From grabs to tree shears, mulchers to tilt-rotators, there are so many items you can attach to an excavator for forestry work. In our latest buyer’s guide, we take a look at just some of those very products on offer.

FIELD AND FOREST MACHINERY 

GMT Grapple Saws
Manoeuvrability and dexterity: The GMT grapple saws are known for their unmatched manoeuvrability and dexterous handling, allowing operators to perform complex cutting tasks with ease. Whether working in tight spaces or handling delicate operations, GMT grapple saws deliver precise and reliable performance on timber up to 500 mm.
Single- and double-extension booms: For added reach and flexibility, GMT grapple saws are available with both single- and double-extension booms. This optional feature ensures that operators can safely access higher and more challenging cutting zones, enhancing their operational range and capability.
 
Westtech
Grapple saws and tree shears: Westtech’s range of grapple saws and tree shears are engineered for heavy-duty applications, offering exceptional power and cutting strength. With tree shears able to cut diameters of up to 700 mm and grapple saws capable of cutting up to 750 mm, these attachments are designed to tackle demanding forestry tasks safely and efficiently.
Timber splitting and processing equipment: Westtech timber-processing tools stand out for their robust build and effectiveness in splitting and processing timber. Their advanced engineering provides dependable performance, enabling operators to process large volumes of timber quickly and efficiently.

OMEF 
Powerful and reliable: The OMEF tree shear range is a testament to reliability and robust power. These tree shears are ideal for forestry professionals seeking equipment that can withstand rigorous use. Engineered with precision and durability, OMEF shears deliver outstanding cutting performance for various forestry applications.

Intermercato and Powerhand 

Versatile and efficient: Field and Forest’s selection of Intermercato and Powerhand forestry grabs are tailored for versatility and high-performance logging operations. These grabs are designed for both general handling and specialised applications and are available with or without rotation to suit different job requirements.
Rotation options: The inclusion of rotation options on many models ensures that operators can achieve precise positioning and handling, enhancing overall workflow and reducing operation time.

FEMAC and OMEF – Mulchers and Flails
Extensive range and configurability: Field and Forest Machinery offers an extensive selection of FEMAC and OMEF forestry mulchers and flails, renowned for their durability and powerful performance. These attachments can be customised with features such as walking legs and recovery heel brackets to improve stability and control during operation.
Performance and reliability: Both FEMAC and OMEF mulchers and flails are designed for optimal vegetation management, offering efficient mulching and clearing capabilities. Their reliable construction ensures long-lasting performance, even in the most demanding conditions.

Customer-Driven Approach
At Field and Forest Machinery, customer satisfaction is the top priority. Field and Forest Machinery takes a customer-driven approach, working closely with each client to understand their unique requirements and tailor solutions that best fit their operational needs. From initial consultations to after-sales support, it is committed to providing an exceptional customer experience.

In-House Design and Fabrication Team
Field and Forest Machinery’s in-house design and fabrication team is equipped with advanced machinery, including a plasma cutting table, allowing us to create custom hitches, brackets, and modifications with exceptional turnaround times. 

After-Sales Support and Expertise
Field and Forest Machinery not only provides high-quality forestry attachments but also ensures long-term support for its customers.

For details on the full Field and Forest Machinery range of attachments and products, contact the team:
01506 862 371  |  sales@fieldandforestltd.co.uk

JAS P WILSON 
MANTIS 

AN excavator attachment unlike anything else . . . the Mantis Multi-Axis Tree Pruner from Jas P Wilson delivers a unique solution to safety and staffing issues.

As seen at the APF 2024, this incredible attachment – operated fully from the safety of an excavator’s cab – allows a trained operator to replicate their arb techniques of British Standard pruning, trimming and handling activities – processes which would otherwise require high-risk hand cutting – reducing the labour requirement for climbers and ground crew within the risk area.

With a multi-axis pruning saw bar and grapple attachment, it can reach and cut tree limbs at the exact angle you require, to firstly achieve clean arb cuts reflective of your arb techniques.

Secondly, once cut, that same machine can cut and “tidy up” timber into useable lengths (where a harvester is not suitable) for firewood processing or milling. Operators can work to remove notches and cut timber to length for secondary processing. These valuable lengths can then be neatly stacked for extraction or fed into other machinery by this same attachment . . . for example, feeding an awaiting woodchipper.

Jas P Wilson is now retailing production models of this Multi-Axis Pruning Saw, meaning this game-changer in mechanised arb is now available to transform your workload. It’s designed to offer operators the ability to replicate a wide range of precision cuts . . . far closer aligned to the finish you would expect from hand-cutting with a chainsaw than anything which is currently available in the mechanised arb marketplace.

The agile and narrow cutting head allows operators to position the saw in the same locations as they would a hand saw, without the associated risks of hand cutting, which are well-documented. 

This unique ability is achieved using a carefully considered arrangement of components and design innovations. This differs from the opportunity provided by other mechanised arb solutions, such as tree shears or grapple saws, as it allows for highly accurate positioning, and a clean bar-and-chain cut. 

The resulting finish from experienced arb-qualified operators can easily achieve British Standards, ensuring work is carried out not only quickly and safely, but also in a way which supports tree health.

The three available models each offer something a little different. Together these models cover a wide range of base machine sizes, workloads and requirements. The three available models include the Compact, Midi and HD models, which cover from 2.5-tonne to 20-tonne-plus excavators. Models have specification differences to support a range of activities, such as highways, woodland management, contracting, local authorities etc. Please enquire for full details.

