In English - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE No 4 • 2006
6
VALMET
475FXL
Whirlwind in Harz
Engine manufacture
Andreas Truskaller runs a company based in
Harz, Germany specialized in windthrown timber
and harvesting in steep terrain.
We take a look at the factory in the
Finnish town of Linnavuori where the
engines in all Valmet forestry machines
are built.
READ MORE
18
• Jonas likes improvements 9 • Valmet 830.3 sneak preview 10
• New harvesting head for hardwood 21 • A year with a new forwarder 28
komatsuforest.com
Top 20!
A great deal of forestry machine for your money in the safest possible way.
That’s the advantage of buying a used machine from us. Here we’ve selected
the top 20 machines currently on offer. You’ll find even more bargains at www.
komatsuforest.com/used. Contact your dealer for all the help and information
you need. Why not call today and take the first step towards a deal that’s guaranteed to be good!
Harvesters
Forwarders
Valmet 801 C – 6WD/CRC 15/330
2002
Sweden
Valmet 840 SII – 6WD
1999
Valmet 901 – 4WD/CRH 12/945.1
2000
Finland
Valmet 840 SII – 8WD
1999
UK
Valmet 901.2 – 6WD/CRH 14/SP 451 2003
Sweden
Valmet 840.1 – 8WD
2000
Finland
Valmet 911.1 – 4WD/960
2003
Norway
2000
UK
Valmet 911.1 – 6WD/Cranab 1600
2001
Germany
2000
Norway
Valmet 911.1 – 6WD/360
2002
UK
Valmet 860 – 8WD/Cranab 810
2000
Sweden
Valmet 911.1 – 6WD/360
2000
Norway
Valmet 860 – 8WD/Cranab 850
2000
Sweden
Valmet 921.1 – 6WD/370
2003
UK
2003
Norway
Timberjack 1070
2004
Finland
Ponsse Buffalo
2003
Norway
Timberjack 1270 C/TJ 211
2001
Germany
Ponsse Wisent
2003
Finland
Finland
Note that some of the listed machines may have now been sold, though there are plenty of good machines in stock and more on the way in.
Contact one of the representatives below and they will happily help you find a good used machine from Komatsu Forest.
Sweden
Sten Kanebo
+46 70 345 26 66
[email protected]
Germany
Thomas Hoppe
+49 172 314 92 06
[email protected]
UK
David Mcllwraith
+44 776 997 36 71
[email protected]
Finland
Timo Korhonen
+358 400 299 729
[email protected]
Norway
Erik Överbö
+47 90 510 990
[email protected]
For information on used machines in other
countries, see www.komatsuforest.com/used
or contact your local sales organization.
www.komatsuforest.com/used
A very
prosperous year
I
can look back on 2006 with satisfaction; a year of excellent results
for Komatsu Forest in a number of
areas. Most satisfying is that we succeeded in increasing our manufacturing volumes and expanded our market shares in
several segments and in many markets.
Sales in 2006 have been almost as good
as in 2005, the year northern Europe was
hit by a severe storm that generated record
demand for forestry machines. An additional plus is that sales in several emerging markets in Eastern Europe have developed very well.
Such high demand has not been seen
in the USA and Canada, though a turnaround is expected already during the latter half of 2007. Generally speaking, continued high timber and pulp prices internationally indicate a continued economic
high for the coming years.
Throughout 2006 we have continued to
develop Komatsu Forest into an increasingly stronger market player. Our systematic quality work is for all intents and purposes fully implemented and production
capacity has been expanded at our factory
in Umeå, Sweden. North America is next
in line with a substantial investment in
the factory in Shawano. The aim is a considerable increase in production, so the
factory will be expanded and personnel
recruited, especially within the development department.
With two modern factories, Komatsu
Forest will have an even stronger future
position as a complete supplier to the forestry industry of both cut-to-length and
full-trunk machines.
We will establish a new sales company in North America, offering harvester heads and the assembly kits the market
demands.
Major marketing activities in Russia
are also in the pipeline.
Considering everything we have
achieved, I am convinced 2007 will be as
successful a year for Komatsu Forest as
2006 has proven. And I am equally convinced our customers will benefit greatly
from our current ventures. r
CONTENTS
Upgraded head
4
Whirlwind in German Harz
6
Jonas likes improvements
9
Valmet 830.3 sneak preview
10
Market news
12
The new Valmet 475FXL
14
The perfect machine
for thick forests
16
The future of diesel engines is here18
New harvester head for hardwood 21
Tips and advice
22
Used machines gather momentum
over the Internet
24
A year with a new forwarder
28
News from the past year
30
Reduced risk of crown fires
32
Anecdotal
33
Hideki Yamada
Chief Executive Officer,
Komatsu Forest
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 12 04 60
Internet: www.komatsuforest.com
Production: AB Nordreportern
Writers: Gunnar Andersson, Anders Pauser, Erik
Säfvenberg, Ruzz Potratz
Photographers: Gunnar Andersson, Anders
Pauser, Erik Säfvenberg, Jostein Skeidsvoll
Layout and original: Fredrik Lundell
Printing: Ågrens Tryckeri, Örnsköldsvik, 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 4 • 2006
3
350.1
Upgraded
head
A large number of
upgrades have enabled
the Valmet 350 to
become the Valmet
350.1. Everything to
make this harvesting
head even more reliable.
V
almet harvesting heads
are based on a wellproven basic design,
which has been repeatedly modified and refined over the years.
The Valmet 350 is well established in all our markets, but
has proven most popular in
Scandinavia where it is mainly used for thinning and lighter
final logging. In order to operate efficiently, the head has a
compact basic design, a short
frame to ensure nimble maneuvering, and the optimal balance
between strength and weight.
NOW, TWO years since the fi rst
production series was put to use
in the forest, the Valmet 350
4
has undergone a thorough facelift with improvements in many
areas.
“The upgrade is based on
important feedback we’ve
received from users, resulting in
refinements and modifications
to further increase the head’s
productivity through an even
higher degree of technical utilization,” explains Gunnar Nilsson, product manager for harvesting heads.
ONE OF THE most important
improvements is the redesigned
frame, with modifications to critical design elements making
the head even more robust.
Another considerable
improvement extends tilt stop
service life.
The chain oil tank has been
strengthened and a number
of electrical cables have been
rerouted.
The Valmet 350.1 length
measurement function is based
on a measuring wheel with a
sensor bearing, which automatically engages when the feed
starts. The dot-1 upgrade makes
for more stable length measurement unit using an improved
measuring wheel and wheel
arm. The length measuring unit
is also easier to service, which
increases reliability.
THE HEAD HAS three feed rol-
lers driven by powerful drive
motors, with considerably sturdier motor shelves. For its size,
the Valmet 350.1 has a power-
INFO
WEIGHT:
HEIGHT:
WIDTH:
BAR:
CUTTING MOTOR:
FEED FORCE:
FEED SPEED:
FEED WHEEL:
KNIFE OPENING:
ROLLER OPENING:
ful cutting unit for fast felling
and crack-free cross-cutting.
Another important detail is that
the cutting motor hood seals
more tightly, providing better
protection against debris entry.
General head service and maintenance has been made easier.
“The upgrade to the 350.1 is
a result of our proactive quality
improvement efforts,” says Gunnar. “Our regular follow-ups and
customer feedback enable continuous product improvements
with a strong user focus.” r
Valmet 350.1
From 925 kg (2,040 lb), plus optional extras
150 cm (4’11”)
140 cm (4’7”)
75 cm (29.5”)
19 cc
16–25.3 kNm (3,600–5,690 lbf)
depending on motor selection
0–5 m/s (0–16.4 ft/s)
3 steel rollers
60 cm (23.6”)
52 cm (20.5”)
Some of the
new features
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sturdier frame
New cable routing
Improved tilt stops
Tighter cutting motor hood seal
Strengthened chain oil tank
New measuring wheel arm
Strengthened roller motor shelf
New measuring wheel
5
Andreas Truskaller is a successful contractor in picturesque Harz in Germany.
Whirlwind in
German Harz
Andreas Truskaller is a dedicated fan of
the Valmet 941. He bought the first 941 sold
in Germany, and puts it to good use in the
steep, beautiful mountainous surrounds of
Harz, central Germany.
6
The steep terrain in Harz is no problem for the Valmet 911 X3M.
