JF 2-06.indd - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE No 2 • 2006
6
Red in Russia
– an expanding market
Tough in Brazil
18
Developing machines and components in a
constantly hot and dusty environment makes
Komatsu Forest the market-leader in the
world’s toughest market.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
24
Past and present
Over 30 years, the forwarder has
developed from a simple customized
tractor to a technically advanced and
specially-built machine.
• Well-proven head 4 • Brothers that see red 10
• Maxi optimizes forestry 14 • Top marks 17 • Quality investment in Northern Karelia 26
komatsuforest.com
New markets
with potential
T
he global forestry machine market
is growing and Komatsu Forest’s
ambition is to grow with it. We can
expect to see very strong growth in a number of interesting markets, such as Russia,
Southeast Asia, and South America.
The need to meet the growing demand
in these markets is one of the factors
behind Komatsu Forest’s decision to
increase production capacity, an expansion
well suited to our investment in quality.
Naturally, these new and growing markets will benefit from our plants operating
at a more even production rate as the business cycles in these markets differ from
the more mature markets of Europe and
North America.
Of the new markets, I would very
much like to highlight Russia, which
offers enormous potential for increased
mechanized harvesting. Not only is
the degree of mechanization low, there
are also huge tracts of unutilized forest
reserves. Moreover, the Russian forestry
industry is experiencing increasing timber demand for both local and export consumption. The solution is simple - investment in increased mechanization to meet
demand.
I consider the combined product offerings of Komatsu Forest and Komatsu Construction extremely well suited to Russian
conditions. Tracked machines with logging or harvester heads are perhaps the
most interesting combination as the whole
tree (FL) system still dominates.
The cut-to-length (CTL) system, however, is winning ground and I am convinced
we will see many CTL Valmet machines
traversing Russian forests in the near
future.
Our quality assurance work will bear
fruit in a market as competitive as that
in Russia. Due to long transport stretches, every machine must be extremely reliable as it takes a long time to obtain spare
parts in cases of unplanned downtime.
I am convinced the machines will build
today can meet the demands of the Russian market. r
CONTENTS
Well-tested heads
4
Russian forestry
developing strongly
6
Sisolales selects Valmet
8
First Valmet 890.3 in Germany
9
Brothers that see red
10
Valmet lubricants
increase reliability
13
Maxi optimizes forestry flows
14
New detailed operation follow-up 16
Hideki Yamada
Chief Executive Officer,
Komatsu Forest AB
Tough reality pushes
machine development
18
Great interest in Just Forest
20
Broken chain projectile
tests attract Australians
22
Forwarders past and present
24
Quality investment
in Northern Karelia
26
Stump treatment against rot
29
Variable tire pressure
for more profitable timber trucks 30
Vägrust to improve forest roads
31
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
Publisher: Roland Lundqvist
[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 19 16 52
Internet: www.komatsuforest.com
Production: AB Nordreportern
Writers: Gunnar Andersson, Anders Pauser
Photographers: Gunnar Andersson, Anders
Pauser, Jostein Skeidsvoll, Sirkku Mikkonen,
Göran Backström (SkogenBild)
Layout and original: Fredrik Lundell
Printing: Tryckeri City, Umeå, Sweden
Paper: Gotic Silk 130 gram
Circulation: 38 000
Languages: Swedish, Finnish, English, German,
French, Portuguese, and Spanish
The content may be quoted if the source
is cited.
komatsuforest.com
JUST FOREST NO 2 • 2006
3
New harvester head process in Umeå, Sweden
Well-tested
HEADS
l work
eden use s two paralle
tion unit in Umeå, Sw
The new head produc
flows .
S
Harvester head assembly at Komatsu
Forest’s plant in Umeå, Sweden has
moved to new, separate premises. The
new assembly line makes it possible to
increase production while expanding the
testing of assembled heads
4
ome 8,600 sq.ft. (800
sq.m.) of new f loor
space has been built
for harvester head production. In these new, bright
premises the old assembly station production model has been
replaced with f low production.
Production is based on two parallel f lows, each with three stations and a pre-assembly area.
“Flow production increases
capacity considerably,” explains
production foreman Göran
Brändström while showing us
around the new premises.
Staffed by some 20 assembly personnel, the new unit’s
production rate can be doubled
to meet demand, such as when
large orders are received. The
plant is also designed to enable
production of all head types
offered by the Komatsu Forest group. The heads are easily
transported as they rest on air
cushions that are maneuvered
across the f loor, supporting
as much as 15,000 lb (7 metric
tons) and comparable to simple
hovercraft. The overhead crane
system will lift individual components weighing up to 1,100
lbs (500 kg) while the area designated for prototype construction includes an overhead crane
also capable of handling necessary weights.
Ingemar Persson tests fully assembled harvester heads at the
Komatsu Forest plant in Umeå, Sweden.
One clear aim of the new
unit, apart from the increased
capacity, is to allow advances in quality and testing. As
an example, the pre-assembled valve sets are tested using
the same f lows and pressures
encountered in actual field
operation. The tests are conducted with the new test bench,
which was developed by Aerotech Telub and with a company investment exceeding USD
270,000.
“ASSEMBLED HEADS are
checked on the test bench. The
tests verify that everything is
correctly assembled and that
all hoses are correctly coupled,”
Göran explains.
THIS MEANS THAT the test
unit has quick connectors capable of withstanding pressure
spikes up to 4,500 psi (310 bar).
The head tests take a couple of
hours as all functions are tested
with the aid of a rigorous computer program.
“One of the many advantages of the tests is that we rapidly discover pressure spikes and
other problems; information
we immediately pass on to the
design engineers for evaluation.
This way improvement of Valmet harvester heads is continu-
Pre-assembled valve sets are tested – fully pressurized – on a smaller
test bench. Here we see tester Bo Strömberg completing the full test
sequence.
ous,” says Göran.
Another important test is
the optical measurement of
saw motor RPM. Preventing
too high RPM reduces the risk
of chain breakage and broken
chain projectiles in the field.
The new unit offers a very
good work environment. The
premises are very well organized
and kept spotlessly clean. New
changing rooms, offices, and
conference rooms complete the
modern production facility. r
5
In Russia, machines need to be robust and hardy to cope with the extreme conditions.
Russian forestry
developing strongly
Siberian forestry is being mechanized.
Komatsu Forest Oy’s CEO Jari Alahuhtala
describes a reality in which Komatsu
Forest technology, Finnish experience,
and Russian tenacity attain very good
results.
6
I
n Siberia, the forestry
industry is confronted
with completely different demands compared
to many other places due to the
extreme conditions.
“In the winter, the temperature can drop to almost minus
50C (-58F), the spring brings
f loods and the summer bottom-
less mires, and the Artic fall is
a continual darkness – these are
real challenges,” explains Jari
Alahuhtala. “Such tough conditions demand unique work
methods.”
JARI HIGHLIGHTS the typical Russian creativity, innovation, and tenacity that make it
possible to work in the Siberian taiga. Over time, these
extreme conditions have molded the inhabitants, and have
also left their mark on the
machines and other technology.
If the temperature restrictions
for machine operation used in
Scandinavia were applied in
Siberia, the majority of forests
would never be logged.
“The Russian machines may
look clumsy, but the designs are
well suited to the conditions.
Machine frames, booms, and
transmissions need to be kept
simple and easily repaired,” Jari
explains.
