Granted since 1954, the iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most significant and prestigious design awards in the world. The globally recognised iF DESIGN AWARD is considered a symbol of outstanding design. The award winners will be celebrated at the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT 2024 event at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin in Germany on Monday 29 April 2024.

The jury paid particular attention to the functionality and usability of the PONSSE Opti 5G information system. The user interface makes the forest machine operator’s work easier and produces other harvesting information, including operator working hours, production, machine operation and fuel consumption.

“The Opti 5G system is designed to be easy to use to reduce the cognitive load of the forest machine operator and improve productivity. The user interface was completely rethought in our project to meet the users’ needs in the forest industry of today and the future. Design based on a user study and the large-scale testing of results are key factors behind the development of Opti 5G,” says Juha Inberg, Chief Technology and R&D Officer at Ponsse.

“During the project, we addressed the needs of forest machine operators, machine owners, maintenance services and sawmills,” says UX Manager Panu Johansson.

“This award is for everyone who has participated in the software development of the 5G system.  Software development is almost always the result of the efforts of a large group of people. Software is at the core of modern forest machines to facilitate the use of the machine and make their operation more efficient. The user experience also plays an important role in improving efficiency, coping and comfort. Development at Ponsse focuses on understanding user needs,” says Inberg.

A total of 10,800 products and projects from 72 different countries were sent to the 2024 competition for evaluation. This year’s iF jury consisted of 132 high-profile design specialists from 23 countries.

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Koskisen has invested in a new log sorting line with a Logeye for their state of the art sawmill in Järvelä.

The Logeye is a multi-sensor scanner that utilizes laser, colour, and X-ray channels to provide a high-precision real 360° shape of the log with a wealth of data for log sorting and cutting optimization. The Logeye has a high precision both in over and under bark detection, as well as log inner properties, making it a great choice and a successful product for the northern markets.

Koskisen Production Director Lassi Santala explains that the long and successful cooperation with MiCROTEC Espoo on the Finscan product line as well as the technical features of the Logeye was a big impact on their decision.

The Logeye from MiCROTEC stood out from the competition with the technology of the advanced hardware of the inhouse crometic color cameras within the multi-sensor approach. We see brightly on our future needs with the innovation and technology at MiCROTEC as well as the cooperation going forward continues Santala,  Installation will take place in Q4 of 2024. Juha Ropilo, MD of MiCROTEC Espoo comments on the investment from Koskisen.  “With this partnership we are even further strengthening our position as a provider on the Finnish market, not only within lumber products but also with our wide known log scanners. We look forward to a continuous successful collaboration and installation together with Koskisen.”

Established in Finland in 1909, Koskisen is a forerunner in the mechanical wood industry with over 900 employees. The Koskinen group processes Finnish wood into sawn goods, plywood, veneer and chipboard with customers over the world.

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Almost 2.5-million hardwood and softwood seedlings are being dispatched from Forestry Corporation’s Grafton Nursery to be replanted in state forests across New South Wales. The Grafton Nursery grows a mix of eucalyptus and pine seedlings, which are replanted in state forest timber plantations that have previously been harvested for renewable timber products.

“These seedlings will be planted and grown for around 30 years to supply renewable timber for the next generation’s homes and infrastructure,” Forestry Corporation’s District Manager for Grafton Lyndon Orpwood said.

“After timber harvest operations, state forests in New South Wales are regrown or replanted to continue the forest cycle into the future,” Mr Orpwood said. “Timber is the ultimate renewable resource and is crucial to the Australian construction industry. “ Almost 100 million seedlings have been raised at the Grafton nursery over the past two decades, ultimately helping to build people’s homes and to replenish vital public infrastructure including power poles, marine piers, bridges and platforms,” he said.

Forestry Corporation’s pine and native hardwood seedling nursery at Grafton employs a permanent workforce of 13 staff, who are assisted with the annual dispatch by a seasonal workforce. When in full production, the Grafton Nursery produces around 50,000 seedlings a day with all stock grown from seed.

The eucalypt and pine seedlings are being dispatched from the Grafton nursery across the state for replanting schedules in plantation forests.

For plantation forests in southern NSW, Forestry Corporation produces seedlings at its Tumut Nursery. Since it opened in 1997, the southern NSW nursery has produced more than 176 million cold climate seedlings.

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With the original stump cutter being invented in 1950s by Vermeer equipment, development of tree care technology has improved to provide efficient and compact solutions for landscaping jobs across the Vermeer SC line-up. Landscaping jobs can make great use of stump cutters when dealing with plots of land with trees and roots needing removal. The best machine for your needs would ultimately depend on the needs of the job, but whatever the need Vermeer has options to have you covered. Vermeer stump cutter equipment boasts key features that make root grinding easier and faster.

Which Model Fits My Needs?

When picking what machine is best for you it’s key to consider your own important factors. Maneuverability may be easier with compact machines however the cutter wheel diameter would be smaller, causing grinding capability and speed to be reduced in practicality. Westerra Equipment holds a range of premium equipment from Vermeer from the SC30TX to the SC1052. Not only would practical capabilities differ but functionality of ride on or towing machinery would differ between models as well as other factors.

SC48TX – Tracked, small grinder, ground impact, difficult to reach areas, self-propelling.

For tasks that require a nimble and agile machine the Vermeer SC48TX would be an optimal choice. With the machine operating on tracks the ground disturbance is minimal in movement across grass and other soft ground. The tracks allow the machine to maneuver on its own without being towed, preventing the need for additional machinery on site with a top speed of up to 42.7m/min using its 48hp engine. With the SC48TX being a smaller option, the grinding capability of the machine is limited with some jobs taking longer to complete versus larger chippers as power is lacking. The smaller frame means this machine is great for working around tight spaces or chipping many smaller stumps when landscaping.

SC1052 – Wheeled, larger grinder, towed machine

For a stronger chipping capability, the larger SC1052 or similar would be of better consideration for operators as this machine can rip through tasks easier than smaller alternatives at the sacrifice of nimbleness. Larger SC line machines are wheel operated with the option to tow instead driving of the self-propelled with an engine which can be a benefit for operators travelling with trucks or vehicles with strong towing capabilities. With the 115hp engine the SC1052 can easily chip through tasks due to its higher capabilities and heavy duty build able to grind through harder and larger stumps.

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Virginia Carolina Forest Products in Lawrenceville, VA, is using just one USNR lineal grader to grade both a pine and a mixed rough hardwood lumber line in a new, more efficient application design.

The production lines run parallel to one another and the scan frame is placed on a rail system that intersects both. At the flip of a switch, the scan frame can easily move between the more heavily used planer line and the hardwood line. As each board reaches the landing table, an overhead board tracker projects the grade onto each board to be screened by a quality control technician.

This quick-switch setup will allow both lines to receive faster, more accurate grading for increased value.

USNR is grateful for the opportunity to apply this new technology to the production lines at Virginia Carolina Forest Products.

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