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HARVESTER & FORWARDER ROUND-UP 23/08/2018 15:59
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EDITOR Graham Black editor@earthmoversmagazine.co.uk EDITOR Peter Skilton peter@farmmachineryjournal.co.uk ART DIRECTOR David ‘Spike’ McCormack RETOUCHER Linda Duong ADVERTISEMENT SALES Clive Coe 020 8639 4402 ADMINISTRATOR Martin Attis 020 8639 4409 PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Paul Cosgrove 020 8639 4401 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Eoghan Daly, Graeme Kirk, Nick Drew, Paul Argent, Paul Carter, Stuart Gibbard Forestry Machinery is published by Sundial Magazines Ltd, Sundial House, 17 Wickham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 5JS TEL 020 8639 4400 FAX 020 8639 4411 EMAIL info@forestrymachinerymagazine.co.uk WEB www.forestrymachinerymagazine.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Earthmovers subscriptions, Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, Wethersfield, Essex, CM7 4AY TEL +44 (0)1371 853632 EMAIL earthmovers@escosubs.co.uk Farm Machinery Journal subscriptions, Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, Wethersfield, Essex, CM7 4AY TEL +44 (0)1371 853634 EMAIL farmmachineryjournal@escosubs.co.uk NEWSTRADE Seymour Distribution, 2 East Poultry Avenue London, EC1A 9PT TEL 020 7429 4000 REPRO Design & Printing Solutions Ltd, The Coach House 101 Northwood Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 2HE TEL 01227 770034 PRINTING GD Web Offset Ltd, Brookfields Way, Manvers, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, South Yorks, S63 5DL COPYRIGHT Sundial Magazines Ltd 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. Sundial Magazines Ltd. Registered in England no. 4134490. CONDITIONS FOR ADVERTISING All advertisements are accepted subject to the publisher’s standard conditions of insertion. For a copy of advertising terms & conditions, please write to Paul Cosgrove at Sundial Magazines Ltd, Sundial House, 17 Wickham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 5JS
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Autumn 2018 Issue 1
1470G TACKLE GRUELLING TIMBER OPERATIONS?
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APF 18 SHOW PREVIEW
one as of
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COVER IMAGE Eoghan Daly
HIGH-SPEC AHWI MULCHER AT WORK
HARVESTER & FORWARDER ROUND-UP
WELCOME
to Forestry Machinery, the magazine dedicated to modern forestry equipment. Readers of Earthmovers and Farm Machinery Journal frequently cross paths, for example many will undertake forest management projects. In addition, most will not only have a professional interest in off-road machinery, but a real passion for the subject. This special edition of Forestry Machinery magazine, available free with both magazines, provides a snapshot of the specialist kit working in the sector across the UK and Ireland, two areas in the world that arguably require some of the most highly specified kit to tackle the demanding environments, tough terrain and growing time constraints of this rigorous industry. From preparing the ground for planting to rehandling pulpwood, all stages in the long lifecycle of a commercially grown tree require the use of some very serious machines. It’s farming on a grand scale using construction sized vehicles, operated by some of the most skilled individuals in the business, often in very challenging conditions. With each site visit, product launch and technical briefing, Forestry Machinery magazine delivers in-depth coverage, expert advice and operator verdicts to help inform and guide each owner and operator on the machinery decisions to get the best from their operation. The machinery industry continues to develop at pace and this year’s APF show is set to reveal yet more revolutionary kit, but rest assured we’ll be keeping on top of all the latest launches and putting cutting-edge kit through its paces with the aid of some very experienced operators. After all, it’s only from inside the cab of these machines that you can really get a feel for just how capable they are. Graham Black & Peter Skilton
THE MAG AZIN
September 2018
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CONTENTS
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CONTENTS AUTUMN 2018
REGULARS 3
WELCOME!
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NEWS
A round-up of the latest news from the forestry and associated machinery industry.
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FORESTRY PHOTOS
The Editor’s comments focus on the leading highlights contained in this special issue.
Send us your interesting or unusual pictures of forestry machinery to see them printed here!
FEATURES 11
NEW PRODUCTS FORWARDERS & HARVESTERS
A round-up of the latest forestry forwarders and harvesters that have been recently launched in the market
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EVENT PREVIEW APF SHOW 2018
When, where, and what to see at the leading British forestry show, scheduled to take place in Warwickshire from 20-22 September.
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GROUND PREPARATION AHWI MULCHER
Forestry Machinery went to see this heavy-duty tracked mulcher being used to prepare land for planting on a country estate in Essex.
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RUNNING REPORT IRISH HARVESTING
Operators give their verdicts on four timber harvesters working in Ireland, including EcoLog, John Deere, Komatsu and Ponsse.
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CONVERTED EXCAVATOR VOLVO EC140
A leading UK owner-operator shows us around his customised forestry-spec excavator.
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WINCHING SYSTEMS ECOFORST T-WINCH
We report on the use of a T-Winch on a tricky project in Scotland.
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SITE VISIT TOTTENHAM TIMBER
The developing trend of exporting Irish pulpwood to mainland UK.
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CLASSIC FORESTRY TIMBER SKIDDER
Roadless Logmaster was the world’s first fully hydrostatic timber skidder.
p43 p17
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FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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NEWS
FORESTRYMACHINERYNEWS
HELLGETH CHOOSES MTU ENGINES FOR ITS NEW TIMBER HARVESTER
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olls Royce and specialist vehicle manufacturer Hellgeth are collaborating for the first time on the supply of MTU engines for its new timber harvester. The innovative TC624 tracked vehicle will be powered by the four-cylinder Series 1000/OM934 engines. The articulated timber harvester from the German manufacturer is fitted with rubber wetland-compatible tracked drives, which go
particularly easy on the forest floor. The Hellgeth TC624 has a full-suspension, adaptable drive system able to spread loads evenly on uneven terrain and avoid damaging the ground surface. The combination of the MTU engine, a power-split transmission and a fullsuspension chassis is said to enable a 40kph top speed, much higher than conventional machines both on- and off-road.
SUBSIDISED SCHOOL VISITS HELP HIGHLIGHT FORESTRY CAREERS The organisers of APF 2018 have offered funding to schools that want to arrange educational visits to the event, which is the UK’s largest forestry, woodland, trees and timber exhibition. The funding is intended to encourage schools to attend and learn about everything that happens in a modern working woodland. “This is the 22nd staging of the show, and we have always been very keen to attract schools to come along,” exhibition secretary Ian Millward said. “We recognise that school budgets are tight so we are offering the first 20 schools that apply £300 to cover their transport costs.”
The MTU engines used on the Hellgeth offer 235hp and meet the EU’s Stage V emissions limits. The power units are known for their low fuel consumption while delivering high levels of torque, making them highly suitable for use in forested areas. Thanks to all these characteristics, the TC624 should be able to open up poorly accessible areas that are out of bounds to wheeled vehicles.
JCB ON TRACK WITH TELESKID A tracked version of the innovative Teleskid has been introduced by JCB, making it ideal for loading and rehandling tasks in forestry. The Teleskid combines the benefits of a compact tracked loader with the telescopic boom of a telehandler. The tracked machine can lift 5.7 tonnes, 1.3 tonnes more than its wheeled equivalent. The maximum lift height is 3.8m. Power comes from a 4.4-litre JCB EcoMAX engine developing 74hp. The hydraulics system generates 90 litres per minute of oil flow as standard, with the option of a high-flow system that takes this to 125 litres. The hydrostatic drive gives a top speed of 12.6kph, running on 450mm-wide rubber tracks.
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NEWS
NOKIAN UNVEILS NEW FORESTRY TYRES Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian has launched a complete range of new tyres, including a revolutionary new tractor tyre, the Nokian Tractor King. The demands of modern forestry have grown while machine weights, power and road speeds have all increased, resulting in the Tractor King, which was designed to offer forestry operators a tyre that combines ‘supreme traction with premium on-road qualities’, say Nokian. The Tractor King features an all-new tread pattern and a fortified carcass, neither of which are said to have impacted on the comfort of the tyre while giving the ability to travel at up to 65kph. Other attributes touted by Nokian include the tyre’s durability and wear resistance. Sizes vary to fit rims from 28 to 42 inches.
SPALDINGS TO SELL PFANZELT WINCHES
U
K and Irish operators looking for a tractor-mounted logging winch can now buy the German-made Pfanzelt winches through dealer Spaldings. The Pfanzelt S-Line and Profi tractor-mounted geared cable winches are designed for extracting timber from awkward felling locations and skidding out of woodland to a trackside loading point. The S-Line single drum models come in three sizes with 5t, 6t and 7.2t of pulling power, while the eight single- and twin-drum models in the Profi range span 7.2t to 10.2t single drum and 6t to 8.5t double drum. Prices start at £7700 for a 5t Pfanzelt S-Line winch and £20,850 for an 8.6t Profi single-drum model.
STIHL LAUNCHES NEW CHAINSAW The new MSA 161 T battery-powered chainsaw from Stihl is now available. The model is an evolution of the MSA 160 T and has a more powerful motor and higher chain speed. It also has a new trigger mechanism for safer working. The saw uses the company’s existing range of AP batteries. The saw is so quiet you won’t need to wear ear defenders, which also helps keep disturbance to a minimum in noisesensitive areas.
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RIKO SHOWS LATEST BANDSAW SAWMILL Riko has more than 30 years of experience building and manufacturing bandsaw sawmills in Europe. These professional units can be used for converting timber/logs into planks, beams, battens, slab wood and so on. The company’s latest petrolpowered models start from 9hp upwards, or there are electric-powered options starting at 4kW. Even the smallest models can deal with timber of 66cm diameter and a log length of 3.5m. Both static and UK IVAapproved road towable versions are available. Riko says milling timber destined for firewood can be very profitable. A 36cm-diameter piece of felled timber 3.0m long equates to approximately 0.31 cubic metres. If it is sold as firewood, softwood logs would be worth up to £22, while hardwood logs could make up to £31. But the same piece of timber can be sawn into four 10cm x 10cm x 3.0m posts and two 25mm x 10cm x 3.0m boards worth up to £60 in softwood or £120 for hardwood. The company’s petrol-powered Riko M100 sawmill costs £3150 plus VAT.
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NEW PRODUCTS | FORWARDERS & HARVESTERS
SPOILT FOR CHOICE
Eoghan Daly reports on forestry forwarders and harvesters that have been recently launched
O
ver the past few years timberharvesting contractors in the UK & Ireland have become more willing to look outside their traditionally narrow brand choices, resulting in a far more varied range of machines in their fleets. One of the reasons for this is that for decades the design of many timberharvesting and extraction machines has been dominated by the requirements of the high-volume Scandinavian markets. More recently, manufacturers have refocused their R&D efforts, for example on eight-wheel drive systems, which are more likely to appeal to Irish and UK users working in more challenging conditions. In addition, manufacturers have developed application-specific expertise, based on unique machine design traits that set them apart from the competitors’ units. This results in a move away from specifying all-round machines that will provide a high level of flexibility throughout their service life, to machine selection based on the highest level of compatibility with the likely application.
“A CLEARANCE OF 670MM HAS ADDRESSED A LIMITATION OF THINNING HARVESTERS”
As a larger number of manufacturers actively target UK and Irish users with more complex machines, the need for world-class after-sales support has never been greater. This is true of any sector of the off-road vehicle market, but is crucial for forest machines due to their complexity and the costs associated with their repayment structure. This recent industry-wide focus on improving support services also helps to reduce the risk of investing in a machine with relatively low local sales volumes. The evolution of forestry machines continues at a fast pace, to satisfy an industry that demands the highest levels of performance and sophistication in what can be an extremely hostile working environment.
