Increasing global demand for South African smart shovel yarders
Over the past few years, I have noticed that the conversations around steep slope harvesting have shifted from speed, lines and timber size to mechanisation, software integration, communications on the slope, tethering solutions, live skylines, grapple carriages and, most notably, safety at the breakout zone.
By Wayne le Roux of Hin-Tech Manufacturing
What is the future of mechanisation in South Africa? Can we adopt similar practices that our fellow foresters use in North America, South America, Europe and New Zealand?
The answer is not a simple one-size-fits-all.
Each operation looking to mechanise will take a different approach, each with merits and challenges. Many factors drive this progress, and the questions that come to mind include:
- How do we make forestry safe for our people on the ground and the owners of the equipment on the hill?
- How do we embrace technology and grow our people’s skill sets so that we can give back?
- How do we increase our efficiency?
- How do we leave our compartments better than we found them?
- How can we assist owners and key stakeholders in achieving their goals of improved infrastructure, better production and yield, and sustainability for future generations?
Mechanisation is advancing in all arenas, from nurseries, plantations, harvesting, extraction, biomass energy plants, sawmills, board plants, and so on. I think it’s a healthy sign, and we should try to see the big picture collectively to work together on solving problems.
New Shovel Yarders
From Hin-Tech’s perspective, we saw the change in 2019. We set a five-year plan to evolve our trusty URUS yarding solutions and have successfully launched the most advanced shovel yarders into the market, proudly built in South Africa. We currently sell these units in international markets worldwide, which means our local market has access to mechanisation solutions being used internationally.
Our new shovel yarders run on the “Live Skyline” and “Running Skyline” platforms. They can operate highly advanced grapple carriages, auto-stop T-bar carriages, the traditional URUS fall block and URUS high lead carriages.
The new line of shovel yarders can run out to 500m at up to 7m p/s with payloads of up to 3 tons. Operators enjoy smart software that indicates line tension, carriage location, winch drum speeds and temperatures.
The conversion consists of the winch drum set assembly, yarder tower with pivot point for transport, straw line for line rigging, and custom software control system with harness, electronics, and integrated joysticks.
The shovel yarder has successfully been fitted by leading excavator carrier brands such as Komatsu, CAT, Hitachi, John Deere and Kobelco.
Tethered Logging
Another key focus area is tethered logging or winch assist, where a leveller like a John Deere 859 is tethered to a mobile excavator-mounted winch on the top side of a slope via a steel wire rope. The winch provides tractive assistance to the JD859. It enables the leveller to operate more safely and productively with reduced mechanical effort on the slope. The Tightline TL210 has an arresting force of 21 tons. It intelligently assists a leveller or a skidder on the slope to extract safely and productively.
Exciting Future
Again, this is proudly built and designed in South Africa. We are pleased to contribute to our local manufacturing and forestry sectors with a homegrown solution used internationally.
After 36 years of servicing our South African market through the good times and the tough times, we are excited about what the future holds, and we will continue to support and build a future for the next generation.
Source: WoodBiz Magazine
(Pages 3-4)
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