröderna Hollsten’s Valmet 890s work
though
test,
the
to
ers
forward
the
puts
really
This
rocky.
mely
forwarders
Sven-Å ke Hollsten says the good stability ensures the
cope exceptionally well.
ago, they offered thinning and
final logging.
“Though with the forwarders we had then, it was difficult
to make a profit on forwarding
when we offered both thinning
and final logging,” he says.Two
years ago, they stopped offering
thinning assignments to concentrate solely on final logging.
That’s also when they chose to
change the color of their forwarders. The original two forwarders
have been joined by a third Valmet 890, all bought last year.”We
bought two brand new Valmet
890.3s and complemented them
with a used 890.1,” says SvenÅke.
SINCE FOUNDING the company,
their key client has been Swedish
forestry giant Stora Enso. And
most of the time the assignments
have been within a couple of dozen miles of Hagfors. The area is
marked by extremely difficult,
rocky terrain.
“It really puts the forwarders to the test, but the Valmets do
a great job.” There are so many
rocks in the forests that sometimes they have to blast the larger ones, or else use an excavator
to find new routes through the
forest.
“It takes a lot of planning to
make effective progress,” he
explains.
THE VALMET forwarders have
proven themselves extremely hard-wearing in the rocky terrain. Sven-Åke also praises the
good stability, which is a major
advantage of Valmet machines.
“The cab’s a big plus, too. I
have long legs and find the Valmet 890 cab roomier than our old
forwarders.
“Other important advantages
of the Valmet forwarders SvenÅke notes are the good fuel economy and the flexible Valmet
LoadFlex bunk system.”If there’s
one thing Swedish forestry contractors really appreciate, it’s low
fuel consumption. It’s extremely
important to running a profitable
business,” says Sven-Åke. r
Facts: Bröderna Hollsten
•
•
•
•
•
Eight employees plus the two owners
Three forwarders. Two Valmet 890.3s and a Valmet 890.1
Two harvesters
Ten pickups
Founded in 1982
NEXT GENERATION FORWARDER
Increased mobility when the
Valmet 840 and 860 upgrade to .4
With completely new bogies, the Valmet 840 and the Valmet 860 have both
earned the .4 suffix. The new bogie offers better mobility and faster driving.
Valmet LoadFlex has been supplemented with hydraulic supports to make
bunk handling easier. These are just a few of the many new features of the
new forwarders.
T
he upgrade to the Valmet 840.4 and the
Valmet 860.4 means
yet another step in
the development of two of the
most productive forwarders on
the market.
One of the most important
new features on both machines
is the new bogie concept, Valmet
Comfort Bogie. Valmet’s wellproven bogie design has been
further refined and now combines increased climbing ability in steep terrain with retained
good maneuverability on soft
ground. What’s more, we’ve kept
the same good fuel economy as
before.
The distance between the
wheel axles has been increased
by 3/4” (20 millimeters) to provide more space for tire chains.
The high wheel arch and large
bogie suspension have been
retained in the new design,
and together they provide the
machine with constant ground
pressure, a smoother ride, and
increased stability.
Common to all forwarders
from the Valmet 830.3 to the Valmet 890.3 is that they have all
been equipped with a new PC
with a remote screen display
The admirable qualities of two of the most productive forwarders on
the market have been further refined, including a new bogie and an
optimized transmission.
The Valmet 860.4 has more muscle in its easily maneuvered crane,
in both the standard and combi models.
The Valmet LoadFlex option now includes hydraulically maneuverable supports for a more flexible bunk that’s easier to use.
for even better cab ergonomics.Another new feature is that
the Valmet LoadFlex option now
includes hydraulically-controlled
height-adjustable supports on
the three largest forwarders. The
hydraulic supports make thinning and biomass energy harvesting even more efficient as
the height of the supports is easily adjusted. Another advantage is
that the supports can be lowered
even more than the manuallyadjustable supports, which better
facilitates transport on a trailer.
The responsive hydrostatic
transmission has been optimized
on the Valmet 840.4 and the Val-
met 860.4. The Valmet 860.4
now has greater traction force.
Together with the improved navigability and the Valmet Comfort
Bogie driving experience, transport times to landings are shorter,
thereby increasing profitability.
Valmet’s forwarder cranes
are renowned for their excellent geometry and handling.
For example, the 860.4 has been
equipped with greater lifting
capacity without compromising
crane handling. An optimized
crane valve, together with the
proven control system, places Valmet forwarder cranes among the
most responsive on the market. r
READ MORE
You can read more about Valmet Comfort Bogie on the next page.
Stability has also increased with Valmet Comfort
Bogie, as all wheel axles deliver even ground
pressure at all times.