NEW SAMPO DEALER Sampo Rosenlew products have been introduced to the UK and Irish markets through the appointment of Northern Ireland-based dealer Oakleaf Forestry. Sampo has recently introduced the allnew FR28 forwarder and, perhaps more importantly, has taken over the
Left: Ponsse has introduced a frame levelling system for its larger eight-wheel forwarders and the Ergo harvester model failed Logman business that should ultimately give access to a more comprehensive range of harvesters. The initial focus within the UK & Ireland is to be the HR46X harvester, which is a lightweight four-wheel machine designed for thinnings operations. Despite its compact size, the machine has many large machine features, with no apparent compromise on build or component quality. For example, power comes from an Agco engine mated to a Rexroth hydraulic pump, which represents a significant enhancement over the previous model. The HR46X is fitted with a Kesla parallel crane with a reach of 7.1 metres. A variety of harvesting heads can be fitted, e.g. Kesla and Keto models are common choices. The HR46X’s measurement and control computer is from renowned producer Motomit. The machine has a fully hydrostatic transmission, a 50-degree turning angle and a width of between 2.1m and 2.4m depending on tyres. A ground clearance of 670mm has addressed a traditional limitation of small thinning harvesters.
FRAME LEVELLING The 2013 launch of Ponsse’s Scorpion harvester was a significant development in the industry, as some of the technology is now
The Sampo Rosenlew HR46X harvester is set to make its debut on the UK and Irish market through new dealer Oakleaf Forestry
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finding its way into other machines, none more so than frame levelling. The objective of the system is to keep the cab horizontal n a broad range of working situations, which will greatly enhance operator comfort and therefore productivity. Ponsse’s Active Frame linkage system is now available on a wide range of eight-wheel harvester and forwarder models. The Elephant and Elephant King forwarders benefit from six degrees of side levelling action, while the Ergo harvester and Buffalo forwarder feature seven degrees of movement.
“STATISTICS OF THIS TIMBER HARVESTING POWERHOUSE MAKE FOR IMPRESSIVE READING”
HUGE WHEELED HARVESTER Tigercat is known for its tracked harvesters and extreme duty forwarders, but in recent times has focused on developing its wheeled harvester line-up. The flagship is the 1185-8 model, which is currently the largest wheeled timber harvester in serial production. Production statistics of this timber-harvesting powerhouse certainly make for impressive reading, but few sites in the UK or Ireland would warrant such an extreme machine. However, a 1185-8 is currently working in Scotland, where its high capacity is making a significant impact despite the harsh operating conditions and challenging rough timber stands. It is fitted with a Logmax 7000C harvesting head, and the base machine easily copes with its high operational requirements and allows its use at the maximum extent of the 11m-reach crane. Its operating weight of 34 tonnes means such a machine certainly needs the reassurance of a well laid-out brash mat. However, its long-reach crane gives the 1185-8 a substantial working envelope. Equipped with dedicated pumps for the drive, head, crane and cooling functions, the big Tigercat employs a closed loop hydraulic system, which is favoured when such a machine is working on inclines. A range of innovations developed for Tigercat feature throughout the machine, including Wide Range, which is a dedicated drive system said to provide increased working travel speeds while delivering extreme tractive force. The crane is also a Tigercat signature feature as it employs technology that allows crane tip control via a single lever, making it easier to position the head for log stacking. Despite the crane being mounted on a common slew drive with the cab, its curved design provides the operator with an unobstructed view. The crane can be specified in standard or telescopic extension variants.
SMALL EIGHT-WHEEL HARVESTER Since the initial introduction of the eight-wheel Komatsu 931XC timber harvester, the market has been eager
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NEW PRODUCTS | FORWARDERS & HARVESTERS The largest production wheeled harvester in the world, a Tigercat 1185-8, is currently working in Scotland with a Logmax 7000C harvesting head
for a similar driveline to be available on a smaller model, particularly for thinning applications. This was achieved with the 2017 launch of the 901XC, the first examples of which has recently gone into service in the UK, together with the imminent delivery of a model to an Irish buyer. Even though eight-wheel variants obviously represent an increase in operating weight over six-wheel models, the addition of rear bogies has transformed the machine, particularly when it comes to harvesting in difficult conditions, which call for high stability and low ground pressure. In addition, the 901XC offers a tractive force of 181kN, compared with the six-wheeler’s 156kN. Komatsu has retained its three hydraulic pump system, which is powered by a 190kW engine. Two parallel crane options are available, and the 200H model offers 10m reach, while the 200HDT variant extends reach to 11m. Harvesting head options include the S82, S92, C93 and C124, the last choice not being available on the longer crane option. With the Autolev Advanced cab and crane levelling system and the additional terrain adaptability afforded by two swinging axle bogies, the 901XC should deliver a high level of operator comfort and practicality when operating over challenging terrain.
HYBRID TECHNOLOGY
Far left: The 901XC is a terrain friendly addition to the range of Komatsu harvesters, providing increased tractive force over its six-wheel counterpart Left: The Logset 12H GTE Hybrid model is the first machine to offer hybrid technology in a timber harvester
Traditional diesel-hydraulic drivelines have dominated forestry machine design for decades, but this may well change as Logset continues to push technology boundaries with the likes of its new 12H GTE Hybrid harvester. Its proven eight-wheel drive system is ideal for operation on steep or low weightbearing sites, but it is its power pack that separates this model from the rest. The Agco 7.4-litre engine is complemented by a high-capacity electric motor, and the combination reacts immediately to changing load conditions to deliver a maximum of 510hp and 2000Nm. It does so with the engine working in a narrow power band for excellent fuel economy and a longer working life. The diesel/electric system powers a pair of high capacity hydraulic pumps that derive the maximum performance from the harvester’s transmission, its Mesera 285H parallel motion crane and either a Logset TH75 or TH85 harvesting head. All these elements of the machine are governed by Logset’s TOC-MD2 control system. From a practical point of view, the Logset 12H GTE Hybrid offers a number of interesting design elements, such as tilting hydraulic tanks that allow much easier access to components that are often out of reach on conventional designs. FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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“THE 910G HAS MOVED WITH THE TIMES AND THE CRANE IS NOW ON THE REAR SECTION”
10-TONNE FORWARDER The 2017 Elmia Wood Show was used by John Deere as a launch pad for a significant number of new forest machines. However, since then a few more new models have broken cover, the highlight being the 10t capacity 910G forwarder. This size has been popular since the first 810 models were introduced in Forest Machine Group (FMG) livery, as replacements for the revolutionary FMG Bruunett 678. Based on this lineage, the market expects great things from the new 910G. Aesthetically the 910G reflects a new approach, spawned by BMW Design Works, which was set the challenge of refreshing the machine’s appearance. The result creates a visual impact, but also provides a high level of practicality. For example an opening side panel with a tilting upper panel provides good access to the engine. Among the other notable changes is the relocation of the diesel tank to the front of the machine, resulting in greater space for the entire hydraulic module to the rear of the cab. The 810G maintained the tradition of mounting the crane on the front chassis, however the 910G has moved with the times and the crane is now on the rear bunk section. Options for the 910G include a rotating cab and the choice of either a CF1 or CF5 crane, the latter being available with the optional IBC boom tip control system. Two bunk lengths are available – either 4400mm or 4800mm – providing a load area of 3.5 or 4.0 square metres respectively, with a rated capacity of either nine or ten (short) tons. Naturally there are a number of tyre options, not only their width but also their profile, to achieve higher levels of capacity and traction. With 700mm-wide 22.5 profile tyres the 910G has an overall width of 2.7m, which extends to just 2.78m when 24.5 tyres of the same width are used. When running on 24.5 tyres the machine’s tractive effort reaches 150kN, while it is restricted to 110kN with the 22.5 variants. The 910G uses the latest Timbermatic F16 control system, which offers a wide range of machine control and performance monitoring capabilities. For example, specific operating speeds can be selected and stored according to user preferences, particularly important when it comes to customising the operation of the crane.
VOLVO POWER FOR ECOLOG The newly launched John Deere 910G forwarder is the modern replacement for the ever-popular 801G model
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Swedish manufacturer EcoLog has done much to establish its own identity since it became segregated from Caterpillar in 2004 and has made significant inroads into the market. This success is not only based on a policy of continual product development, but the retention of some revolutionary design concepts, many of which can be
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NEW PRODUCTS | FORWARDERS & HARVESTERS outgrown this size class. Building on the success of the well-proven 1050F model, the 750F has an unladen weight of approximately 11 tonnes, depending on specification, and is powered by a 120kW Cummins engine with a maximum torque of 600Nm, which provides a tractive force of 120kN. Hydraulics are governed by the Grecontrol system, which allows the operator to set the speed of movement of the 6.5m-reach Cranab FC53 crane to suit individual preferences. There is also a 3.3sq.m load area on this lightweight forwarder.
COMPACT THINNING FORWARDER Above: The new E Series EcoLog 574 forwarder features a Volvo engine and an upgraded cab Left: The Gremo 750F forwarder was previewed to the industry at last year’s Elmia Wood Show Below: The Rottne F10D forwarder is now offered in two variants, including a new thinning model, while crane capacity has been increased by 20 per cent traced back to the Skogsjan era. For example, many models in the range of harvesters feature the innovative pendulum wheel levelling system, which also allows unparalleled ground clearance or an uncommonly low centre gravity when required. However, it is the recently upgraded non-pendulum equipped eight-wheel drive 688E model that is currently attracting much attention among UK and Irish users. However, the forwarder range also deserves mention as EcoLog presents a range of machines from the 10-tonne capacity 554D aimed at thinning applications, the 12-tonne 564D as well as the range-topping clear fell extraction machines, the 574E and 594E. All use Cranab loading cranes and are controlled by EcoLog’s IQAN system. The E Series of forwarders was launched last year and features a change of engine supplier from Mercedes Benz to Volvo, as well as a totally redesigned cab and improvements to service access.
equipped with a range of harvesting heads, most commonly SP and Logmax units. However, Gremo has one of the best-kept secrets in the industry: its range of smaller forwarders, which has been the focus of much R&D attention in recent times. Launched in 2017, the 8.5-tonne capacity 750F model fills an important gap in the market, as most other manufacturers have
Rottne is another manufacturer that has an interesting option when it comes to thinning forwarders in the form of its smallest F10D model. It has recently benefited from the availability of a more compact version designed exclusively for thinning applications. It has a narrower bunk to allow easier navigation through the stand. Rottne offers the opportunity to run the F10D Compact on tyres as narrow as 500mm to reduce the overall width of the machine to 2.4m. However, prospective UK and Irish users will probably favour the wider tyres for better traction, but at a standard width of 2.58m this is still one of the narrowest forwarders in this size class. The F10D is now equipped with a Rottne RK105 crane, replacing the previous RK85, to bring a 20% increase in operating capacity. The new crane also features a stronger kingpost as well as new cylinder mount structures, and the hoist arm of the crane has also been considerably beefed up. Self-aligning bearings are also used throughout the crane. This larger capacity crane is also now fitted to the larger F20D model, which also sees an increase in tractive effort from 260kN to 270kN.