To discuss any of these new machines, contact sales director Simon Clingan: 
01556 612233  |  simon.clingan@jaspwilson.co.uk

OAKLEAF 
HYPRO 

HYPRO recently introduced a new model of felling grapple that can be mounted on excavators, as well as forwarders and even trucks. 

The FG60 is the largest felling grapple Hypro has ever produced.

The felling grapple is completely unique in its size class where the grapple claws open 150 cm tip to tip, but can still grip and hold as small a diameter as approx. 5.5 cm.

The cutting diameter is over 60 cm with a 75-cm-long energy saw bar for unparalleled cutting ability and chain retention for both coarse trunks, shrubbery and multi-stem cuts. All this at a weight from just 340 kg.

The FG60 is developed for minimal hose usage, low weight, great cutting ability and unsurpassed agility. Equipped with a rotator, it can rotate freely in 360°. 

Distinctive for the connection version “FA” is a fully hydraulic construction, with automatic function for tilt and cut via commands for “open grapple” and “close grapple”. No additional control system is therefore required to operate the felling grapple. 

The connection version “EC” (Electric Control) will also be selectable for the FG60 and then comes with electronic control of all functions. The hydraulics are always fed via the open/close grapple function, but an electric signal determines which function of the felling grapple is operated. This is controlled via cable or via radio signal and battery pack.

Hypro felling grapples can be mounted on basically all cranes with a rotator, for example on trucks, forestry trailers, forwarders or excavators. 

The felling grapples are used for example to fell, cut, load and unload trees, branches and debris along roads, cableways, and in park and urban environments.

The FG60 versions will be equipped as standard in the energy felling grapple version, equipped with open grapple claw fingers (brush claws) and a 75 cm-long, oval-shaped energy saw bar. Optional saw motor sizes will be 10/14/19 cc.

Contact Oakleaf for more information on Vimek, Sampo Rosenlew, Kesla, and Hypro. 
028 3833 0011  |  www.oakleafforestry.com

RSL ENGINEERING

WE all know excavator attachments need to be tough; they are abused in many ways. RSL Engineering builds tough, functional equipment. RSL’s products are built to last with old-school engineering at heart. Its managing director, Richard Page, has a “thinking outside of the box” attitude. Over the years many customers come with ideas that RSL has been able to design and build in-house, as off-the-shelf products have not been available.

RSL has come up with attachments to improve your efficiency such as its Root Ripper tine which enables smaller machines to remove tree stumps much more effectively. Teamed up with one of RSL’s Thumb grabs, either standard design or the new bucket-mount thumb grabs, they are an unbeatable combination.

RSL has, over the past 10 years, been successfully developing one of the UK’s best tree shears for mid-size and upward excavators. The 12-inch to 20-inch cut “Lite” and “Standard” shears are very powerful and safe and are trusted by many across the UK. Safety is key, especially when working near roads, properties or powerlines. The shears feature Liebherr worm drives; while not a budget option, RSL has found them to be strong and ultimately reliable. The shears also feature our double hand hold grab. As is the RSL way of doing things differently, it is the only company in the market to produce a wide-section grab. Simply put, the more grab area the limb/tree is spread over, the less chance of the tree slipping out or flipping around the grab arm.

The issue RSL has found is that it no longer has a light shear for smaller excavators. To counter this, RSL has been working on a new lopper-style shear. The new tree lopper is a small, powerful tree shear, with a new-to-the-market design and specifically made for 2.5-tonne excavators up.

This new lopper will have an 8-inch cut (larger to follow) and can be fitted with 360-degree rotation and upper grab for safe handling. The shear will also have the ability to cut close to the tree trunk for tidy de-limbing. RSL is currently still testing, and the new shear will be available for 2025. 

For all your excavator attachments, contact RSL Engineering:
0203 305 6509
admin@rslengineering.co.uk
www.rslengineering.co.uk

FUELWOOD 
MECANIL 

ONE key area where forestry machinery has progressed is grapple-saw attachments. The Mecanil grapple saw is the safest and most efficient method for tree removal, especially in sensitive areas like parks or residential areas. Controlled from the ground via a remote-control unit, the grapple saw eliminates the need for climbing, rigging and cutting by hand. Aside from faster tree removal, the grapple saw saves you money, promotes safety, and alleviates the need for a tedious clean-up. Mecanil offers a variety of models.
 
SG280 G2
Easy-to-use and lightweight grapple saw with tilt. The grapple saw is a combination of a high-powered chainsaw that can cut through wood within seconds, and a strong grapple that locks onto the tree allowing the operator to lower the limb to the ground in a controlled manner, preventing property damage or injury to people below. Suitable for installation on various base machines.
• Knuckleboom cranes
• Forest trailers with cranes
• Tractors
• Forwarders
• Excavators (free hanging)

Cuts up to 25” diameter. Also available in smaller versions for different applications.

SG210 G2/SG270 G2
These grapple saws have the same features as the SG280, but without the tilt function. The SG210 and SG270 work with two double-acting hydraulic lines (grapple open/close and saw out/in). Suitable to install on excavators.

Call 01926 484673 or email sales@fuelwood.co.uk

MARSHALL AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
VAHVA AND WESTTECH

Since the production of the Vahva grapples started in 1976, the aim of product development has been to make them even stronger. 

To reach this goal, they draw on the knowledge of the best experts in the field – their clients. As a result, Vahva grapples have become extremely popular, which is why the main focus is now to continue to develop them to meet the needs of international users.
Thanks to close cooperation between Vahva and its clients, the grapples provide excellent functionality and the most advantageous design, ensuring they are designed precisely as their users want and need them to be.

Marshall also supplies a wide range of Westtech attachments, including tree shears and log splitters. 

marshalllogging.co.uk