2017 International Forest Industries Magazines IFI Aug Sept 2017 v2

LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS Boost your profitability with SpeedShift Komatsu Forest is introducing a new forwarder option, SpeedShift, a smart solution that enables operators to use the machine’s full speed range without having to stop to change gear. SpeedShift automatically shifts the machine up a gear as the operator increases speed, which results in both lower fuel consumption and higher average transport speed. SpeedShift is a smart gearbox solution with dual hydrostatic motors, with the forwarder automatically changing up a gear as the operator increases speed. This enables the machine to accelerate continuously within the full speed range without any additional operator intervention. In this way, the engine can work at optimal engine speed most of the time, which saves fuel and provides a quiet and more comfortable work environment. The automatic gear changes enable increased transport speed where ground conditions allow. This can include, for example, relatively flat access roads in otherwise hilly terrain that can be covered at faster speed. The longer the forwarding roads, the greater the benefit offered by SpeedShift. The main difference between SpeedShift and a standard gearbox is the automatic gear changes. A machine with a standard gearbox can be driven at up to about 7 km/h in low gear; to drive faster, the operator must stop and change to high gear. Since this gear changing takes time that could be better used for production, operators often drive at the maximum speed possible in low gear, which means high engine speeds and, consequently, higher fuel consumption. The SpeedShift technology is centred on a gearbox with two motors and two operating modes. Motors M1 and M2 are used together when high traction is required but the machine is moving at low speed. When the driving speed exceeds 6 km/h, the gearbox automatically disengages M2 from the powertrain. M2 is then completely disengaged from the hydraulic system, which means lower energy losses and, as such, lower fuel consumption. The operator can adapt the powertrain’s handling characteristics according to needs by switching between four driving modes, which are selected using buttons on the keypad. In working modes, the accelerator pedal is used as a driving pedal and does not increase engine speed. In transport mode, the accelerator pedal instead controls the speed of the diesel engine. This option will initially be made available in the Swedish market for the 855 and 895 forwarders in 2017. Japan and South Korea become largest wood pellet importer Wood pellet imports to Asia reached an all-time-high in the 4Q/16 when Japan and South Korea together imported 630,000 tons of pellets. Although import volumes were down slightly in the 1Q/17, they were still over 40% higher than in the 1Q/16, as reported in the latest issue of the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). South Korea is by far the main destination for pellets in Asia, and in 2016, the country was the world’s third largest importer of pellets, trailing only the United Kingdom and Denmark. Although import volumes to Japan have tripled from 2014 to 2016, the usage of pellets is still at a relatively low level (see WRQ for detailed trade data). Consumption of pellets in Japan and South Korea has increased quite rapidly the past four years because of new government requirements which favor reducing carbon emissions and increasing the usage of renewable energy. The recent trend in pellet usageis likely to continue in the future and is driven both by incentives (subsidies) and regulations (renewable energy portfolio standards). With an urgent need to replace nuclear energy and generous feed-in-tariffs, it is expected that Japan will increase importation of wood pellets quite substantially over the next five years. Vietnam has been the major supplier of pellets to the Asian market for the past three years, accounting for almost two-thirds of the shipments to Japan and South Korea in 2016. Canada was an early supplier to the Asian market, but its market share dropped from 22% in 2014 to 14% in 2016. However, in the 1Q/17, Canada increased shipments to Asia to the second the highest quarterly level on record and the market share was up to 21%. SHREDDING AND CHIPPING MADE EASY. Axtor 6010 Universal wood shredder - 2 IN 1: SHREDDER AND CHIPPER - CONTRARY-RESISTANT - HIGH THROUGHPUT - MAINTENANCE-FRIENDLY www.komptech.com 8 International Forest Industries | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017

2017 International Forest Industries Magazines IFI Aug Sept 2017 v2 | Page 10