Tips, Technology, Future Topics

At INTERFORST, which will be held on the exhibition grounds of Messe München from July 19 to 22, 2018, the German and international forest sector and forest-based industries will present itself in all its spheres. The two big special shows in Hall B6 and in the open-air site equally form a mirror of the efficiency of this industry. Here, trade show visitors will be offered a great deal: practical tips for daily work, state-of-the art forest machinery technology in action as well as the presentation of exciting future topics such as Forestry 4.0.

From seedling to squared timber—the timber processing chain

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At a circuit set up on a special show area covering some 1600 square meters in the middle of exhibition hall B6, visitors are presented all stations that wood runs through “from the seedling to squared timber”. The first station deals with seeding and mulching and is presented by the Producer Community for Quality Forest Plants of Southern Germany [Erzeugergemeinschaft für Qualitätsforstpflanzen Süddeutschland - EZG]. It is followed by the station of seedling and young stand care, where the German Statutory Accident Insurance [Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung - DGUV], jointly with experts from the Laubau Forest Education Center [Forstliches Bildungszentrum Laubau] and the Board of Trustees for Forestry Work and Technology [Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik - KWF] show how to use state-of-the-art accumulator technology in a safe way. The subsequent stations deal with the opening up of forests and forest resource inventory using state-of-the-art drone technology UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems). The efficient contribution made by state-of-the art forestry tractors will be explained, just like the advantages for soil protection entailed by the use of a traction aid winches on the slope, or the benefits of the newly developed on-track forwarder—presented for the first time ever at INTERFORST 2018. Wood measurement and sorting in the forest and at the processing plant will also be on display. They set the course in a decisive way for the ultimate destination of the timber’s journey. All this will be rounded off by a product show vividly illustrating that one can make (almost) everything from wood. In the process, examples of the material and energetic use of the raw material are shown.

Digital Twins and the Internet of Things—Forestry 4.0

In addition, the special show will highlight what Forestry 4.0 is today and what it will be in the future. Surrounded by the real world of the timber processing chain, the virtual part will be at the inside of the special show. This part will essentially be organized by the RWTH Aachen University, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Board of Trustees for Forestry Work and Technology KWF. At seven stations—which reflect the contents of the outer circuit—the way how the digital twins of the seedling, the tree and later the incised trunk and finally—exemplary for the diversity of products—of the squared timber interact with each other. For example, there will be a simulation of the development of the tree including its conspecifics and of the effects of different types of thinning on the stand structure and growth. This clearly shows the opportunities inherent in the exchange of data among the “co-players” in the timber processing chain, and which reservations against it are entirely justified or unjustified.

The didactic challenge

In terms of design, the challenge of this special show lies especially in making the networking of the real world of the timber processing chain outside with the digital twins in Forestry 4.0 inside clear so that the whole arrangement is perceived as a joint system.

On a large and small scale—using technology to improve security

On a space covering 1,900 square meters in the open-air site, the special show of the German Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture [Sozialversicherung für Landwirtschaft, Forsten und Gartenbau - SVLFG] will present exciting topics relating to forest prevention.

The topic of full mechanization by harvesters will be addressed from the viewpoint of occupational safety. Using the example of a harvester, selected detailed information on machine security will be given. Technical details which make work safer and more comfortable will be made visible in a concise manner. Trade show visitors will have the opportunity of exploring the technical safety of a state-of-the-art harvester, ranging from the special cabin panes to the air-conditioning system through to the personal alarm system.

Tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), etc.: at six stations, the motor saw, security felling technique, technical felling aids, the capstan winch, contemporaneous personal protective equipment from well-known manufacturers as well as the current status of personal alarm systems will be on display.

At a health line, trade show visitors can undergo a complete health checkup. Visual and skin tests, skin cancer screening and back-check measurements will be on offer.

The live demo “Tree felling with cable winch support” illustrates that keeping a safe distance is a basic rule in forest prevention. Besides the introduction of the cable from the ground, the cutting technique and the process sequence will be presented in a realistic and comprehensible manner, and specialist questions will be answered competently.

The whole arrangement will be rounded off by the determination of the falling direction of a tree and a 3D simulation of timber truck loading operations, both for active participation by the visitors. Safe working with the tried and tested tractor with forestry cable winch will not be missing at the special show either.