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ShortCutsFROM SKOGFORSK. NO 2 | 2014 | RESEARCH FOR TOMORROW’S FORESTRY
WINDSMART TIMBER RIG SAVES SEK 80 000 A YEAR
MORE ACCURATE MEASUREMENT:
A WIN-WINSITUATION
MARIA NORDSTRÖM
3 STEPS TO MORE ACCURATEMEASUREMENT
MEETSKOGFORSK’S INCOMING CEO
NEW INTEREST IN ALDERGENETIC MANAGEMENT OF DECIDUOUS TREES PROVIDES NEW OPTIONS
EXCHANGING FUEL VOLUMES IMPROVES EFFICIENCY OF CHIP TRANSPORTSLOCATE PROFITABLE FOREST FUEL
In Mälardalen, efficiency of chiptransport could be improved byapproximately 12-15 percent ifthe hauliers were to collaborateon transport and exchangebiofuel volumes with each other.
This is shown in a Skogforskstudy involving 42 heatingplants and 4 500 landings. Theproject only examined thepotential in straightforwardexchange, which reduces thetransport distances for both par-ties. The results correspond withprevious analyses of exchanges of
roundwood between differenthauliers, where average transportdistance could be reduced byapproximately 18 percent.
Optimisation solutions thatexamine the total flow in aregion do not favour small trans-port customers with smallervolumes and fewer transports.As the gains from improvingefficiency are so substantial, thiscan be managed for example byprofit sharing between the com-panies.
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ShortCuts | News
“The alder grows well,” saysLars-Göran Stener, plant breederat Skogforsk. “It can produce upto 9 m3f ub/ha a year during a35-year rotation period. It is lesssusceptible to damage by wild ani-mals than most other deciduoustrees in Sweden, and also improvesthe soil through its ability to bindnitrogen from the air.”
Today, alder wood is primarilyused in the furniture industry,but packaging, energy wood andpulp wood are other areas of use.There may also be market poten-tial for alder as a replacement forrare tropical woods.
But there is even greater
growth potential in the alderfamily. Skogforsk is now testinghybrid alders, a cross betweenthe North American red alderand the Swedish alder. Thehybrid combines the goodgrowth of the red alder with thehigh quality and hardiness of theSwedish alder.
“In our tests, the hybrid alderhas, on average, grown muchbetter than the alder, but its stemquality and survival rates are notas good,” says Lars-GöranStener. “But there are examplesof cross-bred families with up to40 percent greater diametergrowth than average for the tes-
ted hybrid alders, and they alsohave acceptable survival ratesand stem quality.”
Skogforsk has also started aproject to genetically improvegrey alder, which could be analternative tree species for energyproduction. It is well-adapted tothe climate and growsconsiderably better than willowand poplar on typical forest soils.
MEETSKOGFORSK’SNEW CEO
Charlotte Bengtsson has beenappointed new CEO of Skogforsk.Currently head of department atSP Wood Technology, she hasbroad experience of managementand research in forestry and thebuilt environment.
“I’m very proud and pleased tobe given this opportunity to leadSkogforsk. The forestry industryand Skogforsk are playing animportant role in the transitionto a bio-based society, and I’mreally looking forward to leadingthe organisation in a directionthat will take full advantage ofthe new opportunities that weknow lie ahead,” says CharlotteBengtsson.
She will be taking over at atime when Swedish forestry isfacing major challenges, butwhere there are also great oppor-tunities. Productivityimprovements have stagnated,the expected climate change ismaking new demands, and fore-stry must satisfy ever-increasingsocial values. Skogforsk has animportant function in contribu-ting new knowledge, servicesand products that will enableSwedish forestry to adapt to thenew conditions.
“The interdisciplinaryapproach, my contact network,my expertise, and my experiencein the sector are what I will bebringing to Skogforsk,” she says.
Charlotte Bengtsson takesover the position of CEO on 1January 2015.
Charlotte Bengtsson takes over theposition of CEO on 1 January 2015.
CONTACT: Lars-Göran StenerTel: +46 (0)[email protected] MORE: skogforsk.se/kunskap
NEW INTERESTIN ALDERIn the wake of ash dieback, alder is attracting a lot of interest as an inte-resting alternative to the ash on nutrient-rich, damp ground. It is relati-vely insensitive to damage by wild animals, and the wood is in demand.Furthermore, new results make it possible to genetically improve thereproductive material.
Genetically improved alder canreplace the diseased ash on bettersoils.
