OREANDA-NEWS. On October 01, 2008 The production of forest harvesting equipment has been started with application of European technology in Krasnoyarsk. It was directly at the presentation of the only sample of the Russian forwarder when it became clear that the demand for this machine exceeds the limits of Siberian Federal region.

According to the Minister of natural resources and forest complex of Krasnoyarsk Territory Government, Mr. Andrei Gnezdilov, it is for the first time in the Russian machine-building when a modern qualitative forwarder was produced, as yet according to the foreign technology, designated for collecting, loading and transportation of assortment from wood-cutting area. “Today lobby interviews of Russia not being capable to build sound forest harvesting machinery were refuted.

It is for the first time that our country has built a forwarder. The fact that this machine was assembled at Krasnoyarsk works namely, arouses a surge of pride. We can say with full authority that the project of establishing of the Centre of forest machine-building in Krasnoyarsk is being successfully realized.

I think these are the first signs which will show to everybody the possibility of forest machine-building development here, in Siberia”. Timber merchants from Irkutsk, Ust-Ilimsk and Krasnoyarsk Territory have become interested in this new machine in forest harvesting machinery. Krasnoyarsk forwarder has already been ordered by some European countries.

This was told by Vladislav Abramov, the director on timber industry trend of JSC “CHETRA- Industrial machinery”. According to him, the customers of the machine that was built in Russia for the first time are Denmark, Scandinavian countries, Sweden and Germany. “The forwarder produced in Krasnoyarsk according to Scandinavian technology, features European quality and Russian price. Owing to the Russian concern “Tractor Works” that has purchased the Danish enterprise (“Silvatec”) we have obtained their market”, - informed Mr. Abramov.

Next year the enterprise plans to produce 10 forwarders, in 2010 – 50 pcs, and in 2011 – 100 such machines. Actual realization of these plans depends in many respects on marketing.

“In case the demand for forwarders is great we shall increase the production, - declared Andrei Volf, the executive director of JSC “PO” Krasnoyarsk combine works”, the general director of JSC “Krasnoyarsk forest machinery works” (Kraslesmash). He also informed that at the nearest time the machinery will be directed for field tests in Siberian taiga conditions. Forwarders are applied at stocking up of wood according to the so-called “assortment” technology which is applied in all the Europe.

The “assortment” technology is not widely used in Russia so far. We here, in Russia, mainly use tree length stocking up for which we traditionally produce our own machines. Having introduced the production of forwarders we offered the right of choice to our customers. Up to now such machines haven’t been manufactured in Russia at all and domestic timber merchants had to buy them abroad”, - said Andrei Volf.

Concern “Tractor Works” investments put into ”Krasnoyarsk combine works” modernization in 2008 will make up 140 mln. Rubles. Nowadays the enterprise is steadily raising the rate of production. During the period of January-September 2008 the enterprise produced more than 2000 combines that is 60% more of the quantity produced during the same period of the last year.

The first Russian forwarder (KS 421) is designed on the basis of the machine of Danish company Silvatec which is famous all over the world. The presented Russian forwarder was assembled by united efforts of JSC “PO” Krasnoyarsk combine works” and JSC “Krasnoyarsk forest machinery works” (Kraslesmash). The six wheel machine load capacity is 14 ton. Its storage capacity is 20 m3 of timber.