Forest Machine Magazine - September 2024 - Issue 48

FOREST MACHINE MAGAZINE

CUTTINGS FROM THE FOREST FLOOR DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR

SEPTEMBER 2024 + ISSUE 48 + FREE PUBLICATION

READ MORE ABOUT MICHEL KAISER, ON PAGE 40

Winner of a £100 Amazon Voucher

Bad Practice: Workers failed to adhere to safe working practices.

Brutal honesty from the FCA: Cleaning house after failings from previous board.

The sky’s the limit: Skyseed proves effectiveness of using drones for reforestation.

Lean and green: ProSilva’s new 20 tonne capacity pendulum arm self-levelling forwarder.

Gently does it: Novotny’s low impact, lightweight eight wheeled drive harvester.

Showtime: What’s new at APF 2024 and the return of the forwarder competition.

Fire Danger Extreme: How

Giving it a wide berth: Increased load space and more powerful crane for Komatsu 895.

On the right track: Clark Track’s new TerraX band track and adjustable haggis link.

Hammering through: FAE’s new swinging hammer mulcher for track carrier.

RAB EASTON Editor

EAST SUSSEX BODY FINED AS DOG WALKERS STRUCK BY TREE

Abody that manages a major forest in East Sussex has been fined after a husband and wife were struck by a tree, with the latter suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Caroline Leafe, 70, was walking along a deer track in Ashdown Forest with her husband, Kenneth, and their dog, Monty, when the pair were hit by a silver birch tree that was being felled on 25 January 2023.

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest, the body that manages Ashdown Forest, had identified that the 12-metre tree was rotting and needed to be cut down. The tree was located in the corner of Broadstone Car Park on Colemans Hatch Road in Upper Hartfield, East Sussex and surrounded by public footpaths, including the main pathway to the visitor centre.

The tree began to fall after a forest ranger made a sink cut with a chainsaw. As it was falling, the ranger noticed Mr and Mrs Leafe walking on the nearby deer track and attempted to warn them but it was too late.

Mrs Leafe suffered a traumatic brain injury, a fractured collar bone, several fractured ribs and a shoulder dislocation.

She spent considerable time in hospital following the incident and continues to undergo physical and cognitive therapy several months later. She also had to surrender her driving licence.

She said in a statement: “I have suffered a loss of independence and Ken has had to do a lot more to support me. I haven’t been able to drive for nearly a year. The head injuries included speech problems and emotional problems.

“There were school children at the forest when we were there and we are relieved that our accident didn’t happen to them. Ken and I hope an incident like this never happens again.”

Mr Leafe suffered cuts and bruising.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found The Conservators of Ashdown Forest failed to identify the risk to members of the public from tree felling. This meant precautions, such as posting warning signs and using barriers and banksmen, were not implemented to prevent members of the public from accessing areas where the tree felling was taking place. The Conservators of Ashdown Forest pleaded guilty to breaching

Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The trust was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £3,589.80 in costs at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 August 2024.

HSE principal inspector Emma Stiles said: “Members of the public should be able to enjoy a walk in a forest without fear of being struck by a tree being felled. The guidance is clear on how to fell trees safely and this means keeping members of the public out of an area around the tree measuring two times the height of the tree.

“This can be achieved by various means including signs, barriers and banksmen. Given the high levels of public access around this tree, all of these precautions should have been taken.”

This prosecution was brought by HSE senior enforcement lawyer Nathan Cook and supported by HSE paralegal officer Imogen Isaac.

WOODWORKING COMPANY FINED

FOLLOWING COLLISION DEATH

Awood recycling company has been

were no control measures, such as physical barriers, to prevent pedestrians accessing areas where

A NEW DAWN FOR THE FCA

Over the years forestry in the UK has certainly had its fair share of shady and unscrupulous characters. I have recently heard accounts from others, including my own personal experience, which would suggest that one of the biggest culprits was heading the organisation that was set up to protect us.

I must emphasise strongly that the recounts you will read below have absolutely nothing to do with the current board of the FCA Membership Ltd. Donald Maclean and his current board of FCA directors have been open and honest about bringing this to people’s attention. Donald recently published an article in the FCA Newsletter about this and when I contacted him, he was happy to contribute.

Donald sent over two documents, one is a briefing paper giving an account of the first audit of the activities the old board had been involved in which I will attach at the bottom of the article and the second was an invoice from the Welsh European Funding Office to recover the £438,555 Grant money paid to the old FCA board.

When The Forestry Contracting Association was set up in October 1992, I thought it

was a huge step forward for forestry. At last, an association that would give individuals and contractors a voice and offer valuable help and advice from people who understood the ins and outs of forestry.

I was one of the first group of members to sign up and looked forward to reaping the benefits of my membership, one of which was discounted insurance. When I checked up on this, the company I was with was considerably cheaper than what the FCA recommendation could offer. Not a great start, but there was supposedly so many other advantages to being a member that it didn’t put me off.

I can’t remember if I continued paying my membership or whether it lapsed and I rejoined, but in 2002 while working on an FC site in Wales operating a County/Timberliner forwarder and felling, I was told my old FC chainsaw certificates were no longer valid. At this point I had been using a chainsaw for over 20 years, taken various chainsaw training courses and at first a three-year course to become fully qualified.

I arranged to be assessed for the NPTC certificates and was delighted when I learned this would be partly funded by the

FCA. I paid the full amount to the NPTC then applied to the FCA for my funding, after several months of chasing this up and still getting nowhere I gave it up as a bad job and decided that the FCA was a complete waste of time and money.

Colin Mcnicol had at one time been a highly successful and forward-thinking timber harvesting contractor till he lost his business through no fault of his own.

I must make it clear that my own and Colin Mcnicol’s dealings with the FCA Ltd were under the leadership of the old board of directors and not with the current board of directors of the FCA Membership Ltd headed by Donald Maclean.

Colin sent me a copy of the letter he sent to Barry Hudson Mr Barrie Hudson ex CEO of FCA 03/03/2024

“I find myself writing to you after 22 years since our last meeting, yes 22 years. In this time every day I have thought about why and how I lost my business. The business I started with an £80 loan, spending 30 years of bloody hard work to achieve one of the most up to date contractors in the Country turning over just under a Million pounds a year,

Complete range of superior quality and highly wear resistant tracks and chains for all forest terrains and vehicles.

pewag Forestry UK Ltd

• UK warehouse and distribution

• Forest Machine Tracks,

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what an achievement, so proud.

Under your instruction and the contract, you made up, we went to France to help with their storm damage in 2000. It resulted in nothing but problems, the major one being paid 30% less than the contract

not simply pass on your insurance details, and this could have been resolved at the time.

I now realise with others, the FCA was set up by you not to help the contractor, but to help you attract European funding, don’t think any of the 1800 members benefited from the funding, if so very few indeed, when it came to light after you were pushed out of the job that £1.2 million was missing, says it all really about what

eventually, lost all self- respect for myself, you basically ruined my life why was that, to allow you to further your own career, to make you feel more powerful, no guts to own up to your mistakes, pure greed no morals or just evil ? I can’t believe you accepted an OBE for services to the forest industry in 2003 same year I and others went bankrupt, was this your target all along at any cost glory hunting, not deserving I wonder who put you up for that? I wonder how many other contractors have stories to tell about the old FCA when you were CEO.

It’s so wrong and unjust to think all this happened because under your guidance we went to France on a mercy mission to help with their storm damage, Why I put my trust in you I will never know biggest mistake of my life. I have my answer now, you did not want a small contractor like me causing an upset to you receiving your OBE and you were on a good earner with the FCA with the European funding you certainly showed your true colours and to hell with everyone else, What kind of man does that?

You have the opportunity to put the record straight here will you take it probably not if you’re still the same arrogant man you were twenty-two years ago, the last thing contractors needed was a narcissistic leader.

I am now 71 living on a state pension been unable to work full time since because of the

damage caused to my mental health by all these problems caused by you and your deceit. I sincerely hope there is an agreeable conclusion to all this which will help me get closure that I have been waiting a long time for.

If I don’t receive a reply to this letter within seven days, I will be taking it further.”

Yours sincerely, Colin Mcnicol.

Colin built up his forestry business during one of the toughest times for forestry contractors.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s the Forestry Commission (FC) were the largest body in the UK who harvested timber and as a large amount of the UK’s timber resources was grown by the FC they generally got first pick of the better harvesting sites. Contractors submitted tenders for the privilege of harvesting the more challenging and less attractive harvesting blocks. It was dreadful to hear that Colin who had worked bloody hard to build a solid reputation and successful forestry contracting business could be bankrupted by the failings of the body that was set up to protect him.

Colin will never be recompensed for the loss of his business or the mental torture he has had to endure during the last 20 years, but he would like to see justice served on those that has caused this.

