Ponsse is exploring the potential of artificial intelligence for smarter forest harvest planning.
As part of Business Finland's Veturi funding for forest machine manufacturer Ponsse, Sitowise is working with Ponsse to explore the potential of artificial intelligence for smarter planning and optimization of loggings.
The aim of the project is to explore the use of AI and remote sensing data, as well as other data sources such as harvester data, to produce intelligent map data and services and to increase their understanding of potential customer needs. The main target groups are organizations involved in logging and timber harvesting.
The project will explore possible ways to produce intelligent map layers to facilitate harvesting planning, such as data describing terrain conditions, harvestability and wood quality. Bitcomp Oy (now part of Sitowise Oy) currently has a strong position in the market for services to the Finnish forestry sector. They have already developed an easily scalable, cloud-based computing platform that we can use for AI-based data production. This will also allow for the convenient distribution of global map data. On top of this technology, they can explore and develop new services and products.
The aim of the project is to identify and formulate tools that could help facilitate the most important work steps for customers. The aim is also to explore the potential benefits of such map layers and tools along the entire logging value chain. The tools could, for example, help machinery companies to better optimize the use of their equipment and improve the preservation of environmental and natural values during harvesting.
The benefits are expected to reach down to the operator level, as intelligent data can reduce the cognitive load on operators and improve the quality of their work. The project will also look at different optimization methods to help plan harvesting and identify ways to take into account different forest use objectives. It also aims to test smart data in practice with test users, so that solutions can be better tailored to the needs of customers and users. Ponsse has existing international networks and activities across a wide range of regions in Europe, North America and South America, which are also the focus of this project.
Business Finland awarded Ponsse's and Epec’s FORWARD'27 programme with 10 million € in funding in a challenge competition for leading companies. In addition, Business Finland awarded 20 million € in funding to the ecosystem companies surrounding the programme. The total budget of the Sitowise project is around 1.2 million € and the project will run for two years. Source
Komatsu Forest ensures that fire extinguishing equipment is close at hand.
During hot and dry periods, there is a serious risk of wildfires. Moreover, a single spark can be enough to start one, in which case every second counts. Having fire extinguishing equipment close at hand can make all the difference between a few scorched trees and a full-scale wildfire.
According to the fire experts, early intervention is the most important protection against forest fires. With the Multibox, foam extinguishers are close at hand and the chances of quickly extinguishing a fire are greatly increased. Komatsu’s flexible Multibox is easily transported by a forwarder and can hold ten 9 L (2 gal) foam fire extinguishers. When the wildfire season has passed, the box can be easily emptied and used to store tools, chains, tracks and other items that are handy to have close at hand in the forest.
Komatsu forest machines are equipped with fire extinguishers, but these are powder extinguishers that are adapted to when the machine catches fire. In the case of wildfires, foam is more effective, as it floats and thus covers a large area.
The Multibox is loaded onto the forwarder's load area using the grapple and the flexible bottom section of the box allows it to fit any forwarder configuration. Source
This is due to economic and production reasons.
Kesla Oyj will start change negotiations to change the organization to meet the strategic targets and current capacity needs. The negotiations concern the entire personnel, and the adjustment need is approximately 30% of the costs of using the workforce.
The value of the orders received remains on lower levels than in the corresponding time of the previous year, and there is no clear change in demand for the better in the coming months. The uncertainty of demand in market areas important to Kesla has continued as interest rates remain high and the geopolitical situation remains unstable.
The aim of the negotiations is to streamline the organizational structure, which affects not only the number of personnel but also employee positions. In the change negotiations, they will cooperate with the personnel, in order to find the most suitable end result from the strategy perspective.
In September 2023, the company announced a new strategy aimed at significant growth and improved profitability. This also means renewing the organizational structure and introducing new operating models and methods.
Kesla estimates that the change negotiations will mean dismissal or retirement of a maximum of 25 persons. In addition, the adjustment may mean temporary layoffs that are either shorter or valid until further notice. Source
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My Develon: a new digital platform for managing construction equipment
An alarm sounded when a Develon machine’s fuel level suddenly dropped by 50% in just a few minutes. The dealer promptly responded to the alert, determined that someone was stealing fuel from the machine and took action to rectify the situation.
This real example and countless others are reasons why Develon dealers and customers are increasingly making use of construction equipment telematics data. As a result of the increased demand, Develon introduces the latest iteration of its fleet management system.
Some of the newest features now available on the My Develon platform are the ability to download service tools and get personalized quotes for parts for Develon equipment.
More dealers and customers are utilizing telematics data, based on data tracked by Develon. Although some customers can be intimidated by the amount of data, Develon and its dealers are working hard to develop training programs that help educate customers on how to navigate the system. That starts with Develon dealers using brief, streamlined training materials, which he says has been very effective with sales specialists.
