CUSTOMER MAGAZINE 2 • 2018

ENG

JOHN DEERE FORESTRY

John Deere 910G and 1010GFreedom to choose

Stop GuessingTimberMatic Maps is a new intelligent tool for logging4 10

“IBC works like an extension

of your arm!”

“If you compare the productivity of the 1010G to bigger machines, it doesn’t take

second place – at least not with thinnings.”

WHO? RISTO TAMMELIN • Forest machine operator since 1974, currently working in Kone Yijälä Oy • What: Testing John Deere 910G and 1010G in boggy thinning site. • Where: In Jämsä, Central Finland

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IN THE FOREST is a copyright magazine published twice a year in English, Finnish, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and Swedish. The magazine circulation is about 30,000. All articles in this magazine have been written, selected and edited with great care. Opinions expressed are those of the author and cannot be considered as statements made by John Deere, nor do they bind or oblige John Deere. John Deere reserves the right to change the specifications and design of products described in this magazine without notice. John Deere assumes no liability for errors and omissions. • ISSN 1795-2573 • PUBLISHER John Deere Forestry Oy, P.O. Box 474, 33101 Tampere, Finland, www.JohnDeere.com • ADDRESS CHANGES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS to InTheForest@JohnDeere.com • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elina Suuriniemi • EDITORIAL OFFICE AND LAY-OUT Communications Agency Selander & Co, Tampere, Finland • PRINTED by Offset Ulonen Oy, Tampere, Finland • COVER PHOTO by John Deere

SMARTEST TOOL on the market for planning and monitoring logging TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager systems take logging operations to a completely new level.

The TimberMatic control system has been used for years, but now it incorporates a smart map feature that can utilize the data collected by the harvester’s sensors as well as the precise GPS-based location of the felled logs. Data transfers are done in real-time through a cloud service. The system is easy to use and has been tested since 2015.

Every job site is unique. Like a fingerprint. The detailed information about the site is shown in visual format on the displays of the machine operator and the machine contractor. As the logging work progresses, the harvester’s production output and its routes are visible in real-time on the forwarder operator’s map. There is no need for separate data transfers.

TimberMatic Maps is an application used in the machine’s cabin. TimberManager provides the machine contractor with a view of the progress at the logging site.

TimberMatic Maps will revolutionize the forwarder’s work. The work becomes more productive when the volume and precise location of the assortments are known. It is easier to plan the driving order.

When the forwarder operator transports logs to the road-side storage area, they are removed from the system; this way, the operator working the next shift will have accurate information about the situation at the logging site. Hand-drawn logging status reports are no longer needed. And the precise volume of logs forwarded to the road-side storage is known. Guessing is no longer necessary.

TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager will be demonstrated at our stand, number 112, at the FinnMetko exhibition. The newest G-Series machines, the 910G and 1010G forward-ers, will also make their debut in Finland.

Tommi EkmanGeneral Manager Marketing & Order Fulfillment

News

The new Harvester Head Performance Plus Accessories Catalog is published. .................................23

Follow us on YouTube ................................23

John Deere 910G and 1010G: Freedom to choose! .......................4 TimberMatic Maps:Operator’s production view – new, easy and smart. ............10Stay on the map! TimberManagerTM takes the monitoring and planning of logging into a new era... ..............................12John Deere 1270G 8W IBC: IBC s benefits can be measured directly in the number of cubic meters logged. .................16Sustainable forestry in Florida: About half of Tate’s Hell Forest is covered in swamp ..................20

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John Deere’s G-Series line-up is expanding with the light weight 910G and 1010G forwarders. They offer more alter-natives in terms of options and smoother working.

Freedom to choose

John Deere 910G and 1010G

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Freedom to choose

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TEXT & PHOTOS: TERO IKÄHEIMONEN

Forest machine operator Risto Tammelin drives a John Deere 1010G forwarder through a

thinning site in Jämsä. The terrain at the 70-hectare logging site is boggy, but fortunately February’s freezing temperatures have brought solid ground.

The forwarder comes to a bog ditch and Tammelin has no trouble crossing it with his light and agile forwarder. The rear chassis bogie is 390 mm longer than normal, an optional feature that will be available for 1010G forwarders in late 2018. The test machine Tammelin is operating already has the longer bogie.

“Did you notice how easily we crossed that ditch?” Tammelin asks. “Thanks to the long bogie, one of the two wheels is always on the bank of the ditch and the machine never dips all the way down into the ditch. The long bogie increases the carrying capacity on soft terrain but doesn’t affect the agility at all. It’s a really good feature, especially for thinnings.”

