Business Publications

Elmia raises the bar again [Short reviews of products featured at Elmia Wood 2001 exhibition]

Canadian Forest Industries, Aug 2001 by Jamieson, Scott

The Kaiser Forest S2 4[Symbol Not Transcribed] [times]4 (2) features permanent 4WD, all-wheel steering, four large wheels to move around the cut block. According to the Liechtenstein manufacturer, the Kaiser can handle to 60 degree slopes with winch, and can reach almost 8 m. It can lift to 5.5 t at 3 m.

For more info circle reply card no 10.

Mini-Harvesters galore

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There was no shortage of mini-harvesters for commercial thinning (CT) applications at Elmia Wood 2001. Some of the more intriguing models included the 4WD ProSilva (currently available in Canada via Hakmet - CFI features a report on this model in the next issue); the 4WD Sampo 1046X; and the 6WD TBM 85 V. II.

The German-made TBM 85 (3) is a 12 400 kg harvester varying in width from 2.3 to 2.7 m, sporting a 9-m Loglift 170 crane and Keto 100 harvesting head for trees to 45 cm (18 in). It has an arc-style sloped cab with excellent visibility for thinning work and a flow of 273 l/min.

The Finnish Sampo 1046X (4) is billed as a thinning specialist, and measures in at just 2.1 to 2.3 m wide with 6.1 to 7.1 m reach. It too boasts large, sloped windows for excellent visibility right to the crowns. Service access and storage facilities are superb, while the machine's low centre of gravity makes reaching into the engine a breeze without climbing.

The ProSilva 810 (5) is the only of the three currently available and serviced in Canada (the Neuson tracked mini-harvester was also on demo at Elmia, and is available via Rocan Forestry Services in Canada). The 810 is 2.4 to 2.6 m wide, and like the Sampo offers 60 cm (two feet) of clearance. Its business end is a Logmer 990 crane for almost 9 m of reach and a Keto 100 harvesting head.

For more info circle reply card no 11.

Biomass harvesting hits centre stage

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As world oil prices skyrocket, so too does interest in biomass fuels from forestry operations. A renewable, plentiful alternative to at least some of the non-renewable petroleum currently used, biomass energy from "non-merchantable" timber has long been of interest in Scandinavia, where machinery has been developed to efficiently extract this unmanageable, bulky resource. Interest in this fuel source and this machinery was high among Elmia 2001 attendees from across the globe. As seen in these pics, biomass bundling or baling machines were on active duty at several sites, including (top to bottom) Timberjack's forwarder-based Fiberpac 370B; Rottne's forwarder-based World Wood Pac; and Pika's own forwarder-mounted baler shown here behind that supplier's proven 828 combi harvester/forwarder.

For more info circle reply card no 12.

Valmet 801 Combi brings new tactics to 2-in-1 CTL

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The prototype Valmet 801 Combi harvester/forwarder was on active duty at Elmia Wood 2001, offering visitors a peak at a novel approach to cnemachine CTL harvesting. The 801 was developed as a joint project involving Partek Forest; Sydved, a Swedish forest management and timber supply company owned by forest companies Stora Enso and Munksjo; Holmen; and various Scandinavian logging contractors. The Valmet 801 uses a Valmet 330 DUO harvesting head that can also act as a loader, and a forwarder bunk completes the set-up. The 801 also uses a rotating harvester style cab and 11-m boom for visibility and reach in thinnings and to allow the machine to cut its own strip roads.