Commercialisation and international market potential of Finnish silvicultural machines

Abstract

Recently, the need to mechanise silvicultural operations has increased in the Nordic countries. While several new machine concepts have been developed, the manufacture of silvicultural devices remains at the market introduction stage. Information is required in support of existing and forthcoming Finnish small-scale producers of silvicultural devices, who wish to commercialise and further market their innovations in domestic and export markets. The aim of this study was to identify the opportunities, challenges and market potential of business activities that develop in connection with device or machine production. Small-scale Finnish manufacturers of silvicultural devices, Finnish large-scale harvester manufacturers and international silvicultural experts participated in the study. The results show that participant groups have varying opinions of cooperation methods and export activities, as well as of the export markets with the best potential. According to international silvicultural experts, mechanised planting and pre-commercial thinning have the greatest potential worldwide. However, demand for mechanised pre-commercial thinning and planting has been mainly confined to the Nordic countries. For a foreign firm marketing a new silvicultural machine concept, the most important customers and cooperation partners are locally operating forest firms, machine contractors and research organisations. The results of the study provide a useful overview of the current state of silvicultural device manufacturing in Finland.

Mechanized tree planting with an excavator-mounted M-Planter planting device

“…Mechanized planting is likely to become more common in the future, as the supply of forest labor continues to dwindle (Työvoiman saatavuus… 2005) and forest owners become increasingly reliant on commercial firms for their reforestation needs (Karppinen et al 2002). In addition, economic pressures are forcing forest owners to minimize silvicultural costs and manage their forests more intensively to enhance wood production and profitability (Hallongren & Rantala 2012). Moreover, the quality of mechanical planting is acceptable, and the collection of slash (also known as logging residues) and the harvesting of stumps for energy purposes will make more sites suitable for mechanical planting (Saarinen 2006;Luoranen et al 2011).…”

Mechanized tree planting in Finland and improving its productivity

“…The development and manufacture of planting machines relies mainly on a small industry performing the majority of work, which has hindered the adoption of mechanical planting work. Hallongren and Rantala (2012) emphasized new ideas and a cooperative enterprise as essential factors in the successful commercialization and implementation of mechanized silviculture. In addition to technological advances, the commercialization of machine concepts must be developed to accelerate mechanization.…”

ISO 11783 Compliant Forest Crane as a Platform for Automatic Control

“…Traditionally they have been used to harvest and collect trees, but the interest in using them in other silivicultural tasks is increasing (Hallongren and Rantala, 2012). Forest machines are designed to be operated by a professional and lots of effort has been put to increase productivity.…”