If you or your forestry business were affected in any way prior to 2004 during the reign of the old board of directors of the FCA Ltd please get in touch by emailing Rab at forestmachinemagazine@ mail.com and let me know about your experience as this is currently an ongoing investigation.

Briefing Paper from Donald Maclean

BACKGROUND TO FORESTRY CONTRACTING ASSOCIATION

Forestry Contracting Association Ltd (FCA) was originally set up as a trade association to represent small businesses engaged in providing contracting services to the forestry and arboriculture industries. The company was incorporated in 1992.

By 1999 the association had around 1800 members and had gained a fairly high profile within the industry. This was largely due to its involvement in the delivery of training, business development and research and development projects. These projects were financially supported from the public purse, mainly through the European Structural Funds, but also through the involvement of the development agencies such as Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and the Welsh Development Agency, to name but a few.

The FCA also received massive financial support from the

Forestry Commission.

Unfortunately, the subscriptionpaying member did not receive any direct benefit from these activities. Huge running costs reported in the company accounts did not convert into membership benefits. Many members felt that the

the business. Despite the existence of the Finance department the Board felt obliged to intervene in the day-to-day running of the company. This was a direct result of the finance department’s prevarication on producing budgets for 2005.

Notices of possible redundancy were served whilst efforts were made to establish the true financial position of the business. A restructuring plan was devised. Two of the staff at Head Office were made redundant, and the Executive Director gave notice on his contract.

appointments were being considered, two major contracts were withdrawn by the funders, and awarded to RDI. It was now a matter of urgency for the Board to examine the affairs of the company more closely.

PROJECT 151 (HI/ AGF/01/4a4/0002) EXAMINATION

The starting point was the transactions within Project 151. This was a contract where some £249k had been charged to staff time. The Scottish Executive queries had to be dealt with. As this project had received a clean bill of health from the companies’ auditors prior to submission, it was decided to carry out the investigation in house. One of the Directors, Donald Maclean was instructed to investigate. This would also be an opportunity to get familiar with the systems and procedures being used by the organization, and also to understand the workings of these projects, which had become the only real source of income.

There is much guidance available on how to plan and run ESF supported projects. The guidance notes for the completion of European Structural Funds Grant applications proved a good starting point.

A section dealing specifically with staffing costs gives clear guidance on what is eligible for support and the audit trail

required to substantiate this eligibility.

‘Actual costs are required for claims’, with a ‘clear audit trail for staff costs from payroll records and/or time sheets, via BACs to the bank statement’ being the two main requirements. These seem unambiguously stated. Indeed Annex 1: Conditions of Grant specifically defines defrayed expenditure.

Staff time sheets clearly identify staff time spent on different projects, with a time sheet analysis document being produced for each month. This breaks down time not only by different projects, but further details different project activities. These times are then multiplied by a monetary unit, (the charge out rate) and this sum is entered in the claim to the funders. The charge out rate should be the actual costs of employing the member of staff, as stated in the guidance.

The company used a Sage payroll software package. We presume the payroll software has been backed up, as the software files do not contain records pre. 2003, though hard copies exist. Where the records pre-date 2003, information on staff wages can be found on reports entitled Payment Summary (Part 1). The net pay column can be reconciled with the bank statements.

The actual payroll cost is much higher, as the costs of employing someone is greater than simply

the wages they receive. The company has to pay employers NI contributions and in some cases a pension contribution. These are recorded in the report entitled Payment Summary (Part 2). From these documents the total actual costs incurred for each employee for the month can be seen. There is very little variation from month to month as staff worked a 37-hour week and most were not paid overtime. Extra hours worked were normally taken as TOIL (Time off in Lieu).

The amount charged to the project can be found in the spreadsheet with a series of headings shown, but generally including the project number, activity code, brief details of the item charged and the amount charged. From this spreadsheet working backwards, it is possible to establish the link between the amount charged to the project and the actual costs incurred.

The listing on the spreadsheet for S Blackhall APR 02 time sheet can be used as an example. The activity code listed is POPM and the amount charged to the project is £5016.83. This item can be found on the relevant time sheet analysis. This shows 123.75 hours allocated to Project 151 under the activity POPM (Project Officer – Project Management). £5016.83 divided by 123.75hrs equals £40.54. This is the ‘charge out rate’ used per hour. The time sheet analysis shows S Blackhall worked a total

of 171 hrs on Project 151 in Apr 2002. 123.75 hours listed under POPM, the balance of 47.25 hours listed under various other activity codes. The project was charged £6932.36 for his services for the month. Payroll records and bank statements confirm he was paid £1119.46

The charge out rate used can be seen to equate to £250, £300 or £350 per day, depending loosely on the seniority of the staff. Divided by 7.4hrs this gives the hourly rates used as £33.78, £40.54 & £47.30 respectively.

This formula appears to have been used in dozens of other projects. Investigations have now started on a second project, where the staff costs claimed was in excess of £320k. The outcome of this audit is expected to be similar to Project 151.

ESTABLISHMENT

SKYSEED: USING DRONES FOR REFORESTATION

Imet Dominik Petzold at the Skyseed presentation while visiting the KWF exhibition and was fascinated by the effectiveness of drones for reforestation.

Inspired by natural processes, seeds from trees and complimentary herb and shrub species are spread via heavylifting drones. The seeds are sourced from certified stands and are coated before seeding, so that no predation of seeds by rodents and birds occurs. The pellet matrix consists of organic materials which keeps the seeds moist for longer, buffering harsh environmental conditions. Germination rate compared to untreated seeds is increased and overall seeding efficiency improved.

Direct seeding guarantees undisturbed root development and site-specific selection enables higher plant densities and greater species diversity. As a result direct planting produces more stable and productive forests than would be possible through traditional methods of planting. The approach is also fast and scalable, especially on large open spaces. A drone takes only 10-15 minutes of flight time to seed tens of thousands of seeds per ha. To achieve largest site suitability and climate resilience, Skyseed

selects and applies the most suitable seed mix from well over one hundred species across all successional stages. The current tree species spectrum includes conifers such as Douglas fir, larch, grand fir and silver fir, and pines as well as deciduous trees such as maple, alder, birch and elm. To make a large-scale forest conversion of pure stands scalable, Skyseed are also working on the development of autonomous, ground-based sowing methods. These supplement the species spectrum with trees such as oaks, nutwood and other hardwoods.

Not every area and every species are suitable for surface seeding, which is why prior site assessment and consultation are essential. Skyseed sees itself not only as a service provider, but also as a partner with a long-term commitment to the regeneration of an area.

Research is being conducted on the development of novel regeneration methods for extreme locations that are at risk of degradation, including e.g. unmanaged steep slopes or otherwise inaccessible areas. Drone seeding is also a suitable choice for afforestation or for setting up biologically diverse transitional zones such as forest edges.

Supporting reforestation from the forest floor to the target tree.

The experience gained seeding over two hundred hectares of land has enabled a continuous improvement of the product, which is now also being offered in other European countries. For enquiries, please mail contact@ skyseed.eco

ABOUT SKYSEED

Skyseed GmbH is a regenerative tech start-up founded in 2021 with a mission to restore and rebuild ecosystems efficiently and sustainably. The company is at the forefront of innovation in the field of reforestation, particularly in response to challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss. Skyseed combines innovative technology with ecological ability to provide scalable solutions for the rapid restoration of damaged forest areas, combining pelleted seeds from the whole spectrum of species (herbs, shrubs and trees).

Skyseed employs 18 people in the fields of ecology, research and pellet production, forestry consulting and sales, drone development and software development, currently raising its Late Seed round. More info at www.skyseed.eco

TECHNICAL FEATURES:

• replaceable high-strength blade

• multigrip-controller

• synchronous closing and powerful gripper

• Woodcracker ® C is available in 6 different sizes

APPLICATION AREAS:

• conventional harvesting of trees and bushes

• maintenance along traffic roads and routes

• problematic and dangerous tree felling

• removing trees in an upright position

KESLA timber cranes are versatile machines. The cranes are most commonly mounted on a truck and used for processing timber – sorting the timber by wood type or handling whole trunks. Our cranes are also excellent for bioenergy processing, for example, in chippers or as fixed industrial tools. Our range cranes includes both straight boom and Z-boom cranes.

THE LEAN GREEN FORWARDING MACHINE

ProSilva is a rare sight in the UK forests, but a wellestablished brand in the Baltics, Europe, and South America. The Finnish company have been manufacturing forestry equipment for five decades and produce harvesters and forwarders designed for thinning and continuous cover forestry markets.