Tammelin and Kone-Yijälä Oy’s second operator Miika Tofferi had the opportunity to test the new 1010G for a few hundred hours in early 2018. In addition to the long bogie, Kone-Yijälä’s test machine was equipped with 26.5 inch tires, a John Deere CF5 boom, a rotating and levelling cabin, and Intelligent Boom Control.

Under the hood is a new John Deere PowerTech Plus 4045 engine meeting Stage 5 emissions regulations and

producing 131 kW of power. The 910G’s engine puts out 118 kilowatts of power.

Miika Tofferi notes that the new engine is nice in use. This is in part due to the updated electronics and automation; the G-Series MECA controllers and the Adaptive Driveline Control (ADC) will also be available for the smaller forwarders.

The ADC automatically adjusts the engine’s RPMs to correspond with the engine load, keeping the forwarder’s speed steady also with a high load. Thanks to the ADC, the engine provides the maximum possible power in all situations.

“The machine has plenty of power to push forward – and it’s quiet. The driving is always smooth, something that’s important to me. It’s nice to go to work every day when you know there’s smooth sailing ahead,” Tofferi says.

“The 1010G is surprisingly powerful when going forward, even compared to bigger machines. The ADC doesn’t sway at all, it just constantly and steadily performs,” Risto Tammelin confirms.

Redesigned engine spaceNot only is the engine new, the machine’s engine space and hood have been completely redesigned. To assist in the design process John Deere’s product development used BMW Designworks,

one of the world’s leading experts in industrial design.

The 156-liter fuel tank in the 910G and 1010G models is now in the right-side deflector. The DEF, i.e. the urea tank, required for the exhaust gas treatment system is also located in the deflector, where it, like the fuel tank, is easy to refill. The hydraulic module is now located in the rear where the fuel tank used to be. This way, the hydraulic components are centrally located to facilitate servicing.

The new hood opens fully from the right side, making all the points of daily service easily accessible from the same spot. If needed, the left side of the hood also can be opened by unscrewing some screws. The hood can be turned forward from the top.

“I really haven’t had much need to look under the hood because the machine has been running trouble-free, just like all the other John Deere machines I’ve had over the past 15 years. Now that the hood is lower, the visibility has also improved,” Tammelin continues.

IBC facilitates workingTammelin starts collecting the fir trees that will be used for fibre production; he loads them into the 1010G’s 4-square-meter capacity load space. John Deere’s CF5 boom is equipped with Intelligent Boom Control (IBC), which is so easy to

“The long bogie increases the carrying capacity on soft terrain but doesn’t affect the agility at all.”

Risto Tammelin

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use that it gets even the seasoned machine operators excited. The hydraulic pump is totally new. Its size has been increased to 120 cubic centimetres.

“The technology is starting to be at a level that it feels like you are loading logs with your own hands. You just don’t tire at all during the day. I was a bit sceptical that could a guy my age learn to use it [IBC]. But it seems that even an old dog can learn new tricks,” chuckles Tammelin, who has been operating forest machines since 1974.

Miika Tofferi also points out the significant impact that IBC has on operator performance. The operator has more energy throughout the day because the IBC takes care of the movement of the boom’s different sections. It reduces operator stress.

“I’ve noticed that the working attitude remains consistently good; there aren’t any dips in performance because of fatigue. This applies both to thinning and clear cutting. The machine is easy to operate – just start going,” Tofferi says.

Light forwarders are often considered machines specialized for soft terrains and thinnings because of their light weight and agility. The thought makes Risto Tammelin ponder the future of logging.

At this thinning site right now, we’ve been fortunate because the main track was in a deep winter freeze and has made it possible to get from the road into the forest and back along a track that can carry the machine. But there are times when the work goes on in very soft terrain conditions.

“We have constantly moved more and more towards soft terrain. It used to be that the very soft terrain areas weren’t logged, but now we try to log them, too. >

“It’s nice to go to work every day when you know there’s smooth sailing ahead.”

Kone-Yijälä Oy ■ Domicile: Jämsä ■ Established: 1993 ■ Machine fleet: 10 harvesters, 11 forwarders, 3 trailers, as well as 2 subcontractors

■ Annual logging volume: 650,000 m3

■ Operating area: Southern Central Finland

Miika Tofferi

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These smaller and lighter machines are well suited for softer terrain,” Tammelin reflects.

