In English - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
No 1 • 2007
830.3
830
.3
A NEW
FORWARDER
FOR ANNIKA
20
The pilot
Buying used
Pilots and harvester operators have more in common than you’d imagine. Pilot and former harvester operator Patrik Gustavsson reveals more.
There are a number of pitfalls to buying a used harvester. We offer some
simple advice to help avoid them.
READ MORE
15
• Feller-buncher for demanding harvesting 8 • Sound craftsmanship for safer cabs 12
• Logging – cut to length or full length mechanization 16
komatsuforest.com
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have, in very real terms, an entire forestry machine group to back you up. Read more about ProSelect on our website.
Increasing
globalization in
the forestry industry
G
lobalization is a burgeoning
trend. In time, circumstances will change for just about all
industry and the forestry industry is no
exception. A trend that is very tangible in
the forestry industry and which, in time,
will change the for most industry players. At present, we see steady demand for
forestry machines in mechanized markets such as North America and Northern Europe, while countries with young
forestry industries are undergoing extensive mechanization. This in turn entails
drastically increased demand for forestry machines. One underlying reason is
that forestry companies are increasing
their harvests in order to supply expanding
paper and pulp factories. In South America, this mostly concerns Brazil, but also
Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. China
and India exhibit an increasing demand for
paper too as standards of living improve.
Alongside the effects of globalization
on our industry, we see forestry companies in countries such as the USA and Canada merging into larger units, their ambition being to increase efficiency and benefit from economies of scale. A consolidation phase usually reduces machine
demand, though once mergers are complete, the need for machines increases dramatically. However, as this optimization
is not sufficient, the larger companies are
now establishing operations in other parts
of the world. A prerequisite in order to cope
with increasing harvests is a well-functioning mechanized production chain, which
demands increasingly more reliable logging equipment. Full service contracts and
closer collaboration with machine suppliers will gain in importance. This is where
our experience of the Brazilian forestry
industry comes into play.
In the wake of globalization, customers will want to collaborate with a single
supplier. This will benefit Komatsu Forest greatly, since together with Komatsu
we can supply all the equipment the industry requires - whether for harvesting, wood
handling, or terminal landing. The fact
that we as a group act openly and responsibly in issues regarding international regulations for environmental protection,
safety, and financial disclosure can only
strengthen our position as globalization
accelerates. r
CONTENTS
Successful investment
in cut-to-length
4
Factory expansion in Shawano
6
Dealer support
7
Feller-buncher for demanding
harvesting
8
Sound craftsmanship for safe cabs 12
Important considerations
when buying a used harvester
15
Logging – cut to length
or full length mechanization
16
Dan bought the first Valmet 830.3 18
Hideki Yamada
Harvester operator and pilot
20
Productive forwarder
with clamshell grapple
22
More effective oil purification
26
Rotating cab to avoid
back and neck discomfort
28
Biomass fuel doesn’t
unbalance the ecosystem
30
Mountain pine beetle hits Canada 32
Chief Executive Officer,
Komatsu Forest
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
Publisher: Roland Lundqvist roland.
[email protected]
Editor: Anders Pauser
[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 Nordreportern
Writers: Gunnar Andersson, Anders Pauser,
Erik Säfvenberg, Alexandra Sievers
Photographers: Anders Pauser, Erik Säfvenberg,
Jostein Skeidsvoll
Layout and original: Fredrik Lundell
Printing: Ågrens Tryckeri, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Paper: Gotic Silk 130 gram
Circulation: 34 000
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 4 • 2006
3
Cut-to-length
– A $UCCE$$FUL INVESTMENT
An early venture into cut-to-length has
proven very successful for contractor Mike
Reynolds of Idaho, USA. A major part of
this success has been due to Mike’s decision to only use Valmet brand machines.
M
ike Reynolds Logging, situated in
Priest River in the
beautiful natural surroundings
of northern Idaho, has the largest f leet of Valmet machines in
the North American market.
When we meet Mike Reynolds
it’s pretty obvious he likes Valmet, as well as the strong support he recieves from sales rep
René van der Merwe and the
good service provided by dealership Modern Machinery. Mike
bought his first Valmet machine
14 years ago and since the company’s investment in cut-tolength has yielded good returns,
step by step the machine lineup has grown larger. Today, the
company has three Valmet EX10
harvesters and is awaiting delivery of its first Valmet 941, these
four harvesters replacing six
machines. The lineup includes
three forwarders: two Valmet
860s and a Valmet 890.3, the latest addition and only recently
put into service.
The company also has two
Komatsu excavators and two
bulldozers. Mike Reynolds Logging has thirteen employees
and an annual timber harvest
of some 85,000-90,000 cubic
meters.
THERE ARE several reasons
behind Mike’s decision to
employ the cut-to-length system. Environmental protection
legislation and large numbers
of thinning assignments available are two of them, as is the
fact that the forests they harvest
contain 13 different species, and
because they are natural forests,
tree diameters vary greatly.
“I invested early in the cut-tolength (CTL) system in conjunction with the initial introduction of environmental protection legislation,” Mike explains.
“My idea was to learn the system before my competitors. This
has given me opportunities I
Mike Reynolds reports the EX10 with a 370.2 head a productive combination.
4
The views in Idaho are fantastic.
wouldn’t have otherwise had.
Among other things, I’ve been
encouraged by smaller landowners who manage their forests well.”
Mike has seen increasing interest from saw mills as
demands for more refined timber have increased.
THANKS TO THE investment in
the cut-to-length system, Reynolds has been able to increase
productivity by 10 to 15 percent.
“I also have very skilled operators and good uptime on the
machines - we see very little
downtime,” Mike continues.
We meet Mike in a clearing
where one of the company’s Valmet EX10 machines is hard at
work. This machine, delivered
four months before our visit, is
equipped with a Valmet 370.2
head.
“I’m impressed by the productivity we’ve achieved with
the new Valmet 370.2 head,”
says Mike. “It’s superior to the
older 965 head we have on one
of our other EX10s.”
Operator Gene Westfall is
very pleased with the machine
and especially appreciates the
ease of use of the Maxi system.
He also praises the cab, which
he finds safe and comfortable.
“One advantage of the EX10
is that it has no tailswing, which
makes it easy to rotate a full 360
degrees without tree or machine
damage,” says Gene.
Mike is awaiting delivery of another highly productive machine, a Valmet 941,
which will also be fitted with a
370.2 head. His choice is based
on problems with soft ground
in some areas and increasingly strict environmental regulations. A rubber-tired machine
simply causes less impact.
MIKE REYNOLDS Logging
wisely invests in renewing its
machine lineup, and in a clearing just a few dozen miles
away the company’s new Val-
The new Valmet 890.3 forwarder.
met 890.3 forwarder has just
been delivered. Operator James
Huling has only been using the
machine for a day, but summarizes his first impressions by
saying it’s the best forwarder
he’s ever driven.
“We’ve invested in an 890.3
because it’s the market’s largest
and most productive forwarder,” says Mike. “It’s a machine
that will help us keep profitability up as competition is always
growing.”
Today Mike Reynolds is 55
years old and has been working as a contractor and road
builder since 1987. As the company grows, Mike operates his
machines less and less. However, he still gets great pleasure
from being out in the open air,
operating machines, and taking calls from many a satisfied
customer. These are the things
that drive him to continue. And
considering how pleased Mike
is with red machines and the
dealer´s support, he’ll most likely continue driving Valmets. r
5
In the future, two production lines will be one. This means, among other things, a stronger focus on pre-assembly.
Shawano expands
Komatsu Forest is
expanding production at its Shawano, USA
facilities during 2007.
The goal is to dramatically increase forestry machine capacity,
primarily for the North
American market.
explains Tom Sarin, recently appointed President Production Division. Among the new
products we find another skidder model that is soon ready for
launch. Production is otherwise
primarily focused on tracked
feller-bunchers.
K
THE ACTUAL production flow
omatsu Forest previously expanded its production capacity at its
factory in Umeå, Sweden. Now
it’s time to expand the capacity of the North American plant
in Shawano. The goal is to meet
the customer demands of the
next upswing cycle in the best
possible manner with more
than double the production
capacity.
“We’ll increase production capacity, as well as introduce several new products in
order to meet market demands,”
6
will be redesigned in 2007. Two
assembly lines will become
one, and there will be a stronger focus on pre-assembly so that
the final assembly of each machine can move more quickly.
“Quite simply, we’ve reduced
the time from order to assembly,” Tom explains.
Another focal point is efforts
to further improve quality.
Three or four people will be
recruited to the newly formed
Quality Assurance section.
They will work with quality issues throughout the entire
production chain, from suppliers through incoming components to final assembly. Another
quality initiative is having every
line assembly worker record the
completion of each assembly
step in more detail than before.
“We’ll also increase the time
spent on final inspection and
testing in order to prevent such
things as oil leaks. We’re simply applying Komatsu’s manufacturing knowledge to improve
our product quality,” states Tom.