HARVESTING

Tyres: 710/45-26.5

Length: 11,300 mm

Width: 2,820 mm

Steering max angle: +/-50°

Transport height: 3,780 mm

DIMENSIONS

Ground clearance: 350 - 1,150 mm

Weight from 25,000 kg

DIMENSIONS

Cummins: B6.7 250hp EU Stage V/EPA Final Tier 4

Torque: 1,152 Nm @ 1,500 rpm

Fuel tank 270 litres

DEF tank 38 litres

ENGINE

Wheel specific, full hydrostatic Tractive force: 325 kN

Travel speed: 0 - 20 km/h

TRANSMISSION

ProSilva is part of Tampereen Konepajat Oy who are a group of companies that create advanced, economical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly tools for soil research, forestry, tillage, and transport. The Group employs three hundred mechanical engineering professionals at ten factories and has a turnover of EUR 55 million.

The first time I saw ProSilva’s harvesters and forwarders in the flesh, so to speak, was at the 2016 FinnMetko Exhibition and I recall thinking that this was a machine manufactured by someone who thought outside the box. By replacing traditional wheeled bogies with Haggblom track chains, ProSilva created a radically designed machine for soft and boggy ground conditions. A more traditional style harvester and forwarder wheeled bogie options are offered, but I was in awe of this design as I have worked on some very wet areas and trying to keep the forwarder above ground is demanding work.

The harvester on display at FinnMetko, had two large wheels at the rear and the tracks on the front. This layout increases ground clearance while reducing its footprint. The forwarder had excavator type tracked bogies front and back. I had a good look at all their machines and thought they looked the business, they were strong, superbly finished and used top quality components.

I have seen them at various forestry exhibitions over the years and have enjoyed watching their progress.

ProSilva produced something fundamentally different again at this years KWF Tagung - the J-Series pendulum arm eightwheel drive twenty tonne load capacity forwarder. This project was started back in 2020 after information was gathered on the challenges the industry faces on off-road short haul timber transport.

Developed according to customer needs.

Ground conditions in thinning can cause many problems for forwarders. Only a small percentage of trees are removed, so on sideways sloping ground there is limited brash for the harvester to level the side slope for the forwarder. This can result in the forwarder sliding into the remaining crop in wet conditions, sliding to the downside of the slope when trying to climb over obstacles or the forwarder leaning over at an angle where the bolsters ring bark the trees. Keeping the forwarder laterally level gives good weight distribution and prevents gravity working against you. Each wheel bogie on the J-Series is controlled by

HARVESTING

Electric controlled, load sensing, triple pump system

Pump, open circuit 193 cm³.

Pumps, closed circuits 2 x 125 cm³

Hydraulic oil tank 200 litres

HYDRAULICS

Kesla 12FT, max. reach 10 m

(other options available)

CRANE OPTIONS

Load capacity: 14,000 –20,000 kg

Load space length: 5,500 mm

Load space cross sectional area: 5,7 – 7,0 m2

LOAD SPACE DIMENSIONS

CONTROL SYSTEM

its own hydraulically operated pendulum arm for continuous, fully automatic, lateral, and longitudinal levelling of the whole machine. The forwarder is capable of operating in an upright position even while driving on 24° side slopes. This also allows for a narrower overall width of just 2820mm without affecting stability. Due to the narrow construction, large turning angle and pendulum arms, the J- series can easily follow the trails of the harvester, without requiring wider strip roads. This leaves more trees for incremental forest growth.

The automation keeps the ground clearance constant using gyro-stabilized motion sensors. The ProSilva J-series is the only forwarder, which in addition to knowing its correct location, can control its own orientation as well. This opens up a whole new opportunity for implementing automated and autonomous driving, for example conditional automated returning to roadside or landing.

The hydraulics of the pendulum arms offer real-time load weight information as well as unsurpassed operator comfort. Another clever function is the ‘helicopter drive,’ where the operator can manually control the height and inclination of the forwarder, to prepare for traversing challenging terrain obstacles.

Ground clearance is between 350mm and 1150mm and the

forwarder can traverse over stones and stumps up to 500mm high with ease. It has wheel specific torque and speed management on all eight wheels and each wheel hub has variable volume drive motor matched with a planetary gearbox. The drive system offers an impressive 325kN of tractive force. As it is a fully hydrostatic power transmission system this allows for an increased steering angle of +/-50° and the rotation speed of the wheels is adjusted by continuously checking the turning angle of the middle joint. This prevents rutting, which is usually the case when turning with the more traditional hydrostaticmechanical transmission systems and engaging regular differential locks.

ProSilva’s J-Forwarder’s aims were to develop a manoeuvrable forwarder with a minimal footprint that would prevent rutting, soil compaction and which would avoid damaging the remaining trees but deliver a forwarder that is easy and fun to run.

I believe they have achieved their goals!

www.prosilva.fi

Base machine Parker IQAN

STORA ENSO: UPDATE ON VIOLATION

IN HUKKAJOKI RIVER

An environmental violation was discovered at a Stora

is inhabited by freshwater pearl mussels. In this case, there is reason to suspect that neither the ELY Centre’s nor Stora Enso’s own instructions were

My personal relationship with Neuson Forest goes back a long way, I first visited them in 2012 while holidaying in Austria, four years prior to starting the magazine. Since then I have been out to see their harvesters working in Austria many times, and even hosted a demo tour of the Neuson 104HVT in Tentsmuir forest near Dundee and Whinlatter forest in the Lake district.

HARVESTING

The Austrian company were originally Neuson Ecotec GmbH and were focused on environmental technology. In 2010, Before they became a standalone company, they were a part of the Wacker Neuson group manufacturing tracked harvesters and waste management equipment which included turners, shredders, and drum chippers. In 2016, Terex Materials Processing, a business segment of the Terex Group, Westport, Connecticut, announced the acquisition of the assets related to the Environmental Technology product lines of Neuson Ecotec GmbH. The forestry side of the business changed its name to Neuson Forest and relocated to new manufacturing and office premises in Linz.

When I discovered that Harold Taylor Timber had a Neuson 264HVT harvester on demo, I was eager to go out and see how it was performing under our Scottish forestry conditions.

The 264HVT was in the hands of experienced operator, Andris Polovkovs, who was mid-way through harvesting four thousand tonnes of storm damaged timber near Forfar in the north-east of Scotland. Andris has worked in forestry all his life and has been with Harold for the last 10 years. He has operated a multitude of forwarders and harvesters during this time, including Tigercat, Komatsu, John Deere, Sivatec and excavator harvester

conversions.

With a good background on both tracked and wheeled harvesters I was looking forward to hearing Andris’s opinion.

It was a few miles drive up a narrow single track tarred road before being led onto a forest road. There were very few passing areas and sure enough I met a loaded timber truck on the longest, narrowest section of road with zero passing areas. After reversing for about a mile I was able to find a reasonable verge to move out of his way and restarted my journey again. I made my way over to the harvester and saw instantly that it was a difficult site to work, the crop of Sitka spruce had blown in all directions with a just few clumps and the odd standing ones left here and there.

Andris was over halfway through the harvesting with a John Deere 1510 extracting behind him. It looked a right mess, but in all fairness once harvested it was decent forwarding conditions. The presentation was good, mainly 3m chip with some sawlogs, it had blown prematurely and could have done with a few more years growth. Many of the trees had upended, and Andris was lifting the root plates out of the way of the main extraction routes.

As I approached the harvester, I could see Andris was smiling in the cab, which is always a good

sign in my book!

Andris had been operating the Neuson for a few weeks and was thoroughly enjoying the experience. I noticed that the cabin was larger than some of older Neuson harvesters I had seen. Previous taller operators had commented on being a bit confined, but Neuson have addressed this with the roomier cab.

“The cab layout is good with a user-friendly computer system and it’s a quiet vibration free environment to work in” said Andris, “The seat is amazing, comfortable and easily adjusted. I like the fact that you are not in prison and looking out of a clear screen without the steel bars like some other tracked harvesters. I think that operators must have been involved with some of the design characteristics as there are some great features, like the foot pedal for operating the screen wash and windscreen wiper, which is so handy.

Another great feature is the protective steel cable fitted along with the door opening damper, The door is heavy, and I have seen the damper fail where the door swings open out of control and can end up damaged. The strong wire cable prevents this from happening.

The air conditioning is great keeping you lovely and cool and the windows fog free.”

Andris was on a roll and started

to show me around the outside of the harvester. He went on to say “The amount of watertight storage areas on the Neuson are outstanding, there is plenty of space for bars and chains, spare hoses, tools and other bits and pieces”

He was amazed with the overall build quality “The frame is really strong and should have an exceptionally long service life and the crane is solidly attached to the base. There is well thought out access for servicing and repairs, all the panels around the harvester open with a large hydraulically/manually operated platform at the rear. There are access points to attach the step ladders all around the harvester so there is no need to be taking risks by climbing on the machine. The also cabin tilts up for better access, this makes it an easy machine to work on quickly and safely.”

