MIRO secures new US$ 10.7 million shareholder loan

MIRO Forestry and Timber Products has secured a US$10.7 million shareholder loan from leading development finance institutions to support the company's operational cash flow requirements.

Founded in 2009, MIRO is a vertically integrated plywood manufacturing business headquartered in the United Kingdom, with operations in Ghana and Sierra Leone. The company manages over 20,000 hectares of Forest Steward Council (FSC) certified plantations, including eucalyptus and acacia, producing hardwood plywood, sawn timber and utility poles.

MIRO supplies customers in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and local African markets. Its operations contribute to local employment, community development, and carbon sequestration efforts, making it a key player in the region's sustainable forestry sector.

Verdant IMAP was the transaction advisor that tailored the funding solution. The company says it was the fourth successful transaction in the broader agro-industrial sector in 2024.

Alternative building blocks from alien trees

Bricks made from alien trees, vaulted floors and ceilings … innovative design for Cape housing project addresses environmental issues and climate change, using old-school technology to reduce the fossil fuel footprint of construction.

An innovative collaboration between the Cape Town-based company nonCrete, the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and the South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has created a potentially game-changing design and construction methodology for housing alternatives.

The methodology is being implemented in a three-year project co-funded by the WWF Nedbank Green Trust and the CSIR’s Circular Economy Demonstration Fund. “Alien biomass to housing” started in April 2024 in partnership with nonCrete, the non-profit organisation Phuhlisani, and the Elandskloof community near Citrusdal in the Western Cape.

The Elandskloof community is on a farm that has been restored to approximately 500 inhabitants under the land reform process. They were dispossessed of their land in 1962 by the apartheid government, and it was returned to them in 1996. Nearly 30 years later, the residents are still living in informal dwellings.

Finely chipped alien biomass is included in the nonCrete bricks. Pic by nonCrete_WEB

Pilot project

The project is a potential life-changer for the Elandsklowers, and they are engaged in every stage, starting with a pilot 8m x 8m crèche to demonstrate the non-Crete method.

Stephen Lamb from nonCrete explains, “The bricks are the size of conventional bricks, but are made from the biomass of local alien invasive trees that are felled from the riverbanks, put through a chipper, and combined with a specially developed binder to create a low-carbon material”.

Elandskloof is situated in the valley of the Groot Winterhoek Strategic Water Source Area. It supplies water to Atlantis, Ceres and Saldanha and is one of 22 key water sources in South Africa. Its riverbanks are full of black wattle, and removing alien invasive trees within a 50 km radius will greatly impact freeing up available fresh water.

Using the alien invasive biomass, the nonCrete method significantly reduces the amount of stone, sand and cement used in standard concrete bricks. The bricks also have a higher degree of fire resistance and thermal qualities, helping to keep homes warm in winter and cool in summer.

In addition to the bricks, nonCrete has developed a vaulted floor and roof system in collaboration with the CSIR and the head of the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, Prof Philippe Block.

Peter Mafuwe a member of the One-Nil construction team who does the material mix design of the vaulted floor. Pic by nonCrete

Strength through geometry

“This exceptional design follows the motto of ‘strength through geometry. It is inspired by the arches constructed by master builders in the Gothic cathedrals of Europe that are still standing 500 years later and which we are using in European design”, Block explains.

“The floor and roof system significantly reduces the amount of steel and concrete required and has 75% lower carbon emissions than a conventional concrete flat slab. It complies with Eurocode load requirements for multilevel construction in residential, office and other buildings”, he says.

Once the demonstration crèche has been constructed, the Elandskloof Communal Property Association members can decide whether to use the method to build their homes.

The head of the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, Prof Philippe Block. Credit Elisabeth Real_WEB

“We are currently helping facilitate negotiations with the municipality and the provincial and national departments for the application of the housing subsidies to pursue the larger housing project”, says Phuhlisani’s David Mayson.

The plan involves on-site training of community members in alien invasive tree clearing and wood chipping, brickmaking and construction, which would create self-employment opportunities for community members.

