Elmia Wood, held only once every four years in Sweden, attracted 54,215 visitors on June 5-8, up from 46,502 at the last show in 2009. The exhibition at Jönköping focuses on forest machinery, tools and services.
"Our impression is that half of the people who came to our stand were from countries other than Sweden," said Dieter Reinisch, information manager at forestry machinery manufacturer John Deere.
"This year’s Elmia Wood was also proof that forest professionals have a pent-up need to update their machinery. So far the economic situation is preventing that but when that improves the sales will come."
A record was achieved on the show’s third day, when 18,400 visitors were recorded.
Technology highlights included The Mantis – a hexapod walking machine billed as the world’s largest all-terrain robot which can be controlled from either the cockpit or remotely.
The HUD (Head-up Display) technology, more common to fighter aircraft, made its debut in the forestry machinery sector in the form of Optea’s Forest Falcon. It is designed to make forest operations safer, faster and more efficient.
The technology projects information directly into the air within the operator’s field of view. Information is shown in pink – a colour determined to be the most visible in a forest environment.
"Our images appear as if you have a transparent screen hanging on a fishing rod five metres in front of you, exactly where you look when you’re working in the forest," said Esteban Arboix, CEO of Optea AB.
Voice control for harvesters is another innovation, with the T-Bear having just two buttons instead of joysticks for felling and thinning operations.