The goal of the quality assurance efforts is to find and remedy problems more quickly,
which will benefit customers
most of all.
as engines, tracks, and so on.
Since the goal is to increase
production and create more
new products, the engineering
department is being built up as
well.
“It’s very stimulating to be a
part of efforts of this size,” says
Tom. “And it’s an exciting challenge to design new products.” r
ANOTHER MEASURE that
will raise long-term quality
is strengthening the purchasing function. We are working
to find major synergies with
Komatsu’s other products, such
Tom Sarin is responsible for the
development of the Komatsu
Forest factory in Shawano, USA.
Dealer support
Komatsu Forest’s new
North American distribution organization
started operations this
past fall. The purpose of
the change is to better
support the dealer
network and end-users.
S
treamlining responsibility and contact channels. That is what splitting the distribution
function from the factory in Shawano is all about.
Responsibility for establishing the new distribution organization with its initial 28 employ-
ees was given to the former CEO
of Komatsu Forest LLC, Leif
Magnusson, who has a great deal
of experience in the North American forestry machine market.
“We’ve moved from a traditional department organization with a sales manager, a service manager, and a parts manager to a structure where we
have divided North America up
into three regions, with an Area
Manager in charge of sales, service, and parts performance in
each region,” says Leif.
According to Leif, it’s all a
matter of being able to provide
joint support in the best way for
sales, service, and parts to all 19
dealers.
“I see this as a unique model where one person is focused
solely upon successful handling
of all the daily issues from their
region,” states Leif.
HE FEELS the new model,
which was launched last fall,
has already shown many advantages. Dealers, for instance,
have been able to get answers
more quickly. The regional
managers have only seven or
eight dealers to work with. This
can be compared with the previous approach, wherein certain
people at the factory had contact
with all 19 dealers.
“We’ve received positive feedback from dealers, saying they
like the fact that they now have
their own team to work with,”
says Leif. “They see this as a proactive measure, which it is.”
The distribution center is also
forming a Dealer Advisory Council with the dealers of each region
in order to get feedback on issues
such as preferred product development. The dealers choose their
own representatives and communicate independently about
issues of importance for customers in their region.
AN IMPORTANT part of the
distribution organization’s
responsibilities is to improve
market communication. For this
reason, a well organized information department is being
built into the center, reporting
directly to Leif.
“With our new organization, I feel we’ve created the tools
needed to support our dealers
in the best possible manner and
to enable our market expansion
to continue as planned,” states
Leif. r
Leif Magnusson feels that the
prospects for Komatsu Forest to
expand in the North American
market are good.
7
One of the first Valmet 475EX machines busy at work for Walter Neufeld in British Columbia, Canada.
Feller-buncher for
demanding harvesting
A perfect feller-buncher team, especially on wet ground and in steep terrain!
That’s how Canadian contractor Walter
Neufeld describes his investment in a
Valmet 445EXL and 475EX.
8
T
he first snow has
already fallen as we
visit Walter Neufeld
and his company Walter Neufeld Contractor
to take a look at their two feller-bunchers, which are harvesting an 11,000 cubic meter tract,
with timber that is mostly dead
pine, ravaged by the black pine
beetle found in this area of British Columbia, Canada just a
few hours drive north of Prince
George.
“The dead pine leave the
ground waterlogged, because
each pine tree normally takes
up about 50 gallons (200 liters)
a day,” Walter explains. “This is
one reason I took on a Valmet
475EX with the Quadco 22 inch
high-speed head for use on the
level ground.”
This machine, which was
Only large tree
harvesting permitted
The Valmet 475EX is a high producer on soft, wet
ground in Western Canada´s beetle-killed timber.
the first 475EX to leave the production line, has proven itself
an excellent choice. The boom´s
33-foot (10-meter) reach minimizes machine walking, which
extends the undercarriage life
and saves fuel. Moreover, less
walking and the machine´s low
ground pressure minimizes
ground damage.
“At first we didn’t think such
a large machine would cope
with the wet ground as well as it
does,” a happy Walter reveals.
THE 475EX has been comple-
mented with a Valmet 445EXL,
one size samller, with its good
leveling and lower weight is perfect for the steep terrain they
often harvest. Minimizing
ground damage is very much
a requirement, as the company operates in an area protected
by strict environmental regulations. The company is certified
in accordance with both the ISO
and FSC standards.
They are working 12-hour
single shifts with an annual
harvest of some 200,000 cubic
Walter Neufeld is pleased with his Valmet fellerbunchers from Komatsu Forest.
meters, about half of which is
permanently contracted. Walter, 47, has worked in the forest since he was 19. Although he
didn’t found his company until
1995, it has grown to 17 people.
A considerable share of income
stems from the company’s five
timber trucks, as well as the 1230 miles (20-50 km) of forest
roads they lay each year.
EVER SINCE STARTING his
business, Walter has been a
customer of Terratech. Walter’s
good relationship with Terratech inf luenced his decisions to
replace his two tracked fellers
with a Valmet 475EX and a Valmet 445EXL. He has no regrets
about changing brands.
“The Valmet machines are
very reliable and productive,”
says Walter. “Above all else, the
fuel economy is great, with the
control system providing stable engine RPM and full power
at lower RPMs. Both machines
use 4-5 gallons (15-20 liters) an
hour, compared to the 6-8 gallons (25-30 liters) an hour of
competing brands.”
He is also very pleased with
how well stable the machines
are and how easy they make harvesting. Maintenance costs have
been low and Walter feels the
downtime has been minimal.
THE COMPANY’S only mecha-
nic hasn’t needed to spend particular much time on the machines. The operators take care of
lubrication needs and all off the
daily checks.
When we speak to the company’s oldest operator, Martin
Fehr, 58, he’s very pleased with
the cab on his 475 and greatly
appreciates the safety features.
This isn’t surprising if you
consider the fact that the dead
pine Martin harvests can easily
snap if the operator is not careful.
“The 475EX is just the right
size for high production,” says
Martin. “I like the controls,
they let me change track speeds
on-the-go. It’s a system that’s
easy to learn and it makes the
machine really fast.” r
Mozambique’s government has passed legislation that only permits
certain tree species to be logged
and then only those above a certain trunk diameter.
Prime Minister Luisa Diogo
told Agencia de Informacao de
Mocambique that the law guarantees new growth and sustainability while securing the industry’s needs.
Forest protection new
source of income
Forest owners in Finland are being offered
new opportunities to
earn from their forests. METSO, the program for biodiversity
in the forests of southern Finland, has succeeded in getting
many forest owners to consider alternatives to traditional timber production. Voluntary forest
protection yields economic benefits equally as large as forestry
while preserving the landscape
in an undisturbed state for future
generations. It takes about fifty
years before thinning provides
any real economic returns, and
for many forest owners leaving
things as they are is an alternative that provides a good conscience.
New major plywood
factory in Siberia
The largest plywood
factory in Siberia and
the Far East will be built
in Krasnoyarsk in 2007. The ambition is to produce an annual
250,000 cubic meters of plywood
from conifers and 100,000 cubic meters from birch. About 800
people will work at the production plant.
New Head
of Marketing
T
Toshiya Yasukawa has been made the new Head of
Marketing of Komatsu Forest, and will be based
at our Swedish headquarters. His predecessor,
Akira Yamakawa, has taken over the role of head
of marketing in Canada for Komatsu Construction
America.
oshiya Yasukawa comes
to us from Kumatsu Trading, where he
was CEO until the merger with
Komatsu International Division.
He has also worked at Komatsu Europe International in Belgium, Komatsu America in
San Francisco and Atlanta, and
Komatsu Singapore. r
In new positions
Service instructors trained
at engine plant
In December, ten of Komatsu Forest’s service personnel instructors traveled to engine supplier SisuDiesel in Finland for training.
Participants from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and England
attended a three-day course in forestry machine engines that included both theory and practice.
News for the Russian market
Jari Alahuhtala
Responsibility for the Russian
market, which has previously fallen to Komatsu Forest Oy,
will now fall under a new unit.
Jari Alahuhtala will take the
role of CEO for the new unit
10
and will be responsible for
the Russian market.
On October 1, 2007, Timo
Ylänen will assume the role
of CEO of Komatsu Forest Oy. He comes to us from
John Deere in Finland.
Tore Waara will be acting
CEO for the company until
October. He was previously
CEO of Komatsu Forest AS in
Norway. Tore is a true Scandinavian who has worked in
all the Scandinavian countries.
B
ernt Rauser has taken the job of General Manager for new
DC Europe and has handed over the reins of sales
company Komatsu Forest
GmbH to Jürgen Münz, the
new CEO. He comes to us
from BayWa AG Technik in
Niederbayern, Germany.
In England, Colin
Robertson is the new CEO
of Komatsu Forest Ltd. He
was previously General
Manager for Komatsu
Forest Ltd.
