Forestry Equipment News

Komatsu has signed an agreement to acquire from Prenbec Equipment the Quadco and Southstar forestry attachment operations, excluding the forestry equipment businesses of Tanguay and Forespro delimbers. By adding the Quadco felling heads and Southstar large harvester heads to the existing lines of Log Max and Komatsu small and medium-sized harvester heads, Komatsu looks to become an industry leader in forestry attachments. The move will allow Komatsu to offer its customers a full range of forestry attachments.

John Deere has debuted its Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) on its 1270G Harvester. This is the first time IBC has been offered in the harvester category, providing operators with increased accuracy and productivity. The increased focus and decreased learning times of operators contribute to a whole new level of capabilities that are now achievable, thanks to this one-of-a-kind upgrade.

Tigercat is expanding its 855 E-series forestry carrier platform with the introduction of a new cab design. It boasts a new electronic control module featured on a touch-screen display on an adjustable mount. Frequently used controls have been incorporated into joystick pods.

The new 2160 loader forwarder by Tigercat boasts a 27-tonne payload capacity and is equipped with Tigercat’s WideRange drive system as well as Tigercat-built bogie axles designed for high tractive effort, quick travel speeds and mechanical reliability.

The new TimberOffice Data Transfer (TODT) mobile application by John Deere will allow users to transfer data such as work and production statistics from forestry machines back to the home office, even when little or no cellular service is available. The application, available for iOS and Android, is currently in market for cut-to-length forestry machines.

John Deere has announced a new extended stick boom option for the 800MH-Series tracked harvesters. With a design based on customer feedback, the new extended boom stick offers a longer reach option, enabling operators to minimize the number of cut trails. A longer boom means less frequency of machine movement, which not only helps operators harvest larger areas without interruption, but also benefits the surrounding terrain. All of this allows for a simpler, faster way to harvest in the woods all while meeting local regulations.

John Deere’s new Worldwide Parts Services Regional Distribution Center (RDC) in Miami, Fla., is a 115,000-square-foot facility that will serve dealers and customers in Latin America—with the exception of Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, which already house RDC locations. 

The Barko 270B logging processor is built with uncompromised power and performance being the primary goal. Providing excellent horsepower, swing torque and tractive effort, the 270B features a dangle head boom configuration for delimbing and cut-to-length harvesting. Additionally, the hydraulic system on the 270B is designed so that operators can instantaneously shift from function to function, without delayed reactions, allowing for optimal picking, delimbing, cutting to length, and stacking.

Morbark has announced the acquisition of Rayco Manufacturing to broaden the range of tree care and industrial equipment, aftermarket parts, and service offered to their customers. Rayco brings a lineup of equipment into the Morbark family across multiple product categories. In particular, Rayco stump cutters, aerial trimmers, forestry mulchers and crawler trucks will enhance and complement the existing Morbark family of products.

The 1910G Forwarder is the latest and largest model added to John Deere's forwarder lineup. The 1910G forestry machines are equipped with a Final Tier 4 200kW/268 horsepower engine, with maximum engine output increased by 7.5% and torque by 21% compared to previous models. Additionally, the drive hydraulics have been increased, with the transmission featuring 4.5% more tractive force. Other specs include a 41,888 lb. (19 000 kg) load rating, 23.6 ft. (7.2 m) / 27.9 ft. (8.5 m) boom reach, 169,639 lbf. (230 kNm) tractive effort, 111,375 ft. lb. (151 kNm) gross lifting torque, and 30,240 ft. lb. (41 kNm) gross slewing torque.

The all-new 6310B Drum Chipper by Peterson Pacific Corp. will make quick work of a wide variety of feed material, from logs up to 36″ (91 cm) in diameter, to brush and small feedstock. The 6310B Drum Chipper is powered by a 1050 hp (772 kW) C27 Caterpillar engine, and has an optional Tier IV engine available.

The Peterson 5050H Delimber Debarker Disc Chipper is the latest new stationary, electric chipper by Peterson Pacific Corp, which produces high quality low bark content chips for wood pulp and pellets, processing whole trees in one continuous operation. The 5050H features a feed throat that can accept up to a 23-inch (56 cm) diameter single tree and has chipping production rates up to 150 tons (136 tonnes) per hour.

Some forestry workers around the world are ditching their heavy equipment and embracing draft horse logging as a low-cost and lucrative forestry operation...or are they? Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons why horse logging is making a resurgence.

On their 25th anniversary, Tigercat makes yet another splash in the forestry industry with a vivid and stunning documentary showcasing loggers around the world and the company's connection to the customer. If you have ever been curious about how forestry machines are created, want to know more about Tigercat, or just want to watch a movie about our industry that is engaging, exciting and makes you feel proud of what you do, this is a great video to watch.

Tigercat has been busy designing and building a robust telematics solution, named RemoteLog, to track and communicate key machine performance metrics from even in the most remote locations, as is common for off road logging and forestry operations. RemoteLog uses a satellite data connection that provides global coverage.

John Deere's L-Series of Skidders, the 640L, 648L, 748L, 848L, and 948L, has been updated with several new enhancements and additions. Among the new additions are, upgrades to the engines to increase horsepower, simplified engine aftertreatment system, and new grapple and boom options. The updated L-Series Skidders are now available in North America.

Barko Hydraulics, the manufacturer of forestry equipment, has announced that Crosby Equipment Company is joining its dealer network. Crosby Equipment will be a dealer for Barko's logging and land clearing equipment in Georgia.

Got some challenging forests that need thinning out? Well the the new eight-wheeled Komatsu 901XC forestry harvester was made specifically for doing just that in steep terrain and on soft ground.

The new Komatsu PC290LL-11 is worth a good look if you're looking for a new log loader or road builder to enhance your logging operation. The PC290LL-11 touts an improved high capacity cooling system, high drawbar pull, all LED lighting, more comfortable operator controls, additional forestry guarding, narrower transport width, and KOMTRAX 5.0.

John Deere released an upgraded harvester stick boom attachment for all 800MH- and 900MH-Series tracked harvesters. The new stick boom has a narrower design to help minimize damage to harvested trees.