FORESTRY IN Russia is still
closely tied to the local population. Forestry companies take
care of village energy supplies
and often other utilities and
services important to villagers,
such as schools, nurseries, and
cafeterias. In return, the villages offer interested youths, who
have received basic education,
the opportunity to work with
new technology in the forest.
Russian forestry companies
show interest in new technology when there’s a need to make
slightly bigger investments in
their existing machines and
equipment. Timber store cutting stations are a good example. When replacing forestry
technology, it’s not only a question of replacing the machines
that work in the forests. Supporting equipment and systems must also undergo radical change. This may involve
the replacement of transport of
whole trees by truck or cranes
pulling trailers with vehicles
better equipped to transport
sorted timber.
“If estimates show the same
financial outcome from both
the old and the new technology,
you choose the sorted timber
technology, that’s how I understand it,” says Jari.
THE VALMET BRAND has a
good reputation in the Russian market. One reason is that
Facts about Russian forestry
R
ussia’s total timber
stock amounts to a full
2,600 billion cubic feet.
Only 0.2 percent of these enormous resources, or some 6.3
billion cubic feet, is harvested each year. The majority of
the harvesting is conducted by
smaller companies; only twenty
percent of all harvesting is carried out by the major forestry
companies.
The Russian state has started offering harvesting companies 49 or 99 year leasing
contracts for enormous forest
areas, resulting in stark increases in harvesting. New forest legislation is also on the table and
discussions are under way on
the length of rental contracts
and forest ownership, issues
that are difficult to resolve.
MECHANIZATION poten-
tial is high, and the equipment used in forestry has been,
until recently, older, modified non-forestry equipment.
Russian acceptance of rubbertired machines and the cut-tolength (CTL) system is much
greater than in, for example,
North America. The CTL system is increasingly adopted and
in 2007 is expected to reach
harvesting volumes equal to
those of other harvesting methods. One explanation is that
costs per cubic foot for CTL are
almost 50 percent lower than
for the whole tree system. The
total forestry machine market
will increase by almost 60 percent until 2010.
THERE ARE SOME major chal-
lenges facing Russia as a for-
esting country. Infrastructure
is the biggest obstacle. The road
network is poor quality and harvesting generally requires first
clearing long forest roads. Ninety-five percent of transport to
mills is via rail.
THE AVERAGE RUSSIAN forestry worker is age 48 years. This
needs to be considered together with the average male life
expectancy of 55 years. A major
challenge is to get young people
to start and continue harvesting
with modern technology. r
7
the machines have been used
successfully there for more
than twenty-five years. Valmet
machines are widely accepted, as is cut-to-length in many
areas. Authorities are also pushing for a technology change.
In some areas the authorities
have gone as far as to impose
an environmental tax on forestry companies using old logging
technology.
“One key to our success here
in the Russian market is our
position as a global company
with a strong after-sale support
organization,” says Jari. “It’s
about comprehensive product
coverage with machine mainte-
nance, spare parts service, and
– above all else – training. And
of course all Valmet personnel
based in Russia speak Russian.”
Jari emphasizes the extensive training programs. A Valmet specialist is always available at the customer’s premises for several months following
machine delivery to make sure
the machine works without
problems and is used correctly, and to ensure there’s enough
know-how to work as effectively
as possible.
THE MOST POPULAR harvest-
er is the Valmet 911.3. Due to
the long traveling distances, the
Jari Alahuhtala is CEO of Komatsu Forest Oy and is head of sales for
Komatsu Forest in the Russian market.
Valmet 860 is the most popular
forwarder. The explanation is
the 860’s balance between price
and load capacity.
An important step for Komatsu Forest’s operations in
the Russian market was taken when Komatsu’s construction machines, equipped with
harvester heads, were added to
the product range. This provided a simple and reliable basic
machine for whole tree harvesting.
“We can call it a light introduction to a new era,” says Jari.
“A processor-equipped excavator represents something in
between the present and the
future.” r
Sisolales selects Valmet
Valmet is the choice of
Russian forestry company Sisolales when investing in new machines.
The company’s progression toward more
harvesters and forwarders is representative
of the Russian forestry
industry.
S
isolales is one of ten harvesting companies owned
by Mondi Business Paper,
one of the Russian forestry
giants and a major Komatsu
Forest customer. The company
operates in the Komi republic of
north-west Russia and harvests
8
some 7 million cubic feet of
timber each year with the help
of its 280 employees, a workforce that is supplemented with
an extra 30 persons each winter.
AT PRESENT, the CTL system
is used for about 30 percent of
harvesting, using two Valmet
911.3 harvesters and two Valmet 860.2 forwarders. This can
be compared with the remaining harvesting machine lineup,
comprised of four feller-bunchers, eight skidders, four delimbers, four loaders, and seven
whole tree timber trucks. Some
manual logging is also conducted by a considerable number of
hand-cutters.
The machine numbers clearly demonstrate the greater costefficiency of the CTL system.
Calculations show that these
costs are just 60 percent of those
for the existing system. As a
result, within three to five years
all harvesting will be CTL.
“Sisolales is a capable company investing in new technology under the guidance of General Manager Rodomir Kulikov,”
reports Jari Alahuhtala, CEO of
Komatsu Forest Oy. “They’ve
set some very demanding objectives with increased harvesting, but this will require greater
mechanization.” r
First Valmet 890.3
in Germany
Interest in larger
forwarders is on the
increase in Central
Europe. For the first
time, a Valmet 890.3
forwarder was sold in
Germany, followed soon
thereafter by a sale in
Austria.
T
he buyer of Germany’s first Valmet
890.3 forwarder is a
contractor based outside Munich in the southern
part of the country, with delivery to be made at the beginning
of July. The forwarder is to be
used for harvesting dense forests together with an excavator.
The 890.3’s optional slim profile tires enable it to maneu-
ver tight bridges and narrow
roads, which often hinder large
machines in Germany.
“The customer was very
impressed with the machine we
demonstrated and we made a sale
on the spot,” reports Andreas
Bühlmayer, head of sales for the
German and Austrian markets.
“He needed a forwarder with a
large load capacity.”
ANDREAS NOTES that interest
in larger forwarders is increasing, as confirmed by the sale
of yet another Valmet 890.3 in
Austria. The latter machine will
be delivered to the Austrian
state forestry company ÖBF in
July to be used in steep terrain
and for final logging in thick
forests. r
The Valmet 890.3 has already won over customers in Germany.
New organization in New Zealand
Komatsu Forest has
taken on the role of
Komatsu dealer for
forestry machines in
New Zealand, where
the focus is mainly on
excavators equipped
with harvester heads.
The new organization
strengthens Komatsu
Forest’s market position.
C
hris Bruderlin, regional
manager for Asia-Pacific at Komatsu Forest
Australia, is very pleased with
the new organization.
“It’s good for us to show a single face to the forestry industry,
for both the red and the yellow
machines,” he reasons. “It’s also
good for customers, as we can
provide the best solution from a
wide range of machine types.”
With Komatsu’s service centers, customers gain access to
four major service workshops
and Komatsu Forest’s personnel are to act as consultants in
sales and service inquiries concerning Valmet machines and
equipment.
KOMATSU FOREST recent-
ly participated in the New Zealand Forest Industries 2006
International Exhibition & Conference Forestry Show with a
small exhibition stand where
some 130 customers were invited to the event to view an interesting product range. r
Chris Bruderlin, regional manager for Asia-Pacific at Komatsu
Forest Australia.
9
King of the forest. The beautifully painted bull elk on Jonny Gannbäck’s Valmet 941 symbolizes
both the brothers’ firm and the Valmet harvester’s strength.
