From fur farm to wood splitting
In a warehouse next to a 240-year-old trønderlån in Sparbu, Trøndelag, wood producer Bernt Ove Opheim is splitting wood. He is testing Duun’s largest firewood processor to date, and is impressed.
When he does the math, he figures he will produce about 300 cubic yards of birch wood this season. That’s about 25 fathoms a week.
«I’m producing a full load of firewood to fill the firewood storage this year and I’m thinking of selling it next winter,” he smiles. »
Bernt Ove is fortunate. By chance, he met Birger Tunset from Duun Industrier at a trade fair last year, and now he is splitting wood at breakneck speed with the brand-new prototype of the VM450 – a fully professional machine with a cutting diameter of 45 cm, specially designed for large logs and good flow in the cutting cycle.
«So far, I have run through 50-70 cubic meters of wood through the machine and it runs like a breeze. There is tremendous capacity», says the farmer.
New work with wood
Trønderlåna and the attached warehouse stand on familiar ground, because the family has owned a farm for six generations. As a wood producer, Bernt Ove is relatively new. He had to rethink when the fur industry was shut down, and last year he set up a brand new production line with a firewood processor, log rack and warehouse.
With new eyes, the farmer took action and changed the entire farm operation at record speed.
«The fur farm was large. I had been running it since 2005 when the government decided to close the entire industry in 2019», he says.
Focus on splitting power and ergonomics
Today, the VM450 firewood processor is located indoors with an electrical connection. This allows the farmer to work comfortably in all kinds of weather. Birger Tunset, marketing employee at Duun, sheds some light on what we can expect from the new machinery.
«It is designed for professional use. The VM450 is larger than previous machines, has more splitting power and can handle larger diameter wood. At the same time, it has some features that make it extra nice to drive. It is both electric and hydraulic for good driving comfort and efficiency, and is controlled with a simple joystick» says Birger.
«For Duun, it is important that there is good ergonomics when operating a firewood processor, since splitting large quantities of wood requires many repetitive movements from it. In addition, the firewood processor must be durable. »
«It depends on the use, of course, but someone who produces up to 3,000 cubic meters of firewood a year should expect to replace their firewood machine about every five years. For a private farmer who is going to split firewood for himself, such a machine will last forever. »
Immediately ready for the market
The goal is for the VM450 wood machine to be released on the market in the fall of 2022. Before Easter, the prototype will be test driven to develop the most optimal machine for its use.
– Our designer at Duun visits Bernt Ove at Sparbu regularly. Eventually we will make a new prototype with improvements we have found from the test run, says Birger.
There is no doubt that Bernt Ove is happy with the test drive and consulting.
– Duun is very good at following up with questions, and the follow-up is phenomenal. They should have that, it’s a great collaboration. Then I was offered the opportunity to test the new machine, and of course I had accept that opportunity.