“In the future, thinnings will increase and clear cutting will decrease. If you compare the productivity of the 1010G to bigger machines, it doesn’t take second place – at least not with thinnings – even though you can’t put as many logs in the load space at one time. The difference evens out when moving about in the forest. The machine is more agile so you don’t have to be as careful in scoping out where the machine will fit.”

Alternative configurationsThe small forwarders in John Deere’s G-Series have a modular design, so the customer can choose the configuration based on their own needs. The configurable options include a fixed or rotating and levelling cabin, the length of the rear chassis, the wheelbase and the tires. Both machines can be equipped with either a 3.5 or 4.0-square-meter load space. Depending on the selected configuration, the 910G’s load rating

is 9-10 tons, and the 1010G model’s is 11 tons. The 910G is available in a 6-wheeled version with 34-inch tires in the front and 24.5-inch tires in the rear, or an 8-wheeled version with either 22.5 or 24.5-inch tires. The 6-wheeled 1010G with 34-inch tires in the front comes with two rear tire options: 24.5 and 26.5 inches. The 8-wheeled 1010G can be equipped with either 24.5 or 26.5-inch tires.

Both models are available also with a short wheelbase. The shorter wheelbase has been achieved by moving the rear axle forward by 40 cm, thereby allowing the load space to remain unchanged. The machine’s stability remains good and its agility improves, which is beneficial particularly in thinnings.

John Deere 1010G is available with the long bogie version. The distance between the front and rear wheel hubs in the rear bogie increases to 1890 mm, i.e. 390 mm longer than in the standard model. The power train and turning radius are the same as with the standard HD portal bogie-equipped machine. The ground

pressure of the rear chassis equipped with tracks is 14% smaller compared to an ordinary bogie axel.

There are also model-specific differences in options. For example, with the smaller 910G you can choose the CF1 or CF5 boom, whereas the 1010G always comes equipped with the CF5 boom.

Less than hundred kilometres north of the logging site in Jämsä, near the Uurainen municipality, is Jykylä & Pojat Oy’s thinning site. That is where the smallest forwarder in the G-Series, the 910G, is in test use. The Jykylä & Pojat operators had tested the machine for a couple hundred hours over the course of a few weeks during winter.

The 910G is being serviced near the edge of the forest. Upon seeing the machine, it is clear that the cabin, tires and the boom differ from the previously seen 1010G.

Jykylä & Pojat does contract work mainly for forestry companies in South Ostrobothnia, but to some extent also in Central Finland. According to Jorma Jykylä, the terrain conditions are

Jykylä & Pojat Oy ■ Domicile: Ähtäri ■ History: Established in 1937, initially as a transport company

■ Machine fleet: 8 harvesters, 7 forwarders

■ Annual logging volume: approx. 300,000 m³

■ Operating area: Ostrobothnia and Central Finland

Jorma Jykylä, Peetu Salo and Eero Kotamäki with the new 910G.

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challenging in the company’s operating area.

“In the Ähtäri and Suomenselkä regions, the mineral soil is really fine-grained. If it rains even a little, the soil gives away immediately. But if you have the patience to wait a few days, there is no longer a problem,” Jykylä says.

Jorma Jykylä and Eero Kotamäki, who has operated the 910G, start talking about the 910G’s configuration together with John Deere’s test engineer Peetu Salo. Jykylä and Kotamäki would, for example, increase the tire size of the machine tested from 22.5 inches to 24.5 inches.

“For us, the biggest problem is staying on the terrain surface, so we usually opt for the biggest wheels possible,” notes Jykylä. “But whenever the dimensions grow, the forest owners start talking about what a big machine it is. For some reason, many forest owners favour a machine that looks small – even though the increased size wouldn’t be

of any significance in terms of practical operations.”

The 910G has been tested mainly on thinnings. During the test period Eero Kotamäki noticed the improved ground clearance compared to the 810E model. The more robust middle joint is comfortable during operation, Kotamäki says.

The operator praises the way the CF1 boom works. The size of the work pump has been increased by 33 percent, from 90 cm3to 120 cm3. It shows in the increased performance. The 910G can also be equipped with the CF5 boom, which has Intelligent Boom Control.

“The boom control is guaranteed John Deere quality: precise and smooth,” Kotamäki says.

“The rotating cabin is the way to go today.”Kotamäki praises the visibility from the cabin to the load space and to the sides of the machine. One thing the operator

would change, however, is the test machine’s fixed cabin; he prefers working with a rotating and levelling cabin.