BEST-KEPT SECRET Gremo continues to produce just a single harvester model, the 1050H. It is designed for all-round operations and can be FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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EVENT PREVIEW | APF 2018
APF 2018, the UK’s largest forestry, woodland, arboriculture, fencing and biomass show is scheduled to take place in Warwickshire from 20-22 September this year. We preview the event and some of the new machinery that will be exhibited there
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hen APF 2018 opens its gates to visitors at the Ragley Estate, near Alcester, on September 20, the organiser hopes to at least match the record 320 exhibitors booked at the event when it was previously held two years ago. With two months still to go, close to 300 companies had signed up, and more were expected to follow suit. “We are absolutely delighted with how bookings are going and the number of new exhibitors that are coming,” exhibition secretary Ian Millward told Forestry Machinery. “Our static area, which we expanded this year to cope with demand, is more than 82 per cent full. APF 2016 broke all records with its exhibitor numbers and more than 22,000 visitors, and we are on course to exceed that total. “The show caters not just for the forestry, woodland and tree-care industries, but also fencing; it is of significant interest to the farming sector, with a lot of machines and equipment designed for small woodlands and for adding value to small parcels of timber and individual trees,” Mr Millward added. “Producing and utilising timber as wood fuel, whether as firewood or woodchips, is also strongly featured, as are biomass boilers.” APF is organised by the Confederation of Forest Industries (known as ConFor), which is the trade association for the forestry industry in the United Kingdom. When the exhibition started in 1974 it was run by the Association of Professional Foresters (APF), and although this organisation disappeared when it merged with other bodies representing the forestry sector in about 2000, the APF name was kept for the industry’s trade fair.
WHEN AND WHERE The dates for APF 2018 are September 20, 21 and 22, and the event is being held from 9am to 6pm on a site on the Ragley Estate. The venue sits to the south-west of Alcester – equidistant between Worcester and Leamington Spa – and directions to the free visitor parking will be provided via AA signs on all approaches to the show. Tickets will be available on the gate priced £22 each, and visitors younger than 16 years old get in for free. Discounted advance and group tickets can be bought online only (www.apfexhibition.co.uk); these internet
APF 2018 will take place at Ragley Estate in Warwickshire towards the end of September ticket sales close a week before the event. All tickets include a free catalogue to be collected at the show. Farmers are familiar with the importance of bio-security, so will not be surprised that this is also an issue for the forestry sector. As many of our trees are under threat from pests and diseases, visitors arriving from all parts of the UK and Europe are being asked to ‘arrive clean’ to APF 2018. “It is essential we all do our part to help prevent the spread of any infection,” Mr Millward said. “This is not just to protect
Above: More than 22,000 visitors attended APF 2016
“THE SHOW CATERS NOT JUST FOR THE FORESTRY, WOODLAND AND TREECARE INDUSTRIES, BUT ALSO FENCING AND FARMING” Ragley Estate, but to help stop cross contamination and prevent visitors picking up and transferring disease back to their trees and woodlands. Our advice is to make a clean start every day. Scrape, brush or knock soil from your boots, clothing and vehicles before arriving on site.”
Above left: Working demonstrations will allow visitors to see different firewood-processing equipment in use
Left: Firewood- and timber-processing machines can allow farmers to maximise the value of any wooded areas they have
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SPECIAL FEATURES AT APF 2018 FENCING IN THE 21ST CENTURY A new feature at APF 2018 will recognise the importance of fencing in the woodland and farming sectors. The ‘Fencing in the 21st Century’ working area will showcase the very latest in machinery, equipment, materials and techniques. There will be regular daily demonstrations of machine and hand-held post drivers, strainer installation and the use of Gripples. The Fast Fencer competition will aims to find the fastest individual to erect 25m of stock fencing, while fencing experts will be on site to answer visitors’ questions.
SEMINARS TO PROVIDE THE LATEST TREE HEALTH UPDATES As many tree pests and diseases continue to threaten the UK’s forests and woodlands, the Forestry Commission will be hosting a series of seminars throughout the three days of APF 2018 to inform visitors about the latest progress of pests and diseases, including Xylella fastidiosa and Ash dieback, and the latest research on control and how to help avoid its spread and the bio-security measures required. There will be additional seminars on woodland creation, ecological site classification, the new online felling licence system and the role of genetics in adapting to climate change.
The UK forwarder competition returns to APF 2018, and will test operators’ skill, accuracy and dexterity, as well as speed
A new ‘Fencing in the 21st Century’ demonstration area will be included for the first time at APF 2018
The Stihl Timbersports team will be in action at APF 2018, with three daily demonstrations in the Stihl Arena
“PRODUCING AND UTILISING TIMBER AS WOOD FUEL, WHETHER AS FIREWOOD OR WOODCHIPS, IS STRONGLY FEATURED” 18
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EVENT PREVIEW | APF 2018 NEED T O KNOW
VENUE
APF 20 K EY FAC18 Ragley T Estate, Alceste S D r, ATES
TICKET PR
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ptemb arwick TIMES 09 er 20-22, 2018 shire
:00-18:0 ICES £ 0 22 Discou nted ad each (under 16 vance a s free). availab nd le onlin e. Price group tickets include catalog s event PARKING ue Free; fo llow AA signs fr appro DOGS W om elcome ach roads , must b e kept and cle on a lea an up d MORE INFO after them R M A www.a pfexhib TION ition.co .uk
The Treemaster is designed to be fitted to excavators from seven to 14 tonnes
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS RETURNS TO APF 2018 The original extreme sport returns to APF 2018, as the Stihl Timbersports team demonstrates its speed and precision with axes and saws. Never seen Timbersports before? This is your chance to see what the fuss is about, as top British participants go head-to-head in all six disciplines, including the mighty Hot Saw, a supercharged chainsaw with a chain speed up to 240kph! The demonstration events will take place at 11am, 1pm and 3pm each day in the Stihl arena.
UK FORWARDER DRIVING COMPETITION Komatsu and Barony College have joined forces to host the UK forwarder driving competition at APF 2018. The competition, which will take place across all three days of the show, aims to find the fastest and most skilled driver. It will take place in a realistic woodland setting and will be a real test of an operator’s skill, accuracy and dexterity, as well as speed, using the latest Komatsu equipment. Competitors will be able to enter on the day and the winner will be the fastest time recorded after any penalty points have been deducted.
NEW PRODUCTS EXAC-ONE LTD TREEMASTER MS300 SYSTEM The Treemaster system from Exac-One is made to be mounted on 360-degree excavators weighing between seven and 14 tonnes, and has a unique modular design, made up of three elements that allows it to be adapted to the customer’s precise cutting needs. For example, when there is no need to hold the timber during cutting, the cutting module can be connected directly to the rotator/mounting module. This provides
enhanced agility and precision when felling, pruning, processing and handling timber, and for cutting up waste timber. When holding the timber is required, the grab module can be fitted quickly and easily. Designed as a plug-and-play attachment, the Exac-One Treemaster MS300 weighs a maximum 750kg and can cut timber up to 300mm in diameter. It features a clever counterbalance design that is said to dramatically reduce the potential for machine instability.
RIKO UK RUFT3500 TRAILER Riko’s latest RUFT3500 Fast-Tow trailer
The RUFT3500 can be towed by any vehicle with a 3.5t towing capacity
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APF 2018 | EVENT PREVIEW has a gross weight of 3500kg and has full UK IVA approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. It is fitted with a 4.7m-reach crane with rotator and timber grab, powered by a built-in Honda-powered hydraulic power pack. The RUFT3500 also has a unique hydraulic moving bed/chassis that allows the load/axles to be moved to ensure the correct axle and drawbar weights for towing.
RSL ENGINEERING TREE SHEARS The latest tree shears from RSL Engineering can be mounted on an excavator, or front-mounted on a skid-steer, telescopic loader or tractor. Designed and built at the company’s Hertfordshire base, the shears are capable of cutting trees up to 300mm diameter, or bunching thinner woods together with the grab for cutting, making it ideal for coppice work. The shear has a powerful hardened blade that will cleanly and safely cut through timber, which is a great benefit over saw-type models as there will be no flying fragments to damage machinery or people. The shear is available as either fixed, or with full 360-degree rotation with either worm-drive or motor-type rotator to de-limb trees or cut fallen timber. Worm-drive rotation has the benefit that it will hold the shears and grab in a fixed position, useful when working in close proximity to wires or property. New products coming soon from RSL Engineering include a two-grab buncher model of its tree shears that allow two separate trees to be held and cut, and a model that is capable of cutting trees up to 500mm in diameter.
TIMBERWOLF TW280 VARIABLE-TRACKED CHIPPER Timberwolf will show its new TW280 TVGTR tracked wood-chipper at APF 2018. The machine features the company’s
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renowned TW280 performance, but with the added ability to move the tracks in and out, and raise and lower them, to make it easier to tackle difficult ground conditions. The TW280 TVGTR’s Wolftrack variable tracking system features heavy-duty twin arms supporting each track that give dynamic control over track width, ground clearance and machine tilt angle. This gives the operator greater control and comfort, particularly while navigating uneven ground and slopes of up to 30 degrees. The new model also features an extra-wide feed funnel that combines with an open-top section to provide users with better visibility and ease of feeding in timber. The machine’s class-leading 280mm x 210mm in-feed aperture can process more than 6.5 tonnes an hour.
TMK ENERGIAKOURA TREE SHEARS The TMK tree shear range from Finland is made from high-quality and abrasionresistant Hardox steel that allows the blades on the TMK400 to slice through up to 400mm of softwood, and 350mm of hardwood. The TMK200, meanwhile, can cut up to 200mm of softwood and 180mm of hardwood. The range has a wide choice of attachments that means they can be adapted to individual customers’ needs. These include brackets that mean the shears are compatible with all common brackets on carriers like mini-loaders, excavators (ranging from two to 30 tonnes) and telehandlers (TMK300 model only). The optional attachments include a
Left: Built in the UK, RSL’s shears are designed for British conditions
collector that saves time by allowing the user to cut down multiple trees at one time. The shears are said to be lightweight, despite their ability to endure stress from the largest excavators. The TMK200 weighs 165kg, the TMK300 is almost 300kg and the heavy-duty TMK400 weighs 535kg.
TMK tree shears are imported from Finland, with a range to suit all needs
“TIMBERWOLF’S NEW TRACKED WOODCHIPPER FEATURES THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE TRACKS IN AND OUT”
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GROUND PREPARATION | AHWI MULCHER
A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
Below: Note the hard facing welding on the mulching head’s components to prolong their lifespan in this arduous work
Nick Drew reports on a heavy-duty tracked mulcher, used to prepare land for planting
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he stunning Marks Hall Estate in Essex is operated as a private charitable trust and covers a total area of 2500 acres, a fifth of which is woodland. The estate’s deer park was meadowland up until 1942, when the land was requisitioned by the Air Ministry to construct an airfield. After WWII parts of the estate were leased to the Forestry Commission, who planted the area with conifers. In more recent times these trees have been harvested, the leased land has reverted back to Marks Hall and preparations are currently underway to plant the area as a broadleaf woodland. At the heart of preparing the ground “WE DECIDED is BraintreeTO GET THE based Justin MULCHER IN Kingwell, who SO THAT WE deployed an GET A GOOD AHWI RT400 TIDY SURFACE” all-terrain
tracked mulcher to tackle the work. Estate manager Jonathan Dukes said, “We decided to get the mulcher in so that we get a good tidy surface that we can run on with our own smaller machinery, enabling us to plant easily, put up our deer fencing as required and to generally maintain easily afterwards. The mulching process also creates a good seed bed, so that any seeds that fall naturally in the area can easily regenerate. “The initial big cost of this operation goes in at the start, such is the nature of re-establishing trees. We pour money in at the start and see that the long-term benefits are far better using this method. It’s going to be nice to be back planting trees again, there are simply not enough being planted across the UK at the moment.” Justin Kingwell commented, “The mulch that we have processed with the AHWI retains the moisture in the ground on the hottest of days and offers an even nutrient release for the new crop. The whole
mulching process offers a level playing field for ongoing ground maintenance for our client, offering savings on the equipment needed to maintain the ground going forward.”
