Shortage of skilled workers in forestry work: technology ensures less strain

Holz Hoh, operated by one person, relies on a battery-powered pump tube for maintenance work

Holz Hoh, operated by one person, relies on a battery-powered pump tube for maintenance work

Maintenance work on forestry machinery not only takes time, but often puts strain on the hands, arms, and back. This is why the Holz Hoh forestry company uses a battery-powered filling system that delivers grease to central lubrication systems with hardly any effort.

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, approximately 39.3% of workers in agriculture and forestry are over the age of 55. As the baby boomers reach retirement age, many skilled workers will be retiring in the coming years. Replacing them is not easy. Many forestry operations are reporting increasing difficulties in recruiting new workers, while the workload is rising.

“This makes technical solutions all the more important for reducing the workload on the remaining staff,” says Andreas Rössler, sales manager at Lutz Pumpen. “That was one of the reasons we developed the Lube Drive, the world’s first eccentric screw pump that can be powered by a standard cordless screwdriver.”

The past: emptying 400 g cartridges laboriously by hand
For forestry operations, regularly refilling the central lubrication systems of vehicles and machinery—such as automatic sawing and splitting machines, skidders, harvesters, forwarders, and tractors with forestry attachments—is part of the daily routine. Many companies are still using manual grease guns. The problem: After weeks of repeated use, these devices can cause strain on the hands, wrists, and forearms.

This is also confirmed by Pascal Hoh, who, through his one-man business Holz Hoh based in Altfeld, Bavaria, supplies people with firewood from the forests of the Spessart. “Every time, we had to use a manual grease gun to empty several 400 g cartridges in order to fill the central lubrication system of the automatic sawing and splitting machine with grease. That was really hard work,” says the 35-year-old.

Today: Just grab your cordless screwdriver
At first, Pascal Hoh considered pneumatic piston pumps that are operated with compressed air. They would have reduced the effort required, but would have been too inflexible, since not all machines and vehicles have a compressed air connection. That is why the 35-year-old chose the Lube Drive filling tool from Lutz Pumpen.

To fill, Pascal Hoh drives the vehicle up to the tank and connects the hose to the central lubrication system. He then attaches a cordless screwdriver to the pump and uses it to feed up to two kilograms of thick grease into the system per minute with minimal effort.

“Since we started using the Lube Drive, maintenance work has become significantly more ergonomic,” says Hoh. “By simply connecting the pump to a cordless screwdriver, the strain on your hands, arms, and back is noticeably reduced, while at the same time speeding up the entire filling process.”

About Lutz Holding GmbH
Lutz Holding GmbH has been a leader in professional fluid management since 1954. The group of companies includes organizations active internationally in pump technology, water treatment, and disinfection, and has a global presence with 16 sales and production sites in over 80 countries. The group includes Lutz Pumpen GmbH in Wertheim, Lutz-Jesco GmbH in Wedemark, and Lutz-Jesco Suisse SA in Couvet, Switzerland. The portfolio includes pumps, systems, and accessories for dosing, pumping, emptying, and mixing processes for a wide range of fluids. Lutz Group products are used in numerous sectors, including the chemical industry, food industry, automotive production, water and wastewater treatment, and the paint and coatings industry.