Jamun Ltd is a leading specialist in forest thinning and clearfelling based in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo. Established in July 2014 by Jimmy Munnelly, who has nearly 20 years’ experience in the sector, the company recently invested in new plant after being awarded a long-term contract to carry out clearfelling work at Coillte-owned forests in Co. Mayo.
Plantations as they mature and develop require thinning and ultimately clearfell at maturity. Thinning of a conifer crop is usually carried out from 15 years onwards depending on the performance of the crop. Jamun Ltd provides a complete harvesting service that ensures a plantation is thinned to optimum levels of thinning intensity and will not be over-exploited for instant volumes. This practice ensures the crop is managed to best sylvicultural practices and future thinning and clearfell yields will be safeguarded and protected.
Clearfelling is also practiced to encourage the growth and proliferation of tree species that require high light intensity.
“It’s very specialised work which requires specialised equipment,” Jimmy says.
“We carry out thinning and clearfelling work for Coillte and also thinning for a small number of private customers. We took on a contract last year to undertake clearfelling for Coillte over a five-year period in Co. Mayo. The contract involves felling over 25,000m of mostly pine but also some spruce in the north of the county per year. As a result, we’ve had to upgrade and expand our plant.”
Jimmy has invested in two new pieces of machinery, the most eye-catching of which is a John Deere 1110G forwarder with IBC (Intelligent Boom Control). Purchased from John Deere Forestry Ireland in Glenealy, Co. Wicklow, the machine boasts precise and efficient boom control, a strong and powerful FT4 engine, 4.1% more torque and a clear and simple electrical system. The 1110G’s FT4 engine meets the latest emissions regulations and the forwarder has many other additions and improvements compared to its predecessor. The engine has about 6.5% more power and 4.1% more torque than the 1110E’s IT4 engine. The better coupling of the powerful diesel engine with the power train results in a clear improvement in performance. TimberMatic Maps is also a standard feature in new John Deere forest machines.
In addition, the new forwarder comes with JDLink, which is designed to remotely connect owners to their equipment and local John Deere dealer, providing alerts and machine information, including location, utilisation, performance and maintenance data, to better manage where and how equipment is used.
Jimmy has also taken delivery of a new Komatsu PC210-11 excavator from McHale Plant Sales Ltd, who have outlets in Birdhill, Co. Tipperary and Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. Powerful and precise, the Komatsu PC210-11 is equipped to efficiently carry out any task your business requires. On big or small sites, for digging, trenching, landscaping or site preparation, the Komatsu original equipment hydraulic system always ensures maximum productivity and control. The Pc210-11 features five selectable working modes – power, lifting, breaker, attachment and economy – that optimise performance and fuel usage. The economy mode can be adjusted for an ideal balance between power and economy to match your work. The oil flow delivered to hydraulic attachments is adjustable directly on the class-leading wide screen monitor panel.
Attached to the excavator is a new Log Max 7000Twin which was purchased from LB Gremo in Tullamore. Co. Offaly. The 7000Twin is a heavy-duty head specifically engineered for low branched trees.
High power is one of the head’s main features, being able to deliver up to 41.7kN and weighing in at only 1,889kg. Featuring twin bottom delimbing knives, the Log Max machine is made for the really heavy branched timber. The new cast felling link makes it the ideal choice for large tracked carriers.
The 7000Twin is the first Log Max head to feature a new wiring optimised for Log Mate 500. Variable displacement feed roller motors provide fast speed in smaller wood and automatically regulate to provide more power in heavy limbed trees. Well placed guards and heavy-duty covers protect internal components and hoses from damage.
“The new machines are going well and I’m very happy with their production. We decided to invest in a digger rather than in a wheeled harvester because it’s cheaper and also caters for our needs,” Jimmy explains.
Completing the Jamun Ltd fleet are a Valmet 911.3 harvester with a Log Max 5000D head and a Timberjack 810B forwarder. Jimmy operates the Valmet 911.3 himself, while two others are employed in running the other machines. Twin wheel options are available on the forwarder and harvester for working on wet ground, while thinning can also be carried out with these machines.
Most of the pine that’s harvested by Jamun Ltd is shipped to the Coillte-owned MEDIT and SMARTPLY manufacturing sites in Clonmel and Waterford. MEDITE SMARTPLY is a market-leading manufacturer of sustainable timber construction panels. The manufacturing facilities feature the latest production technology to deliver straighter, flatter and more consistent boards than ever before, in a range of sizes and thickness unparalleled within the industry. MEDITE SMARTPLY pride themselves on their sustainable supply chain and manufacturing processes, meaning their products are as environmentally conscious in their make-up as they are in their application.
Pulp wood is transported in 10ft lengths by rail and by local hauliers Jimmy Barrett and Barker Haulage. Jimmy, who is only 37, also cuts 8ft pallet in pine which goes to Balcas Timber in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh and spruce which goes to ECC in Cornamona, Co. Galway.
Jamun Ltd
Rathbane,
Crossmolina,
Co. Mayo.
Telephone: 086 8643667
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 7 No 3, June/July 2019
