The Risutec SKB 240 is a fully mechanised planting unit designed to improve operational efficiency and standardisation in forest plantations, particularly in challenging terrains. The system uses a Sany 215F hydraulic excavator as its base machine and is equipped with a Risutec SKB 240 forest-planting head, specifically designed to operate on slopes up to 30 degrees side slope. By integrating multiple silvicultural operations into a single sequential cycle, the machine reduces manual labour and minimises passes, ensuring greater uniformity during forest stand establishment.
How does it work?
The operation is managed by an integrated electronic system that includes 17 LED headlights to support operations in low-light environments and an onboard tablet and panel, enabling the operator to program spacing, follow level curves, and adjust parameters in real time. Each cycle begins with subsoiling performed by a set of three shanks—a deep central one and two shorter lateral ones—which decompact the soil to a depth of 40 cm to facilitate root development. Seedlings are then placed via a central planter fed by a carousel with 240 compartments, while a large magazine stores between 2,250 and 4,500 plants. To maintain seedling quality and ensure initial growth, the system applies 4.5 litres of water per plant from a 3,500-litre rear tank. It dispenses 150 grams of granular fertiliser from four stainless steel tanks into lateral pits to avoid root toxicity. When enabled, the unit also applies pre-emergent herbicide through four spray nozzles and uses adjustable compactors to secure the soil around the roots. Every planted seedling is precisely recorded using GNSS technology with RTK correction for detailed reporting. The equipment achieves a productivity rate of 220-305 seedlings per hour for slopes up to 11.3 degrees and 200 seedlings per hour for slopes up to 24.2 degrees.
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