“The grease nipples are easy to get to and well protected and it also has a manual auto lube system which is working well and allows you to move the crane for better lubrication while greasing. The cooling fan reverses so the dust and needles gets a good blow out, the first time it happened I almost shit myself as it is quite noisy, and I thought a jumbo jet was trying to land next to me ��.

I thought the batteries were a bit difficult to get to but realised they were on a platform that was lowered via a threaded

rod out of the base of the harvester.”

Andris admired the thought that had gone into the build and his only real complaint was that it could have done with protection bars around the body panels. He pointed out that every panel was bolted on so could easily be removed for repairs or replacing.

PERFORMANCE

This harvester was fitted with the LogMax 6000V harvesting head and 10m reach crane.

“The parallel crane is nice and precise to use with good lift and slewing power,” said Andris. “Its ideal for working this windblow as it has the power to lift it with the root plate attached and untangle trees when they are blown in all directions. The LogMax 6000V three sensor head is an animal, the power it has is unbelievable. Vision is unrestricted and the lights are good when you are working in the dark. It is stable and using the blade helps to increase this when harvesting at full reach. Levelling is good”

“Fuel capacity is 650 litres, and I get over two days work before I have to refuel, I have been averaging between 14 and 15 litres per hour. AdBlue needs refilling once a week.”

There were a lot of positives and as we all know no one makes the perfect machine so I asked Andris for any negatives.

“There is no 12v socket in the cab only a USB port, I have fitted my own tray to hold my sandwich box as there isn’t one in the harvester. Maybe a bit more protection for the panels especially in windblow when the trees are all tangled. There is no refuelling pump on this harvester and the Neuson App doesn’t seem to work great with the JD Link”.

Minor niggles thought Andris, nothing that would take much to rectify.

I asked him if he were happy with the Neuson 264HVT to which he replied, “This is a good productive harvester that I really enjoy operating, I would be happy to operate this Neuson on a permanent basis.”

Before heading off I watched Andris working the harvester and had to agree with him that it was certainly a good powerful harvester especially for dealing with tangled windblown trees like these.

NEUSON 264 HVT SPECSHEET

This is a superclass harvester capable of harvesting second thinnings to mature clearfells. It has track options for both wet boggy ground and steep slopes. The power is delivered via the John Deere six-cylinder 309hp stage V engine. It has a parallel crane with XCrane control from Technion and Smart Tip Handling. There are five individual driver profiles and

three reach options of 9m, 10m and 13.5m.

Multiple track options are available to cope with all types of terrain, single and double grousers range in widths from 500mm to 700mm. For wet and boggy ground there is a curved triple grouser option in widths of 500mm to 800mm.

more tired legs when moving the machine over longer distances!

The 264HVT is auto levelling with a front tilt angle of 25° and +/- 15° to the side.

The machine weighs 26.5 tonne and has a tail swing of just 200mm for harvesting in confined spaces. With 600mm tracks it is 2950mm wide with an undercarriage clearance of 790mm.

The Neuson is compatible with many harvesting

HARVESTING

NEW CRANE AND LOAD SPACE AMONG THE NEWS FOR THE UPGRADED KOMATSU 895

With its powerful transmission and large load capacity, the Komatsu 895 is a truly productive final felling forwarder. There is an all-new, powerful crane option; the 205F. The Komatsu 895 has also been upgraded with a robust load space, including gate and bunks with telescopic function. In conjunction with this upgrade a new grapple model is presented, the G88H, as well as a new rotator that fits the larger crane.

The Komatsu 895 was introduced in 2013 and has undergone a number of productive upgrades during the years.

With this upgrade, focus is on a new, powerful crane and a load space with a telescopic full-width gate and telescopic bunks. The cooperation with customers has been a guide in this project and experiences from plantation forestry in South America as well as final felling in the Nordic countries, Australia and North America have contributed invaluable input in the development work.

PRODUCTIVE OPTION: CRANE 205F

The 205F is a brand new, powerful crane with a lifting torque of 205 kNm and a slewing torque of 51.9, kNm. It

has been developed with a focus on increased productivity in final felling and plantation forestry.

The crane has a robust, welded crane pillar which together with the inner boom and outer boom provides both good lifting capacity and lifting geometry. Choose between a reach of 7.5/8.5 m with single telescope or 10 m with double telescope. In connection with this, we also offer a brand new, larger grapple model, G88H, with tip-to-tip area 0.55 m2. The new grapple also has a powerful new rotator, the GX.

NEW LOAD SPACE

The new load space consists of a robust, telescopic gate and new, hard-wearing bunks with telescopic widening function.

The entire gate is raised and lowered hydraulically and the foldable wideners can be locked in the retracted or extended position. There is also an option to make the gate movable along the rear frame direction.

The new bunks have a telescopic widening function and can also be equipped with hydraulic height-adjustable stakes. This increases the productivity of loading and unloading by reducing the height that the timber needs to be lifted

over the stakes – which also contributes to reduced fuel consumption.

REINFORCED FRAME AND UPDATED HYDRAULICS

The machine’s frame system, including articulating frame and bearings, has been designed to handle the increased crane capacity and the new load space. The more robust frame also gives the machine better durability in challenging environments. A longer rear frame option is also offered to suit plantation forestry, mainly in South America. It is adapted for the log length of 7.2 meters.

Another new feature is that the hydraulic system is equipped with a hydraulic pump with electric control. This provides benefits such as more even pressure levels and improved efficiency. The hydraulic tank has also been further developed and equipped with a practical new single filter that simplifies maintenance and service.

In summary, the upgraded model offers a combination of higher performance and more robust design, making it a productive and reliable companion in the forest.

www.komatsuforest.com

TERRAX

TERRAX

The ultimate all -terrain, all-season track.

The ultimate all -terrain, all-season track.

• Adjustable Haggis Link replaces conventional joining links making tensioning fast and easy

The ultimate all-terrain, all-season track.

• Adjustable Haggis Link replaces conventional joining links making tensioning fast and easy

• Adjustable Haggis Link replaces conventional joining links making tensioning fast and easy

TERRAX

• New optimised track profile

• New optimised track profile

• New optimised track profile

• Same bending resistance as in TL95

• 30% less weight than in TL95, 10% less than TL85

• Same bending resistance as in TL95

The ultimate all -terrain, all-season track.

- Same bending resistance as in TL95

• All season use; assured Winter and Summer performance

• 30% less weight than in TL95, 10% less than TL85

- 30% less weight than in TL95, 10% less than TL85

Adjustable Haggis Link replaces conventional joining links making tensioning fast and easy

• All season use; assured Winter and Summer performance

• All season use; assured Winter and Summer performance

• Profile shape ensures snow cleaning

• Profile shape ensures snow cleaning

• Profile shape ensures snow cleaning

• Durable and hard wearing, even on rocky terrain

• Double spikes and 15mm extensions

• Durable and hard wearing, even on rocky terrain

New optimised track profile

• Durable and hard wearing, even on rocky terrain

• Double spikes and 15mm extensions

• Same bending resistance as in TL95

• Double spikes and 15mm extensions

TERRAX

• 30% less weight than in TL95, 10% less than TL85

- optimised track profile

All season use; assured Winter and Summer performance

2mm higher than TL95

14mm wearing distance

• Profile shape ensures snow cleaning

Durable and hard wearing, even on rocky terrain

Double spikes and 15mm extensions

2mm higher than TL95 14mm wearing distance shape supports snow cleaning

Shape supports snow cleaning

NEW ADJUSTABLE HAGGIS LINK

• New joining link solution from Clark Tracks

• Tensioning is fast (less than 5 minutes and ergonomic

• Shortening of track can be done in the forest without fire tools, resulting in increased uptime

• 80 mm adjustment per link

• 6 AHLs per track means 480mm adjustment

• Additionally, two track plates can be easily removed from between the AHLs

• No need for additional, different size joining links as all parts are pre-installed to the track

• This means also less scrap metal

TERRAX SCANME

TAKING YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

New optimized track profile

As durable as our Heavy Duty Terra95, but 30% lighter. Enhanced traction and improved snow and mud clearing.

New joining link system

The Adjustable Haggis Link makes tensioning the track fast and ergonomic.

HARVESTING

A LIGHTER APPROACH: NOVOTNÝ H512 HARVESTER

Strojírna Novotný

s.r.o. are a traditional manufacturer of agricultural, forestry and construction machinery. Based in Hrabová, in the Olomouc region of the Czech Republic, this engineering company was established in 1991 and employs over 100 workers between their two production facilities.

In addition to skid-steer loaders B861 and B961, which are widely used in agriculture and construction, Novotný manufacture minimal impact thinning forestry forwarders. The company currently offers three types of forwarders LVS 511, LVS 520 and LVS 720, which differ in size, engine power, and loading capacity.

