Elmia raises the bar again [Short reviews of products featured at Elmia Wood 2001 exhibition]

Canadian Forest Industries, Aug 2001 by Jamieson, Scott

Despite poor weather, over 54000 visitors dropped in on 481 exhibitors. These numbers, plus a raft of new iron and ideas, put Elmia Wood 2001 in a class of its own.

According to Elmia Wood 2001 organizers, the international forestry fair drew over 54000 visitors, with about 1/3 of those coming from abroad. Given the constant, heavy traffic throughout the show's forest roads and boardwalks, and the number of North Americans CFI ran across, both those stats are easy to believe.

These hordes of forestry professionals were treated to an array of harvesting technology without equal in the forestry show business, with close to 30 harvesting head manufacturers to choose from, as well as some 25 harvester and forwarder manufacturers, 30 odd loader and boom makers, over 20 specialized hydraulic suppliers, 20 logging trailer manufacturers, dozens of grapple and rotator suppliers, and more.

Choosing samples for this report from among that crowd was not easy, so we've focused on technology that is or will be available here in the near future (or from companies expressing interest in the Canadian market), as well as on technology that fills a specific need here in Canada.

Space as always is limited, so we may highlight a few products in upcoming issues. We will also keep tabs on some of the newer equipment as it is introduced into Canada.

Report & photos by Scott Jamieson, editor.

Huet grapple saw a versatile tool for sort yard or mill

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The Huet Performa log handling and processing grapple is a multi-purpose tool designed for sort and log yards, and is capable of loading, unloading, measuring and cross-cutting duties. Mounted on a 15- to 30-ton excavator, the head features four grapple tongs, and can be fitted with either one or two 404 saws to cut up to 80-cm stems. Length, diameter, and volume can be measured via a pressure wheel (length) and five contact points (volume). Volume can be calculated per stem, log or truck load for inventory control, and print-outs are available. The Belgian manufacturer is looking for North American dealers for this attachment.

For more info circle reply card no 2.

From Canada you say?

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Tigercat chose Elmia to launch its mammoth 1018 forwarder, an 8WD machine with an 18000-kg/6-m[Symbol Not Transcribed] payload. The Canadian-made, number-one unit on demo was already sold to a Swedish contractor, who is seen here loading it up for the first time. The 1018 features a Scania 240-hp turbo-diesel engine (future North American units will be made in Ontario and will feature a Cummins diesel) with automatic variable speed reversible fan cooling. According to Tigercat's export manager Gary Olsen, the 1018 was designed for rugged applications and severe duty service, including a heavy-duty frame, strong pins and steer cylinders, and cast centre section with tapered roller bearings in the oscillation and articulation joints. Also immediately setting the 1018 apart is the over-sized, turntable-style cab, which rotates 270 degrees for excellent visibility and comfortable operation. The large Cranab 1250 loader and Hultdins Super Grip grapple allow 7.5 m of reach with a lift capacity of over 3 400 kg at 3 m.

Tigercat also demoed its Hemek line, including the H16 harvester with Pendo hanging cab, 246-hp engine, 9.7-m reach, and Tigercat 650 Woodking head, and the F14 forwarder.

For more info circle reply card no 1.

Tree King for fast stroking of the big-n-uglies

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Designed for trees no other processor could handle, the Swedish-made Tree King boasts a delimbing force up to an astounding 21 560 lb (9 800 kg). Tree King offers two models, one with a maximum 3.1-m stroke (5 060 lb), the other with a 5.5-m stroke (5 500 lb), both delimbing trees from 7.5 cm (3 in) up to 72 cm (28.5 in). Multiple stroking/measuring is possible for longer lengths, and models are available that both fell and process. The heads have two speed and torque modes - under normal conditions the operator would work in low torque mode (just over 10 000 lb (5 000 kg) and 9 feet/sec. When a very limby tree or large limbs are reached, the operator simply hits a button, and the torque is doubled and the speed halved. The higher speed mode can be re-instated after the tough spot is cleared. For crooked sections, the head features a pulsing action to release pressure from the delimbing arms to get around the crook, while the non-contact (stroke-length) measuring system keeps accurate track regardless of surface shape or bark. Feed roll damage is also a non-issue.

The simple head is represented in North America by Olle Melin, and as of early June there was already one unit working in the Lake States handling enormous, heavily limbed pine (if you think your trees are limby, you have to watch this video).

For more info circle reply card no 3.

Partek intros new harvester head, thinning forwarder

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Canadian thinning contractors attending Elmia Wood 2001 got a little teasing from the Partek Forest demo, where the new Valmet 830 was introduced. The promising little workhorse is a thinning machine that nonetheless carries a 9-tonne load. Unfortunately there are currently no plans to offer the Valmet 830 in North America.