“We’re excited to see how catalytic this low-emission building system can be as it has vast potential and is increasingly gaining ground in research and construction locally and internationally”, says Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Corporate Social Investment at Nedbank.

“The methodology has the potential to be duplicated across the country, starting in Elandskloof, and replace conventional, carbon-heavy building materials and practices. What is so effective is that carbon absorbed by the trees is locked into the buildings”, says Pillay.

“Our goal is to share this technology and acquired knowledge with South Africa and, where requested, to train people to build their own houses in all areas with an abundant supply of alien invasive tree species, which applies to many parts of the country,” says Lamb of nonCrete.

“We have been collaborating with One-Nil Construction, led by Grabeth Nduna, the CSIR and WWF SA. Nduna and nonCrete’s Peter Mafuwe and Mojalefa Thelingoana, have been pivotal in creating the material mix designs we require”, explains Lamb.

“NonCrete’s methodology aligns with the urgent need worldwide to change how we design and build our structures and disrupt the concrete, steel and carbon-intensive construction technologies for architecture. The exciting part is that with this Elandskloof project, we are taking a great idea and making it happen”, remarks Block.

Original article by Heather Dugmore, edited by Chris Chapman

The journey to modern silviculture systems

Muedanyi Ramantswana informs the crowd about the order of business at the field day

The second day of the Silviculture 4.0: Smart Technology from Nursery to Field conference moved from focusing on nurseries to the nitty gritty of getting the plants into the prepared soil and ensuring their survival as cost-effectively as possible.

The three-day event was hosted by Nelson Mandela University (NMU's) Forsilvitech, represented by Ellepot South Africa's Shaun Biggs and Dr Muedanyi Ramantswana of NMU. Modernisation and automation of silviculture operations, global trends, soil preparation for planting, planting systems, weeding, fertilising, remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and productivity were the main topics under the microscope.

Mondi

A regular speaker at precision forestry events, Dr Dean Da Costa from Mondi described the background to Mondi's journey in modernising its silviculture operations since 2012. He said the drivers are safety considerations such as ergonomics, productivity, quality, social responsibility and cost savings.

Dean said Mondi's strategic modernisation goal was to "Optimise timber volumes by growing the correct tree species on a sustainable basis through planned and documented processes".

The technical aspect focuses on overcoming steep slope and rough terrain challenges, integrating pitting, planting, and fertilising technologies, and considering the costs of mechanised and semi-mechanised operations on productivity and quality improvements.

The move from manual to motor-manual or mechanised silviculture improves working conditions, eliminates safety risks, upskills the workforce and improves productivity.

Dean emphasised the need for a clear silviculture strategy because it impacts the company's value chain. Mondi has and continues to invest in research site genotype matching, residue management, site preparation, planting, blanking, coppicing, plant maintenance and forest protection.

Sibusiso Sibanyoni presented Mondi's modern pre-canopy weeding operations. The company has embraced technologies including various boom sprayers, tracked John Deere and New Holland tractors, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) (commonly known as drones), boom sprayers with lances or dribble bards and manual tools.

Sibusiso said the next step is enhancing data analysis capabilities using digital tools, integrating systems, partnerships with machinery and herbicide manufacturers, and standardising operations.

Global trends

Dr Muedanyi Ramantswana from NMU spoke about the global modern silviculture trends. The change drivers are health and safety, escalating costs, quality and productivity improvements, social challenges, environmental issues and better adherence to certification body requirements.

Muedanyi said that globally, in 2035, most silviculture operations will still be manual; however, technology will influence them. Companies must be well informed about the latest technologies, have a clear silviculture strategy, constantly gather and analyse data from their operations, and adapt and improve.

Mulching

Dr Jacob Crous from Sappi Forest's land management research programme spoke about the benefits and disadvantages of mulching on early tree growth. Soil fertility is a concern because the treatments impact soil's chemical, physical and biological properties.

