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Mechanised Harvesting of Broadleaved Tree Species in Europe

cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0003-3060-4422
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cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-9437-8439
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid620a47cb-81f7-4a75-9b68-28f17eef1f9e
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cris.virtualsource.author-orcid798b10d2-ed0b-4432-9791-6eb2601ab8f9
dc.abstract.enPurpose of the Review The application of cut-to-length (CTL) technology for harvesting and processing timber from broadleaved tree species is a challenging process, due to thick branches, stem sweep, forks and high wood density. The objective of this review was to describe the current state of harvester use and characterise the effectiveness of mechanised forest operations for broadleaved and mixed forest stands in Europe, paying particular attention to productivity and product quality aspects. An additional aim was to identify the greatest difficulties associated with harvesting broadleaved tree species today and to indicate future challenges and areas for improvement. Recent Findings An interest in wider harvester use for broadleaved tree species started after the storm Lothar in France in 1999. Early experiences demonstrated that lower productivity is common when harvesting broadleaved tree species, due to limitations in delimbing and the high frequency of sweep. Initially, modifications were made to harvester heads, while a newly designed head (CTL 40 HW) was later developed within a European project in 2005–2007. Using various heads, very high productivity was achieved in some cases, but log recovery was unsatisfactory, with large tree tops left without delimbing. The delimbing was of lower quality and log length inaccuracy was observed, as well as economic losses due to damage to plywood caused by feed rollers. These issues resulted in a change in harvester head construction, including work on a patent for a head designed specifically for harvesting broadleaved tree species. Summary The harvester heads that have been developed to date for broadleaved tree species have mainly been used within Central Europe, where the high incidence of broadleaved tree species and their particular morphological features (thick branches and sweep) are a major challenge for CTL technology. There have been many research projects related to this issue: in the last 15 years, there were a few larger initiatives leading to the design and development of harvester heads for broadleaved tree species, with participation from institutions and universities in France, Germany and Poland. There are currently no ongoing initiatives, but the formation of new ones is strongly recommended because today’s forests have a growing share of broadleaved tree species and are being managed to an increasing extent with CTL technology.
dc.affiliationWydział Leśny i Technologii Drewna
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Użytkowania Lasu
dc.contributor.authorMederski, Piotr
dc.contributor.authorSchweier, Janine
dc.contributor.authorĐuka, Andreja
dc.contributor.authorTsioras, Petros
dc.contributor.authorBont, Leo G.
dc.contributor.authorBembenek, Mariusz
dc.date.access2026-02-03
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-13T13:00:07Z
dc.date.available2026-02-13T13:00:07Z
dc.date.copyright2022-01-24
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Purpose of the Review</jats:title> <jats:p>The application of cut-to-length (CTL) technology for harvesting and processing timber from broadleaved tree species is a challenging process, due to thick branches, stem sweep, forks and high wood density. The objective of this review was to describe the current state of harvester use and characterise the effectiveness of mechanised forest operations for broadleaved and mixed forest stands in Europe, paying particular attention to productivity and product quality aspects. An additional aim was to identify the greatest difficulties associated with harvesting broadleaved tree species today and to indicate future challenges and areas for improvement.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Recent Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>An interest in wider harvester use for broadleaved tree species started after the storm Lothar in France in 1999. Early experiences demonstrated that lower productivity is common when harvesting broadleaved tree species, due to limitations in delimbing and the high frequency of sweep. Initially, modifications were made to harvester heads, while a newly designed head (CTL 40 HW) was later developed within a European project in 2005–2007. Using various heads, very high productivity was achieved in some cases, but log recovery was unsatisfactory, with large tree tops left without delimbing. The delimbing was of lower quality and log length inaccuracy was observed, as well as economic losses due to damage to plywood caused by feed rollers. These issues resulted in a change in harvester head construction, including work on a patent for a head designed specifically for harvesting broadleaved tree species.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Summary</jats:title> <jats:p>The harvester heads that have been developed to date for broadleaved tree species have mainly been used within Central Europe, where the high incidence of broadleaved tree species and their particular morphological features (thick branches and sweep) are a major challenge for CTL technology. There have been many research projects related to this issue: in the last 15 years, there were a few larger initiatives leading to the design and development of harvester heads for broadleaved tree species, with participation from institutions and universities in France, Germany and Poland. There are currently no ongoing initiatives, but the formation of new ones is strongly recommended because today’s forests have a growing share of broadleaved tree species and are being managed to an increasing extent with CTL technology.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographybibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if9,5
dc.description.number1
dc.description.points140
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume8
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s40725-021-00154-7
dc.identifier.issn2198-6436
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/7348
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40725-021-00154-7
dc.languageen
dc.relation.ispartofCurrent Forestry Reports
dc.relation.pages1-19
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudnosend
dc.share.typeOTHER
dc.subject.endeciduous tree species
dc.subject.enforest operation
dc.subject.enhardwood
dc.subject.enHarvester
dc.subject.enharvester head
dc.subject.enproductivity
dc.subject.enthick branch
dc.titleMechanised Harvesting of Broadleaved Tree Species in Europe
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue1
oaire.citation.volume8