January’s issue of Logging-on starts with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Waratah Forestry Equipment. It is a fantastic achievement that these innovative and robust harvesting heads have made their global success story from their humble beginnings in New Zealand. Logging-on wishes Waratah all the best for the next 50 years! The demand for high-end technology in off-road equipment is clearly spiralling upwards, and this is reflected in the expansion of Epec, a Ponsse Group technology company, into a new smart factory. John Deere introduces us to their new P-Tier articulated dump trucks which also have improved features. Staying with construction equipment, Case has released their new B Series 2 motor grader. Finally, we look at the new(ish) ProSilva S5 harvester, which provides a larger alternative to the popular S3 harvester and can carry larger harvester heads.
Now to the newsletter!
Waratah marked the event by thanking their customers for decades of trust and loyalty to the brand.
Waratah celebrate their 50th anniversary this year thanks to their loyal customers and dedicated team members across the globe. Established in 1973 in Tokoroa, New Zealand, the company manufactured a delimber-feller-buncher with a four-roller fixed head to meet local loggers’ heavy-duty delimbing needs. Following that innovation, a red grapple processor manufactured for the Canadian markets marked the start of the 600 Series line. It cemented Waratah’s place as the original red head in the industry.
Today, Waratah’s full line of harvesting, processing and felling heads are used in a variety of logging applications from cut-to-length hardwood harvesting at the stump, to processing on a landing, felling on steep slopes or debarking on plantations. Waratah continues to build on its past to innovate for the future – manufacturing more productive heads, engineering products with parts that don’t quit and working to earn each customer’s trust every day. Source
Epec invests in a responsible new electronics factory in Seinäjoki Finland, aiming for carbon neutrality.
ESF1 (Epec Smart Factory 1) will include a three-story office space and a total of 8,500 m2 (91,500 ft2) of factory space. Epec's headquarters with its R&D, engineering, support and production functions will move to new premises from its current premises on the Seinäjoki campus. In addition to Seinäjoki, the company also has offices in Tampere, Turku and Kuopio in Finland, and Shanghai in China. The construction of ESF1 started in spring 2022 and the new facilities will be operational towards the end of 2023.
Digitalisation and electrification are rapidly increasing their share of the non-road machinery and commercial vehicle sector, which has opened up new and expanding markets for Epec. With a state-of-the-art factory, EPEC is able to meet growing demand and increasingly stringent customer requirements, for example in terms of manufacturing processes. The Western Finland region has a technology cluster that supports operations, and the Seinäjoki centre of growth provides a good framework for growing operations.
Epec is a system supplier developing and manufacturing electronics and software for non-road mobile machines (NRMM) and commercial vehicles. Epec products include control units, displays, sensors, power distribution units and telematics units. The company's clients include Ponsse, Metso, Sandvik, Husqvarna and Liebherr.
Epec is fully committed to promoting sustainable development, energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint. The factory project is a prime example of this: ESF1 will aim for carbon neutrality during its use and will employ sustainable manufacturing processes. 800 solar panels will be installed on the roof of the factory to generate electricity, the common areas will be heated by a geothermal system, the heat generated by the factory will be recovered by efficient needle heat exchangers, and the need for cooling energy will be significantly reduced by an aluminium grille on the office wall. All electricity and heating energy is sourced from renewable resources.
Epec has grown rapidly in recent years. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of people has increased by almost 70%. The greatest need at the moment is for various product development and programming positions, but other specialists, assemblers and administrative staff are also needed. The new factory will initially accommodate 250 employees. Provision has also already been made for the expansion of the premises. Source
Updates to the external styling and interior cab layout modernize the fleet.
John Deere expands its Performance Tiering Strategy to its line-up of articulated dump trucks. New to the P-Tier portfolio, the 410 and 460 ADTs retain the same fuel efficiency, dump body, and drive modes as the previous E-II models. For all P-Tier models, additional updates to the external styling and interior cab layout modernize the fleet while maintaining the productivity these trucks have become known for. These machines also feature a range of standard onboard settings to help ease operation and increase efficiency during any application.
Helping to provide more customization, customers can choose from two different trim levels, as well as add a variety of optional packages including packages for enhanced operator comfort, cold weather conditions, debris management and maintenance and service capabilities. The first trim package option offers familiar features such as a black exhaust stack, manually adjusted rear view mirrors and temperature controls, a standard seat and radio, a 15-amp converter and halogen vehicle lights. Providing elevated creature comforts and controls, the second trim package offers a chrome exhaust stack, power adjusted rear view mirrors, a premium seat and radio, a 25-amp converter, automatic temperature control in the operator's station and LED vehicle lights.
Standard on the P-Tier ADTs, a variety of owner and operator settings help ease operation and increase jobsite safety. These onboard features, such as rollover protection, downhill dump protection, frame protection, hill hold, shuttle shifting and descent control help eliminate some of the operator inputs, enabling simplified operation. Additional machine benefits from the machine's dump body limits, standard transmission warm-up cycle, and max speed limits, help to keep the operator and machine safer and up and running for longer. Source
They feature a powerful engine, rugged A-frame and unique moldboard design.
The Case B-Series 2 graders also feature a flip-up rear hood, best-in-class serviceability and good visibility. They are the perfect machine for all types of infrastructure work, where they can be relied on to deliver outstanding productivity on the toughest jobs.
