BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT97-3381 - Excavators as base machines in forest operations

FAIR-CT97-3381
Excavators as base machines in forest operations

Contacts
Website: www.sh.slu.se/svensk/forskning/grupper/teknplan/eu/excav.html
Further Information

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FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain : Forestry : Process Engineering : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Concerted Action
	Contract No	FAIR-CT98-3381
	Total Cost	280,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	280,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/08/98
	Duration	36 months

Excavators as base machines in forest operationse

Objectives

The objectives of this Concerted Action are to support, develop, and increase mechanisation in forestry (using excavators and backhoe loaders as base machines), which is environmentally, technically, and economically sound, leading to an overall better European competitiveness. Conventional forest machines are expensive and can, normally, do only one type of job A lot of the machines have bad impact on the environment, often related to their impact on ground and soil disturbance. In countries outside Europe, such as USA, Canada, and New Zealand, excavators are commonly used as base machines in forest operations.

Potential advantages of this technology include increased utilisation (multiple-use). Through this Concerted Action new and existing information about the proposed technique will be distributed to the participating countries and made available for further use and development in each country. It will also be clearly identified within which areas further research is necessary and in which way these efforts can be coordinated and thus carried out in an effective and economically sound way. Socio-economic impact would be considerable. This project is of great interest for most countries within the EU, since the suggested harvesting technique is appropriate for any country with forestry. The project fits the work programme very well. It highlights very much the impact on e.g. economic, socio-economic, environmental, and industrial matters. The partners and associated partners have been chosen because of their professional capabilities and for their ability to represent individual links in this area. Expertise experience exchange from research, manufacturer and user is of outmost importance for bringing the concept towards a successful result. All involved will together cover all aspects of the Concerted Action. All organisations involved have the skill, resources and needed equipment necessary to fulfil the tasks of the proposed Concerted Action. The participants show a broad variety of enterprises and organisations - SMEs (e.g. manufacturers and users), large enterprises, research organisations and universities.

Modified excavator (extension, bucket and harvester head) for harvesting in clear cuttings

Modified backhoe loader (stroke delimbing processor) for processing thinnings

Contacts

Coordinator

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Dept of Forest Management and Products / SWEDEN

EC Scientific Officer

Ignacio SEOANE / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant