Forest Machine Magazine October 2021 by forestmachinemagazine

FOREST MACHINE MAGAZINE CUTTINGS FROM THE FOREST FLOOR DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR OCTOBER 2021 + ISSUE 31

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WELCOME RAB EASTON Editor

t’s been another eventful two months here at FMM HQ. I have barely had time to compile this issue as I have been ‘toot, toot, flat oot’ writing risk assessments. Who would have believed that the office could be such a dangerous place! Wendy went down to her parents for a few days leaving me in charge, which as it turns out was not one of her best ideas. I had all the important instructions written down, for instance how to switch on the lights when it gets dark and how to phone for takeaways, and all was going swimmingly. However, the day after Wendy left I was looking for some notebooks and remembered that she had some in her office upstairs. I started looking but soon got distracted; it’s not often the opportunity presents itself to have a good snoop around in there without supervision. I spotted some torches on the bottom shelves of the unit next to the computer desk and leaned forward on the chair to take a closer look. This is when the carnage started! As I leaned forward, the computer chair tipped forward slightly on its wheels. The wooden office floor offered no friction whatsoever, causing the chair to shoot out backwards from underneath me. I was levitating in fresh air with the chair two metres behind me; the next thing I knew, I was falling backwards grasping at fresh air to try and save myself. Wallop! My elbow was the first point of contact with the floor, my torso and the back of my head a close second. There was a slight pause before the avalanche started as I had managed to grab a keyboard cable that was plugged into the new computer box. The computer landed on me first followed closely by the franking machine and keyboard. The hard drive bounced off my napper and I now know how they got their name as it bloody well hurt. A few more pens, a calculator and a stapler followed, and then there was total silence. I managed to scramble up, which wasn’t easy as I was entirely buried, trying not to cause any more carnage. I put things back into order as best I could, praying that my elbow would heal and the lumps on the back and front of my head would be gone before Wendy got home so I didn’t have to confess. She got back a couple of days later and after being in her office for about five seconds shouted for me in that voice that I knew meant I was in deep shit. Luckily my belly saved the computer; unfortunately, however, my head was more solid than the hard drive which evidently stores vast amounts of important magazine information. The keyboard didn’t make it and most of the various cables and gizmos that were plugged into the USB ports will need replacing or repairing. Seems to me the forest is a far safer place to work! October 2021

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FOREST

MACHINE MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY LOGGERS FOR LOGGERS

CONTENTS 3

News

Keep up to date with the latest industry news.

Planting must be increased to meet timber demands.

We talk to leading forestry finance companies.

Glen Barclay looks back over the history of Norcar forestry equipment.

5 Establishment

7 future Investing

2 Justin Nyakudanga

How civil unrest affected South African forestry.

7 BBQ Time

Local charcoal manufacturer Wallis Weir utilises hardwood offcuts.

PONSSE examines the advantages of tethered logging equipment on steep ground

7 CM Labs

New forestry training pack for equipment operators.

2 Young Loggers

Some fun and puzzles to keep the next generation entertained.

4 Caravan Cookbook

A simple and tasty recipe to cook in under 20 mins.

5 Classified

Page 4

FIND US ON

New Kesla Dealer for Scotland

#homeoflogging

All the latest used equipment for sale. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

October 2021

THIS MONTHS GUEST WRITERS

A powerful range of all electrical British ATVs.

Justin Nyakudanga

The Tesla Cybertruck has the capabilities to challenge all of the top-selling pickup trucks.

Glen Barclay

Wallis Weir

Spindle wedge trials in the Lake District.

ABA International: A non profit, international education and certification body.

October 2021

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NEWS

HAVE YOUR SAY Each issue going forward we speak anonymously to people within the industry for their gripes on current forestry topics

ogging has a bad reputation, all logging including well managed sustainable logging.

The list is endless and everyday more headlines capture the nation’s attention and keeps the public misinformed.

How can this be when our future is made out of trees wood is a natural renewable material with endless resources. Renewable material from responsibly managed forests become building systems, furniture, paper pulp, textile pulp, fuel, energy, food and much more. It’s a low carbon alternative to the likes of plastic, concrete and steel and more energy efficient and every part of a tree can be used.

These people are not loggers they are profiteers, so why are responsible loggers who carry out well managed sustainable logging tarred with the same brush?

Sustainable logging is carried out and promoted throughout the world but for some reason it is the illegal logging and deforestation that catches the public’s eye and blindsides the public’s image of forestry. We have all seen the headlines in the media which paint a bleak picture:• •

•

Official data confirms Amazon deforestation still soaring. Ikea has for years sold children’s furniture made from wood linked to vast illegal logging in protected forests in Russia. Clearing and burning tropical hardwoods to construct illegal roads.

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I recently saw an interview with Hollywood movie star Denzel Washington. When questioned about a falsehood published in a newspaper about him this is what he said “If you don’t read the papers or watch the news you are misinformed and if you do you are ill-informed.” He rightly stated “Media companies have to be first and it doesn’t even have to be true anymore, they don’t care who they hurt or destroy. Just say it and sell it.” I think the same can be said for many of the large corporations and manufacturers around today. In 2020 Persil re-launched its liquid detergent with changes to its packaging and formulation to significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products. The new products are made with 50% post-consumer recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable with the plastic dosing ball previously provided with every bottle now removed. This launch is the first www.forestmachinemagazine.com

innovation in the UK as part of Unilever’s new “Clean Future” commitment to lower the carbon footprint of their cleaning and laundry products. Unilever has pledged to transition to more sustainable sources of carbon in line with its 2039 net-zero commitment. The way I see it, Persil or Unilever’s answer to “Be kinder to our planet” is to move the focus away from them so the public have someone else to hold responsible. Showing TV adverts with a Tigercat feller-buncher cutting a tree with the voice over stating “rainforests were destroyed by” and hinting that he is single handily responsible for the destruction of the rain forests and causing climate change. It looks to me like it is someone doing a pretty good job of thinning a young plantation. Adverts like this moves attention to logging so that the public forget that Unilever are one of the many offending companies who have for years supplied plastic bottles that have ended up in our rivers and oceans. This has to be one of the best cases of pot, kettle, black I have ever come across. When companies use words like clean future and lowering our carbon footprint they inspire the public into thinking that October 2021

changes are happening. Last century when plastic bags first arrived they were being hailed as the answer to saving the planet, just how wrong did they get that one. As a logging contractor this might sound a bit biased but wood is a beautiful, durable, renewable material which is 100% reusable, recyclable and recoverable. The cellular structure makes it an excellent thermal insulator avoiding sudden changes of temperature which reduces the need of heating and cooling. Wood is the only material that reduces CO² emissions, captures and stores carbon and plays an important role in slowing down climate change. Timber needs less energy in its manufacturing process, so has an environmental impact lower than other materials in their life service cycle. It is a nontoxic material and forests are incredible and priceless habitats for wildlife, including many endangered species. Demand for sustainable timber means more demand for well managed sustainable forests – meaning more forest habitat for the vast number of species that call them home. Researchers from Yale University say that “because different types of forested landscape – like savannah, woodland clearings, under-storey, dense forest and complex multistorey forest – support different species, all these types should be encouraged for optimum biodiversity. Although necessary for many species, dense forest is actually not the most bio October 2021

diverse type. The researchers argue that sustainably-managed forests could potentially be better for wildlife than leaving tiny pockets of fragmented forest undisturbed – by ensuring a balance of landscape types and linking them with wildlife corridors – while using the ‘thinning’ process to produce timber products. Most forests are not currently managed in this way, but the potential is there. Sustainably managed forests meet the needs of wildlife while supporting livelihoods and providing many other ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and flood risk mitigation. Forests are so important for so many reasons that they should not be overexploited, poorly managed or left unattended to the detriment of any of these finelybalanced interests. The benefits of well managed woodlands are endless and it is distressing for responsible skilled loggers who care about the environment and future generations to be labelled alongside illegal tree cutting and deforestation. As a child I was brought up to admit when I did something wrong, I got punished but it was over and done with and we all moved on. Blaming someone else or creating a smokescreen to hide the truth meant the punishment was far more severe when you were finally found out. Anon - The views, thought or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Forest Machine Magazine. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Close-up of wood panel to be sent to ISS’ Kibo platform.

SPACE: THE WOODEN FRONTIER KyotoU to test slats of wood aboard Japan’s Kibo platform on the ISS

umans have relied on forests and trees -- for shelter, food, and fuel -- from the earliest times. As technology has advanced, timber has been utilized for buildings, ships, and railroads. And now we may be on the verge of taking wood into space. Why wood? Building in space with futuristic, ‘space-age’ materials might seem to be the obvious choice: lumber’s fragility and combustibility might seem counter-intuitive by comparison. Therein lies the rationale for wood: as a natural, economical, carbon-based material, its production is considerably more sustainable than advanced alternatives, and its disposal -especially when dropped from orbit into the upper atmosphere -- is complete and without Page 7

NEWS harmful by-products. Moreover, earlier investigations -- in earth-bound labs -- have demonstrated wood’s surprising ability to withstand a wide range of temperatures, from -150 to 150 degrees Celsius. Simulated near-vacuum conditions also resulted in negligible structural deterioration of the wood. But the next step is to go beyond: to actually take wood into space. “Wood’s ability to withstand simulated low earth orbit -- or LEO -- conditions astounded us,” explains Koji Murata, head of the space-wood research effort and member of the Biomaterials Design Lab at Kyoto University’s graduate school of agriculture.

“We now want to see if we can accurately estimate the effects of the harsh LEO environment on organic materials.” To accomplish this, Murata’s team, including corporate partner Sumitomo Forestry and Japanese space agency JAXA, plans to send a selection of wooden samples from various plant species to the exposed experiment platform of the Kibo module on the International Space Station. A frame holding the samples will be ferried to the station by the end of 2021 and then returned to earth for detailed analysis six months later. “We particularly want to measure the degree of erosion

NEW CHAINSAW BOOTS FROM PREIBS

he new Preibs Lupriflex 3-640 Class 3 Sportive Hunter Chainsaw Boots are light and comfortable with a sporty design. These boots have a steel toe cap, puncture resistant mid-sole and double density profiled slip resistant soles. Class 3 offers the highest protection against a chain speed of 28meters/ second. The upper material is water

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resulting from atomic oxygen collisions with the fibrous material,” continues Murata, referring to the fact that LEO is characterized by the presence of free oxygen atoms traveling at high velocity, which over time can cause damage to exposed surfaces. “We also want to see the effects of cosmic rays and the vacuum of space on the mechanical properties of wood.” The results of the experiment are anticipated to provide clues for developing technology to protect wooden materials exposed in LEO, as part of a larger KyotoU effort -- dubbed “LignoStella” -- to launch a wooden satellite -- “LignoSat” -in 2023. www.kyoto-u.ac.jp

CHRISTMAS AT BEDGEBURY: ENJOY CONIFERS IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT

repellent breathable suede with a padded leather tongue and leather lining in the front area. A padded synthetic collar and anatomically shaped removable insoles gives you the ultimate German Engineered footwear which keeps you protected and comfortable throughout the working day. Available in sizes 39-48 with a 12 comfort width Price €120.70 + vat www.lupriflex.com

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edgebury Pinetum’s impressive conifer collection will once again be awash with enchanting illuminations! The one-mile, after-dark trail will be full of seasonal surprises, shimmering reflections and beautiful silhouettes of majestic trees, all choreographed to a soundtrack of festive classics. Book now to see Bedgebury’s trees in a whole new light on selected evenings from Friday 19 November. christmasatbedgebury.co.uk

October 2021

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NEWS total of nine PONSSE machines. “We are happy to receive this excellent machine and its plaque. Our current plan is to put the birthday boy to work in Posio or Ranua. It will be a fine addition to our fleet,” says Tomi Kuusela, managing director of Kuusmoto Oy.

PONSSE MANUFACTURES ITS 17,000TH FOREST MACHINE

he 17,000th PONSSE forest machine has rolled off the production line in Vieremä. The milestone machine, a PONSSE Elk built in mid-August, will start its career in the sure hands of Kuusmoto Oy. “It is a special privilege to hand over the 17,000th PONSSE machine to the Finnish Kuusmoto Oy. I wish to thank Kuusmoto for their trust and

fantastic cooperation as we continue our journey together,” says Sales, Service and Marketing Director Marko Mattila. Founded in 2014 and hailing from Posio in Finland, Kuusmoto Oy currently employs 17 people. They operate in seven municipalities in Finnish Lapland. The company has a

PONSSE ELK – COMPACT AND AGILE The PONSSE Elk is a smaller mid-size machine, a highly versatile size class. The Elk is an excellent choice when you need an economical but powerful workhorse for thinning-oriented harvesting. Its compact design makes the Elk very agile, while its components, shared with larger machines, make it a powerful and durable tool with a first-rate load carrying capacity. The responsive engine, impressive torque and sturdy loader make working comfortable, especially when the operator can enjoy the most spacious cabin on the market, including ergonomic controls. Introduced into production in 2005, Ponsse has manufactured

STORA ENSO JOINS THE EUROPEAN BUILD-IN-WOOD PROJECT

uild-in-Wood is an EU funded project improving the sustainability of European construction. It strives to make wood a natural choice for the construction of multistorey buildings. Timber is such an attractive material because it has a low carbon footprint, uses little energy and water and is 100% renewable from

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sustainably managed forests. The ambition of the Buildin-Wood project is to make optimised and cost effective wood construction methods common practice in the European construction sector. The project will address this challenge through innovative development of materials

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and components as well as structural systems and façade elements for multi-storey wood buildings fit for both new construction and retrofitting. The project consortium includes over twenty key European and international players from the entire building industry value chain. “For Stora Enso, joining

October 2021

a total of 947 PONSSE Elk forwarders and delivered them to over 20 countries. MILESTONE MACHINE COMPLETED IN CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES Ponsse’s 17,000th forest machine was built to completion at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, plagued by global challenges in component availability and delivery. The company’s operations and growth have continued with success in spite of the exceptional circumstances. The Ponsse way has always been to work together, which is a great boon in difficult times and operating environments. Starting as the dream of Einari Vidgrén, Ponsse is a familyowned business that now operates in the harvesting markets of over 40 countries. All PONSSE forest machines are still made in Vieremä in Finland. Environmentally friendly harvesting and customer-driven R&D are strongly emphasised in PONSSE’s business. www.ponsse.com the consortium benefits our brand, potentially generates new leads, and we can also ensure the alignment to our own product portfolio,” says Johanna Kairi, Business Development Manager in Wood Products. “There are so-called early adopter cities that closely collaborate with the consortium to intensify the use of wood both in urban core and the surrounding municipalities. They have defined their challenges when it comes to building in wood, and the project will October 2021

support to overcome them,” Johanna continues. The early adopter cities include Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Innsbruck in Austria, and Trondheim in Norway, among others. Based on EU funding, the project started in 2019 and it will close in the autumn of 2023. The project is coordinated by the Danish Technological Institute. www.build-in-wood.eu SIDE FACT Finland’s tallest wooden building, Joensuu Lighthouse www.forestmachinemagazine.com

is 50m high and offers 117 student flats over 14 storeys. The Joensuu lighthouse is made entirely of wood provided by Stora Enso. For the entire building, including the lift shafts, 2,000 m³ of timber were used, sequestering roughly 2,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. All wooden building material for the Joensuu building were transported with less than 50 trucks. Had concrete been used instead, the amount of truckloads would have been ~270. www.storoenso.com Page 11

NEWS

Top Left: The first steel produced using HYBRIT technology Top Right: A piece of the future - The first object from a piece of the world’s first fossil-free steel.

THE WORLD’S FIRST FOSSIL-FREE STEEL READY FOR DELIVERY

SAB has now produced the world’s first fossil-free steel and delivered it to a customer. The trial delivery is an important step on the way to a completely fossil-free value chain for iron and steel-making and a milestone in the HYBRIT partnership between SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall. In July, SSAB Oxelösund rolled the first steel produced using HYBRIT technology, i.e., reduced by 100% fossil-free hydrogen instead of coal and coke, with good results. The steel is now being delivered to the first customer, the Volvo Group. “The first fossil-free steel in the world is not only a breakthrough for SSAB, it represents proof that it’s possible to make the transition and significantly reduce the global carbon footprint of the steel industry. We hope that this will inspire Page 12

others to also want to speed up the green transition,” says Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO of SSAB. “Industry and especially the steel industry create large emissions but are also an important part of the solution. To drive the transition and become the world’s first fossilfree welfare state, collaboration between business, universities and the public sector is crucial. The work done by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall within the framework of HYBRIT drives the development of the entire industry and is an international model”, says Minister of Trade and Industry of Sweden Ibrahim Baylan. “It’s a crucial milestone and an important step towards creating a completely fossil-free value chain from mine to finished steel. We’ve now shown www.forestmachinemagazine.com

together that it’s possible, and the journey continues. By industrializing this technology in the future and making the transition to the production of sponge iron on an industrial scale, we will enable the steel industry to make the transition. This is the greatest thing we can do together for the climate,” says Jan Moström, President and CEO of LKAB. “It’s very pleasing that the HYBRIT partnership is once more taking an important step forward and that SSAB can now produce the first fossil-free steel and deliver to the customer. This shows how partnerships and collaboration can contribute to reducing emissions and building competitiveness for industries. Electrification is contributing to making fossil-free living possible within one generation,” says Anna Borg, President and CEO of Vattenfall. October 2021

SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall created HYBRIT, Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology, in 2016, with the aim of developing a technology for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking. In June 2021, the three companies were able to showcase the world’s first hydrogen-reduced sponge iron produced at HYBRIT’s pilot plant in Luleå. This first sponge iron has since been used to produce the first steel made with this breakthrough technology.

climate-neutral company by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. This means that our vehicles and machines will be emission-free when in operation but also that we will review the materials, like steel, used in our products and will gradually switch to fossil-free alternatives here as well. This is an important step on the road to completely climateneutral transports,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO at Volvo Group.

The goal is to deliver fossilfree steel to the market and demonstrate the technology on an industrial scale as early as 2026. Using HYBRIT technology, SSAB has the potential to reduce Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions by approximately ten per cent and Finland’s by approximately seven per cent.

Volvo plans this year to start the production of concept vehicles. Plans for smaller-scale serial production will be made during 2022 and a gradual escalation towards mass production will follow. Volvo and SSAB will also work together in research and development to optimize the use of steel in Volvo’s products with regard to weight and quality. Together, the two companies will develop a number of products of fossilfree steel with the goal of reaching serial production within a few years.

“We’ll be converting to electric arc furnace in Oxelösund as early as 2025. This is the first production site within SSAB to make the transition, and it means that we’ll already be cutting large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions then. This is a major responsibility, one that we’re proud to shoulder, and it brings great opportunities to the region,” says Johnny Sjöström, Head of SSAB Special Steels Division. VOLVO GROUP Volvo Group and SSAB signed a collaboration agreement back in April on research, development, serial production and commercialization of the world’s first vehicles to be made of fossil-free steel. “We are determined to be a October 2021

SSAB aims to start supplying the market with fossil-free steel at a commercial scale in 2026. Development of a fossilfree value chain from mine to finished steel products will take place within the framework of the HYBRIT initiative, which SSAB has been driving with LKAB and Vattenfall since 2016. A pilot plant has been in place since August 2020 and this will soon start to produce smaller volumes of sponge iron made using hydrogen. This steel will be used to make the steel for use in this collaboration. www.ssab.com www.forestmachinemagazine.com

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Crewe, the largest purchasers of round hardwood timber in Britain. The company purchase both standing and felled hardwoods and softwoods, and Willie is employed to fell and extract many of their standing timber sites. This site predominantly consisted of mature Oak and the trees to be removed had to be felled and extracted without damaging the remaining crop.