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Shall we swap? Transport collaborationon 4 500 landings in these areas redu-ced costs by 12–15 percent.
EXCHANGING FUEL VOLUMES IMPROVESEFFICIENCY OF CHIP TRANSPORTS
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CONTACT: Petrus JönssonTel: +46 (0)[email protected]
ShortCuts | News
RESEARCH FOR TOMORROW’S FORESTRY ShortCuts | 2 | 2014 3
“This is because it takes a longtime for a tree to develop from asmall plant to a mature tree. Inaddition, the seeds are notspread sufficiently far for the treeto extend its range at the samerate as climate change,” saysLars-Göran Stener, researcher atSkogforsk.
In order to secure climateadaptation, Skogforsk has deve-loped a strategy for managingthe genetic resources ofdeciduous trees, and activelyadapt forthcoming generationsof deciduous trees to a differentclimate.
The method involves
gathering seeds from a largenumber of Swedish deciduoustrees in their current geographi-cal range and growing them. Thenew plants are then planted ingene resource stands, which con-tain great genetic variation andare managed in such a way toquickly develop new trees thatare adapted to a future climate.
“For coniferous trees, thisstrategy is already integrated inthe routine tree plant breedingthat Skogforsk carries out onbehalf of the forestry sector. Butnow it’s important that Swedenagrees on a long-term strategythat also applies to deciduous
trees, so that various measureshave the best effect and that weincrease options for future fore-stry,” Lars-Göran Stener.
The report ”Förvaltning avlövträdens genresurs” (“Manage-ment of the genetic resource of
deciduous trees”) is available inSwedish atskogforsk.se/kunskap.
Remote sensing will enable theforestry sector to more easilylocate sites for profitable energywood extraction in young standsof small trees and along roads, andshow their exact location.
“Because the machine costs are
Young forests are a great potentialsource of bioenergy. Sweden has largeareas of very dense young forests withsmall-dimension trees that need thin-ning, but only some of the wood canbe extracted as pulp wood.Calculations show that the potentialharvest of forest fuel in thinning ofsmall-dimension trees with technicaland economic restrictions liesbetween 5 and 7 TWh per year.
Small trees on roadsides are also arelatively unutilised resource for forestfuel. In Sweden today, there areapproximately 213 000 km of forestroads, i.e. roads without state funding,and the energy potential along theseroads is estimated to be approximately2 TWh per year.
CONTACT: Mia Iwarsson WideTel: +46 (0)18-188599,[email protected] MORE: skogforsk.se/kunskap
Large quantities of biofuel in young forests
LOCATE PROFITABLE FOREST FUEL
GENETIC MANAGEMENT OFDECIDUOUS TREES PROVIDESNEW OPTIONS
Swedish deciduous trees will be adapted to climate change.
Normally, genetic adaptation involves the mostsuitable trees being retained to form the nextgeneration of stands. But there are many indicationsthat climate change will be faster than the deciduoustrees’ natural ability to adapt to the new conditions.
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Here they are. Profitable volumes offorest fuel are located using laserscanning.
high, and felling small trees isexpensive, the method can beused to direct logging operationsto areas that are probablyprofitable,” says Mia IwarssonWide of Skogforsk. Togetherwith the Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Skogforskhas studied the possibility ofusing data from the Lantmäterietnational laser scanning model,NNH, in combination with a spreadsheet tool to identifypotentially profitable areas.
Maria Iwarsson Wide isleading the ‘Forest Fuel’research programme.
CONTACT: Lars-Göran [email protected]
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ShortCuts | Theme Wood Value
MEASUREMENTFor the past year, Skogforsk hasbeen monitoring a number ofquality-assured harvesters insouthern Sweden, from whichdata has been regularly collectedwith the help of VMF Syd, theTimber MeasurementAssociation of SouthernSweden. Within the harvestergroup, there is of course a rangein the measurement results, butit can be seen that the absolutebest maintain a very high level ofaccurate measurement overtime. By learning from the best,the aim is to help the entire har-vester fleet.
“The aim is to find out how,for example, machine settingsand the operator’s techniqueaffect the harvestermeasurement. But so far we’venot been able to find anysimple associations,” saysMaria Nordström.
“This is probablybecause there are so manydifferent factors thataffect measurement, suchas the appearance of theforest, the condition of themeasuring equipment, theability of the operator tofollow the stem with the harves-ter head, machine settings andclimate factors. But forindividual harvesters, we havebeen able to identify probablecauses of errors in measurement.Right now, we’re working oncorrecting the identified faults
and monitoring how the measu-rement is improved.”
