Take something, bring something – an old Finnish saying that also applies to wood harvesting

The survey of forest machine operators’ skills developed in North Karelia provides tools with which to develop their skills. Jooseppi Haasala is working on his thesis on this subject and believes that productivity can be improved by investing in the way the work is organised. For the most part, the forest machine operator works alone.  That requires self-initiative and the ability to work in varying circumstances and situations. At the …

What’s the value of FOBIA project in Ireland?

FOBIA project team with a group of Irish stakeholders gathered at Waterford in February to discuss ongoing issues, especially contracting in wood harvesting and expectations for the project. William Houlihan, a harvesting contractor with 30 years’ experience, expressed the limitations faced by the contractors; short-time contracts, challenges in funding investment, difficulties of starting new harvesting businesses, and low profitability for small companies, especially when tendering for contracts offered by big …