W&V LAING TIMBER CONTRACTORS A CUT ABOVE

ooking back, one of the favourite parts of my forestry career was felling big trees. This will probably piss off the tree huggers and snowflakes big time, but, hey ho, who cares about their uneducated opinions. If these people actually read a dictionary and found out what the word sustainability means, then they might learn something “Regardless of the regarding forestry weather conditions or the and how it works. size of the tree, we accept Perhaps if these the challenge. There’s idiots would stop not many people can say shouting about they see the countryside deforestation and like we do…up above the listen for a change, treetops” Willie Laing they might find that commercial forests all over the world are in effect largely increasing in size year on year rather than decreasing.

Willie was working along with two others – Tommy Garrow, who alternates between his own tree surgery work and working with Willie, and Willie Carrie (or Willie C to prevent any confusion). Willie also has one other employee – Jimmy Garrow (Tommy’s father) – who works full-time operating a Komatsu 875 forwarder extracting behind a harvester. The trees were reasonably close to the forest road we had to

FOREST MACHINE MAGAZINE CUTTINGS FROM THE FOREST FLOOR DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR OCTOBER 2020 + ISSUE 25 + ISSN 2398-8568

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Indeed, rather than destroying it, sustainable forestry is helping to heal our planet and improve air quality. The big trees I have felled over my career have either been commercially grown softwoods for the timber products they yield or individual trees that have been deemed a hazard by local authorities.

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Contractors are one of the few tree specialists that have the necessary equipment for felling and extracting large and awkward trees. I was thrilled when Willie phoned to let me know he was starting a mature oak thinning near Perth using his Tigercat 615E grapple skidder and his Komatsu 895 forwarder. I was looking forward to seeing Willie and his team and I had been assured I would get to try out both machines for myself. Willie was working on a private estate with approximately 70 large trees that required felling and extracting. The branches and crooked timber were to be cut into 3m lengths for firewood, while the straight stems would be used for sawn timber, beams or veneer. This site was being worked for Chantler Timber from

Willie felling a nice Oak tree.

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NEWS

SIXTH STRAIGHT STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® WIN FOR ELGAN PUGH

lgan Pugh continued his dominant STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® winning streak by being crowned the best logger sports athlete in the country for the sixth consecutive time at the 2021 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship. Live streamed from the Telford International Centre, extreme sports fans got to see up close the top 11 TIMBERSPORTS® athletes from all over Great Britain compete in a head-tohead race against time across six disciplines. Using an axe, crosscut saw and chainsaw, competitors are awarded maximum points for the fastest time in each discipline; Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Standing Block Chop, Springboard and Hot Saw. The fast-paced action saw the athletes set 29 personal best times to the delight of the large online audience. Elgan claimed top spot with a consistent performance across all disciplines, with Glen Penlington Page 14

taking the second spot on the podium for the first time. An ecstatic Tom Redmond took third place in his first professional TIMBERSPORTS® event. In a change of format for this year, live stream viewers also had the added bonus of watching the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Rookie Championship, which saw the top eight rookie lumberjacks battle it out for the crown. With 24 personal best times and one national record set, the competition was a great spectacle, with Jordan Muscato being crowned the overall winner. Simon Hewitt, Head of Marketing at STIHL GB, said: “After a one-year hiatus, it was great to have STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® action back and all the athletes, both professional and rookie, put on a great show, showcasing their talent and highlighting why they are competing at the highest level. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

“We’re delighted for Elgan and Jordan on their fantastic achievement. Elgan’s focus now turns to the World Trophy European Qualifier in Switzerland on Sunday 12th September where he and Glen Penlington will be aiming to qualify for the 2022 World Trophy.” Elgan said of his victory: “It was great to be back in action this year and to be crowned the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Champion for a sixth time is a feeling I don’t take for granted. I have trained hard to make sure I was competition ready and it’s great that it has paid off.” STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship - the six disciplines: • • • • • •

Springboard Stock Saw Standing Block Chop Single Buck Underhand Chop Hot Saw

blog.stihl.co.uk/timbersports/ October 2021

KESLA AT STRONGMAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

trongman Champions League (SCL) is a series of annual strongman competitions, with competitors hailing from all over the world. This year a WORLD’S STRONGEST TEAM 2021 -competition was held in Joensuu, Finland, from Saturday 31st of July to Sunday 1st of August. Kesla was present on both days and had the pleasure of sponsoring its own signature event at the competition. Kesla and SCL have worked together for years, with Kesla’s

machinery being used as a part of the competition. This year Kesla’s event was the Wheel Barrel, in which the competitors pushed a cart fitted with KESLA 18RH-II harvester heads. Each harvester head weights around 500 kilograms, with the metal cart adding another 300 kilograms into the mix. The Wheel Barrel was the opening event on Sunday. Kesla was also present at the sponsors’ area, with Kesla’s booth offering visitors snacks and Kesla-branded merchandise.

FORESTRY PARTS DIRECT

This year Kesla focused on showcasing its harvester heads, so the KESLA 27RH-II harvester head was displayed alongside the booth. The Strongman Champions League -competitions are televised and broadcast globally; Finnish viewers will be able to tune in later this year to see the competition on MTV3. Keep an eye on Kesla’s social media pages or SCL’s official Facebook page for the air date. www.kesla.com

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Page 15

NEWS

GREENWORX LOGS ON TO HARSH UNILIFT IT-RUNNER HOOKLIFT TRAILER FOR INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND CAPABILITY

eeding to make further investment into its vehicles, specialist arborists and forestry management business Greenworx opted to take a different route from purchasing multiple examples of conventional trailers, instead opting for the HARSH UniLift IT-Runner hookloader system. That was over a year ago, and the intervening months has proved the move to have been an unqualified success. “The obvious advantage is that the UniLift IT-Runner acts as the sole chassis for multiple body types” says Greenworx director Brett Skelton, “so we don’t have the unnecessary expense of having to buy complete new trailers. The system is very timeefficient too, as it’s much quicker to drop one body and pick up another than it is to disconnect and then re-connect all the electrics and hydraulics of the towing unit to various other

Page 16

trailers. The fact is that UniLift IT-Runner is a whole step ahead in terms of both purchasing economics and operating productivity.” Towed by a 300hp Unimog for complete on/off-road capability, the twin axle ITR16.21/6 trailer has an unladen weight of just 4,900kgs. This provides Greenworx with a comfortable 13 tonnes payload allowance, well within the trailer’s 16 tonnes lift capacity from its heavy duty twin rams. Purpose - designed to carry CHEM Type 20 Spec containers, UniLift IT-Runner’s notably rugged construction delivers real reliability and durability, especially when being used in off-road work. Reflecting the fact that UniLift is more of a system of operation rather than a single product, HARSH has also supplied Greenworx with the demountable bodies that the

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trailer carries. For forestry applications, these include a flatbed fitted with bolsters and crane for carrying tree trunks and logs, as well as a high capacity bin body for carrying large volumes of finished woodchip. Based in Darlington and now employing 17 people, Greenworx clients include everyone from households and private contractors to farmers and public utilities. “We’re always busy, and to cope with all the various jobs we do the ability to quickly change vehicle set-ups is a key factor for us” says Brett’s brother and codirector Ryan, adding “anything that speeds up our productivity, capability and efficiency is of obvious value. The HARSH UniLift IT-Runner does all of that, and we are particularly impressed that HARSH can also supply all the bodywork requirements we need as well.” www.harshuk.com

October 2021

NEWS

VISIONARY FOREST OWNERS SOUGHT TO JOIN TRAILBLAZING PILOT PROGRAM FOR ULTRA-EARLY WILDFIRE DETECTION

erlin/Eberswalde, Germany – September 7, 2021 – Startup Dryad Networks today announced a pilot program for its ultra-early wildfire detection IoT (Internet of Things) solution. The firm is looking to partner with up to ten forest owners to validate its solution at scale in areas of the world plagued by wildfires including the Americas, Europe, Indonesia and Australia. Forestry businesses interested in applying for the pilot program need to complete a short application form by 30 September. Selection criteria includes: a minimum potential deployment size of at least ten thousand hectares; a focus on sustainable forestry management practices; and a team willing to help deploy the sensors in forests, guided by Dryad’s experts. Forest managers involved in the six-month pilot program will

gain early access to this award-winning technology at a significant discount and in return will collaborate with the Dryad team to ensure that the solution provides the data they require to manage their estates and reliably detect fires. Dryad’s Silvanet solution provides public and private forest owners with an affordable and easy-to-deploy solution for tackling wildfires in under 60 minutes at the initial smouldering stage. The first of several pilots kicked off in Germany in August 2021 following the first live demonstration of the technology in action.

An impact tech startup, Dryad’s goal is to digitize the forest and help protect and regrow the world’s largest carbon sink. The firm aims to save one million hectares of forest from burning by 2030, avoiding 400m tonnes of CO2 emissions, and preventing substantial economic losses. Dryad is already making waves, having won the Energy & Environment Award in the 2021 Top Tier Impact (TTI) Global Impact Awards in August 2021, and being named as a finalist in Greenbackers’ 26 for COP 26 program, which connects startups with climate-focused investors.

Dryad has also established a channel program and is recruiting forestry industry resellers worldwide that have the required technical knowledge and a shared desire to help combat climate change by reducing the volume of

Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and co-founder of Dryad Networks, said: “The devastating impact on the climate and on forest owners’ bottom lines of the wildfires burning across the world from Canada and California to Turkey and Greece

CHANGING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR HOMES COULD HELP TO KEEP US COOLER. Page 18

wildfires.

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ollowing the current warm weather impacting the UK, Gareth Mason, Sales for homes could help to keep us cooler. “As temperatures remain hot across the UK, the temptation Director Western Europe, Stora Enso, comments on how changing construction materials

October 2021

#yourlifetimematch #yourlifetimematch

underlines the requirement for a new approach that detects wildfires at the smouldering stage before they wreak havoc. With the first pilot deployments of our Silvanet solution already underway, we are now scanning the globe for like-minded forestry estates to partner with us on a game-changing pilot program to digitize forests, help combat wildfires, and protect the natural world and forest owners’ revenues.” Wildfires are responsible for around 20% of annual global CO2 emissions. In California in 2018, wildfires caused $150 billion in economic damage, equivalent to 0.7 percent of the GDP of the USA.

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Contact your local dealer to find out more! Contact your local dealer to find out more! Mark Beach Forestry Engineer tel. +44 7502 Forestry 484198 Engineer Mark Beach www.markbeachforestry.co.uk tel. +44 7502 484198 Info@markbeachforestry.co.uk www.markbeachforestry.co.uk Info@markbeachforestry.co.uk

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for?

might be to reach for some air conditioning to help cool our homes and offices. But as climate change looks set to see us experience more extreme weather events, do we need a fundamental rethink of how we build our homes? What if a change in construction material from concrete to wood is the solution we’ve been searching

“Timber has many features which work well in a passivhaus or low energy design which is essentially providing a high level of occupant comfort with little energy required for heating and cooling. A great benefit of mass timber, but cross laminated timber in particular, comes from its low thermal conductivity (better insulation), hygroscopic behaviour (able to regulate

October 2021

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Dryad’s future plans include helping forest managers to optimize the health and growth of the forest, and improve productivity and profits using data-driven decision tools. This will entail adding third-party LoRaWAN-compatible sensors to Silvanet, enabling the system to collect and analyze data on soil moisture, tree growth and the surrounding microclimate.

ES N A R C R NES BE A M R I C T Z R E 2 22Z TIMB LA S E K W A NE SL 2 E K W E BLE! N

indoor moisture) and airtightness, which also help to keep a high level of thermal comfort. “We understand not all of our cooling concerns can be fixed with mass timber, but stripping our thinking back to the building blocks of our properties could be one key part of improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock.” www.storoenso.com

Page 19

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FOREST MACHINE MAGAZINE

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Page 21

ESTABLISHMENT

DRONESEED ACQUIRES LARGEST PRIVATE FORESTRY SEED SUPPLIER IN THE WESTERN U.S.

riven by Increasing Demand for Reforestation in the Face of Wildfires & Climate Change DroneSeed recently announced that it has acquired Silvaseed Company, a 130 year-old titan in the forestry seed collection and seedling supply business. The move expands DroneSeed’s reforestation services beyond aerial drone-based seeding to span seed collection, seedling cultivation in nurseries, and on-the-ground tree planting services. The acquisition comes at a critical time in the forestry industry, with skyrocketing demand for reforestation and many tree nurseries facing significant seed and seedling shortages. “With the compounding crises of climate change, wildfires and forest loss, accelerating the pace and scale of reforestation is essential,” said Grant Canary, CEO of DroneSeed. “By creating the industry’s first verticallyintegrated reforestation company, we now offer a ‘onePage 22

stop-shop’ of reforestation services for landowners and foresters: starting from seed supply, to aerial enhanced seeding, to seedling cultivation, to traditional replanting, and more. We’re thrilled to build on Silvaseed’s track record and are doubling capacity at Silvaseed to meet intensifying demand.” Tackling the national shortage of tree seed & seedlings is critical to mitigate the exponentially increasing loss of forests due to wildfire and climate change. Forests are naturally regenerating fewer acres as fires impact larger areas, burn hotter, and natural “seed banks” in the soil and treetops get torched. There aren’t enough seeds or nursery capacity to regrow the trees being lost each year -- the existing reforestation supply-chain evolved to boost regeneration in a minor percentage of fires, and now climate change fueled wildfire has increased demand many n times over and supply of seed and seedlings hasn’t increased. DroneSeed is eager to begin www.forestmachinemagazine.com

addressing this by building upon Silvaseed’s robust infrastructure and utilizing its aerial tech. “As we look to the future, we are pleased that DroneSeed will continue our work of reforesting the land we love in a way that is scalable and sustainable” said retiring former-owners and brothers David and Mike Gerdes of Silvaseed by email. “Transitioning our business to DroneSeed made sense from both a strategic and practical perspective. We are proud of the work we have collectively done to build lasting relationships with our customers for whom we have produced seed and grown a lot of seedlings over the years.” Matthew Aghai, DroneSeed’s Senior Director of Biological Research & Development, will serve as interim general manager of Silvaseed with support from industry veteran Arnoud de Villegas. The company will continue seed collection and seedling operations with the Silvaseed October 2021

name and brand. DroneSeed is not disclosing the value of the transaction and associated costs of doubling capacity, but it was supported in part through capital raised in DroneSeed’s recent Series A funding round. DroneSeed plans to announce the results of the funding round in the near term. ABOUT DRONESEED DroneSeed is scaling reforestation to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. DroneSeed offers vertically integrated reforestation services across seed collection and procurement, seedling growth, aerial enhanced seeding with drones, traditional replanting on the ground, and funding for reforestation projects from carbon credits. Based in Washington State, DroneSeed was founded in 2016. DroneSeed customers include non-profits such as The Nature Conservancy, three of the five largest timber companies, tribal nations, and government agencies. DroneSeed is the first and only company approved by the FAA to operate heavy-lift drone swarms to reforest land. DroneSeed’s novel technology enables up to five aircraft to be managed by a single pilot using a computer, with each aircraft carrying 57 lbs. of seed vessels. The seed vessels carry geographically-appropriate seeds and boost the seed survival rate through precision deployment, moisture retention, biomimicry and predation deterrence. To learn more visit www.droneseed.com October 2021

TREE GUARDS: RESEARCH INTO PLASTIC-FREE ALTERNATIVES

he Woodland Trust announced a bold new pledge in the war on waste: no more new single-use plastic tree guards on their land from the end of 2021. Since the 1970’s, tree guards have traditionally been used to protect saplings from being eaten by wildlife. They tend to be the most economical and durable option, able to withstand up to 10 years in all weather conditions. All that is set to change as the Trust is committed to ending the use of new single-use plastic tree shelters and to ensure that all existing shelters are removed at the end of their life. Their ultimate goal is to have no plastic tree guards in use across any of their lands by 2030. As one of the nation’s largest tree planters, The woodland Trust are set to be trail blazers in this field and have the opportunity to catalyse a permanent change to the tree planting world. The Trust established a trial site at Avoncliff Wood, near Bath, to test the new, plasticfree products coming onto the market. Site manager Joe Middleton explains “So this is one of the UK’s leading trial sites, the most amount of tree guards. We’ve got 14 different types of alternate tree guards here. These are 5,000 trees in loads of different biodegradable

www.forestmachinemagazine.com

tree guard options. And they only really became available round about 2019.So we’ve got ones made of paper, cardboard, polylactic acid, plant starch, cashew nut shell resin, wool we’ve got the whole shebang. Anything that is on offer to help us with this big climate crisis, both for carbon and also the big ecological crisis, to allow the wildlife to spread into these areas. This will be a woodland in 20 years time, so in the meantime we’re just protecting that and allowing them to get up to a height where they’re safe from browsing, using all of these innovative methods.” INTERESTING RESULTS A wide variety of materials are being trialled, including biodegradable designs and innovative products made from cardboard, although we’ve found that several of the prototypes have been degraded by the elements already. A model made from British wool and oil from cashew-nut shells has a good sustainability rating and establishes a new market for materials currently considered as waste. It looks robust so far, but it will take several years of field testing to be sure we’ve found the optimal design. We are sharing our findings across the industry, and will also co-fund a larger five-year field study led by the Government’s science arm Forest Research. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk Page 23

ESTABLISHMENT

FORESTRY ENGLAND TAKES PART IN 25YEAR NORWAY SPRUCE PROVENANCE PLANTING TRIAL

provenance trial studying Norway spruce trees growing from seeds sourced from 16 different European locations has got underway in a long-term project to identify trees likely to be resilient to climate conditions 50 years from now. Forestry England, a partner in the Conifer Breeding Co-operative, has recently planted 2,300 trees in Delamere Forest, Cheshire, as part of a total 17,200 trees planted across five sites in England, Scotland and Wales by co-op members. The trees were grown in Scotland from orchard seeds from Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and France, and a Forestry England selected-quality seed stand near the Forest of Dean. Used extensively for construction, Norway Spruce produces strong timber with a straight grain and fine texture, as well as being used for paper milling. The provenance trial will compare trees from the 16 different sources as they grow to identify which have the best overall performance and show the strongest growth and good form. The trees will be monitored at different times over the next 25 years with the first two years assessing survival rates at each site. After that the

Page 24

height, diameter, stem form and density of plants from each of the 16 seed provenances will be compared. Co-op members involved in the trial will do additional assessments on their planting sites after extreme events like flooding, drought, or pest invasions to see how the trees have fared. Norway spruce was chosen for the trial because it has high drought tolerance compared to Sitka spruce, and can cope with upland acid soils making it ideally suited to a more uncertain future climate in the UK. Some areas where Sitka spruce thrives now are predicted to become too dry for it to be a suitable species as they won’t provide its high demand for soil moisture. The Conifer Breeding Cooperative has a long-term ambition to develop an improved domestic population of Norway spruce to meet national demand and is working to a 30-year timescale carrying out selection and testing. This 25-year Norway spruce provenance trial is running alongside as an interim project to see which existing widely available European orchard and UK select seed sources are the best to grow before the domestic improved seed becomes available.

