Harvester`s Journey

I N T E R N A T I O N A L
F O R E S T R Y
Issue 2•2005 English
Harvester’s
Journey
from assembly line
to logging site
M A G A Z I N E
2–3
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Harvesting big
in Germany
page 12
New shade of green
page 22
The forest – both for work and leisure
page 28
Bundler arrives in
North America
page 26
3
Editorial
4
From assembly line to logging site:
A harvester’s journey to the world
7
More per hour
8
TimberLink: Easier solutions
10
High hours, high performance
12
Harvesting big
13
Skidders in the fields
14
Uruguay’s step forward in forestry
15
Studying in studio
16
Design with purpose
17
More power for operations
18
Record-breaker
20
Intensive training in Russia
22
New shade of green
24
Bell equipment in Southern Africa
24
Forex in Poland
26
Energy wood harvesting: Bundler
arrives in North America
27
In The Woods by the sea
28
The forest – both for work and leisure
30
Tasmanian demonstration forest wins
prestigious award
30
John Deere committed to hurricane
relief efforts
31
John Deere rides high with
Mika Kallio
31
Trade fairs and exhibitions in 2006
The John Deere difference
On June 1, we announced our new
worldwide trade dress and brand for
our forestry equipment at the world’s
largest forestry show, Elmia Wood.
The brand is John Deere.
The change of brand to John
Deere has been a great success and
has created a lot of excitement with
our customers, dealers and even our
own employees This change also
signals our further strong commitment to the global forestry business.
On behalf of our global forestry
organization, I wish to express my
compliments to all of you.
At John Deere Forestry we are
developing innovative solutions and
providing productivity and quality
to our customers. Like Matti Mutikainen, who is presented on page
4, is one of thousands of customers
worldwide, who value the high quality of John Deere equipment. Customer
feedback is indisputable. Professional loggers operate with John Deere.
Cut-to-Length
The technological development has been enormous. The first electronic
measurement systems were introduced in our equipment some twenty years
ago. Today, harvesters are communicating wirelessly with logistics units and
the machines are equipped with GPS, PCs and cell-phones. Who could live
without them? We have become a true harvesting systems provider, and an
integral part of forestry industry’s procurement chain. The latest example of
our innovations is TimberLink™, which we launched just recently. TimberLink™ is a machine performance and analysis system that helps the operator
to monitor and optimize several functions in his harvester (read more on page
8). John Deere is the first forestry machine manufacturer providing such a
powerful tool.
Full-tree
For our full-tree customers around the globe, we have recently introduced
the new J-series tracked feller-buncher line, with number of exciting new
features. In November, John Deere rolled out two new wheeled feller-buncher
models. Combined with a new FD22 head, these machines set a new productivity standard on the market.
Our hard work as the leading forestry machine manufacturer continues.
We and our dealers strive to serve our current and new customers even better
every day. I ask you to challenge our forestry network to meet your business
needs - and show you the John Deere difference.
Esa Länsitalo
Director, Marketing & Sales Global Forestry
IN THE FOREST is a copyright magazine published two times a year in English, French, German,
Portugese, Russian and Spanish. The magazine circulation is about 45,000. The opinions
expressed by the authors or persons interviewed do not necessarily reflect the views of John
Deere. Material may be reprinted with permission by contacting www.JohnDeere.com.
ISSN 1795-2573
PUBLISHER John Deere Forestry Group 1515 5th Ave. Moline, Illinois 61266-8806
www.JohnDeere.com FREE SUBSCRIPTION AND ADDRESS CHANGES See Continental
Divisions on page 31. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Timo Salomaa CONTRIBUTORS We would like to
thank everyone who has contributed to the magazine EDITORS Compositor Oy LAY-OUT
Typeworks Oy Ltd PRINTING Libris, Helsinki, Finland
4–5
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
From assembly line to logging site:
A harvester’s journey to the
Standing at a logging site in Punkaharju in eastern Finland,
Matti Mutikainen is every sales rep’s dream: A satisfied
customer. His decision to purchase a second John Deere 1070D
harvester was based first and foremost on his experiences with the
reliability of the first machine.
TEXT: Tiina Uuskoski PHOTOS: Mauri Kivistö & Magnum Oy Photostudio
A
little over a year ago, the only green
in Matti Mutikainen’s machine chain
was a slash bundler. But Pekka Kettunen, John Deere Forestry Oy’s District Manager for Eastern Finland, talked him into giving the John Deere 1070D harvester a try.
After a week-long test drive, Mutikainen and
his operators were ready to make the decision.
“We found the machine to be a comfortable workspace for the operator, with good airconditioning and convenient positioning of
John Deere Forestry Oy’s District Manager Pekka
Kettunen (left) got satisfied feedback from his
customer Matti Mutikainen. “The machine has
been working nicely since day one,” Mutikainen
relates.
second machine was clear.
“Our first John Deere 1070D harvester was
ready to run upon entering the forest – no
extra days for adjustments were necessary. The
machine has been surprisingly reliable with
no downtime. I thought all the talk about
low fuel consumption was just part of the
sales pitch, but I believe it now that I’ve seen
it with my own eyes. And since the operators have been satisfied too, I just had to call
Pekka,” Mutikainen lists the reasons behind
the decision.
July 6: The start of the 40-day
delivery period
world
the controls. And since the boom and the harvester head also work well in thinnings, which
encompasses the majority of our logging sites,
we decided to run with the Deere,” Mutikainen recalls.
Last spring they were faced with another
decision: Another harvester was needed for
the machine chain, mainly for thinnings but
also for regeneration harvesting. This time
they could base their decision on their own
experiences, and the decision to acquire the
In early summer, Matti Mutikainen and Pekka
Kettunen shake hands to seal the deal on the
new harvester. The machine is ordered, and
the Joensuu factory gets to demonstrate that
the improvements made to production quality during the year are visible all the way to
the customer.
The factory’s promise to the customer is
to deliver the machine within 40 calendar
days – this is a tough promise, especially when
demand is high. Twenty workdays before the
start of production, a “freeze” is put on the
order: No more changes can be made.
The Joensuu factory assembles harvesters and forwarders. Just a few years ago, parts
were being manufactured by about three hundred subcontractors, but today that number
has been whittled down to about one hundred.
Consolidating parts manufacturing makes it
possible to increase and intensify the cooperation with the remaining suppliers.
The subcontractors’ ability to supply the
Joensuu factory with high-quality parts is constantly under scrutiny: In addition to the
number of defective parts and delivery reliability, the impact of faulty or missing part on the
factory’s process is also analyzed. By collaborating with suppliers, the aim is to bring these
numbers down even further.
The majority of the Joensuu factory suppliers are in the process of adopting a web-based
ordering system that will allow them to track
the demand for their specific parts and thus
deliver those parts with better accuracy and
reliability. It is all based on good cooperation
and even better predictability.
July 28: The assembly starts
During the 20-day freeze, the parts for
Mutikainen’s new harvester arrive at the factory, and production starts with the chassis
assembly. The welding quality of today’s welding robots is good, and the critical spots are
checked manually as well. The chassis have a
10,000-hour warranty, so durability is a must.
However, the newest source of pride for
parts production is the high-tech machining
center; there are only a few of them in the
world. It is a synchronous dual-machine system
that machines a harvester chassis in 1.5 hours
compared to the 6.5 hours it used to take.
The new machining center is a big leap
technically: It further improves the accuracy
and fit of machined parts, and thus increases
machine reliability. It brings the factory
added efficiency and time savings, and that
means customers are more likely to see their
machines delivered on schedule.
Mainly the black parts of the machine, i.e.
the chassis and transmission axles, are painted
6–7
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
“Everything happens
in a specific order, and
everyone knows what
they need to do”.
in the paint shop, which was modernized a
couple of years ago. The very precise shades of
yellow and green are particularly challenging
for subcontractors. The parts they manufacture must meet stringent criteria also when it
comes to color.
August 1: Forward on the line
As Matti Mutikainen’s harvester moves along
the assembly line, first it gets the rear carriage, the fuel tank, and the engine and auxiliary equipment. The machine’s hydraulics and electrical system are next, and finally
the engine covers. When the power transmission carriage is ready, it is connected to
the front carriage. Once the loader and cab
are installed, it starts looking like a real forest machine. Everything happens in a specific order, and everyone working on the line
knows what they need to do.
Checklists are used on the line, and they
are reviewed at every workstation for every
machine. Critical points are checked, and the
person in charge of the station signs off on
the work done. At the end of the line, the socalled start-up point, the lists are reviewed
once more to make sure that nothing has been
overlooked.