Measuring a log can seem tobe a simple process, but it is not.The operator must be meticulu-ous and consistent. The callipermeasurement is often not carriedout correctly, or the diametermay be measured over knot bul-ges, yet the calliper measure-ment is the basis for followingup the machine’s measurementand for collecting data forcalibration. This requires trainingand greater understanding of theimportance of good measure-ment. The key persons are theauditors in the quality assurancesystem, who meet and trainmany harvester operators.
OPERATOR SUPPORTHere, the harvester computerwill soon show the current stateof the measurement, and give awarning in the event of any ano-maly. The software will be ableto differentiate between mecha-nical faults and a need forcalibration, and make it easierto see the associations betweenmachine settings and measure-ment results.
“We hope to able to identifywhich key figures serve as indica-tors of how the system ismeasuring. There’s a lot of veryinteresting data that themachine’s control system alreadylogs, and this can be used in com-bination with manual controlmeasurements. Closer collabora-tion with manufacturers ofmachines and measurement sys-tems is now important in orderto implement the results in prac-tical application. Wheneverwe’ve met and discussed theseissues, there’s been a lot ofinterest,” Maria Nordström ispleased to report.
ATTITUDE“At the end of the day, goodmeasurement is a matter of attitudes in companies and indi-viduals. And more knowledgeand understanding increasesinterest. Not until then willthere be real chances to succeed,”says Maria Nordström.
STEPS TO MOREACCURATEMEASUREMENT
Skogforsk’s Maria Nordström isworking on developing harvestermeasurement and qualityassurance.
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Harvester technology for measuring length and diameter of logs is largely the same as that used in the 1980s. Although the system for quality assurance hasmade measurements more reliable, there is still great potential for improvement.
Text: mats hannerz & sverker johansson | Photo: sverker johansson
Together with Heurgren Film AB,Skogforsk has produced the instruc-tion film ‘Håll måttet!’ to improve dia-meter measurement. You can order itfrom skogforsk.se.
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RESEARCH FOR TOMORROW’S FORESTRY ShortCuts | 2 | 2014 5
ShortCuts | Theme Wood Value
During the visit, JonasHemmingsson audits the measu-rement in Magnus Forsberg’s har-vester. Jonas measures the samplelogs that Magnus has put to oneside. Magnus also measures thesame logs. This is done to ensurethat he is measuring the logs accu-rately. The calliper can easily beout by a millimetre or so, and soJonas checks against a template.
“A calliper shouldn’t be soldwithout a template,” he says.
Calliper measurement mustimproveIt is also about measuring in theright way. Using a calliper tomeasure diameter is an art, andit is important not to measureacross knot bulges. Machineoperators sometimes measuresystematically incorrectly, so thatthe harvester receives a signal toreset the measurementequipment, even though it ismeasuring perfectly. A couple ofyears ago, Skogforsk carried outa survey of common problems incalibration of the harvester’smeasurement system. This iden-tified errors in calliper measure-ment as a major and commonproblem in forestry.
No problemsMagnus’s measurements areexcellent, and Jonas can recordan approved field test. When themeasurements are compared withthose of the harvester, 90 percentof the logs are shown to lie withinthe length specification of +/- 2cm, and 70 percent within thediameter specification of +/- 4mm. Approved with merit.
“Your measurements of lengthare really good,” complimentsJonas Hemmingsson.
During the audit visit, he alsohas a dialogue with the contrac-tor. And if anything is wrong inthe measurement equipment, itcan be corrected directly in themachine.
Feedback every other weekTwice a month, Jonas also sendsfeedback to Magnus abot thedata sent from his harvester toSDC. The continual follow-upis the basis for detectingdeviations and for adjusting thesystem if necessary. In a jointreview of the past months’ data,both Jonas and Magnus observethat there was a slight dip in thenumber of approved logs inFebruary, even though the levelwas still acceptable. Rapidtemperature changes during thelate winter were probably thecause.
COACHING& CONTROLAt the end of
the day, goodmeasurementis a matter of attitudes incompanies andindividuals.
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6 ShortCuts | 2 | 2014 RESEARCH FOR TOMORROW’S FORESTRY
ShortCuts | Theme Wood Value
In brief, harvesters that undergocontrol measurement reduce theproportion of logs with deliveryerrors from eight percent to 4-5.5 percent. The proportion oflogs that must be shortened (cutbecause they are not the correctlength) is also reduced.
