SUSTAINING THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of forestry equipment and solutions, Komatsu Forest’s ability to offer quality, peace of mind, knowledge, and support to its customers is unparalleled. Jens Bengtsson, CEO, discusses the company’s dedication to both sustainability and continuous innovation
Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project
Manager: Nicholas Kernan
Founded in 1921, global equipment manufacturer Komatsu originates from the Japanese city of the same name –home of the former copper mine, Yusenji, which was once vital to the local community’s economy.
When Meitaro Takeuchi, Komatsu’s Founder, assumed ownership of Yusenji, he became aware that the mine’s copper deposits would soon run out.
However, rather than abandoning the development, he pre-emptively funded projects to upskill the local community, including Komatsu Iron Works – a machinery company for the maintenance of mining equipment.
Today, guided by Takeuchi’s principles – quality first, technology innovation, globalisation, and development of people – Komatsu serves multiple industries as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of forestry, construction, mining, and utility equipment.
Takeuchi’s commitment to local communities remains at the company’s core, influencing everything from the way it thinks about innovation to its onboarding processes and customer relations.
“Ever since the founding of our company, it has been important that we contribute to answering the
Jens Bengtsson, CEO
needs of society, both today and for generations to come,” opens Jens Bengtsson, CEO of Komatsu Forest.
Manufacturing equipment and products for professional forestry use worldwide, Komatsu Forest, a subsidiary of Komatsu, headquartered in Sweden, provides end-to-end solutions throughout the forestry lifecycle.
Reflected in its evolution as a truly global company with an extensive and diverse workforce, Bengtsson believes that when the people of Komatsu are united by a common goal, the remarkable can happen.
“We believe that value is best created together, and we accomplish more when we factor people, businesses, and the planet into our decisions,” he adds.
As such, due to the rich heritage and underpinning values that the entire group has carried forward for over 100 years, Komatsu Forest is a company poised for success.
INDUSTRY EVOLUTION
Over the years, the European forestry industry has witnessed significant evolution.
Today, sustainable forestry management and timber harvesting, such as that carried out by equipment produced by Komatsu Forest, is seen by many as a realistic solution to the use of fossil fuels and single-use plastics.
“Forestry is an essential business for the lifestyle we lead but also a major contributor to the necessary transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable materials – for example, exchanging plastics for paper or concrete for wood,” Bengtsson outlines.
The global shift towards limiting single-use plastics is very much ongoing, with raw forestry materials undeniably crucial in supplying alternatives.
However, trees themselves have also become increasingly valued and safeguarded for their role as essential contributors to
the environment, from biodiversity to climate change mitigation.
As such, a wide range of EU policies have emerged to protect European forests and sustain their environmental benefits, including the EU’s Forest Strategy for 2030, Biodiversity Strategy, Nature Restoration Law, and Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
Specifically, the Paris Agreement,
which sets out to cut global carbon emissions, directly benefits from living trees as essential mitigators of carbon dioxide (CO2).
“Standing forests are needed to sequester CO2 and thus contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement’s climate goals. As a result, we see new regulations for forestry coming into place all the time,” Bengtsson points out.
“EVER SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR COMPANY, IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTRIBUTE TO ANSWERING THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY, BOTH TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME”
– JENS BENGTSSON, CEO, KOMATSU FOREST
ELECTROMECHANICS FOR DEMANDING APPLICATIONS
Could you introduce us to STIGAB Stig Ödlund AB, its locations, facilities, products, solutions, history, etc?
STIGAB’s headquarter is situated in Huddinge, just south of Stockholm. We also have a facility in Flen where we manufacture marine controls. In total, we are made up of 24 employees. We have a broad range of electrical and mechanical components and solutions for demanding applications in harsh environments, with a focus on human machine interfaces (HMI). We deliver displays, joysticks, pushbuttons, e-switches, keyboards, toggle switches, and FNR-buttons, both as separate components but also in complete solutions combining these parts and cable harnesses. STIGAB was founded in 1984 by the Ödlund family. Since 2017, STIGAB is now a part of the Addtech Group which consists of more than 130 companies.
What is the company vision, and how does it align with clients’ goals?
