Productivity of loaders and forwarders in Japanese forestry operation conditions

The harvesting costs in Japan need to be reduced to increase the wood supply. Detailed information about machine productivity facilitates the identification of the most cost-effective machines. Therefore, an IWAFUJI GS-65LJV grapple (GS65), two IWAFUJI GS-90LJV grapples (GS90), an IHI F801 forwarder (F801) and a Morooka MST800VDL forwarder (MST800) were studied at a thinning (site 1). A GS90, a KETO 150 Eco processor (KETO150) and a Morooka MST1500VDL forwarder (MST1500) were also studied in a clear-cutting (site 2). The difference between the GS65's and the GS90's unloading time at site 1 was insignificant. The GS65's loading time was significantly faster than the GS90's loading time at site 1, but the conditions were different. It is, therefore, likely that the GS65 is preferable to use as it is less expensive. The loaded assortment decided whether the GS90 or the KETO150 was more productive at site 2. The GS90 is preferable to use as it is less expensive. The F801 was faster than the MST800 and MST1500 and is, therefore, more productive except on short forwarding distances as it is slightly more time-consuming to load. Larger Japanese forwarders and grapple loaders like the GS65, GS90, F801, MST800 and MST1500 seemed to be more productive than smaller forwarders and grapple loaders.