Suzano tests remote forestry harvesting technology in Brazil

Suzano has successfully completed the first phase of a forestry harvesting teleoperation project in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul. In partnership with Komatsu and S4E Tech, the company demonstrated the ability to operate a harvester remotely from a forest control tower.

During the tests, the machine harvested 12,000 trees across an area equivalent to 12 football fields. The technology allows operators to command equipment from up to 350 kilometers away from the actual work site, eliminating the need for long commutes to remote harvesting fronts. While the machine is not autonomous, the human operator remains in control from a centralized, more comfortable, and safer environment.

This initiative aims to improve worker safety and quality of life by reducing exposure to field risks and travel time. The project marks the first time a harvester has been teleoperated in an operational environment within the Brazilian forestry sector.