The use of small scale harvesting machines in Scandinavia and their application in Ireland. Pieter D. Kofman

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1 The use of small scale harvesting machines in Scandinavia and their application in Ireland Pieter D. Kofman

2 The open question Is small smart? or Is big beautifull?

3 Why use small machines in Scandinavia Part time use Sensitive sites Small trees Lower investment Need less space in the stand Cheaper to move between sites

4 Part time use Most users are farmer-foresters foresters During winter soil is frozen, so no or not so much work on the farm Larger forest holdings ( ha)

5 Sensitive sites Many stands are planted on boggy land Mixed use for hunting and wood production Can be harvested during winter when ground is frozen

6 Small trees The trees in Scandinavia grow very slow (short growing season, winter rest) Norway spruce and Scotch pine have fine branches and straight growth

7 Lower investment Small machines are often cheaper than big machines to buy Small machines have a lower productivity than big machines Smaller engine

8 Need less space Smaller machines need less space in the stand Machines are narrower Machines have narrower tires Machines are shorter Creates problems for later thinnings

9 Cheaper to move between sites Machines are cheaper to move between sites Do not need a big low loader Can be transported on a trailer behind a tractor Usually do not move very much but remain on or around the property

10 Where are they now? Few machine still in use Much work being done by contractors with medium to large machines Few machines being produced

11 Are small machines suitable for Ireland? Property size Tree species and size Planting system Terrain

12 Property size Many small properties of ha Spread out over a large area Not large enough to own machines Contractors will have to do the job

13 Tree species Sitka spruce, wide planted, fast grown Big trees Heavy and many branches Bad stem shape

14 Planting method 7 rows between drains 15 m between drains Often mounded at establishment

15 Big machine 1 row in 7 Small machine 2 rows in 7

16 The effect of mounding

17 Terrain Often planted on marginal land Often wet Often low bearing capacity Raised roads

18 What does all of this mean? We need a machine with enough: Ground clearance Engine power Flotation Reach and lifting capacity

19 Size does matter

20 Calculations and table 2 machineweight harvesterhead crane 3 wheelwidth wheelbase 2 machine harvesterhead crane tree + harvesterhead + crane 3 ( wheelbase ( wheelwidth 0.5) ) = cranereach = cranereach tree + harvesterhead + crane 3 Standard tree = 300 kg Machine weight wheel base Small machine 6 ton 2,2 meters Wheel width Crane weight Harvester head weight Crane reach 40cm 800kg 400 kg 4,1 meters Big machine 12 ton 2,6 meters 60cm 1200kg 600 kg 6,2 meters

21 Other solutions No thin Wood for energy Combi machine Forest owner association

22 No thin No thinning is carried out at all, stand is clear cut at age Sitka does some natural thinning Dead wood in the stand Much less average diameter Better quality timber Often more storm resistant

23 Wood for energy By thinning as whole trees a larger volume of wood is harvested at reduced cost Better utilisation of the wood, also small trees and other species can be taken

24 Combi machine Here a special forwarder is equipped with a harvesting head Can load while delimbing Can forward after finishing harvesting Only one machine to transport Expensive machine

25 Principal line drawing of combi machine

26 Forest owner associations If many small forest owners go together, they can offer a work package to a contractor, saving him the effort of talking to every single owner The contractor can plan his own route and work schedule Bigger volume overall might give better price

27 Conclusions 1 Terrain and trees in Ireland prevent the use of small machines Organise the small forest owners in associations to offer work packages Harwarders might help

28 Conclusions 2 Big is beautifull and Small is not so smart