The people working on the line aren’t content with just assembling. Many innovations
to improve machine reliability have been
developed on the line. Two examples of assembly line improvements include optimizing the
M A G AZ I N E
length of the loader hoses for in-forest work
and the routing of the hoses under the hood.
August 5: Test drive to measure quality
When Matti Mutikainen’s new 1070D harvester is driven out of the assembly hall, in
essence it is ready for work. However, it still
undergoes a 16-hour-long test drive, during
which all the features, functions and settings
are tested. Most of the test drivers at the Joensuu factory worked as operators for years before
moving to the factory, so the machines don’t
get any mercy.
Every single harvester undergoes the
same test drive program; upon passing it, the
machine is ready for the forest. The test drivers have also been calibrated to ensure that
the machines are all inspected in the same
way as much as is possible.
one with no need to change any settings. In
the 1990s, repairs took almost one-third of the
working hours, but with these machines the
service downtime is preplanned, and 95% of
the time the machine is working productively.
For machine contractors, uptime is the most
important characteristic of a forest machine
because if a machine isn’t running, it isn’t producing,” Mutikainen notes.
August 10: Ready for the forest
After passing the test drive, the machines
are moved to the shipping department. The
machines once again undergo a checklist
inspection, they are washed and then moved
to wait for transportation. The machines being
shipped overseas get a special coating to protect them from the effects of the sea water and
marine air. Matti Mutikainen’s machine makes
a two-hour journey on a flatbed truck, but
machines destined for other parts of the world
are transported to ports or loaded onto trains.
August 15: At the logging site
In mid August, Matti Mutikainen’s new green
John Deere 1070D harvester starts working
at a logging site in eastern Finland’s Punkaharju. District Manager Pekka Kettunen drops
by a few weeks later to hear the customer’s initial feedback.
“The machine has been working since day
Matti Mutikainen
in brief
Matti Mutikainen is a long-time machine
contractor living in Kerimäki, in eastern
Finland. Mutikainen has had his own forest
machine business for 30 years. His son Janne
already works at Koneurakointi Mutikainen Oy,
which also employs eight independent operators. Contracting for Metsäliitto Group starting
in 2006, the company has two machine chains
and about 70 percent of the logging consists
of thinning harvesting around eastern Finland.
The terrain in the area varies from boggy and
flat to hilly terrain, and the majority of the trees
are pine and spruce.
TEXT: Chris Lien
More per hour
The J-Series feller-bunchers are purpose-built for productivity, uptime
and low daily operating costs. They are designed specifically to handle
high-volume logging operations, even under difficult conditions or
applications.
with smooth controls, a well-insulated and
pressurized cab, along with the visibility for
precision felling.
T
Matched to the 853J and 903J is the outstanding high-accumulation FS22 felling head,
while the 953J comes standard with the larger
FS24. Both give logger-specified performance,
durability and serviceability, with patented
features that deliver best-in-class tree
handling.
The shape of the saw housing easily discharges chips and can even be bolt-in replaceable after many hours of service. Of course,
performance and tooth life is best matched
with John Deere saw teeth.
The high-rotation FG22, optional on the
853J and 903J, enables the operator to cut
more wood from one position, reducing the
number of bunches and allowing the skidder
to grab a full load from one bunch.
he John Deere 853J, 903J and 953J
tracked feller-bunchers feature an
impressive new 294-hp engine. The
highlight of the 6081H diesel engine is the
power bulge that automatically accesses
extra power for enhanced multi-functioning,
faster cycle times and improved saw speed
recovery. Productivity is increased, with a
steeper torque rise from the common-rail
fuel-injection system providing superior
lugging power.
Beyond the power plant, the J-Series fellerbunchers utilize higher oil flows that not only gives the operator better control, but more
impressively match hydraulic output to engine
power for maximum performance.
Strength and durability keep these fellerbunchers working around the clock even in the
most demanding conditions. The field-proven
durability of the heavily shielded, highwalker
undercarriage provides the clearance needed to
travel over the worst terrain. Durable, strong
main and stick booms are built even larger for
high-rotation felling heads. Well-protected,
high-flow tubing delivers the oil to the head to
meet your uptime expectations.
The J-Series features the best-in-class cab
that John Deere is known for. Intuitive and
predictable controls are combined with excellent visibility to maximize the value of the
timber and reduce operator fatigue. You can
expect productivity even at the end of a shift
Logger-specified felling head
8–9
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
TimberLink:
Easier solutions
TEXT: Tiina Uuskoski
TimberLink™, an accessory application to the Timbermatic 300 control
system, under went some tough practical testing after the Elmia fair.
The measurement results from around the world confirmed that the
system really can improve machine productivity and fuel economy.
D
ebuting at the Elmia fair the concept
version of the TimberLink analysis system sparked wide interest among customers. Almost everyone taking part in a survey at the fair expressed great interest in trying out TimberLink in their own work.
And no wonder: This is, after all, a product
designed to make the daily work of machine
contractors, operators and service technicians
easier.
“The TimberLink system measures
machine productivity, fuel economy, and the
performance and condition of various subsystems. It is pure information technology, i.e.
a Timbermatic 300 system feature utilizing the
machine’s existing control system and sensors
to collect data,” says Development Manager
Arto Peltomaa.
What TimberLink does is generate easyto-interpret reports about the machine’s different sub-functions. It helps to detect performance shortfalls at an early phase, thus minimizing the malfunction’s impact on machine
productivity. Troubleshooting and repairs
become faster because the system can more
easily pinpoint the location of the malfunction. Moreover, the reports help in the opti-
Increased fuel
consumption
mization of the machine parameters.
“Some machines are run on the wrong settings, which has an adverse effect on performance and productivity. In one case, it was
discovered that the wrong settings on a harvester
head had led to a 5% drop in productivity;
that translated to a loss of four working hours
per week and 16 hours per month,” Peltomaa
calculates.
Fuel costs in check
After the interest shown at the fair, the development work on TimberLink shifted to the
practical testing; the system was installed in
test machines in Finland, Sweden, Russia and
Great Britain. At the same time, the software
underwent further development and new functions were added to it.
“The practical tests have confirmed that
TimberLink can improve the machine’s technical productivity and fuel economy. Using
the system also helped uncover several malfunctions that would have taken more time
to pinpoint without the help of TimberLink,”
Peltomaa says.
TimberLink can be used to monitor and
compare the machine’s fuel consumption overall and during specific work phases. The lat-
ter in particular has proved to be very useful in
troubleshooting.
“The ability to monitor fuel consumption in different work phases gives us the possibility to determine the reason behind the
increased fuel consumption. For example, if
the pressure settings of the delimbing blades
are too tight, fuel consumption climbs, and
this is consistent also with the reports generated by TimberLink.”
The practical testing of TimberLink has
helped in the development of the system,
but it has also provided extraordinarily accurate information about the way John Deere
machines function in different market areas
and conditions. Arto Peltomaa notes that
the measuring results are used in the product
development of John Deere machines – and
in the further development of customer support. TimberLink is a great tool also in the
manufacturing of the machines at the Joensuu factory.
The first harvesters equipped with TimberLink were made at the Joensuu factory in
November. An upgrade version for existing
harvesters will be introduced in spring 2006.
A Finnish contractor discovered that the
fuel consumption of his harvester was 1-2
liters higher per hour compared to a reference
machine working in similar conditions. Troubleshooting the cause proved to be very difficult
with traditional methods. But using TimberLink’s data, the increased fuel consumption
was quickly attributed to sawing. This made it
very easy to locate the faulty hydraulic component. In this particular case, the problem was
caused by a pressure relief valve setting. The
malfunction had emerged over many months,
and detecting and repairing the defective part
earlier would have brought significant savings
to the customer.
Productivity
problem
A problem related to timber processing and
thus productivity was noticed in a harvester
working in Sweden: Feeding and positioning
the logs to be cut to length took considerably
more time than with the reference machine.
The difference was an average of 1.2 seconds
per short log. Repairing the defect in this
particular machine generates a weekly savings
of more than three hours and more than 50
liters of fuel.
Developing
loading work
When monitoring and developing the productivity of harvesters, it is important to measure
the success of loading work. TimberLink makes
it possible to monitor in detail the loadingrelated bunching times in different log-size
categories. Monitoring has shown that the
bunching times can vary quite widely under different conditions. For example, difficult, rocky
terrain typically adds to the amount of bunching
work. On the other hand, it has been observed
that operator driving habits have an impact on
the efficiency of the bunching work. The measurement feedback provided by TimberLink can
be used by operators and instructors to learn
and to teach the best operating practices.
