Sakari Pinomaki
Encyclopedia
Sakari Pinomäki was a Finnish systems engineer, who pioneered the mechanized forestry
industry. He was the founder of PIKA Forest Machines which produced the first purpose-built forest machine in 1964 in Ylöjärvi
, Finland
.
", the PIKA Model 75, in 1974. These machines differed significantly from other "retro-fitted" forestry machines in that they were designed from inception to be timber harvesting and processing equipment, and were not conventional farming or earth moving equipment with additional apparatus welded onto them to allow timber processing work to be possible. Pinomäki coined the term "harvester" to describe his Model 75 machine, which differs from a tree length processor in that a harvester grips, fells, de-limbs and sections the tree on site, while a processor simply de-limbs a tree that has been felled by chain saws and dragged to the delimbing equipment. His designs and innovations have been subsequently copied by at least five other major manufacturers of heavy timber equipment, including Timberjack
, Valmet
and Ponsse, and were instrumental in developing the "Scandinavia
n" system of timber harvesting, which is far more sustainable and nature conserving than the methods employed up till the mid 20th century. The two machine harvester-forwarder system consequently became the worldwide standard for sustainable forestry.
One of the most significant of PIKA's inventions has been the Paralcon Hydraulic valve system that can be used on any twin boom extending-retracting crane
. This valve uses return oil flow pressure to power the extension piston, and flow oil pressure to power the retraction movement of the crane, as opposed to standard configurations that use additional pumps to power these crane movements. The result is that far less motor torque
is necessary to operate the crane, which consumes far less fuel; this in turn saves operators money and reduces CO2 emissions for the machinery in use.
Additionally, S. Pinomäki Ky PIKA was first to market in the early 21st century with the worlds first production "Combination" machine, a single machine that can function in both harvester and forwarder roles. This 50 percent reduction in machinery to perform the same harvesting work means far less environmental pollution from CO2 emissions and terrain damage from machinery operation, and has again be co-opted by every major manufactuer of heavy timber processing equipment.
Sakari died on July 29, 2011 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his two daughters and three grandchildren.
Harvester (forestry)
A harvester is a type of heavy forestry vehicle employed in cut-to-length logging operations for felling, delimbing and bucking trees. A forest harvester is typically employed together with a forwarder that hauls the logs to a roadside landing.- History :...
industry. He was the founder of PIKA Forest Machines which produced the first purpose-built forest machine in 1964 in Ylöjärvi
Ylöjärvi
Ylöjärvi is a town and a municipality in Western Finland located west of Tampere.The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The population has increased rapidly in recent years, in 1990 it was slightly over 18,000.Ylöjärvi was founded as...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
History
Sakari Pinomäki's first company, PIKA Forest Machines, is credited with designing the first self propelled tree length timber processor, the PIKA Model 60, in 1968, and the first fully mobile timber "harvesterHarvester (forestry)
A harvester is a type of heavy forestry vehicle employed in cut-to-length logging operations for felling, delimbing and bucking trees. A forest harvester is typically employed together with a forwarder that hauls the logs to a roadside landing.- History :...
", the PIKA Model 75, in 1974. These machines differed significantly from other "retro-fitted" forestry machines in that they were designed from inception to be timber harvesting and processing equipment, and were not conventional farming or earth moving equipment with additional apparatus welded onto them to allow timber processing work to be possible. Pinomäki coined the term "harvester" to describe his Model 75 machine, which differs from a tree length processor in that a harvester grips, fells, de-limbs and sections the tree on site, while a processor simply de-limbs a tree that has been felled by chain saws and dragged to the delimbing equipment. His designs and innovations have been subsequently copied by at least five other major manufacturers of heavy timber equipment, including Timberjack
Timberjack
Timberjack was a manufacturer of forestry machinery for both cut-to-length and whole tree logging who have been a subsidiary of John Deere since 2000.-History:Timberjack was owned by the Eaton Corporation in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s...
, Valmet
Valmet
' was a Finnish state-owned conglomerate. Valmet was formed in 1951, when the state of Finland decided to group their various factories working on war reparations to the Soviet Union under one company...
and Ponsse, and were instrumental in developing the "Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n" system of timber harvesting, which is far more sustainable and nature conserving than the methods employed up till the mid 20th century. The two machine harvester-forwarder system consequently became the worldwide standard for sustainable forestry.
One of the most significant of PIKA's inventions has been the Paralcon Hydraulic valve system that can be used on any twin boom extending-retracting crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
. This valve uses return oil flow pressure to power the extension piston, and flow oil pressure to power the retraction movement of the crane, as opposed to standard configurations that use additional pumps to power these crane movements. The result is that far less motor torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
is necessary to operate the crane, which consumes far less fuel; this in turn saves operators money and reduces CO2 emissions for the machinery in use.
Additionally, S. Pinomäki Ky PIKA was first to market in the early 21st century with the worlds first production "Combination" machine, a single machine that can function in both harvester and forwarder roles. This 50 percent reduction in machinery to perform the same harvesting work means far less environmental pollution from CO2 emissions and terrain damage from machinery operation, and has again be co-opted by every major manufactuer of heavy timber processing equipment.
Sakari died on July 29, 2011 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his two daughters and three grandchildren.
Further reading
- http://www.tts.fi/uk/publication/teho-magazine/teho06_1.htm
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/w2809E/w2809e06.htm
- http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Hoisting+boom+assembly
- http://www.pinox.com/suomi/ajankohtaista/uutiset2005/news_17062005_fi.htm
- http://www.koneviesti.fi/VANHAT/kv18%202004/keskiosa.html