John Deere Forestry at Euroforest

John Deere is further improving logging productivity and easy operating with new technological solutions for forwarders, including the new Intelligent Boom Control innovations as well as the new single extension jib boom. John Deere will also showcase the Intelligent Harvester Head Control, and the new TimberMaticTM Maps features that make the operators’ work easier. John Deere G-series forest machines and the latest harvester head models will be showcased at the fair.

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 debuted at the Swedish Forestry Expo and is also available for testing at Euroforest Exhibition.

Presenting the new single extension folding jib boom

The XE folding boom is equipped with a single extension and external hosing; it is available for CF5, CF7 and CF7S 8.5 m loaders of small and mid-size forwarders.

The structure is simple and durable, with minimal welds and bolt holes. The good geometry of the boom makes it easy to control, and the newly positioned lights under the extension increase visibility to the boom tip. The boom is narrow and flat-sided so it doesn’t damage the trees left standing. The folding jib boom’s hose routing is also better protected. Because of the Y-link shackle, the hoses from the boom to the rotator and grapple are routed inside the extension. There are no external hose loops. Productivity is also improved, thanks to the excellent tractive force of 2850 kg.

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.

The new visualisation and automatic registration to load space are demonstrated with examples in the John Deere exhibition tent.
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.