HarvestTECH provides an essential and independent platform to showcase new innovations and operating practices suited to our local harvesting operations.

They came, they learnt, business deals were done and there was plenty of networking going on. It was a record. It was the largest gathering yet seen in New Zealand. Almost 500 logging contractors, forestry managers, forest owners, harvest planners and all major equipment and technology suppliers into the logging industry in this part of the world met in Rotorua at HarvestTECH 2019. It was organised by the forest technology specialists, the Forest Industry Engineering Association. The Sold-Out sign, like it did in 2017, had gone out months before the event ran.

Two days of interactive activities showcasing new logging innovations, presentations from contractors and technology leaders as well as comprehensive exhibition areas (both inside and outside the venue) provided a unique opportunity for local harvesting operations to check out an array of new harvesting equipment suited to local conditions. They were able to meet up with world leaders and innovators in this space, first hand. It wasn’t only the kiwis though. Over 50 contractors and forest managers from Australia came across. Representatives from companies drawn from across Canada, the USA, Brazil, Chile, Finland, South Africa and Papua New Guinea were also involved in the event.

Forest tours were also run by some suppliers for their key customers. The HarvestTECH event has truly become an international event for this region and it was another outstanding week of networking for the local logging industry. Check out the array of photos taken during the event to get a full appreciation of the full range of activities at the event.

Where to from here?

Next year, planning is already well underway to run the very popular Forest Industry Safety Summit, both in New Zealand and Australia in May 2020. Later in the year, the two-yearly Woodflow series which runs in both Australia and New Zealand will be expanded to include log loading, log segregation, wood transport and logistics.

At this stage if interested in either of these two major events (both are being run in New Zealand and Australia), please get in touch with us. If planning to exhibit, best to get in early as spaces will go very quickly. Details will follow shortly.

• Recent innovations in steep slope and winch assist harvesting
• Getting the best out of existing hauler & ground-based operations
• Harvest planning - new systems really making a difference
• Effective use of collected data from your harvesting operation
• Options for eliminating log sorts and reducing landing sizes
• Tools & Systems for harvesting smaller woodlots
• Remote sensing technologies for harvest planning and operations
• Solutions for improving in-forest communications
• Increased automation and mechanisation - new R&D
• Remote control, robotics, virtual reality and automation in the bush
• Filling the skills gap in harvesting

Hundreds of representatives from the New Zealand, Australian and international wood harvesting operations, including:

• Harvesting contractors
• Forestry managers
• Forest owners
• Harvest planners
• Wood flow planners
• Harvesting equipment engineers
• Forestry H&S managers
• Forestry & harvesting researchers
• Technology, equipment or service suppliers to local wood harvesting operations