Jorma Jykylä has decades of experience as a forest machine operator and entrepreneur. He too thinks the conditions in the forest will remain challenging also in the future. Small and light-weight models have an important place in the forest machine line-up.

“We should be able to do more and more thinnings. I don’t believe that the conditions of the logging sites will improve much; at best, they will stay the same or become worse. Nevertheless, we should be able to log also during the summer. That poses plenty of challenges for the future,” the entrepreneur concludes.

“The boom control is guaranteed John Deere quality: precise and smooth.”

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TimberMaticTM Maps & TimberManager TM

John Deere offers a new, easy and smart solution for forest machine operations.

TEXT & PHOTOS: JOHN DEERE

The new, smart TimberMatic Maps gives the operator a real-time production view of the logging

site. The data collected by the harvester’s sensors and the GPS location of the felled timber is automatically transmitted from the harvester to the TimberMatic Maps application. The data between the machines are updated in real-time through a cloud service, and all the operators working at the same job site can see the

actual situation of the site in real-time. The map shows all the assortments, right down to the individual logs.

Work planning and selecting an efficient driving order is easier when the precise location and volume of the different assortments are shown on the map with the network of logging routes.

Operators can choose the location of the desired assortment from a specific area of the site or along a logging route. Operators can easily mark the map to indicate the assortment they have

forwarded to the storage area. This way, information about the precise volume of the timber taken to the storage area as well as the progress of the job site are available.

As the logging progresses, the machine’s production and the logging routes appear in real-time also on the forwarder operator’s map.

Additionally, the operators can add markings to the map to point out noteworthy areas to other operators. This makes it easy to factor in other things,

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like an area with soft ground, when planning the route.

The smart map also makes it possible for the operator in the next shift to see the actual situation of the site – right down to individual logs.

The application has operator- and contractor-dedicated displays that reflect the real-time situation of the job site. TimberMatic Maps is used in the cabin of the machine and TimberManager is used by the contractor to see the logging progress.

The system visually displays the logging progress in the job site as a percentage for the assortments and for the assortments forwarded to the road-side storage area. The precise volume of assortments at the storage site facilitates the contractor’s work in determining the needed trailer transports and the onward transportation of the timber. Accurate data facilitates the operations of the entire supply chain.

There is no longer a need to estimate the volume; not a single log will be left in the forest, and all the different

assortments are accurately displayed on the map – even if it is dark or if they are covered by snow.

TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager will be standard features in all new John Deere G-Series harvesters and forwarders as of autumn 2018.

TimberMatic – Stop guessing.

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TimberMaticTM Maps

Stay on the map!TimberManager TM takes the monitoring and planning of logging into a new era.

TimberMaticTM Maps makes operator’s daily work faster and easier. Keeping up with job site and task, locating right assortments on one log accuracy, finding optimal routes that give full load. All this in real time and cloud-synced.

Through secure cloud-sync, data is available in real time for all the stakeholders.

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TimberManagerTM

The unique system developed jointly by John Deere and forest machine contractors now gives a real-time map display of the progress made at logging sites, the precise locations of the assortments, the machines, the routes, and the danger zones at the logging site – no need for guessing anymore!

TEXT: KIMMO KIIMALAINEN PHOTOS: JYRKI LUUKKONEN

Machine operators now have access to the TimberMatic Maps application. The

TimberMatic control system has been in use for years, but now it incorporates a smart map feature that can utilize the data collected by the harvester.

TimberManager, the web-based application of the system, gives contractors a view of the situation at the logging area.

Smart map is the keyOne thing that is dreaded by machine contractors and forwarder operators alike: having to forward logs, but a layer of thick snow has covered all the logs. Now the operator is faced with guessing and feeling around in the snow to find the logs. Even then, some logs get left behind, buried in the snow awaiting the following spring – but not when John Deere’s innovative new TimberMatic Maps is used.

The system intelligently combines the familiar John Deere TimberMatic

automation and measuring data and accurate GPS data and uses a map display to guide the forwarder operator precisely to the desired location.

This is how it works: The harvester’s TimberMatic Maps application collects data about the machine’s routes and the volume of felled logs, as well as the precise location of the different assortments and automatically transmits it to a cloud service; from there, the data is transmitted in real-time directly to the forwarder’s display.

TimberMatic Maps makes it possible to locate precisely the right assortment also from under the snow, just as easily as a GPS navigator guides car drivers to their destination.