Up until recently, Novotný have avoided the harvester segment of forestry machines due to the availability of small harvesters from other manufacturers. However, after lengthy discussions with their customers, it became clear that they thought there was a lack of compact 8-wheel drive thinning harvesters that offered both a long reach crane and a powerful harvesting head for processing coniferous and deciduous thinnings.

Novotný have spent over 2 years developing their first thinning

harvester. The prototype was finished mid-2023 and after rigorous testing it was released for sale this year. I saw the harvester in June and could see the advantages of this lightweight, narrow wheelbase thinning harvester. The rear bogies track the front bogies so there is no need to worry about any damage to the remaining crop. The front axle is fitted with a bogie lift which increases the turning circle of the harvester.

The H512 has the option of 400mm tyres with a width of just 1.86m, on the recommended 500mm tyres, it is still only 2.06m wide. Tracks can be fitted to both bogies to further reduce ground pressure, or wheel chains can be used for additional traction on firmer soils. The overall length is 6152mm with a ground clearance of 450mm, transport height is 2880mm. It is a wellbalanced harvester with good weight distribution which offers excellent stability even when harvesting at full reach.

Power is delivered by an Iveco 3.5 litre, 75 hp four-cylinder engine, using a DPF particle filter without any Add-blue. This is a proven engine which Novotný use with their LVS 511 forwarder and skid steer loaders. Rexroth supply the hydraulic systems for drive and

working and again it is the same tried and tested components used in the LVS 511 forwarder which prove extremely capable even in demanding and steep conditions. Traction force is 77kN and the harvester can travel at speeds of up to 18km/ hr. The working hydraulics have a 100cc pump that feeds the harvesting head, the hydraulic tank capacity is 140 litres with two hydraulic oil coolers.

There are two parallel crane options from MOWI, the 6.5m reach P50 or 7.5 m reach P610T. Both cranes have a lifting force of 5500kg at full reach. The main lift ram has a damper at the end position for smoother operation and the crane base tilts to 18°.

The RH16 harvesting head is from the Finnish company Kesla Oy. The 16RH is the market’s lightest professional harvester head and is an efficient head for harvesting both conifers and hardwoods. It is equipped with four moving delimbing knives and one fixed with multi-stem functions. The head is specifically designed for the integrated harvesting of timber and biomass, feeding speed is up to 4m/sec via the two feed rollers and can be equipped with the proAX feature, which is a shear used for cutting the thin parts of the stem thus saving

HARVESTING

the chainsaw chain.

The electronic system checks all the operating data of the machine allowing the operator to set the speed of each individual function of the crane. Novotný use the proven measuring system Xlogger from the company Technion. This also allows for the harvester head functions to be individually set to suit each operator. The system communicates in all languages and is straightforward and user-friendly.

Safety and comfort are two vital

factors in the design of the H512 and Novotný have gone over and above to address both. The cabin has been assessed and approved to ROPS, OPS, FOPS standards, it is a spacious, air-conditioned, and well soundproofed environment with outstanding visibility. An airsuspended, heated seat is fitted as standard, and the machine has several LED lights that reduce eyestrain even in the darkest, densest thinnings.

Novotný have kept the construction of the harvester remarkably simple, sturdy and

as stated earlier, based it on the proven concepts of their forwarders thus keeping their price structure of the new harvester fair compared to the competition.

Novotný are actively looking for a UK distributer, so if you are interested and have the background and technical ability to increase their brand awareness please email Petr at sladec@loader.cz or call in at the APF Exhibition in September where you can see this compact thinning harvester for yourself. www.loader.cz

COVER PHOTO WINNER:

Michel Kaiser, an MB-Trac and Unimog enthusiast who has grown up with this iconic brand, is the winner of this month’s Front Cover. Michel will be sharing his story and the history of MB Trac over the course of the next few issues.

Michel was born in 1983 in the Lahn-Dill district of Germany. His first experience with Unimog’s and MB-trac’s were as a small boy in the forest with his “Grandpa Karl”, a log hauler who was also involved in the MB-trac trial for Werner Forsttechnik.

MICHEL KAISER

Michel was joined by a permanent mentor, “Klaus”, who worked in the office of a Unimog general agency. Countless trips

connection to the Unimog and MB-trac developed.

Kaiser is now known as an MB-trac specialist, as he is the forum moderator for the MB-trac area in the Unimog community and a member of the social media team of the Unimog Club Gaggenau, where he is also the head of the MB-trac department. Michel lectures about the MBtrac in the Unimog Museum and also writes reports for Forstmaschinenprofi, Festmeter about the Unimog and MB-trac in the forest. He has also written numerous successful books, writes regularly for the Unimog and MB-trac yearbook and has his own MB-trac calendar published by Podszun Verlag. On his Instagram page @mbtrac_ passion he shows many pictures and topics about the MB-trac and Unimog and his current projects.

A new book about the Uniknick will be released at the beginning of September, followed by a children’s book (ages 5-9) about a farmer with his MBtrac. In October the 100-year chronicle written by Kaiser will be published by Henne. At the end of the year there will be a book about the new Unimog types in use (for ages 10-99), as well as two more books about the MB-trac. Kaiser is currently developing the new MB-trac Quartet for the Unimog Museum, which will be released next year and after many requests from readers, the two

successful books “The Unimog in Forestry, Volumes 1 and 2” are finally getting a volume 3. The excitement surrounding Michel Kaiser’s projects remains.

MB-TRAC IN THE FOREST PART 1, THE BEGINNINGS

by Michel Kaiser (instagram: mbtrac_passion)

1972, it is the DLG in Hanover. On the Mercedes-Benz stand, between the well-known Unimogs, there is a vehicle that no one has ever seen before. “World first” is written on the large advertising sign. The tractor was called the MB-trac 65/70. Hood, driver’s cabin and body frame are in gray, rims and fenders as well as entrances in striking red. Four wheels the same size as the Unimog, but the rear axle is rigid. The advertising stated that the weight distribution under load was 50:50. The load distribution of the static, unloaded vehicle was 60:40. A special kind of tractor.

It was not long before the well-known forestry body manufacturer Werner from Trier sent two MB-tracs with forestry equipment to the test. Forestry superstructures were designed for the MB-trac that had already proven themselves on the Unimog. Front polder shield, underrun protection, double drum cable winch and a large support bracket.

The first two test vehicles were

put into use. Designers and customers worked very closely together. Weak points were quickly identified, and the designers worked hard to fix them, as the first orders were already on the table.

1974: MB-TRAC LOGGING TRACTOR

At the Interforst Exhibition in 1974, the time had come: the MB-trac was shown with a number of equipment variants by Werner. Among the vehicles with fixed superstructures, there were some MB-tracs with quickly removable forestry equipment so that the tractor could be used for agricultural purposes. The Unimog was increasingly replaced by the MB-trac at the end of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s. Customers said that the MBtrac’s easy entry and exit and better all-round visibility spoke for themselves. The larger wheels also provided more traction.

The MB-trac gradually grew into the number 1 logging tractor. The forestry machine range, which was continually expanded in conjunction with Werner, left nothing to be desired at the time. Special requests could be implemented quickly thanks to the close cooperation between Werner and the Unimog general agencies. The MB-trac 65/70 (drum brake) with Werner forestry equipment was very well received by customers as a logging tractor. There was soon a demand for more powerful

MB-tracs. This affected both agriculture and forestry. In 1975 the MB-trac 800 was brought onto the market. A powerful MB-trac with disc brakes. This MB-trac was to become a best-seller in general. A total of 11,542 vehicles were produced in 3 series of the 800 MB-trac. In 1976, the two heavy models MB-trac 1100 and MB-trac 1300 followed.

The 800 Forest managed to be the top logging tractor in Germany until the early 1980s. The Forst MB-trac also became increasingly popular in neighbouring countries. The attempt was made to expand the range of equipment with mounted logging grapples and to offer logging operators other options than cable pulling. Further development was a top priority at Werner. Before series production began, new equipment was extensively tested in practice. Front winches, front polder shields with interchangeable attachments such as a Wahlers Räumfix instead of the front polder shovel, additional front loader consoles, a lifting and grinding device and much more were possible.

Different equipment variants in terms of forestry equipment were possible. There were several front polder devices to choose from, various winch types, support mountain supports in 3 designs. The logging grapple could also be combined with several winch

types. Logging trailers with a Cranab crane on the MB-trac or on the logging trailer could also be supplied as so-called shorttimber logging units. Werner’s logging trailer was called the 1AT80 and had a tandem pendulum axle. The Swedish Cranab crane was usually built in the 3010 version.

From 1977, Nagel from Waldstetten also built a small number of MB-tracs according to customer requirements over the years. From 1978, the same was done by Ritter from Zell/Harmersbach. However, Mercedes wanted the so-called market calm. Werner had the official status of an equipment partner, which of course had an impact on the sales recommendations. Brochures and equipment brochures from Mercedes and/or Werner were always designed together. Werner managed to convert 6.3 percent of forestry to MB-tracs, which corresponds to a number of over 2,600 of all MB-tracs built.

