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.
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HarvestTECH Events provides annual world class technology events and exhibitions to wood harvesting contractors, harvest planners, forest managers and wood transport operators.
Latest News & Technologies
HarvestTECH News | Issue 47
Welcome to the latest issue of HarvestTECH.News. We have three major themes this month: One, there's no question whether electric, dual fuel or hydrogen-powered trucks are the future for the forestry sector and for log haulage companies (or any other industry), but it's the early adopters and fuel prices that control how quickly that future comes; Two, climate change and ...
Victoria paves way for heavy duty electric trucks with permanent axle weight concessions
Victoria is the first state or territory in Australia to announce the permanent removal of one of the main hurdles for heavy-duty electric trucks to operate on local roads. The ...
Wood salvage a race against time
Forestry crews are in a race against time to harvest 6500 hectares of trees blown over around Taupō and Tūrangi area in the central North Island during Cyclone Gabrielle. Since ...
Continued decline in Australia’s plantation estate
Australia’s plantation estate is still on a worrying downward trajectory, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics (ABARES) figures. Australia’s total plantation area contracted to 1.716 million hectares ...
News & Technologies Cont.
Forestry company displayed high level of carelessness
A forestry company that showed a “high level of carelessness” involving the use of heavy machinery in streambeds and leaving slash and debris on steep and erosion-prone slopes in Gisborne, ...
Vale Dr Tom Mulholland
Dr Tom Mulholland, a celebrity physician and beloved Kiwi campaigner for physical and mental health, died suddenly at the weekend. Known affectionately as Dr Tom, the medical practitioner had helped ...
Accelerating Australia’s hydrogen-transport future
A new report released by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and GHD Advisory calls for Australia to focus on hydrogen-powered transport – alongside electric vehicles – or risk being left ...
The commercial transport revolution – it’s underway
Advanced technology will pave the way to exceed what was previously thought possible. The commercial transportation industry faces rapidly changing regulations and evolving customer needs. Cummins examines the future of ...
October 2023 NZ log market update
Opinion: Marcus Musson, Forest360 Kiwibuild may be the best thing we can export to fix the housing crisis in China, lots of hui but not much doey. Since the early ...
HarvestTECH News | Issue 46
Welcome to the latest issue of HarvestTECH.News. Australia is gearing up for another hot and dry bushfire season, with NSW already dealing with a blaze over the last week. It’s ...
AI, robots & satellites fighting wildfires
This year has been a challenging one for Phil Schneider, who hasn’t seen wildfire behaviour like this in his 47-year firefighting career. Blazes raged through more than 2,000 acres of ...
Powering vehicles of the future – hydrogen vs electric
Trelleborg enters the discussion on which technologies will be appropriate to power the vehicles of the future. Pick any data point and the growth of electric cars looks like a ...
Early EOI – Wood Transport & Logistics 2024
This year, well over 250 forestry and log transport delegates from companies across Australasia, North and South America and Europe met up in Rotorua, New Zealand. The occasion? The long ...
Tasman region forestry study important for the industry
A seven-year forestry study looking at the impact of sediment in rivers from harvesting and earthworks has entered its fifth year. The NZ$2.7 million study is jointly funded by Ministry ...
Hybridised drivetrains & electrification of tower yarders?
Researchers examined the potential of hybridized drivetrains for tower yarder applications. Radical changes are necessary to address challenges related to global warming and pollution. Ever-tightening emission standards for combustion engines ...
Yellow jerseys of the fireline: A day fighting wildfires
For three weeks in July, the world’s most elite bike racers climb steep mountains and sprint along historic cobblestones to capture the coveted yellow jersey or the race leader in ...
Hydrogen powered muscle truck: The future’s HERE!
For all of you petrol heads out there. Hydrogen is already making itself felt with hydrogen and dual fuel (hydrogen-diesel) trucks being rolled out onto NZ roads. Check this video ...
Komatsu Forest appoints new Australian Sales Manager
Komatsu Forest has appointed Dean O’Connor National Sales Manager for Australia. He will also retain responsibility for Komatsu Forest operations in New Zealand. Dean is an experienced timber industry professional ...
The trees come back – looking back 42 years
Some of the worst eroded pasture land in New Zealand can be seen in the East Cape region of the North Island. This film, produced 42 years ago, explains in ...
Wood fired steam powering wilding conifer business
Developing commercially successful projects from environmental challenges is bread and butter for the Central Otago social enterprise Wilding & Co. By extracting high value essential oils from invasive Douglas fir, ...
HarvestTECH News | Issue 45
Welcome to the latest issue of HarvestTECH.News. Decarbonisation is no longer just a worthwhile future project, but one that is now an essential upgrade for heavy transport fleets as we ...
August 2023 NZ log market update
Opinion Piece: Marcus Musson, Director, Forest360 Moving into electioneering season we are starting to see our political masters throw cash promises at potential voters like candy to kids, seemingly without ...
Hybridised drivetrains & electrification with tower yarders?
Researchers examined the potential of hybridized drivetrains for tower yarder applications. Radical changes are necessary to address challenges related to global warming and pollution. Ever-tightening emission standards for combustion engines ...
Accelerating Australia’s hydrogen-transport future
A new report released by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and GHD Advisory calls for Australia to focus on hydrogen-powered transport – alongside electric vehicles – or risk being left ...
Safety using the T-Winch harvesting downhill
Zane Knight, owner of Knight Logging, and his operator Johnson Peri, talk about their new T-Winch, which can be operated from the cab using a remote control. Zane says the ...
Record nominations recognise forestry’s top talent
Heralding the success of the inaugural awards last year, the Central North Island forestry industry stepped up to bring in a record number of nominations for the second year, with ...
Repairs & maintenance of mobile forestry machinery
Great videos covering key tips on repairs and maintenance. See these short clips that cover key tips for staying safe when repairing and maintaining forestry machinery. They summarise messages contained ...
AI company partners Nordic Forestry Automation
Södra Ädla is a new partner of Nordic Forestry Automation (NFA). The company develops next-generation operator support systems for forest machines based on sensor technology from autonomous vehicles and AI ...
Australian review of tree felling skills standards
Forestry operators, arborists and emergency workers may all need to draw on skills to manually fell trees with a chainsaw when using large machinery is unviable. These skills are described ...
HarvestTECH News | Issue 44
Welcome to the latest issue of HarvestTECH.News. Residues2Revenues 2023 ran last week and saw over 250 attendees discuss the significant bioenergy and bioproduct market opportunities that are available to forest ...
Waka Kotahi to audit excessive RUC purchases
Waka Kotahi will be auditing and invoicing RUC users for excessive Road User Charges purchases made during the temporary reduction scheme. The Government reduced RUC rates by 36% from 1 ...