BROTHERS
that see red
Continual problems with a forwarder led the Gannbäck brothers to see red. It was time for something new. After having tested a
Valmet 890.2 for a couple of days, the deal was clinched. “We realized straight away that Valmet forwarders are more profitable that the
one we were running,” says Jonny Gannbäck, one of the owners of
the forestry machine company Bröderna Gannbäcks Skog AB.
10
B
rothers Tomas and Jonny Gannbäck live in
the village of Viksjö in
northern Sweden and together
they own the forestry machine
company Bröderna Gannbäcks
Skog AB. When they became
partners in 1992, Tomas had
already owned and operated a
machine on his own since the
Tomas Gannbäck uses a trailer to take care of all machine transportation between assignments, and even provides forestry company SCA
with transport services.
end of the 1980s. Since the
beginning they’ve been faithful
owners of the same brand.
“It was mostly because
I started out operating the
same machine brand,” Jonny
explains.
HOWEVER , after several years
with a forwarder that constantly experienced problems and
almost never achieved profitability, they decided to try
something different.
“We tested a Valmet 890.2
for four days and immediately
noticed a big difference. In the
short test period, we could write
up lower fuel consumption and
higher production in terms
of cubic feet an hour,” Tomas
explains.
When Just Forest visited Jonny in the forest, he was busy
using a Valmet 941 adapted for
brushwood for final logging.
Once the Gannbäck brothers decided to replace their forwarder, they also began considering replacing their harvester,
even though it was working satisfactorily.
“I’d only used a Valmet harvester for a few months years
before we started Bröderna
Gannbäck, so, to be honest, I
was very skeptical about changing brands,” says Jonny.
However, just as with the
forwarder, the test drive was
the deciding factor, and Jonny
has now clocked up more than
2,000 hours in his Valmet harvester in little more than six
months.
“I never thought I’d change
brands, but now when I’ve been
using a Valmet, I have to say
that it would be difficult to get
me to change brands again,”
says Jonny.
Even if the differences in
production capacity between
all new harvesters are small,
according to Jonny the advantages of Valmet harvesters tip
the scales.
“The cabs are far superior,”
he says. “You’re always sitting
comfortably and there’s plenty
of space. And the joysticks have
a good feel, with all the buttons
in just the right places. The
comfortable work environment
enables me to get more done in
a work shift.”
JONNY ALSO FINDS that the
Valmet 941 performs better,
especially in rough terrain and
with larger tree stems.
“It’s all the small details
INFO
combined that work to the 941’s
advantage,” he continues. “And
the Valmet 941 and 890.2 make
a great team.”
THE GANNBÄCK brothers only
work assignments for the forest company SCA within a radius of about 60 miles (100 km)
of Viksjö. With two teams working double shifts, and the occasional smaller assignment, the
machines are often in transit. Tomas Gannbäck drives the
truck and coordinates all transportation in the company.
“It’s important to have efficient machine transportation
and having our own trailer
allows us to manage this aspect
ourselves and avoid unnecessary waiting time,” Tomas
explains. “We also help other
contractors working for SCA.” r
Bröderna Gannbäcks Skog AB
ESTABLISHED: 1992
OWNERS: Tomas and Jonny Gannbäck
MACHINES: Two Valmet 941s with 370.2 heads, two Valmet 890.2s,
and a truck.
Number of employeES: 10, INCLUDing the owners
11
TIPS AND ADVICE
Just Forest plans to use this space to publish practical tips and advice for users of Valmet foresting machines.
The editors are happy to publish any ideas you may have. Please submit any tips or questions to [email protected].
More effective service
with special tools
SERVICE AND REPAIRS need to be carried out quickly and effectively in order to maximize machine utilization and uptime.
No one wants downtime to be any longer than really necessary. A number of special tools are available for Valmet
machines designed to simplify service and reduce downtime.
These special tools are available for forwarders, harvesters, booms/cranes, heads, and grapples. One
example is the GUK wrench. This was developed for components employing pin solutions on
boom joints where service is simplified by the use of the right size GUK wrench. All special
tools can be ordered from the central warehouse in Umeå, Sweden.
GUK12 socket
wrench for boom.
More special tools
There’s a wide range of special
tools, and here you can see a few
examples used, for example, to
tighten the KM nut on the joint
frame, to engage expander bolts
in the articulated joint, and to
disassemble telescopic cylinders.
12
Valmet lubricants
increase reliability
The launch campaign
for Valmet’s ProSelect
oil products will continue through the spring.
One reason is the
success of Valmet’s
hydraulic oils, which
reduce the number of
moving component
failures in hydraulic
systems.
S
ales of Valmet’s hydraulic
oils have proven a major
success. One explanation
is that they drastically reduce
the failure risk for rotating
components in hydraulic systems. Extensive field tests conducted on hydraulic oils in for-
warders and harvesters show,
for example, that the bio oil Valmet HE46 Natura is superior to
other oils used in a large number of monitored machines.
“In the hydraulic oil test
conducted on forwarders, the
machines run on ProSelect
Natura reported no problems,”
relates Bo Jonsson, who works
with the oil tests at Komatsu
Forest.
A TOTAL OF 426 Valmet
machines were tested, 218
forwarders and 208 harvesters, and a number of different hydraulic oils were used
in the machines. For example,
63 machines were run on Val-
met’s biological hydraulic oil
HE46. Of these, 29 were forwarders with running times
during the trials of between
200 and 4,000 hours. No problems were reported for these
machines, as compared to the
machines running on other oils
which incurred expensive costs
for component failures.
VALMET’S OIL worked equally
well on the 34 harvesters.
“The tests show that it is
very important to use the right
oil in each machine,” says Bo.
“And the results show that Valmet oils are the best oils for our
machines. The right oil clearly
reduces downtime.”
The good results can be
explained in part by the fact
that Valmet’s hydraulic oils are
stable against shearing over a
large temperature range. This
applies to both the biologically degradable HE46 oil and
the mineral-based HM46 oil.
The oils are also very long lasting, providing almost double
the service life of some other
hydraulic oils included in the
test.
The experience gained from
these hydraulic oil trials has
led to the decision to expand
the oil product range. The next
step will see a ProSelect engine
oil and two different ProSelect
transmission oils. r
13
Maxi optimizes
forestry flows
Information from the Maxi system is vital to both forest owners and mills. It is becoming
common in Sweden for contractors to be expected to provide production information.
I
n order to maximize the
economic worth of a forest, trees must be cut
into the right lengths
with the right dimensions,
and lead-times from harvesting to delivery to the mill must
be minimized. The information in harvester and forwarder onboard computer systems is
important for planning the fastest possible workf low.
“An effective f low provides the optimal gains from
every tree. It’s that simple.
As a result, in the next round
of negotiations, all contractors harvesting for us will be
required to provide the information we need,” says Leif
Orth from the forestry technology department at Södra forest
14
owners’ association. Södra has
35,000 members and harvested
some 740 million cubic feet of
timber in 2005.
we need to get all contractors to
understand this and implement
it in the right manner.”
THE AVERAGE period between
VALMET MACHINES are
equipped with the Maxi system: harvesters with MaxiHarvester, forwarders with MaxiForwarder. These applications enable contractors to provide mills with the information
required to optimize the production f low. In real terms, this
means, for example, communicating cross-cut information,
production files, and geographic information.