The new bogie has improved handling with increased flexibility
and navigability, especially in steep terrain.
New bogie
COMFORT AND CLIMBING ABILITY
Valmet Comfort Bogie
is a further development of the tried and
tested bogie design
in use today. The new
bogie provides more
even ground pressure
and a number of positive handling characteristics such as increased
climbing ability, better
navigability, and greater stability.
V
almet Comfort Bogie is
a unique design for Valmet’s machines and
is a major step in the develop-
ment of the perfect bogie. The
new design retains all the characteristics appreciated by operators throughout the world while
introducing new aspects to the
great handling. The existing welltested and reliable bogie design
with its large bogie suspension,
high ground clearance, and reliability now offers better comfort,
stability, and navigability. The
new bogie design ensures more
even ground pressure no matter
what the ground conditions. This
improves not only driver comfort
but even stability.
For forwarders, the bogie
axles’ constant contact with the
With the machine’s even ground pressure, the regular route to the
landing improves the more it is used.
ground increases stability when
moving, whether empty or fully loaded, and up and down steep
slopes. Moreover, driving across
inclines is both safer and more
stable. The new bogie reduces back-forward shaking in the
cab too. The new bogie’s ground
pressure, combined with faster
steering response due to refined
hydraulic valves, makes the forwarders neutrally steered and further improves maneuverability.
As we’ve retained the wheel
arch height and bogie suspension while evening the bogie’s
ground pressure, navigability is
improved. Hill climbing ability
in particular is better. With Valmet Comfort Bogie, the rear carriage follows behind smoothly,
no matter what the terrain and
whether fully loaded or running
empty.
WITH THE VALMET 911.4 harvester, which is also equipped
with Valmet Comfort Bogie,
the more even ground pressure improves navigability, allowing for mechanized logging
in areas only accessible to handcutters before. What’s more, the
increased stability means the
great operator environment has
been made even better. r
Valmet Comfort Bogie is a completely new design based on the existing reliable bogie design.
New computer and
new software suite
The new Valmet 840.4
and Valmet 860.4
models are equipped
with a new and faster PC, as well as a
new software suite
for the integrated
MaxiForwarder control
system. It’s called
MaxiForwarder 4.7 and
its new features include
grapple selection and a
hydrostatic motor monitor.
T
he forwarder control systems boast many new
features. The earlier
(optional) PC model, the 1012,
is replaced by a new model, the
PCX. The new computer is the
same model as in the harvesters
and has a faster processor, more
internal memory, a DVD player
that sits flush in the instrument
panel, and USB 2.0 support.
What’s more, the display and
PC are separate units, providing
more room in the cab.The earlier MaxiForwarder 4.6.5 included new features for a more even
ride and optimized brake control
whereby the system checks that
the driving and parking brakes
are not activated simultaneously. End limit damping was also
introduced on the Valmet 890.3,
to soften stops on the main boom
when fully extended.
MAXIFORWARDER 4.7 has a
new menu for customizing the
grapple function to the attached
Valmet grapple. Different grapples have different cylinder volumes, though with an optimized maximum flow the same
opening and closing speeds are
achieved with any grapple model.
The new software suite separates the crane’s ramp up settings completely. The operator can now alter the maximum
speed without affecting oth-
er boom characteristics. This
makes it easier to adjust boom
settings using percentage values.
The transmission is subjected to great stress when driving in steep terrain, even downhill, and the operator must keep
an eye on the speed of the hydrostatic motor to optimize production and reliability. Consequently, the hydrostatic motor monitor has been equipped with an
alarm. When fitted with LoadFlex, the Valmet 840.4, 860.4, and
890.3 have hydraulic supports.
These supports are controlled
using MaxiForwarder and the
control panel buttons on the driver’s seat can be used to raise and
lower the supports when loading
and unloading. The supports are
controlled by holding the buttons
down and each side is controlled
separately.
GEAR CHANGES on the Valmet
830.3 are smoother. MaxiForwarder 4.7 senses when the gearbox switches between high and
low gear and automatically reduces the speed of the hydrostatic
motor for a smoother shift.
All new Valmet forwarders
will include the program suite. r
I de nya skotarna sitter
MaxiForwarder 4.7. Dessutom är
skotarna utrustade med ny PC
som har separat, tunn skärm.
Productive machines teamed with a smart strategy have ensured Sylvain
Chopinaud’s success. Today, Sylvain is the second largest Valmet owner in France
and the owner of a very modern machine lineup.