W
hen you meet
Andreas, it
soon becomes
clear he is a
contractor who loves what he
does and works almost around
the clock. Andreas runs Firma Andreas Truskaller GmbH,
one of Komatsu Forest’s largest customers in Germany; a
company specialized in working in strictly regulated conservation areas, storm damage,
and steep terrain. Most assignments are based in picturesque
Harz where some of the company’s personnel and machines
are always working with complicated felling in terrain so steep
that winches are often needed to
drag timber up to small, snaking forest roads.
When we meet near the end
of the work day, Andreas is busy
thinning at the top of a climb.
“I operate the machines
myself in order to fine-tune
them for optimum performance,” Andreas explains.
“Knowing every machine inside
out is a prerequisite for running
the company most efficiently.”
AFTER A BRIEF chat, it is time
to make our way along the steep
and narrow roads in the customized VW pickup Andreas
just bought for refueling the
machines. Between cell phone
calls and during an interesting
guided tour, Andreas also tells
us the company’s history, which
at one time, under the management of his father Josef, had
”
The Valmet 911 X3M being tested by Andreas Truskaller.
“I operate the machines myself in
order to adjust them for optimum
performance.”
400 employees and was involved
in major road and airport construction projects. Today most
assignments are in the forest,
using the eight Valmets in the
machine lineup, including two
941s. The company currently
has about a dozen employees
“The first Valmet 941 I
ordered on the spot at the spring
2003 event in Umeå, placing
the order directly with former
CEO Hans Eliasson,” explains
Andreas, who even demonstrates the machine for other
customers. “That was the first
941 in Germany and at the time
was just the kind of large, powerful machine we needed. It was
also considerably more productive than the competition.”
ANDREAS EMPHASIZES the
advantage of the self-leveling
cab, which provides improved
comfort in steep terrain. He
points out that the hydraulic
coupling between the cab and
the pivoted rear axle provides
superior stability compared to
7
Andreas Truskaller handles much of the day-to-day service in his company. Here we see him refueling a
Valmet 911.
other manufacturers. There
is no need to fi ll the tires with
water to gain a lower center of
gravity, for example. Andreas
says the boom performs
extremely well in steep terrain
and notes that the 370 harvester
head is a must as the trees have
very thick branches and place
unusually tough demands on
the head.
ASIDE FROM the two Valmet
941s, there is a Valmet 911 X3M
and three forwarders, an 830.1,
an 840.2, and an 860.1, and two
old skidders for moving the timber.
“I bought the first Valmet
forwarder in 2002 when we were
undergoing a generation shift
8
and I’m very pleased with that
machine,” says Andreas.
DURING OUR journey he also
prints out the production lists
from the Maxi System and refuels the machines. It is all about
having total control over what
is happening within the company. Control is also important as to an unusually large
extent because logistics are crucial as they work a large area
with windthrown timber spread
throughout. Good logistics are
necessary to ensure profitability. Andreas reveals, for example, that they have winched up
10,000 logs along the roads in
the area since the most recent
storm. The steep terrain also
explains why he was testing the
tracked Valmet 911 X3M harvester during our visit.
“So far I’m very pleased with
the results,” says Andreas, who
seems to be hard set on continued use of Valmet machines. “I
enjoy nothing more than owning good machines and working
in the forest.” r
Jonas Jonsson
About Jonas
Jonsson
POSITION: Factory Manager in
Umeå
EMPLOYED SINCE: 2005
AGE: 37
LIVES: Apartment in Umeå
FAMILY: Partner, one own child
and partner’s two children
BEST PART OF THE JOB: Being
involved in developing operations and moving them forward
LEISURE INTERESTS: Family,
fishing, and carpentry
Three quick
questions
1. What does the
forest represent
for you?
For me the forest represents
recreational possibilities,
work opportunities for many
people, and sustainable development as it’s a renewable resource.
2. What does Komatsu
represent for you?
Komatsu represents quality,
long-term commitment, and
opportunities for personal
development.
3. Which is your
favorite machine?
It’s difficult to choose a favorite from our models as they
all have characteristics that
are extremely well adapted to customer needs. But if
push comes to shove, my favorite is probably the 890 forwarder with LoadFlex because of its sheer size and
performance.
Jonas likes
improvements
Jonas Jonsson is plant
manager at Komatsu
Forest’s factory in
Umeå. Change and
development are important driving forces in his
work.“Change in itself
is not a goal, though
continual improvements are necessary
if we are to remain
competitive,” says
Jonas.
P
roduction at the factory in Umeå has moved
to paced production
with set assembly time intervals. This reduces the number
of workflows.
Jonas joined Komatsu Forest
in Umeå in January 2005 and
has been responsible for reorganizing the production system
there.
“On the grand scale, the reorganization has gone well. We
have skilled colleagues in all
areas and there’s a great deal of
experience, professionalism, and
commitment,” Jonas continues.
THE MOST recent major change
prior to the production makeover took place five years ago.
Despite this, Jonas does not consider change an end in itself.
“Though we must always
improve ourselves and be aware
of our performance, so that we
can fulfi ll customer expectations as regards quality and lead
times.”
Major organizational changes place heavy demands on
management. Jonas aims to
keep a broad footing in his leadership style. This is something
he learnt during his days as an
officer in the Swedish military.
“It’s important to adapt your
leadership to the situation at
hand, to take group dynamics into account to ensure wellfunctioning groups. Individual achievements are of course to
be enjoyed, but getting a team to
reach established goals is always
more enjoyable,” says Jonas.
A REGULAR WORK week for
Jonas comprises many meetings and much analysis work
to facilitate continual improvements at the factory and for other involved actors. He travels
about thirty days a year, which is
thinks is relatively little, but this
fits in well with his lifestyle.
“I try to draw a clear line
between work and private life.
You have to be able to shut off
from work, to turn off your cell
phone and trust that others are
capable of doing their jobs.” r
9
In January the first new Valmet 830.3 will leave
the factory in Umeå. Now that the development
work and thorough testing have been completed, production is fully underway. And interest
is great. Which is why Just Forest is offering a
sneak preview of the new Valmet 830.3.
Sneak preview of a
new little big man
N
ew cab, new crane, and
new engine. Those are
the main new features
of Valmet’s thinning transport
specialist, the 830.3.
The three larger Valmet forwarders, the Valmet 840, the
Valmet 860, and the Valmet 890,
were upgraded with so many
new features that a year ago
they were released as the 840.3,
the 860.3, and the 890.3 respectively.
ments are in the cab. Everything
to provide the operator with the
best possible conditions. The
designers and technicians have
found new ways to improve
operator comfort and visibility. This has resulted, for example, in a cab with more compact,
lower profi le trim panels with
integrated sunblinds. This provides more room on the inside
without the need to grow on the
outside.
NOW IT IS TIME for the Valmet
THE VALMET 830.3 is also
easier to maneuver. The steering and control system keypad
layouts, for example, are redesigned to require fewer operator hand movements. Moreover,
830 to take the next step and
become a dot-3. In January the
first 830.3 machines will make
their way into the forest.
The most noticeable improve-
New features
CAB
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
10
Larger interior
Better operator environment
Better visibility
Removable floor mats (optional)
Improved storage
Easy access fuses
Low profile panels and new space
for additional equipment
New features
ENGINE
•
•
•
•
Tier 3 certified
Better exhaust emission control
Increased torque
Lower fuel consumption
New features
the menus are easier to navigate
as all menu navigation buttons
are placed on the right-hand
keypad. The new system makes
it possible to present production statistics in weights and volumes, and a new routine simplifies unloading.
“The idea is to get the
machine to do the work, rather than the person sitting in the
cab,” says Tobias Ettemo, product manager for forwarders at
Komatsu Forest.
ON THE technical side, the Val-
met 830.3 is equipped with a
new crane with greater lifting
torque, having increased from
67 kNw to 74 kNw, to increase
capacity. The frame has been
modified to withstand the
increased load. Crane maneuvering is improved by a limit
damper on the telescopic arm.
This provides smoother and
more even crane control. The
new crane is fitted with a new
crane valve.
The Valmet 830.3 has also
been given a new engine. The
new diesel engine is Tier 3 cer-
tified, which means greatly
reduced hydrocarbon and nitric
oxide emissions and EU environmental requirements compliance. Meeting the Tier 3
engine requirements primarily demands improved fuel injection. The engine is fitted with
so-called common rail technology, which provides more accurate fuel injection, with electronic fuel injectors to provide more efficient combustion. The combustion chambers
have been improved, and work
is underway with intercoolers
to provide increased air density, which in turn contributes to
even more efficient combustion.