www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Nicola Rivett, Forestry England Seed Resource Manager spokesperson said:“Being able to compare Norway spruce trees growing from such a diverse range of seed sources in this provenance trial will give valuable information about which seed is genetically best suited for future soil and climate conditions, and help Forestry England and partner organisations focus seed and plant supply on those varieties. We’re working long-term on this, and it will be 2046 before the trees we’ve all planted this spring reach maturity. But the information they give us along the way will be crucial in helping steer the right course in adapting and planning our future Norway spruce growth and supply.” As well as focusing on Norway spruce, The Conifer Breeding Co-operative is also looking at Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Scots pine and hybrid spruce, identifying the best genetic planting material, and selecting trees growing in good quality stands to create new seed orchards for future planting stock. Visitors to Forestry England’s planting site in Delamere Forest will have the chance to see the trial progress over the coming years as the trees mature. www.forestryengland.uk

October 2021

INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVE FORESTRY REQUIRED TO OFFSET FUTURE TIMBER SUPPLY SHOCKS.

cotland must seize the opportunity to rapidly increase planting of productive forestry to offset the full impact of future timber supply shocks. Forestry and Land Scotland says that the UK as a whole – which currently imports 80% of its annual timber requirement – is far too vulnerable to fluctuations in the global market. But it also says that Scotland is well placed to mitigate that risk by stepping up its commercial forestry sector. Home-grown grown timber makes up only around 33% of the UK market and while we are largely self-sufficient in fencing, there is significant, unmet domestic demand for more structural timber and also pallet wood. Mick Bottomley, FLS Head of Marketing and Sales, said: “Scottish-based timber manufacturers could potentially triple production to meet current and anticipated future demand and produce a greater share of the remaining 67% of the market which is currently

APF 2022 -

WE ARE BACK October 2021

imported, predominantly from Scandinavia, Latvia and Germany. There is also significant potential to expand Scotland’s one fifth of forested land area so that we can be more self-reliant in our requirements for timber.” Sawmills in Scotland and UK produce high quantities of pallet and fencing products but mainly produce construction timber kiln dried carcassing that is used for roof battens, floor joists and studwork for partitioned walls. Already this year prices have risen 30%, as house builders and related industries struggle to secure supplies due to a huge increase in building activity, post lockdown. This is even noticeable in the DIY stores when trying to get timber for home projects. Pointing out that the timber market is set to become increasingly competitive in years to come – and with long lead time of 25-40 years in productive forestry - Mick Bottomley suggested that the opportunity needs to be seized now: “Transport and energy costs will increase; emerging economies around the world will demand more timber and

aving had to cancel both the 2020 and 2021 events it is now full steam ahead for APF 2022. With all restrictions now lifted in the UK

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timber producing countries may be required to use more of their own timber at home as they seek to meet stricter climate protocols and net zero targets. “Sweden is recording the lowest stock levels in 20 years and this trend is likely to be further exacerbated as current issues like wildfires, tree diseases and pests, exert additional worldwide pressures on the supply of timber. “The UK can attempt to compete for diminishing supplies on the world market against growing economies such as China and India or do something to mitigate its exposure to these forces, by planting more commercial forestry now so that we are more self-sufficient in the future.” FLS’ sustainable management of existing productive forests aims to bring 3 million tonnes of timber to market every year. This year, FLS is planting 25 million trees and is further contributing to meeting the Scottish Government targets by acquiring land for new productive and native woodland creation. APF 2022 will held on the 2224th September 2022 at Ragley Estate, Warwickshire. www.apfexhibition.co.uk Page 25

www.ncdequipment.com The TMK range now offers shears that fit on 2 to 30 tonne excavators. The TMK 300 will also fit onto Telehandlers. The TMK now offers shears that fit on 2 to 30 and tonne excavators. TMK shears canrange cut between 200mm - 400mm softwood between 180mm to TMKcapabilities 300 will also onto Telehandlers. 350mm hardwood. The Cutting arefitdependant on the model of shear being TMK shears can cut between 200mm used. - 400mm softwood and between 180mm to 350mm hardwood. Cutting capabilities dependant on the cut model being Each shear comes with a fixed grapple,are which holds onto treeoforshear vegetation before and after it has been cut, allowing used. the operator to safely place it onto the ground. Each shear comes with a fixed grapple, which holds onto the cut tree or vegetation before and after it has been cut, allowing the operator to safely place it onto the ground.

“Half the cost, half the time”

AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE “ Half the cost, half the time”

“ Halfsales@ncdequipment.com the cost, half the time” Email TMK Attachments Follow us: Email sales@ncdequipment.com Followextension us: Hydraulic beam suitable for the TMK 300 07956 087549 Call Nick 07535 211338 or Emma Call Nick 07535 211338 or Emma 07956 087549 Tree Shear The TMK Hydraulic extension beam offers a further 3.6m reach when cutting those difficult to reach branches. As pictured on the machine.

Collector suitable for the TMK 200, 300 & 400 Tree Are you involved in hedgerow management or tree cutting Shears Are you to involved inshear hedgerow management orfor tree cutting need see this working! Contact us more info Opens and closes with a separate control to the shears need to see this shear working! Contact us for more info grapple to allow the user to hold onto what has been cut while the grapple opens again to cut the next branch, tree etc. This is TMK’s most popular attachment.

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Delimber suitable for the TMK 200, 300 & 400 Tree Shear The delimber is ideal for stripping smaller branches from straight trees and can be used without electricity. The TMK Tree Shear can cut up to 400mm softwood and fits on 2-30 tonne machines, dependant on model.

Tree Shears are available for hire. Are you involved in hedgerow management or tree cutting? If so, you Are you involved in hedgerow management orfor tree cutting? If so, you need to see this shear working! Contact us more information The TMK range now offers shears that fit on 2 to 30 need to see this shear working! Contact us for more information The TMK 300 will also fit onto Telehan Cone Splitter

The TMK now offers shears that fit on 2 to 30 TMK shears canrange cut between 200mm - 400mm softwood

TMKcapabilities 300 will also onto Telehan 350mm hardwood. The Cutting arefitdependant on www.ncdequipment.com machines (dependant on TMK shears can cut between 200mm used. - 400mm softwood

* fits on 1.8 - 10 tonne

model). * Cone screw with interchangeable head * No drain line required less expensive mounting. * CanFollow be supplied with us: timber grab, as pictured Follow us: Call (optional). Call

350mm hardwood. Cutting capabilities dependant on Each shear comes with a fixed grapple,are which holds onto before and after it has been cut, allowing used. the operator to saf Each shear comes with a fixed grapple, which holds onto before and after it has been cut, allowing the operator to saf

“ Half the cost, half the time” “ Halfsales@ncdequipment.com the cost, half the time” Email Email sales@ncdequipment.com Nick 07535 211338 or Emma 07956 087 Nick 07535 211338 or Emma 07956 087

NEW

The TMK range now offers shears that fit on 2 to 30 tonne excavators.

The TMK 300 will also fit onto Telehandlers. Mulcher The TMK now offers shears that fit on 2 to 30 and tonne excavators. TMK shears canrange cut between 200mm - 400mm softwood between 180mm to * Fits on 1.8 - 13 tonne machines 350mm hardwood. The TMKcapabilities 300 will We also onto Telehandlers. Cutting arefitare dependant on the model of shear being (dependant on model). TMK shears can cut between 200mmexcited - 400mm softwood and between 180mm to used. to hardwood. Cutting capabilities are dependant on the cut model being Each shear comes with a fixed grapple, which holds onto treeoforshear vegetation * Self leveling independant linkage 350mm be supplying Auger used. before and after it has been cut, allowing the operator to safely place it onto the ground. (floating head). Torque attachments Each shear comes with a fixed grapple, which holds onto the cut tree or vegetation before and after it has been cut, allowing the operator to safely place it onto the ground.

“ Half the cost, half the time” Email - sales@ncdequipment.com “ Halfsales@ncdequipment.com the cost, half the time”quoting FMM Email Email sales@ncdequipment.com Call Sales - 07561 649614 Call Nick 07535 211338 or Emma 07956 087549 Follow us: Follow us:

Call Nick 07535 211338 or Emma 07956 087549

FINANCE

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

ompanies invest large sums of money in order to keep their businesses running. In an ideal world there would always be enough money coming in from services to pay for daily operations. Because this is not always the case and it is not feasible to spend money extravagantly it has made finance become one of the most important aspect of a business. Fortunately purchasing forestry equipment is no longer the minefield it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Forestry is a highly competitive industry and good reliable equipment can be the difference between making a profit or a loss. It is refreshing to see that present day dealers offer expert advice so you get

October 2021

the correct equipment for the type of work you are carrying out. These companies also stand behind and guarantee the new and used equipment they sell.

lowest interest rate possible and make sure that you are in a position to make the repayments on the purchase you are looking at.

Due to the high initial outlay, financing this equipment is often the only alternative. It is good to know that the forestry finance companies and brokers have your interests at heart. Companies and brokers offering to finance this equipment do their utmost to get you the

In this article we have included information and contact details for some of the companies who could assist you with your next purchase.

www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Page 27

FINANCE

DEUTSCHE LEASING (UK) LIMITED

n recent years there has been a significant growth in the use of more alternative forms of business finance to acquire highvalue equipment and let’s face it, harvesters and forwarders definitely quality as ‘high value’! Particularly with SME’s, using asset finance instead of purchasing equipment outright has grown significantly. Among these, asset finance has probably become the most prevalent. This year, even in these Covid-19 challenged times, asset finance companies like Deutsche Leasing will deliver more than £32 billion to UK businesses. The reason for this is that investing in the assets and equipment you need to drive your business forwards is vital yet increasingly capital hungry. ‘Asset finance’, which uses the equipment you need as the primary security for the lending, is an increasingly effective part of how to fund your business. A key advantage of Asset Finance is that it leaves your traditional lending and working capital lines available whilst still letting you acquire the latest generation harvesters, forwarders and other equipment you need to run your business in an ever more competitive environment. Your company could access a competitive advantage by acquiring the latest generation harvesters and forwarders and

Page 28

their technological upgrades, yet spread the cost of the machines over their working life. There are also potential tax benefits possible depending on your situation. ASSET FINANCE COMES IN MANY FORMS. Hire Purchase, that delivers ownership when all payments due including a small option fee at the end have been made. You can choose to reduce your monthly payments by paying a larger deposit or by opting for a ‘balloon payment’ at the end of the agreement. Leasing, where ownership stays with the finance company and you simply pay for the use of the asset over the agreed period. At the end of the agreement, you sell it to a third party on our behalf and you receive a fixed percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the machine as a ‘rebate of rentals’. It is even possible for the finance company to take the risk of what the machines you need today will be worth when you come to sell them in the future away from you by using a ‘residual value’. This approach means you can acquire the

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latest generation forestry machines now and the rentals you pay during the finance agreement are set according to the asset’s anticipated future value as judged by the finance company. Depending on your circumstances, a forestry specialist like Deutsche Leasing can even provide an asset finance solution that can work with the complexities and rules of Government Grants when they are available to you. So, with all the asset finance options available to you it is important that you work with an asset finance company that really knows and understands the sector. A long term forestry sector specialist such as Deutsche Leasing. Working with people that truly know what drives the financial performance of your forestry business, understand how you use the equipment in the forest and how the equipment value depreciates over time means you can get the right asset financing solution for your business. A forestry sector solution. www.deutsche-leasing.com

October 2021

EAGLE ASSET FINANCE LTD

e are a family business set up in 1999 to offer a professional asset finance service which is predominately aimed at the forestry sector. As finance brokers, fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, we offer hire purchase and leasing services to a wide range of customers. With an extensive knowledge of both forestry sector assets and suppliers, coupled with many years’ experience in asset finance, we aim to offer the best service possible. Rather than phone a lender, or broker, who provides finance to all sectors and has a vague knowledge of the asset you want to finance it pays to speak to someone who not only “speaks the same language” but also understands the nuances of the forestry sector. Repeat business is always a priority therefore our aim is to provide a competitive, efficient and professional service to you. Meeting and getting to know our customers is key and being more than “a voice at the end of a phone” has resulted in countless valued customers remaining loyal for many years. This is only made possible by constantly maintaining high service levels and keeping customers satisfied. Whether you are considering starting up, are expanding your business or just want advice Eagle Asset Finance Ltd are here October 2021

to help. We can finance most assets i.e., harvesters, forwarders, chippers, harvadigs,biomass boilers etc. The age of the asset is not too critical as the correct asset value and the repayment period not exceeding the assets’ life are more important. We can provide finance for assets from £5K upwards and we regularly finance new machines costing in excess of £400K and everything in-between. We specialise in packaging deals to suit you and aim to arrive at a solution that will get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Even if you are buying from another contractor or buying a machine from overseas, we can assist. It doesn’t just stop with providing the finance we are also there to help if you ever get into difficulty too. By negotiating with lenders, we aim to arrive at a workable solution to get you through any difficulties you may face. Organising settlement figures and sorting out any of your accountants’ queries are all part of the service too.

a free advertising service on Mascus and we then identify any potential buyers before pointing them in your direction to negotiate the sale. Wherever possible we would then assist the buyer with finance for your machine. Advertising your machine on our Facebook page, on Twitter and in the Forestry Machine Magazine are all part of the service too. As an added incentive to existing customers who refer potential customers to us, who then subsequently take out finance, we reward them with £100 in One4all vouchers as a thank you. If you have any buying plans or need some advice then please contact Stephen Clark on 07967 588739 www.forestryfinance.co.uk

When it comes to selling your machines, we offer customers www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Page 29

FINANCE

GREEN BUSINESS FINANCE FUNDING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INDUSTRY Based in Scotland, Green Business Finance was set up to help and ‘enable’ UK SME & owner operator businesses access finance & funding for the purposes of purchasing machinery & equipment. With 30+ years of experience in the finance industry, Director James Waterson, helps customers realise income opportunity and their potential. Always working with a select & trusted panel of funders we understand what is business critical & the importance around ‘certainty’ of funding. James is keen to point out that his approach is with an eye on sustainability & consideration for a business and its environmental impact. At GBF we are keen to understand what is driving the business to invest in a machine and a full understanding of what benefits it will deliver: reduced operating costs, faster production & greater efficiency? What is the operating environment and what kind of work is being contracted? Taking this approach and having a full appreciation of the decision to buy, leads to better outcomes i.e. a funding solution with a provider who understands the business, its operating model and rationale behind the investment. This approach and a commitment to good customer

Page 30

service led James to a discussion with Scott Burton of SB Forestry based in the Scottish Borders. “Our view on customer service and approach are the same” says James. Scott is the UK agent and distributor for Swedish forestry machine manufacturer Eco Log. GBF & SB Forestry work with customers to help them realise income opportunity on a sustainable and responsible basis. Eco Log machines work according to a ‘cut to length’ method, an approach that helps generate less emissions & a lower environmental impact. Their engines are fuel-efficient, not only lowering operating costs, but meeting the industry’s tough emissions standards. James has assisted Scott and his customers buying new & used machines, many of which are for estates and thinning work where there is a significant consideration around low environmental impact and operational footprint. Just like Eco Log with their innovation and development of forestry machines, GBF and SB Forestry are committed to contribute to a long term and sustainable forestry industry. Green Business Finance has

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forestry customers across the UK from Devon to the Scottish Isles and believes in great customer service through customer visits and a personable approach. That customer service stretches beyond that of the initial machine purchase, looking to develop long term relationships geared around each business, its needs now and for the future. GBF has secured the right funding solutions for many UK forestry businesses from ‘start-up’ operators with new contracts to established and larger forestry customers renewing their fleets. We are aware of grant aided and regional support schemes to help the industry. We also assist with stage payment funding, refinance and access to funding for any number of specific requirements like commercial loans, stock and property or land. For securing finance to meet your sustainable business needs, James can be contacted on 07972 175980 or by email james@greenbusinessfinance. uk To view and speak to Scott Burton about the Eco Log range of forestry machines call 07795 438341 www.sbforestryltd. co.uk/ecolog/

October 2021

U K AG

LO G F O R E S E N T S F O R EC O

T RY M AC H IN

T S F O R V IK ES | U K AG E N

IN G H EA D S

SALES AND SERVICE CONTACT SCOTT BURTON

Parts: 01483 906 913 | Sales: 07795 438 341 | Lauder, Scotland |

@SBForestry

sales@sbforestryltd.co.uk | service@sbforestryltd.co.uk | parts@sbforestryltd.co.uk

www.sbforestryltd.co.uk

Forestry of tomorrow

FINANCE

EFT FINANCE EFT Finance is an independent finance brokerage, focused on assisting SMEs across the country and in any industry gain access to the funding they need to grow and expand their business. Whether it is secured lending on hard assets such as plant, machinery or vehicles, soft assets such as garage equipment and agricultural buildings, or unsecured lending for cashflow and expansion, EFT Finance has access to a varied and extensive lending panel allowing us to provide solutions for almost all situations. EFT Finance was formed in April 2010 as a strategic merger between Scottish broker Asset & General Finance, and two Hitachi Capital senior managers. EFT (Edinburgh Financial Trust) was a brand which was purchased in 1998 by Bank of Scotland and traded as British Linen Asset Finance. It was picked up again by one of the founding directors who was previously a director of the original EFT Finance Limited.

haulage, ground preparation, arboriculture and harvesting contractors. For help and advice on any funding requirement, please contact either of our forestry specialists Gordon or Mark on the details below. Office: 01764 660777 ¦ info@eftnorth.co.uk Gordon Larson: 07825 664021 ¦ gordon@eftnorth.co.uk Mark McArthur: 07989 559774 ¦ mark@eftnorth.co.uk

As of 2020 EFT Finance have 6 brokers in Scotland now operating as a standalone entity (EFT Finance North), with two of those having a specific focus on Forestry. We have supported a full range of forestry businesses from new starts all the way through to well established operations in purchasing all types of assets from vans and pickups all the way through to harvesters and forwarders. Our existing client base in forestry covers all connected industries including timber

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October 2021

HARVESTING

A STEP BACK IN HISTORY BY GLEN BARCLAY

N Glen is a third generation forester who works alongside his father and grandfather in the timber trade whilst completing a degree in Journalism at Robert Gordon University. Working as a forwarder operator for the past five years Glen has a useful insight into the industry alongside a passion to write about it. He has worked for his local newspaper as a local sports reporter and as a media assistant for Central Coast Mariners football team in Australia. October 2021

orcar is a machine brand which resonates with a certain generation of machine operators. Throughout the 1980s and 90s the sleek design of the Norcar made it a must-have for all thinning sites. Its small turning circle along with its quick to respond rear chassis allowed it to easily manoeuvre between racks and navigate even the tightest of first thinnings. Norcar was one of the brands which set the foundations for modern operations. Many of their designs are still apparent in today’s modern forwarders. Their story is a key one in the development of our industry and one that is often overlooked. The first use of the word forwarder in relation to the timber industry came in 1958 at the Pulp and Paper research institute in Canada. It was used

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to describe a load carrying machine with articulated steering. Ten years later the phrase was used again in Sweden to describe a single axle tractor which could be connected to a timber load carrier at the rear. In modern terms it would be described as a forest tractor. Following years of development a forwarder then became classified as an “off road timber transporter that adopts articulated frame steering and a vertical plane between both chassis” and with it the Brunett 350 Boxer the world’s first purpose built forwarder - was born. NORCAR IS BORN There were a few groups who decided that getting involved in forwarder development would be a financially beneficial venture - Norcar being an early frontrunner. In the early 1960s Erik Norras and Kaj Carlsson Page 33

