HarvestTECH 2021 | 13-14 April 2021, Rotorua, New Zealand + Virtual On-Line
HarvestTECH News provides the latest updates on breaking news, research results, reports, articles, videos and useful web links for wood harvesting and transport operations throughout Australasia.
HarvestTECH Events provides annual world class technology events and exhibitions to wood harvesting contractors, harvest planners, forest managers and wood transport operators.
HarvestTECH 2021
Latest News & Technologies

HarvestTECH News | Issue 37
Welcome to the latest issues of HarvestTECH.News. As 2022 comes to a close, it's been a year where Covid-19 and disrupted supply chains have been replaced by a return to 'normal' operations, but with high global inflation and shifting timber demand. Here are the top 5 read stories from HarvestTECH News this year: C3 delivers industry-first grapple log loading innovation ...
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Major log transport event planned for May 2023
In log transport, we continue to ramp up coverage of an array of new innovations in electric, hydrogen and diesel-hybrid powered vehicles, truck automation and platooning. Right now, there’s a ...
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Contractor’s training school to address skills shortages
A shortage of skilled machine operators across New Zealand motivated contractor Mike Hurring to open his own training school in Balclutha. The school runs 5-week machine operator courses that cover ...
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Industry news, technologies & events
News & Technologies Cont.

Brandt to Acquire Agrowquip NZ
In New Zealand, the Brandt Group of Companies is pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement to acquire the assets of Agrowquip NZ Ltd. The acquisition combines the ...
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Revamping hauler operation to improve safety
When central North Island contractor Brian Rutgers from Loggabull, decided to refit his old hauler, the first thing he did was ask his experienced operator and foreman for their ideas ...
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Expressions of Interest: Residues2Revenues 2023
Early expressions of interest to present at next year’s Residues2Revenues 2023 event are now been called for. This year saw record numbers of forestry, wood harvesting, timber products companies and ...
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New debarker for Northport
C3 Limited and Pedersen Group are scheduled to install their new Debarker at Northport in early December 2022. Commissioning of the new Pedersen Group Debarker at Northport is planned for ...
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$40k raised for forestry mental health
More than NZ$40,000 was raised to lead a mental health initiative for forestry at a charity auction dinner held in Rotorua, New Zealand on 18 November. Brought together by the ...
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November 2022 NZ log market update
Opinion piece: Inflation is front and centre of everyone’s minds at present and is more than likely causing Grant Robertson many sleepless nights. One of his biggest worries (and he’s ...
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Natural gas versus hydrogen as a transport fuel
Many commercial fleet operators are thinking about transitioning their vehicles to hydrogen or natural gas engines. These fuels can be great ways to reduce emissions. Both fuel options present similarities ...
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Record shipments of Russian timber arriving via China
Timber from Russia has in recent years been sent through China for processing but since the Ukraine invasion by Russia, and the declaration of Russian timber as conflict timber, the ...
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HarvestTECH News | Issue 36
Welcome to the latest issues of HarvestTECH.News. In log transport, we continue to cover an array of new innovations in electric, hydrogen and diesel-hybrid powered vehicles, truck automation and platooning ...
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HiVision 2.0 camera system for forestry cranes launched
Hiab’s HiVision™ for forestry cranes uses external cameras to show the cranes surrounding. The operator sees the surroundings using virtual reality (VR) goggles inside the truck cabin. This improves productivity, ...
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Autonomous agricultural modular vehicle launched
Multi-use, modular platform Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) automates tree and vine crop tasks, starting with intelligent spraying Robotics Plus, a New Zealand-based agritech company, on 20 October launched its autonomous ...
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Celebrating long-term evergreen harvesting contract
In what must be one of the longest partnerships in NZ forestry, Safetree Certified Contractor Gamble Forest Harvesting celebrated 50 years working for City Forests in 2021. Safetree Toroawhi Richard ...
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Napier Port successfully trials prototype log grabs
On Friday 2 September, Napier Port’s senior crane operators safely and successfully loaded logs onto the Norse Mobile bulk cargo vessel using log grabs custom-designed and built for use on ...
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Rangatahi growing in forestry with iwi trust training
In New Zealand, a training initiative implemented by a central North Island iwi trust is taking rangatahi (youth) to new heights, three years since its launch. Rotomā No. 1 Incorporation’s ...
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Forest360 NZ log export market update
It would be nice to be reporting on a rebound in the export market on the basis of solid demand and improved overall global macro-economic factors, but that would be ...
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International softwood log trade declines 20%
Global trade of softwood logs plunged by 20% during the first half of 2022 y-o-y. Much of the decline was because of the Russian log export ban that came into ...
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Diesel-electric hybrid trucks for logging industry
If one guy can call his electric-car company Tesla, why not call theirs Edison, a couple of Merritt enrepreneurs figured. While the real-life Tesla and Edison, ground-breaking inventors, became fierce ...
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HarvestTECH News | Issue 35
Welcome to the latest issues of HarvestTECH.News. After years of progress, electric heavy trucks are finally on the road in this part of the world. Australian log harvest and haulage ...
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Volvo marks series production on heavy-duty EVs
Swedish manufacturer Volvo Trucks is beginning series production of its heavy-duty electric models with global deliveries set to ramp up. And customers in Australia and New Zealand can expect to ...
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Fennell Forestry commissions world’s 2nd electric log truck
As a follow up to the local electric log truck story that we ran in the 9 September issue of Friday Offcuts, we've built in more information this week on ...
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Mental wellbeing resources from Safetree
Safetree has some forestry-friendly resources to support good mental wellbeing: • Where to get help: Contact details for organisations that can help if people are struggling • Tailgate health cards: ...
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Next generation harvesting head control
The Tigercat D7 control system combines a solid and field proven hardware and bucking control system with a Tigercat developed head control and user interface. The system offers powerful functionality, ...
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Forest360 NZ log export market update
Last month I made the comment that there was some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of increased export log prices, but we weren’t quite sure what ...
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Yamaha’s beefed-up unmanned helicopter can carry up to 50 kg
Yamaha recently announced that the company has further strengthened the functions and performance of the industrial-use unmanned helicopter FAZER R G2. Specifically, the transport & delivery services have been enhanced ...
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Super-fast 10-minute electric car charging
Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles, many consumers still hesitate to make the switch. One reason is that it takes so much longer to power up an electric car ...
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Using biomass to take cane trains beyond diesel
Diesel is impressive. Impressive in its abundance, energy density and liquid transportability. These unique features have made it ubiquitous to heavy transport and traction in the 20th and 21st centuries ...
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HarvestTECH News | Issue 34
Welcome to the latest issues of HarvestTECH.News. As part of the record turnout of forestry and wood harvesting companies at the recent Residues2Revenues 2022 event in New Zealand, the very ...
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