Project ST, Bigger Stacks

An ST crane vehicle and an ST tractor unit are being test-driven in the counties of Dalsland and Värmland in Sweden from autumn 2009. These trials will continue for three years. The ST crane vehicle comprises a four-axle truck with crane, dolly and trailer. The ST tractor unit is a conventional road tractor used for haulage, together with a link and trailer. The vehicle has the same length as a conventional timber vehicle, but the gross weight has been increased to 74 tons. The payloads of these vehicles are respectively 17 and 30 percent greater than traditional timber vehicles. The hypothesis is that these vehicles can reduce environmental impact and transport costs by 10 percent. Stora Enso is hosting the project.

Stora Enso is hosting the project.

Timber flow

The ST crane vehicle is used to transport timber from the forest to a suitable loading terminal where the trailer is parked and the timber transferred to a waiting empty link. The ST tractor unit is connected to the link and the trailer, and the timber is then transported from the terminal to the mill. The distance from forest to terminal is between 30 and 60 km, and from terminal to mill is approximately 100 km. In the second part of the flow, the timber is transported using a tractor unit with no crane. The idea of the system is that vehicles with cranes can then used optimally, i.e. in the forest.