Wisconsin DNR demonstrated a new cable logging system meant to remove timber from isolated locations
MARINETTE CO. -- One of the difficulties of logging in the U.P. or northern Wisconsin is harvesting timber in hard to reach locations. But a new technology is looking to change that.
Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held a demonstration for a new cable logging system outside of Crivitz, Wisconsin. The remote controlled system uses two excavators and a sky carriage traveling on a cable to remove timber from isolated locations like steep hills and swamps.
"It opens up terrain that we can't get with our ground-type systems that we traditionally use in Wisconsin,” said DNR Forest Products Special Terry Mace. “We think there's some advantages in southwest Wisconsin and in the northern part with some of the steeper ground...to have a system like this to harvest the timber."
The cable logging system helps to minimize the impact on the environment compared to traditional ground tools.
The system was brought down from Montreal, Canada using federal grants for the demonstrations.
While the technology could prove to be beneficial for the timber industry, the DNR isn't expecting any wholesale changes.
"This is just another tool. The future of the industry is the mechanize machines which is what we're running now,” Mace said. “But this is another tool for the logger and anther tool for the forester to better manage the woods we have."
The machine is selling for $350,000-$450,000. A second demonstration will be given in the same location outside of Crivitz, September 8.
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