John Deere at the Swedish Forestry Expo 2023
All John Deere G-series forest machines and the latest harvester head models will be showcased at the fair. This year, the focus is on improving logging productivity and easy operating with new technological solutions for forwarders, including the new Intelligent Boom Control innovations, new load spaces, and front bogie lift. John Deere Forestry will also showcase the new Intelligent Harvester Head Control, and the new TimberMaticTM Maps features that make the operators’ work easier.
IBC 3.0 brings more automated functions to forwarders
Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) is John Deere’s continuously evolving technology to improve logging productivity and to assist harvester or forwarder operators. The next milestone in IBC technology is IBC 3.0 for forwarders and the new automated functions it has to facilitate the work of operators. With the new version, IBC 3.0, at the push of a button the boom automatically moves to the position from which the previous grapple load was taken – both when loading and unloading logs. The boom can also be automatically moved into transporting position at the push of a button. The forwarder’s IBC 3.0 functionality will debut at the Swedish Forestry Expo.
New load spaces make loading easier
The new load spaces are structurally stronger and designed to better fill the customers’ needs in various operations. With the new headboard and its swivel, hinged extensions, and extendable bunks, widening the load space is easy. The new design of the load bunks with bulges on the inner side of their shoulders enables easy sorting of different timber assortments. Optional higher and easy to use sorters are also available. New load space options are available for 1110G, 1210G and 1510G forwarders.
Front bogie lift provides increased agility on terrain
John Deere Forestry is introducing a front bogie hydraulic lift for 910G and 1010G forwarders. The front bogie’s front and rear wheels can be lifted. The right and left side bogies can be controlled separately based on the operator’s needs. The function improves the machine’s manoeuvrability and operator ergonomics in difficult terrain.
The front bogie lift function facilitates in crossing ditches and with sharp approach angles. By lifting the front bogie, the turning radius can be improved, and thus the machine can turn more agilely. The front bogie’s rear wheels equipped with chains can be lifted, thus saving the road surface from damage when unloading to the roadside landing area.
Intelligent Harvester Head Control (IHC) improves delimbing quality
The new Intelligent Harvester Head Control (IHC) makes logging easier and improves delimbing quality. The force control of the delimbing knives gives the harvester head the right compression and excellent measuring accuracy in all conditions.
The correct pressure setting of the delimbing knives is a basic requirement for good and precise harvester head operation. Determining the correct settings is based on a number of variables, like tree size, tree species and felling conditions. Thanks to the new IHC, there is significantly less need to change the pressure settings of the delimbing knives, which facilitates the harvester operator’s work.
John Deere’s TimberMatic control system includes basic settings for the force control of the delimbing knives based on the tree species. A sensor in the harvester head’s upper delimbing knives continuously measures the contact force between the tree and the harvester head, and the IHC system adjusts the compression of the moving delimbing knives within the set parameters. This keeps the compression of the delimbing knives optimized for the felling situation, and thus the delimbing and measuring accuracy remains at a high level.
With the proper (not excessive) compression force, the feeding speed remains good, the surface layer of the log isn’t damaged and unnecessary fuel consumption is avoided. The tree is not debarked, so it retains its high value added, and the bark can be utilized in energy production. The correct pressure settings improve the durability of the harvester head.
The IHC option is available in Europe with John Deere H212 and H423 harvester heads.
TimberMatic Maps. Visual information about log position and location
Tree species are shown on the map with selected colours, as previously, right down to the individual tree. The harvester’s IBC 3.0 feature enables a visualization of the logs based on their cutting point and position. The new visual presentation is more illustrative and provides the forwarder operator with advance information about the site.
Automatic registration to load space
The automatic registration to the load space identifies the work phases in which the selected tree species are loaded. The system also identifies the location from which the timber assortment is collected, and automatically marks the timber in that specific location as moved to the load space. The function reduces the actions required by the forwarder operator and shows all parties involved a more up-to-date snapshot of the logging site. The easy-to-use tools facilitate the operator’s work and leave more time for work planning.
The visual and usability aspects of the TimberMatic Maps interface have also been improved. An easy-to-use production summary has been added to the interface, showing calculations of different timber species in cubic meters and as a percentage of the total logging site.
TimberMatic Maps has been a standard feature in all new John Deere G-series harvesters and forwarders since autumn 2018. Customers always receive updated versions of the application, free of charge. The system can be retrofitted also to older machines that meet equipment requirements. TimberManagerTM is a free online service showing the contractor the logging site status in real-time.
John Deere Forestry Oy has been meeting logging customers’ needs for the past 50 years. The company’s commitment to the development of logging solutions has created many pioneering, productivity-enhancing innovations that make the customers’ work easier.
