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SUPPLIERNEWSLINE
By Tony Kryzanowski
Canadian loggers tour Hyundai facilities in South Korea
The Canadian contingent of the Hyundai 2014 VIP South Korea tour in September was impressed with both the enormous manufacturing capabilities of their host, major multi-national Hyundai Heavy Industries, as well as the company’s capabilities in manufacturing high quality heavy equipment for the construction and forest industries.
There were 57 Canadians on the Hyundai VIP Tour, and about half were logging contractors from B.C., Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. Logging and Sawmilling Journal Publisher Rob Stanhope represented the magazine on the four-day tour.
After flying into the city of Pusan, the group toured a number of Hyundai facilities in South Korea, including the company’s massive excavator and wheel loader manufacturing plants in the city of Ulsan. The excavator plant produces the 9 Series of Hyundai Robex excavators. The company produces a range of wheel loaders at its manufacturing plant in Ulsan, from 125 hp to 335 hp, all of which are powered by Cummins engines with ZF transmissions.
The tour included an impressive demo of a variety of the company’s mobile equipment machines. Hyundai also manufactures backhoe loaders, forklifts and more than 150 models of heavy equipment and industrial vehicles.
The plant tours highlighted Hyundai’s highly advanced factory automation, zero-tolerance quality control inspection system, and innovative engineering.
The group had a first-hand look at the new Hyundai Cummins Engine Co. (HCEC) joint-venture engine production facility, in the city of Daegu. The engines built at HCEC will be supplied to the Hyundai construction equipment facilities, for installation in excavators and wheel loaders. This facility has the capacity to ramp up production to over 50,000 engines per year, spanning a broad power range from 133 hp to 365 hp.
They also had a tour of the world’s largest shipbuilding yard in Ulsan, which covers a massive 1,780 acres. In addition to being a major manufacturer of heavy equipment, Hyundai Heavy Industries is the world’s largest shipbuilder. This facility also manufactures marine engines for 45 percent of the world’s shipping fleet.
While the tour left attendees impressed by the current capabilities of Hyundai, the company and the hosts of the tour, Sam Yoon, President/CEO of Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Kirk Gillette, vice-president, and Curtis Goettel, North American marketing and dealer development manager, emphasized that Hyundai has a strong commitment to research and development, and that it is working on innovating in the heavy equipment area, to develop products that meet the needs of its heavy equipment customers in Canada, the U.S., and around the world. An example of this is Hyundai’s Hi-mate, the company’s newly developed remote management system, which allows customers—including logging operations and sawmills—to remotely evaluate machine performance and verify machine locations, at the touch of a button.
In addition to viewing manufacturing facilities, the tour also included numerous cultural events, such as the tour of the Asian Memorial Hall, and several dinners, at which the North American VIP Tour delegation attempted to sing a traditional Korean folk song.
Automated option available for saw pouring
The automated Babbitt pouring machine is a fully enclosed robotic cell which completely automates the Babbitt pouring process, removing the operator from the hazards of Babbitt pouring and completely eliminating fumes.
Saw filers simply program the number of Babbitt pads, push a button and walk away, dedicating themselves to safer and more important tasks and returning once the process is complete. The machine is also equipped with numerous sensors to monitor quality, ensuring that the final result is not jeopardized.
Williams and White Equipment says that the automated Babbitt pouring machine is an exciting addition to the industry.
www.williamsandwhiteequipment.com
Komatsu America launches new C93 thinning/harvesting head
Komatsu America’s Forestry Division describes its new C93 harvesting head—the first model in its new C-series family of “carry-style” heads—as a versatile, all-around head.
The C93 head, which weighs in at 2138 lbs., replaces the prior 350.1 model, and offers significant improvements for better handling of thinning projects as well as crooked stem and multi-stem harvesting applications, says the company.
With a recommended DBH working range of 6” to 15” diameter, and a maximum cutting capacity up to a diameter of 23.6”, the C93 is available installed on Komatsu 911.5 and 931.1 harvesters. The head is also available as a loose head for installation on other carriers.
The C93’s new robust frame design enables the head to more closely follow the tree trunk. The increased rearward tilt angle, which is 40 degrees versus 25 degrees, provides faster feeding performance while reducing head frame stress when harvesting and/or reaching on downhill slopes.
The high-performance, three-driven roller, four motor carry-style feed system is said to provide excellent log wrap for multi-stem processing, while generating up to 5688 lb/f of feed force at up to a 16.4 ft/sec. feed speed.
The C93 is equipped with one lower and two upper hydraulically controlled delimbing knives, and a fixed vertical top knife. The upper knives are designed especially for handling trees with tough limbs, such as lodgepole pine.
Komatsu’s new ‘Constant Cut’ saw control system features a 29.5” saw bar, which includes a new 19cc saw motor with an integrated valve that delivers precise control of saw hydraulic flow and pressure. This constant management of flow and pressure allows the chain speed to be maintained at a constant 130 ft/sec throughout the entire cutting cycle. Komatsu says this Constant Cut system, along with automatic chain tensioning and automatic ‘EcoOiler’ chain oiling, delivers faster cutting performance, reduced fuel consumption, reduced chance of splitting and/or cracking, reduced saw maintenance, and longer saw motor life. Optional multi-stem accumulation, stump treatment and color marking systems are available to meet specific customers’ needs.
Autolog Carriage Optimizer
The Autolog Carriage Optimizer allows for among the best log scanning in the industry thanks to its high frequency multiple laser lines full-profile scanner, says the company.
