Main Features and Benefits:
- Load Retention: The primary role is to ensure that the wood pile remains stable and secure, even on sloped or uneven terrain.
- Adjustability: Sleds are often adjustable in width and height. This flexibility allows the operator to optimize load capacity based on the diameter and length of the logs being transported, maximizing volume per trip.
- Weight Distribution: The mesh design helps distribute the load weight evenly over the chassis, which is vital for machine stability and minimizing ground impact (reducing compaction).
- Loading reference point: The grid provides clear references for the crane operator during loading, ensuring that the maximum volume is achieved without exceeding the safe dimensions of the machine.
- The Importance of Forest Logistics
The forwarder, assisted by the threshing machine, is irreplaceable during the timber extraction (or transport) phase. It allows:
- Low Environmental Impact: Instead of dragging the logs (as skidding would), the forwarder transports the timber elevated above the ground. This significantly reduces topsoil disturbance and compaction, essential for sustainability.
- Efficiency and Productivity: Thanks to its self-loading capacity and the safety provided by the mesh, it performs fast transport cycles with high volumetric capacity.
- Operational Safety: The load well contained by the mesh drastically reduces the risk of accidents caused by loose logs.
In short, the forwarder is the transport machine, and the mesh is the volume retention and optimization system that makes this transport safe and efficient, especially in “stump-to-yard” operations.
