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The organisation has made substantial investments in state-of-the-art equipment for steep ground harvesting operations. This commitment not only prioritises the safety of their employees but also strives to minimise their environmental impact.

Metsa is under the leadership of Director Dave Godfrey and Forestry Director Alan Brown, both of whom complement each other through their expertise in leadership, forestry management and organisation skills.

The team was engaged in operations at a particularly challenging site in the Scottish Borders, characterised by steep gradients that exceeded the capabilities of standard timber-harvesting equipment. Consequently, they use a Menzi Muck equipped with a Konrad Forsttechnik Woody harvesting head, which was tethered to an excavator-mounted TimberMAX T10 Traction Assist Winch. The Menzi Muck is ideally suited for such terrain; its pendulum-arm wheel configuration helps to keep it level even on severe slopes, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

Access roads have been constructed in a zigzag pattern on the steep hillside, with plans to reinstate them upon project completion to facilitate harvesting and extraction operations. The Menzi Muck was felling the trees on the steep slope between the access roads and positioning them within reach of the Komatsu 931 Harvester for processing. A Komatsu 855 forwarder was being used to extract the produce. 

Some of the less severe slopes have been harvested with the Komatsu 931, which was tethered to another excavator-mounted TimberMAX T10 traction-assist winch. Additionally, a second forwarder is being introduced to speed up operations; one forwarder will be extracting on the slope and unload at the base, while a secondary forwarder will transport the wood to the stacking area.

Despite substantial equipment on site, this approach has proven to be the most efficient and safest method for conducting the work. The use of a skyline/High Lead system would require deploying numerous personnel into steep areas to fell and choker trees for extraction. This method would result in significantly lower productivity while posing considerable safety hazards. Under dry conditions, maintaining a secure footing is challenging; in wet conditions, it becomes nearly impossible.

Both Dave and Alan express satisfaction with TimberMAX's performance, reliability, and user-friendliness. One winch has been purchased, and the second unit is currently on a rental agreement, which is also under consideration for purchase.

Dave emphasised that RJ Fukes not only provided outstanding service but also exceeded expectations by offering valuable assistance and guidance, which the team found immensely beneficial.

Through meticulous planning, a skilled workforce, quality equipment, and the implementation of TimberMAX T10 traction assist winches, Metsa Limited has successfully achieved its objectives of minimising environmental impact while simultaneously promoting a safe and efficient working environment.