Supplier Newsline

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New High-Tech Measurement Instrument

KLN Klein Product Development Inc. of Langley, BC, was awarded the contract to custom-engineer and manufacture VTI - Video Tooth Inspectors for Forintek Canada Corp., a large logging industry research institute. VTI is a new, convenient and precise instrument that measures the geometry of saw blade teeth in lumber mills. Forintek developed the technology for the mathematical model, as well as the enire vision and software evaluation system of the VTI. "Then they approached us to assist them with the mechanical design of the instrument:' says Peter Klein, president of KLN. The project was completed in less than six months, including the machining and building of a fully working prototype. The VTI accommodates all saw blades between 6" and 36" in diameter. It was designed so that each tooth could be viewed and analyzed from the top, the side and the front. The video camera is mounted on a dampened arm which pivots, slides automatically and maintains the focus setting, regardless of the viewing angle. The camera also looks through its own pivot point when inspectin a tooth's profile.

New Products Unveiled at Forest Expo

Loglift
Among the new products introduced to the industry at the recent Forest Expo in Prince George is the Loglift, a new lightweight loader, which is 30 per cent lighter than traditional loaders, claims its manufacturers, and which features reduced loading and unloading time and larger payload capacity. This truckmounted unit works as a one-man operated self-loader. Loglift Oy of Finland manufactures three different types of truck-mounted loaders. Cut-to-length method loaders handle pulpwood and short logs: they are normally mounted at the rear of the truck and can be installed on a detachable console for easy disconnecting, resulting in an two-ton increased payload, says Loghft. Their tree-length method loaders handle long and heavy logs weighing five to six tons. Loglift's foldable Z-model loaders can be mounted either behind the cab or at the rear of the truck. In the folded parking position the space needed for the loader is very limited, says the company. Loglift's authorized dealer for Western Canada is Can West Crane and Equipment Ltd. of Nisku, AB.

New Timberjack 608B Feller Bunchers and Harvesters
In introducing its B-Series 608, Timberjack launches four new dedicated forest machines: two 608B feller bunchers, standard and heavy duty: and two 608B cut-to-length harvesters, standard and heavy-duty. Improvements are focused on the operator cab, the high walker undercarriage, easier service access and debris control. The 608B teller buncher features a new higher accumulation disc sawhead with the boom geometry to give additional reach. The 608B harvester features the 762C harvesting head and a new boom with longer reach for a larger cutting swath, to increase productivity and widen the spacing between corridors. The operator compartment is enhanced with greater comfort and now includes a sliding rear window. Noise levels have been reduced, too. New soft-touch buttons on contoured, armrest-mounted joysticks reduce effort for the feller buncher operator. For easy travel on broken ground and over obstacles, the ground clearance of the high walker undercarriage has been increased to 76 cm (30-in) to the tip of the single grouser. The standard D5 size undercarriage has been strengthened throughout.

Daewoo Introduces Mega-Series III Wheel Loader

The new Mega 250-111 wheel loader from Daewoo is equipped with a 3.1-cubic-yard general-purpose bucket and one of the largest bucket pin clearances of any wheel loader in its class (153.3"). It also includes a bucket dump cushion, 80.3 "-wide wheels, a 9'11"-long wheelbase, and a 17'10" turning radius, reports Daewoo. The Mega 250-Ill is powered by a Daewoo-built turbo diesel engine, the DI 146T, with 170 flywheel hp. Cycle time is reported at 9.8 seconds. The ROPS and FOPS cabin features multi-adjustable contoured seat with adjustable armrests, high-visibifity, easy-reach controls, pillarless front glass; full cushioning and insulation for low noise levels; mono lever forward-neutral-reverse gear selector with second-to-first speed push-button; centralized monitoring system with full warning system; and all-season climate control standard.

New Saw Chain

Oregon Distribution Ltd. has introduced a new saw chain to the Canadian market, with a distinctive cutter shape and its wide track depth gauge out in front. This wide ramp-shaped depth gauge makes it possible for the Vanguard-series chain to meet low kickback standards. As an added bonus, the design of the cutter reduces user-felt vibration levels.

Tests performed on safety pants indicate that Vanguard chain pulls fibres from the protective pads more rapidly to stop the chain sooner than conventional chain, claims the company. The result is an increase in the safety margin afforded by safety chaps or pant in the case of accidental contact.