Modern Machinery - 84th Oregon Logging Conference

Modern Machinery showcases a wide array of forestry machines at the 84th Oregon Logging Conference

Modern Machinery displayed a variety of forestry machines and occupied one of the largest exhibit spaces at the recent Oregon Logging Conference (OLC), which returned to the Lane County Events Center and Fairgrounds in Eugene after a one-year hiatus.

“The OLC is a great event that draws attendance from all over North America and the world most years,” said Jason Vaughn, Oregon regional manager for Modern Machinery. “It’s been a terrific venue for showcasing the broad offerings from Komatsu Forest and other Modern Machinery partners in the industry. We had a good deal of traffic through our display, and most of the contractors and landowners we talked to were optimistic about business in 2022.”

The equipment display had several pieces of Komatsu equipment, including a PC290LL-11 log loader. The 89,000-pound-plus machine has a 40-foot live heel logging boom and arm, and nearly 76,000 foot-pounds of swing torque.

Modern Machinery spotlighted the Falcon Forestry Equipment (FFE) steep-slope, winch-assist machine set up on a Komatsu PC290LC-11 and an FFE Falcon Claw 1750 motorized grapple carriage for semi-automated cable yarder logging.

Modern Machinery also showcased a Komatsu WA600LL-8 wheel loader with a grapple attachment that can be used for carrying bundles of logs in mill yards. Large-capacity steering, lift and boom cylinders assist in handling those heavy loads.

Additional Komatsu machines included a GD655-7 motor grader, which is useful for road building, and a PC35MR-5 tight tail swing excavator that can be used in a variety of applications.

The equipment display also featured a TimberPro (a Komatsu-owned company) TL755D West Coast Edition shovel logger. It carries a large saw head for cutting large-diameter stems, and it has an oversized boom cylinder for great lift capacity. The shovel logger has a larger lower structure and track frames for greater stability on steep slopes as well.

Falcon featured

Modern Machinery spotlighted the Falcon Forestry Equipment (FFE) steep-slope, winch-assist machine set up on a Komatsu PC290LC-11. The winch assist is designed for constant tension and attaches to a log loader, feller buncher, harvester or skidder to allow those machines to work on steep slopes, where it could be too dangerous to operate without a cable assist.

Modern Machinery showcased a variety of equipment, including a Komatsu PC290LL-11 log loader. The 89,000-pound-plus PC290LL-11 has a 40-foot live heel logging boom and arm, and nearly 76,000 foot pounds of swing torque.

An FFE Falcon Claw 1750 motorized grapple carriage for semi-automated cable yarder logging was exhibited. It gives timber companies the ability to handle tree-length stems without the aid of people on the ground, which keeps workers out of harm’s way and improves safety in cable logging applications.

Madill, Peterson Pacific

A Madill 4000 log loader and a Peterson Pacific 5710D horizontal grinder were also in Modern Machinery’s exhibit space. The 388-horsepower Madill 4000 has a robust undercarriage for great stability, large components such as 30-inch double grousers and nine excavator rollers per side, as well as ski-type rock guards. A closed-loop, energy-recovery system swing drive powers the loader’s multifunction capability with no slowdown.

Peterson Pacific’s 88,500-pound tracked 5710D is designed for high-volume producers with demanding end-product specifications, as well as for frequent moves between jobs. Users can choose from a standard 1,050-horsepower engine or an optional 1,125-horsepower engine that provides a high power to weight ratio. It has a 60-by-40-inch feed opening and can handle a wide range of materials, including stumps.

“We felt like the OLC was a great success this year, especially considering the conference had to be cancelled last year due to COVID,” said Vaughn. “Oftentimes, when an event like this gets postponed or cancelled, it is difficult to regain 100% participation in the following years. Despite the challenges, attendance was only off by 8% from the previous conference, which was one of the largest in history. We are already looking forward to next year’s show.”

The next OLC is scheduled for February 23-25, 2023, at the Lane County Events Center and Fairgrounds in Eugene. ■