10
10–11
INTERNATIONAL
FORESTRY
MAGAZINE
High hours, high perfo
No magic tricks are needed to make a forest machine last. Thanks to
good maintenance, two super oldies, a Timberjack 1110 forwarder in
Latvia and a Canadian Timberjack 810 forwarder, are still going strong.
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
I
magine a Timberjack 1110 forwarder from
1996 that has worked nearly 47.000 hours
and a Timberjack 810 forwarder from 1995
with 25.000 hours on the meter. Both these
oldies are still going strong – but at different
corners of the globe.
”The 1110 was the first Timberjack forwarder in our company,” says Varis Sipols,
Managing Director of the Latvian-Swedish
joint stock company Latsin. ”We chose the
1110 because it was an ideal combination of
weight, load capacity, power and comfort.
Furthermore, the official local Timberjack
dealer offered the most professional service
and operator training.”
Established in 1993, Latsin has increased
its annual cutting volume from 43.000 m3
to 615.000 m3 in 12 years. The company
that started it’s development based on the
resources acquired during the privatization
process of the state company Jaunjelgavas
MRS is currently actively cooperating with
private forest owners. It has 152 employees
and has extended its operational area from
the central Latvia to nationwide coverage.
A somewhat smaller but more time-honored forest company can be found in Cape
Breton’s Margaree Valley, Canada. The current manager, Dave Fraser, started working
for his dad’s company B.A. Fraser Lumber Ltd.
at an early age. Nowadays the company, which
has operated 54 years in the forestry business,
employs 40 people.
”We purchased our Timberjack 810 used
from the Canadian Irving Group -and wanted
ference in percentages is smaller than that of
the Canadians.
”We operate according to assortment technologies, producing saw and plywood logs, pulp
and packaging wood as well as bio-mass from
cutting residues. With regard to forest regeneration, we prepare 4.500 hectare soil annually and
plant 10.000 hectares with new trees,” according to Managing Director Sipols and Voldemars
Kurtiss, Technical Director of Latsin.
In addition to the Timberjack 1110, the
Latvian company has 13 Timberjack machines.
”Already during the first months in which
we were using our 1110 we realized the advantages that Timberjack machine provides
and in a short period we replaced our entire
machine fleet with Timberjack forwarders,”
relate Sipols and Kurtiss.
”In 1996, the 1110 was the most professional and modern machine and completely
met our demands.”
Operator friendly super oldies
rmance
it mainly because it was of exactly the right
size,” relates Fraser, whose machines work in
the challenging highlands of Cape Breton.
Pulling through multiple jobs
About 70 percent of the wood B.A. Fraser
Lumber Ltd. harvests goes to the mill and the
rest is kept in stock. The same 70–30 division
holds true for tree types: The company practices select cutting in which hardwood is cut
more than softwood.
On the other hand, 60 percent of Latsin’s
total cutting volume is final cutting and 40
percent thinning. The Latvians also harvest
more conifers than deciduous trees but the dif-
Until the turn of the millennium, Latsin’s
1110 was used only in final cuttings. Nowadays, it has other important responsibilities.
”We have two experts and two inexperienced operators working with the machine –
the latter are simultaneously being trained on
it. Today the machine is mainly used for forwarding cutting residues and for assortment
forwarding in winter when the roads are frozen. We also use it as a back-up when the
total amount of forwarded production must be
increased. Our 1110 is unbeatable at getting
into virtually inaccessible areas,” Sipols and
Kurtiss state.
And there is plenty of difficult terrain in Latvia, although
the flat, wet and marshy areas
with long forwarding distances are the total opposite of
the rocky landscapes in which
the Canadian super oldie 810
works.
The Canadian 810 has
been driven by two operators
since day one. Dave Fraser says
he would not hesitate to buy
another 810 right away, if he
could get a brand new one.
”Our 810 has been very
powerful and reliable,” he says.
”But most importantly, it has
been truly operator friendly.”
”Our 810 has been
very powerful and
reliable, but most
importantly, it has been
truly operator friendly.”
Good maintenance
keeps machines going
Listening to the satisfied commentary these
two machines receive makes one wonder what
it is that makes them last from hour to hour.
For both managers – Sipols and Fraser – the
answer seems to be clear: good maintenance.
”We have carefully followed the maintenance terms and all damaged parts have been
replaced immediately. We demand that operators assign high priority to the machine’s utilization and maintenance issues, no matter how
many years and operating hours the forwarder
has worked,” Sipols emphasizes and relates
that Latsin’s machines are serviced every
1.000 hour by the official John Deere dealer
INTRAC Latvia, but the company’s own
mechanics take care of minor repairs.
As a result, the 1110 that during the 1990’s
was able to provide an annual production volume of 65–70.000 m3 still functions successfully today forwarding site residues and assortments up to 30.000 m3 each year.
12–13
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Harvesting big
German logging contractor Michael Martin teamed a 1710D
forwarder with 1470D harvester to adapt his machine fleet to
growing tree diameters and timber lengths.
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
I
n 16 years, German logging contractor
Michael Martin, 39, has advanced from independent harvester operator to a company owner employing seven operators that work
with three harvesters, two forwarders and an
excavator. In addition, he employs two subcontractors with 1010 and 1110 forwarders.
Martin has constantly upgraded his machine fleet according to customer needs. The
latest addition, a 1710D forwarder delivered
in July, was his 14th machine from the
Timberjack/John Deere brand.
“I have chosen this brand partly due to my
past – positive – experience with these machines and partly because I have high expectations for the John Deere dealers’ service and
spare part availability,” he says.
Adapting to growing requirements
Martin’s logging company offers its customers
the entire spectrum of forest management
from first thinnings to final fellings. The most
important customer is the Württemberg ducal
family, a private forest owner, with more than
Michael Martin (left) has
constantly upgraded his
machine fleet according to
customer needs.
5.000 hectare of woodlands, of which 70% is
conifers. When contracts from the regional
municipal forests are added, the company
operates as far as 70 kilometers from its headquarters in Nenzingen and in conditions that
range from wetland to steep hills.
The annual logging volume of Martin’s
company is roughly 65.000 solid meters. Depending on the quality, the harvested timber
is delivered to sawmills, chipping mills or paper
companies.
”Currently we harvest mostly trees with
diameters ranging from 0.25 to 0.45 meters,
but the tendency is towards growing tree sizes.
Customers are also asking for a special stump
treatment service. In order to keep track of
this development, our machines must be
adapted to these new requirements, which
means that new machines and equipment
have to be added,” says Martin.
“The new big 1710D forwarder was the first
step. Next step will be a bigger harvester head
than the H270 we are now using,” he adds.
Decision boosted by boom
Skidders in the fields
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
An 810C forwarder gave way to the new
1710D. Martin had specific criteria about what
he wanted: A big enough forwarder that he
could also team with his 1470D harvester purchased in October 2003.
“1410D was also short listed as an alternative, but a visit in the Joensuu factory last February helped my decision considerably. The
boom technology and performance, the size of
the tires (750/55-26.5) and the overall mobility of the 1710D were the decisive factors,” relates Martin.
Since the delivery in July, the 8-wheel
1710D has worked a few hundred hours. The
operator has commended the boom’s performance as well as the sensibility of the hydraulics. In addition, the machine has turned out
to be ergonomic and stable, both of which further increase efficiency and productivity.
“What really has surprised us is how low
fuel consumption has been. Partly it’s due to
the high torque of the engine at lower rpm,”
notes Martin.
The front size of the log bunk in Martin’s
1710D is 5.3 m2, and after some small modifications the company made, the bunk can now be
extended horizontally by 60 centimeters. The final outcome is that Martin’s 1710D can accommodate timber lengths between 4 to 7 meters.
Being a demanding customer to John Deere,
Martin has a wish list. He would not buy a single forest machine if it was not extremely flexible, mobile, reliable and productive and if the
production costs weren’t low. Timberjack and
John Deere machines have fulfilled these demands, but Martin believes that operational
costs could still be reduced by lengthening the
official maintenance intervals.
“Our own employees repair and maintain
the machines regularly and, when necessary,
service and spare parts reach us within 24
hours,” he relates with satisfaction.
T
he Latvian-Finnish company SILVA encountered an expensive problem
when it used a forwarder for soil preparation. Operating costs rose enormously
because the middle joint, boggy and the hydraulic system needed frequent
repairs. It became apparent that a forwarder was not the ideal machine for such
purposes.