The next issue will cover the 80s of MB-tracs in the forest.

Michel Kaiser Author and MB-trac expert

For more great pictures/videos and information on the iconic MB Trac and Unimog follow Michel’s Instagram page at www.instagram.com

To buy your copy of the 2025 MB Trac calendar visit

Clinton Harris

Gary Roberts

Tang Timber

Chris Pickard

Matthew Rawsthorne

Josh Cox

Shane Hiett

Richard Doherty

Marine Molina

Mark Richardson

Patrick Durepos

James Landy

Colin Jackson

Sam Scarlett

Samuel Hall

Casey Burrows

Robert Moretti

WHAT ON AT THIS YEAR’S APF

Forestry has undergone radical changes in recent years and the APF exhibition has had to evolve, from the timber harvesting event it once was, to keep up with the demands of today’s forestry. This year’s exhibition is once again taking place at Ragley Estate, Alcester in Warwickshire, and will combine a comprehensive selection of the latest technology and equipment used in forestry from seed to sawmills throughout the three-day event.

Exhibition Secretary Ian Millward brings us up to date with the vast range of events and competitions taking place at this year’s show on the 19/20/21st September.

“There are more machines,

events, and competitions to see and take part in than ever before. There really is something for everyone whatever your machinery interests.

The UK Forwarder driving competition makes a welcome return to APF 2024. Richard Court Forestry Engineering and Coombes Forestry Ltd have picked up the controls. Taking place in a much larger arena than previously. Competitors will face a series of tasks and obstacles to assess their crane and machine control against the clock. Machines to be used will be John Deere G series forwarders. Competitors may be able to enter on the day subject to availability. Competitors must hold the relevant Forest Machine Operator certification.

Daily prizes will be awarded for the fastest time less time penalties and the UK trophy for the best overall time over the three days.

The AW Jenkinson and Tilhill European Chainsaw carving championships returns with twenty-five of Europe’s top carvers from as far afield as Lithuania, Romania, and Poland. There is a stellar line up with five earlier winners and two of the top four from the recent television competition Top Carve. The carvers will be using large dimension Redwood from Longleat Estate to allow full rein to their creativity.

The Husqvarna World 25m pole climbing championships will

have a huge prize fund of over £10,000. Fifty of the best climbers will compete for the world title. Current World Champion, Dan Wheelan, will defend his crown and aim to beat his own world record time of 8.84 seconds.

APF 2024 will host not one,

chop and the ever popular and noisy hot saws. If after watching the axemen, you fancy a go at axe throwing then you will be able to try your hand at this for the first time since 2002.

Our traditional woodland crafts area continues to be a big draw for visitors. We will have the largest variety of crafts on display anywhere in the UK. Clogs to coracles, charcoal to chairs, wheelwrights to basket makers, rakes to rustic carpentry. If you want to know what a Sussex pimp is this will be the place to find out!

of three hundred exhibitors, £80 million and over two miles of working equipment on offer.

There is far too much to do in a

day. Book into our on-site campsite or into a local hotel and come for two or three days. Discounted advance tickets are available now or tickets will be

APEX FLUID POWER

Apex Fluid Power are based in Carlisle, Cumbria, and are centrally located in the north of England to supply the whole of the UK and internationally. From the Highlands of Scotland to the valleys of Wales, Director Peter Brown and his team understand that service and products are key to keeping your industry moving. They know the demands and tests needed in the industry and their products are assessed to the highest industry standards to exceed all expectations.

Peter gives us an insight into what visitors could expect to see on Apex’s display. “We are able to offer customers the best in quality the hose world can produce. Both the Parker range of hose and fittings and Gates hose and fittings, along with all related hose products these companies produce. Combined with our knowledge of the hose and fittings industry and experience of forestry machinery this must be worth the ticket price alone ��.

“We could not attend without bringing along the H64 hand operated crimper, designed by us specifically for the forestry

industry. Alongside it will be the ever-popular Parker Karrykrimp.

“Brand new and exciting is the new 797TC Multi Spiral hose range, a much more compact hose, lightweight, capable of 6000PSI, 450BAR working pressure in all sizes, a bend radius to beat all other hoses, and more importantly tested to two million cycles in accordance with ISO 18742 Type DC. What this means is that this hose outperforms any other hose on the market. Only the Gates Global Spiral range comes close, tested to 1 million cycles.

“To complement this, we also have a brand-new fitting, the

available on the gate priced £25. The APF gives exhibitors the perfect opportunity to highlight and prove their new and existing products.”

seventy-seven series. This fitting is, no skive, has better hose to fitting connection, reduced leaks, increased holding power, compact outer shell and an internal tooth profile that offers exclusive no skive interlock facilities.

“When we came across these products we were mildly impressed as we hear many claims by many manufacturers that normally fall short. We have however had these products out in the forestry industry with users carrying out tests for us – and they genuinely have lasted longer”!

www.apexfluid.co.uk

FOREST MACHINE SERVICES (FMS)

FMS are looking forward to meeting customers old and new at the APF this year.

The company that was founded

of pollution. Amanda Byrne, GB Lubricants Regional Sales Manager believes the pioneering Unibio® range will be a focal point of the show.

Amanda commented on the importance of understanding the challenges that those working in the forestry and woodland industries can face:

“Talking to customers allows us to understand the challenges they are facing and what solutions GB Lubricants are able to offer to help them. The biggest demand in the forestry and woodland sector is for our quality chainsaw oil, which we have been told is one of the best on the market. We also supply a range of engine oils, greases, hydraulic oils, and gear oils too, all suited to a wide range of manufacturers and brands of equipment.”

As well as discussing GB Lubricants’ products the company will be detailing its mission to be recognised as a global industry leader for sustainability and minimising environmental impact. Aiming to achieve net zero carbon manufacturing by 2030, the company’s long-term mission is to be as sustainable as possible in its purchasing of raw materials, manufacture of products and delivery of finished goods.

The company has a huge commitment to using sustainable operating

procedures throughout its manufacturing site, based in Gateshead. This includes minimising waste, capital investment into new more efficient production infrastructure, as well as becoming the first private company to connect to green solar-generated electricity and mine water heat provided by an award-winning Gateshead District Energy Scheme. This green electricity and heat are used throughout the production and administration process throughout the Gateshead site.

The company also boasts the highest possible EcoVadis Platinum rating in Sustainability. Having achieved a gold rating since 2019, GB Lubricants now joins the elite top one per cent of companies that are evaluated from the industry worldwide.

As part of this sustainability journey, the company will also

be using the APF exhibition as an opportunity to highlight a new range of recycled packaging which will feature 35% recycled plastic.

GB Lubricants has an established reputation for oil and lubricant manufacturing in the UK. The company supplies its products throughout the British Isles and Ireland as well as to an increasing number of other countries around the world. A key growth area for the future is North America and it is anticipated that GB Lubricants’ pedigree and product range in the forestry industry and woodland sector will be remarkably interesting for these markets.

For further information about GB Lubricants’ sustainability journey and their range of biodegradable products please visit www.gblubricants.co.uk

THE BRITISH HORSE LOGGERS

The British Horse Loggers will have three different horse loggers displaying methods of extraction by horse at the show. There will be different breeds to look at and a horse drawn arch and forwarder and people to talk to and ask questions about jobs and training programmes. www.britishhorseloggers.org

GREENMEC

GreenMech return to Ragley Estate this September. Launched to much acclaim earlier in 2024, the versatility, safety, and unparalleled performance of the EVO 205TT will be displayed on stand 1270-1310 alongside a number of other chipping solutions to suit tasks and timber of all shapes and sizes. The EVO Series has

firmly cemented its status as the professional commercial choice, with 6” and 8” variants in tracked and road-tow configurations designed to meet the demanding requirements of the modern-day arborist. Incorporating all of the features now synonymous with the series including wide-in feed chute, horizontal rollers and heavy-duty flywheel. The EVO

MARSHALL AGRICULTURAL LOGGING

Marshall Logging are looking forward to welcoming you to their stand. In the past, Marshall’s have displayed a large number of machinery on their stand and 2024 looks to be no different. Taking centre stage will be

Marshall’s new range of products from ZENZ. The German company offer three models of sawmills, both static and mobile with a broad range of optional equipment. The Zenz machines have reinforced frames, a patented log clamp

205TT turntable model was introduced to provide maximum flexibility in positioning for safe and efficient operation. The GreenMech team will be on hand for the show duration to answer visitor questions on the EVO 205TT and all other models on display, including the EVO 205D SURE-Trak.

www.greenmec.co.uk

and log turning system and are operator friendly. These are highly productive and robust sawmills for professional quality.