HARVESTING the second generation 480, success came in the form of the Norcar 490. Its 7.5 ton load capacity made it the most popular model released and with its engine changed to Perkins, its reliability was better than ever.

came together to found the machine manufacturing company known as Norcar the name being derived from the first three letters of their surnames. The new company developed a machine that streamlined the process of Fur Farming - mainly in feeding the farmed Foxes & Minks, in the Ostrobothnian (Swedish speaking) region of Finland. Following a successful term it was decided that their designs for Fur Farming machines could be interchangeable with the requirements for forest machinery. Carlsson was the man with the technical knowhow and came up with the idea to use the hydrostatic transmission, which had been so successful in the Minkomatic, in their own forest forwarder aimed towards private forest owners. After trialling the HT-228, a forwarder built on caterpillar tracks, they stepped up development and created a model equipped with a Volkswagen engine, hydrostatic transmission and hydraulic Page 34

wheel motors. This was seen as a master stroke, with newspapers at the time referring to it as “A world innovation”. However this proved too costly for private forest owners and after several developments, focused towards sturdiness & reliability the Norcar became the perfect tool for the emerging contractor market. With the rapid development of production Norcar purchased Oy Finnlift in 1976 and used its factory as a base, with the extra space vital in meeting demand. Four years later the same problem crept up and the company were forced to increase the factories size by 150%, making it the largest industrial workshop in the area. With established links for export already in place in Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and the Soviet Union, courtesy of Norras’ razorsharp business mind, the new Norcar forwarders began rapidly to garner great acclaim. With the groundwork established on the 440 model, Norcar began stepping up its development process. Following praise with www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Disaster struck in the Winter of 1986 when a fire at the factory caused over 15 million Finnmarks worth of damage and destroyed papers, designs, machinery and the exhibition hall. For most this would have halted production immeasurably but not Norcar, within ten days of the fire they had their next Forwarder completed and shipped off to its buyer. Within two years the factory was producing more than it had previously with 1987 seeing the first Norcar Harvester off the production line. The harvester received praise for its sturdy and well put together machine base. In difficult terrain it could out climb anything else available on the market. The design of a harvester which was small and agile enough to cope with first thins once again set Norcar apart. The speed in production, without damaging the trees which were left behind to grow, made it a massive success internationally. In 1988 Erik Norras was approached by Interpolator, an industrial investment company owned by the Finnish Savings Bank Group, and Norcar was subsequently sold. Tragedy struck and Norras passed away a mere month after selling, aged 52. A NEW DAWN FOR NORCAR Kristian Sten was appointed October 2021

managing director of the newly established Norcar Forest Machine Group which was comprised of Norcar, Ponsse and Finntrac – as well as Norcar BSB which still maintained the Fur Farming element of the original company. Having both made great developments in the ever growing forestry industry Sten had a challenge on his hands overseeing collaboration between the former rivals, “Co-operation between Norcar and Ponsse resulted in new products and new markets, although there were considerable cultural differences between the two companies.” The most notable collaboration between the previous rivals was the combination of Norcar’s harvester base and the superior Ponsse harvesting head to create the Norcar 600 H which was the best-selling harvester in Finland in 1989 and 1990. At its height the Norcar Forest Machine Group accounted for a third of the domestic forest machine market making it one of the most dominant manufacturers in contracting history. After four successful years the Finnish Savings Bank hit financial difficulty. In order to save money the bank opted to offload its industrial assets leaving Norcar bankrupt in the summer of 92’. This presented Sten and his colleagues Gustav Frantzen and Seppo Koskinen with a golden opportunity to use their years of experience running the NFMG and establish a new machine manufacturer, “together with Gustav Frantzen and Seppo Koskinen we founded Oy Logset Ab and acquired the assets and immaterial rights on October 2021

Norcar in Autumn 1992.” Sten went on to write about the transition from Norcar to Oy Logset Ab and the subsequent success they achieved in his book “Never Give Up: Logset 1992-2012.” The skilled Norcar workforce was re-employed by the newly formed Logset group. Having purchased the rights to Norcar it meant they could buy and sell the old machines as well as repair them and export spare parts thus making them the agents for the machines. The economic crisis in the country also allowed Sten and his team to utilise their backlog of Norcar machinery and offload them at a price which their competitors could not compete with. By the end of 1992 Logset had established a solid basis for operation with a knowledgeable workforce and sound business model under the leadership of those who knew the industry inside & out. With the historic Norcar Group now disbanded, their assets now owned by Oy Logset the Ponsse faction of the Norcar Forest Machine Group was repurchased by its original owner Einari Vidgren and went on to www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Top: Norcar Factory Above: Kristian Sten - Managing Director of Norcar Forest Machine Group great success and the Norcar BSB (the fur farming wing of the company) was taken over by the Linden brothers. NORCAR IN THE UK Kenny Dobson was a salesman for machinery around this time and traded many second hand Norcar machines in the UK and had a great relationship with its former managing director Page 35

HARVESTING thirty-five years ago on a 490. “It had six wheel motors and you could jack up or down the front bogies. My favourite thing was that the main lift ram was pumped both ways so when the trailer tipped over, which happened very often, I was able to catch a tree and stand it back up again.” He was also a fan of the multi lever style of the early forwarders, stating he loved his early days on the Norcar. The Norcar 600 also introduced the tilting king post which allowed for extra reach and could be moved to add stability whilst operating in steep or soft terrain. Tilting kingpost. Kristian Sten. The 480 and 490 models were very similar in size and design. One notable difference was the location of the cab door, the 480 opted for a front of machine entrance with Dobson commenting “it made them rather tricky to get out of if you were parked on steep ground”, whilst the 490 followed the route of side entry. The development of purpose built forwarders, with eight wheels instead of the six available with a country & trailer set up, allowed a more even distribution of ground weight making them the ideal machines for extracting in soft conditions. This made Norcars very popular in Ireland where the ground was soft and dense and allowed for much smoother extractions than in the past. “They were the first timber extracting machines to be hydraulically driven, similar in the ways an excavator works now but they were small

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and operators put them through a lot more than they were designed to do and despite this they managed,” said Dobson. Gareth Edwards recalls seeing an operator overload his Norcar whilst working on a Forestry Commission site in Wales as a teenager. Whilst felling large edge trees alongside a Hemek Clambunk Edwards witnessed the Norcar “snap in half with a load on,” which lead to him “pulling the back of it out with the winch machine [he] drove at the time.” This feeds into regular overuse of the early forwarders by operators keen to push the wee machines to their breaking point and in this case it was a literal point of abuse. Many operators first experience of a purpose built forwarder was the Norcar and that is true with Tommy McCartney who learned his trade almost

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In the south-west of Scotland Norcar had a considerable following with Ronnie Grieve, a product of the Dalglish Brothers Harvesting production line, a strong advocate for the Finnish machine. Having since gone on to drive haulage Ronnie looks back fondly on his time as an operator of the 490 model and believes if certain things had played out differently he’d still be working in the woods. “They were some bit of kit in their day, ahead of its time really, and on the steep ground it let you get stuff out that wouldn’t have have been possible before.” The vision from the Norcar was much more forgiving than that of a county and trailer and allowed for quicker & smoother extraction. But once again the design of the hydraulic wheel motors, a benefit in many ways, meant Ronnie spent a lot of time with the pumps in bits trying to fix them. Though a hindrance, it was fortunate for his employers he was handy with repairs.

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HARVESTING The Norcar wasn’t just a useful tool for extraction according to Grieve. One night whilst sitting having dinner the saw men he was overseeing at a site down south had their power go out. They went outside to see what had happened and the generator, which was chained to a tree, had been stolen, so the “Beastie Boys” as he referred to them set about trying to hunt down the thieves in the wood. The 490 was deployed as a mobile spotlight. Unfortunately for Ronnie and his squad they never found the culprits and from then on had to leave a man on site over the weekend.

TREEWOOD HARVESTING Treewood Harvesting from Harlow, London heavily relied on the robust and sleek nature of the Norcar forwarders whilst conducting Forestry Commission thinning’s for over 20 years. Jonathan Millen has worked for the Fish family for over 30 years and operated the 490 and 500 model forwarders as well as some of the harvester’s Norcar produced. He labelled them “as good as anything out there at the time”. As a youngster Jonathan became disillusioned with school and school with him. When fortune struck and the opportunity to have a crack

in the wood came he jumped at the chance. “I got to go out to the woods on a Friday and my mates were in double Maths & double Geography and I was out winching logs and making cups of tea.” They began with two 490 Norcar forwarders one with the eight levers and the other with the alternative lever design which were then sold to make way for the 500 which had a greater capacity and larger engine. The movable bolster pins on the Norcar forwarders allowed operators to free themselves from sticky situations and avoid skinning trees, a problem with the more rigid use of tractor and trailer extraction. A 600H harvester was then added to the fleet of machines which proved to be a hit with Treewood and a couple years later three brand new machines were purchased., At its height, Treewood boasted a roster of 22 machines. “We fell in love with the Norcars. People took the micky and said that we should start up an owners club as we really did have a fleet of them.” The only blot on their name according to Jonathan was the design of the wheel motor at the front of the machine, in which there was only one on each side. This meant that when the wheel which was driving its rear diagonally was put under extreme pressure and ultimately broke it sent debris into the next motor on the line. This could cause a large mechanics bill and a larger headache for the Jonathan Millen and the Norcar 506 Harvester.

October 2021

operator. The omission of a prop shaft running through the centre joint allowed for an extreme turning circle, enabling operators to “spin them on the spot” making it the perfect tool for thinning’s. This alongside the moveable headboard, which jacked itself up to allow for larger loads set the Norcar apart from its competition at the time. With some models trailers notorious for tipping over “the 500 wouldn’t go over because it used to have stabilising rams on it. Unless you were on really steep ground and tipped the whole machine the bogie tipping wasn’t an issue.” WRITERS LINK I got the idea for writing an article about Norcar whilst swapping the rear window in my families own 490 - which was bought brand new in 1987 from Grant Smith. Grant was the UKs first agent for Norcar. The machine is still in remarkable condition for its age and is in semi-retirement, getting an occasional run out to extract a first thinning which is too tight for the 1110 Timberjack. Over the years the rear window had become a hazed due to the exposure to the elements, tree sap and hydraulic oil meaning the operator was unable to see the bogie. The peculiar shape of the Norcar window meant that it had to be sent away to be recreated halting the extraction process much to everyone’s frustration. However when the marguard eventually arrived the simply designed window brackets made it a quick fix and after a thorough sponging down the 490 was ready for action once again, as good as it was when it came home in ’87. October 2021

Above: Norcar v Valmet MODERN TIMES Fast forward to the present and the Norcar name boasts an entirely different branding identity. The company now focuses on wheeled miniloaders designed for agriculture, green area upkeep and janitorial services as well as maintaining a foot in the Fur Farming industry under the management of the Linden family who took over after the bankruptcy in 1992. Following the design flaws of the past they are now known www.forestmachinemagazine.com

for their sturdy and easy to operate machines which adopt a low centre of gravity to allow for safe work on unstable ground. Similar to that of the original forwarders the new machines have small turning circles meaning operation in tight spaces is easily done. Whilst the brand of Norcar no longer focuses its reach towards the timber industry the impact that it had on our industry is undeniable. Glen Barclay Page 39

HARVESTING

ooking to meet the needs of the most demanding forestry applications, John Deere now offers a 330-horsepower option for the 853M Tracked Feller Buncher and the 853MH Tracked Harvester, equipped with the optional Dedicated Travel System feature. The combination of the travel and horsepower options on the 853M and 853MH machines enables John Deere to deliver enhanced performance in harsh conditions. “We know that machine performance is critical for our customers, and we strive to find new solutions that further enhance operation, even when working in challenging conditions,” said Jim O’Halloran,

JOHN DEERE ANNOUNCES 330-HORSEPOWER OPTION FOR 853M AND 853MH MACHINES product marketing manager, John Deere. “This new horsepower option on the 853M and 853MH further enhances the functionality of the Dedicated Travel System, ensuring our machinery always surpasses expectations. Now, operators will have the option to further improve overall productivity and efficiency on their job site.” The Dedicated Travel System feature provides focused hydraulic functionality for the tracks, while providing independent hydraulic power and performance to the swing, boom, and attachment functions. This hydrostatic control of the travel function increases overall machine efficiency, especially during

NEW PROPOSED DIESEL DUTY LEGISLATION

nyone working in forestry whether in timber harvesting, biomass, or mulching should be checking carefully to see if they will be affected by the new diesel duty legislation which will come into effect in April next year. According to the proposed

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legislation machinery working in forestry will be unaffected. HMRC applies the following definition of forestry; “The science and art of forming and cultivating forests and the management of growing timber.” This all sounds good until you

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heavy multifunctioning. The additional horsepower is fully available for additional work, adding to the increased performance and productivity of the equipment. The horsepower update further adds to the customer-driven features found on the M-Series and MH-Series machines. The operator station was designed by loggers, for loggers, with maximum comfort in mind. Floor-to-ceiling windows maximize visibility, and ergonomically designed controls further enhance the operator experience. The Rapid Cycle System allows for low-effort joystick control of all boom functions, considerably reducing operator fatigue and increasing productivity. JohnDeere.com start to delve further. The way I read and interpret the new legislation is that machinery working on forestry harvesting sites will be unaffected if carrying out a thinnings or a clear fell as long as it will be replanted after being harvested. The uncertainty arrives when harvesting or tree clearances takes place to make way for Windfarms, creating access roads, clearing areas for power

October 2021

TIGERCAT RELEASES 880E LOGGER The 880 series logger is a multipurpose forestry carrier that can be configured for loading, shovel logging, or processing applications. The 880E introduces several new features including an updated operator’s station and various grapple configurations to tailor the machine to your specific needs. The 880E is powered by the Tigercat FPT N67 engine, producing 230 kW (308 hp). The F7-163 undercarriage is designed and built to withstand rigorous, full-time forest duty with exceptional stability for heavy timber applications. The spacious cabin has a new heated operator’s seat. Controls are integrated into both sides of the joystick pods, eliminating lines, building or construction sites and quarries. Basically any trees that are being cleared except when cutting trees or hedges that border public roads - and not replanted will not fall under the forestry classification. As the land will be used for other purposes that would make it exempt from being harvested with red diesel fuel. “You cannot use rebated fuel in your tractor on public roads if the work you are going to do is not agricultural, horticultural, or forestry. For example, if you are cutting down trees or vegetation October 2021

the need for any bolt-on control pods. The optimally positioned controls and large machine control system touch-screen interface improve ergonomics and machine monitoring. The quiet interior helps the operator enjoy the auxiliary audio input port, Bluetooth® audio and hands-free calling. Additional new features include a standard equipped rearVIEW camera system, emergency stop button, and a key fob to turn on exterior lights remotely when entering the cab in the dark. The 880E can be configured as a loader equipped with various power clam, butt-n-top and log grapple options. Equipped with a live heel boom system, the 880E is a highly capable shovel logger with excellent stability on wasteland then you should not use rebated fuel.” The new legislation states that any machinery that works between forestry and non forestry sites would have to use the higher tariff fuel all the time. FORESTRY WORK “Clearing felled timber would be considered as part of forestry harvesting and you would be allowed to use rebated fuel in a recognised ‘excepted’ vehicle. But you should note that this must be a forest, or a commercial forestry enterprise. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

tractive effort and swing torque. The carrier can also be configured as a high-capacity processor capable of running large harvesting heads in demanding duty cycles. Some of the many advantages of the 880E over excavator conversions include better service access, higher cooling capacity, a better operating environment with superior sightlines, more robust undercarriage components and extremely efficient hydraulic circuits. The result is higher production, uptime and fuel efficiency. www.tigercat.com Cutting down a tree on your farm is not forestry work, even if you sell the timber.” You should read this GOV.UK document to see if the new rules will apply to your business Fuels for use in vehicles (Excise Notice 75) - GOV.UK (www.gov. uk). We are waiting on clarification regarding these new rules but in the meantime it might be worth lobbying some of the organisations that are funded by your hard earned cash to get them to find out if the rules apply to you before it is too late Page 41

HARVESTING

HOW THE JULY CIVIL UNREST AFFECTED THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA BY JUSTIN NYAKUDANGA

O Justin is a regular contributor to FMM and he also publishes his own online magazine at www.zimbabweforestry magazine.com

n the morning of 12 July, I woke up at 05h30 to a barrage of phone calls and WhatsApp messages from relatives and friends inquiring if I was safe from the riots which were taking place in the province of KwazuluNatal. Plumes of black smoke filled the skyline of my home city’s central business district, Pietermaritzburg as one of the major shopping malls had just been looted, shops destroyed and set alight. This unfortunate incident encapsulated the order of the week as shopping malls, fuel stations, warehouses, delivery trucks, farms, and tree plantations were looted and torched in what the national president described to be an insurrection. The riots were triggered by the #Release Zuma movement, where protesters called for the release of the former president, Jacob Zuma who had been imprisoned for 15 months on 7 July by the Constitutional Court on contempt of court charges. The protests somehow quickly morphed into violent looting of shops, the destruction of property with the main perpetrators being youths and unfortunately resulted in the loss of over 300 lives. All this was taking place at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic with no

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health safety protocols being observed at all. Economic experts had cautioned that this was bound to happen given the simmering pot of high unemployment rate (35%) amongst youths, high poverty and hunger levels in low-income residential areas across the country, and the high inequality ratio. I must admit that as the week progressed, the more I watched business after business being looted and set alight, I felt a sense of fear, insecurity, and hopelessness. I began to question if there was any future and hope for my children in my country, would I be able to go back to work in the following week, where would l get the next groceries, would my children be able to go back to school and was I even safe in my own home should the situation de-escalate to the household level? COUNTING THE COST So what was the cost of this civil unrest to the provincial economy of Kwazulu-Natal from a forestry perspective? According to Forestry South Africa, an organization that represents forestry plantation owners and timber processing mills in South Africa: the industry incurred a total loss

October 2021

amounting to R656.14 million rands as a result of the riots, plantation fires, production stoppage, and the loss of sales. I recall receiving a phone call from a forester friend in the middle of the night during that week, he was fighting arson fires at that point and cited how his fire crew was shot at with live bullets from unknown assailants as a scaremongering tactic to let the fire range on. Fortunately, no one was hurt or killed however the industry lost over 1700 hectares to fire that week. Four weeks later we are experiencing the 3rd wave as Covid-19 new infections are on the rise. WHAT NOW, IS THERE HOPE? A week later on the 19th of July, the national defence forces were deployed to provide October 2021

police with much-needed backup. We also began to see many communities mobilizing themselves by cleaning up shopping centres, volunteering in repairing damaged essential shops, and setting up community patrol groups to monitor flare-ups of violence and looting. The rule of law does work in South Africa, so many looters caught in the act were arrested, none perishable goods looted were recovered and the riot instigators are being brought to account by the justice system. Businesses have re-opened albeit at a slow pace, as it has not been easy for those that did not have public liability insurance in place. If anything, the silver lining here is that trees continue to grow despite the madding crowd. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

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HARVESTING

STEEP SLOPE LOGGING

n the 25th of August, Ponsse Studio held their seventh webinar, which focused on the advantages of using traction-assist winch systems for mechanical harvesting on steep ground. The winches are a traction aid to allow the machine to work safely on more severe slopes. Servicing schedules must be rigorously observed, and the winch cable needs to be checked regularly and replaced when manufacturers recommended working hours have been completed. They must never exceed the

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manufacturers’ stated guidelines, and operators must understand their limitations and be properly trained in the safe use of the equipment. Traction-assist winches are an integrated system fitted to forestry equipment, to improve operator safety and traction on steep slopes. The winch is synchronized to the transmission speed of the machine’s drive system; this increases grip and prevents any wheelspin, which will cause rutting. Ponsse modify their machines www.forestmachinemagazine.com

for using traction-assist winches: the oil sump, oil tank and fuel tank are redesigned. A tilting kingpost at the crane base and a tilting seat is fitted to reduce the strain on the slewing gear and operator. Ponsse endorse the Swissmade Herzog Forsttechnik AG traction-assist winch system, which is available as an option to customers and installed by Ponsse engineers at their factory in Vieremä in Finland. Every unit is rigorously tested in the forest prior to being delivered to their customers. Herzog Forsttechnik AG was October 2021

Top Left; Ponsse Buffalo with the chassis mounted intergrated Herzog Syncrowinch. Top Right: PONSSE Buffalo with tilting kingpost and Syncrowinch. started by Klaus Herzog in 1992, when he began importing, selling and maintaining forestry equipment. Klaus saw a niche in the market for winch-assist harvesting on steep ground, and he introduced his first prototype forwarder with a traction aid at the 2003 KWF Tagung. It was well received but got off to a slow start, so he decided to concentrate on the winch equipment. In 2008 he integrated his winch system into a Ponsse Buffalo and displayed it at the 2008 KWF. This was a big success, thanks to cooperation from the German Ponsse dealer Wahlers Forsttechnik. In 2013, the Herzog tractionassist winch was offered as an optional extra to all Ponsse customers at the point of purchase. Today the Herzog traction assist system is available on the Ponsse Cobra, Ergo 8WD and Bear harvesters, and also the Buffalo, Bison, Elephant and Elephant King forwarders. WEBINAR The webinar focused on PONSSE machines working with tractionOctober 2021

assist winches in Brazil, China, Germany and North America, with feedback from foresters and operators, and they explained the criteria for using this equipment.