MULCHER DRIVETRAIN The German-built AHWI TR400 left the factory with its six-cylinder Deutz engine rated at 402hp (300kW), however Justin
The mulch helps to retain moisture in the ground, releases nutrients and provides the client with a level playing field to work with their own machines
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Left: The engine of this AHWI TR400 heavy-duty tracked mulcher has been remapped to allow best advantage to be taken of a higher torque curve Below: Machine components have to be protected both from the environment they work in and, on some jobs, protestors with vandal tendencies has had this machine remapped to 440hp. Not necessarily to make use of the additional horsepower, but to take advantage of the resulting higher torque curve and to further improve its fuel economy. The engine powers a pair of hydraulic track drive pumps, each of which has a piggy back additional hydraulic pump to power the mulching head. A fluid coupling turbo clutch operates as a solid drive until the mulching head encounters a shock load, for instance running into a large stump. The turbo clutch then disconnects the drive train and allows it to spin, taking away the impact shock from the engine. Justin continued, “It really is a great design, relatively simple, reliable, very Germanic and easy to look after. In layman’s terms, at the front end it’s basically just a
series of drive shafts with belt drives on the head, all very fuel efficient with very little power loss.” These AHWI machines, now manufactured by the Prinoth Group that is better known for snow groomers, do not come cheap. A replacement would cost in the region of £340,000. Justin and his team therefore pay a lot of attention to preventive maintenance. Regular replacement fluids and filters are the top priority, but at each regular service the drive belts are also replaced as a matter of course to minimise the potential for any unplanned downtime.
MODIFICATIONS Like most machines in the Kingwell arsenal, the RT400 has been modified, particularly to further enhance safety features. For example, this
variant has been fitted with twin reversing cameras and additional steps and handrails. In addition, heavy-duty branch deflectors have been fitted to protect the upper rear of the bodywork from tree damage. It is a simple, strong and effective solution and, like most of the modification work undertaken on the fleet, was performed by Keith ‘Spud’ Tatam. Keith is something of a local legend for his repair work and fabrication skills. He also performed a lot of hard facing welding and other modifications on the RT400’s mulching head to prolong the lifespan of its components. Although not particularly relevant on this project, heavy-duty mulching work sometimes attracts the attention of protestors, so extra security measures on the machine are required. These include additional padlocks on the driveline access panels and heavy-duty covers for the fuel and hydraulic fill points. Anti-vandal cab screens were produced in house and are stored in a box on top of the cab. Talking about the cab, inside it’s stereotypically German, clean cut, practical and workmanlike. The majority of the machine controls are contained on a pair of joysticks. The right-hand lever controls the business end, including raising and adjusting the angle of its mulching head. The lefthand joystick controls the
Post WWII plantings have now been harvested on the Marks Hall Estate, and preparations are underway to establish a broadleaf woodland
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GROUND PREPARATION | AHWI MULCHER direction of travel and steering. The joysticks also feature roller thumb controls for additional functions, for example to raise or lower the front gate of the mulching head, which in turn controls how much material is thrown forwards.
OPERATORS Justin said, “The mulcher operator has to be highly skilled and, in my opinion, is in the upper echelons of plant operators. He has to constantly listen to what the engine and hydraulics are doing, as you get very little feedback from the seat. In fact a lot of driving these things is literally seat of the pants stuff, which is why we struggle to find operators with the necessary skills to run these bits of kit. A lot of lads, with all due respect, have no idea at all. “In all fairness, they are difficult machines to learn on. In essence, the operator travels forward, constantly adjusting the height and angle of the head to suit the conditions in front of him. Listening to the engine and aiming to keep the rotor head spinning, but at the same time ensuring forward speed is maintained. “Experienced mulcher operators will divide the jobs like this into blocks and effectively strip it according to which way the stumps are lying. Without a doubt there is a lot to consider when operating a machine like this, including care of the head and the tracks, trying to avoid obstacles that could potentially cause a de-track situation or a broken tooth head, often noticeable by adverse vibration. “These machines are valuable bits of kit and need to be looked after. That’s why our top operators are well-rewarded financially and we do our best to look after them.”
Right: The right-hand joystick controls the mulching head, while the left lever controls the movement of base machine
OPERATOR PROFILE Operator Darren Beaney has been working for
Below: The mulcher head is driven by a series of drive shafts and belts, which have proved over the years to be robust and provide decent fuel economy
Kingwell since 2003, when as a young man he approached Justin and asked him for a job. Darren was taken on for a trial period and has essentially been with the company ever since. Justin said, “Darren is now the top operator on the firm, a real multi-tasker, fitter, operator and able to conduct himself in the proper manner when talking to our clients. We never have any problems with Darren on site. For instance, if a hose goes on the machine, he just pops out, sources a replacement, fixes it and gets on with the job, a real top bloke!” Darren’s dedication is soon to be rewarded with the arrival of the firm’s latest piece of kit, an American-built Rotochopper B-66T horizontal grinder, of which Darren is a big fan.
“THE MULCHER OPERATOR HAS TO BE HIGHLY SKILLED AND, IN MY OPINION, IS IN THE UPPER ECHELONS OF PLANT OPERATORS” FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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RUNNING REPORT | IRISH HARVESTING
FOUR OF THE
BEST
Right: With the 10m crane option selected, operation of the C144 harvesting head is well within the machine’s working capabilities
Eoghan Daly reports on the operational effectiveness of four harvesters working in Ireland
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he forest industry, particularly in Ireland, is facing a situation where average tree size is decreasing, which obviously has an impact on the choice of harvesters and harvester heads. Those contractors that tend to work on large sites located on challenging ground conditions can still justify the high capacity clear-fell only machines. However, in view of reducing tree size, a more common approach nowadays is to specify harvesting rigs that can also undertake thinnings work. Four contractors from around Ireland, working in different conditions, discuss their recent machine choices.
KOMATSU 931XC WITH C144 HARVESTING HEAD O’DWYER TIMBER CONTRACTORS, CO. KILKENNY For many years Irish timber contractors have craved an eight-wheel version of a high-capacity Komatsu harvester, to cope with sites located on steep or low weightbearing ground. Finally, in 2016, the 931XC model entered production, and one of the
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The 931XC harvesting near Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, where its eight-wheel design caused minimal impact on this low weight-bearing site
Featuring the latest Autolev advanced first purchasers was O’Dwyer Timber levelling system, excellent comfort levels Contractors. are afforded at all times irrespective of the Since it entered service the machine terrain. The 230H parallel crane puts a large has been operated by Mick Carroll who area within range thanks to a 10m reach. has considerable experience, especially on Mick said, “I would find it difficult to Komatsu and the preceding Valmet models. operate a six-wheel harvester, having It has now clocked up 3500 hours in clear experienced what the 931XC has to offer. fells and, apart from some early minor The low impact on the ground and stability teething problems, has provided high it offers are just in a different league, while availability. it is also a very capable and Its unique axle-mounted balanced climbing machine. rear bogie arrangement with “With the kind of oil flow additional oscillation points “FOR MANY YEARS IRISH TIMBER the 931XC has, the C144 affords unrivalled ground CONTRACTORS HAVE head has unbelievable speed contact and allows full and feed force, which means application of the impressive CRAVED AN EIGHT186kN of tractive force. WHEEL VERSION OF it has very strong ability in coarsely branched timber. The tried and trusted rigid A HIGH-CAPACITY It cleans them very well and centre joint formation works KOMATSU with the angled outside in combination with the HARVESTER” rollers it keeps a great grip swing axle and bogies for all of the time. added stability, while the “The slewing and levelling cabin on positioning of the crane and cabin slewing Komatsu machines has always given great base is also seen as a major contributor to visibility even to the right side.” stability.
The front bogie formation provides a high level of clearance to ensure good travel characteristics over rough ground
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The separate cab base allows independent slewing of the crane, which can be programmed according to user preferences
The 1470G gives the capacity to derive the maximum from the H415 harvesting head, while using the 11m parallel crane at full reach in large volume timber
JOHN DEERE 1470G WITH H415 HARVESTING HEAD BYRNE TREE SERVICES, CO. WICKLOW This firm has long been associated with running some of Ireland’s highest output timber harvesting machines, using the latest technology to work on clear fell applications for leading sawmill operators. The most recent additions to its fleet have come from the John Deere stable in the form of a 1470G harvester and 1510G and 1910G forwarders, the latter being Ireland’s largest timber forwarder. While the capability of the 1910G may tend to overshadow the smaller machines, the 1470G and 1510G duo are in fact proving to be an ideal high volume clear fell harvesting team. This 1470G harvester was the first of a number of such models to be put to work across Ireland by a range of contractors. We caught up with it while it was harvesting a Sitka Spruce stand with an average tree size of 0.6 cubic metres mainly on a consistent slope, but with a more acute gradient across the mid-section of the stand. Coupled with the presence of a line of coarsely-limbed edge trees bounding an
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Above and right inset: The H415 harvesting head is proving an impressive performer while TP outer feed rollers provide excellent log gripping characteristics without causing damage
area of hardwoods at the upper limits of the block, this provided an excellent opportunity to witness its harvesting head’s delimbing capability, together with its ability to hold larger stems when felling. Since 2006 operator Mark Curtis has spent a lot of time in a succession of 1470 models and for the past six months has been in this latest G series. He remains highly impressed with its performance, but directs particular praise at its H415 harvesting head. He said, “Everything I’ve experienced with the machine and especially the new head has been very positive. It has great power and speed and grips the tree very well. It obviously has a long way to go to show it’s as good as the H480s I’ve used in the past over long-term use, but I am well impressed with it so far.” As a short frame head, the H415 employs four feed rollers that create a feeding ring, which allows the head to run on lower knife pressures than traditional designs.
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RUNNING REPORT | IRISH HARVESTING “THERE HAVE BEEN NO ISSUES WITH SAWMILLS HAVING A REASON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT LOG DAMAGE FROM THESE TYPES OF FEED ROLLERS”
Above: The cab interior features the latest technological innovations for log measurement and optimisation, coupled with data transfer capabilities Right: The revised design of the crane base includes the slewing cylinders, which now run parallel to the machine The feed roller motors provide a good balance of speed and force, while its gripping characteristics are enhanced by the choice of Finnish TP design for the outer rollers. Instead of traditional thumb print roller tooth design, TP rollers take a much different approach. They feature a symmetrical spike design that provides a uniform grip in both forward and reverse directions without chafing the log. Close spike spacing prevents individual elements from sinking into the log, while a cleaning element removes debris effectively, ensuring prevention of build-up.
