There’s no doubt compact excavators for tree work are now commonplace in many tree-care businesses, proven as significant time and effort savers when moving material, feeding chippers or loading logs. But as most will already know, there’s a tipping point when it comes to transport and access challenges once you start exploring the benefits of excavators for tree work.
If your goal was to put an excavator into tree-facing work – such as removals – rather than handling logs on the ground, what are the suggested options around this tipping point of excavator size versus capability and log-handling on the ground?
“If you could, just go with a 15-tonner,” laughed Rey Kell, Forest Centre Director and Sales Manager, before conceding, “we’re really excited to shift from this stance though, and offer new grapplesaw models made specifically for the eight-ton to 15-ton range of machines.
“Until now, the purpose-built grapple-saw options for this class were extremely limited.”
Woodcracker CS545 compact
Westtech Woodcracker’s new CS545 may look familiar, being based on the CS750 Smart already popular with tree-care contractors on slewing telehandlers. It features the same advanced .404″ saw unit with automatic chain tensioning, grease-type chain lubrication, and strong, worm-drive rotator. Stems up to 540mm diameter can be cut with the CS545.
“When the brief calls for an easy install using only two hydraulic circuits, and a work approach that’s more about precision holding when taking picks from the tree, the CS545 would be a great choice,” explained Rey.
Hultdins SuperCut and easy maintenance
The saw unit used in Westtech grapple saws is from Hultdins, Sweden, conveniently a brand also represented in Australia by Forest Centre. Every second tree harvested in the world is cut with a Hultdins SuperCut saw system – a statistic testament to the reliability and market standing behind what may be an otherwise unfamiliar name on an equipment spec sheet. At the other end of the Woodcracker, the attachment is fixed to the machine via a 360-degree worm-drive rotator. By nature of their design, worm drives have significantly more holding force than turning force.
“From the operator’s seat, when taking your thumb off the rotate controls, an uneven load in the grapple is held rigid until you actively rotate again in either direction,” explained Rey.
This aspect may be particularly beneficial in specific situations – like when working in tight quarters and training new operators.
There’s a trade-off, however, that excavator operators familiar with tiltrotators may see coming: worm-drive rotators require special attention for both greasing and avoiding damage from rotate-axis overloads. Westtech cleverly addressed the former when designing its attachments, with an optional rotator auto-greasing system – fitted on all Australian-sold units – providing constant lubrication to the worm gear drive.
Vosch 1510
Equipped with seven finger jaws, the new Vosch 1510 resembles more of a multipurpose sorting and handling grapple with a robust saw unit bolted to the side.
The 1510 shares the same saw unit as its bigger sibling excavators for tree work on 20-ton and 30-ton machines, but with a shorter 33″ saw bar and cutting capacity of up to 600mm.
All Vosch saws use the 3/4″-pitch harvester cutting system.
“This is the heavy-hitting all-rounder” Rey added. “It’s a tough grapple, designed to cover a wider range of work as well as put larger timber down quickly if needed.”
The Vosch rotator houses a conventional slewing drive similar to its forestry cousins. With this design, turning power and capacity to ‘float’ is the emphasis over static holding. When the operator closes the jaws around a trunk section or pushes them into a pile of logs for example, the grapple can align itself.
“At the joysticks it’s a hands-on rather than hands-off approach for rotation,” Rey explained. “After cutting, the operator has immediate feedback for what is needed at the controls to hold a tree section, rotate upwards to vertical, slow its downward tipping, or even put it down quickly.”
Installation-wise, three separate hydraulic work-tool functions are required from the excavator for the 1510; one each for grapple, rotate and saw. This is a step beyond what’s available on standard excavators, providing fully independent and simultaneous control of all functions if needed.
Considered decisions
When venturing into the space of mechanised tree-care works, especially excavators for tree work, the stakes can be high. A work-tool attachment such as a grapple saw or tree shear might represent a small purchase to help ease an occasional workflow bottleneck with existing equipment, right through to a huge investment as part of a new front-frontline machine package.
“We’re all learning, all the time,” offered Rey Kell, hinting at the steady upward trajectory of mechanised arb in Australia. “It’s vital we learn as much as possible about the operational needs and limitations from a customer, just the same as we need to educate on these same factors for the equipment options available.”
For more information about treehandling attachment combinations, check out the company’s social channels, visit forestcentre.com.au, or simply give them a call on (02) 6947 2833.