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Have you ever searched for a chainsaw, fuel, or a wrench deep in the forest, while work was on hold?
Every minute counts – that’s why order in forestry is so important.

Here comes the solution from Slovenia – LANCMAN XTBOX 1300, a robust and well-designed forestry container that transforms on-site work.

Order and efficiency
XTBOX 1300 is built for professionals who value organization and speed.
Chainsaws, fuel, tools, safety gear – everything in its place. An organized workspace means higher efficiency, fewer injuries, and no lost tools.

»From chainsaws to first aid – everything in its place.«

Adaptable in all conditions

• Free-standing use – set it anywhere.

• Trolley transport – quick movement between sites.

• Mounted on tractor – easy access deep in the forest.

Available in two sizes – XTBOX 1200 and 1300, in Standard, PLUS, and PRO versions.

Strength and durability
Made of high-quality steel, weather-protected, it withstands the toughest conditions. Every detail – hinges, locks, internal holders – designed for long-term professional use.

»A steel container built to resist shocks, moisture, and dust.«

Made in Slovenia

GOMARK d.o.o. from Vransko, manufacturer of the LANCMAN brand, renowned for reliable and high-quality forestry and orchard machinery. XTBOX 1300 is the result of Slovenian expertise, years of experience, and close cooperation with users.

Preparing firewood is part of everyday life in many households.

Although the axe is still in many people’s hands, truly efficient and safe work today is done with the help of a log splitter. It saves time, physical effort, and ensures that the wood is evenly split and ready for drying and burning.

But when it comes to buying, the question arises: which log splitter is right for home use? Below, we’ll look at the types of splitters, key factors when choosing, and practical tips to make your decision easier.

Types of log splitters for home and professional use

Log splitters can generally be divided according to the power source and the way they operate.

Electric log splitters

• Advantages: easy to use, quiet, suitable for work around the house or in the garage. They do not require additional fuel, just a power outlet.
• Disadvantages: limited power and tonnage – suitable for smaller amounts of firewood (up to 10 m³ per season).

Tractor-powered (hydraulic) log splitters

• Advantages: powered by a tractor via PTO, which means high performance and reliability. Ideal for larger farms and for those who prepare large amounts of firewood.
• Disadvantages: require a tractor, so they are not suitable for every household.

Petrol log splitters

• Advantages: mobile, as they are not tied to electricity. Suitable for work in the forest or in the field.
• Disadvantages: noisier and require fuel as well as regular engine maintenance.

Vertical or horizontal splitter?

In addition to the power source, the orientation of the splitter is also important:

• Vertical splitters: allow splitting larger, thicker logs and are more suitable for larger amounts of firewood. Work is often faster because the log is placed directly on the base.
• Horizontal splitters: an additional advantage is that they can split wood with a 4-way or even 6-way wedge, allowing logs to be divided into multiple pieces at once. This greatly speeds up preparation and reduces the need for additional handling when stacking.

The choice therefore mainly depends on the size of the wood and the frequency of use.

How many tons of splitting force do I need?

In the technical specifications of the splitter, you will always find a value for splitting force in tons. This is one of the key values that tells you what size log the machine can split.

• 7–9 tons of force – sufficient for logs up to 50 cm in length and 35 cm in diameter.
• 10–13 tons of force – suitable for most households, as it can also handle harder wood (beech, oak) up to 1 m in length and 50 cm in diameter.
• 17+ tons of force – intended for demanding users and large farms that split large amounts of firewood, including the hardest wood, logs up to 115 cm in length and with larger diameters.

👉 If you are not sure, always choose a slightly stronger splitter – the work will be easier and faster.

What to pay attention to when choosing a splitter

When buying a log splitter, don’t just look at the price. The following factors are important:

• Log length – check how many cm of length the splitter can accept.
• Mobility – if you split only in the yard, a stationary electric model (quiet operation) is sufficient. If you also split in the forest, choose a petrol or tractor splitter.
• Safety standards – the machine must be equipped with a CE certificate and safety handles for two-handed operation.
• Maintenance – regular checking of oil and hydraulics ensures a long service life.
• Ergonomics – vertical models require less bending and are therefore better for your back.

Log length – 1 meter or shorter logs?

When choosing a splitter and preparing firewood, another important question arises: should you split logs in 1-meter lengths or prepare them as shorter logs?