CONTROL AND INFORMATION
SYSTEM
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More efficient maneuvering
Faster menu navigation
More stable engine speed
Easy access button for quick windshield cleaning
Coolant level monitoring
Production reports with weights and volumes
Warning sensor for ladder
Specially designed space for printer
New routine for unloading
Simpler sort registration
More flexible differential settings
THE ENGINE also produces
greater torque. Even at engine
speeds as low as 1300 RPM the
new engine produces a torque of
590 Nm, reaching a maximum
of 600 Nm at 1500 RPM, which
in practice means increased
pulling power. This leads to
reduced fuel consumption as
the new engine need not work
as hard as the old engine under
the same loads. r
New features
CRANE
• New crane valve
• Increased lifting force
• Smoother maneuvering
830.3
J UST FOREST NO 4 • 2006
11
Successful participation
at FinnMETKO 2006
More than 31,000 visitors and 280 exhibitors were at the
2006 FinnMETKO,
the Finnish forestry convention held in
Jämsänkoski in Central
Finland every second
year.
M
etko’s strength has
always been the
extensive demonstration forests, with at least one
hectare of thick forest together
with new growth forests, stump
pulling grounds, brushwood,
and timber suited to chipping.
“All our goals were achieved.
Machines, equipment, and
clothing sales in the Valmet
Shop were just as we had expected,” says Antero Siuro, head of
communications at the Finnish
subsidiary Komatsu Forest Oy.
The machines were exhibited in two locations: some on
show in the large, main exhibit (about 1,200 square meters of
floor space), while others were
displayed in the final logging
area. The latter area was used
to exhibit two of the machine
systems most popular among
Komatsu Forest OY’s customers in Finland, the Baltic States,
and Russia. Most interest at the
show was focused on Valmet’s
BioEnergy harvester, which had
its own stand in the sparsely forested area. Here the machine
harvested thin timber and pro-
Komatsu Forest’s presence at FinnMETKO 2006 was a
success in many ways. Interest in the machine demonstrations was great, as seen here.
duced large quantities of wood
fuel chips.
“It was not only sales that
went well; we also succeeded well in spreading information about the new technical and
Difficult conditions at US convention
T
he steepest terrain at the
Pacific Logging Congress Show, with 55–80
percent inclines, covered with
the largest trees and subjected
to frequent rain, gave Komatsu
Forest the opportunity to show
that Valmet machines can meet
the convention aims – fully productive logging with the smallest possible ground impact. The
Valmet exhibit, run together
with independent dealers Modern Machinery, Terratech Equipment, and Sierra Machine,
attracted much visitor interest.
September saw the fifth
American PLC Live-In-The-
12
Woods, held every four years.
This year it was held some 60
miles northwest of Portland,
Oregon.
Heavy rain fell both before
and into the first day of the convention, making for poor working conditions. Not only did
Komatsu Forest have most
machines on display and working in the forest, it also had the
most product news to report.
According to many, the show
stealer was the Valmet 911.3
X3M. This was the first time the
new harvester was exhibited in
North America and the difficult
conditions allowed this Valmet
Increased growth
through forest
drainage
1 2 3 4 5
Good grades forwebsite
D
uring the period August 31 to October 2 we conducted a website survey at
www.komatsuforest.com.
“More than 75 percent rated us four or five out of five,” reports Pelle
Hjelm, head of Komatsu Forest’s external web.
A direct result of visitor feedback is that most products are now featured in presentation fi lms.
“We also held a lottery for visitors who participated the survey, with a number of
winners, all of whom received their prizes in October. You can find the winners at
www.komatsuforest.com,” says Pelle. r
At a seminar on forest drainage in Finland, Professor Kari Mielikäinen demonstrated the importance and profitability of peat
bogs. The seminar was held at an
event called ‘Forest Drainage 75
Years’ where Professor Mielikäinen showed that standing tree
growth in Finland’s forests has
risen from 55 to 97 million cubic
meters in 30 years, and that the
main reason behind the increase
is forest drainage. A full 5.7 million hectares have been drained
and the tenth national forest survey revealed that timber supplies
in peat bogs have more than doubled while growth has increased
by a factor of 2.4 compared to
the 1950s. The professor also explained that drained peat bog forests are the raw material source
of the future in Finland.
Germans choose
spruce for Christmas
Spruce dominates when
Germans choose their
Christmas trees. Three
out of four Christmas trees are
spruce. Only then do different
types of pine come into the picture. It is estimated that 25 million households, or two out of
three, buy a Christmas tree.
Also worth noting is that Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel receives a Christmas tree from the
forest owner association in Hessen. The idea is to remind her of
the importance of the forestry industry to the country.
Forestry board in
Florida tests biodiesel
machine to truly shine, showing the extreme inclines it
can cope with.
Equipped with a large,
high-speed felling head, the
Valmet 475FXL proved itself a
high production feller-buncher able to handle large whole
tree timber. Teamed with a
Komatsu PC300LL Log Load-
er equipped with a new boom
set and grapple, both jointly developed by Komatsu and
Komatsu Forest, they showed
their true colors. The Valmet
890.3 ‘Clambunk Forwarder’, specially equipped with
a clamshell grapple for skidding whole tree timber, also
impressed visitors.
A Valmet 941 was shown
with a 370E and topsaw for the
first time. The three-wheeled
Valmet 603 was also exhibited.
Last but not least, the only purpose-built tracked harvester,
the Valmet EX10, was shown
with good stability and a 35foot (10.7-meter) reach. r
The forestry board in
Florida will start to use
biodiesel in several of
its heavy vehicles. The board
will test a mixture of 20 percent
biodiesel and 80 percent diesel,
also designated B20.
The switch to biodiesel is expected to result in the same costs
as for the use of regular diesel. The hope is that the cost will
soon decrease and lead to major
positive environmental effects.
13
The new Valmet 475FXL
WELL
DEVELOPED
Komatsu Forest is to launch a new, more powerful version of its flagship, the Valmet
475FXL. With a reinforced frame and longer tracks this machine is even more stable.
And the new Tier 3 engine complies with all environmental requirements.
14
T
he Valmet 475FXL is
Komatsu Forest’s largest feller-buncher and
is manufactured in the North
American factory in Shawano,
Wisconsin. This is a machine
designed for high productivity in large-diameter forests. The
development team, under the
watchful eye of Engineering
Manager Erik Nilsson, invested
a great deal of energy in making
the 475FXL as stable and robust
as possible. The tracks are now
almost a half a meter longer at
5,118 mm (16’ 9/5”) while track
width, with 600 mm (24”) track
shoes, is increased somewhat to
3,175 mm (12’5”).
“The tracks have even been
reinforced and the entire track
unit is specially built by Komat-
INFO
WEIGHT:
ENGINE:
POWER:
TORQUE:
FUEL TANK VOLUME:
SPEED:
TRACKS:
GROUND PRESSURE:
BOOM (TO TREE):
CAB TILT:
su for the Valmet 475,” explains
Erik, who is very pleased with
the increased stability.
One advantage of the 475FXL
is the independent hydrostatic drives, which improve coordination between different functions and make it possible to
use the machine’s full power
during production. The maximum track speed is 5.3 km/h
(3.3 mph).
withstand heavy felling loads.
The leveling system is redesigned with larger diameter pins
and taper bushings. Four-way
cab leveling is achieved using
two cylinders. The swing bearing is now a double row bearing with higher capacity.
“Generally, we can say that
the machine’s top half is somewhat sturdier,” states Erik.
ted with so-called common rail
fuel injection technology for
more accurate fuel injection.
One result of the modifications
is that the engines run more
smoothly and more quietly with
improved engine response.
“One of the biggest advantages of a Tier 3 engine is the fast
response to changes in the load
when more power is needed,”
says Erik.
THE 475FXL has a new Tier
THAT THE NEW Valmet
475FXL is a more powerful machine is underlined by
the track weight, which has
increased by two metric tons
while the entire machine add
another four metric tons. The
reinforced chassis contributes to the increase, designed to
3 engine, a Cummins QSL 9,
which means it fulfi lls all established environmental objectives with lower emissions of both
hydrocarbons and nitric oxides, for example. Meeting the
Tier 3 engine requirements has
mainly entailed improved fuel
injection. The engines are fit-
Valmet 475 FXL
37,195 kg (82,000 lb)
Cummins QSL Tier 3
330 HP at 1,900 rpm
Maximum of 1,424 nm (1,050 lb-ft) @ 1,300 RPM
1,362 liters (360 gallons)
0–5.3 km/h (3.3 mph)
Length 5,118 mm, width 600 mm or 700 mm track shoes
10.0 psi with 600 mm, 9.2 psi with 700 mm
Standard 8,5-meter (28 feet) or 7,9-meter (26’4”) Power Boom
Front 22°, back 6°, side ±18°
THE TIER 3 engine is more
powerful than the previous version, producing a maximum of
330 HP at 1,900 RPM. It has larger engine cooling exits along
with two hydraulic oil coolers,
one being a larger, auxiliary cooler.
