Over the past few years, with mounting environmental legislation, there has been a drive by landowners and management companies to encourage the use of Biodegradable Oil as a cutting lubricant in chainsaws and harvesters due to the high volumes of mineral-based oils that were being used.

FCA Director and harvesting contractor, Martin Henderson, who operates in the South East of England, has looked for some time for a suitable biodegradable lubricant for his operations. The work with his harvesting operation concentrates solely on the production of hardwood chip for use in the St Regis board mill. The cutting of hardwoods obviously means that the bar and chain are running at a much higher temperature and, without a lubricant suited to these extremes, high bar, tip and chain wear occurs obviously resulting in higher running costs for the equipment. At the IFF show held at Lockerbie in September 2002, Martin met a lubricant producer who thought they could provide the necessary solution.