Sappi's research found that mulching improves soil moisture in dry conditions and conserves organic matter and nutrients. The survival rate of trees planted in burnt soil was 79.8% compared with 88.9% in mulched soil.

Jacob acknowledged there are downsides to mulching apart from its expense. However, "mulching should be the preferred slash-management practice. More research is needed to understand why not all sites respond positively to mulching, find ways to reduce mulching costs and find equipment that can work on steep slopes".

Mechanised planting

Dr Rafael Ribeiro Soler from Bracke Forest's presentation was about flat, moderate, and steep terrain planting technologies. He introduced the Bracke planters for excavators, which feature a slow-release fertiliser applicator and irrigation options.

Bracke P11.b for 14 and 20-ton excavators can plant up to 300 seedlings per hour. It holds seedling containers with a standard capacity of 196 seedlings (60mm) and an option for 100 seedlings (75mm).
Bracke P12.b for 20 to 24 tons excavators plants up to 250 seedlings per hour.
Bracke P22.b is designed for excavators weighing 24 tons and planting up to 600 seedlings per hour, with a similar container plant capacity to the P11.b and P12.b.
The D61 planter is coupled to the Komatsu D61 bulldozer for application on flat terrain. The planting unit weighs 950kg and can plant up to 900 seedlings per hour. It has georeferencing capabilities for accurate planting.

Fanie Viljoen from Novelquip Forestry shared insights on the company's journey towards a mechanised planter where the focus is on quality before quantity.

In 2021, Novelquip partnered with Ponsse and Epec to develop the world's first forwarder-based planter. The concept machine has been tested in South Africa and by Suzano in Brazil. It consists of a four-head planter built on the Ponsse Buffalo forwarder featuring four self-contained planting units.

The fully automatic machine feeds seedlings from cassettes to the planting heads that make the pits, place the seedlings, firm the soil, irrigate and restart. It has two planting modes:

Plant only achieves 1100 seedlings per hour
Pit and plant achieve 640 seedlings per hour.

The machine operates for 95 minutes before it needs to be replenished in the field in a process that takes about 12 minutes.

Fanie said the present planting quality achieved with the concept machine is 90%; however, they are pushing for 98%.

Data-driven technology

Duncan Fryer from Stihl continued the emphasis on technology. He spoke about the Stihl Smart Connector, a cloud-based system that captures the machines' usage data and transmits it via Bluetooth to the STIHL Connected App on a smartphone or tablet within range. The App stores and submits the data to the Stihl cloud via Wi-Fi or mobile network. The portal allows for easy management of fleet performance and management data.

Roedolf Nieuwenhuis from Cropwatch Africa discussed using advanced data-driven technology for pest and disease detection. High-resolution satellite imagery enables large-scale monitoring of forest areas. Drones with multispectral or thermal sensors enhance this data by conducting aerial surveillance. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping integrates the data to identify pest hotspots and disease-prone zones.

Ground-based sensors and weather stations provide critical real-time data on local microclimates. Roedolf said modern forest managers should combine advanced technologies and AI for a holistic, data-driven approach to early detection, precision interventions, sustainable practices, and adaptive management of pests and diseases.

Santiago Ferrando from Uruguay spoke about the benefits of using the STA logger system. It is an integrated data logging attachment that fits certain knapsack and boom sprayer brands. It records the location, time, herbicide application events, and area sprayed and categorises data into groups (like weed types).

Data is uploaded to the cloud, processed and delivered to his desktop or mobile device. It assists decision-making, letting his company achieve 95% traceability in planting, replanting, and replacement operations.

Chemical applications

Sean McKenzie from Silvix spoke about the operational productivity of infield equipment and ergonomic standards for operator comfort and efficiency. He highlighted a few of the company's products:

The motorised 15-litre knapsack is equipped with a 3m aluminium boom with different nozzles and application rates
The ergonomic FAKA Plenty planting tool and the 18-litre Squam backpack.
The Bendi Bar for direct application of glyphosate without drift

Sean introduced the company's latest product, the Nutree Bag, a precise fertiliser application. One bag in the hole while planting contains enough controlled-release fertiliser for a year.