“Machines with onboard
computer systems with this
information provide many
advantages,” says Leif. “Now
harvesting and timber delivery to the mills is two to four
weeks. The chain starts when
Södra provides the contractor with an assignment order
describing the plot to be harvested. Important geographic information is included at
this early stage, describing, for
example, the plot perimeter
and sensitive and conservation
areas. In the case of harvesting,
the harvester is fed cross-cutting specifications, which usually includes a number of pricelists. The harvester documents
the production process for each
individual tree. This production
information is sent, via SDC,
the Swedish forestry industry’s joint computer center, to
the mill.
Some information can also
be sent to forwarders. This
includes routes, so that the
operator knows where to collect
the timber, and cut volumes,
which can be compared with
the forwarder’s production data.
ALL INFORMATION produced
by the harvesters and forwarders is important in optimizing
the entire timber supply chain.
“It’s important that we gain
as much production information as possible as early as possible, so that we can work efficiently at each successive stage.
and the forest owners, and the
more exact the measurements
are, the more efficient the f low
is,” Leif explains. “The mills
want to be sure they get exactly what they’ve ordered, as they
have customers to supply with
the correct products. Control
and measuring system calibration information is a necessity,
and in this context regression
analysis of calibration data has
proven to be advantageous.”
HOWEVER , this is probably
Making the chain f low as
smooth as possible requires
that we can also check the current status each day, so that we
know what’s been harvested:
the volumes and whether the
right lengths and dimensions
have been cut,” Leif continues.
But even if the information
is provided quickly and contin-
ually, most important is that
the production data is correct;
that the harvester’s measurements are accurate, and do in
fact agree with the volumes,
lengths, and dimensions actually harvested.
“Even small inaccuracies in
measurements can have major
consequences for both the mills
just the beginning. In Finland,
the industry has already progressed further. Harvester production is controlled by the
mills via timber orders placed
with the forestry industry using
well-integrated systems that
even communicate with the forestry companies’ business systems. Via an Internet interface,
contractors can easily access
real-time information and
manage the entire chain from
stump to mill. r
Maxi information important in optimizing
forestry production flows
HARVESTER PRODUCTION: Information is saved for each individual
tree harvested. This includes details on length, diameter, species, and
quality. The production data can be compiled and sent directly from
the machine to the forestry industry’s centralized computer center.
FORWARDER PRODUCTION: The forwarder can report production
data based on weight and volume.
CROSS-CUTTING: Provides
cross-cutting instructions
based on one or more pricelists. The operator can create
or amend the pricelists based
on customer requirements.
The cross-cutting instructions
are automatically updated.
GEOGRAPHIC: Map files provide the operator information on perimeters, stands, altitude, ground conditions, conservation areas, and more. The
route taken is documented. Areas and distances can be measured. Possibility to add complementary information to map
files.
NEWS
Increasing demand
for certified timber
The demand for PEFC
certified timber is on
the increase in Sweden. The company Mellanskog reports in its member magazine that almost the entire certified timber volume it has to
offer has been bought up. The
industry has also shown increased interest in PEFC pulpwood.
Returned ash good
for the forest
Returning ash to the
forest is beneficial, especially when harvesting brushwood (branches and
treetops), as the nutrients lost
through harvesting are reintroduced with the ash. A research
project in southern Sweden
conducted by Lund University of Technology shows many
positive effects from returning ash over an average of 7–8
years. Among other things, it
helps prevent acidification, increases soil nutrient content,
improves tree health, increases growth by 14 percent, and
increases the carbon and nitrogen content of tree biomass.
Amazonian jungles
grow best in the dry
season
New research findings
based on satellite images show that Amazonian rain forests grow best
in the dry season. This is surprising, but the plants’ ability to green in the dry season is
due to deep root systems that
reach groundwater even when
the climate is drier. According
to the researchers, this phenomenon only occurs in primal
forests; in harvested forests the
plants follow the generally expected rhythm and wilt in the
dry season.
15
New detailed operation
summary reports
MaxiMonitor is the
new Valmet application
for machine operation
reports. More detailed
operation data in accord
with the new industry
standard is one advantage of the new software.
K
omatsu Forest’s new
operation report application MaxiMonitor meets the forestry industry’s new standard for reporting
machine operation data. Following the standard will make
reports from several different
machines comparable and more
useful to a forestry company.
This is of value not only to forestry companies, but also to
contractors themselves. Another advantage of MaxiMonitor is
that it includes more detailed
information providing valuable
insight into how the machine
is used.
“MaxiMonitor is very easy to
use and offers operators good
opportunities to document what
happens during their shifts,”
explains Per Annemalm, product manager at Komatsu Forest.
NEW MAXIMONITOR follows the standard that identifies machine time as ‘in use’
and ‘off hours’ . Utilized time
is then designated either ‘basic
time’ or ‘downtime’. Basic time
includes the time the machine
is used for work tasks, that
is, the time spent harvesting or loading, navigating terrain, traveling between assignments, and other work activ-
ities. Downtime includes, for
example, repairs, maintenance,
trailer transport, and other disruptions due to things such as
planning, administration, or
getting stuck in the mud.
“MaxiMonitor provides a better picture of how the machine
has been used. For example,
it’s possible to specify several
different reasons for the same
downtime period,” Per explains.
CORE TIME PERIODS are
registered automatically. Harvesting, loading and unloading, for example, are recorded
as the time the boom or grapple is in use. Navigating terrain is recorded as the time the
machine is maneuvered but
without use of the head, grapple, or boom. So that the opera-
INFO
tor need not specify a reason for
very short periods of downtime,
a configurable downtime filter
is available.
The new standard also
means that the measure of
technical utilization could eventually be replaced by a more
exact term for how fully a
machine is utilized.
“I think the term ‘machine
availability’ will become more
important from a technical perspective,” forecasts Per. “This
brings repairs and maintenance
into the picture, factors that we
as machine manufacturers can
influence. It doesn’t, however, include downtime caused by
things such as landowner visits, administration, towing other
machines, and other disruptions
that we aren’t able to influence.” r
MaxiMonitor
Actual work
Harvesting/loading
Navigating terrain
Basic time
Other work
Traveling between assignments
Utilized time
Repairs
Waiting for repairs
Downtime
Calendar time
Maintenance
Trailer transport
Disruption
Breaks
UnUnutilized time
Other unutilized
time
New MaxiMonitor follows the standard that divides time into utilized and unutilized time. Utilized time is then divided into basic time
and downtime. Basic time includes the time the machine is actually working, navigating the terrain, traveling between assignments,
and other work activities. Downtime includes, for example, repairs, maintenance, trailer transport, and other disruptions.
16
Top marks
Calibration with
regression analysis, which is available in MaxiHarvester,
received top marks
when the Swedish
forestry research foundation Skogforsk tested
the diameter calibration
of the different crosscutting systems available on the market.
C
alibration regression analysis calculation provides definite advantages over using the
interval calibration method. In
Skogforsk’s diameter calibration test of the different crosscutting systems on the market,
MaxiHarvester came out tops.
With MaxiHarvester, only a single control tree was required in
order to restore accurate diameter measurement after faulty
measurement was simulated. Calibration was also equally good across the entire diameter interval.
It’s becoming increasingly important for harvesters
to measure accurately. Mills
place specific demands on timber dimensions, and harvester production data is used more
and more to manage the workf low in mills. In Finland, harvester production data provides
the basis for payment and this
method is also a topic of discussion in Sweden, for example.