Tore Aaslund, previously controller for Komatsu
Forest AS, is the new CEO.
Erik Øverby has been made
the Head of Sales for both
new and used machines. r
Major deliveries to Brazilian
forestry industry
Komatsu Forest’s position in
the South American market is
increasing in strength, illustrated by several major forestry
machine deliveries comprising
excavators fitted with harvesting heads. One customer is
pulp manufacturer Suzano
Pulp and Paper, and this order
includes the Komatsu PC 200
with a Valmet 370E head and
the Valmet 890.3 forwarder.
The second order is for a lar-
ge number of forestry machines and harvesting heads for
Aracruz/Veracel, one of the
world’s largest pulp manufacturers. This is the third major
order from the company the
past two years. The order includes both upgrades from older Valmet machines to newer
models and an expansion of
the company’s machine park.
Another major delivery is on
its way to Cenibra.
NEW AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS
TREETALK
The author is not employed by Komatsu Forest
and the views expressed
are those of the author,
not of Komatsu Forest.
Komatsu Forest is in no
way responsible for the
content herein.
Broadened lubricant range
Engine, axle, and transmission oils have been added to Valmet’s
range of ProSelect factory approved oils and greases. The range
previously included hydraulic oil and lubricating grease. The new
products are available in Scandinavia and Germany.
New tool kit
A completely new specially designed tool kit for
Valmet machines has been
put together. The tools are
of the highest quality and
cover most servicing and
minor repair needs. The
kit includes 18 open-end
wrenches, plenty of socket
wrenches, ratchet handles,
screwdrivers, universal
pliers, and hammers. All
gathered in a practical tool
box that even has space for
smaller spare parts.
Feed rollers for reliable operation
For some time, Valmet feed rollers have been
available for all Valmet harvesting heads and
for a wide range of operating conditions.
Chains complete the range
Valmet already offers saw bars. Now we offer chains.
Valmet chains and saw bars are sized for both Valmet
and third-party harvesting heads.
Staffan Lindgren
Staffan Lindgren is a professor of forest
entomology at the University of Northern
British Columbia. His area of expertise is
forest insect ecology and management,
particularly insect-plant interactions and
chemical ecology.
The mountain
pine beetle
epidemic
B
ritish Columbia in Canada is currently experiencing the
most extensive bark beetle outbreak in recorded history. As of 2005, the outbreak covered 8.7 million ha, with
about of 1/3 of that area in extreme or high infestation classes.
Lodgepole pine, the primary host of the mountain pine beetle
is a widely distributed seral species, which persists in vast monocultures as a result of fire. When fire is excluded, the mountain
pine beetle steps in, killing the larger trees. Many outbreaks have
been recorded over the past 100 years, so outbreaks as such are
not unique.
The mountain pine beetle can utilize many species of pine,
e.g., jack pine of Canada’s boreal forest. The beetle reproduces best in large, vigorous trees. Under some circumstances,
populations increase allowing the beetle start killing live trees.
When this happens the insect has a) escaped competition, and
b) gained access to a more or less limitless resource. Once in the
tree-killing phase, only lethal winter temperatures or host depletion will put an end to the outbreak.
Beetle populations build up and spread very rapidly across
the landscape in continuous, mature lodgepole pine stands. On
the central plateau of British Columbia, there is a huge area of
more or less continuous, mature lodgepole pine forests. In the
absence of severe winter weather, this has allowed beetle populations to build up to unprecedented levels. In July 2006, the insect reached the lodgepole pine-jack pine hybrid zone in Alberta’s
Peace River region. Once in the boreal jack pine forests, there is a
fear that the beetle will march across the entire continent.
How realistic is this scenario? Unfortunately it cannot be dismissed. Mild climate, a continuous host supply, and a suitable
predominant wind direction favours the insect. On the other hand
there is a relatively high probability of lethal cold weather events
in these boreal forest. At this time, the insect appears to have
gained a foothold east of the northern Rocky Mountains. Only
time will tell if it will be able to spread further east from there. r
11
Sound
craftsmanship
for safe cabs
The new fac tor y in Ku
rikka manufactures
6,0 00 cabs a year. The
tor y was completed
fac las t summer and me
asures 120,00 0 square
fee t.
Valmet’s cabs combine good design
with skilled craftsmanship. The cabs are
assembled like giant jigsaw puzzles in a
newly built factory just outside Kurikka,
Finland.
V
almet machines are
renowned for their
fantastic field of view
offered from safe and comfortable cabs. Thorough quality assurance, good design, and
modern production techniques
are a few of the factors behind
what many consider to be the
market-leading work environment for forestry machine operators.
The excellent field of view
is one of the cab’s most popular features. Leveling is also an
important factor when it comes
to making this machine and
its operators more effective.
Since the operator remains lev-
12
el, this provides the most favorable ergonomics to help operators concentrate throughout
their shifts. In addition, the
risk of injury due to excessive
strain and fatigue is reduced.
The designers have worked
hard to ensure good ergonomics when placing controls and
buttons. Harvester operators are
protected by 15 millimeters of
safety glass, as opposed to the
12 millimeters more commonly found in other manufacturers’ machines. This is to protect
operators from broken chain
projectiles. The cab is the safest place for a forestry machine
operator.
The cabs are full of carefully considered components to give the
machine operator the best possible view and as much comfort as
possible, all without compromising safety.
The cabs are assembled in
Finland, the work beginning at
the old factory in central Kurikka, where experienced welders
create the sturdy frames upon
which the cabs are built. The
cab frame is an important element of the safety considerations that permeate the cabs
and design process. The cabs
An interesting detail in the cab
interior is the recess for a tin of
snuff. This recess can of course
be used for other purposes.
Cab assembly is like piecing together a gigantic jigsaw
puzzle, with 1,500 components, large and small, to be
assembled.
are designed, for example, to
withstand a force from above of
double the machine’s weight.
The cab is also designed to protect against falling objects, such
as tree trunks.
Since last summer, each sturdy cab frame is transformed into
the final product at the newly built factory a couple of miles
outside Kurikka.
pany that produces the cabs for
Valmet in accordance with Valmet specifications.
Frank shows us everything
from the integrated sunshades
to the slants that provide a more
spacious cab interior without
increasing external dimensions.
A CAB IS A REAL design chal-
offer little room for change as
regards cab appearance, so getting the small details right is
important.
“The operator should feel
safe, as well as have a well functioning and comfortable work
INFO
environment. One nice little
detail, particularly appreciated by Swedish operators, is the
recess in the trim panel for a tin
of snuff. That, if nothing else,
shows how well adapted the cab
is to its users,” says Frank. r
The factory in Kurikka
IT’S HERE THAT the 1,500
lenge as there are many aspects
to consider and compromises to
make, while some dimensions
are dictated by the machine
design. The larger components
machine components are assembled using 500 unique building
blocks to create a safe and inviting operator environment. Like a
giant jigsaw puzzle, the cabs are
pieced together in this spacious,
bright, and airy factory, the parts
gathered from everything from
small plastic boxes to wooden
pallets. Taking a closer look, it’s
easy to see that it’s the parts that
make the whole.
“The cabs are designed to
provide the operator with the
maximum field of view without
compromising functionality or
safety,” says Frank van Nunen at
Ruukki Engineering, the com-
The assembled cabs are loaded onto trucks for transportation across the Gulf of Bothnia to Sweden.
Has 500 employees
Covers 120,000 square feet
Manufactures 6,000 cabs a year
Produces cabs for a number of different machines
13
Decreasing fuel
consumption
In the past 20 years,
fuel consumption in
the forestry industry
has been reduced by
more than 30 percent,
which is good for both
the economy and the
environment. Claes
Löfroth, a researcher at
the Swedish research
foundation Skogforsk,
estimates that this
positive development
will continue and that
current fuel consumption can be cut in half in
the next ten years.
T
hanks to more efficient
machines, better technology, improved work
methods, and more efficient
logistics, total fuel consumption
for logging and transport in Sweden has been reduced from 5.4
liters of diesel per cubic meter in
1985 to 3.7 liters today. According to Claes, the reduction is
mainly due to the close collaboration between machine manufacturers, users, and researchers that enables new machines
and work methods to be quickly put into practice. One example is the move from the fellers,
bunchers, and twin-grip harvesters that dominated the 1970s
and 80s to today’s more efficient
single-grip harvesters. Even the
forwarders that are now used
for terrain transport are larger,
which reduces fuel consumption
per cut cubic meter.
14
Claes says it’s difficult to
pick one single factor that contributes most to lower fuel consumption.
“Engines have become more
effective and fuel efficient, but
it’s really a combination of many
different factors that have led to
this positive result,” he says.
He emphasizes the importance of continuing on this path
in order to further reduce fuel
consumption in the future.
