‘The first machine of its kind’: Campbell River manufacturer creates first hybrid electric logging yarder

A Campbell River manufacturer that specializes in building machines for the forestry industry, has developed the first ever hybrid electric logging yarder.

T-Mar Industries Ltd, a Campbell River based manufacturer that specializes in building machines for the forestry industry, has developed the first ever hybrid electric logging yarder.

“This is the first machine of its kind anywhere,” says Tyson Lambert, VP of T-Mar Industries Ltd.

A logging yarder is a crane like machine that has been used in the industry more than a century.

“It’s basically a zipline for logs,” adds Lambert. “You put a log yard in a logging setting that’s inaccessible to machinery.”

Called the 7280E Hybrid Electric Drive Yarder, it has taken T-Mar five years to develop and uses electric drives that share power back and forth like a hybrid vehicle.

“(It’s) very different from a traditional machine where it’s all mechanically linked and gears and clutches have to engage to make everything work,’ says Philip Biebach, mechanical engineer for T-Mar Industries Ltd.

According to T-Mar, the 7280E is more powerful, easier to run, better on fuel, and requires less maintenance than a typical yarder. It will also reduce the carbon footprint in the forest by using less fuel and reducing emissions, the company says.

“The engine is going to be spending all of its time at the peak clean burning region,” says Biebach. “And not blowing the big cloud of black smoke every time you accelerate.”

The first hybrid electric forest yarder is weeks away from being deployed into it’s first logging operation, and the forestry industry will be watching closely.

“They really want to see this machine work because they’re interested in using similar machines in their forestry operations,” adds Lambert.

T-Mar adds this first-of-its-kind machine will be operated by a local forestry company on the west coast.