2009 has become a real trial and test for survivability for many timber companies, and of course, for suppliers of forest machinery. However, despite all difficulties 2009 for sure turned out successful and productive for Komatsu Forest with most attention to be paid to development of new product range, improvement of service quality, training of operators. 

Expansion of Valmet lineup took a special place in a number of the most important company events in 2009. Thus, Elmia Wood presented at once several new models of forest machinery – they are Valmet 931 harvester, TX logging complex (Valmet 901TX harvester and Valmet 840TX forwarder) and a number of advanced harvesting heads (Valmet 378, Valmet 365 and Valmet 370E). 

New Valmet 931harvester (19.5 ton) by right took its place between heavy 941 (24 ton) and middle-sized 911 (16.5 ton). The new Valmet 931 offers the optimal combination of strength and flexibility. One important explanation behind the combination of strength and flexibility is the new boom, the CRH22, which with its powerful lifting force and sturdy construction can easily handle the new Valmet 365 harvesting head, as well as the Valmet 370.2 and 360.2 heads. Yet another new feature of this version is full compatibility with the StanForD standard for calculating the volume of timber harvested with a multi-tree accumulator. Valmet is the first to offer such compatibility.

According to Komatsu Forest, Russian loggers could prefer Valmet 931 to Valmet 911.4 that has been highly popular in the area earlier. At the same time thinning and logging of sparsely wooded forests is becoming of interest in Russia, that’s why Komatsu Forest can also offer a new TX complex. The new Valmet 901TX harvester is a true thinning expert that together with the new Valmet 840TX forwarder is part of a completely new concept for optimizing thinning work. Together, they lower the machine’s ground pressure and lessen environmental impact, which is important in thinning. 

As a manufacturer of forest machinery, Komatsu Forest features pursuit of development and ability to foresee future necessities of the most demanding loggers. We asked Timofey Bogatenko, regional sales and marketing manager, about advantages of cooperation with Komatsu Forest and company achievements in 2009: 

“I would not stay at the advantages of working with Komatsu Forest compared with our competitors, it would be wrong. It is worth mentioning that we sell not so much machinery as solution of definite problems for each logger. I guess that our advantage lies in a tailor-made approach to the issues of our customers and in providing not traditional, but truly complex service maintenance (incl. delivery of spare parts, storehouse, control system debugging, training programmes for operators, etc.). Besides, it is Japanese corporation – Komatsu – with its work experience, advanced teaching centres, high quality products and development that stands behind us. All this together ensures our customers in our full-scope support at solving their problems. 

Currently there 10 our dealers in different regions of Russia: North-West, Far East and Siberia. We try to provide our clients with all the things required. Sometimes when our customer is in the region where there is no any our dealer or service centre we elaborate an individual scheme of service for this client. In this case one of the main and priority issues is thorough personnel training that will allow operators to maintain machines themselves. It is also an example of Komatsu Forest individual approach to every customer”. 

In spring 2009 the company started its new project “Valmet Training Weeks”. How does your company as an organisator evaluate the results? 

The project aimed at training and ugrading of specialists that operate harvesting machinery and those who would like to obtain such skills. It was more likely crisis support for those who want to improve their qualification, education level or just master skills required for working as an operator of harvesting machinery. The programme included theory and practice. Future operators received knowledge about design and structure of Valmet machines, required maintenance and service, advanced possibilities of Valmet machinery in general. 

It is not a surprise that the project was a successful one. There were several groups of representatives from different regions. However, the project was mostly designed for companies from the North-west district as it is not so easy (from financial point of view) to send operators from the Far East, not all harvesting companies could afford it, unfortunately. 

All in all it was rather interesting and successful project. The fact that we managed to teach people something important and useful is alone pleasant. If there are requests for such courses in future, it is likely that there will be such programmes and projects.  

Moreover, the first Valmet teaching centre for operator training has been recently open in Krasnoborsk (Arkhangelsk region). What was included in the delivery set? 

November 10, 2009 the first in the region or maybe in Russia state training centre was officially open in Krasnoborsk (Arkhangelsk region). No doubt, it is a large event for the region, regional timber industry and Komatsu Forest as well. It is also a good advantage for the local harvesting companies as the centre performs a solid base for training operators using most advanced machinery. The delivery included three Valmet units, of them a harvester (911.3) and 2 forwarders (840.3 and 840.4). 

Taking into consideration that forest machinery is becoming more productive and composite, which leads to stricter demands for operators, such training centres are required for timber industry. Only in 2009 Komatsu Forest delivered 8 machines and 10 simulators toforest vocational schools in Russia in Syktyvkar, the Far East and Leningrad region.

We are glad that our company contributed in the development of vocational education in Russia and training of highly qualified specialists for timber industry. We hope that in 2010 the RF Government will pay more attention to the practical training of personnel engaged in the timber industry, and we in our turn are ready to take part in such projects. 

Business Support Bureau "Runa"  www.runa.info 

For more information about Russian timber industry, please see MOST  (Market Overview. Statistics. Trends) - regularly updated digest of the situation in the Russian timber industry! New edition in December 2009!