Japanese equipment maker Komatsu will attempt European forestry machines – harvesters and “forwarders” – in Japan to spice up productiveness and trim labour wants.
It is going to take a look at using the Minimize-to-Size (CTL) methodology, the place timber are felled, delimbed and minimize into sized logs on web site.
A harvester is used for felling and processing, whereas a forwarder transports the logs.
Japan primarily makes use of excavators in forestry as an alternative of wheeled tools owing to steep terrain.
Komatsu says CTL and a extra mechanised strategy will minimize the variety of machines and operators it wants, which might be helpful as Japan has a power labour scarcity.
It hopes the change will enhance productiveness and security whereas lowering prices.
The trial can be carried out over a 12 months on websites in Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu, involving the 22-ton Komatsu 931XC harvester and 14-ton Komatsu 855 forwarder. Checks can be carried out contrasting the CTL methodology towards conventional methods.
The plans, outcomes and GPS information from the location can be studied to enhance productiveness and operation administration.
Komatsu’s forestry equipment arm is the corporate’s third pillar, alongside building and mining tools.
Komatsu lately signed as much as an initiative selling emissions-free building equipment at bauma 2025.
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