With the increasing need for small yarders throughout B.C. as harvested areas become more fragmented, FPInnovations completed a preliminary assessment of the first Harvestline yarder operating in B.C.

The Harvestline is a small yarder that is engineered and manufactured by Electrical & Machinery Services Ltd. (E.M.S.), based in New Zealand. E.M.S. also manufactures the Tractionline winch-assist system.

An Info Note was recently published for FPInnovations’ members which summarizes observations of both the Harvestline yarder and the Hawkeye motorized grapple carriage (also manufactured by E.M.S.) operating in B.C.’s Kootenay region.

This small yarder has comparable application to small yarding machines such as yoaders frequently seen in the Pacific Northwest and the Alpine yarder manufactured in South Africa. It will have application for yarding volumes where winch-assist machines are not able to operate due to large-diameter trees, rocky ground, or other operational constraints.

For more information, please contact Colin Koszman , Industry Advisor – Coastal B.C. and Southern Interior areas.