The Valmet 475FXL can be
equipped with one of two different specially designed cranes; a
very powerful Power Boom with
a 23-foot (7-meter) reach or a
standard crane with a 26-foot (8meter) reach.
“All in all, the Valmet
475FXL is a big step forward
in terms of developing a stable machine with ample capacity and good electronic control,”
says Erik. “This is the perfect
machine for big wood, felling or
harvesting.” r
15
The purchase of a Valmet 941 has given
Forstunternehemen René Schroeder the
perfect machine for cutting large Belgian
timber. Used alongside handcutters, this
investment has helped increase productivity dramatically.
THE PERFECT
MACHINE FOR
THICK FORESTS
W
hen we visit the
company, it is in full
swing logging a forest outside the city of Namur,
Belgium. A number of handcutters go first and take down
the largest diameter larch and
Douglas pines. Then the 941
and operator Manfred Jodocy
take over and cut the timber into
roughly four-meter (13 ft) long
logs.
“The timber often has a
diameter of more than 70 centimeters (27 in) and pushes the
limits of what the machine can
16
Hand c u
tters go
firs t to fe
ll trees m
anually.
The Valmet 941 can handle the timber, despite trunk diameters exceeding 70 cm.
fell in terms of thickness,” says
Manfred. “But the machine is so
stable it has no problems cutting
the logs. The boom design also
enables the logs to be cut and
stacked close to the machine.”
THE REASON for the manu-
al logging, beyond the large
diameter of the timber, is that
it enables the felling cut to
be made much closer to the
ground, resulting in very low
stumps. Such low cuts cannot
be made with harvester heads in
this steep terrain without a high
risk of damaging the saw chain.
Manfred often works long,
ten to twelve hour shifts five
days a week and is quite happy
with his machine, which he had
operated for nine months at the
time of our visit. He likes the
comfortable cab, but is perhaps
even fonder of the automatic cab
leveling and the low fuel consumption.
“I usually only use 14-15
liters of diesel per hour, despite
the timber thickness,” says
Manfred. “Productivity is often
around 40–50 cubic meters per
hour.”
Forstunternehemen René
Schroeder has operations
throughout a large part of Belgium and western Germany, usually harvesting full tree
timber. All in all, the company has six trucks, two excavators, and a number of forestry machines. In order to handle service and maintenance
for its forestry machines, which
sometimes operate relatively far
from Valmet service centers, the
company has stocked up on its
own supply of consumables in
order to save time. The company is, however, happy with both
the level of service that Valmet
provides and their Valmet
machines. r
Manfred Jodocy is very happy
with his Valmet 941, which he
operates in Belgium.
17
The future of diese
The engines in all Valmet forestry
machines are built in the Finnish town of
Linnavuori. This past fall a completely new
production line was inaugurated, featuring
some 40 robots, in order to meet increased
demand as well as to assemble more environmentally-friendly engines.
T
he plant that manufactures the diesel engines
that thousands of forestry machine contractors and
operators count on daily is located about a half an hour’s drive
from Finland’s second largest city, Tammerfors, and close
to one of the country’s 187,888
lakes, in one of the most lakedense areas of the nation.
The plant was started in the
middle of the Second World
War, and since it is a small plant
– in international terms – it can
operate flexibly.
Since the fall, about half
of each engine made there is
assembled by robots. There are
another 80 robots at the plant in
addition to the 40 or so that were
recently purchased.
The other half of the engines
are then built by hand, with the
exact specifications for the specific engine type being built.
THIS NEW production line has
resulted in the raising of the
production goal for number
of engines built, from almost
25,000 for this year to almost
40,000 within two years.
Intelligent engine design
makes for more effective production. Regardless of the num-
INFO
•
•
•
•
Almost 20,000 engines built during 2005.
650 employees.
Plant floor area of four hectares
In addition to diesel engines, diesel generators, power transmissions, gears,
and gear wheels are also made at the
plant.
• Engine production stands for approximately 70 percent of operations.
Engines are primarily transported by robots, which find
their way through the plant with the aid of a laser guidance
system.
18
el engines is here
embled
half of each engine is ass
Since last fall, the firs t
by robots alone.
ber of cylinders, piston displacement volume, or fuel injection method, the front and rear
of the engines are the same. In
addition, the cylinder blocks are
similarly designed and there is
only one type of cylinder head
irrespective of the number of
cylinders.
DURING PRODUCTION and
design of the engines, the environment, performance, fuel
consumption, service life, and –
last but not least – easy rebuilding are taken into account.
“Being able to rebuild the
engines without special tools
is important to overall economy. Our engines run for many
hours under heavy loads and
many owners choose to rebuild
the engines before something
goes wrong in order to avoid
downtime. We still count on
The Linnavuori plant is located just outside Tammerfors, Finland in
beautiful surroundings near a lake.
an engine being able to run for
16,000–25,000 hours of operation between rebuilds,” says
Hans Lönnqvist at SisuDiesel,
formerly Valmet Diesel.
One example of this, which
also increases performance
and service life, is the use of
‘wet’ cylinder linings that make
rebuilding simpler. The fact
that the cooling agent is directly against the liner also reduces
wear and enables the engine to
produce more power.
The liners are stable, with
regard to both motion and
19
shape, and make for more effective piston ring seals. Moreover,
oil consumption is low, resulting in long periods between oil
changes. One thing many people do not consider is that the
pistons are oval when cold; they
only become round once in use.
In recent years, an increased
focus has been placed on environmental impact, and the
engines are now delivered with
advanced technologies such
as exact engine control, EEM,
and common rail. The largest
engine, the one that powers the
Valmet 941, has four valves per
cylinder.
COMMON RAIL entails a fuel
accumulator placed like a tube
(rail) beside the cylinders, from
which fuel is injected in exact
amounts and under high pressure, up to 1200 bar.
Now sights are being set on
coming challenges. In order to
meet Tier 3B and Tier 4 requirements, more than refined fuel
injection is required. Higher pressure from the common
rail units in the cylinders is also
required, up to 1600 bar in the
first phase, to be increased later
to over 2000 bar.
STARTING WITH the Tier 3A
engines, air-to-air intercoolers are used, which are more
effective than the old technology, which used air-to-water cooling. The compressed air from
the turbo, which can be over
150 degrees centigrade, flows
via a cooler in the front of the
machine back to the engine and
the air is cooled to almost air
temperature.
One advantage for the engine
developers is that much of
this new technology is already
found in truck and automobile
engines.
“Technological development for diesel engines has
moved rapidly compared to gasoline engines, for example,” says
Hans. r
Here one can clearly see the guide rails for
the cylinder liners that help ensure low fuel
consumption and easy engine rebuilds,
among other things.
The engines have the same front and rear components in order to
make production more efficient and reduce the number of parts.
Right type of diesel fuel important
The right type of fuel is
the key to making the
new, more environmentally-friendly diesel
engines clean and efficient, according to the
manufacturer.
H
igh performance
engines require high
performance fuel.
Engines in the Tier 0, Tier 1,
and Tier 2 engine generations
are all approved for any amount
of biodiesel, up to 100 percent, but the biodiesel must be
esterified and meet either the
EN 14214 or the ASTM D6751
industry standard.
tems, can only be run on engine
fuel that meets the EN 590 standard and is approved up to a five
percent biodiesel mixture.
“A clean engine requires
clean fuel. Running on fuel oil
is completely unacceptable,” says
Hans Lönnqvist at SisuDiesel.
THE LATEST Tier 3 engines,
with common rail injection sys-
IF YOU ARE planning to use
INFO
EN 14214 is a European and ASTM D6751 an American industrial specification for biodiesel characteristics.
20
biodiesel, the engine oil, engine
oil fi lter, and fuel fi lter must
be changed twice as often as
required by the normal service schedule for regular diesel. SisuDiesel recommends fitting an extra water separator or
pre-fi lter between the fuel tank
Hans Lönnqvist
and the engine, since biodiesel
is more apt to absorb water than
regular diesel. r
New harvesting
head for hardwood
The Valmet 378 will
soon be available –
a harvesting head
specially designed for
logging hardwood in the
Asian and Australian
markets. A head sized
for the heavy demands
of such logging and,
uncommon for a head of
this size, equipped with
a debarking function.
