%0 Research article
%T Effects of three harvesting work methods on Harwarder productivity in final felling
%A Andersson, Jonny
%A Eliasson, Lars
%D 2004
%J Silva Fennica
%V 38
%N 2
%R doi:10.14214/sf.428
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/428
%X During the last ten years interest in the harwarder has increased,  however, studies have concentrated on effects of technical improvements  on machine productivity. It has been noted that there is a large  potential to increase the productivity through development of suitable  work methods. To find efficient work patterns for a harwarder with a  turnable loading area, three different harvesting methods were studied  in final felling. Three work methods were used. Method 1: the harwarder  drove backwards into the stand making a strip road, strip road trees  were felled and left on the ground, on the way out of the stand the  harwarder cut and processed the trees on both sides of the machine  directly into the loading area. Method 2: the harwarder drove forward  along the edge of the cut, cutting and processing trees directly into  the loading area. Method 3: the harwarder drove forward into the stand  and cut and processed strip road trees and trees standing on both sides  of the machine directly into the loading area. The most efficient work  method was method 2 where the productivity was 13.0 m3 u.b. per E0h  (cubic metre under bark per effective hour). The productivities for  method 1 and 3 were 12.1 and 11.9 m3 u.b. per E0h, respectively. In  addition to work method harwarder productivity was shown to be dependent  on load volume, average tree size and hauling distance. The only work  elements significantly affected by work methods were processing and  movement during processing. The operator had only a few weeks to get  used to the machine and even less time to practise on the work methods.  Thus, it is probable that the productivity for the studied methods will  increase with increasing work experience. Furthermore, as only three  work methods were studied, there are still untested work methods. The  potential to further improve harwarder work methods is considerable.