Japanese machinery manufacturer Komatsu is set to trial European forestry equipment, including harvesters and forwarders, in Japan to enhance productivity and address labor shortages.
The company will test the Cut-to-Length (CTL) method, which involves felling trees, removing branches, and cutting them into sized logs on-site. This method uses a harvester for tree felling and processing, while a forwarder transports the logs.
In Japan, excavators are typically used in forestry due to the country’s steep terrain, rather than wheeled machinery. Komatsu believes that adopting CTL and a more mechanized approach will reduce the number of machines and operators needed, helping to alleviate Japan’s ongoing labor shortage.
The company expects this shift to improve productivity, safety, and cost-efficiency.
The one-year trial will take place across forestry sites in Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu. It will involve Komatsu’s 22-ton 931XC harvester and the 14-ton 855 forwarder. The trial will compare the CTL method with traditional forestry techniques.
Komatsu plans to analyze the results, including GPS data from the sites, to optimize productivity and operational management.
Komatsu’s forestry machinery division is a key part of the company’s business, alongside its construction and mining equipment sectors. Recently, Komatsu committed to a new initiative focused on emissions-free construction machinery, which will be showcased at bauma 2025.
