Manual to Mechanised Harvesting:

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Manual to Mechanised Harvesting

• SOS Contractors CC
• Sean O Sullivan

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Background

• 1995- Manual Harvesting Pulp
• 2002 -Problems of manual harvesting.
• Availability.
• Productivity.
• Safety.
• Rateability.
• Investigated mechanical debarking.

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Background

• 2003- Purchased Kusel Elephant debarking head
  fitted to a Bell Kato HD820 Excavator.
• Needed a Change in mindset re Manual Vs
  Mechanical.
• Mechanic.
• Double Shifting.
• Compartment Planning. (Slope, stripability,
  ground roughness, etc.)
• K.P.Is.
• Costing.
• Systems.

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• Drivers (Identified as a problem.)
• Used our best drivers looking at
• Attitude.
• Driving skills.
• Performance.
• Vehicle cleanliness.
• Selected 3 trained by vehicle Manufacturers.
• Within 3 mths they were efficient competent but
  no bench marking.

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Fully Mechanised

• Needed to take the next step.
• Travelled twice to Australia once to Brazil.
• Decided in our situation that a Single Grip
  Processing Head was suitable.
• Compiled list of must haves, before deciding on
  which machine to purchase.
• After sales back up.
• Driver training.
• Skills- systems mechanics.
• Spares availability.

6

• Went for a Waratah 616 HDH head fitted to a Bell
  Kato 820HD Excavator. (Hybrid)
• Robust.
• Agents in PMB.
• Guaranteed spares.
• Drivers
• None available.
• Computer literate or not.
• Salary.
• Incentives (Productivity breakdowns).
• Took our best trained them on the job. Focused
  on technique not production. Introduced
  Production targets after 6 months.
• Management
• No experience.
• Mechanical ability.
• Sent to Brazil Finland.
• Sent to any training available.
• Key to success..

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Purpose Built vs Hybrid

• Need to look at your own situation.
• Ask
• Capital costs Productivity.
• Terrain Tree size.
• Tracked vs Wheeled.
• Single Grip vs Multi stem.
• Fuel consumption.
• Technical Expertise Skills.
• Vehicle life.
• Decided on John Deere 1270D Wheeled Harvester
• Agents in PMB.
• Fuel consumption. (14.6 l / hr).
• Terrain- rocks.
• Tree size
• 0.35 0.5m3 / tree. Pine.
• 0.1 0.25m3 / tree. Euc.
• Size of compartments- Movement.
• Drivers
• Took best from the Excavators.

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Burnt Eucalyptus

• 2007 Fires at Shafton Softwood then hardwoods
• Carbon dust was a big problem- excessive wear.
• Clogging filters.
• Chain bar life.
• Visibility.
• Health ??
• Advantages
• Clean undergrowth. Rocks, ditches etc.
• Less movement of machines.
• Less brush branches.
• Disadvantages
• Stripability of E,grandis.
• Moisture loss.
• Breakages.
• Safety.
• Quality- Rejects.
• Costs.

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Summary

• What have I learnt?
• Mechanisation is great is here to stay.
• Travel learn from others.
• Get technical staff to look at 90 of breakdowns
• Fuel consumption.
• Train, train retrain.
• Know your cost effects on production.
• Select drivers very carefully.

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Thank You