Matt Houghting from PACSys said the benefits of using drones (RPAS) in silviculture operations are invaluable. Drones can be programmed to deliver precise amounts of pesticide in specified areas. There is limited spray drift because it is as low as 3m above the plants. It is productive, fuel-efficient and safe. He put the 40-litre drone through its paces on the field day in a demonstration that impressed the attendees.

Comparisons

NMU MSc student Mduduzi Junior Khoza discussed his research comparing the operational productivity and quality of manual and semi-mechanised planting methods. It compared manual planting tubes (pitless) and semi-mechanised high-pressure planting methods on burnt areas with different slash loads.

The results found higher productivity for the manual method (50 and 60% higher) across the different slash conditions. Regarding planting quality, both methods achieved high planting success rates (90%), with manual planting having a slight edge (+3%). Junior concluded that while manual planting methods continue to be productive, there is significant potential for semi-mechanised approaches in certain conditions, supporting ongoing initiatives to modernise planting techniques.

Aphelele Angel Goldsmith from Stellenbosch University said his research aimed to assess the effectiveness of slash burning and disc harrowing on fuel load and stand productivity of Eucalypts in Mpumalanga.

Angel found disc harrowing played a crucial role in fire management by breaking the horizontal continuity of fuel, which reduces the fire spread rate and fuel loading, thereby lowering fire intensity. However, the study noted a lack of quantified evidence regarding the long-term effects of these practices.

The study highlighted that repeated disc harrowing and prescribed burning influence root distribution patterns, significantly affecting the overall growth of Eucalyptus grandis × nitens, tree stand density, volume, and biomass production.

The last speaker of the event was Thembinkosi Zulu from NMU. He compared the operational productivity of pitting machine operators on burnt and mulched sites while also assessing the quality of the pits they produced in depth and diameter.

Using an M-PAT single-head pitting machine mounted on a Volvo EC55B compact excavator, data was collected from two compartments with similar terrain and soil types but different residue statuses (90% burnt versus 80% mulched). Each operator was assigned 10 plots, with 160 pits per plot, and productivity and pit quality were recorded.

The results showed that mulched sites had higher productivity (158 pits/plot) than burnt sites (136 pits/plot). More experienced operators consistently outperformed others, with productivity ranging from 200 to 600 pits per hour. Pit quality was strongly linked to operator experience rather than the specific site conditions, with more experienced operators producing a higher proportion of good-quality pits.

Thembinkosi concluded that operator experience significantly impacts productivity and pit quality and that marking planting positions on mulched sites increased efficiency.

By Joy Crane & Justin Nyakudanga

Weston Agricultural College wins the Forest Rehabilitation Challenge

The Weston Agricultural College boys celebrate their victory in the tree planting challenge at Ferncliffe forest

Husqvarna recently teamed up with a conservation NGO and two prominent KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schools to host a Forest Rehabilitation Challenge in the Ferncliffe natural forest on the edge of Pietermaritzburg.

Ferncliffe is a beautiful mist belt forest that has been heavily invaded by alien vegetation that is becoming a significant threat to biodiversity.

The challenge involved learners from Durban High School (DHS) and Weston Agricultural College competing in a tree-planting race designed to raise awareness of the need for environmental stewardship and contribute to the restoration of the Ferncliffe forest at the same time.

"We were truly touched by the enthusiasm of DHS and Weston, who signed up despite the boys' busy schedules and approaching school holidays," said Timothy Isabirye, Husqvarna South Africa's Marketing Manager.

The Husqvarna team partnered with local conservation NGO Ferncliffe Forest Wilding to host the event.

"With our sales office in Pietermaritzburg, it was natural to give back to our immediate community", explained Timothy. "And our commitment to sustainability and local environmental protection aligned perfectly with NPO Ferncliffe Forest Wilding's mission, making them the perfect partner for this initiative".

