PRODUKTIVITAS PEMUATAN KAYU MENGGUNAKAN EXCAVATOR GRAPPLE DI HUTAN TANAMAN INDUSTRI

Productivity of Wood Loading Using Excavator Grapple in Industrial Plantation Forest

Abstract

Timber loading is a crucial step in the industrial forest plantation harvesting chain because delays may affect subsequent harvesting activities. This study aimed to analyze loading techniques, working time, and productivity of timber loading using a grapple excavator in mineral and peatland ecosystems of PT Arara Abadi Industrial Plantation (HTI), Riau Province. A video-based stopwatch time study was conducted with 30 observation cycles per ecosystem. Results showed that loading techniques in mineral land were supported by stable ground conditions, enabling faster movement and smaller swing angles. In contrast, peatland operations required more cautious movements due to low soil bearing capacity and the presence of separation canals. The average cycle time in mineral land was 18.36 minutes with a working efficiency of 90.87%, while peatland required 30.71 minutes with an efficiency of 91.42%. Volumetric productivity reached 109.02 m³/hour in mineral land and 60.26 m³/hour in peatland. The difference was statistically significant based on the Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.001) with a very large effect size (r = 0.984). Lower peatland productivity was associated with longer wood releasing and arranging duration (11.26 minutes/cycle), which was influenced by the less uniform morphology of Acacia crassicarpa logs and unstable peat conditions. Multiple linear regression indicated that the wood releasing and arranging element had the strongest partial relationship with productivity (β = −0.626; p < 0.001), with the model explaining 87.4% of productivity variation (R² = 0.874).