Forestry Equipment News

The new Cat Next Generation 538 Forest Machine features several significant design upgrades that make it a top choice for working with timber. “The 538 has a reputation as a solid performer with rugged reliability,” said Giacomo Bottone, worldwide director for Caterpillar’s forestry and medium excavator family. “The Next Generation 538 builds on this foundation by being more productive, more comfortable, and costing less to maintain so owners can spend their time moving more timber, loading more trucks, and maximizing their profit potential.”

Waratah Forestry Equipment introduced a new generation of its HTH616C harvester head – the new HTH616C Series-III, which features many new service and accessibility upgrades and is highlighted by a new main control valve designed to increase performance, responsiveness, and compatibility to a greater range of carriers – including WCTL (Wheeled Cut To Length), and smaller, lower powered carriers having limited flow.

Waratah Forestry Equipment has introduced the new H424, a highly maneuverable harvester head specially designed for mid-sized wheeled and tracked machines. With an excellent power-to-weight ratio, the H424 makes quick work of second thinnings and early regeneration cuttings as well as processing or debarking applications.

One of the main features of the H424 is the new SuperCut 100S saw unit, which provides automatic chain lubrication and tensioning for improved performance and increased uptime.

Waratah Forestry Equipment is adding a mapping technology option to its TimberRiteTM H-16 control system. The all-new mapping feature provides customers with a new jobsite perspective to increase operational productivity and precision.

One of the key benefits of the mapping technology option on the TimberRite H-16 system is how it enables visualization of production on the jobsite. In conjunction with H-16, the mapping links valuable production data and information to location – improving productivity and operational precision.

Waratah Forestry Equipment debuted a new model configuration of the HTH623C harvester head. The new HTH623C loader processor (LP) features a wide delimb opening for increased productivity while its short tilt frame improves reach for higher deck piles, making it more maneuverable and ideal for tight spaces.

Waratah Forestry Equipment has introduced two new models to its 200 Series line: the H219 and H219X harvester heads. Primarily built for late thinning or final felling, the new models have a variety of features for added uptime in harvesting, processing and debarking applications.

To better meet customer needs, Komatsu is upgrading its XT-5 family of tracked feller bunchers, adding performance and operator improvements, as well as covering the machines with a special 2-Year/5,000-Hour warranty program. The XT430-5, XT445L-5 and XT465L-5 models were introduced in 2018, and these advancements were made based on customer feedback.

Waratah Forestry Equipment unveiled the new H415HD, a heavy-duty harvesting head with new features and options to suit customer feedback and rugged application needs. Standard features of the H415HD include an HD tilt frame with thicker steel plate, expander pins for upper tilt cylinder, feed roller arms, and lower delimbing knives – to improve pin durability and frame longevity. Additionally, HD feed motor and hose guards help improve durability.

Waratah Forestry Equipment has released a new large felling head model, the FL100. The large directional felling head, designed for 30+ metric ton carriers, improves productivity, increases durability and extends uptime for steep slope, shoveling and traditional felling applications.

Tigercat’s new power clam grapple series is now here, designed for use with 875 and 880D loggers and complete with durable, box-style tongs constructed with high strength steel using fatigue resistant welded construction. Additionally, all weld-on tine tips are replaceable and made from abrasion-resistant steel. This model’s jaw profile is made to load logs into the grapple as quickly as possible to obtain a full load, and also comes designed to grip a single 150 mm (6 in) diameter stem when completely closed.

Onatrio, Canada’s Tigercat Industries Inc. has successfully purchased Ragnar Original Innovations (ROI), which is based out of New Hampshire, USA. ROI, which was founded by Anders Ragnarsson, manufactures material processing machinery used in the forestry, recycling, and construction industries. Effective as of September 30th, 2019, the new acquisition will assist Tigercat in gaining a foothold in the material processing sector.

Tigercat has unveiled their new, highly anticipated 1165 wheel harvester, available in both six-wheel and eight-wheel drive configurations. The 1165 is well-fitted for thinning, selective cut, and final fell applications. This mid-sized harvester is perfect for working on steep slopes due to its strong swing and leveling capabilities that rival the competition.

Tigercat has made some upgrades to their 845E and L845E track feller bunchers. New features include a larger main hydraulic pump, a longer reach ER boom system, and increased productivity. Enhancements to operator comfort were also a key focus, which is why these advanced models will have a new, redesigned cab.

Komatsu America has officially appointed Tractor & Equipment Company (TEC) as the forestry equipment distributor for Alabama, Georgia, and Florida’s northwest region. This is a logical next step for Komatsu as TEC is already the distributor for these same regions for Komatsu’s construction and mining equipment. TEC will be handling the full line of Komatu’s forestry equipment, including log loaders, track feller bunchers, harvesting/processing heads, and wheeled harvesters.

Hiab, part of Cargotec, is extending their standard warranty globally to now encompass two years for all LOGLIFT and JONSERED forestry and recycling crane models. Terms and conditions will remain the same as before, with the three year warranty still applying to steel components. The warranty will be valid for any cranes ordered after August 1st of 2019.

Who would have ever guessed that a successful and expanding forestry company would have blossomed out of the simple desire to own a four-wheeler? For Drew Betts, owner of Clay Hill Equipment based out of New Brunswick, Canada, this unconventional progression is exactly what got him to where to he is today. At the age of only 32, Bett’s company, which started with only one employee, now consists of 30 employees, a fleet of seven harvesters working four Waratah heads, three forwarders, and nine trucks. But how did he get here? 

John Deere is now offering their Registered Apprenticeship Program to their Agriculture & Turf and Construction & Forestry dealers. The program was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and is meant to provide dealers with a formalized, on-the-job, technical training plan in order to groom more highly skilled workers. The program aims to address a widespread shortage of service technicians, a problem especially felt in rural areas throughout the country.  

Komatsu Forest is launching their upgraded 2020 product range, featuring mostly new machines, with all of them coming equipped with a brand-new engine installation conforming to the latest emission regulations. Komatsu, working in collaboration with SkogsNolia, will be debuting a number of quality improvements and new functions to their machines to simplify daily tasks for operators with an ultimate goal of increasing profitability. This includes the addition of the new MaxiVision service and the future-proof control system, MaxiXT, which take production planning to the next level.

Vermeer’s new SC382 stump cutter is the latest addition to their professional line of tree can equipment, featuring a 37 horsepower EFI Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine, an optional blade for more efficient cleanup, and a redesigned cutter wheel to further optimize performance. Enhanced power and maneuverability make this stump cutter the choice machine for all professional tree care contractors. The compact, yet powerful SC382 comes equipped with four-wheel drive and is ready to take on even the most resilient stumps.

The all new Caterpillar 299D2 XHP Land Management Compact Track Loader is a segment-focused machine created to deliver the dual advantages of efficiency and economy. This superior, purpose-built machine offers solutions for customers in demanding vegetation-management fields such as mulching, vegetation control, brush-cutting, and mowing. The 299D2 XHP is specifically streamlined for applications like site preparation, vegetation management for fire prevention, utility right-of-way clearing, railroad maintenance-of-way, forestry, and agriculture.