Among the measures that can
contribute to this progress are
more efficient engines, better
hydraulic systems, new fuels
(such as synthetic diesel), lower
ground friction, lighter timber
trucks, and more. Claes believes
we can achieve a 50% reduction in current fuel consumption to less than 2 liters of diesel per cubic meter over the next
10 years.
CURRENT DIESEL costs for a
timber truck account for about
35 percent of the total budget, which is just as much as
employee costs. The percentage
for forestry machines is slightly lower, about 15 percent, but
obviously one would like to cut
these costs as well, comments Claes. He believes strongly
in the development of alternative power chains that have a
diesel engine powering electric motors. Even when it comes
to the hydraulic systems there is room for further energy
savings. If one were to use batte-
ries instead, it would be possible
to reduce energy loss, getting
it down to only 5 to 10 percent.
When it comes to timber transport on roads, Löfroth advocates a general increase in load
weights, perhaps all the way up
to 80 tons. Such large vehicles
already exist in countries such
as Australia, New Zealand, and
France and they have the advantage that fuel usage and environmental impact per transported unit are reduced.
”Fuel use and exhaust must
be reduced if the forestry industry is to have a future. Reducing
Claes Löfroth is convinced that
fuel consumption can be reduced even more.
the environmental impact also
reduces the cost to the user,”
states Löfroth. r
Liter/m3
5,4
-30%
3,7
2,0
1985
2007
2017
Fuel consumption for cutting and transport in Sweden has been
reduced from 5.4 liters of diesel per cubic meter in 1985 to 3.7
liters today. Another 50% reduction within ten years is possible,
in Löfroth’s opinion.
Important
considerations
when buying
a used harvester
It’s easy to find used
harvesters on the
Internet, offered for
sale by branded suppliers, private individuals,
and traders. What’s not
so easy is finding the
right machine. That’s
why we’re offering a few
tips about choosing a
machine.
B
uying a used machine
has many advantages, but also a number
of pitfalls. These pitfalls can be
avoided by following some simple, but rather important, advice.
The advice offered here is based
on harvesters, as they generally entail larger investments than
forwarders, but for the most part
our advice also applies to forwarders.
The first thing is to buy the
right machine for the job. In other words, it’s important to con-
sider what the machine will be
used for. In this respect, Komatsu Forest’s organization can be
of help with its extensive forestry
experience the world over.
It’s important to first
build a general impression of
the machine. But don’t simply check the bodywork for
knocks and dents. The machine
shouldn’t look like it’s clocked
up more hours than it actually has. If you’re buying a Valmet- machine, it’s relatively easy
to check this via the Valmet
machine records.
THE NEXT IMPORTANT point
is how well the harvester has
been maintained. How well is it
lubricated, for example? A useful tip is to check whether any
grease nipples are missing or
appear “dry”. If any grease nipples are missing or if there’s no
visible grease around them, the
machine may not have been pro-
It’s a good idea to check the following before
investing in a used machine.
If you’ve checked three of the boxes as important, you ought to
contact a Komatsu Forest dealer rather than look for a machine on your own. Read more at our used machine website:
www.komatsuforest.com/used
USED MACHINE
CHECKLIST
• General impression
• Harvesting head
perly maintained. Many forestry
machine owners keep their own
service log. If there is one, take
a good look, and check whether
there are any recurring problems. If this is the case, weigh
this up extra carefully before
deciding this is the machine for
you. If you buy from a Valmet
dealer, you can discuss the possibility of a special guarantee for
the affected machine function.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT point
is to check the harvesting head,
as it will be working some 75 percent of the machine’s operating
time. Depending on the intended use and the machine’s price, the head ought to be good for
another 2,000–4,000 hours before needing replacement. If the
head needs to be replaced when
buying the machine, the harvester ought to be good for another
6,000–8,000 operating hours.
As Valmet dealers have
extensive experience with harvesting heads, they can help
equip the harvester with the
right head.
Even if you think you know
how the machine works, training is important. This can
save you a great deal of trouble, especially in terms of costly downtime. A wise choice is
to choose a branded dealership
with trained personnel. Training can make all the difference
between satisfaction and disappointment.
If you go to a Komatsu Forest dealer, you can get help with
all the points mentioned above.
All part-exchanged machines
are thoroughly tested, and buyers can view the papers. For Valmet machines produced during
the past six years, you can also
normally view oil test results, as
almost all such machines have
been oil-tested after 500, 1000,
1500, and 2000 hours.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT point
to consider is that many machines have been covered by the
ProAct service system, which
means they’ve been documented since they left the factory.
“It’s important that everything that should work on a
used machine really does work,
and for that reason we overhaul
anything that’s malfunctioning
to ensure it’s rectified before the
machine is sprayed and put on
sale,” says Erik Øverbø at Komatsu AS in Norway. r
Not
Important important
The machine’s overall condition
The head’s overall condition
Onboard computer upgrade
Service/Support
Training
• Lubrication
• Service log
• Onboard computer
• Training
15
1
INTERNATIONAL LOGGING SYSTEMS
LOGGING
– cut to length or full length mechanization
Logging in the northern evergreen belt on the North American continent, in Europe, and in Russia is
carried out using a wide variety of equipment, depending on the circumstances. Terrain, tree species,
dimensions, traditions, and infrastructure all contribute to the choice of machines used. With these
graphics, we’ve tried to create an overview of some of the most common systems. Naturally, there
are more variations on these themes, especially if one takes Russia and the southern hemisphere
into consideration. In the next few issues of Just Forest, we’ll try to illustrate the most commonly used
systems in the southern hemisphere and on tree plantations, as well as a few less common and more
unusual systems.
FULL LENGTH, FL/FT
Full length
THE FULL LENGTH or full tree method (FL/FT) is a logging system that uses the entire tree as a single unit and generally involves using a fellerbuncher to fell and pile (bunch) trees in one spot. Skidders then drag the trees to the landing, where a machine with a delimbing processor or a
boom delimber strips the trunks and cuts off the tops. The trunks remain at their full lengths of 30–100 feet (10–30 m) until arrival at the mills.
The advantage of this system is the high logging capacity. The full length system is also a good complement to sawmill investments in timber equipment.
One disadvantage of the system is that it requires large clearings to handle the timber. It also demands large numbers of machines and personnel. The system has a weather dependency, producing dirty timber in bad weather.
There are different variations on this system. In North America, once the timber has been skidded to the roadside, a boom delimber, a slasher, and a stationary loader are used for pulpwood. Another variation is to use a stationary pull through delimber and then a loader.
Most commonly used in: North America
Full length with handcutters
THE TREES ARE FELLED by handcutters and then skidded to a clearing by a simple
skidder. A delimbing machine processes the trunks into suitable lengths for loading
onto trucks.
Most commonly used in: Europe and Russia
Full length, partially crosscut
THIS METHOD IS somewhere between full tree length and cut to length. This method, as in the original full length method, uses feller-bunchers, skidders, and processors stationed in clear areas or landings near the roadside. The timber is cut into suitable lengths for transport on public
roads. In Canada, trunks can be a maximum of 60 feet (18.5 m) long, in the USA 40–50 feet (12–15 m), and in Europe often up to 33 feet (10 m).
This method is also used to harvest large areas. The advantages of this system are its high productivity and more flexible transport options.
Most commonly used in: North America and Russia
16
CUT TO LENGTH, CTL
Scandinavian CTL with cutting at the stump
THE SCANDINAVIAN SYSTEM uses a rubber-tired harvester and a forwarder. The harvester fells, delimbs, and crosscuts the trees into short
lengths of 10–20 feet (3–6 m). A forwarder loads the logs and transports them to the closest road, where the timber is loaded onto trucks. The advantage here are that the rubber-tired vehicles cause minimal ground damage and fuel costs are lower per cubic foot of timber. This method is
the most environmentally friendly. This system is also very flexible with regard to being able to achieve effective production in small harvesting
areas and to deliver various customer-specified lengths and qualities of timber. This system requires few machines and less personnel.
Most commonly used in: Europe
North American CTL with crosscutting in the forest
A FELLER-BUNCHER FELLS the trees and is followed by two machines, one with a head, such as an excavator with processors for delimbing and
crosscutting trees, and a forwarder for transport to the roadside. The felled and delimbed trees are crosscut in the forest with the finished logs
transported by forwarder to the roadside. The advantages of the this system are that it is efficient and results in high production volumes, enables
a wide range of assortments, and requires less road construction since forwarders offer more economical transport than skidders. You also get a
higher concentration of timber (of the same type) in smaller clearings than with full trees.
Most commonly used in: North America
CTL with roadside delimbing and crosscutting
A FELLER-BUNCHER LOGS THE TREES, which are then skidded to the roadside. There an excavator-based processor cuts the timber into suitable
lengths. The system is somewhere between full length and CTL. The advantages here are the flexibility of the two systems and the fact that the
start-up costs for a new CTL timber system are low since all the required machines are full length machines. Another advantage is that the system
can produce different lengths according to customer needs. One disadvantage is the large clearings required.
