Enabling contractors to use their machines more consistently throughout the year will not only lead to a more stable wood supply, bringing economic benefits to the bio-based sectors, but also to a more stable income stream for these often economically marginal businesses. A higher degree of permanence amongst forest contractors has further benefits. Results from the structured field tests, and experience gained from the international commercial application of the machine, show that expectations have been met or exceeded. Field trials where similar (8-wheeled, 10-wheeled) Ponsse forwarders were tested - with and without tracks - alongside the OnTrack machine clearly showed the benefits of the OnTrack forwarder. Under identical conditions, the OnTrack machine performed 63% better than an identical wheeled forwarder fitted with steel tracks, after 9 passes, and 80% better than a wheeled forwarder without any tracks after only 3 passes. Thus the ambition of decreasing rutting by 40-70% was achieved and exceeded.
Despite some of the challenges in having it work continuously and robustly in different settings, the monitor received a considerable amount of attention, probably more so in central Europe than in Scandinavia, but sufficient to confirm that this is in fact a concept that will continue to be developed in various constellations; as a research tool for mapping machine trails for a range of potential end uses (soil / vegetation mapping/ soil trafficability modelling), as a training tool for new operators to get more quantitative feedback on their driving decisions, and give forest managers a tool for locating and alleviating site disturbance that might exceed certain thresholds.
Both the forwarder and monitor made an impact internationally. They clearly contributed to raising awareness of the issues around conducting forest operations in a way that is both beneficial to SME's and more acceptable to wider society. Multiple theme days, demonstrations and a presence at large trade-fairs including both INTERFORST in Germany and FinnMETKO in Finland have resulted in the Forwarder and Monitor, and especially the issues they address, to become commonly known amongst relevant actors.