High-capacity
contractor
H
igh productivity is the chief concept of Sylvain
Chopinaud’s forest machine company. This is
also why he has chosen to harvest
only within a 30-40 mile (50-60
km) radius of the small village of
Banize in central France, where
the company is headquartered.
The company has invested in a
fully equipped workshop with
two mechanics on staff, a relatively unusual setup in France,
the idea being to more quickly
service machines. Machines are
transported directly to the workshop for quick repair, avoiding
time-consuming transport to a
service workshop.
“This strategy has proven successful and we’re always working
at capacity,” says Sylvain. “In fact,
we’re forced to turn down some
assignments.”
THE COMPANY was original-
ly founded by Sylvain’s father,
John Chopinaud, in 1960, with
the first staff members employed in 1983. Today, the company
has 13 machine operators among
its 18 production employees. The
machine lineup includes five forwarders and three harvesters.
When we visited, a new Valmet
941 harvester was on order to
replace an old Valmet 921, as was
a new Valmet 890.3 forwarder to
replace an older Valmet 860.
“We usually buy two new
Valmet machines a year and
expect to keep each machine
for about five years. It generally takes about six months for the
operators to accustom themselves and make any necessary
adjustments,” Sylvain explains.
“What’s more, we have a leasing agreement with higher initial payments. After this, the
machines are most profitable for
six months to three years, after
which repair costs start to climb.”
To harvest as effectively as
possible, in addition to maintaining a modern Valmet lineup,
Sylvain’s company has an excavator for special tasks, such as
improving the navigability of forest roads.
The company’s forwarders transport some 15,000 cubic
meters a month while the harvesters log about 6,000 cubic
Sylvain Chopinaud is a successful
contractor in France with a taste
for Valmet machines.
A new Valmet 911.3 thinning in central France.
meters. Roughly 70 percent comprises thinning, the rest is final
logging.
“All harvesting is in third-party forests. I don’t buy forest to
avoid competing with custom-
ers,” says Sylvain. “A third of our
customers are cooperatives and
forest owners, a third are paper
mills, and a third are sawmills.”
Most important for Sylvain is
to maintain a high quality har-
vest with minimal damage to the
timber, which then commands
a better price and ensures greater customer satisfaction. Occasionally, Sylvain declines assignments if he feels it would be difficult to maintain quality.
STAFF INVOLVEMENT and
skills play a key role in quality
assurance. Despite demanding
workdays with break-of-dawn
starts, many employees have
been with the company a long
time, at most 14 years.
When we meet forwarder
operator Laurent Bord, who has
been working for Sylvain for the
past ten years, he is happy with
his work situation, and especially
with the Valmet 890.2 he drives.
“It’s a productive machine that
I use to transport an average of 17
loads a day,” Laurent explains. “I
enjoy driving the largest forwarder in France – it offers good comfort and reliability, and the Valmet ProTec hose protection prevents hose breakages.”
In a clearing a half dozen
miles (10 km) away, we meet
FACTS
Francois Collet enjoys operating
harvesters, especially his new
Valmet 911.3.
Francois Collet, who has spent
the previous seven months driving the company’s new Valmet
911.3. He is also happy with his
machine, with which he is logging 100 cubic meters a day in
the initial thinning of a stand of
17-year old pine. Having previously driven a skidder, Francois
cannot compare the Valmet with
other harvesters, but praises the
good visibility, the perfect work
environment, and the good handling even in difficult terrain.
SYLVAIN CAN BUT concur,
appreciative of the Valmet’s high
productivity.
“When mechanization came,
we bought an other brand of
machinery. Later, however, after
we’d bought our first Valmet 886
K, a machine that was by far the
best available at the time (1981),
we replaced our entire lineup
with Valmet machines,” Sylvain
explains. “That’s why I’m really looking forward to the Valmet
941 we ordered, which will also
be the most productive machine
in the company.” r
Sylvain Chopinaud’s company
FOUNDED: 1960
OFFICE AND WORKSHOP: Banize, France
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 18
MACHINE LINEUP: Two Valmet 840.2s, two Valmet 860s (one to
be replaced with a Valmet 860.3), a Valmet 890.3, two Valmet
911.3s, a Valmet 921 (to be replaced with a Valmet 941), an excavator, some 20 timber trucks
Silviculture gains
in importance with
climate change
Climate change, and its subsequently warmer weather, may
mean heavier precipitation and
more storms. This makes more
active silviculture important, no
matter where in the world forestry is pursued.
O
ur climate is changing, most researchers agree on this.
They also agree that
climate change will lead to more
unstable weather in many places,
with more extreme weather conditions. Storms, heavy rainfall, and
hurricanes are expected to become
more common.
