The use of small scale harvesting machines in Scandinavia and their application in Ireland Pieter D. Kofman
The open question Is small smart? or Is big beautifull?
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
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 (50-100 ha)
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
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
Lower investment Small machines are often cheaper than big machines to buy Small machines have a lower productivity than big machines Smaller engine
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
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
Where are they now? Few machine still in use Much work being done by contractors with medium to large machines Few machines being produced
Are small machines suitable for Ireland? Property size Tree species and size Planting system Terrain
Property size Many small properties of 5-155 ha Spread out over a large area Not large enough to own machines Contractors will have to do the job
Tree species Sitka spruce, wide planted, fast grown Big trees Heavy and many branches Bad stem shape
Planting method 7 rows between drains 15 m between drains Often mounded at establishment
Big machine 1 row in 7 Small machine 2 rows in 7
The effect of mounding
Terrain Often planted on marginal land Often wet Often low bearing capacity Raised roads
What does all of this mean? We need a machine with enough: Ground clearance Engine power Flotation Reach and lifting capacity
Size does matter
Calculations and table 2 machineweight harvesterhead crane 3 wheelwidth wheelbase 2 machine harvesterhead crane 2 3 2 2 tree + harvesterhead + crane 3 ( wheelbase ( wheelwidth 0.5) ) = cranereach 2 0.5 = 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
Other solutions No thin Wood for energy Combi machine Forest owner association
No thin No thinning is carried out at all, stand is clear cut at age 30-40 Sitka does some natural thinning Dead wood in the stand Much less average diameter Better quality timber Often more storm resistant
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
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
Principal line drawing of combi machine
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
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
Conclusions 2 Big is beautifull and Small is not so smart