Likewise, the system ensures that no logs are left behind on the ground. >

Stay on the map!

TimberManagerTM provides you with real-time data from your job sites and makes it easier to control your operations. Track productivity, remaining workload and work time, and optimize usage of your fleet.

Tim

berM

atic

TM

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Tim

berM

anag

er TM Better forecasting

for contractors While forwarders are moving logs in the forest, the contractor can use the TimberManager application on a computer or mobile device to see the progress of all active logging sites, either by percentage or cubic meters, during all work phases from felling to forwarding.

According to Johnny Granvik, the real-time TimberManager system offers the contractor significant planning and forecasting benefits.

“This makes the daily planning easier and makes time management much more efficient because the

system can calculate things like when the work will be completed. The key here is the real-time information,” Granvik says.

“Now we really know what is coming next and when. The contractor doesn’t have to be calling around to find out info; he can go and do other things since he always has the precise information about the situation. Naturally, the biggest benefits will be had when the tool is in all the machines.”

According to Granvik, using TimberManager can also reduce the contractor’s expenses because it reduces the unnecessary movement and idle time of the fleet.

“TimberManager reduces trailer-

Thus using the system benefits not only the contractor and the operator, but also the forest owner.

“If snow falls over the felled logs, the map makes it possible to find them without feeling around, so no logs are left behind in the forest,” sums up the Saarijärvi-based RV-Hänninen Oy’s owner and contractor Ville Hänninen, who has collaborated in the development of the system since 2015.

When the logs have been transported to the storage area, the forwarder operator confirms this and the information is immediately updated in the system.

Operator’s work becomes easierThe accurate system brings many advantages benefiting the operator and the machine contractor. When the forwarder operator indicates that the logs have been transported to the storage area, the next shift operator will see the precise situation of the logging site. There is no longer a need to visually estimate the volume of the forwarded assortment. The operator can select the desired volume of assortment, and that facilitates urgent timber transports. The application shows how much of each assortments are still left and where they are located.

According to Hänninen, the benefits extend to the actual loading process.

“At the forwarder end, the management of the volumes helps even in the actual loading process – if you can see from the system that everything will easily fit in the load space, then you can make a loose load faster and you don’t

A group of customers who participated in the development and testing of the system convened in May 2018 in Central Finland to provide feedback about TimberManager, i.e. the system’s contractor display.

have to spend unnecessary time carefully setting the logs tightly next to each other,” Hänninen adds.

Johnny Granvik from the Evijärvi-based Granvikin Metsätyö Oy has tested the system for about six months. He says that TimberMatic also helps the operator to respond to situation-specific needs.

“Now the operator has more opportunities for planning. If industry needs fibre or a certain assortment, the map instantly shows you where to find it,” Granvik describes the benefits of the system.

Johnny Granvik

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Ville Hänninen (middle) has collaborated in the development of the system since 2015.

related costs because there is less driving without a load,” Granvik says.

Ville Hänninen confirms Granvik’s observation:

“Unnecessary trailer time can be

eliminated because the transports can be forecasted precisely.”

Johnny Granvik points out that, in addition to all the other beneficial TimberManager data, it’s also useful in evaluating the performance of individual operators because the system is able to fairly take into account the different work conditions and tasks of the various operators. At the same time, the system helps the less experienced operators get up to par with the seasoned operators.

“TimberManager evens out the differences between seasoned operators and newcomers.”

Mikon Metsäpalvelu Oy’s Pekka Ahokas participated in the development of the system and thinks that the real-time system reduces the contractor’s overall workload.

“TimberManager helps in monitoring the machines and improves the daily management of the fleet and volumes because the log volumes and the completion of logging sites can now be monitored reliably,” Ahokas sums up.

Standard in G-SeriesTimberManager and TimberMatic Maps are standard features in John Deere’s new G-Series machines.

John Deere’s R&D Engineer Vesa Siltanen thinks that TimberMatic’s smart map function and TimberManager will take the management of logging sites to a whole new level. While all the benefits of the system are not yet clear, he does note that a solid platform has already been created with these systems upon which John Deere Forestry together with its customers can develop many kinds of application expansions in the future.

“Real-time data transfer between machines is now reality. It enables the use of the data collected by the machine’s existing and future measuring systems.” Siltanen envisions the possibilities of the system.

“The contractor doesn’t have to be calling around to find out info; he can go and do other things since he always has the precise information about the situation.”