Climate change is also expected to lead to faster forest growth
and changes to where species
can grow. It’s been discovered
that a century from now, spruce
buds will flower twenty days earlier. Studies in Finland and North
America have shown that broadleaf species will take over in
some areas. One researcher who
doubts this forecast is Ola Sallnäs, a professor at SLU, a Swedish research institute.”Since we
are the ones who cultivate forestland, we’ll also be the ones who
decide the shape and form of
any future landscape. If we want
conifers, we’ll plant conifers.
Naturally, we’ll need to reassess
which species suit our soils,” he
says.
RESEARCH HAS also shown
that new habitats will suit particular species in one hundred
years time. For example, Nordic
research has indicated that North
American Sitka and Douglas
spruce will grow well in a milder
and damper North European climate. Here, too, Sallnäs raises
some doubts, and urges caution.
”Generally speaking, I think
we should stick to planting what
grows today and not worry about
what will grow in the future. A
tree’s first years of growth are
the most important to its survival, and I feel that we should plant
species based on the prevailing
conditions. Once the tree is fully grown, it will cope. At the same
time, the choice of species to
plant must be made consciously
and not routinely,” says Sallnäs.
SOMETHING THAT will, however, be more important in a future climate with tougher weather
conditions is forest management. Sallnäs is of the opinion
that we need to provide simple,
practical advice on how to invigorate the forest ready for a changed future climate, to strengthen
Climate change is expected to
bring about warmer weather
with more storms and heavier
precipitation. The risk of windthrown forest will increase and
will demand measures such as
earlier clearing and thinning.
Increased silviculture activities
will be needed when the climate
changes, says Ola Sallnäs.
it against storms.
”The most important advice
is to increase the intensity of silviculture. Clear and thin early.
Avoid late thinning. Don’t leave
the forest standing, log it instead
as an investment in the future.
All measures will need to be taken earlier than is currently the
case,” he says.
WITH INCREASED growth in the
forest, tree crowns will increase in size relative to tree heights,
and with wetter ground the risk
of windthrown trees will increase. As such, it’s important that
the trees are not too densely
packed. Further, Sallnäs says we
can expect shorter forestry cycles,
and a greater risk than today of
forests being left too long without measures.
One of the major problems
of climate change, according to
Sallnäs, is the way in which forests will be harvested. With wetter ground conditions and less
ground frost in Northern Europe,
he believes the forest industry will experience problems
in forest management. Conditions could quite simply become
too wet to harvest and forward
timber.”Though I think we’ll find
solutions for this too,” Sallnäs
concludes. r
VALMET 450FXL
The Legend Grows
5FXL
same as 47
y,
d
o
rb
a
c
✔ Heavy duty
m
lling syste
y duty leve
v
a
e
H
✔
✔ Heavy duty
boom
ve
nal dri
iage and fi
rr
a
rc
e
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n
u
u
✔ Komats
on
e installati
✔ Tier 3 engin
package
New cooler
✔
Valmet’s new model 450FXL adds to
the legend of the worlds most popular
and productive steep slope track fellerbuncher and harvester brand.
T
he 450FXL features
independent track
drives and a specially
designed forestry track
system by Komatsu with largest
available 9-inch pitch (228mm)
track. Sturdier frames and the
thicker “dozer weight” pads combine to dramatically improve stability and increase service life.
Massive forestry final drives by
Komatsu increase reliability.
THE 450FXL’S Komatsu-
designed carbody features
’next-size-up’ leveling components and added structure. The
advanced carbody has a center cradle design, engineered to
withstand the stress of heavy forestry work. The 360 gallon (1360
liter) fuel tank is now independent of the frame structure. A
larger leveler has 3.5-inch pins
throughout, tapered bushings,
and 7-inch cylinders, all joined to
a much heavier swing bearing.
Continuous 360-degree upper
rotation is standard. Correspondingly, the upper’s base plate is
reinforced.
THE BOOM’S design features
a larger cross section and thicker plate. It is fitted with 3.5-inch
pins and larger bushings. The
stout design and heavy-duty
components cut a large swath
and extend the service life in
demanding work conditions.
A Cummins QSC 8.3L, Tier3
300hp engine is the heart of the
450FXL. Smooth and powerful
– it runs cleaner and delivers better overall performance. The new
Tier3 cooling package has wide
fins to improve cooling performance, especially for the hydraulics. An optional gear box cooler
is also available.