HARVESTERS MEASURE
diameters with a sensor that
must be calibrated to provide
reliable results. Changes in season and climate are two of the
factors that can require measurement system recalibration.
Skogforsk studied how many
trees must be control measured
in order for a machine providing inaccurate measurements
to be recalibrated to an acceptable accuracy level. The test
evaluated the most commonly
used measurement systems.
THE STUDY BEGAN with each
machine calibrated for the
stand used in the test. In order
to simulate an error, such as
the delimbing knives penetrating the bark (they should
run along the top of the bark)
of unfrozen timber when calibrating the measurement system, the calibrated values were
reduced by ten percent for each
diameter class. A sample tree
was then control measured with
calipers and the information
fed into the machine. The suggested calibration parameters
were then compared with the
original values to get an idea of
how close to the original values
the results were after a single
control tree.
The study showed that none
of the tested measurement systems returned to the exact same
settings as before the simulated error, but that systems featuring calibration using regression analysis coped better than
those using interval calibration.
According to the study, a well
chosen and carefully measured
tree is sufficient to calibrate
a system that has gone far off
course. Valmet’s MaxiHarvester
measurement system reported
a deviation of just 3.5 percent
after the first control tree. No
other manufacturer had comparable results. The second best
system required three or more
trees to reach the same low
deviation. The Skogforsk study
also indicates the importance of
good control measurements for
as large a section of the available diameter range as possible. Here, too, MaxiHarvester performed better than competing measurement systems,
which required data from a wider range at the extremes of the
measurement range.
THE SIMPLE conclusion is that
calibration using regression analysis provides far more accurate
calibration of the entire diameter interval while also taking less
time to complete, requiring collection of a smaller amount of
measurement data. Briefly, the
technique is based on calibrating the diameter with a straight
line which with the aid of linear regression is adapted to the
measurement deviations encountered during calipering.
Even if an acceptable calibration is achieved after just a
few trees, under most conditions, Komatsu Forest recommends calibration with at least
three trees from each species
to ensure good diameter and
length calibration. r
17
Tough reality pushes m
Komatsu Forest is the market-leader in possibly the world’s
toughest forestry machine market – Brazil. The experience
gained in Brazil’s heat, dust, and non-stop operation contributes to continuous machine and component improvement.
An effective onsite service organization supports this development work.
T
he growing Brazilian
forestry industry provides excellent opportunities for machine manufacturers to test under the toughest possible conditions. Industrial scale logging is conducted
on eucalyptus plantations usually under the same conditions
for long periods, with the near
constant stem sizes and a large
number of machines working in parallel. The machines
working these plantations must
function without fail.
All this is well fulfilled by
Komatsu Forest, the dominant
player in the Brazilian market,
with Valmet forwarders and
Komatsu excavators equipped
with Valmet harvester heads.
Success has been ensured by
the reliability of the machines
and the expansive service organization, among other factors.
Often hundreds of people are
connected to a single forestry
company with a very large number of machines in use.
CONDITIONS IN Brazil are
of great benefit to engineers at
Komatsu Forest as the service
organization continually reports
in detail machine performance
data under extreme conditions.
Continual improvements result,
18
Harvesting eucalyptus in Brazil
– one of the toughest environments on the planet for forestry
machines.
benefiting Valmet machine
owners the world over, even if
they are not working under the
same conditions.
“Through our service contracts we obtain extremely comprehensive follow-up information down to component level,” reports Gunnar Nilsson,
product manager for harvester heads at Komatsu Forest.
“We know what’s going on with
every machine.
ASIDE FROM THE improve-
ments, new products have been
developed in collaboration with
the Brazilian service organization. One example is the development of the debarking option
on the Valmet 370E harvester
head, developed in collaboration
with Brazilian customers. This
led to debarking reaching 100
percent for more than 90 percent of the logged eucalyptus
trees after the first run through
the head.
THE CHALLENGES facing a
machine in Brazilian plantation
machine development
Challenges facing
forestry machines
in Brazil
• Up to 5,000 running hours a year
• The hot and humid climate strains
hydraulic systems
• Fine sand places demands on seals
• Many operators with different operating styles
• High logging volumes of up to 10.6
million cubic feet a year
Komatsu Forest’s recipe
for success in Brazil
• Efficient onsite service
• Thorough inspections and records
at component level
• Well designed machines and heads
• A broad product range combined
with Komatsu’s tracked excavators
forestry are many. One is that
the machines are most often
operating 24 hours a day, clocking up to 5,000 hours a year.
The machines are taken offline
solely for lubrication and refueling using special service trucks.
Other challenges are the
heat and the sandy soils, which
affect the hydraulic systems.
This has led to changes such as
improved seals on grapples.
“We’ve also improved the
ProTec hose routing and there-
by further reduced the amount
of downtime,” explains Gunnar.
“Examples of improvements
made as a result of the tough
conditions are numerous and
all contractors using Valmet
machines benefit. Developing forestry machines is about
continual improvements and
rapid feedback. That’s what we
get in Brazil.” r
19
Great interest
in Just Forest
Our readers are very
pleased with Just
Forest. This was shown
in a web-based reader survey. The survey
indicates that each year
the magazine is read
by some 150,000 people
working in the forestry industry. Moreover,
most of them read much
of the magazine.
T
he survey was conducted on Komatsu Forest’s website throughout the
spring. A large number of readers responded and explained
what they like about Just Forest
magazine. The responses pro-
vide a good idea of what people think of the magazine, how
it is read, and how many people
read each copy.
PERHAPS THE MOST interest-
ing survey result is that some
148,000 readers come in contact
with the magazine each year. Of
these readers, 87,000 read every
issue. And if that wasn’t enough,
63 percent read at least half of the
magazine, while almost a third of
readers say they read it from cover to cover. The figures for content read are very high for a magazine.
WHICH SUBJECTS do read-
ers find most interesting? Not
completely unexpectedly, arti-
cles about new products and
machines top the list. Articles
about forestry in different countries also attract a great deal of
interest; likewise for articles
about research projects. Reading
about how other customers run
their operations is almost as popular. Generally speaking, we can
say that all article types are of
great interest, even if articles on
hunting and fishing are a little
lower down the list.
Reader comments:
• I look forward to my quarterly
issues. Keep up the good work
with the Valmet magazine.
• It’s simply the best.
• Four issues a year are too few
for me, and the magazine isn’t
thick enough. When you’ve finished reading it, you’re left
wanting more.
READERS PROVIDED many
positive comments and tips on
how the magazine could be
improved and the survey results
will certainly prove useful in
future work to develop Just Forest
into an even better magazine. r
• Very good. I enjoy receiving and
reading the magazine. I always
read it before anything else that
arrives at the same time.
Winner from Lithuania
Ten Just Forest readers
who participated in the
digital reader survey
have been randomly chosen as prize
winners. First prize
went to Maris Osis from
Lithuania.
First prize winner Maris Osis
receives his prize, a fine
knife, from Komatsu Forest’s
Chief Information Officer
Pelle Hjelm.