The potential profit after pre-sawing was then estimated atSEK 120 million for the 31 mil-
lion cubic metres of timberreported in 2011. If we examinehow much Skogforsk benefitsthe forestry sector, it can beobserved that the annual profit isof the same order as Skogforsk’sannual budget.
Calculated over a five-yearperiod, 2010-2014, withgradual introduction ofquality assurance of the
harvesters (see table), the currentvalue of the potential profit afterdeduction for R&D andrunning costs is estimated to beSEK 657 million.
The running costs (SEK 0.71/m³sub) comprise internalchecks, audit costs, training andsystem management. The overallR&D investment for the project(research and implementation)was estimated to be SEK 11 mil-lion (calculated on currentvalue), of which Skogforsk’sshare was approximately SEK 1million.
The investment calcula-tion indicates an
internal rate of return
of 98 percent and a paybackperiod of four weeks!
Most harvesters reportinternal checks to SDC, but sofar only 25 percent of the timbervolume is produced by quality-assured harvesters. Much of thepotential, perhaps SEK 0.5billion over a five-year period, isstill waiting to be realised.
In the next edition of
VISION, we will bedescribing other
profitableresearch
initiatives.
MORE ATTRACTIVE BUSINESS PARTNER
The forecast on which the calculation was based. However,to date, only 220 harvesters have been quality assured – not700 – so implementation is slower than expected.
Profit by harvester category, 2011
Harvester Volyme Profit Total profitcategory million m3sub SEK/m3sub SEK million
Certified/quality-assuredharvesters 5 5.5 29.6
Reportingharvesters 26 3.4 90,4
Total 31 119.9
Implementation of quality-assured harvester measurement
Year No. of quality- No. of reporting Totalassured harvesters harvesters
2010 60 940 1 000
2011 120 880 1 000
2012 240 860 1 000
2013 480 720 1 200
2014 700 500 1 200
ATA Timber’s main product iswood for construction. It is abulk market where, under theprevailing constructionstandards, a couple of lengths aremost in demand in the 22-26 cmsaw class. And the dimensionsmust be accurate.
“It’s vitally important for cus-tomers that measurements arecorrect, so our quality assurance
makes us a more attractive busi-ness partner,” says RogerTagesson, CEO and Sales Mana-ger of ATA Timber. “Our delive-ries are more precise and it alsooften leads to the customersbuying other products from us.”
Can the improved delivery quality affect the price?“No, not really. We have to stick
to two prices: purchase price andselling price. If we were one offew players on the market, wewould be able to set specialprices for such good quality, butin a market where so many play-ers compete by lowering pricesand offering large volumes, thequality aspect is more about continuing to be an attractivesupplier.”
DEVELOPMENT WITH GREATPOTENTIAL FOR PROFITThe project, Quality-assured Harvester Measurement, started in 2002.Skogforsk has been the hub, and has collaborated with the forestry sec-tor, machine manufacturers, SDC (forestry IT companies) and VMF(Timber Measurement Association) to develop the system. Anevaluation now shows that the initiative has great potential forgenerating profit. Text & photo mats hannerz
”Gives satisfied customers and salesof other products.” Roger Tagesson atATA is dependent on quality-assuredharvesters.
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CONTACT: Lars Wilhelmsson, SkogforskTel: +46 (0)18-18 85 [email protected] MORE: Skogforsks Redogörelse no.1/2012.
RESEARCH FOR TOMORROW’S FORESTRY ShortCuts | 2 | 2014 7
ShortCuts | Theme Wood Value
“This is a pioneer study in whichwe discovered wind eddiesbetween cab and load, betweentruck and trailer, between stacks,and behind the vehicle,” explainsClaes Löfroth, transportresearcher at Skogforsk.
“We then tested various typesof wind-deflecting shields on the
vehicles, both on timber trucksand chip trucks. The results arevery promising – we think fuelconsumption can be reduced byat least 7-8 percent.”
Does this also apply when avehicle is driven unloaded?“Yes, but this requires a special
solution – stakes that can be lowe-red. When the stakes are foldeddown, just as much fuel is savedwhen the truck is driven unloaded.”
What do the figures show?“We’ve calculated with aninvestment cost ofapproximately SEK 200 000 foran extended spoiler on the caband shields between the stacks,and assume a weight increase ofapproximately 200 kg that redu-ces the payload. Despite this, thehaulier will save SEK 80 000 ayear through lower fuel costs.”