The new Valmet 450FXL is
sized for big jobs with excellent
mobility, stability, and increased
service life! r
VALMET 430FX / 430FXL
Mid-size power
and economy
U
The new Valmet 430FX
(non-leveling) and
430FXL (4-way leveling
model) feller-buncher
and harvester machines
feature an improved
carbody design. These
machines include
Komatsu’s specially
designed forestry track
system with ‘up-sized’
8.5” pitch (216mm)
track chain.
psized tracks means the
430 now has the largest track pitch in its
machine class. Sturdier Komatsu tracks and thicker ‘dozerweight’ pads, increase mobility and improve machine stability
in difficult conditions. Plus, the
430FXL (leveling) incorporates
massive Komatsu final drives for
even greater performance.
THE BEEFIER carbody features
more structure and improved
engineering. A track-to-track
base plate adds more rigidity and structural integrity to the
design to extend service life. The
fuel tank is larger than previous
models (FX - 225gal/852L, FXL 185gal/700L).
The 430 boom boasts
improved design and structure.
The 4 boom options each boast a
large cutting swath.
THE 430 FOPS, ROPS, OPS
WCB certified cab keeps the operator safe and productive. The
cab is large and designed for allday comfort. Large tinted windows provide the operator with
clear view of the work area and
controls positioned to minimize
operator fatigue.
A powerful Cummins QSC
8.3L, Tier3 300hp engine is standard in this model. Smooth and
powerful – it runs cleaner and
delivers better overall performance. The new Tier3 cooling
package has wide fins to improve
cooling performance, especially for the hydraulics. An optional
gear box cooler is also available.
THE VALMET 430FX/FXL deli-
vers incredible harvesting potential with larger Komatsu components designed to improve machine mobility, reliability, operating
performance, and life. A superior value for today’s challenging
business. r
Purpose-built harvesting
– 70 ft cutting radius
Valmet FX10, the
world’s most unique
purpose-built track
harvester is now even
better featuring a redesigned Komatsu forestry undercarriage. The
new design provides
greater stability and
nothing compares to its
maneuverability and
production in difficult
terrain and steep slope
conditions.
ful and efficient. It runs cleaner and delivers better overall performance, plus the new Tier3
cooling package with wider fins
improves cooling performance,
especially for the hydraulic side.
An optional gear box cooler is
also available.
THE OPERATOR’S cabin is large,
comfortable and designed to
maximize operator production.
The MaxiHead Control is easy
to use, extremely accurate and
keeps track of harvest data. The
Valmet FX10 delivers incredible high-speed harvesting performance with next-generation
Komatsu components that will
improve your mobility, reliability
and production. r
T
he FX10 is available with
an improved carbody
and new forestry track
system by Komatsu, with industry-best 9” pitch (228mm) track
chain and modified dozer shoes
– thicker for longer service life.
Its sturdier tracks and thicker
track pads improve mobility and
dramatically adds stability and
performance. Massive Komatsu
forestry final drives increase reliability and extend service life.
VALMET FX10
THE FX10 boasts a leveling upper
with 360° continuous rotation
with the fast and powerful CRH24
harvesting boom. The 35-foot
(10.7 m) reach allows the operator to work within an amazing 70foot harvesting radius from a single machine position – less driving means less wear, less fuel, and
higher production. The smooth
parallel-action boom is extremely
fast and easily handles either the
Valmet 360.2, or larger 370.2, harvesting head at full reach.
The FX10s 300hp Tier3 Cummins engine is smooth, power-
KOMATSU PC300LL-7E0
The Forestry Excavator
I
f you expect this machine
to simply be a converted
PC300 excavator, you’ll
be very surprised. Komatsu’s PC300LL-7 (Officially
PC300LL-7E0) Forestry Excavator with Tier3 engine is purposebuilt for the forest; major design
improvements differentiate it
from the standard ”LC” construction excavator. It’s a true brute
of a swing machine designed to
handle tough logging applications from shovel logging to processing, stroke delimbing and
road building.
BUILT AT Komatsu’s Chattanoo-
ga, Tennessee factory, the
PC300LL-7 provides the productivity and dependability expected
from a Komatsu product.
What makes the PC300LL-7 a
different product? The PC300LL7 Forestry Excavator is engineered
from the start to meet the added
demands of forestry applications.
First, the undercarriage is
’up sized’ to PC400 class components with a specially designed
high-wide carbody, track components, rollers, full-length track
roller guards (with track support
skis). Larger final drives with
automatic three-speed travel provide 25% greater drawbar pull for
high ‘gradeability’ and ‘turnability’ off road.
THE UPPER structure main fra-
me is strengthened at the boom
tower to withstand high logging loads. The frame is additionally reinforced to accept a one
class larger swing bearing. Larger swing motor and swing drive provide a 28% improvement
in swing power for short cycle
times. The upper structure is
well protected with thicker 1/4”
steel on the engine and hydraulic
compartment doors, extra hinges provide improved durability and strength. Heavy-duty pla-
te completely covers the bottom
side, attaching bolts are recessed
for protection and service access
panels make for easy maintenance access.
