Ongoing evolution of innovative systems for harvest of small diameter trees in Sweden

Abstract

There is a great interest in new technology for profitable harvest in early dense thinning. The Flowcut prototype felling head is promising but in need of improvement of the cutting and accumulation to reach its full potential. The bundling harvester Cintoc has through simulations indicated great potential and in field evaluations will be done in 2016. With only small efforts and increased demand for bio energy the modified Bracke C16 and the Bracke MAMA could prove very competitive. Since the prices on forest bioenergy currently are low, the industry is in great need of cost reductions and it is most likely these systems can contribute to this in the years to come.