After the work commences, regular site meetings are beneficial, so that the plans can be modified as the work progresses or the conditions alter.

The Herzog traction-assist winch is a traction aid to increase the machine’s grip. For the winch to work, the machine has to be able to prove that it can hold on the slope under the power of its own brakes. Nature plays its part in determining the limitations of the slope: soil types and weather conditions must be assessed and taken into consideration before work commences.

All Ponsse machines fitted with traction-assist winches have Automatic Steep Slope Braking (ASSB) fitted as standard; this will apply the brakes automatically if any machine errors occur. Ponsse see traction-assist winches as the way forward for harvesting on more challenging conditions, as it is cost-effective, safer for operators, and causes very little disturbance to the soil.

Site planning meetings are vital prior to commencement of the contract between land owners, foresters and operators; this way, all parties understand how the work will be going ahead, identify any constraints that have to be considered or avoided, and have firm action plans in place for dealing with any accidents or emergencies. Only properly trained and skilled operators should be working in steeper conditions.

BERNECK The first presentation was from Brazil, by Forestry Business Manager Alfonso Mehl of the company Berneck. They run 23 harvesters and 28 forwarders in total, with an annual production of 1.5 million m³. They have four Ponsse harvesters and four Ponsse forwarders, with two more on order, equipped with the Herzog traction-assist winch system. They are currently working in one of the most

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HARVESTING demanding areas of Brazil, the Vale of Ribeira. The company bought their first Ponsse harvester and forwarder with winch assists in 2017, and found an immediate increase in production, with much lower operating costs compared to the skylines they had been using. They discovered that this was a much safer method for their employees to harvest the timber, with reduced training costs, compared to skylines and they see this as the best option available. STORA ENSO The second presentation was from the Guangxi region of China, where 400,000m³ of timber on steep ground is harvested by Stora Enso. Olli Pekka Ahonen, head of operations, said that they first started using the Ponsse Herzog combination in 2015. The area

they work is in southern China with wet summers, and they are harvesting mainly Eucalyptus trees. They use the Ponsse Euca head for harvesting, as all the bark must be removed before delivery to the mill. There are no forestry training schools in China, so Ponsse help with on-the-job training for new operators. Chien Lianjie has operated the forwarder for two-and-a-half years, and finds the winch-assist system much more efficient and less labour intensive. “Manual working on steep ground can be very dangerous for operators. In my opinion, the winch-assist system works really well and needs no improvements.” “The Ponsse system for steep ground is very safe and allows me to work efficiently,“ added Chien Lianjie, who has been operating a harvester for 10

years. MILLER TIMBER SERVICES In Colorado, North America Ponsse studio spoke to Matt Mattioda, chief forester for Miller Timber Services, who said: “We started our cut to length harvesting (CTL) in the mid-90s and purchased our first Ponsse in 2004; we don’t use yarders anymore, and all our timber is harvested by CTL. “Our quality of work is better and much safer with machines, and it is a lot easier to get operators for machines than manual workers. We are a work in progress with winch assist and we are getting better all the time. “Prior to using winch assist, we could only access about 45% of the forestry areas we were working. Due to the severity of the slopes, so many forested

NEW PALMS FKD X100 PROFILINE FOREST CRANE

he new Palms X100 Crane is designed for professional, continuous use and offers an outward reach of 10.1 meters and a 380° solid

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mono block 4 piston slewing mechanism offering 30kN/M of torque. The double telescopic dipper

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boom with internal hose routing for maximum protection has a gross lifting torque of 106 kn/m, it will lift.355kg (including grapple and rotator) at the full

October 2021

areas were left unattended unless we used a helicopter to extract the wood. Our manual workers were exposed to a much higher risk when falling timber on steep conditions. “Winch assist has expanded our harvesting areas, which are helping to improve our forests; healthy forests offer more resistance to diseases, beetle attacks and fires. Unthinned and beetle-damaged forests which are left unmanaged will burn.” It is common knowledge that unmanaged forests are always at a much higher risk of fires due to dead debris on the ground, and dead beetledamaged trees are accelerators when a fire starts. Also, frequent thunderstorms are common in Colorado, and they are a source of ignition for many forest fires. “Good forest management is the

10.1m reach and 1.43kg at 4m reach. As standard it is fitted with a H6 .23 grapple and Indexator Endless 10-t rotator, the crane is operated by cabin mounted Electro Hydraulic Controls which October 2021

PONNSE Ergo with the front mounted Herzog Syncrowinch solution,” explained Andy Letch, the lead forester of the Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative. “When forests are left unattended, wildfires are much more common, with the burnt sediment and debris finding its way into the Arkansas River. The Arkansas is main a source of water for seven million people and farm livestock.”

are made by Parker/Danfoss. It requires a minimum hydraulic pump delivery of 70l/min and is suitable for using with larger tractors at over 134hp. Palms produce forest trailers and cranes designed to be used www.forestmachinemagazine.com

I have seen some Herzog winches working, and have worked on sites where this would have made forwarding much safer and would have greatly increased production. Herzog have manufactured over 500 traction assist winches to date, with 60% of them being fitted on forwarders and the other 40% on harvesters. www.ponsse.com

along with agricultural tractors, they are the market leader in this segment in Europe and Scandinavia and offer customers 25 years of expertise with over 25,000 satisfied owners. www.palms.eu Page 47

D E M O N S T R AT I O N S During 2021 we will be demonstrating the hybrid harvester, forwardersindustry and timbermax OfferingLogset the forestry traction system throughout the UK and Ireland.

MORE Please get in touch for more details!

rjfukes.co.uk rjfukes.co.uk Llandovery: 01550 721 641

Llandovery:01550 721 641 Longtown: 01228 791 111 Longtown:01228 791 111

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION

n a recent site visit in the Lake District I was asked if there was anything I would change regarding my career in forestry. After thinking for a few moments, I said ‘probably not’ as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in the forest. Facing a few hours’ drive to get home, I began thinking about that hypothetical question again. It is only when you start to think long and hard that you begin to remember that it wasn’t all quite a bed of roses. My logging career started with the Forestry Commission (FC) in 1976. I was initially employed as a chainsaw operator before branching out (no pun intended) on my own as a forestry contractor eight years later. It was an exciting and apprehensive decision as I was leaving a good secure job to embark on my new venture. At this point I owned a Fordson 2WD super Major tractor with a brand new five-tonne, three-point linkage Fransgard winch. I had been using it to extract timber for firewood at weekends along with an ex-FC transit crew cab pick-up and nine ex-FC Husqvarna 162 Chainsaws, all purchased from a machinery auction in Wishaw. The pick-up set me back £140, with the saws costing £230. All the equipment I purchased at auction had come from my own forest district. Two of the saws were as new as they were

October 2021

spares with minimal use and one of my former colleagues had cut the starter cords so no one at the auction could pull them to assess the compression. My fully-equipped logging business was raring to go. I had finished working full time with the FC on a Friday and on the Monday was back contracting to them on a rateper-tonne pine second thinning. I was off to a flying start; the first week saw production of just over 40 tonnes and I was getting £12 per tonne at roadside. My colleagues were paid £12 each per day – good money when you consider FC chainsaw operators were taking home £40 per week – and I was left with a whopping £380. I covered all the saw, fuel, transport, and tractor costs but even after all the outgoings I was doing rather nicely. A few months later, having experienced a few breakdowns with the Fordson Major and having purchased a 4WD Roadless tractor to skid timber on more challenging conditions, I first realised all was not as it seemed. The FC provided reliable, regular monthly payment but when timber was slow to move to the mills they would pay me 60% percent of the measured stacked timber volume, resulting in a substantial drop in income. My work colleagues, fuel supplier, and repair shop were reluctant to work the same way and my outgoings were the same www.forestmachinemagazine.com

whether I was paid in full or not. Fortunately I had built up some regular firewood customers who paid cash on delivery, which helped to keep the contracting business afloat during leaner times. The life of a forestry contractor was not quite as easy as it first appeared. The FC carried out the best of the work with their own squad, leaving me to tender for less productive sites; as a result, I began contracting to timber merchants and sawmills. To increase productivity I invested quite heavily in newer equipment; nonetheless, getting paid became very difficult. There were no mobile phones so each day I lost hours of work searching for spare change and telephone kiosks to try and chase up my payments. It was an extremely stressful situation, begging for money that you had worked bloody hard to earn. A few times the situation escalated to the point where we had to block the access road to timber lorries to stop timber being moved off site. When timber couldn’t move a payment soon appeared, but it was never long before we were back in the same boat. Threatening to abandon the contract was pointless as it would have tarnished my reputation; they would simply feed some other gullible contractor a load of bullshit and get them to continue. I was friendly with many other Page 49

HARVESTING contractors and it was surprising to find that so many of us were in the same boat. After struggling on and eventually finishing the contract – for which I’m still awaiting a substantial square up – I was approached by Scottish Woodlands with an offer of regular work. They were fantastic to work with and, between them and a very understanding bank manager, I soon managed to get back on track. I continued contracting for another 10 years and then had a slight mishap in which my forwarder caught fire and was completely destroyed. My insurance wasn’t worth the paper it was written on and the thought of starting over from scratch again was daunting, so I decided to start working for other contractors as a forwarder operator or on a chainsaw. There was plenty of work around but it generally involved staying away in a caravan that had seen better days or lots of travelling in an old, unreliable van. Rates were rubbish and payments generally sporadic. At the time we were looked down on by most of society, finding ourselves right at the bottom of the food chain. I often wonder why there are so many people my age still in forestry as most will have experienced similar situations; when money did eventually come in and the bills paid, there wasn’t much left for anything else. Savings had to be made where possible and one way was with work vehicles. Old diesel vans were a popular and cheap mode of transport as they

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ran perfectly well on “Cherryade”. A Guinness beer label with the background coloured in to match the current tax disc saved on road tax and the MOT certificate was usually bought for a tenner off a guy in the pub. This was done through necessity rather than choice. It also saved money on laxatives and if you saw Mr Plod in your rear-view mirror you crapped yourself! It may sound like a particularly desolate period but camaraderie was high and everyone still gave 100% at work. We all accepted that was the way it was.

job. The days of anyone buying a chainsaw and heading to the woods were over. Skilled operators were now in demand and the only way to keep them was to pay them properly and regularly. More and more contractors moved over to CTL harvesting to ensure they remained competitive, thus creating even more work for operators. Chainsaw operators made the transition from saw to machine. The good ones who continued on the saw found that they were very much in demand and were getting paid a good hourly rate.

The scent of a forest machine operator was unmistakable even at a 100m away. The aroma of red diesel mixed with the sweet, sickly smell of gear oil (with a hint of lithium grease thrown in for good measure) gave us a distinctive bouquet; add into the mix a week without any shower facilities and I’m sure you get the picture. Chainsaw operators were cut from a different cloth: two-stroke petrol mixed with resin, sweat, and chain oil. The reason chainsaw and machine operators didn’t mix was nothing to do with who was better than the other but purely down to not being able to stand each other’s aroma! One of the best descriptions I have heard which pretty much summed us up in a nutshell was “WidTinks.”

Contractors were organised, professional companies working to high standards with certificated, well paid sub-contractors operating the equipment. Gone were the scrap vehicles and barely habitable tin tents; harvesting sites had gained an array of new pick-ups with private registrations and smart caravans with proper toilet and washing facilities.

When mechanised cut to length (CTL) harvesting started to really take off in the late 1990’s, forestry started changing for the better. Contractors began investing millions in harvesting equipment and needed experienced, reliable operators who understood the

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Looking back, would I change anything if I could? Ultimately, the answer is still no. Getting the opportunity to operate equipment from agricultural skidder conversions to the sophisticated harvesting equipment in use today has been a privilege and a journey that will never be replicated. While the financial security experienced by today’s operators would have made my early life much easier, I would have missed all the fun and camaraderie that could only be found within a big felling squad. Rab Easton

October 2021

Quality Machinery speaks for itself

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL OUR PRODUCT INFORMATION www.marshalllogging.co.uk Tel: 01892 770 788 | Mobile: 07836 274 164 | sales@marshalllogging.co.uk Maschinenbau GmbH

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BIO-ENERGY

SEPPI M. MAXIFORST NOW OFFERS EVEN MORE!

n 1980, the first forestry rotor was developed, a revolutionary innovation in the sector, so revolutionary that forestry became one of the Seppi M’s key areas of business.

is not just a question of firstclass performance. The working conditions are very demanding and stones and earth are also found along with the huge piles of material.

Medium- and high-power forestry mulchers are a fundamental tool in forestry and environmental care. They are used to grind stumps and roots, clear the forest of fallen trees and decaying wood, as well as trees damaged by bad weather such as storms, or forest fires.

This, combined with the climate conditions, are all factors that affect the life of the machine.

Forestry mulchers are now being increasingly employed to clear and fell trees affected by harmful parasites that are becoming more widespread, infesting woods and forests all over the world. A race against time, which calls for increasingly powerful tractors and machines, where medium-power mulchers are replaced by upgraded versions. This means greater productivity, improved efficiency and reduced working times. In this line of work, however, it Page 54

So, what solution can SEPPI M offer? The answer comes directly from our customers, with whom ongoing collaboration is all-important. The search for the best solutions led the engineers of the SEPPI M. R&D department to develop an upgrade of the MAXIFORST high-power forestry mulcher. THIS RESULTED IN THE SECOND GENERATION MAXIFORST. A completely new machine with a new design too, which combines the much-appreciated features of cutting quality, reliability and ease of use, showcased in the previous MAXIFORST version, with the latest technology and solutions developed over the years, thus www.forestmachinemagazine.com

taking the new MAXIFORST to a whole new level. The new machine is designed to be used on PTO tractors with a power range from 300 to 500 HP, focusing on the key features of maximum wear resistance, optimal protection of the transmission of both the tractor and the machine, quality and high working speed, cuttingedge technology and operator safety. Wear resistance is guaranteed by the high-quality steel construction, with the addition of HARDOX plates in the grinding unit, which can be easily replaced at the end of their life, a feature already widely adopted in the stone crushing machines. The sturdy steel skids now also have an interchangeable wear plate, so it will no longer be necessary to change the whole skid or lose time restoring it by welding with a filler. The transmission has been completely revamped, the central box has the ADAM alignment system as standard October 2021

supply, while the transmission of motion to the rotor is guaranteed by the tried and tested system with six V-belts on each side. The machine can also be fitted (optional) with the new starting system with M-TURBO fluid couplings, which replace the previous system with mechanical centrifugal clutches, and guarantee a smooth start of the rotor and greater protection from impacts on the tractor’s PTO, as well as greater reliability. New optimized ventilation is also included, which, combined with the integrated cooling system, protects the entire system from overheating, thus ensuring maximum lubrication and sealing performance of the components. The temperature can be kept controlled directly from the tractor, using ISOBUS technology, which is available as an option. The speed and quality of the October 2021

cut are guaranteed by the rotor featuring the patented V-LOCK tool mounting system. The benefits of this system are: reduced rotor wear, better balance, easier and faster tool changeover, cutting capacity for trees up to 60cm in diameter, and the mounting of heavyduty wear-resistant tools with tungsten carbide insert and more slender tips, which in combination with the five rows of tempered counter knives on the frame, offer a finer and more uniform mulching performance. These are just some of the features offered by the new second generation SEPPI MAXIFORST forestry mulcher. Customer experiences and feedback are fundamental in developing SEPPI M products; this is the secret of our machines. www.seppi.com www.forestmachinemagazine.com

NEW FORESTRY MULCHER TFT

he new forestry mulcher TFT stands out for its aggressive design. This forestry mulcher is suitable for high power tractors from 200 Hp to 360 Hp. It allows you get Superfinish in forestry mulching of branches, wood, stumps, brush and soil, thanks to the advanced design of its mulching chamber. The new forestry shredder has a built chassis with high strength steel which incorporates a series of replaceable counter blades in the mulching chamber and in the hydraulic hood. As well as a rotor with fixed hammers that can be configured according to the needs of the forestry work. www.tmccancela.com Page 55

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MPK-225

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• Large diameter roller for depth control and consolidation of soil and mulched material

• Two-speed gearbox for shredding and incorporation, and for grinding tree stumps

• Patented hydraulic top-link system provides permanent PTO alignment for reliable power delivery

DEVELOPED TO MAXIMISE PRODUCTIVITY The MPK multi-purpose forestry mulcher has been engineered to deliver impressive mulching ability. Capable of grinding deep stumps up to 45cm in diameter, mulching roots and surface residue, working to a depth of up to 30cm. Incorporating the resulting mulched material into the finely tilled topsoil, before consolidating to a firm level finish, ready for woodland re-planting or land regeneration applications.