Most commonly used in: North America and Russia
CTL with handcutters and roadside manual delimbing
THE TREES ARE LOGGED AND DELIMBED by handcutters and then skidded to a clearing by a simple rubber-tired or
tracked skidder. Crosscutting is done manually, often into very short lengths for loading onto timber trucks.
Most commonly used in: Europe and Russia
17
When the new Valmet 830.3 was launched, it was an easy decision for Dan to replace his old Valmet 820.
DAN BOUGHT
THE FIRST ONE
The first model of the new Valmet
830.3 forwarder was delivered to Dan
Håkansson in Ullared, southern Sweden.
A
round the end of
January this year,
the first new Valmet
830.3 left the factory and entered the forest. Dan
Håkansson has been running
18
his company, Dan Håkansson
Skogsentreprenad AB, for more
than thirty years. When the new
Valmet 830.3 was announced,
Dan immediately decided to
replace an old Valmet 820 with a
new Valmet 830.3.
“We already have the older
version of the 830 and are very
pleased with it, so it was an
easy choice when it was time to
replace our oldest forwarder,”
explains Dan.
Dan only has Valmet machines. Aside from the new 830.3
and an older 830, he also has an
840 and an 860, buying his first
Valmet forwarder in 1994.
“They’ve always worked very
well, so I’ve no reason to change
brand,” he says.
Dan’s new forwarder will
mostly be operated by his
daughter Annika Håkansson.
Annika has been operating forwarders for almost four years
and has spent a great deal of
time in a Valmet 830.
VALMET 830.3
NEW FEATURE
OVERVIEW
• Roomier cab interior and
lower profile panels with
integrated sunshades for
increased visibility
• New storage spaces: specially designed place for
a letter size printer, binder rack, first-aid kit holder,
ceiling nets, and more
• New combined extra seat/
coffee table
• New service hatch on right
side panel simplifies fuse
replacement
• New and improved control
panel layout for optimized
operation
Annika has been operating forwarders for almost four years.
For most of that time she’s been
using a Valmet 830.
• Simpler menu navigation
After the storm that ravaged the region in
January 2005, the company has also worked a
great deal with clearing windthrown timber.
• Several new Maxi system functions: weight reports, unloading routine,
and more
• Environmentally-friendly
Tier 3 engine
• Torque increased by 10
percent for greater engine
power
“I really like the Valmet
830,” she says. “It’s nimble and
easy to use for thinning, and it’s
fun to get to use a brand new
machine.”
Dan Håkansson Skogsentreprenad AB mostly works for
the Swedish forestry company
Södra and for Göteborgs stift,
often subcontracted by another
forestry contractor. Much of
the work is thinning, though in
recent years the company also
worked a great deal with clea-
ring windthrown timber after
the storm that ravaged the region in January 2005.
“The Valmet 830 is actually very good to drive among the
windthrown timber from the
storm,” says Dan. r
• 20 percent stronger crane
mount
Valmet 830.3
INFO
WEIGHT (APPROX.):
PERMITTED LOAD (MAX.):
STANDARD WIDTH:
ENGINE:
POWER:
TORQUE:
MAX. SPEED:
PULLING CAPACITY (MAX.):
CRANE:
GRAPPLE:
CONTROL AND INFORMATION SYSTEM:
• Increased crane lifting
torque, from 67 to 74 kNm,
and upgraded crane valve
23,150 lbs (10,500 kg)
19,850 lbs (9,000 kg)
8.5 ft (2,600 mm)
44 CWA, 4-cylinder turbo with Commonrail. Tier 3.
134 HP (100 kW DIN)
600 Nm at 1,300-1,500 RPM
15 mph (25 km/h)
110 kN
CRF 5 Reach: 22.5 ft (6,850 mm)
G25
MaxiForwarder
19
The harvester computer gathers
all information, while only displaying the information currently
required.
A harvester operator makes more decisions per unit of time than a pilot. Pilot Patrik Gustafsson, a former harvester operator, finds many similarities between harvesters and aircraft.
Harvester
operator
and pilot
– the similarities are many
It’s often claimed
that a harvester operator makes
more decisions per
unit of time than an
aircraft pilot.
“Definitely. A
harvester and an
airplane also have
more similarities than you’d first
think,” says pilot
and former harvester operator Patrik
Gustavsson.
T
sequences of any decision are
greater, and stress levels vary
more, with higher peaks,” he
explains.
Patrik started operating har-
hat a harvester operator makes more
decisions per unit of
time than a pilot is
mentioned often in various con-
20
texts, without being based on
any scientific facts. Patrik, who
worked as a harvester operator
for three years before changing
careers and becoming a pilot,
says the statement holds, but
that there are of course differences.
“The biggest difference is
that for a pilot the possible con-
Patrik Gustafsson is a certified pilot and former harvester operator. The experience
he gained from harvesters
was an advantage in his pilot
training and continues to benefit him in his new career.
Aircraft instrumentation, like that in harvesters, is becoming more integrated and structured.
vesters in 1996 in Kalix, his
hometown in northern Sweden, and from 1997 to 1999 he
worked fulltime as an operator
for Bensby Forestry Service and
Kalix Forestry Service. After two
years pilot training and a year
as an instructor, he now works
for Ryan Air, with a sideline as
a f light simulator instructor a
couple of days each month.
FOR MUCH OF A f light, a pilot
has little to do other than ensure everything is working as it
should. Takeoffs and landings
are a little more hectic. Bad
weather can quickly change f lying conditions, so pilots must
remain awake in case anything
happens.
“Having operated harvesters
is certainly an advantage. Since
you have to continually weigh
options and make decisions,
your ability to make quick decisions improves,” says Patrik.
He says the differences
between a harvester and an aircraft are smaller than you might
first think. The biggest similarities are, a little unexpectedly, on
the technical level.
“An aircraft has two vital systems – the electrical system and
the hydraulic system. The differences between the electrical systems in harvesters and
aircraft are major, but with the
hydraulics I’d go so far as to say
the harvester is more advanced,”
he says.
Patrik feels he has an advantage in knowing the limits and
capabilities of hydraulic systems. He explains that many
pilots have no experience of how
a hydraulic system functions.
“I know, for example, what
happens when a hydraulic hose
breaks. A similar fault shouldn’t
occur in an aircraft, but knowing the consequences of a broken hydraulic hose, and knowing how breakages arise, is an
advantage when f lying,” he
believes.
Moreover, he also notes
increasing similarities between
cab and cockpit environments.
According to Patrik, it’s becoming more common for aircraft
instrumentation to be gathered
on computer screens, just like in
a harvester.
“The methodology in an aircraft is the same as that in a harvester. Only information relevant to what is being done is displayed. We’ve begun to realize
people’s limited ability to absorb
information and instead present it in a more easily managed
fashion,” says Patrik.
However, just like in a har-
INFO
vester, all the underlying information can be displayed when
needed.
ONE REASON why the informa-
tion is being compiled and presented more comprehensibly is
because most air accidents are
due to poorly made decisions
rather than technical problems.
As a result, today greater emphasis is placed on a pilot’s ability
to make decisions.
“I’ve benefited a great deal
from my previous experience as
a harvester operator, both on the
technical side of things and in
my ability to make quick decisions,” says Patrik. r
Patrik Gustavsson
AGE: 29 years
WORKS AS: Copilot at Ryan Air and simulator instructor
LIVES: In Castle Donington, about 15 minutes from Nottingham, England
BORN: Kalix, northern Sweden
INTERESTS: Hunting, especially elk, motorcycles, and motor sports
21
A Valmet 890.2 with a clamshell grapple can skid up to 50 cubic meters of the area´s tallest timber in one grip.
Productive
clamshell grapple
for forwarders
22
Randall Gibb and Eli Hetu helped
modify the clamshell grapples.
A clamshell grapple enables Amboy Logging in Canada to make effective use of a
Valmet 890.2 forwarder – as a skidder. The solution is perfectly suited to soft ground
conditions and strict environmental laws.
W
hen we meet
the owners of
Amboy Logging, Randall Gibb and Eli Hetu, it quickly becomes clear that these two
successful contractors continually find new ways to optimize
their operations. Over the years,
the company has increasing-
ly specialized in harvesting on
wet, soft ground. The company, located in Quesnel, an area
south of Prince George in British Columbia, Canada, harvest of about 260,000–280,000
cubic meters annually, which
is cut into lengths in the forest at a roadside landing area
using processing heads mount-
ed on tracked excavators. When
we arrive, a Komatsu PC 200 is
busy processing timber that the
company’s two clamshell forwarders are transporting with
great efficiency. Two fellerbunchers cut at the stump and
the company’s machine lineup also includes three Komatsu processors and two Komat-
su loaders. A forwarder with a
grapple is used to ”shovel” timber to roadside from difficult
terrain.
