The Södra forest group and the Gremo Ab machine manufacturer are investing in driverless harvesting. The Besten harvesting system will be tested in actual production for the first time in a joint development venture. Besten is a driverless harvester that is remotely controlled from two wood carriers. Studies made by the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden indicate that a first prototype of Besten gives both less harvesting costs and less fuel consumption than existing harvester-forwarder systems. In addition, Besten has advantages in respect of working environment, wood handling and lead times. The company Gremo AB has now taken over the Besten system for development and production.
Södra wants to know how Besten works in practice and has bought a second prototype of the system from Gremo. The companies will start a joint development venture for testing the Besten system during a period of two years in the Snapphanebygden forestry area in the southern region of Södra Syd.
Södra Skog provides both raw material to the industries of the Södra group and forest related services to its forest owner members. This business sector employs more than 550 persons. Last year its turnover was 9.5 billion SEK (863 million euro) and the harvest14.9 million m3 of timber.
Gremo AB is a member of the family-owned industrial Weland-group. Its line of business is development and manufacture of own products for the building industry, handling of materials and forestry. The group employs 900 persons and its turnover is circa 2 billion SEK (181 million euro)