Development of innovative forestry machine

Several players in the Swedish forestry industry are now pooling their resources in a trail-blazing project intended to promote more responsible forestry. Komatsu Forest and the forestry industry are teaming up to examine the possibility of developing a machine that applies less pressure on the ground – thus reducing impact on the forest while simultaneously improving operator comfort. The machine is also intended to boost productivity and provide a more regular flow of timber to the industry over the year as a whole. BillerudKorsnäs is an active participate in the project, which has been named “Centipede".

How it will work 

The working relationship is one of a kind, given that the leading forestry companies in Sweden are backing the project, thus contributing to technological development for sustainable forestry operations. The first stage of the project comprises a preliminary study, where the partners will work together to build up a shared target image.

The preliminary study will lay the foundations for the form a concept machine may take, and how batch production may subsequently be established. It is expected that the concept machine will be ready in 2020. A variety of technologies will be evaluated as part of the work to design the new machine. The objective is to be able to use the machine all year round, with significantly less impact than is caused by existing machines. We will then continue developing the technological concept, with a view to applying it to harvesters and forwarders as well.