Capitalizing on SILVA’s experience in productive soil preparation and cost
efficiency, several Latvian forestry companies bought Timberjack 460 skidders for
use in soil preparation. Currently, there are a total of six Timberjack 460 skidders in
Latvia that are equipped with Bracke TTS scarifiers. The annual production volume
of these machines is 12.000 hectares.
Raivo Oss, Forestry Department
Manager, and Karlis Zeberins,
Technical Director, at SILVA have
compared their old way of scarifying
with this new solution. They both
believe that driving in wet sites is
easier with a forwarder than with a
skidder and that skidders don’t operate perfectly in winter conditions.
However, they firmly emphasize that
these shortcomings are outweighed
by the numerous advantages.
“The costs are now lower when
we use skidders instead of forwarders
– as was the purchase price. Moreover, the steering flexibility is greater
with the skidder, which is particularly
important for small sites of 1–3 hectares that are characteristic of Latvian conditions. In addition the driving
speed is higher,” they conclude.
14–15
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Uruguay´s step forward in
TEXT: CEO Alberto Voulminot Sr, Roman sa
A stable and longstanding tradition of democratic rule, gentle
topography and reasonable land prices are some of the features that
have attracted top international forestry and pulp industry players
to Uruguay.
U
ruguay is a small South American country, wedged between its giant neighbors
Brazil and Argentina. Large forestry and
pulp industry companies from Finland, Spain,
the US, Chile and Canada arrived there about
10 years ago to purchase land and commence
tree-farming operations. The idea was to take
advantage of a large forest base to secure raw
material supply for future industries.
Uruguay’s largest-ever investment
Today, a long-evaluated project comprising
two large pulp mills is being undertaken in
Uruguay. One project, representing an investment of at least USD 1.1 billion, is located in
Fray Bentos, about 300 km from Montevideo.
It will be the largest industrial investment in
the country’s history. The mill, scheduled for
start-up in the third quarter of 2007, is owned
by Metsä-Botnia, a company jointly owned by
M-real Corporation, UPM-Kymmene Corporation and Metsäliitto Cooperative.
There are very high expectations with
regard to the impact the mill will have on
employment during construction, as well as
the actual operations. The project is estimated
to create around 8.000 new jobs – which is
very welcome news in a country with high
unemployment and a small industrial base.
Spain’s Ence group is also planning a pulp
mill only 30 km from the Botnia sa plant.
Ence owns about 35,000 hectares of forest
land, which will be used as a source of pulpwood.
Studying in studio
forestry
One tree per minute
It is estimated that about 150 forest machines
will be needed to supply pulpwood to the Botnia mill alone. This will provide a major boost
to forest machinery operations in Uruguay.
Botnia´s forestry sector Forestal Oriental sa
(FOSA), is already harvesting about 1,000,000 m3
of pulpwood a year. A fleet of 17 Timberjack
1270 harvesters fells, delimbs, debarks and
bucks to length the eucalyptus pulpwood at
an average rate of one tree per minute. The
pulpwood is left to dry at the stump, and after
one month a fleet of seven company owned
1410 forwarders and seven contractor forwarders will haul the pulpwood to the roadside,
where it will be piled to continue drying. Two
months later, it will be loaded onto trucks to
be transported to the Port of Fray Bentos.
Many new operators needed
New machines will necessitate many new
operators, but Uruguay faces the same situation as many other countries, namely very few
young people are willing to work in the forest sector. However, new, technologically
advanced forestry machines will probably
attract more candidates.
John Deere’s dealer in Uruguay, Roman sa,
maintains very close contact with the contractors in the area, to support them in ensuring
maximum productivity and uptime for their
machines. One way of developing the customer service segment in Uruguay has been
achieved through the sponsorship of a
special training center for operators. Crecer
Capacitatcion Forestal srl is building the
center, which will be equipped with John
Deere harvester and forwarder simulators.
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
Metsä-Botnia’s project
is estimated to create
thousands of new jobs to
Uruguay.
A modern John Deere simulator studio will be completed
at the turn of the year at the Pori College of Forestry in
western Finland where technology is bringing efficiency to
studies from sun up to sun down.
A
modern educational center will be inaugurated after the turn of the year in
the Kullaa area of Ulvila, a city in western Finland. Located in the Pori College of Forestry, its doors will be open from eight in the morning until ten at
night for forest machine operator students. One of the center’s three spaces will be
painted in John Deere’s colors, and the company’s simulator will be the focal point
of this studio.
“In addition to the simulator, the studio will also have computers directly
linked to John Deere’s troubleshooting and cost accounting applications,” says
Juha-Pekka Koivusalo, Divisional Director of the Pori College of Forestry. “This
kind of equipment and these kinds of modern learning models effectively serve
our 120 existing students. What’s more, people who may be considering a profession as a forest machine operator find them very attractive.”
Finland has a total of eight forestry machine schools. All of them use simulators, and Mikkeli even has a mobile studio moved by a truck, but the Pori College
of Forestry’s new educational center is state-of-the-art.
“We have brought all the technology our students need to a single location.
This makes studying more efficient. The goal is to use the simulator to acquire
all the fundamental skills and knowledge. Before operating a real machine, the
students must cross certain learning thresholds programmed into the simulators,”
Koivusalo notes.
And, he points out, the simulator studio isn’t only for students.
“Also machine contractors, manufacturers, and dealers can come to the studio
to negotiate, study and meet with their customers. Therefore we hope that John
Deere outfits the space to their own liking.”
When the simulator studio is completed, John Deere’s name will shine brightly
on the illuminated sign outside the educational center. Regarding the change
from Timberjack to John Deere, Koivusalo says without hesitation, “It was expected for years!”
16–17
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Design with purpose
TEXT: Tiina Uuskoski
The connection between industrial designers and heavy machinery
isn’t an obvious one, but John Deere hired its first design professionals
back in the 1930s. Industrial designers joined the harvester and forwarder design team in 1992.
W
hen Timberjack started designing
the new 810B forwarder in the
early 1990s, it had ambitious goals.
The machines represented major technical
advances, but perhaps the most progressive
was having an industrial designer join the
project team.
“Previous machines were crude and simple
– “designed by an engineer” – but we wanted
“I was received with open arms and an open
mind: The people quickly understood that the
look of the machine is only a small part of the
design work,” Tapani Holma recalls.
Part engineer, part artist
to make the machines pioneers also in terms of
ergonomic design and usability,” recalls Technology Director Seppo Taatila.
The work exceeded expectations and in
1994 the Timberjack 810B won the Pro Finnish Design award. Industrial Designer Tapani
Holma from Muodonmuutos Oy praises
the open-mindedness of the forest machine
manufacturer.
Tapani Holma’s work since the first project
has expanded to many different areas. He
works with product development to design not
only the way the machine looks, but also the
machine’s controls, the placement of levers
and lights, control system displays, and cab ergonomics, among other things.
“The most important elements in the design
of a forest machine are productivity, uptime and
“Design is one
way to bring
added value to
the customers.”
More power
for operations
E
low operating costs. By paying attention to the
machine’s usability, ergonomics and the way
it looks, industrial design is one way to bring
added value to the customer,” states Seppo
Taatila.
In the automobile industry, for instance, the
look of a car has major significance, but this
isn’t the case on the forest machine markets.
And the reason is clear: Production volumes
are counted in thousands and the way a product
looks must not scare away customers.
“First and foremost, forest machines are
work machines in which usability is critical.
This leads to products that are more timeless in
design: It would be ridiculous to make a ham-
mer that you couldn’t use to pound nails,”
compares Tapani Holma.
Global markets and the spectrum of
users put limitations on the design of forest
machines. Seppo Taatila notes that it is challenging to sell the same machine to many
different types of customers.
“Industrial design is the pursuit of compromises, and our work is the middle ground
between the intellectual world of artists
and engineers, but on a very concrete level.
The work is based on studies, interviews
with operators, tests and the building of
prototypes. Safety regulations, standards and
environmental issues also have an impact on
the final result,” Tapani Holma says.
Most comfortable workplace possible
The industrial designer’s biggest contribution
in designing forest machines is, in fact, the
improving of the operator’s working environment. The machine must function logically
and it must be easy to use. At the same time,
the continuously increasing intelligence of
the machines must be taken into consideration in the design of the operator’s work
environment: The necessary functions must
be within arm’s reach, and there can’t be too
many options to have to remember.