I
n order to withstand the
strains of working with
Australian and Asian hardwood, the Valmet 378 is ruggedly built in all respects. With
thick, strong plates and a robust
design throughout, it is built to
perform impeccably in tough
conditions.
cessing hardwood, the frame,
suspension link, and rotator
designs are extra sturdy and
robust,” explains Gunnar Nilsson, Product Manager for harvester attachments at Komatsu
Forest.
The 378 in brief
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Specially developed for hardwood with durable, reliable components
Highly productive MaxiHead system-controlled debarking function
Powerful, sturdily designed frame, suspension link, and rotator function
Extremely solid design, built for tracked machines
Powerful MaxiHead control and information system
Easily accessible components for simple service
High-quality components ensure long service life
EVEN THOUGH every compo-
nent from the cutting unit to the
motors, mountings, knives, and
rollers are solidly built to withstand the power of tracked carriers, the 378 is still compact and
flexible in the field.
The MaxiHead control and
information system makes this
an intelligent head, as it provides full operator control while
automatically managing everything from gripping force to
length and diameter measurements. r
ALL THE critical components,
such as valve blocks, hoses, and
the onboard computer, are wellprotected.
“In order to cope with the
high strain of logging and pro-
INFO
Valmet 378
WEIGHT:
from 1,850 kg (4,080 lb)
FEED SPEED:
0–6 m/s (0-20 ft/s)
FEED FORCE, GROSS:
26.6 kN (5,980 lbf), with 627 cc
FEED WHEEL TYPE:
Steel rollers
DELIMBING KNIVES, NUMBER:
3
DELIMBING KNIVES OPENING, TIP-TO-TIP:
425 mm (16.75 in)
BAR:
88 cm (34.5 in)
CUTTING MOTOR:
30 cm3/rev (1.83 in3/rev)
FELLING/CUTTING DIAMETER, MAX.:
650 mm (25.6 in)
REQUISITE MAX. HYDRAULIC FLOW
(ROLLER MOTOR DEPENDENT):
627 cc – 320 l/min
REQUISITE MAX. HYDRAULIC PRESSURE:
30 Mpa (4,350 psi)
HYDRAULIC FLOW:
320 l/min (roller motor dependent 627cc)
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE:
30 Mpa (maximum)
MEASUREMENT/CONTROL SYSTEM:
MaxiHead
21
TIPS AND ADVICE
Under this heading, Just Forest will provide practical tips and advice for all users of Valmet forestry machines.
The editors are happy to publish any ideas you may have. Please send any tips or questions to [email protected].
Safety
first
EARLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE of new products we consider the possible
safety risks associated with the complete machine and determine what
must not happen when particular functions are used. In this way serious
accidents can be avoided. Here we take a closer look at some of the safety
measures taken to prevent accidents involving harvesting heads.
VALMET MACHINES have so-called
sealed cabs. A switch in the door shuts
down the head’s functionality when the
door is opened and the cab vacated. The
operator must enter the cab, close the
door, and press a button before the control system reactivates the head.
A DEAD MAN’S SWITCH is found
THICK SAFETY GLASS offers
protection from broken chain
projectiles.
on the automatic processing joystick.
The feed button must be kept pressed
for the function to be active. If the controls are released, everything stops.
The cab also features a standard
emergency stop button for rapid shutdown.
THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
is the only system that continues to operate if the door
is opened. This is to enable
checks and readings during
servicing. Most readings can,
however, be checked on the
onboard computer without
leaving the cab.
THERE ARE NO SENSORS in the head that
can automatically or involuntarily activate any
functions.
Safety chains or fasteners can be used to
lock the head in the tilted up position.
The saw chain and bar feed cannot be
unintentionally activated by touching the bar.
IMPORTANT
NORMALLY, THE PRESSURE in the head’s hydraulic system drops
when the machine’s engine is turned off, but it is important to always
act as though the system remains pressurized and to always act cautiously when working with or near hydraulic functions and components.
No one may approach the head when the engine is running.
The dangers associated with hot or active head functions are well
documented in the instruction manual, which must be read before the
any machine functions are put to use.
22
SERIES Head Control
Maxi head control offers many intelligent functions – simply
made settings that optimize and simplify the operator’s job. In
this issue, we continue our series on head control with a look at
some of the many feeding functions Maxi offers.
Part 2 Feeding
ANTI-SLIP
MEASURING WHEEL
The anti-slip head function senses
when the rollers slip and automatically responds, first regulating grip pressure. If they slip more than 25 percent, grip pressure is adjusted for the
feed rollers as well as the front and
back knives.
If they slip more than 50 percent,
the knives open with opening pulses.
The pulse opening and closing rate is
set manually.
If the feed speed drops below twenty centimeters (8 inches) a second and
the length fed is greater than 50 centimeters (20 inches), the feed stops,
reverses and the log is regripped. In
the event of regripping, the grip pressures set for the feed rollers and front
and back knives are retained until
the next cut. In the event of reversing
over the braking distance, at the next
attempt the feed will run at full speed
to the cutting point before starting to
search for the cutting point.
If anti-slip has been activated, it is
also possible to have the head automatically roughly delimb the following log if slipping was detected with
the current log.
ENGAGEMENT
Sometimes there is reason to measure
a log without engaging the measuring
wheel, such as when the log is barked
or delimbed before cross-cutting.
Accordingly, the onboard computer
can be used to set whether the measuring wheel is engaged automatically or manually by the operator. On the
360.2 and the 370.2, measuring wheel
pressure can be read by the Maxi system.
MANUAL REVERSE FEED
Normally, the control program automatically stops the backwards feed
toward the tree butt before the
log is fed out from the head. This
is achieved with the “stop manual reverse at tree butt” function. In
order to continue the reverse feed, the
operator must release the button and
then reactivate it. When cross-cutting
logged timber, for example, where the
logs are picked up from the ground
and barked before cross-cutting, it can
prove more efficient to deactivate this
function.
Information on how to change these settings, and many more, can be found
in the comprehensive manual for the Valmet 350–370 onboard computer.
23
t.com
s
e
r
o
f
atsu
m
o
k
Used machines
gather momentum
over the Internet
For some time, www.komatsuforest.com has featured an international
used machine site. Customer interest is growing continuously, with much
demand for machines in England and Norway, for example.
INFO
24
www.komatsuforest.com
I
t has never been easier for
customers seeking used
forestry machines to find
them since the used machine
site was opened.
Visit the corporate website, www.komatsuforest.com,
click “Products”, select “Used
machines” from the menu, then
choose the country in which you
want to search. You can currently choose between seventeen
countries.
This fall, at a randomly picked moment, you could
choose between 59 forwarders, 96 harvesters, and 15 items
classed as Other, including
heads and an Ecoplanter.
“We’re seeing a dramatic
increase in interest in the used
machine site,” says Christer
From, head of used machines at
Komatsu Forest.
CHRISTER ALSO says that a
major advantage for customers
is that everything is gathered in
one place, making it easy to find
just the machine you are look-
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.
Gustaf Egnell
Department of Forest Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Umeå, Sweden.
Swedish national expert within IEA (International
Energy Agency) Task 31 – Bioenergy from conventional forestry.
ing for.
The site presents detailed
facts about each machine, such
as how many operating hours
it has clocked up, any optional equipment that is included,
tire condition, and chassis number. Information is also provided about any fitted AC or sprinkler systems, the engine, and
the gearbox. An overall assessment of the machine’s condition, as judged by the seller, is
included.
“The available information,
which often includes photographs, makes it easy to determine whether a machine may be
of interest,” says Christer.
Komatsu Forest Ltd in the UK
has achieved record levels in the
number of used machines sold.
“It’s the result of a broad
offering, and not just Valmet
machines, we even offer
machines from competing manufacturers,” says David Mcllwraith. “With the help of the
website, we can reach a broader customer base and even create, with some success, inroads
into new markets such as Eastern Europe and Russia.”
As regards the UK market, David says they will continue to supply high-quality used
machines just as they have done
for many years.
In Norway, for the past year
or so, the used machine site
has been helping Komatsu Forest AS customers find the right
machine simply and effectively,
and facilitates contact.
“Used machine sales have
done better than expected in
2006 – we’ve sold more than 60
machines,” says Erik Øverbø at
Komatsu Forest AS.
NORWEGIAN contractors
mainly use their machines in
single shifts, making them
very attractive propositions in
the used market. They have
often clocked up far fewer operating hours than is usual for
other machines of a similar
age. Moreover, most forestry
machine owners only own one
or two machines, making it easier to ensure regular service and
maintenance, further increasing the attractiveness of these
machines in the used market.