The fuel-efficient turbocharged Tier 3 FPT engine delivers all the power required to perform every task, with operating speeds of up to 38.8 km/h (23.8 mi/h) to 44.1 km/h (25.5 mi/h), depending on the model. For even greater performance, Dual Power maximizes operation at higher speeds thanks to the double (on the 845B and 885B models) or triple (on the 865B) engine curve, which flattens from the 4th gear.
The unique design of the reinforced involuted moldboard with three different radiuses enables a more efficient and continuous cutting mixing and rolling. This improves the consistency and longevity of the road surface and extends the life of the blade. The load-sensing hydraulic system ensures a balanced flow for all applications and enables simultaneous moldboard movements. This results in highly responsive and precise control, as well as smooth operation.
The rear-mounted cab offers best-in-class controllability and comfort, as the operator is always facing in the working direction. This is possible because of the unique CASE front articulation design. It allows for the cab to be mounted further back on the machine so that the operator remains centered when the gooseneck is articulated. This ensures excellent visibility on the moldboard, circle, saddle and tires.
The motor grader features a transmission that combines the typical smooth operation of the torque converter lock-up when fine grading with the direct drive solution for full power transfer for fast movement in travel applications. It also has a spacious, closed air conditioning ROPS cab. The air suspension seat provides a smooth ride for the operator. They can customize all the working parameters of the machine to achieve excellent controllability and faster cycle times in full comfort.
The A-shape drawbar and high-strength circle provide good stability, while the heavy-duty boxed frame design extends the life of the circle and drawbar components. The machine’s stability has been further improved with the new, heavier frame. The externally driven circle teeth are easier to clean and provide a larger contact area, which prevents component wear and provides more leverage when turning the blade under load.
All the main checks are easily performed from ground level, with all service points grouped and positioned to facilitate servicing. The one-piece, flip-up hood, upgraded with electric opening, makes it even easier and effortless to perform daily maintenance operations. The new, optimized manifold and lines further enhance the graders reliability. Also, new connectors and improvements to the sealing and assembly prevent dust from entering through the connectors, increasing the reliability and durability of electrical components. The B-Series 2 also introduces longer intervals for the hydraulic tank filter and a bigger fuel tank with a 360 litre (79 gal) capacity, resulting in more time at work on the jobsite. Source
The S5 offers all the benefits of the S3 but in a more robust package.
ProSilva introduced a new class of forestry machines in March 2020. A small, light and agile harvester that offers plenty of power, a stable working environment and a full-reach crane. The Prosilva S3 harvester has proved popular with customers. During discussions, the question raised was regarding a machine that could carry a larger harvester head. This resulted in the development of a big brother for the S3, the Prosilva S5. The design was based on the same approach and concept; a light, narrow, high-performance machine with a simple and easy-to-maintain design. The S5 offers all the benefits of the S3 but in a more robust package.
The S5 harvester has all the good features and power of its little brother the S3. Its crane base is a reinforced HD model, which allows larger cranes and harvester heads to be used safely and conveniently. As a six-wheeler this harvester is stable and easy to use. The wheel arrangement (34” rear and 26.5” front), is the harvester’s winning feature, giving it an excellent load-bearing capacity on soft surfaces. With its narrow design and low centre of gravity the S5 leaves as small a footprint as possible in the forest.
The S5 harvester has been designed to be a pleasure to work in as the ergonomics, space and visibility of the cab have received priority. Operator comfort is further enhanced by automatic cab rotation as well as optional automatic stabilization. Source
Tigercat increases harvesting head support in North America
Tigercat is committed to further developing and growing its line-up of harvesting heads, while significantly ramping production of the four heads currently on offer. Tigercat welcomed Ethan Parker on board as a product support representative. Based in Bairdsville, New Brunswick, Ethan is focused on harvester and processor systems support throughout the North American market. Source
ProSilva Oyj appoints Norbert Schalkx as CEO
ProSilva Oyj is pleased to announce that Norbert Schalkx has been appointed as the new CEO of the company. Norbert will succeed outgoing CEO Keijo Ojala and assume responsibilities on January 1, 2023. Keijo will continue his duties as the Head of Sales for the Finnish market. Norbert will also continue his role as Sales Director, supporting and developing ProSilva’s international distribution network. Source
Eco Log gets new CEO and strengthens management
Daniel Bonna takes over as CEO of Eco Log Group, succeeding Niklas Jonsson, who has been interim CEO for just over a year. The management team also receives another addition in Sverre Trygg, who will be chief restructuring officer, with special responsibility for driving the necessary change processes. Both Daniel and Sverre previously come from Lazarus Industriförvaltning AB, which is the new main owner of Eco Log Group. Source
“Forest roads: regional perspectives from around the world”
International Journal of Forest Engineering 2022. C Kevin Lyons, Stelian Alexandru Borz, Campbell Harvey, Muedanyi Ramantswana, Hideo Sakai & Rien Visser. Source
“Fuel consumption of a high-capacity transport (HCT) vehicle combination for industrial roundwood hauling: a case study of laden timber truck combinations in Finland”
International Journal of Forest Engineering 2023. Kalle Kärhä, Emma Kortelainen, Antti Karjalainen, Hanna Haavikko & Teijo Palander. Source