“In fact, one of the biggest challenges of design is to keep the
operator’s workplace, i.e. the cab,
as comfortable as possible. Ergonomics, visibility, sound-proofing,
and air-conditioning are some of the
factors that go into this. Something to
keep in mind throughout the development process is that operator comfort
has a direct effect on machine
productivity,” Tapani Holma and
Seppo Taatila note.
ngine manufactures refer to January 1, 2006 as T3 Day – the date that
Tier 3 regulations for engines become
effective. These new regulations do not pose
a challenge for John Deere: The company
is already shipping a new generation of
PowerTech Plus™ engines that deliver
reduced emissions and excellent fuel
economy and meet the new specifications.
The John Deere PowerTech Plus™
engines feature a number of new technologies, including cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a variable geometry turbocharger and common-rail fuel system, that
increases fuel injection pressure for more
efficient combustion. The engine is also
equipped with full-authority electronic
controls. The new engines deliver reduced
emissions and excellent fuel economy.
For forestry contractors and operators
benefit from the new engines, as a result
of faster response for power demand and
reduced noise level. Thanks to improved
diagnostic system, the operator and serviceman receive increasingly more specific
information about the condition of the
engine. The efficiency of the engine has
been optimized more carefully to match the
peaks and power zones used by the machine
while in operation.
The new PowerTech Plus™ engines also
set compressed limits to the sulphur and
water content of the used fuel.
The Tier 3/Stage IIIA emission regulations become effective at the beginning of
next year for engine size classes 130 kW–
225 kW.
A major goal in the Tier 3 regulations is
a 40 percent reduction in oxides of nitrogen. The challenge for engine manufacturers is that reducing nitrogen tends to
increase the presence of a particulate matter
(Pm). John Deere has met this challenge by
offsetting any increases in particulate matter
through applying a full range of innovative
design solutions.
18–19
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Record-breaker
Mark McKelvaine knows the only way for a logger to make money is
production. With John Deere machines he broke a Weyerhaeuser Mill
record with 328 loads in one week.
TEXT: Chris Lien
M
ark McKelvaine is at home barbequing a rack of ribs. All the rain from
Hurricane Dennis has kept him out
of the woods for a few days. And that’s tough
for McKelvaine to take. “I’ve probably lost 30
loads this week already.”
That’s tough for any logger to take. Especially if you’re a logger like Mark McKelvaine,
who’s constantly looking for ways to increase
his productivity, and who in the middle of
May broke the Weyerhaeuser Mill record with
328 loads in one week.
“We didn’t set out to break the record,
but after getting between 48 and 50 loads on
Monday and 50 to 52 on Tuesday, that carrot
was dangling out there,” McKelvaine recalled.
A logger knows everything has to click to
have a good week. McKelvaine goes through
the list: “I have a great crew of seven guys.
We didn’t have any major problems with our
equipment. The weather was on our side.
We were close to the mill. The trucks didn’t
break down. The tract we were working was
the right size and it was laid out just right. We
were close to the road. And the ground wasn’t
too soft or too steep. So many things can go
wrong.”
By Thursday the carrot was even closer.
“I won’t lie to you, we were hurtin’. We were
bowed up. But my guys have that grit. They
“We did the record
with one crew, one
shift and one brand
of equipment.”
were so focused, they wouldn’t even stop to
take their lunch breaks.”
At the end of their shift on Saturday,
M&M Timber had delivered 328 loads to the
Weyerhaeuser Mill in Philadelphia, Mississippi, breaking the old record by 40 loads. “I
like to say we did it with one crew, one shift
and one brand of equipment.”
Reliable machines needed
Shortly after breaking the record, McKelvaine
took possession of two new John Deere 437C
loaders with grapple saws. “They’re doing
great. They get twice the fuel economy of my
old Timberjacks. I can go two days on a tank
of fuel, which saves me about USD 2,500 a
month. That’s huge.”
Why did he order them with grapple saws?
“It’s a quality control issue. I’m trying to give
the mill a better log. With the grapple saws I
can clean up the end of the tree, if it’s in bad
shape. I’m trying to get ahead of the game.”
He is also really impressed with how his
two 848G John Deere skidders performed.
“You have to get the logs out of the woods,
and my 848Gs can bring a bunch of wood to
the ramp. I can really count on them. Same
goes for my 843H cutter. It was able to handle that tough record-week with no problems
at all.”
All about productivity and efficiency
McKelvaine grew up in the woods of Meridian, Mississippi. “My daddy owned a pulp
wood truck like everyone else in these parts.
You either hauled it for a living or you hauled
it on the weekends. He taught me two very
important things: How to handle a tree and
how to work hard.”
Mark McKelvaine is constantly looking for ways to increase the productivity.
When McKelvaine started M&M Timber
in 1994, he had one old skidder, a loader and
a chainsaw. He delimbed and topped everything by hand. “My goal was to get 10 to 12
loads a week.”
He still has the first piece of John Deere
equipment he bought, which was a 1997 648G
skidder. Today, he owns three knuckleboom
loaders, three skidders, two cutters, a bulldozer
and a motor grader. And it’s all John Deere.
He likes to have three pieces of equipment
at all times – two in the woods and one as a
backup. McKelvaine understands that when it
comes to logging it’s all about productivity and
efficiency.
“I like owning all the same brand of equip-
ment, that way I have one parts guy with one
phone number. Eddie Shirley at Stribling
knows every piece of equipment I own and
what repairs I’ve made to them. It’s more efficient than dealing with three or four different
dealerships and I know everybody over there
from the owners to the mechanics.”
Billy Hull, McKelvaine’s salesman at
Stribling, said, “Mark knows the only way
for a logger to make money is production. He
works his tail off and is always looking for ways
to increase his numbers.”
Just like his father taught him, McKelvaine
is always on the job working. He’s usually
ahead of the crew, building roads and ramps so
he can keep his guys working.
20–21
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Intensive training in Russia
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
A lot of logging in Russia is still done manually, but the faster logging
becomes mechanized, the more urgent the need for skilled operators.
John Deere training organization is up to the challenge.
T
he common trend in the forest industry
is toward increasingly advanced technical solutions; in Russia mechanized logging is taking fast steps of development.
“Our typical customer has one or two harvesters, but several forwarders, because manual
logging is still very routine for all companies.
Loggers work in groups of 7–10 people,” says
Training Coordinator Simo Tujula from John
Deere Russian training organization. “Natu-
rally, our customers also include big companies from the paper and sawmill industry; they
sometimes purchase several machine chains
at once.”
The more machines that are taken into
Russian forests, the more important it is to
find operators with the skills to use them. John
Deere organizes forest machine operator, work
supervisor and mechanic training courses in
Russia.
Basic knowledge updated
The longest of the courses is for forest
machine operators. Over the 20-day course,
operators learn ADP skills, the basics of
hydraulics and electricity, working methods,
and the fundamentals of silviculture. When
a new machine model is introduced to the
markets, the knowledge of the operators and
mechanics is updated with a five-day supplementary course.
“There is a lot of content,” Tujula says.
“In fact, the most challenging thing is to get
it all squeezed in to the short timeframe. Just
as challenging is motivating yourself to start a
new training course again, although the con-
The more machines are
taken into forests, the
more important it is to
find skilled operators to
use them.
Training Coordinator Simo Tujula (right) has seen many training sites in Russia.
Trainee Denis Lubarski is working for Stora Enso.
ditions at the training sites add variety to the
routine. Sometimes we are in a fire station,
sometimes in a travel trailer,” he notes.
Training is offered primarily to young people who have a technical background and a
good command of computer use. And they
usually have previous experience working
with Russian-made forest machines or logging
trucks.
“But the starting point can vary widely:
Sometimes we start with an explanation of
what harvesters and forwarders do,” Tujula
says.
Training and the delivery of a machine
also go hand-in-hand. The forest isn’t entered
until there’s been about a week of theoretical studies; after an equivalent period of practical training, the operator should be able to
continue on their own. Three months later,
the final session is held to review the things
learned in the course and to gain a deeper
understanding of the machine’s servicing and
repairs.
Instructors need training, too
John Deere’s Russian training centers are
located in the far-eastern city of Khabarovsk
and in Arghangel, Karasma. A third center is
being built in St. Petersburg.
“The training for operators and for instructors is constantly being developed. An important goal is to standardize the training center
programs and to increase the collaboration
between them. But training customized to the
customers’ needs will continue to be organized
also in the future,” Tujula says.
He points out that the best instructors are
found amongst the operators being trained.
“A basic requirement for a career as an
instructor is an engineering-level technical or
silvicultural educational background. Additionally, we want to see at least one year of
experience in operating a forest machine and
knowledge of all the basic subjects taught.
