Japan-headed heavy machinery major Komatsu Ltd has announced that it, via its wholly-owned Swedish subsidiary Komatsu Forest AB (Komatsu), plans to acquire compatriot forestry attachments manufacturer Bracke Forest AB. Komatsu plans to close the acquisition by July 1, 2022, subject to necessary procedures for closing are completed.
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According to a statement, Komatsu is concerting efforts in the forestry business, as it “upholds sustainable forestry which not only engages in harvesting and forwarding but also includes silviculture and forest management.”
Komatsu also works to mechanize dangerous work, facilitate the wide use of forest machines that contribute to safety, and promote smart forestry that analyzes drone and satellite-based data for the management of forests, including the number and height of trees.
Growth for mechanized planting anticipated
Tree planting is expected to expand worldwide for lumber production and environmental concerns, such as the promotion of carbon neutrality. At the same time, the need for mechanization is growing, especially because tree planting is labor-intensive work, with an increase in planting in remote areas, and a decrease in the workforce.
With extensive know-how of silviculture over the years, Bracke Forest develops, manufactures, and sells application-specific attachments for use in silviculture processes.
History of collaboration
Since 2014, Bracke and Komatsu have engaged in joint development by sharing respective technologies and experience accumulated over the years, respectively in forest and construction machines.
In FY2021, Komatsu launched the D61EM-23M0, the world’s first bulldozer-based automatic crawler planter, in Brazil. After the acquisition, Komatsu will continue to incorporate Bracke’s technologies and expertise in the field of planting in order to accelerate its pace of mechanization of all processes other than harvesting and forwarding, which have already been mechanized.
Komatsu will work to generate synergy for smart forestry and provide higher value-added products in order to enhance the safety and productivity of customers’ jobsite operations and make carbon-neutral contributions.