Our vision statement is “Through personal commitment and long-term relationships, STIGAB’s
vision is to be the preferred partner for technical solutions. With our expertise, innovation and dedication, we aim to challenge industry standards and contribute to a sustainable and efficient future”. We believe we assist our customers to reach their goals by helping them find the best possible solutions for their applications, with a focus on technical support and design ideas, technology, ergonomics, economy, and sustainability.
Following on from that, where do you see STIGAB’s future in the industry?
In these times of changes towards electrification and automation, we strive, together with our partners, to be at the forefront with innovative products and solutions. We are challenged by our customers to constantly meet new demands and techniques. STIGAB has a high focus on sustainability which is also very important for companies today. In 2024 we were awarded a silver medal by EcoVadis which reflects our commitment to environmental, social, and ethical practices.
for demanding applications
How about the company’s relationship with Komatsu Forest? When did it begin, and what does it mean in terms of importance?
STIGAB has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Komatsu Forest. We were supplying to Partek Forest before it became Komatsu Forest so for over 25 years! We have grown to be not only a component supplier but also a system supplier. During the development phase of the pallets we deliver today, there was a very close co-operation between Komatsu Forest’s amazing engineers, STIGAB, and the manufacturer OTTO Controls. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Komatsu Forest in the future.
Tell us what your cooperation with OTTO Controls entails and how vital are supplier partnerships to STIGAB?
STIGAB would not exist without the excellent support from our suppliers. OTTO Controls has been our partner for more than 25 years and we have a close relationship that aligns with our goal to be able to support our customers in the best possible way. STIGAB has been awarded their number one distributor worldwide for the last two years and we are of course very proud of that! OTTO Controls also works closely with us and when necessary, also with our customers to suggest, develop, and design customised solutions. They have extensive technological knowledge and experience and a great customer support.
Are there any exciting new plans or innovative products on the horizon for STIGAB?
Since STIGAB now has a production site for marine controls, we expect to be able to make customised solutions in-house in the future.
Apart from that, our suppliers constantly develop and release new products. From OTTO Controls, we have for example the new CAN-based keypad solution. There are also a lot of released products and many on-going development projects to fulfill customer safety demands.
To meet the challenges within automation, STIGAB continue to grow our sensor product line.
Our plan is to carry on doing our utmost to meet our customers’ needs, and through this, we anticipate delivering many new and innovative products in the future!
Website URL: stigab.se
Email address: info@stigab.se
Phone: +468970990
THE KOMATSU WAY
To fulfil its vision of being an indispensable partner to the professional forestry industry, Komatsu Forest meets its customers’ expectations with products and services of the highest quality. To achieve this, it works according to the Komatsu Way:
SAFETY FIRST – The company cultivates safety in its working environment, people, and behaviour.
QUALITY ASSURANCE – Komatsu Forest conducts extensive quality assurance assessments throughout production to ensure high-quality products.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT – The company seeks continuous improvement in all aspects of its work by following the plan-do-check-act model.
CUSTOMER FOCUS – It is important for the business to fully understand the customers’ working environments to sufficiently meet their needs.
ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION – Komatsu Forest’s structured way of working across the board has earned it ISO 9001 certification. The result of this certification is quality across all stages of production and throughout the company.
Komatsu Forest recognises how both the modern forestry industry and the safeguarding of European forests are important developments that should be supported and believes that they need not be opposing factions.
The company contributes to this equation by developing forestry solutions that can support and contribute to the environment during the full forestry lifecycle.
“For sustainable forestry that will continue to add value for generations to come, we believe that forests need to be managed and maintained considerately so that it can keep providing the valuable raw materials,” he confirms.
MINIMUM EMISSIONS, MAXIMUM ADAPTABILITY
To achieve holistic management of the entire forestry cycle, Komatsu Forest, including subsidiaries, offer
One Stop Shop
Welcome to our “One Stop Shop”
Together, KGK and Laitis offer complex solutions through our One Stop Shop concept. We tailor setups that deliver a complete solution, where our local presence, strong brands, expertise, smart services, and fast, sustainable logistics make your everyday life easier in industry, the forest, the mine, or on the road.
“Our common goal is to create a sustainable future.”