“We at Komatsu Forest AS
take care of the machines when
they are part-exchanged. We
wash, service, and if necessary
repair the machines before they
are sold to the next owner to
ensure the machines maintain
the quality expected of a used
machine in relation to its age
and the number of hours it has
operated,” Erik explains. r
Biofuel from
the forest
– a rapidly growing market
A
s energy prices increase, so does interest in alternative energy sources, such as renewable bioenergy from our forests.
Development has progressed fastest in those countries that
lack, or have limited, fossil fuel sources while also having relatively large forest resources. Good examples are Sweden, Finland, and
Austria, while development has progressed more slowly in well-forested Canada, which also has access to quite ample fossil fuel alternatives.
In Sweden and Finland the market continues to increase, which
means increasing amounts of the biomass we produce in our forests is used for energy purposes. We have seen how new uses
have gradually been found for waste products from the forestry industry. The sights were then set on logging waste, such as brushwood, branches, and treetops – the forest residue that was previously left in the forest. Now, finally, the market has also begun
looking at stumps.
The price of pulpwood and wood used for energy will most likely start to steer more of the thinner timber directly to the energy
market. For this new customer, however, the logs should not be delimbed. The limbed logs and stumps must then be compressed to
increase load volumes and thereby reduce costs.
When these resources are put to use, forest production must increase to satisfy the market. In the short-term, this can be achieved
with increased fertilizing. With the energy sector as a customer, we
can increase forest production in new growth forests to gain stands
that are tighter than is currently the norm – preferably in combination with additional fertilizing. Such forests will require a completely new technique to harvest the limbed, small trunks during early
thinning and clearing.
Finally, it may be worth noting that a breakthrough in producing
cellulose-based fuel will increase the demand for forest products
world-wide. Here we can expect a dramatic increase in the extent of
the intensive farming of forest products, particularly in areas close
to sea transportation. Once at sea, bioenergy from the forest is an
internationally viable commodity. r
25
Dave Holli of Ishpeming has been at home in the forests of
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for all of his 68 years. Dave’s
Finnish heritage, his Forestry degree from Michigan Tech,
and his company, Holli Forest Products have all contributed to
his family’s quality of life and have kept him connected to his
passion for the woods.
TREES
ARE HIS
BUSINESS
D
ave says, “Being in the
woods helps you keep
your sanity in this
day and age. That’s how I look
at it. Many contractors will do
dirt work, excavating or hauling
gravel as part of their business.
We pretty much stick to trees managing, harvesting, processing, clearing and regeneration trees are our business.”
Holli started his company
in 1968 and followed a steady
growth track. Today, Holli Forest Products employs 30 workers and holds an excellent reputation with area mills and within his community.
DURING HIS company’s growth
Holli has seen the dramatic evolution of harvesting mechanization. Having witnessed cut-tolength demonstrations in Scandinavia in the late 70s and early
26
80s, he was among the first pioneers of the concept in North
America.
HOLLI WORKS WITH his local
Valmet dealer, Roland Machinery for major service and advice
on the upkeep of his machinery. Roland’s Escanaba store
has some of the most experienced CTL service people in the
industry. Holli Forest Products
currently has 4 Valmet/Timbco track harvesters and 4 Valmet forwarders among its fleet.
Roland Machinery has been
instrumental in keeping Dave’s
machines and even his first forwarder, a Valmet 862, on the job.
In 1987, Dave leased Valmet’s
first harvester & forwarder team
in North America. Today, with
more than 25,000 hours, the
model 862 forwarder has proven
to be very durable. Dave says his
harvester lease (more specifically the early 960 harvesting head)
was not ready for North American trees at that time.
Dave returned the harvester, but still felt the cut-to-length
concept had a bright future.
He believed so strongly that
he and his friend Earl St. John,
introduced the Valmet group to
the Gafner “Iron Mule” people.
Gafner was later purchased by
Valmet and served as its base of
operation and to establish itself
in North America.
Dave says, “In our area we
have some tough trees to delimb
like Jack Pine, which can hold
just a ’knot-collar’ of limbs. We
still have a lot of natural grown
timber, or ’non-plantation’ timber, which is fairly low density
per acre and can consequently
be very limby.”
Dave continues, “Because of
Dave Holli of Holli Forest
Products
forest conditions and the available equipment back then, I’d
say 99 percent of the logging
industry was skeptical of cut to
length. They thought it would
never take hold in North America.”
Today, nearly twenty years
Wtih more than 25,000 hours of service,
Dave Holli stands with his model 862
Valmet forwarder.
however he favors the 425EXL
for the majority of his difficult harvesting jobs. Dave says,
“Nothing is perfect, but the 425
continues to be an excellent
machine for us.”
HOLLI SITES the 425EXL’s level-
later, the Lake States is one of
North America’s hot beds for
cut-to-length harvesting. Holli estimates that 85 to 90-percent of his company’s annual harvest volume is done with
cut-to-length equipment. In the
Lake States, as the equipment
evolved, the tree-length method has become less a part of the
overall harvesting picture.
LIVING THROUGH the evolu-
tion of forest machines, Dave
feels that there is no such thing
as a perfect harvesting machine,
ing and near zero-tail swing
characteristic, which make it
very maneuverable. His operators can harvest in a variety of
conditions from steep slopes
and rocky ground to wet, unstable soils. Earlier this year, Holli purchased a Valmet 425 and
recently signed a deal for a second 425EXL, this time fitted
with the new Valmet 370E harvesting head.
The new 370E head is
designed specifically for track
carriers. It is engineered with
a reinforced frame and its sturdy construction withstands the
stress of heavy-duty work. It also
has an optional top saw, which
is handy when working with
unusual stems. Dave concludes,
“I have a lot of confidence this
will be very good head for us.
The Valmet 370E has come a
long, long way from those early
harvesting heads.” r
Holli recently signed a deal for
a 425 EXL fitted with a Valmet
370E-harvesting head.
27
MAY WE ASK…
…LEIF MAGNUSSON,
CEO of Komatsu Forest
Products LLC, Komatsu
Forest’s distribution center
in North America.
How are sales in North
America?
Several factors are causing a market decline, such as greatly increased energy costs, cutbacks
in the harvesting rate in eastern
Canada, and weather conditions
in the southeast of the USA. Hurricanes such as Katrina have left
mills with large timber stocks.
What effects have
increased energy costs
had in North America?
Many, for both the forestry industry and our customers. Fuel
costs have increased substantially here in relation to many other parts of the world. The price of
diesel, for example, has doubled
in two years, which has hit the industry hard.
Are North American
customers under
greater pressure
today?
Yes, and this is why it’s important
that our machines are productive and offer high technical utilization rates and good fuel economy. Despite the general market
decline, our share of the market
is on the increase, which shows
our products provide good overall economy.
What does the future
hold?
North Americans are resilient, so
they always find ways to recover.
And the market will do likewise.
28
A year with a
new forwarder
A year ago we saw the launch of
three new forwarder models, the
Valmet 840.3, the Valmet 860.3,
and the Valmet 890.3. How have
these machines been received in
the market? Just Forest has asked
a contractor who exchanged his
old 860.1 for a new .3.
BACKGROUND
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THE NEW .3 forwarders were launched
with a new cab, which among other things has a more spacious interior,
a more comfortable operator environment, and improved visibility. The new
trim panels are low profi le and there is
more space for additional equipment.
The steering and control system, for
example, has been optimized for more
efficient maneuvering with simpler
and faster menu navigation. Production
reports can now present both weights
and volumes and there is a new unloading routine. Sort registration has also
been simplified.
Crane reach on the 840.3 and the
860.3 has been increased to 7.8 meters
as standard, or 9.6 meters on the combi
model. Lifting power has been increased
to 106 kNm on the 840.3 and to 115
kNm on the 860.3. In both cases crane
torque has been increased to 28.7 kNm.
Maneuvering has been made smoother.
Lubrication takes less time while hose
routing and hose replacement have been
improved.
When introduced, the Valmet 860.3
and 890.3 had new Tier 3 engines with
improved exhaust emission control
and increased torque. During the year,
the 840.3 was also upgraded to a Tier 3
engine. r
NEWS
840.3 now
with Tier 3
T
he Valmet 840.3 has now
been fitted with a new sixcylinder Tier 3 classed
diesel engine. This means that all
Valmet forwarders over 130kW
now have new engines that are
both more powerful and more
environmentally-friendly.