1-meter logs

• very suitable for drying, as there is more air between the logs and moisture evaporates faster,
• easier to stack into airy and stable piles,
• can also be stacked into bales, which allows better stock control and easier handling with machinery (e.g., a front loader),
• after drying, they can be cut into shorter logs to fit your stove or fireplace.

• Shorter logs (e.g., 25–50 cm)

  • suitable for immediate use in smaller stoves and fireplaces,
  • harder to stack neatly, therefore they dry less effectively and can retain more moisture,
  • require more storage space, as they cannot be stacked as tightly and as high as meter-long logs.

  👉 Practical tip: the most efficient way is to split wood into 1-meter lengths, dry them well, and then cut them into shorter logs according to your needs. This way, you get high-quality, dry, and good-burning firewood.

Why it is important that firewood is dry

Regardless of log length, it is crucial that the wood is well dried:

• Better combustion efficiency – dry wood has higher energy value → more heat from smaller amounts. Wet wood uses part of the energy just to evaporate water.
• Lower emissions – wet wood produces more smoke, increases air pollution, and burdens the chimney.
• Longer stove lifespan – soot and tar reduce efficiency and can damage the firebox.
• Faster and cleaner burning – dry wood ignites more easily, burns more steadily and cleanly.

👉 Recommended firewood moisture for burning is below 20 %, ideally 15–18 %.

Practical tip: wood should dry for at least 1–2 years in a well-ventilated space, raised off the ground and protected from precipitation. The best is to stack them into airy piles or bales.

Recommendations based on firewood volume

• Smaller households (up to 5 m³ per season): electric splitter 7–9 t, vertical model.
• Medium households (10–15 m³ per season): electric/vertical splitter with 10–12 t force.
• Larger farms (20+ m³ per season): tractor or petrol splitter with 16+ t force.

Safety when working with a log splitter

Regardless of the model, safety is always the top priority. A few basic rules:

• wear safety glasses and gloves,
• place the machine on a stable and level surface,
• never reach into the wedge area while the machine is running,
• regularly check hydraulics and oil,
• children should not be present in the working area.

Conclusion

Choosing the right log splitter depends on your needs, the amount of firewood, and the conditions where you work.

• If you split only a few cubic meters a year → a light electric model is sufficient.
• If you prepare larger amounts of firewood → it pays to invest in a more powerful tractor or petrol splitter.

👉 Check out the full range of LANCMAN log splitters and choose the model that will make your work easier and safer.

The way you stack and store firewood is more important than you think.

If you have a wood stove, it’s not enough to choose the right logs – how you store them matters. Improper storage can cause many problems: wood can become moldy, attract insects, and most of all – wet wood burns poorly and pollutes the air.

For clean and efficient burning, logs should have less than 20% moisture, which means they must be stored in a dry, ventilated, and organized space.

Why is proper storage so important?

• Poor burning: wet wood produces less heat, more smoke, and more harmful emissions.
• Mold and pests: disorganized piles attract insects and fungi.
• Shorter lifespan: improperly stored wood deteriorates faster.

Most common mistakes

• wood left in a large unventilated pile,
• stacking directly on the ground,
• storing large amounts indoors without airflow.

Proper stacking

• Ventilation: always leave space for air circulation.
• Base: stack wood on pallets or a raised platform.
• Protection: best solution is a shelter or woodshed; tarps should only cover the top.
• Location: outdoors, about 20 m from the house; if near a wall, don’t let wood touch it.

Log length and baling

1-meter logs are best for drying and can be packed into bales. This allows:

• better drying,
• easier stock control,
• simpler handling with loaders,
• less work later.

Shorter logs are convenient but harder to dry evenly.

Should wood be covered?

Let wood dry uncovered at first so excess moisture evaporates. Later protect from rain and snow with a light shelter or tarp that still allows air circulation.

Indoor storage

Avoid storing large amounts in garages or basements – risk of pests and poor airflow. Only bring inside the amount you need for daily use.

Practical tip: use older logs first

Follow rotation: older logs on top, newer ones below. This way, you always burn the driest wood first.

Conclusion

Proper storage ensures firewood stays dry, clean, and ready for efficient burning.
➡️ Baling firewood is a modern, practical solution that improves drying, gives better oversight, and makes handling easier.
➡️ With just a few steps, you’ll achieve more heat, less consumption, and cleaner heating.