Good for the entire sectorAs in the ETT project, where
Skogforsk together with theSwedish Transport Admini-stration showed that introducinglarger trucks of 74–90 tonnescan reduce emissions by between10 and 20 percent, it is not justthe forestry sector that is affected – it applies to the entiretransport sector.
Aerodynamically-shapedtrucks have tremendous potentialto further reduce emissions fromheavy traffic in Sweden, whichevery year transports 280 miliontonnes of goods and emitsapproximately 4.3 million tonnesof CO2.
WIND DEFLECTING TRUCKSREDUCE EMISSIONS…
…AND SAVES THE HAULIER SEK 80 000/YEARIn the future, angular rigs will disappear from ourroads. Fuel consumption drops considerably whenthe entire truck is given an aerodynamic shape. This has been shown in a wind tunnel study carriedout by Skogforsk and Linköping University.
Text & photo: sverker johansson
Skogforsk’s Claes Löfroth isleading the next part of the ETTproject: ETT-aero, which isfunded by the forestry sector andthe Swedish Energy Agency.
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FOREST OPERATIONS & PRODUCTSRolf Bjö[email protected]. +46 18 188509
OPERATIONAL PLANNING & LOGISTICSGert [email protected]. +46 18 188567
FOREST ENERGYMia [email protected]. +46 18 188599
SILVICULTURE & ENVIRONMENTIsabelle [email protected]. +46 18 188595
TREE IMPROVEMENT NORTHBengt [email protected]. +46 90 203 3358
TREE IMPROVEMENT SOUTHBo [email protected]. +46 418 471305
UPPSALA (Head Office) Uppsala Science Park,SE-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46 18 188500
EKEBO Ekebo 2250, SE-268 90 Svalöv, SwedenPhone: +46 418 471300
UMEÅ P.O. Box 3, SE-918 21 Sävar, Sweden.Phone: +46 90 2033350
www.skogforsk.seEditor in chief: Jan Fryk | Form: Pagarango | Editor: Sverker Johansson, Bitzer Productions AB | ISSN: 2000-2726Photos: Sverker Johansson unless otherwise stated | Translated by: Leslie Walke, CommunicAID | Printed by: Gävle Offset, 2013
RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
Aerodynamic shape on aircraft,ships, trains and cars has beenstandard for a long time. In theUS, for example, vehicles areoften equipped with ‘ducktails’,a wind-deflecting rear spoiler.The market requires this.
“But it doesn’t apply to heavylorries here in Europe,” saysJohan Mårtensson of Sjölander& Thyselius, which owns thewind tunnel outside Brommaand has extensive experience ofaerodynamics in, particularly,the air sector.
“Fuel has been too cheap. Andit’s also a matter of conservatism;by tradition, truck manufactu-rers have left everything behindthe cab to the body builders.And most of them don’t knowabout this yet.”
Expects greater demand“Nevertheless, the potentialappears to be great – perhapsparticularly when it comes totrucks, which have large enginesand may be driven 400 000 km ayear. But as environmentalrequirements become morestringent and fuel pricesincrease, so the market will bedemanding new solutions. Ithink, for example, that haulierinterest will grow quickly whenthey see these figures.”
Practical testsAfter the wind tunnelexperiments, practical tests willbe carried out together with hau-liers, body builders and the truckmanufacturer Scania. Claes Löf-roth explains more:
“We have access to severalhauliers that have volunteered toassist with the tests. Theystrongly believe in this smartershape for trucks, preferably incombination with the highergross weights of 74-90 tonnes.Skilled body builders – Maskin& Truck in Eksjö who work withchip trucks, the trailer manufac-turer Parator and, of course,Exte, who make bunks andstakes – are also involved in the
project and form an excitingtechnology cluster.”
So you think implementationwill be quite rapid?“Yes, in the ETT project, thesector has shown it is workinghard for change. So I’m hopingfor the same interest in thesesolutions. In combination withthe ETT rigs, this has fantasticpotential, and is a cherry ripe forpicking.”
The wind flows through the timber load and forms eddies that slow the vehicle.The vehicle model is standing on a scale in the tunnel, where wind resistance ismeasured.
A prototype for the future. With this equipment, fuel consumption is reduced by7-8 percent.
In combination with theETT rigs, this has fantasticpotential, and is a cherryripe for picking.”
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