One of the most popular features of telematics services today, is the ability to receive codes from machines. Dealers and customers can subscribe to receive notifications when a Develon machine requires service. He says this allows dealers to proactively engage with customers and their machines, thereby optimizing uptime protection.
The telematics offering helps keep customers’ machines working the way they were intended. Dealers and customers can better remotely monitor machines to ensure they are in good health and can schedule routine maintenance to ensure it’s done when it’s needed.
The My Develon app is available for download from popular app service providers. Current users of the Develon Fleet Management system should replace the current app by downloading the new My Develon app. They can log in with their same credentials. The system is also available on a web browser. Source
MAN Truck & Bus will be the first European truck producer to launch a small series with a hydrogen combustion engine.
The initially planned small series of around 200 units is to be delivered to customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and selected non-European countries as early as 2025. The "MAN hTGX", as the vehicle will be called, offers an alternative zero-emission drive variant for special applications, for example for transporting heavy goods – such as construction work, tank transport or timber transport. The hTGX can also be an environmentally friendly alternative to battery-electric trucks for use in areas without sufficient charging infrastructure or for markets where sufficient hydrogen is already available. MAN will hand over its battery-electric truck to customers for the first time in 2024 and scale it up from 2025. MAN has been the market leader for electric city buses in Europe since 2023.
MAN is continuing to focus on battery-electric vehicles to decarbonize road freight transport. These currently have clear advantages over other drive concepts in terms of energy efficiency and operating and energy costs. However, trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines are a useful addition for special applications and markets. MAN anticipate that they will be able to best serve the vast majority of their customers' transport applications with battery-powered trucks. For special applications, hydrogen combustion or, in the future, fuel cell technology is a suitable supplement. The hydrogen combustion engine H45 is based on the proven D38 diesel engine and is produced at the engine and battery plant in Nuremberg. The use of familiar technology enables MAN to enter the market at an early stage and thus provides a decisive impetus for the ramp-up of the hydrogen infrastructure.
The hydrogen drive is particularly suitable for special transport tasks that require a special axle configuration or where there is no space for the battery on the frame due to the need for truck body work. The MAN hTGX offers high payloads and maximum ranges of up to 600 kilometres in its initially offered 6x2 and 6x4 axle variants. The H45 hydrogen combustion engine used has an output of 383 kW or 520 hp and a torque of 2500 Nm at 900-1300 rpm. The direct injection of hydrogen into the engine ensures particularly fast power delivery. With hydrogen compressed to 700 bar (CG H2) and a tank capacity of 56 kg, the vehicle can be refuelled in less than 15 minutes. With less than 1g CO2/tkm, the MAN hTGX will fulfil the criteria as a "zero-emission vehicle" under the new planned EU CO2 legislation.
In addition to its earlier and more recent experience with commercial vehicles, MAN is now also developing and testing the hydrogen engine for the MAN Engines division in a wide range of applications on and off the road as well as on water. For example, it is well suited for special vehicles – such as snow cats – for trains on non-electrifiable routes and for excavators and cranes. Use in combined heat and power plants also makes sense, especially if the heat generated can be utilised in addition to the electricity. Source
Tigercat announces a new Sales Specialist for Tigercat AB in Sweden and a new Product Support appointment in British Columbia
Tigercat AB welcomes Magnus Eklund as their new sales specialist for central Sweden. Based in Borlänge, Sweden, Magnus will work closely with service and sales manager Stefan Pålsson to support the growth of Tigercat's cut-to-length product line. Chris Campbell joins the Tigercat team in the role of product support representative for British Columbia. Tigercat has also appointed Chris Campbell as the new product support representative for British Columbia. Based in Campbell River, Chris will be supporting our BC dealer network, Inland. He will be taking over the role previously held by Mark Tourand in BC. Source
DEMO International heads to Ottawa in September
DEMO International® will take over the Ottawa/Gatineau area, September 19-21, 2024. This edition will be hosted by SBC Cedar (SBC) on one of their forest properties in Venosta, Quebec. Typically occurring only every four years in different regions across the country, the 2024 edition will mark the 14th edition of DEMO® International. Over the course of its 50-year history, DEMO® International has evolved into one of North America’s largest and unique outdoor equipment shows. The “all live and in action, in-woods” event will attract thousands of leaders in the equipment manufacturing sector featuring the latest technologies in forestry equipment, products and services covering all aspects of woodlands operations, including fully mechanized to small-scale forestry operations. Source
Einari Vidgén Foundation Awards Responsible Forestry Professionals
For the 19th time, the Einari Vidgrén Foundation is honouring merited forestry professionals. The application is now opened on the Foundation’s website. This year, the Foundation is looking for responsible logging professionals, whose work focuses on broad range of forest machinery and forestry skills and, as well as sustainable development. The application is open from 2 April to 3 May 2024. The Foundation will announce the recipients in June. Source
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