Not surprisingly, the most popular machines in an industry tend to be ones that are used more domestically. While big machines like harvesters are necessary to begin the forestry
harvesting process on a commercial level, the most commonly used forestry machines in the United States tend to be wood
chippers. These portable processing machines are typically hitched or mounted to the back of a truck. They use a feeding system made of a heavy flywheel or drum mounted with blades that shreds the wood into smaller pieces and blows them into a pile. Most residential wood chippers are made to handle smaller limbs and trees. However, some of the bigger machines, often called stub grinders can handle trees up to 6-8 feet in diameter.
One of the most intriguing (and possibly frightening) forestry machine is a newer concept called a walking harvesters. After over a decade of research both
John Deere and Timberjack have revealed and tested prototypes of 6 legged harvesters that can actually walk across terrain that wheels or tracks could not sustain. Each leg on both sides sits at reciprocating angles and has two joints to allow for maximum stability. Like most harvesters, the processing head of this futuristic machine has the complete ability to handle a tree for harvesting. This walking machine uses the claws of its processing head to firmly grasp a tree. It then cuts the tree horizontally and turns it to the ground. Then the rollers inside the head speedily pushes the tree through the machine removing its branches. At this point the operator can cut the tree into the desired log size and repeat the process until the branches are fully removed and the tree has been evenly sliced. Maneuverability is the true strength of the walking harvester but when it comes to brute force in the forestry industry look no further than the Tigercat 726G. Out of all
of the machines crawling through the trees, this Tigercat remains the kind of the jungle. The 726G easily takes on grabs and cut trees up to 6 feet in diameter before easing them down to ground by using items felling saw or can attach its bunching saw to cut and hold onto up 8 smaller trees in under a minute. Once the Tigercat 726G is finished with all those trees it requires a massive forwarder to haul them away. The perfect massive machine for the job is the Komatsu 890.3. With an eight-wheeled drive operating weight of over 26 tons this forwarder can haul more than any other of its kind. The Komatsu 890.3 also stretches an astonishing 3 stories long and can reach its crane almost equally as high. The 890.3 is hands down the most impressive machine in the forestry industry.
Due to such a wide range of tasks needed to be accomplished in the forestry industry, it takes many different types of heavy machines to accomplish every undertaking. In order to
efficiently move trees from their upright position two different types of apparatuses are used. The most common of these machines is, quite appropriately, called a
harvester. With its multi-functioning processing head, the harvester is arguably one of the most impressive member of the heavy equipment family. The most efficient machines can even grab, cut, and delimb a tree fully grown tree in a matter of seconds. Harvesters use wheels or tracks depending on the terrain and are often articulated for increased stability. The harvesters dynamic head is only fitted for one tree at time, so in order to be able to fell and grab multiple trees before releasing them foresters use a machine called a
feller buncher. Similar to the harvester, the feller buncher has a articulated crane like arm but due to its focus on quantity of trees at one time, loses the the functionality of debranching the trees. Because of this feller bunchers are typically followed by a processor to remove the limbs and cutting the tree into sections. Once the trees have been processed and are on the ground skidder or
forwarder will pick them and move them. Skidders will carry or skiders the the logs to a designated area to be handled later while forwarder come fitted with a trailer that the crane hovers over to drop in and transport the processed logs.
With new technologies unfolding, environmental rules changing, and new business connections always needing to be made it is important to stay informed on the happenings of the forestry industry. One way to do this is through the Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo. This grand exposition is held
in Atlanta, Georgia in June of every other year. The next will be held in 2019. At this event you will have the chance to see what new equipment is on the horizon, attend educational sessions, and talk to representatives within the industry such as researchers from the Auburn School of Forestry,
Timber Machine Technologies, and Nelson Bros. Engineering.
Buying used heavy equipment within the forestry industry isn't always easy. However, certain pages like the Mascus Online Showroom allows potential buyers to search and find the specific machine they need to fit any wide range of forestry needs. Mascus actually has thousands of forestry machines for sale ranging from small wood chippers to huge harvesters. If you are trying to sell your used forestry equipment Mascus also has a simple way for you to get your machine in front of potential buyers from all around the world. You can click here to begin the process and get your used heavy forestry equipment sold.