From: John Schulte at: schulte@netshop.net
I have built and been using a low impact harvesting system that uses a 1/2"
cable
to bring logs up to and onto a truck or trailer, by which they are then
forwarded to
roadside, landing, or directly to the mill.
The cable can easily be pulled out 100', or up to 250' in some situations.
Logs are
brought in at the rate of up to 200'/minute. The trees are cut to length at
the stump
and brought in several at a time, or in single pieces up to 24" in diameter.
Obstacles are avoided and trees are given lift by using a break-away block.
This
block is fastened to a tree with a sling. When the logs reach the block it
releases
from the tree and comes in with the logs, so no time is spent retrieving the
block.
The combination of processed logs and the break-away block make thinning and
selection harvesting much easier, and logs are easily grouped and brought
through narrow openings.
An overhead beam is used to lift the butts of the logs up over the existing
load,
allowing wood to be stacked several feet deep on the deck, to within one
foot of the beam.
By anchoring the machine logs can be brought in at 90 degrees to the road or
trail.
Hauling the wood up off the ground offers many benefits. With less impact on
roads and trails, machines can:
move more wood
negotiate uphill more easily
use less fuel
move wood faster
move wood longer distances
handle sharper turns.
Self-dumping is accomplished by lifting the wood and rolling it off the side
in piles
up to 5' high. This is very quick and allows for faster turn-around times.
Possible versions of the machine:
off-road trailer pulled by 80+ HP tractor, hauling up to four cords
on-road trailer pulled by one-ton truck or larger
off-road forwarder
deck on five-ton truck
deck on tandem highway truck.
I am hoping to find out what kind of market there would be for a low-impact
harvesting system like this. You could help me by filling out any applicable
questions on the market assessment below, and sending it back to me at:
<schulte@netshop.net>
Thank you.
UESTIONNAIRE FORM 1.0 - Product Survey -
1) Nature of your business or role: (ie salesman, store owner, dealership etc)
_forestry _consultant _farmer
_logging _educator _salesperson
_other, please specify _____________________
2) What are the primary benefits you are looking for when you are
purchasing, logging equipment?
3) What are the primary benefits you are looking for when you recommend
logging equipment?
4) When purchasing or recommending logging equipment, what features are of
must concern to you? (please rank 1 - 8 , 1 being most important)
_convenience _environmental impact
_product quality _ease of training
_price _reliability
_versatility _other, please specify_____________________
5) What would make you decide to select one piece of equipment over another?
6) How often would you purchase or recommend logging equipment?
7) Where would you look for it or expect to buy it?
(please rank 1 - 8 , 1 being most important)
_Equipment shows , please give show name(s)
_Dealership, please give example of dealer name(s)
_Industrial supply catalogue, please catalogue name(s)
_Direct from manufacturer, please supply name(s)
_Other, specifiy please ____________________________
On each buying occasion of log moving equipment -
8) How many units, would you purchase? ______________________
9) What is the average price per unit you pay for this type of product?
$10,000- $50,000 $51,000-100,000 $ 101,000- $150,000
$151,000- $250,000 $251,000- $350,000 $350,000 +
10) How do you usually hear about logging equipment? Please rank your
choices 1 - 9, 1 being the most usual source of information
_Newspapers _Trade Magazine
_TV _Internet
_Radio _Trade Shows
_Word of mouth _Salespeople
_Other, please specify
11) What advantages/benefits do you see in the system described above over
other similar products?
12) What disadvantages do you see?
13) What would HiSkid be best suited for?
14) Any questions?
15) Do you have a need for a product such as ours?
_immediately _within next year
_sometime in future _not at all
16) What would you expect to pay for this system as a:
Off-road forwarder $______-$________
Highway truck $_______-$_______
Trailer $_______-$_______
Deck mountable unit $_______-$_______
17) What do you consider to be competing equipment?
18) What competing firms' equipment are you currently using?
19) What type of logging activities do you participate in?
20) Where do you live?
21) What is the population of your town?
22) What is your occupational title?
23) What level of education do you have?
_High School _University/ College Diploma
_Some College/University _University Degree
_Trade School Diploma _Journeyman__________________
24) How old are you?
_20 - 30 _41 - 50 _60+
_31 - 40 _51 - 60
25) The annual value of your logging shipments is:
_$1- $100,000 _$100,00 -$ 200,000 _$200,001 - 300,000
_$300,001 - 400,000 _$400,001- $500,000 _$500,001 - $600,000
_$600,001 - $700,000 _$700,001-$800,00 _$800,001 -$900,000
_$901,000- $1,000,000 _$1,000,001 +
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
_____ ~ ~ ~ ~
//|--- Alfa Fab Ventures ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~ ~
//||___ John Schulte I ~|~ I ~I~ I ~~I~~ ~|~
// ||--- RR#1 C-70 Young Rd. ~~|~~ ~ Phone:(250) 395-4249 ~~|~~
//==|| ~ 100 Mile House B.C. ~ I ~I~ Fax:(250) 395-2252 ~~~|~~~
// || ~I~ V0K-2E0 Canada ~I~ E-mail schulte@netshop.net I
John 3:17
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