Speaking English is a tremendous help in the
early phase when the training courses are held
in Finland.”
During the training period, novices work
as assistants alongside experienced instructors.
They also prepare Russian-language training
materials, and, when new machine models or
programs are introduced, they return to Finland to learn about them. Once they are back
in Russia, the instructors compose materials in
Russian for the service technicians and engineers.
The next goal in John Deere’s Russian
training organization is to license all training
centers as official training locations.
“The St. Petersburg training center will be
our main location. There will be three permanent instructors working there, and they
will be supported by our service engineers
in St. Petersburg and the visiting specialists
from Finland. There are also three instructors
in Khabarovsk, and two in Karasma,” Tujula
notes. “We intend to increase their knowhow continuously so that they have the latest
knowledge to pass on to the operators.”
22–23
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Pelle Magnusson, Sweden
Hunter Boone, USA
New shade of green
TEXT: Tiina Uuskoski
On June 1, 2005, John Deere announced the unified distinctive trade
dress to the world. During this autumn the newly dressed John Deere
forestry equipment featuring the new livery started to be delivered to
customers around the world.
S
ince the acquisition in 2000, Timberjack and John Deere machines have
gradually become technically identical,
except for exterior appearance for different
markets. The combined technical expertise
and global customer service of these two major
players in the industry have today secured
the company the number one position in the
world as a manufacturer of forest harvesting
equipment.
John Deere forestry trade dress reduces
the added costs of manufacturing, marketing,
and supporting separate brands and completes
the integration to have a fully aligned organization. The impact for customers of the new
branding, is that except for the new livery,
their equipment, their dealer, and their support programs will remain the same.
In addition to the new look, new machines
also feature many new technological advantages.
In The Forest surveyed the first impressions
around the world.
Sweden: Satisfied with the new boom
Filled with expectations, Swedish forestry contractor Pelle Magnusson and his employees
received their new John Deere 1470D harvester, equipped with the powerful CH-8
boom and the brand new H270.
“There are always expectations on improved
Cyr Contracting,
Canada
Jeff Glodoski, USA
Darren, “Kash” Kashluba, Canada
productivity with a new harvester. Our 1270C
was 8 percent more productive than the 1270A
we had before that, and it will be interesting to
see how the 1470D works in comparison with
the 1270C,” says Pelle Magnusson.
The most spectacular difference, compared
with the 1270C, is the extremely powerful
CH8 boom.
“It is not just powerful, but also quick,
smooth and accurate in its movements. Before
we always avoided unnecessary boom movements, but now we can use it instead to gain
productivity. I handled a one cubic meter pine
like nothing and the boom moves very smooth
and accurate in all positions,” says operator
Björn Lindahl.
One week later In The Forest contacted
Pelle Magnusson again and he is very satisfied
with his new 1470D. According to him, the
combination of 1470D, CH8 and H270 works
surprisingly well, with high productivity even
in smaller dimension forests.
North America: New colors
represent quality
Darren “Kash” Kashluba of Kash Contracting in Kamloops, British Columbia took possession of his brand new green and yellow
2054 log loader on July 8. Kashluba is thrilled
with his new machine. “I like the green. It’s
like the John Deere farm equipment and green
and yellow has always represented quality.”
Mickey Neidlinger of Springfield, Georgia
has always liked the winches on John Deere
skidders, but in 1988 he bought his first John
Deere grapple skidder and he was sold. July
1, Neidlinger received his brand new green
and yellow John Deere 648G III grapple skidder – the first one in the Southeast. “It’s really
strong, with great pulling power. Plus I like
seeing the green equipment in the woods.”
Hunter Boone from Rock Mount, North
Carolina started with three pieces of equipment. Now, after 15 years, Boone’s equipment
fleet includes eight skidders, four feller-bunchers, five knuckleboom loaders, one stroke
delimber, two pull-through delimbers, a dozer,
a chipper and most recently three brand-new
green and yellow 648G III skidders fresh off
the factory floor.
There’s something to be said about a guy
who works as a construction foreman during
the day and then heads into the woods for his
second job at night. That’s Jeff Glodoski of
Steven’s Point, Wisconsin. In August, Glodoski traded in his forwarder for a new green
and yellow John Deere 1010D forwarder.
When it was delivered, he could only stand
and stare at it for a minute. “I grew up seeing a
lot of John Deere farm equipment. The green
and yellow looks pretty cool.”
Cyr Contracting, of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, has been a family logging operation since 1975. Today, Leon
Cyr and his two brothers and sister are taking over the business from their parents. This
past August, they traded in their Timberjack
850 feller-buncher for a new green and yellow
John Deere 903J. Cyr Contracting is a 24-hour
operation, so reliability is a big deal for them.
“We like the stronger undercarriage and the
John Deere 6081H engine on the 903J,” Cyr
said. “The same engine is in our 748G III skidder and we really like its reliability.”
M A G AZ I N E
“This machine is
purpose-built for the
forestry business”.
Brazil: Good reputation became reality
Brazilian forestry contractor Comércio e Transportes Ginson Ltda operates in state of Paraná, in eastern Brazil. The 22-year-old company harvests, debarks, processes and transports eucalyptus to the pulp mill and
sawmill of Klabin Fabricadora de Papel e Cellulose S/A with a total of 17
machines. The latest is the brand-new John Deere 753G feller-buncher.
“This machine is purpose-built for the forestry business. It is robust,
with low fuel consumption, low maintenance costs, good technical service and high productivity. With these features we can fulfill customer’s
requirements, demands and standards,” says Gibson.
Comércio e Transportes Ginson Ltda has chosen John Deere machines due to the strong reputation of Timberjack machines that were
already working in the area. Gibson relates that it is thanks to the good
relationship with the local dealer.
“The new John Deere 753G feller-buncher decreases the risk of accidents. It allows me and my employees to work in safer and more comfortable conditions, even during the night, in rainy or windy conditions – and
in that way it increases our productivity,” concludes Gibson.
Bell Equip
B
TEXT: Simon Shackleton
F O R E S T R Y
ell Equipment was started by founders
Irvine and Eunice Bell in Zululand in
1954. The initial business was a small
enterprise providing engineering and equipment repair services to the pioneering farming
community in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
In 1970 Irvine and Eunice were joined by
their two sons Peter and Gary and continued
as a general engineering company. In 1975
the company started serial production of the
now world renowned Bell Tri-Wheeler at their
factory in Empangeni. In the same year the
Tri-Wheeler was introduced to the forestry
industry as a versatile handler for the stacking
and loading of timber. Gary, Peter and younger
Forex in P
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
INTERNA T I O N AL
New Dealers
24–25
F
orex, John Deere’s new dealer in
Poland, is a familiar partner for customers in northern Germany. In business
since 1991, the company employs 18 workers; since the beginning of April, it has also
been responsible for the retail sales, servicing
and technical support of John Deere machines
in Poland. The local facility is located in the
western part of Poland in Poznan.
The company is already familiar with most
of the Polish customers; many of them are
loyal Timberjack customers. Josef Grodeck
is one of them. He is the head of the Lastech
company, operating in the Poznan area. Ten
of his 40 or so employees are drivers who operate five forwarders (the 1010 and 1110 models) on a daily basis.
ment in Southern Africa
brother Paul who joined the company later, all
still play a major role in the company's operations today.
Dealer and a strategic partner
In 1995 Bell Equipment acquired the rights to
distribute certain John Deere construction and
forestry machinery in Southern Africa under
the Bell brand name, and in 1999 the two
companies formed a strategic alliance with
Deere purchasing a 32% stake in Bell Equipment. Earlier this year the relationship again
expanded with a new joint manufacturing
agreement centering around three products,
articulated dump trucks, front-end loaders and
side-shift tractor loader backhoes.
"To have sole distribution rights for John
Deere's full range of forestry products is an
extremely exciting opportunity for Bell Equipment’s Southern African operations. For many
years John Deere forestry products, branded as
Timberjack, have been recognized throughout our region as a very strong product. Bell
intends to ensure that we carry this reputation
forward through strong market share, superior
after-sales service and support," says Bokkie
Coertze, Bell Equipment’s Managing Director
Africa Sales & Distribution.
oland
“We are very pleased with Forex, and we’ve
already become very acquainted with its personnel. We are now receiving spare parts faster
than ever, sometimes even with same-day
service, even if they have to be sent from Germany,” Grodeck says.
Maintenance services important
Satisfied customers can also be found working in northern Poland, in the Dabrowy forest
area, which is part of the Torun forest district.
