KOMATSU Forest has unveiled a new robust head developed for efficient eucalyptus harvesting.
The Komatsu X164E, a high-performance feed system, boasts a number of standout features, including hydraulic shears instead of a conventional chainsaw, which is said to benefit production and safety.
When developing this head, Komatsu Forest's engineering team put aside all existing head designs for softwood trees and instead focused solely on the needs and conditions of eucalyptus harvesting.
READ MORE: 6 of the best pieces of forestry equipment from 2021
Tobias Ettemo, product manager at Komatsu Forest, said: "To minimise losses in production time, we established strict requirements for the debarking function.
"With the Komatsu X164E, the ambition is for at least half of the stems to need only be fed through once, from felling cut to the end of the stem, also known as one-pass debarking."
The main difference compared to Komatsu's other heads is that the X164E slices rather than saws through the stem.
The head is equipped with extremely powerful hydraulic shears, with broad, sturdy blades, that easily and effectively slice through each stem.
"This solution reduces service and maintenance costs, including downtime, while the hydraulic shears also offer great advantages in terms of machine and operator safety," added Tobias.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here