Janine Stephen, a representative from Ferncliffe Forest Wilding, said, "We were really excited when Husqvarna approached us with the idea of the challenge. Collaborating with schools and businesses like Husqvarna to protect and restore endangered mist belt forest habitat is exactly the kind of community-driven action we need in a world where so much biodiversity is threatened".

Competitive fun

In an exhilarating race, boys from each school, armed with spades and gloves provided by Husqvarna, were tasked with digging 15 holes as quickly as possible. As expected, the competitive spirit was high. Still, focusing on making a positive difference in the environment stayed at the top of everyone's mind.

In the end, it was Weston Agricultural College that emerged victorious. They earned bragging rights and a Husqvarna battery-operated leaf blower worth R10,000, including accessories for their school and a trophy to celebrate their achievement.

The DHS boys who participated in the tree planting challenge

DHS didn't go home empty-handed. They were rewarded with a R5,000 e-commerce voucher to use on the Husqvarna South Africa website. Participating learners also received a certificate recognising their contribution to this impactful initiative.

Fantastic opportunity

"This challenge was a fantastic opportunity for our learners to step up and contribute to something greater," said Barry Coskey, DHS Head of Marketing and Admissions. "At DHS, we aim to develop responsible, motivated young men with strong moral convictions, and today, they truly embodied those values".

Amber Pollock, Head of Marketing for Weston, said, "At Weston, we love embracing challenges, particularly those safeguarding our environment. We also strive to instil a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility in our learners, and this initiative provided an excellent opportunity for them to rise to the occasion."

The event has laid the foundation for what is hoped to become an annual event, expanding its reach and impact in the coming years. "This is just the beginning. We're committed to making this challenge an annual celebration where schools come together to compete and create real, lasting environmental change," Timothy concluded.

The Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge is part of the brand's sustainability and community engagement commitment.

Eastern Cape tree farmers cash in on wattle bark sales

By Lwazi Ngqwebo (NCT) and Eza Mapipa (NTE)

Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott red cap), NCT forester Lwazi Ngqwebo and the harvesting team with a bundle of wattle stick bark

NCT members in the Eastern Cape have seized the opportunity created by the current demand for wattle bark to utilise their timber resources more effectively.

The devastating fire that damaged infrastructure at NCT’s Richards Bay mill in September last year was a significant blow to the South African wattle industry. Wattle growers were forced to cut back on their harvesting plans because of the NCT mill’s reduced capacity to receive and chip timber.

NCT's Lwazi Ngqwebo shows the harvesting team how to bundle and tie stick bark for delivery — Good quality, mature stick bark

This inevitably impacted the wattle bark industry, which faced a reduction in the volume of bark delivered to the bark factories. But every storm cloud has a silver lining.

In the past, NCT members in the Eastern Cape would discard bark with the rest of the harvesting residue. Now they have found a way to supply stick bark to the NTE Hermannsburg Factory, with the support of NCT and NTE. This provides them with an additional source of revenue for their forest enterprises.

While multiple challenges associated with the transportation of forest raw material (timber and wattle bark) from the Eastern Cape province into Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) for primary processing are evergreen, enthusiastic NCT members from the Stutterheim, Komga and Elliot areas have pioneered a tough journey with bravery and success.

A well-presented load of wattle bark leaving Komga in the Eastern Cape for the 500km drive to the NTE factory in Hermannsburg, KZN — Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott red cap), NCT forester Lwazi Ngqwebo and the harvesting team with a bundle of wattle stick bark

Covering an average one-way distance of 550km from the loading site to the factory, these passionate growers are the first NCT members to deliver stick bark to NTE in the 2023/2024 season.

Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott said he is happy to help support the wattle bark Industry and is excited about being one of the first wattle growers to deliver stick bark from the Eastern Cape. Selling the bark adds significant financial value to the cash flow of wattle growers.