Allan Marshall and his team will also highlight the extensive collection of tree shears, wood

* Range of trailers 5-21t

* Tipping bodies

* Telematic trailers available

* Crane range 7 - 10 m reach

* High level of lift capacity

* Range of control layouts

* We can customise a trailer for your requirements

* Splitting unit that splits up to 800 mm diameter

* Automatic processing

* Self-powered, PTO and electric models available

Quality Machinery speaks for itself

* Fully automatic

* Cuts up to 450mm diameter

* 2-4-8 Splitting on one knife

* 12 way knife

* Very high production rates achievable

Westtech have a large range of tree shears and saw units available, to suit all needs.

* Clean cutting

* Tree shears can cut from 190 - 650 mm

* Saw units from 510 mm up to 800 mm

* Saw units to fit excavators, rotary telehandlers and lorry crane mounted Wood crackers for splitting wood, rakes for site clearance work, stump removing equipment, and forestry mulcher available

* Please ring to discuss your Westtech requirement, we have 15 years of experience of the product

Maschinenbau GmbH Made in Austria

* Strong, robust

* Forwarder & Energy grapples

* 4 to 9 tine energy grapples

* Excavator mounted grapples optional with fixed rotator

* 0.15 to 100 grapples

* Removable demolition jaws available for 7 tine model

* Strong, reliable with a lot of innovative ideas

* Large diameter band driving wheels 850 mm

* Main electric motor 22 Kw

* High quality band lubrication and cleaning systems

* Patented log clamp turners and chain turning system

* High quality board clamping system

* Joystick system for turning the log

* Strong log lifting system

* Reinforced frames

* Mobile and static sawmills available

* Operator cabins available

* Strong, reliable, eco friendly on the ground

* Tipping bodies available

* Versatile

* Compatible with different vehicles

* Easy operation & service

* Fully adjustable chassis

* Power pack available

* PTO, electric & self powered engine unit available

* Cutting diameter 450 mm

* Cuts bent wood easily

* Unrivalled control system, simple and effective

* High outputs

* Slewing out-feed conveyor

* Extra cleaning chute can be added to the out-feed conveyor

* Sawdust extractor available

* Easy maintenance

MERLO

Merlo will highlight a range of innovative machinery at this years show. At the heart of the stand will be Merlo’s innovative tool-carrying tractor, a couple of versatile tracked carriers, each equipped with a variety of attachments, and a unique telescopic handler boasting a 3-point linkage, PTO, and pickup hitch. Attendees can also expect to see the class-leading ROTO model, which offers an impressive lift height of thirtyfive meters which sets a new standard in the industry.

Although better known for its telehandler range across the agricultural and construction industries, Merlo offers a diverse and wide range of machines for many industries, including forestry. Each Merlo machine boasts unique features and combines functionality with comfort, safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Visitors can expect to see Merlo’s ROTO50.35 PLUS, capable of positioning loads within a 360-degree radius. At the APF show, it will be fitted with a GMT grapple saw for safe and efficient tree felling. With road speeds of up to 40 km/h and class-leading stability thanks to dynamic load monitoring, it is ideal for tree removal in urban locations. The Stage V 170 hp engine, 5-tonne capacity, and

lift height of up to 35m ensure exceptional performance. S PLUS models come with dual hydraulic pumps, a tilting cab, and automatic management of the multi-position stabilizers as standard.

Next up is the TreEmme X Series tool carrier tractor, designed for operators who need a multi-purpose, highperformance machine that can tackle demanding work with ease. Featuring a 6-cylinder Stage V engine that delivers 245 hp, hydrostatic transmission, with up to 285 l/min hydraulic output to power to the front attachment, such as a fixed tooth mulcher. An infinite range of travel speeds up to 40 km/h thanks to the Merlo manufactured hydrostatic transmission. Shod on 600/5526.5 Nokian T440 Forestry

Tyres, equipped with three steering modes and a low centre of gravity these specialist units can reach areas often inaccessible to conventional tractors. As you would expect from a robust machine, the MM250X is reinforced with robust hardened steel plating in the most exposed areas, and the cab is compliant with FOPS, ROPS, and OPS standards. It also features anti-shatter, ballistic-proof composite windows, making it clear why this permanent 4-wheel drive tool carrier tractor is primarily used in forestry and forest maintenance. Merlo will present the TreEmme MM250X fitted with an FAE forestry mulcher at the APF, this combination is often used for creating firebreaks and buffer zones for high-voltage power lines and gas pipelines. However, many other

three-point linkage attachments are available, offering countless rugged applications in the toughest environments.

Initially, Merlo developed the MF telescopic handler range for the agricultural market to meet the demand for an

and a load capacity of 4,400 kg. It is equipped with load-sensing and flow-sharing hydraulics along with continuous variable transmission. Cab suspension ensures high operator comfort.

Completing the Merlo lineup will be the innovative and versatile CINGO M12.3EVO multifunction tracked tool carrier. The M12.3EVO is equipped with a powerful twenty-one hp diesel engine and durable rubber tracks for increased mobility and stability, allowing it

Petr at the KWF exhibition in June he was considering trying to arrange some demonstrations so that people could see the advantages that these machines offer.

Novotný are actively looking for a UK distributer, so if you are interested and have the background and technical

STIHL

STIHL will showcase a range of its new products at this years’ APF Exhibition, including the new MS 400.1

completely re-developed, building on the strengths of the original MS 400 and taking it to the next level.

The MS 400.1 weighs in at just 5.5 kg, 300 g less than the MS 400, offering professionals the best power-to-weight ratio of any professional petrol chainsaw on the market. With an impressive power output of 3.9kW, the MS 400.1 is optimised for long days in the forest, felling

The RCU75 is a compact, powerful FAE tracked carrier that shreds branches and wood pieces,

CARRIER

AI AND WILDFIRE DETECTION

By Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and Co-Founder, Dryad Networks

Finding ways to detect and tackle wildfires is incredibly important. Trees play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide, arguably making them the most effective force to halt or reverse climate change effects. Wildfires not only undo all the hard work of planting and growing forests but also release huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As CO2 is released, temperatures rise, and the risk and frequency of wildfires grow.

Billions of dollars a year are spent on fighting wildfires, protecting the trees, natural habitats, infrastructure and, of course, people. By utilising AI to enhance wildfire detection, we can significantly lower wildfire risks by enabling us to detect and extinguish them in their early stages, before they have a chance to spread out of control. By reducing reaction time, we can not only mitigate the risk, but also save costs: extinguishing a small fire requires dramatically less resources than trying to contain a megafire.

TACKLING WILDFIRES WITH TECHNOLOGY

If we want to counter the growing threat of wildfires with

the help of technology, we need to look at different aspects of interacting with wildfires. First, predicting where wildfires will occur can help to position response resources and raise awareness of the increased risk.

Second, when a firestart occurs, alert the fire fighters as soon as possible so that the chance of extinguishing the fire before it spreads out of control is increased. Lastly, using technology, we could aim to improve efficiency or one day even automate the response to wildfires.

PREDICTING WILDFIRES WITH THE HELP OF AI

Although predicting the exact start location of a wildfire is challenging, calculating the risk can help us achieve reasonable prediction accuracy. Currently, fire risk is determined predominantly based on weather information obtained from satellites and where available enhanced with data from local weather stations. Fire risk is then calculated on a rather coarse scale (e.g. with 1 km2 resolution) and published on news channels to alert the public of a heightened threat by wildfires.

More advanced calculations are based on VPD (vapour pressure deficit) which is the difference

between the amount of moisture that’s actually in the air and the amount of moisture that air could hold at saturation. From a wildfire perspective, consistently elevated VPD means that ecosystems can more easily ignite and spread fire, leading to the larger, higher-severity wildfires.

Calculating fire risk levels taking into account various sources of information (satellite, weather stations and potentially local sensors) and then mapping the risk on a fine-grained scale is a complex and tedious task which can be automated and enhanced in accuracy and resolution with the help of AI. Of course, adding more finegrained information such as soil and air moisture levels measured by sensors embedded in the forest would help to take into account the microclimate of the forest. In the future, we might be able to push this even further if we could find a technical solution for measuring the fuel moisture (grass and needles), rather than just the soil moisture.

HOW DOES AIENHANCED FIRE DETECTION WORK?

AI-based wildfire detection works by leveraging machine learning algorithms to analyse data from various sensors and

detect the presence of a fire. Unlike traditional methods of fire detection that rely on human observation, AI can process vast amounts of data and identify patterns that indicate the presence of a fire.

The machine learning models used for fire detection are trained on large datasets that include both

can be mistaken for smoke plumes from a large distance. Weather conditions, such as haze or fog, can also make it difficult for cameras to accurately identify smoke, and the time of day, particularly dawn, dusk, and night-time, can affect the visibility of smoke in images.