11m-reach version. In addition, the slewing cylinders now run parallel to the harvester base, which gives a more streamlined layout, an improved view towards the front bogies and assisting with hose routing. A number of protective frame elements have been added forward of the crane base to ensure the egress of material from the brash mat is prevented. While a FOPS frame surrounds the rear hood, side protection
KEEPING A FIRM GRIP
The operator of the new 1510G forwarder
At first sight the rollers may look overly aggressive, but according to Mark this is not the case and he stated, “There have been no issues with sawmills having a reason to complain about log damage from these type of feed rollers. They have proved to give a firm grip on the log without going too deep, which is the secret to their success.” Another enhancement on this G series machine is the CH9 parallel crane, which in this case has been specified as the longest
panels have not been fitted to prevent inhibiting air flow to the engine bay. Using proven technology for its machine control and timber processing operations, the latest JD Link telematics system is used to full effect by Byrne, as Mark commented, “The John Deere control and measurement systems have always been comprehensive and user friendly, and have advanced again on this latest model.”
INTELLIGENT BOOM CONTROL was using its Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) system to full effect, providing a whole new level of convenience. This forwarder is configured as a high-capacity clear fell machine with long rear bogies. It has set a new standard when it comes to stability on slopes. It also reduces ground impact on wetter sites, since the rear wheels have a greater spread, and when fitted with band tracks have an immense contact area.
Above: The 1510G forwarder is seen as a capable match for the 1470G harvester in large volume clear felling operations
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The Ponsse Scorpion King variant offers superior hydraulic performance and tractive force while allowing the fitment of a higher performance H7 harvesting head
“THIS INNOVATIVE CHASSIS DESIGN IS MATCHED TO AN EQUALLY UNIQUE CRANE THAT FEATURES TWIN KINGPOSTS”
The unique chassis on the Scorpion range comprises three sections, the mid element performing the levelling action of the crane and cab
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RUNNING REPORT | IRISH HARVESTING PONSSE SCORPION AND SCORPION KING HARVESTERS BROPHY TIMBER SERVICES, CO. LAOIS There was a belief that modern timber harvesters had reached the ultimate level of evolution and any future enhancements would be minor in nature and restricted to insignificant design tweaks. Then, at the Elmia Wood show in 2013, the Ponsse Scorpion hit the market. The main thing that sets the eight-wheel Scorpion apart from the rest is that it has a three-section chassis, as opposed to standard two. Even though this results in a larger number of moving parts, it addresses a number of key issues when cabs and cranes are on a common slew drive. Traditionally such cabs and cranes have a high mounting position to accommodate a levelling system, which leads to a higher centre of gravity. On the Scorpion design, the pivoting mid-section chassis performs the levelling action that, once levelled, locks up to maintain the appropriate angle. This element of the design accommodates the automatic side-to-side levelling action by up to 12 degrees without a high build height. The common cab and crane slew mounting provides a rotation of 280 degrees and fore-and-aft movements with angles of 15 degrees attainable. This innovative chassis design is matched to an equally unique crane that features twin kingposts. The heavy-duty cast structure pivots behind the operator, removing the blind spot usually associated with traditional crane designs. Damien Brophy took delivery of his first Ponsse Scorpion in 2016, which proved to be so successful that he bought a second unit a year later. Damien said, “Before I got the first Scorpion I had been using machines mainly from Timberjack and also ran a Ponsse Fox. Above: Both machine variants The performance of the use the latest Fox as a base machine, Ponsse Opti 4G and especially the Ponsse measurement and harvesting heads, made me control system look at the Scorpion when trying to decide on the next machine. Having used them for over two years now they are proving to be excellent, with a design that really works. They offer vision in thinning like no other harvester and overall I am very impressed by them.” The two units were identically configured
with an 11m Ponsse C50 crane and a Ponsse H6 harvesting head, while running on 710mm-wide tyres. This configuration has proved effective for all-round harvesting operations as the machine’s width allows effective stand penetration in thinnings, Also, the capacity of the harvesting head is regarded as ideal for typical thinning and premature clear fell operations. However, the unique design requires a slightly different working approach, as operator Larry Cuddy explained, “There is no difficulty using the Scorpion in thinnings. It just needs a Right: The cab may slightly different working look a touch on the approach where you small side, but its reach in more at an internal proportions angle rather than straight are in line with other in to the side like other slewing cabs and it machines. It’s just a offers wonderful different routine and is visibility something that doesn’t take much getting used to. Right: Access to the cab is via a set of I have operated a range of hydraulically other machines and have lowered front steps, to say the Scorpion is an another key safety excellent performer in improvement every way and the harvesting head is brilliant in rough timber.” The Scorpions are held in high regard, but when it came to his next purchase Damien opted for the higher performance Scorpion King model. This decision was taken due to its ability to handle larger tree sizes, making it more suitable for clear fell harvesting, without losing its thinning ability if required.
UPRATED HYDRAULICS Both models are the same size, but the Scorpion King uses a 190cm3 hydraulic pump for the head and a separate 145cm3 pump for the crane. The Scorpion has a single 210cm3 pump serving both functions. Its tractive force is also superior at 180kN, compared with the standard Scorpion’s 170kN rating. This far superior oil flow allows the Scorpion King to be fitted with the larger H7 harvesting head and use the head at the upper end of its performance bracket. Operator Adrian Fitzpatrick said, “The Scorpion King has high flow to get peak performance from the H7 harvesting head. With this kind of oil flow behind it, it is both fast and powerful and can handle both small and large diameter timber equally well.” Both operators highly rate the machine control and log measurement system, as Damien concludes, “Based on the performance of our Ponsse machines, they are definitely the best option for our needs. They offer leading technology in their measurement and control systems and great machine performance with strong local support.”
Above: The unique twin kingpost design of the crane provides excellent all-round visibility for the operator FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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IRISH HARVESTING | RUNNING REPORT “THIS 688 HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY IN BOTH FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT THINNINGS AND MOST IMPRESSIVELY HAS WORKED IN CLEAR FELLS”
Thanks to this example’s narrow configuration, the EcoLog 688 offers the ability to harvest thinnings and clear fell with equal ability
ECOLOG 688 WITH LOGMAX 7000 TWIN HARVESTING HEAD PETER SHEERAN LOGGING COMPANY, CO. LAOIS With a long association with some of the most challenging harvesting sites throughout Ireland, over the years the machine choices of Peter Sheeran have been motivated by an ability to overcome the terrain. More recently he has moved away from exclusively harvesting premature clear fells to include thinning work, but still on predominantly low weight-bearing sites. Peter had reservations about the dimensions and some design elements of eight-wheel harvesters evaluated in the selection process, and the machine that emerged as being most suitable was an EcoLog 688. However, instead of accepting a standard model, Peter specified the machine to reduce its overall weight and minimise its width. He said, “I needed a machine that would be narrow enough in thinnings, while still running on wide tyres for flotation and stability and have the power, oil flow and capacity in the crane and head to take on clear felling. Having looked at a range of options, I believe the EcoLog 688 was the only machine to serve these needs and now looking back over its first two years of service, it has done exactly what I expected of it.” This 688 has worked extensively in both first and subsequent thinnings and most
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impressively has worked in clear fells, including a site with an average tree size of 0.6 cubic metres. It has also coped admirably with coarse Lodgepole Pine, which proved the aggressive nature of the Logmax 7000 Twin head, even when working at the upper end of its range.
VERSATILITY Whereas the EcoLog has performed exactly as expected, the surprise has been the performance of the Logmax harvesting head, which has proved to be far more versatile than many would expect, given its stated operational capacity. At a time when many harvesting heads are designed around a shortened chassis, the Logmax retains the traditional approach. Operator Declan Delaney stated, “To run a short chassis head with the same capability as the Logmax 7000 would make head
Left inset and below left: The power and oil flow provided by the harvester allow the full capacity of the Logmax 7000 Twin head to be used to maximum effect placement in thinnings far more awkward, as they tend to be a much wider head especially around the sawbox. When the 7000 is fully closed it looks like a much smaller head and in first thinnings it is very easy to manoeuvre through the trees.” Among the reasons for its superiority in coarsely limbed timber is its high feed force and the presence of two lower delimbing knives (hence its Twin designation). It makes the removal of lower branches a more effortless process, while decreasing the need for reverse feeding to achieve the desired result in extreme situations.
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CONVERTED EXCAVATOR | VOLVO EC140
WHERE OTHERS
FEAR TO TREAD Paul Argent visits one of the UK’s foremost owner-operators of a forestry-spec hydraulic excavator
T
he use of tracked excavators in forestry applications has increased significantly over the last decade. They are often deployed on tasks that traditionally would have required a gang of labourers working long hours in arduous conditions. However, typically these are not run-of -the-mill construction machines, but have been commissioned by knowledgeable owneroperators to work specifically in a forestry environment. For example, the Volvo EC140ELM used by Scottish Borders-based Ben Miller.
UNDERCARRIAGE The standard EC140EL is at the top end of construction 14-tonne class excavators and comes complete with a European Stage 4 emissions-compliant engine. When Ben took delivery of his rather special M variant three years ago it was the only example of its kind in the UK. What differentiates this
Ben Miller and his Volvo EC140ELM working high above Peebles in the slopes of the Dollar Forest
unusually wide 900mm track shoes, but model is that it is produced with on a narrow width track frame. undercarriage components normally Ben said, “Thanks to the found on Volvo’s larger combination of narrow EC160 excavator. But, as “THE AREAS AT undercarriage and wide tracks, usual, the devil is in the detail. THE TOP OF THE the machine fairly floats over This is not a dedicated HILLS REQUIRED A the softest of ground. With the high-clearance machine, but narrow undercarriage I can rather a track system that is LONG CLIMB travel up the rows of stumps far superior to the norm and OVER SOME pretty easily. If I specified a ideally suited for the type of CHALLENGING wider carriage and wide pads work that Ben undertakes. TERRAIN” I would end up with one track For example, it provides a riding a row of stumps. This ground clearance of almost set-up is ideal. 600mm, allowing the excavator to traverse “The only thing I would want is a little stumps and brash without more length to the undercarriage. It would too many problems. be just that little better if I had another Neither is it a dedicated bottom roller or two to make the track low ground pressure length a little longer and improve its machine, but it was stability on steep ground.” specified with
The heavy-duty mounding bucket was made by Lammer Engineering, a firm run by Ben’s father David
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single-piece mono boom. This results in UPPER-STRUCTURE a maximum reach of almost a metre more An array of additional LED lights allows than the standard machine and, perhaps Ben to work through short winter days more importantly, the ability to work closer and a Margard polycarbonate windscreen in to the tracks. provides protection from flying objects. An almost universal fitment of a forestryWhile a Volvo-made falling object spec excavator is a Swedish protection system (FOPS) tilt-rotator (see panel), and guard covers the top of the cab, “FROM TREE chose the Steelwrist Ben’s father David’s company, SHEARING, GRAB Ben brand. A tilt-rotator further Lammer Engineering, WORK AND extends the working envelope designed and built a number BUCKET WORK, of an excavator, without of other items. They include THE STEELWRIST having to reposition the additional protection for the machine to tackle a job from sides of the upper-structure, PLAYS A MAJOR a slightly different angle. boom hose guards, skid plates ROLE IN continued, “Having and a substantial lower EVERYTHING I DO” theBen two-piece boom makes windscreen guard. life so much easier for me; Ben continued, “I run both a add the Steelwrist and I can now complete mulcher and flail mower and the a whole host of different tasks without additional guarding gives be just having to turn a track. that little bit of reassurance.” “From tree shearing, grab work and The front-end working equipment bucket work, the Steelwrist plays a major comprises a two-piece boom and dipper, role in everything I do. It’s very rare that and the unusual boom offers Ben a greater I drop it off, and then only when I have a working envelope than the standard
large amount of mounding work to undertake.”