“We’ve replaced four skidders with the two 890 forwarders fitted with clamshell grapples, saving the cost of two
employees,” Eli explains. “A forwarder fitted with a clamshell
23
The clamshell grapple has a
32-square foot (3.2-square
meter) cross-section.
grapple let us drive much faster than a traditional skidder and
with six wheels and low ground
pressure it’s also easier on the
forest f loor.”
THIS ’CLAMSHELL Forwarder’ has a large, heavy grapple mounted on the back frame.
The grapple faces upward, and
the 890’s loader is used to place the trunks into the opening.
The arms and a 22mm (7/8”)
thick cable together close to
hold the load during transport.
Clambunks aren’t new, but
Randall and Eli saw the 890’s
potential and with Coneco/Terratech made it happen.
The Valmet 890.2 forwarders can transport up to 50 cubic
meters, corresponding to a fully-loaded timber truck, on each
24
trip. The average, however, is
30–35 cubic meters. Compared
to a grapple skidder, which
needs to make seven or eight
times to transport the same timber volume.
Another notable feature of
the clamshell grapples is that
they are fitted with a pusher,
making it easier to unload on
downhill slopes. Quick unloading is required for high productivity. The forwarders operate in
single shifts while the processors run in double shifts. The
advantage of operating the forwarders in single shifts is that
they run in the daytime, when
visibility is better and they can
be driven faster.
“The Valmet clamshell forwarders are excellent machines
with great hydraulics, so we can
load them quickly and efficiently,” says Randall.
THE CABS ARE comfortable
and popular among the opera-
INFO
tors. Fuel consumption is normally a reasonable 5,2 gallons
an hour when skidding.
“Using forwarders as clamshell skidders has, however, been
a successful move,” Randall and
Eli agree. “There’s definitely no
problem getting a quick return
on the investment.” r
Amboy Logging
Founded in 1978 by Randall Gibb. Eli Hetu became a partner eleven
years ago. The company has ?? employees and thirteen machines.
The company’s annual harvest averages 260,000 to 280,000 cubic meters. An average tract worked by the company measures 150 acres (60
hectares) and is 85 percent pine.
SERIES Head Control
Maxi head control offers many intelligent functions – simply made settings
that optimize and simplify the operator’s
job. In this issue, we continue our series
on head control with a look at some Maxi
delimbing functions.
Part 3 Delimbing
PULSING
KNIFE PRESSURE
BARKING (EUCALYPTUS)
The pulse opening function is used
to open the delimbing knives briefly. This is achieved by pressing “Head
open” when forward or reverse feeding. The opening and closing times for
pulse opening are set in hundredths of
a second.
A pulse opening time for the forward feed start can be set to help the
head start feeding. In order to further improve the delimbing of thinner or thicker diameter trunks, you
can choose to automatically disengage
the pulse opening function when the
diameter is outside a lower or upper
limit.
High knife pressure can easily grip the
trunk too hard, making feeding difficult. Too little knife pressure, however, can impair trunk grip. Grip pressure can be controlled for the front pair
of knives as well as for the back pair.
You can set the grip pressure for different diameters in the “Pressure curve”
menu. If required, you can also set a
lower or higher grip pressure for any
of the pairs of knives during, for example, slipping, feeding, or crosscutting/
felling. Another useful function is the
ability to set grip pressure according to
tree species.
If you want maximum barking, you
can activate the barking function in
Maxi. If activated, the pressure to the
special front and rear knives is pulsed
to help them more easily penetrate the
bark. The various barking function
parameters are set separately for the
front and rear knives.
EXTRA KNIFE HOLDING
Another handy function is extra knife
holding, useful, for example, when
maneuvering the machine. Extra knife
holding means the knives are kept
closed even when not feeding, crosscutting, or actively holding the closing
function button. If extra knife holding is activated, the knives are closed
after feeding or crosscutting until
“Knife open” is activated or the diameter drops below 31⁄2 inches (90 millimeters).
Information on how to change these settings, and many more, can be found in the
comprehensive manual for the Valmet 350–370 onboard computer.
25
Forestry machines have several systems to prevent
dirt particles from contaminating the hydraulic
system. Aside from the machine’s integrated purification systems, there are a number of measures to
reduce the risk of contaminating the system.
More effective
oil purification
H
ydraulic oil that is kept
free from contamination saves the machine
owner time and money through
longer service life, longer service intervals, and less downtime. There’s a chain of oil purification and protection measures from the factory to dayto-day use and the links should
be kept as strong as possible
to ensure a well-functioning
machine.
Hydraulic oil contaminants
are more than just solid particles.
Entrapped air alters the oil’s
characteristics, as air can compress and expand. The sudden
pressure changes this causes
can wear some components,
as well as deteriorate the precision of valve and pump regulation. Water contamination
leads to system corrosion, forming rust. Rust alters the dimensions of metal components, creating a risk of moving parts,
such as valve sliders, seizing
while simultaneously increasing the number of particles in
the system.
Particles can enter the system from the outside, such as
UNIQUE
Particle
generation
Range covered
by oil filter
purification system continually
cleans the content of the hydraulic oil tank while the other system filters the return oil from
the hydraulics, thereby locating
the process just where the particles are generated. These two
purification systems complement each other and minimize
the number and generation of
particles.
The system is kept pressurized to prevent moisture and air
entering cylinders and the like.
This overpressure is achieved
in part with the hydraulic tank
breathing filter, which is fitted with a pressure relief valve.
The breathing filter purifies
the incoming air from contaminants.
DUAL -CIRCUIT SYSTEM
Oil filtration capacity
can be exceeded by the
introduction of external
contaminants.
Particles in
the system
26
via dirty oil containers. These
particles reduce the machine’s
overall condition, service life,
and reliability. And it’s mostly
the really small particles, those
under 6 micrometers in size,
that find their way into moving
parts. This wear in itself creates
more particles, which in turn
increases the rate of wear, leading to even more. This process
is normal and is dealt with by
the machine’s filters, which prevent an increase in the number
of particles. Though when the
effects exceed filtration capacity, the system enters a vicious
circle of ever increasing particle
numbers.
All Valmet machines have purification systems designed to
provide the greatest possible
cleaning effect even under difficult outdoor conditions. Dual
purification systems for continual cleaning. Most Valmet
machines are fitted with a dualcircuit system wherein one oil
OIL SAMPLES
Valmet’s ProAct service system includes taking hydraulic
oil samples at set intervals. The
samples can, for example, show
whether air or water has entered
the system and indicate whether
the filter needs servicing. Moreover, an analysis of the levels of
MAY WE ASK…
A few simple tips to prevent
system contamination
SERVICE/REPAIRS
• Check the tank filtration unit, especially its condition. Also inspect the bar
magnets used to remove larger metal particles.
• Keep repairs in the field as clean as possible. Replacing a ruptured hose with
a hose cut to length in the field will result in a large increase in the number of
particles in the oil. Valmet’s original hoses do not need to be cut to size and
are of high quality with high purity.
…BRETT JONES,
new CEO of Komatsu
Forest’s Australian sales
company
How do you see your
new position in the
sales company?
Last year I was responsible for
after-sales service and spare
parts. I now have operational responsibility for the Australian
sales company. Mike Jones is
still CEO of the sales company,
though he’s also head of the new
Pan Pacific distribution center,
which covers sales in all of Australia, New Zealand, Asia/Oceania, and South Africa.
STORAGE
Oil should be stored in a controlled climate. Outdoor storage increases the
water content of the oil due to variations in temperature and humidity. Consequently, oil drums should be stored in a dry, covered area at a constant temperature. Avoid contamination before the oil enters the machine. Dirt and
moisture on oil drum covers can easily contaminate the oil.
• Valmet’s forestry machines are fitted with a quick connector for topping up
the oil by pump. This ensures that the oil is topped up via the machine’s filter
and purified before entering the hydraulic oil tank.
•
How was business
last year?
2006 was a difficult year for everyone, because the entire timber industry in Australia and
New Zealand was in an economic lull. Despite this, we managed
to increase our market share to
about 50 percent. Our goal this
year is to increase our market
share to 56 to 58 percent.
Partek Forest
Partek Forest
8700
Rotator
Function
Failure
Description
Follow up Report – Forwarder
Customer:
OK
Job No
Inspection
performed,
date:
Working
area
8800
Grappl
e / Grapple saw
of the machine:
Function
Machine model:
Serial number:
various elements in the sample gives an indication of the
hydraulic system’s condition.
Perhaps most importantly, the
analysis shows the extent and
location of particle generation in
the system.