The NTE factory management was reported to be satisfied with the quality and presentation of the stick bark from the Eastern Cape. These growers are certainly trendsetters, and what they have achieved marks the beginning of a promising future for wattle growers in the province.

It is expected that more NCT members will be inspired by the wattle bark champions of the Eastern Cape and will follow them. Forestry is a long-term investment, and what cannot be ignored is that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

With positive cash flow benefits being realised by members from this initiative, there is a solid intention to convert self-seeded wattle plantations into managed stands, providing better harvest yields in timber and bark.

Eza Mapipa of NTE (right) discusses wattle harvesting with Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott

De-barked wattle destined for NCT's Durban chipping factory — Eza Mapipa of NTE (right) discusses wattle harvesting with Eastern Cape farmer Murray Elliott

The Eastern Cape is a greenfield opportunity that has the potential to attract forestry investments. Land is an abundant natural resource in the province, with minimal alternative economic opportunities.

NCT and NTE representatives believe that large-scale forestry development in the province is long overdue, and the potential for selling wattle stick bark provides an added incentive.

The Eastern Cape farmers have delivered four loads of stick bark to date, and another three loads are currently in the drying sheds, where they will stay for eight weeks before they are despatched to the bark factory. Although the factories continue to prioritise fresh, same-day bark, they are equally happy to accept stick bark from further afield if it is properly harvested, dried and bundled.

The innovative Eastern Cape farmers are utilising their trucks for the 500km journey to the factory. They are making it worthwhile by securing return loads.

Another benefit of this initiative is that the wattle harvesting and bark stripping operations are done by hand. It is labour-intensive work that is helping to create much-needed jobs in the region.

Source: This article was first published in NCT’s News & Views magazine (September 2024) and was edited by Chris Chapman.

Scovia Akello wins the She Is Forestry Postgrad Award

Scovia Akello measuring leaf area in the Stellenbosch University lab

Stellenbosch University's Department of Forestry and Wood Science's Scovia Akello, a PhD student supervised by Prof Brand Wessels since 2021, won the 2024 She is Forestry Postgraduate Award.

Brand nominated Scovia for being "an integral part of the department's social fabric," for her initiative, tenacity in facing challenges, and academic excellence.

"One example relates to the equipment required for her research project. Scovia needed six imported anemometers generally used in scientific field experiments that we could not afford. After nearly six months and some engineering help, she successfully produced solar-powered anemometers with automated data back-up at less than R5000 per unit," he explained.

Solar-powered anemometers with automated data backup

"There is a good chance of bumping into Scovia in the institute for a witty chat almost any time of day or night and almost any day of the week or weekend. She is an extremely diligent and focused individual who values excellence in her work. Her PhD is well on track for completion in December 2024".

Scovia hails from Agago, a district in the northern part of Uganda. She achieved excellent results at school, earned a first-class honours degree at Makerere University Kampala, and won the Overall Best Contribution to the Program, MSc Environment and Development prize at the University of Edinburgh.

Scovia is researching how different factors, including fertilisation, irrigation, and wind (the reason she needed the anemometers), influence the density, microfibril angle and Modulus of Elasticity properties of five South African pine species and hybrids:

Pinus radiata var. radiata D. Don.
Pinus elliottii Engelm.
Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis.
Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii (low elevation), and
Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii (high elevation).

She is conducting the research on very young (less than three years) trees and "treenagers" in a 13-year-old plantation.

"The award is an honour and a humbling privilege’," Scovia said in her acceptance address. "Thank you, Prof Brand, for taking me as one of your postgraduate students. Your guidance, support, and encouragement have been pivotal to my journey. Thank you to the department for creating a conducive environment for postgrad students and being consistent accountability partners for us".

SP, TimberPro harvesting equipment demo impresses

*Checking out the big SP 761LF head, attached to a TimberPro TL 725D tracked, levelling harvester.*

A forwarder carrying a 20-ton plus load of pine logs down a 50% slope drew gasps from a group of experienced foresters and harvesting contractors attending a field day in the KZN midlands recently.