Pekka Ahokas

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John Deere 1270G 8W

IBC“IBC works like an extension of your arm!” forest machine operator Juha Reinikainen sums up his experience with the machine.

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An island logging site in Riistavesi, in east Kuopio, early July: Juha Reinikainen, a forest machine

operator with Koneteko Pitkänen Oy, is making fast work of felling trees in the picturesque scenery of Kumpuvesi -lake with a new John Deere 1270G 8W harvester equipped with Intelligent Boom Control. He has racked up hundreds of hours at the controls of the machine, and the experience Reinikainen has gained over the past half a year hardly leaves room for interpretation:

“You don’t have to concentrate on the joystick and the boom movements anymore – the harvester head goes to the tree as easy as a spoon into the mouth,” Reinikainen praises the IBC work feel from the operator’s perspective.

The operator’s overall assessment is as convincing in its conciseness:

“I wouldn’t give this away anymore!”

Efficient, precise, fastSo what has convinced Reinikainen?

IBC, he notes, makes harvesting more efficient, easier and smoother, and the benefits can be measured directly in the number of cubic meters logged.

So far, Reinikainen has logged about 29,000 cubic meters with IBC, close to

half of which is from thinnings. He points out that the practical

advantages of the John Deere IBC quickly become clear in the cabin.

“IBC makes operating the harvester faster and easier, and there are no jolts with the boom,” he describes the differences compared to a machine without Intelligent Boom Control.

Reinikainen doesn’t lack for comparisons: he has close to 30 years of experience in operating harvesters and even more years when it comes to logging work in general.

Introduced initially in 2013 for forwarders, Reinikainen’s first experience with IBC was at a FinnMETKO exhibition in 2014 and in Joensuu.

He climbed into the cabin of the 1270G 8W last January at his own request because the performance and excellent working ergonomics of the pre-series 1270E IT4 harvester he had previously operated had impressed the seasoned logger.

“The machine’s ergonomics are superb, you don’t have to twist your head, neck or back when you’re in the leveling and rotating cabin. Additionally, the Deere’s cabin is on a different ring, making for less stress on the operator.”

“No need to rev the engine”According to Reinikainen, the Intelligent Boom Control in the new 1270G 8W harvester convincingly goes beyond the IT4 model’s outstanding ergonomics and performance. The 9-liter diesel engine under the hood of the machine provides plenty of power and torque – even at low RPMs. Reinikainen chuckles with a comparison from the world of passenger cars:

“Other harvesters are like a 1.6-liter turbo that you have to rev to get any power; with this one, you don’t have to rev it at all,” Reinikainen describes the engine performance.

He notes that the engine actually has more torque than the IT4 model, but even so it definitely consumes less fuel than its predecessor.

Crowning Reinikainen’s harvester package is the H415-multispeed harvester head with a three-gear transmission that makes logging “brutally” efficient.

“There is torque for the big trees and speed for the small trees – and always plenty of power available…,” Reinikainen says. >

TEXT: KIMMO KIIMALAINEN PHOTOS: JYRKI LUUKKONEN

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In spite of the power, there have been no compromises made in terms of the precision.

“The precision of the harvester head is in a class of its own – I adjusted it once, and I didn’t even need to!” he chuckles.

The get-go to get up hillsThe massive power and torque housed in the engine, says Reinikainen, becomes even more evident in hilly terrain.

“The machine’s capability to climb slopes is amazing. It’s astonishing how steep of a slope the machine can climb up

and down…,” Reinikainen describes.“On the other hand, the 8 wheels make

the machine more stable and it doesn’t dip into pits like the 6-wheeler. This machine goes backward just as good as forward.”

And if the machine is equipped with tracks, the tractive force of the harvester’s 8-wheeled chassis is so impressive that the soil is the weakest link in terms of moving about.

“Most of the time, practically speaking, traction is the ultimate limiting factor to this machine’s climbing ability,”

John Deere Product Development Engineer Vesa Siltanen sums up the observations gained about the machine’s mobility.

According to Juha Reinikainen, the overall reliability of the 1270G 8W harvester means the queue in the spare parts store is non-existent. IBC features electronic end damping for all the main movement trajectories of the boom; this prevents blow-like loads in the end positions and improves the durability of the boom.

