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1. Purpose
- A forwarder is a type of heavy machinery designed to transport cut trees (logs) from the forest floor after they have been felled by a harvester
- It carries logs from the cutting site to a designated loading area or roadside collection point
2. Key Characteristics
- Large, robust vehicle with a crane arm
- Typically has large, wide tires designed for navigating rough, uneven forest terrain
- Equipped with a load-carrying bed or bunk behind the cab
- Can operate in challenging woodland environments
3. Operation
- After trees are cut down by a harvester, the forwarder picks up and transports the logs
- The operator uses a hydraulic crane to pick up logs and load them onto the machine's cargo area
- Designed to minimize ground damage and maintain forest floor integrity
- Can carry significant loads, typically between 10-20 tons of logs depending on the model
4. Advantages
- Reduces manual labor in logging operations
- Increases efficiency of timber harvesting
- Minimizes damage to remaining forest areas
- Allows for selective logging with precision
- Can work in difficult terrain where other vehicles cannot
5. Common Manufacturers
- Manufacturers like John Deere, Komatsu, and Ponsse are well-known for producing forwarder machines
Forwarders are a critical piece of modern mechanized forestry equipment, playing a key role in sustainable timber harvesting practices.