RETURNING to the show calendar for the first time since before the pandemic, Interforst was back with a bang. Forestry Journal joined thousands of guests at Messe München last month, as 31,000 visitors and more than 300 exhibitors ensured there was plenty to see. In this series of articles, we provide a small taste of what was on offer. 

SOME products at this year's Interforst were so new, they've barely had a chance to leave an internet footprint. Posch's new firewood processing behemoth very much falls into that category. 

But don't let that fool you.

The SpaltFix K-710 a-Vario was one of a number of offerings on the firm's stand that impressed, drawing in large crowds for regular demonstrations across all four days of the German exhibition. 

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Set to be the largest in Posch's firewood processing line-up, it can cut logs of up to 70cm in diameter (five cm more than the K-650 Vario) and is fully automatic, taking just one push of a button from start to finish. 

Erwin Reiter, of Posch, said: "This is cutting and splitting, fully automatically. It's operated via radio-control. You only have to push one button and the machine works. 

"The reaction is very, very good. You reduce the time needed to operate the machine side of the process.

"You only need one person to work the whole machine. It's a very good time saver.

"Logs can have a diameter of 20cm up to 70cm. The log lengths can be up to six metres. It is variable from four to 10 cm. 

"It produces log lengths of 20cm to 50cm. You can adjust it directly on the computer touchscreen. 

Forestry Journal: The Posch stand had plenty to show off (credit: Interforst)The Posch stand had plenty to show off (credit: Interforst)

"It can very quickly go through a large volume of logs. That's the goal." 

Like most products on show at Interforst, the K-710 a-Vario has been inspired by demand for more automation in forestry. This, most agree, has been brought on by factors, such as the increasing importance of the sector and a shrinking workforce. 

"We started some years ago," Erwin added. "Now we have the inspiration and it's much more common (for people to demand) a fully automatic machine."