The head of the district, Wlodzimierz Robert,
actively promotes the mechanization of silviculture, and Dabrowy has often been used as a
testing and exhibition area for new machines
and methods. Currently, harvesters are used
for half of the 100,000 m3 annual cut.
Robert and his workers have been using
John Deere – back then Lokomo – forwarders since the 1980s; harvesters came into the
picture in the 1990s. Robert, too, says he is
in frequent contact with Forex. Everything
has functioned well, but he thinks the importance of maintenance services should be further emphasized.
“Without adequate servicing, the machines
aren’t as profitable as what is expected; then
opinions turn against the machine and against
the entire logging method.”
Mechanized logging is a competitive edge
Both Grodeck and Robert expect an increase in
the use of harvesters and forwarders in Poland
simply because it is becoming increasingly dif-
ficult to find loggers with chainsaws. Mechanized logging also brings a competitive edge.
“With a harvester, big volumes of wood
meeting dimensional and quality requirements can be produced quickly – and for
several different wood grades. The price of
the wood is determined in advance, so the
competitive advantage must come from fast
delivery times and by focusing on producing
and delivering the best quality, which offer
premium prices,” Robert says.
About a year ago, he bought a 1270D
harvester and a 1010D forwarder. Grodeck’s
latest purchase is a 1110 forwarder, which
he bought at the beginning of this year; he
plans to add a new harvester to his fleet by
end of the year.
26–27
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
Energy wood harvesting:
Bundler arrives in North
TEXT: Chris Lien
It takes a lot of guts to be a trailblazer, like Marv Nelson Forest
Products in Cornell, Michigan. They purchased North America´s first
1490D Energy Wood Harvester or “Bundler”.
O
n a trip to the Metko Show in Finland
in 2000, the Nelson brothers from Cornell, Michigan saw an energy wood harvester and recognized a unique opportunity in
this new technology.
The John Deere 1490D Energy Wood Harvester (based on the 1410D Forwarder) utilizes
unique state-of-the-art technologies to gather
residual and slash left behind after harvesting,
and compresses it into bundles for use as bio-
mass fuel. Biomass is renewable and provides
a clean-burning fuel source in modern energy
production.
John Deere energy wood harvesters have
been used for years all over Europe, collecting biomas fuel to power businesses and even
towns, but the technology is still new to North
America. Scandinavians in particular have
used the bundler extensively, but typically their
evenly spaced forests differ from those in North
America in density, species, soils and terrain.
So how could the Nelsons use this unique
technology to expand their operations? They
knew they could collect the bundles, but they
needed a customer who could utilize the end
product.
Biomass handling pioneers
In June of 2003, the 1490D was brought to
North America by the U.S. Forestry Service for a cross-country tour to demonstrate its
capabilities to loggers, forest service personnel,
environmentalists and timber industry rep-
resentatives. The U.S Forest Service wanted
to study the machine’s capabilities, costs and
environmental impact. A recent U.S. federal study found that at least 110 million dry
tons of non-merchantable biomass could be
removed from timber stands in western forests
threatened by catastrophic fires.
Removing the slash from the forest floor
drastically reduces the risk of forest fire, as well
as speeding up the process of reforestation by
several years. It’s interesting to note that it
would take approximately 16 standard bundles
(a standard bundle is roughly 30 in. x 10 ft.) to
power the average home for one year, and two
standard bundles equal the amount of energy
in a refined barrel of oil.
The Nelsons were now ready to make a
move; they attended a show in Maine where
the bundler was operating and were impressed
with how well it handled select hardwoods,
although it was working at the landing.
Even without seeing it work under true
field conditions, the Nelsons felt there was a
future for biomass and they wanted to lead the
way. Just like true pioneers.
They rented the energy wood harvester
for a month before purchasing it to make sure
it could handle the conditions. Ken Knauf,
America
salesman at Nortrax, said, “Not only was it
new to them, but it was new to North America. We wanted to ensure everything was just
right and that they were happy.” After just
three weeks the Nelsons were sold.
“We’re real happy with the bundler and
how it’s handling hardwood. It’s early yet, and
we’re still learning, but we’ve been running it
steady since the purchase,” Brian Nelson said.
Wide opportunities
New opportunities seem to pop up all the
time. Soon after putting their 1490D to work,
the Nelsons got a call from a local casino that
needed a small cedar stand removed for an
expansion project. They sold the cedar bundles to a mulch company.
They will continue to be on the lookout for any new venues that can utilize this
clean biomass fuel and are confident that the
future is bright. The Nelsons are now looking
beyond their own land tracts and are considering expanding their operations into surrounding states in the U.S.
Twigs turn
into energy
In the bundling method, the logging
residual and slash left behind by the harvester
at the logging site are collected and fed into
a bundler that sits on a forwarder chassis;
the bundler compresses the logging residual
into cylindrical bundles called slash logs. The
bundling process is continuous and not restricted by the length of the energy wood. The
length of the slash bundle can be optimized to
accommodate the transport equipment. After
bundling, a forwarder transports the slash
logs from the forest to the road-side, where
a standard logging truck picks them up and
takes them to the power plant.
One bundle normally weighs 500–700 kg
and contains about 1 MWh of energy, or the
equivalent of about a half a barrel of oil.
In The Woods
by the sea
The 2005 John Deere Forestry In The Woods show was
held in historic St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, on
August 19-20. The show was a success, with some 400 customers attending, as well as 30 dealer personnel, 40 John
Deere employees and 30 VIP guests, suppliers and media
representatives.
A
ttendees had a full agenda with guest speakers from the Canadian
Woodlands Forum and the Department of Natural Resources. A product
demonstation on Saturday featured John Deere road-building equipment and the new green and yellow forestry trade dress on both the full-tree and
advanced harvesting machines. It was a ballet of John Deere green and yellow
equipment working side by side.
The highlight of the demonstration was the new 903J Feller-Buncher. It made
short work of its tract, and kept the 748 GIII Skidder more than busy for the 30minute demo.
However, the highlight of the entire show was that the attendees donated
USD 32,000 to the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, through a
silent auction, live auction and raffle for a John Deere Buck ATV. The goal was
USD 15,000, which was almost met before the live auction started.
The big push came when Neil Kenney of N.R. Kenney Logging in New
Glasgow, Nova Scotia, donated USD 500 and challenged all other contractors
to match his donation. And they did. The generosity of the contractors netted
about USD 8,000.
Eight-year-old Christina Thompson and her mother Lisa, her father Brian
and little brother Isaac were at the event to bring home the importance of the
IWK Hospital and the miracles it delivers.
Christina was born with cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and digestive
system. With the specialized care she received at birth and has continued to
receive at IWK, Christina is able to live life to its fullest.
John Deere also donated USD 10,000 to the Canadian chapter of Log a
Load, which helps pay for their administrative costs.
Wallace Equipment, the host dealer, as well
as Nortrax Maine and
Ontrac Equipment were
thrilled with the show.
Mike Shea of Wallace in
Halifax said, “Our customers
told us there wasn’t anything
more we could have done
to convince them that John
Deere Forestry is committed to
the logging industry.”
28–29
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
The forest
– both for work and leisure
TEXT: Tiia Teronen
Ulf Rundman’s work and recreation have a common denominator: the
forest. When the Swedish contractor isn’t working, he goes hunting.
U
lf Rundman, a forest machine contractor since 1986, knows his working environment by heart. When the harvesters and forwarders are being operated by Ulf’s
employees and the man himself has the rare
luxury of some free time he heads to the forest
with a rifle and a pair of well-trained dogs.
“I grew up in a home where my father
worked in the forest and hunted during his
spare time. I started by following in his footsteps and, gradually, became increasingly
active as a hunter, too,” says Ulf.
Mostly, he hunts mainly moose but, when
possible, he’s stalking bears. He remembers
one hair-raising encounter.
“A couple of years ago, I stood eye-to-eye
with a bear, with just a short distance between
us. In the Alfta area where I live, there is an
annual quota limited to 14 bears. I knew that
it was filled so I couldn’t shoot. I was thinking: How on earth can I get out of this situation without using the rifle! I slowly backed
away, ready to shoot. Luckily the bear turned
and fled.”
Genuine interest for outdoor life
– and teamwork
You would think that a contractor who makes
his living from the forest would like to spend
his free time somewhere else. Ulf proves the
contrary: ”Most people that work in the forestry business have a genuine interest for forests and outdoor life, which includes hunting. I guess that much more than 50 percent of
Swedish contractors hunt.”
