A robotic, intelligent and connected forestry crane wins first prize at the Galiforest Abanca 2026 Innovation Contest

A robotic, intelligent and connected forestry crane by Industrias Guerra won first prize in the Technological Innovation Contest of Galiforest Abanca 2026, the forestry fair held on the woodland of the Sergude Agricultural Training and Experimentation Centre (Boqueixón), organised by the Feira Internacional de Galicia ABANCA with the support of the Xunta de Galicia. The crane belongs to the DIGI4FOREST project, which develops comprehensive digitalisation, intelligent monitoring, advanced robotisation and connectivity for forestry cranes in response to the sector's heavy dependence on skilled operators, high accident rates and poor connectivity, applying cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things and advanced data analytics in line with Industry 4.0 objectives. Three special mentions were awarded: to AGACAL's project upcycling eucalyptus bark as a growing substrate to replace peat amid tightening regulatory limits; to Guifor Noroeste's IHC intelligent processor-head control, which automates the pressure of delimbing knives for better wood quality and fuel savings; and to Forest Pioneer's FPlink system, which connects cab and office for full fleet monitoring, real consumption control and fault anticipation. The awards, contested by eighteen innovations, were presented by Alfredo Fernández, director general of forestry agency XERA; Boqueixón councillor José Luis Mareque; and venue director Ricardo Durán. A jury of nine experts from research centres, universities and sector associations assessed the entries.