A
very happy Maris Osis
receives the first prize,
a valuable Valmet knife
manufactured by Norwegian
Helle. Maris has long read Just
Forest on the Internet because
he can learn so much about for-
estry in different countries and
about machines. Maris is currently working on his Master’s
degree and hopes to find a place
in the expansive Lithuanian forestry industry in the future. r
The prize winners are:
1ST PRIZE: Maris Osis, Riga, Lithuania
2ND–5TH PRIZE: Anneli Johansson, Älvsbyn, Sweden, Sam Fuhrer,
Pinewood, Ontario, Canada, Simen Holtmoen, Våler i Solör, Norway,
René Van Der Merwe, Spokane, Washington, USA
6TH–10TH PRIZE: Mikael Frimodig, Alingsås, Sweden, Estrade Frederic, Egletons, France. Girard Cédric, Poliez-Pittet, Switzerland, Martin
Huska, Martin, Slovakia, Marcos Elgueta Orellana, Santiago, Chile
The second to fifth prize winners each receive a Valmet backpack. Seventh to tenth prize winners get a flashlight.
21
MAY WE ASK…
…PER WÄPPLING,
CEO of Swelog, Komatsu
Forest’s Swedish sales company
A chain link that struck a window with great force.
2005 was something
of a record year, but
would you say market
activity is now back to
more normal levels?
In 2005, we sold more machines
and saw greater revenue than
ever before. The reasons were
the generally good demand for
machines and the storm that hit
southern Sweden at the beginning of the year. As for 2006, demand for machines has dropped
in southern Sweden, due to the
cleanup work after the storm
nearing completion, while sales
in northern Sweden are developing well.
When do you think the
situation in southern
Sweden will change?
It’s difficult to say, but I think we’ll
see a change later this year. Many
contracts are currently under renegotiation, and much depends
on when the contractors get their
finalized contracts and timber
stock levels. Pulpwood prices remain stable and the construction
boom continues with good timber demand. This all points towards a positive trend.
Can you discern any
future market trends?
Thinning seems to be increasingly important. Another trend is towards fewer contractors but larger firms. We’re also seeing a generation change and younger contractors have a different view of
matters and even different needs.
22
Broken chain projectile
tests attract Australians
SMP, the Swedish
machinery testing institute, has developed
effective test equipment
for broken chain projectiles. The test rig is
unique and attracts visitors from far and wide.
It was recently used to
test the kick-back guard
on an Australian grapple saw with a very
heavy cutting chain.
film the chain breaking, helping the development of effective
protection.
SMP RECENTLY tested a grapple
saw from Komatsu Forest in Australia fitted with a ¾-inch chain.
A broken chain projectile from
such a heavy chain delivers an
immense force due to the weight
of the link. The force is more
than double that arising from a
regular cutting chain link.
The information from the test
equipment enables not only steel
kick-back guards to be properly positioned and angled but also
provides the opportunity to evaluate the thickness of the safety glass used in cabs. In Australia, safety glass with a thickness
of up to 1.2 inches is required in
forestry machines. In Scandinavia, 0.6 inches is standard. r
T
he test equipment at
SMP in Umeå, Sweden
is unique and the test
rig construction includes parts
from an old harvester head. The
rig can be used to simulate broken chain projectiles propelled
by the whiplash motion arising
when a chain breaks. The whiplash motion propels the broken link at a speed some 10–15
times the normal chain speed
of 130 ft/s making it as lethal
as a bullet. The test rig includes
a high-speed camera used to
The test rig where broken chain projectiles are filmed using a high-speed camera.
Stumps into energy
Biofuel production is on
the increase throughout Europe and fuel
derived from forests is
an important raw material. In Finland, the
production of forestderived fuels has been
advanced by measures
such as collecting
the stumps left from
harvesting. Sveaskog is
the first Swedish forestry company to adopt the
Finnish model.
est biomass fuels comprise harvesting waste, timber with no
industrial use, and byproducts
from mills. For the past few
years, Sveaskog has been gathering slash (branches and treetops) in southern Sweden for
use as biofuel, and this practice
will now be adopted throughout
the country.
“Quite simply, there’s now a
market for forest fuel for energy
production,” states Bengt.
B
mon practice to use stumps as a
fuel in biomass energy production. In order to increase forest fuel production in Sweden,
Sveaskog, adopting the Finnish
model, has tested the utilization
of the stumps left from logging.
Last year, a trial was conducted
on 37 acres of forestland. The
trial began in the spring and
the stumps were split into three
to five pieces onsite. The pieces
were then lifted with an excavator and shaken to remove as
much of the roots, stones, and
earth as possible before being
piled up. The ground was then
prepared and the stumps left
onsite to dry over the summer,
the rains washing away more of
the earth and stones.
“The stumps are a very high
octane fuel with an energy content of 3.5 MWh per metric
ton, which can be compared to
brushwood’s energy content of
3 MWh per metric ton,” Bengt
explains.
iomass energy consumption has gained
an increasingly strong
foothold in Scandinavia in
recent years. For example, the
proportion of Finland’s total
energy consumption derived
from biomass energy is about
25 percent, or 90 TWh (million
megawatt hours) a year. In Sweden, biomass energy represents
114 TWh, or 22 percent, of total
annual energy consumption.
In the EU, there is an ongoing
initiative to increase the use of
biofuels, which might increase
the appeal in countries such as
Germany.
“Biofuel derived from the
forest has the potential to produce an additional 25 TWh
of energy a year in Sweden
alone, so there’s still much to
be done,” says Bengt Karlsson,
head of biofuels at Sveaskog.
THE GROWING use of biofu-
els as an energy source has led
to a corresponding motivation
to harvest forestry byproducts.
Forest biomass is an important
part of biofuel production in
both Finland and Sweden. For-
IN FINLAND, it’s already com-
A MAJOR ADVANTAGE of
stumps as forest-derived fuel is
the dry content. Forest-derived
fuel ought to have a dry content of about 55 percent to pro-
A pile of stumps left to dry. The
stumps are broken up using an
excavator then left to dry over the
summer months.
vide the highest energy value.
There is, however, a lack of biofuels with high dry contents
and stumps have been shown to
have dry contents of as much as
75 percent.
“This high dry content
makes stumps an excellent
ingredient in the biofuel mix,”
Bengt continues.
Sveaskog is pleased with
the stump trial and has already
decided to conduct a more
extensive trial this year that
is to include an environmental impact analysis, an evaluation of the logistics, and using
a head capable of lifting and
shaking stumps as well as conducting ground preparation. r
23
Forwarders past and present
A picture often says more than a thousand words. And this could be claimed true for the
development of forwarders. In 30 years, the forwarder has gone from being in many
cases a simple customized tractor to a technically advanced and specially-built machine.
O
ccasionally, forestry machine
development
seems to be slow.
But that’s not a fair picture. In
just 30 years, the forwarder has
Valmet 890.3
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2005
ENGINE: 204 DIN horse power
TORQUE: 737 lbf-ft at 1,500 rpm
BASE CURB WEIGHT: 46,500–49,000 lb
LOAD CAPACITY: 39,700 lb
TOTAL WEIGHT: approx. 84,000 lb
24
been transformed from an initial replacement for the horse
and wagon to a highly productive machine specially adapted
for forestry use.
“There are almost no sim-
ilarities between a forwarder from the 1960s or 70s and
today’s machines, other than
that they are both called forwarders,” says Ola Boström,
head of product development at
Komatsu Forest.
Forestry machine development has been fast and continues without interruption. If
we compare the development
rate with that of, for example,
“BM stornalle”
(rebuilt)
PRODUCTION YEAR: 1967
ENGINE: 56 DIN horse power
TORQUE: 181 lbf-ft at 1,100 rpm
SERVICE WEIGHT: 15,000 lb
LOAD CAPACITY: 15,450 lb
TOTAL WEIGHT: 30,423 lb
FAKTA
m 3/cost
20
16
12
8
4
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Productivity trend 1950–2000.
many and extensive, but what
is perhaps most striking is that
everything is different. Even
if they are both forwarders, 30
years of product development
has led to something completely
new. Engine power, speed, load
capacity, the boom, the grapple,
the transmission, component
quality, technology content, and
the operator environment have
undergone huge changes.