RELIABILITY Over the past three years the Volvo excavator and Steelwrist tilt-rotator have clocked up almost 5000 virtually troublefree hours, as Ben says, “It has been worked in some very hard conditions but hasn’t let me down, apart from a few little niggles, which have been sorted out very quickly. I have paid for an extended warranty period and it has worked out far more cost effective for me.” With regard to buckets and other simple attachments, Ben said, “I try and do my best promoting the Lammer product and it seems to be going well. We don’t compete solely on price, but believe that the more conscientious operators will want a longer lasting and higher quality product made from better materials. The mounding bucket I run was one of the first products dad made, and it has been used and abused and is still like new.”
A set of Track Grips has been added to the Volvo’s standard tracks to improve traction, particularly when climbing xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx
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CONVERTED EXCAVATOR | VOLVO EC140 ON THE SLOPES We met Ben on a project that called for a head for heights, working on the steep slopes of the Dollar Forest near Peebles. The new owners of a large tract of land are investing a considerable sum to develop it into a more viable commercial operation. The area had been planted with Spruce, but the blocks of timber have been spaced far apart, resulting in almost 20 per cent of the area remaining unplanted and covered in old brash mats. Ben was called in to undertake mounding work in-between the existing plantings and to undertake flailing of roadside re-generated trees. While some of the lower lying areas were easily accessed, the areas at the top of the hills required a long climb over some challenging terrain. In particular, despite the dry weather, a recent shower and the naturally wet ground meant that Ben had to traverse a number of drainage channels to reach the work area. He said, “I find the two-piece boom is great for helping pull the machine over these wide ditches. I have also added a set of Track Grips to the machine, which aid the climbing ability and the all-round grip in tricky underfoot conditions. They are easy to fit although Lammer has modified them by chamfering the inside of them to clear the turret on the Volvo, which wouldn’t have been the case on a standard machine. I can go almost anywhere now without the fear of sliding around. It makes me so much safer and from such a simple idea.” With the tilt-rotator removed and the Scandinavianpattern S60 top quick-hitch connected directly to the Lammer mounding bucket, Ben starts to track up the 30-degree slope. Carefully moving large stumps and obstructions out Right and inset of the way, a combination of above: The use careful tracking and pulling of a tilt-rotator with the arm sees Ben at the has transformed top of the 100m slope. the range of Working back down the slope, activities that Ben carefully moves material can effectively and excavates the stony soils be undertaken by an excavator to provide a suitable base to plant new trees. He then tracks the Volvo down a few metres at a time and starts the cycle again. Some of the angles reached with this type of work are extreme for an excavator, and Ben says, “I’ve fitted a new seat to the
Above and right: The undercarriage provides almost 600mm of ground clearance, allowing Ben to traverse stumps and brash without too many problems
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VOLVO EC140 | CONVERTED EXCAVATOR TILT-ROTATORS The traditional means of attaching a work tool to the excavator’s dipper stick is a hinged arrangement, which provides just one dimension of movement. One result of this is that it severely limits the operator’s ability to match the angle of the tool to the work being undertaken. In turn, this results in a constant re-positioning of the machine to achieve the correct angle, increasing track wear and the time taken to undertake the job. Developed decades ago in Sweden, tilt-rotators allow the operator to rotate a work tool to any angle and simultaneously tilt it to the right or left, while retaining the original linkage’s ability to hinge what is on the end of the dipper. This multi-dimensional ability to change the position of the attachment in relation to the line of the boom has led to different digging techniques, which are particularly effective when excavating awkward shapes. However, it is when using powered attachments that tilt-rotators really come into their own, for example the likes of a tree shear or, in this case, a flail mower. In addition, the vast majority of tilt-rotators are specified with an integrated grab, which allows the operator to quickly pick and place items without leaving the safety of the cab.
Volvo from a harvester, complete with a built-in harness. It has a two-fold benefit in keeping me in my seat at all times, which improves my posture and, should the machine decide to roll, it will keep me safer than a traditional lap belt.
BACK ON LEVEL GROUND
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx The inherent stability that the unusual undercarriage provides to the excavator allows Ben to get to places that others will fear to tread
With this particular strip of interplanting mounding complete and Ben back at the bottom of the slope, with a little bit of extra reach it was time to tidy up the verge area. from the same spot, as does the He dropped off the mounding bucket tilt-rotator. However, the tiltand mounted the tilt-rotator, which rotator also plays a key role in was attached to a Slagkraft flail. this type of work, as Ben is able to A relatively recent development keep the flail at the desired angle in tilt-rotators is the ability to to the ground. This ensures that automatically connect and disconnect all the unwanted growth is cut the hydraulic lines supplying a powered down to the required depth and leaves a attachment, in addition to physically good clean and clear finish to the verge. connecting the working attachment. Ben continues, “The flail is a brilliant Ben said, “I would like a hydraulic quick tool. It’s just a pair of chains spinning change system next time; it wasn’t an option very quickly and the material they can go when I bought the Steelwrist. The addition through is unbelievable. I can take care of a high--flow version really is attractive.” of a small tree 4in to 6in in diameter!” That said, Ben has The quality of work produced heavy-duty, flat-faced “I WILL ONLY DO A by Ben and his Volvo/Steelwrist couplings on his hydraulic combination was outstanding, JOB IF IT CAN BE lines, more often seen in and a far cry from the previous DONE CORRECTLY attempts to develop and the demolition industry, AND SAFELY” which makes the changeover manage the site. Ben concluded of powered attachments by saying, “I will only do a job if much quicker and easier. it can be done correctly and safely. There is nothing worse than doing a half-hearted job, Locating the excavator on a roadside which people will then remember you by.” bank, the two-piece boom provides Ben
Ben Miller’s three-year-old Volvo looks in immaculate condition, despite almost 5000 hours of arduous work
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SPECIFICATIONS X12 S45 S45 CS9 Rotational speed (r/m) Rotational force (kNm) Maximum tilt angle (degrees) Tilt power (kNm) Necessary flow (litre/min) Pressure (bar) Build Height (mm) Weight (kg)
8 5,4 45 29 70-90 210 425 285
Illustrated with MG25 Multi Grapple on JCB HydraDig
360˚ Rotation 45˚ Tilt Angle
UK MARKET LEADER Steelwrist tiltrotators have the lowest build height and are the lightest on the market. Protected hydraulic hoses for longer life, soft and smooth rotation with robust gear wheel. Steelwrist UK provide expert installation and 24/7 after sales support together with the EXTENDED WARRANTY that you deserve.
SQ Auto Connection Front Pin Lock Durable Cast Steel DATATAG Anti Theft
salesuk@steelwrist.com | www.steelwrist.com | +44(0) 1608 662534
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Paul Argent reports on the use of a T-Winch on a tricky project in Scotland
FUEL EFFICIENT WINCHING B
ased in Alford in Aberdeenshire, CSP Forestry has recently undertaken a tricky clear fell project on the Chesthill Estate just outside Aberfeldy in Perthshire. Mainly larch and spruce had been growing on the site for up to 50 years, randomly planted across the exceptionally steep slope. The small but complicated project involved felling over a 1000 tonnes of timber on the hillside above South Chesthill Farm. Having carved a route into the stand using a veteran Daewoo DH170 excavator, the felling team proceeded to clear the timber using a John Deere harvester with an integrated winch. The heavily undulating ground on a vicious incline had obviously caused issues for CSP’s harvesting team, as logs had been left across the whole site. The main forwarder, a John Deere 1910G, was therefore required to traverse the site in almost a zig-zag fashion in a bid to remove all of the cut material. It offered an ideal opportunity to try out the latest addition
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to the CSP fleet, an Austrian-built EcoForst T-Winch 10.1 supplied by dealer Bioequipment.
HEAVY-DUTY WINCH While winching forestry equipment is obviously not a new phenomenon, the use of suitable winches to cater for the heavier equipment used in the UK has opened up land that was once deemed unsuitable for forestry. There is still an issue of getting large winches into a suitable location on the more challenging sites, but the compact size of the self-propelled, tracked T-Winch now makes this a lot easier to achieve. The T-Winch has recently entered a market dominated by a small number of European manufacturers and represents the pinnacle of modern winching technology. Bioequipment’s Sean Reilly has extreme confidence in the product and has invested a significant amount of time demonstrating the EcoForst range to some of the largest forestry enterprises in the
country. While the winch fitted to the Daewoo still has a role to play in smaller scale operations, the likes of the T-Winch can offer a much higher capacity and larger operating range. Low fuel consumption is guaranteed thanks to the integrated load-sensing properties on the winch system, adjusting the engine and hydraulic output on a constant basis. On this particular project, where the forwarder was almost in constant motion around the site, the winch was consuming less than four litres of diesel an hour. The other side of the equation is that the forwarder’s engine was not being driven at full tilt, as the winch undertook a lot of the harder work. There is therefore a significant potential to reduce the total fuel bill for this aspect of the project, while improving the forwarder’s productivity and safety.
DRUM OPERATION Boasting a capacity of 500m of 18.5mm rope, the drum operates at 420bar pressure
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WINCHING SYSTEMS | ECOFORST T-WINCH
T-WINCH DRIVELINE Constructed around a heavy-duty compact chassis, the T-Winch measures just over 4m in length and 2.2m in width. Nearly all of the length is made up of the track frames, which carry an impressive set of aggressive double grouser shoes to provide the ultimate in traction on rough and unstable ground. Every second track pad is fitted with additional lateral
Inset above: An EcoForst T-Winch proved an ideal solution to this site’s challenges, supporting the forwarder as it traversed the site
Above: With a drum capacity of 500m of 18.5mm rope, the T-Winch was not only used vertically, but also enabled the forwarder to traverse the site
Below: The 10.1 model offers a maximum pulling force of 80kN and a maximum winch speed of 4kph
grousers to stabilise the winch on cross cambers, to which the CSP team on this site can attest. Weighing up to 7.8 tonnes depending on specification, the T-Winch is powered by a 5.4-litre Iveco engine rated at 107kW. It powers a double hydraulic pump unit with
This picture: A tricky project on steeply sloping, undulating ground called for the forwarder to work in extreme conditions
adjustable delivery volume. The system uses a closed hydraulic system for the winch and an open system for the auxiliary functions, meaning the crawler and winch can be controlled synchronously. The main winch system is enclosed within sleek GRP bodywork with an insulated cover to reduce engine and pump noise.
and is held by integrated multi-disc brakes. Working on the steep slopes and under almost constant load, the braking system cuts out the hydraulic drive to the drum and provides a secondary fail-safe system. While many winch systems are only capable of vertical operation, the CSP team have been using the T-Winch at a variety of angles on this particular job with no deterioration in
winching performance. Thanks to the infinite control of the drum, the winch will only be under load according to the settings applied by the operator, resulting in less wear and tear to the drum. The load-sensing drum automatically retracts the cable when it detects a zero load on the line. This model offers a maximum pulling force of 80kN and a maximum winch speed of 4kph.
While the blade performs a sterling job at anchoring the front of the winch, the rear has to be securely anchored to a suitable structure. Supplied with a set of anchoring straps, the winch remained in the same position it was installed in throughout the duration of the job despite the poor ground conditions underfoot. A simple remote-control pod is supplied to the forwarder operator. A dial control is used to increase or decrease the load on the winch. When the set weight on the rope is reached, the winch will maintain this pressure until the dial is adjusted. Forwarder operator Michael Tye said, “It makes it easier for me to drive the forwarder knowing I don’t have to keep adjusting the tension or worrying about the possibility of it snagging or being run over.”
