The manufacturers say their new machines use GPS and real-time telematics to improve efficiency, use less fuel and are kinder to the woodlands. The companies claim they can cut down trees quicker (with less wastage) to allow operators to process\/sell more timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the demand for more efficient and automated machines, it is no wonder this amounted to \u00a32.9 billion in UK sales<\/strong> revenue for 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our team researched Mascus (mascus.co.uk) and Machinery Trader (machinerytrader.co.uk) to uncover the most popular pieces of equipment used in the forestry sector. After analysing data from both websites, we found that the following types of heavy equipment are the most popular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These logging machines, in short, efficiently cut down and process trees and get them ready to transport out of the woodland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of a person having to fell each tree with a chainsaw manually, the harvester has a large mechanical saw blade attached to an articulating arm to cut through tree trunks quickly (in a matter of seconds). They also have a gripper\/grapple arm to securely grip and move the felled trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the tree has been felled, the machine can delimb it, cut it into specific lengths, and stack the resulting logs into a pile. It can do the work of many loggers with chainsaws in a much more efficient and automated way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These days, harvester cabs are fitted with GPS and computer systems, which allow the operator to manoeuvre through the forest to where trees need to be harvested based on a planned logging route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some models (and used prices) we discovered on the sites include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After trees are cut down and processed by the harvester into log piles, a forwarder machine lifts logs from the piles with its crane arm and loads them onto the back of its log trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The forwarders are often 8-wheel-drive (or 6-wheel or semi-tracked), so they can drive over rough terrain, navigating to each log stack. Once loaded, they haul the cut logs to a roadside landing area, where logging trucks can collect them for delivery to sawmills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forwarders are seen as the “middlemen” as they continually shuttle in and out of the woodland to retrieve the log piles. Without them, it would be difficult to safely and quickly transport cut logs to the logging trucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following models and prices were shown on the websites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whereas a forwarder actually uses an articulating crane arm and log bed to lift and haul logs, a skidder pulls multiple felled trees behind it from point A to point B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It uses a grapple, or winch and cabling system, mounted on the back that attaches to felled trees, allowing a haul of trees to be dragged out of the forest to a central location for processing or transportation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This allows the complete length of the tree to be removed in one piece, negating the need to cut it into smaller lengths to fit on a forwarder. Unfortunately, dragging can sometimes incur damage to the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a much larger range of skidder manufacturers displayed on the sites, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forestry excavators (also known as Swing Machines) are heavy-duty logging machines with a long articulating arm to which different attachments can be added. They are commonly tracked vehicles but can also be wheeled. Many tend to have extra safety cages fitted around the operator’s cab to protect them from falling tree debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These rugged excavators can perform everyday tasks such as ripping out tree stumps, grading local terrain, digging drainage ditches, clearing pathways for equipment access, and performing demolition work such as breaking up debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If fitted with grabbers or clamshell buckets, they can grab multiple logs at once and stack them ready for processing or transporting out of the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Excavators can also be fitted with harvesting heads or grapple saws to perform similar functions to harvesters or feller bunchers, allowing the excavator operator to fell trees and delimb branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Mascus website offered a range of excavators for sale, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the harvesting equipment has completed felling usable trees for timber, it’s time to break out an industrial wood chipper to clean up the debris. Wood chippers are excellent for breaking up branches, scrub, small trees, and other wood waste into smaller pieces after the logging has finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The resulting wood chips are either spread across the forest floor as nutrients for other trees or collected for biomass fuel, landscaping mulch, animal bedding or pulp.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTypes Of Forest Machines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Forestry Harvesters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Forwarders<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Forestry](\"https:\/\/www.evangatefs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/forestry-harverster.jpg\")
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Skidders<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Skidder](\"https:\/\/www.evangatefs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/skidder-moving-logs.jpg\")
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Forestry Excavators<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Excavator](\"https:\/\/www.evangatefs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/heavy-duty-forest-excavator.jpg\")
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Wood Chippers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Harvester](\"https:\/\/www.evangatefs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/forest-harvester-head-attachment.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Forestry](\"https:\/\/www.evangatefs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/forest-harvester-excavator-logs.jpg\")
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