Komatsu takes on silviculture manufacturer
KOMATSU FOREST AB IS FINALISING the acquisition of Bracke Forest AB, headquartered in Bräcke, Sweden, which develops, manufactures, and sells applicationspecific attachments for silviculture.
As a business, Komatsu engages in harvesting and forwarding as well as silviculture and forest management. The company also works to mechanise dangerous work, facilitate wide use of forestry machines that contribute to safety, and promote smart forestry that analyses drone and satellitebased data for forest management.
Tree planting is expected to expand worldwide for lumber production, along with environmental concerns such as the promotion of carbon neutrality. At the same time, the need for mechanisation is growing, with tree planting being labour-intensive work, with an increase in planting in remote areas, and a decrease in the workforce.
With extensive knowhow of silviculture, Bracke develops, manufactures, and sells application-specific attachments for use in silviculture processes. 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.
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 mechanisation. The company says it will also work to generate synergy for smart forestry and provide higher valueadded products to enhance the safety and productivity of customers’ job site operations and make carbon-neutral contributions.