“The machine is very reliable. This

Koneteko Pitkänen Oy ■ Domicile: Alapitkä, Lapinlahti ■ Machine chains: 6 ■ Employees: about 30 ■ Operating area boundaries: Siilinjärvi-Maaninka in the north, Outokumpu in the east, Vehmer-salmi in the south, Karttula in the west

Juha Reinikainen

Vesa Siltanen and Juha Reinikainen

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machine has had the least repairs done of all the machines.”

IBC advancements based on customer needs According to Product Development Engineer Vesa Siltanen, it’s important to note that IBC is not a static, unchanging feature – even though the abbreviation remains the same.

“IBC is a genuinely sophisticated artificial intelligence platform that is continuously evolving,” Siltanen describes the system.

“And in order for the development trend to be as useful as possible for our customers, the advancements are made in collaboration with the users. We are constantly exchanging related information with them.”

In practice, the results of IBC development work are brought to the customers’ machines in the form of software updates containing new, improved control algorithms – at no charge!

According to Central Finland District Manager Herkko Saukkomaa, the reactions in the forest machine sector have already indicated that John Deere has been very successful in introducing IBC to harvesters.

“The reception of IBC has been really good. The fact that 90 percent of the new machines sold this year are equipped with IBC demonstrates that,” Saukkomaa says.

Juha Reinikainen has his own insight into how significant of a development step the John Deere IBC system is:

“It can’t be bad at all if also other manufacturers are planning similar systems,” Reinikainen notes.

“The precision of the harvester head is in a class of its own – I adjusted it once, and I didn’t even need to!”

“You sold a good machine,” Juha Reinikainen thanks District Manager Herkko Saukkomaa.

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McMillan Logging is helping turn Tate’s Hell Forest into a sustainable forest

TEXT: KEVIN ORFIELD PHOTOS: DAVID LEE MJOLSNESS

Tate’s Hell Forest has an interesting history that tells visitors a bit about its unforgiving nature. The

forest was named after farmer Cebe Tate. In 1875, Tate ventured out into the swampland armed with a shotgun to find a panther that was killing his livestock. After becoming lost, he was bitten by

a snake. He survived for seven days by drinking murky water to stay alive. According to legend, when he finally found civilization, he lived only long enough to utter the words, “I’m Cebe Tate, and I’ve just come from Hell.”

Over a century later, Steve McMillan, owner of McMillan Logging of Bristol, Florida, and his crew work a tract of pine in the 202,437-acre (819 km²) forest.

McMillan and his crew thin the forest for the Florida Forestry Service. “Thinning makes for a healthier forest,” he says. “It benefits wildlife and opens the way for controlled burning to prevent wildfires. It’s just good for everything.” The crew produces approximately 80 to 100 loads a week. The timber is sold mostly for pulp to a local mill, along with some saw timber.

Located near Panama City, Florida, Tate’s Hell Forest is beautiful, yet forbidding. Predominantly swampland, it’s not an easy place to make a living by logging. Only a select few like Steve McMillan are up to the challenge.

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Restoring the ecosystem From the early 1950s to the mid 1990s, private forest companies attempted to drain Tate’s Hell Swamp and establish pine plantations for supplying timber to pulpwood mills. The draining negatively impacted marine life, and other alterations further disrupted the natural ecosystem. Thousands of acres were converted to slash pine and fertilized,

putting too much phosphorus and nitrogen into the environment.

Hundreds of miles of roads and drainage ditches were constructed, which actually made drainage much worse.

In 1994 , the state began acquiring the forest to restore ecosystems and drainage patterns to their natural state. The Florida Forest Service manages the forest through a combination of prescribed fire,

timber thinning, and a number of major hydrological-restoration projects. Its mandate is to ensure sustainable timber, wildlife, and water, while improving the aesthetics and recreational opportunities of the forest. McMillan works closely with the state foresters and biologists, who manage the forest to preserve its health for generations to come. >

About half of Tate’s Hell Forest is covered in swamp.

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“I can’t say enough nice things about these folks,” says McMillan. “They are really on top of what they’re doing. They’re good people.”

About half of Tate’s Hell Forest is covered in swamp. Even the driest ground is still spongy. In the wettest areas, logging machines must battle deep muck and mire. McMillan, is specially equipped to work in the unique, swampy environment. His operation runs a John Deere 803M Tracked Feller Buncher, a 648L Skidder, and a 437E Knuckleboom Loader. A tracked feller buncher is an unusual sight on a logging operation in the Southeast, but in the swampy conditions, the 803M works perfectly.

“It’s very nimble and has a light footprint,” says McMillan. The 648L Skidder is equipped with duals for improved flotation. Swamp logging would be literally impossible without duals, according to McMillan.