By continuing to improve machine learning algorithms with more data, AI-enabled camera detection can reduce false positives and

HEALTH & SAFETY

sensors to detect wildfires.

Gas sensors are small wireless devices attached to trees throughout the forest that can ‘smell’ a fire, akin to a ‘digital nose’. Once smoke is detected, the device sends a signal across the network to alert the authorities. One of the main benefits of gas sensors is that they can be embedded in the forest and can detect fires below the canopy layer while the fire is still in its infancy, allowing for quicker and more effective response and enabling fire fighters to extinguish a fire before it spreads out of control.

However, the sensor-based approach to detecting wildfires also comes with its own set of challenges. To accurately ‘smell’ smoke, the devices are using machine learning (AI) models trained with data from fires and

clean air taken from the forest environment. The challenge involves training the models to distinguish between the ‘smell’ of a fire and other ambient gases. For example, the smell of a forest can vary depending on factors such as the type of trees present, the time of day, and even the season. Collecting a broad variety of data to provide a reliable machine learning model can be a tedious challenge. Yet, by incorporating these variables into the training process, the AI models can become more resilient to false positives and more accurate in detecting actual fires. They can even be trained for a specific forest.

To train the machine learning models, researchers create artificial environments in which they burn materials from target forests. The smoke generated

from these controlled burns is then fed to machine learning models to teach them what a fire actually ‘smells’ like. This process is repeated hundreds of times to improve the accuracy of the models. The more diverse the training data, the better the AI becomes at distinguishing between real fires and false positives.

For example, at Dryad, we constantly feed the model data about the natural, nonfire smells of a forest as well as the smell of smoke from a burning forest from our live site in Eberswalde, near Berlin. We also collect data from our many live sites across the world where the sensors are installed. All of this data is then compiled and used to constantly improve the models before pushing out an updated version to the devices, ensuring that they are always equipped with the latest

The image above shows a recent live alert from a detected forest fire in Lebanon. sensors began detecting small amounts of smoke in the air (10:03 on the graph) in machine learning algorithms. Initially, the AI classified the gas air, before crossing the confidence threshold at 10:33am (50% smoke and

Another approach to wildfire detection is the use of satellites. Satellites have and can use cameras and infrared sensors to detect hotspots and wildfires

hours for a given spot on earth. This can be mitigated by launching hundreds of satellites to get to frequent revisit times, but that would be quite costly given the relatively short lifespan of low orbiting satellites.

What satellites excel at, however, is being able to predict the development and spread of wildfires by considering various factors such as terrain, wind direction, and speed. AI and machine learning can be an immense help in predicting the development of wildfires by taking into account huge amounts of data to quickly build accurate models. This information can be passed along to fire-fighting and evacuation teams on the ground to help them coordinate efforts.

COMBINING AIENHANCED DETECTION METHODS

There is no silver-bullet for containing the increasing threat of wildfires with technology. Each technical approach presents its own advantages and disadvantages. However, by combining and integrating the information from various detection methods, the advantages of one approach can cancel out the disadvantages of another. AI is a common theme across all solutions and will be able to help coordinate response efforts in real time. For example, the data from gas sensors, cameras, and satellite imagery could be analysed together to provide a

comprehensive view of the wildfire. We would know where the fire started, its estimated size, and its likely path and spread.

This integrated approach would allow for better coordination between emergency services and help ensure that resources are deployed effectively to combat wildfires.

Looking further into the future, AI could even be used to augment fire-fighting response with autonomous drones. With an integrated AI detection approach, autonomous drones could be dispatched to quickly respond to extinguish small wildfires based on alerts from gas sensors or cameras to help tackle fires before they develop into larger blazes. This would not only help to further reduce the time it takes to contain and extinguish wildfires but could revolutionise response to wildfire incidents.

This isn’t a vision for the distant future, but one that several teams are already working together to create. The XPRIZE Wildfire global challenge, for example, is incentivising the development of an autonomous approach that can accurately detect and extinguish fires in a 1000 km2 area within 10 minutes.

Achieving this goal is likely to require an integrated approach using all the tools at our disposal along with well-trained, highly accurate machine

learning models and AI control.

AI and machine learning are already playing a crucial role in improving wildfire detection and prevention. By leveraging AI, combined wildfire detection systems can analyse data from gas sensors, cameras, and/ or satellites to identify the presence of smoke or fire. This early detection allows for prompt action to be taken, reducing the risk of wildfires spreading out of control.

Additionally, the integration of different detection methods along with autonomous firefighting drones could usher in a new future of wildfire defence. With continued advancements in AI technology, we can hope to better protect our forests, environment, and communities from the devastating impacts of wildfires.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carsten Brinkschulte is CEO and co-founder of Dryad Networks. Dryad provides ultra-early detection of wildfires as well as health and growth-monitoring of forests using solar-powered gas sensors in a large-scale IoT sensor network. Dryad aims to reduce unwanted wildfires, which cause up to 20% of global CO2 emissions and have a devastating impact on biodiversity. By 2030, Dryad aims to prevent 3.9m hectares of forest from burning, preventing 1.7bn tonnes of CO2 emissions.

www.dryad.net

HOW TO BEAT DIVERSE WEATHER

CONDITIONS WITH ELECTRIC FREIGHT

The effect of temperature on battery performance

leveraged to optimize current transport networks and strategically plan the deployment of additional ones.

unusually long period of extreme winter conditions, with -25°C (-13°F), snow, and icy roads, disrupting traffic and making headlines. Einride experienced these conditions firsthand with its operations with PostNord in the region, where six electric trucks operate around the clock. Despite the effects of lower temperatures, disruptions in operations were kept at a minimum, thanks to strategic measures. On top of that, operations around the clock ensured that the trucks were either on the road or charging, preventing energy loss from idling in the cold while maximizing truck utilization.

OPERATING IN EXTREME HEAT

The range of battery-electric trucks is also affected by very high temperatures, however not to the same extent as in extreme cold. High temperatures accelerate the ions in batteries, impacting their long-term health. To manage this, the battery thermal management system consumes energy to cool the battery. Another factor impacting the state of charge is the usage of air conditioning, especially in heavy traffic conditions in high heat. When temperatures reach 35°C (95°F) and the air conditioning is going at full speed, the driving range of electric vehicles can decrease by up to 17%. Chargers are also affected by high temperatures, with their efficiency being slightly reduced during periods of temperatures above 27°C

(80°F), which could lead to battery degradation when charging in these conditions.

By the end of 2024, Einride, in partnership with DP World, will operate a fleet of electric trucks for inter-terminal container flows at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where summer temperatures can reach 50°C (120°F). So, when developing the operational plan for DP World, calculations were done based on a worstcase scenario with the highest possible energy consumption to ensure readiness for the summer peaks while performing more efficiently during cooler months.

“The United Arab Emirates is a new market for us, and with temperatures around 50°C, plus the added heat absorption from asphalt, we will be operating in extremely warm conditions for part of the year. This presents a new challenge, but by collaborating with our selected suppliers – who have already tested these vehicles in such harsh conditions – and by leveraging our experience from other warm regions, such as the southern United States, we can adequately prepare for these high temperatures ahead of the deployment,” says Iman Zaghw, VP Region Middle East.

Using its four-year experience of insights operating fully-electric heavy-duty vehicles supported by an AI-based digital freight platform, Einride will ensure efficient operation in these

extreme conditions. By analyzing historical data and predicting conditions in Dubai throughout the year, Einride has implemented several measures in collaboration with partners. For example, the trucks’ cooling system has been modified to suit the local climate, and the chargers will be equipped with shading and additional cooling to enhance energy efficiency.

With operations running 24/7 and covering relatively short distances, there will be no additional downtime for charging during shifts. Instead, trucks will be topped up during driver breaks and shift changes.

OPERATING IN DIVERSE CONDITIONS

Operating electric fleets across large countries such as the United States requires navigating diverse conditions ranging from extreme cold to intense heat and from humid coastal areas to arid deserts. Einride operates fleets across nine states, from California’s west coast to New Jersey on the east coast and from Georgia in the south to Washington in the north. This requires adaptive strategies for planning, deploying and managing operations.

Across several states in the US, heat waves and summer peaks pose a risk of charging infrastructure halting electric operations due to high temperatures reaching up to 40°C (105°F). Einride has encountered these high

temperatures in Louisville, Kentucky, and Crandall and Savannah, Georgia, where it has operations with GE Appliances and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. Additionally, the Einride Smartcharger Station in Lynwood, California, also

model designed to calculate the energy usage of trucks during operations.

The model draws on data from truck manufacturers and historical data from Einride’s operations and considers multiple factors such as cargo weight, temperature, topography and road conditions, with temperature being identified as the second most significant factor