The new engine further
increases torque, making the
machine stronger and more nimble. Fuel consumption is also lower and exhaust emission control is
better than ever. And that’s good
for the environment as well as
your bank balance. r
B
jörn Holstad in Norway is a contractor with
much experience of
Valmet machines. Ever since
he founded his business some
twenty years ago he has owned
and operated Valmets. Today
he has four Valmet machines, a
901.3, an 840.2, an old 892 used
solely for ground preparation,
and an 860.3.
“I bought the new 860.3
to replace an 860.1,” Björn
explains.
When Björn compares the
new 860.3 with its predecessor,
he emphasizes the crane as a
major improvement.
“The crane feels stronger,
which enables me to work faster. It also has a longer reach,” he
says. “It’s not a problem to lift
a full grapple while loading the
bunk goes really quick.”
THOUGH THE crane is great-
ly improved, he’s not completely satisfied.
“I sometimes find the oil distribution to be a little short of
optimal when working fast,”
says Björn.
Another major improvement
he highlights is the cab.
“It’s truly better from all
angles,” he says. “It’s bigger
with greater visibility, particularly to the rear.”
At the time of writing,
Björn has had his new 860.3 for
almost six months.
“On the whole, it’s clearly a
better machine, and even if it’s
always possible to make things
better, I’m pleased with my decision to upgrade to the .3,” says
Björn.
With four employees, Björn
mainly works in the region
around Hamar, which is about
a dozen miles north of Oslo in
southeast Norway. r
29
2006
News
from the
past year
A lot can happen during a year. Things
both large and small. Continual refinements mean products are continually developed in line with customer requests and new
conditions. This is a natural part of our quality assurance work. Here we provide a few
retrospective snippets from the past year.
NEW 2.0 VERSIONS of
MaxiA, MaxiP, and MaxiD were launched. A new
version of MaxiGIS, v.
4.2, was also launched.
VALMET HARVESTERS feature new steps and plat-
forms. Ladders and platforms have also been redesigned to reduce the risk of slipping.
30
A NEW VERSION of the Valmet
computer caliper was introduced. New caliper features include folding arms, a holder for
cab mounting, combined power
supply and data transfer, backlit display, and version 5.0 of the
Skalman software, all as standard.
2006
VALMET 941 , with new light assembly.
THE VALMET 370.2 head has a new type of feed roller
motor developed to increase efficiency.
ALL VALMET FORESTRY machines can be equipped with
a new optional GPS antenna. The new model, the Garmin 16
HVS, is optimized for use in tough forest environments. Tests
show improved accuracy and more stable position readings.
HARVESTERS and forwarders
alike have been fitted with a new
A4 printer. The new model is the
Canon PIXMA iP90, a compact
printer that can cope with the
demanding environment of Valmet machines.
VALMET FORESTRY machines
ANYONE CHOOSING to buy a harves-
ter head installation kit for a Komatsu PC 228 can now opt for an additional
hydraulic oil cooler.
can now be equipped with a new
sound system, the Blaupunkt Calgary. The major new feature of this
new model is support for MP3 format, that is, digital music fi les.
31
Reduced risk
of crown fires
– if the ground is cleared
Thinning reduces the
risk of crown fires,
assuming the ground is
kept clean from brushwood, especially after
logging. This has been
shown in a report from
the Canadian forestry research institute
FERIC.
I
n many parts of the world,
raging forest fires with
crown fires are relatively unusual, but in Canada they
pose a major problem and fires
take almost as much forestland
as logging.
In a report from FERIC, the
Forest Engineering Research
Institute of Canada, about the
ability to predict forest fire risk
it is shown that thinning is an
effective way to reduce the risk
of crown fires.
Unfortunately, this does not
help if the ground is littered
with logging residue. The report
32
states the importance of cleaning the forest of dead trees, tree
tops, and other forest residue,
especially after thinning.
Otherwise, thinning is
the most effective way to create manageable fire progression and is especially effective
against crown fires. This type of
fire requires a dry forest stand.
The risk of fire increases noticeably during the afternoon when
humidity tends to drop. When
humidity reaches about 30 percent, the risk that a stand will
ignite increases considerably.
A FULLY DEVELOPED crown
fire, where a solid wall of flames
consumes all the fuel available from ground level to the
tree tops, with flames that reach
high above the trees, is often
driven by a steady wind.
The most serious form of
forest fire is when the flames
spread out over a broad front
from the ground to far above the
tree tops and the fire spreads
from crown to crown. In such
cases, a solid wall of flame
burns its way through the forest.
ONE MISCONCEPTION is
that a fire can spread from tree
to tree without the aid of a fire
at ground level. On the contrary, the most common course
of events is that the fire acts as
a single unit, using ground fuel
and crown fuel simultaneously.
If the aid given to the fire
from ground fuel is reduced for
some reason, due to increased
moisture, for example, the fire
in the crowns will soon die out
and the fire will be reduced to a
surface fire.
THE TESTS THAT form the
basis of the report were conducted in Contorta pine forests
near Kelowna, B.C., Canada that
were thinned three years earlier.
Areas that had not been thinned
were used as a control group.
The results of the tests show
that the risk of fire was greatest
in the thinned areas with residue left lying on the ground,
even when compared to areas
that had not been thinned.
THE FERIC report states that
the amount of flammable material on the ground plays an
important role in determining how easily a stand catches fire. For this reason, they recommend that residue is either
mulched or gathered.
The tests were conducted by FERIC in collaboration
with MOFR, the BC Ministries
of Forests & Range, and CFS
(Canadian Forest Service) and
the results will be used to refine
the CFFDRS, the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System.
The CFFDRS is widely accepted
the world over and can be used
in a wide range of locations if
one takes local vegetation into
consideration. r
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].
New collectibles
THREE NEW VALMET MACHINES have been added to the small-scale model range. All three models will be available from the Val-
met Shop in good time for Christmas. The new additions are 1:50 scale models of the Valmet 445EXL, the Valmet 941 harvester, and the
Valmet 890.3 forwarder. The models are extremely detailed, bordering on exact, copies of the real machines and can be ordered through
your nearest spare parts supplier. r
33
Forwarders
Not all products are available in all markets
Combi
830
Harvesters
801 Combi
901
840
840
911
860
860
890
890
941
Harvester heads
330
350
330DUO
Production units
Komatsu Forest AB
Phone: +46 90 70 93 00
Komatsu Forest LLC
North America
Phone: +1 715 524 2820
Distribution
Centers,
Sales Centers
and dealers
DC EUROPE
AUSTRIA
Karner und Berger GmbH
Phone: +43 2769 84571
www.valmet.at
BELGIUM
Komatsu Forest GmbH
Phone:+49 74549 6020
www.komatsuforest.de
CROATIA
Iverak d.o.o.
Phone: +385 1 291 0399
www.iverak.hr
CZECH REPUBLIC
Komatsu Forest GmbH
Phone: +420 2 7270 1438
www.komatsuforest.cz
34
Felling head
360
370
380
370E
DENMARK
NETHERLANDS
UNITED KINGDOM
Helms TMT Centret AS
Phone: +45 9928 2930
www.helmstmt.com
W. van den Brink
Phone: +31 3184 56 228
www.lmbbrink.nl
Komatsu Forest Ltd
Phone: +44 1228 792 018
ESTONIA
NORWAY
DC NORTH AMERICA
Balti Metsamasina AS
Phone: +372 322 3630
Komatsu Forest A/S
Phone: +47 62 57 8800
www.komatsuforest.no
FINLAND
POLAND
Komatsu Forest Oy
Phone: +358 3265 8311
www.komatsuforest.fi
Agrex Arcon Sp. z o.o.
Phone: +48 226 410 505
www.agrex-arcon.pl
FRANCE
PORTUGAL
Komatsu Forest, Devision of
Komatsu France s.a.
Phone: +33 130 90 51 34
GERMANY
Komatsu Forest GmbH
Phone: +49 74549 6020
www.komatsuforest.de
HUNGARY
Kuhn Kft.
Phone: +36 128 980 80
www.kuhn.hu
ITALY
Imai s.r.l.
Phone: +39 04 38 43 0171
www.imai.it
LATVIA
Valmet Lat
Phone: +371 750 1357
LITHUANIA
Lifore Ltd
Phone: +370 5 2602 061
Cimertex, S.A.
Phone: +351 22 091 26 00
RUSSIA
Komatsu Forest Oy
Phone: +7 095 258 1428
SLOVAKIA
Komatsu Forest
Phone: +420 2 7270 1438
www.komatsuforest.cz
SPAIN
Hitraf S.A.