Introduction

Water presses are a simple and reliable solution for processing fruit into juice, must, or wine – without the use of electricity. They operate on the basis of water pressure, which presses the fruit mass against a perforated basket via a membrane and extracts the juice. With proper use, you achieve higher yield, better taste, and easier cleaning after the process.

Procedure for using the water press

Fruit preparation
Fruit (e.g. apples, pears, vegetables, or grapes) must first be crushed in a LANCMAN mill to obtain a uniform mass. Such prepared mass ensures that the membrane presses evenly and that the maximum amount of juice is extracted.

Filling the basket

• Line the basket of the press with a filter bag if clearer juice or wine filtration is desired.
• Pour the crushed mass into the basket.
• The mass should be evenly distributed so that the pressure is applied correctly.

Starting the pressing

• Connect the press to the water supply network.
• The membrane begins to fill with water and presses the fruit mass against the perforated basket.
• The required pressure is between 3 and 4 bar (depending on the model).
• The juice begins to flow through the outlet into the collection container.

Finishing the process

• When the juice flow has finished, close the water supply and release the membrane.
• Remove the remains of the fruit mass (pomace) – in VSPX and VSPIX models with a tilting trolley, emptying is particularly easy.

Advantages of using the water press

• Simple operation – no electricity, just connect to the water supply.
• High efficiency – the even pressure of the membrane extracts the maximum amount of juice.
• Multi-purpose use – suitable for apples, pears, vegetables, and grapes; with a filter bag also for wine filtration and pressing pomace.
• Hygienic stainless steel construction – easy cleaning and long service life.
• Ergonomic design – models with tilting trolleys allow quick and safe emptying.

Tips for optimal use

• Use a LANCMAN crusher or mill to prepare the mass – this increases the yield.
• Before each use, check the pressure regulator, which ensures safe and automatic operation.
• If preparing wine, we recommend using a filter bag for better clarity and pomace separation.
• After each use, rinse the press with water and clean the stainless steel surfaces for a long service life.

Versions of LANCMAN water presses

LANCMAN water presses are available in three versions:

• VSX – models on a fixed stand with 3 legs. Stable construction, suitable for home and semi-professional use.
• VSPX – models on a trolley with tilting, made of painted steel construction (red). They allow easier movement and simple emptying after pressing.
• VSPIX – models on a trolley with tilting made of stainless steel (inox). Completely hygienic and robust design, ideal also for winemakers and more demanding users.

All versions have a built-in pressure regulator for automatic operation and are designed for long service life and easy cleaning.

Conclusion

LANCMAN water presses combine ease of use, efficiency, and durable construction. Due to their design, they are suitable for home fruit growers, winemakers, and small farms that want to produce high-quality juice, must, or wine from seasonal fruit and grapes. In combination with a LANCMAN fruit mill, they represent a complete system for fruit preparation from start to finished product.

Introduction

In the processing of apples into juice or must, the first step is the quality preparation of the mash for pressing. The LANCMAN MI2100 fruit mill is designed precisely for this task – it quickly, evenly, and efficiently grinds apples into a homogeneous mash, ideal for further pressing in water presses.

Why use the MI2100 apple mill?

• Correct mash structure – crushed apples are pressed evenly, ensuring a higher juice yield.
• Powerful motor (400 V / 2.2 kW) – allows fast grinding of larger quantities of apples.
• Stainless steel construction – hygienic, durable, and easy to clean.
• Special motor placement with belt drive – the motor is positioned so that it is completely protected from contact with apple juice. In conventional mills, juice can start to run towards the motor after a few years, but in the MI2100 this is prevented by the belt drive, which both protects the motor and extends its service life.
• Easy operation and maintenance – smooth surfaces allow quick washing after use.

How does the apple milling process work?

1. Clean the apples before milling.
2. Pour the fruit into the hopper of the MI2100 mill.
3. The built-in knives crush the apples into a fine, even mash.
4. The mash is immediately ready for pressing in LANCMAN water presses.

Apples prepared in this way provide higher yield and better juice quality.

The ideal combination – mill + water press

The MI2100 mill is designed as the ideal partner for LANCMAN water presses. Properly milled mash is pressed evenly in the press, which means more juice, easier emptying, and shorter processing time.

Conclusion

If you want to extract as much juice as possible from apples while saving time, the LANCMAN MI2100 mill is the right choice. Its robust stainless steel design, powerful motor, and smart placement with belt drive, which protects the motor from contact with juice, make it indispensable for every autumn apple processing.