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.
Source: Skogforsk
ALL TOGETHER these devel-
the automobile, the true rate of
progress becomes more apparent.
“It’s taken the automobile
industry a little more than a
century to reach its current
position, while mechanized forwarding has only been around
for some 30 years and mechanized logging an even shorter
time,” continues Ola.
THE DIFFERENCES between
the old rebuilt BM Stornallen in the photos and the modern Valmet 890.3 are of course
opments mean that a modern
forwarder delivers annual production many times that of its
predecessors and with a drastic drop in production costs
per cubic foot in real monetary
terms.
“Machine development has
continually progressed over the
years, and the past decade has
seen giant steps in areas such
as environmental impact reduction, cab design, and computerized control systems. Development will continue and there’s
still great potential to further
improve the forwarder,” Ola
concludes. r
Jan Fryk
CEO of the Swedish research
institute Skogforsk
Technical development
a necessity
S
ince mechanization of the Swedish forestry industry began at the
end of the 1950s, average productivity in forestry work has increased more than tenfold. If we assume the same productivity
levels as five decades ago, but otherwise today’s price and cost
levels, a cubic foot of timber by the roadside would cost almost three
times as much as it does today.
This simple supposition illustrates the importance of continual optimization. Swedish forestry requires an annual productivity increase of
two to three percent if Sweden is to retain its position and face competition from other countries where trees grow as much as ten times faster.
Even if the harvester system has matured, there are still possibilities
for further optimization. For example, the hydraulic systems leave a lot
to be desired, with a utilization rate of not much more than about 50 percent. Harvester measurement systems could also be developed and refined with modern technology. Production reports, standardized information transfer, and automated quality classification are further examples of routes to take in developing harvesting machines as information
platforms.
Optimization of existing logging techniques is assessed to be able to
reduce costs by five percent for a considerable share of the harvested
timber volume. Improved utilization of raw timber ought to be able to increase the retrieved value by as much as 20 percent.
In the long run, however, technological advances and new systems
should be able to meet these challenges. Partial automation of machine
functions can be expected to reduce harvesting costs by another five
percent and driverless systems could provide even greater cost reductions.
Rationalization within silviculture has not been quite as successful.
Clearing in particular is an area that has fallen behind. Here new and
more rational mechanized solutions must be developed.
Forestry is very much a giant timber flow, with transportation representing almost a fifth of industrial timber costs. With the development
of more efficient and less energy consuming modes of transport, together with optimized transport work with the aid of computerized planning
and decision-making tools, the forestry industry’s logistics costs could
be reduced by some 20 percent.
So the potential is there, but without concentrated efforts and investments in forestry technology R&D the potential will not be fulfilled. The
question is not whether we can afford to invest; the question is whether
we can afford not to invest. r
25
The operator is the most important link for
quality. So says Finnish contractor Jussi
Puoskari, who runs the company Motoajo
Oy with more than 50 employees. Because
the operator can adjust machine settings
and issue different commands, the operator’s skill is decisive to the final outcome.
QU A L I T Y
I N VE STM E NT
IN NORTHERN KARELIA
M
otoajo Oy,
founded in
Nurmes in
1970, has
developed into a considerably
sized company within its segment. The company started as
a family business and is now in
its third generation. Or, more
correctly, it’s an extended family business, as it’s now owned
by members from the families
of four brothers from the Puoskari family. Jussi Puoskari has
led the company since the latest generation took over three
years ago.
Motoajo doesn’t own just
a few machines; delivery reliability is guaranteed by a large
machine park: 13 machine
teams, two trailers, five timber
trucks, and a number of service trucks. The company has
more than 50 employees and
even supplements its resources
with those of a subcontractor all
year round and of a few other
subcontractors at busier times.
Workshop manager Lassi Puoskari and two heavy machinery
mechanics take care of machine
maintenance needs, aiming to
carry out all maintenance other
than repairs that fall under warranty. If more extensive work
is required, the company Autoja Motomesta in Rautavaara is
called in to assist. Motoajo conducts assignments for three cli-
Daily discussions with the operators are very important. Jussi
Puoskari and Ari Kokkonen discussing the day’s work.
26
The Maxi system makes work
both more effective and simpler. This sunny afternoon Aris
Kokkonen is really enjoying his
workday.
and developing quality assurance work.
“This probably says something about our approach to
quality control,” says Jussi. “We
check how the official standards are followed within the
company each year. Any shortcomings are rectified and operations improved. Moreover, our
clients check that we follow the
standards when reviewing their
own systems. An independent
third-party review is also conducted every third year.”
JUSSI HAS VERY set opinions
ents: UPM, Stora-Enso, and
Forststyrelsen. The company
has had a key supplier contract
with UPM for a few years.
Motoajo Oy takes quality
seriously.
“We’ve always considered
the quality of our work important. As early as the mid-1990s,
my uncle Juhani Puoskari initiated the difficult job of applying a quality system within the
company, and we’ve had a quality system ever since,” says Jussi Puoskari.
IN 2002 , Motoajo was certi-
fied in accordance with the ISO
9001 quality standard, the ISO
14001 environmental standard,
and the OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety standard. Despite the fact that none
of these standards are directly related to the quality of forestry work, they comprise the
basic conditions for achieving
about which factors affect the
quality of harvesting work.
“By far the most important
link for quality is the operator.
If the harvester was a machine
with functions that couldn’t be
adjusted or which the operator couldn’t inf luence, the most
important factor would be the
machine. But because the operator can adjust the settings and
issue different commands, the
operator’s skill is decisive to the
27
Sometimes these things happen. Ari Kokkonen can change a chain
in less than five minutes.
final outcome. Of course, the
machine must provide the best
possible conditions for the operator to deliver high quality,” he
explains.
JUSSI KNOWS what he’s talk-
ing about, as he spent almost
nine years behind the controls
of a Valmet harvester before he
started managing the company.
“When the operator is motivated and continually develops his or her skills and understands the importance of quality at work, most of the puzzle
is in place. We can then supplement this with training, for
example. Twice a year, we gather all our staff together to discuss work-related issues, including quality. The operators can
share experiences and learn
from each other. On occasion
we’ve even hired external consultants. New perspectives
stimulate improvements,” says
Jussi.
Jussi’s request to the
machine manufacturers is
to provide sufficient training
resources when delivering new
systems or important software
updates.
“With good machine-specific training you attain the best
possible advantages from new
functionality more rapidly.”
MOTOAJO HAS ten Valmet
911 harvesters. Most harvester heads are Valmet 945 models while the newest are from
the Valmet 300 series. The
Maxi system has produced good
results and Motoajo is very
pleased with Valmet’s volume
measurement accuracy. The
A family business also means family meetings. Ritva Puoskari is
office manager and the ‘heart of Motoajo’, Jussi Puoskari is CEO,
and Juhani Puoskari is chairman.
28
Things are going well. Operator Ari Kokkonen (left) and Juhani and
Jussi Puoskari review the day’s production results. Quality and outcomes are measured.
reliability and durability of the
911s have proved good.