For further details and to see TMC Cancela mulchers in action visit: www.spaldings.co.uk Call our dedicated team on: 01522 507100 Page 56

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facebook.com/spaldings.ltd • twitter.com/spaldings

October 2021

email: forestry@spaldings.co.uk

WOOD PROCESSING

A BURNING PASSION BY WALLIS WEIR

harcoal, according to Wikipedia, “is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents.” Most folk know it as the stuff you use on a barbecue. Now, everybody likes a barbecue, but have you ever thought about what you put into it? Most of us spend quite a bit of time thinking about what we’re going to put onto our barbecues, but I suspect most don’t really thing about what goes inside them. Head down to the local shop / garden centre / garage, buy a bag of charcoal, whang it on and light it. Not many people stop to think about their charcoal – what is it? Where does it come from? Why it takes so long to light? Why it smells the way it does? Many people don’t care, but should they? The answer to that, in my opinion is yes! We often spend a lot of time sourcing good ingredients for our meals, local produce, lean cuts, why then skimp on the fuel; after all many of us consider the flavour of a barbecue to be the very point. Approximately 75% of our charcoal in the UK is imported from Southern Africa – not October 2021

South Africa – Southern Africa. A great deal of it is produced from tropical hardwoods, very often FSC certified timber – but no nice fluffy certification schemes governing the actual production of the charcoal once the timber has been delivered. Tropical hardwood does not make the best charcoal due to the way it grows and its cell structure. Southern African charcoal workers often work in conditions we would consider to be less than ideal – low wages, high risks, lack of PPE, exposure to harmful substances – FSC timber it may be, but a nice product it is not. To top it all off, charcoal is combustible (many of you will probably have noticed this!), so before it is shipped it is often doused in fire retardant. Obviously, it is difficult to light fire retardant, so the charcoal also gets a healthy dose of accelerant to help it catch once you put a match to it. This is the stuff we cook our prime cuts of locally reared high www.forestmachinemagazine.com

quality meat on! So, what makes me such an expert? Well, if the truth be told, I’m not an expert, not by a long shot. This time last year I knew we imported a lot of charcoal in the UK, I thought most of it was South African, but beyond that I didn’t really know much about it. Then we bought a charcoal retort to make our own charcoal, and with that I learned a lot – or my wife did, and she told me. Of the two of us she knows a lot more about charcoal, but I’m a better typist. Why make charcoal? There are probably many answers to that: why not? But in my case the answer was forestry. I’ve worked in the wood for all my adult life and done a lot of different jobs for a lot of different people. We’ve worked on small scale woods in the Central Belt of Scotland for almost 20 years now and a continuing theme is lack of management of small woods, particularly hardwood Page 57

WOOD PROCESSING plantations. Hardwood plantations have more or less taken over small woods over the last 30 years or so (more?) due to government policy and grants leading owners down this route. It may be an admirable sentiment, and good for all sorts of butterflies and beasties, but hardwood plantations rarely keep people like me employed. Historically there has been no real market for small diameter hardwood, although biomass and firewood do take an amount it can be difficult to get enough together to make it worthwhile. So, charcoal. Small amounts of timber; for our own use so doesn’t need to be collated into a wagon load; a better profit margin than firewood (I hope) and the right stuff available. Unlike tropical hardwoods, temperate broadleaf forests grow trees whose cell structure is ideally suited for making charcoal: alder, ash, hazel to name but a few. We are fortunate enough to do some work on our local estate who have around 40 compartments of woodland of all types and ages, around a third being youngish hardwood in small blocks. We are also fortunate that the estate has a long heritage and a long memory so they know that hardwood will, in the long term, almost always make money, but, and this is a very big but, only if it is quality hardwood. Many of us working in forestry today are used to the modern spruce model where we plant it, weed it, beat it up, spray it a couple of times, shut the gate and then roll up in a harvester 40 odd years later. Growing

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quality hardwood doesn’t work like that. The first bit is the same, plant it, weed it, beat it up, but after that it gets more labour intensive. Stumping back, formative pruning, early pruning, singling, high pruning and thinning are all things which at the very least want thought about. They all cost money, and they are all very easy to ignore resulting in a poor crop of little value – I’m sure everybody’s seen plenty of examples of this. We are lucky enough to work for people who are prepared to put the investment in, but it has always stuck in my craw to thin a woodland to waste at a cost to the landowner. Hence the charcoal idea, thin a woodland to create a product and reduce the costs to the landowner, I doubt it will ever make a return for the owner, but if there is little or no cost to them the operation becomes a lot more attractive. I’ve talked about charcoal and this idea in a vague sort of a way for a number of years, but at the APF in 2014 I stumbled across charcoal retorts. These were new to me as I thought you made charcoal in a kiln – a process not far removed from witchcraft as far as I could make out, involving being up all night watching a burn, looking at smoke, blocking things off and opening them back up again. Central Scotland isn’t exactly dripping with charcoal producers, so there isn’t really anywhere I can go to learn the art of charcoal kilns. Retorts, on the other hand, are very easy to use – at least according to the people selling them at the APF! Armed with this information I

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came home and began to talk a little more seriously about charcoal, to the point that my wife came with me to the 2016 APF and we had a much more in depth look at charcoal retorts. Most retorts work by keeping the wood which is to by pyrolised (made into charcoal) separate from the heat source. The wood is loaded into a chamber and heated by a fire lit in a separate chamber. The wood is heated to a point where all the water has boiled off and the volatile gasses are released from it. These gasses are then fed into the fire and the process becomes self-sustaining until the gasses have all been used up. Once this happens the fire goes out and the chamber, which now hopefully contains charcoal instead of wood, is blocked off to save too much oxygen getting to it and causing it to turn to ash. The process is very clean as almost all the particulates are burnt off in the fire, rather than released into the atmosphere, and it can all be completed in an ordinary 8 hour day. It all sounds very straight forward, and all we needed was a retort, however, as usual money is a stumbling block with some of the larger retorts costing significant amounts and by the time you add on the VAT it’s very possible to spend in excess of £20,000. It is fair to say that it is also possible to spend a lot less than that, but we’re still talking significant sums of money. So following the 2016 APF nothing much happened until 2 years later when we had many of the same conversations at yet another APF show, we still liked

October 2021

Photos: The Hookway Retort is intended for anyone who requires a regular supply of top quality charcoal, from black smiths to small businesses and from eco gardeners to the serious barbecuer! Its portability means that it can be taken to heavy and bulky raw materials which eliminates the need to transport them. October 2021

www.forestmachinemagazine.com

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WOOD PROCESSING the idea but still didn’t like the price tag. Luckily for me, my wife is a very determined lady and decided that the charcoal idea still had some merit. She did a bit of legwork, a bit of phoning around and a bit of research on YouTube and discovered it was possible to buy a small retort, with a small(er) price tag. The Hookway Retort. James Hookway started making retorts to produce charcoal and biochar (which I’m not going into here) for his own use. He realised that his retort filled a gap in the market for a small, portable, affordable retort and so began selling both the finished article and plans to make one yourself. I can splatter with a welder, but I’m no good at actual welding so we opted to buy a ready-made retort from James which came with a demonstration of how to use it included in the price, at the time, of £1350. James’ website is www.hookwayretort.co.uk. We’ve been using the retort for almost six months now, have produced and sold an amount of charcoal, and have managed to achieve the main aim of utilising timber which otherwise would have gone to waste. We’ve also bought another two retorts!

Making charcoal has been a learning curve, in many ways and we’ve still got a lot to learn about it, not least effective marketing of the product. We have sold all that we’ve produced, but sales are not an area that we normally work in. So far we are calling the project a success, it has utilised an otherwise waste product and allowed us to add value to it. The economics of it are marginal, I don’t presently see it as taking over from our main business activities, it is very much an add on, a side-line and a way to market our services. It is enjoyable, watching the fire develop and the retort start chuffing as the gasses start to burn is fascinating, it is a good way for my wife and I to spend quality time together. Opening the retort after a burn is always a nerve wracking experience before you find out if it has been a successful burn or if you have a drum full of ash. The sound of the charcoal being emptied is like listening to thousands of tiny pieces of glass breaking all at once and it is very satisfying to produce something from local

timber for (mostly) local use. The difference cooking on home grown charcoal is remarkable, it lights very quickly, burns hot and has none of the chemically smell that often comes from imported charcoal. The proof will be in the pudding: will we still be making charcoal in 5, 10, 15 years time? I hope so, but who knows? Emissions regulations and veganism may have killed the charcoal market by then. Then again, there’s always artists charcoal, blacksmiths, biochar………. Tel: 01786 870591 Mob: 07876 562370 Editors Note: As a regular customer of Wallis and Wendy’s I can attest 100% to the above feature. The charcoal is easy to light and ready to cook on in no time and you need less of it to achieve the high heat needed. It burns cleaner and leaves only ash plus there is no need for fire lighters or lighter fuel. Once you try proper charcoal it is very hard to go back to cheap imports.

The problem with the Hookway Retort being it is a small scale operation, and it doesn’t produce enough in a burn to make it commercially viable to spend 8 hours with it in a day. Three retorts however do make just enough charcoal between them and if all lit at once still only take 8 hours (or slightly less) to make a batch.

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October 2021

Multiple chip A selection from our range of extremely strong Chippers

AX9045 In combination with a 20m³ Chip box, this is a hack of a PTO-Chipper that feels at home on any terrain.

AX6060 The Axsel 6060 is a very practical chipper that manoeuvres through the forest with ease.

AX10045 AXSEL has designed this large Chipper especially for the heavier tractors.

AX6545 Our medium range Chipper, equipped with a Heavy duty drum which makes it extremely suitable for chipping logs.

Choose your favorite chipper. For example, the above checked AX9045.

www.axsel.com

A brand of

WOOD PROCESSING

VTECTION SYSTEM OFFERS CANFOR ADDED PROTECTION FROM REDUCE OPERATING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE SCHEDULES orbark recently introduced a new, AT SAWMILLS patent-pending

Vtection® Vibration Detection System. The Vtection system monitors rotor vibration in their 6400X, 3400X, and 3000X series of horizontal grinders to reduce damage from contact with un-grindable objects or other causes of damaging vibration like an out-of-balance rotor, broken insert, or defective bearing. When coupled with Morbark’s Break-Away Torque Limiter, dual hammermill protection - both mechanical and electrical - is achieved. To use the VTECTION system, the operator sets an acceptable operating vibration level through the electronic controller. Since different feedstocks produce different vibration levels, the operator can quickly fine-tune the trip point to match the grinding application. Adjusting the trip point based on the feedstock can help avoid unnecessary stopping of the infeed from normal operating vibration.

Once the VTECTION system is triggered, Morbark’s Integrated Control System (MICS) initiates several actions to remove the tramp material out of the rotor area. The sequence of these actions includes: reversing and stopping the infeed, bringing the engine speed to idle, disengaging the clutch, and a warning message is displayed on

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anfor Corporation will implement reduced operating schedules at its BC sawmills, with the exception of WynnWood. As a result, Canfor’s BC mills are expected to operate at approximately 80% of production capacity and operating schedules may continue to vary as economic conditions warrant.

the MICS screen. At this time, the operator can inspect the grinder and remove the object that caused the trip before resuming operation. With feedstocks ever-changing, the Vtection equipment modes allow the operator to have settings tailored to that day’s grinding application. The Vtection system will stay tied to those modes allowing the user to have various vibration profiles. The system cannot guarantee a machine is without a defect. Operators should always use caution after the system trips, and service work begins, as other components may have experienced damage. Ship-out kits are available for infield installations on preexisting 3000X, 3400X, and 6400X horizontal grinders. www.morbarkdealers.com

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“Due to challenging market conditions, we are implementing reduced operating schedules at our BC sawmills that will remain in place until demand and pricing meaningfully improve. We recognize the impact that volatile lumber markets have on our employees, contractors and communities and we will make efforts to mitigate the negative effects,” said Stephen Mackie, Executive Vice President, North America, Canfor. “We will also leverage our global operating platform to minimize disruptions in supply to our customers.” www.canfor.com

STORA ENSO WINS FOUR SCANSTAR PACKAGING DESIGN AWARDS October 2021

SEGEZHA GROUP LAUNCHES COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF WHITE PAPER

egezha Group, part of Sistema PJSFC and Russia’s leading vertically integrated holding company in the timber industry, with a full-cycle production and deep wood processing, has launched commercial production of two new products: white semiflexible and white high-porosity paper. These are manufactured at the company’s flagship Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill (Karelia). The new products are supplied both to the Group’s in-house converting facilities for the production of paper

packaging as well as to thirdparty customers in Russia and abroad.

tora Enso has received four Nordic ScanStar awards for convenient, eco-friendly packaging designs that replace plastic. All winning designs are made of renewable wood fiber. This year the ScanStar awards received a total of 32 submissions from the Nordic countries and 14 awards were given out. The jury assessed the

level of competition to be high.

October 2021

The production process complies with the highest environmental standards. The paper is produced on BDM11, the most advanced and technologically sophisticated paper machine in both Russia and Europe. The raw material (cellulose) is prepared using cutting-edge equipment: an Andritz pulper (Austria) was installed last year especially for this project, and the water

Stora Enso’s winning designs are: • Eco-friendly magazine packaging concept for Vogue Scandinavia • EcoFreshBox • Lighting track Multipack • Packaging for intelligent fridge www.forestmachinemagazine.com

treatment system was also modernised. “Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have continued to expand our product range, launching unique products for Russia. Currently, we are Russia’s only highly porous white paper manufacturer. We are proud to be able to offer our customers a wider range and package solutions,” says Alexander Kharitonov, Vice-President for Commerce at Segezha Group. www.segezha-group.com Scanstar is a joint Nordic packaging competition held annually since 1969 by the Scandinavian Packaging Association SPA. The competition is open for all packaging solutions designed, converted, or used in one of the Nordic countries. Scanstar 2021 was organised by Svenska Förpackningsgillet. Page 63

Want more from your forestry equipment?

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HAULAGE

KESLA DEALERS Howie Forestry Solutions (HFS) is a newly formed company run by director Adam Howie with assistance from his father Ian. Both are delighted to announce they have been appointed the official Kesla Oy dealers for Scotland.

rom their base near Tarbolton in Ayrshire, HFS will offer customers access to the full range of Kesla forestry products, supply spare parts, carry out a fitting and repair service at their fully equipped workshop, and visit customers for on-site repairs with their two mobile service vehicles and experienced field engineers. When the previous dealers, Jim and Lorna Watt of Caledonian Forestry Services (CFS), retired, there was always going to be huge pressure on the new

October 2021

organisation; however, no one is in a better position to take Kesla forward than a longstanding customer with their own bespoke engineering department. Ian Howie started out in the early 1980s as an agricultural and forestry contractor trading as Ian Howie Forestry. Given his preference for forestry work, in 2006 he had the the idea of using an agricultural tractor, along with a low ground pressure (LGP) trailer, for transporting round timber

BY RAB EASTON

from harvesting sites to stacking areas near main roads. This would help reduce the damage being caused to the forest roads as well as excessive wear and tear to the articulated or wagon and drag configuration of lorries being used. My first meeting with Ian took place when he was in Aberfoyle for a short time, with his tractor and trailer, helping to keep timber moving while the Road Train was undergoing repairs. This was Ian’s first experience of using Kesla cranes and he

AT KESLA

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HAULAGE

L-R: CLAAS Xerion converted by Adam / Kesla 2012T. Ploeger AT 4103 timber transporter. New Holland with Kesla 2010T crane. TerraGator. Valtra with crane mount and trailer made by Adam.

was happy with performance, strength and reliability. The LGP trailers have multiple axles with wheels positioned across the full width, meaning the forest road was rolled evenly. This prevented any rutting of the forest road when carrying much heavier loads –sometimes up to 50 tonnes– and eliminated any damage to narrow tarmac roads. Although using this system incurred additional haulage costs, it offered a substantial saving regarding the upkeep and repairs of forest and minor B roads. Ian has always been eager to identify equipment that will fit in with the services they offer and thought that the TerraGator would be ideal. The trike design, with a large, wide front wheel and wide rear wheels, would help to spread the weight Page 66

distribution of the drive unit. Moreover, a Kesla 2012T crane and timber bunks could be fitted to increase the overall carrying capacity. It also had plenty of engine power for towing the LGP trailer, a good road speed and excellent braking. Ian approached TerraGator (who incidentally were not keen) and Jim at CFS to see if the project would be feasible. Despite being a radical concept for LGP transport, it was hugely successful. While Ian was building up the LGP haulage side of the business Adam served his mechanical engineering apprenticeship at a local agricultural dealer. After successfully completing his training he spent a year overseas working on agricultural contracts in America, eventually joining his father in the business in 2013. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

The five LGP units, two wagon and drags, two tractor trailer units, and the TerraGator kept Adam very busy with servicing and repairs as the company worked on contracts throughout Scotland. Reliable engineers are the backbone of any industry that uses mechanical equipment; downtime can make or break a contractor and Adam understands the importance of keeping the equipment well maintained and in top class condition from the outset. When Adam is caught up with servicing schedules and equipment is behaving, he takes to the workshop to work on special projects. In fact, he designed and manufactured the company’s own LGP trailers and fabricated bespoke frames with hydraulic stabilising legs on their tractors to attach the Kesla October 2021

cranes. They have experienced no issues with the Kesla cranes, which were used on all their LGPs, and wouldn’t consider using any other brand. With the company’s huge workload, Adam often had to help out with the driving to meet deadlines:“We were that busy keeping on top of all of our contracts and I was flat out between servicing/repairs and driving that sleep was sometimes a luxury,” laughs Adam. 2016 saw a big slowdown in forestry with sawmills restricting the supply of timber. Those in the industry accept that this happens from time to time and generally the slowdowns are just a temporary glitch. With less timber to move, HFS downsized to running just three LGP’s and Adam found himself with a bit more time on his October 2021

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HAULAGE

Top: Trailers being Left: Fitting the crane onto

hands. Ian and Adam began looking for an alternative to the TerraGator as, despite still being an effective workhorse, its working hours were starting to add up and Agco were about to cease production. A CLASS Xerion Saddle Trac was decided upon as it ticked a lot of the right boxes for Adam. In particular, it would be extremely manoeuvrable with twin steering axles, good load capacity, 50km/ hr road speed, and a 435hp Mercedes Benz engine with a continuously variable ZF Eccom transmission. Although it had wide tyres, Adam envisioned a method of fitting extra axles which could be raised when travelling empty and lowered to further reduce ground pressure. Page 68

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October 2021

manufactured in the large workshop. Adam’s mounting plate. Delivery of new Kesla 2110T crane.

I saw this not long after it had been completed as we had organised a sightseeing tour of Scotland with some forestry visits for 30 Finnish timber hauliers. Adam took us to where his father Ian was extracting timber and Jari Palojarvi, the organiser, said that this was the highlight of the trip as they had never seen anything quite like the CLAAS before. There was a real buzz in the air as the group inspected every millimetre of the vehicle and trailer. It is certainly testament to Adam’s ingenuity and engineering skills that he impressed 30 experienced members of The Association of the Forest Industry Road Carriers so much that they were still discussing his creation the following day. The past year has seen the October 2021

timber markets busier than ever and HFS are currently using six LGP trailers. Indeed, in the 15 years they have been using Kesla cranes they have only ever experienced one issue – a cracked slew pod which was easily replaced. The Kesla cranes used by HFS work much harder than cranes used by timber hauliers; they move a lot more timber each day given their ability to carry much larger volumes and transport multiple loads due to the shorter driving distances.

Adjoining the workshop is the spare parts department which will offer a good selection of spares, accessories, oils and grease; here, there is also a hydraulic hose making facility where anyone looking for a replacement hose can call in. Opposite their workshop is the engineering department, which covers profile cutting and intricate engineering projects. To the rear of the workshops is a large secure parking area with enough room for a fleet of Lorries.

I visited Adam at his workshop and I was amazed by the size of the premises. A short distance off the A77, the premises are easily visible from the B730. Access is superb with a wide tarmac drive leading to the well-equipped workshop with plenty of room to work on four articulated trailers at once.

