MACHINERY
Andrew Smith, Forestry Lecturer at Scottish School of Forestry, UHI
Mini/Midi Forwarders C
oming from a contracting area which was overflowing with Valmet/Komatsu 860s and Timberjack/John Deere 1710s anything smaller was often deemed a toy. Indeed, up here, the ambiguous 820 and 810 which were synonymous with the thinning squads were often referred to as the “puddle hopper” due to their relatively small size and light weight. The introduction of the first of the low impact forwarders was greeted with much suspicion and derision, certainly locally, and I would include myself in that group. However, age and an open mind tell me that there is absolutely a place for them in the UK forest industry. Not only have these machines stood the test of time but they have been further developed and indeed other manufacturers have come to the fore. Even loaded, many of them will still be lighter than the aforementioned 820/810 unladen! They will never compete with a conventional forwarder in terms of output, but then that is not the intention. Imagine a busy bee, back and fore to the
CONFOR.ORG.UK
hive, and that is what you have with a low impact forwarder. Small roundwood prices continue to increase and landowners are cashing in on small blocks with poor timber quality. Typically, shelterbelts etc which may have poor access and are being felled motor manually, or the removal of non-native conifers from environmentally sensitive areas. Using a conventional forwarder may well be uneconomical, especially when low loader shifts are factored in, given the volume of timber; it may also be environmentally damaging; and put simply, it may not be the best machine for the job. Not only will a low impact forwarder have minimal impact on the site, but they can be relatively easy to transport to site, indeed even for a day’s work, with some able to be moved using a pick-up and trailer. Horses for courses, as they say. The following are examples of the types of products that are currently available on the UK market. This does not include ATV equipment, but self-powered equipment only.
ALSTOR One of the better known brands in the low impact forwarder market, the Alstor range comprises of four models the 810; the 821; the 833 and the 840 Pro. Both cabbed and open station models are available. All four models are 8-wheeled with all wheels being driven. Load capacity ranges from 2000kgs on the 810, 2500kgs on the 821/833 and 3000kgs on the 840 pro. The 840 pro features a hydrostatic transmission, similar to those found in other ‘full size’ forwarders, whereas the smaller models all feature a variator transmission comprising of three forward gears and one reverse. Crane reach on the three smaller models is 3.5m with a lift capacity of 350kg at full reach. Other crane options are available too. The 840 pro is equipped with a 4.98m extension crane with 300kg lift capacity at maximum reach. Stability on all models is provided by stabiliser legs which should be lowered when operating the crane. Various options are available for the Alstor range including engines – petrol >>
FORESTRY & TIMBER NEWS • August 2021 49