All PC300LL-7’s include Komatsu’s innovative Komtrax®
vehicle communication link and
7” color cab display for monitoring vehicle performance and
condition. The 246 fwhp Komatsu designed Tier3 engine has
a high capacity cooling system.
Automatic idle control and four
work modes help provide good
fuel economy.
NEXT, A Komatsu designed 42’
logging boom features class
leading lift capacity with larger
’up-sized’ heel and boom cylinders and the massive stick cylinder is modified from Komatsu’s
PC600. All forestry excavator
components have been tested
and proven to withstand harsh
work environments.
Finally, the forestry excavator
features a true, purpose-built forestry cab certified to meet TOPS,
FOPS, OPS, WCB and Oregon
OSHA cab requirements.
IT’S A SPACIOUS, climate-con-
trolled operator environment that has all the operator comfort amenities plus a commanding high-visibility view and skylight. An optional 11⁄4” (31mm)
polycarbonate window is offered
for harvesting applications and
standard halogen, or high visibility Xenon work lights are available for night operation. Forestry
cab risers include an 8” tall fixed,
and hydraulically tilting 48” and
60” heights.
The PC300LL is a purposebuilt forestry excavator designed
to deliver more productivity and
value to your logging job. And
rest assured it comes from an
organization that is synonymous
with quality – Komatsu. r
ProSelect
Invest in a
new grapple
More contractors ought
to replace their old
grapples. A grapple
upgrade can increase
efficiency through
increased durability,
improved response, and
greater precision.
V
almet’s grapples are well
developed and refined,
offering a number of features that increase productivity. The most popular features
include good curling, timber
grabbing, and the ability to pene-
trate into dense log piles.
Though the design of the
grapple claws makes it easy to
penetrate a log pile, the grapple doesn’t scoop up soil, even
on surfaces that make it difficult
to pick up logs. The precision
maneuvering of Valmet’s grapples makes it possible to handle
single logs.What’s more, the grip
and release action of the grapple
is fast, which increases efficiency, while the end limit damping
on the cylinders ensures smooth
and even handling.One of the
most important reasons behind
Valmet’s good reputation for
highly productive grapples is the
special design and compact
geometry. The low build
height shortens the
boom’s path over the
bunk, saving time
and fuel. r
One of our many
grapples for
enhanced productivity is the Valmet
G28, a true allround grapple and
a bestseller.
International special offers
VALMET CUSTOMERS throughout the world can now take advantage of special offers on accessories and spares. Currently,
grapples are on sale.”Today, we’re proud to offer a system of co-
ordinated international special offers to benefit all our customers,”
says Jörgen Nilsson, head of marketing and sales at Parts Business, Komatsu Forest.
The product offering may vary between markets.
What you need, when you need it.
Expertise and experience. These are the most important building blocks of ProSelect,
our unique assortment of accessories and consumables for forestry machines. The chief
purpose of ProSelect is to provide you with the prerequisites for increased profitability.
We do this through high quality, availability and a complete assortment of products and
services. Concrete benefits for our customers range from minimized downtime to optimized
performance and service life for your forestry machines.
Good maintenance combined with regular control measurements and simple troubleshooting
improves length measurement accuracy.
Good maintenance
for improved length
measurement
Regular and methodic efforts to
ensure accurate length measurement are as simple as they are
valuable. With good, basic maintenance, control measurements
and troubleshooting rectify most
measurement problems.
I
ncreasing measurement accuracy is
no more complicated that any other
machine maintenance. Simple measures can be taken to rectify the cause
of most measurement errors. The key to
maintaining all machine functions is good,
regular maintenance.
Maintaining high measurement accuracy demands regular control measurements, such as in conjunction with a change
in weather or forest conditions. One control
measurement a day is recommended.
If you are to find a pattern in the control
measurements and trace the cause of measurement errors, you must repeatedly measure a certain species and length of tree.
Choose straight, healthy trees to eliminate
errors due to trunk deformities. Control measure the same log from each tree, preferably the second log with no trunk base swelling and which is usually straight with no
deformities. Also perform a control measure-
ment to compensate for the rootstock. Gather
enough data to discern a pattern. You’ll need
about 15 logs for accurate results. The data
will reveal any pattern, such as that the logs
are always too long or too short, or that the
errors have too large a spread.
MEASUREMENT RESULTS that are constantly too long or too short indicate the need to
calibrate. Most problems with length measurement are due to calibrating the machine
too seldom or incorrectly. Calibrate the length
in Maxi and measure a number of logs afterward to see whether the deviation remains.
