2017 International Forest Industries Magazines June July 2017 | Page 13

Brazil seeks innovations and
international partnerships at Elmia Wood
Forestry is one of the most important industries
in Brazil and trees there have a very high growth
rate. But a changing climate including drought
can lead to the reduced growth of such species
as cultivated eucalyptus and pine.
“Brazil needs the latest expertise and
technologies and they’re presented at Elmia
Wood,” says Jorge R. Malinovski, General
Director of the forestry consulting firm of
Malinovski in Brazil.
The firm organises South America’s leading
forestry fair, Expoforest, in Brazil. But it is to
Sweden that Brazilians come to find the very
latest developments. Jorge Malinovski will be
attending the next international forestry fair,
Elmia Wood 2017, with some 40 decision-makers
from some of the country’s major forestry
companies.
“They’re looking for technical innovations
and international partnerships,” he says.
Very high growth
Much of Brazilian tree cultivation is done on
plantations, with the biggest increases occurring
in the southeast of the country. The most
common tree species are eucalyptus and pine.
Other cultivated species are Paricá, Teca,
Mogno Africano, Seringueira and Australian
cedar. Tree growth is very high from the
perspective of traditional forestry nations. On
one hectare of eucalyptus, growth is about 50
cubic metres per year, with final felling after
7 years for pulp wood and 16 years for sawn
timber. Although it is not possible to make
a totally fair comparison, trees on Brazilian
plantations grow four to five times faster than
conifers in the northern hemisphere.
Good conditions for forestry are the
foundation for major investments, mainly in the
production of paper pulp. From 2011 to 2019
capacity will more than double, from 14 to 30
million tonnes per year.
Climate change is causing drought
At the same time, ongoing climate change is
causing drought in parts of Brazil, mainly in the
west and northeast regions. The result can be
less growth and lower felling productivity.
Brazil’s forestry industry is aiming to
balance this situation with the aid of the latest
knowledge and technologies. That’s why a
delegation from the country’s bigger forest
companies is coming to Sweden and Elmia Wood
2017.
“It’s at Elmia Wood that manufacturers
launch their new harvesting machinery and
other forestry equipment. It’s a trade fair that
all forestry professionals need to attend,” says
Jorge Malinovski.
Compact Tigercat 602 skidder prototype
Tigercat will debut a prototype model 602
skidder at Les Cognées, a unique forestry event
to be held in the heart of the French Alps in Les
Gets, France, June 24-25.
The 602 skidder design team is meeting
the challenge to produce a small, compact,
lightweight skidder platform that can be adapted
to a number of niche applications.
The prototype 602 model
will be equipped with a
Tigercat FPT Tier 4f N45
engine. It will use centre joint
oscillation with the goal of
achieving an overall width estimated
at 2,8 m (110 in).
The 602 prototype for Les Cognées will
also be fitted with a French designed and
manufactured swing boom for use primarily in
Europe.There are plans to further leverage this
prototype into other related models such as a
cable skidder and a dual drum cable skidder to
widen the platform’s application and geographic
relevance.
However specifications and configurations
are not completely defined at this time. Stay
tuned for more information in late 2017.
International Forest Industries | JUNE / JULY 2017 9