Loving the outdoors and managing sustainable forestryMcMillan is happiest when he’s in the seat of the 803M Tracked Feller Buncher, deep in Tate’s Hell Forest felling trees. “There are two kinds of loggers,” he reflects. “The ones that come to the woods, and the ones that manage. I’m the kind that comes to the woods.”

“It was 1972, and I was on summer break from college,” he remembers. “A bunch of boys I grew up with talked me into going into the woods with them. They said it would be a good summer job.” Logging was tough in the premech- anized days of hand felling and cable skidding. “It was pretty dangerous back then. Everything was done with chainsaws and by dragging cables.” But McMillan never looked back. “I just fell in love with it. In the woods, McMillan has not only found success, but an extended family. Some of his employees

have been with him since he got his start close to 30 years ago. In addition to his wife Sharon, who manages operations, and his son Josh, he works closely with crew members Monroe Ammons, and his sons Jonathan and Tyler. “The one thing I love most about logging is the people — from the folks at our John Deere dealership to the foresters to my crew. There are just good people in the forestry industry. They all share a common goal of loving the outdoors and managing timber so it is a sustainable resource.”

McMillan Logging is serviced by Beard Equipment, Tallahassee, Florida.

Tate’s Hell ■ 202,437 acres / 819 km² ■ Approximately 50-percent wet habitat, including wet prairie and swampland

■ Major hydrologic feature is Tate’s Hell Swamp

■ Past management practices disturbed the natural ecosystems

■ Restoring these ecosystems is the primary goal of the Florida Forest Service

■ Home to dwarf cypress that do not exceed 15-feet tall

■ Certified as a sustainable forest by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® in 2016

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida Forest Services

Steve McMillanMonroe Ammons

Tallahassee

USA

Mexico

Florida

Gulf of Mexico

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Our most up-to-date news are on YouTube!

Follow us in YouTube and find out about new launches and product videos.YouTube: JohnDeereUKIE

NEWS

Harvester Head Performance Plus Accessories Catalog is releasedTEXT: ANTTI KETVELL PHOTOS: JOHN DEERE

John Deere Forestry is releasing the new Harvester Head Performance Plus Accessories Catalog at the FinnMetko 2018 fair. The catalog contains the updated portfolio of John Deere Forestry’s harvester head accessories, including the spare and wear parts to maximize your harvester’s productivity. The catalog is compact in size, so you can keep it in the cabin, ready to access when you need it.

The catalog is structured as previously, but with some new additions: Expander pins for harvester heads and special tools to facilitate harvester head maintenance and servicing. The expander pins allow you to quickly replace loose and worn pins – even in field conditions. With the correct tools, maintenance and servicing is faster and easier, so your machine can be back in business in no time.

The catalog features a wide selection of feed rollers for John Deere harvester heads, including the new feed rollers introduced at FinnMetko 2018. We

offer the right feed rollers for your application, no matter what tree species is being processed or what the operating conditions are.

John Deere Forestry has added a wide selection of delimbing knives to the catalog. You will find the best knives for your application as well as instructions on how to keep the harvester head knives sharp and in good shape to prolong their lifetime.

John Deere Forestry is proud to present the full SpeedMax™ cutting system, featuring a broad selection of SpeedMax saw bars, the new 19HX chains and the new type of drive sprockets. John Deere Forestry’s cutting system accessories give you the best tools for higher productivity. The extensive portfolio is listed in the harvester head catalog. More information and the portfolio are available from your John Deere Forestry dealer.

We haven’t overlooked harvester head lubricants or marking colors. The portfolio of lubricants has grown since the last catalog and now consists of high-quality John Deere Lubricants for all

conditions – whether you prefer oil or grease lubrication. Our marking colors are 100-percent biodegradable and suitable for year-round use and the only approved marking color to be used with John Deere harvester heads.

The catalog not only includes lists of parts and maintenance instructions, but also tips on how to maintain the high productivity of your top-of-the-line harvester head. The catalog and more information are available at your local John Deere Forestry dealer.

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IBC is the intelligent boom control system, where sensors detect harvester head’s position and algorithms adjust the boom’s trajectory in one continuous motion.

The boom is easy to use and precise at all reaches.

IBC has impressed the forestry professionals.

See the video on our web page

www.deere.co.uk/en/forestry/ibc

and the BOOM FOLLOWS

OPERATOR GUIDES THE HARVESTER HEAD