Its features include:
- Linear scan with encoder or snapshot scan function modes
- Best opening face (BOF) or Minimum opening face (MOF) optimization modes
- Supports curve sawing systems
- True Shape modelling
- Unlimited production parameter files
The characteristics of the Autolog Carriage Optimizer include:
- Unlimited number of products configurable and optimization based on price or volume
- Configurable prioritization of the boards produced in the cant vs. those produced in the slab
- Will fit any mechanical configuration
- Full optimization of the log considering the turning sequence
- Consider wane and skip of the boards in the optimization
- Possibility of excluding products in predetermined logs (for example, not doing 1” thick boards in 8’ and longer logs)
- High precision ScanMeg full-profile scanner reaches an accuracy of 0.025”
- Visible class II eye safe laser technology
- Optimizes according to planer target dimensions
- User can simulate and do board capture without interfering with production
- Customizable, independent and secured by password user session
- Fast and easy calibration
- Logfile, alarm history and automatic save archives
- Integrated report system
New Tigercat forwarder crane and grapple options
Tigercat has released new crane and grapple options to enhance the Tigercat 1075B forwarder.
Designed and built by Tigercat, the new heavy duty F195T85 crane is capable of lifting 20 to 30 per cent heavier loads and has 22 to 66 per cent more slew torque than any other competing crane on the market, says the company. The crane geometry is optimized for quick loading and unloading cycles with excellent grapple clearance above the load. It is also the only crane that can handle a 0.53 m2 grapple, says Tigercat, a great advantage in smaller diameter log applications.
The F195T85 is the only crane with standard end-of-position dampening sensors on the stick and main booms to prevent impact loads. The tapered roller bearing in the slew base is designed to last the life of the machine, a vast improvement over the plain bearing and spherical rollers used in other cranes, according to the company. It is also the only crane with swivels on the pillar hoses for extended hose life, thick walled bushings used at all pivots and a cushioned telescopic cylinder.
The new Tigercat 430 and 530 series grapples complement the new crane with larger load area capacities at 0.43 m2and 0.53 m2 respectively.
Fecon’s LOG JAW wood splitter gets new excavator capabilities
Fecon Inc now offers the excavator mounted Log Jaw wood splitter in its forestry attachment product line. The Log Jaw is a hydraulic-powered wood splitting attachment that is also made for skid steers and loaders.
The Log Jaw will rip apart long, large diameter logs and stumps into manageable pieces for chippers, wood grinders, or for firewood processing and is Fecon’s low cost, high return solution for handling oversized and difficult to process logs and stumps that would otherwise require expensive disposal fees.
Splitting logs into optimally-sized pieces improves the efficiency and production of chippers and grinders, while putting less stress on and requiring less horsepower from the processing equipment.
The Log Jaw attachment, weighing approximately 995 lbs, mounted on an excavator has a 40” jaw opening tip to tip and 360 degrees of rotation, allowing the operator to attack oversized wood from any angle. Made for 8 to 16 ton excavators, a mount will be built to the excavator’s specifications for easy installation.
New Husqvarna pro-range 543 XP lighter, faster and compact
When forestry professionals need to do serious work, one chainsaw feature becomes more important than any other: weight. Ready for any professional grade task, the new Husqvarna 543 XP can be used for hours at a time, without the burden of heavy equipment.
Extraordinary limbing performance has been a main characteristic of Husqvarna pro chainsaws for years. Now, with the launch of the 543 XP, a new weight standard of 4.5 kg has been set in the pro-range. This extends the gap to the closest competing product to 0.2 kg.
Outfitted with X-Torq, the 543 XP has 20 per cent less fuel consumption and up to 75 per cent less emissions, the company says. Couple this with Husqvarna’s Smart Start technology, which reduces pull cord resistance allowing for a quick start, and the 543 XP is designed to save time and money.
John Deere 1110E forwarders now equipped with Intelligent Boom Control
Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) is now offered as an option on all of John Deere’s 1110E forwarders.
John Deere says this technological breakthrough significantly increases forwarder productivity and efficiency, while providing best possible fuel economy and boom lifetime.
IBC has been praised for its ability to operate the boom with more precision, making it easier for the operator and easier on the equipment. Using the IBC system, the operator controls the boom tip directly instead of controlling each of the independent boom joint movements manually. This makes boom operation accurate, fast and easy. By eliminating extra movements, this system also increases the durability of boom structures and hydraulic cylinders. These features significantly improve an operator’s working speed, resulting in higher overall productivity and lower costs.
The IBC system can also accelerate the learning curve for operators. Intuitive and easy to learn to use, the technology reduces the amount of time it takes to become a skilled operator, resulting in less training time, says the company.
John Deere’s 1110E forwarder with the IBC option is now available in North America. IBC is also offered as an option on all of John Deere’s 1210E and 1510E forwarders.
Turbo precleaners protect forestry equipment engines
Turbo precleaners are designed to extend the life of engine air filters, reduce downtime, lower maintenance costs, and installing a precleaner will help keep logging equipment running efficiently in dusty, debris-filled environments.
Turbo precleaners protect logging equipment and sawmilling machinery engines from highly-damaging dust before it can enter the engine.
What sets Turbo precleaners apart from other precleaners is a straight-through airflow pathway which creates less air intake restriction, to optimize engine power and reduce air filter replacements. Engineered paddles create centrifugal force which ejects up to 85 per cent of contaminants through discharge ports, effectively removing airborne debris such as dust, dirt and moisture, including particles as small as one micron.
For logging equipment configurations, Turbo precleaners are available with a bull-nose option, which allows them to be mounted inside an enclosed compartment. Tigercat installs Turbo precleaners on their 726D feller bunchers inside a protective “dog house” where the precleaner efficiently prevents fine dust, wood chips and debris from entering the engine, keeping Tigercat equipment up and running with less maintenance time and expense.
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