Calibration alone is not enough to cor-
This is how easy it is to
enter the input data in the
Maxi system to calibrate
length measurement. It’s
important to have a sufficient number of measured
logs to ensure the quality
of the input data.
MAY WE ASK…
…STEN KANEBO,
head of sales
at Komatsu SweLog
Sweden
rect measurement errors that show too large a
spread. Troubleshooting is needed. It’s important to perform a new control measurement each
time an action is taken to study the measurement error spread.
Naturally, the first action is to inspect the
length measurement wheel. Is it too worn? Is
it damaged? Are any pins missing? Check that
it’s not askew. If any of these faults are found,
replace the measurement wheel.
Length measurement is very dependent on
the length measurement wheel maintaining constant pressure against the trunk. The instruction
manual explains how to measure the pressure in
Maxi. The measurement value should match the
value specified in the instruction manual.Check
that the delimbing knives work as they should.
Poor delimbing can cause measurement errors.
If the length measurement wheel seems intact,
another type of measurement wheel might be
needed. Always choose a measurement wheel
appropriate to the appearance of the tree and its
bark. Different measurement wheels have different profiles, with different widths, pin heights,
and numbers of pins. For example, if the trees
have thick, uneven bark, a broader measurement
wheel might be more suitable.
When checking the condition of the measure-
WARNING! Whenever working on the machine
and head, the engine must always be switched off
and the head locked in the tilted up position.Con-
ment wheel, check that the bearings are in good
working order. It should be possible to turn the
measurement wheel by hand, but it shouldn’t
turn too easily. If the wheel spins too easily, it may
turn even when not pressed against the trunk. It’s
also important to check the bearings for play.
THE NEXT STEP is to examine whether the sig-
nals from the length measurement sensor are
faulty. The axel-mounted sensor registers when
the length measurement wheel rolls along the log
and sends a certain number of pulses during each
revolution. The number of pulses per revolution
should be constant. The Maxi system has a troubleshooting tool to count the number of pulses.
As the measurement wheel turns, the system should register a certain number of pulses for each revolution. Check this by marking
the wheel with a pen, turning the wheel exactly
one revolution, then reading the number of pulses in the computer. If any pulses are missing, all
length measurements will be incorrect. Return
the wheel to its original position and check that
the displayed pulse value is 0. If the pulse values are incorrect, the sensor may need replacing.
The values should be: For the Valmet 350.1 – 60
pulses per revolution, and for the Valmet 360.2
and Valmet 370.2 – 80 pulses per revolution. r
sider this article a beginners’ guide to simple troubleshooting. If any components need replacing, you
should contact an authorized service provider.
How are sales in
Sweden?
We plan to up the pace this year
with several new products that
we hope and believe will be well
received. At the same time, this
year it’s more difficult to predict
the trend in demand as there are
so many uncertainty factors that
can affect the market in different ways.
How do you think the
market will develop
this year?
The general anxiety affecting
markets throughout the world is
also seen in Sweden. But there
are also other factors that make
it difficult to assess the market.
At the moment, Swedish sawmills are sitting on huge stockpiles, and that may affect harvesting. What’s more, the ground
in some parts of Sweden has a
tendency to get wet and soften,
which could also affect this year’s
harvest.
Will there be any
special marketing
campaigns in Sweden
in 2008?
As we’re launching many3 new
products, we’ll have a greater
public presence this year. There’ll
be road shows, demonstrations,
and conventions to attend. We
want to get out there and meet
customers up close, to show
them all our new products.
Dead man’s grip
saves lives
In terms of safety, it
stands to reason that a
harvester shouldn’t be
able to start processing uncontrollably when
the operator isn’t at the
controls. This isn’t the
case, though Valmet
harvesters are fitted
with a dead man’s grip
as standard.
A
dead man’s
grip is a safety device found
on many different machines and vehicles. Dead
man’s grip designs vary, but common to all is that the machine,
boom, and head all stop if the
operator releases the controls or
pedals.
Eddie Edwinsson is a Swedish forest machine contractor
and a member of TSG, the Swedish research institute Skogforsk’s
technical joint action group for
safety in the work environment.
The dead man’s grip is one of the
safety aspects the group is currently examining. ”In the work
following the major storm that
hit Europe in January 2005, a
number of near accidents were
reported that brought this important safety function to light,”
Eddie Edwinsson explains.
A DEAD MAN’S GRIP is used
primarily to eliminate the risk
of personal injury and material
damages.
”The operator should need
to make an active effort for the
machine to start processing, and
it’s also important that this safety feature cannot be deactivated,”
Eddie Edwinsson explains.