Valmet’s ProSelect hydraulic oils are specially selected to
maintain high purity levels even
under difficult outdoor conditions, and are specially adapted
to the purification process used
in Valmet machines. r
1000
Motor
Function
Failure
Failure
Description
Inspection
performed by:
Inspected at
Operating hours
OK
h
h
Description
2000
Electrical supply
Function
Failure
OK
0000
Extra equipment
Function
Failure
Description
OK
Description
OK
Other comments
Function
Failure
Description
OK
2100
Hydraulic supply
Function
Failure
Description
Pump Size
OK
cc
Hydraulic oil brand and type
Pressure control
Measured pressure
______
Idle pressure
__________________
Brand
Owner's representantive
(Signature
)
Max
Type
Oil sample taken
__________________
____________l__
(Place) Flow measured at 1500 rpm
Yes
No
pressure
________________________
________
(Date: Year, month, date)
Adjusted to
________
________________________
Partek representantive
________
(Signature)
Service
pressure
Partek Forest AB
Box 7124, SE-907 04 Umeå,
Sweden
Tel +46 90 70 93 00 Fax +46
9070 95 27
Which machines
sold best?
The Valmet 890.3 continues to be
a strong market leader and represented 70 percent of our forwarder sales. The 445 EXL, based
on the Timbco concept, was extremely successful. And Komatsu
excavators are becoming a major part of our business. It looks
like 2007 will be a good year for
excavators.
What do you predict
for the future?
In 2007 we’ll see the best ever
start to a year in the sales company’s 16-year history. We have
a well filled order book for the
first four months. We believe we
can build on that as the year unfolds. The introduction of various new products will also help
us increase our market share
this year.
27
Rotating cab to avoid back
and neck discomfort
The full-circle slewing and leveling cab provides a superior work
environment. Finnish operator Juha Niemi thinks Valmet offers an
effective workplace, with perfect forward visibility of the trees being
felled and processed.
Valmets are the forestry
machines with unique
cabs. But when something’s been around
long enough, it’s easy to
start taking it for granted – even if it’s still
without equal.
T
he Valmet 901 was
introduced to the market in 1984 and was the
first harvester fitted with the
unique rotating and leveling
cab. Valmet’s solution, which
is still special, involves mounting both the cab and the crane/
boom on a slew ring controlled
hydraulically (either manually or automatically) by two cylinders. In terms of ergonomics, the concept means oper-
28
ators are spared hundreds of
head turns each shift as the harvesting head is always in the forward field of vision. Cab leveling ensures the operator always
sits on a level, avoiding back discomfort as the cab is adapted to
inclines.
TODAY, SOME twenty years
after the introduction, Valmet is essentially still the only
manufacturer to offer rotating
and leveling cabs. This is a great advantage that is often overlooked because it’s now taken
for granted on our machines.
In Finland, the company
Pieti&Kahilaniemi of OrivesiTeisko was one of the first to buy
a harvester with a rotating cab.
Juha Niemi worked for
Pieti&Kahilaniemi at the time
and was one of the first operators to always work in a full-circle slewing cab. After about two
years, Juha continued his career
at the company Kuljetusliike
Juhani Tuominen Oy Orivesi,
where he operated an identical
machine.
“It’s actually quite difficult
for me to compare the comfort of different cabs because
I’ve almost always worked in
Valmet’s rotating cabs. But one
thing is clear to me, and that’s
the great benefit of always being
able to see the harvesting head,
no matter what its position,” he
says.
JUHA HAS WORKED eighthour shifts, either mornings or
evenings, for twenty years. That
means more than 40,000 hours
at the controls.
“A rotating cab makes it
much easier to see what you’re
doing, so I think it lets you work
more accurately, letting you do a
better quality job, quite simply,”
he continues.
However, the cab must have
good ergonomics in other areas
if operators are to perform effectively throughout their shifts.
The designers of Valmet’s
machines have long focused on
creating ergonomically sound
cabs that provide operators the
best conditions to perform well.
Automatic leveling is almost as
important as the rotating cab.
Automatic cab leveling increases a harvester’s productivity
and prevents strain-related injuries in operators. The operator’s legs and back are not subject to strain in steep terrain and
machine stability is increased.
Juha also finds a number of
other advantages with Valmet’s
cabs that are often forgotten. He
points out, for example, that the
joysticks are extremely easy to
use and that the cab always offers
a comfortable indoor climate. r
Footnote
The tracked Valmet feller-bunchers and harvesters manufactured
in the USA use the same cab concept as the Swedish-made machines. This concept, commonly
referred to as “2-cylinder, 4-way
leveling”, has been in use since
1989 and is greatly appreciated in
steep terrain.
ANECDOTAL
Under this heading, Just Forest will print anecdotes and stories from then and now. The editor will be happy
to receive ideas for publication. Send your tips or stories to [email protected].
Guess
where?
A WONDERFUL CLEARING, with a slight, almost
prehistoric feel. But where is it? A small clue is
that this country is home to one of the most famous modern buildings.
You can find the answer at the bottom of the page.
USA vs Norway
IN MANY COUNTRIES, jokes about the people of neighboring countries are common. The Dutch
are of special interest to the Germans, likewise for the Portuguese and the Spanish, and vice versa, or why not New Zealanders in Australia. In Sweden, jokes are made about Norwegians. It’s
also possible that expatriate Swedes keep up the tradition of jokes about Norwegians. We found
this sign in the middle of the forests of northern Idaho, USA.
Radio for
safety
(Victoria, Australia)
ON CANADA’S LONG, winding, and sometimes narrow, forest roads, a 2-way radio is important for safety. Every forest road has its own frequency posted, And
those traveling a road report their direction and location at every milepost. Not having a radio or neglecting
to report is associated with mortal danger, as the timber trucks drive fast and don’t have time to stop should
they meet each other or an automobile unexpectedly.
29
Biomass fuel
doesn’t unbalance
the ecosystem
Biomass fuel harvested from forests is
essentially carbon dioxide neutral. Even
if the amount of biomass fuel collected
from forests increases, it will have no longterm effect on the ecosystem. This is the
conclusion reached by Göran Ågren and
Riitta Hyvönen-Olsson from the Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
I
n recent years in Scandinavia, it’s become
increasingly common
to gather branches and
treetops for biomass fuel pro-
30
duction when harvesting timber. Researchers at SLU have
now been able to show that biomass fuel harvested from forests is carbon dioxide neutral,
even if the amount harvested is
increased.
“It has very little impact on
the ecosystem, that is, ecologically there aren’t any problems as long as certain requirements are fulfilled, such as leaving behind leaves and needles
to reduce nutrient loss,” says
Göran Ågren.
He points out that, in effect,
only three groups of substances are involved. These are carbon, nitrogen, and base cations
(potassium, calcium, and magnesium). If we look at the distribution of these substanc-
es between different biomass
components in pine and spruce
when final logging is approaching, we can conclude that it’s not
only the trunk that contains biomass. Needles, branches, and
treetops, for example, also make
good energy sources. Interest
in utilizing this potential energy has increased in recent years.
The question, however, is how
the ecosystem is affected when
large quantities of biomass are
removed.
THE CARBON cycle primari-
ly offers two methods to produ-
ce biomass fuel and these methods differ in terms of carbon
dioxide production. One method
is to harvest the forest for fuel
at intervals of 5 to 10 years. The
other method is to remove more
biomass from the forest (forest
energy) in conjunction with
thinning or final logging.
While the energy forest
grows, a carbon store builds in
the biomass, which can then be
harvested. After harvesting, a
new energy forest grows and the
carbon store is an average of the
energy forests of different ages.
If this average value is compared
with alternative land use, such
as for agricultural production,
the energy forest is not only carbon dioxide neutral, it actually reduces atmospheric carbon
dioxide content.
IF THE BIOMASS FUEL is ins-
tead harvested as forest residue,
that is, branches and treetops,
research indicates a decrease
in the carbon store in the forest
and a corresponding increase
in atmospheric carbon dioxide
content.
“However, we must also
look at the long-term results in
our calculations, and then the
reduction in the forests’ carbon store is so small that even
increased use of forest energy
can be considered carbon dioxide neutral,” says Göran.
Consequently, in terms of
carbon dioxide, there is no reason not to increase the use of
forest residue from clearings,
though Göran emphasizes that
one must take into account other cycles.
“Needles and leaves provide
very little energy, which is why
they should certainly be left
behind to reduce impact on the
nitrogen cycle,” he says, adding
that there is still likely to be a
need for some nitrogenous fertilizer.
More base cations also disappear with increased biomass
removal, and while the remaining leaves and needles help out
a little here, the effect is not as
great as with nitrogen. On the
other hand, there is much calcium, magnesium, and potassium in the ashes formed during
combustion, and this wood ash
could be spread in the forests to
reintroduce the base cations.
ALL THREE cycles function
even if more biomass fuel is harvested, though there are other
factors that can limit increased
biomass fuel harvesting, such
as economics, landscaping, and
biodiversity.
“Substrata important to
insects are removed, long transports routes are needed, forest
plantations must be established,
which can impact the landscape,
and we don’t know the consequences of removing stumps,”
Göran concludes. r
Customers
satisfied
with spare
parts
A survey among Swedish customers conducted in the spring of 2006 showed that a full 91
percent of respondents were satisfied or very
satisfied with Valmet’s spare parts.
