Harvester operators

The forwarding of trees by machines in the forests became more common towards the end of the 1960s. The popularity of mechanical felling took off after the mid-1980s and the mechanisation trend reached its peak in the 1990s. Harvesting companies are generally small, consisting of the owner and fewer than 10 employees. An average harvesting company annually fells and transports to the roadside just over 40,000 cubic metres of wood, but the volume can vary greatly between companies. The operations may also include other services integral to forest management. A harvesting company typically has 1–2 harvesters, 1–2 forwarders, a repair shop for maintenance and repairs, and transport and maintenance equipment.