OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF RIMBAKA TIMBER HARVESTER IN HILLY TROPICAL FOREST

• Published in: Journal of tropical forest science Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 368 - 378
• Main Authors: Norizah, K, Hasmadi, I Mohd, Kamaruzaman, J, Alias, MS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kuala Lumpur Forest Research Institute Malaysia 01-07-2012
• Subjects: Capital costs; Forest management; Forestry; Logging; Production costs; Productivity; Skidding; Timber; Tropical forests; Winches; Malaysia; Malaysia, Malaya, Pahang
• ISSN: 0128-1283; 2521-9847

This paper presents a description of working pattern and results of productivity and cost studies of the RIMBAKA R2020-A Timber Harvester (RIMBAKA harvester). The RIMBAKA harvester was introduced in 2001 to work in tropical forest condition for extracting felled timber to roadside logyard. Field trials were established in the compartment 484-A Ulu Jelai Forest Reserve, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Analyses of time-study data were carried out using analysis of variance and regression techniques to examine significant levels of observed variables and produce prediction equations for each elemental time, hourly productivity and unit cost. Results showed that the RIMBAKA harvester operation extracted 3.55 m3 of log per cycle and had a machine utilisation rate of 74%, where the productivity was 46.39 m3 for every productive machine hour. Cost of using RIMBAKA harvester was RM12.70 m-3. Thus, the RIMBAKA harvester system had some advantages over ground-based skidders. A higher production rate of RIMBAKA harvester will be able to reduce cost of operation. Kertas ini membentangkan huraian pola kerja dan hasil produktiviti serta kajian kos terhadap jentera penuai balak RIMBAKA R2020-A (RIMBAKA). RIMBAKA telah diperkenalkan pada tahun 2001 untuk mengeluarkan kayu balak yang ditebang ke tepi jalan atau matau sementara di hutan tropika. Ujian lapangan telah dilaksanakan di kompartmen 484-A, Hutan Simpan Ulu Jelai, Pahang, Semenanjung Malaysia. Analisis data terhadap ujian masa telah dijalankan menggunakan analisis varians dan teknik regresi untuk meneliti tahap signifikan pemboleh ubah dan menghasilkan persamaan ramalan untuk setiap elemen masa kerja, produktiviti setiap jam dan kos unit. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa operasi pembalakan menggunakan RIMBAKA ini mampu mengeluarkan balak sebanyak 3.55 m3 untuk satu kitaran dan mempunyai kadar penggunaan mesin sebanyak 74%, dengan produktiviti mencapai 46.39 m3 untuk setiap jam mesin yang produktif. Kos menggunakan penuai RIMBAKA ialah RM12.70 m-3. Oleh itu, jentera penuai RIMBAKA mempunyai beberapa kelebihan berbanding mesin pengheret darat. Kadar pengeluaran hasil yang lebih tinggi dengan penggunaan RIMBAKA akan dapat mengurangkan kos operasi.