Even one of Sweden’s biggest forest companies, Korsnäs, organizes hunts. Ulf has participated on these occasions, but mostly he hunts
either alone or with his friends – actually two
loyal canine friends are always along.
”Hunting is a nice way to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, particularly if the weather is
fine, but for me well-trained dogs are the reason
why hunting is so fascinating. A hunter working with his dog is real teamwork,” says Ulf.
Unfortunately, the number of wolves in the
area has increased a lot lately and that is why
Ulf hesitates to let the dogs loose.
”A dog has no chance at all against a wolf
pack and it is not uncommon that dogs are
attacked.”
However, if you want to hunt bears, two
dogs are definitely needed.
”In the event that a bear is only wounded
with the first shot, one dog must follow the
tracks while the other covers the hunter’s
back and flanks. A wounded bear usually goes
in a circle and tries to attack the hunter from
behind,” relates Ulf.
Hunting runs in the family
In addition to moose and bear, Swedes also
hunt for roe deer and wild boar. Ulf’s finest
hunting experience involved a moose, but
what really made it the finest of all memories
was his son’s company.
”My son called one Saturday morning and
asked if he could come along to hunt with me.
So we went together and released the dog in
the hunting area. Although the forest was very
bushy and not at all ideal for hunting the dog
started to track immediately and after a while
we heard him barking. We spotted him in a
stand-off with a big moose, but it took some time
before we could get a clear shot,” relates Ulf.
”We waited to see what would happen, and
then decided that the next time the moose tries
to chase off the dog and steps into a clear area,
my son will shoot – and it was a perfect shot.
That experience had all the best elements of
hunting: the dog was working beautifully, the
weather was nice and, most importantly, it was
all shared between father and son.”
In the future, Ulf will continue to gather
more memorable hunting moments whenever he has free time, which usually means
weekends. Besides his own work shifts, he has
employees working from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and
if they need assistance, Ulf has promised to
help – at any time. Even during his three-week
summer holiday, Ulf must stop by at the office
once a week to pay the bills and salaries. But
he doesn’t mind: ”Work is part of my lifestyle.”
30–31
INTERNA T I O N AL
F O R E S T R Y
M A G AZ I N E
For David and Andy though, the most
rewarding fact was that 42 of the 52 unemployed
people who worked on their project are now permanently employed, which is eight times better
than the national average for such programs.
While the project continues, the visitors
to Tasmania can enjoy the environment on
Mt. Barrow by hiking the trails in historical
surroundings and examining the display at the
interpretation center.
From left: Michael Ferguson MP, Member for Bass, Paul Lindsey, CWC Business and Employment,
the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, Ian Fawkner, CWC Business and Employment, David Cox, Supervisor on
the Mt Barrow Historic Forest Trail Activity and Jo Field, sponsor from Forestry Tasmania receive the
Australian Prime Minister’s “Work For The Dole Achievement Award”.
Tasmanian
demonstration forest wins
prestigious award
A year ago the Australian forestry icon Andy
Padgett, 81, related in the In The Forest -magazine (2/2004) about his dream to establish a
working forest exhibition area on his beloved
Mt. Barrow, around the interpretation center
built by Forestry Tasmania.
Now the dream has become an award-winning reality.
An organization called "The work for the
dole group," sponsored by Forestry Tasmania, has
been developing training schemes for the unemployed. As part of this program, during the past
12 months the unemployed have been rebuilding roads, refurbishing old huts and restoring log
landings on Mt. Barrow under the guidance
of Andy Padgett and David Cox. The aim of
all these tasks, that date back to the original
logging days some 60 years ago, is to show case
the history and ecology of a working forest, as
well as to teach new skills to the unemployed
to improve their possibilities in seeking jobs.
The reward for their efforts was winning the
coveted Australian Prime Minister’s "Work For
The Dole Achievement Award." This is no
mean feat. There were more than 750 entries.
David Cox accepted the award at a function
hosted in Canberra, Australia’s capital city.
Dignitaries from all over the country, including
Federal Minister for Workforce Participation,
Peter Dutton, attended the ceremony.
John Deere
committed to
hurricane relief
efforts
John Deere employees, dealers, suppliers and
the company itself responded to the tragedy of
Hurricane Katrina. Deere & Company provided
a total of USD 1 million to support relief and
restoration efforts and John Deere dealers in the
southeastern United States facilitated the delivery of donated John Deere equipment to assist
municipalities. More than 250 members of the
United Auto Workers at the Dubuque Works
volunteered their personal time to build the
backhoe loaders and skid steer loaders needed in
the region.
Key suppliers to John Deere Dubuque Works
also contributed to the effort by donating
components or providing them at significantly
reduced prices. Transportation companies that
normally deliver John Deere equipment to dealers pitched in with donated trucks and drivers to
deliver products to the affected area.
Hurricane Katrina made its landfall on
August 29, 2005 along the central Gulf Coast
near New Orleans, Louisiana. It resulted in
breaches of the levee system that protected New
Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain, and most
of the city was subsequently flooded. This and
other major damage to the coastal regions of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama made Katrina the most destructive and costliest natural
disaster in the history of the United States.
John Deere
rides high
with Mika
Kallio
PHOTO: Oscar Bergamaschi
A talented, young Finnish driver has conquered the Road Racing world this year. Mika
Kallio, 23, won his first Grand Prix victory in
the Portugal GP in April 2005, and finished
in and overall 2nd place after the season’s final
GP in Valencia, Spain - thanks to his consistent record of success in almost all the 2005
competitions.
John Deere became Kallio´s sponsor in
August. The driver himself is very pleased
about the new partnership, not least because
forest technology has always been one of his
passions. He has already test-driven a harvester!
Trade fairs and exhibitions in 2006
In 2006 John Deere Forestry and its dealers will take part in several trade
exhibitions and product demos around the world. For more information,
contact you John Deere Forestry dealer. For detailed dealer contact information, visit www.JohnDeere.com.
North America
17-20 January, 62nd Annual Truck Loggers Show, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
9-11 February, Sierra Cascade Logging Show, Redding, California, USA
23-25 February, 68th Annual Oregon Logging Conference, Eugene, Oregon, Usa
16-18 March, Redwood Logging 67th Conference & Show, Ukiah, California, USA
5-6 April, Canadian Woodlands Forum Spring Meeting, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
6-7 April, Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
19-20 May, Expo Richmond 2006, Richmond, Virginia, USA
1-3 June, Forest Expo 2006, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
10-11 June, Deming Logging Show, Deming, Washington, USA
20-23 September, Pacific Logging Congress, Clatskanie, Oregon, USA
Asia Pacific
9-11 March, New Forestry Expo, Roturua, New Zealand
Contact information
John Deere Forestry Group – continental divisions
Europe and Russia
John Deere Forestry Oy
P.O. Box 474
FIN-33101 Tampere
Finland
Tel. +358 20 584 162
Fax +358 20 584 163
South America
John Deere
Equipamentos do Brazil Ltda
298 Tamboré
06460-110 Barueri
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Tel. +55 11 4196 3999
Fax +55 11 4191 1762
North America
Worldwide Construction
& Forestry Division
1515 5th Ave.
Moline, Illinois 61266-8806
USA
Fax +1 309 765 1859
Asia Pacific
www.JohnDeere.com
John Deere Construction
& Forestry (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
2 Pioneer Walk #03-03
Singapore 627856
Tel. +65 6262 0778
Fax +65 6262 3678
TimberLink makes your life easier
www.JohnDeere.com
John Deere is the only manufacturer to make a system that analyzes forest-machine performance and condition. TimberLink is a product designed to make the daily work of machine
contractors, operators and service technicians easier and more efficient. The system measures
machine productivity, fuel economy, and the performance and condition of various sub-systems. TimberLink showcases information technology at its best in which one of the Timbermatic 300 system features is that it utilize the machine’s existing control system and sensors
to collect the requisite data.
TimberLink generates easy-to-interpret reports about the machine’s different sub-functions. It helps to detect performance shortfalls at an early phase, thereby minimizing the
impact of the malfunction on machine productivity. Troubleshooting and repairs become
faster because the system can more easily pinpoint the location of the malfunction. Moreover, the reports help in the optimization of the machine parameters.
Practical tests and measurement results from around the world confirm that the TimberLink system really can improve a machine’s technical productivity and fuel economy. The
first harvesters equipped with TimberLink were made at the Joensuu factory in November.
An upgrade version for existing harvesters will be introduced in spring 2006. The analysis
system is sold as an optional accessory.