Left: Such modern self-propelled winches are far more effective than traditional excavatormounted winches FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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SITE VISIT | TOTTENHAM TIMBER
ANGLO-IRISH
PULP TRADE Eoghan Daly reports on the developing trend of exporting Irish pulpwood to the UK
O
ver the years the trade in round logs between Ireland and the UK has proved to be a major aid in smoothing peaks and troughs in demand for timber in both countries. While imports of saw logs from the UK have been crucial for Irish sawmills, a developing trend is the export of Irish-grown pulpwood to the UK, pioneered by Tottenham Timber (see panel). MD Robin Tottenham said, “We have been harvesting timber since 2003 and the annual volumes we handle have grown considerably in recent years. During the first quarter of this year we harvested a number of sites that yielded a high concentration of pulpwood, which urged me to look beyond Ireland to provide an outlet for it. I looked into the economics of sending shipments to the UK and having completed a number of these successfully, I see it as an attractive alternative.” Despite the success of this approach, the traditional local outlets for pulp logs remain a key market. However, particularly for locations within easy reach of a suitable port, the export option is
Longford Timber Contractors’ John Deere 1470D Eco III timber harvester with H480C harvesting head working for Tottenham Timber in a large clear fell site
seen to yield a greater return. But to achieve this return requires a significant logistical effort, over and above the ability to generate significant volume of material to fill a suitable vessel.
HARVESTING Tottenham Timber prefers to sub-contract the operation of harvesters, while focusing its in-house fleet on forwarding and the subsequent haulage of the timber. Robin said, “I have run my own timber harvester in the past and have decided it makes much more sense to hire in a machine. A good working relationship has been formed with a number of harvesting contractors on both thinning and clear fell. For clear felling, Sean Dunleavy of Longford Timber Contractors and their operators complete the harvesting task for us in a very professional way. “Not only does this mean we can get the harvesting completed by industry professionals, it also removes the responsibility of running and maintaining a timber harvester, which I can say from experience is a major commitment. The added
TOTTENHAM TIMBER The firm was established by Robin Tottenham in 2003. Robin is a qualified forester and comes from a strong forestry background, and much of his early working experience in the sector was gained abroad. The business was initially engaged in timber harvesting, but has since expanded to embrace all aspects of forestry. This includes management of forests, timber sales, together with a successful woodchip and sawdust supply operation serving a wide range of clients throughout Ireland.
“DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WE HARVESTED A NUMBER OF SITES THAT YIELDED A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF PULPWOOD”
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The Wisent is delivering good operational capacity, has been extremely reliable in its first year of operation and is considered a light machine on the ground
difficulty of recruiting an experienced operator also reduces the attraction of running our own harvester.” Longford has a considerable fleet of forestry machines and a number of harvesters can be mobilised should the work on a particular site or sites need to be prioritised, which affords a high level of flexibility to Tottenham’s activities. Longford’s harvester brand of choice is John Deere, of which their fleet comprises a number of different generations of machines. Harvesting operations for an export shipment earlier this year reflected the machines deployed. One site was served by a modern 1470E fitted with an H415 single-speed harvesting head, while another site was completed by a veteran 1470D ECO III model.
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The D Series harvester is close to 10 years old and has clocked up significant working hours, but had no problem working through a large clear fell site at Derrybrien, Co Galway. Its high oil flow achieved the maximum from its H480C harvesting head, even when working in a crop of mixed quality with a high density of coarse branches.
FORWARDING In the past Tottenham has favoured
Timberjack forwarders, but when it came to sourcing a new machine to spearhead the firm’s extraction operations, like many other forestry companies at the moment the firm took a long hard look at all the available options. Robin continued, “I had always purchased used when it came to timber forwarders and have been very fortunate to have got some very clean low-hours machines over the years, which proved
PULP WOOD
Irrespective of a stand’s quality, harvesting inevitably generates a percentage of pulpwood logs. This obviously increases dramatically in many premature clear fell situations where crooked and rough crown lengths are in this lower grade log classification. Even though Irish board mills and the energy sector provide a domestic outlet for a high proportion of pulpwood, an increasingly attractive option is exporting such material in bulk. It provides the welcome opportunity to dispose of a large volume in one go, resulting in the clearance of such material at a forest level.
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SITE VISIT | TOTTENHAM TIMBER bunk to be extended to take two bays of pulp logs and the machine has an on-board compressor and reversible fan, which are big assets. “The Wisent climbs very well and, even though this machine doesn’t have balanced bogies, we didn’t experience any form of bogie lift when climbing. The choice of tracks has made a major difference to climbing ability and helps the machine apply its full tractive ability. “It is a very gentle forwarder on the ground and still has a good load capacity. We have used it in deep peat sites and it has coped very well as it runs lightly over the ground and still has a good load capacity. Since the Wisent has gone into service, it has worked in a range of forest conditions and
has shown to have plenty of power for its size class while still being efficient to run.”
HAULING The good level of visibility through the large sloping rear window of the 12-tonne capacity Ponsse Wisent is also put to good use at the collection point, as the logs are frequently loaded directly on to crane-less timber trucks. This process is aided by the reach offered by its crane, which means that the forwarder can undertake this operation from the top of a bank, as opposed to encroaching upon forest road surfaces. While self-loading timber trucks also form part of the Tottenham fleet, the additional payload achievable from crane-less articulated units is appealing, even
The Ponsse forwarder extracting pulpwood logs from a clear fell site at Derrybrien, Co. Galway, in preparation for exporting them to the UK
The 10m reach of the Ponsse Wisent’s crane allows log stacks to be placed as close as possible to the road verge, even over banks and other obstacles very dependable. They included the Timberjack 1110C, which was a 2003 model and recorded over 18,000 hours. Even though it was still working well, there still comes a time when change is the best policy in the interests of keeping downtime to a minimum. “Even though I looked at all manufacturers and models, in the end Ponsse seemed a more suitable machine for our needs, as its Wisent model presented a very desirable specification. I had heard some positive reviews on the service provided in Ireland and so far it has been as expected, just excellent. The machine has a 6000-hour service contract and 2000-hour warranty. To date there have been no problems and only a few minor early issues that were quickly resolved to our satisfaction. “I selected the shorter wheelbase model to allow thinnings use. It has 710mm tyres and uses Eco Baltic combination tracks with extra spikes applied to the rear for greater grip. The sliding rear bolster allows the
Left: The Ponsse uses its 10m-reach double extension crane to positive effect in the loading of crane-less articulated trucks for onward haulage to Sligo Port Below left: Tottenham Timber’s latest hauler is this Volvo FH500 6x2 with a Robinson timber trailer and a neck-mounted Kesla timber loading crane
“THE CHOICE OF TRACKS HAS MADE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE TO CLIMBING ABILITY AND HELPS THE MACHINE APPLY ITS FULL TRACTIVE ABILITY” FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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though their use requires a little more effort at each end of their journey. Robin stated, “In normal extraction the powerful double extension Ponsse K70 10m-reach crane has real advantages for both loading in the wood and stacking from within the stand on road verges. But also for us it allows ease of truck loading when crane-less trucks are running from a forest. The hoses are also very well concealed compared to other manufacturers’ machines, which can only be positive over long-term use.” Despite running an in-house fleet of timber trucks, additional vehicles were required to meet the needs of hauling a sufficient volume of material to fill a vessel, due to the lack of any storage at the port. Tottenham has a long working relationship with some of the leading timber haulage firms, including Peadar Barker Haulage and Norman Hall Transport. Between these two companies they have over 45 specialist trucks available.
With around 2000 tonnes of logs in the hold, the deck covers are replaced and an additional 100-odd tonnes are loaded as deck cargo
PORT OPERATIONS However, well before getting to the point of organising bulk haulage, there were many behind-the-scenes issues to be taken care of, including liaison with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the port authorities and the shipping agent. Prior to these tasks, the choice of which port to use was considered a critical issue to ensure the smooth running of the process. As the majority of the pulpwood generated from harvesting is across the west of Ireland, the relatively small Sligo Port appealed as the most attractive option. In addition, it proved easier to source the necessary quay space in such an operation, affording a much higher level of flexibility than working with a more intensive port operation. The shipping agent booked the RMS Rahm to take the 2100-plus tonne shipment of pulp logs to the UK. This vessel first discharged its load of Scottish saw logs at
RMS Rahm docked at Sligo Port as the pulpwood loading operation commences Youghal Port on the southern coast of Ireland, before making its way round to Sligo in the north-west of the country. In the meantime, the hauling operation to Sligo was in full flow, including satisfying the demands of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. They required a detailed record of the origin of each load
to be maintained, necessary to obtain export certification and to fulfil traceability requirements. Loading RMS Rahm started on the high evening tide of its day of arrival and continued through the night.
REHANDLING Such an intensive log-loading operation
JST Services used a Liebherr LH60 materials handler to load the pulp logs on to the vessel at Sligo Port
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SITE VISIT | TOTTENHAM TIMBER
REHANDLER TRANSPORT Despite the immense capacity that the Liebherr LH60 offers, this example remains a manageable haul for road transport, thanks to a unique adaptation undertaken by JST Services. In particular its transport height and the overall weight of the train is minimised. The adaptation consists of extreme heavy-duty coupling points on the front and rear of the LH60’s main chassis. These directly connect with a Scania R730 8x4 tractor unit up front and a specially constructed four-axle dolly manufactured by Doll in Germany at the rear. When both connections are made the LH60 is then raised clear of the road surface. Without the use of a trailer to carry the machine, its load height remains low and the whole process is much faster than loading and securing such a machine to a suitable trailer. JST must be congratulated for this innovation, as it has a strategic implication. More easily transporting such a rehandler around Ireland is a major part of opening up the option of round timber exports from small regional ports.
called for a dedicated materials rehandler, which was provided by a large capacity Liebherr LH60 from the fleet of the Scottish company JST Services. JST has machines serving at a number of Irish ports, especially on round timber handling duties, and is very experienced at this type of work. Such a loading operation is not just a case of piling logs into the ship’s hold as quickly as possible, as the entire process must be conducted in a systematic fashion to ensure the vessel remains balanced at all times. This is especially important at ports such as Sligo, due to the effects of the tide. The operators of the LH60, working shifts during such a task, made full use of the high levels of reach and grapple capacity offered by the Liebherr. They also made good use of its hydraulic system, as each cycle was rapid but extremely precise to achieve a high level of stacking accuracy. With the hold of RMS Rahm now full, the crew placed the deck panels and load stanchions to enable additional pulp logs to
be loaded as deck cargo. The ship’s captain decides on just how much deck cargo he will allow on board, greatly influenced by the predicted levels of the next high tide. In the meantime, the operator of the LH60 had gathered together the remaining logs on the temporary quayside stockpile, in readiness to load them on the deck. With this job complete the crew strapped them down and prepared the vessel for departure. The operation went incredibly smoothly, and the RMS Rahm was ready to sail several hours before the next high tide. Robin concluded by saying, “Even though there are a range of outlets for pulp, including the board mills and power generation, export has become a third option for us and provides greater choice. And giving the opportunity to best match the outlet we use according to the location of the material and domestic demand, once a large volume of pulpwood comes on stream from our harvesting operations.”
“THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEST MATCH THE OUTLET WE USE ACCORDING TO THE LOCATION OF THE MATERIAL AND DOMESTIC DEMAND” FORESTRY MACHINERY AUTUMN 2018
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CLASSIC FORESTRY | TIMBER SKIDDER
HYDROSTATICS FOR HIGH OUTPUT
Designed for the extraction of thinnings, the Roadless Logmaster was the first fully hydrostatic timber skidder. Developed to guidelines established by the Forestry Commission, it was the right machine at unfortunately the wrong time
A
WORDS AND IMAGES STUART GIBBARD
group of British Army officers involved in ccording to a dictionary tank design during the First World War. definition, a forest is a large uncultivated tract of land covered Its products included tracked, half-track and four-wheel drive conversions. Its core with trees. The definition alludes product line from the late 1950s onwards to the primitive and rugged nature of the was four-wheel drive agricultural tractors. forest environment – ground used for Roadless was regarded as the leading growing timber because the conditions are expert in off-road traction, and it developed too difficult or uneconomic for agricultural numerous concepts for various public and or other purposes. private organisations. Its products, in The extreme terrain ranges from various configurations, had been used for boulder-strewn mountain slopes to timber extraction since the 1920s, and the waterlogged peat bogs. Forestry, the company was the ideal partner art of managing such tracts of woodland, requires highly “ROADLESS for the Forestry Commission, which rapidly expanded its specialised vehicles for its WAS operations. One such machine, REGARDED AS operations at the end of the World War. which was groundbreaking in THE LEADING Second The Commission’s engineering its design, was the Roadless EXPERT IN branch, formed in the 1940s Logmaster – claimed to be the OFF-ROAD under Major-General H. P. W. world’s first fully hydrostatic TRACTION” Hutson to build forest roads and forestry skidder. maintain machinery, gradually Its manufacturer, Roadless moved into designing its own Traction Ltd, had great equipment. Colonel R. G. Shaw was experience in developing vehicles for difficult terrain. The company was originally appointed machinery research officer to oversee the development work, which was formed in 1919 to exploit patents held by a
conducted at the Commission’s experimental station at Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire. Shaw and Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Johnson, Roadless’s founder and managing director, both former military engineers, were kindred spirits. The collaboration between Roadless Traction Ltd and the Forestry Commission began in 1946. It was a very fruitful partnership, leading to the development of various machines including a half-track timber tractor and a high-clearance ‘Forest’ Land Rover.
MAN-MADE FORESTS Fast-forward to the late 1960s, when many of the man-made forests planted 30 years previously were coming to maturity. The softwood trees, planted in lines, required thinning. The plantations had been designed so that the thinnings could be extracted by skidder, but the extreme nature of the terrain, previously ploughed, crisscrossed by drainage channels, and on steep slopes, required an exceptional vehicle.
Two Roadless Logmasters awaiting delivery to the Forestry Commission
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Shaw and Johnson had long left Right: Prototype Roadless the scene, but the collaboration between hydrostatic Roadless and the Forestry Commission skidder on trial at continued. The Commission’s chief Alice Holt in 1969 research and development engineer, Roderick Ross, and Roadless’s technical director (later SPECIFICATIONS managing director), Vic Roadless Crockford, worked closely on Logmaster (1980) Engine: Perkins 4.236 various projects, including the development of a forestry skidder four-cylinder diesel; capacity, 3860cc; for the extraction of thinnings. bore, 98.4mm; stroke, The design criteria for the 127mm; horsepower, 76hp. skidder were established by Ross. Transmission: They included sufficient ground fully-hydrostatic with clearance to traverse stumps, variable-stroke pump boulders and logs; a low centre of driving four Poclain gravity for stability on side slopes; wheel motors; speeds, (forward or reverse) narrow width to negotiate forest low ratio, 0-6mph; tracks; weight kept to a minimum high ratio, 0-12mph. so as not to damage the root Steering: hydrostatic, systems of standing trees; high centre-pivot steer. Brakes: hydrostatic manoeuvrability; small turning transmission brake circle; four-wheel drive; chassis with hand-operated articulation so that all four wheels emergency and remain in contact with the ground parking brake at all times; low operating costs. systems. Winches: twin, The machine also had to be hydraulically fitted with two winches and powered, manually fairleads, a rollover safety frame, controlled with differential lock on all four wheels, remote radiocontrolled option; line and brakes that would be pull, two tonnes. unaffected by mud or water. It Dimensions: length, was a tall order, but Vic Crockford, 5.5m; wheelbase, who was an ex-aeronautical 2.59m; width, 2.09m; height, 2.67m; ground engineer with an extensive clearance, 0.58m; knowledge of hydraulic systems, weight, 5000kg. took up the challenge. Crockford opted for a pivot-steer design with a hydrostatic drive to protect the transmission from Above right: overload. Pivot steering provided excellent Forestry manoeuvrability and gave the skidder the Commission’s Mark III skidder ability to ‘walk’ itself out of difficult patches. The transmission provided infinitely variable demonstrates its articulation speeds and incorporated a dynamic braking system via a counter-balance valve. Right: Vic A Ford 5000 engine drove two dualCrockford with capacity Carron pumps powering Carronthe Mark V Becander wheel motors. Two hydraulic skidder built winches with fairleads and a front-mounted for the Forestry hydraulic blade for log rolling were fitted. Commission in The Roadless skidder was trialled at Alice 1974
ROADLESS TIMBER TRACTORS
KEY DATES
TIMELINE 50
1919
1924
1939
1946
Roadless Traction Ltd formed by group of British Army officers
Sentinel-Roadless steam tractor used for forestry work
Fordson Roadless half-track tractor adapted for timber extraction
Beginning of collaboration between Roadless and Forestry Commission
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CLASSIC FORESTRY | TIMBER SKIDDER Holt during 1969, but the Forestry Commission felt it wanted something lighter. The Commission then began developing its own prototype skidders under the supervision of Roderick Ross. Various versions, Mark l to Mark IV variants, were built from 1971-74, incorporating elements of the Roadless design with International Harvester engines, Sunstand pumps, Carron wheel motors and Brevinni power splitters. A six-wheel model was mooted but never built.
INTO PRODUCTION
Above: Launched in 1979, the Logmaster was the world’s first fully-hydrostatic forestry skidder
“THE LOGMASTER WASN’T CHEAP BUT IT COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH SIMILAR FORESTRY MACHINES” Left: Logmaster under construction in Roadless’s factory at Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire Logmaster supplied to Sheffield & Co operating in Newcastleton Forest in 1979
Following trials, a Mark V variant of the skidder, fitted with a 62hp Ford 4000 engine, was released for production. Roadless was asked to build 12 machines for delivery from June 1974, at a provisional cost of £8500 to £9000 each. The order, completed in March 1977, incorporated various modifications, resulting in the Mark VI to Mark IX machines, some of which had joysticks controlling the steering, forward/reverse, braking and differential lock. One of the more revolutionary aspects of the machines was that the winches could be operated remotely via radio control from a pack strapped to the operator’s chest. While manufacturing the skidders, Vic Crockford, appointed Roadless’s managing director in 1977, identified many aspects of the machines that could be improved or refined. Bringing in his new technical director, David Angier, who also had considerable experience in hydraulics, the two developed a more advanced forestry tractor, which was named the Roadless Logmaster. The Logmaster was powered by a 76hp Perkins 4.236 engine driving a variablestroke pump, fed via flow-dividers, to power four Poclain wheel motors. The dualcapacity wheel motors gave two speed bands – one for forestry work and the other for travelling on the road. Roadless ditched the joysticks in favour of a conventional steering wheel controlling a dual-sensitivity hydrostatic steering system. The brakes, diff locks and winches were also controlled hydrostatically. The winch system was refined so that the fairleads would pay out automatically under load.
1949
1952
1959
1968
1969
Tractors on Roadless tracks supplied for logging in Norway
Forestry Commission trials Roadless timber tractor
Prototype Roadless Land Rover developed for Forestry Commission
Roadless designs hydraulically-driven timber forwarder
Trials of experimental Roadless forestry skidder
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TIMBER SKIDDER | CLASSIC FORESTRY The safety cab was guarded and fully glazed with armoured glass. It was sound insulated and suspended on anti-vibration mounts. A Bostrom seat was provided, and the front visibility was improved by the adoption of a sloping bonnet.
ALL OR NOTHING Launched in 1979 at £29,950, the Logmaster wasn’t cheap, but it compared favourably with similar forestry machines. Roadless, having recently lost much of its core market after Ford introduced fourwheel drive versions of its own tractors, had much riding on the skidder. The Forestry Commission immediately placed an order for 36 Logmasters, and another was sold to the Cumbrian contractors, Sheffield & Co Ltd. Unfortunately, the UK was going into recession, and the slump was affecting the pulp processing and paper industry. During 1980, important pulp mills were closed at Fort William and Ellesmere Port, and the demand for softwood fell overnight. Soon afterwards, the government ordered the Forestry Commission to move out of harvesting operations, and sell the trees as standing timber to private contractors. The Commission slashed its order for the Logmaster to 24 machines, but Roadless had already built 30 and had the materials on hand for the other six. Customers were found for most of the remaining machines, but at heavily discounted prices on to a depressed market. Roadless had other projects in the pipeline, but none was successful enough to keep the company afloat – and the business went into voluntary liquidation in March 1983. The liquidated business was acquired by the Somerset Ford dealers, Jewells of Bridgwater. One unfinished Logmaster remained in stock, and this was redeveloped as the Logtrac, which was sold in 1991 to a customer in Scotland. Despite the small numbers built, the Logmaster was a successful concept, and users could not speak too highly of its performance. Several machines, still in the hands of private contractors, have only recently been retired from service.
ROADLESS TIMBER TRACTORS
KEY DATES
TIMELINE CONTINUED...
52
Above: Logmaster skidder exhibited on Roadless’s stand at the 1981 Royal Show
“THE LOGMASTER WAS A SUCCESSFUL CONCEPT AND USERS COULD NOT SPEAK TOO HIGHLY OF ITS PERFORMANCE” Right: Winches and fairleads operated remotely by radio pack on driver’s chest Roadless Logmaster developed to extract thinnings from the forest
1971
1974
1979
1983
1991
Forestry Commission’s skidders developed at Alice Holt
Roadless approached to build 12 skidders for Forestry Commission
Launch of Roadless Logmaster forestry tractor
Roadless Traction Ltd forced into voluntary liquidation
Logtrac sold by Roadless’s successor, Jewells
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READERS’ PHOTOS
WORLD OF FORESTRY
Your photos of machinery spotted in action around the globe If you’re into forestry kit, the APF show is unmissable. Among the forestry-specific machinery, David Weston spotted a number of big tractors, including this Surrey-based Fendt 936 Vario belonging to Ben Nicholson.
Another modified tractor, this time a Renault Ares 725 RZ fitted with a rear-mounted crane and cab frame, spotted by George Barford in Surrey. When the tractor isn’t pulling a trailer full of wood chips, it is attached to a forestry trailer, says George.
Hennie Hattingh saw this South African-built Dezzi AT20B forwarder working in its home country, in action in the Drakensburg Mountains near Pietermaritzburg.
A rather more simple method of transporting smaller timber is this Massey Ferguson 135, working in Lesotho, Africa. Although seemingly reliable, the tractor was in need of new tyres, comments Peter Marsh.
With snow falling in Kent, this Bruun 7510 F6 was parked up. Thanks to Jack Battersea for the photo.
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