Phone: + 34 986 59 29 10
www.hitraf.com
SWEDEN
SweLog Skogsmaskiner HB
Phone: +46 171 41 67 70
www.sweloghb.com
SWITZERLAND
W Mahler AG
Phone: +41 44 763 5090
www.wmahler.ch
385
Jacksonville – Linder
Machinery
Phone: +1 904-786-6710
UNITED STATES
Plant City – Linder
Machinery
Phone: +1 813-754-2727
www.linderco.com
ALABAMA
IDAHO
Cotton-Hutcheson, Inc.
Phone: +1 251 578 1812
www.cotton-hutcheson.com
Boise – Modern Machinery
Phone: +1 800 221 5211
www.modernmachinery.com
G&S Equipment
Phone: +1 334 365 5192
Pocatello
– Modern Machinery
Phone: +1 208 233 5345
Warrior Tractor Equipment
Phone: +1 255 233 1914
ARIZONA
KENTUCKY
DDI Equipment
Phone: +1 800 821 5921
Circleville, OH
– Lyons Equipment Co Inc.
Phone: +1 740 474 6028
ARKANSAS
LOUISIANA
Warrior Tractor Co.
Phone: +1 870 367 3497
CALIFORNIA
Sierra Machinery
Phone: +1 916 655 3077
www.sierramachinery.com
COLORADO
DDI Equipment
Phone: +1 800 821 5921
CONNECTICUT
Barry Equipment Co., Inc.
Phone: +1 508 949 0005
FLORIDA
Cotton-Hutcheson, Inc.
Phone: +1 334 578 1812
www.cotton-hutcheson.com
Model 233
395
Warrior Tractor Co.
Phone: +1 870 367 3497
MAINE
MINNESOTA
Road Machinery and
Supplies
Phone: +1 218 741 9011
www.rmsequipment.com
MISSISSIPPI
Waters Trucks – Meridian
Phone: +1 601 693 4807
www.waterstruck.com
Tupelo – Power Equipment
Phone: +1 662 869 0283
www.powerequipco.com
MONTANA
Billings – Modern Machinery
Phone: +1 406 252 2158
Missoula – Modern
Machinery
Phone: +1 406 523 1100
NEBRASKA
Black Hills Timber Equip
Phone: +1 605 578 2003
The Oliver Stores
Phone: +1 207 778 6595
www.theoliverstores.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MASSACHUSETTS
Barry Equipment Co.
Phone: +1 508 949 0005
The Oliver Stores
Phone: +1 800 339 6595
www.theoliverstores.com
MICHIGAN
NEW MEXICO
Roland Machinery Company
Phone: +1 906 786 6920
www.rolandmachinery.com
Phone: +1 508 949 0005
DDI Equipment
Phone: +1 800 821 5921
NEW YORK
Boonville
– CJ Logging Equipment Inc.
Phone: +1 315 942 4756
Fellers
425
425
EX10
415 EX
901
425 EX/425 EXL
Non-leveling/Leveling
425 EX/425 EXL
911 X3M
445 EX/445 EXL
445 EX/445 EXL
475 EX/475 EXL
415 EX
PC-attachment
Skidders
765
om
est.c
ufor
s
t
a
kom
765
Little Valley
Phone: +1 716 938 9175
NORTH CAROLINA
Asheville – Linder
Machinery
+1 813-754-2727
www.linderco.com
Charlotte – Linder
Machinery
+1 704-376-7554
Raleigh – Linder Machinery
+1 919-851-2030
OHIO
Circleville
– Lyons Equip
Phone: +1 740 474 6028
Conway – Linder Machinery
+1 843-349-1100
VIRGINIA
Ridgeland – Linder
Machinery
+1 843-987-0070
WASHINGTON
SOUTH DAKOTA
Phone: +1 604 291 6021
TENNESSEE
Chattanooga
– Power Equipment
Phone: +1 423 894 1870
Kingsport
– Power Equipment
Phone: +1 423 349 6111
Knoxville
Eugene – Modern Machinery – Power Equipment
Phone: +1 865 577 5563
Phone: +1 541 688 7321
www.modernmachinery.com www.powerequipco.com
Memphis
Portland
– Power Equipment
Phone: +1 901 346 9800
Phone: +1 503 255 7841
www.modernmachinery.com www.powerequipco.com
Nashville
PENNSYLVANIA
– Power Equipment
Allenwood
Phone: +1 615 213 0900
Phone: +1 570 538 2504
OREGON
Brookwood
Phone: +1 814 849 4073
UTAH
SOUTH CAROLINA
VERMONT
Columbia – Linder
Machinery
+1 803-794-6150
www.linderco.com
The Oliver Stores
Phone: +1 800 339 6595
DDI Equipment
Phone: +1 800 821 5921
Phone: +1 508 949 0005
475 EX/475 EXL
More
information
about the
product line
Lyons Equipment Co Inc .
Phone: +1 304 765 3810
Kent – Modern Machinery
Phone: +1 253 872 3530
Rochester
Phone: +1 360 273 4284
Spokane
Phone: +1 509 535 1654
WEST VIRGINIA
Lyons Equipment – Sutton
Phone: +1 304 765 3810
WISCONSIN
Roland Machinery Company
Phone: +1 906 786 6920
www.rolandmachinery.com
WYOMING
Phone: +1 605 578 2003
CANADA
ALBERTA
Calgary – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 403 569 1109
Edmonton – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 780 451 2630
www.coneco.ca
Fort McMurray
– Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 780 791 0616
Grande Prairie
– Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 780 532 9410
High Level – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 780 926 2501
Red Deer – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 403 340 8343
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Campbell River – Terratech
Phone: +1 250 286 0694
Cranbrook – Terratech
Phone: +1 250 489 1715
Fort Nelson – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 250 774 3215
Fort St. John – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 250 785 8161
www.coneco.ca
Kamloops – Terratech
Phone: +1 250 374 6961
603
DC SOUTH AMERICAS
NEWFOUNDLAND
& LABRADOR
Paradise
– Equipement Fédéral
Phone: +1 709 782 2151
www.federal-equip.com
ONTARIO
Timmins
Phone: +1 705 264 4300
Thunder Bay
– Terratech Equip
Phone: +1 807 939 2262
www.terratech.ca
QUEBEC
Quebec
Phone: +1 418 654 0245
SASKATCHEWAN
BRAZIL
Komatsu Forest Ltda.
Phone: +55 41 2102 2828
CHILE
Komatsu Chile S.A.
Phone: +56 419 253 01
www.kch.cl
DC OCEANIA AND
OTHER MARKETS
AUSTRALIA
Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd
Phone: +61 2 9647 3600
NEW ZEALAND
Komatsu NZ
+(64)-9-277-8300
www.komatsu.com.au
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Prince George – Terratech
Phone: +1 250 564 8841
Estevan – Terratech Equip
Phone: +1 306 634 3108
Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd
Phone: +61 2 9647 3600
Surrey – Terratech Equip
Phone: +1 604 888 9700
www.terratech.ca
Regina – Terratech Equip
Phone: +1 306 359 3121
INDONESIA
MANITOBA
Winnipeg – Terratech Equip
Phone: +1 204 487 1050
www.terratech.ca
NEW BRUNSWICK, PRINCE
EDW. ISLAND & NOVA SCOTIA
Fredericton
Phone: +1 506 457 5544
Saskatoon – Terratech Equip
Phone: +1 306 931 0044
www.terratech.ca
NORTH WEST TERRITORIES
Yellowknife – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 867 669 0738
www.coneco.ca
PT United Tractors Tbk
Phone: +62 21 460 5959
www.unitedtractors.com
SOUTH AFRICA
Komatsu Southern Africa Ltd
Phone: +27 11 923 1110
YUKON
Whitehorse – Coneco Equip
Phone: +1 867 667 7368
www.coneco.ca
35
Komatsu Forest AB
Box 7124,
SE-907 04 Umeå
Sweden

TRELLEBORG TWIN FORESTRY IS FOR REAL. EFFICIENT. COMFORTABLE. STRONG.
With Trelleborg Twin Forestry on your machine you can carry
out the job even more efficiently and smoothly and – at the
same time – preserve the woodland. We test and develop tires
in your working environment: snow and ice, stones and tree
stumps, day and night. Whether you opt for complete wheels or
new tires, you will obtain increased pulling power and lower
operating costs as part of the bargain.
Trelleborg Industri AB
Business Unit Agri & Forest Tires Europe
SE-231 81 Trelleborg, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)410 510 00, Fax: +46 (0)410 139 96
www.trelleborg.com/wheelsystems

In English - Komatsu Forest

Transcription

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