“The differences between
different machines are like
night and day. Since we have
many machines and operators,
it’s important that – if required
– we can switch operators
between machines in a f lexible manner without affecting
quality. Ten Valmet machines
provide good opportunities for
such a setup. Being able to concentrate on a single brand also
helps out with service, maintenance, and spares work.” r
Chemical spraying of stumps during logging is very profitable.
Stump treatment
effective against rot
Root rot costs the forestry industry dearly every
year. However, more
extensive stump treatment could save the
Swedish forestry industry some SEK 20,000–
30,000 per hectare a
year (USD 1,000–1,600
per acre a year), according to a report published
by the Swedish research
foundation Skogsforsk.
R
oot rot in coniferous stands is a problem of varying degrees
throughout the temperate
northern vegetation zone and
is caused by the fungus Heterobasidion annosum. The fungus grows in roots and stemwood and during the vegetation period its spores spread to
fresh wood and stumps where
it grows best during the weeks
immediately following log-
ging. With biological or chemical treatment at harvest, this
spread can be effectively prevented, though at present this is
mostly done during thinning.
HOWEVER , according to a
report from Magnus Thor, head
of the technique research program at Skogforsk, it is also
profitable to treat stumps during final logging in medium quality coniferous forests
throughout Sweden and not – as
is done now – just during thinning.
“Root rot causes major losses through the down-grading of
valuable timber,” says Magnus
Thor. “Growth in old spruce
trees is slowed and even younger pine trees can be affected. In
Sweden alone this costs the forestry industry one half to one
billion Swedish krona a year
(USD 67–135 million). There’s
money to be made by forest
owners in stump treatment.”
profitable to treat stumps in
conjunction with logging, even
though this has previously been
considered too expensive. Based
on his calculations, a forest
owner could gain SEK 20,000–
30,000 (USD 2,700–4,000) in
current monetary value during
future final logging.
“To phrase it simply, stump
treatment is very profitable during the growing season when
the spores are active,” says Magnus. “The more spruce, the
more profitable treatment is.”
North America, on the other
hand, where the problem is also
becoming serious, spraying is
not common practice. Root rot
is gaining a foothold in northeastern USA and south-east
Canada, and here contractors
are careful to break up stumps
and isolate affected stands.
“Mechanized stump treatment will most likely make an
entry in North America soon,”
predicts Magnus. “The cost of
treatment per acre during final
logging is roughly the same
as for ground preparation. Of
course, it’s always advantageous
to log in the winter when root
rot doesn’t spread.”
STUMP TREATMENT is con-
THE REPORT ALSO points
ducted in several countries,
such as Sweden, Finland, England and Denmark, where it
is mechanized, and Poland,
where spraying is manual. In
out that spraying techniques
employing nozzled bars, such
as on Valmet heads, are more
effective than spray nozzles fitted onto the harvester head. r
ACCORDING TO Magnus, it’s
29
Variable tire pressure
for more profitable
timber trucks
By varying the tire pressure on timber trucks,
load capacity can be
increased when ground
frost begins to thaw.
Mobility on poor roads
is also increased. North
America leads development in this area
although an interesting
research project is now
underway in Sweden.
D
riving heavily laden
trucks with variable
tire pressure has long
been common practice in North
America and has provided great
advantages in terms of mobility and timber truck utilization.
The technique is known as CTI,
or Central Tire Inf lation, and
entails increasing or decreasing tire pressure on the move to
suit the load. A regular timber
truck has one pressure for the
maximum load and a speed of
50 mph , which means the pressure is incorrect when the truck
has no load.
“This leads to unnecessary
wear,” explains Paul Granlund,
who is researching CTI at Swedish research institute Skogforsk.
MORE IMPORTANT in this
context is that the technique
can be used to increase mobility on poor forest roads, especially when ground frost begins
to thaw. Reducing tire pressure increases the contact surface between tire and road, distributing the load over consid-
erably more square inches. This
means timber trucks can handle larger loads on roads with
reduced load-bearing capacity.
THE CONTACT surface is gre-
atly increased by reducing tire
pressure by half. In the case of
a timber truck and trailer, the
total surface area for all tires
increases from 1,700 to 2,700
square inches.
“One advantage is that traction increases 150 percent
because more engine power is transmitted to the road,”
Paul continues. “In this way
one avoids the need for chains.
Another advantage is that the
truck rides more comfortably
when empty, saving the driver’s
back from unnecessary strain.”
With variable tire pressure, timber trucks
can better maneuver on poor roads.
30
The system is based on the
driver being able to choose
between six tire pressure levels. So far the results indicate
that the trucks can run with a
full load and maneuver on roads
that were previously impassable
while ground frost thaws. The
Swedish trials show savings of
USD 2.20 to USD 6.40 per long
ton depending on the transport
stretch.
“Our calculations show that
one can quickly recoup a CTI
system investment, which generally approx. USD 20,000–
27,000. One of the trial trucks,
which could carry a 60 metric
ton load on roads where normally only 52 tons are allowed,
recouped the investment in
three months,” Paul finishes. r
Map model in Vägrust showing which forest roads are used most for transportation
in a particular area.
Vägrust to improve
forest roads
Researchers have developed a software application to optimize investments in forest roads –
named Vägrust. The software is based on experience from the Swedish
forestry industry.
I
n many areas of Sweden,
forest roads are relatively poor. When the ground
frost begins to thaw, the situation becomes more critical because timber trucks cannot navigate these roads. At the
same time, it’s difficult for forestry companies to calculate
exactly where to invest in the
large network of forest roads to
optimize transport logistics.
One of the researchers studying this problem is Leif Olsson at Mitthögskolan in Sundsvall, Sweden, where his research
field is quantitative forestry
logistics. Leif has written his
thesis on trials with computer
calculations to plan forest road
network investments in forestry company Holmen Skog’s
district in Härjedalen, Sweden. Experience has provided
some of the basis in the development of this software application at the Swedish research
foundation Skogforsk. The software tool simplifies the complex
calculations required by forest management companies in
order to optimize investments
in their forest road networks.
The software is named
Vägrust and is currently being
tested by researchers. The idea
is that the actual optimization
model should integrate with the
different forestry companies’
existing computer systems.
“IT’S A SMALL program with
an advanced optimization
model,” explains Mikael Frisk,
a researcher in the logistics program at the Skogforsk research
institute. “It’s based on the Swedish national road database.”
The software allows you to
input information about the status of forest roads in the area
in question. This is supplemented with planned logging volumes and districts for the next
ten years along with information about the timber demands
of different mills.
“THEN ONE CAN start com-
paring with what is available in
terms of production and what
needs to be done to increase the
harvest efficiency through road
improvements,” Mikael explains.
“The idea is that personnel
should be able to make more
informed decisions and choose
the most profitable solution.”
WORK WITH Vägrust will con-
tinue with field studies. Interest in the software is clearly great in the forestry industry
as it invests heavily in the forest
road network. r
31
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].
Successful
exercise
ONE PERSON TRAPPED UNDER the wheel of a forwarder and one injured person beneath the machine. This was the scenario facing the Rescue Services in Umeå, Sweden on
a training exercise conducted in collaboration with Komatsu Forest. The Rescue Services’
task was to find the accident scene in the forest and successfully lift the almost 20-ton forwarder in order to free the trapped casualty. And they succeeded well. The exercise was
part of a collaboration between Komatsu Forest and the Rescue Services to increase safety.
IT PAYS TO USE QUALITY components. John Björklund knows this,
having harvested almost 310,000 cubic feet with this saw bar attached to a Valmet 350 harvester head.
Top quality
33

JF 2-06.indd - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

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