This fall you can maintain, calibrate, or repair your equipment, tools, and machines in our joint service center of 500 m2 in Luleå. As part of our commitment to the environment, it is a given for us to offer service and maintenance to increase the lifespan of your equipment.
“Sustainability is not just a trend – it is a necessity in today’s world.”
SMART FORESTRY
Smart Forestry allows operators access to a suite of digital services for a safe, smart, sustainable, and productive workplace. Comprising three different applications, Smart Forestry offers solutions for any business:
SMART FORESTRY FLEET MONITORING
• Plan for better results
• Work from anywhere with ease
• Access all machine data in one place
• Compare fuel consumption and production
• Create monthly reports with ease
• Get remote support and updates
SMART FORESTRY VISION
• Share information quickly and easily
• Collaborate seamlessly between operators
• Monitor production in real time
• Visualise boundaries and areas on the map
• Access vital information instantly
• Make informed decisions
SMART FORESTRY PRECISION
• Facilitate work with precise positioning
• Navigate with realistic map conditions
• Work with precision in protected areas
• Follow pre-defined paths accurately
• Visualise tracks and progress
• Maximise work efficiency
start-to-finish equipment and solutions, from planting through to thinning, final felling, and logging.
Generally, there are two main methods for logging, cut-to-length (CTL) and full-tree. Komatsu Forest produces CTL machines at its production facility located at its headquarters in Umeå, Sweden.
“Forests can look very different around the world, from hardwood to softwood, to large and small stems, from natural forests to plantations, from hilly terrain to wet ground, and from thinning to final felling,” Bengtsson observes.
To cater to these differences and accommodate clients’ various requirements across the globe Komatsu Forest has developed its product line accordingly.
“For CTL, two types of machines are used in a pair,” he explains.
Komatsu Forest’s harvester, which consists of a base machine and a
harvester head attached to it, first cuts the trees to a length specified by the sawmill, before a forwarder gathers the logs and forwards them to the roadside.
The company’s suite of CTL products ranges from small, nimble harvesters to versatile all-rounders for different types of logging as well as final felling machines.
By offering a broad range of harvesters, harvesting heads, and forwarders compatible with one another, Komatsu Forest is able to provide its clients with maximum adaptability.
Furthermore, each piece of equipment can be fitted with technology and smart digital solutions designed to simplify working in the forest whilst contributing profitability and productivity.
Whilst Komatsu Forest’s vast suite of products is already considered advanced, it constantly seeks
Service beyond the expected.
Your reliable partner for transport, contracting, recycling and salvage in Umeå.
Ume Assistance has been part of Umeå’s development for over 50 years. The company was founded in 1967 by Jan Hansson, and has since grown to become a central player in the region in transport, contracting, recycling and salvage.
Today, Ume Assistance is run by Jan’s three sons – Martin, Magnus and Mattias Hansson – who all share their father’s passion for contributing to the city’s growth and sustainability.
Transport: Efficiency and precision in every mission
With over half a century of experience, Ume Assistance has developed a deep understanding of the transport industry’s requirements and challenges. We offer services that include loading, transport and unloading, guaranteeing efficiency and precision in every assignment. Our modern vehicles and our experienced team ensure that your transports are smooth and punctual, regardless of size or complexity.
Construction: Innovative machinery for every need
In the contracting sector, Ume Assistance has invested in a modern machine park that is ready to meet all kinds of challenges. We offer a wide range of services and equipment that can be adapted to the customer’s specific needs, making us a flexible and reliable partner in all construction and civil engineering projects.
Recycling: Commitment to the environment and sustainable development
Ume Assistance has always had a strong commitment to the environment. We have been environmentally certified for over 15 years and have extensive experience in environmental assignments and sorting. Our work in recycling aims to minimise environmental impact and promote a circular economy. We take our responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable society very seriously and are constantly working to improve our processes and reduce our climate footprint.
Salvage: Fast and safe help when you need it most
As a representative of the Assistance Corps in Umeå and Örnsköldsvik, Ume Assistance offers professional salvage and rescue services. Our team is always ready to respond and provide quick, safe assistance in the event of accidents and downtime. We have both the skills and the equipment required to handle a range of different situations, from minor breakdowns to more complex salvage missions.