Adam will be offering a full Kesla installation, servicing and repair service, supplying and installing timber superstructures and bunks for logging trucks. He will also be the UK distributor and installer for a new, innovative auto-lube greasing system for cranes - which will feature in our December issue.

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HAULAGE In addition, he will be offering a bespoke fabrication service working with customers and using CAD designs to bring their engineering ideas to life, as well as carrying out LOLER testing at his workshop.

Having worked alongside Ian and Adam, I would have no reservations whatsoever about recommending HFS and the equipment and services they will be offering. Howie Forestry Solutions Mobile: +44(0) 7792 804273 Office: +44(0) 1292 541145

HFS have two service vehicles for carrying out on-site repairs whenever needed and one or more engineers available at the premises for customers who drop in. I have known Adam for some time and he is a hardworking, well-respected, honest, and driven young man who understands what is needed to succeed in forestry. On the LGP timber side of the business they have almost no turnover of staff and have a reputation as good employers who appreciate the individuals working for them.

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October 2021

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Generation 36 New series of the Pm Trac - Generation 36

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VEHICLES

TOYOTA’S NEW TONERO RANGE IS LEANER AND CLEANER THAN EVER

oyota Material Handling has announced that its top selling Tonero range of counterbalanced forklift trucks is now offered with newlydeveloped Stage V compliant diesel and LPG engines. Toyota’s own in-house design team has been working on the development of the ultra-clean and highly fuel-efficient diesel (1ZS) and LPG (4Y-ECS) engines for almost five years, and the engines are not only designed by Toyota – the company builds them too. Toyota’s Sales Training

and Product Development Manager, Sam Gray, comments: “Toyota is one of the very few forklift manufacturers with the engineering expertise and market commitment to design and produce its own range of industrial engines. Whereas many others choose to outsource the key aspect of engine development, Toyota is proud to develop and build lift truck engines in-house.”

environmental benefits.

The engines, combined with other engineering advances incorporated within the design of the Toyota Tonero Stage V range, deliver a host of

In fact, emissions from both the diesel- and LPG-fuelled Tonero Stage V forklift ranges are now so minimal that they are notably lower than the levels set out by

For example, thanks in part to the integration of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) within the diesel engine and the introduction of a three-way catalytic exhaust system for the LPG trucks, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions have all been dramatically reduced.

NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER V8 BOND EDITION INSPIRED BY ‘NO TIME TO DIE’

and Rover SV Bespoke has created a new Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition to celebrate the 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die, ahead of its world première later this month. Available to order as a Defender 90 or 110 and inspired by the specification of the

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October 2021

maintenance work does have to be carried out, the Tonero’s new, lean design enables engineers to access vital components quickly and easily – which means that servicing is completed efficiently and truck downtime is minimised.

the European Commission in its Stage V emissions standards for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). The new range is also exceptionally fuel efficient – which, of course, is environmentally beneficial and also leads to a significant reduction in forklift running costs. The cost savings are particularly impressive when calculated over a truck’s lifetime. When it comes to productivity, the Toyota Tonero Stage V range has been designed to ensure that users benefit from maximum truck uptime. For instance, the trucks require minimal maintenance, while service intervals have been increased, and when Defenders that appear in No Time To Die, the stealthy Defender V8 Bond Edition features an Extended Black Pack with 22-inch Gloss Black alloy wheels, signature Xenon Blue front brake calipers and a ‘Defender 007’ rear badge. The bespoke touches extend to the practical interior, with illuminated ‘Defender 007’ treadplates and a specially developed start-up animation for the intuitive Pivi Pro October 2021

Uptime is further enhanced by the diesel particulate filter’s automatic regeneration feature which means that DPF service intervals are long, up to 6,000 hours of operation. Meanwhile, the three-way catalytic exhaust system used on the LPG-engine Tonero Stage V is completely maintenance free. Like all Toyota models, the new Tonero range delivers outstanding driveability. Low noise and vibrations help keep the truck operator comfortable throughout his or her shift, while the introduction of a new simple and intuitive dashboard display along with ergonomically positioned controls combine to give an added boost to operator efficiency and truck productivity.

family of hydrostatic IC engine counterbalance forklift trucks. The powerful hydrostatic LPG and diesel engines provide smooth, controllable yet rapid acceleration and allow the trucks to switch direction of travel from forward to reverse quickly and fluently – making the Toyota Tonero HST range ideally suited to busy operations that involve a lot of shunting work and where large volumes of goods have to be loaded and unloaded speedily, efficiently and safely. Toyota’s Sam Gray added: “The new Tonero and Tonero HST models include many new features and improvements that meet customers’ requirements in terms of quality, driveability and safety. We strive to continue developing increasingly efficient IC-engine counterbalanced lift trucks with lower emission levels that minimise the total cost of ownership.”

The new Stage V engine is one of the keys to the exceptional levels of performance offered by Toyota’s recently updated and enhanced Tonero HST

For more information on the new Toyota Tonero HST range visit Hydrostatic Stage V Forklift Range | Toyota Material Handling UK (toyota-forklifts. co.uk)

infotainment system touchscreen that honours Land Rover’s long partnership with the James Bond franchise. At night, customers will also spot unique ‘007’ puddle lamp graphics. Exclusively available to just 300 buyers around the world, the Defender V8 Bond Edition’s interior features laser etching detailing that it is ‘one of 300’ and the SV Bespoke logo. The UK will receive just 15 Bond V8 Edition vehicles; five

Defender 90 and 10 Defender 110 bodystyles. The Bond Edition is powered by a 5.0-litre 525PS supercharged petrol engine, which produces 525PS, 625Nm of torque and drives through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Defender V8 90 accelerates from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 149mph. www.landrover.com Better get my lottery on!

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VEHICLES

E IN BRITA AD I

THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL ‘ALL ELECTRIC’ QUAD RANGE

E IN BRITA I

t is a refreshing change to see a British designed and manufactured environmentally friendly product making an impact around the world. The Eco Charger all electric quad range is doing just that. From innovative beginnings on a North Devon Farm, Eco Charger has rapidly grown to become a world leader in the development and manufacture of Electric All -Terrain Vehicles (E-ATV’s - Quad bikes). Eco Charger’s founder Fred Chugg hails from a long established Devon farming

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family and the family farm, ‘Keypitts’, near Ilfracombe has been in the Chugg family since the 15th century. Like so many farmers facing unrelenting pressures and challenges, the Chuggs followed the family tradition of embracing change and set out in the late 1990’s to diversify the business. The result was that Keypitts developed as a major North Devon outdoor visitor attraction featuring, horse riding together with quad bike driving and country trail experiences. By 2009, the family found themselves running one of the UK ‘s first and largest conventional Quad Bike experiences. The operation employed over 40 people and at one point was operating over 100 various types of Quads. A natural entrepreneur and innovator, Fred discovered that the Quad Bike side of the business offered him a valuable insight into the market potential for these unique vehicles, both in terms of working with the www.forestmachinemagazine.com

available technology, as well as gaining extensive practical experience studying how Quads performed across a wide range of terrains and weather conditions. This invaluable experience convinced Fred that the time was right to explore the concept of developing an electric powered ATV initially to use in his own Quad Park. The available petrol driven Quads were unsuitable for both the local natural and agricultural environments as they caused pollution, were noisy and expensive to run and maintain. This nascent interest in electric power harmonising with the family’s desire to run a ‘Greener’ farm experience complemented their strategic move to sourcing their energy requirements through Wind and Solar PV technology. Keypitts Farm is often referenced as an exemplar of ‘best practice’ environmental sustainability and ‘clean’ energy generation in the agricultural sector. October 2021

Initially the development team, led by Fred, experimented with adapting and converting existing petrol quads. They created the first working trial concept vehicle but it soon became obvious that to work successfully it would be necessary to design and build a completely new vehicle format that would be robust enough to fulfil a wide range of tasks. In 2011 the first Eco Charger E-ATV was released to market as a pre-production prototype. This proved phenomenally successful and the vehicle is still in active use - including a stint as a stable camera platform for the World Athletics event staged at the Olympic Stadium in London. In 2013, it became clear there was a demand for a high-quality E-ATV but with a marked resistance on price at the lower entry level. At this point the Eco Charger enterprise was separated out from the Chugg farming businesses and established as a stand-alone company. In 2014, the directors decided to position the growing range of vehicles firmly as high standard, robust working vehicles applying for CE registration marking whilst simultaneously October 2021

upgrading supplier sourcing across the range to select only the best components predominately and increasingly from UK companies. Emphasis also moved towards building vehicles to exacting engineering specifications rather than to a unit cost. The emphasis was on the environmental advantages of electric power, zero emissions, reduced noise, and recharging capabilities enshrined as key drivers. From this point on, Eco Charger rapidly expanded their business operations in terms of new vehicle development; volume production, adoption of new technologies, active marketing and buoyant sales both in the UK and increasingly export markets. The company has established a continuously developing network of agents and dealerships, across Europe, Australasia and Southern Africa and more recently the USA. The current vehicle range of five models has been refined to offer both 2WD and 4WD models with options for lead acid power supplies and more recently introduced Lithium technology. Expanding demand led the www.forestmachinemagazine.com

company to establish its principal manufacturing base at Weston Super Mare with up to date facilities and excellent UK and international logistics links. Further expansion took place in 2021 and a Heritage Interpretation & Education Centre opened encouraging interest in Energy Generation, Environmental Conservation, sustainable farming practices and the Eco Charger story. An additional 210 m² of floor space was also set up to function as a multi-function stores facility, distribution, customisation and UK service centre for the company’s entire UK and export operations. The quad bikes are designed, developed and produced in a truly alternative factory. They are assembled using 100% renewable energy with 8kWp on-grid and 8kWp off-grid solar arrays and a 4kWp wind turbine supplying a 24kW battery bank. When the battery bank is full a control light comes on, meaning the Production Team can use the power tools. When the battery bank is depleted the Production Team revert to hand tools. This is a simple and revolutionary process that reduces the carbon footprint of these bikes. Page 75

VEHICLES The Eco Charger ATV is designed and built as a workhorse, rigorous testing, controlled production and quality components make it a machine to rely on. It has amazing torque for towing, regenerative braking to preserve power and quiet when approaching horses and livestock are additional benefits.

LITHIUM PRESTIGE 4WD Max Speed Drive Max Range Max Power From £19,995

50 km/h 4WD 110 KM 72V

Most ATV owners spend £1,500/ year - at current prices. £6.36/ gallon, that’s 236 gallons. With a typical 20mpg quad that’s 4720 miles travelled. The Eco Charger travels 30 miles per charge. 4720 miles needs 157 charges, at 50p per charge, that’s – £79/year or free if you are generating your own solar or wind energy.

LITHIUM PRESTIGE 4WD Max Speed Drive Max Range Max Power From £13,995

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LITHIUM POWER 4WD Max Speed Drive Max Range Max Power From £17,995

There are five models available all with hi/low range from the 50km/hr 2WD Dominator designed for lighter duties starting at £9,995.00 to the Lithium Prestige 50 km/hr 4WD with diff lock and a range of 110km for £19,995.00.

50 km/h 4WD 65 KM 72V

All models are charged via a domestic plug.

DOMINATOR 2WD Max Speed Drive Purpose Max Power From £9,995

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1-2-3 WARRANTY If you work the land in these challenging times, Eco Charger want to give you one less thing to worry about: To demonstrate the confidence they have in their bikes, they offer, on top of the standard 1 year manufacturer’s warranty, an extra 2 year extended warranty, so you can enjoy 3 years stress-free quad bike usage.

ELIMINATOR 4WD Max Speed 50 km/h Drive 4WD Purpose Heavy Duty Max Power 72V From £14,995 This is our flagship Eco Charger. Page 76

www.ecochargerquads.com www.forestmachinemagazine.com

October 2021

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VEHICLES

AW TREECARE CHIPS IN WITH “FIT FOR PURPOSE” FUSO CANTER FROM MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER BELL TRUCK AND VAN

rboriculture specialist AW Treecare is running its first truck – and the 3.5-tonne FUSO Canter has quickly taken root for the County Durham company. It was supplied by local Mercedes-Benz Dealer Bell Truck and Van, which, like other members of the manufacturer’s franchised network in Britain, is also responsible for sales and support of the popular FUSO light truck range.

was more closely tailored to our needs.”

Established nine years ago by proprietor Alex Walker, AW Treecare relied previously on a faithful, but ageing, 4x4 truck to transport members of its team and their tools, and to tow wood-chippers, stump-grinders, and other plant.

“A modest footprint coupled with a high degree of manoeuvrability was important, as we often have to get on and off tight domestic driveways, and so, too, was an automatic gearbox. I considered several contenders but it quickly became apparent that none could match the FUSO Canter as an all-round package – it really did tick all our boxes.”

However, explained Mr Walker: “We’d reached the stage in the development of the business at which we needed a vehicle that Page 78

He recalled: “I had a set of criteria in mind when I began the search, the most important of which was a worthwhile increase in carrying capacity. The new truck had to be tough enough to stand up to a rigorous working life, and have a comfortable cab able to carry three people without being too cramped.

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He continued: “I was also very impressed by Bell Truck and Van. Unlike some of the dealers I approached, it’s a dedicated commercial vehicle specialist so set up to serve a business like mine. Sales Executive Alex Wordsworth was attentive and put in a lot of time to properly understand our requirements, then help us come up with the ideal specification.” The 3.5-tonne GVW Canter shares the same gutsy 3.0-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine as its conventionally powered 7.5- and 8.55-tonne stablemates. In the 3C15 model as specified by AW Treecare, this powerplant produces 110 kW (150 hp) and an impressive 370 Nm – variable turbine technology ensures that high torque is available from low engine speeds. The smoothshifting and fuel-efficient DUONIC automated dual-clutch October 2021

transmission comes with Eco Mode, Parking and Creep functions. The Canter’s specialised, highsided tipping body was designed and built to meet Alex Walker’s precise requirements by Euro Truck Bodies, of Shildon, Co. Durham, and incorporates lockable tool and equipment compartments. Importantly, given AW Treecare’s towing requirements, the Canter is also rated to pull trailers with gross weights of up to 3.5 tonnes. “We’re delighted with the new truck, which is entirely fit for purpose,” confirmed Mr Walker. “The cab is roomy enough to carry three people in comfort, and we also specified air-conditioning, which is very welcome when you’re working in heavy protective gear on a hot day. The engine pulls really well too, even with full loads on the truck and trailer. “The Canter is purpose-built and allows us to work much more efficiently than ever before, as well as presenting a smart, professional appearance to our customers. It’s the perfect tool for the job.” October 2021

AW Treecare undertakes arboricultural and related work for a broad variety of domestic and commercial clients. Most are located in the NorthEast but it also serves others throughout the country and even overseas. Remarkably, the company has undertaken a series of assignments in the Jordanian capital of Amman, at the Royal Palace of King Abdullah II. “That opportunity came up almost by accident,” recalled Mr Walker. “We’ve worked on great houses in England and Scotland for the National Trust, and for members of the British aristocracy, and I’ve built up a network of contacts. One of those individuals took on a senior role looking after the King’s estate, and recommended me to help with an arboriculture project. We’ve since flown out several times to provide supervisory, technical and training support – as you might expect, the experience and hospitality were out of this world.” mercedes-benz-trucks.com www.awtreecare.co.uk www.forestmachinemagazine.com

MORE THAN 2000 VISITORS CELEBRATED THE 75TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNIMOG

5 years of the Unimog were celebrated this weekend in Gaggenau among other things with a convoy of 75 Unimog vehicles which weaved its way from the production plant in Wörth am Rhein via Karlsruhe and along the country roads to the Unimog’s home town of Gaggenau in the Murg Valley. The Gaggenau plant produced the Unimog under the Mercedes-Benz brand name from 1951 onwards and so 2021 actually marks a double anniversary: 75 years of the Unimog and 70 of those with the Mercedes star on the bonnet. The initial birthplace of the “universally applicable motorised device” as the Unimog was originally known was in Schwäbisch Gmünd, where the first prototype underwent testing on fields and up hills as early as 1946. www.mbs.mercedes-benz.com Page 79

VEHICLES

esla has finally confirmed that production of the Cybertruck electric pickup truck will be delayed until 2022 but claim it will be well worth the wait as it will have better utility than a truck with more performance than a sports car. The Cybertruck is built with an exterior shell made for ultimate durability and passenger protection. Starting with a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton, every component is designed for superior strength and endurance, from Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel structural skin to Tesla armor glass. The Exoskeleton body is one of the reasons for the delay as it requires a requires

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October 2021

TESLA CYBERTRUCK completely new manufacturing processes. “If there was something better, we’d use it.” states Tesla. The ultra-hard 30x cold rolled stainless steel helps to eliminate dents, damage and long-term corrosion. It offers a smooth monochrome exoskeleton that puts the shell on the outside of the car and provides the driver and passengers maximum protection. The ultra-strong glass and polymerlayered composite can absorb and redirect impact force for improved performance and damage tolerance. The Cybertruck has the capabilities to challenge all of the top-selling pickup trucks. This truck can tow up to 14,000 pounds and has an estimated driving range of 500-plus miles thanks to potent electric motors. Three models will be available, the single motor rear wheel

drive, dual motor all wheel drive and the tri motor all wheel drive. According to Tesla, the cheapest single motorversion starts at $39,900, the dual motor all wheel drive at $49,900 while the tri motor starts at $69,990. All models have 100cu ft of storage with autopilot and adaptive air suspension as standard. Ground clearance is up to 13” with an approach angle of 35° and departure angle of 28°. As for charging, you can use a network of Tesla Superchargers as the quickest way of recharging the new Cybertruck. It is suggested that from 10 to 100 percent takes less than an hour or you can use a 240volt charger, but for complete replenishment will take around 10 hours. Personally I’m still not convinced by all electric vehicles and wonder whether it has been

thought through properly. I agree its good for the planet and clean energy but what will happen if you get caught in bad weather conditions, I have seen me sat for hours in cold wintry conditions crawling forward with the engine ticking over to keep everyone warm. You can carry extra fuel if conditions are expected to be bad but carrying a petrol or diesel generator to charge an electric vehicle kind of defeats the object. When you do get going the first service station will be chaos if we are in a position where most cars are electric, thousands of vehicles could be waiting on chargers. And what if the weather is that bad that when you reach the services there is a power cut or you have tens of thousands of cars plugging in at once. Will the national grid be able to cope with such large power surges. There are so many scenarios where electric power just isn’t the answer. I think that the Hybrid vehicles are a much better idea and something I would consider. They are good starting point for lowering emissions and are not reliant on a single source of power. Saying that Tesla have accumulated over one million reservations for the Cybertruck to date so maybe I’m just an old fashioned stuck in the mud relic left over from the 1950’s. www.tesla.com

October 2021

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EDUCATION

BA International is an acronym for the Awarding Body Association - a nonprofit international education and certification body - offering courses for many industries including forestry. Their aim is to offer affordable training and improve safety standards, mobility and professional levels of competence to set an internationally recognised benchmark while reducing barriers to gaining employment. They are a regulated awarding body who deliver qualifications between partner organisations worldwide. Their training courses and certification schemes include chainsaw use and operating the latest timber harvesting machinery and equipment. Surprisingly I hadn’t heard anything about ABA, which was established in 2012, until a chance meeting with ABA Assessor Andy Dixon while I was out on a site visit in Cumbria. Andy explained about ABA and their aims for the UK and suggested I contact ABA’s Executive Director William (Billy) Robb for a chat. Having read Billy’s CV it was obvious that he had the October 2021

background and experience to hold the position of Executive Director, here are just a few of his accomplishments; •

• •

•

2019- Present; Forestry Lecturer and ResearcherEuropean Forestry Masters programme at the University of Mendel in Brno, Czech Republic. 2012-Present; President of ABA International. 2007-Present; Managing Director and Forestry Safety Consultant of A1 Arborists Ltd 1994-98 University of Aberdeen BSc Honours Degree in Forestry 1991-2004 Forestry and Arboriculture Safety and Training Council/LANTRA Registered Instructor 1991-2019 NPTC & Scottish Skills Testing Centre – Approved Assessor/ Examiner for using Chainsaws, Chippers, Elevated Platforms, Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue etc.