The forwarder was a TimberPro TF 840D, distributed and supported in South Africa by Zululand-based Logmech. The occasion was a field day hosted by Logmech on Sappi’s Clan plantation in the KZN midlands, the highlight of which was this demonstration of the TimberPro forwarder’s supreme power and balance.

When the highly skilled and experienced forwarder operator, Enoch Mthembu, stepped out of the vehicle having safely brought the load to roadside at the bottom of the slope, the foresters and contractors in attendance broke out in spontaneous applause. Enoch was clearly surprised by this reaction, as working in such steep terrain is all in a day’s work for him.

*The forwarder confidently approaches the steepest part of the slope, with a 20 to 22 ton load on board.*

*Spontaneous applause greeted the forwarder operator, Enoch Mthembu, who brought the load safely to the extraction road.*

Sappi Clan is located on the edge of the Karkloof escarpment with a lot of steep slopes, providing the mechanised harvesting team with plenty of challenges. It also provided an ideal location for Logmech to demonstrate the flagship logging equipment in their stable, namely the TimberPro forwarders and harvesters, SP Maskiner heads and their own Logmech grabs.

The day started with a static display showcasing the iconic red SP heads that are well known in South African forestry, and the MF42 and big MF86 grabs which the Logmech engineering team has developed specifically for the African market.

Also on display was Oregon equipment including saw chains, guide bars and sprockets.

The first stop was the TimberPro forwarder doing its thing on a ridiculously steep slope that did not look do-able. But the TimberPro forwarder, with a load of around 20 to 22 tonnes of pine logs on board, handled it with apparent ease with experienced operator Enoch Mthembu at the controls. A set of chains on the bunk wheels provided extra traction.

*Foresters and contractors at the field day give the TimberPro forwarder the once-over. Note the wide bunk which gives the forwarder a low centre of gravity, maximising stability.*

This demo should come with a cautionary advisory: don’t try this unless you have a machine like the TimberPro and an operator with the skill and experience of Enoch!

Next up was a demo by a tracked, levelling, purpose-built TimberPro harvester TL 725D, equipped with a big SP 761LF head. It operated efficiently on a steepish slope, felling, de-limbing and cross-cutting some pretty big pine trees with speed and precision.

Then it was on to a flatter compartment where the iconic SP 591LX, attached to a Hitachi excavator, was put through its paces. As Anders Gannerud of Swedish manufacturers SP explained, the 591LX is the head that put them on the map. It was developed in close collaboration with the Logmech team over many years, and is perfectly adapted to conditions in southern Africa. Productive, easy to maintain and tough as nails, the 591 has proved its worth and is now also widely used in some of the vast Eucalyptus plantations of South America.

SP 591LX head attached to a Hitachi excavator harvesting pine in the Karkloof.

Logmech’s Leon van Eeden said that the company has been operating in South Africa for 23 years, and they have been distributing and supporting SP heads since the very beginning. They carry a huge spare parts inventory, they know the heads inside out and are able to provide the back-up to ensure they keep working productively for thousands and thousands of hours. Logmech has sold 140 SP heads in the region to date.

They are also sole distributors in South Africa of the highly versatile TimberPro range of machines which include wheeled and tracked harvesters, feller bunchers and forwarders. The TimberPro’s are manufactured in the USA and are renowned for their durability, productivity and power. They are relatively simple machines to operate, are easy to maintain and are therefore well suited to rugged African conditions.

*Leon van Eeden of Logmech (right) provides info on the SP heads.*

The TimberPro’s come standard with 360° continuous rotation, allowing the operator to work effectively all around the machine. They are highly versatile and can be used as combo machines as they are equipped with a quick detached boom to allow conversion from a forwarder to a harvester.

The Logmech team has also launched a range of grabs which they have developed in partnership with an international manufacturer.

The field day was well attended by leading contractors and technical foresters who expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to see the harvesting equipment in action.

For more info on Logmech, TimberPro and SP heads in South Africa, visit www.logmech.co.za