A company with deep roots and a strong commitment to the future
With our broad range of services and our strong focus on quality, the environment and customer satisfaction, we are proud to be able to offer a comprehensive solution that meets our customers’ needs. Whether you need transport services, contracting solutions, help with recycling or salvage, we are here to help. Welcome to Ume Assistance!
MACHINERY TRAINING
When a customer purchases a new Komatsu Forest machine, they are in good hands. As standard, the company provides basic training to give customers a solid understanding for future use of their equipment. It also offers further training and simulation for an in-depth insight into the machine’s features.
BASIC TRAINING – Included as standard when a Komatsu Forest machine is purchased, this training provides customers with an understanding of the machine’s design and functions, the control system, daily maintenance, and more.
FURTHER TRAINING – The company also offers further training where requested, tailored to a customer’s specific needs. This covers anything from electrical and hydraulic systems training to control and information systems, marking for cross-cutting, methodology, troubleshooting, and more.
SIMULATORS – Komatsu Forest’s simulators offer an ideal shortcut to new knowledge and improved skills when it comes to operating machinery, featuring a built-in forest editor to create a realistic work environment. A multi-player feature enables several simulators to simultaneously educate trainees on collaborative features, whilst an instructor station allows the instructor to pause or intervene in training, record videoclips, and create comments with timestamps to advise trainees.
continuous improvements to its reliability and performance to remain at the forefront of the industry.
For example, the Komatsu C124 harvesting head has recently received significant upgrades, including a valve block and enhanced hydraulics for the feeding system.
Following the head’s recent exhibit at major Finnish heavy machinery event, FinnMETKO 2024, Komatsu Forest reports overwhelmingly positive reviews from test customers who noted its smooth operation and efficient feeding.
CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2050
Sustainability has played an important role throughout Komatsu’s history and today continues to empower its vision for a sustainable future where people, businesses, and the planet thrive.
Thus, it seeks to achieve carbon neutrality across the group by 2050.
“As much as this is an ambitious target, it is very much in line with our purpose and we have a strong dedication to achieving this,” Bengtsson reflects.
One evident contribution to this sustainability target is Komatsu Forest’s new production facility in Umeå. In designing the factory, the company had two important objectives – to build a production facility that focuses on both the environment and workplace.
In accordance with the Sweden Green Building Council’s Miljöbyggnad (MB) certification system, the facility meets its Environmental Building Gold Standard, for which stringent criterion based on energy efficiency, building materials, and indoor environmental quality must be met.
“We had the privilege of starting with a blank sheet when designing our new factory, which meant we could install geothermal heating and solar cells to ensure we use renewable energy,” Bengtsson reveals.
By improving its working processes
within the facility, Komatsu Forest has been able to reduce the number of wheel loaders in operation, whilst all working vehicles are fuelled with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a fossil-free, renewable alternative to diesel – all of which has contributed to achieving carbon neutral production.
“It is rewarding to see our sustainable vision coming to life in our facility, where approximately 650 of our employees spend their working days,” he prides.
The next milestone for Komatsu Forest is reducing emissions from its machines. Whilst the concept of electrification in forestry is certainly a groundbreaking technological leap forward for the company, it also poses major challenges.
Since its machines work off-grid, there are many aspects that Komatsu Forest must consider as it sets out to develop this machinery.
“For our machines to be able to use different types of energy media, power distribution solutions will be required to achieve such a workplace in a forest setting,” Bengtsson advises.
SMART FORESTRY
A major part of accomplishing sustainable forestry management is maintaining an awareness of the environmental impact of the processes involved.
Naturally, practices such as logging can lead to major changes in a forest’s natural composition, which is why thorough planning must be conducted to ensure this is carried out with care.
“To facilitate both the contractor and operator with precise planning, we offer Smart Forestry,” Bengtsson tells us.
A collection of digital solutions, Smart Forestry helps contractors to perform operations in a smart, productive, and sustainable way.
Whether dealing with a large or small fleet, Smart Forestry allows contractors to utilise a large amount
“AT KOMATSU, WE SEE OURSELVES SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY THROUGH OUR ADVANCED MACHINES AND HELPFUL DIGITAL SOLUTIONS”
– JENS BENGTSSON, CEO, KOMATSU FOREST
of data from machine operations to make informed decisions.