Billy explained that ABA is fast becoming the benchmark for training and assessment standards which are recognised by many industries. ABA have training centres available throughout Europe, Canada, www.forestmachinemagazine.com

China, Thailand and the Middle East. There are two training & assessment Centres in the UK, one in the South East and the other in Cumbria. Both offer training courses and ABA certification in all levels of chainsaw use from basic crosscutting and maintenance to advanced felling and dealing with windblown and damaged trees. ABA Centres also offer courses in arboriculture, working at height, ATV use and chipper use/maintenance etc. ABA’s harvesting machinery certification is not fully utilised in the UK but is well established in Ireland following evaluation and approval by State owned commercial Forestry Service body Coillte. Coillte is an approved ABA Centre. Training and assessment leading to ABA certification can be carried out on Centres own sites or at customers’ workplaces and offer a practical and realistic approach to training. The instructors/assessors results are recorded and monitored for performance and all instructors/ assessors are regularly independently verified. Training is vital no matter what occupation you are in and being taught by a seasoned Page 83

EDUCATION professional for a realistic cost that can help you work efficiently and safely is the way forward. With a huge shortage of bums on seats for mechanised timber harvesting we should be looking at every training avenue that will help to alleviate this crisis. I think having a universal training and certification scheme, recognised globally and run at a realistic cost by a non profit organisation might be a big help in alleviating our shortfall in skilled operators. ABA are currently engaged in a number of European projects aimed at developing practical quality standards for the benefit of operators. Additionally, internationalisation of these standards benefits the mobility of operators across borders. One example is the current Erasmus+ ‘European Forest Machine Operators Certification’ (EFMO) project. Qualification standards have been developed, mapped against UK standards, tested and implemented in various partner countries. The focus has been primarily on harvester, forwarder and skidder operations and comparing practices. ABA is actively supporting workshops and certification events throughout its network and the production of training guidance materials. ABA’s key role in the project is quality assurance to ensure the assessment standards delivered in Romania for example are no different from those delivered in the UK or Ireland. With its 24/7 online qualification check the ‘ABA e-passport’ employers can Page 84

ABA verifiers & assessors attending a forestry workshop in Latvia

A harvester operator during an ABA assessment in Czech Republic quickly find out and validate the current status of the operator’s certification Employers have been very positive of this initiative particularly where they recruit employees from other countries. For example, the ABA chainsaw skills levels ground-based and aerial have been independently mapped against UK levels and evaluated as at least equivalent. This provides employers with a clear benchmark of a potential www.forestmachinemagazine.com

employee’s skills level. Refresher requirements with re-assessment are core to ABA certification to ensure operators remain up to date and maintain their competency. These requirements apply to ABA verifiers and assessors too. Additionally, ABA centres are audited regularly. In addition to qualification provision and international October 2021

FORESTRY EQUIPMENT TRAINING SIMULATORS

C An ABA chainsaw workshop in Thailand

An example of the ABA 24/7 online qualification check projects ABA is engaged in supporting partners involved in industry research aimed at improving occupational safety and health and sharing knowledge. For example, ABA partners such as the Department of Engineering at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood TechnologyUniversity of Mendel in Brno have recently developed a harvester prototype with multi-function traction and a hybrid drive. Other examples of research activities include investigations of reduced impact logging techniques and arborist ergonomic studies. Teaching includes the European Forestry MSc program which is taught in English and open to international students including graduates from the UK and October 2021

Ireland. Subjects such as forest technology and silviculture are taught on a pan-European level https://www.ldf.mendelu.cz/ en/international-cooperation/ study-in-english/30402european-forestry. ABA continues to build on the success of its European programs and develop enhanced international qualifications. High risk forestry occupations include the use of chainsaws. Chainsaw use is also hazardous in other occupations such as agriculture and arboriculture therefore ABA continues to promote ‘Quality Safety Standards’ in chainsaw operations worldwide across industry sectors to achieve its mission to ‘Reduce Accidents and Fatalities’. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

M Labs’ new Forestry Simulator Training Pack can help fast-track skills development for forest equipment operators. Thanks to its large virtual training environment, trainees can quickly acclimate to their surroundings while benefiting from longer more challenging tasks. This new training solution includes the Harvester and Forwarder simulator and enables comprehensive education for forest equipment operators — from roadwork with CM Labs’ Earthmoving Training Packs, and now, cutting and moving timber. The Training Simulators were designed in collaboration with Tigercat Industries to ensure precision engineering and realistic machine behaviour. The simulators replicate the functionality and behaviour of the 20-tonne Tigercat 1075C log forwarder and the Tigercat 1165 mid-sized wheel harvester. The forwarder is designed for demanding, high-production cut-to-length applications, while the Tigercat 1165 midsized wheel harvester is used for selective cut and final fell harvesting operations. Using simulators for training on these complex vehicles ensures riskfree, safe training for operators and decreases training time and costs, freeing up actual Page 85

EDUCATION

equipment for its work on the jobsite. The packs feature an industry-based curriculum built to meet the training and recruitment demands of the industry. HARVESTER SIMULATOR TRAINING PACK The Harvester simulator is the only solution on the market that simulates the harvesting cycle in detail so operators learn to proficiently control the felling direction, delimb a tree, and cut-to-length based on requested specs. All of which they can repeat and perfect with no harm to the environment or themselves. With the Harvester simulator students can fail safely and learn from their mistakes. Machine specifications provided by Tigercat Industries modelled within CM Labs’ awardwinning software ensures that everything from the Harvester’s hydraulics system, engine behaviour, crane operation as well as movement of the harvester head is accurately replicated. This results in a training solution that delivers the most transferable operator skills anywhere, outside the real equipment. A large immersive environment Page 86

fully equipped with multiple tree species that includes night-time operations as well as different weather conditions like fog, rain, or snow provides trainees a realistic lens into the actual work setting. Built-in performance metrics track everything from fuel consumption, efficiency cutting trees, and safety violations. Customizable scoring allows users to weight each metric for objective and standardized evaluation. FORWARDER SIMULATOR TRAINING PACK With the Forwarder Simulator Training Pack, students acquire the skills needed to be productive operators on the job. Supported by the largest and widest variety of simulated terrains on the market, this training pack ensures future operators gain exposure to realworld scenarios in an expansive environment fully equipped with multiple tree species as well as off-road driving on rocks, rivers, slopes and tree stumps. Just like on the real machine, operators feel everything from the feedback of the crane when grappling multiple logs to the vehicle’s suspension when driving off road. cm-labs.com www.forestmachinemagazine.com

he latest creation of the famous ‘bamboo school’ is a gym with bamboo arches that span 19 metres. Nestled in the heart of the Balinese jungle, Green School is something of an institution. Founded in 2008 by entrepreneur John Hardy and his wife Cynthia Hardy, this international school describes itself as a ‘school of the now’: a wall-less, nature-immersed campus in the trees, which aims to inspire children’s creativity and curiosity through its surroundings. A big part of Green School’s appeal is its buildings, which are made entirely from locally sourced bamboo. Indeed, bamboo is more than just a building material: it is a key part of Green School’s sustainability ethos. When INBAR spoke with John Hardy in the Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress in 2015, he said: “Bamboo is the only material we can actually promise everybody. We can promise everybody October 2021

Photo Credit: Tommaso Riva & IBUKU

THE ARC: GREEN SCHOOL’S LATEST BAMBOO BUILDING an extra house with bamboo! All we have to do is plant it. It grows almost everywhere. Every shooting season I stand in the garden in Bali, and I wonder how could it be that in three years, this plant in my garden will become timber for me to build another building.” The original Green School campus was built by John Hardy’s team under the creative direction of Aldo Landwehr, and since 2010 all significant structures have been designed by IBUKU under Elora Hardy’s creative direction and built by PT Bamboo Pure. ‘The Arc’ is Green’s School latest bamboo building, built in just 8 months by IBUKU, the leading Indonesian bamboo design firm, in collaboration with bamboo construction specialist Jörg Stamm and the British structural engineering company Atelier One. Other emblematic buildings of the school include October 2021

the multi-storey Heart of School and the Millennium Bridge. The Arc is a visually impressive creation: a 14-metre-tall, 23.5-metre-wide and 41-metrelong structure made of intersecting bamboo arches that span 19 metres. The curving roof is not just aesthetic. This ‘anticlastic structure’ derives its strength and stability from the curvature in two opposite directions, and allows the building to have a long, open space without columns. The inspiration for this building was drawn from a human ribcage. According to Jörg Stamm, who first drew up the concept for the building: “The Arc operates like the ribs of a mammal’s chest, stabilised by tensile membranes analogous to tendons and muscles between ribs. Biologically, these highly tensile microscopic tendons transfer forces from bone to www.forestmachinemagazine.com

bone. In The Arc, bamboo splits transfer forces from arch to arch.” This building, with a floor area of 760 square metres, will be used as a wellness space and gymnasium for the school. Dendrocalamus asper is the main local bamboo species used in its construction. It is composed of 18 arches, which are made of bundles of bamboo poles, and are ‘curved’ using the technique known in Indonesia as reb-reb, where repeated spaced incisions allow the bamboo pole to bend. The Arc is a living example of the possibilities of round pole bamboo, and part of a promising new era for bamboo architecture: just this year, the International Organization on Standardization published a new standard on structural design with bamboo poles. www.inbar.int Page 87

TRIALS

ONE DIRECTION:

BAST-ING SPINDLE WEDGE TRIALS IN CUMBRIA

e recently took delivery of a new BasT-Ing MiniFix spindle wedge which Kieran Anders, from Kieran Anders Forestry in Cumbria, was particularly keen to trial. Kieran had a good selection of tree sizes on the site he was working, and the choice of three spindle wedges: the MiniFix, ValFast and ValFix. Kieran received the wedges on the Monday and I made arrangements to see him on the Thursday – that way he had some time to get used to them. The harvesting site was near Ulverston in the Lake District, and I arrived first thing, having spent the night at nearby Barrow-in-Furness. The forest is part of the Penny Bridge Estate and is being managed by Longbow Forestry. It is predominately Sitka Spruce with some hardwoods mixed throughout, with reasonably dry and firm ground conditions. To access the forest you have to drive off the tar road, through a farmyard and then across a field; the timber was being stacked next to the tar road. The trees were being felled manually and crosscut at stump by chainsaw operators Theo Kewen and Ailidh Kamp; they were then extracted by Kieran’s Valmet 6650 tractor and Farma T9 forwarder trailer with a C6 3D crane. For awkward or steep October 2021

BY RAB EASTON extraction areas, Kieran has a Valmet 6400 tractor with a three-point linkage Uniforest 85H Pro winch, for skidding the trees to more accessible areas. After introductions were made, I set off with Theo and Ailidh to where they were felling. They were very familiar with each other, and it didn’t take long to realise they were more than just work colleagues. I was interested to find out how they got into forestry, as it is getting rare to find young people working on chainsaws. “Ailidh and I have quite a similar story when it comes to how we both got into Forestry. After finishing a degree in Outdoor Education we were both looking for work, but instead of getting jobs in the outdoor education industry, we stumbled into forestry. “As we had built a campervan that we lived in, we were set up to work where we could find work. We started off planting trees and spraying in the Highlands of Scotland before moving down to Cumbria to see www.forestmachinemagazine.com

if we could find the same type of work. “As both tree planting and spraying are seasonal and weather dependent, we decided to work towards becoming chainsaw operators. This led us to start working with Mike Smith at Longbow Forestry, and now with Kieran at K Anders Forestry. We have defiantly settled in Cumbria and couldn’t see ourselves doing anything other than forestry work now.” Both Theo and Ailidh are competent, productive chainsaw operators who work well together; the first few trees they had to fell were quite large heavy-branched edge trees. They had to be felled against their lean back into the compartment. For these trees they used the ValFast spindle wedge with the Milwaukee impact driver, which completed the work safely and easily. The ValFast is a powerful spindle wedge for real forestry professionals. It has a weight of 5.5kg, with a lift of 26 tonnes. It Page 89

TRIALS

Theo using the ValFast Spindle Wedge

this wedge is capable of felling a tree far beyond the capacity of manual wedges, this is worth the extra effort.

Ailidh felling a smaller backward leaning spruce with the ValFix Spindle Wedge.

is optimized for use with impact wrenches, but it can also be operated with a ratchet at any time. The option of measuringtape control makes the ValFast even more unique. I asked them how they had found the ValFast. “This is an excellent wedge that does a great job of wedging medium to large trees over, and has plenty of lifting power. We generally use the tractor and winch, but the ValFast would prevent you needing the winch for quite a few big edge trees. You need to cut a slot in order to get the wedge in place, but as Page 90

“The downside of this wedge is the weight of it; however, considering the effort of pulling out a winch line all day, this is not a problem. It’s something you wouldn’t want to lug around the woods with you all day, but it would make a fantastic addition to have on your team of cutters.” We moved on to some tall Sitkas at the top of the bank, which probably averaged somewhere around a 0.3m³ tree size: they were finely branched, but the prevailing breeze was against the felling direction. Almost every tree needed a bit of help to get it over, and Theo and Ailidh were using both the MiniFix and ValFix depending on the tree size. The ValFix has a very flat wedge angle but still generates high lifting forces. The ValFix spindle is partially integrated: this means that half of the spindle is www.forestmachinemagazine.com

protected in the felling wedge, and only the second half of the spindle is exposed. This wedge is just 1.4kg and has an impressive 15 tonne lift. The MiniFix is a new felling wedge concept, the world’s first push cone wedge. The wedge pulls itself into the saw cut by means of the cone wedge. In contrast to conventional conical wedges, the lifting force is introduced into the tree via an aluminium wedge. This design generates significantly more lifting force than conventional conical wedges, while at the same time being simple and robust. The MiniFix is perfectly suited to be used in combination with the ValFix for daily use, weighing just 1.4kg. Using the MiniFix and ValFix together will offer chainsaw operators many advantages. “This wedge worked very well as an alternative to manual wedges. It does exactly what it says on the box: it is able to wedge over small to medium trees. The threaded screw pulls the wedge in with ease unless October 2021

the tree is too heavy or has too much of a back lean. The screw just chews itself out and stops pulling the wedge in if it is used on trees that are beyond its capabilities.” Another advantage of this little wedge is freeing the saw without having to push or pull on it. If the chainsaw gets nipped when crosscutting, it comes in very useful for preventing any saw damage with far less physical effort. “The great thing about this wedge is that it simple to use, there is no need to make any additional cuts in order to fit in place. “This wedge has more grip than the MiniFix Wedge, and once it’s in it will go to its full height. Saying this, this wedge is trickier to get into the tree in the first place. You have to insert two to three inches of the wedge into the tree initially and have to cut out a slot to do so. This makes using this wedge on smaller trees a little bit tricky.” I had only taken my large Milwaukee Impact Driver, but one advantage of the ValFix is that it fits in the wedge pouch on your logging belt, and the smaller and lighter impact driver recommended with this wedge also clips onto your belt with the Gunni Tool Holder. Thanks to Theo and Ailidh for their feedback on the spindle wedges. Contact Rab on 07582 005 748 if you are interested in trialling the Stihl MS 462C-M or any of the spindle wedges. October 2021

Top-Bottom: The MiniFix comes in useful when the chainsaw gets pinched while crosscutting. Theo trimming up the butt with Kierans Valmet and forwarder trailer in the background. Theo and Ailidh clearing one of the steeper bankings. www.forestmachinemagazine.com

Page 91

YOUNG LOGGERS

Word search f u r n i t u r e i c a r t p s

t s e n i z a g a m t o n d a t

a o o t m t m o f c a i s i l n

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d r c l k a n w b p l s i i e m

b o a e e c p u e o z e r n t u

Can you find all of the words of items that can be made using trees?

z o u o i t i h t l m s e f s r

s p o n b l p h t u s u t e n t

d i g k d d i a l o e o t c o s

Spot the dif ference

r m a i s n r c p m o h a t i n

a b n t g z h a l e z t b i t i

o g t o w e l s c i r m e n a l

b a n i m a l b e d d i n g l a

r t m e d i c i n e d c f w u c

o l c d s c r e e n s e o i s i

o o e l z g n i t a e h o p n s

l m p l a y p a r k s o d e i u

There are seven to find

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ANIMAL BEDDING o Yo BATTERIES BOOKS CARDBOARD CLOTHING COMICS DISINFECTING WIPES FENCING FLOOR BOARDS ”w o he ere nt tR e A k m grow FOOD a r er poll n from seeds t Stua the U.S o 14 . mo mi FURNITURE . Fo 1971 rbited ver on rest ssion in early o o Service s oke jumper, in t it h HEATING w m h ’ e k comm 200 w S. and module ‘Kity Ha 0 tre e U. HOUSES h e seed T . s s from fve diferent tree Fores t Service bi t INSULATION wanted to see if the moon’s or caused . the seeds to grow iferently back on earth LCD SCREENS d Many of th e seeds were successful and grew into MAGAZINES viable seedlings. Most were given away in 1975 MAKEUP and 1976 to many state forestry organisatons to MEDICINE be planted as part of the naton’s bicentennial MULCH celebraton. The Moon Trees contnue to fourish and afer over forty years there is no discernible MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS diference. PAINTS From the PALLETS anagrams can G A D SO U L R IF you guess the five PLAYPARKS dif ferent Moon ROAD BUILDING Trees species. DE WD OO R Some are tricky! STRETCHWRAP SOMECRAY TOILET PAPER TOOTHPASTE W ESTM U G E TOWELS

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LOL LYLOB PEN I

CARAVAN COOKBOOK

Southern Fried Pork Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 10-20 mins

A quick and tasty meal better than any frozen or chilled shop bought southern fried offerings. INGREDIENTS: • Pork Loin Chop (works equally well with chicken) • 1Egg • Splash of Milk • 1/3 of a 150gm Packet of Sage and Onion Stuffing Mix. • Approx 50ml Cooking Oil

Tip

METHOD

Trim the fat off a pork loin chop , cover with cling film and place on a solid surface. Flatten the pork loin chop to about ¼ inch thick with a rolling pin or mallet. (If you have nothing to flatten it with cut the loin in half long ways with a knife. It is more tender and will cook faster if it is thinner). Whisk the egg and a splash of milk together in a bowl. Put the sage and onion stuffing mix in a separate bowl. Dip the pork in the egg/milk mixture and then press it firmly on either side into the sage and onion mix. Make sure all the pork is covered in the mix. Pour the cooking oil into a frying pan so the base is covered and heat the pan over a medium heat until warm and then and add the pork. Cook for four or five minutes on each side or until the pork is crispy and cooked through, remove from the pan and serve with new/ jacket potatoes/oven chips and coleslaw.

For a healthier option why not grill pork for approx five/six minutes each side. Or oven bake at 190°/ Gas mark 6 for approx 20/25 minutes turning midway until cooked through and crispy.

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