Annual Report 2005 - Forest-based entrepreneurship and forest environment models and databanks

Photo: Erkki Oksanen

According to a vision on forest technology, the manufacture of forest machinery might double in Finland by 2020 and bring 1000–2000 new jobs. The increase in jobs will be most noticeable in Eastern Finland. The total production of forest machinery in 2020 is likely to be 6000–8000 machines, of which 4000–4500 will be manufactured in Finland. The vision was obtained by collecting the views from the industry and research organizations of the field.

Harvesting technology is being reorganized in Europe and elsewhere in the world, too: the tree-length method, which is still used to harvest more than half of the world’s roundwood, is being replaced by the cut-to-length method. Additionally, exploiting the wood energy of European forests will necessitate more harvesting machinery. As a result of the change, the Finnish forest technology market is growing both in terms of net turnover and job creation. The key issue is whether Finland can maintain its position as the leading machine supplier in the world and retain machine manufacture in Finland.

The growth potential of the field is substantial, and technology transfer and research programmes can be used to support the realization of this potential. Machine concepts and technology must be developed and the needs of different market areas must be taken into consideration. Automation is in a key position in this development - machines can be made more user-friendly. Part of the project funding came from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

Additional information: http://www.metla.fi/hanke/3403/index-en.htm

Back to the list of the reported finished projects in 2005

Updated:	14.09.2006 / SKon	Metla : Annual Report : Annual Report 2005

Vision to 2020: manufacture of forest machinery in Finland will increase