“Smart Forestry currently encompasses three unique applications: Smart Forestry Fleet Monitoring, Smart Forestry Vision, and Smart Forestry Precision,” he surmises.
Smart Forestry Fleet Monitoring utilises geographic information system (GIS) data and mapping technology to plan safe routes for harvesters and forwarders alike.
It also allows operators a comprehensive overview of their machines as it gathers data on fuel consumption and production, with all information logged and stored automatically.
“The ability to plan harvesting assignments remotely, alongside remote-control functions, is a major benefit.”
The Smart Forestry Vision application, meanwhile, enables operators to access layered information on a map, such as operating status, whilst it is able to share information between
functioning machines at any given site in real-time.
Last but not least, Smart Forestry Precision is the company’s newest and most advanced application, providing access to a new range of possibilities.
Utilising the latest satellite positioning technology, it can determine a machine’s exact position with a margin of error of just a few centimetres.
“By being able to pinpoint a machine’s location so precisely, functions to greatly simplify the operator’s working day have emerged,” Bengtsson excites.
For example, operators can create digital boundaries around a work area and receive warnings if a machine comes too close to this boundary, which is very useful when making nature considerations.
Furthermore, thanks to the high precision offered by this technology, machine tracks and stem codes can be visualised, showing the exact position of processed logs.
“At Komatsu, we see ourselves supporting the industry through
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our advanced machines and helpful digital solutions,” he asserts.
COMMUNITY-ORIENTED
Just as environmental responsibility is an essential part of how Komatsu Forest views the world and conducts its business, so is corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Both inform the ‘Komatsu Way’ – a company culture that prioritises safety, quality, and continuous improvement, and always puts the customer first.
“We aim to contribute to society by answering their needs today and for generations to come,” Bengtsson states.
Examples of Komatsu’s CSR include clearing anti-personnel landmines in Cambodia and providing community development support in the Southeast Asian country, demonstrating its strong contribution to society.
Closer to home, Komatsu Forest has focused its efforts on education, including upskilling college students.
“A little more than 10 years ago we saw a sharp decline in applications to technical colleges,” he reports.
Drawing on this statistic, Komatsu Forest recognised how its local educational institutions were not well equipped, whilst the female-to-male ratio amongst technical students was poor.
Therefore, to curb this declining trend, it made a substantial donation to a local school, Dragonskolan, so it could invest in equipment and uplift the status of its technical education.
“Our donation serves to support continuous upgrades of the school’s equipment for the next 10 years and thereafter, whilst we also offer yearly scholarships to students,” Bengtsson elaborates.
Though the scholarship programme, select students are able to visit Komatsu’s headquarters in Japan to bolster their technical education.
AN INNOVATIVE FUTURE
Over the years, Komatsu Forest has received many accolades and recognitions, including the recent KWF-Tagung Members Award for Forestry Innovation, awarded in June 2024.
“It is always rewarding to be recognised for our work and especially our innovative products, since this is an integral part of who we are,” Bengtsson imparts.
The company is also keen to emphasise the importance of its dedicated staff in achieving such awards.
“We are very thankful and consider the KWF-Tagung Members Award for Forestry Innovation as a token for all our employees’ dedication.”
Awards aside, Bengtsson points out that the best recognition the company could receive is from its employees and customers, many of whom spend most of their working life using Komatsu Forest products and machinery.
“Earning that trust and creating those long-lasting relationships is the best reward we could ever earn,” he concludes.
Going forward, the company seeks to continuously improve its suite of products, which is reflected in recent updates to the Komatsu 895 forwarder.
Its strongest forwarder yet, the Komatsu 895 combines a powerful transmission with a brand new 205F crane, capable of carrying loads weighing up to 20 tonnes.
Equipped with the newest Smart Forestry technology, the forwarder is also both durable and smart.
Smart Forestry is very much an ongoing development that continues to evolve, with Komatsu Forest implementing updated features to the suite of existing applications as new technologies come to the fore.
info@komatsuforest.com www.komatsuforest.com