A
100%
chieving a full
91 percent satisfied customers, 60 percent
of which were very satisfied,
is not a goal per se. The goal,
according to Jörgen Nils80%
son, Head of Marketing and
Sales, Parts Business, Komatsu Forest, is to help our
customers succeed.
“Working in close concert with customers involves
60%
following up on how products and services are
received. We create success
for our customers by continually improving ourselves
and providing access to the
competence and presence of 40%
a global organization,” says
Jörgen.
In Jörgen’s words, customers who choose Valmet
shall feel completely secure
in their choice. r
Less satisfied
Quite satisfied
Very satisfied
20%
Göran Ågren, a researcher
at the Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, has concluded that even increased use
of forest energy can be considered carbon dioxide neutral.
The chart shows the
results of the customer
survey conducted in
Sweden in the spring of
2006.
31
The Provincial Ministry of Forests forecasts that 85% of
lodgepole pine stands in British Columbia on the west coast
of Canada will die by 2013 as a result of mountain pine
beetle infestation. The infestation, caused by the warm
winters, is the worst ever and could be a hard blow to the
forestry industry and rurla BC communities. However, with
the right measures, the damage can be limited.
Smithers
Over Run
Very Severe/Severe
Medium/high
MOUNTAIN
PINE BEETLE
HITS CANADIAN
FORESTRY
A mountain pine beetle
infestation has hit British
Columbia, Canada.
A
journey through the
central parts of British Columbia gives
some idea of the
damage caused by the mountain pine beetle. Dead pine with
f laking bark is seen everywhere.
The figures compiled by the
Counsil of Forest Industries and
the Provincial Ministry of Forests also paint an unhappy picture. By the end of 2005, 411
million cubic meters of pine had
died. And by then the epidemic
had spread to cover an area measuring 750 miles (1,200 km) by
360 miles (575 km), with up to
90 percent of the pine dead.
There are a number of interacting factors behind the naturally occurring mountain pine
beetle being able to breed so fast
the past six years. One important factor is the mild winters
of recent years, as this enabled
greater numbers of these bee-
32
tles to survive their different larvae and pupal stages. Another
contributing factor is the beetle’s one-year life cycle, which
makes it difficult to eradicate
by cutting down all the dead
pine. By the time the needles
have turned red and the damage revealed the next generation of mountain pine beetles
have already moved on. Other
species of bark beetle have twoyear life cycles, including those
that mostly attack spruce, which
makes it easier to find the trees
with the beetles under the bark
and limit the damage by logging
affected trees.
“One problem is that there
are large numbers of mature
and older immature pine over
40 years old, which is the beetles
preferred habitat. The mountain pine beetle doesn’t usually attack trees younger than 40,”
explains Douglas A. Routledge,
Vice President of Northern
Operations at the Council of Forest Industries. “Also, in the early stages of the outbreak many
areas were in the more remote
and difficult to access of out
working forest and we were not
able to harvest those trees before
the beeltes multiplied. This
lead to the further spread of the
bark beetles. Also, complicating
the job of detecting the beetles,
the damage is difficult to detect
from the air becasue the trees
don´t turn red until after the
next generation of beetles have
flown on to infest more trees.”
Douglas A. Routledge,
Vice President of Northern
Operations at the Council of
Forest Industries believes it is
possible to limit the damage
caused by the ravaging mountain pine beetle.
EVEN IF THE outlook is cur-
rently gloomy, there is still
much that can be done to reduce the damaging effects for both
the forests and the forestry industry. The matter is pressing,
though, as pine comprises a large part of the forests in the inte-
rior British Columbia.
“The effects on the forestry industry will vary greatly
depending on how well we manage to limit the damage,” Douglas continues. “In the worst case
scenario, the damage could
Fort St John
Prince George
FACTS
Williams Lake
Kamloops
Kelowna
Vancouver
reduce the value of the harvest
by 20–40 percent and in the
best case by 10–20 percent.”
DOUGLAS REMAINS relatively
optimistic, in part because he’s
convinced with aggressive salvage and reforestation of pine
stands in the working forest the
damage can be reduced in the
long run. There are a number
of strategies for achieving this.
One way to reduce the damage is rapid logging and reforestation. In extensively damaged areas of the working forest, clearcutting of the damaged
stands followed by aggressive
reforestation is needed, while in
areas with less damage it’s suffice to clear the stands of affected pine trough small patch and
individual tree harvesting.
“The forest industry is working to adapt to the fact that a
large part of the pine species
timber will be of poorer quality and that larger of that pine
volume will find their way to
paper and pulp mills or be used
as biomass energy,” says Douglas. “At the same time, harvests of damaged pine stands
are increasing and with altered
pricing there is still much we
can achieve.”
MOREOVER , the dead pine
can nevertheless be used if
the quality hasn’t suffered. To
some extent, consumers must
show greater acceptance for
the fact that timber from dead
pine can have a blue discoloration caused by the fungus that
spreads from the mouths of
the beetles into the wood and
blocks the tree’s water supply.
The blue discoloration entails
no impairment in terms of
durability or strength of the
wood products. r
mountain pine beetle infestation
This insect usually infests pine during the period
July to August, when the trees are already under strain
due to water shortage. The female bores through the
bark and lays eggs in tunnels up to 36 inches in length
in the outer layer of the wood under the bark (cambium).
The larvae hatch after about ten days and live in the tunnels. Once matured, they crawl to the end of the tunnel
and pupate. When the new insect hatches from the pupa,
it bores its way out through the bark. The tunnels built
by the pine beetles effectively shut off the tree’s nutrient supply. The mountain pine beetle also carries fungal
spores that make their way into the heartwood and block
the tree’s water supply, forming the characteristic blue
pattern. The tree dies within a few months due to lack of
water and nutrients.
Spruce bark
beetle hits
Sweden
S
pruce bark beetle infestations have increased
dramatically in southern
Sweden due to large amounts
of windthrown timber and the
warm summer that enabled the
insects to swarm several times
while the trees were weakened.
As a result, some 1.5 million
cubic meters of spruce have
been damaged, compared to
the 100,000 cubic meters normally affected each year. The
explanation is the fact that
there are seven times as many
pine bark beetles compared to
an average year. A warm winter could further worsen the situation. r
Windthrown
area
Severe spruce bark
beetle infestation
33
Not all products are available in all markets
Forwarders
Skidders
Combi
801 Combi
830
765
765
840
840
765
New Model 2007
860
860
765
New Model 2008
890
890
Harvesters
425
901
901
425
EX10
911
911 X3M
425 EX/425 EXL
Non-leveling/Leveling
445 EX/445 EXL
941
415 EX
475 EX/475 FXL
Harvester heads
330
34
350
360
370
370E
378
380
385
CONTACT US
More
information
about the
product line
PRODUCTION UNITS
t.com
s
e
r
o
f
atsu
kom
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
Maxi
EUROPE
AUSTRIA
Karner und Berger GmbH
www.valmet.at
Phone: +43 2769 84571
BELGIUM
BIA n.v./s.a.
Phone +32 (0)2 689 28 11
E-mail: [email protected]
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 3265 8311
FRANCE
Komatsu Forest, Devision
of Komatsu France s.a.
Phone: +33 130 90 51 34
Fellers
415 EX
GERMANY
Komatsu Forest GmbH
www.komatsuforest.de
Phone: +49 74549 6020
HUNGARY
Kuhn Kft.
www.kuhn.hu
Phone: +36 128 980 80
ITALY
Imai s.r.l.
www.imai.it
Phone: +39 04 38 43 0171
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
RUSSIA
Komatsu Forest Oy
Phone: +7 095 258 1428
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
SweLog Skogsmaskiner HB
www.sweloghb.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
NORTH AMERICA
UNITED STATES
Komatsu Forest
North American Marketing
Shawano, WI
Phone: +1715 524 2820
[email protected]
425 EX/425 EXL
CANADA
Komatsu Forest
North American Marketing
Shawano, WI
Phone: +1715 524 2820
[email protected]
To find your local dealer/sales representative.
Go to www.komatsuforest.com
445 EX/445 EXL
SOUTH AMERICA
BRAZIL
Komatsu Forest Ltda.
Phone: +55 41 2102 2828
CHILE
Komatsu Chile S.A.
www.kch.cl
Phone: +56 419 253 01
475 EX/475 FXL
603
Felling head
PC-attachment
OCEANIA AND OTHER MARKETS
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
Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd
Phone: +61 2 9647 3600
INDONESIA
PT United Tractors Tbk
www.unitedtractors.com
Phone: +62 21 460 5959
SOUTH AFRICA
Komatsu Southern Africa
Ltd
www.komatsu.au
Phone: +27 11 923 1110
Model 233
35
Is your magazine delivered to the wrong address? Please contact your nearest sales office.
Komatsu Forest AB
Box 7124,
SE-907 04 Umeå
Sweden
Change of address
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In English - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

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