VALMET HARVESTERS are fit-
ted with a dead man’s grip function as standard on the large and
small joysticks alike, and the
INFO
function cannot be deactivated.
The operator must hold a button
depressed for the head to process. This button is ergonomically shaped and comfortably positioned. When the operator holds
the joystick, the button is pressed
with the thumb in an easy and
natural manner. r
Technical Joint Action Group
TSG is a forum for forest machine contractors, researchers, and forest companies that actively cooperate on development issues concerning forest machines and their use. One issue concerns safety in
the work environment. Examples of activities include coordinating
joint industry requirements, evaluations, tests, information distribution, standardization, and needs analyses.
More information
about the product line
CONTACT US
PRODUCTION UNITS
Komatsu Forest AB
Phone: +46 90 70 93 00
www.komatsuforest.com
Komatsu Forest LLC
Phone: +1 715 524 2820
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, SALES CENTERS
AND DEALERS
EUROPE
AUSTRIA
Karner und Berger GmbH
www.valmet.at
Phone: +43 2769 84571
BELGIUM
BIA n.v./s.a.
Phone +32 2 689 28 11
CROATIA
Iverak d.o.o.
www.iverak.hr
Phone: +385 1 291 0399
CZECH REPUBLIC
Komatsu Forest GmbH
www.komatsuforest.cz
Phone: +420 2 7270 1438
DENMARK
Helms TMT Centret AS
www.helmstmt.com
Phone: +45 9928 2930
ESTONIA
Balti Metsamasina AS
Phone: +372 322 3630
FINLAND
Komatsu Forest Oy
www.komatsuforest.fi
Phone: +358 20 770 1300
FRANCE
France South:
CEMA
Phone: +33 555 930 222
France North:
MAT FOR
Phone: +33 388 385 444
GERMANY
Komatsu Forest GmbH
www.komatsuforest.de
Phone: +49 74549 6020
HUNGARY
Kuhn Kft.
www.kuhn.hu
Phone: +36 128 980 80
LATVIA
Valmet Lat
Phone: +371 750 1357
LITHUANIA
Lifore Ltd
Phone: +370 5 2602 061
NETHERLANDS
W. van den Brink
www.lmbbrink.nl
Phone: +31 3184 56 228
NORWAY
Komatsu Forest A/S
www.komatsuforest.no
Phone: +47 62 57 8800
POLAND
Arcon Serwis SP.ZO.O.
www.arconserwis.pl
Phone +48 22 648 08 10
PORTUGAL
Cimertex, S.A.
Phone: +351 22 091 26 00
SLOVAKIA
Komatsu Forest
www.komatsuforest.cz
Phone: +420 2 7270 1438
SPAIN
Hitraf S.A.
www.hitraf.com
Phone: + 34 986 59 29 10
SWEDEN
Komatsu SweLog
www.komatsuswelog.com
Phone: +46 171 41 67 70
SWITZERLAND
W Mahler AG
www.wmahler.ch
Phone: +41 44 763 5090
UNITED KINGDOM
Komatsu Forest Ltd
Phone: +44 1228 792 018
RUSSIA
Komatsu Forest Russia
www.komatsuforest.ru
Phone +7 812 44999 07
NORTH AMERICA
UNITED STATES
Komatsu Forest
North American Marketing
Green Bay, WI
Phone: +1 920 593 3000
CANADA
Komatsu Forest
North American Marketing
Green Bay, WI
Phone: +1 920 593 3000
To find your local dealer/sales representative.
Go to www.komatsuforest.com
SOUTH AMERICA
BRAZIL, ARGENTINA,
URUGUAY
Komatsu Forest Ltda.
Phone: +55 41 2102 2828
CHILE
Komatsu Chile S.A.
www.kch.cl
Phone: +56 419 253 01
OCEANIA AND OTHER MARKETS
t.com
s
e
r
fo
atsu
kom
AUSTRALIA
Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd
www.komatsu.au
Phone: +61 2 9647 3600
NEW ZEALAND
Komatsu NZ
www.komatsu.au
+64 9 277 8300
SOUTHEAST ASIA
SOUTH AFRICA
Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd
Komatsu Southern Africa Ltd
www.komatsu.au
Phone: +61 2 9647 3600
Phone: +27 11 923 1110
INDONESIA
PT United Tractors Tbk
www.unitedtractors.com
Phone: +62 21 460 5959
35
Change of address
Is your magazine delivered to the wrong address? Please contact your nearest sales office.
Komatsu Forest AB
Box 7124,
SE-907 04 Umeå
Sweden
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In English - Komatsu Forest

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